For seventeen long years, the city of Romulus had forgotten the sweet embrace of peace. Yet this day, near the break of dawn, an unnatural hush suffocated the skies – a silence so heavy that the towering skyscrapers appeared to hold their breaths against the howling winds that cut through the streets.
All slumbered soundly except for one…
"AHHHHHHHH!!!"
Missio Augustus bolted up, a phantom scream filled with agony echoing through his chamber. His chest burned, breath hitched and sweat dripped down his chin like oil. He gasped for air, seizing his chest as if he was drowning.
His grip tightened, causing his knuckles to turn white. A dreadful feeling crept into his heart – one he had tried to chase away for years. His brain throbbed against the contours of his skull.
He gritted his teeth, forcing the headache to worsen. Only then, did that dreadful sensation wash away from his psyche.
He released his grip and almost fell back from sheer relief. The Bereft stared at the darkness plaguing his room with a hollow gaze.
Eventually, he grunted and sat straight. Hesitating for a moment, he reached his hand out and pushed the curtains slightly.
Sunlight erupted from the other side, forcing the young man to narrow his eyes. Peeping through the small opening he had made, he observed the blue sky that soared above the ground with an indifferent expression.
Drawing a sharp breath, he recalled the torment he had just endured and shuttered.
'For Pangea's sake, why…why this again?'
His hand trembled as the horrific sight of the tearing sky jammed itself into his vision. He shook his head, throwing the vision out of his mind.
"Why is it back now…?" He muttered to himself as he closed the curtains.
Missio adjusted the headphones sitting on his head and then stood up. Instinctively, he reached out towards a strange object sitting on his bed-side cabinet – A Music Box.
A Music Box whose exterior seemed to be forged from absolute darkness – something that was so deep and so vast that even Missio's lightless bedroom seemed incomparably brighter than it.
That Box was connected to his headphones, playing a silent and soothing tune into his ears.
Without batting an eye, he picked it up and entered the bathroom. Placing the Music Box on the countertop, he turned the faucet. As he splashed cold water onto his pale face, he impulsively glanced at his own reflection.
Witnessing his own self – his rough dark hair which he had neglected to comb and scarlet eyes that gleamed like the stars, he felt a shiver crawl down his spine.
Taking off his clothes until he was only he in his underwear, he picked up his Music Box and then entered the shower.
He turned the knob and let out a sigh of relief as the warm water washed over him. Standing still for a moment, he placed his Music Box on the shelf. Strangely though, the artifact didn't seem to get wet.
The droplets were disappearing the moment they touched the Music Box's dark surface…
The hum of reality faltered for a moment as Missio pressed play. The Box sang a familiar melody into Missio's ear as he showered, calming his nerves.
Missio hummed that tune as he washed himself. After a few minutes, he stepped out – steaming while holding his Music Box. Heaving a breath, he approached his closet.
Then, as if remembering something, he turned his head towards his bedside cabinet once more. There, a small earbud was laying on the wooden surface – invisible to the naked eye but not Missio's own.
The Bereft neared the cabinet, picked up the earbud and placed the small piece of tech into his ear. As his headphone fell atop his ear once again, Missio's lips parted.
"Mythos."
Instantly, a robotic voice responded to his call
[Good morning, Sir.]
"Good morning." Missio replied, halting at his closet. "Do you have any updates for me?"
[Yes, sir. Shall I inform you of them?]
"Yes." Missio pulled out his work uniform and threw it onto his bed.
[One missed call from 'Prime Minister'.]
Missio froze, dropping his Music Box on the soft mattress.
"What…? Why?"
Mythos's voice hummed once again.
[That is unknown, sir. However, he left a voice message. Shall I read it to you?]
"Sure."
[Dear, Lieutenant General, Missio Augustus. I've inform you that I, along with the Minister of Home affairs have agreed upon the arrest of National Assembly member, Dick Quartel for the crime of financial fraud. I hope you get back to me on this as this is an extremely urgent matter.]
Missio froze once again.
'Wait, what?! The arrest of a National Assembly member?'
he scowled as he buttoned his black shirt. Then, he dragged white trousers up to his waist and tucked the buttoned black shirt into them. Zipping up the pants zipper, he picked up a tailored white coat with golden accents and slid his arms into it.
Buttoning up the double-breasted coat that reached his thighs, Missio sighed and grabbed his black-visored white cap that was embedded with the emblem of a golden eagle.
He placed the service cap on his head and… it awkwardly sat atop his headphones which he stubbornly refused to take off. Adjusting his cap a little, he dusted himself off before clipping his Music Box onto his waist.
Then, he exited his bedroom, shutting the door behind him as he left. He walked through a lonely corridor as sunlight seeped in from the windows, making Missio wince slightly.
The Bereft descended a large staircase which led to an even larger and lavish living room with high ceilings and pale walls. He passed the living room and pushed open another door.
Entering the dining hall, he saw a chandelier hanging above a long wooden table and numerous wooden chairs surrounding it. He sat down on one of them and moments later, a maid brought him breakfast.
The servant who had white streaking across her brown hair, looked at Missio with a gentle smile.
"Your breakfast, my lord."
Missio didn't reply for a few moments. Then, he slowly looked at his food and muttered in a low voice.
"Right…."
He stared at the plate in front of him in a daze. In his mind, he was still recalling the Prime Minister's message.
'…Can't he give me a break? He's cooped up in his office while I have to do all the dirty work.'
He frowned and as he did, Lilla took off his cap, twisted his headphones down and began covering his hair with oil. The Lieutenant General flinched – startled by the unfamiliar feeling on his hair.
"Lilla…" He groaned.
"No more excuses, sir. You haven't taken care of hair in a week!" Lilla reprimanded.
Missio sighed heavily, his face contorting as he let her oil his hair. The odd sensation of the oil on his wet hair made his eye twitch but he could do nothing about it at all.
The female servant combed his rough hair to the side, making him seem more esteemed and more like someone who actually held the rank of Lieutenant General
When she finished and went to wash her hands, he immediately turned his headphones upright. Then, he picked up his utensils and began digging into his breakfast.
***
Minutes later, Missio rested his utensils, heaving a sigh of relief. Picking up his cap, he placed it on his head and stood.
"I'll be heading out now."
Lilla offered a gentle smile.
"Have a good day at work, my lord."
Then, she began wiping the table with a piece of purple cloth. Missio stared at the servant, lingering on her for more than he wanted.
The Bereft snapped back to reality after a few moments and turned around, leaving the dining hall. Passing the living room, he glanced at an old-school mechanical clock hanging above the front entrance.
The clock ticked — then slowed, its hands dragging through time.
He sighed and grabbed his shoes from the nearby rack. Effortlessly sliding the leather shoes on, he tapped them on the floor a few times before exiting the manor. Strolling through the garden, he walked past the blooming flowers and entered the garage.
It's lights flickered on as he stepped inside, revealing all the vehicles within. From them, he neared a black car whose exterior was made entirely of carbon. Drawing its key, he unlocked the menacing vehicle and stepped inside.
The instant his hands touched the steering wheel, he widened his eyes. A blue light shot out from the instrument panel, scanning his retina. Moments later, the light disappeared as the interior lit up and the car roared to life.
Missio pressed the gear shaft and shifted into reverse. The garage door slowly lifted itself as he backed out and shut once he stepped onto the road.
The Bereft paused for a moment, trying to recall if he had left anything behind. However, right then, another car sped by. Suddenly, a sharp pain struck his brain like a hot spear. His vision flickered and shifted as his memories bled into reality.
The city burned in undying flames as debris scattered across the vicinity. Demonic creatures stormed the city and alongside them… Humans did so too. The cries of the dying citizens filled his ears as smoke rose, palpable from the land. He gritted his teeth, clutching his head in pain
"Argh!"
His grip tightened on the steering wheel, making his knuckles turn white. His breathing became ragged. His heart ached. His brain throbbed as cold sweat dripped down his forehead. The wheel began bending under his might as his veins began popping.
His skull felt as if it would cave in on itself. His eyes flared with crimson light. Golden light flickered across his body as something vast and unfathomable surged around him.
But, at last, the vision was swept away and Missio's mind settled down. The Bereft gasped for air as cold sweat rolled down his face. His eyes were hollow – drained of the radiance they once held.
Forcing himself to straighten, he gripped the wheel and muttered in a low voice.
"I'll talk about this later with Victor…"
Then, without wasting another moment, he spun around and drove towards the REOC's Black Ops Division's HQ.