Ashes

Arch I. Enia and Xentaron. Story 5. Neverending Nightmare

Six months have passed since the events of the Festival. The city has recovered from the horror it experienced. Since the night when The Hunter appeared on Xentaron, not a single monster has dared to attack the citizens.

News of that night reached the Department. There a young guy was waiting for his day. His name was Wulfrik. According to rumors (which soon turned out to be true), he killed his own parents. As it turned out during the investigation, these people were selling children to more influential people. They worked in different cities. These people brainwashed and created false memories by creating new "toys". Wulfrik said that those people used forbidden knowledge given by an unknown person. Thus, the children who fell into their hands became puppets, obediently doing what they were told. As their own son, Wulfrik was forbidden to tell anyone about this. That incident was the last straw...

Even before his arrest, Wulfrik was able to make friends with the son of the head of the department, Tyler. Tyler had friends in the Castle, and he invited his friend to take part in testing the new Machine. After all, he has nothing to lose. After much thought, the young man agreed. They could only wait to see what the Mayor would say.

-----

Tyler entered the throne room and, bowing, offered the Mayor his own friend as a "test subject". Perhaps this is how he wanted to save him, because he knew exactly what Ward had done.

At first, Deimos did not agree to Tyler's proposal, saying that criminals are people too. But Eclip, who was repairing something, intervened in their dispute. Going against John's orders, he was able to convince the Mayor that those sentenced to death would die sooner or later. And if the experiment is successful, then, as a result, there will be... New people on Xentaron. At least this is the result John expects. After reflection, Deimos gave the go-ahead for a new experiment.

"On the one hand, I will finally get to the Castle" Wulfrik said as he was taken out of his cell "But on the other hand... It's somehow strange... And I'm... Scared?"

"Don't worry" Tyler tried to calm his friend down. He knew that being part of an experiment was very scary. After all, he was one of those who was also a test subject. "Ward said that this time everything should work well"

"This time!?"

"Yeah... Last time things didn't go according to plan. But a lot of time has passed since that day. Everything has changed"

Wulfrik had to believe his friend's words. Back then they didn't know what would happen soon.

-----

The young man was brought straight to John. Warning Ward that the boy was a murderer, Wulfrik was chained to an iron pipe and told to wait. 

Wulfrik looked the Machine up and down. It was a huge computer with a bunch of different wires and diodes leading to capsules with transparent covers. The young man felt bad. Memories came flooding back and he wanted to go back to his cell. He panicked and began trying to get out.

"Calm down, otherwise you'll break your arms" the calm and at the same time frightening voice of Eclip was heard nearby. He came out of the shadows. "Long time no see."

"And what are you doing here?" Wulfrik asked with scorn

"Let me think..." Eclip looked aside, then looked straight in his eyes. "I am living here"

"I thought..."

"Did you think I was sold into slavery? Or killed?" his voice almost broke into a yell. "Your... Ahem... Parents tried. yeah... But they didn't know that the man that took me away from here was my own Father. What a wonderful adventure, eh?" Eclip became sarcastic "born in one place, then being kidnapped and brought to another place, and then returned back home"