Episode 4: Possessor Base

 POSSESSOR BASE

It was all dark and Lisana could only here whispers. She was wandering in search of light then her sight caught of a glow. She walked towards it and the light glowed more and more and then she saw a silhouette standing still.

The figure was of a woman who stretched her arm out to her and whispered,” Lisa…Lisa.”

She recognized the voice immediately. It was of her mother. Lisana walked towards her but it seemed like her steps did not cover up the distance for they stood on the same location.

Mrs. Straus spoke again,” Do not give up. Everyone has to fight their own war.”

But as Lisana took a step, there was a flashback of her mother’s death and she took her step back. She saw Mrs. Straus standing but her nightgown was covered in blood and some of it dripped from the corner of her mouth.

Lisana gasped and opened her eyes. Her dark brown hair was spread on the pillow and on her side. The back of the shirt was sweaty and the bright yellow light above squinted her eyes. While laying down she put her hands on her face, rubbed her eyes and then tried to get up and groaned as her head was in pain.

A cheerful voice spoke,” Looks like the sleeping beauty is awake.”

Lisana turned her head to the side and saw a young man sitting, wearing a white medical coat who was adjusting his glasses and looking at her.

Lisana asked in pain,” Who are you?”

The man delightedly answered as if he was eager to tell her,” I am Doctor Oscar Twist.” He moved his hand towards her,” A pleasure to meet you.”

But she simply tilted her head to the other side, ignoring the greetings. Although it was rude of her but she was still in the trauma of her mother’s death so was not in her ‘good mood’. However Dr. Twist seemed a little hurt on her ill behavior and left the room, shutting the door behind him. Just after a few seconds the door creaked to open and appeared a girl. She was wearing a green sweatshirt and dark blue jeans which was tucked in brown long boots. Her red curled hair fell slightly below her shoulders.

Her gray eyes shined as she sat near Lisana and spoke in an appealing manner,” I am glad you woke up.” She poured water from the jug and gave the glass to Lisana,” Drink so you will feel fresh.”

Lisana took the glass in her delicate white hands and gulped in one breath. She was very thirsty and the water damped her dry throat.

The girl continued,” My name is Cortnie Malburry.” She passed a smile which made Lisana comfortable.

Lisana then started the conversation by asking,” Since how long have I been unconscious?”

Cortnie stood up and turned to take something out of a box and replied,” For two days.” She then turned to face Lisana holding some clothes and said,” We got worried as you were not giving us any response but then Jason assured that you were probably in this state because you used a lot of your ability.”

Lisana crossed her eyebrows in confusion and asked,” Who is this Jason?”

With a mild expression she said,” Oh! Looks like he did not tell you. Jason Cordana is the one who beat those men to save you and brought you here.”

At that Lisana felt like crying. If only he was able to save her mother as well. She fixed her gaze at the white sheet and held it tight on her side to control herself. Cortnie placed a black knitted sweater and pants on the bed.

Cortnie said,” These are your clothes. We got them from your home when you were fainted.”

She then walked towards the door and pulled the handle to open. Cortnie paused and looked back from her shoulder and said,” When you will be done changing then come out. The rest of the members would like to have a talk with you. You will receive your answers as well.”

With that she left the room and Lisana was alone. She removed the sheet from her and  tried to stand up. She was wearing a plain white gown. Someone must have changed her clothes. Lisana walked towards the window and pulled aside the curtain. It was night and the stars shimmered in the sky like diamonds. Through the window she saw mountains surrounding a square shaped building. It was only two floors tall and the lake in the centre was beautiful as it reflected the light of the stars in it. Lisana was standing in one of the corners of that building. She could see searchlights on and guards on duty who were patrolling the area. It was time to get some explanation so she walked away from the window and changed her clothes. The black sleeves of the sweater were long and covered the palms of her hands. She looked for shoes and found them near the table and tied the laces of her joggers. Her hair was coming in front of her while tying the laces and when she straightened up she casually brushed her hair with fingers and parted them onto the right side. They were silky and fell straight on her back.

It was cold in the hallway when she stepped out of the room. The lobby was lit with white lights on the ceiling. The walls were white and the there were murmurs of people. An aged woman passed by along with a boy who was holding some sheets and were talking as they walked.

“I suppose you are Lisana Straus?”

Upon hearing her name she turned to see a little boy with black hair and a similar pair of blue eyes. She nodded at his question.

He said, “Very well then. Let me take you to the Head Quarters where everyone is waiting for you.”

The boy turned on his heels and Lisana followed him. While walking she asked,” What is this place?”

The boy without looking at her answered,” This is the Possessor Base. It is a home to all  the ability wielders.”

“So all the people, I mean even those who are working here are wielders?”

“Most of them. The rest are like our allies. The Base is divided into four wings. The Medical Wing where you just woke up, The Ammunition Wing, The Research Wing and the Head Quarters where everything is controlled and meetings are held. There are rooms for us in that wing as well.”

Lisana was impressed by the complex structure but also amazed at the management as if everything went according to the clock. Not a second late and not a second early. They were now at the end of the Medical Wing. The glass door opened  automatically through its sensors and it led us to the entrance of Head Quarters.  It was completely different  from the Medical Wing. Unlike it this part was not as brightly lit and after every few paces yellow lights lit the lobby. There were also large windows which were covered with blinds and the floor was of mahogany wood. Lisana had to walk for a few more minutes when they finally reached a dark wooden door carved in designs. The boy opened it and Lisana went in with him. It looked like a drawing room. There was a huge chandelier in the centre of the roof and small spot lights surrounded it. The central floor was covered by a maroon  carpet printed with faded golden lines and the room was decorated with elegant and expensive furniture. There was a young woman sitting, probably in her late twenties on a light blue couch; reading a newspaper. Opposite to her was sitting Cortnie with a young gentleman.

Cortnie upon seeing waved at her and said,” Lisana come sit here.”

She pointed at the pale golden arm chair. Lisana hesitantly walked and sat. The woman sitting adjacent to Lisana folded her newspaper and spoke in a pure British accent facing towards the boy sitting next to Cortnie,” Where is he Harry?”

The ginger haired boy replied,” I do not know. I did tell him to come by now.”

He then ordered the little boy,” Go call your brother.”

Lisana then realized that the boy did look familiar when she first saw him. It was because he shared the same hair color and had same blue eyes.

The boy objected,” Why so? He is your best friend.”

Harry sighed and then grinned at him,” Okay then.” He stood up and was walking towards the door. “I will tell him that Zen lost the book Jason lends him.”

At that Zen stood up and tried to stop Harry from not telling and their sounds of negotiations ended as both of them left the room. The woman now was facing Lisana who said,” I am sorry about your mother’s death.”

Lisana not knowing what exactly to say simply nodded.

The woman then continued,” I am Mavis Thatcher the Head of this Possessor Base. I am responsible for the actions of every wielder and non wielder here and have full authority of making decisions according to the laws. Now that you are here I welcome you on behalf of this Base to become a member.”

There was no time to think as Mavis did not actually ask her to become a member of the Base. Lisana was about to say something when the doors of the drawing room opened up and came forth Jason carrying a lacquered wooden box. He was wearing a dark blue full sleeves shirt and jeans. The lines of his muscles on his arms were  prominent from the shirt and his black hair tousled.

“I am sorry for being late,” excused Jason. His blue eyes met with Lisana’s and said,” How are you feeling now?”

Lisana  cleared her throat and replied,” Better. Thank you for your hospitality.”

Jason nodded and said,” I was actually cleaning this box.” He handed it over to Lisana and  continued,” Cortnie and I found it back at your place when you were unconscious.  We did not open it, thought it might belong to you.”

Lisana took the book and spread her fingers over the initials of the box. They were L.S. The alphabets were written in golden and embossed in the wood.

Lisana stared at the box with brooding brown eyes and said,” The initials are of my name but I have not seen it before.”

Cortnie cheered her up,” Now do not look sad. You will not know what it is if you will not open it.”

Lisana smiled at her and opened the lid of the box. There was a letter in it and beneath it was a locket. She picked the locket in her hands and looked at it. From the silver chain a snowflake shaped pendant was hanging. It was the size of a thumb’s nail and was studded with transparent light bluish turquoise stones.

Cortnie was leaning to look at the locket. Her eyes shined at the transparency of the stone and said,” It is so beautiful. What kind of stone is it?”

Lisana looked at it with keen eyes and then said,” Aquamarine. My…my birthstone.”

Mavis spoke to get her attention,” Lisana open the letter and read what it says.”

She did as she was told and tore it open. Her eyes moved from one corner of the page to the other to scan each word it held.

My Dearest Lisa,

You did not tell me what you wanted for your sixteenth birthday so I thought of giving you this locket as you like jewellery and hair accessories a lot. The snowflake is studded with your birthstone Aquamarine and it represents your ability of ice. At first I thought to give it to you by myself but I might not have time with me and when you will receive this letter I would be probably dead. I thought of writing a letter the way you wrote me when you were little upon giving me a present. You have no idea how happy you have made me through the years; caring and loving me. I pray that you get all the happiness in the world which I was not able to give you. Happy Sweet Sixteen!

Stay happy and blessed my beloved daughter.

From,

Your Mother

A drop fell on the paper. Then another, but Lisana controlled her third tear which was about to fall. She closed her eyes for a few seconds looking down. The watery eyes damped her lashes.

Jason asked,” So it was your birthday that day?”

Lisana shook her head avoiding eye contact and said in a low voice,” It is day after tomorrow. Mama must have prepared it for then but what does she mean by this? She knew she was going to…”

Her voice trailed off and did not speak further. She put the letter and the locket back in the box and stood up. Jason stood opposite to her and moved away to give her space. She was walking out of the room holding the box against her chest. Mavis gestured Cortnie to go with her and she left the room with Lisana.

Jason was staring at the closed door and said with a worried look on his face,” How did Mrs. Straus know she was going to die that day?”

Mavis straightened her newspaper and sighed, “I do not know myself but it will be difficult for her to move on after losing another beloved. ”

“Another?”

Mavis nodded and said,” I looked into her past.”

Cortnie escorted Lisana to her room. There was not just a single room but many of them on both sides of the lobby. The room number of Lisana was seven. None of them spoke while they walked and when they reached the room Cortnie said in a low voice,” You will be staying here from now on. You will be safe here. The servants set the things we found at your apartment. Still if there is something missing we can buy it tomorrow.”

Lisana passed a smile and said,” Good night.”

“Good night to you too.”

She entered the room. It was not too big but quite spacious. There was a big window opposite to the door and white silk curtains tied neatly, letting in the moonlight. In between two side tables was a king sized bed and a small dressing table. Lisana put the box on the side table. She threw herself on the bed, tightly held the pillow and cried her eyes out that night.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***