Arc 2 - Chapter 54: On Top of The Zirardge Tower

(Solmonath 27, 56 / 10:01PM)

A day … before that day.

A couple focused on the TV in front of them. The man wore a tuxedo suit, despite his office shoes straining the rug beneath them. As for the woman, she wore a typical sweatpants and raggedy shirt, with her eyes milked in brown.

Glancing to her right, she noticed a similar light that hypnotized the two of them.

“Luke. It’s past 10. Time for bed.”

No response was drawn.

Continuing to stare at the bedroom, it was located on the other end of the hallway. Letting out a sigh, she got off the soft-cushioned couch, and settled her bare feet on the rug. Making her way toward the bedroom, every step she took squealed the rich wood.

Once she reached the room, she stalled right underneath the doorframe. The walls were littered with game posters and musicians, with a large bookshelf situated on the right side.

“Luke. What did I say?”

She had her hands on her sides, and straightened her back.

The boy in question maintained dead eyes on the screen, until he side-glanced at the woman. Being none other than his mom, he saw her lips curl into a frown. Having a white controller within his palms, it was bulky, with a wire connecting to the medium-sized television box.

“Let me finish this level.”

“Don’t care. Get off now.”

Luke glanced back at the TV, his knees and legs criss-crossed as he sat on the edge of the bed. With layers of video games piling in front of his bed, it made it his room all the more nerdy.

After a silent huff of air, the twelve year old boy settled down the controller onto the floor. His whole face displaying a frown, he also turned off the TV, which replaced color with pure black.

Pushing silent air through his nostrils once again, he turned his attention toward the cushioned pillows awaiting him. Crawling with bare feet and hands, he wrinkled the white sheets that took the form of pure fabric. And upon pulling away the covers, he nestled himself softly like a little baby.

‘I wish he wasn’t always this moody … just who did he get it from?’

Even when he tried to put himself asleep, Mary only stared at him.

Silently, she walked into his room, as her bare toes grazed some of the books on the floor. Along with some wires and video game capsules, the room was dark. Reaching the other end of his bed, she saw his back turned against her.

“Luke…”

She spoke with a voice full of cotton.

“I only want what’s best for you.”

He didn’t respond back, nor did he move.

Mary didn’t let the bottled frustration spew out from her heart, even when her fingers wrinkled his sheets. Pushing down her face, she felt her cheeks softly wrinkle.

Getting on top of his bed, she crawled the same way as he did. Reaching toward the dormant boy, she extended out her right hand… and softly rustled his straight, light brown hair.

“Oh Luke…”

She felt his hair grease her palm, but she didn’t care. Continuing to rub his hair, it was like touching silk, silk carved out of lavender.

“Talk to me…”

Feeling like minutes had passed, she felt her rubbing decrease the more he went silent. Her throat quivering, she softened her eyes.

—“I’m tired of being a shut-in.”—

He mumbled the words.

Holding back all those dreams, those goals, those passions; he held it all back into the pit of his heart. Trembling underneath the blankets, he was yet to look toward the woman in back of him.

“Fred explores the city with his friends … everyone in my class goes to exotic vacations … but I don’t.”

Mary’s face darkened, once his words bumbled the innards of her ears. Her hand resting on top of his head, she felt her palm softly pressure on his hair.

“I just … I just want to explore.”

Pulling away her hand, she returned it back to her side. Still giving her the cold shoulder, it only worsened her frown, and darkened her eyes that were puffed with eyebags.

“I’ll leave you some time alone.”

Crawling out of the bed, she ruffled the sheets below until she reached the edge. Placing her bare feet on the floor, she then maneuvered her body around the wires. Seeing the glint of a TV in the living room, its bluish light reflecting the dark walls.

Taking a last look at the boy, she had her hand on the handle.

‘Just what does he want us to do…’

Softly closing the door behind her, she allowed her son to rest.

“I see you comforted him, Mary.”

His shoulder was slouched on the wall of the hallway. Having both of his hands in his tuxedo, it made him look like a laid back office man. Hearing his voice, it only made her somewhat flinch by the suddenness of his words.

“Remember the last time you made me flinch?”

“And you’ve grown. You're better at controlling your anger compared to back then. Now about Luke…”

Stepping out of the shadows, he took a single step forward, which unveiled a bit of his body to reflect TV light. Catching a glimpse of his pale skin, she also traced his old and worn knuckles, but with skin brimming with youth.

“You know him. He’s so … so—”

“He’ll grow out of it, considering he’s going through puberty. But Mary dear…”

And stepping fully into the light, all of his back soon reflected the bluish light from the television. From his office shoes to his hair, everything was fully visible to her.

Mary’s eyes sparkled, and felt her breath be hitched inside her throat. Lighting up a small smile, it pushed his right lip to curl upward.

“Out of both of us, you’re the one who fully understands Luke. You experienced the same thing, and harbor the same goals. Even the same anger.”

“I know…”

“And don’t worry, cause tomorrow…”

Joseph pulled both of his hands from his tuxedo, and took a couple of steps forward. Being right in front of his wife, he gently grabbed a hold of her hands. Caressing her knuckles, caressing the bone that felt many impacts, he made sure his eyes, his red eyes, sparkled in hers.

And in a slow yet fitting move, he pulled her in.

“I’m planning on taking us somewhere. An exotic trip that is secret. So secretive that you shouldn’t tell Luke.”

“But where though?”

“That is also a secret.”

Her half-elf ear grazed the tip of his chin. Both of them hearing each other’s heartbeats, and sharing their body warmth, she nuzzled her cheek fully into his chest. For once, his nonchalant nature faded, and found himself entangled in Mary’s clinging nature.

“Let’s go to bed dear, but first…”

As she was distracted, he saw the faint glow of a TV burning blue. While she was melded into his warmth, he slowly extended his right hand, and pinned his palm at the TV. Looking like it showed the late night news…

‘Off.’

—Static faded; leaving darkness.—

________________________________________________________________________

(Libertatem 1, 59 / 6:05AM)

On the very top floor… and back to the present…

One may call the scenery hell.

For the past twelve hours, smoke, fire, and debris scattered the streets along with the air it shared. From top to bottom, glass shards, brick, anything that was used to sculpt buildings littered every sidewalk and street.

With the orange-reddish clouds up above, no one had the grit to take the beast head on. As she sounded off a fiery inferno, her body was destined in flames. Stomping through the buildings, the pavement, the asphalt; everything beneath her were nothing more than summer ants. Like a star that continued to burn, her heat didn’t falter.

Piercing through the corrupt heavens, and away from the fiery beast, was a building known as the Zirardge tower. Some of its structure chipped, its stability plummeted after Gwen’s fight with one of the liches. With the higher floors feeling the effects, the building swayed back and forth amidst the gusty winds.

And above it all, above the cubicles that formulated every floor, was the roof. With a simple elevator softly opening, what emerged out of the little metal contraption…

“We made it…”

In front of the group was Luke, as he carried nothing but his uzis in both of his hands. As for the others, they all wielded their familiar weapons, but only Fred cuddled his water bomb.

“Good thing I don’t have to deal with this anymore.”

Dead last, his body sweltered in prickly sweat. Feeling like his arms were dragged down by gravity, one small rest could mean the difference between life and death.

Meanwhile, Luke and everyone else saw their comrades that awaited them. Laying on the brick and stone floor with sprawled bodies, all of them arched their heads up at their arrival. With their all-gambled plan still in motion, they didn’t heed to the hell that awaited them.

“They actually pulled through…”

Miles, Stan, Gary, Diego, and even Luna got up from the dust-ridden floor.

Pushing their calves to squeeze, their thighs to clench, Luna was the first to reach Luke. While everyone else was second, the rest of the squad linked with the other half. Narrowing her eyes at Luke, she laid her hands against her sides.

“You ok?”

“Yeah just about. We pulled through with the metal creation…”

“That’s … great I guess…”

Luna huffed out air through her mouth, while closing her eyes and loosening her stomach. Finding herself in a calm current, she decided to let his non-injury state marinate her brain.

Unfortunately for her, there was another woman, a woman who popped her head out of his right shoulder.

“Sighs … what do you want?”

“Aren’t you going to check on the other guys as well?”

“Why the hell would I do that? Isn’t it your job to be the male pleaser?”

“I-I’m not!”

“Sure you are. You have to touch in order to heal, that makes you loose.”

Luna pushed up a smirk, and allowed a tinge of sadisticity to wallow her lips. Looking all too proud of herself, she then folded her arms beneath her chest.

Looking down on the blonde-haired girl, Hope only burdened her cheeks red. Making a frown, she felt her stomach begin to boil. Until Jack chipped in.

“Hey Luna. Tell her after your fight with Kenichi.”

“You better shut it.”

“You see Hope, Luna tried to—”

“I said zip!”

Stomping her right foot once, a slight dent brewed from the brick floor beneath her. Curling her fingers into her palms, they crackled into fists. Along with veins splurging from both her temples, she grizzled her throat, and began to growl.

“Now hold on now, I’m just trying to break the news to her.”

“Not from you!”

“W-What news? Jack? What happened?” Questioned Hope.

“If Luna won’t tell you, then hey, I guess I’ll—”

She teleported right in front of his face.

Her eyes slightly reddened, her forehead down to her neck sheltered a hidden darkness. Trying to keep her cool, even when she felt like exploding, neck veins sprouted from her collar.

Jack took a step back, and found the back of his boots hitting the edge. Trickling out a bead of sweat from his right temple, he didn’t slouch, as he looked down at the swordswoman with a pale face.

“Say one more word … I dare you …”

“… gubernatorial.”

“You little—”

A soft hand gripped her right shoulder.

Snapping out from her frustration, Luna turned her eyes to her right, and saw Hope trying to dig her fingers into her muscles. Even though they were carved, Luna felt like someone was pinching her from the inside.

“Tell me now … of what happened …”

Completely ignoring Jack, she made sure that her body towered over hers.

Meanwhile, Jack rubbed the back of his head with one of his hands, while staring down at the clouds below. But just as he did this, an opening began to ensue…

‘Huh?’

As Jack squinted into the opened window, Luna clicked her tongue and averted her eyes to the ground. Flushing her face with a bit of red, she scoffed, and brushed away Hope’s hand.

“Why do you care … I didn’t kiss him or anything …”

“ … you’re right. You didn’t.”

Luna sneered at her statement, and folded her arms beneath her chest. Trying to make herself even more composed, Hope tilted her head down. Unable to decipher the look on her face, some strands of her blonde hair lingered on her forehead.

“W-What do you mean I’m right?”

“I know that you didn’t kiss him … because …”

Hope began to tilt her head upward; pushing Luna’s face to wrinkle.

Finally unveiling the face she made, Hope didn’t have the typical warmth or hope. Her demeanor swept into something different, it was like she harbored the soul of Gwen for one moment…

As she pushed out a smug grin.

—“If he did kiss you, he wouldn’t allow me to sleep next to him.”—

Everyone stopped talking, as the sudden statement raised everyone’s eyes. They all stared at either Luna, Hope, or Luke. Their mouths jaw-dropped, their eyes widened, the silence was booming enough for their ears to blare tinnitus.

Luke, who was now the center of attention, burned his face redder than a tomato.

“H-Hope!”

“Yeah Luke?”

“D-Don’t tell them!”

“““““So it’s true!?”””””

Miles, Fred, Stan, Diego, and Gary; glared at Luke with penetrating looks. Their faces darkened, some of them folded their arms with envy. Despite the wind rippling their clothing, they didn’t allow their eyes to unfocus.

Walking toward him, the five began to gather around, leaving Hope to take two steps to the right. Leaving him to speak with his friends, Hope had to deal with someone even more pissed off…

“You…”

Jack kept his eyes at the broken cloud that grew larger.

Having her molars clenched shut, she let go of her hips, and balled her hands into fists. Digging her nails into her palms, her eyes turned bloodshot, which led her breath to wheeze. Her fingers free, she then thrusted it straight at Hope’s collar.

As Hope still kept her grin widened.

“Curse you…”

“Gonna cry?”

“F … F …!”

“Uh … guys?”

Turning his eyes toward everyone, he saw two commotions unfold. First, there was the standoff with Luna and Hope. Second, there were also the many friends who circled around Luke.

Tapping his right foot on the floor, Jack cleared this throat, as a small vein splurged from his temple.

“Guys?”

“You trying to take every girl you see!?” Yelled Gary.

“You better not form a harem!” Yelled Stan.

“You already have Luna!” Yelled Miles.

“You already have a bond with Hope!” Yelled Fred.

“It should’ve been me! Not you!” Yelled Diego.

Seeing him be haggled, seeing him be yelled at by his friends, it was a clear and righteous reason. Having two women have eyes on him, they could barely have one woman to have with interest. For a man that was timid, shy, and kind; they felt like he used it as a weapon.

Meanwhile, Luna had both of her hands gripping Hope’s head, her fingers jabbed into her temples.

“Ow! “S-Stop!”

“I’ll make sure you’re brainless! You hear me you slut!?”

“Guys!”

Everyone turned toward Jack, and noticed his nostrils flared red.

“Look down there!”

He pointed down to the abyss, as his boots nudged themselves on the edge of the roof. Tilting their heads, furrowing their brows, all of them slowly walked toward the red-haired man.

Staring down at the broken clouds, it unveiled a good chunk of the city, a city that was beyond broken. But most importantly, they noticed a line of destruction, all scattered across the South side of the city. Feeling like a war tore through the area, Luke himself strained the brick floor with his boots.

“Was that a steamer’s doing?” Questioned Miles.

“Not likely. Maybe if it was an entire mob of them … then—” Said Stan, before he was interrupted.

“What about a charger?” Questioned Gary.

“Nuh uh. Explain the fires. They’re created from fiction, not flammables. I could tell.” Said Fred.

All of them either rubbed their chins, or scratched their heads. It was clear something big happened, all within the timespan of maybe a few minutes.

Until Jack squinted at one particular area.

Letting his whole body freeze, he pinned his eyes on a figure that was blurred in black. Unknowing who it was, he tried to configure it, but the distance between him and the person was too far.

“Who is that?”

“Who is what?” Asked Luke.

“That person laying on the ground. I don’t know if you guys could see, so—”

“Just use that scope of yours.” Said Luna, interrupted Jack.

“Ooh, you're right.”

Moving his left hand, he took out his sniper rifle that was tucked away in his jacket. Tucking the butt into his right armpit, he made sure that it was stable, while he held the center of mass with his left hand. Pushing his right eye into the scope, he closed his left.

For several seconds, he kept his right iris circled into the scope. And then he froze.

Dropping his rifle with loosened hands, he looked at the others with a pale face.

“Jack?”

Everyone felt the wind grew cold the longer they stalled. Unwilling to move their legs, nor their feet, every ounce of muscle was glued to stay. Awaiting the news that spiked their anxiety, they felt like the tension might kill them.

But at long last, Jack moved one of his hands into his pocket. Turning his eyes toward the broken cloud, he soon raised a walkie-talkie up to his mouth.

“Boris … send someone to the South side of the city … Gwen is injured.”