Forward
I. Unspoken
(adjective). Wordless, noiseless 'be silent'
In the distance, echoes of taunts and laughter caused Serenity's heart to quicken.
She opened her cobalt-blue eyes, focusing as she blinked away the fog. Droplets of water splashed against her face, and the scent of rain was thick in the air. She stared up at the midnight-blue sky, with dark gray clouds rolling across. Fireflies floated around her, illuminating her present surroundings. She sat up, touching her forehead, her mind clouded by the previous events.
A cold breeze brushed past, causing her to shiver. She was only dressed in a white sundress. Her shoulders were bare, her silver-white tresses free from her buns. She had slipped. Her earshot. The sounds of screaming and crashing glass finally brought her to tears.
II. Standby
(noun) Readiness for duty or immediate deployment; the state of waiting.
The nightmares always began when it was time to wake. His body knew when he was ready, but mentally, he was fighting for control. He always wanted that extra minute of sleep but was never able to recapture that moment of calm. That was the hardest part of taking each waking moment day by day. His role on paper was simple: he was an independent contractor.
In the mornings, he checked the state's news. At night, he took on new clients, as long as it didn't affect the flow.
When he was not busy, his days were quiet. Each new contract brought anxiety, but he had signed up for it.
Sōuichi took off his glasses.
He felt tired in his eyes from staring at the computer screen. With all the new technology he indulged in, he still neglected to update his lenses. Standing up, he placed his glasses on the seat next to him, rubbing his tired eyes. The room was dark. The only light, besides his laptop, came from a vivarium in the center of the room.
The edges of his light gray sweatpants shuffled against his bare feet. His reflection in the window watched the fluttering inside the enclosed space. Sōuichi checked his watch: 19:00.
She should be arriving shortly.
It was a risk to take on a new contract, especially after he had closed out one so soon. He usually took a three-month break to process the info and disconnect. This one was unique. The intel he received helped him outline his approach, based on the contract's nature.
The sound of shuffling footsteps caught his attention. Turning his body, he saw his younger brother, Helios. It was like a mirror. His brother's silver-white hair curled at the edges, framing his boyish features.
Sōuichi walked over to give his attention to the birds jumping from branch to branch. Sōuichi stood a few inches taller than his brother. His feet were bare.
Both were silent, arms crossed, observing, and taking in the nature before them. A wisp of air filtered out of the structure. It carried the scent of spring, trying to bloom through the ground. The interlocking trees curved up toward the skylight.
"Do you need me to get involved this time?"
Sōuichi caught his brother's amber eyes in the glass. It reflected the scenery before him with great focus. "Not yet," he gave his brother a playful slap on the back as he turned around, heading out of the room. "I know your track record with women," he said, leaving the room. Helios sighed.
Walking over to the sofa, he sat down, picking up the glasses that Sōuichi left behind on the seat next to him. The frames bent at an angle when put on, causing a lopsided effect from within. Removing them, he reached inside his pocket, pulling out his cell phone.
"Surveillance," he leaned back, making himself comfortable in the grooves of the sofa. He clicked his phone's security app, waiting for his brother's instructions.
III. Captions
(noun). Origin: 'seizing, capture'; early senses 'arrest' and 'warrant for arrest'
Michiru yawned. Cool air from the fridge gave her goosebumps as she stood in her sky-blue tank top and bikini underwear. Neon red lights from outside her fire escape balcony flashed. They shone into her kitchen, reflecting off her back.
Tapping her finger against the metal surface of her fridge door. The metal's coolness faded to a warm rhythm. She searched for something appetizing to eat. She reached for the small pizza box. It held a day-old slice of pepperoni pizza from her Shibuya shopping trip.
Taking the slice, she closed the door, leaving the box behind. Glass jars of pasta and herbed plants shook as she walked into the open-concept living room. She took a bite of her pizza, not minding its coldness.
The room was dark. The only light came from outside and her laptop was on the mid-century coffee table. She took the half-eaten pizza and placed it on the many magazines. Then,
Accessing her emails, searching for any signs of communication from her employer. She looked to the right side of her screen. Her news feed showed info about the upcoming election. A notification in the corner showed an email from: Tomoe, Sōuichi. 'Arrival time: 19:35.'Please standby.'
Michiru opened the email and clicked the link inside. It directed her to the main security portal. She arranged her windows to show her messaging app. It connected her with her partner and Helios.
'Are you ready?'
IV. Escape
(verb) break free from confinement or control: two burglars escaped from prison. [with object] elude or get free from (someone):he drove along I-84 to escape the police.
"All three drivers escaped." A hand with perfect nails switched off the radio.
There was no turning back. She made mistakes, called names, and embedded heartbreak deep into her mind. Words never spoken, words of hatred and malice from selfish desires hung thick in the air. She was in denial of her actions… until now.
She thought she had achieved peace.Dominance. No desire was so great as holding the power of the coldest metal to her chest. It was all the strength she could muster to keep this little shell alive. How could she be so naïve to think she had fostered greatness for so long without the loss of her greatest love?
Kaori had embraced her darkness for so long that her lineage haunted her like a warmth it had often sought. She was no different in her pursuits. What was the point of all this if the cycle was never-ending?
She was the star that linked the wind and the seas. They created the strings of fate that pulled this city into each new change. A light that did not need the heat of the council. She was standing.
How could she connect with life, now told to her, after she saw the greatest opportunity snatched from her? Dark thoughts plagued her in the early morning, yet she fought to bring her mind back with fury.
She felt exhausted, yes. But the pain of being here drove her to act on her plan.
Kaori looked at the clock: 19:22 flashed in quick succession. They would be arriving shortly for her ritual. She had become numb to it all. Kaori rolled over onto her side. This was her punishment room.
She failed to please.
V. Fragments
Something has a small part that someone broke off or separated.
small fragments of pottery, glass, and tiles
An isolated or incomplete part of something:
Break or cause to break into fragments.
into the land of Scorpios
Disclaimer
I, Jasmine, do not ownPretty GuardianSailor Moon.Copyright: Naoko Takeuchi, published by Kodansha. Names, characters, places, and incidents originate from the author's imagination or are fictional.~lunar-feature.
[i]Shibuya is a special ward in Tokyo, Japan. Shibuya is a major commercial center. It has two of the busiest railway stations in the world: Shibuya Station and Shinjuku Station.