《A Thousand Blades (The Evolved, Book 0)》


 Chapter 1 - 6:30 P.M.

    Days seemed to slip by in a hurry during the summer months. Students often watched their break shrink as the return to school lurched closer. Parties, sports, games, and camps only delayed the inevitable. There was no real way to stretch out the days to prevent the summer break from ending, but there were some students that didn¡¯t mind this fact. One of these students was a sixteen-year-old, Violet Woz, who had just returned from a three-month summer camp. She hadn¡¯t heard from her friend in quite some time, but that didn¡¯t bother her. She was in the middle of finishing her book and preferred to be undisturbed.


    Violet breezed through her required summer reading during the first month of the break and was now rereading one of her personal favorites. She had always been a bookworm, so it was no surprise when she ran out of literature. Fortunately, her household was an educational environment with an extensive collection of reading material.


    A significant portion of the collection came from Ivan, Violet¡¯s father, who kept all of his textbooks from college, as well as every research article he and his colleagues wrote. The documents were often filled with technical jargon that required a doctorate in bioengineering to understand. While Violet wasn¡¯t able to fully comprehend everything that was written, she still enjoyed discovering new concepts. Ivan had previously expressed his concern over her reading his most recent document, but that didn¡¯t stop Violet from trying. She made a point to confirm her parents¡¯ locations before entering her father¡¯s office.


    Out of the two, Violet¡¯s mother was the most important parent to pinpoint. Claire could move through the house swiftly and silently. It was critical to the operation that she was preoccupied to prevent her from wandering. Violet had to stand by while the day came to its end, waiting for her mother to begin cooking dinner. The family¡¯s weekly menu was written on the calendar, and that day had a tedious meal that required Claire¡¯s full attention. Just to be sure, Violet casually walked into the kitchen.


    She noticed her mother expertly cutting the dish¡¯s vegetables. Claire¡¯s wavy brown hair was tied up. Fair, tawny hands held the knife as it glided through the stew¡¯s ingredients. Her sharp chestnut eyes were focused on the cutting board. Violet knew from experience that Claire had just started cooking, and her window of opportunity was dwindling. She hurried to the living room to confirm her father¡¯s location.


    Ivan was always exhausted upon his return from work. At the time, he was resting on the couch. His dark skin was full of wrinkles from both stress and age. Streaks of white peppered his black hair. He didn¡¯t say a word when Violet entered the living room. Instead, he increased the television¡¯s volume. The news reporter was describing a recent homicide. The incident occurred several miles away from them, and the perpetrators were missing. Similar reports were broadcasted earlier in the day. Everyone was worried that this was some type of terrorist attack, but there was too little information to make that assumption. Violet was unaware of these reports, so she couldn¡¯t grasp the scale of the events occurring. Ivan, on the other hand, grew more worried and thought about taking his family upstate. Against his better judgment, Ivan brushed aside the idea and waved Violet away.


    With a slight bow, the curious child left the room and silently rushed to her father¡¯s office. Ivan didn¡¯t keep it locked but still expected his daughter to stay out. She was often well-behaved, but she¡¯d act out as long as she knew she wouldn¡¯t be caught. Violet held her breath and pushed the office door open. She shuffled inside and closed the door behind her.


    The office was a large room with towering bookshelves filled to the brim. Books were categorized and placed on the bookshelf along with similarly themed works. The topics ranged from basic medicine to highly advanced technical books, mostly adhering to Ivan¡¯s profession. Violet always thought this room was magical, but her main focus was the dark oak desk in the far corner. It was piled high with several stacks of recently published articles and documentation from Ivan¡¯s work. A ¡°world¡¯s best dad¡± mug full of pens sat near the edge. Sticky notes were placed all around the computer¡¯s monitor. Each one noted a specific project or task that Ivan needed to remember. With little time and a need to reduce possible evidence, Violet carefully pulled a document from the pile. Her heart fluttered as she read the title.


    The Materialization of Ichor and Genetic Variability of the Evolved. The title alone fascinated Violet. She didn¡¯t know what the document contained but was eager to learn. After reading for a few minutes, Violet realized she¡¯d heard some of the terms before. ¡°Evolved¡± was a label she¡¯d heard from the news. It described a type of genetically modified organism that was altered to withstand harsh environments. The government had announced that human trials would begin at the start of the next year.


    Violet was unsure how the testing would go. There were many groups who opposed it and vilified anyone that dared to volunteer for the trial. Many different concerns were raised, but they weren¡¯t enough to stop the project from moving forward. Violet was indifferent to the politics behind the experiments. She was more interested in the test itself and the results it would produce. The only question on her mind was how it involved her father.


    Ivan was a low-level researcher at a local clinic. He was supposed to be currently researching the development of more-advanced artificial limbs, yet his notes littered the article. Ivan clearly had a larger role than what he described to his family. Violet continued to skim through the papers. She wanted to better understand the current state of the project. Images and descriptions of body parts, the variation of subjects, and an odd dark matter confused her. It was too much information to take in at once. Violet decided to retreat to her room for further analysis, but her plan was interrupted. A sharp snapping sound echoed through the room and snapped her out of her thoughts.


    Immediately, Violet dropped to her knees and hid behind the desk. She was always quick to startle, but it often played in her favor. There had been many instances where her father entered his office to quickly grab something. Violet was caught red-handed the first time that had happened, and it didn¡¯t take long for her to learn from that instance. Now, even the slightest noise would cause her to hide. The best spot to conceal herself was underneath the desk. A large panel shielded her from anyone¡¯s sight, and small gaps allowed her to view the rest of the room. It always helped to see where someone was going and when they left. Violet squinted through gaps to better understand the scenario. A perplexing image filled her view.


    A large, masked man in fine clothing had entered the room through the window. He stood almost six feet tall. Broad shoulders and a barrel chest formed his athletic physique. For an intruder, he was dressed extremely well. A black suit coat and tie matched with the man¡¯s slacks. A white button-up shirt was underneath his coat and was sullied with small splatters of blood. Everything was tailored to perfectly fit his body. Nothing about his apparel seemed to restrict his movement. Gloves and dress shoes covered the ends of his extremities. He would have been a remarkable bachelor, but there was one problem with his appearance. An onyx gas mask covered his face with pitch-black eye sockets. As the man scanned the room, Violet could only see the glimmers reflected by the room¡¯s light. It was like gazing at pure obsidian.


    ¡°All clear,¡± the man reported with a deep voice. His words were muffled, but Violet could infer what was said. His polished shoes clicked against the wooden floor as he moved into the room. With the office door closed and a seemingly empty room, the man had little reason to conceal his presence.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Violet stared at him with wide eyes as he casually waltzed through the room. He slowly pried open the door to view the main hallway. As he familiarized himself with the house¡¯s layout, another intruder leapt through the window. The person¡¯s foot caught the windowsill, forcing them to awkwardly stumble into the room.


    It was a woman wearing an outfit that was similar to her partner¡¯s. There were some slight differences. She wore a black vest rather than a bulky suit coat. The sleeves of her button-up shirt were rolled up to her elbows. Her porcelain arms, the only part of her body that was exposed, were covered in odd black markings that splintered into multiple smaller branches. Her clothes and arms were covered in a considerable amount of blood. Her menacing demeanor was exemplified by the midnight-black plague doctor mask that covered her face. A small hat made of the same material rested atop her head. The rest of her head was veiled with a black cloth. Muddy footprints trailed her as she meandered toward her partner.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± the man asked his partner in a low voice. He closed the door to silently address the issue.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just a bit woozy. Might need a second before we take out the next target,¡± the woman replied with bated breath. She placed her hands on the desk and leaned forward. Several deep breaths help her slightly regain her composure.


    ¡°Whatever it takes. Just do it quickly. We need to move on,¡± the man stated as he started to scan the numerous bookshelves.


    ¡°Love you too,¡± the woman laughed. She shuffled some of the papers on the desk. Many fell to the floor as she tossed them aside. It didn¡¯t seem like she was looking for anything in particular. She was simply passing time, waiting to fully recover. The room fell silent for several minutes before the woman spoke up. ¡°So, we killing this bastard or what?¡±


    The concept of murder taking place in her house caused Violet to gasp. It was a quiet inhalation, but Violet still panicked and covered her mouth with her hands. The atmosphere became heavy. The room chilled as time stood still for the hiding girl. She prayed that she wasn¡¯t detected, but to no avail.


    The desk was tossed aside with ease, and the woman stared down at Violet. She couldn¡¯t see the intruder¡¯s eyes, but she knew she was being looked down on in disgust. There was nothing the young woman could do in this situation. Her voice was caught in her throat. Fear took over in an instant. Without a second thought, Violet flew toward the door. It was the fastest she had ever run, but it was not enough. The masked man blocked the door and grabbed her without hesitation. He threw her to the ground with an extreme amount of force and pinned her to the ground.


    ¡°A child? She wasn¡¯t in the report,¡± the man stammered. He seemed to have been made uncomfortable by Violet¡¯s sudden appearance. The strength of his hold loosened but still prevented his victim from escaping.


    ¡°Too many targets and not enough intel. Regardless, she¡¯s here, so we ought to put her down,¡± the woman retorted with a tired voice. She stood above her partner and glanced toward the document that Violet tightly gripped. A cruel heel pressed on Violet¡¯s wrist, forcing her to release the papers. The masked woman swiftly snatched the article and scanned it. After a brief reading, the woman shook her head. ¡°Naughty girl. You shouldn¡¯t be reading this. Now you really need to go.¡±


    ¡°No. We¡¯re following our orders to the letter. That was the agreement. This kid¡¯s got nothing to do with this,¡± the man argued. The two intruders stared at each other. Not even their masks could hide the hostility in their glares.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t up for debate.¡±


    ¡°I agree. Stand down. Now.¡±


    Violet could feel the overwhelming pressure the two radiated. She didn¡¯t want to be caught in the middle of their dispute. She needed a way to escape quickly. That was when a small glimmer of hope caught her attention.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have authority over me. Not here. Not ever,¡± the woman¡¯s cold words cut into her partner. The two were equals, so there was no clear commander. It was because of this that the argument was allowed to continue. Their relationship was slowly deteriorating as their venomous words continued. It was thanks to this authoritative debate that Violet could subtly move her free arm.


    ¡°I do when you get like this, so shut up. If you want to kill someone, go deal with the doctor. He¡¯s bound to have heard the commotion.¡± The man gestured with his head toward the door. Neither intruder would budge on their position. It was best to simply move on and hope one would forget about the problem. That was what the man was aiming for. Fortunately, his partner was not in the best mental state at the moment.


    ¡°Fine, but we¡¯re definitely talking about this later,¡± the woman said before kicking open the office door. Her steps hastened as she moved toward the center of the house. The clicking footsteps grew quieter as she went further away.


    The masked man sighed. He slowly turned his head back to Violet. As he returned his attention to his victim, he was surprised with a pen stabbing his neck. The desperate attack was enough to penetrate his defenses. The weapon she used wasn¡¯t ideal, but it should have been enough to force him off her.


    Time seemed to freeze for the two as they stared at each other. The man¡¯s grip didn¡¯t loosen nor did it tighten. Violet remained pinned to the ground. Her hand still held the pen which was embedded in her captor¡¯s neck. Blood streamed from the wound and flowed down her arm. She was petrified with fear. The man was too surprised to move. Almost an entire minute passed before motion occurred.


    The man gently pushed Violet¡¯s hand away. He nonchalantly pulled the pen and tossed it aside. His hand then moved towards his victim¡¯s mouth. He didn¡¯t cover it completely, so she could still breathe and speak. His movements perplexed Violet. Before she could say a word, something else derailed her train of thought. A sensation like a light mist brushed against her face. Violet tried to avoid breathing whatever was present, but it was a futile effort. She could only hold her breath for so long. A forced deep breath brought a wave of exhaustion. Despite the intense situation happening around her, Violet¡¯s eyes felt heavy. She didn¡¯t want to fall asleep, but it was getting harder to resist the temptation with each passing moment. Suddenly, it all clicked.


    ¡°An Evolved?¡± Violet managed to utter her realization. Her exhaustion made it difficult to think clearly, but it was the only logical explanation she could think of. Neither intruder wore body armor, showing they weren¡¯t worried about any type of resistance. Violet was not the strongest in the world, but the man¡¯s strength was unnatural. Then, of course, there was his apathy toward the stabbing.


    It was her realization that sent shivers down her spine. The situation suddenly grew much more dire. If they were the same Evolved outlined in Ivan¡¯s documents, there was no way any of them would survive the attack. It was almost impossible to remove something that was designed with durability as its focus.


    ¡°You seem to know more than I thought. Doesn¡¯t matter. Soon, everyone is about to be woken up to the truth of what your father and his friends have been up to.¡± The masked man seemed annoyed by Violet¡¯s words. An exhausted sigh escaped the gas mask. He pulled his hand away and dug into his coat. After retrieving a small steel blade, the man slit his wrist and quickly wiped some of the gushing blood onto Violet¡¯s neck.


    ¡°Wha¡ª¡± Violet stammered with a soft voice. It was getting harder for her to form full thoughts, let alone sentences. She couldn¡¯t finish her question, but the man was able to infer her question.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how much you know about us Evolved, but we¡¯re not all bad. Sure, that idiot isn¡¯t the best example. She¡¯s not herself at the moment. Another product of the doctor¡¯s actions. As for me, well, I didn¡¯t kill you. Just knocking you out for a couple of hours and making sure no one else picks you off.¡± The man said with a soft voice. He continued to paint Violet¡¯s neck, making her false injury look much more serious. Once he finished, he took the bloody knife and positioned it close to her.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°It might be ironic for me to say this, but I don¡¯t want to hurt anyone. At least, not anyone that isn¡¯t a target. You haven¡¯t done anything wrong. In return for helping you, I need you to do me a favor. After you have shed all your tears and the dust has settled, grow up into someone that¡¯ll make a difference. This will never end if we continue down this road.¡±


    The man¡¯s voice faded as he continued to speak. He went on about philosophy and the struggle between man and God, but it all went over Violet¡¯s head. She could no longer hear him as her vision blurred. Heavy blinks slowed as she succumbed to her exhaustion. The lull of rest had finally reached her. It was impossible to resist any longer. The wooden floor wasn¡¯t comfortable, but that didn¡¯t matter. She drifted to sleep. Her final thoughts were of her parents. Praying that they¡¯d be safe.

 Chapter 2 - 7:00 P.M.

    Dinner and liquor was often the go-to choice to enjoy the end of a long day. A beautifully cooked steak accompanied by a cold beer was the dinner of choice for most people. This was especially true for Harvey Allston, who had just finished his fourth can. The smell of cooked meat filled his backyard as he grilled alone. He was masterfully handling the charred meat as he reached for a fifth can. It didn¡¯t take many of them to get him drunk, but it was the only night he could drink them in peace.


    His wife and two sons had left for a brief vacation, leaving Harvey with the house to himself. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity presented itself, and he was not going to waste it. He increased the volume of his portable speaker. Country music blared at an obnoxious volume, irritating his neighbors. Harvey wasn¡¯t interested in the opinion of others, so he sang along to his music without a care in the world.


    Visions of amber fields of grain filled his mind as he imagined his old life. He missed the laborious days running the family ranch. Without it, Harvey lived everyday unsatisfied. He never liked living in the city, and the boring political job he had didn¡¯t help the situation. Sitting behind a desk and approving different research projects was not the life he wanted. He pondered for a moment on the importance of some of those projects. Perhaps he should have given them some more thought. To him, it didn¡¯t matter. Anyone could do his job. Harvey was just unfortunate to have gotten it.


    He didn¡¯t realize how his decisions would come back to haunt him.


    Harvey¡¯s patriotic singing was interrupted by a loud crash. The noise had come from his house. It sounded like one of the front windows had been shattered. An intruder? In a neighborhood as safe as Harvey¡¯s? No, they had top-of-the-line security. The neighborhood was gated and had stationed guards at the entrances. Harvey couldn¡¯t believe it, but a shaded figure moved within his home.


    The intruder didn¡¯t bother hiding their presence. They moved throughout the house with heavy steps. Many loud thuds resulted from several bookshelves falling to the ground. What they were looking for wasn¡¯t clear.


    Regardless of their purpose, Harvey had no intention of interacting with them. In his younger years, he may have been able to win in a direct confrontation. However, time had not been kind to him. He wasn¡¯t the strapping gentlemen from over a decade ago. Not even the knife he carried would help him in a fight. With this in mind, Harvey opted to leave and call the police.


    He left the music playing as a way to mask his movement. The plan was to draw the intruder toward the backyard while walking along the side of the house. As Harvey proceeded with his idea, he pulled out his phone. His fingers had never dialed a number so fast. 911 was called within moments.


    ¡°You have reached the Houston 911 Emergency Center. All operators are busy so please stay on the line,¡± the robotic voice responded to Harvey¡¯s call. His body began to tremble as the words hit him. He¡¯d never heard that message before.


    ¡°Is something going on? A widespread emergency?¡± Harvey thought to himself. A sigh escaped him as he exhaled deeply. He needed to call again once he was at a safe distance. His pace hastened as the street got closer.


    Several windows lined the length of the house. As he stepped past each of them, Harvey took care to duck under their line of sight. He could no longer hear the intruder in his house. They were possibly in the backyard. If that was the case, Harvey needed to hurry before he was discovered. Despite his heavier physique, Harvey¡¯s legs swiftly pushed him forward. The edge of the house was within his grasp, filling the man with joy.


    However, his escape was cut short by a hand bursting through one of the windows. It grabbed onto his shirt and tugged him toward the house. Startled, Harvey could only react by swinging wildly. He stabbed the arm with the knife he held, but the attack wasn¡¯t effective. There was no reaction from the assailant as they pulled Harvey closer. To stop himself from being swept into the house, Harvey pressed his legs on the window¡¯s edge and fought back. He continued to pierce the arm with his blade as he pushed away.


    Several direct hits landed, but none of them seemed to have any effect. Each wound leaked a small amount of blood and another dark liquid. The hits themselves felt like they were piercing several layers of protection, but there was no visible armor. Every attack grew weaker as the resistance became greater and Harvey¡¯s strength was depleted.


    Another hand emerged from the window and swatted the knife away. It then gripped Harvey¡¯s shirt. Harvey braced to be pulled in, but he wasn¡¯t ready for the absurd amount of force he was up against. The assailant lurched forward and rammed their head into Harvey¡¯s. Only one of the two recoiled from the hit. As Harvey felt his head snap back, the hands that gripped him opened. An audible thud accompanied the man as he fell to the ground.


    Harvey didn¡¯t have time to soothe his bruised rear. He awkwardly twisted his body and scurried away. His feet carried him faster than he expected, resulting in an odd stumbling run. He gathered his composure as he reached the street. His ragged breath showed that he was no longer the track star he once was. Too many years had passed from that time in his life, but it was the least of Harvey¡¯s worries. The weary soul turned his head to see if he was being chased.


    The assailant had already exited the house and was pursuing Harvey with slow steps. The person was clearly a man with a toned figure. No defining feature could be found on him due to his outfit. Classy brown dress shoes matched the brown leather belt that supported his azure trousers. A white button-up shirt was tucked in and covered by a well-fitted navy blazer. Black gloves covered his hands, and a cloth made of the same material shielded his neck. Everything the man wore was tailored perfectly. It exemplified his appearance while not restricting movement.


    All of the cuts that Harvey expected to see were nowhere to be seen. The small amounts of blood had disappeared without a trace as well. The blemishes to his suit were repaired faster than Harvey produced them. It was as if Harvey¡¯s resistance meant nothing. Almost like it didn¡¯t even happen.


    Surprisingly, that wasn¡¯t the assailant¡¯s most outlandish feature. A large mask was protecting his face from being seen. It had a cobalt base with several golden gears of various sizes plastered onto it. Each gear ticked in a certain rhythm as a machine would. A large gear covered the left eye, and a mainspring covered the right. The gears worked together to wind the mainspring before stopping to release the tension.


    Harvey could sense the danger emanating from this mysterious man. He knew he wouldn¡¯t survive a fight. Without a moment of hesitation, Harvey sprinted further down the street. It only took a few moments for him to be reminded of his condition. Heavy footsteps and ragged breath were enough evidence that Harvey couldn¡¯t run forever. Several other houses have passed, so it should have been enough. With a glimmer of hope, Harvey glanced behind him to see how far he¡¯d gone.


    Despair was all that gazed back.


    The masked man calmly walked towards Harvey, knowing his prey wouldn¡¯t escape. Long strides propelled the man closer to Harvey with each step. There wasn¡¯t any sign of fatigue or hesitation. Despite the full suit and mask, the man was fine. He was able to chase Harvey as if it was nothing more than a casual jog.


    An ominous aura radiated from the man as he approached Harvey. Harvey was startled to see his pursuer so close to him. He moved to run again but tripped over his own feet. All hopes vanished as concrete filled his vision. Harvey slammed into the ground and scraped his face against the sidewalk. The color drained from his face as blood began to drip from his cheek. The pain wasn¡¯t what frightened him. He had just fallen in front of the masked man. He lost the chance to escape.


    ¡°Please!¡± Harvey turned to cry his surrender but was interrupted by a foot slamming into his nose. The front kick had enough power behind it to thrust Harvey¡¯s head back into the ground. Disoriented, Harvey raised his head in a swaying motion. He couldn¡¯t comprehend what had happened. His blurred vision slowly focused on the figure that interrupted his plea.


    ¡°Harvey Allston,¡± the man spoke with a northern accent. He stood over Harvey holding a manila envelope. Papers spilled from the package as the man threw it to the ground. They were work documents, stolen from Harvey¡¯s home. Each one detailed the different research projects that he had approved. The man bent over to retrieve one of the loose papers and held it out to be read.


    Alteration of Ichor and the Evolved for Suppression Capabilities. The confidential document hung in front of the man that had signed it. Harvey immediately recognized the title. When the project was initially presented to him, several key figures were in attendance to further explain it. They discussed the many reasons for and against the project¡¯s approval. After the discussion, everyone in the room voted on the project¡¯s fate. The results weren¡¯t projected to be announced to the public for many months, but the masked man seemed to know all about it. The two stared at each other in silence for several moments.


    ¡°Are you aware of the significance of these documents?¡± the masked man was the first to break the silence. His voice trembled slightly with anger as he spoke. Harvey felt as if he was being looked down on in disgust.


    ¡°I. . . it was for the betterment of the country!¡± Harvey screamed in defense. He intentionally raised his voice to draw the attention of others. His only hope was to receive help from onlookers. The answer Harvey gave wasn¡¯t the best one to give, but he couldn¡¯t think rationally. He began to move slowly backward in an awkward fashion. The conversation continued as Harvey slithered away and the masked man nonchalantly followed.


    ¡°Why exactly should we care about your country? Are we supposed to be loyal dogs to the people that created us?¡± the masked man spoke with an irritated tone. His aggravation became more apparent as he hastened his approach toward Harvey. In response, Harvey glided away at a faster rate. The other documents were left behind to dance in the wind.


    ¡°You could be more grateful for it! Without me, you would¡¯ve never existed!¡± Harvey shouted in desperation. He never thought one of his decisions would come back to haunt him like this. Retaliation only ever came in the form of political debates. He never encountered this type of situation, so Harvey attempted to play a sort of god or father role to save himself. His only chance for survival hinged on winning his attacker¡¯s favor.


    ¡°Our existence was never in your hands. Our alteration was,¡± the man sighed as he increased his pace.


    Harvey began to panic even more at the reply and retreated as quickly as possible. The backward scooch turned into an off crab walk as he tried to get away. Meanwhile, the man was now walking at a brisk pace. Any onlooker would have thought the two were a part of a comedy act, but this was no laughing matter to Harvey. The blabbering man was clumsily scratching his rear end against the sidewalk¡¯s cement with each step. The two continued their movements for a minute before the masked man suddenly stopped. Harvey noticed, but collided into something before he could take advantage of the opportunity.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°You do know that playing with your food is bad practice, right?¡± a woman¡¯s voice spoke. The voice was playful, similar to how one would be after a night of drinking. It startled Harvey, causing him to flinch in an overactive manner. He didn¡¯t quite hear the words said, but he understood someone new had joined the fray.


    A ray of hope shone in Harvey¡¯s eyes. Perhaps they had come to save him. The hellish events that plagued the night would finally be wiped away. Harvey could go on his trip and forget about his job. His decisions could go back to being just random documents and not the evil figure that stood before him. Everything would now be better. Harvey enthusiastically turned his head and prepared to beg for help.


    One look was all it took to delete that thought from his mind.


    The woman¡¯s words finally sunk in, and Harvey realized he was sitting between three masked individuals. Judging by their apparel, it was safe to say they were colleagues of the initial masked man.


    The new pair consisted of a man and woman who both ignored Harvey. They were too busy staring at their acquaintance, almost like they were trying to put a name to the mask.


    The woman wore black and white formal clothing consisting of slacks, a vest, and a button-up shirt which had the sleeves rolled up. Her porcelain arms were blemished by long black markings that spanned the length of her forearm. Her overall appearance was quite charming, if the viewer disregarded the plague doctor mask concealing her face. The mask was accompanied by a matching hat that sat atop her head. The rest of her head and neck were covered in a dark cloth that absorbed all light.


    The man was the object that Harvey bumped into. He was dressed in formal wear similar to what his partner was wearing, but a coat covered him rather than a vest. Polished dress shoes and combat gloves covered the ends of his extremities, leaving no part of his body uncovered. A black tie hung loosely from his neck but didn¡¯t divert attention away from the focal point of the outfit. A large gas mask covered the man¡¯s head. Every breath he took was heavy and puffed bits of smoke from the air filter.


    Both of them had large blood stains ruining their outfits. The woman seemed dirtier than the man, but it was hard to compare the two. The man used his coat to hide most of the smudges. Meanwhile, the woman wore each blotch like a medal.


    ¡°Designation?¡± the man in the geared mask asked in a professional tone. The two men stood perfectly upright while the woman casually rested her hand on her hips.


    ¡°I¡¯m Crow, and this is my boy toy, Smoke. We¡¯re with the assault battalion,¡± the woman in the plague mask answered. Their unique masks matched their names well. When she answered, she tilted her head as if their names were obvious.


    ¡°I apologize for her behavior.¡± Smoke bowed slightly as he apologized. He turned toward Crow, who had started checking her fingernails. ¡°Please behave yourself. We¡¯re standing in front of the battalion commander.¡±


    Smoke pinched his brow. His exhaustion stemmed from multiple hours of working with Crow. The two couldn¡¯t be more opposite in how they held themselves. Smoke tried to remain as serious as possible. The commander was a role model for him, so he wanted to make a great first impression. Crow, on the other hand, didn¡¯t bother altering her attitude despite being in the presence of a superior.


    ¡°Oh. He¡¯s Tartarus? Hard to tell with the mask on. Plus, he¡¯s not as scary as usual,¡± Crow laughed. Her playful demeanor stood out from the serious situation around her.


    ¡°Crow!¡± Smoke shouted at his partner. His mask couldn¡¯t hide the embarrassment he felt. Their quick banter and smooth conversation revealed a deeper level of their relationship. It was clear Smoke was familiar with Crow while she was in this inebriated state. He was accustomed to handling her, but he didn¡¯t want to do so in front of his superior. Thankfully, the commander was understanding.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯m familiar with my subordinates and how they operate. Crow¡¯s composure deteriorates exponentially based on the amount of hemoglobin she¡¯s exposed to, correct? As for you, I believe you¡¯re capable of generating many chemical compounds ranging from isoflurane to cyclosarin,¡± Tartarus responded in a robotic tone. His words felt like they were coming from an article he read in the past.


    ¡°Wow. Look at you and your big fancy words,¡± Crow said in a sarcastic tone. Whimsical hands shook to emphasize her message.


    Crow looked down to view her commander¡¯s target, who was silently crawling away. Her leg slowly raised as she brought her knee to her chest. A deep breath and a moment of silence were all she needed to focus on her next action. Putting all of her weight into a powerful lunge, she crushed Harvey¡¯s hand beneath her heel. A sickening crunch could be heard as his hand was shattered beyond repair. The victim cried out in pain before being launched into the street by a follow-up kick. Crow was extremely pleased with her attack.


    Harvey wasn¡¯t a light man. His heavier build would have stopped him from experiencing the brief flight into the street. Crow showed that she, and her colleagues, were both monstrously evil and powerful enough to do as they pleased. Of course, Harvey knew this. He had been briefed on some of their potential capabilities when he first viewed the project. This reality left him whimpering on the street praying for a way to escape. If there was a way to stop them, Harvey would have been briefed on it. All he could do was clutch his bleeding hand as the predators moved closer.


    ¡°Her odd behavior may seem villainous, but you must remember that you approved of her alteration. You only have yourself to blame for this,¡± Tartarus said smugly. He approached Harvey with soft steps, as one would a wild animal.


    ¡°Yup yup yup. I¡¯m the queen of mayhem that¡¯s literally fueled by blood. You must be so proud,¡± Crow said, circling Harvey. Her aura radiated bloodlust as she viewed her prey. She raised her hands above her head before thrusting them down violently.


    As Crow¡¯s arms fell to her side, large spikes made of bone burst from her arms. Blood and a strange black liquid puddled around the thorns, but none of it dripped. The two liquids mixed and hardened around the ivory skewers. The new foundation around her arms was tough, serving both offensive and defensive purposes. With the formation of her new weapons complete, Crow held out her arms to show them off.


    ¡°I¡¯m her partner, the one that is chemical warfare incarnate. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet the man that admitted me to be turned into a weapon. I¡¯ve created several new chemicals just for tonight. I hope you¡¯ll enjoy them.¡± Smoke walked the opposite direction Crow did. Several steps around Harvey led him to the perfect spot.


    A dark mist began to escape from his sleeves and neck. It danced in the air as the wind blew. With Smoke¡¯s current position, the fumes were able to reach Harvey. The stream of gas suddenly became less dense as its production slowed. The cloud of vapor that passed Harvey dissipated, almost like it recalibrated itself to only attack the current target.


    ¡°Finally, there¡¯s me. One of the five commanders responsible for tonight¡¯s event. I¡¯m the one that was imbued with some of the best combat capabilities among the Evolved. Then I was blessed with brutal training to become the perfect soldier. It will be my pleasure to be the one that ends your life.¡± Tartarus reached into his coat and retrieved an odd T-shaped handle. It was made of a material similar to bone and had strange black etchings. It fit perfectly in Tartarus¡¯s hand as he twirled it between his fingers.


    With a firm grip, Tartarus grasped the bone as it began to change. The complicated contraption extended from the top. The addition was several feet in length and came to a sharp point. Numerous smaller spikes formed along the central one, creating a silhouette similar to a pine tree. A black liquid, much like the one that appeared on Crow, oozed from the handle and filled the gaps between each structure. It quickly hardened once its shape was perfect. The blade had finished its construction and was ready for action.


    Harvey was forced to watch in horror as his murder weapon formed before him. He was surrounded by three people who were currently considered to be weapons of mass destruction. All of them had the intent to kill and focused their sights on him. No amount of begging would spare him, but that didn¡¯t stop him from trying. Harvey slammed his forehead onto the street¡¯s pavement as he prostrated. His lungs burned from the smoke as he sobbed for forgiveness. Anything that came to mind with the potential to save him was shouted with a trembling voice. Tears dropped to the ground as he continued to cry. Harvey had never been a religious man, but he was praying to any god that would listen.


    None answered his call.


    Harvey, engrossed in his atonement, failed to notice the movement around him. The three were approaching but suddenly stopped. All of them leaped back as something new injected itself into the scenario.


    The sound of a car horn was accompanied by screeching tires. The pleading shell of a man was unable to react in time. He could only see the vehicle through his peripheral vision before it filled his sight. The blinding brightness of the headlights froze him in place as the truck got closer. Harvey felt his arm shatter upon impact as the bumper collided with him. The vehicle screeched to a halt while its victim was thrown further down the road. The asphalt chipped away at his clothes and skin as the momentum scraped him along the ground.


    After coming to an agonizing stop, Harvey rested on the ground for several moments. He painfully flipped himself to face the sky. The shirt he wore was torn away, along with several layers of skin. Blood fell from each of the deep cuts. Despite his best efforts, Harvey couldn¡¯t move his arm. No amount of hope would be able to drive his body away from these people. All he could do was moan in despair.


    Several sets of footsteps approached the broken man. The masked figures all looked down on him in disappointment. None of them seemed to care about his suffering, but they didn¡¯t enjoy it either. Crow, of course, may have been the only exception, but she was now silent. She nudged Harvey¡¯s arm to check on his health. An angry groan was all she needed to confirm that he was alive.


    Harvey wanted to crawl away, but it was impossible. The fear that yelled at him to retreat fell on deaf ears. It hurt too much to move. Nothing was worth the pain. All he hoped for was a swift end.


    ¡°Damn. I was really hoping this would last longer, but you had to get in the way of that. I hope you¡¯re happy,¡± Crow said to the truck¡¯s driver. The engine was still rumbling as the driver hopped down from the raised frame.


    ¡°Sorry, but Tartarus and I need to get going. The situation has changed and we need to get our next target quickly,¡± a new voice spoke. An audio modifier filtered their voice with static and echoes. It altered the voice to sound like it came from an old-fashioned radio. The new person was a man, but it was hard to tell from their voice alone.


    ¡°Understood, Commander Erebus. We¡¯ll stay back and finish here before moving on to the next target. Please, ensure that the mission is a success.¡± Smoke said as he turned back and bowed. His statement had an intense sense of admiration behind it. The bow and title were more than what Smoke initially gave Tartarus, but it wasn¡¯t out of a lack of respect. It was more akin to a child meeting their hero for the first time. The vicious cloud that once flowed from Smoke had ceased and dissipated in the wind.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Crow asked in an irritated tone. The operation they were a part of involved multiple agents working simultaneously. Changing the order of certain events ran the risk of ruining everything. The night was meticulously planned. Any wrenches in the system needed to be addressed immediately. Thankfully they prepared for numerous possible scenarios.


    ¡°One of our prime targets has caught wind of our actions and is preparing to escape. We can¡¯t afford to conduct a widespread manhunt, given our limited resources. Tartarus and I will shift to Protocol 21. I already have my bases covered, so you two need to cover the targets he¡¯ll miss here,¡± Erebus said, explaining the situation in a way that made sense to everyone. The authority in his voice went unchallenged by those who heard it. Smoke and Crow nodded in approval.


    ¡°Fine by me. Let me just finish this real quick,¡± Tartarus agreed before crouching over Harvey. His victim was breathing heavily, and the light in his eyes was fading. Tartarus folded Harvey¡¯s arms over his chest. He leaned in closer to get a better look at the man that disrupted so many lives. ¡°In the end, you really were just a man. Stuck in the past. We, on the other hand, have evolved.¡±


    Tartarus raised his blade, pointing it toward the sky. The black matter that comprised its edge shined brightly in the light. Like King Arthur pulling Excalibur out of the stone, Tartarus held the sword above his head for all to see. It would have been a beautiful sight if the viewer ignored the man that was about to be impaled. The moment they were waiting for had finally arrived.


    In a swift motion, the sword was thrust toward the earth. The blade easily pierced Harvey¡¯s chest and hands. It even managed to break through the solid street beneath him. The color faded from the victim¡¯s face as blood pooled around him. A replay of his life¡¯s major event started in Harvey¡¯s mind. He wondered what series of decisions brought him to this end. At what point did it all go wrong?


    Harvey wanted to think about this but instead offered a small final prayer. He prayed for the safety of his family. He had been so worried about himself that he never considered their current condition. Not even his worst enemy deserves this fate. Harvey could only hope and pray that the ones he loved were safe.


    Memories of his wife and sons warmed his heart as he breathed his final breath.