Rough draft. Any suggestions/feedback appreciated.

Mike swiped a palm-sized metallic plate from beside the vase, wrapping his fingers tightly around the badge, so hard his knuckles paled in color. The badge had blended perfectly into the amber colored wooden cabinet, escaping my earlier surveillance. I caught a glimpse of the bronze glint from its intricate designs as Mike grabbed it. It looked familiar, but I couldn't grasp what it resembled from the split second my eyes laid upon it.

Mike flicked his hand at me, signaling for me to follow. "We'll be heading downstairs now. You coming along Kyle? We'll show you around."

I hesitated. I was nervous, and quite frankly, stunned. During the short time I had spent in this town, I was greeted by only rudeness and madness. To be holding a normal conversation with pleasant people felt almost abnormal. Mike and Maria waited patiently by the door as I gradually inched my way off the bed. My movements were cautiously slow, timid for being in another's home and the fact I couldn't put weight on my right hand didn't help me scoot to the edge of the bed any faster.

We were on the fifth floor. Each level had white walls tinted beige and spacious halls with four to five rooms per floor. There were no windows in the hallways, except at the staircase. A few gas lamps which were not in use lined the walls. Despite the lack of light sources, the hallway was still well-illuminated from the rays of morning sunshine flooding in from the tall staircase windows.

"This used to be a small inn, but now it's used for the military," Mike explained, "Well, a branch of the military."

I felt the urge to ask how they got my unconscious body up all these winding steps, but I didn't. The answer seemed too simple to even bother asking. I didn't want the image of a man carrying me bridal style in my head either, if that is what had happened.

The second floor took a drastic change from the upper floors. The plain, identical wooden doors that covered each room were decorated with woven ribbons, plaques, and doodles. One door was particularly pink--I wonder whose room that is--I glanced over at Maria.

Mike laughed nervously, "We kind of occupied this floor. We were originally going to put you on a lower floor as well... but... uh..."

"Mike has stuffed all the rooms on the mid-floors with junk," Maria nudged Mike with her elbow mockingly.

"You're at equal fault here!" Mike pushed Maria's arm away. "But yeah... we had to drag you all the way to the top floor."

I hope they didn't literally drag me up this ridged hardwood staircase.

The first floor was different from the rest; it was more like a lobby with a registration desk. There were two large rooms connected to the back of the lobby. One was a dining room, and the other was a fireplace. The sweet aroma of freshly baked bread drifted from the dining room, my rumbling stomach greeted it. I hadn't realize how hungry I was. I hadn't eaten since I first found myself here, not to mention I had quite the workout not long ago.

Maria smirked at the sight of me drooling, "It is breakfast now. You want some?"

A long, rectangular, wooden table was placed in the center of the dining room, and several smaller round tables were crammed along the back wall, nearly blocking the door that led to the kitchen. I sat at the end of the rectangular dining table near the entrance. Mike pulled up a chair beside me while Maria volunteered to bring in the bread from the oven.

"So," Mike began once Maria disappeared behind the kitchen doors. He leaned forwards, his serious, clear grey eyes gazing into mine. I fidgeted with discomfort, sensing a heavier conversation setting in. "You are new here, correct?"

"...Pardon?"

"You are new to this town, right? No, you are new to this world?"

I nodded hesitatingly. My eyes filled with uncertainty as I tried to comprehend what and why Mike was asking. It was true that I was new to this town... but to this world?

Mike relaxed back in his chair, his legs crossed and his arm rested on the backrest, appearing pleased at my response. "You're one of us then. I'm sure he already told you about this," He was emphasized distastefully, "but welcome to the Daemon Defense branch of the military, our only chance at re..." Mike's voice faded when he saw my blank expression.

"Surely, you know... don't you?" Mike's voice grew concerned. He looked troubled, as if he wished to unsay what he had just said.

I didn't know how to respond, and I didn't need to. Mike knew my reply by looking at me. He sighed and leaned against the backrest of the chair, pinching the bridge of his nose. His reaction was not one of anger or frustration. It was more like he didn't know what to do, and neither did I.

Maria was the one who broke the awkward tension in the atmosphere, "The bread is ready! Eat up before the others get here!" She cast a playfully evil grin as she said that. A piping hot loaf of bread and a plate of butter were set on the table. My stomach compelled me to devour the warm food, and I eagerly obeyed its command.

Maria sat across from me and watched me shove slices of bread in my face with a peacefully content expression as if she were watching a puppy. It was kind of embarrassing how I presented myself, but I couldn't care less at the moment.

"I heard what you guys were talking about earlier," Maria began speaking once she saw me slow down. "Don't mind what that idiot said." She pointed to Mike who had been staring at the loaf of bread rapidly disappear in disbelief for the past five minutes. "But, is it true that you don't... remember?"

Something about Maria's charm just made me want to tell her everything. Maybe it was her carefree personality, or the way her innocent brown eyes showed a genuine desire to help, I didn't know. "Yes, I can't remember anything. Not since before I woke up somewhere outside this town."

"Is that so..." Maria appeared zoned out for a brief second. Then, as if a lightbulb went off, she perked up. "Do you need a place to stay? You can live here if you want, but you'll have to work."

"Work?"

"Yes. We could always use some hands around here in the Daemon Defense Branch."

Right, this was the military. To work for them was the same as enlisting myself. Am I up for that? The image of its dark face flooded my mind. Its mischievously knowing smile; Its longing cry... just like hers. My wounds began to throb again, and I shivered. Maria, being perceptive, quickly added, "Ah, we won't ask you to fight if you don't want to."

"There aren't many other choices for you. Surely, you've noticed how this town perceives you." Mike spoke up after finally recovering from the shock of watching a whole loaf of bread evaporate into thin air. Maria responded to Mike's words by giving him an innocent smile filled with an ominous intent. I could see Mike flinch and straighten his stature from the corner of my eye.

But Mike was right. They were the first people I've met in this town who did not look at me so... resentfully. If I was going to find any way to live in this place, it would start here. But before that--I took a shaky breath-- "Would you be able to help me... find someone?"

Maria and Mike both looked at me in surprise. "Who do you want to find?"

"I... I don't know. I think..." Her dark hair flashed before my eyes again, "Family."

"I don't think..." Maria began hesitatingly, "That you'll find them here." She paused. I could almost see the gears in her head spinning. "People like us," She also grouped me with them, "are not from here. We're foreigners to this country."

Foreigners... I had that assumption ever since I saw the different currency. But, how would she know they were not here? I couldn't place my finger on why I felt that Maria's shaky voice spoke with knowledge she was certain of.

"How would you know?"

"Your clothes," Maria replied quickly, "Our clothes differ from those native to this country, and judging by the fact you were still wearing them when we found you, you're fairly new here." 

Now that Maria mentioned it, the people here's clothes were dull and colorless. I did not see a single person on that busy street wearing blue jeans or brightly colored shirts. There were only shades of grey and brown of coarse linen or cotton clothing. But that was not the answer I wanted. "I mean, how would you know she is not here?"

"She...? You mean your family? Shouldn't you know that more than us?"

That... I didn't know how to argue that.

"I didn't see anyone else during the storm either. If you were with someone, we should've found her already, or someone should've reported a lost person to us."

I knew no one came with me, and I highly doubted anyone in this town knew me. Maybe I was just clinging on to a lost cause. "The townspeople sure don't seem like the type to help a lost person."

"The people here may dislike foreigners, but not everyone is that irresponsible."

The carriage driver appeared in my mind as Maria said that. That driver did dislike me, but he didn't leave me stranded out there. Still, the malicious eyes of the townspeople burned in the back of mind. And those thugs... taking advantage of me because I wasn't from here. "Why? Why do the people here hate foreigners?"

"War," Mike responded this time, "This country is at war."

War... why did that thought leave my mind? That market street! Weren't they selling weapons there?

"What about neighboring towns? Would it be possible to search there?" I didn't know what I was trying to accomplish, searching for someone even I couldn't even picture accurately in a place I didn't know. Yet, some sort of desire drove me, and I couldn't stop myself from trying to grab onto that faint memory.

"The nearest town is months of walking away," Mike crushed that option.

"I think you should stay here," Maria repeated her offer. "Maybe you'll recover your memories and know what do then. It's better than setting off on a wild goose chase... especially with those daemons around."

Right, they were still out there. If I were to encounter them alone again, it's unlikely I'll escape death twice. "What are those... daemons?"

"You probably just don't remember them. They're everywhere in the world. We're unsure what they are either, but we do know they come with every storm." Maria's eyes angled down to the table. The light in her eyes flickered between her usual cheerful energy and sorrow, but she said nothing more.

I sighed. It was relieving to know I was accepted at least somewhere, but the fact I was still in an unfamiliar place hanging onto the thought of home by only a thin thread weighed me down. Not to mention, I had to join the army? Was that what I want? No. The last thing I wished to do was enter the battlefield. My mind fell into distraught thoughts.

Maria looked contrite. "We'll give you time to think." She stood up and motioned for Mike to follow her. "You're free to use any facility in this buildin--"

"Who is he?" A new voice sprung up from the lobby doorway. A teenage girl leaned against the doorframe. She was rubbing a towel against her straight black hair saturated with water from a morning shower. Her dark brown eyes looked down at me with annoyance; a different kind of annoyance from the townspeople. "The stray you picked up yesterday? Another re--"

Maria lunged at the black-haired girl and ushered her outside before she could finish her sentence. Mike quickly followed behind, leaving me alone in the room. I mindlessly nibbled at the remains of the bread, now cold, considering the limited options I had.

I want to go home.

I didn't know why the thought of home was of so much value to me. I didn't even remember how it was like. My heart just... longed for it. I longed for it. Lost in the thought of superficial warmth and comfort, I longed for what I'd lost, what I didn't have, what I needed.

I looked up to the heavy thump of footsteps approaching me. A robust man thundered into the kitchen in his fur-covered heavy boots. He wore a loose brown linen shirt and matching pants. A worn and dented metallic helmet glistened under his left arm; the entire room mirrored and distorted on it. His short brown hair plastered to his forehead, and droplets of sweat streamed down his face to the point of his chin.

"Hey." His deep, loud voice rumbled through the kitchen. "You're the new recruit I heard about, yeah?"

New recruit...? "N-no... I haven't decided yet..." I frantically corrected, but found my voice quiet with hesitation.

"Not one yet yeah? I heard about you from Maria." He plopped himself down beside me, clogging my nostrils with the scent of sweat and smoke. I flinched and wrinkled my nose instinctively. He took no mind and wiped the sweat off his stubby beard. "What do you say we strike a deal? You help us, and we'll help you."

"I'm... not intereste--"

"What was that that you wanted," He rambled on, ignoring me. "Oh, that's right. Your family yeah? You join us, and we'll help you find them. What do you say?"

I held my breath. What was that? They'll help me find... I didn't know what to think.

He leaned in so close, I could feel his heat on my skin. The scent of smoke plagued the air my lungs took in. "Do we have a deal?"