The Purge

“You’re too good for this world, and because of that the world will eventually crash you.”

Paul Auster

There were a lot of things I still remember from my past. Not the kind of past that eventually happened yesterday but the kind of past that has always been a part of you like a nail to a brain or a thorn to your heart. I can still picture out my family inside my head as clear as having their picture in my hands. I can even remember my mother telling me: Bri, don’t be selfish. No one’s going to hurt you, unless you let them. Give, but don’t allow yourself to be used. Learn to love and be loved back, but don’t allow your heart to be abused. Trust, but don’t be naïve. Always listen to others, but don’t lose your own voice. I can still remember what happened to me as fresh as morning dew—the day it happened—the invasion. But it stings like an open wound. I can remember it all like watching a movie from a TV screen.

And here I am. The day I’ve finally been waiting for. The day, all my life I have trained for just to survive.

As the alarms buzzed, I felt my knees buckle. I did survive when they came for my family but now, it seems that the odds are pulling me right into my final destination; and it started with that stupid twisted piece of paper with a tail so red like blood. It was a mere reflection of my fears being realized. But I masked it all up in iron suit just like I always do. A commander cannot be an example of fear to his/her soldiers.

I went straight to his office just like he instructed me after the draw. My fate sealed in one twisted sheet of paper. I could not believe it.

“I thought you will keep him out of it?” I said as I burst in through his wide set doors.

He raised his hands up in mock surrender; an irritating smile crossed Colonel Black’s face as it slowly melted away, back into the boy’s face. Silver hair. Pale skin. Addonexus eyes. A fake angel in disguise.

“Oh right I give up, commander.” He chided.

“We had a deal.” I pressed in through greeted teeth.

He raised an eye brow at me, took a step forward, and raised the index finger of his right hand.

“Not yet, love. You keep forgetting we haven’t made a deal.” I opened my mouth to argue but he cut me. “At least not yet. Now, for your piece of the bargain, we have a table over there. Now lie down and be a good girl.”

It took almost whole of me to hold my composure. But I went straight to the table anyway and I laid my body down. As I faced up at the ceiling, I thought: it would be the last time I’d be seeing it just like the way it is. Just a ceiling. After this mad boy’s procedure, I’ll wake up just like every Addonexus. I’ll see through their eyes.

“You know, you are so tough, Bri. I just want you to know I admire that. But in the end, who knew you can be broken?” He laughs as he stood beside me. I kept my eyes on the ceiling. He raised the microchip on my eye view. I blinked back at it.

“But I don’t understand, Bri. Tell me,” he said as he brushed a few strands of my hair and I felt repulsion rush through me like stink in the air. “Why save the humans when they were the reason this world is being torn down?”

“Aren’t you still part human?” I asked him in return.

“I am and I despise myself for that.”

I snorted. “This world does not belong to the aliens.”

“Right. If this world was led by the aliens, this world will be utopia.”

“There is no such thing as a perfect world. Dream big, little boy.”

“Thanks for the compliment. But I pity you for caring too much for these rodents. We don’t belong with them. We are first class. Designed by the gods. We can’t mingle with commoners. We can rule the whole galaxy. Fight alongside with me, Bri. It is the practical and smart thing to do.”

“Aren’t I doing that now?” I narrowed my eyes up at him. “Thanks a lot for black mailing me to do it. How convenient and unprofessional of you.”

“More reluctantly—I would prefer that world for you.” He pulled my hair back hard and I grunted. “But look, there is nothing you can do about it. Once this chip enters this beautiful head of yours, I can monitor all your doings. You might as well remember to be a good girl.”

I gritted my teeth as I looked back at the ceiling remembering how it was before everything else changes.

And when I woke up, the first thing I saw were bold letters on my display followed by the silhouette of a boy standing right in front of me.

NOAH MORI

ADDONEXUS 1

REPUBLIC OF ARGOS- SECTOR 5

LEVEL 45

TOTAL SCORE: 48,543

DESIGNATION: UNKNOWN