I looked around the dark place that I am currently into. I have no idea where am I. I tried to call for my friends but they are not around. I started to run out of panic but it seems that I was in an endless limbo of darkness. I screamed at the top of my lung but nothing came. I kept running and eventually fell on the ground. I silently cried out of fear when suddenly, a small door opened in front of me. I stood up and ran to it. Everything changed when I got in.

I was on my patient’s gown. It was clean, as if I just wore them. I touched my left chest and felt the logo of the eye patched in it. The room was dim but I know that I am inside a laboratory. I smelled the scent of alcohol, new sheets, and the medicines. A door that was partially open was on the other side of the room and I heard whispers so I slowly walked through it. I slowly looked inside and saw two figures standing in front of a large monitor. The light was dim but the monitor light was strong which makes me unable to see their faces.

“She’s getting strong” One of them talked. It was a sound from a woman.

“Yes. We cannot leave things like that. The organization will fall. Few more days and she might be the Alpha of this area.” The other one said, sounding like an old man.

“Maybe we can tie her up with the Omega. Do you think he can handle her?” the woman said. She then, tapped something on the keyboard and an image of a man and a young lady showed on the screen. My body felt different when I saw my face on the screen. I felt my hands trembling as I don’t know what’s happening. I am not aware who is the man, probably the omega beside my photo but no, I don’t know what to do.

“I just don’t want to put her down. She’s valuable. It’s been long since I saw a Neogen as powerful and as smart as her.” The woman added.

“So what do you propose?” the man asked. The lady looked at him for a while. Even if I can’t see the details on their faces, I knew that she is having a hard time too.

“I’ll take her memories and will let her live her life. As much as I don’t want to waste her talent, I wouldn’t resort to such an option too.” The woman responded. “I don’t want to do repeat our mistake about V-3-7”.

“I understand. However, I believe that you know the consequences for this. You can get-”. the man answered but he was interrupted.

“Yes, I know and I am ready for the greater good of the organization. I just don’t want her to be like the Omega.” The woman said.

“For greater good…” the man whispered.

I decided to run even if my body feels numb. As I was about to go, I accidentally bumped on the door that I was hiding to, creating a noise that caught the man and woman’s attention. In an instance, they knew it was me.

“Aria?” The woman spoke. Out of fear, I ran but at this point, I saw my body separating from myself in a transparent, ethereal form. In that moment, I knew that I was in a flashback. I cried as I watched what happened next.

The Aria in the lab didn’t run. Instead, she drew her hands in the air and in one snap of a finger, the man took the scissor beside him and stabbed himself in the neck. I looked at Aria and saw how much frustration and feeling of betrayal emanated on her face. I’m not sure but in an instance, the woman came running at Aria and hugged her.

Dumbfounded, Aria froze. “I’m sorry, Aria. I’m so sorry. I have to protect you” the woman cried. She touched Aria at the back of her head and Aria fell on the ground. I screamed as she fell.

---

“ARIA!”

I woke up crying. Sweat trickled on my face through the neck. My hands are trembling and my feet are cold. Lea was beside me. She must have been the one who woke me up. I continued crying as I felt Lea’s embrace.

“Lea…I was, I was” but I kept crying. With her telekinesis, she pulled one towel from the tables near us and cleaned me up. I saw everyone, who seemed to just woke up huddled around me.

“It’s okay, I’m here” Lea’s voice was gentle.

After I calmed down, I told them about my dream – from my encounter with Ed, Gale and Althea to the incident at the Lab.

Everyone was quiet until Sif started talking. “V-3-7 huh? Have you heard about that story guys?” she then, looked at Lea. Lea nodded slowly. “Althea?” Sif spoke. We all waited for Althea’s response who seemed to be in the state of absorbing and understanding the events from my dream.

“I didn’t saw this. But judging from the situation, I think we really need to go back to the circus as fast as possible.” Althea suggested.

“I agree” Sif answered.

“We’ll leave first thing tomorrow” Althea said.

Lea seemed to have been disturbed on my dream. She saw me looking at her and mouthed me “Let’s rest”. She smiled and went back to her bunk bed.

---

Morning came and my head still ached. I hadn’t got a proper sleep since last night. We decided to not to tell the Exorgs about my dream as it may make things more complicated. After Lorraine helped us to the breakfast, we came to the Elevator room and met Julius.

As expected, Julius reasoned out but we were firm about leaving. “If I take you, would you join us?” He asked. In that moment, we felt Blanche’s ability repression surging again but Lea managed to disrupt Maddie’s ability. Maddie looked surprised.

“I’m sorry Julius, but today is not the day” Althea answered. Confidence grew on her face as I believe that we all felt Maddie’s power wearing off our system. It’s obvious- even if Maddie didn’t say it, we can see the held pressure on her face.

Chase stepped forward but Julius stopped him. I felt the room getting colder as the situation became more intense. I looked at Blanche and saw her looked pale. Small shards of ice started to form on the tips of her hair. Julius seemed to noticed it too so he asked the other Exorgs to back out.

“Blanche, calm down” Lea spoke inside our heads.

“I can’t. let’s hurry and get out of this” Blanche answered inside.

“I’m sorry, we have to do our part first. I know you understand, Julius.” Sif said, breaking the silence.

“No one wants to get hurt. I don’t have a bad intention anyway. But please calm Blanche down” Julius said, his voice still confident but his choice of words became more straightforward.

“If you want Blanche to calm down, you have to let us go” Althea answered.

“I can’t” Julius said. “Losing you would be a missed opportunity”

Flint held Blanche’s had and a sizzle’s hiss filled the room. In response, as if getting ready for a battle, Gabriel took out some pebbles but Lea was faster; she pulled the pebbles out of Gabriel’s hand and tossed it in the air with her telekinesis. At this point, it’s the first time that I saw Lea looked more serious when using her powers; the tips of her hair started to float.

“Kids, you have to listen. Stop this nonsense!” Julius said. His tone was higher.

“Besides Gabriel, none of you has an ability that can be used offensively. I’ve seen through it. I understand that you want us because you know how destructive our abilities can be. But no, we refuse. Now, please, let us go.” Lea spoke slowly.

Ed ran to the elevator and we all followed but our eyes are on the Exorgs. We boarded one-by-one, Lea coming in last.

As we got out of the warehouse, Ed boarded the jeepney from last night and we silently drove away.

---

After a few minutes of driving, Lea huffed then chuckled softly. “I didn’t knew that I could act like that” her usual finesse came back. Breaking the ice, Blanche laughed too. “Sorry guys, but mine was real. You know how slow my powers can react so I had to condition myself.”

“Well, at least we’re safe for now” Althea said.

“Don’t say it Althea, we might get jinxed.” Sif answered but her tone is full of humor.

“Okay, so where are we going now?” Gale asked.

“We’re off to the next city, and according to this map, the name of the city is ‘Cerulean Fort’’” Althea responded.

“Why is it called like that?” Gale asked again.

“Well, I don’t know but Cerulean is synonymous to ‘Blue’ and the city is next to a body of water” Althea answered while looking at the map.

“Cool” Gale said.

“I hope that the circus is here” Sif said.

“Yea, I hope so” Blanche answered

“Guys, speaking of Blue, I guess we’re here” Ed spoke. We hurriedly looked at the window and saw ourselves nearing a Walled city with next to a large mass of water.