Something was wrong—

The night was dark. There were no stars, and I felt as if the sky had become liquid and it flowed as ink on earth. Everything had become dark and opaque. The shadows had swallowed the light. The night does not make sense without the day, such as white without black or good without evil.

Something was wrong—

My heart sank and I put my hands in my pockets, tightening my shoulders, I began to search for the missing pilot and his helicopter to leave the continent.

I had to reach the airport and surely the first available flight would have stopover! Given the number of flight hours under my belt, I would have done better to buy a plane! But right now, I would take anything!

I hated the turn the situation had taken! This influence that good manners had on me! This nonsense of not knowing when to say no when I could! I always felt the desire to be accepted by humans. But now, I knew it was no longer possible, and that I should deal with the lie.

They will never accept what I am or who I am now. They will always use my abilities. What's going to happen after they have used me?

"You know, Sir, Lt. Bunch is not among the top of my comrades! Let me tell you, because I like you. I think—"

"You think, Sergeant? When we say we believe it's about expressing your faith in something you do not have proof of, something that is not scientifically proven," I said while watching the headlights of the chopper repel the darkness of the night.

"I never thought like that! I listen to you. Strange as it may sound, I appreciate you and, that's why I would not let you be influenced by someone like him! Since he rose through the ranks, he became worse than ever! We are not animals, and he talks as if we were. He has forgotten where he came from and at the beginning he was just like us! I do not know your mission, but I can tell you, coming from him it can't be something good. You are not someone bad."

"You do not know me, Sergeant. You do not know who I am." I said keeping my cool. I barely looked at him from the corner of my eye.

"No! I do not know you, but only seeing you is enough for me." He put the chopper down smoothly on the sand and he greeted me with a smile. I held out my hand.

"Thank you, Sergeant! I had forgotten that people like you still exist! You too are a good person. Good luck!"

"At your service, Sir! And shit - good luck!"

Abidjan, Summer 2020 Côte d'Ivoire

After a brief stop and 8 hours and 50 minutes of flight, passing from the air conditioning to the airport heat, I felt soft. I easily cleared customs; the tiredness and weariness showing on my face helped me to pass without problems. The police officers did not stare at me, as usual.

I gave the address to the taxi driver and he headed to a small residential area. The swarm of people in the narrow streets and the morning market slowed down the progression of the car. My clothes stuck, and even my skin, which usually was cold, gave me the impression that it was warming to the temperature where my blood boiled. The taxi stopped abruptly when a truck, loaded with crates of vegetables crossed the intersection, and almost knocked over a woman who was walking along the street pushing a shopping cart. The driver shouted and insulted the woman who stopped to respond to him by gesticulating. The exchange of insults could go on for hours. I got angry and threw a hundred on the front seat and went out slamming the door.

I took off my jacket and threw it over my shoulder. I went down the first street to the right to shorten my way. I passed in front of restaurant garbage cans and the smell of gamey meat and flies that swirled around almost gave me vertigo. I held my breath and ran towards the intersection. The street on the other side of the square was better kept. Flowerpots hung from balconies, and the jasmine flowers that sprang on the walls sent me wisps of perfume.

The curtains were drawn and the sunlight on the table that stood on the terrace was drawing a perfect circle. The door opened and a woman smiled.

"I've always wondered how you can live here. These smells - you do not feel sick?" I said, as I passed near her and threw my jacket on a seat so white that, in comparison, my jacket looked like a rag used to clean the tiles of her living room.

"The facility," she said, gently closing the door. "It's been so long—Estrange! I thought I'd never see you again."

"Yes, it's been a long time." I detached myself from her embrace and looked around, scanning the house and surroundings. "How does it happen that you're home?"

"I went out at night," she said, grinning. "And today, it's too hot! More than I'm accustomed to anyway. You're lucky, I would say." She followed me, moving slowly, and fell on a chair near a low table on which a huge bouquet of jasmine sat.

"I could have broken in. If you were not here." I conjectured, casual, with a shrug.

"Oh, yes, I know! And you would have been well received, you know too!" She laughed, pushing a strand of hair a bit backwards. "But I do not care about that! What are you doing here? Tell me!" She showed me the other chair at the table, inviting me to sit.

"I would like to take a shower first, if possible! I am a bit—" I said, grinning and showing my clothes.

"Oh! Of course! Excuse me! Seeing you made me forget my manners! I should have suggested that myself! Make yourself at home. You know the way. I'll do the rest!"

Yes, I'll do it as if I was home.

I did not know how this mission would end and I needed her help and the coverage that she afforded me. I looked at the clock. It was 5 PM. A mirror fully occupied the left wall of the bathroom and the ceiling. I took off my clothes and looked toward the bathtub, forgetting the idea of taking a shower. I ran the water and immersed myself without thinking about tomorrow. The bathtub was as big as a small inground pool and upon reaching the bottom I spread arms and legs and lay down. I let my mind wander, my senses on the alert. My muscles relaxed and I slowly closed my eyes. The warmth of the water relaxed me and took away the exhaustion and excitement that filled my body and mind.

Suddenly, a mass collapsed in with mel. I jumped to my feet out of the tub dripping, holding a body by the neck and dumped it on the ground.