Chapter VII

Garrett was worried. Did the handmaiden do something wrong? Did she push Adam too far? He wanted to explain to her that it could have happened to anyone, but she already left after receiving payment for her sworn secrecy. Carefully he removed his helmet and sat it beside the plate of food which has been left untouched for a while. When he approached Adam, he didn't take notice of his presence at all.  'If breaking down is this hard, I'm sure recovery is far worse.' 

Garrett could sense what was about to happen. It had become a routine - whether Adam was conscious of it or not. Usually, he would rise in the middle of his slumber and tear the hell out of his face. The most comfort that could be provided for him is water for moisture. It's only a temporary solution until he can get eye removal surgery. The procedure should be done soon or he will most likely fall into an infection. 

Being alive was far more disorienting than Adam ever thought it would be. The intensity had become so unbearable that he couldn't help himself. 

Garrett grabbed a bowl of water from the table and splashed all its contents upon Adam's face. 

"Better?" He slyly asked. 

Adam felt enough relief to spill out everything that's been troubling his mind. Maybe the stress had finally gotten to him or perhaps it was the excitement of finally finding someone who once knew - the old him. Otherwise, Adam still looked like himself: red hair, petite but slender, and occasionally a pouty expression whenever he's displeased with something in particular. Despite all of that, still, it seemed as if something in him had changed forever. 

The past incidents that tied the two of them together had remained present in Adam till this very day. He was eager to know if Garrett remembered anything regarding the man who wore the death mask. Unfortunately, they both couldn't recall anything after the guards had met their demise.

Adam's face lit up when Garret put his hand on his shoulder and said, " If things went differently... Perhaps we would have truly been friends." 

"I feel sorry for you." He replied, "You've given up everything you worked for. And for what? A guard position?"

"You've shown me more kindness than any person I've known." Garret explained, "Thanks to you, my grandmother was able to pass peacefully in the confines of her own bed." 

"I'm glad." 

"I've given you so many opportunities to escape, but you refused. I couldn't just stand around and watch you give up on yourself. I can't take all the credit though. Rune, Loys, and Damas helped too."

"Damas..."

"He's fine." Garrett mentioned, "You will be too once you get -"

"I'm not."

"What!?" Garett almost lost his temper, "What do you mean you're not?"

"I'm no use to him like this."

At that moment, Garret brought his hands to either side of Adam's face, "Listen to me. I'm sure Damas could give a shit less whether or not you're useful to him."

------

Where Damas succeed, he also had failed to protect the one who mattered to him the most. Was the crown prince's life worth far more than Adam's? His actions seemed to have determined the answer already. 

King Roderick had approached him with nothing but pleasantries in return. However, Adam didn't receive any recognition because he refused to take any credit. Even with all that time in solitude, he's still a gentle soul. He had been told many times by superiors that he was too soft, that he needed to harden his emotions and actions but Adam couldn’t even help it. The very least Damas could do was make sure Adam wouldn't end up behind bars again. But the only way he could ensure that is by gaining a title. So he requested a marriage proposal between him and Rune. 

------

Adam hadn't spoken since they've returned. Frankly, he stood as if there's nothing left in the shell that he deemed a body.  'All the things I've felt. I've never been able to say. The words I couldn't convey with tears. No matter how much I cried. No matter how much I tried. But after all these years... just when I thought I got used to the loneliness, he spun my entire world upside down once again. The feeling of falling in love with another... I've never wanted to know that feeling.' 

With his heart on his sleeve, he moved, regardless of being unable to see much during the night. There was no helping something like this. Despite his extensive knowledge of most things from books, they were pretty useless in times like these. He knows that loneliness is in everybody's lives, one way or the other. However, most people replaced theirs with materialistic objects or wealth. Yet, with the little sight, he had left, all he wanted to do was see Damas face for very the last time. Then like a thick blanket, darkness clung to every inch of his body. 

A voice above said, "I can't let you ruin everything."

Adam didn't have to see to know what had struck him. The tip of a knife had sunk deep inside of his chest. He felt the shredding of not only the skin but the muscle. The blade rotated completely before being yanked free. He fell, laying among the buttercups and the forget-me-nots. 

When Rune notified Damas of the incident, he dropped everything and ran with a throbbing heart. He kept running as quickly as his legs could carry him. However, the closer he got to Adam's body, the slower his steps had become in denial. 

"No... No..." 

Damas slowly sank to his knees right beside Adam's body. From one glance, he saw that the fight within Adam had long since vanished. He looked so far away as if he could see something beyond this world. 

"You can't - you're not allowed to - not yet. Who - who did this!?"

Damas lowered a hand to examine the wound which had sealed his fate. Pushing aside the dampen torn fabric, he discovers a white punctured breast that's exposed through layers of wrapped linen cloths.

"You've been suffering all this time alone... Why didn't you tell me?" 

Of course, there wasn't any answer back so he cradled Adam close. He held her tight - tight enough to break her. It was too late to show the love he had carried all these years. As a river of memories washes down his face. He overhears a faint voice calling out to him. It was distorting at first, but the louder it became, the clearer it revealed. The demanding tone was none other than Blazerine's. 

Startled to hear his name from her lips, Damas just stared into the concerned gaze that was resting above. When she leaned in even closer, the ends of her dampen hair wavier against his cheeks.

There was an awkward silence, until she asked, "Has the sun made you stupid?"

"What's wrong?" 

"Everything's fine, everything's -" Blazerine looked away, only to witness a gigantic slender appendage arise from the sea, "Oh god we're gonna die..." 

The angry waves of the sea sent Damas's body sliding across to the opposite side of the deck. Blazerine scrambled after him, almost losing her balance in the process. Nearing closer, she extended her hand out towards him. Damas accepted since his (left/right - kind of forgot which leg it is. I'll figure it out later.) couldn't support itself. Then she slung Damas arm around her neck before putting her nearest one around his waist. 

"Of all people in the world - you took the one with a limp." She muttered. 

"Adam..." 

"Adam?" She repeated, "H-Hey, are you even listening to me?!" 

Damas's eyes remained open, but no information about the current circumstances seemed to be processed in his head at all. 

"No, no, no, no, stay with me!" She cried, "We need to get off this boat as soon as possible!" 

Blazerine knows the only option they have is to abandon the ship while it's objectively the main target. But then after that... what? There was an ocean in every direction she looked. Easily she could sneak off by herself, but Damas would be another story. Could she just simply leave him behind? As much as she wanted to punch him in the face, it wouldn't be right. If the tables were turned, she's sure Leon would have done the same for her. Wouldn't he..? She leaned Damas against the railing for support. Then she took a deep breath and said, "Wait here, I'll be back." 

Above, the mast of the ship had cracked in half. Determined to get to the cabinet hold at all costs, Blazerine kept running despite the risk.  She barely misses it within an inch of her life. Inside, she searches around for anything useful. The only thing she could find was a medium-size tin box. After prying it open, she peered quickly over the contents. It was nothing more than a mere stack of old papers. With a scrunched-up face, she tried to decipher their meaning, but to her, they looked like a bunch of scribbles. 

 "Goddamnit, there's nothing here!" She threw the canister against the wall out of frustration, "Why didn't he -" 

The floor swept out from beneath her feet.  Instinctively she grabbed a hold of the swaying door on her way down, but it broke off by its hedges. Plummeting into the vast deep blue, Blazerine's panicked heartbeat steady upon the realization that she never had let the door go. Its buoyancy quickly return her back to the surface.  Gasping, she fought to re-inflate her lungs with oxygen. Then out of the corner of her eye, she witnessed Leon fall from the other half of the ship. 

"Leon!" 

Without a moment's hesitation, she dove right in after him. Through a million shades of violets and blues, she saw an explosion of air bubbles escape into the scattering particles of light. She very well knew what it meant, Leon had taken his final breath. 

With every kick, every stroke, Blazerine is dying to live and living to die. There's no way she would have the strength to save them both. Should she pull back now or keep going further? The decision was made when she saw his lifeless face that could pierce even the strongest. Settling a hand behind his head, she pulled him in close enough for their lips to meet. 'If he regains consciousness, he should be able to push back to the surface.' So whatever amount of air she has left is passed onto him. 

Damas unexpectedly awoke in sheer panic. With no coordination whatsoever, he tried clawing his way through the water, however, he was struggling perpendicular to the surface. Blazerine realizes this and tries to redirect his body accordingly. Despite her effort to help him, he kept fighting, like he was trying to get over an obstacle, but that obstacle ended up being Blazerine. Pushed further below, she finally swallows in the salty sea. It cascades to the back of her throat and then shortly into her lungs. Painfully and quietly, her heart pounded like bare hands pushing against the rough surface of a door. No matter how hard or how long she knocked, nobody would answer.  Blackness begins to seep the very edge of her eyes before completely swiping her entire perception away. 

Coal-black eyes reopened to a blurry sight of the fishing boat ceiling. The image comes and goes out of focus in waves. Hesitantly, she rubbed the sleep away from her eyes, gradually reinstating her vision. She sat up, the sheet dropping from her chest, leaving her bare skin prone to the glaring sun. 

"Was it all just a dream?" 

Her heartbeat couldn't stop clinging to the very last moment of what had transpired. The hairs on her back stood on end. She snatched the light blue gown from the floor and slipped it over her head. Then she looked around the room, noticing a lot of objects that previously never caught her eyes before. A pair of spears mounted crisscrossed on the wall. A bundle of rope hanging by a hook. Two piles of fishing nets, some smaller than the others. A half-empty bottle of ale. And a medium-size tin box. Without giving any more thought, she spread the sheet across the floor. After she gathered everything, she created a bindle by tying the fabric into a bag that was secured by the rope. The two heads of the spear stuck out at the very top so they wouldn't cut a hole. Lastly, she loosens the door off its hedges by kicking it hard several times. With one grunting swing, she tossed the door overboard. 

'Now just -'

Leon's name was on the tip of her tongue as she pulled the sack up along her shoulder. Quickly she made her way across the deck to Damas. His weathered skin was a meshwork of worn leather and red sunspots.  'How long has he been out here anyway?' 

"Damas? Damas!"

His cracked lips move slightly to ask, "What's wrong?"

"We need to get off this boat as soon as possible!" 

"Adam?" He question. 

"Adam? Uh... sure? Just listen, okay? We're going to jump into the water so don't panic." 

The most she could get out of him was a nod. Blazerine drapes Damas's arm around her neck while slipping another around his waist. With a single movement, they climbed over the railing then she gently pushed off with her foot. Gravity took hold of their bodies till they impacted the sea. She used powerful rhythmic strokes until they reached the floating door. The awful strain made her teeth clench as she forcefully pushed Damas over on top. Hunching over to the other end, she turns the bindle upside down while slamming the spears as hard as she could. Once the tips were secured in the wood, she knotted the rope not only once, but seven times. Providing herself with enough slack between her and the door. She linked the rest of the length around her midsection. A small sigh escaped when she looked back out at the open sea. Which direction should she even take? 

North...? 

West...?

At this point, it doesn't matter. The further - the better. She pushed through the surface with a large stroke. She wasn't entirely sure if she had enough strength left. But despite these doubts, the royal blue kept sweeping them further and further away. Wearily she took a glimpse back... only to see a dark lavender tentacle sprout.

"I will not be looking at yesterday when I can become tomorrow." 

Slowly her gaze turned back to Damas. His chest enlarged as he inhaled deeply while sleeping. A few strands of hair around his forehead fluttered after being kissed by a soft breeze. With that image left in her mind. No matter how much it hurts, her body refused to acknowledge the exhaustion. She needed to find somewhere dry before night falls. The shadows that disappeared from Blazerine's face had returned upon a sharp pain in her arm. It felt like a knife's serrated edge slice along the surface of her skin. Her shoulders shook while she made no attempt to conceal the tears that fought to escape. A cascade of blood spilled over the diagonal cut before its overlapped with a half triangular laceration. The hurt quickly subsides into sheer horror after she recognized the letter "N." 

"Great not only I'm stranded in the middle of nowhere, but I'm also going nuts!?" 

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

A week before current events... 

A light soft groan escaped Fenix's lips as he rolled over in the grass. He extended an arm out to hide from the afternoon sun, however, something even brighter had shown up in front of his eyes.

"Phoenixy! Look!" In Elizabeth's outstretched little palm is a seashell shining with swirls of greens and purples, "Did I do good?"  

"You're a very, very good treasure hunter!" 

The appraising pat she received on the head made her heart leap with such fulfillment. The excitement made her forget the clump of seaweed in her other hand - which splatters all over Fenix's face. 

Casually he swipes the dark green kelp aside, "You're lucky I like you so much, kid." 

Argo crouched down right next to the algae and gave it a big whiff.  

Shortly afterward... Fenix comes to the realization that the boat is no longer docked, "Hey Iz... Let me ask you something. WHERE. THE. HELL. IS. THE. BOAT!?" 

"It left." Elizabeth innocently answered while playing. 

He grabbed Elizabeth by the shoulders to get her to focus only on him, "A boat can't just leave by itself Iz." 

"He took it." 

Fenix crouched down low enough for them to be faced with one another. "Who took the boat? What did he look like? Did he say anything!?" 

"He said not to wake you up."That - that - he took back what the world has taken from him." 

Fenix arose before giving the earring on his left lobe a bit of a yank, "Lyrist we have a problem... Blazerine is missing." 

Lyrist heard his voice but kept moving along the ballroom floor. With no previous knowledge of dance, there were no errors in any of his steps. He shined gracefully as Kenelem Kingdom's former crowned queen.  All the whispers from onlookers were in awe and amazement until she decided to take the lead. Their silver tongues began to spat venom once the roles had been reversed. Such a deed was unheard of because it's very deeming to the superiority of males. 

Through a spin, her warm breath coaxed the patron's ear, "I must admit... I had not pegged you for such a lovely dancer."

The man simply tried to resist the pleasant shiver which threatened to course through his entire being, "You flatter me too much your highness." 

"Glad you like it. Come find me whenever become bored with these amateurs." She laughed at her own jest. 

He humbly bowed, "I appreciate the invitation." 

Although her critics were already fuming, she still refused to perform the traditional gesture of a curtsy. The space between them waned as the waltz paused in uttered silence. The guest wasn't entirely sure how to react to the pressure so he fleed the scene altogether. The king was the only one who found the predicament amusing. He let out a jolly good laugh before raising his goblet on her behalf. She simply nodded in acknowledgment before excusing herself. 

"Your highness?" An angelic voice said quietly. 

"Walk beside me." 

"Pardon?" The queen's newly appointed handmaiden; Red stuttered. 

She erased the distance between them, "You heard me." 

Red knows the queen has a long track of rumored truancy but does that mean she still had to follow suit because an order is an order, right? 

"Escort me to my room. I shall retire for the night." 

"Yes, your highness," Red replied. 

"Red?"

"Highness?" She expressed. 

"Is that your birth-given name?" 

"No." She revealed, "It's a nickname the servant household has given me." 

"I see... Perhaps I will converse with the head servant tomorrow evening." 

"No!" Red exclaimed. 

"No?" 

"Your majesty, it's not what you think." Red exhaled while nervously fidgeting with her cherry locks, "I am an orphan." 

"Well do tell if they give you any disheartening distress." 

Red's delicate steps remained unheard, her dainty and delicate frame nearly floated off the staircase. 'Why would she care about the well-being of a lowly servant like me?' The tip of her thumb surpassed her lips in thought. It's a nervous habit she had developed over time. Without another word, she followed the queen toward their destination. She would have preferred the journey to be in silence, but there were still more questions to be answered. Like how old was she and how long has she worked in the castle. Once they arrived at the queen's quarters, she was dismissed. 

Red pursed her lips and straightened her back out in response, "Good night." 

Finally free from the confines of daily servants, he stepped graced the balcony. The wind was a playful mistress whose melody could easily harmonize with him as he swiftly jumps over onto the roof. Landing on all fours, the hood falling to his shoulders, unmasking the queen's disguise simultaneously. He stood up, now back in his original form. Lyrist reached up and touched the upper right corner of Blazerine's sunglasses. 

"Code 6.1.6.8.8.L.B."

Access revoted

Voice invalid. 

Lyrist tugged the cloak over his head, immediately shapeshifting into Blazerine's persona. 

"Code 6.1.6.8.8.L.B." 

Access granted.

Welcome back user: Blazerine. 

It has been approximately 0.05479452 days since the system has last been accessible. 

"What are you exactly?" 

An artificial intelligence - is designed to follow protocols that are logical and reliable for the customers' needs on daily basis. 

"What should I address you as?" 

I am not programmed with any specific name on file. The user can select from a list of defaulted names or set a custom preference. 

"I cannot choose a name for you. It is you're given birthright." 

Selecting a default name: Matilda. 

"Greetings, Matilda." 

Hi, how may I help you?

"Find Blazerine." 

A hologram image surrounds his entire being. The blue and purple nebula stretched out starlight webs to gold and pink clusters. It resembled a spider’s web, but this was far more beautiful. It expanded every-which-way, that he looked. Drowning his sense in the distant stars that looked like a bag of spilled gems. The thousands of specks began to get sucked inward as the development of futuristic structures become primitive. The speed slows down when everything is finally reduced to something more comprehensible. 

Scan complete.

Approximately four locations have been found.

Processing data now. 

Receiving interference...

Now overwriting.

Approximately three locations have been found.

The first two were tiny and the other was continuously spreading. His fingertip overshadowed the massive red blob when he asked, "What is this?" 

Data entry has been corrupted.  Receiving pre-existing correspondence relating to Ajana. 

Replied: Blazerine

From: Tabs

The hacker who goes by the alias of Ajana is still unknown. 

I cannot determine he/she origins are human or extraterrestrial. 

However, the integration of the ostracized Servant member is still underway. Hopefully, Haven won't go too overboard this time around, especially after all the trouble you went through to nab him. 

Replied: Tabs

From: Blazerine

I'm a fan of not having the feds on our asses again. And are you going to send me that file or what?

Replied: Blazerine

From: Tabs

Hey cool it, babes, it takes a little finesse, you know? Plus this shit is classified. Gov has this shit under wraps really good, but luckily you know the best.

File attachment:  The microscopic extraterrestrial parasite gains entry by penetrating the respiratory system. It collects nourishment by accessing the bloodstream to produce offspring that will attack the nervous system. The experimental transformation has not been successful. The infectious agent is never fully destroyed and the parasite enters a temporarily latent state if attacked. The parasite becomes activated once the outside force has been removed by the body's own defensive mechanism. Preventing the complete elimination of the parasite. Data has been provided if the host isn't compatible enough to co-exist with the organism; the host is likely to die during the process. Upon the host's death, the parasite leaves with offspring to repeat the cycle. A mandatory protocol has been endorsed for the following candidates for further studies. Note: Names anonymously have been selected at random for all ages, sexes, and races. 

Milan Canmore

Melvin Denmark

Cai Kamura

Remi Ozera

Donovan Brooks

Kadie Park

Adelaide Haven 

Louis Zhang

Luqman Edge

Jon Whitaker

When the A.I was done speaking, Lyrist mentioned he didn't understand a lot, but he understood enough. This illness was expanding and multiplying at a great rate. 

"Matilda is there a way to stop the sickness from spreading?" 

To assimilate into a compatible body. Predicting a ninety-nine point one percent success rate. The parasites will eliminate themselves to secure the host.

-----

Blazerine felt sick. What was that sour, dry taste in her mouth? Sand? Her guts were already twisting themselves into knots from starvation and hydration. She grimaced from the oncoming pangs of a headache beginning to form. 

"Just great..." This would have to be added to her list of worries.

Rolling over onto her side, her forehead bumped straight into Damas's shoulder. The wrinkle between her brows evaporated, 

"At least he's still breathing." 

She stood and stretched, feeling nearly every damn bone in her body crack. The temporary relief made her enjoy the warm breeze through her torn dress. Looking out at what lies ahead; the island seemed to be uninhabited as far as she could tell. She thought there might be some fruitage from the little smudges of green here and there. 

"First things first." 

She didn't have the strength to carry Damas so she grabbed him from underneath his arms.  The least she could do was get him out of the sun and into the shade. 

Damas woke up startled in his makeshift bed. Initially, he had blacked out on the boat, but that's as far as he could remember. Instead of the sea surrounding him, now there were only palm trees. From across the ways, he saw Blazerine struggling to knock down some coconuts. She partially had climbed up the trunk and swung a long bamboo stick. The first couple of swings looked precise until she got angry. Then she started swinging wildly while yelling profanities. He closed his eyes once again after he realized she was safe. 

When one coconut fell down from its secured position, she lowered herself back to the ground. 

"All that energy spent for such a little outcome. " 

She grew frustrated, not only with herself but with the constant swarm of bugs nipping at her exposed flesh. Salty sweat rolled off her nose and stung her eyes. The moment she was about to remove some, a mosquito landed on her forearm. It trailed along with its feathery antenna wiggling curiously for the right spot. Blazerine watched its belly swell with a dark color as it feasted. Unexpectedly, the mosquito began to throw its head from side to side in some sort of fit. The swiveling motion of its wings stops after it drops dead. Looking down to where the bug lands by her feet. She notices a few more were dead, but one appeared to be still alive. Slowly she reached out, but her hand ceased when the bug started to enlarge in size. Violently it convulses before exploding into clumps of festering tumors. Tiny bits splattered across her face upon impact. 

"Well, that's new." 

After a quick rinse, Blazerine tried several different methods for cracking the coconut open. 

First attempt; She threw it against the ground as hard as she could. 

Second attempt: Bashing it repeatedly against a tree.

Third attempt: Tried striking the coconut against a rock.

 

Fourth attempt: Dropped a heavy stone on top of the coconut. 

A few more drops made the husk’s fibers soften and split straight open. A lot of the juice was lost, but there was still enough in one halve to give to Damas. She took a small sample of the milk and regretted it immediately. Despite being thirsty, it reminded her of the artificial stuff back at home. Nothing was organic anymore. However, the taste was accurate - too accurate. 

Damas woke up to a refreshing flavor in his mouth. He attempted to lift the coconut higher to quench his thirst even faster. He paused only to ask,

 "You didn't come back smart this time around, did you?" 

 A confused look graced her features as she tried to solve the mystery of what she had done to earn such insults.

"White coconuts are meant for their juice and the brown ones are for meat. " 

"There's a difference?"  Blazerine's eyes drifted from the coconut back to the palm tree, "How the hell is there meat in them?" She continued before realizing she was talking out loud. 

"When did you do this?" Damas interjected by grabbing a hold of her marked arm, " Adam If you're trying to kill yourself, you're not doing a great job." 

Blazerine pulled back, "Will you cut it out already!? And that's not even my real name!" 

"Then what is?" 

"I - I" Her voice fell quieter. 

He rolled his hand to hurry her along.

"You already know it's Blazerine." She wasn't exactly eager to deal with the heaviness of that conversation, because she honestly doesn't know herself. 

A smile crossed his lips since he enjoyed seeing her get all flustered. He's glad she didn't pick up on his casual slip-up. He would have to make sure to keep his motives more separate in the future. Although, he had previous knowledge of everything Leon knew up till his death. He still lacked vital information on Blazerine. But prying into things could make their predicament worse if he's ever going to get on her good side. 

"Hey, I saved your life, you could at least give me a break!" Her eyes briefly darted off in his direction. 

"And why did you? Is it because you actually care for me?"

"No! I did it because it was the right thing to do!" The expression on her face suggested that she was being serious.

"Who are you trying to prove yourself to? There's nobody around. You could have just left me."

"You think I want ovations or praise? Look, I do what I think is right. Regardless if somebody is around to see it or not. "  Like her words, her black eyes told no lies, no warped truths, no hidden meanings.

"Okay, calm down, I was just messing." 

Her brows slightly furrowed. 

The minute he rose to his feet, he almost fell completely over, but Blazerine acted quick enough. 

"Quit being stupid! You have been out for days!" 

The funny thing about it is that Damas could feel her small body trembling in fear of his safety. In return, he tried to soothe her worries away by brushing his fingers through her hair. His attempt at consideration and possible low hints of affection was rejected. After he was shoved to the ground, he listened to her complain about not wanting to be touched. 

"And if - " Her tone dropped, turning somber. "Did you hear that?" 

Damas wasn't sure what she heard, but he was concerned by her abrupt change of behavior.  He felt the hairs on his neck prickle in anticipation for whatever danger might present itself to them. Instinctively he clutched a pebble tightly in his hand. Just when he's about to rise to his feet. She held her hand out, signaling him silently not to make any sudden movements. Frozen, he watched her moonless eyes survey their surroundings. In almost a blur, a mass ran straight into Blazerine and she flew back several feet into the sand. 

"Ooof!" She groaned. 

Damas sprung up, "Blazerine!?"

He finally got a good look at exactly what had hit her. A four-legged creature with lyre horns was skedaddling away after a failed attempt of capture.

"Blazerine…?" 

Sitting up, she managed to stammer, "Dinner..." quietly. 

No matter how furious she ever got with that gentle face of hers. She would always look rather pouty than mad in his eyes. He cleared his throat a little bit to push further back the amusement he felt from her juvenile strategy. It overlapped Leon's usual thought process;  When Blazerine's mind was made up on something she will see it through even if it'll get her killed.  

"You'll get it next time." 

Blazerine didn't say anything about his hand this time and just inhale and exhale the phrase, "Mother fucker." 

Blazerine realized her voice was louder than she intended. Maybe she still hadn't fully emotionally processed all the events that had transpired. She thought her feelings could fade like the rest of her memories if she chose to pretend this - they never happened. Let it all blur into oblivion. Forget the brief beautiful moments she thought had been spent with Leon. 'If only things could be that simple.' 

As the rain began to descend from the sky, Blazerine lifted her head up and allowed each droplet to kiss her freckled face. It was a reminder of when Fenix and her laughed about how unlucky she is. 

"Let's go find some shelter." 

The thicket of the island was home to many deadly things. Mostly insects that were way bigger than they needed to be. One, in particular, gave them the hardest time because it can easily walk along the tree branches and perhaps even the water with its segmented legs. The top is protected by a circular shell so the trick is to strike the underbelly between the ribs. Fortunately, when Damas kicked, it flipped over, giving Blazerine the opportunity to stab repeatedly with her makeshift spear. A horrific odor was expelled from its feeding filter right before its demise. They debated whether or not the bug could be salvaged for meat. In the end, Damas claimed even if the poison glands could be removed properly, their bright colors are an indication to warn predators that they're in fact toxic. Further along, they stumbled upon a dank cave. It would provide a lot of protection from enemies and elements outside, but who knows what lies inside. Damas cleared a path through the cobwebs with a torch he had created from the fire Blazerine had lit at the entrance. 

"Stay here and don't touch anything."

"Seriously? You expect me to let you wander into some dark arse - " Blazerine stopped mid-sentence before she corrected herself, "Ass cave!"

Damas gave her that 'do want me to put us both in danger kinda look.'  It was even harder to argue against him when it's Leon's face after all, "Fine just yell if you need any help." 

Crouching beside the fire, she quietly fed the flames while waiting for his return. Gradually her gaze reaches to her arm and stops on the scab shaped like an 'N'. She still had no explanation on what took place that day. Was it actually a fragment of imagination interfering with her grasp of reality...?

When Damas reappeared, he tossed the torch out into the rain to extinguish it. Then uncomfortably, he sat down with a bit of grunt. 

"How's it look?" Blazerine asked.

"After this bucket down we can make some preparations for our stay." 

Blazerine reached out to slowly lift the stiff fabric hanging heavily on Damas body. His upper body – fair, thin – was laced in bruises. Some red, some blue. The worst of it was the swelling that developed around his ribcage. She resisted the urge to run a finger along to count how many had been broken or fractured. 

"You knew?" A weary smile glued onto his lips. 

Blazerine let his shirt drop before giving a slight shrug, "I'm not entirely sure if the impact of the water hurt you more than I did." 

"You did what you had to." 

Blazerine didn't bother addressing his leg. 'How is he limping still? It's been way too long since the dragon incident. Did he not recuperate long enough or was the injury more severe than he had led on?' There was a turmoil of emotions going on between her heart and rationality. But despite her feelings, she ended up sitting right beside him. 

Damas scooted a little closer to her, at least close enough to feel her warmth. Her body language was soft and relaxed, which made him feel comfortable enough to lean in for some shut-eye. 

She thought it was the courteous thing to do since there wasn't anywhere else for him to sleep at least until they had made some sort of arrangements. 

Looking over her shoulder, she said, "Only till the rain stops." 

The next morning, Blazerine took it upon herself to gather some resources. She tried to prioritize the heavier tasks so Damas wouldn't have to strain himself any further. Her main objective is to create a source of fire for the cave. However, air circulation would be one of the biggest issues. If the smoke were to be blown back to where they are sleeping. More than likely they could end up suffocating to death. Since the mouth of the cave was quite spacious. She decided to create a firepit there.  Her idea is that the cave will act as a reflector and trap the heat inside. Precisely she overlaid a wall of hefty stones in a circle. Once she was done, she left a pile of wood for Damas to deal with later. She didn't want to lose all of her patience by attempting the fire herself. Instead, she used the rest of it on braiding some makeshift shoes. She chose corn husks instead of wood for better mobility. 

"How resourceful," Damas said heavy-lidded. 

Since it took several years for Havan to create a time-traveling transporter. She had undergone prehistoric training simulators on survival as a worst worst-case scenario. Although she had taken it quite seriously, she still wasn't exactly skillful with most of the basic knowledge she had gained nor memorized. 

"You feeling any better?" 

He offered a slight smile to reassure her that he was alright. Even if he felt his condition was worsening.  She knew that he was more likely to hide it, and hold out for as long as he could, before actually saying anything to her. In many ways, she's much the same... So she could not scold him for doing things that she had a tendency to do herself.  After securing the final knot, she offered to make him a pair, but he declined. Slightly annoyed by his response, she didn't say anything else before making her way back to the shore. 

This island, like any, Blazerine reasoned, was filled with uncertainty. Chaos and entropy repeated in a cyclic fashion, and the only way to swim in the seas of change was to surf on the waves of that change, and hope the tides shifted favorably your way. That, or drown.

Alone, she spent the rest of her time spearfishing in the shallow waters. With every miss - came an opportunity to try and try again.  Inbetween the struggles, she looked out through the curls of disheveled hair that fell partially down her face. 

 'I look like some kind of wild animal.'

She laughed, but her reflection did not. Perplexed by the discovery, she tried touching her face to see if her counterpart would do the same. Still, it remained unphased. Frightfully, she started to back out of the water. Then her doppelganger looked directly back and smiled. 

'No matter what you see Blaze. Accept it and move on.'

Although it's easier said than done.  She took a deep, steadying breath, trying to let everything go. With a single thrust of the spear, she did just that. The image quickly became unrecognizable after dissipating into the ripples.  Upon retrieval, a tow-colored fish dangled into view. She wasn't very familiar with the type or well any of them in general. But she could give a shit less. As long as it's editable. She marveled at the little sucker while it flopped in protest of being impaled. 

Nightfall; reality had finally settled back in. The rapid temperature change would have surely killed them if it weren't for the campfire. For a long, unwelcome minute, Damas and Blazerine sat there completely in silence. Unfortunately, this has become a daily recurrence for weeks. She was always contemplating saying something - anything, really, but she never managed to do so. She knew prying at old wounds could draw blood without much of an effort. Yet, she's stranded with somebody who was inhabiting the body of her friend. Uncomfortably she was living close to the edge. One wrong move and whatever is left of Leon could be gone forever. Well... if there was actually anything left. Sometimes, it was best not to grasp for more. So Blazerine dismissed her fleeting inclination to speak to Damas. Presuming it would be a waste of time to convince him that she was not in fact Adam. 

The following night... 

Blazerine sensed herself being watched and paused once more to take in her surroundings. Now that she had a moment to think. It was clear what predicament she was about to be put in.