Karim

Morrow cringes at Praisch's blunt statement.

He may sound vulgar, but he makes a huge point. The monsters are hunting down humans, the logical way to draw them in would be to use humans as bait.

"Who would we use as bait?" Angela asks.

"More like which city would we use as bait". Safari chips in.

I decide to listen to their opinions quietly. The only person absent from the argument is Furuno.

"Why don't we track their movement and attack them when they arrive at a particular city?" Praisch asks.

"What part of they are scattered don't you understand?"

"If Russia is being invaded, that would mean that Asia is next. Some of them are still ravaging the rest of Europe. The refugees that escaped Liverpool were slaughtered in Stockholm. They are too far apart for us to draw them to one place."

Morrow is right.

"I'm yet to see your leadership skills, Praisch". I mutter.

He raises a smooth brow.

"Leadership skills? This is not my area of specialty - discussing hopeless cases with a bunch of dumb and deluded girls."

"Alright. Everyone should do their research. We'll meet here tomorrow". I announce in an attempt to stop the tongue-lashing I know is coming.

"Ace-".

We're back in the library.

Safari, still burning with fury turns to Praisch with a gaze that could kill Zeus.

"We'll see who is dumb and deluded". She whispers through gritted teeth, her face just inches away from his.

Then, she stomps away, fury evident in her every step.

Morrow and Angela, though angry, remain with Furuno.

Ace rises up from the chair and leaves the room abruptly, without a word to anyone.

"Furuno, I need to ask you something". I say in a tone that indicates that the girls should leave.

Praisch joins them, walking a good distance behind them.

I turn to Furuno.

His eyes are exhausted. He thinks I want to ask him about his problem again.

"Do you happen to have the number of the Caretaker you... you left Clara with?"

He heaves a sigh of relief.

"Of course, I do". His voice is low and understanding.

He pulls out his phone. "Let me write it down for you".

I nod briskly, clenching and unclenching my hands at my sides.

I've been dreading this phone call, knowing that Clara could be dead. The guilt of abandoning her in a bid to save the world gnaws at me every second of the day.

I keep dreaming of finding her body buried underneath ruins every night - her pretty green eyes glassy and devoid of life.

He moves to the nearest desk and leans down to scribble the number. When he's done, he snaps the pen shut and hands it to me.

For a full minute, I just stare at the paper in my hands.

Annie - that's the Caretaker's name.

What if I call and no one picks up?

Furuno, seeming to understand my predicament, pats my shoulder affectionately.

"The first step is making the call". Is all he says as he leaves.

I nod, even though I don't think it's that easy.

---

The number lay in front of me, undialled. I have been sitting on my bed for the past hour, unable to make the call.

Sweat beads on my forehead. I can feel it dripping down my back despite the fan swirling above.

My roommate left a note saying he would be spending the night with a friend - ironically offering me all the privacy I need.

I rise up from the bed restlessly and pace around the room.

Each time I return back to the note, I can't summon the courage to make the phone call.

The thought of failing Arya and possibly... the little girl is enough to drive me insane.

Resolved, I settle down on the bed and dial the number. Closing my eyes, I press the call button.

My heart begins to beat so fast I fear it might lurch out of my chest. The call is in progress, but no one is answering.

My thoughts start swirling.

Please, pick up.

I call again. Still no response.

My hands tremble terribly as I call a third time.

The call goes unanswered.

The fear I had been battling with for the past two days sinks in forcefully.

I slump down on the bed, trying to conjure her picture in my head.

'You ran away from the responsibility and now she's dead', the voice in my head whispers.

I pick up the phone, intending to hurl it across the room. Suddenly, it rings.

I freeze, afraid to glance at the screen.

What if it's not who I think it is?

Risking a glance at the screen, my heart starts pounding again.

It's her. Annie.

"Hello? Mr. Toshiro?"

My voice freezes in my throat.

The voice is youthful, not the middle-aged female voice I had been expecting.

How does she know it's me?

"Hello? Are you there?"

"Yes... hello. You already have my number?"

Silence.

"Sorry... Clara needed my attention. About your number, the man that came to the agency filled out your contact details. I was told to contact this number if I need anything".

The only thing I heard was 'Clara'. Every other thing fell on deff ears.

"How... How is she?"

She whispers to someone, probably Clara.

"Your daddy is looking for you. Say hello". I hear the woman say.

"Hello daddy". Comes a small and timid voice.

Just hearing her voice calms my fraying nerves.

"How are you, Clara?" I ask, my voice cracking.

"Good. How are you? How is mommy?"

The question makes me freeze.

Arya. What do I tell her about Arya?

"We're fine. What have you been doing?"

I hear her giggle.

"Annie... teach me how to play piaano".

Annie tries to correct her pronunciation in the background but her efforts fall on deaf ears.

"I miss you and mommy". Her voice sounds lonely.

I never liked children, but she's managed to find a way into my heart.

"I know. We miss you too".

How long would I have to lie to her about Arya's whereabouts? She could be dead for all I know - although I still cling to the tiny shred of hope that she isn't.

"Have you eaten?" She asks me.

I find it amusing - a five-year old mothering me.

I haven't but I lie. "Yes, I have. Have you?"

She giggles softly.

"Yes. Annie let me have plenty icecream. She's baking a cake for my birthday tomorrow". She playfully mentions.

What? Tomorrow?

"Would you and mommy come?"

"Daddy and mommy might be busy, Clara". I hear Annie say in the background.

The fact that I would have to disappoint her tears at my heart.

"No, Clara. Mommy and I can't. I'll tell Annie to give you all the icecream and sweets you want. Okay?"

She sniffles. "Okay. I wove you".

"You too. Give the phone to Annie".

"Yes?" Annie's voice is clipped, almost rude now.

I can't blame her, she probably feels indignant on the child's behalf.

"Where are you staying?"

"The hillside. Why?"

"Are there any..." I pause, searching for a less-scary name for the monsters.

"Monsters?" She fills in for me.

"Yes, monsters. Are there?"

"No. They have destroyed the mainland, but reports say they have left Portugal altogether. They came to the hillside once...". Her breath catches. "But, we hid in the basement until we were sure they were gone".

Thank the heavens for such a Caretaker.

"Thank you so much, Annie."

"Don't mention it. I would do anything for Clara, she's such a loveable child".

"Is there anything you need - in terms of money, I mean".

She goes silent as she contemplates my question.

"The man who registered Clara gave me a large amount of money. We've barely touched it as it is".

It's good to know that they don't lack anything.

"Also, you should know, your daughter loves playing with knives. I've tried to stop her, but my warnings always go unheeded".

I don't respond - I don't have to. She's taking after me.

"Is there anything else?" She asks, sounding eager to end the call.

"No. Tell Clara that I'll call tomorrow." I say and oblige her by hanging up.

The phone slips out of my hand.

If not for Furuno, Clara would be dead. She would have still been at that hotel, without anyone to care for her - because I didn't know that the cheat potion meant instant admission.

I owe him everything. He had chosen to help despite how I treated him.

Guilt washes over me. I cover my face with my hands.

This is no longer about Arya, only. We have to get rid of those monsters somehow so Clara would have a safe place to grow up.

I doubt she even knows what's going on. The one time she had seen the monster, she had stared at it with a terrified yet detached expression.

Such quality in a child is unbelievable - but it was there.

She's another assasin in the making.

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