Completely Forgotten
Curious to know what I’ve completely forgotten?
Chances are you already know.
Chances are it’s the first thing you notice.
So you want to know what is it right?
I’ll tell you right now.
The freaking Glossary.
Bloody hell, I completely forgot about the glossary and I’m not even going to lie to you by saying “Oh, the glossary is still WIP because I announced it so late”. It completely slipped my mind until today. And of course, now that I realized it I’ll begin work on it as soon as possible.
It’s the last day of 2008 today and tradition demands that I spend most of today reflecting on the year and coming up with my 2009 resolutions.
Once that’s done I’ll begin work on the Glossary which shouldn’t take too long. I’ll add in what ever information that I feel will be beneficial, and if I receive e-mails or comments from you guys about certain words or phrases, I’ll simply add it into the Glossary. So it’s basically something that will forever be Work-In-Progress, which is another benefit of publishing online aside from it being completely free.
Though the downside is that I virtually have no publicity…
HHHL got popular because my friend, Ice-Angel, helped me place a banner in her blog – Thank you so much, Esther! And she said she wouldn’t mind doing it again for me but it’s like, I don’t really want to impose on her again. The phrase in Chinese would be “Bu hao yi si” which I can’t really translate into English… Basically I don’t want to trouble her and it kinda feels like I’m being friends with her just because she’s famous if I did, you know?
So yeah, I’ll hold back on throwing a banner in her blog for now and I’ll try to find alternate sources for publicity. Currently there are no banners because I’m quite horrible with photoshop, as you all have seen the abomination I created for HHHL. I sincerely thank all of you who placed HHHL’s banner in your blog, even though many felt it was, well, plain unsightly. You are all heroes who deserve a medal.
*salute*
I’ve approached a friend in school and asked if she would be willing to do some character design for me, and she said she would consider it after reading Specimen One. The problem is that I don’t have her contact information, so I’ll have to wait until next week – which is when my school reopens – before I can have her take a look at it. I’m keeping my fingers crossed though because she is one hell of an artist. Having her draw the characters of Project M.I.G.H.T would be both an honor and a privilege.
She’s that good.
- Derick
The One With My Holiday
It’s the final week of my holiday right now so I’m just going to relax and enjoy it. The past few weeks were spent getting Specimen One and the blog ready, along with some other work I have outside of my writings. Right now I’m pretty much a no-life again, playing World of Warcraft and reading books from dawn to dusk. But once my holiday is over, I’ll begin work again.
First thing I’ll do is get that Clannad review out. I’ve finished watching the first season and it was just beautiful. It beats the crap out of Bleach and Naruto which by now is mostly horribly animated and the storyline can only be described as draggy at best. Hey, I used to love that series but when I saw how much fillers were going in and how the quality of the animation keeps dropping with each episode, not to mention that Odex piece of crap with their antics, I just couldn’t be bothered anymore.
Anyway, once that’s done I’ll start brainstorming on ideas for the second story in Project M.I.G.H.T. What I plan to do now is to actually dedicate that ’sequel’, if you can call it one, to a pop group whose music I enjoy very much. Part of my brainstorming period involves listening to music because somehow I can even get inspired by sounds as well – pleasant ones of course. And this pop group’s songs have inspired many scenes throughout Project M.I.G.H.T so yeah, I thought it’d be appropriate if I dedicated one of the story to them.
Don’t worry though, the characters are definitely very interesting and I’m quite confident that you guys will like them.
Then it’s back to my usual blogging and odds are I’ll blog a little about World of Warcraft (WoW). I’ll make sure I don’t use terms that non-WoW players won’t understand, and I’ll try to share with guys what makes this game so enjoyable and popular (over 11.5 million subscribers).
And that will be all =)
- Derick
2:27am
I’m finally done editing in every single chapters including ‘Disclaimers and Copyrights’, ‘Forewords’ and the bloody ‘Index’ page. I had to create like more than 40 links for that page, but it’s well worth the effort because an index page will make life a lot easier for you guys.
Within the next couple of days, or rather over the next couple of days, I’ll add a ‘next chapter’ link at the end of each chapters. Right now you have to go back to the index page every time you finish a chapter, so it might be troublesome for some lazy people (Just me actually) to go back and forth.
Alright, I’m going to rest now. Merry Christmas to everyone and I hope you’ll enjoy the rewrite of HHHL; Specimen One: Mythias.
- Derick
Index
Specimen One: Mythias
Disclaimer and Copyrights
Forewords
- – -
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
- – -
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
- – -
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
- – -
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
- – -
- – -
Feedbacks and Comments
Please post your feedbacks and comments in this post. If you’re unwilling to write anything long, at the very least let me know whether you’ve enjoyed the story with something simple such as, “I like the story” or “It was bad, din finish it”. Of course it’d be better if you could write something longer and more constructive.
A full review would still be the best though =)
Added a poll since most people don’t have the time to write me a short comment:
Oh and if you have questions that you would like me to answer in your feedback, please include your e-mail address.
Thanks!
The One Where I Wish You Merry Christmas
A Blessed Christmas to all!!!
I really have no idea what else to say, haha, but I guess aside from the usual “Hope you get what you want for Christmas!”, “Maybe it’ll snow this year!(idiot-in-denial)” or “Stay safe!(Kiasi)”, I hope all of you have a merry and blissful day with your friends and family =)
And for my Christmas present to all of you, Specimen One: Mythias (Currently updating)
Honestly, read this like after Christmas or something. It’s not THAT awesome that you should spend the whole of Christmas reading it.
Enjoy!
- Derick
Epilogue
Saki watched with empty eyes as men in black suits and women in either black dresses or kimonos walked past her. All of them held their heads low and carried an expressionless look. The hall was packed full but all she could hear was silent murmurs.
The hall where the kidnapping took place exactly a year ago.
A tall, blonde-haired man looked at Saki and nodded making her start thinking about Project M.I.G.H.T once more. She had her father translate the recording because she had to know what made Mythias so afraid to commit into a relationship with her.
It took her a whole week to process everything her father told her.
And even today she still doubted what she heard.
Four individuals born with ‘supernatural’ powers created to keep peace in the world, so they said. Shutdown because of what her father described as ultimately ethical reasons. And the Project was never made known to the public.
The boy she knew for so many months as Scott, whose real name she now knew as Mythias, was the very first in the Project. Hence he was known as The First, but also because of the exceeding potential he had in the form of his abilities. He possessed all the abilities that the subsequent three ‘specimens’ each had. And they would have created more of Mythias if his body wasn’t so unstable.
The older he became the more abilities he started losing and the more unstable his health became. One day he could be as fit as her, but the next he could be as frail as her great grandfather. He could have leukaemia today and have it disappear a week later. He could remember an entire language at one moment and then forget it entirely the next.
“That’s why his Japanese never seem to get better,” Saki thought to herself, tugging on the ribbon of her black dress. “And that’s why he’s over a hundred years old, but still looks so young…”
The four of them were released once the Project was shutdown, but they were of course taken care by the government. Her father didn’t know what became of any of them. He only knew that Mythias managed to adapt into their society after meeting him.
“Mer-thy-yas…” she practiced again even after so long, smiling a little.
It was a unique name.
“What’s wrong?” her father asked, standing next to her.
Saki thought of shaking her head, but she knew her expression would give her away immediately.
“Can we go?” she asked very softly. “I can’t stay here any longer…”
Her father nodded without a second thought, understanding fully how his daughter felt. They made their way out of the hall quietly before Saki hurried off to his car. She felt a load of burden lift off her shoulders after they left through the school gates.
Her school reminded her too much about the kidnappings that now almost everyone who had a television knew too well. The constant broadcasting of the event and situation gave her many sleepless nights. She and her friends could have been one of those charred beyond recognition bodies from the very first wave if Mythias hadn’t come and rescued them all.
The whole thing was very sad but repulsive as well.
Saki rolled down the window when she felt a little queasy and made her father stop when she saw where they were. He pulled over at the side of the street and watched her got out.
“You go home first, father,” she told him. “I’m just going to take a stroll before I go back.”
Realizing where they were, Kenzo nodded and told her not to stay out too late before driving off.
Saki turned and began walking, taking out her phone when there was a message from Maimi. Her friend was asking why she left the memorial so soon. She quickly text back to her friend as she went down the steps before she switched off her phone and tucked it away in her bag.
The flowing sound of water from the fountain was soothing and the cool water almost felt relaxing when she dipped her fingers into it. There were three children playing on the stage while their grandparents sat on one of the benches. She went over to an empty bench and sat down
“Star Landing Circle.” Saki translated the sign where the name of this place was written.
Her English had improved tremendously over the past year. Needless to say her motivation to learn it came from Mythias of course, even though it was no longer necessary. It simply felt right to Saki, to learn a language that he spoke all the time. Plus it helped her communicate with his daughter when she wanted to learn more about Mythias’s past.
His happier past of course.
Saki only wished that she could have known him sooner.
She shifted aside when someone sat down next to her and didn’t bother to give him even a smile before she looked away again. The man set his cane down on his right and tiredly lay back before he stretched his arms high above his head with a yawn.
Several weeks after the explosion in Mythias’s home, Saki was contacted by one of the remaining three specimens. He helped explain about the Project and convinced her that it was real when he showed her his ability.
All her doubts vanished the second he showed her.
Saki had no qualms with him but seeing him reminded her so much about Mythias, even though she knew so little about Mythias true self. The most distinctive similarities they had was that sleek, coolness which coated every single action or gesture that they make. And that confident aura and attitude, balanced with enough humility to just place them right before the line that crosses into arrogance.
Seeing this specimen with his over pampered girlfriend made her heart ache and long too much about how happy she and Mythias could be if they were together.
“Why the sad face?” Mythias asked, sweeping his silver-white fringe aside. “I can dye my hair to black again if you don’t like it you know?”
Saki whipped around so fast that her necklace flew and smack her on the chin. But she barely noticed it at all the moment she saw him sitting next to her. He could tell that she was shocked – pleasantly shocked – but still, for some reason, she forced herself to remain calm and composed.
She turned back to look at the stage as she laid back against the bench looking indifferent.
“I thought you said it was dangerous to show yourself in public so soon?” she asked.
Mythias remembered the language again just a few months after he blew up his home. And the thought of that day when he blew up his home – only to destroy all evidence of his existence of course – brought back many scary memories. Lucia, for one, refused to speak to him for an entire week because all of her belongings – mainly clothes and bags really – had to be burnt. And he was quite surprised that day about how emotional Christopher was, behaving as though they would never see each other again.
The man was only losing his wine cellar.
“Whoever was trying to revive the Project has succeeded.” Saki watched as he crossed his legs and took a deep breath with his eyes closed gently – it was so perfectly refined and she wished she had a camera to capture his pose. “But that person has gone into hiding and if that person is who I believe to be, then ultimately I will lose this game of patience.”
“Why?” she asked.
“Because I have you waiting for me.”
He opened his eyes and looked at her, locking her eyes in his dreamy gaze.
“You said you were afraid of getting me involved in this.” Saki mentally smacked herself out of his gaze. “What happens if they come after me instead to hurt you?”
She watched as he placed his arm around her and pulled her closer, slowly guiding her to lay her head on him. Saki closed her eyes and relaxed as he ran his fingers through her hair. His heart thumped in a constant, slow rhythm that calmed her further as she waited for an answer. But all he did was kept silent and hugged her tighter.
And it was then when she felt his answer.
Laying on his chest and just being in his presence, being so near to him, made her felt so safe like nothing in the world could ever hurt her. It was the best answer that he could ever give her and the best answer she could ever ask for.
And so it was there, on that bench in Star Landing Circle, where they sat for the rest of the afternoon. Silently without any words spoken, just enjoying being together and peacefully in love. Oblivious of all that is happening around them, caring only to savour this moment and look forward to the future that they’ll share with each other.
“Found you at last,” said a man with a scar across his left cheek, watching them from afar with a sick grin.
He lined the crosshair of his rifle to the back of Mythias’s head. The only specimen that stood in his way The First. It was a problem he foresaw the moment he understood the vast potentials Mythias had. And it was a problem he had a solution made specifically for, grazing the chamber that held a bullet which contained a virus designed solely to kill the first specimen.
“Goodbye, my son,” he whispered.
Then he pulled the trigger.
Chapter 42
“Has everyone left?” Mythias asked, his voice echoing a little.
He circled a large metal object in the centre of his living area. The empty living area with every single furniture and portraits removed. The bareness of the living area where he and his family made so many fond memories was simply unsettling.
Christopher nodded with a forlorn smile.
“How’s Lucia?”
“Still crying, fighting and screaming,” Christopher said snidely. “No less than expected of course.”
Mythias frowned. “This is the only way out of this.”
“There are many ways out of this, Master,” Christopher said most firmly. “An atomic bomb is not one of them.”
“It’s not an atomic bomb, Christopher,” he told his old friend.
He kneeled next to the accelerant cylinder and checked that the uranium was properly secured to it. He then gingerly rubbed the tag attached to one of the pipes which read, ‘The End of Mythias and His Legacy’. It was his tenth check and Mythias knew well that everything was in order. He was just delaying the time.
“It’s been a good sixty-two years, Christopher.” He got up and stretched out his hand. “Thank you for everything, old friend.”
Christopher stared at him and tried to keep his eyes cold and harsh but couldn’t. With a sigh, he grabbed Mythias’s hand and shook it before pulling him into a hug. They gave each other a few pats on the back before backing away awkwardly.
It was their very first hug.
“If there’s ever a chance that you require a butler again,” Christopher tried to smile. “Or someone to share a manor with.”
“I’ll be sure to give you a call,” Mythias faked a smile too to hide his feelings, taking a step back to the bomb. “But there’s a good chance that it’ll only happen in my next life. Will that be alright?”
“That would be just fine, Sir,” he barely managed a whisper. “That would be just fine.”
- Epilogue
Chapter 41
She grazed her finger across the barrel of the gun, feeling the cold steel against her skin. The smell of ammonia didn’t bother her and neither was the fact that they were in a rather dangerous situation. What bothered her was that she might have sent Scott to his death. There were so many gunmen in the hall yet all she cared was Maimi’s safety.
Saki placed the gun on the floor, knowing well that if someone charged into the room, she’d be too afraid to do anything. Kimiko understood how she felt, so the girl said nothing. Instead, she stood up and positioned herself nearer to the door.
“I wonder what’s going on outside…” Kimiko thought out loud.
She lost communications with the coordinator, Gordon, roughly half an hour ago. She could still remember the first time she met the very, very tall man. It was no more than two years ago and his appearance completely changed her life. She was a good athlete but her social skills were horrible.
It was a problem they corrected on the very first day of her training to become a TFA agent.
Kimiko smiled, remembering all the friends she made in the training centre. She made a mental note to herself to give them all a call once this was over.
“Hey, Kimiko-chan.” Saki called.
“Hmm?”
“Should we be staying here? I mean, is it safe here?”
The mousey girl nodded without having to even consider it. “The door is reinforced and this entire toilet is fireproof. There’s no way you can open the door from the outside if it’s locked. Not even with the key because the keyhole on the outside is a faux. Don’t worry abou-”
She cocked her rifle and aimed it at the door.
Someone was trying to force the door open.
Saki picked up the gun and hurried to the furthest corner like how Kimiko instructed her to earlier. She watched as Kimiko edge closer to the door, waiting silently for the person outside to identify himself.
“Oh, right,” they heard a soft voice. “Open up, it’s me!”
They looked at each other and then rushed to the door.
Mythias took a step back, they were too quiet for too long, and raised his foot to kick down the door. It should work but he wouldn’t deny that there was a better chance of him breaking his leg than the door. He glanced at Maimi to make sure she stood far enough behind him.
The door swung open right before he kicked.
Saki burst out and was a little surprised to see him with his leg raised. But after he placed it down, she dove to him, wrapping her arms around his body. He, however, wasn’t sure if he should return the hug. They had never behaved in such a manner with each other before, and her sudden affection was something he wasn’t used to at all. The only person he knew who behaved like this was Lucia.
“Hi,” he said, unsure, and awkwardly patted her a few times on her back.
She looked up at him with teary eyes and started talking. Her voice croaky from holding her tears back. He smiled at her and said that he was glad to see her too. It didn’t quite matter what he said since she couldn’t understand him.
“It’s over,” he told Kimiko, wondering why Saki hadn’t let go of him yet. “You can put that down now.”
Kimiko shook her head, standing with Maimi who were just as eager to see her friend – though surprised as well. “I feel say-far wit this until we go out-tu-side.”
He let her be, understanding that it was the same reason his sidearm was with him.
“Erm, could you tell her to let go?” He started patting Saki’s head unsurely.
The two girls laughed and Maimi went over to pull her friend away. Saki started to blush when she realized what she was doing and quickly look away. Then she remembered about Maimi and immediately gave her best friend a hug and a few words. Deciding that he deserved to relax a little now, Mythias allowed himself a snigger as led the way out.
He stopped when they were just a corner turn from the exit.
“This is where I leave you girls,” he told them, smiling at Saki.
Momoko quickly explained and Saki grew anxious at once, but Mythias reassured her before she could become worried.
“I’ll be leaving through another exit,” he said to her. “There’s something I need to do and once it’s done, I’ll come looking for you.”
She couldn’t understand him and Momoko tried to translate but it was clear certain points didn’t get through since Saki still looked anxious. Mythias gestured for Momoko to return him his phone and he switched on the voice recorder before handing it back to her. Then he went closer to Saki and bent lower to level with her.
“What happened today is part of something much, much bigger and I can’t risk getting you involved in it.” His eyes flickered from each of hers. “There’s something I need to do before I can come look for you and… and see where our relationship will lead to.”
He smiled and thankfully she smiled back a little.
“It’s not just that. You also have to learn who I really am and what I’ve done, before you decide if you still want to be with me. Your father will explain everything to you and once he does, it’s very likely that you will not want to be with me anymore. ” All the doubts and fears began to rush back. “Even I am not completely sure…”
Saki understood a lot more than what he expected.
Seeing that tear meander down her cheek made Mythias realized that he was starting to have second thoughts about being with her again. It was frustrating how fickle his heart was. He had come to a resolve many times about this matter but again and again he gets afraid. And ultimately he would change his mind.
This time though, he wasn’t going to allow it.
“I love you.” He shoved away all doubts and said it. “I love you, I love you, I love you.”
Saki looked at him unsurely, confused by what he was saying now when it was clear he didn’t want to be with her a moment ago. Mythias stared deeply into her eyes as he repeated the three words again. He wasn’t just telling Saki that he loved her.
He was reassuring himself as well.
“I promise that I’ll come looking for you once I’ve done what I need to do,” he said firmly, never once broken a promise his whole life. “And even if you change your mind then, I’ll still love you. I’ll admit that I still have doubts because this whole love thing is completely foreign to me. And so naturally I’ll be afraid as well about–“
Saki leaned forward and pressed her lips against his.
She couldn’t understand what he was saying but she could sense the uncertainty and frustration in his words. He wanted to be with her but something was holding him back – something that had left a wound so deep in his heart that the thought of loving someone will force his body to run in the opposite direction.
But all she focused on was that she knew he wanted to be with her. And she wanted to be with him regardless of who he was or what ever did. He had helped her overcome her disability, and taught her how to live her life again.
Now it was her turn to help him.
So she leaned closer and pressed her lips harder against his, wrapping her arms around his neck so he wouldn’t be able to keep backing away. And just when she was about to give in and break the kiss, she felt him kiss back.
Mythias placed his arms around her back and pulled her closer. He remembered the scientists calling him a genius, being capable of learning anything on his own without being taught or assisted by someone else. But learning to love someone was something he could never do alone.
He was afraid, yes, but he wasn’t going to let it stop him.
Saki eventually broke the kiss and he thought he had done something wrong, but he quickly realized that she only did so because she had completely forgotten to breath. He knew it because the first thing she did after her lips parted from his was to gasp for air.
And what a relief it was to see that.
He looked at her, mesmerized by this petite girl who just a few months ago were about the strangest person he had ever met. Now, she was the loveliest person he had ever set his eyes on.
Saki soon got embarrassed when he kept staring, so she couldn’t help but drop her gaze to the floor. She heard giggles coming from her friends which made her to look up at once.
“I’ll see you soon then,” she told him and then, for whatever reasons not known to her, bowed formally to him before running off, pulling her friends along with her.
Maimi only managed half a bow to thank him for saving her life, while Momoko gave him a quick salute and a cheeky wave with his phone still recording. He nodded at them with a grin on his face as he watched Saki disappear around the corner. And as he stared at that corner, he began to replay what had just happened during the past few minutes.
But when he thought of what he was going to do, he began frown deeply.
“I’m sorry…” His words were meant for Saki. “I’m so sorry…”
Chapter 40
His hands were steady and so were Amanda’s. Her expression was calm and almost resolute, while Mythias was simply unhappy with his performance. He should have realized this the moment Gordon told him that one of the agents was a traitor.
Only soft murmurs from the hostages filled the hall as they stared at each other.
“Put it down, Mythias,” said Amanda. “I’m not the only one who has a gun pointing at a student.”
He should have realized that too.
Mythias didn’t bother wasting time and simply dropped the rifle to the ground after releasing the ammunition clip. But he raised a hand when the SWAT officers around him showed signs of doing the same.
“Their weapons are the only things stopping you and your men from going on a shooting frenzy.” He smiled and tucked his hands into his pocket, keeping a relaxed posture mainly for Maimi.
Maimi was the key subject in this entire hall.
“All I want to know is why.”
“Ask Gordon,” she said, whispering something to Maimi when the girl’s lips started to tremble.
“I prefer to hear it from you.” Mythias took off his earpiece, dropped it to the ground and stomped on it. “Earning a degree of my trust, no matter how little, is a lot to say, Miss. Houston.”
“Amanda,” she corrected him.
“I must insist this time,” he then said, not wanting to be on too close terms with her right now. “Now tell me, why?”
Mythias glanced at Maimi and gave her a smile to hopefully calm her down a little. The girl seemed nowhere near a panic attack, however, which was a good sign. She wouldn’t have been able to help Saki if she hadn’t had a strong character. And for that he was glad.
“My sister was taken during the first wave,” Amanda began. “A few weeks later, I found a diamond bracelet that I gave her on her birthday, which was just a day before she was taken.”
Mythias kept silent and nodded from her to continue.
“I found the bracelet on her charred remains, burnt so badly that I could barely recognize the figure of a human being.” Maimi winced when the nozzle of the gun was pressed harder against her temple. “The government did nothing.”
“You were part of the government,” he reminded her.
“I wasn’t a part of anything back then!” she burst out all of a sudden, but calmed down a little when she heard Maimi squeal, easing off a little with the gun. “Everything was so secretive and I wasn’t allowed to help because I was the family member of a victim. I pleaded my superiors, I pleaded Gordon, to at least let me do something to help. But they downright refused to.”
“Standard protocols.” Mythias shrugged. “Too bad.”
She smirked a little. “That’s what I told myself back then and even after we found the bodies. Standard protocols. But when the second and third wave struck, I wasn’t allowed to help again because apparently, there was a special task force assigned to handle those cases!”
Mythias walked away but gestured with his hand to continue. She said nothing until he came back with a chair which he sat on, adjusted a little, and then crossed his leg.
“Please.” He gestured for her to continue.
A scoff escaped her while the others simply stared in disbelief.
“A month after the third wave, I was approach by an ex-Navy Commander who lost his daughter in the second wave. He told me that the government was behind the kidnappings, but I didn’t believe him, at least, not until Gordon told me about his secret investigation.” She kept her eyes firmly on his. “Your existence was what made me decide that the government is behind all these kidnappings.”
A few of the officers around them glanced at Mythias, some already had an accurate guess of who he was.
“I feel so special.” He smiled and tilted his head condescendingly. “Do explain.”
“Ixion Might. He was made differently from the rest of you, and there was a series of unexplained kidnappings before his appearance.”
The first half of what she said wasn’t something she should know about.
“I have my own sources too.” She allowed herself a grin. “And so here we are today.”
“Sir,” one of the officers called him. “I just received words that a large group of children was found in the middle of Tokyo highway. They’re believed to be the recently kidnapped children.”
“Really?” Mythias said. “Well isn’t that interesting, Miss. Houston.”
The woman was smiling from ear to ear.
“Now can you surrender?” he asked extra nicely.
Amanda shook her head.
“These are our demands,” she said. “We want immunity and a full explanation from the government. The contract must state that we are immune to any charges from this incident, as well as any prior incidents connected to this. We want our lawyers to be present when you bring us the contract to sign. As for the full explanation, we want that done on live broadcast across international channels.”
“Don’t tell that to me.” Mythias pointed at one of the other officers. “Tell it to them. I’m just here for Maimi so could you switch hostage or something?”
“I’m not joking here, Mythias,” she said with renewed strength. “You have the most influence. You get it done. Until then, you can forget about getting any of these people out of here.”
Mythias sighed, got up, and shook his head disappointedly.
“Miss. Houston, do you know why the government is willing to pay me so much for my service?” he asked, taking a step closer to her as he removed his visor. “Do you know why out of the four of us, I am the only one who the others fear?”
Amanda tried to come up with an answer but ended up shaking her head. The four specimens were very special, but in what ways she never really knew for sure. So far, she hadn’t seen Mythias done anything extraordinary other than the incident on his balcony. But he must possessing an ability that made the government even decide to hire him as a mercenary in the first place, let alone pay him a ludicrous amount of money.
Her heart began to race when she thought that he already know she was the only one left.
“Because…” she heard him said, and then her eyes were slowly drawn into his.
A remarkable amount of intelligence was present in his eyes like always, and the wisdom that accompanied it reminded her of the day she first met him. Amanda stared deeper into his eyes this time, drawn and encouraged to by them. Deeper within, she saw a pain she knew she would never be able to comprehend. Then she saw fear she knew she could never fathom, but knew was much worse than any phobia that existed. Sorrow followed after and she felt her lips began to tremble, reminded of the sadness she felt on her sister’s funeral.
Then a violent force slammed into her mind and seized hold of her. Quickly after that, Amanda realized that she was locked in a mental trance.
She tried to break free of his gaze and look away but it was as if a physical force was holding her, forcing her eyes open and making her look into his. She wasn’t even sure if she was even looking at him.
Chaos began to plague her mind and she couldn’t stay focus at anything for more than a second. She tried to think of a way to free herself but then she was praying to God the next second, before wondering if she was still alive. Her mind was constantly thinking about different matters and issues, until she couldn’t even remember where she was or what she was doing before. And it never seemed to end as she began to lose track of time.
She was losing her mind.
“That’s why.”
The sound of his voice shoved her back to reality and she found Mythias standing right in front of her, holding an oddly familiar gun between her brows. And a moment later, Amanda could only gape.
He was holding her gun.
And the two of them were the only ones left in the hall.
“That’s why,” Mythias repeated.
