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Episode 50: I Will Survive/Part 3

Episode 50: I Will Survive/Part 3

Kikaro began knocking on the metal door, "Hey! Got you guys another one who wants to sign up?"

Anya folded her arms as she fixed the bag on her back, "Sign up for what, exactly?"

"You wanted a way out, so I'm giving you a way out. But in the more action-packed and less sad way, that is."

"Don't play mystery character with me and just spit it out already."

Just then, the door on the run-down building was opened, as a tall, average-looking beast-turned man got out. He sported not the kind of rough, hardened criminal look nor clothes on his face, rather than simple office wares, consisting of the usual white shirt and blue jeans. Almost as if he was to be dressing to look normal, to avoid looks, being stuck in a handcrafted delusion that his life was to be the same and unchanged after he had become this monster that everyone was to fear upon looking at. Just like Anya, a wolf and a probable Wolven demi human before turning, he had the same snout, and large hands with sharp claws at the fingertips, only being separated by his average, everyday working man's figure, unlike Anya's somewhat athletic physique from all her battles and maneuvers performed. Overhearing them, with his somewhat heavy voice, he quickly injected himself into the conversation.

"You're going to Vardard, illegally. That's what you got her for, right?" the beast-man looked at Kikaro.

"Was hoping that you'd make a ticket for two. You see, this one is a bit unpredictable right now, not for others but for herself, so I'd like to keep an eye on her." Kikaro calmly explained.

"Are you serious? I'll have to tag along with god?" Anya exhaled, "Lucky as hell you are, for being literally unstoppable. So. You're a broker, I suppose?"

"No. I am a third-rank employee of the Reingard Ministry Of Civil Affairs. My name is Adam."

Anya briefly looked at him, "Ok then."

"No questions, not anything?" Adam curiously asked.

"You're a giant furry monster, I'm a giant furry monster, just tell me the price and the process already. The faster I get out of the hellhole Reingard has become the better...plus, I need to get away from my dad until I know what to do about everyone else."

"No price, screw that. I have a backlog of about a hundred people who are due for the next trip, the largest convoy yet. I will simply forge an ID for you to be used in Vardard, by using my logins and general knowledge of my workspace in the RMCA and get you out of here. Once in Vardard, you'll have a ton of freedom to act on what you wish to do because there's a massive community of people with our condition and you'll be granted political asylum."

"What the hell? Political asylum for what?" Anya got baffled.

"Didn't everyone already tell you about this already? The murders, the beatings and the blackmailing? Those are all issues on the rise for people with our condition and unlike Reingard and the bastard that Thaddeus is, Vardard fully recognizes the situation and accepts everyone with that condition there, no questions asked."

"I know about that, but I thought it was recognized?"

"By whom? No one rarely dares speak about it in the streets and the only time we are portrayed out there is as wrongdoers or victims of a cureless disease. Although statistically speaking, we are obviously more than to blame for that as well."

"You mean about the recent news of criminal activity being on the rise, specifically from furry people?"

"Magical, isn't it? For months on end, our protests and fight to at least try and normalize this condition until we can figure out how to treat it, our goddamn rights, were drowned out by a couple of idiots belonging to the New Hope's Light. Morons are destroying everything in their quake until stopped by the cops, essentially injecting themselves into a rising criminal statistic." Adam sighed.

"Wait, pause. New Hope's what now? Have they become an anarchic group already?" Anya was surprised.

"Hmm, not really. Had to beat a lot of them into submission a few days ago. Something, something, they were called Chaos Sect in the past. However, those groups surprisingly come with humans and you beast people combined most of the time, from what I've faced." Kikaro remembered.

"That's such bullshit. Chaos Sect rebranded themselves upon being injected into the minority of those turned like us. How come the majority of everyone else who turned not look at it and say 'Hey, maybe it's time to kill them now before they get us all killed?'." Anya somewhat angrily said.

"I understand where you're coming from young lady, I do, but it's not that simple. Mind you, those turned usually come in rows, I've seen from boyfriend and girlfriend, husband and wife, all the way up to families with kids that were turned too, coming here. The general confusion about how their life got turned upside down is bad enough for them not knowing what to do, but self-sacrifice for a greater cause? When their possessions were ripped off their hands and the world silently started turning its backs on them, a family is all that they're left with. I for one, wanted to go ahead and start slaughtering all of those bastards who dared bring more filth to this situation, us trying to take a step forward while their actions combined with this rotten world's news perspective took us ten steps back, but...best I can do for now, is use what little I was left with, my knowledge and position in the RMCA to help them escape. That position, however, is soon to be stripped away from me too, once they fire me for being absent."

"I love the way you two talk, actually. So formal, swearing sprinkled in there for some effect and getting to know each other too...fascinating." Kikaro applauded them.

"Well, this young lady, despite her rough and somewhat tired look, is actually fun to talk with. A good listener and have a great understanding of the situation, language is somewhat rough, but I get what you're going through. I had to go through it too, much too recently. You do have that feeling of a businesswoman somewhat eluding over you, however, as I've seen in the office a lot. Now, I'm just a normal third-rank employee with access there, far from fifth and further from first class, but I too can notice it. Have you perhaps done something like this before? Perhaps I know you from somewhere if you've been at our offices from time to time."

"My name is, was and will always be Ana Amalia Golver. No matter if I am alive to say it or forever written on my grave. And yes, I know a thing or a couple hundred for business. Did that a lot in my free time." Anya somewhat melancholically but proudly said.

Adam jolted up in surprise, "Wait, wait, what?! Ana Golver?! Daughter of Gado Golver?!"

Anya almost left right then and there, "Look, if you're about to make this a subject in of itself, I'm dropping everything and am dead-ass walking to Vardard."

Adam cleared his throat, "No, you got me wrong. I won't, just that having the blood of the richest man in the world in front of me, wanting to be smuggled into another country...it truly is something. But you must have also prepared yourself for the question you'd be asked about the most, I suppose. Why? With your dad by your side-", he was interrupted.

"What side? Because I only see him ahead of me. And no, I didn't prepare myself for anything, since I never saw what was coming to me in the first place. He denounced me, pronounced me dead, officially, that is and gave me a limited amount of time to get the hell out of the city. There. That's it. For what reason, no idea, as it definitely isn't for publicity alone. Mistaking my dad's actions like those morons 'for the people speaking' reporters or the others online who call him a greedy asshole only longing for cash, will be a grave one. It always goes much deeper than that...always. I'm nowhere near in the right state of mind to figure that out just yet, I met god just today and had all that happen to me yesterday, so I need a nice house outback in Vardard to relax. Nothing that 2 mil in this bag won't fix."

"And here I thought I was putting too much information for you to understand at once...wow."

Kikaro chuckled, "Heheh. Adam, buddy, you're even more surprised than when I told you who I was!"

"Never was one to believe in god anyway, since he wouldn't pay my bills...but it's both too late to do so and too far not to admit that Golver can be a god if he wanted to. Destroy the world as you wish, Kikaro, I won't mind personally. You'll never be able to shift it into what you want as Gado could, without pressing reset first."

"That I can't and you're right. But please, god or whatever, there are so, so many strong people in this world! Makes it quite fun for Overseers to finally not just squash opposition like bugs, relatively speaking."

"All that aside, can we get started already? I want out, now" Anya urged them.

"Of course, we can. Follow me, please." Adam nodded.

"Inside the heavily fortified building, despite only having the metal door to protect it from the outside, nothing much was in it. A table on the front of the room consisting of a bunch of different firearms and loadouts, some even modified, ready to use, with a bed on the left side and an average office desk with all its necessary supplies and file cabinets in it. An air-conditioning system above them made the temperature most relaxing as a small fridge in front of the bed next to a sink, had a bunch of different protein and fruit products on it. Minimalistic as it could be, the windows were shut off and curtains were covering them too, protecting against the eyes of onlookers and the iron bars on the outside part protected from possible intrusion. The only light came from a well-placed ceiling light that illuminated the room to a point where someone would feel comfortable, without being either over or underwhelmed. As Adam sat down in front of his computer, it was only Anya that moved in, Kikaro respected her privacy as he softly saluted Anya before going in to take care of her business.

Anya placed her bag down, sitting on a chair in front of the desk, "Nice place, minimalistic."

"Quite different from both my apartment and your mansion." Adam began looking around at his computer.

"Not really, I just had an apartment, a sizeable one, too."

"Really, interesting, I thought you'd go for something more glamorous, given how you were raised."

"Being raised one way is one thing, living out and changing after is another? I like the stuff I could and can buy if I wish to, but if I ain't using them, it doesn't serve me at all. A mansion was an overkill anyways."

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"Despite my searing hatred for people like your dad, like how many others feel too, you're kind of a...miracle child. Not taking your achievements in this age into account, I'm talking about your manners. Not as snob-like or smug as I'd think or have experienced personally."

Anya scratched her head, "Well, upon self-reflection smug is one thing you need to hang out with me for more than 15 minutes to find out is a permanent addition to me, but right now, I'm just not...me. Plus, my life was lavish, but not exactly how you'd think."

"Alright then. I won't make any more assumptions on the covers of a book anyway."

"And you?"

"Me? Average, honestly. That routine some young folks like you dream of, because of its safety? I had it. Not necessarily regretting it, as a calm and schedule-based life is how I'd rather be off like. However, as you can tell from my current circumstances, I'm not exactly part of that routine. Had Kikaro not grabbed me to teach me how to act on the streets and guide me to do what I'm currently doing, I'd be screwed."

"Wait, Kikaro approached you too? Does his creepy ass do it to everyone?"

"Not really...look, he brought you here and wants to keep going with you, so there's definitely something he sees in you. So I won't lie either." he paused from his work, "I was a part of the New Hope's Light. I...those weapons I got there? I killed anywhere from those bastards who tried to kill us to cops and...And innocents."

Anya got surprised but remained calm, wavering between jumping Adam or keeping her temper, "So, you're one of them?"

"Was. You're preparing to jump me and I can see that, but listen to me first. Don't say you won't fall for what they can do to you, because you'd just be cocky. When the NHL first found me, it was right after I had turned. I don't know how, it just...happened. Complications after hip surgery, when I received wrong Obsulyte signatures due to some medical stuff I don't know. My family, being so over the top with the news and their 'gods' denounced me too, and I slowly began losing everything. My bosses at work began oh-so randomly finding mistakes in my work all the time, that's why I got a leave from work due to being 'sick', recently, to extend the time when I'd be fired. This computer here is the same one I'd use when working from home, albeit altered to hide my moves aside from basic stuff that I allowed them to track. I was a programmer during my early college graduation too. When I tried to apply for a bank loan to save myself after all those 'mistakes' I had, that I needed to pay damages for when they stacked, it took them three weeks as opposed to one working week to come back to me, negative. I had applied and paid off my loans twice by that point, they had my ID number and everything, they could see that. But the next three times I tried so absolutely hard to get a loan, I failed. I tried finding other jobs with a bio the length of the road to Gardard and back, and I could only either fail or be fired once they found other infractions there too. Infractions that I would never obviously make. I was accused of...of screwing with my female colleagues too, god's sake! And spiraling down from there, without a second job, I failed to pay my house loans after I was on a time limit to pay my damages. I was going back and forth from a hotel, a cheap one, to work, until that wasn't sustainable for me anymore."

"So your solution was to go out guns blazing? Look, Adam, I get you, but that's still such a shitty thing to do. I literally just turned too, had the exact same thing happen to me too, with minor differences, but still." Anya relaxed, given how conversable Adam was.

"That's where I'm getting at, Ana. Look, guns, stabs, death and all that is one thing. This is just what's portrait out for the world to see, just look at what happened between you and me. Some others were abundantly lucky to be able to do what we couldn't, given how stupidly selective they got because of us turning. Behind the scenes, these are the real issues, not whatever the hell the NHL is out there to do to drag us down with them. When they approached me after all that had happened...I'm ashamed of myself to admit it, it worked. Something about their words, their cause, and the fact that I could relate with others who had similar, identical or otherwise experiences over the past 3 years with this, it made me feel so good. Like I belonged somewhere after thinking I'd be left stranded. So I did my part until I went up against a bunch of police officers one day. It was a couple dozen and we were four dozen, armed. They all had a party that the police department, and we knew all about it before being ready to jump them. Just then, out of nowhere, Kikaro jumped us, and slaughtered almost all of us with ease, both turned like me and the other human or demi-humans our group was comprised of, before letting a few he very obviously selected to, to escape. He then turned at me, for what, I don't know. And he pointed the way. The cops we would murder were young, infected by what their superiors told them, yes, but innocent and not to fault for at heart...but I was too blinded to see it then. I left without a word from the NHL, and I think they noticed how I was still alive after the incident recently, so I'm stuck between being searched for by them, and those extremists who actively hunt down the turned. And now, I'm here. I'm telling you this story not to bore you, Ana, but because of common interest for someone like you and I first, and especially because of Kikaro second. I'm telling you, guy doesn't play around when it comes to this, there's always a reason behind every single move he does."

"Yeah, I understand that much, and I'll watch over for all those NHL morons but...3 years?"

"Been happening for a while, yes. Only that it's been substantially intensified out of nowhere, the number of cases of demi-humans turning, that is."

"But what can we even do about this?"

"You tell me. I've got my people wired everywhere since starting this, some of those I smuggled wanting to do their part to help others, but...I don't know. I'm just doing what I'm doing right now, before I get fired, hoping to make the most of everything in the present. About the future...bleak, but that too requires planning I'm not certain of." Adam went back to finish his work.

"Neither do I...nor did I know what to do before turning either. Between all my fantasy novels, wanting to become a cop, then a superhero, then lead a medical company, all to save lives, then the situation of my dad's company...sorry. But even if you save me, I don't even know what I can help you with since I don't know what I'm doing myself", Anya exhaled deeply.

"Look, kid. I'm not asking you to do one single thing and don't feel sad if you don't. I'm doing this out of the kindness of my heart to help you lead a better life. Once you get to Vardard just drop everything for a little while and focus down on your present self, not the future. It's a common theme that I've seen with all of you nowadays, how you can't see the here and now over the future. There will be no future if you don't make one for yourself starting now, and I was only recently taught that when in the NHL. I'm not making anyone's future that I build and shoulder on my own life, work and time anymore. I'm making my own to give to those I deem important to me or fit to deserve it."

"Thanks, Adam." Anya genuinely said, retracing back to almost every single word that Adam said and trying to take everything in.

"You have any friends outside that can help you too?"

"I do but...I don't want to be with them. Not anymore." Anya almost cried, pushing herself as hard as she could to say those words.

"That on its own is a grave mistake, same with underestimating your father, like you said. But there's always a reason behind everything. So focus on that reason and resolve it."

"Just that...I don't know. It's almost like...it's almost like I am such an attention seeker at their expense. I only reflected on that yesterday too, when it's been months. Provocations, altercations, all just because I wanted fun and games all the time. You'd think of that attitude coming from a 12-year-old but for someone like me, with her work and everything, it's just...unfitting."

Adam somewhat chuckled, "That age...I could say I'm one of the few who chose to remember the same confusion I had then, rather than letting it go as a somewhat awkward part of my life. On what you said, the only thing I can advise you to do is take it one step at a time. Just one step. You're hustling too much for no reason, getting yourself already stuck between a triangle of helping your family, worrying about your friends and shouldering all the things your father is doing... the result of that is that you're stuck in the middle looking all around you and not looking at the center, where the one common denominator of all the triangle subjects is you. Now, I'm generalizing, because it could very well also be an octagon and not a triangle of problems, but I don't know all of your life and how complicated it is. Because believe me, every person, not just you, has a complicated life. Relationships at work, and outside, it's such a mess. But such a mess, such fun. Grab onto something you like and follow it, it's what I did. Unsurprisingly to you, much like what I'm doing, helping those like me is a massive surge of dopamine intake. And there's a huge shortage of people, or those who turned, that are doing this...but I'm still happy to be one of those few."

Anya gazed at Adam almost as if he were a big brother to her, showing care to her by barely knowing her for minutes, realizing just then how certain events turned him out the way he is, whether that was his experiences or Kikaro's judgment of bringing her here. She softly nodded as she failed to say much after, making Adam somewhat happy that she didn't, knowing that she was instead trying to take all of these simple, yet overcomplicated words in and decipher them the same way he once barely managed to do in time. Not long after, he finished his work, printing something from the side of his office on the printer.

Adam briefly looked at the papers, "Alright, you're ready. What I did was me creating a new, fake ID that I imported into the RMCA records, making it untraceable and perfectly functional. Here are the papers, all of them, and the ID itself. I kept it simple, Ana first name, Hartwell's last name. Just anything, really, only to change your last name. Now, besides the details and the original image I've put in there that prevents back-searching, everything you need to know about this is your sex, female, obviously, and birth date if you're asked. Species remained wolf-human demi, and pictures and other data are rendered invalid when realizing that you've turned. I guess that's one blessing in disguise with this turning thing."

"That was rather fast." Anya picked her stuff up and got ready to leave.

"It was because I've done it hundreds of times already. But, because it's you, hear me out." Adam gave her a business card, "That's someone I managed to make a connection with, her name is also Ana, Ana Maver. She's a lawyer. The last part of my plan for you, go to her and tell her at least one leverage against your dad to prevent him from going after her, make it a strong one and tell her to write your will. Ana Golvers will. Forward all of what you own to 'Ana Hartwell' instead and liquefy it in either real estate or the bank, however, you can. Be careful, however, because I already told you how much of a scumbag some of those things can become to you, right now that is. Do that today, please, as at exactly midnight, you need to be back here so that I can drive you to the convoy to get you to Vardard, ok? Time is against all of us."

Anya nodded back, "Alright, got it. And what do I tell her exactly, when I meet her?"

"Just say Adam sent you and she will immediately understand, she's into the whole thing as well. I offer her card to many, but few are brave enough to go through with this plan since they mostly just want safety and that is. Some of them do, some of them don't, that's their choice compared to how much risk they want to take. Being caught doing this is a low chance, but never zero."

"Ok...thanks." she turned around to leave, "Hey-uh, Adam?"

Adam exhaled as he got up from his desk, "Yeah, what is it? If you have anything else to ask, I'll gladly help you with it, it's not something you do every day, plus something you don't want to do more than once in your life if things are to such an extreme."

"Will I get to see you again someday, down by Vardard? Not for business talk, but more casual?"

Adam smiled, "I get down there every week and stay around for a day or two before heading back. I've got about two more weeks left before my termination from work and to see what I'll do by then, so yeah. Catch me on the same spot I'll drop you off on this trip now, every Sunday at 10:00 sharp."

"Nice...thanks again."

Putting the papers in her bag and having a very surprising and helpful conversation that came out easier than she expected it to do with even Dante being on the receiving end of those words, she somewhat regained a spec of hope and determination on her mind and face. That, however, drowned out by her sadness and despair about the situation was quickly smothered for the meantime, as other pressing matters followed her with all the weight she dragged along behind her bag.

"Alright Ana, where to now?" Kikaro asked.

"Do you really have nothing better to do? Not a single thing other than to follow me around?" she somewhat annoyingly said.

"Hey, had it been Dante, I doubt you would mind."

Anya paused briefly, "No...I would."

"Meh, I doubt it. You two always perk up alongside each other, much like with Terna, Hikari, Tiki, Luna, her lovely joy that is her sister, Lina and dare I say, even Yuno."

"Maybe, but right now...I just...it doesn't feel like it," Anya shook herself off, "Screw that, right now, let me focus and follow or do whatever. I've gotta go meet up with someone." she checked the address on the business card, "Alright, let's go."

And so, with Kikaro tagging alongside her, it was that her new life brought down upon her unexpectedly, was to begin at that very moment that she received the papers to do so. However, her confidence in this new life of hers was a thing of the very near past, as she had left it back at the bar, or even the hospital she woke up from, now reaching her lowest point as uncertainty more forcefully planted itself into her heart and mind, more than it ever did in these ongoing, confusing years she was living through. But taking Adam's advice briefly, however, all she could do with it was to focus solely on the task at hand, wanting to avoid any further upside downs from happening at least for a little while before she could figure some things out.