Lacuna

Chapter 6 - Distance

            As I follow Lucius, all I could see was his slender figure as it turned its back on me. He's right in front of me yet he feels so distant.

After a short while, we arrive at a bus stop and Lucius halts to sit.

"Take a seat," Lucius spoke in a formal tone as he pats at the seat beside him. I nodded and sat, maintaining a small distance.

"So, Cole Celestin was it?" Lucius turns his head to ask me. Even though his expressions are sharp as they could stab me, his eyes were dull and round as they can soften my soul inside out.

"Y-yes! And you are...?" Nervous to finally talk to him, I stuttered.

"As you might have heard earlier, my name is Lucius. Lucius Cirillo." He spoke. He adjusts himself and turns his face back onto me.

"Tell me, Cole. What was the Necrics like?" He asks but his gaze seemed different from before. Yet, I still refuse direct eye contact.

"They're okay sometimes..." I answered as I fidget with the edge of my new coat Lev bought me just a minute ago.

"Sometimes? How come? Pardon my curiosity." He asks again but this time, his expression softens. The same goes for his tone. It seemed like he was trying to be both polite and professional.

"Well, some can be good and some can be bad," I responded as I finally turned my head towards him.

"Good? How?" he asks again as he puts on a confused face.

But our conversation was interrupted by the sound of the bus stopping in front of us.

"This is it," Lucius spoke as he leads me into the bus with his cold tone of voice. We then enter the said bus and sat next to each other.

After a few stops, we arrive and Lucius leads me off the bus.

"This is where we're going to get your files done, the Vendadt" he glances to the very tall building in front of us. It looked like its height could scrape the skies as its windows reflect the lights within the city.

"Let's go inside," Lucius spoke as he leads me inside the building with his back turned at me once again and I follow behind him.

As we enter the building, we were greeted by a female employee behind the counter. I watch as Lucius talks to the employee. Then, the woman gave Lucius a small sheet of paper and Lucius nudges me to follow him.

We enter an elevator as Lucius presses a button that leads to the 23rd floor. After a few seconds of listening to some elevator music, it stopped and opened its doors.

As Lucius leads in front of me, I briefly glance over the desks of workers around us until I spot a familiar face, working. Before I could try to remember, Lucius leads me into a room with a woman behind a desk inside.

We enter and Lucius gives the sheet of paper he's been holding to the woman.

"Cole Celestin?" The woman spoke.

"Yes?" "Sit down." She spoke as she points to the seat in front of the desk.

I quickly sat down while Lucius stands behind me.

"It was said that you were a half-blood living amongst the Necrics? That's very unfortunate for you. I'm very sorry to hear that." She asks, eyebrows furrowed upwards as though she was sympathizing.

"Y-Yeah..." I responded, looking confused since I was unhurt whilst living among the 'Necrics' aside from what happened to my family.

"Before we begin to make your credentials, let's start with your basic information. Please fill in this form." The woman spoke as she hands me a sheet of paper with basic questions asking for my name, age, date of birth and etcetera.

I fill in the form as I feel Lucius staring at me.

A few minutes pass and I hand over the form to the woman.

"Great! For confirmation that this identity is yours, please place your face in front of the machine as we scan your irises." She instructs as she points to a machine beside the desk.

I slowly nod and went to place my face in front of the machine as she goes to the computer behind it.

"That's odd..." She spoke. "It says here that you already have an existing file."

"What? I've never been here...?" I responded as I look up from the machine.

"Can you look into the existing file?" Lucius spoke demandingly.

"I'll try, but it'll take a while for us to search our whole database." The woman answered as her face is glued towards the computer screen in disbelief.

"How long?" Lucius asks as his voice gradually becomes sterner.

"I'm unsure but we can call you once we find the existing file." She answered as she finally turns her head towards Lucius. "This means we'll have to delay your credentials, Mr. Celestin."

Lucius groans. "Very well, it'd be best if you finish this problem as soon as possible."

"Of course, sir. We apologize for the inconvenience." The woman stood up and bowed.

"Of course," Lucius responded as he grabs my wrist and exiting the room.

As we exit the room, I glance over to the familiar face once again and suddenly their eyes met mine until Lucius drags me into the elevator.

While the elevator descends, Lucius spoke. "I'm sorry for losing my composure. It took me by surprise."

"Why?" I asked. He didn't have a reason to be surprised.

"I'll tell you why after we find out about that existing file." He spoke in an unpleasant tone.

I thought to myself, 'yikes.'

A few moments later, we arrive on the first floor. Lucius continues to drag me by the wrist as we exit the building.

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POV: [UNKNOWN]

I hastily got up from my desk and ran down the emergency stairs, hoping to catch up to the boy.

"There's no way the boy survived, I have to confirm what I just saw." I thought to myself with determination.

As I open the exit door to the first floor, I desperately searched for the boy yet I found nothing. I was too late.

"I hope it was just my head playing with me or people would think I'm crazy!" I muttered under my breath as I press the elevator button to return to my desk.