When I entered the house, Steve was still sitting in the same position. It’s been, what, 25, maybe 30 minutes since I went to bathe? I’d be itching all over if I sat that long in one pose, but he looked like a statue. How’s he even holding up like that? Well, Whatever.
“Steve”, I called, walking towards him, “I need some answers from you or I’m not continuing this ‘training’ of yours.”
No hesitation. Just the truth that I want to clarify and to be clarified on.
He turned his head, just the head, towards me and said calmly, “I need to tell you something.”
Huh. Okay. So we’re getting somewhere, finally.
“I’ll ask first,” I said, sitting down opposite of him on the other sofa. He leaned forward, crossed one leg over the other and gestured slightly with his hand.
“Ask away.”
“You clearly are operating on a huge level,” I started, pausing midway as my thoughts settled. Then I continued, “This village that just… appeared out of nowhere that nobody knows of. The purpose of my training here. The goal of me being a part of your plans. My parents. Tell me everything you know about”.
Steve didn’t flinch. Didn’t blink. His face stayed the same; calm, unreadable. Like he’d been expecting this moment, rehearsing his answer for this exact moment.
After a short silence, he finally spoke.
“This village,” he said, “is a relic of history… and our safe haven. Only we and the government know it exists. You’ve probably already guessed that the line of sky-high government buildings near the border is there for a reason. It’s to hide this place.”
I nodded slightly. Yeah, I did think that. But there was one thing I couldn’t shake off.
“If that’s the case,” I asked, leaning forward, “then why doesn’t the government just destroy it? You’re telling me they know, but they’re just… letting it exist? They could wipe it out anytime they wanted and like nobody would know. Since nobody knows anyway.”
Steve’s posture didn’t change. Still the same emotionless face. The silence between us grew heavier by the second.
“It benefits both our agendas. You don’t need the specifics right now,” Steve replied coolly, his tone flat and distant.
“But… ah, whatever,” I muttered under my breath, already annoyed by his half-answer.
He ignored my tone and continued, his voice slow and deliberate. “Your purpose, Hmmmm, Your purpose….”, he paused. This guy is definitely keeping secrets or is just fooling around. He then continued, “Let’s just say that your purpose is the same as mine”.
“Wait. What? What the hell are you rambling about?” The words flew out of me before I could even think. What was this guy on about now? Of course our purpose is the same. At least that’s what I always assumed.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“In terms of your parents”, Steve paused again. He is making this whole thing feel tensed unnecessarily. He continued with his head rotating slightly up-left to the side, “What exactly do you want to know?”
His words hit like a cold wave. His tone shifted suddenly. It was intense, heavy and sharp enough to make the air in the room feel tight. Yet his body stayed still. It was almost unnatural, like the intensity was just radiating out of him without any expression to match it. It honestly scared me for a second.
I swallowed, trying to keep my composure. “I realized earlier,” I said slowly, “that my parents never had restrictions from the SS Guards. They could freely visit the sea.”
Steve went quiet. The sharpness in the air seemed to settle. After a long pause, he finally spoke again.
“Finally catching onto the past, are we now?” He leaned back slightly. “Well then. Firstly, your parents… and your entire lineage, were scientists. Every single one of them. Your family carries exceptional genes for intelligence. You seem to have inherited that as well.”
I blinked. “My entire lineage?” I never knew any of this. Guess I never had the chance to, being so young when they…
“And,” Steve continued, his voice cutting through my thoughts,
"your whole lineage worked for the government… to destroy the world. And along with this ruined world, I was the effect it created."
I froze. The effect? What does that even... "The effect it created? What are you on about? You’ve been saying weird stuff from the very beginning!” The words came out of my mouth while I stood up, fed up with his bullshit. He’s clearly avoiding my questions with lines out of a fantasy book. I thought Sheph was out of it. But Steve makes that look like child’s play.
“I think I’ve answered your questions… Now let’s talk about what I wanted to tell you”, Steve said with a calm expression. “Oh no you don’t. I don’t fricking care about any of this bullshit you are spouting”, screaming those lines I started to storm out of the house.
What even is this all about anyway?
Why do I have to listen to his delusions?
Why am I trapped in this undiscovered place?
I just wanted to avenge my parents. I just wanted the government pay for what they did to my life. All the rage and grief I had seems to make me move on my own. I don’t know where I’m going but I keep on running to the right side out of the house this time. It’s night. The roads are clear.
I don't know how long I ran. My lungs burned. My feet pounded dirt, then grass, then dirt again. The village blurred past me. Left, right, I didn't care. I just needed to move, to escape, to breathe something that wasn't Steve's cryptic bullshit.
When I finally stopped, gasping, I found myself at an open field.
The field a little far in front of me isn’t as gorgeous as the one with the big banyan. This has fences all around it and it’s spread out far and wide in all direction. I walk up close to the entrance where I finally realize what this is. Trying to keep my breathing calm after the running I read the sign that reads,
"Here lies the brave heroes who weren't known by anyone but one day will be remembered by everyone."
It was a massive graveyard.
Hundreds of markers. Maybe thousands or even tens of thousands. Stretching into the darkness beyond where the moonlight reached. Row after row after row.
It was...... peaceful.
