Grimacing from the view of the gathering group, the man silently sighed. There were too many rebellion-type teenagers for his liking, and, worth mentioning, that number wasn’t big to begin with. Constantly distracted, not paying attention to his explanation, they were living in their own micro-universe, overconfidently thinking that their problems were the most important ones, while nobody wanted to help them with any solution. Obviously, it wasn’t true for their parents in most cases as the presence in this place in Fantasy City was already a quite telling sign that someone did care.
The problem was that those parents in an attempt to get the attention of their children, would follow the example by losing the focus from the exposition. And that wasn’t good as the fewer eyes and ears he managed to direct on his stories, the worse the chance of getting the tips. Considering that it was a noticeable part of his income, the man’s annoyance was justified. At least in his own mind. Especially, when the next group consisted of elders with open mouths, thick wallets, and no limitations on small spending. However, he didn’t have any options for choosing the group, patiently waiting and hoping for the best with the next one.
“Hello. My name is Ben. Today I will guide you through the unique experience that was granted by the current leader of our Fantasy City. Some would say it’s immoral or illegal, but I need to remind you that this place is made to break the set rules, freeing everyone from the restraints of society… of course, if you are not intervening with the wishes of others. Fantasy City has its name not without a reason. There is no such thing that someone can dictate to you what to do. No, it’s the place of wish fulfillment. The place where any dreams can come true. Where you can check your boundaries and maybe even step behind them to test yourself. So, once again, welcome to Fantasy City!”
The slightly changed introduction managed to capture the attention of teenagers, touching the weak spots about control over them, the restrictions, and the need to obey the rules, set by their parents, who knew nothing about REAL problems. On the other hand, it caused a noticeable dissatisfaction from the paying part of the group. That Ben was going to correct with the next part, pushing another narrative.
“Please, follow me. What you will see next can be a live example of the mentioned things to test your view of the whole world. You see, the morale was constantly changing over time. The bloody sacrifices to summon the needed weather, the ritual of eating a kidney of the killed strong enemy to steal its power, the abnormal desire to keep the purity of the blood leading to marriages inside the family, the legal right of nobles to kill any peasant for even a single glance – these things currently sound like barbaric actions. However, there were times when same-sex marriages were forbidden. Or the religious restrictions could influence the life of the society, and any disagreement could not only lead to condemnation but also to a punishment, including a death sentence. It only confirms how dynamic the human’s morale is. And here you can see a possible and brave step in its development. Or maybe not, and it’s just a freak show. You decide.”
Leading through the huge door after scanning his bracelet, Ben slowly walked into the center of the huge hall, where the main exhibition was located. Separated in multiple areas with corresponding atmospheres around the central figure, it showcased the peak moments of their life. Everything was set to intensify the feeling of the frozen moment – the light, the decoration, the clothes. However, the surprised gasps from the group weren’t the result just of quality of work. No, there was an odd sensation that there was not a single piece of the art installation was fake. As the mind could catch even the tiniest mismatch, creating a feeling that something wasn’t right, the same could be said about the opposite, where it failed dramatically, clearly not able to find anything incorrect.
“I ask you, dear guests, to give me a minute to finish before we go through everything in detail,” Ben quickly stopped the group from spreading across the place, “Mr. Michel Wright’s collection isn’t about the things but people. He wanted to share his admiration of them. Not their work, but themselves. And that’s the reason why our Progressive Art Museum was created. To shock, to show, to provoke a discussion about what is more valuable – the creator of a single invention that changed the world or the invention itself. Therefore, each person you see here is a living person, who willingly decided to immortalize their peak state in a form of art. There is only one exception, but we will come there later… I see your smiles – you already know who that is. However, first, we need to finish with this hall to proceed further.”
Making a small pause, Ben hastily checked the reaction of the group, finally seeing the light at the end of his financial tunnel as over half of the group was focused on him.
“Each person is put to sleep while being kept in shape by the complex equipment. Moreover, the episodes where they are shown are also chosen by themselves, using their real belongings. I need to repeat it – there is not a single fake item in the whole museum. Everything is genuine and was used by the very same person. Now, let’s start from the beginning. Who knows who this is?”
The next hour went commonly. Joking from time to time, trying to catch the attention of teenagers or “absent-mind wanderers”, Ben steadily led his group over the rooms with “corpses” as all employees were naming those “sleeping” persons. No, the man saw the equipment that was constantly under the watchful eye of the weird scientist, who went as Donald. He saw the nutrition boxes and the regularly refilling tanks with waste, but to name those things as living beings was too much for Ben. He could swear that sometimes he managed to catch a glimpse of clarity in the eyes of those frozen figures, sending a shiver across his spine by the look of terror hidden deep inside of the exhibits. However, the need to pay the checks was stronger. Especially considering that it wasn’t the worst job out there. Fantasy City was a place of imagination only for tourists.
“Let’s head to the final and the most famous place of our art museum,” pointing at the door, Ben led the group to the final room. Or tried to do it, as he felt that he was simply pushed in the back by the anxious people, who couldn’t wait even a second more. Hastily making it through the door and short dark corridor, Ben immediately moved to the side, already waiting for the outcome with hidden anticipation. Despite keeping a straight face, inwardly he was smiling from the suddenly frozen group. However, partly it was because he had a similar reaction in his first time entering the place. The place, but not the room as it simply couldn’t be named like that.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Stepping inside, everyone was met with a noticeable drop in surrounding temperature. Not to the point of freezing them, but enough to make the presence quite uncomfortable, while creating goosebumps across the skin. The next was a light breeze, which with a sudden gust blinded everyone for a moment, forcefully closing their eyes, so their focus switched to other senses to compensate for the short loss of sight. That not only intensified the feeling of coldness but also added sound to the equation.
The rustle of leaves. The faraway cry of the unknown wild beast, who went on the hunt. The occasional bird hooting. However, the biggest attention was brought to the low-pitched growl that was emanating pure aggression, warning about the danger somewhere around. This was typically the moment when the guests would open their eyes, finally getting a view of the scene in front of themselves.
The night enveloped the part of the jungle, barely getting any light from the moon above their heads. The dense greenery made it hard to see anything further than two meters, accelerating the hearts of the guests. The whole atmosphere from the start wasn’t light and comfortable, but the limited visibility and growl from the hidden predator were too disturbing to ignore. Obviously, it was just an initial reaction to a sudden change in the surroundings and given a time the group will return back to a calm state. However, no one was going to give them such an opportunity. In exactly five seconds after entering the final room of the art museum bushes suddenly moved aside, while the growl turned into a painful dying squeal.
The shocking change was barely processed by the group when the huge naked giant appeared in front of them. Covered in the blood of the animal, which was lying beneath him, he was already raising the crude stone axe, going for another mighty swing. The tensed muscles on an unnaturally big body created an impression of being unstoppable, the real apex predator in those barbarous lands. The awful grimace made its owner look like a wild beast akin to the one he killed a moment earlier. However, the scariest part was his eyes. Radiating the unhidden hatred, they were promising painful and inventible death without a single chance of salvation. The grimace of overwhelming anger, the droplets of blood on the face, the look of a real monster – it wasn’t hard that the sudden appearance of such a giant inflicted terror in the minds.
The screams, a few attempts to run back to the hall, and lots of swearing were met with the calming voice of the group’s guide, who focused his attention on the worst cases. It took several minutes for the guests of the museum to get back to their normal state. Part of it was because Ben started to speak about the achievements of the captured prisoner, inflicting ever more fear in their hearts. This time it wasn’t a jump scare, but more like a cold grip around their minds from understanding the deeds of this giant.
“So-called Robert Flop. The Terranoid – artificially modified soldier of destroyed Terra-Earth. We didn’t manage to track his record during the war, but he called himself an infantry. From the video records it is absolutely an underestimation of his capabilities, as he is far superior to any Terranoid. Now to the numbers – 34 heavily armed mercenaries in full battle equipment, including 3 mechs; 23 patrolling guards with rifles and 5 from the Arena; 15 Arena fighters, who tried to stop him; and finally 109 civilians. Together almost two hundred dead or injured people. It might not sound big, but you need to consider that he was completely unprepared when his colleague Rick Abraham Brown exposed his plan to bomb the shield system of Fantasy City; had no weapons or any armor. Nothing at all, just fists. This is the reason why for this season our Progressive Art Museum decided to show him as a primal hunter. Because he is the one,” making a slight pause to catch his breath, Ben continued.
“His raw strength, his aggressiveness, his decisiveness in killing – everything makes him a real primal apex predator in any conditions. Just imagine what he could have done if he was prepared and had proper battle gear? So, your scare is justified as no sane person can feel confident, facing such a beast in human skin. Even now you can see his gaze, filled with hatred. You all must know that he can hear us, and such a reaction is what he really thinks about ordinary people. A perfect example of Terra’s policy and brainwashing with their desire to cleanse the planets from some groups of citizens.”
“Can he get out? Are we safe?” The same question that was asked each time when Ben led the group to the Terranoid made him smile lightly before he turned it into a serious expression.
“Absolutely safe - the security measures in his case are incredible. I even dare to say that they are non-repeatable at all. Not even a single criminal had the same treatment as him… You see, all his bones are replaced with an obsidian steel frame, including even a skull. Not only does it prevent him from moving as his joints have lost the ability to rotate, but he is also directly connected to the main reactor of Fantasy City, which fuels the energy shield around his body. Tightly enveloping his skin from all sides, it secures any attempts to move from the outside. Moreover, there is an additional electroshock system to hit him in case of emergency, not speaking that his foot and the floor are one single piece. I can’t see any chance him to get out.”
“But how does he even live?” For the first time, one of the rebellious teenagers couldn’t stop himself from asking the question, while he showed with every single gesture how bored he was in the museum.
“Well, there are several tiny tubes that go through his foot directly into his body and are connected to his inner organs. Using them, he gets all the needed nutrients, liquid, and oxygen. The cable for shield support is also there,” Ben answered with a wide smile.
“And what about a toilet? How can he even shit in such conditions?” Another one followed.
“Denis, words!” The immediate rebuke from the parent to the barely thirteen-year-old boy almost provoked a retaliation, but Ben was faster.
“You see, his body barely needs anything to sustain itself. Our scientists said it’s less than 1% of the normal needs of an ordinary human. Therefore, he doesn’t produce any feces at all,” seeing an attempt of the boy to joke about it, Ben quickly added, preventing an escalation of the situation, “Also it seems he doesn’t age. From what I know it’s been already a few cycles since he was put in this place, so potentially he can stay here for an eternity… or until Fantasy City ceases to exist. I bet on the former. Okay, let’s head back. Don’t forget to visit our museum store, where you can…”