Chapter 20: Stranded in A Polluted Zone
Even though the group was deep into their gossip, they all knew it wasn’t right to discuss someone’s private matters openly, especially in front of Kestrel. The chatter came to an awkward halt, and they swiftly changed the topic to the upcoming trip.
"Man, my luck stinks," one groaned. "I’m freaking out. I heard those places are super dangerous and the living conditions are basic."
"No kidding, I heard there’s not even a proper bathroom there. How am I supposed to survive?"
These betas, who were used to a pampered life in the Tower, were anxious about stepping into such a harsh environment. They were going because they had to, but it was hard for them to hide their unease.
"I’ve heard the alphas there are rough, uneducated, and filthy."
"There’ve been cases where betas got assaulted before. We all need to stay safe."
"I don’t want to use my psychic abilities to heal those folks. Why should I help ordinary people?"
The betas shared their thoughts about the trip, clearly not thrilled about the idea of dealing with rough and unsophisticated alphas from lower social classes.
"Why do they even need us there? Can’t they survive on beta pheromones?"
"Do you guys actually plan on doing the task? I’m just going to do the bare minimum."
"Me too. I’ll just show up and then head back home. I’m not staying a second longer than I have to."
As they talked, they began to feel a twinge of envy for the betas who had already found their mates and were happily married.
Usually, betas who had mates didn’t have to take on dangerous assignments away from the capital city. Betas, although rare, could even come from humble backgrounds and still end up with a noble mate, sometimes even royalty. The thought of a comfortable life without having to work was very tempting.
Before long, the young betas’ worries were forgotten as they began to daydream about the future, eagerly talking about the eligible noble alphas back in the capital.
Kestrel sat among them, laughing when they did and keeping quiet when the conversation lulled. She didn’t really get their sense of humor.
Being social wasn’t as tough as she’d thought, Kestrel realized. All she had to do was mirror their feelings and react the right way. That made them feel like she was one of them.
"Being with all these classmates isn’t so bad," she told herself, "but maybe I should try starting a conversation sometimes."
So she scanned the faces around her and turned to Serge, the only one she recognized by the window. "Serge? Do you have something on your mind? You keep looking my way."
Actually, it was Kestrel’s idle tendrils who had picked up on Serge’s sneaky actions.
Serge’s face turned as red as a beet in no time.
Nicole, who sat beside Kestrel, burst into a fit of giggles, doubling over onto the table. "People aren’t wrong when they say you’re odd. You’re a riot," she said, nudging Kestrel. "I thought I was the most straightforward person in school, but you’ve got me beat."
Kestrel was confused. She didn’t understand what she had said that was so funny. "But isn’t it true? Even though I didn’t see it, my idle tendrils did notice Serge sneaking glances at me."
Nicole decided to save Serge, "He’s just curious about you. Actually, we all are. Did you really call off your engagement with Tarian Riker?"
"Yup," Kestrel replied, her tendrils gently swaying as though counting, "I feel like I’ve answered that question a million times."
"Ha, ha, ha." Nicole chuckled again. "Alright, I won’t ask about that. I’m just curious if you really applied to work in the Special Research Division?"
Kestrel showed Nicole her work badge.
"Whoa," Nicole leaned in to get a better look at the badge. "I’ve heard that job often involves going to the Polluted Zone. It’s risky."
"Why, why would you go for such a job?" Serge, who had just managed to stop blushing, couldn’t help but chime in. "No beta has ever wanted to research the Polluted Zone. Is it... because you’re really confident in your psychic abilities?"
"No matter what the reason, it sounds crazy." Nicole casually draped an arm around Kestrel’s shoulders. "I’m a little jealous. I’ve always wanted to leave the Tower and explore the world. But my family won’t let me. Even this trip took a lot of convincing to get my dad’s okay."
A curly-haired beta by the window rolled her eyes at their conversation. "What a show-off. Making up excuses because she was dumped and wants to save face. She just couldn’t stand the humiliation."
She instinctively whispered to the person next to her, "Are there actually people who want to work? I just hope to be matched with a rich and influential mate soon. Then I can stop working and live the good life."
Beside her, behind the window, a pretty girl with long black hair just nodded and smiled in agreement.
The curly-haired girl was about to say more when she suddenly stopped mid-sentence. She felt a cold chill run down her spine, her body froze, and goosebumps broke out on her skin. She remembered that she was sitting next to the window. Outside was nothing but the open sky, thousands of meters high, where no one could possibly be.
The girl outside the window, her long soft hair gently blowing in the wind, her deep black eyes sparkling, smiled wide and kept nodding. The curly-haired beta felt a shiver, as if an icy creature was slithering up her skin, leaving her weak and frozen in place. Her teeth chattered, and with a stiff neck, she reached out to tug at a classmate sitting beside her.
"Why are you pulling me?" The classmate turned, looking annoyed.
The curly-haired girl was shivering, her body rigid. She could barely speak and could only point tremblingly towards the window.
Her classmate looked out the window, laughing at her fear, but then froze as she caught sight of a floating head. The head, hanging outside the window and pressed against the glass, looked back at her and opened its mouth, letting out an eerie laugh.
"Aaaaaaah!" A piercing scream echoed through the blimp.
