In the dimly lit reception desk of the "state-of-the-art" Capital Police Station in England,
Officer Zach—no, Old Zach—who had close to nothing to do these days, was leisurely flipping through the latest issue of newspapers. This good stuff was on the brink of extinction due to this new generation and their false Internet, but the few who knew what they were doing, like himself, only trusted the classics.
Truly a shame…
As he was smugly reminiscing over the bygone times, a change caught his attention. It was a figure approaching with unsteady steps and a frenzied gait. These changes understandably caused the experienced officer to tense up as he asked with a piercing gaze:
"Who is this?
Got any trouble?"
There was no response. So, after a drawn-out silence, the figure finally revealed themselves under the dim lighting.
The first thing Old Zach saw was a pair of hauntingly beautiful and hypnotic eyes of gold, making even this veteran subconsciously cower in fear. The rest of this mysterious stranger, though? Well, it was obvious he was homeless, with unkempt hair tied in a messy bun and sickeningly pale skin, in a fairly worn, silky black nightgown.
To be honest, he looks like someone who belongs in a hospital. Not a police station.
Of course… it had to be one of those damn homeless brats again, on the brink of death, looking for a warm place to pass on.
"Hey! Brat!
Where do you think this is!? An orphanage!?
I'm asking who you are!"
The figure paused and then looked at Old Zach sharply. Then he said, in a fluent and pleasant voice, if a bit offended:
"A what? Me?
Heavens no…
I am Everest June."
—
Officer Zach raised an eyebrow, as if probing for him to continue.
"I—y'see—have quite a unique mental condition. One which I hear you few over here handle quite well, sir," Everest said.
He noticed that the more he spoke, the darker the expression on Officer Zach's face became, until it no longer had any sympathy—as if he were looking at a wild animal, a very dangerous one.
"And are you certain of this?"
The officer asked perfunctorily.
"I am,"
Everest answered similarly.
"I see… then follow me."
Officer Zach spared the entrance behind Everest a glance, his tone getting increasingly heavy. Then he turned around and activated a certain mechanism, resulting in the opening of a secret door behind the desk.
Everest noticed it led to a flight of stairs and briskly observed a few other key notes.
Sometime during the conversation, the whole room had been placed on lockdown.
He is obviously confident despite being alone… strange. That means he likely plans to restrain me in no time.
All these thoughts were arranged in the next three seconds before Everest calmly followed suit, after gracelessly leaping over the desk.
Should be about time. No?
He was about to cross the door when a hand jabbed him backwards.
"Wait!
I need you to put this on first."
Officer Zach basically stoned Everest with the said item, and as soon as he saw it, his expression fell.
It was a shapeless iron mask, obviously suffused with bleeding-edge tech—judging from the eerie feeling it gave off and how heavy it was.
The mask was shapeless, but from the looks of it, conformation was one of its many functions. Its eyes and mouth were tightly shut, and its surface was of a dull, lusterless silver.
"This is?"
Everest asked, as though he didn't expect such developments.
Officer Zach didn't seem offended by the question. On the contrary, he seemed rather pleased for once, a light smile playing on his lips.
"A Sanity Mask.
Hehe, it's to keep your kind's 'condition' from worsening," said Officer Zach soon after.
Aww~ you shouldn't have, really.
Everest forced a polite smile before reluctantly stuffing his head into the chilling mask, and as soon as he did, the mask conformed to the shape of his face. His cognitive ability drastically sank. It was as if his 'mind' had been frozen near the limit.
More importantly, though… why can't I open the eyes of this thing?!
You give me eyes and they don't open?!
He asked the question as if he did not already know the answer.
After letting out a silent sigh, Everest hesitated before saying:
"Shall we?"
Officer Zach grinned from ear to ear—maybe because Everest wouldn't know—before reminding him with mandatory compassion:
"Ahem… watch your step."
Then, without pause, he proceeded up the flight of stairs.
Everest didn't stand on ceremony either and quickly followed behind.
Hehe… walking up a flight of stairs without eyes isn't so difficult after the first step or two.
In no time, they arrived at the crest of the flight of stairs, and there Everest heard the sound of automatic doors sliding open before being assaulted by raging winds, threatening to sweep him away at any moment.
"We're here."
Officer Zach's voice was barely discernible from the howling of the winds. So was the sound of his increasingly fleeting footsteps.
Okay…
Everest hurriedly reached for the frames of the doors and grasped them tightly. Then he gritted his teeth and crouched low before proceeding carefully.
The rooftop of Capital Police Station had been converted to a helipad. All around Everest, the sky was bluish-grey and riddled with clouds.
Not that he knew any of that.
After tripping and picking himself up a few times, he heard the roar of powerful blades in motion. Then he paused, realizing the officer had already come to stand face-to-face with him.
When did he—?
"Hop on. That there is what you wished for. Your ride to Stellar High."
Everest stared at him vacantly with the closed eyes of the mask for a while before saying indifferently:
"Not sure I can hop on that myself.
I'd argue I'm just about spent from our little episode just now."
He emphasized "hop on."
Officer Zach chuckled before letting out an irritated tisk.
"What's that supposed to mean? Your kind can do anything, right?"
Hehe… jokes on you.
You're looking at a fraud.
Everest was at a loss for how to respond. So Officer Zach lowered his head and let out a heavy sigh. Then he unceremoniously tossed Everest over his shoulder, and after a few labored steps, they arrived at "what he wished for."
Officer Zach traced the surface of the aircraft with his hands before saying wistfully:
"They don't make them like they used to, eh?"
Everest blinked behind the mask.
"I wouldn't know."
The officer tisked again before slamming Everest hard to the floor of the vehicle through its open doors.
Everest hesitated before stuttering while catching his breath:
"I'll… miss… you too."
He fumbled for a seat and finally eased up, as the officer noiselessly retreated as if this was just another day for him.
Then the doors slowly slid shut, and the aircraft slowly took off.
Everest didn't hesitate to take off the mask, only to soon realize that it was all for naught.
Oh. Oh no.
After a brief respite, his cognitive ability plummeted even further.
Is there really any need for it this time?!
I'll literally be in the middle of the air?!
The last things he saw were the distant figure of Officer Zach becoming increasingly distant with every second, until all he saw was the distant silhouette of Capital Police Station. Eventually, all he saw were clouds all around him.
Then everything went black.
—
"So, your name is Everest June. As in 'June.'
Is that correct?"
The person opposite Everest was a young woman with snow-white hair and ruby eyes, in a fashionable corporate blouse. From beneath the standard desk, he also noticed her pair of sky-blue heels.
All around him, the brightly lit room was nothing but empty space on oak floors. On the opposite white walls by his sides were tall arched windows, bringing stark light and shadows.
Everest smiled politely at the interviewer.
"That is correct."
She smiled warmly in return.
"Then welcome to Stellar High, Everest June."
And in his head, he heard once more:
[Welcome to Stellar High, Everest June…]