'Where am I?...'
I found myself standing atop an invisible platform.
'Why am I back here… I thought I completed the trial…'
The world around me was empty— only blackness. My visage once again, a shadowy purple-black. Suddenly a room formed around me. It was like a child's bedroom; I tried to move but I couldn't. The room was pleasant. A cradle in the corner, a rocking chair right beside it. Stickers of cartoons on the walls. I couldn't help but be immersed in the surroundings.
The door opened suddenly— scaring the shit out of me. A woman holding a newborn walked in. The woman was unbelievably beautiful, her jet-black hair falling below her shoulders as the newborn played with the strands. The woman softly smiled, giggling gently.
Gracefully, she moved through the room transfixing my gaze onto her. She then sat on the rocking chair— gently rocking the chair and the baby in her arms. Nuzzling her nose on the newborn's neck, she playfully teased the child. Cooing playfully the child smiled.
"My sweet baby boy. You're so adowable!" She said as she kissed the newborn on his head.
She gently rocked the child in her arms. A sweet melodic tune filled the room— the woman sang a tear-jerking lullaby. Each word filled to the brim with love and devotion of the purest form to the newborn. The baby slowly became sluggish and fluttered his eyes close. His breathing gentle, his little chest rising and falling evenly.
Once the child was asleep— the woman smiled warmly before getting up and gently placing him in the cradle. The child slept soundly as the woman watched with a wide smile on her face. She then softly spoke, but the words she spoke made me crumble.
"My sweet baby boy Kerrigan… You're so cute when you're asleep… Mommy wuvs you sooo much,…"
'What! D-did she say… Kerrigan'
My heart resonated with the way she said my name. Was that me in the cradle? Is she my mother?
"Are you m-my M-mom?" I trembled.
The woman turned around with a smile as her gaze fell on me. She slowly walked towards me— she extended her arms and gently pinched my shadow-like cheeks. I was barely taller than her— she was tall like me.
"Yes you silly-billy… I'm your Mama…"
"A-ahh" I stammered.
My eyes welled up. Then the dam broke—I sobbed as the weight of her words crushed me.
"M-Mom… Where were you? I was being hurt so badly… Why didn't you save me? Why did you leave me?"
I choked out a plethora of questions as tears fell profusely. The woman's features softened as she gently cupped my face in her hands and hugged me close. She gently rubbed my back as I choked on tears.
"I'm so sorry baby… I couldn't be there… Mommy's here for you now… My sweet baby boy, I'm here now…"
I clutched her tightly— I didn't want to let go. I knew this was just a vision but I couldn't, how the fuck could I… she was my mom. Suddenly a force ripped me away from her. I was being dragged away at inhuman speeds.
The woman's features stayed the same as she continued to smile. I kept getting further and further. My tears became stronger— I tried to resist the pull but I couldn't.
"MOM NO! PLEASE LET ME BE WITH YOU!"
The woman softly said "We will— don't worry Kerry, you will be with mommy soon."
"NO! MOM NO!"
I felt myself returning to my real body. My eyes shot open— I sat up instantly and shouted at the top of my lungs.
"MOM NO! NO! NO! Nonono…"
Tears streamed down my face profusely as I begged to see my mother again.The sterile scent of disinfectant burned my nose. The white walls, the soft beeping of machines—none of it mattered. I just wanted to see her again.
Even now, her voice clung to my ears. That warmth. That softness. Was it real? No. But it felt more real than anything I'd known.
I looked around and realised I was in a hospital room. I looked at myself— wrapped in bandages, an IV drip connected to my arm. Almost all of my wounds were healed, even the fatal one. I was dressed in a blue gown instead of the tattered Veil of the Fading Whisper.
I didn't care at all.
I want to see my mom.
A man with blonde hair rushed into the room, the door slamming open. His face beaming with joy, his baby blue eyes sparkling.
"HAHA Finally you're awake…" he trailed off as soon as he saw me sobbing profusely, my face in my palms.
He didn't know what to say, he momentarily panicked.
"Uhh uhh…"
He peeked his head out the room and yelled.
"Minerva, I need help here… Uh he's crying and I don't know what to do…"
Soon a woman with long purple hair walked in, her face was beautiful but her features softened as soon as she saw the shriveling mess of myself. I didn't hear their conversation at all. I kept whimpering "mom I need you" quietly.
The woman instantly rushed to my side and held me in an embrace. My breath hitched, it caught me off-guard but I didn't reject it. I needed a hug more than anything… after everything I've been through. The woman named Minerva gently rubbed my back as she softly whispered.
"It's okay you're safe now, it's okay…"
Her soft voice calmed the torrent of thoughts in my mind. Everything slowly comes to a standstill. My nose blocked from how much I sobbed— I rubbed my eyes and sat quietly. Minerva slowly released me from her hug and gently ruffled my onyx-black hair.
"You okay?"
I respond with a weak nod. Minerva smiled softly before turning to the blonde man who stood frozen and bewildered.
"Leon get him some water"
The man named Leon nodded as he took out a blue water bottle from his storage ring. Extending his arm, he offered me the bottle. I looked up at them for the first time, I looked at both of them suspiciously trying to judge whether they're being genuine or trying to hurt me. Like the previous cohort of people. I didn't see anything wrong.
With a trembling hand, I take the bottle. I drank gulps of water— I felt myself gaining more mental clarity. Directing my gaze back on to Leon.
"Thanks…" I mumble.
"No problem kid" He softly replied. Soon a wave of excitement crashed onto his face.
"So uhh kid… What's your name and what on God's green fucking Earth were you doing at Point Zero!" He said with fervor.
"LEON!" Minerva snapped at him. "Let him have a moment for fuck's sake…"
"It's okay…" I interjected.
Leon got all excited and seated himself on the nearest chair as Minerva shot him an exasperated expression. I took a deep breath.
"My name's Kerrigan. I don't have a surname as I'm an orphan. Point Zero… That's probably the place I was at… with the blood-red corpse eating trees… right?"
Both Leon and Minerva's faces softened and Leon nodded affirming my assumption. Nodding back I continue.
"I think I was on a mountain above the blood forest. I don't remember much—just being in a pod for years, maybe since I was a baby. People with a three-eyed crow symbol did things to me. I escaped two weeks ago, stole some gear, and descended the mountain. I awakened during the descent, killed some Abhorrents and a transmutant, and even took out a group of people who tried to rob me. One of them almost killed me, and now… I have no idea where I am… I'm just surviving like a fucking cockroach I guess hehe…"
Their faces contorted with pure horror once I mentioned the mountain and the emblem. Minerva couldn't form her thoughts into words and Leon was beyond bewildered.
"The mountain… you're not kidding, are you…"
"No…" I curtly replied.
Leon held his head in his hand as he chuckled.
"Minerva— this kid single-handedly survived the most dangerous location on Earth as well as the most dangerous terrorist group. Fuck you are a cockroach!"
Minerva just looked at me dumbstruck. I on the other hand lunged toward Leon and intensely looked at him.
"Who the fuck are they?"
Caught off guard Leon gave a small yelp in surprise. He composed himself and sat straighter before speaking in a far more serious tone.
"Araca is their name… They're fuckers that actively try to spread the corruption of the Abyss… How are you related to them…"
The tone of the room transformed, it was more serious and deadly. It was harder to breathe, I felt as if I was being pushed down. I cleared my throat and spoke.
"I was their slave… They tortured me from birth mentally and physically for their own twisted amusement until I escaped."
It wasn't the full truth, like who would believe that I escaped a simulation; they'd probably put me in an asylum if I said that. Leon furrowed his brows before patting my head softly— catching me off-guard.
"Damn… Kerrigan is it… you've been through some tough shit… don't worry though you can leave Araca to us—"
"No." I interject "I want to kill them all myself…"
Leon and Minerva gave one another looks, Minerva pats my shoulder with a smile.
"Don't worry you get to do that once you get your Awakener license."
I tilt my head up to look at her— my eyes narrowing and brows furrowing.
"How do I get that?"
"Go to an Awakened academy, go there graduate with decent scores and walk out with a license"
I cringed hard when she said go to an academy. Seriously… School. My face scrunched up at her to the point where Leon was laughing his ass off next to me.
"School… really… I beg your pardon"
Leon was still laughing his ass off and Minerva's face scowled as she flicked my forehead.
"You have to go because you almost died— that's more than enough proof that you have no clue what you're doing and you aren't strong enough. In an academy you'll develop a sense of responsibility and competitiveness between your peers and grow stronger together."
I rubbed my forehead and winced before nodding.
"Yeah yeah whatever; just don't let people bother me"
Leon then snorted. "Nice advert—" he's cut off by a slap to the back of the head. The sight almost makes me laugh.
There was an awkward silence for a bit. This was broken by me when I mumbled.
"So… Who are you guys?"
Leon instantly took up the opportunity to introduce themselves with excitement.
"Name's Leon Horton—third strongest in America, twenty-third in the world, and currently undefeated in Mario Kart and this is my beautiful girlfriend Minerva Scott who is ranked 115th in the world, she will also be your homeroom teacher!"
Minerva lightly blushed but smiled and I looked at them dumbfoundedly. These people were powerful— very powerful. I then raised a brow.
"Homeroom teacher?"
Leon nodded jubilantly.
"Sorry for not telling you but you're going to be joining New Washington Awakened Academy in November so uhh… 2 months time"
I just blinked.
"What… so I never had a choice from the start"
Leon continued— completely fucking ignoring me… Dickhead!
"It's America's numero uno ranked academy and kid you are a monster you survived Point Zero and lived to tell the tale; so you're going to the best of the best."
I seriously didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I didn't need any of this, this is all extra hassle for me. Leon didn't care and continued.
"And I'll be your personal mentor throughout it— Kerrigan with all this you'll be going places so just leave it us and you can go annihilate Araca after you graduate."
I just nod. This was big— I was not going to turn down the opportunity to be mentored by one of the World's best. How did I get this lucky. My luck is never this good. No it isn't.
"Why are you doing this for me— I'm just some fucking bastard you found that was going to die… Why are you doing this much for me?" I asked as I lowered my gaze.
Leon smiled softly as he grabbed me by the chin; making me look at him. I looked at him, my eyes narrowing skeptically.
"Why? you ask Kerrigan. It's because you have the greatest potential I've ever seen in this current generation. The fact that you've killed abhorrents, transmutants and other awakeners whilst not even knowing what everything truly is..."
Pausing momentarily he looked at me incredulously— Minerva also ruffled my hair playfully catching me off-guard. Leon continued.
"It's fucking mind-blowing… When I saw you walk with an open neck wound after caving in that fucker's chest. I got goosebumps— and I don't get those often."
A sense of accomplishment fills my heart. Why was I feeling happy for impressing a stranger. I think… It's because it's the first time I've been treated as a person. Not a slave. Not a toy. Not an orphan. A person! My lips slightly curled upwards. This was until I remembered something.
I didn't know if I could trust them yet... but for the first time, I didn't feel completely alone.
'Wait!… where's the egg!'
I snap my head in Minerva's direction.
"Uhh Ms. Minerva… When you brought me here did you perhaps see an egg. It's small, purple and black."
Minerva nodded.
"Yeah— I left it in the care of one of my students—"
Just then a girl, a few years older than me came through the door holding the egg. She was a nervous wreck as she held it. She then nervously stammered.
"Ms. Minerva… the egg— it's hatching!"