The Sleeping Hero

It was a normal day, the sun was setting in the west while its rays were painting the clouds and the sky in strokes of orange. The wind was passing in a constant speed and calming manner. Then it happened.

Stars seemed fell on the surface of the earth, shades of all existing colors disrupted the scenery of that dusk. The world sang an unknown melody, it was loud enough to shut mouths but started tears to pour down. It happened.

History books called it as "The Last Decree".

Scholars believed that it was the "All-Knowing-One" who putted the world at peace for about an hour. Sixty minutes of silence that rewrite the existence of Humans and gave them their "Last Wishes".

Authority.

Money.

Strength.

Intellect.

Power.

        『  The Sleeping Hero 』

Red light flickers across the Det's room. 6:49 AM. The sun has started warming itself, early birds are already on their usually rounds and morning vocalizations. A textbook is standing in front of him, upside down. He isn't even looking and seems he can see through the 400+ pages of "Introduction to Psychology". His dark irises  are perfectly paired with thick black layers of skin under his eyes. Almost 20 hours of no sleep, at all. No nap and even barely closing his lids. There is no exam, in fact today is saturday. Besides he doesn't even need to study, his brain can par to a machine to memorize information and can compete to a detective in analyzing data. He just simply can't sleep.

A morning murderer in a saturday isn't half bad. Come on, villains. Move your asses.

He shifts his swivel chair towards his desktop, pushes enough force and scans the monitor. It is a surveillance footage of a whole town of Talos, every establishment and roads are covered. Actually, he doesn't need it. Yes, he is a "Hero". Officially and publicly. Monitoring isn't his job, he just simply like the feel of being an undercover agent, a spy. Watching other people from a far, witnessing petty acts and lives. He doesn't need it for if a problem rises, police officials will call him.

"Det, are you up?"

Like how his walkie talkie talks. It is hanging on his neck and the vibration of static awaken his dizzy senses.

"Listening."

"As expected. Five miles from your apartment, an early bird robs a bank and currently holding ... "

There are few discussions on the other side of the line.

"As of the latest update, 20 hostages. According to the police that are assigned on that place, the robber is also "Gifted". Copy?"

"Copy."

When he stands, his legs almost lost balance. His head feels weightless yet he can't steady his walking pace. After a minute of struggling towards the door, a blinding 7:00 AM sun welcomes him on the outside world. His lids automatically shut.

"Good morning, Det. Morning duty?", it's Maya, his land lord. Despite her old age and already out of form backbone, she still manages to run a 20 rooms apartment and maintain a flowery garden.

Even he can't see where exactly the old lady is, he still smiles and says his good morning.

"It's a hostage taking. Hope he's powerful enough to get a nap."

"You surely love your job. Have a good day." Even with missing dentures, her smile is genuine and as warm as the sun but he doesn't see a glimpse of it. With eyes close, he follows his usually track towards the road. Shadow of towering buildings give him some shed as he casually walks and joins the humming of rush hour vehicles.

"Det? Can you please make it a bit faster?"

"I'm on my way to the bus stop. Just. Buy time?"

As he exchanges ideas to the police officer on how to "buy time" to a hostage taker, he enters a bus. Eyes are glaring and staring with amazement and jealousy welcomes his golden plastic ID when he taps the ticket machine. He takes an empty seat in front and continues his conversation on the walkie talkie.

"Ask him anything. As random as possible, it'll distract him."

"Ask him anything! ... Yes! .... What he ate last night?", the other side sounds on a panic.

BANG!

BANG!

"Det, come quickly!"

"Okay."

The receiver remains silent as the bus crosses busy streets of Talos, it is indeed a morning rush. The roads are heavily packed with all kinds of vehicles and people. Mailman, newspaper boy, the granny who's friend of Maya, the sadistic wife of a submissive husband. He enjoys the bus' window as if he's sitting on his swivel chair, monitoring the town. The traffic jam starts to build up as he approaches to the crime scene. Private cars are on rage as the yellow lines of police barricade appears on his sight. He presses a button that blinks and sends signal to the driver, Time to work.

Det casually walks towards the door as the bus stops on its track. He exits and joins the busiest people that morning, the men in blue uniform. A sniper hiding in bushes, an errand boy for calls, the negotiator with megaphone, the team captain who called him, and other ten background policemen.

"Good morning, Chief."

"Faster!", Sgt. Imoen pushes Det. He almost stumble but manage to regain a composure. He is a Hero and a grand and dramatic entrance is must. The glass door of the bank is widely open, in the middle is the culprit. He's pointing his index finger on the head of a terrified lady, her make-up that day literally ruins her face. Her tears are dripring like water color with pastel hues and flowing down to her knocked-out-like bright red lipstick.

"H-eelp!", she's probably crying for about an hour for her voice is almost gone.

"Who are you?! Don't you dare take a step!" The robber/ hostage taker points his index finger to Det, his face isn't as worse as the lady but still looks bad. Teary eyes with black circles under, but not as black and thick as what Det has. He is also sweating badly, his bangs and shirt are soaked of salty liquid he is producing.

"Let go of that girl and fight me."

"Huh. So you're a Hero?! Those privileged asses of this world! You're just simply lucky to have powerful "Gift"! And I have this-" he stares at his index finger before aiming at the roof. From the tip of its skin, a magic circle takes form and summons a magic bullet. It hits the steel that supporting a chandelier causing the crowd to step-back and shouts in chorus. In that instant, the collection of bulb falls in the speed of gravity with bonus of its weight, most likely 20 kilos. It rushes to the floor, to Det rather. He doesn't move but simply waits until the object cuts its distance between them. 10 meters.

5.

1.

3 centimetres. And a white magic circle suddenly appeared on the floor, it is larger than the chandelier.

"Dream Capsule."

A sphere of transparent shell covers Det's body and crashes the chandelier into bits. He is floating inside as if it's filled with water.

"Regular Pillow."

He summons a, well -regular pillow that he bought in a super market last week. 30 % sale plus it's comfy and a new nano technology was used to create this breakthrough of science - as the advertisement said.

He enclosed the pillow on his arms and slowly close his eyes.

Finally.

Zzzzzzz.

The bank falls in confused silence, the robber himself raises an eyebrow. He walks towards the shell and knocks it twice using his knuckles.

"Are you kidding me? Hey, police officers! Are belittling me?". He points his finger gun and shoots another bullet but Det's protection repels his attack.

"Huh. Then I can free myself with my money and a hot chick? Goodbye and thank you." He walks toward the shivering lady, tightly grabs her wrist and walks toward the bank counter. His bag has more than enough paper bills.

"RUN!"

Someone shouts.

The place feels a light movement on the ground and crashing sounds silence the screaming and crying. Thousands of glass chandeliers with different sizes, colors and designs suddenly appear in the thin air then rush to the ground.

A groan of a sleepy man breaks the confusion and silence of the people in that bank, he casually steps out of his Dream Capsule and stretches his arms.

He walks towards the robber in the middle of shattered glasses, his flesh has been teared, crimson pool of blood is painting the tiled floor. The lady is unconscious and in bad state as the man.

"Why?", Det asked.

With lips filled of wounds and small debris of glasses, and tired and almost collapsing voice, the culprit manages to talk.

"I want to become a Hero. But this f###ing social standard and your -", he coughs blood and falls his face on the ground. Det kneels and grabs his shirt.

"Why? I didn't even get a nap!", and a punch with power of a one-year old baby hits his cheek and collapse.

"Well done!", the megaphone ends the dramatic scene.

"Eeeeeeeee!"

Det, on the other hand doesn't get the sleep he wanted.