3 Days till the end
[ chapter 7 ]
[ Red snow ]
( three years later )
the snowy gloomy weather roams around the school while most students are studying hard for their next important tests. it's the last year of highschool after all. everyone should think now about what they want to do for the future yet despite all that most of them feel lost and clueless about what they want. maybe it's a part of all our lives. it's a part of being a teenager. and that rule is the same for axel also who was once trying to be something better than what others aspire to be.
yet now he is living a normal life like everyone else. or at least that's what he is trying to do because deep down he knows no matter how many times he tries to forget those memories
axel is sitting right in front of his teacher. it's this time of the year that he has to fill an assignment about what his goal is after finishing highschool. despite it not being a crucial thing to the path he is going to take later but he has to do this interview. it's the school rules after all.
teacher: so tell me axel.. is there anything you want to do after school? a job or a career path you're interested in?
axel: i don't know. I never thought about it much. i just studied to move on with my life
teacher: well being lost is normal at around this age but you also have to have a little bit of a vision of where you might be a couple years from now. so do you have that vision even if it's little?
axel: maybe a normal company job. or a teacher. a salary man. i seriously don't know. maybe some job that would get me out of this town
teacher: is there's something wrong axel. you were always this lost and mind blurred in class this year but it seems to be getting to a concerning level.
axel: nothing wrong. it's just a normal day. nothing changed. tell me teacher. were you also lost when you were a student?
teacher: of course i was. but then the days went on and i found my passion.
axel: and what's your passion?
teacher: to help young kids like you to find what they love and are passionate about. you might see this as a silly dream but i take pride in it.
axel: it's not silly. that's a wonderful thing to do. i wonder if i can be like you one day
teacher: you don't have to be me. you only have to find what you love and what makes you... you.
teacher: well since now you don't have a clear answer it's ok. we'll do this interview at another time. you can leave now. oh and one more thing before you leave. study well. tests are close. and don't over exhaust yourself.
axel: thank you teacher
axel leaves the room and walks down the cold school hallway. before he gets his bag and prepares to leave school he hears the sound of his friends.
sam: are you leaving already??. dude you promised us that we will go to that baseball match.
axel: you can go without me. maybe next time i can come. i just feel tired a little tired.
sam: do you still work at that shop? does he never give you a day off?
axel: i already took yesterday off because i had a headache. so i can't miss today also.
sam: oh ok. tell me if you need any help. let's plan to go out sometimes when you are free ok. see you later
axel: see you later
he walks off the school and arrives at the local shop. it's a small shop near his house that is owned by an old man that lives with his little daughter. the man is too old and can't do everything in the shop so that's why he hired axel as a part-time worker for minimum amount of money. it's not the best job but it's sure good for a student.
axel walks in and puts his work uniform and starts to organize the shelves by order and put things in its place. then the little girl comes to annoy him a little while he is working. that's her favorite hobby these days.
lisa: hey you... let's play some game
axel: i can't now I'm working. go and play with your father
lisa: he went to get something from outside. he will be late and I'm bored so play with me
axel: If i don't finish the work for today your dad will kill me
lisa: and if you don't play with me I'll tell my dad that you stole some candy from the shop
axel: you little brat. trying to threaten me. i won't fall for these tricks now go away i have to work.
lisa lets out a disappointed and angry face at him.
axel: shouldn't you be studying or something.
lisa: I'm in kindergarten you dummy
axel: oh so you really are a little brat
lisa: I'm not!!! I'm old enough to brush my teeth by myself
axel: that's great little brat. now let me finish the work i have
lisa: booo you're boring I'll go play with my toys. at least they don't complain.
axel keeps doing his job for a couple hours while lisa roams around the shop from playing to annoying him to wanting food. then she asked for axel phone to play some games and he gave it to her so she could finally stop annoying him.
suddenly axel phone rings while it's still in lisa's hands.
lisa: hey your phone is ringing and it ruined my game. it's from r..... i.. what's that letter again?
axel: that's a k you little brat. go study the letters again and give me the phone.
lisa: i know the letters you idiot. i just forgot how it was spelled.
axel: yeah yeah.
she hands him the phone and goes to eat some candy while he is not looking.
axel: hey rika. how is it going today?
rika: I'm going. are you still working?
axel: just finished and was about to head home
rika: oh I'm at the nearby restaurant. i thought that we could have dinner together and maybe talk a little. we haven't done that for a while because of exams and studying. and you've been busy with work.
axel: yeah sorry for not talking much to you lately. I'll pack my things and meet you at the restaurant in ten minutes ok
rika: ok.
lisa: did she dump you?
axel: shut up kid. you're too young for these things. now I'll head out. tell your dad that i left some fresh meat for him in the fridge. maybe he can raise my salary. oh and let him teach you letters again.
lisa: boooo leave leave.
axel leaves the shop and heads to the restaurant. he enters and sees rika waiting for him. she waves at him and he takes the seat in front of her.
rika: what would you like to eat?
axel: I'll take what you order
rika: as always. ok
they order the food and sit to talk a little.
rika: it's been snowing all this month now. they say it will continue for another month.
axel: well it's rare that you see such coldness in this town so let's enjoy it.
rika: yeah right. sometimes i feel like i will be stuck in this city for the rest of my life. it seems like whenever i try to escape. this town swallows me deep inside more.
axel: we will leave eventually. but now it's better to focus on finishing highschool. and then maybe I will talk again to miss harper about moving out.
rika: we always talk to her and she never accepts it. we didn't find connor all these three years so what's going to change now.
axel: we're still valid people to the case because we are his friends after all. in fact miss harper even counts us sometimes as suspects of the case of his disappearance. she's a sharp and intelligent woman.
rika: it's been three years. I can't comprehend how fast time moves. yet despite all this time i had never forgotten the memories of that day. that whole year is printed in my mind till now
axel: i failed you. i promised you that we will escape together but it didn't work. nor miss harper nor our families accepted it. i felt truly helpless.
rika: it's not your fault. this city surrounds its people almost like a bird in a cage. we'll make sure to get out of here once we finish highschool. maybe we could enter the same college together. i would like that.
axel: i would like that too. how is your studying been lately?
rika: just like everyday. what about you. you have work and study at the same time it must have been hard for you.
axel: I'm managing it somehow don't worry
rika: what about the therapy sessions? are you still going there?.
axel: oh... yeah i am
rika: tell me the truth axel. you've been skipping it right.
axel: it's just that i didn't find free time to go this month. and also the medicines are expensive. i can barely manage it with my part-time job money.
rika: i know it's hard but it's for your own good. it helped me a lot so i thought it would do the same for you.
axel: i don't know it's just every time I go it's the same questions. how is your day. what have you been thinking lately. is there any unwanted or negative thoughts or memories on your mind. they always ask yet they never seem interested to listen.
rika: it will be better you just have to try more. don't worry I'll be by your side always. i still remember our promise.
axel: yes i never forget it too. I'll be by your side also.
then they continue to have dinner and talk a little to it becomes dark. axel walks rika to her home and as he heads to his house a car pulls by his side. it's investigator harper car.
harper: it's freezing out here. hop on kid I'll drive you home
axel: you don't have to miss it's ok
harper: i told you hop on quit being a shy little kid.
he gets in the car and she starts driving.
harper: man i really love snow but if my car breaks again in the snow I'll lose my mind.
axel: you work very late. it must have been hard
harper: oh feeling bad for this poor old woman here. thanks little kid but i still have the strength and beauty of a woman in her prime time of life so don't call me an old woman.
axel (in a low voice): but you said it
harper: anyway.. how has been lately with you. school and job and everything
axel: just the usual. normal routinely days.
harper: oh is that so.. and what about your girl. is she alright?
axel: she is
harper: that's good to know. here take some chocolate sticks. it tastes best in these cold times.
axel: thanks.
harper: so... no news about connor again?
axel: nothing. we searched every part of town but he's not anywhere. and i didn't receive any message from that day till now. it's like he vanished.
harper: people don't just vanish out of nowhere. there's a motive and a reason to everything. he will appear again.
axel: why are you sure about this?
harper: oh it's just a hench. you know don't you find it weird that the whole Chx movement died and vanished right after the incident three years ago?.
axel: what do you mean?
harper: after it had been done no new attacks happened nor any big event. was the festival incident supposed to be the declaration of war on this country. then why did it all disappear in a click.
axel: i don't know. maybe they saw that their chances of winning are low.
harper: and right at the same time connor disappeared. and we never saw again any message from a leader or a higher up in the group. didn't he say to you that he always took his orders from the higher ups. then how come we couldn't find anyone despite the ongoing investigations for three years.
axel: what are you referring to?
harper: oh nothing. this always happens when i indulge in my work so much. you start doubting everything and all. I'm just telling you to be careful and truthful with me always. remember that both of you still are suspects in my opinion.
axel: yeah. I'll make sure to remember this. I'll contact you whenever i get a message or anything from him.
harper: good kid. now enough from the depressing talk. here we arrived at your house. take care and study well for the tests. don't let these things distract you. good luck kiddo
axel: thank you
he waves at her and enters the house. the house is empty and the first thing that catches his sight is a written letter on the table. it's from his mom telling him that she went to see an old friend of hers in the hospital so she might not be home till morning.
he reads the letter then goes and takes a shower. prepare a meal and then lay on bed. this has the same routine for him for a long time
axel: i should probably study but I'm so tired. why am I even doing all of this?
He studied for almost an hour before being so tired that he couldn't open his eyes anymore. before going to bed he checks his phone for the last time for this day to see a message from an unknown user saying
????: " hey... do you still remember me? "
axel: who is this guy. " who are you? "
????: come on you already forgot your friend " star savior "
as soon as axel saw that name he could think of only one person. as shocking as it can be yet there's no other explanation to it.
axel: "٠ connor?!!!!... is that you?"
connor: " you finally remembered. i thought you forgot about your friend "
axel: " how can i forget. we've been searching for you for three years. where are you now? "
connor: i can't tell you all of these things on the phone. i want to talk to you in person. and also talk with rika. let's all have a little chat and remember some memories.
axel: why are you being mysterious about it. did something happen to you?
connor: I'll tell you everything when we meet tomorrow. please promise me that you won't tell anyone about this call.
axel: i promise. all i want is to see you.
where will we meet.
connor: I'm thinking about a nostalgic place. how about the forest we went on a school trip to. Do you remember it?
axel: of course i do. how can i forget what happened.
connor: yeah it's the place where it all started. good I'll meet you both there. let's have some time from the past. see you there.
axel closes the phone and as he tries to sleep he can only think about what happened and what will happen tomorrow. he sent a message to rika telling her everything and she had been shocked as expected. what does connor want and why did he choose to appear now of all times. where was he during these three years.
all these thoughts roam around axel's mind till he drifts asleep. hoping for everything to be better tomorrow. unable to reckon the unknown fate that he will face. all he can do is hope.
the next day comes and the sun is still covered by these thick clouds as the snow is still pouring on this quiet friday morning. a morning where people should be sleeping and resting in their beds yet it's different for axel and rika. they are the only ones who are on the bus to the town forest.2
they arrive at the place and walk a little to the entrance of the forest. when you go forward there's only one road that leads you to the hills and cliffs that gives you a clear and beautiful sight of the mountains ahead. it's the place where the four of them once camped in. as they are walking. they see a shadow of a someone approaching them. as he gets close he's none other than connor. finally meeting after three years. what will this reunion bring ahead for the three friends
connor: yo. it's been a long time.
axel: connor... it's really you.. you are alive thank god.
he rushes to hug him.
connor: wow didn't know you're such a sensitive person
axel: shut up you idiot.. where were you all these years
connor: how about we all walk a little and talk. it's been a long time since I've been in this place. i want to enjoy the snow a little.
they start all walking up the road that leads them to the former camping spot. as they walk they see the beautiful snow covering all trees and flowers. making the forest coloured with pure whiteness.
connor: you know i used to come here when i was a kid. long before i met you both. when my grandmother still had her consciousness and could remember my name and who i am. she used to bring me here during the holidays.
since i was an awkward kid i had no friends or kids my age to play with. she felt bad for me so she always spoiled me with toys and trips to theme parks but the one trip that i always was excited for was when we come here.
for some reason the atmosphere here calms me down. maybe it's the fresh smell of these tall trees. i can't be sure but i always felt comfortable here. i felt really free. like all this place is just for me
when i became nine years old. my grandmother was diagnosed with amnesia. she's a senile woman after all so i couldn't help but accept the new reality. but when she couldn't recognize me even after i repeated my name to her many times and talked about all our memories together. i felt like something died inside me. she was the only proof that someone like me existed so when that person forgot about me. i felt like this world had abandoned me in a way.
the days after that were an empty cycle of a copied routine. get up and get ready for school. study and go back home. prepare food for both of us and then sit in your room. for a kid like me that had nothing anymore to hold on into my room was my safe place away from any problems.
i knew that by caging myself in my room I'm not going to get anywhere in life. but the feeling of fear from what would happen if i failed was far greater than the fear of staying alone forever.
oh we arrived finally. do you see this amazing view. we can look at all the mountains and all the city from here. look who all houses seem so small. it's early in the morning and everyone is sleeping. i wonder if they all had some kind of problems and thoughts like me.
what will they all think of if they knew that this world might be destroyed in the near future. will they still go to school or work. will they still walk their dogs and attend parties. will people still confess to each other. will they feel scared and sadness to themselves or to their loved ones. what will they do of all this vanished in an instant.
rika: what are you talking about? why would this world collapse. did something happen to you. you seem strange. not the connor i know.
connor: connor right. it's the name i got associated with ever since i was born into this world. wait should i say born or another word? I'm not sure anymore. all my memories are getting mixed together.
axel: what do you mean? tell me please why are you saying all of this?
connor: you know human bodies are strange. despite me not living all these events that i had talked about but i can still remember the feeling of it so clearly that it can even make me tear up. i wonder why is that.
is the soul of him still buried deep inside me. did i kill only the mind. can the soul of someone even disappear or the memories are what makes the soul be itself.
axel: what are you saying. i can't understand you anymore
connor: i lived many years in this body by this time that i sometimes forgot my own goal. maybe i started to feel much more human. are these mixed and confusing emotions what makes people humans. that's strange. but now that i remember all of this i can finally move on from this state of denial and being lost. i can finally be me. be connor or be whatever people want to associate me with.
rika starts to think that he is imagining things and having mental delusions. maybe he is blaming himself for kelly's death. maybe the trauma of the incident caused him mental problems.
rika: don't worry connor. we're both here for you. we can start again the three of us. just like the old days. are you afraid of being arrested? we'll help you i promise.
axel: it's all going to be alright. I'll talk to miss harper about it. you had no choice this day. you got manipulated by some scumbags.
connor: manipulated by scumbags huh. oh yes i remember saying something like this.
axel: what do you mean? and why are you crying?
connor: now that we've come to this there's no going back. i just wanted to say that all my actions in the past and in the present and also in the future. they were all coming from this deep down feeling of utter disappointment. I'm truly disappointed in this world and in every world. I'm really sorry.
axel: huh?
connor walks slowly towards rika. he shapes his hand into a gun and aims it at her forehead.
axel: don__
connor: bang
a black weird shaped bullet comes out of his finger and goes through rika's head. making her fall to the ground in an instant.
the cold white snow turned red as it got mixed with her blood. it was faster than axel could comprehend what's happening let alone move or try to save her. she died in a mere seconds. in the town that she wanted to escape from.
connor: oh man. i really hate doing this.
axel: what!??!..... what the hell have you done.
before axel could even move or attack connor. he heard him saying something.
connor: "LOCK"
as he hears this word. a giant metal bars appear from underground and pierce all of his limbs and one through his stomach. caging him and making him unable to move an inch while he is in extreme pain and anger.
axel: why the fuck you did this ANSWER ME.
connor: quit snapping and yelling over everything. don't blame me for failing to save your life again. after giving you a chance you ruined it again.
axel: huh.... what the fuck are you saying?
connor: you really don't have the sharpest head on your shoulders. well that's what made it easy to control you in the end.
axel: I'll kill you. I'll kill you. you hear me.
connor: yeah yeah I'm hearing. but isn't feeling bad for your lover's death while you killed your own father is kind of hypocritical.
axel: how the hell do you know this?
connor: of course i know everything you did. after all i was the one who brought you into this life.
axel: huh?!!.. who are you?
connor: can't you see? I'm your friend connor.
axel: you're not him. your voice and body and everything about you is supposed to be connor. but you are not him. tell me who the fuck you are!.
connor: sheesh what an annoying brat you are. have you already forgotten me. it's been a while since we last talked but how can you forget all of it?.
axel soon realizes that the person he is talking to is not connor and it never was connor from the beginning. there's only one person who can know all this information about him. it's the person who saved him from the start.
axel: veto????!!.
veto: ping pong. your mind finally started working brat. it's been a long time since someone called me by this name.staying in that connor brat body for all these years is really exhausting.
axel: why did you do this?
veto: if i told you the reason would you forgive me?. i can already tell what your answer is going to be with these hatred filled eyes. so let's just say that i did this all for the sake of a noble cause
axel: noble cause??? don't fucking play with me right now. all these years you pretended to be my friend. what was all these fake emotions for?.
veto: i don't think they were fake. i really enjoyed your company. i even felt sometimes like a human. it was a strange feeling.
axel: you will never be a human. you're just a vile monster
veto: maybe you're right. but doesn't that also apply to you. killed your own father and caused many innocent people to meet their ends. you can say that it was my fault but aren't you the one who wanted to be a hero?
axel: i never intended for all this to happen. you tricked me
veto: don't act like a victim now. all these actions were made by your own will.
axel: what's your motive for all of this?.
veto: even if i say it you wouldn't get it. and you should probably worry about more important things now. you shouldn't leave your poor mother alone in the house.dangerous things could happen at any time. the cops are on their way. i told them about our meeting.
axel: what did you do to her?
veto: on nothing important. i just paid her a visit and your house was really dark and gloomy so i thought about lighting it up a little. hope she likes the new look of the house before she loses breath.
upon hearing these last words and knowing that his own mother is in danger. all this hatred and anger covers axel's mind and soul until he can no longer control his power or his consciousness. the black crystals starts to cover his whole body turning him into a big monster with skin tougher than metal and long arms that are shaped like a long sword.
it's sharpness can cut a human in two balanced halves with one swing. and his speed is far beyond what normal people can comprehend. he's basically now. a murder machine with no limits walking on this world. fueled by rage and hatred. he will kill anyone that gets in his way.
veto: finally there you are. i knew killing her would help. now die for the sake of this world.
as veto approaches axel and tries to kill him. axel crushes the metal bars and regains his freedom and he cuts veto's body in half not paying any regard to the body of connor. axel can't see anything at this point. he's in a total berserk state.
a small weird shaped creature comes out from the dead corpse of connor. almost looking like a bird but it's deformed and with long wings. he flies up so high to plan his escape.
veto: shit that didn't go as i planned. well there will be many chances to take his heart. i have to go now. see you later mister CHX.
veto flies away from the place leaving axel in his monster form to wreck havoc in the town. with one massive jump. axel reaches the center of town in seconds. all the citizens are shocked and horrified from the monster that appeared in front of them.
???. " special force division one. the target is in the center of the town. i repeat. he's in the center. prepare your fire. all get into your places. we will try to destroy him now. commence operation.
suddenly a load of armed soldiers surround axel from all areas. most of them have heavy machinery.
????: FIRE!!!!
they all start firing and showering him with bullets left and right but none of the bullets can pierce through his crystal skin. they all fail to even scratch him and some of them bullets got deflected and hit the soldiers and ended their lives.
???: what the hell is this creature? keep firing don't hold back. snipers i want you to shoot his head Now!!!!
axel finally moves and starts killing every soldier in a brutal way. all the bodies are getting torn apart left and right. and the snipers can't even catch him because of how fast he is.
???: he seems to be heading somewhere. he is moving at a normal pace now. almost like he is walking normally. he's heading towards the citizens'apartment district.
" sir please can you hear me? we need reinforcement here i repeat we need reinforcement he___"
???: shit the signal went down. quick get all the reinforcement we have. i want him to be cornered by tanks. we can't let this monster walk around freely. evacuate all people. this city will turn into a battlefield.
as axel is still walking towards his house. a tank appears in front of him.
" all ready at your places. 1.... 2.... 3.. FIRE! "
the tank fires a massive, high-speed shell at the target. exploding the whole area that surrounds axel to ashes. but the shock is that it never made any real damage to him. he rushes toward the tank and lifts it up with his both hands and with a loud scream he throws it away. making it explode and wreck more havoc in the city.
???: what a demon. we're doomed.
" sir there's a woman who wants to talk to you "
???: who the hell is she. we're busy here do you think i have time to chat?
" her name is harper. she's a police investigator. she says that she knows how to stop this monster "
???: who does she think she is. fine bring her here. we have no other options at this point but to listen to some low police workers now"
harper: thank you for giving me a chance to talk to you general
general: explain your plan now
harper: that creature is not a monster nor a demon sir. he's just a human.
general: what is this nonsense you're talking about. how do you know?
harper: he's a 17 year old boy named axel. I've been observing him as a suspect for being the famous CHX and i think that now i can surely say that he is him.
general: we don't have time to identify this thing now. i want to know how to stop him?
harper: the best choice is to simply let him walk freely
general: this must be a joke. tell me what the hell you mean
harper: his movements might seem random at first but actually it's not. he is heading right towards his house. his house is burning and he is moving based on instinct to save his mother. that's the most logical theory i could think of.
general: what will happen when he gets to the house and what would he do if he sees his mother in a bad situation. He will go more berserk on this city and destroy everything.
harper: i believe that the opposite will happen. the mental shock will make him regain his consciousness and go back to normal. sir i beg you to please consider this plan. i know that i don't have any proof that this will success but it's our only option left. if you don't want more innocent people to be killed meaninglessly please let the units back off and stop fire.
general: " all units i want you to stop engaging with the target. back off and stop the fire. i repeat back off and start the fire. let him walk freely and we'll keep observing him from here. stay on high alert for new orders "
general: i swear if this doesn't work. you will never walk one foot into any police station ever.
harper: thank you for your generosity sir. i will never forget this.
axel now walks without anyone getting in his way. despite the road being fully empty yet he is walking normally without using his fast speed. almost like he is following some kind of memories in the past. where he used to walk to house everyday. eager to see his mother again.
he finally arrives and the house is burning on fire. the flames eating it up and destroying every little memory he once had at this place.
yet he calmly walks into the house and climbs the stairs into the second floor where his mom's room is. all the little things in the house are torn apart and burned leaving nothing but despair. he finally opens her door to see her laying on her bed. or what's left of her.
because she had already died from the lack of oxygen and her body is burned so badly to the point where her skin is melting. He can't even recognize her face anymore.
upon seeing this horrible sight. axel finally regains his consciousness and starts to burst out in tears from the horrible sight he's seeing. feeling an immense feeling of pain and utter despair. he carries the body in his arms and walks through the fire.
the pain of getting burned by flames is nothing compared to the emptiness that he is feeling. he can't even feel that his own body is burning.maybe it's because of his fast regeneration power or it's just because he doesn't care anymore.
he walks out of the house to see himself surrounded by army soldiers and investigator harper is leading them. he lays his mother body on the ground and stands with zero signs of resistance
harper: I'm really sorry kid. i should have seen this earlier.... all units FIRE.
they start to shower his body with bullets. tearing his body apart and he falls into the ground.
harper: keep firing or else his body will regenerate.
She walks up to him and sedates him with a tranq shot.
harper: I'm sorry. if only i had known from the beginning. I'll make sure to bury her with respect. and I'll save you no matter what. just wait for me.
axel losses his consciousness as he hears these last words from harper. falling in utter despair and emptiness after losing everyone dear to him. his soul is no longer eager to live or move on. he can only shrink into more misery as this snowy day finally marks it's ending.
another horrible day that many innocent people and soldiers lost their lives to protect their lived ones from these catastrophic events. all this for the sake of an unknown motive from an unknown creature. what will this dark conclusion bring into this world. the countdown to the most insane war on this planet begins.