Prologue – Last One Standing.
A/N: Hey guys... please read this note. This is the intro chapter. I am introducing my OC and her fate here. You can continue to chapter 1. if you really want to, though it would be nice if you read the prologue, too. Please, leave a review so that I know if I should carry on with this story. Thank you, I'm not taking any more of your time. Read and enjoy!
My homeland has been destroyed, turned into one big wasteland. Only ash and sand, some ruins of once great land. Is that the „gift", we recieved from Them? Is that what we… I still cannot believe this. Why? My planet, my home, my motherland. Maybe, just maybe it didn't have to go this way. Maybe there was a way… to protect ourselves, to lear how to use this „gift" wisely. But no, instead all we got is a wasteland, a land that cannot live again. Consumed by incurable diseases, used by many to make new weapons of mass destruction, drained from all life force, once vibrant, beautiful, naturey, now distant and foreign, even for me.
I can hear the silent quick „beep beep beep" sound, getting a little faster and louder as i walk forward. Wait, could it be…
My body reacts faster than my mind, I fell on the ground as pieces of metal pierce the solid walls just near me. I could have ended up as a shattered piece of meat. Damn, these bombs still work? I guess I should be more careful then.
Bombs, shooting machines, landmines, they are everywhere. Yet still, I wander carelessly. 'Cause what else could I do. Maybe i am the last one of my kind, last remnant of the great war, who, somehow, survived, just to wake up in a world that wants to kill me, wherever I go. I am no longer part of this world, I can no longer call myself…
This thought is just too much.
I never belonged here. Or anywhere. No matter how many times I am born or reborn, I bring despair and end to the world that accepted me as one of its inhibitants.
I am… the true description of „a monster".
No.
I am a puppet in a monster's hands.
She is called by countless names, even I cannot remember all of them. But everytime I hear one them, I feel sick! It's her fault that I am sick, that I have to fight for extremely rare and dangerous drug, part of her „invasion" on the planets I arrive to. I risk my life for it, for her… cells probably. Or at lest somrthing that comes from her. Otherwise… I wouldn't have felt it. This… bizzare connection. She won't let go of me, I know that. So I fight, for every damn gram of this hellish drug. Living like a zombie, an addict that can barely move without this shit!
Do i hate myself for it? Yes, I do. I really do hate myself for not being able to resist, whenever she calls me.
I look around for… anything to eat or to survive. I know I won't find Eden – for this is what this drug is called in most of the worlds I arrive to – But at least I'll survive a day longer… or two?
I climb the walls of a building, once great. Now, a ruin like everything around. A temple, not cathedral, small church rather. But why the hell would someone build such solid walls around a small ruined church?! If these walls survived the war, that meant that somethng… precious was here. Wait, precious?!
I try to be careful, if this is a trap… then I am the greatest fool in history. I jump off thewall, landing softly on the ground. Nothing exploded under my feet, that's one step further.
With agility and gracious speed I move through the yard, not stepping on the stone path that leads to the church. And as I get to the Altar, I know that something must be wrong. There's an open… cupboard behind the altar, i know it has some special name but for me, it's just a cupboard. I don't have gods, I have drugs.
And there is my deity. My precious, precious pills. Eden.
„Oh boy… salvation!"
My hands reach out as if slow motion, lean forward to grab this little box of pills. Oh my sweetness! My life… I can finally have it, it's been so long… I know, I'm a freak, a mere addict. But for now, there's no…
…thing.
I can see soldiers, as i turn my head around. Tsk! I didn't close the church's door… not good, not good. They rush straight forward up the stone path and the mines explode under their feet. Just as I thought.
I fall down to the ground, just to see that the altar… is not just an altar. Under the cloth I can see some guns and ammo hidden, almost as waiting for someone to take them and use them. As soldiers approach me, they stumble on mines. How lucky I was…
Maybe I should be happy that i'm not the last one on this planet but on the other hand… the whole rest of my planet is against me.
Geez….
„There she is. Behind the altar! Open fire!"
The bullets miss me, some of them ricoshet from the walls, the front of the altar, the pillars. I try to shoot them and not get myself killed in the process. Though it really is hard. Even if I don't miss, there are too many of them. I have to find a way out. As I kill one of them, I try to sneak to the back of the building. And bingo, as I crawl, quite well protected by the building's structures, I find my way to the back door.
„Don't let her escape!"
One soldier tries to get me from the side. He's too close, I won't be able to shoot him. But if I stand up now, I will expose my back to the enemy. Damn it! I get on my legs and pull my rapier, Fallaire, out. The soldier steps back, surprised. And here I got him. As I puncture his lung with my blade, I can feel paralyzing pain in my knee…
They shot me!
I fall to the ground as, the soldier coughs up blood.
„One down!" I can't help but smile, tryumphally. The back door isn't locked so I earn some time. The soldiers will get here, sooner or later. I waste my precious time on grabbing the first aid kit and bandaging my knee. Of course, I lock these steel door now but it will be a matter of minutes before the soldiers force them. I have to get upstairs, then Il'll be able to reach the walls probably. If I'm lucky, I'll lose them. If not, I'm dead anyway.
I open the precious box to see several light green/blueish pills. Eden. I put one of them under my toungue and pray not to vomit. The taste is even more awful then anything in this world. It's horrible, I hate it. But I know it will help me.
Forcing myself up, I go into a small room. Looks like an old classroom a bit. From upstairs I can hear more troops running down. Shit! I'm screwed, I'm totally screwed. I ready my gun and open fire on them as soon as I see them.
Hide behind teacher's desk.
Reload.
Shoot.
Reload.
Shoot.
Until you run out of bullets.
Then run.
I run upstairs, limping. I know that the soldiers downstairs are close to break those doors down. My last hope is an open window. I put my gun om my back, so it won't fall off. I check if I have Fallaire with me, Eden pills… I'm ready to leave this place.
I jump off the window, It's the third floor I think. I catch one of the tree's branches to swing forward, then catch another branch, jump and…
I hit the wall hard. Blood streams down my face. I let out a cry of pain, but climb up the wall, look at my broken fingernails, scratched hands…. And slide off the wall on the other side. The bullets rain over my head, The soldiers can't reach me now.
And so, I go on… half-starved, with pills to live only, wanted by soldiers… It's just a matter of time before they reach me. And kill me.
My body regenerates quite well, Eden is working. Maybe soon I'll stop limping and will be able to fight again. As for now, I try to find some food, water, ammo. And I'll be perfectly fine. Right now all I can find is ammo, some water and I have to hunt and eat rats alive. But I will not die.
I'm gonna be the survivor.
Days pass as i wander, still i'm on the verge of starvation and i'm trying to save my pills for later. I'm really gonna need them. For times…
like this.
„Oh boy… really?"
About three dozens of soldiers are waiting to get me. In their place, here in a Square that once was the pride of a town. On the monument, from the windows, on the streets.
They're fucking everywhere!
I know, they can see the fear in my eyes. I look down.
And smile.
I unlock my shotgun.
And ready myself for the fight. Two handguns, a shotgun and my rapier. That's all I have. Hopefully, this will be enough.
As I enter this battle, I'm not myself anymore. I can feel, every bullet I let out, every bullet that hits me. And that misses me. I hide, I run, I fight them relentlessly, with everything I have.
Even if I die… I want to try to protect myself. I am not weak, right? Right?! I dance with the blade, soldiers dying one by one, no one can get close to me! I can see them, lying on the ground, in agony. The streets will flow with blood!
I hide behind the dried fountain, try to shoot them with my handguns. Anyone who leaves the house, will die from my hands. I know, I am wounded, they don't always miss.
Every target i aim, every bullet I let out, every cry of pain I allow to escape whenever I get hit once again, it is one. Everything is like one hazy dream. The lone warrior versus the army of shadows. They disappear like shadows as I kill them. Some of the troops hid in a house, seeing that their comrades are losing. I see one of them in the window. This is their end.
They may have some good hiding places, so I have to be careful. I am alone, to watch the rear and to go forth. I can do it. As I enter the house, I know where they're hiding. The fight begins. I am using everything that surrounds me to fight. Knives, a frypan, bottles. It is enough to take them out. They're not great, skilled warriors, like me. They don't know their potential.
I go upstairs, eliminating whatever enemy's left. Until there is one.
In the bedroom, i shot him earlier but didn't kill him, i think.
Oh my dearest, you're to blame
For the blood, the fear and shame
Sold your honor for the land
For the castle made of sand
This song…That hit me right in the childhood, and my memories. One of the soldiers was singing this, his voice high, he was dying… looking at the photo of his beloved. I wish, oh I wish I didn't have to shoot him in the head, just to make him stop singing. Wasted two bullets, that could save my life. But couldn't stand this song. I couldn't stand this, because he seemed so… human. He was the last one in this house. And maybe the last one except for me. I wish… I reallly wish things could go back to normal. No. That's impossible. I know… I know.
More of them are coming, I know. I search the bodies of my victims, looking for ammo. I Cannot waste anything more now. I have to fight… Survive.
I could hear the soldiers… More and more of them coming. I won't make this. Even the Eden pills won't help me right now. I'm left for death.
Yet still… I carry on.
I want to fight, even if all hope is gone. Even if it's all in vain. When ammo ends, I fight with my bandaged hands, feet in heavy duty boots. I am a weapon itself, for now.
More bullets hit me. I am in pain. The soldiers withdraw, and leave me. Alone.
And so… The end comes. I stumble on my feet, my vision blurred. I… I am dying. This thought alone is so horrifying I can't even breathe. I suffocate, struggling for the last moments of my life. There's one troop left. He approaches me, sorrow on his face is such, that I suffer even more. I know him.
I whisper his name, hoarsely, my lungs on fire, my eyes full of tears. Blood, escaping my body, weakening me.
„You showed me what it's like" he says „To be the last one standing"
He put his riffle to my temple, laying my head to its side, forcing me not to look at him.
„And I am grateful." He says „But I have to do this. And you know it, too. Only one of us can be reborn"
More tears escape my eyes.
„So, my Poet, care to tell me your poem?" He asks.
„I did not write it. I just… discovered it." I answer.
„Whatever. Any last words?" he presses the riffle stronger „Or poem?"
He wants me to say it.
So I grant his will.
In this hour of the end,
I shall leave you alone.
My blood will wash away
With the rain to atone
Oh, how this is sweet,
This farewell I bid
To you, my friend.
My memorial.
The legacy of memories
Shines at the and of the hall
Great Avarice,
Your wildest dreams,
Are not close to it at all
And you, pride and honor,
Go hide in the shadows!
Compared to this depth,
How can you be so shallow?
For there, at the and of this hall
Death himself sits on his throne
With his sister dear, Sweet Agony
Clad in in beauty's
Finest of all robes.
Lead me now, my friend,
Help me on the road
Get me up on my feet
Let me feel the surf's flow
Whether I shall end up high above
As a single, pure note
In the Aethereal anthem
Everslasting song
Or as part of void, so silent
Way down below
And then… it was nothing. He heard his poem, I… died. Maybe he killed me, I don't know. But… I just felt nothing at all… I see the light, shining from high above. So it's really like that, huh? Its color… it is the same as the Eden pills. Coincidence?
I can see her, the monster. She is dancing in the empty… cathedral? Or something like that. She's beautiful. Oh, she's so beautiful. Her bare feet, stepping on the stones, rapier in her hand. Yes, Fallaire. She's holding it, smiling, dancing.
She is a real monster.
But even so, I am not afraid of this encounter. It happened multiple times, so I got to know her quite well.
She is swirling, like flowers carried by the wind. Fallaire shines in her hands, as she dances, I adore this view. I do. Because no matter how abminable she is, I am one with her. Now and forever. Bound by the hellish drug Eden, by fate. By my foolishness. And as I enter the cathedral, she stops in the middle of this stone floor, pressing Fallaire to her forhead, and so, she stands still as a sculpture.
„Please… just let me die already." I beg her in all my weakness.
„No."
It was the first answer I ever got from her.
„You are not ready yet."
And ad the floor crumbled underneath me, I fell into the darkness.
All I could see, was the light. It was underneath me.
Greenish-blueish, just like Eden pills.
And as I was falling, I knew. It was too much for me.
So I gave up.
And gave into the light.