Raven was immobile. He had a heavy feeling on his chest. He could not breath. He did not quite understand a lot about women but somehow he realized that he had been seen through. No, he had ben rejected! What she said was true about him.
His personality could not just change at a whim. He had planned to stay away from girls but was that being true to himself? He just couldn't and the moment he saw her, he went back to his old personality.
He also was not also acting like a man, from her words. He shook his head. Was he just planning to be a different man just to please a lady? He must have been out of his mind. But that was just him consoling himself though.
Deep down, he realized that there was not going to be a girl he could fall for. Even if he did fall for someone else, she would still have a soft spot within his heart. But what Raven did not understand was that she had told him just what he had to do.
Like she had given him a chance... She had said a man who remained true to himself and did not get easily influenced could get a chance. But in his heartbrokenness, he could not even connect a single dot here.
But also she had said that such men did not exist. He released the air he had been holding all this while in his chest with his cheeks puffed . He slapped his cheeks severally. He then stood from his seat and and tightened his tie. He then walked forward like nothing had happened just now.
***
One could wonder why she blantantly rejected him but as a daughter of a very beautiful lady and the niece of another one, how could they have not taught her these things.
She had been taught such that she could recognize a lustful gaze or a fond gaze or a plain gaze. She could also see through schemes that the guys would try to use to lure her. She also had a perfect way to reject them all.
She was heading down the stairs to her aunt's office. She had some few things she wanted to ask her. This time, she was not rude and she knocked on the door. After a slight pause came a reply telling her to come in.
She pushed the door open and her aunt came into view. Her aunt usually smiled every time she saw her. She also could not help but smile back. He aunt was currently the only family she had left and the only person who cared for her the most.
"Have a seat," she said. Mia obliged and sat comfortably on the chair leaning on it.
"I am here to inquire about a certain book I came across in the library," she went directly to the point. She opened her bag and removed the book then placed it on the table.
Her aunt reached it and stared at the cover. Her expression was plain but she blinked her eyes several times. Her expression then turned solemn and a confused grin appeared on her face.
"Where did you get this?" She asked in a serious tone. She went through several pages and her expression kept changing.
" From the library of course," Mia replied as a matter of factly. Her aunt sent her a glare like she was saying she knew it was from the library.
" I mean this book should not be in the libraries," her aunt said her eyes never leaving the book. Mia shifted and sat straight.
"Is it a banned book?" She asked with concern.
"Its more than that. You should also stop reading this book for your own good. Which page are you reading at?" She asked but when she saw the folded page she heaved a sigh of relief.
Mia had a confused expression. The book was thousands of pages but she was still in the early pages. She had reached at the 50th page. She stared at her aunt who had not raised her head since she picked the book. Still skimming through the pages.
She suddenly closed the book. Her serious expression had still not faded. Then she did what she could have never expected. First, she opened the drawer and put the book in there, Mia wanted to protest but she was ignored.
Her aunt then did something she could have not expected. What one might have missed were the wrist watches everyone had on their palms. That was what they appeared like but they were more than that.
They were as thin as bangles and only half a centimeter wide. They were designed as watches to show time but they served numerous hidden functions. As one reached higher levels, these watches would open up to special functions.
But the main factor about them was that they were a means of identity. It was impossible for one to move freely without one. Back to her aunt, she tapped her watch twice and a blue screen around 10 centimeters wide and long appeared above it like a projection.
The screen appeared transparent blue. She then started tapping on the screen. Mia watched with shock not knowing these watches had such functions. Her aunt seemed to be dialing some numbers and in a few instants, her call went through and a voice came from it.
"This is the me headquarters. You have reached the line of..." The male voice on the other side was cut short. He had been playful maybe because they knew each other and he was just fooling around. But to her aunt, this was an important matter.
"Connect me with the Emperor..." He words were as clear as day. She had the ability to speak with the Emperor if she wanted to. Even Mia had not expected that her aunt could pull off such a feat. She knew that her background was not usually as simple but if they could speak with the Emperor at will...
After a while, a new voice came. Her aunt left the desk and opened the door leaving hurriedly. Whatever it was she was going to talk about, she did not know. But she knew it was not simple. It had something to do with the book.
As her aunt had not closed the door, she caught wind of some words before her voice disappeared.
"Cut the pleasantries. Some mistake happened. Luckily I realized it early or it would have been fatal. Its about Earth..." Her voice died down in the distance together with her footsteps.
Mia was not retarded but she was also curious. Who dared talk to the Emperor in such a way? She had gotten her curiosity peaked about that book and something told her that there was more to it. Her aunt could only make that call if it was very serious. Especially, calling the Emperor was almost an impossible feat to accomplish.
Knowing she would never get the chance to read the book again, she opened the drawer and took it then put it back into her backpack. Quickly before her aunt came back, she left. She hurriedly left the faction and went back home as fast as she could.
One might wonder what happened to her pursuers but after her aunt came, they all stopped chasing after her and she was even compensated for the trouble. What happened to these men, only her aunt knew.
Her aunt opened the door and found Mia gone. She grit her teeth as she went behind the desk only to find the drawer open with the book gone.
"Damned girl. Does she know just how top secret the book she carries is? It could lead to execution if one found out about it..." She lamented as she slammed her fist on the desk.
A crack formed on it but her anger cooled down and a smile appeared on her lips.
"It will do no harm though. She is more than safe," she mumbled as she sank back on the chair sighing.
***
A lot of days passed. It was the third week. On the Arctic, one could see a starved monkey and and a healthy sleeping guy. He had not moved all this time. But all his injuries had healed.
Marx moved a finger and his eyes snapped open. He was met by the blinding white light. He closed his eyes and after a while he then opened them slowly and stared at the falling snow.
Snow flakes fell on him but melted immediately they touched him. One could expect that he would be burried in the snow but he had not. He raised his head and on his chest he saw the sleeping and starved Jerry.
It lay there quietly but one could see that it was on its last legs. It was obvious that it had realized on him there was warmth that was why it was lying on his chest. If he did not a have meal anytime soon, he was nothing more but dead. Marx felt guilty for the little guy.
He quickly sat up and stood up. He ignored the notifications on the screen. He picked Jerry in his hands and embraced him. The little guy must have endured alot than he did.
Even as he patted his head, he just opened his eyes weakly as they closed on their own. But Marx saw relief in those eyes. He realized just how much dependent that little guy was to him. He was even loyal to him such that he never left his side.
Marx could only take responisbility. He looked for his backpack and only saw its straps. It had been burried in the snow. He pulled it and placed the little guy inside. Looking for his bike, he only saw the handles.
He realized just how much Jerry endured. Quickly, he picked the bike pushing it and headed towards the direction on the map he had seen a lake. It took almost an hour but ihe finally sighed.
Though the top was frozen, he knew better that at the bottom of the lake were a numerous number of fish. He did not mind eating them raw if he could not find firewood to cook them. That was if he managed to catch one...