Scrapped Stories

Re;birth Apocalypse [Original] Ch. 18: The Demi-Human Alliance

Adolpha lead us through the winding halls of Demi-Haven. Several wooden bridges leading around to different facilities throughout the community, such as weaponry, medicine, tailoring, there's even an educational section here. It's surprising how this place wasn't found, I guess Heartz wouldn't want to go anywhere near the sewers and her subordinates are inadequate. Despite being located deep in the sewers, this place is actually quite lively, actual trees lining the sidewalks on the lower levels, with some kind of painting of the blue sky on the ceiling, it's almost surreal. The most surprising thing is that it's about the size of a small town, with little houses on each level. Some rabbit demi-humans run by us as they wave to Adolpha, she seems to be some kind of caretaker. "I'm surprised that Heartz hasn't found this place yet..." Adolpha laughs to herself. "Well, we did have a few close calls, but her guards are really easy to trick. It's actually fairly easy to roam the city, as long as we wear hats and hide our tails." ~ "It must be hard, forced to live in isolation from the rest of the world..." ~ "We're actually happy this way, our own little economy of Demi-Humans... Although, it's only a matter of time before they find us." ~ "If anything happens, I'll make sure everyone gets out safely." ~ "But where will we go?" ~ "I know a nation that welcomes Demi-Humans, but it'll take some convincing to get you guys to a safe place..." We continue our tour through Demi-Haven, passing by some construction workers building some kind of playground. "Even with all that's going on, they still have time for entertainment... This civilization is quite impressive." Adolpha's tail wags a bit, must be happy about the compliment. "Demi-Haven has a lot of history to it, this place dates back thousands of years." ~ "Heartz has been in control for that long? I'm even more surprised that she never found this place." ~ "The security has been getting better over the centuries, we've even got some Demi-Humans stationed outside the door." ~ "Is that safe? Won't it be suspicious to have Demi-Humans standing just outside the door?" ~ "That's why we have them spread out, this entire sewer system is being guarded by Demi-Humans." We arrive at the Education District, Adolpha leading Zoey and I in. The school had sectors for all ages, grades going all the way to College or University. There's also a cafeteria, library, gym...just about everything you'd need from a school. Adolpha knocks on one of the classroom doors, as a Kangaroo Demi-Human opens the door. "Oh, Adolpha! It's good to see you. Did you bring another student?" ~ "Actually, it was him who brought her." The Kangaroo Demi-Human turns to me and bows. "Thank you for bring her, I'm Ms. Axl. Welcome to Demi-Haven." Adolpha looks back to Ms. Axl. "I'd like to enroll Zoey here into the delta grade." ~ "Sure thing. I'll need the usual paperwork for enrollment." ~ "Of course." We leave the Education District and continue up the bridges until we make it to the Healthcare District. Inside was a Coyote Demi-Human wearing a lab coat. "Back again, Ms. Grey?" ~ "Yep. I've got another rescue to get paperwork for." The doctor goes into the back and returns with a syringe and a sheet of paper. "Fill this out, and sign for the Guardian." Adolpha takes the paperwork while the doctor has Zoey sit on the bench. "I just need to take some of your blood, it'll be quick." He inserts the syringe as Zoey flinches for a second. "Alright, there we go...'O+' huh? That's unusual..." He patches up where he inserted the syringe in Zoey's arm, and then turns back to Adolpha. "Here's the results... allergies, blood type, and other things worth knowing." ~ "Thank you."

We head back to the Public District and sit down at some benches, Adolpha still filling out Zoey's paperwork. I notice a Skunk Demi-Human take some garbage bags from the bins and throws them into the garbage truck. There were also some farmers making their way back from the Farm District, as well as some construction workers. Zoey looks at my arm with sparkling eyes and tail wagging. "Ooh, what's that? It looks like charcoal...!" I didn't even realize that my arm and horn had been exposed this entire time, guess it's only reasonable that they'd have questions... Zoey swatted at my arm, kinda rolling around on the ground, apparently, despite the arm being basically charcoal, it's quite shiny. "I'm still not even sure what this is..." Adolpha tilts her head, her tail also wagging. "I've never seen a Demi-Human like you before..." ~ "Oh, I'm not a Demi-Human." Adolpha freezes and Zoey stops playing with my arm, the air had suddenly gotten very cold. Other Demi-Humans making their daily commute stopped and stared, some of them armed with various construction and farming tools. "W-What's happening...? Why are you all looking at me like that?" Adolpha grits her teeth, growling at me, Zoey running behind her, as the surrounding Demi-Humans approach. "Wh~..." Something hard slams down onto my head, as everything goes black.

"It's almost time... I will make you my vessel." The violent ringing in my head stops, as I slowly regain consciousness. My feet didn't touch the ground, nor did I feel a wall against my back. My vision was completely black, what felt like a blindfold over my eyes. My arms throbbed, straining as if several weights were tied to the wrists. Several voices could be heard, I recognised one of them as Adolpha, but the other two were a mystery to me. The blindfold is pulled off, as a blinding light fills my vision, as if I haven't seen light in days. Beside Adolpha was a Crocodile Demi-Human and a Gorilla Demi-Human, both seeming very annoyed to see me. Upon further inspection, they seem to have brought me to a dungeon of some kind, probably in the lower levels of Demi-Haven. The air smelled rancid, as if a skunk had died, the walls were stained with red and green liquids, I'd rather not know what. My arms were tied behind my back and strung up to the ceiling, a type of torture I've heard of before. My arms were definitely dislocated, and along with holding my body up for long periods of time, I'm surprised my arms haven't ripped off yet. "What's up with the Strappado?" I tilt my head towards my arms which were currently purple and charcoal, coloured respectively. The Crocodile Demi-Human moved towards me with a large stone, as I deadpan. "There's probably a reference to be made, but I'm not in the mood." The crocodile puts the stone on top of my wrists, adding more weight to the already painful situation. "Really...I've been through so much already that this feels like a massage~..." A loud cracking sound comes from the suspended wrists as my body lowers even further than it was before, still not on the ground though. "Nevermind...that was my wrist.." Adolpha walks up to me, with sharp teeth noticeable. "We don't take very kindly to non-demi-humans~..." ~ "...wow, ain't that generic villain phrase~.." The Crocodile Demi-Human adds another stone to the little tower on my wrists. "$#!%! That hurts, dammit!" The Crocodile ignores me as Adolpha continues. "We can't jeopardize the safety of the Demi-Humans, so you've got two options." ~ "And those are?" ~ "We let you go for Heartz to find, or we can kill you." ~ "Hmm...either die here...or go back to the doghouse..." ~ "Doghouse?" ~ "Something something multiverse... How 'bout secret option number three?" ~ "And that is?" ~ "You let me go, and I'll kill Heartz. That way, the Demi-Humans are freed, and I can get a weight off me...literally." ~ "And why should we trust you." Matter distorts around the chains tied to my wrists, the stones just falls off, as the chains bend, dropping me to the floor. "'Cause I can do that." I look down at my broken wrist and then look around the room. "Where's my Bone Blade?" The Crocodile Demi-Human slowly hands me the blade, as I quickly swipe it across my wrist, the wound giving an opening for the bone to push out of my wrist and fall to the floor, as the black bone replaces the bone it pushed out. I flick my wrist, which doesn't give off a cracking sound...that's new. "So...what now?" Adolpha looks to the other two, before turning back to me. "Secret option number three?"

(Later)

"Sure...breaking into a labor camp with an ice cream truck while a potential half demon rides on top of it. This was your great idea?" I grip the handle on top of the truck as we speed down the mountain road, Adolpha being very careful not to drive us off of the cliff. We speed around a corner as I slam into the roof of the truck, luckily ducking under the ceiling of the tunnel we just entered, getting back up once we leave the tunnel. "Do they even sell ice cream at Labour Camps? They're going to know something's up." Adolpha grits her teeth as she purposely picks up speed. "We've done this kind of thing before, you'd be surprised how many guards want a cone after a long day of torture." ~ "Nevermind...this entire nation is f*cked..." ~ "Do you still have the intercom?" ~ "'Still'? What do you take me for~..?" ~ "An idiot~..." ~ "It's right here~..." The truck goes over a bump as the intercom flies out of my hand and off into the ravine below. "...was. It WAS here..." I hear Adolpha curse under her breath as we take another sharp turn, the camp coming up over the horizon. "I didn't think they'd have mountains here... everything's normally...flat?" ~ "You can thank them for that... This dimension used to be a beautiful place, with nature all around. ...Then they showed up..." ~ "The Apocalypse Callers..." ~ "That's what they called themselves...the five of them turned this dimension into the barren wasteland you see, today." ~ "Wait...five?" ~ "...Y-Yeah...? There were five of them..." ~ "What did the last one look like!" ~ "Um...If I recall...it was wrapped in bandage; poorly wrapped, kinda see through in areas. It had black boney arms, like charcoal, just...floating beside it. I never got a good look at its face." I look down at my charcoal arm, clenching my fist. "We're here!" Adolpha had slammed on the brakes and parked about a mile away from the front entrance. "Okay, I'll be waiting here for you to return. Try not to get caught..." ~ "Have you met me...?" I take out my Bone Blade and head off towards the camp, the burning sensation in my chest getting hotter. "Five...huh."

End of Chapter