The Red Nights

" Natasha, can you start briefing him? " Jamal told her, the woman glanced at him a little surprised but still obeyed.

She was aware that Andre had lost all his memory so she thought it would be better to start the introduction by telling him what has caused the world to change so much two years ago. However, when she was about to do so Lina stopped her, she explained that she didn't want to conceal anything from him nor did she want to minimize him by indirectly saying that he was not ready to hear about it, she told them what she felt that for the moment it was not something necessary for him to know even though they thought it somehow was related to the present events and that it would just mess up his mind rather than helping him to understand what they would say.

They reverted their attention to Andre as to ask him if he agreed with what she just said. He was obviously surprised as he hesitated a little before he gathered his mind to respond. " If you say so... I don't mind waiting anyway, as long as I can fully understand the situation... " the way he was talking was a little awkward, in a context, less serious Lina would have even found that hilarious, but they understood that he was just uncomfortable and they just had to let him the time to get used to it as they remembered that Carla, too, was a little shy expressing herself in front of them but, as that day proved it, she quickly found her place among them.

" But what about the possibility that his souvenirs come back and he starts seeing images of what happened that night? " Volga couldn't help pointing out that scenario.

" It would need a pulse element that would make him remember " Lina replied, she raised her hand and showed them a made a V with her two fingers while she was saying " whether he sees something familiar to his past that would wake up his mind or he goes through something similar to what he has lived in the past." She carried ob explaining her point before anyone tried to raise any questions, " either way that would still be things that would remind him his life before the catastrophe since there is no more trace of what happened that night ".

There was a moment of silence as everyone was giving a thought about the rationality of her arguments. As perspicacious as ever Volga was the first to raise an inquiry or rather a remark of her explanations, " so, in other words, you are suggesting to just let him recover his memory himself during this journey? "

" We are aware that this mission won't be a friendly promenade " Lina went on giving a clearer view, " he will without a doubt see horrifying things and they will be a sort of training for when he will remember the real horror that happened that night " she turned her sight to look straight at Andre as she was pronouncing those words what made him unintentionally trembling of fear though she didn't mean to scare him.

" Well, hard to find an argument against that " Volga admitted, she sighed before she slowly turned toward Andre and by accompanying a delicate move of the head she asked him " and you? In the end, it's your decision so what do you choose? "

All eyes were turned towards him as they were all waiting for an answer, at that moment he thought that he really had to work out on how to deal with this pressure of being the center of attention and at the same time getting used to giving his opinion out loud just like that present moment. He closed his eyes and started asking himself what he really wanted until he got his answer.

" As you all know, my goal is to find myself as such, to come to know who I am the knowledge of my past becomes indispensable " he paused, " but if there is a risk that knowledge will stop me or slow me on my path... I don't want to take it, I would rather take my time and learn things slowly as they come to me. My answer is no, though I know that one has to know where he came from to be able to know where he is going, here in my case... I guess I will be fine by learning on the way ".

Everyone was silent but the smiles on their faces we're enough expressive. " That's what we call a good reply, " Jamal said, satisfied.

" okay Nat', you can go on " Lina gave a little push to her friend which, by the way, she reacted, seemed to have taken her out from her thoughts. The woman cleared her throat before she started telling what they know about the recent events, in the middle when she was about to introduce the role Matteo has been in that adventure she couldn't remember if she had to keep the details about his ability secret or not and in the doubt to reveal everything, she thought that they knew now about her and Carla's powers there was no need hiding that too. Jamal and Lina didn't raise any objection not did they do any expression to show that she shouldn't have done that which was a good sign.

It took her at least a quarter of an hour to finish what she had to say.

Andre was silent sitting there staring at the floor, they inferred that he put himself in a deep concentration as he was trying to put all the information he just heard in order in his mind, the four people there didn't want to disturb him so no one tried to talk to him and they just left him be. They could understand the reason why he was taking his time like on contrary to the four of them, Andre had his memories erased so naturally, he would not have the same impression or reaction like them as it was like he just woke up in a world which was hardly making sense even for those who witnessed everything. " He would need time to assimilate everything ", that was the conclusion everyone came with.

" What about that girl? Dana? " Volga lowered her voice when she asked the two young women, Natasha and Carla, " her case looks to be the most serious so I cannot help wondering where she is now and if she is in danger ".

They glanced at each other as to decide who's going to respond to her, " we have been watching her for days now and she didn't give us any hint concerning who or what is threatening her " Natasha responded, her voice was not low but rather calm and soft, " whenever we would try to question her about that she would either turn herself into silent mode or she would just refuse to tell us anything ".

" Didn't you try to use... " Volga paused and leaned forward as if she was telling them a secret, " a more brutal way to make her talk- "

" No " Jamal almost shouted which was more like an objection rather than an answer, " we won't torture anyone," he said with a more calm voice.

Volga understood his point that he didn't want to cause any harm to a person who was already scared for her life and out of respect for him she didn't try to argue however she insisted on the subject and asked them again " but where is she now? Understanding her situation she should not be left without protection ".

" She was sick of having always sticking to her " Natasha continued, " she made a scene telling us that she wanted some time alone with her friends and in the end, we agreed to let have her time without us around ".

Volga didn't have to say a word since they already got what she was about to ask, this time Lina was the one to respond to her " if you are wondering if it is safe the answer is we are not sure, we just agreed to the fact that we won't get anything from her if we continue to make her feel like a captive " she paused to smile at the two girls and added " these two made a great job of dropping slowly her defenses and the result is that she is more open with them and seemed more at ease when they are around. They even managed to make her confess things about her past. Therefore, we didn't want to waste all these efforts by refusing her to see her friends, times to times. The city is quite safe so I don't think anything would happen to her as long as she is here, moreover, we have appointed someone to keep an eye on her plus we set a system for him to contact us immediately if anything happens ".

" But, that thing that is chasing her? " Volga came again by reminding them that shadow Dana has said was after her.

Lina waved her hand to show that it was a small matter while she was responding to her " there is no need to worry about it for now. If there was true that this shadow could come after her, here, it would have taken its chance during the night attack when all our main force was focus on the battle and thus there was no one to protect her, the reasons why it didn't do so is sure because it couldn't. "

" I see, pretty logical indeed," Andre said, everyone turned their heads abruptly towards the man as they were all surprised. " Since when did you come back to us? " Lina asked him.

" Enough early to understand what you're talking about " he simply said.

She shrugged, pulled herself to rest her back, and then after she smirked while taking glances at the people around, she sighed, and declared " well, I guess we're done so... shall we all take off our clothes and make things more interesting? "

" OK! " Natasha jumped in exclamation, " I think that's the signal to say that it's time to call off the meeting, we will keep you in touch for any updates " she pulled Lina by her arm and after making her stand up she tried to pull her out of the living room. " You killjoy, I know they all want it, " the latter said as she was almost out in the direction of the kitchen.

Volga smiled slightly, as she was always amused by Lina's humor. She turned the head on the side and asked Andre if he wanted her to give him a ride back to his home since they came together, he was about to say when he remembered that Matteo was sleeping upstairs he apologized and told her that he would want to wait to go back with Matteo as they lived in the same apartment.

Volga nodded to say she understood when she stood up she made a sign of the head to ask Jamal to come out with him, he understood that she wanted to discuss with him in private so he nodded affirmatively and followed her lead out.

She stopped at the entrance of the house and waited for Jamal to close the door behind him to start talking, " I understand your reasons to keep me out of this mission " she crossed her arms and even though she didn't let anything appear on her face it was quite obvious that she was irritated, " but one of the things I hate the most is when someone is trying to make decisions for me ".

" I'm- "

" You are the leader of the team. The one Responsible for the mission. And as such you are the one choosing who's coming or not " she guessed what he was about to say and took him in advance, " but my point is that while assembling your team you knew very well that you needed my help and still, without even asking me, you decided to put me aside because you judged that it's not better for me to come ".

She approached him and with her forefinger, she pressed his c.h.e.s.t to signify her emotions at that very moment, " I am the one who can judge what is better for me, got it? "

Jamal frowned at the idea of what she was inferring, " don't tell me...? "

" Of course I'm coming with you " she back off and declared suddenly.

" No," he said in a severe tone, she tried to protest but he looked categorical in his decision, " Volga do you understand that you are about to get married, you have your life with Don you have been dreaming of " he paused, " why would I let you screw that up by putting your life in danger? "

" That's my life, I have the right to choose what to do about it " she retorted almost immediately. " Don't think that you are the only one who wants to protect everyone? Do you think that you are the only one ready to make the sacrifices necessary for that goal? "

" You don't have to " Jamal replied, " you can have the 'happy end' of your story with Don, don't mess up everything, please ".

" Why would you be the only ones to make that sacrifice? What about your 'happy end'? " she said as her last try to make him change his hind.

He lowered his gaze and his voice and he said " we have been refused this right since long ago ".

At this answer, she didn't try to argue more neither did she try to no more about the meaning of his last words, without saying a word she turned around, walked toward her vehicle, and a few moments later she was off.

Jamal returned to the house looking sadder than disappointed to find that Lina was waiting for him behind the door. She seemed to have listened to the conversation as her first move was to hug him while whispering in his ear " it's okay, you did it for her own good, you don't have to feel bad for that " she, then, held his head and put a delicate kiss on his lips, grabbed him by his wrist and pulled him to the living room.