Sweet's words hung in the air – a stark declaration that cut through the remnants of my shock. "The government will be after you soon. Wanted criminal status comes with the territory."
A criminal? Maybe. But I wouldn't flinch for a simple matter of a status. I directed a burning stare, not towards Sweet, but towards his home. The interior wasn't as shabby as one would expect for people trying to hide from the government. It was actually a very comfortable apartment, all the basic amenities were present in pristine conditions. My attention then drifted to the short lady beside him, Zara. The shadows danced across her face, highlighting her youthful features. Her short hoodie barely contained the curve of her breasts pushing against the material. The baggie trousers and military boots added a touch of practicality to her appearance, yet couldn't conceal the well rounded figure that my grandm would often tell me to respect and embrace with a lady.
Sweet broke the silence, bringing with it the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee. I tracked the steaming latte as he carefully settled onto a foldable black chair, the plastic creaking under his weight. Patches adorned the surface of the chair and seemed to be in various states of disrepair, a lot like how the government has treated my people. We were sitting directly opposite me. I, in turn, was clutching the duvet tightly, the soft fabric a flimsy barrier against the reality crashing down around me.
He cleared his throat, the baritone of his calm but loaded voice cutting through the tension. "Would you mind joining the Rhine?"
The silence that followed was stifling. It stretched, each second an eternity, the unspoken weight of his proposition hanging heavy in the air. Then, Zara, sensing my hesitation, attempted to fill the void. "It's just for a brief moment," she said, her voice soft but firm, "Besides, you're trying to find your grandma's killer, right? That's our job. We eliminate mileena," she stated, a subtle emphasis on the word, "the scum of the earth."
Her words, while reassuring, did little to ease my inner turmoil. The gentle approach of Zara, only served to make it more worse. She came very close to me now to convince me. It was tense, too tense. It had been so long since I'd been around a well-rounded lady, let alone one who isn't family. A stark contrast to my grandma. Finally, I met Sweet's gaze, my eyes conveying the deal I was about to make. "I have a condition."
He raised an eyebrow, a silent invitation to continue. "I'll join the Rhine. I'll help you eliminate all the mileena you want. But when I'm done… I'm out. No strings attached."
Sweet studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, he stood abruptly and disappeared into a side room. A moment later, he returned, tossing a bar of soap and a sponge towards me. The impact, though gentle, snapped me back to a stark realization: I hadn't bathed since the previous morning's disaster.
I quickly turned and dashed into the bathroom. As soon as I closed the door, and turned the knob, my mind reflected about how the day has been. The water heater hissed to life, but a wave of nostalgia washed over me. Grandma had always forbidden me from using it, insisting on the invigorating chill of cold water. A tradition I would most likely never do again. Disconnecting the device I plunged into the bathtub, the icy water prickling my skin, a refreshing jolt that cleared my head and invigorated my senses.
After what seemed an eternity, I stepped out of the bathroom, vigorously drying my hair. But as I stood in front of the mirror a sense of numbness washed over me, I could no longer smile. My eyes, once bright with life, now appeared dead, devoid of any joy. I tried adjusting my face, forcing the corners of my mouth upwards, but nothing worked. The act felt foreign, unnatural. Disheartened, I stepped out of the bathroom, still drying my hair, not realizing that Zara had stayed nearby, I was ready to finally change from that horrid dirty clothes that has been
with me all day. As I removed the towel to speak to Sweet, I suddenly saw her, looking directly at me, her cheeks flushed a deep crimson. I was confused, worried even. 'Was it because I was super cute?' I briefly and foolishly thought.
Then, my eyes landed on the huge mirror by my left. The realization hit me like a physical blow: I was completely naked. A wave of burning embarrassment washed over me, I quickly tried to scramble back into the bathroom, desperately clutching the bath towel around me. Before I can reach the door Sweet walked in, a bemused expression on his face. He tossed a bundle of clothes at me. "Here. These should fit for now."
We emerged from the building, leaving the relative safety behind. I had no idea what the future hold, but it cannot be as disastrous as this. Zara was now beside me, she gave me a warm smile as she introduced herself. "I'm Zara Emiko," she said, her voice lilting and musical. It was a very pretty name, I thought, a perfect match for her captivating beauty. As she spoke, she handed me a meat pie, its golden crust glistening with savory goodness. The aroma alone was enough to make my stomach rumble, my mouth was salivating from how good it smelled. Biting into it, the rich fillings burst forth, a symphony of flavors that danced on my tongue. It was, without a doubt, the best meat pie I had ever tasted.
We stepped into a sleek vehicle, an SVLZ brand Lynx, the best car on the market and the model, SVLZ brand model of lynx, the best car around at the time. The interior was a testament to luxury, a combination of supple leather seats, ambient lighting that painted the cabin in a soothing glow, and a state-of-the-art sound system that promised an unparalleled audio experience. As the engine purred to life, the car moved with a swiftness that belied its size.
I was trying to relax with the coffee Sweet gave me earlier when I felt a sharp poke to my head. Startled, I ignored it, assuming it was just a bump on the road. But then it came again, harder this time, almost forceful. Annoyed, I turned around, ready to voice my displeasure, hoping it was not Zara because I had just fallen for her. The sight that greeted me was enough to make my blood boil: a dark green caven steel pole was now just inches away from touching me again and then I saw who I wasn't supposed to see at that moment – Koji Sora, my school rival, a cheeky bastard who loved competition and loved to make my life a living hell.
A wave of pure, unadulterated rage washed over me, overwhelming the fear and apprehension that had been gnawing at me. "What the hell are you doing here, Sora?!" I yelled, my voice laced with fury, "I thought I left your sorry ass in the school back there!"
Not even realizing we've passed the border of my state, a border that I had never left behind, we began to fight and argue in the vehicle. Koji sora has always been a person that I truly despite to the point I never really wanted anything to do with him.
Suddenly, the vehicle lurched to a stop, throwing us both forward. We both, in a moment of mutual disgruntlement, stopped bickering and turned to assess the situation. Before we could react, Zara, her eyes blazing with fury, kicked us both out of the vehicle. I stumbled backwards, hitting my head against a nearby rock, a sharp pain searing through my skull.
"Where are we?" I asked, my voice shaking from the pain, my vision blurred, I could sense a looming presence behind me.
Sweet's voice, devoid of any emotion, cut through the air. "Home."