3.Belief and doubt
It is almost midnight and there's a place with a ruined building,where no one exists or approaches frequently.The environment in residence with it is so calm and silent.Prerna and Mythri walks out from the building and sits down on the steps,taking heavy breaths."Are you sure it is safe here?", asks Prerna."I think so.All I know is this place is not a good neighborhood,which makes the people not to come here", says Mythri."Okay,it's already late.Let's just head home and we will come here tomorrow as early as possible", says Prerna."Okay" says Mythri.They walk to the road from that building.Prerna stops and takes a look back and continues walking.The night passes and the day arrives.It is early in the morning and Mythri arrives to the ruined building,at which they were present at night.She finds Prerna sitting on the steps already.She rides towards her asking "Hey,when did you show up?" asks Mythri."Just a few minutes back.I brought some food and required medications", says Prerna.Mythri smiles at her saying "Shall we go in?".Prerna takes a deep breath saying "Yes".They walk inside slowly and reaches a corner of a room,where someone is taking a sleep,who is none other than Ronec.He is injured and unconscious from the time Prerna and Mythri found him,the previous night.As soon as they found him alive,they both brought him to this place,made some arrangements for him to take a nap.As he was unconscious,they both place the medication materials they brought on the floor.Prerna takes some cotton,applies some spirit to it and wipes his wounds,continues applying some Iodine.Mythri walks around him and cleans the wounds on his face."Why isn't he awake yet?", asks Prerna."I don't know.All I can say is he is not in a good condition", says Mythri.As they are treating him,they see that his toe make a movement.They both look at each other and smiles.But then,Ronec gets up all of a sudden,which freaks out both Prerna and Mythri,as they rush far ahead from him,hiding behind a ruined furniture present there and sneaks on him.Ronec looks around as he doesn't know where he was.He finds Prerna and Mythri sneaking on him as he talks out "Hey,who are you.Why are you sneaking on me".Prerna and Mythri remain silent.He gets up slowly and stands "What is this place,where am I", says out loud.They doesn't respond to him as they were in fear."Hey,you both.I asked you a question and you are not even responding.Where the hell am I!", Ronec shouts out loud.Mythri speaks out with a shivering voice saying "The people around here say this is one of the haunted places here", and continues talking to her with a low voice "And for the first time,I found it freaking haunted".Ronec questions her "Why Am I in a place like this?How did you guys bring me here?"."Uhmm,you were found unconscious last night with injuries all over your body,so we brought you here as we don't know where to take you", says Prerna and comes out of hiding.As she came out,Ronec looks at her as he sees the shoes she put on.His eyes grow bigger as he asks her "Where did you get them?".Prerna remains silent with fear."I am asking you,where did you get them?", Ronec shouts out loud moving on to her.Mythri comes in between,defending Prerna saying "She found them in some kind of object,that hit the ground a couple of days back", Mythri speaks out loud.Ronec remains calm,looking at Mythri.Eventhough Mythri's heart is filled with fear,she makes her appearance fearless by looking into his eyes.He steps back saying "I need to get out of here first",and he feels a bit dizzy and falls down.They both make a little movement to get him up,but ends up doing nothing.Ronec stays calm for a while as he says "May be after taking some rest".
They both offered him some food to eat."I have to admit that this tastes good,Earthlings", says Ronec."Well, don't call us like that.I am Mythri and she is Prerna", says Mythri."Okay Mythri and Prerna.I am Ronec and I am from a planet called ZULU.Ever heard of it?", says Ronec."Umm,no", says Prerna."Well you wouldn't,cause no one knows it exists", says Ronec."Well,it's better to keep it that way or else you would end up people laughing at your face as soon as they hear the name of your planet", Mythri talks in a low voice."What did you say?", asks Ronec."What,nothing", says Mythri.Ronec stares at her for a while as Mythri approaches him,applies a bandage to the wound on his head."Ouch,you are keeping more pressure", says Ronec."Sorry", says Mythri."Hey,why are you treating me here in a place like this.Doesn't your planet have any health care centers?", asks Ronec."Yeah Mythri,why don't we take him to a hospital.With our treatment,he can't be cured fast", says Prerna."I thought it wasn't a good idea", says Mythri."What?What do you mean by that?",asks Prerna."Okay,the first thing is,he is not one of us.He is from outer space and we don't know anything about him,like he could be a good one or a threat to us.And the second thing is,I saw it in the news that Police discovered an unknown object near to the coastline with some foot marks around it,I doubt it might be him.The way he appears pins a doubt in everyone's mind that he is not from us", says Mythri."Well,what's wrong with my appearance?", asks Ronec.Keeping his question aside,Prerna interrupts by asking "How did you know that he is not one of us?I mean,Apart from his appearance,he looks like a normal human being!"Mythri sighs for a bit and says "You see his hand,there's a symbol which looks same as the one on your shoes."Prerna looks down to her shoes."Well,this symbol resembles our family.Each and every family on Zulu has their own unique symbols", says Ronec."I don't know about that but that's the thing which made me think that you are not from here", says Mythri."How had you remembered the symbol on my shoes!I mean,I am using them but I didn't even think of it", says Prerna.Mythri smiles a bit saying "Prerna,that's where the difference is.I see them as a pair of shoes and you see them as a power that makes you run fast".Ronec gets alerted by those words of Mythri as he says "Runs fast!".Both Mythri and Prerna looks at him."Did you just say that she runs fast?", says Ronec."Yes", says Mythri."How,how much fast?", asks Ronec."Ahh,she bought my favourite Ice cream in a nick of time which takes a 20 minutes ride on bicycle.But,why are you asking in a way that you don't know about this?", asks Mythri.Ronec remains calm for while as he speaks out "It worked".Mythri and Prerna looks at each other as Prerna says "What worked"."The shoes.They worked in creating speed and made you run fast", says Ronec with saddened face."My father would have been very happy knowing that his work is not wasted", says Ronec.Silence fills the space between them for a while as Prerna steps forward and asks "What happened to him?".Ronec remains silent without saying any word.Prerna,standing behind him looks for a while and says "Uhmm,okay!You can say when you are ready" and steps back.Prerna hears Ronec's voice from her back as he says "His name is Magnus.People on my planet used to call him as Brainbox,which means a clever person.He is so fond of technology.He always tries to invent something new,something that helps to achieve what you want.That thought pushed him towards creating something that never existed in the Universe.All this time,he worked on it and by the time I had known that his work is succeeded,he is not alive to listen."Ronec turns towards both of them and says with pride "I want to shout out about his success until it reaches him wherever he is by saying,it worked Father.The ENIGMATICO ,it worked", he shouts out with his both hands in air.Both Prerna and Mythri looks at each other with a question mark in their faces and looks at Ronec,he still remains in the pose."Oookkk!What is it!", asks Mythri."What is what?", asks Ronec."The name,you just said.What is it!", sasy Mythri."It's my Father's creation.It's the success of his work.The shoes your friend is wearing,is a part of the Enigmatico", says Ronec.Both Prerna and Mythri confuses for a while as Prerna asks "A part?What do you mean by a part?I thought it is the shoes that you are calling with that freaky name"."No,no.The Enigmatico is a made up of four supernatural things which makes the person who wears it,undoubtedly strong", says Ronec."And what are the other things?", asks Prerna."Two hand gloves which gives you ultimate strength,a waist belt which makes you invisible and finally,the deadliest and intoxicating,ENIGVA", says Ronec.Prerna looks at him with a confused face again for a while and says "I have never thought I would listen to some words like these"."So,you are saying that,the freaky name thing…", says Mythri and gets interrupted by Ronec saying "Enigmatico".Mythri continues saying "Whatever it may be,it is made up of these things you said,which most probably resembles a suit for a person who wears it"."Yes", he says."And the thing,Enigva you said.What does it look like?", asks Mythri."Well,it has a size of our arm with both of its ends sharp and pointed", says Ronec."So,it's a weapon", says Prerna.Ronec and Mythri looks towards her."Your father tried to build a warrior,by giving him ultimate powers and finally,he succeeded in it".Ronec remains listening to her saying nothing."Yesterday I saw it in the television.Five unknown objects hit the Earth at same time but in different places.One of them consists of these shoes and the other one has you in it", says Prerna."Yeah,my father and I arranged them in different pods and he launched all of them along with me to here", says Ronec."Yeah,that was clear.But the question is,why did your father seperate them.I mean,he has a chance to launch all of these in a single piece.But he didn't go with it.What might be the reason behind it!", says Prerna.Her question strikes Ronec as he thinks for a while and talks out "That's it.He knows that he would come after these.Even though he finds one of them,he would still remain weak without the rest of Enigmatico,unless he gets Enigva".Prerna looks at him with a doubtful face asking "Ronec,about whom are you talking?".Ronec panics for a bit as he remains calm,but then,Mythri interrupts by saying "Ahh Prerna.I think it's time for us to go,or else we would be late to school."Prerna keeps looking at Ronec as she says "Yeah".Mythri calls out her name.Prerna responds to her "Yeah,fine.Let's go"."Okay Ronec,don't go anywhere.Just take rest,we will come by evening", says Mythri."Yeah,fine", says Ronec,sighing a bit.Both of them makes a move from there with Prerna looking towards Ronec while she is leaving.Ronec lets out a smile.He hear their voices fading out as they leave with Mythri saying "Let's go.Do you want to end up standing outside!"."Why are you being like that!With these shoes on,I can take you to school in no time", says Prerna.Ronec remains standing,thinking a lot as he looks upward.
Prerna and Mythri used to come over to the place where Ronec is kept for the next few days,in order to treat him and feed him.Friendship seemed growing between them.With the time,Ronec's injuries healed and he seems in good condition now.So he decided to move from there to another location of another pod.One day,Prerna came through and Ronec asks "Hey.You are alone.Where is your friend?".Prerna responds by saying "Ahh yeah.She said that she will be here in few minutes and asked me to go first"."Okay!" says Ronec."Seems like your wounds healed", says Prerna.Ronec looks over his body saying "Yeah,it is.Thanks for your help.Both of you".Prerna smiles a bit and says "You never said how you ended up there,falling unconscious"."Oh,yeah.I came after the pod which appeared near to me,but it isn't,lost my energy and you know,popped down", says Ronec with a humour."Which appeared near?How did you know about that pod?Your pod is too far from this one", asks Prerna."Uhmm,you see I had this device which keeps tracking these pods.So,among all the other,this one appeared nearer.I came all the way here walking and fell down,then you got me", says Ronec."So,with this device of yours,we can track only the pods but not the things in it!", says Prerna."Uhmm,yes", says Ronec."Okay,why only the pods,why not the things in it?I mean,you know,it is the things that are important to be tracked,not the pods right", says Prerna."Okay,first thing is,those aren't things,it is Enigmatico.So,stop calling it that way and secondly,as you said,if it is designed to be tracked,there would be a chance that they might track it too", says Ronec.Prerna alerts by his words by asking "Who are they?".Ronec stops for a second and thinks how his tongue has slipped.Prerna keeps looking at him and Ronec being wordless.He tries to speak something out and then,he says "Hey,your friend is here", by seeing Mythri who just came by.Prerna turns back and sighs for a bit.Mythri walks towards them saying "Seems like someone doesn't like me coming over here".Prerna looks at her saying nothing."Hey Ronec", says Mythri.He treats her as well.Mythri talks out to Prerna asking "Why didn't you wait for me?".Ronec immediately looks at Prerna as she remains calm saying nothing.Ronec understands and says "She is so curious about her shoes,she wanted to know more about it which made her patience not to wait for you,I think".Mythri smiles and says "Yeah,she is curious always" and unzips the bag she brought with her and takes out some clothes saying "Here Ronec,wear them".Ronec takes the clothes and asks "These are for me?".Mythri says "Yeah!"."Thanks", he says."You're welcome", says Mythri,smiling.Ronec stands still holding the clothes,looking sidewards,being wierd.Mythri observes him for a while and says "Oh,uhmm,we will be outside,just change yourself", and she holds Prerna and both of them walks outside.Ronec lets out a smile.They come outside with Mythri saying "I am an idiot,I didn't even understand how awkward it was.You should have told me", sees towards Prerna.She remains calm,not paying attention for what she is talking."Hey,Prerna,are you there?Hey" she calls out and Prerna responds."What?", asks Mythri.She speaks out saying "I don't know but I think,he is hiding something from us".Mythri looks at her asking "Hiding?What made you think like that?"."I don't know,he never said what is the purpose of making these things,he never said how his father died", says Prerna."Yeah but,he is in grief right,about his father.I think he will open up when time comes.He believes us Prerna", says Mythri."Yeah may be,but still he is an outsider.I tried making him talk about his stuff but always ended up with some kind of interruption", says Prerna.Mythri stares at her asking "Some kind of interruption?what do you mean by it Prerna?"."I didn't mean anything,I just wanted to say that he is hiding something from us,that's it", says Prerna."So that's the reason you came here alone without me.You think I am an interruption", says Mythri."What!!No.No,no,no Mythri,I didn't and I would never think of you like that", Prerna tries to explain her and then,Ronec comes out saying "Hey,how do I look!".They both remain silent by his words,looking at each other but not him as Mythri says "Huh,I need to go.I don't like to interrupt anymore", says Mythri and starts walking from there."What?", says Ronec.Prerna calls her but she walks out from there without responding.Prerna makes a dull face and sits down calm.Ronec asks her "Hey,what happened?".She remains calm and he asks again.She says "Nothing"."Hey,come on,you can tell me,what happened", asks Ronec."I said nothing", Prerna shouts out loud.Ronec remains calm saying nothing as he doesn't understand why she is shouting at him."This is all because of you", says Prerna and walks out from there.Ronec gets confused about the situation what happened there.He doesn't understand why both of them left and Prerna saying that he is the reason for it.He remains confused and sits down.
Back on Zulu,the planet of Ronec,the place where Ronec used to live is destroyed by Triton's Army,everyone are trying their best to rebuild everything of theirs.But there are no one left to to take care of Ronec's home come laboratory,which was exploded by his father.As it was left alone,a person arrives there and walks into the ruined building,goes down to the passage which leads to laboratory.The path is blocked to go through,but there is a room beside left open to go.The person walks inside and finds some device.The person takes it which displays five dots,blinking on a map with their co-ordinates being highlighted.The person looks at it for a while and shuts it down.
……….to be continued
