--- [Home] ---
"EVIE! Why are you being so reckless?! What if you cannot walk again after this!!"
Eva is an awful worrywart and hopelessly exaggerating over everything when with me at home. When I was little, I loved her when she is being so protective and spoiled me all the time but when I get older, somehow it become a nuisance and I get annoyed a little.
Another reason that my sister is so fixated with me is because when I was 13, I lived with my grandparents for five years. So, when I return to live with my family, she was so shocked by how much I changed and even cried during our first met. It was awkward at first, but she started calling me Evie to be casual and even now, the nickname is attached to me. It does sound indulging and childish a little bit to me but honestly, I don't mind it too much.
People said that I'm too attached to my sister but it actually the reverse. Perhaps this relationship of me and my sister which every girl in my class already know is the main cause of why I am not being in any sweet lovey-dovey love story right now. If Quinn knows about this, I hundred percent sure he will do his annoying sulking behaviour like before.
It was when second week of my first year and he already be in my circle, he keeps babbling about that one senior girl he had this crush and all and ultimately, that girl was my sister. He was so shocked and cried so loudly in the class after I tell him that. Every girl was looking at me as if I am the one who make him cried, and they tried to persuade him while blaming me for making him cried, tell me that I am a bully and all.
Then my sister suddenly came to the class and make things worse by saying "oh my little cute brother! What have you done to him? Even though you love me you should not bully your friends…" and go to persuade Quinn. Quinn was so happy and able to smile and laugh like he was the cheeriest guy on planet.
Well, at least he does not act up like that after that day until now, that is one thing I am grateful about.
"Sis, stop that! You are hurting me! If my ankle swollen, it will be your fault!"
"What? I am so worried, and you said I am hurting you? By the way, it's already swollen Evie!"
Currently, I am lying down on the couch at my house in front of the television while my sister is touching my bandaged ankles and a little rough at that.
Does she even know how to treat a wounded people like me?
"Mom!! Look at Eve! She is messing with my foot!!"
My mom is washing the dishes at the kitchen while humming, I guess I need her help to get my sister get off from me.
"Eve… Evie is injured, treat him softly, will you?"
Mom, dad, and I frequently call Eva by Eve since our name is almost identical.
"Okay sure mom!"
Mom, that is not helping me a little bit. It is already 8.30 pm and my father should have been at home by now.
"Mom, where is dad? It's already late."
"Hm… I also wondering why, usually he will call me or tell me if he has something about his work."
My sister stop playing with my feet and went to help mother to wash the dishes.
Thank God! Finally, I can lie down peacefully.
"Maybe something has happened?" I suggested.
Frankly. I don't like a question like that to be asked since this evening occurrence still caught me in anxiety, and my mind began to believe what was said by the mysterious man. My curiosity is killing me, so I ask my mom to call his office where he works. Father works as a spell developer at a Spell Programming Company in the Central City. The company is quite famous among several other companies in the same field throughout Azaria. Sometimes he taught me how to do a simple spell, but I guess it is too challenging for me.
"Mom, try to call his workplace, maybe they knew for what is happening?"
"Yes, that is true, I will try to call them now. Can you continue wash the dishes, Eve?"
"Okay mom, leave it to me!"
She leaves the kitchen and grab her smartphone before beginning to call my father's workplace office number.
"Woah, that's a lot of miscalls…" she surprised when she checked on her smartphone.
"From whom mom?"
"I'm not sure Evie, there are several numbers and… a lot of office number… I think it's office number where daddy work. Ah, how can I did not notice… Oh, my goodness! I forgot to undo my silent mode until now after getting back from work! Silly me. I will just call them back."
My mom turned the call mode to loudspeaker and hear the ringing repeated for six times before someone from the office with a woman's voice finally picked up the call.
"Hello, Axel Spell Corporation Office here, what service do you require?"
The call was picked up by a woman.
"Hello, I am sorry for disturbing you, I am Eric's wife, Emily Reinhard. You called me before, is there any—"
"Oh Mrs. Reinhard, Sir! Its Mrs. Reinhard!!"
The clerk seemed to call his superior after hearing mom's name. Then the caller is switched to a man, perhaps her superior.
"Hello, Mrs. Reinhard, I am Eddy Axelson, the CEO of Axel Spell Corporation, I am sorry for not be able to reach you sooner."
Oh, it's the CEO itself.
"Why is that? Is there something you need?"
My mom asked nervously since it was the CEO of the company itself is talking to her, so maybe it makes her a little bit anxious.
"It's about Mr. Reinhard."
"…"
We were staring among ourselves after hearing that with sceptical feeling including my sister who is almost finished washing the dishes on the kitchen in a complete silence for a while. Later, mom replied while gripping her hand as a sign of worrying.
"Yes, what is happening?"
"I hope you are ready to hear this, Mr. Reinhard… was involved in an accident this evening."
"…"
"MOM!!!"
I and my sister are surprised as watching mom was shocked until she falls on her knees upon hearing the news. Tears started to flow on her cheeks. We knew she loves dad so dearly, and we both understand that she will be overthinking about it. Eve tries to her to calm her down and I take the smartphone from her gently.
"Sir, I am sorry but for now I will continue for my mother, please tell us everything."
"It's okay. I called Mrs. Reinhard number several times even with my own number and even send some people to your house, but I could not get any reply to get in contact with you, even three messengers I sent still are not coming back here. The accident occurred just when he was about to go home, suddenly someone in black clothing attacked him. It was very quick. Currently he is in the Azaria Specialist Hospital in an emergency ward. He was stabbed with something sharp to his stomach. Most probably a knife or dagger."
"Alright thank you sir! We will go to the hospital right now! And I'm concerned about your messengers, please report to the police if anything happened."
"Yes, sure. Thank you and I hope Mr. Reinhard will get better as soon as possible."
I immediately disconnected the call and get ready to go to the hospital with mom and Eve.
--- [Azaria Specialist Hospital] ---
I and my sister just standing by the room wall, while mom is sitting on the chair besides dad's sickbed. We were told by the doctor that he has been remedied and currently in stable condition. He was stabbed to his stomach by a knife that have been added with a poison that can cause long term unconsciousness. We also got a call from the company saying that they have found the messengers, passed out in bushes at a park in our residential area. They were sent to the police station to report the situation. In the report, they claimed a person, possibly a woman in full black outfit came and hit them in the stomach until they passed out.
This hospital building is quite enormous. We have to walk around quite a lot to find father's ward. The moment we entered the dad's room earlier, mom and Eva were crying so much. They must have been so worried about dad since we were from home, particularly mom. Well, me too. But right now, instead of feeling so dejected, I am more infuriated with what happening since this evening when I was at academy.
Who was him?
Is that mysterious man behind all this?
Why did he even assault my father if he has some business with me?
I am just a twenty-year-old guy who want to spend his life peacefully with his family. I can't quell my rage right now. In the room earlier, I tried to avoid watching my dad who is usually cheering me on and supported me lying down on the sickbed which probably caused by me in front of my eyes. It hurts me so much. That's why I decided to walk out from the room.
"God damn it. Why is this happening?"
I just talking to myself while giving some thought about the case. This accident has been informed to the police and they are acting and currently doing some investigation through footages and questioning witnesses.
"Evans Reinhard."
I staggered and immediately stop my strides upon hearing that unknown man voice. The sudden yet familiar voice escalated my anger out of nowhere. I turned around to the voice that came from behind me.
My eyes widened.
My teeth gritted.
My fist clenched.
My chest pounded faster.
My whole body trembled out of anger.
The voice I just heard is exactly the same from this evening. As I suppressed this immense rage in me, I stand still, waiting for him to expose his reason for all of this. While being in so much, I tried my best to keep my composure.
"Are you mad?" He asked.
"…"
"Do you feel remorse?"
"…"
"Do you start to believe what I said in the hallway today?"
"…"
As I want to shout as loud as I hear those words while running straight to him and choke him to death, I was almost unable to hold myself, but I keep on holding the best I can and replied.
"I wish you die in the hell fire after I choke you to gruesome death with my fucking hands. So, who the hell are you?"
That sounds good coming from me.
A three second of silence become gap between my words and his reply.
"Call me Shadow. I am from the Forsaken Union."
"Our union is created in order to unfold the real history of Azaria. Presently all citizens of Azaria who lives in this peace behind the fake history of 'Everlasting Heroes of Azaria'. Our union knows all the made up lies and all the truth of the history of what actually happened during the subjugation of Dragorath five hundred years ago."
I am so confused. What is he talking about? Truth?
'Everlasting Heroes of Azaria' is the passed down story of the three heroes that save the Azaria empire, the whole humanity. Does he wanted to say that all the history we learned is all a made up lies even after hundreds of years humans have learned about it?
"Stop uttering nonsense to my face. What does it even have to do with me?"
"You are special, Evans. You are chosen. To us, you are our saviour. The world has been living in full of lies and the one who really cared for the world had died in vain, full of regrets without no one to take the side. We need you to realize and take the legendary sword thus overturn the tides of the world. Unravel the truth to the world."
"Then…" I tried to reply calmly but…
"…"
"THEN IF I AM YOUR SAVIOUR, THEN WHY DID YOU HARM MY FAMILY! WHY DID YOU THREATENED ME!" I shouted as my patience reached its limit.
"…"
"All of that, it's a condition for you to realise that our encounter is not just a dumb trick. My time is up. We will meet again, Evans. If you do not take any action in one or two weeks from now, I will hunt more than just your precious family."
"WAIT!!!"
After he finished his last words, he takes a few steps backwards and vanishes into the night as if he is merging with the darkness.
"I… am chosen?" I wondered to myself.
Absurd.