It was three more flights of steps before he reached the roof access. As expected, it was locked. I was no obstacle for him. He unhooked a nearby fire extinguisher and bashed it on the lock. The sound that rang down the stairway was sharp and sickening. Four solid blows and the flimsy lock gave way. He flung it aside, and twisted the handle to open the door. The cold wind was a welcomed rush to him.
The Singapore skyline greeted him with more and more clarity as he neared the edge of the building. The wind was breathtaking, almost as much as the sights of the lion city. The UOB Plaza was Sixty eight stories above the heart of Singapore. Tallest building in the country. High above the noise and the hustle and the bustle of Singapore. Here at this hour, everything was silent. There was predominantly darkness with red signal lights blinking above his head and the moon, a tiny smile in the night sky, above that. Perfect. Nobody could see him here. Perfect.
He walked over to the extreme edge of the building. The city lights casting a fain glow on his chin and throat. He set his bulky suitcase on the floor. Undid his tie and unbuttoned his shirt. His belt and slacks followed suit. Soon he was bare-chested wearing only a pair of skin tight leather trousers, which he wore under his slacks, and his leather boots. He undid the clasps on the suitcase, propping it on a vent near the edge. Made entirely of carbon fiber, the suitcase held his weapon of choice. A crossbow.
The weapon came in parts. He firmly held the hand grip, entirely made of mahogany, in his hand before clicking in the Main Body Assemble. Next the bow was inserted and the Bolt carry group was clicked into place. The trigger mechanism was wounded and the weapon was ready. He attached a shoulder grip, heavy teak wood with ethereal carvings and as a final touch an NVS-22 Telescopic sight platform. The weapon was done and he propped it beside the suitcase it came in. He strapped a leather sheath onto his left thigh which he used to carry the arrows. Arrows made out of strained glass.
Now it was time for the final part of this ritual. He got on his knees, hands resting on the edge of building. He brought a wooden rod no longer than four inches. He bit into the rod and cleared his mind of all thoughts. Silence. Then the pain shot through his spine. He could feel the bones in his body rearranging themselves. He willed himself not to pass out as two bone spires tore through his shoulder blades and curved out of his body. They fractured and broke as they grew out of his back stopping only once they reached their full length of two meters. Blood trickled through the exit wounds but soon stopped. The flesh around the bones sealed and bonded with his new appendages. Then the pain subsided. By now, he was tearing so badly there was a small puddle on the floor. The pain eventually gave way to a new sensation. Pleasure. He felt a soft tingling sensation all through his back. He knew the worst was over. Looking over his back he could see a thin membrane forming, almost like a curtain unraveling, beneath the bones. This membrane covered the bones too and slowly he could see tiny black feathers forming. The feathers quickly sprouted all throughout the membrane and even down his torso. His entire upper body below the neck and around the arms was coated in black feathers within minutes.
He walked around while the feathers grew out, gingerly flapping his wings. He neatly folded his clothes and packed them into the suitcase, all this while flapping his wings. He took out a pair of leather gloves and a brand new set of combat visors he had ordered online. He was ready.
He Climbed onto the edge of the building, crossbow in one hand, slung over his neck. One last flap of his wings and he jumped, wings automatically expanded. The thermals from the city streets lifted him high above the horizon as he zoomed over City hall. Today it was the streets and alleys of Joo Chiat that he was going to patrol.
No criminal will walk the street safely tonight.
No rapist or gangster will threaten the innocent tonight.
Zachary Teo drives his Red Honda Civic in the brightest of days..
.. but in the pitfalls of the night he flies as...
The Defender
