Bang!

A loud sound invaded my mind, pulling me back from my dream. I opened my eyes and saw Old man picking up his thick book on the floor—the one he's reading earlier. I massaged my forehead as I felt my mind being cracked into two. Argh…How much did I sleep for? I continued to press my head then shot right up when I remembered why I'm here.

“Shit! What time is it?” I felt something fall from my chair but I ignored it. I glanced left and right, finding the wall clock. The Old man looked at me, startled by my sudden action.

“It's 6:45,” He answered. “Why?”

I sighed in relief. So, I was only asleep for a while, huh? That's good..I still have plenty of time then. But, I need to be there early, so I better wrap this thing up. I composed myself and took an envelope from my case. The Old man watched the envelope with interest, but turned serious when I called his name,

“Old Jack..” I handed the envelope to him. He squinted his eyes, examining it closely. “What is this?” He asked.

“Open it,” I said. He turned to look me in the eyes, as he opened it. Inside was another envelope but with a seal on it. A golden-seal with an intricate design of two mountains with the rising sun in the middle.

Old Jack's eyes widened as he recognized the seal. Who wouldn't? As only one place was capable of making this golden-seal. A place funded by the taxes of all citizens in the world, with an aim to create and produce detectives that would bring back peace. It was the institute where the last hope of humanity lies, Pax!

I saw Old Jack's hand trembling, nearly dropping the envelope. But, composed himself immediately as if nothing had happened. He slowly tugged the seal, and unfolded the letter inside.

I looked at Old Jack as he read the letter, watching his reaction, that happened to be none as he remained stoic as ever. I didn't wait for too long as I saw him putting back the letter inside.

“You applied to Pax?” He asked.

“Yes”

“And it seemed that you passed?”

“It said so” I scratched the back of my head.

“And you're leaving today?” His voice got louder. I looked down, too afraid to meet his eyes, and nodded my head, “ Yes, that's why I'm here. To inform you and say goodbye.”

“How good of you, but no, You're not leaving” I looked at him in surprise. Not sure if he's joking or not, but when I saw him walking towards his desk and hiding the envelope underneath, I realized that he's serious, and I got angry when I saw that, “Give it back!” I said, running towards him. He ignored me, as he began locking his desk.

“What are you doing!? Give it back! You have no right to stop me!” I glared at him, brows meeting.

The lock clinked, as Old Jack tried to hide the key. I grabbed his arm before he could, feeling his muscles under my grip.

“Let go” He said with a calm voice. So calm that I nearly obeyed him out of fear. But I gritted, “Not when you give back my letter.” I replied.

Old Jack looked at my hand, then at my eyes, and suddenly tried to grab my arm, but I released my grip faster than he could, and held his arm with my other hand. I smirked, then it disappeared when I saw him loose and dropped the key in his hand.

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He kicked the key, making it fly. I looked up in the air, and jumped to grab the key. But Old Jack tackled me, left me stumbling as he grabbed the key with his hand.

“Argh..” I groaned as I stood up. I clenched my fist, rushed at him, and wasted no time sending my left and right fist consecutively to his face. Old Jack easily dodged it. He moved his feet away while his body swayed. I followed his footwork as I kept sending blows. I performed a side kick, but he caught my foot before it landed. I tried to draw back but his grip was too tight. Then I jumped and used my other foot to kick him in his face much to his surprise and mine when I felt it landed. But it quickly disappeared as I saw he defended it with his other palm. Shit! I felt him gripping my two feet, as he threw me on the floor. I quickly twisted my body before I landed, falling on the floor with my two feet on the ground.

I exhaled, thankful that I'm fast to keep my feet firm. Then, I turned to look in front of me, finding Old Jack gone. What… I trembled, and raised my arms instinctively to my side, but too late as I felt it stuck with a strong force. I felt my body flying as I crashed to a bookshelf. Books dropped on my head as I saw Old Jack approaching me.

“Unfair…” I coughed, putting my hand to where he punched me, and where the murderer earlier grazed me. I felt the warm blood in my hand.

“You're not ready yet,” Old Jack said. I met his eyes, and saw it full of pity, “You will die there. Pax is more dangerous than you think, Luther. There's no time since it was founded where no criminals breached there, and no students died."

“I know…” I clenched my side more tightly.

“No you don't” He shook his head, and I began to laugh, realizing they were all the same, “Hahahaha..” Old Jack looked at me in surprise, but I ignored as I released all my pent up emotions here. I need to say it or else it will eat from the inside.

I laughed and laughed as I stumbled and tried to stand up, “Why do you always think that I know nothing!? My father, and even you!?” I pointed my finger at him, shaking. My tears dripped from my eyes. “You think it was all a play to me? You think I joined this knowing nothing about the risk?”

I approached him, eyes blurry. I'm tired of people saying I don't know anything. “Dangerous, you say? Hahaha..Of course it's dangerous, there's nothing in this world that's not dangerous! Every part of the world is in chaos now. To say that I'm not ready yet when every child out there, lost and going to lose their childhood, without them knowing, without any preparation, anytime, anywhere! There's really no one born ready in this world! This world is full of uncertainty! Anything can happen at any time. And if all people don't do anything because it's dangerous, who will!? This world is already burning, Old Jack. And I'll not let it burn any further.”

I walk towards his desk, dragging my feet. I used a ballpen to unlock the lock, taking my envelope inside. To my suprise, Old Jack was doing nothing to stop me but instead watching me silently. I grabbed my things on the floor and put them inside my case.

“I will go, Old Jack. Even if hell dragged me back I will bloody go.” I wore my top hat and dragged myself towards the door.

“To see the dawn one must have the courage to face the night. Its the words left by Rodger, words that you said before you trained me. It's the words that still rest in my mind. And the words that I will continue to live. It's not a matter of I can't but I must. And for this, I will forever be grateful to you Old Jack, for all this 2 years…I'm really thankful.”

***

I stared at the scenery passing by. High pitched whistle resonating on the background. I'm aboard on a train— on my way to Godham, the least and safest place in the world. It's where detectives and police stand by. And where the den of most criminal organizations lay. Ironic..well everything in the world is.

That place is where Pax has been built. People called it the Heart of the World. Mostly because it's in the center of the land, where the last hope stands. Or maybe it's because it's the place where the darkest

side of humanity can be found.

I twitched, suddenly felt my side sting. I looked at my side and saw a red spot on my suit—a stain of blood from my wound. It's only small earlier as it was only grazed by that bloody murderer. But, Old Jack's punch made it worse, made the wound open up. It's a relief that I have some savings for an expert to bandage it up, I passed there before I board here.

Sigh…Everyone's against me from going—my mother, father and…even Old Jack. I thought he would understand me. Looks like I'm wrong. He's the same. Why did they think so low of me? Is there something wrong with me that I don't see? I clenched my fist. Am I untrustworthy? No. I shook my head, immediately erasing that thought, “ You can doubt anyone but you must never doubt yourself ” A quote from Rodger that I always reminded myself of. Maybe they're just worried for my safety. Yeah, they're worried about me. It's a thing to be happy about. Let's settle on that.

I grabbed my pocket watch from my case, and opened it. It's forty minutes past 8. Soon, I would arrive at Godham. And would face the other side of the world. I don't know what's waiting for me there. And how it will affect me. But, I'm ready.

I fixed my brown coat, tapped my inner pocket to make sure my envelope was still there, and put my case on my lap so that I don't forget it. Alright, I'm all set. I smiled in satisfaction, then stared right ahead, and met with a lady sitting cross legged, reading a book.

“Huh?” I blurted out. Realizing my mistake, I immediately looked away and stared at the passing scenery, pretending I didn't react. How long has she been here? I remembered I sat here alone. Did she sneak upon me? Impossible… Even though I was deep in my thoughts there's no way she can do it without me noticing. Unless..she's better than me which is far more impossible. And how can the sound of a book flipping escape my ears? Especially that thick! And in front of me nonetheless.

I glanced at her intrigued, my face still facing the window. She wears a breasted brown coat like me. I can very well see with the corner of my eyes, and I can say that..uhm..she's beautiful. Very.

I focused on her eyes as she read the book. I waited for her pupils to go down, signaling that she's done reading the page, and ready to flip it. Let's see if you have the skill to match up your face or it's just an oversight from my side.

I watched her pupils reach the bottom of the page, then her hand flipping it slowly… then stopped. She stopped in the middle.

What? Surprised by this sudden action, I turned to look at her, and then met with intoxicating pale blue eyes that seemed to reflect the winter sky. I felt sucked by its storm, causing my heart to skip a beat.

“What are you doing?”