The Phantom Riser

CHAPTER THREE - THE INTRODUCTION

First it was dark. Then it got darker. The skies growled as the agent of death forced its way through its boundaries. Whatever it was that people of Halesworth city thought was important dissolved into absolute triviality as they awaited their fate. The roads were blocked completely as the whole city was thrown into panic. People took their feet, despite being aware of the futility of their actions. For whatever miniscule amount of hope that still existed, they would keep moving. They wouldn’t give up… But it changed nothing.

The military were quick to react. Fighter jets were deployed to take out as much from the meteor as they could. A nuke would have solved the problem if the meteor had been detected before it entered our atmosphere. But it only came on the radar when it entered the troposphere. In fact, it should have been visible earlier, considering its size. But for some reason it wasn’t. Almost like it didn’t exist until that very moment. A nuke at that range would cause even more damage than the meteor. But they would try to salvage whatever they could… But still, it changed nothing.

Lighting tore through the fleet of fighter jets, shattering whatever hopes humanity had left. The meteor must land. Such had been ordained already by the Eight. As such, nothing would touch the meteor until it completed its mission. A humanoid figure was floating just behind the meteor. He lurked deep within its shadow, enough to make his presence negligible. But in truth, it was the meteor that was negligible. For the meteor’s only job was to destroy a city. But that man up there, had way worse planned out for those who survived.

“Such pitiful creatures. But such is life. Such challenges are what make us grow. Humanity must adapt to prove their worth. To prove that they are worthy of being among the living. For those who cannot adapt have regressed as living beings. That is the very essence of our existence,” he said, looking down on the city whose end was imminent. He noticed the train that was headed to Grimsley. The one that Kiro, Karenia and Victor were aboard. “That train conveniently avoids everything. Coincidence?” he uttered, looking far ahead, trying to see the train’s final destination. “Grimsley? That’s my district now. I guess I’ll pay them an early visit then. Hopefully, I’ll see some interesting characters.”

***

The passengers on the train watched hopelessly as the meteor fell. The sight of lighting ripping through the fighter jets was a painful reminder of what their place on earth really was. The least of the least. What they didn’t know was that Halesworth city wasn’t the only place in the world under the danger of a meteor. So many other places around the world were also at that time awaiting judgement from the plummeting meteor. Well, everyone except Kiro that is. And… boom!!! Contact. It was over in an instance. The screaming had stopped. Their suffering had ended. Their dreams, crushed. Whatever it was that defined their existence was no more. All that remained was dust.

Deafening silence filled the train cabins. No one moved a muscle, no one made a sound. And in that moment, just like sleeping beauty’s curse, the world lost colour and everyone on the train fell asleep. It was almost like time stood still but it didn’t. Things just moved a lot slower. And the man that was behind the meteor appeared in Kiro’s cabin. He was a tall man with long earrings and long curly black hair, with black menacing eyes. He wore a white sleeveless robe with fasteners tacking it together here and there. He paced through the aisle of the cabin with poise. His hands were folded behind him.

“Such weak creatures. Be grateful that others were sacrificed for you. And you shall awaken as risers. Is there anyone here that defies the Helios sleep?” he challenged, looking through the passengers of the train. Kiro however, caught his attention. “Is that what I think it is?” he said, walking in Kiro’s direction. “You! How are you awake?” he asked.

“Am I that bad an actor?” Kiro chuckled. He could see the bewilderment in the man’s eyes. Much more so that he materialized a sword out of thin air. “Woah, woah. Calm down Administrator. I mean you no harm,” Kiro cried.

“How do you know my rank?” the administrator asked, wide eyed.

“Noah, isn’t it? You’re the one in charge of District 198. And Grimsley is a part of it, right?” Kiro asked with a mischievous grin on his face.

Noah swung his sword at Kiro and halted at his neck. “You lowly human, who are you?” Noah asked, extremely sceptical of Kiro.

“A living being that has adapted,” Kiro goaded. “For your own good, you might want to retract your sword.”

Initially bewildered, Noah burst into a hysterical laughter. “Me, threatened by a level 1 riser? You can’t even lay a scratch on me, much less hurt me. Even beings higher than myself would find it difficult to kill me. You would be unwise to make such a bluff,” he said with all seriousness.

“Do you deem yourself immortal? I really hope not. It would be a shame to have to rip that fallacy out of your head.”

“I’m the last person you want to make enemies with, riser.”

“You and I? Enemies? I think you’re wiser than that,” Kiro gloated.

Noah looked at Kiro cautiously. In real essence, what could a mere riser do? But that amount of confidence didn’t seem baseless. Especially since he knew things that you wouldn’t ordinarily expect him to know. He was at crossroads. Attack or refrain. But before he could decide, time made the decision for him. The effects of the Helios sleep began to fade.

“I like you. Let’s talk some other time, Kiro Ner,” Noah said as he walked away. Kiro simply smiled.

To the others, the period of the Helios sleep didn’t exist. But they were all aware that Noah wasn’t one of them. He reeked of death. “Hello new-born risers, my name is Noah, your test administrator. And with regards to today’s test, only half of you will survive.”