"Tragic incident occurs in the attractive Urchin Palace in the city as Masterminds strike again in a war to steal AI. After a mass genocide during the 'Juno Project,' a few lucky survivors had managed to escape the fallen palace with the help of Cyber Ops before the great missile struck. We do not know who's at fault for making a submarine launch a missile here, but our guess is as always – the Sharks."
"After the missile had struck, most of the palace was burnt down along with thousands of pieces of evidence that could've been used against the Masterminds."
"Amidst the tragic deaths of many idols and rich folk that had died in this incident – one tragic death stood out most to us. The owner of the infamous bike company 'Lyla Croft' had been slashed in the neck during this incident. A waiter had taken her to a hospital to treat her amidst the chaos brewing in the palace, but just as he came and figured that she was dead – he had dashed out of the hospital in tears, and has been missing ever since. We suspect that this was the lover of Mrs. Croft, and her death was too much to bear for the man."
Just like that, a week passed by after the mission: The Juno Project.
The building was reconstructed, and the news kept digging all the trash about who and what was inside the building during the Juno Project, especially suspecting the survivors… as they should.
For the next few weeks, we were not to engage in any missions because – they were watching our every move. Following us everywhere we go.
The Ghosts and the Cyber Security.
However, they can only go so far. All their drones that surrounded our buildings were already hacked by Meg, putting fake images in them instead of the actual footage. However, there were creepy Cyber Ops at every corner of my branches, especially the building where I live. The seventh tallest building of Skyfall itself.
No matter how much I could fool the drones, I could not fool the eyes of a human.
It was a Sunday evening when all of us decided to visit the grave. I asked all the Sharks to come at a time when none of us were busy with work. Just like that – a week passed.
And everyone called me, agreeing to come to the Graveyard, finally.
As I stepped outside my building and gazed at a bird flying by, I saw a Ghost on my building. He was just standing there horizontally in the building far up where my apartment was. I didn't stare for too long, of course. That would've been suspicious. I simply got inside my ShadowXV and drove off.
///
I stopped my car and stepped off at Lyla's graveyard. She had brought this plot of land just to design this graveyard for her. She wanted to be buried and remembered as the founder of the Croft company forever.
There was a large mechanical tree in the middle with fake purple flowers blooming on it, and underneath it, there lay her grave with the metal headstone that read "Here lies Lyla Croft, Goddess of Bikes, Fucker of Thousand Men," in neon purple lights.
The grass beneath it was fake as fuck, but it was beautiful still.
A dew rain began to drop on the city with the evening sun sinking beneath the towers. I was late again, as always. Everyone else was already there, standing around the cyber headstone of Lyla.
As I walked into the little graveyard, everyone turned at me. It was just us there. The good old Sharks, and a motherfucking Ghost leaning against the tree. I was the only one wearing my usual blue sunglasses, but everyone already knew there would be a Ghost in the graveyard.
"Hey, Kim," Jenni said, smiling at me as I joined them. I rubbed her back as she gave me a hug and a kiss.
"Yo," Gendy greeted me too, with everyone else following one by one.
Afterward, I crouched before the headstone where six different types of flower bouquets already lay.
Lilies by Jenni, lavenders by Blondie, orchids by Carry, tulips from Crowley, carnations from Gendy, and Dahlias by Barry. In my hand were two flower bouquets.
Roses, Lyla's favorite. Daisies, my favorite.
I gently laid the two flower bouquets near the headstone and stood up. As I gazed at the grave, only one thought came to my head.
'My friend was lying there.'
I closed my eyes, backing off from the grave until I hit Gendy's chest. He grabbed my shoulder tightly. It allowed me to calm down. Then, we all huddled together in front of the grave.
"Here lies… rest in peace, Lyla Croft." I read the words out loud. I could hear some of the girls sniffing as I read it. "Goddess of Bikes and a Fucker of Thousand Men." I heard chuckles and giggles now, mostly from the boys.
I could clearly see the Ghost was staring intently as we did this.
"Lyla was a wonderful woman. Oh, I loved her very dearly. She fucked me a lot, that goes without saying. Everyone here wants to fuck me."
"Totally," Gendy cleared his throat.
Then, Crowley added his farewell. "I loved Lyla, she was like a sort of mentor to me. She did burn me a lot, though. I love you, Lyla. I will never forget you."
Then, Carry. "I always loved you, girl. You will always be in my heart." She broke into tears.
Afterward, it was Jenni. She didn't cry. She was used to loss. "My dear, Lyla. I hope your ghost rides that bike through the city… cause no one can do it better than you."
Blondie: "Everything you ever said to me, will always be there. You will always be there," she wiped her eyes with a tissue.
Gendy: "Best girl I ever knew. Best grave I've ever seen, by the way, Lyla. I will always love you, girl."
Barry was the last one to deliver the lines, and his lines were the most surprising.
"Lyla, I will always have you in my heart," he said. He looked down momentarily, rubbed his forehead, and pulled out his glasses, wiping his eyes. The man's eyes watered.
I've never seen Barry's eyes water before.
"...we were going to marry." He mumbled after a few seconds. Everyone of Sharks turned to Barry in shock, frozen. The slow rain dropped upon the grave, falling on the fake leaves of the metal tree.
"She was the first woman I've ever loved, guys. We were going to marry…" he repeated his words, and all of us hugged him. I grabbed his head, pushed him against me and all of us hugged him like never before. He held back onto us, like never before.
As the dew rain fell, we all had tears in our eyes. Even if it's just the dew drops of the rain falling from some of our cheeks, we all knew… inside, we were crying.
As we were ready to leave the graveyard, the Ghost that was leaning against the tree walked right toward me. I was the only one turning to face him at the moment when he pulled back his hood and became visible to everyone all of a sudden.
"Fuck!" I acted as if I was frightened, turning around and panting.
"I'm sorry for scaring you, Mr. Kim." The Ghost said in his altered voice. Every one of the Sharks turned and saw the Ghost too, but they weren't surprised. They didn't even act.
"I know. It's a fucked up job we do here," he said. "Invading your private spaces and shit. But, I just wanted to say… Mr. Kim and the rest of you. You are good friends and I knew Mrs. Croft once too. Went there to buy my bike. She was supportive, even invited me to a damn party – knowing I was a Ghost. I just… wanted to say that."
"Thank you." It was not me who replied to the Ghost, but Gendy. "For the generous words."
The Ghost nodded at Gendy and pulled his hoodie back on, turning invisible once again. Then, he walked across the graveyard and got on his invisible bike.
Finally, for once in a whole fucking week, a Ghost actually decided to fuck off from our private space.
///To be continued///