Chapter 346: Happiness

"I... don't think I am welcome here."

"That..."

And very soon, a somber music echoed through the air as the members of the Baby Crew could really only look to the side. Silvie's words, resonating through their ears along with the melancholic air.

Riley was still unaware of what happened between them, but it would seem that the ones who fought were Hannah and Silvie; as the only one that didn't really talk to her in a friendly tone was Hannah.

"It... was nice seeing you all again," Silvie then nodded, "Just... call me when things get tough above the skies, I'll fly instantly."

"...We're actually not returning anytime soon."

And before Silvie could take another step towards the door, Gary spoke up.

"What? What do you mean? Why?"

"No idea," Gary only shrugged his shoulders before finally removing the floater around his waist, "The BBB just told us there's no need to worry about invasions for a while. So we're just playing- I mean, we're just focusing our attention here."

"...The BBB?"

"Big Black Boss."

"You mean Empress?" Silvie could not help but raise an eyebrow as she took a subtle glance toward Bella, who only sighed in response as if she was just completely done with Gary's antics.

"But what about-"

"It doesn't have anything to do with you."

And before Silvie could finish her words, Hannah suddenly stepped forward and stood close to her; looking her straight in the eyes,

"You've made that very clear when you left."

"You kicked me out."

"You fucking kicked yourself out."

"C...come on, bros," Gary then got in between the two; raising both his hands in surrender as he did so, "It's... It's been more than a year. Maybe it's time to forgive and forget?"

And while he did that, both Bella and Katrina just took a step back; completely not wanting anything to do with the situation that was about to unfold.

"Oh, and have you? Forget?" Hannah said; the tone of her voice, almost piercing Gary right through the marrow of his bones, "Have you, Kat?"

"..." Katrina's eyes widened as Hannah suddenly mentioned her name. She was about to open her mouth, but only a stutter whispered from it as she once again looked to the side.

"W... well," Gary slightly glanced at Silvie, "She did-"

"What she did was make it very clear for us that she didn't want anything to do with us," Hannah then said as she finally backed away,

"To think I'm supposed to be the unstable one."

"In... in all honesty, the two of you belong to a mental hospital after the things you've been through," Gary said as he closed his eyes, waiting for the pain that was about to fall upon him- but nothing. The two just stood there in silence as they looked at the floor.

"..." That's when Gary knew shit was truly serious. Of course, why wouldn't it be? After what happened a year ago, things would surely not be the same.

And soon, only the echo of the somber music filled the air, as the group stood there in silence with not even their breaths attempting to revive the situation.

"..." Silvie glanced at the Baby Crew for one final time, lightly biting her lip before closing her eyes; letting a tear trail on her cheek as she walked away.

Katrina was about to say something and approach her, but before she could do so, Silvie suddenly stopped... and rushed towards the bar and started chugging the first bottle of alcohol her hands could find.

"..."

"..."

Gary could only cover his mouth with his fingers as he looked at Bella; his shoulders, slightly raised as he quietly mouthed the words What, The, and Fuck.

Bella only shook her head in response. The two, exchanging words in silence as Silvie downed another bottle. Gary then once again looked at Bella, gesturing with his eyes as if asking if they should stop her.

But Bella, once again, only shook her head in response.

And very soon, with the 4th bottle, Silvie suddenly let out a quiet scream.

"Look, I'm sorry? Okay!?" Silvie then said as she looked at the members of the Baby Crew one by one,

"It's just everything was so fucking confusing back then," Silvie's breaths started to become gasps as a fountain of tears almost flowed from her eyes, "I... I was... I was lonely and... I just... I was confused! When... when I realized what I was doing I stopped."

"..."

"I stopped before anything... anything drastic could happen, you have to believe me!" Silvie breathed out as she looked at Katrina, "I... I was wrong, I knew I was wrong... I... I'm sorry, okay."

The music that flowed through the air became intense; mimicking the heavy atmosphere that suddenly blanketed the entire lobby.

"..." Hannah could only cross her arms, biting her lip to prevent her tears from falling before also looking at Katrina. Bella and Gary were still looking at each other, talking to themselves in silence as their eyes also slightly became sedated.

Katrina didn't really say anything; her head, just looking down at the floor and letting her tears fall onto it.

"I... I really am sorry," Silvie's gasps continued, "It's just... I know I'm just making excuses. But... I was just so tired of... of feeling like my entire existence is one big mistake so... So I lashed out when you guys confronted me about it. I... I became so stubborn that I... that I convinced myself that maybe... maybe I deserve to be happy, you know? I was so clouded that I thought I deserved to be happy at the expense of my friends. It's fucked...

...everything's just so... fucked."

And very slowly, as silence once again flowed through the air and only their rasped breaths echoed; the music became silent- almost as if letting everything rest. It was still there, of course... somber, quiet... repenting. A reflection of the scenery that it performed to.

"The truth is..." Silvie then wiped the tears enveloping her face as she grabbed another bottle, "...I just... I missed you, guys. I know I don't have the right to but-"

And before she could finish her words, Katrina suddenly stomped her way towards her; stealing the bottle she was holding before also trying to chug it down.

But alas, before the contents of the bottle could even be halved, Katrina vehemently started coughing. She didn't let anyone help her, however, as she wiped her face clean of everything that was on it.

"I... I also think this has lasted long enough, guys," Katrina said as her eyes trailed towards the members of the Baby Crew,

"Look..." Katrina then let out a short but very deep breath as she looked Silvie straight in the eyes, "I haven't forgotten what you did... but I've forgiven you for a very long time now...

...all of us have."

"..." Hannah once again crossed her arms at Katrina's words.

Gary shrugged before looking away.

As for Bella, she really only raised her eyebrows and let out a breath.

"..."

"They're not showing it but they have. We... I think... we were really just waiting for this. For you to show remorse and actually care about what you did. B... Because back then it felt like you didn't really regret what you did and even... even threw it at my face, you know?" Katrina said as she forced a small chuckle,

"You smothered that shit, sprinkled it with tons of booger, and threw it at my face."

"I-"

"It's just... what I'm saying is that the only one here who has not forgiven what you did...

...is you."

A loud gasp whispered from Silvie's mouth as she looked at Katrina. She was about to say something, but before she could do so, Katrina suddenly embraced her,

"And we miss you too. All of us," Katrina breathed out, "The truth is, the group's been falling apart. It... it's not just the same with all of us."

"Yeah, whose fault is that?" Gary worded out as he looked at Hannah, "We have a growing little tyrant in our hands."

"What?" Hannah raised an eyebrow as she let out a small scoff, "This is a team effort! All of us decide!"

"Well... you ain't listening to us, girl," Bella joined in as she shrugged her shoulders.

"Because all of your ideas are shit!" Hannah said as she looked at Gary and Bella in the eyes, "Try to make a baby with the aliens, then strap a bomb inside it and return it to them? What the fuck!?"

"Well... I think it's a genius plan," Gary nodded to himself.

"We're not evil savages, Gary. And you only contributed that plan when those freakishly tall, female-looking human aliens showed up!"

Hannah didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "The only one that actually has a humane and normal contribution in ideas here was Silvie! And...

...she went and- Can you please stop fucking playing that goddamn piano!?"

Hannah then violently pointed at Paragon, who has been playing the piano the entire time. In fact, he was probably the entire reason why this entire situation happened in the first place. If he wasn't playing that music that made the situation more emotional than it is...

...then Silvie would have just probably left.

Paragon, however, instead of stopping, played a raging tune that reflected Hannah's frustration.

"You- fuck!" Hannah then stomped her foot before rushing to the bar and grabbing a bottle. And very soon, Gary and Bella joined in as they just stood there in silence- sharing the alcohol.

"What... what happened to him, anyway?" Silvie then hesitatingly opened up.

"...He was murdered."

"What?" Silvie looked at Hannah as soon as she heard that, "You didn't--"

"I didn't kill him! What the fuck!?"

"We... we believe it... it was the Endless Dark," Katrina whispered.

"...Nightqueen?" Silvie's eyes widened, "...Why?"

And before the conversation could really become tense again, Paragon stopped playing the piano as he, too, approached the bar. Gary was about to hand him a glass, but he shook his head and looked at Silvie.

"T... thanks for inviting me in, Paragon," Silvie then nodded.

"Okay...

...But you need to pay for all of that."

"..."

"You're not a member of the agency. You need to pay for every bottle you open."

"..."

"..."

"Then...

...I can just join?"

"...Okay, please sign-- Paige."

And before Paragon could finish his words, he suddenly flew away-- almost blowing all the bottles away and even breaking the windows as he went straight through it.

"...What was that?"

"Should... we follow him?"

***

"Please... please just go away."

Back in the penthouse, Paige was currently surrounded by darkness; hiding in the closet and forcing her eyes to closed, "Adam... Riley... Where... where are you?"

"!!!"

Paige then covered her ears as... a visceral drumming quaked the air itself; the sound, almost as if it was grinding Paige's bones.

"You..." A voice then seeped through the cracks of the closet. The voice... eerily similar to hers,

...Do you think you're allowed to be happy?"