Alterin Saga: Biohazard
Episode 28: A piece of truth

Nekros Forest is one of the forests between the cities of Chandler and Reverie. The forest that according to the surrounding residents is sacred forest becomes a bus route boarded by Miko.

Damn, this forest is huge. Even more unlucky for Miko, because this forest seems horror at night. The government is not so disruptive to the forest area of 35 KM² because it is troublesome. They don't even ban illegal loggers here.

And this is where Miko is. On the bus, there were 10 passengers, a driver and 2 conductors. Quite quiet for a 25-seat bus.

Miko sat alone in the 3rd row seat on the right, where she could be alone and listen to music. Occasionally he closed his eyes to avoid the dark and horrifying scenery of the forest.

I should have taken the bus in the morning!

Miko was not sleepy that night, out of anxiety and fear. Actually, Miko's cowardly attitude is caused by her father who likes to tell horror stories when she was a child. The most terrible thing for him at that time was the haunted house on the playground.

"You afraid, little lady?" the passenger behind Miko asked. A man in cowboy style. Miko's height is not in accordance with the average person her age, it is natural that other people mistakenly think.

"Hey, do you have any gum?" the man asked again. This time he moved his head to the side next to Miko.

"No."

Who her?

The person nodded before returning to his sitting position again. Miko again tries to sleep, following most of the other passengers. A few minutes later, it rained. Making things even more sinister, for Miko. Lightning occasionally struck, making the sky bright for a moment, before darkening again.

"*You know what, son? That said, the rain was the cry of the ancestral spirit. They mourn the deaths of good people" David said.

"But, when lightning strikes, it means they don't grieve. They were disappointed in the wicked, and they cast their spirits on the earth. To be ghost—"

Damnit damnit! Why do I remember that story*?!

Miko was sweating coldly so scared of him. The music from the headset is like shrinking. It left the sound of rain outside.

"Your phone's dead." That sentence made Miko open her eyes. The man offered her a powerbank.

With hesitation, Miko accepts it and recharges her phone. Moments later, he asked the man.

"Anu, what's your name?"

"my name? You can call me Sixth."

"This towerbank... What is this for me?" miko asked, because it looks expensive from its appearance.

"Take it. You look like you're avoiding the sound of rain."

"I like the rain. Rain is the time when God takes care of the earth. He keeps the forest from drying up, soaks the soil from being arid, and gives thirsty creatures a drink."

They were silent, not knowing what else to talk about. Eventually, the conversation just stopped. Miko fell asleep and was comfortable.

...---...

Reverie city

Rave is now homeless again, as Jin can't pay the rent from the bank. The house was confiscated and Jin had to go home to his parents.

Life is hard, Rave proved it by working at the bus terminal. Not being a counter guard or anything. But he became a janitor, which was the hardest job in a public place. The first day he worked, apparently he could not rest because the garbage continued to appear every time there were passengers coming there.

Shit, today the Artemis army is coming. I need to get this job done quickly, then get the money to go as far as possible.

"Hey, did you hear? He said some Artemis troops would come here" the counter guard told Rave.

"Oh, huh? What do they want from us?" Rave tried to calm down even though he was daunted.

"See, they're talking about Projects or something. Jeez.. whereas this terminal has never been charged with any case, even if the theft."

Rave paused for a moment, "How long have you been working here?"

"Long time. Even when this terminal is still a delman base. I used to be a coachman, but my body wasn't strong and I ended up being a pendant."

Delman's base? It means 30 years. Even now no one is interested in learning to ride a horse.

"But even though I'm old, I can still clearly remember my past. For example, when the country is still at war. It was indeed—"

Rave did not listen to the old guard until the story came to the section, "News about the enemy using alien technology."

"Technology... aliens?"

"Yes, he said they could control things around. In fact they were able to turn raw steel into tanks in no time."

Not likely. The 3D printer was not invented at the time.

"I still have the news photos. Just a moment," the counterkeeper reached into his wallet and pulled out a shabby piece of newspaper.

Rave looked at the photo carefully. But, for some reason his gaze was immediately fixated on someone's face. The face of Bill Clinton.