Memory Flash: Real Recollection

As a child, Atsuko had always longed for a loving and caring family to take her in, but unfortunately, fate had other plans for her. She was an orphan, and no one seemed interested in adopting her. Meanwhile, Seiko, who was in a similar situation, was fortunate enough to find a beautiful couple who welcomed her into their family with open arms. Sadly, Atsuko lost contact with Seiko after she was taken in by her new family. Atsuko couldn't help but wonder if Seiko had forgotten about their friendship and hoped that she hadn't.

On the other hand, Jun lived with his father and little sister, with no memory of his mother because she passed away while giving birth. As they all grew up, Atsuko and Jun developed a close friendship, and they would often spend time together.

One early summer morning, Atsuko waited patiently in the forest by the oak tree, holding a small, dark blue box in her hand. She had asked Jun to bring her things from his birthday party, and he was on his way to deliver them.

As she waited, Atsuko couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her from afar. She tried to ignore it, thinking it was just her imagination. Soon enough, Jun appeared before her, and she couldn't contain her excitement. "Jun!!!" she exclaimed while waving at him. "Happy Birthday!"

Jun smiled and blushed, "Thank you, Atsuko. Here." He tried to hand Atsuko the goodie bag and slice of cake he had brought for her, but she hesitated, saying, "This is for you."

With that, Atsuko revealed the small, dark blue box from her backpack and took out a special necklace with half of a white angel wing for a charm. "We both have matching necklaces," she said, grinning from ear to ear as she placed the necklace around Jun's neck.

Jun was thrilled with the necklace and asked, "Where did you get them from?"

"I saved up my allowance to buy them from the antique shop," Atsuko said, beaming with pride as she received the gift Jun had brought for her.

As Jun and Atsuko were conversing, they suddenly heard the sound of a twig snapping. Both of them turn their heads in the direction of the noise, curious to see what caused it. Atsuko, feeling uneasy, asked, "Who is that?" Jun, sensing her fear, stayed by her side and said, "I hope it's just a harmless animal."

As they looked towards the source of the sound, they see a little girl walking towards them. She appeared to be lost and scared, with blonde hair and teal-blue eyes that are filled with tears.

"Is that a girl from your orphanage?" Jun asks. Atsuko shook her head, "Nope. She's unfamiliar to me."

The little girl whined, "Please help me!" and started crying uncontrollably. Atsuko, being kind-hearted, smiled at the girl and said, "What's the matter? Jun and I are willing to help."

The little girl sniffled and said, "I can't find my Papa." Jun and Atsuko decided to help her find her father, despite Jun's annoyance at being forced to do so on his birthday. As they ventured deeper into the woods, they realized that they are getting closer to a big facility called Somnus.

Atsuko noticed the place and asked, "What kind of place is that?" The little girl answered, "It's a place where my father works!"

Jun suddenly realized something sinister and confronted the little girl, "You lied to us!" He screamed at her. Before he can do anything, he felt a sharp dart hit the back of his neck, causing him to fall over. Atsuko screamed and tries to help him, but she's also hit with a sharp dart and falls over, feeling exhausted.

The little girl took Atsuko's snacks and her father, Dr. Alistair, walked over."Great job, Myra. You've caught your new friends."

Myra smiled brightly, feeling special for being praised by her father. "My new friends gave me cake and candy."

"Splendid.....let's go home and celebrate." Dr. Alistair smiled, carrying Jun and Atsuko on his shoulders.

Jun and Atsuko found themselves inside a cold and eerie building known as Somnus. They were taken to an area that is filled with numerous prisons, where they are both rendered unconscious and thrown into separate cells.

As they regained their senses, they noticed two young boys across from them in an adjacent cell. At first glance, the boys appeared to be ordinary, but upon closer inspection, Jun and Atsuko realized that they have pointy ears, an unusual trait for humans.

One of the boys had brown, short hair, and golden eyes, while the other had white, long hair and dark, red eyes. They seemed to be friendly and approach the bars separating them from Jun and Atsuko.

Suddenly, Dr. Alistair entered the room and announced, "Kenzo and Hideo, it's time to get ready for your eternal slumber."

The two boys seemed extremely pleased with this announcement and easily exit their cell, as the bars were never locked.

Kenzo seems particularly interested in Atsuko, drawn to her spiritual luminescence. Meanwhile, Dr. Alistair had been secretly summoning Daten-shi, a group of supernatural beings, as he is a madman who craves to create a new society that is far superior to actual reality.

Kenzo and Hideo have agreed to assist Dr. Alistair in his mission, but in exchange for their help, there must be a sacrifice. The nature of this sacrifice remains unclear, but it is evident that it is a crucial part of Dr. Alistair's plan.

Present Day

Jun is roughly dragged away by Dr. Alistair's henchmen to his dimly-lit room. A metallic plate is shoved in front of him, and he is given a bowl of bland porridge, a hard slice of bread, and a glass of water. But Jun was too famished to be picky. His stomach growls as he hungrily devours the tasteless food, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of Atsuko and his determination to rescue her from this hellish place.

As he ate, a memory came to him - the way Myra had looked at him, with a mixture of pity and sadness. Something about that look made him stand up, wiping his hands on his pants. He searched under his pillow and found a ring of many keys, which he put in his pocket with a sad smile. He knows what he has to do.

At midnight, he would make his move and escape from the Somnus facility. Someone would be waiting for him in a black car. Jun sits back on his bed, his bare upper body covered in sweat, and he notices the necklace he was wearing - a silver chain with half of a white angel wing charm dangling from it. He sighs, feeling a small smile form on his lips. He longs to escape with Atsuko, but he knows the risks. He would have to come up with a new plan once he was free.

****

Jun had been waiting for this moment for a long time. He had planned his escape from the Somnus facility for weeks, and now, with the key to his door in hand, he was finally ready to put his plan into action. It was already midnight when he unlocked the door to his prison and steps out into the dark hallway. He moves quietly, trying not to make any noise that could alert the guards.

Once he reaches the back doors of the facility, Jun finds that they were already unlocked, as he had hoped. He opens them slowly and steps outside, feeling the cool breeze on his face. For a moment, he stood there, taking in the sight of the night sky above him.

As he walks towards the back dirt road, Jun notices a black car parked nearby with its headlights off. He approaches the window and knocks gently. The driver rolled down the window, revealing himself to be a man named Remiel.

"It's been a while," Remiel says, smiling. "Quickly, get in."

Jun climbs into the car, closing the door behind him. He looks at Remiel, who has long red hair and dark blue eyes. His right eye is hidden by a white eye patch. He wears a guilty smile, as if he knew he was doing something wrong.

"Remiel...." Jun says, his voice barely above a whisper.

The drive of freedom is quiet. Jun wonders if he had made the right choice by leaving the Somnus facility. Myra did warn him about what would happen if he stayed, but he can't help but still feel uneasy.

Remiel breaks the silence,"I'm sorry it took this long to help you," he said. "A little birdie told me about your whereabouts."

Jun doesn't say anything, but he knew that the "little birdie" was Myra. She had helped him escape, even though it meant betraying her own father. Jun is grateful for her help but wishes Atsuko could have joined him in escaping.

As Jun sits in the passenger seat of Remiel's car, his mind is consumed with thoughts of Atsuko.

"What about Atsuko? Can she be saved too?" Jun asks, frowning as he stares down at his hands in his lap.

Remiel looks over at Jun and notices the pain and anger etched on his face. He knows that this is a difficult moment for Jun, and he wishes he could take away the pain. But he also knows that he needs to be honest with Jun about Atsuko's condition.

"She's far gone," Remiel says gently, "The girl is already dead. That machine she's hooked to keeps her alive."

Remiel's words ring in Jun's ears, but he refuses to accept them. He clenches his fists and stares down at his hands, frowning in frustration. He can't believe that she's gone, that she's already dead. Then he suddenly screams in rage, unable to accept this reality. Tears stream down his face, and he sobs uncontrollably. For Jun, this is a foreign feeling. He hasn't cried in a long time, and the flood of emotions is overwhelming.

Remiel sighs, feeling uncomfortable with Jun's display of emotions. He turns on the car radio in an attempt to distract Jun from his pain. The jazzy tune fills the car, and it's loud enough to drown out their thoughts.

But Jun can't be distracted. He can't stop thinking about Atsuko and the fact that she might be gone forever.

"Your sister Leonarda misses you." Remiel mentions, wanting to change the subject.

"I don't care." Jun replies back. He only cares about the safety of Atsuko, his dearly beloved.

Remiel pulls up to a red light, and the car comes to a stop. He turns to Jun and says, "Look, Jun. I will allow you to save Atsuko yet it might be risky."

Jun sniffles, still crying, "I'm willing to take the risk. I love her."

Remiel shakes his head, feeling unhappy about the situation. He wonders if Myra lied to him about Atsuko's death. There's something sinister at play, and Remiel can sense it. He wears a smirk that screams of a challenge, ready to face whatever lies ahead.

The car ride continues for two hours, and Jun falls asleep, exhausted from his emotions. The necklace that Atsuko gifted him glows softly in the dim light, but no one notices.

When they arrive, Remiel drives through the white gates of his home, a huge mansion on 800 acres of land. This is Haven headquarters, a place that is both luxurious and mysterious.

Atsuko is fully alive, and Remiel knows that the truth about her condition is much more complicated than he originally thought. But he's ready for the challenge, and he knows that Jun is too.