The Pyramid

Tithon and Endymion were talking in the living room when someone knocked at the door. It was 8 p.m. and the sky was already dark. Only moonrays came into the flat from the windows.

"Is that Kurban?" asked her.

"Yes, I think but I've asked him to come later"

He woke up and went to the door. He opened the door and found him there. Kurban was wearing black jumper and grey trousers. His hair was tidy and covered by a red beanie.

"Hi boss" said him with a smile on his face.

"Good evening Kurban. I'm glad that you're here but I've asked you to come later"

"I know but tomorrow I'll start earlier because there will be a new shift boss. Anyway, I've brought a bunch of strawberries and two apples"

The lad gave him a envelope and got through the door.

"Oh, it wasn't necessary but thanks"

"Just wanted to show how grateful I'm to be at your house. I hope that your wife will appreciate it"

"Yes, I think that..." started Tithon when Endymion emerged from the room and introduced herself to Kurban.

"I will. You're sweet Kurban"

She took the fruits from his husband's hands and started unpacking them.

"Strawberries, wow. They're expensive these days" exclaimed Endymion.

"That's a gift, for your hospitality"

"You're kind. Alright come here everyone and eat. We don't want to waste this kind of food" said here while putting the strawberries in a bowl and the apples in a plate.

They ate and talked for a while. Endymion got to know better his husband's colleague better. She seemed to like him.

"I'm so tired. I'm sorry guys but I'll have to go to bed. Tomorrow I'll start the new job and I don't want to be late" said Endymion after two and a half hours while she was stretching her arms.

She woke up and kissed Tithon on a cheek.

"Goodnight boys. It was nice meeting you Kurban. Now I understand why my husband likes you"

She went to the main room and closed the door behind her.

"She's really lovely boss" said the boy after a while.

"Indeed, she is"

"How did you meet her?"

"Well..." he paused for a while.

It was weird. He just had flashes about his first encounter with her.

"I think that it was on.... the Aokigahara Tower"

"I thought that you've never been in the High Hara. Are you sure about it?" asked Kurban confused.

"I think that I've been there at least one time and it was there that I meet her. It was at the top of the Aokigahara. I don't remember how I got there but I've met her there. I don't know, it was a long time ago"

"How long have you been together Tithon?"

"Probably around one and a half millennium"

"Wow, you're a young couple then. How you ever been with other women?"

"Ok, now you're asking too many question. By the way I wanted you here today to tell you about what happened this morning" cut short Tithon.

"Oh....ok. If you say so. What happened then?"

Tithon drunk a glass of water and then started explaining.

"It seems like I've been promote"

"That's awesome man, what are you going to do now?"

"I don't know really. They said that tomorrow I'll understand. And they got me this watch" said him while showing his wrist to his almost friend.

"Cool. It seems like one of the accessories worn by the Halars but it looks good on you"

"Yeah, I think so. A bit heavy but stylish"

"Nice. Did they tell you anything else?"

"We have to forget about what happened yesterday"

"Just that. That's odd" said Kurban with a face which exuded uncertainty.

"I thought that too. But, anyway, you should it" said him like an imposition.

"Ok. But you weren't alone when you discovered it. Why didn't I get anything?" Kurban looked disappointed.

"Don't know. Wait what time is it?" asked Tithon to gloss over it.

"It's...it's 11 pm"

"I'm sorry mate but I'll ask you to leave because tomorrow we're both going to have an intense day"

"Ok ok but they didn't really say anything about..." tried to ask Kurban.

"Don't know. It was good having you here anyway and thanks for the fruits" said Tithon while rushing him to the door.

"Not a problem Tithon. May...I ask you just one favour?"

"Oh...yes. Shoot"

"Just promise not to forget about me along the way. Just promise it. I think that you're a good person and I'm glad that you're letting me becoming your friend. Just..."

"I will Kurban. Don't worry. Good Night and see you tomorrow" said him while closing the door.

Kurban stayed for a while on the door's threshold. He was still thinking about his friend's last words. He was hoping for the best.

The next day Tithon started the day by taking part in a meeting. There was the Responsible for Waste Disposable who came from the Hara to give indication about the new task which was selected by the managers of the Hara.

"Today we're going to work around the sewers pipeline. To each one of you will be entrusted a team which will follow your instructions in order to clean the points indicated on the map"

Said the Responsible while indicating some rounded places on a digital map. There were 25 targets all around the city.

He tapped the screen and the map showed the pipeline's underground map. It was wide and intricate. Tithon felt overwhelmed by all of it.

"Each of you will receive this map and a few trackers to avoid losing anyone there and coordinate every action"

"Is it safe sir?" asked one of the other shift boss.

"Yes indeed. If you don't consider yourself fit for the job you can leave and resign. We don't have time to lose"

"Sir, I'm new here. May I ask you if I can have someone beside me today to help me understand the job?" said Tithon with a timid voice.

"You...We know about you. Don't worry. We'll be with you all the time" answered the Responsible.

"Hey, what about us?" shouted another one.

"Us...what?" asked him annoyed.

"Why does he have to get treated differently when he's just like us? Why is he here in the first place, he used to be a normal worker yesterday, what happened?" asked someone.

"This is none of your business. Are you afraid of the monsters which resides there?"

"These are just legends. None ever lived in the sewers and no one ever will because there's nothing"

"It could be, are you afraid of something mate?" asked another one.

The banter didn't land well on him as he darted swiflty in front of the joker.

"Now. It's not time to jump to our throats. Prepare yourself and go. Your team will be made of seven people chosen by us. You'll meet them near the relative beads"

They started preparing when Tithon was approached by the responsible.

"Whatever will happen today, you have to bring all your squad back. Just do your job and leave. I understand that's your first day but by tomorrow you should be independent. Am I clear?" asked him.

"Yes...Yes, sir. Is that true about the monsters?"

"Absolutely not. Don't belive to your colleagues stories. Go to work now"

He left his superior and reached his squad. There he found Perteklinis.

"Hi boss" greeted him.

He smiled but didn't say anything.

"Alright...alright. Well, today we're going to clean some pipes in the Alusta district. Be sure to keep your trackers online and follow my istructions. We have to finish the job by sunset. Is it all clear?"

"Yeah, just a question?" said one of his subject.

"Ok...ok, what do you want to ask?"

"Are you new? Because we don't think that's good for us"

"I'm a newly promoted shift boss. What are your concerns Mr...Otrov?"

"We don't need a rookie to order us around. We're perfectly able to do our job by ourselves" said him with arrogance.

"Are you...are you serious?"

"For sure. And by the way, I remember seeing your face around us worker in the past? How did you become a shift boss exactly?" continued Otrov.

"Give him a chance Otrov" said Kurban.

Tithon was speechless when he felt a presence behind him. He turned around and saw the Rensponsible.

"Is everything under control here?" asked him with a calm and soothing voice.

"Yes..." started Tithon with an unsure tone.

"This cocksucker is pretending to be our boss without being actually able to lead. Probably because he's just a minion without talent" bashed Otrov.

"What did you say Mr.Otrov?" asked the Responsible.

"I've said that he's a fucking..."

"Say that to my face Mr.Otrov like you said to him"

He was challenging the worker.

"You...you are a..." Otrov's confidence was dwindling.

"What?"

"You are a...a...a"

"Mr.Otrov take your things and leave the premise. You won't be working here anymore"

"Is that...a joke? I've been working here for five millenia and you want to fire me like that. I hope that he ends up like Lykill. No one would care to look for him"

"Get out or I will personally hand you over to the district's whiskers" threatened the Responsible.

Otrov threw away his tools and left while wawing a middle finger toward Tithon.

"I don't want to witness a scene like again Tython. This is your first day as shift boss but we expect you to show some character. This is the only way to accomplish anything relevant in this firm. Do you understand?"

"Yes...yes...s.." tried Tython.

"Show me some confidence for Gehenna's sake" shouted him.

"Yes. Sir" said Tython who was trying his best to avoid any kind of problem with his superior.

The Responsible left and all the group moved into the bead. Meanwhile a new young member joined the group.

The bead started moving. Fast and faster. After a while the sun disappeared as they went deep into the sewers system. Pipes of huge diameters crossed by brown smelly water and populated by rats of different sizes.

After fortyfive minutes they reached the district and got off the bead. Alusta's sewers were a mess. It seemed like a riot unfolded there. There were metallic tools all over the place and plastic rods of different lenghts to block the water flow. One of the pipe was even damaged and a symbol made of blue spraypaint. It was a flying hummingbird.

"Someone has been here" said one of the workers.

"It's not our...concern. We have to free this pipe. Don't waste your time around a meaningless picture" said Tython while trying to imitate the Responsible.

"It doesn't seem meaningless. We can't act like it has never been here. We should document it" suggested Kurban.

"I know Perteklinis but we're not here to report. We're here to work. So shut up and get to your job"

"Oh...ok boss" Kurban seemed hurt by Tithon's weird coldness.

"Hey, Tithon, there's no need to be so harsh"

"Just do like all the others. Clean all of that shit up and stop wasting time"

The other works didn't say anything.

They worked for hours under Tithon's supervision without breaking a sweat.

While he was distracted Kurban approached one of his colleagues.

"Hey you. What's your name?" asked Kurban.

The worker looked around to avoid being caught talking with him.

"I'm Beurit. We're not supposed to talk what do you want?" said the guy while removing a bunch of plastic stuff with extreme effort and speed.

"Just wanted to ask you. Do you know what does the Hummingbird mean?"

"You still thinking about it. Let it go. It's probably a crackhead who likes to pester the DIYU" answered him without any kind of interest.

"And what about all that mess? How did it arrive here? It isn't the first weird thing which happened lately..."

"What was the other one exactly?" asked Beurit.

"Well, I was on duty in the West Sector when..."

"Perteklinis, what I've told you about chatting during your worktime. Come here" ordered Tithon.

Kurban did as his superior ordered.

"Why are you calling me by my surname and why are you acting like that. You don't have to be like the Responsible just because..."

"I have to Kurban. This job is too important and I can't lose it. Endymion and I need balance. So please, do not fuck it all up. We've known each other for almost a week and I appreciate you but please, don't disrespect me"

"If you say so. I'm just worried that..."

An abrupt sound interrupted Kurban. All the other workers stopped and waited.

"Who's there?" shouted Tithon.

The sound reached their hears again.

"Show yourself. We're not looking for troubles here"

The clatter came closer. Tithon and the others backed away.

Suddenly a grey smelly rat emerged from the pile of plastic and metal.

"Just a lost rodent guys. Get back to work"

"Tithon..." started Kurban.

"You too Perteklinis"

"How was today, your first day as shift boss?" asked Endymion.

"Hard. We weren't able to complete the task because we've had some problem with one of the workers and Kurban wanted to know more about a stupid symbol in the sewers" answered Tithon tired.

"What was it like?"

"Just a blue hummingbird. What about your day?" quickly answered Tithon while changing the topic.

"Quiet and easy. My boss, Umay Alim, is respectful and a joy to work with" said her while exuding happiness from all his words.

"What are you doing exactly? I'm sorry, I forgot about it"

"Not much, just producing some drugs. She consider them revolutionary. To me they look more like coloured pills. I've heard that she's working on a new one. She calls it her magnum opus"

"Oh...cool"

There was silence for a while.

"Is something bothering you?" asked Endymion a bit worried.

"Nothing just...Do you think that I should change if the job and my bosses require me to do it?"

"Yes...I think yes. Just at work. You shouldn't change yourself entirely for your job. Why?"

"Because I would feel devastated if my job were to interfere with my actual life. I don't want to lose my connections, that's all"

"Come here" said her as she kissed him on the lips.

"Everything will be alright. Just...don't lose your job, ok?"

"Sure. We can and we should aspire for something better. Always" answered him.

Clearing Alusta's sewers was taking more time than expected. They were three years beyond the deadline. It seemed like an endless job, and everyone was feeling tired and a bit stressed.

"Why did they assign us to this district?" lamented Kurban.

"Get back to work Perteklinis, we're all fed-up with it. Don't back up till it's done. Everyone is doing its best to end it on time. I'm already under scrutiny" remarked Tithon.

"Listen to the boss Kurban" said Beurit.

"And what about the fact that in three years no one told us anything about the reason why we're here in the first place?" continued the lad.

"You're not paid to ask questions Perteklinis" answered Tithon.

Kurban broke a plastic rod by throwing at it all his anger.

"Don't make me fire you. I don't want to fire anyone because I know how much you care about the job" told Tithon in Kurban's ear.

He looked at his supervisor with enraged eyes.

Three years felt to him like nothing, but he just wanted to move on.

Things were moving slowly, and he didn't like it.

"No way" said Beurit.

"What happened?" asked Tithon worried.

"Look at that. Does it ring any bell?"

He showed him the same hummingbird symbol they encountered years ago. There were strange spheres and pyramids under it. They were over all the trash and a strange light was coming out of them.

"I thought that we got rid of it"

"Do you still think that it's just an artistic symbol?" asked Kurban.

"I don't care. Remove it Beurit"

"Shouldn't we report it? It seems like a job for Mabdil's whiskers" said Beurit, who was trying to avoid his duty.

"The Commander…would say that this is just vandalism. After all he's just another Halars. Go on. Scrap it off the wall" insisted Tithon.

Beurit went through the garbage and faced the Hummingbird.

"What's this sound?" asked one of the other workers.

"I don't hear anything" said Tithon.

"I'm hearing it too. It's like a beeping sound" added Kurban.

"Where? Can you find what's emitting it?" asked another worker a bit worried.

"What are those?" said Beruit while picking up one of the pyramids.

The object didn't react.

"Throw it away, we have other problems right now" ordered Tithon.

"Before doing it we should bring it to the headquarters to understand what those are" said Kurban.

"You're not the supervisor here"

The beeping wasn't slowing down.

Beurit was touching the object when his finger went over a button which was set on one of the pyramid's edges.

The beeping stopped.

"What have you done? Why it stopped?" asked Kurban.

"I don't know, there was a button here…"

"Four of you, get in and help him get rid of those shiny things. Not you Kurban, I need a word with you" ordered Tithon.

They went in and started helping him.

Tithon and Kurban moved toward the beads to avoid being listened by their colleagues.

"Are you going to disrespect me again today? You can't act like that just because we have a certain form of friendship" said Tithon.

"I wasn't disrespecting you. It's my right to say what I think"

"Not with one of your supervisors. I can accept it for a while but you're pushing me. I don't want to report you and, as I said before, make you lose this job"

"Is that a threat? Are you trying to imitate our Responsible?" asked Kurban angered.

"No, I'm giving you the opportunity to clean your act"

"It seems like a threat. What's your deal?"

"Just trying to save your ass. I don't want you on the streets, homeless"

"Just because you have the money and a better job now, you shouldn't tell me how to live my life" said Kurban.

Tithon felt hurt but tried to keep his cool without escalating the situation.

"I can't believe that you're not going to say…"

"We have a problem here…. found something you should…come…we need aid…" shouted Beurit in Tithon's headphones.

"We have to go back to…."

A powerful explosion cut Kurban off. The shockwave threw them against the bead. Fire rose up from the sewers entrance. The structure was collapsing.

Kurban and Tithon were both mildly injured. Unable to stand up.

"Call…Call the…Headquarters. Oh God" shouted Tithon.

Tithon tried to but looked like all the communications were down.

Two masked figures emerged from the rubbles without a clear explanation. They didn't notice them.

The two friends started losing their senses. In the distance the buzzing sound of a helicopter was approaching them.

The strangers bolted away, scared by what was coming. One of them looked at Kurban. Its mask was like a metallic scold's bridle, a horrifying relic of ancient times, which covered eyes and mouth. Violet short curly hair emerged from all the iron, like a thimble's tip. A dejavu.

His vision was becoming blurry. He looked to his side and noticed a poll of red blood. He went down. The whirring was closer.

A hand touched his head.

And then they both passed out.