Chapter 9

**Huff*huff**

“Dammit dammit, why now, why did it have to be now?”

“Those inconsiderate bastards”

“Move it, move out of the way you assholes!”

Cheng ran through the hallway, with each turn he made he bumped into someone.

Their patronizing faces as they flicked him off in anger was so vivid, so surreal. Normally things like these would bother Cheng, have him bow his head as low as he could asking for forgiveness. But not today, especially not now.

His timid personality had taken a backseat to today's crisis, he didn’t have the time to ask for forgiveness from his superficial friends, he didn’t have time to get on their good side hoping they’d give him an easier time later. He was about to be a dead man, and that’s all that mattered to him.

“Dammit he’s going to kill me!”

“Why did it have to be me delivering this info? Anderson you selfish prick I'll get you back for this”

The hallway of the UN was like home to Cheng, three generations of their family had worked in the UN, walked those very halls. He could easily walk through them effortlessly while blindfolded but not today.

He dreaded each step he took, hesitant to get to his destination. But still he had to get there. Somebody had to inform the director of what's going on and it just so happens that the unlucky bastard who drew the short straw was him this time.

Cheng finally got to the conference hall door, the giant door was as imposing as it was black. Behind it was an area deemed off limits to most of the stuff, and the few that had access to it wished they never went back.

It was really a frightening place to be, but not because of anything inside. There weren't any monsters or ghosts creeping in the shadows, the hall was feared because of one-man director Swati.

This was his favorite place to be, he’d spend most of his time in there gazing at the screens for a feedback, the longer he gazed the more pissed off he’d get, right till the second he’d explode in anger and vent his frustration on anyone close to him.

This was the man’s routine, a routine that was forced into the memories and nightmares of everyone who’d been through it before.

“It's almost noon, the meltdown time”

“Might as well get it over with”

Cheng took a deep breath. He'd resolved to face whatever horrors would follow once he entered that room, he was ready for it. He grabbed onto the door knob and pushed.

“Excuse me director?”

He said in a shaky voice, announcing his presence in the room.

Opposite him was a tall muscular man, dressed in a bespoke suit. His built body barely held back by the suit as if it would burst through at any moment, in his arm was a hand gripper that he squeezed periodically. His eyes were glued to the large monitors in the room.

His gaze was that of fury, the longer he stared at the unresponsive monitors the harder he squeezed on the hand gripper, a sharp squeaking sound rang through the room, indicating the extreme pressure the tool was under.

The aura around him was tense, Cheng felt his knees give in, he tried to call out to him but he was too frightened to say anything.

“Huh?! Cheng?!”

The man finally noticed the trembling fellow beside him. He turned his intimidating gaze towards Cheng who felt even weaker from the tension.

“Uhm excuse me director I have something to report”

Cheng finally mastered the courage to speak up. The man before him was the director of the UN, humanity’s last remaining ruling body.

It wasn’t an exaggeration to say he had the most power in the world and his look showed that evidently, from the class in his dressing to the imposing terrific aura around him.

In every way you looked at it this man was mighty and Cheng was his personal assistant. In the times when he wasn’t scared out of his mind, he would relish this fact and, in a way, it made him feel powerful as well.

“Uhm well director, I have something urgent to report”

“Hmm? Urgent huh?”

Swati glanced at Cheng. He was a smart man, he could tell from Cheng’s hesitation that it wasn’t anything good. A part of him felt frustrated and wanted to vent out but another part wanted to keep it tranquil today, he didn’t want to jinx such an important day.

Swati took a deep breath to calm his nerves, he nodded at Cheng letting him know it was ok to report whatever he needed to, he was ready for it.

Taking full advantage of this opportunity, Cheng stepped forward and started speaking.

“Well director, I just came to report that there are a few people protesting at the entrance of the building”

Cheng backed up after saying these words, it was an involuntary response, his body just moved itself. Maybe it was a defense mechanism triggered by his body, some sought of fight or flight mechanism and obviously he’d gone with flight.

He did this because what he said wasn’t necessarily accurate and he knew the director would figure it out the second he heard it.

The situation wasn’t as simple as he’d made it out to be, the protesters weren't just any random group of people, they were the Reapers, the world's most terrifying liberation group that opposed the UN with every means they deemed necessary, be it peaceful or radical.

Their presence at the UN wasn’t just to have their grievances heard but also to send a message, a clear warning that an attack was coming and no one could do anything to stop it.

Director Swati stood silent for a long while, you could see the range boiling within him, he squeezed hard on the gripper, venting enough of his fury to keep himself sane.

Veins protruded on his forehead, his eyes turned blood red, he had completely lost himself to the rage.

“Those sons of bitches!!”

**Booooom**

In one swift move the director punched through the desk before him like it was nothing. He was trembling in anger.

“How much time do you think we have?”

“Not long sir”

Cheng replied as he looked at the director.

Swati turned his gaze back to the monitors before him, he let out a loud sigh as he stared intensely at them.

With regret in his eyes he finally brought himself to speak.

“Why did it have to be today?”