It was dark. So dark. Suffocatingly dark. It felt like his body was in murky water. Any attempt at trying to move, was met with an intense amount of pressure pushing him down. No, it was more like something was pulling him down. And whatever it was, it didn't want to let him go. The scariest part was that Oliver couldn't see anything. It was pitch black. He wondered if he really even existed in that moment, or if he was just a thought passing by. He was scared. So scared. However no matter how much he screamed, it couldn't save him from sinking.

"What happened here, Oliver?"

Oliver woke up in a frenzy. He practically jolted up from bed; or in this case a couch. He grabbed his head as all he could feel at that moment was pain stabbing him like knives. He couldn't help but start hyperventilating, which was probably his body's natural reaction to overwhelming stimuli. He felt uneasy, as if he had just experienced a painful memory. Yet he didn't know what exactly that memory was. As he continued to hold his head and breathe heavily, he heard the sound of footsteps. In such a state, Oliver jumped off the couch and got into a defensive position. However, contrary to his paranoia, it was only his aunt holding a cup of coffee. She raised her eyebrows, making a face that said "really?". Oliver could practically feel the sass.

Oliver tried taking a step towards her, but immediately collapsed on the ground; falling right on his face.

"Ow..."

His aunt crouched down before helping him up on the couch. She wiped dust from her dress before handing him the cup of coffee.

"You really shouldn't move so much, your body hasn't completely healed yet...." she said with a sigh.

Oliver rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment, but accidentally caused his arm to cramp.

"...Seriously? Whatever, just drink up, it'll help recharge you" she continued.

Oliver took it from her hand, taking a sip of the coffee. He immediately spat it out, the taste too bitter for him.

"Did you use the coffee soil to make this?!" Oliver said, desperately trying to get the taste out of his mouth.

His aunt looked at him with anger, staring him down like one would do when a cat scratched your furniture.

"That was expensive, you know...? And you spat it out? If you weren't injured..." His aunt said, clenching her fist.

This put Oliver even more on edge than before. Realising that getting mad at him wouldn't really do anything, his aunt sighed. She got up, heading towards the kitchen to get sugar and cream. Once she got back though, she saw Oliver trying his best to drink the black coffee. He was doing so because he felt bad, which was a bit heart-warming. His aunt chuckled before placing the sugar and cream on the table.

"Don't force yourself. I have to admit that this kind of coffee is super bitter" she said, taking her seat.

Oliver placed down his coffee cup then began stirring in the sugar and cream. As he did that, Oliver asked her how she knew it was him in the alleyway.

"... The only person who I know who'd say something so self- degrading even in death... Would be you, Oliver. Besides, if I couldn't recognise my own nephew under some stupid armour, what kind of aunt would I be?!" She said, leaning back into her seat.

Oliver continued to stir his coffee, watching as the dark colour turned lighter.

"How did you find me?" Oliver asked, continuing to stir.

His aunt paused for a while before speaking.

"I was just passing by. You should be grateful" she said, laughing a bit.

Oliver could tell she was lying, but decided not to press further. He stopped stirring, then took a sip at his overly sugary and milky concoction. He felt content drinking it, to the dismay of his aunt.

"As a coffee connoisseur, and a café owner at that... You disgust me. However, as your aunt... That's way too sugary! You're going to get cavities!" His aunt scolded.

He was really expecting some reassurance, but it was his aunt. She was a bit of a coffee freak. He only chuckled a bit before placing down his cup of coffee. He interlocked his fingers before leaning forward.

"You aren't going to send any Investigators on me... are you?" Oliver asked, sounding serious.

His aunt scoffed.

"First of all, why would I betray my own blood? Secondly... I wouldn't be caught dead seeking help from those heartless bastards..." his aunt responded.

Oliver paused for a moment before breathing a sigh of relief. He laughed a bit as he looked up at the ceiling.

"What a relief, I don't think my body could take anymore...." Oliver said, grimacing.

"Wait, did you really think I'd send you to your death?! That's... actually really upsetting you know!" his aunt said, accusingly.

Oliver sighed as he held his head.

"Aunt Susan, I love you and all... But I had one of the most stressful nights... Um... Ever. So I'm not really inclined to trust anybody... even if they're family..." Oliver responded.

"Yeah yeah... You still haven't told me what happened by the way..." she said.

Oliver tried to explain what happened to her, but he sounded like a lunatic. Even in a world with monsters able to tear down cities with just their raw strength, Oliver's story of fighting a centipede monster representing the concept of greed while in a suit of armour sounded like pure fantasy. He could feel the cringe coming out of his mouth with every word he spoke. Although, despite his own feelings on the matter, his aunt believed every word he said. Well up until he relayed the part where Olivia tried to kill him.

"She did not just do that! How could she not recognise your voice?!" His aunt asked, furious.

Oliver thought back to the fight, and realised that his voice changer was probably still stuck on him when he transformed.

"It was probably damaged too, that's why she couldn't recognise my voice...." Oliver responded.

"I still find that a bit bullshit... Although your sister has a habit of losing all reasoning when angry..." his aunt said.

As Oliver leaned back into his seat, a sharp pain stung him at his side. He lifted up his shirt, seeing the wound form before had healed, but it still looked quite disgusting. It was all purple and bruised.

"How did you even survive such an attack?" His aunt asked, examining it.

"Dumb luck probably..." Oliver retorted.

His aunt smacked him lightly for being sarcastic before getting some first aid tools. While he waited, Oliver wondered why he did everything he did. Why did he save Cecilia? Why did he risk his life to take down a monster way out of his league? Why did he use that belt? All these questions flooded his mind; it started to hurt. Coming back with some supplies, his aunt saw the turmoil in his eyes. She sighed before tapping his shoulder.

"Come on, lift it up. How am I supposed to put the medicine on?" His aunt said, unpacking the first aid kit.

"Right, I'm sorry..." Oliver said, lifting up his shirt once more.

His aunt first disinfected the wound before putting some ointment on it. It hurt a lot, but he resisted so he didn't cause her more trouble.

"You went through a lot huh?" She asked, wrapping the gauze around his stomach.

Oliver paused, before nodding. His aunt sighed softly, wrapping more gently.

"Did you regret doing what you did?" His aunt asked.

Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

This question hit Oliver. Not in an emotional way, but in a psychological way. Did he regret doing what he did? Sure he did get hurt a lot, and the pain he went through was horrible.... Yet he couldn't say that he regretted anything he did. Saving Cecilia, and stopping a fester from continuing its rampage, made Oliver feel good. It gave Oliver some purpose in life.

Finishing up the bandaging, his aunt asked Oliver one final question.

"Are you going to continue using the power given to you, even if you're treated like a criminal?" His aunt asked.

There was no accusatory or malicious tone in her voice. She asked as if genuinely wanting to know Oliver's answer, no matter what it may be. Oliver paused for a moment, thinking back to all that had happened.

"I want... To become a better person... A better investigator. And I know that using this power isn't the only way I can do that... But I really want to help people! Because it's the only thing I'm good at!" Oliver said, with passion in his voice.

Hearing that made his aunt smile. She went to one of the cupboards and took out the device.

"I was fully intending on not letting you use it... But since you're so passionate about it, you can have it back" his aunt said, handing it to Oliver.

Oliver took it, staring at the device intently. He felt a bad aura coming from it, yet it wasn't evil nor malicious. It was more like a warning. A warning that the path he treaded from now on; will be sharp and thorny, littered with insects... And it might even lead him to hell.

Gripping it tightly, Oliver looked up at his aunt. He was looking for some sort of reaction from her. Good or bad, he needed some confirmation for his actions. Instead, she turned away. Not to punish Oliver, or to say his choice was wrong. However, it was to teach him a lesson.

"All your choices are yours alone. Never blame or praise someone for your own actions in life. Got it?" She said, turning her head to face him.

Oliver paused for a moment, before nodding.

"I'll try my best... But I'm scared I won't live up to your expectations" Oliver said, sighing as he looked down at the ground somberly.

His aunt sighed in annoyance before sitting next to him. She places her hands on her lap, patting them like some sort of ritual.

"There's no way you could ever do that. Just by existing you exceed my expectations, Oliver" she said, smiling softly.

Oliver looked at her, before looking back down at his feet. He wanted to cry, but also smile at the same time. He wasn't sure if he was making the right decision, but he'll stick on this path no matter what. That's his decision. That's his dream.

Seeing the determined look in his eyes, caused Susan to smile. Oliver turned to look at his aunt, seeing her cry a bit.

"H- hey are you okay?!" Oliver asked, concerned.

She nodded, wiping away the tears as she got up.

"Nothing... It's just... Do your best Oliver... Also don't stay down here. There's a spare room upstairs I use as a break room. I don't want my customers to see my nephew covered in blood and bruises... I already got enough complaints from them as is..." His aunt said as she sighed.

Oliver chuckled, making her smile.

"Don't laugh at my torment, you lil stinker!" She said, laughing with him.

"I don't think I will..." Oliver said, getting up from the couch.

He wobbled slightly as he stood up, as his body was still healing from his previous injuries. Susan tried to help him, but he politely declined her offer.

"I can do this! I think...." Oliver said, making his way upstairs.

Watching Oliver walk up the stairs like a penguin was quite cute, but also a bit nostalgic for Susan. She held her hands to her chest as she sighed.

"When did you become like my brother? Oliver...."

[The following day]

The commute from the café to F.A.T.E headquarters was a long one, which was a pain in the ass for Oliver.

"I don't think I've ridden so many trains in my whole life... Does Aunt Susan really hate F.A.T.E that much?!" Oliver thought to himself, grimacing as he held a tree as support.

He cursed his aunt for her boycotting of the F.A.T.E organization, but then immediately took it back after remembering all she had done for him. He slapped himself a bit before jumping up and down to get pumped up.

"Alright, you know the plan, you rehearsed it all night. Head inside, act oblivious, and if anyone asks; say you made it out of the building with minor injuries! Alright, let's go!" Oliver thought to himself, getting ready to walk inside the building.

As he made it to the front door though, he immediately retraced his steps and hid behind the same tree from before.

"Nope can't do it! Too scary... But the building looks really good for having been destroyed just yesterday...." Oliver said to himself as he peaked a look from the tree.

"That's because of the construction division. But I doubt you would have thought of that... Wait, do you even think?"

The strange voice coming out from nowhere scared Oliver; until he saw the person responsible for that voice.

"You..." Oliver said, glaring at Sebastian.

Sebastian crossed his arms before smirking.

"What? Unhappy? At least I'm not hiding behind a tree instead of going to work..." he retorted.

"At least I didn't get sent back early because of reckless endangerment..." Oliver responded back.

Sebastian's eye twitched before grabbing Oliver by his collar.

"How the hell do you know about that?!" He said angrily as he shook Oliver.

"I... Got... The message... From the group chat...." Oliver said in-between each shake.

Sebastian stopped for a moment before putting him back down. He took out some disinfectant wipes, rubbing every part of his hands that touched Oliver. This act offended Oliver greatly, but he was too busy trying not to throw up to respond.

"Sorry then... But why are you standing here? Shouldn't you be inside?" Sebastian asked.

Oliver tried to come up with an excuse, but realised he had none.

"I should've thought this plan through...." Oliver thought to himself.

"Hey don't ignore me...." Sebastian said, trying to get his attention.

Thinking quickly, he used his ability to read people and worming out of situations to come up with a quick excuse.

"I have food poisoning," Oliver said bluntly.

Sebastian's confused expression turned into a look of disgust as he took a few steps back.

"O- okay... wouldn't it be better if you entered the building to be treated thou-"

"Yes it would be better. You're so right Sebastian Alabaster. Come let's enter the building together so I don't have to die of embarrassment!" Oliver said very fast, quickly jogging to the entrance.

Sebastian paused for a moment before shrugging.

"I mean he's going the same way I'm going so..."

They enter the building, seeing the lobby has almost been entirely repaired. Oliver is quite impressed at how much work the construction division got done in such a short amount of time; considering the fact that just last night it was disheveled beyond recognition. Stopping in the middle of the lobby, Sebastian reached out his hand for a handshake. Oliver was confused by the gesture, considering he believed the two were mortal enemies destined to kill each other.

"Hey don't leave me hanging...." Sebastian said.

"I thought you hated me....?" Oliver responded back.

"Oh I do.... But considering you're alive after the mess that was yesterday's raid... I have some respect for you" Sebastian said, still holding out his hand.

Oliver looked at Sebastian's hand, before giving him a handshake. Oliver was still a bit confused, but he believed that this would be the start of a new friendship.... At least up until Sebastian cleaned his hands with wipes again.

"What's even the point of doing that?! You're wearing gloves!" Oliver shouted.

"Sorry... When I touched your hand, it was as if I was touching an untrained monkey.... Wait I think they're more hygienic... Anyways, see you... Whenever I guess" Sebastian said, walking off.

"I clean myself every day you posh bastard!" Oliver shouted as Sebastian walked away.

He responded with the middle finger, pissing Oliver off even more.

He made his way to the medical division in a fuss, mumbling profanities as he tried to win an argument in his own head.

"Geez I'm becoming more and more like Olivia...."

Coincidentally, as he thought of that, he bumped into his sister. Seeing she's alive and well made Oliver extremely happy, as the last time he saw her, she was a bloody mess. Olivia on the other hand was stunned. From what she thought, Oliver was dead. Yet now he was standing in front of her alive. She couldn't help but hug him.

"Stupid! Stupid! You're a dumb idiot! I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!" She said as she cried into his shoulder.

Oliver was stunned by her actions, but responded with a light pat on her back.

"Y- yeah... I'm glad you're well sis..." Oliver said, laughing awkwardly.

Finding a place to sit, the two began explaining what happened to them. Most of what Olivia had told him, he already knew, but hearing it from her perspective made him feel a lot more guilty than he already did.

"So how did you get out alive?" Olivia asked.

Oliver paused for just a few seconds before responding to her as if he was reading right off a script.

"Oh after I saved Cecilia, I ran as fast as I could from that Fester. He chased me down relentlessly, but I somehow managed to get away with only a stomach wound. I think after a few days I should be all healed up" Oliver said.

He was obviously lying, she could tell it by his unnatural smile. So to crush any of her doubts of being some imposter, she asked him one question.

"And when the little mouse fell down what did he say?"

"That's it no more playing hooray!"

Olivia glared at him before flicking his forehead.

"It's 'that's it no more playing today!'. You always get that part wrong!" Olivia said, crossing her arms.

Oliver rubbed the part she flicked as he gave her a dirty look.

"Did you really have to do that?" Oliver said with a sigh.

"It's your fault... You made me think you were dead" Olivia said, pouting.

Oliver couldn't believe Olivia's childish response, but considering her perspective, he could see why she was upset. Oliver fidgeted with his fingers before smiling.

"But I'm fine now, so you don't have to worry!" Oliver said, trying his best to be positive.

Olivia paused as she looked at Oliver. She chuckled a bit before standing up.

"If you do something stupid like risking your life again... I'll personally kill you. Got that?" Olivia said with her back turned to him.

Oliver sighed before smirking.

"Sure sure, anything for you sis" Oliver said, leaning back into his seat.

His sister smiled softly before walking away. As she walked away, Oliver noticed the slight limp in her walk.

"Should you really be working in that condition?" Oliver asked, concerned.

Olivia paused before turning to face him. A dark and serious look was plastered on her face. It was terrifying.

"Not until I catch that bastard... Apparently he's not even a Fester. Just a bastard using powers that aren't his to hurt other people... It makes me sick" Olivia said.

Her words sent shivers down Oliver's spine... But if she knew it was him... She wouldn't kill him.... Right?

Oliver clenched his fist tightly as he lowered his head.

"What if... That guy was someone you knew? Like someone really close to you?" Oliver asked.

Olivia thought for a moment before answering simply.

"I'd still catch them no matter what. At first it was just revenge, but now that I know you're alive... This is more of a moral dilemma. Rumours are already spreading that this guy is a part of some terrorist group who were involved in the raid. If he's still alive, he'll hurt even more people. So even if it was you... I'd have to strike him down" Olivia responded.

Oliver swallowed his spit as shook in his seat. He had already guessed something like this would happen, but he didn't know rumours would be spread around so fast. However, he knew one thing for certain. Under no circumstances, should he reveal his identity.

Oliver Rand has inadvertently become a wanted man.