Veritas

Ilken ran down some stairs deeper and deeper into the depths of the castle, oddly enough he’d never made it this deep. The only reason he could was due to the sacrifice of his fellow Scorcher fighters. Being the only one with a gun he was all that was left, though he was used to the isolation by now.

All he wanted was for none of his friends to suffer, and even though Ilken thought himself sickening he believed in his ideals. Had faith that it would all work out, and for now he was running down towards the truth.

The truth behind the food shortages that supposedly caused his parents death, he could find it all. Perhaps there would even be something on the outside world, he needed to know.

Ilken’s thoughts were interrupted by a Spotless nearing up behind him, with a quick turn Ilken shot three rounds into his body. Without a second’s hesitation he sprinted to the bottom of the stairs.

There he came face to face with the Grand Master, the man who Ilken only knew as the face of the Spotless’ power. As the rest of the Spotless chasing him stormed in all the man ahead of him had to do was lift a finger. They lowered their weapons, in a trace they walked away.

“I see you’ve caused quite the commotion Ilken.”

“Nothing compared to the carnage you’ve caused.”

“I see you have quite the opinion of me, interesting for a man who just shot his best friend.”

“How do you…”

“I have eyes everywhere Ilken, namely at the end of every corridor. Or I should say I’m very good as making assumptions, it’s how I acquired my position after all.”

“…What did you base it off then.”

“You see, as the Grand Master has an eternal job as the leader of the castle, to give each person a purpose. Before becoming Grand Master, mine was the spy, I simply watched, and I told what I saw. In doing so you could say I gained a knack for comprehending others.”

“What was my parents’ purpose then.”

“Well, I’m sure you know the answer to that young Ilken.”

“What was it!”

“…So impatient, so daft, I’ll have you know that your role was to be a mediator with the… creatures outside.”

“They have names! Each and every one of them…”

“If you say so.”

“Tell me my parents purpose you bastard.”

“Food.”

Bang

Bang

Bang

The three shots rung out into the room, two landed in the Grand Master, the other in his attacker. Both men fell.

“You could say I saw this coming.” The Grand Master threw away the metal plate disguised by his robe and sheathed his smoking firearm.

“Although, it does not truly matter, I presume the world will come crashing down on me soon enough.”

“Why did you do it.”

“You see… we need food Ilken, its running out. Though admittedly slower than I make it out to be. In actuality we could last another hundred years, the power of hydroponics is truly amazing. Though, there is an issue, this only lasts feeding our castle-dwellers. Some… of the other creatures had to be culled, I’m sure you saw our thermite test. You used it to get in through the front door anyway.”

“But… why” Ilken was barely holding onto his consciousness, only driven by his remaining rage and curiosity.

“Well young Ilken, the world outside is dying, nothing is left. Any life on this planet of ours is restricted to this dome… not that you are of status to know what a planet is. You see, if we want to survive, we need intelligence, that we do not currently have. 

Most of our high ranked spotless were old senile coots, and most of them are now dead anyway thanks to you. To grow a group of intellectual children who could lead the castle. We had acquired the birth mothers, the skilled teachers and the food to provide for them. We just had to slowly cull of the rest.”

“You’re sick…”

“We just want a future for everyone, one where we have the best chance of survival. It was just so decided that our energy producers were no longer needed. 

Like a simple maths problem, we calculated exactly what we needed for our best chance at survival. All that was left was to wait. Though I guess we waited too long.”

“…” Ilken could not comprehend the man’s actions, that they were trying to save the future, not condemn it.

“You… didn’t do this for your own pleasure.” Said Ilken. 

“Ilken, we wished for our best chance of survival, it just so happened that others didn’t agree. In our minds, in such a world where there is nothing left outside but sand and death, it was the only way.”

Ilken gave up, he no longer saw reason to keep his body going, and he felt himself slowly rise. Into the ethereal smoke he floated upwards, leaving the Grand Master behind.

§

George had followed the sound of gunfire, having seen a Spotless sprint down a staircase running from several others of his kin. Having descended the spiral staircase below past blood and body, he found what was left below. 

The boy George had seen was limp on the ground, and a man in a white robe whose head was now splattered across the ground.

All he saw was a note, made of a material he had never seen. It read, “Look in the Piano”. George had no idea what the Piano was, though he had an idea of someone who might know.

He walked back upstairs to find the relieved Spotless lady he had protected earlier; she had supposedly saved her child. George cautiously handed her the note, asking her what it read. She pointed out to the object in the centre of the room, it stood lonesome not a drop of blood had touched it.

George walked over to it, opening the cover, he found odd white rectangles and pressing them created sound. Yet there was another half that could be opened, the back of the piano, George did as instructed and looked in the piano.

After some time, he found a key, all that was left was to find the hole where it led. With the help of some others George went in search of the keyhole, he found it in one of the many basements. Sliding it in the key turned seamlessly as the door slowly creaked open.

Walking down what seemed to be an endless dark corridor, George thought upon his actions, his fight. He had rallied the remaining people for a single cause, to fight for their loved ones and for peace. Yet he had received something far more than he bargained for, and it lay at the end of the tunnel.

At some point it was so dark around him that George could barely see his own hands in front of his face, he arms scrapped alongside either edge as he stumbled blindly. At some point he even dreaded that he might just be travelling in an infinite circle, though the time came for light to show itself.

George walked ever slower towards the light; he didn’t want to bear the responsibility of seeing what was on the other end. Yet when the time came, he ran blindly towards it. The light grew bright, and brighter and brighter until it blinded him. George couldn’t imagine something so vivid, yet it was there.

His eyes adjusted to the gleaming solar rays, of an object so lustrous… in the sky? The sky was blue, there were no walls, there was no metal, he was free. George wanted to run off into the distance and lay in the wonders forever.

Above there was a golden ball of flame, it burned George’s eyes, but its magnificence made him want to admire it, it glowed so radiantly everything he saw was white. Its reflections made him view it as a god, such strength and power should be treasured.

It was surrounded by blue; it was a pure blue. Not the light blue of water, nor of Spotless eyes, it was far deeper. A beautiful background to the grandness of the fiery ball in the sky and scattered around it were blobs of white. Floating from left to right the moved, they could fly, George saw them as a cleaner purer steam.

Then below, was yellow as far as the eye could see. The floor was not made of metal, but grain, yellow grains littered their way ahead and, in every other direction. Kicking some of it, George found it to be light, passing gently and flowing away in… air?

A cold air pushed past him, it was no steam, he couldn't see it, but it was there. George marvelled at this unknown would, exclaiming his urge to explore it to the world, though no one was around to listen.

Then, he looked behind him. A grand dome of pure metal, his home. It stood solitary above the earth, shadowing over his puny body. George could swear that the world was ripe for exploration, he wanted to travel as far as his eyes could see.

George’s intention had never been to find this forgotten world but like with many of humanities findings. Once they discovered something new, a world without this discovery seemed impossible, unnatural. 

What would occour now that humanity had rediscovered their own planet, own which laid barren and unexplored ahead. Would it be destroyed or would the meld with it in a natural harmony. Questions that would be left unanswered until the end of time, forever resting in one’s mind.