Nightmare

She never meant to do it. They may be the enemy, but she shouldn't have done it.

Red… red… red… all she can see is red even after cleaning herself. The warmth is not right, not correct at all. It's all wrong, false, broken, failed. The taste of iron fills her lungs and tongue. She hates it! She doesn't want this at all.

She just wants to help people!

Noelle gasps for air, feeling cold sweat drench her body. The midnight moon is the only source of light in her room but she is effectively blind in the dark. Even being blind, she could feel her hands shaking lightly.

The woman takes a few deep breaths to calm herself down before taking her glasses. She looks at her phone, wincing at the light produced by the gadget, to check the time.

'4 A.M.' The woman notes before leaving her phone behind to get a cup of water. Her throat is parched anyway and she does not believe she would sleep anytime soon. As she is getting her water, she cannot help but think about the equipment she received.

She couldn't do it again. Going undercover and doing stealth to search for weak points are behind her anymore. Her old co-workers still call her on occasion, reprimanding her for leaving the team.

But she has made her decision.

'There is no way I can do this anymore… especially because I have so much burden to hold.' The woman finishes her glass of water before returning to her room, returning to her slumber.

It takes her about half an hour to eventually fall into a dreamless sleep. When the sun rises and shines its rays on the woman's face, she wills her body to block out the light before lifting herself off the bed.

She looks at her phone once more, eyes widening slowly as realization sets in. Her face pales and heartbeat raise in speed as she scrambles her way to her washroom to prepare for the day.

She couldn't believe that a small nightmare caused her to sleep in for the day. She is now an hour late for work and no doubt her superior is wondering where she is. She roughly brushes her teeth, uncaring that it damages her gum, and changes her clothes into her uniform.

When she left her room to leave for the day, she noticed a piece of paper on the table. She decides to pick up the paper and read the content out loud.

"I noticed you aren't feeling well, so I told the commander you are taking a day off unless you feel better to work half-day, and signed your brother." She huffs for a moment before a small smile grace her face.

"I guess I can have a quick shower and breakfast." Her posture relaxes before going to her washroom once more, now to take a shower.

She is grateful for her brother despite occasionally growing migraines from his antics. His act of kindness should come out more often instead of being a goofball most of the time. She continues her musing when she makes a sandwich made out of ham and salad. Her breakfast is complemented with chocolate milk that she has a glass of.

15 minutes passes as she finishes her breakfast. Before leaving her house, she turns to a briefcase and hesitates. She bit her lips before picking it up and leaving the house. The woman walks quickly as she makes her way to the police station. She takes a bus ride to her destination, thinking of what would be her agenda of the day.

Her thoughts are interrupted when someone lightly taps her shoulder. She turns to the person and regrets it, eyes slightly widen to keep her shock in check. The person who taps her is a man full of facial scars and a pair of sunglasses. His hair is shaved bald, but she can tell new hair will be growing soon. The man also wears a white business suit and a pair of black gloves.

"Oh sorry," the man politely apologizes. "I thought you looked like someone I knew back then." He sheepishly nods his head in apology, which Noelle quickly forgives. Internally, she breathes a sigh of relief and thankful the man didn't recognize her.

The man gives a polite smile before asking her, "Is it okay for me to sit next to you?"

Not wanting to be rude, she nods with a practiced smile and gestures to him. Her palms are sweating with cold sweat, as her eyes slightly dilate. In her mind, she is planning on how to get out of her predicament quickly.

They stay silent, one because of planning to leave the bus without delaying her journey, while the other awkwardly trying to think of a topic to talk about.

"N-nice day isn't it?" The man awkwardly begins, trying to break the silence with a friendly conversation.

"Y-yes," she stutters out words as she suddenly gets taken out of her trance. "But I wouldn't call it the best since I am late for work." She blushes in embarrassment for it.

The man chuckles in good humor. "Well, I hope your boss doesn't fire you for sleeping in."

She shakes her head with a smile. "She wouldn't. My brother told me he would tell her I'm doing half day today, which is why I am going there by bus." She would feel more relaxed if the man is not with her.

He could still hear his screams and the state she left him at. 'At the very least, he finally seems better now.' She is glad for that, but it never stops her from feeling she could've done more.

"I see." The man nods before tucking his hand into his pocket to fish out a business card. "Just in case you did get fired…" the man jokingly says that and both of them giggles. "... you can find me in my business office. It's legit business."

She takes it and looks at the business card, memorizing the name of the company and the man's name.

"Aleph's Investigation, led by you Detective Aleph." She says it out loud with a smile. Her heart slightly warms up when she sees the man grinning. "I would consider it when I need a new job someday."

"That is very nice to hear." The man raises up his hand for a handshake, which Noelle accepts. "Let me introduce myself properly. My name is Aleph, the detective for my agency."

Noelle nearly says a name she used to have because of habit, before mentally kicking herself for nearly exposing who she is. She corrects herself fast enough and replies, "My name is Noelle, nice to meet you sir Aleph."

She stands up from her seat when the bus announces her intended station. Thanking Aleph for the conversation, she leaves the bus at a normal pace. Once she leaves the bus, she intensely watches the bus leave her sight before sighing in relief.

"... I can't believe I met him again." She mutters to herself. She closes her eyes to calm herself, pushing away all the horrifying memories she had.

The house was in chaos, officers and squads of heavily armed soldiers broke into the place shouting they were under arrest. Men and women panicked, scrambling to leave the compound only to find it surrounded.

The undercover agent tried to ensure her 'boss' would escape with her 'friend', that their efforts of 'earning' their 'money' would not be a waste. However, one of her 'comrades' called out her betrayal.

It was too late anyway, so she took her pistol out and announced her allegiance. Faces of betrayal, pain, and sadness plastered on her 'friend'. Her heart hurts, but she would move on from this.

One man tried to fire his pistol, but she saw it coming and tried to shoot the gun from his hand.

Unfortunately, it grazed his hand…

And hit the gas tank behind them.

Flames engulfed the compound while men and women were hurt in the explosion. When she opened her eyes, she became horrified. Sharpnels pierced the face of her 'friend' and fire burned his right arm.

Noelle takes a deep breath and finally calms her heart. She begins walking towards the police station, hoping the day would bury the encounter before.

When she enters the station, she sees Xing Tian interacting with other officers with positivity. The woman schools her face and walks up to Xing Tian. When she is near, the officer and Xing Tian immediately become quiet as they notice her.

"G-good morning ma'am!" The officer greets nervously while Xing Tian keeps silent, only saluting her.

The woman merely chuckles at the girl's response to her arrival. "No need to salute me Xing Tian, we may have hierarchy but we don't do that here." The girl breathes a sigh of relief and stops her salute.

"As for you," she turns to the officer. "You may go back to your work. I can take over teaching our new recruit now." With an affirmative nod, the officer leaves her and Xing Tian alone.

"Now then," she turns back to the Asian girl and returns to her professional state. "Now is a good time as any to teach you more about our work."