Eve looked at her watch and patiently waited for the time to hit six. There are few passersby, yet the empty thoroughfare is still peacefully silent as the sun slowly gleaming on the mountains. She heaved a sigh as she remembered how she left her other members heartbroken after they have finally seen their two Heads lying in their coffins. It was like their silence is piercing her into pieces.
The Captain gulped and hemmed, reminded herself that that is what she was there for. To have peace of mind, find the truth, and find a reasonable reason for the deaths of their fallen members.
Once her alarm rang, she switched it off and headed to the forest that for unknown reasons, people are getting afraid to; believing that it is haunted and a home to UFO’s—as what she was told by Eu.
“Where are you?” she spoke as she walked inside the towering trees.
The forest was called North despite being located in the South, for the past generations used to think that cursed places belongs to way up there, to the North. That these sinned places were scattered around the neighboring lands in the purpose of extending its dominion. Though, it is indeed a fact that when you are near it, and you are under the shadows of the forest, you really can’t see the sun set, neither have a glimpse of the West, making the past dwellers around it thought that East and West are one.
“I am here,” a voice replied, but she can’t tell where exactly it is coming from. “How’s everyone?”
She surveyed the area, but she saw no one. However, she felt safe and calm. “I don’t know if I can say that we are better now, but I think we are still days away from getting okay. Who are you exactly?”
“If I tell you, can you promise that you will never tell about me to anyone else?”
“You can have my word.”
Just when she thought that she has already located where the voice is echoing from, the person speak again from another direction.
“It is Henry. Henry Yuscov.”
“And what is your connection to the organization?”
A long minute of silence devoured the next minutes. Not even a slight sound of rustling can be heard, neither a breeze of wind, nor a noise outside.
“Are you still there?” she inquired.
“I am. Well, I will answer that fully, but not today. A day will not be enough to tell you all.”
“I don’t have the whole day at all times. You will never know if I will be back here.”
A faint sound of breathing filled the space. The man seems to be hiding so well, for him to be so on guard. She readied herself, despite that she feels no harm around her.
“Of course, there is no doubt that you will be back here. I am certain that you will.”
Her chest tightened, as if her senses are agreeing to his statement. She cleared her throat and nodded.
“So, what is your connection to the organization?”
“Let us just say that I was the one who asked for Captain Eulysis and Head Eulejius’ help. The person behind the start of the organization’s fall.”
The man’s voice become farther when she tried to get near the spot where she heard him last.
“Why did you do that? Do you know Lux? Do you know everyone who worked for him?”
“I know everyone, and I know everything.”
She got curious to whom she is talking to. Much more to the information he knows. She rubbed her hands to warm herself a little.
“Is it true that—” she paused, gathering enough strength to ask about the query she is aiming to be answered. “Am I not the real Eunice? Am I a clone?”
“Yes. You are a replica. That is what your latest data showed.”
Her knees weakened, and her airways tightened upon hearing his confirmation. Her guilt that she thought will be enlightened was doubled, realizing that all of her two Head members’ efforts to keep her safe are meaningless.
“And who is the real one?”
“Your daughter’s mom—”
“So, all along, I was actually just a mere clone.” Her voice echoed in her head, and everything her team had gone through flashed back in her memory, even those times that she was told that she isn’t the real her.
“What took you so long to tell me the truth?”
“Because I have no much chance before, and what happened to your case was so sudden. Who would have thought that one of the Lux’s will do it to you?”
“Lux? You address him by his name. Did he know about you?”
“I know him well enough compared to others as much as he knows me. Not even Rum knows what I know about him.”
“I want to see you. Come out wherever you are,” she demanded, yet still, the man remained hidden in the woods.
She walked a little farther, but rays stopped her. The leaves that it has touched were cut straight, like an invisible wall, it has done its purpose of being there as a barrier.
“You have always been seeing me, Eve. Always.”
“Of all people, why are you telling me about these things, then?”
“Because it is you who wanted to know the truth the most.”
“And what it would cost me to know it all?” she dared and stepped backwards, for the rays are leaving her no choice but to do so.
“Do you remember the fifth favor? The one you promised to Lux?”
She stopped, so are the red lights that are pushing her to the edge of the forest. Her eyes became alert that they automatically scanned the surroundings, guessing where and who the person she’s talking can be.
“Of course, I do.”
“He asked for it, not for his sake, Eve. Keep your promise, and I will let you know the rest of the trues that you need to know. Meet me here again at the same time, after you succeeded in doing it.”
“Mister Yuscoc?” she yelled when the voice get deeper into the darker part of the trees.
She ran to the other side, but saw no one exited that way either; giving her the conclusion that he is still somewhere inside his hiding place.
A passerby waved at her, shouting at the top of his lungs in horror that she should stay away from there.
“Oh, it is you—again!” the man blurted out, gasping, when she approached her.
She understandingly nodded when she understood who he is referring to. The drips of sweats on his forehead and getting pale is just showing that he is truly trembled upon seeing her near the forest.
“Last time, I saw a flock of migratory birds that is seemingly not so aware that this place is not for the likes of any of the living things aside for the trees and weeds that this forest here is allowing to live in its place. You probably will not believe me, just like how those fellows mocked me after hearing me out.” He turned to her with his eyes full of fright. “But I saw it with my two eyes—not even one of the birds made it inside. They were killed by whatever invisible thing it is that sliced them in pieces. Just there—right there where you were standing a while ago.” He pointed to where she got from.
She felt pity towards the innocent old man. Though, she cannot tell him about the facts. The myth seems to be the one helping Henry Yuscov to stay not bothered in that area. The man had cunningly and wittingly used it for his advantage.
“No one should be passing by here then if that is the case.”
“You don’t understand, Ma’am. Even the authorities had never dared to get a hundred-meter near this thing here. I don’t know what the owner of this land is doing that he didn’t even care to put a fence around his possession—”
“And who is this owner?” she unintentionally cut him off in curiosity.
The old man creased his forehead and looked down on the ground, as if it is where the answer to her query can be found.
“It was a certain Zoren, if my memory is still serving me right.”
“Zoren, what? Zoren—”
“Right! It was the man who was interviewed months ago. The one who had been accused to be related to huge human trafficking and drug dealings cases. Well, it had never been proven, though.”
She stealthily gazed away and gulped. The man has done nothing but goodness, she saw it herself. Only that he was used for Lux’s benefits.
“I see. He must have reasons.”
“But who fool would buy a piece of lot that he cannot even get near to?”
She chuckled amusedly. ‘Only Nil would,’ her mind meddled.
“Just him, I think.”
“But for what reason?” He shook his head.
“Who knows?” she asked him back. ‘Maybe, just maybe, it was for Henry,’ her conscience added.
About to drive his bicycle away, she stopped him by walking in front of the bike. Eve roamed her eyes around, to make sure that no one will hear them from afar.
“What keeps you taking this road if you are afraid to this place?”
The man smiled and shrugged his shoulders. “With that threat here, no harm will happen to me even if I go home late. Somehow, that keeps me safe.”