The evening was noisy in a bar in a big city.
The dimly lit ambience of the bar was filled with soft jazzy music, mixed with the murmurs of the seated customers.
Cigarette smoke lingered in the air already filled with the intoxicating smell of strong liquors.
Conversations rose here and there, interrupted by laughter and stories told with passion, blending with the laughter and the clinking of glasses.
Sitting at a secluded table, a man absentmindedly gazed at his half-empty glass, alone, enveloped in a cloud of bitterness.
He was a tall man, with broad shoulders and an imposing demeanor. His chestnut hair was cut short, his eyes blue, and a stubble highlighted his strong jawline. He wore a dark suit, giving him a formal air.
He observed with a dull eye his almost empty glass, half-filled with a brownish liquid, a silent witness to his dark thoughts.
His tired eyes got lost in the swirl of bubbles slowly rising to the surface, reflections of a tumultuous and tormented life.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the surrounding darkness and approached, slipping into the seat opposite.
Another man, smaller than the first. His tousled brown hair framed a smiling face, adorned with two sparkling brown eyes. A slight tan gave his skin a radiant hue. His demeanor was relaxed and deliberate, demonstrating innate confidence.
He was dressed in a checkered shirt and jeans.
« Who do I see ?! Isn't it my old pal Harold ? Long time no see, buddy ! » exclaimed the man who had just arrived with a warm voice.
Surprised, the first man, Harold, raised his head and pierced the silence reigning in his bloodshot gaze.
« Nife… Is it really you ? What are you doing here ? » he asked in a hoarse voice.
The second man, Nife, settled into the neighboring seat and ordered a drink.
« I came to have a quiet evening, to chase away the everyday worries. And you, old friend, what's troubling you so much ? »
Harold hesitated for a moment, then succumbed to the desire to share his troubles with someone who had known him « before. »
« My life has turned to shit. I got fired from my job, and my wife left me… My life turned upside down overnight, can you believe that ? » he confessed in a trembling voice.
Nife met his friend's sad gaze with empathy.
« That's a lot to handle, » Nife tried to comfort. « However, you know what they say : life isn't just a series of trials. There's always a glimmer of hope to grasp, new opportunities to create. »
Harold sank into a silence filled with painful memories.
After a few bitter sips of his precious drink, he slowly turned to his friend, with a melancholic and resigned air.
« Do you realize ? They kicked me out, claiming I chose to disobey orders and almost ruined the operation. Who cares about that ?! « He banged heavily on the table, spilling some liters of his drink. « I saved those hostages' lives. And for what ? To be fired like some common criminal. It's as if years of hard work were wiped out in an instant. Not to mention that bitch ! All this time, she was cheating on me with her damn ex ! »
Nife placed his hand on Harold's, showing unwavering support.
« Listen, my friend, don't take it the wrong way, but I never believed you were cut out to work for the police, let alone a husband. You're a spontaneous person who follows his own path. » Nife smiled kindly. « Do you remember our younger years, when we were free spirits ? Nothing could stop us. We had that adventurous flame burning within us. What if you reignited that spark ? Come work with me again. There, you can follow your instincts and face injustices without any hindrance. »
Harold's gaze drifted through time, as he reminisced about the years when he and Nife embarked together on daring missions, off the beaten path, taunting authorities and uncovering the truth.
It seemed like an eternity since their last joint venture.
Nife nodded enthusiastically, spurred by the idea of reforming their former duo.
« Harold, you were truly extraordinary as a private detective. People need you, your talent. It's actually a good thing that you've freed yourself from the chains that held you back. Follow your instincts, and rediscover that excitement that once burned within you. As for your wife, screw her. You'll find someone much better. »
A glimmer sparked in Harold's tired eyes.
He took a sip of his drink.
« Well, I'll think about it, » he finally said.
Nife's triumphant smile illuminated his face as he raised his glass.
« To our future, Harold. The rebirth of the N&H duo ! » he exclaimed joyfully.
Harold brought his glass closer to his. « Don't get too excited too soon, I said I'll think about it. »
The two friends clinked their glasses, their drinks clashing together.
« Nife, enough about me. Let's talk about you a bit, » articulated Harold after taking another sip of his drink.
Nife sported a frivolous smile.
« Well, if you insist on knowing about my thrilling life as a private detective, I'd be happy to tell you, » he replied with a hint of pride in his voice.
Harold, furrowing his brows, spoke again with a tone mixing disappointment and interest despite himself.
« Thrilling ? » he sighed.
Nife leaned forward slightly, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
He began to describe his thrilling adventures, including infiltrating criminals' hideouts, wild fights, frantic chases through dark alleys, and solving captivating mysteries. His narrative was imbued with a mysterious and intoxicating aura, stimulating Harold's imagination.
But as Nife spoke, Harold felt frustration growing within him. The words hit his mind like silent reproaches.
Why wasn't his own life as thrilling ? Why wasn't he the one whose actions sparked excitement and danger ? Bitterness threatened to overwhelm him.
Finally, Harold couldn't bear this asymmetry of adventures any longer. His gaze hardened.
« That's enough, Nife, » he declared sharply.
Noticing, albeit belatedly, that he had saddened his friend, Nife abruptly stopped his narrative and signaled to the server.
« You're right, we're not here to chat, » he said. « How about we get drunk until we can't anymore ?! »
Harold raised his empty glass as the server arrived with a bottle in hand.
« That's exactly what I was going to suggest, my friend ! » he retorted, flashing an ironic smile.
It took barely an hour, and a multitude of empty glasses stood before them.
Laughter erupted, conversations mingled with the frenetic music, while the two men drowned in the intoxication of alcohol.
Suddenly, a slight tremor was felt.
Harold blamed his senses disrupted by alcohol and dismissed the idea of an earthquake.
But the tremors persisted, rapidly intensifying, awakening their minds fogged by alcohol.
« Do you feel that, Nife ? » Harold inquired, quickly getting up from his chair.
Nife nodded.
It was already completely dark, and the bar was fuller than it had been an hour ago.
Panic seized the people in the bar, muffled screams mingling with the deafening noises of broken glasses.
Between tremors, Harold and Nife jumped up, stunned by the violence of the phenomenon.
It was then that alarming noises were heard from outside, drowning out the sound of the music playing in the bar.
Without wasting time, the duo rushed outside, abandoning their haven of debauchery behind them.
Just outside the bar, a nightmarish scene unfolded before them.
Humanoid monsters, tall and frightening, sowed panic among the people who screamed and ran in all directions. Chaos had taken hold of the once lively and joyful public square.
These monstrous beings, humanoid but deformed, spread terror among the frenzied crowd.
Their strangely elongated limbs and deformed bodies added to their inhuman appearance. Their shredded skin revealed bulging muscles and pulsating veins. Their eyes gleamed with a demonic glow, evoking primitive terror in all who dared to look at them.
Their movements were swift and ferocious, their sharp claws slicing through the air in a deadly dance.
The cries of the victims echoed in the streets as they fell under the grip of these evil creatures.
« What the hell is going on ? » murmured Nife, his eyes fixed on the monsters that had engulfed the square.
« How on earth did such monsters appear in the city center ? » said Harold, his voice faltering.
Suddenly, a sly smile spread across Nife's grimacing face.
« Hey Harold, I hope your time in the police force hasn't rusted you. The N&H duo will have to make its comeback sooner than expected ! »
Harold looked up at his friend, stunned by this incongruous remark.
He gave a wry smile : « Instead of worrying that I've rusted, watch out not to lag behind. »