6 YEARS AGO

12.06.1636

The City of Above

36:29

"I have... a past like everyone else... But unlike the others, I... wasn't raised in the Underground City. Until some years ago, I didn't even know about its existence. All I knew was the "City of Perfection", which hated people like me... I was one of what people call the "Lost Children of Heaven", raised in a group of this type of beings, in, what the underground citizens call, City of Above. We weren't many at number, around 12 or 13 people, trying to survive as C borns in a city that didn't accept us, no matter what we could have done to make them believe that we are no danger to them. But we had to accept it, even if over the years, they started naming us the "Shadow Thieves".

Most of us were different ages, from the ages of around 6 or 7 to 26, the older one being our boss, the one who was taking care of those younger and was finding a place to stay together for all of us during the night. Yet from all of those people that I've grown with, I used to know three kids better than anybody else, as they were my friends, a girl and two boys."

Seems like a memory from years ago, in which we are in the City of Above. Four kids seem to work hard, as if this is their job. And from these kids, there is a familiar face, of a boy that is now a man. Yet the others are unknown to us.

"It... wasn't much about them though. The first boy, Three Nine J Two, was the one who was organising most of our plans when we were going alone in the city, as he was a brave man, even with his young age. The second one, Eight L K One, was kind of his opposite. He was scared every time we were going somewhere and we always had to calm him down, as he was afraid that one day we will all get caught and killed one by one. And lastly... the girl, Four S Five Eight, was the one who was giving us motivation. No matter how hard the times were, she was always positive and made us knew that there is always a tomorrow..."

These kids don't seem as they are C borns though as we see them at first, but they use disguises for now to hide their colours and race.

"Most of the times, we had to get supplies from the city so that we can stay hidden and act the same as our enemies. We had to find equipment so that we can disguise ourselves, Novha, or even some Histvorh so that we could take care of ourselves, as we didn't know how to use our powers at all and we weren't able to create any kind of object even if we tried... not to mention that we weren't even aware of the powers that we have back then. After all, nobody taught us about them. Being raised in a city in which our kind has to hide is just one of the reasons why we wouldn't even know why the M borns hunt us.

We... also didn't really have a "home", as we switched our position almost every day, so that we could never get caught during the night. To make sure that the soldiers won't find us when we sleep... And so... this was our life, a life full of fear, stress and chase of hope. It was hard, but this was a life that we thought of it to be "normal" for a long period of time, and which I still considered normal for a while even after the changes. Yet even with these circumstances, we weren't so negative about this situation. After all, if you are raised this way from a very young age, you get immune at some point of the feeling of fear. At least, that was in my case. But of course, time had to remind me that nothing in life goes as you wish."

We are still watching the kids work though while the voice speaks. They are pretty young, even younger than N04H probably, or even around his age. The work they do is a bit too hard for them as well, yet they still decide to do it for a reason or another.

"...One day, my three friends and I decided that we should go alone in the city, again, so that we can take some Novha as we were running out of it. The other people in the group remained behind, but didn't really care that we made a decision like this one, as they were used to people leaving in smaller groups. One of the rules from the group in which we were raised was to never go anywhere alone. As long as we had someone with us, the leader was always letting us go wherever we wanted.

And so, Three took us somewhere in the city so that we could try and win some Novha while working for a random guy, of course, as we were being disguised so that no one can see what kind of beings we are. The person was... kind of annoying and also a bit of a dick, as he was putting us to work very hard and he was barely paying us. We were also just kids, so we weren't able to work that hard for our age, but we had to do it.

The work itself wasn't complicated, we only had to clean up a room and to carry some boxes, but the boxes were heavy and we weren't strong enough to carry them, so it took us some hours to complete the quest. And while we were doing it, the man was just watching us while drinking something to satisfy himself and his laziness."

[A4LEKH]-Faster! Faster, you lazy brats! If you want to get paid, you have to work better!

"We were sweating, as we were working for a while. My friends were starting to get sick of the man, and I, too, was done with his bullshit."

[630G]-...Can I... ask why did you hire us to this guy, Three...?

[39J2]-It doesn't matter who we are working for, Six! We just need the money! After we are done, we will never work for him again!

[8LK1]-What kind of person puts kids to work this hard anyway!?

[39J2]-Can you guys just shut up and get the work done?? I swear, you guys start to annoy me even more than this guy!

[A4LEKH]-Stop the chit-chat, brats, and work!!

And so, the little kids were exhausting themselves just for some money in hope of their survival, while still ignoring the man's words and talking with each other.

[8LK1]-...Do you think that after we are done, we can use a part of the money to get something for ourselves?

[39J2]-If we get a decent payment, then maybe... But we still have to go back with something to the group.

[630G]-We worked all day anyway... like we always do, Three. We already got some money back at our place, even though this day was a bit unlucky for us when it came to jobs.

[4S58]-Maybe we could go around that park in which the Statue of General 4RTHUR is to take a small break like yesterday?

[630G]-Didn't we get cast off by a soldier last time because it's a "monumental place, not a place to rest"?

[4S58]-I didn't mean to go near the statue again. Just admire it from a distance around the area.

[8LK1]-Why do we go there anyway?? Don't we hate the General?

[39J2]-Shhh! Keep your voice down, you idiot! If someone hears you, we will get in trouble!

[4S58]-It's just to relax, Eight. No need of praying to him or anything. The area is silent and all, you know?

[630G]-Mmm... I still think it's better if we stay at our place tonight and plan something for tomorrow. I don't want us to get in trouble with any of the soldiers from that area. Besides, isn't it my turn to decide where we are spending our time today?

[39J2]-Yeah, I think it's better if we go by Six's idea this time as well.

[4S58]-Mmalright... I have to respect your turn in the end. I already chose yesterday...

[8LK1]-It's fine by me and all, but what should we do at our place until we go to sleep?

[630G]-I don't know, chat? Is it something else we should do?

[39J2]-For now, just focus on the work to get our money. We will decide when we arrive.

39:52

"After the hard work and when we were finally done, we went to the guy so that he can pay us, but of course, the money weren't enough for a group like ours. The man was stingy and only cared about his own person as well. Even Three was mad after the whole hours we had to spend for such a small payment. So, when we got back, he already had another plan."

[4S58]-...That man was surely a pain in the ass. But what are we going to do now? The night is coming and I don't think we could find someone to hire us very soon.

For some reason, the kid who goes by the name of Six in these times is holding a small sling and plays around with it, holding the elastic band and looking through it as if he aims at something.

[630G]-*sigh* Maybe if we ask the leader for a small advice? I mean, he goes with some of the other people around the city to work as well and gets a pretty decent payment.

[4S58]-At this hour, though, I don't think it has any point in asking...

[630G]-Then maybe if we ask around the city again? Maybe we will get lucky somehow.

[39J2]-Just stop with this conversation, you two. There is no need of us to work for someone else today anyway.

And yet, Six aims at Three, hitting him with a small rock and annoying him.

[39J2]-Hey! You got nothing better to do!?

[630G]-Heh...

[4S58]-What do you mean by that? We barely got money to buy some new clothes for the others and ourselves.

[39J2]-I mean that I know a way of getting some money in the end.

[4S58]-Really? How so?

[39J2]-This night we will go back to that guy again, but this time... we will take a part of his money, the money that we deserve.

Yet everyone is in shock this time. Both Eight and Four look surprised at him, and even Six stops playing with his small weapon.

[8LK1]-Wha... Are you insane!? What if we get caught?? I don't want to die this young!

[39J2]-We won't get caught. We will wait for him to go to sleep and enter the building in which he lives and in which we gave our souls today. We already know his house as he put us to clean a room, so it will be easier for us to know where he hides the money. And I think I got an idea already of their position...

[8LK1]-Oh, yeah? Then where are they, genius??

[39J2]-...Next to his bedroom, there was a door locked which seems to be the room in which he works. I saw it when I was trying to find a box he told me about.

[630G]-What makes you think they are in there?

[39J2]-In none of the house's rooms seem to be a good place to hide money, and it is a bit strange to lock that door out of nowhere if you don't have anything to hide.

[8LK1]-Don't you think it is still a bit risky? I mean, if the room is next to his bedroom, won't he hear us if we get in?

[39J2]-Do you really think that lazy man is that clever to realise someone is inside? He will probably just ignore the noises and continue his sleep.

[630G]-Even so... going in someone's house and stealing their property isn't really something that we do so often... We aren't so experience as you might think.

[8LK1]-Yeah!! Besides, what if the M soldiers see us!? You know they punish thieves the same way the would've punish us if they knew our true race!

[39J2]-You guys sure don't like to trust me, eh?

[4S58]-It's not that we don't trust you, Three, but a plan like this could cost us more than just a few coins. Six and Eight have their point in being a bit doubtful about it. We are trying to survive, not to kill ourselves.

[39J2]-And you think that man is the only one who is stingy in this whole city? Our chances to not get any kind of payment tomorrow again are pretty high. The M borns are evil people, remember?

[4S58]-Even so... is it worth the risk?

[39J2]-Is it not worth the risk, Four? We risk every day just by living.

[4S58]-Yeah, but--

[39J2]- --Look, I will make sure nothing bad happens. It's not like we are surviving together for just one day and we barely know each other. I know we can do it! I just know it! ...But I need your support as well if we want to succeed. So... I'm asking you again... are you with me or not?

"...His plan was simply insane, yet we were all so young and wanted so bad to make a decent living. Even with all of these problems in his plan, we had nothing better to do in that night anyway. In the end... we were by his side."

47:39

"When the sleep schedule of the city started, we were putting his plan in action. We went to the building in which we've worked that day and started looking for an entrance. Our way in though... was a window of his apartment, in which we entered silently."

And so, the kids entered the man's house late at night and they were sure he was asleep as they were hearing him snoring. They followed Three and tried to find the key to the room, searching around the entire house, the only room left being the man's bedroom. Six announced them that he will go alone, while they were still trying to find it in another room. It wasn't that hard for him to get it though, as he got in the room and walked silently to find the key, which was hidden in one of the man's drawers. He left quickly after and got to his friends and started opening the door.

"...The moment we entered the room though, nothing from what we were seeing there was something familiar to us. There were computers everywhere and papers with sketches on them, which I didn't really understand what they represent, but we started to search for the money not long after we admired a bit this strange room."

The four kids start looking around the room for the money as said. Some look around the papers, others in the drawers, yet it doesn't take long before someone finds something interesting.

"After a while... Eight, while searching, found a strange device which was similar to those advanced ones that people of our kind use to disguise themselves. We knew about their existence before, but we had never been able to put our hands on them. They were so rare as far as I knew. So, Eight took it and showed it to us, which Three simply didn't want to even hear about it, only for him to refuse Three's denial silently to put it back. It is normal that he decided to keep it though... if you find something that you know it might be useful to you in the future, why should you abandon it? Your instincts kick in and keep everything that might have a use to your survival."

After some time of searching, they finally found the money. There was a huge bag full of them and they were very excited seeing this amount in their hands. They started taking from them and putting them on their pockets, as much as they could.

"...But it didn't take long before we finally found what we came for in the first place. We were so happy finding so much money and being able to take it back to our group. Yet the happiness ended when we started smelling something strange, some kind of gas coming from outside the room... Then, we finally realised that we couldn't hear that annoying sound that we were battling ever since we entered this building. A snoring of a man that we hated so much... yet it stopped without us noticing because of the happiness.

It... seemed that we made too much noise and he heard us during our celebration. We started searching for a place to hide, and the first one to find it was Three. He showed us to hide under a desk and let himself be the last one to hide, as he didn't have space next to us anymore. In a moment of adrenaline, he started searching for a place for himself as well... even if... he didn't succeed."

Before Three could find a place to hide too, the man entered the room, carrying with him a gun, and as he noticed the little boy, he started shooting, putting him on the ground for good. The other kids though were watching this whole time what was happening, and when they saw Three taking his last breath in front of their very own eyes, Eight and Four started crying, Six being close as well.

"That night... we lost one of us for the first time. Three was the first one to be one of the fallen ones from the whole group. Seeing him dead... marked me for life. I covered up my other friends' mouths though... so that the man wouldn't hear us as well... but I was about to start crying myself. And yet... I had to keep myself strong for my friends. It was hard for me to look, to see an old friend die in front of my eyes... so I closed my eyes, waiting for the man to leave... and get ourselves out as soon as possible... looking at Three one last time, for a small goodbye.

It... didn't take long after we got back at our place with the money... traumatised from what happened. I was the one who reported everything about what happened that night, as Eight was still in shock... and Four and I had to calm him down. But even we were doing badly after seeing him die... Yet we remembered about the strange device and showed it to the boss, even though he wasn't so interested in it after hearing about the whole incident. Can't really blame him... I wouldn't be interested in these type of things after such a report, but... he took it with him anyway in hope we might learn how to use it.

...And as Three was the one leading us whenever we went somewhere alone... we had to decide who will take his position. To my surprise, they both said that I should be the one in cause... yet I didn't know what should I do since I wasn't really born a leader, but we had to keep going forward... for him."

13.06.1636

14:05

"...After we searched for a new place in the morning, we three went outside alone to find someone who could hire us again, while others remained behind, continuing their sleep. We asked some people around until we finally found someone who said that he will pay for an easy task. We had to serve some people with a few clothes that he made. Compared to the person before... this one was better as he was nicer and he was actually paying us a decent amount of money. I mean... he was an R born after all, maybe that explains everything."

The kids do seem this time as they have an easier task as he said, yet with everything that happened the day before, they are still in a bad mood. So after they got paid, they just went back to their place to rest as well, except... nobody was present.

"To our surprise though... when we came back, nobody was were we left them. We searched for them but couldn't find any person from the group. We stood and wait for a while but nobody came. It was something unusual for them to leave so sudden, so we waited and waited, but still nothing."

Then, Four noticed the strange device they found, but unlike before, it seems as it had a light that flickers. So, she starts talking with little Eight.

[4S58]-Hey, Eight?

[8LK1]-...Yeah?

[4S58]-Do you remember the device from yesterday?

[8LK1]-Didn't the boss take it?

[4S58]-Seems like it fell out of his pocket, 'cause it is here.

[8LK1]-Okay... Then what about it?

[4S58]-Look at it. Did it do this before?

[8LK1]-Do what?

[4S58]-It has a... small light that flickers.

[8LK1]-Hm? Maybe... it's suppose to do this?

They both get closer to watch the device, as it was strange for both of them to see it do this weird action. They knew they are rare and never seen one with their own eyes, but they've never imagined that it has a small light flickering. Six was watching them as they were looking at it trying to figure out what's its purpose.

But then, two soldiers of the M came close out of nowhere and took them so that they can't get away, and as Six saw them, he was screaming at them to run, but they couldn't do anything anymore. Then, another soldier made his appearance and took him as well. Alongside them, it seems to be an Officer and also the man who killed Three. The man took the device they found and somehow disabled the small light. Six was trying so hard to escape the soldier's arms, yet in vain.

[A4LEKH]-Hmph... I didn't understand why these brats were so ungrateful, but now that I know they are C borns, it explains a lot. How foolish of them to rob me, and even take my creations...

[MOfficer]-At least you were lucky that they took a prototype of a tracker device by their own stupidity. So the forth one of those kids you said you killed him by yourself, right?

[A4LEKH]-Yes. Yes, I did. These kids broke into my house last night and took some of my money which I use in making you devices and in research.

[MOfficer]-But you informed us only about four kids. When we came here for the first time, we found over nine more people without these three.

[A4LEKH]-They probably lived in a group so that they can rob more people at once. I wasn't aware of the rest, Officer. I only knew about these children.

[MOfficer]-Alright, Mr. A4LEKH.

Six got angry as he heard about what they were talking. He even tried to get to them and kill them with his own hands, but the man was holding him for good. So all he could do was to scream at the top of his lungs.

[630G]-SO YOU WERE THE REASON THEY DISAPPEARED! YOU ARE MONSTERS!!

[MOfficer]-Oh, so the small one dares to talk back? Hah... Don't worry, little devil. You will join them sooner than you think. In Hell, where you all belong.

[630G]-YOU ARE THE DEVILS! YOU ARE KILLING INNOCENT PEOPLE EVERY SINGLE DAY! IF IT WEREN'T FOR YOUR PEOPLE, WE ALL NEVER HAVE LIVED IN FEAR!

[MOfficer]-How talkative is this one... Take them to the execution room with the ones convicted at the moment.

[630G]-YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS! YOU WILL PAY FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE, SCUMBAG!

[MOfficer]-...And do something about his voice. It annoys me...

14:37

The soldiers threw then in a room with around seven more people. Before they locked the door, Six tried to push the door to escape, but he didn't have the strength nor the velocity to do as he planned. He started hitting the door, thinking that he has a chance, while the other people were looking at him hopeless. Eight and Four started holding him each by one hand so he could stop, and so... he gave up. He fell slowly to the ground as tears were coming from his eyes. Both of his friends started sitting next to him, maybe trying to make him feel better.

[630G]-...You were right, Eight. We had to fear death from the beginning... Maybe, if we did so... we weren't in this situation. But now... it's too late. It's over... We lost...

[4S58]-Six, it's not over yet. We are still alive. Maybe we still have a small chance.

[630G]-Even so... everyone else is dead. The boss, Three... everyone. There is no one left, Four...

[4S58]-Listen to me. Everything is going to be alright. We will get through this together, as we always did. You just have to trust me, alright?

He looked at her, maybe trying to believe what she was saying, but he had no hope in this situation anymore. Just looking at the other people makes you know that there is no way back. Everyone is staying, waiting for the Light to come and take them away.

"In the end... it was over for us as well... We were trapped with no way of escaping, with my friends around me and a room full of strangers with faces that make you sure you have no way of surviving. All I could do was to... stay on the ground, waiting for my death... before a man started talking to us."

["MBorn"]-...I must admit, you got some guts, kid. I saw as you were trying to get away while the soldiers were holding you. I've never seen someone try this before, as everyone knows that you could be killed without any hesitation in a few seconds.

"...The man didn't seem to be one of our kind, nor an R born as he didn't have any kind of symbol on his clothes, like the insignia we used alongside our disguises so that the M borns thought we are R borns."

[630G]-...Why are you here? You are an M born, you are one of them.

["MBorn"]-Heh... Just because I was born as an M, doesn't mean they can spare me, little guy. You've never heard of an M being getting executed before?

[630G]-...?

["MBorn"]-I can tell by the look on your face that you are more confused than ever. Don't worry, we have some time left as the executions usually start on the hour. But let's take it easy at first. So, how should I call you?

"I was... looking at the man as I didn't understand what should I exactly do. We did not trust the M people so much, so it was impossible for us to tell him anything about us... and even harder for me after what they've done to my people."

["MBorn"]-Alright... Seems you don't want to respond to that question... Very well, ask me anything you want. Maybe this way we will have the opportunity to talk rather than stare deadly at each other.

"I... didn't want to ask him anything though, even if I had so many questions in my mind. I thought that he could lie at any second, maybe trying to trick us into believing whatever he is saying. But Eight couldn't hold his curiosity like me."

[8LK1]-...Who are you?

["MBorn"]-Who am I? My answer depends on what exactly do you want to know. Do you want to know about how am I called, or who I was before I got here?

[8LK1]-...The second option.

["MBorn"]-Oh, we are starting like that. I see... Well then, I was a determined citizen of this city, to put it gently. I've worked to serve the city for years now and I'm meeting my end as well in this day that we are witnessing now.

[8LK1]-Eh?

["MBorn"]-Or, if you want the easier answer... I was a soldier, just like the men that took you here.

"Eight got a bit scared when he heard that, but I only got angrier. I was holding myself back so that I won't start a scene now, but I wanted to kill him, to do everything his kind did to me."

[630G]-...Then why are you here?

["MBorn"]-Well... I've got caught selling information to your kind. This morning, while I was meeting with one of the C borns, a camera recorded us entering a building, and someone from the building heard our conversation. So, the person reported something about a guy telling an unknown figure about an information that only the General and his workers should know about and, of course, they checked the cameras and caught me. I'm actually surprise of how I managed to continue for so long without getting caught to be honest...

[8LK1]-But it doesn't make any sense... You said you worked for them! Why did you betray them?

["MBorn"]-Just because I used to work for them doesn't mean I agreed to every decisions they've made. I've realised after some years that I'm simply on the wrong side. I've... saw things I shouldn't see, and lived even more memories that I've wished I didn't have. What's the difference between our kinds anyway? Our blessings from the gods? We are the same, even if we appear different, you know? We have the same believes, same gods, same wo--

[630G]- --No. We don't.

["MBorn"]-Hm?

[630G]-...We don't have anything in common. We are not the same! Your people punish us for something we don't even know and you expect us to be the same!? You M borns are sick minded and you will forever be this way! You've killed thousands of us without any regret, probably even millions!

Yet the man stops for a little and looks at the boy who was trying not to cry, only giving him a small smirk before leaving him in peace.

["MBorn"]-...Everyone is different, little boy. It's true we are not the same and sometimes we have different mindsets, but we are simple beings at the end of the day, all of us. It's only the way you see it which makes the difference.

[630G]-...

"...I didn't believe a word of what he said. I knew he was lying. I was only getting angrier and angrier at him. So, I stopped listening to him... Eight was putting more and more questions though, but I was only looking at the ground, waiting for what was about to come. After all, that day, I developed the most powerful hate towards these people. Not only that they killed one of my best friends, but also killed the people that raised me, and now... they wanted to get rid of me as well."

14:52

"The time was moving slowly, as it felt like an eternity, a continuous suffering, not knowing when the end will come. I was trying maybe to remember the moments in which we lived together, maybe trying to make myself forget where I was. But I was only remembering the faces of the people close to me that died, as it was... maybe... a feeling of guilt.

I looked at my friends, as they were losing hope slowly, unlike me which I lost it the moment I entered here. But after some minutes, the gas was finally spreading. Now, I knew that the end was near. In some minutes, they had to activate the explosive which will kill us all and nothing will remain behind."

Everyone looks up at the gas that was spreading all over the room, starting to affect their immunity. Yet, from one of the walls, there is a strange noise coming from it... as if someone tries to destroy it.

"...Or so I thought. Slowly, in the wall was formed a crack where there were two men looking inside... at us. And they seemed to be from my kind as well."

[LUK3]-...Shit! We are late!

[IZA4K]-Told you we should try the fifth plan, idiot!

[LUK3]-Yeah, yeah... Now can you hurry and take everyone out!?

[/B4S7IAN]-IZA4K, you should listen to him. The soldiers are coming to this room to verify if we are here as well.

[/KYR4]-How did you guys managed to mess up this badly anyway? If you made an escaping route at the same time as the other rooms, we probably didn't have any problems in this mission!

[IZA4K]-Well, I'm not the one who made the plan in the first place!

[/B4S7IAN]-Just hurry up and get everyone out!

[IZA4K]-*sigh* Alright, everyone! Please enter this path and follow the other guy! We are affected by the gas, so I do hope you don't plan to fight now! Now go if you want to live! We only have three minutes left!

"...It was like a new chance of living for us, but I couldn't get who those were people. The man that talked seemed to be doing this for some time, but the other guy that already left to guide the others seemed to be newer."

Six's friends and him were the ones left to go, until he noticed that the guy they've been talking with some minutes ago seemed to stay behind. His friends went on the path, but he stood and looked at the man.

[630G]-...Why are you standing there? You said they want you dead. Shouldn't you be running as well?

Yet he only smirked at him, but didn't seem to want to move.

[630G]-...I knew you were lying all this time. You are still working for them.

["MBorn"]-...A smirk doesn't say that the person is lying. It could mean more than you could actually think. I'm not standing because I'm working for them, rather... because I'm working for you. After all, someone has to stop the soldiers from entering the path and catching you all, right?

[IZA4K]-Kiddo, hurry up, now!

"I just... couldn't understand what I was witnessing to be honest... And yet... I had no time to think about it."

Six looked at him for the last time, and then he went to the path, following his friends.

"...And so, I just left in hope that I will understand after everything is over. But even so, from behind, I could hear the man's last words, and then... I understood that he was no enemy."

["MBorn"]-My name is ANW4R and I hope for all my sins to be forgiven by the gods! For a present without rest and a past without peace, I fight for the youth and the innocent in this world, for a brighter day in this darkness!

15:09

They were running for some time now, as they were following the men in the building in which they were trapped. But then, they met with more people, which seemed to be convicted as well, and from them, more strange people like these two.

[IZA4K]-Alright, we met with the others! Tell us where exactly we should go!

[/D4NI3L]-Strikers, we will split you all in more groups. You have too many people to guard at once. Considering you are eight in total, four groups should be enough. Your Defenders will guide you to an exit.

[LUK3]-So I guess we are going together again, IZA4K.

[IZA4K]-Yeah! Great! Leave the kid to me as always!

[LUK3]-Shut up! I'm not a kid anymore, you dickhead!

[IZA4K]-Oh, yeah? Then guess who will get beaten up on the training ground!

[LUK3]-Motherf--

[/KYR4]- --LUK3, can you stop arguing with everyone just for five seconds? Just complete the mission and you will continue at the base.

[LUK3]-*sigh* Fine...

[IZA4K]-...Of course he listens to KYR4.

[/D4NI3L]-Everyone, you have to leave now! The soldiers are coming soon! Group 1, take the rooms 6 and 3! Group 2, room 1! Group 3, rooms 4 and 2! Group 4, room 5!

[LUK3]-Alright! The ones that we've taken, come with us!

And so, they did as the man said. The ones from the room that they've came from followed the two men that came after them, including Six and his friends. They ran and ran, until the two men stopped for a bit.

[IZA4K]-B4S7IAN, tell us where should we go!

[/B4S7IAN]-Exit 9, the one on the left.

[IZA4K]-LUK3, get ready to destroy another wall!

[LUK3]-Not again...

They started going again, but this time, it seemed that we were running faster. After some minutes, Six noticed something. From behind, a bullet came their way. Then, when he looked back, he saw soldiers coming after them. They started shooting, trying to kill them all. But the younger man got behind the group as he wanted to protect them, activating some kind of armour on him. Even so, he managed to get a bit injured on his face, making a wound on his nose, even screaming silently from the pain.

[/KYR4]-LUK3, are you alright? I see blood on your face on the cameras.

[LUK3]-Aghh... I'm fine, KYR4! At least they didn't injure me severely. Shit... it does hurt a lot, that's for sure. It will surely leave a mark...

[/KYR4]-Be careful out there. You and Mr. IZA4K were affected by the gas as well.

[LUK3]-Aww, are you worried about me?

[/KYR4]-Just get your butt out of the building and complete the mission!

They all got scared, the most scared from them all was, of course, Eight. But at some point, he went on a different way than the group, and Four and Six followed him. He ran and entered a random room. He was almost crying, but they were lucky that nobody noticed them when they left the group.

[630G]-Eight, what are you doing!? We have to go! The group is getting away and we won't be able to escape!

[8LK1]-...I-I can't! I can't go in there! T-They have guns! They will kill us the same way they killed Three! I can't... I-I--

[630G]- --Eight, look into my eyes! There is nothing you should be afraid of! Pretend that we are on our old quests, that Three is still with us and that he leads us home safe!

They helped him stand on his feet, as he was shacking. When they were ready to leave, Six opened a bit the door so he can see if the soldiers are there. Then, they left the room and started running. They weren't sure where exactly they were going, but then Six noticed that the bullets had deformed a bit some parts of the walls and some even remained on the ground. So, they started following the path that had this type of signs on it.

"We got some... complications because of Eight's fear, but we managed to get through them. We ran, until we finally arrived at the location the group probably agreed on. But there were two problems: 1. the crack on the wall was already covered so that the soldiers won't enter. And 2... the soldiers were there, in front of us. Even though the crack was covered, there were holes and I could see the younger man as he was standing, making sure the soldiers don't come. I was only looking at him, until he noticed us too. He was in shock when he saw us... Then, the soldiers noticed us as well. The only thing that I could read on his face was one word: Run!"

[LUK3]-IZA4K, we have a problem!

[IZA4K]-Don't tell me you covered the hole with the wrong material again...

[LUK3]-Listen to me! Three kids remained behind and they are now stuck in the building!

[IZA4K]-...You are joking, right?

[LUK3]-For the gods' sake, just believe me for a second!!

[IZA4K]-LUK3, we can't go back! We have to get these people in the city so that they are safe, and the soldiers will expect us to come back for them! Plus, the gas affected us as well, remember? It's too dangerous!

[LUK3]-Then what do we do?? We can't just leave them! Should we tell Boss??

And meanwhile, a figure approaches them as they are talking about the problem.

[CHE5TER]-...Tell me what?

[LUK3]-Oh, shoot... H-Hey, Boss!

[CHE5TER]-Are you alright, Mr. XANTH3?

[LUK3]-FOR THE LAST TIME, IT'S JUST LUK3! AND... Yes... I'm fine.

[CHE5TER]-Go see Miss MY4 after we get back to the base. Now, what is the problem you wished to tell me about?

[IZA4K]-Master, there are three kids stuck in the building from our group and I don't think we are able to go after them! What should we do?

The young Leader looks at them deadly, thinking about a solution. A version of the ruler, before His strange changing, yet still with a bit of seriousness as always. Then, He finally decides to speak.

[CHE5TER]-...Take everyone and retreat to the base.

[IZA4K]-But, Master, the ki--

[CHE5TER]- --You dare question my decisions? I said retreat. Now!

[IZA4K]-...Yes, Master.

The young man looks at the two soldiers as they take every person present there away, than decides to go to His next location.

15:21

"We were running, without even thinking of stopping. We were scared to death, we were abandoned in an unfamiliar building. No one was there for us, not even Three. During this whole situation, I was trying to at least slow down the soldiers, throwing anything I had with me with my handmade weapon. I was using anything I could find on the ground to help me throw at them, but my aim wasn't great. It didn't help that I was in constant movement either.

Eight was so afraid as well, as he was panicking, and I didn't know how to calm him anymore, as we all were in the same situation. The soldiers were shooting after us, but we were good at dodging, for now."

[630G]-Four, do you have anything that I could throw??

[4S58]-Stop throwing at them and run! We can't stop them! We have to find an exit!

[8LK1]-We are gonna die! We are gonna die! We are gonna d--

[630G]- --Eight, just calm down!

[4S58]-Everything is going to be alright, Eight! Just run!!

[630G]-Go in front of us, Eight! Did you hear me!? ...Eight?

"But... the moment I looked behind... everything froze in front of my eyes. A terrible picture, painted like it was made to hurt you, to break all the hope in you... to hide the light from you. Was this truly our destiny? Just a blink to miss the image, yet I couldn't miss it even if I wanted. Just a little bullet, and yet they took more than they could, more than I had... Seeing him being shot in the head and looking at him lose his consciousness was more than I could have handle. She saw it too. One friend down!

...As much as I wanted to scream, to show the anger that I couldn't handle anymore, to show the pain that was consuming me, I couldn't do anything but take my last friend and go. I grabbed her hand and tried to not look behind me. At least I could save one... right? We were running out of energy. But how can we stop running knowing that they are behind us? Losing a friend the way I lost him can break someone, even myself. But I couldn't let them take my last one too. Yet fate had the plans already made and I couldn't do anything about it... They shot her too!

She... wasn't dead, but she couldn't move. I was trying to take her in my arms but I was too weak. Her wound was an ugly one, I knew I didn't have much time. I fell down out of energy though, taking her in my arms. She was screaming from the pain and I couldn't do anything to help, and I... couldn't move anymore. The exhaustion and the shock that I was fighting were my enemies in this moment. And yet, I still could see our last moments as they were coming closer and closer to us... shooting to kill us both. I was... useless... So, I closed my eyes knowing that my time has come too. Or at least... that's what I thought."

As Six closed his eyes, he could hear bullets hitting something sounding like a shield. He thought maybe this is the sound of death, yet when he looked again...

"...A man appeared out of nowhere. Judging by his armour, I assumed that he was one of those people's allies. He protected us from all the bullets. I couldn't see his face at first because of his mask that was part of the armour, but then he looked at me, detaching it. A face that I couldn't read clearly, as if he didn't feel anything. Were these moments... normal for him? Yet I could feel a gentle breeze, making me feel warm, protected... I called him the Man in Voothrav."

[CHE5TER]-...Take her and run. Do not look behind. Go!

"The voice was soft and calming... I even forgot what was happening. But I had to do as he said, so I started running. I didn't look back but I heard how he was fighting with all of them."

[CHE5TER]-Now, now... Who wishes to entertain me?

Six ran and ran until he found a crack in a wall. It was his escaping that He probably made before He came to save him. The man was coming after him, trying to help him with his friend. He helped him to leave first, taking her in His arms, but then Six noticed the enemies coming their way. He didn't look back though, probably didn't even need to. He grabbed some kind of gadget from one of His pockets and threw it down, forcing it to start evaporating some kind of smoke, making everyone unable to see through it. All the kid could hear were the gunshots, but the next thing he knew was that they were all out.

"...As I saw him covering the hole with some device, I was just wondering more and more about who these people are, just so that I can forget the pain that I had to endure from all this loss. When he was done, he stopped a bit to look at my friend for an unknown reason to me. She seemed to be unconscious, maybe from the whole blood loss. But then he looked at me and sighed."

[CHE5TER]-...Let's go.

The Underground Tunnels

15:44

"I followed the strange man, as we arrived in some kind of tunnels that I've never seen before. I looked at him, but he never looked back, nor at me. He was only looking forward, ignoring everything around us. But then he stopped in the middle of the road and sat on his knees, putting Four down. I thought he will help her with her wound, so I waited to see what he was doing, but he was just looking at her deadly. The more I was staring at him, the more I was getting concerned.

Then... he seemed to use his hands, creating... a black mist. It was that moment when I realised why we were hunted... We have powers, powers that I wasn't even aware of, as nobody showed us, and as I said before, never taught us how to use them. I was fascinated, but it was weird for me to see him create some kind of blanket. Yet then I understood what he wanted to do. So, I grabbed Four in my arms, only to realise that her heart stopped beating minutes ago. I... refused to believe that she was dead too, so I tried my best to save her."

[630G]-Four!! Four, wake up! FOUR!! WAKE UP, FOUR!! FOUR, DON'T YOU DARE DIE ON ME TOO!! FOUR!!!

"...The man was looking at her though, but didn't seem as he wanted to talk. I was angry, furious, but sad at the same time. I knew it wasn't his fault, but I was too shocked to realise everything that I was doing, as I was screaming, maybe thinking that something will solve it."

[630G]-YOU HAVE TO HELP HER! PLEASE!! YOU CAN'T JUST LET HER DIE!

The man wasn't answering though. Then, He got on a knee and looked down, as He was bowing.

[630G]-No... No, no, no! Please! Please...

[CHE5TER]-...May the soul find the Light and rest that the body couldn't.

[630G]-No, please! She isn't dead! I refuse to believe it! Please!! Please...

"I was... crying as I never did before. It hurt me, like someone stabbing me ten times in my back. I had nobody left anymore, I had nowhere to go. My "home" was wherever they were. And even if I got a place to stay, I had no reason to continue my journey.

I... hugged her for the last time, before the man took her gently from my arms and put her down once again. He covered her with the blanket and took from one of his pockets a lighter. I knew what was about to come next, I begged him to stop, but I knew even if he let her like this, nothing could bring her back. In the end... he burned her corpse in front of my eyes... and I couldn't stop crying as I was watching the flames going wild.

But the man had no expression. He was just looking at the flames as it was nothing. I felt that this isn't the first time he does this, maybe this was the reason of his emotionless expression. He was looking deadly, as if he was remembering a memory from his past. But then... he suddenly spoke."

[CHE5TER]-...It's better this way, rather than leaving the body to be found and get eaten by the crevaators. At least... the spirit can feel free for the rest of its eternity. The ashes remain... but the soul lives forever.

He stood up, looking for the last time at the flames, yet the kid was still crying, he couldn't control himself. The man came by his side and put an arm on his shoulder, maybe so that he won't feel alone anymore.

The Underground City

16:13

"Later on... we arrived at some kind of city that was hidden from the people of the above this whole time. A city where it seemed that everyone was free to go wherever they pleased, to wander together, without even thinking once of the fear of getting killed just because of the way you are born... a city where we could have been happy. We were at a house that was treating the wounded and that was giving everyone saved by these strange people a place where they could sleep.

The strange people were there too, talking with each other and with the people rescued. But I was sitting alone, looking deadly at the ground. I had no ambition, nothing that could make me get through this sadness."

[CHE5TER]-Tell Mr. M1SH4M that we managed to do as he said, but I still can't understand why did we have to do it at this hour...

[RY4N]-*sigh* Who knows. Maybe it was an emergency? I mean, there were a lot of people that got saved, so maybe he feared we will lose too many.

[CHE5TER]-But who in the world wakes up at this hour and decides to execute people!?

The strange man was talking with someone else at the moment, wearing His crevaator clothes, hiding His face from everyone else except the people that work with Him, yet one of the people that tried to save Six noticed him standing alone. So... he went to talk with him.

[LUK3]-...Are you alright, little guy? Where are your friends?

But he didn't respond. He was too traumatised from the events of the past days. So the guy looked concerned at him, yet the Leader finally saw them as well and decided to go their way.

[CHE5TER]-...Mr. XANTH3, Miss MY4 said that she wants to see you. I suggest you leave and go find her.

[LUK3]-But I already got myself bandaged on the nose! Why do I need to see her again?

[CHE5TER]-Do I need to repeat myself? Go and talk to her about your medicine.

The young guy looked at him for a while, but obeyed to His order. So, he left, leaving Six and the man alone. The young ruler stood down next to him, looking down the same way he was.

[CHE5TER]-What is your name, little one?

[630G]-...

He felt that the kid didn't want to talk though, He knew that the situation was bothering him. He waited a bit to see if he wishes even a bit to speak and sighed as He saw that he really wasn't in the mood. But at least He was the only one that he trusted left.

[630G]-...Six Three Zero G.

[CHE5TER]-So you use your blood code as your name, hm?

Yet again, no response. There was a moment of silence between them after, but the kid knew He had good intentions.

[CHE5TER]-...I know it hurts. You are not the only person who lost people close to him. The war doesn't spare anyone, not even those that have nothing to do with it. Maybe you hate me because I couldn't come faster, but I've done everything in my power to protect you all.

As He was talking to him, he thought at something else. It was a sudden thought, but he couldn't get rid of it.

[CHE5TER]-I... managed to arrange a place where you could stay. If you can give me some more days, I can get a school schedule for you as well, so you can learn how to use your po--

[630G]- --I want to join you and fight by your side!

"But I guess... I found myself with a new reason to live, a new reason to continue this torture. Knowing that I'm not the only one who had the same experiences, I cannot let others suffer the way I did. I wanted to fight for the weak, to seek revenge, to make my friends proud of me... the only one who survived this tragedy."

[CHE5TER]-...I will be honest with you, little one. Working for me won't be something easily handled. Don't you want to enjoy your freedom, even a bit?

"He was looking deeply into my eyes, waiting for my response. But he knew that I won't change my mind. For the first time I could read something on his face. He was worried, a worry that I didn't understand. But he couldn't do anything to change my decision."

[CHE5TER]-*sigh*...Very well. I will take you at our place and teach you a few things until you make a decision on your teacher. If you have any questions, just... feel free to ask me when we arrive.

[630G]-...Thank you. For... everything that you've done for me, Man in Voothrav.

[CHE5TER]-Call me CHE5TER.

"And so... I've become someone new, letting the old me vanish into the smoke from the flames. I've become someone that promised the people that had the same misfortune as me a better tomorrow. I've promised to myself that I will fight for the ones I lost and cared the most."

[CHE5TER]-...For a present without rest and a past without peace, I fight for the youth and the innocent in this world, for a brighter day in this darkness. For I am a son of M1NERV4 and descendant of the God of War, I shall bring the hope in everyone's life and the light for the fallen ones. Go with my word and fight for those that are weak and that cannot go forward on their own...

"That day, I've become..."

"...Soldier C0NNER."