11th CARD › “Wanted”
A Fall from Grace wasn’t a common occurrence. Far from it. When such an event happened it brought with it headlines of the fall and of the destructive aftermath. An Esper’s light was extinguished.
No one had ever survived a Fall from Grace. It was something which caused the Esper in question to lose control of their power in a brilliant explosion of pure, unchecked energy… and if the Esper somehow ‘survived’ they would find themselves becoming a Chaotic. So yes, maybe by some standard Espers had survived in the past – but becoming a monster was not exactly surviving.
They would then be cut down by their former peers.
That was the routine of a fall since the beginning of the Espers, since New Eden was founded.
It remained as such until Giotto Jaeger’s Fall from Grace – one which was still shrouded in mystery.
Gio was the first King to ever fall. After all, a King’s power was absolute. That meant their control was just as unyielding. No one would ever predict that a King could lose control.
Perhaps the fear of a King being seen as lesser was why the truth of the fall was covered up. Gio had been declared dead at the time, but the Aces, the Kings, and those closest to them knew the truth.
He had survived his Fall From Grace and become something more – he had become the Wild Card.
He never expected it, either. A day like any other, filled with the normal routines of a King. Alongside Faye, his wife, Gio approached everything with the belief he would do the same thing tomorrow.
Not even the momentary thought that he would never see his wife’s face again, or that his life would never be the same again, ever crossed his mind.
Perhaps it was him being too comfortable.
Perhaps he became careless.
But that wasn’t quite right. Gio could be cocky, maybe even arrogant at times, but his lack of fear for tomorrow was thanks to those closest to him. He had absolute trust in Faye, in Leon, in the members of his House and every Esper whom he crossed paths with. That trust gave him the security that his halcyon days were far from over.
It just so happened that fate teetered a little differently. Those days were never going to continue.
The fall was something beyond his control. A thousand different decisions in a hundred different ways would have all lead to the same conclusion. It was the day that Gio would fall and that those closest to him, along with countless others, would see their lives extinguished.
It was then, like a star coming to the end of its life, that the fires burned brightest.
The suffocating smoke was still memorable. The sight of blood soaked streets beneath the rubble that were once buildings was still vivid. Screams in the distance still rang like a never ending chorus of lost souls.
Gio’s own body was heavy. It felt like a two-ton brick lay atop him and well, that wasn’t far off. Collapsed metal and concrete had buried many, himself included, but his body had somehow come out intact. His own blood flowed like a crimson river, but the loss was minimal compared to others. Bones were broken and the body was bruised, but more than that, he was still alive.
Struggling to get free seemed silly, but he grasped at anything he could to get a grip on. His body was working on instinct, trying to survive, despite the fact his mind had yet to catch up.
Where am I…? What Happened…? Thoughts raced through his mind at a snail’s pace, but even so his body kept moving.
He knew deep down that whatever happened did so quickly. A flash was all that he seemed able to remember, but in that flash came the annihilation of everything and everyone. Where he lay no longer resembled a city block. It didn’t even resemble a trash heap.
Everything was blended together in a cold gray that not even the burning fires could warm.
The flickering lights of the fire then seemed to spark something in Gio. A realization. His mind was catching up.
What was I doing here…? Was I with someone…? Where… where… where is—!!!
His body fought harder. His hands that struggled to reach anything took hold of the air and slowly, surely, found strength that had moments ago been lost. He tried to push against the ground and lift himself up, to prop up his body, but as he moved he could feel the strain on his own body.
He could feel the sensation of his forearm bending, cracking, and snapping. His bones were grinding together and against his own skin. Much more and surely a bone or two would rip through flesh.
His body hit the ground but he didn’t stop. Gio’s mind was entering a dull state. He was there at the scene and yet far away, sinking to the bottom of a black sea. Sounds faded away, sensations slowly returning were lost.
Let me out!! Let me out!! This isn’t right, this isn’t normal!! I can’t see her… I can’t hear her; I can’t feel her!!
The fires intensified and burned all around him, giving no quarter.
But despite the pain, his broken body, and the suppressive force of the flames, he continued to claw himself free. He would fight against the current that tried to pull him under, to push him back, and instead he tried to latch on to his pain like a lifeline. It proved he was still alive, still struggling.
No matter how improbable it had seemed, he pulled himself free of the tomb that had formed around him.
His body rolled away as the crumbled building collapsed further, giving way entirely where it once rested atop his spine. Luckily he was spared.
It was getting harder to breath, perhaps because of the smoke or perhaps because of the ribs piercing into his lung. Gio tried to cry out to the world around him but his voice wouldn’t come. He was alone. Any who once stood near were gone from this world.
Why… is this a dream— a nightmare?! Wake me up… please, wake me up!! I don’t want to feel this anymore!
His body began fighting once more. His pain continued to fuel him, seemingly due to shock, or perhaps he was simply dull to the piercing sensation. He tried to sit up and look around him, to find a way to freedom… but his body no longer cooperated. Not even his survival instinct could push his broken bones any further.
He collapsed back against the ground.
Like the others, he would die amidst the golden glow of the flames.
.. Faye, where… are you… Help me…
The light began to fade and Gio’s eyes grew heavy. The fight was over.
« — »
Gio’s body nearly went flying out of bed. White sheets were tossed aside and into the darkness of his messy room, joining all sorts of clutter scattered across the hardwood floor. It was so dark that his eyes took a moment to adjust. He was soaked in his own sweat from head to toe, but he didn’t bother trying to get up further.
His head rested in the palms of his hands.
That dream… why that dream, almost every time…
“You had another nightmare?”
Gio’s eyes narrowed towards the sound of a voice, his left hand flying upwards as if he was about to attack, but he calmed down when he realized the source. It was Leon, sitting calmly in an old rocking chair in the corner of the room.
“.. It’s just you, Leo’… If you don’t mind, I’d like to not have someone staring at me creepily while I snooze.”
Leon managed a smile, but it was obviously uncomfortable for him. He knew the nightmares that haunted Gio. It wasn’t just a dream, either, but a memory of past events. It was unfortunate that he couldn’t seem to help his friend with this personal trial. All he could do was reach out his hand.
“One of these days, Giotto, you’re going to have to move past what happened. You know I’m always here to—”
The look upon Gio’s face caused Leon to freeze up. Even in the darkness, Leon’s already adjusted eyes could see the look of rage building. He decided to let it go for now.
“.. Well, Gio, you should know I didn’t come to watch you sleep,” he spoke as he stood, walking calmly over to his best friend. “They’ve made their move. King Victor Ferris and his daughter, King Rose Jalice.”
A confused gaze was all the response Leon would get.
“A Roundtable was held. One with the Aces… what I mean to say is they’ve made Wild Card’s identity known. Former King of Hearts, Giotto Jaeger, a Rogue that has caused wanton destruction and death. The most wanted man in New Eden finally has a face after four years – and they are coming.”
It still didn’t seem to register, partially due to him just waking up and partly due to his current state. Though, Leon’s continued gaze pulled him out of his drowsiness. Gio was realizing that things had suddenly taken a turn he honestly wasn’t prepared for. He knew the day would come eventually, but he was naïve.
Gio noticed a look upon his friend’s face, like there was something more.
“.. Leon, what else have they—”
But those words were interrupted by the sudden bedroom door swinging open, slamming against the adjacent wall and back, and bringing with it enough light to drown out the darkness.
“What the hell is this?! My face– MY face is all over the news! My name, they have my name, Gio!!” Sera was exasperated, clad in her own night apparel of an oversized t-shirt and gym shorts.
There was a slight pause as the three stared at each other, perhaps as much as a minute, but the silence was broken with little regard for the heavy cloud hanging over them.
“.. Aren’t those my clothes—”
Gio’s voice was struck down with authority in the form of a flying pink hair dryer, crashing into his face and sending him flailing off the other side of the bed.
“What is going on – and YOU!” Sera’s anger shifted to Leon as she fearlessly grabbed the King by the collar and lifted him up off the ground. “How did this happen?!”
It was a moment of weakness for Leon. He felt that had he done things differently or been more aware, he could have stopped things from getting this far. Perhaps he could have persuaded Victor to put aside his vendetta before it went too far.
What could he say? There weren’t any words that he could think of. He felt horrible and wanted to make things better, but it seemed this was one time that the Golden Lion would come up short.
“.. Just let him go, Sera.”
Gio was back on his feet and decided to finally flip the light switch by his bed. Perhaps a visual representation of his own mind finally coming to.
“Let him go? Do you understand what’s—”
“I understand fine. It’s not his fault. He’s done nothing but help.”
Gio sounded a bit defeated, but Sera followed through and let the King go.
With his freedom, Leon stepped back towards the bed and looked across to Gio. He was surprised to see him looking so very… gloomy.
“There may be a way to get out of this.” His tonal shift caught Gio off guard. “I’m sure you know what I’m referring to, right? That day four years ago… when all of this transpired. Avoiding it won’t do you any good anymor—”
The shade wearer’s fist flew through his wall, the lights flickering wildly as he did so. Sera and Leon were caught off guard, but the later stood his ground firmly. Gio’s emotions were breaking down.
“What the hell would you know?!” The glare that shot through Leon’s very soul was one that few others had faced.
“.. I know it’s hard, Gio. Now is not the time to sit around playing games. The sooner you accept it and move on, the sooner you could start to mend—” Leon’s body went flying back, past Sera, with Gio having leapt over the bed and slammed his entire body – elbow first – into his friend’s.
Neither man blinked.
“What good does it do to look back on that day?! It was a fall! It doesn’t do any good now!”
“.. If it wasn’t your fault there’s a chance that the Aces and Kings could—” Gio’s fist slammed into yet another wall, this time inches from Leon’s skull. Still, he didn’t flinch. “.. could forgive what happened and work to uncover the truth… This could be your chance, Gio.”
Sera looked on with a look of hesitation. Seconds before she was told to let Leon go, and now this.
Obviously it was a touchy subject, but she wasn’t sure what to say or do. On one hand she wanted nothing to do with Leon and the Houses, but if that day four years ago, Gio’s Fall from Grace, wasn’t his fault…
“Just leave. Just leave, Leon. I… I have nothing more to say.” His arm pulled back, bringing with it the chalky substance of the structure’s dry wall. “Please, just go.”
Leon watched as his friend stumbled back to the other side of the bed, sitting with his back towards the others. There was nothing more that could be done. It was unfortunate but it was reality. He himself turned from Gio, heading towards the doorway, but he stopped and turned to Sera.
“Keep an eye on him. You two need to be careful from here on out. There’s no time for games going forward… you should also get yourself ready. You two can’t stay here anymore.”
With that, Leon stepped out into the hallway and disappeared towards the exit.
Sera was left to watch as Gio became trapped in a trance. He was in his own little world, sitting calmly on the bed while staring at his night stand. Atop the nightstand was a simple digital clock, a small lamp, and a golden picture frame.
Within the frame lay a picture taken just the other day at the beach. The first picture Sera could recall in almost her entire time here.
So many were present; Kenny, Clare, Lenna, Sera herself, Leon, and of course a distant Kat stalking ever so carefully. However, smack in the middle was Gio and the young boy whom they had met, Kai.
It was the first picture Gio could remember caring to get a copy of in a long time. He just wasn’t the kind of guy to take many photos or be involved to take a group shot, but that picture atop his nightstand clad in golden frame was the proof he needed. It was what made his day at the beach tangible.
That day was the first time in far too long that the former King simply had fun with others. It was a day he could finally see he wasn’t as alone as he appeared to make himself out to be.
« — »
Meanwhile, deep in District One, the Diamonds Headquarters was abuzz. Members of the House were mobilizing, suiting up and preparing for what looked like a war. They were clearly set to be going after Giotto Jaeger, Wild Card, but this force seemed like overkill for one man.
Victor, clad in his black and blue uniform with the Diamond insignia proudly on display, could only smile and watch his House with joy. After years it was finally time to obliterate the parasite which plagued New Eden. His glorious city would be cleansed.
However, the King was not alone atop his perch. There was a figure, not Rose, blending together with the shadows behind him.
The figure had a voice, one which seemed to slither its way to a listener’s ear like a snake.
“You surpassed even my own expectations, Adamant Charge.”
It felt like there were multiple voices, echoing back and forth in a small space, while at the same time sounding further and further away.
It didn’t sound like any noise a human nor Esper would make.
Victor turned to his right slowly, full of purpose, with an uncontrollable grin spreading across his face.
“So, the guardian angel returns? I dare say I did not expect to see you so soon. How goes the preparations on your end?” The familiar tone meant one thing – these two were acquainted.
Partners in their actions against the Wild Card.
“Oho, you are quite the curious one, Adamant Charge. I do like to see that eager side of you. Especially when you’re glowing with that much killing intent… it really brings out your eyes.”
There was a moment in which time seemed to flow ever more slowly, and not even Victor could notice it. In that instant the figure emerged from the shadows in full, hunched over with a bounce in his step, propelling himself to stand back to back with the Diamond King.
Their face and even their entire body remained hidden behind a hooded cloak. Strangely enough, the attire seemed like it was a part of the darkness. The clothes that hid his person entirely were practically alive, flowing around him in a constant motion of shadow.
Victor noticed too late, spinning back around, but the figure was once again gone from his view.
That look of unrivaled joy faded from Victor’s face. He then composed himself, hiding the impossible feeling of fear that had somehow crept up on him in that moment. For him to feel fear, even hesitation, was far from normal.
“Ahh, ever the prankster. You have got me on many occasions. I must become more aware of my—”
“—surroundings?”
The hooded figure latched itself onto Victor’s back, but the King didn’t move. Perhaps he was afraid, or perhaps he held an intense desire to not show any trepidation.
“Yes, my surroundings.”
The being brought his right arm upwards, a hand of blackness reaching out from his sleeve to lightly stroke his partner’s bearded cheek. Then, he was once again gone, leaving Victor to continue his conversation with the shadows.
“.. I assume that you being here means it is all taken care of, yes?” Victor’s formal tone seemed spot on, not shaken in the slightest… but it was more a front than anything else.
There was a chuckle, quiet at first, until it reached out and enveloped Victor whole.
Then silence.
“Yes, my dear Adamant Charge… You and your precious Red Rose will have the perfect opportunity to snatch that Wild Card. The day you have worked ever so hard for is finally here.”
The fear that Victor had felt throughout his body soon gave way to that familiar sense of joy.
After years of facing what he believed to be the cancer of New Eden, he would finally be able to silence Giotto Jaeger once and for all.
It was simply perfect. The downfall of Wild Card was all but assured.
~ END 11TH CARD ~