As much as I love Oakley, I don't want to betray the only family I have left aside from her—Oliver. But should the situation force me to take a side between the two, my fear would be because I must choose the one who bears my blood, and I must leave the other one behind. I can never do that to either of them.

Farhan may have taken mastery of this realm; she may know all the best, if not impeccable, options to get both what we desperately ache for, but I can't sacrifice anyone along the way, not for anyone whom I barely even know, and most certainly not when it's someone as close to me as a family.

Despite Farhan's promising plan of taking me directly to where my sister could be, I can't lend her the whole of my trust, not when she's already lied her way taking me back here in the apartment. Judging the way she regard Oliver, I know something's up. What I know about this realm could just be the mere peek of a much bigger picture concealed within their palms. Something I'm not meant to know. Not yet at least.

Farhan isn't telling me something.

"Oliver, wouldn't let that happen," I mutter, my teeth mashing up as it grits, and my sullen glare flits to Farhan.

"Oh, but I can," she states unaffectedly, her eyes barely blink as it bear up to me impassively.

"Farhan, I am not going without Oliver," I state in knitted teeth; obduracy in my eyes ablaze, not bothering to avert my look from her flytrap gaze.

Oliver has always been a brother to me; he's the closest to a parent I have for three years since he stumbled upon our doorstep in a stormy night ragged and battered. With all the recent happenings that fate keeps on shoving down our throats, I know I'd need him by my side, not just for the reason that he's the maturest person I could run into, but also because I know I'd barely last an hour out there on the horrid streets without his abilities, considering it's not only the gangs of Creed Holme that we have to keep an eye out for; the authorities themselves are now prowling to join their party.

Farhan falls to silence, her glare plastered at me.

No matter how much she'll insist me on coming with her, my decision is final. So unless Oliver comes with us, we won't go to Carson City. Farhan may be too mature for her age, but I know we'd still need Oliver if we'll trek out there.

As her clenching fists catch my periphery, I try to banish the unbidden fear that Farhan may attempt to hurt me. She wouldn't do it, not when it's me whom she's hooking into her plots in the first place.

I have no idea which among the two would stand to be stronger and clever. I've known Oliver for three years already, and within that span of time, I view him as nothing more than vulnerable, weak, or nerd, and yet the string of events that has recently occurred forces me to rethink everything I know about him. I didn't know Oliver could be physically fit to even handle the escape we did from Derry Malt, nor the attacks in my house for that matter, and since then I know we'll need him so much if we're to brave the streets again.

Oliver saved me the night before we come to this place; he's no doubt capable enough to face the overlookers, and after all, according to him, he has spent the latter years of his toddlerhood on gang-littered streets, making use of scruffy alleys and squalid bitumen as refuge from the authorities' bloodlust. That's the farthest I know about Oliver, he certainly doesn't want me to pry on further nor does he heed my inquiries properly for that matter.

Farhan on the other hand, is yet to surface from her own mystic veil. I hardly know anything about her other than her prior babysitting career and her weird tendencies to botch her work. All I know is that she's too young to be a victim of Pelnora's haywire policy.

After minutes of nothing but glares, Farhan sighs and proceeds to gesture for the bed; when I didn't do so much as a budge, Farhan ushers me with her stiff limbs and carries forth, both of us surrendering on the growing silence. As we approach the battered bed from earlier, Farhan commands, "Sit."

And as if her words have instilled into my motor neurons, I comply albeit reluctantly; the supple bedsheets and foam caress my weight as I sit upright, bending my head to look her up firmly. This is to show her that I can be adamant, especially with my decision; I won't let her stir me around like her own stringed puppet anymore. Oliver will protect me, and I've seen him do that many times already, so if I am to go to a distant city, I won't put my safety to someone I hardly know considering the fact that Farhan's just merely sixteen.

Yet she bosses around me. The thought barges through my head, which causes me to scowl. Farhan stands before me, hands pressing against her hips, and her eyes forged of stone streak to mine. Her lips are pressed in a hard line, and every inch of emotion are well tucked beneath her skin. She sighs as she averts her gaze.

"Look, what I'm trying to do here, would benefit the both of us. You wanted to find your sister at the soonest possible time; this is how we find her, and this is how I am also going to find mine. Oliver doesn't wanted you to go, because you're not ready for the trek. But there are other ways," Farhan stiffly says in a monotone, and before I could even carry on with my protest, she holds her hand up to silence me, and the low rumbling sound, which reverberates all throughout the place takes over the silence; Farhan looks up to the window behind me.

"Wait for it," Farhan states in knitted teeth as the rumbling sound echoes louder, and the twinge of unease causes me to slowly spin around, inch closer to the window, and gaze upon the view outside.

As I lean against the window and peek further out, the commoners casually carries on with their activity as though they couldn't hear what may be coming. I idly wonder if I'm the only one who could detect the sound.

And as if she have just read my mind, Farhan kneels closer to me on the bed and says, "they can hear it."

The bright industrial lights wedged above from the very top of the place make slight flickers as the rumbling sound gets louder with each passing second, and the cold window pane beneath my arm shivers at the reverberation.

Then it appears.

High up from the top most ceiling at the other side of Site A, comes a fast moving chain of metal carriages, blocking the industrial lights as it zooms; its glass windows filtering the flecks into split second flashes, and the sound of scraping metals rises to a crescendo as it dashes while suspended along to what appears to be a metal beam that serpentines from the ceiling.

It's an underground suspension train!

"And that, Kiera, is how we are going to Carson City," Farhan proudly says while I'm left gaping at the sight before me, my jaw hanging loosely.

"H-how exactly is this possible?" Is all I could say as I stare up at the last carriage passing by, following the train with my gaze as it carries on far deeper in Site A at my right side; the reverberations cease as the train gets farther.

"It's one of Test Drive's best masterpieces, and it can get us to Carson City, albeit it might take us a while since the city in between—Belmot, is quite a huge place," Farhan blabbers, and as I turn to look at her, a smirk flickers from her lips.

"Oliver should know this. If there's an easier way to get me to my sister without risking my life to the authorities, then he might approve us all along." I beam up to her.

Farhan slides her way off the bed to stand and turns to face me before saying, "Problem is, Oliver insists on getting you ready."

"Why? Ready for what?" My question seems to have taken Farhan off guard as she suddenly runs out of words to say; she parts her lips to say something but closes it just as quickly before anything could come out.

Finally. Now that she's on the edge, I can probably wring some information out.

When she hesitates again, I speak up.

"Farhan, it's time you tell me what is up," I prod.

Since arriving here, I've known only so little about this place. Hunted criminals and innocents take refuge here, but what's with all the mark thing? And then there's the Nano Depth and Test Drive striving for innovation; there are other sites aside from Site A, and what bugs me the most is the fact that Oliver has sworn a vow on prepping me up physically but for no definite reason. I couldn't conflate all the information at once. So many puzzle pieces are missing.

"Kiera, Oliver has been training you ever since," Farhan starts, but I cut her off.

"That's not what I wanted to know, Farhan. For what does he wanted me to get ready for?" I say in clenched jaw, my patience running thin.

"He wanted you to be well prepped up, because your family is in the wanted list, Kiera!" Farhan snaps, her voice raising up.

"How can that be the reason?! Hollands have only been subjected to The Shearing yesterday, and you just said he's been training me ever since. It doesn't make sense! For what does he wanted me to get ready for?" I spit the words; even though Farhan seems on the verge of losing her patience as well, another emotion manages slip out of her guard.

And it's fear.

"You don't have the strength to survive out there!" Farhan snaps.

"That's not what I wanted to know, Farhan. Just tell me the damn reason!" I retort.

"I've told you enough! Since Oliver has been guiding you, you're his responsibility-"

"Farhan, just get to the point! What is the vow all about? Why does he wanted me to prepare?!" I prod nevertheless, our voices raising for another fraction; Farhan's reasons are jotted with holes, and whatever it is she's trying to hide, I'll make sure to know it.

"There's nothing to-"

"Farhan, spit it!!"

"It's for the revolt!!" Farhan booms, and her words swipe me off to dead silence; my face a mixture of shock and confusion. "Oliver have been training you since then, intellectually and physically."

"How? He never even trained me for the past three years since I met him, Farhan. He didn't even mention a single thing about a revolt! Oliver wants to train me because we both know we need to be fit enough to trek the streets, because finding my sister, is why we're really here for in the first place!" I snap at her.

We hide the datas. We dodge the authorities. We find Oakley. End of story. It has always been the plan, but since we're clueless of my sister's datas, we don't know where to start anymore, and Oliver says he'll train me so I'll be fit for the running we may do. It's never for a revolt. Farhan can be lying again.

"Yesterday, when your family name was broadcasted, Oliver left you while escaping, didn't he?" Farhan says as she sighs; her voice modulates again, the usual coldness coming back.

"That was part of the plan, Farhan. He told me we had to split paths and meet back at my house!" I snap.

"Yet he wasn't there the night you came!" Farhan retorts.

"I-how did you-" I stutter as her word takes me aback. "How did you know?" I say as I recover my bearings.

"He was here that night when he should've been in your house, and I was expecting to meet you then but found Oliver alone. Do you really think he didn't mean that? He did that on purpose, Kiera," Farhan coldly mutters.

"He might've only stopped here to get some backup; we obviously can't face the hoard of overlookers that came into my house," I protest.

"So he knew there would be overlookers, huh? Then why would he lead you there in the first place?"

This time, no word comes out of my lips. Oliver told me to meet up at my house. He wasn't there. He knew the overlookers would come. Oliver lead me to them. I couldn't speak, I don't even know what to say now for that matter, nor to whom should I put my trust.

As I barrel down to utter silence and disbelief, Farhan rests a hand on my shoulder, which causes my scar to send out electric tingle. Farhan says, "Oliver did that for you, Kiera."

"I could've died. I don't understand why he did that if he really wanted to protect me; was that the training you're pertaining to?" The words come out as a mere whisper as realization sinks its fangs down on me.

"But you didn't die. We, the people of Site A, have gone through the same struggle before getting here. When criminal and innocents are forced by their unjust society, they'll surely merge into something. It's been decades since The Shearing, and many innocent bloods have been spilled, you should've expected a revolt. Now we're prepping up for that, and every wanted individual is automatically a part of if," Farhan says in a monotone. "You're a part of it, Kiera, all of us."

"But I never wanted to fight, Farhan. I just . . . I just wanted to find my sister," I say as I hunch in defeat and rest my face upon my palms.

Farhan abruptly yanks the fabric that covers my scar to expose it, and cold chilly air quickly creeps upon my skin. She says, "the night you survived in your house makes you a passer of Oliver's training. And not only that, you're marked by Site C."

I bent my face up to gaze at her before saying, "what does that mean? Oliver told me it meant nothing."

"Site A, B, and C are divisions of this revolt, Kiera. Like I said, all of wanted criminals and innocents are part of it. Depending on how you passed your test, you're marked accordingly. Site A is Cognate-Intel or similar intelligence; people of Cognate-Intel are those that are regarded as smart; their sharp intellect is the prime reason for their survival; Me and Oliver are a part of it. Site B is Gearro; it's where the technically-skilled are distributed. And finally, Site C, Morale; it has all the people fit for fighting," Farhan says without averting her gaze on me. "I hope you understand now why Oliver wanted to train you up to now; it's because you're supposed to be a fighter, a soldier."

"I can't be a soldier. I don't want to fight, Farhan, I never wanted to," I say heavily as the lump of fear clogs my throat. I won't die unless I find my sister first.

"You have no choice, and it's why I'm trying to make up an option. We go to Carson City and take advantage of your advance promotion, that way we can both get what we want and at the same time escape the revolt. Or you'd like to stay here and train for the battle," Farhan mutters.

"Even if I stay, still, Oliver would help me find Oakley," I reason out, albeit I'm now unsure if whether or not it's what Oliver aims after hearing everything from Farhan.

"You wouldn't know where to start, Kiera. You can't just prowl the streets halfcocked; we're talking about an advanced government here, one wrong step and you're dead. You need to plot something out," Farhan snaps as she releases my turtleneck fabric, covering my scar.

"Then take Oliver with us, I can't leave a family behind," I protest.

"You can't just consider someone a family just because he's been with you for who knows how long. Family runs in the blood, Kiera, it's not just about the bond; Oliver can still betray you," Farhan fires back.

"I said take him with us! That's my final word, Farhan," I retort as I stand up, towering before her; nonetheless she gazes up at me unaffectedly.

I know very well that Oliver's not a part of my family nor my bloodline for that matter, but at least I'd rather put my trust to someone I've known for three years rather than someone I barely even know for a week. In spite of all the horrid realization that nags me, I can't split paths with Oliver, not now.

"Fine. I'll talk to him," Farhan says, and her words shower me with relief like nothing before. "But you have to head to the train station now! It's in the eastern part of Site A as you head out of the apartment," Farhan prods.

"What? Why?" I say.

Great. Another split up, what's next?

"You're supposed to be a member of Site C, Kiera. They can already be in one of those suspension train carriages and might be about to recruit new members," Farhan blabbers as she flips her dark locks irritatedly; she seems to be worrying again with the way her brows knit together, and the way her stone-cold look melts like an ice. It's another side of Farhan I've never known.

"Recruit members? How do I know you're really going to speak to Oliver?" I snap.

"We won't leave Site A without him, and I know you have the same thing in mind," Farhan says as though yielding up in a childish feud, and I get the slight feeling that Farhan would finally stand for her words; it ignites an ember of hope in me regardless of how things seem to be already off kilter for the both of us. "But you have to go to the station ahead of me," Farhan adds in a raised voice.

"Why do we have to split up?" I state.

"Site C might be about to take you today, Kiera!" Farhan spits the words, which quickly add up to the fear that clogs my nerves. "And they'll surely sleuth out each member from Site A's leaders and director, which includes me."

"I-I," I stutter, and before I could complete a sentence, Farhan cuts me off.

"I'll take care of the document, just give me half an hour to complete everything. You have to wait for me on the station, okay?" Farhan says.

Before I could even manage to agree with her, the loud heavy thuds that suddenly wrack our room's wooden door causes both of us to flinch. Farhan gazes at me, fear roiling within her eyes. Then her gaze snaps up behind me.

"What now?" I say.

"Kiera, you have get out through that window, quick!" Farhan hastily commands as we both scamper for the bed, and she pushes the window's glasses further outward so I can squirm through the grills. "I'll take care of everything, okay? Watch out for people in leather suits, they can be from Site C," Farhan adds up as her breathing turns erratic, and bids of sweat drips down from her forehead.

"Okay, got it!" I say in assurance.

"Kiera, be careful out there, station's on the eastern side," Farhan says, then her arms dart out in one swift move, unbuckling the sticker from my wrist in a split second before adding, "I'll take care of this."

I shot her a questioning look.

"I'll have to talk to Oliver, okay? Just go, and be careful," she says.

"I will." And with that, I shimmy through the spaces between grills, which seem big enough for my belly to fit through.

Luckily, though, a metal ledge screwed upon the wall waits for my feet as I step outside the window. It leads to a fire exit where a corrugated stairs serpentines down to the foot of the apartment. Farhan yanks both glasses to shut the window, and I dock my head down and latch my arms upon the tiny dents of the wall for support as I inch closer to the emergency stairs. I know I need to make this fast; it may not be a matter of time before the individuals of Site C peer out of my room's window to check; this'll all be over once I get caught.

I fasten my quivering hands upon the surface of the stairs as I start making my way down as hastily as I could manage. Adrenaline ceases once I set my feet upon the ground. The clamoring of people pierce my ears, and the heightened humidity stings my eyes. Commoners totter along the streets; some are fighting while others carry loads of metalware, but the station is no where to be sighted at the eastern side, for some infrastructures and billowing smoke blocks my sight.

This is it, I just have to find my way on the east without getting caug-

Before I could even complete the thought and take a step, the clicking sound of gun safety halts me instantly.

As I slowly turn to my right, my hands raise up with tremble, and I become fully aware of the gun barrel before my temple.

Sorry for the long delay, school had me shackled within my textbooks. :(
Anyway, matters are going into another roller coaster ride for Byrne/Kiera. Watch out for next updates! :)

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