Is this destiny?

Sarah got out of Oni's room and found Aiden in the hallway, next to the door. She didn't think that he will wait for her. Aiden being here for such a long time, told Sarah that he is worried about Oni.

Aiden saw Sarah's face and sighed. He knew it. She is sad and this will last for days and if Jesse is here, Aiden would punch him few times just to let out some steam.

"How is she?", Aiden asked.

"Sleeping now.", Sarah responded and noticed the slippers in his hand.

"I found them in the garden.", Aiden explained.

Sarah took the slippers and observed them while images of Oni's bloodied feet flashed in her mind. "Let's take them to our room for now. Her feet are wrapped up, she won't be able to put them on anyway."

Aiden placed his arm around Sarah's shoulders, and they walked slowly to their room in silence.

"Let's try to get some sleep. It's almost 5 AM.", Aiden advised when they reached their room.

Sarah plopped on the bed. "I don't think I can sleep. My mind is too messed up."

Aiden laid next to her and pulled her in his embrace. "Tell me."

"Oni cried herself to sleep. She really loves him. Jesse is an important presence for Oni's life." Sarah paused for some time before continuing: "I feel helpless because I want to punish Marija and Jesse for hurting Oni, but I have no right to do so. After all, Marija and Jesse are both single and grown-ups and there is an attraction and an opportunity, and they went for it… But Oni's heart is broken, and no matter what happens next, it can't be fixed. One of my girls is hurting, and I don't have the power to help her."

Aiden listened silently and rubbed Sarah's back gently.

Sarah continued sharing her thoughts: "For a long time, Jesse is Oni's reason to get up in the morning. He is her reason to push herself in order to reach him so that he can acknowledge her as someone worthy, as a woman. Whenever Oni came to discuss her progress, it didn't matter if it was training or education or if we just chatted about the weather, she always managed to slip Jesse in the talk. Her whole world revolves around him. What are her options? To continue following him while knowing that every other woman can get ahead of her easily? Even if Jesse decides to take their relationship into romance, Oni will always doubt how much of his heart she has because she gave him her whole heart and tonight she realized that he is giving his easily. Sure, he just slept with Marija, but for Oni there is no difference. In her sixteen-year-old mind people spend the night only with people they love. Her other option is to give up and that means that she will lose her current reason to smile. How I see it, in both cases she is the one at the losing end. I hope that she can find her resolve to continue moving forward without Jesse as her beacon."

When he confirmed that Sarah is done talking, Aiden said: "You helped her. By being there, watching over her in the forest, bringing her back home and staying with her until she slept off. I'm sure that means a lot. Also, I don't think that Jesse is her only reason to smile. What about the other kids, and the two of us?"

"It's difficult to see other lights when the brightest one goes out.", Sarah said in a half-whisper, feeling that she is running out of energy. "When the brightest light disappears, there is a temporary blindness and you feel that only darkness surrounds you..."

Sarah sighed and snuggled closer to Aiden. She took a deep breath and allowed his woody-flowery fragrance to fill her nostrils and to spread through her body. They held each other in silence and after some time, both of them slept off.

…

Sunday, June 7

In the morning, Sarah went to Oni's room and found it empty.

After checking with Eve, Sarah confirmed that Oni is in the dining room, having breakfast.

The dining room was lively, mostly thanks to endless chatter of Emir who sparked others into random conversations.

"How are you feeling?", Sarah asked Oni.

"Much better, thank you.", Oni responded with a smile which didn't reach her eyes.

Sarah observed that Oni didn't talk to Jesse other than saying a dry 'thanks' when he passed her the butter and strawberry jam which she didn't ask for. In truth, Oni contemplated of pushing Jesse's offerings away because she was disgusted at the thought that those same hands touched Marija only few hours ago. But she told herself to calm down and not cause a scene because Jesse probably washed his hands since then.

Jesse knew what Oni will need when she took a seat at the table with two toasted slices of bread in her plate. He noticed a while ago that Oni likes toast with butter and strawberry jam for breakfast. Jesse notices things about Oni because he is watching her.

At the same time, Jesse practically ignored Marija but Marija didn't seem to mind. Jesse is usually the non-chatty type while she talks enough for at least three people.

Oni did her best to tune everything out and focus on swallowing her food, regardless how much it lacked taste.

After breakfast, Oni asked Sarah and Aiden if they can talk in private.

…

In the study…

"I will appreciate if going forward, I get reassigned to work with someone else.", Oni declared resolutely.

"What about your current mission?", Sarah asked.

Oni straightened her back. "I am a general in the army of Chaos. I will complete my duty and do my best not to fail. If there are no other options, I will work with Jesse, but I will prefer someone else. If it's not too inconvenient."

"Do you have someone on your mind with whom you would like to work?", Aiden asked.

Oni shook her head. "Anyone will do."

Sarah and Aiden exchanged glances and then both of them nodded in agreement.

"After this mission, you will work on attack and defense strategy with Nala and be in charge of approving Noah's requests for resources. You will also go to the Chaos club to take care of the challengers.", Aiden confirmed. "We will send a memo to others."

Oni thanked them. She knows that this means how she will not go on missions herself, but at this point her priority is to distance herself from Jesse.

Sarah glanced at Oni's feet which are still wrapped in gauze. She is wearing open-toe slippers few sizes larger, so that her feet can fit. "Can you do your upcoming mission like that?"

Oni confirmed. "By the time we reach Frankfurt, I will replace gauze with bandages and be able to wear loosely laced running shoes. This mission requires me mostly to sit, so it will not be a problem."

They confirmed few more details before Oni excused herself. She needs to finish packing and then Jesse and she will go to Frankfurt. 

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