Bonus (Part 7/5)

I heard a thud and looked back to see the eldest girl had jumped down from the window.

“Allen, we should be more polite.” She walked over to me, her footsteps resounding through the alley. Her emerald-green eyes were calm, and her pink hair cascaded over her shoulders. Allen fell quiet and mumbled a “sorry” before sulking in the corner.

“Hello,” the girl said to me kindly. Something about her reminded me of Lina, but I pushed the thought away. “What’s your name?”

“Sarah,” I replied, mystified, then went silent. She feels…other-worldly somehow.

“Sarah,” she echoed thoughtfully. “My name’s Diane, and the little girl by the window is Victoria.” She paused. “You have a magic ability, don’t you? And it’s a powerful one too.”

She waited for my answer, and once again, I hesitated. Just because they caught Laza’veya doesn’t mean I can trust them. No way was I going to trust the wrong person again.

I glanced towards the alley’s exit. If I pushed past Kiera and Allen, then I could get out of here, but seeing as how they also had powers, that would be risky. I decided against it.

“First, what are you guys doing with Laza’veya?” I asked tentatively.

The little girl spoke up from the building’s window.

“It’s an important matter, and as you probably know by now, our situations are very… unique,” she explained, not looking up from her metal toy. “So, we can’t disclose it to just anyone.”

“Yeah.” Allen nodded, sounding more earnest this time. “Don’t take it personally.”

“Just know that our job is to lock away the creatures from Space,” Kiera assured, “like Laza’veya, to stop them from hurting anyone! Especially the stronger ones that can survive the barrie-”

“Kiera,” Allen mumbled. She stopped talking.

They all waited for me, including Diane, who was wearing a patient expression. My gut instinct told me to be careful; I shouldn’t trust strangers so easily. It could be a fatal mistake. But at the same time… what if I’m wrong? What if not trusting them is the mistake? They seemed to have good intentions. If I pushed them away now, I might regret it later…

“Okay. You wanted to know my power, right?” I asked uncertainly, deciding that I could reveal that at least. “I can freeze time.”

They all stiffened.

“What?” Kiera whispered.

Allen winced, throwing a glance down at Laza’veya. “Freeze time? With those powers, she’s more likely to work for Space-”

“Which is why we want to talk to her first, right?” Diane interrupted.

Allen froze, sounded scolded despite her soft tone. “Yes...”

“If you’re afraid that I’ll help creatures like Laza’veya, then don’t worry. I swear I won’t,” I said fiercely. “Laza’veya, it…” I stumbled over my words. “It hurt someone dear to me. Lina.”

Recognition flickered in Diane’s eyes. The little girl in the window, Victoria, also turned her head.

“Lina?” Diane repeated, and I nodded. Just then, a memory tickled at the back of my head – something Lina had said that day.

“…Laza’veya tricked me into freeing it…until with some others’ help, I managed to imprison it again…”

“Yes. Other people with strange powers.”

With a jolt, I looked up at Diane. If she also knew Lina, then could she be one of those people Lina mentioned?

“Victoria,” Diane called out slowly. “You remember Lina, don’t you?”

The little girl was still for a long moment, her eyes staring off into space. No, wait, I realized. It seems she’s blind. Somehow, I got the impression that both Victoria and Diane were different from the others. They seemed older, more experienced than they appeared.

“I do. That was such a long time ago, though,” Victoria mused. “Even before Kiera and Allen joined. Does the girl look like Lina?” she asked suddenly. Diane studied me for a second.

“Yes, somewhat,” she replied.

“I remember Lina mentioned having a younger sister.” Victoria turned her head, locking her sightless gaze on me. “That must be you, right?”

I nodded. “Y-yes. That’s me.”

A smile dawned on Diane’s face. Only Kiera, Allen, and I remained puzzled.

“Then it’s settled,” Diane said, looking straight at me. “We have a new potential recruit.”

I froze. “Wait… what? Me?”

“Yep,” she confirmed as if it was the most normal thing in the world. “I know you have questions, but I promise I’ll answer those soon. Let’s just get out of here first.”

Before I could reply, Diane turned to Kiera and Allen.

“We’ve confirmed that Laza’veya is one of the stronger creatures, right?” she asked.

“Um… yeah!” Kiera responded, painting a smile over her confusion. “We can follow the procedure and take it to that place to lock it up.”

“Alright, then let’s go. And Sarah, you’ll be coming with us.”

I stood there in shock. Off to my side, Allen was sighing. “So now I have to use my power on five people.”

Questions vibrated through my head. “New recruit?” “That place?”

What the heck does that even mean?!

“Wait! Are we gonna be back soon?” I asked anxiously. “I don’t want my parents to worry!”

“Yes, it won’t take long,” came Diane’s reply. A split second later, she and the others turned translucent.

My heart skipped a beat. Their forms were foggy and ghost-like – and upon looking down at myself, I realized that I was, too.

It’s probably just Allen using his powers, I reminded myself, pushing away my fear. For a second, I had thought that were were…fading, just like Lina had.

“Are we… invisible now?” I asked aloud.

“Yes, you’re welcome. And I feel like dying,” Allen muttered.

Kiera chuckled. “Aw, come on, Al! Hang in there. We just needa get to the secret place.”

Curiously, I looked down at my see-through hands. It was kind of a cool power, to be honest. And it seemed I could see everyone this time, since I was invisible with them. I should ask more about their powers later.

“Anyways,” Allen said. “I’m sure nobody cares about my exhaustion, but can someone else carry Laza’veya’s cage, at least?”

“I can do it,” I volunteered, then paused. “…By the way, you guys are planning to imprison Laza’veya somewhere else, right? Not get rid of it?”

“Yes,” he confirmed, holding the cage out to me.

“Oh.” I felt a pang of disappointment. “Okay.”

He suddenly drew back before I could grab the cage. I looked up, confused. An uncharacteristic fear had slipped into his eyes.

“H-hang on,” Allen said nervously, his eyes darting around. “I sense murderous intent. Where is it coming from? Where…?” His eyes landed on me. “It’s you, isn’t it?! Nonono. I don’t trust you.”

Allen shook his head and moved away, still holding Laza’veya’s cage. I blankly watched him go.

“Oof,” Kiera said. “He’s just a scaredy cat.”

“Let’s go now, since we’re all ready,” Diane announced, crossing her arms. “Sarah, follow us, okay?”

I nodded. “Alright.”

For now, I didn’t fully trust them yet. But if they could just give me answers – and if I could watch Laza’veya get locked away for good – then the risk was worth it. Suddenly, I felt a twinge of sadness.

Lina… When did I last allow myself to think of her? Don’t worry. I’ll find a way to avenge you somehow, to find closure to this, I thought.

And if, in the end, I join these people… perhaps I can learn to use my power fearlessly again. To get revenge on the other creatures of Space, too.