Prologue II

Seven years later, Ash Vicars was now eight years of age. He had been living in the Church of Vicars during this period with his brothers and sisters that had arrived during the war seven years ago. The war seven years ago had resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of civilians in the capital city. To save their children's lives and for better prospects, many parents had dropped their children off at the doorsteps of the church. That day, there were over fifty toddlers and infants that were handed over to the church before they fled from war.

Just as the priest has predicted, Ash was the first of his kind. Four fifths of the orphans had to be transferred away to other branches in the Church of Vicars. Ash and the other nine that came after him, got to stay in this branch. Other than the normal household chores and daily sermons, Ash lived a rather happy childhood with his similar aged brothers and sisters.

Today, marking the seventh year that he was dropped off at the church, Ash Vicars and his brothers and sisters are finally getting their turn at going through the rite of passage. The priest who had never disclosed his name to them had briefed the children that every children that enters the Church of Vicars for seven years, are required to pass a test. Should they not pass this test, they would be expelled from their home.

Of course, these children knew nothing better for they were raised by the priest since they were young. They simply thought this was normal and that every child had it the same as them. Those that came to the Church of Vicars before them was told the same thing. As such, no one knew of the truth.

"Is everyone ready?" The priest asked with a plain expression. The ten children from seven years ago were heading off with him to the location of the rite of passage.

"Yes, father priest." The group of children answered together.

Turning his head around, the priest guided the children down the hill. The children, of course, had never left the premises of the church. To them, this by itself was already an adventure. As they headed down the hill, Ash and his brothers and sisters would imagine and think about what the test might be about. Their imagination went as far as the children books allowed them to.

"What if it was a test on whether we can find who can fit into the glass slipper?" One girl suggested.

"Oh! what if it was to see who can build a house out of sticks the fastest?" Another child suggested.

"Yes! I am sure if we work together, we would be able to make it through this rite of passage!" Ash said enthusiastically.

"Children, keep it down." The priest ended their conversation. As they reached the base of the hill, the priest came to a standstill in front of a black transport bus. The mirrors were tinted and so, no one could see who was inside of the vehicle.

He turned around look at the children whom he raised for the past seven years. There wasn't a trace of emotion in the eyes of the priest. It was as if he was looking at livestock.

"Get inside the bus." He said. The children obeyed.

As Ash ascended the steps of the bus, he looked up to see the bus driver. The man wore a black suit and sunglasses. He looked very professional compared to the white linen clothing the children were wearing. Seeing that the driver did not look particularly friendly, Ash only took a short glance before heading to the back of the bus with the other children.

There was no seating arrangement. The bus departed off with the priest sitting at the front of the vehicle with the driver. As the ride was driving over mountainous terrain, there were many bumps along the way. Half of the children was starting to get motion sick.

"Uhm, Father priest? Delilah says that she is feeling sick!" Ash shouted over to the priest as he got worried. There was no reply.

"Wah! Wah!" Soon, there was crying coming from several of the dizzy children. There had never experienced the feeling of motion sickness before and was scared.

"Father priest!" Ash shouted once again.

"Shut up will you!" Usually, Father priest would never raise his voice to the children. Rather, he never really said a word. The sudden raising of voice instantly silenced the bus. He stood up from his seat and placed a plastic bag in Ash's hand. "Catch her vomit when she pukes. Throw the bag out the window when finished."

The priest went back to his seat and closed his eyes. At the back, Ash helped Delilah and the rest out. The bag filled with vomit was disposed straight after. The mood in the bus was stale after that experience.

At the front, the driver spoke soft enough that the children could not hear what he was saying. "You should've knocked those kids out before transporting them. It would've saved us so much trouble."

The priest did not say anything for the rest of the journey. It took them four hours by bus before they arrived at a cliff side. The children peered out to see a large metal gateway that was built into the cliff side. When the bus got close, the gate slid open and a large cavernous room was revealed.

The bus parked in one of the empty lots as the children got off methodically. They had reached the location of the test. Ash looked around the large cavern that he was in. His mouth agape by the sheer size of the room. He held the hand of Delilah who was very sick in the bus.

"Click, clack, click, clack." Approaching the group that just arrived was a lady wearing red high heels. The sound of her shoe echoed in the large chamber. It was like the only people that were in the cavern was her and her high heels.

"Welcome children." The lady has a smile that was extremely warm. It felt homely to the young seven year olds. She looked towards the two older men as she gestured for them to leave. "I can take it from here. Toodles!���

As she said that, the ten children looked back at the priest who had taken care of them for the past seven years. Father priest, however, did not show any reluctance in parting with them. There wasn't a verbal "goodbye" or "I will miss you". He simply turned around to leave the children behind. The children did not say anything either. They weren't taught social manners in those seven years. The bus drove off and now, there was left the lady in red heels and the white linen children.

"Now, shall we proceed inside to the training ground?" The lady gestured the kids to follow her forwards. They nodded obediently.

What they did not know was that they were about to enter hell on earth.