3

2

         “Stop that, Connie.”

         “I don’t care,” a fat man with black haired said as he fished for something in the bottom part of the vending machine. A blonde haired man who was standing behind him sighed and looked away.

         “You’ll get a heart attack one day.” An advice from a good friend…

         “I don’t care,” he said as he took out a Mars chocolate bar. He tore off the packaging and started eating. The blonde man moved forward and inserted a five-pound note in and pressed something on the vending machine.

         “I don’t understand why you don’t choose any other healthier food,” he said as they could hear some clanks. “Chocolate isn’t very healthy.”

         “Sometimes, eating what you like…” The fat man turned to his friend with a sad smile. “Is the best way to forget a few things.”

         “…” Sometimes, that is true and quite applicable, too.

         They waited for whatever the blonde man’s order was in silence, diving in deep into their thoughts. Those who were thinking shouldn’t be disturbed, after all.

         “Hey, Alan, Connor!”

         Oh, someone sure didn’t know about that rule.

         “Who?” The both of them turned to the voice and saw a man with blonde hair walking to them with a smile. A fake smile, like the kinds assasinators have, of course.

         “Marquis,” Connor said with a sigh. “What’s up, Mr. Cool Guy?”
         “Hey, I’m not,” Marquis said as he slapped the back of the other guy. “What are you guys doing, sitting here?”

         “Abi kicked us out, that’s what,” Alan said with a sigh. He then squatted and took out something from the hole, which turned out to be two cans. One of them was a can of coffee and another was a can of juice.

          “Which one’s for me?”

         “None.”

         “How cold.”

         “Well,” Alan said with a sigh. “Aren’t you, well?”

         “You’re only acting nice in front of Abi, aren’t you, Alan?” Connor asked. “But that’s understandable. Back then, Garry, too…”

         He suddenly felt a snap in his mind. He quickly stopped talking, and he could feel the chocolate melted in his right hand as he held it tighter. He suddenly found his mind at somewhere where it shouldn’t be – somewhere far away.

         “Sheesh, finally it’s over.”

         “W… what do you mean?”

         “Abi’s lecture. She’s the worst.”

         “Eh? But I thought you’ve worked with her for a long time…”

         “It’s called amazing if you can stand some five years with her. I’ve just been with her for two years and already going mad.”

         “…”

         “You know Giuseppe Spencer, right? I heard they worked together for some seven years before they were both given different squads to handle. I can’t imagine how difficult it must’ve been for him.”

         “…”

         “I hope I’ll get promoted soon, or if I die sooner, that’d be good!”

         “Eh? Don’t talk about death now, Garry…”

         “Well? Why not? If I die, I can always haunt her, you know!”

         “What’s wrong, Connie?”
         “No…” he shook his head weakly as he continued eating. “I just remembered… something.”

         The two men looked at him sadly. Of course losing a comrade was never something easy. In a few cases, it even took years until one can overcome the pain of it.

         But, there was no use. If just there’s something like a rewind button in life, perhaps it could’ve been easier…

         Well, isn’t that something everyone wishes for?

                                                   ~•~
         “I’m not in the working mood today.”

         A blonde, sturdy-looking man sighed loudly as he took off his contact lenses. He looked up to the ceiling of his dark workplace – it was darkened in purpose, so that the floating screen projections would look clearer. He looked at one of the green screens, where it was filled with white, pixel words, and sighed.

         “Good, Garry,” he said as he took a white mug. “I’ve been tracking you for months, and you’re nowhere.”

         He looked at the screens filled with words, that constantly changes every second. It was like looking at the stock’s prices fluctuations, but sadly, it wasn’t about money, but about something of more importance.

         The official report mentioned about your disappearance. But…

         He sighed and sat up, then he rolled his chair towards the keyboard sitting a few metres from him and started typing something. His eyes and behaviour changed – it was now a pair of ambitious eyes, desperate to find a result.

         Since then, they’ve been putting me in charge to rack you when I can.

         And now, I’ve been tracking you for months. All without a result.

         The official report only mentioned about you disappearance, but…

         The screen in front of him suddenly turned red, and he could see a small box with the word ‘Error 56’ in it. He sighed loudly and hit his fists to the table a few times in anger. He could feel the fire in him lit up and started to burn every aspect of him – his emotion, his feelings, his thoughts…

         “Why! Why! Why fifty-six?”

         Why? Why can’t I help myself to not come to the conclusion that you’re dead?

~•~

         “Abi…”

         “What?” A girl with blonde, messy long hair, turned to the door, and saw a fat man standing before the door.

         “Um… can we come in?”

         “Yes.”

         She looked out of the window again, to the Big Ben, which could be seen very clearly on that sunny day. The sky was really clear and the sun was bright – a typical summer where most people would go somewhere in their caravans. But whoever they are, she was not included, of course.

         The door clicked behind her, and she could feel the silence took over the room. Well, it was really uncomfortable, but…

         I want this… silence right now.

         “Have you got anything for us to do?”

         “Where’s Alan? I thought the two of you were together just now, Connor.”

         “Well…” Dammit, how can she sense it? “He was running a few errands.”

         “So who do you mean by us?”
         “Well, that…”

         “…”

         ‘There’s no use. Even if I keep remembering…

         Although they say people remain alive when they’re remembered…’

         “Tell Fred to find the doll instead.”

         “…Yes.”

         She let the silence took over for a little more while, then she could hear a click on the door. She sighed loudly and looked up to the sky, and…

         ‘“Hey, Abi.”

         “Whoa! What are you doing here so early in the morning, Daniel?”

         “Well, of course I want to give you a ride to the HQ, and… how about we have breakfast together?”’

         Before long, she found herself so deep, deep, in her thoughts, her past, her memories…

         ‘“How’s it going between you and Vlad?”

         “Just so so. What do you expect?”

         “Marriage.”

         “Oh, no, I’m not getting married and he agrees with that.”

         “Why? Mira Nekrósky does sound cool, no?”
         “Ah, that’s not how this world works, now, Abi.”’

         ‘…Why…’

         ‘“No mission? How boring…”

         “Well Garry, if you only look forward to fight, go work with someone else! Maybe you’ll suit in those kinds of criminal organization, who fights all the time…”

         “Oh, that sounds great!”

         “What? Shut the bloody hell up…”

         “Hahaha, I’m just kidding. Fine, I’ll be waiting patiently.”’

         ‘…Why… am I…’

         ‘“You’re not slacking off now, are you, Vlad?”

         “No, no, no! Why do you always think like that? I’m just going to do some research.”

         “What research, I know you’re gonna take Mira out.”

         “Ah, busted before the plan even started to roll!”’

         ‘Why am I… left alone?’