The Shadow

The sand was floating in the air, pushed the blowing wind. A sandstorm was infuriating. The Kirkegaardsand was being morphed by the storm. Dunes were rising and falling like waves.

Kurban and his Shax squadron were there to find whoever was left. Yet finding someone alive there had become a rare event lately. The pit was transformed into an arena. The people who were against the city's will were being thrown there to fight for their life. This is what they knew. They were waiting for a survivor to show himself, but only lifeless corpses were standing there.

Kurban reunited his team and moved his hands to communicate them a direction. The storm was too strong to recover anyone and the fear of being discovered by the more frequent Dragonflies was rising.

One of the Shaxes took the lead from him and started moving to a point on the sand. All of them followed. He shook his head to indicate that there was something under it. Kurban nodded. The Shaxes started digging. After a while a rock showed itself. There was a symbol on it. A Hummingbird. They didn't look frightened. They moved it and a tunnel showed itself.

It was decided that one of them should stay there to look out for menaces, 'Birds or Dragonflies. The rest went in it.

Kurban jumped in and slided down on a rusty slider as he reached the bottom.

The blowing wind was still in their hears till the Shax on the surface sealed the hole.

For Kurban was like the first time he discovered the graveyard where resided the Shaxes.

"Where are we?" asked him to one of his teammates

"Looky arounds Kurbban" said one as the light turned on

It was like a cave. Skeletons of men and women where on the ground. The metallic walls where adorned by shelves which carried tanks and boxes.

One broken hooter. Under it a picture of eight people. Four adults and four children.

"What is it?" asked Kurban

"I thinks thatt itt usedy to bes called Bunkery"

"Do you mean Bunker?"

"Exasctly" told him the one who replied first

"The fact that it's signed with a 'Birds symbol doesn't bother you?"

"Its ussed to bey theirs"

On one of the walls there was a picture. On the bottom right there was a name and a date. The date wasn't clear, but the name was still readable.

Slaaf1619

The picture was black and white, most of it consumed by time. Old blood was on it. Yet something was still visible. A shadow in the sky surrounded by projectiles and flying objects. Like a dark star.

Metal and fire were crashing down from the sky. Propellers were screaming and guns were firing.

Drekavac was burning. Heat rays were being fired in different direction.

The wind was infuriating.

Khosrow was trying his best to drive the car through the mayhem. They weren't far from the city.

"What's happening?" screamed Cressida

"Whatever it is we must find a repair. Do you know any place?"

"There's one of our labs here where we keep the clones"

"We can't afford to stay there. We need something far from here. Something deep in the ground" said Khosrow while avoiding a collision with the aircrafts which were falling from the sky

"We must get back to my lab then"

"By car…are you crazy?"

"Do we have other options?"

Khosrow didn't answer to that. He knew that there wasn't a choice.

As they entered Scarbray, a huge squadron on fighter planes appeared over downtown. It was like an army of wasps.

A sonic boom went off behind them. A small figure was flying toward them when it veered up, toward the clouds.

The bombers kept their place as the smaller planes followed it.

"What was that?" asked Khosrow

"I don't know, drive Khos. We don't have much time"

They passed near Alusta and Suharto Peaks.

In the clouds red and yellow were exploding like fireworks.

Then flaming balls of fire started falling, destroying buildings, and killing people.

They were a little more than a mile from their destination when a sudden blast upset the car and pushed it toward a building.

The airbags went off quickly. Cressida didn't get many damages, unlike Khosrow. The impact fractured one of his legs and he was stuck in the car. He was screaming.

She was trying to help him. To get him out of the car.

Something fast and small crashed on the ground and created a small crater.

"Come on" said Cressida as she got her fiancée out of the car

His leg has been crushed. He was limping.

"We have to move" told him Cressida as she helped him walk.

From the crater emerged something.

It was small.

"It's…it's a…"

The object shoots two heat rays and started tearing everything which was around him down.

They entered the lab's building and reached the elevator.

From the glass windows were visible the bombers that were preparing to shoot their missiles at the entity.

Cressida was pressing on the button with unrest.

The elevator reached the floor.

"Get in" said her as she put him inside.

The missiles left the bombers. The figure on the ground jumped toward them.

She got in.

While the doors were closing, she saw the missiles exploding midair.

As the elevator started its descent, she put her back on the wall and sighed.

"Did you see it?" asked Khosrow hurt.

"What?"

"There was…like a…man"

The elevator stopped.

Cressida and Khosrow were getting in the lab when they noticed someone was already there.

A girl, a little younger than her. She was wearing her work uniform. She was one of the office workers, probably a secretary. On her chest there was a badge with a name:

Gwenore Ikuinen

Tithon was talking to her, but she wasn't there. Lily couldn't care about what he was saying because he was still thinking about the kiss and his announcement. She wasn't sure about that. She loved him but it wasn't entirely true. Her mother wanted that, not her.

They were in an elevator.

"Could you please stop?" asked her

Tithon didn't take it well.

"I don't care about your ex. I don't even know what happened to her. I thought that you loved me" lamented her

"But I love you. Therefore, I want to marry you"

"The decision is not mine"

"Why? Who is your mother really? Who scares you that much?"

"You don't remember but you already met her"

"When? How?" asked Tithon

The elevator stopped and they stepped out.

"Is this why you wanted me to come here? To meet her?"

"You need to meet her"

They moved around the house and passed in front of a painting.

There was a young girl with an old mother seated in front of her. They were both smiling.

"How old were you when you purchased it?" asked him with curiosity

"I don't know"

"Your mother doesn't look like you, not at all"

As they moved past the painting, they found themselves in another room.

It was familiar.

"Wait, I've already been here. It wasn't like that…. where is your sister?"

Lily didn't like the question. As much as she wanted to talk about his grief to him, he couldn't.

"Which sister? She never had a sister" said a voice behind them.

Tithon turned and saw her.

A figure in a black dress and a black hood which was covering its face. She was completely covered by her clothes. A powerful aura.

She felt it.

He felt it too. He understood it.

"Lady Gehenna, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance" said Tithon while bowing a little

"I know who you are Tithon Ikuinen of Haguel" said her with a commanding tone

"My lady…I'm not from Haguel anym…"

"You were born there; you grow up there and you worked there. You are a Guel Mr. Ikuinen"

Tithon didn't know how to reply to that. Didn't want to sabotage himself. She was the one who made him what he was now. He would've never gone against her.

The fact that she was Lilith's mother scared him a little.

"Leave us alone my dear. Don't forget about your task" told her to her daughter

She said nothing and left the room while looking at Tithon.

As she went out, Lady Gehenna seated at a table and showed him his seat with his right hand.

He seated, anxiously.

His hands were shaking, his legs were stiff.

"You won't marry my daughter" said her without flinching

"But, my lady, we already told it to the people, it…"

"You told them, without asking her or me. Do not forget our deal Mr. Ikuinen" said her calmly

"I know but how can we…" he was panicking

"Your words. Your problem"

He didn't accept it. He wanted it. He started bragging.

She was standing there. No words, no gestures. A ghost.

"Please, I'll do anything for you. Please…"

"You can leave now" concluded her

He had tears in his eyes. He wanted to look her in the eyes, but the dark veil was too thick.

He gave up. He stood up.

He found our way out and got in the elevator. He dried his eyes.

Anger. He felt it.

Grudge.

Meanwhile Lady Gehenna was still sitting there.

In silence.

Till a butler entered in the room with a plate and a device on it.

She took him from it and, after the butler left and shut the door, she turned it on.

It was a call.

There was someone on the other side.

The device sizzled and a voice spoke.

"Good evening my lady"

She smiled

"Good evening, Gluskap"

Malsumis was sitting on his jail's bed. He was thinking about his brother and was worried. Not because he thought that he wasn't able to manage the situation but because he was scared. He feared what he intended to do. He didn't understand what was different this time.

He needed to get out and reach him. The point is that he didn't know about the prison. He didn't know where it was located.

It was hard to keep the mind running when there was white everywhere. The screen was white too.

There wasn't natural light there.

Not even a cellmate. Solitude.

Just him and his guilt.

Mabdil didn't need to die. He was just doing his job.

"It's hard, isn't it?" asked a voice outside of his cell

"Who is there?" told him without fear

"I know what you did"

"Who are you? Show yourself"

Someone who was standing on the wall stood on and moved toward the cell

"It's you. What do you want?" asked with a disdained tone

Lilith was standing in front of him, behind the cell's grille

"I know what you and your brother want to do. I want to be a part of it"

Malsumis grinned and laughed.

"What's so funny about it?"

Malsumis stopped laughing and recomposed himself.

"Why should I trust you Lilith? Why should I trust a person like you?"

"I don't expect you to do it. I just think that we can help each other"

"So, let me understand. The one who is going to marry a guy that is just a pawn in your mother's hands, who told me and my brother to manipulate him and bring him to kill Alastor wants to go against the most powerful person in the Hara? Is that a fucking joke?" joked him, sarcastically.

"Don't say that"

"Sure, but you know it's true. There's also the fact that you love him. Does your mother know about it?"

"No"

Malsumis stood up and went toward her. She slowly backed away.

"So, what could happen if your mother is going to know about it? Let's see a kill. Or maybe something more painful"

"Do not even say it"

"But…you know that she would do it. In fact, she was the first to do it"

"How do you know that?"

"Being the Co-Chief of Security let you have access to a lot of secrets"

"What do you want Malsumis?"

"Get me out of this shithole and I'll help you. Even though your partner seems lost"

"What do you mean?"

"He got what he wanted but he's messing it up. Are you sure that he would join us?"

She didn't answer immediately. She didn't consider it.

All the Hummingbirds of the highest ranking were reunited around the table. A glass of water in front of each of them.

Pyramus and Gluskap were sitting on two diametrically opposed seat.

"For centuries we have fought against both the city and the Shaxes, for centuries we didn't manage free ourselves. Every time our plan went to the dogs because they knew about us, they knew that we were coming. They're prepared for that. But now, they're building an actual army to hunt us down. We can't face them alone" said Pyramus

"So, your solution is to ask wild monsters to join us?" asked Gluskap

"Yes. And I don't think that they're just monsters. Last time they showed us that they understand strategy and tactics"

"Alright, alright. Why would they join us then? After all we've been at war with them for ages. I doubt that they would stand shoulder to shoulder with us on the battlefield"

Two of the lieutenants grinned.

"They want to be in the city, they need to be in the city. They lived in the desert but it's not bearable for them"

"Where would you put them in the city? There isn't space for everyone. What about the fact that they are not able to live under the sun"

"The Hara and Haguel still have a large underground system. We've used it for years to move undetected"

"We don't even know how the hyperloop works and how it modified the underground tunnels"

"That's right Kap, that's why we need someone who is used to move underground and create holes"

"Do you even hear yourself? This is not the right way"

"Well, it's a different way"

No one said anything.

"Kap, Hummingbirds. Give me a chance to strike a deal with them. We don't need to lose our men and women against them. We need them to get our freedom. At least let me try to free Perteklinis"

"We don't know if he's held captive or he has decided to stand against us? It's too risky"

"Let me try. I'll go alone with a squadron, in case things will go south"

"We haven't decided anything yet. Calm yourself" said Gluskap

"Let's vote then"

The meeting went shut for a while. The members were thinking and confabulating with themselves

After ten minutes Gluskap stood up.

He looked everyone in the eyes, especially Pyramus

"'Birds, raise your hands if you're against the decision the send Pyramus with a squadron of fifteen men to the Shaxes to resonate with them, strike an alliance and bring Kurban Perteklinis back"

Seven people were seated at the table. Three raised their hands.

"The others"

Pyramus and two others showed their hands.

"It's all up to you now" said Pyramus to Gluskap

For him it was a hard choice. Not because he didn't believe in his partner's plan but because he was worried about him. He'd already lost his brother. He didn't want to lose him too.

"No. It's not an option we can afford right now"

Pyramus didn't believe it. Why would Gluskap avoid diplomacy?

Tithon was sitting in his office. Alone. He wasn't over Lasy Gehenna orders. He felt restrained by her.

He didn't like it.

His feet were tapping quickly on the floor. Just thinking about it made him anxious.

He stood up. Stretched his legs and started moving around, back, and forth.

How could he fix up his situation? If he was going to say to the people that he was joking his mask would have fallen easily, showing how scared he was.

He needed a distraction, something to divert the people attention toward another matter.

He was trying to find something.

He went to the bathroom. On the tap there were plastic cans with pills of different colors.

He looked himself in the mirror.

"Do not take them, you miserable prick. Do not take them" was repeating to himself

He slapped himself on his cheek.

"Man up stupid shithead"

Again

"You stupid, miserable cunt"

Then he saw him.

Alastor. Standing behind him and laughing.

"Moron, you thought that you were above Gehenna, didn't you?" was bantering his ex friend

"I'm not a moron, shut…shut up" muttered him

"So what, are you going to kill me again? Would you like to squash my head again?"

As he was hearing those words, he saw his head drenched in blood. A huge pool of red blood. His hands were scarlet, sprinkled with small pieces of flesh.

The liquid's volume was rising. It was at his abdomen. The smell of blood was sickening.

He started sinking.

He subsided. He was choking.

Another voice.

Water stopped rising and he was washed on the sand.

All the bodies of the people he has killed for sport in the Kirkegaardsand. They started waking up, like zombies. They were chanting his name.

"Ti-thon….Ti-thon"

The voice he heard before was still in his head. It wasn't clear what it was saying.

He started running from them. He wasn't moving.

A sudden sandstorm knocked him down.

He was sweating.

A woman in a white dress emerged from the storm.

Lilith.

"You promised my love"

That voice.

Endymion.

"You promised"

He tried to reach her.

"You promised we would have stayed together forever"

He crawled toward her.

She touched her.

As he did that, she looked at him and the dress turned black.

"Mr. Ikuinen. You're not in control" said Lady Gehenna at him as her body started to scale up.

She became a giant and obscured the sun, which looked like a giant mechanic sphere.

"You won't ever be more powerful than me, Haguel's scum"

She raised one of her feet. She was ready to mash him.

She stepped on him.

All went black.

He woke up. He was sweating in the bathtub. The bath's mirror was broken. His forehead was bleeding. In his left hand there was a plastic can. It was empty.

The effects of Rage, Disgust and Vigilance mixed in a few pills.

The desert.

He needed a map.

He stood up and strolled toward his desk. He was tired.

He knew that he needed to look in the desert. That the answer to most of his issues was there.

He opened the map on his touchscreen. It was an old map. One which he used to look when Alastor was working with him.

He slided his fingers on the screen.

Again.

And again.

Then he found it.

It was a blank zone with a medium sized polygon. Not far from the city's walls.

He didn't know why he never noticed it during his trips to Kirkegaardsand.

He didn't know what was there.

But he knew who could've helped him with it.