It was a dark Sunday night in a city full of tall buildings and stories of people in it.

  Everyone’s fate is different. Destiny locked in from the web of the past unraveled into today. The task of the day is simply to live it through. One hundred reasons and breaths lived inside the coordinates of this secret city. The picture of it was getting much clearer every day.

  Big brothers of The Big Three were watching everyone.

  Lives went on as books wrote moments to narrate the past to mold and project onto the world that is chosen by someone.

  In movies there always are clear bad guys that with excessive means try to control every little thing.

  Perfection is not attainable. The human factor is to make mistakes and that is the lesson every perfectionist faces.

  If I had to think about it. The words of my dad. Every hit and slash react in silence. The next action that is supposed to be taken is to fold the situation in your favour. I had no idea why he was teaching these interesting and terrifying things at the time. But today, I understood.

  Akasia was Sano’s hometown. If he was exposed to its creative and dangerous ways… it only made sense.

  I looked over to my friend Athena. She was looking at the big night clouds shadowing the view from the moon and the stars.

  “Athena…” I spoke up.

  Her words of apology linger in the air. Bringing my thoughts into the lessons I was taught. I can’t explain to anyone how to live their lives. Everyone has their reason to do things. To project their pain onto something to anchor them through their lives.

  That’s what Athena was seeing in me. And I have seen it clearly.

  “I am not one that will save you.” I said honestly.

  Slight breeze of wind touching our skin. Moving the air between us. I could smell the sea. Where the wind was coming from.

  Athena looked over to me.

  Even in this darkness her eyes shone brightly. She was silently crying.

  “I am not a heroine or someone who will save anyone.” I said. “Don’t look up at me with those eyes.”

  A sniffle came out of her. She looked up at the sky again.

  “I can’t help it.” She silently said. “From the day my dad died I knew that he did not do what they said he did. He was not someone who would be like that.” Her tears kept falling.

  Our feet slowly walked forwards. Without a clear destination. Walking the dark bridged walkway, passing all the streetlamps.

  No one was around us. Everyone was in their homes. In the warmth with their families.

  Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

  “My dad and my little sister were both killed. I have zero proof of anything but I know it. And I want to expose Akasia and their leaders. And bring justice to their lives.” Athena said in a very heavy and serious tone.

  Her eyes were watching the sky as if she was declaring this to the heavens. A promise and a wish to fulfil her destiny.

  “Your little sister?” I was surprised.

  Athena nodded.

  “My dad used to work as a researcher. He has been studying psychology and the human mind since I was born.” Athena told me. “I was nine at the time…my sister was four.” Athena stopped her words. Like swallowing a big gulp of water.

  “You don’t have to go there…” I told her.

  “No…I need to tell you this.” Athena steered her resolve. “My dad must have found out something because suddenly he was let go of his job…not only that…he tried to get us all to leave Akasia.” Athena said.

  She paused, taking a break. “That’s when they argued with my mother. She was strictly against it. He was in such frezy…like he was scared of his life.” Athena finally looked at me.

  “I never seen him like that.” She explained her story.

  “What happened to him?” I asked.

  “One day he was supposed to take my sister out of her school and drive back home…he was chased and had a huge car crash. It happened right by the Akasia borders…they both died.” Athena’s tears were rolling down her cheeks.

  She looked so miserable and still grieving.

  “That was ten years ago.”

  “Oh…wow….I am sorry to hear that.” I honestly had no words to respond to this. “Why do you think that he was killed?” I was curious about her interpretation.

  “In reports it said that he tried to flee after stealing something from the research lab he worked in.” Athena replied. “In the car they found three bodies. My dad, sister and some woman.”

  Athena explained the story.

  “Official statements said that my dad tried to flee after breaching a contract and stealing documents.They said that the woman in the car was someone he had an affair with…”

  Athena’s tears kept streaming as she told me her past. “I don’t believe that. My dad would never cheat on my mom! If he did, why would he do it in front of my little sister? He would not put her in harm's way! Why was he so terrified and wanted to leave days before this happened? It does not make any sense!” Athena looked at me very much grieving about the past events.

  The unfairness and the tragic circumstances her family lived through. Athena’s feelings were harbouring for ten years. I just happened to be in her view and she just happened to believe that I would help her.

  “That’s….” I started to speak.

  “Crazy…Insane? I know!” She shook her tears and suddenly stopped in her steps.

  Athena turned towards me and grabbed both of my shoulders.

  Her sparkly teary eyes deeply looked into mine. Into this dark Sunday night. Athena’s eyes tried to get into the depths of my soul. Trapping me under her spell. Her wish and passion to do the justice of these lives. Her fate hanged on a loose thread.

  “I know that Shin was not with you…they are watching you closely! Aren't they?” Athena questioned me about the events of my break up.

  I did not answer but that’s the reply Athena was looking for.

  “Rory…the fact that you are not from Akasia is a mystery itself. Don’t you want to know how you end up here? And why?” Athena asked me.

  Her eyes dug into my subconscious.

  “Everyone here is paying the price for something! Including you! I don’t have any proof but I know you are not randomly placed here!” Athena was convinced in her theory.

  Somehow this had taken me back. The eyes of this girl. I’ve never seen anyone look this convinced about anything. Her power of the passion I felt. The urge to open up and share with Athena everything. To tell her she creepily is not off the mark.

  This girl had a talent to sniff things out by simply watching the interactions between people. A valuable skill to read between the lines and put on the face of an innocent bubbly girl that loves fashion and psychology. The love for her father made her live this life. To choose a fate she was walking. Her path was set and no one will be able to stop her.

  It did not matter if this would kill her. That’s the conviction she possessed. It was clear in her eyes.

  I could not reciprocate Athena’s feelings.

  I grabbed Athena’s hands and pushed her off me.

  She confusingly tried to reach out but I pushed her behind me. And turned around.

  “Who’s there?”