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Chapter 3 Speculations

"Hi. can we join you guys?"

Jason and I both looked up after hearing the strange accent that came from a guy, standing in front of us. Behind his round eyeglass was a pair of chinky eyes, jet black hair, and pair of oversized clothes that looked like hand-me-downs from someone bigger than him. Beside him was a small girl with an apple-cut hairstyle. They were both looking down at us like lost children in the middle of the park.

"No. It's already too crowded in here." Jason rudely answered the guy who didn't even blink when he tried to shoo it.

I rolled my eyes at Jason and offered my hand to the guy. "Don't mind him. I'm Harriet by the way. And this rude guy's name is Jason."

The guy quickly sat in front of us without a warning and spoke. "I'm Li Jin Gyu and this is my childhood friend, Mona. We're also stuck here and we have no idea what to do."

"Yeah, it seemed like it." Jason sarcastically whispered and I elbowed him on his ribs for being too rude already.

The guy named Li was cute and also the girl beside him who was wearing a pink dress. They seemed nice and just like me, they look both terrified for what was happening outside this building. They must be desperate enough to seek help from us since they chose to stay even though Jason had been rude to them.

"Here, take this."

As an apology for Jason's rough attitude, I offered them each a bottle of orange juice and they took it with a wide smile on their faces. It seemed they were one of those people who were scared to loot in the abandoned stores too. I might have been one of them, the starving and helpless ones and maybe it's a good thing that I met Jason although I was fully aware that stealing was a crime and not to be tolerated.

But in a situation like this? Who would care?

"Thank you! We tried to buy something for supplies but I guess most of the stores here had been raided. It's scary that people here had gone deranged from the attack and we don't know who to ask for help." Li lamented out of frustration after he took a huge swig on the bottle of juice. He must be really thirsty.

"Why are you here in Basil anyway?"

"We're both exchange students from Southern Aisea (Asia). Mona's specialty is medicine while I am an electromechanical student that's been requested to attend an Engineering Convention at Basil University. I just can't believe why this attack had to happen when we have just arrived."

"I understand the feeling Li. Me too." I tried to console him. Mona's eyes were teary but she didn't let out any word.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. Mona can't speak. But she can hear you through her aid" Li told us about her condition.

"I see..." I gave an affirming smile at Mona to let her know they will be okay and she smiled back at me sheepishly.

"I wonder why the sudden attack. I thought the Federation of the New World Government had already cleared that they have control over any rebellious attack that threatens the New Arcania. I can't believe they let this happen now that the people are slowly forgetting the memories of the recent war." Li said in disappointment as adjusted his eyeglass on the bridge of his nose.

I didn't comment on Li's statement because I was the kind of person that was not very interested in any government issue or something. I was just a first-year college student who thinks less of my future and just wanted to enjoy my teenage carefree life.

But if there's ever I want to thank dad if something bad would happen here, it's my knowledge in basic survival skills. because my dad and mom used to love camping. Before Carl was born, I used to join summer camps and dad taught me how to use and assemble a rifle and basic techniques in archery.

"I think it's about territory dispute," Jason answered Li's speculation. "So many lands across the globe are useless because of the nuclear bombings and the power plants that have been destroyed and only Arcania is the safest place from the radiation. And resources are scarce now since there are fewer lands to farm so it's obvious what they're after."

"Yeah.. that makes sense." Li agreed to Jason.

Last month, there was news we watched on TV about some nations that have articulated from the New World Organization. It was due to the fact that some nations refused to aid parts of New Akkallenbun, a continent known to have wide desert lands that were in danger of toxic chemical wastes dumped from southern Aisea and some parts of Arcania.

In this Era, there were only two continents left that are thriving after the terrible war that happened eighty years ago. The Arcania and Bosnellia. Akkallenbun continent has become collateral damage of the war and its land has become the dumpsites of deadly chemical wastes from different lands that were using nuclear as the main source of power for their cities including Arcania. Parts of the Aisea continent became lands of desperate people, my dad said to me. The war caused famine and sickness to people and people in those places become a den of thieves, gangs, and murderers.

It made me wonder what part of Aisea Li and Mona came from.

Because of the disputes among other nations, some drew borders and were denied entry into their countries. It was hard to travel from one place to another without tracing your identities and having background checks. Before we left Coleshire, it took us one year before we were allowed to travel and have a residency here in Basil. Carl and I were lucky that our parents have decent jobs. Living in this era was hard and to earn a living these days was a real struggle since food was scarce and very expensive.

"My dad mentioned a bioweapon." I blurted the words without thinking. I hid half of my face with the scarf I was wearing and embraced myself because my body kept on trembling.

Jason and Li's faces turned pale and they looked at me as if they've seen a ghost. Even I was trembling after I mentioned it to them and I couldn't stop the anxiety that kept on creeping inside my head. It felt like it was eating my brain slowly, making the rest of my senses numb.

"Are you certain of that?" Li asked looking grave. He held Mona's hand, his expression was grim and heavy.

"Yes. He said he heard it from one of the soldiers talking to their commander. My dad won't scare me like that if it wasn't true."

"Do you think it will happen here?" Li asked again.

His fear was starting to get contagious because I could feel the tips of my fingers grow cold out of terror. What dad's right and they'll drop the deadly chemicals here in this building? There's no time to spare! We should get out of here! I don't want to die yet!

A bullet of sweat ran down my face and I looked at Jason who was already succumbed in deep thought. He must be thinking of a way out of here too.

"I think we should get out of here, guys. I have a premonition that something bad would happen. If the soldiers left civilians here without giving any help, it's possible that they're aware that this area is a target of that weapon, just like what you said." Jason's voice was full of tension while his jaws tightened.

"What are they doing..."

I glanced to where Li was looking and then I saw a group of people walking towards the exit of the building.

"Do you think they've also overheard the soldiers about the bioweapon?" Li whispered to us with curiosity about what those people were doing.

It seemed that the small group was persuading people to join them because every people they talk to, stood and followed them. Li also stood from where he was sitting and he helped Mona get up too. He pats the dirt away from his pants and smiled at us.

"I think we'll go with them too. Thank you for being nice. We really appreciate the drink you gave us."

"But where are you going?"

"We don't know. Maybe those guys have an idea where to go though. We must leave if what you said was true. It's not safe here anymore." Li answered while holding Mona on her elbow.

Jason and I stood, both our faces looked curious and worried if those people really know what they were doing.

I knew that Jason was also having second thoughts if it was already safe for us to wander outside the airport building. There was no disturbing noise from the warplanes anymore. He gazed at me as if asking if I was interested to go with those people too.

I shook my head and sighed. "I don't know. No one knows what's waiting for us out there. There could be barricades made by the soldiers or the terrorists themselves. We're not safe even here, Jason."

Li lowered his head, hesitated from what I have said to them.

I looked outside the exit door and I saw a man limping towards the door of the building. I squint my eyes and noticed that his face was bloody.

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