Chapter 4

Dirty Little Secret

Ever since that day we've done the same thing, switching jobs. It's been three weeks. All I can think about is becoming a great pilot like my ancestors, Renton and Eureka Thurston. …And strangely enough, Emma. I haven't thought about another girl since...Lillian. But, to be honest, during my time here, the only thing it's been is boring.

I was walking down the halls when I heard it, a bloodcurdling scream coming from Emma's room. I ran to her door only to find it locked. More screaming. "I DON'T WANT TO! YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!" I heard her cry out. "Emma, what's wrong?! Open out!" I called to her. "NO! LEAVE ME ALONE! STOP TOUCHING ME!" she screamed. Oh hell no, screw that crap! I broke down the door and rushed in. "Emma, where are you?!" I yelled frantically.

I found her, cowering in the corner of the bathroom clutching her as if she had a violent migraine. There was brunette hair dye in the sink. "Emma, what's wrong?!" I asked kneeling down to her level. She froze up at the sound of my voice. "B-Blaze?" she said in a quivering tone. I've never seen her like this. I looked around the room, but saw no one. What has her so frightened? She removed her hands from her head revealing strands of electric blue hair underneath. "What the?!" I took a step back. Did she dye her hair blue? And if so, why?

She sniffled and wiped away the tears in her eyes. Something fell out one of them. She cursed and quickly used her hand to cover the eye. I looked down to see what fell out. A contact? I picked up the small hazel disc. "Emma? What's this about?" I asked in then gentlest tone. She slowly removed her hand. What I saw behind it, completely shocked me. "My god," I gasped. Amethyst eyes. "Y-you're a Coralian!" I exclaimed. She shook her head. "No Blaze, I'm an abomination!" wept Emma. "Huh? What are you talking about? You're no abomination." I told her.

She stood up. "Yes, I am. I'm a spy sent by the Image." she said in a cold tone. "What? Stop that. That's not funny." I said in disbelief. "My real name is Zita." went Emma. She began talking deliriously about herself, as if a fever had overtaken her.

"The Image made me in likeness to Eureka and Sakuya. I was 'born' the same day the Image reappeared. My mission is…" she paused. "My mission was to discover the weaknesses in humans and Coralians. Within this body lies a destructive force." Emma/Zita placed her hand over her chest. I continued to stare at her in disbelief. It's not true, it can't be.

"But, I don't want this! There's so many things! So many things I've discovered about this world, in the short time I've been alive, which are so beautiful!" she clung to me as she cried. "Blaze, help me! I don't want this mission or power! All I want is to live peacefully with you!" she gasped and quickly covered her mouth. But, it was too late, Emma had just admitted her deepest, darkest, secret desire. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..." she began apologizing. I cut her off.

"Hi...Hi Thurston. That's my real name." I told her. Her eyes widened. "Then that means," she gasped. "That I'm a descendant of Renton & Eureka Thurston, and my LFO is really the Nirvash typeHOPE. Yes." I answered. Now she stared at me in disbelief. "So what if you're Image?! I don't care what your mission is or what power you possess! I say screw them both and you should too! You're you! You are Emma, not Zita, and I am Blaze, not Hi. You hear me?!" I told her firmly.

She gazed into my sky blue eyes. Tears began flowing from the girl with amethyst eyes. "Hi, I..." she wept. "Your secret is safe with me." I reassured Emma as I brought her close. I felt a burning desire within me to shield this girl from any harm. I remember. I've felt this way before, about someone else, just one... Lillian. It seemed so long ago. "I'll protect you, Emma. I swear, from the bottom of my heart, I'll protect you. Even if I have to forsake the world." I pledged to the sobbing girl. I tilted her chin up and brought my lips to meet her own.

I meant only to consol her but, time seemed to halt as we stood there, lips passionately locked, before we broke contact. Not for the sake of modesty, but for oxygen. "Now, smile for me, Emma." I requested. She did. "Thank you, Blaze." she whispered into my chest as we held each other.

Just then I heard what sounded like the shuffle of feet outside the door. "Stay here." I told her. She nodded. I ran to investigate the noise. I saw a shadowy figure running away. I chased after the figure until I caught up with it and tackled the shadow to the ground. I turned the person over to face me as I pulled back my fist, ready to punch whomever it was. But then, stopped. "Matt?" I said once I recognized him. "Hey," he said. My eyes hardened. "How much did you hear?" I asked him.

"Everything...Hi Thurston. About you, about...Zita. So, you're the descendant of the great Renton and Eureka." answered Matt. "You'd be wise to forget what you heard." I told him. "Are you threatening me, Blaze?" he asked. "Yes." I said flatly. "Zita's an Image spy." he protested. I shook my head. "No, she's Emma, and she's our comrade." I replied sternly. Matt looked at me with disdain. "You love her, don't you?" he said sounding almost disgusted. Did I? "I...yes." I realized.

He studied me as if to see if I could be persuaded. When my expression didn't change he sighed, defeated. "Alright, I get it. I'll keep my mouth shut about you two." he promised. "Thanks, Matt." I said. "But, if I see Emma do anything suspicious, I'm reporting her. Got it?" he stated. "Understood." I replied. "Now, would you please get off me?" he requested. I did and helped him to his feet. The two of us leered each other for a brief moment. "See you later, Captain Blaze." he waved. A thought crossed my mind as Matt left. What have I gotten myself into?