Paramnesia

Chapter 3: Mission Adrift (Deene)

Walking with a stranger down a busy path, trying to collect my thoughts. Everything feels so scattered, and yet, so connected. Staring at his tired eyes I wondered what exactly this melancholy man knew about everything that was going on. Why did he know my name? Why was he so... conceded. "So, what do you know about the dreams?"
The man blew out a puff of smoke, "I know you have them quite often, and no matter what you do you can't figure out who the man that talks to you is, or what he's saying."
I look down at my feet as they continue to step down the stained sidewalk. "You think you can help me figure them out?"
He stopped, a bit startled, I looked at him wondering if I said something wrong, but he simply grew a sad smile. "I don't think I can help you with anything, but Boss has an interest in you, and I'd be wise to not go against him if he sees something in it."
I didn't understand what he meant, "Why is the gang targeting me? What interest do the Crows have in my dreams?"

"Don't know," He continued to walk again leaving me to quickly stumble behind him to catch up. "All I know is, he wants to talk to you. You'd probably be better off just coming with me and agreeing."
A chill ran down my spine, was this a threat or advice? With a small nod I simply just continued to follow him down the street.

I could feel his eyes constantly drifting into my direction, but quickly avert themselves when I glanced over. "... You got a staring problem?"

I wanted to be cautious, Rune always told me The Singing Crows are bad news. I wanted to stay as far from them as possible. "I'd lighten up a bit; I know you don't trust me, but I really am here to help."

Help, what a laugh, "Nothing good can really come out of you Crows."
I stared up at the sky, I don't know why, but I felt... safe, or maybe it was comfort? Trust? Familiarity. "Don't know why you'd think that" He looked over at me, "The Singing Crows aren't bad people. Sometimes it's the only sense of feeling some of us will have."
I felt my heart sink as he looked out again taking a puff out of his smoke. "We just want to help everyone out of this rut, but I guess not all of us believe we can get out of it."
That look on his face, it was the look of a man who had lost all hope, but it was also a look that something in me told me I needed to comfort. "Do you believe in change?"
The man simply looked at me and smiled, "I used to, but I'm starting to realize that isn't something this world is capable of."

Thumping... I paused, for once I let my body do the talking, and it... it wrapped my arms around him; around this complete stranger that right in this moment I felt like I had known for a lifetime. I could feel him tremble as his arms loosely followed in suit of mine. A million eyes could be staring at me, but I didn't care. This felt like the most important thing right now.

...

He let go. I slowly followed ensue as I stared at the floor trying to think of any reason I did that. "We should head to the HQ for your mission details."

I nodded and followed behind him. As we approached the building I stared uncomfortably at the guards who gave me passing glances as Crowe led me inside. Staring... So many people staring, I wish they would just stop. Heading to the back we approached a lone door that had a gentle feeling of dread emanating from it. Crowe only looked at me and smiled before muttering "Relax, the boss don't bite."
I doubted that statement. He opened the door and inside was an older man looking at some papers. He looked up and smiled as if delighted to see us and rose from his seat.

"You must be Deene Misham."
I feel chills run down my spine, but I give him a nod. He smiles, "I heard a lot about you; I bet you're wondering why you're here, huh?"
Why was he so... friendly? I simply nod in response again as I glance over to see Crowe watching me. Expectedly? Maybe not. "You're a very important person Deene, there's a mission one of our friends has for you."
I hesitate, "A... A mission?" I shake my head in disbelief, "What kind of mission could you possibly need that requires me to be the one to carry it out?"
"You have a knack for this sort of stuff as we've been told, a history buff."

...

How much did they know about me? "I mean... I look at artifacts for some friends (if you could call them that) as a hobby, but nothing that could possibly make me the most qualified."
The older man just smiled at me with a smile that said he knew more than he was leading on about this whole situation. "Our friend seems to think otherwise. You'll be tasked with figuring out the history of our lonely city. Figure out as much as you can about the past behind it. Now I know it's a lot to ask, but any information that could possibly be found would be enough. Are you up for the challenge?"

What this man was talking about, it was... insane. "I don't think I–"
He held his hand up to stop me, "I know it seems like a lot, but hear me out. In exchange you would be given full protection from anything, including the trials, from us Crows." He motioned his head at the black haired man that had been standing next to me, "Crowe here would be your personal bodyguard."
Crowe seemed to have this look of almost dread, but with a mindset of someone who had already known this fact ahead of time.
"... So, they want me to just... figure out more of the past?"
The gray haired man nodded, "I know it's a lot to ask, and not exactly what you were probably expecting." No kidding, "But I assure you this is all for the good of everyone."
The older man walked over and stood right in front of me, "Something is very wrong with this city, and we need someone like you to discover it."