..conspiracy (noun).. British: /kənˈspɪrəsi/ American: /kənˈspɪrəsi/ [countable, uncountable] (plural: conspiracies) 1. A secret plan by a group of people to do something harmful or illegal - "...a conspiracy to overthrow the government..." - "...They were charged with conspiracy to murder..." - "...conspiracy against somebody/something..." - "...conspiracies against the president..." 2. A conspiracy of silence (an agreement not to talk publicly about something that should be made public) 3. *Conspiracy of ravens* - a collective noun for a group of ravens that highlights their intelligence, collaboration, and secretive behaviour. It reflects the historic perception of ravens as cunning and possibly ominous, linking their coordinated activities to a "conspiracy." *** Welcome to The Vault. It's the prison to be on New Earth-technologically advanced and equipped with every comfort an inmate could desire. It's the home away from home! At least, that's what the brochure says. But the moment I stepped inside those walls, I knew something was terribly wrong with this place. Just like everything run by The Council-the leaders of New Earth who have their filthy fingers in every corrupt corner. Most people won't tell you that because they've been swept away, brainwashed by their hippie philosophy, blind to the darkness lurking beneath. When you've lived most of your life in darkness, though, you recognize it easily. I'm not the only one. Others with me see that something is happening beneath the surface, and we're ready to find out what it is. I need answers-about myself, about my life. But the deeper I dig, the more lost I feel. Still, I know I'm connected to all of this somehow. What's worse is that I've been personally dragged into this mess. And I'll be damned if I don't get to the bottom of it while I'm here. I have nothing to lose, nothing to live or die for. I'll defeat The Council or die trying.

How do you get rid something that makes up part of you? How do you ignore the call of something so beautiful yet so deadly? How do you resist the darkness that's been living, growing and thriving within you even before you were born? How do you turn down the only chance to get all the answers you desire, even if it leads you down a path of chaos, horror, and madness? A path others have fought for you not to tread. But why even fight at all? Why fight a fire that only burns brighter? "Listen, you can choose not to believe this. But I've been where you are, I've felt what you feel." I opened my mouth to snap back, but he continued in a cracked voice. "Don't ask me how I know-all I know is I dont want to hurt you. I dont want a throne. I just...I just want you to be okay. I can't...I can't lose you too." His eyes shone with sincerity and heart-wrenching pain. But neither affected me. Not anymore. "What makes you think I care about you losing me," I whispered. "When I don't even care if I lose myself?" The others may be trying to douse the fire, but I rather let it burn. Burn until it consumed us all.