Chapter 5.2 "Hopeless"
Day 4
The large gate led Mina into a room where participants of the grand tournament could wait. There was no one in sight, and she looked around. Several paths led outward. Unsure which way to take, Mina glanced back and forth between the doors in confusion.
She wasn't sure where she was supposed to go at all.
So, what exactly was she planning to do now?
"Uhmm..." she mumbled to herself. She didn't know. It was as if her mind had gone blank. A dull throbbing in her skull signaled an oncoming headache, and Mina hoped she could find some painkillers here.
"Whatever!" Shrugging, she headed for the nearest exit, puzzled by her own condition. She wasn't feeling well. Ever since Cell had drained the first humans, her appetite had diminished, and she hadn't eaten much. She felt weak and disoriented. All she could think about was lying down and sleeping. Strange... Hadn't she already done that on the plane!? It didn't help.
So weak, so little energy...
She shuffled down a hallway. Mina was glad she could store all her belongings in one of her capsules—at least she didn't have to drag them around.
Confused, she looked around in all directions.
"Where should I go?"
She could barely keep her eyes open and stumbled as one of her legs gave way. Energyless, her own weight dragged her downward. Exhausted, she remained sitting.
What was wrong? Her body felt so heavy... Mina was completely drained. She thought about how wonderfully comfortable the ground was and that she should just lie down for a moment to rest...
Like a lightning strike, the thought hit her—the men were after her again! She forced herself up and tried to reach the exit. Were they really there? Mina wasn't sure. She turned in every direction but saw no one. She tried to listen, but all she could hear was her loud heartbeat and her breath.
She had to get out of the building—fast.
Mina felt as if the walls were closing in and the air was becoming thinner. Outside—she would be able to breathe out there! Losing her balance, she stumbled into the door, gripping the handle for support.
With a loud crash, the door swung open, and she collapsed onto the ground.
Mina was outside.
Sunlight.
Silence.
She sat up and slowly looked around.
Mina found herself in a vast courtyard, enclosed by a high red stone wall. In the distance, she could see a few scattered trees and bushes. Everything here seemed so peaceful. Birds fluttered through the hedges, and a squirrel darted from one tree to the next. The sounds of nature calmed her, and she was certain that no one was nearby. She would hear them, wouldn't she?
Whatever. She was done.
After everything that had happened, she no longer wanted to be around anyone. She just wanted to be alone, to be safe...
Frustrated, she pulled the capsule containing food from her bag and tossed it onto the ground.
Hungrily, she rummaged through the storage box and found a few packs of nuts.
With trembling fingers, she picked one up and stared at it. These nuts were practically the only nutritious thing she had. Everything else in the box was just sugary junk.
Where was she supposed to find real food now?
Her stomach clenched at the thought that she might starve before the tournament even began.
Actually, it was nonsense, but the irrational fear was still there. Starving was always bad.
Was she even hungry right now? She didn't know. She felt extremely uncomfortable and couldn't figure out what she needed more urgently. She looked up at the sky.
Blue sky.
Nice weather.
She groaned.
What was she supposed to do now? She had made it this far, but she had no idea how to go on. Mina thought about simply going home, but then she remembered that someone was waiting for her there—someone who, in the worst case, wanted to kill her.
She tore open the bag of nuts and started eating. The hard ground she sat on didn't bother her. More than anything, she just wanted to lean back and wait for the outcome of the Cell Games.
Oh, right. Cell.
"What's he up to now?" she muttered.
Should she fly to him?
She fought with herself. On one hand, she wanted to—no, she had to talk to him. About everything. On the other hand, she had no idea if he would even welcome her presence.
Trial and error! That's what they say, right?
She chuckled.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow, she would fly back to him. But today, she just wanted to rest. Find a nice spot for her capsule house and then curl up in bed. Shower.
Her stomach tingled at the thought.
Mina hadn't even realized how starved she was, but the small bag of nuts filled her with renewed energy. She finished it and stuffed the empty package into her bag. Her gaze wandered to the storage box beside her, scanning its contents with restless eyes.
This would last her a few days as a snack. By tomorrow at the latest, she needed to find something decent to eat.
Unless Cell killed her first. In that case, none of it would matter anyway.
Mina was... surprisingly calm at the thought of Cell wanting to kill her.
Then it would all be over.
No more fear.
No more running.
No more loneliness.
She had to go to him.
In her mind, she replayed the moment he laughed.
Her heart started pounding wildly, a surge of adrenaline rushing through her.
She jumped up and packed the storage box back into her bag. Suddenly, she knew what she needed to do next. First, she would return to the stands—she would probably have a good view of the area from there. From that vantage point, she could surely find a good spot for her capsule house!
She swung her bag over her shoulder and hurried back the way she had come.
Once she reached the ring, she searched for a way to get to the highest point of the building. She realized that the best way was to climb onto the red stone wall and from there onto the flat roof.
Without giving any real thought to potential dangers, she was already pulling herself up onto the wall, making her way over to the thatched roof of the nearby building. She liked how thrilling it felt. No one could tell her she wasn't allowed up here.
Mina missed the carefree feeling of childhood.
She reached the roof and tested the straw with her hand. Seemed solid.
She slung her bag around her neck and used both arms to grip the straw as she hoisted one leg up.
Despite the uncomfortable prickling of the straw, she managed to climb up. From there, she made her way to the edge of the stands so she could look out from the tall white wall.
Arriving at the top, she looked around.
On one side—the sea.
On the other—the mainland.
She definitely didn't want to go inland.
Her eyes returned to the ocean as she studied the cliffs. Very rough and steep. Not a good place.
She looked back toward the mainland and saw a bustling city.
No way. She absolutely did not want to go there.
So, she decided to unpack her plane again and fly east—far, far away from Mangold.
Farther than necessary.
She thought of Yasa again. Should she turn back and see if she was still alive?
No. Bad idea.
The wind blew against her face.
Neither warm nor cold.
Numb.
She seemed to have lost all sense of herself.
How much time had passed?
She wasn't sure, and honestly, she didn't care.
She was at her limit.
She needed to find a good place to rest.
Mina tossed the capsule containing her plane onto the ground and climbed inside. She flung her bag onto the backseat and sat at the controls.
"So... where to?" she murmured to herself.
There were too many people on this island. Paranoia took hold of her, and she immediately took off. The plane quickly rose into the sky, and she checked her direction.
She definitely wanted to go farther away.
Anywhere. It didn't matter where.
Maybe she should take her boat instead?
She was confused.
What was the best choice for her right now?
Most of all—she wanted to go to Cell.
No!
She slapped both hands against her face.
"Forget about him! Why do I want to go to him?!" she shouted, making a sharp turn—straight toward Cell.
She had to go.
Her fingernails dug into the controls.
Her sudden longing for him made her unpredictable.
She breathed heavily, her entire body tense.
Clenching her teeth, she hissed that this was a terrible idea and jerked the controls again.
She let go, grabbing her hair with both hands, pulling until the pain was sharp and clear.
But without her hands on the controls, the plane spun out of control, flinging her from her seat.
"This was a terrible idea!" she shrieked, frantically trying to grab the controls again.
The blue aircraft flipped over, tossing Mina violently through the cockpit. Her head slammed into metal.
The pain was unbearable.
And suddenly, she realized—
She was going to die.
Adrenaline flooded her veins, and Mina experienced the moment as if in slow motion.
Then, suddenly, the cockpit beeped.
The autopilot engaged, steadying the plane.
Mina could hardly believe how quickly it stabilized again.
"No. No visit. Not today," she whispered with a trembling voice.
Her head throbbed mercilessly, and she regretted the turmoil inside her.
Why was she making such erratic decisions?
Cell, yes.
Cell, no.
What was wrong with her?
Going to him was simply a bad idea.
Her head wound pulsed, and dizziness set in.
She needed to land—fast—before she lost consciousness.
She turned back toward the island, panic creeping up her spine.
The landing was rough.
Mina barely managed to control the plane as it touched down near the water, at the foot of the cliffs.
The impact was harsh.
She couldn't hold on.
She was thrown forward, slamming face-first into the metal controls.
Her nose took the brunt of it, and blood immediately dripped onto her clothes.
"This is it," she thought.
Nothing more.
She was done.
The situation had drained her last ounce of strength.
The final spark of fear and reason was swallowed by exhaustion and pain.
With the last of her energy, she stood up and collapsed onto the backseat.
Her body trembled, and her head throbbed worse than ever before.
Her nose felt hot, forcing her to breathe through her mouth.
She didn't care that she was staining the plane with her blood.
There were worse things in the world.
Like dying.
Did she want that?
That reckless stunt had almost killed her.
And no one would have noticed.
No one would have missed her.
Except, maybe... Cell.
He was supposed to kill her on the day of his tournament.
Would he notice if she didn't show up?
Why did she want him to?
Her emotions made no sense.
Why did she want to go to him so badly?
Maybe...
Because he...
Wasn't of this world.
She thought of all the things he could do.
All the things he knew.
How extraordinary he was.
She thought of his face.
So human. So refined, as if his creator had hand-picked every single feature.
His nose—straight and well-shaped, yet striking.
And his eyes...
Those magenta eyes, locking onto hers.
Yes... she wanted to see him.
Mina took a deep breath.
Cautiously, she touched the back of her head.
How bad was it?
She seemed to have a laceration on her head, and her nose…
"Oww!" she squeaked, immediately pulling her hand away from her face. Her nose hurt terribly at the slightest touch. Was it broken? Whatever. She wouldn't find a doctor anyway. The pain throbbed unpleasantly, but she was sure it would pass soon.
Mina tried to stand up, staggering as she made her way back to the controls. She glanced down at the floor, noticing how little blood she had actually lost. It looked… harmless. Curious, she looked down at herself and saw only a few bloodstains. So, it wasn't as bad as she had thought… and that realization strangely lifted her spirits.
Now she wanted to fly to him!
She sat down at the controls, and suddenly, she was wide awake again, carefully planning her next steps. First, she would fly in his direction, then find a place nearby to land and set up her capsule house.
Shower. Get dressed up. Eat something.
What should she say to him?
It didn't matter. First, she had to see what kind of mood he was in. Just as she was about to grab the controls, a sudden knock on the window startled her. She jumped up, her heart racing, eyes wide open, staring in confusion out of the aircraft.
An older man was looking at her with concern. Hastily, she got up and went to the hatch to ask what he wanted. He took a step back to make room for her to open it.
"Hello?" she asked hesitantly.
She felt uneasy because her last encounters with other people had ended in disaster.
"Are you alright? I happened to see your..." he coughed, "...landing."
He noticed the blood on her clothes and asked if she wanted to come with him since he was a first responder at the big tournament. Mina didn't detect anything shady in his tone, but she was still nervous. Was he trying to lure her away?
On the other hand, she needed help.
She hesitated. What could he really do to her? He was an old man. Elderly, out of shape… Should she go with him?
What had she learned in the past few days? Would she make the same mistake again and trust a stranger like she always did?
But her head…
"Yes... well... actually, I was going to... I mean, I..." She stammered. Too scared to say no, too shy to say yes.
"Do you have a first-aid kit?"
Did she? Confused, she looked around.
"Please check under the seat behind you," he said, pointing behind her.
Mina was still a bit dazed and took a few seconds to understand where exactly he was gesturing. Her gaze landed on the first-aid kit, which was indeed under her seat. She picked it up and handed it to the man.
"Sit down on the ground, I'd like to take a closer look at your head," he mumbled as he rummaged through the kit.
She climbed out of the aircraft and plopped down onto the ground. She flinched as he suddenly touched the back of her head. She wasn't used to this kind of closeness, and the whole situation made her uncomfortable.
"Oh dear… oh dear…"
Mina swallowed. "How bad is it?" she asked worriedly.
The man said her wound needed stitches.
"Unfortunately, I don't have the necessary equipment here, so I'd like you to come with me. I can't let you walk around like this," he said, gesturing with his hands.
It seemed important to him.
Mina should get treated. This was an opportunity she wouldn't get again anytime soon. Besides, she might be seriously injured. Going with him was now unavoidable, though she was still scared.
Curious, she asked, "Where are we going?" as he closed the first-aid kit.
"To the tournament grounds. Everything I need is there. It's best if we fly—it's the fastest way."
"...Yeah, true."
She felt uneasy.
Headaches, fear, and now he wanted to fly her aircraft...
Not good? Or necessary?
She didn't know.
She still felt the slight throbbing pain in her nose.
She should just trust him.
She had done the same with Mori. Not everyone was bad.
Suddenly, she thought of Cell.
Her energy returned, and a sudden excitement shrank her fear.
Everything was beautiful.
Why… why was that all of a sudden?
She looked around.
Wonderful, everything was beautiful.
The sea was an unbelievably aquamarine blue, and the sky!
The colors of nature suddenly seemed so intense, and… and… everything smelled so wonderfully of the ocean… and the…
"Excuse me?"
Mina turned around, and the man was staring at her from inside her aircraft.
She only now realized that she had been grinning broadly as she wandered around.
"...Coming!" she mumbled, her face instantly turning red.
She was incredibly embarrassed.
"Are you alright? You should lie down," he said, puzzled.
Mina just nodded and closed the hatch.
As if he had done it a thousand times before, the man maneuvered the aircraft away from the cliffs and toward the tournament grounds.
"Sorry, I was lost in thought," she said as she sat behind him.
"With such a big smile, you must be in love. In times like these, that's—"
"Oh no, no no, I'm not in love!" she interrupted him.
That couldn't be.
She had been thinking about Cell.
That made no sense at all.
"Oh, I see," he commented, though he didn't seem to believe her.
Before she could say anything else, they had already landed. But this time, not in the fighting ring, but in a place she had never been before.
The passage was narrow and led into another hallway with a roof.
There were three doors and two windows.
She couldn't believe he had managed to land despite the tight space.
"You should recharge your aircraft," he said.
Mina stood up and checked the fuel gauge.
The battery was only a quarter full.
He was right.
"Is there a way to charge it here?"
"Yes, give me the cable. We'll run it through the window, and then you can charge directly from the outlet."
Mina was glad the man was so helpful.
There was something good for once.
Although…
Mina was only alive out of sheer luck.
Lately, she had… just as much luck as misfortune.
Her head started to feel like a foreign object, growing heavier and heavier.
Hurriedly, she walked to the belly of the aircraft and opened a hatch to pull out the power cable.
She jumped when suddenly, the man was beside her and took the cable from her hand.
"Go ahead and wait in that room over there. I'll be right in."
He pulled the cable toward a window.
Mina walked toward a door with a red cross in the center and pressed the handle, but the door wouldn't open.
She looked at the man questioningly.
"You have to push down harder," he said.
She tried again, but the door still wouldn't budge.
She flinched again—he was suddenly next to her again.
"Look here," he said and opened the door effortlessly.
She felt stupid, and her face turned red with shame.
Yes, this was exactly what her parents hated about her.
She couldn't do anything right.
Mina failed at the smallest things, and if it weren't for her good looks—thanks to lots of makeup and stylish clothes—she would have nothing.
Without them, she wouldn't get anywhere in life…
Shame.
The room she entered looked like it had been taken straight from a hospital.
She awkwardly sat on one of the beds and waited while the man gathered his supplies.
"Now, tell me something about yourself. Where are you from?"
The man stood in front of her with a tray filled with needles, thread, syringes, and bandages.
Oh no…
Mina swallowed.
"Uhm… does it hurt?" she asked like a scared little child.
"Yes, but you'll get an anesthetic shot. Don't worry, it won't take long," he reassured her, pulling a small cart toward him.
"Please turn around."
Oh god.
She was terrified.
There could be anything in that syringe.
What if he—
No.
"No, you know what? I don't want the shot. I-I can handle it."
"Alright. You can always get a local anesthetic if you change your mind. Just let me know and hold still now."
She was glad she had spoken up.
Normally, she let everything happen to her.
A silent mouse is a fool.
But not this time.
Suddenly, the room started moving…
Her head felt gone.
Or something.
She had no sense of her body, and it felt like her right arm was attached to her left leg.
Nonsense—she could see everything was fine.
Then suddenly, she lost vision in one eye.
She blinked to check which one.
Shocked, she touched her eyeball with a finger to make sure her eyelid wasn't covering it.
Her hands began to shake uncontrollably as holes formed in her remaining vision.
Oh no.
What was happening?
"I can't see out of one eye."
"That could be from your circulation. Or stress. There, all done. Four stitches."
Huh? Already!?
She hadn't even noticed…
"You should lie down now, you'll feel better."
The man was already finished.
Unbelievable.
She hadn't felt anything.
That should have hurt!
"I thank you very much! Knowing that there are still such kind and helpful people makes me happy!"
"Oh, it's nothing. Anyone would have done the same."
His words echoed in her head.
Anyone would have done the same.
No. No.
Suddenly, she felt like crying again.
"I'm going to lie down for a bit," she tried to say as neutrally as possible before her voice broke.
"Before you fly again, you should take these medications and get plenty of rest." She heard him place something on the bedside table next to her. "You should take the antibiotics in the morning and evening… oh… are you crying?"
"No," she said tearfully. "I'm just… I… well…" She was so ashamed that she started crying even more.
"Would you like some painkillers? But then you won't be able to fly for the next few hours."
"No, it's just that… someone is trying to kill me." She tried to pull herself together. "You asked me earlier where I come from… It doesn't matter anymore. I can't go back. No matter where I go, they are everywhere."
Tears ran down her face, as they had so often in recent times.
"Then fight back. You don't have to endure this."
"No, I'm not like them!" Mina's voice broke. "Violence is never a solution! Never!" she cried.
She heard a chair being pulled across the floor.
"May I share my perspective with you?" He didn't wait for an answer.
"Peace must be maintained. Back when the Demon King Piccolo attacked the King, people were willing to sacrifice their lives to preserve peace. That was peace for the greater good. But what about your peace?
Why aren't you allowed to defend yourself?
Who will defend you?
YOU should defend yourself.
Do you understand? Your life is valuable. Protect it..."
He fell silent.
Mina sat up and saw that he was staring out the window, deep in thought, with a serious expression.
Oh, lying down had really helped—she could see normally again. That was a relief. She wiped the tears from her face.
"You're right," Mina admitted softly. "But I can't do it. I'm too weak."
She thought of Cell… but he would only laugh at her. He wouldn't help anyone. That thought made her deeply sad.
Was he really like that?
What was Cell like?
Who was Cell?
Without an answer, she stared at the man again.
"What do you think? Will Cell win?"
He didn't move. His gaze remained fixed on the window.
Mina heard the birds chirping, and the curtains swayed gently in the breeze.
"Well… there is… a possibility."
Mina's heart began to race. Fear. As if someone had threatened to take away something valuable.
He continued, "Have you ever considered training?"
He looked at her seriously, and suddenly, she felt relieved.
"Oh, nonsense. Who would train me? Besides, who would even have the time or patience to—"
"The Turtle Hermit," he interrupted her.
Just hearing that name sent shivers down her spine.
"Every single one of his students possesses extraordinary abilities. Abilities that you could use right now. You should let him train you. Maybe it will help you."
Mina started trembling again.
"Why would he want to train me? I'm just a weak little woman! I don't even reach Cell's waist… haha…"
She chuckled nervously, trying to calm herself.
If Mori was with the Turtle Hermit, she would probably be killed. Either by Mori or by him.
But then again, just because Mori was despicable didn't mean the Turtle Hermit was too...
"Um… well… how… how would you describe the Turtle Hermit? Is he a kind person?" she asked hesitantly.
"Don't worry, I've only heard good things about him and his students."
Well, that was good news!
Mina's relief didn't go unnoticed.
"So, are you willing to give it a try now?" the man asked, smiling.
Mina stood up. She had made a decision.
"Where can I find him?"
Her question seemed to make the man very happy.
"He doesn't live far from here. Wait a moment, I'll check our database."
He stood up and left the room.
Mina was sweating profusely.
She was now one big step closer to solving her problem—because Mori might be there.
That would be… her last day.
Should she go? Or stay away?
His students were said to have incredible powers… like Cell?
Her heart pounded so hard she could feel it throbbing in her chest.
This was too much. Mina needed a break.
Her ears grew hot from the increased blood flow, and her legs trembled slightly.
What if… the Turtle Hermit really did train her?
How long would the training take?
Would she even be able to learn anything?
She lacked the strength and endurance…
Somehow, this seemed like a bad idea.
She felt uneasy, wondering if it was even polite to make such a request in these terrible times.
Of course, he could refuse to train her, but still, she found it highly inappropriate to steal his time… time he probably wanted to spend with his family and friends…
Maybe she shouldn't go after all…?
Mina exhaled deeply.
Everything was so difficult.
Why couldn't life go back to being as dull and uneventful as before?
She remembered when she used to work as a cashier in a supermarket.
Why did she suddenly want to go back to that?
That job had been awful!
She was pulled out of her thoughts as the man strolled back into the room.
"So, unfortunately, I can't give you exact coordinates."
Mina felt a small wave of relief—maybe her dilemma had just solved itself.
"However, I can explain how to find his island."
Eh, too soon to celebrate.
"In the eastern direction, there is a vast archipelago. Somewhere on one of the small sandbanks, you should find a small pink house."
Mina found that absurd, but there was no reason not to believe him.
"Okay, thanks, then… I guess I'll… be going now."
Her mind was spinning with thoughts—either go there and die, or hide for the remaining time until Cell's tournament.
Either brave and stupid, or cowardly and… possibly still dead.
The Crane Master and Tao Bye Bye were still after her, and they wouldn't stop hunting her…
What should she do?
A touch on her shoulder made her flinch.
"Whoa!?"
"Are you listening?"
"Uh… yeah?" She looked at the man, startled.
"You don't need to worry. You'll be safe with the Turtle Hermit."
Perplexed, she looked in his direction.
"Yes… yes. Exactly, I… I will… I'm going to—"
Mina snapped out of her shock.
"You know what?! I'm going to go there now and ask him to train me! Thank you so much for your help! Without you, I'd probably be dead!"
"Can I do anything to thank you?" she asked enthusiastically.
"Well, you wouldn't happen to have a boat, would you?"
… Well, if that's all…
"Actually, I do!"
Quickly, Mina went to her bag and took out the boat capsule from its case.
"Here, but I don't know if it still works!" she said, handing it to the man.
"Oh, thank you so much! You know, I've heard that Cell only causes trouble on the mainland. Why don't you join us?"
A cold shiver ran down Mina's spine.
She quickly switched gears: "That's so kind of you, but unfortunately, I already have plans with my boyfriend!" she lied.
"Strange… why would your boyfriend let you fly around alone? Doesn't he know about the danger Cell poses? That monster could appear at any moment!"
Mina stared at him emotionlessly.
"…mh… yeah, I guess that's possible," she muttered.
He gave her a serious look, his brow furrowed.
"You need to be careful!" he said, concerned.
"Don't worry! I was just on my way to him!" she lied again.
Mina didn't know what else to say.
She just didn't want to go with them—so why did she have to lie on top of that!?
He looked at her in confusion.
"Do you mean your boyfriend… or Cell?"
"Uh… both! Hahaha ha!"
He looked at her indignantly.
"That kind of joke is highly inappropriate!"
She reacted defiantly: "Cell isn't even that bad! He—"
She didn't get any further.
"Excuse me?!" he hissed, standing up angrily before storming out of the room.
She watched him leave and called after him, saying she was sorry.
She wondered why she had even said that.
Why she had felt the need to say anything at all.
She should probably just keep her mouth shut.
Suddenly, she felt a sharp pull in her chest, and one of her eyelids started twitching uncontrollably.
What if he came back with some thugs!?
She had probably just gotten herself into serious trouble!
Frantically, she looked around for her charging cable.
She couldn't see it.
Feeling unsteady on her feet, she hurried outside and checked on her aircraft.
The charging cable ran through a door.
She rushed inside, yanked it out, and quickly wound it around the aircraft.
Her heart was pounding.
Breathing felt difficult.
She jumped into the cockpit and stared at the fuel gauge.
Three-quarters full!
That would get her far!
She closed the hatch and started the plane. Slowly, she ascended, careful not to let the wings touch the wall. She felt as if she couldn't breathe. Panic. She was like prey again. Quickly, she pushed the throttle to full and soared higher into the sky.
"Eastern direction, huh?" she mumbled and flew in the direction she had been advised to take. She took deep breaths in and out to calm herself. Why had she been so incredibly stupid and just blurted out what she thought of Cell? That had been so reckless! That must never happen again!
Wait a minute! But WHAT did she even think about him? There was nothing forbidden! HE wanted to kill HER! If he won... and if he lost? What if… he died?
Suddenly, her stomach tightened. Who would talk to her then? Her eyes welled up with tears, and her vision blurred. With trembling hands, she maneuvered the plane back in the other direction. Cell was her target once again. She desperately wanted to talk to him.
Suddenly, something whizzed past her plane. Something small and fast. She flinched in shock. What could that have been?! She slowed down and turned toward the direction where the small object had disappeared. She couldn't see anything.
Then—another one! It sped past her at high speed, leaving a trail of smoke behind. With horror, she realized it was a missile. Where had it come from!?
Without thinking, she increased her speed and shot almost vertically into the sky. Was it those Tao Bye Bye men again? Or was it the man who had been so kind to her?! What had she done wrong?
She had no choice but to fly to Cell as fast as possible! Hopefully, he was still at his ring!
Mina tried to shake off her pursuers, but she had no idea who was after her, how many there were, or if she was even still flying in the right direction.
What was Cell doing right now?
Doubt crept in again. She shouldn't fly to him. He had threatened her, after all...
Quickly, she turned the control stick to the right, and the plane drifted sideways. Were they still there? She kept a firm grip on the controls and made a wide turn. The ocean seemed endless, and Papaya Island was miles away.
It seemed she had lost her pursuers after all...
She kept flying until she was sure Papaya Island was directly behind her again, then continued her course eastward. She had to reach the island of the Turtle Hermit somehow.
The thought that Mori might also be there made Mina shudder. Was this even a good idea?
Mina thought of Cell and the moments when she had nearly lost her life. In the end, did it even matter?! Whether Cell killed her now or someone else did, the result was the same!
Her hands tensed again, and she tried not to cry. Her cheeks felt hot, and she had to take deep breaths to avoid overreacting again. Not again.
She hadn't wiped away the blood. There were more important things to worry about.
Slowly, she approached an archipelago. Thousands of small islands stretched across the sea, and Mina swallowed hard. Finding the small house wouldn't be easy.
She flew lower to scan each island carefully.
Would she meet the Turtle Hermit?