Prinsoner No. 25738 (Karramae's Story)

Page 3: Hidden Truth

Slowly, Actis' eyes were opening to the truths of Haven City and what horrible things were happening on the other side of the three hundred-foot Sheild Walls. People were dying, Lurkers were being forced into slavery, Metalheads were trying to get in, despite the Baron's say that they weren't, and rumors of a revolutionary group spread like wildfire.

The number of Crimzon Guard around the city kept increasing, until just about every direction you turned there was a guard of some sort. Life had become the routine procedure of waking, working, and eating for the now twenty-one year-old Actis, but he did not want to spend the rest of his life like the way he had been: blind and ignorant.

Nicodemus had given him a holiday break, though there was not much to celebrate. Actis walked the Agricultural Section in his lonesome. Stopping him in his tracks was a Lurker, wearing the usual loincloth and ring around its neck.

"You new worker for Master Kiros, yes?" It asked in a thick and raspy tone.

Actis blinked before nodding. The Lurker beamed, showing its filed-down teeth.

"Me Huntin, worker for Kiros. I was big warrior in tribe before me an' me son was forced to be slaves," it continued in its butchered wording. "You good worker, Actis."

"W-wait," Actis said. "You know my name?"

"All Kiros' Lurkers know you. Actis makes work easy. We thank you."

"Ah...don't mention it." Actis stammers.

He was confused. The Lurker was kind, very much unlike how the Baron described them. His suspicions concerning the Baron's honesty had been proven long ago, though. The Lurker who called himself Huntin tilted his head sideways at Actis.

"Something wrong with Actis?" he asked.

Actis shook his head, snapping to reality. "N-no, I'm fine."

"You lie, Actis. Huntin can see it in yer eyes."

"I'm serious. I'm fine," he insisted, though he knew that the Lurker was right.

"You not gonna tell Huntin?" the Lurker persisted, and when Actis refused to respond, he shrugged. "Okay."

Huntin then walked past Actis, his clawed feet clicking on the cobblestone street. The young adult stayed where he stood, letting his eyes scan over the city he called home. Everything suddenly seemed different to his opened eyes. The palace, something he had once dreamed of being in, now seemed like a beacon of damnation and lies.

The Baron was not a man of his words, Actis thought. What else has he lied about? And, he thought, looking in the direction of the Fortress, what does he hide in there that the thing in my dreams doesn't want me to see?

(Now you may be thinking, "That's insane! Dreams are dreams!" But remember: this world is different from yours. Supernatural beings do exist. Most beings, in many cases evil beings, interfere with a person's fate to twist it towards its benefit. Some, however, attempt to help the person endure the things they face, for their destiny affects the universe and all of the worlds residing in it.)

(Even yours.)

(But we're getting off-topic.)

Actis pondered his thoughts, not realizing that he had began to walk to his housing unit. When he finally realized what he was doing, he was only several blocks from his home. He sighed and continued on. As he approached his unit, he saw a young woman at about the age of twenty feeding the yakows the extra cornmeal.

She was a slender young woman with a beautiful complexion. Her wavy indigo hair was pulled back into a braid, and a red cloth held her bangs back from her face. Her eyes were a stunning red-orange, brought out by the hue of her hair. She wore a pale tan dress with a white apron around her waist.

The young woman smiled at Actis. "You're the new farmhand for my father, right?"

It was a full second before Actis had process what she had said.

"Ah...yeah."

She continued to smile. "Well, that's good. He's making a lot more money now, thanks to you. Ooh, and don't be spreading this around," she said, getting closer, "but I heard that he may just raise your pay."

Actis could feel his cheeks growing hot. She chuckled, and turned.

"Well, I have to get back to my chores. Farewell!" she waved goodbye, and went back to feeding the yakows.

~•^|°|^•~

That night, Actis lay in bed, just staring at the peeling ceiling. His eyelids slowly began to close, and he soon fell into a dark sleep. He could feel walls on all four sides of him, made of a strange metalloid. It let off a heat, unlike anything his skin had encountered.

Finally, his eyes adjusted to the darkness. The metalloid wall was emmiting a faint glow, a dark voilet. It swirled around its texture, creating intricate and mesmerizing patterns.

Suddenly, the metalloid began to warp around his right hand. Gasping, he tried to pull free, but the substance began to envelope his entire arm. Actis began to feel the floor turn to a moving putty substance, taking hold of his legs.

He tried to fight it, but the substance kept a strong hold on his limbs. The substance pulled his limbs straight out, sprawling his legs and arms. Actis struggled violently. The stuff burned his skin and the clothes in contact with it.

The pain was becoming too much for Actis. His eyes had closed due to fear. He was about to scream, when a hand that felt like ice fell over his mouth, stealing his voice. He opened his eyes, but quickly closed them again. (I can't exactly describe what he saw to you, due to the fact that it would terrify even a grown adult and destroy your sanity.)

He could feel the cold sensation creeping over his body, and he writhed. A voice stopped the cold feeling.

Enough. Release him.