The Stranger's Arrival

BLANCHE has always wondered why people are afraid to lose someone they love. Why losing someone brings people pain; heartache? On top of that, why people are afraid of letting go of someone they valued the most? Perhaps, it is because people are afraid to experience despair.

            It has been their routine; lose someone and in return, they’ll meet someone much better than the other one. But who knows? Blanche's life has always been a rollercoaster ride for her. She could not even think of any reason as to why she was being treated like this - had she been a sinful individual in her past life? That, she doesn't know.

            It was in the middle of December, the surrounding was covered with a pile of snow - migratory birds have left towards the south, tree branches are already blanketed with dense snow. People wear sweaters and gloves to evade the coldness that it carries. The wind was striking real forcefully that you can hear its whistle; those whistles that almost give you a deafening tone. The sky was overfilled with darkness and stars were nowhere to be found. Those signs - a snowstorm was coming.

            “It’s turning a bit colder this time than earlier,” snapped Aerith, who’s wearing a thick coat, her neck was wrapped with a scarf.

            “Indeed,” Blanche said, parting her window's thick curtain as she stared blankly at the outside. Blanche who's wearing a white thick hoodie jacket, topped with a black overcoat, leans on the side of the window as she runs her fingers on her hair before she crossed her arms on her chest.

            “The higher staff briefed me that there will be an extremely particular guest who’s coming later today. I wonder who that person was,” said Aerith, more particularly talking to herself than to Blanche. Her point finger was on her chin, making her look serious.

            “Maybe some of those influential people,” Blanche blurt out as she shrugged, closing her eyes.

            Blood. Everything was full of blood. Oozing from someone’s body. Bang! A ringing sound of a sniper gun echoed in every corner. And most of all, blood. Metallic smell, red liquid substance. Blood! Every sight, every corner, was screaming out the word blood.

            Blanche opened her eyes and swept her sweat away from her forehead. Every time she closes her eyes, blood was the first thing she can see. “It’s been a while since the last time I had a mission. Don’t you have another mission for me?” She asked the latter, trying to ease herself from the uneasiness that has been eating her inside.

            Aerith took a step towards her and wrapped her arms around Blanche’s waist. “Blanche, I know you missed acting as Blue, but bear with me if I am not giving you a hard time mission these past few days. I can’t let you enter those kinds of missions, not now that I know that you’re not fine. I can’t risk your life, you’re still my sister. And I am also frightened that you can’t still do it. Your last mission was a failure - you almost got yourself slaughtered. And I don’t want that to occur again.”

            That mission, remembering the scenario makes her scoff. It was over a week or so - she can barely remember. She was dealing with a high-rank drug syndicate. Her mission was to kill their head. She was almost able to shoot her target to death but before she could do it perfectly, there this woman, oozing with beauty, arrived. Blanche’s full attention drew to her causing her to aim accidentally. That was when she just realize what happened. On her first shoot, she missed the target because of her, being a human, and being mesmerized by the said Goddess. The goons find out where she was hiding so they aimed fire at her.

            She got hit on the upper back part of her shoulder, in her thigh, and on the other parts of her body. Bruises and scars were plastered on her arms and face. She lose some blood because of what happened, good thing Aerith came to rescue her because if not, she was sure that they were hella having their lamentation for her that day.

            Blanche smirked at the thought of being killed by those bastard syndicates. Makes her want to kill and torment all of them.

            “I know that smirk, Blue. Stop what you’re thinking,” Aerith said with authority.

            “You called me Blue, Aerith. You never call me that name when we weren’t on the mission. Why is that?” Blanche asked, curiously as she squint her eyes.

            “You’re acting like her,” Aerith blurt out, shrugging. “I hate the guts and wit of Blue. She was selfish that she barely think of others. But my sister, Blanche was the opposite.”

            “I’m better off with Blue than Blanche. Blue was a dangerous femme, cold-hearted, not afraid of anything, cool and such. While Blanche was caring. She cares for everyone that she scarcely cares for herself,” she said, tapping the other’s shoulder as she dismiss Aerith’s hands from her waist. “Now, now, Blue and Blanche is a perfect combination. A touch of dangerous femme and a touch of caring girlfriend.”

            “Burglar!” Aerith screamed as she saw Blanche winking at her.

            They were in the middle of that scenario when someone call for their attention. It was perhaps the General. It says that they need to go to their Conference Room for they have an urgent discussion that needed to be tackled. Both of them nodded and they make their way towards the said room, clueless about what will be their discussion is - sometimes, the General is full of secrecy, they'll never know what's ahead of them; what awaits them. All of the military agents were there - sitting in front of a long table as some of them were busy settling microphones on the table. They even used a projector for the slideshow presentation. Both Blanche and Aerith had no idea what was going on. All they knew is that they have a visitor and an urgent meeting, that’s all - nothing more, nothing less.

            “Hey,” Blanche taps one of her colleague’s shoulders, getting attention from that person. “Any idea on what was going on?” she asked, her pointer finger was placed under her chin.

            “Recruit,” replied the other. “The General said that we have a recruit. You know, newly graduated scouts and such. Well, at least that’s what I’ve known,” shrugging her shoulder as she excuse herself and continue what she was doing earlier before Blanche bolted in and asked her.

            Recruit, huh? Blanche smirked as she shrugged her shoulder and seated on the left side of the General. The General noticed Blanche's presence which made him clasps his hands.

            “So how was your wounded shoulder, Agent Blue? Hope it’s not that critical as I thought,” the General said, leaning on his swivel chair, hands are still clasped together; looking at the girl with a sly smile. Blanche smiled before answering, “It was nothing compared to those wounds I got when I was still on my training a few years ago, General.”

            “You’re an outstanding agent, sniper, assassin, and such, you’ve got it all. Hope you don’t mind that I am putting everything on your shoulder,” the General reach out to Blanche and hardly pressed the girl's wounded shoulder; Blanche can feel the pressure of the General's grip on her shoulder, she can even feel that blood oozes on the bandage wrapping her wounded body part.

           Blanche suppress the pain she felt from how the General pressed his hands on her shoulder. It was like challenging her to suppress the pain she was feeling for as long as she can. Fresh wound, fresh blood, freshly stitched by their medical team. "Seems like you're enjoying pressing it up, General. Do you want it to bleed?" Blanche smirked, trying to endure the pain she was groping due to the General's grip.

            “Since you’ve been pressing your Goddamn hands on my wounded shoulder, General, does it even satisfy yourself? I know how you love seeing me in deep pain because I know I brought you a deep pain too back when I was just starting, back when I was a trainee,” she added as a sly smile formed on the girl’s lips, more likely teasing the General. The latter laughed, shoulder shaking for he was trying to subdue his precious laughter.

IT WAS seven years ago when Blanche accidentally shot the General’s shoulder. It was perhaps a pure accident but hell no! The General does it on purpose - he provokes the girl to do it, to test how brave Blanche was. And he’s right. Blanche was too brave to shoot him straight on his shoulder - the girl did not even hesitate to shoot him, but what amazed him to see is the fact that Blanche's aura changed every time she holds a gun; every time she has a chance to kill - she's a real terror to anyone. “Now that you’ve mentioned it, do you know how brave you are back then, Blue? You scared me to death.”

            Blanche and the General laugh as they both remember those training sessions they had. The General was indeed, Aerith’s dad - there's no denying it.

            “Wow, you both having a good time without me?” Aerith said pouting as she sat on the right side of the General. “Already heard that we have a recruit, aight?” Intrigued, Aerith lean forward to the General while raising her brows.

            “Well, about that. The higher administration wants to add some member to our large battalion,” said the General but Blanche was sure that it was not just that. She knew that the General was hiding something, something more important that only the higher administration and the General had the right to know. Secrecy, that’s what they called it.

            She knew for a fact that both higher administration and the General would not add a recruit, especially when it was a new graduate scout if there is no war to be done. Agents, yes they were indeed agents - always in a mission, ready to die, and ready to be your foe.

            “Guess we all have another mission to undergo, right General?” asked Blanche, coyly. She leans her back on the seat, calming herself as she becomes curious about all of these.

            The General just shrugged his shoulder and did not bother to answer Blanche. I know you're hiding something, General. I need to know what that is. She carefully stretches her arms, leans backward, and sighs. 

            Aerith look around and she notice that everyone had gotten into their seats. The wooden door of the Conference Room suddenly open wide, revealing the said recruits. They were only five, all girls. All of the recruits don’t look familiar except for one in which both of them, Blanche and Aerith, look at each other and stared at the newly recruited. Blanche dropped her jaw as their eyes met. She has changed… perhaps a lot of change.

           Their conference has started, Blanche is looking intently at the screen where the plans are being shared by their other comrades - the changes in their current station, the upcoming training for the recruits, the planned mission, and the whatnots. As she tries to focus, she can sense the drastic glance coming from someone located in front of her, seating on the second seat, beside Aerith. If looks could kill, she then must be dead by now. She smiles at the thought as she turns her gaze to the being. Their eyes met, she slyly smirks as the other rolled her eyes out of annoyance.

           Minutes passed by and it was time for the recruits to take initiative on introducing themselves. Blanche listen to each of them, but when the time come that this being was about to introduce herself, Blanche excused herself. You shouldn't be here, you're not supposed to be here. Blanche repeatedly said to herself.

           Her feet brings her to their barracks' balcony - it was now covered with snow. She could see nothing but the scenery rendered in clear white surroundings. The breezy air greeted her cheeks. Blanche sighed and a misty cloud of smoke comes out when she breathe - perhaps the temperature has dropped again.

           "You should have acted like you're interested to see me," a voice behind her stated. Blanche turns her gaze towards the person behind her and chuckles. "Why do I need to fake myself? We both know that it's not so nice to meet you again," she responded.

           "And why not? You're good at faking everything, anyway." The other shrugged. Blanche, on the other hand, raised her left brow out of confusion. "I beg you pardon?"

           "Aren't you astound? I made it here," the other being said, full of herself. Blanche just sighs out of disbelief. "You have no idea what you've got yourself into, do you?"

           "Well, as long as I've got myself in here, that's all that matters for now. And oh! Of course, I'll get the chance to kill you in any way I could."