Amethyst Genesis: Bleeding Ruby

3:22

Year 2???, March 22nd, 3:22 PM Eastern Time...

A vast expanse of purplish light begins to descend upon a bustling city, forming a dome in the sky that obscures the sun...

The vision is silenced by a crescendo of confused murmurs and then screams...

"Goodbye #3..."

*BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!*

Year 3025, March 22nd, 3:22 PM Eastern Time.

An alarm shrieks loudly on a sleepy golden morning, while slivers of light sneak through the window blinds. A hand from the bed next to the alarm stand gropes to silence the alarm, fumbling to find its exact spot on the desk. A figure shuffles out from under the sheets, groggy and disoriented. It's a young man, who stretches from his nest, his muscles and joints popping in a satisfying symphony. The young man shakes off his blankets and rises. His soft yellow hair flutters as he combs it in front of the nightstand mirror, his face clean and skin fair, his eyes free of bags—a gift from a lifetime of good rest. He smiles at the sight of his well-cared-for appearance; it pleases him.

He undresses, revealing a scarlet red mark on his neck labeled "#3." He pulls on his baggy black pants and a vibrant red sweater, then stumbles into the living room. The hallway is lined with photos and frames of him, his mother, and a girl about his age, all smiling. Reaching the kitchen, he spots a picture on the table showing his family gathered around him, blowing out birthday cake candles. He smiles and sighs nostalgically. Turning to the fridge, he notices a note. It read, "Happy Birthday, Hal Honey! I'm sorry for planning it the night before. I've got a trip overseas. If you need anything, Kara will handle it. Speaking of the devil, tell her to stop picking fights with people; I've already had enough of treating broken bones. Love you <3."

Hal chuckled to himself, neatly folding the paper into quarters and tucking it into his pocket. He stepped out the door and softly closed it behind him. Outside, the brightness of the sun contrasted with the fresh scent of settled rain. The road was quiet, devoid of traffic, yet bustling with people. Children played in the puddles left by the rain, while adults gathered on the nearby home's stairs. The absence of vehicles was compensated by the crowd's volume. Hal quickly made his way through the throng and entered a quaint coffee shop. As always, it buzzed with life, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the subtle scent of pancakes, creating a perfectly controlled chaos of clattering plates, chattering patrons, and boiling water. Hal sat down and gestured for a waiter. "You want to see the boss? She's not in the best of moods, just so you know," the waiter said, nodding towards a man with long black hair who was indulging in pastries.
"Him again?" sighs the waiter as he stares at the gorging beast of a human. The waiter sighs and walks towards the back. Then, a tall Kirinui woman with short black hair and red eyes stepped out of her office. Her ears resembled those of a cat, her build was muscular, and she wore a resting stern expression. Her resting bitch face shifted into a smile as she saw Hal.

The woman charges towards Hal and quickly approaches him; they embrace warmly. "About time, sleepyhead," she teases.

 "Kara, Mom wants that fight ring closed," Hal mutters, handing her the note. Kara's expression darkens with anger as she reads it, crumpling the paper in a rage.

 "We need to make money somehow!" she retorts. They sit down to talk further, but the atmosphere changes when Kara stares at the man gorging on pastries. She stands up and walks towards the man. As she got closer she noticed the man was wearing a floral crest. She was taken aback but she grabbed his shoulder. Hal sits back to avoid the ensuing brawl.

 "Hey, it's been three weeks of dining-and-dash; when will you settle your bill?" she inquires with a forced smile. 

"I swear I'll pay you back!" The man jolts with fear.