The blue-haired man stood by the stairs, leaning against the cold railing. His gaze was fixed on the brunette, ensuring that he would indeed head upstairs. Slowly, as if each step weighed a ton, the brunette moved forward, placing one foot after the other. His body seemed to drag with reluctance, as if the climb was a sentence. Involuntarily, he glanced over his shoulder, looking at the unyielding Blue, whose face remained as cold as a soulless mask.
- I'm going, - Jaśmin replied, having covered three-quarters of the way.
- Faster, - Blue urged him, his voice sharp like the crack of a whip, cold and merciless.
When the monkey-like boy disappeared into the cold whiteness of the second floor, the Asian waited another ten minutes. Time seemed to stretch like rubber, and every second hit his consciousness. During this time, he managed to safely escort Penelopa and her boss, making sure the two wouldn't run into the furious Emi, who was unloading his frustration on the laptop keyboard. Each loud click sounded like a hammer striking a nail, with every noise driving his nerves deeper into layers of chaos.
- Do you want to keep standing there? - asked Ignacy, sitting on the white sofa. His tone was indifferent, almost apathetic, as if each word was barely a shadow of a real thought.
- I'm making sure, - Blue replied, his words barely a whisper, as if avoiding even the echo of his own thoughts.
- You're paranoid, - Emi criticized from behind the laptop, his irony impossible to contain.
- Ten minutes have passed, - Ignacy responded, his tone carrying a distant resignation. - You've gotten rid of them. His gaze turned toward the window, where the cold lights of the city penetrated the glass, merging with the bright glow of the ceiling lamps. But for him, those lights were dead—nothing could brighten the darkness surrounding his heart.
- I think it's clear, - Blue replied, this time more to himself than to the others, trying to convince himself that nothing had happened.
- Can I start without him? - Emi asked sarcastically, staring at the scrolling information on the screen. His voice was dry as parchment, devoid of hope.
- There's no need, - Blue said with enthusiasm, but when his gaze met Ignacy's face, his enthusiasm extinguished like a candle in the wind.
He felt something within him shrink, constraining his words. - You can talk, - he added, trying to give the conversation some direction, as if desperately needing control.
- Should I say everything? - Emi raised an eyebrow, his voice piercing Blue like a freezing needle.
- You can start with the part where we end with a big happy ending, - Blue responded sarcastically, trying to lighten the mood. - Of course, you're saying everything, - he added, but his confidence didn't match the silence that followed.
Emi rolled his eyes, though his gesture went unnoticed by the rest. With each second, his irritation grew, but he tried to keep it in check, like a predator trapped in a cage.
Ignacy didn't react since Jaśmin left. His face returned to its dead expression, a stone mask he'd worn forever.
- Speak, - he urged with a voice as cold and refined as a verdict with no trace of doubt.
- So... - Emi began, trying to hide his frustration.
- Why did you get rid of the others? - Ignacy asked, his voice like an unexpected blow.
- What do you mean? - Blue looked at him with confusion.
- Isn't it logical? - the redhead replied, with a hint of irony. - You got rid of Jaśmin. I just want to know why.
- Not just him, - Emi interrupted, not hiding his slight irritation.
- It doesn't make sense for all of us to risk it, - Blue answered, his voice carrying a strange tone, something that resembled the voice of someone who had long since crossed the line of reason. Ignacy saw again that scruffy figure who had once ruled the dark corners of the bus. - It wasn't planned, - Blue added, as if trying to justify himself. - Not like everyone suddenly left. I planned to catch you in the bathroom or something.
- I don't understand, - Ignacy replied, his voice becoming firmer.
- That's exactly why I'm trying to explain, - Emi said, his tone steeped in irritation.
- Exactly, - Blue interjected. - Why aren't you explaining anything to him? - he asked, as if seeking an ally in Emi.
Emi looked at him as if he were the biggest mistake of his life. He paused for a moment, trying to calm the wave of anger rising within him.
- Our plan is, - the brunette began, his voice clearly reluctant. - that we take Penelopa's car and head to Prometheus.
- How come?! - Ignacy suddenly stood up, his voice rising by several octaves. - You want to go to Prometheus? How on earth did you come up with such a foolish plan? There's a research facility at Prometheus, it's a breeding ground for cyborgs! - Ignacy didn't hide his anger, and there was also a sense of helplessness in his voice, as if he were looking into an abyss he couldn't avoid. This is suicide!
- What else do you want to do? - Blue shot back, his tone rising with an energy comparable to that sarcastic outburst from Ignacy. - We have no other choice, we have to go to Prometheus!
- How?! - Ignacy asked, frustration lacing his voice, bitterness heavy in his words. - It's fire down there! - he added, as if this truth were so obvious that any further explanation would be pointless. - All the data from Gaia's system is stored there, every authorization key is linked to that place. Prometheus is the most secure place we know, a breeding ground for cyborgs! - His words sounded like a desperate attempt to maintain control over a situation that had slipped from his hands since his siblings' abduction. He felt that each decision, each step into this darkness, led him closer to the abyss he didn't want to approach.
- We have no choice. - Blue tried to respond with calm certainty, but his voice betrayed a trace of uncertainty he couldn't hide. - We have to go to Prometheus, it's our only chance to get them back. - His words echoed Ignacy's desperation, as if both were trying to convince each other that this was the only possible way forward. - Besides, it's not that hard, - Blue added with a shrug. - I remember when I was seven, I walked through that shaft, - he replied, as if that was all the explanation needed.
- Seven years old? - Ignacy looked at him incredulously. - What were you doing there at seven?
- Can I finish? - Emi finally snapped, his patience breaking like a taut string.
The men, Blue and Ignacy, looked at the brunette who was nearly crushing the laptop screen with his hands, struggling to control the anger that swelled within him like an uncontrollable wave. The tension in the air was palpable, and his face showed a readiness to explode. - Done? Everything? - he added, glaring at them from beneath his narrowed eyes, barely restraining his fury. - Then... - He sighed deeply, trying to calm the emotions that seemed to suffocate him. - Thanks to Blue, we've figured out that Teodor is there, at Prometheus. We have no other choice but to go there, - he said with determination, though there was a hint of despair in his voice. Ignacy, ready to ask more questions, opened his mouth, but Emi cut him off, speaking in a cold tone: - Blue gave him a pierced earring with a transmitter, - he said, anticipating Ignacy's questions.
Ignacy blinked in surprise, his brows furrowing in disbelief.
- If we deduce correctly, - Emi continued, trying to add some logic to the situation, - and I think we do, it means Teodor is there with Artem. Since they're together, Nulla must be somewhere between them, - he added confidently, though he didn't seem fully certain of his words.
Ignacy raised an eyebrow, frowning as if something in this puzzle didn't quite fit.
- How the hell did you get the earring with a transmitter? - he asked with clear doubt. - And how did you put it on Teodor? He doesn't have pierced ears. Don't tell me he pierced them himself...
- No, - Blue interrupted, rolling his eyes in frustration. - I just gave him the earring to hold onto, nothing more, - he explained, his tone indicating that he didn't see anything unusual about it. However, he looked at Emi, who seemed for a moment distracted by something else. - And as for the earring, - Blue pointed at the brunette, visibly irritated, - he gave it to me during our first mission. That's when I pierced my ears, - he added proudly, his gaze momentarily taking on a more warrior-like expression, as if he wanted to impress his companions with his courage.
Emi cleared his throat quietly, looking at them with irony painting his lips.
- Can I speak? - he asked, somewhat impatiently.
Ignacy and Blue nodded simultaneously, giving him silent permission.
- Don't interrupt me this time, - Emi warned them, glancing sideways. His tone suggested that if they interrupted again, he wouldn't be able to control the anger simmering within him. - We'll go in Penelopa's car, - he announced, as if it were the most obvious decision in the world. - Everyone knows why, right? - he asked rhetorically, not expecting an answer. - We'll park a few buildings away from the target. When I was coming back, I noticed a pyramid-shaped bank. I also saw some strips underneath, probably magnets waiting to be swapped. It's something we can use. All roads lead to the White City, so we should be able to reach Prometheus by one of them, - he explained, gesturing dynamically, as if he already saw the plan clearly in his mind.
- One of them? - Ignacy interrupted him with obvious skepticism in his voice.
Blue gave a slight, though rather forced, smile.
- Are you feeling better? - he asked, trying to lighten the mood. - You're not like a stone figure anymore, - he added with irony, his eyes gleaming with amusement.
- I'm focusing, - Ignacy replied dryly, not looking up. - I don't want to mess this up on the way, - he added, his gaze shifting to Emi, who was silent but felt the accusatory stare on him.
- We have an exact map of the city, - Emi chimed in, raising his hand to point at the silicone band on his wrist. Seven raised circles adorned its surface, resembling tiny bumps. - I'll upload it to the band. We'll go beneath the city, but it's only two buildings, we can manage. We won't find any cyborgs underground, - he explained, looking at them expectantly.
- Underground? Do you mean the sewers? - Ignacy asked, raising an eyebrow.
- No. - Blue replied automatically, his tone indicating he had been waiting for the question. - Under the belts. - He emphasized these words as if they were key. - You don't know how your own city works? Under the belts, there are technical passages. After all, someone has to install those magnets and replace them. The problem is they are exceptionally narrow and small - he explained, trying to make his words sound rational.
- Exactly. - Emi confirmed, nodding. - But since you managed in the ventilation, you'll manage here too. - He added confidently.
Ignacy sighed, wiping his face with his hand.
- I understand. - He finally replied, though his voice still carried uncertainty. - Still, even if we get through, how are we going to reach Prometheus? And even if we do, finding Art, Teodor, and Nulla will be nearly impossible. It's a huge labyrinth. - He warned them, his voice full of seriousness and worry.
- We'll get in using the cloud. - Emi answered from across, his voice firm. - If we get a cloud card, it shouldn't be a problem. You'll put on some white clothes. - He added, as if it were the simplest solution.
- You want to turn us into cyborgs?! - Blue asked, his eyes widening in horror. - I won't shave. - He declared firmly, emphasizing his stance.
Ignacy, with a barely hidden smile, looked at him critically.
- That wouldn't change anything. - Ignacy replied coolly, straightening up. - You're too short and frail. - He added, his words almost mocking.
- Short?! - Blue nearly boiled over. - I'm one seventy-eight! - He protested, as if it were a crucial point.
Emi rolled his eyes, pretending he hadn't heard that. Ignacy, despite his gloomy mood, gave a slight smile, though it quickly disappeared from his face, returning to his stone-cold expression, like a statue.
- I don't want to turn you into cyborgs. - Emi interrupted them, getting back to the point. - As Ignacy said, it wouldn't make sense. You'll pretend to be Iphigenia. - He stated calmly.
- Iphigenia? - Blue looked at him questioningly, clearly confused.
- They're people who volunteer to test new treatments and drugs. - Ignacy explained, his voice calm, but his eyes revealing that he wasn't entirely convinced by the plan.
- To be honest. - Emi began, his tone taking on a more serious, almost cold edge - these are people who volunteered to experiment on their own bodies in exchange for improving their family's status. In the second and first zones, it's usually the middle children who do this, you know, the oldest have to provide for the family, and the youngest are too protected. The middle ones are the ones who are less of a loss. - He finished with a touch of cynicism, as if it were obvious.
Ignacy stared at him for a moment, pondering what he had just heard. The world he knew was slowly dissolving in a thick fog, and everything he had been sure of was beginning to crumble. Every word of Emi's carried a weight that was changing his perception of reality.
- That's… brutal. - Ignacy muttered, feeling a lump tighten in his throat.
Emi shrugged.
- Brutal, but effective. These are the rules of the game. - He replied coldly, his tone betraying no emotion, as if what he was saying were simply a fact, with no room for moral dilemmas.
Blue, who had been silent until then, suddenly raised his eyebrows, as if he had just realized the full horror of the situation.
- So we're supposed to pretend to be Iphigenia? - He asked uncertainly. - And then what? We go in and...? - His voice trembled slightly, as if he feared hearing the answer.
- We go in and do our thing. - Emi responded without hesitation. - If we get the cloud card, there won't be a problem. We'll wear white clothes, pretending to be test workers. Inside, we should be safely guided by HIM.
- H-Him? - Ignacy repeated, frowning. - You mean the boss, Penelopa? - He added.
- Are you sure he has the Cloud Card? Emi, did you ask him? - Blue interjected, cutting in for a moment. His voice revealed uncertainty.
- Yes, I'm talking about HIM. - Emi replied, as if it were obvious. - As for the card... He should have it. After all, he's a Four. - His words sounded almost indifferent, as if it didn't matter.
- I'm a Four too. - Ignacy replied coldly, following him with his gaze. - And I don't have it.
- And do you work in the office? Are you perhaps Charon? - Emi mocked, tilting his head.
Ignacy blinked, as if something didn't quite add up.
- He works... as Charon? - His tone revealed surprise. He shook his head, as if trying to push the thoughts away. - I thought he worked with Penelopa, that... - He trailed off.
- He often works with her, but his main job is bringing people from all the zones to Prometheus. - Emi grimaced in disgust, as if the mere mention of that job repelled him.
- So he has access to other sectors? - Blue mused aloud.
- What do you care about his passes? - Emi growled, showing his impatience.
Ignacy sighed, raising his hands in surrender.
- Let's say I believe in your plan. - His voice hung in the air. - But do you really trust him? - He added with hesitation.
Emi looked at him seriously.
- We have no other choice. - He replied dryly. - We still have Leo.
- I don't trust him. - Blue interjected, as if emphasizing his point. - He might save you, but me...
Ignacy furrowed his brow, thinking over his words.
- Whatever way you look at it, Leopold is the prime minister's son. Seems like he has more privileges.
- Maybe. - Emi nodded with resignation. - But he often behaves like it's all just one big game he's played before. - His words echoed with old frustration.
- He has two faces. - Blue interrupted, his voice sounding unsettling. - He's different with each one. We can't trust him.
Ignacy shrugged.
- I don't see any way he's changed. - He replied firmly.
Blue ground his teeth, and his eyes darkened.
- You don't know him - he hissed through clenched teeth. - He seemed suspicious even before... but for the last three years, he's been unbearable. - He stopped, as if unsure whether to say more.
- Emi took a deep breath, as if trying to collect his thoughts.
- Blue's paranoid, - he said with a sigh. - Indeed, for the past two... well, maybe three years, Leo's been acting strange, but only towards him. - He glanced at Blue with an expression of exhaustion. - Anyway, this idiot - he shifted his gaze to Blue - doesn't want to involve him.
- Maybe you did something to him? - Ignacy asked, squinting his eyes as though he was analyzing the situation more closely. - Are you sure you didn't have an argument with him? He seems like the type with a fragile ego. - He added casually, as if diagnosing a simple issue.
- What? - Blue looked at him in disbelief, eyes wide, as if Ignacy had just suggested something absurd. - No! I didn't do anything to him. - His voice was sharp, almost defensive, as if the question alone irritated him. He suddenly looked down, as if trying to mask the tension building inside him. He cleared his throat, trying to return to the previous conversation. - Leopold's not an activist. - His tone turned cold and formal, as if trying to distance himself from personal emotions. - Although I'm not one either. - He took a heavy breath, as if trying to suppress the bitterness rising with the topic. - Our organization's called MARS. - He paused for a moment to let the words sink in, his tone hardening, as though it were a matter of honor. - Only in the White City do they call us that. Everywhere else, they give us other, less embarrassing names.
Ignacy snorted.
- You'd want to be called a Martian? - he asked with disdain in his voice.
- That's not the point. - Blue replied, his face showing slight weariness.
- Never mind. - Emi waved his hand dismissively. - Activist, Martian, red flags, no one cares. Let's focus on the plan.
- Penelopa's boss... - Ignacy raised an eyebrow. - He's your brother, right?
Blue grimaced slightly.
- They don't look alike. Both stubborn, but I get the feeling Tom's softened up. - Blue answered, clearly thinking about something.
Ignacy chewed on the name for a moment.
- Tom. - He repeated quietly, as if in thought.
Emi suddenly turned, looking straight at Ignacy.
- Do you have your life guarantee? - he asked bluntly.
Ignacy hesitated, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.
- And what about your family? You and him... I heard you don't have districts? - Ignacy asked further.
- I'm hungry. - Blue suddenly interrupted, turning the focus away from Ignacy. - How about you? - He looked at him meaningfully, almost pleadingly.
- I don't feel like eating. - Ignacy replied shortly, sensing that Blue was hiding something.
Blue coughed, drawing attention to himself. Ignacy looked at him, then understood his unspoken message. He swallowed, breaking the silence.
- Maybe I'm just thirsty. - The redhead added finally, standing up with Blue. They both headed toward the kitchen, as if trying to distance themselves from the uncomfortable conversation. Ignacy couldn't shake the feeling that if they were alone, Blue might reveal more to him. This sudden desire to know the truth surprised him. He felt guilty for not giving his full attention to his siblings, but wasn't this just as important? After all, Emi was part of the plan to rescue Nulla and Teodor.
Emi glanced at them from behind, pretending to be busy working on his laptop.
- Don't you want to discuss the rest of the plan? - He suddenly spoke up, leaning out from behind the monitor.
Both men stopped mid-step and then returned to the sofa.
- Once we're inside... - Emi started, but paused upon hearing Blue's quiet whisper. - Am I interrupting? - He asked, raising an eyebrow.
Ignacy smiled slightly.
- He was just explaining to me about the red flags. - The redhead replied.
- That's what interests you now? - Emi looked at him suspiciously.
- Not really. - Ignacy replied dryly. - I can multitask. Actually, I'm more calculating the distance of Prometheus from that bank you mentioned. I remember passing it today with Jaśmin... - He hesitated for a moment. - Is it the one where you attacked that girl?
Blue jumped to his feet.
- You fought a girl?! - he asked, shocked.
Emi waved his hand, as if to downplay the situation.
- No. I didn't attack anyone. - The brunet explained.
Ignacy squinted his eyes.
- Good thing Jaśmin noticed you then. - Ignacy said quietly, recalling the whole situation.
- It doesn't matter. - Emi shook his head. - Let me finish.
Blue shrugged.
- If you want to talk, then talk. - The blue-haired one muttered, somewhat disappointed. - Just don't wake the others.
- You think they fell asleep that quickly? - Ignacy asked, sarcastically emphasizing the absurdity of the situation.
- If you want, you can go check. - Emi said tiredly, his words tinged with sarcasm, as if not believing anyone could still be asleep.
Ignacy looked at him as if seriously considering the joke, his expression thoughtful.
- Once we gather Nulla and Teo. - Emi said, preemptively cutting off any reaction from the redhead, his tone as hard as metal, leaving no room for doubt. - We'll trigger the alarm. - He looked at Blue, as if passing the burden of responsibility onto him. - That means, Blue, you'll trigger it. - He added, his words sounding like an order. - Meanwhile, I'll safely lead you to HIM. - A hint of concern crept into his voice, and a shiver ran down his back like a sudden chill in a dark night. - Then, I'll go back for that idiot. - He finished, his words resonating with determination.
- Sounds too simple to me. - Ignacy said, his doubts heavy like a thick fog, hard to navigate.
- If you want to complicate it, be my guest. - Emi replied, feigning indifference, but a storm of emotions lingered in his eyes.
- That's not the point. - Ignacy said, his tone tense, like a spring ready to snap.
- In two hundred and twelve percent of cases, complicated plans don't work. - Blue stated, his voice like a hammer blow, emphasizing the realism of the situation. - I say this from experience. Simplified plans often only have a fifty percent chance. - He looked at the redhead, his gaze heavy. - Ignacy, let's not complicate this more than we need to. - He added, his words like a seed of reason in this mad game.
- Anyway. - Emi spoke, setting the laptop aside as if shedding an unnecessary burden. - I've said everything. - He added, standing up from the chair, his back groaning with relief. - My back. - He said, stretching, as if trying to release the tension from his body.
- What are you doing? - Blue called after him, worried about what he might come up with next.
- There's not much time until four, and I have to be up for the second one. - Emi replied, moving further down the first corridor, his figure becoming more faint in the darkness.
- You're leaving me?! - Blue shouted, his voice echoing through the empty rooms like the cry of the lost.
- Quieter. - Ignacy replied, pressing his left hand over Blue's mouth, as if trying to suppress the alarming sound.
Blue looked at Ignacy, in shock, automatically stepping back, as if facing an unknown danger.
- What are you...? - He asked, pulling away from his large hand, which was as protective as it was strong.
- If there's any chance someone is still asleep, don't wake them. - The golden-haired one answered, his tone serious as a verdict.
Then, Ignacy stood up, turning his attention to Blue.
- Are you coming too? - He asked, a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
- Am I supposed to stay here with you? - Blue asked sarcastically, his gaze saying more than words.
- Will you stay? - Ignacy replied seriously, his eyes gleaming like headlights in the dark.
Ignacy looked at him, then, sighing loudly, turned away.
- I need to change the bandage. - He said, his tone like the rustle of leaves in the wind. - It's getting worse.
- Ah. - Blue nodded, as if acknowledging, a trace of agreement in his demeanor. - I'll go with you. - He added, grabbing Ignacy by the arm, his fingers like invisible threads that connected their fates. Together, they headed toward the stairs, and Blue began telling his story, painting pictures with his words. He described the desert gypsies who pierced his ears when he was fifteen, and their dance, which for him was like swirling sand, creeping into every crack of his memory.
- You have no idea how much that hurt. - Blue replied, stepping onto the middle stair. His voice was like heated ember, piercing through him, unveiling the weight of memories.
- That's why you're telling it so emotionally, huh? - Ignacy remarked, rolling his eyes as if to push away the intensity of his emotions.
- If it weren't for that situation, we'd never have found Teodor. - Blue said, his tone deepening, as though the memory was a coral reef hiding secrets within. - It was my intuition.
- Kind of like a butterfly effect. - Ignacy said sarcastically, his voice like a cold fog compared to Blue's emotional wave.
- A what effect? - Blue asked, scratching his head as if trying to figure out the unfamiliar term. - Never heard of that definition. - he added, with a hint of surprise in his voice.
- Then I don't know how you passed elementary school. You must've flunked philosophy. - Ignacy stated, his tone sharp like a jab, but with a clear hint of humor.
- I... - Blue began, his voice like a shadow in the night light. - Never went to school. - he said, and there was something in his words that resembled a solitary journey across a desert.
Ignacy stopped, a feeling of surprise spread through his body like a cold shiver. He had expected it, but even so, when he heard those words, he felt his blood thicken, and the tension in his body grew.
- You care about that? - asked the blue-haired one, his tone full of gentle concern.
Ignacy looked at him, his gaze like invisible threads connecting their emotions.
- Don't look at me like that. - Blue said, his voice tinged with discouragement, as if trying to defend himself from too much care. - I'm not stupid. - he added, with a confidence that was like a hard protective shell. - I can even speak long-dead languages. - he said, and his words sounded like echoes of the past that survived the test of time.
Ignacy felt a strange sadness that overtook him like an invisible wave. He couldn't pinpoint the source of this feeling - maybe it was from the turbulent emotions of the last few days, or perhaps because of the absence of Nulla and Teodor. He convinced himself that it was all part of a complicated game of emotions that he had to endure.
- Are you done yet? - a quiet, but firm voice of Jaśmin cut through the silence like a cool breeze on a hot summer day. In that moment, all of Ignacy and Blue's attention focused on him, as if his presence reminded them of the weight of reality.
- Oh yeah... - the Asian thought out loud, his voice still full of uncertainty. - Min. - His tone suddenly gained confidence, as if he were trying to regain control over the chaos surrounding them. - Help Ignacy with the bandages. - he added, rushing down the stairs, his movements quick and sharp, as though he were fleeing from something invisible.
- And you?! - Ignacy yelled, his voice trembling as if he wanted to hold onto the fleeting moment. It was a shout full of tension, echoing off the walls, hanging between despair and desperation.
- I forgot something! - Blue shouted back, his voice echoing through the space, as if chaotic energy was breaking into pieces. He was running away, leaving unease behind.
Ignacy turned, watching Blue disappear, as if trying to grasp the meaning of his words, while Jaśmin anxiously watched Ignacy. His gaze moved over the redhead's body, stopping at his stomach, where fresh wounds were visible.
- Doesn't it hurt anymore? - Jaśmin asked, but his voice was tense, almost forced. The question was more for appearance's sake than from genuine concern.
Ignacy felt a strange twinge of stress, as if every word from Jaśmin was weighed down with something more than he wanted to admit. He looked away, avoiding his piercing gaze.
- It's healing slowly. - he replied quietly, uncertainly, trying to make those words seem insignificant, though he knew they hid something deeper.
Jaśmin was silent for a moment, averting his gaze as if he didn't want to get sucked into the strange whirlwind of emotions that had unexpectedly engulfed them.
- Aren't you coming? - he asked, trying to sound indifferent, though something more lingered in his voice. - Did you forget something too?
Ignacy scratched his head, as if not quite sure how to respond to the question, as if he feared that any answer would bring them even closer.
- No, nothing. - he mumbled, heading towards the stairs. - I need to change the dressings. - he added, trying to sound practical, but every syllable was like a curtain meant to separate him from Jaśmin.
- I know. - Jaśmin replied, his tone unexpectedly firm, as if he wasn't going to allow Ignacy to escape for even a moment. - I'll help you. - His words left no choice, like an echo of decisions that had already been made.
Ignacy sighed heavily, unable to find words to distance them. He simply shrugged, turning his back to Jaśmin.
- If you want. - he tossed over his shoulder, but the tone of his voice betrayed unease. - He tried to hide the emotions that still circled around him like intrusive thoughts.
Jaśmin stood for a moment, watching Ignacy, whose figure was slowly growing more distant, though he still felt strangely close. The brunette sensed that Ignacy was trying to escape, but at the same time, he couldn't truly do so. Something was holding them back, something invisible.
- Are you coming? - Ignacy called, as if trying to snap him out of his trance.
Jaśmin nodded and followed him, his steps uncertain, as if something was pulling him back, though he didn't know what.
- Go to the room, - Jaśmin said, his voice softer but still tense, like a string ready to snap. - I'll bring bandages and ointment. Just wait.
Ignacy turned slowly, their gazes meeting. In Jaśmin's dark, chocolate eyes, Ignacy saw something elusive – a mirror image of his own doubts. He blinked, not knowing what to do with the feeling.
- I need to wash up, - Ignacy mumbled, throwing another ironic look. - You want to do that with me? - he asked, trying to hide his discomfort behind a veil of sarcasm.
Jaśmin didn't answer right away, his face remained impassive, though his eyes showed something more – a mixture of emotions he couldn't even understand himself.
- I see you're not doing too well either, - Ignacy said, his voice sharp like a blade, cutting through the tension. - Have your wounds reopened? - he added, extending his hand toward Jaśmin.
- What are you doing?! - Jaśmin shouted, stepping back violently, as though Ignacy's touch was unbearable.
- I just wanted to check if it was healing properly, - Ignacy replied, surprised by his own tone, which had turned cold again, as if he was trying to protect himself from something he didn't want to understand.
- Worry about yourself, - Jaśmin spat, his voice sharp but full of uncertainty he couldn't hide.
Ignacy smiled crookedly, but his eyes remained dead, empty, as if he was fleeing from emotions he didn't want to feel or see.
- I'm going to wash up, - he announced, opening the white bathroom door. - If you want to help, wait in the room, - he added, then disappeared behind the door, leaving Jaśmin in silence.
Ignacy disappeared behind the bathroom door, and Jaśmin remained standing, as though rooted to the floor. He took a deep breath, feeling his chest rise and fall with an unsettling regularity that brought no relief. Everything inside him screamed to leave, but his legs remained still, as if an invisible force was holding him in place. The silence after Ignacy's departure felt heavier than usual. The sound of water droplets behind the bathroom door began to softly hit the floor, and Jaśmin realized it was a quiet rhythm, hypnotizing, pulling his thoughts away from the uncomfortable emotions. Still, each sound reminded him that Ignacy was just behind, close but at the same time far – as if an invisible boundary existed between them, one they both couldn't cross.
- What am I doing? - Jaśmin thought, clenching his fists, trying to control the trembling of his hands.
The thought of leaving this space seemed tempting, as though departure was the simplest solution. "I should go... leave it all behind." But he didn't move. His body didn't respond, as though something was trapping him, holding him in place. Or maybe it wasn't the body at fault, but something deeper – something he didn't want to admit, even to himself.
- Min? - Leopold's calm, almost nurturing voice broke the tense silence. The brown-haired man stepped closer, looking at Jaśmin with a faint smile on his lips. - What are you doing here? - he asked, his tone light, but an echo of concern lingered beneath it.
Jaśmin, as if caught in something he couldn't explain, lifted his gaze from the floor and fixed it on the white ceiling. He tried to find an answer in the endless white, but the words didn't come.
- I... - he started, his voice sounding grotesque, uncertain, as if each word was too heavy to speak. It wasn't like him – usually so composed, confident. Something in him had broken.
Leopold, ever alert, sensed the note of uncertainty but, instead of probing further, smiled widely – as he always did, concealing any possible emotion behind his smile. His smile was his shield.
- I see, - he replied, pretending to understand more than he actually could. - Do you need more bandages? - he asked, tossing the question casually, though his eyes watched Jaśmin's reactions closely.
The brunette looked at Leopold, still saying nothing. The silence between them stretched like a thin, taut rope, on which they both balanced. But sometimes silence spoke more than words. The answers Leo was searching for were in that silence – in Jaśmin's gaze, in his subtle confusion.
- Let's go to the kitchen, - Leo suggested, not pressing further. - I saw some leftovers there, - he added with a slight smile, as if offering something completely normal, unaware that Jaśmin looked like the world around him was about to collapse.
Jaśmin nodded silently and followed Leopold, though he felt every step pulling him in the opposite direction – away from Ignacy, yet at the same time, something kept pulling him toward him, like an invisible force he couldn't describe or understand.
***
- Is this enough for you? - Leopold asked, handing Jaśmin a large yellow bowl filled to the brim with bandages and various oils and ointments.
Jaśmin looked at its contents with a mixture of uncertainty and concern, holding the bowl as if it weighed more than it should.
- Do you think this will help him? - he asked quietly, his voice carrying a trace of hesitation.
Leopold shrugged, glancing around the kitchen as if looking for something else.
- I don't know, - he replied without much emotion. - There's nothing else here, - he added, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.
Jaśmin looked again at the bowl, his fingers tightening around its edge as if seeking some form of support in the gesture.
- I think he'll manage, - Leo said, this time with a note of certainty in his voice. - He's been through worse, - he added, looking at Jaśmin with a smile meant to reassure him.
Jaśmin swallowed, feeling a strange tension in his stomach. Finally, he dared to ask the question that had been sitting at the tip of his tongue for some time.
- Leo... - he began uncertainly, as if he wasn't sure whether he should even ask. - Do you know Ignacy? - His voice was soft, almost indistinct.
Leopold looked at him in surprise, and then, almost involuntarily, patted Jaśmin on the head, a rare gesture of warmth from him.
- Not like you think, - he answered gently. - I only know him from stories.
Jaśmin nodded, trying to hide his disappointment, but he felt an increasing need to ask more questions. He wanted to know more – about Ignacy, who he was, and why he stirred such conflicting emotions in him. But at the same time, he felt alienated, as though he were digging through someone else's memories that weren't his.
- Although, to be honest... - Leopold paused, as if searching for the right words to express his thoughts. - In all those stories, he came across differently. - His gaze clouded over, as if he were returning to past memories. - My friend portrayed him as someone hostile, claiming Ignacy hated his family. In particular, he was supposed to hate his brother; my friend said he only pitied him. - He spoke, but a hint of doubt began to creep into his voice. - And from what I've seen... he really does care about them. In a different way... or rather... I don't know. - He finished uncertainly, losing his confidence with every word.
Before he could add anything else, Blue's voice suddenly interrupted their conversation.
- What are you doing? - he asked, walking into the room and casting a suspicious glance at Leo.
Jaśmin looked at Leopold, but nothing could be read from the blond's face.
- We're looking for... - Jaśmin began, but Leo, as usual, spoke first.
- What's it to you? - he threw back with sarcasm in his voice, looking at Blue with open impatience.
- Just wondering, - the blue-haired one tried to explain, though his voice sounded uncertain.
- Never mind, - Leo responded gruffly, then turned to the teenager. - Jaśmin, - he began.
- Yes? - The brunette glanced once at Blue, then at Leopold, unsure of what to expect.
- I think you should take him the bandages, - Leo said gently, though firmly, nudging Jaśmin out of the kitchen.
Jaśmin didn't protest. The atmosphere had suddenly thickened, as though every passing moment held something unpredictable that would scatter them once again. He left the kitchen, and before he knew it, he was standing in front of Ignacy's door. The white, slightly chipped frame seemed to stare at him, as if waiting for his decision.
- Should I knock? - he thought, tilting his head. - I slept there too, - he reminded himself, looking for an excuse to cross the threshold.
He pulled the door handle. The door yielded, and before him stood a half-naked Ignacy. Dressed only in gray sweatpants and dark flip-flops, he looked almost austere. His damp hair dripped water down his pale shoulders, and his body, covered in circles of scars, seemed almost mystical – as if the past had carved every part of his skin into mysterious symbols.
Jaśmin, almost in a trance, took a few steps forward. His gaze fell on Ignacy's stomach, the defined muscles, and the scattered, irregular circles of scars. He didn't even notice when the door quietly closed behind him.
- Are you going to keep staring at me? – Ignacy asked, feeling the growing discomfort.
Jaśmin remained silent, his hands trembling slightly, and in an instant, he dropped the plastic bowl with bandages and oils. Without a word, almost instinctively, he moved closer, placing his hands on Ignacy's scars. The cold of Jaśmin's hands met the warmth of Ignacy's skin, causing him to stiffen involuntarily.
- You said the scars are healing… – Jaśmin muttered, raising his eyes, but then, embarrassed, lowered his head again, as if trying to escape his own thoughts. His fingers gently slid over the distorted skin, exploring each trace.
Ignacy sighed heavily, his own feelings tangled. He still felt that he wasn't paying enough attention to finding his siblings – Nulla and Teodor. And now... he felt strangely out of place. How could he be here, allowing this unexpected closeness, when their lives were at risk?
- I'm fine – he spoke quietly, pulling Jaśmin's trembling hands away as if wanting to escape the sudden intimacy. You should focus on something else, – he added, though unsure whether he was speaking to Jaśmin or to himself.
- Wait… – the brunette mumbled, more to himself than to him, then crouched down to gather the scattered bandages. Ignacy watched him silently, feeling increasingly uncomfortable. Could he really just sit here, instead of searching for his siblings? Something inside him was breaking – the guilt of not acting, not fighting for them, intensified the tension.
- Should I sit down? – he asked uncertainly, looking for some escape. He turned toward the bed, where clothes and wet towels were scattered.
- No, better lie down – Jaśmin tried to hide his emotions, but the tremor in his voice was palpable. It'll be easier for me to treat you.
Ignacy didn't respond immediately. He felt a mixture of frustration and internal struggle growing inside him. He sat on the edge of the bed without waiting for Jaśmin's reaction, trying to maintain control over the situation. The brunette remained silent, simply sitting beside Ignacy, and the atmosphere in the room thickened with a palpable tension. Ignacy tried to break the silence.
- What's in that bowl? – he asked, wanting to turn his thoughts away from the growing doubts. He felt he wasn't giving enough attention to matters that should be his priority – his siblings, their safety.
- Leopold gave it to me. – Jaśmin, with a small bottle in his hand, added seriously: – It's an oil, I'm supposed to rub it on you. It's made from hemp leaves and modru, but it also has... something neuro... nano... – he hesitated again, but finally added: – Nano silver.
A faint smile appeared on Ignacy's pale face, amidst his empty eyes, a moment of relief in their tense situation, as if they had forgotten the uncertainty surrounding them.
- Did you remember? – Ignacy asked, though deep down, he still felt his thoughts circling around his missing siblings.
- Yes... – Jaśmin admitted, but his voice was soft, as if he was fighting something within himself. – And you still have to lie down.
The redhead looked at him, uncertainty in his eyes. After a moment, he nodded, agreeing and lying down on the bed.
- Oh... – he asked, fidgeting with his feet on the mattress, as if trying to find a comfortable position in this new, strange feeling.
Jaśmin observed him closely, his gaze wandering over Ignacy's pale skin, contrasting with the scars that marked his fight.
- The bed's too short, – he noticed, focusing on the redhead's feet sticking out.
- A little bit, yes. - Ignacy replied, his voice more tired than usual.
Ignacy stared at the ceiling, as if trying to escape his thoughts, but each slight touch of Jaśmin's hand pulled him back into reality. The intimacy of the moment was beginning to overwhelm him. He didn't know how to react - each touch, each word spoken by Jaśmin stirred in him a feeling that, on one hand, he wanted to keep, and on the other, he avoided. He felt guilty for lying here, allowing Jaśmin to tend to his wounds instead of searching for Nulla and Teodor. A wave of conflicting emotions was building inside him, eventually pushing him to act.
Suddenly, Ignacy jumped out of bed, as if moved by an internal impulse. *What am I doing?* he thought as he stood over the bed, looking down at the scattered clothes.
- Is something wrong? - Jaśmin, holding a bandage in his hand, asked calmly, though there was a slight surprise in his voice. - I haven't finished yet.
Ignacy shook his head. He felt awful, as if his conscience couldn't bear the weight building inside him. His gaze landed on the white shirt next to him, and his hands involuntarily picked it up, quickly putting it on as if it were a shield. Jaśmin watched him, uncertain, with his eyes wide open, as if trying to understand what had just happened.
- I have to go. - Ignacy said quickly, almost avoiding Jaśmin's gaze, as if the look was too intense.
- You? - Jaśmin asked shyly, a faint blush appearing on his face, which he tried to hide. It was too close, too... sudden.
- I need a drink. - Ignacy mumbled, trying to find some excuse. But when he looked into Jaśmin's deep, dark eyes, something inside him broke. - Blue... - he said louder, as if trying to regain control of the situation. - I need to ask about the plan.
He quickly ran out of the room, slamming the door as if that gesture would shut behind him all the feelings that were surging inside him. His heart was pounding in his chest, as if it were about to burst, and he collapsed against the wall, clutching his heart with a trembling hand. *What's happening to me?* the question circled in his mind, but he couldn't find an answer. He heard footsteps from behind the door, from the room he had just left. He panicked.
- Is it Jaśmin? - the thought flashed in his mind, stirring even more anxiety.
He had to escape, he didn't want to face what was growing between them. Without thinking, he ran down the stairs, passing all the doors, barely noticing the rooms around him. When he briefly stopped by the door leading to Leopold's room, he heard a soft sob. For a moment, he wanted to enter and check what was going on, but then he brushed it off and moved on, as if nothing mattered except escaping. He finally reached the white sofas in the living room and collapsed limply onto one of them, exhausted not only physically but emotionally as well.
- Why does everything have to be so difficult? - he wondered, looking at the ceiling, which seemed to grow more distant. The guilt for not taking action, for not looking for his siblings, for getting closer to Jaśmin in a way that made him uneasy, all of it swirled around him like a heavy fog. Ignacy sat up, straightening, feeling himself getting more caught up in the chaos of his thoughts with every passing moment. Helplessness in the face of his emotions dominated him to the point that he instinctively ruffled his still damp, caramel-gold hair, as if that could help him in any way.
- But you're loud. - A sleepy, drowsy voice reached him. Only then did Ignacy notice that Blue was curled up on the sofa opposite him, resembling a sleeping cat. Blue sat up half-conscious, sitting next to him.
- Did he bandage you? - the Asian asked, squinting. Ignacy remained silent, unsure of how to answer. Blue looked at him, shifting his gaze from top to bottom. - I think so.
Ignacy wanted to steer the conversation elsewhere. Any thought of Jaśmin brought inner turmoil, so he quickly asked: - Why are you sleeping here?
Blue rolled his eyes as if the question were obvious.
- I got kicked out. - He answered with the expression of a pouting child.
- Kicked out? - Ignacy repeated, trying to calm the beating of his heart, which was still pounding heavily after the situation with Jaśmin.
- Emi kicked me out of the room. - Blue explained, with a hint of resentment. - All because of that rat.
Ignacy furrowed his brow, not understanding.
- I mean Leopold. - Blue continued, settling more comfortably. - I had a bit of an argument with him in the kitchen, and Emi can't be objective.
- What was it about? - Ignacy asked, although he didn't really want to delve into the conversation.
Blue looked at him with a surprising gleam in his eyes.
- Do you really care? - The Asian boy widened his eyes dramatically, and before Ignacy could deny it, Blue had already sat down beside him, full of unhidden enthusiasm.
- I didn't mean to talk to him - Blue began to explain. - I went into the kitchen because I saw the light on. And there stood Min... - At the sound of that name, Ignacy almost recoiled. - Is everything alright? - Blue asked, leaning forward a little.
- Yes, - Ignacy muttered, trying to regain his composure.
- So... I went in and saw Leopold too, so I asked what they were doing. And he... he immediately started getting aggressive.
Ignacy repeated in disbelief: - Leo?
- If you don't want to believe it, then don't - Blue muttered, shrugging. - Emi doesn't believe me either.
Ignacy was grateful that the conversation was diverting him from his inner conflicts. Thoughts of his siblings and Jaśmin were starting to fade into the background as he listened to Blue, whose every word was causing a slight confusion but also relief in Ignacy.
- I told Leopold what I thought of him, and he started insulting me. He dragged Emi, Sebastian, Teresa... and even Teodor into it. - Blue furrowed his brow, as if he couldn't believe it himself.
Ignacy froze.
- Teodor? - he repeated in disbelief. - What does Teodor have to do with this?
- I don't know - Blue answered with a look of disappointment. - Emi interrupted the whole conversation before Leopold could get into it. I even let him insult me to find out more.
Ignacy slumped onto the couch, as if all his strength had drained away with the ongoing conversations. He felt himself sinking into the soft material, seeking escape from everything that was happening around him.
- Hey, are you sure you don't know him? - Blue broke the silence, lazily lifting his head.
Ignacy stared at the ceiling, as if among the invisible stains and shadows, there might be answers to the questions that had been tormenting him for a long time.
- No, - he finally answered, trying to collect his thoughts. - I don't know him. In school, I focused all my attention on Pen and Teo. I was pretty popular, but I only talked to them.
Blue sighed with clear disappointment, his head falling onto Ignacy's lap as if he had suddenly lost interest in the conversation.
- You're useless, - he muttered resignedly, closing his eyes.
Ignacy felt his heart start to slow down, exhaustion again taking control of his body. Feeling embarrassed by Blue's closeness, initially tense, he slowly began to relax. He stopped reacting to what was happening around him, as if everything was becoming increasingly distant.
- And you're not? - he replied sarcastically, not having the energy for a more elaborate comeback.
Blue stretched and yawned, barely opening his eyes.
- You know, you're actually cool.
- Actually? - Ignacy smiled but couldn't help the sarcastic tone in his voice. - You know how many others would give anything just to lie on my lap?
Blue shifted, trying to find a more comfortable position.
- They're hard, - he stated, as if it were obvious. - But other than that, I don't know why you don't seem as stupid as you did in that bus.
Ignacy smiled faintly.
- You seem more... clean, - he replied after a moment.
- I smell like almonds, - Blue joked, lifting his hand and bringing it close to Ignacy's face.
Ignacy gently pushed Blue's hand away.
- More like nuts, - he corrected with a slight smile.
Blue looked at him a bit more seriously, though his eyes were clouded with fatigue.
- If something happens to me tomorrow, you need to take my place. Otherwise, Min won't be able to boast about having a cool older brother, - the Asian boy replied.
Ignacy remained silent for a moment, trying to find the right words, but before he could speak, he heard the gentle, even breaths of Blue, who had fallen asleep peacefully, as if the entire conversation had never happened.