It is still like a dream.
I was in a subconscious white space like a tube.
"I remember opening my eyes for the first time and saw him — 'Papa'.
It was still hazy. After opening my eyes, I was removed from my pod.
Papa held me in his hands and smiled faintly. As I turned, I saw thousands of tubes — all like me, but different.
Papa placed me in my crib and as he did, he whispered into my ear
"Experiment 1007, Rena"
"A success" Papa said that smiling
I noticed after a while, I did not see papa anymore. I think the emotion of care and tender love was shown because I cried day and night waiting for papa as other researchers tried to keep me quiet.
Eventually, that was all resolved: I was taken to a couple who welcomed me with open arms.
3 years Later
"Rena, did you break your toy again?" Mum asked
Being the brat I was, I still stuck out my tongue and ran off
"Can you believe that, dear" Mum asked looking at Dad
"She is a kid; she will get over it." Dad answered calmly
As Rena ran through the city, she viewed everything in awe. The buildings were white, the people wore white — everything was just white.
At that time, Rena did not understand the personal value it all held but after everything, a feeling of incompleteness still clawed Rena.
"How is Experiment 1007 doing" the figure asked
"She is going well although she misbehaves from time to time" the man answered
"Okay, remember that the purge will happen in a few days" the figure said calmly
"Yes sir" the man answered
As Rena walked through the streets, she saw a couple of kids playing in the park and she decided to join them
"Hero Beam" one of the kids shouted as he threw his hand at the other
"Arggh" the other kid fell down pretending to be hit
Rena watching tapped the other kid beside her
"What are they doing?" Rena asked curiously
"They are playing heroes, so cool" the other said energetic
Rena watched with awe as the day drew nearer and closer
Few days later
Dad and Mum carried Rena into a facility
"What are we doing here Dad?" Rena asked shaking nervously holding him
"Nothing sweetie, we are just here for tests" Dad said smiling calmly at Rena
As they entered, Rena sat in the waiting room, she could see other kids waiting patiently, across from her was a see-through window, where she saw them talking to other kids
Time passed, and suddenly a voice called, 'Experiment 1007, kindly enter.
Dad holding Rena said "That's us"
They all walked patiently inside the room
A man looking at the sheet gently put various objects in front of Rena
A kid sword, shield, Staff, Arrow and Twin blades were placed in front her
"Kid, what do you seek in this path?" the man asked genuinely smiling
Rena turned to face Mum and Dad curiously but both just smiled ignoring her
Rena thought for a second before picking the staff
"Why the staff?" the man asked
Rena kept quiet for a moment before answering playfully "I want to do the hero beam too"
The man just laughed before rubbing her head
"Fascinating, keep that fire kid" the man smiled
Rena just nodded but something about if felt all strange yet nostalgic
After that day, Rena's life changed. The once bratty kid was now filled with purpose and a clear goal.
Rena went to school, swooped all awards she could, took the first places she could. Mum and Dad were proud but Rena wanted more and so much more.
All this, to achieve what she always desired: "To be a hero"
The desperation to becoming that led Rena to join the organization called HIVE
As Rena entered, she was directed to the waiting room, over a thousand the same age as her were here to apply
They all wanted to become heroes.
A shy girl who was sitting beside Rena tapped her shyly
"Are you here for the exam?" the girl asked in a shy tone
"Oh, yes I am" Rena answered smiling brightly
"So am I" the girl responded
"What is your name?" the girl asked Rena
"I am Rena, and you?"
"I am Suzi" the girl answered cheerfully
"Wish you luck suzi and let's join the organization together, alright?" Rena said smiling cheerfully
"Yeah" Suzi answered back cheerfully
People came in and went out, some smiling, some crying — many in tears.
Finally, it was Rena's turn. She entered the room while Suzi was called into another office, and followed after her.
"What is your name?" the man asked
"I am Rena" Rena answered politely
The man smiled which felt nostalgic to Rena but she could not exactly picture it all together
"Let's begin" the man said
"You joined to be a hero," the man said, glancing at her file. "A common reason. An inefficient one."
Rena frowned. "With respect, sir—"
"Heroism," he interrupted gently, "is not about saving everyone. It is about choosing who must be saved."
Rena hesitated.
The man looked up then. His eyes softened, just slightly.
"You've always struggled with that," he said.
Rena stiffened. "I don't believe we've met."
A faint smile touched his lips.
"No," he agreed. "But I've known you for a very long time."
The room seemed to shrink around her as the weight of the decision pressed down.
The man tapped the screen, bringing up two projections. One showed a sector scheduled for purge—unstable, densely populated. The other showed a neighboring district, clean and compliant.
"If the purge proceeds," he said, "ten thousand will be lost. If we redirect the fault line, thirty thousand will survive."
Rena stared at the numbers. "And the cost?"
"The first sector will be erased."
Her stomach twisted, a cold knot of dread forming as she stared at the numbers.
The man's voice lowered. "This is what heroes do, Rena. They endure the weight so others don't have to."
Her name on his tongue felt… right.
She swallowed. "And if I refuse?"
He studied her, not coldly—sadly.
"Then someone else will decide. And they will not hesitate."
Silence stretched.
Rena exhaled slowly. "Authorize the redirection."
The man nodded once. Approval warmed her chest like sunlight.
As he turned to leave, he paused.
"You did well," he said softly. "I'm proud of you."
"Welcome to HIVE" the man said
Something inside Rena settled into place.
She didn't notice that saving people had begun to mean choosing who deserved to live.
As Rena stepped out of the room, Suzi stepped out
Both locked eyes with each other before Suzi ran with tears in her eyes before Rena could speak a word
As Rena walked back home, a thought stuck with her, one should could not shake off
'This is what heroes do, Rena. They endure the weight so others don't have to.'
Meanwhile
Back at HIVE labs, the man could be seen working through the computers when he was interrupted by someone
"Sir, the numbers are astonishing. The probability of success has increased by fifty percent"
The man kept quiet before turning back smiling
"Okay"
As the man left the office, the man turned towards the computer
"The day of the Purge draws near; I hope my little soldiers, broken down and ready to be reshaped, can achieve victory." the man said as she looked at Rena file on her computer screen.