The Vermilions [EN]

- Sir!! Drop your weapons and come out of your hiding place. You are surrounded.

- I DON'T WANT TO!! You don't understand... I have to provide for my family, my wife is dying, and my children are hungry. I have no choice but to steal!!

- Sir!! Please come out without causing any damage. We can discuss this later. We will help you.

- No one will help me. I will make sure my family is taken care of and leave this rotten, unjust world!!!

- NO SIR! Don't harm yourself.

As I passed through a small alley in the depths of the city, an abandoned alley, I could only notice a small store because of the noise I could not ignore. Indeed, I assumed a criminal had attempted to steal objects. Too bad, it's not as simple as they think. The police have already surrounded him. He only has two choices:

- Go to prison and leave his family behind without money, work, or food.

- Die and leave his family desperate but also poor.

He has nothing left to do. It's over for him. The police promise him financial aid if he surrenders peacefully, but let's be honest, the man's file is already open at the police station, and they are already talking about imprisoning him. I don't think a simple agent's opinion will be taken into account, especially in a world like ours, populated by corruption and evil.

I think he has understood this well. I decide to stay for a while, watching from a distance what happens. Will the man with the gun choose which option?

A true dilemma that has always interested me and that I have wanted to discuss with the friends I do not have.

Yes, since my early childhood, my parents always told me that this world is vulgar, merciless, that you should trust no one. Solitary as I am today. I have no one to turn to in times of need.

Were my parents right? Did they see the world the right way or did they just focus on one of its worst facets? I never found the exact answer. My parents died in a huge accident. That's what the police officer at my house told me that day. I wasn't there for them during their last moments...

13 years ago..

It is 19:24.

- Mom, I'm going out with friends! They invited me for dinner; it's going to be great!!

- Be careful, my angel, you know, the dark streets at night are very scary! Do you want me to come with you?

- No thanks, Mom! I'll be back later.

- He's gone?

- Yes.. but are you sure? Are we really doing it today? We didn't say goodbye.

- The loop according to my calculations closes today in a few hours. I haven't wasted a lifetime to fail at the end for a few feelings. You know me well.

It is 20:54

- Hello! My neighbor experienced a major incident. Come quickly. I hope they survive.

- We managed to put out the fire, but no trace of a fire amplifier or anything that could have caused it. The most qualified will handle it properly and open an investigation.

- Are there any injuries?!

- We have no trace of the parents. Sir, are you sure they were here?

- Yes, clearly! Before the fire, I saw them, and they turned off all the lights.

- We will assume that the bodies were evaporated by the power of the fire.. for now.

- Officer!! With my unit, we checked and did the initial steps of the investigation. As you confirmed, this fire is not normal. No trace of a capacitor or source. It erupted suddenly. Nothing in the house was burned until proven otherwise.

- …

- A child?

- Good evening, this is my house.

- … What do we tell him, Sir?

As the two agents spoke, it started to rain

- Rain? In June..

- There are even lightning, Sir.

- We're being told a storm is coming from the south!!

- How is that??

That day, I didn't really fear the rain or the storm. What captivated me was a blue crack in the sky. As if the sky was cracked. But no one seemed to have noticed. I also heard sounds that seemed familiar to me. I was still young.

Present: 23:37

Still frozen, watching the capture of the criminal. I kept thinking about my parents over and over.

Suddenly, I heard a shrill but familiar sound, the same one I had heard that night. Reflexively, I looked up at the sky. Although it was dark at such a late hour, I could see the beginning of a crack, the same crack..

I automatically stood up, having just sat down. And I checked again. It was clear. I saw it. I still did not realize what was happening.

Over these 13 years, the image remained in my mind, and I decided to study its significance. Apparently, it's not the first time someone has noticed it, but it's very rare. I tried each time to contact those who had posted the photos but to no avail; it's as if they had all disappeared, without exception.

On the internet, these few people all called it by the same name: The Blue Hole.

Why have I never been able to see it even once since that night? Why does it appear today precisely?

At that moment, I decided to take several photos of the crack and recordings of the sound. And I posted them directly on the same site where all the others had posted before me. And if the same thing that happened to them happened to me too? I didn't wait long before I received a call from a hidden number.

With a modified voice that I could not recognize, he started talking to me:

- Delete the documents you just posted about the Blue Hole.

I had already thought about this consequence of my actions. Indeed, I was sure that someone had taken care of all those who had posted before me, and I was the next on the list. I brought them deliberately to get closer to the enemy and defeat him more easily.

I decided to continue the discussion and refuse his offer to see where it might lead me.

- No

- Last warning, Mr. Rodhes!

He already knew my name.. I was dealing with someone not to be underestimated. I still gathered my courage and continued:

- Last answer from my side. It's a no.

Nothing more. Clearly nothing. No further response from him.

I heard nothing. I still checked and I was still on the call. Was he tracking me? Is that why he wanted to buy time?

I glanced at the crime scene. It was already over. The man had committed suicide with a bullet to the head.

- Ah… What is THIS THING

Something came out of nowhere and started running very quickly. Death? Is it heading towards the dead criminal or towards me? Logically, it should come for him.

I had no words left. Before me stood the definition of death itself, a kind of black aura with a tattered black outfit and a mask. It was flying.. Is it really the reincarnation of death as a being? Am I going to die? Is it my time?

I couldn't do anything yet. I was speechless. I had no power to stop it. Not even the strength to scream. I had closed my eyes. I regretted all my choices. I who thought I was confronting humans. I had fallen very low against creatures like this. I had no chance. I felt the aura approaching me more and more, little by little I was being engulfed by the strong pressure it was emitting around it. I could no longer breathe. It stood in front of me. I didn't dare look up to see its face. For me, it was the end.

It grabbed me by the throat with a single stiff and old hand. I didn't think anymore...

- BEEP BEEP Still this shadow!! Let's get rid of it!!

- Wong, stop attacking first!! You're going to get yourself killed one day.

- And there we go, it's over. We've absorbed it.

- And the boy?

- We arrived too late..

- Noted. Agent 1.3 to Central Headquarters: New victim found in the East sector of the city.

Confirmed status: Deceased.