Light rarely settled here. By now it was something that I was quite used to.

121 North LaSalle Street.

That is my current address. I know they say not to give out addresses to strangers. However, we live in a new world nowadays. The date is somewhere within the year 2075. Time has changed everything. The world has become so deformed, so bleak, that its survival is unprecedented.

This is the place that I will become executed.

It was them who wanted an all-out war with our nations. If we could wipe ourselves out, it would become easier for them to pick off the rest.

The weak.

The traumatized.

The oppressed.

It was the perfect colonization tool. Using us, to get rid of us. No one understood their intentions. No one knew what they looked like. People thought that they looked like us, or so they thought. There was no evidence. The forensics weren’t there. Our technology grew, but it wasn’t for us. Our police academies turned into monsters. Darkness devoured their souls. Blood engraved within their minds. They became trained pit-bulls who exercised to kill. Who shot on command.

Without control, we were ants moving around. They took their sweet time to slowly crush each and every one of us. They watched how we responded as we gasped for breath. There was nowhere to hide. We were inferior. This is what they wanted, right?

War has never been an issue between nations. There has been plenty of bloodshed throughout human history. A push of a button is all it took. Just look at World War one and two. It didn’t take much to fuel that fire, a couple mass murders and some important hostages and you have yourself a declaration of war. But what happens if you structured a war. If you planned everything. How it was going to begin? How it was going to end? The mortality rates? What happens if it was structured like a board game? A wager so large that was put on a single outcome. What happens if they bet on our civilization?

Well, you would have to ask them that.

With strife came remorse.

With danger came fear.

Loved ones fell on their knees before terrorists who acted like demons. Rage pumped within their blood. It coursed through their thin delicate veins. Humanity left their very being. We were the perfect specimen. Gun powder infested the air that we breathed. Blood stained the very hands that created our civilization. The hard-working eras such as colonialism and industrialism were destroyed in a matter of months. The next thing that came was; The Third World War.

It was known as the “Last War” or “the bomb that could be heard around the world”. Mutations covered us. They scratched and crawled across our paved streets. Gas blinded millions or killed off the rest. We were infected, no one was safe. People tried to fight but couldn’t. There wasn’t anything to fight. We didn’t have the forensics. It was a global holocaust. The world burned red and blood stained the very soils that we harvested. Bones were the rakes to harvest our crops and the earth was our graveyard.

Almost no one survived.

The remains of bones, ashes that were caught in the fires and the bodies that were laid to waste were considered the plagued zone. Earth looked like hell. The crust burned brownish-red. It was the perfect atmosphere for them to flourish. Rich in nutrients. Fruitful in diseases.

We would rebuild.

They would help us.

This was to make themselves stay unknown. They would help us regain what we thought was still ours. Another era in our history books. It was called the Reconstruction era. New cities emerged over existing ones in what used to be the United States of America. Ten so to speak. These came to be known as the Ten Great cities. Their walls built to be impenetrable. They were massive in size. No one could climb it without falling off. Others climbed it for that purpose alone. Buildings seemed to reach towards the heavens. Skyscrapers rebuilt quickly, interlaced and connected to each other. No one knew why.

There was two parts to every city. The slums and the needed.

The slums were people who weren’t needed. People who were of no use to them. They killed us whenever they wanted. No explanations were needed for cold blood murder. We were the poor, always scraping just to get by.

The needed were hesitant to help us. For those that did, became one of us. They were the people who were to help them in their cause. Government officials, doctors, office workers, that was their employment.

It seemed like a normal economy on the outside. However, on the inside, it was a whole different beast.

Some see them as destroyers, enemies within our ranks. Others view them as heroes, worshiping them, saying that they created a peaceful place for us to live. Throughout history, we have come to know that peace comes with a price. Watched as a civilization, technology monitors the rights of our freedom. Security is above par, in fact, almost perfect. Slander of the government leads to charges of treason. Treason meant death. Death meant no escape. They made sure of that. Sometimes they let people escape but only for enjoyment. The enjoyment of pursuit, which became known as the hunt. Their hands reeked of blood. They didn’t care if the bodies piled up. Who your family was. What your name is.

Blood lined the streets. It was fresh. A new kind of fresh. The bodies of adults lay on the side of the abandoned roads who were no longer needed. The bodies of teens lay on the side of the abandoned roads who were no longer fit to be a part of the new world that was being developed. The bodies of children lay on the side of the abandoned roads who were seen with no future. They were murdered in broad daylight. Thrown on the side of the street like ragdolls. Birds would flock and pick at their young fresh meat, their beaks tearing them apart from the inside out. Their screams can still be heard, engulfing the night air as they were eaten alive.

Nothing is ever the same, life is like a dynamic waterfall. The flame of freedom has wavered and died out.

“How is it as a race, that we are still alive?”

The prison was always so quiet. Well for five minutes. A dead silence so serene and peaceful that it crept across the floor around me. But who was I kidding? Definitely not myself. For ten minutes, straight after the five-minute mark, screaming howls throughout our darkness.

It used to send chills down my spine. I could only imagine what was taking place. Now, it was just whatever. I knew what was happening. There wasn’t a need for an explanation because not every one of them was a cry for help.

Hint.

Hint.

Those cries no longer reached my ears. They’ve closed long ago. It reminds me of the needed walking down streets on their way to work in the morning, ignoring the massacre that took place overnight. They would turn their backs on the children and family’s bleeding in the streets, ravaged by beasts.

The wall behind me, it was made of stone, nothing out of the ordinary. A human could have broken through this easily one-hundred years ago with just a chisel and hammer, but with today’s technology, it’s been infused with something known as a reinforcement mineral. A mineral that could handle a thousand explosions, or so that’s what we’ve been told. I haven’t tested it out yet, so I can’t say that it’s me-proof. It was more like, I didn’t want to test it because causing a commotion would create work for myself. More work, meant more torture. I didn’t necessarily feel like going down that avenue.

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“However, it may make the prison a little livelier.”

With one hand I reached out, pointer finger extended. My head cocked to the left, letting my eyes examine the blood that oozed from freshly new wounds.

“This sucks.” I said with a deep sigh. “This lifestyle wasn’t what I envisioned it to be.”

My finger picked and scraped up some blood from a fresh laceration on my shoulder.

“If they are going to kill me, can they just do it already.”

My ribs showed through a bunch of bandages that covered the majority of my body. Their outlines were prominent, protruding from the lack of nutrients. Someday I will starve. But honestly, they should be spurting in all directions.

Oh, maybe it’s time that I introduce myself. My name is Arius Ayers. I am a fifteen-year-old male student at one of the inner-city Chicago high schools. Well, I used to be. Since a certain incident that happened before I was old enough to enter middle school, I have been residing in what is known to be one of the most classified prisons of the remaining world. It’s been four years, three-hundred and sixty-four days and trust me, its felt like an eternity. That’s all.

With the blood on the tip of my finger, I began to mark the wall.

“Another one. Another one. And another one. This will all end tomorrow. Well, hopefully. I’m sick of being in this pathetic hell-hole.”

For several moments, I stared at the blood. Little droplets fell as they made their way to the floor as others created streaks, drying slowly as they adventured their way down the sheer height of its stony features. Faces emerged to associate themselves with past memories. I reached out to touch the wall, but before I could, the tips of my fingers hesitated, hovering over the blood.

“Why?”

I turned to press my back into the wall, drifting away in the darkness.

“The people I have killed. The people that I’ve tried to save. In a matter of time, their faces will disappear into the shadows. Again, I will see you soon. I promise.”

The gloominess of my voice bounced around with piercing strength, amplifying themselves into the faded world beyond. The sound of a door closing in the distance caught my ears. Footsteps replaced the quiet and serene atmosphere.

A set of eyes peered inside.

“How’s my favorite prisoner doing?”

“Huh? Oh. It’s you. Just fine. How about you?”

“Why thanks for asking. You know, just enlightened.”

“That’s satisfying. I’m glad that you are finally reaching the state of nirvana. May the light be with you.” I chuckled. “Are you enjoying the likes of this place. This wretched place.”

“Of course, I enjoy it. After all, this is my home.”

“Yeah. I know. You don’t need to boast about it every day.”

“Arius.”

Whenever said something with my name, I knew something was about to go down. It didn’t matter if the world was ending, if someone started a sentence with my first name, there was always trouble about to follow.

“Yes. What is it?”

“Your fight last night. It was pretty impressive. I must say, what style of martial-arts was is?”

“Martial-arts?”

“Yes. What else could it be?”

“An irregular form of fighting.”

“Maybe, but it has to be associated with a kempo school.”

“Why would it be kempo?”

“Kempo is the most common form.”

“So, let’s say it was kempo, why would it matter if I told you?”

“No. I guess it wouldn’t. Just curious.” He glanced at me from the corner of his eye. “I was hoping you were going to tell me, but it looks like I’ll never know now.”

Kempo. I haven’t heard that word in a long time. How many types of martial arts do I really know? All I know is that there are a lot.

“I guess you won’t. But maybe one day.”

“That’s a letdown. I was hoping for a little more of a reaction.”

“Like what kind of reaction?”

“Maybe we should fight so you can find out? Or would you like to taste my fist, no matter how absurd that is. There isn’t a way you would be able to lay a finger on me. But something along those guidelines.”

“Oh. What’s the weather like today?”

“Completely ignored the question. Arius. I have no idea. I haven’t been out today because I’ve been stuck babysitting your lame ass all day.”

“Remember, I never asked for a babysitter. It would be nice if I had a say in the matter, but I guess that’s too much to ask for. Here I thought I was going to find out what it looked like today. But damn, its too much to ask for.”

“Why not go check it out for yourself. I can let you out if you want.” He said with a grin.

“You sure? I won’t get in trouble?”

“Yeah. Why not? No one’s stopping you, well except me of course.” He gave a deep laugh. “Well, you would have to tell me your secrets and beg for your life as I’m kicking you in the face. But we all know you would never stoop to that level. Maybe you could find someone to let you out.”

“Yeah, that’s not happening. There’s no need for me to beg for my life here.”

“Oh. That’s interesting.”

I watched as turned back slowly, making his exit.

“Behave yourself. You never know who may come around next time to watch your ass. Hopefully they are in a good mood to let you out.”

“There’s no need.” I mumbled.

For a brief moment, time stopped. His eyelids froze, closed halfway, looking away. A split second later, I was placed beneath the sun, the star of fire. The scorching heat beat my body with battering rays. With one hand, I covered my delicate face. Skyscrapers circled around me, converging to a single point in the sky. The sunlight glittered off their glass paned sides while reflecting the hustle and bustle of city life. I kept forgetting how futuristic this city of Chicago had become. With a quick glance, I watched as frozen people seemed to make their way around, avoiding the dead bodies that lay in their wake. White doctor masks lined people’s faces of all ages as to not breathe in the pollutants. Children ran through the streets avoiding cars as they seemed to honk at them endlessly. I looked to see a little girl, dead in the middle of an intersection. Her white dress covered in her own blood, limbs broken in different directions. The car that hit her, struck the side of a building. Glass seemed to fly everywhere, the husband dead in the front seat while the woman made her way to safety on the phone, throwing up signs as if to curse the child. No one seemed interested in helping her. Cops stood nearby watching, donuts stuffed in their mouths. Flocks of ravens began their descent, ready to rip out her organs.

“The circle of life in this wicked city.”

Their reactions caught like a camera. Some stared in disgust. Others pinched their nose to avoid the smell. The difference between the slums and the needed were prominent. You can tell by their appearances alone.

Who had influence and who didn’t.

The sun shone bright, not a single cloud dared to be near its radiance as if scared of being burned alive. Its crystal blue almost seemed to fade as if noting the atmosphere was dying.

“Well, I guess tomorrow will be a good enough.”

A heartbeat later, my body lurched back into its cell, leaning back against the wall, witnessing as time slowly began to speed back up to normal.

“I just hope you begin your begging tomorrow.”

“And why would I start tomorrow?”

He turned back to stare at my menacing gaze. “Because it’s going to be a great day.” He said with a huge grin.

“So. Tell me, warden. What exactly is going on? Coming to me when you aren’t on your rounds. That’s so unlike you.”

He matched my challenging eyes. “How would you know that im not on my rounds?

“How stupid do you think I am?”

“My. My. I guess you do have some brain cells left. And here I thought I kicked them all to the curb. But seriously, can’t see a friendly prisoner of mine?”

“And when have I ever been caring and friendly to you?”

“You’re right. You’re pretty cold-hearted.”

“What are you doing out there?”

“Kidnapping. Assassinations. Murdering the youth.” An evil grin swept across his face. Pearly white teeth glistened in the low light. “I love watching children beg for their life. Especially their mothers. It’s because they become so protective that they are willing to exchange their life for their precious kin. Oh. How it makes my heart ache. I just want to slaughter them both.” He leaned as his grin got wider.

“Yep. You’re crazy.”

“¾Oh? And you’re one to talk. Wrath.” The corners of his lips grew taller. “The amount you kill exceeds anyone’s here. You are pretty much a god in this cell compared to others. But, I guess gods can still be executed.”

“Wrath?”

“Wait, you don’t know? Guess I shouldn’t spoil the surprise then.”

“What does that mean? Is your boss really running out of time that he has to resort to my death?”

“That’s amusing. What makes you think of that?”

“For three years, I’ve been intrigued. Thousands of faces, none have come back. What is your end game, Warden?”

“Kid. I don’t understand.”

“Don’t play dumb.”

Menace swelled up in the center of my pupils shrinking them in size, focusing on his with high intensity.

He pulled out a smartphone. A loud snap echoed. With one quick glance at his phone, he began to laugh uncontrollable.

“Wow, this is incredible. This reaction, it’s so priceless. It may be the first time I have elicited a reaction out of you.”

He showed me the picture of the hatred in my face.

“I can’t wait to create a collage for your death. I may even crave this very picture on your tombstone.”

He put his phone back into his pocket, fixed his tie and repositioned his eyes to gaze back into mine.

“This is priceless.” He paused for a moment. “Oh? And about the bodies, they will eventually make their way into the wasteland.”

“The wasteland and the city are the same thing.”

“Tsk. Tsk. Arius. No, they are not. The difference between the two are the kind of beasts that roam the lands.”

“Semantics.”

“Call it what you want.”

“Let me rephrase the question. What kind of experimentation are you trying to come up with this time? Why do you need our race?”

“So, you finally remembered? I was wondering how long it would take you to come back to your senses.”

“Remembered what?”

“Wait. You do remember, or you don’t?”

“What is it that I am supposed to remember? Actually, I don’t need to remember anything. I have a general idea as to why you need us.”

“Oh. That’s interesting. But before that, how about I ask you a question first.”

“What is it?”

“Would you be interested in making a deal?”

“It depends on the deal.”

“Join us? You are more like us than any of these infected rats.” I watched as he scanned his eyes around the other cells.

“True it would be interesting to see what your planning. Plus, you do seem to have the upper hand in controlling the masses.”

“Is that a yes?”

“But unfortunately, I have to decline.”

“Why?”

“There aren’t really any incentives.”

“You could’ve had anything you wanted, that should be enough of an incentive.”

“Why should I be a subordinate for something I could easily obtain on my own?”

“And you really believe that?”

“You should know it yourself.”

“Well, whatever you say. You would have made a great ally to have.”

I looked at him with an icy blue piecing gaze. “But, your better as an enemy.”

“Well, there isn’t any point in pressuring you. You’ll be a dead man tomorrow anyway. However, I will let you in on something interesting.” His smirk turned into a snickering grin that showed both rows of teeth. “These bodies are the hosts for what is yet to come.” They rolled off his tongue with ecstasy.

“Oh? That does sounds interesting.”

“Yes. Yes. Hold onto it for as long as you like, even in the afterlife where the dead can no longer speak. It may suit you well there after all.” He looked at me with ungrateful eyes.

“Is that why I am needed? Am I the center host?”

“It’s going to be a funeral no one will ever forget.” Taking a deep inhalation, I watched him blush with joy.

“Funeral?”

“You will make a fine specimen. A celebration of victory.” His tongue flickered around his lips.

“Victory? Please. Now it’s my turn.”

“Huh?”

“How about we make a deal?”

My pupils bore into his. For a moment, everything seemed to stand still. The breathes of people sucked in. Not a single murmur echoed.

“It better be good. Since you’ve already decided to decline mine. Don’t keep me in suspense, tell me.” He replied with a devil’s smile.

“Would you put your life on the line to complete your obsession?” I glared at him with cold eyes. “Are you one of those people?”

“Keep going.”

“Do you want to fight to the death with me?” I said with an evil grin.

He pondered for several seconds on the idea, but there wasn’t much to think about. His head cocked back and let out a great big laugh.

“Challenge accepted.”

This is where it all began.

Where the fury of revenge and hatred started its cycle within my blood once more.

“Rage on.”