Fallen kingdom

Ch 10

ackal looked down at the tombstones with dreadful eyes. There were two names engraved

On the tombstone- Samantha and Alicia. He looked around the empty graveyard, There was nobody in sight. The sun hid behind the dark clouds, and a cool breeze hit him blowing away a few petals from the flowers he got for the grave. The name Alicia still lingered in his mind and it reminded him the first time he met her. It was back at the facility.

“ today were going to transfer you to a different room”

The researcher said

He opened the door. The room mostly normal with wood tiles and a roof. There was big glass panel Infront of him and two single beds in both corners of the room.

“she will be your new inmate”

The researcher said

“ Nice to meet you”

She said in a soft voice

“ my name is Alicia”

She wore glasses with green hair and had two long ponytails. Wore the same attire as everyone, a white cloth going down to her legs.

“my name is Damien”

He replied

“ well then if you’ll excuse me I have to go”

“ wait your just leaving then”

Damien asked the researcher

“ Yes I have some work to attend to”

And with that statement he left them. The two sat on opposite beds since there was only one chair.

“ Sorry for the lack of chairs. I lived here alone all this time”

Alicia said

“oh no it’s okay, these beds are comfortable enough”

Damien reassured her

There was an awkward silence between them again.

“ So umm…what are your abilities ?”

“Oh mine, professor Seth told me that I can actually heal tissue s faster than the human body and at the cellular structure at well”

She looked at Damien’s dumb face. He didn’t understand a thing.

“ I can heal things” she said be

“ Oh wow, that’s cool” Damien replied

“what can you do”

“ me, I can go invisible”

Damien goes invisible

“ wow your completley camouflaged”

Damien then repapered at the other end of the room

“ wow that must come in pretty handy”

“ well I’m not very combat oriented so I focus on stealth”

After that the uneasiness fadedd between them and they started to talk to each other. Soon the sun setteld and night came.

“ Well then, good night” Alicia said, tucking herself in bed

“ good night” damien replied

they both went to the cafeteria next morning. The facility provided all their test subject s with food. Alicia and Damien sat at a table in front of a big glass panel which showed the rest of the facility.

“ I like to always sit here” Alicia said

“ It does have a good view” Damien replied

He looked around to see hundreds of others with him eating there food. Even though there were so many people he knew none of them personally. No one in the facility knew another. There were people in pairs like him and Alicia but there was no more than that. He wondered why. Damien kept looking at the others for a long time.

“Is something bothering you” Alicia asked

He looked back at her

“ it’s nothing”

He went back to eating his food.

ON their way back they encountered a researcher.

“ miss Alicia” he asked

“ Yes that’s me”

“ we need you to perform some tests” he said

“ this early, is everything all right”

“ yes something urgent came up, now if you would follow me”

Alicia Followed. Damien looked at them until they faded into the distance. He returned back to his room. Looked around the empty and sighed.

“ What do I do now” he thought to himself. After a few hours Alicia returned.

“ welcome bac-” he stooped before he could complete sentence

Alicia’s face was extremely pale. Her eyes were wide open and her breathing was very heavy. She looked at Damien.

“ what happened” he asked springing up.

She suddenly felt sick and ran up to the sink and throwed up in it. Damien rubbed her back to make her feel better. She then sat on the on the bed and started shivering so Damien put a blanket on her. After a while she had calmed down Damien asked her.

“ Alicia I know it’s not my place to ask this and you don’t have to tell me but-”

He stopped for a moment

“ what happened”

“ I’m a monster” she said.

“ what” he asked

“ I killed someone”

She could still vividly her the screams and cry for help.

“ahhhh, stop” the man screamed

Alicia in addition to her healing powers could also take away the life of living things. This test was conducting that power.

“ Please stop it’s hurting a lot”

The man was on the marble ground with both his hands shackled down by metal chains and blindfolded.

“ Um , should we stop he seems in a lot of pain”

“ No proceed with the tests” someone said.

There were a bunch of researchers behind the glass panel. They were taking notes and examining it very carefully. The man was now screaming and crying in pain suddenly Alicia stopped.

“ I don’t want to continue, I don’t like this something might happen to him”.

She could see the tears coming under the blindfolded. He was panting hard and sweat trickling down from his cheeks. She could see the despair and she felt sick knowing that she had put someone in that state.

“ Alicia this is only a test, it’s ok nothings going to happen”

She recognized that voice, that deep soothing voice belonged to Dr Seth. She looked behind to see the man in his usual attire. His long white hair and white lab coat.

“ Just think you are doing this for the people”

Alicia looked at the man in chains and proceeded with the experiment. He continued to scream in pain and agony. Every fiber in her body wanted to stop but she kept on.

“ stop !!! You monster” and with that last sentence he suddenly went quiet.

His he’d was down and he suddenly went limb. The only thing that left him from falling was the chains.

“ Stop the experiment” a voice came from behind

Alicia suddenly stopped. A bunch of medics came in they started checking his pulse and a heartbeat. Then one of them took off their stethoscope.

“ he’s dead” one of them said

Alicia’s eyes widened as she heard those words. Strength left her knees and she fell down despairing at the thought she killed someone. The medics enveloped the body with a white cloth and picked him up with a stretcher.

“Don’t be sad Alicia you did a great job today” Dr Seth said while putting his hand on her shoulders.

“It’s unfortunate what happened today but you couldn’t have stopped it, think of it as an accident everybody has accidents”

Alicia was completely fazed out. She couldn’t completely understand what had happened. Dr Seth’s voice was like someone’s voice in the background.

“now go back to your place and rest”.

She was sitting on the bed with Damien.

“Damien” she asked with watery eyes.

“ am I a monster”

Damien didn’t know what to say. She had only this girl for a day and something crazy like that has happened.

“you’re not a monster” he hugged her

“You’re not a monster” he again to reassure her.

She then went asleep on the bed because of the exhaustion. A shade of purple was created under her eyes due to all the crying. Damien still couldn’t understand what had happened. Why would Dr Seth order something like that. He decided that he would go ask himself that question tomorrow.

The next day before going to the cafeteria he went to dr Seth’s office.

“where are you going ?” Alicia asked.

“I have some work to do” Damien replied.

He knocked on the office door and then entered. The office was rather a simple looking one white tiles on the ground and walls. An oak desk in the middle with Dr Seth behind the desk talking to someone on the phone.

“I’ve got to go, yes Damien take a seat please”

“thank you” he said as he sat down.

“ Now what do you want to talk about”

“ about yesterday I wanted to ask” he asked hesitantly.

“ yes” Dr replied

“ is it true that Alicia killed someone”

“ That’s putting it rather bluntly”

“ so it did happen !”

Dr Seth looked at Damien with a silent look. He could see him getting uneasy and an anger welling in him.

“ Damien look in order to achieve our goal we have to go certain procedure, if some lives are lost then so be it”

“ But couldn’t you’ve done it on animals”

“ No Damien this test is for humans and so our test subject will also be humans”

“ you can’t do this !”

The room felt silent for a while. The air was numb but you could feel the intensity in the air.

“ Well then I must be going now, you should also get breakfast”

And with that sentence he left the room. He looked as he went down the hallway his figure slowly fading in the distance. He then went back to the cafeteria where Alicia was sitting at their usual place.

“ How did the talk go” Alicia asked

“ fine” he replied unenthusiastically

“ Did you find what you were looking for”

“ More or else”

“ look Damien about yesterday I know what I did and that can’t be changed So ou don’t have to worry about me”

“ your not a monster” he said while looking out At the vast green garden.

Alicia looked outside. It was a clear and beautiful day, the trees were bristling due to the wind. Looking at view eased her heart a but the fact that she was a killer still lingered in her heart.

A week went by and nothing special happened then suddenly one day Damien showed up. He had an excited look on his face.

“ Look Alicia” he showed her the poster

“ what is it” she asked unenthusiastically

He handed Her the poster. She looked at it for a while

“ wow a piece of paper” she said sarcastically

“ No look inside the paper” he insisted

“ A carnival ?” she asked

“ just down the street”

“ and why are you showing me this”

“ because we are going today”

“ But no one can leave the compound how are you gonna do that”

“ Don’t worry I know a way”

That night they snuck out of their rooms and went to the Basketball court. The court was surrounded by a metal railings and the door was made out of the same thing. There was no security there only a lock on the door. Damien Started picking the lock.

“ Damien wait what if somebody finds out”

“ don’t worry nobodies Around here at this moment”

The door opened and both of them went down the street. After a few minutes of walking they reached their destination. The entrance was decorated by bright lights. Alicia looked at all the people entering and leaving with bright faces. They went inside.

“ Here” he handed her some cotton candy on a stick.

“ thanks” she couldn’t remember the last time she had cotton candy.

They were strolling down the festival when Alicia suddenly stopped at a shooting range stall.

“ what’s this” she asked

“ it’s a shooting range” he told her

“ You hold up this gun and try to shoot the moving targets”

He shot half of the targets.

“ now you try”

“ she took the gun aimed at the targets and shot each one with 100 percent accuracy” that was easy

“ Damn that was good” he said

“ you said something”

“ um nothing let’s go to the next ride”

Damien pointed towards a Ferris wheel the main attraction in the whole festival.

Come on let’s get in”

“ what is that” she asked

“ you don’t know what it is?”

“ no” she said a little scared

“ don’t worry it’s just a ride you’ll have fun I promise”

They both sat in and the ride started. It slowly went up showing the view of the whole city

“ oye look” Damien pointed out

The whole city was in view now. Night lights everywhere made the whole city a spectacle to be seen. Damien was looking out but Alicia was looking at someone else. She was looking at the person in front of her the person who was trying his best to make her happy. She suddenly felt flustered and her chest got tight.

“ Damien would you look here”

Damien turned around to be surprised by the unexpected. He felt a soft sensation on his lips. Alicia’s soft lips left him dizzy and hot. She then went back to her. Damien’s heart was racing fast and they both looked very flustered.

“ Wh-what was that” he asked

“ consider that a thank you” she replied with a smile.

“ Oh um ok”

After the ride stopped the went back to their rooms on the way back they were both quiet. They went back from the same way they came from. Damien went to the door and it was still open. He checked around first if there was anyone in there. After double checking they went to the door they came from and as expected no one was there. When they were inside the compound Damien eased a little. They were still very quiet and Damien thought about what Alicia did. He recalled the sweet kiss he got earlier and started having lewd thoughts.

“ What are you thinking about” she asked

“ n-nothing” he shied away

“ you were thinking something lewd weren’t you” she held his hand.

“ no I wasn’t” he didn’t look at her.

They reached their rooms.

“ You can let go now” she said

“ Oh um sorry” he let go of him.

He went to the window panel look outside when he heard something in his ear.

“ Hey wanna sleep together” Alicia whispered.

He turned around and backed up.

“ um what are you talking about, what makes you think I wanna sleep with you” he said embarrassed

“I don’t know maybe the fact that you stare at my breasts half the time were talking”

“ That’s not true”

She suddenly then Pushed him on the bed and hopped on.

“ We shouldn’t be hasty, there’s a procedure to this “

“ am I not enough for you” she said with desperate eyes

“ that’s not the point” he said

“ Then close your eyes”

He looked at her for a few seconds and then closed his eyes. He could feel heavy breathing on his lips and the scent of perfume became stronger. Then he felt the soft sensation of lips on his mouth and the whole body on top of him Made his whole body go numb. in the end gave in to his temptations. He made love to her for the rest of the night.

It was a sunny day with light illuminating the whole room. Damien woke up due to shine on his face. He looked around the room was the same as always the other bed on the side, a table in the middle. He looked at his side and noticed that Alicia was gone

A knock came on the door.

“ come in” Damien replied

A researcher came in.

“ are you damien”

“ Yes”

“ There was an announcement that everyone is to gather at the main hall. I’ve already informed your partner so she’s there”

“ ok I got it”

He got in his usual attire and exited his room. On his way He realized a lot of people were going at the same place. They were all murmuring and whispering. For some reason he had a bad feeling about this. He came in the hall and it was packed. There was very little room to move. Damien could hear the whispers and murmur among the crowd. Finally the loud speaker went on

“ May I have everyone’s attention”

Everyone suddenly looked up .

“ It pleases me to say this that today will be the final experiment you people will do”

Everybody Got excited and happy that today was the final day.

“ However only one of you will get out”

The room suddenly went quiet. They stopped moving completely.

“ What do you mean” one asked snakingly.

A different voice came on the Mike a voice that Damien knew quite well

“ to put it bluntly it’s a fight to the death”

Everybody didn’t move or say anything. Time itself had stopped for everyone.

“ You will now kill each other and the last man standing man will be chosen, chosen to be an elite”

Everybody started panicking, the voices started getting louder. Then suddenly a voice came from the crowd.

“ wait”

Everybody went quiet

“ do you think we’re dumb enough, years of training and you think we’re dumb enough to kill each other I’m sorry that ain’t happening nobodies gonna kill each other”

Everybody calmed, they seemed to understand what he was saying. On the ceiling a machine gun popped up and pointed towards the man talking. A single bullet went through his head with the blood splattered below him. He fell on the ground hard.

“ Now you have two options” the microphone spoke

“ you can either kill each other or you can die by a machine gun either way only one man will get out of here”

The walls on the sides flipped completely to present an array of weapons. From guns to axes there was everything.

“ you can use these”

For a moment nobody moved but then a loud bang came from somewhere.

“I don’t wanna die” he said sobbingly. He shot someone.

After that all hell let loose . People ran and pushing everyone else for a weapon.

“ Where’s Alicia” he frantically looked around.

Somebody came at him running with a sword. He went invisible dodged it and shoved his knife into the back of his neck. He grabbed one that suited him the best. A military knife that fit perfect in his hand. He went invisible to avoid unnecessary fights to find Alicia. He found her at the other end of the Hall. He ran to her.

“Oh thank God I found you before anyone else”

“ behind you” Alicia shouted.

Another guy with an axe came running towards him.

He dodged him and tried to knife him but he dodged. He shot his gun but he dodged and smacked his hands which sent the gun flying.

“ Your pretty good” Damien

“ You ain’t bad yourself ”he replied

When he was just about to swing at him a shot came from behind and pierced his heart. He coughed up blood and fell down. Now a few people remained the strong were standing. A man came at him with a katana and speed. Damien barley dodged it and was sent flying back.

“ a little knife deflected a blade, you are quite skillful”

“ thanks, you looked like you were in a hurry”

“ yes , I have the ability to move at speeds at which the human eye cannot catch up with”

“ Now then time for you to die” he rushed his sword towards him but before it could hit him he went invisible.

“ I see so you can go invisible that is quite a troublesome technique”

“ We both have deceptive techniques, but who will win”

Damien came behind to stab him but the swordsman deflected it”

“ Well this a pain in the ass” Damien thought.

“ If I could somehow penetrate their defense”

He looked back at Alicia. The only fighters remaining were them. Damien stared at Alicia and got an idea. He went running towards her.

“ are you okay” she said in a concerns voice

“ yeah iam never mind that tho I need you to do something”

“ yeah what”

“ I need you to suck”

They both looked at each other for a while in silence. Alicia gave a confused look.

“ right now ?” she asked

“ yes” he answered with a straight face

“ um ok”

She slowly went down

“ no not like that, you see that guy over there”

He pointed towards the swords as he pulled her back up.

“ use your powers in him”

“ My powers, but …” she hesitated

“ it’s ok just keep them in control, I need your help to beat him”

“ ok” she said with a resolve

“ are you done talking, I’d attack you while your guard was down but I’d rather win this fight fair and square”

“ Don’t worry I’ll come at you with full strength” he went invisible and went head first.

“ That won’t work forever” he went in a defensive position

Damien punched him while he put his guard up but it sent him flying back. He smacked hard into the wall and fell down on the floor. He then tried to get up with the help of his sword.

“ How did you ….?”

The swordsman looked at the woman in the back

He dashed towards her but damien Stopped his attack with his knife. The were both now pushing each other with their blades.

“ That’s quite under handed you know”

“ I’d like to call it improvising”

He pushed the swordsman back with all his force. The swordsman was feeling dreary due to Alicia’s effects.

“ I think it’s time we finish this “ Damien said

“ Very well” he said while spiting out some blood

He came at him with the same technique head on and he defended it but this time he had a hidden weapon.

“ better luck next time”

He took out a second knife and shoved it in his chest area. At the end Damien stood victorious and his enemy fallen before him.

“ I’ve beaten everyone now let us go “

“Us ?” the microphone spoke.

“ I believe I said last man standing and if my eyes are not deceiving me there are two of you”

“ but she’s not a fighter you’ll gain nothing out of her death”

“ I don’t care only one will get out of here”

The microphone shut down.

“ well it’s come down to this” Alicia said

Damien looked at her with a worried look.

“ Alicia what are you thinking”

She pulled out a pistol

“ Alicia where did you get that gun !” he said in a loud tone

“ I honestly wanted to live longer” Her voice cracked as she pointed the gun towards her heart.

“ drop the gun you i***t”

“ I love you”

Those were the last words he heard from the women he loved. After that he heard a loud bang and saw blood on the floor.

“ Aliciaaaaaa !” he screamed

He dashed towards her. He picked and saw a shot in the heart. She was bleeding a lot and her eyes were barley open.

“ oh no oh no oh no” he put a hand on her chest to stop the.

“ It’s gonna be okay”

“ MEDIC, MEDIC someone please anybody help” he screamed.

Alicia said nothing just stared at him.

“ Please don’t leave me not now “ he broke down

“ I don’t wanna live without you” he said while crying

Alicia with the last breath in her body lift up her hand and touched Damien’s cheecks. The last thing she did was smile. Then she fainted due to low blood. Damien broke down in tears he remembered the first time he met her how he took her took the carnival and how he got his first kiss then an image of a man came in the man who was responsible for this all the man who he despised the most. Suddenly all his sorrows turned into rage.

“Seeeeeeeeeeth ” He screamed in anger

he went to the door that was shut and punched it open it put a big dent in it he punched it again and the whole thing went flying back. Then he went to the room where they were. He kicked open the door, there were a bunch exo soldiers in front of him.

“ Fire” one of them shouted

They fire at him but he dodges every bullet and kill them all in one swoop.

“now now Damien don’t be hasty”

“ Die”

“ ok fire the shot”

A sleeper dart was shot in his neck. He felt dizzy and his started lose. All strength went from his knees as fell down on the ground, his eyes slowly closing. As he closed his eyes he saw someone come up to him, Dr Seth.

“ Sleep for a little while”

Damien woke up to find himself in a building. He woke up still a little drowsy. He looked around to see people were sitting beside him. He looked down and realized he was wearing a tuxedo, a tuxedo ? Nothing made sense. He saw a man on the stage with a coffin, was it someone death? Who died ?. Damien then listened closely.

“ Today we are gathered here To mourn Samantha’s death”

“ SAMANTHA.. !!??” the world around him got quiet, time almost stopped his eyes wide.

“ it couldn’t be, it must be a coincidence after all his mom wasn’t the only one named Samantha”

a sliver of hope spring up inside but it was all too soon gone when he saw the Picture beside the coffin and sure enough it was his mom. He felt nothing after that. His expression went dull. It became quiet, .. very quiet. Everyone then went to the coffin to see the face one last time. Damien went up to see his mom’s face one last time. Her face was pale and motionless. A few hours and most of the people left except for Damien who stood there motionless. Suddenly the father of that church came up.

“ I’m sorry for your loss Mr Damien, I obviously don’t know anything about her but from the looks of things I assume she was a very loving person “

Damien didn’t reply

“ I have to close up the church so say your last goodbyes”

With that sentence he went away

The entrance door opens suddenly and a man appeared with a gush of wind. The sounds of his boots hitting the floor echoed throughout the room. He then stood beside Damien a casket of roses in his hand. He put them down on the coffin

“ it hurts doesn’t it” Dr Seth said

“ when I set out to start this program I planned on making the strongest warrior”

“ So I rattled my brain on what makes someone strong”

“ Is it years of combat experience, having the latest weaponry or perhaps becoming an elite. Sure these were ways of becoming but I still lacked something, something very important and then it clicked PAIN. Not just any pain but the pain of losing something , losing something dear and important to him. That’s when someone builds the determination to do something. So Damien don’t be sad you have now become strong and I bet your mom is happy too.”

Damien didn’t reply but kept on looking at his mother. Seth turned around to leave and the sounds of his boots once again filled the room. As he was about to exit he said something.

“ oh I almost forgot now that you’re an official elite you’ll go by your codename”

“ JACKAL”