June

I could tell you the whole story of how I got to Antarctica but it's not that interesting really. Let's just say that when Pascao said that he had contacts he meant contacts with helicopters that could illegally bring me here. After that, it was easy find the hotel where Day was staying since everyone in the city seemed to know it. I decided to ask the receptionist which room was Day's as my first option. I was expecting her to tell me that that information was classified or something but instead, she told me the room number without asking any questions. I didn't stop to think about how suspicious that was. Just like it was with Robert, when he just let me enter Anden's office. And now I realize that I should've stopped to think about that. That way I woudn't have led myself to a trap.

The last thing I remember clearly was Day, whispering Anden's name as he walked into the room with at least ten guards around him . Then, before I could stop him, before I could even realize what was going on, Day punched Anden in the face.

And just like that, Day's surrounded by Anden's guards, all of them aiming their guns at him.

"NO!" I shout as I make my way to him "STOP! DON'T SHOOT HIM"

Anden fell when Day punched him but he was on his feet now, his nose bleeding.

"Do as she says" he orders spitting out blood. "Don't shoot him"

The guards hesitate for a second before dropping their guns to their sides and returning to their rigid positions.

"Really?" Day asks as he slowly approaches Anden "You sure you don't want them to shoot me? You could get rid of me so easily and that's exactly what you want, right? What you've always wanted: to get rid of me"

The guards tense a little.

"Day" I warn him but he doesnt' even turn to look at me. His eyes are focused on Anden's, the first one that looks away, loses.

"There's no need to kill you as long as you do as I say" Anden's pulled out a handkerchief and was now cleaning the blood off his face.

"After how you've tricked me, you might as well shoot me now because I'm not doing that."

"Then I might as well do it"

"Enough" I say before the guards could take that as an order. I step between them, separating them with my arms. I give Day a reproachful look and then, I turn to Anden. "What are you doing here? What do you want?"

He steps back at the sound of my voice but he doesn't look at me. "There are only two people that can interfere on the project we've been working on so I needed this people at one single place so I can keep an eye on them." Then finally, he looks at me. "You are the people"

Now it all makes sense. Why Robert let me enter in Anden's office so easily, why the receptionist gave me Day's room number without any questions. Anden wanted me here.

Day scoffs. "Oh, a project you say? What's it call? "Let's make people hate Day"? Have you made t-shirts with that slogan? I bet you even have banners with a red X on my face."

Day was saying this sarcastically having no idea of how close he was to the truth.

"We just need to change this group of rebel's minds, after that you'll be able to come back." Anden's expression was as solemn as always, it seems like nothing can change that, not even being punched on the face. "Until then, stay out if"

"Really?" I ask him "Because you told me a couple of days ago that, and I quote, 'Day's not coming back'"

"I just said that so you would want to come here and 'rescue' him. You may have forgotten, June, but I know how you think"

I ignore that last part but I'm pretty sure Day doesn't. "Then you're letting us go home?" I ask before he can say anything.

Anden doesn't answer right away, as if he was considering it. "Soon"

"And how could we possibly trust you?" Day asks and Anden closes his eyes

In that moment something in his expression changes, he looks...tired. Exhausted actually. Maybe even a little hurt.

"Please Daniel" he pleads out of breath "I want this to be over too"

His eyes are open now but he's looking at the floor.

Somehow I know he's not lying. I'm not saying that I fully trust him, but I just believe on what he's saying. Day doesn't though.

"Of course you want this to be over, how inconvenient it would be if suddenly you wake up and all your power it's taken away from you! How could you possibly survive? You're not doing this for the sake of the country, you're doing this for you. You're just like your father"

I can see the impact Day's words have had on Anden. He's gone too far.

"Day" I say in the exact same time Anden says "Guards"

Oh no, this is not going to end well. I prepare myself for the fight that is obviously coming even though I have no weapons and they have tons. I can see that Day is too, because he's standing between me and the soldiers, trying to protect me.

Anden opens his mouth, ready to order his guards to capture us. Maybe he even changed his mind, maybe he's going to kill us. And then he says:

"Leave us"

I blink, shocked. And so do the guards.

"But sir" one of them is protesting but Anden cuts him off.

"Leave. Us." he repeats.

They look at eachother, unsure, and slowly leave the room.

Once they are all out, Anden clears his throat.

"When I was first became Elector, I swore to myself that I would be a different kind of ruler of what my father was." he says, looking down. "But it's...hard. To rule a country, I mean. I'm not saying that I approve my father's methods but I think I understand him now."

This caught Day totally out of guard, he wasn't expecting this but he doesn't say anything, doesn't interrupt him. And Anden goes on:

"I tried to fight it but it's inevitable. Power can sometimes blind you, and it did that to me. I think it did that to my father too. But I'm not like him, Day" he raises his head and looks at him "If I wake up tomorrow with no power at all, I wouldn't just survive, I'd be happy, I'd have a normal life. Everything that I did was for the sake of the country, the way I did it might not have been the gentlest way but I can assure that this is not about me. I never wanted this, all I ever wanted was..."

His voice trails off and he's not looking at Day anymore. His eyes wander through the room until they finally lay on me. I shake my head slowly.

"Her" Day mutters. "All you ever wanted was her"

I can't speak. I open my mouth but no sound comes out of it, it's like if something was blocking my throat. They are both looking at me now and I don't know what to do. And even if I could speak, what would I say?

Day stares at me for a while. I can't decipher his look, is he angry? Sad? Annoyed? He finally shakes his head and walks out of the room.

That's when my voice comes back "Day" I call him and take a few steps toward him but he's already gone. I want to follow him but Anden is still on the room.

"Go" he says, and then he laughs, a short and sad laugh. "You don't even need my permission, you'll always go after him"