136 CHAPTER 135

The place was like a maze. They could have lost their way if the blue blinking screen—which Ham had stolen from Clare—was not leading their way. They had long left the prison and were heading to the proposed room where Nebula should be. So far they had not met any guard, but Ham knew that it was just a matter of time before Lord Vudga realizes they were gone. Or Boze and Xerta might just disclose it. Ham licked his lips as they rounded yet another bend. He had stayed here long enough. He was not willing to spend another day in this place that was patched with sands and metals.

"We must be close," Kira said. 

Because she was with the map, Ham had allowed her to take the lead. He came behind her and Matt took the rear even though the hallway was large enough to accommodate three people abreast. They had been walking for hours, with their footfalls echoing on the polished wall. Just the lights and the white-blue walls. Nothing stood for miles.

"This way," Kira said, breaking into another bend.

Matt grunted something about poor architecture. Even though Ham could not see his face, he could read the irritation in the boy's voice. Whoever designed this place was either a genius or out of wit. Nobody in their right mind in Anadan will spend so much money to carve out a castle that full of bends and turns.

"Watch out," Matt shouted and hurried forward.

Ham lifted his head as his thoughts suddenly drift back into his body. Two guards who had been hiding on one of the bends had attacked Kira. But as they watched, Kira skillfully knocked the two guards out using her free hands and feet. She had done it so perfectly and without breaking a sweat.

"That was amazing," Matt said.

"Yeah. I have my own skills too." She smiled, but her smiles widened when she realized Ham was watching her, "This way," She said, looking away.

Ham felt a chill running through his spine, up to his brain and electrifying his bones. The feeling was strange, but the sensation was lovely. He had not felt like this before. Not for anyone. Damn, what is this? He asked himself. Perhaps it was love. Or foolishness. He grunted and continued working. There was no way he could fall in love with this creature. They were a world apart, and something in the back of his head told him that there was no way they could have a future. Kira had not mentioned it either, but Ham was sure it had never happened in history. A Miens and a human? Impossible.

They rounded another bend, but this time, paused in front of a red door. Kira turned the knob and walked inside even before Ham could tell her to be careful.

"She has guts, try not to worry too much." Matt clapped Ham's shoulders and followed Kira into the room.

Worry? Ham shook his head. Was he worried about Kira's wellbeing? No, this is some kind of joke. He mumbled and walked into the room.

There was nothing significant about the place. Just the white light and some beds spread side by side until they touched the wall. Must have been an abandoned hospital or something, Ham could not tell. Beside the wall, close to another door that was adjacent to the door of the entrance, stood another bed. While the rest of the beds in the room were arranged and covered with white bedsheets, this other bed had a waterproof on it. It was chest length and stood higher than the rest of the beds.

"Nebula!" Kira heaved and turned off the blinking screen. 

She sauntered towards the bed and with the look in her eyes; it was easy to see the awe and admiration. Ham licked his lips and breathed out, not realizing he had been holding his breath. He had not seen Nebula before, and looking at the machine now, it was as if his bones would jump out of his skin. This is it. He is going back home, after so many days in Saturn. He will go back home. What about Kira? A voice asked in his head.

Ham frowned, and despite his efforts not to, his eyes rested on the girl who was still walking towards Nebula. Unless she decides to come with them, then this was the last time he would ever see her. The very last. It was hard to tell, but there was a sudden sadness that flowed through his body. He was supposed to be super excited that he was going home, but now he just can't tell. It was as if there was this block, this block of…

"What is this place," Matt asked.

Ham snapped back to consciousness, breaking his gaze from Kira, who had reached the Nebula and was trying to remove the waterproof from it.

"A laboratory or something," Ham said. Instead of walking towards the table where Matt was, he hurried in Kira's direction.

"I think Clare was right," Kira said when Ham came close, "Look," She pointed. Ham followed her pink fingers, which were pointing to one of the beds. There was nothing strange about them. Just the white blankets. Nothing odd at all.

"There is no dust on this bed." 

Ham nodded. The girl was right. If this place had been abandoned, then the blankets on the bed should have had some level of dust on them. 

"This place was never abandoned after all," Matt said. His hands were folded around his chest and he was standing on the other side of Nebula. 

Ham could not place the look, but there was something in the boy's eyes. Something he had only seen once in their graduation. The very day Matt had killed Sandra. Ham swallowed. Maybe he is just being paranoid. Or stupid.

"Clare was right," Kira repeated, "This place is where they exchange the metal food. This is where the trade takes place. It's been here all along"

"No," Matt said, flashing the darkness in his eyes, "This is where they exchange the metal food," He grunted as he walked towards one of the beds and traced his fingers on them. "But there is more to it."

"What do you mean," Ham said. Something within him kept warning him to shield himself and Kira in case Matt did anything stupid. This was the same way he had killed Sandra. That darkness. Ham licked his lips, feeling sorry that he was looking at Matt as he would look at an enemy.

"Here," Matt said, picking out a scissors and some cutting machine from the table, "The scissors and the cutting machines" Matt heaved, "Ham, I think this is the place where they make the Hubot."

Ham gasped and followed Matt's fingers. It was then that he saw the wires, the bandage, the flesh. They were all covered with one of the blankets.

"I remember now," Matt gnashed his teeth. His eyes were blazing with hate, "This is the place where they brought me. This is the place where Campter and Isaac had implanted the H-T into my skin."

"Oh, no, Matt. I am so sorry," Ham said.

He was about to walk towards Matt when a sudden explosion shook the building, bringing the ceiling down on them. 

It must have taken eternity before the ringing in his ears finally ceased. Dust roused in every direction, mucking the air around. It was impossible to see a thing. Pain coursed through Ham's body and as he coughed, it was as if the pains intensified by a hundredfold. Ham tried to get up, but he realized just then—as the dust cleared—that there was a huge metal running through his stomach and pinning him to the ground. He coughed again, but this time, it was all blood.

What happened? Where is Matt? And Kira…

"K…r" Ham tried to say, but the words would not form. His only company at the moment was pain and the way it coursed through his body, he knew that it was just a matter of time before darkness envelops him.

"So, this is the end," 

"Ma…tt" Ham coughed. Despite the pain, he was glad to hear the voice of his friend. He lifted his head toward the direction, but the gladness of his heart melted when he realizes that Matt was also in the same predicament as he. 

Matt too had a rod that pierced his belly, pinning him to the ground. He was soaked in his own blood and the dust around seems hungry for them as they drink his blood grudgingly.

"Ki…ra. Did you see…" Ham tried to say.

"Yes, Ham. I see her. But I think she is already gone. Her body is not moving."

Anguish coursed through Ham's belly and for the first time since he came to Saturn, he wished he had told Kira how much he cared for her. He wished he could hold her by the hand and look into her gray eyes. He wished he could pour out all his affections right at her face. But it was too late now. Kira is dead. And so will he and Matt, unless something intervened.

"Matt," Ham called. But the lack of answer made him spat. He didn't look in Matt's direction. He was afraid of what he was going to see.

This was the end. Not the end he had imagined, but it was the end. He was going to die and nothing can save him now.

Slowly, very slowly. His eyes began to close, and as if waiting for him to close his eyes, darkness claimed his consciousness, driving him to that land of oblivion.