[ LIE IN EUPHORIA ] + p.jm

" Come back. Even as a shadow, even as a dream. "

- Euripides

Gentle, plump hands tenderly extended towards a young child, exuding warmth and care. A radiant smile blossomed across their faces, bringing joy and brightness to the child's small and delicate world.

Engaging in innocent conversations about their dreams and future aspirations served as a beacon of hope in their lives, overshadowed by a world fraught with deceit and malice. It felt like a veil of darkness loomed, persisting until their last heartbeat.

At that moment, all he could feel was peace. He grabbed the hand of the one he once considered his friend and stood beside him. There, they were just children with smiles like any other.

But they were unlike any others. Their unusual appearance did not deceive anyone. They exuded a distinctive aura that set them apart from everyone else. The number printed on the child's shirt, N°4742, held a significant yet unsettling meaning.

It seemed to carry an ominous weight, like venom rolling off his tongue.

Hybrids.

They were stuck living as that. That's what they were cursed to be.

A familiar melody pulled the young boy back like a gentle tug on his heartstrings. It poignantly reminded him that all around him was a dream while reality awaited his return.

Abruptly, the young man stirred from a deep slumber, the remnants of the dream lingering in his mind like a melody on the edge of his memory.

He reached out to the edge of his bed to grab his phone. His finger slid to the side, and the usual tune stopped. As his eyes adjusted to the early morning sunlight, he sat up, stifling a yawn, and absentmindedly scratched his tummy.

He rose from his bed and lazily walked towards his window to open the curtains. The fresh air hit his face, and he deeply inhaled. His eyes then landed on the building in front of him. Cars passed while people hurriedly walked towards their destination as if their lives depended on it.

He found it an amusing sight.

The sight of hungry people chaining themselves to work in pursuit of more, only to perish just as rapidly.

He turned around, grabbed a pack of cigarettes, and lit one up. With each puff, his mind wandered to different places.

The quiet of the room was suddenly shattered by his phone ringing. His eyes darted to the device, and as he reached for it, he quickly glanced at the caller ID before bringing the phone to his ear to answer.

" What? "

" Amelia got a mission for you. Interested? "

He smudged the last remaining of his cigarette before he answered. " Depends. What is it? "

" Wait, let me send you the file first. "

He heard a few clinking sounds, like someone was tipping on a keyboard.

A buzzing sound made him look at his screen, and as expected, he received a shared file. He clicked on it, and quickly, a picture of a woman appeared. Then, information such as her age, address and work were represented.

The man whistles.

" She is that man's daughter? "

" Yeah, it took us a while to collect her information. He is cautious regarding her. "