After our tour we are all gathered back in a large rotunda.
Some of the instructors are conversing with the Strain as though they arent trained to specifically kill them and vice versa.
Yet me and my classmates dont seem to be in a social mood as the towering figures stand amongst us intermingled.
Contrasting most of the friendly instructors, Somnia is glaring at a pink strain as she taps her foot. "Have you found their accomplices? I want their head on a pike before I even consider forgiving your kind."
The pink strain sweats as he cowers. "Well, you see, we're still trying to figure out, but they covered their tracks well. But I promise you we will bring the perpetrators to justice."
Somnia nods. "I see. Well then, don't worry about it." She puts her hand on the Strain's shoulders with a wide eyed grin. "Ill find them and rip out their hearts myself. I just need you to get a permit to kill. I will clean up your mess with an even bigger one."
A hearty laugh sounds behind them as a goliath of a Strain walks over.
With a grin a large figure puts his hands on his hips as he looks down at her. "Somnia, there's no need to be so hostile, we said we we're sorry."
Most of my classmates stand there trembling. Yet Somnia stands her ground, contrasting the goliath's grin with a deadpan stare.
"Armado, Your kind killed my recruits. Sorry won't consol the hearts of those that lost loved ones."
"Yes, when I heard the news, I couldnt stop crying. But... what's that saying those Raze breakers say? Gotta break a few eggs to make an omelet? If anything you should be than-"
With a swinging kick Somnia drives the towering Strain into the ground, in an attempt of resistance Armado tries to get back up only for its body to be encased in ice.
With glowing blue eye Somnia stands over the once towering Strain with a tired expression. "Name three people who would miss you Armado, I'll let you call them." Crouching down she goes face to face with him, holding her gun and phone to his head. "Then give me back the phone, and I'll tell them...I'm sorry."
Somnia is now surrounded by armed Strain, the other pioneer instructors hold out their own weapons.
Nobody moves as the room is filled with elemental powers, like a clash of natural disasters.
An eerie whistle echos down the halls as a figure approaches; the song sounds like Frère Jacques as it approaches closer.
From the shadows, a blindfolded woman appears with her long black and white hair. Her hair flaps bounce as they extrude from her head. Their white turtleneck is stained with.
Like a metronome, her business shoes tap on the ground as his form fitted suit perishes the concept of wrinkles.
Behind her is two stoic looking Strain, their armored bodies seem far more advanced than the others. "Tragedy has befallen both sides, while the insurgents may have committed a horrid crime, they too had families that mourned their fall."
Toko leans over. "Well aint she the stereotypical villain. She aint even trying to hide it."
"Us humans may have been involuntarily thrown into this new world, but we cannot forget that we are but visitors in this solar system, we have entered their home. Despite this, the Strain have greeted us with open arms, and for that, I desire equity and equality amongst us.
Undoubtedly, our alliance will not come without its conflict. Just as the waves clash with the land, without the other there would be no green grass." The man bows. "So I humbly request that we drop our arms and instead lift one another in our own."
The tense air of the room is released as everyone relaxes their aim, everyone but Somnia who remains standing over Armado.
The blindfolded woman calmly walks over to her hol-
The moment she is within 20 feet of me I lose any sense of myself.
As though 40 pounds were tossed onto my shoulders my breath hastens and I struggle to breathe, my body naturally panics.
This-
This is the same feeling I had around Bastard...
the feeling of my sins working against me.
The woman puts her hand on Somnia's shoulder, the moment she makes contact Somnia's eyes widen causing her to tremble, her breathing hastens and her eyes begin to water.
"Somnia, I understand your sorrows, to forget the dead would be no better than killing them ourselves. yet, the desire to perpetuate war is no better than stomping on their graves."
Armado shatters the ice that once ensnared him. He cracks his neck back in place as he picks himself up.
Looking down at Somnia he grins. "That was quite the violent strike Somnia, in fact, that felt like a declaration of war."
The blindfolded woman sighs as she shakes her head. "Yes, there is no dancing around her actions. On her behalf, I inquire, what will it take to earn your forgiveness?"
The strains voice has a reverberating sound as he fails to hid a smirk. "In my house, we had a rule, if you commit and evil deed, you must be prepared to face that very act one day."
"I see, an eye for an eye." She turns to Somnia. "It would only be fair to Armado. Shall you risk your title as a pioneer out of fear, or face the mirror of your actions for the sake of humanity?"
Somnias' still trembling, but it wasnt the fear of circumstance, she was still in her own world.
Gritting her teeth, she winces a false grin. "Sure. Let hope you can dish out a hit better than you take one." Her eyes narrow. "You'd better make it count?"
This feels so wrong.
This is just bullying.
The blindfolded woman has made Somnia into a villain if she declines.
Everyone is just watching...
People who claimed to be her allies.
With this, they're denying the deaths of those who died.
The cowards.
I hate this.
Armado winds back his fist.
...
"Let me die!"
There's a stillness in the air as everyone stops.
Who said that?
Everyone's eyes turn to me.
Did...I?
Toko's eyes are wide as she failed to cover my mouth.
Now my eyes widen.
...Shit
The blind folded woman turns her attention to me.
Her neutral expression slowly creeps into a kind smile.
"Oh? You wish to take her place."
Somnia whips around. "Coffin, back off, I don't need your help!"
She's right, what the hell am I doing?!
Armado lowers his fist; with booming footsteps he approaches me.
He was intimidating before, but now as he truly towers over me I'm forced to combat my instincts to flee.
"I don't like hitting women, but I must ask before I consider you offer... who the fuck are you?"
My voice fails to work, like a sputtering engine I stammer. "...I- a- I- stu- the-"
"Coffin, get away! Armado, I'll take two punches, just leave him out of this."
He scoffs. "I was initially going to turn down your noble sacrifice, but her fear has me invested." He tilts his head back as he holds up his hand "5 hits."
My eyes tremble as I step back.
Somnia steps forward pushing past those in her way. Her advance is halted immediately as the blindfolded woman simply puts her hand on Somnia's shoulder.
Her eyes begin to water once more as she trembles. "Cof- fy- do- dont..."
Armada leans down with that stupid grin. "Any last words?"
I cant think of anything, all I see is death.
Tilting my head up...
I...
grin?
"See you soon."
The Strain's eyes widen before returning to its grin as he leans down to whisper. "I see, thats who you are. You know, you were the target. But, because of you, Hallow... is now hollow."
Straightening its spine Armada once again stands tall.
"Self sacrifice is a noble act." A voice besides me shakes me to life. "Just make sure the cause you are living for... would die for you." I feel the blindfolded woman's hand on my shoulder.
In the next moment I'm back in the ice bath. That bearded gold ringed man gives a hearty laugh as he wipes the blood on the scalpel; hiding behind him is... a child.
She stands there wiping her tears as she cries.
"...Toko?"
Returning to the present I am greeted by a punch to the gut.
I've taken a hit before but this was different, like getting hit by a dud rocket I feel my organs attempt to squeeze their way out of my exit points.
With a popping noise, my eyes begin to bleed forcing me to crumble to my knees.
I hear Toko's cries suddenly become muffled. "Get away from Coco yo-"
Armado crouches down with a grin as he goes face to face with me. "That's one."
One?
You've got to be shitting me
I can't breath, but I'm still alive.
My core activated as it attempts to repair my broken bones, even so its too slow as I choke on the blood.
Finally catching my breath, I attempt to stand.
Stumbling to my feet, I'm instantly kneed in the stomach, sending my body flying towards the ceiling.
My stomach is impaled in some metal rod as I hang from the ceiling. The crowd of people look up at me with fear and confusion.
Yet there I am, my body begins to slowly slide off the barbed metal rod in the ceiling. Only to stop as my intestistines get caught on the something. My body showers down blood on the crowd as I dangle only by my intestine.
With a snap my insides leave me behind, my corpse-like self, falls with a splat. Somehow im not dead; which is worse. I feel all the pain, yet I cant move any part of my body.
My vision is blurry as I lie like a corpse. Through my tunnel vision I see, Bastard as she is sitting cross legged with a warm smile resting her head on her hand giving me a wave.
Footsteps boom at they approach. "Thatttsss two!"
My body has been repaired to a livable state as I am once again sent flying by a kick.
"THREE!"
Slamming into the wall I feel myself splat onto the concrete, my blood painting an aimless pacassio.
My vision is narrow, but I'm still breathing, every bursted blood vessel cries out as they explode being repaired only to ripped apart yet again.
My core wont let me die, yet I cant bare to live any longer.
"This is pretty fun, dontcha think C-o-f-f-i-n?!"
Before me stands Armado, he isnt attacking; instead he waiting for me heal as he taps his foot with crossed arms.
The horrified crowd of Strains stand there with held breaths, Somnia is crying as she kneels on the ground, the blindfolded woman preventing her advance.
My arms heal first, allowing me to crawl forward.
I feel like shit, somehow hacking up, a ball of congealed blood felt like bliss, like I was given permission to breathe.
"Sto-"
Armado picks me up as my legs dangle.
Grabbing my arm, I wince, preparing for him to send me flying, but instead he begins to force my arm into my body, like a turtle, but we were not made to do that.
Screaming out I feel my humerus crack through my ribs before stabbing my lungs.
I want to die.
I have always wanted to die.
But this is differnt.
This is not the bordem of existance, it has become a fear of living!
Once my limbs have been packed inside my body, my core reverses the effects, forcing me to live through the suffering once more.
"Thats four turtle man." He tilts his head back with a grin as he looks at Somnia. "What did you say ealier? Better make it count?"
"Armado you bastard! LEAVE COFFIN ALONE! I WILL KILL YOU!"
"Thats not a nice thing to say as we are forging our alliance."
Why am I here?
Why the hell did I open my mouth?
I hate this.
Crawling away I can feel footsteps behind me as a hand clamps my ankle.
"Ple- Please! ...no mo-"
Tossing me up in the air he jumps up and slams me down to the ground. "FIVE!"
Landing on my chin, I momentarily feel my neck snap before everything goes black.
...
...
The first thing I feel is my heart slamming against my chest.
My folded body slowly unravels. Barley manageing to stumble to my feet I attempt to lift my arm only to find it snapped in half with my bone sticking out.
Ow,ow.
It hurts!
Tears stream down my face as every part of me is screaming.
It hurts.
FUCK!
IT HURTS!
Armados whole muscular body shakes as he giggles.
"What do they call it on your planet? A fly on the wall? Too bad flies don't sting, they can only buzz before being slapped."
His footsteps boom with ever step closer.
No more.
This is six!
This isnt fair!
He said five!
"PLEASE!" My words are waterboarded by the blood.
I can-
I cant take anymore of this!
My body relaxes, not out of comfort, out of surrender.
This feeling of helplessness
Its the same feeling I had at my first grave.
Someone, I just want someone
Someone to hold me, as I held that stuffed rabbit.
But this time...
I am truly
Alone.