A Flamingo Among Black Birds

Dark City

The dark city loomed ahead as Albert walked towards the open gate. He slid through the small opening with ease. Thunder rumbled overhead as rain began to pour down. Albert gave a soft groan and pulled his hood up over his head. The city looked as gloomy as ever. The streets were empty and bare, the houses had only monotone colors but seemed to be abandoned overall as wooden boards had been placed over some of the windows. Albert's footsteps echoed with a tap as he continued walking towards the town square. The street lights flickered ahead as a particularly strong lightning bolt lit up the sky, illumnating the city for a moment before vanishing. The street lights flickered violently before going out. Albert shivered as he was thrown into darkness. He felt his phone vibrate in his hoodie pocket as he reached down to pull it out. A text from radiant day appeared over the screen. Albert unlocked his phone and read:

The power is out across the city, we are not completely sure why but we have emergency lights on at the town square along with the facility! How far away are you?

Albert was beginning to type a response as he suddenly slipped in a particular big puddle. He lost grip of his phone as he hit the ground, hearing his phone skitter across the pavement.   Albert moved to stand back up, groaning "Aghh" as he rubbed his knee. He felt around himself, trying to find his phone. Albert splashed around the puddle and the ground until he felt his hand slide over what felt like a screen. He pulled his phone out of a small puddle of water, watching as the screen flickered, showing a message from radiant day that said hello before powering off. "No no no.." Albert tried to wipe it off and power it back on but it was no use. He fully rose off the ground and wrapped his arms around himself. The wind was beginning to slice through him now as the rain continued to pour. Albert began to walk, grimacing as his shoes squished into the street. He wandered in the dark going off of memory on how to get to the town square. Everything had gone quiet now that there was no lights illuminating the streets. Albert began to wonder if any creatures were hiding in the darkness waiting for him. He shook away the thought as he slowly began to see small lights in the distance. He quickened his pace seeing that operatives were standing outside thw town square. His shoes squishing and squeaking as he finally got to the town square. The light was comforting as the two day operatives greeted him. "Hello Albert!" Radiant day chirped beneath his mask as Placid day gave a nod as a way to greet him. Albert gave a tight smile as he shivered. "Come on in! Great day is waiting for you!" Radiant day said leading Albert inside. The rest of the operatives stood in the middle of the town square. Great day stepped out from the group as Albert stopped in front of them. Albert tightened the grip around himself as some particularly rough wind sifted through the town square. "Hello again [IDENTITY] Albert" Great day spoke, as Albert's teeth began to chatter, "Why are you all wet?". Albert was unable to respond as Radiant day turned to him. The operative gasped as He looked Albert over. " Oh dear! I'm sorry I didn't notice!" Radiant day apologized moving to shield him from the wind. "We will be moving to the [Hotel] so our [TEST SUBJECT] does not freeze to death" Great day began to move toward the hotel leading the operatives into it. Radiant day kept a hand on Albert to guide him. Albert gave a small sigh of relief as warmth greeted him in the lobby of the hotel. It was still as nice as Albert remembered. Great day led them all upstairs. "We will all be staying here for tonight. It's too dangerous to go anywhere else. The power will be fixed in the morning" Great day explained earning mumurs of understood and various nods. Albert found himself nodding in agreement as well. "Come on [Test Subject]Albert! I'm sure my clothes can fit you!" Radiant day chirped pulling Albert into his hotel room. The operative turned and locked the door before rummaging into his drawer. Albert stood in the middle of the room looking around. He felt his phone in his pocket as Radiant day came over with some clothes. "Hey do you have any rice?" Albert asked, "I dropped my phone and it got soaked in water" Radiant day looked at the male's phone and nodded, "I'm sure we can find something to dry it off!" Radiant day replied, "For now, please change into these clothes!".  Albert took the clothes from the operative and blushed as he went to the corner of the room. " Don't worry! I won't look!" Radiant day reassured, turning away from Albert. The male looked at the Operative's back hesitantly before taking off his own wet clothes. He let them fall to the floor before changing into the clothes Radiant gave him. Albert found himself in one of Radiant's white shirts along with some light grey overalls that only went to mid-thigh, along with a light grey hat similiar to radiant day's except they had buttons on the side instead of goggles. Albert slid into some black socks and combat boots. Albert slid on some gloves as well, liking the way the fingers were cut so that his would stick out. He gave himself a look over, liking how comfortable the clothes were. "Hey you can look now" Albert spoke, striking a pose as Radiant turned to him. The operative turned to stare at him, his eyes unable to be seen behind the mask. Albert nervously chuckled as the operative stared at him. "Y-you look very radiant Albert" Radiant day muttered from behind his mask. The male smiled. Radiant day looked around cautiously before pulling off his mask.  His face was pale and tired looking, heavy bags lay under his eyelids. The operator had a weird etched in black throbbing wound covered in pulpouse green veins. Albert tried to stare for tkl long as Radiant moved over to close the windows of the hotel room."Listen to me Albert, There are bad things happening here" Radiant's change in attitude caused Albert to look at him. "The operatives..they're not the same" Radiant whispered,"There was a failure in the testing facility, the night operatives had messed with the chemicals we were using on our subject causing It to become extremely hostile" Radiant day began to pace the room. "It bit every single one of us including me, everyone else had gotten infected but  a couple of operatives didn't. After two days, the operatives began acting more hostile towards each other and civilians" Radiant covered his mouth and blinked hard as if trying not to cry, "Many civilians were opened fire on. Emotionless day and Drastic day were seen firing on sight at any civilians, including children" Albert's eyes grew wide. "Great day pretended to show remorse and promised to fix the problem but it was obvious that our great leader no longer had compassion for his people. Civilians began moving from the city, trying to run." The operative shook his head sadly, "Everytime they ran other operatives would open fire. They closed the gates so no one would get in or out and Civilians went into hiding". "Did they get infected with some kind of new disease? Or did someone-?" Albert asked as Radiant shook his head, "We don't know Albert but I do know we need your help" Radiant day spoke, "Will you help us or help me find a way to save the operatives?" Albert looked at radiant as the operative laid his hand onto his. "Yeah I'll do my best" Albert agreed, Radiant gave a smile of relief as someone pounded at the door. The knocks sounded heavy and rapid. "What the-" The knocks turned into heavy booms as someone was trying to bash the door open. Radiant grabbed a gun from his drawer and a bag. He handed a gun to Albert as the door began to splinter. Radiant turned to the window and got into the position to jump. "Come on, we have to get out of here.. They're starting to-" Radiant didn't have the chance to finish his sentence before bullets began ricochet off the walls. Macabre burst through the door. "Radiant you in sufferable rat!" Macabre yelled, "Operative Radiant is being executed for treason!" Radiant grabbed Albert's hand and jumped through the window. Glass shattered everywhere as Albert screamed, feeling a piece of glass cut his cheek. Albert landed with a roll while Radiant landed on his feet. Operatives were coming out from the hotel. Radiant pulled Albert to his feet and bolted. More bullets could be heard bouncing off of the walls and light poles as they ran. The two kept running until they reached the entrance to the town square.  Emotionless day stood in front of the entrance with a gun in hand. Radiant day skidded to a stop. The operative grabbed his own gun and pointed it at Emotionless. "You can't run Radiant" Emotionless day spoke, "Not from us and you know it." Radiant tightened his grip on his gun as he made sure Albert was behind him. "I don't want to do this Emotionless" Radiant spoke, "I know you don't. That's why I will" Radiant day got ready to pull the trigger but Emotionless beat him to it, firing at himself.  Radiant watched in horror  as Emotionless fell to the ground. "Run radiant..run" Albert stared at the operative in  disbelief as Radiant laid a hand to his head. Operatives could be heard dashing towards them as Radiant covered  Emotionless's face. Thunder boomed overhead as Radiant took Albert's hand and continued running into the darkness of the city. Albert didn't know where they were going as they just ran, speeding into the darkness of the city that swallowed them whole.