Chapter 3: Her Little Secret

Jared, now fully rested, was now able to run with Latias who started to bring him, out of the place where they had their romantic encounter, to somewhere that she wanted to show only to Jared. He was feeling a bit sleepy though but he kept his best to keep up with her pace. It seemed that she was very excited to show him that something. They ran through many park, over bridges and turned through the many maze-like intersections of the sub-urban area of Alto Mare. They then went through a gate overgrown with violets. By then, he was getting very exhausted but Latias was still energetic. They passed a small water fountain and came to rest at a small, dark corner. Jared was panting very hard. After he had caught his breath, he looked up. Latias put her hand in front of him indicating that she wanted to walk together with him. Jared grabbed her hand and she walked with him through the dark corner. He thought that it was a wall but it was actually a portal. His brain was about to crack. He could not believe that he had walked through an invisible wall despite not being able to see in the dark. They were now walking through what seems to be a tunnel.

As they were walking, Jared decided to ask Latias, "How are you able to speak our language?"

"You remember that kiss that we just had? As we were kissing, I was also giving you the power to understand me. I also was also giving you the power of telepathy, the skill of mind reading."

"The gift of understanding whatever you are saying? That is incredible. But how come I could not feel that you were giving me that power as we were kissing?"

"This transfer of power cannot be picked up by any of your five senses, that's why you cannot feel it go through you body. Oh, we're here."

They had arrived at a very large garden. The place glowed under the full moon in the sky. "This place is very romantic," he thought. Latias knew what he was thinking as she was listening to him telepathically and brought him next to the pond. There, they sat down and started to kiss him again. Once again, Jared was hypnotized by her romantic kissing, but this time, it felt very different. He felt like he was in heaven. His feeling of wanting to return the favour of being loved grew, almost to breaking point. But he held it back, not wanting to overwhelm her with too much affection.

Twenty minutes later, they stopped. Releasing their lips, Latias started to tell Jared that he was a good kisser and that he looked handsome too.

"That was very flattering, Latias. Don't say that."

"(Chuckling to herself) Did you like that kiss?"

"Yes. You were very romantic doing that."

"Was I? Aww, how could you say that?"

"It's true. Anyway, why were you flying around at this time of hour? Shouldn't you be going back to sleep?"

"Here, it gets very lonely. Every since I lost my brother, nobody kept me company in my sleep. I had to sleep with one eye open for fear of intruders. So tonight, I was searching for a human companion to keep me company. That was when I saw you, reading your book. I decided that you were the perfect partner."

"So, you were looking for a human to keep you company? I guess you picked the perfect person. You see, I don't know where to go since I got here. So can I stay here until I go back to where I came from?"

"Of course you may. Maybe we can be able to express our true feelings to each other? (giggling)"

"Is there anything that you are suggesting?"

"Maybe I'll tell you next time. I'm so sleepy from flying around."

"Me too."

Latias yawned. She was also getting sleepy from flying around for a partner. She told him that he could sleep wherever he wanted. "Can I sleep with you instead? I could do with some company," he asked. "Sure you may, just don't squeeze me out of my place," Latias replied.

Jared agreed with her request and Latias showed him where she always slept every night. It was in a tree that was not so tall so Jared was able to climb up. Up there, he saw that the branches overlapped each other to make a platform. Latias told him that she and her brother made this platform so that they could sleep comfortably without risk of falling out. The platform made was very big so it could accommodate them. Latias picked a spot near the center of the platform and prepped the spot for her rest. Jared decided to sleep next to her so that he could talk to her.

"Oh yeah, what's your name?"

" I'm Jared. Why?"

"Nothing. Just wanted to know your name. It sounds nice."

" Thanks. May I ask one question before we go to sleep?"

"Yes, Jared. What is it?"

"Do you have a name that you would like me to call you? I mean, I can't call you 'Latias' forever, can I? So I thought, maybe there was a name you'd like to be called. So, is there a name that you like?"

"Oh yes. I saw this name in a magazine shop somewhere and how I wished to be called by that name. The name was 'Elsie'.?"

"Sure, the name fits you. Maybe I'll call you by that name from now on."

Elsie the Latias smiled at him as she closed her eyes and slept. Jared lied down with his head next to hers and looked at his watch. It said 5.30 in the morning. Knowing that he was not going to get enough sleep, he closed his eyes. But not before holding Elsie's hand. He liked her very much until he wanted to touch her hand. Jared then thought of what could happen if he had a wedding and Latias happened to be his bride. He shook that thought off, chuckled to himself and went to sleep.

The next morning, Jared woke up. Still tired from his sleep, he checked his watch. 11.15am. He saw that Elsie had woken up earlier than him. Then he heard her calling him. He immediately climbed down the tree. Before that, however, he had to toss his coat down first. He did not his want his precious Italian-tailored white trench coat to be torn by the tree's bark. After climbing down the tree and wearing his now grass-covered coat, he saw Elsie. She was standing next to a well on top of a beautiful structure that looked like a giant wall fountain. He climbed up the stairs to meet her, wondering she had in store for him. Elsie asked him to look into the well and he did so. The well was shallow and in it was a bright blue glowing orb on a small tripod pedestal. "What is that? I looks pretty," Jared asked. Elsie replied, "This is the Soul Dew. It contains the spirit of my brother. He lost his life to save the people of Alto Mare. As a result, he turned into this. This is only thing I have to remember him by, his spirit."

Jared then remembered the day before, at the museum. The man who identified himself as Lorenzo told him that the Soul Dew was the spirit of Latios. Elsie's brother had turned into a Soul Dew, and this was the secret location that nobody knew. No wonder she brought him here. Jared promised to himself not to tell anyone about it.

Then, he looked at Elsie. She had a sad look in her eyes. He felt it too and understood her situation as he had a similar experience of losing a loved one. As Elsie had lost her brother, he had lost his family. With a solemn look, Jared asked with a gentle voice, "How did you lose your brother?"

"It was a few years back. There was a big wave that threatened to destroy the city. The big wave came because some thieves stole the Soul Dew and had accidentally destroyed it. As a result, the water resided away from the city and came as the huge wave. My brother and I had to stop the wave from reaching the town, so we flew to the wave and used our power to stop the wave. My brother expended all his energy from trying to get back the Soul Dew from the thieves and in the end, he lost his life to stop the city from being destroyed. I miss my brother a lot." She did miss her brother and her recollection only brought her more sorrow. Tears started streaming down her eyes and she began to cry. Jared took her in his arms and Elsie cried into his coat. Jared embraced her as she wet his coat with her tears. Each of her sobs pierced his heart. Then, in his mind, he remembered a line from the Bible that said, "And sorrow, like a sharp sword, will break your own heart." He now knows what true sorrow is like and tears ran down his face.

After a while, she settled down. Jared, being a gentleman, took out a handkerchief from inside his coat pocket (he had three) and dried Elsie's face with it. Elsie then asked, between sobs, what Jared's life story is like. Jared replied, "My story is just as sad as yours and I wished I did not remember it at all, but for your sake, I will tell you."

"I lost my family to a fire. I was coming home from school when I saw my house on fire. People were looking on from a safe distance as the fire blazed. I had no choice but to look on as the fire brigade tried their best to put the fire out. When they finally put it out, the place was burned down to nothing. I looked at the gate. It was chained, shackled and padlocked. I remembered that my whole family was at home and I knew that we did not have padlocks and chains. From there, I knew that someone had mercilessly murdered my family. Until now, I still wonder why they killed my family. They have done nothing wrong. Has it anything to do with me?" Suddenly, his voice raised as he said, in an abrupt state of hysteria, "Why, WHY?" Immediately, he broke down into tears. Now it was Jared's turn to cry. Elsie told him to come to her. He went straight to her chest and cried into her feathers, drenching them with his tears. Elsie, being able to understand the emotions of people, also was feeling hurt on the inside. She never understood why humans destroy other human lives for no reason.

A few moments later, he calmed down. They then started to realize that their lives revolved around the same thing. Evil. Loss of loved ones. Sorrow. They were in the same boat. Jared then looked at his watch. 12pm. They had spent 45 minutes talking about their sad past, crying and comforting each other. Jared smiled at Elsie to cheer her up. She smiled back, showing that she had calmed down fully from their 'ordeal'. Jared then asked, "Are you hungry?" Elsie replied, "Yes. It's time to eat, but don't worry. My friend comes here everyday for lunch." He became a little worried. What was he going to say to her friend but more than that, how is he or she going to react to him? Elsie immediately sensed his fear and knew that her friend, Bianca, does not take too likely to outside visitors. She was more like a guard for the garden since there could be thieves waiting to steal the Soul Dew. Elsie was prepared to talk to Bianca about Jared and was going to convince her that he is not a thief.

Suddenly, they heard a voice. It was Bianca calling her. She came from the shed area. "Hey Latias. Look what I got for you." As she climbed up the stairs, she then saw Elsie and Jared sitting together in front of the well. They looked at her and she looked at them. Bianca's face immediately changed.

"Uh oh…" Jared thought to himself.