Is this destiny?

In the villa…

Masika and Zack are in the basement.

Zack is happy. Sarah and Aiden are on monitoring duty, watching video feeds from the drones to make sure everyone is safe, and Kitty is with them. That is why Zack is free to join this event.

He and Masika are making their way through the dark hallway, just the two of them. It reminds him of a mission. Ah, it feels like forever since the two of them went on a mission together, the real mission with enemies and dangers and treasure and stuff.

Zack has to admit that he feels nostalgic, and he wishes that the Army of Chaos starts attacking targets again. It's not that he is looking for danger or to hurt people, but during those missions, Masika relies on him, and that is what he is missing the most. Eh, until that time comes, he will need to be happy with the current situation. 

Masika is not sharing Zack's enthusiasm. It's not that she does not like going on a mission or spending time with him. He is a nice guy. Over time, Masika confirmed that Zack is reliable, skilled and she trusts him. But she does not like basements. Ever since she was locked up in one (Sarah and Aiden saved her from there), Masika has an eerie feeling whenever she is in a dark, underground place. Masika can't wait to find the next token so that they can get out of here.

Masika is walking in front of Zack with the flashlight in her hand.

The door at the end of the hallway opened with a creepy creaky sound which made Masika's hair stand on ends. Isn't this supposed to be a new basement? Why does it sound like an ancient dungeon?

She was startled when she felt something on her shoulder. Ah, it's Zack… he tapped her shoulder to get her attention before pointing ahead toward the black box. The tokens are probably there.

Zack wondered, is Masika jumpy or is he imagining it? Masika is always levelheaded even in the middle of a dangerous mission when they are surrounded by enemies, and he is unable to understand her current behavior.

Masika advanced slowly while her eyes didn't leave the box ahead where the flashlight is pointing at.

'BAM!'

The door behind them closed abruptly.

Masika jumped and glared at Zack. "Did you…?"

"Not me!", Zack responded defensively before Masika could end her question.

Masika turned her gaze toward the box and reached with a shaky hand…

'HAHAHAHA…!'

Super-loud laughter filled up the room and head of a clown emerged from behind the box! It came out of nowhere and it's drifting in the air!

"AH!", Masika screamed and leaped backward.

Zack was right behind her and she ended up bumping into him.

On an instinct, Zack caught her in his arms.

Zack has to admit that the situation is creepy. With the door closing on its own, and the laughter and the clown, he is shaken up as well. But the clown is not there anymore, and everything is quiet again.

Before the event, Nala warned them that things will not be simple, and that there will be traps and scary situations. Nala also reminded them that everything is in a controlled environment.

Considering that this is the Army of Chaos, Zack expected it to be top-notch, and so far, he is not disappointed.

Zack glanced at the teenager in his arms and thought of letting Masika down and probably teasing her a bit, but her hands are around his neck firmly, her face is buried in his chest and she is trembling. This… just what is this? It took him a second to realize that Masika is terrified.

Zack exhaled and tightened his hold on her.

"It's OK… Relax… It's over... It's not real...", he chanted in a soothing voice while thinking that he didn't know how Masika is this… light. She is like a feather, skinny maybe.

Masika took a few shaky breaths before scrambling out of his arms.

"Uhm… I'm sorry…", she said awkwardly and hastily reached for the box, grabbed a token out of it, and dashed out of the room. She was happy that the door is not locked.

Her steps halted in the hallway. Masika wanted to leave the basement, but she remembered that there is only one flashlight and if she leaves, Zack will be alone in the dark.

She cleared her throat and peeked in the room. "Are you coming?"

Zack was looking at his arms which are still extended in front of him and he felt that they are… empty.

A revelation came to Zack as a shock. Why is his heart restless? It's just Masika. Sure, she is a girl who saved his life and she is smart and brave and cute and funny, and great with guns and knives, and none of that explains why he feels the strong need to hold her in his arms again.

"Zack!?"

Masika's voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

"Yeah… coming…", he said absentmindedly while walking after her.

They exited the villa and Masika looked up at the stars and took a deep breath.

Zack observed her in silence while his mind was a mess.

'Get yourself together!', Zack scolded himself. 'She is obviously in distress, and you are thinking about yourself!'

"Do you want to take a break?", Zack offered.

She smiled gratefully. "Yes, please…"

The two of them sat on the bench in the garden.

Masika remembered the events from the basement, and she was embarrassed. Ah, she is a general in the Army of Chaos, and she lost it because of a few tricks. And Zack ended up comforting her like she is a baby.

"I don't like dark, underground places…", Masika admitted in a small voice.

Zack observed the outline of her profile. "Bad experiences?"

"Yeah. I was held captive in a basement when Sarah and Aiden found me. Since then, I don't like basements. They bring out bad memories and no matter how much I tell myself how that is in the past, the feeling of insecurity and helplessness creeps in and my body reacts on its own."

Zack's heart ached for Masika. She went through so many hardships. He wanted to hug her or at least to pat her head, but he thought how that it will not be appropriate.

Zack pushed his urges to the side. 'Am I really thinking to take advantage of Masika's temporary weakness in order to get close to her?'

"That is understandable. I am sorry you went through that."

"I didn't say that to make you feel bad. I only wanted you to know why I freaked out like that."

"There is no need for you to explain yourself to me, Masika. But thank you for telling me. Next time when we are in a dark basement, I will hold your hand."

Masika was surprised by his suggestion, he wants to hold her hand? It is silly to even think about it: soldiers of the Army of Chaos holding hands during a mission. Masika stifled a laugh at that mental image.

"How about instead of holding my hand, you go first and trigger all the traps? The clown would not be so scary if you are between me and him.", she said jokingly.

Zack laughed. He likes that Masika would rely on him to keep the scary things away from her. "That might work also… but that will not change the fact that you will be behind me with no one watching over you. What if there are delayed traps?"

"Then… You go first and hold my hand."

Zack agreed. "That sounds like a plan. If I fall into a trap, you can pull me out of it."

Masika imagined Zack going first, and they are holding hands, and the floor opens below him, and he falls in… and there is no way she can pull up such a big guy like Zack. OK, he is not really big when looking objectively, but he is taller and heavier than she is. If that happens, he will end up dragging her into a trap with him.

She decided not to talk about it anymore. It would be a waste of words because there is no way they will hold hands.

Masika smiled and got the map from her backpack.

"Where are we going next…?", she murmured while illuminating the map with the flashlight.

"I will leave that to you.", Zack responded and in his mind, he added: 'I will follow you anywhere…' He is not sure from where this last thought came, but it felt right.

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