Alto

Janus recovered slowly but steadily. He didn’t talk until half an hour after the incident occurred, then he started rambling about it all. Alto had to cradle him in my arms to stop him from shaking.

“Her name was Mica. The girl’s name was Mica. She used to talk about Raelynn sometimes. They were sisters. She said that Raelynn was still stuck in ULTRASONIC but she had promised to help her escape. Then she left. That’s why she left,” Janus stammered in frustration. “If she didn’t have to take care of me she would have made it there faster. I was sick that day. She wouldn’t have disappeared in the end if he didn’t eat those berries in the woods,” he shook his head, staring off to the side.

“Janus, it’s not your fault. Raelynn should be the one who’s crying, not you,” Alto sighed, patting Janus’s back.

“I know but I still think that I could have done something to prevent it. She was like my sister too.” Seeing that there was no way in hell that he was going to get Janus to feel better, Alto decided in Plan B.

“You know what? Wouldn’t you like to know a bit more about me? You’ve been talking about yourself for too long,” he smiled.

“That depends on what you can remember, you idiot,” Janus rolled his eyes, giving Alto the tiniest of smiles.

“Well, let’s see. Um, I was born in Clearborne. My father and mother died in the war when I was younger, though I'm not sure how. And I was taken to ULTRASONIC from there, I guess,” Alto chuckled. “It’s like I know how my parents died and I know how I was taken to ULTRASONIC, but I just can’t remember. I remember that they used to put me in a higher building than the rest of the Exceptionals,” he paused, swallowing. “I looked out the window everyday, watching the others go out for defense class or back to their dorms. It was lonely there and I spent most of my days in a drab room, reading. They took me out of there after a long time and I remember being so happy that I could finally meet other people like me. But I soon realized that none of them were like me. The scientists didn’t know what was wrong. There was always something they couldn’t figure out,” Alto explained.

“Resurrection” Janus murmured.

“Yeah. That’s about it actually. I can’t remember from there, it seems blurry,” Alto hesitated.

“Even if it is, there is still something that you remember. Even if it is blurry. Tell me.” It was like Janus knew what it was.

“This guy. And this feeling. It’s like jumbled together and I can’t figure it out,” the brunette stuttered.

“What was he like?”

“I’m not sure actually. He had blond hair and eyes like ice. He also had on one of my earrings,” Alto said, pointing to his right ear. He didn’t know what to expect of Janus’s response but he was surprised by what he said next.

“Did you love him?” Janus asked, his eyes gazing up at Alto’s. “I know I don’t understand how it feels, but it must be amazing,” he smiled hesitantly. Alto could see by the expression on Janus’s face that he thought he had said the wrong thing.

“That might be the feeling,” Alto said quickly, smiling a bit too. “I think I did,” he looked down, not meeting Janus’s gaze.

“We have to find him,” Janus said confidently, like a man on a mission. He didn’t seem like the 15 year old boy he actually was.

“It’s your sister first,” Alto replied.

“But only after we get out of this mess.” Janus slowly plopped himself down on the dirt ground, yawning. “Though I feel a little weak right now.”

“Now is not the time to sleep, Janus, we have company,” Alto sighed. In the distance he saw Raelynn on horseback, galloping towards them.

“Bloody hell,” Janus said, sitting up.

“I’m supposed to be the one from Clearborne,” Alto laughed.

“Mr. Aureum, I need to borrow you for a second,” Raelynn yelled, gesturing for Janus to leave.

“Where am I supposed to go?” Janus whispered.

“Just move for a second,” Raelynn called, still a decent distance from us.

“Damn.”

“Hey what’s wrong?” Alto asked as she stopped and jumped off her horse. “And could you cut the ‘Mr. Aureum’ shit?” he rolled his eyes.

“They know. They know you’re here. I need to take one of you NOW,” she panicked.

“Shouldn’t we be talking to Janus about this too?”

“Yes, but I need to tell you something that might make him a bit upset,” Raelynn said.

“His sister?” Alto guessed. She nodded and whispered in his ear.

“I overheard from one of our transmitters that ULTRASONIC is taking Titania Ansel to the lab before her second mission. I think they found another power on her,” she said, furrowing her brows.

“That’s good though. They wouldn’t hurt her and she wouldn’t have another opportunity to get killed,” he replied hastily.

“Her second mission was to travel to the other side of the world. She has to kill one called Thyrene Mendoza or something,” Raelynn rushed. “Yosnana is the most advanced in technology right now, and she could be killed in just a few hours after getting there.”

“So we don’t know when they’re going to send her there?” Alto asked.

“No. What we do know is that we have more time to save her. More time to get her back to Janus. But since you guys have already been tracked down, I need one of you to stay.”

“What are you going to do with him?” Alto asked.

“You mean what am I going to do with you?” Raelynn smiled.