* WILLY WILLIAM – Ego *

AN: French, for those who are wondering.

——————

“What’s that thing?” panicked voices called out as the whole area of the soccer field was surrounded in a huge black sphere.

“Aliens are attacking!” yelled another.

“Is this area 51? F*CK this I’m going home, sh*t is too intense.” said a young man to his friends as they all started to run away.

“Idiots!” a homeless person shouted at them, “it’s another failed experiment that the government is trying to cover up! Blame aliens? They don’t exist! But governments sure do!”

——————-

“My son! I can’t find my son! Please hel-“.

“Please be patient, ma’am, our rankers are working hard to maintain the situation.” A panicked woman was asking for help to search for her missing son, but an EDA member, a high ranking executive to be exact, cut her off as all EDA rankers were quite busy fighting off what remains of the sickle monsters and had no time to look for missing people.

It was the best way to ensure the least amount of casualties.

As of now, there has been reports of more than two thousand people going missing in the past couple of minutes, 17 minutes to be exact, while about a hundred were reported dead.

‘The missing people are most likely dead, especially that they’re stuck in that deadly sphere.’ thought the EDA executive. In his black suit and black sunglasses, he looked more like a security guard or a businessman, rather than a high ranker.

‘such a waste, I heard we’re missing the S ranked battle mage, Camilla Rogers, she was our best bet to just nuke this place and erase its sorry existence. *sigh*’ he thought.

“Oh boy, if this isn’t the one and only Mr. Bell!” said a masculine voice behind the EDA executive’s left ear.

If it wasn’t for the sunglasses he had on, the executive’s void black eyes would’ve been glowing red in anger.

“That’s Mr. Holland for you.” the executive, Mr. Holland replied coldly, “You’re late, Mr. Oliver.”

“Oho~ feel free to call me Jamie, Mr. executive, as I’m not as picky as you. Or of course, you can call me Mr. Flame Master, haha!” Jamie Oliver had a smug grin on his face.

Jamie Oliver was given the title of Flame Master Mage by the EDA, as he’s proves to be the best known flame controller on the planet. Maybe not as much of a surprise, he was an S ranker, much like Camilla Rogers.

“Mr. Oliver, it’s no time for jokes, your help is needed on the eastern side of the sphere.”

“Roger, Mr. executive.” He replied seriously, “Although before I go, I’d like to confirm… is it true that the S ranker, Camilla Rogers, had went missing inside that thing?” he continued in a hushed whisper.

EDA members go missing all the time. But for an S ranker to be missing, means that the mission has just gotten on par with a national catastrophe. Especially that they were talking about the one and only Camilla Rogers, the S ranker Battle Mage.

“Correct” the executive nodded sadly. “As of now, no one has access to that sphere, and so we can’t confirm whatever is happening inside. For all we know, there might as well be a nuclear bomb waiting for the right moment to explode and evaporate the whole city. Heck, with that size, it might take down the whole province.”

“I see,” replied Jamie.

His sincerity almost surprised Mr. Holland. Almost.

But her knew that his sarcastic personality would do a 180 whenever the situation was sever. Which is certainly the case at this time.

“How about the other locations?” Jamie asked in a whisper.

“No full reports yet.” Mr. Holland said, “But what we do know so far is that we’re not the only ones suffering. Another similar sphere was spotted in Alasta, even the local S rankers are helpless against the sphere. No one can get in or out.”

“Maybe it’s for the best? These monsters could easily overwhelm a B ranker, after all. If a whole horde gets out, we might as well abandon the city.”

“But think about it. If anything, this sphere looks like a cocon, and whatever is gonna come out of it won’t be as good looking as a butterfly, I can be so sure of that.”

“Good point.” Jaime bit his lower lip, “How about the other places, you said Alasta had another sphere, what about the others?”

“Similar spheres appeared in Calgury, New York, and other major cities. However, the difference was that the spheres were rather small in comparison, and it didn’t have a barrier to prevent rankers from going in. And at the same time, monsters didn’t come out of it. The only downside was that we’ve lost contact with whoever went in there, even if they were S rankers.”

“*sigh* I’m not even surprised at this point. If Camilla has went missing, then anyone else might as well be.” he smiled sadly, “anyway, I better get going, see ya around Mr. Bell.”

With a weak wave, Jamie was gone.

*Sigh* “So the rumours are true, he does indeed has a soft spot for Ms. Rogers, huh?” The executive raised an eyebrow.

——————–

*Rachel’s POV*

“Say, Remi.” I say to Remi, “didn’t everyone evacuate to this area?”

At that Remi seems to be preparing a lie as her eyes widen and look up the sky. That’s what she always does when she’s scheming something.

“Please don’t lie,” I say weakly.

*sigh* she sighs tiredly, with her eyes showing a hint of despair.

“I don’t know…”

“How come? Didn’t you-”

“No. I mean I don’t know where he is. I’m sorry…”

“Don’t be.” I say as I sit down on the ground. Currently, we’re waiting for the bus, a safe distance from the huge ominous sphere.

“Hey, are you two ok?” Jake awkwardly asks as he fiddles with his fingers nervously.

“No dude, they’re obviously not. *sigh*” replies Mike with a sigh.

“I- I’m sorry.”

“”Don’t be”” we all reply to Jake’s nervous apology.

“You know, Jake, for a socially awkward person, you’re kinda cute.” I say with a quick chuckle.

“Ah-” Jake tunes beet red, “Thank you!” he replies enthusiastically, almost as if we’re suntanning on a sandy beach in an isolated island.

“You know Rachel,” Remi says, “You’re the one who ruined poor Jake.” she chuckles as Jake turnes dangerously red.

“It’s true,” Mike replies, “he used to be the most confident person I knew, after Draven… of course-”

Remembering Draven, we all stay silent for a while.

“Say, the two girls that were with him are missing too, no?” I ask.

“”Uhm,”” they all nod.

“I’ve heard that even Joey, the captain of the Vikings has gone missing too…” Mike says.

“I really hope they’re fine in there,” I say as I sit down on the dirty floor and hug my own knees, “or better yet, maybe they just went home or got lost in the crowd.”

The others follow suit, in sitting down.

“I- I think I saw him fighting, before we left.” Jake says, trying to comfort someone beyond comfort. “He was strong en-”

“Jake! You’re not helping!” Remi almost yells, but she lacks the energy required for that.

“It’s alright, I get his point,” I say with a weak smile. I really appreciate how kind he is trying to be.

“By the way, since when did he have any powers? I thought he didn’t have any abilities,” I ask.

“Well, it was the first time for me, seeing him fight like that I mean,” replies Remi.

“”Same,”” replied Mike and Jake at the same time.

“…”

“Umm, I have a question though,” Jake said ” what do you think is the reason for that actually is?” he said as he pointed at the huge black sphere.

“”…”” everyone just looked at each other, obviously having no clue.

“Well,” I say, “It’s probably some alien race just missing with us. Or worse, testing us for something big…”

“Aliens?” asked Jake uncomfortably.

“What do you think it is then? Have any better ideas?” I shrug lazily, “Monsters are popping out of nowhere. If you ask me, and you certainly did, it’s not something humans have the technology to do, not as far as I know at least.”

“It might not be technology though,” said Mike, “Someone’s ability might be the cause.”

“How about other places? Is someone replicating the abilities?” Remi asked.

“Well, you heard the news no? They’re not a hundred percent similar, so it might actually be that it’s still in the experimental phase…”

“Well f*ck, humanity is just so screwed if that’s the case. Nice to meet you lads and Remi.” I say with a sad smile.

RIIIIINNGGGGG

Before anyone could give a remark, a familiar piano tone cuts in.

“Is that Dr. Dre still D.R.E ringtone?”

“Ahh… yea,” I reply as I take my phone out of my back pocket, “sorry I gotta take that. Be back in a sec.”

“Aye no probs.” says Mike.

“I’ve been searching for that ringtone for so long!” Remi says. “Hey make sure to share it with me when you come back!”

“Me too please,” Jake adds.

“Shhhh guys give her some privacy!” Mike butts in.

Waving back as I walk a little farther from the group, I answer the phone.

“Hello-, dad.

“No I’m perfectly fine… physically at least.

“Sure, I really appreciate it dad, I’ll let you know everything when I come back.

“Uhm. yes. True but- fair enough. *sigh*

“I promise, if I see a single monster, I’ll take a cap back home.

“Nah it’s alright, don’t worry about it.

“Yea no need to send anyone to pick me up.

“Thank you. You too, see ya soon.”

*sigh* ‘he’s always so worried… but I guess I can’t blame him for being worried this time, huh?’

As I start walking back to my friends, I notice the clouds in the sky getting darker by the second. ‘This surely can’t be a good omen, can it?’

‘Draven, please, be safe. People are waiting for you on this side….’ At that thought, a lonely tear takes refugee in my left eye, before I wipe it away with the back of my index.