78 CHAPTER 77-ATTACK

The white door had suddenly become far from his reach, but Jeff was glad when he finally saw it standing elegantly on the wall of the craft. His body ached with anxiety as he reached for the button on the wall. A green light flared once and went off again, followed by a beeping sound and the rhyme of the door which opened to reveal the red hair who sat on the bed, facing the window. Jeff walked in silently and sat next to her. She seemed lost in her world and made no sign of noticing him. He did not announce his presence either. They sat in stillness, watching the bright splendor of the stars as what's left of the night glides away.

"Thank you," came the soft voice. Jeff's heart melted as if sinking his stomach with exhilaration. His lips parted with a small smiled despite the effort he was putting to prevent them from manifesting. The reverberation of her voice in his ears made him realize how much he had missed her. It made him realize that no matter what happens, that she was a part of his life. A part of him that would forever remain true.

"You are welcome," He tried to say but was surprised when they came out like a whisper. Ema took his hands, locking her finger in hers before squeezing them gently. Her hands were soft. Smoother than the face of a cotton wool.

"Locked up in a cell" She tried to smile but ended up gnashing her teeth.

Jeff frowned when he saw the pinky glow of bitterness as they swerved around her. He had seen the aura of emotions once in Vanessa, back in Balom. But now he could see them again. They were clear now and were revolving around Ema like a delicate pattern, woven in different styles. 

She still had her gaze on the window, lost in the smiles of the stars which ocean the dark heavens, and oblivious of the visions Jeff was having.

"Only God knows how long." She continued. The tears were already dropping from her eyes and strolling down her cheeks, "The night had always been my companion. It had imbued me so much that I could feel its filthy hands crawling on my skin..." She sobbed, not able to continue.

Jeff threw his hands around her shoulders and pulled her close.

"I was so scared, Jeff. I thought I would die, I thought I would never see the sunrise again, or these beautiful stars which always laughs at my foolishness. I thought I would never see you, or Matt or Ham or Pinna. I thought..." She broke off as she cried her heart out. 

"It's okay." Jeff whispered, "you are safe now. And I promise you that nobody will ever treat you like that again. Not while I live" He reassured.

It was a bizarre feeling. He knew this girl, not much though, but the little he knew about her did not portray a weak, helpless, and fragile woman who could let fear steer her direction. The girl he knew was tough and brave. Well, Jeff concludes, whatever she saw in that prison must be a force that should not be reckoned with.

The beating of their heart and the silent prayers of the wind was the only thing that perturbed the serenity as they melted in the comfort of each other. It was the first time they were this close, but even now, Jeff knew it didn't matter. Something told him to reveal their family background to her, but another voice in his head objected. He would tell her eventually, but not today. Anytime in the future would be great, sometimes when the opportunity presented a good avenue. He wouldn't table such matters before her today, not in her current situation.

"See now, you've soaked my shirt with your tears. You have to stop crying, or I will be forced to cry along with you." Jeff said, but smiled when Ema chuckled.

"Sorry," she wiped her eyes but did not lift her head away from his shoulders. Jeff was glad she hadn't.

"Strange," Jeff laughed "With everything you've been through, I thought your eyes would be a desert where it hardly rained."

"You are no fun, Jeffred Peters, "

"Hey, come on, I am lovable; you should ask Matt"

"I don't have to. Alex told me how terrible a traveling companion you are"

"Alex again. I will skin that boy alive," Jeff threatened and they laughed.

The laughter seemed to have swallowed the uneasy air, and Jeff was glad to notice that the glow of bitterness had disappeared from Ema. They sat in silence for a while until the red hair spoke up.

"Do you remember anything that happened in the last three years?"

"It's all blank," Jeff heaved, "It's as if someone took my memory and reset it. I can't remember what I did, and it troubles me" His stomach knotted.

"You want my advice?" Ema whispered.

"Yes, I will need it now. I guess"

"Try not to find those memories, you wouldn't like the outcome. Trust me,"

Jeff let his eyes settle on the windowsill. He could tell she was hiding something, but he decided not to push. How could he forget three years of his life? Alec had told him a fragment of what he did, and it wasn't pleasing to the ears. Anyway, he could take Ema's advice. Why worry about his past when the future and the present still had many uncertainties to unfold?

"I couldn't see the horrible things I was doing until my chip fell off in a fight."

"So you were a street fighter then?" Jeff asked, surprised at the turn of event.

"You can say that. But I made it to the speedo finale, where I got kicked out by some badass."

"Why are you happy about it?" Jeff laughed. "Men who win accolades don't laugh at their failures."

"I know. But that's for men who desire accolades. A genuine champion laughs in the face of failure. Sometimes it takes a frown to make a laugh. It takes failure to make champions."

"Someone has been studying," Jeff grumbled in submission, and they both giggled.

"Ema, "

"Yes,"

"Can I ask you something?"

Ema raised her body into a sitting position and gave him her attention.

Jeff swallowed. He suddenly realized that the only light that lighted the room was the weak rays of the stars.

"Have you ever called my name..." Jeff stammered "Sorry this might sound odd"

"Try me" Ema whispered. Her eyes were filled with life now, and her lips...

Jeff swallowed and shifted his weight to the left side of his gluteus Maximus.

"Have you ever called my name anytime you are in danger?"

The question hung in the air for some time until Ema nodded slowly

"No, I don't." She said. Jeff tried to study her face, but she looked the other way almost immediately. Her reaction made his heart leap. For some seconds he thought he saw redness on her cheeks, but he wasn't so sure.

"Most times I only think of you when something bad is happening to me"

That explains it then. But he was still confused. Does it mean that he could hear her thoughts

"Ema, I will like you to think of me," Jeff took her hands. "...I mean...not like thinking of me the other way...just normal thinking...like..." he blushed.

Do you mean like this? Ema's voice said in his head. Jeff jumped.

"How did you do that?"

Stop freaking out and calm down. She said again. Her voice was more audible than the first.

Jeff heaved and sat down beside her. She studied his face for sometime before her calm voice said in his head.

It's like normal talking, just let your mind flow with it.

Jeff sucked in air and tried to relax. The sweat on his palms and those that strolled down his face was an affidavit of his discomfort. He tried to concentrate, but it was difficult. His mind kept running through the small space that separated them.

Don't force it. Ema said after a while. He was sure she noticed how he struggled to keep his mind focused. But she acted as if she didn't care.

"I can't," Jeff stood up disappointed "I'm sorry."

"Don't worry, it will come." Ema hugged her knee and returned her gaze back to the stars.

"How long have you known" Jeff sat down, but their body did not meet "I mean, how long have you known about this?"

Ema unlocked her hands from her knees and rested it on the bed.

"The very first—"

The noise of the door sliding into the wall took their attention as they turned to acknowledge the person who walked into the room.

"We must hurry," The woman busted into the room. Her eyes were wide opened with terror and her jumpsuit was soaked with. Blood.

"Mother" Jeff exclaimed and held her before her body could kiss the ground.