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Here, the beginning should have looked like this, and not what I posted in the Haven
Today was one of the hottest days of the year; the sun was at its zenith, causing headaches and making crowds of metropolis residents who had ventured out midday squint.
Being a well-known figure in the city, Wesker attracted too much press attention.
Some newspapers were concerned as to why he hadn't appeared in public for the last two weeks, and hadn't even met with friends, never leaving his manor outside the city. Rumors circulated that he practically never left his laboratory located in the basement. This alarmed the government, who feared he might be developing something there against them or the city. Therefore, a couple of days ago, they sent their man to visit Tangheiser. He was unable to do so because the manor security had received strict orders—let no one inside. Absolutely no one. The failure of this plan further alarmed the government, intensifying their paranoia; consequently, they organized a special operation using a SWAT unit. They engaged in a shootout with the manor guards and broke inside. Revan was clearly not in the best of moods. Many good guys died who, if not for this mission, would have served the city well by protecting it. Wesker himself had immunity, so the government had to back down.
Tangheiser had a dream that he wanted to bring to life.
The last person to be at his house was Loken. They drank cognac and discussed some matters. Then, Revan enthusiastically asked an interesting question:
- Now, what would you do if you suddenly woke up as a girl?
- I'd probably be a little surprised.
- And then?
- I don't know. I'd eat something, watch a movie.
Arandor and Hostor were police officers. Some time ago, feeling a brotherly bond for one another, they had gone to great lengths to be assigned as partners. However, now, as they believed, their friendship had come to an end. And now every morning began for them with contemptuous glances toward their partner and an argument over who would drive the car. It could hardly be said that in such a state they could perform their duties normally, but they complemented each other perfectly. While Hostor was physically stronger and better with guns, Arandor was more resourceful and skilled at negotiating or, if necessary, calming a victim.
Now, with sirens on and the gas pedal floored, they were responding to a call. According to the dispatcher, two masked guys had raided a house. Both knew the address. It was the home of Naira Drake, a good friend of theirs. Arriving at the scene, they noticed both guys moving away from the house. One of them stopped and fired a couple of shots. One was quite accurate; the bullet hit the car's windshield, but the officers were not hit. Hostor jumped out of the car, drawing his pistol from the holster, while Arandor went into the house to ensure the owner was alright.
Hostor ran very fast, deftly overcoming all obstacles in his path. Thus, he quickly caught up with the criminals. Stopping for a second and spending just as long aiming, he shot one of the criminals in the leg; the man screamed and fell to the ground. Hostor ran past him without paying attention, following the other criminal. However, he lost the trail. Returning, he handcuffed the wounded criminal, who was trying to crawl away from there.
Entering the house, Arandor saw a terrible mess and hurried toward Naira. She was lying on the floor. He found no obvious wounds or signs of violence, which calmed him slightly. A little later she came to. Apparently, she had simply been knocked unconscious. She said she remembered nothing. All the jewelry was missing from the house. Some of it was found with the detained suspect.
The night went terribly for Tangheiser; work in the laboratory had drained all his strength, but he couldn't sleep for about four hours and felt a strange heaviness in his body and an unprecedented fatigue. He couldn't even get out of bed. It was as if he were shackled. A little later he finally fell asleep, but only slept for two hours, waking up from hitting the floor. He still felt a strange heaviness in his body, though less so than at night. He crawled diagonally to the corner of the room, then, grabbing onto everything he could, tried to stand up. He fell a couple of times but eventually got on his feet. He looked in the mirror. A piercing scream of an unknown nature echoed through the manor.
Arandor, Hostor, and the others gathered at Naira's house and helped her tidy up. To everyone's joy, she was feeling absolutely normal, and she even decided to throw a small party for friends, sending a corresponding message via answering machine to all those friends who weren't there. By evening, almost everyone had gathered. Almost. Only Loken, Tangheiser, and Medj were missing.
- Someone is always late! – the hostess was a bit nervous. – let's start without them.
As she said this, Naira was carrying glasses of drinks and accidentally bumped into the sofa, dropping the glasses, the contents of which soon ended up on Azi's pants. He spread his arms in dissatisfaction.
- What's up, boys? – Loken, climbing through the window, frightened some guests with his sudden appearance. Then he looked at Nebo—or rather, at his pants. – Naira, do you not have a restroom in your house?
- Loken, do you know if Revan is coming? – Naira inquired.
- WHERE IS REVAN WHEN HE'S NEEDED MOST. How should I know?
- You were the last to visit him. What did you talk about there?
- You wouldn't understand. Well, unless you have what we have under your skirt.
The doorbell rang. Naira stood up and went to open it. "Probably Tangheiser or Medj," she thought. Opening the door, she and the other guests saw a short girl. She was simply glowing with happiness, which confused the hostess even more.
- Guys, you won't believe it, I did it! – exclaimed the unexpected guest. Naira shrugged and slammed the door right in the girl's face.
- Brats. – Lizard "explained."
Upset by what happened—that no one shared her joy—the girl slowly made her way down the city street and then headed toward a certain manor on the edge of town. As she was about to pass through the gates, a guard stopped her.
- What's the matter?
- I'm sorry, but this is private property.
- But... but...
- I am authorized to use force. Please leave.
The girl had no other choice, so she had to leave the manor grounds.
Along with her body, her character and way of thinking changed. Continuing along the night street, she was frightened by every person she met on the way. She was weak and defenseless; the night world was dangerous for those like her. She had to look warily at every stranger in the night. It was a very unusual feeling, as it was the first time in her life she had experienced fear. Leaving the manor during the day, she had taken some money with her specifically to buy appropriate clothes and get a haircut. The clothes from the home wardrobe were all too large. A cloak would hang down past her feet, and glasses—behind which a warm, kind gaze would be hidden—would not stay on her ears. After the purchases, about two hundred dollars remained. Very little. Just enough for a couple of nights in a hotel.
The next day.
Arandor and Hostor were on assignment again; someone had committed a robbery at a supermarket, which by this point was already surrounded by a dozen police cars. Guys with bats were smashing everything inside and beating the staff while drinking beer from the refrigerators. An hour later, they were all sitting in cars taking them to the police station. The organizer of this mess was known to the two officers.
In the evening, to unwind a bit after the assignment, Hostor went to a bar, where he accidentally exceeded his allowable alcohol limit. Some man started picking a fight with him, and then a brawl broke out. The officer smashed an empty bottle over the man's head and then beat him to death.
Three days later, Arandor, Naira, Imaris, and Nebo met at a local cafe.
Arandor arrived last and got straight to business.
- Guys – he began. – basically, I have two pieces of news. One good, one bad. Which should I start with?
- Let's go with the bad – Azi suggested.
- Loka is being sent behind bars.
- And the good one?
- Hostor too... But what's funny is that tomorrow both will be transported in the same vehicle to the same prison.
- If only they were in the same cell too. – Imaris commented.
All these days, the girl stayed in one of the old, cheap, uncomfortable hotels. The remaining money would soon run out; her friends wouldn't recognize her, and she couldn't work because she didn't know how to do anything at all.
