Gradually, he grinned—
a grin that appeared to possess the force of a mystery rather, than a mortal one.
He slipped the firearm into his pocket with a flick of the wrist and spoke in a quiet steady tone
"Vernon. The son of Kinard."
The name echoed in my mind.
I searched my mind—deeply.
Akira… a brother?
No matter the distance I traveled there was simply nothing. No tales. No images. No gossip. Throughout all the time I have known Akira has consistently been alone.
Then the phrases of Lucarious arrived to save me like a delayed and quiet plea, for aid.
"The curse of identical twins."
I muttered softly under my breath
"How is it a curse... if they are just twins?"
I noticed my heart pounding rapidly.
Had it all existed beforehand? Was this meeting prearranged?. What made Lucarious tell me that... Right before Vernon arrived?
Vernon glanced at you his head slightly angled, a fleeting impatient look crossing his demeanor.
"Why the seriousness?" he inquired. His voice was soft yet profound—as if each word carried weight.
He approached, the noise of his boots striking the ground audible. He spoke in a manner resembling the narration of a crime documentary.
"Picture this " he stated. "A man donned in a black mask sneaks into Lint Saitos office during the night. A firearm discharge is heard. Someone close, by contacts the police."
He paused, letting the image come into focus.
"Subsequently the surveillance footage displays Akira dragging Lints body into a vehicle lacking a license plate. The vehicle departs. No evidence remains."
He offered a grin.
When morning came the sole update covered by the news is—
Akira murdered Lint Saito."
My jaw clenched.
"Why is this happening?" I inquired. "What are you hoping to achieve?"
Vernon casually approached my desk. Rather than responding he reached out with the hand closest, to him grabbed my coffee and took a leisurely sip as though he owned the entire place.
Following that he stared straight at me. Asked,
"Is your fallen angel in this room?"
It seemed as though every drop of blood, in my body had drained from my face.
Lucarious wore a smile and gazed at me—calm and inscrutable.
Undoubtedly he was the person who knew.
He is always aware.
Lucarious approached, placing one hand on my shoulder and the other which he used tenderly on my wound.
"You will lose a deal of blood " he murmured gently. ". Your part, in this scheme hasn't ended yet."
A green light from his hand—warm, vibrant.
Soon as he removed his hand the pain disappeared.
The injury vanished.
I rose gradually.
No dizziness.
No weakness.
As if the bullet had never been there.
Vernon uttered a laugh. A joyful noise.
"Oh... Lucarious " he uttered.
"So, you're his fallen angel."
He leaned his body forward a little.
"Hey friend... Do you recall who I am?"
Lucarious. Gazed at him with squinted eyes.
"Certainly I recall you " he responded calmly. "You look different."
Vernon wasn't able to hear him neither could see him.
A certain expression, on his face showed that he understood the significance of the words regardless.
Vernon approached, placed a hand on my shoulder his hold yet warm.
"Calm down " he said. "I'm here, for you."
That was the moment I decided to take action.
I lowered myself swiftly directing my leg abruptly towards his ankle with a sweeping motion.
Vernon managed to leap—swift exact—. As a result he could effortlessly flip backward.
"Don't complicate things " he murmured quietly.
A small folding knife was promptly placed into his hand.
He proceeded rapidly.
I stepped aside at the moment to catch the sound of the blade slicing through the air near my ribs. He tried to hit me with a swing of his arm—I ducked my head and at the same time drove my elbow into his abdomen.
He stepped back grinning.
"Not bad."
He turned over pressed his heel onto my shoulder and with that the pain erupted as I landed on the ground, knees.
I flipped over seized the back of his hood yanked him downward pinned him to the ground wrapped my arm around his neck and applied pressure by squeezing—
Suddenly—
Sharp pain.
He pushed the needle into my thigh. Applied pressure.
The planet slanted.
My body became numb—weighty unreactive. My hold slackened. My vision blurred,. I remained awake.
I could still perceive sound.
I could continue to see.
Only, I was helpless.
Vernon rose calmly arranging his garments neatly.
"You ought to have conserved your strength, Lint " he murmured quietly.
He grabbed my leg. Dragged it across the floor out of the office into the cold night air. Streetlights appeared to be rushing by. He opened the door of a car—without any license plates—. Shoved me inside.
Exactly as he had performed it.
My eyelids grew heavy.
The final image I noticed was Vernons reflection, in the window—
peaceful, patient, victorious.
Then—
Darkness came over everything.