Golden Birdcage

Chapter 1

          You opened your eyes, only to shut them at the glaring light coming in through the window. Today was an important day and you knew you had to get up. Guren promised to have you out for your first mission since you escaped Sanguinem 3 years ago. You still didn't know how you managed to escape that place at the age of 15, given that most children over 13 were virtually useless in the workings of that place and often cast aside.

You hopped off your bunk and made your way to the old steel dresser. There were 3 sets of the folded black and green uniform of the Japanese Imperial Army in there. As your hand brushed against the fabric, you felt stress wash over you. Here you were, happy to be out of the vampire city, but not so happy to be here. The price for your freedom was experimentation. Ever so often you'd be taken out of missions for 'tests.' These tests were your biggest scar, and you hated how your team would be lacking you as they went out on missions.

Yes, you were part of the Moon Demon Company, but you rarely ever went out to help them, only for small matters, like taking care of a few Four Horsemen of John. You sighed, slipping the garments on you, taking your sword and exiting out of your compartment.

You ate a simple breakfast, only consisting of what was necessary, so you would not get a sugar crash. You remembered how it was a year after the apocalypse, where there was barely any defense or any school safe enough to go to. It was a miracle you didn't get killed by some vampire on the way there.

As soon as the morning formation bell rang, you got up and put the dishes away. Other members of the squadron headed the same way you were as everyone left the building towards the wall. Looking around, you tried searching for Guren, to no avail. He said he would give you a briefing of your mission with the rest of the flight, but he was already late. You tried to squish through the gaggle of people and find your squad-mates but they were nowhere to be seen.

It was rather chilly today, the cold seeping through your uniform. You rubbed your arms as you waited impatiently. You all met at this spot for morning formation, but no-one from the squad was there. "Strange," you thought. "Everyone should be here by now, it's exactly 9:00 am." They were never late.

Ping! A message blared your watch. "Go to XXX at B3." Guren sent it.

What? A lone mission? You furrowed your brows, confused. It was strange for anyone to be sent out alone, but orders were orders, so you made haste. Occasionally, scouts would be sent out alone to maximize stealth, but the risks were still high. As you walked towards the gates, it pained you to see how everyone else was assembled with their squads. Approaching a door by the east-side, you placed your hand on a scanner, opening it. You walked out, breathing in the outside air.

Soon, you reached a clearing near a subway station and decided to take a break. You sat down near a tall building, on a somewhat rusty bench that was basically peeling off. "To think that this was all once a habitable city..." you trailed off. It turned into a muggy day, with the clouds hanging low and most of the sunlight being filtered out. It reminded you of that place. How pale everyone there was, vampire or not. The lack of Vitamin D made everyone almost as white as snow.

Sighing, you got up and began the real hunt. There was supposed to be a vampire hideout in one of the nearby buildings.

Crash! Your hand immediately went to the inside of your mini-cape, clutching the cursed gear that was your array of knives, ready to fight. Three figures jumped into the sky above you. Vampires.

You sprinted straight under them before they could land, blades out. Before they could attack, you spread your arms out, throwing the blades as you spun. "You damn bloodbag—" you heard one of them comment before their inevitable demise. The flames of the three swirled around you before settling, leaving only remnants of the white capes.