Chapter 2 - Eviction Notice
Journal Entry, Day 4
~ After days of waiting on Craterfall's excavating team to remove the source of the energy fluctuation, I am proud to say that I… we, may have finally gotten our hands on a new power source!~
~ It appears that the source of the fluctuation comes from these strange looking crystals, their shapes differ for each piece but almost all of them share the same trait. Most are sharp and jagged as well, however their forms are crooked and never upright, almost like a child's arts and crafts project.~
~For some reason, it seems that these crystals recharge electrical devices almost to full capacity. Smaller samples of the crystals seem to have a charge equivalent to 3 double A batteries, however much larger pieces have almost the same capacity as a generator.~
~One thing I noticed however during our testing is that these crystals don't just affect electrical devices. During a testing session, one of my associates cut himself whilst handling one of the samples. However instead of his blood running down the side of the crystal, it started to…rise…it seemed to grow and split apart like the branches of a tree. I don't know what to make of this discovery, further testing is required to figure out the meaning behind this.~
~Why did it affect his blood? Does it affect humans or do animals work as well? If it affects blood, can it affect anything else in or on the human body, and if so, what?~
- J. Axel
BEEP!...BEEP!...BEEP!...BEE-
*Click*
…
I raise myself out of bed, back popping and aching, somehow feeling both 23 and 87 at the same time.
I turn to my phone and turn it on, the illuminating screen blinding my already sensitive eyes. After rubbing my eyes for a minute, I look back to my screen to see a text message from Kevin.
- Hey! The game starts in an hour, you bringin the beer?
"OH SHIT!"
I rush out of bed and call David whilst I get dressed, hoping he isn't still asleep or god forbid hungover. Of course I forgot about the game, why wouldn't I? It's not like it's the ONLY thing I told Kevin I'd watch with him this week, nice job dumbass.
Ring…
…
Ring…
…
*Click*
"This is David, how can I help ya?" As he says this I hear clattering over the speaker, probably cleaning dishes.
"Hey David, are you free at all today?" I ask in a haste while trying to find a shirt that isn't covered in a stain or already worn.
"Uhhh, later I will be, just doing some chores around the apartment, why ya ask?" I almost couldn't hear the last part of his sentence as his voice was overshadowed by what sounded like a vacuum cleaner being turned on.
I had to practically yell to get my words through to him, "Can you meet me at Kevin's place in an hour? Also bring beer!"
"Um, ya probably! Probably be a bit late though, wait, what about bringing beer?"
"I can't explain right now! Remember! Kevin's place, hour, game, beer."
"What- whaddya mean you can't explai-"
*Beep*
I rush to make sure all my tasks around my home are done before leaving for Kevins.
Dishes? Filled to the brim in the sink.
Clothes? Dirty as always.
Living room? Hasn't been vacuumed since I got the place.
Yep, everything is as it should be. I grab my wallet and keys before heading to the door, hopefully David understood my call clearly enough to remember to bring beer to the game.
I'm pretty sure me walking to Kevin's complex coulda been a lot faster than me driving there. Roads are packed practically shoulder to shoulder, but while waiting in the street I saw what looked like military trucks fly right by me.
I was lucky enough not to get nailed by them, can't say the same about the people in front of me. Saw the trucks taking off some rear-views and even a whole door of its hinges, and all those unlucky people can thank The Top for that wonderful gift.
…The Top… god's wonderful gift on this already bleak world.
Do you want to get an actual paying job to support yourself instead of the run of the mill office job that pays practically pennies? The Top.
Do you want medicine that isn't laced with whatever dealers have in their back pocket to make sick people returning customers? The Top.
Do you wanna be able to live in a building and NOT be worried 24/7 about a psycho breaking into your home and butchering you in your bed while you sleep?
You see the pattern that's forming right?
Either way, The Top are basically humans looming over ants below them, while they eat their genetically modified T-bone steaks and drink whatever century aged wine they got in their cupboards, the rest of us eat the scraps, or starve and shrivel into dust.
The rich and the poor, a tale as old as time.
Pulling up to Kevin's complex, I remember why I never really hang out at the guys place a whole lot. The building is partially in ruins with one of the walls on the lower levels completely destroyed, almost like a truck flew through it.
Walking through the halls makes it almost feel like a haunted house, broken windows and doors on almost every wall, roaches and rats run amok throughout the building,
Pretty sure I saw a ghost a little bit ago… that or a really pale junkie.
"Hey James, Wait up!"
As I was walking up another flight of stairs, I was called by a familiar voice from behind me. I turned back to see David a few steps behind me holding a 6 pack.
…with only 5 beers…
"Sorry man." He snickers, "I got thirsty while climbing all these damn steps, you understand."
I laugh to myself and nod my head to him "If it was me with the 6 pack I'd probably be at home passed out instead of getting a workout in."
I asked him, "How was your trip here? Saw a couple trucks that belonged to The Top take out a couple doors and mirrors off some cars in front of me."
"Seriously? I just saw two of them parked outside the building, think they're gonna take out some wanted psycho locked up in his room?" He says while firing off what I can only assume was finger guns.
I roll my eyes at his question, "As if The Top would do anything remotely helpful for us, but now that you say it… what are they doing here anyway?"
- CRASH! -
"Get the fuck off of me you damn pigs!"
- BANG! -
"What the hell's happening?!"
- SMASH! -
"I haven't done anything! You ain't got any proof"
Me and David jumped at the sounds of people yelling and crashing, normally a person's yells were more common in their own homes, however this sounded more close to us than normal, I thought it was a simple break in that was taking place… how wrong I was.
As we reached Kevin's floor and entered the large hallway, David and I saw what seemed like special forces, people dressed in protective gear with The Top's special defense symbol on their shoulders. A few of the officers were escorting people across the opposite side of the hall down another flight of stairs, Some of the doors to the apartments looked to be kicked in. As David and I watched this event unfold, I noticed one of the officers had a clipboard and was looking between it and the numbers on the doors. It took a minute for me to realize that he was talking to someone through an earpiece he had on.
| *Bzzt* Volunteers have been selected on the premises, leaving the foundation no- hmm? Mhm. Ok. Alright…"| An almost robotic voice spoke out of the man, gaining the attention of two officers in front of him as he pointed to the door ahead of them.
| *Bzzt* Command wants one more volunteer before we leave, retrieve the lucky individual and escort them to the trucks". | He commanded the officers.
One of the officers reached for a button on the side of their neck, | *Bzzt* Why do we need one more? We've already collected enough from the other complexes, can't we just leave for the complex now?|
The apparent commanding soldier walked up to the questioning officer and jabbed a finger to their chest. | *Bzzt* Are you questioning commands orders? Do your damn job and get the resident before I tell them about this 'insubordination'. |
The officer looked down at the commanders finger and back to his face before clicking the speaker on again, | *Bzzt* Affirmative, acquiring the subject from the domicile and heading to the outpost. |
The officer turned around and headed towards a closed door with the numbers 237 next to it.
Wait a minute…237?
That's… that's Kevins apartment… oh shit.
The soldier walked up to the door and loudly slammed his fist on the already weak base of the door, he could have probably ripped the damn thing off its hinges if he really wanted to.
"Hold on hold on, I'm comin!"
The sound of what I can only assume is garbage being thrown around is heard from behind the door, and the sound of many locks being undone.
The door creaked open, thankfully Kevin was smart enough to leave at least ONE lock secured while answering the door. As he looked at the commanding soldier and the multiple officers in the hallway, I could almost see his expression change from happy to confused just from looking at his peering eye.
"The hell do you guys want? If this is about the noise complaint, I already told the guy I turned that shit down."
The officer simply clicked the button on his neck to respond, | *Bzzt* Citizen, The Top has ordered the transportation of you and the residents of this complex, to a secure facility. Do not resist. |
It was silent for only a few seconds but to David and I it felt like hours. The deafening silence was only broken when Kevin had decided to respond.
"Well unless you guys got a warrant, I think yall need to fuck of-"
-CRASH!-
The officer didn't bother letting him finish his sentence as he kicked the door open into Kevin's apartment, the doors center exploding towards him into splinters that stuck into him.
| *Bzzt* Do. Not. Resist. | The officer said in the same strange robotic tone the commander had. Even in this dangerous situation, the tone of his voice lacked any anger or malice, making him sound even more disturbing. As the officer entered Kevin's home, I could see the shock on David's face slowly turn into anger next to me.
"Hey! Get your damn hands off me, I got rights!" Kevin yelled as he was pulled out of his home into the apartments hallway. As he tried pushing one of The Tops 'civil servants' off of him, one of the other officers walked up to him and socked him in the gut. David and I watched as Kevin crumpled to the ground like a sack of potatoes, the air leaving his lungs as he fell towards the ground on his hands and knees dry heaving.
I watched as David shot up in a fit of rage and began running towards the officers, the veins in his head bulging out from anger.
"Hey! Get your goddamn hands off him!" He screamed while shoving the surprised commanding officer against the wall.
David managed to clock one of the officers beating Kevin in the side of the head before his rescue attempt was suddenly halted, an officer plunged an almost cattle prod looking device into his back delivering a high voltage of electricity.
| *Bzzt* AH! You son of a bitch! Who the fuck are you? | The officer that David punched yelled out while kicking the stunned man on the ground.
I stood from my hiding spot to help David and Kevin to the best of my abilities, what kind of person would I be if I watched my closest friends be beaten like an animal. I was only able to make it 5 steps towards my friends before I experienced the hard contact of a wooden gun stock connecting with my head.
I collapsed to the ground, my vision was hazy but I could still see the officers striking my friends on the ground without a hint of mercy. I tried lifting myself off the ground to try and save them, I only stopped when I felt the cold touch of a rifle muzzle on the back of my skull.
| *Bzzt* Not one more move, or I'll blow your goddamn head off! | The commanding soldier yelled at James, his knee digging into the man's spine. The soldier reached towards the side of his helmet and pressed a button, he was contacting someone.
| *Bzzt* Command, this is Sergeant Jefferson, two mice have entered the maze, I repeat, two mice have entered the maze, awaiting orders. |
I laid their on the ground trying to maintain consciousness, the barrel of the run still pressing into my head. I feared any movement that I make would end up with me catching a bullet into my skull, even my breathing felt like it was slowing down to a crawl, like prey standing still so their predators don't see them.
….
….
-BEEP-
….
….
| *Bzzt* Affirmative command, bringing the mice to their cage. |
I felt the barrel slowly lift away from my head, not wanting to risk me or my friends lives I kept staring forward, praying we would just be let go.
| *Bzzt* Lucky for you three, we're not gonna kill you in this shitheap you call your home. | The soldier said in a monotone voice.
| *Bzzt* However… | I watched as the two officers pulled out tasing prods and jammed them into Kevin and David's necks, rendering them unconscious… at least I hoped it was just that.
-ZAP-
Before I knew it, the commanding soldier that was still on top of me plunged the same device into the back of my neck, making my fight to stay awake useless. Before passing out however, I was able to hear the soldier's last words to me.
| *Bzzt* Putting you three down like animals is gonna sound a whole lot better than where we're going. |
And just like that, I felt myself drift away into a deep sleep, wondering if all of this was a dream.
The last dream I would ever have, before nightmares took its place.
…
…
| *Bzzt* Why did command want subjects from the apartments anyway, couldn't we have just grabbed another vagrant from the street? Would've saved us a lot of time. |
I could faintly hear one of the officers talking, I was slowly coming to as my environment felt hot… and bumpy.
| *Bzzt* Command said the collection of the…scraps… would be more noticeable to civilians than collecting the mice from their homes, they said a more believable excuse can be used for their 'eviction'. |
My head was killing me, every heartbeat pounded my head over and over again. I slowly re-opened my eyes, my blurry vision steadily getting clearer as I could make out some details of where I was.
Looking around, I could see that me and David weren't the only ones captured, there were about a dozen people that were ripped from their homes all sitting against the walls of this place. I could feel that we were moving as most of us were being slowly tossed side to side, my only guess was that we were stuck in the back of some vehicle. There were no windows around us but I could see the dawning sun piercing into my eyes through a small grated opening towards the front of the vehicle, after a couple of minutes I could hear the officers talking about something.
| *Bzzt* What do you think command needs the cargo for anyway? We haven't exactly been clued in as to why we're doing this. |
The officer driving looked at the passenger to respond.
| *Bzzt* Our job isn't to ask questions, we do what command says and get the job done. If they tell us to collect these scum like baseball cards, then ya better start collecting. |
The passenger soldier looked forward and didn't say anything else, best to follow commands order than ask why they were doing it at all. After all, a good soldier is one that follows order, not questions them.
The two officers were silent before the driver turned the radio on, flipping through different frequencies ranging from static, rap, rock, and some sort of hip hop song. The driver stopped flipping through different stations when he heard someone giving a speech, sounded like a church sermon.
| *Bzzt* Ah christ, they're still spouting this bullshit? Thought it would've been taking off the air weeks ago. | The driver said in a frustrated tone.
| *Bzzt* The hell are you talking about? What are we listening to anyway? | The passenger asked hesitantly, not knowing if asking another question will get him reprimanded.
| *Bzzt* Just some religious nuts that suddenly showed up a few weeks ago and started spouting bullshit about unity, I mean seriously listen to this! |
The soldiers stopped talking to listen to the sermon, it also allowed me to hear who I could only assume was the priest, what he had to say.
"My brothers and sisters, we are gathered here today from one word, a word that brings us all together at the end of the day. Unity! With unity we cast aside our differences, we break our chains of individuality and through it come together as one."
To me this sermon wasn't anything too special, just some religious guy telling their followers that they've come together again for mass.
"And as we've come together as one once again, I am proud to inform you all that we will no longer be chained down to this place."
Huh?
"We will be spreading the word of our Overseer across these lands for all to hear his voice. The Top may look down on us in The Slums for our differences, BUT KNOW THIS! For through me does our Overseer speak true, for through me, he will guide us all to unite as one. However, in order for his plan to work, we must bring in fresh blood, and if the words that he has spoken to me are true."
"They will be brought to us soon, and the gifts they bear will allow each and every one of us to hear the gospel of The Overseer."
"Amen."
The radio station suddenly turned off, it seemed the priest was finished with their sermon I suppose.
| *Bzzt* Hey, uh… do you see that over there? | I could see the passenger officer tap the drivers shoulder.
| *Bzzt* What the… the fuck is tha- oh shi- SHIT WATCH OUT! | The driver screamed.
-SCREEEEEECH-
I could feel the vehicle swerving to the side as I and the other unfortunate souls in the back were suddenly thrown around. I don't know what was outside but I truly hoped whatever it was could end this nightmare alread-
-CRASH-
…
…
…
"It seems that our Overseer was correct, the new arrivals brought many gifts with them."
Hearing the voice speak, my eyes slowly opened to hazily see a couple groups of people jumping out of the bed of 3 pickup trucks. Looking around, I could see two of the trucks smashed into the sides of the vehicles the officers were driving, the one in the front had the back doors pried open, spilling what looked like… gems? Even with the setting sun the red glow these things gave off was almost blinding.
The second truck, the one David and I were in, was flipped upside down as the people slowly walked in pulling out everyone else I saw kidnapped. I could only keep my eyes open just long enough to see the strangers shoveling the gems into one of the trucks and driving off.
….
"Collect the gifts and bring them home, The Father wishes to see the new arrivals in person."
"Why must he risk his safety coming out here? Why not bring them to the chapel and allow them to join our cause?"
"The Father wishes to weed out any snakes from his garden, we do not know if any of these newcomers wish to join our cause."
"Our destroy it."
I fear going unconscious this many times is gonna give me brain damage, or be the end of me…
My eyes opened again to see the sun had set, the cold barren landscape was almost calming.
I managed to get myself back on my feet, my spine feeling like it had been turned into dust from the crash. I looked around to see David lying on the ground, hobbling over, I felt his neck to make sure he was still alive.
…
…
Bumb…Bump…
Slow, but steady, thank god he wasn't dead. I really didn't want to lose another friend in one day.
I picked him up and threw him over my shoulder, however another problem came to my mind, which was what to do about the other people. The vehicles the officers drove looked out of commission, and most of them were still out from the crash. But before I could think of a solution, I heard the sound of tires riding closer and closer to us.
I turned around to see the bright headlights of a car beaming into my eyes, slowly coming to a halt I could see it was a sturdy looking jeep. The jeep turned its engine off, the bright lights disappearing in an instant, walking towards it I was filled with ease as maybe they could get some help for…
Wait…
Stepping out of the jeep looked to be regular townspeople, however all of them wore the same pure white attire, the only thing that stood out about it was the symbol on their chests. A ring of what looked like hands holding together to form a large circle, with a crudely drawn earth in the middle of it.
I watched as the townspeople grabbed weapons from the back seat of the jeep and aimed them at me and David. I was in a vulnerable position, there was no way I could make a move to get out of here without getting shot, my breathing stopped as I waited for what was to come next.
"Wait."
A voice spoke out from inside the jeep, the passenger door soon opened and what stepped out was an almost well dressed man. A buttoned shirt with partially torn jeans to match, his hair was slicked back giving it a naturally greasy look and a small stubble growing across his face.
His face was another story, it looked as if someone took a hammer and shattered the skin on the right side of his head. Scarred tissue stretched across his face from his nose all the way to his ear.
"Let me get a good look at them." The man started walking closer to us, he didn't look like he was armed but I was willing to take that risk so as to not get shot.
"But Father, should you really get so close to the-" The person suddenly stopped talking as the man in front of David and I simply held his hand out towards the speaker.
"We cannot judge these men from afar, one must get closer to strangers in order to make friends." The man lowered his hand back down to his waist and walked up to me, as he stood directly in front of me he raised his hand and placed them on the sides of my face.
"Hmm… I was informed of the gifts and new arrivals The Top was delivering, yet I was not told of you and your friend" The man slowly turned my head side to side almost inspecting my face, our eyesight not breaking for even a second. I tried to give him a response.
"I uh-" I was suddenly cut off by the man.
"Shhh…. The Overseer is speaking, we must not interrupt him."
The man stared up into the starry sky not saying a word, minutes passed before he looked back down at me to say something.
"Ahhh…. That makes much more sense." The man took his hands away from my face and simply walked back to the jeep and people.
"Tell our people to gather the newcomers, make sure they are comfortable at their new home." The armed townspeople walked back towards the jeep and got back inside, one of them pulling out what seemed to be a radio transceiver to talk to someone.
"But for you two…" The man said, standing next to the open passenger side door, "There is an abandoned building not far North from here, you can take shelter there for the night. Other than that, I cannot help you two anymore in your journey, the best I can do is pray."
"Pray that you two will find your friend." Hearing that man say that I wanted to ask him what he meant, if he knew where Kevin was, why he couldn't help David and I, but before I could, the man simply climbed back inside the jeep and drove back the way they came.
All I could hear was the sound of the wind blowing against me, holding an unconscious David, I decided to walk North. If the man was telling the truth, I would find that abandoned building soon. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't help the other victims that had been taken from their homes, there were too many to carry back with me to this supposedly abandoned place, and I don't know if I wanted to be out here when those people came back again, or worse, The Top coming out to see what happened to their missing officers.
After about 10 minutes of walking I could make out the shape of a building in front of me, it looked to be an old two story house, something that my grandparents would live in.
Making our way inside, I could see that whoever moved out of this place never decided to take their furniture along with them. I threw David onto a dust covered recliner, thinking by the time tomorrow rolled around he would wake up. I on the other hand walked upstairs hoping the last homeowners would have left a bed for me to sleep on, and after opening a few doors to a disheveled bathroom and an even worse looking kids room, I found the bedroom.
With a ruined, stained mattress laying on the ground, the dust imprint left from the last bed gave me the impression these people owned a king sized bed.
Lucky bastards.
However with a sigh, and some old curtains I tore off the pole, I laid down on the mattress to try and get some shut eye. Tomorrow David and I will leave this place, we'll find a solution.
We'll find you Kevin, wherever you are.
END OF CHAPTER 2
Authors Note: Hey! if your reading this then it means you've finished the chapter (or skipped to the end) either way I wanna give a quick description of the world real quick without spoiling anything! OK, here it goes.
This story takes place in a dystopian future (think cyberpunk with less cybernetics, they exist just not a lot) on the brink of losing many natural resources, the biggest one being power. However, some scientists have discovered a large energy surge on the outskirts of town, will it be the cure of humanity's problems? Or its extinction?
That's it, yea I know its not a lot but this is my first story, can you blame me? Anyways, since I'm new to writing and all that I wouldn't hold your breath on quick and consistent chapters, but that doesn't mean I'm just gonna stop out of the blue, making this story will indeed be challenging but I am gonna welcome it with open arms. Thank you to whoever reads this story, and I hope you're all excited for the next chapter!