Two male silhuettes emerged from the fog, which once again has taken all of London. The older, balding male looked around himself and looked at the watch to check the hour. The younger one was glaring nervously at the suitcase he was carrying.
"They're supposed to be here already."
"You sure this is the place?" Asked the younger, red haired man.
"Yes! I don't understand! They should be here! This is the place!".
"Chip Donald?" a young woman in black coat suddenly appeared out of the fog, followed by another male, simirarly dressed in black, which also was carrying a suitcase.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqkS1oaJr1
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"I'd rather be called Malva." the balding male said nervously.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1ctyF6kWv
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"Understood. Do you have the package?"652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXeTY0fyjk
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"Do you have the you-know-what?"652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIRlSaXalH
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The woman turned her head towards her companion, who nodded understandingly and opened the suitcase652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmgRrJqyZt
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"One million pounds. Cash."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn52rhqaDww
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"Only one million!?" The young, ginger male seemed irritated. "Do you even know how hard we have worked to get this thing for you?"652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzli9SM6wm
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"Our offer is final."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9A6yGbTGfJ
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"Fine, Fine!" hissed Malva. "Just give us the money."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrLwPQkKne
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"Let us see the inside of the suitcase first."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPFfv2fNsq
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PMVfp9vHh
The younger male who came with Malva seemed irritated, but the older one hushed him with one look. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KMpeizOTt
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mc4FrqtiN
Malva kneeled down and opened the case.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGn2rAe29d
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"Pure Tepraparatapranium." He said, pointing at what looked like green-yellowish jelly inside the case. "Fresh from the Mines of Ora Ora. Didn't even touch it. Happy now?"652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFKifPlCf6
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZmPqeYpGe
"Thank you." The woman replied. "Please close the suitcase and hand it over to us."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2UVb9sAxD
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmsSNHVqiX
"First you hand yours!" The younger male shouted.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yMEh2OynG
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"As you wish." 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9w4jikmK8
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The man in the black coat stepped forward and handed the case to Malva, who, in turn, handed him the one he was holding.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvtr9FBNlx
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngZmyuTrpO
"Thank you for your cooperation." The woman said.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHF9l46LEyL
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGK3vzt1vc3
"Likewise." Malva took a bow.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LEN6lTySN
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The balding male patted the younger man's shoulder and they both turned around to leave, talking with each other happily.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQiLliBof4
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSEJpNMOqX
The woman in the black coat nodded at her partner. The male slowly has slowly reached into his pocket and picked up a small device that looked like a bigger pen or stencil. He pointed and pressed the top of the device two times.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xWtFXpDNG
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHqOZ05tvO
Both of the other men instantly fell to the ground, unconcious.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZKLBCCnsF
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4yr11WqYN
The woman calmly walked towards the bodies. She picked up the suitcase with money and kicked the younger male, so he was now laying on his back. She examined his body until she noticed a small difference on his face.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCZWsxadeG
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqoAp4ISFS
"Shapeshifters." The female said with disgust, looking at the man's black pupils.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfioggRVroS
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The woman corrected the position she was holding her briefcase, returned to her partner and they both walked away from the scene,slowly and silently.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheDSwab4dQ
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****652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3jZEy72Ju
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhoNK2WHLT
"I swear, the food keeps getting worse and worse with every day." Jamon complained, as he, together with Aleksander, left the Cafeteria located on floor I and were slowly walking through the department towards their common room. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG31Cf1AWYq
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"Oh, come on, it was not that bad." the blonde boy replied, although silently he agreed with his friend. The quality of the food definitely was not the departments' strongest aspect.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8M2ykN5Sd
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQYItUO41R
"No, really. It was even worse than when I ate Kaszanka without knowing what it is."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbd5arm8Ky
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6h2xa9fgsj
"Hey!" The other boy laughed for a bit "I like kaszanka! That's one of the most popular sausages where my father comes from!"
"Dude!" The middle eastern boy looked at him horrified "But it is all blood!
"Not all of it."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqg4Kn5KYyQ
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfMM8PsKQf
"Well, of course not all of it. There is also fat, skin, some poor animal's lungs and liver.."
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEWeJNRYmX
"Hey..."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEx3AmGrQYV
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sxrf9GIH0
"...kidneys, maybe brain even."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatv4XUfAnG
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9igIOSrM0Q
"Hey!" Aleksander grabbed him by the shirt and pointed at the staircase leading downstairs "Is this not your father?"652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOayrV7YPQG
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8T6w9MafaA
Hussein Abedi was indeed going down to the basement, for reasons only he potentially knew, and he did it rather in hurry, as he ran downstairs quickly.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NW77j9ldq
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxRSOOIkIf
"I don't care." The middle eastern boy lost all of his usual joyful spirit.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsFesObXFK
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaoJN2AtHfE
"Wait... but here it says <<RESTRICTED, ONLY APPROVED PERSONEL>>."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxp1QMDLTpJ
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhVnvSZx5y
"Maybe he has approval." The other boy muttered. "Come on, let's go, I don't want to bum into him when he will be coming back."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kL9VpnjtA
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskSbqaod3p
The boys made only a few steps,however, before they heard somebody shouting.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ678KepxXBh
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPSCbQDJxr
"Aleks! HEY, ALEKS!"652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vn4wjMGdT
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They turned around and saw the Italian girl, Bianka running towards them.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmO9THYQf9I
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"Oh, hey." Aleksander smiled "What's up?"
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBDv4JzRTG
"I've been looking all over the department for you." she panted "Where have you been?"652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVKljbWa3N
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4lNiewSmM
"In the cafeteria... what happened?"652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfe15CXUtj8
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0AFYd6e0h
"Probably eating another sausage made from pig's blood?" The girl winced "Look,the Head Officer wants to talk to you. She said it's urgent."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhievYbrtat
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"Okay, let's go."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMCONh9uB9
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"I think she only wants to see you this time." The girl replied and Aleksander raised his eyebrows. "I'll be going to the cafeteria."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrA4RH2mOi
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"Well,okay then."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3xfweyr30
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The girl ran towards where the cafeteria was located, and the blonde boy moved forward, wondering why Head Officer Ayumi Aruta would summon only him to her office , and not anybody else.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHqDWVQB9c
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSJZ7fEw85
"I wonder what she wants. Did I do something wrong?" The boy looked around and realized there is nobody to answer. He turned around. "Jamon?"652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJvRNy4AtO
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwRLHkFHcS
The middle eastern boy was standing still in the same place, pale as a rock.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHVj8o60kK
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"Jamon, you okay?" Aleksander asked slowly.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbe255AzRnY
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"Kaszanka... is made... out of a Pig?" 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQr7byjwtZM
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWf3crqmBD
The other teenager looked terrified and Aleks suddenly understood. He closed his eyes and carefully responded.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoozIMT9L2E
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"...Yes?..."
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"Oh my God!" Jamon paled even further. "But I... I did not... oh my God. OH MY GOD!"
The middle eastern boy turned around and ran away.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMD16Q4HG7a
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3QU2UyRLz
"Jamon, I'm sorry!" Aleksander shouted after him "I did not know, honestly!"
He was about to run off after his friend, but remembered Ayumi Aruta wanted to speak with him. Hesitantly, he turned around and headed through to her office. He was familiar with the department's corridor now.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZY7sOb4tZC
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The boy reached the door, and extended his hand to knock, but before he managed too, somebody shouted hysterically from the woman's room. The scream was short, but it seemed like someone was being torn apart inside the office. Aleks raised his eyebrows, but decided to knock anyway. Nothing could surprise him about those people anymore.
"Yes, come in!" Aruta responded cheerfully from the other side.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfz0YcFq4rv
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWs8pTwBrQ
Aleks opened the door, and understood he was wrong once again.
Inside, Ayumi Aruta was pulling the tail of something that looked like a half-rabbit, half chicken with no fur. The creature turned his little face towards him and squeaked again.
"I'll come back later then." The boy turned around.
"Oh, no, no, no!" Ayumi shouted "Please, don't be scared of Sonia!"
"Sonia." The boy muttered.
"I got her as a gift from Robert last week." The old woman smiled "Well, more as an apology for what happened."
"What... is she?" Aleks' eyes were still wide.
"What? Umm.... that's a good question actually. We never found out. Robert ter Maan found her during his first investigation, her egg burried under the surface. Since then, we can't understand what she is. Every test came back empty or with errors. It's like she herself did not wish to be experimented on. But she seemed friendly, so we stopped. Robert kept her since then."
"Okay." The boy simply nodded his head.
"Now, Aleksander, you might be wondering why I summoned you here, alone." Aruta lost her optimism "It's just that the matter is quite...personal." The woman sighed "You surely remember Lord Lanthra?"
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The blonde felt his blood freeze.
"What about him?" he asked, clenching his fist.
"His right-hand man has been found unconcious on the streets of London. He was found with over one million British Pounds which were confirmed to be stolen. We have arrested him and brought him here." Aruta shook her head "Had that be it, I wouldn't summon you here. But he claims he has lost a suitcase full of Tepraparatapranium - one of Lanthra's most valued possessions."
"What's so special about that Tepra-thing?"
"It's one of the most rare and expensive materials in the whole omniverse. It can be used to cure all known sicknesses, stop aging, and what's most important to us: bring organisms back to life. I don't know how on earth Lanthra got at least one suitcase of this material, but I am sure that with this amount of Tepraparatapranium, you could resurect a dead human."
Aleksander looked at her pale, her words sinking into him.
"Wait, you mean, that using this, I... I could..."
"Not quite. In order for it to actually work, you need to use it with some other ingredients. They, however are not as hard to find, so... it's not impossible."
"Why are you helping me?" The boy asked "I mean, if I were to succeed, I will have..."
"Yes, we will have to erase your mind." Ayumi nodded "You would not remember me, your new friends, or anything that happened here. But you will have your mother back. The choice is yours."
Aleksander blinked. Choice? Sure he came to like Jamon, and Bianka, and Dagmar, and... but his mother would always be the most important person to him. And if that's the only chance he had...
"What do you want me to do?"652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OhaAPSgw3
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOzKeqJVhE
The old woman nodded. She stood up and activated a large monitor, showing the pictures of two people.
"The situation is not good. The material was apparently sold to some of the members of Pearl's Haven."
"Of what?"
"Pearl's Heaven. Long story short - it's a cult. A very dangerous one. Once you're in, you can never get out, they make pretty damn sure of it." Aruta was digusted "One can only wonder how they would use the Tepraparatapranium. But, the best guess is that they want to use somebody as a host."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzR5blcrXfL
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXOVe3ZB3h
"A host for what?"
She sighed.
"They believe that a person that they kill and then resurrect can be used as a vessel for a creature they refer to as Master. Said Master will apparently lead them on a quest to purge the world, leaving anyone but them dead, and then he'll bring them to some sort of heaven."
"It's just a cult, though..." The boy muttered "That Master can't exist, can he?"652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnVE1ulTvz
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotPqmN1n4L
Ayumi looked at him.
"You've seen Shapeshifters, aliens and unicorns, and yet you still say that? Of course he does exist! He just can't manifest himself yet." The woman sighed again "This is a very dangerous operation, Aleks. I'm starting to regret that I am telling you all this. Just... forget about it. I'll send someone more experienced..."652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCBAENVKlc
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8EaLkMcCU
"NO!" Aleksander yelled "I'll do this! Just... tell me what do I have to do!"652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezPNBijpmf
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ck02lJUD1
Ayumi looked at him carefully and sighed again.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02AqL3sCVR
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"O, brothers and sisters!" A young, brown-clothed woman walked to the center of the stage "Let us celebrate, for the Promised Day is upon us! Let us pray that the world sees the power and the truth of the Prophecy!" A few dozens people kneeled down, their heads lowered. "And tonight, we welcome a new Selected! Please, greet Aleksander Jennsen! Son, you may remove your hood now!"
The blonde slowly walked on stage. He was not feeling too comfortable in the thin, brown clothing.
"Aleksander!" The woman yelled "How come you've seen the light!?"
"I..." The teenager was starting to regret his decission quite heavily. He remembered Aruta's words: once you're in, you can never get out. They make pretty damn sure of that. Shit. "I came upon an article about you. I just got interested."
The boy turned to face the woman
" BEHOLD!" She yelled. The look in her eyes was insane. "Even through the Lies of the Fallen, the Truth will shine!"
"That's her!" Aleksander heard a voice in his left ear "That's the woman that's attacked me and my boy! I recognize her voice"
The mic and camera were placed, Aruta assured him, in such a way that it was undetectable. Still, those people were crazy. One false move, and...
Suddenly, a bell rung. Aleksander just now noticed another, old male sitting in an decorated chair on the left side of the stage.
"Brothers and Sisters!" The woman yelled "The Great One wishes to speak! Let's feed our souls on his words!"
The man stood up and everyone got quiet.
"Welcome, my children!" Despite his age, his voice was strong and clear "Welcome! It is such a joy to see the numbers of the people desiring the Truth grow so rapidly! There is not many of us yet. but soon, he world will hear the Prophecy!" Everyone raised their heads again. "The Master speaks into me! He says..." the man lowered his voice into a whisper , and his eyes became hateful. "He says there is a Snake in the Garden of Truth! ." Everyone gasped once againe. "One of us shouldn't be here.... One of us is rotten!" His smile returned again "Don't worry though! The Snake's fate will b e over by this time tommorow! And then, when the bell announces the Twelfth Hour, noone will be able to stop him! Noone!" The man started laughing maniacally, and soon was joined by dozens of throats.
Aleksander felt like he was going to pass out.
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