It had been over half an hour since we started running. I was out of my breath, and my lungs were burning. I was a trained soldier, but I couldn’t spring all the way out of this planet, no matter how hard I wanted it to. We passed by crumbled buildings and cavities made of stone and glass. This used to be a city, a human city. But...weren’t they supposed to be primitive beings? Were our reports wrong?

I couldn’t think straight. Lenora had been out of the proximity of the ship for over one hour before I headed out to find her. After I had run countless diagnostic tests to the ship’s system, I found out that our ship’s communication device wasn’t the problem. It was working fine. And the signal didn’t have any problems at all. It was strong as ever. It was just that...no one was replying to our message.

Thus, I had to find her and let her know. Fortunately, her scent was still strong, and I was able to catch up to her real quick, but the moment I arrived, she was standing in the middle of a crater, surrounded by a strong light, her arms stretched above her head. I started screaming, and she seemed to recognize my voice and react, but after that, we had been running like someone was chasing us. I didn’t have the chance to ask her what was going on, and I was right about my limit in running aimlessly.

All I knew was that I had to follow her inside one of the human buildings.

We were running on a staircase towards the upper floors. This building, unlike most of the others, was still in a good enough condition for us to hide in it. However, Lenora kept running, and she kept running until we arrived on the roof. She burst out of the door and collapsed in the middle of the open space whipped by the wind.

I crawled next to her slowly and lay on the floor, unable to speak. Five minutes passed like that, in total silence, until I finally decided I had to know what was going on.

But, Lenora, didn’t seem to share my opinion on this. Instead, she got to her feet and looked over the horizon, towards the falling object. It now seemed bigger somehow, like it was getting closer. How is that possible? All that running and still nothing? We should have gained some ground at the very least, not get closer to it.

I heard Lenora sob behind me. It was an awkward sound, one not befitting her. If there was one person I couldn’t imagine sob, well, that was Lenora. However, she was now crying like a small child.

It was difficult at first, but I strained myself to get on my feet and head to her way. For every step I took, she took one back. “Lenora? What the hell? What game are you playing?”

“Stay back, Jasih. It’s over. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have...oh my god, I shouldn’t have dragged you here. It’s too late now,” she said, stopping only to take a breath and cry even more.

“What are you talking about, Lenora? How is this your fault? Damn it, I don’t know what it’s going on.”

I tried to get closer to her, but now she stepped onto the ledge of the roof. Suddenly, I felt my limbs wobbly and my stomach getting empty from the shock. She’s gonna jump.

“I’m sorry, Jasih. I’m sorry I can’t be the wife you wanted. I’m sorry for everything,” she yelled, trying to be heard over the raging wind.

“God, Lenora, step down from up there and talk to me. I can help you. You know that I can!”

She shook her head slightly, she opened her mouth screaming something, but I couldn’t hear anything over the constant buzzing coming from around me. I covered my ears, but I only managed to muffle the sound.

In that sickly scenery, where I could do nothing but watch her stand there, on the edge of nothingness, Lenora cast one last, bittersweet smile at me, before jumping.

I was not sure how, or why, or what in the world was going on right now, but my instincts kicked in. I didn’t care if the whole planet was on the verge of getting destroyed, I followed her to the edge and jumped behind her.

I knew there was nothing I could do—the building was too short, and I didn’t have my gadgets with me—but still, I stuck my hands on my sides to gain more speed. Lenora had her eyes closed, her limbs flapping around her. She had given up completely. However, I was falling headfirst and had only one thing on my mind now.

I stretched my hands ahead of me and struggle to reach her. She didn’t know I had jumped behind her, but if I managed to catch her...if I managed to get below her then maybe...maybe she could...

“Lenora!!!” I finally screamed, the tip of my hand almost touching hers.

At that moment, time seemed to slow down and everything getting covered in a warm, penetrating light. I wanted to let go too, but I couldn’t. If I did, then Lenora would die. However, the light was blinding, and I had to close my eyes.

I have to save her.

I have to!

* * *

There was no pain, except the fleeting feeling of being alive. I knew I was gravely wounded but still, something felt wrong with this feeling. I could barely open my eyes. When I did, I looked around me, searching for Lenora. She was nowhere to be found. Does that mean…?

Someone was dragging me through the city. I had no idea what was going on.

Where is Lenora? God, is she okay? The idea of her lying dead on the ground in front of that building rushed into my head, causing more pain that all the wounds I had endured.

I pushed myself to do something, to free myself from the one dragging me, but the only thing I managed was for him to raise me over his head and carry me on his shoulders. He stopped and barely tilted his head to look at me. He was waiting for something, but I was not sure what.

Suddenly, it hit me; he’s waiting for orders. Even so, where should I go? No place is left for me if she, Lenora, is dead. I have to heal my wounds and find her. And there’s only one way to do it.

I opened my mouth. “Take me...to my spaceship…,” I whispered. He nodded and with a slight jerk, he started forwards.

Only after we passed under the door of my spaceship, I knew for sure that this man wasn’t human. He didn’t talk, he was overly hairy and too strong to be one. Humans were all frail creatures that didn’t even live that much. This thing...well, this thing was something else.

After it took another step into the spaceship, the door behind him suddenly closed. But...that’s impossible. Nothing was working just a couple hours ago, not even the doors. How did he...?

The man didn’t move now. He was waiting for my next order. Even though I was quite big and heavy myself, it seemed like I was nothing comparing to his strength. I left a sigh when giving him instructions to get me to the cryo-pod room. He easily headed through the bridge, against the observation hall, and found it.

I hope Lenora is doing okay. If I can get one day into the cryo-pod, then maybe I’ll be able to recover enough to go out and help her.

I heard my voice breaking, being unable to talk. The man opened one of the pods and put me in. I had no strength left in me. He just sealed the pod and took two steps behind. I made sure I explained the procedure to him, the man that had just saved me, the one that had appeared out of nowhere.

The water particles on the glass door seemed to freeze the moment the system activated. I only had sixty seconds before I fell into a chemical hibernation. Twenty-four hours have to be enough, and even if they are not, then I’ll have to make it with what I have.

I had no idea what’s going on. Why had everything had to end up the way it did? Lenora...my love...is she dead? I wanted to cry and mourn her, but the cold liquids running into my veins seemed to do a good job numbing the pain.

What was that thing flying towards us? What was that light that encircled her before? What scared her so much she decided to end her life in that way? It felt like I was falling into a twisting labyrinth without a way out.

I had to find what had happened to her. The last thing she mentioned was that everything was her fault. That she was sorry, she couldn’t be the wife I wanted her to be. But how it’s possible that this disaster was her fault?

A light was coming from outside. Someone else was with that man, but I couldn’t see clearly. There was something going on outside.

“Access granted: add new hibernation period,” the voice of the ship’s automatic assistant uttered clearly.

What the fuck? Someone is trying to change my hibernation time. But...but that means…

“Input accepted. New hibernation period: unlimited.”

Un...limited? What is she talking about?

“Hello? Who is out there? What are you doing?” I tried shouting, but I could only hear myself mumble. Shit. I’m too tired to do anything.

I managed to move my hands and touch the cold, glass case, but there was nothing I could do. Fuck! Why did this have to happen? Is there something I can do to get out of here? To save her?

“Ten seconds till deep hibernation. All systems entering into suspension. See you soon, Prime Officer Jasih.”

Ten seconds. Adrenaline dulled the kick of the drugs a bit, giving me the strength to punch the glass case. But, I was weak, certainly not strong enough to escape. Why didn’t I hear Lenora in the first place? Why...why? We could have made it in time if I had heard her. She knew that something was wrong with Bohin and his relic, but I didn’t believe her. Now, she’s somewhere out there alone, waiting for me to help her.

God, who am I kidding? We fell off a building. There’s no way in hell she’s alive.

I was starting to get dizzy. My hand was still touching the glass case of the pod, but I could feel my muscles sore and heavy. Soon, I would lose consciousness. The scene of our falling popped to my mind. There was something there...a warm light coming from somewhere. I thought it was coming off from her, but now that I was looking back at that moment, there was something else flying towards her.

I have to get out of here. I have to find her. It wasn’t her fault, and I’ll prove it.

Lenora...Lenora now had only become a word buried into my head. I didn’t know how long it would be before I woke up but inside me, I promised that I would find her.

Yes, I will find her and...and...

It seems...I’m out...of...time…

Lenora...

So long...my love...

Until...we...meet...again....