Division of Colonies

The breeze was gentle, lifting all the horrible weight that lingered in the Outskirts. I felt comfortable and at ease as I ate that ice cream next to Niik and Mercil. Of course, he paid for our ice creams—it was the first time I’d ever tasted something like it.
— This is good, right? — he commented while eating his chocolate ice cream.
— Probably the best thing I’ve ever eaten. — I replied.
Mercil didn’t say anything; he seemed lost in his own thoughts.
— So, does that mean you like strawberry ice cream, Danme? You’re into pink colors, huh? — Niik, always ready with his biting humor at any opportunity.
— Huh? Ah! — I stretched my eyelids with my fingers. — You do know I’m colorblind, right?
Niik immediately spat his ice cream onto the ground. — WHAT?! YOU NEVER TOLD ME YOU WERE COLORBLIND!
— Well, now you know. I think it’s "Monochromatic"—I only see three colors: black, white, and gray.
— Even your vision is melancholic… — he remarked. — But wait, how can you tell that I’m blond?
My eyebrows loosened at what might have been the dumbest question I’d ever heard. — Do you think just because I’m colorblind I’m stupid or something?
— Then how do you distinguish red? The other day I heard you saying that a guy’s jacket was red. — He raised an eyebrow.
— My colorblindness didn’t limit me, duh! I can distinguish different shades of black, white, and gray, idiot.
— Haha! That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard! A person who sees life like it’s the 1960s. How ironic! — He sat down on the ground.
Mercil and I followed suit, sitting as well, all of us staring out into the vast expanse before us.
— One day, we’ll traverse those stars together. What do you guys think?
— I’m all for it!
— Whatever. — Mercil, indifferent as always.
— They say the universe is infinite. Who knows, when we finally get out of Star… Maybe we’ll find a place to live! Far away from all this crap and misery!
— That would be a great idea. Maybe if we lived somewhere like… I don’t know, the sun…
— The sun?
— Just one of my crazy ideas.
Niik turned his attention back to the stars and saw a comet pass by—it was a message from the universe. — In the world we live in, there are no barriers to madness, Danme. Never stop dreaming the impossible.
And I won’t give up. How far am I still myself? You want my answer, Alvo? Don’t worry, I’ll give it to you once I deal with my brother.
— I didn’t want to have to kill my mirror image. — He mocked the situation, feeling no remorse whatsoever.
— Don’t worry, you bastard. I’ll kill you myself. — Anger bubbled through every fiber of my DNA, as if every spark of blood boiled with pure hatred and a thirst for revenge.
Before, my face had been illuminated by the stars and Niik’s contagious hope. On that day, I felt that blessings were coming, like a waterfall that eventually carries its flow to a dark, hopeless place. I could hear the sharp sound of the breeze entering my being, cleansing my soul, making me feel whole. Even though I was dirty lying in the sand, each grain felt so pure, so welcoming. The light of the stars became the light of blood, and Niik’s hope died along with his dreams. Now, I felt that what surrounds my life is misfortune, like an avalanche destroying a house. The only thing I could hear was the agonizing sound of the alarm, sending shivers through every bone in my body. I stood face-to-face with the murderer of my best friend, and I knew exactly what I had to do.
Blood on the floor. Lifeless body. Clenched fists.
— Ugh! Might as well just shoot you already! — Mercil pulled the trigger.
I barely dodged, the bullet grazing my shoulder, and then I lunged at his waist, knocking him to the ground. I tried to throw a punch at his face, but he dodged, causing my hand to hit the metal floor instead. Then, he clenched his fist, landing a solid punch to my ribs, leaving me gasping for air and losing my balance, forcing me off him.
— Haa... Haa... — I couldn’t stop, so I forced myself to get up.
As soon as I was on my feet, the gun was pointed at my head. At that moment, the entire room suddenly turned white and empty, flooded by an intense light. Mercil and I were like shadows amidst it all.
— Any last words?
His eyes, those eyes, seemed to lack something. Perhaps the light that evil had overtaken. It overshadowed all the false brilliance in his demeanor. The gaze of a killer, the vision of a beast. A monster born with the intent to kill. Just as he was about to pull the trigger, something strange happened—an overwhelming energy took over the environment, a presence of chaos consuming that place.
— Hmm? Has it begun? — he said.
Taking advantage of his distraction, I launched myself forward. “First, you throw an uppercut to the ribs, straight to the chest, cross to the chin. With that, you knock the guy down with three punches easily. Got it?” Yes, Niik. I got it. The first punch landed on Mercil’s ribs, his bones vibrating from the impact. Straight to the chest, completely knocking the air out of his lungs. Cross to the chin, spinning his body, throwing him against the panel, the pistol falling from his hand.
— Niik sent a message after death. You asshole.
For a moment, he didn’t move. His body seemed unable to comprehend that it had been beaten. Blood at the corner of his mouth, which he wiped with his tongue. He gave a shaky smile, refusing to let it faze him.
— “Niik’s super combo,” huh? — he said with heavy breaths, coughing lightly.
However, he hovered his finger over the red button. He stared at me with the eyes of a killer, dark like mine. Without light, obscured. I had lost. It didn’t matter if I survived this—in the end, I had lost.
— Mercil... No...
A click, as soon as he pressed it, an image of Earth appeared on the monitor. How far am I still myself? How far could I have been? The foundation’s alarm ceased, and the silence was soon cut by a monstrous vibration. Star was on its way to destruction, heading toward chaos, the lost earth. The last thing I felt was my feet leaving the ground. For a moment, I felt only the gentle breeze of gravity on my body. It was so… calm. That is, until I hit my head against the wall. Everything went black—I couldn’t see, feel, or hear anything. An image of Niik came to my mind…
“— Danme! Hurry up, you idiot!” — His smile was always truer than mine… I wanted to be like you.
...
Slowly, I began to regain consciousness. My eyes felt heavy, and I could barely open them. After much effort, I regained my vision, and what I saw?: Destruction. All of Star had turned to ashes; thousands of innocent people had died. And I hadn’t been able to do anything. I slowly stood up, the weight of guilt on my shoulders. My arms were limp, covered in burned flakes. The only thing left of the world I once knew were piles of destroyed buildings and shattered bodies I chose not to look at. How much time had passed? It felt like two days, my body giving signs with hunger and thirst. I lifted my head, looking at the sky, but all I saw were black clouds everywhere. I was lost, alone, in the middle of chaos and destruction. The question remains… where do I go?
...
On the other side of the continent, through dark underground streets, a large black van sped along at high speed. Inside were the best henchmen of Blood Moon, Mercil and Alvo. The bloody illumination also stained the interior of the vehicle, like the massive bloodstain they had created with the destruction of Star. Alvo was relaxed on the leather seat, looking up, lost in thought.
— Where are we going now? What are we doing now? I believe 95% of our faction was wiped out along with Star. — Mercil asked Alvo.
Alvo didn’t respond at first, until he focused his eyes on Mercil. — Tell me, Mercil, predators and prey adapt their bodies for survival through strategies. Blood Moon is no different. — He pointed his finger at the windshield. — A man who knows how to survive understands ideal strategies. That said, the “Immigration Project” was a success.
— “Immigration Project”? — Mercil asked.
— It’s like an ant colony—you divide the colony into two, then concentrate everything into one. Now, about the next step…
He raised his index finger, brutally piercing the wound on his forehead, causing blood to run down his face again.
— We’re going to make the entire system know Blood Moon. And soon, my plans will come to fruition.
Alvo’s energy quickly filled the space. Each word entered Mercil’s being like surgery, as if penetrating deep into his brain. Mercil fell silent, waiting for the van to reach its destination. Alvo relaxed his posture again—the true leader of horror. The embodiment of despair, Alvo is the anchor that connects good to evil. He had won the first battle, but he knew very well that the greater war was yet to come, and it didn’t faze him in the slightest.