PROLOGUE
‘It’s hot... Why is it so hot here? Where am I? What is this place?’ Ambea’s thoughts spun in confusion. ’Who are these people? Why are they staring at me? Is something wrong with me?’
He looked around; his gaze fell on a girl nearby. She was hanging by the wall with her two hands wide open griped to the wall and her legs left in the air.
‘What’s going on here? Why is she tied like that?’ Ambea’s heart raced, he noticed a strong and huge figure standing beside the girl gripping his sword focusing on her helpless floating legs.
What is he doing with the sword? Don’t tell me…. No wait don’t do it…………….’.
The man without hesitation lifted his sword in air and landed it right on the girl’s legs. The scream was horrible; the scream told how painful she felt. Blood poured from her wounds, splashing onto the floor, each drop thick and dark.
Her eyes filled with helplessness wanting to die, body fully covered with wounds almost resembling a dead body ready to get burned.
‘Stop………………!’
Ambea shot awake, covered in sweat with a racing heart, trying to figure out it was a dream. He still couldn’t come out of it, the images from the dream still vivid in his mind.
‘What a weird dream? I get these a lot lately’ he muttered with a shaky voice.
He got out from his bed and opened the window just beside his bed. The sky was blue filled with the warmth he needed. He took a deep breath overcoming his nightmare, made his bed and walked towards the bathroom to take a shower.
He stood still under the cold water shower, sliding his long thin fingers into his hair flipping it back as water dripped over his face, after ten minutes he slipped on his bathrobe and left the bathroom.
He dried his wet hair with a hair drier, wore a formal royal blue pant with his white shirt tucked in, fixing his semi dried silky hair. He took a costly looking perfume bottle specialized for men and gave himself two shots, one at his neck and other on the end of his sleeves.
He then walked towards his table took his office bag, filled it with his laptop that was left open, a bottle, notebook with a wired looking pen and his lab coat neatly folded.
He walked towards the door wearing his black formal shoes, locked the door and walked down through the stairs of the apartment where he owned a flat.
He stopped by a nearby coffee shop, he was a regular there before he ordered, a girl with a bright smile approached him and gave him his usual cold coffee that he is been ordering for almost 3 years.
With a small smirk he paid for the coffee and asked the girl to keep the change. He walked across the street with his cold coffee in his hand sipping it after every two.
After a fifteen minute walk he reached the Institute Of Astronomy And Space Physics where he was working as an Associate Researcher in stellar astronomy. As he walked in everyone’s gaze fell on him.
Ambea was aware that everyone was staring at him, but he didn’t respond to them as it became norm to him. Everyone around him saw him like a miracle directly descended from god, his prefect body shape, tight and rigid look mostly everyone fell for his attitude, which made him the ideal man for every girl.
He stepped inside and stood still deciding whether to take the stairs or use lift. As he made his way towards the lift, with a solid realization he turned towards the stairs and climbed top to fourth floor where his lab was.
He walked into the lab and placed his bag on the table, removed his white log lab coat with two front pockets in the bottom and a department logo right at the place of his left chest. He first put his right hand into it were the coat followed his lead being ready for his left hand in the mid air. He sat on his chair and started his research on the papers he left unfinished the day before.
The clock struck noon indicating lunch time, Ambea set off for the cafeteria where he usually had his lunch. Upon walking in everyone’s focus zeroed in on him. He took his usual meal, plate filled with a crispy baked milanesa, a fresh salad of greens and tomatoes, a slice of rich vegetable tart, a baked empanadas with vegetables and a comforting bowl of lentil soup.
Balancing the plate in his hands, he searched for a spot to sit, He made his way over and took a seat. Everyone surrounded him with their plates, making their seats next to his bench or behind his.
Ambea finished his lunch very quickly and he strolled over to his only friend in the institute, who he actually considered as a friend.
As he stepped inside a tall, thin good looking person approached him.
‘What is person from stellar astronomy doing here?’ he questioned.
‘I am here to kick your ass off, you idiot’ he answered back looking straight into his eyes.
‘How dare you talk to me like that you fool’ he ragged.
‘I think you just need common sense to talk unlike someone’ he mocked looking at him making sure he understood.
‘What did you say? Wanda fight me?’ he roared, bouncing up and down with his fists raised in a fighting position.
‘You idiot I am done playing along with you. Stop it Martin’ he said walking in.
‘You’re no fun, I thought of having a real fight with you’ said Martin displeased.
‘Did you finish your lunch?’ he asked.
‘Here....’ replied Martin showing a cup of coffee.
‘Is that all you’ve got, you malnourished weirdo?’ he scoffed.
‘Just for today...’ he made his excuse.
‘You always say something like this all the time’ he muttered, barely audible.
‘Why don’t you try it once’ Martin offered putting forth the cup.
‘I am fine, I just finished my lunch’ he refused.
‘Like, one sip won’t kill you’ forced Martin bringing the cup right to his mouth.
‘Martin….. I don’t want to…’ he tried resisting moving back with a attempt to gently push the cup back but accidently spill on his coat.
‘Hooo, I guess you got your sip’ Martin smirked barely hiding his laughter.
‘You weirdo…. How should I clean it’ roared Ambea with irritated glare.
‘It’s okay, I have a extra coat you can were it, nobody will notice it anyway’ comforted Martin trying to hold back his laughter.
Martin walked towards his locker and brought his lab coat and handed it to Ambea. Ambea took the coat and wore it giving his coat to Martin.
‘Use a good detergent to clean it’ he said throwing his coat over Martin face, barely catching it.
‘Wait... What? You’re asking me to clean it?’ he shot back as his smile faded.
‘Of course… and I will collect it tomorrow morning, so make sure you clean it properly’ he ordered.
‘I guess I have no choice’ he muttered displeased.
‘This is called Karma’ smirked Ambea.
‘By the way what brings you here?’ asked Martin changing the topic.
‘I dropped by to say Hi’ he replied, already edging toward the door.
‘Hi……? What’s wrong with you Am’s’ asked Martin.
‘Like I tell you always, don’t call me Am’s’ he shot back ignoring the question entirely as he slipped out of the lab wearing Martins coat.
He walked down stairs, heading towards the university yard, As he was about to reach his destination, from the corner a sudden collision jolted him, a girl with long black hair, big eyes and soft cherry lips dumped into him out of blue spilling her coffee across his coat.
Ambea’s gaze hardened ‘watch where you are going!’ he roared in a low tone.
The woman, taken aback, retorted, ‘you watch where you’re going’ she shot back.
‘Its your mistake, and your coffee spill on me’ he argued.
She glanced at the stained coat and thought ‘he’s a different department’.
‘It’s your fault for not watching around you while you’re walking’ she back fired.
‘It’s of no use talking to you, you just lack common sense’ he scoffed.
Her eyes widened in disbelief ‘Did you say, I have no common sense’ she roared.
‘Do you have hearing problem?’ he provoked.
‘It’s no use talking to you, you moron’ She rolled her eyes and stormed off to the entrance.
Recalling back her words ‘Did she just call me a moron?’ he muttered ‘What a weirdo…’ he thought. Glancing at his coat ‘I think I have a bad day with coffee, guess I must wash his coat now’ he took off the coat holding in his hand and stood in front of the cherry tree enjoying its beauty with the cold breeze making the scenery peaceful.
