How could that be? I asked myself over and over again. I just made up some identity to solidify my story, but it turned out to be real people instead.


    “Hmm…” Philip propped his chin as he carefully think, “to get into Lincoln City, you need a legal identity documents with you, which you do not have, currently.”


    “I already make a new one for her,” Mira chirped in, with her hands on her waist, boasting her action.


    “Although you can easily forged a new one in N109 Zone, if you were not careful, you might get caught by the authority, and, I don’t mean to belittle you, but you don’t look like you have the skill to deceive people,” Philip ignored Mira and keep pouring out his thought to me.


    “Actually there is a faster way, you could just asked them to justify your identity for you, but… they might feigning ignorance instead. Actually they might just do that, with how they just abandoned you here while having the best day of their life,” Mira added on.


    How should I say, they won’t justify for me because they really did not know me! It’s not that they were heartless, they had never abandoned me in the first place.


    “I have decided to put things behind. I do not wish to have anything with them anymore. Let bygones be bygones,” I said, bluffing my way out once again.


    “Is that enough with you? Don’t you at least want to blow up their place?”


    Curse this common sense of N109 Zone people. Do they only think about settling things with violence and chaos? I don’t want to involve innocent people in this matter.


    “No. There is no need for such measure. It will only attract more trouble and a waste of time. I had rather focus what is in front of me right now.”


    “I don’t know whether to say you were foolish or you were kind,” Mira commented as she shrugged her shoulder.


    Philip chuckled. “Not everyday you will encounter someone with big heart such as yourself.”


    I wonder if it was a good thing or not that their misunderstanding had escalated to such interpretation. I prefer they think of me as someone who like less trouble rather than someone who were kind.


    “However… would no one worry if you gone missing for too long? Like your parent or siblings?”


    “I have no family in this world. Just me.”


    I was not lying. Really, no. I mean, my parent were well and alive, but not in this world. So, technically, I am alone in this world with no family. But, the look of sympathy they gave me was too burdensome. Even those living in the dark world had empathy.


    “No one’s going to nag you all day long then. Cool.”


    I take back what I said. Their way of comforting other is really pissing me off. My parent is doing great, thank you!


    “What did you even came here for? I knew it was not just to introduce me to this girl, wasn’t it?” Philip uttered as his hand continued fiddling with machines.


    “Almost forgot!” Mira slapped her forehead with her palm, added, “is there anything she could use to defend herself? She’s… weak… like a bunny. Trembling at a sight of those little mutated rat even though that thing was easy to kill. What if she accidentally stumbled upon Wanderers?”


    “Before you worry she would meet with Wanderers, worry that she might get abducted first. Little girl like her would sell high.”


    “That too…”


    I wonder who were they calling little girl. Clearly, I had told Mira before that we had differences only five years apart. She was 29, and I am 24 already. And! I might looked like this, but I too have my own strength. I wouldn’t let myself be caught, that was for sure.


    “And… she was someone without Evol, that was for sure, but, her body constitution were weaker than average. It’s like she grew up in a world without Wanderers.”


    Upon hearing Mira’s statement, my body flinched. Not sure whether I was anxious of getting exposed or scared on her deduction ability, but what I knew was, I definitely cannot be found out.


    “Hmm… Alice, could you get on that,” Philip said, pointing to the metal seat designed almost the same as surgery chair or dental chair.


    “Am I about to be dissected?” I blurted out as I saw no way out.


    My blunt announcement brought laughter from both Mira and Philip. Mira laughed while holding her stomach while Philip looked away, perhaps, trying to hide, but the vibration his body wholeheartedly shown, definitely did not have any hint of covering the snicker.


    Their sudden burst calmed me down, and I trudged along toward the chair and took my seat.


    “Aw~ what’s that look for? Are you sulking?” Mira said, pinching my protruding lips.


    Lightly slapping her hand away, I replied, “who’s sulking…”


    “This is…”


    Both of our attention went to Philip who wore shocked expression on his face while staring at the blue screen. He would sneak a peek on me, then turned to look at the screen, repeating the same movement few times before he finally sighed.


    “How were you able to stay alive after all this year?”


    I was taken aback by his question. Even Mira was scrunching her eyebrows listening to him. He shook his head and fixed his gaze on me. Watching me with a look of pity, curiosity and little bit of fear.


    “I am sure you know, that not all human beings were gifted with Evol,” he paused, waiting for our response.


    When we nodded our head, he added, “however, human being human, we became more adapting to the situation and by time, developing a stronger body than before. Despite that… your body… seem to have never gone through that change.”


    An awkward silence filled the air. Somehow, I suddenly felt guilty. There was nothing wrong with me at all. That, I know. And I also know that I am different from this people who lived with Wanderers in their daily life. Unlike me, who, the most threatening figure, will be human themselves.


    “Are you sick?” Mira uttered the word in soft spoken voice that I have yet to hear, while looking at me with confusion in her eyes.


    “No. I am perfectly fine. Since birth, till now. It might be confusing, but, my hometown, where I lived, there was not much danger, or even possibilities to encounter danger. Even if I’m weak, I still survived, didn’t I?”Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    “This is N109 Zone. You are in N109 Zone right now, not you safe little hometown,” her voice were higher and her sympathetic gaze turned to anger. Did I do anything wrong?


    “Well… I am sure I will be fine somehow. Don’t worry, I will do my best to ensure my safety. I’m a coward, you see. That’s why, my safety will always be my priority,” I assured her while clenching my fists, trying to show my courage.


    Even though deep down in my heart, I was afraid. Afraid that I might not be able to go back to where I belong. Afraid I would not be able to meet my family and my friends anymore. Afraid being stranded in world so alien, alone.


    There was many thing that I was scared of, but the thing I am afraid the most, was thinking how should I lived my life here from now on. I could lost my life at any given moment. There was no super power or protagonist debuff that I could rely on. Overpower protagonist? Yeah… In my dream… But… I think I wouldn’t get it even in my dream.


    Perhaps, having lived few days here gave me strength to keep going. Well, technically, I don’t have time to mull over the fact.


    I met with Mira, who gave me place to stay, Luke and Kieran, who became the bridge for me and Sylus… And… Sylus… The one character in the game that I loved. Even though he only had his eyes on the main character.


    “Old man…” Mira’s voice bring me back from my solo monologue. “Is there no way to make her stronger?”


    “What? Are you suggesting me to reconstruct her body?”


    “Could you?”


    “Wait, wait, wait!” I interjected when I saw that Philip was actually considering such idea. “Don’t you think you have to ask for my opinion first?” I said, pointing my finger toward my face.


    “Well… It’s not like you will disagree with it, right?” Mira replied nonchalantly.


    “Why would you even think that I will agree to it?”


    “I thought you want to live?”


    “Sure. I want to live. But what does it matter with going through body reconstruction?”


    She lifted her eyebrow, confused. “Do you really naively think you can live here with your current body?”


    That statement make too much sense that I can’t refute, but I still refused to back down. “I know that well… But… I still don’t want to.”


    There goes again, the moment of silence. My choice seem weird for the people in this world to comprehend, and their choice was difficult for me to accept. The difference in our lifestyle brought that different way of thinking. They were not wrong from their perspective and so do I.


    Mira scratched her hair angrily, and kicked the leg of a table before storming out of the store. I turned my face toward Philip.


    “She was just worried about you,” he said, in a soft spoken voice.


    “I know, but…”


    “But you won’t change your mind.”


    “Yeah.”


    “Why?”


    “For a reason I could not tell.”


    “Then, I guess I won’t hear the answer.”


    That night, neither Mira nor I spoke to each other. After a brief talk with Philip, Mira came in and waited for me. Although she doesn’t spoke a word to me, I knew she was still worried, and was angry with me. There were things I can’t said to anyone, thus I kept my silence.


    ***


    The gloomy sky somehow seem to be comforting my soul. I started to miss my job. Dealing with governments, dealing with other museums, handling exhibition, and my hobby of gazing at each and every one of the trace of history.


    During my school days, I once work part time job as a cleaner, thus, I knew for sure, it was not an easy job. Which is why, I began to doubt whether I am doing my job properly or not, right at this moment.


    Left and right, up and down, there were machines embedded with cleaning tools. I felt useless. Although there were hidden places that they would miss, it was not too much to cover. So… I lazed around a lot. Very lot. Which I would never done before. It felt strange.


    “Caw!”


    The sudden call of affection made me jumped on my seat. Mephisto landed on a tree branch close to where I was sitting.


    “Mephisto! Glad to see you again, cutie.”


    “Caw!”


    “Ha ha… Are you shy with that nickname? But you really are a cutie!”


    “Caw! Caw! Caw!”


    “Aw~ I’m not teasing you… I’m speaking the truth. And, I’m not slacking off. Just taking a break.”


    “I see he had took a liking on you.”


    Like a bell that rang when the break was over, or the chime in the church on a wedding day, his voice resonated into my heart like a signal something were about to start.


    “Sylus,” I uttered as I turned around to see him walking closer.


    “You look surprised.”


    “No… I didn’t think I will meet you again.”


    He paused for seconds, and let out a scoffed. “You know this is my place, don’t you?”


    “Hmm? Of course I do. This is a good place. Though I do get lost sometimes while walking, but I’m making progress remembering the layout.”


    He took a step closer and bent his body, eyes to eyes with mine. He scowled as the time passed, seeing nothing happened. I seem to have forgotten something important, yet, I was too enchanted by the crimson blood to remember.


    He narrowed his eyes before taking his gaze off mine, presumably giving up whatever he intended to do.


    “You have stop hiding it,” he said casually like he was trying to shift my attention.


    “Ah! Yes! I thought about what you said, and decided to stop wearing contact lens. At first it was kind of awkward but no one said anything about it. I guess… I’m quite glad I heed your advice.”


    Truthfully, I just don’t know where to buy contact lens. On top of that, I have only been using one kind of brand, therefore, I got no choice but to stop wearing one.


    “Have you finish your work?”


    “Yes? No. I mean, I’m on a break right now.”


    “A break? An hour before clocking out?”


    “That— Anyway! How did you know when did I clocked out? I had never told you.”


    He lifted his eyebrow, looking at me as he was looking at a fool. “Have you forgotten who you were working for?”


    “AH~ Right! You’re the boss. Hmm? Did you came looking for me?”


    “Have you been to Silio?”


    “Silio? Is it a place? I think… no. I have not been to that place yet.”


    “Follow me.”


    ***


    I would not lie. I was excited when he brought me along to his expedition, however, I must said, this was the worst place for a date. Quite disappointing, I felt like bawling me eyes out.


    “This… is Silio?”


    “How was it?”


    “It…” my eyes darting left and right staring dagger at every store lined up in the area, and of course, the goods that were on display. I added, “…quite fascinating.”


    “Ho? Is that all?”


    There was a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes. He took pleasure observing my reaction. There it dawned to me yet again, he was only caring toward main character. Although, I could also sense there was something different with the way he treated me, albeit not out of affection.


    “May I ask, what we’re doing here?”


    “You have no idea?”


    “How could I know? You tell nothing. I’m not a mind reader.”


    “I though you were.”


    “If I could read your mind, I will not be having trouble understanding your every move. Well, it was also fun trying to guess.”


    “Yesterday, something of mine were supposed to arrive in due time, however, Kieran brought to me an unexpected news instead.”


    “Had it gone missing?” I said casually, which earned me a glower from him, “I mean… no one would be brave enough to delay the shipment if you were the customer, so I concluded that it could only be an unavoidable situation like goods gone missing during delivery.”


    “So, why do you think we’re here right now?”


    “Could it be… one of these seller?” I muttered as I took a glimpsed on my surrounding, “they don’t seem capable, though…”


    “Is that how you see them?”


    “It’s not how I see them, more like how I see you. I could never fathom those who dared to defy you. It’s quite ludicrous seeing them flaunting their bravery in your territory. No fear of death, perhaps.”


    His mirthful sneer shot an arrow into my heart. “Here I thought you were a fool, but, I see, you have a part of functioning brain in your head too.”


    “I wouldn’t be able to keep my life if I’m a fool…”


    “You were right,” he said as he poke my cheeks with his finger, “… make me wonder how you had lived so far.”


    Did I just died and descended to heaven? His rough calloused finger touched my skin. I wonder what good deed had I commit for me not only to see his devilish smile but also received his touch in one day.


    I cupped my palms on my cheeks where his warmth lingered around, hoping that I could trapped that warmth and kept it forever. Maybe I should just avoid washing my cheeks altogether.


    I don’t care about the unsettled gaze I received, and I don’t care the clamorous whisper from the onlookers. The heat on my face blazed like a house on fire. Even the two men that was hiding between the building had lose my interest.


    “You shouldn’t touch people carelessly!” I said in embarrassment.


    “Why should I not?”


    “Because… your touch is lethal. It’s a lethal weapon that struck my heart and sent me to heaven in a blink of an eyes.”


    He blink his eyes once. Twice. Thrice. Disbelief on his face. “I was convinced you were a bunny, however, I now see… fox suit you better.”


    The enjoyment dissipated in an instant. How am I a fox? I didn’t played anyone’s heart. I don’t flirt with just anyone. And I’m sure not as pretty as foxy women usually was. With what conviction did he came up with that conclusion, I pondered.


    “How am I a fox?”


    “These,” he uttered as he brushed his finger on the tip of my nose. I still have no idea what he meant, and I will never knew until the end.