Almost

Bella and Adelle did their morning exercises, took a bath, ate breakfast, and set off. Dean wanted her to rest so they'll resume training after two days. Today, she called Grandpa Tang for the lessons. Together with Adelle, they passed at the market to buy some fruits to bring and some supplements for the couple.

When they entered the shop, everybody was busy. Bella waited for a while until an attendant saw them. He remembered her the last time, so he led them to the greenhouse. Grandpa Tang was talking to an employee when he saw them…..

"Good morning Grandpa!!!" Bella smiled brightly.

"Nice to meet you, Grandpa!" Adelle bowed.

"....." Grandpa Tang was staring at Adelle, bewildered, happy, and shocked. Bella was staring at him and saw that something was wrong when Grandpa Tang's tears fell on his face. He dropped the vase of the herb he was holding and slowly walked to them.

"Grandpa?" Bella asked worriedly but still waited as he slowly approached them, trembling. He stopped in front of Adelle. His hands shakingly reached Adelle's face.

"Sofia, my child….." He cried while he embraced Adelle.

"!!!!!!!!" Bella and Adelle were shocked and confused but Adelle didn't refuse and let him hug her.

"Grandpa, I'm sorry, but she's my best friend Adelle." Bella said sadly.

"Oh dear, I'm sorry." said apologetically. He stopped hugging her and wiped his tears with the handkerchief Bella had given him.

"I'm sorry, you look like my daughter…." He inhaled deeply. "Come, come, let's have tea first before we start our lesson." Adelle felt complicated but still followed them.

Grandpa led them to a small gazebo in the middle of a garden. The tea was served but they were drinking silently. Grandpa Tang stole glances at Adelle, so she felt uncomfortable.

He sighed and looked at the garden, seeming to remember something.

"I'm sorry Adelle, I'm longing for my daughter and she really looked like you, I…"

"Don't worry, Grandpa, it happens." She smiled politely. He also smiled at them.

After a minute, a maid brought stacks of books and papers. Grandpa taught them about basic herbs. After an hour, he led them back to the greenhouse and showed them the herbs he taught them. It amazed them at how complicated it is to grow them. Adelle took pictures on her tablet and put labels on them, she was very interested in them so she studies them seriously. Grandpa tang nods at them. He wants to teach them slowly, how to care for them, how to dry, to harvest, and to preserve.

Three hours had passed when they left the shop. Grandpa returned home and walked straight to the bedroom. He slowly sat beside his wife and was sleeping. He caressed her hair, but tears started falling on his cheeks….

Bella walked down the street and visit other shops. She looks at Adelle who was strangely quiet.

"Are you all right?"

"Yeah, I just feel tired." She smiled faintly.

"You know I'm here for you, right?"

"Yeah, yeah mommy I know!", "Pfffttttt!!Hahahaha!" They laughed together. After visiting some shops, they went to a restaurant to have lunch and then went home.

Bella prepared tea in the kitchen while Adelle went into the backyard and sat on the swing.

'Is it a coincidence? Or I'm just thinking too much?' She shakes her head and sees Bella watching her. She smiled and pats the seat beside her. Bella sat and looked at her.

"You know I'm an orphan, right?"

"Yeah."

"I don't know if it's a coincidence. But her daughter's name is familiar…."

"You need not think much about it if you feel burdened…."

"No, I just need some time, but I'm worried…." Bella patiently listens.

"I'm worried I won't be able to accept changes right now. I'm used to living with you, as my only family. I'm also afraid of the anger I feel right now, I don't know why."

"Let's just take a step at a time and not make an assumption. You're pressuring yourself with some things that are not even here yet."

"Yeah, you're right." Adelle leaned on Bella's shoulder.

"I want to go shop again, do you want to come?"

"No, I want to rest for a while, then also do online shopping." She winks at Bella.

"Oh, please buy some shrimp dumplings and meat buns for dinner."

"Sure!"

Since the animals inside her space were fine when she was unconscious, she started gathering freshwater fish, shrimps, and crabs. She dug four ponds in space that she filled with water so it's a good place to put them. It takes time to gather live ones so they'll call her when it's available. She also asked them about cultivation methods. The owner was happy for the large purchase so she gave her some books and wrote about her personal experience and techniques. Bella was happy thinking of the food they could enjoy in the future. The owner was talkative so when they finished it was so late, some nearby stores were already closed.

The street lights were on, but fewer people can be seen. She headed back for now but while she was walking; she had a strange feeling. She sped up, that's when she heard footsteps. She ran and so did they. Her training just started, and she is not confident to fight in a group, so better escape for now. Running aimlessly, she arrived at a park.

While still running, she looked behind and saw five people in black clothes with covered faces. It startled her. She almost tripped and her phase became slower, so they almost caught up to her.

The trees were becoming thicker, "Shoooooooof", "Ahhhhh!" She felt a sting in her shoulder and started to get dizzy.

"You got her!" one of them shouted. Bella put her all and ran to the bushes but fell. She rolled on the thicker bushes and "Poof!". Bella goes inside her space and drags herself to the side of the river to drink some water. She lay on the ground and her vision was still unfocused. From the space, voices could be heard.

"Where did she go?"

"I saw her falling here…"

"Did you put the right dose? How come she was still running when you shot her?"

"I did! You're so good, why didn't you do it!!!" He retorted. She could hear them clearly but couldn't stay awake anymore. Bella tried to reach behind her shoulder and found a small thing….she fainted.

When she woke up, she saw a small dart beside her. 'F***!' She stood up and then looked at her cell phone, One hour had passed. She went to bathe and changed to clean clothes. On the sofa, she was eating apples and grapes. Who are they? She looked up when she heard footsteps. It's safe inside, but she still can't help feeling nervous. What could have happened if she didn't have the space?

"F**** where did that b**** go?"

"Tony messed up the dose?"

"No, he said, it's the usual, she should stay asleep until tomorrow."

"Why are we here?"

"The second group went to the south, and they said she was last seen here."

"Should we call her?"

"No need, there's no time limit, and we.never.fail.a.job!" He said angrily.

"You stay here, we'll go that way."

"Okay!" When he was left at the scene. "Tsk! I should be with my girlfriend right now." He played with his phone.

Bella shook. From what she heard, 'It's a woman?' She clutches her fist in anger. 'Wait, it was a stronger dose so maybe the water helped her to recover early?' Thank god she drank some before she passed out.

She can't stay for long or else Adelle will freak out. Her cell phone doesn't work inside. It's time to fight, one on one! She changed her clothing into a black one, covering her face, and took a baseball bat on her stash. She was about to get out when she heard footsteps again.

"What are you doing?" asked breathlessly.

"Nothing!" he said guiltily.

"Monitor this spot, I'll leave the gun to you in case she could still move."

"Boss, it's already a high dose, it might kill her...."

"We've been running around and someone might get suspicious. We can't stay here till morning."

"But…."

"No, buts! Shoot or you'll be shot instead!"

"Oookay boss!!!"

"You and you two, stay with him. Call me ASAP if you see her."

"Yes, Boss!" said together.

Bella facepalmed, now what she should do? She had the urge to smash them with the excavator, but killing them is not practical right now. She doesn't want trouble and spends the rest of her days in jail before the apocalypse. She also needs to know who sent them, so they'll be useful alive. She needs help. A face popped in her head. She took her cellphone, put it in silent mode, and typed something.

Her hand is on the sent button, she inhales and 'Poof!'

She lands in the bushes making some sound.

"There!"

"Meow!"

"It's just a f**** cat!" The footsteps were getting closer. Bella was sweating when she saw the sent notification, "Poof!".

"There���s nothing here!" The footsteps were getting further. Bella tools her mask off and wipes her sweating face. She could only pray now….

After half an hour, Bella could still hear voices, it's like there's three or four of them.

"Did you hear that?"

"Go check it out!"

"Why is it only me?!"

"Cause you f**** messed up!"

"Tsk!" He walked to where the noise was, "Who are you?! Ahhhh!" "Shooog! Shooog!" "Blag" Something crashed on the ground.

"F**** Shoot!!!", "Bam! Bam!Bam!", "Ahhhh!!" "F****! Whose shooting!!!!"

Bella was scared, she heard gunshots everywhere and people shouting in pain. There were few footsteps. Then there was silence.

She heard sounds, 'Click' "Pilsner, two tangoes down, two needs medic, flower negative, over.", There was a static sound, "... Stout, five tangoes down, flower negative…"