Find Miya

Beo and Sarah roamed the house, urgently trying to avoid Miya catching sight of Icarus. Sarah walked ahead of Beo while he thoroughly checked each room, pushing those throughout the hall to the side.

"Where do you think she could be, Beo?"

"I really have no clue. Let's just hope they haven't already made contact with each other."

Beo led Sarah immediately toward Icarus's room. The door of the room read "Keep Out", but Beo disregarded the sign and ripped it completely off of the door in anger.

"Fuck your sign!"

Beo barged through the door, the door crashing against the wall behind it. The room was completely empty with exception of Icarus's things and a king-sized bed. The bed was lazily made, and various items lay randomly about the room as they walk further in, closing the door behind themselves.

"Dammit! This means he's out and about. We need to hurry this up!"

Sarah nodded, and they made their way back through the crowd in search of Owen. Sarah spoke as they continued to run through the halls, disregarding those around them as they earned stares, numerous ones.

"Owen normally sleeps on the couch near the door. He doesn't leave unless the Headmaster says so."

Beo pushed multiple people aside to make way for Owen, but Sarah grabbed him by the shoulder, pulling him back toward herself.

"Don't be so...you know…Emotional. People here know that Bo has a curse."

"You're right... It's just annoying! I'll try to settle down."

Beo went blank faced and continued on his way to Owen. When they arrived at the couch near the door, they found that Owen was completely nowhere to be found.

"What the fuck is up with my luck today, Sarah?!"

"Calm down! There's still other places to look and people that might have a hint as to where Miya is... Parisa! Parisa would know!"

"You've got a point!"

Beo and Sarah headed toward where Parisa was stationed. Parisa's attention immediately turned to them as they approached. Parisa spoke before they'd even had the chance to ask her.

"Nifla's room. Hurry. She'd definitely be awake by now."

They quickly turned around and headed straight for Nifla's room. On the way there, Kem pulled out in front of them, blocking the way. Beo continued to push through, but Kem pushed him back, something clearly on his mind.

"Move."

"We need your help with something."

"Don't got time! Move!"

"Will you stop being an A-hole and listen to me for once, Beo?! You always aggravate me!"

Beo snarled.

"Likewise..."

Beo continued to try and pass Kem, but he continued to block his way. Beo yelled through his teeth.

"WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT?! WE'RE IN A HURRY!"

Kem grabbed the both of them and they instantly appeared on the stage, the DJ ignoring their presence as the crowd partied behind them. The crowd howled as a woman sat on the stage, strapped to a wooden chair.

"What's going on here?"

Beo took a closer look at the woman; she stared at him in return. Her look immediately turned sinister, and Beo backed away from her, feeling a strange presence. The air around her remained altered for a while as she shook the stage with her violent struggle, the chair narrowly holding back her frenzy. Her gaze remained locked onto Beo, her eyes deranged and a strange liquid spraying from her mouth as she spoke, her voice raspier.

"Sit soundly while you still can-ya!"

Kem turned toward Beo.

"That's the most we've gotten out of her. Before now she hadn't spoken, no matter how many beer bottles were thrown her way and poured on her.

"What did she do?"

"Parisa says that this woman tried to knock Miya out by poisoning her drink."

Beo understood, and two arms shot from his shoulder blades and reached to grab the woman. Kem reacted to his actions with worry, deflecting his aggressive approach.

"We have no idea who this person is affiliated with. If this is connected to the Central Government, there'll be a hunt for our heads."

"Like I care... So what're we supposed to do with this rat. She doesn't look like anything special."

"Just...Trust me. I was thinking of calling in Dola. The police could easily identify and interrogate her. No one here has that kind of experience besides possibly Chance, but he's nowhere to be found."

"Forget calling on Dola. I've never trusted her and never will. We'd be better off calling in Headmaster."

"You just want her to be tortured that badly, huh?"

Beo smiled, sure of himself and his approach. At the rate they were going, they weren't going to find this woman's connections, and torture only seemed like a chance.

"Easier information. Call him up. We need to get back to what we were doing. This takes priority right now."

"What's up?"

"No time to explain. Just know that we're busy. Let's try looking again, Sarah."

Sarah nodded and followed Beo toward Nifla's room, pushing through the massive crowd before the DJ's booth. On the way there, they encountered Chance. His expression gave the two a sense of worry.

"Chance!"

Sarah was the first to run toward Chance, but he disregarded her call, sulking against the wall. His legs slid across the floor until he eventually hit it, making no reaction to the impact.

"What's wrong. I don't think I've ever seen you like this."

"It's nothing."

His voice shook as tears ran down his face, and Beo and Sarah knelt down beside him. His sobs could be heard through his speech, his face red and words fumbling.

"I...I tried giving Miya a gift, but I don't think she liked it."

Beo smiled and put his palm on Chance's shoulder, patting him softly.

"You really are crazy for that girl, son. I don't see what you see."

Chance wiped tears off of his face. He took no offense to Beo's statement, but a sudden determination filled his expression, his eyes still glossy from crying.

"That's because you only look for the bad in people, and when you don't find any, you detest them."

Beo absorbed the blow as Chance felt the urge to defend his feelings. Beo grinned, his canines showing through an almost sinister smile.

"That might be why I still like you."

Chance made no response to his comment, but he tried to stand up again. Beo stood with him.

"I bet she loved it, man; you just mistook her joy for sorrow. It's not uncommon."

Chance sniffled softly and continued to wipe tears from his face. Beo continued to speak, his words cutting deep into Chance as his heart recovered.

"It seems you find trouble in accepting the new Miya but love her regardless. You're a man; you bring more to the table than anyone here."

"But--"

"Give it time. You'll come to find little difference in the Miya you once knew and the Miya you know now. When that happens depends on you... Now suck it up; where'd you last see Miya?"

"Nifla's room."

"So, Parisa was right. Before we go, Kem needs your help with something on stage. Wipe those tears off of your face. It doesn't befit someone who's ranked #1 in a college of the best of the best."

"You're right. You can be an awesome guy sometimes, Beo. You should be that way to everyone."

"...I'll think about it."

Beo pulled Sarah with him to Nifla's room. The door creaked open, revealing a dark room, only lit by the light from the monitor beside the bed. Nifla lay in the bed peacefully, and Sarah stepped forward.

"Ni--"

Beo stopped her and led her back out of the door.

"There's no need to wake her up, now. After all, she deserves the rest after that mission. We still don't know if her body completely recovered."

"I guess you're right, but what do we do now?"

"The thing I know how to do best."

Beo's pupils became snake-like, pinching as he turned around toward the hall, but nothing else about his eyes changed. A normal person couldn't discern it unless they were face-to-face with Beo. Sarah spoke urgently, warning Beo.

"Keep that well hidden in this crowd. You don't know who could be looking at you."

"I know..."

Beo sniffed around the area while scanning with his eyes. He eventually stopped while looking in the direction of the upstairs restroom.

'Why'd she have to go to the farthest restroom?'

Beo grabbed Sarah by the shoulder, his pupils returning to normal. He proceeded to push her with him, leading the both of them toward the central stairs.

"She's upstairs in the restroom. Let's head up there, now."

"Ok."