Chapter 1 1. Present The coffee shop, Esnatzen, was empty when Seres walked in; the moss green carpet, filled with static, shocked his feet. He glanced around, eyes resting on the large tables in the center of the shop. He didn't feel like sitting down, although the orange and black armchairs looked comfortable. Instead, he walked up to the counter-top and slumped against it, the tips of his black hair touching the counter. He was feeling uneasy today. The barista boy looked at him, rolled his hazel eyes and disappeared into the kitchen. Five minutes later, he came back with a cup of black-brown sludge. "Here, the boss wants you to try this." The