The hour had come to four, as everyone had done their chores. Standing at the main hall, the whole group was ready, boys wearing their causal, usual coats with the girls wearing their causal, usual dresses. Shortly after, Leon arrived with his grey coat underneath white shirt with black pants, coming from the door.
He adjusted his coat before pointing his arm towards them to go outside. Which they did, delightfully as he followed them.
Moments later...
They all were standing at bricks paved elliptical, circular tunnel subway, stairs resting downstairs with people walking on both upwards and downwards. Aside them, was a beautiful playground area of kids with iron ceiling fence.
As Leon standing before them gently pushed his steps forward, walking the stairs down. They followed him like usual, except for Lisa everyone's gaze was witnessing the surroundings around them. The polished graphite stairs being stamped by them as they walked down.
An entrance hall with chandeliers on top; marble tiles cement on the floor. Seats on the left side while the right side had a counter area with a board sign of places to go in arrows.
"Remember.."
Leon mumbled, some couldn't heard him as they attentively listened what he was about to say.. But this time the voice came from nowhere, yet in their minds.
~ Normal people don't know about our existence.. Except some higher ups and others.. Don't spill this bull shit.
He ordered telepathically. And in no time when Leon arrived at the counter, the man sitting on his seat before him, was about to ask.. Until..
"Underground Mart.."
Leon showed his agency badge to the man who was startled seeing it. As he sighs before giving him the tickets for all.. As two guards appeared who guided Leon to a side where no one else, or few people had gone..
Some Time Later...
Everyone were in a lift, as they're seven and the lift wasn't big enough in size so they're stuffed with each other, both boys and girls on other side. As the lift's door opens as Zack try to get out, in result he slipped and was about to fall on the ground but somehow he managed to maintain his balance. Others except Leon were trying not to burst out of laughter.. Leon just sighs..
"Ah! Man. You do it on purpose.. Didn't you?."
Zack adjusted himself, turning behind as others completely walked beside him, ignoring him like he doesn't exist.. He was surprised, as a faint smile appeared on his cheek. Before he gets along with them..
Everyone eyes were witnessing the area around them. The small stalls, laterns hanging on wires, on above was a ceiling of rocks and earth.. The temperature here was weridly cool.. The air wasn't dusty as they had thought. Everyone were roaming around together with Leon at the front, a faint smile lingering over his cheeks.. Until.. He stopped.. They all froze as he did, turning around towards them..
"You all should do your own expenses. Now it's your choice, until half an hour, buy anything you want but ask the seller before it.. After that, all of you gather here.."
He ordered, his expression quite serious. As he turned his steps and gets strolled alone.
Other were amazed, astonished as they glance over each other, thinking what to do.. The area wasn't that noisy nor crowdy but around them, silence had shrouded over them.
"Well.. We should split in groups. How's that?."
Ruis suggested with a smile curved over his cheeks, scratching his neck. Others seems to agree with him, without saying.
"Not bad.. I'm with Zack. Tackle it out yourselves the rest.."
Ender replied, as he place his palm over Zack's shoulder, patting him before he mindlessly followed him like a pet. They get along, now the rest looked at each other with unsure expression.
"I get it.."
Ruis mumbled, sighing as he continues with a pause.
"Have fun.."
As he turned around before ambling. While all of them had different expressions. Lisa had her usual ignoring, Misha yawns, not giving a thing while Sara chuckled.
"Hey come on. There isn't much time left.."
Lisa mumbled as they all started to roam around, sauntering over the stalls.
Meanwhile on the other side, Zack and Ender were ambling together. Both were bored as if they can't understand what to do.
"Hey young fellows!."
A voice came from side, as they turned to saw an man who was sitting in his chair, he had a small stalls with many potions of different colors, they both were started as they subconsciously went towards him.
Ender and Zack glared over the potions, soem red, purple, blue and green. As Zack takes an orange one and shakes the potion carelessly. The man yelled.
"Hey. It'll slip!."
The man instructed him not to do it. As he chuckled, handling it over to him.
"What's this for?."
Ender picks up a red one.. The man was startled as a smirked curved over his cheeks.
"Well.. You can say it boost your stamina."
The man giggles, Ender and Zack were surprised as Ender handled him a whole yurum.
"Well. I want it."
The man was surprised as he asked.
"Are you married?."
Hearing that question, Ender and Zack both were puzzled, couldn't understand what he meant.. The man understand from their looks over their faces as he mumbled.
"Well.. This is not for you. But."
He takes a violet one.
"This boosts your intelligence and better focus."
"Nah. I quit."
Zack said before leaving to other stall. Ender who was standing eyes glanced upon a golden potion who was specialized contained in glass box, a thought flashed upon his mind. His cheeks curving to a smirked. His eyes sparkling dark-blue aura. He ordered.
"Hand me that golden potion in that box."
The man fall in his hypnosis, as he opens the box and hand him the mysterious golden potion. As Ender sighs, putting the potion in his pockets and ordered once again.
"Forget me and my friend."
Before he starts trailing along with Zack who was some stalls aside him.
[ Others POV ]
Ruis was trailing alone, hands in his pockets, he had a bored expression pasted over his face.
~ Why am I even here?.
He wondered as he heard a familiar voice.
"Forst!."
Hearing the voice from behind, it was unusual for him to be called by his last name, as he turned around to saw Misha who was standing, grasping for air her head down. He was confused seeing her here.
"What's up?. Has half an hour been up?."
He asked, she sighs, controlling herself.
"No.."
She muttered.
"Why was my second name indeed to call me?. Are you Ender?."
He asked,
"Is it a sin?."
She asked him instead. He sighs, no answer and turning around.
"Do you guys have fun?."
He was trying to make a conversation here. But instead, she said something that made him stunned, skin pale.
"Do you.. Hate me for what I have done to you?.. I– I never want to do it.. It wasn't me. It was–"
She asked, her voice cracked as she was about to say, not looking at him as her glaze was down. He understand now, she wanted to say it but couldn't find a scenario to say. This area made her will strong enough to ask him if he hated her..
"I don't.."
He mumbled, a faint smile curved over his cheek. Continuing..
"I know.. That wasn't you. That was just your soul.."
He continues with a pause.
"It's okay. I had forgive you that day. It's just some trauma which will be washed off after some months. But thanks for recalling it again."
Misha baffled, looking at him who was laughing, she giggled, taking out a strawberry cupcake out of thin air. Handling it to him who was looking with unsure expression. She made a smile, something that made Ruis for a spilt second his eyes widen.. As if he was reminded of something.. Until water washed off these thoughts off him, keeping him in present.
Until the cupcake on her hand disappeared, before were flabbergasted. Looking where it had gone to saw Zack eating it, some cream over his lips.
"Hey you!."
Ruis yelled, but Zack ran away. Ruis followed him while Misha was staring them dashing across stalls, people were watching them as well. As she felt someone aside him. She reflexively punched.
"Ahh!."
It was Ender's who was hit in his gut. He got disbalance, grasping for air.
"Can't look, use your brain idiot."
He murmured, Misha looked him with a dead serious expression as he elevated his gaze, looking at her at eye level. He was quite nervous seeing her expression.
"Is everything alright?. You look amusing."
Ender chuckle, as Misha couldn't hold her stiff expression mad burst out of laughter. They both were giggling.. Chummy environment.. Until.. A voice echoed in all of their heads..
~ Time's up.