Back.

Minette;

As I lie wide awake in my space, my mind wanders. It was as if I was troubled when that wasn't the situation. Mother still hadn't informed me whether she'll indeed come with me to G'neration-- thought my guts are telling me she wouldn't. Sigh.

My line of thoughts was cut off when a silent beeping rang throughout my room, "743123 111177 83 7355017 70177012120111 001707 4012637 70 601773", it read-- coming from the strange transmitter called 'beeper' I've had received from G'neration. It was given by the Head Ladies-- Lady Erós and Aletheia, for us to use when we need to communicate in secret. And I must admit, it was hard for me to get a grip of it at first.

(The message is “There'll be lesson tomorrow, don't forget to come”, though, the translation to code was rough and unsure.)

“We always do lessons, what's the difference that I was even told to come tomorrow?” I questioned, wondering what's so urgent with tomorrow's lesson that Asha--as it was one of her duty, even had to message me. G'neration and their uncertain things.

I sigh, closing my eyes. Letting my mind just wander into different things rather than thinking about my Mother and the reason why the lesson tomorrow seems important, I just had to be there, with no question. Minutes passed and my plan to just zone out was changed into a plan of drowning into sleep, as tiredness slowly cradles me in its warmth causing my eyes to feel heavy and drowsy.

Let's just surrender.

--

As rest was the only unstoppable thing I willingly choose to surrender on-- the lightness of rays come unknowingly. Waking me up in the process as the radiated rays slip through my space hurting my tightly closed eyes in the hotness it's emitting.

“What a way to start this day.” I groan, looking around to check whether my things are still intact-- there had been reports of invasion in Ava's homes every time it was only the night light that shines, and when everyone was already resting. The additional information about whether it was true or who was committing it was unknown-- some say it might be the Lumos, the others think it was also Ava's who just lacked luck and they're using the things they get for them to survive. But overall, none make a move to know who it was, as the other was risky and the other was pitiful.

“and my beeper-- what in the world of Abaddon, where is it?” I panicked, noticing how the transmitter wasn't in the place I usually put it into. Did someone came here and took it? hopefully not.

“Putha” I swore in Abaddon, as I search over every possible surface I may have put it into. What luck. Despite how hard I search for it, I still can't see where it was. I just continue swearing not even caring about my Mother's mad head if she hears me do so. And when I was about to just give up and hit my head on the walls of my space, a beep was heard, indicating that no one took it and that I had received another news from Asha.

Shook, yet aware that if I didn't search to wherever direction I heard it came from, I hurriedly strive my way to the bed, I was just in before my panicking happened. “Are you for real?!” I exclaimed, holding the beeper I just found placed under my cloud-like head assistance.“11143123 6123 4011” it read as Asha might be wondering why am I running late. My apologies.

I gave her a short response before I hurry my way to change my clothing and fix myself for a much better appearance before I went ahead and show at G'neration. I stumble down the steps, without realizing whether I've forgotten something or not.

“I might not be allowed to step inside Astra, but, at least I know when the Don's are needed.” My Mother utter, not even taking her eyes on what she was preparing but strangely, notices my presence. weird.

Upon hearing her words, I hurriedly look at myself up and down. Putha.

“Why am I in Don's clothes?” I exclaimed, realizing that instead of the clothing I usually wear to sneak my way into G'neration was nowhere to be seen but instead I was wearing my assigned Don's cloth.

“Are you asking me or yourself? Because if it's me, then I don't know.” My Mother chuckles, still not stopping from her tasks. I groan, look back at her when a sudden thought came into my mind.

“How come you knew? You didn't even look up to check on me.” I question, making her motions slowly stop as if she was hesitating whether she'll answer me or not. “Don't tell me, these eyes that I have, it's the same as yours...” I mumble, trying to catch her off guard.

The moment she heard my doubts, she looks up, stared straight into my orbs as if saying, ‘When did I even lie to you?’. She then sighs, strides her way to me before she says, “Taking credit on your eyes will discredit your father's existence. Remember, what I used to tell you when you were young, and there you'll know that your doubts are baseless.” she uttered, caressing my cheeks as her orbs never leave mine.

“Let them ran away from you because it only means they're not worthy of your bondage. Your eyes, it's the most precious thing, it's one of a kind. Truly sophisticated, given by none but the don who had fought for you, risking everything.” That's what it was, that was her words when I was younger. When the other existence in our surrounding will ran away every time they'll know about my eyes. Except for her.

I sigh, remembering her in urgent times will not help me at all. It'll only be a hinder in the little time I had left, “Right, I need to be there before the Lumos seeks around. ” I mumble, realizing that the given tick of life is only limited. “If they caught me it'll be the end. ” and I don't want that, because I promised her.

--

“That was close.” I sigh, after finally arriving inside the borders of G'neration. The moment I've step put out of our home, the announcement of Lumos roaming was made. Thus, I hurried my way out, without even stopping, not caring how breathless I was.

“Are you suicidal?” someone question, making their presence be known to me. I straighten my body, giving my gaze to whoever spoke that question. If there's one thing I never like hearing, it's questioning my decisions that are before my existence. It was as if telling me to just die without earning the reason why I'm sacrificing my life to the Don's.her.

“Are you?” I retort, seeing how she was unknown to me. She didn't answer, she just stare at me with her smirk painted high in her nosy features. “Who are you?” I ask, making it known to her that if she's there as a move from the Don then she'll have to face me.

“Funny, do you think I'll stand here if I'm not welcomed?” she replies, “The name is Sol, that if you've failed to realize still who I was.” she pursues, showing me the wrist code she had. 309

“309? There's no such thing as-”

“There is, she's much higher than any of us,” Nova claimed out of nowhere, scaring the shit out of my already tensed-up suspicious self. But despite her voice feeling like she's near me, she wasn't. Instead, she was by far in a meter of a distance from me but shorter than from Sol.

Is she still scared of me?

“She was? Then how come mine was 037...” I trail, confused on how it was possible. “ If you've noticed, there are two zeroes in ours,” Nova uttered, not letting my wondering be left alone for too long. Two zeroes? But there's only...0037.

“Fucker.” I swore, realizing how my eyes had tricked me again. “What did you just call Nova?” Sol asks, obviously thinking that my words were meant for Nova.

“It's not Nova, Sol. She's talking about something else.” Kibou came, after probably noticing our commotion. “And, Minette. Instead of swearing out loud or even almost getting into another fight, you should've made your way inside. The Lady had been asking for you, as you were still nowhere in sight.” she coldly continues, before she turns her back to us once again.

“Ha, so fucking obvious.” Sol curse when Kibou's presence was nowhere within our space. “What is?” Nova asks, probably as confused as me.

“You should know by yourself, it's easy.” Sol utter before she went ahead to follow suit on Kibou's step. What the hedge?

--

“You're finally here.” Lady Erós uttered the moment she'd seen my presence. She elegantly walks towards me, with her long red cape being dragged around, she was in an article of completely different clothing-- it was a beautiful white fitted torso that defines her upper really well, and her lower instead of wearing her usual long dress, she was in a complementary also fitted white pants. Maybe, today was indeed urgent and I didn't have the time to arrive when they've asked for me.

“Now, we may start our lesson. Hurry, change your clothing-- Asha will guide you through it.” Lady Erós mumbles as she strides her way out of the room she had called me in, leaving me alone and confused with nothing to do if Asha won't arrive in a matter of seconds.

“Where is she?” I fidget constantly, wondering when will I see Asha's presence. Unknown to others, I'm not fond of wide spaces, it suffocates me instead of giving me enough air. It wasn't like that when I was younger, but, as soon as I started getting exposed to the reality of why I'm still breathing in Abaddon, every time I'm alone in the wide it automatically drowns me.

“I've been here the whole time, watching every fidget step you've made.” Ashad loudly announces from behind, causing my body to trembles in shock as her voice-- instead of being conveyed normally echoes over and over again through the wide place we're in. And that reminds me of that day when my eyes finally found it's purpose. To just be gone.

“Is one of the lessons thought in here is surprising whoever is in front?” I utter, still not over what happened.

She let out a small smile before she shook her head and says, “You've wasted enough time, here, wear this and then come out.” she toss my supposed articles of clothing to where I am.

And as if the lessons in here were indeed about being strange, she left me just like how Lady Erós did. I sigh, when will I get used to this.

G'neration;