Chapter 10- Resolution
Crash!
The plate slipped from Antonio's hand. He stood frozen in front of the sink, his jaws dropped and eyes locked at the person in front of the door. Before he could speak, the twins bolted towards her like little puppies welcoming their owner.
"Aeshua!! You're home!!" The twins said in unison as they jumped up and down Aeshua. Aeshua dropped her things and knelt on her knees. She opened her arms just in time as the twins jumped towards her.
"Aeshua! We missed you! Did you visit Nana?" Aehji said as his baby fingers smosh Aeshua's cheeks.
"How was Nana? What took yous so long, Aeshua? Do you have anything for me?" Lucas asked, tugging her shirt from the back..
"Kids, let Aeshua rest for a while. It has been a long journey." Antonio wiped his hands and approached the kids and pushed them gently aside.
Aeshua patted on their heads and took advantage of the free time to put her stuff on their proper places. She looked around but noticed something odd. Before Antonio could bring the children up the stairs, Aeshua called on Aehji and asked, "Aehji, where is Jim?"
Antonio's head dropped low. Aeshua sensed something was not right. She felt her chest tightening. "Aeshua, let's talk afterwards. I'll just tuck the kids to bed."
Antonio and the kids continued climbing the stairs. He laid the kids on their respective beds and tucked them. Before he could leave, Aehji pulled his shirt. "Antonio, I thought Jim was with---"
"She might be just tired and disoriented that she forgot. Don't worry about it." Antonio smiled, trying to hide his trembling lips.
"Why does it seem like everyone is leaving us? Are we bad kids? Don't they like us?" Aehji released his grip from Antonio's shirt. The kid yawned and rubbed his eyes.
"Hey, hey kid. It's not like that! You want me to get angry?" Antonio made scary face impressions making Aehji laugh for a while.
"Aehji, it's not because the don't like you. They just need to do things. It's difficult to understand now that you are still young but later on, you will understand. Everything we are doing is for the two of you. So, take a rest!" Antonio brushed Aehji's hair and gave it a light tap. "Good night, smorty kid," Antonio said before he left.
As soon as he closed the door, he rushed downstairs to talk to Aeshua but to his surprise; she was nowhere to be found. He knew the only place to find her. Questions filled Antonio's head. What could have happened in the West?
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On the fly of rage, Aeshua dashed towards Victoria's house with Rico. She slammed the door, looking for answers. "What happened when I was not around?!" Aeshua bellowed.
"Woah. Woah Calm your horse lady--- Ooohhh what happened to your hair?" Mathias asked.
For a moment, Aeshua's attention was diverted to her wig. " Oh shit! It must have fallen when I ran here."
Rico extended his arm, his face reddish in shame, " he..here Aeshua. I picked it up earlier on."
Aeshua snatched the wig on Rico's hand. "Thanks, Rico." still with a hard tone, she said. "It's the least of my concern for now, Mathias. What I want to know is what happened here when I wasn't around. Where is Jim?" She said, her eyes were sharper than blades, cutting through their composure. "What? Why isn't anyone telling me anything? What is wrong? Where is Jim?!"
Gasping his breath, Antonio replied "He was taken by someone!"
Aeshua's sight dimmed. Everyone's movements slow-moed in her eyes and their voices started to slur in her head. She felt her head spinning, like she was riding a ferris wheel out of control. Her hands turned cold and her face was as pale as snow. She felt her knees tremble and weaken. She had to take a few steps back but she felt icy cold hands touching her everywhere as if they were restraining her. In her eyes, the arms looked like rotting parts of what used to be a breathing human. She shook her head violently and flopped her legs on the floor, slapping every hand that's touching her.
"Stay away from me!! Stop touching me!" She bellowed while clenching her fist on the floor. She closed her eyes and tried to do a couple of deep breaths and as soon as her eyes opened, she saw Antonio slowly approaching her.
Her chest pounded like crazy and her ears turned red. She raised her finger and pointed at Antonio. Antonio froze for a second. Aeshua's gaze was not her usual caring eyes. He felt powerless and yet, he told himself that he must talk. He tried his best not to stutter.
"I'm...I'm sorry Aeshua. The night that you left---"
Aeshua's eyes were focused on Antonio and everything else was blurred at the moment. She wanted to strangle him but compled not to so she threw her satchel to his face. The satchel's contents flew as it hit Antonio's face and scattered across the room. One photo got stuck on his cheeks and to his surprise, it was a photo of Carnilla's incident.
Aeshua saw the surprised look on Antonio's face and before he could speak another word she turned away. She took a deep breath, trying her best not to lash out once again. Veronica, coming from the other side of the room, approached Aeshua. Aeshua shuddered in surprise. "Let's get you rested. We have a lot to talk about." Veronica then commanded Mathias and the rest to clean up and leave matters to her hands. "Aeshua, I asked them to prepare a warm bath and a cup of tea. It will help you calm down and I will tell you everything that has happened these past weeks. In return, you must report to me what happened to you as well."
The next day, Veronica gathered everyone in the bunker for a meeting. Antonio wanted to approach Aeshua but she won't even turn her gaze upon him, giving him a hint that she wants nothing to do with him.
"I gathered you here today to inform you about the situation at hand. It seems that the West had a different agenda in mind and used the "cause" for their own gains. They kidnapped Aeshua to convince her to kidnap Melo. Aeshua, on the other hand, requested to have her own team instead which they granted but to make sure that she does according to plan, they kidnapped Jim as collateral." Veronica explained.
Blag. "That's insane! We should go there and rescue Jim instead of kidnapping Melo. That's straight up suicide!" Antonio slammed his hands on the table. He could not believe the preposterous idea the West thought of.
"Calm down, Antonio." Mathias said. "Let's hear the details of the plan. I know you are angered by what happened but let's hear them out." He then faced Veronica and asked, "So why do they want Melo?"
"Apparently, Czarita's lover Reign Laurrent," Veronica handed a file folder to each one of them. "Was captured by Corporal Callos' guards and she wanted to trade Melo's freedom in exchange for Reign's life. Czarita, Reign, and Carmilla worked in an operation 4 years ago before Carmilla disappeared." Veronica added.
"So what's their plan?" Roana asked.
"Oh come on, guys? Are you insane? Are you going to risk your life for one person? And what is our assurance that they will do their side of the bargain?" Antonio, sounding even more frustrated than ever, stood up and walked around the room while grunting non-stop.
"Life? You call this life, Anton? You, of all people I trusted, lied to me for several years. You, of all people I trusted, allowed Jim to slip off your sight. We barely see the light. We breathe smog everyday. Everyday we fear that the person we are talking to now, won't be there tomorrow. We live like animals. No, actually, animals live comfortably better than us. We are living in a shithole! This is barely life? I thought we had the same ideals but it seemed you have forgotten what we are fighting for."
"Everybody, please calm down. Aeshua, what happened to Jim was not Antonio's intention so I hope you could refrain from blaming it all on him. Let us look at it in a bigger perspective. One way or another, this day will come so I have decided that we will aid them. I've also been receiving reports that people were rapidly disappearing in different regions. Bring the children to me while you go on this mission. For now, I need you to be united as one. We only have one week to prepare." Veronica explained.