1945

A young man holds a highly decorated flyer in multiple colours. Only the front of the flyer is visible. On it a notice advertising some kind of competition is displayed. His left hand holding the flyer, he takes a sip of his drink before looking around and taking note of his surroundings.

A dimly lit room with red walls and broken lights surrounds him walls painted multiple colours with beer and whiskey, the air smelling of gin. He spares a glance at the bartender's table. All eyes are affixed on a poster advertising the same thing as the flyer. " I'd love to see the idiot who participates in this!" one of the less sober men on the bartender's stool says. " I dunno Chuck," says another, struggling to stay on his chair " one hundred and sixty billion mullah is a butt ton of money"

Even with men shooting daggers at the flyer with their eyes it stays there it is, right next to the door where everyone, including the young man at the back of the room in a dark secluded corner, can see it.

The young man observes the commotion at the front for a short while before looking forward to his informant, a second obviously way older male, on the other side of the table. His brown coat and muscular appearance could make anyone think he was an explorer of some kind. He looked at the younger man in silence for a few seconds before springing up:

"So Joel, how about it?"

"You can't possibly make me do this alone, can you?"

"No, the agency allows for you to make allies during your time there and agent mist has already been sent to help you."

Joel spares a glance at the flyer before looking back at the man in front of him.

"Ok," he says "sign me up."

(I would put a theme song here if I had any ideas)

Joel walked out of the bar, remembering his last instructions from the man

"Go to Smokey Road to get a ticket and a pass for the competition"

'Smokey road huh?' thought Joel 'with the amount of criminals and scumbags lurking in that area, this would be suicide to any other person. Makes me wonder how normal people are gonna get their passes'

He walked a few minutes away from the bar before calling for a taxi. A taxi soon stopped to give him a ride. "Where to sir?" the driver asked. Joel thought deeply for a moment before answering "Prime Way please."

The driver jumped in horror on his seat "are you sure about that sir, that is dangerously close to Smokey Road."

"I am positive," Joel stated bluntly "and we need to reach there with haste so please start the car."

The driver nodded and activated the ignition. The drive through London was peaceful. The people walked cheerfully and happily, the buildings were beautiful and the paint was fresh. Soon enough the driver had reached his destination and it was time to go.

"We have arrived at Prime Way sir." He called waking Joel up who gave a prompt thank you to the driver and proceeded to pay."And sir," he said to Joel getting a quick look from the young adult "i know you are headed to Smokey Road for some reasons so please do be careful."

Joel looked at the driver before smirking. "Keep in touch?" he asked raising his phone up.

After exchanging numbers with the man under the name of 'taxi guy' he hastily made his way towards Smokey Road, but on getting there it was like a whole different part of London. Joel had heard of this place but he had never been there. After remembering the address of their sales office he went there as quickly as he could. It was dark and had no light source. Everybody was on line except for a man and his friends who were crowded around him. They had tickets but he didn't. Joel looked towards the man's dog. It was a brown Yorkshire Terrier with a black collar. 'What a dumb use for a stand,' he thought 'I mean what is it even doing.' As soon as Joel thought that the man turned to look at him, as if targeting him for his next atrocious act.

Joel went to the booth and purchased the ticket pretty smoothly. Most people chickened out at the last second so the line moved fast. He was told to go to the centeral train station in London and take the train there by 2:30 in the afternoon on Tuesday to the competition area. Joel had no idea why they were so specific but little did he know that he had bigger problems.

"Flea Cream get your Flea Cream guaranteed to remove all your fleas!". Joel turned to the source of the sound to find the man with the dog but now completely alone. Suddenly, he rushed towards the Joel and frantically waved his product in his face. "Sir, sir!" he said "do you know that as you are right now you are riddled with fleas. My flea cream can get rid of it for you. It's just £16.99 a bottle I can even give you a free sample!"

"Then why don't you use it on him." Said Joel, pointing to the dog "he seems in dire need of it don't you think?"

"Oh right," he said nervously "Spitzy here is my demonstration dog, so he is riddled with fleas. Come on now Spitzy be careful."

As if on command, Spitzy charged strait for Joel at high speed and rammed into him. Being caught of guard, he tumbled onto the floor red with rage.

"Oh no!" said the man with the cream "now Spitzy's fleas are on you too what do we do!"

Joel sat on the floor hands behind him and eyes fixed on his nose, or rather what was on it.

Perched on his nose was not a flea but rather, a cricket of sorts. A very tiny, pink cricket, with prey mantis like hands and a bee's stinger on it's abdomen.

"Now they are jumping around." The man said "you probably cant see them but we need to apply the cream right away."

He moved towards Joel but was cut off by the sound of his voice

"No."Joel said menacingly "I can see them alright," he said before turning sharply towards him eyes piercing his.

"And they are not fleas."

[To be continued]