Angel City - Playxstudios – Development Floor

  Isaac was buried in code, fingers flying across the keyboard, trying to push the morning’s hallucinations out of his head.

  “H-Hi… Isaac?”

  A soft voice broke his concentration.

  Isaac looked up. Kate stood by his desk, clutching a folder to her chest. She looked nervous, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

  “Kate? Hi… what a surprise.”

  “Yeah… I didn’t expect you to call me, but… well, here I am,” she smiled shyly.

  Isaac blinked, confused. “Huh? Call you?”

  “Yes… Joe came by my office a minute ago. He said you wanted to talk to me about something important.”

  Joe?

  Isaac leaned back slightly to look past her. Several desks away, Joe was peeking out from behind a plant, grinning like an idiot and doing a ridiculous victory dance. He gave Isaac a double thumbs-up before ducking back into hiding.

  That bastard… I’m going to kill him.

  But when Isaac looked back at Kate, who was waiting with those big, kind eyes, his anger melted away.

  Kate noticed him looking behind her and turned around, but Joe was already gone. She turned back, looking puzzled.

  “Is there a problem, Isaac?”

  “No, Kate… I… no, no problem at all,” he stammered, sitting up straighter.

  “Oh, I see… well, I guess I should get back to work then…”

  She turned to leave, shoulders slumping slightly.

  “Wait! Kate…” Isaac stood up abruptly. “Actually… I did need your help. You know… with the Wasaki reports.”

  She turned back, eyes lighting up. “Of course! I can help. I was speaking with their assistant yesterday. Anything else?”

  Isaac hesitated. His heart was beating faster than it had during the meeting with Dexter.

  “No… I mean, yes. I think so.”

  “Okay… well, if you need me, I’ll be at my desk. See you later, Isaac.”

  She started walking away again. Isaac clenched his fists. Don’t be a coward, Anderson. You survived the war. You can handle asking a girl out.

  “Kate! Wait.”

  He walked around his desk and approached her. She stopped, looking up at him curiously.

  “Sorry… I… I wanted to know…” He took a deep breath. “Would you like to go out with me? I mean… on a date? Sorry if I’m being forward… if you can’t, I understand… I don’t know why I’m acting like this, I—”

  Kate smiled, a genuine, warm smile that reached her eyes. She reached out and gently placed a finger over his lips to silence his rambling.

  “I would love to, Isaac.”

  Isaac blinked, the tension leaving his body. “Really? So… Friday?”

  They both started laughing, looking at each other.

  “Sure… Friday sounds perfect.”

  “Perfect… So, Friday night. I’ll pick you up at your place.”

  “Great. See you later, Isaac.”

  Kate walked away, practically glowing. Isaac watched her go, a goofy grin spreading across his face.

  He felt a heavy arm sling around his shoulder.

  “See? My plan worked after all, didn’t it?” Joe whispered in his ear, laughing.

  “Very good, Joe… very good.”

  Isaac sighed, shaking his head.

  Even though I want to punch him in the face right now, he’s right… it worked.

  “Thanks, bro,” Isaac muttered, trying to hide his smile. “But if you do that again, you’re dead.”

  “Worth it!”

  Angel City - Isaac’s Apartment

  Isaac stumbled through his front door, dropping his grocery bags on the kitchen table with a heavy thud. He grabbed a cold beer from the fridge, cracked it open, and took a long, desperate swig.

  He collapsed onto his sofa, the exhaustion of the day finally hitting him. Mia immediately hopped onto his lap, purring loudly. Isaac smiled weakly, stroking her soft fur.

  He grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. The news anchor’s face filled the screen, looking grim.

  “…We are live at the scene in Angel City, where police have unfortunately discovered the body of little Clara, lifeless. According to preliminary reports, the serial killer known as ‘Behemoth’ is still at large. Authorities warn that he is considered extremely violent and…”

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  Suddenly the sound of the TV faded into a dull buzz.

  A high-pitched ringing noise pierced Isaac’s ears, growing louder and louder until it was screaming inside his skull. His body locked up. Paralysis set in. Mia hissed and bolted from his lap as Isaac’s eyes began to water, the room dissolving around him.

  He was no longer in his apartment.

  He was standing on the stone balcony of a castle, overlooking a vast, dark horizon. The night air was crisp and smelled of pine and ozone.

  An old man dressed in flowing robes stepped onto the balcony and knelt on one knee, bowing his head.

  “My King… are you feeling better?”

  Isaac — or whoever he was in this memory — sighed, gripping the stone railing.

  “I will be, Master Gwyn. I… I wanted to save her. My will was to descend into that forest and burn it all, but…”

  “Fate is often cruel, my King,” Gwyn said, his voice heavy with age and wisdom. “It is unfair. But you need to be stronger than ever now. I know it is not easy… and I know I may sound harsh right now… but your Kingdom… your people… your family needs you more than ever.”

  Isaac turned. He and Gwyn locked eyes. A profound sadness passed between them. Isaac reached out and pulled the old man into an embrace. Tears streamed down his face.

  “Thank you, Master.”

  A woman entered the room. She saw the two men embracing and smiled, a look of pure affection on her face. She approached them softly. Gwyn noticed her presence and immediately knelt again.

  “My Queen!”

  “Master Gwyn,” her voice was like a melody. “I will always be grateful for your work, and Mary’s, for our family… Thank you.”

  “Your words bring me joy, Queen Aiko… But I am the one who thanks you. Anyway… I leave our King in your care. Farewell.”

  Gwyn bowed low and retreated into the shadows.

  Aiko turned to Isaac. She smiled, stepping close, and wrapped her arms around him, her hand cupping his face tenderly.

  “I missed you, my love.”

  “I missed you too,” Isaac whispered, leaning into her touch.

  “Are you still upset about Elara’s death?” she asked softly, searching his eyes. “My love… please… don’t be sad with me.” Tears welled up in her eyes. “I tried everything… I… I wanted to…”

  “I know,” Isaac hushed her. “I know you did everything possible.”

  He wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumb and kissed her gently. Aiko looked at him with such intense adoration that it made his chest ache.

  “Lie with me,” she whispered.

  “Yes.”

  Aiko smiled. She guided his hand to her face, nuzzling against his warm palm. They kissed again, deeper this time, moving toward the large bed covered in furs.

  (Hours later)

  Aiko and Isaac lay tangled in the sheets, completely naked, basking in the afterglow. Aiko rested her head on his arm, tracing patterns on his chest.

  “You outdid yourself today,” she teased softly.

  “You too,” Isaac chuckled.

  They looked at each other, but Isaac noticed a shadow cross her face.

  “Aiko? What is it, my love? Is something worrying you?”

  “I’m afraid this war will take you away from me,” she confessed, her voice trembling. “How long will this go on?”

  “It won’t be long, my love. I will be speaking with Sovereign Fall again.”

  “Fall doesn’t care about our people, Isaac,” she said sharply. “How many times do I need to say it? He is just an arrogant King.”

  “I know… that’s why… I will try just this one last time. If he doesn’t accept my offer… I will put an end to this war. Myself.”

  “Please… Please, my love… be careful,” she begged, clutching his arm. “I don’t want to lose you.”

  “You won’t lose me. I will be with you always.”

  “I love you, Isaac… I will always love you.”

  “I love you t—”

  Isaac looked deep into her eyes.

  Suddenly, her pupils elongated. The iris shifted to a glowing, reptilian gold. They were the vertical, slit eyes of a dragon.

  Isaac gasped, recoiling in shock.

  BAM! BAM! BAM!

  The sound of heavy knocking snapped him back to reality.

  Isaac jolted awake on his sofa. He was clutching an empty beer bottle. The TV was off. The room was dark.

  Someone was pounding on his door.

  “Mia?” he muttered, disoriented, his heart racing from the vision of the dragon eyes.

  He rubbed his head, trying to shake off the dream that felt more real than the apartment around him. He stumbled to the door.

  “Just a second… I’m coming.”

  He unlocked the deadbolt and swung the door open. He froze.

  Standing there, dressed in silk pajamas and a robe, was Amanda.

  “Amanda?”

  “Hi, Isaac…”

  He blinked, trying to process this. “What do you want?”

  “I bought a lot of beer,” she said, lifting a six-pack. “Actually… your favorite kind. I thought about drinking it with you on the balcony… like old times. Shall we?”

  They looked at each other. The ghost of his dead relationship stood in the doorway, offering comfort just moments after he had relived a life with a Dragon Queen.

  Isaac looked back at his empty apartment. Then he looked at her. He stepped aside and opened the door wider.

  “Come in.”

  Amanda smiled and stepped inside.

  “Make yourself at home,” Isaac muttered, gesturing vaguely. “Wait for me on the balcony if you want… I’m just going to change my shirt.”

  “Thank you.”

  Isaac went to his bedroom, threw on a fresh shirt, and took a deep breath before heading out to the balcony. He found Amanda leaning against the railing, gazing out at the neon skyline of the city. He joined her, taking the cold beer she offered.

  They stood in silence for a moment, just watching the stars struggle to shine through the city’s light pollution.

  “Ahhh…” she sighed, closing her eyes. “I missed this view so much. Nothing in this world compares to this.”

  “Really?” Isaac took a sip, watching her profile.

  “Don’t doubt it for a second.”

  “Good to know,” he smiled faintly.

  “So…” she turned to him, swirling her beer. “I heard you got the position at Playxstudios.”

  “Yes. Joe and I both got programmer spots.”

  “The eccentric Joe,” she laughed, a sound that brought back too many memories. “I haven’t heard about him in ages.”

  They looked at each other and chuckled.

  “Okay, okay,” she wiped a tear of laughter. “Is he doing well?”

  “Considering what I saw today… He’s definitely doing better than me. For sure.”

  Silence settled between them again, heavier this time. Isaac gripped the bottle tighter.

  “Can I ask you a question?”

  Amanda looked at him, smiling playfully. “So soon?”

  Isaac didn’t return the smile this time. “Yes.”

  “Go ahead. Ask.”

  “Why are you here?”

  “Oh… for the good beer,” she teased, gesturing to the bottle. “For the beautiful view… for the perfect company… what else would I want?”

  Isaac stared at her with a stony expression, waiting for a real answer. The playful smile faded from Amanda’s lips as she realized he wasn’t playing along.

  “Where did you go?” he asked, his voice low but demanding.

  Amanda felt cornered. She took a nervous gulp of beer and looked back up at the sky, avoiding his piercing gaze.

  Isaac realized in that moment that he would never get the truth. He sighed and looked up at the stars too.

  “It wasn’t easy for me, Isaac…” she began, her voice cracking. “Just as it wasn’t for you. I needed to go back to my place… Why bring this up now?” Tears began to stream down her face. “I… I’m here with you now, aren’t I?”

  She reached out, her hand trembling, trying to touch his cheek.

  Isaac flinched and pulled away sharply.

  “Do you think I’m an idiot, Amanda?” he snapped, looking her dead in the eye. “Do you really think I’d be waiting for you? Not anymore. I’ve already learned my lesson.”

  Amanda froze, her hand hovering in empty air. She looked at him, tears flowing freely now, searching for a trace of the man who used to adore her. She found only a wall of ice.

  Isaac turned his back to her, leaning on the railing and taking a long drink of his beer, dismissing her completely.

  She stood there for a moment, realizing she had lost him.

  “Forgive me…” she whispered.

  The sound of her footsteps faded as she left the balcony, then the apartment. The front door clicked shut.

  Isaac was finally alone.