1.1 continuation

[Seven days earlier...]

Ugh, the this place is always crowded? It's like thousand souls are speaking, piercing through my ears! I walk along with the crowd to get to my favorite coffee shop to make my day a bit better. There's the problem, I'm trying to avoid people so that I will not accidentally bump into them or else I'll make a scene. Suddenly... A rushing man bumped at me and didn't even look back and just continued to go like nothing happened. I was about to make him unconscious when I realized that he's not making any sound of his footsteps. Something's off... I glanced at his appearance, he is wearing a black leather overcoat, a black pants, and is wearing a black face mask. Weird, or rather mysterious. He took an abrupt sharp turn to the corner which leads to an alleyway, away from the crowd. I slowly followed him, though it's hard to catch up since he blends well with the crowd. And I can't rely on my hearing sensor to track it because of this many sound the peoples make. The overcoated man enters the alleyway, as well as me after seeing him fade in the darkness. I know it's stupid to do so, but I have to know, for the sake of my curiosity. Speaking of, I am literally digging my own grave. As soon as I got through it, a suspense filled the atmosphere, not that I'm scared of but I can tell there is a problem lying ahead. Focusing my hearing, I hear nothing other than the peoples chattering just outside this alleyway. I looked around and saw nothing. Maybe he got away? I was about to head out when a knife emerges from the side targeting my waist, but I was able to deflect it. Even so, the force was strong enough to plunge the blade into the depths my flesh. I reached the gun from my jacket and before I could aim it, the man was fast enough to get away from my view. Though, he glanced at me before disappearing.

I sat and leaned to the wall with a thud after removing the knife on my waist. It was painful but it is manageable. Breathing slowly, I began to do what my coach taught me and was able to stop the gushing blood. It is effective. Unfortunately, I frowned as I hear the roaring clouds above me and it was about to rain. Soon enough, it started to pour heavy rain as it soaked me.

[Back to present]

“That's… odd.” his intimidating posture earlier was replaced by curiosity. I shrugged in return.

“I think he's after someone. That is why he immediately ran after stabbing you nearly to death,” he paused.

“Still, why did he leave you?” he continued.

“Why ask me? I don't know either.” I replied.

“The important thing is, you aren't in your tomb.”

I shrugged at his response and lay back on the bed, to rest my head. A lot has been happening as the fleeting time goes without realizing it.

Some days later…

It's been four days, and I am still trapped as I sit here in the same bedroom. The doctor is the one who is now in charge of taking care of me, which is a bit uncomfortable, at least for now. He came two days ago and introduced himself as Herms from the med squad. Well, he helped me to stand and get off the bed, which is weird. On the other hand, my brother was sent on a mission last night, something like clearing off gang camps. Not that I worry about.

“Hey Jared, may I come in?” the doctor knocks on the door.

“You don't have to excuse.” I replied.

Dr. Herms comes in while holding a tray of food and then places it on the desk.

“Another interrogation?” I asked, annoyed.

“Don't be upset, and it's an inspection, not an interrogation anyway.” he pieced a nervous chuckle.

I hate my life. I'm not in the mood to eat my lunch, so I lay on the bed, facing the empty ceiling.

“How are you feeling? Does it still hurt?” he inquired, struggling to speak up with me.

“Good, and the wound doesn't hurt anymore.” I left out an exasperated sigh.

After our little talk, we kept quiet, not that I wanted to be bothered, anyway.

“Your brother informed me we must move out tomorrow,”

I remained silent.

“He instructed me to take you to the new basement.” he continued.

Stunned, I turned to him with a curiosity.

“Before you ask, he said it will be for your safety because the Corp has been sending him on missions more frequent lately. So…”

“Yeah, I see what you mean.” I sigh in disappointment.

Great. Now I'm going to make the Corp to babysit me, ugh.

“Speaking of the new base, where is it exactly?”

“Oh, uh… Your brother t-told me not to tell you until we arrive there. Sorry.” he stutters as he replied.

Ugh, I can't help but to arouse my suspicion of this guy. I know he is a trusted one but that doesn't answer why he always omits the details. I grunt and nod as my response. Sitting on the bed after getting up, I got near the food the doctor made for me to fill my stomach for lunch.

Several hours later…

I've been spending my time practicing standing and walking around the room while Herms is helping me. It is awkward. At least he didn't bother me that often but, he told me not to waste my energy too much for Several hours later…

I've been spending my time practicing standing and walking around the room while Herms is helping me. It is awkward. At least he didn't bother me that often but, he told me not to waste my energy too much for tomorrow, which I could agree to that. He also took some examinations as expected, and he always stutters as he talked

“I-I think that's enough for today. Since you finished your supper, you should get some rest now.”

I just responded in 'mmhm' and climbed on my bed, so I can relax as said. Snuggling back on the bed, I drift to sleep…

“Thanks, Aaron.” the unrecognized voice dissipates.

Huh? I wonder who is that.

[Tomorrow…]

Sleeping throughout the night, a soft sound of footsteps pierced my ears, causing my instincts to kick. I opened my eyes and saw Herms walking softly as if he were avoiding waking me. Well, not right now. He is also carrying a tray of food which explains the sun already come out since the room had no window. I can't quite see outside.

“O-Oh, uhhh, sorry I accidentally woke you up.” he stands there, waiting for my response.

“It's fine, just… Knock when you enter someone's room.” I assuaged.

He smiled and walked more quietly, but I still can hear his footsteps. After he places the tray of food on the desk, he sits beside it.

“Aren't you gonna eat?” I asked, kind of implying to be honest, but, I don't care.

“Oh, uh, I-I usually e-eat early,” he sighs and drew a long deep breath.

“So, uhh- we should get ready after you eat. W-we might miss the train.” he continues.

I grunt in response. I sat and took the soup for fresh morning, which is just greens and a bit of pork. After finishing the meal, I headed to the bathroom and of course assisted by Herms. We reached the door and he opens it then continued to enter. Wait… I looked at him confused why did he enter too, but he also picked it and atoned immediately. He left me and I closed the door. I walked into the shower tab and opened the faucet to which shocked me by how cold the water was causing me to nearly break my balance. I turned the faucet to a warmer temperature, then proceeded to wash my body. Likewise, I cleaned where the deep cut in my waist to remove the crusted blood, revealing a sewed hole. Caressing its surface, I can't feel it.

“Maybe the warm water has affected it.” I thought to myself.

After taking a satisfying bath, I got out of the room and continued to the bedroom. I walk with caution so that I will not get slipped accidentally. Though, I realized what will I wear? I don't think my brother has any of my clothes. What should I wear?

“Herms?” I meekly called.

“Coming!” he charges out from the door of the living room.

“Oh, you need anything?” confused, he stares.

What's up with him having high spirits?

“I don't think I have any clothes to wear here.” I sigh in defeat.

“Ooh, wait me here!” he swiftly runs into the living room.

I stand there, confused by his sudden lit mood, and he didn't even stutter when he spoke. Just a few moments, he returns, holding a plastic bag that seems to be groceries.

“Here, let me take it to the bedroom. It's clothes! Your brother told me to buy you new suits.” He leads the way and I follow.

He puts the groceries on the desk, then left me so that I can change. I browsed through my new clothes that my brother bought, checking any decent clothing. The suits are all black, which is nice for my brother.

“Ugh, what am I thinking?” I mumbled to myself.

After wearing on some decent suit, I went back in the bathroom to take my clothes that I forgot. I took my personal belongings, my dried out wallet, my smartphone, and the amulet that my Mother gifted me when I took Zion.

Heading back to the bedroom, Herms seems preparing a chicken soup, judging from the pleasant aroma all over the apartment. He seems good at cooking, just like my brother. What am I saying? I returned to the bedroom when a sudden weird thought appeared in my mind. Sitting on the bed, I checked my smartphone if it's still working and to my surprise it still works. Right, I bought a waterproof one. I browsed through the contacts and dialed Zena's number. She's my girlfriend. It took a while before ringing the phone…

“Oh, hey Jared! You haven't called me for a week now. Are you okay?” Zena's voice is very soft, and it's like I'm talking to a child.

“No, I'm fine. How are you?” I changed the topic in a swift because she was going to acknowledge that.

We spent half an hour conversating before Herms finishes cooking and after he does, he called. I hang up with Zena before heading to the kitchen. As I enter the kitchen, the pleasant aroma fills my nostrils that makes my stomach grumble. Wow, he is an excellent cook!

“Heh, you like it?” Herms asked while preparing the table.

“Mmhm.”

I sat while he sets the table in a rather fancy way and served the breakfast with elegance. The bowl of soup in front of me makes me go wild as I drool without noticing. The doctor, on the other hand, seems please I sat while he sets the table in a rather fancy way and served the breakfast with elegance. The bowl of soup in front of me makes me go wild as I drool without noticing. The doctor, on the other hand, seems pleased while grinning at me. I cleared my throat just to remind him I'm still not trusting him to the fullest. I'm not dumb because my brother gave him out our secret code, that means he is a trustable person. There's just something. We finished our food in silence, the way super awkward as possible.

[Few hours later...]

We arrived at the train station 30 minutes before take off, and it's already buzzing with a crowd. Herms used his new model tech car to get us here faster and conceal our location. It's kind of nice experience. Though, he said that train is the only way to pass through the border without getting caught. We walked in rather slow pace for my wound so that it will not get irritated and bleed that will arouse suspicion. It is better to be cautious. We sat on a dimly lit corner, waiting for the train to arrive. Herms was very paranoid after we went out of the apartment as he looks around many times. I am certain no one is walking suspiciously because I can hear and differentiate the sound people make around me. Unless the culprit is highly trained for not making a sound.

“There's no one around, why are you paranoid?”

Herms flinches with my sudden question but calms himself and turned to me, “I feel like someone is following us.”

I nod in response. Time seems to pass as the train arrives with countless noisy peoples that makes my ears irritate. It is my weakness, too much sound absorption of my ears can be deafening for me. After the passengers got out, Herms and I went inside then took a sit on a more secluded portion of the train.

Herms was relieved after sitting opposite to me, “Phew. We should be there in 8 hours.”

At last, I can now rest for the rest of the trip. I slept...

I've been sleeping for a few hours when I suddenly hear footsteps from afar. Focusing my hearing sensors, I pick up a group of peoples' footsteps that is heading towards our location. This is not good. I opened my eyes and saw Herms was sleeping, I understand he's exhausted, but this isn't the time to rest, I thug him.

“Hey, code RED.” I whispered.

His expression shifts and he grabs something on his pocket, two silenced pistols. He gave me the other one and gestures me to stay on my position while he aims for the door. There was nothing but us two in a roomette, so no one was alarmed except us. This is the worst way to fight, having a sliced flesh on the waist that limits my movements. I held the pistol steadily when the footsteps stop in a few moments. There is another coming from the opposite, and it seems it's rushing, judging how fast the sound it makes though, it is familiar. The group of footsteps continues until it reached the door, while Herms is already from the side of the entrance. I on the other hand, I am on his opposite. The rushing footsteps earlier is now facing the entrance to us behind the door, making both Herms and I more alarmed than ever. The door opens…

BANGGG!!!

No! My eyes are flashed, that is caused by the flash bomb they threw after opening the door. Gunshots everywhere, ringing my ears to its limits as it wants to explode the high sound frequency around me. I'll die here!

“JARED!” Herms is yelling at me.

That is when I heard a thud on the floor while someone near us are fighting, judging from their movement sounds.

“ARGH!” I wince as someone smacks me by the head.

My sense of touch dissipates from the impact. A few moments, my hazy vision returns and saw my brother pinning down an enemy while Herms is on the ground unconscious. I try to move, but I was restrained from my back as someone tied my hands, holding my shirt furiously.

“Back away, Aaron if you want your ******** brother to be alive!” the guy yells beside me as he points a gun on my head.

Nice, we have been sabotaged. Zion stopped punching the unconscious guy he was pinning earlier and stares at us.

The guy beside me shakes me, “Good. You knew what your place is.”

THWACK!!!

I looked at my brother before my eyes shut. Everything went black…

[Meanwhile…]

[Unknown's POV]

“DAD, how could you!?” My daughter yells at me from the back.

I ignored her ramblings, but she didn't stop pestering me for hours.

“DAD!?”

She seems to have surrendered as she slams the door before going away. I grit my teeth while thinking to this situation I should not be involved.

My warrior speaks from the dark, “Forgive my abruptness, but I would suggest you should do what she asks. She might get overdrive again and-”

“Silence.” I command.

If I do this, what will I get in return? Do I really need to get involved? Ugh! I slam the mug on the table, spilling half of its content. I'll grant you this wish one last time, and it's enough.

“Con, do anything to save this man. Don't forget to find some papers there while on your work.

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