Without Liv, Arabella was downcast. She had lost her forever. Her existence had filled Arabella's soul. Now she felt empty. However, she still had Orion by her side. The two of them had become inseparable. They were preparing for the trip to the NASA headquarters. In the end, they stayed alone working on the project. They spent their free time reading Arabella's books and playing board games. They explored unknown parts of Syrinx and discovered many interesting places. Classes at the academy had not been suspended. They continued without difficulties, but with far fewer students. The professors running the academy decided to keep teaching. They believed the remaining days should be used to the fullest and lived to the fullest.
Returning from the academy, Arabella immediately heard the doorbell. She got out of her room to see who it was.
– You thought I'd leave you alone today? – Orion asked.
– Well, I wasn't exactly expecting you.
– We have only a little time left, and I don't want to waste it, Arabella. I want to fully experience your creature.
– Even if it destroys you?
– Even if it destroys me. It will be a privilege.
His eyes softened, and he gave her a warm smile.
– Come on, let's go for a walk.
He took her hand and pulled her close. At the same time, they went to check on the hole, to see its condition.
– Watch out! – Orion shouted.
– It's getting bigger. Be careful. Give me your hand.
– Huhh, this doesn't look good to me – Arabella said, examining the hole that had eaten a huge part of the planet.
It created huge obstacles on the paths they once moved freely on.
– And it isn't good! The end is closer than we thought – Orion said cautiously.
– What do you mean?
– It will come sooner than we predicted because the hole has advanced.
– So what will we do?
– Come on, let's go.
In the past hours, they had called the creatures for an emergency meeting. The gathering began near the planetarium.
– Dear people, I wish you a good day. We have convened this meeting to inform you of an alarming situation. I ask for your full attention – Arabella began.
– As Arabella has already hinted, this meeting is very urgent – Orion confirmed.
The creatures were focused on their speech.
– It concerns the hole which has since advanced significantly and is still progressing. It has expanded, and I fear the end will come sooner than expected – he paused and looked at the crowd, which now approached them anxiously.
– When will it come? – a creature stepped forward from the crowd and approached Orion.
– We are not sure. It is advancing unpredictably – Orion answered.
– So what do we do then? We could disappear at any moment – all the creatures cried out in panic.
– Please calm down. You won't be able to think rationally like this, and every moment is crucial. We will find an answer, just take it slowly – Arabella tried to soothe them.
– Now go home, and we will handle this – Orion ordered sharply.
– Just take it easy. And don't worry too much. Trust us – Arabella continued to calm them down.
After the meeting, Orion and Arabella went to the park, to the sakura tree. The moonlight gently caressed their silvery skin. In complete silence, they watched the Moon and the whole cosmos.
– The view today is exceptionally special and perfect – she said, breaking the silence between them.
– Yes, it is – Orion confirmed dreamily, looking at her.
Silence followed. She was his gaze. He watched how her restless hazel-colored hair covered her body in the light breeze. He carefully observed every detail of her, now moonlit, silvery skin. He had kissed all of it a million times and was still not satisfied. Nor would he ever be, even if they experienced countless eternities. She caught his gaze and sank into those dark, warm eyes.
– You're beautiful! – he broke the silence and brushed a mischievous strand of hair from her eyes. She leaned into him, feeling safe in his presence.
– Do you think our journey will really happen? – she asked him.
– It should, the preparations are going great.
– But this whole thing with the hole has gotten even more complicated.
– The end won't come that quickly.
– But what if we go to Earth, and when we come back, the planet is gone?
– Then I suppose we'll survive the whole ordeal.
– But what then? We won't have anywhere to return to.
– Hey, hey, Arabella, don't worry too much. You've got me by your side. I'll be here even if I'm completely destroyed and turned into stardust. I'll find you again in this endless universe.
He hugged her tightly and pressed several kisses into her hair.
– I'm with you, until the very end, remember that. I'm not going anywhere from you.
They embraced tightly and fell silent.
***
Another meeting was called. Because of it, classes at the academy ended early. Orion and Arabella immediately headed to the nearby park where it was to be held. They sat down on a bench, briefly looked around the park, and started talking.
– I forgot to tell you something about that project on the planet Cyno – Orion suddenly remembered after their previous conversation paused.
– What is it?
– Do you remember when you were almost killed during that project?
– How could I forget? It was so unreal because of that thing with the skeleton zombie.
– Skeleton zombie? You saw it?
– Yes. Why do you ask?
– Because Ren and Rin, a month after we left, discovered what tried to kill you. They only told me when they sent me a message two weeks ago because they didn't want us to worry. We tried to find out together while we were still there, but we failed.
– Do you know more about it now?
– They didn't say much, considering our communication is limited when we send messages. They emphasized that these are strange creatures. Their source was in that well near where you were. They managed to exterminate them. They suggested continuing the project. Unfortunately, I had to reject their proposal because of our situation.
– So how did we get the offer to move to their planet?
– In the meantime, I first got a message about continuing the project, and as soon as I told them why I refused, I got that offer.
– That's very kind of them.
– Yes, but I'm afraid chaos will break out since they'll send twenty capacities, and we still have fifty creatures on the planet.
– But we don't know the percentage of those who want to be saved.
– You saw that everyone wants to be saved and that many left at the first opportunity.
– But we don't want to save ourselves.
– We are us, they are them.
– We'll fix this and manage to save them properly.
– I hope so. Many lives are in my hands.
– Don't worry. In the end, everything will be alright! – a silence followed.
– And what did those skeleton zombies look like? – Orion interrupted the silence, curious.
– They had the build of skeletons, a huge head with three eyes, and two pairs of arms.
– They sound like characters from the movies we watched.
– Yes. Unreal. And quite interesting. They had very strange eyes. The one that tried to kill me was very skilled and intriguing.
Orion just smiled at her.
– How do you know where I was when it tried to kill me? – she asked.
– I saved you.
– I knew it! Everyone said so!
– Then why did you ask?
– I wanted to hear it from you.
– Just so you know, at that moment, I was terrified I would lose you forever while you were in my arms.
– Why didn't you tell me before?
– I was afraid of the feelings and kept denying and lying to myself. But in that moment, I realized some things.
– Like what?
– That you are the first creature who got under my skin.
– And you're only telling me now?
– Something like that... I carried you to the hospital. They told me to wait for emergency help, but I couldn't leave you waiting.
– How can I ever thank you, Orion? A big thank you is not enough for what you did for me. I don't think I'll ever be able to repay you.
– You don't have to, because it's my duty to protect you.
– Why?
– Because you are my creature, and as long as I exist, you will be protected from everything.
– But...
– Come on, let's go to the meeting, it's about to start.
***
Orion started the meeting. Arabella was very tense and restless. He caught their attention, asking them to listen carefully so he could deliver the news.
– Our partner, the planet Cyno, with whom we had a project a few months ago, has offered us help and will send a rocket with twenty free capacities.
The creatures slowly calmed down, but then someone said:
– There are many more of us, that can't be enough!
– I know, we will try to resolve this in a way that benefits all of you.
– But that will be unfair to some! – one creature spoke up.
– Unfortunately, that's true, but we will do our best to carry it out fairly – Orion emphasized.
After several hours of drama, panic, and chaos, the meeting was concluded.