Trust and Betrayal, Chapter One

The Cold Face of Betrayal

I don't remember how long I've been in the Krimzon Guard anymore. Everyday seems to be a constant blur of the same old thing--the same pain and sorrow. I'm not the most sensitive person around, and I'm okay with that. I'm not okay with how everything is happening.

Everything was okay until this boy came along. I was happily engaged to a wonderful man named Jereth. I met him in the Guard on my very first day. He was the only one who really accepted me into the torture that was the KG. Jereth introduced me to his friends, Raith, Torn and a few others whom I never got along with.

Back then, the Baron was always right and Erol was just a punk. Torn was an amazing second in command and a loyal friend. Just like Jereth--only Jereth was nowhere near Torn's status. I didn't care. I loved him anyway.

But that was a long time ago. Jereth died two years ago--right when that boy came to us. The Baron had sent me and Jereth on some suicide mission with two dozen other Guards. That day is a blur now, but I can remember a massacre and the most devastating explosion I've ever witnessed. Jereth along with all of the others died that day, their remains buried under piles of debris. I made it out with little injuries. Jereth had shoved me to the side at the last second before he was torn apart by these beasts and the explosion happened.

If I'm not plagued livid dreams of that day, I dream of the boy. I close my eyes and try to block out his screams, but no matter how hard I try and run from them, they're always at my back, nibbling at the remains of my sanity.

I know this shouldn't bother me, I'm a Krimzon Guard. This is what we do. The Baron wanted test subjects for his Dark Warrior Program, and we oblige.

But the boy....

There comes a time when a person has enough of waiting for a miracle to happen and they just do. That was tonight. I've had enough of listening to him crying and screaming. I've prayed that he would just die already--not because I would enjoy it--but because he's suffered enough. That's quite the contradiction with me, I love chaos and pain. That's why I had joined the Krimzon Guard. Wrong reasons entirely, but they suited my purpose.

My father was a drunkard and seemed to have it out for me. I was his favorite target when he used to come back from the bar. I knew better than to fight back because I might not see the following day. When I just took the abuse without a word, without a single tear, he turned his anger towards my mother. He had been in the Guard and was forced into a leave of absence because of his drinking.

My mother used to be a Wastelander, but not the ones most people knew. She was an apothecary and musician. She was beautiful and if I close my eyes I can still see her face--gray eyes looking so enigmatic, her smile a smile that could tame any beast. Any beast but my father.

He killed her when I was sixteen. He didn't have the courtesy to do it when I wasn't around, no. He killed her right before me, while I stood stunned and frozen. She was butchered, pleading for my help.

I didn't know how to react--I took his old rifle and I shot him. Not just once, but many times, afraid that he would stand back up and tear me to pieces. He didn't. I fled.

The next day, I joined the KG and became a monster. I don't even know me anymore. There was so much hate and rage--I didn't care if I hurt innocent people, I was allowed to. When my shift was over, I spent my time creating weapons. Jereth was my only real friend, and the longer I knew Jereth, the more I knew Torn. He became another true friend.

I got out of bed and glanced to my roommate. Some woman I hardly knew and didn't care to know. She had a fierce personality--mostly because she had also been one of the Baron's successful Eco experiment. Her name was Mala, or something. She could successfully channel Yellow Eco through her body without the use of a tank full of the stuff on her back.

At that time of night, no one was around and I didn't have to worry about being questioned. I made my way to where the kid was kept and frowned as my ears caught the faint sound of sobbing.

When I got nearer, his head whipped up, not expecting to see me standing there. His blue eyes narrowed sharply in sudden anger.

"You..." he sneered, his voice bitter and on the verge of deathly cold. I could feel the hate radiating off of him.

I put a finger to my lips to hush him. "I'm not here to hurt you." It was the truth, but he wasn't convinced. He only glared the more.

Frankly, I couldn't blame him. I had hurt him in the past. Well, not me per say, but the Guard in general.

I spotted a still full pitcher of water left untouched on a table and poured him a glass before carrying it over to him. I gingerly reached forward, half expecting him to bite my hand as it neared his head--he didn't-- and I lifted his head gently, putting the glass to his lips.

He drank deeply--more like drained the glass within seconds. I poured another and soon found that one empty too. I decided against pouring another glass and carefully held the pitcher to his mouth and he drained it within a minute.

Once empty, I replaced it back on the table and wiped his mouth with the sleeve of my wrinkled uniform. It was night and I didn't have time to fiddle around with finding a clean one.

"Why are you doing this?" he asked. A mixture of emotions played across his face and I knew he didn't know what to think. A KG being kind? Unheard of!

"Because I'm sick and tired of this place and I know you are too," I replied and began to untie the straps that held his ankles in place.

My attempt to free him was interrupted as one of the doors slammed shut behind me. I jumped and whirled around. Just my luck, another Guard.

"Halt! What are you doing with the prisoner?" he asked, aiming his gun at my chest.

I raised my arms in surrender and squared my shoulders. "If the Baron finds out you are holding his best weapons specialist at gunpoint, he would be very displeased."

He hesitated slightly and lowered the gun. "What are you doing with the prisoner?" he demanded again.

A slow smirk crossed my lips.

"Cleaning up what you and the others failed to do," I replied, shaking my head. "The Baron would be most displeased with you. Look at this mess!"

Naturally, there was no mess besides the empty glasses and pitcher.

"Have you no idea what this runt could do should he manage to get a hold of that glass? He could kill Erol or the Baron himself! And it would be all your fault."

The Guard backed down. "Yes ma'am! Sorry ma'am! Right away!" he exclaimed and hurried forward, taking the tray with the glasses and rushed out.

Once I was sure he was gone, I turned back to the kid. "I've overstayed my welcome, tonight, kid. Sorry, but your escape will have to wait until tomorrow."

"Jak."

I looked to him quizzically.

"My name...it's Jak."

I smiled. "Tomorrow, Jak. Tomorrow I'll set you free."

"What's yours?"

I hated the glitter of hope in his eyes. I wanted to hug him and tell him that everything would be alright. I knew it wouldn't be. No one knew what Dark Eco would do to a person. If he made it out alive, what would happen to him? Surely he'd die because of the Eco.

"You can call me your Fairy Godmother," I teased and turned to walk away.

"No...really. I would like to know."

"My name is Blaze." I looked to him over my shoulder and smiled. "Tomorrow, Jak."

By the time I reached my room, it was late, very late--and I had a visitor. Baron Praxis, the man who started the Eco Warrior Program, stood by my bunk. He held a framed photograph of my mother and set it down as I entered.

"Sir!" I said, snapping my heels together and saluting.

He waved a hand and I "at-eased"...if that's even the right term.

"You have been slowing down, Blaze. Where is the fire that you used to have? The passion? The lust for the hunt and kill?"

I gaped like a fish.

"Sir...?"

The Baron stepped closer to me, a grin to his face. "You have been an excellent Guard and I believe you deserve a treat. Since there is really no action to satisfy your...need, I would like to give you the honors."

"The honors of what, sir?" I asked, truly baffled. Was I really slowing down? Damnit, that Guard snitched on me. It's a trap.

"The honors of pumping that kid full of Dark Eco! It should fill that empty void, shouldn't it?"

The void...I had forgotten about the emptiness I felt. After Jereth died, I became closer to Torn. I had always liked the man, but I seemed to have liked him more once our best friend was slaughtered. But after Torn left, I slowly felt the void grow again and the monster began to wake. It needed to be fed.

"Sir, it would be my honor."

Ouch...redundant....

The Baron's grin only broadened. "Excellent! Tomorrow morning, m'dear."

"I look forward to it," I replied, forcing myself to use the same disgusting I got when blood would be shed. "I will enjoy this privilege."

The following morning I dressed in my best uniform and followed my path from the previous night to where the kid Jak was held. The Baron waited for me, along with Erol. Torn would have been standing where Erol was, but as soon as he quit, that punk Erol took over. I never liked him.

We exchanged a few formal greetings before I pretended to be interested in how everything worked. That bastard Praxis showed me how to start up the machine and I nodded--a little too quickly.

"Well, if you're so eager, do it already!" Erol hissed.

I knew that in the Baron choosing me to do the honors today severely wounded his pride. It had been his duty. Haha, fucker.

I cast Erol a dark look before standing before the controls. I could feel the icy glares from Jak. I had no choice. My eyes closed as I flipped the switch and the machine turned on.

I was transfixed by the structure that I found myself wandering closer--like a moth to a flame. I hardly heard his screams and cries, his curses and death wishes he shouted my way.

I had betrayed him. I told him I wouldn't hurt him, and now I did. The monster won.

His accusations finally drew me from my thoughts, his body thrashing wildly. The Baron and Erol looked pleased at his suffering and I tried to mirror their glee.

"How could you do this?!" Jak shouted between cries of agony. "How could you?!"

His thrashing only intensified and an ankle strap broke loose. His blue eyes narrowed dangerously and he kicked outward.

As his bare foot collided with my ankle, I remembered. I had untied one and loosened the other before I was interrupted. I hardly felt myself crumble to the ground, but I heard the chorus of bones snapping and shattering.

I gasped in pain, still unaware of what had truly taken place. Had I just fallen, or had his foot made contact with my right ankle? Could that really have broken the bones?

Obviously so considering Erol scooped me up, shouting for the Guards to restrain him. He had somehow switched off the machine before he left, hurrying me out of there.

It was an act. He couldn't have cared, but how would that look if the Baron knew otherwise? He would be dead and his career ended.

I don't remember what happened then. I blacked out from the pain. His voice still rung through my head. Cold, harsh betrayal.

------

I have made a miraculous return, no? Hello to all of my other readers to the original "Trust and Betrayal" story. I thank you for returning and I do apologize for such a horribly long wait. There have been a lot of things happening, but there is no need for excuses. I am deeply sorry and I hope you like this as much (and hopefully better) than that sorry excuse of a fanfiction. I've improved though!

Another warning though, this is going to be considerably darker, but I'll still throw in some humor. Characters and such are going to switch a bit, but it'll be generally the same. Thanks once again!