The cloaked figures closed in forming a ring, about us. Their noiseless footsteps resonated like dropping rocks within a cavern. My heart pounded hard within my chest—there were many too silent and overly ready.
Lucarious bent, toward me. Murmured, "Bro… I usually joke around but this? This seems like the type of gathering."
I swallowed the word whole. "Avoid doing anything "
He murmured, "I'm an angel trapped on Earth. All my actions are foolish."
The man dressed in the coat—the individual who opened my door—stepped forth from the darkness. His presence was so dominant that it felt as though the very atmosphere leaned in his direction. He raised a hand clad in a glove and silence fell over the area so deeply that the ticking of a clock became audible. Lucarious even stopped breathing.
Following that intentional and composed movement the man reached for his mask.
He removed it.
My veins ran icy cold.
It was not a human face.
The skin appeared perfect. The eyes resembled silver blades, honed to the edge. No pupils. No feelings. Just a mirror—my expression staring directly at me.
Lucarious was shocked. "No… no way… you—"
Yet prior, to him uttering a word the being cut in.
"Lint Saito " it stated, voice steady, nearly courteous. "Sir Kinard will not be meeting with you today."
I had the sensation that my throat was tightening. "W–Why? He instructed me to bring the files."
"I understand."
That grin the being showed seemed as if it were the final act it could perform.
"And that exactly is why we are forbidding your exit " stated the being.
The ring of individuals surrounded us.
Lucarious pressed his finger against his thumb producing a clicking noise. A dim glow emerged, shaping a circle surrounding his hand. "If you lay a hand on my friend " he warned, "I'll be the one delivering your judgment."
The eyed entity glanced at the floor from one direction, to another and then once more, inclining his head. "You speak boldly fallen one yet you stand on the losing side " he remarked.
Lucarious whispered quietly that his words were barely audible "Lint… if things get out of hand leave immediately."
"I'm not leaving you behind."
Maybe you will not get the chance.
Prior to me uttering a word a metallic clicking noise came from, across the spot where we were positioned.
The doors shut loudly with a bang.
Then the lights.
They were switched off one, by one—pop, pop, pop—until just a single spotlight remained, focused on the eyed entity's face. This caused his face to appear bright white and strikingly dramatic.
He reached out his hand. The masked individuals stepped back uncovering the tight passage.
"Come " he stated. "Sir Kinard is different now. He has opted for another strategy… one that does not depend on you living."
Lucarious stepped before me his wings unfurling with feathers that gleamed in white and golden glimmers.
His tone shook with fury.
"Stay away from him."
The alien's silver eyes were even more radiant than before.
"This " it murmured, "is going to be amusing."
The concealed troops advanced in our direction.
A sudden snap shattered the silence.
A bullet struck the aliens head sharply and swiftly with much power that his head snapped to the side suddenly. The alien's motionless body dropped right before me. Although he was dying his eyes remained dimly lit. Then gradually faded to darkness.
Smoke was drifting around.
I spun around.
Behind the descending figure a man stood—dressed in a leather jacket black trousers and a dark cloth covering his face. His gun remained aimed skyward the barrel emitting smoke.
He took the fabric away, from his face.
My breathing ceased.
It was Akira.
"Ah, ah ah " he remarked with that taunting grin of his. "I'm not ready to let you pass away yet my friend."
A surge of anger rose in the back of my throat. "Why did you rescue me?. What, on earth are you doing here?"
Akira approached me steadily composed and confident. His gaze remained fixed on mine.
"My Lint " he spoke with a lower voice "hand me the pen drive."
Before I was able to react he grabbed my collar. Drew me closer.
"Lint Saito " he snapped with rage "you're constantly blocking my path. Move aside if you have the guts… or be crushed beneath me. I won't halt. Not this time, not ever."
Anger surged within me. I seized him by the throat. Slammed him onto the ground. The noise of the collision echoed through the room. Wasting no time I pulled a gun from my pocket. Pointed it at his forehead.
"We both desire peace Akira!" I shouted. "Peace is the responsibility of every person!. You—you are opting for war!"
Akira's gaze turned keen and watchful.
He responded rapidly. In an instant he snatched the gun from my grasp. The metal slipped from my fingers. Fell to the floor in several fragments. Before I had a chance to rise he shoved me forcefully causing me to crash backward into the wall.
Following that motion he was, off the ground lifting his fist and striking my jaw with it.
Intense agony radiated throughout my face. I was thrown onto the ground with power and a metallic flavor filled my mouth. Blood poured from my chin.
I was having difficulty standing up. When he struck me for the third time this occasion it hit my left cheek. I felt dizzy.
Again he seized my collar with his hand. Shoved me forcefully against the pillar next, to us. The stone was pressing sharply into my back.
"HOW CAN YOU STAND UP FOR THESE SCUMBAGS?" he bellowed. "Have you forgotten the way you lost your mother?"
My breathing ceased.
"She brought you up by herself. A widow ever since you were one year old. We spent our childhood playing at each others houses. She wasn't your mother; I care for her like she is my own mom. Your class teacher assaulted her. She held him in regard as a respectable teacher, for her son yet that fiend—that monster—violated her. She pleaded for mercy asking him not to continue, there in front of his son. She asked me to bring you out of that place. That fiend didn't cease and once his craving was satisfied, on her pure spirit he ended her life. Are you backing these fiends Lint? These scoundrels?"
His voice cracked, anger blending with agony.
"You CANNOT IMAGINE the innocent lives these people ruin."
He released his grip allowing me to descend the pillar. My legs trembled. My chest ached. My mind cried out.
I clutched his jacket frail, yet determined not to collapse.
"Then opt for justice Akira " I murmured. "Laws exist. There are individuals destined to safeguard us."
Akira withdrew my hand.
"I am justice."
He put his hand in my pocket grabbed the pen drive hid his face again and left the building like a shadow fading into the darkness.
Lucarious touched down next, to me his wings partially spread.
"You're seriously letting him leave?!" he yelled. "Just say the word—I had the chance to stop him! Why did you allow him to get away?"
I brushed the blood away, from my lips. Murmured,
"It's, past the time. Prepare for battle… Because at this moment...
I will show him what justice really means."