“What do you mean we can't enter?”

My eyebrows furrowed in irritation as I repeated the same question for the second time. After waiting for quite awhile now, it was now our turn to enter the conference room. But it seems that the guard who was stationed at the entrance, wasn't so cooperative as he looks to be. Contrary to that kind face that he wore almost all of the time while receiving members who are interested in hearing the professor's lecture, he greeted us with an expression that was devoid of emotion.

“I'm very sorry Mr. Alberts, but bringing kids inside is prohibited. Besides, this is a conference and not a musical play for children to watch.”

He replied in complete monotone, with those unyielding eyes staring straight back at mine. It was quite intimidating that I subconsciously took a step back, feeling that oppressive aura that made breathing considerably more difficult.

“...........”

I didn't dare to press on further, noticing that the previous emotionless face began to distort in annoyance.

The guard was also a member of the order, more specifically the Self-defense task force. A division of the order assigned to maintain peace and order within the island. From a newcomer’s perspective, they looked like normal security force. All members wearing full black from top to bottom, bearing much resemblance to those people who protects the president of the world’s most powerful country.

But beneath those finely tailored suits, a dark history was buried deep within. They would do anything necessary just to make sure that no one dares to break their sworn oaths. Brainwashing, torturing and even as far as using defectors as lab rats for their own experiments.

As to how did I know these things, it was only common knowledge inside the order. During all orientations of newcomers, the consequences of betrayal would always be repeatedly emphasized. For a secret organization to ensure its safety, such measures was only natural and all members knew the reasons very well.

Setting those things aside, it seems that entering was impossible with the little girl beside me in tow.

“Umm.. you...see”

It felt difficult to speak any further for I didn't want to disappoint the girl’s expectation. Turning my head meekly to the side, I once again saw her little eyes staring up at me. Judging by her reaction, it was safe to say that she understood the man’s words entirely. In response, her face showed sorrow and loneliness. After travelling from wherever she came from, only to end up failing her objective. It pains me to say it myself, that she needs to stay back outside.

As if noticing my current predicament, her pair of orbs looked down dejectedly with her hands grasping the hem of my coat tightly and her shoulders trembling in dismal.

….!?

My face grew stiff in response, causing me to fail in relaying those words that I wanted to say.

Gah! This is unfair!

To show such a look in front of me! Of course I would feel considerable regret after seeing that face!

Following that, I repeatedly questioned myself if I am that vulnerable with such psychologic attacks. Well, even if she didn’t do that I would still stay with her indefinitely. After all, I still carried the morals that I’ve learned from my previous home.

Noticing that the crowd at the back were starting to get rowdy, I hurriedly walked a considerable distance from the line with the girl in tow.

It was too disappointing that I felt lethargic all of a sudden. If ever my teacher found out about this, I would certainly be lectured for yet another act of tardiness.

Well enough of that, let’s just focus with the problem in hand.

“Ehmm… You see… It seems that children are forbidden from entering there…”

After steeling my resolve for quite some time, I finally managed to say it in front of her. Speaking in a fairly soft tone with the volume of my voice getting weaker with each word that was spoken. I tried my best to at least weaken the effects of those words by saying it not too forcefully.

“........”

And then, an ear-shattering silence befell between the both of us. After, hearing the news personally from me, her previous miserable look took a turn for the worse. Her shoulders drooped in gloom and tears welled up from her eyes.

“Le-let’s just forget about that okay!....Those old timers too will surely be angry if they saw kids going in there so I think it will be the best for us to go elsewhere!... Ehmm.. let’s see!….. I know a much more fun place!...Rather than that conference room which is too boring even for me!”

I waved both arms frantically and my face showed noticeable signs of panic. Thinking that I was the primary cause of her worsened mood, I hurriedly tried to calm her down by shouting the first thing that crossed my mind, barraging her with words as if I was a professional rapper. If by chance her weeping turned into wailing, I would surely be in trouble. The people around us would certainly misinterpret this scene with me being the culprit, in case that happened.

“....”

But surprisingly, my tactics were proven to be effective as I saw her eyes looking up to me and her ears twitching at the same time.

Phew! Thank god I avoided the worst case scenario, but it seemed that the things that I blurted out caught her interest. Maybe the word ‘fun’ dealt the most effect. But seriously though, this place wasn't for children to roam around in the first place.

“Fun….”

“..!!?”

“Fun…”

“..!!?”

“Fun…”

“..!!?”

Wanting to verify my theory on a whim, I intentionally spouted the same word over and over again and was taken aback by her reaction. Whenever I uttered that single word, she would always perk her ears up, wanting to know what kind of fun I was talking about. And at the same time, her pupils would dilate with her head tilted slightly.

Haah.. this is too much fun~...

No matter how you looked at her, she resembled a tiny little cute animal whose interest was

piqued. I was so entertained by this that I unintentionally continued in doing it until the girl had finally realized.

She puffed her cheeks in frustration and glared at me with sharp eyes, as a result of me making fun of her.

Who could blame me? If I were to post a video of this scene in the internet, It would undoubtedly receive a million views within a day!

Setting those things aside, now that I stopped her from crying, what I needed to do now was to at least show her this ‘fun’ place I was talking about. Even if this island only catered scientists with an unimaginable amount of information pertaining to their different fields of expertise, I think normal citizens could have fun here too. Come to think of it, educational television programs always described science as something fun. And yes, they were darn right about that!

“Yes.. There’s a place here where you can have fun…”

After recovering from that previous farce, I proceeded with the matter at hand seriously but couldn't help but grin occasionally.

“So where is this place?”

She replied in a meek voice that carried a hint of curiosity while showing that same reaction all over again.

Well by the looks of it, it seems that it was a habit of some sort? But the alarming thing was with what I’m doing right now. Whichever way you look at it, this sort of development usually lead to people abducting little children. Not that I would do that too! However, I couldn't help but be worried about this girl’s well being if she was this simple minded.

Not needing anymore words, I turned my back at her, waved a hand telling her to follow, and started to walk to the direction where I previously came in. Thinking that if I was to speak any further, I would look more and more like a kidnapper. I immediately made my decision of at least walk a considerable distance from her, in order to not raise any more suspicions from her and those people that were staring at us since the start.

After hearing her footsteps resounding from behind me, I took the lead and started our journey to that fun place I was talking about.

____________________________________________________________________________

I was standing frozen in front of a huge door with Mr. Alberts beside me, flabbergasted by its sheer size and the silver shine exuded by it. After hearing those people address him as Mr. Alberts, I too started to call him that within my mind.

He was different or maybe way too different from those adults that I’ve met here so far. Always smiling and grinning, even if those people scorned him behind his back. That kind of smile was the one wanted father to show me once more. Even if he looked creepy from the start, his cheerful and happy-go lucky attitude told me otherwise.

After failing to enter the conference room ,where father was currently at, I didn't know what to do. It was father’s most important lecture and his only daughter failed to make an appearance. I was worried and scared at the same time, thinking that he would scold and abandon me if he caught wind of this. Never did he say that I was to stay away from that lecture, so I naively thought that I needed to attend it no matter what happened.

A man who was guarding the entrance prevented us from entering. And said that children like me were forbidden to enter, but I refused to believe it. Even so, after hearing it from Mr. Alberts’ own mouth, all hope was immediately lost. The fear of being hated crept deep inside my heart. Mother already left us for another man, leaving only the two of us in the family. If father was to leave me alone, what would happen to me?

Noticing my despair, Mr. Alberts immediately spoke words of reassurance. Saying that if children were to enter that room, the adults inside would surely be angry. If that was true, then father wouldn't abandon me. Instead he would praise me for being well-behaved.

That single thought managed to calm down my mind that was filled with unease. For now, I believed Mr. Alberts’ words. He was also an adult after all! Moreover the fun place he spoke of peaked my interest. And since I had nothing to do right now and father wouldn't be back for a while, I might as well visit this fun place.

Back then, mother would repeatedly remind me not to talk or follow strangers. But here I am, with one beside me. I was certain that if Mr. Alberts was to try something funny, I could defend myself easily. That can of spray used to make those bad people go away was always hidden inside my dress whenever I go out. Furthermore, Mr. Alberts didn’t look strong enough to be much of a threat. His shoulders were thin and his long arms showed no signs masculinity. If I were to fight him one on one, I’m sure I could win by myself.

“Who goes there!”

A large and deep voice suddenly erupted from the door which made me cup my ears using both my hands and jump in surprise at the same time. It felt like a giant was behind this door, and that thought terrified me to an extent that I felt my knees shaking. As for Mr. Alberts, he kept his calm in the midst of such a loud sound.

“Professor Harper, it's me Seth…”

Replying as if he knew the one behind the door, Mr. Alberts familiarly spoke of two names. One seemed to belong to the one who bellowed earlier and the other was his own.

Seth Alberts

I repeatedly recited his name within my head, not wanting to forget the name of this seemingly odd adult.

“Ah Seth! Of course! Of course! It’s been awhile since your last visit!”

In response to his reply, the giant happily exclaimed. Although his voice was still scary, his previous tone eventually softened after hearing Seth’s words.

Fooooooosh

And as if on cue, the enormous door opened slowly. The thick steel barrier that separated us from the giant disappeared in a flash with white smoke enshrouding the whole entrance. A silhouette of a human could be seen in the midst of that man made fog. But it wasn't just a normal figure, it was so tall that its head nearly reached the highest point of the entrance.

I hurriedly hid myself behind Seth’s’ back in impulse. Scared to meet the giant for the first time, my heart throbbed violently in fear with my trembling hands tightly grasping the hem of his lab coat. But soon all my worries were bound to be dispelled after the mist completely cleared up.

“Welcome!..welcome..to my prehistoric paradise Hahaha!”

A loud and cheerful voice followed by a hearty laugh, immediately lightened up that previous atmosphere that was filled with suspense. As the fog completely dissipated, another adult clad in white coat could be seen. Sporting a finely grown beard and a moustache with a friendly smile showing from his face. You wouldn't think of him as someone scary, in fact he looked much like my uncle that lived in the countryside. But then, his height was almost double of Seth and under one of his arms was some sort of bird-like creature.

“Well it seems that you’re not alone! What is your name little missy?”

He casually approached us with his lips still curved into a wide smile. The professor knelt in front of me in order to match my line of sight and proceeded to ask me for my name. But all this time, I was focused on the appearance of that animal that was carried beneath his right arm.

I think I saw it somewhere before. Was it science class or history class?

A small, plump, gray feathered bird with small wings at both sides. Its legs were thick and its feet possessed black claws. But the thing that stood out the most was its large beak.