Downgrade

A Secret Message

"Where's Miguel?" Vixen asked Cody over the porch. The young lad was out for hunting, that's what Cody said to her. Early in the morning? She thought. That's something to call as unusual. Miguel, the sleepyhead among the rest is taking the hunt for wild boars. How rare? Who would have thought that after they are caught by the Royals, most things changed?

Vixen slightly shifted the curtain to the side and had a glimpse outside. A man with a dark black hood suddenly passed by the base. His eyes are glued on something in front of him. Vixen saw him smiled. Maybe the c*******n had arrived again. She's planning to have some treats and visit the kids. Probably the two are also waiting for her inside the Orphanage.

"I'll be back." She said and promptly left Cody in reading his book. She looked around, hoping to see the c*******n. Suddenly, the person she thought turned into a newsman. No candies, no treats. She felt disappointed. Hence, candy is a thing to children and the man selling it was like Mr. Clause – once in a blue moon, preferably he would appear during winter months. The newsman was wearing his common uniform – a rainbow-colored polo shirt with the white jumper. His big round curls were dyed orange and a round stomach was leading his way as if only a button was barely taking his shirt still. She guessed that the man is living his life with delicious foods.

The newsman joyfully rang the bell as he announced the news for today. The committee will be having its election this afternoon. Mr. Hunston McGovern just opened his position as an officer. He suddenly put his rest due to embezzlement. The Committee had caught him dealing with some negotiators last week in the Bridgenston Aisle. It should be a secret mission but a whistle-blower had appeared and told the Committee about his illegal ways – taking land from the people through force, like the traveler who is in greed to seek for an oasis to drink.

Cody closed the book that he was reading and followed Vixen outside. He saw her looking over in different directions. "Did you find what you're looking for?" He asked and stood beside her. The first level seems fine. From their distance, a woman in her thirties gracefully knitted. Her hands are fast. Vixen looked at the fine woman and examined her – she's one of the Fast Hands in the city. They are known for being the sculptors, the painters and even the artists. They are basically in art. With such beauty, their skills are beneficial for the city and they are quite having the attention of the mass. The woman gave her a smile and she returned one.

"Vix?"

She turned her gaze to Cody who is now looking everywhere as if he's trying to find someone else too. "Yes?"

"Oh, did you find what you're looking for? I guess it's important." He gave her the same question.

Quinten just woke up from his sleep and look at them from the door. "Looks like you two are having a moment there, ey?"

"Tsh. Just go get some breakfast." Vixen hushed him. Quinten just made a mock and headed straight to the kitchen.

"I was looking for the c*******n. I thought he's here…well…it was the newsman instead." She prompted.

"The c*******n? I thought that person doesn't exist at all." Cody said with a laughing sound.

"Silly. Of course, he does. Didn't you see him?" It was then she realized something. She looked at him. "Wait…you didn't see the c*******n once?"

As if it was a big deal, Cody slowly nodded in agreement. "Woah. You suck. Most of the kids know him."

"Really?"

"Yes. Look over there," Vixen said and pointed a young girl with the age from five to seven. She was playing dirt and throwing pebbles over the street. "Hey…you there, do you know the c*******n?"

The young child looked at her. The sweetest smile that a person can see, that's what she gave Vixen as soon as she heard the name. She nodded immediately. "I know the candy man."

Vixen returned her look unto Cody, still in the process of absorbing things. "Well…alright," he sighed. "I didn't see the c*******n nor have I eaten a piece of candy from him."

Vixen gave him a slap on the back and laughed. "You're boring. But hey…I think the c*******n is going to be here this month. I heard kids are gathering near the fountain. Do you think it's normal? Of course, it's not."

"Well…not that I didn't care, but yeah…you can have some fun. But what's the point for you to search him at this time?"

"I wanted to take some treats from the man and bring them to Macky and Hannah."

"Hmm…I'm also planning to have a visit today at the Orphanage. Do you want to join?" Cody planted a smile.

"Yes. Let's go, before Kinzel will find us." She chuckled.

"You sure do have some fear with that woman," Cody commented as they headed to the Orphanage.

"She's the boss after all."

___

"Did you find the person who brought this?" Holding a piece of crumpled paper, Kinzel abruptly asked the two. Miguel was sitting on the wooden box and Loshiana who was just standing beside the door. Kinzel dragged them underneath. She needed some answers. She needed them, to tell the truth.

The bulb was swaying side to side. The ground was shaking by the engines above. The smell of the sewers, poison, and potions mixed inside the basement.

"Do you know where this came from?" Kinzel placed the paper on the table.

Miguel stood and took a glance at the sheet. "I think the messenger is responsible for this."

"Wait. What level is he?" Loshiana asked.

"Let me recall." Miguel pondered. He touched his head and slowly closed his eyes. He was concentrating, trying to dig in his memories. The timer just started. "Did you see him?"

"Block 4, Lot 1, Neatherock St."

"Write it down," Kinzel demanded. Miguel was still on the verge of seeing the image of the messenger. "Red hair, a scar on his right eye. He's wearing…He's wearing a choker."

"What kind of choker?" Kinzel was eager to know anything about the messenger. Miguel's face was turning a bit inscrutable. He's having a hard time in locating or identifying the man's identity. The figure was just standing straight near their base at exactly midnight. Miguel heard a small chuckle from the memory not until a horrific scene came across. The man stood just an inch in front of him. His eyes are deceiving and he was giving him a wide grin.

"Stop looking over the memory, or I'll hunt you down."

Miguel, in a flash, opened his eyes wide. He was searching for the light, not until Kinzel carefully shook him and made him zapped. "Miguel…Miguel…Look at me." Kinzel held his face. She was trying to make him look at her. She saw fear in his eyes. She heard steps from Loshiana coming straight to them. She was holding a glass of water.

"W-What's happening to him?" Loshiana worriedly asked.

Miguel was breathing hard and in a moment he collapsed. The two women panicked and assisted him to lie down over the couch.

"Will…he be alright?"

"Damnit!" Kinzel laid her fist on the table. She was hell mad. "I knew something is about to happen. And now, Miguel just lost his consciousness…"

Loshiana wiped off the sweats from his face. "I think he's having bad dreams…"

"I should have not allowed him to take a look with his memory," Kinzel whispered.

She looked at the paper and read the words,

"Old Mill, Block 8, 5:30 pm."

"What is that?" Now, Guilbert joined their conversation. He was scratching his head as he yawned.

"What brings you here?" Kinzel said to him.

"I heard laughter a while ago. I was just looking for the two, Cody and Vixen. I was hoping that they might be here but…yeah…did you even see them?" Guilbert asked.

"They are heading to the Orphanage," Quinten muttered out of nowhere.

"Really? They didn't tell me." Kinzel said.

"What happened to Miguel?" Quinten didn't bother to mind what Kinzel was talking to. He knew that the two have the reason not to tell the boss that they're going to the kids. After all, the boss won't surely let them leave the place. But, Quinten is just being him – a person who can't keep a secret or protect his friends in keeping one. That's the bad side of him that everybody hated.

"What's this?" Guilbert took the paper and read it.

"I think it's an address." Kinzel pondered and sighed. "Miguel looked in his memory to find the messenger."

"The messenger came?"

"Yes…I think the messenger who's responsible for this just interfered with him in his memory."

"That's strange."

"Absolutely."

"If he interfered him…" Quinten walked behind Kinzel and looked at Miguel who's sleeping. "That means, he can go back to the past and can change it?"

Everyone looked at each other. A thing had just been discovered.

"We have to go. I think the messenger has a message for the Era." Kinzel said.

"But what about the address that Miguel said a while ago?"

"I'll let the two handle that thing. They'll be the ones to check that out since they're not also here. Might as well have something for them to work it out." A smirked roamed the place from her.

"We have to hurry. I'm having a bad feeling about this." Guilbert uttered, rubbing Miguel's hair.