Chapter 284 - What Now?

Nina woke up in cold sweat. Her head was continuously aching in pain. She looked around the well-furnished room, hearing the soft sounds of people trotting outside. She didn't know where she was but gazing around the room made her realise something. From the bedsheet to the paint on the walls, everything was up to Arnold's liking. She tried to get up but her head felt heavy. Very heavy, like a bomb had exploded over her head. 

It was only then she broke free from her mental trance and remembered what happened and threw the blanket off of her. Arnold's cloak was still wrapped around her... It was all real... 

"Where... Where's he!?" Nina exclaimed, rushing towards the door. She needed to find someone to answer her questions. 

Fortunately, Talos was making rounds around the Avalon to make sure everyone was comfortable. Especially, his master's precious guest, Devon, who had been shacked up inside the prison cells down in the bas.e.m.e.nt. Everyone apart from Nina was being kept under strict surveillance as he didn't know what Arnold had planned on doing with them. In the meantime, Alice and Natasha were helping anyone they could. 

Just as Nina stepped out, her head banged against Talos' metallic chest plate. She fell hard on her butt. Talos quickly helped her up. 

"Madam, you shouldn't be running around in your condition." Talos reminded her, "If you need anything, you should've simply called one of us-"

"Talos, where is he?" Nina cut the automaton off mid-sentence. 

Talos immediately knew who Nina was talking about. Sadly, he was as clueless as the lady. He had no idea where his master was or if he was even safe. But he also knew telling Nina about it wouldn't yield any positive result, so he decided to come up with a lie instead. 

"Master is back safe and sound. He's handling some matters right now. I'll inform him that you want to see him." 

Then he proceeded to fake a call between one of the other automaton, to make his lie a little bit believable. 

"And it's done. He'll be here shortly. In the meantime please rest as much as you can, it'll be good for your health an-"

"You're a terrible liar, has anyone told you that before?" Nina scowled, "I guess you're not the one to blame. That idiot is no good at lying either. Just tell me where he is for God's sake!"

"..." 

"Fine. I'll look for him myself then!" Nina pushed him aside and walked out of the corridor. Talos was right behind her. 

As Nina starting walking around the complex, she realised something... Every single of Arnold's summons was living under the same roof.

The more she looked around, the more confused she became. Just what was this place? Why did Arnold throw everyone in here? Where was he? Was he safe? 

With too many questions simultaneously coursing through her mind, her head started pounding even more. She rushed out of what seemed to be the entrance hoping to get some clarity on the situation. Instead, she got even more perplexed. 

She initially thought she was inside Arnold's base in zone 4... But she wasn't there. She was... Nowhere. The building was the only thing inside the black space... Nothing else. Scylla, Dread, and Asterios were the only ones outside. 

"Where are we...?" Nina turned around to face Talos who was patiently waiting behind her. 

"This is our master's domain. His private space. A place where he and the ones who serve him live harmoniously together. No one can access this place except for master." Talos tried to explain her to the best of his ability. 

"But why are we here then? Did Arnold send us here to protect us from the explosion?" Nina shot the next question. 

"Mm-hmm." Talos nodded, "I can only assume that master didn't want to leave anyone behind. Thus, he did what he thought was the ideal solution. He saved everyone important to him. Moreover, I think he'll like to keep this place a secret, so-"

"But where is he? He isn't here is he?"

Talos remained silent, before shaking his head. He didn't know where Arnold was, neither was he going to lie about it anymore. He might've been a metallic shell from the outside but on the inside, he understood Arnold better than any of his summons. Thus, he knew there was no point in lying to her anymore. Either way, sooner or later, she would have discovered it on her own. Which would lead to more complications. But he didn't expect her to have a breakdown right then and there. 

The realisation soon dawned upon her.

He was out there alone...

In the middle of a nuclear attack...

He was there...

Alone...

No one was there to help him out. 

Did it have to be him? Why didn't he just let the rest of them die? Why did he have to be a hero every fcking time!? Why couldn't he save himself first for fcks sake!? Why... JUST WHY!? 

"'WHAT WERE YOU DOING?" She burst into tears, "WHY ARE YOU SO USELESS!?" 

Nina had lost it. She was crying and slapping herself continuously. Talos rushed to console her. He might not have known where his master was but he knew he was alive. If he wasn't, then most probably, the domain would've collapse altogether. But before he could reach the lady, a hand reached her first. 

A portal had opened right behind her and a moment later someone walked out of it. Nina immediately turned around. Her face had turned red from crying and slapping herself. Her eyes too had turned red but her eyes weren't filled with pain or grief anymore. She had found the one she had been waiting for. 

"You know... Crying doesn't suit you, at all." Arnold's weak voice echoed through her ears. The voice might've been weak, but the underlying love reached his lover's heart. 

She jumped up and hugged him tightly and refused to let go, her face was buried deep in his chest. In no time Arnold's shirt or whatever remained of it got soaked with her tears and snot. Arnold gave her a weak smile before kissing her forehead. He didn't know why, but seeing her crying made his heart twist with pain. 

After what felt like eternity, she finally let him go. The next moment she gasped in horror... 

"Your... Arm..." Nina mumbled and covered her mouth. 

"It was getting in the way so I got rid of it. Looks cool doesn't it?" Arnold tried to laugh it off but no one found it funny. Not even Talos, "T, tell Alive and Nat I might need their help with... You know what."