Welcome_to_S_city: Staring_at _the_new_beginning - Part_5 -8

Part 5

They finally got on the train.

“Hey, where is the shop you want to go to?”

“We are going to the main mall in District Amusement.”

He did not say anything. He only gave her a puzzled look.

(District Amusement you say?)

Something interesting about S city that Martin didn`t know was that every District was its part of town. For example, foods, theme parks, cafes, and any stores in those sections were on a strict part of town called District Amusement. Finally, they got off.

“Achoo!” suddenly sneezed the girl.

“Are you ill?”

“No, I am fine.”

(Who is this time? Tyler or maybe Tokiga.)

They were now out of the subway and were heading towards the mall. They were near the center of the city. From left to right, men with suits were spotted almost immediately, adult women were either working at the registers of the surrounding stores or were just having a walk with their husbands, and also, expensive cars were parked almost everywhere. When they said that S city was “technologically advanced” Martin expected that they had at least something interesting such as hovering cars, big suited robots, and so on. Even a hovering ground would be enough to least set the tone or something strange, but the only “strange” thing was that it more felt like you coming from the secluded village and going straight into the big city`s center.

“I don`t see this city as technologically advanced.”

“What makes you think like that?”

“Well, the cars are the same as those on the outside, there are the expensive boutiques and it almost looks like some American metropolis rather than what is supposed to be.”

“It appears that you don`t know anything.”

He did not know how to reply to this except of course with a more confused look at the situation. The only thing he saw was strange was that from kilometers away even from the subway, a big almost like fortress building could be seen.

“Just don`t think about it right now, focus on it when we get to the campus.”

“Now let`s enjoy the trip, shall we?”

A smile then grew on her face. He sighed and smiled back.

Strangely enough, almost everyone came from the same direction. They were all coming from the position they were heading and on top of that all expensive stores were only on this main street the others were plain streets with only street lights. The fortress building was getting bigger and bigger with every minute they were walking, but Martin didn`t realize it. After walking for 5 minutes, they finally stopped.

“We are here”.

It was huge. Really, really huge. The mall was at least 100 meters wide and high 50 meters tall. It had two big balconies, one in the middle and one at the end, it had a lot of holographic ads, unmanned cleaning robots, and above all, it had a fountain in the middle of the building. The fountain can be seen from the entry. At first, it looks very small, but as you head in deeper, it appears that is actually small fountains that make a bigger one in O shape. The mall as a whole looked more like a castle than a shopping district. Martin had to hold himself from actual excitement for the first time.

“So, where are the shops?”

“I have them marked so you don`t have to worry. We only have to book the products, we won`t take anything with us.”

“What are we waiting for then?”

They finally entered the huge shopping fortress center.

The average man can hold up to 26 minutes in a mall or store without getting bored. After that, they become as toxic as tuna eyeballs. They will start to moan or complain about how they want to get out of this place, especially if they have someone with them (mostly wives or girlfriends). But this was truly a sight to be seen. As Martin headed with the girl in different stores to order things, he went around looking either to see in the mirror how things will look on him or wander around the magazine without a word from him. She one time even had to look for him, because he was lost in his excitement for adventure. They found each other again and continued.

As they got up to the 20th floor, Marin was out of her sight again, but that was for a good reason. This floor specialized not only with jewelry, but was housing finally something different from the outside world: Unmanned cleaning robots. To some, this was not surprising at all, but to Martin and anyone who lived in Bulgaria, this was one of the many pinnacles of human engineering. Although the unmanned cleaning robots dated back to even 2022, this was nothing compared to those new models. Something else that was there was an actual sun-powered washing machine. The sun powering “Series” if you would like to call them was one of the sturdiest and most reliable series for folks like him and for a good reason; any equipment that was made from that series lasted almost 10 to 15 years. That is a long period of time and because of that, they were brutally expensive on the outside, but here…Well, how could he miss this scouting opportunity.

(Where is this guy? Should I shout out loud his name or leave him be, I am not in a rush anyways, but if I shout it will look really bad.)

After a while, she of course found him, but not with a pleasant gaze.

She saw a group of teens, probably above her age were surrounding him like some bullies. They had big chests and were partly giving him “the look”. Or at least that was what it seemed in her eyes. She only prayed in her mind that his brain was not as big as a monkey.

After his amazing scouting opportunity, Martin found himself lost. Without the girl, he was like an abandoned child in a mall. Because of that, he had now to ask almost everyone who meet if they had seen her. After a dozen or so people he stumbled upon a group of teenage girls, who were wearing an almost identical dress as his guide. He went to them in hope that they might have seen her.

“Excuse me.”

“Oh, hey fella, how can I help you?” said one of the girls.

“Do you happen to have seen a girl with a white blouse and a blue dress?”

“My guy, there are tons of those on the campus.” said the one next to her.

“You aren`t a stalker, are you?” said the one to her right.

Martin frowned. What in the hell was that question?

“Say what?”

“Well, you looked like that, you just need a bigger beard and be a little fatter and ta-da! You are a creepy fella who looks at little kids.”

Although this was the first time, he was being compared to such an ugly character Martin remained calm.

“Well sorry to break your illusion, but I am a high school student.”

“Pha-ha-ha!”

His disgust towards them grew even more with of course him being confused as well.

“You, a high school student?”

asked the middle one, holding her hand on her mouth to not burst to laugh again.

“You have repeated classes, right?”

asked the one on the left.

“Or maybe you were expelled for violence or public property violation.”

said the one on his right.

That was truly a bizarre and gross outcome. Even he couldn`t think of how to escape their questions. Every time he thought of another question could be asked about his innocence. It was like he was their prey.

The girls looked almost identical to his companion, with the difference that their hair was colored unnatural (for example pink, blue, violet), they wore red blouses and dark miniskirts with high boots. Each of them had different heights with the left being the tallest being in the middle, the second one on the left, and the right one being the shortest one.

Finally, after much thinking and gathering his thoughts, he decided to answer their unthinkable questions.

“Just to be clear I-I have never ever done those things in my life. Just because I look older does not mean I am or that I have done things which are associated with my looks.”

“You just don`t want to tell us the truth because we will think that you are a bad person.”

giggled the left one.

“Who told you that?”

suddenly his voice changed.

“Well, isn`t this the reason?” asked the tallest girl.

“Why are you asking us such a dumb question except to talk with us?”

Then he frowned again. He then breathed in and said with the most disturbed face ever has anyone seen by now.

“I am looking for a girl with a white blouse and a blue dress. Why would I, who I do not know you try to start a conversation out of thin air in a place like this!?”

Their smiling and giggling faces quickly went dark due to his comment.

“Why do you have to be so harsh on us? We are just some girls thrown in the outside world, what can we think except this?”

said the middle one as she was gripping her dress tightly without, him seeing her.

“So, you think that everyone has to lick your feet after he sees you because you are pretty?”

(YOU LITTLE!!)

She was at the pinnacle of bursting out loud, but she remembered that if she does that she will be seen as a grumpy adult. She had to behave more ladylike or it might ruin her reputation as a growing girl.

“As I previously stated, you are being harsh on us.” her left eyebrow was twitching unimaginably fast.

“Ok, I will be more civilized.”

(You better be or you will be eating a fist in your G spot.) As she steamed off a little bit.

“I am looking for a person, why do I have to flirt with you?” said Martin In a monotonous voice.

“Why not.” said the girl who was standing on the left.

“Although you are looking for her, you may find something pleasing your eye, and you only live once, so why not try.”

said the girl on the right.

“If you are an easy-going idiot who thinks that has a chance with every girl in town yeah. Or maybe you will stalk her to find out if she is in your school/ campus and above all, you expect her that she might give you attention in situations like this, then my friend I can tell you only that you are the biggest idiot born alive.”

“Oh, you know how to approach girls, huh?”

Suddenly Martin got an idea.

“Do you know the secret?”

(Ho, ho it might be a chance to ruin his mood.)

They were both on the same wavelength now; trying to make each other pissed off.

“Yeah, sure let`s hear it.”

“Come a little closer, after all, it`s a secret.”

They came closer. The ‘secret technique for getting girls’ was about to be spoiled.

“Okay, to get girls you don`t approach girls.”

“Huh?”

A moment of silence went by from them. They were let down by their expectations. They expected some long lecture of some dude on the internet or a long lecture of facts or some sort of big talk of how they have to make a lot of money and train like hell, not this.

“What?”

“Are you sure about that?”

said the middle one.

“Yeah.”

“You know that if you don`t approach them, the spark won`t light on.”

said the left one.

“Yeah, that`s right.”

“You can`t attract her with just looks, you have to show her that you want to be with her.”

said the right one.

“What you said makes absolute sense.”

“Then who told you that or seen that?”

“You think that they will be interested just because you talk to them out of nowhere or maybe because there somehow useful to you?”

Said the middle one.

“Yeah, I have an example.”

“What is it then?”

Martin was starting to get pissed. It appeared that both of those girls couldn`t read the pacing of the situation at all.

“Tell me, why is it so hard to understand that you are not the center of my attention right now?”

They looked at him in distraught. They couldn`t understand him.

“You think this is how you approach girls?”

said the middle one.

“You said it. I did not. I asked my question, what is your answer?”

“Well…”

She froze. She knew the answer but didn`t want to say it. She might have tried to evade it a little while giving some strong points, but still, his statement was correct. After all, the one that had the most power in that situation needed the other the least. She could still argue that his simplification was half-baked, but that wouldn`t matter due to him not being interested in the conversation at all. Conclusion: she was more invested than him and even almost was going to prove him right. But…What if she lied and used some of her cards as a lady? Maybe this might teach him a lesson. And just like that, it was decided.

“That is because w-”

“Ah, my companion.”

suddenly Martin cut her off.

“Well, it does not matter anymore, have a nice day.”

The sheer ignorance and directness of his almost drove her mad just on the spot.

The girl who was her guide was panting hard, drops of little sweat were all over her face. But then…

Part 6

“Heyyy! Where were you?”

“That is supposed to be my line!”

“Anyway, now that you are with me, we shou-”

“Oh, if this isn`t the Cat demon.”

The girls from before were walking straight towards them. Martin of course caught up to an invisible fight that could only be seen by spectating the faces of the opposing girls and his companion. This was not good. Still, He decided to play dumb to test the waters. Also ‘Cat demon’?

“Do you know each other?”

“No, I have never seen them in my life.”

“But she called you ‘Cat demon’.”

“So, what?”

“That is a nickname.”

“Yes, yes, it is.”

“And you responded to it.”

“Yes, yes, let`s go I don`t have all day!”

She really wanted to get out of this awkward situation, but Martin seemed as if he couldn`t read the message.

“Now, now why are you in a hurry?”

“Anastasia, you better not make me angry.”

“I see that you never fail to entertain us.”

said the 2nd in height girl.

“Hmmph. You need to act more ladylike.”

said the 3rd in height girl.

“You even brought Lin and Xing with you.”

Things were starting to get interesting.

(What kind of drama is this, are we being filmed by somebody by any chance?)

“It seems your personality never failed you to entertain you.”

“Yes, how could you do that to him. Although he is a jerk, still, you know that it is inappropriate you know.”

“I think Lin is right. You shouldn`t hold him like that, I mean look at him; he was just looking for you.”

“You…”

Martin couldn`t cope at all with what they were talking about, but it seemed was that the girl that was supposed to send him to the Campus was not a light figure at all.

“How can you say some much gibberish! I do not even know him!”

“Ho, ho! And here I thought that you won`t take it that far, but just look at that!”

She then pointed at both of them.

“I knew that you can take things seriously, but did not expect to take them with this guy at least!”

The Clique`s leader seemed to know something that was dark, but the more Martin heard the more he started to think of something else. To his surprise, the girl was not blushing but was actually getting even more pissed off.

“Can you please shut up! If you continue, I won`t make your way out easy, I promise!”

“Oh Really, short gnome! Then why not try hitting the iron while is hot!”

As they were quarreling Martin spotted a suspicious figure going into one of the jewelry stores. Although he is not the kind of guy who will play a hero or try to boost himself as he approaches somebody in danger his guts were telling him that something bad was about to happen. He slowly backed away from the girls to pursue his curiosity. Meanwhile…

“Anyway, we’re not here, because we wanted to, we have a job to do.” said Anastasia.

“So, what is it this time, do you have to catch a stalker or maybe discipline some ‘naughty’ boys.”

She was pretty much annoyed by her at this point.

“We are sent to pursue a bullied student from the campus.”

said Lin in a bored tone.

“It`s reported that he couldn`t get paid from his part-time job. Recently there are rumors about him having fantasies with his boss and above all, he was beaten almost to death by you know who.”

reportedly said, Xing.

“Well, have fun, Mar-`”

she fell silent. Then looked around. His presence was gone. He was gone, without even realizing it. Suddenly tons of questions came to her mind, but Anastasia hasn`t finished her nagging yet.

“I did not know that you are so slow to realize that he is gone.”

(What is with him even we didn`t realize that he was gone.)

“By any chance is he a student from the campus?”

asked Lin.

“No, I was supposed to send him there, but it appears that he is like a child in an amusement park.”

“Amazing choice of words for a young man…”

mumbled Xing.

“It appears that I have to search for him again…”

“Just like you said, Hav-”

“AHH!”

“Speaking of the devil, it appears that this is his target.”

A scream 20 to 30 meters was heard from where they were standing. A jewelry store was being robbed in the middle of the day. A woman with a silk pink V-shaped t-shirt, black high knee socks, blue jeans, and heels was running at top speed towards the center of the mall.

“PLEASE SOMEBODY HELP!”

“Lin, get in position, Xin, escort the woman to safety, and you… Your trip will wait, you have a duty to fulfill.”

She sighed.

“Yes madam.”

Then all of sudden they spread like falling leaves. Lin went silently to the edge of the shop next to the jewelry store. She then pulled a metallic lipstick, which then she opened. A series of noises then began to be heard and a bluish-greenish light came out of it. It looked like a lightsaber at first but changed over time to a little dagger. At the beginning, where she was holding it, there was a button-like trigger, who might suppose to launch the lipstick like a bullet.

“I am in position; no move or noise can be heard from the inside.”

reported Lin to Anastasia.

“Understood.”

Xing at the same time pulled a mini model of a medieval shield which then glowed again in bluish-greenish light and become a big shield with the lights glowing on the ends of the shield.

“Miss, come with me, I will escort you to safety.”

“Thank you, little miss!”

“Is there anyone in the shop?”

“Yes, before I ran there was a man, I believe that he is an outsider though.” said the owner.

“Thank you for your cooperation, Ani there is supposed to be a regular civilian inside, worst case we need to call an ambulance.”

“Okay, Little demon you know your job.”

(Although there is a possibility that he is in there, hope that my prediction is wrong.)

The two tigresses were outside the shop. They were about to head in, but at that moment an explosion occurred from the inside. Particles and broken glass parts were flying everywhere. The place was still not fully evacuated. It`s about time for Anastasia to shine.

“People think that by causing a ruckus, they can get away, well not anymore!”

Then violet sparkles flew from her wrists and covered for a blink moment everything blasted. Then it froze in midair.

“Restore!”

This caused the particles and the broken glass under an imaginary wind to go back to how they were before the explosion. There was no sign from it, as if it never excited, but there was a little tension. If a person was caught in it, if not dead they will restore themselves as well. Not everything can be excluded when performing tricks like these. Or at least that is what it seemed.

There was no noise from the shop. The atmosphere in the mall was quite down after everyone was now evacuated. After Lin got the shop owner out, she headed towards the opposite side of Xing.

Anastasia then pulled a mid-range ice-looking sword from her bag and began to count down.

“Okay on go, 3, 2, 1, GO!”

Part 7

Martin on the other hand had just become the hero of the day and was able to ensure that the lady was outside the jewelry store. Something he did not expect to happen was that the ‘robber’ actually headed towards the staff room. Then an explosion followed. After that, some strange light came in and didn`t change anything except the broken knob of the staff room. He decided to go throw a different route which led to the stairs that were between the mall`s floors. He decided to follow him so that there wouldn`t be any more cases. He even hit the panic button before entering the corridor to the route.

But there was something off that did not add up in his mind and that was the robber`s attitude and also his equipment. He wore a strange metal-shining medieval armor. It had an intersecting concept, but still, it was out of place for his mind. His attitude was strange as well: As if he was on drugged or something. Another thing to add to the mix was that his attitude and body language was timing and weak. He was only present when the scene had already started. Even the supposed ‘robber’ was not acting like one. He way too much taking his time with the lady.

(Maybe he took a liking to her?)

That was a possibility, but then he was about to stab her through the counter… Then what would it be? He decided to stop thinking and just focus on keeping a watch over the ‘fugitive’ that got away. After going right, he was able to see some traces of blood that were coming from somewhere.

He thought to get his attention but quickly fell silent. The corridor was a straight line and to his convenience, he was able to hide behind an almost wrecked equipment janitor cart. There was something there hovering over something else.

(Probably that is him.)

After a few minutes, a couple of loud slaps could be heard. The figure was still dead silent. Martin for a moment peeked to see what was happening. Now that hovering thing looked more human up closely. After that, the humanoid figure injected something into him and then pushed him down the stairs.

Martin was able to see everything and was almost truly terrified of the scene.

(I should better get out of here!)

But that was a grave mistake. Due to his clumsiness, some rocks had just hit the opposite side of the wall causing the humanoid to fire some sort of projectile that almost vaporized it. Martin froze behind the cart. He didn`t breathe or make a sound. The figure then moved to the site where it was shot. At that moment Martin faced the wall in hope that the humanoid was not able to see his face and also was trying to fool him.

The creature or the ‘man’ was covered from head to bottom was fully robotized. He was from a whole new world compared to his understanding. He scanned the area with his eyes and by sheer luck, Martin managed to not get detected.

Then the sound of the wind could be heard who it was pierced directly through it. He was finally gone. Martin, who was still in shock was now finally able to feel that his presence was gone. His heart was started to pound heavily due to the fast action and unbelievable horror that he just witnessed.

(What was that??)

He thought of comparing it to the best military he was familiar with, but still, this was outrageous. How? When? Why? For what purpose, and many more questions arose in his mind related to what had just happened. As he was standing behind the cart, he heard footsteps coming from another place. His fight or flight instincts suddenly kicked in.

Without thinking he dashed for the exit.

“Pant, Pant…”

He made it. He was finally outside and found himself on the 11th floor. Martin then thought of regrouping with the girl that was accompanying him, but…

“Eeeshh…”

His clothes were dusty and dirty. He had to change them but had no money. There was thankfully a clothes store that was cheap, but still, he had to have at least 30 euros to buy something.

“Oh, come on…”

Something caught his attention. A flying paper was just slowly falling to the ground in front of him. He picked it up. A smile then lighted upon his face. He found a 50-euro banknote. Things, for now, were going great.

“To the store!”

Part 8

They entered the store. Everything was untouched. Under the staff room, bloody footsteps and handprints can be seen. They a little bit shivered, although they are used to it, it`s still not appropriate for students to act like that. Then they slowly opened the down.

Despite the horror scene, they entered with brute force without hesitation.

“Surrender or we will use force!” shouted the cat demon as she entered first.

Still, nobody was around. Then they checked the office, untouched. The storage was the same as in the office.

“Where did he go?” said out loud, Anastasia.

They sure were taking their time.

“You think that I can see him through walls or sniff out like a dog?”

“You aren`t useful at all!”

“Shut it you cow!”

Anastasia then looked at her chest.

“You are jealous.”

“Pfft! Me of you?! Not a chance.”

“Then why did you say it, huh?”

“You know that I do not care if you succeed or not, right?”

“But if you do not help, you might get expelleddd.”

“Hmmph, abuser.”

“Can you two stop it for a moment?”

They pointed at each other.

“She started first!”

“Madam you behaving like a child.” said Xing.

“Would you like to suffer a detention, Miss Xing?”

“Knock it off! Look!”

Lin pointed out the emergency exit door. There were scratches, blood, and even a melted doorknob. The melted metal was still fresh and the blood was not stained like the blood in the staff room. The robber should be somewhere nearby.

“Two on each end you got it?” whispered Anastasia.

“Yes madam!” they whispered.

As they entered the mayhem, the lights were flicking, an ominous feeling got through all of them as if they are entering a cemetery. They got the stairs. The railing of stairs which was going down was deserted, they were spots on the walls of something hot being thrown against the wall, parts of broken tiles were scattered as well, there were even cracks of something being thrown and then disappeared. It is a miracle that it even stands. As they well down, more and more piles of blood can be seen.

And finally, on the second floor (Action on 12 floors of the mall.) a little bloody figure, wearing a T-shaped yellow shirt with blue strips, of course now looking like a rag and bloody ripped black jeans was standing against the wall, holding his breath as he was running from a bull.

“Hey! Look, I think that`s him!” said Lin in excitement.

“Good job, everyone.”

There were still a lot of pieces that were missing on the table.

(Who was he fighting with or was he there even a fight in the beginning?)

The figure then slowly fell to the ground due to his injuries and heavy breathing.

They slowly then approached him after he fell to the ground. As they got near him the little bloody figure now resembled that of the boy they were searching for. He was almost unconscious. Anastasia then signaled Lin to awake, but that was not needed because he opened his eyes as soon as they were 30 centimeters away.

“Pant, Pant… Are you from the campus?”

“Yes, we are and we are here to detain you for disturbing the peace of the citizens.”

“Is that right… Maybe yeah…” then he dozes off.

“Hey! Heyy!!” shouted Xing.

“Ahh, my love!” scarcely screamed the figure.

“I was sure that he was a pervert.”

said the cat demon in anger.

Sure, this was a bizarre scene for everyone who was not familiar with how things were around S city, but for anyone from the folks inside this was like a part of their daily routine.

“I think we need to discipline him a little maybe that was not enough for him.”

“No, please! Save me!” he said panicked.

They all looked at him confused.

“What do you mean?” Asked Lin.

“Also, why should we save you when you have made a disaster?” said curiously Xing.

“Because I was forced.”

His bluntness was annoying. At least for Anastasia was.

“So? Do you have evidence or a clue you can give us?”

He did not answer. He was scared. He was shaking because he knew that without any proof, he was just talking nonsense. How could he convince them that he was innocent? A talk wouldn`t work. Although the disaster was long gone, there was still here and there a little wreckage from his doings. The CCTV footage wouldn`t work too and above all, this isn`t the first time, students from the campus were going nuts. At least back in the day…

“Are you going to comply with us or use force to get you to the detention center?” said impatiently the Cat demon.

After silently sitting against the wall for a few minutes he finally spoke:

“I am innocent, but I cannot give you any evidence.”

“Well, I am doing my job, I have seen you doing bad stuff and now we are sending you to the detention center with evidence.”

“Alright.”

Then he tried to get up, but it was a stupid decision of his, he was bleeding from everywhere. He first needed to patch up before going, but his face was emotionless. He was trying to not cry, but it was almost written through his actions that he wanted to wake up from this nightmare.

“Yo, freakshow, sit still for a moment, you can`t go out as a zombie.” said Anastasia in a disgusted voice.

Then she came near him and a white-greenish light was all over his body. After a few seconds, he looked as if nothing had happened to him. Now he was supposed to go to the detention center. His face did not change.

“Okay, now let`s go and finish this tiring job.” Said Lin.

“Heyyyy!!” a shout was heard from the rear entrance.

“Stop what are you doing right now!” said the voice.

It was familiar yet it did not match anybody they know. He was coming. From the straight corridor, a tall figure wearing a red T-shirt, some black shorts, and black sports shoes was running towards them. As he was coming near their vision it looked like a skinny man in his 20s.

“Martin?” said one of the girls.

“Yes, that is me! Hello!”

“Pant, pant… I have evidence about this guy.” he then mumbled.

His companion looked at him doubtfully while Lin and Xing were shocked, but Anastasia`s face was different.

(Evidence?)

Martin was gone through the entire scene and he had evidence? And not only that he had changed his clothes as well, indicating that something indeed happened to him. But what? Did he fight? Or was he bluffing because he might be his comrade? She lightened up slightly white for a moment and then looked at his body from head to bottom. Lin and Xing caught up to what was happening and were awaiting his commander to give them orders. After the quick scan, she only sighed.

Anastasia went on to play along.

“And what is the evidence?”

“His blood is red-blue.”

His guide only shook her head while they tensed down because that was not shocking at all. They were bored by it.

“…That`s it?” said Lin.

“Yes.”

“… Red-blue blood is pretty common here… So that is not evidence.”

“WHAT?” said shocked Martin.

“You will see when you get on the campus.” said Xing.

“Okay then… I still have another card to prove his innocence.”

“If you say that his eyes were glowing or that strange lights were coming out of him, that is not evidence.” said Anastasia.

“It`s not that.”

“Then what is it, please hurry, because you are wasting my time.” said uninterested Anastasia.

“Part of his body was wearing armor.”

(Ho?)

Now, every one, one of them was listening.

“And this armor you are speaking, was it glowing?”

“No, it materialized out of nowhere, then he went berserk.” he said.

“After he exhausted himself, he left the scene and tried to run away.”

“So, you are telling me that you saw him like that from somewhere or that you were trying to hold him down?!” said Anastasia in a stubborn voice.

he did not answer.

“Whoa, did I say something strange?” she then giggled.

“Did you try to be a hero or something?”

“You have a brain tumor or something?” he said in an annoyed voice.

A grave mistake. He was then grabbed by the neck immediately by her.

“Listen here, you little brat! I won`t tolerate you, just because you are a citizen! I can say that you are the one who gave him the drug you got that!” said with a furious face, Anastasia.

`… Ha, ha…` he was not breathing.

She then threw him against the wall.

“Cough, cough!” he then regained consciousness.

“Don`t make me repeat twice, tell me what have you done.” she said in a serious tone.

Martin`s face turned dark at that moment.

“I won`t answer you, because you are a bad woman.”

He did not flinch when she showed in front of him the things she could do or her subordinates. Anastasia was amused by his ‘serious’ face.

“Oh my! Aren`t you adorable! So tough! Let me see how will you last holding this face!”

Martin was still unfazed.

“Lin, Xing, do it.”

They grabbed each other and just as they were standing, they started levitating. After a couple of seconds, they stretched out their hands and made a ballistic shield paired with an actual bread on top of the shield. He was still standing unmoved. After the creation, they made their aura lightened up stairs` space and changed in every color of the rainbow.

Although to anyone that might seem a little out of place rather than maybe making an interesting giga-futuristic-supernatural-Esper-type creation or demonstration, even this was enough to at least shake someone a little.

“Was that it?”

Martin was again still unfazed.

This was getting nowhere. The clique was starting to get a little goosebump due to his indifference towards the situation. At least he had to show something, right? Saying maybe “Wow!” or “I have seen this before.”, but he was just standing there like a statue. The only thing that was changed in him was his face which seemed that be on the verge of laughing, but still, he did not do it. What kind of thing had you either seen or experienced at all? Her crew could have done something else to make him shocked, but that would be confidential.

They lost.

“Hey, tell me, Martin, are you from the inside?” said the Cat demon after watching the crew of excellent dominance was crushed like a bug.

“No, I am not.”

“Then why are you not budging?”

“Why should I? Because nobody has seen it or because if I continue keeping my cool, I will look like some kind of runaway experiment.” he said with an annoyed look.

“Well yes… Anyway, I am the person who is accompanying you, so I would know the truth too.”

“It`s not the time.” he said immediately after.

Say what? The girls looked at him confused. Then he focused his attention back on the clique.

“Don`t give me that look, I do not trust you, okay.”

“We are more powerful than you, you know?”

“But you won`t kill right.”

All of them glared at him at that moment. What kind of comment was that from a teenager? Most people would be terrified from the word ‘death’ or ‘killer’, but he said as if that was his common language. Also, how was he so sure that they wouldn`t do it? What if they were a mobster gang disguised as civil servants only to take him to a secluded place and then tried to break him?

His companion was getting more and more intrigued with almost every sentence that was coming out of his mind. She thought of butting in but decided to see how far it would go like that.

“What do you mean?” asked then Xing.

“Just like I said, you won`t kill me, right?”

“So, you are telling us, if we try to kill you, we will get the truth?” tried to summarize Lin.

“No.”

“Then, what are you trying to say?” said Xing.

“I am just saying that if even if you torture me to the feeling of despair, I won`t budge.” stated Martin.

Time to test him.

“Really?” asked his guide.

“100 percent.”

“Even if we pour salt in the wound we make and regenerate your body and make injured all over again?” said Lin.

Little goosebumps came over him for a moment.

“…Yes”.

They continued glaring scarily at him as he was ready to face everything head-on. They looked at his serious face. Sure, this was maybe to show his tough face, but what he was saying was still a bit odd. His from the outside, but why he was so serious about it? Did he experience something traumatizing? Or was he living in the ghetto? The more they looked at him, the more they started to question his words and everything about him.

Martin was still waiting for an answer.

“So? What will you do? Are you going to choose to take me or are you going to let me go?”

The girls looked at each other then looked at him. Although everything seemed as if it would smooth Anastasia still had the final say in the end after all.

“Okay then we won`t ask you.” said Anastasia after she had calmed down.

“I was just trying to make some fun of you.”

“Well, I was not kidding.”

“You really are a mood destroyer, aren`t you?” said Lin.

He then sighed.

“Yes, yes I am.”

“By the way are you hurt somewhere, after all, things you said might be some solid evidence.”

“I am okay, I did not put my life in danger.”

“Were you going to?” asked the cat demon with a smirk on her face.

“Do you think I am some kind of playable character in a videogame?”

“Why, is it wrong to be a follower of justice?” she then giggled. But her giggle was met with a cold face.

“Do you know justice?” he then gazed at her face.

Something was wrong with his gaze this time. She felt it. His faint aura of a young man had just been felt by her. It was a really threatening aura. Cold and burning everything, it touches. From all the time he was with him she never felt this before, only his silliness, playfulness, and curiousness were the only things she ever felt or associated with him. Why was the change of tone so serious now? She only looked to the right.

Martin was not thinking of stopping at all, but if she wouldn`t speak the nice way then the hard way would be initiated.

“Well, do you know, miss Cat demon?”

“No, I do not.”

“Good, it would be interesting if you knew what justice is.”

“Then how about you?”

“I don`t know.”

He then looked into the distance. Pretty sure if any bystander was there, they would say that he tried to play some acting role really hard. As he was looking at the distance, he spotted an electronic clock. Then he quickly grabbed his phone to see what was the time.

It was 20:00. That was bad. Very bad.

“Um, by the way, when does the campus close doors?”

“I believe in 20:30.” said Anastasia.

He could feel how his feet were readying themselves to run a marathon.

“Are you sure?”

“For what business are you going there?” asked Lin?

“I need to deliver the invitation letter given to me so that I can enroll in the campus.”

“Ohh, that`s it. Don`t worry you have time until 21:30.” said Xing.

He tensed down.

“So, it closes at 21:30?”

“No, it just means that you can give till then.”

“You don`t have to enter the campus, you just have to give your invitation letter to the entrance post then you are free to go.” said Anastasia.

“Don`t you have to discuss something?” asked Martin.

“No, you don`t. Everything will be settled when you do the entrance exam. From there on you can choose where do you want to be or what profession you want to take.” explained Lin.

“Oh… That`s good I guess?”

“Enough chit-chat, you have done your job, now we part ways.” cut the conversation off Anastasia.

“agh…But what about him?” he then looked at the injured boy.

“Don`t worry, he will be fine.” replied the Cat demon to comfort Martin.

“I hope so.”

Then they went to do what they had begun. Although it was almost evening, the temperature was high, there was a cool breeze as they were walking towards the exit. There were sirens and reporters outside. Fortunately, they were not interested in the bloody bag of potatoes, which was being carried by Lin.

The group managed to get out without a scratch, Anastasia was still bugged by Martin. Was he lying or was this the truth? If it was that meant bad news for everybody on the campus, if not then that was not a funny prank.

There was a black van 200 meters away from the mall. They headed in. she was still in her thoughts.

(There must be something wrong with him. People still are surprised even if they say an illusion. He did not even blink or tried to defend.)

“Okay we are off now.” announced the driver.

Anastasia was looking through the window. She did not say anything.

(This little brat must have some dark history, if not he is a madman. Either way, where did he go when this all happen? There are too many holes and if my instincts are right, he must have done something but what? He did not have any of our powers, so maybe drawing his attention? No that would be too risky, there were no scratches on him when he came. Maybe a camera? Phones have those options, but his phone was not the best at taking pictures but is still a viable option, but if he had a picture, he would have told us!)

she was scratching her head a lot while thinking.

Everyone was focused on her and was trying to figure out what was bothering her.

“Ani.” said Lin after watching her for 2 straight minutes.

“Ani…”

Still no answer.

“ANASTASIA!” she then shouted. The driver almost passed out, because of the sudden shout.

“Ah… Oh, what is it?”

“Is there a problem?” asked Xing.

“No… There isn`t.” she answered plainly.

“Fine then, don`t tell us.” said Lin offended.

“Yeah, you don`t need to tell us.” said Xing with a louder voice.

They looked in the opposite position of her. Then Anastasia laughed and hugged them both. Then they dropped the act and were staring at her as little kids waiting for the big story before time for bed.

“Well, how should I say this… That brat is annoying me.”

“Me too.” said Lin.

“Me as well.” said Xing immediately after.

“But the problem is…” she passed.

“What is it?” they questioned.

“I do not like him, because he hurt my pride.”

Then They all laughed only the driver was not speaking.

He, on the other hand, was looking half-dead not only by the big traffic jam in front of him but above all he had to deliver first them to the detention center, then he had to drive them home, from then he had to go to the supermarket after he left his working belongings in the company and for closing his misery, he had to buy a gift for his wife because today was their anniversary. What a day, seriously.