93 CHAPTER 92 THE PLAN

"No," Chris shook his head, "The people might have forgotten it, but it still exists. Nirvana still exists."

"How can something that has been destroyed over a thousand years ago, exist? Ah, hear yourself talk, Chris" 

Matt let his weight relaxed on one of the cushioned chairs. He couldn't remember the last time he sat. Chris was not making any sense. If what he was saying was true, then what the stories said about people traveling to another realm while they slept should have been happening. The dreamland will be in existence and people should have been drifting there while they slept. But as long as he was concerned, nobody had seen the dreamland. He, too, was also a human prone to fatigue and sleep. He had not once seen himself in the dreamland, not for once. Sleep was always dark and empty, with nothing to explain the void.

"Are you sure you are not mixing two things here?" Pinna lifted her head. Maybe it was the conversation, or maybe not. Life was slipping into her now and Matt was glad, whatever be the reason he couldn't say for sure, but he was really grateful to see the cheerfulness returning to her feminine face.

"I mean," She continued, unlocking her body from her arms, "Before, Ham was disfigured, he said he had seen some Damned army. They were the ones that had done this to him" The last part she had bitten out like a bitter soup. If the opportunity presented itself, Pinna would go to the end of the world to find the creature responsible and destroy them. It was written all over her face

"D-army?" Chris asked. The words had hung on his lips as though they were some detestable thing that was not supposed to be uttered by anybody. Most people hated saying the words. Some even feared it that was why it was better or nicer to abbreviate it.

"Y—Yes," Pinna shifted her eyes to Matt. The looks seemed to be asking the question of trust. Until that day, they had not told anyone about the incident in Ema's apartment. They had promised to keep it a secret, and it had remained so, until today.

"We have seen it once, but Ham had seen them twice," Matt said when it became obvious that the girl would not continue, "The first time had been in Ema's hostel, in the Heroes academy. The second time, they had attacked Ham. The result is what led to this" He pointed to the boy in the cylinder who was still breathing peacefully, unaware of the situation that surrounds him.

"I see," Chris stroked his chin thoughtfully, "If that's the case, then I think I could be mixing up two things here. Maybe the dreamland is not in existence, after the destruction some thousands of years ago. But if what you say is true. If the Damned army is real and not some feeble told by mothers to frighten their children, then it means—

"It means that Ham's soul and spirit might be trapped in the other world. The real world." Matt finished and Chris nodded in agreement.

"The real world," Chris repeated. His hands still gave support to his head. Matt had not seen him this thoughtful.

"How do we get him out of there?" Pinna asked, breaking the silence that was beginning to grow.

"Good question, emm…" Chris's brow creased as he tried to remember her name.

"Pinna Nin. My name Is Pinna Nin"

"Pinna. Good question. But the answer is still a mystery. I really don't know. We can only wish that he finds his way and return to his body. I am not sure how long he has before his body starts decaying."

"Wait," Pinna shook her head, "You mean he will die if his soul and spirit do not return soon?"

"Yes, Pinna. If the soul and the spirit departs, the body dies."

"Blah," Matt said and returned to his feet. Chris and Pinna's eyes were on him, with questions lining every edge. "If that's the case, what is with the wires and the tubes that lined Ham's body? Are they not some kind of preservatives?"

"It can't possibly be." Chris picked up his Beeping Device. The blue hologram image flared as soon as he touched them. He was flipping through their pages almost immediately until he came to some newspaper report. "Here," He said, pointing to the hologram image so that Matt and Pinna could see. 

"It says some Hubot girl, about twelve years of age, disappeared after the going to bed."

Matt gulped down the bitter truth. He returned his gaze to where Ham as the thought began to form. Should he accept the fact that Ham was gone? Should he accept the fact that his friend will just continue to sleep until his body faded to nothing? He bit down the foreboding. The whole thing was just so hard to comprehend at the moment.

"Is there no way to help him find his way back? There must be something we can do."

Chris grunted and stroked his brow. He walked to the refrigerator and removed a chilled water bottle. It took one gulped and the water in the bottle disappeared down his throat. His face was blank and Matt feared that he might fall to the ground and break into tears any moment.

"There might be a way," He heaved at last and returned the bottle into the refrigerator.

"The looks on your face said it is not a good one," Matt pointed out, and the boy nodded in affirmation. 

He had sat down on the cushion, raking his dark streamlined hair. Every muscle in his body followed his features as the light continued to reveal their details. Chris was the first son in his family and was loved by his parent, even before his other two siblings came along. He had graduated top in the class, despite his good looks and sexy physique. He was also a perfectionist and was good at everything he lays his hands on. Matt envied him greatly, mostly because of his looks. There were girls in the Keeper's department, dying to have a night out with him, but Chris was not looking at any of them. He seemed so focus on his job as a Keeper to let anyone or anything distracts him.

"I never thought this day would come," Chris said, closing his eyes and opening them as if that would drive him to reality.

"What are you talking about," Pinna asked.

"To help your friend," Chris whispered, "We must go to the Glut Hunters. They are the only ones that can help," 

"You are insane." Matt hissed and paced the room. His head was vibrating and the surge that was beginning to burn in his stomach made him want to pick something and throw. How could Chris suggest they meet the same people that wanted to kill them? The same people that had triggered the incident at first.

"Don't think this is easy on me too, Matt," Chris said

"Oh, you think it is easy on me? Please, Pinna" Matt called and looked at the girl whose face was turning red. Perhaps she wanted to break into tears again, "Tell him he is out of wit. Please help me tell Chris that he is mad." 

Matt bit his lips and turned his attention towards the door, but not seeing it. His life was not getting any easy. If he mingles with the Glut-Hunters and the authority in the Keeper's department finds out, then his career as a Keeper was over. Chris knew that too. It was the first oath they swore. They were Keepers of order and justice and would uphold the law, no matter the cost. The Glut-Hunters, even though they were a secret agents and worked in the shadows for the government, the Keepers were warned to stay clear in any matters relating to them. It was a law in the Department, a strict one for that matter.

"I am in," Pinna said, "If the two of you will not soil your hands in this matter, then perhaps I should go and see the Glut-Hunters."

"You are also wanted, Pe. Unless you have the HT inserted on you." Matt said.

"But there must be a way, I can't leave Ham like this," Pinna said as the first tears dropped from her cheeks.

"There is, but it is a very hard one," Chris said, sharing a disturbing look with Matt. "We would kidnap the general of the Glut-Hunters?���

"My God," Pinna wiped her eyes as the gravity of the situation seemed to dry her tears, "How can we even do that. Isn't it impossible?"

"I told you this guy is mad," Matt chuckled. 

"It will not be easy, Pinna. But impossible? That's a word inverted by an imp."

"And now he is using my favorite line," Matt grimaced and returned to his chair. He removed his boot stretched his legs, glad that there was no bruise or blister.

"The Glut-Hunter will be coming home tomorrow. That is when we will attack. Since he will not be expecting us, he will be alone. The element of surprise is on our side."

Matt saw Pinna swallow. No matter how desperately she wanted to rescue Ham, messing with the Glut-Hunters is not what icing on a cake. Especially since they wanted their heads on a platter.

"Chris, how did you know so much about the Glut-Hunter's General," Matt asked

"Oh, about that," Chris grinned, "The Man is my uncle."

���You what?" Matt and Pinna exclaimed simultaneously.