Destined: The start (Unedited)

Part two

The smell of rotting flesh overwhelmed me as the body got carried away, leading to my less then elegant departure. The gardens, now more inviting than an hour before, helped ease my thoughts. The previous rotting flowerbeds now thrived with an array of colors, paired with the smell of fresh fruits which grew from the now luscious green trees. These same trees housed a variety of animals and insects.

Leaning against Bessie with my eyes shut helped me ease my anxiety, focusing on something other than the case. A few minutes passed when I heard approaching footsteps, coming to a halt beside me, "So... What do you suggest we do?" A familiar voice whispered, a voice which I have learned to loath. This voice now held fear, and I knew why. "We do what we always do. Solve the case, as fast as possible." I said, opening my eyes to look at Brice.

"We can't treat this as if it's a normal case, Lary! If this gets out... It could mean the end of this world, our world."

I knew Brice was right, he always when it came to the statistics of war, but as right as he was, as scared as I was of history repeating itself, if I viewed this case as anything other than my everyday work... That scared me more.

We stood in silence, both too scared to face our reality. "We do what we always do, give The kid a badge, he can handle things on this end. Pair him up with Phil if you must. We need to know the ins and outs of Ema Lest's life. Start at the school." I said, finally breaking the agonizing silence.

"And what roll do we play in this?"

"We find out what we can from our kind. I'll take the living."

"What do we do if the rumors start?"

"You buy me as much time as we can get." A simple request, one would think, but in this line of work, time is a luxury we could never afford.

Brice gave a stiff, but understanding nod. With that I got in Bessie. This case got more dangerous than I thought. "If you call... Could you tell mom that I'm okay and that I'll call Friday?" I whispered through my now open window, "And keep me updated on what happens this side." I didn't wait for a reply, but I knew Brice would follow through. As much as I hate him, he is reliable.

***

I stood atop the railing of a well-known bridge, abandoned by mortals, and used only by travelers and human drug addicts. It was hard to ignore the gorgeous view. On my left, Bessie stood with her trunk open, a change of clothes and a bag nicely tucked inside. To my right, two trees, one living, one dead marked the entrance to the fey realm. The gateway of fairy. Behind me stood the once proud town of Synthium, now surrounded by forest.

Synthium was known for its travel and trade, but after the Whimpering war, a war between Elven folk and Sorcerer's which took many lives, including those of Synthium, fell into disrepair. This is what we have to prevent.

With a deep breath I opened my jar of Aquavail, a purple seaweed harvested by witches on a full moon. Granting the ability to breath beneath the water, enchanting your eyes to see beneath the depths. If only the depths weren't freezing.

The bittersweet flavor of the Aquavail exploded in my mouth as I bit into the less then pleasant feeling plant. I took one last deep breath before I plunged into the dark, polluted waters, regretting the motion as the water surrounds me, chilling me to the bone.

It took a while for my eyes and lungs to adjust to my new environment, leaving me staring in awe at the proud world of Livanon. A gorgeous coral reef, housing all sorts of Merfolk, schools of fish and even some freshwater turtles.

As much as I would love to admire the scenery, my sights were set on the gateway in the heart of this town. This is where I went, following the emerald pathway to what I can only describe as pure beauty. The gateway had a warm glow emitting from the stone arch, Merfolk gathering around it, talking amongst one another and buying goods from stalls surrounding it. No form of art or poetry could ever describe the beauty and warmth of gateway travel.

I swam through the arch, warmth engulfed my body, my mind and my soul. My once drenched body dried in an instant. I felt like I was gliding through space, but it ended too soon. Too soon did I stand in the entrance to Techno.

I was met with the buzz of technology, the defining trait of Techno and its sentience.

"Traveler! It's good to see you again! Reason for visiting the same as always?" an all too familiar voice came from beside me. I turned to face it, "Good afternoon, Cal. It's good to see you too. I'm here to visit a friend as always." I answered, and after a scan from Cal I started on my way through the maze of buildings.

I followed crowds across streets, through alleys and past neighborhoods of the rich and the poor until I stood across an apartment building, facing the faded sign, Flexton.

Wires hung from cracks in the once beautiful metal walls, now rusted and unkempt.

I entered, cringing at smell of decay and mold and made my way up the stairs, knowing the elevator has been broken for nearly twelve years. The decay only worsened as I climbed the stairs, the neglect of its owner evident through torn wallpaper and beer-stained carpets. The stale smell of urine and cigarettes will haunt me for weeks to come. I reached the tenth floor, feeling winded and sick.

I took a moment to catch my breath before I walked down the hall. Not soon enough I reached a bright red door, a loud bang coming from the other side, followed by black smoke emerging from the cracks of the door. With a chuckle I knocked on the door, waiting a few seconds before I repeated the action.

It took only a few seconds before the door was flung open and a hard figure crashed into me. I grabbed onto her, inhaling the smell of smoke and sweet perfume, she smelled like home. Her bright and wild pink afro held back by only a pair of welding goggles. Her beautiful auburn skin broken only by the white galaxies enticed me as she left my embrace.

"Well, hello there old friend." Her melodic voice eased my worries ever so slightly. "It's good to see you too, Anon." I answered, ruffling her already messy hair.

After one more embrace, she led me into her apartment. The brightly painted walls and strange decor fit her personality perfectly, but so did the dining room table that was covered in whatever invention she was busy with that day. This was probably the cause of many more explosions.

Anon motioned to the seat closest to her and I sat down, observing her work. I could sit there for hours, trying to figure out the intricate work of a young inventor. But unfortunately, that was time I did not have.

"I'm assuming you're not here for a visit?" Anon asked as she fitted a part back where it belongs. I sighed and explained the details of the case. "I know it's risky to return, but I really do need you there. There's no way I can solve this case without you." I finished off, Watching as Anon connected some wires.

We sat in silence, Anon absorbing the information I just gave her. "Promise you'll protect me?" She whispered, unable to make eye contact with me. "You know I will." I answered.

"Then, let's go."