A few hours earlier…..

  Both Leonora and Karma were sleeping on the same bed as they were recently sleeping together. They have gotten used to each other and have been good friends. For some reason they were able to sleep better. However, this night was different. The fact that Fausto was no longer in the same house made them worry.

  “You awake..?” Karma said.

  “Yea….” Opening her eyes, Leonora then looks at Karma. Both of them were originally mad when they saw that ring. That changed as they were growing concerned as the time went by. “Haa….I’m worried.”

  “Same….” Both of them were thinking about Fausto with concern. But not for the reasons that many would not see him as. It's not like he was going to get bullied or beaten. In fact, showing his skills, they both realise how strong he was. The real reason was that they were imagining that he was interacting with other women. In Karma’s dream, it wasn’t a dream that she had wished for.

  “Hehehe...oh Fausto, why would a handsome man like you be alone tonight?” A beautiful woman said as she was being very clingy to him. Fausto then grabbed her closer as he got drunk.

  “For you baby.” Fausto said in a cheesy way. Which then got the women to smile.

  “Oh then why not stop with me!!! Let's get others!!” Then others stormed in as more beautiful women came.

  “Oh Fausto.”

  “Let me treat you!!”

  “You are so handsome!!”

  “Let me have your kids.” All of them said.

  “AHAAHAHAHAHAH” Fausto then laughed in victory as he felt happy being surrounded by them. But that was all a lie, as this was all in Karma’s imagination. Yet even Leonora kept thinking these thoughts all night.

  “AHHH!!!” We need him back here!!”

  “Yeah!! It's because….he is our...doctor..yea..that is right!!!” Both seemed to have a connection as they were both concerned that Fausto was doing something that they both didn’t agree with.

  “Uhm..yes...and our teacher... it's a priority” They then got up as they were able to leave their room. Opening the door, they immediately saw two silhouettes that soon revealed themselves. Seeing two people sitting in front of their door, Leonardo and Angela were sitting next to each other as they turned to see who was opening the door.

  “Oh hello, you two. Why are you two up so early?” Angela said as she was leaning on Leonardo while the latter was desperately trying to get away.

  “Uhm...why are you guys here??”

  “Oh, you know, just watching to make sure you two are okay.” Angela abruptly said.

  “Uhm, why is that??”

  “I don’t know, but recently they have been wanting us to protect you for some reason,” Leonardo said as he recently been asked by Leo to watch over the two at night. Much to his displeasure with sleep, he had to do it. Thankfully, Noah was going to take tomorrow's shift.

  “Yes, and since Leonardo volunteered tonight. I decided to join him.”

  “Yay me….” Angela was the one who seemed rather excited. This can’t be said for the other party as he was rather in sadness. “Anyways, do you need anything??”

  “Oh no, I just want to get some fresh air, that's all…” Trying to make an excuse for herself she tried to get out of the room. But Leonardo doing his job didn’t allow it.

  “Well if you need fresh air, you can go to your patio.”

  “I want to get some food because I am hungry.”

  “Oh then we can get some food for you. What do you want?”

  “Oh no don’t worry about me, just rest. I will get the food for myself.”

  “I will get it along my walk to the garden.”

  “Oh let us walk with you.” Angela, as she was more interested in the walk with Leonardo.

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  “Uhm I’m also going to do some yoga.”

  “Oh then let me join you. I need to do some exercising.”

  “....you guys aren’t letting me out of your sight?” Both of them then nodded as they remained at the door. Looking around, she realised there were plenty of guards around the area. For some reason, she didn’t notice it till now. It seems like they leave when she wakes up because she never seen them before. “Fine, I will go back to sleep. Just know that this is my house, and I'm telling dad later!!” Slamming the door, everyone couldn’t help but sigh as they themselves didn’t want to be here either. But one was thinking something else entirely.

  “ha….I wish I could do that…” Leonardo wished they could trade places as he was wanting to go to his room and sleep. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been to his room since someone wanted to join him.

  “What??”

  “Sleep,” Leonardo said as he was making it a good excuse. But really, he was talking about shutting the door in front of Angela. But alas, he is forever stuck with her.

  “Ahh don’t worry, once it reaches six, we will be able to have some time to ourselves. If you know what I mean…” Getting red, Angela was looking forward as she was squeezing his arms.

  “Yea..can’t wait!” He smiled as he really hoped something would happen today. But as luck or bad luck would have it...he jinxed it.

  Back in her room, Leonora was pouting.

  “Dang it, what do we do?” Karma then looked at the patio.

  “Hey if you are thinking about doing the Rapunzel thing…. you're gonna need longer hair.”

  “Please, I'm just wondering how high we are??”

  “We are about five floors up and we don’t have rope,” Leonora said. “I know. How about charming Leonardo with your look!!” Hearing that Karma was giving her a stare.

  “What the heck are you thinking? Do you want me to be killed by Angela!!”

  “Oh I’m sure he will protect you.”

  “Shut up!!! Don’t worry, I can get us down there.”

  “Yeah grow out your hair first, then we talk.” Leonora then noticed that Karma, out of thin air, pulled out some rope. “You have rope!!! How did you..”

  “Shhhhh….keep it quiet…” Whispering Karma then tied the rope to the handrails before letting it down. “Hurry up before we get caught.” Karma then slid down using the ropes. Leonora then quickly followed. But as she looked down, she backed away.

  “Ohhh…..eeee…..ahhh.” Leonora then walked around calming her nerves. Fidgeting around it seem she was having a hard time finding out how should she should approach this. She then look at her phone to see Karma calling. “Hello..?”

  “Get down here now!!” Hearing Karma scream from the phone, Leonora looked down to see Karma waving to her. But she looked back up.

  “I can’t...its so far down.”

  “You're kidding me!! You just have to hold it with both hands and let it slide through your hands.”

  “But...but...it's hard and my hands are not strong enough…”

  “It's okay if you can use your legs too.”

  “But I can’t look.”

  “Look….just let the rope do all the work. I will help catch you. Now do it!!!” Karma quietly screamed.

  “...But….”

  “Fine, then I’m going to go without you. If you don’t want to see him…” Whoooshhhh Karma then looked up to see that Leonora was coming down, but really fast as she was falling down. “Really…” Karma then rushed as she dropped her phone while trying to catch Leonora. Thump. Leonora then looked around to notice that it was just her. Quickly grabbing her own phone, she then called Karma, wondering where she was.

  “Karma karma I did it!!! I’m alive!!!” In excitement, she really hoped that Karma saw what she did. Rather than watch, it seemed Karma experienced it firsthand, “Karma, where are you??”

  “Ehhh…”

  “Karma …”

  “Ehhhh.”

  “Where are you?? I think there is a ghost.” In fright, she looked around as she grabbed something close. Boing. There was then something soft; it was weird.

  “EEEH”

  “Karma!!! Where are you??” Leonora said as she was squeezing it tighter. Before that a hand grabbed her. “I’m sorry gho…….mm” She was then pulled down as another hand grabbed her.

  “Shhhhhhhh. Can you please shut up. owww..” Struggling to stop Leonora from talking, she was also dealing with the pain. She felt numerous cracks when Leonora fell on her. That entire time Leonora was looking around, Karma was moaning, thinking she was going to die. Only to realise everything got better as she suddenly healed it all up. Amazingly, her pain started to fade as after a few more seconds she was alright. Thinking it was just a short pain, she ignored it and had to shut Leonora up. “I told you to hold on. Why did you fall?”

  “I did...but..i slipped…” Leonora said in embarrassment. But then this suddenly made her realise something. She then got up as she forgot that she was on top of Karma. “Are you alright?!! I’m sorry for smashing you!!” Looking around, Leonora then proceeded to touch Karma's body before Karma pushed her off.

  “Can you please stop touching me. I’m alright.” Getting up, Karma looked perfectly fine for some reason despite having her bones crushed earlier. “Now come on, let's get going!!” Karma then pulled Leonora as they sneaked away into the night. While running through trying to be sneaky, Karma didn’t realise that above the trees were several people with white robes. Leonora then looked at a tree from afar, as if for some reason, and noticed something.

  “What's wrong?” Karma asked.

  “....Nothing just felt like there was someone there….” Leonora said as she stared at it for a bit. But after looking for some time, Karma then pulled her away.

  “Come on, we have to go before anyone sees us!!” Dragging her away, Leonora couldn’t help but feel like this was a familiar feeling. Time was of the essence, however, as she had to leave before Leonardo noticed. Though it seems like they have already been noticed. Revealing himself, the old man came out smiling as he was feeling reminiscent of her looking at his direction.

  “Even now you can always find me…” The old man was happy to see the fleeting Leonora as she was about to embark on her journey. A journey he wished he were a part of.

  Managing to get a ride, they were able to go to the outer part of the city. To be exact, clubs that are near the outer part of the city. Only those types of bars are the ones where you could mingle with many women and men, depending on your preference. Diviners don’t mind these things, as you would find it hard to believe. Cheating however, isn’t allowed. Howeve,r they prefer it not to be close to the twelve families as not to deal with them for fear of death. Which is why most of these places are near the outermost wall. Looking around, they tried to find many places open. But to no avail, Fausto wasn’t in any of them.

  “Haaa...Karma, we search this entire area. I don’t think he is here.”

  “Yeah...but where could he be..”

  “That is a good question…”

  “If only we could get the military to help us.”

  “Can’t you since your family can get access to them??”

  “Yeah, my family. But not me.”

  “Well..I could ask Gilius. He said that he was back today. Maybe I could see him.”

  “Good idea lets go.” They then walked, but then as the sun rose…. BOOMM behind them, they heard several explosions. Glancing at where the sound came from, they saw a large building collapsing.

  “What was that??”

  “I don’t know?!” Boom boom, pow pow,bang bang. Closing their ears, they watch as explosions simultaneously sound everywhere. Adding on top of that, the city sirens rang, signalling an emergency. Instantly, the city had woken up, and many started to panic as all were trying to run to the shelters as ordered. But it was too late since the gates had already opened.