Awake in a Nightmare

[JAMES HATATHLI. Inner London, London, England. Wednesday 7th of September, 1881 Gregorian Calendar].

James Hatathli stepped out from the train carriage which had taken him from the hidden base of the Coalition of Humanity, to the bustling heart of London. He needed to stoop, in order to fit his hundred and eighty-seven centimetre, heavily muscled frame, through the narrow carriage door.

"Hrrm," James suppressed a cough as he gazed at the dark fog overhead.

The black clouds were not a natural phenomenon but rather a by-product of the great city's industrial heart.

Aside from the yearlong training provided by the Coalition of Humanity, James had spent his eighteen years of life, living in the sunshine rich lands of California. Thus, the ebon stained skies were a disconcerting sight to the young Native American man.

"Welcome to London," teased the pale young woman who had accompanied James during his trip from the Academy.

"You could have warned me Arina," sulked James. "This… this air is awful. I'm glad the Coalition moved their training academy to the Scottish Highlands when I joined. If I'd had to spend a year training here… it would have been hell."

"You look hilarious," the blue eyed Arina giggled. "You're one of the biggest men I've ever seen. And yet you're sulking like a baby because the air is a bit bad."

"I'm not sulking," muttered James. "I'm… brooding. I read that girl's really like that sort of thing."

"I'm pretty sure brooding is more silent and less complaining," stated Arina. "If you want to see real brooding, you should to travel my birthland of Russia once your apprenticeship is over. Very brooding… sexy men there."

"So, you're attracted to your father?" James teased back. "Or maybe another relative."

On the trip, Arina had let slip that she had grown up on an isolated farm with her father and brothers. Before leaving her country, she hadn't seen any other Russian men except for uncles, cousins and other family members.

"I barely mentioned my past," stated Arina. "Yet you managed to remember that?"

"It's my Gift," replied James. "My mind remembers."

"Or maybe you're just interested in me," Arina smiled. "You wouldn't be the first to be struck by my beauty. Being beautiful is my Gift."

James raised an inquisitive eyebrow. Gifts were supernatural powers possessed by certain humans. Although no one knew their true origin, it was clear that Gifts were related to the Demonic Invasion which had started around thirty years back.

James' Gift was his perfect memory. He was able to remember anything he put his mind to and thus had incredible learning abilities. Historical facts, scientific principles, martial arts and technical skills were all easily assimilated by his mind. It had allowed him to master numerous fields of knowledge and become an elite combatant, all within the space of a single year.

During his time within the Coalition of Humanity's Academy, he had encountered many others with Gifts. Often much more obvious than his own. From those who could shape the elements to others with the ability to transform into different forms. Yet he had never encountered a Gift of beauty. He was positive that the cute, hundred and sixty centimeter tall Russian woman was teasing him. Then again, in a world with demons, steam powered prosthetics and supernaturally empowered humans, anything was possible.

"I'm joking," pouted Arina, as if she had read his mind. "I'd always thought you natives would be so mysterious. But you James the Singer, are so easy to read."

"Please don't translate my surname into English," said James. "Or did you want me to call you Arina Son of Pavel?"

"Arina Pavlov is fine," giggled Arina.

"So, we're to meet our mentors at Scotland Yard," stated James. "Then go our separate way. I won't miss this city. But it would have been nice to get to know you a bit more. I've enjoyed your company these last few days."

"How sweet," smiled Arina. "Actually, we'll be seeing each other for a bit longer. Our teams are working on a case together. They've been busy at it the last few days. Which is why I was sent to fetch you instead of your mentor coming over. It'll be your first case, but it will be my last as an apprentice."

"We should head over there then," said James. "Hopefully the mission will take out us out of this city."

"The mission will be in the countryside," declared Arina. "A beautiful estate surrounded by verdant forest and gently rolling hills."

"Sounds like a vacation," James smiled for the first time since arriving in London.

"It would be," agreed Arina. "If not for the fact that the estate is a mental asylum for children."

"What?" James almost choked.

"The Isles of England are a supernatural hot spot," explained Arina. "It's hard enough for adults to deal with the trauma of facing demons and their ilk. Imagine what that sort of experience would do to a child's mind? Seeing her parents… ripped apart by monsters… right in front of her eyes. That sort of thing can really mess up a child's mind."

"I guess you're right," agreed James. "Sometimes I still have nightmares of the massacre which claimed my folk. And I wasn't even there to see it. Children should be cherished…."

"What about children who pick your pocket?" asked Arina.

"What?" James asked in surprise.

He reached into the pocket of his overcoat only to discover his wallet was missing.

"The pick pocket is getting away," laughed Arina.

She pointed at the fleeing form of a skinny blonde child, who had yet to reach her teenage years.

"Damn city!" cursed James.

He quickly glanced at a nearby station map that outlined the surrounding area, to ensure he wouldn't get lost. Then he took to heel and began pursuit of the waif.

James' rapid learning went beyond the mental. His body also adapted quickly. Reaching an elite level of athleticism that would make most sportsmen envious. He managed to weave his large body through the human throng of the railway station and five blocks of London's crowded streets.

On realising that he'd lost sight of the child, he quickly scampered up the brickwork of a nearby building to gain a higher vantage point. He spotted his quarry running down an alleyway and leaped to chase. Akin to a hawk swooping towards a rabbit. Unfortunately for him, his rabbit had several mean friends backing her up.

"What you want?" asked a bald man who was almost as tall James.

"Maybe you're lost?" suggested a short but heavily muscled youth.

"Maybe he's here to contribute to our charity?" laughed a heavily tattooed thug through blackened teeth.

At those words, the other half dozen muggers began to surround James.

"I don't want to hurt you," stated James. "I just want that girl."

"Oh," the tall bald man nodded his head. "So, you're one of those foreign perverts who like little girls? You know we good English boys… we don't like that sort of thing."

"Just cut him Tommy," said the small blonde girl who had returned to watch as the tables were turned on her previous pursuer. "Pretty one's like him don't like to be cut. I bet he hands us even more stuff once you rough him up."

"That's not very welcoming of you," laughed the bald man.

"I just want…." James was unable to complete his sentence.

As the bald thug smashed his fist into James' face.

Crack!

The impact forced James to take a step backwards.

"I tried to be friendly," said James as he wiped blood from his bruised lip.

"Let me have a go," the tattooed gang member stepped forth and launched a kick straight at James' groin.

In one smooth movement, James quickly avoided to the side and caught the attacker's leg. Before the tattooed thugs had realized his situation, he had already had his supporting leg swept from under him. The black toothed man was winded as he landed heavily on the ground.

"I'm a Special Agent of the Coalition of Humanity," declared James. "You don't want to escalate this."

"He's a constable or something," spat the short, muscular youth. "Get him!"

As if on command, the group of thugs moved as one. It was clear to James that this gang had practiced fighting as a unit. Their movements were cohesive, and they didn't get in each other's way. They moved like trained fighters. James felt that something was clearly wrong and wondered if he had been set up.

Thankfully, even though the muggers had some skill, James was at a level most could only attain after years if not decades of intense training. The academy had provided him access to some of the best trainers and manuals on the planet. Thus, James never once felt himself in danger.

Moving like a shark through a school of tuna, James systematically disarmed and defeated his opponents. Using the least amount of force necessary to incapacitate the low lives who had made the mistake of crossing him. Finally, the only remaining gang member was the small girl.

"Give me my wallet," smiled James towards the waif. "Give me my wallet… Arina."

Suddenly the city scape changed. The alley way faded, and James found himself in an open park. Several strangers openly gawked at James, as if they were looking at a crazy man. They quickly left as soon as he returned their gaze. The only members of the crowd who didn't leave, were a blonde Russian beauty and a middle-aged man of Asiatic appearance.

"How did you know it was me?" asked Arina.

"You can create illusions?" James answered with a question of his own.

"Something like that," replied Arina. "Now your turn to answer."

"That gang moved like they were a trained unit," explained James. "Street thugs don't fight like that. With that level of individual skill and group coordination. Also, they fought to the last man. None of them even made a move to flee.

Then it dawned on me, that the alley way itself was wrong. I was running on adrenaline and didn't pay it that much attention till half way through the fight. But as soon as I calmed down, I remembered the map from the station. There should have been a park there. The map was dated half a year ago, so there's no way a run-down alley way would have been able to replace it."

"So you figured it out....." muttered Arina, before turning to the Asian man beside her. "Does he still pass your test?"

"That was a test?" grumbled James. "What were you testing?"

"Character," stated the middle-aged man. "I wanted to see if my apprentice had character."

"Master Ning, did he pass?" asked Arina.

"He used the minimum amount of force needed to attain victory," declared Master Ning. "Plus he's observant. He can be my apprentice."