When Kingdoms Fall

"How did I fucking get here?'' A dark skinned boy fell to his knees, cloths all but torn, nothing but a chain holding him together like a belt. "Hey look, Birds."

Seven hours before

"Hello doctors Hims, here are the reports on subject number One-Five-Zero-Seven." A tall slender woman in a suit dropped a fairly large folder on Dr.Hims desk with a sour look on her face, her light brown eyes filled with a soft but ever present worry. "Why are we doing this? They are only children." Dr.Hims turn in his chair, his oddly colored lab coat swaying as he look out of his offices window watching the hundreds of  children walking to and from places all looked devoiced of life and fun, just bodies ready to die. Only a few seemed to stand out, a dark-skinned boy with white hair, soft ice blue eyes and an average build.  A small Russian girl with red hair and unnatural light purple eyes.  And lastly a somewhat, overly tall, white female with long black hair, noticeable adult parts could be seen due to the lack of size. One of her eyes was blue while the other was a blazing ruby red.

"These 'children' miss Kat, are what we must sacrifice to evolve our people. You read the report I believe?" without having to turn around he know she nodded so he continued, "Then you know we are dying out here on earth, the pelages have gotten stronger, research has proven nothing, governments have fallen, only a few nations can combat the virus dubbed 'The black storm'."

"I know of that but the report also says we might have found a cure, but what confuses me is that it 'wanted' something and in return while we look for what it wants it will repel the virus using it's still unknown power." Hims smiled and motioned for the woman to come stand by him which sees hesitantly, "Come now I won’t bite. ~" He sang as she stood by his side. "Look and tell me what do you see, anyone of then catch your eye?" The woman look out at the sea of kids baffled by the sheer number, but not long her eyes settled on the trio of kids, to whom of which were laughing and playing around.

"Those three down there look-"

"Happy?" She nodded and just watch as the boy stood up and acted something out while the girls keep saying something. "That is what 'it' wanted, to see beings happy and not worried by sickness or death.’It' just wants us to find hope."

"H-hope?"  Hims nodded and walked to his desk flipping open the pages finding the picture of the boy which sat there with high stats all around it in the mental and physical parts. "Why would it want to see hope?"

"We don't know, whenever we ask, we get the same results.’I only will tell the one I trust the one who shows hope in the darkest of times.”That Ms. Kat is why these kids are here, to show us hope." He read over the report they said 'Trial record of Lost child 1-5-0-7 Name: Jack 'pumpkin prince' storm. Age: 15 Race: African American Code: 0-9-6-4."Hmm 'Pumpkin prince'?"

"Oh you haven't heard about that, huh?" Hims shook his head, keeping his own grey eye on the paper. "Well it was said when he was born he father left his mother blaming his sectors harvest headmaster and tried to kill him only we got to the man first, a week later we find out he escaped our custody and killed his wife and himself. I was the one who found little Jack crying in the home a day later, I soon became his wet nurse then adoptive mother."

"That still do-" she Kat held up a finger and continued.

"So about four years pass as I watched Jack grow, his love for birds and trying to force everyone to be his friend, that never changed even after the great over growth of the Pumpkins-" Kat visibly shuddered at the memory, "-and long story short we still need him in the kitchen to this day." The doctor eyes narrowed in confusion as he readjusted his square glasses.

"What do you mean?" Kat only giggles.

"Who you think makes the meats and desserts?" Turning around in the chair the Doctor stared at the boy and his friends."It certainly isn't the current chefs."

"Wait you mean he's the one who makes the deep banana cream pie?" Kat nodded trying to hold back some laughter.

"If you like, after this meeting we can meet him and hopefully ask for some cake." The two continued their meeting for the next few hours talking about Jack and the two girls, who were dubbed ‘Alice of wonderland' and 'Cosmos the stargazer'. Notes under Alice states she been under heavy medication for strange -events- that the doctor was to familiar with. Another note said caution ‘Cosmos is too be watched by careful eyes and allowed to meet others or it could lead to deadly outcomes.’

“We just wait and see young ‘Pumpkin king’.”

Jack’s Room in facility ‘housing’ area

“Hey jack!” I turned around and find mom and doc walking up with smiles on their faces, mom sporting her always blue suit where it just likes hugging her shape (can’t blame me for noticing!), and doc in his white lab coat , green ‘ where are the kittens’ tee shirt, and casual blue jeans. “Do you have a moment we wanted to ask you something?”

“Sure, what’s up doc?” both of them wore smiles and they asked about some cake and pie then told me to get Alice and Cosmos. “No prob, be back in a bit ok.” They nodded and left. ‘Wonder why they want to see us today?’ Oh well.

Taking off down familiar paths, the same grey and blue walls dance in my vision as I speed down them. Ever since I heard a voice in my head I’ve been doing thing differently, and by differently I mean   I can run faster, think harder, and pick things up that doc says would hurt others like me. I wonder whose voice it was, I’ll ask mom about it later. After a bit of more running I stopped in front of Alice’s room.

“Hey Alice, are you in there?”  I asked lightly knocking on her door, a moment passed and she called out to me.

“Y-yeah I’m here, just getting dressed.” I couldn’t help but let my mind wonder on that subject, I mean come on she’s hot! She stands at about my height maybe five nine (I’m five eleven) if not taller, her eyes shine to me every time she smiles…Oh come on don’t tell me I’m falling for her! She’s m-.”Are you t-there Jack?” I shook my head getting me out my stupor and stare at the door thinking about why I was there.

“Yeah, sorry. What are you doing besides the distinguished activity?” I’m an idiot. Out of all of the things I could have said I went full nerd –man on her.

“…”Oh man she hates me…”Can you step inside please?” Maybe not?

“Um are you decent?” I heard movement behind the door then it opened revealing a shivering Alice, worried I immediately ran to her and as soon as my hands touched her my heart stopped,  she was stone-cold and looked  extremely pale then I saw it, her wrists…”What are you doing?!” I called to her shaking her lightly.

“I-I don’t want to be here anymore, the sunlight they promised to show us, they lied…I’m cold Jack.”I felt my eyes get watery as I placed her on her bed and dashed in the hallway, “Help, someone help!” A few other kids ran my way all asking me too many questions at once so I pointed into the room and told them to watch Alice until I got back and to keep her warm. “I’ll be right back Alice, stay with me ok?” She smiled and shook her head as I blazed down the hall, Alice...what made you do that? Did I not do something? Why? WhyWhyWHY!? I felt tears fly off my face as I flew down the hall leading to the medical wing. “Someone help!” I cried startling one of the staff members who turned and faced me.

“Whoa, slow down kid, tell me w-“I grabbed his coat and pulled him to eye level.

“Alice…Wrists…Blood…cold.” That’s all I could say before his eyes turn serious and he shook me. “It’s my fault…” little did I notice the stretcher being pulled out rushed past me.

“Where is she Jack?” he asked calmly. I couldn’t talk it was as if something burned my vocal cord, I only pointed back the way I came and he ran with the others leaving me standing there, What did I do…

‘Hello agai- What’s troubling you little one?’ I heard the voice ask as I fell to my knees crying for Alice.

‘I sense a deep sorrow, what happened young Jack?’

“I’m useless...I can never understand people; I don’t even know what happened to Alice besides the cuts and blood.”

‘Oh my, what happened?’I didn’t respond, how could I? I don’t know bes- ‘It’s ok young Jack, I don’t mean to do this but I know what happen. You’re not at fault.’

“How would you know?”

‘Because I can read your thoughts now, only if you need me to.’ I-it could read my mind? My memories too?! ‘Yes I can’

“That’s kind of scary, why?” I heard the voice breathe a heavy sign and it continued.

‘Because you are part of the story your adults made for their kids. You, sweet child are one of the three needed for my power to cleanse this world, but it’s the way I’m doing it that’s letting you all live on.’

…That’s not a story it’s a beginning of something colossal isn’t it? I stood up and walked into the infirmary and sat down in one of the chairs remembering the story,

Before the downfall of man…