My name is Cimex Vita and I just turned 18 today. Most people would be elated by their birthday, but I’m not. For an orphan 18 is when the jig is up, when people stop caring because you’re no longer a kid. The others all tell you happy birthday and give you a pat on the back with a fake smile on their face. They look at you with fear in their hearts hoping their own future will be different. When you’re young you can hope and dream for your future family to come for you, its all a lie. As you get older that ignorance goes away and you see the world for what it is. Only the good looking and smart ones leave, on the other hand you can be lucky and be so messed up people will take you away on the kindness of their heart, or better said pity. As for the rest of us it’s a lottery and I’m just a regular loser. Well enough of that I should return to reality.
Around me are my fellow orphans, boys and girls of all ages. I know they don’t really care about me, after all I’m kind of a loner. I can’t even remember the last time I spoke to most of them. The kitchen door opens and the smells of cupcakes flows into the room, out comes Ms. Brown our head caretaker. She’s a really nice person who loves to give without receiving. As the story goes this house used to belong to her and her husband. After a terrible accident her husband died leaving her all alone. She was a loyal woman and never remarried, instead opening an orphanage and accepting those with no one.
She is one of the only two people I ever liked in this place. The other was a girl named Cindy who showed up when I was 12, she’s already gone for a long time. As a little white blonde girl she didn’t last a year before she was adopted. As the only person who was nice to me, I admit I had a childhood crush on her, but I’m happy she got out.
As the birthday boy I got my cupcake first while everyone else lined up for their turn. We sang happy birthday and that was that. I already had some plans on what to do when this time came and had packed my things. As I walked out with my small luggage, I could hear Ms. Brown call out to me.
“Cimex, wait!”
I stop and turn around.
“Yes Ms. Brown. What is it?”
“Cimex I just wanted to tell you goodbye and that I want you to know that this will always be your home no matter what. If you ever need anything fell free to call and visit.”
“Thank you Ms. Brown, but I think I’ll do alright for myself.”
Before she can respond again, I leave. Bless that woman for her kind heart, but I know she doesn’t have much to give. Almost everything she’s had has already been used on the orphanage. I don’t want to burden her so I already planned ahead of time. I have job at McRonalds and just recently signed a lease for a shabby apartment a few blocks away from it. It’s not a perfect life, but its mine.
As short bus ride later and here I am, in front of my new home. A rundown building which most likely has multiple health code violations, yet the city doesn’t give enough of a fuck about to fix. I open the front security door and walk up the flight of stairs. The old wooden steps creak with ever movement I make. The carpet of the third-floor hallway looks and smells bad. There are multiple stains of which I don’t want to know the origin of. If I could afford better, I would just leave, but I don’t have the cash.
The second door to the right is my unit. I open the door and take in the sight. The wall paper is falling off, the carpet is dirty and torn, the shower is moldy, dirty toilet and best of all the window is cracked. This place just screams class.
In the corner I see an old crt Tv, probably something someone left behind. I plug it in and it turns on just fine, of course whoever left it wouldn’t dare to leave the remote so I am stuck manually changing the channel. I feel like watching the news.
“Breaking News. A Los Diablos City police chase comes to a fiery end when the suspect loses control and slams into a tree. The car quickly caught fire and emergency services were unable to remove the suspect. We will have more on the story after the break.”
“Are you looking for a new set of wheels? Come down to-”
I shut it down realizing its almost time for work. I get dressed in my uniform and walk out of my new home. Life sure does suck.
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In the world of Lacrios the war of the gods come to an end. After centuries of battle the dark forces have been utterly decimated. Without the power of worship from their followers the dark gods are horribly weakened to the point where they can finally be killed. As the holy gods come to kill them, they hold their final council.
“We’ve lost, after so long it's over.”
At the head seat was the god of death, around him sat the goddess of toxicity, the god of disease, the god of decay and the goddess of deception.
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“What now? Wait for death? Is this what we have come to?”
The goddess of deception asked the god of death.
“Perhaps it is, or perhaps it is not.”
“What?”
The gods respond in unison.
“Alone we are weak and we have failed. With an end there is always the hope of a new beginning.”
“Stop with this cryptic bullshit you old bag of bones just say it straight!”
The goddess of toxicity had never been one for deep thinking.
“Very well. It is clear our time is up and we will soon be expunged from existence. I propose we focus on leaving a new legacy and prepare so seed a new world. Alone we are to week to do so, so I say let us merge and use the remainder of our power to create a seed which can grow into something greater than ourselves.”
“Are you insane that will kill us all.”
“We are already destined for demise my dear, I rather it be at my own hands than another's.”
“But-”
“No buts. It is here and now. What is your choice?”
“I agree with the god of death. Our time is done, let us use our last moments to create a greater being. Although it has never been done imagine a god that can control multiple elements. The idea of that sends shivers if excitement through my rotten nerves.”
The first to agree was the god of decay, death and decay have always been close.”
“I agree with the heads decision.”
The second was the god of disease.
“So be it.”
The third was the goddess of deception.
“Fine.”
And finally, the goddess of toxicity.
“Then let us begin.”
With the god of death’s command, they all began to compress their beings into small drops of dark liquid. There was a black one for death, and cloudy one for deception, a green one for toxicity, a putrid brown one for decay and dark purple one for disease. The drops were guided towards each other through the will of the gods. When they touched, they combined one by one until all that was left was an unassuming gem with 5 swirling colors inside. Inside the gem the final remains of the god’s souls stored their knowledge and power. Sacrificing themselves a small rift opened and swallowed the gem.
On that day the world of Lacrios experienced the death of the dark god council. The holy forces cheered at their death. They saw this as the end, but little did they know this was only the beginning.
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The gem travelled through the rift seeking a world where it’s seed could sprout. The world needed to be unclaimed by gods of their respective powers. Trespassing on another god’s world with the same power would only be seeking death.
After searching for so long it had finally found a perfect world. This world lay unclaimed for who knows how long. Although there are remnants of past god’s powers, those gods had long since left as the people's minds focused on technology and didn’t rely on holy powers. This would be a hard world to claim, but without competition it would only be a matter of time and luck.
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It’s been a few months since I became independent and things are looking better. I had the carpet removed and just finished furnishing my apartment. It finally looks like a real home. It’s still cramped, but at least it isn’t a dump.
Work at McRonalds didn’t last long. My manager was a bitch and constantly changed my work hours. I cursed her under my breath a bit too loudly and was quickly fired. I had been saving up so I was still able to pay for rent while I looked for new employment. Now I work as a groundskeeper at a community garden. I now spend my days cutting grass, trimming trees, removing weeds and watering plants. There is no work schedule, all I have to do is keep it looking nice. As long as the garden looks presentable I can leave whenever I want.
It’s December which means the trees don’t have leaves and the plants don’t grow fast. On days like these the sky is cloudy and it’s cold. There isn’t much to do, so I can lock up the shed early and leave.
Ping
I hear the sound of something hitting the shed and I look up to see a dark dot bounce off the top only to role down to my feet. I pick up the strange object to get a closer look. It was shaped like on of those weird dice with a bunch of faces I see in board games. It was partially transparent and I could see a swirl of five colors inside. Perhaps it was a valuable gem of some sort, nah, probably not. I still wondered why it fell from the sky. I know crows like to pick up shiny objects and take them to their nest, but I haven’t seen one nearby when it happened. I like it so I put it in my pocket and go home.
I headed straight home and took a shower before going to the meeting point. Even though I was a minor I liked to drink, so I had my sources. I know it’s bad, but I don’t like to socialize and I stay at home bored most of the time. Since I’m already loner what’s wrong with being a drunk one. The local pot dealer was my beer vendor. He sold me two six packs of tres XXX and I was on my way. I drank a few beers while watching the TV for the rest of the day.
Once I got really drunk I would stop paying attention to the screen and just start contemplating. Sometimes it was about the meaning my life or just life in general, sometimes about the future, who my parents are, if I will ever find love, etc. I’m pretty sure I’m depressed.
As I doze off I feel a ticklish sensation from my leg. I shift my vision only to see the mystery gem. Only now it had legs, IT HAD FUCKEN LEGS! Dam thing looked like a spider as it crawled out of my pocket and up my chest. I tried to run, but all I managed to do was flop off the couch because of how drunk I am. That thing wasn’t in my line of sight anymore. When I tried to lift myself with the support of the couch, I saw it. It was waiting for me on the armrest. Clever girl.
Before I could scream it pounced on my face. It forced my mouth open and went inside. It didn’t stop there and I could feel it going down my throat. I was flailing about like a lunatic because I couldn’t breath. In the end everything started to grow black and I passed out.