Novels2Search

Ch. 40 - Too Far

In the confines of a well-lit interrogation room were Barry and Luna. Judging by the wrapped bandages, the military had wasted no time to treat Luna so they could interrogate her.

"As if this day couldn't get any worse. Now I'm in the same room with you, of all people," Luna said with visible disgust on her face.

"Your attitude is disappointing, just like the actions of you and your cousins," Barry retorted. "Compared to when I accepted you guys in the military's ranks, you all turned out terribly."

"Can it already. I don't care what you think."

"Yeah, I figured. I'll get to the point," Barry stated. "Your cousins, Amelia and Harvey, have--"

"Escaped? I heard."

"Well, that makes it easier. Do you have any idea where they have escaped to?" Barry questioned.

Luna's face expressed confusion, which quickly changed into anger upon hearing that question, much to Barry's confusion.

"You bastard. Even if I knew, I would never tell you that," Luna retorted.

"Tsk, disregarding the crimes that you've committed in the past, the offenses you and your organization committed since our alliance could put you in federal prison for a very long time!" Barry remarked. "It may be harder, but we can still find them without your help. But if you want a somewhat better outcome, I suggest you--"

"You think I'll rat out my blood for a better outcome!? You must be insane. We may be cousins, but they treated me like I'm also their sibling," Luna said. "But you telling me to rat them out isn't the worst part, but the fact that you're asking me after killing Theodore!"

She found out about that, huh? Word spreads fast, I suppose.

"I have never despised you more than this moment, Barry Alexander, and I'm sure my cousins feel the same way," Luna said. "They may not pose a threat to you now, but mark my words; they'll never forget what transpired."

"So you're not going to help me," Barry assumed. "I always took you for the rational one."

"Screw rationality. There's no point to that anymore," Luna bluntly stated. "You can revel in your victory now, but I can see it. Jack the Ripper will replace your victory with suffering, destruction, and death. Then we'll have the last laugh."

"Good day, Ms. Dexter," Barry stated before departing the interrogation room.

"Finally, you finally left my sight," Luna remarked.

It's not just Amelia and Harvey that have escaped us, but also the hitman, Harold. Barry pondered as he walked down the base's passageway. Hopefully, we can find him without letting Amber know he escaped custody.

* * *

Despite being in her patient gown and wrapped in bandages, Amber marched down the infirmary's hallway with Ariel following.

"A-Amber, don't you think it's too soon for you to move up and about?" Ariel questioned.

"I can't stay put without seeing Aiden and Mr. Altius," Amber responded. "I have to make sure they are okay!"

Relenting, Ariel didn't say anything more to stop her but followed her to a nearby infirmary room.

They heard muffled voices beyond the doors of the room.

" Is that...Baran's voice?" Ariel wondered.

"Sounds like it. Let's go," Amber suggested as she opened the infirmary door.

As she opened the door, they were greeted by the faces of Baran and Ivory. What caught Amber's eyes immediately, though, was Aiden.

His right eye and arm were bandaged and placed under an eyepatch and in a cast, respectively. Those injuries paled in comparison to the significant burn scars visible on Aiden's face and body, however. Amelia Dexter's slashes and flames were the cause of his injuries.

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Both Amber and Aiden gazed at him with visible sorrow. Meanwhile, Baran watched Amber with an annoyed look.

"A-Aiden...those injuries..."

"Oh, you're up already? Amber?" Aiden questioned with a surprised expression.

"I heard your condition was bad, but I didn't expect it to be...this bad," Ariel stated.

"Well, it would have been worse. If Sergeant Trixie didn't carry me to get treatment, I'd have died," Aiden stated. "Well, I also have to thank Ryzen and that nurse who treated me. Apart from a damaged eye and pain from these burns, I'm alright."

"I'm...sorry, Aiden. It's my fault you were dragged into this," Amber said as she held her head down. "I just couldn't turn a blind eye to their injustice...but I regret you were affected by this."

"C'mon, Amber. You don't have to apologize to me," Aiden said. "I love how you stay true to fighting for justice. You did well. No need to beat yourself up."

"Hehe, told you," Ariel said as she whispered to Amber.

I am so glad that you guys are my friends. Amber thought as she cracked a smile.

"Tsk, why do your injuries look so miniscule?" Baran suddenly chimed in. "You just have some bandages wrapped around you, is all."

"Baran, what are you saying?" Ivory asked.

"Tsk, did you even help out in any way to topple the mafia organization?"

"H-Huh?" Amber uttered.

"What are you saying!? Of course, she helped!" Ariel rebutted with slight annoyance and furrowed eyebrows.

"Then how come she can move about so well and without any permanent injuries, from what I can see, while Aiden is in this condition!?" Baran retorted. "It's the same as when the mafia hitman tried to kill her. Amber's useless while Aiden had to save her ass, right!?"

"It's clear you don't like Amber, but you're going too far!" Ariel remarked as she came closer to Baran.

"She's right, Baran. Watch your damn tongue," Aiden supported Ariel as his eyes became bloodshot and visible arteries surfaced on his neck, representing his anger.

Tsk, you two are being fooled by her friendly personality. Aiden thought as he gazed at Ariel and Aiden.

"N-No, you're right, Baran. I've been useless," Amber said, much to everyone's shock. "I've only been giving everyone a hard time. I wasn't even fit to be a soldier when I first joined."

"B-But?"

"But...all the weaknesses I once had, all the mistakes I've made...I can assure you it's all gone," Amber declared. "We'll likely have to fight...that demon."

"Demon?" Ivory questioned.

"Jack..."

That one name induced a feeling of shock in the group as Amber reminded them of their reason for joining the Enlightenment Program, just as Kreuger told them.

"We do not need to be afraid. I won't be afraid either. Against the demon and any other evildoers after him, I will no longer be useless," Amber declared as she clenched the locket necklace tucked under her patient gown. I've told myself this, and I will tell myself again. I won't lose anyone close to me because of my uselessness again.

"Tsk, you talk big words for--"

BAM!

Attempting to shut him up, Ivory elbowed Baran right in his side.

"Ugh!" Baran uttered as he clenched his side before side-eyeing Ivory.

"What the...you're already up, Amber!?" The voice of a woman was audible as they entered the room. She garnered the attention of the group.

Amber remembered the lady after gazing at her. She was the individual who guided Amber to the lecture class on the first day.

The lady had dressed in a business-like suit while wearing a white, long-sleeved lab coat over it. Her attire and an ID clipped to her suit indicated that she was the nurse.

"Oh, it's you, Ms. Nurse!" Amber greeted.

"Well, my name is Anna Caroline, but that's not important," Nurse Anna introduced. "You were struck by a lightning attack and had your arm mangled like Swiss cheese! You were supposed to be in a coma!"

"Wait, what!?" Baran uttered with pure shock. His bewildered expression was matched by the rest as they had not heard about Amber's injuries. That woman suffered, too!?

"Fufu, my god helped me!" Amber confidently stated. Everyone except Ariel and Aiden garnered cringing expressions upon hearing that.

"...I've known from the first day, but you're a bit of a weird one, huh?" Nurse Anna questioned. Well, either way, her recovery time is insane. That must be a part of her blessing.

"But I know you also treated me, right?" Amber assumed. "I wouldn't forget to thank you!"

"Well, it's nothing. My cellular activation blessing comes in handy to boost your body's healing process."

"So, that's how you helped me too...thanks," Aiden expressed his gratitude.

"Unfortunately, I couldn't fully fix you, though, Nurse Anna said. "Your injuries were so severe that not even Ryzen's mysterious powers couldn't help either."

"It's fine."

"Oh yeah. Where's Mr. Altius? I want to see if he's doing fine," Amber asked Anna.

"Well, he's teaching classes."

"He's what?" The group said in tandem. Altius, who had sustained heavy injuries as well, was now lecturing? That was the question that went through their minds...and understandably.

"Well, it's not a normal lecture. While I was treating his injuries, Altius said something about finally recognizing the students as fully-fledged soldiers," Anna said. "He's probably talking about that now."

"Really!? And we're missing out!?" Ariel stated.

"Well...you guys can go," Anna said. "Let me make sure you're okay to move about, Amber and Aiden."