A night in Cydonia
A sandstorm was engulfing the city, hazing the streets, while the lights revealed blanketing the place with red. People walking outside had their faces covered with cloth; cars around the roads had their blinkers on as they drove by slowly.
A taxi whooshes through the sandstorm picking up a passenger.
"Where to sir?"
The man was a salaryman dressed in a formal grey suit, while undoing his tie he says.
"Sacred Star Spa please, near the eyes of Cydonia." He taps the driver's tip box with a card "make it quick though"
The driver nodded, zooming- swerving past the cars on the road like the sandstorm wasn't blocking his view.
Arriving in the scene.
A long line of people were waiting in the spa, while a body guard blocked the doorway. Stopping people and checking their ID
Once the taxi arrived, the man had his entire face covered and was wearing glasses now, it wasn't shaded, but the lens blurred his identity.
At the entrance the bodyguard blocks his way.
"ID or Reservation sir"
He shows his phone a QR code, and the guard scans it.
"You may proceed"
Entering the spa, he is accompanied by a man who was also dressed sharply, but he looked more like a pimp than a salaryman. "Haha! Buddy, nice to see you again! I've got somebody fresh today!"
Walking further, each row had oiled up muscular men wearing nothing but thongs and a veil.
"Helloooo sir~"
"Yoohooo"
"C'mere baby, I'll massage you real good"
But then he came across a tall one, stringy muscles, and fair skin.
"Like what you see, master?"
He up-downed this towering man, whistling at the sight
"-you new here?"
"Does it matter?"
"Is this the guy you've been talking about?"
"That's him alright! You oughta climb that- y'know what I'm sayin'?"
They entered the massage room, and the salaryman was already stripping his clothes down..
Right before the pimp could leave, he whispered to the male prostitute
"That's him"
Then he left.
The salaryman was already lying down, butt booty naked.
The prostitute walks towards the man, already pouring down the oil on his back.
"Mmmh~" the man said "make sure to dig a little deeper than your usual, 'kay?"
"Anything for you master~" The whore was already rubbing his hands against the man's back. Driving his thumbs on the joints of his spine.
"Ooh, higher please"
He goes higher
"Higher baby"
The whore's bulge was now pressing against the man's back
"Oh! Right on the delts please"
He pressed his thumbs against the man's shoulders then slowly reached for the man's face. The man starts sucking on the whore's finger, and starts moaning "Oh baby that's the spot!"
"Right you are"
Then the whore immediately breaks the man's neck, twisting it a hundred and eighty degrees. The whore pulls out his phone right from his clothes hanging on the side of the room.
"Yes hello Charlotte? The man's already gone"
"[Excellent Kremidal, stick the paper I sent you over his body]"
He pulls out a piece of paper right from the back of his phone case, it had an almost alien sigil stamped on it. He sticks it to the body, then changes his clothes to casual. A pair of mid cut white forces, black jeans, loose denim jacket, and a tank top underneath.
"Alright I got it covered"
"[Oui, it is safe to leave the premises- give the pimp the tip I sent you]" While Charlotte was saying that, Kremidal already tapped his card on the pimps phone, the pimp nodded- snaps his fingers, and a pair of bodyguards dispose to the body as after they briefly entered, the two bodyguards got out of the room dragging the salaryman's body.
"[I'm sorry you have to do this, he didn't touch you did he?]"
"It's alright, I swing both ways anyway." He says while he rubs out the last drop of oil from his hands "also, he wasn't me type. By the way, did you kept track of my debt?"
"[Ami, I was about to say that. The good news is your debt was down to 4.5 billion chips I healed almost half of your people even before they were confined by the hospital.]"
Kremidal finally arrives in the parking lot; he looks over the caged window at the parking space as the sandstorm is still ongoing, but starting to subside and barely scraping the parking lot. "Oi Charlotte, are you looking through the window right now?"
"[Oui, why did you ask?]"
"How long has this sandstorm been going?"
"[Quite a while, it's been raging even before your kill confirm]"
Kremidal finally enters his victim's car as he pulls out the remote keys from his pocket, he was still on the phone this whole time, he hissed "Shite, 4.5 billion is still billions Charl- also, I'll have to talk to you tomorrow because this sandstorm doesn't look like there's an end for tonight"
"[Not to worry mon ami, I have plenty of time- take some rest you need it]"
"Thank you, ttyl" He drops the phone and drives off.
Meanwhile at the sub station at Cavéz Avinolia
While a sandstorm was razing the landscape, Claire covered her face with fabric into a hijab, a few tufts of hair were peering out from her forehead as she looked down with her face drooping. Adorned with a duffle bag,, she wears heavy thick clothing, a bomber jacket, heavy cargo pants, and the same chunky dad shoes she usually wears, as she stands between other passengers with reflector vests and hard hats waiting for the train.
The train arrives as the station chimes
"[ECONOMY CHANNEL FROM CAVÉZ AVINOLIA TO CYDONIA HAS ARRIVED]"
All of the passengers scramble towards every reachable doorway, Claire had to squeeze past through, elbowing a few people away just for her to get a spot, right before the carriage closes.
Surprisingly, the carriage was spacious despite the amount of passengers outside. Sighing, she finally finds a place to sit down lugging her hefty duffle bag. She looked at the people around her, who were either wearing construction gear. The sandstorm outside began to subside.The ride was quiet, the sand outside seemed to have only blurred the view outside. She couldn't help but fall asleep.
A few quiet hours pass by
"[NOW ARRIVING AT CYDONIA TERMINAL]"
Squinting, the subs her eyes open- she frisks her pockets; phone, wallet, headsets are all good, then she starts trying to grab her duffle bag on her side, she can't seem to grab anything. Her eyes perked open, darting her head towards the bag direction
"It's gone!?"
Immediately shooting up from her seat, she quickly looks around for anyone carrying her bag. Near the bay area, she spots someone carrying what looks like her bag. Sprinting at the man, her shoes squeaked with every step in the carriage.
Barely squeezing out the carriage doors, she spots the man again. She yells as she ran.
"THAT MAN STOLE MY BAG!"
Everyone on the station looked at Claire bolting towards the man, swiftly yanking the bag off of his shoulders, dropping it on the floor "Hey! What the hell!? That's my bag!"
Dropping the duffle bag on the floor kneeling Claire quickly scours through the bag, folding every piece of clothing open
"What?! Th- this isn't my stuff?"
The man yanked his bag back "Gimme that! I told you this is my bag!" zipping it back shut
"I- I'm sorry I" Claire looks down the floor, with tears welling up her eyes, before one drop she rubbed her face with her fist.
Stepping back at the carriage for one last look. Her bag was no longer to be seen
With no other choice but to press on, she walks away from the terminal, the sandstorm finally subsides revealing rows and rows of commie-blocks. Due to the recent sandstorm, there wasn't a person to be seen walking around even when it was still early in the night, Claire finally lets her hijab down revealing her face. Street lights reveal the remaining sand blowing along the wind. She darts her head along the street signs she comes across. After coming across a few blocks, the building began to subside as she began to discover stores, this is when the can finally she the roof of Kremidal's church, which was still dilapidated.
Finally arriving at the place, she sees that the main door is still open the same way since the riot happened. Entering inside, she sees the moonlight piercing through the wall on the ceiling, in which the murals of angels reside, she sits by the few remaining intact benches on the church.
She looks at the figures
Founder of the church on the left cupping his heart, Lady of the Abandoned on the right reaching out to her.
And God himself nailed to a cross, looking at her.
She looks up with her hands tucked on her chest.
"I'm tired God
I- *hic* I don't know where to go…"
She begins to shed a tear
"Why is it when I'm trying to make things right, everything goes wrong, it goes wrong every time?
What if I grow old? Will I still be aimless? Bouncing from one hustle to another, just to make ends meet?"
Her tears now won't stop flowing on her face
"I don't even have a dream, I only do what I know what to do: fight. I can't even be the world champ because I'm too small!
Why can't I be more like my sister?
Why can't I be more what they want me to be?
Why can't I be just me?
When I try to be myself, you just maul me around like a fuckin' ragdoll huh?"
She breaks down from her chair landing her knees on the kneelers, clasping her hands together against her face.
"You already took everything!
I lost my stuff!
I lost my home!
My friends!
My sister!
What more do you want from me~?!"
She breaks down from the kneeler, curled down to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.
Suddenly she hears footsteps clacking, echoing throughout the halls.
It was Kremidal, he's wearing the same outfit when he got out of the spa. A pair of mid cut white forces, black jeans, loose denim jacket, and a purple tank top underneath. He also had his hair bunned up, which made Claire immediately recognize him after she hears that he passes by her.
He slams his butt to sit, followed by a long sharp sigh.
Place two cups beside him, pouring down steaming hot vibrant blue tea. He walks towards the founder's statue as he places the other cup right in front of it.
After a long sigh "Haaaaa~ It's been a while ol' mate
I hope you're doing alright on the other side. You've left quite a handful with this lot hey? Haha…"
His sigh blows through his mouth whistling "I'm tired mate
I know you saw something in me, you saw that I would be the perfect mate to lead these people. Once you are gone, it's never been better.
Crime rates are climbing, people are getting injured, more homeless are starting to roam again, and I'm being crushed with a mountainous amount of medical debt…
How do you do it? How can you juggle so many things and still be kind, still show warmth? I don't get it…
It's all so hard- the longer I stay as pontiff, the more people get hurt! I, let alone don't think I can keep this place up.
But you- you turned the teeth of Cydonia into a place of safety, you gave them dreams, you blessed them with purpose, guided them with faith. I can't do any of that!"
He begins to break down in tears, hunched while his hands were clasped, only croaking out the word.
"How?"
Claire was already trying to leave, but she steps on a rock as it gets crushed under her weight. Making a crunching sound.
CRRRRACK
She looks back and Kremidal is still hunched on the front bench.She slowly turns her head back front lightly tip-toes-
"I know you've been watching"
This jolts her body straight, feeling a tingle in her spine.
"Kremidal-"
"Claire?!" He shot up from his seat, darting his head back at her as his eyes lit up "Claire!" He vaults over the back rest of the chair, as he walks up to her.
She tucks her arms back exclaiming "I- I'm sorry! I didn't mean to sneak-"
He hunches down to hug her.
Her eyes well up in response, closing it, she hugs back at Kremidal with her arms up because he's practically triple her size. Both of them blow sighs of relief.
The hug lasted for a good dozen seconds.
"Oh~ luv" He held her by the shoulders "What are you doing here? What happened between you and your sister?"
She looks down to the side answering "A lot… a lot of fighting, but not the fun kind"
Gasping, he squats down to her level, wiping her eyes "Oh you poor thing, are you okay? Are you hurt badly?"
"I'm alright… just tired right now. Also, I really don't have a place to stay at the moment"
"So they kicked you out? *tongue click* I knew I should've took you in when I saw flinch when I grabbed that glass
Also, you shouldn't be here! Some debris might fall onto your head, especially when it's this dark out"
"Can I stay at your place for tonight?"
Kremidal clicks his tongue "Luv, I'd love to but people are lookin' for me and you might get involved" He looks to the side for a few seconds, then his face lit up "I got it!
I think Poppy's got some extra space in her condo, how's that sound?"
Claire nodded "Yeah! Yeah! I really kinda miss her actually, it's been a while since I've had some down time"
"Then let's go! Hop in the car with me!"
As the both of them got out of the dilapidated church, they finally boarded the car and went on their way.
Meanwhile on Poppy's place
"POOOOOOPPPYYYYYY!"
"CLAAAAAAAIRRRREEE!"
Both of them tackled each other, hugging each other tight as they landed.
Poppy smushed her face onto Claire's hair rubbing it down to the scalp
"Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god! I missed you soooo much! What happened? Have you eaten? Where've you been?"
Claire giggled "I'm okay Pops, also; I really like what you've done to your place, it's really pink"
Poppy scoffed while flicking her hair "Ha! Of course it looks great! I decorated this room by using all my stuff" She glances at Kremidal, notices that he's already reaching for the door "Hey Krem! Leaving so soon?"
"Nah, I just got a call from Charlotte, be right back" He pulls out his phone "Hello Charlie"
"[Kre- do not ever call me that]"
He giggled "Hehehe don't worry, one warning was enough" he finally exited the room, leading himself to the complex balcony "What is it Charlotte?"
"[I have a new contract for you, listen closely; zis one is high value]"
Kremidal's eyebrows perked up
"Aight, I'm listening"
"[Are you familiar with ze name Johnny Zambubu?]"
For Kremidal, a memory flashes in his head. The image of Johnny's son: Dame, with his head twisted a hundred and eighty degrees since the last fight, along with the fight with his gang.
"Yeah, what about it?"
"[They have been recently involved in a drug trafficking incident, ze problem is. They got away]"
Kremidal purses her lips, shading his eyes with his brows "I'm not a cop Charlotte, besides- playing the hero ain't really me forte"
"[I know… which is why the law is our client]"
Kremidal's face shot up "What in the bloody hell are you thinking?! We can't deal with those pigs! After I kill Johnny they'll go after us!"
"[Calm down Kremidal, zey are just getting desperate, and I assure you full safety of you, your personnel, and yourself. If they so lay a finger on any of you, I will make sure they won't do it again, besides; someone has to do the dirty work, you know how zis city's governance can easily trip itself"
"What are you yapping about?"
"[In short: I have you all covered
After all, you are all my eyes]"
When the call ends, Kremidal enters the apartment. He sees that Claire is already eating onto Poppy's dining table. She was tenderly looking at the young girl eating with a soft smile.
"Poppy, do you have a minute?"
She glances back at Claire "brb Claire!"
Both of them were leaning back at the apartment balcony
"Oi sorry if Claire has to crash, I'll give you allowance for her needs"
Poppy waved "Nah, it's no sweat. I like seeing that girl happy. Why'd you call me here again?"
"You got a job?"
"Yeah, I'm still workin' on that encoding job at retail. Did Charlotte give you a job?"
Kremidal crosses his arms "As a matter of fact, I do.
But this one's ain't easy. They've recently been pushin' drugs"
"What kind?"
"Charlotte never told me yet."
"Krem this is a fuckin' trap"
"Charlotte's our broker, he's already given us under unseen protection. Besides, he says that we're already part of the Eyes of Charlotte"
"Wait! He's the guy that hijacked the TV from way back?!"
"Y- you could say that"
Poppy said while her ears gradually perked up "Wait, does that mean he's also the Boom Radio Killer?"
"Could be"
Poppy darts her head at Kremidal
"I'm coming with you!"
Fast forward into the morning
The sun, rearing its head onto the horizon on the left cheek of Cydonia, near the perimeter walls lies a suburban town. Early in the morning the garbage collectors scour nearby homes, alongside their trucks. Homeowners tending to their gardens. Mailmen delivering packages door to door. A few folk right from the town were doing their early jog, while most of them were on their headphones. One of these runners was not like the others
Poppy and Kremidal were jogging on the sidewalk. Kremidal was fitted with a pair of wireless earbuds, his hair tied into a bun, also wearing a multi-branded singlet, thigh high shorts, and a pair of Nike Pegasus Premium. While Poppy was wearing wireless big open-back headphones as her hair was tied into twintails, tennis top, tennis skirt, and a pair of Nike Alphafly 11s.
"So uh *huff* Krem, are we *huff* there yet?"
"Nah yet, *huff* just a couple more *huff* blocks"
Kremidal spots a roof with antennae erected on top of it "There! *huff* See that? That's our *huff* rendezvous, *huff* just a few more blocks *huff* we don't need to get too close, a cops already said there's *huff* a secret entrance *huff*"