章 2: A Good Night Sleep
February 24, 2250: Moscow, Russia
It was daybreak when the aircraft eventually arrived at the base. The sun is rising behind the large building, like a halo behind an angel among mankind. The base was large and mighty, a front for the power and might of mankind.
The aircraft hovered over the landing pad, lowering in altitude slowly for a soft landing. A woman wearing a lab coat walked up to the aircraft and stood there smoking her cigarette. The door of the aircraft opened as the soldiers walks off, talking among each other. Ava eventually got off followed by the boy. He gave his vials of purple liquid to one of his soldiers before they walked off.
"Welcome back Crimson," the lady said. "And welcome back Ava."
Ava walked beside Crimson as he ruffled up his hair. "Good to be back." He said.
She smiled and nodded before turning to Ava. "How's the drug working?"
Ava nodded. "It's working like a charm, ma'am."
"That's good to hear." she took out her cigarette with her dainty fingers. "1 whole year of development, finally a success. You best be appreciative, girl."
"Trust me, I really am."
The woman smiled and put her cigarette back into her mouth and took a puff. "Come along now." she said urgently. "I need to do a check up on you."
They followed her. "Honestly, I don't know why we need to do this every single time." he complained.
She turned her head back to look at him. "You know why." she said annoyingly.
"Yeah, but I'm feeling fine."
Ava nudged his arm. "It never hurts to be sure," she said.
The woman lifted her finger and pointed at Ava. "Exactly, listen to your Second in command."
He let out a long sigh and reluctantly followed her.
The hallway to the lab was bustling with people. The walls are a silky smooth white with blue and white leds lighting up the hallway. A pleasant smell filled the corridor of the grand building. Eventually, they arrived at her lab.
She scanned her hand on a pad, opening the sliding door. She then turns around to Ava. "I suppose you can come too if you have nothing else to do."
Ava nodded and the three walked into the dark room. Sensing that there are people entering, the room lit up. There is a wall of computers, the ground is a mesh of wires and paper. At the center is a bed and next to the wall are 5 levitating chairs.
She gestured toward the chair to the wall. "Pull one over if you want." she said to Ava.
Crimson sat on the bed and Ava sat on the chair, slowly scooting herself next to the bed.
The woman started typing on the computer and asking Crimson questions. "How are you feeling?" she asked.
"Normal" he replied.
"Any physical pain?"
"No."
"Any nausea?"
"No."
"Anything of concern for you?"
"No."
She then walks up to Crimson on the bed. "Get shirtless." she said.
He obliged and took off his armor, then his shirt. Ava drapes his body armor on her arm, then his shirt as if she is a cloth hanger. The woman then flicks a needle and pricks it into his arm, pulling out a bit of his blood, tainted with slight purple. "Color looks ok." she remarked.
"Yah, because nothing is wrong," he said.
She then turns around and takes a scalpel and slightly cuts his arm. Instantly, it started healing, gluing the flesh back together. After a second, his cut was completely gone with no indicator it was even there in the first place.
She typed something on her computer, then turned around on her chair. "Alright, that will be all." she said.
Ava handed him his shirt and he put it back on. "Was anything wrong? He asked sarcastically.
"Don't get cocky, kid." she then leans in. "And you've been clean?"
He rolled his eyes. "Yes, Emelia, I'm clean."
She smiled and patted his head. "Good boy. Alright, with that over with, get out of my lab. I have work to do and this light is way too damn bright" she scooted herself to the walls of the computer and snapped her finger, turning the room into a dimly lit room, illuminated by the monitors.
"Lily is asking for you by the way. She's waiting at the food court." Emilia said.
Crimson opened the door, letting in the bright light of the hallway. "Alright. Do get some sunlight later when you're done." He said.
"I'll think about it. And close the damn door. You're letting the dark out."
Crimson left the room.
"Take care ma'am," Ava said before leaving. Ava walked behind crimson as he walked through the hall. "Why would she want to see you?" She asked.
"Beats me." She shrugged. "Knowing her, she probably has a weird reason."
Ava pouted. "That's for sure."
He put his hands in his pocket as he walked. "Either way, I'm the one paying for the team, so we need to head there anyways.
The two made their way to the cafe. The scent of fresh bread and grilled meat filled their nose. The room was extremely large, a food court more than a cafe. The glass ceiling above allows rats of light to infiltrate the large room, supported by many bright LEDs imitating natural lights. Crimson's squad is already spread out, ordering their food.
Crimson looked around a bit. "Go ahead and go get yourself something," he said to Ava. "I'll be waiting here."
She nodded her head and walked off for the time being.
Crimson sat down at a large sofa, closing his eyes and leaning back, putting his arm behind the sofa, relaxing for the moment. A few seconds passed and he felt someone sitting next to him. He opened his eyes, seeing Lily, sitting so close to him that her knee was almost touching his. She had a large bowl of food. Fried rice along with chicken, grilled beef, and more grilled beef. She didn't look at him. Instead, she merely started eating casually. She pierce a large piece of beef and held it close to his mouth, looking at him with her deep black eyes. He opened his mouth and ate off her fork. She smiled slightly, and went back to eating. The taste of beef in his mouth was borderline foul, but he dared not show it.
"Emelia said you were looking for me?" he said between his chewing.
She nodded, then continued to eat.
Crimson looked patiently at her, waiting for her to speak… she did not. "Are you going to tell me why?" he finally asked.
She methodically chew her food, covering her mouth with her hand politely. Crimson waited for her to finish. Eventually, she did. "I wanted to see you." she finally said, looking at him with her cold eyes.
Crimson paused for a moment, thinking of what she just said and comparing it to what Emilia said. "Is that the whole sentence?" he asked
She nodded, then scooted closer to him and ate her food.
He was speechless, surprised that he himself didn't expect that reason.
A group of his soldiers came up to him and took their seat at the table. "Nice of you to come by, captain," a man said. "Be a shame if the man himself did not come. How else would we pay?"
"And he is accompanied by Miss Lily too," said a girl.
"What's the occasion?" another man asked.
Lily looked up for a moment. "No particular reason," she said coldly.
"Oh? Are you sure you just don't want to see our dear captain?" the girl asked teasingly.
"Don't be ridiculous," said Crimson.
"Awe. but you two look so cute together." she continued.
Ava's voice broke through. "Do they…" she asked.
The girl slowly turned to face Ava. "ummm, hello, miss Ava" she nervously said.
The two guys beside her were chuckling among themselves.
"Can you repeat what you've said, Nancy?" Ava said. "I don't think I heard your full sentence."
"Ummm… I didn't say anything." she replied.
Ava's face changed to a smile. "Oh, sorry then. Must have been my imagination."
Ava and Lily gave each other a cold glance, giving everyone chills. She then sat next to Crimson as well, scooting closer to him than Lily. Lily then scooted closer as well, not to be outplayed by Ava. The two continued their competition, ending up with Crimson being squeezed into a tight spot between the two. More and more of his soldiers came to sit at the sofa, witnessing the slightly embarrassing competition between the two girls. Crimson seemed more annoyed as time passed. Eventually, he scooted both a good distance away from him. "For God sake, relax you two." he said.
The two looked at the table. "Sorry Crimson," said Ava.
Lily only slightly gave him a low grunt and began eating again.
The soldiers had a good laugh, and began feasting. The atmosphere remained fun and relaxing through he entire afternoon. Even though Ava and Lily were solely glaring at each other, the soldiers didn't let that take down the mood. They ordered drinks and cocktails to enjoy themselves. Soon, Crimson started to regret paying for the feast. As time went by, the number of people sitting at the table grew less and less, until eventually, only Crimson, Lily, and Ava remained.
The sky was turning a bright orange by now. Time flies as they are having fun. Lily was asleep, laying her head on Crimson's shoulder.
"Is she asleep?" asked Ava.
"It would appear so," answered Crimson. "I'll get her back to her room then."
He stood up and carried her in his arms.
"You get her to her room. I'm going to just clean up this mess first," she said, looking at the table filled with cups of beer and liquor alongside plates of food.
"Alright. You should get yourself some sleep as well, Ava."
She nodded and began cleaning up the table.
He carried her through the long hallways of the busy building. Upon reaching her door, he scanned her door opened. The room was dark and cold, a hint of lavender hitting his nose. Upon entering, the room glowed a gentle blue. On the wall are some pictures of some kids wearing some uniforms. They looked happy. Her bed laid in the corner of the room, accompanied by a lamp on a small table. Her bed sheet is messy and the pillows are thrown all over the room. On the floor laid her clothes.
He gently put her on her bed, letting go of her. She, however, kept her hands tightly interlocked around his neck, slightly frowning her brow when he let her go. He reached back and lightly squeezed her hand as they loosen their grip. He places her hands on her side, then took off her shoes and places it on the floor, slightly under the bed. She turned to face the wall, rolling up into a ball. He covered her with the blanket that was half on the ground.
He went to pick up a pillow, dusting it off before placing it under her head. He took a moment to clean up the place a bit, neatly folding the clothes on the food and placing it back in the closet in the wall. He walked up to her and knelt down to pet her head. Satisfied with his work, he eventually left.
Crimson also proceeded to his room afterward in order to get some rest before nighttime. The door to his room slid open and he entered tiredly. A dim purple light filled the room from the LEDs on the side. His bed is dead center of the room, neatly taken care of.
He sat on the bed, looking at his room from side to side. On the table beside his bed was a bottle of pills. He opened the cap and took one. Then another. Then another. Afterward, he took off his shoe and lay down on his bed, one hand on his stomach and another behind his head. His stomach growled with hunger as he rolled on his side, the pills useless to satiate his hunger.
"Fuck!" He let out. "Just get some sleep," he angrily whispered.
Seconds passed, then minutes, then tens of minutes, then an hour, then a couple of hours. Time passes by only angering him more and more.
"I'm so fucking hungry," he pleaded to no one.
He curled up on the bed, putting a blanket over himself as he bites down on his finger, drawing blood. His eyes tear up from the constant discomfort. He turns to look at the time. 13:14. He gets more and more impatient each second, turning in his bed from one side to side.
His body felt hot, as if he was sweating. His bed felt damp and his pillow felt wet. In his anger, he threw off his blanket, kicking it to the ground. Picking up his pillow and ripping it to pieces while gritting his teeth and growling, saliva dripping from his mouth. He sits on the edge of his bed, clutching his head in anger and confusion.
He looks toward his door for a moment. Slowly, he rose up from his bed and walked toward the door with it opening as he approached. The hallway was no longer lit up bright like the morning. Instead, it is dimly lit in a yellow glow. He stumbles his way over to Ava's room, saliva dripping from his mouth.
He stood outside her door, staring at her name on the door. He scanned himself in, the door sliding open silently. Step by step, he enters her room cautiously. He stood above her, looking down at her hungrily. Her skin reflecting the sleep light in the corner of her room. A succulent pink and her soft flesh seemingly too enticing for him to resist. His eyes are a deathly purple and his teeth sharpen themselves, ready to devour his own ally.
A moment of clarity showed itself as he clutched his head, falling back a few steps trying to regain control over himself. His claws dig into the side of his head, dripping blood down his arm. The door opens again and he stumbles out, his hands prolong him up against the wall. From the distance, he can see a figure watching from the corner. He was too far to make out who it was. As quickly as he saw it, it disappeared back into the corner.
He quickly ran to the corner to see who it was. Looking over the wall, the hallway was empty. "What have I done?" He mumbled before he blacks out and fell to the ground with a thud.
— 次の章はもうすぐ掲載する — レビューを書く
週次パワーステータス
-- 推薦
ランキング 
-- 推薦
チケット