Why Must I Suffer?

Palantean- Thank you SO much for that wonderful review. I reread and see what you mean. I'll work on it. :) The plot will strengthen in future chapters. I wanted it to be a mysterious thing. I'll have to mold the story a little more it seems. :) I hope you continue to read!


~Oh, the sinful darkness tugging at my heartstrings, Your voice is like anaesthesia, Coldly, it robs me of my senses.~ Ash Like Snow - The Brilliant Green

Jaiden drove down the streets of Sailen in a car he'd stolen from the garage of the University. Seth was beside, gasping every few breaths. His face was contorted in pain. Jaiden glanced over at him.

"How are you doing?"

Seth looked at him. "Besides the unbearable pain and blood loss, I'm golden."

"We will be there soon."

"Will you tell me where exactly this USER HQ is?"

"I can't tell you where exactly. I'm sorry."

Seth let his head fall back. "What can you tell me?"

"The USERs are a group that have been around since the rebuilding of Sailen."

"Rebuilding of Sailen? When was Sailen ever rebuilt?"

Jaiden looked over at Seth. "You really know nothing of the city you call home, do you?" He sighed. "I suppose it couldn't hurt to tell you now that you're involved."

"Please, clue me in."

"Sailen was once a city of millions. It stood as a force upon the world. Sailen was the leader of exports to the other cities. Back then, there were no ID barcodes or scanners. And there were no DarkSades either. The city was run by a board of people called Advisors. Behind them in the chain of power were USERs."

"USERs?"

"Some people are born with...abilities. They can do things."

"Gifts?"

Jaiden frowned. "I wouldn't call it a gift."

Seth watched the frown. "Oh."

"USERs were the force behind the Advisor's power. They over saw everything. To the public, the Advisor's were valiant leaders, but in reality they were crime lords. Prostituion, drugs, human trafficking and so on."

"Oh my god. Sailen's leaders?"

"Old leaders. About five years before Sailen's destruction, the Advisors created a new drug they hoped would rake in more money on the underground circuit. And it did. Until the side effects began to kick in."

"Side effects?"

Jaiden looked at him. "The DarkSades are the product of a mutation created from a virus that is in every persons blood. Even yours."

Seth was shocked. He struggled for words. "Virus? In...me?"

"Yes. The virus is able to be controlled by the chip in your wrist. Ever wonder why it has to be changed every year?"

"They tell us that being beneath the skin wears it out."

"It's a lie. Each chip is loaded with a small amount of vaccine that is mass produced and kept stored. It releases small dose twleve times before it must be changed."

"Then what's the barcode for?"

"The barcode is to monitor each and every individual citizen in Sailen and the surrounding cities. The scanners check everyones chips to make sure they work properly. Also, if anyone ever changes, they can be tracked."

"You mean, changes into a DarkSade?"

"Yes. The vaccine isn't guaranteed. It doesn't always work. So the DarkSades form and hunt down healthy people in an attempt to become human again."

Seth grew quiet. "Then, why'd they attack me instead of you?"

"Probably because I was the one shooting them. DarkSades are intelligent. They can think and plan. They are driven by the desire and need to become human again. They think that by comsuming the flesh of humans, they will ingest the vaccine."

"Do they?"

"They do, but once a person has mutated the virus moves into a new stage and becomes untouchable. The only thing to do is kill them."

"What happened to the world?"

"It fell into the dark. Destroyed by the chaos it created. The USERs realized the Advisors had created a dangerous thing and decided to act. They did what they believed was best. They killed the Advisors and tried to stop the export of the drug. They failed. The drug spread around the world and killed lot's of people, reducing the human population to a third of what it once was."

"I never knew..."

"No one does and I doubt they ever will. The USERs decided it was best. They rebuilt the world and bred the survivors in facilites. They released them back into the world with no memory of what happened. The USERs gave them technology and art and encouraged them from beyond to build for themselves. What we have now is the current world. Sailen remains the capital."

Seth had a hard time comprehending all of this. They were basically living a lie inside a protected world. A prison. No allowed to think for themselves...

"Are you a USER?"

"Yes, I am."

"What are you, exactly?"

"I was genetically altered while in the womb. All USERs are. We are chosen by the genetics of our parents. The head USERs, my leaders, are all born this way. We are given no barcode or chip because we can't afford to be tracked. Unfortunally, law enforcement has access to scanner logs. Law enforement isn't connected to USERs, so we had to do this to stay hidden."

"So, what do you do as a USER?"

"I'm trained to hunt and kill DarkSades."

"Trained? Like what kind of training?"

Jaiden didn't answer. He remembered the whips, the countless hours of shooting practice, the late nights of going hungry in favor of training his body. Training his mind to feel nothing. To not even allow himself to dream...

"Jaiden?"

"We're here." He said, pulling up to a large dark building.

It's walls were made of black marble and glass. Jaiden got out and walked to the iron gates in front of the car. He pulled his COM from his pocket and pressed it into a small electronic circle which sat upon the gates. The COM rotated and clicked. The data was read and the gates opened. Jaiden got back int he car and drove into the property.

Seth swallowed hard. He couldn't help but be nervous. Jaiden saw his expression.

"Don't be so fearful. Marco will understand the situation."

Jaiden parked the car and got out. He walked over to Seth and helped him out of the car. They walked slowly over to the enrty way. Seth halted.

"I'm not sure about this."

Jaiden tugged him forward. "You have no choice. It's time you stepped over the line and into the real world."