Lucy [https://i.imgur.com/UFUaylJ.jpg]

Concept art for Lucy (when she grows her hair back)! In my brain, I imagined her as an Asian lady with short hair and long bangs that had a single white streak on either side (like Reed Richards from Fantastic Four). Okay onto the story!

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What the rift? Zac raised his arms in exasperation.

Over the last few minutes Zac had disturbed a number of people, performing more and more invasive actions until he was certain they couldn't be collectively feigning ignorance.

He tried one more time and approached an unsuspecting victim who was walking around and held their shoulders, restricting their movements like he did earlier with Lucy. They also kept trying to walk. Zac then walked with them, arms still on their shoulders, trying to stop them from walking. They fought back harder against him to keep walking.

"Fine." Zac gritted his teeth and this time he pinched the man's nose. The man did nothing, and eventually opened his mouth to breathe. Zac clenched his teeth harder. I have to try harder and he covered the man's eyes. Surprisingly the man was unfazed and continued to walk without stumbling. The man was able to turn around and talk to the people around him. They too talked back to him, unfazed that Zac was covering his eyes. "It's like I'm in a simulation." Wait. Maybe that's it. Maybe I'm still in the shower room. Unconscious because of the water. Maybe I drowned and... and this is the afterlife? Zac looked around again and saw the field of grass around him. If I'm dead, did I go to heaven or hell? Probably hell, since the captain is here with me. He walked back to the pile of goop that used to be cocoons. He definitely didn't see any dead human body lying around. Actually, I don't even know what I look like. He laughed nervously to himself. I could still be alive and my spirit has left my body somehow. He shivered to himself. That was a scary thought.

Zac moved to another person. He pulled their cheek. Nothing. Then he slapped their cheek. Hard. He really put his shoulder and elbow into whipping around and gave it his all. There was a resounding clap as he made contact. The said victim's head was propelled to the side with the slap.

Zac took a step back eyes wide, and jumped in scared excitement. He caught himself mid gasp/chuckle and covered his mouth with his hands. Zac waited to see what would happen. His hand started to throb. Distracted, he looked down and winced. His quivering hand was turning bright red. He shook it, willing the pain to go away.

"Hey does your cheek hurt?"

Zac whipped his head back up and observed the scene. The man had a bright red slap mark across his cheek. Zac felt sorry. His cheek must be hurting just as much.

The man was asking the people around him.

"No, why?"

"I don't know, but my cheek feels like it's burning."

The other person frowned. "Weird. Maybe it's this world? You could be allergic."

The victim frowned and contemplated. "I guess so. I'll watch it", and started to rub his cheek as he kept walking.

For Zac this was a step forward. At the very least he could confirm that he was in fact, alive and corporeal. It seemed that people didn't see him or appreciate his actions, but could appreciate the effects of his actions. What if...

He reached down to the ground and picked up some wet soil and picked up some a soil/clay mix and smushed it into a ball. When will you notice? He stood in front of a group of people surveying the landscape, rolling the mixture in his hands, and then flung the ball at them. The moment the ball left his hand it disintegrated into a muddy slop that flung towards the whole group.

As the mud left his hands, the others noticed the presence of the mud and immediately reacted, trying to dodge out of the way.

"Where did that come from?!"

"Watch out, there must be some animals in the tall grass."

Zac saw the group of people cautiously look around the grass and then backtrack slowly to join the rest of the recruits.

"I see." There was much for Zac to contemplate on.

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The sun was fading fast over the mountain tops and the last dregs of light cast a deep golden-purple hue over the hills.

Lucy climbed on top of the stone gate and began to talk to everyone.

"Everyone, we need to move. The last thing we need is for a riftwalker to catch us at night when we can't see. According to the map, there's a shelter 3km away. I say, we head there and rest for the night. Who's with me?"

Elizabeth was hidden in the crowd and was loud and obnoxious in her support as she clapped. "Yes! Go Lucy! Let's go!"

Lucy smiled at her.

Lucy began to walk to the mountains and Elizabeth caught up to her.

"Thanks Elizabeth."

They turned around. Everyone was slowly following them.

"Poor lost sheep. They just need a leader. Looks like you fit the bill." Elizabeth nudged her, grinning.

"We'll see. I don't exactly want to answer to the captain."

"The way you talked and marched off, you were a little captain."

"Oh." Lucy faltered. The last thing she wanted was to be associated with that man. "Is that good?"

"For now the people need a leader, so yes".

They slowly trudged up a grassy hill towards the mountain ranges.

Lucy turned around, it was a very long procession. Some people hadn't even started to move.

"Elizabeth, tell the stragglers to get a move on. I'm going to keep walking."

"Will do boss."

Lucy wanted to correct her but Elizabeth had already run off down the hill to the back of the line. Her eyes followed the other girl and chuckled before she went back to inspecting her map.

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Zac was mingling at the back. He was watching five other guys huddle together and discuss in hushed voices. They were concentrating heavily on their conversation and didn't see Elizabeth walk towards them.

A man called Eric was talking the most.

"What if this is another trap? The captain suggested the place right? It could be some sort of sick torture chamber."

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"I agree." Someone else said.

"But what if we choose the wrong choice and we're used as an example? We could die."

"Ben why are you smiling?"

"Sorry what?"

"Your lips. You're making faces. Come on Ben, now's not the time."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Ben was oblivious to the fact that his lips were being pulled in different directions. One moment his bottom set of teeth and gums were showing, the next he had a clown's smile.

Eric grumbled and moved on. He looked back at another man.

"Killian, don't join him."

"I'm not!"

"You totally are," another chimed.

"Enough. Look, you're right. We're probably safer together in a large group, but in the first instance of danger, we bounce. Recruits look after each other." Eric patted the shoulder of the man next to him and looked at the others.

"Right." The others nodded and agreed with him.

"What are you lot up to?" Elizabeth walked over to Eric and the others.

"Oh nothing, just admiring Lucy."

Zac chuckled at Eric's ability to immediately shift his demeanour.

Elizabeth walked up to Eric and squared him off. "Admiring Lucy? You seemed to be plotting a lot more than looking."

"What can I say, she's beautiful." Eric looked at the others for support.

The others stepped up and started to dreamily smile. "Yeah. So attractive."

"Mmm."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes and was visibly disgusted. "Ugh boys."

Eric retorted, "we're not insinuating anything. She's physically attractive, baldness included. What were you thinking of?"

She frowned, but Zac could see her ears flush a little. "You're taking too long. The sun has almost disappeared. Come on, get a move on." She walked to the back of the group and started pushing Eric. "Less chatty, more movey."

Eric was pushed forward a couple of steps, but he resisted.

"Wait, wait. give us a minute, we were almost done."

"Alright, but make it quick."

The guys looked at each other and Eric shook his head slightly.

"Come on in."

They huddled again. Elizabeth squeezed her way between them and made space for herself.

The guys looked at her and she just stared back.

"What?"

"Sorry you're not part of the circle."

"What?" She frowned, "why can't I join?"

"You sure you want to?"

"Of course."

"Well then you better swear to the Goddess. Close your eyes and put your index and middle finger to your forehead."

Elizabeth followed.

One of the men mouthed, "what are you doing?"

Eric threw his hands up in the air and shrugged.

"Now repeat after me. I solemnly swear that everything said will remain within the confidence of this group."

"I solemnly swear that everything said will remain within the confidence of this group."

"Or let the Goddess smite me for my infidelity."

"Or let the Goddess smite me for my infidelity."

A couple of the other men also mimicked Elizabeth and made the same pledge. Eric looked at them confused, mouthing "what are YOU doing? I made this up."

"It sounds legit," they mouthed back, shrugging.

Eric shooed them with his hands.

"Is everything okay?"

"Yes, yes! Just completing my side of the pact. Okay, now open your eyes." Eric took his arm off the shoulder of another man and welcomed her into the circle and put his arm around her shoulders.

"Welcome to the circle."

"Okay" Elizabeth nervously replied.

"What's your name?"

"Elizabeth, you can call me Ella."

"Ella, meet Jaden, Killian, Mervyn, and Ben. I'm Eric."

"I'm here too but that's okay." Zac said.

"Eric, okay." She pondered.

"First point on the agenda" Eric began and Ella's eyes flicked to him.

"Mervyn, what were you thinking of when you said Lucy's attractive? You had the nicest smile on your face."

"Ugh. Why do I even." Ella tried to get away but Eric held her in the circle.

"If you want to be part of the circle, you gotta accept the rest of the circle. It goes two ways."

Elizabeth deadpan stared at Eric before sighing and giving in.

"Her forehead" Mervyn continued, "glossy, smooth, no sun spots, beautiful curves around the temples. Perfection."

"Oh you're right! I get you 100%." Jaden was embarrassed to speak up initially but immediately agreed with Mervyn.

"I want to know what you were really talking about." Elizabeth replied. "I heard a little when I first arrived. What's this about recruits looking out for one another?"

"Oh we were discussing Lucy, you know. Have to be supportive and band together you know. Fan club and all." Eric still didn't tell the truth.

"Eric, I swore the pledge. I'm in the circle. You can tell me."

Eric looked at the others. They were also hesitant.

"Hmph, fine. We've wasted enough time. You can all fall behind, see what I care." Ella pulled herself out of the circle and pointed at the Sun. It was rapidly disappearing over the mountain tops. "That, my friends, is our life line. When that disappears, don't expect me to save you." Ella began to walk off.

She turned around after making some distance and called back, "and honestly I don't get what you see in Lucy anyway", before continuing to walk away.

Zac heard her mutter, "deactivate default mode" and as she said that, her black suit turned invisible. Her hips swayed with each step as she walked away from them. She half turned back to the boys, careful to protect her nakedness, and blew them a kiss before strutting back to the main group. Her black suit returned as she joined the others and disappeared into the crowd; no one else the wiser except Zac and the five men.

Ben pinched Jaden's cheek. Even without the pinch, his cheeks were already burning.

Eric turned around to the others, "she's mine." His words immediately caused an uproar between the group and soon Eric and Jaden were tussling on the grass. Ben and Killian also jumped in, laughing.

"Hey don't make me kick you!" Elizabeth's voice could be heard yelling from the crowd ahead. Zac could see she was smiling, enjoying the attention.

The boys picked themselves up and dusted off their suits before running to catch up.

Zac looked at his surroundings one last time. It was peaceful, and seemingly unclaimed by humanity. There was no technology in sight save this obscure stone gate. There were no monsters either, just a thriving ecosystem. He found it hard to believe this was dangerous and uninhabitable. He definitely didn't understand what Lucy was worried about. All the recruits had probably been here an hour; half the total time he was aware. This was the most peaceful place that he knew. Who cares about the hidden toxins that the captain put in us, maybe this should be my final act of defiance. Settle down here. Live off the land. Make a home somehow. Or move around like a nomad. Yes, that's a good idea. Enjoy my time left. Whatever the choices, it sounds much better than whatever the captain has in store for me.

Plus, I'm invisible, so it probably wouldn't matter to Lucy or the others if I disappeared. He stared down at the muddy grass, squatted down and scraped up some rocks and clay and began to play with it in his hands.

He remembered Lucy, dyed red on the ground, bleeding from every pore.

He clenched his hands into a fist. He could imagine everyone lying on the ground in a big puddle of bloody mud after an application of some torture device from the captain. Zac shivered. Maybe they need me more than they realise.

I guess it couldn't hurt if I followed them until they left. Zac took a step and was the last to leave the stone gate, running after the rest to catch up to Ella and Lucy.