STAGE 01: THE DAY A CHILD WAS SPARED
The date was August 10 in the year 2010 of the Imperial Calendar. The Holy Britannian Empire had just declared war upon Japan. The far east island nation had held fast to its neutrality, and now Britannia looms as the world's only superpower. Rights to Japan's underground resources became a hotly disputed issue, straining the already-deep-rooted diplomatic tensions between the two sides.
In the deciding battle for the mainland, Britannian forces introduced into combat the Humanoid Autonomous Armored Knight, known as the Knightmare Frame. The enemy's forces were far greater than anticipated, and the Knightmares obliterated the Japanese line of defense on the mainland with little effort. Japan became a dominion of the empire. The country was stripped of its freedom, its rights, and its name. Area 11, the defeated and once-proud nation of Japan was re-christened with a mere number.
Code Geass - - - Code Geass
Holy Britannian Empire
City of Pendragon
September 11th, 2010
1900 Hours
Suzaku Kururugi wasn't sure what he was going to do now. What was he supposed to do now anyway? His father was dead by his own hands, Lelouch had died when one of the bombs struck his home, Nunnally was dead by that same bomb, and what remained of his family and allies had either surrendered, gone into hiding, or had become part of a resistance group. The young boy didn't know all the details nor did they matter to him. What he did know was the grim situation that he was currently in.
He had no one but himself and that was scary.
Suzaku had witnessed all the weapons used in the brief month of war. The bombers that dropped crimson fire on their heads from above, the terrifying mechanoids known as knightmare frames that obliterated every in their path, the Britannian soldiers that cut down all who opposed them without remorse. Try as Japan might to put up a resistance, the effort was all but wasted. Millions of lives had been lost and absolutely nothing had been accomplished. Why Genbu Kururugi had even bothered to resist until his dying breath was uncertain. Perhaps insanity had taken control of him or perhaps he felt it was better to die and never face the consequences of sending people to their deaths with nothing to show for it.
The last Kururugi had pondered on these past events, struggling to find an answer that satisfied him, but he would not be occupied with these thoughts and questions for very long. He had more immediate concerns to think about.
Merely a day after the bombings were done, he had been swiftly captured by Britannian forces. The boy expected many things when he had been brought into the enemy's custody. He expected to be killed just for being the son of the now-deceased Prime Minister. The boy might be young and naive, but he wasn't a fool. Getting him out of the picture would all but ensure no further rebellion would be able to gain traction, not that the ten-year-old really cared about his ultimate fate. If death was what awaited him, then it would be a merciful death and one he hoped for.
Of all the things he could expect from his captors, it certainly wasn't being restrained, blindfolded, and taken to a place unknown to him. He didn't understand the necessity of trying to prevent him from being able to discern his location. It wasn't like he was that physically stronger than the Britannian troops watching over him. Moreover, who was left for him to spill any secrets to if he did find out any?
Suzaku wasn't sure where he was, but he had a feeling that more time had passed than he thought. In spite of him being blindfolded and bound, for what seemed like the hundredth time, he reached out with his other senses to try and get a bead on where he was. He couldn't pick up anything familiar. His ears heard voices, his nose picked up trace smells, but nothing was concrete. He asked the question again: why was he?
"This is no way to treat a child." A woman's voice and he recognized the language as english. "Remove those bindings and take off that blindfold immediately."
"Yes, your highness." A man's voice responded to the command.
Before Suzaku could process the words, he felt his hands be released from their bonds and then someone removed his blindfold. The first thing he saw were lights, and he brought an arm up to shield his own eyes.
"Leave us." The woman's voice ordered. "This is a private conversation."
"As you wish, Empress." The man acknowledged. "I will be outside."
The sound of a door closing ensued, followed by silence. The young boy was still trying to get his eyes used to the light. His blindfold had covered his eyes so well that he had been unable to process light of any kind with them on.
"Don't rush." The woman's voice was soft. "Take your time."
"Who are you?" Suzaku asked what his curiosity needed answering. "Where am I?"
"Who am I?" The woman chuckled. "Well, my name is Marianne Lamperouge, but most people know me as Marianne vi Britannia, the Empress of the Holy Britannian Empire."
"B-B-Britannia?" Suzaku wasn't sure he heard that right, as his disbelief seeped into his words. "E-Empress?"
"This might take a while to explain." She sounded kind and patient.
Suzaku's eyes began to adjust properly, and he lifted his hand away from his face to see that he was in an unfamiliar place. The room was decorated lavishly, more so than he had ever seen before. He was used to more simplistic-looking surroundings. His family home had never been this ornate.
"Can you see now?" The question was posed for him.
Yes, he was able to see now, albeit with a bit of a haze, and following the source of the woman's voice, he turned his head ever-so slowly to see who it was he was speaking to.
She was black-haired with amethyst eyes. Although she was sitting, he got the feeling that she was tall, taller than most Japanese women. She wore clothing that resembled nothing like that of people in Japan. Looking at her face more closely, it was plain as day that she was not Japanese in any sense, but even so, beautiful didn't even begin to describe this woman. She looked almost like a divine angel.
She was Britannian for sure, but that wasn't what caused him to narrow his eyes in thought. Suzaku recognized her, and it took only a moment to think about it. Although only seeing her face once in a picture shown to him by Lelouch, he still remembered the face quite well, and even if his memory hadn't served him well, the resemblance was uncanny to say the least.
"You're Lelouch's and Nunnally's mother." He deduced quickly.
"Yes, now you understand." Marianne nodded her head.
Suzaku then recalled something. "B-but Lelouch said that-"
"I was dead?" Marianne finished with a chuckle. "Yes, well as they say, news of my death have been greatly exaggerated."
Suzaku tilted his head. "I-I don't get it."
"It's nothing, dear boy." The woman shook her head. "The fact is I'm still alive and well. I only wish the same could be said for my own children.
None of this was making any sense. Why was he talking to the mother of his friend? How come she was alive when she was supposed to be dead? What did all of this mean?
"W-Why am I here?" Suzaku questioned, trying to not let fear beat him.
"Lelouch and Nunnally…" The empress looked saddened speaking the names of her son and daughter. "From what I heard, you all got along swimmigly. I had hoped to see them soon."
Suzaku felt his breath loosen slightly. The former mother of two was saddened, that much he could see, but there appeared to be no anger directed at him. On one hand, it would make talking to her easier. On the other hand, it felt wrong that he wasn't being berated more. He felt like he needed to be berated.
"I-it's all my fault." Suzaku felt shameful. "I led t-them to their deaths."
"You were a child in a warzone. What could you have done?" Marianne, despite the depressed look in her eyes, tried to comfort him. "I don't hold you responsible for their deaths."
Whatever the young boy expected to hear from this woman's mouth, it wasn't this. At the very least, he figured that she would punish him in some way, blame him. It wouldn't surprise him if it came to that. It wasn't like he had any claim to the moral high ground, not by a long shot.
"Th-then why am I here?" Suzaku couldn't stand not knowing. "W-what's going to h-happen to me?"
"Nothing will happen to you." She shook her head. "I want to help you."
"... help me?" He didn't understand.
He did not comprehend one bit what she was getting at. What was she going to help him with? What was there to help him with to begin with?
"Yes, I want to help you." She repeated her words seriously.
Code Geass - - - Code Geass
Holy Britannian Empire
City of Pendragon, Imperial Palace
September 18th, 2010
1100 Hours
Marianne vi Britannia was many things. She was a former knight of the round. She was the Empress of one of the most powerful nations in the world. She was a former mother of two beautiful children. She had done a lot in her lifetime that she was proud of, and the number of things that she hated were just as numerous.
Regrettably, she would never be able to see her children grow up and come into their prime. Lelouch was always an intelligent child and she didn't doubt for a minute that he would have grown up to be a handsome man capable of capturing any woman's heart and Nunnally, while not as intelligent as Lelouch, could be quite persuasive. She would have had beauty that would have had men begging for her attention.
Marianne wasn't the only one feeling the loss. Cornelia and Euphemia were shocked, even paralyzed. Clovis was visibly saddened. Even Schneizel expressed hurt at the death of the vi Britannia children. The Empress did sincerely appreciate all of these responses. They all cared for her children in some capacity and on various levels. At least she wasn't completely alone in the royal family.
With that all being said, a normal person would still have a hard time trying to understand why it was that she had taken in a child from the former nation of Japan, now Area 11, especially in light of her blood children's deaths.
Suzaku Kururugi was the only child of the deceased Prime Minister Genbu Kururugi. Logically, it would be more ideal to hold him hostage, display him to Area 11 as an example to not step out of line. It wouldn't be a new method of intimidation; Britannia wasn't known to be hospitable towards its subjects of non-Britannian blood and the nation didn't tolerate even a slight sign of defiance. Leaders or figureheads of rebellions that were captured were expected to die in some form of public execution. In short, Britannia had no shortage of disdain for other races.
Marianne, unlike most people, had a bit of perspective and maturity. She was well aware of the invasion of Japan before it had begun. She also knew that the young Kururugi boy was hardly a part of his father's plans. Finally, she knew that the boy had to be reeling from the deaths that he had witnessed. His present behavior indicated as much. She had also detected a hint of guilt that shouldn't exist on a child's face. What it was, she didn't know yet, but she would find out sooner or later.
For now, though, Marianne couldn't help but chuckle a bit at how Suzaku looked so uncomfortable in his current clothing. Luckily for her, Lelouch's old clothing was more than a fit and it seemed to suit him surprisingly well. Normally, a week with his injuries wouldn't be enough time to heal, but Suzaku was a fast healer. That and the fact that he didn't want to remain in bed any longer, something the Empress could understand and agree with.
"You look quite dashing." Marianna said with approval.
"I don't know about this." Suzaku's gaze was on the ground.
"It's okay to be scared." Marianne moved to assure him. "I understand that we Britannians can be scary, but I'll be there to watch over you."
A boy his age might be more inclined to not be so accepting of her words. He was at a time in his life where he was beginning to gain a more adult perspective. In fact, it might be appropriate to say that he was already an adult in some manners. He had witnessed death first-hand, witnessed death from the horizon, and perhaps even had been a part of it himself. These things were hard to take in for an adult let along a child, so of course he would latch onto anything that gave him a ray of hope.
"Just stick close to me." Marianne reminded him. "As long as you do what I say, you will not come to harm. I promise."
Suzaku looked her in the eye before slowly nodding his head. He didn't have anywhere else to turn, but his trust was appreciated all the same. It would make the future a much easier thing to get through.
Code Geass - - - Code Geass
Charles zi Britannia was curious about what was to come. It wasn't that he was in the dark about the details; he knew exactly what was going to happen, but what would result from what would happen was something else entirely.
Marianne had recently returned from a journey to collect the son of Genbu Kururugi. What she intended to do with the boy was anyone's guess , but she had to have a plan in mind. She was very clever and cunning like that and if she was making a public appearance, it would only confirm to V.V. that she was still alive.
And speaking of V.V., the immortal had become something of an issue lately. Charles knew that his brother had lied to him regarding the assault on Aries Villa. He was already angry that he had attacked Marianne, the woman he loved the most, but to attack her and then lie about it? That was the ultimate sin that both had promised to never do to each other. If Marianne had died, he would have not been able to hold back his anger.
V.V., I will not forget this slight against me. Charles thought to himself. And one day, that debt will be paid back in full. For now, you can seethe as Marianne takes to the stage, alive and well.
Before the Empress could make her appearance, he had to make the announcement that she was alive. As far as the world knew, she was dead.
"It is with immense pride that I, Charles zi Britannia announce that Marianne vi Britannia, who was involved in a terrorist attack, is alive and stronger than ever, proving that we Britannians are not so weak as to fall to scum that would attack from behind."
Nobody in the court dared to speak their opinions out loud, but Charles could see it all in their expressions, in their body language, in their eyes. All but a dozen or so of the nobles hated the name Marianne vi Britannia. He expected nothing less.
As his beloved walked in to take a stand besides her husband, he saw a boy with brown hair and green eyes approaching as well. The child walked directly in front of her, fear apparently in his eyes, yet he tried to at least maintain a semblance of dignity and pride, and failed. Well, at least in Charles's eyes, he failed. To the rest of the Royal Court, he might as well be doing decently if nothing else. Still, if the Emperor knew his people well, then in their minds, they were no doubt glaring daggers at Marianne even more for bringing an Eleven into the heart of the homeland along with being alive.
Marianne gave a look to Charles and he knew instantly what she wanted to say in words. She was still mourning for the loss of their children. He understood that much, but it was the first time she had ever looked at him with any level of disapproval. It was likely that she was hiding a great deal of hatred towards him. Her eyes shifted away from him and her expression changed. She was getting back into the game.
"Hail, Britannians around the world." Marianne addressed him in a confident voice. "I, Marianne vi Britannia, bring home grave news. Lelouch vi Britannia, and Nunnally vi Britannia are dead, killed in the invasion of Area 11."
Predictably, this was met with some mutterings of joy and fake sadness. Everyone had their part to play. Masks were abundant in this place. It was a really stifling thing to deal with on a daily basis. The anger of her being alive and her bringing an Eleven had subsided a little through her announcement.
"But I also bring good tidings." Marianne held the boy by his shoulders. "I present to all of you Suzaku Kururugi, son of the late Genbu Kururugi."
The murmurs in the court began to grow louder. Already, ideas were floating around as to what would become of this young prisoner. The cruelty within the hearts of these men and women appeared limitless. None of them would lose sleep over harm caused to a child intentionally. They might justify it to themselves as making an example of a lesser race, but that was just another lie.
"As of today, he will be brought into Britannia and officially be recognized not as an Eleven with the status of an Honorary Britannian but as a Britannian citizen with all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities that come as such."
That was the keg that lit up the room and caused an explosion of voices. Those who were hiding their conceit and contempt now did away with formalities and facades in favor of a raw and unfiltered image of absolute outrage. This announcement was no doubt being received all across the nation as traitorous. No normal Britannian citizen would ever consider himself at the same level as a non-Britannian. In fact, officially recognized as a citizen or not, Suzaku Kururugi would not be respected. The lad had more than his fair share of battles ahead, but if Marianne endorsed him, then surely he was made of tough stuff.
Charles gestured to one of his guards, and the man took out a pistol and began firing at the roof. There would be a few marks to contend with, but a point had to be made. As expected, all of the court hushed immediately, and even a few screams went out. The Emperor could almost laugh at the cowardice on display.
"As you were saying." The 99th Emperor gestured for his wife to continue.
"This decision may seem unusual, even impractical, but there are reasons." Marianne explained. "Area 11 will be rife with intense emotions. To placate them, we must ensure that a symbol is protected and cared for by us."
The answer, while satisfactory on a public level, was not the full truth. Yes, this was a good sign of showing the former nation of Japan that all did not have to be bad. That being said, this could also be seen as something much more serious; by having this boy placed directly in the homeland, he could also be seen as a hostage, a means to keep the people in line. If that were the case, then rebellion could still be a possibility. The Emperor wouldn't put it past the Elevens to fight even harder for their liberation.
And that is the last thing that we need. Charles mulled in his head. We could be set back years, maybe even decades, time we cannot afford to waste.
"Area 11 will interpret our hospitality negatively, I imagine." Marianne had more to say on the matter. "That is understandable and no doubt this child will have many trials to overcome, but there is an endgame. The boy will be trained as a Knightmare pilot. Again, this will serve to show that we provide opportunities for our colonies. They cannot deny what will be visible for all to see."
The entire court began to talk again, albeit far more subdued than the previous outcry. It was quieted quickly when Charles motioned for quiet and gestured for his love to continue.
"He will be under my tutelage until he is of a certain age and skill level that will allow him to become self-sufficient."
Again, a part of the truth, but for now, it would have to do. These carefully measured words shouldn't have been needed, but for the sake of Ragnarok, they needed to do these things. Just a little longer.
Now, there was one more issue that needed to be addressed.
"And you, boy?" The Emperor addressed the child for the first time.
"Y-your majesty." Suzaku Kururugi bowed profusely, speaking in surprisingly fluent english. "I-I wanted to stop the bloodshed in my homeland. My father's resistance brought only dead people. Joining is the only path left that we have. I have to show my people that this is the way forward, otherwise we will all die."
For a child, it was a very carefully thought-out response not to mention mature beyond what a ten-year-old child should be able to articulate. His response indicated his own fears as well as his realization of the reality of his situation, but something about his words seemed off.
In any case, you have found quite an obedient pawn, Marianne. Charles made a note to never again doubt Marianne. This will work just fine.
"Marianne, you have my blessing." Charles relayed to her. "I trust that you will deliver results."
"Of course. I, Marianne vi Britannia, do hereby induct Suzaku Lamperouge."
It was quiet, but there was outrage just waiting to be unleashed at this announcement.
"If that is all, then you are both dismissed. Do not disappoint me, boy."
"Y-yes, your highness."
The entire court was dead as a graveyard as the two departed.
Code Geass - - - Code Geass
Suzaku looked out the window as the vehicle moved through the streets. This was an entirely new experience for him, becoming part of a new family, one that had different cultures and beliefs and customs than he was raised on. His life had certainly taken a turn; whether for the better or for the worse he couldn't say for sure.
Marianne was the Empress of Britannia, and as such, her choice to adopt him essentially meant that now he had a title of a sort. He wasn't royalty, but he was somewhere within the nobility, or at least that's what he had been told. He wouldn't be recognized as one given his blood and his history. In fact, he had been informed that any and all interactions with Britannians should be met with the expectation that he would be the subject of racial prejudice. Aside from an odd few who didn't care about such things, the majority of Britannia would barely acknowledge him. At best, in their minds, an Honorary Britannian was the best he could ever be and only in the most extreme of circumstances would he be acknowledged as a full citizen of the superpower. For now, it was only the Emperor and Empress that were keeping him out of harm's way.
Even without any intent or action, he had made enemies. The nobility no doubt hated his guts, ordinary Britannians probably despised him for becoming a part of the elite even though he didn't have a choice, and the rest of the world probably only pitied him. Then there was the Britannian Royal Family. Where would he even begin with them? Based on what he was being told, they might be the worst of his enemies. He was essentially replacing Lelouch and Nunnally and he was no ideal replacement.
"I was never a favored member of the family." Marianne, sitting by his side, told him. "I made a few friends here and there, but most of Britannian high society detest my existence. The fact that I have taken you on as a prodigy and an adopted son will only further increase my negative perception in the Imperial Court."
"People hate us." Suzaku knew where this was going. "I don't know if I can do this."
"Now, now, Suzaku. It's not all bad." Marianne's voice picked itself up. "There's actually an opportunity for you if you so choose to seize it."
"Opportunity?" Suzaku pondered this.
"The one thing that Britannian nobility prize above all else is their own pride, but pride without substance is merely arrogance."
"I don't understand."
"You will… one day."
Suzaku frowned, but didn't ask any further questions. In all honesty, he was tired. All of this was just so much for him. In the span of half a month, he had gone from being an orphan to being adopted by the Empress of Britannia. He didn't doubt that things would be far different than in Japan, but maybe this way he could help his people. The war had claimed many lives, and while the treatment was anything but nice, it was a far better fate than needlessly sacrificing lives that would never get a chance to live. Still, he wanted to make things better; he had to help now that he was in a position to do so. If Britannia respected power and authority above all else, then the only way he would ever hope to stand as a man in this nation was to obtain the highest position that he could grasp at.
"Someday." The young boy muttered to himself. "When I have power, I can make a difference."
"If you want power, then you'll want to aim to become a Knight of the Round." Marianne picked up on his words. "They possess authority that can't be challenged by anyone other than the Emperor himself."
"Not even the nobles?"
"Not even the nobles."
Suzaku tugged on the collar that felt like it was choking him. The thought of all of those faces made him uneasy. Would he have to deal with any of them personally? If so, then he wasn't looking forward to the experience. How would he even begin such a conversation? He hadn't done anything to get on anyone's radar and already his prospects at connections were looking mighty dark. How did anyone hope to live in a place where they weren't liked or even respected? His adoptive mother had to know the answer.
"Empress?" Suzaku needed to ask the question.
"We're alone now, Suzaku." Marianne reminded him. "There's no need for such formalities when in private."
"...right." Suzaku awkwardly bypassed her words and continued on. "Why else do people hate you?"
"The same reasons they don't like you." Marianne smiled sadly. "I don't stay in my place according to Britannian society."
The brown-haired boy frowned in confusion. There was another thing he didn't understand. Apparently, understanding things just was not his thing this day.
Code Geass - - - Code Geass
Eastern Asia, Area 11
Tokyo Settlement
August 1st, 2017
1200 Hours
Suzaku felt his eyes glaze over Area 11. He had been back to his former home numerous times in the past. None of those past visits involved personal time of any kind. It was always to carry out a duty in the name of the Holy Britannian Empire. The duties varied, but he performed them all as expected and then some. This time, his mission was very clear. He was to spearhead the campaign that would root out the major terrorist factions both active and in-hiding within Area 11.
All of them.
Frankly speaking, the teenage boy couldn't see why anyone even bothered to fight against Britannia. The empire had resources that dwarfed nearly every other nation in the world, even the EU and the Chinese Federation. It wasn't even a matter of if these dissidents could win; it was a matter of how long they could hold out. Area 11 had been conquered in a month; rebel cells could be routed out and destroyed in a single day. The bottom line was that they just could not win, not in any scenario.
Suzaku turned from the window to gaze at his personal knightmare frame. Lancelot had become one of his most important investments. Much time was spent piloting it, refining it, and perfecting it. It was unique to him and when he stepped onto the battlefield, everyone on the battlefield knew who he was. It would be the same here in Area 11.
The brown-haired young man felt a slight shift in the altitude of the plane and that set him in motion to approach the ramp. They would be landing soon and as standard procedure, he was going to be greeted by quite an entourage. Personally, he did not care much for such superfluous displays, but then again he had no intention of trying to argue against traditions that were centuries old. Plus, in spite of his station and many accomplishments, his name was largely looked down upon. These days, the most he ever expected from any encounter with the higher-ups in Britannia was begrudging respect and that was on a good day.
Ten minutes later, the aircraft landed and before the ramp even hit the ground, in came Earl Lloyd Asplund, the main caretaker of the Lancelot followed by Cecile Croomy, the earl's personal assistant.
"Suzaku!" The white-haired man cried out. "Why must you deprive me of my time with Lancelot!? You know how much he means to me!"
The Knight of Six didn't want to hear it. "Lloyd… please shut up."
"But-" The scientist began.
"Lloyd!" Cecile was quick to put the oddball in check. "I am so sorry, Suzaku."
"Yeah, sure." Suzaku didn't even care at this point. "Just make sure you've got your best game face. You know how this works."
Keeping a calm attitude and a good poker face was necessary in facilitating a more fluid experience here, especially with the most important person of Area 11 present. With whatever formality he could muster, the pilot of the Lancelot descended the ramp of the aircraft and stopped within a few meters of his host.
"Sir Lamperouge, welcome to Area 11!" Prince Clovis la Britannia, Third Prince of the Holy Britannian Empire greeted him. "It is an honor to have the Knight of Six in Area 11!"
It was an expected response from the Viceroy of Area 11, but it was not a warm greeting in the least. As much as Suzaku tried to see the good in all people, even he had to acknowledge that this greeting was devoid of any sort of true good.
"Third Prince Clovis la Britannia." Suzaku did his expected greeting in kind, bowing his own head. "I look forward to working with you. We have much work to do and I will be needing your assistance in accomplishing my mission."
This was sitting in my library and after looking it over, I made some adjustments and decided to post it to see if anyone might have an interest. I recetly rewatched Code Geass and I found myself getting invested all over again seeing as I had almost forgotten about a lot of things in the story.
One thing I will say about FanFiction writers for Code Geass is that everyone loves to idolize Lelouch and elevate him to the point that he becomes nigh-unstoppable. While these are certainly interesting stories, I do feel that these writers forget that for all the things he was, he was still a human being with a bleeding heart. He made plenty of mistakes and he was highly emotional, which is why I find him compelling as a character.
On the flip side of the fandom, Suzaku's representation feels lackluster at best and negative at worst. I understand that some people despise Suzaku for actions he took in the show, but given the events of the show and the relationships he built, I find his reaction to be human, similar to Lelouch. Yes, his morality did a flip, but I still feel that these changes make sense with how things played out. Disagreeable? Certainly, but not unbelievable.
Additionally, these two were teenagers going through pain and suffering. I remember my teenage years and they were all sorts of cringy, awkward, and angsty.
This is just what I see, so take that for what you will.
So where did this story idea come from? I just started asking question to myself.
What if Suzaku survived but Lelouch and Nunnally didn't?
What if Suzaku found himself with another parental figure?
What would Suzaku be like if Lelouch wasn't around?
What if Marianne was still alive?
This started to snowball into an idea that had a beginning, middle, and a rough end. As crazy as these ideas converging was, I managed to make some sense of it.
Thoughts on this chapter? Reviews and feedback are greatly appreciated. If you guys want to see more of this story, be sure to let me know.
Thank you all for reading this pilot chapter.
"The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maitain their neutrality in times of moral crisis."
Dante Alighieri