The three trailed Anthony. Patrick excitedly talked about their success with Connie completely ignoring him as she kept her eyes forward. Walking down the hall, they eventually reached their empty dorm. Without a word, everybody dispersed to clean themselves.

  The water ran down Leo’s head, cleansing his body of the dust and grime that came from the room and his sweat from the stress of it all. The warm water soothed his body as it ran through every crevice of his being. Leo contemplated what he had to do. First, he had to settle the matter with Anthony. He didn’t know exactly what was wrong, but he knew a change had occurred. What he didn’t know, however, was whether that change was good or bad. Secondly, he needed to get more information about this place. He didn’t have much to start with, only knowing the city’s name beforehand.

  ‘If only Amanda were here…’

  Amanda was the only one in the group who had an idea of what this city had for them. She was the one who had the information about the city in general. From what he was told, she had some other reason to come to this city besides just survival. He didn’t know what, though, as it wasn’t too much of his business at the time. Now that he thought of it, he should’ve asked before they separated.

  ‘Well, too late now.’

  Leaning into the wall, he organized the information he had obtained before from Patrick and Connie. First, the four colonies were important. According to Patrick, the Northern colony was different from the others. What was so different with the Northern colony? He decided that’s what he had to figure out first, as he was going to live here for some time. He also figured out the basic hierarchy of the city, with Councilors staying in what they called Central and Gatekeepers maintaining the colonies. He had to figure out who the Gatekeeper was for this colony and what they were like. From what he saw from Teddy, he wasn’t too optimistic on the Gatekeeper’s character.

  Then there was the Lin Family. How’d they get to own two whole colonies? At that point, Leo had to know who they were if he was to survive. He didn’t want to get into conflict with the family. Luckily he chanced on connecting with Patrick, who looked like a decent person, although a bit odd.

  This led to his other issue. Smogborn. He needed to figure out what exactly the Smogborn were, either from Amanda or Patrick. All he knew was their Refractions were reflections of the person themselves, manifesting as either their trauma, personality, or goals. But how do they get stronger? What makes the Councilors stand out?

  He had to figure out who to get all that information from, and fast. Or he’d never survive this city, let alone these trials. One option was Teddy, as he seemed to be the most cooperative and kind of the people he’s seen so far. But the issue was actually finding him as he’s no longer their overseer.

  Another could be Patrick due to his family. Surely he was educated enough for the answers he wanted. He was easily accessible and already friendly to him.

  ‘I should ask Patrick when I get the chance.’

  The final issue he had to solve was the theory Connie had formed regarding his attack from that demon. He didn’t know who or what was involved, or if anybody was even involved to begin with, but he had to get to the bottom of it. Whether it was a scheme or not, he knew he couldn’t resolve this during the trials. All he could do was wait until after the remaining trials to actually begin his investigations.

  Turning off the shower, he dried off and dressed up with a grey shirt and shorts that the guards provided and returned to the main dorms. Upon entry, he saw a couple of groups had returned. Only a couple. He sighed, knowing some had been sent elsewhere.

  ‘Diego, please be safe. Wherever they sent you…’

  As he walked to his room, a thought sparked in his head, how would he talk to Anthony? Usually he avoided that kind of talk but now that he’s confronting him, how does he even approach him about this?

  Walking, he saw Connie hovering just outside Patrick’s vision leaning on a wall, probably wanting her quiet time away from the boisterous man. She turned to Leo, waving for him to talk.

  Approaching her, he asked, “What’s up? That flower’s looking good on you.”

  On her right breast pocket was the hyacinth he had given to her after the visit to Amanda. It matched well with her purple t-shirt and white pants.

  She sighed.

  “Nothing really, I just need human interaction that isn’t Patrick for a bit. That and interaction that doesn’t try to hit on me.”

  She narrowed her eyes and coldly looked at a few guys across the room.

  “You don’t mind, do you?”

  Leo shook his head.

  “I thought I had higher value than that.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Please, you’re an angsty teen at best. You should be honored to even be my meat shield.”

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  Leo mumbled beneath his breath. “We’re the same age, aren’t we…?”

  “What was that?”

  “Nothing!”

  Connie looked closer, to see Leo’s usual calm expression replaced with a guilt-ridden, regretful demeanor. She turned herself towards him with a worried expression.

  “Something up, Leo? You don’t look too good.”

  Leo opened his mouth to speak, but refrained from speaking. He didn’t want to bring her into this, he wanted to deal with it himself.

  “Everything’s fine. Just a bit tired. I’ll see you in a bit, alright?”

  Leaving no room for reply, Leo walked away towards his room. Connie merely stared at Leo’s departing back, letting out a sigh before disappearing around the corner.

  Leo paused before the cold metal door. Taking deep breaths, he opened the door to see Anthony continuing his workout routine, a pool of sweat already on his half of the room as he did push-ups nonstop.

  “Anthony, can we talk?”

  With labored breaths, Anthony asked, “Does it have to be now?”

  “Yeah. Now, please.”

  Anthony lifted himself, still covered in sweat as he sat on his bed and looked down to the floor. “What’s up?”

  Across the table, Leo sat down on his bed to face Anthony. For a while, the room was silent as neither side spoke, only the idle chatter of those outside the door. Between them, the table had a new addition to it, a mirror.

  Leo broke the silence.

  “You think I don’t know something’s bothering you?”

  He remained silent as he dazed at the table.

  “...I miss her too, y’know?”

  Anthony didn’t respond. Although his eyes narrowed, he remained looking down to the stone floor. Almost as if he was waiting for Leo to stop talking.

  “She didn’t deserve what happened to her. None of them did.”

  Anthony’s shoulders showed a small twitch.

  Leo continued, “The look she gave you, Anthony…she believed in you until the end, I saw it, no, we all saw it.”

  “...Don’t”, Anthony finally muttered, his voice sharp and cold.

  Leo leaned forward towards Anthony. “Don’t what? Don’t remind you? Don’t talk about it? Don’t blame you? Because I’m not planning on doing any of that.”

  Anthony’s jaw clenched. His body shot up with his hands gripping the edge of the table making it shake, threatening to throw the mirror to the floor. “They’re dead. End of discussion. Talking about them won’t bring them back…It won’t bring her back…”

  “I know, Anthony. But that doesn’t mean we can pretend nothing’s wrong.” Leo looked at Anthony’s eyes as he tilted his head further down, gripping the table edge. “Since she died, you’ve changed. I get it, it’s completely normal.”

  Leo got up and kneeled next to Anthony’s shaking figure.

  “But please, just remember that we’re still here. We’re still fighting.”

  Leo put a hand on his shoulder, making him flinch.

  “The Anthony I know wouldn’t have left without checking on others, let alone act coldly towards others.”

  Anthony turned, finally facing Leo with tired eyes. Bags could be seen underneath them as if he hadn’t slept in days. It had been a while since Leo last saw him like this face-to-face, seeing this exhausted look he had increased his worry further.

  Soon after, the tired eyes showed a harsh desperation as Anthony exclaimed:

  “So what are you saying? That I should go back to how I was? I need to change or else I’ll fall behind! Behind all of you! How would I live with myself if something else happens to you guys? If I lose you, Diego, or Amanda, how could I bear to face any of you in the afterlife?”

  “I’m saying I can’t lose another friend! Not now. And I’m not telling you not to change, I’m telling you to change with us!”

  Anthony sat down. Time got slower as the events within the last few days finally settled in his body. His hands covered his eyes as his expression seemed to break down.

  “...What do I do, Leo? I don’t know what to do without her…”

  Leo looked down. “I can help you figure it out. Just, please talk to me. Alright?”

  A long silence followed between the two, but it was oddly comforting for the two, as if it was needed.

  Anthony nodded, almost imperceptibly.

  “...Alright.”

  Leo softly smiled. “You don’t need to talk now, just let me know when you’re ready. I’ll give you some space to gather yourself. Just…join me outside if you want, I’m sure Patrick will be happy to talk to you. And Connie might come off as a bit hostile, but she’s a good person. Talk to them when you can, alright?”

  He weakly nodded. “...Right. Let me just…settle myself for a sec alright? I’ll talk to you guys later.”

  “Alright, don’t push yourself now. We’ve already got a pool here. And remember, I’m here if you need me.”

  Looking back in front of the door, he saw Anthony looking at the mirror with a much more conflicted expression as if seeing something, or someone, he couldn’t quite understand.

  ‘I hope this talk got him to realize something.’

  With no words left to convey, Leo gently shut the metal door behind him.