Deep in the forest, fallen leaves blew along the ground.
Arthur stood up and stretched.
Should I even meet with Steven and Charlie this time? It would be nice to have a weapon just in case, but they might take it as a threat if I show up with one.
He began walking towards the city.
I'll be fine without one. I'll just end up back here if they kill me anyway.
He pulled the clothes out of the dumpster and put them on.
Now, I think the address they sent is this way.
Arthur began walking towards the address sent in the message. This part of the city was new to him. Even in his first loop, he had never come to this part of the city. The buildings in this part of the city were very clean and modern looking, unlike the maze of red bricks that was the area he was used to. The tall buildings in this area were almost entirely glass, and the shorter ones were mostly made of a beautiful white stone, similar to marble.
He reached the address attached to the message. It was a short building made of the white stone, and it had many intricate details carved into it. There were large glass domes on the roof of the building, along with statues of what looked to be angels descending from above.
There was a small sign in front of the building that read “Chares city museum of life”.
Arthur walked inside. The room was large, and much like the outside of the building, had many carvings on the walls. Classical music played quietly through small speakers in the corners of the room.
“Hello, how may I help you today?” Said a young man seated at an ornate wood desk at the back of the room.
Arthur glanced at him suspiciously before walking up to the desk.
“Hello, I'm here to meet with… the weather men?”
The young man frowned for a second before quickly forcing a smile.
“I'm afraid I don't quite understand. I believe you may have the wrong place.”
“No, I don't. Now bring out your leader.”
“I have no idea what you’r-”
He was cut off by one of the large doors on the side of the room opening. A man wearing a bright yellow suit walked into the room.
He looked like he was in his mid sixties, and he had short, light blond hair and a small mustache.
He noticed the distressed look on the receptionist’s face and walked over.
“Hello, what seems to be the problem here?”
His voice was deep, and had a slight British accent.
“N-nothing sir! This young man is just confu-”
“I’m here to meet the leader of the weather men.”
The man in yellow’s eyes widened slightly.
“I see. Follow me.”
The receptionist put his head down and groaned as Arthur followed the man in yellow through one of the large doors.
“Who are you?” The man in yellow asked.
“Who are you?” Arthur responded.
The man sighed.
“I don't know how you found out about us, but you should probably just go home and forget everything you know before someone else finds out you know. You're very lucky I'm the one you met here.”
“I'm afraid I can't do that.”
“That's a shame. you're so young, you shouldn't throw your life away by sticking your nose into business that isn't your own.”
“If I don't stick my nose where it doesn't belong, I'll lose something far more valuable than my life.”
“Young people like you really shouldn't talk like that. You have no idea how valuable your life is until you're about to lose it.”
“Believe me, I've been in that kind of situation more than enough times to know the value of life.”
“Then why did you come here? Why put yourself in another situation like that?”
“I have no other option. If I don't risk my own life, thousands will lose theirs.”
“What do you mean?”
“I can't tell you that.”
“Why not?”
“Well, I guess I could answer your question, if you answer some of mine first.”
“How do I know you're not just spouting nonsense to get me to talk?”
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“One week from today, the weather men are going to kill Adam Reed at the airport.”
The man stopped in his tracks.
“How do you know that?”
“I wonder, how do I know that?”
Arthur smirked.
The man sighed.
“Fine. Follow me, let's talk somewhere else.”
Arthur followed the man down a hallway until they reached a door. They walked through the door, and behind it was a large room filled with plants with a glass dome for a roof.
Arthur looked around.
“The weather men have a pretty bright secret base for a group of murderers.”
The man sat down at a small metal table.
“I believe you're quite mistaken about the purpose of our organization. We are not murderers.”
Arthur sat across from him.
“You sure? People who aren't murderers usually don't kill people.”
The man pulled out a small coin and played with it in his hand.
“How did you even find this place if you don't even know this much about our organization?”
He sighed.
“Whatever. I'll explain it to you. We are not really one group. We are three separate groups acting together under the same name. You seem to think the ‘rain’ portion of our group is the whole thing. It is not.”
“I don't understand.”
“Hmm… I guess telling you about why our group was formed would make this easier. You see, our group was created back during the cold war as a joint effort between people, both in the US and the Soviet Union, against a full blown war.”
“So you've been around for quite some time, huh?”
The man chuckled softly.
“You could say that. The group’s purpose back then was simple: prevent a war without being discovered by either side. We worked in the shadows doing all sorts of things, assassination, inciting protests, we even worked as anonymous informants for both sides.”
“You keep saying ‘we’. You yourself weren't around during this time, were you?”
“Oh heavens no! I'm old, but not that old. When I say ‘we’, I'm referring to our group, the weather men.”
“I see. Continue.”
“Anyway, our purpose hasn't really changed much since then. The only difference is, instead of trying to prevent a single war, we try to prevent any sort of catastrophic event.”
“I see. So, what about the whole group made of three groups thing you mentioned?”
“Right! So, I am the head of the ‘shine’ group of the weather men. That's why I'm called Mr. Shine, by the way.”
“Is that your real name.”
“No, of course not! It's my… code name, I guess? Anyway, my part of the group focuses on daylight operations. We make legal money via investments and running small businesses, and then split that money up between the organization and a handful of charities we support.”
“Charities? Why?”
“Our mission isn't just preventing catastrophic events. We also work to maintain happiness and establish high standards of living. That's the primary purpose of my part of the organization besides just being a way to make legal money for the other parts of the organization to use.”
“I see.”
“Anyway, the other main part of the organization is the ‘rain’ group. They're what you seem to think our organization is. They work to maintain peace via more… unconventional methods. I'm sure you know what I mean.”
Arthur remembered all the times he’d been killed by the weather men in the past.
“Yes, I do.”
“This group is headed by Mr. Rain, which is a code name, obviously. Me and Mr. Rain don't really see eye to eye, but we work together because we have the same common goal. Personally, I think his methods are a bit too brutal and heartless, and he thinks I'm too soft. That's where the third group comes in. They don't really officially have a name, but most people call them ‘snow’ due to their white suits, and their head’s cold attitude. They mainly work to assist the two main groups and make sure we get along. You could say they're the glue that holds our organization together. They also provide each group with assistance in various different fields. They're jacks of all trades.”
“I see.”
“And I think that's just about it. Any more questions for me?”
“Yes. What's the meaning of your organizations motto? ‘rain or shine’ I believe it is?”
“Ah! Well, it means that no matter how bad the situation, we’ll be working behind the shadows to fix it.”
“I see. I don't have any other questions. Thank you for your time.”
Arthur stood up to leave.
“Now wait just a second! I answered your questions, why don't you answer mine? How do you know about us?”
He can't know. He's not trustworthy.
“I can't tell you that.”
“Why not?”
“I just can't.”
“Please? I heard you say something about everyone losing their lives if you don't risk yours earlier… What did you mean by that? Is something happening that I don't know about?”
Damn, he's persistent.
Arthur hesitated for a moment, then sat down.
“Fine. But don't tell Mr Rain, or anyone else.”
“Why not?”
“I don't trust him”
“Well, alright, whatever you say.”
“I know about your organization because I've been killed by Mr Rain before.”
“Killed? What do you mean?”
“I came back to this time from the future using a time machine built by a close friend of mine. This time machine also sends me back whenever I am killed. The first time I returned to this time, I lived normally for three years before I was killed by Mr Rain because I was eavesdropping on a meeting he attacked.”
“I don't appreciate jokes, boy.”
“I'm not joking. In exactly a week, some members of your organization will kill Adam Reed as he tries to leave the airport.”
“You already told me that, it doesn't prove You're from the future.”
“I know about it because I was killed there twice while trying to find out the name of your organization.”
“I typically don't enjoy killing, especially people your age, but I won't hesitate if you don't quit joking around.”
“That's fine. Kill me. But before you do, tell me something that would convince you I'm from the future so I can convince you next time.”
Mr Shine took a pistol out of his suit and pointed it at Arthur.
“Alright, I guess I can give you that much. Tell me that I plan to throw a surprise party for the receptionist you met earlier in two weeks for his birthday.”
“Seriously? That's what will convince you?”
“Yeah. I haven't told anyone else.”
Arthur looked down and sighed.
“Whatever, as long as it works. You can go ahead and shoot me now.”
“Really? You sure? It's not too late to just tell me the truth about how you found out about us.”
“I did tell you the truth, and you didn't believe me. Now shoot me already.”
Mr Shine had a dumbfounded look on his face.
“Well… alright, if you say so.”
He shot Arthur right between the eyes, killing him instantly.