Blue Light
SEVENTEEN

"You sure this is the address?" neff asked, looking around with a doubtful face.

The place was a little shabby and suspicious, when compared to the beauty of the Luxembourg city they had just passed.

"According to the map we are in the right place" Lukas said, checking the map on his phone once again.

But he was right, the red mark they were aiming for was indeed this old building.

"Wouldn't we wait for morning? She must have slept" Neff whispered, as they walked into the hallway that separated some of the studio apartment plots in the building.

The current time indicates midnight has passed by a few minutes.

Their journey was slightly hampered because the snowstorm disrupted the flight schedule.

Luke stopped and turned to look at Neff. He didn't make a sound, but Neff understood what Luke's view meant.

Luke's eyes mean more or less 'if you say something like that again, I'll kill you'.

Upon arriving at the door, Luke suddenly felt nervous. She doesn't know what to say if she meets Lana. They split up in an unpleasant situation.

TOK TOK!!

Neff's hand stretched out from behind Luke, and knocked on Lana's door.

Luke looked at him with glaring eyes.

"We got here and now you're thinking?!" ejek Neff's.

Luke already wanted to step on Neff's feet, but realized, this was not the right time for them to fight.

Luke turned back to face the door tensely, waiting for Lana to open the door. No sound was heard from inside.

"He's asleep!" neff said, expressing his guess again.

"Lana woke up very easily, the knock should have woken her up" Luke raised his hand and knocked on the door once more.

And still the same, only the sound of echoing.

"He's definitely not home yet, what's he doing out there?" Luke stomped his feet on the floor.

Lana's a woman, she doesn't deserve to be out in the middle of the night like this.

"We're gonna wait?"

Luke nodded, "Of course!"

But as soon as his mouth closed, a cold wind containing snowflakes blew towards them. Make them both close their coats at the same time.

They were in a hallway with a sturdy roof, but this place was as cold as the outside, as there was no door separating them from the outside air. They can get hypothermia if they stand there longer.

"Surge!" neff said, kicking Luke out the door.

Luke was confused, just follow it.

Neff reached into his pocket, and took out a purse containing his police badge. From behind the badge he pulls a flat iron along his index finger, then crouches down facing the keyhole.

"Why did you bring something like that?" Luke was inexhaustible.

"You better not know why" Neff replied in a mysterious tone.

Luke was about to mess up Neff's hair with his hand, when a soft twang sounded.

Neff opened the door in less than a minute. Lukas is pretty sure this isn't the first time Neff has done something like that.

"You're a cop, aren't you?"

According to Luke, it is ironic that Neff is very good at breaking keys like a thief.

"Of course, and don't look at me with such suspicious eyes. Trust me, I always use this skill to save someone" Neff said as he stuck out his tongue.

"Right now you count as saving?"

"Yes, we're saving Lana from a miserable life"

Neff deflected Luke's accusation, then turned the knob and the door opened.

Doubtfully following Neff, Luke steps in, still unsure of the legality of their actions.

But for Luke it was better that they waited inside. In addition to avoiding the cold air, Lana's chance to run is smaller if they are already inside her house.

Lana left her room in a brightly lit light.

Luke recalled, Lana never liked the darkness, she always slept with the lights on. Maybe it has something to do with his special ability.

"This is Lana's place, isn't it? What if we're wrong?" Neff begins to worry, he will get into big trouble if it turns out they are wrong.

Like most apartment studios, the room is wide open with no baffles separating the room except for the bathroom.

From the door, they could have a large bed in the west corner, opposite which was a small kitchen with a blue refrigerator.

Not far from the kitchen, a dining table with two chairs filled the east side of the room. The old sofa is under the window.

The room contained only the public objects earlier, not showing any personal objects that could indicate the identity of the owner. Neff can't say exactly if this is Lana's apartment.

"This is Lana's apartment" said Lukas confidently, he stepped up to the small table next to the bed, and lifted up the tiny display that was there.

It was the snow globe he bought for Lana.

"You sure?" ask Neff.

Luke nodded, "I bought this thing"

Luke shook the snow globe quietly and smiled with satisfaction. The hope this time will not run aground, because he is already in the right place.

"Good, now we better wait for him to come home" Neff said as he tried to secure himself by sitting on the couch.

After putting the object back in place, Luke walked across the room and followed Neff sitting on the sofa.

"Thank you for everything" Luke sincerely told Neff.

He wouldn't have made it this far without his help. Neff's been helping her a lot since before Lana disappeared.

"Don't be too polite, you want me to spit out my dinner again?" neff said, in a disgusted tone, but his mouth was smiling.

"And also for your understanding" this time Luke looked meaningfully at Neff.

"What do you mean?" Neff asked in a casual tone, but Luke could hear a nervous tone that he was trying to hide.

"I know you also-love Lana" Lukas said straightforwardly.

Neff finally gave up, he smiled and leaned his back on the sofa.

"Is that so clear?" tanyakanya.

"Actually no, but we've known each other for decades. Of course I know"

"Kc...Ck. It's the second time we've been attracted to the same woman" Neff said, laughing. Their taste in women can be said to be similar.

"You mean after Grace? come on it's just monkey love, Neff" but Luke laughed at it.

He still remembers how they scrambled to get the attention of Grace, Neff's neighbor girl.

His presence makes Luke and Neff fight for the first time. Neff punches Luke's nose until it bleeds, and Neff gets a broken lip because Luke kicked him.

Aubrey was furious when she saw the two of them hurt, then punished them, for two days only allowed to eat bread.

Of course the quarrel did not last long, as Grace eventually moved following her parents to another country.

"You're good in general, but you've gone the extra mile by following me to move into that cabin. At that time I knew you had more feelings for Lana" Lukas said.

"And I know you're interested in Lana, ever since you wanted to take her home to Merian from the hospital. You're good in general, but your deeds have far outweighed the extras" Neff replied with an amused laugh,

"Ahh. I was also wondering why I wanted to do it"

Luke brushed his hair, then followed Neff leaning his back against the sofa.

"Lana looks fragile, but at the same time brave. And the more I got to know her, Lana never failed to fascinate me"

Luke recalls how Lana firmly questioned his existence in Merian.

"Lana is among the bravest people I have ever known. I'm a very rational person, I'm not sure I can stay alive if I go through everything that's happened to him"

Neff clapped a small hand appreciating Lana.

CZECH.. BLACK!!!

The sound of the door opening brutally made the two of them startled and automatically stood up. Being too busy chatting, the two of them did not hear the sound of Lana's footsteps approaching.

"Not tonight Chantal, sorry. I have to sleep. I promise I'll listen to you tomorrow"

Luke is about to make a sound to tell Lana about their whereabouts, but her intentions are stalled, as Lana is clearly talking to something they can't see.

"Chantal, stop talking. Please! I only have three hours of sleep before my morning work starts!"

Lana's voice sounded very tired, and without being surprised, Lana started to open the shirt she was wearing just like that.

Luke quickly closed Neff's eyes with his hand, and of course he also closed his own.

"What do you mean by strangers? Please, I just want to sleep quietly Chantal" Lana's voice came back.

It seems like any creature that Lukas and Neff cannot see, is trying to warn Lana of their presence in the room, but Lana is too tired to listen.

Luke and Neff were perfectly silent without daring to move.

Lana apparently did not pay attention to her surroundings well. He was still unaware of the presence of the two alien beings in his room.

They were clearly visible, but Lana probably never imagined anyone would sneak into her room.

The cold air did not stop Luke from sweating nervously. She was too afraid to make a sound at the wrong time, but also didn't know what to do if Lana saw them.

Luke had no idea how long the two of them had been standing in silence, for now the apartment room was very quiet.

Slowly Luke tried to open his eyes, and of course Neff also lowered Luke's hand from his face after feeling the movement.

"He's asleep?" whispered Neff in surprise.

Lana was already lying on the bed, and they could hear her regular breathing. It was only three minutes from the moment Lana entered, and now she was already sound

"How can you?!" Neff still can't believe it.

Luke stuck his index finger to his mouth, gesturing for Neff not to make a noise.

She may want to see Lana, but she won't have the heart to wake her up now, Lana's pale face signifies fatigue.

"What are we gonna do now?"

"Sleep!" answer Lukas. He'll wait for morning. There would be no point if later he would make Lana sick because he could not rest.

"We're not going to talk about who Chantal was called by Lana?"

"You want to talk about it? I didn't!" luke said firmly.

Imagining someone he can't see in the same room gives Luke goosebumps, it's better he doesn't remember.

Hearing that, Neff immediately threw his body back onto the sofa. "Maybe it's not a good idea we sneak in like this" Neff said, but he had already closed his eyes trying to sleep.

"Hmmm..." Luke responded half-heartedly. His attention had already been completely distracted by Lana's figure on the bed.

Luke stepped closer to one of the dining chairs and moved it very slowly.

He took off his shoes. Her feet that were only wrapped in socks stepped silently across Lana's room.

Luke placed the chair next to Lana's bed, from which he could easily enjoy the face he had longed for,

Lukas felt a painful prick as he watched Lana's cheeks return sunken. Lana lost a lot of weight. Luke clucked impatiently, then reached out and rubbed the pale cheek softly.

"You tortured Lana too much" Lukas said sadly.

"I'm sorry..."

Luke flinched and pulled his hand almost instantly.

Guess Lana woke up because of her touch. But Lana's eyes were still tightly closed. Apparently Lana was just delirious as usual.

Why in dreams does he always apologize? inner Duke.

"I'm sorry-Luke" and Lana's tears slowly came down.

Lukas could only be stunned when Lana mentioned his name. But then Lana's tears, giving her another stab of pain.

"You're innocent Lana, you don't need to apologize" Luke whispered, hoping her voice could pierce Lana's dream.

More boldly, Luke clasped Lana's hand lying outside the blanket.

She was happy when she saw Lana not being distracted and her crying stopped. Lana's breath is also more regular.

"Sweet dream girl" She whispered.

-----------0O0---------------------------------0O0-------------------------------------------0-

Luke woke up with a jerk, when he felt a movement.

His back screamed in pain as he stood up. An uncomfortable sleeping position causes the whole body to ache.

As he lifted his head, Lukas gasped, like he had a mini heart attack. It was fortunate that he had already covered his mouth with his hands before his shock became a shout.

This was the second time he had seen Lana, in such a terrifying pose.

Lana was already awake and in a sitting position on the bed, but what made her shocked was, Lana's long unraveled hair covered her entire face in a mess.

Lana was not moving at all.

"Is he awake?" whispered Neff in surprise, she also got up and stood not far from the bathroom door she had just used.

Luke nodded slowly, but then became unsure.

Shouldn't Lana be screaming when she sees me? inner Luke.

"Lana?" call Lukas slowly.

"YES!" lana said quickly, Lana's back became erect now, and her hair was also blushing from the jolt as her head lifted.

The answer made Luke remember something. Lana's weird daze habit, every time she wakes up.

Luke smiled understandingly, "Lana, you better take a shower and get ready"

And as she expected, Lana followed her words by directly pulling the blanket, getting out of bed, and walking towards the bathroom without looking at Luke or Neff who were standing next to the bathroom door.

"What-what-that-there?" Neff spelled out the question because he felt very confused.

"I've told you before, haven't I? Lana was slow in processing when she just woke up. And you saw the evidence just now"

Luke chuckled, as he lifted the dining chair and returned it to its original place.

"It was almost like walking while sleeping!" said Neff

"really?" Luke never thought that way.

Neff nodded. "Maybe a side effect of the drug he took first, or it could be due to lack of sleep hours"

"I wish the cause was just less hours of sleep" Lukas said, as it was easier to fix.

"I hope so too" Neff nodded again. "We're gonna wait for it to finish?" he added.

"Why do you always ask the sure thing from yesterday? It's boring!" luke said as he stood up and approached the refrigerator. He wanted to make coffee or maybe tea, which would help his body to feel fresher.

But only find hard bread and red jam setoples there.

Judging from the cleanliness of Lana's refrigerator, Lukas suspected, only two objects that fill the refrigerator from the beginning.

It's worth the body back thin, Luke's mind, understand.

"I'm going to buy something outside" Neff said, standing behind Luke and staring languidly at the contents of the refrigerator.

"We could starve to death" he added.

And Lukas agreed, their last meal was cold pasta provided by the airline.

Neff exits Lana's apartment, leaving Luke to find several tea bags that look in good condition in the cabinet.

In Luke's heart Luke wished that the tea bag belonged to Lana, not to the relic of someone who was called Chantal.

Luke made 2 cups of tea and placed them on the dining table. He wanted to make three, but he only found two glasses there.

Lana has given a new meaning about arranging the house with minimalism to Lukas.

Luke then sat down and waited for Lana to come out of the bathroom.

And after a few agonizing minutes, the bathroom door opened.

And Luke cursed in his heart, for Lana came out of it wrapped in a towel that could only cover half of his thigh.