Log 3: Sunshine

"Who are you?" Saturn asked.

"Kairo Morutsuku," the man said.

Saturn's head faced the floor, but her eyes stared up. "I'm Saturn." she whispered.

"Do you want to leave this place?" Kairo asked while holding out his hand.

Saturn gave a short nod and slowly put her hand in his. Was this real? Was she actually about to get out of this facility?

Kairo held her hand until they reached the elevator. Saturn's eyes widened upon seeing the unconscious bodies of Mr. Stal and Mr. Jackson. She glanced up at the man who freed her. If he was able to beat the Food Handlers, was he really safe to be around? Something began to twist in Saturn's stomach.

Her savior went from box to box and put some of the contents inside bags he had taken from the lab. A thief had saved her? Why? Saturn stepped around Avery's body and tugged on Kairo's sleeve.

"Why did you save me?" Saturn asked.

Kairo leaned against one of the crates and thought. "To ignore someone in need is cruel. If you have the ability and the time, going out of your way to help shouldn't be an issue."

The nervous twisting in her stomach subsided. It was clear that Kairo wasn't a bad person. She smiled.

"What are you taking?" Saturn asked.

"Some stuff to sell," Kairo said.

"What stuff?"

"Tech," Kairo unhelpfully explained.

Saturn blinked once, twice, and thrice. Tech? She didn’t know that word. While waiting for Kairo, she sat by the elevator playing on her tablet.

"Hey, are you ready?"

Saturn flinched. She'd become so entranced by her puzzles she had forgotten about leaving.

"Mm-hmm," Saturn replied.

Kairo scanned a keycard and the elevator’s doors slid open, ready to carry them to freedom. During the walk to Kairo’s home he gave her his hoodie so that she could keep warm. On Kairo’s warning, Saturn avoided the rusted railings that lined the stairs up to his apartment. The first thing she noticed once inside was the bed. It called out to her, asking that she snuggle beneath its soft sheets and rest.

"You want the bed tonight?" Kairo offered.

Saturn nodded. She crept over and touched the thin sheet. It was soft. So very soft. Saturn was suddenly lifted off her feet and placed on the bed. It was unexpected, but nice.

"Thank you," Saturn said.

"You can bounce on it a little if you want." Kairo smiled widely and gave her a thumbs-up.

The girl was filled with admiration for her savior. She couldn't find the words to describe her appreciation, but she wanted to.

Saturn allowed her legs to give way to the soft mattress's beckoning. She crawled to the pillow and slipped beneath the sheet, quickly falling into a deep slumber.

It felt like only moments had passed before blinding sunshine glared through the blinds that shrouded the balcony doors. Saturn rubbed her eyes, sat up, and yawned. She slid out of the bed, stepped over Kairo's sleeping form, and pulled open one of the balcony's doors.

The view wasn't very good, just the wall of another building. Then again, that was different for her. Looking from side to side, she noticed a girl on the next balcony over groggily staring at the ground. Saturn watched her, confused. If she was so tired, why did she get up so early? The strange girl stretched and met Saturn's gaze.

"Who are you?" the girl inquired.

"Satu—"

Kairo jumped out, covering the back of his hands with his bed sheet. "She's a girl I'm protecting."

The balcony girl looked at him questioningly. "While I trust that you aren't lying, I demand you tell me what's going on in a little bit."

"But you have school,” Kairo said.

"I'll skip it,” the balcony girl retorted.

Kairo sighed. "Fine. I'll tell you after I get off work."

The balcony girl blinked, as if this was a big surprise to her. "You have a job?"

"The café I'm employed at was closed for a while, but I'm starting again today. I get off at 5:00 PM."

Saturn's eyes began to glaze over, so she headed inside. Kairo followed shortly after.

"Can you sit down for a minute?" Kairo said.

"Mm-hmm." Saturn sat down.

Kairo placed himself in front of her. "You can't go wandering just yet. I'm sorry, but it isn't safe. We'll locate your parents or someone else to take you in as soon as possible, but I want you to stay in this apartment or next to me until then. Okay?"

"Mm-hmm."

Her savior seemed too worried. She'd be fine, it wasn't like she was going to explain her situation to a complete stranger. That would be dumb—maybe Kairo thought she was dumb.

"Do you think I'm dumb?” Saturn asked.

Kairo seemed a little taken aback. "No, no, no," he assured. "I was just a little concerned that Honoka might call the authorities without an explanation, that's all."

So that girl's name was Honoka. Noted.

"What are the authorities?"

"In this case, they're people who may choose to take you back to where you were being kept."

A shiver shot down Saturn's spine, her nerves twisted. "I don't want that."

"And neither do I," Kairo concurred. "That's why we have to be extremely careful."

"Okay. I'll be careful then."

Kairo smiled and ruffled her hair. "Thanks."

Unlike when Avery would pat her head, the ruffling felt warm. It was pleasant. Kairo tried to stand, but Saturn pulled his hand back. She didn't want the nice times to end, and yet, it felt like they would. Kairo let her grip his hand for just a little longer.

"Let me get you a bath ready." Kairo headed to the bathroom. "I'll get breakfast while you're in."

"Okay."

Saturn walked to the washroom. She saw Kairo set out the towels and a large shirt. The water was covered in a layer of foamy bubbles. It looked fun. Saturn hadn't taken a bath in several days, so it would definitely be refreshing. She was excited.

"Once you're in the bath, call. I need to collect your clothes for washing," Kairo said before he left the room.

"Okay."

Saturn let her underwear and hospital gown fall into the hamper by the door. She slowly submerged everything below her chin. The warmth of the bath was sublime. She hadn't been able to take many baths at the laboratory. The majority of the time she was forced to shower. The Professor claimed it was better for her, but she didn't agree. Baths felt better, thus they were better.

"I'm in!" Saturn called.

After a minute, Kairo picked up her clothes, pausing at the door.

"Do you mind if I toss the hospital gown?" Kairo asked.

"Uh-uh."

"Once these are in the washer I'll buy breakfast. Enjoy your bath."

"Mm-hmm. I will."

She sat in the tub for what felt like the most wonderful minutes of her entire life. She'd found another thing that she wanted to loop forever. But she knew that she would have to get out eventually. She didn't want to become a shriveled monkey like the Professor claimed she would. Maybe he was lying. Probably, but she wasn't about to risk it.

10 more minutes past before Saturn climbed out, dried off, and put on the shirt. It was much bigger than she had anticipated, reaching below her knees. She looked at her hands, moving her fingers closer to her face.

"Whoa. The Professor was right," Saturn said in awe. "If I had bathed much longer I really would've become a shriveled monkey!"

Walking out of the washroom, Saturn didn't see Kairo. Her heart began to pound. What had happened? Was he captured? Did the washer eat him? What was a washer? He was probably fine. After all, he knocked Mr. Stal and Mr. Jackson out. He wasn't weak.

Saturn picked up her tablet and did puzzles until Kairo returned with her laundry. Several minutes passed, Saturn rolled onto her back. She was bored. She could write, but it would take longer. She could do puzzles, but she was already bored with them. So many exciting things had happened recently that it was overwhelming, but in a good way. In any case, she was still bored. She hoped her savior would return right away. He didn't. It was several minutes before the door slid open. But when it did, Saturn leapt up faster than she had ever before.

"Food!" she exclaimed.

Kairo chuckled. "The foods going to be a few more minutes."

Saturn's shoulders fell. "But I'm hungry."

"Like I just explained, it won't be more than a few minutes."

"Okay."

Saturn was about to sit down when she noticed something odd. Kairo had just set a filled plastic bag on the bed. She walked over and peaked inside. Shorts, shirts, a hat, two pairs of panties she didn't recognize and her own.

"What are these?"

"Clothes the neighbors lent us," Kairo said. "I told them you were my niece and that you'd forgot your luggage back at home. Thus, I was asking to borrow some hand-me-downs for a couple days and they were nice enough to lend me some."

"Why'd you make me sound dumb?" Saturn stared at Kairo.

"Sorry if it came off like that, but I needed an explanation better than what I told Honoka."

"You could've said it better."

Kairo gave a nervous laugh and scratched the back of his head. "Sorry again."

"It's okay," Saturn said. "Just say it better next time. Thanks for the clothes.”

“Will do.”

Eventually, after five minutes, breakfast arrived. Kairo set the table. The food was tasty, but it wasn't really within the boundaries of what the Professor would have had her eat. But that didn't matter anymore. After all, the days with the Professor were behind her.

Kairo set down his utensils. "Tell me, what's your Aspect?"

Saturn looked up from her meal. "What's an Aspect?"

"It's a mark that's somewhere on your body, it grants magic. If I remember my research correctly, some Aspectholders are able to know what being their Aspect is of just by looking at their mark."

"Do you have a mark?"

"I do. On my hands."

Kairo unraveled the wrappings and let them drop onto the table. He faced his palms away from her.

"You see the marks? They're in the middle of each of my hands."

The marks depicted a cobra coiled around a large egg.

"What's it mean?" Saturn inquired.

"I don't know."

"Okay. I think I understand," the girl said. "I have one of those marks too. It's on my left shoulder blade."

"What's it look like?"

"If I remember correctly, it's a snake coiled unnaturally around an hourglass."

"Does a name come to mind when you look at it?"

"Uh-uh. Never."

Kairo sighed. "Oh well. I was hoping that if we knew who your Aspect was of we could better understand why they were keeping you underground."

"I'm sorry."

"Oh!" Kairo waved his hands. "Don't worry, it's not your fault."

"If you say so..."

Kairo wolfed down the last of his breakfast, threw on his boots, and headed for the door.

"Sit tight for now, we can go shopping after I talk to Honoka." Kairo said.

"Okay. See you later."

"See you!"

After the meal, she placed the container in the trash bin, just as Kairo had done. Saturn brought her tablet to the kitchen table, pulled up the notes software, and slowly typed.

13th of July, 2136

I was freed from the lab yesterday by a kind man. His name is Kairo Morutsuku.

I met his neighbor this morning. Her name is Honoka.

I took a warm bubble bath. It was really nice.

Kairo told one of his neighbors that I was his niece to borrow some clothes. He made me look dumb. I didn't like that, but he has apologized. I have new clothes because of it.

I miss Mama, but I'm happy.

I learned about aspects and that I have one. I wonder what mine does? Hopefully something amazing.

I want to thank Kairo for saving me, but I can't figure out how to say my happiness properly.

That's all for now.

Sincerely, Saturn.