I was still very confused as to why I was alive. I had been dragged to a car, and then we started driving. As we drove, I saw Goudstad passing by, with its tall buildings, billboards, and massive screens just fading away. We were heading straight for the tower. It loomed over everything, like it wanted to swallow the whole city.

After a moment, I looked into my hands and started thinking. My thoughts crushed me as I came to the most important decision of my life.

I put my hands together in prayer and thought to myself: “Lord, I do not know why you spared me or made me one of these… monsters. But I swear to you, even if at first I am afraid, I will never bow to anyone, for any reason, ever again. All of these finks, who abuse your love for their own greed, will one day fall by my hand. On this, I swear, with everything I am, with everything I ever will be.”

I looked up, whispering a silent "Amen" under my breath.

Finally, we arrived at a building I’d never seen before, maybe a kilometer or two away from the tower. It was by far the largest building I had ever seen in my entire life—looking like a skyscraper and my church had had a child together.

Lead cuffs had been slapped on me. I was told absolutely nothing the whole way here, even when I had started praying. Not one of them said a word.

After we arrived, two finks dragged me out of the car and made me walk into a room lined with showers. White tiles covered the walls and floor, making the space seem sterile and cold.

I was forced to undress, and they were about to throw all my clothes away when I said, “Wait! I need something.”

I ran up to them, taking out the fake bills I’d made what felt like a lifetime ago but couldn’t have been more than four hours.

“Need these. You can throw that away, fink,” I said, just wanting to see what I could get away with now that The General herself had decided my ass was to live. I was alone, my kids were safe, so I decided that I was going to be very difficult for the rest of my stay here—which probably wasn’t going to be long—but what the hell.

He gave me a murderous look before throwing my things away.

The room filled with the beautiful glow of sunset, vast oranges and reds lighting up the tiles.

The two who had dragged me in here were now leaning against the wall, waiting with impatience. The one who seemed to be in charge was the same man who was supposed to execute me. I decided to call him Lapdog, since he obeyed orders without question.

The other one had a strange look in his eye, like I was an alien covered in shit. Both men wore white tunics, with three gold stripes lacing down their sleeves. Their left arms were exposed, muscular and intimidating.

“Shower,” Lapdog said.

“No,” I replied. I had a promise to keep now, after all.

“You will shower, or he will hose you down,” Lapdog said, gesturing at the fink with a strange look in his eye.

“Is that your worst threat? Well then, no thank you. I’m good. Blood brings out the color in my eyes, if you couldn’t tell,” I said, leaning smugly against the wall.

Lapdog shrugged like he’d tried. He turned on the shower next to him and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

It’s a bit strange to be naked and alone with another man, but I wouldn’t tell him that. He had a very fish-like appearance, so you’re never going to guess what I called him. If you guessed Fish, congrats.

I was interrupted in my thoughts when the man’s tattoo glowed faintly after he tapped his left arm. He lifted his arm toward the running shower, and then the water simply rose off the floor, out of the gutter, and flew at me.

It hit me like a sledgehammer, throwing me back into the wall and pinning me there.

I barely managed to turn my face away in the ensuing onslaught of water. The water changed direction suddenly, throwing me to the other side of the room and holding me there.

"Oh, I am going to kill him," I thought, struggling to block the onslaught of water.

Then, without warning, the dice returned. It rolled from my left shoulder to my right, settling on a one.

The water stopped almost immediately. I heard banging on the door. “He activated his ability somehow! Come help me with him!”

Lapdog stormed in, followed by five other men in identical uniforms, staring me down.

“He woke up last, didn’t he? Might be a handful,” one of them said.

“He was just Blessed. Relax, not going to be able to do much now,” another replied.

I didn’t say anything as I flew across the room toward them, gritting my teeth and ready to teach them what a vow looks like.

About an hour later, I stumbled through a door into a large hall. A long line of people stretched all the way to the front, at least two thousand waiting. There was a stage above a table at the far end of the hall.

I was wearing a new set of clothes—the nicest I had ever owned in my whole life—along with the lead cuffs. I could probably get at least a week’s worth of food if I had to sell them.

Unfortunately, my nose had bled onto the shirt a little, and my one eye was completely swollen shut. Again.

“Get in line, you fucking bastard!” Lapdog growled as he pushed me forward, his white tunic hanging in shreds, scratch marks down the side of his face.

All of the finks who had escorted me here were in similar levels of disarray as they walked through the door, one of them still holding his neck from where I'd been strangling him earlier. I simply grinned at them through bloody teeth, looking back towards the large hall.

I was immediately stared at by every eye in the room. I wanted to show off my nice clothes, so I simply straightened, gave them a nice smile, and walked to the back of the line.

The ones in front of me took a literal step away, like I was going to bite them at any moment. These were baby finks… so was I, I guess, which severely darkened my mood every time I thought about it. The finks turned around and tried not to look at me for as long as I was behind them.

I looked around, trying to see what we were waiting for, and saw what looked like a rock sitting on a table. The line of people queued before it, waiting impatiently, muttering amongst themselves.

I saw what looked like balconies around the whole hall, all the finks on the whole of Kaleidos seemed to be up there, looking down, some of them talking amongst themselves.

I tapped one of the people in front of me on the back. “Yo, missy, what are we waiting for?”

“Please don't talk to me,” she said quickly, trying to hide behind the man standing next to her.

I just raised my eyebrow at her back before tapping the man's shoulder instead. “Well, can you tell me what we are waiting for then?”

He glanced back at me with disgust before looking straight ahead. Did he ignore me? That seemed quite rude.

“Earth to mister? Hello?” I said, knocking on the back of his head like it was a door.

He turned around, whispering angrily, “Leave me alone! Goddamn murderer!”

I saw that I had made a marvelous first impression. I just looked at him, then said, “Sure. Just answer the question.”

“We are waiting to receive our rank. Now please do not speak to us!” he continued, looking around at the people above us like they could hear us.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Which they probably could. I could pick up whispers from the front of the line, all of them talking about The General, A girl named Sofia, or me, from what felt like a hundred metres away. Perks of being a fink, I guess.

“Was that so difficult? Thanks, man,” I said like we were old pals.

He whipped his head around in disgust, like I'd slapped him. I see I was going to be real popular.

Finally, after what felt like ten minutes, a fink in black, along with quite a few finks in white, stepped out onto the stage before the table where the line started, a microphone in hand.

“My apologies for the wait. Our final recruit took a bit longer to arrive than usual,” he said, his eyes boring into me from the stage. I gave him a wave.

“We will now begin the testing. If you are a B rank, line up before LieutenantZenzele. If you are C rank or below, line up before LieutenantMichael.”, he said, pointing at each of the people walking off stage and lining up next to the table. “I am Colonel Walker. If you are A rank or above, you shall line up before me,” he finished, like anyone that was able to stand before him was winning the lottery.

“To see what your rank is, tap your left shoulder and apply your will into your left arm. This will activate your ability. Do this while holding that power detector, and LieutenantDimitri shall give you your rank,” he said, now gesturing at the rock and the man walking up to pull out a chair at the desk it sat on.

“All right, you may begin.”

And so, it started. People would tap their left shoulder, and their tattoos would start glowing—sometimes enough to be seen through the clothes they were wearing, other times not so much.

I saw people disappear; one guy turned into the shadow at his feet. Another simply placed a coin on the table, activated his ability, and then he and the rock were where the coin was, standing on the table, staring out over everyone.

But many were not so flashy. Some would close their eyes before starting, seemingly praying with all their might. Most people who I saw walk up to that rock and activate their powers would walk away with white faces, like they had just received the worst news of their life.

“How are you feeling, Bea?” The guy who hated me asked the girl, who was too scared to even speak to me.

“I'm terrified. I woke up so early. I'm going to only be D rank,” she said, face grim but determined, like maybe she could beat the odds.

I interjected, feeling bad about eavesdropping. “Me again. How do you two know what rank you're getting? Thought you had to go through the whole dog-and-pony show first.”

The man whirled on me, looking like he wanted to start a fight. I just looked into his eye as he tried to tower over me, even though he was probably an inch shorter.

“You said you wouldn't speak to us! Leave us alone!” he seethed, shouting as quietly as he could.

The girl, Bea, was just looking at the floor, but she was pulling his arm back like he would be able to do something. I stared into his soul, daring him to try and do something. Must be scared of the swollen eye, I thought to myself, and I felt quite proud when he took a step back, but still very confused.

“I swear on my mother, not another peep from me. Seriously, how do you know what ranks you're getting?” I asked innocently.

He looked at me like I was an idiot, still seeming like he wanted to take a swing, before Bea stepped out from behind him, staring at the floor rather than my broken face.

“Generally, the longer you're asleep, the better your rank,” she said.

She looked up at me now, like I was something out of a horror movie. “You and Sofia were the last to wake up. Congratulations.” And with that, she turned around, trying to hide from me again.

Well, that made me shut up and think for a long moment. Ok. I'm supposed to be one of those powerful finks or… or something, I guess. Maybe a fink in black?

I felt my stomach churn, almost vomiting right onto the people's shoes. Why did this happen to me? I wasn't the best guy, but to be one of them? To be one of those monsters? This felt like the worst thing that had happened to me today. And today has been pretty bad so far.

I saw a flash of light at the front of the line, and the girl practically jumped for joy when the man behind it said something. She almost skipped to the fink in black—I think his name was Colonel Walker—and stood behind two others.

It just kept going, as we moseyed our way toward the front. Finally, Bea grabbed the guy's arm next to her and pointed.

“It's Sofia,” she said, like she was looking upon a goddess.

It was that stupid, billboard looking girl. Of course she had to be The General's daughter. She stepped forward, placing one hand on the stone after tapping her shoulder, and started floating in the air for a little bit. Then she sank back to the ground, the man nodding his head in respect and saying something I couldn't make out, but one of the people who did hear it whistled, before she spun on her heel and walked over to the fink in black, taking her place at the front of the line like it was the most natural thing in the world.

It took another moment before the line started moving again, seeming like the whole room had stopped to watch the girl get her rank. Nothing much happened after that, besides one guy lighting himself on fire when he activated his ability. His clothes burned away quickly, but luckily there was a towel he could borrow before he lost his dignity. He held his head high as he walked over and stood behind the others waiting before Colonel Walker.

We kept waiting, and I couldn’t take it anymore. It felt like I’d been here for days.

“Fucking finks, so goddamn slow,” I muttered under my breath, just venting some frustration.

The guy in front of me whirled around again, this time true rage in his eyes. I had called the entire room a slur, but it still felt like a bit much.

“How dare you!” he roared at the top of his lungs, taking a step forward and grabbing my new shirt.

I placed my hand on his face to push him backwards. “Don't touch me,” I said coolly as he stumbled back a few steps.

The guards that had escorted me here stayed by the door, but they started walking toward us now. I tilted my head back at the ceiling in annoyance.

I sighed, “fucking finks.” I repeated, already tired of what ever was gonna happen next.

As I looked down, I saw a fist coming toward me, punching me in the face and putting me right on my ass.

“Goddamn civvie! I don't care if you become an S rank, you're nothing but a lowlife!” this prissy fink screamed at me.

I growled at him as I struggled to stand up, the cuffs getting in the way. I wanted to fight him, and that's when those damn dice showed up again.

I cursed. Why was it always during a fight? The damn thing had a mind of its own, and right now it wasn't cooperating. It rolled a one again, somehow. I wanted to scream at it that that's not how dice work.

He immediately stood back, as did everyone behind him. Those finks in uniform from earlier sprinted toward me now, looking slow, even as one of them had his hands grow too large for his body and fish started pouring water out of a canteen.

“Round two, boys?” I said, grinning at them, preparing to rip out Lapdog's throat since he was the closest to me.

But all of a sudden, I felt that weight—like I had felt when holding that gun while dangling from the string—fall on me. It made every piece of clothing I was wearing feel like it weighed tons, and as it increased, it brought me to my knees, then flat on my face.

“Come on! I didn't even start this one!” I said, turning my head so I wasn’t flat on my face.

I saw it was Colonel Walker himself pointing at me, his tattoo glowing. The finks in uniform were there then, one of them kicking me straight in the face while the others held my hands down, pushing my face straight into the wooden floor, screeching, “Deactivate your ability! Deactivate your ability right now or so help—”

“Leave him,” The General's voice echoed throughout the hall.

Instantly, the weight was gone, and the finks were stepping back, still giving me sour looks, though. Nice to have friends in high places, I guess. I thought to myself.

I glanced toward where I thought it came from, then I saw her, leaning over the balcony right above the doors where I had entered, watching me like a hawk.

“Thanks,” I said, standing up and giving her a mock salute with the cuffs. Why was she helping me? Crazy old hag. I did not belong here. She should have shot me in the head.

After a moment, Colonel Walker, getting a head nod from The General, looked back at me and said, “You will behave for the rest of the evening, boy. Not one word, or I will deal with you personally.”

I looked at him, staring for a long moment. He never looked away or wavered. So there we were, staring at each other for what felt like an eternity, before I nodded, stepping back into line.

Finally, after things seemed to quiet down, I tried to get a look at my shoulder. It wasn't glowing, but there it was—a tattoo of a dice, inked deep into my skin, frozen mid-roll.

Each edge of the cube was jagged, like it had been sketched by a crack addict, giving not one thought to symmetry. Every line looked chaotic, an almost imperceptible shimmer flickering across its surface, as though the tattoo itself were alive.

It wasn't glowing, mystical, or sexy. Bit underwhelming, if you ask me.

At long last, we got to the front. The prissy fink went before Bea. He activated his ability, Lieutenant Dimitri staring at the rock with a tortured expression, like he'd had to do this a thousand times tonight.

“D rank,” he said, looking at Bea like he wanted her to hurry up and touch the rock.

The boy walked off, staring at the floor, his face drained of all color.

I almost felt bad for the girl, as she stood there staring at the rock like it was going to bite her. I rolled my eyes behind her back before saying, “Good luck, you got this.”

She just glanced back at me and pursed her lips. Then she walked up after him, staring at the rock with the same expression.

After she walked up to it, she stood there for a long moment. Finally, she took a deep breath, tapped her shoulder, held the rock, closed her eyes, and activated her ability.

After a moment, Lieutenant Dimitri looked up at her and said, “C rank.”

She looked down, closing her eyes, seemingly relieved and disappointed at the same time. Lieutenant Dimitri didn't even let her have that, as he was simply waving his hand along, giving her a look of utter disapproval. She did as instructed, rolling her shoulders as she went and stood with what looked like two thousand people before Lieutenant Michael.

I felt bad for her, but there was nothing I could do.

Finally, I stepped up, and it felt like the entire room went still. I felt thousands of eyes turn toward me, waiting with bated breath.

I looked at the rock with disdain. I tapped my shoulder with some difficulty through the cuffs, grabbed the rock, and willed that dice to roll, and then… nothing happened.