“… And she was brought here, huh.”

“Yes…” Charlotte said as her eyes fell to the wooden table in front of her.

They sat inside a private room in the hospital. Olimpia was atop a wooden chair which had a cushion in top of it to soften its hardness with the same design as the table. Charlotte used a similar one with different color schemes while Kamile rested on the wall behind Olimpia.

Olimpia continued after a while. “I hope you understand what it means for her to be here.”

Lifting her eyes, Charlotte answered. “If you’re talking about its prices, then yes. Kiri helped me through those.”

Nodding, Olimpia’s lips softened upwards. “Is that so? Then everything’ll be easier. But that’s not all.” She shook her head with her fingers caressing her long hair. “It’s mostly a rumor, but it’s best to know about it than to be surprised. People say that the hospitals sell organs before the patient dies and their personnel work towards that end, telling their acquaintances there were complications and they died.”

“Wait, really?”

“Rumors, remember? It’s not clear if it’s true as people just talk about their misgivings in a twisted way, trying to blame the bad luck to others. What is true is that the hospital sells a dead man’s body once perished. A consent is necessary, of course, but most accept it.”

“I see, so I have to be cautious even in here.”

“Sadly, it’s like that. Going back, let’s talk about what’ll happen with that girl.”

“Right, her name is Betty.” Charlotte said between nods. “She’s stable right now and is expected to awake tomorrow, Tuesday at the latest. The medic said she doesn’t have any chance of recovering the mobility of her legs by herself, that an intervention is needed.”

“That’s harsh, huh. What do you want?”

“I want her to be able to use her legs as soon as possible, so I’ll convince her.”

“That’s no small amount you’re talking about, right?”

She shook her head. “It’s a least 40.000, going further up depending on any complications and the time spent in here. But you don’t have to worry, I got it covered.”

Olimpia’s left brow shot upwards. “Oh? I didn’t know you had that amount saved.”

“Hahaha, well, that’s almost all I have. I hope I’ve enough to cover all expenses… Oh, right, I need some help with changing currency.”

“Hmm, I can help. How much?”

“Everything, I don’t have much cash in FC. Everything is in gers, by the way.”

“Alright, I’ll see what I can do.” Olimpia nodded, bringing the room to a comfortable peace.

Charlotte started to chew through the last sandwich she had. Olimpia brought out a terminal and typed on it. Time went slowly before a knock came to the room; Charlotte turned to the door at her side while Olimpia turned it off before nodding to Kamile. He walked to answer the door.

“G-Good morning. I was told Mr. Hiro is currently here?” Said a nurse.

Kamile stepped back to allow the nurse entry.

Charlotte rose to her feet. “Hello. It’s me, is something the matter?”

The nurse sighed with a hand closed tightly in a fist over her chest. “Yes! The woman you’re in charge of, Betty, regained consciousness a few minutes ago. The doctor is already with her.”

“Really!?” Charlotte answered with her eyes open wide as well as her mouth before the later curved into a big grin. She turned to Olimpia, whose brows knitted together and eyes were fixed on the table. “What’s wrong?” Charlotte said, imitating her.

Olimpia lifted her eyes. “… It’s too soon for her to wake up. I’m worried something is wrong.”

“What? Like what?” She tilted her head, her frown deepening.

“No. I might be overthinking. Let’s go check on her.” Olimpia shook her head before standing.

“Alright?” Charlotte turned to the nurse, easing her face.

“Follow me.” She answered with a smile, her lips trembling in the corner.

They walked fast to the specialized room Betty was in. They entered first to the narrow passage she had come to earlier and waited for the medic in front of Betty to go away. Before she was allowed entrance, the guy manning the way halted her steps.

“You can’t get like that. You’ll endanger those inside.”

“Huh?” Charlotte blinked twice before looking down at herself. She still wore her tattered and dirty attire; her hands were clean but she was sure her face wasn’t.

“Don’t worry about it.” Olimpia said. “We won’t take long, just clean it after we leave.”

“T-that’s…” The man faltered, not daring to face to renown woman directly.

“Don’t make me repeat myself.” Her voice grew cold, making him take a step backwards. Olimpia took a step into the other room.

Charlotte followed closely behind her. “Is that alright?”

“Of course. I know these procedures are there for a reason, but we won’t approach anyone. They clean after each visit anyway, they’ll have to do it more thoroughly this time, that’s all.”

“Okay.” Charlotte nodded as her feet started move faster, leaving her friend behind, she halted two meters away, as instructed. “Betty?” She said softly.

Betty was in the same state as before, her face covered with a mask except for the eyes, which opened slightly with a smile. “Hi… ro.” She said between rough breaths.

Charlotte fought against a drop threatening to come down her cheek with a smile as big as she could muster. “Don’t worry about anything. Just focus your mind on recovering, alright? I’ll handle everything. You don’t have to trouble yourself about anything, understand? So, don’t let yourself be fall to the lies around here, okay?”

A sole tear ran down Betty’s left cheek as she swallowed unspoken words. The two remained in silence for the next few minutes. Betty closed her eyes after the first minute of silence went by, body demanding for rest and her mind accepted, letting her consciousness fade after seeing and hearing Charlotte’s words. Charlotte followed her action, going into the colorless space to check on her body. There was nothing wrong with her, only an excessive regeneration caused by White Prism’s actions, which explained her consciousness returning so fast.

She opened her eyes, keeping them fixed on Betty until Olimpia touched her shoulder. “We can’t stay here anymore.” Charlotte looked at her before turning back to Betty.

“I have to leave now,” Betty jolted awake at her soft words, opening an eye, “I’ll come to check on you every day. Stay strong and get healthy soon so we can go play again. See you tomorrow.”

Betty nodded before closing her eyes again. Charlotte waited some seconds before turning around. She walked past Olimpia to the door leading to the narrow passage. She paused on the window to see Betty once more.

Olimpia waited next to her until Kamile came back with a medic behind him. She turned to them and spoke with a business-like voice. “Hello. I’m Olimpia from Luxuria, I hope I don’t interrupt your busy schedule.”

The medic’s lips quivered before he answered. “O-of course not. How could it be. What can I be of service to you?”

Charlotte’s eyes kept fixed on the bed Betty rested on while her ears registered the conversation going on next to her.

Olimpia nodded. “I hope I can get a full diagnosis of that girl’s situation.”

“That girl? I don’t know who you’re talking about.”

“The girl you were talking to a few minutes ago, Betty.”

“That, h-her, yes. Allow me to tell you, then.”

To Charlotte’s relief, the man didn’t say anything she didn’t know about. He mentioned about her fast recovery and how impressed the medics were. He stated that the surgery was best done as soon as possible to prevent any rejection from the healing body if they let it as it was. Olimpia agreed with him, emphasizing their responsibility and honesty as medics with Betty’s treatment.

“You didn’t have to threaten him that much.” Charlotte said as they walked past the hospital’s front doors.

“Oh? You realized that?” Olimpia asked, her lips lifted in an amused expression.

“How could I not? The poor man was trembling.”

Olimpia chuckled. “Yes, but he trembled because he lost someone to exhort more than he did because he was in a precarious situation. They all have their backs protected by powerful entities, they don’t fear us that way.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“Obviously, you didn’t, at most you know who you’re dealing with, how would you know about those working behind them?” Olimpia chuckled to Charlotte’s drop of her shoulders. “Anyway, let’s do as we discussed. You’ll go get it and bring it to my place, Kamile’ll accompany you. Oh, and please, make yourself presentable, you’re such a mess.”

“Right. I’ll see you in a while.”

The two parted away, Olimpia got into a vehicle waiting in front of the hospital and Charlotte walked to the subway station some streets away with Kamile.

After climbing the stairs to her apartment Charlotte was met with a happy surprise.

“Eve!” She shouted, getting the attention of the girl sitting in front of her door holding her knees to her chest.

“Hiro! You’re finally here! I was so worried about you!” She ran to her, pausing a meter before Charlotte, her eyes going up and down. “What happened to you?”

“Well, I got involved in a little incident.” Charlotte answered with a sigh before a mischievous grin came afloat. “Weren’t you about to hug me?”

“E-eh, no, you’re so dirty…” Eve took a step back as Charlotte started to approach her with open arms, a smile on her face. She retreated slowly, covering her chest with her arms, she looked around for a way out and opened her eyes wide, pointing behind Charlotte. “He! There were some guys like him this morning! They came out of your house and you didn’t answer the room after that, I was so worried! I thought they did something bad to you!”

Charlotte paused and looked back with a raised brow, receiving a nod from Kamile. “It doesn’t matter,” she turned back to Eve, “I believe they were just looking for me. Anyway, come inside, I need to take a bath first. I’ll be leaving in a while. Sorry, I can’t play with you today.”

Charlotte went into her house before an answer came, Eve followed her inside and Kamile closed the door behind him.

“Make yoursel-ves at home,” She said, looking over her shoulder, “I’ll take a shower. Ah, don’t bother about breakfast, I already ate.”

She left them behind in the living room and went to her room. She looked for a change of clothes and a clean towel in her bag of mess and went inside the bathroom.

I can finally take this dirt off my face. Almost all my makeup was so destroyed I couldn’t clean my face in the hospital… To the point I had to make it semi-permanent to avoid my freckles and real face visible. Such a hassle.

Charlotte took off all her ragged clothes and turned on the shower.

Eve sat in the big couch of the living room, to her left sat the big man in a suit who had accompanied Charlotte back, occupying the single sofa. If not for the mild movement around his chest and shoulders, Eve would have thought he was dead or a robot.

“Uhm, do I know you?” She said unable to endure the silence anymore.

He turned to her with a raised eyebrow. “Why do you think so?” He asked with a soft voice, lest he intimidated her.

“Th-that, I don’t know… I find you somehow familiar.”

He nodded. “If I’m not wrong, this’d be the second time we meet. The first time I brought Hiro to your place, she was unconscious at that time.”

“Ah! I remember! Sorry, at that time I thought you did something wrong to her and behaved badly to you.” She turned her face down to the table for a moment before going. “Ah! You know Hiro is a girl?!”

“You don’t have to worry about what happened at that time. And yes, I know she’s a girl, I came to know about it today, actually.”

“Today… What happened?” She asked with a hushed voice.

“I’m not that clear about it, either.” He lied with a smile. “She was in a pub with some friend when someone came and made a mess of the situation. Her friend is in the hospital right now after suffering greatly because of it.”

“A friend? I didn’t know she had friends… Oh, how silly of me.” She hit her forehead with a hand. “Of course, she’d get to know more people, she’s such a sweet girl. But she could’ve told me...” With a pout on her face, her lips turned into a smile.

“How did you get to know her?”

“Oh! Let me tell you about it!” She then started to recount their meeting and how they became close to each other.

Charlotte came out of her room with a small bag strapped to her shoulders to find Eve speaking with Kamile with stars in her eyes. She looked at the spectacle of a little girl, taller than her, talking with a big wall of muscles as he gave her his total attention. The one doing most of the talk was Eve, with Kamile only nodding and answering with short words.

“Sorry to put an end your time, but I’m ready to go.”

Eve turned as fast as she could and smiled as she got on her feet. “You’re finally out! Where are we going?”

“That…” Charlotte smiled wryly before continuing. “I can’t play with you today, a friend got in an accident and is in the hospital right now, I need to bring some money so she can be treated.”

“Oh, right! Your friend Betty, right?”

“How?” She looked at Kamile who nodded back at her before signaling to the side with his eyes. “Right, he must have told you.”

“Yes! Can I go with you? Please? I want to meet her!”

“Yes.” Kamile answered before Charlotte could say anything, which made him get a fleeting glare from Charlotte.

Eve turned back to him with a smile. “Really?! Thanks!”

Charlotte sighed. “Right. Oh, I left my cap in my room, can you get it for me? Eve?”

Eve nodded exaggeratedly before running to her room.

“What’s the deal?” Charlotte said with a frown after she heard Eve entering her room.

“Two things. Is the money on it?”

“Yes, I counted it already. I’ve got 45 grands in here. But that’s not what I’m asking.”

“Of course. Let me tell you, it could be dangerous for her to go back to her place now. We’re followed to here. It’s safer if she comes with us, she can give an excuse to her parents afterwards.”

“That, I didn’t know.”

“I can’t find it!” Eve shouted from her room.

“Keep searching for it!” Charlotte answered in kind. “I’m sure it must be somewhere! Maybe in the bath!”

“One of my men followed us and informed me after we arrived here. Don’t worry, nothing bad is going to happen to you or your friend. We’ll do a clean up after we leave.”

Charlotte messed her previously arranged hair. “Alright, thanks.”

“I can’t find anything!” Eve came out of her room with dropping shoulders.

Charlotte turned at her with a smile. “Really, let me help you, then. Oh, you carry this.” She threw the bag to Kamile before going to her room.

After a minute of unfruitful search, she remembered she had lost it the previous. After Eve forgave her with a fit, they went out of her house and walked to the subway towards Olimpia’s place.

Inside the elevator going to Olimpia’s floor, Charlotte turned to the gapping Eve. “Listen. Even if I also consider Olimpia a sister, you should be respectful with her, she’s someone extremely busy and of importance, Ok?”

“Alright.” Eve said without a change in her expression, garnering a chuckle out of Charlotte.

Kamile returned her bag and stood at the side to Olimpia’s house as Charlotte turned the handle open. Going in, Olimpia waited for them next to her sofas.

“My, I wasn’t expecting a friend of yours coming.” She said with a smile.

“Sorry, I didn’t want her coming either. She’s Eve, I told you about her-“ She swallowed her following words as her body was pushed backwards, her height decreasing a few centimeters while a pair of arms surrounded her neck and her legs in an awkward position.

“I’m the first one!” Eve stated as she hugged Charlotte’s head to her chest. “I don’t care if you’re older than me, I’m the first one to become her sister so you have to be polite with me!”

“Excuse me?” Olimpia maintained her smile as the corner of her eyes twitched.

“Eve? Can you let me go?” Charlotte patted the girl’s arms.

“No! I don’t like her smell! Nor her fake smile! I can’t leave you with someone like that!” She applied more strength to her embrace.

Olimpia remained in silence while her lips started to compete with her eyes.

“What’re you? A dog? Anyway, let me go.” Charlotte twisted her left arm and pinched Eve’s side, below her ribs.

“Ouch!” She squealed, jumping back and massaging her old injury. “Why did you do that?!”

“I should be the one asking that.” Charlotte sat on the floor with a plop after losing balance, she turned her face to Eve with a frown. “I told you to behave, didn’t I?”

“But-!”

“Don’t worry about it, Hiro; brats cannot be reasoned with.” Olimpia said after walking to her, open hand extended to her.

Charlotte grabbed it to get on her feet, caressing her butt. “She’s usually quite meek, though. I don’t know why she did that.”

Eve glared at Olimpia before turning away.

“Well, let’s not worry about it and start our business.” Olimpia turned around to her couch, followed by Charlotte. “Did you bring it?”

“This is why I don’t like her.” Eve whispered. Charlotte ignored. “If she considers you her sister, she wouldn’t be doing it so business like.”

“Alright.” Olimpia started once the two of them were seated. “First, we’ll make it seem as if she owes us for this, that’s so we can check on her whenever it’s required. Second, I’ll make arrangements for her operation to be with our own.”

“Huh? We never talked about that.” Charlotte tilted her head.

“Yeah, but I think it’s the best course of action. We don’t want any doctor from there to be involved, I don’t think they’ll behave otherwise.”

Charlotte nodded before her neck was hugged softly from behind. Lifting her head, she saw Eve with a frown.

“It’s like doing a deal with a devil.” She said. “You shouldn’t do that.”

“I’m not doing this because I want to.” Charlotte smiled at her. “It’s because I need to, I don’t want anything bad happening to her.”

“It’s so fishy.”

“Chill, dear.” Charlotte lifted a hand and caressed Eve’s ear. “I know what I’m doing.”

“Yeah, go away, brat.” Olimpia shooed her away. “Let adults handle things properly.”

Eve stuck out her tongue to Olimpia’s grin. Charlotte sighed and decided to ignore the incomprehensible situation between the two. She gathered her sisters’ attention before continuing with the procedures she had to take. The best date for the surgery, the time Betty was to be in the hospital and how long in each area. The less the better, but if done wrongly, she wouldn’t get to recover properly.

Charlotte stretched her hands after two hours. They just finished talking about the different possibilities and scenarios that could become possible, as well as the actions to be taken. Most of the time, however, was spent between the two quarreling and Charlotte trying to mend their bickering. She walked to the kitchen to prepare a meal, leaving the two to fend for themselves, her shoulders heavy by their attitude.

If Eve is a puppy, what is Olimpia? She amused herself in thought as her hands moved to a carrot. A cat? No, cats would normally straight up ignore that kind of thing or would attack without care, right? She’s actually enjoying it, even if her face doesn’t show it…

They parted from Olimpia’s after filling their bellies, Kamile accompanied them to the exit of the building, telling her in between lines that the followers had been taken care of, so he wouldn’t be following them.

“I don’t like her!” Eve said once they were alone.

Charlotte couldn’t help but breath out exaggeratedly. “… Why? You just met her.”

Eve cocked her head to the side. “I don’t know, I just don’t like her. Her attitude, her expression, her everything. It irks me!”

“… Just, try to behave, ok?”

“Hmp!”

“I can’t bring you again with me if you keep being so stubborn, you know?”

“That’s unfair!”

“No.” She shook her head. “It’s only fair, I don’t want you to be in danger. If you can’t handle things as they’re required, there’s no way for you to come with me.”

“B-but, I want to go with you…” Eve said with tears on the corner of her eyes.

“And I want you to be safe. You already know what you need to do, what’s so difficult?”

“I hate fake people. I already told you! Her attitude, her expression, even her voice and how she sat, they all seemed fake!”

“Heh, then, do I seem fake to you?”

“What? No! For all I know, you’ve never told me a lie…” Eve brought a finger to her lips before continuing. “No, you did lie to me once.”

“Oh? Really? What was it?”

“Your age!”

“That, is certainly true.”

“So? What’s it?”

“What’s what?”

“Your real age!”

“Hmm, let’s just say I’m a little bit older than you, ok?” She answered, making Eve pout in dissatisfaction.

They remained in silence while on the subway. Once they were close to Eve’s house, she said. “I’ll try to behave.”

“That’s more like it!” Charlotte beamed back.

“So, I want to go with you tomorrow.”

“Go with me? Oh, the hospital.” Eve nodded in response. “Hmm, what about your school?”

“It doesn’t matter if I don’t go.”

“It does.” Charlotte said with force in her voice. “You go there for a reason, you still have so many things to learn, I already told you about it, didn’t I?”

“But only one time won’t make much of a difference, you know? I’m also paying more attention in classes. So, please?”

“Ha, alright, but only tomorrow. You have exams soon. Oh, and I have work, so I can only go at noon. I’ll meet you at the hospital.”

“Alright, thanks!”

After leaving Eve near her house, Charlotte walked to her own, tumbling on the bed and sleeping throughout the afternoon.

The next day, she helped Dr. Murakuma with the dead man’s body during morning and then headed to the hospital at noon without eating anything.

She met Eve at the hospital’s entrance and walked together as the two of them talked while on the way to where patients in critical condition were. Going into the narrow-glassed room, the two waited for a moment, looking through the glass. There were no doctors in the room. Charlotte sighed after more than five minutes had gone by without anyone in charge coming in and walked to the door.

“Call a medic or a nurse.” She said in flat tone to the only thing with them, a robot. She turned around, arriving next to Eve with a raised brow. Shrugging, she said. “They can’t do much more than intended, there’s no meaning to hold a conversation with them.”

A few minutes later, the same medic who spoke with Betty the previous day arrived. He told her that Betty’s recovery was extraordinary, they could start the operation that very same day if the specialist was to arrive. Unfortunately for her, the arrangements were already done, so there was nothing she could do.

“Hey Betty, you up?” Charlotte said after the medic allowed her passage, Eve waited in the previous room.

Betty opened her eyes slowly, smiling through the cables in her head. The mask over her mouth was changed to a smaller one, allowing her mouth to be somewhat seen. “Hiro, I’m happy to see you.”

“Me too, I’m happy you’re doing so well. You heard the news?”

“Yes,” she answered in between breaths, “I’m having the operation tomorrow. I heard I got in a big bet…”

“Don’t you worry, I told you I’ll take care of everything, remember?” Charlotte smiled as softly as she could.

“Why?”

“I promised you.”

“You don’t have to…”

“Don’t be silly.” She went left and right with her head. “Worry about yourself first, we’ll talk about it after you’re out and fine.”

Charlotte then shared with her the following day’s operation schedule and the time she would be expending in the hospital.

“What happened there?” Betty asked after Charlotte finished speaking.

“There? In the pub? I thought they briefed you on that.”

“No… They just said there was an explosion.”

“Yeah, well, a suicide bomber rushed in, there’s nothing much I know. Apparently, there’s a new group trying to destabilize the balance inside the city, or so I was told.”

“I see…”

Charlotte turned back once her time inside the room was finished and walked to the narrow one Eve was in. There was a middle-aged couple in wait next to Eve, tears in their eyes. Charlotte went out after telling them everything was ok, that everyone inside was out of danger, making the couple cry out.

“Why did you do that?” Eve asked as they walked down the corridor to the exit.

“Hmm, I thought they needed a little bit of hope, it shouldn’t be lost... I wasn’t expecting them to react that way.”

“It doesn’t matter! What are we doing next?” Eve said with expecting eyes, making Charlotte sigh.

“I’m going to grab something quick to eat, I need to be back at my job in a before one.”

“Oh, you’re working now… I forgot, what do I do…”

“Go back to your school or something like that.”

“But that’s so boring! I wanted to be with you today!”

“Sorry, honey. I’m free on weekends only, we can spend all Sundays together.”

Eve pouted for a moment and continued to make plans for the next time they met.

They took different routes once in the subway, Charlotte to her job’s and Eve to her home.

At the end of the day, Dr. Murakuma told her she didn’t need to come next day, he had been told about the events she went through and what was about to happen the following day. Answering with a smile and a thank you, she went to her home.

Charlotte arrived to the hospital at 9 the next day to talk with Betty before the operation to ease her mind. She was taken to the surgery room soon after that, leaving Charlotte in the waiting room. She sat on the bench and closed her eyes, entering the colorless space. She followed all the procedures calmly after she recognized who was in charge of it, it was the doctor in charge of the augmented people in the Luxuria office she met two weeks ago.

Thank you, Olimpia.

The surgery went without problem, if anything, they installed a more advanced looking device on Betty’s back. She couldn’t mention it, however, as its exterior was identical to the one she was told about. I need to know what it does, I hope it’s not bad for her.

She spoke a little bit with Betty before the medics told her Betty needed rest and sent her away.

The following days were a resting period for Charlotte. She had to work almost every day, but they mostly gave her time to think and ponder about things as there weren’t that many cases. She went to the hospital every day to check on Betty during her lunch break or on weekends when she could spend more time with her. The evenings were spent while practicing with White Prism. She didn’t spend that much time to be with either Eve or Olimpia, but she always spent the weekends with them.

She went to Olimpia’s place the first Saturday’s afternoon to express her thanks and spent it all with her.

Fifteen minutes after Charlotte left, Olimpia received another visit. She waited in the living room of her apartment for the guest to arrive. The door opened to the guest who immediately came in without a care.

“Hello,” she said with a smile, “I didn’t think we’d meet again so fast, Mr. Farid. What brings you here?” Offering the seat in front of her.

“Hello, miss Olimpia.” He walked to the single sofa and sat before continuing. “I’m here to talk about Hiro and the dangers she may bring to the city.”

The smile in her lips transformed into a thin line, her demeanor lowering the temperature of the room.

“Dangers? What dangers could bring such a sweet girl like her?”

“Please, let’s be open with this.” He said as he brought out a folder from his jacket and put it on the table, sliding it to Olimpia’s side. “I hope to hear what you have to say, I won’t do anything until she causes trouble for the city.”

Looking at the letters on the folder, she frowned. On it were only two small phrases.

File # 2B5B1E.

Charlotte Eschete.