Page 88 of The Commons

And I did it.

She is really here.

I cannot believe it.

I exhale a huge sigh of relief and rush into her arms.

Finally, I can hug her. I hold onto her with my mind. I hold onto her with my soul. I hold onto her with my spirit. I hold onto her with every emotion in my core. I hold onto her with my arms, my fingers, my palms, my body, and every breath I have. I hold onto her like she is my own body.

She holds me like a shield. She squeezes me with every drop of blood in her veins. She passionately presses her palms around my skin with her soft arms, sinking into the depths of my embrace like one dives into the depths of the sea.

I open my eyes to see.

To see her.

“Levon,” I scream.

“Shantavia,” she exclaims. Tears cloud her eyes and stream down her face.

“I can’t believe you’re here. I’ve missed you every day,” I say.

“I’ve missed you every second,” she says, rubbing my hands and stroking her hands into the depths of my hair. She kisses me on the forehead, then we both turn toward the door as scuffling breaks out and someone falls.

“Where’s Pesh?” I ask.

I look, but it is not Pesh. It is Swin. He coughs, looking all around, equally confused and impressed. Next, Pesh follows without even a hint of misstep. He must be used to this.

“An invisible door. An invisible ship!” Swin rambles, intrigued, looking all around. “How on earth is this possible?”

“It’s just metamaterial cloaking,” Pesh responds.

“It’s just… he says it like it’s no big deal! Like how on earth is it this advanced? Like what? Did you like use nanowires to provide a way to hide this ship from visible light?” Swin asks, mind boggled.

“Sort of, but not exactly, because this ship will still appear invisible even across a wide range of frequencies. So, it’s just an illusion to the human eye. The only way to go through it is to simply dive in headfirst. It only recognizes the head banged into it. That’s when it will open for an active motion. And only if our ship is stopped and opened can one enter,” Pesh says, looking through the glass windows and typing a password on the computerized wall to shut the doors.

The doors are locked, and the student girl begins to leave, walking toward a small, circular door on the inside.

“It’s like my Chemistry Test!” I respond.

“Yeah. You were above average in that test. No one else has ever figured that out. That’s why I told Londe I needed to kill you myself. I told him that you would find a way to escape from The Seventh Zone or create an escape because you are too smart,” Pesh says.

“And he believed you?”

“Yes. But now our mission has been complicated because of a certain human being.”

“Oh, me! I’m sorry,” Swin responds.

“I only saved you because you said you knew about The Begon,” Pesh says.

“Right. Much appreciated. Promise you won’t be disappointed.”

“Someone’s confident,” Levon interrupts, more stern than sarcastic.

“Oh hi, nice to meet your acquaintance, I’m Swin Aldovo!” he says. He takes a bow in front of her.

Their eyes clash.

“I don’t care if they would have caught me again. But you put my little sister in danger by your little stunt. I’d stay away from me if I were you.” She walks away from him, annoyed. Levon, still protective as ever.