You Are Not Alone

"Leah, wake up," a gentle voice called out to her, pulling her from the depths of unconsciousness. The frequency of such episodes seemed lost on her, a disconcerting blur of collapsed moments that threatened to overwhelm her sanity. As Leah slowly peeled open her eyes, she strained to identify the source of the voice amidst the sound of raindrops drumming on the floor. Strangely, none of the droplets touched her; an unseen barrier shielded her from the downpour.

Squinting against the dim light, she discerned a soft touch on her face. It was Aiden. The realization prompted her eyes to open wider, and she found herself in a comfortable sitting position. Aiden stood before her, his eyes mirroring the same intensity she had seen during their last encounter on the ship. He held a substantial wooden plate overhead, a makeshift shield protecting them from the rain.

Aiden's subtle smile greeted Leah as her eyes met his. Overwhelmed with emotion, she impulsively embraced him, succumbing to the flood of soft sobs that had been restrained within her. The comfort of his presence, coupled with the shelter he provided, created a poignant moment of solace amid uncertainty.

"I was gripped with fear, convinced that I had lost you," she murmured softly into his ears. Aiden's wooden plate clattered to the ground as he hastily used both hands to draw Leah into a tight embrace, sheltering her from the raindrops cascading around them.

Breaking the hug, Leah questioned with a mix of relief and concern, "But how? Where were you?" Tears streamed down her face as she held his gaze.

"I don't know myself," he replied, his brows furrowing. "After the assailant knocked me unconscious, I felt myself tumbling into the water. I presume the ship collided with rocks. I must have hit my head somewhere because when I regained consciousness, I was here all alone. I searched for you, called out to you, and then I found you here." His voice carried a mix of bewilderment and gratitude as he recounted the unsettling experience. 

"I believed you had departed, and I thought everyone had abandoned me, leaving me in solitude," Leah expressed with a hint of despair.

Aiden, responding tenderly, gently touched Leah's forehead with his own and spoke reassuringly, "You are not alone." He repeated those comforting words and closed his eyes, emphasizing the sincerity of his promise. "I would never leave you," he affirmed, his wet fingers delicately caressing Leah's face. To solidify his commitment, Aiden tenderly placed a reassuring kiss on her lips, affirming his presence and his steadfast vow to remain by her side.

"What do we do Aiden?" Leah spoke, her voice quivering a little.

"I'm not certain," Aiden murmured, his touch gentle as he caressed her cheeks and held her close. "But what I can tell you is that time in this place behaves differently compared to our world. I strongly suspect that the presence of the yellow halo above us is causing this temporal shift." They both gazed upward, the rain complicating their view, but the golden glow acted like a radiant ring light.

"Leah, please understand. We're within this yellow halo, and the alterations in weather and the slowing of time are all linked to it. Time flows differently here; a minute within could equate to ten days or more in the outer world, much like the time experienced by the supremes." Leah's expression registered surprise as she absorbed his explanation.

"So, it's conceivable that turmoil may already be unfolding in our world, conflicts erupting and who knows what else. The calculations you made, anticipating the arrival of the supremes in ten days, were based on the time within this yellow halo." Aiden's words conveyed a sense of urgency and a realization that their situation was intricately tied to the peculiarities of the environment they found themselves in.

Leah reached a conclusion as she recollected the various phrases and clues she had come across in a book that a man had burned just a day ago in the outer world. "This implies that they will arrive from this location," she stated. Her attention was drawn to a yellow halo, and she explained, "This yellow halo serves as a portal connecting their planet, Ubize, to our Earth. Essentially, we find ourselves positioned in the time-space intermediary between their world and ours." Aiden, comprehending the significance of Leah's words, nodded in agreement.

Leah found herself puzzled by the peculiar distortion of time in their current location, realizing that venturing outside might have repercussions on everything around them. The perplexing question lingered: Why were she and Aiden the only ones encased within this enigmatic yellow halo? Furthermore, the whereabouts of the others remained a mystery. Filled with curiosity and a sense of urgency, Leah pondered their unique circumstance. "Aiden, we need to head to the cliff," she declared, a sudden recollection of a phrase from a book adding a layer of significance to their next destination. The urgency in her voice hinted at a deeper connection between their current situation and the cryptic words she remembered. 

"Behold, the key, lost in the depths, where existence met its end. Now it surfaces, emerging from the depths, crying out for the lives it once held dear. Unseen and deemed perilously lost by the world, yet it harbors the answer, an answer destined to emerge when its time arrives. On that fateful day, all else shall fade, save for the forgotten city, the keeper of the key, and those valiant souls in pursuit. Seek ye the highest crag, past the resurrected city, where your quest shall find its culmination." 

"Why?" Aiden inquired, gazing at the distant cliff. The rain had ceased, yet the atmosphere retained a somber quality, punctuated by the persistent grumbling of the clouds. Concern marked his face as he sought answers. "Do you have the key? Have you found it?"

"No," she responded, scanning her pant pockets for the pouch mentioned. It was nowhere to be found. "I guess I lost it, but think, Aiden. We're the only ones inside this halo, and the phrase mentioned something about the key and the key bearer." Leah's words hung in the air, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.

As Leah spoke, Aiden hesitated, contemplating the significance of venturing towards the cliff. 

"Okay, we'll go." Aiden agreed and offered his hand for her to hold. 

As Leah approached the cliff, an unusual sensation gripped her stomach, causing it to tighten uncomfortably. Despite this, she maintained a composed expression, subtly clutching her abdomen to downplay her discomfort. She attributed the sensation to hunger, convincing herself that a rumbling stomach was the sole culprit. Determinedly, she pressed on.

Navigating the challenging terrain, Leah traversed rocks and slippery moss, her hand securely intertwined with Aiden's. His supportive gestures proved essential as she stumbled along the uneven path. The journey was arduous, compounded by the relentless rain that rendered the moss even more treacherous. Observing Leah's bare feet struggling against the elements, Aiden selflessly offered his own boots to alleviate her discomfort. Leah's tenacity, however, prevailed over the obstacles.

In the midst of their challenging trek, Leah couldn't help but voice a lingering concern. Turning to Aiden, she questioned, "Aiden, what awaits us once we reach the end of this journey?" 

Aiden playfully teased, "If the circumstances were better, perhaps we could tie the knot and contribute to repopulating the Earth." He understood that Leah was trying to engage in conversation to pass the time and ease the journey's challenges.

Curious about Leah's aspirations, Aiden inquired, "What do you envision for yourself, Leah?"

Expressing her desire for a tranquil existence, Leah contemplated the passage of time. "I long for a peaceful life. It's quite likely that by the time we resolve everything here, years would have elapsed in the outside world." Leah's insight acknowledged the potential changes awaiting them once they addressed the portal issue.

Aiden, holding Leah's hand reassuringly, acknowledged the reality. "You're right. The world outside may be vastly different by the time we manage to close the portal or take some action."

In a moment of vulnerability, Aiden nervously chuckled as Leah addressed a lingering question. "Why did it take you two years to approach me, when you've always observed me with your gaze on the ship?" Leah had astutely noticed Aiden's subtle attentiveness, prompting a lighthearted yet revealing exchange between the two. 

Aiden hesitated before posing a vulnerable question, "Could you trust me when I confess that being around you makes me nervous?" Leah, with a hint of playful disbelief, responded emphatically. 

"Absolutely not." Her emphasis on the final word carried a forceful certainty. However, Leah's tone softened as she recalled a pivotal moment, saying, "Especially after that night when you apologized." She referred to a shared experience of vulnerability, a night when they found solace in each other's embrace. That particular night had left them both with a sense of contentment in their hearts and souls.

Leah playfully teased Aiden, well aware of the effect it had on him. As their hands intertwined, Aiden's palms became clammy from both excitement and nerves. Despite his evident discomfort, Leah couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. However, the atmosphere shifted abruptly when Aiden, reacting unexpectedly, turned to face Leah, bringing their faces mere inches apart.

Caught off guard, Leah stumbled slightly, but Aiden's quick reflexes saved her from a potential fall as he securely held her by the waist. In that moment, Leah looked at him with surprise, her eyes wide open. Aiden, wearing a mischievous grin, took advantage of the close proximity and whispered, "I love you, Leah," into her ear, eliciting a gasp from her.

Curious about the effect he had on her, Aiden asked, "Do I make you nervous, Leah?" She nodded in response, her eyes still wide with astonishment. Aiden, his demeanor now more serious, expressed his feelings, "Good, because I plan to wake up beside this beautiful face every day. I may have been late in realizing my feelings, but now that I have you, I can't let you go."

Tears welled up in Aiden's eyes as he bared his soul to Leah, causing her to shift uncomfortably. Seeking a response, he gently lifted Leah's chin with his index finger. Despite the sincerity in Aiden's confession, Leah hesitated, unsure of what the future held for them. The weight of the moment hung in the air as she grappled with her feelings, leaving Aiden awaiting her answer. 

Leah's immediate response, "I'll do anything for us," slipped from her lips spontaneously. A brief yet meaningful silence lingered as both Leah and Aiden locked eyes. Aiden's laughter unexpectedly filled the air, and he playfully flicked Leah's forehead, leaving her bewildered and unsure about the sudden shift in mood.

Aiden, breaking the tension, gently suggested, "Let's focus on setting things right first." He turned his gaze back towards the cliff, resuming his slow walk. Leah, still processing the swift change in dynamics, followed him, holding his hands as they moved forward together. The air was charged with a mixture of uncertainty and the shared commitment to mend whatever might have gone astray.