After that, things happened too fast.

I was so shocked that I lost myself to my hearing and smelling senses. I couldn't see anymore, I couldn't feel anymore.

All I could do was hear the grass breaking under light pressure, in front of me, sand making way under feet, and the song of the wind, broken here and there, where obstacles disrupted its melody.

The smell of sweat, blood and earth filled my nostrils, and I could tell where the scents were.

I could hear the air whistling far away, and coming closer in high speed, breathing just beside me, and the scent of sweat and soap mixed.

I realized Karah and Dia had come to my aid, and they soon reached me... But I didn't want to remember anything, and concentrated on the wind.

I danced around leaves, in between cave crevices, right above running rivers- caught up in the omnipresent song. This song carried the chirping of birds, buzzing of bugs and the sound of all the life around turning everywhere in the flow... while maybe I was being carried home.

I spent hours lost in my daze, until the song was disrupted by a loud noise far away: gunshot.

But I couldn't smell gunpowder.

The loud noise woke me up. And my vision came back, while the hearing and smelling turned themselves down.

I was inside the seed again- the cubic, furnished room.

It was all dark, save the small yellow light that hung above the kitchen table, meaning we were on lockdown and it was late.

I had been sitting upright on my bed all this time, and had reached the state where both my legs were fully numb, so I had to get up and move them.

I used my hands to pull my legs beneath me, and place them beside the bed, and waited until the blood circulated enough to give me at least an uncomfortable feeling on them, before getting up.

I stood up and looked around. Both girls were sleeping, and Diana was curled in a ball where my feet would be if I were asleep.

So it wasn't the girls who used a gun- I had to tell them this, later.

The girls...

The girl.

I looked at Scarlet again, and a shiver ran down my spine. She had me completely terrified. Whatever happened with her and the flower, it wasn't good, something was very wrong with her...

But I had to endure it.

We had to endure it, for humanity, and for the possibility of her going back to how she was.

My legs still hurt, and again I was about to throw up, remembering the recent events, so I moved stealthily as fast as I could to the bathroom.

I closed the door and fell on the ground just in time to push whatever I had in my stomach inside the toilet.

There wasn't much, but I felt relieved after that.

I washed my mouth to stop the burning feeling on my throat and nose, brushed my teeth and took a shower.

This time the seed didn't give me my usual clothing, only light shorts and a thin shirt, which I didn't even bother putting on.

I put the shorts and left the bathroom, making way to the yellow circle shining in one side of the room- the kitchen.

I couldn't leave my stomach completely empty, or else I'd become nauseous later.

I ate a strange, red fruit, that had grown in our "farm", and was surprised. It was pretty juicy and delicious. I finished it, drank water, and observed the room.

Scarlet slept soundly, and her flower moved to the sides in random intervals.

Karah was having a nightmare, based on her fast breathing and eye movement...

And Dia was still curled up in a ball.

Thinking about Dia, I tried to acess the Link, without sending any message.

I wasn't sucessful- but concentrating, I could feel the "Worry" she sent through it.

I moved closer, petted her, and went to sleep.

**************************

I was awoken very violently.

Karah shook me all over, worried- Dia jumped on my belly, and I think Scarlet wasn't allowed near me...

I had to get up, and Karah asked me to explain what had happened.

I didn't want to explain, not here, not now, so I just glared at her, and said

"It was nothing"

I don't know if she understood I wanted to talk to her later, but it really didn't matter.

She made a sad, pouty face to me, in answer to my glaring... And I just had to mess her hair up.

As soon as I started moving my hand through her hair, she backed away, and punched my arm, angry.

"I told you not to do this! You know how hard it is to comb this thing every morning?!"

I chuckled and answered

"Then next time, let me comb it for you"

This made her become reddish and leave, mumbling something.

We all went through our morning routine. Scarlet acted as if yesterday was no big deal, and I did the same. I couldn't let her know I'd find some cure to her condition along with Karah.

After we had everything ready, I called both the girls outside, to the balcony, and told them about the noise I heard- meaning I'd found a probable location to another seed.

The gunshot noise had come from the northeast of our location, the forest. It probably sounded on the plains over there.

I told them that as soon as Markus woke up, we'd seal our seed and go explore over there, and they both agreed.

With the meeting finished, we resumed the excursions, this time being Karah's turn.

We walked around for a bit, until we were far from from the clearing, and I told her about the plans I had to research and cute Scarlet's... Problem.

Karah was dumbstruck hearing what happened yesterday, and agreed with me on finding a solution.

We'd be using the seed to scan Scarlet while she slept, and Karah would work on ways while I was out on patrol with her.

We made our plans and continued the recon.

************************

For another three months, our routine remained.

We got used to life here, kinda.

Karah managed to fix about 70% of the defense system, the only thing that wasn't functional was the grenade launcher. There was no need to guard the seed the whole day anymore.

Diana grew a lot, she stood as tall as my shoulder now, and begun participating in easy combat. I have to say: she completely destroys whatever stands in her way. She learned how to use the armor, and isn't afraid of it anymore, and had pretty sharp nails on her paws.

Scarlet... well, she still wasn't our usual Scarlet, but we learned how to ignore her violent episodes and to avoid her akwardness. I've managed to escape her kisses and advances on me...

But, thankfully, we were coming closer to find a way to solve her problem.

The seed revealed that her flower constantly produced poison, and dumped it into her veins, and that this was causing a disturbance in her nervous system- generating symptoms similar to those seen on psychopaths.

Thing is: there's no way to remove the flower.

I've seen the vines and the flower itself get torn from her arm several times, but it always regenerates, because the roots installed themselves on her bones.

So the answer we came up with was to put the serum on her food until she came to her senses again, and we could explain what happened, and tell her the treatment.

Responses would be slow, because it was oral administration, but the seed ensured it would work this way too.

Markus's awakening day was drawing closer, too. I've seen his arm moving around, he kicked the air one of these days, but his eyes still haven't opened, nor has he shown signs of having conscience.

Today, I woke up early to take a look at our farm, which had been giving us lots of vegetables lately - and it appears crops mature faster in this planet- and found Scarlet.

She was lying over one of the tables set in the clearing... and sunbathing.

Must I say she was only wearing undergarments? Yeah

This was the third time it happened.

Just as I was about to return, silently, to my bed, she said

"Like what you see?"

I cringed and answered

"Sure, you're lovely, now, if you'll excuse me, I need to take a shower and make our breakfast"

"Mind if I join you?"

She asked, probably with that smug smile she wore around me, I didn't look back to see

"Yes, I kind of do, sorry"

I answered and left, hearing only something like "aw boo" from her.

I finished my biddings, made food for everyone, and left to call Karah and get meat for Diana.

I prepared everything, and went back to eat.

The taste was different from what I expected, but it was still good.

After that, I resumed my training routine, that involved Dia now.

We sparred everyday, unarmed, so she'd learn how to move during battles. She learned everything fast.

Then the usual recon, to get the plants necessary for Scarlet's treatment- which didn't need the deadly flowers anymore, thankfully.

Return, then dinner, and put serum on Scarlet's food.

I felt strange by the end of the day, but presumed it was just tiredness, and went to sleep

****************

Another five days went by, until something happened.

I had been feeling strange lately, but didn't tell the girls. Maybe I was sick.

But today it became worse.

I felt nauseous, and my vision distorted.

I had to run to the bathroom, and doing so, I startled Karah.

She came after me, and found me throwing up in the bathroom, right before I lost my conscience.

I woke up five hours later- but for a specific reason.

Screaming.

There was someone screaming endlessly... and it wasn't the girls.

Markus had woken up, and shook himself all over the bed violently, while shouting "stop" and "let me go"

I tried to jump out of my bed, to go help him, but I couldn't stand up. My legs failed beneath me, and I sent myself tumbling on the floor.

I called for Karah and Scarlet, and Diana, through the Link.

Soon, the wolf came in running, with Karah just behind her.

The seed flashed in red, and said

"Subject Markus Eden has a spike in his vitals- forced sedation is recommended"

When this happened, Karah ran towards Markus, grabbed his arm, pushed it, so his belly lay on the bed, and hit the back of his neck.

The boy went limp, and Karah turned him around again, so he could breathe freely.

Karah then said

"Relay medical instructions for Markus Eden"

And the capsule answered that a low sedative dose would prevent another attack.

So she got some sedative from the seed dropout on the wall, and applied on him.

Then she came near me, and helped me get to my bed again, then said, angry.

"Next time you don't tell me when you're not feeling well, I gonna give you a reason for throwing up, myself. Now go rest again, and get better so I can kiss you all I want."

Then she gave me a hug, kissed my forehead and left.

I fell asleep as soon as the adrenaline stopped working on my system.

Then, four hours later I woke up- and heard some mumbling noise.

I looked to my side, and saw Markus in fetal position, over his bed, repeating nonstop

"I remember everything, I remember..."