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Chapter 3 - A Dark Day

Alma walked down the path to her uncle's place. She stills think about the reason behind her brother run. Alma believes that her brother doesn't betray the Visa family. There must be a reason behind his actions. But what is the reason that could make her brother risk all he has?

Alma sees two officers sit in her uncle's living room with her uncle, already waiting for her with an unreadable expression.

"Officers," Alma said to the officers. She can't help being nervous around them. No one likes to talk with the officers. They give you the same feeling as talking to the police, even if you don't have any mistakes you can't help being nervous.

"Miss Visa, have you meets your brother lately?" one of the officers asked Alma.

"No sir, the last time I met him was two weeks ago."

"When was the last time you two communicated with each other?"

"It's the same, two weeks ago."

"Do you recall anything strange about your brother?" the other officers asked after being silent the whole time.

"No… he is just more quiet than usual."

"What is your activity this week?"

"I just attend my classes and come back home directly. You can ask my instructor and my uncle to verify it."

The two officers look towards Kai who just sitting silently. Kai nodded at the officers, confirming Alma's word.

"Do you know someplace that your brother might go?"

"No sir, none that I can think of."

"Alright Miss Visa, if you see your brother I hope you will inform us immediately. Are we clear?"

"Yes sir. May I ask something?" Alma asked nervously.

"You can ask just one question."

"What will happen to my brother if he's found?"

"That is Miss Visa, something you don't need to know. We already heard about your skills from your instructor. We placed great hope in you, so we hope you won't make us disappointed" said the officers before leaving Alma alone.

"What should I do now? It's clear from what they said that they will watch my every move during this time… Big brother..." suddenly Alma remembers about one place where her brother might go. It's a place where only both of them know, the problem is how can she goes there without alarming the people who watch her.

"Maybe it's time to take back the debt I gave" Alma murmured. Her blue eyes looked determined.

***

"Are you sure about this Alma?" asked Rey to Alma.

Alma tied her white hair into a bun, covering it with a short auburn wig which is Rey's hair color, and tightened her boot laces. She is wearing dark green clothes and pants, something they usually wear in camouflage class. It's the same clothes as what Rey wore when he came to her house.

"Shut up and stop your whining! You owe me a debt, and this is how you will repay it," Alma snapped towards Rey. She is getting annoyed because Rey has been asking the same question repeatedly.

"If only I know you will ask me to do this I would never owe you in the past," Rey grumbled while wearing a white hair wig and putting on Alma's previous clothes. Right now Alma and Rey already swapped look and clothes. It's not perfect, but they have to do with what they have in their hands. Fortunately, Alma's build and Rey are similar, the perk of being tall as a girl.

"Alright, I'm ready. All you have to do is pretend to be me and sleep in my room. You can cover your body with a blanket if you want. What do you think about my cover? Do I look like you?" Alma asked while watching at her reflection in the mirror.

"As if," Rey scoffed. Truthfully Alma's disguise is good, she looks like him. But there's no way Rey will admit that.

"I will be off if after two hours I'm not back yet you have to run away from this place and pretend nothing happened. You got that?"

"Yeah, yeah I get it. Just go already before they catch us doing this."

"Hope I can see you again Rey, thank you," Alma walked away.

"Alma, do you plan to come back?" Rey asked Alma.

Alma doesn't answer or stop. She just waves her right hand without looking back.

Rey just stands there, still looking at the door where Alma left.

"Thank you, Alma" Rey whispered.

***

Alma walked to the forest in the west of the base. Her figure darted between the trees. She can't afford to waste any time. She keeps walking deep into the forest, the more she walks the denser the trees. Eventually, no sunlight can penetrate the leaves, giving the forest a dark ambiance.

Alma stops her steps after she reaches a big boulder. This boulder is three-meter tall, and the surface is full of most. Alma then fiddled with a particular part of the stone. Then suddenly, a small rumble can be heard and the earth trembling. Just like a small earthquake.

After that, a secret passage is opened at the bottom of the stone. It's lead to an underground place that Alma and her brother found accidentally several years ago. Usually, things like this are reported to the officers, but the siblings are reluctant to do that because they have many good memories in there. Besides, the underground palace is empty, so it's useless for them to report it. So they decided to make it their secret hideout.

Alma walked down the stairs leading to the underground. When she finally reached the ground, she can't help but be disappointed because her brother isn't in there. But Alma won't give up just like this. She will find her brother. Alma then proceeds to inspect the entire room to check if her big brother went here and gave any clue about his disappearance.

Alma spent almost one hour searching the entire place but she didn't find anything that resembles a clue. Suddenly she sees a book that's a bit protruding on the shelf, she picks the book and opens it. There's a paper folded inside the book, with an exciting feeling, Alma opens the paper hurriedly. On the paper are drawn some strange symbols, but Alma can read them. Those are the symbols she and her big brother use to communicate secretly when they want to give their parents a surprise.

"Don't believe the official Alma, you have to run away from the base. Run to Arkos City, you will find the answer there. Everything they taught is a lie," Alma whispered the messages written on the paper.

"What is that mean? Everything is a lie? How am I supposed to understand anything just from this short message? Where the hell is you, big brother," Alma said, feeling exasperated.

"I better find a way to sneak out to Arkos City, maybe he's already waiting for me in there," Alma murmured while burning the paper with a lighter. She can't risk leaving any clues despite no one might able to understand the symbols.

The girl then glanced at her watch, "Almost two hours, I better go back before anyone suspects Rey."

Alma walks back to where the stairs are located and pushes a hollow section in the wall. The earth rumbles again, and Alma can see the sky outside almost nearing twilight. She accelerated her steps and left the boulder. Suddenly, her body slammed forward from behind. Before Alma can react, she is electrocuted by something.

Before she lost all her consciousness, she can hear a familiar voice whispering nearby.

"I'm sorry Alma," and the world turns dark.