CHAPTER 29: JUST THE THREE OF US

Two days before the wedding, the couple were discussing their arrangements after leaving the facility.

They have already exchanged email addresses, and they will set up a private chat where they can message each other so that Naomi can send baby Jacob’s pics and videos to Alpha Maxwell while he is busy sorting his life and priorities.

"Um, I wonder if they will give us back our phones?" Naomi asked.

"Ah, nice question. I almost forgot about our phones. We got to ask Zero about it," Alpha Maxwell said.

Naomi looked up at the ceiling. "Do you think he’s online now?"

"Maybe. Let me ask him," Alpha Maxwell said, raising his head. "Zero are you there?"

Zero replied, "Yup, I’m here. Why?"

"I wanted to ask about our phones. Will management give it back to us?"

"Um, I have no idea. I have to ask them about it."

"OK. Please ask them because we want our phones back," Alpha Maxwell insisted.

Zero said, "Anything else?"

"Um, all the stuff we have in this room. Can we take it with us outside?" Naomi asked because she couldn’t bear to part with any of the stuff they had accumulated during their captivity. Small things as they are, they hold value and meaning in her heart.

"You mean your clothes and the baby’s clothes and other personal stuff?" Zero asked for clarity.

Naomi nodded her head. "Yes. I want to take them all. Every single one of them because they mean a lot to me. Except for the garbage though," she said, laughing at her own jokes.

"No problem. You can take them all. I will send you boxes later you can use for storing stuff to bring home," Zero said.

"OK, thanks." Naomi was pleased with his cooperation.

Zero spoke, "Anything else?"

"Um, how about videos and photos of the wedding? It would be a shame if there was no video or photos to immortalize the event. You know what I mean..." Naomi said, smiling. She absolutely loves having photos of their wedding in video or print form, even if it’s just a fake event.

"Of course, there will be photos and videos because it is a very special event for you guys. This wedding is the fitting ending to the love story you have created here. So rest assured, the event will be documented for your pleasure," Zero elaborated further.

"OK, nice. I’m excited about the wedding!" Naomi giggled.

"We’re all excited," Zero responded with a chuckle.

Alpha Maxwell interjected, "Zero, are you finally going to show yourself to us at the wedding?"

"Um, no. I will be there with my face mask on. I won’t miss it in the world," Zero replied.

"How about baby Jacob? Can we bring him to the wedding?" Naomi asked.

Zero responded, "Yes of course. The staff will take care of baby Jacob while you two are going through the wedding ceremony."

"Great! Our happiness will not be complete without my son in attendance," Naomi said, looking at her companion with a grin.

Naomi looked around the room. "I wish I could bring everything with us," she murmured.

Alpha Maxwell smiled and ruffled her hair playfully. "Are you also going to take the bed and closet, sweetie?" he asked, joking

Naomi’s eyes sparkled in mischief. "Sure why not?" she said, giggling. "If management allows, I will surely take this bed with us to freedom."

Alpha Maxwell groaned. "No need, sweetie. My place is equipped with a bed and closets. I’m okay with the small stuff and all, just not the bed, table, chairs and closet."

"Alright, the bed and the rest can stay," Naomi laughed, amused.

A few minutes of silence fell upon them.

"Zero when we’re out there, back in the outside world, will you miss us?" Naomi suddenly asked.

"Of course, I will miss you guys, especially your adorable baby Jacob," Zero replied.

Now it’s Alpha Maxwell’s time to ask questions. "Will management send you out there to watch over us? Will you keep watching us daily, monitoring our situation so that you can report our situation to management? In short, does your job end here or will they send you out to keep track of our progress? Because I believe you kidnapped us for a much serious reason. This is not just about the stupid Love Game, am I right?"

Tensed silence enveloped the room, and lasted for a few minutes, then Zero said, "Um, regarding my job here as messenger, it will end here. Now the question is, will they send me outside to monitor your activities? Um, maybe yes and maybe not. The decision and planning are not in my hands. I’m just put in this position so you can talk to someone while you are imprisoned here so that you don’t go crazy. I think I did my job well. It’s fun messing up with you guys once in a while. I’m your fairy godfather," he joked, chuckling amused by his own joke.

The couple looked at each other, their eyes gleaming.

"I see, we value your company Zero. We appreciate your constant interaction with us and keeping us sane during our ordeal. Thank you for your company and your witty contribution to the madness we are being subjected to here. But I have one last question though. I hope you can answer me with honesty and sincerity," Alpha Maxwell said in a serious tone.

"Oh, that’s deep, dude. Tell me about your question, I’m listening," Zero said.

"Can you describe in one word what’s happening to our family out there? I’m sure you have some information," Alpha Maxwell asked, hoping Zero would take the bait. He has no idea what’s happening to his family at the moment. More than a year has passed. He had been gone for too long.

"Um, one word, ah, I will describe it in one word. Chaos, yes, that’s the right word to say," Zero said.

The couple’s foreheads furrowed together in confusion.

"Huh? What do you mean? Do you mean the world as we know it has already ended and the land was occupied by flesh-eating zombies? Is that what you mean?" Alpha Maxwell asked, confused about what Zero was trying to imply.

"No way! I’m scared of zombies," Naomi said apprehensively.

Zero remained silent for a few seconds then said, "No, not that kind of chaos..."

"Good! I thought the world had already ended outside this facility and we are the only survivors here just like in the movies." Naomi breathed in relief.

Alpha Maxwell felt the need to go deeper into his question. "Zero, we have been holed up here for more than a year. Please tell us what happened to our families out here. We need to know in advance what kind of life is waiting for us outside. Don’t keep us in the dark. You owe us! Now tell us!" he demanded.

Zero sighed. "Guys, you are making me uncomfortable. You keep pressing me for information about what’s happening outside but the truth is I have no idea. You seem to forget that my main job here is being a messenger. I’m just an ordinary robot guy. I’m holed up here in this place with you as well. I hope you understand my situation too," he said, defending himself.

Alpha Maxwell was not buying Zero’s reasons. "But you said the situation of our families outside was chaotic. You are clearly aware of everything. You must tell us! Stop withholding information from us!" he continued his inquiries, pressing him.

Zero sighed. "I said chaos, chaotic because that will be the situation you are going to face when you go home. You just can’t expect your family to accept you with open arms and ask you nothing. They will ask questions about your whereabouts and that is where the chaos starts. Unless you no longer want to go home and just disappear without a trace."

Alpha Maxwell groaned in displeasure. Just when he thought he was about to get more information from Zero, he was faced with nothing, just the word CHAOS that keeps ringing in his ears like a warning bell. What kind of chaos is waiting for him back home?

"Guys, if nothing else, I’ll take my leave. I’ll come back later to chat with you," Zero said.

"Go ahead, just leave! Useless piece of shit!" Alpha Maxwell snarled.

"Shh, don’t say that to Zero. He’s just clueless like us!" Naomi said, trying to intervene and soothe Alpha Maxwell’s foul mood.

"OK, guys, see you later. Adios!" Zero said with a sigh, fading into the background.

Seething in anger, Alpha Maxwell kicked the bed post hard to release his anger and frustration.

"Please calm down, our son is sleeping!" Naomi scolded him, glancing at the sleeping infant in his crib.

Alpha Maxwell racked his hands through his hair in frustration.

"Don’t think too much about what’s waiting for us outside. The important thing is that we can finally go home. Please don’t lose your temper. We only have a few days left before freedom. We should be cool-headed and obedient," Naomi said, rubbing his back gently to soothe his volatile mood.

Alpha Maxwell’s anger slowly calmed down. He sighed heavily and said, "You are right. I shouldn’t have lashed out at Zero. Although the guy is annoying as hell, he has been helpful and nice to us in so many ways I can remember," he finally said, acknowledging his mistake.

"I’m glad you know it." Naomi sighed in relief. "The fake wedding is fast approaching. Please remember your promise, do not stir chaos during the wedding. OK?" she said in a pleading tone.

Alpha Maxwell smiled and rubbed her arms affectionately. "Don’t worry, sweetie, I won’t do anything that will destroy your happiness," he assured her.

"I really hope you do." Naomi left his side with a sigh and began folding baby Jacob’s clothes and arranging them in the closet. After a while, an idea popped up in her mind.

She rushed to Alpha Maxwell’s side, excited about her idea. She looked deeply into his eyes. "Why don’t we forget everything? Leave our past behind including our families and live somewhere in a far away place where nobody knows about us. Just the three of us. Can you do it?"

Stunned, Alpha Maxwell could only stare at Naomi’s face, shocked by her bold and outrageous suggestion.