“Zayn… do you know about the astral plane?” Cassandra asks as she packs her clothes in a bag. She was willing to stay with Ravine for the time being. As Louis suggested.
“Yes, I’m aware. It’s a dimension for souls, if I’m not wrong.” The professor says.
“That’s right. I hope I can meet my brother there before… and beg for forgiveness.” Says she.
“I’m sure he will not forgive you.” Zayn’s words makes her turn around with a worried look.
“He won’t forgive you, because you don’t need forgiveness. Remember that.” Zayn says as he kisses her forehead softly. He goes back into his room.
Cassandra then proceeds to call Ravine and let her know she was dropping by. There was no special need for a call to inform Ravine, but Cassandra felt responsible to let her know.
Louis had taken the two to the church, talking to the priest as he concluded it was stress as well. Praying for a few minutes, they came back home.
“Hello?”
“Hi…”
“You alright babe?” Cassandra asks Ravine.
“Yeah, yeah I think so. Why’d you call me?” Ravine asks her softly.
“I was thinking I could drop by. You didn’t reply to my texts either.”
“Didn’t I…?” Ravine checks for a brief second as she sighs, “Yeah. I was busy in the morning. Sorry.”
“So… can I come by? I’ve been having these night-”
“Uh… actually, Cassandra. I’m a little busy. I’m sorry. I heard you’re gonna take a few days off from college. Take rest, bye.” Ravine abruptly cuts the call. Cassandra stares at the phone, her friend’s ID appearing on top.
“What’s wrong with her?” She felt a little pang in her heart as she dials another number.
“Hello, darling. How are you today?” The old man’s voice greets her.
“Hi, papa. I’m okay now. Can I drop by after three in the evening please? I’m not feeling well.”
“Of course, of course Cassandra. Why are you talking to your old man like that? Louis told me everything. Why don’t you come to the office and we will go home together.”
“That sounds okay, but I’ll come at 3 to the office, papa. You don’t have to cancel any schedules for me.”
“Nonsense. I can do anything in my company for my children. 3 O’clock at the office, alright? Louis wants to come home as well.”
“Great. Okay, papa.”
“Bye, my darling.”
“Bye.” She cuts the call, feeling a little relieved.
She knocks on the door of Zayn’s room, waiting for him to open it.
“What are you… doing?”
“A map. Web connections for my family.” As she enters, she sees the male on the floor sticking papers and drawing lines in between.
“When and how they are dying…” she reads each name’s date and cause.
A shudder passes through her body which was noticed by Zayn.
“You don’t have to worry about being caught. I created a safe especially for this.” Zayn goes to his desk and presses under the table to reveal a French desk.
“Wow. Where’d you learn that technology?”
“From… The past. Grandpa Johnson had this as his desk under our mansion. I really love it’s mechanism.”
“Because you built it on your own.” Cassandra chuckles as he does too, a screwdriver in his hand.
“Anyway, what’s the plan?”
“Hmm… The plan.” Zayn puts his head into thought.
“We have to distract him from getting on that plane. It’s the only way we can avoid the crash. If not, we have to be sickly close to him to make sure he stays safe and sound. No traveling, no going into the kitchen, no allowing him anywhere outside our supervision.”
“But doesn’t that make him weirded out at us? We gotta be a little more unsuspecting.” Zayn blinks at his words.
“That’s the crucial part. Hmm…”
“We just gotta act normal, I guess. But how?”
“I think we can handle it. Just as long as we cross the time of his death, he will live for long after that. I hope so.”
“You’re right. According to many theorists, it’s the same. After one did cross the time of their death, they cannot be reborn. That is, they cannot die immediately with the same cause. But again, his safety is a liability.” Zayn hums and twists his lips to the right in thought.
He was keen on saving his uncle’s life from a major accident.
He turns to look at Cassandra who looks at the floor and smiles softly, drawing something imaginary with her finger.
“What’s that?” Sitting back down beside her on the floor, he sees her inhale sharply before exhaling.
“I was wondering if there was a chance I can meet him in the astral plane. I want to hug my brother and thank him for everything that he did for me for the past 17 years of my life with him. He was the best brother I could ask for. His anger had such a volatile nature I- I was afraid I’d be burned if I crossed his path. But again, he was so kind and brotherly towards me…” Cassandra couldn’t stop talking about her brother for the next few hours.
“Oh, it’s almost 2.” She recalls her presence to be there at the office by 3, with Framton and Louis.
“I love you, Cassandra. Take care of yourself.” Zayn comes close to her and kisses her lips warmly.
“I love you too. You be safe as well. I’ll come back on Wednesday, if I am alright.”
“I understand. Bye.” He says, waving at her later as she entered the car.
Mr. Ronald slowly drives through the busy streets and reaches the venue.
“Have a great day, Mr. Ronald!” She cheers and gets down. The receptionist leads her through as they reach the Chariman’s office, Framton’s cabin.
She halts in front of the door to see the Chairman of Autoc Empire in a meeting with the cabin members. Louis notices her as he waves at her.
Cassandra sits on the couch, waiting for them to finish their meeting.
“Call her in.” Framton sends his assistant to assist Cassandra inside.
“Meet my lovely daughter, everyone.” Cassandra widens her eyes as she realizes foreign businessmen sat at the meeting as well. Louis arranges a chair to sit beside him so she could feel comfortable. Also, he gets to talk to her in between if the meeting becomes boring.
She felt happy to be there.