Hello peeps. It's been a reaaallly long time, huh? But you know, school, life and etc needs a lot of time ^^" and writing somehow is forced to back away...

Thank you for your reviews (they're like some sort of presents) and for your patience (that is something I don't have).

I truly think I started seeing the end of this fic, not much left. Anyways, here's the new chapter and I just hope it was worth to wait.

21. Little lies

It was dark.
Darker than dark.
And it became even darker…
But it wasn't the worst thing. Just a start. A start of something…
Another impudently strong blow followed, shaking the enormous blackness. So sharp…
Stab. Something -someone?- was trying to stab its -their?- way through this shield, shell, cocoon or whatever. And it was painful.
If in this unfathomable black and deafness a lonely soul could have a voice, it would be screaming by now. And that scream would be piercing, sepulchral and unceasing.
Stabbing wouldn't stop. It grew quicker, more vigorous with every new stroke coming. But darkness stayed in its place – steady as a rock. So much time this soul had to endure all those stabs that a simple thought, a detail of realization scared it. The mauler wasn't some mysterious stabber or murderer. It was… words. Bright, dazzling words. So petty and so mighty. Just words. Echoing. Imprinting their taints in the wastes of this nothingness. Burning.

"… real thing… knight… don't forget… exhaustion… breathe… the light… mist… "chi chi chi!"… mission… fight… pain… voices… blackness… must talk to… have to tell… gone… words… "Bye-byes!"… calm… nothingness…"

There was no more air left in this place. Words finally broke through and occupied all the space. This soul couldn't breathe anymore…

*Thursday, few minutes past 4 am.*

Husky cough… Wheezy cough… And a whole string of coughs erupted from her throat.
Her eyelashes parted against her own will and her eyes gazed at the dull light hanging above like the sun. It wasn't the sun. No…
Zhalia slowly moved her head to side - her body felt so heavy. Every move required some efforts. Her drowsy look grasped a face. A face, with a relieved expression all over, of a man resting nearby on the edge of the bed. Whatta… She blinked few times, frowned. Why was she lying on a bed? Zhalia drudgingly lifted herself a bit, leaning and shifting all the weight on her elbows, the man followed her movements with his eyes.
"Wh-where am I?" she hawked. "What is this place?"
But the one beside her remained silent, only some spark in his orbs spoke about a change in his mood. He looked… upset. And glum. Zhalia shivered lightly and tried to sit up. Seeing what she intends to do, the man carefully and a bit hesitantly held out his hands, took her by her arms and effortlessly, as if she weighed nothing, lifted helping her to shift into a wanted position. And drew back – quiet and guarded. Question mixed with concern formed on her face. Woman bit her lip, thinking.
"D…" but she changed her mind. "What's wrong? Why aren't you saying anything?"
"I'm… just glad you're okay," his voice was husky.
Taking a deep breath, Zhalia massaged her temples. Grumbled.
"How's your head?"
"Clearly better than before," she gave him a skeptic look.
Man flinched, gazing back at her.
"You… remember?"
"Damn it, Dante. You're kinda freaking me out," blue-haired one glared at him; not angry, just confused. "No, I don't remember. Everything's too messy… But what's with you? What's…"
Out of nowhere his arms firmly wrapped around her, locking her in his fond embrace. At first it surprised her, she wasn't expecting such thing. And so suddenly. Anyways, swallowing her comments and astonishment, Zhalia relaxed, lowering her head on friend's shoulder, happy to transfer some weight to him. It was still too hard to hold down on her own… What the heck happened? Some vague fragments were wandering through her mind. She couldn't tell if they were true or just tricks of her imagination. But big floating black orbs can't be a real thing, can they?
"Ee… I know it's weird but…" woman wavered. "Is it just me or I remember you… kissing me?" and she smiled to herself, it was actually unusual of her to ask something like that. Where did she get courage for that?
Well… Judging from his body, Dante gave no reaction. None of his muscles tensed, he took it as if that was a random thing anyone can ask in the street. Though a long pause that fell down after her query seemed really unnatural.
"You must've had some dream," uttered finally in an emotionless tone.
He was holding her close so he couldn't see how her baffled but also hopeful expression faded away. She felt… She didn't lie, she couldn't remember most of things, but the feeling she got now seemed familiar. Too familiar. And ready to slip away before realizing what it was.
Zhalia concentrated on breathing. Slow and steady. The air was somehow thick, you could sense electricity coursing back and forth, it even looked that if you just reach out your hand you will touch all: molecules, material it was made from, every emotion that was entwined into it. Honestly. It wasn't something you would call cosy…
"What happened?" demanded blue-haired woman, knowing that he understands what she meant.
"I don't know, you just…" Dante let go her of his embrace. "You just passed out suddenly."
"How long I've been…"
"Long," but, urging by her penetrating gaze, he added reluctantly. "About… 15 hours."
She couldn't help but stare at him. But who wouldn't?
"15? What… you… Why didn't you call a doctor or something?"
Something flashed across Dante's face. Solicitude or doubt. Some feeling that would look strange if you knew the person. But she didn't, she was still struggling to remember everything (or at least something more). He switched the subject.
"How are you feeling?"
"I don't know, maybe like brain-washed? Again." Zhalia sighed, slightly shaking her head. "And my head is spinning like a whirligig… Does that count as being ok?"
And she let herself to fall back on the bed. Dante stayed sitting there at the edge of it, watching her with some mysterious look in his eyes.
"You've been keeping me company, right?" female seeker ran her hands over her face. "For how long?"
"Three… eh, now it's the fourth day."
"What time is it?"
"4.20," he paused. "Look, I can't stay here anymore. I'll have to leave you. I'm sorry…"
"Don't be, just…" Zhalia led her orbs to him. "I'm really over-tired. Can you wake me up before you go?"
"Zhaal…"
I'm leaving now – was what Dante wanted to say, but he didn't. Because the one who was supposed to hear those words was already asleep. This time for real. Wow… He raised his eyebrows. Amazing. After such freaking long time of sleeping she was sleeping again. Though who knows? He had to admit, when Zhalia blacked out she truly looked like sleeping, but something in her expression told different. There was something. In these past days man came to hate this word...

Dante placed himself on the ground, leaning his back against the bed. Time for contemplation. He's been doing that for the last 15 hours, so few more will make no difference… Burying his face in his palms and rubbing his tired eyes, man sighed, fixed his gaze on the ceiling. A tiny wreath of Boltflare was dangling in the air, raying a faint light. Dante snapped his fingers to make it disappear. And thick half-darkness shrouded the room. Though maybe he should use this time for even a short nap, cause he hadn't slept for a whole day and it didn't seem that in the nearest future he'll have such chance… Dante closed his eyes. No… There's no way he'd be able to. Besides, lots of questions wouldn't leave him alone anyways.
Why did he choose to stay here for such a long time?
And why isn't he leaving now? It would be more than simple…
Some things were more difficult. For example, what is wrong with him? Why did he lie? How did he do that? When Zhalia asked if he kissed her, he wasn't sure how to answer, he hesitated for a moment. But. He was just about to say 'True, I did' or something like that, when he heard himself claiming totally opposite. How's that possible! It's almost like he wasn't controlling his body or speech at all… Or perhaps it's like she said? Maybe this state is contagious? That would explain a lot. Though he couldn't complain about his own memory. Well, just a little bit, some details which supposed to be clear were actually too cloudy. Or entirely dark.
Dante also noticed something strange happening. With guards. Or himself. Who knows? It seemed that apart from Zhalia no one could see him. Or at least he was a waste of space to everyone who would come in. Nobody paid attention to him, though he shouldn't be here. As if he didn't even exist. But he found it weird just now – few hours till leaving. It's like he was no longer responsible for his own actions, thoughts, feelings, memory. He felt like a marionette. A stupid puppet that can't do a thing. And the puppet master seemed to like having this puppet-show only from time to time. He didn't even sense, even now, that he was being manipulated. Maybe he wasn't? Such thing is impossible anyways. It's more likely that he somehow got infected with Zhalia's memory loss or whatever it actually was. He's alive, he's real, he's here. That's what matters.
Though at the moment he was starting to doubt everything – everything he knew and everything he thought he knew. Dante sighed and threw back his head. Felt how Zhalia moved her hand, her fingers stroking his hair.
"… crud…" a quiet murmur greeted.
It made him smile, despite all those problems what were ruthlessly crushing him. Only in one day: he managed to tell her that she's dying and that he loves her, he kissed her and he believed that she died in his arms, he got a grain of hope and he lost it, somehow she came back to him and he thought she lost her memory again, she was alive and he was dying under the avalanche of questions, he was happy and depressed, confused and exhausted, surprisingly calm and terribly scared, he was invisible and he was a puppet… All in one day. And what's the most bloodcurdling - man's heart was avouching that he'll have to go through all of this once more.
"… get your shitty illusions off me…" Zhalia squirmed a bit in her bed.
If even a small, the slightest and the most meaningless thing had happened now, he was sure, he would have started crying, even though he couldn't imagine that. I'm insane… a thought came and Dante unwillingly relaxed, listening to Zhalia's breathing and some silent whispers that kept escaping her lips.

The watch on his wrist buzzed and guy startled. For some time he was just staring into the space. It was… different. Dante's eyes widened as the things started to clarify in his head and he jumped to his feet. How could this happen? Did he pass out? The old gym was bathing in sunbeams, warm morning light was streaming through the windows. Damn it… It was a little more than half past six. He should've left like an hour ago! Some force was urging him to go, and some other force was drawing him to Zhalia. He never felt like that. I'm just going out of my mind. Great…
"Don't go…"
Her voice softly pierced the silence. Gritting his teeth, Dante turned around to say that there's no way he could do that. But once again he was pleasantly surprised to see it was only one of her sleep-talks, which, as he suspected, hadn't stopped until now and lulled him to sleep. It was cute, she was cute. However, as much as he wanted to stay and watch her for a bit more, he had to go. Why it was so important to leave before seven – he didn't have a slightest idea…
"Zhalia," man hesitantly sat down near his friend and gently squeezed her shoulder. "Zhaal, wake up."
She stirred, resting her forehead against his hand, and reluctantly opened her eyes. Not blinking hazel orbs were curiously gazing at him.
"What are you doing?" a tentative query formed on her lips.
But before Dante could react, at least somehow, Zhalia shook her head while burying her face in her palms and blowing air out of her lungs.
"No... I mean, what's going on?" their eyes met, well that, again, wasn't a thing she wanted to ask, so she tried once more. "You're leaving already?"
He could swear something about her was different. Just different.
"Yeah," cracked a smile uneasily. "You think you're gonna be okay?"
Here. That familiar, skeptic look which so easily can be mistaken for a sardonic one. As though she was 'normal', real. Like Zhalia.
"The only thing that can happen to me here is…" blue-haired woman bit her lip, sat up. "Well, you know," shrugged vacantly. "I've been alone for a long time, I'm used to it."
And the speaking manner… Dante rose up, his watch showing less than 15 minutes left.
"How are you feeling?"
"Sheesh," rolling her eyes, Zhalia got off the bed. "Learn some new question. I'm alright, Dante, but I don't like when people lie to me."
Man inquiringly frowned at her crossed-armed figure. Whatever she was talking about (he wasn't sure) the time was running out. 10 minutes. He'll have to leave even if it meant hurting her. Such a chaos. If only he knew why…
"I'm sorry, I gotta go," grumbled and made for the door.
Maybe he can still make it? (Make it where and what for?)
"Wait," behind his back woman took a deep breath. "Will you, hm, do something for me?"
For some reason Dante stopped in his tracks in the mid-way between her and the exit. What now?
"What?"
"Really? After all this time? I was hoping for 'anything you want' at least," there was some strange quiz note weaved into her tone.
"I have my limits you know."
"Mm, so you don't wanna disappoint me. Sweet…"
"Just say it," the less time was left, the more irritated he got.
"Okay, fine. Well…" Zhalia sighed, took another breath and then simply jerked out. "Next time you want to kiss someone on the train, you better do it."
And suddenly all the other things didn't matter. A hope. Dante spun around. He'd never told her about any of this.
"When… wheredidyou… Zhaal?"
"Yes?" she arched her brow at him at the same casting him an innocent glance.
"Who told you that?"
Feeling a bit shred from the inside, he slowly approached her. Her expression changed.
"Um… Sophie," but that sounded a lot more like a question.
"I'm pretty sure you're lying."
"And what makes you think so?" Zhalia bit her lip.
"Your smile," whispered the man and pulled her into a hug, burying his face in her hair. "Zhaal, you're back. You're finally back."
"Actually I've been here all the time."
Dante looked into her brown tender eyes. 'Happy' wasn't the word to describe the way he felt. And she was smiling at him with that real, rare smile. Can anything be better? he thought caressing her cheek, but then his orbs painfully beclouded.
"If that's a joke…"
Zhalia blinked unbelieving.
"You think I can embarrass us both like this?"
He just shook his head helplessly, then rested his forehead against hers.
"No, I… can't believe it, that's all. I stopped believing."
"You gave up? Well that's disappointing, but let me tell you something," she put her arms around his neck.

Lok and Sophie were walking down the hallway of the HQ. Tony-Tobby guy guarding entrance door, seemed to forget about boy's late visit and just outwatched them. There were no signs of any possible life form in the corridors (not even a slightest movement of some eerie alien...). And Jeremy, who kinda implied that he'll meet him by the stairs to the first floor, wasn't here either. No wonder. It was early, almost 5 minutes till 7am. The teens had barely spoken a word to each other since they forgathered in the street. At first girl attempted to complain about being forced to get up for such thing as visiting a certain person. Besides, she couldn't actually retrace the reasons why she called him or what she wanted to ask. Same went for him – Lok still was racking his brain to recall everything about the tapes and what happened afterwards. But talking wasn't needed. No one felt uncomfortable because of that. Though Lok was really surprised to see Sophie immersed in her phone. She wasn't playing some game or using the net, she was texting someone. And blond had no clue what kind of not working, holiday-loving person could be up so early to chat with her.
"Some people live outside Europe, you know," she said as boy finally questioned.
Soon they were climbing upstairs. Two lonely figures in that huge building: the girl – not even lifting her eyes from the phone, and the boy – bubbling with impatience and disquiet. When this weird, hardly compatible couple reached their destination, it was just 7am. (Who could've thought Lok can be so punctual?)
Sensing that her friend slacked up his pace, Sophie leaned her back against the wall. She won't be going any further.
And Lok with a bit indecisive steps stopped right in front of the old gym's door. He typed the code, which, odd enough, he still remembered, and tarried for a green light to glimpse. But nothing happened. Frowning he typed the code again. Nothing. Maybe they changed it? But why? Lok pulled the handle and the door quietly opened, confusing him. Through a formed gap he peeked inside. Well… Unexpected things are called like that not without a reason. And one of those unexpected things Lok had just witnessed. Before him there were standing two people he had thought he knew so well, lost in the moment. Kissing.
Boy dillydallied near the door for a while, then shut it as noiselessly and carefully as he could. Not something he was supposed to spot. So now, feeling a bit uneasy, though deep inside happy for them, blond came back to where Sophie was and would've simply walked past her if she hadn't glanced at him.
"So fast?" she raised her eyebrow.
"Hehe, wrong door," faking a broad smile, Lok tried his best to sound convincing.
"It's not," and she texted someone again.
"But it is!" Crap, he added in his mind. I was sure she wasn't looking where we're going… However, he did not say that aloud, cause he savvied girl still held some sort of animosity towards Zhalia, and seeing Dante with her and like this… He simply didn't want to be the one to suffer from her irritation, so he moved to the back-up plan. "Ooor maybe not. But the room was empty so…"
Cutting him off in the middle of the sentence, metal door of the gym swung open…

That sweet poor Lok XD
So, what do you think?

All I can say is - new chap will definitely show up only next year (unless I'm some kind of genius to write one earlier...). Merry Christmas and happy New Years fellows!