Chapter 15: Answers

The two of them sat across from one another in a cramped sitting room, if it could even be called that. It was only slightly lit up by the red hue of the sky numbers gleaming through the window. Elise sat on an uncomfortable looking armchair that looked as if it had seen better years and Asher sat on a wooden chair he had grabbed from the dining room. There was tension in the air and Asher was racking his brain thinking of how best to start questioning her. Elise was looking straight at him, not taking her eyes off of him for a second as if she was trying to read his very thoughts. 

"The last time we spoke you told me that your family were the ones responsible for all this. What did you mean by that exactly?" Asher asked. Out of all the questions he had, this one was on his mind the most. 

"Exactly what I said, my family are the ones who've put us all in this predicament. They put up the veil, they let that creature roam around the streets, and they are the ones forcing you all to kill each other." Elise studied him closely as she spoke. 

Asher could hardly believe what he was hearing. He was unable to hold back his shock as it was obvious from his face. Asher's mind ran wild on reasons why, trying to find any possible justification but then he calmed himself, he still had more questions to ask. "Do you know why?" 

Elise looked away for a moment which struck Ashe as she hadn't stopped looking at him since they sat down. She glanced back up at him as if she could read his thoughts. "I don't know." 

"You don't know? How could you not know?" Asher replied. 

"They never told me okay, I'm not sure who in my family knows the reason or if anyone bar my…." The words clung to Elise's throat. "I only found out moments before the veil enveloped the city." 

Asher had never seen Elise act like this, she seemed almost upset as she talked about it. He observed her for a few moments thinking of what to ask next. "What were you doing out here in the Boundary and why haven't I heard of you?" Asher knew the names of nearly all the important members of the Elpis family from his time at Elpis robotics and even after attempting to recall all of them he was certain that he'd never heard of her. 

Elise looked up at him, her emerald green eyes a little more vulnerable looking than usual. "My father asked me to meet him out here and told me what was going to happen to an extent, so I listened and here we are. Oh and the reason you haven't heard of me it's because I'm a secret. My father had me with another woman than the rest of my siblings, which as you can imagine would bring great shame upon the family so it was kept quiet. Only high up Elpis family members know of my existence." 

Asher was attempting to process all this information but it really was a lot. "So you met your father here then? He's the one who told you all this?" 

A frown formed on Elise's pretty face. "Yes, yes he is." 

"Why would he tell you to come here? If he knew what was going to happen here then why bring you here?" As soon as Asher asked the question he felt as though he'd been insensitive. Just because he had a loving and doting parent didn't mean others did which he knew well. Guilt filled him as he waited for her response. 

"I don't know that either." She replied calmly, "He just told me what was going to happen and to survive it." 

Asher could hardly believe her. How was she so relaxed about her father sending her to almost guaranteed death. In truth, while she was an absolute beast in combat and a quick thinker from what Asher could gather, still her odds of survival were rather low, hell everyone's was. If anything it was far more likely they would die than survive. Yet her own father had sent her here, but for what? What could possibly be gained? One thing was good about what she'd told him, if her father told her to survive that must mean that there would be an end to all of this and that survival was possible. They just had to survive long enough perhaps and then they would be free. Not wanting to waste this opportunity he pressed on. "Do you know how long this will last? Is it to do with the death quota? Do we need to reach a certain number? Is it only happening in the Boundary or is it happening all over?" 

"Sorry to disappoint you but I don't know the answer to any of that." Elise said as she threw her legs over the side of the armchair trying to get more comfortable. 

Asher was disappointed by this but wasn't going to let it discourage him. He gave Elise a nervous look which she smiled back at with amusement. "How come your… well they way you are." 

"How are you the way you are?" She replied snarkily, still smiling. 

"You know what I mean, how are you so strong and fast, it's like you're superhuman." Asher asked. 

Elise looked at her fist and clenched it. "Oh that, well I suppose you could say I am in a way." 

"What do you mean?" Asher asked curiously. 

Elise replied "Well if you must know practically all members of the Elpis family are like this. Before we are even born we are genetically modified in the womb to increase all of our abilities to beyond that of a regular human. Then once we are born we are put through both rigorous physical and mental training in order to refine our minds and bodies to their utmost potential. I guess when I think about it all of us are superhuman, some more than others like myself for example. Some of us respond better to it than others do so our speed and strength stands out even more." 

Asher wasn't even aware that such things were possible but when she explained it, it made a lot of sense. He had suspected that maybe they were given some type of steroid to boost their abilities but he wasn't taking into account something much more obvious, their appearance. All of the Elpis family had the same green eyes, raven black hair and perfectly smooth alabaster skin. Of course they were genetically modified, it was so obvious now that he was kicking himself for not realising it sooner, that was why they all seemed inhumanely attractive. 

"Wow, that makes a lot of sense when I think about it." Asher said. 

Elise smirked and then shot up from the ugly armchair. "Well if that is all we really should get back to the others. We still have to introduce you properly after all." 

Asher had gotten some helpful answers and he felt as though she was being truthful but there were still a few more things he was curious about. Not wanting to upset her he asked her softly. "Who is your father Elise?" 

Elise's smirk faded, replaced by a despondent look on her face. "I'd rather not say if that's okay with you." Her voice had a hint of sadness as she spoke.

Asher considered pressing the matter for a moment but decided against it. She had answered a lot of his questions and it was clear that her relationship with her father was a complicated one. He still had one final question he needed her to answer. "Elise be honest with me, can we trust you?" 

Elise looked directly into his eyes for a few seconds before she spoke. " I'm not going to tell you who to trust Asher, it's up to you to decide that for yourself." With that she walked past him and exited the front door. 

Asher stayed in the shack for a while thinking about all the things he had learned and trying to use the information to piece together what was happening and the possible reasons for it but he still didn't know enough to complete the puzzle in his head. There were missing pieces that he needed if he was going to figure this whole thing out. Sighing he decided to give up on it for the day and rejoin the others and just as he had made up his mind he heard some commotion outside.

Can't there just be a day where nothing happens for once. Asher left the small shack in a hurry and went to inspect whatever was going on outside.