Tags: Psychological Thriller, Urban Noir, Vigilante, Mature Themes, Serial Killer, Crime Drama
⚠️Authors Note - Mature Content
"This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, nations, corporations and events are products of the author's imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real events or persons is coincidental."
Date - 15th December 2019
Character Name - Edward Quinn
Location - Promise City
District - Promise City Arena, Bay District
Time - 1813 (0613 PM)
"This game is intense, folks! This year's Hero7 tournament kicks off with a MASSIVE battle between the reigning champion; Mason Cartright and Yuto Makabe!"
The Hero7 trading card game had taken the world by storm. Popular amongst the youth and teens specifically. It was a card game designed by the company GlobalStarWorks using the hero and villain culture of the world.
Edward watched quietly, his arms crossed. This was his night off. He sat comfortably, popcorn to his side, blue slushie on the other. The game was being played in the centre of the area, a long elevated rectangle table, with holographic flooring. The arena was decently full, 100,000 capacity, with 30,000 seats occupied. Not bad for a new card game.
Yuto was short, if a human could be a mouse, he would be one. He wore spectacles that he pushed up his nose. His brown eyes peered at each dark grey card he held to his chest, his smile mouth twitching as a strategy ran through his mind. He brushed his slightly curled brown hair aside, he saw the card he drew.
His pale hand slapped a card down on the table, with swift motion.
'I will use this card!'
Yuto is an unassuming small Japanese kid with a huge heart, and big reputation for his skill at Hero7.
'Near - The Black Guardian of Promise City! My personal favourite card!'
'Oh.' Edwards' blue eyes twitched.
(I DO have fans?) something inside Eddie swelled, it wasn't pride, appreciation? Maybe.
A holographic version of Near appeared on the table, it was almost see through, its long blue cape billowed, his sword drawn-
'1500 Attack… with three Hero energy… I'll end my turn!'
Despite such a small stature, he was confident.
"WOW FOLKS! MAKABE HAS CARTRIGHT ON THE ROPES! HOW WILL CARTRIGHT GET OUT OF THIS!?"
The announcer boomed-
Mason, a much larger boy, a long flowing rain jacket, light grey decorated in pins from the game. He smiled, not a sinister smile, but cold. He had prepared for this. By side, the white rabbit sat quietly, a monster he previously summoned already, it bounced in place, its cartoon vestige constantly rippling with animated excitement.
Edward leaned in, he knew a move was coming that could turn around this situation.
'I sacrifice the five energy I saved to summon; WONDERLAND DRAGON!"
The field illuminated and immediately a dragon appeared, it was not a typical dragon, it was tall, its feet thick, heart playing cards, its wings two jacks. The scales on its body were a mix of red and black, with its summon hearts popped around it, it extended its long stalk-like head, and opened its razor sharp jaws and with a deep rumbling piercing roar, his daisy-like flower frill rippled.
'With 2500 Attack, I think I am going to win.'
Yuto smirked, he wasn't done yet. He was already ahead.
He opened his mouth, taking off his glasses, his brown eyes narrowing, like they're fixated on a target-
'If you hit me with Wonderland Dragon's fire, you'll erase the two energies I have saved.'
Yuto said calmly almost as if goading WITHOUT the ego.
The Dragon opened its colourful maw, and an eruption of multicoloured fire raced towards the holographic Near.
Yuto smiled.
'But, should you strike me you'd ALSO activate Nears special ability, coordinated vendetta.'
'What-'
'It means Cartright, your dragon ALSO gets destroyed along with Near.'
'NO!'
Yuto smirked-
'Oh yes.'
WHHHAAAA BAAANNNNNGGGGGGGG-
The field exploded with an array of rainbow light. The shockwaves blew a wave of dust into the onlooking crowd. That roared with excitement.
Something was wrong-
Mason Cartright smiled.
'Nice move kid, but… you forgot about HIM.' He said pointing with his thumb towards…
The White Rabbit. 900 Attack, 900 Defence. Level 2.
The White Rabbit kicked Yuto's remaining life points, draining them. He dropped from 800 out of the 7000, the final kick had done it, Cartright was the victor.
"AND THERE WE HAVE IT FOLKS THE VICTOR IS MASON CARTRIGHT!"
Yuto looked at the crowd, he tried to maintain a stern expression but his flicking brown eyes betrayed him, he was hurt. He was devastated to lose.
He stared at the grass ground, and walked silently towards the tunnel to exit the field.
He placed his deck of forty cards into his case, and closed the lid.
'I lost.' He whispered his voice pained.
'You did well! You had me on the ropes for a while! For a moment I didn't think I would win'
Mason said cheerfully, shaking Yuto's smaller hand.
'Thanks I guess… next time I will win!' Yuto said, reassuring himself.
'I look forward to it.'
Mason said, his cape whipping behind him.
"THE NEXT MATCH SET LATER TONIGHT, THE CHALLENGER MASON CARTRIGHT VERSES-"
The spotlight shot towards a lone young man in the crowd who sat with his arms folded. His hood was covering his face, casting a shadow over his freckled nose, his green eyes resting on the next challenger. A long red fringe peeking past the narrow hood.
"THE REIGNING CHAMPION - JAYDEN GRANT!"
He did not react to the announcement. His arms were still folded. He simply stood and walked away, down the stone steps of the large seating area, and descended the stairs into the tunnel of the arena.
A little later…
Yuto stood silently, tapping away on his smartphone, he looked down, tears almost welling in his eyes.
'You did great mate!' Eddie shouted, tapping Yuto on his back.
'Thanks-...Do..I know you?'
'No. But I was impressed by your playing style, your cards are interesting! Can I ask why you use them?'
Eddie asked, curious.
Yuto, was intrigued.
'I just like them. I think Near's the coolest hero ever.'
'Hero? Not a vigilante?'
Yuto stared at Eddie for a moment. Almost as if he was confused.
'He's a hero. He has saved this city too many times to not be one.'
'So you made your deck based on him?'
'Oh yes! I collect everything I can about him!-'
Edwards blue eyes widened-
'Oh umm…thats-'
'Weird? I know. But he is just so COOL! Interesting! Everything!'
Yuto said, listing off every reason on his fingers-
'Your friends must get bored of you bragging about how cool Near is…'
Yuto's expression darkened slightly, he wasn't used to talking to someone this long.
'Oh I… don't have many friends.. Or any at all..'
'Well, that's sad. Maybe you do now.' Eddie said, smiling brightly. He then continued-
'Anyway, how old are you mate?'
'Sixteen.'
'So you're younger than me!' Eddie smirked, folding his arms. He continued-
'I'm nineteen.'
'I don't even know your name, old man!'
'OLD?!' Edward scoffed-
After the sudden blow Eddie recovered.
'It's Edward. Edward Quinn.'
Yuto's eyes widened, his breath caught in his throat.
'THAT EDWARD QUINN?! EDWARD KODOMA-QUINN?!'
'Yes.'
Edward said bluntly, his family's name always followed him.
'But it's just Edward Quinn now.'
Meanwhile…
Jayden Grant…
Jayden stood in front of the bathroom's long mirror, he leaned on the bathroom sink counter. He stared forward, silent. His favourite cards lined the cold surface. In front of him the spirits inhabiting the cards spoke to him from within the mirror-
* Note. To see what cards were on the surface, read to the end of the Chapter *
'Be careful of that Mason kid, he's good.'
Red Riding Hood says, her arms folded, she stood powerfully, a great axe attached to her back. Her red hair hangs low under her dark red hood. Her long dark red cape brushed the ground.
'Ignore her Jay, you've seen all of his plays.'
Beauty says brushing her long light brown hair aside.
'But still be cautious.'
Snow says, leaning towards the mirror at Jayden.
'Look girls, we will be fine. We always are.' He says calmly, leaning back, closing his eyes. He continued-
'I have two aces, Cinderella-
Who grinned knowingly.
and of course, the Queen of Witches.'
Who smirked, her black lips curved into a twisted glare of amusement.
'Gee Thanks Jay, you know, we love you too.'
Rapunzul clicked her tongue.
'Didn't mean it like that.' He muttered collecting the cards off the side of the marble white surface.
'Jay, just make sure you win. We don't like seeing you in your rut.'
'I know. I will win, I promise.'
Meanwhile…
'Hey Edward, are you staying for the final?' Yuto asked, adjusting his spectacles. Placing his other hand in his grey hoodie pocket.
Edward smiled, it was his usual shit eating grin, when he was about to tease Sunohara, but Yuto was unlucky to find himself prey to Edwards bullshittery.
'Are you hitting on me?...' Edward asked his blue eyes flickering towards Yuto, it was almost as if stars glistened around him.
'WOT NO!' Yuto squeaked flustered-
'Relax mate, kidding, and to answer your question, yes I am.' Edward said, walking down to the bathroom, which sat underneath the arena.
'I'll wait up here!' Yuto called down.
'Yeah no problem.'
The Final…
Yuto and Edward sat in the audience. They leaned forwards, enjoying the show.
The battle had been raging, Cartwright's Wonderland Dragon stood opposite Grant's Queen of the Witches, a black dressed queen of pure evil, long black hair, black lips, and skin as pale as the moon.
'Wonderland Dragon, END THIS!' Cartright roared.
'Hmmph.' Jayden smirked, flipping a trap he had laid in wait multiple turns ago.
SLAP
'This trap is the Enchanted Forests Acid Pit!-'
'WHAT?!'
'That's right. This trap drains Wonderland's attack by 1000 Attack Points.'
'BU-BUT that means…'
'Yes. It means Wonderland Dragons attack is null and void, and YOU take the damage instead of me.'
It was over.
Jayden Grant had won.
Edward immediately stood, Yuto too.
Later on…
'Congratulations.' Yuto said, shaking Jayden's hand, who was very nonchalant.
'Thanks.'
Then Mason Cartright approached-
'Good game, however, next time I will be ready.'
Edward watched on from behind the group of contestants, the surrounding crowd clapped and applauded Jayden's victory.
Something was wrong though. Edward could STILL see the individual cards, not the cardboard BUT the actual beings themselves within them.
The Queen of Witches looked back at Edward and winked. Edward on the other band ignored her.
He was having a good time, met a new friend and wasn't going to let something so strange ruin his evening.
Well, something too strange anyway.
….and he'd investigate the spirits he saw later on anyway….
The Cards -
[Level 3. Red Riding Hood Wolf Slayer. 1000 Attack, 1200 Defence. No Special Effect]
[Level 2. Rapunzul of the Tower. 100 Attack, 2700 Defence. No Special Effect.]
[Level 3. Beauty of the Beast. 1800 Attack, 400 Defence. No Special Effect.]
[Level 1. Princess Cinderella of the Slipper. 100 Attack, 100 Defence. When summoned choose another Level 3 or lower card onto the field.]
[Level 4. Princess of the Frog. 1900 Attack, 200 Defence. No Special Effect.]
[Level 3. Snow White of the Wild. 400 Attack, 200 Defence. When summoned, return three cards back to your deck and draw two back from the top.]
[Level 4. Wicked Queen of Witches. 1600 Attack, 1400 Defence. When destroyed, summon another princess card to replace this one that's level 3 or below.]