--RAVE"s POV--THE SOUND OF THE SIREN ECHOED THROUGH THE CITY. It"s a signal for us (warriors) to do the inspection. We inspect every house, checking for any signs of exiles. Once, we found a house that"s hiding a bunch of exiles, the owner was tortured to death. Although it was hard for me to do this job, it was organized by the Government. We have to obey whatever the Government told us to. If we don"t, we"ll be thrown out of place and be like exiles, or tortured until we can"t stand anymore, or the worst case is that we will be killed.
My round was finished fast. I head back to my department. I can see the exiles outside the metal fence. The metal fence has barbed wire on top of it so they can"t really just climbed up there. The whole city was covered with a barrier. The city has four ends, North, East, West and South. Every end has gate, with 4 warriors guarding it. As I was walking I saw a kid no more than 10 years old watching me through the barricade. He wore tattered clothes, his hands were dirty, he was covered with mud. His hair is so long that it fall behind his back. He almost doesn"t look like a HE. It"s almost like he"s not one of us. I push that thought aside. I continue to run. The people give way to me. They must"ve notice what am I right now because of my shotgun.
My name is Rave short term for Raven. I am a warrior. We are feared by the people. We"re like the police. We arrest anyone who commits crime. Actually, I do not really want to be a warrior. Because if you"re like me as much as many people feared you, many people want you dead too.
I approach the gate of my department. I belong to the justice department. The guard here is bulkier and taller than me. "Id," he said. I showed him my Id. He inspects it. "Warrior 33?"
"That"s me." He looked at me then at my Id then back at me again.
"Very well," he said. "Go in." He gives me back my Id, I nodded and go inside.
People were bustling everywhere. Justice Department holds many officials. Judges, Attorney, and Warriors are here. A judge approaches me. He"s a middle-aged man wearing a long robe and gla.s.ses. His head is bald. "Warrior 3311, Raven?" he said.
"Yes sir," I straighten up. Not so many people know about my code name nor my real name.
"Come with me," I follow behind him.
My shoulders tensed when we come to his office. Although there is many papers works here the smell of blood could not be erased. He sat down, his head props on his fists. "So Raven," I winced by the name. "You are one of the strongest warriors among your batch. Tell me again, how many exiles have you caught wondering inside our city? 200? 110?"
"314 to be precise, sir." I almost forgot to add sir at the end.
"Ah! 314!" He face lightens up although I don"t know if he"s being real or not. "Killed?"
"N-no o-one sir," I started. It"s normal for us, warriors, to kill someone, but it"s not normal for us to not kill. For them, it"s our nature, but for me, it"s a curse if you kill.
He arches an eyebrow like he couldn"t believe at the thought.
"You"re the first," he seems delighted. "Well, I will not beat around the bush anymore. Do you know what the Government does to warriors like you who refuse to kill?" I shake my head. "They will kill you. For them, they don"t need a weakling like you. You"re just a parasite to them who damages the society. But, I have been observing you for so long," I look at him quizzically. "I know that you"re nothing like us. You"re quite special. You can see what others can"t."
"Uhm, what do you need me to do?" I said. "Sir," I added.
"Nothing much, nothing much, I just need you to come out of the barrier," I stare at him, shocked. It"s illegal to go outside the fence when they find out that you went out, you"re certainly done for. "I need you to get out and explore the world outside. Report to me once in a while. About what you saw, what you experienced and what you encountered." I can sense that he is serious about this.
"I need to think about this, sir." I started to rise from my seat.
"I will give you just before sunset tomorrow to think. Beyond that, prepare yourself to be killed." I got out of the door and went straight for my home.
I"m lying on my bed, thinking about what the Judge had said. I am special. Am I?
I sit up straight and look outside the window. I can feel the strange pull like someone"s calling me like I need to be there. I sighed. I know what I"ve got to do.
I found the judge inside his office, sipping tea. He looked up when I came in. "You seem to made up your mind," He said.
"Yes," I am breathing heavily. This is risky, what I am about to do. "I will go."
"Very well then," he said. "Go to this address tonight. I have everything prepared for you."
He was waiting for me near the train station when I arrived. He was wearing a typical investigator attire. He looked much younger than he did earlier. "Here," he handed me a backpack. "You can find anything you need inside." He said before lighting up a cigarette.
"Won"t anyone notice that I"m missing?"
"Nah, I"ve got everything planned already." He blew out a smoke. "Now, go out." I salute him before running off to the night.
I was already thirsty when I reach the forest. I rummage my bag for water. He"s right when he said he got everything ready for me. Inside, I"ve got snacks, water, clothes even weapons and medicines. I waited for a bit before striding again.
The cold breeze greeted me when I reached the middle of the forest. When I sighed my breath came out white. I sniff through the air. First thing you need to learn to be a warrior: smell the danger. But I don"t smell, I feel it.
I heard laughter coming everywhere. I concentrate. Right. They"re coming from the right.
"RUN!" someone shouted. Then he laughs, a vicious laugh. "RUN! YOU LITTLE EXILE!"
"WE"RE GONNA KILL YOU," someone said in a sing-song voice. "RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!"
They are not after me. I can feel that. They"re after someone else. I follow the voices.
I hid behind a tree when I saw them. They are cornering someone now. She"s (I just know that it"s a she) got blood running down her left leg. In spite of her position she doesn"t look afraid. She rather looks excited. She spat to the person on her right. "You think you can kill me that easy?" The person laughed.
"Of course!" She said. "Oh! How I love to taste that blood of yours!"
"What they call you again?" The one on her left said. "Black Hunter? Guess their little saviour will greet death right now!" They both laugh. The girl backed away and she b.u.mped into a tree. I did the most stupid thing I could think of. I charged forward.
With their attention turned towards her, I took my chance. I was the fastest in my batch so when I reached them I had my gun in my hand. I risk two of my bullets, one for each.
I was breathing heavily. It was my first time to kill someone. Not just one, but two. The blood inside me boils like water. I can feel my hunger. "Are you okay?" I asked her. I got no time to react before I received a punch from her on my face.