"Hey big brother, breakfast is ready"
A soft voice shook me awake from my slumber.
My eyes fluttered, my nose shook, picking up scents of eggs and burnt toast.
I open my eyes to the world before me, groggy and tired, needing to return to the embrace of my dreams and aspirations for life.
My eyes turned to the window, the first sun slowly rising beyond the horizon, sending rays of light to lick at my face, driving sleep from me.
I turned to the mechanical clock just ticking next to my desk.
7:20am
Ah... I'm late I thought
'I'm Late?'
"I'm late?!!!"
"Bollocks!" I curse loudly, jumping off the bed. I needed to be at Midsborough for my interview by 8 0'clock. Waking by 7:20am when traffic in the Kings road would be jam-packed was a no.
I rush to the washroom, a bucket of water waiting for me, with some herbal liquid mouth wash on the wooden sink.
I tossed the mixture, rinsing my mouth out whilst I grabbed a toothbrush and scrubbed my teeth.
In less than 5 minutes, I brushed my teeth and had a quick bath.
I quickly got into my shirt, wool trousers, socks and flat shoes, a coat and tie.
I grabbed my ginger red hair, ruffled it and groaned.
I quickly looked into the mirror to make sure I wasn't dressed in a barbaric manner in my haste.
Knock knock
"I'm coming out now Sheila!" I bellowed, rushing to my wardrobe. In it was a weapon holster with a revolver strapped on it.
A silver police badge was placed next to it, the Royal Police force of His Majesty the King boldly written on it.
I grabbed both, strapped himself with the holster whilst pinning the badge.
I looked at the time and saw it was 7:41am.
"Sherry's left bollocks, why of all days did I sleep in today" I groan
Just then, the door opened, a pretty young teenage girl stood. She had nutmeg brown hair, a small nose, large eyes and a quaint smile on her lips.
She was dressed in a grey night gown and in her hands was a Briefcase and a hat.
"I packed breakfast and lunch, you'd better start going, your bicycle is outside right now."
I rush towards the girl and grab the things she held. Then I drop a kiss on her forehead.
"You're a life saver Sheila"
She chuckles and pushes me into the hallway
"Of course, what would you do without me?"
I don't answer as I rush down the hallway and burst through the door.
I walk out to the outside of my house, traffic moving as it should.
Men and women dressed in formal attire, the men in coats and wool shirts, the ladies in basic silk gowns.
I, Abel Michaelson, am on my way for my first interview to join the Royal Police forces Special Forces…
Why?...
I don't know myself…
I just feel…
I need to be there.
I jump on a bicycle just parked and chained right next to our door railing. I unlock the chain, kick off the stand and cycle as fast as I can down the cycle lane.
Traffic isn't that much, except for when I hit Kings Road.
Nearby was a school, young minds flocking into it.
'The good old days'I thought to myself. The horse carriages that blocked the juncture didn't discourage me. In fact, it was easier to maneuver traffic on a two wheeler.
Just then;
Dong!!!
The chime of the bell resounded and echoed across the city of Belmont, signifying the striking of 8 O'Clock.
'Bloody Help' I cursed again as I saw my office not too far away.
The large building had men and women in uniforms standing at attention before the flag, answering to the morning's roll call.
I jump off my bicycle and roll it to a parking spot, where in chained it hurriedly, before running to join the line
"Abel Michaelson, late by three minutes, get down and give me twenty, constable" a loud roar from the Chief of staff stopped me in my tracks. Without missing a beat, I get down on my palms and get twenty push ups in.
Well, twenty in a single go was a stretch.
Getting even ten was already exhausting.
I did manage to get to twenty, under the constant snickering of my colleagues.
Just as I finished, I noticed the figure of a young man in uniform with a thick set mustache and black hair walking up to me.
"The interview is about to start" he stated once before walking away.
I shudder after standing, but I'm not moved too much.
Instead I walked to the large reception area and waited.
I was a police officer before, now I would become an investigator.
I had written the exams, done the physical tests and now the oral tests.
I was ready…
I walked in and saw a middle aged man with coal black hair and two white patches on either side. He was a handsome man at such an age, his gait comely and his demeanor calm and collected.
"Good day Captain Rathcliffe"
The man lifted his palm and stopped me mid greeting.
He gestured to the seat before him and walked to the window.
"Abel Michaelson, I'll ask again… why do you want to be an Investigator?"
I was supposed to sit, but I froze…
Why did I want to be an Investigator?
I thought the salary was better.
But that wasn't it. It definitely wasn't the reason.
But why?.. why can't I…
I
Why can't I remember?
Remember?
Then, Rathcliffe turned to look at me.
"How's your sister?"
Instantly, as he said to words.
My brain exploded. Figuratively.
But the pain, the pain was real.
It was… grief, anger, fury towards…
Towards who?
I began to remember.
I looked at the calendar
It was March 4th 1649
One year had passed since the great fire of Belmont.
The great tragedy…
Half of the city was set ablaze.
Over 700,000 people died that day.
The cause?
What happened that day?
My sister… Sheila…
Sheila?
"Sheila!!!" I cried, no roared.
I banged my head on the table, grief hitting me like a freight train.
The reason?
My sister Sheila was amongst the victims.
Then a thought came to me.
Who was the girl in my house? Wasn't Sheila dead?
Wait a minute?
The officer who guides me here, Jefferson McGee, wasn't he dead too?
The school too. It hasn't been rebuilt.
KingsRoad was supposed to still be under construction.
So how on earth was everything fine? Wasn't I here for an interview an hour ago?
That's when it hit me. I turned to look at Captain Rathcliffe, noticing something different about him, something transcendental about his gaze.
His eyes were glowing silvery white, like the full moon.
I remember now. Is this the test?
Am I in a dream…
Suddenly, I heard a crash, like the shattering of glass from an unknown source. It was as if reality was breaking down and being rewritten before me.
Captain Rathcliffe, who was before me, also appeared behind me. Both of them smiled and spoke in a calming voice.
"Let me rephrase my question. What reason do you have to join the Hidden Walkers?"
Inspiration dawned on me. It's like everything I had known was much clearer now.
I knew why I wanted to join the Kingdoms Hidden Walkers.
"I want… to kill that God forsaken second Sun"