Chapter 3: Chapter 3

NEW YORK

2020

Marcus emerged into his family's home only to be greeted by Paul Mauriat's Love is Blue his father beautifully played on the piano. Mother was rightly seated beside Father, smiling and swaying her hair to the melodious tune Father orchestrated. A bright smile played on Marcus's lips as he strolled towards them, secretly admiring their love bond for each other. His Father was a Pianist and his mother, a movie Director, there were times he wondered how they met or how their love story even began. Either ways, he wasn't ready to listen to those tales yet. All he wanted was to share his good news with his beloved family.

"Oh eh, our boy is back!" Father chirped with a bright grin while mother stood up to him, giving a tight hug.

"Tell me, how did it go?" She asked, with their faces in expectation for an optimistic answer. Marcus dined with silence for minutes, purposely increasing the tension that brewed within them.

"Mom, Dad," he voiced sadly causing his father to stop in his Piano play. "I got the job!" He yelled excitedly. "I get to finally play in Louis Vegan Piano concert!"

"Oh my God!" His mother shrieked, giving him another tight hug that almost squeezed the air out of his lungs.

"We're so proud of you, son!" Father arose too, joining the embrace that lingered for seconds only. His smile deepened as he glanced at their faces.

"So what piece would you be performing?" His Father asked.

"Grande valse brillante in E-flat major

Valse by Frédéric Chopin." He answered.

"You know what, go to your room, take a shower while I prepare something delicious." Mother chirped while Father grinned as he returned to his Piano.

"And my stomach and I would patiently wait as we play some classics."

Marcus giggled before storming up the stairs excitedly. His smile disappeared once he arrived his small room. Disorganized and in dire need of proper cleaning. He opened his window to further brighten the glory of what mess he had created back in the morning. As he picked music notes spread abroad his bed, The wind suddenly stormed his room. Blowing every notes he had arranged carefully. He faced the window enraged but soon that anger shrunk into fear and despair. His eyes exclaimed and his jaw dropped as he witnessed the sky darken and a loud explosion spreading across the lands. The notes in his hands dropped as the thick smokes enraged towards him. He still froze in shock until the explosion blew his home, his parents and himself into the unknown.

NEW CANADA

2023

Marcus jolted awake from his nightmarish sleep. Sweats breaking all over his body and his breaths touring out unsteady. He didn't know why, but he occasionally had memories of that unfortunate day during his sleep.

Then came an harsh knock that further dosed his anxiety.

"Marcus open this door unless I'll break in!"

He heaved an heavy sigh as he lazily alighted off his rickety bed and toured to the door where his landlord, Mr. Beakers, was impatiently waiting. He had promised to pay Mr. Beakers his rent but the situation had changed. Last week, he got robbed by a young adolescent. A mutant.

One who possessed special abilities like him. It had shocked him at that time meeting someone like him but what shocked him greater, was getting robbed.

This week too had started on a bad note, he recently got fired from his meagre job.

He opened his door to a red faced fifty six year old man whose teeth gnashed against each other.

"Good Morning, Mr. Beakers." He greeted with his door halfway opened.

"What is good about the morning you useless piece of crap!" Mr. Beakers ferociously spat out. "I gave you the one week extension you asked for yet nothing!. Just thirty thousand Pillings, thirty thousand for goodness sake and you can't even pay it!" Mr. Beaker gestured angrily regardless of the attention of passersby.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Beakers but there's a logical explanation.."

"Shut your logical nonsense to yourself young man!" Mr. Beakers warned with his left index finger pointed at him. Marcus sighed choosing to retain silence while his landlord vented all that he had left in him.

"I'm giving you 24 hours! And trust me. If I don't see my money, be ready to see your filthy belongings flung out of this building." Mr. Beakers bellowed.

His eyes exclaimed at the atrocious ultimatum Mr. Beakers threatened with. He knew there was no way he could make thirty thousand Pillings in one day.  Not with his hundred Pillings per day job he recently got fired from.

"I need more time Mr. Beakers. Please, I promise I'll pay you." Marcus begged but his landlord huffed before storming into his vehicle. Driving off with an alarming speed.

Marcus shut the door in despair, wobbling to his other room where a rickety black piano alongside several classical pieces laced into old shelves rooted to the wall. He reviewed the small room uninterestingly. On a normal day, he would have danced to a classical music before he stormed out for work but today was different. Terrible and stormy. He was jobless with thirty thousand Pillings debt to pay unless he wanted to be homeless within the next twenty-four hours.

An heavy sigh escaped as he sat by his piano. Tracing his fingers stealthily on the keyboards. Reminiscing how his Father usually played the instrument with so much joy and pleasure. Now it was the only thing that made him feel close to them whenever he was depressed.

As he started to play Bandari- Childhood memories on a solemn note, his mind once again travelled to the explosion. How it had mercilessly taken his family away from him. How it had made his life miserable ever since. Sometimes, he wished the explosion had taken him instead of his parents. At least he wouldn't be alive to witness what dystopian the world had recessed into.

The gentle knock on his door brought his solemn play to an abrupt end. He travelled hopelessly to the door preparing his mind for another of Mr. Beakers antics.

"Good Morning, Mr. Marcus." The young man chirped with a tint grin. He was sporting a black formal dashing fitted suit and matching sunglasses. Marcus eyed him suspiciously for the man had a complete resemblance to an agent. One of those men responsible for deporting mutants to Area X.

"I'm sorry, I believe we haven't met." He stated with a frown but the man chuckled for a second.

"Pardon me, my name is Trevor and I work for Roberts industries." He muttered lucidly as he displayed his Identity card that confirmed his words. But Marcus remained unmoved. He knew about the famous Doctor Roberts but he never for once shared an acquaintance with him nor his Workers.

"What can I do for you?" He bellowed.

"May I come in please?" Trevor responded.

"I'll rather have you state your purpose outside." Marcus remarked sternly. Trevor smiled, confusing him the more.

"Believe me, I'm harmless. I just need ten minutes of your time."

Marcus reviewed him yet again before leaving the door open while Trevor quietly stepped in.

"You have a nice place." Trevor remarked as they emerged into the parlour.

"Yeah thanks!" Marcus sarcastically toned. "Now why don't we start with how you know my name and your purpose here."

Trevor smiled yet again. Marcus wouldn't deny, it irked him whenever Trevor wore that smile like he had said something funny.

"How I know your name isn't of much relevance so without wasting time further, I shall be brief as possible." Trevor replied holding his gaze carefully. Only this time was his expression clear and stern. It caused Marcus's heart to pick pace again.

"Doctor Roberts has recently launched a new agency called 'The Shining'. A grand celebration party would be held in three days time and for that, Roberts Industries are interested in your services."

"What kind of Services?" Marcus cautiously asked as he gazed into Trevor's eyes.

"We need a Pianist that would play for the evening celebrations. Hence, we would like to employ your services commending your amazing skills. Hundred million Pillings would be your pay or if you like, you can raise it higher. So what do you say Mr. Marcus?"

Marcus jaw almost dropped from the words that phased through his ears. For just an evening show, it felt too good to be true. Even though he was taken aback, his doubts for Trevor only dosed.

"Hold on, why me?" He asked. "I mean there are other Pianist who are way better than me and I've never played in big occasions for someone like Doctor Roberts to notice me."

Trevor smiled. "Doctor Roberts is eccentric." Marcus frowned at all he responded with. "Here, this is his invitation card. I believe it's enough to clear every other doubts you have." Marcus cautiously collected the letter donned in gold colour and an inscribed ball that displayed tiny words. The Shining. He glanced at Trevor briefly who still retained his smile. One he still found irking.

"In the meantime, I shall take my leave. My ten minutes has elapsed already." Trevor mumbled before exiting the building sharply.

Marcus let his finger cautiously trail the letter back and forth before opening it's contents. He carefully read the irresistible invitation card. One supposed to clear his doubts and fetch him Hundred Million Pillings or even higher if he wanted.