Blood tarnished the paving stone beneath the glow of the streets. The crowding people could sense the lingering tragedy from beyond the lanes of traffic. A dog was howling, bringing more attention to the scene below. Paperwork was flowing out of the shattered window. The view from high up in the office made me feel as if this was just a surreal painting. The details invisible, but the collective image was powerful. Then there was me, a single step away from twelve floors of a gravity-fed nightmare. I wondered what had happened, perhaps just minutes before I had arrived. My older brother was never late, never disorganised. He had a solution to everything, always a counter plan. A real business man.

I watched the crowd gather below; camera flashes burned the image of my brother’s contorted body into my retinas. I recalled the time he was stood by this very window, not long after the Zidian Tower Tragedy. Back then, that young man had taken his life by leaping from the Zidian Tower and my brother and I were talking about it.

“It’s pointless,” I said, “It solves nothing!”

My brother clearly agreed wholeheartedly.

“No matter who you are there is always hope, nobody should take their own life. It’s never the answer to a problem…” he replied with his usual serious expression.

That’s when I came to realise what this was.  

The scene below began to blur as my eyes filled with tears.

My childhood fear was there, my family curse. Not one person from my ancestral bloodline had passed away due to natural causes for centuries. I often wondered how our bloodline had survived this long, if it were really a curse. Throughout my entire life I had ignored my parents. Their ghost stories eventually became my motivation to live boldly instead of living in fear like they did.

As I stood in that office, those stories began to creep into my thoughts. The fear spread through my mind and I felt angry; I wasn’t about to let some mythical and ancient bedtime story become real by breathing life into it. Losing all sense of clarity, the rage began to fuel itself with catalyst-like thoughts; you know the ones that spiral deeper and deeper until you break and do something really stupid. I gripped my brother’s desk as if it was the cause of his death. Without thinking I rolled the desk out of the window. The peaceful descent of the desk was momentarily satisfying. I watched it fall towards the crowd below as they screamed and scattered away from my brother.  The desk smashed onto the roof of my car, sending shattered glass skittering across the road. The shock subsided and my reaction became a pointless act, serving more fuel to my rage.

“GET AWAY FROM HIM, ALL OF YOU FUCKING LEAVE HIM!” I yelled at the crowd below before running for the elevator.

Sirens could be heard wavering in the distant high roads. All I could think about was how I was going to seek revenge when I had no idea where to direct it. Sirens suddenly upped in volume as the police cars came into view. From down here it didn’t seem so gallery-esque.

“Sir…” a soft voice behind me spoke, slightly muffled through the loud whispers of the crowds.

“Excuse me sir,” she spoke again, snapping me out of my daze.

How long had I stood here, staring?

I turned around to see a police officer looking at me, but I was looking at her chest; I have to admit I still wasn’t entirely with it.

“Sir, can you move behind the cordoned off area please?” she asked politely.

I had been completely unaware she was talking to me.

“I am sorry I just… well… it’s my brother, someone has murdered him…” my voice trembled as I spoke and I could feel my blood beginning to boil again.

I knew the officer would try and brush me off, but I said it anyway. Murder. Maybe I thought it would plant a seed.

“Well sir, we can’t comment until the investigation is over, but if you would like to wait with Officer Mikamoto while we contain the situation here. And what’s your name?”

“Corvus, Rin Corvus.”

She turned away, writing in her notepad.

I guessed the next step would be a visit to the station, answering a hundred uncomfortable questions. I wanted to go home. The crowds made it a little easier for me to slip away from the scene unnoticed. Leaving my wrecked car behind, I began the journey home on foot.

Around twenty minutes into the journey I heard a loud pop in the distance, seeming to resonate from the houses on the street.

Gunshots!

I stooped behind the nearest piece of cover. It was probably safe to stand in the middle of the street judging by the sound, but after this evening’s events, I wasn’t taking any chances. I mean, what if my brother’s killer was coming for me next?

Waiting behind a bin wasn’t going to help. Peering over the top, I tried to look back down the street. I could see a few people looking out of their windows. Knowing this city, they probably just wanted to see if someone had died in their street so they could talk about it with their friends. What a joke. I sat back down and tried to collect myself, the shooters had probably scarpered.

Ghant City was meant to be the safest it had been in years. With Zidian Corporation running the show, the advances in security tech had been phenomenal. On the face of it all, they looked like the best thing that happened to this city in a hundred years. But, the city didn’t trust the greedy corporation. If the people found even a trace of something suspicious, they lapped it up and spouted conspiracy theories until the internet was flooded with hateful posts about Zidian Co.

I looked at my wrist display, noting the time and the two missed calls from my brother. He’d left me a voicemail at 8:04pm. I had been late for things my whole life. I suppose that’s why I’d always worked menial office jobs. Tapping the screen, I selected the message from my brother. I hesitated, unable to bring myself to hear his voice. I thought he’d only be cursing me for being late anyway. Sighing quietly, I locked my display, rolling down the sleeve of my suit jacket.

I peeked over the bin once more, checking the street was empty. But, the street was not empty. There were two men at the end of the road, they were struggling to carry something. I didn’t have time to find out what it was they were doing; I ran.

I kept running. I ran until I could taste copper and my lungs burned. Even though I could not see anyone behind me, I had the strangest feeling I was being followed. I kept turning back to see an empty street, lit only by the streetlights. So, I ran some more, until I reached the main road. I slowed my run to a fast walk, skipping a step or two as I started to cross. I still felt something was out of place. I turned back once more to look over my shoulder. I heard a loud scream and tyres screeching. The headlamps were blinding and the sound was terrifying. My body froze.

Is this where I die?

Bang. Silence. Blackness.

*                  *                  *

There was a soft murmuring voice in the darkness, as it became a little clearer I could make barely make out a broken sentence.

“Yes, -must -there is no -proceed with operation?”

Clarity returned.

“Yes he will survive… oh wait, he’s waking up! This is... unbelievable… Mr Corvus? Can you hear me?”

I managed to reply with a gurgling noise. Trying to speak was painful.

“Mr Corvus, Sir?” A man said.

“You were hit by a van carrying stolen property. Please sit still. You were lucky to survive!” he began to explain, “The driver is in custody, so when you’re feeling a little better, we can take a statement.”

“You will have to remain here at Auron East Hospital until further notice.” another voice spoke.

I hate hospital food

I couldn’t understand why I felt okay. The van must have been travelling at speed. I mean, yes I felt a little stiff but I wasn’t in much pain at all. My vision had started to come back to me and I could see the doctor and a police officer stood beside me. I tried to sit up, but the doctor placed a hand on my chest whilst shaking his head.

“Sir, please don’t try to move, your injuries were very serious.” His voice was authoritative but he also sounded a little concerned.

“The painkillers should help a little, but I have no idea how you are able to move, this is very odd…” His words made me wonder what state my body was in.

“You really have been lucky!” He said, “But your lower jaw and both your pelvis and spinal column have signs of extensive fractures. You also have a minor fracture in your cheekbone.”

I didn’t believe it, and I even chuckled to myself in my head.

“Excuse me?” the doctor said, turning to look at me worriedly. “Sorry, I thought you said something!” he said, shaking off whatever he had thought he heard.

As they left the room and the door swung shut, I felt relieved. I rolled over carefully, cranking my body over the neck and back support to see what I was connected to. Tubes and wiring I didn’t pretend to understand. I managed to get my arm free of the bandaging and reached for a handful of tubes and cable. The sticky pads and wires pulled at my sensitive skin. It felt more strange than painful as they tore away from my limbs and abdomen.

Have they got me mixed up with someone else on record?

I stood up and walked to the window, studying my face in the reflection, I seemed fine. The bandages fell from my hands and floated gracefully across the hospital gardens. Sunlight pierced my tender eyes, a long sleep had softened them. A peaceful ambience seared through every nook and cranny. I could feel my heartbeat, unusually slow and powerful. I assumed it would be effects of the hospital treatment, some kind of calming drug perhaps. I began to wonder how long I had been there, where my things were. I looked inside the cabinet near the bed, inside was a tray containing my personal effects. I took my broken wrist display and strapped it on my left arm. I guess I was just used to having it there. I was extremely disappointed that there was no change of clothes. The hospital gowns were revolting. I took a deep breath and looked around the room. The clock on the wall showed the time at five o’clock. I assumed it was morning. I spotted a camera in the corner, it was following my movements. That made me feel uneasy. As I began walking towards it, the doors shattered with an ear piercing snap. Uniformed guards from Zidian Corporation burst through wielding shotguns, shields and batons.

What is this? Crap, I need to get away from here!

Time seemed to just stop for that moment as I conjured an image of my brother stood on the edge of the twelve storey fall. I turned back and looked to the window.

“FREEZE!” one of the guards shouted at the top of his lungs. My heart skipped a beat, but my body wouldn’t listen to my fear. I lunged for the opening. “I said FREEZE, ASSHOLE!”

No chance matey, I am not getting taken by those monsters at Zidian Corporation for no reason what-so-ever!

I jumped the ledge, bullets singing past my skin in the rush to be free. It all happened in slow motion. Plastic and glass shattered into pieces all around me. Nothing to grip as the drop came into view. My heart pounded, flooding my body with adrenaline. I fell two floors towards the balcony below. Hitting the tiles hard, I rolled clumsily into some planters, spilling flowers and soil through the railings.

Note to self. Don’t try that shit again! Crazy, idiot! Could have died right there!

The guards shouted something I could barely make out, but it was enough to make me get on my feet and make a run for the exit. My legs felt like jelly. The staircase was too difficult to pace. I was stumbling and slipping down two or three steps at a time. The fear was so intense I felt nauseous. I vomited against the wall, not stopping for breath, I continued running. Clatters of boots hit the stairwell no less than five floors above me.

This is why I work in a fucking office, shit, shit shit shit!

An employee stepped out of a doorway directly in my path. I crashed into him sending us both sprawling into the Janitor’s room. I looked at the guy and he was pretty stunned, but probably uninjured. I grabbed some Janitor overalls from the hook on the door, slipping into them as quick as I could. I took to the stairs again, zipping up the overalls as I fled. The sound of the boots clattering above was turning my stomach into knots. The fire escape door came into view bringing on a second wind of hope. I smashed through, brushing in front of a passer by.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

“My apologies… ” I gestured quickly.

“Asshole!” replied the flustered man.

My feet carried me to the next street faster than they’ve ever done before, without thinking too much I jumped into the nearest Taxi.

“Where’re you headed’?” The wrinkled, sun-weathered driver looked over his shoulder at me, “Tough day at the hospital son?” The taxi driver chuckled.

“Yes, can’t wait for a bath soak! Can you take me to the west side of town next to The Swan Inn please”.

It seemed like an eternity before he pressed that accelerator.

“Alright there kid? You seem a bit hasty!” the taxi driver looked in his mirror prompting for an answer.

“Oh, sorry yeah, had to rush home!” I replied, producing an obviously fake smile.

“I used to work at the hospital too. Old Jimmy still the Janitor there?”

I looked down at the name badge on the overalls I took. It read ‘Jimmy’. I folded my arms, trying to cover up as much of the badge as possible.

“Oh yeah Jimmy, I bumped into the old geezer today!”

“Yeah, the good old days at the hospital, I thought being a driver might get me to get out there, meeting more interesting people, but it’s no different to any other job I’ve had.” The driver looked in the mirror and smiled, “Listen kid, I’m no idiot, you ain’t a janitor. What kinda trouble am I in this time?”

I looked at him and sighed. I didn’t know what to say.

“To be honest, I have no idea what’s going on. I think I’ve been mixed up for another patient, or something. When I woke up in that hospital bed, the doctor said I had a broken spine, jaw and all kinds, but I’m sitting here in a taxi talking to you!” I explained, adjusting the overalls at the collar, “but not only that, Zidian Co…”

“Huh what about them?” the taxi driver interrupted sharply.

“They shot at me…”

The driver smashed his foot down on the brakes. My head shunted forward into the back of the seat.

“GET OUT, NOW!” screamed the taxi driver.

“Ow- What the fuck...? Okay, okay!” I agreed, hastily getting out of the angry driver’s cab.

I slammed the car door and presented him with the middle finger. He accelerated hard, tyres screeching as he took the next turn at speed.

I couldn’t really blame the guy, but then I thought about the miles I had left to walk.

“Asshole!” I yelled.

An attack helicopter ripped around the building to my left, almost as low as the traffic signals.

“Wha- Shit!”

I stepped back to keep my balance as the chopper tipped and threw up a huge gust of wind. It hovered above the cross section, pointing down the road the cab took. A missile launched from it, hissing out a trail of white smoke. I heard the explosion over the rumbling and thudding of the rotor blades. The chopper paused for a moment before flying towards whatever it’s target was. I needed to know. I ran to the corner and leaned against the wall. Peeking my head around the corner, I could see the flaming wreck and the chopper circling its prey. The cab driver.

Everyone knew that being on the wrong side of Zidian Corporation doesn’t end well for anyone. After witnessing this relentless attack first hand, I knew it more than ever. I started to make my way to an old friend’s place. It was just a few minutes from here and my home was almost certainly being watched. I walked as casually as I possibly could, trying my absolute best not to look too suspicious, but the harder I tried, the worse I looked. My legs felt weak and my stomach felt like it was filled with helium.

This is it. No way back. All I can do now is hope I don’t get caught. Maybe, at least for now, they’ll think I died in the taxi.

As I turned up towards the backstreet that led to my old friend’s apartment. He was already standing on his fire escape, waving his arms frantically at me.

“Hurry up you stupid fuck head, get in here!” he yelled dramatically.

I checked behind me, hoping I hadn’t been followed. I couldn’t see anyone, so I started climbing the fire escape.

“Jay, what the shit is going on!?” I asked as I climbed through his apartment window.

“You don’t even know the half of it.” he replied.

Jayden Armstrong, the nerdy little punk with the latest info on just about anything. Best friend for life, even though I hardly ever kept in touch. I knew I could trust him with anything. He was a scrawny guy with a shaved head and thick framed glasses. His street punk attire reminded me of my younger days with him, a time when I was probably just as scrawny.

“Seriously man, where the shit have you been, it’s been 3 days since your bro died, dude!” Jayden looked at me, grinning.

“Hey man, I got hit by a fucking van, okay? I woke up in a hospital, the doc said I was smashed up pretty bad. I got up and escaped from the hospital. So, I think they have me mixed up with the driver of the van. I mean the driver had stolen something and I guess you would assume that the one who survives the incident without injury would be the driver. Really, that’s all I can think of. It must be some kind of mistake, right?” I started to ramble, trying to make sense of everything that had happened. Talking to Jayden about it was helping, or at least I thought so.

“Holy shit… you don’t even know, do you?” said Jayden.

“I guess fucking not, since you’re still grinning like an asshole!” I snapped, his nonchalant response was frustrating.

“Dude, you seriously NEED to check this shit out.”

He routed around in his cabinet and pulled out a newspaper.

“You made front page!” he smiled.

I looked at the photograph underneath the headline ‘Zidian Co. stops criminals transporting stolen weapons’. I saw the van, twisted and buckled in the middle of the road, but the story didn’t fit.

“No, Jay, it says here this van was stopped by one of Zidian co’s armoured cars, hence the smashed up van!”

“Nope, wrong. You have been duped by the media yet again my friend. So listen. The night of the incident I heard a robbery in progress on the scanners, so I tuned in. You know I like this kind of thing!” Jayden looked at me for approval.

“Yeah, carry on…” I said, still not convinced this had anything to do with me.

“So, anyway, I wanted to follow the van myself.” Jay explained.

“You… went outside…?” I said sarcastically.

“No man, dude, just listen. I hacked into some unmonitored spy satellite that went out of commission when Zidian Co hit the streets. I used that to chase the van, and I captured the footage using my trusty laptop over there. Wanna see?”

“Right then, show me.” I was getting more and more impatient.

“Just watch...” he laughed and pulled up the laptop screen, clicking on the video.

The van was shown top down of course. It seemed like he was doing some serious speeding. Jayden paused the video, put it in slow motion and resumed the video. A figure stepped out into the road in front of the van, looked over his shoulder for a moment. The van struck the figure, but instead of ploughing through him, it just came to a sudden halt, totally wrecking the van.

“Dude watch it in full speed. I strongly recommend it.” Jayden smiled again and set the crash video on a loop with a normal frame rate. It’s over in a second. The van hits the figure. The van crumples. No armoured trucks in sight.

I couldn’t understand. My mind just wouldn’t let me understand.

But I have no injuries, it couldn’t be me in that video… could it?

Jayden looked at me, he could tell I was going to freak out.

“Woah buddy take a seat... Yeah that’s right... You need to!” he said with a stupid grin on his face.

I wobbled my way over to the sofa and slumped.

“How is this even possible?” I muttered.

“I don’t know man, but that, is cool… and me being a comic book geek, I'd say you have something special going on and I think we should try some, er… experiments!”

“What do comic books have to do with anything?” I argued.

“So what? This kind of thing happens every day, and people just walk away, uninjured, from shit like this.” Jayden said sarcastically, pointing at the video clip, “Yeah… I’m pretty sure they don’t, Rin.”

“How did you know it was me?” I asked.

“Well, I’m not gonna just sit there and do nothing after witnessing something defying the laws of physics!” he claimed, “I did some digging and found you at Auron East Hospital. Man, if the hospital records are right, you were fucked up! But, as for the driver and passenger?” Jayden paused, “They were more fucked up."

I sat in Jay’s sweatbox of a man-cave. Thinking of everything that had happened. My bro died. I should have died. Attack helicopter launching missiles in the street at early hours of the morning.

“Have you even slept yet?” I asked him.

“Nope. Coffee is my friend. I got a few hours yesterday I guess.” Jayden raised his coffee mug and took a large gulp.

“Ah SHIT! NO!…” Jayden looked horrified.

“What, what is it?” I panicked, gripping the sofa.

“My coffee!” he expressed, still seeming overly concerned, “This one I made two days ago. I wondered where I put that! Gross!”

“Fuck you Jayden, you scared the shit out of me!” I snapped again. Clearly I was on edge, but Jayden didn’t seem to mind at all. He probably found my irritability amusing.

“Want me to fix that?” Jayden asked.

“Fix what?” I replied, trying not to make eye contact like an impetuous teen.

“Your wrist display’s broken. I can fix it. Probably only needs a new screen by the look of it.” He claimed.

I unstrapped the display, chucking it in his general direction without looking.

“Ha, fuckin moody as ever, Rin.” Jayden chuckled to himself, making me smirk.

He spotted my smirk and burst into laughter. His fucking laugh was so infectious I started laughing too, and it pissed me off. Which made me laugh some more.

“Fine!” I said, “Can you pull up a voicemail from that?”

“Yeah, can do it now if you like?” He said, plugging in a cable from his ridiculously large computer tower.

“Sure.”

I wasn’t sure if I was ready, so having him play the message took some of the weight off my shoulders.

“Rin… Rin, where the fuck are you? I need you! Someone’s here. I can’t see them but I know it’s someone... Trust you to be late at a time like this! Listen, in case I don’t get out of here, I need you to know something. Zidian Corporation have been snooping around my shit. Really specific things about our family, and you! I looked into it and found some weird shit. Something about a bloodline trait. If you make it to my office, there’s a file - “

“Why does it cut off like that? What was that noise?” I asked.

“Rin?” Jayden looked pale. He was staring at the monitor. “I think I’ve found what killed your brother.”