Chapter 5 - Bountiful Tribulations

“Through the actions of Men, have come bountiful gifts for humanity, and through those same Men, will come god-forsaken tragedies for humanity as a result of their actions. - Duke Rayistamine II (Last Emperor of Grentu - The City That Was Erased)

Power like never before filled through my body.

I felt as if I could break out of the chains holding me with ease, however strength wasn’t the only thing my receiving a title seemed to improve.

“My vision has improved significantly” I murmured.

I could see details on the chains and all around the room I never had noticed before. My eyes enabled me to see specks of dust from halfway across the room and in places that shouldn’t even be visible from where I was.

My body and mind received a boost, it seemed, but I was still curious to know what else i could do,

With that being said, all the gushing over my new found prowess brought my mind back to where it was supposed to be, Catching my Prey.

It was an unnatural feeling to be at the mercy of another, one that refreshed my thoughts and sobered me from the delusion that I was all powerful I’d been drowning myself in.

Looking back at my past actions and remarks, I’d gotten too comfortable, too complacent.

Traits that belonged to those who’ve accomplished all they’ve set out to do, or gotten lazy in the process.

Traits that didn’t belong to me.

In order to get an idea of where to go I needed to think. Thanks to the neat chair and steel chains that were enclosed around me, and no torturer in sight. It seemed like I’d have plenty of time to figure out what my plan was going to be, leaving off from the library.

So, I sat and thought. About anything and everything, for what seemed like hours, but totally could’ve been a few minutes. Who knows, there were no clocks in this sorry excuse of a waiting room.

I was able to pinpoint two tasks that required my utmost attention moving forward.

First, I needed information on my captors. I’d always been intrigued with espionage and intelligence books that I’d read over the years. Something about the act of infiltrating a group and taking them down from the inside seemed a much smarter and satisfying approach than other alternatives.

This left me with an idea that would shape my near future gravely, whether positively or negatively, I wouldn’t be able to say. However that’s what made it more fun, I’d put all my chips on the table and endure until there was nothing left but the results of my actions. When that time came, I’d know the answer.

It was no secret; I wasn’t a stranger to pain, hardship, or struggle. They just so happened to be my closest friends.

So I’ll give it my all & dive in to accomplish my goals - Whatever it took, that was how I was going to make it out.

Whether the cost was my life, my morals, my sanity. I’d make sure the price was paid in full if I got me to where I wanted to be.

*Click*

My focus deepened in the heartbeat that it took for the door to open.

“Sitting pretty there, Carter?” a smug voice emerged.

Swaggering inside came the insidious piece of shit who was responsible for my capture. I didn’t know his name, so I started there.

“Very.” I smirked. “Why don’t you come a bit closer Mister, I’d love to speak with you in depth about the comfort of my current position.”

“Haha, I’m impressed you’re still in the mood for banter after our little meeting earlier. Glad we haven’t broken you just yet.” He winked. “See Carter, there’s no need for the feigned nonchalance. You serve a purpose, and it’s my role to sculpt you into the being that you possess the potential to become. We didn’t go through all this trouble of keeping you alive for no reason now.”

He had a point. As time went on it became glaringly apparent that they had more than the means to get rid of me. I couldn’t run nor fight my way out. Not yet. Leaving the question of why I was still alive.

“Well it’s no secret that you need me for something. So quit talking like we’re long time buds and come out with it.” I ordered

“Concise and to the point. Your attitude is improving by the second, young man.” The bastard gave a smile that a lesser man would’ve believed to contain emotion.

Of course I’d become more open to this, in his eyes I must be scared shitless from the “meeting” that took place earlier, I’ve deduced escape is futile and for the time being I’m stuck in this position.

“To understand what your role is, you’ll first need to acquire the skills necessary for said role. The organization you‘ll be brought into is known as Rose. We are a gathering of Titled-Individuals that carry out special operations at the organizations behest. Your job will be to excel in these missions and bring back favorable results.”

“What made you choose me?” I questioned.

“Whether you believe it or not, young man. You are not normal.”

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

Huh.

Maybe it was the way he said it with such disdain, or the undeniable fact that I couldn’t detect a lie anywhere near the man, whether it be in his tone or body language. I found myself wanting to believe him.

Then, If I’m not normal, what am I?

“There are a select few ways your time in this realm will go, simply because of who you are.” The organizer of my kidnapping and torture spoke.

“Legendary or Tragic.” I said, almost a whisper yet somehow with enough weight it was ingrained into our minds upon release.

“Yes.” He replied with a somber look as if taken aback “Legendary or Tragic, indeed.”

✧

Waking up felt strange.

I felt more energetic and alert than ever before. Mentally, I’d already attributed the boost to my new found Title, however I still was in the dark about a lot of things regarding it.

It seemed as if I was doomed to sit chained up until the end of time until a certain, beautiful and splendidly dressed conniving bitch caused a noise at the only entrance and exit in sight. My attention was on her the moment my mind registered the noise.

“Wake up, Prince Charming.” She told me with a look that said she’d rather be doing anything else.

It was glaringly obvious I’d already been awake when she came in but I digress.

“It’s time for you to be introduced.” she spoke

“Introduced?” I said, only realizing how surprised I sounded after.

“Boss said it’s time you get a taste of the kind of place you’re joining, " she said.

“Introduced to whom?” I sagely replied.

“That’s for you to find out. First let me get these chains off of you.” She said

As the massive weight released my body from its hold and I stood up I felt a thousand times lighter. I started to slightly stretch as I started to get back into the swing of things. Getting caught lacking was how I got myself in this mess, no longer would I move passively and go with the flow, it was something I’d gotten into the habit of as I lost my direction. Slowly but surely I would take back the reins and end up on top. It was only a matter of time as Gramps would say.

“Time to move, pretty boy.” my female guide spoke.

Pretty boy? Although I’d never been called ugly before, it took me aback to be called that. I had what you would call sharp features whether it be my cheekbones or jawline, plus smaller crescent shaped eyes you wouldn’t normally see on someone with dark skin- or as the natives of Manesha called people of my skin tone; Zante.

The Zante were migrants from the other side of the world - in an effort to escape the torturously cold climate conditions they suffered from - it's a big reason as to why the cold hardly affects me. The western hemisphere was an entire mystery that the majority of books and teachings coined it as uninhabitable. My ancestors and those that came before me suffered through much worse eventually hardening our entire civilization's tolerance.

We left the room of torture and entered a long corridor with a left turn at the end. The entire layout of the strange facility pretty much consisted of similar empty long hallways that eventually brought us to a black portal of some kind with a large red flower in front of it.

Seemingly reading my mind, my female guide spoke. “If you’re curious as to what the rose is doing in front of the ominous portal, it's who we are.”

“Who we are?” I questioned.

“Rose.” She said and the weight of the words leaving her mouth reverberated throughout the entire column of hallways.

“Whether you’ve heard of us before or not, it’s an indisputable fact that we are among the top organizations on Manesha though we aren’t interested in being the most popular or well known. Those such as the Watchers, and Collectors, can be classified as Mediocre groups when compared to our organization, though a big reason for that comes from our Leadership.”

“What makes the leadership so special?” I asked.

“You’ll hear about it one way or another.” she replied. “Come on, time to meet your home.”

I took a step forward and entered through the portal.

I felt it before I saw it.

Maybe 30 or more individuals dressed in different colored uniforms with Rose’s embroidered onto them placed their full attention and bloodlust onto me.

One would’ve thought I walked in with multiple bombs strapped across my person and a sign that said ‘I’M HERE TO KILL YOU’, with the amount of hostility thrown at me upon first arrival.

I didn’t shy away, or get nervous however. I stood my ground, because without throwing any fancy wording or philosophy around to justify my actions. The truth was, it was all I could do. With my back against the wall, no help in sight, and a plethora of enemies. All I’d ever be able to do was stand my ground.

So If I was gonna make that choice I’d stand on it.

Immediately I used my full speed infusing my new found title - almost like I’d been born with it my entire life. I appeared next to a gray haired teen with a scar underneath his left eye. He sported a different colored uniform than the rest - one of bright green.

To my surprise I couldn’t sense any emotion or reaction from him the moment I’d gotten close.

There’s no explanation as to why I chose him, for some reason he just stood out.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Carter” I said, whilst sticking out my hand.

“Nigel” The gray haired teen responded with a small smile that didn’t even reach his eyes.

“PHSCHHH”

Suddenly I’d been launched backward what must have been 15 feet. Oddly enough, I couldn’t tell why. ‘Nigel’ didn’t move or make a sound.

“Alright, alright that's enough boys.” My female guide interrupted. “Nigel, next time you use a blockade on another member, you’re mine.” That got a shiver out of the scarred teen.

“Apologies, Cassandra. It won’t happen again.” He serenely replied.

“You.” she pointed at me. “Get up, it's almost time for your introduction to commence.”

She led me away from the countless peering eyes towards a huge opening that held nothing but pedestals and screens with Roses signifying every part of the room.

“Your intuition is sharp enough to have gone straight for Nigel.” My guide, Cassandra said.

“What made him so special?” I wondered.

“The green he was wearing, marks him as next in line for one of the Forsaken Titles passed down from our leadership. “He’ll be a good resource if you’re able to befriend him, or a suitable enemy. Whichever way it goes, be careful. You’re not around small fry bereft of abilities or power. You’re surrounded by the best of the best, take heed and move carefully.”

All I could manage was a nod, the rest of my mind was occupied reorganizing the information I'd learned since I arrived, along with my position.

“Well, time for you to be introduced.” Cassandra lightly spoke. As we walked toward the edge of the opening a pathway slowly came into fruition, leading us to a large dome shaped structure with a group of Men and Women in White uniforms with Roses embroidered onto their collars.

“Again, to who?”

“The Owner of Rose. Or as you’ll learn to call him, His Majesty Kylian.”

CHAPTER 5 - END.