I do not own Chaotic nor anything related to it. It belongs to TCDigital.
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A Note from the Author
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Fiction? Reality? Sometimes the line between the two is blurred. By every definition, what I am about to tell you is fictional. It involves people who do not exist, in a world that does not exist. At the same time, however, the story I am about to tell you is real. These things happened, somewhere, to someone.
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Act I: Survival
The Fourteenth Time
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The world comes into focus as I open my eyes. There are stone buildings, large plants like palm trees, and everything that's not building or tree is sand.
The sky is a deep blue, the sun is sinking below the walls of the city. The red sunsets of home are nowhere to be found. Already the eastern sky is lighting up with stars.
This is my fourteenth time in this world. My fourth time in this particular place in this world. Naturally, I know what to do.
I turn around to the nine people who had made the journey with me, separately from me. There are eight scared children of varying ages, along with an adult, maybe thirty or forty. The adult, I'd never learned his name, was trying to keep the fear he felt from showing on his face.
I take a deep breath. Maybe I can change these first few moments. "May I have everyone's attention?"
My companions look at me. The younger children shrink away. Of course. This is their first time seeing me.
I continue, "We are no longer on Earth. This world is called Perim, and this city is Al Mipedim, home of the Mipedians. They look like lizard-people. Just do whatever they say, and everything will work out."
The lone adult in the group scoffs, "Who the f*** are you?"
I glare at him. Every single time with the language, and with kids around, too. "I'm the guy making sure you don't get us all killed." Maybe that will shut him up this time.
"You've got to be f***ing kidding me," the man scoffs. "Where's the camera? This is some prank show, right?"
No such luck. I choose to ignore the man. I crouch to the ground until I'm at eye-level with most of the children. "Some scary stuff is going to happen soon, so I need all of you to be brave, okay?"
Most of the children nod, but I know the rest listened to me as well.
I hear a small shriek behind me. I turn out of reflex, even though I already know what it is. A Mipedian woman steps back and covers her mouth as she sees us, dropping a basket of bread in the process. In an instant, she vanishes.
The children behind me gasp. Ah, right, I'd forgotten to tell them. "These people can turn invisible."
The man starts to shout some things not worth repeating. I don't even try to calm him down, it didn't work the other times I've tried. Instead I motion for the children to stand next to me. They hurry around me, looking around with wide eyes.
There's a crack as the shouting man suddenly pitches forward. He falls to the ground, silent. There's a little blood coming from a cut on the back of his head, but he'll be fine. A Mipedian flickers into view behind him as its invisibility wears away.
Before the Mipedian can speak, I bow my head a little. "Thank you very much. He was scaring the children."
With one sentence I have changed the Mipedian soldier's impression of us from "invaders" to "victims". He bows his head slightly as well, copying my gesture, then says, "I assume you are the leader, then?"
"In the sense that I am acting as the leader of these children until they find their parents or, failing that, persons who can care from them, then yes, I am." I'd been practicing that sentence so I wouldn't stumble over it.
I've impressed the soldier, as well as the other two invisible soldiers I know are there, though to reveal that I know of their presence would not be very smart. The soldier I can see says, "Very well. If the ten of you will stay here, I will bring someone to see to you."
The soldier vanishes. I know we are being watched, so I hold in my sigh. I know who the person is that will be seeing to us. Prince Mudeenu, nephew of the king and one of the more xenophobic Mipedians. While this incarnation of him is not responsible for the trouble I've had in the past, I know I have to watch my step around him.
Prince Mudeenu doesn't bother with invisibility as he marches down the road towards us. The children crowd behind me as he gets closer. I don't blame them. Mudeenu's head is covered in spiky scales and crowned with horns. His eyes are blood-red, his claws are a metallic-gray, and his default facial expression is "seriously pissed off".
He stops in front of me and lets his blue cape flow around his black armor. He stands up straight and looks down at me, trying to be intimidating. Though this is my fourth time seeing this display, I do find it intimidating. I'm only tall enough for my head to reach his chest.
Prince Mudeenu growls. "Who are you? Why do you trespass upon our land?"
I bow my head. "My name is Michael. We are humans, and we did not come here of our own free will."
Mudeenu snorts, but he does not argue. There is no evidence to suggest otherwise. "King Theb-sarr will want to speak with you. And only you."
"I understand," I say. I turn to the children. "Make sure you do what the nice lizard-people tell you to do. Everything's going to be all right." The children will be fine, the soldiers watching them are trustworthy.
Mudeenu turns on his heel. "Follow me," he orders with acid in his voice.
I'm quick to obey. I fall into step beside him. So far, I have survived. I'm confident I will survive longer, but I am careful not to let myself be blinded by confidence. This world teaches a harsh lesson to those who think themselves untouchable.
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Coming next: The First Time
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Like I said before, Chaotic belongs to TCDigital.
I decided on a rather unconventional method of storytelling here, as you probably noticed. Writing in the first-person present tense is hard, but for this story I think it needs it.
I would like to see what you think of this story, so please post a review! Follow if you liked it!
