As I fix my gaze on the ceiling of my prison cell, I notice the ceiling covered with dust and cobwebs. Tears stream down my face, wetting my hair, as I reflect on the torment that has plagued my existence. It has been an endless agony, a series of traumatic experiences. In the depths of my mind, I silently question, “Why, mother?” Even with blood trickling from my forehead, I am numb to any physical pain, or perhaps the pain is overshadowed by the weight of my emotional anguish. I feel sorry for my ignorance, as since we learned to walk, they fed us nothing but lies. ... Time to time, scientists have stumbled upon evidence suggesting that our world is not the only one in the galaxy. Some even propose the existence of hundreds of other worlds in different galaxies. However, uncertainty still hangs in the air. These theories speculate about the possibility of extraterrestrial life or other extraordinary beings that are as alive as we are, yet fundamentally different. The idea of

I never really paid attention to what my mom said, not because I hated her or anything, but because I knew there was no way anyone could see me practicing on the rooftop. Our living space was like a long, narrow hostel or maybe even a prison. Behind us, a huge chunk of land floated high up in the sky, making it impossible for someone me or any other human being to reach it. Right in front of our home was the backside of this massive building, a Type C structure with shiny, thick bricks stacked up high. I had no idea what they were made of. On one side, there was a deep, dark void that seemed to stretch on forever, and on the other side, there were these tiny houses that looked tiny compared to the grandeur of my own building. That's why we called our place the Quadragenatorium, or QGT for short. So, you see, I had no reason to listen to my mom's warnings. As soon as she left, I took a look around my messy room and thought about how strange it was that women were only allowed to dec

In the stillness of the night, I find solace and freedom. With each daring move, my creativity and courage shine through. The sword becomes an extension of my being, a vessel for my strength and power. As I gracefully land from a complex maneuver, I whisper to myself, "I am prepared. Prepared to face any obstacle, ready to confront anyone who stands in my way!" On this rooftop, under the setting sun, I embody strength and resilience. My spirit burns brightly, a guiding light in the darkness, as I prepare myself for the battles that await. After my training, I take a moment to close my eyes and breathe deeply, savoring the freedom that only the open sky can offer. The gentle breeze dances with my hair, reminding me of the last remnants of nature in this world. Lost in the tranquility, something brushes against my arm, causing me to gasp and turn around. A soft and gentle voice, belonging to a man, whispers in my ear, "Did I startle you?" Startled, I take a step back, scanning my su

"She’s always been like this, ever since I reached an age where I could understand things!” I said. “I’m sorry that you had to go through so much because of them, and I apologize for misunderstanding all of you for such a long time.” I whispered as his hand gently touched my shoulder. My eyes widened; it was fascinating to see how they had lived such different lives, even in hiding. I can only imagine the immense challenges they must have faced. We sat together in silence, or maybe he wasn’t even sitting at all or maybe he wasn’t there anymore. All I know is that he answered most of my questions. The only thing that still troubled me was a strange longing to see him, to truly know him. I knew it could potentially put him in danger, but the heart wants what it wants. “What’s your name?” I asked. “Jarred, they call me Jarred!” he replied. “I’m Zaria, Zaria Dove!” I introduced myself. And that was just the beginning; we talked for hours until I eventually fell asleep right there. T

After sobbing for hours, I somehow managed to drift off to sleep. When I finally woke up, I was startled to discover that not only were the cages open, but they were also completely empty. Ever since I arrived in this place, I had noticed a peculiar bump on the ground right in the center of my cell. Curiosity got the better of me, so I knelt down and gave it a knock. To my surprise, I realized that there was a hidden space beneath the ground. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any tools or means to dig or break through the ground, so I decided to leave it for the time being. With caution, I made my way out of the cell and soon realized that all the other cages were also empty, except for the ones housing the infected individuals. Strangely, there were no bars in sight. Suddenly, I heard the faint sound of people chattering. Intrigued, I followed the noise, which led me to a wide and spacious stairwell-like area. Each step had four cages - two on the left, two on the right, and a middle