1 In the beginning

Three months earlier

Year 2043. Science has evolved to the point where planetary colonization is now possible and, of course, we started with Mars. Earth is now superpopulated, comporting more than 12 billion people and truly on it's wit's end.

Resources like minerals, petroleum and water are incredibly scarce and due to food deficit, economy is now mostly dependant on agriculture. Humans are now dying by the thousands everyday due to hunger wars.

All countries in the world have signed a treaty for nuclear disarmament in order to not make things worse.

It was decided that every country would decide it's strifes by standard weaponry only.

Back in 2040, when men not only stepped on Mars but started colonizing it, everyone thought humanity was saved, however, they were gravely mistaken. The world has always revolved around the rich and powerful and in the future this is an unchanged fact.

It has been 3 years since Mars colonizations began. Mars' population has been increasing at a steady pace and around 400 million people are currently inhabiting it.

Yet... only the ''blue bloods'' are allowed there.

They've decided only those with a ''proper background'' were allowed to go to Mars in order to prevent a second Earth episode.

When they announced it, the population was so furious that civil revolts broke out almost immediately and so, military could only do as they were ordered to prevent further complications: to kill.

A death sentence where you could choose how to die.

Will it be hunger or wars ?

Michael can only sigh deeply as he shakes his head. Everything concerning the current state of affairs is so messed up he gets a headache everytime he thinks about it.

Plus, Michael has his own issues to worry about.

With a resolute pair of eyes, Michael walks through a refugee's camp, carrying a sack of grains over his left shoulder and a wrapped package on his right hand.

Suddenly, a miserable looking group of kids run over to Michael, pulling on his shirt, speaking:

''Sir, sir, please, give us something to eat.''

''We are hungry'' A little girl says, with sickly red eyes and a pitiable expression, the girl's appearance could only be described as heart breaking.

''Please sir, i can wash, i can clean, all i need is a meal.'' A boy on the left said, with a pair of desperate eyes.

Michael suddenly crouched over as he dropped the sack of grains on the ground, with both of his hands he began to unwrap the package on his right hand.

Once the kids saw what was inside, their mouths couldn't help but water up as they began to pester Michael more energetically.

''Stop.'', Michael said as he raised his left hand and the group of kids suddenly stopped yapping.

Using both of his hands he split a large sized circular shaped bread into 2 pieces, storing one of them back into the package. He then shared it equally among the 4 kids.

''Here you go'', Michael said.

The kids were so glad, they cried as they feasted on the bread. After they were done, they still looked with pitiable expressions at Michael, but he remained unmoved.

''There's no free lunch is this world.'', Michael said in a serious tone.

The kids understood it as well, they were in no position to ask for more. Any kind of food is hardly earned nowadays.

''However... if you do me a little favor...'', Michael said with a smiling expression.

''I can give you this other half.''

''''Anything'''', the kids said in unison, wearing hopeful expressions.

''Stay off the streets and don't bring trouble to your parents'' He said. (AN: youthoughtapedo huh ? sorry to disappoint you.)

Not everyone would be as kind as Michael. People actually fought to death over food in this current era.

What would a ''regular person'' do to a group of annoying unknown kids begging for food ?

The answer is: nothing good.

Handling them the package, Michael then stood up and once again pulled the sack over his shoulder as he left the overjoyed group of kids behind, relishing this generous treat.

Where was i ? hmm.. Oh, yes...

My name is Michael Nightingale, I'm 18 years old and currently... a pariah.

The Nightingale are famous for providing armies with the best soldiers/assassins/arsonists.. you name it. In a world where wars are common, military power is one of the most covetted assets.

However, me and my cousin were left to rot on Earth.

The reason?

Ten years ago I was deemed as a bastard and condemned to die. Back then, my father was competing for the family head spot along with three other old geezers, whom once I considered my uncles.

One day, in a plot to overthrow my father's rights to the family head spot, those fucking old geezers accused my father of having an affair with a maid.

By the time i could understand what was going on, me and my cousin were already far away from the clan.

They say my father was killed on the spot in order to prevent any future resistance, without so much as a chance to defend himself and my mother is being held prisoner for aiding my scape.

My blood boils everytime I think about it.

The pain of losing someone you love followed by the inability of doing a single thing to prevent it...

''Fuckers'', Michael curses out loud involuntarily, leaking out killing intent as he wears a pair of dangerous eyes.

Michael had just passed by some hobos, once they heard Michael cursing they furrowed their brows in a '' what the hell did we do to you'' kind of manner, however when they felt Michael's killing intent they just shrieked and ran away.

''Shit... sorry! it wasn't directed at you!!'' Michael tried to explain the situation but to no avail, they were long gone.

*sigh*

After a few more minutes walking, Michael arrived at a shabby looking house.

As he oppened the door, the aroma of meat and pasta drifted over his nose.

''I'm home!'', Michael yelled in a not so loud tone.

''Did you bring the bread?'', a very sweet and melodious voice answered.

''Well.. i did.. but...'' Michael could only smile wryly.

''Investing in the future again ?'', A silver haired beauty asked, making an ironic face.

Michael only smiled at this question. He then pulled her over and gave her a heartwarming prolongued kiss in the lips.

The beauty's gaze shifted into one of pure affection and care.

''I know you can't just ignore it'', She spoke as she could guess what had transpired.

''That's why i fell in love with you in first place..'' she said, caressing his face.

''Just make sure you don't starve us to death, big boy.'', She said as she gave him a little peck in the lips and then strode to the kitchen once again.

This is Cassidy Nightingale, 17 years old this year.

She is my fiancée and my only family apart from my mother.

She could've chosen to stay with the family and go to Mars but she chose to run away with me.

My heart can't help but melt everytime I look at her gorgeous face, which could only be describled as angelic.

She is 1,78m tall with beautiful blue eyes, short silver straight hair that extends over her shoulders. With slender legs, perky buttlocks and generous sized chest, she is truly a beauty that could cause the downfall of nations.

All female Nightingale could only be considered goddesses due to genetic manipulation and she is a goddess among goddesses. (Author Notes: Silver hair is a mutation caused by T-9 drug. It's a secret drug produced by the Nightingales. It's effects enhance all senses as well as the physical habilities of the user.)

Nightingale are trained physically since able to walk in order to sustain the aftershock caused by the drug.

By the age of 7 one is allowed to take T-9 and there's a 75% chance of dying, hence the family motto: ''The strong survive, True Nightingale! The weak must perish!''

As for me? I have a pair of red eyes which i usually disguise. It brings way too much unwated attention.

Cassidy and I live on a small house, in a refugee camp, far from the frontlines.

I work transporting food to the frontlines while Cassidy takes care of other affairs. We are currently having dinner in silence while watching TV. Cassidy is looking at me with worried eyes while I pay attention to the news.

The television is small old model, it has use marks and only works on a single channel, the News Channel.

The reporter talks about the recent ongoing civil wars in countries around the world. The number of casualties was estimated to be around 500.000 to 600.000 daily.

Angry, I said in low voice ''I wish this shitty world would just end''.

Suddenly a voice echoed in Michael's head. It seemed to be coming from the depths of an abyss.

[Your wish is my command... Hehehe]

The ominous voice sounded threatening enough as it came from everywhere and nowhere.

Caught by surprise, Michael stood up and looked around carefully, trying to figure out where did that voice come from. However even with his sharp senses, he couldn't feel anyone in the house.

''Michael, wha-'' Cassidy couldn't even complete the sentence as her voice suddenly disappeared.

He hadn't shifted his gaze for long but once he looked back where Cassidy was, she was gone.

''Cassidy, where are you?!'' Michael suddenly shouted in a desperate manner.

[Relax, Michael. She is okay... for now.]

''Who are you?!'' Michael yelled in rage.

The desperation for his beloved far surpassed his fear.

[Stop screaming Michael, i'm in your head. As to show myself? Soon. It's not time yet.]

[Will you play a game with me, Michael ? A game of endless struggle and suffering ?]

[HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!]

The thunderous laughter echoed in Michael's head.

His sharp senses were screaming ''danger'' and his back was drenched in cold sweat while a incredible sense of fatigue assaulted him.

Suddenly, Michael felt sleepy.

Stumbling, with heavy eyes, Michael fell to the floor.

There wasn't time to think about anything else.

Everything went dark.

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AN: Sorry for the confusing writting... It will only be narrated in first person this one time(probably).

Curiosity: Nightingale can only marry nightingale in order to maintain a pure genetic line age.

What ? don't look at me like that. Think of it as a clan with thousands of people and nothing disgusting like ''marrying your own sister''... yet somehow marrying a VEEEEEEEEERY distant cousin.

Incest flag raised sucessfully.