Aaron knocked in my room at exactly 4 o' clock. This made me realize that people here are always on time. I need to get used to that. Why am I thinking as if I'm going to stay here? No, Sapphire. We are not going to stay here. We are going to get out of here as soon as possible.
"Wait a minute," I said. I'm still brushing my hair. I found some clothes in the cabinet. A white shirt and an army green colored skinny jeans and I used my own sneakers and while searching deeper in the cabinet I saw a sweater and went with it.
/People here are always on time. You can't always be like this./
I was shocked by his sudden burst of telepathy in my mind. There it is again. His marshmallow voice in my mind. So it is true. I'm not dreaming.
I wish I could do the same to him. I wonder if the effect is the same. I shook my head. Knock it off, Sapphire, It's not going to happen. Ever. I placed the comb back on the shelf and took a last look in the mirror.
"You look fine. You look less of a monster," I told myself.
I walked towards the door and opened it only to be surprised with Aaron standing right in front of me looking directly into my eyes. He's now wearing comfortable clothes. Just a normal shirt, jeans, and sneakers. This makes him more attractive than he was a while ago.
"Shall we? Your thoughts are leaking again by the way."
I slapped my head in embarrassment, "Let's just go." I thought I saw him smirk a little but maybe that's just probably an illusion created by my mind. I closed the door behind me and followed him down the hall.
Focus. Shield. Barrier. Focus. Metal Barrier. Focus.
"Sapphire," a familiar voice called. I bowed down a little at the presence of the Commander.
He smiled at me, "No need to do that."
"Ah…I was taught that way. Sorry."
"Anyway, Aaron, told me that you really do not know much of your talent yet?"
"Yes, this is the first time I met someone who has weird things going on in their head like me."
The commander chuckled, "If you weren't informed yet, Aaron is my son."
"Your son?" You guys don't act like one. Just now.
"Yes, adopted."
My mouth made a large "A" as he added information.
"I guess you need to be trained to control or rather practice your talent?" he asked as he walked towards me. He's comfortable to walk with. He's nice. Unlike his son.
"I'm afraid so, yes." Be cautious, Sapphire, you don't even know this person. You can't trust them right away.
He brushed his hands on his beard, "What is your talent, my dear? Is it just having a strong sense of hearing?" he asked.
"I'm sorry to ask this, Commander, but…knowing that you are a special intelligence group. Haven't you, by chance, have searched me already? Aaron also told me that you know me."
The Commander eyes Aaron as if he just leaked something that he shouldn't have. "Won't it be better to know you more this way?"
"It just doesn't make sense."
He chuckled. "You haven't eaten anything yet since the chase, shall we?" The Commander guided me towards the dining area which I should say is the classiest place I've been since my 18th birthday. The outside was really just camouflage. The inside of each room is amazing.
The dining hall is so big that it could accommodate hundreds of people. At the end of the room, as I enter, there's a huge stage with a red curtain down. I guess that there are performances here too.
I sat beside Aaron and the Commander on his other side. The dishes are looking tasty and I would say five stars worthy by just looking at the presentation. There are other tables scattered in the dining hall and each table has eight people sitting around. People here are using their 'talents' to get their needs and assist themselves. One person is using telekinesis to get plates, one person is flying. I'm definitely sure that he's flying. I started cutting the pork on my plate and took a bite. Really, five stars.
I heard Aaron chuckle.
"Why?" I asked. I thought you don't smile?
"Someone just told me how magnificent your mind is. She finds it amusing how innocent you are."
Barrier. Shit. Forgot that. I'm televising my thoughts. I took a deep breath. A 'she' huh. The 'she' just made Aaron chuckle. The 'she' is allowed to enter his mind and talk to him freely. I guess he's taken then. That's probably my cue to take a step back. Not that I like him or anything.
I heard some high heels sound nearing our place. A brush of flowery scent touched me and laid a hand on Aaron's shoulder.
"Hi, I'm Stif," she handed her other hand on me. Her perfectly flawless white skin makes her glow like an angel. Her long and curly black hair is softly lying just on her back making her silky smooth shoulder bare while wearing an off-shoulder blouse. Her eyes smiled prettily at me, I took her hand and introduced myself too. "I'm Sapphire."
"Sapphire, like the stone?" mesmerized by my name she showed more of her pearly white teeth at me.
"Yes, like the stone. My mother was fond of it."
"Is there anyone else in your family?" she asked.
"My older brother named Hal and a younger sister named Julia," I said.
"Oh, how old and young are they?" She seems really interested in me as her eyes sparkle while asking me.
"27 and 14 respectively."
"Oh, bummer." She laughed at her own disappointment. I don't think I understand what that means. "How are you Aaron?" she averted her attention to him who was just drinking juice. He put down his glass and flashed the most beautiful smile I've seen my whole life. Wake up, Sapphire. He ain't worth the fight.
"Fine, thanks. How's your work?" Aaron gladly talked to her.
"Oh well, it's doing fine. Minus the stubborn civilians." She laughed and so did Aaron. They seem to enjoy each other's company. Should I give my seat to Stif instead? "My food is waiting at the other end of this room. Catch you later," she winked, cutting her conversation with Aaron, and went away as if she just heard my mind.
"I didn't know you had siblings?" Aaron looked at me. "Do they have talents too?" he asked another.
"Isn't that part of your research regarding me?"
"Honestly, that never came out in your records."
I frowned. What does that mean? "Anyway, not that I know of. I don't talk to them. Why are you even asking? Suddenly interested?"
"Don't talk to them?" He narrowed his eyebrows and avoided my question.
I didn't answer him, I don't think he's expecting a reply anyway. I continued eating and answering random questions from the Commander until I remembered something that I have to do when he told me I have to stay in this place to hone my skills and be protected. I don't want to stay here. I can't stay here. I don't belong here. I don't know any of them.