THE CRADLE OF NEW BEGINNING

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

The coldness woke Paige up, she pulled her blanket, covered her face and rolled her body like a cat. It was early in the morning and the temperature was about 20°C in Riverland City. Outside of her apartment, the street was already busy. People were going back and forth getting ready for the day, traffic was slowly building up yet the sun was still barely visible from the horizon. Paige heard the birds chirping from her balcony, it was as if telling her that a new day had begun. The sizzling sound coming from her kitchen tickled her ears, she could smell the aroma of her favorite breakfast, eggs and bacon, being prepared. While Paige was savoring the smell of her soon-to-be-breakfast, her alarm rang. "Ring~!"

"Ten more minutes." She groaned.

Paige tried to go back to sleep as she only had a little to no sleep. Last night was a long night. But to no avail, her stomach churned and grumbled. She blamed the stupid breakfast for ruining her sleep. Her roommate, Anna - who worked in a restaurant nearby, came and banged her door multitudinous times.

"Wake up, Sunshine!" she said in a sarcastic manner.

"Ten more minutes!" Paige replied as she turned her back against her bedroom's door.

"Ten more minutes and you'll be late for work. Again. For the 9th time this week."

"Urgh." She snorted as she got up from her bed and surrendered to Anna's nagging. She was just like a mother who always scolds their child for being stubborn.

"Okay, mom!" Paige replied in complete defeat.

"Who are you calling mom?!” Anna put her hands on her waist and said, “I am too sexy and pretty to be a mom and on the other hand, I don't want my child to be like you."

Covering her ears, Paige sat up from her bed, her bare feet slowly touching the floor, it was freezing cold. She looked for her slippers which were beneath her messy queen-sized bed.

"Wow! It was colder than it used to be. Man, I wish someone would make me a coffee." Paige jokingly blurted pertaining to Anna.

"Go and make it yourself. You, silly!" Anna responded as she made her way back to the kitchen laughing.

Paige stood. Her clothes from the night before were still scattered on the floor. She picked it up and put it in her laundry basket. She went to the balcony and opened her curtains. As she opened it, the rays of the sun greeted her and touched her face. She closed her eyes as she enjoyed the warmth of the sun. It was simply magical. She stretched her body. It was still sore from last night's work. She then made her way to the washroom and looked at herself from the mirror. Her hair was naturally blonde but she colored it pink as it was her favorite hue. Her eyes were brown like chestnuts. She got a pointed nose and plump lips. The scratch on her right cheek was long and still visible.She slowly traced it with her fingers as she recalled what happened. She got it last night.

She washed her face, brushed her teeth and applied make-up to conceal her scratch. She should hide it so no one could notice it. She changed her clothes and wore her snappy uniform. She works in the government office. She looks for unregistered people to register them so the government would have their records. It was a tiring yet a rewarding job. She had worked with people who were immigrants from a neighboring city, most of them were children. Their parents left them on the city's border so their children could escape from the ongoing and endless war. Their parents hoped that their children could live a better life here, away from chaos and poverty.

Paige went out of her bedroom and greeted Anna who's getting ready to go to work. Anna was her roommate for years. Anna is younger than her. Anna was once an immigrant, the government helped her and now she's working in a nearby restaurant as a waitress. Anna is 5'4 tall, and a petite girl. She's optimistic and always had Paige's back.

"Good morning my dearest and sweetest, Anna. Today's breakfast smells delicious. Thank you for making me one."

"It's not for free darling. Anyway, I'll have to keep going or else I'll be late just like someone else here. Don't be late to work and go home early."

"Oh. Come on, it was just for a single day." Paige responded as she bid Anna goodbye.

Paige grabbed a chair and sat down. She was enjoying her breakfast when her phone suddenly rang. Dr. Amelia, her boss, was calling her.

"Hey, Paige. How was yesternight hunt? Dr. Amelia greeted.

"Good morning, Dr. Amelia. Can you please stop and refrain from calling it a hunt? Maybe we could call it 'investigating' instead. You make it sound like it's a witch hunt." Paige rallied.

Dr. Amelia bursted laughing on the other line, "Investigating, is it. Were you able to secure me a specimen?"

Paige was disgusted by the idea of being called a specimen, as she herself, was far different from a normal human being. She was a halfling - half human and half something she didn't know about yet. Aside from working for the government, she also worked with Dr. Amelia. She looked for different creatures just like her. Being called a specimen was a slap on the face for her. Calling them a specimen didn't differ her from the monsters she's been looking out for. She wanted to be treated like a normal being - not a specimen, especially not a monstrous specimen.

“I sent him to the laboratory after our fight. Ross is currently taking care of him. His ability is too strong for his age, we should conduct an extensive study on him to find out his origin and how far his scope is.” She answered.

Paige fought with a young monster, a creature she’s not sure about yet. The creature is too strong compared to how young it is. She thinks that the creature is either a werewolf or a different breed of vampire. This is not the first time that she had fought with this kind, however, this is her first time fighting with a young one.

There were reports of missing children in the secluded part of the city causing the parents to be worried and panicked. The latest victim was Nathaniel, a 2-year child who was last seen playing outside their humble home. According to the witness, poor Nathaniel was playing when this creature, disguised as a little child invited him to play near the river. It was then that poor Nathaniel was killed by the creature, leaving only the kid’s few hairs and some bones. It was an awfully heartbreaking sight to witness. Its victims were mostly children who were left unattended and it will lure them to play on the riverbank.

When Paige met the creature, she could tell that its ability was not yet fully practiced and developed. It acts and fights impulsively. She got scratched when the creature threw the sharp rock it saw in the middle of the fight. Every time she had fights, she would always wonder when and how it started.

“That sounds like good news to me. See you tonight, and Paige, don;t be late. This would be the fourth time this week.” Dr. Amelia uttered as she ended the call.

Paige put her phone on the table and continued eating her breakfast. She loves her sunny side-up eggs to be runny and her bacon runny. She needs to finish her breakfast before 8 in the morning because she needs to be at the border before 9:00 AM. She will be meeting with the immigrants from the neighboring city and needs to have them registered and rehomed.

A few hours later, Paige just arrived on time at the border. They were in middle of a war. People were lining up, children were crying and while their parents were crying begging them to make sure that their children would be safe. It has been 5 years already since the war broke out and they are not seeing any improvements. Millions of lives were already taken, thousands of families were displaced and mostly incomplete, and hundreds of homes were destroyed and burnt. It was a nightmare people prayed would end but the end was still unclear.

At the border, you would see most of the children were covered with blood, some limbs were broken, while others were dying. This is what Paige dealt with everyday, a sight she wished would end. These children didn’t deserve any of this. She always tells herself how could the world be so unfair, these children were innocent yet they suffered.

Paige grabbed her notebook and pen and started registering the children.

“Hey there, buddy? How are you? Were you hurt?” Paige asked the child whose age she thinks is around 9 or 10.

“I’m okay.” The boy doubtedly and shyly answered.

“I am Paige and I will take care of you from here. Do you know your name and your family?”

“My name is Wilbert. I am 15 years old. My parents died when the bandits went to our home and massacred us. Luckily, me and my younger sister Mary, were playing hide and seek in our house’s basement. That is where we survived what happened. I want to help my parents, I badly want to save my mother who is pregnant at that time. I saw how my dad tried so hard and pleaded with the bandits to leave my mother alone, to let her live and the unborn child. But the bandits did not listen, they killed my father and shot my mother on her head. It was then I realized that I should run and save my Mary. We escaped from our house’s secret backdoor. On our way here, I lost Mary. Please help me find my younger sister, she is the only one I have. please. “ The kid blurted out crying as he narrated what had happened.

Paige didn’t notice that a tear escaped her eyes. She simply wiped it and put a reassuring smile on her face. Wilbert’s experience was not new to her but it still broke her every time.

“Don’t worry, buddy. We’ll find your sister Mary. For now, we have to transfer you to our evacuation center so you can bathe and eat. You are very brave for saving your sister. I will let you know once we find Mary, okay?”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

Paige went to Dr. Amelia’s laboratory to check how the creature’s doing. She already called Ross that she’ll be coming over. Ross is Paige’s workmate, who is just like her, one of a kind. Ross has been with Dr. Amelia while he’s still an infant. Dr. Amelia took care of him as he grew up, but just like her, Ross never lived a normal life. He’s been bullied for how he looks. Ross' face is abnormally hairy, he got a unibrow. He’s been called a monkey, an ape or a monster. With that, he stopped going to school and imprisoned himself in Dr. Amelia’s laboratory where he could enjoy his hobbies and interest - research.

“Where’s that naughty creature we caught yesterday?” Paige greeted Ross.

“God, Paige! You scared me to death. How many times do I have to tell you to knock before you come in?” Ross responded as he was holding a green liquid on his right hand while his left hand tried to cover the liquid as it almost got spilled.

“Well, Mister. I called you earlier and told you that I’ll be visiting the lab. Isn’t it enough?” Paige sassily responded.

“You did call me, two hours ago. Anyway, his name is Bern."

"Who?" asked Paige seemingly confused.

"The boy that you brought yesternight. He is a 5 year old vampire-werewolf. He thought that fighting is playing. I experimented earlier and found out that he gets excited when he sees a toddler. Children to him are just like dolls and he enjoys tearing them apart. I already put him to sleep.”

“Really? A baby vampire-werewolf? This is the first time I’m hearing this. And you said he’s 5? Where are his parents?”

“Remember Jing the werewolf and Sam the vampire we sent to eternal sleep last year? They were his parents. I was guilty when I knew it too. But what can we do, those two have already killed hundreds of people and it should stop. I wish that their baby will not grow up just like them. There is still a room for improvement for this kid.”

“Geez. I hope that this kid won’t grow up like them. Will Dr. Amelia be taking care of him as well?”

“This time, I will personally take care of him and I know he will grow up just like me.” Ross replied.

“Gross. Where’s Dr. Amelia? I thought we would be having a short meeting tonight?” Paige asked while she’s looking around the laboratory. The lab is located in an abandoned building, away from people. It was as big as the biggest mall yet it can’t be easily seen. Inside the laboratory, you will find some of the creatures that they caught who are undergoing rehabilitation. There were numerous creatures, some were even weird. There was a merman who cannot swim in the sea but can walk on land, a vampire who’s afraid of blood and an invisible ghost who badly wanted to be seen. Paige greeted them one by one.

“Dr. Amelia is in her office. Are you going to keep flirting with them or you would want to meet Dr. Amelia. I bet she’s waiting for you for the last thirty minutes?”

“Coming, MR. ROSS!” Paige sarcastically answered.

She went to Dr. Amelia’s office and knocked on her door.

“Hi, Dr. Amelia. I apologize for being late. Today has been a very busy day at the border. A lot of children need medication. I wonder when will the war end?

“The war won’t end unless one of the parties gets what they want, Paige. I called you in my office because I am receiving reports that in the Southern part of Riverland City, there’s a mysterious creature who keeps hunting at night. There were no fatalities but a lot of people have claimed that they were seeing this creature in the dark forest while they were looking for woods as winter is coming any time soon. I want you to visit, take a look and see what you can do.”

“Do you mean I have to go to Utopia?”

“Yes, and again, do not forget to provide me with the specimen. I will be needing that for my research.”

“I have to try and see if I can bring you one. Don’t worry, I will do my very best as always. I should go now. Thank you.” Paige bid Dr. Amelia goodbye.

Paige was in her room preparing the things she will be needing. This would be her first mission where she has to leave the city. She is folding her clothes and putting them in her luggage. Just like her other previous missions, this one wouldn’t be easy either. This time she will be alone, as Ross also has his own mission to finish. While she’s packing her clothes, Anna knocks at her door and comes in.

“How was your day's work, Paige? Why are you packing your clothes? Are you leaving me? Is it because I always wake you up early in the morning? I did it so you won’t be late. I just want the best for you.” Anna dramatically said as she slowly hugged Paige.

“You are really silly! Of course I won’t be leaving you. I can’t leave you. Well, I have to temporarily leave, I need to work In Utopia. I’ve got something to finish. Don’t worry I’ll be back after a week or two.” Piage said and hugged her back.

Even Though she considers Anna as her best friend, she was not aware that Paige is working as a secret agent. Paige didn’t want Anna to know for her security, she did not want Anna to get into trouble because of her. She knew how dangerous her job was. Anna also didn’t know that Paige was a halfling and she didn’t want to tell her yet. She is still looking for the right time. Paige was afraid that she would leave her. Anna was all she got; Paige was not able to meet her parents since she was young. Growing up has been very hard for her, not until she met Ross.

Ross was eating his lunch when the group of kids bullied him. Paige went to Ross and protected him. She fought with those children. Those bullies were bigger and taller than her but unbelievably, Paige was able to defeat them. Since then, Ross and her have become close friends. Dr. Amelia helped her to nurture her abilities and prowess.

Anna came with Paige to the airport; where she will be departing. Paige is wearing her favorite black coat which is Anna’s gift, and her boots which she bought using her first earned money. Anna cried like a baby as this is their first time that they will be apart for weeks, and as for Paige, she is not sure if she’ll ever come back. Her job has risks and she knows that her life is always at stake. Ross and Dr. Amelia is also in the airport to bid goodbye to Paige.

“I will miss you, Paige. There will be no one that i should wake up every morning and guess I should eat your favorite breakfast solely”

“You can call Ross to accompany you, he will make time for you. Right, Mr. Ross? Paige giggled as she asked Ross who was blushing.

“Ye-yes. I will.” Ross responded shyly. “Paige, don’t forget everything I told you. Those were important so you would always be safe. Call me when you arrive.”

"I hope that humanity will see the bright of our kind, Ross."

"I'll make sure that we achieved that, Paige. We need to keep on fighting for our right and for our people. Take care!" Ross gave Paige a tight hug, and when he was about to released her. Explosions rang forth followed by a city shattering tremors. Bang~!