Chapter 10 The Gift?

An hour had passed since Selene arrived at Liberal Vista. The sun was sitting closer along the horizon. Due to Selene's emotional breakdown, Babe took her to a private courtyard to ease her mind. Babe felt that her injuries were acting up and decided to visit the infirmary, she gave Selene specific instructions not to venture outside the mansion because of her face which was well-known all over the news.

After Babe left, Selene washed her face inside then went back out in the courtyard where she sat on a circular bench neatly positioned underneath a tall tree. Her troubled mind had calmed down a bit, even so, her tummy was aching from hunger. [Growl!]

“Hmm...” While thinking about the events that transpired in the afternoon, Selene was so absorbed in her thoughts she didn’t realize that someone was standing right next to her.

“Ahem.”

“Huh?” Hearing someone clearing their throat near her proximity made Selene startled as she glanced above. “Who are you?”

A strapping lad with a chiselled faced carved by a handsome devil was standing abreast Selene with a tray replete with food and refreshments. When he fully absorbed the appearance of the stress beauty sitting below him, something tugged on his arteries which almost made him short of breath. Seeing how strongly Selene was staring upon him; waiting for an answer. The strapping lad flipped his dark cap to the rear then spoke in a moderate elated voice:

“Don’t be alarmed. I’m not a bad guy or anything. I brought some food on Babe’s request. She said that you must be famished after this afternoon’s ordeal. Here you go.” He lowered the tray of food to Selene’s eye level. “My name is Pac by the way. Just in case you were wondering.”

“Oh.” Selene accepted the tray and observed its contents. “Chicken and fries… Hm? This is?” She noticed a tiny bowl of sauce in her tray that had some slices of onions seasoned inside and was turned off.

“Onion?” This reminded Selene of how she ended up in her current predicament. All she did was crack a silent fart in public that wasn’t even infected and now she was labelled as a public-criminal in league with an infamous terrorist group. She desperately wanted to go back to Bay City so she could explain clearly to the authorities what took place.

“Hm?” The strapping lad who brought the meal to Selene was still there observing her saddened expression.

“Huh? Is there something on my face?” Selene asked while wiping her lips, thinking that a residue from the fries she had just ate might stuck there.

“Eh, no. nothing is on your face.” Pac said afterwards. “I was just a bit startled by that sad expression you were making earlier. It must really be mind bugging having the balance of your life tipped over so abruptly.”

“Yeah, I still feel like I’m in a palpable dream, wondering when I’ll be able to wake up from this nightmare.”

“If it makes you feel any better, you’re not alone anymore.” Pac sat on the bench beside Selene. “I know you might have heard about our organization on various news outlets but most of those pieces of information are partially false.”

“False?” Selene stared at Pac unsurely as she continued taking sips of her drink. She wasn’t so much into the fries and chicken that was covered in onion sauce. [Gulp! Gulp!]

“Yes, we are not a terrorist organisation that goes around wreaking havoc. What we are trying to accomplish is the liberation of the Fart Commandments put in place by the Societal Gods. I admit at some times we might cause some trouble here and there while avoiding their minions but I believe that it is worth it.” Pac gave Selene his deep meaningful eyes. “Don’t you think that the Societal Gods’ ruling is very harsh? I understand that most of what they are trying to do is to save lives but the power that they’ve been given have corrupted their minds. Take your situation for example, do you honestly believed that it is satisfactory for you to be treated as harshly how you have?”

“Ahm… I do believe that it is a bit harsh for me to become a nationwide criminal for passing wind in public. But none of this would have happened if you people didn’t intervene.” Selene’s eyes became fierce as a tiger.

“What do you mean? They would have imprisoned you.” Pac couldn’t ascertain what Selene was talking about. Was she satisfied with the current world order?

“It isn’t the first time that something similar to what took place today had happened to me. However, my family would always take care of it quietly. But because of your infamous organisation’s intervention, everyone now believes that I am affiliated with terrorists. My face is all over the news as a criminal suspect. You people ruined my life. Hurry up and take me back home so that I can explain myself to the authorities.”

“But, how could you say that?” Pac was flabbergasted. Selene was a spoilt brat after all. Because her influential family could bend the laws she would rather cosy up with the Societal Gods’ ruling due to her possibly being exempt from severe punishment, unlike other regular civilians. “It seems I might have misjudged you. Please forgive me.” Pac stood up and began walking out of the courtyard with a disappointed expression.

“Wait! Where are you going?” Selene tried following Pac’s movements, but she stopped after recognizing Babe approaching from another entrance of the courtyard. She wasn’t alone either, a trio of proud women was tagging behind her.

One of the lady’s following behind Babe who was now wrapped with bandages, saw Selene eating underneath the tall tree and asked: “Babe, are you certain that tiny girl has the gift? At a glance, she doesn’t look like anything worth your trouble. She is more like a rich stuck up princess to me.”

“True.” Another woman talked along. “Look at her dignified manner of eating. I bet she thinks of our organisation as a repulsive terrorist group. Why even bother with her, Babe?”

“I’m hoping you will all see something interesting.” [Thud! Thud!] Babe went ahead of the group and entered Selene’s proximity. “Hey, are you feeling any better since calming down?”

“Babe? You’re back.” Selene set her food tray to the side of the bench; stood up and welcomed Babe’s appearance. “Babe I want to ask a favour. Can you take me back ho…”

“Hey, rich chick!” Before Selene could finish speaking to Babe, one of the heavy ladies’ behind intervened and invaded Selene’s breathing space. “I heard you have the gift. Why don’t you give us a demonstration?”

“Hey, Viv cool it.” Babe tried pulling the unruly woman back but she insisted on invading Selene’s breathing space. Viv’s figure was more mature and robust than Selene. Her chest and legs contained muscle mass sturdier than many men, moreover, her arms muscles could strangle a bulky bodybuilder to death. This woman called Viv resembled an insurmountable giant who was 3-metres tall while standing beside Selene’s petite framework.