Episode 17 - Goodbye

— ORANGE TEAM POV —

– So, Luke. Spill out everything you know.

Luke sighed.

– Hey, ehm… what was your name? Alec? I know that by being a leader you have some information that others, like a normal person like me, don't have. But, I still don't know if I can trust you. The information I have is almost a secret. Why don't you start the exchange first? —he smiled cockily—.

– Tch.

Alec knew that Luke's information was potentially more important than that of the leaders'.

– Alright, you win.

The 3 decided to sit on the ground. They hid as much as they could so no one could see they were there. Alec started to talk. The information all leaders knew was that, the war in the coliseum was completely improvised. Apparently, an unknown group approached each region, at war in the moment, and offered a "pacific" solution to the problem. No one believed that supposed anonymous group, because it wasn't credible that a random group would have the key to end the war. No one wanted to believe in that group… but they didn't have any more options, because the way things were going, the wars were going to end the whole of Alvea.

Luke smiled. He already knew all that.

– Hm. Apparently you don't know much, bro. But, I can't tell you what I know at this moment. After this Touchdown round, let's reunite here again. I'll tell you everything.

Luke got off the ground.

– I'm just gonna say, I'm the son of someone really important to the government.

With nothing else to say, he retired. His silhouette disappeared instantly. Alec punched the ground, furious.

– Bastard, he tricked us…

– I don't think so, Alec. —said Augustus, getting off the ground. Looking at the path Luke walked off—. Trust him. He'll tell us everything.

– How can you be so sure? It could've been a tactic to get information from a leader.

– Patience, we only have to wait a few days.

Alec clicked his tongue. At that point he didn't have much to lose. He sighed and decided to trust in Augustus and Luke.

— BLUE TEAM POV —

Elise, Merissa and Zacharie were outside of their warehouse. It would be their turn against the Red Team the next day. No one wanted to say anything. Besides having to fight with them, they couldn't trust anyone outside of their team. Elise, Merissa and Zacharie trusted each other to death, so they didn't have any suspicion against each other being the one behind it all.

– Elise… —said Merissa, directing her attention to Elise— tomorrow… it could be possible that tomorrow… um…

– I know, Merissa. —she said firmly— tomorrow could be the day we all die.

Elise sighed. She felt empty. The next day could be her last day alive. And she still wasn't sure about Maeva.

– I know this isn't the best time to say this, but…

– I know you're going to talk about Maeva, Merissa. But, you know what? I have my suspicions about someone.

– Oh… wait what!? —she exclaimed, completely surprised— how come you suspect someone!? Here!?

– Yes… I have someone in mind… but I can't tell you right now, I need to be sure.

In that moment, Sophie and Luna arrived. They decided to gather together since Sophie is from Maeva and they've known Luna for some time, even though they met her for the first time in the coliseum. Elise, Merissa and Zacharie got off the ground and started to hug them as greeting. When they finished, everyone went back to sit on the ground, including Sophie and Luna.

– ELISE! You don't know how much I miss you… I feel bored without you. I don't have anyone to do pranks with.

Elise laughed lightly.

– Yeah, yeah, but you have Luna. A more… calm? version of me.

Everybody laughed at that.

– Well yeah… right, Luna? —Sophie hugged her by the neck, getting her closer—.

– I guess…

No one really wanted to talk about their fight tomorrow. They just wanted to talk about the good times and laugh for a bit. Forget the situation they were in.

Luna, who really was the stranger in the group, didn't know what to say. She felt slightly uncomfortable, but at the same time felt warm being with them. Felt that, even though she was in another dimension, she was closer to home. Luna recalled her book. One of the regions to catch her eye was Maeva. As the book said, it was one of the most beautiful places of Alvea. It had a lot of green areas and vegetation. That's why Maeva was the region with most resources, making it the most powerful and influential region of Alvea. Since there were things she couldn't totally trust from the book, Luna wanted to make sure Maeva was as wonderful as the book said. In the middle of their talk, Luna raised her hand.

– Hey… can I ask you a question?

– Of course! What do you want to know? —asked Elise—.

– Can you tell me about Maeva?

Hearing that name, Elise felt a stab to her heart. She knew she was referring to the region, not her sister, but hearing her say that name made her feel a tingling sensation on her body. Merissa noticed that and looked at Elise, a little worried.

– E-eh oh… Of-of course! Maeva is the perfect place to live. It has a lot of beautiful areas and places to visit. Besides, we have the strongest soldiers of all of Alvea, right guys?

Everyone laughed at that. But it wasn't a lie. Maeva was considered the region with the best soldiers, reason why it was considered the most powerful region. Its soldiers were all well trained and had high resistance.

They spent almost the entire night talking. By that point, Luna already felt like part of the group. She felt as if she was naturally one of them.

Elise sighed. She knew that moment wouldn't last forever, it was time for them to rest, since the next day it was their decisive day. Elise got up. Deciding to be the one to break the ice. They couldn't escape their reality forever.

– Guys! … Tomorrow… Tomorrow let's all give our best! Don't hesitate! Sophie and Luna will be our enemies, and we will be their enemies too. Remember that it's only inside the battlefield. Out of it, we're the best of friends, got it?

Elise closed her eyes. Felt how the tears were going to take over. Maeva's image wouldn't get out of her head. She felt frustrated knowing she would probably die without meeting her or officially reuniting as sisters. It took a few seconds, but she could get ahold of herself at the end.

– Whatever happens tomorrow… don't regret anything, okay? At the end, we're doing all of this for our region, Maeva. Nobody's sacrifice is going to be in vain. No one who has died here has done so in vain. Stephen didn't die in vain. —hearing that name, Sophie did all she could to not cry, remembering that round—So, stand up with your best smiles.

Everybody stood up. No one wanted to cry in front of each other. They wanted to look strong. But inside, they were all already crying. The fear of dying was inevitable. And as soldiers, they knew this moment would come sooner or later. But they were ready. They were ready to die fighting for their region. To finally bring the peace Alvea deserved. They gathered in a small circle, doing a group hug.

– FOR MAEVA.

– FOR MAEVA.

Everyone repeated after Elise, even Luna. After it, Sophie and Luna hugged everybody again, this time for a little longer. It was time to rest. Elise approached Luna.

– Goodnight, Luna. Tomorrow… tomorrow fight with all your strength, okay?

Luna tried to smiled, but it was difficult. Elisa was the person whom she felt more comfortable with. The one she could sit and talk all day. She nodded a few times, determined.

– You too.

Sophie and Luna walked off slowly, saying goodbye with their hands. Merissa too decided to head back first.

– Don't stay out too late, okay? We need to rest.

Zacharie and Elise answered at the same time. Seconds after Merissa went inside the warehouse, Elise directed her attention to Zacharie.

– We should go too, no?

– Yeah…

Elise turned around, but Zacharie took her by the wrist, turning her back around and pulling her closer to him. Elise widened her eyes in surprise. Both looked at each other's eyes, with no option to look away. Under the moonlight, Zacharie got closer to Elise's face. Elise felt how her heart was about to explode, her face completely red and her stomach full of butterflies. Without much to do, she closed her eyes by inertia as Zacharie's face got closer to hers. Without hesitation, Zacharie pressed his lips against Elise's, giving her a warm kiss.

After a few seconds, Zacharie pulled slowly back. Elise was still speechless and confused about what just happened.

– U-um I will h-head out first…

She lost all capability to talk. She turned around and quickly made her way back to the warehouse. Thanks to the wind, her hair flew in the air, exposing her nape, in which a birthmark laid right in the middle.

"— Zacharieee, come here!

It was a windy day. Zacharie and Elise were playing in the park. After being called, Zacharie got closer to the slide in which Elise was in. She got in first. A gust of wind made her hair fly. Zacharie noticed the birthmark Elise had on her neck.

– What's that black dot you have on your neck, Elise? —asked Zacharie—.

– Oh! It's my birthmark! Maeva and I have the same one! Oh and… did you know, they say that if you see someone's hidden birthmark, you must marry them and live the rest of your lives together!

– Eeeeeeeeh? Where did you hear the from? —he laughed—.

– It doesn't matter, now you have to marry me. —she stuck out her tongue—."

Zacharie took out a small box from his pocket. He held it tight, covering it in a fist.

– I still don't know where'd you hear that from, Elise. But… I'll keep my promise.

TO BE CONTINUED.