Chapter 35: Lila’s Secret

“I’m still not used to this,” Mella muttered, and she adjusted her glasses before taking them off the fiddle with them.

“Well you don’t have to, we won’t be here forever.” I reminded Mella, rubbing her head.

Tyell, Mella and I were taking a morning walk around the city near our hotel. It had now been just over a week since we landed in Newcastle and it was only six days until the festival began. The festival just called the Newcastle Festival started on Sunday and lasted till Monday.

“Unless the universe decides to roll a natural one on our safe exit,” Said Tyell.

“When did you start playing tabletop games?” I asked.

“Never, but I watched stuff in my free time between work.” 

Every time during our stay, whenever we left the hotel it was with a purpose–food or entertainment. So today we just left to walk around.

We were all wearing our interactive glasses to be able to use the full functionality of Newcastle. We could have chosen contact lenses but it was easier to use glasses for us visitors.

Walking down the street we could see advertisements above buildings and on wide walls. News feeds and channels were also being played in the street.  

Everything popping up seemed to have rules about it. Beside a banner across the street mentioning the festival, there was nothing across the street floating. All the videos and ads didn’t have sound unless the user requested for that item’s sound and the layout was made so it would never clutter one’s vision of the real world.

“I don’t know what it is,” said Mella, “It feels basically like VR and it responds to me perfectly, but just seeing it all in real life feels wrong.”

I shrugged, “I understand where you’re coming from but it is something a whole planet’s technology has developed around.”

Using these interactive technologies one could call, pay for goods, be entertained and everything in between. They were basically what phones were to Metous citizens. 

Mella continued, “I know it's technically a few more steps, but I just prefer using my phone for everything.” 

We turned down a street and we saw some buildings already setting up for the festival. Well in a non-physical way, some shops had an extra digital coating providing a more festival atmosphere, and advertisements for festival additions. 

“I guess it makes changes like this cheaper.” Said Mella.

After an hour of walking and rolling, we decided it was time to return back to the hotel, Mother might finally be awake.

“Sis, are you doing anything tonight?” Mella asked. 

“Yes actually, why do you ask?”

“Oh I just wanted to spend a night watching Tasker with you and Tyell, we haven’t done that in a while.” 

“Okay, we can do that any night I’m available, I’ll see when I’m not busy.” I turned to Tyell, “You free whenever?”

“Of course, WE ARE on holiday after all.” He made a deserved jab at me, “But serious Sis, what’s going on? Saturday night you just dropped the bomb that you might not be around much the next couple of days.”

Sigh, I can’t tell you why yet.

(“ Why not? He was involved ”)

I ignored Espr and replied, “I’m a bit busy on Wednesday but besides that I should be free unless something more comes up. Sorry to worry, I just like to notify you guys ahead of time if I'm busy.” I sighed and scratched my head. I didn’t want to be more busy but I knew there was a chance that depending on what would happen I might have to spend some short time away from my family. 

“Okay Ceella.” Tyell looked away and moved behind Mella to move the wheelchair, “Mella I’ll push you the rest of the way.”

“Sweat, thanks.” Said Mella, she took her glasses off and pulled out her phone to take some pictures. 

… I wonder how much I should tell them…

(“ About what you are about to do? ”)

… That but also everything else.

(“ Oh, now that is surprising, I thought you would keep that secret until the day you lose ”)

And I still might, if I do tell them they will just worry. There is no other reaction.  

(“ Just deal with one problem at a time, speaking of which good luck with tonight ”)

Thanks, I guess? Weird seeing you so positive about my success.

(“ There is only one thing I know you will fail at, besides that, no reason for me to deny your other endeavours ”)

Espoiramissa stopped after that and I continued to walk back to our lodging while back in my mind I prepared for my meeting tonight.

----------------------------------------

I said goodbye to my family relatively early at 8 pm and made my way out to the meeting spot with Lila ahead of schedule. I had a feeling Lila would either show up exactly on time or way earlier but even so I felt it was better to arrive before her.

The autumn night’s chilled air blew by the rocky section of the beach where we were meeting. I didn’t know why Lila chose this location, it could’ve been in a hope I didn’t show up or something more malicious, either way, I’d find out the answer.

I enjoyed my waiting time by connecting stars in the sky to create shapes. I lay on the ground behind a large boulder, but soon the meeting deadline approached. As I guessed, Lila was nowhere in sight but as it reached ten-to. 

A young lady skipped across the rocks to the meeting area. Her footsteps were quiet but shaky.

Then she stopped and started to look around.

“Hello Lila.” I stood up and walked towards her.

Lila spun around, her pink hair dulled in colour and her red eyes not covered by interactive glasses or contacts seemed quiet. 

“Yes, Aunty Ceella.” Her tone was happy but upset that I came.

“Still calling me that?” I smiled.

“Um–It–’s haaa…” Lila sighed, “It’s hard not to… My mind just keeps regressing back to those times. I’m twenty-one, I’m supposed to be able to handle everything by now.”

She gave her body a quick shake to adjust herself. 

Her eyes blinked and the ocean’s reflection was clear in her dull focused eyes.

“Ceella.” Lila said, determined and gazed straight into my eyes. “Can we not talk again?”

“Why?”

“Cause I need to move on with my life.” She brought her hand to her chest, “I’ve done everything to move on, I have a life I need to participate in, and bringing the past back has done nothing but harm me.”

“Bringing the past back? Have multiple people come back from the dead or is it just me?”

“This is not the time for jokes Ceella.” Angered, she snapped back, “I’m a stranger to you.”

“Is that what Rosa taught you?”

“Don’t bring her up!” 

“It seems you are far from moving on.” 

(“ I can’t say I expected the antagonistic approach ”)

I’m trying something different. I need her to get everything out of her system and don’t think just being kind will get it out.

I didn’t know if what I was doing was the best solution, but I was going to keep trying anyway. And if it didn’t work, then I just had to try something else.

“Cause you’re back!” 

“Really?” I folded my arms, “Then why haven’t you reconnected with your parents? I’m not saying you should, but your reasoning for distancing yourself was because they didn’t bat an eye at Rosa’s death.”

“My family is my business, you have Mrs Good, you don’t need any other Earth acquaintance.” She gritted her teeth, “Just leave me alone, and don’t talk to me ever again!” 

In a step, I moved directly in front of her. She tried to take a step back but I stopped her, a starlight wall appeared behind her back which I made disappear the moment she touched it.

“Lila, but I have something to ask you.” I looked down at her seriously, “I let you go last time because I felt you were going through a lot, but I won't allow myself to repeat a mistake that nearly cost me.”

“What do you know about Dominous Hood?” I asked with unintentional aggression in my voice.

A ball of lightning suddenly appeared between us, and it exploded causing a surge of lightning and light to try and blind my vision.

Weird, I didn't feel a lightning skill activating…

I had my soul pressure surrounding Mella but I didn’t pressure her cause I didn’t want to harm her.

(“ [Pocket Lightning], part of her storage skill, she can store certain lightning constructs with restriction and pull them out later ”)

Thanks. With that information, I prepared if she tried that again.

“Sorry.” I heard a quiet voice whisper behind me.

I reached out my hand and grabbed the white arm carrying a crimson-red knife. 

“That’s enough,” I replied coldly. And smashed the individual into the ground.

“Argh!” A cry of pain was released from her mouth as they crashed into the rocky ground flatting in it.

“Now, what are you doing… Lila.” I asked.

The dust blew away and I had Lila pressed and held into the ground with my flames. 

She gritted her teeth and didn’t answer.

“You wanted to kill me that much?”

…

“I thought we were friends?”

…

“Did you want me to join your sister that badly?”

“No!” Tears finally started to form in her eyes and she cracked, “But it’s something I have to do!” 

“Why?”

“Just… kill me…” Lila begged and my internal anger grew. I knew the reason for her behaviour for certain, the same people who dug their claws in Tyell had done the same to Lila, but it seems they just clawed further.

“Well I can’t do that, Rosa would never forgive me.” What I said next hurt me to say, “Even if her sister was working for the people who killed her.”

Her dull lifeless eyes shattered and the star’s light reflected in them. “W..ha..t?”

“I think I was pretty clear,” my voice started to shift from the harsh tone back to normal.

“You said we weren’t caught in an accident? You were completely right, but not exactly about who did it.”

Lila’s mouth widened.

“Before you ask, yes, I know for sure, I watched them destroy everything and even torture me to test out their new toy.”

“Now to just make sure, Lila, who are you working for?”

Tears flooded from her face and I let go of her and her hands instantly grabbed her head covering her eyes. “I…”

“Worked for Dominous Hood.”