Chapter Text
The warm autumn sun slowly began peeking over the mountains surrounding the Quarry. In her garden at the Quarry Lili was taking care of her flowers and plants. She looked at the sun, she felt the warm sun rays and wind, but something felt missing. It was Raz, who was supposed to be helping her in the garden. She waited for a while. As time went on and there was no sign of Raz, she slowly became frustrated.
- Hmph. If Raz is not coming, I'll do this by myself.
She continued to work on her garden. After a while of working her hands were covered in dirt after planting her new flowers, she then heard someone approach her. Lili got up and without thinking says.
- Finally! What took you so long!
She soon realized that the person wasn’t Raz, it was Milla. Lili knew Milla rarely visited her garden other than when she had something important to tell her. Milla floated over to her and with a calm smile looked at her.
- Lili dear, can you come inside to the mother lobe, it’s important.
Lili looked at Milla a little concerned and followed her inside. She looked at Milla. She noticed Lili looking at her.
-What is it darling?
Lili hesitated for a short while after seeing worried Aquatos and other interns in Atrium together as groups but Raz was nowhere to be seen.
- Have you seen Raz? He promised to be with me at the garden today.
Milla’s smile twitched slightly.
- Oh! I have not.
Lili noticed the small change and felt her worries rising.
- Where are we going?
Milla looks at her while walking.
- Your father wants to see you at the Nerve-center.
They walked towards the nerve-center while Lili was worried why her dad would want to see her. Soon they both walked through the doors into the nerve-center. Truman stood near at the other agents who were sitting in chairs talking to each other while looking at hologram screens in front of them. Sasha and Otto were working on fixing something at the other computers nearby. Lili walked up to her dad.
- You wanted to see me?
Truman looked at her with fear in his eyes, which seemed to fade as he saw her.
- Oh thank heavens, you are safe my dear.
Lili looked at her dad confused.
- Dad, what's going on?
Truman looks at the other agents who were working all around the room.
- I brought you here to be safe. And… ask a few questions.
Lili felt a dread creep inside of her but kept her posture.
- What is it?
Truman put his hand on Lili’s shoulder and looked at her.
- When have you seen Raz last time?
Lili’s heart began beating faster as she was able to guess the situation from all of the things happening all around.
- Yesterday… Before sunset, he promised to come help me with the garden.
Truman saw that she was scared.
- Was he acting weird or has he been talking about anything suspicious?
She looked him in the eyes.
- No, we only have been talking when he’s not on any missions or not with his family. Has something happened? Is he okay!
Truman looked into the distance and back to her, trying to find a way to explain it.
- Razputin… Has gone missing. But don’t worry! We are doing everything to find him.
Lili’s guess was right and she felt like running away but stood still.
- But why was I brought here?
Oleander shouted from the other side of the hologram table.
- I believe that it’s the darn delusionists again!
Sasha looked at Oleander with a serious face from the computer.
- Morry could be right. After all, we know delusionist activity has risen since news about Gristol spread.
Mention of Gristol and delusionists only made Lili feel aggression all they have caused. Truman nodded at the other agents.
- I want to keep you safe, if anyone is behind this, we’ll find him.
Lili groaned in her mind, thought of not being able to go to the garden to solve some of her feelings made her feel agitated. She still understood that it was for her and everyone’s safety to stay in lockdown… Again.
Chapter 1 End