I've always been looked down on and called many names since childhood. I could recall the words of even the criminals till this very day. "Child of a Traitor," they said."Be careful. He might steal your things someday, and you won't even know it."I can still picture the scornful look of resentment they gave me, and it didn't matter to them whether it was my father or myself who was guilty. Their fingers, their fits of anger, their fears and their frustration were all targeted at my mother and me. All they knew was that I was a product of a man everyone hated, but I've always wanted to know just what was his sin to make everyone hate one man so much. My mother used to tell me, "Ande, no matter what happens, all you have to focus on is how to survive in this hell hole; don't worry about anything thing else."I used to think she said those words to me to protect me from hating this cruel life, but I began to doubt her words as it seemed to me that she might have had some ulterior mot
I couldn't sleep a wink after that conversation. The only thing I could worry about was how I would get around this situation. On the one hand, I knew about my father's actions, whose purpose and goal seemed contradictory, forcing me to pick between siding with my father or striking a deal with the enemy. "Ha! What am I going to do?" I sigh, my arms spread wide on my bed. I can barely gather my thoughts from these weird spiderwebs of mysteries, yet I seem to be the centre of it all. On the other hand, people are waiting to kill me. This is just fucked up. "You look sour. Is there a problem?" I heard Ethan ask. I raised my head a bit to take a proper look at him. Ethan, who had just returned from the meeting to discuss whatever was to happen to me, looked tired as he dragged his feet inside the room, only to crash upon his bed with a loud groan. "Not really, I should be asking you, you're the one who went for the meeting so you could discuss my fate, and you're the one who look
“Since you're so desperate to get attention, then we'll help you with that.”I'm tossed like a rug into our classroom, and I hear the door lock behind me. Knowing what this means, I succumb to my fate and help myself to an empty seat. “Now I've done it,” I murmur. Despite knowing I would get into serious trouble, I still opened my mouth and let out those words, and now I'm being left to face the consequences. No one was on my side. Well, it's not like I expected better anyway. Irritated, I click my tongue. My only regret was not taking things a bit too far. If I had my way, even just a bit, I would have been more satisfied with this punishment.“I should have punched him in the face,” I voice my regrets. There was no sound whatsoever and no one to talk to. The silence would be the end of me if boredom didn't get to me first...>Hearing the slightest noise, I spring up to my feet and start tracing the sound. It was coming from the door. This was strange. I was sure that, if an
Chris POV.I lay awake staring at the ceiling in my room. The opportunity I had waited for had arrived at last; it was at my fingertips, and all I had to do was grab onto it. "Just maybe, he might be out there waiting for me as well," I muttered. It happened when I was much younger. A young boy with dreams to be recognised, a child with ambitions to fulfil, that was who my older brother was. Garfield Williams, one of Division Eight's most significant successes, was a child guaranteed to be the best wherever he went. My parents, seeing what a bright child he was, were determined to make sure he was selected for the Elite Academy because who wouldn't want their child to be enlisted as one of Earth's most excellent protectors? An honour it was to die to own the battlefield? Williams was ready to sacrifice his life for humanity. "I'll do my best and become an Elite; that way, I'll feel much better knowing that you, mother and father are safe in Division One," he told me whenever I a
It was the beginning of the worst day of my life, and I had never expected or dreamt that things would ever go that way. Not in the slightest. The last thing I remembered before that day was simple: my parents had told me they would head over to Division One to see my brother, and that was it. Since they hadn't heard of him after he got recruited and since he didn't make the Elites as well, they were hoping to be at least able to hear from him, but I never saw them again. When I opened my eyes, the first thought that came into my head was that I was not at home, an unfamiliar ceiling with an unfamiliar scent lingering around. I knew something was wrong. I sat upright and came face to face with reality. My instinct was right. This was not my house. Bang! Bang!! Bang!!!"Everybody up!"The alarming sound of iron beating another came as a shock, but what was more shocking was the fact that I was not alone. I didn't realise it at first, probably because I was too busy trying to pro
The dimly lit corridor feels oppressive, the shadows casting an ominous pall over the scene. My mind races as I process Chris's startling revelation. His family was kidnapped and forced to work as weapons makers for the Elites - it's a discovery beyond my imagination.My gaze narrows, my typically calm demeanour giving way to outrage. "This is... unbelievable," I murmur, my brow furrowed. "How could they do something like this?" I hissed, my hands tightening into fists at my sides. I snarl, my eyes burning furiously, "Why would they do something like this?!"Chris's expression is grave, but his eyes reflect the same fire in mine. "That's how the world is Ande," he whispers, shrugging lazily, "there's a whole lot of cruelty in this world, evil, wicked humans, right until I left, I never saw my family, I heard the adults base on a different camp." He says sardonically."And you hope to find my father who could probably hold the secret of Division one?" I ask, confusion lacing my tone.C
The morning light filters through the barred windows, casting a dull glow over the cramped dormitory. My eyes flutter open, my mind still foggy with the remnants of a restless sleep.I sit up on my cot, the thin mattress creaking beneath me. Around me, the other students are beginning to stir, their voices hushed and expressions tense. I can feel the weight of their unease, the uncertainty of what the day holds.As I swing my legs over the side of the bed, my gaze drifts to the door, beyond which lies the unknown. My thoughts drift back to my conversation with Chris the previous night, his words still echoing."There's more going on here than they tell us, Ande. I've tried to piece it together, but they're always one step ahead."I frown, my brow furrowing as I try to understand it all. Chris had sounded so convinced, his eyes burning with a determination that I couldn't help but admire. But what if he's right? What if there's more to this twisted game than we've been led to believe?I
The air is thick with tension as I make my way through the bustling hall of the command centre. My keen eyes scan the faces of my fellow students, searching for any sign of the elusive Valerie. Finally, I spot her - a striking figure with fiery red hair and a mischievous glint in her eye. This must be Ethan's cousin, whom I've been tasked with working alongside the other helpers.I approach Valerie cautiously, unsure of what to expect. "Valerie," I say, my voice level and composed. "I'm Ande. It's a pleasure to meet you."Valerie turns to face me, a coy smile playing on her lips. "Well, well, if it isn't the infamous Ande," she purrs, circling me like a predator. "Ethan's told me all about you. I must say, I'm intrigued." She leans in closer, her breath tickling my ear. "I hope we can work well together."I nod in response. I have no interest in whatever game Valerie seems to be playing. Survival is my only concern.Valerie pouts, pulling back, her expression going sour, "You're no fu