Dusk

(WARNING: THIS CHAPTER DEPICTS EXTREME VIOLENCE AMONGST CHILDREN, IF YOU ARE UNDERAGED OR FEAR VIOLENCE, PLEASE SKIP THIS CHAPTER)

Oflip, Sector A

Beneath Pillar 1 (Location of former headquarters of the Light of Men in Sector A)

2104, 1 year before disaster

"Get in line!"

She stammered, staying still amongst the stone cold crowd that was her roommates. Hiding her fear from the low and crude voices of men and women which wandered through the halls. Each welding sharp whips that gleamed and struck their eyes. Twinkling in the rooms which remained. The hall was crude and utilitarian. Nothing but concrete and metal tiles which ran up towards the top. Endless in their torment and escape. There wasn't even a stage or any signs of speaking equipment. Just sweat and terror. She heard from her roommates about their living conditions, more of factory than a home she hears amongst murmurs of her captors. But even that was a gross understatement. The silence of leaking tap water and the stamping of feet echoed through the dark, dirty and dusty corridors. Each hiding dark secrets, secrets which hid like cheeky ghosts. Running about and playing with the ominous winds that made her twitch.

She didn't know where she was or why she was here. She could've sworn that there may be an outside world with dad and mum but she can't tell. Especially with her painful head, groggily and winching upon every twist and turn. Her skin filled with rashes. Sensitive from it's dirty time here. Fuzzy without a bath for nearly the entire day. Each moment in the only female washroom irked her. Mould crawled ever present around the untouched corners of the facility. Greedy for more spots on the walls and ceilings. She couldn't tell if the conditions in the boys toilet were similar. However she didn't care unlike the scary treatment in the place. They all said it was normal, but even she herself was unconvinced. Every night, she hears sound of children breaking out, cracking after 4 years of turmoil but each brave hurrah was met by total silence. Disaster after disaster. Completely out of their control and grasp.

"Maggots! You guys are all here on time. Which is good! But do you have the ability to get it down? Do 50 push ups! No stopping! You are not allowed to use any physical abilities! If I see you using any special powers, you shall be locked in your rooms for two days!"

She tried to look away, each look at the grubby man on the concrete stage had her terrified, filled with an thick goatee that hid his large fat beneath his cotton green shirt and weird camo vest. He seemed drunk, constantly looking constipated and tired of his job. But through her eyes she could see a monster. Far from the kind people which she called her roommates with their proclaimed abilities from that liquid. Growing to hopefully escape their circumstances.

So far amongst the many in the hall, the majority have started to grow in power with different attributes to kill. Eager for an opportunity to strike back with their fire, ice or psychic powers they claimed to possess. However, as part of the minority of the group, she couldn't help but feel saddened at her condemnation to a place worse than hell. Still unable to extinguish the hatred she buried like rest of the group. Worse was the weak state of their abilities. Hardly a trickle of what they had come to expect against the brutes constantly beating them down with their sadistic remarks and treatment. Boldly acclaiming they are the chosen ones.

Despite this, many refuse to revolt, hoping to provide them with an even deadlier poison to exact their revenge. Poison they cultivated on their own accord. Waiting for the day they saw their broken farces of a face. Nothing short of wild animals. She is frightened by what she sees at their deteriorating state. Stunned at the broken state of mind they became. The embodiment of terror. She gripped her hands, focusing back at the situation at hand. Determined to not become one of them and break out of her confinement with respect to her name like the acclaimed golden boy. Leroy.

"Rachel..."

She looked around, thinking of her roommate as she hid under someone's back. Hoping to not see the dark silhouettes that wandered in that cartoonish vest. Too unrealistic to understand. Moving on cue amongst the shuffling of arms and feet, hiding in the sea of skin and flesh. Every motion a blur. Workouts every two hours? When would she final be free to socialize? She sighs, closing her eyes. Calming herself down in frustration. When?

"Start!"

She forced herself along, watching the group as they moved their arms, watching every step. Hoping they don't do too quickly to cause another set of push-ups. Being too slow was also not allowed in this desolate place. A whipping from their whips hurt badly, scarring the rest who cowered in their breath. Their legs sore and numb. Struggling to complete the task in their hesitation to continue.

"Come on!"

She lurched further on, pushing herself to her limit, her arms burning wildly, wincing for clemency. Peering ever so slightly at the men and women who watched in disgust. Although she couldn't tell in the bright lights which covered their faces in the wall of shadows. But alas she was complete. At that moment, the majority managed to complete just in time. Looking up at the man as he watched his watch carefully, peering at the group in the recording of workouts.

"Under 3 minutes and 25 seconds. Good job..."

He looked at the group pleased, his smugness wide for all to see. Slowly fading away in front of their eyes. Looking down sternly at one boy, stammering in the cold breeze. His legs fidgeting badly, oozing with red and black that flowed to his legs and stained the floor in a puddle of murky red.

"Oh no..."

She looked away, laying down quietly as the man wandered through. Each pound of his boots echoed through hall. Ringing their heads in paranoia and delusion. Feeling his every step in the ringing boots of harsh humanity. Surrounding the poor boy which looked up in fear.

"Why are you not doing it?"

He stammered, screaming from every strike of the whip, hissing for another blow on it's next victim. Hiding upon the scream and cries of the boy. Now puking in his own blood. Crackling and choking like a monster. Unable to hold himself back and speak. Watching in hope that they still have some conscience.

"WHY?! WHY?! WHY?!"

He let himself go, whipping the man upon his now infected wound, creased with deep scars and bluish skin. Frustrated at the lack of movement from a boy who struggled to stay up. Listening to his growl which went silent in his dissipating consciousness.

"Bring it in..."

He dragged the boy, the blood staining the floor upon the loud screeching of his shoes, peeling off it's heels in a dark red stain of ooze. Lifting him up effortlessly onto a chair. Behind him, a large machine lumbered in slowly by the workings which once stood. Filled with sharp syringes fitted onto a helmet. A helmet of infamy.

She hears everyone stammer, freaking out at the appearance of the machine. Frightened at the overwhelming amount of punishment enforced. She hears a boy stand up. Slowly standing boldly in his dark skin and long straight uncut hair filled with stains , drenched top to bottom with sweat despite his bold fierce eyes. Frustrated at the men and women, ignoring the murmurs of pleas around him.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

He lurched back, hiding himself down in the newfound silence from the clanking of led and the trigger. Her arm up high, hiding from the recoil and smoke which lingered.

"Do you want it Ambar?"

She points the gun back at the direction of the boy,

"Good. Because this is what happens when you don't obey and misuse your newfound powers."

She growled, looking back at the men as the machine whirled to live, chiselling through the air in disgust. They silently watched, looking at the lady as she switch a lever behind his seat. She didn't know what she was doing, but the violence and the ruckus from the machine only lowered her hopes of a peaceful settlement.

"AAARRRGGGHHH!!!!!!"

His head went red, imploding upon the cracking of the skull as the light in his eyes began to disappear. Mushy and tearing upon his pain he had to feel. Behind his back, he could listen his skull crumbled, piecing loudly in the silent stunned crowd. Distraught and traumatized from their bloodshed. Another one ready to go amongst the dwindling masses.

"W-why... is this how heroes are made? Is this truly the path to become the light of men?"

She stammered, unable to help a friend in need. Horrified at the abuse of power at hand. She clenched her fist. Hiding her rage in her heart. Weak from the strenuous training at hand. To lack the power to fight for justice. She had no powers to speak of, weak and malnourished. Her palms trembled, upset at the power gap in place. Stuck in purgatory with a painful liquid she does not understand.

If only she had such power...

"STOP!"