Lost Questions
Jeremy steps through the snow covered asphalt, his usual route to the office. Hes walked through this same path almost everyday, yet something about this particular day didn't feel right.
Or, atleast thats what it felt like with the military in town.
There were soldiers walking in the streets, carrying their rifles and even heavy equipment. Some were waiting behind houses, some were even crouched down behind park benches.
Civilians rushed their activities to quickly get inside of buildings, some were already staring out of their windows.
Speaking of which...
“Hey, Jeremy!” A voice calls out to him as he passes infront of an apartment. Jeremy looks back and sees a figure waving out the window. Its his friend, Kel.
"Hell's going on? The national guard is on every block of the town!" Kel yells down at Jeremy, his voice is just loud enough to be heard despite the humvees and trucks driving by.
"No idea, I just woke up and they're outside everywhere!" Jeremy yells back. "Might be some kind of exercise or training.".
"You think its something to do with that sea exercise?" Kel shouts back.
"Maybe, the prime minister was on television awhile ago talking about how we need to 'safeguard our neutrality'. Might be their own exercise."
"Well, you got a minute? like y'know, to talk?"
Jeremy considers his options, he'd really like to talk with his buddy right now but...
"Listen Kel, I'd love to come by for a chat and all, but I'm already late enough. I'll catch ya later after work then, yeah?" A look that can be described as sadness appears on Kel's face.
"Oh alrighty then lad, I'll wait for ya later." Kel waves one last time before going back inside his room. Jeremy continues his walk to the office.
Jeremy's friend wasn't wrong. There were dozens of military vehicles patrolling the town, there were even checkpoints set up on some parts of the path. Some were even stopping citizens and telling them something, though Jeremy never bothered to find out more.
Luckily for Jeremy, his journey went on with no one stopping him.
Finally, he sees his office just down the street. He approaches it, when suddenly, Jeremy hears a loud ringing in his ears. Too loud.
...
...
...
...
"Open your eyes."
A voice whispers in Jeremy's ears. He opens his eyes. Hes no longer in the streets, a dark void surrounds him with nothing else. Theres only Jeremy, and the silhouette of a woman infront of him.
"W-who.. who the hell are you!? Where am I!?" He shouts at the figure infront of him.
"Don't be afraid." The silhouette speaks, her voice sounds soothing and elegant. "You're safe with me now. You have nothing else to worry abo-"
"Cut the shit, woman!" Jeremy shouts back. "Answer my question, who the fuck are you and where the hell am I!?"
Jeremy and the figure stare at each other for awhile, tension can be felt in the air, if theres even any air. The female figure points towards a brooch tied to her belt. Jeremy stares at it, he instantly recognizes the symbol on the brooch.
"Holy shit." The sight shocks him. "Y-you're..."
"Yes. I am Orionus, the All-Seeing." Jeremy's blood runs cold. He stands face to face with a deity.
"What.. but... I thought you're..-"
"Not real? I know, I know. You're one of the many who thinks so aswell." Orionus says, smiling.
"Then, what are you.. Why am I here?" The smile on her face fades away into a sorrowful look.
"Your world is in danger, my dear."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't have much time, there are things far beyond your comprehension. Something that does not belong in your world has been given a door."
Jeremy stands confused. "I don't understand.."
"Its better if you don't. When you wake up, search for my light and stop the madness from spreading." Orionus waves her hand infront of Jeremy's face. "Stay safe, my dear."
...
...
...
...
...
...
Jeremy wakes up lying on the sidewalk. The world around him is blury as he slowly tries to get up. "Agh... My head..." He sits up and looks around, he appears to have collapsed just outside of his office. Suddenly, he hears the sound of gunfire and shouting coming from behind him.
"WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT THING!?" Jeremy turns around and sees a group soldiers and civilians running towards him from an alleyway. "Hey, you gotta fucking run!" One of the soldiers shouts at him as they run past.
Jeremy quickly stands up and runs with the soldiers, if what Orionus told him earlier was true, he doesn't even want to know what they're running from.
Jeremy follows the group as they cut through corners and alleys. "Here, in here!" A soldier yells to the group as he barges through a door, the rest follows him in as he slams the door shut. "Everyone keep calm and stay quiet."
Jeremy sits down on the floor next to the door. "Both of you, shut all the windows and curtains quickly!" One of the soldiers, presumably the leader, says to the rest of his squad. "Anyone here hurt?" He asks the civilians.
"I'm fine." In the corner, a policeman spoke first. Jeremy notices the rank pinned to the man's shoulder, a lieutenant, and the name on his badge says 'Monroe Altono'.
"I'm okay... I think.." To the left of Jeremy, a man wearing a jacket answers. Pinned to the jacket is the man's journalist ID, with the name 'Kieran Walker' on it. He also has a camera hung around his neck.
"I'm good here." Across the room, a girl answers. She holds a revolver tightly on her left hand. Aside from that she wears a black jacket, on the left side of her jacket just above the pocket, is a blue-colored Rose pin.
"I'm good here.." Lastly, Jeremy answers. He scratches his head, unsure if hes truly fine or not.
The leader, fully equipped with millitary equipment and even a gas mask, nods. He points towards one of the other soldiers. "Langley.".
"Sir?" Langley answers back. He has almost the same equipment as the leader, aside from a set of pins on his rig.
"Go upstairs and see if theres anything worth taking. Food, water, anything that can help us." The leader orders Langley.
Langley replies with a nod, he holds his rifle tight as he slowly heads upstairs.
"Adytya." The leader calls out towards the other soldier. Jeremy redirects his gaze towards Adytya, who wears the same equipment as Langley and the leader, leaning against the wall in the corner of the room.
" 'Ya?" His accent sounds foreign, way different compared to everyone else in the room.
The leader points towards a window at the far corner of the room. "Watch the outside, make sure we're clear over there."
"Syap, sir." Adytya approaches the corner and uncovers the blinds a little bit, staring out and watching for anything.
The leader takes his mask off. "All of you." He says towards the rest of the group. "Don't get too comfortable, we'll get moving in a second. We don't want whatever that thing was to find us here."
What 'thing'?
Langley returns from the upstairs. "Sir-"
"Drop the formalities, now's not the time." The leader cuts in.
Langley nods. "The upstairs are completely empty, Kolar. No supplies up there."
"Damn it." Kolar sighs. "Well, maybe-"
Suddenly, the radio on Kolar's rig comes alive. "fzzzt... Hello?" A voice on the other end.
Kolar grabs his radio and immediately replies. "Novus-1 transmitting, do you copy?"
"fzzzt..... To anyone listening, we're...." The voice continues, as if ignoring Kolar's broadcast. "fzzzt... in the police station south of... bzzzt..." The broadcast ends there.
Everyone stays silent. They're shocked about the broadcast.
"It's near here." Suddenly, Monroe speaks. "The police station, thats just right around the corner."
Kolar walks towards Adytya and whispers something to him, Aditya whispers back. "Right, we'll go there now then, everyone up." Kolar opens the doors slowly.
The door creaks as Kolar looks outside, he searches the surrounding for any danger. He waves at the group behind him, signaling that its safe. Kolar walks out slowly, his rifle is held firm and ready for anything, the rest of the group follows behind him.
The once lively and populated town is now empty and silent as a tomb. Kolar leads the group through alleys, the streets are quiet but he still didn’t want to risk being spotted. Jeremy follows along, he hasn’t seen any of the monsters that the others saw. Its better if he didn’t anyways.
Kolar raises his hand, signaling the group to stop. “There, infront.” Looking ahead, Jeremy spots the police station just across the street. The windows and doors are blocked with curtains and planks, seemingly to block whatever’s outside from looking inside.
“We’ll cross the road together, keep our formation tight.” Kolar orders. He checks both sides of the street first, with nothing in sight, Kolar crosses the street. His stance is low and silent, the rest of the group tries their best to mimic his movements. The street remains silent as it is.
After climbing a small set of stairs, Kolar attempts to open the door. It stays locked. “Need this?” Adytya spoke, he holds a halligan bar.
Kolar reaches for the halligan bar when suddenly- "1897, the station's birthday.” Monroe says as he points towards something. “The keypad.“.
Kolar types the code into the keypad, and the door opens. The group hastily make their way inside. "How the hell did you know that?" Langley asks.
"Front of the station, the plaque there had it." Monroe replies.
The air in the station feels heavy, Jeremy looks around the reception area and sees no one else. “Did they run away?” Jeremy asks.
“No. I know these officers, they wouldn’t abandon their duty.” Monroe answers, his eyes search around the room, looking for any trace of the survivors.
“Look.” Rose calls out to the group. “Theres supplies here, food, water and medicine.” She points towards the pile of supplies, there were blood-stained clothing and bandages among them aswell.
Kolar stares at the pile. “Right. Langley, Adytya.” He calls out. “You two, go check the offices and cells, I’ll go see if theres anything left in the armory.” He orders them.
Langley and Adytya nod before heading off. “The rest of you, stay here.” Kolar heads off aswell.
With nothing else to do, Jeremy finds a chair and sits on it, resting his fatigued back. Monroe stands near the door with his firearm out. “I’ll see if I can salvage anything else from here.” Rose says as she rummages through the pile of supplies.
Kieran grabs a chair and sits next to Jeremy. “So, guys?” Kieran says, he sounds scared and nervous. “Since those soldier boys called each other their names, I think it’d make sense if we properly introduced ourselves right?”
Right, they haven’t mentioned their names themselves. “So, suit guy-” Hes talking to Jeremy. “Whats your name?“.
Suddenly put on the spotlight, Jeremy freezes for a second. “O-oh, name’s Jeremy.”
“And you, officer?” Kieran asks Monroe.
“Lieutenant Monroe Altono, Kingsland Police Agency.” Kingsland... It sounds familiar to Jeremy, yet he doesn’t fully remember.
“Ah, Kingsland? You’re a bit far from home, sir.” Kieran cuts in. "
Yes, I was called in to assist for an investigation with the local police. It seems thats with the past now.” Monroe answers. An investigation assisted by foreign police?
Oh, right. Jeremy remembers now. The Federal Republic of Kingsland. A sad state compared to its glorious former empire.
“Alright, alright. What about you, miss?” Kieran asks Rose.
“Rose, thats all you need to know.” She answers almost instantly, she remains focused on her task.
“Okay then, I’m Kieran Walker, nice to meet you all!” He puts on a smile. Jeremy smiles back as Monroe only nods, Rose just keep going through the supplies.
The room is silent once again, theres only the sound of the howling wind from outside. Jeremy looks around the room. The empty room, once abuzz with activity and officers doing their duty, now desolate.
The sight makes Jeremy feel sad. What happened to all of them? What were the ‘monsters’ that everyone else saw? Should he even ask them about it?
More and more questions fill his head. Did he really meet Orionus? What is the light hes tasked with finding?
Jeremy closes his eyes slowly, the questions makes him feel tired.
Would he even survive to find this so called light?
