After Artemis

Chapter One

Chapter One

LOADING...

SUBJECT STATUS: Relaxed

Start of RECORD: ERROR! *#

"So how does this thing work?"

"...What do you mean, Max?"

"What the hell else...Would I be referring to then the thing you just handed me?"

"Okay ... just connect the chip to the cipher port on the back of your neck"

"...oh"

"what?"

"this is stupid why do I need to do this? also even if I do how do I know its working"

"Okay, one you don't have a choice so humor me and two I know it works so trust me"

"fine...so I just press the button and that's that, it records my thoughts"

"Yeah, just... read the paper and tell your story hopefully it can calm you down or at least bring some memories back when you listen to it again"

"..."

"I'm going to install the matching one on my own port, that way I can hear yours in case you're in danger, and don't worry it doesn't transmit all your thoughts just the ones you want me to hear...Like a diary in your mind that you can share!"

"alright..."

*Click*

Start of RECORD: ERROR! *#

Alright...I've got no idea if it's recording but apparently, I have to read this paper first so, ehem, hello my name is...

...

"Do I really have to do this; I know my name"

"Yeah well tomorrow you might not so get to it"

Ehh, so I'm basically just hoping this stupid thing works and I don't look crazy, okay then. Hello, my name is Max I'm currently... uh, let's skip the age at the moment ehem here's a little history lesson with me as your host. Yay... okay anyways future me here's some important shit. This world is now broken into factions after the supernatural was exposed. Let me correct that after it basically thundered its name to every human ever. It started small, people going missing here and there, and then the sudden announcement that they were the ultimate creatures, blah blah blah regular evil monster junk. A better way to summarize this is that the world we were once killing decided to make things that started killing us. Mind you, I wasn't exactly alive during the time this began so all I have to go by is what the citadel tells us. These creatures that threaten us were dubbed the name "Demon". After these Demons came around, another being decided to announce their presence and called themselves our "saviors from the heavens" and promised a safety.

"Angels" the name they decided to give themselves started appearing out of nowhere saying they have been amongst the people and now offer us "Salvation. These bird looking creatures said that we would be safe if we followed their plans for a better tomorrow. So, with fear of death being a heavy motivator we designed their blueprints of "utopia". Humans and Birds built Castles and cities floating among the clouds where the Demons couldn't reach. The rich took refuge in the sky amongst the heavens because they could pay for "redemptions". Everyone else wasn't worthy enough apparently for saving so regardless if you helped build the utopia you had to take your chances on the ground. everyone who isn't a demon but still lived on earth became known as leeches. The poor souls who still believe there's hope for this world... oh almost forgot to mention something. After the human culture collapsed and the Bird and demons began building -their own cities. Something else emerged, a virus of sorts. From the last couple of books I've read about it seems to be a neural disease. Whoever gets afflicted has to suffer neural decay. The worst part is you don't need to be alive to be afflicted. You see its goal isn't to kill you, it just wants control and infects others. It keeps the major functions of the brain intact but kills the person...if that makes sense. One day you see a body on the side of the road, the next the same person you saw is in the market and reaches of decay. Those who become afflicted are known as Skinwalkers. They are not human but still manage to lure people in by mimicking the host's voices. They prey on the humans that still remain, who still fight... damn this place has become a hell. They walk around as family members who "Miraculously" survived a raid and infect those who come close. No one knows how it happens because no one who they want to infect ever survives...fucking bastards... Getting back on track as far as humans are concerned we have divided ourselves into groups of our own. We even have jobs set up. You have the scavengers, engineers, royals, whispers and... a couple more that I don't quite remember.

"What! It's been a while since I last went to one of the major camps."

"Max, your doing it again you don't need to say it out loud...the recorder is to make sure you don't go insane not further it alone by arguing with yourself."

"Yeah, I know"

That was Case, an alley and the scavenger who gave me this thing. Scavengers are the people who are handy in the wild they can find the good bits from old war machines and make a profit by selling than in the safe zones. Case is one of the best in the business, he found this thing in an old tanker I believe. He got concerned I was losing my marbles so he gave me this chip...thing that basically keeps a mental log of things so I can backtrack later.

I ...or I guess you are classified as a "Freak". A violent class of human who are carriers to the skinwalker virus. We can't catch the disease but it throws us into fits of destructive rage. We are illegal on earth, Killed on site just like the walkers. At least that was until the citadel found a use for us. Now we are worth more captures and sold to the citadel. Freaks get thrown into pits and used as entertainment for every creature left on this rock by fighting in tournaments where the winner gets "Spared" just to fight more in front of the rich... The citadel convinced the people that we are safer in captivity then roaming the earth, that's why no one cares what happens to us. So apparently, this thing will help bring the Max back when I have one of my fits. It's supposed to create a visual for me to hear my own inner self without losing more of it. So if whoever hears this isn't me but found this thing on a 5'4 pile of bones, hopefully now you know a little about who I was, my story and how we got here... if you're a Bird or Demon then, I hope you like my story and you can shove this chip up yours.

END of RECORD: ERROR! *#