Adrien was in his mid 60’s and unlike too many people in the year 2054 he looked his age. He wore an old set of glasses that didn’t quite fit his prescription anymore and seemed to purposefully wear old dull clothing that was loosing its colour. When he walked his back arched forward in a hunch and kept his hands in his pockets. Often people would comment on how his dusty old glasses would hide his eyes in poor lighting but he paid them no heed, it was almost as if he liked it that way. His mouth was curved slightly downward, falling into a natural scowl as his skin hung in his face making it look longer, and tired. As he grew older he’d seen little use in wasting money on youth creams and treatments, and in his later year he no longer had money too waste. He’d become disgusted with the fakes that paraded around in their flawless skin when inside they were as old as him. He was a bitter old man and took it out on everyone who got within hearing distance of his wicked tongue. He’d found comfort in verbally abusing people at first, but as he got older less people paid him attention. All too often he’d heard the targets of his spiteful tongue whisper amongst themselves and just laugh while walking away. This only made him even more upset meaning his next target would get twice the abuse, but it was getting worse, and so did Adrien.

Adrien was following his normal Thursday routine, he climbed down the stairs of his cramped apartment block, it was poorly maintained but it was all he could afford with his pension. He then made his way down the street to where he always got his groceries, people stared, as they always did but he’d long ago come to terms with that. Occasionally someone would stare too long, too boldly and they would become Adrien's next victim however today most had enough shame to turn away. He continued his march towards the store, glaring at the people as they parted around him, not so much to make it easier for him but to avoid getting to close, as if touching him would somehow undo all their obsessive work and leave them ugly as he was, as ugly as they were on the inside. He continued his walk towards the one store he would shop at, it was a fair way from his apartment but he’d always gone there and wouldn’t let a few stares from strangers disrupt his life. He had to cross the plaza where the glass floor showed the subterranean commerce center at the base of the Notre Dame Cathedral, he hated that plaza, the Cathedral had always inspired him when he still drew sketches of it’s architecture, it’s beautiful arcs and stout, unfaltering peaks always made Adrien see the majestic beauty in an ageless wonder, now the plaza before it ruined it’s ageless beauty and reminded Adrien of the ugliness inside people.

“Good morning Adrien, you look terrible as always,” Victor was the man who stood at the checkout every Thursday when Adrien entered the store. He always greeted Adrien with one comment or another about his age or his looks. Adrien put up with it since more than once Victor had threatened to throw him out and ban him for life if he didn’t remain civil. Adrien just curled his lips down further in distaste before letting out a grunt in response. “Cheerful as always, watch the floors I had them moped yesterday and you’ll probably still find a way to fall over and break your hip.” Victor went back to reading whatever trash he was reading under the counter as Adrien went about his shopping, mentally cursing the rude clerk. Before paying him for the groceries and leaving the store in a foul mood, as he usually would.

People continued to avoid him as he walked home, this time he might also contribute it to the dark mood he was in and the way it seemed to manifest itself in the dark, heavy air that seemed to surround him, or maybe it was just his bad mood playing tricks on him. Either way he snapped at anyone who didn’t see him and immediately move out of his way. “Push off!” he yelled at someone who was too busy talking on his mobile telephone to notice him immediately, this caused the man to startle and jump out of the way. Adrien just glared at him and continued his walk home. He was almost off the plaza outside the Cathedral when he heard a loud pop behind him, someone seemed to have shot a round from a personal arm into the air and everyone was panicking, Adrien had no idea what was going on but someone knocked him from behind in an attempt to escape sending him crashing through an opening in a nearby building. His groceries went everywhere and Adrien cursed loudly. He pulled himself up with great effort and looked around the room, it appeared to be some sort of bar and everyone was staring at him. Adrien just glared back. “What are you all staring at? It’s too early to be drinking what the hells wrong with you?” The barman shot Adrien a look but everyone else looked away so Adrien quieted down, a TV in the corner was broadcasting some sort of news update that caught Adrien's eye, he had milk soaking the front of his shirt but he ignored it and moved closer.

“-Still no luck in finding Avalon employee Ilona-“ the TV was abruptly muted causing a roar of protest from Adrien and two other patrons who were watching it. “Sorry gents” the barman apologized then turned the volume back up. “-where she was last seen. Law enforcement officials are asking for witnesses to step forward if they have seen anything that might help them.” An image of the employee appeared on the TV and one of the patrons nudged the man next to him with a grin. “Not a bad looking woman, I can’t say I blame whoever it was eh?” This resulted in a chuckle from his friend, Adrien just frowned. “Don’t be so certain, people these days use so much junk you can’t tell their real age anymore, we’ve become the perfect superficial society, beautiful in the outside but corrupt and twisted on the inside. She might have a good face but how can you tell she’s not hideous on this inside?” Adrien glared that the man who just stared back with confusion. “Leave us alone you crazy old fool, I’m just trying to have a drink with my friends ok” the man tried to turn away and ignore Adrien but he wasn’t in the mood to be ignored and grabbed the guy’s shoulder. “Don’t think our time wont come, eventually our karma will come back on us and then those that are ugly on the inside will be ugly on the outside too” The man threw Adrien’s hand of his shoulder. “What like you?!? Go back to wherever you came from and preach to your shadow, it might actually believe your ramblings!” Adrien looked just about ready to explode he clenched his fists in indignation and pressed his lips together. He looked about ready to swing a punch but the barman grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him away. “I think you better leave old man” Adrien glared at the barman and jerked his arm free but none the less put his hands in his pockets and left the bar without another word.

He was still in a shockingly foal mood when he got back to his apartment complex which is why when he saw a young lady waiting for him he didn’t waste time in snapping at her as he entered his building "Mr. Adrien D’Merté I-" "NO!". Adrien tried to slam the door closed behind him but the woman caught the door and followed him in anyway. “Mr. D’Merté, you look like a man who was quite the heart breaker back in your day, it’s unfortunate that time had to take that away but you can have it all restored, Avalon is willing to give you free treatments, all you have to do in exchange is-“ Adrien turned back to her and shot her a look that stopped her mid-sentence. “What part of ‘NO’ didn’t you understand?” The young woman straightened her jacket and cleared her throat. “Mr. D’Merté, I’m not sure you realize what you could do to help us at Avalon, there are very few people who don’t use our products and services, in fact there are so few that Avalon is quite eager to find new test subjects, they offer free treatments, there are a lot of people who would pay a lot of money for-“ Adrien once again cut her off this time by raising his hand. “I don’t care, I don’t want to help your superficial, corporate nazi employers and I don’t want to test your anti-age junk and I don’t care how good you make me look I’ll still be old and ugly inside!” The woman looked at him before frowning as if surprised he would turn down free treatment from Avalon. “Very well Mr. D’Merté, I’ll be in touch if you change your mind” the woman handed him a business card but Adrien made it a point to immediately toss it over his shoulder and continue on his way back into his apartment. Just inside his door he could hear the woman make a phone call. “… Hello sir it’s me… yes I’ve talked to him, he said he wasn’t interested… yes I made it clear-… I know he wanted this one especially but-… yes of course, goodbye sir.” Adrien almost smiled, at least he’d made someone else’s day at least partly as bad as his… In hindsight he probably could have been more polite…

It was near midnight when they came, Adrien had woken up to get a midnight snack only to remember he’d lost his groceries and his fridge was empty. The part of his bad mood that had dissipated in his sleep was renewed and Adrien cursed the person who knocked him over and turned to go back to bed. He didn’t even get to let out a shocked cry as some dark figures moved towards him, one of the shaped fired something into his shoulder, he didn’t even feel it hit him as his head swam and he became vaguely aware of himself falling backwards. The four men quickly managed to catch the old man before he hit the refrigerator. As they carefully lowered him to the ground the same young woman who approached Adrien earlier stepped into the room. “Careful,’ she hissed at them “I have to fill my quota one way or another and if this one dies because you couldn’t snatch him without giving him a concussion I’m not going to be very happy” The woman straightened her jacket in indignation before turning on her heels and walking out, the four men carefully lifted the old man off the ground and carried him out after her. Adrien had no friends or family in his old age so no one noticed him missing the closest anyone came was brief thought from Victor the clerk the following Thursday, there was no search for a missing person and Adrien was never seen again…