SHS Undercity Headquarters - 19/02 - 8:54 am - 51 EE

It was so smooth, the natural light reflecting sharply giving it a blinding shine that persisted in annoyance no matter where her eyes darted, it was a gilded skull, staring right into Century's eyes as she stared back—in hopes of escaping it, Century looked up. The ceiling fan is swinging gently. Dust dispersing around the room making her nose twitch. The switch for the fan dangled just above a strange blur that sat opposite her.

This room was making Century breathe heavily as the increasing temperature made it too stuffy. Constantly she had to wipe her hands on her thigh. The cord was right there, one pull and the fan would hasten, that cool breeze washing over her was a feeling her skin desperately needed. To have the wind bathe her ever so gently was tempting. She swallowed, her eyes watching the fan's cord sway back and forth. It was a hypnotist trick, perhaps a test from SHS itself, whatever it was it was working on Century.

"Century? Can you pay attention, oh my god."

A voice broke through the blur, what was a mesh of shapes and colors now formed into a stern-looking woman. Her glasses were halfway down her nose and her thin, piercing eyes glared over them.

"Huh?"

Century sat up in her seat. The woman becomes clearer. Julie Annoying. An unfortunate name to say the least. She managed the Undercity SHS Action Department. Long name but in short, it's Century's boss.

"You're unbelievable Century. This utter defiance is something that comes from the lower units. I'm sure you'd be familiar with how they operate considering you've spent a lot of time there, slowly infesting your way into my sector."

"So why am I here exactly?"

Century went back to slouching, her tone that of tiredness.

"I've said this! Pay attention!"

Julie took off her glasses and pinched the bridge of her nose. Her brow furrowed as she seemed to be holding back her true anger.

"You're here because you are getting fired."

Century shot up in her seat, eyes wide and jaw agape.

"What?! Julie this is bullshit! You can't just... no! At least give me a reason."

"You want a reason? Fine, let me give you 13."

Julie spun around in her chair and clicked a button, a screen appeared from the wall as it turned on displaying a collection of images. They were all death reports.

"These are all the agents that have been a part of your squads and died. So far counting, 13 of your squad members have died during an operation. Want to know how many casualties we had before you arrived?"

She clicked another button and a white screen displayed.

"NONE! Somehow just your presence alone has caused so many of our agents to die. Not to mention you've put Annabelle in a coma and Casper is... well you've seen him. Century, to be honest, you're just bad luck. We're a villain organization, the SHS's whole purpose is to prevent any other villains from rising and overtaking us in villainy. If we're having agents die all the time that makes us look weak! Ignition's probably laughing at how pathetic your latest operation was..."

Century stands up and slams her hands on Julie's desk.

"How the hell is any of this MY fault?! I didn't kill those agents, you think I want people to die? I've worked up whole life to reach this point. You said it yourself, I spent YEARS with the Spectators. Acting as support for the agents, being a slave to those lazy assholes!"

Julie's face contorts to a sadistic grin, her cheeks stretching to their limit.

"Well, maybe that's why you don't belong here... Spectators are meant to die in combat. They're fodder, not support. So go back to crawling on the battlefield because if you get a Spectator killed... well, no one will care."

Century gritted her teeth as her fist clenched.

"I meant to be at the top. I'm the one who's supposed to command over everyone! That's why I got given this power, why I can use Strand, to be the true villain!"

The century began to froth at the mouth. Her eyes almost popped out of their socket.

"They all think that. Truth is... some people are just meant to die."

Julie pulled a lever as a hatch in the ground opened up. Century fell back as she went down a long chute.

After several minutes of falling Century landed in the waste disposal. Luckily rotting food and soggy cartons of milk softened her fall. As she crawled her way free, she walked over to the ladder. She began to make the long climb back up. Step after step, she ascended the rusty ladder. She made sure not to cut herself into any sharp bits. The constant stench never seemed to leave.

As she got higher, however, a wandering soul floated on by.

"So you got the trapdoor huh?"

Casper asked with a small smirk tugging at his lips. His body was fully phantom-like after his physical body was killed during the last operation, he was now permanently stuck as a ghost.

"At least it wasn't the rocket ship."

Century sighed as she continued the long climb.

"Or the big boxing glove. My body has suffered many broken nights after getting a scolding from Julie."

Casper chuckled and shook his head, reminiscing on all the horrible times.

"So, how are ya' holding up?"

"I got fired."

"What!? You too?"

"You also got fired?"

"Well yeah! Why do you think I'm down here? I had a meeting with her right after you. When I entered her office she just shook her head and opened the trapdoor!"

"But, you're a phantom? How did you fall here?"

"She threatened to call an exorcist if I didn't comply and float down here. I damn nearly ecotoplasm'd myself with how scary she looked..."

Casper frowned and fiddled his thumbs.

"So I guess we're both spectators now. At least I won't be too lonely."

Century stopped climbing for a second to catch a short break.

"Um... about that. Since I'm a phantom I can't really die so I've been transferred to be one of the Lord's Assistants"

Casper nervously giggled.

"Wow... so you got a promotion for dying... great."

Century scrunched her face but soon softened her expression.

"So how's Annabelle and Hiro holding up? I haven't seen them at all since yesterday."

Century resumed her climb.

"Annabelle is... not good to be honest. She took a bullet to the edge of her neck, she was able to get help as fast as possible but she lost a lot of blood. She'll be asleep for a long time they're saying."

Casper looked troubled, Annabelle and Casper were siblings so his worry was understandable.

"Hiro isn't doing much good either. Kaleido and him would fight all the time but they still looked out for each other. She died so suddenly so he's still processing everything."

Century lowered her face as she let out a long sigh.

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

"Casper... am I bad luck?"

"Bad luck...? Julie told you that didn't she? Well, I didn't believe it before you joined our squad. Many rumors were spreading around HQ about you and when I begged Annabelle she said you could only join if you passed a trial run."

"And that trial run was that previous operation... dammit."

Century bit her lip.

Casper looked off to the distance, he was in thought.

"Well... to be fair you didn't fail the operation. Cailenger was taken care of and that was our objective. Whatever happened was out of your control."

"Let's hope so..."

SHS Surface Headquarters - 19/02 - 11:32 am - 51 EE

Century stood in front of her new officer. He had a terrifying gaze, he constantly held his head at an upward angle so he could look down on anyone and he never seemed to blink. He inspected Century's new uniform. It was a long coat that extended down to her knees but she kept it unzipped. As the officer inspected the coat his eye twitched at it being unzipped. The officer's gaze moved to her shirt or at least the absence of it. All Spectators needed to wear a white vest for protection but Century often got too warm so instead she opted for just a sports bra. The officer's eye jerked as the veins on his forehead began to bulge.

Moving to her pants Century had rolled the bottom of her pants to her knee. The officer's eyes widened as his hair began to turn grey in real-time. Looking at Century's shoes he passed out on the spot as Century had ditched the standard work heels and instead wore white sneakers.

"Um... Officer Turnip?"

Century raised an eyebrow at the now passed-out Officer Turnip.

Soon Officer Turnip shot back up. His face is more normal.

"Spectator Century... deliver this note to Kaleido's family."

He was surprisingly calm. He passed Century a closed envelope.

"And listen carefully. You need to run."

"Excuse me, Officer?"

"If you don't... I'll kill you in 5 seconds."

Officer Turnip didn't falter while saying that and he didn't look like the comedic type.

"4... 3..."

Century gasped and dashed off before she got a second scolding.

Once she was safely away from Officer Turnip she looked at the envelope. It was addressed to Kaleido's parents. She held onto the envelope tightly, she knew whatever was written in this was a lie.

Century sighed and boarded the nearest train. It would be a long trip.

The thing was, this wasn't the first time she had to deliver a letter like this. Usually, whenever one of her fellow agents died she would be responsible for delivering the letters. The general public wasn't aware of the SHS's dealings. Most people who sign up to become agents do it to escape from something.

This world was oblivious to what the SHS does. Most aren't even aware they're the villains who won against the heroes 51 years ago. That era is a blur. Kaleido's parents probably have no idea what their daughter did or that she's even dead. For all they're aware, she could have run away from home one day and never come back. It's how all SHS agents start. Even Century.

Passing by cities and rural towns Century spent most of her time on the train gazing at places passing by. Once she reached the destination night had already fallen.

Jia Presinct - 19/02 - 7:24 pm - 51 EE

The Jia Precinct was quiet. Only a handful of people got off at this stop. The station was dirty, and the town was situated a couple of kilometers from the station. She looked at the envelope and the address. As she walked to the town she made her way through pastures and along paths carved by others journies. The first signs of life soon reached her as she saw illuminated houses fill the horizon. Bugs buzzed past and the occasional cow idly lifted their head to watch Century walk past.

Once she reached the actual town she found it just as quiet as the fields. Walking down the street, all the shops had closed. The town had a traditional style to it. There were no main roads, only dirt paths and houses. Shops and houses were separated via a river.

She crossed over a bridge connecting both housing and shops. She checked the house numbers, searching for the one she needed. It was then that she looked forward and saw a man walking in front of her, going the same way she was. She only noticed him because of his odd hair. It stood up straight and it was tall. Twice the height of his head. He had an exaggerated walk, throwing his arms back and forth as he took large steps. It looked like he had only just learned how to walk.

Century attempted to ignore him but she got this ugly feeling in her stomach. She looked at him again and he seemed to be closer despite Century and him walking at the same pace. She realizes that he was one of the people she saw get off the train at the station along with her. She wonders if it was just a coincidence they were both going the same way.

As Century kept her eyes on him she noticed it, he was getting closer to her somehow. Every so slowly he seemed to be taking shorter steps. Then Century heard it. Behind her was another set of footsteps. Going at the same pace as the guy in front of her, it too was growing nearer. She took long and deep breaths as she focussed, attempting to gauge what was happening. She felt her hair stand on end as an odd feeling washed over her.

Her senses jolted awake, and just as she felt an evil presence she jumped out of the way.

SMASH! Century tumbled on the floor and shot her gaze upwards. She was right, 2 guys were clinging close to each other. They twisted their heads towards Century.

"Well well. What's an SHS dog like you doing around these parts eh?"

The first guy asked with a forced grin.

"Who cares why she's here... we've got a job to do brother."

The second guy says with a frown.

They both unstuck themselves from each other. Century clenched her fist and prepared to fight.

"Let's see how good this Spectator is! First, let's introduce ourselves so that when we kill you our names will be engraved on your tombstone. Names Pos!"

Pos was the guy whose hair stood straight up. He wore attire similar to that of a clown.

"I'm Neg..."

Neg's hair was long and he had it droop down, he had so much hair that it weighed his head down and gave him a slouch. Like Pos, he was also dressed as a clown.

"What the hell... why are you attacking me? You got a death wish?!"

Century snarled at them as she reached for a hair tie.

"What's so wrong with that missy? Ignition sent us to deal with a troublemaker, and who are we to deny such a heartfelt request."

Pos danced around gleefully and clapped his hands.

"We'll make it quick I promise."

Neg hunched over looking nervous.

"Then come on. I won't go down so easily."

Century pulled out a hair tie as the brothers raised an eyebrow. Tossing the hairpin their way, Pos' grin grew wider as he shot his head up and the direction of his hair flipped, it drooped down similar to Negs. Pos turned to Neg and dashed straight towards him. When they collided Century saw the air around them stutter before they were both flung away from each other at high speeds. Century looked astounded at their strange power.

Century regained her footing as she pulled 2 hair ties out now. As the first one exploded creating a loud echo through the town she tossed the second one through the dust of the first explosion. The brothers looked at each other as they saw 1 hair tie aimed at both of them. Neg then flipped his hair upwards so that it stood straight up. Century looked confused but suddenly Pos and Neg began to fly towards each other. They collided in the middle and away from the 2 hair ties. When both hair ties exploded it sent a tsunami of dust across the battlefield. Century held her hands over her face.

Once the dust cleared she saw the brothers on either side of her. Century didn't have a lot of time to react so she pulled out all her strings. She ripped all of their hair ties from her hair as her hair fluttered all over the place. The brothers grew closer in their attempt to crush Century between them.

Century smirked as the air around her ignited. Suddenly a massive explosion rocked the town as the brothers were flung back. Tiny pieces of debris flung everywhere as a small crater was formed around Century. Despite the intense and devastating eruption, Century stood up unscathed as she tied her hair back.

"You've got some nice tricks missy but us brothers always stick together!"

From the dust, the brothers reappeared with only a few scratches on them. Century saw them surround her as their speed would crush her bones surely. She had no time to react, it seemed her hubris had caught up to her.

"FAITH!"

A deep voice bellowed from the distance. The brothers snapped around to look at the figure standing a few feet away. In the glistening moonlight, a man stood. He was quite tall and sported a light blue shirt and black tie. He had a scruffy beard with greasy and messy brown hair that extended to the base of his neck. He gripped his tie and held an intimidating gaze with the brothers.

"ENCLOSE!"

He fastened his tie as suddenly large tendrils burst from the ground and wrapped around both brothers' necks. They both clutched onto the tendrils as they tried to rip themselves free.

"That won't work. You said you're from Ignition. So then... mind telling me what you're doing in a hero's territory...?"

Century looked at the man who had bags beneath his eyes and a serious stare.

"A... hero...?"