They had just stepped out of the elevator when another group of people entered. The two sisters didn't really take note of the appearance until the person called out, "Si?"
The voice was familiar, especially to Louisa.
It was that dude.
Louisa's grip tightened on her sister's wrist, and her pace increased. Meanwhile, Sienna wasn't answering as if she didn't hear his call. Of course, she was focused on her phone, checking the temperature of Moon City. It was also -35°. So it was safe to assume the temperature was the same everywhere? she ruminated.
Behind them, Ashton called out again, voice rising a notch higher. "Sienna?"
He had only managed to catch a glimpse of her flawless side profile, and her back reminded him of the little girl that used to follow him around when they were younger, but he wasn't really sure if it was her. After all, she was a spoiled brat who was probably shivering in her room back in the mansion from the cold. What could she be here for?
And not only that, she wasn't answering even after he had called twice, so maybe it was a coincidence.
The men behind him, all in black suits, glanced at each other before one of them spoke up. "Shall we leave now, President Ash?"
"Oh yeah." His gaze averted from the slender fingers as the door slid shut.
Meanwhile, Louisa heaved a sigh of relief. She really disliked a man like Ashton, whom to her was two-faced. Despite appearing warm on the surface, his actions and words were unfortunately the opposite.
But then... something seemed to flash in her mind, and her expression paled.
Could it be...
That...
Sienna came here for him?!
She knew Ashton was here, so she decided to come too?!
Her chest went tight with emotions, and she clenched her fist. She thought she should have known. How could Sienna, who used to love Ashton so badly, suddenly change and claim she didn't think about him anymore?
Impossible.
Louisa's heart was heavy with disappointment, but she didn't let it show on her face as Sienna, who had been in deep thought until now, finally realized they were in front of their room.
She swiped the card and entered.
"This will be our place from now on," said Sienna, her eyes sweeping around the big room. It looked comfortable enough, the heater was blasting, and the fur carpet was warm. A TV that likely would soon stop working framed the wall facing the bed, and the surroundings looked clean and cool.
Louisa set the cat down on the sofa, watching it with dazed eyes while she struggled to arrange her thoughts.
Meanwhile, Sienna went to the bathroom to check it out, came back out, took off some of her coats, and then brought out her weights and mat to exercise when she thought of something and looked at Louisa.
"You okay?" She turned to Louisa, her voice low when she noticed her quiet expression.
Louisa couldn't hold it in anymore. "Sis," she whispered, meeting Sienna's eyes with a hesitant look. "Why are we here...?"
Is it really for that son of a bitch?
Sienna got down on the mat, stretching her limbs lazily. "Do you know what will happen after this period passes?" When Louisa shook her head, a smile curved on her lips like she was discussing the weather — well, she was, except it was no ordinary one. "Extreme Heat... known as the Thermal Age."
Louisa's eyes shrank.
"It will be just like this cold... oh wait, we haven't reached the peak of coldness yet, just the first day, and by the last day, the planet will become almost uninhabitable, and that's when the Thermal Age will happen. It will be so hot millions of people will die from heatstroke." Her expression turned somber. "If I'm not wrong, some have actually started saying bye to the world..."
Louisa stilled, the world cutting off from her ears.
Sienna didn't stop there. "And guess what happens after that?"
Louisa's heart pounded, feeling ominous all of a sudden as the amber-green eyes collided with her own. Then Sienna's lips parted. "Apocalypse."
Louisa's jaw dropped.
"A–A–pocalypse?"
"Yes. Apocalypse. A world where only the strongest can survive, governed by rules that only the weak can abide by but the strong can escape from. It's an era where the currency is your strength, and the value of it is what you're capable of... a world where your skills are your asset. At that time, you can kill, maim, loot, or get killed, maimed, and looted. And this place that we're in... this city will be the first base the government will create to bring in survivors. Even though the quality of life will be different from the one everyone is used to, it will suffice as a place where one can call home."
Louisa listened dazedly. Sienna's words made her scalp tingle and raised goosebumps on her skin.
Apocalypse.
She never thought she would see it happen.
"Sis... Ho—How did you know?" She frowned. "The government didn't say it either... did they?"
Sienna froze. "In my dream."
"Your dream?"
"Yes, a very long dream."
And that was all Louisa needed to hear.
Her sister had her own space where she could summon things like a magician, so how wouldn't an apocalypse be possible?
And whether it would happen or not, she didn't want to be the looted or the killed.
"Sister..." she called — voice shaky but firm, and Sienna nodded for her to go ahead and speak her mind.
"Then... how do I get strong?"
Sienna smirked, ruffling her hair and then dragging her to the mat. "Train and get stronger, of course."
She patted her little shoulder and assumed a push-up position with weights on her body. "Come, do push-ups with me."
Louisa immediately got into the position.For she wanted to be strong enough so none of the things Sienna had mentioned would happen to her.
Halfway through, Sienna couldn't help but express her surprise when Louisa could keep up with her to do twenty push-ups even while carrying weight.
She sat on the floor, sweeping her hair back with her slender fingers. "You're good at this! Not even panting. Did you use to work out?"
Louisa finally paused on the thirty-first, breathing out as she felt her body regain some heat. "Sis, have you forgotten?"