Chapter 9 : Lisa's Shock

Ron, Fiora, and Kanz's departure from the base was known to all members of the Seventh Squad. Even Clara was aware, but she didn't see them leave since they departed around 7:15 AM while Clara was talking to Luna about her personal life.

The last part of their conversation touched on Ron's connection to Commander Edward Schrawn, the founder and supreme leader of the revolution. Clara learned that Schrawn was indeed dead and had some connection to Ron, but what kind? She didn't get an answer, as Luna refrained from elaborating, postponing it for another time instead.

At 8:00 AM, Clara and her sister went to the bathrooms, where Clara helped her little sister take a warm bath. Once they were done, Clara put on new clothes provided by Canon. The clothes were reasonably fitting—not too loose and not too tight—and the same went for Jenny.

"These clothes are so comfortable!" Jenny exclaimed cheerfully as she jumped up and down.

"You should thank Miss Canon; she's the one who provided us with these clothes. I'm lucky to have gotten pants and a long-sleeved jacket—I don't like wearing revealing clothes," Clara said as she touched the fabric of her new outfit.

"You look amazing, Sister!" Jenny jumped into her sister's arms with excitement.

Clara held Jenny gently in her arms. Jenny's smile and cheerfulness felt like cool water pouring over her heart, which had been used to burning due to the hardships of life. But thanks to the Seventh Squad, Clara now had a safe place to stay.

"You should thank Mr. Ron for saving us and allowing us to stay here, alright?" Clara said as she lovingly cupped her sister's cheeks.

"Yes!" Jenny replied with a wide, childish grin.

The place was warm, comfortable, and clean. There was a place to sleep peacefully, a clean bathroom, and food. Things like these seemed simple, yet they had been distant dreams for Clara. She was endlessly grateful and hoped this wouldn't disappear like a fleeting dream.

Moments later, Clara and her sister left the room, searching for the dining area. Jenny's stomach kept growling.

"I'm hungry, Sister," Jenny said as her stomach rumbled audibly.

"Wait a bit; I'll try to find the place where..." Before she could finish her sentence, Clara's stomach growled loudly, causing her embarrassment.

"You're hungry too, Sister!" Jenny said playfully.

"Ah... haha, yes, it seems I am," Clara replied with a smile.

The sisters continued walking through the base's hallways. At first glance, the base seemed simple from the inside. When Clara first entered, she had found herself in the massive lobby she walked through earlier to get to Kanz's room. But now, she realized... the place was far more complicated than it appeared.

"Ah... it seems we're lost," Clara admitted, giving up.

The base was a special place for soldiers, built by central government inventors and scientists. It was designed to allow soldiers to live there without feeling exhausted. With countless hallways and rooms, Clara was nearly losing her mind trying to navigate them. Just then, a familiar voice brought her back to her senses—it was Jennifer.

"What are you doing here, young lady?" Jennifer asked in her usual tone.

"Huh? I... actually, I'm lost," Clara replied hesitantly and anxiously.

Jennifer's gaze was piercing, as though she were studying Clara from head to toe. However, she noticed Jenny, who looked confused by the situation. Jennifer let out a long sigh and pressed her fingers to the bridge of her nose.

"Follow me..." Jennifer said after turning around and starting to walk.

Clara was surprised by Jennifer's offer but didn't bother to ask questions or request an explanation; she simply followed her. After walking through the base's hallways, they arrived at the main lobby.

"Next time, ask someone to come and get you from your room. Everyone has responsibilities to handle—they're not free to look for you when you get lost. Got it?" Jennifer said in a sharp tone, clearly annoyed.

"Ah... sorry, I'll keep that in mind. Thank you," Clara replied nervously.

Jennifer turned her head and body elegantly to leave, but before she got far, Jenny's voice stopped her.

"T-thank you!" Jenny called out loudly, hiding behind her sister.

Jennifer froze the moment she heard Jenny's words. Her expression wasn't clear, as all Clara could see was her back, covered by her long hair. After a moment, Jennifer coughed lightly, breaking the silence.

"It's... it's nothing. I... I didn't do anything... just... just don't get lost again," Jennifer said awkwardly before quickly leaving.

Clara was puzzled by Jennifer's behavior. The image she had of Jennifer from their first meeting yesterday contrasted with what she had just witnessed. Moments later, Clara looked at Jenny, who was also staring back at her. Clara smiled at her sister.

"You're here already? I thought you might get lost," Canon appeared suddenly behind Clara.

"Oh, Miss Canon! Actually... we did get lost, but Miss Jennifer helped us," Clara said, startled by Canon's sudden presence, which made her nervous.

"Jennifer, huh? Who would've thought that gloomy woman would help? That's strange," Canon said, opening a new lollipop.

"Huh? What do you mean—" Clara's sentence was interrupted by the sound of her stomach growling loudly.

Canon blinked in surprise at the sound. Jenny burst into laughter, while Clara felt so embarrassed that her face turned bright red.

"Follow me, the dining hall is this way," Canon said with a smile, trying not to laugh.

Clara followed Canon without saying a word, her embarrassment leaving her too flustered to respond. Canon occasionally glanced over her shoulder to look at Clara, who was holding Jenny's hand. For some reason, Canon's expression softened. After a short walk, they reached a spacious hall filled with people and many communal tables. The delicious aroma of food hit Clara's sensitive nose, making her stomach rumble once again.

"Let's grab a good meal for breakfast, shall we?" Canon said in a suddenly soft tone.

"Yes... let's do that," Clara replied.

The sisters got a good meal—chicken and vegetable soup, a warm and soft piece of bread, and two eggs. For Clara, this meal felt... luxurious, even though it was quite simple.

"Sister! This food smells amazing!" Jenny exclaimed excitedly, staring at the delicious meal.

"Your sister seems very excited about the food," Canon remarked, observing Jenny's enthusiasm.

"Bread was the only thing she ever had available. It's natural for her to be this excited... even I'm excited," Clara said, looking at the food she was holding with a hint of sadness in her eyes.

"Let's sit over there," Canon suggested, avoiding commenting on Clara's reaction, though she had noticed it.

The sisters followed Canon to an empty table. Clara and Jenny sat beside each other, while Canon sat across from them. Clara didn't wait for a signal—she took a spoonful of soup and tasted it. The warm soup made her tear up; this food was entirely new to her... so delicious and flavorful. She quickly scooped another spoonful, this time for Jenny.

"You treat your sister so well and kindly," Canon said as she observed Clara and Jenny.

"Oh, I've raised her since she was born. Our mother left us, so I've taken care of her. She's the most precious thing I have," Clara said as she fed Jenny some soup.

"Wow! It's so tasty, Sister!!" Jenny grew even more excited.

"Haha, be careful, my dear," Clara smiled warmly at Jenny's sweet reaction.

Canon's gaze stayed fixed on the bond between the sisters—Jenny's excitement and charm, and Clara's warmth and care. Canon felt a lump in her throat and a pang of discomfort; she hadn't touched her food. Clara noticed this.

"Are you okay, Miss Canon?" Clara asked with clear concern.

"I... I'm... it's nothing," Canon tried to dismiss it but failed.

"It's just that... I remembered my sister, my older sister..." Canon finally spoke in a low, trembling voice.

Clara realized then that something was weighing on Canon's mind. Canon had been uneasy for a while—her gaze, her tone—it revealed a vulnerable side of her personality, even though Clara didn't know her well.

"Can I... ask what's on your mind? I know I might not be helpful, but... I'm a good listener, I think," Clara said, trying to comfort Canon.

"Actually... two years ago, I lived with my family in Zone Twelve—my father and my older sister Canon. And yes... Canon is my older sister's name, not mine. My name is Lisa," Lisa—formerly thought to be Canon—spoke with difficulty and trembling.

Clara was stunned by what she heard—it turned out that her name wasn't Canon... but Lisa? For a moment, Clara felt her mind could barely grasp the situation, but she decided to continue listening without interruption.

"My father was nothing but a drunk. He'd leave for work in the morning after shouting at us and return late at night, drunk. Before going to bed, he'd beat us until we screamed. My sister Canon would endure the beating in my place most of the time," Lisa's voice began to crack more and more.

"My sister was my refuge; I'd go and hide in her arms after my father would yell at me or hit me. I loved her—she was like a mother to me after my own mother passed away for reasons I still don't know to this day."

"Our lives were... waking up to beatings and insults in the morning, getting through the day as best we could, then facing more beatings and insults before bed. An unbearable life... but I was happy because my sister was with me... she was with me!" A tear fell from Lisa's eye as she uttered the last word.

Clara felt deeply for Lisa's words. She realized she wasn't the only one who suffered because of her family—her own mother had abandoned her, leaving her to face the harshness of the world. Clara wanted to comfort Lisa, to pat her back, but...

"But... one night, when my father came home angry and drunk, he didn't yell at us. He just stared... with a terrifying look..." Lisa's shoulders began to tremble as she spoke.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Clara felt increasingly worried and scared.

"That night... he grabbed my sister Canon by the arm and dragged her to his room. I tried to hold onto her, but he pushed me away. He took her into the room and shut the door—he didn't lock it," Lisa's tone became even shakier.

"I thought... I thought he was going to hit her as usual, but... but instead... he... he... raped her," Lisa said the final words as she broke into tears and trembled uncontrollably.

Instinctively, Clara covered Jenny's ears, who, in turn, didn't understand what was happening. Clara's eyes widened to their limits, and her mouth hung open. She couldn't believe what she had just heard—and she was on the verge of... something, though she didn't even know what.

"I saw it all, everything!! How her screams of torment pierced the air, how she begged him to stop. My shock was so immense, I just kept watching until he was done. Then he threw her out of the room, utterly broken," Lisa sobbed as she recounted the events.

"Huh? I... I..." Clara couldn't form a single word.

"I was scared and terrified, but Canon... Canon comforted me and told me everything would be okay, to just endure. Then she went to sleep, and the next morning... I found her hanging from the ceiling fan by her neck," Lisa's tone turned faint but audible.

"Since that day, I've carried her name instead of mine. In doing so, I feel as though she's still beside me. Everyone here knows the story and my true name, but they understood my situation and went along with it—except for Ron. Ron only calls me by my real name," Lisa explained.

Clara blinked at the mention of Ron's name. For a moment, she felt the urge to stand up and hug Lisa. Clara's own experiences didn't compare at all to what Lisa had been through. She realized instinctively that the members of the revolution all had their own stories and lives that drove them to be here.

"You said Ron calls you by your real name... why?" Clara asked cautiously to avoid saying anything that might hurt Lisa.

"Because Ron is the one who saved me from my father. My father wanted to do the same thing to me as he did to my sister, but Ron arrived just in time and killed my father in front of me. I swear I was happy he died; I felt relieved he was gone. But I also felt heartache..."

"I screamed at Ron, wished he had come earlier. Maybe... maybe my sister would've been with me now. I cursed him over and over, even though I didn't know him at all back then," Lisa said, taking a deep breath between words.

"Ron... even so, he comforted me and apologized for being late. It wasn't his fault... but he apologized. I felt immense solace in his arms, to the point where I cried and cried for an hour straight... I still feel embarrassed about that moment," Lisa said as she wiped away her tears, trying to compose herself.

Clara remained silent, watching Lisa wrestle with her emotions and reality. Clara recalled her own past and compared it to Lisa's. The common thread between them... was that Ron had saved them both in their darkest moments.

"Remember, Clara, trust Ron. He fights for us... for humanity. No matter how strong the enemy is, remember you're in a squad led by Ron," Lisa's tone suddenly shifted to seriousness.

"And I apologize for revealing myself in such a chaotic way. Every time I remember my sister, I sit and cry for hours alone. When I saw you caring for your sister... I remembered her, and my pain resurfaced. It's not your fault, so don't let it weigh on your mind. I just... miss my sister," Lisa admitted.

The atmosphere was heavy. Lisa's past was tragic, even compared to Clara's. It made Clara feel like her own struggles paled in comparison. Yet despite this, she smiled gently at Lisa and said quietly:

"I hope you're okay now. I understand very well the feeling of suppressing emotions and then releasing them all at once. I understand you, Lisa," Clara said, trying to console her.

Lisa's gaze was directed downward, but Clara's words sparked a sense of comfort in her heart. Lisa felt understood. Though everyone in the base was aware of her story, only two people had ever made Lisa feel at ease—Clara now... and Ron.

"Clara, just so you know, I'm not the type of girl who cries in front of anyone. You're the first person I've told this story to myself. So, I think I spoke a bit messily... please keep it a secret," Lisa said as she glanced around.

"Don't worry... I did the same thing this morning. I'll keep your secret safe. That's a promise," Clara replied, reassuring Lisa with a bright smile.

To be continued...