Escape

Marlo barged into the office. Arcturus could tell something was troubling him with the way he was behaving all fidgety and frantic. When asked what was going on, he got tongue tied. Quickly, he took a deep breath and unhooded himself to reveal a dark-skinned man with blond hair styled in a mohawk with an undercut. Arcturus found his amber eyes mesmerizing.

"Sorry for barging in without permission, but we got word that an airship is heading towards the Outskirts."

Hilbert and Asteria became shocked. They looked at each other before staring back at Marlo. Asteria approached Marlo and asked "What do you mean by that? Why are they heading over here this quickly?"

Arcturus suggested, "Maybe Nova really does feel like a threat to them?"

"What are we going to do?" Sophia was worried.

"We don't have a plan…" Asteria muttered. "This is so abrupt."

Hearing the word plan got Arcturus thinking about several ways they could escape. However, they all revolved around wishes. The safest option would be for them to surrender to the soldiers, but he didn't want that. He raised his hand meekly.

"I can suggest a few plans…"

"The floor is yours." Hilbert remarked; his gaze was glued to him.

"Though, they all revolve around wishes…which we cannot activate until tomorrow."

"Damn…" Asteria muttered.

Arcturus raised an index finger. "However, I do think there is a solution to my plan."

"Well, what is your plan?" Hilbert remarked.

Realizing he hadn't revealed his plan surprised Arcturus. He cleared his throat. "We could destroy the wall, so that it can cause panic for the soldiers and for the government. However, we don't know how powerful the walls are. They could be indestructible for all I know. All we need is a force strong enough to destroy the wall and then we can make our escape. However, how that will happen is a mystery in itself. It's not like we can steal an airship for ourselves…"

Hilbert's face brightened. Arcturus wasn't sure why, but he had an inkling of a feeling that something chaotic was brewing inside his head. It made him feel uncertain.

"Then that means I can test out something I've been wanting to do for some time now."

"And that would be…?"

"My greatest invention yet–a moving house!" He puffed his chest as he placed his hands on his hips.

"Moving house?" Arcturus raised an eyebrow. He then became deep in thought on what a moving house would be to him. He imagined a house on wheels. The thought of it excited him. "A moving house! I want to see!"

The confidence Hilbert had withered instantaneously. He started twiddling his fingers. "To be honest, I've never tried it out, so I don't know if it'll be a success."

"But it's our only way of escape! Do you want to be captured by soldiers or escape?" Arcturus didn't want to be pushy, but he absolutely loathed the idea of being captured by soldiers. He'd avoid that option no matter what, even if he had to become unlikeable and annoying to others.

Asteria placed a hand on his shoulder. "He's right. If we want to escape, we have to use your invention. Besides, all of us at DUO pitched in to help you with this crazy idea. It'd be a waste to not use it now."

"The boss is right," Marlo exclaimed. "We all pitched in to help because we know it'll be helpful to us one day. If this is a success, then you can practically do anything."

Hilbert was still unsure. Arcturus could tell he needed one extra push, so he stepped in. "Hilbert, I know that you're worried about it being a success or not. For me, I've always admired Souhait and I always believed in his existence. Everyone around me had always dismissed me, calling me foolish or delusional. However, I was given an opportunity to chase after my dreams. I lost an important friend along the way, but his sacrifice was not in vain for I met Nova and Souhait and got my wish granted. That's why…nothing is impossible."

Hilbert's eyes widened. He seemed to have taken in Arcturus's words well as he became deep in thought. He then looked at Marlo straight in the eye. "Tell Sara to get ready."

"Yes, sir!" He made a salute to Hilbert before rushing off. Arcturus wondered if he had been a former soldier. The way he had saluted was poised for he stood straight and had his legs bunched together. The angle of his arm to his head was a perfect forty-five degree angle and he folded his thumb before he touched his hand to his forehead.

Would this mean he's a fugitive? Once someone enlisted as a soldier, it became a permanent role. Those who quit or defect would be considered traitors and the government would issue a bounty on them.

"It'll take a while for it to activate. Why don't you rest in the living room?"

"Sure, I'll do that."

Arcturus took Nova back from Murphy and then walked back to the living space, where other hooded figures were idling about. The couch was empty, but he wasn't sure if it was a good idea to let Nova rest on it.

Hilbert approached him with a question, "Isn't Nova heavy?"

"He's surprisingly light. I just need a place to let him rest, though. I can't do anything if I am carrying him around in my arms."

"True. If you don't mind, I can lend you my room."

"You don't mind?"

"Not at all. I barely use it anyways."

Where do you sleep, then?

Not wanting to reject his kind offer, Arcturus accepted. Hilbert led him to a hallway past the receptionist desk and into a small flight of stairs leading to a loft consisting of a bed, desk and other gadgets lying about. The bed was just a mattress with a pillow and a fluffy quilt. Hilbert pulled the blanket off of the mattress and Arcturus gently placed Nova onto the bed before tucking him in.

Hilbert took a phone from his pocket and answered it. "Sara? What is it?" His expression changed from mellow to surprise. He kept glancing back and forth from Arcturus's gaze to the wall, confusing Arcturus. Arcturus leaned forward, but before he could hear the conversation. Hilbert ended the call.

"Arcturus, I have a request."

"That would be…?"

"Grab onto something tight so both you and Nova won't fall."

"Why…?" Before he could finish his sentence, Arcturus felt a huge tremor. It caused him to stagger and understand Hilbert's warning. The tremors were causing strong impacts that caused the house to shake. He slowly walked towards Nova and held onto him so he wouldn't slip out of the bed. In order for him to not fall back, he used a free hand to hold onto the wall. What worried him the most was his ears. He just hoped the tremors wouldn't cause his ears to pop.

Fortunately for Arcturus, the tremors were only momentarily as they slowly ceased. When they were at a complete stop, Arcturus became gobsmacked over what had transpired. He looked at Hilbert who seemed very content with what happened. He was able to readjust Nova and his own position and then placed his satchel at the corner of the room.

"What just happened?" Arcturus asked out of curiosity.

"Arcturus, want to see something cool?"

Seeing his grin, Arcturus became curious. "Sure."

Hilbert grabbed his hand, dragged him away from the loft and towards a room with a window. He opened it. Arcturus felt an unusual blast of wind at his face.

"Stick your head out." Hilbert commanded joyously.

"Pardon?" Arcturus raised an eyebrow.

"Stick it out!"

He hastily obeyed his command as he stuck his head out through the window. His eyes widened when he noticed the fence was a lot lower than he had remembered. He looked down to see the house floating in mid air, causing him to gape. His eyes were glued to the hole on the ground. He pulled back to stare at Hilbert before sticking his head back out. He repeated this process three times before he pulled back to stare at Hilbert with a shocked expression. He was able to muster up some words to speak. 

"Moving house as in a house that moves up in the air?"

Hilbert hummed triumphantly as he placed his hands on his hips. His nostrils flared before speaking. "Amazed? This is my greatest invention yet!"

"Wait, so is the house practically an airship now?"

"You can say that!"

"How is that possible? Did you apply airship technology onto the ship?"

"I'd love to explain, but there's something more important I have to do." He grabbed a megaphone and then marched out of the room. Arcturus closed the window and followed him, wondering what Hilbert needed to do.

Hilbert rushed towards the front door and opened it. Arcturus took a peek outside and the house was just floating for now. An airship was approaching their way. Hilbert activated the megaphone.

"YOU DORKS AT THE AIRSHIP!"

Arcturus took a few steps back and winced at the loud sound. He knew that was no ordinary megaphone.

Hilbert continued, "IF YOU WANT THE CHARLATAN! COME AND TRY TO TAKE HIM FROM US! HE'S CURRENTLY WITH US RIGHT NOW! CATCH US IF YOU CAN!"

He slammed the door shut.