[ Gartersbee, May 5, Year 1401 ]

Dark mist and smog blanketed the wide alleyways of the quiet city, it's inhabitants slumbering ever so peacefully. The midnight crescent illuminated the cloudy sky, shining brilliantly in the darkness shrouding the quiet streets. Street lights lit the pavements and roads and lined the streets with their gleams of light. All of the street was tranquil after curfew, as silent as a mouse, like it should be. The wind picked up, the trees were rustling, yet the mist remained defiant.

Soft footsteps could be heard marching down the streets as the midnight sentries made their rounds along the spotless pavement. A lantern from an officer revealed itself from the corner of the street by the café. There was one, then two, then three, and at last there were then four lanterns ablaze, slowly trickling down the streets. Illuminated in the darkness were the figures of the officers, clad in the typical light-grey dress uniform and cap, as well as a blue brassard. Slowly but surely, they made their way down the street, with the clacks of their boots echoing throughout.

The rain began to fall from above, first by specks, then droplets, until a violent storm had erupted. Such weather was typical at this time in the year as it approached the rain season, the storm was merely a teaser to the precipitation ahead. Lightning struck time after time, sending streaks of light throughout the skies, followed by the thunder which boomed as though it was a field gun. The gusts and winds roared more ferociously than before, swinging the trees around as though it was a plaything, and scattering leaves along the now flooded streets. The shining crescent in the sky was gone, draped in a blanket of dark clouds and mist. Umbrellas bloomed within seconds, one after the other, shielding the officers from the barrage storming down upon them. The men were accustomed to the weather, they were expecting it, in fact, the only abnormality thus far was the lack of precipitation earlier, such mercy from the skies was rare, a chuckle even came loose from one of the officers.

Rain such as this would ensure that the fields of wheat and vegetables growing in the countryside would grow healthy and make for a great harvest. The smell of smoke from the factories was dissolved and eradicated by the winds and rain, and soot on the roofs trickled down slowly through the gutters and into the sewer system.

"Did the rain finally decide to start coming down on us?" said one officer.

"Yes it has, my hope that it wouldn't rain tonight was wrong I suppose." said another.

"Cut your chatter men, we're almost at our destination." an officer said, who was supposedly the leader of their team.

The two officers who had previously been conversing ceased at once at the words of their superior. They continued forth down the street, which by now was beginning to be flooded with water that had come from above. Soot and sludge dripped off from the rooftops and clogged the gutters as the rain began to moisten them.

When the officers reached the intersection of the street, they turned right on and headed forth a few more paces, and then at last they halted at the front of a small home.

"Is this the place sir?" asked an officer.

"Yes, this is the destination we were to come to." replied his superior.

The four sentries stepped forth on the pavement and towards the front door of the small house. Bricks, wood, and stone formed the walls and foundation of the small two story home. The pavement of the street right outside of the house was flooded with pools of water, yet, despite the stormy and rough weather, the trees and shrubbery decorating the street remained defiant.

At last the rain ceased to beat down upon their umbrellas, as a small overhang shielded them. One after another, like they bloomed beforehand, the umbrellas shriveled up. The lead officer stepped forth and knocked three times on the wooden door, then retreated back a step to await for a response.

Rapid footsteps were heard from inside that grew louder and louder, until at last the door opened, and a young woman stood in the doorway.

"Greetings officers! May I help you with something this rainy night?"

"Yes, we must speak with you madam." replied the lead officer.

"Oh come in then! You mustn't stay out in the rain nor get wet! Come in! Come in!" she said, welcoming them in.

The inside of the house was furnished well, lit dimly it was too for it was late at night and way past the hour at which curfew had begun. After the men dried off, the lady welcomed them to the dining room to discuss their matters.

"So what brings you gentlemen here today?" she asked.

One of the officers reached into his bag and handed the lead officer a paper. When the man received it, he presented it to the lady and spoke to her:

"Unfortunately madam, you are under arrest." he said.

The woman stood as still as a rock, shocked and confused by what the officer had just said. After a short while, she mustered up the courage to speak:

"Arrest? What have I done to be under arrest?" she asked in a shaky voice.

"You are under arrest for treason against His Excellency and the federation."

"Treason?!" she replied. "What treason?!"

"For betraying your nation by rebelling against it."

"I have not done such a thing!"

Around then, a man came down the stairs, who was presumably her husband, came to investigate what had unfolded down in the dining room.

"Cheyenne? Is everything alright down here?" he asked. "Why have officers come to our home?"

"Sir, are you her husband?" asked the lead officer.

"Yes sir, I have been her loyal husband and companion for the past twelve years sir."

"You too are under arrest for treason, both of you, hands now."

"What?! I have not committed treason! My wife and I are innocent I tell you!"

"You have indeed committed treason, and by orders of the city governor you are to be arrested at once!"

"I refuse! I am an innocent man! I have not done anything wrong!"

"Silence scoundrel!" an officer yelled.

"Please! We have not done anything wrong!" cried the wife.

"Silence at once!" the lead officer said, grabbing her arm.

"Don't touch her!" cried out the man, who lunged forth.

At once, two other officers restrained him immediately and held him from behind.

"Do not resist the law."

The husband continued to struggle and struggle, resisting further despite the warning received. In response, the officer drew his baton and hit the man in the abdomen, causing him to crumble down.

"Continue to resist." an unfamiliar voice said.

Immediately, the officers looked around them, trying to figure out who had said that. A set of footsteps was heard from the doors, and a man dressed in dark clothing and an overcoat came forth. The young man had dirty silver hair and his eyes dyed a bloody crimson.

"Unhand him at once you vile hypocrite."

"Who might you be?" asked the lead officer.

"I am but a person who can differentiate between right and wrong, no more, no less."

"Do not interfere in the affairs of the law young man."

"Your cause is unjust, unhand the two at once, for they are innocent."

"Innocent they are not! By consideration of His Excellency and then word of the governor, these curs have committed treason! Do not defy the will of His Excellency!"

"This 'Excellency' is wrong."

"How dare you speak ill of His Excellency!"

At once, the officer asked another to take hold of the wife. The lead officer drew his gun and pointed it at the young man before him.

"Hands up at once!" he yelled.

"Why? I am not wrong, but rather I am right. Your reasons of arrest are unjust, did your 'Excellency' ever prove their treason? Did your superiors?"

"His word is truth! How dare you speak that way! Apologize at once for your disobedience!"

"I refuse, it should be you rather that should apologize for disobedience."

"Enough! If you shall not apologize then I shall give have you atone myself!" the officer said, pulling the trigger and firing his revolver at the young man.

The second the trigger was pulled, the young man dodged and charged forth toward the shooter, who had been caught off guard at his sudden evasive maneuver. He fired again, and like the first, he missed his mark. The revolver shot another four rounds in rapid succession, but the young man slid underneath and ended up right under the lead officer.

"How did you—"

Before the officer could finish his sentence, he was punched straight in the abdomen by the young lad, who hastily moved out the way afterwards.

By then, the other three officers turned their attention towards him, drawing batons and revolvers and shooting towards him.

The young lad dodged the first volley and threw down a small canister towards the officers. Their heads all looked downward towards the wooden flooring as the canister slowly rolled towards them. At first they were confused as to what it was, until it suddenly began spewing out smoke. Within mere seconds, the room was a smoky mess, with the officers being scrambled about and unable to see more than one meter ahead. The thumps and groans of the officers hitting the floor happened one by one, with the young lad taking advantage of the confusion and knocking them unconscious.

At last, when the smoke had cleared, there were only three bodies moving up and about, with four on the ground, those four belonging to the officers who were rendered unconscious by the mysterious man. The couple looked about the house, then at the young man.

"Who are you?!" asked the husband.

"There is no time, follow me quickly!" he said, grabbing the two by the arm and leading them upstairs.

Around then, a small squad of sentries was running through the rain and down the street towards the house that was now filled with smoke. The young man hastened his and the couples ascension up the stairs and at least reached the second floor.

Looking about, he saw the entrance to the attic, and opened the hatch which led upwards into it. He hastily pulled down the ladder and hurried the couple upwards, then hurrying himself upwards too before shutting the hatch.

"What is happening?!" asked the wife.

"I am saving you from a terrible demise madam."

"Demise?" said the husband.

"Yes, we must hurry before they catch up to us. You are not guilty, but rather innocent."

At that moment, he looked through the window and saw the sentries outside. Seeing that he couldn't go through the window, he looked about, and noticed an axe hidden behind some boxes. He grabbed the axe and moved towards one side of the attic to the couple's surprise.

"What are you going to do with that axe?" asked the husband.

"Do not be afraid, I do not intend to harm you, but I do intend to harm your property's value."

When the young man finished his statement he began swinging the axe violently at the gable roof, slowly but surely chipping away at the wooden structure. Within a minute or so, he had finally began chipping away at the roof tiles, and in seconds, the rain poured in.

"The roof!" cried the woman.

"Your life is more important than a few planks of wood and tiles," said the young gentleman, "follow me, we must leave before we draw attention to ourselves."

Around then, the sentries began to enter the house to investigate. The sounds of their footsteps and chatter could be heard downstairs.

The young man signaled to the two to follow him and go up to the roof, which was slanted due to its design. Both the husband and wife clung onto the roof for their lives as the wind began to howl and toy around with everything surrounding them. The trees were swaying back and forth violently, and the weather had only worsened from earlier.

"Are you both alright?" asked the young man.

"Yes, we are alright." said the husband.

Around then, two other figures came down from the roof of another building, both donning raincoats with hoods covering their heads.

"Are you all good?" asked one of them.

"Yes, we are fine, do you have a spare coat by any chance?.

The other person handed him two spare raincoats he had brought along. Afterwards, the young man draped the coats onto the young couple.

"Thank you for the coats." replied the husband.

"You're welcome. Now follow along with these two, they will guide you to safety and provide you with shelter and warmth for the night. I will join you shortly afterwards to explain what had happened later on."

"Thank you for your hospitality, we will make sure to repay you fully someday!" the wife said.

Shortly after, the two other figures escorted the couple to safety, moving from rooftop to rooftop, before eventually making their way down to solid ground.

Interestingly though, the intrepid young man draped in the dark coat remained on the roof, accidentally risking his safety and looking down at the scene unfolding.

"Curse that bastard of a man!" he said to himself. "He dares ruin the lives of others who had done nothing to harm him, and he calls himself a 'president'?"

The young man continued looking on, by now, multiple groups of officers had gathered around, and the lights of houses had illuminated. Windows opened, and people peered out to see what scene had unfolded, confusion was present all over.

"I shall chase that man to the ends of this earth, whether he likes it or not, and see to it that he burns in hell." the young man said to himself. "I do not care if I die along this path, but I swear I shall bring you down you sadistic bastard!"

A short while later, he vanished, and made his way to the predetermined place where he would meet up with his accomplices. His hair flowed through the wind as it rattled him around, yet despite the ferocity of the storm, he continued forth gallantly through it. That night was far from the stormiest he had seen in his eyes, for he had seen worse tempests before, and he too knew too well of the stormy path that lay ahead on his path towards justice.