Midnight Eclipse: Book 1# [EE] [Heaven's Curse]

Chapter 2

The echo of the prisoner's voices trilled in anger and discontent. Swiftly, silenced by police officers on their last rounds. Thick prison walls secured the criminals, hiding them from barren bush-lands that bloomed with dangerous reptiles, insects, and other fauna.

The office above the cells in the far corner was supervised by two prison officers late this evening—Noel-Len Ignatius and Phillip Lee, who were both like oil and water.

Regardless, Noel-Len never predicted that when he embarked on his position within the Watchtower over a year ago, that it would be filled with an unsettling culture and dangerous stigma that he could not utter.

Phillip Lee, on the contrary, freely expressed his honest thoughts, not once biting his tongue and voicing his opinions without much care. "I can't believe this! This shouldn't be happening!"—he yelled at the television.

Noel-Len listened, however, not as attentively as he once had.

Phillip scowled at the small television in the far corner, forever critical of everyone portrayed on the screen, much to Noel-Len's amusement.

Beneath the white fluorescent lights, Noel-Len's tidy dark hair complemented his fair russet skin, dark impassive eyes, and the straight-line of his mouth. His gaze was drawn to the printed ink before him.

His attention briefly flickered to the security camera monitor, exposing the prisoners in their cells and the empty halls, then to the television, taking note of the horrific destruction.

Before returning to the digital newspaper he held, his attention lingered over the carnage of the destroyed buildings and cars.

The tabloid would be frail and grainy in texture if he had a printed version. It was stencilled in perfect letters that further caught Noel-Len's concentration as he searched for information that could explain the nascent rumours among the letters and pictures until his focus wavered.

"What's that?" Noel-Len, despite his reluctance, felt inclined to ask.

"Why are those people attacking our soldiers?" Phillip cursed beneath his breath. His light brown eyes glistened in detestation.

Everyone Noel-Len had shared a shift with would not bother turning on the television, but this was Philip. He was a man who felt inclined to watch the six o'clock news regardless of how many times Noel-Len told him not to.

"Because they have a problem with us," Noel-Len flatly replied, not fond of how bitter it tasted in his mouth.

Being an officer of the law in recent years, Noel-Len understood there were both good and bad people amongst humanity. However, his job was to enforce and not criticise. Regardless of where they were from or what they appeared like, everyone had a choice to do either. A person's actions would always define their character.

"Yeah, but what did we do? We fed their poor, healed their sick and allowed their refugees into our country. Some of those so-called Australians we let migrate here are re-joining them with hopes to wipe out the government that sheltered them, and guess where that leaves us?" Phillip growled, running his thick, tanned hand through his oily chestnut hair.

That was a question Noel-Len was far too familiar with and one he never appreciated. In these dubious moments, Noel-Len would cease to listen. There were times when Phillip was worthy of attention but now was not one of those times.

While tranquillity invaded the office, Noel-Len was aware of the severe threats that awaited him and his colleague beyond the red door.

Noel-Len leaned back in his seat. His dark eyes flickered to the pale ceiling above in thought. Stretching his arms behind his head, he folded his fingers beneath and began to contemplate the past and the future. Then answered. "That leaves us with traitors and a never-ending war." His eyes lingered on the ceiling.