Komo-Doubutsu

Chapter 20: All It Takes

By: Midori Ushi Law

The world is full of falsity...

Pierce. Gunshots. Rip. Reload.

Distractions; Lies shroud us from the truth.

Roar. More Gunshots. Shred. Drop.

But as soon as the frigid winter comes to an end, the scorching summer makes its steadfast approach.

Paper Shuffles. Bills Bagged. Alarms Blare.

Nothing stays the same forever. The world has a way of balancing; swinging the pendulum of life from negativity to positivity.

Stop. Remembrance. Bullet Hits the Tricep. Roar.

People change. The world will force them.

More Drops. Screams. Drops. Yells. Drops. Silence.

All it takes is one...

Money Flaps. Money Bagged. Desperation. Monster. Murderer. Control.

big...

Cloak Pops in the Wind. Scales to the Top of the Capital. Nobody is there.

shake.

"WHERE ARE YOU?!" a roar cried out loud enough for the entire country to hear.

Chapter 20: All It Takes

The cracked cellular phone in California's pocket rang its standard, dull tone. The agent hastily snatched it and flipped it open as his body retook the form of a human under his cloak.

"Agent!" bellowed Trogan's rumbled voice from beyond the speaker. "I know you said you're dealing with family issues right now, but we have a situation that needs your immediate attention! There's been a robbery at the Bank of Deshur! Nobody's responding to our callbacks! I think they've all been compromised! The GPS, we implanted in your phone, indicates you're somewhere near the area! Do what you do best! Backup is on the way!" And before even a breath could come from California's lips, the sound of a dial tone signaled the end of the one-sided conversation.

The giant man fell to his knees, dropping the sack of money and cell phone to the pavement. He stared viciously ahead at the drifting clouds. Holding his blood-stained hands up before his stale face, he whispered in a grumble, "I can't run from it. It is my nature." Tears filled his eyes, making them look as reflective as oil blended in a puddle. The police were on their way, but he could care less about them. His wife and son were still missing, but though they influenced his actions, they didn't linger in his mind. The highly esteemed Super Agent California, the man who always caught the suspects, the powerful gentleman of stature in physique and intellect was trapped within a void; a nightmare of reality called the past. It was within the realization of his vigorous hopelessness and inescapable guilt that he heard his scuffed, blue cellular phone ring its default tone.

In hesitation, he retrieved and lifted the singing instrument to his head and flipped it open, because the world is full of falsity. Distractions and lies shroud us from the truth. As soon as the frigid winter comes to a close, a scorching summer dares to take its place. People change. The world will force them. Or should one assume that people do not change necessarily; they are only abducted from their own facade and brought to their true character. All it takes is...

"Hello?"

"You're stupid. You're incredibly stupid. Where is the money?" the kidnapper asked. His voice sounded more robotic with every conversation they had.