Once Upon a Dictatorship

many stories had been told upon the years, some became myths denying the absolute truth. others became legends overexaggerating their truth. and then there are other tales, the ones that become forgotten, lost, and disturbed by the passing of the years. 

the tale I am about to tell, is one of those tales that existed in the denial of its existence. to be more precise I will start by a point in certain uncertain age of war and chaos. at times of decay, dreadful stares, and absence of the soul by the cold hands that led to genocide by a gesture or a single word from a tyrannical leader. a man who came from nowhere, took over the title of the Leader. and then guided the lost lambs to an age of war and devastation.

such vicious Dictator came to be, there are no traces of his past. his power was absolute. his raw and cynical gestures in front of death and carnage couldn't be less humane. that was the most feared man alive. and a public enemy of admiration and abhor. a beastly gentle voice that commanded armies to invade other nations. to destroy historical monuments. to annihilate whatever or whoever decided to stand against his will and command. the name of such a vicious creature is, Hannes Assmann.

there was a hidden organization called, E-T (Eraser-Time.) they are an organization that is independent from the government or any other agencies. their priority is to "erase" those who are an anomaly or a menace towards the future and progress of society. they usually avoid taking in personal targets or choosing a political angle. but since the arrival of Hannes to power their members had been killed one by one.

one of the newest members of E-T is Grace, a girl who lost both of her parents at the hands of the tyrannical Hannes. she was adopted by the agency. and for the last five years she has been training to become an assassin. soon she would be ready to erase the man who took away everything that she loved and turned her home into a breathing inferno.

Grace was at the moment practicing with a bow and arrows. she was using an artificial space that all trained agents use. the space can take different shapes and forms depending on the agent's needs or preference. Grace always keeps the space blank. like a giant white square without any decoration nor anything alike. she only adds things that can be useful for her routine or to fit whatever weapon she is going to use to practice. 

then a middle-aged man walks inside with slow, but firm steps. his face is total chaos. you could look at him and you will see a corpse as there was an obvious absence of the soul. deep black eyes that reflected an absolute void. long black hair, with some gray and white hair as evidence of his age. some wrinkles around his face proving the time were unkind to him. the man was Grace's superior and the one who took her in as an adopted father. he goes by the name of agent Greed.

the man was standing in front of her with a false smile. he came in with news about her finally getting the mission she has been waiting for so long. there is a small smile drawn on her face as she is given all the details that she needs about the mission. 

surprisingly she had more than one target which isn't rare, but all the six names in that list belong to important and influential figures of the modern era. it wasn't just the dictator, but also some of his allies and enemies that Grace would need to kill. among the names, there was the name of the leader of the revolution. she wasn't surprised as it's common for them to eliminate two people standing in the opposite side of a conflict to keep a balance in the world. or that is what they are told at E-T.

"Are you sure?" asked Greed as he was anxious and unsure about sending her. there are all kinds of assassins working for them. but Grace is exceptional skilled and talented at her age. but Greed couldn't hide how uneasy he felt about sending a girl that is barely seventeen to another time. she isn't just holding a lot of responsibility, but there would be no one else to guide her or protect her there. and that would be her first time taking a life. it is difficult, no matter how mature she acts. specially for him that has always seen her as his daughter.  

"don't worry sir, I had been waiting for too long to fulfill my vengeance." she felt ready. 

they walk out of there. they walk towards a small house that seems to be about to fall apart. inside the house there was a small rusty iron door in the kitchen's floor. they open the door and get inside. since this are difficult times, most of the organization's properties are located underground for safety reasons. the only place that is out in the open is the training grounds and is mostly because they can change its shape by pressing a button.

they used an elevator that took them few meters underground. then following a white corridor that felt too long and empty, they finally arrive too the Erased Room. in there are some scientists and a mysterious older man. there was something about him that felt menacing. the way in which he directed his voice, and his body language was of someone with a strong character and power. the creator of the erased organization.

Alfred Williams is an elderly man of uncertain age. but even with the passage of time leaving its print all over his face and body. Alfred moves in such a way that proves that he is still of a firm body far from stepping to the next world. he may even have more years to live than men half his age or so he believes.

Alfred informs Grace that he would trust her. he hopes for her to do things right. there is some sort of pain in his voice. you can tell that he hides guilt over certain past. maybe that was the drive that forced him to create a device like no other that can send individuals to the past. and with the wealth he built over the years he was able to create his secrete assassin organization. a group that not even the Tyrant nor any other government knows about it. 

Grace takes her clothes off before getting inside of a large machine in a square shape. some cables are connected to her head. she puts on a breathing mask. some silver liquid fills up the machine. they get ready to send her to the past. 

 Greed informs them that they are under attack right now. they don't have time to waste. the sound of explosions at the distance can be heard. they all are nervous. a scientist presses a button that immediately sends Grace to the past. 

then Alfred gives a simple order, "activate final stage." then some people start to burn every document about time travel. then key scientists either use secret escape routes or end their lives by pills or a gun shot. soon there were only seven people left in that room. Greed and Alfred Williams along with some guards. Alfred swallowed saliva expecting the worse.

the door opens slowly. then a strong figure makes himself known by taking slow firm steps. it didn't take long for them to know who it was. such a strong and imposing figure could only belong to one single person. it was Hannes Assmann. passionate furies were painted on the facial expressions of an emotionless beast. 

"Stars hide your fires. let not light see my black and deep desires." said Hannes in an emotionless tone of voice.

"Macbeth, I presume." answers Williams with a playful tone of voice.

"Indeed. if you are so verse in literature, especially Macbeth. then how dare you fall prey to your own ambitious dreams. only I can govern over the world. only I own your life, and everything in this land. only I command who lives and who dies." said calmly Hannes.

"A king can never be wiser than an emperor of such high and mighty statue as yourself. oh my, do you mind some tea perhaps. with cookies of course." said Williams avoiding eye contact.

 "If you know of the mighty greatness of your emperor. not just that, your God. then how dare you accumulate rats and backstabbers to attempt against your God." yields Hannes furiously.

"Oh fuck, do as you may wish your excellency, but you will never be a God. as a mortal of such fragile and imperfect statue as yourself will never achieve godhood." said Williams firmly.

Hannes pulls out a gun.