It has been almost two years since the Cascade happened. How the world changed by one single event. South of Salt Lake City was a refugee town made up of American citizens affected by the Cascade. All of them were homeless, the mutations made them lose their jobs, their homes, everything. Some mutations caused health complications, which created a chain of events that made them lose everything. To think that they all became refugees in their own country, once normal people became freaks in a land that championed freedom now lived in destitute. The buildings they now lived in were cheaply made and barely a year old. A town of sorts, one without a chance of escaping where the alternative is a risk of living on the streets.
Everyone knew why that became the case, the American government panicked and chose the path with the least resistance. The most affected people were the working class, a workforce that was replaceable and easily neglected. That was what the people of Salt Lake City Refugee Detention Centre were made up of, a people who were desperate and in need of help, thirsty for a drop of human kindness.
That was why Nashra chose the place, the people there needed something to hope for. A future that could help them return to a normal life. She came there, and masked herself as a person who was affected by the Cascade, but not physically. She lied that her magical capabilities were a byproduct of her mutation, no one would second guess her, no one could.
She arrived on the 4th of November, and after two weeks of living among the refugees, she became a leader of sorts. During the morning of the 20th of November, she stood at the gate greeting new American refugees to one of the few places that would take them in, a new home they would all know as New Atlantia. She noticed how bad some of their mutations were, some looked less than human. Some had wings like that of angels, others had horns of demons, some wore masks to hide their hideous faces, and others had their skin replaced with scales or stone. But she tried to find people to recruit, while deformed looking, some might have the strength to lift a freight train, the durability to be immune to bullets, or the powers to breathe fire. People become extensions to achieve her plans. If there was one thing the Order taught her; it was that people are all expendable tools that would eventually expire. Which means that it would be wise to use them before they were deemed useless.
‘Heh, you look excited for Christmas.’ Nashra's second-in-command approached her. He was known as Jamie; he stood at almost seven feet tall, his skin had green patches that felt like fibreglass, his eyes were pitch black, and a third arm rested on his chest. Jamie was a kind soul, but to Nashra, he was an efficient brute who would do anything if asked. She knew his buttons, what made him tick a certain way. He didn’t know that he was nothing more than a weapon, a devoted follower to do as she wished.
‘You could say that’ Nashra chuckled after taking a sip of her hot chocolate. ‘I just need to figure out how to get presents for everyone.’
Jamie smiled after giving her a gentle nudge with his shoulder. ‘I’m sure you’ll figure it out, you always do.’
They both talked to each other, Jamie tried to figure out if Nashra had plans and if she wanted anything from Christmas. But it was all one-sided, she only wanted to find recruits, people who could fulfil her requirements. Then, she saw him. He looked like a reptile, a short man that stood no taller than 5’3. He had three toes on each foot, his scales were an inconsistent shade of green. But what surprised her was the number of scars he had. He had nothing but ragged clothes on his back and a tattered blanket that kept him warm.
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‘… so, I was thinking.’ Jamie stopped himself after he noticed the reptile enter the facility. Even he couldn’t ignore the scars that mapped his face and arms. ‘Jesus, he had been through a lot.’
‘People fear change, he is one of the thousands of victims that suffered under the hands of people who were untouched by the Cascade.’ Nashra approached the reptile with Jamie tailing behind. She felt uneasy around the reptile; she felt she should know him but at the same time didn’t. But if there was one thing about the reptile, it was how angry the reptile looked. How their eyes screamed of hatred, an wrath so vile that she felt threatened. He looks traumatised, someone really hurt this poor man. She reasoned to herself.
‘Uh hello, sir.’ Jamie awkwardly introduced himself. ‘Before we can let you enter, we need to know if you have any weapons on you. Just for our safety and all.’ The reptile gave a nod and handed him a large knife, Jamie couldn’t help himself but gave an impressed whistle. ‘A bowie knife! I see you have some good taste.’
‘Why do you have a knife on you?’ Nashra questioned the reptile, a weapon like that to her is not something any regular person would have.
‘Payment to enter.’ The reptile replied, his tone flat and harsh.
‘You don’t need to pay anything to enter, everything is free here.’ Jamie passed the knife back to the reptile, the reptile reached for the knife, but Jamie pulled his hand away to continue talking. ‘Just make sure you help out around here, this knife seems important to you, so don’t wave it around and don’t cause trouble and we’ll be fine. Other than that, just head down the road and the receptionist will find you a room. Just keep in mind that you might have to share with others.’
The reptile took his blade back, ‘cheers.’
Before the reptile could walk away, Nashra called out to him. ‘Wait, what’s your name?’
The reptile turned around and responded bluntly. ‘Nathen.’
‘Well, Nathen. We have a service on tonight, if you want you can join, and you’ll be given free food.’
The reptile paused before he could give a reply. ‘I might,’ the reptile said as he walked off to the communal housing block.
‘Well, he might have some issues.’ Jamie commented the moment the reptile was out of earshot.
Nashra thought about the reptile, how they looked familiar. Yet she couldn’t put her finger on who that reptile reminded. ‘He is clearly traumatised, give him some time and he might heal. Hopefully.’
Jamie chuckled, ‘if we’re lucky, he might join your service. Maybe become a member of the community.’
Nashra couldn’t help but smile, believing deep down that the reptile might help her in some way. ‘One can hope.’