Nobody in the cabin understood a damn thing about what was happening; they went from having a calm and cheerful chat, recounting anecdotes and gathering, to, for once, not remembering that they would have to fight against the largest terrorist organization on the planet.
Not for nothing did they ambivalently try to ignore the elephant in the room and wait for a miracle for someone to take care of the problem. If what Heiss said was true and no government would lend them a hand or even try to take them seriously, in the hypothetical case that someone believed them, they would only alert the district's infiltrators, making the plans for global genocide advance in an alarming way.
Once started, nobody could stop them. What they still didn't understand was why they hadn't begun already. What was holding them back?
That was the long-awaited chat, the truth that Heiss would have to reveal; the uncertainty that grew and that they felt would explode in their faces.
Now, the extra problem that added up is that, apparently, their only hope had a serious personality problem, so much so that it made his momentary touches of madness look like something of lesser importance.
His schizophrenia was such that, yes, it got them out of the hands of the drug traffickers and the district; however, it also sent Caleb to sleep for 3 days after trying to defend his mistress with just one kick. So deranged and out of control that none could intervene without feeling they would have to put their life on the line.
Now they were in a situation with another personality, one that had hints of greater madness and lack of control. There was no mistaking it; behind that laughing attitude and soft, clear voice, dangerous behaviors were demonstrated that even the most innocent could catalog as chilling.
Absolutely nobody moved a single muscle, fearing it would cause an unwanted or adverse reaction.
Kalika, on her side, although worried about the situation unfolding, set aside for a moment the possible threat and attentively listened to the information coming from her lips.
Although the plum-colored eyes caused her a certain tension due to the fight they had in the basement, she understood that, had she gone all out, probably that first assault wouldn't have ended in her victory but in a draw or perhaps something worse than what occurred with the one who presented himself in her next assault, Aurelius.
Now she had mentioned her name, Athena, and not only hers but someone else's, another personality who refused to let Athena interfere and share information of greater confidentiality.
Her iris of the right eye, now an amethyst color, and her name, mentioned by Athena herself, is Freya.
Personality #3: "Athena... although we have indeed decided to intervene in case Heiss needed it, behaving erratically doesn't resolve things. To think that saying that was most senseless, do you truly want to help them, or do you just want Heiss and the others to have greater problems?"
The discussion between monologues or characters proclaiming ideas intensified. It was like witnessing the act of a puppet, where different voices gave life to the bodyless will of Heiss.
Will? Well, it was evident from how his body trembled that he did everything possible not to succumb to the crushing mental pressure of channeling so many personalities; now that they fought for his control, they witnessed the slow destruction of Heiss's mind and body.
His muscles tensed and his bones cracked under the crushing demand of trying to move as one or the other wanted. Specifically, it was Athena trying to do something dangerous and Freya controlling her so she wouldn't.
Although at first Athena mentioned she wouldn't attack any of those present in the room, that didn't include the safety of Heiss's own body.
Personality #16: "Stop meddling, bitch; that wait like the one they had at the beginning was the reason Heiss is now alone and carrying our memories. We're not innocent; we're a group of shameless ones who burden our family with our problems. And if that's what they want, then assume the responsibility! Let Heiss's companions know what they're facing"
Personality #3: "That brings problems; you already know what happens with people who discover truths they shouldn't know"
Personality #16: "EXACTLY! And that's why they must know it, because nothing prepares them better than being awake to reality. Even the two squadron leaders mentioned it: The only way to have a chance to fight is not only together, it's being awake to reality"
Personality #3: "All you want is for them to do what we didn't finish; that's why you're so fond of that whitish blonde-haired girl. What you don't tell them is that it could get them killed"
Cloe is surprised at her mention; she doesn't know what she should do; she can't move, or she shouldn't; besides, her mention as a tool makes her feel like a simple link in something bigger than what she's part of or manages to understand. She does nothing; she was fighting for what would be her life's bet, for the only person who had helped her; however, she was under plans of being used in an inhuman experiment that could kill her. That didn't make her feel so bad; what almost made her fall to her knees was thinking whether Heiss was aware of this.
It was clear he wouldn't be capable of it, or would he? She didn't know him and had no proof apart from how he had behaved, but was it truly him? Or did those gray eyes even make up another personality of his?
From how things unfolded, it didn't seem like a desire he wanted to fulfill, but that didn't stop her doubt from tormenting her.
And a new question came from Athena's words.
Personality #16: "She has the potential to be a blood heir, and you know it. Her characteristic sky-blue eyes, her indistinguishable whitish hair. There are only two blessed ones: one is the coming one, cold as ice, heir to Russian and royal lineages. The other comes from an ancient cursed family expert in the use of swords and daggers. Unlike that green-eyed, black-haired monster, the other could have possibilities of achieving a..."
The discussion was reaching a boiling point where topics of global importance unfolded, blood heirs themselves.
Kalika knew it; she was a descendant of blood lineage. Her abilities confirmed it, her rarities and inexplicable aptitudes in certain fields, apart from achieving milestones not achievable at a young age. Her results and feats, apart from her own adoptive grandfather, who confirmed her singular origin, made her aware of a secret kept by the most powerful and dangerous organizations in history.
However, not everything fit as it seemed. And that was her own blood ability, not the innate use of the void, but the one she could use when deploying her eyes to their full splendor.
When she deployed it for the first time, it was in a precarious situation from her childhood; there she understood she was a blood lineage descendant and possessed a terrifying ability.
However, the cost was high; unable to handle it adequately, she ended up for 4 months without being able to see absolutely anything. She came out of her near-death encounter; on the contrary, she ended up defenseless for a prolonged period of time.
At one point she thought she wouldn't see again, so when her sight returned, she decided to keep it as a last resort.
Despite understanding what Athena was saying, the fact that she mentioned her as a monster unsettled her. According to her stance, it was very convenient for them to be blood heirs; still, she treated her like a disgusting creature, as if born of evil.
That was her first concern and suspicion; the second was a great surprise, as there were no indications that Cloe was a descendant of a family of blood heirs or even a promise of being a blood heir.
It was no wonder; her precarious state when she found her made any of those thoughts never occur; the mere idea of ill fate or bad genetics persisted. Nobody would think that someone so beautiful could have such a sinister past.
Now it was different; she could have the talent to crush all her opponents effortlessly, and no matter how much they tried, they could never come close to the abilities of someone with blood heritage. Unless someone very special helped them.
In any case, this put the cards in perspective; without a doubt, Cloe would be the future axis, just like her, so it would be of great help for her to learn to awaken her innate talent. The problem is, is it worth it? Will I let them manipulate and use my family as a tool just to obtain an advantage?
The answer was a resounding no. She had already learned a hard lesson with Ana, Heiss's friend, and she wasn't willing to let them play with her; she couldn't bear to sacrifice and carry the guilt.
Kalika may have a horrible side against enemies, or even pawns; still, she didn't expect and didn't want to have to put her family and now those close to her in a situation that would affect them for the rest of their lives.
Upon making a deep decision, she waited for the result of the discussion to conclude in an agreement; if not, she would have to intervene, betting everything to stop her adversary, even if that temporarily made her blind.
At this point, Freya interrupted the fragrant stance Athena was exposing.
Personality #3: "Do you think good synchronization alone is enough? You must keep in mind that the forged bond matters. You, on the other hand, try to force things and make that girl get directly involved with Heiss. You must be disturbed to think a miracle like that would occur when not even you could achieve complete synchronization. You only hope to try to achieve something that you and Heiss failed at in the past. You won't manage it; you're just a girl disturbed by the failure of not being able to save her true love"
Suddenly, Heiss's body started to tremble violently, worse than before. Dark red liquid started to flow from his nose; his hands squeezed the armrests of the chair he was sitting in.
Personality #16: "And what are you so proud of?!"
"Craaack!"
The chair couldn't withstand the crushing pressure, exploding in splinters that fell to the ground; the others buried themselves in the exposed flesh of Heiss's hand.
Apparently there would be no deal for reconciliation.
Personality #16: "You all left for that mission knowing Heiss would be alone at the mercy of the district; you understood perfectly it was a trap; you didn't dare confront the arrogant and despicable MASTERS! And above all... you didn't have the guts to face Heiss before disappearing. Now that you know the world will end, you decide to intervene, making Heiss's life hell. Adding to that, do you expect me to stay quiet and watch my only love fall without fighting?!"
The scene that at first was one of expectation and tension became a gloomy, eerie, and colorless space.
In the room, there was nobody who didn't understand what it was to lose a loved one. Therefore, seeing Athena shed tears in Heiss's body made everyone's mind waver before some horrible memory from their own pasts.
This is for two reasons: one, for Athena's fight against the district, against her own imposed life destiny. The second reason came from the very vision she had in front of her: Heiss's body had stopped trembling, which meant this fact had made him become aware of something he didn't know and that, therefore, those tears could also be his.
Personality #3: "...We have no right...; despite this, we advocate mostly for him to have the future he desires, in the way he wants and as he sees fit. It doesn't mean we'll abandon him, but it's not fair that we take control of his life without thinking about what he wants. Do you want to save him, Athena? If so, you'll let him decide how to be free; you more than anyone know how horrible it is to be caged by others' decisions"
His body was calm, with his eyes fixed on the drop of water falling from his coconut lemonade.
Personality #16: "...I understand, but I don't want him to live through the same thing again; I don't want him to grow too fond in vain. I only needed the girl, just a minor sacrifice, for the greater good"
Personality #3: "...Consequently, you'll make him wish he were dead"
The dispute entered a deadlock. That was until one person rose from her chair, walked slowly, circling the table, and stood in front of Heiss.
It was none other than Cloe herself, who observed him in an extremely icy and implacable way.
"If you'll allow me, perhaps I know the solution"
Those words resonated in the small cabin, upon Athena, Freya, and, especially, upon Heiss, who had been listening to the entire conversation of his former companions in a state of mental imprisonment, equal to when you feel you get out of bed and carry out your duties, only to realize you had never truly woken up.
The two heterochromatic eyes examined her and allowed her to speak.
"If it seems right to you, and if you're capable of responding adequately to my questions, filling every gap of information, both for me and for everyone else, then..."
She took a deep breath, closing her eyes. Then she exhaled slowly, keeping her palm against her chest, her heart.
The point had come to take sides in this contest; regardless of whether she was or wasn't with Kalika, she had to think critically and choose the most accurate decision for herself, for her companions, for Kalika, and for...
"Then I'll let you use me as a tool"
***
Thousands of kilometers away, in the middle of the Amazon jungle, in a crater of between 1.5 and two kilometers in diameter.
Police officers and army armed forces guarded the excavation of a fallen drug trafficking base.
According to the studies, everything was due to the conflagration between different factions that, through intensive fighting, caused the complete explosion of the place with different types of artifacts.
At first, this place was full of journalists, but after a superior order from the high command, it was decided that no recordings or questioning of any internal personnel would be permitted in order to keep the investigation hidden from the public, at least temporarily.
Not much remained, apart from the remains of weapons of mass destruction and evidence of enough armament to supply a small army.
The investigations continued regardless of public pressure or the insistence of international countries to know the truth.
Among those investigations, they were in a tent, studying the most minimal details discovered in the excavation.
At a table were two people, looking at the evidence with neutral expressions.
Inadvertently, one raises his hand with tweezers that gently squeezed a square the size of 1 cm²; it was blue with golden scales. The blood was the only thing that hindered both people's sight. However, both knew what it was.
They examined the body; it was then that the one holding the chip started to laugh, holding his stomach to avoid drawing attention. He was a person with black hair with dark green lines and some yellowish strokes. A man with eyes as green as grass, he pushed his hair back and finally let out a sigh.
"...Phew, crazy bastard"
On the other hand, his companion, a boy with dark, disheveled black hair and grayish pale skin, with his left eye patched with a white cloth and his right eye with an iris as dark as obsidian, sketched a smile.
"Yes, it truly surprises"
By then, the green-eyed boy took the chip in his hand and crushed it without a hint of doubt.
"Always needing help, will you ever thank me for the things I've done for you, Heiss?"
Without letting his companion continue sketching such a horrible face, he interrupted him.
"As far as I know, you were always the one who needed help"
Those words fell like a very sharp arrow, causing his discontent.
"Shut your mouth!"
"Anyway, the moment will come later; let's get out of here. It was already enough risk exposing ourselves for your whims"
Before the weighty words of the patched boy, the other accepted.
"Yes... it was still necessary"
After cleaning the evidence from the body, they took care of eliminating the proof of their presence in that place.
Once the collection of evidence was finalized, both left the tents and disappeared into the deep forest, the very heart of darkness.