Fall Foretold

The Key

He took a break from the gang to have some time alone. There was less fun in the town they had to hide in, due to their loyalty to the self exiled Cyrus Martinez.

'Npama probably died from the fall', if so, then it's on him. Davis stared down from a tall building. He could see a part of Sterling, far away. The city lights glowed through the night.

"Nice view from here", a voice spun into his ears. There had been no one with him.

He turned back and saw a man behind him. It was the same costume from the picture Cyrus had shown him. "Would have been nicer if you could take a closer look"

"The mask. What do you want?", he asked. The masked man had his back turned.

"I want answers to some questions", the masked man replied, without turning.

"You can't fool anyone, Npama", Davis replied. "There's a long list of monsters ahead if you come at Cyrus Martinez. I might not spare you again"

The masked man could sense some physical combat coming so he turned. He clenched his fist. "You have what I came for"

The two began to turn in circles, like each was expecting the other to jump so he’d catch, anytime. "I advise you to leave while you can. If he sees you again, we will both be gone"

"I don't know what you're talking about. Sounds like you're pleading for your life", the masked man replied.

Davis flung a dagger at him. The masked man caught the dagger. He was about to drop it when Davis kicked his stomach, throwing him back. Davis threw another kick, aiming at his neck but the masked man caught his leg and punched his stomach.

Davis bent, holding his stomach and the masked man flipped, kicking Davis down. Davis writhed in pain as his back fell against a steel door handle.

"Where is Cyrus?... you work for him", the masked man asked, as David didn't look like he'd attack any longer.

"What do you want?", Davis asked. He remained on his back, slowly getting relieved.

"Information. I want to know everyone he works for. I want to know the hierarchy and who will lead the Unchaining"

"I know less than you ask", he slowly raised his back. "You want the key too. That means you want to lead the Unchaining. I don't know how it works"

"I want to stop the Unchaining"

"Then, as I said, earlier, you will have a long list of people to deal with. Take off the mask and talk to me, Npama"

"Who's Npama?"

"Really?", he doubted for a few seconds and got up on his feet. "You won't be fooling anyone. Drop the pretense and take off the mask. Then, we can talk."

"If I take off the mask, you won't even be able to look", the masked man turned and a thunder rumbled. "I am here to bring an end to the underworld."

"Then, the game is only beginning. Npama asked me to tell you that"

"What does that mean?"

"I guess it's the Unchaining you talked about... If you go against the underworld, you would be dealing with the devil's daughter"

The wind blew stronger. The eyes of the masked man glowed brighter, through the mask. "Save yourself while you can. Not even the devil's daughter can stop me"

"I have no choice, now. If I did, I won't be here", Davis said. The masked man walked to the edge of the roof. "I lived by his grace"

"No, you were born to live. It was his choice to help you. It's your choice to do the right thing. Your destiny is in your hands. You need to realize how much help you need"

Davis faked a laugh. "I'm fine just where I am. I don’t need your help"

"Oh, you'll see", the masked man took two steps back. He was going to jump down.

"Be careful, out there"

A bright lightning displayed in the sky, followed by another thunder. The masked man leaped down into the air and disappeared in the night.

★

As mysterious and controversial as the masked man's appearances were, in the news, only a few people took time to talk about it..

His latest searches on the net was more news on the mysterious man behind the mask. Only one man had chosen to create a blog on it. Not only had he chosen to write about him but he might have met this masked man. He already had a lot of people frequenting his website for news and controversy discussions. His last update was on his actual encounter with the masked man. Joe read, imagining how it happened.

David McMidday, a reporter, working for Planet News, had his first encounter with the masked man when the latter had mysteriously appeared in his office, asking for information on Cyrus Martinez and some sort of key no one’s talking about. Cyrus Martinez had fled the city, escaping a manhunt so David had no information to give on that. About the key, there were a lot of keys, "... key to my car? I have no car. Key to my house? It's under the carpet. I'll leave you to guess where, if you know my house", Mr. McMidday had replied before wondering how the man got up, dressed up like a ninja.

"I want the key to the beast lock. Who did Mr. Ryan give it to?"

That was where the article on their first discussion stopped, then, Mr. Ashwood came in, making the masked man to jump through the transparent lite windows. They almost called an ambulance

The second encounter happened on another night. The writer was walking home, after having a stressful day. He had looked up, multiple times, doubting as there seemed to be someone standing on one of those buildings, watching him. He'd look up, look away, then look again. He stopped, getting scared. It could be anything.

The human shape, barely overshadowed by the dark nights, jumped down and walked to him. There was no one around to see who was before him. It was the mysterious masked man.

"I don't have what you want", David said, as he remembered the questions that had been thrown at him on their previous encounter.

"You have what I need. I chose you", the masked man said.

"What do you need?", Davis asked. "Information. I want to know who Lucifer gave the key to. If the beast lock is opened, you can't imagine what comes after"

David laughed. “Look at me, man. I don't know what you're talking about. Everyone is just acting weird. One time you appear bad, one time you appear good. What really is your motive?"

"I want to stop a monster before it wakes up. Unfortunately, there's a large number of people, striving to keep it up and alive"

"I don't know if I want to be dragged into whatever you're talking about. I mean, I love fantasies and adventures but... this one's freaking me out. What do you want to do?"

The masked man turned his back. "It's what we're going to do. If we have to break down, we will. Then, we'll rebuild", he said and jumped high up, into the darkness.

Joe had sunk into the story. He wanted to read and hear more. He wanted to see, even more, but he was late for school, already so it's one of two things for him; "Skip bathing and get dressed ?" or "Just bath and get late-er" ?

★

It was hard to get good food, every day, and even when there was a chance for good food, John chose a donut. He took a bite as he walked out of Helen Store. He looked tired, as "The apprehension of Cedric Vladimir depends on you" filled his mind. His boss had said that to him. 'I'm a man, too ?', John thought.

Cedric had escaped, the same night the masked man had caught him. The Planet News we're able to manipulate the truth without getting questioned and John was too bothered to add that to his worries. Cyrus Martinez's name was getting mentioned, so often that he was beginning to think Martinez's criminals had come out of hiding.

He bought soda from a roadside vendor and kept walking. He'd have gotten it at a cheaper price, at the store. He didn't think he'd need it. His phone beeped.

"Hey, babe. Sorry I missed your call, earlier"

"So sorry that you refused to call back", his girlfriend was definitely angry with him.

"Sorry, I forgot. I've been overwhelmed, lately. A lot of stress from work. Sorry"

"Ok, then. When do we meet?"

A hooded man walked past him, hitting him slightly with an elbow, as he had his hands in his jacket. He muttered, "sorry", and walked away.

John didn't see the face of the man but he suspected the man, having no idea why. The man looked muscular in his hoodie. He walked faster to know who the man was.

"Babe... I'll call you back. I promise", he said and hung up. He kept following the man, who seemed to keep his face down to avoid being seen by anyone. He made sure he wasn't too close, neither was he too far to catch up if the man chose to run.

The strange man turned right, into a blind alley. John ran faster to get to him before he disappeared.

"Stop!", he ordered and the man stopped, without turning back. His arms remained in his pockets. "Who are you? Turn around now"

"Just a friend from sports racing", the man replied and turned around, confidently. It was Cedric. He smiled.

"Arms in the air!", John pulled out his gun, instantly, but a metal rod had flung at his chest, dropping the pistol from his grip. John bent and picked his gun but Cedric held his hand, keeping the pistol pointed at another direction. Cedric lifted him up with his right hand and slammed him on the ground, dropping the pistol, again.

John didn't give up easily. He kicked Cedric by the jaw and rolled backwards. While Cedric held his jaw, John tried to get the gun but Cedric dived at him, just in time.

He grabbed the gun and pointed it at the officer's head. John dialled the emergency number, calling his mates to help. Cedric didn't see him do it, though.

"What do you want with Sterling City?", John asked, breathing heavily.

"Revenge", Cedric replied and rubbed his lips with his hand. "Whether you want me out or in, I'll have my revenge"

"Revenge on who?"

"Romeo. You have to help in catching him"

"And why would I want to do that?", John stood up. Cedric also dropped the gun.

"Because the main reason he betrayed me was to get the key, if he uses it, then you are all in trouble. Sterling City is the beacon and I would be out of here, already"

"So you're here to help the people of Sterling? You woke up, one morning, and you're suddenly a hero?... I've been in this for a while and I know that's not how things work. You will leave the Police to deal with whatever weird thing comes up. Get out of Sterling or you'll be forced"

Cedric turned, walking towards the short wall. "Trust me. There will be only a few people to fight with you when the war of Mystiques come"

"War of Mystiques?"

"The man in mask. Help me find him. He'll be more interested in the key... and if you help me take Romeo down", he turned his head. "I will leave and never come back" He kicked against the wall, throwing himself over the fence.

John kept staring. He understood too less to tell anyone. One thing is he just let the most ruthless man walk away.

★

"What did I tell you about coming late to school?", Felix said, wearing a serious look and feigning anger.

"Definitely nothing. What did I miss? Who died?", Joe joked.

"Mr. Happiness. Tech teacher was here, this morning, and he already grouped us for the project. Bad news for you. Your team's the worst"

"I just hope it's not Charles. I might die"

"No, it's worse", Felix sniffed, repeatedly, like he'd cry. Then, his expression slowly drifted into a smile, "Laura!!!". Ouch! Too loud. She could have heard.

"Are you kidding?... and who? You? 'cause that's another bad luck"

"Dumbass! It's Jackson"

"Ohh. That's fine by me. We're cool, now"

"I guess I'm the one with the bad luck. Nelly and Charles"

Jackson and Laura sat together for lunch. Joe and Felix decided to join them. Joe had to take the chance. Group projects with your crush might be once in a lifetime ?

"Laura. I heard the news", Joe said. "Can you tell us what happened, please?"

"I had to get something from Helen and it was late already. Then, these huge guys attacked me. I was so scared. Mom had warned me. Then, we heard some sound from the top of Planet News. I only glanced and saw a man falling so I tried to escape but they caught me. Then, a guy in a mask showed up and beat them up. That was when the cops arrived. The masked man just disappeared."

"Are we telling stories here? Sorry but when did this happen?", Jackson asked, confused.

"It's all over the news", Felix said. "Masked man aids the escape of Russian ex-convict named Cedric something"

"A blog says otherwise", Joe said, referring to McMidday's new blog: Mysteries on Sterling. "According to the author, the masked man helped to catch the criminal but he escaped from the police, the same night"

"It's hard to trust anything, these days. How would you know if the blog articles are true?"

"It's owned by a reporter named David McMidday. We can't be fully sure of the stories but the images look real enough"

"I know Mr David", Jackson said. "Not very much. I just recognize him. He lives nearby"

"Wow! Sounds weird coming from you", Joe replied.

"Wait", Felix said, slowly like by just realized something. "You guys are actually getting along now? ? Damn! The class will get boring"