(Reverence 28, 55 / 3:33AM)

She stood in front of the empty highway that glistened in the foggy night sky.

She couldn’t hear the pleasant noises of the trees swaying, or the loud music that blasted through the old houses from afar.

The only thing that she could hear were the noises that dampened the inside of her head.

(Gwen’s thoughts) I did …

In her right hand, she held the very paper that changed the entire course of her life, her fingers gripping the note that wrinkled under the pressure. On her left hand, she held a butter knife that was caressed with the smear of blood, the warm liquid trickling the dry sidewalk beneath her feet.

And on both of her sleeves, more blood dripped onto her palms, her wrists cut open to let the foggy air inside her bloodstream.

(Gwen’s thought’s) I did everything I could …

Putting both the note and the little butterknife inside of her pockets, she let her eyes caress the smoldering asphalt beneath the bridge that she set foot on.

Walking forward, the boots mingled the sidewalk pavement, clamping the night air. Continuing to watch the black asphalt being rolled over by the many cars driving onto it, it only caused her body to lean ever forward toward the rest of her family…

Her darkened irises underneath her hoodie reflected the fake light that emitted from a few cars that drove.

(Gwen’s thoughts) There’s nothing left for me…

Standing in front of the railing that was blocking her destination, she pulled out both of her hands from her pockets, placing them onto the cold metal railing that enveloped her calloused hands.

Taking a big breath in, she let out the excessive air from her darkened pink lungs, all the alcohol air and cigarette smoke from that old and molded wooden house starting to get to her. Letting out a few rasping coughs from her throat and lungs, bits of saliva spewed out of her, with some saliva being tainted with a hint of yellow.

Her arms trembling, her legs wobbling, the poundings that dwelled within her soul were brought to cataclysmic levels.

(Gwen’s thoughts) Mother … Maverick …

Lifting her face upward, she looked at the hidden stars that were blocked by the darkened mist, her beacon of hope fading away into the cosmic abyss.

(Gwen’s thoughts) I’m going home…

Slowly, she put her entire body weight on the railing that blocked her destination.

By having her left foot on the edge of the railing, she then placed her right foot just about next to it. With her entire body on the other side of the rails, she held the metal with both of her hands as if her life depended on it.

Despite her body leaning forward.

Facing the highway with cold darkened eyes, she closed them as her vision dampened with just the picture of nothing. As her heels were moved back and forth upon the stone cement, she let out a small breath of air from her lungs, as she—

(???) The world can be a horrible place.

Behind her, the voice of a low-pitched man can be heard.

______________________________________________________________________________

Her soul and mind were then brought back to the present time.

But not just to her original world, but a world where the origin of time itself was nonexistent. Just beyond the edges of the horizons, were nothing but sand, sand, and an exquisite abundance of more sand.

Her body was drenched in an abundance of hot sweat, her bodily liquids soon dampened the burning sand that enveloped her hands and fingers.

And in the same position, as she was last time, her eyes took in the beauty of the old man that was in front of her, his position the same as he was a second ago. Noticing that she was paralyzed from the waist down again, she arched her chest and stomach upward as her muscles expanded upon the strength she exerted.

(Gwen) T-That was it? That was what you wanted to show me? My past?

(???) Correct.

The old man still had his face looking onto the new phenomena that feasted upon his eyes, his gray thin hair from the back of his head blocking the sides of his face. Still having his hands encapsulated inside of his pockets, he tilted his head down as he slightly glanced toward the direction of Gwen.

(???) About those questions. You want to know why I brought you here right? The reason why I brought you here was because you received power from that crystal.

(Gwen) A power? Like a blessing?

(???) No, something much more powerful than just a blessing…

Gwen started to crawl forward, her palms burning up from the stabbing sand that blistered her already lumped-up hands. Exerting her entire body with just her forearms, biceps, and shoulders, she grits the ends of her recovering cavity-ridden teeth that she endured for many years.

Just a couple of feet away from the old man, she opened her mouth agape as some of the burning sand soon got into her mouth.

(Gwen) What type of power is it?

(???) Let’s just say that you’re now a powerhouse in terms of power. But it all comes down to how you use that power…

Still groveling on top of the sand, bits of it got into her uniform jacket and jostled her chest upward. Her body twitched from the never-ending sand that pelted against her freckled and pale face, she slowly extended her right hand forward, her left hand supporting the weight of her entire body.

And in that instant, she leaned her body so that her right hand gripped the old man’s ankle, her left bicep contorting with her muscles reigning her body to stay on top.

(Gwen) What … What did you want from me…? Why was I chosen specifically?

The old man didn’t dare to look upon the burning hand that clenched around his old and wrinkled skin.

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Tilting his head downward, he made sure that the strands of his gray hair didn’t let the light shine onto his face, still having that mysterious facade on him. Letting in an abundance of warm hot air inside of his dried-up lungs, his throat raspied against his vocals soon clashed with the need for cold water.

(???) You were chosen for some endgame plan, same as me. We’re not the only ones that are in this desert heap together.

(Gwen) Then…

(???) The more your soldiers walk, the longer everything will come together in the end.

Plopping her chest and chin down onto the sand below, the hot swelling sand chiseled her skin that felt as if she was being placed on a burning pan. Her left hand losing the strength to pull herself up again, slowly extended it toward the other ankle that the old man was blessed with.

Clenching her other hand, she dug her fingernails into the wrinkled skin of his leg, causing his stability to slightly falter.

(???) Why do you cling to me so much? What purpose does it make?

(Gwen) For all my life, I did nothing but be in the bottom barrel of society… day in, and day out, nobody cared for me…

(???) And?

(Gwen) Just … Why me? I haven’t … done anything useful for once in my life … my parents are dead, and my brother is somewhere holed up in a cave … so, I don’t have anyone in my life to—

(???) That’s where you’re wrong.

The old man turned his body around.

Both her hands still gripping his ankles, the blinding sun overhead blocked his face which still left the clinging Gwen to question the facade behind that man.

Looking up, she couldn’t tell what type of face he had, even if she squinted and glared with her slanted eyes. Regardless, she pulled her body closer toward his black leather boots, her face soon blistering from the burning sand particles that stung her pale cheeks.

(???) Even if only one person supports you, then it's enough to keep going. One person is all it takes to push forward, even if the rest of the world pushes you back.

(Gwen) But—

(???) Find someone—no, a group to find the support you need. No matter if the group contains someone whose either shy, sweet, hot-headed, pessimistic, protective, anti-social, prankster or … even someone whose perverted, nurturing, a wannabe terrorist, masochist, or sadist, we all need some spice in our lives.

Crouching down onto the level of where she was, he placed his right knee on the sand that soon cushioned the fabric of his black pants. Pulling both of his hands from out of his pockets, he placed both of them onto her trembling shoulders as he then stared into the irises of the freckled woman.

(???) So … don’t change Gwen. Please don’t change. Just grow and you’ll be brighter than any star.

Violent winds smacked both the freckled woman and the old man who looked at one another, their eyes holding contact no matter what the obstacles around them.

Turning her head toward the incoming sandstorm that was hundreds of feet away, she moved both of her hands onto his wrists, pushing her body upward to lean closer toward the man’s face. Seeing the facial figure of the old man…

(Gwen) Just who are you?

(???) That’s the only question of which I can’t tell. But…

The old man stood up as he dug both of his feet onto the unstable dunes, the dunes swaying under the inferno of sand moving toward them. Since he had both of his hands latched around Gwen’s wrists, he slowly pulled the freckled woman upward, placing her feet and legs on the sand despite having no movement on them.

His head now blocking the blinding sun, Gwen took in the man’s face.

(???) Promise me that you’ll bring us to Paradise.

The world that was filled with sand was no more.

______________________________________________________________________________

(Hallowmonath 27, 55 / 3:21AM)

A woman jolted out of her long-awaited slumber.

Flinching everyone who was around her, four male soldiers jumped up from their metal chairs as they quickly surrounded the recovering soldier. Making a little circle, all four of them put their hands onto the railings of the little hospital bed that she laid on, their hands gripping the white fabric with an iron grip.

As for the freckled woman, she looked up to none other than a man with light gray hair, who wielded two uzis on both of his hips.

(???) Private Gwen.

Having his hands inside his cargo pants, the soldier puffed up his chest which showcased his bright medal on his chest pocket. Clearing the inside of his old and rasped throat, he tilted his head upward so that his adam’s apple was clear as day, along with his prickly gray beard in full display.

(???) You’ve been asleep for more than 36 hours. Are you feeling ok?

(Jerry) Sergeant Hill, she’s still recovering, maybe we should get her some space—

(Gwen) There’s no need. I’m doing well.

Her hands were loosened on top of her knees that were covered by a white silky blanket, as there was nothing that she wore underneath her lower body. Noticing that her butt felt cold, she peeked behind the white fabric that covered her legs, knees, and feet.

And by just taking a peek, it was a good thing that the white paper shirt that she wore was long enough to cover her privates. Gripping the ends of the white blanket with piercing fingertips, her cheeks and face flustered a pink-red as she slouched her body forward.

(Gwen) W-Where is my underwear?!

(Sergeant Hill) It’s inside of the desk to your left.

(Gwen) W-W-Why did they strip me!? D-Don’t tell me they’re checking me out!

(Sergeant Hill) At ease private, the reason why you’re naked from the waist down is because they’ve been analyzing you.

(Gwen) Analyzing?

(Sergeant Hill) When you fell down the hole, you broke your lower spine, and it should’ve paralyzed you from the waist down. But after some examinations…

Benn held a regular-sized paper with both of his large bluish hands, his eyes glancing at the Sergeant who now panned his attention at him. Extending his right hand, the Sergeant grabbed hold of the paper, holding it with just his pointer finger and thumb.

Instead of looking at it by his lonesome, he panned the paper straight at the flustered Gwen, who happened to have a tight grip on the ends of the white paper blanket that covered her lower body.

(Sergeant Hill) Your whole body shows no signs of broken bones at all. Hell, it even fixed up your rotten molars and weak lungs.

Her jaw dropped, her lips quivering.

Seeing the X-ray right in front of her, she squinted her eyes at the picture taken that encapsulated her entire body and bones. Pushing her head down on the pillow, she looked up toward the ceiling that was painted white.

All three other men let out sighs of relief, their lungs releasing unneeded air that was lodged tight in the middle of his throat.

(Gwen) Wow…

(Sergeant Hill) Now Gwen, did you find anything down there on that hole? Most likely a crystal?

(Gwen) Crystal? How did you know?

(Sergeant Hill) The higher-ups wanted us to look for a crystal, but I never guessed that the crystal managed to cure your paralyzed back.

Tilting his head down, the Sergeant pulled both of his hands from out of his pockets, folding them in place as he stared at the star-struck Gwen.

Not only he, but all three other male soldiers put their hands onto their sides, clamping them shut as they looked toward their leader. Benn, who started to glare at the man, curled his lips to form an upside-down U.

(Benn) So what are you going to do with her now?

(Sergeant Hill) Since this was my last mission, I’m officially retiring from active duty.

(Benn) That doesn’t explain my question.

(Sergeant Hill) Four of you are being assigned to a new team, or a future team in the upcoming future.

Gwen gripped the edges of the white paper blanket, her eye bags that were deepened in a lightish black now more prevalent upon her face.

Jerry and the dog-human that was next to him looked down to the ground, analyzing the wooden tiles and their arithmetic patterns.

As for Benn, both of his hands began to curl up as his fingers soon dug themselves into the insides of his palms. His bones made a sharp creaking sound, it led to his eyes to fully immerse himself in his leader.

(Benn) Hey.

(Sergeant Hill) I know a chubby man named Boris who needed some soldiers for an upcoming group that he has been planning, so I took it up to his offer.

(Benn) Hey…

(Sergeant Hill) I’m going to live my peaceful days with my wife and two kids in Fort Damns. It’s been ages since I last saw them—

Benn put his right hand onto the Sergeant’s shoulder, digging his meaty fingertips into the fabric of the camo shirt. Noticing that Benn had his face darkened, Jerry, the dog-human soldier, and even Gwen arched their heads forward to decipher Benn’s next move.

The sergeant turned his head toward the angered shark-human, his eyes and face pushed down.

(Sergeant Hill) Speak away, Benn.

(Benn) … What will happen to Gwen?

(Sergeant Hill) She’ll be following you, Benn. It’s only a change of leadership.

Benn pulled back his hand that gripped the fabric of his leader’s uniform, placing it toward his thigh.

Taking a couple of steps back, he put both of his hands into his pockets, unable to look at the sergeant despite no sign of flustering or sweating dawning on his face. Rubbing his chin, the Sergeant turned his entire attention onto Gwen, who happened to open the drawer to the left that kept her undergarments safe.

(Sergeant Hill) As of now, all four of you will be assigned as not just regular soldiers, but elite soldiers.

(Random Soldier #2) Sorry, but I’m retiring too. I have a son now that I want to take care of.

(Sergeant Hill) Guess that’s three then.

(Jerry) What’s the name of the regiment or squad then?

All three male soldiers soon huddled up closer toward the sergeant, their arms folded while they glued their feet on the white marbled floor.

As for the freckled woman, the white paper blanket that covered her lower body moved as she had both hands in them. Since she had in her left hand the undergarment that was missing from her body, she pulled them in so that her butt wouldn’t feel cold.

Luckily for her, all the male soldiers didn’t care to look at her, a show of respect and gentlemenhood.

(Sergeant Hill) Jerry, Benn, Gwen. From now on, you’ll be working under Boris, along with a few other soldiers who are already in. As for the name, they go by—

The Dark Angels.