August 24th. In the building on 2 Chirac Street, screams and groans were heard all night. But they were only heard by people in brown robes sitting inside. They heard and rejoiced. They drank, danced, and tortured the professor, who still could not remember the name of the journalist, for whom the people in brown clothes had come.
At 6 am, Professor Zaraski put his head down. There was no more strength to hold it. And he didn't want to look at the red numbers, which were getting smaller. Blood was dripping from everywhere.
3… 2… 1…
And Professor Zaraski like his laboratory were gone. The bowed head flew to the skies.
August 24th. At 5 Bagra Street, there was a huge building of the old Library number 13. The entrance to it was open only to representatives of academies and ministries. And only a number of people had access to the special sections where books and manuscripts were kept under the heading "secret".
General Emin had not left the 6th block of the second level of Library number 13 already for the second week. His eyes were full of blood, and the bags under his eyes hung in black folds. The question was about life or death. His own health was not important.
A flame was burning at the entrance to the 6th block. Unexpectedly for Emin, it began to blaze unnaturally. Someone was walking. There were several people. And they didn't even try to hide their presence.
"It's after me," Emin thought. A huge number of thoughts were mixed in his head. "They will… torture me. They... they will kill me," Emin's head sank lower and lower, and in the end, it completely collapsed on the manuscripts. His body trembled, there was not enough air. His pupils were reduced to a speck of dust and he looked desperately into the darkness. Finally, he crossed his arms behind his head and closed his eyes. The panic was gone.
"Halls of Mind! Open up!" he shouted.
His memory began to divide into an infinite number of folders and files. They scattered in chaos before his eyes. A solution was needed. One single solution. How to destroy all documents, but at the same time preserve them so that they fall into the right hands. The steps of the strangers became more and more distinct. Emin's pulse was tap dancing. The blood wanted to sprinkle from the temples, from the veins, from the eyes.
The manuscript data was hastily copied into Emin's long-term memory. Numbers and letters, marks, everything important and unimportant flowed into his brain. There was no time left. Whistling was heard from afar.
"Let there be light!" Emin screamed. The whole room began to blaze with fire. The fire that burned in the corridor heaved and spread down. The men, who had almost reached the door, tried to react quickly, but the fire instantly reached them.
"Oh you bastard!" the whistle stopped and the dark-haired man walking in front, hitting several of his subordinates, laid them on the floor. "Ant, quickly! The wall! The wall! The wall!"
Out of nowhere, a huge wall appeared in front of the people. But this did not solve the problem. The fire was already burning on their clothes.
Despite the situation, the dark-haired man rushed to the room. But it was already too late. The entire 6th block was burning with bloody fire. The manuscripts scattered around the room and burned out.
"Emin, you bloody brat! You're in deep trouble! You won't get out of here alive!"
"Ah, *****, it's you. I knew it. Well, after this I'm not going to stay alive."
"Nooo. You did not understand me. Nobody will let you die here, you moron. Now guys will deal with your damn fire and we will torture you and find out the whole truth and the name of the scum that arranged it all."
"Dear, you probably forgot about one of my superiority. You can never blackmail the lord of memory. At any second, the information in my head can turn into a random text, photos of cats and dogs, or your worst memories."
"Freeze," bandages wrapped around Emin's head. "And by chance, did not you forget about my superiority? You don't have a single chance. Your ability will no longer work.
"Ahahaha, funny, funny. *****, you are prudent as always, but not enough. At least make a mummy out of me with your bandages. Your damn ability cannot affect the "final" enchantment. The process has already begun. This fire is my blood. It will stop only when all of it flows out. Ahahahahhaa. And my memory is no longer accessible to me, or to you, or to Oswald. It flows with my blood into oblivion."
"Aaaa, you are so loyal to your master that you are ready to die here like a dog. Die. Not you, so there will be others, traitors. And believe me, they will split. And all your suffering now, your sacrifice will be in vain."
Blood was leaking from Emin. There was no more strength to stand. He fell to the floor. There was anxiety in his heart. Only one thing was spinning in his head. Is this sacrifice, his life, worth it all?
"Well, Emin? Forces left? Sad huh? Understand, all sacrifices are meaningless. You screwed up your life and your family too. Not a single person, not a single great thought is worth your life. The only one who is not prudent enough here is you. You are pathetic."
Emin was sitting motionless.
"Okay. I'll kill you then. Since getting to the bottom of you, there is no option. One last wish?"
Emin lifted his head and looked at the dark-haired man he had known for many years.
"Son, my ... son…"
Emin's head sank again and his body fell to the floor in an awkward position.
"Are you dead?"
The fire began to fade. It smelled like burning. Door opened. Several people in brown clothes entered it. They had their hair, clothing, and even their skin burnt. The Last fire did not spare anyone.
"Ant, I hope for you. Try to dig information from here. This moron has not left these walls for two weeks. Maybe he lost his mind and started talking to himself."
"Yeah, just find me a healer, it hurts, you know."
"We'll figure it out now. Just come to me."
As soon as Ant approached the leader, he leaned over to his burnt ear.
"If you can, the last conversation with Emin, do something with it. When you hear it you will understand."
"Okay."
The man stood in the midst of his crippled companions.
"That's it, guys! No fun tonight. We are waiting until our daddy gives us new goals. Until then, you can go back. We disperse."