The Oculus

Rain did not deter the press from gathering at the entrance of the Vanguard Industry's headquarters at the heart of Centopolis. "Mrs Winston can you answer a couple questions please?" a reporter yelled over the chatter. Alexa ignored him and rushed into one of the vehicles awaiting her arrival.
"VIP secured. Initiating transit," a member of her security team said into his head set.
"It's good to see you Mother," Candace said squeezing Alexa's hand.
"Likewise." The armored fleet flew down the highway, weaving seamlessly through traffic. "Did you do what I asked?" Alexa said.
"Yes. The Oculus Files has been wiped. Nothing can be traced." Candace replied sipping a glass of wine. The cars sped past Centopolis' city limits towards distant black forests.
"Who ever you hired to assassinate Senator Garwali did a sloppy job. Now people are suspecting I had something to do with it. We can't have our shareholders panicking over this shit." Alexa said.
"We got the information we needed on using the Oculus. It's worth the little PR heat your getting right now. It'll die down soon enough." Candace said. Alexa pursed her lips.
"Trillions of dollars depends on this Candace. As Vanguard's CEO I can not be associated with scandal especially right now. You need to fix it." Alexa said. Candace pushed her curls from her face. She stared at her son's picture on her phone.
"I'll do what I can. You know I will do anything to keep this company." Candace replied.
"As you should. With the Oculus, we can do more than just stop Romulus' hostile takeover attempt. As long as Solomon doesn't screw it up." Alexa huffed. News on the video screens displayed the fugitive's face.
"He won't. The world's been chasing him his entire life over the Oculus. Bermuda Solomon only wants one thing, peace. We're the only ones that's offered him that." Candace replied finishing her wine. "He will deliver it to us. He knows better than to cross us."

The forests beyond the city consumed remnants of the past. Roads were laded with potholes and cracks by invading tree roots. Deer darted into the woods as the vehicles maneuvered through the brush. The fleet turned down a dirt path marked with a bright red ribbon. At its end stood a derelict church entangled in foliage. A man dressed in dark clothes stood at the entry. The rain lightened, falling as mist.
"Good evening,"Bermuda Solomon said. His eyes sunk in dark circles.
"Good evening, Mr Solomon." Alexa said as they approached the steps. The security team surrounded the women. Mud and bits of grass clung to their heels. Bermuda sighed dragging his hand down his thick beard.
"As agreed, our security will surround the perimeter. You will give us the Oculus and no one will ever search for you again." Candace said. He nodded looking at the ground.
"It's inside. Follow me." Bermuda sad. The women followed him. Candles illuminated the foyer and its sanctuary. Cobwebs hung from the chandeliers and statues lining the vestibule. A broken organ stood at the opposite end of the room. Dust coated the windows and wooden pews.
"The Oculus is thousands of years old created by the original descendants of the first man and woman. Its purpose was to provide insight into the future. Man acquired a wealth of knowledge with no idea of how to use it. They hoped Man could look at how their decisions effect their world and choose the wiser option. But Man has yet to prove trustworthy and we have guarded it ever since. Myself alone over a dozen lifetimes." Bermuda said. Candace glanced at her mother. Alexa replied with raised brows and a discreet shrug.
"If you are to have it, you must protect it." he replied. Stepping out from the organ's shadows a pale young woman appeared. Blindfolded, she walked down aisle with a gold triangle in the palm of her hand. Encased in thin gold, the eye of the Oculus looked around the room. Great black wings stretched from the woman's back. Alexa trembled. Candace's eyes widened, reaching into her petticoat pocket.
"They are not worthy." the winged woman said.
"We do not decide worth Anastasia.” Bermuda replied. Alexa took it from Anastasia's hand. It began to glow and emit warmth onto her palm. Sounds of rumbling engines grew louder from outside. Security officers yelled incomprehensible commands from the brush.
"You've betrayed us." Candace growled pulling a gun from her pocket.
"No!" Bermuda cried. Two thunderous shots rung. Anastasia and Bermuda collapsed onto the floor. She aimed the gun towards Alexa.
"What are you doing?" Alexa exclaimed.
"I'm doing what's best." Candace replied. She pulled the trigger then picked up the Oculus from her mother's hand. Alexa's agonal breathing died once Candace ran out the church.
"We need to get out of here now!" she ordered. The cars raced down the dirt path onto the damage road towards Centopolis. Red armored trucks with a R insignia on the hoods blocked the roads. More red vehicles arrived behind them.
Mercenaries stepped out of the trucks with machine guns and rocket launchers drawn. A man dressed in a steel colored suit grounded his cigarette with his leather sole.
"Fire at will," he ordered. Smoke plumed from his lips. Bullets and rockets whizzed through the Vanguard vehicles, lighting them ablaze. Flames and smoke towered into the clouds. The man pressed a button on his ear piece to receive a call. "Mrs Garwali, it is done. I will extract and dispose it. The shareholders have no other option but to cooperate... Your welcome." The man pressed his ear piece again. "Head back to the city. Vanguard will be acquired by Romulus by dawn." he told the mercenaries. As the red trucks dispersed, he reached into the heaps of enflamed metal and pulled out the Oculus. Great black wings sprung from his back and with one bound he flew to the sky in the cover of the night.