// Chapter I // Arden //

Arden is visited by unwanted guests while a search for a long lost enemy.

// Chapter I // Arden //

 

                A cellular phone rings on a rusted metal work desk. The phone is answered. “Dylan? Did you obtain the I.P. address?”

“Uhh, Arden listen something’s come up, I can’t do this.” Dylan explains. “Excuse me?” Arden retorts. “Arden, I’m out.”

“You gotta be f*****g kidding me, Dylan you made me come out to a run-down motel outside of the god damn city for this?” Arden cursed. “Arden, I’m sorry man.” Dylan hangs up. Arden slams his fists on the table. ‘You gotta be kidding me, you gotta be kidding me.’

Arden kicks the door open revealing a water damaged hallway with the stench of mold. He pulls his bandanna over his nose and proceeds down the hall. ‘He was all in for the kill, why did he bail?’ Arden kept contemplating.

He opens the entrance door which was the metal frame with the glass broken and all over the ground below. He looks out into the wasteland then to Atarashi Jinsei, the city going the length of the horizon with a sun setting behind it. He mounts his motorcycle and activates the vehicle.

He makes his stop to Atarashi Jinsei’s immigration booth. He stops by the window and gives his pass port to the security guard. Arden leans back stretching his shoulders. After a moment of waiting Arden turns his gaze to the security guard who’s giving him a glare.

“You may pass through, Kato.” He snarls. “Right thanks.” Arden sighs taking back the passport. Katos are discriminated against for their past. Katos are students of an institution named after the family name. People use an unofficial name for Kato they used to call it ‘The School of Assassins’. Arden drives down the tunnel, his bike’s glow makes it illuminate off special asphalt that the road is made of. He sees the light at the end of the tunnel then is presented with one of the last cities on Earth.

Arden stops at a small shopping center and refugee camp. Atarashi Jinsei may be a glorious and impressive city but it still has one of the most brutal outskirts. Arden leaves his motorcycle and proceeds to traverse through concession stands selling cheap food and mechanical parts, sometimes both in a single stand. He gets to the point where the smell is thick with the stench food and sulfur. Seeing grease monkeys working on vehicles to seeing gang members pulling people away, it’s easily the sketchiest part of the outskirts.  Arden walks upon a storage crate; he pulls out his phone and plays a specific tune. Getting a few weird looks, he ignores.

“Arden?” A female voice calls. Arden looks to a girl who has medium red hair a brown jacket and brown cargo pants with glowing green eyes. “Is that you?”

“Ella, it’s been awhile.” Arden says putting his phone back in his pocket.

“What brings you here? I thought you and Dylan were working a job together.” She inquires

“Well actually.” Arden starts. “Can we speak in private?”

“Why? Is anyone listening in? I’ll kick their a*s if they are!” She turns to kick and punch the air. Arden pulls on the back of her jacket collar. “Seriously.” Arden says.

“Okay, okay follow me.” Ella and Arden go to an isolated area in the shopping center. “Okay, what’s up?” she asks.

“A couple hours ago Dylan called me and quit on me.” Arden explains.

“Odd.” She says.

“Yeah, I need to find him.” He says with serious eyes.

Ella fixates her eyes to his “You’re not gonna kill him are you?”

“What? There’s no reason for me to.” He says.

She crosses her arms. “Well, I haven’t seen him sorry.”

“Can you help me look for him?” Arden asks

“What’s in it for me?” She grins

“I err, don’t have any money left. You’ll gain nothing other than my regards.” Arden says

“Meh, I was just messin’ with ya. Let’s go find our buddy Dylan.” She punches Arden’s arm.

Ella proceeds to walk back to the shopping section then halts, she looks back to Arden. “You can’t kill him okay?” She pleads. Arden puts his hands in front of him “Don’t worry no harm will come to him.” Arden gives her a smile. After she turns her back on him and walks a frown falls upon Arden ‘Why does she think I’ll kill him?’ He thinks and answering his own question. As they continue Arden realizes that the shopping section has been cleared out. He pulls on the back of Ella’s collar.

“Hey what’s the big ide-” Arden puts his head closer to hers. “Expect trouble ahead, just follow closely.” He whispers. “Okay, lead the way” She whispers back. Arden walks passed her and proceeds to look for any further suspicions. He turns a corner ending up staring into a barrel of a gun. He rips the gun from the gun owners hand and pulls out his. Arden punches him in the stomach while simultaneously pulling the trigger of his pistol making a large hole in the man’s stomach, Arden then does the same thing but under his chin and propels him in the air. The sack of meat hits the pavement making a mess on the ground. Arden looks around and sees men in white jumpsuits and armored exo-suits aiming their weapons at him.

“Drop your weapon Kato!”

Arden stares blankly for a few seconds then hesitantly puts his pistol onto the ground. He looks over his shoulder to see that Ella is nowhere to be found. He turns his head back forward to find someone walking towards him. He approaches Arden and stares at him with curiosity. He grabs Arden’s arms. “C’mon arms up.” Arden complies and puts his arms up. “My name is Butch, I’m a commander.” He says while searching Arden. “I’m-.” Arden tries “No need to introduce yourself, we know who you are Arden Kato. Your buddy Dylan made sure we knew who you are.” Butch snickers

“Dylan? Who are you guys?” Arden inquires.

“We work for Rockwell.” He says then pulls off a sheath armed with a knife off from Arden and throws it to the side.

“Oh yeah right, Rockwell.” Arden says sarcastically.

“You don’t know who he is?” Butch asks with a shocked expression.

“Of course I don’t know who he is!!!” Arden yells.

Butch strikes him in the stomach. “That’s shocking to hear, especially for a Kato. Have you been living under a rock or something?”

“Guess he isn’t very relevant to anyone.” Arden chuckles.

Butch smacks him with the back of his hand. “Quit your barkin’!”

A familiar tune could be faintly heard from above, Arden rights himself and stares at Butch with a smirk. Butch stares at him quizzically. Then a muffled rat-tat-tat is heard followed by a number of bodies falling. Butch looks back to see a small girl with red hair rise from her knees with an SMG within her grasp and corpses surrounding her. With an awe and defeated look on Butch’s face he stands not able to move.

“I guess this is checkmate, Butch.” Arden says putting his throwing glaive against his throat.

“You god damned Kato.” He scoffs at Ella.

Ella chuckles “I’m not a Kato bud.”

Arden slits Butch’s throat and throws him to the ground. “We have to leave -- Now.” Arden says walking hastily passed Ella to his motorcycle. He mounts the bike and starts it up. He looks Ella who’s standing idly staring at the ground. “Are you coming?” He asks.

“Huh? Oh yeah!” She runs over and hops on the motorcycle.

Arden drives out of the parking lot and onto the road.

“Where are we going?!” Ella yells over the motor.

“Well, hopefully out of the city!” Arden replies.

He continues down the road, the tunnel that leads out of the city comes into view. He sees a road block of two jet-black tanks with a single man in the middle. Arden comes to a sudden stop.

“Holy s**t… who are these people?”  Arden gets a better look at the single soldier in the middle of the tanks, a dark suit with an exo-suit and green lights and a blank helmet. Arden turns the cycle around and goes back. “What’re we doing?” Ella asks.

“Damn you ask a lot of questions!” He says.

“Well I need the information!!” She yells.

“Don’t worry I have a plan!” Arden says.

Arden notices flashes near him, he turns his head to see a black large car after them. “You can shoot right?”

“Who do you think you’re talking to? Of course I can shoot!” Ella turns herself 180 degrees and opens fire on the vehicle. After a while of shooting she turns herself back around. “Did you get them?”

“Uhh, nope missed every shot.” Ella says ashamed.

“Then keep shooting!” He yells.

“I can’t I’m out of ammo!”

Arden sighs. “Okay! You drive!”

“What?”

“We’re switching places” Arden yells

“Wait how?” Ella asks.

Arden stands on top of the motorcycle. “Go under my legs!” he yells.

“What? No!”

“We don’t have time to argue!” Arden yells.

With hesitation Ella complies and goes under his legs then takes control over the motorcycle, Arden turns around crouching on the back of the seat. “We need them to get closer to us.”

“Roger that!” Ella says slowing the motorcycle. The car speed up and bumps into the motorcycle. Arden is propelled onto the car.

“Wow no hesitation huh!” Arden yells at Ella.

“No time to argue right?” She grins; Ella departs away from the car.

 Arden looks behind towards the windshield of the car seeing the dumbfounded faces on the driver and passenger. Arden waves then pulls out his throwing glaive and attacks the windshield. He starts to slash the thick glass with each strike making a large opening, he un-equips his weapon and punches through the windshield. The driver strikes Arden in the face knocking him back onto hood nearly falling off the front. He growls loudly, he pulls the driver out from the damaged windshield and throws him off the front of the car. The car gets leaped in the air by the armored foe, Arden is thrown off and the vehicle tumbles to its side.

Arden remains on the ground, Ella pulls up beside him and hops off. She kneels next to Arden. “Are you okay?” She says shaking him lightly.

“Yeah, yeah.” He grunts.

“Oh good, it wouldn’t have been cool if you did that then died.” She says.

“I agree.” He slowly stands.

“Are you good to stand?” She worries.

“I’m fine. Let’s go.” He says getting back on the bike.

She joins him on the bike. “So where to?”

“We continue with that plan.”

“The plan you so rudely didn’t tell me.” She glares at him.

“Let’s go!” Arden says then drives.

Author's Note

Please excuse the grammar. Haven't really improved xD. But seriously tell me how the first chapter is! I would love to know because I think this can become something amazing if it gets the right attention. (By right attention I basically mean any attention.)