Arrival - Chapter 7

The three-story house that Eric’s team had been allocated was nearly twice the size of his own back in Imperial.

On the ground floor, there were two main rooms: the large open living room, with three leather sofas and a huge television, and a kitchen filled with the newest and best appliances. Off to one side, near the front door, was a small downstairs bathroom.

On the first floor, there were four bedrooms, all of which had twin single beds. There were two bathrooms in between the rooms as well, each fitted with a bath, toilet and shower. The entire top floor consisted of one large, impressive bedroom that would put a deluxe suite in a five-star hotel to shame which was for the team’s leader.

“Either I’m easily wowed, or this place is just too ridiculous,” Eric mumbled when he saw it for the first time.

He would never have imagined that there were hundreds of houses just like this one on the island if he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes.

If Ferris was a city, then the student living area would be the suburbs.

After receiving a confirmation email in the morning that confirmed his team members, as well as their house number, Eric and Connor had met up with Kaida in the hotel lobby, then walked to the student village living area together.

“Seriously, how much money do they have?” Connor asked, checking out the kitchen.

“No idea, but a lot, clearly,” Kaida replied. “Well, shall we start unpacking?”

The day before moving into the house, all of their team’s personal belongings had been delivered to the house and put in the bedrooms upstairs. However, because they hadn’t decided on who would be staying in what rooms, it meant that they would have a lot of moving around to do before they could even begin unpacking.

“Maybe we should wait for the others to get here first,” Eric said.

“I agree. I mean, I haven’t met any of them yet. What about you, Kaida?”

“Nope.”

“Huh. Well, this should be interesting.” The doorbell rang and Connor grunted. “Speak of the devil.”

Eric answered the door and found Evony stood on the other side.

“Yo.”

“Hey, Evony, I’d like you to meet some of your new teammates and two of my oldest friends,” Eric began, gesturing to Connor and Kaida. “Connor Owen and Kaida Aidan.”

“Nice to meet you guys,” Evony said in a polite tone. “I’m Evony Alma.”

“Likewise,” Connor replied. He leaned down to Kaida and whispered, “She’s pretty.”

Kaida gave him a light jab with her elbow, knowing fully well what Connor was implying before flashing Evony a bright smile.

“Should we sit down and get to know one another a bit better?” Kaida suggested and the three of them sat down on the sofas.

Evony, Kaida and Connor then properly introduced themselves to one another while Eric waited in the kitchen, listening out for the door. The only person who had actually met every member of their team was him and so if someone that the others didn’t know answered the door, they wouldn’t know if they were in the right place.

I hope everyone can get along with one another.

Someone knocked at the door and he went to answer it.

However, when he opened the door, no one was there.

Puzzled, Eric took a few steps outside and scanned the area to see if anyone was nearby and could have rung it, but he couldn’t spot anyone.

Did I imagine it?

“Here I was thinking it was Kiara playing a joke on me.”

When he turned back around to go into the house, Kiara was hanging in front of him, upside down and grinning. Eric jumped out of his skin and fell over when he saw her, making Kiara laugh quite loudly.

“For what it’s worth, you were right,” she said, turning herself back the right way and planting her feet on the ground.

Kiara offered her hand and Eric took it; his cheeks red from embarrassment.

“Please don’t do stuff like this every day.”

“Even I wouldn’t do it every day.”

The two of them walked in and Kiara gave the others a small curtsey when they saw her.

“A pleasure to meet you all. My name’s Kiara Morrigan.”

“Just so I know, how many of them are beauties?” Kaida whispered to Connor.

“I’m willing to bet they all are,” he replied, chuckling softly to himself.

“Kiara, why don’t you go and sit with the others and introduce yourself?” Eric asked.

“Fine, but.” She hovered slightly off the ground and brought her face close to his. “I’ll be back to tease you later.”

Eric stepped back and she giggled at his reaction, before flying herself over to the sofas and joining in their conversation.

“So, you really did tell everyone where Eric’s room was then?” Connor asked and Kiara nodded proudly. “I approve.”

“Please don’t join forces,” Eric said.

A few minutes later, the next person to arrive was Ajax.

“‘sup, Eric,” He said lazily. “Wow, they put us up in a nice place, didn’t th-?”

Ajax cut himself off when he saw the three beautiful girls sitting on the sofa. Realising that he was severely underdressed and looked somewhat scruffy, Ajax quickly stood up properly and put on a gentle smile.

“Oh no,” Eric muttered.

“Hello, it’s nice to meet you guys,” Ajax said, walking over to Kiara and resting his hand behind her head. “My name’s Ajax Amory and if there’s anything you lovely ladies don’t know or need help with, I’m your man.”

Connor could barely suppress his laughter.

Kiara stifled a laugh. “Eric, is he for real?”

“He wasn’t like this when we met.”

“What? What was wrong with what I said?” Ajax asked, confused. “That’s what a cool guy would say, right? That sort of thing, right?”

“Put simply, he was hitting on us,” Evony said and Ajax tensed up. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

“Not the best first impression, eh, Ajax?” Connor mused.

“But I was just being nice! It’s not like I was calling them delicate or beautiful flowers, or anything cringy like that, so what was wrong with what I said?”

“The fact that you had only just met us and were acting like a player,” Kaida replied with a sigh. “All of the other girls are beautiful and the only other guy is a perv.”

“Let me start over then!” Ajax cried, before clearing his throat. “Hey, I know this sounds kind of weird coming from a stranger, but I think that you look cute. Does that work better?”

“Worse,” Kiara stated.

“Seriously? Man, complimenting girls is difficult.”

“It isn’t. You’re just shit at it,” Connor chided and the others laughed.

Someone rang the doorbell and Eric moved to open it.

“Hey Eric, is it a boy or a girl?” Ajax asked.

“A girl,” Eric replied. He looked at Ajax suspiciously. “Why?”

“Given how I’ve already screwed up my first impression with these guys, I want to show them what I’m truly like when I meet this girl. Can I get that one please?”

“I guess it couldn’t hurt.”

Ajax eagerly ran to the door and opened it. “Hi there, my name’s-”

Before Ajax could even finish his sentence, Laila had fallen through her shadow, appeared from Ajax’s, taken out his legs and pinned his arm behind his back. Ajax tried to throw her off but she drew her dagger and placed it against his cheek, causing Ajax to shriek a little.

“Hey, Laila.”

Laila turned to face him and said, “Hello, Eric.”

“Can I ask why you suddenly attacked Ajax?”

“Sorry.” She sheathed her dagger and stood up off of him. “I sensed someone with ill intent on the other side of the door and my body just acted on its own.”

Ajax whimpered on the floor. “I didn’t even get to say my name before she branded me.”

Ajax will be able to get along with the girls eventually, right? Eric wondered.

Eric helped Ajax into the living room and planted him beside Connor as Laila joined the group.

Jasmine and Elthia were the last two to arrive and they came together, with Elthia shyly hiding herself behind Jasmine, even when they were meant to be introducing themselves.

“My name’s Jasmine and this.” She patted Elthia gently on the head as she poked her eyes around Jasmine’s back. “Is Elthia. She’s a bit shy, so I hope you guys can give her the time she needs to open up to you all.”

After everyone had become acquainted with one another, they decide who would be pairing off with one another for the bedrooms. Connor and Ajax would be in one, Kiara and Kaida in another, Jasmine and Elthia, and finally Evony and Laila.

With the rooms decided, everyone unpacked their belongings in their rooms and, when they were done, they all met up back in the living room.

“So, how many of you guys have ever lived in or visited Imperial before?” Kaida asked.

“I only arrived a week before the induction day,” Evony replied.

“Same,” Ajax agreed.

“I’d been to Imperial a few times, but only for a day or two years ago,” Jasmine said.

“…I’ve never visited Imperial before,” Elthia whispered.

“Same,” Kiara cried.

“Likewise,” Laila said.

“Well, in that case, how about we spend the rest of the day in the city showing you guys around?” Kaida offered.

“The entire city?” Ajax asked.

“Of course not, you idiot,” Jasmine chided, frowning.

“Wow, aren’t you charming?”

“Funny. I was thinking the same thing about you.”

The two of them glared at each other intensely.

“It’d be a good chance for us to get to know one another as well,” Eric said. “So, what do you say?” The others all nodded in agreement. “Well then, let’s get going.”

***

“So, where are you guys from?” Connor asked.

“I’m from Athens,” Ajax proudly declared, puffing up his chest. “Spent the best part of ten years there and we moved to England after a couple of bad terror attacks.”

“You weren’t affected by them personally, were you?” Evony asked.

“No, but they were only a few streets away, so my folks decided that it’d be best if we just left and went somewhere safer. So, off to Brighton we went.”

“What about you, Laila?” Eric asked.

“Colchester.”

“…O-okay.”

“I’m from Canterbury, just in case anyone cared,” Kiara chipped in, lightly hovering off the ground.

Kaida laughed. “It’s a nice city, isn’t it?”

“Have you been before?”

“A couple of times. My uncle and aunt live there so, whenever they can’t come and see us, we go to see them.” Then, she asked Jasmine and Elthia, “Where are you two from?”

Elthia quickly hid behind Jasmine who patted her on the head gently whilst smiling sadly. “We’re both orphans from Cambridge.”

“Oh, I’m sorry I-”

“It’s fine, really. I never knew my parents and Elthia’s were abusive, so, in the end, we only had one another.”

“Ah, that’s why she’s like your child,” Kiara added, swinging in front of Jasmine. “Still though, while I admit that an eighteen-year-old shouldn’t be acting like an eight-year-old.” She smiled and dove to hug Elthia. “She’s extremely cute, so I’m willing to overlook that!”

“Stop that.” Jasmine lightly hit Kiara on the head and she let go of Elthia.

“Connor, a quick word,” Evony said. The two dropped to the back of the group and Evony whispered in his ear, “Did Eric intentionally choose all of these girls because of their looks?”

Connor smiled and let out a small chuckle. “No, trust me. Although.” He smirked. “It’s entertaining to tease him about that.”

“I think I’m starting to get a clearer picture of your friendship now.”

The two shared a small laugh before they arrived at the destination.

“This is the Windsor shopping centre,” Kaida declared. “It has twenty-four floors of all kinds of shops, restaurants and cafes, and there’s a large cinema on the top floor.”

Ajax let out a long whistle as he stared up at the distant ceiling. “How many shops are there in this place?”

“Never stopped to count,” Connor said.

“Seriously? You’ve lived here all of your life.”

Connor shrugged.

“This is quite the sight,” Evony admitted, nodding in approval. “Where shall we go first?”

“There’s a gigantic clothing shop on the ninth floor that’s very popular,” Kaida said. “Shall we go there first?”

“Sure,” Jasmine agreed.

Kiara began to lightly float her way up but Eric grabbed her heel, holding her in mid-air.

“Might I ask what you’re doing?”

“Flying.”

“Yes, I can see that.”

“If you know that, why did you stop me?”

“Because, believe it or not, flying isn’t exactly something that you should do in a shopping centre.”

Kiara tilted her head, feigning ignorance. “Why?”

“Because it’s not polite.”

“Really?”

“Also, flying while wearing a skirt isn’t a great idea.”

Kiara smirked and planted her back on the ground. “I see, I see. In other words, you were going to look.”

“I wasn’t!” Eric cried, his cheeks slightly red.

“Heh. Yeah right.”

“Alright, that’s enough you two,” Connor interrupted, grabbing their shoulders. “Come on, let’s take the lift.”

The group began to head towards the lift and Jasmine moved to follow them, but found that Elthia was frozen in place, tightly grasping on Jasmine’s shirt sleeve.

Her eyes were shut firmly and her body was shaking slightly.

Jasmine offered her a hand. “Let’s go.”

Shyly, Elthia took her hand and they followed Kaida and the others to the lifts.

***

“You really can get anything in this city, can’t you?” Jasmine thought aloud as she walked down the aisles.

The clothing shop that Kaida took them to was the largest in the entire centre with a great variety of clothing and brands.

Laila was inspecting the black shirts, while Kiara and Kaida were checking out the dresses together. Elthia stuck close to Jasmine as the she looked through the gym clothing that was at a discounted price. Connor and Evony were off to one side, talking to one another in the suit section.

Ajax and Eric, however, were just standing in the middle of the shop.

“Not interested in anything here?”

“It’s not that. It’s more that I don’t need any new clothes right now.”

“Fair enough.” Eric looked down at Ajax’s wrist. “Do you ever take that thing off?”

Ajax looked at his bracelet and shook his head. “Why would I? What happens if we got attacked in the city? Oh.” Realising what he had just said, Ajax hurriedly cut himself off and said, “Sorry.”

“It’s okay. It’s a sensible idea to always carry around your gear with you.”

“Yours is probably the easiest to lug around with you, though, so that’s something.”

Eric had never really thought about that.

Now that he could summon his Armour with relative ease, if he and the others should be attacked, Eric would only need to transform and he’d be ready for a fight.

“Hey, Eric, got a sec?” Evony asked, approaching them somewhat shyly and with her hands behind her back, her cheeks slightly flushed.

“Yeah. What’s up?”

“Um, well.” She then pulled out a pair of lingerie from behind her back and placed them against her body. “Do you think I’d look good wearing this?”

“Huh?”

“Huh?!” Ajax cried out.

“Um, well…” Eric tried to say but he fumbled over his words. “I-I’d…say so.”

Evony smiled a little. “Did I do it right, Connor?” She asked, looking over her shoulder.

“Eh?”

Connor slowly pocked his head out from around an aisle, looked at Eric, smirked, and flashed Evony a thumbs up.

Evony smiled and gave him a thumbs up.

“Might I ask what you just did?” Eric asked, slightly confused and with red cheeks.

“Ah, well, when I was talking to Connor on the way here, he mentioned how much fun it was to tease you, so he suggested that I try it, too. He was right; it is fun.”

Another one?!

“Damn.” Kiara clicked her tongue.

“What’s up?” Ajax asked.

“They beat me to the punch.” She sighed and looked dejected.

“Please don’t get dejected because of something stupid like that,” Eric mumbled.

“I have both rivals and allies now,” Connor boasted, giving Evony a high five. “Look forward to it, mate.”

“Oh, I will,” Eric said sarcastically.

“Two different girls were going to ask you about underwear choices just because of your reactions?” Ajax mumbled. “Then, I’ll-!”

“I hope you’re not thinking ‘If I have reactions like that, maybe I’ll see a girl in her underwear’ or anything, are you, Ajax?” Jasmine glared at him.

“So, what if I was? Every straight guy wants to see a beautiful girl in her underwear!”

“Pervert.”

“Everyone’s a pervert; I’m just honest about it.”

“Oh, spoken like a true pervert.”

“They’re getting along great,” Kiara whispered to Eric who could only weakly nod in response.

“Please try not to kill one another,” he said, his voice drained of all energy.

***

“I still can’t believe Connor managed to convince Evony to do that,” Kaida muttered.

“Hey, the underwear was her idea.”

“You didn’t say no to it though.”

“Of course not. It was ingenious.”

“Well, thank you,” Evony said.

After having a small lunch at one of the cafes in the Windsor, Kaida suggested they go and visit the park before autumn arrived and the park lost a lot of its beauty.

“A girl shouldn’t do something like that in public,” Jasmine added and Elthia lightly nodded.

“I don’t think Eric or any guy there would have objected though,” Ajax mused.

“I would have!” Eric shouted, making the group in front of him laugh.

“Well, that was fun, wasn’t it?” Kiara excitedly asked, floating around Eric.

“Some parts weren’t.”

He let out a hefty sigh and she giggled. Kiara flew off to join the others, leaving Eric and Laila in a separate group.

“You say things like that but, even though it annoys you, you do find it fun.”

“I’m not so sure it’s fun for me but.” Eric looked at Connor laughing and smiled. “As long as they can have fun like that around me, that’s enough.”

Laila nodded and the two of them walked to catch up to the others.

***

The evening sun was slowly beginning to set when the group decided to head back to Ferris.

While it had been a long day for Eric, he had to admit, it had been a fun day out.

Everyone seemed to be able to get along with one another, although Ajax and Jasmine had often been at each other’s throats.

Well, they’ll have plenty of time to patch things up, he hoped.

Eric and Kaida were walking a fair distance behind the others in a soothing silence.

“I’d call this a success, wouldn’t you?” Kaida asked and Eric nodded. “I think you picked some good people for our teammates.”

“Well, Spike was the one who suggested them in the first place, but yeah, I’m glad that everyone’s getting along with each other.”

“You know, I was a little worried when I saw that every single girl that you’d picked turned out to be really cute. I thought you might have just picked them because of that.”

Eric laughed a little. “I’d never do that, despite what Connor and Kiara will tell you.”

“I guess so.” Kaida giggled.

A few moments of silence passed by.

“I’m sorry.”

“What for?” Eric asked, confused.

“I…I know it’s not my fault, but…” She grabbed her arm. “I feel like it’s my fault for you being in this situation now. If I’d never come back, then-”

“I’d be dead.” Kaida looked up at him. “That’s what would’ve happened.” She went to say something, but Eric interrupted her. “Kaida, what happened that night wasn’t your fault. Spike would’ve come to try and kill us anyway and we’d be dead long before the police, Guardians, or anyone else had gotten there, so you shouldn’t be upset about it.”

“But still-”

“Kaida.” Eric looked into her eyes and smiled. “I don’t hate you or blame you for what happened that day, so you shouldn’t blame yourself about it. If anything, I’m actually okay with my life being like this now. Sure, it isn’t the life I would’ve chosen for myself, but complaining about it and resenting you for it won’t change a thing, so there’s no point to it.

“In a way, I’m kind of looking forward to attending Ferris with you guys, even if I’m still a bit scared of the entire idea. But, if I’m with you, Connor and these guys, I feel like everything might be okay and, hell, I might even enjoy it.”

Kaida smiled shyly and then stared off towards the rest of the team, at a loss for what to say next. It was hard for her to keep blaming herself for ruining Eric’s life when he was saying things like that.

“Yeah, I think so, too,” she whispered. “Thanks for trying to cheer me up, Eric.”

“Hey, please don’t say trying. It makes me feel like my words were meaningless.”

Kaida laughed a little. “Sorry. But they did cheer me up a bit.”

“I’m glad,” Eric said, smiling. He then began to look nervous. “Um, Kaida. I’d been meaning to give this to you since you came back, but.” He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a small black box. “After everything that happened, I forgot about it. I’d meant to give this to you sooner, but I couldn’t find the right time to, so, here.”

He handed it to her and, anxiously, Kaida opened the box and gasped in surprise at what she saw inside.

“Wow.” She took the ring out and examined it. “It’s beautiful.”

“I’d wanted to give it to you at the end of the festival and make that a good way to end the night,” Eric admitted shyly. “It was meant to be a welcome back present, but I hope you like it.”

“I do! I love it!” Kaida slipped the ring on her ring finger and smiled at Eric, her cheeks bright red. “Thank you, Eric.”

Eric blushed after seeing her beautiful smile and looked away. “You’re welcome.”

“Oi! You guys!” Connor shouted. The others were waiting for them. “Hurry up!”

The two of them looked at each other and smiled softly.

“Let’s go then,” Kaida said happily and she skipped off to join the others.

Eric was about to do the same when he noticed out of the corner of his eye one of the city’s big screens playing a news report.

He grimaced at the title along the bottom of the screen.

Thousands Dead as Kremlin and ADAM Industries HQ Destroyed.

His fear slowly building inside of him, Eric looked at his left arm and grasped it tightly with his hand.

Will we have to fight people like that one day?

All Eric could do was hope that he never had to.