Figaro breathed in deep, filling his lungs with air. It was an incredible feeling, bordering on ecstasy. The entire concert hall held a sweet yet subtle aroma just as he preferred it. It was as if the very wind carried with it God’s honey. It couldn’t be more perfect.

Figaro’s hands shook with excitement. He stood facing the massive velvet curtain of his own Colosseum. Behind it was the bustle of a massive crowd heavy in the pocket and jittering with anticipation just as he was. On the other side of that cloth were some of the most important people in the country and every single one of their eyes would be on him. Figaro smiled to himself. Of course, there were some extra special guests among the crowds. According to his staff, they had all showed up. All of the key pieces were present. They must have all figured out his little hint behind the true purpose of the event. They had all proven their worth and answered his call. The rest of the crowd would be given quite the shock when the time came. He was going to reveal the identity of the most sought-after person in the country that night.

Cicero was the name of the hour, a moniker on many a mind.

Sinclair wanted Cicero because of that which they had. Cicero had the girl, the secret weapon of Avaes. A girl so important that Sinclair threw away everything to get a chance at obtaining her. The Director wanted Cicero for taking their right hand away from them. Sinclair betrayed them because of Cicero. Not only had he betrayed them but he had ripped them to shreds in the process. Cicero had dealt Avaes a major blow and they would take what was due. Caliban wanted the infamous Cicero to redeem his own cowardice while Havok wanted Cicero only because Sinclair desired them. Havok wanted to find everything that kept Sinclair going and burn it to ashes.

Figaro chuckled at the thought. What a silly, silly man that Havok.

Even the public desired Cicero’s name yet they didn’t even know it yet. More than 3000 deaths were extinguished in the blink of an eye. They mourned and cried for the hole in their hearts, but not for long. After such tragedies, it was always the same. First came shock but what followed was something even more tantalizing. Once the surprise wore off, an unstoppable emotion would come to replace it. WRATH. The flock needed someone to blame and this night he would give them a name. A name for them to direct such relentless anger. He would give them a monster. He would give them a devil. He would give them Cicero.

Then with that name, he would be branded the hero of this little tale.

The crimson curtain began to rise and Figaro’s heart thumped in his ears faster and faster. A massive crowd stood in front of him, slowly hushing themselves as the spotlight came to rest on him. He was the star of the show. All eyes were on him. Figaro smiled brightly. It had begun.

--------

Dandy stirred a cup of noodles with a fork. The steam rose up and tickled her face. There was a strong knock at her apartment door. Dandy put the cup down on her bedside table and skipped over. She unhooked the chain and opened it without even looking through the peephole.

A large dark-skinned man stood in front of her, muscled and hair finely trimmed. His eyes were blank and empty. Two other officers stood on either side of her door.

“Hey Grey,” said Dandy, “what can I do for you?”

Grey gave her a weak smile, “Hey Ms. Dandy. I’m sorry we can’t let you leave for food but is there anything I can go get for you? Some kind of takeout or anything?”

Dandy gave the detective a nice smile back, “Already beat you to it,” she said pointing her thumb back at the cup of noodles behind her. Want to come in and have one?”

The two other officers looked at Grey jealously. The large man shook his head, “I’m sorry Ms. Dandy, I can’t.”

Dandy’s face sank, “Please Grey? Just for a second. Just to calm my nerves a bit. I promise I won’t bother you for long.”

Grey sighed and looked at the young girl’s pitiful face. Her yellow eyes shook with fear. She had a reason to be scared too. Cicero had a target out for her and there was no telling what the maniac would do next, especially tonight.

“Alright just for a bit,” said Grey limping forward and closing the door behind him. His injury was still bothering him.

Dandy’s eyes lit up a bit, “Yay! Thank you, having you around will make house-arrest much less scary.”

Grey breathed out a sigh, “It’s not a house arrest Ms. Dandy. We’re just-.”

“I know I know you guys are just protecting me,” said Dandy turning around and walking over to the bedside table. She grabbed the cup of noodles and pushed it into his hands, “It doesn’t stop it from being scary.”

Grey looked down at the cup.

“Be sure to blow on that! It’s still a bit hot.”

The detective’s massive hand almost completely encircled the Styrofoam. His Kiki had eaten this stuff. It always looked gross to him but maybe just tonight. Grey stirred the cup, got a fork-full, blew on It and then put it in his mouth. The steaming noodles warmed him. Kiki would laugh if she could’ve seen him eating her favorite little snack.

Dandy ran her fingers through her bright red hair as she poured herself a new cup noodle. She wore a tight black tank top that did little to hide her curves. Her black pants held the same problem.

“You want to be there don’t you?” said Dandy putting a fork into her new cup.

Grey stopped eating. It was the night of Figaro’s Phoenix Show. Caliban had figured out its true purpose though. The reveal of the Keller-Dale terrorist. Despite how much he wanted to deny his desire for revenge, he couldn’t completely suppress it. He wanted to see that man, whoever he was behind bars, and maybe worse than that. Grey said nothing in response though.

“It’s okay,” said Dandy looking at him with soft eyes, “I want to be there too.”

Her words surprised Grey a bit.

“Not for the airport bomber or anything, just to see Sinclair again. Figaro for sure invited him there, I just know it.” Dandy’s pale face blushed red, “Sorry it’s kinda weird I know, trying to see a wanted man and all, but I can’t really help it. I just want to talk to him so bad.”

She was being extremely honest with him, it was unexpected but it felt good funnily enough.

“Everyone is saying he’s a monster. That Sinclair is nothing but a murderer.” Dandy twisted her fingers through her hair, “But I can’t help but see him differently. Is that wrong?”

The girl locked eyes with him hoping for an answer.

Grey looked down yet again, “My wife always used to say that even demons needed to eat dinner from time to time. Kind of silly I know but a nice reminder. Despite how evil someone may look, they are still human at their middle. So, no I don’t think that’s wrong.”

Dandy nodded slightly but said nothing.

Grey raised his chin to look at the girl, “Ms. Dandy…” Grey swallowed down some pain, “I know I shouldn’t say this so I’m not telling you to do anything specific but… There are so many things I wish I could’ve told my wife and little girl. So many things, but I don’t have that chance anymore. There is so much I should’ve said and now I can’t. I am going to regret those unsaid words for the rest of my life. If you have something, anything at all to tell someone, no matter who it is, don’t wait. Take it from me. Please don’t wait.”

Dandy’s eyes filled with light tears as she nodded again but this time strong and purposeful. The detective had never seen eyes so sincere as hers at that moment.

Grey shoveled more noodles into his mouth so she couldn’t see him cry.

Dandy smiled, “Did I ever tell you about the first time Sinclair and I met?”

“It wasn’t…” said Grey pausing mid-sentence.

Dandy shook her head, “The time with Cicero and Holly was not the first time we had met. I met him a few years earlier in fact.”

Grey put down his meal and listened quietly to the girl’s story, hoping his eyes would dry.

“The first time we met was when I was in a very different scenario. I was 13 at the time and dad and mom were separated. Dad was a gang lord, working out of a crappy apartment complex and mom was a big-time business lady. Weird combo I know. When I was especially bad, mom would make me stay with dad. It was supposed to be her version of discipline but a lot of times I preferred it to being stuck at mom's. Let’s just say the only thing I had to endure at dad's was his favorite little punishment. On the worst days, dad let the whole gang punish me. As long as they didn’t break anything or cut me too deep it was all fair game.”

Grey swallowed, horror gripping his heart. She was 13 at the time. Who would do that to a girl? He never would’ve guessed looking at her now.

Dandy continued, “One day in particular dad got mad, I don’t know what at but he got mad. He decided to punish me. I told him I wasn’t hungry anymore, that I’d already been punished four times that morning but he didn’t listen. He beat me, broke both of my legs and went in for more. I had had enough and bit down. He screamed and I crawled out my window to the outside, dragging my useless legs behind. Once I was outside that is where I saw him. Sinclair was there, just standing there looking down at me a pathetic mess. Blood in my mouth, my legs were broken and my heart afire. My dad and his gang ran outside after me, ready to beat me to death. That is when Sinclair spoke up and what he said changed my life. His words were so strange. So very strange. He said…”

Grey’s eyes widened at Dandy’s next words. However, before he could respond a deafening sound screamed in the building. A siren screeching and forcing their attention. It was a fire alarm. Grey got up and went to the door. He didn’t smell any smoke. Grey yanked open the door and looked at the two officers. Grey shouted over the siren, “It’s probably nothing! Stay with Dandy and I will go check it out!”

The two officers nodded and Grey jogged towards the middle of the building.

It didn’t take long for Grey to find out that he was right. A few residents peaked out of their rooms but after talking with them and the manager it seemed it was most likely just a prank or dare or something. There was no fire nor smoke from any of the floors. Grey began making his way back to Dandy’s room. She was probably scared shit-less. Although she had been through worse. Grey recounted her story in his head. What parents could do things like that. It made his stomach turn head over heel just to imagine it all. However, it was what she had said at the end that bothered him. The final words of her story. His mind was screaming at him but it was like he couldn’t even make out his own thoughts. Grey climbed the final stair up to Dandy’s floor. Her door came into view. It was wide open. His mind screamed at him like a mute desperately trying to tell him something. Grey stepped into the doorway and before he could make it in his breath was taken away. Blood, dark red blood everywhere. The two policemen had been ripped to shreds and crucified with kitchen knives on the back wall. Their guts hung out, touching the floor and spraying the carpet with fresh blood. Dandy was nowhere to be found. It couldn’t have been done more than a few moments ago. Grey his mouth still agape looked up at the two officers’ faces. Their expression held one of agony, the kind of terror that could stop a man’s heart. On each of their foreheads was carved three letters. He didn’t even need to read it. He knew right away what it spelled.

The first had the letters C-I-C and the second was E-R-O.