Dark Halos

Praying for Hope

"4982...   4920...   5027..."

An intercom announce the numbers who were to be given the proper information in order to live within the facility. Those who graduated from the Dark Halos were taken away immediately. Moved to an area that most of the military personnel reside until it was time for their services.

I walked up when they called my number. The man up front handing me a card that I will need that harbors my identification. Date of birth, photograph, my criminal records, dental insurance, all of my information that could be provided or needed was on one card. Some people personalize theirs to look pretty or cool but I just leave mine the slate grey that it was originally manufactured. Looking it over as it reflects in the light, people use it for useless things but I just use it as a mirror. Something that could be important if used right.

The population had multiplied since the government helped secure a place for the people to stay. Not many are in the military since the numbers are randomly generated to be a four digit code. This helps the government know who's in service and if they're on active duty. Donations such as clothes and food are given by the generosity of the people. If it wasn't for their determination and fighting will, none of this would be possible. Some have been sent off from the original military branch before the Dark Halos finished training. The top ten were the only ones to return with stories of heartache and remorse.

Catching a glance of the guy behind me, I roll my eyes as I put my card back up in my compartment. A small zipper that was on the outer exterior of my jacket. Recognizing him, I started to walk away before things get worse than it already could. I heard his footsteps follow me as I kept my pace, not wanting to cause another disturbance. The last time that happened, both of us were almost kicked out of the program. Once I make it to my room I will have the freedom to do whatever I please. If he were to walk in then it's violation of code. I would have the right of way to defend myself and my property, shooting anyone who might cause me bodily harm. It was written by standard law of code before training to become a Dark Halo started.

I turn down the hall as I can see my door from where I was. With my luck I felt a hand on my shoulder, him forcing me to whirl around to look up at his tall stature. I rolled my eyes as I looked at him, crossing my arms. He wasn't that much taller than me, but it sucks to be one of the shortest in the organization. As a joke, they placed everyone in a line based on height to prove my point.

Connor Anderson, 4834. 

One of the guys that is in the Dark Halos such as I. Unlike me, he was drafted into this but claims he trade places with the real Connor Anderson so he can be a hero. It caused an uproar for it meant that he killed someone and the organization don't tolerate with that type of behavior. I didn't care if he left but then it will decrease our man power. It would also mean that there was some poor saps body just collecting dust and decaying if what he said was true.

Long story short, he's a piece of shit that tries to get under my skin.  Knowing that he irritates the hell out of me brings him joy. He successfully got other people kicked out because of his ways, not including the time he almost got the two of us out of the program. I will not succumb to that bile level that is such as himself, for I was framed for an event that I had an alibi for. I have better things to do than ruin it all on worthless trash like him.

"Where you going Galvez?" He asked as I fixated my gaze up to him.

"Oh I'm just going on my skydiving lesson to have balls unlike you. What are you doing here Anderson? Looking for your balls too?" I smirked as I turned around to go back to my room.

Yeah that didn't happen.

"Oh now why would you be looking for my balls?" He grinned slightly at the remark.

"Because I want to be the first person to get an award of finding an non-existent item. I already found three unicorns on the way but I still don't have an award yet," I sighed as I remained eye contact with him. "Apparently, I'm not the first to have documentation."

"Well good luck sweetheart for you won't find a thing. Ha!" He growled as I smirked at his comment.

"That is what I was planning Sherlock," winking as I veered away laughing. 

"Shit! No I didn't mean it that way-" I cut him off as I closed my door, sighing when I finally made it to my room.

'He's such an asshole.' I thought as I took my black jacket off, placing it on a the door-hook that held other miscellaneous objects. Today was just a regular day. Getting up, going to the headquarters that's in the center of town, train for hours, and then return to sleep for the next day. Not mentioning the snacks, dinner, and showering in between.

The time for The Hunt is coming. The nerves of everyone is starting to increase as time started to countdown. The Hunt is when the ones who score in the top thirty every year are divided into groups of six. They change the theme every year before deciding the top people will give results. Sometimes they want all women one year, all men the other, all over the age of eighteen, some under the age of fifteen, that was a terrible year. It was sad watching them go and never coming back. Most don't come back unscathed, those that do are scarred​ for most of their lives. Although, there are those that are not scared. Telling the head board of the organization what they have to say, what happened, anything they can described, any advancements  to the monsters, anything that will help in the future.

Only one came back, a hero who had managed to kill one. People all over the city wanted to know how and pleaded for him to tell us, but sadly he died before he could of told anyone. God rest his tired soul. All he wanted was a peaceful death from the terrible life he had lived. A life of misfortune with being the only surviving member of his family during the Massacre of the Damned, joining the military by helping those evacuate the city to build a new one away from the ground and closer to the air and sea. 

But people still go to his grave to plead for answers. I visit him at times, not out of pity or curiosity but just out of praise. He was lonely most of his life, I go to make amends by offering an ear to listen as the wind speaks on his behalf. I went to his grave and sometimes bring him a flower or two just out for generosity. I placed them on the grave and made sure I don't step on his grave like others before. I pray that he's in a better life and is happy that he gave us a hope, if that is people want to call it now. I would rant to how everything is going into madness as I keep my head held high. Whenever I'm done I would give him a slight bow as I get up to head back before curfew.

He was an innocent person before everything went to shit. Looking after his entire family while he was protected on school grounds at the young age of twelve. I lost my family too, I know how he felt. The thing was, he was close to his family. I was barely around with everything that went on. They hardly knew I was there. It doesn't matter now, but at times I wished everything was normal. That maybe one day, I would walk into my room and they would be waiting. They would yell at me about where I had been and then we would eat silently in each others presence. Enjoying the little things that I did not take advantage of then. That they would care for my being and notice when I was gone. Wishing that  I wouldn't go back to an empty house that was stained scarlet from the fresh decaying corpses of a robbery gone wrong.

Everyone needs something to pray for. To me, he was mine. Branlia was buried on the original grounds before being relocated to the area of air and sea. I hope that one day I could place flowers for her and her husband, who didn't have a proper burial. Leaving a prayer before The Hunt begins in a few months from today. 

"How did you manage to fight for so long against your own demons when real ones are out there?" The wind would give me soft whispers as if he was trying to give me English words to comprehend his native tongue of the dead.

The graveyard was one of the few decent things of this town that the monsters had yet to touch on land. I would follow the tracks back to my hometown to see if anything was left behind. I guess since they were no longer a living source, they had no need. it was dangerous to go alone, even if I needed the space to clear my head.

Despite volunteering, I had nothing to live for besides to see the sun rise over us without being in fear of my life. To not be deep in the waters when that day comes. That day will come, I at least hope so while I drink in the cold air before walking back down below.