It was a busy day from the beginning. With all the work needed behind sending them off, and still keeping Velvet Lotus open, we had to start very early. To my surprise, Nadia was on her feet even before me.
I helped with packing provisions on the carts, and other necessary equipment. Then I said my goodbyes, wishes of good luck, and a safe journey to everybody departing. Ok, maybe with the exception of one person. Yes, Blue. Then I shook hands of my friends, except Aisha. She didn't find any more time for me.
I was still at fault in her mind with all the secrets I hid. From that point, we only kept growing more and more apart. Now we seemed more like coworkers saying hello and goodbye, then friends.
They finally headed out, but it was just the beginning. The club needed to be prepared for opening. I helped cleaning, resupplying alcohol, food, and other necessary stuff. There was tons of work because Aisha took Hailwic, Anna, Louna, and Zoë with herself. We were seriously underhanded.
Some girls that usually didn't help with that stuff, had to lend us a hand. They were usually working upstairs, giving more physical services, if you catch my drift. I didn't want to hang around them too much, cause they were pretty 'handsy', and the last thing I wanted, was to upset Nadia.
She was giving me all I could ever wish for. I never expected to meet somebody like her in a place like this. By that, I mean totally different world, with aliens, and strange technology probably altering reality, and spawning monsters around. Yeah. never expected that in my life...
But it happened. and I was actually happy. So happy that one day of a break turned into two, then four, then five...
We kept working together since now Velvet Lotus was mainly on her and Vesa's head. I helped how I could. Cleaning, lifting heavy things, bouncing people at the entrance, kicking out violent customers.
It was totally different from what I was used to, but since we were seeing each other so much, I just couldn't help, but love it. She became more than I could ever ask for. Best friend, and a lover.
That's how the first two weeks passed. Nothing major happened. People were going about their lives. Hunting during the day or working, and then resting or partying in the club. Everybody seemed happy, and everything looked like it's going in the right direction.
Then the next week came by, and questions started to slowly emerge. Where are they? Why didn't they come back already? Did something bad happen?
My close circle remained positive but other people, especially newcomers, didn't. By the fourth week, I became some sort of villain. A mastermind who sends all the people who could stop him from ruling the city, to certain death somewhere in the wilderness thru the means of a clever lie. Some people showed more hostility towards me, and incidents in the Velvet Lotus became more frequent.
The only thing stopping them from attacking me personally was just fear. Eventually, those people build in a group, but still, nobody wanted to stand at the frontlines. I was a beast in their eyes. Somebody who could easily take ten people on, and win. The truth was different. I could easily kill more.
By the last day of the fourth week, the twenty-eight day since departure, I was sitting with Vesa and Nadia in Aisha's office. It was still morning, but midday was approaching.
- I was just stopped by a bunch of people. They wouldn't let me go to the city center - said Vesa.
She was clearly concerned, biting her lower lip. The usual perfect visuals were a bit messy.
- What?! Did they hurt you? - Nadia came closer, to have a better look at her, then she turned around to me, and her eyes were telling me a lot, unlike her closed lips.
- No. They just said that we need to kick you out, Peter. Nobody goes to the device until you are out, they said.
- Ok. I'll go.
- What?! No! You can't go!
- This is a time bomb, Nadia. There are many of them, and I'm sure they will storm the club eventually.
- I disagree. They might still attack us if Peter is gone. - She turned to me. - If you are here with us, you can stop them, but if you will be away, then there is nobody. As long as you are here, they won't do a thing.
- Nadia...
- No! We have been keeping Peter here for almost a month. Who do you think they will just forget about it if he walks away? We are an easy target. I've seen them lurking around, they are mostly men. They will come to rape and kill. You know it Vesa.
- Ok. There is a lot of truth in your words, but we can't just wait here. One day they will be able to take on Peter, and then what? We are trapt right now. Our food supplies are almost nonexistent. Yesterday I had to run back here because a bunch of people tried to catch me! Today they didn't allow me to pass thru the blockade. What do you think will happen next?
- Vesa... It will be ok - I jumped into the conversation. - Aisha will be back soon. The journey was probably a bit longer than anticipated. We only had a sketch made with a stick on the sand, approximate direction, and that's it. We can't expect them to be back in a week or two.
- It's been four weeks Peter. Not two, not three, but four. And don't get me wrong here, I trust in Aisha's and Will's abilities, but something must have happened, and they just... They just might not come back.
- No. There is no reason to believe that. You have no idea how strong Will is. He at least would be able to escape if something bad happened. If not him, then somebody else would. There is Blue with them, and as much as I hate to say it, he would be the last one to die. That man has everything to escape, he possibly would need. He doesn't care about others, he is smart and physically capable. Will could risk his life to make the others escape, but Blue wouldn't. We just need to wait a little bit more.
p
- They won't. This is an important place for everybody in the city - Nadia disagreed. - They won't just burn it.
- No, she is right. They are still being reasonable, but sooner or later they will lose all their reason. I need to go. I need to lure them with me. We need to make a spectacle. You should kick me out, and then I need to beat up few people. This should be enough for them to try and fight me, which should theoretically assure your safety, at least until they are bussy with me
- That's... I can't ask you for that Peter...
- No! No, no, no, no! They already hate you, Peter. If you do this, no matter what is gonna happen, you will become public enemy number one! Be reasonable here! What we should do, is just sit here tight. Two, three, maybe five days, and they will come back. I'm sure of it. Lets just...
- I would love to share your hope, Nadia. Unfortunately, we have no idea where they are. If they are.
- Then... then how about Peter goes out to meet them?
- We already sent some scouts, they saw nothing.
- Yes, we did. But how far did they get? Only to the canyon. I can go past that. Way past. I think Nadia's idea is good. I'll propose to go out to look for them. Maybe our mad crowd will listen? We have nothing to lose with just asking.
- Maybe you are right. Shure, let's ask them. It seems like the best idea so far.
- I'll do it - said Nadia.
- No. I need to do it myself.
- What if they attack you? I can't let you just go out to them.
I came closer, to give her a little kiss.
- If they attack me, then I'm gonna beat them up.
She answered me with a bitter smile.
- Ok. Just promise me to be careful, ok?
- Yes, Peter. You should watch out for yourself.
- I'll be fine. Just wait here.
After those words, I left. I'm not gonna lie, I was nervous. They were hostile towards me, and I wasn't the most agreeable person, especially when somebody was unreasonable with me. This crowd just needed a sacrificial lamb. I for sure wasn't gonna become one just for their amusement.
If they wanted to fight, I was gonna fight them.. Witch such mentality, I stepped outside.
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