It is there, the shiver of the purest fear that is embedded in the minds that are always reeling with time, the souls that are always burdened with all the sins, the persistence of injustice. Set them free...

...keep your souls.

In the dark and stuffy room, two people face each other, one wants to be clarified, the other wants to bury hope.

"I...I don't know anything! It is the truth!" [Anatole]

Anatole Hugo - the one accused of "betrayal" still denies it, the room is stuffy, the bright light bulb only flickers dimly in that stuffy atmosphere. There is no freedom, safety or necessary privacy.

Opposite him was an interrogator, who had the sternness of a firm law-breaker of the organization and whose stern gaze was fixed on this guy, without any mercy or indulgence. There was only guilt or innocence. But the hours that passed had no meaning whatsoever in the above definition. However, whether the person before his eyes is guilty or not is his perspective.

"You didn't tell me anything to prove that you really had nothing to do with this incident, even though you were the one who witnessed everything that happened before your eyes when you returned from the scene and gave your statement, even a blind man could understand that, Mr. Hugo." [Interrogator]

The interrogator remained firm in his opinion, it was clear that Anatole could say nothing more.

The interrogator continued.

"Let's say you didn't know anything at that time, but I've said it a thousand times, you yourself clearly understand the nature of the strange and inexplicable nature of this incident... no one can explain your innocence! Even I'm not a God who knows whether you're innocent or not. So what I need from you now is a true confession, I always knew you were hiding something from us?" [Interrogator]

"Then if you didn't know either, why did the Foundation accuse me of being the culprit? Just because I was the only survivor? Why not consider the possibility that it was someone else, who had escaped?" [Anatole]

Anatole remained silent, watching the interrogator take the file out of his briefcase.

"Let me tell you clearly, in Munich, Germany, you and your team evacuated and transported the relics as part of the History Maintenance Team mission during the recent storm in Vienna. According to your testimony, the entire team failed to evacuate in time and disappeared under the impact of the "Storm", but you were the only one who survived and returned with the relic sword. So what happened to you? How did you survive? And if it's true that someone else caused this, then he could have disappeared under the "Storm" along with your team. Even when we investigated again, we couldn't find any presence of Manus Vindictae or any suspicious person around the evacuation route, only YOU and YOUR TEAM. Who could have influenced the "Storm" so that it arrived in time when your team couldn't evacuate in time? Don't tell me that your team received the order late here, clearly when reporting back, we still received news that the whole team had evacuated on time without any problems." [Interrogator]

The interrogators read out loud the words "you" and "your team". It showed that Anatole was really the only one involved. It was all the more reason to put all the blame on him...but they left out important details that they themselves had not thought of.

Anatole looked up at the interrogator. He shouted.

"I have told you everything I know, nothing more, nothing! And I know nothing! Nothing more! I do not follow the Manus Vindictae...this is clearly slander!" [Anatole]

Anatole seemed upset, he raised his voice in front of the interrogator, it was the first time he had been so angry, it made him feel like he had released almost all the heavy things he had been carrying in his soul, in his thoughts. But the interrogator remained calm, his profession did not allow him to lose his composure like the "guilty" person before him.

"We have suspected that you have been hiding something from us for the past month, we even suspected your actions and some of your expressions while you were still with the Foundation. How could they be late? How could you still be normal like this? No one can know except the only person who was there, at that time, only you and you are the only one who survived." [Interrogator]

The interrogator continued.

"Guess what? You are now a traitor, Hugo, we suspect you of colluding with the enemy to sabotage the organization, harming human resources and most of all, possibly manslaughter, soon I think you will have a complete sentence for the Security Council (PAX House) to carry out. My work here is over, goodbye." [Interrogator]

Anatole gritted his teeth helplessly, this was really not in his plan and he really couldn't understand what had happened, why wasn't he hurt at that time? Why didn't they evacuate in time? Many questions had tormented the poor man for almost a month.

"But I think with 4 years of service, they would consider reducing your sentence, Hugo." [Interrogator]

A sarcastic remark, it was not even worth a word of comfort, it was contempt for the helpless.

"They only reduce the sentence for children!" [Anatole]

"It's up to you... good luck." [Interrogator]

The Foundation had even tried every way to get information from him as well as investigating all this time as well as covering up the incident with many excuses to erase anything that could affect their reputation. At the same time, a sentence was being prepared for him to have a legitimate excuse and to settle things peacefully.

In the end, they still could not get any more information from Anatole and the case was dropped and almost as certain as a nail in the coffin for its outcome. He was detained until the trial next week with a scenario that seemed to have been meticulously arranged by the hands of power.

*Clank*

The sound of a strong stamp rang out, hitting Anatole's personnel file without any hesitation as if trampling on his future. From now on, he was removed from the list of members and became an "enemy" of the Foundation. Traitors would not be at peace when they dared to confront this powerful organization.

In the Foundation's detention room, there was only one person sitting there silently, he had been sitting there waiting for the final judgment, until the day when he didn't know where his cruel fate would lead...

"Whatever happens, at least I'm not a liar, I'm not your traitor, but how do I get out of this place? How long will it take before I'm released?!..." [Anatole]

"Order, or starve!" [Jail Warden]

He grumbled in frustration and then looked up at the small window of the cell that was still present before his eyes like something very far away.

The feeling of wanting to escape from the prison that held the soul, surrounded by only four soulless walls with iron bars. This place had buried many people's futures, it was the place that extinguished many lights of hope for the miserable souls to rely on. But would that light of hope shine for those who were stubborn enough?

"But really...how long has it been since I've been able to think about anything more?" [Anatole]