ã€ŠChildren of The Dawnã€‹


 The Structure

    Jaylon floated weightlessly in his spacecraft, surrounded by the endless expanse of the universe. He gazed down at the planet below, it was mesmerizing in its beauty. The planet was coated by a strange, swirling atmosphere in shades of purple and green that he¡¯d never seen before. Several irregularly shaped moons orbited. It looked peaceful.

    ¡°Careful Rook, that¡¯s one place you do not want to go,¡± the intercom buzzed as Jaylon returned to the pilot¡¯s seat. It was a small shuttle, with only enough room for him. The interior was surprisingly spacious, given its compact size. The cockpit was located at the front of the shuttle. To his left, there was a small but well-equipped living and sleeping area, complete with a comfortable bed, a mini kitchen, and a washroom.

    ¡°It¡¯s hard to believe. That. This is Gehanna¡­¡± Jaylon responded.

    ¡°Yeah well. Believe it. Why do you think the hazard pay was so big on this job? Can¡¯t deny, the universe is a safer place because of it. Anyway. You prepared for slingshot?¡±

    ¡°Yes sir. Go in five, four, three, two, one,¡± Jaylon counted. His shuttle was prepped and prepared to use the planet¡¯s gravitational force to slingshot him onto his next destination. ¡°And go,¡± he pressed the ignition but the engine misfired. He pressed it frantically over and over, but the engines continued to stall. ¡°I¡¯ve got a problem here, going to miss my window.¡±

    ¡°Calm down Rook. You¡¯re still in orbit. Take a breath. Run systems check. You¡¯ve got eighty-two minutes until you come round again. Now, sit back and ride that gravity baby,¡± the man on the intercom said. Jaylon flipped a few switches, and the onboard computer began running diagnostics. He peered out the window once again.What the¡­He thought. The magnificent planet only moments ago now exuded danger. It resembled a dark, ominous orb, with tendrils of black smoke rising from its surface. The atmosphere was now a mass of ominous clouds, pulsing with dark energy and lighting.

    ¡°Uh. Jaylon. What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°Sorry I got a little distracted, still running systems check¡ª¡±

    ¡°Get back on course now, if you continue to deviate¡ª¡± the intercom was overpowered by the ship¡¯s alarm system. He was exiting orbit and losing altitude, fast. ¡°Get back on course, now!¡±

    ¡°Nothing¡¯s working!¡± Jaylon said. The thrusters were dead, and the ship¡¯s navigation was unresponsive. He was now hurtling towards Gehanna. ¡°Prepare for a crash landing. Initiating emergency protocol,¡± Jaylon took two large wires and connected them above his dash into a small beacon. ¡°Signal looks good, coordinates being sent now,¡± Jaylon continued as the ship descended. ¡°Mission control, do you read me? Mission control. You should be getting my coordinates in real-time¡ª¡±

    ¡°Hey Rook¡­¡± the intercom responded.

    ¡°Not funny man thought I lost you there for a second¡ª¡±

    ¡°Listen. Uhm. Damnit. Look.¡± there was a long pause. Jaylon gripped the joystick stick tightly. ¡°No one is uh. No one¡¯s going to come down there for a rescue,¡± Another long pause. Jaylon smiled uncomfortably like someone making an awkward joke he didn¡¯t quite get.

    ¡°Come on Shawn, stop playing around here,¡±

    ¡°We won¡¯t be able to drop supplies down either. Now I need you to listen closely. We¡¯re going to lose comms any second now.¡±

    ¡°Shawn what the hell man¡ª¡±

    ¡°Listen! I¡¯ve been instructed to relay the following instructions¡ª¡± the intercom buzzed with static cutting in and out. ¡°You need to¡ª, make sure¡ª, whatever you do, don¡¯t¡ª I repeat do not¡ª.¡± Jaylon could barely understand a word through the static. As his ship free fell there was only one sentence he heard clearly before his system completely failed.

    ¡°You¡¯re on your own Rook, Godspeed.¡±

    Are we so easily corrupted? Does evil pass through us from generation to generation? A genetic makeup destined to cause pain and suffering. Are we born in the dark only to discover the light? What if we aren¡¯t guided or nurtured? Will we be swallowed up in an eternity of darkness?

    Or are we beaten down, children of the dawn thrust into a merciless world left to decide for themselves what is worth saving? If any of it. What of our souls, at the very least? Are they beyond salvation? Or should we light them ablaze, and watch the world burn?

    <hr>

    The ringing was so familiar at this point that Skye hardly noticed. A low-frequency hum emitted from a small device on the ceiling alerted the recruits that it was time for training. His eyes were open within a second, he had to be ready. It came at all hours, day or night. Skye rolled over at3:15 a.m.It was the last week of training, and soon, he¡¯d become a protector of The Structure. The excitement electrified his entire body. He donned his training gear effortlessly, carefully, and mindfully. Every piece had become a part of him. He¡¯d been training for a while now. Time and age were strange concepts in The Structure. Birthdays were never celebrated, never even acknowledged. Yet by his estimate, most of them had been training for 1,825 days. Five years. His first childhood memory came when he was perhaps two or three years old. It was from the training arena. They were sparring with swords, possibly katanas. Extrapolating from that information, fast forward to today. Maybe he was sixteen; most likely he was seventeen. Less likely eighteen, but all entirely possible. Skye hoped he was on the younger end. He wasn¡¯t small for his age, or in general for that matter. Five-ten built like a gymnast. Lean and athletic, but that was below average. Going up against some of the other recruits that could be described as nothing less than behemoths. He would lose hand-to-hand combat every time. Their trainer told him to focus on technique, perhaps he should. The ego-driven stubbornness with which he wanted to physically overpower his opponent was a losing strategy. Skye looked around his room one last time to make sure everything was tidy. Not that it was especially difficult to keep his ten-by-ten sleeping quarters with a single bunk clean and organized. It wasn¡¯t much, but he was grateful for the privacy, and it was all he¡¯d ever known. He exited his room and began jogging down the stone hallways toward the training facility. The underground hallway was lined with sleek, polished stone walls that glowed softly in the low light. The floor was smooth and even, made of gleaming tiles that helped reflect the glow. Recessed lighting in the ceiling provided even, bright illumination. Being underground, the air was fresh and cool, and the ventilation system provided a steady breeze that was relished by the patrons, creating a sense of nature and environment, even when there was none. Despite its modern appearance, there was a sense of timelessness and durability, it had been here for centuries and would remain for many more. Many thoughts raced through his mind this morning but above all else. was the dreadful prospect of not receiving a Brilliance and thus becoming a Duud. Such a derogatory moniker; after all, they practically run The Structure.Skye thought. Why couldn¡¯t they call it anything else? It was cruel and demeaning. Skye¡¯s long strides ate up the distance. He moved with grace and fluidity, his feet barely seeming to touch the ground as they glided through the air as he ran. Skye navigated the turns of the hallway with ease, his body perfectly in sync with his surroundings. He could do this with his eyes closed while running backward. Which, in fact, is something he¡¯d done successfully on a dare once. As he was about to round the next corner a fist came flying at him. Skye ducked easily, almost bored by the attempt.

    ¡°I think you¡¯re getting slower,¡± Dorian smirked. A man blessed by genetics. A staggering six feet six, his curly silver hair dangled below both shoulders. He rarely took anything seriously, or at least that¡¯s what he wanted people to think. Skye knew all Dorian wanted was to get strong enough to lead his people to a better life, a life beyond The Structure. He often caught Dorian training alone, after everyone was too exhausted to even move a muscle. Skye respected him. He had no doubt that Dorian would be given the Brilliance of a lifetime. Next week, everything will change. They walked through the final hundred feet of tunnels together.

    ¡°Getting sick of living down here?¡± Skye asked.

    ¡°Never. If it were up to me, I¡¯d stay down here forever. In fact, I¡¯d recommend we dig tunnels even deeper. And forget anyone leaving The Structure, no, everyone would¡ª¡±

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    ¡°Okay, okay. I get it. No need to be amutz,¡± Skye said. Dorian ruffled Skye¡¯s hair as one does to a little brother.

    ¡°How bad do you think it¡¯s going to be out there? Are you scared? I made a bet with Bryn that you¡¯d serve your full five-year term without a complaint,¡± Dorian said. It was a feeble attempt at a compliment., but he appreciated it. Skye knew anyone who abandoned their duty to defend The Structure would be exiled.

    ¡°Oh, yea? What did she bet?¡± Skye asked.

    ¡°She said you wouldn¡¯t last a year. And by wouldn¡¯t last she meant,¡± Dorian winked and ran his thumb across his own neck.

    ¡°Mutz,¡± Skye said once again.

    ¡°Don¡¯t let Almanon hear you using that language,¡± Dorian joked, giving Skye a small shove. Skye paused, then took off in a full sprint. ¡°Yeah, you better run!¡± Dorian sprinted after him. On their way, they passed a retiredJourney Man.This was the nickname given to those who served and lived outside the walls. Dorian and Skye slowed down to pay their respects. Senshi Katuzuma rarely slept and wandered the tunnels at all hours. Some say the outside world drove him mad. Others believe he went crazy with boredom. His service ended over forty years ago. He wore a dark red velvet suit, typically only worn on the day the Journeymen returned home from their service. It was a ceremonial garment. Now frayed and stained. The suit was on its last legs.

    ¡°Will you be joining us at training, Senshi? The ceremony¡¯s next week,¡± Dorian said. It took Senshi a moment to respond as he was still taking in his surroundings. Then as if he had finally realized he was safe at home and recognized where he was. Senshi stood and straightened out his suit.

    ¡°It¡¯s all lies you know,¡± Senshi said.

    ¡°Oh? And what deep dark secrets do you have for us today?¡± Dorian smiled, shooting Skye a look as if to say.I wonder what the old man¡¯s got for us today.Senshi opened his mouth but hesitated. As if remembering something painful and just like that, the light gently faded from his eyes. The listless gaze stared past Dorian and Skye. Without another word, he wandered the opposite way down the hallway. Skye was quickly becoming impatient.

    ¡°Come on, man, I want to be the first one there,¡± Skye said, but Dorian didn¡¯t budge.

    ¡°What do you think you¡¯ll be given? They say you get a sense of these things. You can already feel it becoming a part of you. I feel the essence of the wind. It¡¯s hard to explain. I can feel it throughout every inch of my body,¡± Dorian said. Skye knew he¡¯d be gifted immense power. The Brilliance was the only thing that had kept them alive for so long and Dorian would be a warrior for the ages.¡°Does that make any sense? What do you feel connected to?¡± Dorian asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s best not to focus on such things, it distracts from training. When the time is right. I¡¯ll know,¡± Skye said hiding behind a confident facade.

    ¡°I see you getting something primal and ancient. You¡¯re going to be the toughest of us all. Or. Just for irony¡¯s sake, you¡¯ll become a¡ª¡±

    ¡°Dorian, is there a point to this? Or for the love of Kaia, can we train,¡± Skye was stern, but his words had little effect.

    ¡°I can¡¯t see you playing a support role. Do you think anyone will get the light? We could desperately use someone like that. How long has it been anyways, thirty years?¡±

    ¡°Seventy,¡± Skye said, rolling his eyes. Dorian never did anything he didn¡¯t want to do. ¡°Look, I¡¯m leaving¡ª¡± but before Skye could finish his sentence, Dorian took off sprinting.

    <hr>

    Skye was furious to find out they weren¡¯t the first ones there. Bryn was there working the climbing wall. A fantastic way to build strength and endurance. It also mimicked much of the outside landscape. Sand and rock, with many cliffs. A skill not to go overlooked. Her hair was grown down to her hips, but only on the right side. The left side was completely shaved. Reminiscent of the warriors of old. They would often braid their hair, rather than have it free-falling, but she hadn¡¯t been given a Brilliance yet. She hadn¡¯t earned it yet.

    ¡°Have you noticed the alarm¡¯s gone off approximately twenty-three percent more in the last month?¡± Bryn said as she dangled effortlessly from a finger crimp on the climbing wall. The full scope of the room was impressive. There were balance beams, parallel bars, rings, and tumbling mats. It was equipped with a caged sparing ring and finally, an obstacle course called The Leviathan. Skye thought back to the first time he approached it. Stepping up to the starting line, feeling the anticipation and adrenaline coursing through his veins as all the recruits and instructors watched closely. They would analyze every movement, every misstep, every breath. The first challenge was a series of tall walls, eight feet, twelve feet, and sixteen feet. Having to scale them using nothing but a slim rope. The memory of his muscles burning with the effort flooded back. Next up was a series of balance beams, each one narrower and more unstable than the last. Walking carefully, trying to maintain his balance. A misstep would send him tumbling into to floor which was flash heated to sixty degrees Celsius. Anytime a recruit fell and hit the ground their skin sizzled and burned. Only for a moment. Enough to leave a scar, but no long-lasting damage. Then, at the end of the balance beams, a front dive into freezing waters. The recruits must be able to swim thirty meters underwater. There was no coming up for air, as the pool was covered with thick cement, it was all or nothing. Finally, as he came up for air, there was a corridor. Skye remembered being immediately struck by the chaos that unfolded before him the first time. Thin lasers were shooting out in all directions, crisscrossing through the air and creating a web of bright, shifting lines. It was difficult to see anything beyond the lasers, which came from every direction all at once.

    He hesitated at the threshold, only for a moment, any longer would lead to dishonor. Mistakes and failures were common. Fear and cowardice were unacceptable. The lasers moved too quickly for him to navigate safely, he glanced down the corridor, searching for a way through, but there was none. Skye took a deep breath and tried to focus. There had to be a way through this maze of lasers. He took his first few steps into the corridor.Stay calm and think. Gauge the movement of the lasers and find a path between them. There was no pattern to the madness. The lasers formed a complex, ever-shifting helix that was almost hypnotic to watch. They wove in and out of each other, forming intricate shapes and designs that changed with every passing moment. It was hard to keep track of them all, and he found himself getting lost in the swirling, mesmerizing display. Skye was only able to take five steps into the corridor before the first laser struck him. Then. Darkness. He was woken up several minutes later by Almanon, their trainer. It took two years for him to be able to navigate the corridor without getting knocked unconscious.

    ¡°No one would notice that but you Bryn,¡± Dorian said interrupting Skye¡¯s daydream. He shook it off, focusing back on Bryn.

    ¡°How¡¯d you get here before us? Your room is on the other side of The Structure,¡± Skye interrogated her. They were always harsh with each other, sharp in their tones. This came from their intense desire to lead. They held high self-imposed expectations. There were no true rankings or official titles among recruits. That didn¡¯t stop them from naturally picking a leader.

    ¡°Even if I was prepared the moment the alarm buzzed, there would be no way for me to get from my bunk to the training facility before you. Even at a full-out sprint, I¡¯d barely make it. I¡¯d be out of breath. To top it all off I wouldn¡¯t have time to climb this wall. Therefore?¡± Bryn teased as she leaped down from the wall, sticking the landing.

    ¡°Therefore, you were given your Brilliance early developed the gift of teleportation?¡± Dorian teased as he began to climb the wall after her. She laughed, which was something only Dorian was able to make happen. He had this uncanny ability to connect with all his peers, Skye was always envious of this.

    ¡°Therefore¡­?¡± She asked, directed at Skye this time.

    ¡°Therefore you must have already been here.¡±

    ¡°For sixty-five minutes to be exact, I¡¯ve changed my training regime, it¡¯s far too intense and complicated for you to comprehend. But when we get chosen next week and I want to be ready. Especially if I¡¯m going to lead us out of this place someday.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s what the people want?¡± Skye asked.

    ¡°This place is dying, Everyone¡¯s slowly giving up,¡± Bryn said.

    ¡°Maybe people are adjusting to peace.¡±

    ¡°Look I¡¯ve always tolerated you, Skye. You¡¯re going to be strong.¡±

    ¡°But?¡±

    ¡°But that¡¯s it. I need strong fighters, and you¡¯re going to be one of them.But that¡¯s all you¡¯ll be. Maybe even my lieutenant one day, if Dorian doesn¡¯t want the job. I, however, will be the one to lead us. A leader needs to be flawless in all things. And you. Aren¡¯t. The rest of the recruits won¡¯t follow you. The Structure wasn¡¯t built for us to stay here forever, the population¡¯s dwindling. It¡¯s as if Reikner¡¯s keeping secrets. He must know¡ª ¡± Bryn stopped mid-sentence. Purposely biting her tongue. Skye couldn¡¯t tell if it was to keep a secret or because she was tired of having to explain everything to him. The harsh truth he had to accept was that Bryn was a genius. The rumble of grumble of the rest of the recruits entering the facility got louder. Few were ever happy to be up this early. Lastly, Almanon entered. Their mentor. He had toured for fifteen years outside The Structure. Part of the last group of recruits to serve for such a long time. After that, they started decreasing service time to five years. Skye had heard stories that the guardians, the originals, would serve until death. Almanon commanded respect everywhere he went, and his Brilliance was incredible. He could create small gravitational fields around any object that he pleased. Sparing against him was nearly impossible, within minutes his opponent would be pinned down on the ground or sucked up against the wall.

    ¡°Gatha round, gatha round,¡± Almanon spoke as if the very act of creating words was more laborious than he could bear. ¡°Skye Curca, hmm. Check. Dorian Gension. Hmm. Yes. Bryn Morigua. Perrfect,¡± he continued roll call. Which was always excruciatingly slow and painful. If Skye hadn¡¯t seen his combat experience firsthand, he would never believe this man, to be one of the greats. When he was done, a seriousness washed over him. Like a painful memory was resurfacing. Or a sadness of what was yet to come. ¡°You will all¡­ In times of great peril. nah¡­ Everyone must face their destiny¡­ Or er. You¡¯ve been given¡­¡± Almanon trailed off further, not quite sure what point he was trying to make. ¡°You get your Brilliance¡¯s next week. If you don¡¯t have each other¡¯s backs. You will die.¡± He paused, thinking further. ¡°Yes. You absolutely will die, in uhm horrible ways,¡± Almanon nodded, satisfied, like he¡¯d given some grand speech. ¡°Right, let¡¯s get to training.¡±

 A desire, a dream, of far away lands.

    Myka always enjoyed the twists and turns of The Structure, she¡¯d often time herself to see how quickly she could get from the North end to the South. From her bunk to the training facility, not that she ever did much training. Her parents were among the ungifted. Tasked with cleaning all the bunks in the Northern corridor each week. These days she often found herself daydreaming, for tomorrow she¡¯d receive her brilliance. Though it was more than likely she would join the ranks of her parents and her grandparents. A generation of Duuds handing down little tips and tricks that would ease the monotonous day-to-day. All they did was make beds for goodness sake, yet there was still much to learn. Like whose bunks to make sure were absolutely spotless or they¡¯d complain to the Sovereign. Which bunks could be messier, who liked their clothes folded, who didn¡¯t care. As she entered the dining hall everyone was almost done eating. She was never on time, and no one really cared. One more week of immaturity and a responsibility-free living. They were serving kanesh. An awful-looking greenish stew with a few orange and red bits floating in it. The dining hall thrummed. It was time to get back to work.

    ¡°You joining us honey?¡± Myka¡¯s mom asked. Tapping her foot with her gaze fixated on the food Myka hadn¡¯t touched.

    ¡°Just a sec,¡± she said, but her mother didn¡¯t budge.

    ¡°You said that yesterday and didn¡¯t show up until it was curfew, and the day before that you didn¡¯t show up at all. There are things you need to learn. I know you can¡¯t see it now. Or maybe you just don¡¯t want to. But everything I¡¯m teaching you is going to make your life much easier here.¡±

    ¡°Kaia forbid I fold the towels wrong,¡± Myka¡¯s voice was quiet, not far beyond a whisper.

    ¡°What was that Myka? Hm?¡± her mother responded. Instead of a clever retort Myka shoved a spoon full of kanesh into her mouth and shrugged.

    ¡°I¡¯m eating,¡± she said through a mouthful of food.

    ¡°Be up in twenty minutes. And I mean it this time, or else,¡± her mother stormed off without another word. She wasn¡¯t wrong for wanting to teach her. The ungifted did everything around here. All labor was considered a gift. How lucky they were that all they had to do was fold towels. Because once upon a time they all had to fight for their lives, blah, blah blah. So be grateful for blah blah blah. Since Myka was born. None of the Kreitzers had even come back with a scratch. Five years watching the sand blow, watching the sun rise and set. No danger, no nothing. This, perhaps is what scared her the most. Is this all there is? Mindless chores, or five years of staring into the horizon? Before Myka could take her second bite, the dining hall was completely empty. The efficiency of it all gave her the creeps. She often crossed her hands and prayed before eating. This week she prayed that she would be given a Brilliance. Then she could leave this place for good. This was the only way anyone was allowed to leave The Structure. Desertion was the highest form of treason, a sin that no one had committed in the history of their origin. In the not-so-low chance that she didn¡¯t receive a gift. She wouldn¡¯t be asking permission. One way or another. She was leaving. She¡¯d be missed, used as a cautionary tale. Then everyone would go back to their incessantly boring and mundane lives.

    <hr>

    Myka stood by the blast doors along the Northern corridor, her fingers touching the small keypad. What awaits me? She thought, imagining the cold steel, beckoning her outside. Pleading with her to live a life of discovery, of adventure.

    ¡°Careful m-lady, you wouldn¡¯t want to venture into such dangerous lands without your dashing knight by your side,¡± Dorian teased. His eyes lit up every time he looked at her, it was both flattering and unnerving. He looked at her like she was the only person in the world.

    ¡°Gross. That¡¯s your worst line¡ª¡± Myka coughed. Her vocal cords gave out. literally. From something called spasmodic dysphonia. She¡¯d been born with the condition, and even with their advanced medical staff, there was no treatment.

    ¡°Speechless as always I see. I have that effect on people you know,¡± Dorian smiled and came closer. She smirked, then gave him the finger. They both laughed. ¡°Truth talk?¡± Dorian asked as he slid his back against the wall.

    ¡°Truth be spoken,¡± Myka spoke softly and sat next to him.

    ¡°There¡¯s an unease among the new recruits.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve noticed.¡±

    ¡°Nobody seems to be taking our jobs seriously anymore. Centuries of hardened warriors spent their lives preparing to defend The Structure. But now... It seems like.¡±

    ¡°Nobody cares.¡±

    ¡°Exactly! I heard rumors that we may be the last group of recruits. Ever. Maybe there¡¯s nothing out there anymore?¡± Dorian said. Myka couldn¡¯t help but smile. If there wasn¡¯t any danger out there, maybe her dreams would come true. She and Dorian could explore until their heart¡¯s content.

    ¡°That¡¯s. Great.¡± Myka said.

    ¡°Great? How?¡±

    ¡°On to a better life,¡± Myka said softly, resting her head on his shoulder, but Dorian was still caught up. He trained his entire life to be a warrior. The moment of truth right around the corner and yet, walking through that door may yield nothing, his years of hard work, completely wasted.

    ¡°This used to be a place of honor. Protecting the last of our people. A warriors commune. Now they laugh and drink, retirees fucking each other practically every night. Like it¡¯s one big party. Is this the life they strive for Senseless debauchery, pointless pleasure,¡± Dorian continued.

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    ¡°Doesn¡¯t sound all bad,¡± Myka laughed, slowly running her hand down the base of his neck. Then she gently flicked his ear, this broke him out of his spell. ¡°The ceremony¡¯s tomorrow, we¡¯ll find out soon,¡± she said.

    ¡°Yeah...¡± he paused for a while. Myka didn¡¯t mind, she always felt comfortable in silence. ¡°Have you had any dreams?¡±

    ¡°Dreams?¡±

    ¡°Recurring ones. Or ones that really stand out? That you remember? We¡¯re all getting inklings about what we will be given. Except for Skye. I think he¡¯s going to be a duud¡ª. I mean ungifted. Don¡¯t tell anyone I said anything. But normally he¡¯s so.¡±

    ¡°Brash? Cocky? A know it all?

    ¡°Ha. Yeah. But he¡¯s quiet. Really quiet. He says he¡¯s just focused on training. But it¡¯s more than that. I think he¡¯s dreamless.¡± Dorian smiled with his mouth, but his eyes betrayed a deep sadness. He was concerned. Skye would do anything to protect that which he cares about. They were all, for better or worse, in this together.

    ¡°Dinner,¡± Myka said as she rested her head on his shoulder.

    ¡°Hm?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re all at dinner.¡±

    ¡°Huh.¡± Dorian paused. Fumbling with what or how to say his next words. ¡°I hope you know that regardless of what happens next week. Look after the ceremony if we¡¯re different or. Something doesn¡¯t go right¡ª¡± Myka cut him off by placing her hand over his mouth.

    ¡°Sh. Big day tomorr¡ª¡± Myka coughed once again, but Dorian understood what she was trying to say. He closed his eyes and rested his head on her shoulder this time. Myka decided regardless of what happened tomorrow. She wanted Dorian by her side. Myka closed her eyes, with him. It felt like her life was finally beginning.

    Dreams Across The Structure

    Skye was convinced he would be the one to lead them. The lucky ones would be given a Brilliance today. Their selected gifts would be bestowed upon them and yet he hadn¡¯t slept in three days. He couldn¡¯t get Dorian¡¯s words out of his head. Why haven¡¯t I dreamt? Not a wink, a moment, nothing. Insomnia brewed each night from the fear of becoming ungifted, a self-perpetuating cycle of dreamless nights. Skye lay there until a strip of blue algae lining the baseboards illuminated the room, this signaled morning for The Structure ¡ª and for the first time in years, instead of snapping to attention and rushing to be the first one at training. He just lay there. Contemplating. Why haven¡¯t I dreamt?

    <hr>

    Dorian was already doing chin-ups by the time the algae glowed. He enjoyed watching it bloom, as a new day was upon them. His dreams had become more intense, more vivid. As Dorian rested in between sets the same scene played over and over in his head. The same dream he¡¯d had for the past week.

    He stood atop a mountain surrounded by a thick fog and cloud line. The wind whipped violently at the peak. How he managed to stay grounded was beyond him. He couldn¡¯t see five feet in front of him, nothing in sight, no path to safety, nowhere to go. Someone was calling out to him, begging for his help, but he couldn¡¯t locate the sound, where it was coming from? The voice was somehow coming from everywhere. Why couldn¡¯t he help them? Dorian grew more and more frustrated and the wind grew in frustration with him. There was no separation between the gusts and screams. The voice cried for help over and over again. With each step he was blown backward, the harder he fought the harder the wind fought back. It was impossible. Until he saw her. A gentle face, Myka. Dangling from the edge of the mountain, moments from her death. Fingertips desperately clung to the rock ledge. She begged for his help once more until the thick fog enveloped her completely. It wasn¡¯t until her screams went silent did Dorian finally awake.

    <hr>

    There wasn¡¯t much to think about, Byrn would soon lead her team in the fight for their survival, everything and everyone in The Structure. Then once she had earned their respect she would lead them to a new promised land. While she prepared for the worst, she couldn¡¯t help but believe that there was nothing out there, except boredom. What once was a feral desolate landscape of death and carnage was now an empty void. The gifted would be on assignment for five years. No access or contact with anyone inside the Structure was allowed. This rule was implemented based on an old legend. More than two hundred years ago there were sorcerers who could mimic the voices of loved ones. This trick allowed the enemy to gain access behind the walls. Resulting in one of the biggest breaches and massacres in The Structure¡¯s history. Bryn could already feel her strength brewing. She would protect her people no matter what. When the algae first glowed she was already awake. She¡¯d been having a hard time shaking off her dreams as of late.

    Bryn wandered the desert. Somehow, she knew exactly which direction to go. The dunes of the sand rose and fell at least fifty feet. Her view was often obscured. Her movements were labored, sinking deep into the sand with each step. The heat was obnoxious, and the air was dry, it was difficult to take a full breath. Each time she opened her mouth the moisture was immediately sucked out. There, a cloaked man stood atop the Dune. He¡¯d been following her for miles. Envious of his movements, he seemed to traverse this landscape with ease. Floating among the surface like magic. Every time she peaked over her shoulder, he was far enough away she couldn¡¯t make out any identifying features, but always in sight. They¡¯d continue like this for days. At night a small fire could be seen. Bryn wondered where he¡¯d gotten the materials to make a fire. How could one carry such equipment this far? Replenishing it each and every night. She shivered; the nights were almost more unbearable than the days. The heat exhausted her and tested her patience and demeanor, but the cold caused her to go numb. Lethargic and sloppy. Her keen sense of focus and attention drifted and became myopic on staying warm, lasting until the morning. She couldn¡¯t strategize under these conditions. The only focus was on survival. One night, the man appeared from nowhere. Placing a gun to her head. Each this happened before he could pull the trigger. She awoke.

    <hr>

    Myka watched as her parents folded laundry for practically the entire north wing. They seemed. Content. Something she had thought about often. The lack of ambition, the simplicity of their routine and scheduled lives. Life inside the Structure was safe, constant, and boring. She understood why many would take comfort in this. As she helped her mother fold the laundry she thought about the same dream she¡¯d had every night for the past three days.

    The light was blinding at first. An all-white room. Myka sat at the head of a large crystal dining table. Silver plates, cutlery, silver flowers, and decorative fruits. The entire table was void of real food. A well-dressed man in an all-Grey suit came to serve her, he placed the plate in front of her, and removed the cover, on the plate sat one inedible silver spider. Hard and as solid as steel. No matter how hard she tried, Myka couldn¡¯t move from her seat. Everything began to decay, cobwebs appeared on the plates, and the silver rusted. Like she was speeding through time and everything around her was wearing down. Then, out of nowhere Dorian, Bryn, and Skye were sitting with her. Before she could say anything. Warn them, they themselves started to decay, their skin withered away, and in seconds they turned to bone. Seconds later, nothing but dust. She never had any time to react. It felt like an eternity as she sat there and stared at the seat Dorian once occupied. She¡¯d fight harder and harder to free herself from the chair, and only until she¡¯d completely given up would the waiter return.

    ¡°Are you ready for the next course darling?¡± The waiter asked. And then, she woke up.

 Youre on your own Rook

    Jaylon braced for impact.

    The ship shook violently as it hurtled towards the planet¡¯s surface, its thrusters failing. With a loud crash, it landed in the midst of an endless expanse of orange sand dunes. Jaylon was disoriented and his body ached from the force of the landing. He stumbled out of the wreckage. Mission control¡¯s voice played over and over again in his head. No one is coming for you Rook. No one is venturing down. It¡¯s a goddamn death sentence. Learning about Gehanna¡¯s history was one thing, but actually being here was terrifying. If even half the things about this place were true. He¡¯d been dead within days. What had mission control been trying to tell him? Surely they weren¡¯t just going to leave him here. Maybe there was a safe zone that the locals didn¡¯t know about? An escape ship for this exact purpose. There¡¯s no way he¡¯s the first person to be stranded here. Supplies perhaps? Rovers must come down here for supplies? As he took in his surroundings it all looked quite bleak. Keep it together, keep it together Jaylon thought.

    While his ship was totaled, many of its supplies remained intact. Jaylon put together a pack of weapons and food. Whatever he could carry. He knew he lucked out, this ship was equipped with a month¡¯s worth of nutrition pods. No bigger than a tea bag, but packed with enough nutrients and calories to last an entire day if necessary. Enough water to last him a week and two dozen water purification tablets. He had the basics. The question was, in which direction should he go? He needed more information, his survival rate would plummet past ten days. Shelter and a computer were his priorities. In you, I trust Kaia ¡ª Jaylon threw up his flashlight and it hit the sand with a thud. The head of the flashlight pointed northeast.

    ¡°Great. Ahem, personal log. New paragraph. Day one. I¡¯ve decided on a northeast heading based on rigorous calculations. Judging by the height of the sun in the sky, I believe I only have four hours of daylight left. Better get going. End entry.¡± Jaylon spoke into his comms on his wrist. It was the control center for his entire suit. The latest model of the designs had upgraded tech, weapons, and armor. Maybe he will survive after all. After only a few steps his feet started to feel heavier and heavier with each step. Why am I so sluggish? Injury perhaps, exhaustion¡­ Maybe I¡¯m in shock? But Jaylon couldn¡¯t take another step. His legs felt like they were being sucked into the ground and weighed a hundred pounds each. Before Jaylon could react, the sun began to shine brighter and brighter. Completely blinding him, his suit automatically lowered its helmet¡¯s sun visor. This allowed him to get his bearings, with only enough time to view someone rushing in. The searing pain coursed throughout his entire body. As he looked down he saw a knife sticking out of his stomach. Jaylon sputtered and coughed, collapsing to his knees. The light also began to disappear, like someone was lowering a dimmer switch.

    ¡°We fuckin got him. What a mutz. That. Was some serious work man. I mean. you did that from space. You¡¯re a god man. Kaia them self would revel at your power,¡± a woman said. Her voice was so gentle, too pure to be so violent. Jaylon applied gentle pressure around the knife.

    ¡°You¡¯re getting stronger too, Stalia. You almost blinded me,¡± a man replied.

    ¡°Sorry, about¡ª¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t apologize for your strength. Ever. Now let¡¯s go check out the ship,¡± the man continued. Before they turned away Jaylon got a plain look. They were. Kids. Well. Not kids, young adults maybe. Seventeen, at the oldest. Wearing lightweight armor with maroon streaking, mostly beige composites so as to blend in with their surroundings. They were now searching the ship.

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    ¡°Vitals check,¡± Jaylon choked.

    ¡°All major organs missed one broken rib. You¡¯re stable for the time being. Recommend removal of knife and application of med-bots,¡± the computer from his comms device replied.

    ¡°Right. yeah. Okay. Let¡¯s begin.¡±

    ¡°Gently remove the knife, place one nano cube in the wound, then apply a medical pad on the wound.¡± The computer chimed. Jaylon rummaged in his backpack, taking out a small case. When he opened it, there were six slots, but only two black cubes inside, no bigger than dice.

    ¡°Shit,¡± Jaylon took one of the black cubes out. Then, in a swift, practiced motion, he pulled out the knife, and pressed the cube into the stab wound, moaning with pain. When it was deep enough, he took out a roll of adhesive medical tape, covering the wound completely. Jaylon took two deep breaths. ¡°Analysis.¡±

    ¡°The nanobots are fully functional. It will take approximately four hours to completely mend the wound. Until then, I can administer morphine to help with the pain.¡±

    ¡°No. No morphine. Not yet.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    Jaylon winced as he made his way back to his feet.

    ¡°Not bad.¡± he watched his two attackers ransack the ship, though it was becoming evident they couldn¡¯t find what they were looking for.

    ¡°None of it works,¡± the man said, frustrated.

    ¡°Maybe he can fix it?¡± Stalia replied.

    ¡°No, If he had what he needed, he¡¯d already be working on it. Even if we could persuade him, he¡¯s probably bled out by now. Damnit. It¡¯s all useless!¡± The man kicked the side of the ship.

    ¡°Yea, crash landings tend to you know. Destroy things,¡± Jaylon yelled, smirking. The man showed a brief glimpse of surprise. The man moved subtly, with a flick of his finger Jaylon dropped back down to a knee, the weight of the world on his shoulders. ¡°Beyond creator that¡¯s a neat trick,¡± Jaylon said, struggling to move, he barely had enough strength to slide his fingers towards a small button on his belt. When he pressed it, two mechanical-looking wasps shot from his belt, tearing through the man¡¯s hand and shoulder.

    ¡°Reikner!¡± Stalia screamed as she slid to his side.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, I¡¯m fine, nothing major,¡± Reikner replied looking at his wounds. Through and through, like bullets.

    ¡°You piece of shit!¡± Stalia raised her hands once again. It was as if she controlled the very sun. A brilliant and blinding light swept over the desert in an instant.

    ¡°Not falling for that again,¡± Jaylon quickly put down his visor again and turned away. If he had hesitated, for even a second more, he was sure he¡¯d be completely blinded. ¡°Evil takes many forms I suppose,¡± Jaylon said quietly to himself, pressing a few more buttons on his wristband.

    ¡°Quickly, let¡¯s regroup behind the ship and form a plan. I¡¯ll hold him down,¡± Reikner said. Stalia was protecting him. Until her arms suddenly dropped to her sides. Then her entire body collapsed. A mechanical wasp had shot between her eyes. Going clean through her skull. Stalia¡¯s lifeless eyes looked up at Reikner.

    ¡°You¡­¡± Reikner gripped his fists tightly. His entire focus was on Jaylon. A vast vortex of swirling sand and rock formed beneath his feet, pulling everything around it inexorably downwards.

    ¡°What, what is this?¡± Jaylon panicked. It was as if the ground had opened up to reveal a monstrous, gaping maw. As the vortex grew stronger, sand and pebbles began to tumble into it, disappearing without a trace. Within seconds, the hole had grown so large that it seemed to be swallowing everything in its path. Cacti, rocks, and even a small sand dune were all consumed by the abyss, Jaylon remained at the edge, fighting for his life.

    ¡°Every bone in your body will be crushed to dust. Not even the sound of your desperate screams will be able to escape. You condemn us, commit genocide, and dare to label us as wicked. No, you, are devils of the sky,¡± Reikner focused in. There was little Jaylon could do, but before he was fully sucked in, Reikner saw a small flicker, like a mirage, then Jaylon disappeared. Before Reikner could react, he felt warm steel pressing against his temple. The sound of buzzing filled the air. Impossible.

    ¡°You think I meant for any of this to happen? I crash for god sake and you attack. If I was injured would you have shown me any mercy?¡± Without another word, Jaylon tased Reikner and knocked him unconscious. As he looked around the barren landscape he couldn¡¯t help but shiver in the midst of the heat. Let¡¯s see if I can fight my way out of the seven circles of hell he thought. ¡°I¡¯ll take that morphine now.¡±

 We Stand On Ceremony

    The amphitheater was an embodiment of pride. A majestic structure of white marble, nestled in the heart of the Structure. Its tiers of seating rose high, each one adorned with intricate carvings of heroes of old and scenes of ancient battles. The stage was a grand platform of polished stone, surrounded by a dark stone with flecks of gold. The acoustics were perfect, allowing even the softest whisper from the stage to echo throughout the entire area. This was to make sure no announcement went unheard. To make each and every audience member feel like they were part of the ceremony. A path from the entrance to the center stage was inlaid with royal purple stones. It was customary for the new recruits to only step on these stones as they approached. The energy was palpable, or at least. It was supposed to be. It used to be. As each recruit entered the crowd would roar with excitement. A feast was prepared with endless flowing drinks. It was a true celebration. This time around, when the recruits entered. It was practically empty. The room could fill five hundred, easily. Skye counted. Forty-one. Why isn¡¯t anyone here?

    ¡°I told you,¡± Bryn scoffed at the lack of attendance. It was customary for the group of new recruits to line the back of the amphitheater until they were called down one by one. ¡°No one cares about duty or honor anymore,¡± she continued, Dorian nodded along. Until someone caught the corner of his eye, Myka. She had snuck in at the end of the line. Anyone of proper age was allowed to attend the ceremony, but it was frowned upon without the proper training. The recruit would just be a liability.

    ¡°And the trumpets would boom with adoration for our new heroes,¡± Dorian scoffed.

    ¡°Ha. Right,¡± Bryn responded as her eyes darted over to the pile of abandoned brass instruments in the corner. How they used to play such uproarious music. She thought.

    ¡°Who cares, at least we¡¯re strong,¡± Skye said looking at each one of them. There were fifteen in total, a perfectly fine number. Regardless of the lackluster ceremony, he was glad to have them with him. A few others stood out among the bunch. Keltin was short and small for his age, but he had potential. Incredible with battle strategy and a vision for mechanics, he could build anything from anything. A seemingly unrelated set of materials into a masterpiece. That was a gift on its own. Hosanna Pydrima. There was a time when she was vying for the top spot. But cracked under the pressure of training. Her skill was still phenomenal, but her mental state had become shaky. Skye watched her eyes dart back and forth as if she was constantly surveying the room for potential threats.

    ¡°Gatha ya seats, let¡¯s get started,¡± Almanon announced, he seemed bored, but then again he always had an overly nonchalant attitude toward most things. There were a few sparse claps as the recruits got ready, one of the elders had already dozed off, and his rhythmic snoring summed up the mood perfectly. None of this mattered. Soon they would all be gifted and out in the world doing what they were born to do. Out of the corner of his eye, Skye caught Myka and Dorian waving to their parents. At least they were enjoying themselves. Most of the recruits¡¯ parents were there. Of course, his weren¡¯t. A thought he quickly pushed to the back of his mind. Now was not the time to be reminiscent of old traumas, but to focus on the path that lay ahead. Almanon cleared his throat.

    <hr>

    ¡°Ah. Yes, yes, Dorian Step forward. Hm, how fitting,¡± Almanon announced. Myka let out a blunted ¡°Woo!¡±. When no one joined in she quickly retreated back into the shadows. Still, Dorian loved this about her. A sense of wonder and charm amidst the most tedious or tense situations. He made sure that each of his steps was precise, touching only the purple stones toward the stage.

    ¡°Now remember,¡± Almanon spoke to Dorian directly, but his words were loud enough for all to hear. ¡°Once given the injection, head directly through the tunnel, once you reach the byway, you¡¯ll see the Desacte. Place your hand on it and your Brilliance will materialize. If not, turn to your left, and take the hallway back to The Structure. ¡± he continued.

    ¡°How will we know, if we¡¯ve gotten the gift?¡± Dorian asked.

    ¡°What? Oh. Right. uhm the Desacte will turn gold. Plus, all the training we¡¯ve done. You¡¯ve done. Has been to prepare your bodies and minds. Once you receive The Brilliance, it becomes part of you. As natural and intuitive as breathing. You¡¯ll know,¡± Almanon finished as fifteen golden syringes were wheeled onto the stage. Dorian rolled up his right sleeve. The needle was administered gently and expertly. Once it pierced his skin. There was an immediate adrenaline rush, his entire body felt like it was vibrating, tingling. A warmth washed over his extremities. His lungs filled with air like coming out of the ocean for a first breath. Each sense was heightened, focused, if only for a few moments. ¡°Next!¡± Almanon shouted.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    <hr>

    Myka could barely take the anticipation. Freedom was right there, right through that tunnel. She couldn¡¯t take her eyes off the stone archway. Endless possibility. Truth be told when Myka was called she barely listened to a word Almanon said. No one expected much of her, even her parents weren¡¯t watching. Far in the back row they chatted and laughed about one thing or another. For in their minds, their sweet daughter would be back by their side soon enough. They were a little taken aback when she asked if she could be a part of the ceremony, but overall they seemed supportive, even if they were lying through their teeth. They were probably just trying to protect her from disappointment.

    ¡°So farewell, make us proud,¡± Almanon finished, now directly looking at Myka.

    ¡°Yes. Sure,¡± Myka said as she stretched out her arm. When the serum entered her bloodstream she couldn¡¯t help but wonder. What is this supposed to feel like? Waiting for something, anything, but there was no sensation. Save for a split second when her arms and legs went numb. Myka half bowed towards Almanon and sprinted towards the tunnel. Only once the darkness completely consumed her, and she could no longer see the light of the amphitheater behind did she stop. The tunnel stretched out a little over a mile, in the direction of The Structure¡¯s outer wall. Almanon¡¯s words kept playing over in her head. Their powers were supposed to be intuitive, and become part of them. Keep walking, the Desacte will show you. Then, in the middle of the tunnel, a small mechanical podium stood about four feet high. It split the tunnel into a fork, turn right and leave, or turn left and go back home. A hand pad was mounted on the top. Myka placed her palm on the Desacte and prayed. If it turned white, she was un-gifted. If it turned gold well. This meant her dreams were finally realizing themselves. The Desacte beeped. And. Nothing. No color was emitted. She lifted her hand and placed it once more. Beep. Nothing, no white nor gold. She tried her left hand. Nothing. Myka kicked the Desacte in frustration. She gazed down the tunnel on the right and smiled.

    ¡°It¡¯s not my fault the machine is broken¡­¡± Myka said softly to herself. It was time to choose her own fate.

    <hr>

    Without the nervous chatter of all the recruits the room was surprisingly quiet. Shoulders back, chin up, Skye was the last one called down, and while it shouldn¡¯t have, it bothered him deeply. Not because it felt like some form of rejection, but because of the sinking feeling in his stomach that grew and grew as each recruit before him was called down. Then, in a blink of an eye, Skye was on stage and Almanon administered the injection. He closed his eyes and exhaled deeply. When his eyelids opened darkness crept in from the edges of his sight. Blindness? The sensation of panic slipped through.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± A stranger shouted from the crowd. It wasn¡¯t just him, the whole room went dark. But it was more than that, the darkness came from within him like he was sucking all the light out of the room. Then, as quickly as it had come, his vision returned. Everyone seemed to be a little more alert, but not by much. Almanon had his head cocked to one side. As if a monumental decision weighed heavily on him.

    ¡°Sorry, Skye¡­ I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re. Un-gifted,¡± Almanon said loudly, for everyone to hear. Skye smiled and headed for the tunnel until he was stopped in his tracks. Like he walked into an invisible wall. Damn his gift, gravity manipulation was no joke. ¡°What are you doing Almanon?¡± Skye strained every muscle in his body, but couldn¡¯t move an inch.

    ¡°You¡¯re uhm. Un-gifted. Go back to your bunk and you¡¯ll uhm, be assigned a labor duty tomorrow,¡± Almanon¡¯s voice was soft but stern. Why is he doing this? Only the Descate can read our genetic code. It scans our bodies to see if our genes have made the proper mutation. Giving us our Brilliance. This scan was done simply for efficiency. In a day or so it would be clear if Skye had a Brilliance or not. Before then. Well, no one could determine it this quickly though. Not even Almanon. Skye thought.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re up to. But come tomorrow morning when my Brilliance is in full force, I can¡¯t be held responsible for the damage I cause to The Structure,¡± Skye said. It was rather childish. Threatening to throw a tantrum because he¡¯s not getting to play with his new toy.

    ¡°I know this isn¡¯t the outcome you were expecting. I¡¯m sorry. Truly. But may I suggest you come to terms with your new future as quickly as possible,¡± Skye had no choice, he was helpless against his powers.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t over,¡± Skye said curtly, the invisible force finally easing up, allowing his legs free motion once again. Almanon whispered one last thing that lingered with him. Quietly enough that the acoustics of the amphitheater wouldn¡¯t project its sound.

    ¡°Forget all this. Go back to your bunk. Take pride in upholding the standards we¡¯ve worked so hard over the decades to maintain. Forget about your Brilliance. I beg of you. If not. You¡¯ll kill us all.¡±

 Freedom; Let the nightmare begin

    He walked the thin dark tunnel for what felt like ages. Dorian had never really appreciated the true size of The Structure. Its walls towered high into the sky, the rough-hewn stone seemed to blend seamlessly with the surrounding desert landscape. The walls were several meters thick and stretched endlessly in both directions. The Structure itself was surrounded by a barren wasteland, with nothing but dunes and rocky outcroppings.

    There was an eerie silence that hung over the place, broken only by the occasional gust of wind that sent plumes of sand swirling through the air. Dorian ran his fingers along it. It remained perfectly intact. For all the dust storms and hundreds of years against the elements, there wasn¡¯t a single scratch, chip, or dent. The stone was almost smooth. Impeccable. No scars or hints of these supposed horrors and terrors of the outside world.

    Dorian clutched the key card Almanon had given to him. Once all the recruits had exited the tunnel, it was coded for one-time use only, to allow for the current protectors to finally come home. But where are they? Dorian thought as he watched the recruits file out of the tunnel one by one. Keltin, Hosanna, Bryn, no surprises there. He couldn¡¯t help but light up when he saw Myka. That makes six. Seven, eight, nine¡­ Then nothing. Nine total. Where was Skye?

    ¡°Settle in¡ª¡± Dorian shouted, but he was quickly cut off by Bryn.

    ¡°Settle in everyone. Come on.¡± Bryn commanded. ¡°First things first. This isn¡¯t a drill. Stay alert. The previous recruits will be with us for the first month. Make sure the tradeoff is clean, the food storage is fully stocked, yadda, yadda, yadda. Maybe they¡¯ll have some words of wisdom to pass on, but it¡¯s more than likely they¡¯ve done nothing but watch the wind blow for the past five years,¡± Bryn continued. Though most of the recruits weren¡¯t fully paying attention. I mean this was their first time outside, it was incredible. A vast world that now seemed endless lay before them. Myka aimlessly wandered off, taking in her surroundings. Hosanna went to examine the supply shed. It was only a few dozen meters away. She entered a specific key code they were all given, and when the door slid open she immediately jumped back.

    ¡°Oh god. It¡¯s all. Rotten,¡± Hosanna said while plugging her nose. The shed was supposed to contain fresh meats, fruits, and vegetables. A measured amount would be sent every week through a small access tunnel, miles below the surface. This too was designed to prevent anyone from getting in.

    ¡°Finally! We were-ah wunderin when you¡¯d be relievin us,¡± A man cackled as he rounded one of the dunes, along with six others. Their uniforms were weather-beaten, the colors faded, the fabric torn and frayed. ¡°Borin shift-ah. No much to report,¡± He said. The man had an awkward tuff of hair growing from the back of his head. Not enough hair to turn into a ponytail or braid. Not really enough hair to do anything. He peered at the food shed. ¡°You tellin me there¡¯s been food here the entire time¡ª¡± the man¡¯s words were cut short by a smack on the head. A man, no, this guy looked more like an ogre, a half-giant. Towered over them all. He brushed the tuff hair man to the side. Dorian stepped forward.

    ¡°You. Look different?¡± He said stupidly. The ogre just grunted, stepping through the recruits towards the food shed. He sniffed a maggot-filled ham bone and without hesitation, he sucked the putrid meat down to the bone.

    ¡°Oh god,¡± Hosanna dry heaved. But the man continued. Shoving mold-covered berries and rot-filled apples into his mouth. An albino girl giggled and clapped as if she was watching a carnival show.

    ¡°So uhm. Time to change duties right? Posts I mean? Sorry, we¡¯ve been outside for so long. How do we get inside again? Just point, we can do the rest,¡± the man with the tuff of hair said. Bryn took a closer look. His nails were finely sharpened, ten deadly blades at his fingertips.

    The rest of the disheveled group nodded and waddled past the Gifted towards The Structure. Looking for a way to get in. The closer they got to Bryn the more vicious they looked. Pale white eyes and irises. One of them flashed a moldy-toothed smile. What caught her attention were all the scars along their forearms and calves. Every inch of exposed skin was cut and damaged.

    ¡°That¡¯s. Not the way. You need to--¡± one of the gifted said. A small girl named Gemin, but once again Bryn cut in.

    ¡°We were just sent out here to check up on everyone. You all seem to be doing okay,¡± Bryn¡¯s tone was calm and collected. Despite her knees wobbling ever so slightly. She would never admit she was afraid, not even to herself.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    ¡°That¡¯s not what the boy said!¡± The albino girl pouted. The man with the tuff of hair spoke loudly over her.

    ¡°Come onna. Been a long shift. Tell ya what. We¡¯ll come to relieve you of duty as soon as we get sum rest. Promise. Looka we¡¯re so worn we can¡¯t even remember where that entrance is. Remind me which direction-ya? I always gettin turned around out here.¡± he said. Dorian clutched the key card tightly in his pocket once again and subconsciously took a few steps back.

    Myka had distanced herself even further from the group. Something had caught her attention, it was drawing deep like it was leading her from within. Pulling her. Intuition lead her over the next dune until she reached a tarp. Myka screamed as she lifted one of the corners.

    The disheveled group whipped their heads around, their tone turning serious.

    ¡°Oh. You canna ignore that,¡± The man with the tuff of hair said as he began to approach Dorian.

    ¡°Enuff,¡± the ogre of a man stumbled out of the shed. He surveyed the recruits, then in a brilliantly precise fashion picked Gemin up by the collar. ¡°How we get in?¡± the man grumbled.

    ¡°I uhm. It¡¯s well. I,¡± Gemin fumbled over her words. Petrified. As Dorian watched the scene unfold his stomach sank and his thoughts raced. The ogre of a man shook her violently.

    ¡°How!¡± he screamed.

    ¡°I don¡¯t. He has the. I. I.¡± Gemin couldn¡¯t finish her sentence. Too afraid of the gargantuan barbarian.

    ¡°You no good. No need for you,¡± the ogre said as he took out a long serrated blade. Plunging it into her chest, dragging it down through her diaphragm and stomach. He gutted Gemin right in front of them.

    Myka pulled the tarp off further, revealing at least a dozen corpses that had been picked clean. Nothing but the bones remained. There were notch marks and cracks along the skeletons. A skull sat at her feet and the top had been completely removed.

    ¡°Ah come on Blunf ya barbarian. We says we weren¡¯t gonna go about it this way. Least not right away. ¡± The tuff haired man licked his lips. It forked out like a snake and his two front teeth were missing. ¡°Truth to ya ¡ª we¡¯re grateful we are. We¡¯d been wandering these badlands for a long time. We¡¯d heard rumors of others. Course that¡¯s all they were. But findin ya. Means ain¡¯t no rumor. Means there are more out there,¡± He once again licked his lips and his group muttered in agreement.

    ¡°I¡¯m starving!¡± The albino girl screamed. Myka looked over the ridge and watched the carnage unfold. The tufted hair man, moved effortlessly through the sand like he was floating. A long scythe appeared from nowhere and in an instant blood was pouring from one of the recruit¡¯s necks. Without hesitation, he moved on to his next victim, but before his blade could do any more damage a massive gust of wind knocked him back.

    ¡°Careful ya¡¯ll. Get ta close and he¡¯ll blow hot air at cha,¡± he laughed. Until a flurry of sand assaulted his eyes. He stumbled and staggered as Dorian took out a small blade, but his movements were sloppy and slow from fear. The training was one thing. This was¡ª before Dorian could form another thought someone from his periphery came roaring over, and a blade nicked his left shoulder.

    The albino girl wielded a kusarigama, she swung the blade around again and again but the blade continuously fell short of its mark as Dorian barely evaded each attack. Granted her attacks were simple, easy to read, and evade. What frightened him was her cool and calm demeanor. This gruesome traveler¡¯s face was relaxed, emotionless. Her focus didn¡¯t let up for a second. This would quickly turn into a stamina contest, one he was fairly certain he could win¡ª Until a piercing sharp burning overwhelmed his wrist. Dorian¡¯s hand was completely gone.

    The man with the scythe gargled laughter. They trained us to be strong, and athletic. They never trained us to fight monsters. A man with duel samurai swords sprung onto Bryn. The man sought death, each swing was aimed to kill. With every step he took sand would wrap around his ankle, slowing his movements ever so slightly. Bryn commanded the sand around him, it whirled and solidified, forming a sort of prison ¡ª and just as the walls were closing in. A whip wrapped tightly around her neck. Bryn clawed and pulled at it but her circulation was quickly cut off. Within seconds she was unconscious on the ground before them. Who are they? Dorian thought as he examined the blood pouring from the stump of his arm, mixing seamlessly with the sand. His vision blurred as he watched them get picked off one by one. It was a slaughter. They¡¯d just been gifted. Destined to protect The Structure. Chosen to defend their people. Almanon had failed them. Lied to them. The parched desert drank every last drop of their blood. Hosanna fought bravely. Sparks emitted from her fingertips, shocking the man with samurai swords. He coughed blood and collapsed down to one knee. His skin sizzled from electrical burns.

    Before Hosanna could make another move an arrow pierced her trachea. As Dorian watched his comrades perish he couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of hatred for The Structure and everyone in it. We were supposed to protect them, but they had failed to prepare us. Soon their incompetency will be the end of us all. The corners of his vision began to blur and everyone seemed to slow down drastically. Not stop completely, like they were weighing through molasses. The very light was being stolen from around them.

    There was a blur of someone, someone Dorian recognized. Darkness washed over them all, even the sun had been eclipsed. I¡¯m losing consciousness. Ah. A sort of peace washed over him. I¡¯m drifting away. That was the last thought Dorian had before he slumped to the ground, completely blacking out.

 Devastation Reborn

    This isn¡¯t fair. This isn¡¯t fair. Skye spiraled as he watched everyone leave the amphitheater. He wasn¡¯t even given an opportunity to find out if he had a gift.

    ¡°I know this isn¡¯t fair,¡± Almanon said as if reading his mind. ¡°Trust me.¡±

    ¡°How am I supposed to trust you if you won¡¯t tell me the truth? My whole life I¡¯ve been preparing for this. It would be one thing if I was a Duud. I¡¯d be crushed. Sure. Yes. But you won¡¯t even. You can¡¯t even. The Desacte is the only thing that can,¡± Skye was too furious to notice the concerned look on Almanon¡¯s face, though this was more than concern.

    He was alert. Analyzing. ¡°No. No. No. What I¡¯m going to do is walk down that tunnel and let the Desacte show me, if it¡¯s white. Fine. I¡¯ll come back and get my damned labor assignment,¡± Skye marched towards the tunnel but Almanon blocked his path.

    ¡°Step. Aside,¡± Skye barked, but that¡¯s all it was. Even with a gift, he doubted he could take his mentor on.

    ¡°Can¡¯t do that. Can¡¯t let you leave.¡±

    ¡°Then you better be prepared to stop me.¡±

    ¡°I am.¡±

    ¡°What¡­¡±

    He was taken aback until he noticed the lights in the corner of the room flickering. Our gifts are a part of us. He remembered. And breathed deeply. The lights seemed to dim with each breath like it was responding to his rhythm. He felt connected. He could feel it. Until a cane whacked him hard against the back of the head.

    ¡°Careful boy,¡± an elderly man said with a smile. It was Sandeski. The man was ancient. He supposedly served for over thirty years. His posture was impeccable, and while his frame was frail, his presence absolutely commanded the room.

    ¡°You can¡¯t stop me¡ª¡± foolish words, even for Skye. Perhaps he should have said, you¡¯ll have to do everything in your power to stop me, I¡¯m going through that tunnel and I¡¯m¡ª. Except the tunnel was gone. Where had it gone? The benches, the theatre, Almanon, it was all gone. Replaced by a square cement room. Twelve feet by twelve feet, gray cement lined the floor, the walls, and the ceiling as well. Across the room, Sandeski stood grinning.

    ¡°You were saying?¡± Old Man Sandeski said.

    ¡°Yeah okay. Fair, I knew I¡¯d eat those words.¡±

    ¡°I like the spunk, the grit. You would have made a fine protector,¡± the old man said proudly.

    There was no way out, no windows or doors. ¡°I will make this easy for you. Well. Maybe not easy. I will make this simple for you. Go back to your bunk, and over time the sting of being ungifted will lessen.¡±

    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    ¡°Or?¡±

    ¡°Or I¡¯ll keep you here for eternity. But long before then will you no doubt descend into madness.¡± Sandeski seemed to be enjoying this.

    The texture of the stone felt real beneath his feet and the grittiness of the rock beneath his fingertips.

    ¡°But I¡¯m not ungifted. I¡¯m not¡ª¡± The room started to heat up.

    ¡°Forget everything you know Skye, everyone you¡¯ve trained with. It¡¯s over.¡± The room was so hot that the bottom of Skye¡¯s shoes began to melt to the stone, his finger accidentally grazed the wall behind him and burned instantaneously.

    ¡°Just like that?¡±

    ¡°Just like that,¡± Sandeski said, gripping his cane tightly. The air was so hot and thick that it hurt to take even the most shallow of breaths. His ears were ringing and his eyes stung.

    ¡°Okay.¡±

    ¡°Okay, what?¡±

    ¡°Okay, I give up. I¡¯ll. I give up.¡± Skye admitted defeat. He closed his eyes in sorrow, and when he opened them, he was back in the amphitheater, exhausted.

    Skye rested with his back against the wall, clutching his knees like a child. Unable to look at anyone or anything. But this time when he closed his eyes instead of darkness, he saw flashes. Flashes of pain. Misery. Blood. Flashes of death. Skye couldn¡¯t open his eyes. No matter how hard he tried, he was stuck in a trance. Screams filled his head. The darkness was pulling him down, deep within itself.

    ¡°Skye. Skye!¡± Almanon shouted, but his voice was distant. Hollow. It dissipated like it was getting carried away by the wind.

    Silence.

    <hr>

    Skye sat in total darkness. Enveloping every aspect of him. He imagined that this is what the universe might look like without any stars or planets. There was a terrifying stillness to it. A feeling of peace to its quietness. Shapes appeared. They looked like humans. White outlines against the black backdrop. Like chalk lines on asphalt. What was that? Inside them?

    He looked closer. What could only be described as a small sun the size of an orange resided in each of these outlines? Burning and bursting, it immediately made him think. A heart. A beating heart? A massive outline held another one by the throat, squeezing the life out of it. He could feel their pain, their agony. It was excruciating to watch, but there was nowhere to go.

    Then its sun diminished, blew away, and returned to the galaxy. Why did this sting so badly? It felt like a part of Skye was being ripped out. He watched closely, but it was hard to understand the depth of it all.

    He walked up to one of the outlines, it appeared to laying on the ground, not moving much. Its sun was diminishing. Flickering away. Skye felt oddly connected to it. To them? Were, these people? He wasn¡¯t sure¡­

    A tall outline towered over him. It was accompanied by a massive unease, a sickness in his stomach. The small sun was at eye level now. Skye reached out, enveloping it within his own palms. A danger swirled around him. A power coursed through his veins. Raw energy.

    Why. Why do I want to destroy this? There was anger filling him. Rage unlike anything he¡¯d ever experienced. Unable to control it. Skye crushed it in his hands. The outline crumbled, blowing away like dust.

    He enjoyed it. Yet that didn¡¯t quench the stress and pain that was twisting his insides.

    Looking around there were only a few outlines that made Skye¡¯s skin crawl. He walked over to them one by one, ridding them of their suns. Returning them to the universe.

    Skye gasped with the air, he felt. Better. Alive.

    Powerful.

    As he surveyed the scene, there were still about six or seven outlines laying or wandering about, but when he looked at these. He felt. Companionship.

    Before he could take another step. Exhaustion overtook him. His eyes fluttered. For some reason, it didn¡¯t look like he was in the amphitheater anymore.

    It looked like he was in the desert. Before Skye drifted into unconsciousness he thought.

    How is that possible?

 I Cant Stay

    When Myka surveyed the scene in front of her it was enough to break anyone¡¯s heart and mind. Her dreams of a grand adventure were now just a fantasy.

    She rushed over to her fallen comrades and while she did her best to not choose favorites, her instincts pushed her toward Dorian.

    ¡°No¡­¡± Myka clutched him tightly, he was barely breathing. She examined his arm, he¡¯d lost a tremendous amount of blood. ¡°Help,¡± the word barely escaped her mouth. ¡°Help,¡± she repeated, just beyond a whisper.

    She couldn¡¯t lose him. Not before they fulfilled their promises to each other. If this world was rotten then they¡¯d find another. Myka screamed, perhaps for the first time in her entire life. It caused a strain that her vocal cords couldn¡¯t handle. The sensation burned heavily, it felt like they had ripped and torn. As Myka clutched at her throat in pain. She fought every urge to cry, slumping her body over Dorian¡¯s. Something must be done, something needed to be done.

    She ran her fingers down his forearm, tracing his skin, until her fingers intertwined with his.

    At first, she didn¡¯t recognize what was going on. His hand wasn¡¯t supposed to be there, and yet her fingers fit perfectly between his. The wound had healed completely, in fact, his overall condition was improving rapidly. His breathing began to steady. A miracle? No, that¡¯s not right. Her gift? Her Brilliance?

    When she realized what was going on, what was possible, Myka sprinted over to each and every one of the recruits who were still alive. Bryn was banged up badly. Rope burn around her neck, both her eyes were swollen shut and a blade was sticking out of her stomach.

    She placed her hands on Bryn¡¯s body.

    ¡°How does this work, I don¡¯t know how this works,¡± Myka began to panic.

    Remember, it¡¯s a part of you, intuitive, like breathing. A voice said. It was as if the voice was being carried across the wind.

    Myka began to notice a flow of energy, it was like she could feel which channels were blocked, and which areas needed to be repaired. Then as if Bryn¡¯s lifeforce was a river being blocked by a dam, Myka released the blockage, allowing the light to flow, while also pouring her own light in.

    Bryn¡¯s eyes started healing, and the wound around her neck disappeared. Myka pulled out the knife and for a second the wound gushed, but it quickly sealed itself up.

    She continued this process with each and every recruit, all of those that she could save. She did.

    <hr>

    The first thing he felt was the warmth of the sun on his skin. Skye rolled over as if waking from a deep dream.

    What happened? he thought to himself. When he sat up he was in awe of the magnificence of The Structure. Somehow, he¡¯d gotten outside.

    He surveyed the landscape, finally locating the rest of the recruits. Why were there so few of them?

    Skye approached and noticed they were all standing together with their heads bowed. They were saying a prayer, standing above numerous graves.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Skye asked. The group whipped their heads around, they were still all on edge. When Dorian noticed who it was, he smiled.

    ¡°I was looking for you, I didn¡¯t see you come out of the tunnel,¡± Dorian said.

    ¡°Yeah no I. Wasn¡¯t given a Brilliance, or wasn¡¯t allowed to find out? It¡¯s all kind of foggy, to be honest. I can¡¯t really explain it. Or how I got here.¡±

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be here,¡± Bryn said. ¡°This place is a nightmare and you won¡¯t last ten minutes without A Brilliance. Go back.¡±

    Skye just shrugged and looked over at The Structure, there was no way he was going back in. He doubted he could even if he wanted to.

    ¡°Does anyone know? What happened to them? How did we beat them?¡± Myka said softly, her throat still raw. She was referencing the pile of dead bodies. These were the corpses of the group that attacked them.

    ¡°I was pretty out of it, but they just started dropping like flies. One by one they collapsed.¡± Dorian said, examining the body of the ogreish man.

    ¡°We didn¡¯t beat them. We got lucky,¡± Bryn spat at the sand.

    ¡°So everything they told us was true?¡± Skye said.

    ¡°No. They¡¯re liars, and if I get the chance I¡¯m going to burn this place down.¡± Dorian said. His anger caused a small tornado to whip up the sand around him.

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± Skye said.

    ¡°Look. I¡¯m glad you¡¯re okay, and I¡¯m glad you¡¯re with us. I really am. But you didn¡¯t see what happened here. They set us up to be slaughtered. They didn¡¯t train us properly, and they didn¡¯t prepare us.¡± Dorian said.

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    ¡°You don¡¯t know that,¡± Bryn replied.

    ¡°Look around us Bryn. Our friends, our comrades tortured and ripped to shreds in front of our eyes. They lied to us about what was out here. Did you know they used to receive their Brilliances six months before having to serve beyond the wall? For this exact reason. So why not us hm?¡± Dorian continued.

    Skye had never seen him get so worked up.

    ¡°Everyone thought the danger was over...¡± Myka said.

    ¡°We all know the history Dorian,¡± Bryn couldn¡¯t look at him, she didn¡¯t want to admit they¡¯d be offered up. Or admit how embarrassed she was. In the face of real danger, they were all pathetic. ¡°We need to move on,¡± Bryn said, they weren¡¯t words she believed, but she was trying her best to sound like a leader.

    The bell from the storage shed chimed. It meant new supplies. They all went over to check it out. After they had cleared out all the rotten food, Dorian opened the hatch, it was fresh food, water, and a note.

    He read it to himself quietly before reading it aloud.

    No one could have predicted this. No one knew when this was going to happen. But for now, we have to protect our people at all costs. We must prepare for what¡¯s to come. And they will come. We can¡¯t predict exactly when. Train hard, train well. Your lives and the lives of your people depend on it. Good luck.

    Dorian crumpled up the paper and tossed it into the wind.

    ¡°See. I told you so. If something¡¯s coming they should have trained us better. Instead of just going through the motions. If they think we¡¯re going to protect them now. Ha. Good luck on your own.¡± Dorian said, before taking a long drink of water.

    Skye noticed Dorian was glancing at him out of the corner of his eye. It was uncomfortable, he looked like he was mulling over some great decision.

    Myka hung back, letting the other recruits grab food and water when the crumbled note blew up against her leg. She picked it up, reading to herself what Dorian had said. Except he had left one part out at the very bottom.

    We don¡¯t know exactly where he went. But if you happen to come across Skye, if he¡¯s out there with you. I ask of you an impossible task.

    Kill him.

    It may save us all.

    <hr>

    For the next month, the recruits trained fiercely, trying to hone their abilities as quickly as possible. They vowed to never lose another.

    Dorian was able to manipulate the air around him, whipping up wind storms in an instant. Bryn was becoming one with the earth and sand. They were both elementals. Some of the most powerful gifts one could be bestowed with.

    Myka¡¯s gift was even rarer. Though she couldn¡¯t quite control it yet, she had the angel¡¯s touch. The ability to heal those around her. No one had been gifted such power in almost a hundred years. Legends say that a recruit was only dawned with such a gift in times of great peril.

    She practiced her ability on everyone¡¯s small cuts and bruises when they would spar against each other.

    Skye meditated with his back against The Structure. Every morning he¡¯d spent hours trying to tap into it, well he wasn¡¯t sure what had happened. He¡¯d also decided to not tell the other recruits, that it was him, who was the one who saved them all. Skye had no idea how to activate his power, and until he did, he¡¯d keep it to himself.

    After a while, he spent less and less time focusing on his gift and instead decided to train his body and mind instead. Waiting until the hottest part of the day to run twenty-five miles in bare feet.

    One day, Dorian gathered the group at dusk.

    ¡°I¡¯m leaving,¡± he said firmly. At first, none of them took him seriously. They were protectors, they couldn¡¯t abandon their purpose.

    ¡°I¡¯m in,¡± Myka tried her best to speak up.

    ¡°But you don¡¯t even know where I¡¯m going,¡± Dorian smiled for the first time in a month. It felt strange.

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter,¡± she stood beside him.

    ¡°And where exactly are you going to go?¡± Bryn said sarcastically.

    ¡°Anywhere is better than here.¡±

    ¡°You sure about that?¡± Bryn wasn¡¯t convinced. ¡°Those monsters came from somewhere out there. They¡¯ll be more.¡±

    Bryn was right Skye thought. The chances of them running into something only increased the further they ventured away.

    ¡°We¡¯ll find our own way. I¡¯m not asking any of you to come with me. I just. Can¡¯t be here anymore.¡± Dorian¡¯s confidence wavered.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t some vacation,¡± another recruit said. Her name was Sancere.

    ¡°I never said it was--¡± Dorian responded.

    ¡°Why are you acting so casual then? They¡¯re dead. Do you even care? How could you think? I mean look at what happened. And you think out there is going to be? And, and. What they did too. We have to stay here. We have to stay here, WE HAVE TO STAY HERE,¡± they could see the wildness in her eyes, she was having a flashback, a symptom of PTSD.

    Sancere¡¯s rant stopped when Myka laid her hands on her temples. She began to drift off to sleep slowly as Myka guided her body comfortably down to the sand.

    ¡°When did you learn how to do that?¡± Dorian was shocked and impressed.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been using it on myself every night or else I end up just laying awake thinking about what happened,¡± Myka responded.

    No one was surprised by this. Sleep seemed like a luxury these days. Many of the recruits still had vivid nightmares of the massacre.

    ¡°If you want to stay and protect these traitors then fine. But I¡¯m out. First thing tomorrow.¡± Dorian said before turning in for the night.

    No one slept that night, the decision was all at the front of their minds.

    Skye had a feeling few would go with them. Bryn had an infallible sense of duty while the rest were most likely too traumatized to venture out into the unknown.

    Skye himself remained on the fence. But could he really stay in a play where they had threatened him like that? Almanon would have done everything in his power to stop him, and Reikner would have killed him. The fact he escaped was no small miracle.

    It was decided then. He¡¯d journey with Dorian and Myka.

    The next morning Dorian, Myka, and Skye prepared to leave. It looks like it was just going to be the three of them.

    ¡°Fine. Very well. Do your best, and stay alive,¡± he packed a bag full of rations. No one protested, they¡¯d be restocked again in a week.

    There weren¡¯t many words shared between the group. What was there even to say? All of this felt unprecedented. No one had attacked the walls in decades, and no one had gone out to venture on their own.

    As Dorian, Myka, and Skye prepared to head off, Bryn was suddenly matching their stride.

    She was the last person Skye expected to come with them.

    ¡°What about your sense of duty?¡± Dorian mocked her.

    ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me about duty. You¡¯re abandoning your people. I just don¡¯t plan on sitting around waiting to be picked off. The real threat is out there. And I tend to snuff it out before we¡¯re attacked again.¡± Bryn said.

    Skye wasn¡¯t sure what they¡¯d find out there or what horrors they¡¯d face. Yet he felt he was being called. The history of The Structure didn¡¯t seem to add up anymore. Almanon was keeping something from them. Hopefully the answers he was searching for. The answers they were all searching for. Were beyond this desert.

 Valley of Death

    They set out into the desert in the direction of the marauders. Bryn crouched down, placing her hand on the sand, revealing footprints that had once been buried. This led them to a small base camp just a mile away. This is what the enemy had used before their ruthless attack.

    Dorian, Skye, Bryn, and Myka had their bearing.

    It was a neat trick Skye thought. He was grateful no one had questioned his participation in this journey. Compared to the rest of them, Skye was weak and useless, as Bryn had repeatedly stated, a burden on their group. He¡¯d only slow them down. Yet Dorian seemed to have taken a city type of pity on him. It was hard to pinpoint where it was coming from, but Dorian¡¯s attitude had definitely shifted.

    Each and every time Bryn chastised or mocked him, Skye wanted to defend himself. Tell her he was the one who saved them all. That Skye did have a gift after all, even if he didn¡¯t know how to use it. Yet each time he bit his tongue. Now was not the time. Not until he knew more.

    Bryn was able to track them for quite some distance.

    ¡°Should we consider they were the only ones? If not, why hadn¡¯t they brought more with them.¡± Bryn said.

    ¡°Maybe they were just a scouting party?¡± Skye added.

    ¡°What a terrible thought. So we may be walking directly toward an actual army. This¡¯ll go great,¡± Bryn spat in the sand next to one of the footprints.

    ¡°No one said you had to come with us, Bryn. You can still turn back. Defend your precious Structure,¡± Dorian was focused on the horizon. He hadn¡¯t taken his eyes off it the entire journey. No more surprise attacks, not on his watch.

    ¡°Funny. Someone¡¯s gotta protect our little giftless lamb over here anyways,¡± Bryn said, referencing Skye once again.

    ¡°Can I just say something?¡± Skye said as they all stopped. He should tell them, tell them now. Do the best you can to explain what happened. They¡¯ll believe you. I mean, why wouldn¡¯t they, right?

    ¡°Yes oh, giftless one? We¡¯re wasting daylight here,¡± Bryn teased.

    It was me. I mean. I do have a gift. I just haven¡¯t figured it out yet he wanted to scream at the top of his lungs. But he couldn¡¯t do it and backed out at the last second.

    ¡°Let¡¯s just. Be careful. Okay? We¡¯re all we have out here,¡± he said.

    ¡°Oh bravo. Real wise words over there. Stick together. Got it, boss. Any other gems you¡¯d like to share?¡± Bryn asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s stay focused,¡± Dorian said as they continued back on the path.

    They were treating him like a child. He couldn¡¯t stand it. Even Myka¡¯s gift was incredible. Skye watched her practically skip behind Dorian. Wide-eyed taking in the whole world with wonder. How could she be so joyful in a situation like this?

    Though Skye would never admit it out loud, Myka¡¯s presence lifted his spirits, she lifted all of theirs.

    ¡°It can¡¯t be much further, right? They didn¡¯t have much equipment either. Except for their weapons, they had no carrying sacks or sleds of any kind.¡± Dorian hypothesized.

    ¡°How¡¯d you get out?¡± Myka suddenly asked Skye. ¡°Of The Structure¡ª¡± they all looked back. It was gone, no longer visible on the horizon. A sight that none of them were truly prepared for. Never in their wildest dreams had they imagined they¡¯d be leaving The Structure behind.

    ¡°I. I don¡¯t know,¡± Skye said. ¡°I just woke up and I was outside.¡± It was best Skye thought, to stick to the truth as closely as possible. The moment the words left Skye¡¯s mouth, he noticed Dorian glance over.

    He was watching him. But why?

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter now. Let¡¯s set up camp for the night,¡± Bryn said.

    ¡°Wait. I can sense something in the air.¡± Dorian responded. There was a shimmer¡ªthe light was refracting off of something. It looked like an invisible curtain had been dropped down from the sky, extending far off into the distance on both sides.

    Dorian inched closer, gently reaching out his fingertips. It felt like a thin mist or fog. His fingers disappeared behind the veil. Pushing forward, his entire hand wrist, and arm was gone. Dorian continued until he was completely gone.

    Bryn, Skye, and Myka watched in disbelief. One moment he was standing a few feet in front of them in the middle of the desert, and the next, nothing.

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

    Where had he gone?

    ¡°Guys? Guys!¡± they heard Dorian scream from the unknown abyss.

    Skye had never heard a level of panic in his voice like this before. Hearing his fear caused them to hesitate more than anything else. But if he was in danger they needed to be there. Remembering the promise they made to each other.

    No one else. We aren¡¯t going to lose anyone else.

    All three of them sprinted through the thin veil.

    <hr>

    This place had been drenched to its core with rain. There were four slopes of the valley, all thick with mud and evidence of consistent landslides. In the center at the bottom was a massive concrete structure that resembled a prison. At least it could have been one. Hundreds of years ago. It was almost as big as The Structure, but now it was crumbling all around like the building was condemned.

    On each wall of the concrete building, a large metallic letter T had been carved into the stone.

    Dorian stood atop the valley forcing himself, willing himself to be strong. To compose himself. For the mud valley had tints of crimson red. It wasn¡¯t only littered with rocks and debris, but human bones were embedded into the ground in all directions. Corpses of varying decomposition. Thousands upon thousands of bodies. The smell caused him to choke, burning and rotting flesh was all his senses could detect. The rest of the group came barreling in behind him. Myka tripped on a femur sticking out from the ground, she tumbled and slid down the hill. When she finally reached the bottom and centered herself. She vomited. Myka tried desperately to climb back up the hillside but kept slipping on the mud and rot. Sliding back down each time.

    ¡°You don¡¯t belong here,¡± A shy voice perked up as a steel door creaked open, just under one of the massive metal T¡¯s. Its walls were high and simple. They looked strong. No windows. There appeared to be more doors, at least six on this side by Myka¡¯s account. The Structure only had one tunnel entry and exit way. This place appeared to be wide open.

    ¡°Get out of here,¡± The small girl squeaked, she was holding a small serrated blade in one hand, and what looked like a piece of steel she had crafted into a small shield in the other.

    ¡°What is this place?¡± Skye called from behind. They slowly made their way down the slope. The girl looked at them strangely. Like she was sizing them up, determining how quickly she could take them out if necessary.

    ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± The girl edged out of the doorway a little more. ¡°Then how¡¯d you get here?¡± She squinted.

    ¡°Where is everyone?¡± Dorian demanded, but the little girl was not moved by his forced bravado.

    ¡°Gone.¡±

    ¡°Where¡¯d they go? And what¡¯s your name?¡± Dorian said. Realizing she wasn¡¯t afraid of them, they couldn¡¯t intimidate her.

    ¡°Toyatsu.¡±

    ¡°Your people attacked mine, we need to know where the rest of the went¡ª¡± Bryn cut in. Still weighing the decision on whether to let this girl live. She was alone, she couldn¡¯t possibly be much of a threat. But her people. Were monsters. Toyatsu¡¯s cool and relaxed demeanor in this literal hell hole was disturbing.

    ¡°Tell us what this place is,¡± Bryn was shaking and losing composure.

    But Toyatsu didn¡¯t care about their questions or demands. She was certainly interested in their sudden appearance, but past that. ¡°So you don¡¯t have a map?¡± Toyatsu said, void of emotion. Bryn couldn¡¯t handle the smugness of this girl. No more. They couldn¡¯t risk this girl making a sudden move. As Bryn prepared to make a move. She suddenly noticed all the cuts on her arms and legs. The brutality of their reality was starting to dawn on her.

    Myka also noticed this and reached out to heal her.

    Toyatsu jumped back and bore her teeth, they were sharp, vicious things. White daggers.

    ¡°S-Sorry,¡± Myka said as she retreated behind Dorian, a small windstorm kicked up, creating a barrier, to protect them if Toyatsu decided to counter with her own attack.

    This small display of power caught her interest.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard of your kind... Follow,¡± Toyatsu gestured for them to follow as she approached the T, there were small rungs sticking out that she climbed.

    The group looked at one another, it was four against one, if she tried anything, they¡¯d be ready. Dorian was the first to follow. Keeping a close eye on her movements. The T took them to the top of the building where Toyatsu simply sat cross-legged and looked out at the carnage. The recruits kept their distance. Skye imagined this place could have been beautiful once. Instead of death, the valley filled with flowers and plants. He imagined the sun cresting over the top, basking them in sunlight.

    ¡°The. Rations stopped coming. Pfta pfta,¡± Toyatsu said, making a strange noise with her mouth, it was like she was mimicking spitting. ¡°People started to panic. People started to go hungry. Then. A map appeared. Pfta,¡± Toyatsu¡¯s entire body tensed.

    ¡°Rations?¡± Skye asked. ¡°Could it be like ours outside of The Structure?¡± he looked to the others, but they had no answers. ¡°What map are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°Yuhuh. First famine, then a map. Coincidence? Nah. Somma thing is happening. Changing. We hadda four factions. Got along for years, no. Longer. Many many years. They began to fight. Kill. There were few left. Only a couple of each. Instead of extinction, they decided to trust tha map. Some went that way,¡± Toyatsu pointed over her shoulder. ¡°Some went your way,¡± she just nodded at them. ¡°Others went there and there. ¡± she pointed in the other two directions. ¡°People were tired of starving ta death. Killin their own kind.¡±

    It would be incredibly easy to get lost or turned around here, Skye thought. From the top of this building, it all looked the same. Just a valley of death and fog and mist.

    ¡°How did you survive?¡± Bryn asked. Toyatsu looked away. And for the first time, they saw who she really was.

    Someone who had done everything in their power to survive.

    At least that¡¯s how Bryn, Dorian, and Myka looked at her.

    Skye couldn¡¯t shake a terrible feeling. She was the sole survivor in a land of death, a bad omen. Dorian didn¡¯t share Skye¡¯s sentiment.

    ¡°What will you do now?¡± Dorian asked, inching closer. This time Toyatsu didn¡¯t flinch.

    ¡°Folla the map. Only one way left to go. The Space Man will have answers. He gave us this,¡± Toyatsu pulled out a small piece of parchment. Massive red X¡¯s drawn with blood were marked over every direction except for one.

    While they didn¡¯t want to stay in this place any longer than they had to, could they really trust her?

 The Hessians

    As they all slowly climbed out of the canyon Skye couldn¡¯t take his eyes off of Toyatsu.

    Why were they trusting her so blindly?

    ¡°Stop,¡± Skye said. He hadn¡¯t thought of exactly what to say yet, he just had a bad feeling in his gut. ¡°Let¡¯s go a different way,¡± he said snatching the map from her. It looked like there were about eight exit points from this valley of death. Even though Toyatsu had crossed off seven of them didn¡¯t mean much. A lie she used to lure strangers.

    Each exit point on the map was numbered one through eight. Four was the supposed way out.

    ¡°Let¡¯s try six,¡± Skye said. And for the first time, since they met her, Toyatsu showed fear. In fact, it was the only emotion they¡¯d seen from her.

    ¡°Okay¡­ Maybe not six. Two maybe?¡± Skye said. This time all she did was shake her head no and say, ¡°Hmm. Wouldn¡¯t go there. Not much left. Way too cold.¡± she said.

    Skye looked at his comrades for support. ¡°Come on, what do you think? She could be leading us straight into a trap.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve thought of that,¡± Bryn said, both Dorian and Myka nodded in agreement. ¡°If it is a trap, we¡¯ll survive, and this little girl will have to pay the consequences. Bryn did her best to give an intimidating look, but Toyatsu just looked over her shoulder like she couldn¡¯t care less.

    ¡°Let¡¯s try seven,¡± Skye said, Toyatsu lunged at him, swiping the map from his hands.

    ¡°No. That¡¯s where the spaceman is. Was. His domain. I don¡¯t like any of you. Don¡¯t trust you. But I would never send my worst enemy there,¡± Toyatsu said. Skye looked closely. Either she was the best actor he¡¯d ever seen, or she was telling the truth.

    ¡°You said you wanted to get as far away as you could. Discover something new. This is the only way,¡± she continued.

    ¡°Fine. Lead the way. But when we¡¯ve all been tricked and are hanging upside down by meat hooks waiting to be someone¡¯s dinner. I¡¯ll¡ª¡±

    But before Skye could finish his rant they were already on the move again.

    ¡ª¡°No one cares Skye. Let¡¯s go,¡± Bryn said.

    When they reached the top of the canyon Dorian felt the same thing in the air as when they had entered. Toyatsu was marking her steps carefully, precisely. She had done this before.

    ¡°What are these places?¡± Dorian said to no one in particular.

    ¡°Just a mirage, to keep us separated,¡± Toyatsu said.

    ¡°To keep who separated?¡± Bryn asked.

    ¡°You all really know nothing. You won¡¯t survive¡± Toyatsu said before stepping through the thin veil. Just like Dorian in the desert, she completely disappeared. Like walking through a portal.

    ¡°Now is our chance, we can go a different way¡ª¡± Skye said, but everyone was already following her lead. He stood alone in the valley of death. ¡°I¡¯m not bailing you all out again when this goes sideways!¡± He yelled at no one before he himself stepped through.

    <hr>

    When each of them stepped through their spirits were lifted. There was no valley of death. Or vast expanding graveyard. No, instead they walked along a vibrant bridge that pulsed with color every time they took a step. It was vast and stretched for over a mile, leading to a fortress like no other. High up in the mountains, nestled within the jagged peaks. It was embedded into the side of a towering cliff, its sleek metallic walls blending seamlessly into the rocky terrain. The fortress was a marvel of futuristic engineering.

    ¡°This¡­¡± Myka said, but she couldn¡¯t think of an appropriate way to describe the scene.

    ¡°Is your safest option,¡± Toyatsu said. They all looked back, the bridge seemed to extend over a great body of water. It looked like it extended into infinity, but they knew better. Apparently, all of these realms were somehow connected. The desert of The Structure, The Valley of Death, and now this.

    ¡°Wait, guys just wait. Before we go any further. What¡¯s our game plan here?¡± Skye asked.

    ¡°To find another home,¡± Dorian said taking Myka¡¯s hand.

    ¡°To scout and gather as much intel as we can in order to best protect The Structure. To prevent what happened earlier from happening to anyone else. Our information is outdated.¡± Bryn said.

    ¡°Great so we have no plan.¡±

    ¡°We will lead the people of The Structure to a better life,¡± Bryn said. ¡°First we just need something concrete. Something safer, better, or else they¡¯ll never leave.¡±

    Toyatsu burst out into laughter, though it was more of a grunt and a snort. It sounded unnatural, clearly, her people didn¡¯t laugh much.

    ¡°What¡¯s happening¡­¡± Myka began to panic, looking to the group for help. Suddenly they were moving slowly. Being swept along the bridge. It was like their feet were connected by magnets to the bridge itself. It was pulling them toward the fortress.

    As hard as they tried to break free they were stuck. Bryn placed her hand on the bridge to see if she could manipulate the material.

    ¡°It¡¯s made of something I don¡¯t recognize¡­¡± Bryn said. Skye looked over his shoulder, noticing Toyatsu.

    ¡°Why are you so calm?¡± he asked, but she just looked straight ahead avoiding their gaze.

    As they approached the colossal castle gate, its metallic surface shimmered under the bright neon lights of the city. The intricate patterns etched onto its surface seemed to shift and change the closer they got. Giving the impression that the gate was alive and watching their every move. It was an awe-inspiring sight, one that made them feel small and insignificant in comparison.

    They were halted before the gate. A small compartment appeared in the ground, it contained a large box.

    Toyatsu walked over to it, picking the box up.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on!¡± Skye shouted. They still couldn¡¯t move but she was walking around freely.

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    ¡°I didn¡¯t lie. You have the best chance of surviving here,¡± she said. They watched her as she casually walked back toward the portal.

    The giant doors swung open, and Bryn, Dorian, Myka, and Skye were ushered inside the fortress, still stuck as if they were on a track.

    As they entered the fortress they were struck by the juxtaposition of old-world grandeur and futuristic technology. The soaring Gothic arches of the central hall were illuminated by neon lights and holographic displays, while the stone walls were covered in circuitry and augmented reality projections. It was as if the past and the future had collided and merged into a single, stunning entity, a castle that was at once ancient and modern, now timeless and cutting-edge.

    Except there were no people. No one was wandering the city or outside. It was completely empty.

    As they continued to glide inside the castle walls, they found themselves face-to-face with two towering humanoid sentries. Each guarded the entrance to the citadel in the castle center. They were at least eight feet tall, with gleaming metal armor and glowing red eyes that seemed to bore into their very souls.

    ¡°Not this time,¡± Dorian summoned a wind to slash so fierce, it sliced through one of the sentry¡¯s chests. Revealing a mess of wires and machinery.

    Skye expected some kind of horrific backlash, a retaliation that would have them fighting for their lives. Instead.

    The humanoid sentries asked a single question:

    ¡°Please state your region,¡± it asked, like it couldn¡¯t care less it had been attacked. This took them off guard.

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Skye said. They were still trying to free their feet, but it was useless.

    ¡°Please state your region,¡± the sentry repeated.

    ¡°Look we don¡¯t know what the hell you¡¯re talking about. Let us go,¡± Bryn fought harder and harder. But there was no earth to manipulate, it was all metal and steel.

    The sentries looked at each other, and while they had unmoving faces and the inability to make facial expressions. Skye could have sworn they rolled their eyes.

    ¡°Are you Hessian?¡± the sentry asked.

    ¡°Why would they be Hessian?¡± the other sentry responded.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t think they were I just¡ª¡±

    ¡°Then why did you ask?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s protocol so I¡ª¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re not Hessian.¡± the sentry said with finality to its statement. Skye found this all strange, it was like they were siblings bickering over who gets to eat the last slice of pie.

    ¡°Fine. Not. Hessian. Are you Terania?¡± The sentry asked.

    ¡°We don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± Bryn said, still desperate for a way to escape.

    ¡°The little girl that brought you. Terania?¡± they asked once again. Skye thought back to the prison Toyatsu was living in. They each had large T¡¯s on the sides of the buildings. He gazed up at the citadel in the middle of this new strange city, a small H was crested above the doors. Hessian perhaps?

    ¡°No, that¡¯s doubtful. Fine. Not Terania. Coradez?¡± it asked, but the other sentry cut it off, this time with a bout of laughter.

    ¡°Do they look like Coradez to you? Ha. Ha. Ha.¡± its laugh was utterly robotic, which made it worse. ¡°Shame. We could really use one of those.¡±

    ¡°Are you Glatzayas?¡± the sentry continued its questions.

    ¡°How many times do we have to tell you? We don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. Now let us go.¡± Dorian kicked up a massive windstorm. Slicing through the sentry¡¯s armor once again.

    ¡°Not Glatzayas. Ah. With that power. You must be Iliapas. Send him back.¡± the sentry confirmed. Dorian began moving away from the others. A large tunnel opened up, leading to the depths beneath the fortress.

    ¡°Dorian¡ª¡± Myka tried to yell but instantly grabbed at her throat. Yelling always burned the most.

    It was just Bryn, Skye, and Myka now.

    ¡°Does that mean they¡¯re all Iliapas?¡± the sentry asked.

    ¡°Suppose so. Mark it as such and let¡¯s move on. They¡¯re testing that Coradez kid in the corridor. They¡¯ve been training him for months. I gotta see it,¡± the other sentry said.

    ¡°Why the hell won¡¯t you let us go!¡± Bryn yelled, slamming her fist hard into the ground, cutting her hand.

    ¡°They¡¯ve got a fighting spirit at least. Might have lucked out on this bunch. If they score high, make sure to send that Teranian girl extra rations,¡± The sentry said.

    ¡°Come,¡± Myka said to Bryn, they had been placed side by side. Myka reached out and healed her hand.

    The sentries froze.

    ¡°Did she just?¡± one of the sentries said in shock. It began scanning its tablet.

    ¡°Only they would be able to do such a thing.¡± one of the sentries said. It almost sounded panicked, scared.

    ¡°That¡¯s impossible. They never leave The Structure, and to venture this far out is unthinkable. Unless¡­¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re expanding,¡± the other sentry said.

    ¡°Send them down with the others. Full lockdown. If there are others coming. We don¡¯t have long to prepare.¡±

    ¡°Right.¡± the sentry agreed. Immediately sirens alarmed the entire fortress. Steel bars lined the doors and windows. More and more sentries began appearing, heading toward the castle¡¯s walls. It seemed like they were preparing for war.

    Skye, Bryn, and Myka began moving again, and the floor opened up, in the same area they had sent Dorian.

    Even with the chaos ensuing around them Skye couldn¡¯t shake what he¡¯d just heard. They said The Structure. So they know who they are. Why were they so afraid?

    <hr>

    They headed deep under the castle, hidden from the world above. When they reached their destination, each of them was guided into a large, futuristic cell. The walls were made of a transparent material that glowed softly, illuminating the high-tech devices within. Once the cell doors materialized they were free to move around.

    ¡°Nice of you to join us,¡± Dorian said, slashing his wind against the cell barrier, it was useless.

    Skye looked around, it was just them, and one other small boy who sat in the corner cell. He had his back turned, it was possible he was sleeping. Or simply trying to not attract too much attention.

    They could hear the commotion above.

    ¡°You must have really set them off, what did you do now Skye?¡± Dorian teased.

    ¡°They know who were are,¡± Skye said, more concerned with what he¡¯d just heard. ¡°They know where we¡¯re from¡­¡±

    ¡°Course they do. The Hessians know everything. How dense are ya?¡± the strange boy stood up and turned to face them.

    His skin was tanned and flawless. In fact, everything about the boy seemed perfect. Objectively he was one of the most attractive people any of them had seen.

    ¡°Do you know how we can get out of here? Skye asked.

    ¡°The only way out is to fight your way out. And no one is strong enough to fight their way out. We just trained and used as sacrifices.¡± The boy began stretching and warming up his body. There was an athletic prowess to his movements.

    ¡°Fight who?¡± Bryn chimed in.

    ¡°Not who¡­ Come on seriously? Oh, it doesn¡¯t matter, they¡¯re dropping me in the corridor soon. I won¡¯t survive much longer. Maybe I can give you a fighting chance. What realm are you from?¡± the boy asked.

    No one was quite sure how to answer.

    ¡°We¡¯re from The Structure,¡± Skye said finally.

    The boy tilted his head.

    ¡°Huh. Thought you¡¯d be. Different. I was told you locked yourselves deep under the ground and all went crazy,¡± the boy said.

    No one quite knew how to respond to that.

    ¡°So what do you know about this world?¡±

    Once again, no one responded.

    ¡°Yikes. What do they even teach you at The Structure? Where do I even start¡­¡±

    A small alarm beeped in the boy¡¯s cell.

    ¡°Shit. it¡¯s time. The quick version then. What you need to know. Okay. The Hessians are a small race of advanced hyper-intelligent beings. These psychopaths are some of the worst of the worst. Their technological advances are next to none. They¡¯re virtually emotionless. Always looking to innovate, leading them to enslave any and all races they can to exploit them for labor. It¡¯s all they care about. Which has led them to do some pretty horrific things.¡±

    The back of the boy¡¯s cell opened. ¡°Anyways, moving on. Just like all of us, they were finally caught by the Staatengrad.¡±

    The boy could see the empty looks on everyone¡¯s faces.

    ¡°Seriously? You don¡¯t know? Alright, I definitely don¡¯t have time for all of that. The Staatengrad, you¡¯ve got to give them credit. They banished the Hessians to this secluded mountainside, filled with Razmerak. Virtually the only things in existence that can keep the Hessians at bay. They¡¯re terrifying creatures that hunger for one thing and one thing only. Stellizite. A precious metal that the Hessians use in all their technology. The only thing protecting them is the fortress walls. If they were to venture one step outside, the Razmerak would tear them apart.¡±

    The boy smiled, waving his hand in a strange pattern, it looked like a form of saying goodbye.

    ¡°This is what they¡¯re training us to fight. If we can kill all the Razmerak. They¡¯ll be free. But that¡¯s never going to happen. Which is bad news for us, But the good news for the universe. Trust me. You don¡¯t want the Hessians going anywhere. If I survive, I¡¯d be more than happy to fill you in. But. No one survives the corridor. So I bid you farewell,¡± The boy winked before voluntarily stepping through the doorway in the back of his cell. The wall closed behind him. He was gone.

    They could hear cheers erupt from throughout the fortress above, accompanied by blood-curdling roars

    Then, the back of their cell doors opened.

 The Spaceman

    Skye, Bryn, Dorian, and Myka were once again forced out of the back of their cells and found themselves suddenly dropped into a narrow, metallic corridor. The walls were slick and gleaming, illuminated by pulsing, fluorescent lights that cast an eerie glow over everything. The air was thick with the acrid scent of ozone and the thrumming of hidden machinery.

    As they looked around, they weren¡¯t alone. There were hundreds of onlookers watching them through monitor screens that lined the walls of the corridor. They peered at them with fascination and concern, their faces distorted by the flickering light of the screens.

    The boy they¡¯d met earlier was standing a few feet ahead of them.

    ¡°Say hello to the Hessians,¡± the boy said, picking up a stone and throwing it hard against one of the monitors, but it didn¡¯t even scratch the screen.

    ¡°They must really hate you. Normally they like to train and educate their new sacrifices for at least a few months before executing them. Giving them as much information as they have on the Razermak to create the best possible outcome. Not that it really makes a difference in the end,¡± The boy looked at them with pity.

    ¡°There¡¯s got to be a way out,¡± Dorian was searching for a hidden passage of sorts, a switch, anything. But their backs were against the wall. Literally. There was no retreat, only forward. The corridor extended far into the darkness ahead of them.

    ¡°Trust me. There isn¡¯t. Might as well embrace our destiny,¡± the boy said in a strange fashion like he was trying to make a joke. Skye had noticed that even with everything going on. The boy seemed relaxed. At ease.

    ¡°Such a serious group. Let¡¯s lighten the mood, seeing as I¡¯ve taught you everything, you can call me Professor Zavia,¡± that was the boy¡¯s name. Zavia.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you a little young to be a professor?¡± Bryn asked, this caused Zavia to smile greatly.

    ¡°There we go! And I don¡¯t think so. It¡¯s perfectly normal where I¡¯m from. The first twenty years of our lives are spent training our bodies and minds for combat and learning basic principles. The next twenty years are spent on strategy. Then we get a five-year hiatus to study whatever we want. I was just beginning mine when I got caught up in all of this.¡± Zavia said.

    ¡°You¡¯re. Wait that would mean. How old are you?¡± Skye asked, but before he could answer, the pulsing lights started to intensify.

    ¡°The pulsing light attracts the Razermak. They¡¯ll be coming any minute now,¡± he continued. He flipped into a handstand, twisting and contorting his body ¡ª he was warming up.

    ¡°Any words of wisdom oh great professor?¡± Dorian asked.

    ¡°Hmm. We will most certainly die. Usually, they like to send squads down here of no less than twelve. But rest assured. The Razermak are simple beasts. Our deaths will be quick. They have no use or even understanding of the concept of cruelty.¡± Zavia performed another one of his strange hand movements, turning it over back and forth quickly.

    ¡°Where I¡¯m from, this means, fight as if the gods are by your side. So. Let¡¯s give them a good show shall we?¡± Zavia turned back, facing the darkness of the corridor.

    Then, from the black, crept the Razermak. A six-foot-tall creature with obsidian black skin and iridescent scales. It has a broad head with a spear-like snout and fiery red eyes. Its limbs were muscular and tipped with sharp claws.

    ¡°Wait, didn¡¯t you say that it was only after Stellizite?¡± Skye asked, and then as if upon cue a small crate was lowered behind them. It contained Stellizite ¡ª the otherworldly metal with a gleaming surface and subtle energy that defied explanation. It is said to come from the stars themselves. When heated, Stellizite becomes incredibly malleable, allowing it to be forged into intricate shapes and designs with ease. Its surface was covered in tiny crystalline structures that shimmer and refract light in a mesmerizing display.

    The beast roared, as spit dangled from its powerful jaws.

    ¡°Been waiting for this all day,¡± Zavia said, there was a touch of wickedness in his gaze. Skye had assumed he was a caring and thoughtful person. After all, he¡¯d provided more information to them than anyone else.

    He was trying to help them, wasn¡¯t he? Zavia was a prisoner just like them. Unjustly captured. Forced to fight these unholy beasts all for the benefit of The Hessians.

    The Razermak lunged at Zavia, but he moved too swiftly, Skye had never seen such speed.

    Then in blinding fury, Zavia leaped over the creature and cut off its head in a single blow.

    Someone how his arm had hardened and sharpened to the point it could cut through steel.

    Skye looked closer. He was.

    Smiling.

    His arm was coated in blood, but only for a second, as the blood started to absorb into his skin.

    ¡°You did it¡­¡± Myka said quietly.

    Zavia cocked his head off to the side as if he was somehow noticing them for the first time. His eyes had become a solid color of dark green.

    He approached carefully. Calculating.

    ¡°What¡¯s this guy doing?¡± Bryn asked.

    ¡°I got this,¡± Dorian stepped forward, summoning his wind slashes. But they bounced off Zavia like it was nothing.

    Before he could get any closer, two more appeared, charging in. One bit down on Zavia¡¯s shoulder, but he brushed it off, grabbing the beast by the neck, flipping it onto its back, and driving his fist through its chest.

    Once again the blood seemed to pool and absorb into his body. The second beast slashed its claws against his back, barely leaving a mark.

    The man was practically indestructible. All Skye could see was a small drop of blood. Like he had suffered no more than a paper cut.

    He leaped at the second beast, but another two shot out from the dark, knocking him onto his back.

    Zavia was quick to recover, but there were already three more upon him. More and more of the beasts were pouring out of the corridor, overwhelming him.

    Skye felt the ground shake violently as all the monitors and lights shut off. Unable to see a thing, all that was left was the horrific sounds of the beasts and Zavia battling it out to the death.

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    There was a flicker of light from a sparking power cord, a figure moved in the background.

    It was Zavia¡ª and he was headed right toward them.

    ¡°Did you kill them all?¡± Myka said, surprised.

    But there was little humanity left in him. His face was twisted and dark, those same expressionless eyes were now locked onto Myka. Like a wolf hunting a rabbit Zavia licked his lips.

    Instinctively Bryn and Dorian stepped in front of her.

    Two Razermaks leaped out from the corridor, digging their claws into Zavia¡¯s shoulder and dragging him back into the corridor.

    There was nothing but the sound of the beast¡¯s screeches and roars. Until everything began to shake and the entire ceiling was ripped off.

    A man dropped down wearing a suit that was made of lightweight, metallic material. It was form-fitting and sleek, hugging his muscular frame like a second skin.

    The suit had a futuristic look, with smooth curves and sharp angles that seemed to flow seamlessly together. The suit had a series of built-in sensors that allowed the man to see and hear things he wouldn¡¯t otherwise be able to. A small display screen was located inside the helmet, providing him with an augmented reality view of his surroundings.

    It contained hydraulic systems that augmented the man¡¯s movements, making him more powerful and precise in combat along with an array of weapons. Including guns and blades that were mounted on various parts of the armor.

    None of them could react in time as small nanobots released from the suit crawled up their bodies and injected them in the necks with a sedative. They quickly lost consciousness. Skye could feel his body being lifted up by some sort of steel cable. Up and out of the corridor.

    The last thing he saw was Zavia¡¯s face. The face of a man whose blood lust was unquenchable.

    <hr>

    A small ship soared through the air until docking inside its stronghold. The base was nestled within the rocky crags of a nearby mountain range, expertly camouflaged to blend in with its surroundings. The entrance was almost invisible, hidden behind a series of high-tech holographic screens that projected a perfect illusion of the rock face.

    Once inside, the base was a marvel of engineering. The walls were made of a sleek, metallic material that shimmered in the low light. The floors were soft and cushioned, providing a comfortable surface for the feet.

    Skye, Dorian, Bryn, and Myka found themselves securely restrained to chairs with IVs dripping from their arms. They were located in the main command center. It was at the heart of the base, a spacious room filled with computer terminals, holographic projectors, and a massive screen that displayed a 3D map of the entire planet of Gehanna. There were six distinct markers on the map.

    They slowly awoke one by one, unable to move. The man in the futuristic suit was hard at work. Calculating some sort of formula on a transparent plexiglass board beside the map.

    ¡°Let us. Go¡­¡± Bryn said lazily, still sluggish and slow to get her bearings.

    ¡°My head hurts¡­¡± Myka said.

    ¡°Ah. That stuff has quite the kick. Hold on,¡± the man said, injecting another liquid into their IVs, the moment it hit they immediately felt focused and awake.

    ¡°Alright, alright. Let¡¯s focus, don¡¯t have a ton of time. First question. Do you know Reikner?¡± the man said to all of them. As Skye¡¯s vision focused he noticed that he was still wearing his suit.

    ¡°Hey, pay attention,¡± he snapped his fingers. ¡°Reikner? Is he still alive?¡±

    ¡°Why do you want to know,¡± Dorian was the first to answer, trying his best to wriggle free of the restraints.

    ¡°Hard to get intel on The Structure. Actually damn near impossible. Plus trying to infiltrate that place is basically a suicide mission. So if I couldn¡¯t fight my way in. I had to drive some of you out,¡± the man was surprisingly upbeat.

    ¡°Drive some of us out?¡± Bryn asked.

    ¡°Yeah¡­¡± his tone changed quickly, to one of remorse. ¡°I er. Saw what happened, outside the walls. Those Teranians are ruthless. Good thing there¡¯s not much of them left anymore. Course there¡¯s always the possibility whoever fills their place will be much, much worse.¡±

    ¡°You were the one who sent those monsters?¡± Dorian struggled harder.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say I sent them. Per se. Maybe guided them? Pointed them in the direction? I needed some of you isolated. Sorry I wasn¡¯t able to get to you before they locked you in the Hessian¡¯s corridor, that¡¯s my bad. Toyatsu was meant to stall you, but she often does as she pleases.¡±

    ¡°What do you want from us?¡± Skye asked.

    ¡°From you? Not much. Just some information. Like what would be the most efficient way to get to Reikner?¡± The man asked once again.

    None of them responded.

    The man sighed heavily.

    ¡°Entry thirty-one dot six dot eight. The plan is going accordingly. As it should. Took me damn long enough to get here. Current recruits are not cooperating. Not surprisingly, may need to use advanced interrogation techniques,¡± the man said as he slowly took off his helmet.

    The man was in his late forties. His hair was severely thinning from sun damage and his forehead was marked with scars from third-degree burns, and his left eye was opaque and completely useless.

    ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s try this again. Reikner? Any information. Only one of you needs to talk.¡± he was becoming less patient.

    ¡°Are you going to hurt us?¡± Myka said innocently. This caused Dorian to thrash around even more in his seat, frustrated by his inability to protect her once again.

    Until the man pressed a button on his suit, a small nanobot crept up along Dorian¡¯s shoulder and injected a sedative into his neck, he was knocked unconscious once again.

    ¡°That all depends. You give me some information and no. I won¡¯t hurt you.¡±

    ¡°And if we don¡¯t?¡± Bryn said stubbornly.

    ¡°Between you and me. I haven¡¯t thought that far ahead yet. Might drop you back with the Hessians. I could leave you with the Glatzayas. But I¡¯m not a monster.¡±

    ¡°From where we¡¯re sitting that¡¯s exactly what you are. You killed our friends. Our comrades.¡± Byrn said.

    The man laughed hysterically. ¡°Oh my. That is rich. Especially coming from you.¡±

    ¡°We haven¡¯t done anything wrong,¡± Skye said. The man started to laugh but then quickly changed his tune when he saw how serious Skye was.

    ¡°I mean. Maybe not you four, specifically. I¡¯ll admit. But¡­¡± he trailed off. ¡°Your people shall never be forgiven. Surely you must know that.¡±

    ¡°All I know is we¡¯re currently being held hostage by a psychopath,¡± Bryn ripped at her restraints until a nanobot injected her as well. Bryn¡¯s body slumped back into the chair. The man slowly approached Skye.

    ¡°What exactly do they teach you in the Structure?¡± the man was curious, but Skye just looked away.

    ¡°I thought you would all be much, much stronger. Legendary warriors and all. Disappointing for you, but makes my life much, much easier.¡± he gave them the thumbs up.

    Skye couldn¡¯t help but get the feeling the man was tittering on madness.

    ¡°I can help you,¡± Myka said, looking at his scars.

    ¡°I know you can! So help me by giving me access to Reikner,¡± he replied.

    His focus was entirely on Myka now. Giving Skye the opportunity to look around. Nothing seemed of much interest until he saw an old and tattered suit, there was a patch on it and a name tag.

    ¡°Jaylon¡­¡± Skye said quietly to himself. This got his attention.

    The man looked over, realizing he got the name from the suit. He picked it up with nostalgia. ¡°I haven¡¯t heard that said in a long time¡­¡± ¡°I was a different man back then.¡± Jaylon put down the suit, uncomfortable with what had just transpired. ¡°I really didn¡¯t want you to know my name. Makes the whole torturing thing much more difficult¡­¡±

    ¡°Please. We¡¯re not working with The Structure. It¡¯s clear they¡¯ve been lying to us from the beginning.¡± Skye said desperately.

    ¡°Great! Then tell me what I need to know and we can all be on our way,¡± Jaylon said.

    ¡°All of us. Are just looking for a better life. We don¡¯t want to spend our lives buried deep underground.¡± Skye was trying to appeal to his emotions.

    ¡°What¡¯s your brilliance?¡± Jaylon asked point blank.

    How did he know so much about them? More than they knew about themselves.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have one,¡± Skye said.

    ¡°A Duud! All the way out here. You are not going to last. That is for sure. Yikes. I¡¯d be doing you a favor by killing you. Save you a lot of pain and suffering¡­ Hmm how about you darlin¡¯?¡±

    Myka wriggled a few of her fingers free, clearly trying to touch him.

    ¡°Oh, how exciting. It¡¯s like roulette. Will you burn me to ashes? Freeze my skin? Maybe some sort of venomous poison will race through my bloodstream.¡±

    Jaylon hesitated, before typing a few commands into his wristband.

    ¡°Nanobots, on standby, wait for a command, full medical service,¡± he spoke to his wristband.

    Skye was shocked, Jaylon couldn¡¯t resist his curiosity, the man was truly a nut.

    He got closer, and she rested two fingers on his forearm. The scars on his forehead started to recede, and the vision in his eye returned.

    Skye waited for a reaction. Maybe this good deed would motivate him to let them go. Jaylon looked in the mirror, running his fingers over his now-healed face.

    And he showed. Apathy. A true lack of emotion.

    ¡°It¡¯s a neat trick, I¡¯ll give you that. But I still haven¡¯t gotten my answer. Looks like I¡¯m going to have to convince you another way.¡± Jaylon pressed two more buttons as the nanobots climbed onto Skye and Myka, injecting them both in the neck.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for what¡¯s about to happen. I truly am. You seem like normal kids. Even if you are the spawn of the devil. But I can¡¯t stay here any longer. And Reikner is the only one who can free me,¡± Jaylon said to them before the powerful sedative kicked in.

 An Awakening Part One

    Bryn awoke to the rhythmic thumping of the crowd, one that she could hear but not see. A small cramped cell with no obvious windows or doors surrounded her. Just a small hole in the ground, just big enough for someone to climb down through.

    Screams and cheering could be heard faintly drifting up through the hole. In the corner of the cell, Jaylon casually leaned against the wall.

    ¡°I¡¯ve already told the others. This is your last chance. Tell me how to get to Reikner,¡± he said flatly. Bryn had felt from the very beginning he¡¯d become mentally unstable, his mood swinging all over the place, even from sentence to sentence.

    ¡°Last chance. Or what?¡± she ran her fingers through the dirt on the ground. She could feel the earth¡¯s very energy flow through her. A strange and new sensation, an immense power.

    ¡°Or¡­¡± Jaylon nodded toward the hole in the ground. Whoever and whatever was down there chanting. Preparing.

    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ve had about enough of you. I¡¯ll take my chances with whatever¡¯s down there,¡± she said, peeking down the hole. A ladder descended into the darkness.

    ¡°I was hoping you¡¯d say that. I know you¡¯re not the one who¡¯s going to break anyway. But. I¡¯ll still extend the same offer to you as the rest. If at any point you want out. You change your mind and decide to tell me everything and anything you know about The Structure and Reikner. I¡¯ll pull you out. Protect you,¡± Jaylon said.

    ¡°Protect me? Oh, now I know you¡¯re screwing with me,¡± she said, taking a step toward the hole. Jaylon quickly blocked her path. Placing a gun to her temple.

    ¡°You have my word. I¡¯ll protect you all if you provide me with what I need,¡± his hand was shaking. He didn¡¯t seem like the type to get overly nervous. Tremors perhaps?

    Bryn glanced up at the gun.

    ¡°You have a funny way of protecting people,¡± she pushed the barrel of the gun away with two fingers.

    It looked like the only way out was down. Jaylon stepped aside, allowing Bryn to descend the ladder.

    ¡°Any tips? Advice? The least you could do is give me a heads up for what I¡¯m getting myself into.¡±

    Jaylon considered many different things. In the end. This is what he said, ¡°Let the monster inside of you out. If you¡¯ve ever wondered what you¡¯re truly capable of. I promise you. This is the place to find out.¡±

    She nodded before climbing down the ladder and through a small cramped dark tunnel.

    The atmosphere below became thick and suffocating. The air was heavy with a noxious mix of sweat, blood, and something else that Bryn couldn¡¯t quite place.

    Eventually, the tunnel opened up, and the ladder led her down into an underground ring.

    The ring itself had a macabre sight, a circular pit of packed dirt, surrounded by a towering fence made of dark, rusted metal. The fence was covered in razor-sharp spikes, on one side blood stained the posts. It seemed someone tried to unsuccessfully escape.

    The lighting dimmed, casting deep shadows that obscured the grotesque forms of the crowd. A motley crew of strange creatures, their faces twisted with excitement and bloodlust. Their eyes gleamed in the flickering light, as they jostled and shoved each other to get a better view of the carnage.

    Everywhere she looked, an overwhelming sense of danger and malevolence crept over her skin. This underground fight ring was a place of nightmares, a world of horrors that she couldn¡¯t wait to escape from. Let the monster out. Bryn thought. In a place like this, it might be the only way to survive.

    The ladder retracted itself. Looking around she couldn¡¯t see the others, but there were many other passages in the ceiling. Dorian, Skye, and Myka were most likely still in the cells above.

    For a second, she thought she saw Zavia in the crowd. The person had similar characteristics, flawless features with dark green eyes. He stood next to a woman of similar fashion. Her hair hung down to her waist. The more she looked at them, the more she realized they almost looked like dolls. They must be Zavia¡¯s Kin, the Coradez.

    Before Bryn could get a good look at anyone else, the lights cut out.

    ¡°Do. We. Have a special treat for you. The Spaceman has gifted us. Yes. With not one. Not two. But four warriors from the structure,¡± a mysterious voice announced across the ring. The voice sounded odd, struggling to produce each and every word, and the very act of speaking caused it pain.

    The crowd murmured with excitement.

    ¡°P-put your bets in. For this evening. Her opponent will be last week¡¯s champion!¡± the voice exclaimed. The crowd erupted in cheers.

    When the lights turned back on. A giant man stood opposite Bryn.

    ¡°The darling of the Teranians!¡± the announcer said. The man looked eerily similar to the barbarian that had gutted one of Bryn¡¯s fellow recruits. He came from the same area as Toyatsu. The same group that attacked them the moment they stepped foot outside The Structure.

    Let the monster out. She thought again.

    But training had taught her to be brave, and strong. Protect those in need. Honor, integrity, and companionship were not words one would use to describe a monster.

    Her opponent, his people. Had horrifically killed many of her comrades and friends. At this moment, she removed mercy from her vocabulary.

    The man approached slowly. Towering over her by a foot or more. Scars covered his entire body. The frame of a true warrior, dense muscles, and focused unnerving eyes.

    ¡°Haven¡¯t seen the likes of you before,¡± he twisted his head sideways. ¡°Finally came out of your precious little structure? This gonna be fun, welcome to the world sweetheart,¡± he said, dragging a long scythe along the ground.

    ¡°I can pull you out at any time, just give the word,¡± Jaylon¡¯s voice entered her head. ¡°Oh. right. I forgot to mention. I implanted a little tracking and comms device in your neck.¡±

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    Bryn ran her fingers below her left ear, underneath she traced a subtle scar and what felt like a thin metal disc just beneath the surface of her skin.

    ¡°Well?¡± he asked, waiting for a response as the man got closer, but Bryn stood her ground.

    ¡°Very well. Suit yourself.¡±

    She knelt down, running her fingers through the dirt. Waiting.

    He made the first move, he moved much faster than she expected. Slamming down the blade, only an inch away from clipping off her entire ear. She barrel rolled out of the way.

    Since they left The Structure Bryn had spent much of her time questioning their training. Gymnastics, calisthenics, mostly movement training. But it wasn¡¯t so that they could fight hand-to-hand combat. Reikner¡¯s voice entered her head.

    I¡¯m teaching you to move intuitively. Regardless of what your Brilliance ends up being, this will teach you how to control the flow of energy. Your Brilliance is you, there is no separation, remember that.

    Before the barbarian could make another step, his feet were cemented in the ground.

    ¡°Neat trick,¡± he grunted, pulling one of his legs free, then the other. Except each time he took a step the same thing kept happening. His feet kept getting cemented.

    Bryn could feel the earth around her. She still had much to learn, it felt like an extension of herself, or learning a skill. Like learning to ride a bike or to play the guitar. She felt like she could control the earth at will.

    She watched the man quickly begin to tire, desperately pulling his legs from the ground over and over.

    Bryn understood how the darkness of this world could so easily infect those around it. Even in herself, this man¡¯s life was now in her hands. The question wasn¡¯t whether he¡¯d suffer, the question was how much.

    The crowd started to boo. Not enough carnage for them.

    ¡°Fine. You want more. You want more?!¡± Bryn found herself yelling, pumping up the crowd.

    She summoned the earth to wrap around his scythe, wrenching it from his hand, and bringing it to her.

    She could barely hold the blade with a single hand, it must have weighed at least eighty pounds. Bryn transformed the ground around him into quicksand. Allowing him to sink down to shoulder level.

    ¡°May you never walk this earth again, and may Kaia have mercy on your soul, ¡± Bryn dragged the scythe as she approached.

    He fought with every ounce of strength, but couldn¡¯t move an inch. The closer she got. The more he looked like a wild animal. The man screamed, and shouted, biting, and spitting.

    Like a beast caught in a cage.

    Then with a single slash of the scythe, Bryn beheaded the man.

    Silence.

    Quickly followed by a roar of approval. The crowd chanted her name.

    ¡°Well done! A truly impressive showing.¡± the announcer said.

    ¡°Yes, well done,¡± Jaylon said, except it wasn¡¯t from the comms device. He stood directly behind her, and before she could react. Metallic cuffs were slapped around her wrists and a collar was placed on her neck.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t struggle too hard,¡± Jaylon waved a small remote in her face, then mimicked a bomb going off. ¡°Now come, let¡¯s see how the others do.¡± Jaylon guided her outside the arena¡¯s metal fence and up a few stairs. He has his own private booth. Clearly, this wasn¡¯t the spaceman¡¯s first time.

    Another ladder descended from the ceiling.

    Dorian.

    <hr>

    His eyes immediately drifted over toward Bryn and Jaylon. She¡¯s alive and by the looks of it relatively unharmed. A sense of relief washed over him.

    ¡°Our next fighter. Also hails from The Structure. Who shall be his opponent? Hm,¡± the announcer made a weird clicking noise, while he thought deeply.

    ¡°What about Calupica? Hmm no. Venetica? Wait. Oh. I know¡­ Haitea¡­ Yes¡­Excellent,¡± his voice boomed throughout the arena, and not a single soul cheered.

    Dorian heard murmurs amongst the crowd.

    ¡°That poor bastard,¡± someone said.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t even going to be a fight,¡± another whispered to the person next to him.

    Dorian did his best to keep his composure, but couldn¡¯t help but take this as a bad omen. Amidst a crowd literally begging for death and carnage, whoever his opponent should be, was too dangerous. Even for them.

    Then an elderly man entered the ring. He looked as if Zavia had aged another hundred years.

    Unlike the others from Coradez, his skin wasn¡¯t flawless. It looked cracked and weather-beaten. There were creases and wrinkles riddled across his face from a long and difficult life. Admittedly his gentle eyes threw Dorian off, and then. He bowed. Sincerely and respectfully.

    ¡°I am sorry for this young man. Your float along destiny¡¯s river has reached its end,¡± Haitea said. As he stretched, every joint in his body cracked and popped.

    Dorian held a single image in his head. Myka. He knew she would be up next. He had to win this fight and limit his own injuries. When she entered the ring, Dorian would need enough strength to free them all. A near-impossible task.

    ¡°I will give you one piece of advice¡­ Do not let me draw an ounce of blood from your body. If you can manage to defeat me before that happens, you stand a chance. If not, I pray you will not suffer,¡± Haitea said.

    The old man spoke as if he didn¡¯t have a choice in the matter. That it somehow wasn¡¯t going to be him fighting.

    Haitea disappeared before Dorian¡¯s eyes, then appeared inches from his throat, swinging the side of his hand hard for the base of Dorian¡¯s neck. But he covered his entire body with a thin but sturdy air pocket, using it like a suit of armor. Redirecting Haitea¡¯s hand and knocking him back.

    He then turned his slashes outward. Condensing the air so finely it sliced clean through the ground and metal fence behind Haitea.

    The old man made a last-minute ditch effort to dive away from the attack. But it managed to cut deep into his left shoulder. Rendering the arm is completely useless. Haitea tried to make another move, but Dorian slashed his other arm. He now understood what power looked like, what they were truly capable of. For the first time since leaving The Structure, Dorian felt hopeful. The man no longer had any use of his arms. The fight was over.

    ¡°What an honor to have faced you,¡± Dorian said, bowing back. He turned to go but then the old man started to cackle. Louder and louder, erupting into a frenzy.

    ¡°Oh. My. You¡¯re quite strong. I¡¯ll give you that. But you should have finished me off when you had the chance.¡±

    Dorian paused. The man¡¯s arms were useless. There¡¯s no way he still wanted to fight.

    ¡°I may have misspoke. Not intentionally I assure you. I simply did not foresee this happening. It¡¯s also not wise to draw an ounce of blood from my body either,¡± his face became twisted, mischievous.

    Doran watched the very humanity disappear behind his dark green eyes. Haitea¡¯s own blood started to be absorbed back into his skin. He moved his arms freely and effortlessly as if they¡¯d never been damaged. His wind had cut open the skin, but it sutured itself back together.

    The man disappeared in a blur, approaching him at lightning speed. Dorian summoned all the wind slashes that he could, but Haitea leaped over them with expert gymnastic moves. The man moved with a precision Dorian hadn¡¯t previously seen.

    He shuffled a couple of steps back, but the old man delivered a right hook, cracking his ribs.

    Dorian gasped for air. Haitea Roundhouse kicked him in the temple. He could feel the warmth of the blood pouring from his temple. His ears were ringing and his vision blurred. The crowd may have been cheering, or booing, he couldn¡¯t tell, completely disoriented.

    He felt his body being lifted high up into the air, higher and higher until dropped. His spine cracked as it made a direct impact on Haitea¡¯s knee. In an instant, both of his legs went numb. He slumped and hit the arena floor hard.

    Dorian could do little else but desperately crawl away. But where? The arena had no safe space or refuge. No shelter. He had but one option.

    ¡°Just say the word. Tell me what I want to know, and I¡¯ll put a stop to this,¡± Jaylon¡¯s voice came through clearly, cutting through all the noise. ¡°If you decide to take the stubborn path. I must warn you. The opponent Myka is facing is well¡­ Let¡¯s just say you dying here and now. It will be a blessing. Save you from seeing your beloved torn to pieces right before your eyes.¡±

    Dorian crawled to the edge of the fence, propping himself up. He locked eyes with Heinrich and looked right into the soul of the devil. He couldn¡¯t help but look around the arena, filled with hate. Whatever shred of compassion he had for this world and for The Structure completely faded. Nothing and no one deserved it.

    Except for Myka. The thought of having her feet touch down in this dirt-filled hell hole. Only to have her life taken by one of these monsters. Having her take her last breath in a place like this¨C No.

    Dorian couldn¡¯t even finish the thought.

    As Haitea approached once again, to finish the job. The wind and air started to kick up around him. Dorian held a single belief in his mind; None of you deserve to breathe. None of you deserve to live. I¡¯ll steal the air right from your lungs if I have to.

 An Awakening Part Two

    Dorian crawled to the fence unable to move or feel his legs. The base of his spine had been fractured, the nerves were crushed and destroyed.

    ¡°Show them what we¡¯re capable of,¡± Bryn said from the audience. He looked over and saw only hate in her eyes. Every inch of her body was prepared to fight.

    And why shouldn¡¯t she feel that way? Look at this place. Filled with evil. Each of these spectators chanted and begged for death, so maybe Dorian should fulfill their wishes. Would the world be a lesser place if these Cretans were wiped from the planet?

    ¡°I¡¯ll say it again, kid. Tell me what I want to know. Let me pull you out of there. I¡¯ll keep all of you safe. You¡¯re going to need to make a decision soon or you won¡¯t live long enough to see that little girlfriend again. Then again, if you think your opponent is tough, you should see who I¡¯ve got her up against. She¡¯ll be tortured mercilessly, so maybe it is for the best you die here,¡± Jaylon said into Dorian¡¯s earpiece.

    He scratched and clawed at the embedded disc, tempted to rip the thing clean from his neck.

    No more. No more talking. None of you deserve to live. None of you deserve to breathe.

    Dorian could feel the air surrounding him, enveloping him. He pulled at it, hoarding it, from every corner and inch in the arena. No conscious thought was involved, just an overwhelming desire to end this.

    Haitea cocked his head as he approached. When suddenly he ran his fingers over his chest and lungs. He seemed to recognize Dorian¡¯s plan.

    Then everyone in the arena clutched at their throats. Even Bryn.

    Dorian¡¯s tunnel vision only allowed him to see one thing. Hold one goal in his mind¡¯s eye. He pulled the air from each of their lungs.

    Many in the crowd began to pass out and collapse. Haitea tried to make a last-second dash, aiming for Dorian¡¯s head; he was going to cut it right off.

    But his muscles screamed in desperation, unable to function or move another inch. The mind can focus on little else when it¡¯s deprived of oxygen, loses all sense of its surroundings, and no longer has any wants or needs. It only cares about survival.

    Haitea dropped to the ground, clawing at the dirt, desperate to keep on living, with no solution in sight.

    Someone fired a few rounds of errant bullets at Dorian. They were fired wildly. Unable to focus and aim at their target, each shot completely missed.

    Perhaps it was the desperation that led to his understanding, to comprehend his capabilities.

    Now he understood their power, the legends of old. The strength of his ancestors and of The Structure. While at first they may have been blindsided. Now they were unstoppable they were¨C

    ¨CSuddenly Dorian felt a powerful electric shock in his neck. The communicator Jaylon had installed also contained a shock feature for such an occasion.

    His eyes fluttered before he passed out from the voltage, finally releasing his death grip on all those who surrounded him.

    <hr>

    Skye had his ear pressed to the cell room floor, trying his best to make out what was going on below. Soon a hole in the ground opened up revealing a ladder that descended below.

    As he worked his way down the ladder. Mid-climb he heard the announcer say:

    ¡°Well, well, well. You can¡¯t say you¡¯re not getting your money¡¯s worth today! A bit too much excitement if you ask me!¡±

    The crowd became furious and outraged. As Skye climbed lower, the negative attention seemed to be focused on Jaylon, or more appropriately, Dorian. Passed out lying by Jaylon¡¯s side.

    They wanted his head, to tear him limb from limb for attacking them like that. The crowd was on the verge of a riot.

    ¡°Settle down, settle down. If everyone behaves, they¡¯ll be a free tankard of spiced Jimsi waiting for you.¡± the announcer said. This seemed to instantly lift the crowd¡¯s spirit. Who doesn¡¯t love free alcohol?

    When Skye reached the bottom of the area he found himself right next to Myka.

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    ¡°Now if you hate The Structure as much as I do, OooOoo, I have a treat for you! A two versus one match, but not only that. All three of our contestants¡­Are from the Structure!¡± the crowd erupted. ¡°So no matter what happens, you¡¯ll get to see one of these cretzaz get what¡¯s coming to them!¡±

    The crowd loved it. From the Structure? Skye couldn¡¯t believe it, he instinctively moved in front of Myka.

    Their opponent entered the arena from above. An older woman stood in front of them. Heavily cloaked and covered, they could barely make out any features.

    ¡°Let¡¯s work together, and maybe we can find a way out of here,¡± Skye whispered to their opponent, but the crowd heard every whisper.

    ¡°Oh. That¡¯s not gonna work son, but good try!¡± the announcer laughed, mocking Skye.

    ¡°Long time no see Hurraka!¡± Jaylon shouted into the ring. She instantly tensed up and instinctively reached for under her ear.

    Did she have the same discs embedded in their necks as they did? If she¡¯s from the Structure, did Jaylon also capture her at one point? Skye thought to himself. Of course, it was possible. But why hadn¡¯t her fellow recruits protected and defended her?

    There were so many questions he wanted to ask her.

    Hurraka removed her cloak and neatly folded it in the corner. She had long surgical scars running up and down her arms and legs. Her face also didn¡¯t look quite right. It was like she was wearing a poorly constructed mask or had numerous botched plastic surgeries.

    ¡°I see they¡¯re still teaching garbage at that place. Still getting their recruits massacred. Do you still believe in The Structure? Do you not know what we truly are? Why were we born on such a wretched planet?¡± Hurraka asked Skye and Myka.

    They were at a loss, they had no clue what she was talking about. Hurraka sighed in disappointment.

    ¡°Because we are in a sense. Kin. Do not think for a second I will hold back. But I shall give you a swift death. How much you suffer, will be completely up to you.¡±

    As they prepared to fight, Skye suddenly realized how utterly powerless they were at this moment.

    Jaylon thought he was a Duud and Myka could only heal. This was on purpose. Putting them in an impossible position so that they would give in to his demands.

    Jaylon must have noticed that look of doomed recognition.

    ¡°You now must have realized the futility of your situation. Say the word, I¡¯ll pull you out,¡± his voice echoed in their heads, right on cue.

    Hurraka didn¡¯t hesitate to make the first move. She blew a fine crystalline powder into the air.

    Skye¡¯s senses were immediately altered, the ground seemed to move under his feet, like it was made of water. Hurraka began to grow multiple arms and Myka¡¯s voice distorted.

    A hallucinogen. What an odd power he thought to himself as he giggled. At least they¡¯d die having a good time. His state of mind had been altered.

    Skye tried to backpedal but tripped over his own feet. Crashing into the arena¡¯s fence behind him. Laughing the whole time.

    Myka pulled at his shirt, trying to get him to stand. The moment she placed her hands on his back, his mind cleared, and the effects of the powder disappeared. It didn¡¯t seem to have an effect on her. Skye used the wall to steady himself.

    Hurraka was almost immediately able to identify Myka¡¯s power.

    ¡°You are the angel they predicted. Your poor, poor thing. Believe me when I say. I am doing you a favor, you will not have to experience and see the horrors to come.¡±

    ¡°Skye¡­¡± Dorian said weakly from the stands. He¡¯d finally regained consciousness. ¡°You have to protect her. I know you can do it¡­ I know what you did outside the Structure. I don¡¯t know how you did it. But whatever your ability may be. You need to do it now,¡± he pleaded.

    Skye knew Dorian would unravel if something happened to Myka. They needed him, or rather, they needed each other. The four of them had to stick together. He could feel Bryn¡¯s anger boiling over, but there was nothing she could do. If they made a single move, Jaylon would shock them.

    But Skye hadn¡¯t been able to manifest his power since then. He¡¯d tried many times with little to no result. Hurraka sprinted between them, kicking Myka hard in the abdomen, she gasped and collapsed to the ground. A long blade protruded from one of her arms like it was attached to a mechanical track secured to her very bones.

    If he didn¡¯t do it now, she would certainly die. Let everything else go and save your friends.

    The corners of the world darkened. The arena dimmed. People turned into outlines. The light was devoured. Just like that, the known world dropped away. Once again floating in the abyss.

    Skye wondered. Is this what their souls looked like? What the universe looked like? Hurraka was no longer flesh and blood, but instead a static outline resembling a human shape with a small sun encased inside. Before he could make a move, he heard a voice.

    ¡°You¡­ It¡¯s you. You shall be my savior,¡± those were the last words he heard until his body seized with electricity.

    <hr>

    Jaylon attached small black discs to the bodies of Bryn and Dorian. Causing them to levitate and float by his side. Like futuristic leashes, one might use on a dog. They were completely powerless in his clutches.

    ¡°What is this,¡± Bryn tried to break free, but it was like there was an invisible tether made of steel wrapped around her waist. Dragging and guiding her wherever he went.

    When he stepped into the center of the arena, everyone went quiet.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be taking my leave now. I hope you got enough entertainment,¡± he placed a similar disc on Skye¡¯s unconscious body.

    Then he stepped in front of Hurraka, who had nearly beaten Myka to death.

    He placed a disc on Myka¡¯s shoulder as she hacked up blood. However, the crowd was not satisfied. These were supposed to be fights to the death. Yet he kept pulling his competitors out of the arena and protecting them before the deciding blow.

    ¡°You¡¯re the devil,¡± Hurraka said, spitting at his feet. Jaylon reached for her face, but she pulled away.

    The crowd¡¯s agitation only grew, and Jaylon threw his hands up.

    ¡°Fine! Fine. You got me. I have no desire to rob you of what you desire. You came here for a reason right?¡± he shouted all around the arena.

    ¡°You want some action! Some real consequences. Don¡¯t worry. I get it, I get it,¡± then, he pressed a button on his utility belt, causing Hurraka¡¯s heart and chest to explode. Her body slumped to the ground.

    The arena went silent.

    Jaylon guided the recruits toward the exit and not a soul in the building tried to stop him.

 Bird Cage

    Suspended high in the air, the small cell dangled precariously, hundreds of feet above the ground. Its metallic frame was exposed to the elements. Surrounded by open space on all sides. It was locked tight, but even still, if one was able to escape the cell¡¯s clutches, they would certainly plummet to their death.

    Skye could barely move an inch. The frozen bars threatened frostbite nipping and biting at his skin with every touch.

    He felt stiff, trying to stretch his limbs was impossible in the confined space. There were four cages in total, but Bryn, Dorian, and Myka were all unconscious.

    Skye¡¯s cell began swinging from side to side, he looked up, it was attached to a crane that was guiding him toward a large skyscraper. The building was far from complete and from the look of it, whoever was building it gave up on the project long, long ago.

    When the cell finally stopped he saw Jaylon sitting comfortably on a platform made of scaffolding.

    ¡°They call these bird cages. I wish I could take credit for their invention. Truly sinister. But even I¡¯m not that twisted. They raise you higher and higher. Your extremities fall prey to frostbite, the air thins, making it hard to breathe, all while the space is so small your muscles cramp and fatigue from their inability to move and stretch,¡± Jaylon palmed a remote, Skye assumed this is what allowed him to control the cages.

    ¡°Why are you doing this to us?¡± Skye was desperate for an explanation.

    ¡°You could say that your people are the reason I¡¯m here. I want revenge. I want to go home. You¡¯ll find out soon enough!¡± Jaylon laughed with his mouth but not his eyes.

    The longer Skye looked at him the more he noticed. This man had been broken long ago. His haunted eyes told a story of a tortured and desperate soul.

    ¡°I¡¯m not talking about my people, I¡¯m talking about us,¡± Skye said.

    Jaylon pulled the cage a little closer.

    ¡°Were you not listening? It¡¯s because your people ruined, destroyed, and decimated my life,¡± Jaylon ignored the question again.

    ¡°And how is that?¡± Skye realized he wasn¡¯t going to get the answer he wanted, so he might as well learn as much as he could.

    ¡°I was on a standard delivery trip. It was my first time on the route. Delivering precious things to a wealthy whoever. Round trip was only supposed to take eight months. For a good chunk of change mind ya. The other guys loved to call me Rook. But I was trained well. Make no mistake. The cargo we carried was extremely valuable. So we had to be capable, and ruthless when necessary. I hadn¡¯t faced a lick of trouble in any of my runs, then I came across this place. Was only supposed to see it from my cockpit window¡­¡± Jaylon looked at his palms, remembering a tough memory.

    Then he opened the door to the cell, but Skye didn¡¯t dare move.

    ¡°Come. I know you won¡¯t try anything. Because if you did, with a single press of this button, your friends would plummet to their death,¡± Jaylon helped Skye from his cage, his muscles frozen, barely responding to his brain¡¯s controls.

    Jaylon guided them to a service elevator. The entire skyscraper was only a quarter built, with construction cranes all around.

    ¡°I had to slingshot around Gehanna. Overall, not a big deal. We have to fly through treacherous areas all the time. But they were always at arm¡¯s length. Until¡­¡± Jaylon unintentionally squeezed Skye¡¯s arm harder and harder.

    They entered the elevator and slowly descended.

    ¡°Your little mentor, Reikner, and his girlfriend. Gosh, I can¡¯t even remember her name these days. Doesn¡¯t matter. They got the bright idea to try and pull my ship down, take it over, and escape this hell hole. I mean I can¡¯t blame them. Ha.¡± Jaylon noticed the troubled look on Skye¡¯s face.

    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    ¡°Yup. That¡¯s right. Forget protecting the structure, your all-knowing, all-powerful mentor wanted to leave with his little girlfriend. I don¡¯t blame him. The first part of their plan worked. Reikner¡¯s gravity control is beyond anything I¡¯ve ever seen before, or since. You, people, can truly be terrifying,¡± Jaylon continued.

    As Skye became eye level with the rest of the city he saw it wasn¡¯t just the skyscraper that was half-built, the entire city was abandoned, given up on. Miles of emptiness.

    ¡°But, alas they weren¡¯t expecting me to put up much of a fight. They didn¡¯t know I used to be in the corps. Though it was after Gehanna was created. Ah. Anyway, I fought them off, but I was stranded. And I¡¯ve been trying to get home ever since,¡± Jaylon led Skye off the elevator.

    There was a lookout perched up on the third floor that offered a vantage point over the abandoned city. The wind whistled through the structure. Jaylon sat down casually and closed his eyes.

    ¡°Escape is all I¡¯ve ever wanted¡­¡± Jaylon traced his fingers over his utility belt filled with deadly weapons. ¡°But perhaps I belong here now. More than any of you.¡±

    And for a moment, a split second, it was as if Jaylon dozed off, overwhelmed by the utter exhaustion of what he was trying to accomplish.

    Skye looked to escape but to where? He wasn¡¯t going to leave everyone behind.

    ¡°So now you need Reikner because you¡¯re hoping he can do what? Help you get back into space? You seem pretty smart, why didn¡¯t you just build a beacon or a small ship to get you out of here?¡±

    While Skye asked this sincerely, Jaylon just laughed and laughed.

    ¡°Reikner¡¯s unique ability would allow me to get off this rock undetected. I¡¯ve built a small enough ship to slip through the planet¡¯s atmospheric detectors. But any use of thrusters or rockets would immediately be detected. That would be the worst-case scenario for me and you both. And if someone was coming here to rescue me. Don¡¯t you think they would have? It¡¯s been decades, kid. No one is coming. And I don¡¯t blame them.¡±

    Skye didn¡¯t quite know how to respond. Jaylon waved him over.

    ¡°I want you to see this. To understand.¡±

    Skye obliged, sitting beside him, looking out over the half-built suburbs. In the distance, a half-built city center. Finished, this place could easily house millions. But there wasn¡¯t a soul in sight. The only structure completely intact was a wall circling the city, it stood tall and formidable, and it reminded Skye of his home.

    ¡°This place used to belong to the Caertara. As you can see, they planned to expand, but a ruthless plague ravaged their people on the journey over here. Crew and prisoners alike.¡±

    Jaylon looked over at Skye¡¯s blank face. He realized he was talking of things the boy had little understanding of.

    ¡°What if I told you this place was a giant prison?¡± Jaylon asked.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be all that surprised, Those walls look like they could do the job.¡±

    ¡°-- No, no my boy. That the entire world is a prison.¡± he looked up at the sky. ¡°Designed to house the universe¡¯s most ravenous and dangerous species and races.¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t believe you? I¡¯ve committed no crime,¡± Skye inched away.

    ¡°I suppose you haven¡¯t. Paying for the crimes of your father no doubt.¡± Jaylon could see the boy didn¡¯t understand the reference.

    ¡°In the limited time you¡¯ve spent outside your precious walls. Haven¡¯t you noticed that the other residents are rather¡­ Unsavory?¡±

    ¡°Present company included. Yes. I have noticed. But that doesn¡¯t mean anything.¡±

    ¡°Ha. Fair enough. I suppose one must become the very thing they fear in order to survive sometimes.¡±

    Jaylon paused, The Spaceman bit his lip aggressively, a nervous twitch.

    ¡°We don¡¯t belong here,¡± Skye looked up at his companions.

    ¡°Perhaps you don¡¯t. I¡¯m hoping that that feeling inside you is strong enough to lend me a hand. Help me escape. Then I can finally go home and spend the rest of my days trying to forget this nightmare. And you all can live your life free of shackles,¡±

    Jaylon laid all the way back, closing his eyes, imagining himself on a beach vacation.

    Even though he couldn¡¯t see them, Skye looked up at the abandoned building.

    ¡°Your friends will be fine. As long as you don¡¯t screw around. I won¡¯t hurt them.¡± the man said without opening his eyes.

    ¡°And what are you going to do to me?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not going to do anything to you¨C¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not going to betray Reikner and my people,¡± Skye said stubbornly.

    ¡°Yes. Unfortunately, that has become abundantly clear. Getting your mentor would have been the easiest way, but there is another. The question is. Are you prepared to do anything to save your people?¡± Jaylon finally sat back up.

    ¡°If there¡¯s another way. And we can leave my people alone. Then yes. I¡¯ll do it.¡±

    ¡°Good. But I want you to remember this moment. For what¡¯s about to happen next¡­ You¡¯ll need all the motivation you can get. You choose plan B.¡±

    A nearby wind gust shook the cages above, the frozen metal bars whistled in the breeze.

    ¡°You¡¯ll let them go?¡±

    Jaylon pressed a button on his remote. ¡°I already have. They¡¯ll have to figure out what to do from here. As for us, we have no time to waste.¡±

    As Skye surveyed the crumbling structures and overgrown streets, questioning the extent of his own powers.

    With a deep breath, he opened his eyes, casting away the doubts that had momentarily clouded his spirit. He realized that it was not the magnitude of his powers that defined him, but the unwavering belief in his purpose to protect everyone he cares about. No matter the cost.

 Children of The Dawn

    Jaylon had lied to Skye. He never intended to let Bryn, Myka, or Dorian go.

    For three endless days, they were trapped in those torturous bird cages, suspended high above the skeletal remains of a half-built city. The frozen metal bars gnawed at their skin, and the thin air made every breath a battle. They might have died up there¡ªslowly, painfully¡ªif not for The Angel.

    When they finally escaped, frostbite had blackened their fingers and toes, their lips cracked and bleeding from the cold. But Myka had healed them, her gift an ember of salvation in the wasteland of Gehanna.

    They headed south, the only direction that felt like somewhere.

    For two months, they wandered. Endless choking dust storms scoured their skin, and the searing heat blistered their faces. Hunger hollowed their cheeks, and thirst cracked their resolve. But above all else, they trained. They honed their gifts. Sharpened their minds. Prepared for whatever lay ahead.

    ¡°That space-walking fuck better pray to Kaia that we never cross paths again,¡± Bryn seethed, raising her arm and snapping her fingers. A monstrous sandstorm erupted from the earth, swirling with enough force to strip flesh from bone.

    ¡°Are we sure this is what we want to do? Head back to The Structure? Shouldn¡¯t we try to find Skye?¡± Myka¡¯s voice was small but steady, her wide eyes still holding a glimmer of wonder for the world despite everything they¡¯d seen.

    ¡°We can¡¯t survive out here on our own,¡± Dorian said firmly, unable to meet Myka¡¯s gaze. ¡°We need to get back to The Structure, tell everyone the truth. We aren¡¯t safe. Once we¡¯ve rallied everyone, we¡¯ll find a new home¡ªa safer one.¡±

    ¡°But Skye¡­¡± Myka¡¯s voice wavered.

    ¡°Skye¡¯s dead. Or worse.¡± Bryn¡¯s words cut through the desert silence like a blade.

    Myka opened her mouth again, but Dorian held up a hand, silencing her. The wind around them shifted, rustling their tattered clothing as Dorian closed his eyes, his brow furrowed in concentration.

    ¡°The wind¡­ it¡¯s different here,¡± he murmured, his voice tight with focus. ¡°It¡¯s bending, swirling around something that should be here but isn¡¯t.¡±

    Bryn crouched low, pressing her palm to the cracked earth. Her fingers trembled slightly as she traced invisible lines along the ground. ¡°The earth is shifting. It¡¯s like it¡¯s supporting something massive. Like a city.¡±

    ¡°We should go around,¡± Dorian said grimly. ¡°Better to go unnoticed.¡±

    They walked for miles, skirting the edge of something unseen yet undeniably there. But no matter how far they went, the barrier remained in front of them, unyielding and infinite.

    ¡°We can¡¯t keep going like this,¡± Bryn said finally, her voice raw. She gazed up at the blistering sun, her eyes narrow against the harsh glare. ¡°We won¡¯t survive much longer out here.¡±

    ¡°What do you think Myka?¡± Dorian looked over his shoulder at Myka, She was swaying side to side, on the verge of collapse. Dorian had had enough.

    ¡°We¡¯ll fight our way through if we have to. Take what we need.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m right there with you,¡± Bryn stepped forward. They were growing tired, apathetic of this vicious cold world. Their compassion was fading, swallowed up by the terror and devastation of this bloody rock. As they began to push through the invisible barrier Myka allowed a few words to escape her lips.

    ¡°No one dies,¡± she said before fainting. Dorian scooped her up, placing her on his shoulder. They both respected Myka, no, it was more than that, they revered her, but this was a request that neither of them could promise to fulfill.

    ¡°Stay close, and be on guard,¡± Dorian advised as Bryn took the lead.

    Bryn, feeling the tremors of the earth, squatted down, placing both hands on the gritty soil. She felt for a path beneath, a hollow echo amidst the steady thrum of the planet¡¯s heart.

    ¡°There are tunnels¡­ a network of them beneath us,¡± Bryn declared. She looked at Dorian, her gaze steady. ¡°We can enter the city through them. It might be our best bet.¡±

    Dorian nodded, the gusts of wind around him subsiding as he focused his attention on Bryn. ¡°Do it.¡±

    Closing her eyes, Bryn took a deep breath and channeled her energy into the ground. The earth rumbled beneath them, creating a crevice that expanded into an entryway, leading into the dark underbelly of the city. With one final glance at each other, the pair descended into the tunnel.

    Navigating the maze of subterranean passageways, Bryn guided their path, using her earth manipulation abilities to detect the patterns and hollows in the soil, walls, and ceiling. Dorian, in turn, used the wind to carry their scents away, hiding their tracks from any potential predators.

    Emerging into the bowels of the city, they were surrounded by a labyrinth of ancient sewer systems. It was damp, and dank, and the air was thick with an earthy smell. But despite the gloom, they felt a spark of triumph. They had breached the city¡¯s invisible wall. Now they just needed to proceed with caution, keeping their powers ready and their senses sharp, ready for whatever lay ahead in the invisible city.

    As the trio ascended from the musty depths of the sewers and emerged into the heart of the invisible city, they braced themselves for scenes of desolation, bloodshed, and carnage. Instead, they were met with a scene that could only be described as pleasant.

    The city unfolded before them, its invisible barriers now apparent through subtle ripples in the air, revealing a vista of charming streets lined with neat houses, trees in full bloom, and lush gardens alive with vibrant, alien flora. But what took them by surprise the most were the sounds of joy and laughter that floated toward them.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­¡± Dorian was at a loss.

    ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± Myka added as she slowly regained consciousness. Dorian placed her gently back on her feet.

    ¡°Stay vigilant,¡± Bryn stepped forward her darkened eyes scanning the city for potential threats. ¡°We¡¯ve been fooled before.¡±

    There was an innocence about the city, a sense of peace that was almost tangible. But they knew better than to let their guard down completely. Gehenna had a way of harboring danger beneath its deceptively serene exterior.

    At the city¡¯s heart stood a majestic library. Crafted from shimmering translucent material, its architecture blended organic curves with stark angles.

    The moment their boots touched the cobblestone path, it flickered red, a harsh alarm echoing through the air. A dense mist sprouted from the ground, enveloping them, their bodies freezing in place as if trapped in invisible shackles.

    ¡°I can¡¯t move,¡± Myka said, panicked. Her eyes gazed over toward Bryn and Dorian¡¯s, but it appeared they were all experiencing the same fate. No matter how hard they fought, their bodies were completely unresponsive. An automated carriage swiftly arrived, its mechanisms whirring as it scooped up their immobilized bodies. They were helpless, powerless.

    As it traveled toward the central library, Bryn, her senses amplified by her connection to the earth, noticed something peculiar.

    ¡°Hey, do you see that?¡± Bryn asked Dorian.

    ¡°See what?¡± Dorian was confused, whatever she was referencing, he didn¡¯t get it.

    ¡°Look, right there. There¡¯s a wavering quality to the cityscape. A flicker.¡±

    ¡°A flicker?¡±

    ¡°Like it¡¯s all fake¡­¡± Bryn said slowly, coming to the terrifying realization that all this may not be real.

    ¡°Feels pretty real to me,¡± Dorian said, continuing to struggle.

    As the carriage neared the central library, the ground beneath them rumbled and a giant tunnel opened up, swallowing the carriage whole. The world shifted, darkness replacing the vibrant cityscape for a few heartbeats until they emerged into a vast cavern beneath the library.

    A suspended platform transported them across a breathtaking scene. In the middle of the underground hall was a grand fountain. Its water, glowing with bio-luminescent algae, ceased its cascade as they passed over, giving them a clear view of the architectural brilliance beneath.

    ¡°We need to be ready at a moment''s notice.¡± Dorian was trying to prepare himself.

    ¡°Kill whoever gets in our way.¡± Bryn was tired of being captive, of being shackled on this nightmarish planet.

    ¡°Look¡­¡± Myra gestured with her eyes toward the cavern walls. They narrated a story through luminous glyphs, a testament to a deep-seated religion. Images depicted worship, celestial beings, and elemental forces, resonating with the trio¡¯s own abilities. This intricate display suggested a faith deeply intertwined with nature, technology, and the cosmos, reflecting the civilization¡¯s harmonious understanding of the universe.

    The carriage continued its path, finally depositing them into a large dome. The interior bore signs of a place intended for important discussions and heated debates, perhaps a chamber for the city¡¯s governing body. Long tables were arranged in a semi-circle, each seat suggesting a place for representatives. But now, it was eerily silent and devoid of life. Until they heard someone speak.

    ¡°We have visitors Orin! Oh how strange and wonderful,¡± A voice echoed from up in the seemingly empty stands.

    The trio strained to turn their heads, unable to see who was speaking.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see who they are and what they want, shall we,¡± the voice continued, it was getting closer, approaching from behind.

    ¡°Interesting¡­ we haven¡¯t seen anyone from The Structure in quite some time¡­¡±

    ¡°And you¡¯ll never have to see us again if you let us go,¡± Myka said. The trio gave each other concerned looks.

    ¡°We have no intention of harming you. As long as you leave immediately.¡± the voice said, stepping in front of them. But the person before them was not who they expected. The man before them was elderly and small. He looked like he was at peace, each of them noticed his eyes. They were soft, the results of a life well lived without constant pain and trauma.

    Bryn stared at the man, while it was subtle, she noticed a flicker around his ankles. Like he wasn¡¯t entirely corporeal.

    ¡°What¡¯s the catch? What do you want from us?¡± Dorian spoke up, it all felt too easy. He was cautious. They¡¯d been thrown from one cage to another. Barely surviving with their lives.

    ¡°Nothing, nothing at all. We will send you back to your people. I¡¯m sure if you¡¯ve made it all the way to our city you¡¯ve most certainly encountered the other inhabitants of this world. A most unsavory sort. Which is why we¡¯ve hidden ourselves. Though not well enough. We have no desire to harm you. We simply wish to be left alone.¡± The old man smiled. It felt strange. Foreign. That¡¯s when the three of them realized just how much had changed. Inside The Structure, they¡¯d laugh and joke all the time. Friends and families were a common occurrence, now they seemed like a liability, and impossibility, a flicker of light surrounded by a dark, depressing world.

    ¡°If you will be so kind as to step inside these pods, I promise, you will be unharmed.¡±

    The old man looked over his shoulder at what looked like three escape pods.

    ¡°There¡¯s no way in hell. Just kill us now,¡± Bryn said defiantly. The Old Man chuckled. It was earnest and kind.

    ¡°There will be no killing, not today at least. Let me explain. We will place you in these stasis pods, where you remain for fifty years. Unharmed, unbothered. And don¡¯t worry you won¡¯t age. That will give us enough time to relocate our city and put up new defenses. Make sure none of your people, or anyone else for that matter can find us. Then, after the fifty years have passed, we will release you from the pods.¡±

    ¡°Fifty¡­ Years¡­.¡± Myka was in shock. Bryn cackled, it was a sound bordering on madness.

    ¡°We can¡¯t do that. That¡¯s not an option.¡± Bryn spat.

    ¡°Considering the alternative this feels like a more than fair deal. We¡¯re fortunate enough to have the skills and abilities to move our city when necessary. And seeing as we haven¡¯t needed to in about thirty years. It¡¯s about time anyways.¡±

    ¡°We won¡¯t tell anyone about the city. We¡¯re just trying to get back to The Structure.¡± Dorian repeated.

    But the old man just shook his head.

    ¡°Tsk. I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t trust you. If you¡¯ve managed to make it here from The Structure, I¡¯m sure you know what¡¯s out there.¡±

    ¡°We know precisely what¡¯s out there. So why are you being so kind to us?¡± Bryn couldn¡¯t look away from the flickering. He¡¯s not real¡­

    ¡°I know it may be hard to believe, but our civilization is thriving here. After centuries of religious crusades and wars. Much like yourselves, the rest of the universe feared what was housed within our genetic code. A single Orin could decimate entire armies. But we have evolved, and matured. We¡¯re finally able to practice our faith unperturbed by the heathens that roam the universe.¡±

    ¡°Why would you come here? Of all places?¡± Myka asked.

    The Old Man cocked his head to the side.

    ¡°Come here¡­ We didn¡¯t come here. we were¡­Do you not know what this place is?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a dangerous unforgiving world,¡± Dorian was desperate to find a way out, but he couldn¡¯t, they were still completely restrained.

    ¡°Well yes, sure, that¡¯s true but¡­ This planet is a prison. Housing the universe¡¯s most dangerous species and civilizations.¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Myka was in disbelief.

    ¡°Oh¡­ Oh my. All of us here, my people, your people. Especially your people. We¡¯re world destroyers. Genocidal beings. There was a time, hundreds upon hundreds of years ago the universe feared us. We struck fear into the cosmos and the gods all bent the knee.¡± The Old Man sat cross-legged in front of them as if he were about to tell his grandkids a fairytale.

    ¡°Every group on this planet is responsible for the death of millions¡­ Some are responsible for the death of billions.¡± He glanced heavily at the trio. ¡°Gehanna was created for you, dear Children.¡±

    The man¡¯s face flickered for just a moment. A glitch.

    Bryn¡¯s breath caught in her throat.

    ¡°It¡¯s all fake¡­¡± she whispered.

    The old man¡¯s smile grew faint as the pods opened slowly. The trio started to drift towards their

    ¡°Make peace with your choices. You¡¯ll need it.¡±

 Cell 2315

    Skye sat quietly in the back of the sandrover as Jaylon tore across Gehanna¡¯s unforgiving landscape. The roar of the engine and the biting wind made conversation nearly impossible, but Jaylon didn¡¯t seem to mind.

    He hadn¡¯t revealed much about his plan¡ªonly that he wanted to escape, that he wanted to be free, and that somehow, Skye would play a crucial role in making that happen.

    ¡°I can¡¯t control my powers!¡± Skye shouted over the wind, his voice raw with frustration. ¡°So whatever you¡¯re thinking¡ª¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll learn to,¡± Jaylon interrupted, his eyes fixed on the horizon.

    ¡°And if I don¡¯t?¡±

    ¡°Then you¡¯ll die along with everyone else in The Structure.¡± Jaylon¡¯s voice was calm, almost casual, as if they were discussing weather patterns over tea instead of impending doom.

    Skye¡¯s stomach tightened. ¡°Maybe I could be more helpful if you actually told me what the plan is.¡±

    Jaylon let out a soft chuckle, shaking a gloved finger in the air. ¡°The plan¡¯s simple enough in theory, kid. The hard part is pulling it off. That¡¯s where I¡¯m counting on you.¡±

    The sandrover skidded to a halt atop a massive dune, the sand cascading down its steep face in rippling waves. Below, partially buried in the golden expanse, was an enormous circular stone opening carved with strange, angular symbols.

    ¡°There¡¯s someone we need,¡± Jaylon said, nodding toward the gaping maw below. ¡°They¡¯re down there.¡±

    Skye squinted at the ominous opening. ¡°Someone? You mean¡­ a prisoner?¡±

    Jaylon flashed a toothy grin, his burnt lips curling at the edges. ¡°That¡¯s right, kid. Cell 2135. Your job¡¯s simple: go down there, find the prisoner, and bring them back safe and sound.¡±

    ¡°Wait, you said this whole world is a prison. Why is there¡­ a prison inside a prison?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a prison within a prison within a nightmare,¡± Jaylon said, leaning back against the sandrover¡¯s frame. ¡°And the people locked away down there? They¡¯re not just prisoners¡ªthey¡¯re monsters. The worst of the worst. People so dangerous they make me look like a choir boy.¡±

    There was a flicker of something in Jaylon¡¯s eyes¡ªamusement, perhaps? A glint of genuine excitement.

    Skye stared at the stone opening, dread pooling in his gut.

    This man has truly lost it.

    ¡°Everyone down there is locked up. Just head in, use this to unlock the cell, and bring the prisoner back. Simple.¡± Jaylon handed Skye a small, metallic device¡ªsleek and cold to the touch. Skye assumed it was the key to the cell.

    ¡°If it¡¯s so simple, why don¡¯t you do it?¡± Skye asked, suspicion etched across his face.

    Jaylon pointed toward the mouth of the stone prison. For a brief moment, the air shimmered¡ªlike heat rising off metal.

    ¡°That¡¯s a DNA scanner,¡± Jaylon explained, his voice unusually flat. ¡°I¡¯m flagged. If I cross that threshold, the barrier will melt my bones before I can take two steps.¡±

    He handed Skye a small metallic syringe. Its surface gleamed in the harsh sunlight.

    ¡°Once you¡¯ve unlocked the cell, inject the prisoner with this. It¡¯ll let them bypass the barrier safely.¡±

    Jaylon gave Skye a firm slap on the shoulder, his grin wide and almost fatherly. ¡°See? A simple retrieval mission.¡±

    ¡°And if it becomes¡­ not simple?¡± Skye asked cautiously.

    Jaylon¡¯s smile faded, replaced by a cold, piercing stare. ¡°Then what an opportunity it¡¯ll be for you to practice your powers.¡±

    For a moment, the mask of casual charm slipped, and the true Jaylon stared back at Skye¡ªa man who could play friend or devil with equal ease.

    ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it, kid. Just get it done.¡±

    <hr>

    Skye stepped through the gaping stone mouth of the prison, his boots crunching on loose gravel as stale air met his face. A faint metallic scent lingered, sharp and unpleasant, but easy enough to ignore. It was the taste of the air that got him¡ªit tasted like dried blood, like pain and regret.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    This is what evil tastes like¡­ Skye thought.

    He looked down at the rows and rows of cells. They were lined up in columns and descended deep into the darkness.

    ¡°Simple retrieval mission,¡± Skye muttered under his breath, clutching the syringe Jaylon had given him.

    The moment he crossed the threshold, something sharp jabbed into his arm.

    ¡°Ah!¡± Skye flinched, clutching his forearm. A tiny metallic insect-like device had embedded itself in his skin. Its single red light blinked twice before the thing detached and scurried back into a hidden crevice in the stone wall. A small drop of blood welled where it had pierced him.

    ¡°What the hell was that¡­¡± Skye muttered, rubbing the spot. But aside from a dull sting, nothing felt out of place.

    Shaking it off, he pressed forward into the dim corridors.

    The cells were carved directly into the stone walls, narrow slits serving as windows, casting faint streaks of light across the floor. Each cell bore a number etched deep into the iron plating of its door¡ªmost of them faded and hard to read.

    Most cells were empty. Others contained slumped shapes¡ªshadows wrapped in tattered fabric. Some prisoners twitched at his passing, others remained motionless. The deeper Skye went, the quieter it became, the faint echoes of distant dripping water his only company.

    A deep fatigue crept into his limbs, slow and relentless, like sand filling his veins. His head felt heavy, his focus slipping at the edges.

    You¡¯re just tired, he told himself. You haven¡¯t slept properly in days.

    He pressed on, one hand trailing against the cold stone wall to keep himself steady.

    Eventually, he reached Cell 2135.

    The door was different¡ªreinforced with layers of dark metal and etched with faint glyphs that Skye couldn¡¯t decipher. A small barred window at eye level offered a sliver of the cell¡¯s interior.

    Inside, illuminated by pale light from somewhere unseen, sat an elderly woman on a makeshift bench. Her silver hair was woven into long braids, and despite her aged appearance, her skin had a strange, youthful glow. Her back was straight, her eyes sharp and unclouded.

    ¡°Not every day someone like you wanders into a place like this,¡± she said softly, her voice carrying an eerie clarity.

    Skye hesitated, gripping the syringe tighter in his hand. ¡°I¡¯m here to rescue you.¡±

    Her lips curled into a faint smile. ¡°Oh? Rescue me? Is that what he told you?¡±

    Skye held up the syringe cautiously. ¡°I¡¯m supposed to give you this. And then we¡¯re supposed to leave.¡±

    Elissia¡¯s smile vanished. She tilted her head, her piercing gaze locking onto the syringe like a hawk spotting prey.

    ¡°What¡¯s your name, poor boy?¡±

    ¡°Skye. And yours?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve gone by many, many names. But for this day and age, why don¡¯t you call me Elissia?¡±

    Before Skye could react, she lunged forward with surprising speed, snatching the syringe from his grip.

    ¡°Hey!¡± Skye stumbled back, reaching for it, but Elissia held it delicately, examining it.

    ¡°You don¡¯t even know, do you? That pinprick at the entrance¡ªit scanned your DNA. You can¡¯t leave this place now. Not without help.¡±

    Skye froze. ¡°What¡­ what do you mean?¡±

    Elissia held the syringe up, letting the faint light glint off its metallic surface. ¡°This isn¡¯t an antidote, boy. It¡¯s poison.¡±

    His stomach dropped.

    She slowly unscrewed the syringe, letting its contents drip to the stone floor. The liquid sizzled and smoked as it made contact.

    ¡°That was never meant to save me. It was meant to make sure I never left.¡±

    Before Skye could respond, an alarm erupted¡ªa bone-deep, warbling sound that reverberated through the cold stone walls. The sharp clanging of metal followed as cell doors began sliding open one by one, grinding against tracks long and worn with age.

    A chill ran down Skye¡¯s spine as he turned to look down the endless hallway. Shadows stretched from within the dark cells, spilling into the dim light. Most were empty, but the occasional silhouette swayed gently in the gaslit haze, barely moving.

    ¡°The Spaceman really screwed you, kid.¡± Elissia stepped out of her cell with slow, deliberate steps. Her sharp eyes flickered upwards to the faint light filtering down from unseen heights. The sky¡ªso impossibly distant¡ªfelt like a cruel taunt.

    ¡°He calls us criminals,¡± she continued, her voice cutting through the rising tension, calm and precise. ¡°But I¡¯ve seen that man commit atrocities beyond comprehension. He doesn¡¯t see the inhabitants of Gehanna as people; he sees us as a disease to be eradicated. That includes you. The sooner you learn that, the better.¡±

    The air shifted. Skye felt his chest tighten, his breaths growing shallow as a faint hiss echoed somewhere above them. The gas¡ªwhatever it was¡ªthickened, its effects subtle but undeniable. His eyelids felt heavy, his legs unsteady. Every movement was sluggish, like wading through deep water.

    Elissia moved closer, and for the first time, Skye realized how tall she was¡ªeasily a foot taller than him. She crouched down, leveling her sharp, unsettling gaze with his.

    ¡°I will do my best to help you. But I won¡¯t lie to you.¡± Her voice was low, each word spoken like a truth carved in stone. ¡°You will suffer here. It will be an unending nightmare that you will beg and pray to wake up from. No one¡ªand I mean no one¡ªdeserves to be here.¡±

    Skye¡¯s head felt heavy, his vision slightly blurred at the edges. The gas was working its way deeper into his lungs, fogging his thoughts and dulling his instincts.

    Elissia leaned in, her cold breath grazing his ear as she whispered, her voice barely audible but unshakably firm.

    ¡°But with that being said¡­ while no one deserves to be here, everyone in here¡ªincluding myself¡ªdoes not deserve salvation.¡±

    Skye¡¯s breaths came shallow and uneven as she pulled back, locking eyes with him one last time.

    ¡°You are from The Structure. I can tell.¡± Her words lingered in the heavy air. ¡°So whatever Brilliance you have¡ªwhatever spark they¡¯ve buried deep inside you¡ªunleash it.¡±

    The alarm abruptly stopped, leaving behind an oppressive silence broken only by the faint hiss of the gas and the distant creak of metal doors finishing their slow crawl open.

    Suddenly, a voice crawled out from the depths of the corridor¡ªa sound so low and guttural it vibrated through the very stone around them. It wasn¡¯t loud, but it carried an eerie weight, filling every corner of the prison with malice.

    ¡°Something¡­ Someone¡­ new.¡±

    Skye¡¯s stomach dropped, and even Elissia froze in place.

    ¡°I can smell it¡­¡± The voice reverberated like a slow drip of tar against cold stone. ¡°Fresh. Untouched.¡±

 The Creature

    Elissia yanked Skye into her cell and slammed the door shut behind them. The metal bars rattled, but the lock held.

    Skye stumbled, his body sluggish, as if the gas was seeping into every cell of his being. His head felt heavy, his thoughts slow and syrupy.

    ¡°It¡¯s designed to keep us sedated at all times,¡± Elissia said sharply, her gaze fixed on the faint mist swirling in the corridor. ¡°The gas won¡¯t kill you, but you¡¯ll never be clear. Always wandering through a fog.¡±

    Skye clutched his head, trying to force clarity into his mind.

    Jaylon needed me¡ªor at least, he wanted to use me. Why would he send me down here just to die?

    ¡°He¡¯ll come for us,¡± Skye said weakly, his voice trembling with an almost childlike hope. It sounded pathetic, even to him¡ªlike a child calling out for an absent, deadbeat father.

    Elissia¡¯s expression softened, but only slightly. ¡°The Spaceman cares about one thing: getting off this rock. You¡¯re just a tool to him, useful until you¡¯re not.¡±

    She gripped the cell door bars tightly, her knuckles white, as Skye shook his head.

    No, it doesn¡¯t make any sense.

    But the gas fogged his mind, making it impossible to piece anything together. Every thought felt distant like it was slipping through his fingers.

    A voice boomed from the hallway making the stone walls vibrate.

    ¡°Fresh meat¡­¡±

    Skye could feel the cell shake with every monstrous footfall. Whoever, or whatever, was approaching.

    Skye and Elissia backed into the corner of the cell as two glaring eyes, like smoldering embers, stared through the bars. Skye froze. The figure that loomed before them¡ªif it had once been a man¡ªhad long since lost its humanity.

    It stood over seven feet tall, a grotesque patchwork of mismatched flesh and sinew, stitched and stapled together like a nightmarish doll. Its skin stretched unevenly across bulging muscles, with jagged seams holding the grotesque creation in place.

    ¡°His eyes.¡± The creature¡¯s lips pulled back into something resembling a grin, revealing uneven rows of jagged, yellow teeth. ¡°Give them to me.¡±

    With a sound like grinding steel, the monster wrapped its massive hands around the bars and pulled. The metal creaked, bending under its impossible strength. Dust and stone rained down from the ceiling as the door threatened to tear free from its hinges.

    ¡°I just want its eyes¡­¡± The Creature rumbled again, its voice shifting unnervingly between childlike eagerness and the rasp of the elderly.

    ¡°And what do I get in return?¡± Elissia¡¯s tone shifted, cold and calculating. ¡°He¡¯s in my cell. That makes him mine.¡±

    What is she doing? Skye¡¯s thoughts were sluggish, struggling to form coherence through the gas-induced haze.

    The Creature roared, the sound reverberating down the corridor as it rattled the cell doors. ¡°Just give me its eyes!¡±

    ¡°You know that¡¯s not how this works,¡± Elissia said, her voice stern but unsettlingly calm.

    The Creature grunted, bending low to the ground. From a filthy sack slung over its shoulder, it produced a small green vial. The liquid inside shimmered faintly, casting an eerie light across the cell. Elissia¡¯s eyes flicked to the vial, and for the first time, there was a glint of something close to interest.

    ¡°Just his eyes?¡± she asked, her voice soft, almost curious.

    The Creature Nodded.

    What is she talking about? It sounds like she¡¯s trying to make a deal. The thought burned in Skye¡¯s mind, desperate and panicked. Elissia turned toward him, her expression shifting into something monstrous, her features twisted with dark intent.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    ¡°I told you, you would suffer,¡± she said simply.

    Before Skye could react, she moved with inhuman speed, her hand darting out and gripping him by the nape of his neck. Her strength was terrifying, her hold unyielding. Skye struggled, but it was like fighting against iron chains. Elissia moved them closer, and with a flick of her knife, she opened the lock before quickly retreating. She moved around with Skye like he was some marionette puppet.

    The Creature opened the cell with an ease that made Skye¡¯s stomach drop. It placed the green vial delicately in the corner of the room. Elissia gave it a slight nod, signaling it to approach.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Skye¡¯s voice cracked as he fought to twist out of her grip. ¡°Stop! Let me go!¡±

    But Elissia didn¡¯t flinch. Her cold eyes bore into him.

    The Creature stepped forward, its patchwork face contorting with excitement. ¡°Your eyes¡­¡± it whispered, the pitch of its voice shifting erratically. ¡°So¡­ pretty.¡±

    Skye thrashed, panic giving way to a rising wave of rage. He had been foolish to trust Jaylon, to follow his instructions blindly, to step into this nightmare without fully grasping its dangers. But it was the gas, he thought bitterly. The damn gas clouded his mind, dulling his instincts.

    Skye¡¯s chest heaved, his breaths shallow and uneven. And then¡ªsomething shifted.

    A memory flashed through his mind: Jaylon¡¯s fury, his cold, calculated hatred of this planet and everything on it. Skye felt the weight of that anger. He understood it. Everyone on Gehanna¡ªeverything¡ªwas a monstrosity. A parasite undeserving of life.

    Even The Structure, the sanctuary they had fought so hard to protect, was only a temporary reprieve. How long before someone¡ªsomething¡ªtore down its walls and massacred the people within?

    No. Skye¡¯s vision began to darken at the edges, his heart pounding like a war drum. He felt the cell¡¯s oppressive atmosphere shift, his rage bubbling just beneath the surface, threatening to spill over.

    But it was too late.

    The Creature¡¯s gnarled fingers, grotesquely long and segmented like an insect¡¯s legs, reached for Skye¡¯s face. He thrashed, pulling and yanking with every ounce of strength he had, but Elissia¡¯s grip was iron.

    ¡°None of our races survived Gehanna. We¡¯re the last of our kind. Too brutal even for this hellhole, so they locked us here.¡± she hissed as her fingernails dug deeper into his shoulders, anchoring him in place, her words dripping venom.

    When will I learn¡­

    Rage boiled inside Skye once again. It wasn¡¯t directed at Elissia, nor Jaylon, but at himself.

    When will I learn¡­ He thought again.

    He¡¯d seen the horrors of this world, layers upon layers of this living hell, each worse than the last. Before Skye could form another thought. The Creature¡¯s jagged fingernail pierced his left eye.

    He screamed, his voice raw and animalistic as agony tore through him. The Creature plucked the eye from its socket with a sickening precision, holding it aloft as if hoisting a trophy. Blood streamed down Skye¡¯s cheek, hot and blinding.

    ¡°Pretty eyes¡­¡± it rasped, its voice a grotesque symphony of childlike glee and malice.

    Skye collapsed to a knee, his entire body trembling. Pain swallowed him whole, but Elissia hauled him back to his feet, her grip unrelenting. His thoughts drifted to Bryn, Dorian, and Myka. To The Structure. To safety. He was building a mind fortress in his head, as he¡¯d been trained to do to withstand the pain from torture. As he retreated into his mind, he heard a voice as clear as day.

    You mustn¡¯t give up so easily.

    Do not disappoint me.

    It was Reikner ¡ª but how?

    His mentor¡¯s voice cut through everything else, sharp and cold.

    Was all our training for nothing? Did you learn anything? You are destined to protect The Structure. Your people. You aren¡¯t this weak.

    Skye tried to lift his head, to search for the source of the voice, but Elissia wrenched it forward, holding him steady. The Creature¡¯s grotesque hand loomed closer, its clawed fingers angling for his remaining eye.

    When will you finally use your Brilliance? When it¡¯s too late? When everyone you care for is gone? When there¡¯s no one left to save?

    ¡°I don¡¯t know how,¡± Skye muttered, barely audible.

    ¡°What did you say, boy?¡± Elissia snapped, yanking his head back so hard his neck burned. ¡°Keep your mouth shut, or I¡¯ll take your tongue too.¡±

    You¡¯re so worried about learning to control it when all you need to do is unleash it. There is no one to save here. No one to protect. This place deserves only destruction. Destroy it. Destroy them. Kill them all.

    Skye¡¯s breath hitched, the words lodging in his throat.

    ¡°Kill them all¡­¡± he whispered, the words escaping before he could stop them.

    Elissia¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°What did you just say?¡± She yanked his head back further, wrenching his gaze away from the Creature. She pulled a small blade from her belt.

    ¡°I told you to keep quiet,¡± she snarled, forcing the blade between his teeth. ¡°You don¡¯t listen very well, do you?¡±

    The Creature froze mid-reach, its grotesque features twisting in confusion. The gas thickened, the oppressive fog swirling faster.

    Skye¡¯s remaining eye burned, his veins alight with searing heat. The edges of his vision darkened, the room itself dimming as if the light were being consumed.

    You don¡¯t need control. All you need is rage.

    The knife in Elissia¡¯s hand wavered as her expression shifted to unease. She felt it. She could sense it.

    ¡°Stop this,¡± she commanded, her voice faltering. The blade in her hand darted toward Skye¡¯s neck, a single slice aimed at ending his life.

    Almost unconsciously, his training reflexes kicked in, Skye flung his forearm up, protecting his neck as the blade dug deeply into his arm.

    You hate them. You hate them all. Destroy them.

    The darkness spread, the cell consumed by shadow, and Skye¡¯s breath steadied. The pain in his missing eye faded into the background, overtaken by a wave of clarity and something primal, something furious.

    The Creature stumbled and took a solitary step backward in retreat and Elissia¡¯s grip loosened for the first time.

    And then, Skye moved.

 The Crucible of Smoke

    All Skye could feel was hate. Hate for the Teranians and what they had done to his friends and comrades. Hate for the Hessians and their cold, calculated savagery. Hate for Jaylon, the liar who had tossed him and his friends into this nightmare. And above all, hate for this cursed, blood-soaked planet.

    The air was suffocating, the gas was pouring out of the prison¡¯s vents in large quantities. Skye could hear muffled screams and shouting, but they felt distant, like echoes in a vast void. The world was fading. Darkness began to swell and stretch, devouring everything in its path. It was happening again¡ªthe outlines, the shadows, just like what had happened outside The Structure.

    Shapes appeared, stark white against the black, their movements slow and deliberate. The small suns drifted into view again, glowing and pulsing in their erratic orbits. Skye¡¯s chest tightened as he recognized what they were¡ªthe very essence of the people around him.

    Souls.

    He didn¡¯t need to see to know who the two fleeing shapes were. The Creature and Elissia. They were bolting down the corridor, their outlines frantic. But the cell around him was gone. It melted away as if it had never existed, the stone walls dissolving into swirling grains of sand. The darkness started to lift, replaced by a vision the enveloped his five senses.

    The sands shifted, moved by unseen winds. They coalesced into dunes, then flattened as rains poured from an invisible sky. The air grew colder, and the ground froze solid. Ice spread, glacial and unrelenting, covering the land in a thick sheet. Skye felt himself moving through time¡ªnot walking, but being pulled by an unstoppable current.

    The ice thawed. The land transformed. Grass sprouted in lush waves, mountains rose in jagged majesty, rivers carved deep veins into the earth, and forests bloomed with life. He wasn¡¯t in the prison anymore.

    What is this place¡­

    Skye stood in a small village, the air fresh and untouched. Simple wooden huts clustered around a central square, smoke curling lazily from stone chimneys. His pulse quickened as he stepped forward. Laughter and chatter floated through the air, strange yet comforting.

    A little girl darted out from the shadows and grabbed his hand. Her touch was cool, almost too light to be real. She didn¡¯t speak but tugged him urgently through the village, weaving between the huts until they reached a clearing. A campfire crackled in the center, casting flickering shadows over the trees.

    An elderly woman sat by the fire, her face lined with the weight of countless years. The girl released Skye¡¯s hand and disappeared into the night without a word. When Skye glanced up again, the sun had vanished. It was night now.

    When did it become night?

    ¡°Sit, boy-a. Sit,¡± the woman rasped, gesturing to a log near the fire. Her voice was sharp, like the snapping of brittle twigs. Skye hesitated, glancing around the clearing, but the warmth of the fire drew him forward. He lowered himself onto the log, his body tense.

    ¡°How did I get here?¡± Skye asked, his voice low, uncertain.

    The woman sucked her teeth and winced as if the question caused her physical pain.

    ¡°Tsss-th. You should-a not be here. You should-a be dead.¡± She pointed a gnarled finger at him, her eyes narrowing to slits. ¡°You are a maracaa. A monster.¡±

    The word hit him like a blow. Skye recoiled. ¡°I haven¡¯t done anything to you.¡±

    The old woman ignored his protest. She pulled a glowing stick from the fire, embers dancing as she raised it to the sky. The stars above seemed to shift, brighter and closer than they should have been.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡°The Gods made a-a mistake,¡± she said, her voice cracking. The firelight danced across her face, illuminating fear in her sunken eyes.

    In the darkness beyond the fire, Skye caught the glint of metal¡ªblades reflecting the moonlight. A dozen figures emerged from the shadows, silent as death.

    Assassins.

    Skye froze, his body taut with instinctive fear. The blades weren¡¯t pointed at him, though. His breath caught as he realized someone else was sitting in his place.

    A cloaked man.

    This is a vision. I¡¯m not actually here.

    The assassins moved precisely, their blades poised to strike, but the cloaked man raised a single hand. The movement was slow and deliberate, and the assassins froze.

    ¡°You¡¯d kill your own grandson?¡± the man said, his voice low and steady. It carried no fear¡ªonly anger.

    The elderly woman sucked in a sharp breath.

    ¡°You have-a cursed us all,¡± she whispered, her hands trembling as she dropped the fire stick.

    ¡°I have brought us safety and stability. You are the one who has forsaken us,¡± the man said, his voice sharp and resolute. He raised his hand, and clenched his fist, and the assassins dropped dead in unison, their lifeless bodies collapsing to the ground.

    ¡°Safety?¡± The elderly woman coughed bitterly, gesturing at the dead men who now littered the ground.

    ¡°You know what I must do,¡± the cloaked man said, rising to his full height, his tone devoid of warmth or hesitation.

    ¡°Please¡­ you must-a. No more death. No more¡ª¡± The woman¡¯s plea was cut short as her voice faltered. She gasped once, her body keeling over to the side. Her lifeless form slumped against the ground.

    The cloaked man whirled around, his gaze locking onto Skye. Yet, despite the closeness, Skye couldn¡¯t make out his features¡ªjust the shadowed contours of his hooded face.

    ¡°How have you journeyed thus far?¡± the cloaked man demanded, his voice low and weighted with suspicion. Skye froze, hesitating.

    Who is he talking to?

    Skye glanced around the clearing, but they were alone.

    Suddenly, the cloaked man surged forward, gripping Skye by the collar with unyielding strength. He hoisted him off the ground as if he weighed nothing.

    ¡°How did you get so weak?¡± the cloaked man spat, his voice seething with frustration. ¡°You do not deserve The Brilliance.¡±

    In one swift motion, the cloaked man drew a gleaming knife from beneath his cloak. The blade hovered inches from Skye¡¯s abdomen, poised to strike.

    But before the blade could find its mark, a powerful force tore Skye away. The world blurred, the village dissolving into a maelstrom of colors and shadows. Skye felt himself hurtling backward, spinning through space and time.

    With a jarring thud, he landed back in the cold, suffocating darkness of the cell. The vision faded, but the cloaked man¡¯s words lingered, haunting and unshakable.

    ¡°You do not deserve The Brilliance.¡±

    Skye rolled over in his cell, the smoke now billowing so thick he could barely see. Yet, for the first time since entering this nightmare, he didn¡¯t feel sedated or groggy. No, he was wide awake.

    Was any of it real?

    Gingerly, Skye touched his now empty and bloodied eye socket, a sharp pang of pain shooting through him. He ripped the sleeve of his shirt and tied it around his forehead, covering the gruesome wound. The makeshift bandage soaked through quickly, but he didn¡¯t flinch. He didn¡¯t have time to.

    He stumbled into the corridor, the oppressive smoke curling around him like a living thing. The air no longer dulled his senses. Dozens of prisoners lay scattered across the ground, their bodies slumped and unmoving. Some twitched faintly, but most were utterly still, overcome by the gas.

    Eventually, Skye reached Elissia and the hulking form of The Creature. They were alive¡ªhe could tell by the shallow rise and fall of their chests¡ªbut both were unconscious.

    Without hesitation, Skye grabbed Elissia by her hair, lifting her head. His blade trembled as he drew it close to her neck. He paused, the memory of the cloaked man¡¯s words echoed in his mind.

    You do not deserve The Brilliance.

    The man was right. Since leaving The Structure, he had been weak. A liability. He¡¯d allowed himself to be a pawn in someone else¡¯s game, a victim of his own doubt. He couldn¡¯t afford to be that person anymore.

    Skye let go of Elissia, her head dropping limply to the stone floor with a dull thud. He turned and walked to the far wall of the corridor, the smoke swirling around him. Sliding down to the ground, he sat cross-legged with his back against the cold stone, the blade resting across his lap.

    No one here deserved to live. This prison wasn¡¯t just a cage¡ªit was a crucible, and he would forge himself anew or die trying.

    So Skye waited, his single eye burning with resolve as the unconscious inhabitants began to stir, the groans of the waking breaking the oppressive silence.

    The carnage would begin soon. And this time, Skye would not falter.