What Lies Beneath

Chapter 2

Arsenio closed the door behind himself as he stepped out for the first time in years. The slight breeze in the air tickled his cheeks and ruffled his white hair. It glazed over the tip of his ears which caught the sound of sirens at a pretty far distance.

     His hand instantly went to the hilt of his blade at his side as he gazed around and started walking rather swiftly toward the sound. His eyes and mind were set on only one thing—finding out what that retched noise was and bringing a stop to it.

     'Stay under the radar. Whatever you do, try to avoid as much attention as you can. And avoid any unnecessary run-ins with the police.'

     His father's words echoed through his mind as a warning and before he knew it, his pace was slowing down back to a normal walk. Instead of putting a stop to the noise himself, he opted to put his headphones on instead. They weren't necessarily connected to anything, but they were noise canceling.

     As he continued down the street, he really took time to look around. He'd remembered the canals and all, but what was truly beautiful was the diversity of species walking around freely. Almost every race was present in the city. Almost.

     Though he didn't know much of the happenings, he knew that his people weren't allowed to live freely amongst everyone. Anyone caught... well, that's simply a fate he hates giving credit to.

     Regardless, he couldn't truthfully say that the town wasn't beautiful. It was early morning so people were moving around getting to their places for the day. The sun was rising from over the horizon and sending it's light across the beautiful buildings—enhancing the glass that covered most buildings.

     His home had been a beauty in its own right itself. It had been a place of wonder where his people lived and even welcomed all others. It sucked that in the end, that same openness was their demise.

     A bump against his shoulder pulled him from his thoughts. A boy who looked his age was trying to get his attention.

     Arsenio took his headphones off his ears and put them around his neck. His eyes darted to the boy who gestured for him to follow.

     'Um, what?'

     The boy gestured again, so Arsenio decided just to follow and ask questions later. He was led over to the inside of the sidewalk.

     When they stopped, he asked, "So what did you want with me?"

     His hand instinctively reached for his blade where it once again found a resting place on his hilt. He was ready to draw it if this boy meant him trouble.

     The boy glanced down at Arsenio's hands and threw his own in the air, "I come in peace. Don't you remember me Arsenio?"

     "No. I don't. How the hell do you know me? I better like your response," he said—a warning tone still lacing his voice.

     The boy replied, "It's me, Ioko. Remember? We used to play together as kids."

     Arsenio furrowed his brows, "Not ringing a bell."

     His eyes raked over the boy—Ioko. Arsenio looked him over once, twice, then thrice before a small remnant of memory peeked from deep within his brain. He didn't completely remember this boy, but he seemed to recall him at least a little bit.

     His grip on his blade loosened ever so slightly before he turned and started walking on his way. Ioko followed close behind—his eyes peeled on Arsenio's back.

     They only managed to walk a few feet before Arsenio abruptly stopped. "Why are you still following me?"

     Ioko, who had barely avoided walking into Arsenio, awkwardly laughed. His eyes gazed down at the ground beneath them as he replied, "I just happen to be going the same way."

     Without another word, Arsenio turned back around and began walking. This time, he decided to keep a swifter pace as if to have some space. He sped up, so did Ioko. He slowed down, so did Ioko. Right, left—Ioko followed him regardless.

     Arsenio's temper started to flare. He'd understand if the boy was a student before, but he was taking a long way and the boy still continued to follow him.

     He was about to swivel around and tell the boy off when his ears suddenly started pounding. It felt as if all the blood in his body started flowing toward them and pounding for a demand to exit. He gritted his teeth and tried to ignore the pain that now tormented him.

     With Ioko following him, he'd forgotten all about the sirens and they had finally reached the area he was in. With his recently awakened senses, his heightened senses made the sirens sound all the louder.

     He took his lower lip in his mouth, biting it rather fiercely. He was trying to control the canines that were threatening to elongate.

     'Come on Arsenio. Come on.'

     He started to slowly slip under control as the sirens finally slowed down, reaching a halt in front of a building. Out of curiosity, he peeked over and whiffed the air as a familiar scent scattered across the block.

     The scent of one of his own.

     Arsenio's ears twitched as he heard the screaming coming from a woman's mouth. When he finally gained a good angle, he saw a young woman. Barely even that, he'd say.

     An inaudible growl escaped his throat as he watched the scene unfold. All he could do is stand there as yet another bystander in a system that's damaged beyond belief and ruled by an arrogant, ignorant species. A species so drunk in power that it managed to brainwash many species.

     'And I'm to join them today.'

     He wanted to help the poor woman, but he's not allowed. He can't get caught before he manages to complete the one task his father had trained him his whole life for.

     He must find her. He must protect her.

     'Then I'll hear apart thi—'

     He was ripped from his thoughts by Ioko speaking. "I guess they found another one, huh?"

     Arsenio caught on to the mixed feelings in Ioko's voice. On the surface, it seemed bored—nonchalant. But, he could hear a hint of sadness roped in with the bad.

     Deciding to poke at that, he asked, "What? Do you not agree?"

     Ioko shook his head, but his eyes remained strictly on the scene. "I wouldn't say something so treasonous. I guess that I just don't understand. I mean... I get what the history books say and all, but this city is supposed to unite. Why is it that they can't live in peace? They don't do anything but exist. They're too scared to do anything else."

     Arsenio crossed his arms and subtly nodded in agreeance. He couldn't risk saying anything when he knew that he'd likely say too much.

     Ioko kept speaking though. "It's just not fair to them. I can't stand seeing women and children ripped from their homes—too defenseless to even attempt to fight back."

     Arsenio was quiet for a few moments, contemplating what he should say next. His voice was low—almost a grumble, "But that's the world we live in."

     He refused to give the scene another look and blocked the sounds of the entire situation out. He swiftly turned and walked away. He knew that Ioko would still follow, but this time he didn't mind. Instead, he even slowed down and motioned for Ioko to walk with him.

     Arsenio decided that if anyone, this guy would be the one worth keeping around. He wasn't like everyone else and had views bordering treason. He knew that Ioko had to realize that there's something seriously wrong with society. Only time would tell what he does about it.

     Ioko smiled as he picked up his pace to meet him. "So, where have you been all these years? What have you been up to? We used to hang out all the time before we suddenly just... stopped. Your dad always said you were busy so it got to a point that I kind of gave up."

     Arsenio shrugged. "I've been training for a very long time. So much so that I could barely even remember you—still can't if I'm to be honest."

     Ioko said, "Oh okay, I get that. I've also been kind of busy. Doesn't mean I didn't have some time to myself though. I guess I got lucky in that department."

     "I guess. It's not like I'd have anything to do at home even if I had free time so I'd just wind up doing some more training."

     "I guess you really wanted to get into this school, huh? Find an easy career in the military?"

     Arsenio hesitated for a second. "Yes and no."

     Ioko furrowed his brows and looked up at Arsenio, "What do you mean by that?"

     Arsenio offered only silence as his response and took out his phone to send the message. This conversation is over.

     As his eyes spotted the time, he sighed.

     Arsenio started to jog ahead as he called back, "I'm gonna be late if I don't hurry up. Sorry Yoko, I've got, to go or else I'll be late."

     Ioko gets moving to match his pace. "It's Ioko! And I've got to get going, too. I can't believe I've been with you all this time and you still haven't noticed."

    "Noticed what?"

     "Look at my uniform genius! We're headed to the same place! That's why I had full confidence that I could follow you through all of your crazy twists and turns and get there no problem."

     Arsenio blinks once, then twice.'Well, I guess that explains why he knew I was coming to this school earlier. I doubt his presence will jeopardize my mission so I guess I'll leave him be for now. And he might even turn out to be a great ally one day.'

     Arsenio didn't waste any more breath and he sprinted through the city on his way to what would be his new school. He'd been waiting his whole life for this. It was time.

     Time to find his princess.