Rise of the Reaper

Waking up in this lonely apartment has always been difficult. I chose to live alone and be responsible early on. At school I had a few friends but they always seemed to be caught up in their own world. Workaholic had become my label because I missed out on countless adventures just seeking a responsible future. I had my share of regrets but hindsight is 20/20. Life has been lucrative to say the least due to this mindset. Unlike most, I took the time to put my future together and my life has really shown for it.      My life mostly consists of work, school, and basic needs. Despite the efforts of those around me, I never made much time for anything else. Through most of my life, countless have struggled to be a friend to me. Most of them claiming that I'm too anti-social and that every relationship i have looks very one-sided. What can I say? Responsibility has given me everything I needed. However, there was this void in my life. Leaving this bitter taste in my mouth about my life.      The alarm clock sounded in my ear but I was already awake, gazing upon the empty ceiling. It was time to start getting ready for work with a shower. Walking towards the bathroom, depression hit me with such ferocity. I'm Alone. That's all I've every known but I had such a dissociation with the world that I never really let anyone in. My parents were renowned psychologists who pushed self help and philosophy books. Turns out that everyone else just wanted to follow their hearts while I was left desensitized by my fear of failure and rejection. Through a window I watched others live in both failure and prosperity. Sitting back, I was the prodigy who thrived at everything but people.      I got to the bathroom and got into the shower. A trickling massage was a comfort I raveled in daily. Wherever life kicked my ass, as long as I had my routine, I could always fall back on basic self care. Reluctantly, I shut the water off and got out. Wiping the steam from the mirror, I took a hard look at myself. Asking myself the real questions: What if I could be like them? Do I really need to act irrationally to fit in? Do I need to let people in and find a level of moderation? "What would I do?" I spoke aloud as I grabbed my clothes to get dressed. I grabbed my keys and locked up, leaving for my car. My work called for early mornings on the condition I set to make it to school by 4. 5am always came so early but my body was growing used to my schedule. Most would feel burnt out but most wanted windows of time for desire.      The slight light of the sun that cusped in the dawn left a dim natural light in the parking garage. Did life have more to offer than this? Could I keep everything I've worked for and maintain even a friendship? A meaningful one that wasn't just banter between classmates and co-workers. It felt like I would be just as stressed and exhausted as the average person if I tried to make time for anyone. My parents were proud of my accomplishments but depressed that I never visited. It's a monster that they created so they only have themselves to blame in that regard.      I got into the car and put the keys in the ignition. Stopping for a moment before turning the key, I pulled out my phone to check my bank account. When I did so, there was an ominous reflection in my phone. A rag quickly came into my vision and I attempted to hold my breath as hands pulled me into the seat from behind. Resistance was futile and i succumbed to the darkness.      Like a slow cascade, I found myself waking into a bright room tied to a metal chair that was bolted to the floor. In front of me was a glistening metal table. Painted white brick surrounded me on all walls but one with reflective glass where I saw myself chained to the chair with my arms behind my back.      Did I commit a crime> Why was I being held here? This situation seemed off for an arrest. It felt like what they did to terrorists. How could I be deemed a terrorist with my completely boring and organized life? I struggled and cried out feeling the cold shackles shake and scrape against my ankles and wrists. The foot shackles dug into my Achilles tendons and I suppressed my struggle.      So I sat there for what seemed like for what felt like hours stripped of all my belongings and still in my street clothes. At least I didn't have to feel any more violated than I already did at the thought of them changing my clothes. Looking in the mirror I squinted just to humor the idea of seeing what was on the other side. Who was I kidding? Even if I was close to the glass, I likely wouldn't see anything. Let alone from this distance sitting down.     After what felt like an eternity, the doors opened and 2 men in suits walked through. Both were very tall but one man was muscular with facial hair and a buzz cut. The other had shaggy hair, was clean shaven, and a burly man. Both had a very intense and intimidating stature to them. My heart sank in my chest as they both sat on the other side of the table from me.       "so you're James Alcove. Single, no children, and a workaholic?" The burly man stated. I stayed silent because I didn't understand the relevance to this situation. "Apparently, this man doesn't care to know why he's here' the muscular man looked over to his partner. " I haven't committed any crimes. I demand to speak to a lawyer." I stood my ground.      "We have a constitutionalist here crying for a lawyer as if he thinks he's gonna get outta here." the burly man laughed. "don't matter much now does it" the muscular man reciprocated his laughter. "Why am I here?" I cut their laughter off. "See. The government fancies taking introverts like yourself off the grid. Nobody out there is close enough to you to question a suicide. Seeing that it's so easy to take people like you, we take you into our own little world down here." The muscular man explained. "why though?" I had a sob of grief and defeat in my tone. "because someday, the world down here will become the world up there." the burly man clarified. Taking this in was difficult so i just stayed silent. "So what happens now?" I finally spoke after a moment of silence.      "We take you to a lab, they give you a serum, and release you into our grand world." the muscular man explained. "Where am I?" I asked not expecting a clear answer. "The underground" they spoke in unison. "Now I can unshackle you now and you cooperate. or i can unshackle you and chase you around the halls where you find no way out for yourself and you receive a beating from myself and my buff friend right here. So what's it gonna be?" The burly man crossed his arms. "option 1" I surrendered waiting to be unshackled.      They opened the door and ushered me out of the interrogation room. "What's in this serum?" I asked as we walked down the hall. "It's best we leave it to the dox to explain that. She tends to get upset when we prelude the underground intro." the burly man retorted. "why is that? I never got that" the muscular man bantered. "f**k if I know" the burly man shrugged. Fear made my steps feel heavy and as if time slowed, I could feel the heavy beating in my chest. My whole body felt tight with every step I took closer to what could be my death. Arriving at the door, the muscular man pushed a pager button and looked up at the camera. The door was buzzed open and I was ushered into what looked like a hospital operation room. Both men left me alone in the room and locked the door behind them.      Looking around the empty operation room, my nerves started to put me into panic. My hands were shaking and I had this feeling in my gut as I looked at a machine above the table. It looked like the procedure that they were doing would easily pull someone out of a deep anesthesia just from the pure torment it could cause. "scary looking contraption isn't it?" A doctor in a white coat walked through a regular door on the other side of the room. "Is this what you're doing to me?" I asked still shaking with fear just looking at it. "It's really not as bad as it looks" she walked over and sat on an adjustable chair in front of a computer. I scoffed at the remark under my breath. It was in my best interest to tread lightly but I couldn't help but scoff. She reached into the desk and pulled out a paper file and put a sticker on it with my name. She got on the computer and brought up my information. "so I'm going to give you a rundown on where you are, why you're here, and what we're going to do. Does that sound okay?" She turned to face me with the file still up on the computer. I simply nodded and she continued, "you're currently in a place called the underground. Through those double doors is a world full of people much like yourself. Some consider it an upgrade to the life they've lived or a second chance at life. Others treat it like a cage. Everyone down here has been given a serum that gives people to do things that average humans couldn't do. That is why we are containing you. If you become a problem, we will put you into the lower levels of the underground. There are 4 levels of containment. Level 5 means we kill you and we weigh by transgression.      It's way harder to get in trouble down here. What's considered acts of terrorism up there are considered transgressions down here. Regular small time crimes are overlooked by our enforcers. You will be given a watch after the procedure which is like a cell phone up there but only more advanced. Advanced being that literally anything you need will be provided by that watch. Lastly, 1 in 3 people who undergoes this procedure will die." A gulp ran down my throat hearing that and I grew tense. "Let's just get this over with" I was still tense but I just tried to breathe and stay calm as I looked at the table. As I laid down she told me "We'll be putting you under with special anesthesia so you won't feel anything." She strapped me down and I thought to myself                                                          One blink into oblivion                                                                         or                                                         One blink into rebirth                                                                     Lets go