He ran through the narrow alley between two large buildings, boots striking the wet stone in uneven rhythm. He was breathing heavily and his chest was burning.
The world was blurred at the edge as he pushed himself forward.
What is happening to me?
His throat was dry. Thirst clawed at him -raw, desperate, and unnatural.
I need water….
The air grew heavy and damp, carrying a sour, earthy with moisture.
He ran thorough the alley stumbling, hand slamming against the wall to steady himself. His fingers brushed through the fungus attached to the wall.
He burst out of the alley, stumbling into the crowed street. The world was tightening around him.
The people in the streets looked at him with confusion.
A stranger called at his back while he was running farther from him, "hey, crazy bastard slow down."
But he did not look back at him, nor did he listen to his words. He was too desperate for water.
Water… I need water…
His chest tightened, tears coming out of his eyes as he pushed through crowd.
Then suddenly the ground flipped. he fell to the ground with his heart racing more and more.
A figure darted forward, crouching beside him.
"Are you alright?" a young man asked, voice calm but full of urgency.
The young man handed forward a water bottle toward him saying, "drink it."
He gasped the bottle forcefully.
As he was trying to drink water, water spilled down his chin and onto his chest, but he barely noticed, drinking as his life depended on it.
Nearby, a uniformed police officer arrived. He looked closely at the commotion.
"What is happening here?" the police man asked.
The boy barely heard his voice.
The police officed glared at him.
He looks like 16-17 years old. the police man thought with a worry and with tension.
The police officer caught him through his right arm and said.
"You are coming with me, young man."
After a few minutes they arrived at the police station.
The station had two lanterns burning outside of the main door. The door was strong made up of oak wood with circular shape drawn at both gates to make them more decoracted.
As they arrived near the door another police officer ran toward them.
He asked, "what are you doing with that kid?"
The officer replied, "I found him on a road. I think he has lost his way home."
Then all three of them entered the station.
They told the kid to sit on the chair. The chair was oddly comfortable.
And they both moved to another side.
One of them said, "Don't you think he is unusual?"
The other asked, "what is unusual?"
He said, "look at his arm," the officer said, pointing. The skin was tinged with a strange bluish hue.
Then they both moved toward the boy and asked with a cautious smile.
"What's your name?"
The boy's expression did not change much but he looked up them staring directly at their eyes.
"My… My name is Aziel."
One officer said as if the information he gave did not help them at all.
"what is your full name. I mean your family name too."
The boy said still sweating too much.
"Aziel Solren."
The officers exchange a glance, their smiles widening slightly.
"Good work little warrior.", one murmured.
"Do you know someone from your family. Whom can we call?"
The boy said his eyes burned with exhaustion.
"No... no one."
The officers said with a worry in his eye.
"So, where do u live?"
The boy's eyes moved as he was thinking deeply and at last after few minutes he said.
"I don't remember."
One officer crouched slightly and patted him on the head.
"Hey, young man doesn't be worried. You can stay here as long as you want." They stepped back, giving him space.
After a while they came back with food in their hands.
One handed a warm box to Aziel.
"Eat."
The boy took the box from his hand.
As the boy opened the box the smell of steaming food filled his senses.
The boy's eyes filled with tears.
"Thank you.", the boy said while for the first time as he has entered the station, he smiled.
As the officers saw his smile. They also smiled.
One of them said, "Eat as much you want."
But the moment of peace could not last long.
Suddenly two guys in black cloths burst into the station.
Their faces were hidden with a mask.
Before the officers could react, they kicked them violently.
"Hey, what are you guys trying to do?", one of the officers said with anger on his face.
Both intruders did not say anything, and they started to fight the officers.
"We cannot waste time on these useless guys.", one of the intruders said.
Then one of them in a flash attacked the officers with sudden wind blast, invisible yet lethal, and force slammed both officers into the wall with a sickening crash.
Chaos erupted inside the station, and Aziel froze, wide eyes, unsure whether to flee or hide.
The fight ended in a few seconds.
It was not even a fight but one-sided dominance.
Both intruders advanced toward Aziel. Who trembled behind the chair.
One struck him across the face, brutal force reddening his cheeks and sending blood tricking from his mouth.
"Who told you that you can run away from us." One said with anger.
They forced him to his feet.
"Let's go let us teach you some manners." The second one said, amusement curling.
"The boss was too polite with you but after this I don't think he will be polite with you or not." He said as, he laughed.
As they carried him through the street.
A man walked pass them. He wore a white jacket over a dark tunic and leather trousers, boots laced high to his calves. A polished walking stick rested in his hand, its silver-tipped handle hinting at hidden strength.
He had a lean figure and a sword strapped at his waist.
As they passed him while the boy was still resisting.
The man said, "Is there a problem?"
Both intruders stopped and said with a suspicious smile on their face.
"No nothing at all."
The other said, "This boy wants a toy, but we can't but him. It is too expensive."
The man looked at the boy gazing at his swallowed face for a while.
The man said without giving any expression.
"Sorry, I should not disturb you guys."
Then he moved back and started to walk again and said.
"Have a nice night."
Both intruders gave a relief.
One of them said while frowning, "What a weird man."
And they both continued their journey.