Arc 3 - Chapter 1: Everyday Life

(Octavian 25, 59 / 7:32PM)

A month after the events of Lagefor.

The city of business still stood, even amidst the horrors it held since last month. Glass shards still lingering the darkest of corners, half of the city was rebuilt, while the other half waited for the cranes. Government and civilians taking part in the rebuild, it led humanity to walk forward as one.

Despite shelters scattering the city streets, many citizens took up arms with shovels. For if they don’t, they would never see the normalcy in which they strive to achieve.

From the Northern hills to even the flat South, minimal damage was reported. As for the military complex, along with downtown, both districts were still in disarray after such attacks. But even so, progress was smooth.

Unfortunately for the industrial district, it may never be up to speed.

Many buildings crumbling from the scars it held, ash and burnt brick still lingered near the huge crater. Crater turned into a lake, all of the leftover remains of chemicals and waste began to turn the district … into a superfund site. With construction not even halfway done, how long will it—

—A boom was heard.—

On the eastern side of downtown, lay a two-story building layered in brick. Being basic yet structurally stable, the walls shook with enough intensity to cease everyday life. Sitting relaxingly in his seat, a man wearing a cowboy hat furrowed his brow at scraping dust.

“What is it now…”

Already knowing the culprit, David got up from his seat, while bits of melted ice cream dripped onto his hand. Along with Jenny, she got up from her seat, as she held a simple spoon and cup full of the same food. Both of them walking side by side, they went out into the garden, and then turned right.

Once they noticed an oak white door, David felt his cheeks beginning to wrinkle. In fact, there was an abundance of men and women all surrounding the door from different angles.

Reaching one of the women, she had tanned skinned with a curvy body.

“Luna. Care to tell me what he’s doing in there?”

“How should I know? I was napping fine until he ruined it.”

“You shouldn’t even be napping at this time. It's evening.” Said Hope.

“Shut it you—”

The white door came swaying open.

With black smoke flowing out, everyone took a couple of steps back with crinkled noses. And out of that very door, two men walked out.

They wore lab coats, mask ventilators, and latex goggles. Keeping their hands to the sides, they stared forward at the garden in front of them. And at the same time, both of them took off their masks, unveiling their faces for the world to see.

One of them had silver hair, while the other had light brown. Turning his eyes toward the group near him, the light-brown haired man shyly smiled.

“Hehe, sorry. Just testing Manganese Heptoxide.”

Everyone folded their arms and sighed.

Holding his mask ventilator with his left hand, he used his right to scratch the back of his head. Letting out a wry smile, he avoided eye contact from Hope and Luna. Having a side bang cover his right eye, he looked like a nervous wreck.

“You should stop doing those experiments.” Said Hope.

“You know me, I love chemistry.”

“And your little hobby ruined my evening nap.” Said Luna.

“Look, I promise to make it up to you. I could buy you some donuts.”

“Then what about us?”

Behind Jack, was a group of men he was all too familiar with.

Miles, Gary, Stan, and Diego stared at Luke with disgruntled eyes. With Jack glaring at him, he pointed his finger at him while taking a step forward. Luke being Luke, a bead of sweat rolled from his temple.

“Well uh…”

“Do you know how close I was to winning?”

“Y-You could just restart the tournament…”

“Really? That’s all you have to say?”

“Shut up Jack. Who cares about your stupid game tournament. Listen to Luke and restart it.” Said Luna.

“Ass kisser.”

In one swoop, Luna lunged forward, and thrusted her right hand toward Jack. Gripping his collar with cold fingers, she dug her nails deep into the leather, and beaded her eyes straight into his soul.

Jack only puckered his lips into his mouth. His arms motionless to his sides, he was given no choice but to stare at her vein-filled face.

“Got anything more to say?! Huh!?”

“… no.”

“Hmph that’s what I thought.”

Luna let go of his collar, and took a step back to her original spot. Looking down to the ground, she wrinkled her face from her cheeks up to her forehead.

‘And I’m not an ass kisser! I’m not!’

Not letting anyone see her face, she stomped through the outdoor hallways away from the group. Pushing herself into the main building, she kicked it open, before slamming it shut with full tenacity and strength.

They all pinned their eyes back on Luke. Continuing to rub the back of his head, most of his chest ran hot the more he smiled.

“So uh … yeah, I promise not to go overboard.”

“You better. Remember the last time you invited Jack to one of your experiments?”

“That was Jack’s fault. He made Helium explode.”

“Hey, helium is a pretty dangerous gas alright!”

“It’s impossible to make helium explode!”

“How the hell should I know? Not my fault I have shitty luck!”

Luke let out a simple sigh, as he recalled the familiar experiment involving helium and oxygen. Even though helium was, by all means, a stable gas … Jack somehow bent the laws of physics.

And desecrated one of the tables into an artform.

Clearing his throat, he let his right hand drop to his thigh.

“I think it’s about time I take a break. I mean, me and Fred have been working on my boots for the past month.”

“Wait hold on … you said you were testing the boots right?” Questioned Gary.

“Yeah.”

“But you said you were testing Manganese Heptoxide. Just what were you doing in there anyway?”

Everyone went silent, and stared back at Luke.

Placing his right hand underneath his jaw, Luke subtly tapped his chin with one of his fingers. Looking down to the ground, he trailed the smooth cement he stood on. While Fred continued to stare at the garden; without noise.

“I uh … I was testing Manganese Heptoxide with the liquid within those boots.”

“And you said it was mysterious. Is it alcohol or anything or—” Said Stan, before he was interrupted by Luke.

“I highly doubt it. It’s a different compound, a different element all together. It’s so mysterious, so hidden … I don’t think I could match it with anything …”

“And you decided to test it on Manganese?”

“Yep.”

As Luke slowly lifted his eyes from the ground, he then turned to see Fred still lost in thought.

Throughout the entirety of their talk, Fred stared solely at the garden before him. Pushing his right hand onto his shoulder, Luke tugged gently, and felt the burnt smoke that stained his palm. Feeling his nails lit with black, Luke tilted his head to the right.

While everyone pushed their eyes on Fred.

“Hey Fred? You okay?”

For roughly two seconds, Fred’s body was as stiff as cardboard. Unable to falter, he continued to stare forward with darkened eyes.

Until he slowly leaned forward, without rescuing himself from the fall.

Plunging face-first to the floor, a loud thump echoed in the hallway. Ash shattering all around him, silence deafened their ears, which led Luke and everyone else to deadpan their faces.

“Wanna bet the sleep deprivation kicked in?” Questioned Stan

“Nah, it’s got to be an explosion.” Said Gary

“I bet both.” Said Miles.

David knelt beside Fred, and extended both of his arms outward. Carrying him within his arms, the back of his head arched all the way down. Having his mouth wide open, another snore molested his throat, which collided with his rumbling vocals.

“I’m taking him to his dorm, the kid barely gets enough sleep.”

“I always tell him to take breaks though.”

Giving him a nod, David began his destination toward the main building. Leaving Luke and his group to stall in the evening air, they all felt the slight cold to puncture through.

“You guys said that you were in the middle of a tournament, right?”

“Yeah. We were so close to determining a winner.”

Glancing down at his hands, he ignored the frail smoke and dust that got into his skin. Analyzing his fingers, down to his nails, he held a somewhat gift … a gift that he got from being a forced shut-in.

Pushing up a smirk, he looked straight at Jack.

“You got room for one more?”