The story so far:
---- Aija is a Volunteer at the Pristine School at Innermost. She works along with Zuri and Ze, who are her friends. Aija witnesses a strange event one night – light emanating from Rez's body. The kidnapper is after her soul, next, but he leaves her alive and goes away. Another man finds her, he wants to take her somewhere else - Aija though wary of him agrees. Aija learns of the existence of the aliens – the Ytai. Also, about the R'ies and H'eon, Harvesting and Àvo from Etrie. Etrie tells her that the man, who Harvested Rez (Thieron), will now go after her. He tells her that the spy/kidnapper's name is Luka. Etrie asks her to work along with him.
---- Aija is invited by Etrie for a Harvest Stopping Mission. Aija tells Zuri about Quinn – she's to meet him as an order from the Leadership. Kuna, who works for Etrie, picks Aija up for the mission. Etrie partners Aija with Kuna for the night. Aija agrees to work along with Etrie on Harvest Stopping Missions.
---- Ze catches Aija returning early in the morning with two unknown men. He worries if she is doing something wrong by dating one of the men she is with. Ze decides to talk to the girls about it.
---- Ze talks to Zuri about Aija – she too has seen Aija with the unknown man.
---- Ze tells Zuri about his cousin Volt and his wife Remi. Zuri tells Ze that Aija likes him – he already knew. She also tells him about Aija's order of engagement.
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****11.3 - Zuri****
The three of them walked home together; Ze went to his place as Zuri and Aija walked to Zuri's place. Ze turned around once and caught Zuri's gaze.
She nodded once, confirming that she would talk to Aija.
"Let's go to Market." Zuri told Aija. "I'm bored. And, it is a holiday tomorrow. Yay! Long weekend!"
"No..." Aija groaned. "I'm tired."
"Please, please....please. I won't get to meet you this weekend."
"I'm only going on Sunday."
"Still," Zuri pulled Aija and turned back around heading towards the gate. It slid open and Zuri led Aija out towards Market. Aija was distracted and seemed to be looking around quite a bit.
"Searching for someone?" Zuri questioned.
"Huh? No..." Aija replied, very obviously distracted.
As they walked past the cycle shop, Zuri was reminded of Nala. She had loved that day. Especially the time spent at the Animal Preservation Centre. Zuri never knew that the residents of the Pristine Cities were allowed to visit. When she had told Aija about it, she discovered that Aija already knew about it. It came as no surprise to Zuri.
She had asked her why she hadn't ever mentioned it and Aija had told her that she had visited once as a child, but seeing the animals in their enclosed ecosystems had only made her sad. So she had never gone back or mentioned it to anyone.
Zuri thought of Nala as they walked through the Park. Nala hadn't called Zuri since she had left in a hurry. Zuri had texted Nala once, but she hadn't received a reply. Zuri really, really liked Nala. But Nala's secretiveness was restraining Zuri from being more open about it.
And, furthermore, Ze's story about his cousin Volt had genuinely scared her. She knew Ze wasn't kidding. She had seen the fear in his eyes and there was no doubt about the Leadership having killed Volt and Remi.
Was Nala scared for the same reason? Was she scared to give more information to Zuri, lest the Leadership found out? Zuri wasn't able to figure her out.
The two girls found an empty bench near the lake at the centre of the Park and chose to sit there.
"Did you meet Nala?"
"No, I haven't heard from her. She's busy I believe."
Aija studied Zuri in her quiet perceptive way. "What's wrong?
"Just something Ze said." Zuri revealed. There was no use hiding things from her best friend. Aija could decipher things out with little information and she knew Zuri well. There were times when Aija had asked what was bothering Zuri, and she hadn't known she had been mulling over something until Aija had mentioned it.
Zuri told Aija about Volt, about her own fears regarding herself and Nala. Aija was quiet the whole time listening to her raptly, just as she always did whenever Zuri spoke.
Darkness was slowly creeping into the sky as the two girls sat by the lake. A light breeze blew sending their hair into waves. The hover lights had started to turn on each a flickering brightness against the growing dark of the night.
"You really don't know much about her?" Aija asked her voice tinted with caution.
Zuri shook her head feeling awkward. Awkward that she really liked someone she didn't know much about.
"It's not wrong to love, Zuri."
Zuri nodded. "But how do we escape the Leadership?"
"I sure hope I figure out the answer to that soon." Aija wished feeling the breeze on her face; eyes closed and Zuri could make out the beginnings of dark circles under her eyes.
"Is there something you need to tell me?" Zuri's voice was crisp.
Aija opened her eyes and looked at Zuri, startled by the tone of her voice. "What's there?" she asked her voice defensive.
"Is there really nothing?"
"Zuri.... What's wrong? I told you about Quinn, I even showed you his photo."
"And that is why I am sure you weren't out with him, last night."
Aija's eyes rounded in surprise.
"Who was he? Where did you go with him so late at night?"
"Zuri..."
"I saw you Aija. So did Ze."
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