The Earth After Rebirth

"A live stream video that shook the entire country. Two prominent figures, Sekani Waynworth and Jesús Silva, were seen being tortured for information in what looked like a rundown interrogation cellar by government officials.

"Nobody knows how this footage was obtained but we've received a statement from the family lawyer of the Waynworth family, Mahindra Khan, a giant in our country. He assured us that they'll be suing the entire government and requesting for a thorough investigation."

There was nothing else on TV but this story about how corrupt their government was, Kiro didn't even want to be there when they finally post what was actually going on in that mine.

Once they got home, Sekani decided to come clean to Freya, not including Kiro in his honesty so they all decided as a family that he needed to recuperate first before they decide what to do with the video.

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"Did you know?" Isla came to the Waynworth estate, she was pretty shaken up and was just looking to be comforted.

Kiro sighed deeply, he wasn't sure whether she was looking for a fight or she genuinely wanted to know, either way they really didn't have the luxury to have conversations like these when there was a whole war waiting for them in the game.

"We can talk when we've defeated him, the ancient one." His tone was calm but there was a raging storm within him, misplacing his organs, making him feel sick.

"So that's it then, you just won't tell me anything? My father almost died!"

"Why do you assume that is my fault somehow? My dad was in the same boat Isla, don't be unfair."

"I just don't understand why men won't talk, dad didn't even confide in Dion, not even mum, his wife. And you won't confide in me either, is that how we do things now? I just want to know Ki."

The way she addressed him completely ripped the walls he was trying to build to separate himself from everyone else. He didn't understand why or how she had that kind of effect on him.

They were also in his bedroom, door closed, lying on the floor on opposite sides just soaking in what their father's had gone through and what they witnessed. It was a close call for both of them, relieved as they were that nothing too serious happened, Isla in particular was still shaken up.

It was not just this though, it was the oncoming war. Fighting a god that could somehow jump through worlds, even possibly using the game, Asgard to infiltrate was enough to mess with her head. She wasn't the only one scared, but nobody was willing to admit that they were which left her feeling alone.

Kiro was feeling a little guilty now and since the 'clean our society' mission was almost complete anyway, he didn't see the hurt in telling her everything up until that point.

"Don't interrupt me...but this starts from way back, when my grandfather was still alive. He's the reason we even knew about every secret this society held..."

He didn't hold back, not even a bit. It looked like he needed this more than he thought, he told the story of his grandfather up until he got lost, the day he found the information he'd been given, attacking the underground ring and finally being asked to trust his father with the second location that needed liberation.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

When he was done, Isla was crying, not the loud kind, Kiro didn't even notice she was, he was looking at the ceiling as he retold the stories. Her tears were silence, the only thing that gave her away was when she sniffled causing Kiro to turn his head.

"I'm fine." She wiped them away, "really I am, it's just really sad, all of it. I can't believe there was such a thing going on under our noses."

Kiro agreed. If it wasn't for Kronos, the time god, it would've most likely went on for many many years before it came to light and he would've been long dead, not responsible for uncovering the truth that lurked in the shadows of Sanctauri.

"Yeah, it's really sickening what money and power can do to a person. I didn't want to tell you initially because I thought your father was a part of it, then I didn't tell you because I thought it was too dangerous."

"It's funny, you boys always want to protect. Do you know what a woman's first instinct is when it comes to the people she cares about?"

Kiro's eyebrow arched, he was still looking at her. He smiled, he knew the answer to that, he had a mother like that after all. Even though he knew the answer, he shook his head and muttered 'no'.

"It's to protect dummy."

There was nothing to argue about that, while he wanted to protect her, she wanted to protect him. But maybe they could do that by trusting and being open with each other.

"You know, we can only succeed in protecting each other by trusting one another." She commented, turning her head to look at him too for the first time since they decided to lie down on the floor.

Kiro maintained his smile, "yes of course, I know that."

"Do you?"

"Do I what?"

"Do you trust me Kiro Waynworth?"

He knew he trusted her but the words didn't want to come out for some reason, there was a large lump in his throat. He had people now, people he could trust, yet there was always that voice at the back of his mind, pushing him away from every good thing he was trying to build.

Like he had to carry the burden of everything all by himself. It was tiring but it was also the only way he knew how to be effective.

She was still looking at him though, waiting for his answer, she wasn't going to rush him, she would be patient with him.

He scooted closer and their lips met. It amazed him how it still felt like the first time they kissed, the storm within him was immediately calmed, replaced by a tingling feeling in his stomach.

"I trust you."