Chapter 1: Forgotten Course

"... HEY!... STOP!... RIGHT THERE!..."

"...FUCK YOU PIG!..."

The skies barely resembles the crack of dawn and here I find my self searching through the deepest parts of my reasoning as to what is the reason for this ungodly roar I am hearing outside. A feeling of "Unrest" is it how they call it? Or annoyed perhaps? I cannot even put the feelings that slowly boiled within me at that moment into proper words, waking up from a commotion is as worse as an alarm clock that does not stop.

"...For fuck sake..."

I cursed under my breathe, I had no choice at this point but to get up from the oh-so-sweet embrace of my blanket and bed; off duty from working in such a demanding job that requires stacks of coffee that will topple the amount of the coffee that an worker consume in this city. With caffeine continuously circulating through your body- you cannot help but just drop on your bed when you hit that sweet rest time.

But there I was, turning all over my bed. Crumpling up the sheets of my bed just to feel that right posture for me to be able to sleep- and Indeed it was good as soon as I found it. My body just shuts off automatically soon after but 3 hours after- awakened, by some crook and a cop playing chase down the road.

".. Them again?..."

I would've stacked a sheet of complains at that moment, but I have realized, crime around my area is as frequent as seeing the face of the neighbors I have- which is very frequent, especially this nice old lady who give me cookies sometimes before I head off to work. Multiple thudding sounds rattled my walls as I can hear the neighbors at the room just on the left side of mine was bickering over something again, not a fan of people who spread gossips, but- I do like peering into the conversations of people whom are around me; amusement, or work related, sometimes both if I do feel like it.

"... GOD!... Fucking... Damn it, Jonathan!...Did you spent all of the Eddie's again on alcohol?!..."

"... Shut the fuck up bitch!...Quit your yapping!..."

"... Yapping?!...How about stop fucking spending our Eddie's that are supposed to be for the bills on your god damn alcohol!.. "

As much as I don't like to peer into the lives of the people around me, I do monitor some of them most of the time; as sometimes in my field of work- we are tasked to even to listen and consider every conversation as a possible lead to any cases in our data base. In this crime infested city, sometimes you just really got to have to take a break from being a decent person.

Just…not too frequent…

Because that will be…felony…

I have a lot of neighbors, but. I have this one specific family beside me that I can say- I already am quite the "fan" of, and they sure do provide me quite a balanced feeling of both concern and entertainment. I had been living in this apartment block type modular building for quite a while now because of my work, I have no choice; this or to the corporate type hotels that will wither away my credit before I can even buy a meal for myself.

Call me cheap…

But I don't want to die from starvation….

Few years under the roof of this apartment building, I have been listening to them for quite a while and it sure is getting unamusing now…

Jonathan Roxford. 34 years old, an average run of a mill alcoholic and a worker as a foreman in a construction company; a father to a single child...

and loving husband to a wife?....

I'll keep that as a question...

Abbegail Roxford. 30 years old, a hard working woman- a fine lady to be honest, who's doing two types of jobs. Quite a dominating figure in her work as a designer in a small apparel company, but became a lady of the night due to the purge that happened to their company that render her off that title and there she resorted to a job that will provide them with a pretty steady but not much amount of money. A mother to a single child, and a loving wife to an alcoholic...

Ahem..

I mean husband...

"... They are sure at it again, huh?..."

There I sat on the couch as soon as get off my bed, listening to this early morning bickering; at first, it really is annoying and put me to the verge of knocking to their door at some point. But, I have been listening and observing the behavior's of that two for quite and extended amount of time, it was quite amusing to have a chance to listen to a live drama performance just right behind the wall but I do feel a short bit of concern within me as I remembered that there is a child inside that same room, listening to this chaotic and violent exchange of words that goes back and forth between his parents.

"...I told you to pay our bills for this month!...i have played my part last month!.."

Such an earful for this kind of time, huh? Then suddenly, a distinct sound resonated into my auditory implants. I did not expect it to be any good.

[SHATTER!]

[THUD!]

My eyes enlarged as I heard the crashing of glass shattering as it hit a solid object, I stayed on my seat for a while- it did sprung me out of my relaxed state. A loud thud was picked up by my implants soon after and there as follows. A deafening scream of distress and panic broke out of the whole apartment complex, I can even hear it clearly without activating my implant.

"AHHHHH!!!!....."

A female voice. And there I found myself running across the room to reach the weapon storage beside my sleeping pod inside my apartment room, I fumbled and crawled my way there as I too felt the distress. I swiftly grabbed the guns off the holsters of my vest and there I ran with my badge at hand and a racing heart as I exited my own room hastily. I knew that at some point, a far worse incident will come to a conclusion soon enough, their violent tendencies became much more concerning as the day goes by.

I want to interfere, but I acted way too late and just bathe myself at my selfishness in the moments where I should've interfered…

I quickly took the liberty out myself to call for a backup as I pressed my back against the wall just right beside the door of the apartment room beside mine, I was preparing to knock the door down at any time now. The other residents; out of pure and sheer concern, came rushing out of their rooms to check what is happening. I gestured to them to get inside and the same old woman who hands me cookies asked me with such fearful tone in her voice.

"Y-young man?... Is everything alright?.."

Ma'am, I too am uncertain about the current situation…

I soon heard more screaming and shouting inside…loud wailing and cries.

"...Ma'am, please remain inside your home.. The authorities are now alerted and are gonna come soon... "

The kind old woman entered back to her home thankfully and cooperated, but remained a small opening on her door as she cannot ease down her worries about her safety; I cannot blame her, even I fear my safety at this point. I took a deep inhale, and a swift and sharp exhale. I strengthen up myself as I...

[CRASH!]

Punched the locked door open with my cybernetic arm implant that unfolded and shows multiple pistons underneath the panels of steel that is covered by a synthetic skin to mask it; we call it gorilla arms, that allowed me to deliver such a devastating punch that folded the door.

"...FREEZE!… PUT YOUR HANDS UP... CWPD...GET THE FUCK DO-.."

And there right before me, the most unexpected turn of event occurred- right before my eyes that stunned me, keeping me planted on where I was standing. The most unfortunate victim is the most unfortunate criminal in this case; It was his young 10 year old boy.

I stood there with my guns upfront, my sights were clearly aligned right on the head of the boy; centered out and my finger lightly pressing on the trigger already. I felt my blood run cold as I saw the blood on the hands of this young man and the shattered and broken piece of beer that he used to kill his father within his grasps. He looked at me with the most disorientated expression on his face, I can see the already forming trauma right in the eyes of that young boy.

Her mother swiftly ran into action, rushing to his boy as the boy slowly broke down in tears, his eyes locked with the cold end of the barrel of my gun. I froze and stood there; my trigger finger slowly loosen up from the trigger of my gun. An expression of disbelief was plastered on my face as I just slowly lowered my gun as the mother embraced his poor young boy, protectively holding him tightly in her arms. My eyes went blurry as I stared down into that sight, but as soon as lowered my weapon- the image became clearer.

"... What in the fuck-.."

I silently mumbled as I found out that another horror that stacked on top of the horrors that is already embedded in my brain. His son has bruises all over his body, his head was shaved in such a peculiar way and traces of wounds are still fresh on the skin of the young boy; those wounds are from a much more recent time. I don't know who's the criminal at this point...

The man who is bleeding before me...

Or the boy...

I expected their child to be affected by their actions at some way or another. I expected the boy to be unstable as he grows up, having a hard time with coping up with traumas, but I did not expect this to occur so swiftly; the kid reached the limit that usually took a few more years, not to that point in time. I have seen my fair share of crimes and other similar issues alike, much more horrifying crime scene, visceral filled boxes and corpses torn into pieces has etched their image into my brain- I have grown accustomed to that.

But that...

That is the horror I did not expect to see...

"... Please!...Sir!...have mercy on my son!... Please don't shoot him-!.."

I was drifting into some form of a nauseating feeling, I felt my stomach turn and my legs felt like they were standing on a shaky platform; I am quite glad that I held myself enough at that time- its just that,it was such a weakening scene. I just witnessed a murder of a man, and a dying of innocence in that very room in just a day.

"...C-calm down ma'am... I am not gonna shoot your son... Just... Take his hand off bottle-.. Please-..."

The boy looked at her mother, such an innocent and confused look can be seen on the face of the young man within the hands of her mother. His hand slowly slip off the blood stained glass bottle and there he slowly put his arms around his mother and cry her eyes out; that brought me further relief deep within me as I don't have to do the questionable.

His mother softly wipes the blood and tears off the face of his young one. A saddened smile appeared on her face as she softly whispers to her son...

"... Everything will be okay... Shh... Hush how..."

"... Ma'am.. Please stay in the room... The other police will be here soon to help you put in this problem... So... Stay.... Please, for your very own safety..."

I said, almost in a begging manner as I could feel the corner of my eyes gets heavy. I walked my way out of that room and there i pressed my back against the cold wall of the hallway of that apartment building. The sirens, I could heard them from far- slowly approaching; the sirens became closer and closer and without even further noticing it, I just saw multiple boots rush pass by me and into the room.

"....."

"..FREEZ-..."

I silently stood there still pressing my back against the wall, my eyes blankly staring on the floor as the image of that young boy kept on flashing within my head. I could hear the police scream "FREEZE!".. but stopped half way... Probably felt the same way the moment I saw that kid holding that shattered glass of bottle. My colleagues were as confused as I at that point, the ambulance soon came to pick up the body of the now deceased Jonathan.

"....."

Tears slowly ran down my eyes as my back slowly slides down against the cold steel plated walls of my apartment building as my body suddenly felt weighted from within. I rested my arms atop my knees and there I wallow in such heart wretching feeling- my hear felt like it is being strangled and squeezed by heavy sets of chains. All felt numb, the color within my eyes faded as I silently cried at the hallway along side the bags of trash and litter on the ground. My colleagues approached to check on me but all their questions are nothing but muffled noises for my ears.

"..Hey... Hey!.. Man.. You alright?…"

My eyes looked up to these kind enough colleagues of mine, and there I can see the concerned and troubled looks on their faces as they laid their eyes upon that empty smile formed up on my face.

Accompanied by the tears that runs down my cheeks, all they can do is look at each other as their gaze already can tell what they are saying "He is a lost cause..." but there I muttered a word- a response to the question that has been asked to me...

"...No..."

[Soon after, the sound of the Trauma Team's alarm starts to softly bellow from the far distance as they flew between the towering building that dotted the area.]

Past trauma's, buried within one's soul can be triggered through different means in such unexpectable moments and times. After that day, I was taken into the custody of the hospital as I drift off into a state of complete borderline paranoia; medications were given and provided- but it do not think that medicine can provide me any kind of solution to my problem.

I came back home in a barely lit apartment room, only the holographic ads that circles around the holographic projector I left open gives any kind of light in that apartment room of mine; such a hallow feeling within me grew as the step foot into my very own room. Legs could barely walk, and the weight on my shoulders have grown more and more heavier as I stagger my way to the sofa where I just proceed to fall down onto the edge.

I could feel my internals rumble as the image of that kid flashes before my eyes and soon after a much more horrifying image soon followed; like glitching pictures within my head. A room filled with visceral and gore, limbs and chunks of flesh and pool of blood filled the dark room. A guttural hurl could be heard in my room as the contents of my meals flows out of my mouth, my hands started to trembled as my breathing became sharp and unstable.

[HEAVY PANTING]

".....W-what was that?..."

My optics slowly began to seemingly malfunction; glitching acting like those of an old television static.

I could feel a new set of sensation starting to arise from within me. It was fiery; feverish and almost a burning like sensation- like sitting inside a scorching hot incinerator. I could barely hold onto the edge of the couch- my eyes could barely open as that steaming hot sensation feels like its roasting my optics and eye sockets; such a unbearable discomfort that eventually made me slide of the couch completely- losing my grip on the couch and to myself at the same time.

"...W-why is this happening to me...?..."

In pain and huge amount of strain, all I can do at that moment is to question why I am in such situation- pointless, I know. But, confusion just completely engulfed my thoughts at that moment. There I find myself pulling out an inch more of strength out of my body as I managed to drag my already heavy body up the couch and lay myself down on it, An ounce of relief as i managed to got up the couch that was sooner broken...

My arm loosely fell off the seat as I lay there, on the brink of total collapse. I could still feel the faint sensation of heat on the tip of my knuckles as it light touches the contents i vomited on the ground.

"...I-I need to call the trauma team..."

"...Death...is ..imminent at this point..."

I failed to comprehend this thing happening to me, a mere image of a young boy; an image of violence that is almost very common in the streets of this city caused me such pain. I had my share of violence that infested the streets; deaths is as casual to me as just a having a casual walk and seeing a homeless asking for a fair bit of cash to help himself. Common, and not surprising.

But all of a sudden...

Why does the image of that boy- it struck something within me that has shaken me down to my very core; an incomprehensible cause to a very concerning and unnerving effect. As I lay there with my eyes locked on the visible pipes that run across the ceiling of my roof- my ears had picked up something...

"... Reaper...Reaper... "

A muffled voice- a call that has such a calm and a warming tone. This broke my empty gaze at the ceiling and somehow manage to awaken an ounce of vigor within me that made me jolt up to a sitting position .

"...W-who...who's there?!.."

"...No one....but someone...soon...Reaper...soon.."

This soft, silent, and gentle call trailed off into my ears, such an aethereal and heavenly sensation rings into my ears. This voice repeatedly muttered out a word everytime, "Reaper... Reaper" it felt like the voice was calling to me as if my death was just standing there at corner of the room- and that voice, was calling for the name of the grim reaper who's tasked to take my life.

The voice eased my paranoia intoxicated mind in a way, in a brink of reaching for my gun: I suddenly stopped.

"... Whom ever is there... State your business..."

There is something i had forgotten as i live my life in this place; "anything could happen to anyone at anytime" a city of nightmares if you will ask me but it too posses such alluring beauty, but is a one dangerous entity down to the core.

"... Once your course returns to where it belongs.. We shall once again meet.. one day..."

The voice slowly faded away as it delivered those final sets of words.

As a police officer, I have seen a plethora of entities in my life. As an invistagator. I have scoured through the streets of this city to chase down criminals and high valued targets. I have suffered and have sacrificed alot of things just in order to live... In order to survive...

At this point cannot distinguish myself as a human or nothing but a soul that was swallowed by the system of this city... Following a wrong system just in order to survive..

"... is it worth following the curved course stained by blood even in terms of survival.?.."

-End-