"We needed a safe space where the perils of the human kind would not appear. So we created heaven. A paradise. A city where technology preserves peace and peace preserves humanity.
Thus, and with great pride, we created Cilyber."

~King Darius II, archives of Cilyber

Jade

"I don't want your food."

He crossed his arms, unamused.

"You realize you might be staying here for a while, don't you?"

"What do you want from me?"

The man tilted his head, messy long hair falling to one side.

"To protect you, of course. We already went over this."

"I'm a police officer. I can protect myself."

"Like you protected yourself from the bomb? Or from the assassin in the factory?"

"Okay, I got your point," she said quietly.

He went on. "Or from the first assassin in your bedroom the other day? From the stalkers in the alleyways?"

"OKAY STOP, STOP IT," she yelled, covering her ears with her hands.

"Jade," he said, and she hated him, HATED him for being so calm.

"I don't understand," she whispered.

"Jade, you're a gem."

"This isn't the time for flirting, you... I don't even know your name!"

"I wasn't flirting. I meant you are a gem of Cilyber. One of the six."

"What does that mean? Being a... Gem? Is that why I'm being targeted?"

"I am not entirely sure. Yet. I do intend to find out. All I know is that someone is trying to collect the gems, obviously with some sinister intentions. I also intend to protect you in the meantime."

She paused, trying to absorb all of this new information.

"Why me? Don't you protect other 'gems'?"

"I did, yesterday. When I stopped the bomb, I saved you and the Ruby."

"Hold up. Cily too?"

"Obviously. The only difference between the others and you is that YOU aren't aware of who you are yet. The others know."

"That's how Cily controlled our emotions so easily..." Jade murmured.

"Well, yes, and no. It's not exactly a superpower. At least that's what my studies have shown me."

She averted her gaze. It was clear now that he didn't give a damn about her, his obsession with finding out about the gems obvious.

"How much longer are you going to keep me here?"

He paused, as if wondering how much to tell her. Jade fixed her gaze at him again. He had brown eyes, and right now they were warm and soft.

"Not much more. I'm making sure our journey will be safe of hazards or obstacles. We'll be leaving soon, to a nicer place. I promise."

"Your promise means nothing to me."

"That's a real shame. I thought we were beginning to get along quite well."

He sounded sincerely disappointed but not surprised. She raised her eyebrows at him.

"You know, I don't understand you, either."

He smiled at this, and Jade thought he looked much more likable when he smiled.

He stood up straight, stretching his legs.

"Get some food and rest, Jade."

He started to leave, then hesitated.

"By the way. My name. It's Keith."

°°°°°°°°

When he walked in later, the plate was half eaten and Jade was sitting quietly in a corner.

"I was thinking," she called out upon hearing him enter the warehouse. "You have me here against my will. This is illegal, and I can send you to jail."

He grunted in reply.

"Why haven't you tried to escape, then?"

"Who said I haven't?"

"I know you haven't."

"Are we leaving?"

"Yes."

"Where to?"

"Somewhere safe."

She grit her teeth. "Can you give me a straight answer for once?"

"An apartment. It belonged to someone who passed away... Recently."

"Did you kill him?"

"Her. Why does it matter to you?"

"Did you kill her?"

He licked his lips nervously.

"Yes, I did," he said finally. "What's with the sudden bravery?"

She gave him a manic smile. "Well, I know your name now. Names hold great power. They make us human. You're just a man. I know your name. Keith, Keith, Keith, Keith!"

By the time she was done, she had doubled over from laughter, and his face had tightened and morphed into something dark and serious.

His metal fists clenched, and she was sure she was dead. Dead with a fist through her stomach. Dead with a fist sticking out of her back.

She still couldn't stop laughing.

°°°°°°°°

Once again, the running man lifted a kicking, punching woman over his shoulder.

This time they arrived faster, and Jade fought the entire way. It was useless, of course, they stopped with Jade panting and out of breath.

He put her on her feet, and she blew a stray strand of hair off her face. He had stopped at the edge of a wide street, asphalt, lines of buildings towering overhead on both sides.

The running man locked eyes with her.

"Just to be clear. You think you have some edge over me, knowing my name. That doesn't mean anything. You'll soon find that it's not only humans who have names."

"That wasn't my point. You're afraid."

He didn't reply, just turned towards the apartment tower behind him and marched towards the door.

Jade hesitated. She could try to escape. But that was it, TRY.

Her thoughts went back to the warehouse. She HADN'T tried to escape back there, and now she wondered why.

Was it the hunger for more knowledge, about the Gems and herself? Maybe the allure of danger and adventure.

Maybe the strange man, Keith. She couldn't get a read on him.

Before she could confuse herself further, she scurried after him, her boots clicking in the empty lobby.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hello again!

I hope you've had a great day. If you haven't, I'm sure it will get better, and I hope Cilyber helped a little :}

Those of you familiar with Stephen King might catch something obvious for you, but not for the others.

I'm so proud of where we have gotten! All of those reads and votes mean a LOT to me.

Thank you for tuning in this week.

#CilyberSaturday