The world was in chaos.
But, what could one expect from the future? With the extreme advances in technology, life as we know it became robotic. Human workers weren't necessary anymore. Factories were filled to the brim with machines that could do twice the amount of work in half the time it would take human hands to complete. Stores were lined with computers that one could use to not only pay for their items but retrieve them as well. One only had to swipe a card, and it was done.
It was a chaotic world, and it was also a cruel one.
Of course, a highly advanced world could not go without a leader. Unfortunately for the citizens, a decision was made to combine all of the various governments across the planet. A single group of leaders was appointed by those with enough money to proclaim themselves as powerful. The Council was its name, and while it ruled the world, it certainly didn't live in it like most people did.
Not like our Clan did.
You see, the caste system was reborn in this new world. The Council obviously held the highest position in the food chain. Below them, the individuals who brought them into power and ensured their place there: the Illusives. The masterminds and creators of the machines were called the Questors. Underneath them were a level of workers known overall as the Veil.
The Veil consisted of too many subgroups to count. Only the Council was aware of all of the names. With the different names came different rankings. Some of the Veil were highly paid and could take days off. These people were known as the Wishers. There were others, however that were not as lucky. They had to get by with what they had and often resulted to violence because of it. Those who did not were commonly called Polishers.
The lowest of the low were known as the Riots. They were criminals and murderers. The most famous and current leader of the Riots was a man by the name of Avriktael Benjal Kaplan.
Avriktael was a cruel man who seemed to hold no sort of warmth in his heart. The only person who knew how he truly felt was his sister, Estolei Rosalinda. Estolei saw how much pain her brother was in every time he had to go out and steal from another to provide for them. Their parents had died long ago, and Avriktael was forced to care for her and him. Their lives weren't glorious, but they got by.
At first, Avriktael's descent into hell began as simply taking from a store. It grew from there. The dark side he had tried to hide within him grew and expanded until it consumed him. He came to love the violence. Fighting kept his heart beating and his mind thinking. The blood proved to be a sort of narcotic.
Estolei wasn't proud of who her brother had become, but she knew that, at least because of his reputation, she was safe. They both were, to an extent. The Outskirts where they lived were dangerous, and due to word of Avrik's actions spreading, they were left alone. Others even began giving them things if only to ensure Avrik's rage was not brought upon them.
Scothmpson Ryker Hoying was different. He was a Polisher, along with his friend Kierstaer Taypeu Maldonado. Neither of their parents had very important jobs, but they were well enough off that they did not steal from anyone or fight amongst themselves. In fact, their mission was to try and get the caste systems to live in peace. They wanted equality for all and would engage in peaceful protesting now and again to share their views with others. But, when a Council member would speak, they would scurry back into their holes and continue being content with their simple lives.
Of a higher class of Wishers, Kevelle Oltuwerac Olusola and Mitchane Colbalt Mirksun Grassi were almost blissfully unaware of how the Polishers and Riots lived. They enjoyed their large houses and cool swimming pools. Food was not hard to come by and neither was cheer. They worked just as hard as they celebrated, and the Council rewarded them often for that. Praises were the norm for Kevelle and Mitchane.
Despite how different these six people were, their lives would be brought together. And not in the best way or with the best outcome. At least, not at first.
It takes time for flowers to bloom. Especially if the world around them is trying to stop them from doing so.
