Days passed. Days in which Henry fought until he could see no more. Days when he thought about Louis and his pregnant wife, Mia. Days in which he wondered about Zhixi, because she grew more weird and troubled. The last time they were in the fountain, she wasn’t swimming next to him. She swam far away from others, so far that it was only her head you would see. Everyone thought she was just upholding her ethics of not showing skin, but that wasn’t what it was. Henry knew that it was much more than they knew.Some people had begun to form a sexual relationship. Henry saw them everywhere; on their beds, behind the bunk, in the fountain. It was the nature of human, he decided. They always wanted to feel wanted and never alone, no matter where they were. Plus everyone’s nerves were on edge; they needed an outlet to let out their frustration and sex was the next best thing asides killing. Gradually, their numbers reduced. The robots had stopped putting in the gas, their social experiment do

Henry’s knees grazed the floor when he reached Zhixi. He picked her gently up, and then dropped her harshly. Her body was burning so hotly that it surprised him that smoke wasn’t already oozing from her body.“Don’t touch her!” Henry yelled when Leroy came close. “Just don’t touch her.”He’s been burned one too many times to be able to give that verdict. Some people came closer while others stayed back, not trusting the beast to be truly dead.“What happened to her?” Someone said, the knelt down beside Zhixi.Henry was about to barked out the same instruction that he had to Leroy but it was too late. The person palmed Zhixi’s face, turning her this way and that way. Henry was stunned. He looked up; it was the weird, eccentric girl who swam too close to the beast in the fountain. Up close, he noticed that she had so very tiny markings on her face. They were white and almost invincible until you came close, then you would see it.The girl pried Zhixi’s eyes open and touched her forehead

The beast groaned, like it was disturbed from a nice deep slumber. Its groan caused ripples in the water. Zoe laughed. She left Zhixi’s side and went close to the monster, rubbing her hand over its skin. It had a eel like skin, slippery and shiny. Henry thought he saw some shiny pebbles in the monster’s mouth, but he was exactly sure. Zoe was speaking softly and gesturing with her hands. She was pleading with the beast to save Zhixi’s life, it would seem.Henry didn’t understand and didn’t care. So far his friend would be okay again. Plus, it was getting really cold. He held Zhixi close to him, trying to find some warmth in her burning skin. To his surprise, she had reasonably cooled down but wasn’t as cold as he was. He wondered if he was the only human that felt the cold he felt. Zoe was too engrossed with the beast to care, and Zhixi probably had a burning emblem situated within her that won’t allow her to be cold, ever. Zoe suddenly turned to him and beckoned him to come closer.

Henry let Zoe cry on his shoulder some more, his eyes still on Zhixi. She was floating on her back, so at least she was safe for now. Zoe suddenly pulled away and started to undress.“What are you doing?!” Henry yelled. “We have to leave, she’s been saved!”“I know that,” Zoe said just as calmly. “But Loe isn’t. Loe is dead. Did you hear the earth shake?”Henry didn’t hear the earth shake, but he imagined she was so attuned to the earth that she would definitely hear it shake. He stood up, his hands fluttering about as he searched for words to use.“Don’t try to stop me.” Zoe said. She stood naked before him, lost in her grief. “I need to make sure she grows back again.”She turned and jumped right into the water. She swam violently away, further and further. Henry imagined that she had never had a pet before, or had never lost anything remotely important to her. Her reaction was normal in new pet owners. It was a critical, cold way of thinking, but that was all he had. Dealing with a

HENRY folded his arms and watched her. It was obvious through her scowling face that she wasn’t happy they had saved her. He was about to get loads of information from her, so he relaxed on his feet. It was probably four in the morning, and it was just the perfect time to listen to secrets—especially ones that seemed too complicated and surreal.“Oh yeah?” Henry asked. “How was saving your life a mistake? Please indulge me; I’d like to know.”Zhixi rolled her eyes. It was obvious she didn’t want to talk about it, either was she expecting that she would be in a tight spot. Henry didn’t care; she could avoid the truth for however long she want, but he must have it now. He hadn’t just gone all through that mess for her to say she wasn’t in the mood to talk. Henry peered down on her face.“If you understand even a bit of the gravity of the risk we took for you, you wouldn’t be so stubborn.” He said when she looked away. “Zoe lost her goddess trying to save you.”“I didn’t want to be saved