For Peacock, life was the ship. Life was the stone. Life was obeying the Collector, following the orders of the Bridge. It was that or the dark depths of the sea. Not had he cared. They had taken his soul the first day. Nothing to do against it. The guards had grabbed him and the Collector had put the cold metal of the axe on his forehead. Now, all that was left were his senses while his mind was coated in eternal numbness. As if every moment of his life was caught between slumber and waking. He watched as the guards entered the ship’s cramped bowels again. They carried big bolts of metal in their hands. This was the day they would take his humanity.

As they hammered the bolts of dark metal into his flesh, Peacock tried to remember life for the ship. He saw faces, places and names drifting through his memories. All felt like someone else’s memories. He laughed out aloud. This didn’t stop the guards. Accompanied by the thundering rhythm of their hammers, Peacock’s mind conjured up one particular face, one person who Peacock seemed to remember quite more vividly. Cantra. A girl with short brown hair, freckles and permanently filthy. Her clothes were always just a bit too tattered as if she was making a statement. She would be looking for him! No, she couldn’t come here. Although, life might be good. Soulless together. No, she didn’t deserve this. She –

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

He woke up with pain in his hand. His throat was dry and he felt the bolts all over his skin. They itched. He looked around him. The other soulless had undergone the same fate. All had bandages on some parts of their bodies. His was on his left hand. The Collector stood before them. ‘Welcome to the new Enhanced Legion. As of today, you will serve me and the Bridge as loyal soldiers. Is that understood?’ They all nodded. Peacock too. Early on they’d all seen the horrors this woman could inflict upon them if they didn’t listen. ‘Now, let’s start with your first order. A test, if you will.’