When Tomorrow Burns

Monday morning

 Brrrrrrrrrrrringgggg!!!

Brrrrrrrrrrrrringgggggg!!!

"Wake up sleepy head!!"

"H-huh?! Did the alarm clock just speak?!" Alastair yelled, his heart racing with confusion and disbelief but when his vision cleared, he was met with the sight of Kate, her expression a mix of irritation and anger.

"Oh- uh Kate, didn't see you there," Alastair stammered, trying to recover from his initial shock.

"Did you just call me an alarm clock?!" Kate's tone was both incredulous and mildly offended.

"I- I can explain!" Alastair stuttered, raising his hand and scrambling for words to rectify his blunder.

Yu couldn't contain his laughter from behind. "Sister, don't blame him for thinking you're a-" His sentence was abruptly cut off by a pillow flying through the air, hitting him square in the face and sending him tumbling to the ground.

"H-hey!" Yu protested, rubbing his sore face.

"I'm not Alastair, I know exactly how to deal with you," Kate retorted with a smirk, her aim impeccable as always.

Alastair couldn't help but exchange a nervous glance with Yu, silently hoping that he wouldn't be the next target of Kate's wrath.

"And you! Do you want to be late? It's already 5!" Kate's voice sliced through the air, her tone a mixture of annoyance and concern. "They might as well leave you behind at this rate," she sighed.

"Oh, I forgot about that," Alastair admitted wearily. 

"..."

"..."

"YOU WHAT? I'M GONNA BEAT YOU UP," Kate exclaimed, her frustration evident as she grabbed his collar. Alastair struggled to reason with her, attempting to calm her down before things escalated further.

"Kate, how about we help get Alastair ready first?" Mika interjected trying to alleviate the situation as Kate met his gaze.

Alastair silently sent his gratitude to Mika, his saviour.

Kate looked between the two before giving up.

"Fine. You're lucky Mika saved you," Kate relented, shooting Alastair a stern glance before releasing her grip on his collar. 

"Thanks"

"You have packed your bags, yes?"

"Don't worry, Yu and Mika helped me with it last night."

"Then let's have breakfast and then you can go and give your farewells to the teachers and everyone," Kate spoke with a nod, eager to have breakfast as she smiled in relief.

 ***

The sleek black car pulled up precisely at 6 o'clock in the morning, its engine humming softly as it came to a stop. Alastair's heart clenched slightly as his hand on the suitcase tightened.

He was leaving. Just like that.

He no longer had any association with this place. When will he come back here, and when will he meet his friends again? He wasn't sure.

Alastair turned around and hugged his friends tightly for what felt like the last time. It was a warm embrace. They had been his constant companions, his support system, and his family. How could he ever replace them? How could he leave behind the memories they had shared?

"You won't be leaving these memories," Kate said with a smile.

"They will always stay with you," Mika nodded.

"So, don't just forget about us when you get to the top," Yu said as he nudged Alastair's arm and chuckled.

Other students peeked from the entrance, some waved him goodbyes or just smiled. Some had already given him farewells, while some never did. 

"Don't worry, someday we'll come meet you," Mika said with a smile but his weariness was quite evident, he knew that something like this was no less than a blue moon, but his determination made Alastair happy.

"I'll remember to call you though," Alastair reassured. "I'll miss you all," He said before hugging them the last time and making his way to the car.

But just as he was about to climb into the car, Kate's hand shot out, stopping him in his tracks.

"Wait," she said, her voice tinged with urgency. Kate reached into her small sling bag and pulled out a letter adorned with various stickers.

"Here," she said quickly, thrusting the letter into his hand.

"This is?..."

"It gives good luck, but don't open it or it won't work," she explained before smiling.

 Goodluck letter?... Alastair blinked in confusion, unsure of what to make of the situation. But before he could say anything, Kate hurriedly helped him in the car and waved her final goodbye.

As the car began to move, he watched them recede into the distance, they waved at him and Alastair did the same until their figures grew smaller and smaller until they were nothing but specks that soon disappeared.

A pang of sadness washed over Alastair, but he quickly pushed it aside, focusing instead on the new chances that lay ahead, refusing to let regrets or worries tarnish this moment of new beginnings.

As the car moved along the winding roads, he watched the city fade away. He had left behind his old life and was now heading towards the unknown.

What is there in the future for him? Honestly, he's too scared to find out. 

Along the way, he admired the scenic views of small rivers and bridges that they crossed and quaint villages that nestled in the hills. The landscape seemed to unfold like a painting.

These fleeting scenes are just like the fleeting moment. Who could've imagined that something like this would've happened?

He leaned his head on the cold glass as he watched the disappearing scenes.

***

As the car drove to the west, the scenery changed, they were nearing the Rose Mary border. The road became more bumpy and uneven, a stark contrast to the smooth paths they had travelled earlier. 

After many hours, the car came to a halt in front of a lavish inn, its grandeur contrasting sharply with the dilapidated surroundings of The Reckless City. He quickly stepped out of the car, his feet landing on the dusty pavement, he couldn't help but notice the grim atmosphere that permeated the air.

Shabby houses lined the streets, their paint peeling and windows cracked. Tiny shops with faded signs barely clung to their crumbling facades, while the roads were riddled with potholes and debris. Sickly figures shuffled along the sidewalks, their faces weary.

The stench of garbage and sewage hung heavy in the air, assaulting Alastair's senses with its putrid odour.

Despite the despair that lingered in every corner, he couldn't help but feel a pang of pity for the residents who called this city home. They were trapped in a cycle of poverty and despair, with no respite in sight.

All the areas adjoining the borders were in unkept conditions. All the capital flowed from the industries to the monarchy and then to the inner cities. The outer cities barely received any resources, why care for places with high potential danger when you know they can be attacked at any time? That is one of the reasons why the major establishments are located in the heart of the kingdom.

He grabbed his luggage and headed into the inn.

Inside the inn, the interior exuded a sense of rustic charm, with wooden beams crisscrossing the ceiling and giving the space a cozy, inviting feel, it was an old place and no different than the other houses but the place was kept quiet and clean. Soft lighting casted a warm glow over the reception area.

"Alastair Hart, welcome! We've been expecting you. We hope your journey was smooth and pleasant." A friendly receptionist greeted Alastair with a smile.

"Thank you,"

"Sign here," she pushed a file in front of him, and after signing it the receptionist handed him a black, slim card.

She gestured her hand towards the stairs. "Your room is No.56, please get unpacked."

The room was on the second floor. A small scanner was attached next to the door. Alastair looked at the black card again, moving it close to the scanner.

Beep!

The door opened easily. Even in the outer city, DEA establishments were already well-equipped. He entered the medium-sized room, finding three beds arranged on one side, each with its own separate cabinet. A small window at one side led in some natural light, brightening the space.

Opposite the beds, a single wooden desk with a lamp stood against the white wall, accompanied by a chair. The simplicity of the furnishings added to the room's clean, uncluttered ambience. Lastly, another door led to the bathroom, completing the setup.

Somewhat this room exceeded Alastair's expectations.

He stowed his luggage in one of the cabinets before moving around to get a better look at the space. He noticed something on the desk and he moved closer to inspect it.

On a desk, he spotted a crimson handbook resting neatly upon its surface. There was no title emblazoned upon its cover.

It didn't seem like a random item left behind.

Instinctively Alastair flipped open the book out of curiosity, he scanned the contents on the first page: citizen's rights and responsibilities, government services, legal system, filing complaints or grievances, voting procedures, jury duty, accessing public records, and important contact information for government agencies.

There were also other vital documents: a detailed map of the country, clear instructions for evacuation procedures, and drills for various emergency scenarios. It was a full comprehensive guide, outlining the basic laws that every citizen should abide by and what they should do incase of danger.

For example, the handbook detailed various safety protocols and drill practices implemented for familiarity and precautionary measures. Annually, drill practices were conducted to ensure readiness in case of emergencies. For evacuations, a long but low-pitched drill was sounded, continuing until the entire area had been safely evacuated.

In situations where a breach occurred, whether by a devil, beast, or other threats, a distinct, sharp, piercing drill alerted residents to seek refuge in designated safe shelters or the constructed bunkers located at specific points until assistance arrived.

During a lockdown, triggered by the entry of an infected-grade threat, a unique combination of low and high-pitched sounds reverberated throughout the area, signalling a strict restriction on movement. No one was allowed to enter or exit until specialized personnel from the DEA arrived to carry out the necessary execution procedures, ensuring the safety of all inhabitants.

Alastair found the dense handbook intriguing, he should keep this book since it's highly likely the owner won't be coming back any time soon to fetch this, maybe he can find something useful as well.

As he flipped through the pages of the seemingly mundane handbook, his eyes suddenly widened in surprise.

Amidst the familiar safety procedures and evacuation guidelines, he saw intricate illustrations of various creatures, beasts and devils they were labelled as. Each creature depicted was unlike any he had seen before, their forms ominous and foreboding. 

Cryptic sketches of devils having skeletal appearances, massive centipedes having hardshell bodies covered with skulls, and disgusting black figures with plastered grins, smiles or sobbing expressions. Twisted combined disgusting things with multiple heads or limbs. Armoured Titans labelled as "Guardians". Coyote with lizard-like attributes with large eyes, fangs, and muscular hind legs.

 There was just so much...

Accompanying the hand-drawn sketches were detailed descriptions containing crucial information: names, sizes, difficulty levels, special abilities, adaptations, and more. It was a comprehensive catalogue.

"Special abilities?" Alastair muttered with a frown.

Confusion gnawed him, whoever this handbook belonged to, definitely knew a lot of what goes on outside the walls. But why leave something so crucial here? In plain sight?

Alastair took a deep breath, trying to calm down. This...this is a lot to take in he thought as he closed the book. It's too disturbing...Is this really what they call Devils? 

He looked at the handbook again. It'll take some time digging through all of this, but it is to his advantage... maybe he can find something that'll help him learn about the DEA a little bit more-

Suddenly an uproar erupted from downstairs, startling Alastair from his reverie. The clamour echoed through the inn, and a cacophony of voices pierced the silence. It sounded like someone was fighting downstairs.