Oscuro: Eric West (Chapter 1)
Run!
I told myself what I had to do. So I did, I ran far, until I simply couldn't anymore. The fire and smoke was behind me, the screams that echoed out were muffled by the blaring sirens.
What do I remember? Barely anything. Now, I am in the mansion where my family lives, or apparently once did. This place is abandoned and empty, it seems fit that the house I once lived, ate, and slept in would resemble me.
I am not the same person who last left these doors nearly two years ago. Am I a human at all? The things I've learned, what I've had to watch, what I've seen and heard... I am free of that world, right? Regardless, I need to find my mom. Everything will be better then...
With one last look around, I left the mansion the same way I entered and headed toward one other place I could consider home, West Integrations. Accompanied by a slight nod, I made my way down the pathway.
A lengthy walk, considering I am used to making this journey via limousine or sports car. Yet, as I now stare up at the tall skyscraper with the blue letters of WI, West Integrations, will I find 'home' now?
I opened the front door and walked in as I looked at the people around me, the attendant had noticed me.
"Excuse me sir, can I help you today- ERIC WE- MR. WEST?!"
A once noisy floor fell silent as the attention increased on myself. I noticed everyone's puzzled expressions as some stayed silent and others whispered among each other.
I suppose I should be the one to break the tension then...
"Hello everyone, been a while.."
No one else spoke up and the only noise I heard were desk phones.
"Can anyone point me in the direction of my mom? Is she upstairs in a meeting or?..."
A man of above average height approached me, he had on a suit so I'm guessing he must be an employee here?...
"Um... Mr. West.. firstly, welcome back..."
He gave off a sort of tense vibe as he continued to speak.
"But do you not know what happened?"
The seemingly worried look on his face sent a weird feeling through me. I've missed a lot haven't I?
"What do you mean, sir?"
"Oh, no need for formalities... you can call me Ian, Ian Green."
Ian stuck out his hand upon which I extended mine for a handshake, it was brief.
"Well then Ian, can you tell me where my mother is? As you can imagine, there is some catching up to do..."
"About that... I'm afraid I have to be the one to share some grave news with you..."
"Which is?"
"For one, your mother isn't here."
"Alright then, is she on a trip?"
"Not exactly... she is in Mermat prison, on the charges of murdering your father and your kidnapping."
"My what?! MY MOM- SHE DIDN'T DO ANY OF THAT!"
There is no way, stupid cops, these guys can't ever do their job right!
I balled up my fists and grabbed Ian by his tie. I let go and tried to get myself back under control so I didn't make matters worse. Ian fixed his suit.
"Sorry, I haven't been around the best of people..."
"Understandable with such news, but sadly enough, that isn't all."
"What could be worse?!"
"The company is now under new management, I am a board member but not the CEO who is in a meeting as of right now."
"You're kidding me.. please tell me this is some terrible joke!"
"I'm sorry but it isn't."
"I'VE BEEN THROUGH WAY TOO MUCH-"I calmed myself once more. "For this..."
"It's fine, do you need a place to stay or?"
"Uh.. no I can handle it, thank you though Ian..."
"Well, on that note I must be off, it was a pleasure to meet you Mr. West, here-"
Ian wrote his number on a piece of paper and handed it to me.
"Oh, alright.. by the way, you can just call me Eric."
"Very well, see you around Eric, seriously, send me a text if I can help at all."
Ian went over to the elevator and a minute later he was gone. While I had been left in absolute shock.
Things were not meant to go this way, I had hoped things would go back to normal. Maybe they will let me visit her, there has to be a way I can go clear this up and get her out, she can come take back over the company...
The prison wasn't that far away. It isn't a surprise I'd remember that, I guess. I had left in the general direction with my head down from the random bystanders pointing at me. That secret is definitely out now.
The gates came into my view and the entry guard stopped me.
"Are you a visitor- wait a minute.. Eric West?... I thought your mother..."
"Don't say a word about her, someone who traps someone wrongly deserves a worse punishment, I hope you get that one day... I want to see her!"
"Alright alright, go on through there, another guard will bring her into the room for you."
He hesitantly opened the gate as I passed through and headed inside to the visitors' area.
Just as I remember it, even though the last time I was on the other side of it all. I sat down and waited until a woman with a similar black hair color to my own sat down in front of me, I can't explain the emotions in her eyes, it was like a mix of regret, sadness, anger, and fear all in one with another list to add.
"Mom.. don't worry, I'll get you out, I'll go to the DA's office soon and get this all cleared up, I promise..."
At first she didn't even open her mouth, a single tear dropped from her right eye, it was obvious she was trying to act strong but even she couldn't.
"I.. wish it was that simple, there is evidence..."
"False evidence!"
"Maybe so, but they won't believe me, much less my own son... I am happy to see how grown up you've become, Eric."
"Mom, there has to be something I can do?!"
"Not right now, unless you plan to hunt down whoever framed me..."
I slammed my hands on the desk as a guard slowly got closer.
Oh, I forgot they don't like anger here...
"Damn it.. are you okay at least?"
"Yes, I am... don't worry about me... where did you go? I was so worried…"
"I... it is a lengthy story, mom."
"You seem different from the boy who I last saw... that look in your eyes..."
"I am still me, don't worry.. I will go see what I can do, then I can hopefully find a way to get the company back."
"Wait, what?"
"The company is out of my hands, there is an entirely fresh management team, I can't do anything about that right now."
"Oh, well are you alright son? Do you have a place to stay? Do you have food? Water? Do you have any money?"
"Mom, mom.. stop worrying, I uh..."
She can't know that I don't, it's better for people to be clueless right now...
"I have a friend who is going to let me stay over, I'm fine, I promise."
"Oh, that is good then."
"Time is up."
A guard waved me off as I had to leave the prison.
Once the visit was over, I returned to the mansion and up to my parent's old room.
"Son, this is something your mother doesn't know. I hid a chest in the bedroom, inside is a secret stash of money for emergencies."
That sentence flashed in my mind, dad never told me exactly where its exact spot because he knew I'd use the money for something selfish, it is time to be selfish, but for other reasons, if this one can even be considered noble or not.
I opened the door and heard a squeak as rats scurried everywhere.
Man, that wasn't even the rats, it was just the door...
The room was a dusty version of its old self, jewelry stands with nothing on display, the cabinets and doors seem to be either broken or just dirty. I searched through the cabinets and closet, but I didn't find anything.
"Was he lying? Or did someone else find the chest?..."
In the corner of the room, was dad's favorite grandfather clock, he hated people moving the clock but now it laid on the ground with the glass shattered, I remember the wall used to have a large hole when we first moved in here but it was fixed... could he have?...
"who knows?…"
Without a second thought, I punched the wall and my fist went through, I grabbed a chest that was stuck in between and ripped it out.
"I guess I found it?..."
I opened the latch and popped it open; I took the cash inside.
"I'm going to have to buy an apartment first... then I will see what I can find out."
It is sort of a known crime to tamper with police business, so I have to be careful...
The chest gave me what I needed, now it is time to make things go further, I left the room and grabbed an old jacket from mine, I slipped it on and left in the direction of the city's slums.
This is an area for the... less fortunate. The ones who can't have the same things as the snobs of this city, in other words, people like me. Grown adults on the side of the street begging for dimes and bread, these people are lucky to eat a full meal every day, I had a lot of time to think about how hard life is for them. Their windows are blankets because they can't afford glass, especially when the crime rate is so high, having your home broken into is most normal thing here, or having your child taken away by social services because you can't support them.
"SOMEONE HELP!"
A woman cried out. She was getting mugged in the alleyway.
Do I help?... I can take them down, but should I? I came here to find out about my mother's arrest... if I help her, maybe she can help me?...
I ran over.
"HEY LEAVE HER ALONE!"
"Or what- wait, is that the rich kid? He is back?"
"Don't you know this ain't your area, brat?!"
The two of them laughed and encircled me. The one behind me came first as he tried to pull me down, I grabbed his arm and flung him over me as the other guy was quick to follow. He tried to punch me but I caught it and twisted his arm back; he let out a tiny grunt as I kicked him away.
"Come on guys, you can do better than that..."
"SHUT UP!"
They both got up as one of them ran at me, I jabbed at his nose and kicked his left leg down. I kneed him in the face which sent him down as the second mugger grabbed me from behind, I ran him into the fence and elbowed him in the face. His grip loosened, so I got out and swung at him, the punch connected and he staggered a few steps away. He helped his friend up and they ran away.
"Hey, are you alright, ma'am?"
"No, thanks to you... you are the reason this happened in the first place!"
"What? How?"
"You are one of the people to blame for us living like this!"
She... has a point. We treated these people so harshly… They don't deserve this.
"I.. I'm sorry. I know we have been wrong to you all... I came here because I'm looking for someone who let's say... knows a thing or two about altering evidence and kidnapping."
"So, you think your mother didn't do it then... interesting, sorry."
"Sorry for what?"
"I don't help people like you."
She grabbed her belongings and walked away.
"IS THAT HOW YOU TREAT A HERO?!"
"You're no hero, boy."
"Huh?"
An old man spoke from the alleyway. He was by a fire to warm his hands.
"Must I repeat myself? Someone like you... you will never find what you're after like this..."
"What are you suggesting I do then?"
"You heard the lady, she said she wouldn't help someone like you... try not being you."
The man chuckled.
Great, the nonsense of an old geezer.
"Thanks, I guess..."
He stopped talking. So I went back into the city to rent an apartment. At least I have an actual place to sleep now, and people will be too shocked by the fact that Eric West is living in a low-cost apartment to notice that I'm rarely here...
"Maybe there is something to the 'try not being you' thing after all..."
I smiled and looked out at the night sky.
OSCURO: ERIC WEST (CHAPTER 1: END)
Author's Note: Eric West is a character inspired by DC's Green Arrow. There are some similarities but this character, nor any others that I make, are meant to represent an insult to anyone's work or creativity. I am looking for people to help me out with working on this story as I plan to expand it with more characters in the future. This story belongs to me and my social medias are:
Discord: ⒶⓆⓊⒶ ⒾⓈ ⒶⓃⓃⓄⓎⒺⒹ#0311