75 CHAPTER 74-MY SISTER?

"C'mon. Yes keep up. We are almost there," Aaron growled and pulled Cassandra's husband from the lifeboat into the ship. The voice of the ocean whispered behind them, splashing on the boat and towing it from one side to the other. Nobody had tried fishing, but the jelly-like smell of the ocean made the stomach churn and cause nausea to the upper cavity of the body.

Anabel spat. She bit her thumbnail and studied the men who were still struggling to balance their weight on the deck of the air Tripler. Both men were a bag of skin and muscles and were round like an ice ball, with bulging potbellies twice the size of a seven-month pregnant mother. Unlike Chadwick, Cassandra's husband, Aaron had a brown color beard, shaved roughly to the skin in an identical fashion to his bare head.

Her white eyes soared away from them into the blues world, which shimmered with a rainbow color from the weak rays of the sun pouring into it. The vastness of the ocean portrayed the agony and fear that hitched in her stomach. One moment she was happy to see her son again, and then the next minute, he was off again. Something told her not to be selfish, she knew he had to help the people. But she really wished it was someone else. She longed to be with her family again, especially now that the world was going haywire.

Unable to carry the weight of her body, she hissed and sat down on the arm of the leading stairs. If only she had not seen him, at least she would rest assured he was in the academy where the Happy-Tech hasn't plagued yet. Seeing him again made her want to break into tears. She could imagine sending him away, to somewhere far from this wretched place.

Nice and slow.

Anabel stood up and walked down the deck to stand over the rail. She folded her arms over her breast, hoping to keep the horrifying sight from her head. Those words, if she remembered correctly, were Zack's. He had said them while pulling Mrs. Cassandra's hair with his bare hands. Even the blood that had been dripping from the woman's skull seemed to have unfazed him.

Someone coughed, bringing her vagabond thoughts back to her body.

"Are you their leader?"

Anabel looked down and beside her, stood a small boy in a black jumpsuit and jacket. She reverted her gaze to the ocean and closed her eyes, letting the whispering sound of the water fill her with peace. The little boy obviously did not know what she was going through.

"No," She said quietly, hoping the boy would let her wallow in her anxieties.

"You look troubled,"

Anabel opened her eyes and frowned. She averted her gaze from the ocean. The boy's eyes were rich with strength and life. She couldn't help the image of Jeff as it carved itself in her memory.

"What's your name?" She asked.

"Alexander," The boy replied and looked away "But Jeff calls me Alec"

Anabel pursed her lips and then licked it. A gentle wind passed between them, bringing with it a silence that seemed to stretch forever.

"You must be one of his friends?"

"Huh?" Alex scratched his head "It's just me, owning to the fact that this was a rescue mission. Anyway, Joci is patching up the girl."

Anabel's lower lips parted with a small weak smile. She held the metal bars of the rail and pulled it gently as if she wanted to jump into the salty water.

"Do you think he's alright?" She asked, still struggling to keep her mind sane.

"Who? You mean Jeff?" The boy asked, and Anabel nodded.

"Humph, I stopped worrying myself about him the day he took my cookies."

"You are not serious," Anabel laughed "Jeff hardly eats cookies. The last time he tried, he threw up on Matt."

"He sure did. He took the cookies and ate it right in front of me." Alex chuckled, "You got me, that was a lie. He only seized the cookies because I refused to wash my hands."

"Ah-ha, my Jeff never eats cookies," Anabel added, and they both laughed.

But then, Alexander paused when the realization struck him "Your Jeff…how did you know he…oh my goodness, are you Jeff's mother?"

Anabel's smile broadens when she saw the wide eyes of the boy.

"Oh, my God," Alex jumped and cupped his mouth with excitement. "I can't believe this. It a pleasure to meet you, Mrs…"

"Anabel. Anabel Peters,"

"Great," Alex nodded, still blooming with smiles. "Are you not cold? It's chilling out here,"

Anabel rubbed her hands over the exposed part of her arm. The cold was pricking her skin, but she was determined to stay on the deck until Jeff returns.

"It's okay." She said and studied the entrance of the plane. They were alone. "My fears would sublime my body before the cold can even turn it to ice."

"No, it wouldn't," Alex shouted "Jeff is back," He said and ran to the other edge of the rail.

Anabel's heart lifted with happiness when the ocean flushed inward with a splashing sound, revealing a glass elevator that stood in the center of the water. Inside the elevator, was Jeff and Nimrod.

The people inside the plane must have heard the noise as they all began to cluster outside. Aaron and some two boys were already on the rail, lowering the boat for them.

"Welcome back," Aaron said, and patted Jeff's shoulders.

"Thank you," Jeff answered with a smile. Alex was on him the moment he stepped away from the big men. From where she stood, Anabel could hear the yapping of the boy as he explained to Jeff how excited he was to meet his mother.

The happiness in Jeff's eyes was like nothing Anabel had ever seen in a long time. He looks matured and muscular. Her prayers for him were coming to reality. She could not place a hand on how happy she was; her son was becoming a man.

"Mom,"

"My sweet boy" Anabel whispered and let the tears dropped. She literally could dissolve in his arms if he wasn't smelling like roasted garbage.

"You need a bath," Anabel said and pulled away.

"I know," Jeff glowed with embarrassment. "Alec," he turned to the blond hair. "Can the ship contain the weight of all these people?"

"I can't believe you just ask that question. Please, take it back before Joci hears it.

"Ah, Alec, I am damn serious,"

"Mrs, Anabel," Alex turned and held Anabel's hands as if asking for help "Jeff just asked me if an RCD-777, the newest model in the whole Anadan, could contain a weight less than 500 people. Isn't that a silly question?"

"Absolutely."

"Because you here, Mrs. Anabel, I will not tell Joci, she will feel bad when she hears what Jeff had just sad. "

"Hello," Jeff waved his hands "In case you forget, I am still here. Besides, I was just making sure. Anyway, Alec, please where is Ema, is she all right?"

"I was hoping you wouldn't ask. She is in the plane and fine, Joci said she will be."

"I know, Alec, which room is she? Should I rummage the newest plane in Anadan" Jeff made a face while stressing the last part "Searching for a red hair, who is unconscious?"

Anabel chuckled

"She's on your bunk"

"What?" Jeff asked, but the boy had already run away to the other end where some of the people still stood and chatting away their time.

"I feel like straggling him sometimes," Jeff chuckled and followed his mother into the plane.

******

Jeff hit the button on the wall and waited for the ding sound, which followed the sliding of the metallic door. He walked into the small room to the side of the bed and sat down, letting the calmness overpower him.

Ema's breathing was back to normal. Save for the bandage which lined her stomach, she was recognizable.

"I missed you, Ema. Thank God I find you." Jeff leaned in and planted a small kiss on her forehead. He just couldn't help himself as he felt his heart skipping a beat. What are you doing? A voice seemed to say in his head.

Jeff swallowed and stepped away. She looked so peaceful and innocent, he just couldn't wait to hear those stubborn voices of hers again.

"Get well soon," He said and turned to leave.

The door slid into the wall, this time, revealing the features of Anabel, who walked into the room.

"Nice space."

"Thanks," Jeff said, "Mom, this is my friend, Ema. I know it's an awkward introduction, but—"

"In the name of the Heroes," Anabel exclaimed and covered her mouth to prevent more screams. She walked closer to the other side of the bed, taking a close observation of Ema.

"Do you know her before?" Jeff asked, a little puzzled by his mother's behavior.

"Jeff…" His mother stammered "She looks like Louise…your…your sister,"