Janus 02.Redemption #Wattys2018

5.04 "Why is a raven like a writing desk?"

Eden took the sheet of paper that Ed had given her and stood up walking around the room. She walked forwards without coming up with any answer. She walked backwards yet she couldn't think of anything. She closed her eyes and started walking randomly. She stood in the center of the living with the writing desk behind her and she turned on her systems. She went through their menu and picked up the last hologram's projection. The empty room was full with holograms and information on her last mission. She went back a few seconds before The Crow's appearance and chose the video to play the footage all over again.

The house wasn't accustomed for such use of technology but her eyes' lenses made that detail insignificant. She had to be quick for fear that Atlantis could still locate her going on line despite the magnetic field. Eden focused and the dead bodies appeared as she was walking among their holograms. She was close to one dead body when the crow appeared flying towards her and froze again right in front of her. She took a closer look under its wings and turned off her bridge.

She looked back at the office. The sheets of paper were scattered all over the floor. The drawers were put aside and there was no information hidden on them. She grabbed the office and turned it over. Ouruborus symbol was drawn behind it. She bended over the desk and turned on the recording device. It wasn't the Ouruborus symbol that the Lost Souls were using. This one had encrypted symbols on it. Eden easily recognized Atlantis' hardware but there was still more to decipher.

She made a circle around Ouruborus trying to discover the map. The preacher would never hide anything important in that house.

Then she recalled a poem he mentioned every time he ran into her.

"...And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting

On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;

And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,

And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;

And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor

Shall be lifted—nevermore!..."

She looked behind her back at the door. She sighted and grabbed the office once more and turned it over once more. She moved it and stepped on it, checking the door from above. There was nothing there. She looked back at the empty room and was about to get down when she heard Ed behind the door, talking to her.

"... Leave my loneliness unbroken! – Quit the bust above my door!

Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form off my door!"

Quoth the Raven "Nevermore"

What you seek is hidden above the door. Break the wall and you shall recover it. You are running out time. Hurry up!"

She looked the door frame, took her dagger out and pushed it against the wall. The dagger penetrated the wall as if it was another sheet of paper. She kept on cutting the wall till she was able to remove a part of it. She put her hand inside and started searching. She found a little box. She took it and opened it. A piece of hardware was kept inside. Eden stepped down and removed the desk and opened the door.

" What's that?" She asked Ed.

"Hope" He answered as he entered covered in blood. He started having a seizure and within seconds he collapsed in front of her still having spasms despite being unconscious.

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* The poem is a part from "The Raven" a poem writen by Edgar Allan Poe.