Fractured Soul

Dawn approached quickly in the Grimwald Province, you could already start to see, hear, and smell the signs of life. Factories starting to life, cars revving, people bustling. The sun peaking over the horizon miriads of red, pink, and orange glistening off the clouds. Grotesque greys, blacks and whites billowing in from the multitude of factories billowing their chemicals to mingle with the air. Just another day like any other in this cracking mega city.

This particular province was built into five sections, just like a castle set up the commoners were in the outermost region. This is where most the factories reside, life expectancy, air quality at all time lows. Crime, at an all time high. This flipped slowly as you worked your way to the center of the province until you reached the fifth section. Surprisingly every citizen was allowed to reach the fifth section for one specific region. Every hospital was located in the richest region. This was set up for one simple reason, greed. Hospitals were a commodity meant for those who could afford the care. In any lower area of the city they couldn't provide enough protection to keep the staff or visitors safe. There was much to be envied with so many souls to be harvested in one place.

One particular nurse in St. Dukes Hospital currently awaited impatiently as today she would receive her first soul. There were other means to get souls, unfortunately these means required underhanded tactics which she did not agree with. She was in the waiting room with just one other person, a quiet man, gaunt with thin blonde hair a slightly receding hair line and surprisingly sharp yellow eyes like those of a cat. She avoided his gaze her knee bouncing giving away her excitement and nervousness. It took her years to save up for her first soul, unfortunately she didn't have enough money to specify what she wanted so she would make do with a variety of choices that hopefully fell under her job requirements.

"The Specialist will see you now Ms...." The receptionist paused.

"Delores Cartwright" the nurse replied confused. Did the receptionist not look at her paperwork? She got to her feet quickly and grabbed her bag *click... click... click* her heels resounded loudly off the tile floor. It took all she could not to run down the hall and squeal in excitement. Instead she took a deep breath and followed the receptionist through the double doors located on the right of the reception desk. She glanced one last time at the gaunt man, he gazed back and tipped his head to her amusement in his eyes. Shuddering she turned back and quickened her pace.

She rushed through the double doors almost running into the receptionist before fixing her steps. The receptionist took her about half way down the hallway before gesturing on a door to her right. "Specialist Quinn will be with you momentarily. He will give you a choice of three. I hope you find one to your liking." With that quick explanation he turned on his heels and briskly walked back to his desk. She hesitated before opening the door and entering the room. On the other side of the door was a small room with another door across the way a desk with a chair on each side and what looked like a mirror facing her next to the other door. It was slightly unnerving staring at her own reflection while waiting for the Specialist. She chose instead to check he communicater she flipped her wrist up and a screen only she could see projected in her left retina. With this she sat quietly enjoying the latest videos and such.

She continued like this for a few minutes before the door opened "cute cat videos?" The voice cut through the silence like a hot knife through butter. She started and shut her communicater off to see a man standing opposite of her.

"Wha... How... When did you come in?" She stammered.

Quinn smiled warmly "just a few seconds ago, so was I right?"

Delores nodded in shock "How did you know?"

His smile widened "my second integration is a T1 hack soul. I'm working on upgrading it."

"Isn't that too personal?" Her eyes widened

"I didn't get choices" he answered almost too quickly. "But enough about me, would you like to see your options?"

She stood up nodding. "I'd love to. How exactly do I use it though? This is my first time after all."

"You'll pick it up with a pair of soul gloves." He gestured to the left of his desk where a cylindrical glowing bottle of sorts sat. "Go on then. Just open the top and put your hands in. One at a time though."

She did as she was told. As she brought her hand up it was covered in a thin luminescent filament. "What next?"

"Now you pick between one of these three." He gestured towards a tray that now lay in front of her on her side of the desk. "When you take it out you will gently press it into your chest until you feel it integrate with your own soul."

Delores carefully lifted each bottle in turn and read the print on them.

[Salamanders Blessing T1]

[Dream Eater T1]

[Life's Kiss T2]

There was no further description other than the names of the souls. Delores's hand trembled as she held the last one. "This is it. This is the one I want." Her voice came out barely above a whisper. Carefully, she pulled the lid off and reached in. Her hand trembled ever so slightly as she pulled a purple light out of the tube. It undulated around never fully taking a single shape. She brought it to her bosom like a loving mother does her child. Letting it slowly melt into her, absorbing it. She felt her power rising, the feeling washed over her, her nerves pulsing with stimulation. However; after a few moments her mind exploded in pain. She could feel her own soul collapsing under the strength of the new one. A few moments and she could no longer bear it. "AHHHHHHHHHH" both her soul and her mind screamed in agony.

"Oh silly girl" Quinn sneered deviously. "If I had known this was your first integration I would have left the T2 behind. Everyone knows you're supposed to integrate with a T1 first unless you've trained your own soul above your first integration." He covered her mouth to stifle her scream, knowing she would likely die from the strain on her soul. Even if she didn't die she'd turn into a vegetable with a fractured soul. Then he could siphon them both to keep for himself. The perks of being a Specialist of Grimwald.