1 Chapter 1 Part 1- My Story

As flashing lights and different minds flicker through the darkness, silence and loud chatters collide. I looked down, staring at my black leather shoes, checking if I polished it last morning. I arranged my badge, varnished with gold whereas it reflected lights. I combed back my hair, and wiped my fogged glasses. I smiled...

"This is the time where the world will know my story..."

I stepped on the red carpet, leading onto the stairs towards the stage. A hot woman in a pencil skirt was waiting for me, I think she was the interviewer. I stared at her piercing eyes as I stood beside her, standing in front of the microphone. I looked forward, yet all I see was darkness and those same flashing lights. Although, I knew a crowd of humans are awaiting.

The noise started to fade out as the interviewer smiled, raised her microphone near her lips and spoke:

"Today is the day where Officer Edwards will be raised towards the higher ranks of the Police Department..."

She swiftly turned towards me

"-But first things first, what do you think about it Sir. Edwards?"

My eyes widened.

Technically speaking, I wasn't prepared for this interview, I mean, it's meant to be a surprise, right? But I'm not fond with surprises like this. I still carry the sorrow of my brother's death after knowing the sad truth, which I cannot handle after a few weeks. But never mind that, a crowd of people are waiting for my response...

"W-Well, I think it's fine for me. I-I'm happy, but for me, being a policeman is my content of happiness and nothing can change that"

I stuttered, but what's good was that I replied, right? Now, I have to answer the next question, in full honesty, bravery and feelings, like how I visioned of a policeman should be. I am ready. The woman nodded in agreement, she stared at the papers where she wrote all her questions and is now announcing the next question.

"That's very good of you. Now next question: Why did you become a policeman in the first place? I mean, who's or what was your inspiration? You answered the first question whole-heartedly and now I'm curious!"

I can feel sweat sliding down my cheeks. This question...

I have to dodge this one, but sometimes, words can't really describe what's on your mind or what you're feeling, so I have to mix some words on this. I cleared my throat and sighed from the depths of my soul:

"N-nothing much really. I just think it's fun, but I became serious after knowing what it actually is and turned it into something else, I guess."

I could hear the crowd's shocked faces, and it's a good sign. Things are going smoothly. I just have to bear the last question and survive, I'm drowning in suspiciousness and I can't breathe. I loosen my necktie and gulped. Now for the third question:

"What makes you so perfect? You can't reach this place if you don't have secrets! And for an additional question, what do you mean by turning your seriousness of being a policeman into something else?"

The woman chuckled, it's pretty clear that she's pretty excited. But...

"Me? Perfect? Secrets? Heh, I wasn't a perfect little bud, okay? I used to be a troublemaker. I have trespassed several limits and broke tons of public rules, my brother even has to make a deal with a mafia boss just because I wrecked and broke their room-"

"Speaking of your brother, was solving his mystery death any easy? Holding his loss must be hard enough for you"

I was cut off guard. I shouldn't have brought my brother up in the first place. I guess, I have no other choice but to confess, I have no one to turn to anyway and like I said in the beginning, I will tell the world my story...

I exhaled...

"Solving his mystery wasn't quite I expected, to be honest. My brother was like the walking dead, as if he carries a lot of weights around his shoulders and his emotionless smile was tattooed on his face permanently..."

Silence stood between my audience. I can't tell if either they're bored or they're not interested in my shit. But satisfying them isn't my goal, I'm here to answer questions and receive the high rank badge. Then I could go home peacefully.

"...Although, after all those sad and depressed days of his, he changed a lot. I guess it was after meeting the 'ghost'..."

I smirked. Like I said, words can't really describe what's on your mind. Amidst the darkness, I could see the widened eyes of the crowd. Is my story and life that interesting? But if they want more, then I'll feed it to them...

***

6 years ago in the so-called subway of problems, located in between the city. It runs the most high speeding train ever in this country, has the most longest tracks and can send you anywhere in the speed of light. But why is it called the subway of problems? Well, it's known for the suicide cases gathered in that place. Perhaps, depressed peeps took it's speed and strong metal as an advantage to cease their life problems? But let's forget that.

I was there, standing. Not on the rails waiting for a metal monster to come rushing at me waiting for my demise, but in the waiting line, squeezing in between the mob of impatient specimen racing towards the sliding iron door. But I could be there someday, though.

I bumped left and right, yet I didn't care. I was inside the train's belly, stood still in between the line of blue chairs, grabbing the grab handle while carrying my favorite black bag on my back.

"Heading to Dandelion City" The speaker announced as the iron doors closed shut.

Slowly minute after minute, nine people stepped out each stop while a few gets in. There was four, there was once five. I sat down on any available chair you could think of. Possibly, I can sit nearby the window pane or either beside the door, it's your choice. But I leaned back, resting my head on the alloy wall that builds the train. I listened to the blues, slowly closing my eyes...

Yet I saw a girl...

The same age I currently had. her hair reached below her knee like those cartoonic female characters you could find. A gigantic red bow sat on her head, a tied ribbon, not a weapon. But as far as I know.... I remembered I stared at her, she was looking at the opposite way. She was in a back ground of complete darkness...

But the gleam of light and the sound of creaking iron noises made her turn around. Her eyes were beautiful and mesmerizing, but it wasn't a good thing, honestly. Slowly, as the train swiftly closed the distance between her and itself, she screamed. Almost as high-pitched as my... alarm clock...

I'm pretty sure you already knew, but yes, I woke up. As sun rays stabbed through my window towards my forehead, it felt warm. The clean white curtains flowed by wind as I was lying down on my fluffy bed. I hate waking up, I hate life. Why does god gives me another day when it just gives me embarrassment and misery? Why live?

My phone spoke...

"ding!" it said. It brings good news! Unlike those people who uses their voice to judge and bully you, they don't deserve to speak! Let those words pass your right ear and repay them ignorance, then I picked up my phone and turned it on, it needs my 'attention'.

It was a message from a man named "Zhuru Lee", a person I 'used' to know. He wasn't a stranger I met on the streets, he wasn't my father nor a friend. He was my teacher from a job which I retired from, it was a great job, but it took some risks and turns, it did even result to 'death', and you'll know what it is later on.

A sentence appeared on the chat box. 'Loyd' , it said and 'I need you', it continued...

The Zhuru Lee I used to know is a very old man, might be even older after not seeing him for years. And that old man was prohibited to use any millennial devices ever existed, he even made that outlaw himself. So why message me in this way? He went so far just to reach me, it could be important...

But the 'Loyd' I used to know will just leave the old man hanging and just lie down back to bed. Perhaps, will I really do that?

Too bad, it's a "no" for me...

God made life for a reason, and even if it's a tiny little text from my master, it's enough reason why I'm alive. Life's too short, they say. But I'm here wearing my grey hoodie, pushed my feet into my shoes and opened the door, prepared, prepared to show the world...

... My story...