Chapter 473: Forgiveness (1/2)

Those present held wanting gazes, there laid a small excitement on their faces. Put it another way, when one gifts a present, they usually expect a good reaction to validate the effort. Part of him wanted to smile, another wanted to hide.

”Let's head to the car,” said she holding the briefcase.

”Sorry about the urgency,” voiced the cool-faced Elvira, a call came prior concerning important matters.

”I'll go on ahead,” said the leader of Phantom rushing to another parked car. The guards adjacent saluted the moment she came in sight. Big heavy wheels rolled upon the wet-tarmac flicking droplets about, the weather came to a balance between sunny and rainy. The moving grey-clouds were emotionless.

”Don't you like the present?”

”No, that's not it,” he paused outside reluctant to spoil the leathered interior.

”Get in already,” she reached to pull his arms, ”-I told you, there's no need to worry about dirtying the car.” The door shut peacefully with the wipers cleaning the windscreen. ”Take a look for yourself,” said she pressing the 'start' button.

'The phone is amazing, my Id, papers and bank card. Everything's interlocked with the phone. The bank account reads 10 million Exa with my name on top.'

”Impressive, isn't it?” she smirked and sped for the apartment.

”Lady Mother,” gently shutting the case, ”-I'm sorry, I can't accept it. Having all that money is more of a pain than I thought. It doesn't feel natural, I want to earn the right and not have it be given. I'm afraid I might go numb to the pleasures of working hard to attain a goal. Please, I c-can't.”

”Look at you,” she gave a motherly smile, ”-I'm glad you think that way, truly. Still, It's my way of atonement for having abandoned my son so many years ago. Come on, let me spoil you,” the innocent lift of the lips and nose, even brows joined her bashful expression.

”On one condition,” said he, ”-I want to work hard and earn on my own. Is that ok?”

”Do as you wish, the phone there is equipped with an AI named Éclair. It's unique and only listens to a certain person. It went offline with the sister-system running as a back-up. This is the final test. You'll find contacts lenses and earrings below the dashboard. Wear them now.”

”I don't have piercings.”

”No worries,” *snap,* two faint ambers burnt the center of the earlobe, ”-there. Should fit easily now.”

'Scary,' the earrings were golden and held dark stones filled with minuscule white dots – a reflection of the star-stuttered night he admired so much. The contacts felt comfortable, almost inexistent.

”Don't worry about changing the liquid,” said she, ”-the contact works fine without the cleaning agent. Shower, extreme sports, do anything, it's going nowhere.”

”I've got them on,” said he waiting for the response.

”Ok,” she glanced, ”-there should be an interface,” the focus returned to the road.

”You mean the highlighted white boxes over yonder?”

”Yes, it's a good sign already. Now, turn over the phone, remove the casing, there should be a needle. Let it prick your thumb.”

”Ok?” senselessly following instructions, '-it vibrated.'

*Host recognized,*

”What?” he jumped.

”You heard it?” asked she wanting to turn, the complex layout of vehicles made her weary, ”-a voice.”

”Yes, it said, host recognized.”

”Good, it works,” she laughed, ”-I knew it. Go on and turn over the phone, son, you've just inherited Éclair. It will help you more than is imaginable.”

”Éclair, what does it do?”

”A spirit that roams the land beyond our world. He holds the key to many vestiges of the past, the future, the present, nothing escapes him. I won't go into details, the thing's just going to bore you.”

'This is amazing,' he stared the world with a new perspective. People's faces were highlighted, sometimes their name and occupation would come on, other times, their social media. Buildings, roads, traffic lights, stores, anything he watched had information come up. Things became apparent after passing a dark-alley, the boxes were color graded from white, green, yellow, red, and black. In that instant, the red box came with '-kidnapping in process.'

”Lady Mother,” he shouted, ”-please, stop the car.”

She slammed the breaks, ”-what happened?”

”Igna Haggard,” spoke the same mysterious voice, ”-what are your orders?”

”Help me stop the kidnapping,” leaving no explanation, he bolted out of the car. Arrows showed the optimal route, smaller screens appeared with a feed from cameras, smart-phone, and even the recording of the assailant.

”Get her in the van already,” said a man smoking a cigarette. The alley led into a hidden plot with rusted and broken shops. Gross black substances leaked out the many outside walls. The bins were littered with smelly bags.

”Please be on the lookout,” said the voice, ”-calling authorities. Estimated time of arrival, 05:00 minutes.”

'Five minutes?' thought he leaned against a moisture brick wall. The unknown group fought to keep the girl silent. She'd kick, punch, and even go for the eyeballs. 'I can't help but be amazed. I can see their figures through the walls, these contacts are overpowered. One has a gun, the other two have daggers?'

”Culprit recognized as the Tunn's Gang. Their involvement in human trafficking has gone unnoticed. The leader is under investigation. What will you do?”

”I don't know,” he stopped, ”-I came here as a hero and don't have a plan. I don't even have a weapon.”

”Son,” approached Lady Courtney with high-heels, ”-there are things you need to tell me before rushing off,” her white-hair flowed to vanish into the empty plot. Not even a second past, she apprehended the kidnappers and let the girl free.

”Amazing…” thought he admiring her strong figure.

”Stop gawking,” a chop to the head later, ”-you know how hard it is to find parking?”

'She's mad about the parking and not me running off? I'm lost for words.' He followed silently and the trip resumed.