Masked Intentions

Chapter 2

 

Christina

 

I run for my life. I run so fast – too fast, in fact – until I felt my heart, my lungs, and every inch of my respiratory system giving up. I continue hearing footsteps behind me. They’re getting faster, so fast – too fast, in fact – that I started feeling light-headed. Everything around me is dark. Those bastards. The Endrallians cut off the power in the whole building, being all know-it-all because they control the power in this new world. Or rather, they are the source of power. You see, that’s the difference between the Endrallians and the Asthrallians. The Endrallians power the electricity, car batteries, et cetera of Wescolfe (formerly known by mankind as Europe) while the Asthrallians control the weather. I don’t exactly remember how the remaining population managed to accept that reality and how the hell The New Government came into place. We don’t really understand what’s going on anymore but one thing’s for sure – the power and good weather is an exclusive to those who don’t defy the Endrallians, Asthrallians, and The New Government. That is approximately 95% of the whole remaining population. I, on the other hand, belong in the remaining 5% who refuse to abide by the rules of the new world, the new rulers, the demonic angels and the angelic demons.

 

And that’s exactly why I’m running for my life right now.

 

A group of heavy-booted men are running after me. If those creatures were so powerful, why haven’t they used their powers on me yet? I run blindly and aimlessly along pitch-black hallways and corridors. I don’t even know where these things go. I don’t even know if I should keep on running or if I should stop now because perhaps some of them are waiting on possible exits of this godforsaken place.

 

“Don’t make me do anything that could possibly kill you, defiant little creature,” one said. I felt the chills run down my spine.

 

My vision started blurring.

 

My legs take me to where my mind could no longer comprehend. I run, I keep on running. I run, I keep on hiding. They are so close. Too close. I’m starting to hear their murmurs, their voices that don’t sound human at all. Not at all. Not at all. It’s driving me insane. It’s driving me delirious. I suddenly realized I haven’t eaten anything at all the whole day. Stupid, Christina. This is why you’re out on a run this fateful night. It’s because your group is already out of food. The thought made me dizzier. It is driving me insane. So many people, including my sister, are counting on me. Counting on us. I don’t even know where the hell the others are. I don’t know if they, too, got caught. I don’t know if they, too, are running for their lives just like me.

 

And then, the world is suddenly gone. The world is suddenly replaced by stars, galaxies, and other sparkly things. And then, there were voices. Two of them. One belonged to a young woman, the other to a young man.

 

“Is she dead?” The young woman said.

 

“No, you idiot. She isn’t dead,” The young man then replied. His voice is thick with accent I can’t quite wrap my mind in. His voice sounded annoyed.

 

“But look at her. She’s just… lying there.”

 

A sigh. A deep, heavy one. “Fei, she is not dead. Look. Right there. See how her chest is rising and falling? There. That’s the humans’ sign of being alive.”

 

“Well, if she’s alive, I don’t think she’s feeling well. She already collapsed from that?”

 

Collapsed from what? From running for almost an hour straight? Collapsed from the lack of intake of food and water? Yes, dear Endrallians, I guess I have collapsed. The sad part about it is that my body makes no move to wake up. Yet my senses are too alive, too alive to hear this silly conversation.

 

“Well, I really don’t care. Come on, Fei. Let’s go back.”

 

I heard a snap.

 

I heard laughter.

 

And then there was nothing again.