REDSNOW: Awakening

Chapter 26

DOPPELGANGER

I see Jenika gulping, her eyes shaking, after witnessing my ability.

"Who are you?" she asks again.

"We told you, we're from the Academy and we have these abilities," I say as I touch a portion of the rope wrapping around Pain's body. That wasn't really a direct answet, but we can't tell her our names either.

"Thanks," Pain mutters and gets freed from the rope.

"Now, if you want to find your mom, you'll let us help you," I say in a convincing manner.

She clenches her jaw and as if beginning to believe what she's seeing and hearing, she nods.

"W-What can I do to help?"

I mentally sigh out of relief. She's finally believing us.

"Give us that picture, that's all," Pain answers. "We'll find your mother through that."

Jenika hesitatingly gives the portrait of her mother to Pain. She's probably still in shock.

"Don't worry, we promise to save your mother no matter what," Pain says, making Jenika look slightly relieved.

"C-Can I come with you?"

"No," Pain says sternly. "We can't afford to put anyone else in danger. But you can help us by information. Do you have any idea where that man who took your mother might be? Any lead?"

"Unfortunately, none. I've been searching for almost a week now."

Almost a week?

I close my eyes in disappointment. We're back to zero. But at least we now have that picture. I hope it helps.

"Then, sorry. But I have to..." Jenika yanks and yelps when Pain injects the sedative on her arm. "...use this," he continues.

"What did you just..."

Jenika's eyes begin to lose consciousness and when she starts to crumble, Pain immediately catches her and lets her sit on the chair.

"That was such a smooth move," I mutter.

Jenika didn't even have time to take a defense. Pain was able to swiftly draw the sedative out and point it on Jenika's arm.

"Brought by experience," he says. "Let's go."

And just like that, we went out of the warehouse. That annoying—Harry was it?—is probably still there at their restroom, dealing with the diarrhea-like sensation in his stomach. It made the job easier. Pain is really good at missions. He knows just what to do.

"Is she gonna be okay?" I ask Pain.

"She will be okay. Probably all groggy when she wakes up but she will be fine. She just won't remember us, that's all."

I still don't get how that sedative works. As far as I know, there are two kinds of sedative that Redsnow uses: the one that can only put you to sleep and the one that erases a part of your memory after putting you to sleep. I wonder what kind of chi is behind the invention of those sedatives.

We walk towards the center of Archendale again.

"Now, what?" I ask Pain.

"Now, we have to find two people. Each will lead us to the other one. I promised that lady we'd find her mother for her. Though she wouldn't remember that anymore, we still have to keep that promise."

I smile. "Of course." But my smile fades when I realize something. "But what if...what if Arastus already drained out her chi and she's already..."