Awaken Into a New World

Chapter 5: Answers

Alecia and Wallace entered the house and headed into a room; its dark-brown walls gave off a natural vibe. The bookshelf packed with books of all sorts stood against the wall that faced the doorway. Alecia thought it odd for the other bookshelf to contain fewer books.

"Just take a seat there," Wallace said, pointing to a chair. She strode towards it and watched Wallace limp towards the desk and lean his back against it.

"This is my office." The man looked around the room with pride as he leaned on his cain.

"I do all of my research here." He twisted into a smile. "Of course it's pretty pointless now."

Alecia fiddled through her hair, which didn't escape the old man's notice.

"If I remember correctly, your hair used to have a dark shade of black to it, and I see it's no longer that way. It might be due to the tank."

"Wasn't it something called radiation?" Alecia asked, deliberately.

"No, radiation couldn't enter that tank," he said, confidence etched on his face. "You're pretty clever to assume that, though."

"I wouldn't say that." She chuckled and averted her gaze.

"It might be because of your long-term exposure from that liquid." Wallace leaned away from the desk, moved the chair and perched on it.

"It's got the same properties as what you'd find in a mother's womb. I won't explain how we made a replica of it."

"Oh, okay, that's interesting," she said, eyes downcast as she fidgeted through her clothes.

"Mother," she murmured.

"What was that, dear?"

Alecia looked up in response, giving a cheerful smile to brush his curiosity aside before shaking her head. "No, nothing."

"When did you wake up in that tank, if I may ask?"

"The day before your grandson found me."

"You've been there for that long?" he said, surprised.

"I guess, I should've known by the clothes you still wore when Virgil found you." He plucked a blue rubber ball from his desk and held it. "And I'm most impressed, not very surprised-"

"Of what?"

"That you haven't aged one bit since I placed you in that tank."

"But who was I before, do you know? I asked you that question already." She leaned forward, beginning to look impatient.

"That's a question I can't answer specifically." His eyes fixed at the ball. "I was hoping you wouldn't lose your memory that day when. . . they invaded."

"Who invaded?" Alecia's eyebrows knitted. "Are they the ones responsible for the world as it is now?"

"Yes, and I was told you were found under the rubble of a building's ruins." He threw the ball in the air and caught it as it tumbled back. "But the man whom I worked for was convinced that you were under that rubble and dug you out, and at the time, I thought you were dead."

"Who?"

"I forgot his name. I think I referred to him as Doctor Youngs or something of the sort."

"Wasn't it Yards?" Alecia braced herself to be corrected.

"Oh, yes, that's it," said he, chuckling.

"How did you know that?" He gazed at her, curiosity laced upon his face.

"Oh." She chuckled and hesitated for a moment. "It's not important."

"About him, I was wondering quite a while why he took such interest in you." Wallace tossed the ball at her.

"I think I know why, and you'd be surprised what I'm about to tell you as well." His eyes glinted as he smirked.

Alecia turned to the ball squished between her hands before training her eyes at him.

"I'm listening."

"You're not like me or anyone here on this grey little planet."

He squinted at the head of his cane, rotating it with his fingers.

"You're not from this planet, Alecia."

Alecia avoided eye contact, processing her thoughts, aware that such a thing would surprise most people. However, Alecia took it well and didn't seem fazed.

"This planet use to be the same color as that ball you're holding."

"So. . ." she hesitated, still looking downcast.

"Are you saying that this was all because of me?" She raised her gaze to meet his. "Am I a murderer?" The quiet tone in her voice, barely above a whisper, was a telltale sign of the shame inside her chest.

Wallace sighed.

"What does your heart tell you?"

"That I deserve to have died instead," she said, firmly.

"No one deserves to die."

"I think humanity got what was coming to them, and the bright side's here." He gestured around him, a faint smile played on his lips. "You were only on the opposing side, and so your side won."

"What gives anyone the right?" she asked,

"No one has the right. That's the point of the war. When you want something, you take it."

"That's selfish."

"War is like that, I'm afraid." Silence ensued between them afterward.

Wallace cleared his throat. "Enough about that. All that matters is the person you are now, and I can tell that you're a good person, Alecia."

He paused.

"And that's what led to your downfall."

"What do you mean?"

"After they launched those bombs of theirs, a large but smaller ship came. Out of that ship were four individuals who resembled every one of us, but with them having the ability to do things that nobody on this planet could. They wiped out the last of our military, and the only ones that could defeat them were their own kind."

"So what you're saying is. . . is that they were the ones responsible for my state?" She clenched her fist, a raging fire building inside of her.

"It seems that way; I only pieced it all together now."

"So what do I do?"

"That's up to you." He rose to his feet. "You can stay here as long as you want."

His eyes filled with mirth and wisdom clasped hers. "And don't worry, I won't tell anyone about our little secret."

"Thank you."

"I must say, you've taken it quite well. It's interesting talking to you." She smiled, watching her limp towards the door.

"Even if it was a bit unpleasant." He turned to her. "It's all in the past. From now on, you can be the person you aspire to be." He smirked, opened the door, and trudged out of the room.

Alecia's thoughts circled her mind. Despite having no memory of what she used to be, she was glad that she wasn't the person the people from the past thought she was.

-

In the evening, Alecia walked into the room where she woke up. Musings clattered inside her mind-all about human nature; how humans are more peaceful and different compared to the cruel scavengers who almost killed her.

She took a book from the shelf and opened it; the written symbols were meaningless to her. She turned the pages, and every time, she'd frown with a narrowed look in her eyes. After a minute, she gave up reading, closing the book and placing it back on the shelf.

Alecia let out a deep breath as she perched on the bed. A knock at the door drew her attention, the door unlocked as Wallace stepped into the room.

"Good evening," greeted he, moving towards her, his cane creating heavy stomps on the wooden floor.

"Hey, Doctor Godwin." She smiled.

Staring out of the window, he leaned against the wall, his hands firmly resting on his cane.

"I told you before Alecia-" He gestured to himself-"You can call me by my first name."

"Oh, sorry." She focused on her hands intertwined on her lap.

"No worries." He whirled to her and twisted into a smile.

"How would you feel if I said I could help you with that little memory problem of yours?" He took a chair from the desk and sat, his chest resting against the back of it.

"What do you mean?"

"I meant exactly as I said. Do you want to remember your past?"

"Well, I wouldn't want to be left in the dark the whole time."

"Excellent." The old man got up from the chair and pushed it back in its place, its legs scraping the floor with a faint screech. "First thing tomorrow morning, we can start."

"But right now we're having dinner, and you young lady need to eat."

"Thank you for your help, Wallace." Alecia hesitated to utter his first name, but she did so with a smile.

"Yeah," said he, whirling at her direction and nodding. "Don't need to thank me yet though."

He yanked the door and departed, the thumping of his cane ricocheting in the nearby walls.

-

Alecia stepped foot into the dining room where Wallace and Virgil, at the dining table, conversed between themselves. When she came in, they both looked up at her.

"Come take a seat here," Virgil said, tapping on the one chair beside him. She took the seat adjacent his.

"So, Alecia, how do you like it here so far?" Virgil tilted his head, grinning.

"Well, I-" Alecia started, gazing at Virgil, and then at Wallace, and noticed on the edge of her eyes the silhouette of a young girl, long hair the color of midnight peeking at the doorway of the room.

"Who is that girl?"

The girl briskly entered back into the room when Wallace glanced behind at the direction she pointed.

"Oh, Elica," replied Wallace.

"Grand took her under his wing," Virgil whispered as he came closer to Alecia.

"It looks like she's curious about you." Wallace nodded at her.

"Me?"

"Yes." Wallace motioned at the empty space where the young girl once stood and fixed his all-knowing eyes at her. "It's been a while since she came close to being out that room. She's a shy girl."

"Interesting." Alecia bobbed her head, her brows furrowing.

"Speaking of interesting," Wallace started. "Tomorrow morning we'll start the thing we talked about." He nodded at Alecia, smirking lightly.

"What were you talking about?" asked Virgil.

"You don't need to know." His grandfather shook his head at him, and right then, two servants entered in the dining room holding food trays.

"There we are, now we can start eating." Wallace moved his chair nearer the table. Virgil moved, as well. She mimicked their movements and shifted her chair gently.

-

Outside of the town, in the distance, near the deserted city, a bright trail of fire shot through the clouds. It revealed itself to be a small black ship, fire surrounding and disappearing from it.

It flew and landed safely. Deep within the wrecked city, the ship settled, ashes fleeing from its belly. It powered down; the hatch opened as humid air seeped, and armored individuals stepped out-a man and a woman. Their armors are silver, polished to a shine; the torso resembled wings that stretched up until it reached the shoulders. The woman had a red fabric embedded in the belt hugging around her waist and hanging near her knees. The helmet deformed itself into her armor, and her black hair almost cascaded down her shoulders.

The man's helmet deformed itself as well.

"What is left made me wonder how they could've survived for so long." The man stepped forward and looked around. "I hope you remember why we're here," said he, giving her a sideways glance while crossing his arms.

"Of course, I do." She turned her steely eyes at him. "This is part of my training after all."

The ship's hatch locked itself. She moved forward, her companion following from behind.

Both of them strode into the decimated city.