It was the early hours of the morning, before the sun had risen, when Hazel and Sky reached the nearest shore.

The sky was painted with hues of dark blue becoming lighter and lighter, infusing the atmosphere with a sense of tranquillity. Wisps of distant clouds, like delicate brushstrokes, adorned the sky, their edges tinged with shades of pink and orange. Long shadows danced and swayed with the morning breeze.

"Damn that long trail of steep cliffs!" Sky complained. "I thought it would never end."

"Look! It's the algae bank!" Hazel exclaimed, pointing a finger. "Let's hope Kane Kovak told the truth about Haywire."

As the ocean gently swayed, the bank had indeed floated during the night towards the nearest shore. Many of those algae had already docked the bank on the wet sand. The vibrant hues of green and brown adorned the water, forming a living tapestry that stretched as far as the eye could see. The seaweeds, with their long, slender tendrils, intertwined and formed an intricate web, like a delicate lacework woven by the currents.

Sky and Hazel abruptly docked the boat on the sand and Sky jumped out. He rushed to the algae bank with a look of eagerness and hope.

"Haywire!" he yelled, but no answer came back.

He tested the algae bank with his hands. It looked quite solid. I hope it'll hold me.

His feet sank in the algae up to his ankles, but he could still walk on the bank.

"Be careful!" Hazel shouted with worry, on the shore behind him.

When Sky saw a round, deep dip a few feet away, he ran to it as fast as he could. This dip isn't natural. A weight is pressing on it, to be sure. It must be Haywire!

He rushed to the dip. Inside lay Haywire, unconscious.

After the ferocious phoenix attack, Haywire was left grievously wounded, bearing the painful scars of battle. Burn marks marred his once sleek and majestic form, covering his body in a tapestry of charred skin. Some of his once pristine metal feathers now hung awkwardly, twisted from the intense heat of the flames. The acrid stench of burnt feathers and singed flesh hung heavy in the air. His once vibrant plumage, now darkened and dulled by the fire and smoke, appeared ragged and dishevelled, reflecting his pitiful state of being.

"Haywire, big fella." Sky knelt beside his phoenix friend, sinking his knees into the water, and petted Haywire's head and back with teary eyes. "It's me, Sky. Can you hear me?"

Hazel stood by the shore, biting the nail of her thumb, her eyes glued to Sky and Haywire.

"Hey," Sky whispered sweetly. "Wake up, Haywire. Please."

His winged friend had a hard time opening his eyes, but when he spotted Sky leaning his head over his, the beast let go of a frail whistle. Then, he leaned his head onto Sky's stomach and lap. After a long, wailing whistle filled with the satisfaction of knowing that his human friend was there with him, he softly closed his eyes once more.

As Hazel laid eyes upon Haywire's ravaged form, her eyes welled up with tears, while a mixture of sorrow, pity, and affection took over her soul. The poor animal's injuries tugged at her heartstrings.

Sky briefly turned his face to her. She blushed.

"Help me push him towards the boat," he said. "We'll sail to the river below the Hovering Hive, where the krill breeders are. From there, I could rush back to the clearing and fetch my flying skateboard. Its engine can carry quite some weight. We can use it to tow the boat into the woods."

"Okay," she replied as she walked over to them. "After that, I can rush back home and bring you my Queen Bee Serum and my Dream Cream."

"What for?"

"Those are the day and night beauty products I use, but they're not just used as cosmetics. I read the information leaflet. It can also be used to heal, since they can repair damaged―and not just old―body tissue. I hope they will work on the animal parts of Haywire. I've got no idea whether it'll help with inner wounds, though."

"Good idea. Thank you." He smiled at her.

It took longer than they expected, but they managed to push Haywire from the algae bank to the shore.

Lying motionless on the sand, Haywire's massive body conveyed a sense of vulnerability and helplessness. His regal presence, now reduced to a fragile and unconscious state, evoked a profound sadness. The noble beast's breaths were shallow, his eyes closed, as if enveloped in a deep slumber from which he might never awaken.

"Now we need to dig some sand out and put the boat close to him," Sky said, panting due to the effort. "One last push from the opposite side, and we'll make him roll into the boat."

Hazel helped him do as he said.

A few minutes later, they had succeeded in putting Haywire on the boat. It wasn't big enough to carry him whole. The tips of his wings and most of his tail were coming out.

"Okay, we're good to go," Sky whispered, almost out of breath.

"We're almost there," Hazel said as she squinted her eyes and saw Anti-Ageing Inc.'s krill breeders in the river.

From a distance, the Hovering Hive emerged as a majestic sight, its towering structures suspended in mid-air, defying gravity. Glass lifts, like shimmering veins, connected the hive to the ground level below. Adjacent to the lifts, warehouses stood in orderly rows, serving as gateways to the Hive's thriving commerce. Fields of crops stretched as far as the eye could see, their vibrant hues dancing in the gentle breeze.

On their left appeared the dense expanse of woods, its lush greenery providing a stark contrast to the sleek, metallic structures.

"There's an hour left before sunrise," Sky said as they docked the boat to the riverbank which was nearer the woods. "We have to make the most of it before the first workers come."

When the work hours would start, diligent workers would meticulously tend to the plants, ensuring the crops flourished under their care. In the nearby krill breeding facilities, dedicated individuals would maintain the tanks, monitoring water conditions and feeding the tiny crustaceans with care. In the warehouses, workers would bustle about, organising shipments, loading and unloading goods, and ensuring a smooth flow of supplies to and from the Hovering Hive.

"I'll fetch my skateboard," Sky said in a hurry as he jumped onto the shore. "Back in a few minutes. Take care of Haywire."

"Sure, just go!" Hazel replied as she inspected the riverbank for security cameras and any suspicious activity. Luckily, there wasn't a soul in sight.

When Hazel lost Sky as he disappeared into the woods, her gaze travelled down to Haywire, who was still unconscious.

"This is madness, Haywire. I never thought tonight I would end up like this," she whispered to the noble beast as she petted his head. Her shoulders were hunched in a posture of defeat. "I know the chase and your wounds aren't my fault, but... I'm... I'm so sorry. I agreed to betray Sky's trust in exchange for a cure for my condition... to save my life."

Her fists clenched tightly, her knuckles turning white as she struggled to contain her overwhelming frustration. Her trembling lips quivered with regret, her whole being engulfed in a torrent of sorrow and self-disgust.

"When Sky had already sacrificed his gadgets and his freedom! Not only to save me, but also his aunt!"

A sob escaped from her lips as she sank her face into her palms.

"I'm so stupid... and selfish!" she cried.

As tears ran down her cheeks, she let out anguished sobs. Each of those was accompanied by a deep sense of shame that consumed her.

"What am I supposed to do now, huh?" she asked herself in a broken voice. "How am I supposed to lie to Mrs Evergreen, a queen who masters this wicked game better than anyone?"

Sky interrupted her angsty monologue as he rushed back to her on his flying skateboard.

"Thank God the batteries are almost fully charged! Otherwise, I don't think we could–" Sky stopped mid-sentence. "What's the matter?"

Sky's eyes widened in disbelief as he beheld Hazel's tear-streaked face, frozen in an expression of shock. His brows furrowed with deep concern. His lips parted slightly, but no words escaped as he stood there, momentarily paralyzed by the sight before him.

"It's nothing," she replied, wiping her tears in a hurry with the back of her hands. "Come on. We've got no time to lose."

Sky's furrowed brow promised her he would only let it go for the time being.

A moment later, Sky had tied the boat to the flying skateboard with a sailor rope they had found inside the same boat. He turned on the skateboard's engine at full speed, and the boat started to get traction.

"Come on!" Sky whispered, gritting his teeth as he pulled the boat from the front. "The clearing's not really far. If you break down, I can fix you later. Just don't fail me now, skateboard," he said as if the object could hear and understand him.

In the meantime, Hazel pushed the boat from behind, her legs in the river.

It took a good twenty minutes to get out of the riverbank and to make―what would've taken a person to make―a two- or three-minute walk on foot to the clearing.

Exhaustion weighed heavily on Sky and Hazel as they stood in the clearing, their bodies glistening with a sheen of sweat as the sun began to rise. Beads of perspiration clung to their brows, trickling down their flushed faces, while their clothes clung tightly to their damp skin. Their chests rose and fell with each laboured breath, their muscles aching from the physical exertion of carrying Haywire on the boat. Despite their fatigue, determination and a sense of accomplishment shone through their weariness.

"I haven't got the energy to take Haywire out of the boat," Sky admitted, panting. "Let's leave him sleeping on it for the time being."

"I couldn't agree more," Hazel replied, almost out of breath. "Okay, now. Can I borrow your skateboard?"

"To go back home? Sure." He approached the skateboard. "I just hope it will still work."

Sky untied the ropes around his flying skateboard and handed it to Hazel. His fingers brushed against Hazel's for a fleeting moment, causing a subtle electric current to pass between them. Their eyes met, and a hint of a blush coloured their cheeks. Time momentarily slowed. It was a brief moment of connection that left them both longing for more.

"I'll stay with Haywire for the rest of the night to take care of him," he mumbled. "I don't think I will be able to go to class. Can you cover for me, please?"

"Sure." She made a shy smile.

"And... hmmm..." He hesitated. "If you see my mother, tell her I'll be with you in a study session or something, too."

Their awkwardness was cute.

"Okay, don't worry. Hmmm..." She averted her eyes, blushing. "Sky, I... I need to say something," she whispered. "About why I was crying before."

Hazel's shoulders slumped forward, a subtle display of her timidity and insecurity. She avoided direct eye contact, her gaze fixed on the ground. Her hands fidgeted nervously, fingers twisting and intertwining. Occasionally, she bit her lower lip. Her body seemed to shrink in on itself, a physical manifestation of her guilt and shame.

"What is it?" he whispered back, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm an idiot." She let go of a nervous chuckle while sadness clouded her eyes. "I've been so ever since we left high school. I was driven by self-interest all the time. I put personal gain above all else. Maybe my parents educated me that way. They're Elite, like your mother. I don't know. Maybe... Maybe I should've seen through."

"How could you have seen through all this? We only learnt the truth about it all roughly an hour or so ago."

"I mean... Seen through Mrs Evergreen's lust for money and power."

Sky knitted his brows.

"I had a meeting with her yesterday, after the carnage," she whispered as if uttering that sentence physically hurt her.

"What?!" Sky's eyes widened in disbelief, his brows shooting up in surprise as the unexpected words sank in. His mouth fell open, his jaw slightly slack.

"She offered me salvation. A way to operate on my brain and get the aneurysm out, plus meds to make it all okay―forever. A definitive cure."

"Wow. But..." His features froze, a mixture of shock and astonishment etched across his face.

"Exactly. There's a catch. I..." Her body was tense with hesitation and shame. A faint blush tinged her cheeks, a visible sign of her embarrassment. "She made me swear I'd spy on you and betray you."

"What?!" His eyes were shot wide open.

"The photo. That was what she wanted," she confessed in a frail voice. "Proof of what you've been doing to become better than any other Elite student and soldier in a long time. She said she didn't believe you could make such spectacular progress in so little time. She was convinced you were hiding something big from her―and you are. Haywire."

Sky huffed with a sarcastic, deviant smile on his lips, as if being hurt momentarily amused him. "And you promised you would hand me over on a silver plate, didn't you?"

"I didn't know you had made a similar deal with her before I did!" she explained with open palms in a vulnerable gesture. Hazel's bright eyes glistened with an earnest plea for forgiveness as she locked her gaze with Sky's. "She scammed me! You have to believe me!"

She shifted her weight forward, leaning in slightly towards him, her body language conveying her desire to bridge the emotional distance between them.

"I'm so so sorry, Sky!" She was breathing hard. "I swear I won't tell Mrs Evergreen about your friendship with a phoenix―not even his existence! I won't breathe a word about our conversation with Kane Kovak either! Please, forgive me," she insisted in a weak whisper.

Sky's gaze flickered with a mix of disappointment and pain, as if searching for answers in the depths of her eyes. He took a step back and sank his fingers into his hair in annoyance. A frown creased his forehead, his brows knitted together in a display of inner turmoil as he gritted his teeth.

"For Christ's sake!" he yelled. He mildly shook his head in frustration. "Isn't there a place in the world where there's no need to lie?! Where there's no pressure from peers, society, and my mother?! A place where there are no scams or betrayals, no need to excel at everything we do,... where there's no need to fight or kill enemies?! Or..." he said as his lips trembled, "where there's no need to constantly watch your back or save the ones we love or else they'll die?!"

With a sudden burst of rage, Sky's body tensed. He gave her his back. His fists clenched tightly at his sides, knuckles turning white. A primal scream escaped his lips as he stared at the sky, his roar echoing through the stillness of the woods. He kicked at the ground, sending dirt and leaves scattering in every direction. Then, he put both palms over his face and breathed hard.

"If you want me to forgive you," he said in a stern voice as he turned around and seared her eyes with his glare, "you'll go back to the Hovering Hive in a heartbeat and bring back all that we need to nurse Haywire back to health."

"If you weren't willing to forgive me, I'd do it anyway," she whispered.

Hazel's eyes met Sky's with a resolute gaze, filled with a mix of pride and vulnerability. Her chin lifted slightly, a display of determination and sincerity etched on her face. There was a hint of a hopeful smile playing at the corners of her lips, a silent plea for forgiveness. Her posture radiated an unwavering commitment to make things right.

That's, surprisingly, a really good answer. Better than I expected from her. His eyes widened in sheer amazement. A soft gasp escaped his lips. A profound sense of awe washed over Sky's features as he beheld Hazel's unwavering resolve and vulnerability.

"I swear I'll make it up to you!" she shouted back at him as she disappeared into the woods on his flying skateboard.

The rays of the early morning sun peeked through the treetops and cascaded on Sky and Haywire, the latter still resting on the white boat.

"Do you remember the night we first met, Haywire?" Sky asked his winged friend as he petted his head while he slept. "My worries were insignificant compared to the challenges I'm facing now. Back then, I was only worried about becoming an Elite student and pleasing my mother. And now, I'm the only thing that stands between two titans who hate each other's guts and the death of those I love the most―and mine, probably. I'm just a teenager. What am I supposed to do?"

He sighed.

"Kane Kovak said to get access to a data- and command-transmitting device or something, to break the chain of command between Endurance and the swarm." He froze for a moment, deep in thought. His eyes widened. "That's it! I think I've got it."

A timid smile danced on his lips and his eyes brightened, when suddenly Hazel appeared, flying on his skateboard. She carried a large backpack.

As she climbed down from it, she said with enthusiasm, "Here, I brought you all I promised, plus some extra things that might help."

She opened up the backpack right next to Sky and a sleeping Haywire.

"The Queen Bee Serum I mentioned," she said as he unpacked, showing Sky all the items. "It's used as a day cream. The Dream Cream, that's the night version. I also brought some paracetamol and other painkillers. An antiseptic, some sterile gauzes, and more stuff from a first aid kit. A couple of blankets. Some water. Raw meat. I assumed he might get hungry..."

She hesitated for an instant and averted her eyes.

"Anyway, there are also some..." she said with shyness while a subtle blush tinted her cheeks, "homemade muffins I made yesterday. I hope you like them."

Hazel's adorable nervousness manifested in her fidgeting hands and a slight trembling in her voice. Her words were laced with a genuine desire to make amends. Her eyes darted nervously, seeking reassurance and approval.

Sky's face lit up with astonishment, his eyes widening in amazement. A gentle warmth spread across his cheeks, a rosy blush that betrayed his true feelings. At that moment, he couldn't help but marvel at Hazel's genuine care and concern. No other girl has ever cared for me like this.

"I promise I'll come back as soon as I can after class to bring you more stuff," she added. "The screen on my phone is broken, but the device still works. Send me a text or something to let me know if you need anything."

What she said and did to beg for forgiveness touched him deeply, leaving an indelible impression of gratitude and newfound admiration.

Then, she kissed his cheek and left the clearing in a hurry.

Sky's eyes widened in sheer surprise, his breath catching in his throat. Every nerve tingled with a mix of thrill and disbelief, his heart pounding in his chest as his cheeks flushed a deep shade of crimson.

Hello, my sugar cubes!

A first kiss... on the cheek. Hopefully, the next one will be on the lips. 😉

Stay tuned!

XOXO

Mar