The Soldiers of the Cyto Field

by Nguyen,Peter

  “Hurry up, you guys think I have all day here?” The troop says.

  “Yes,” says Vera.

  “C’mon Hazer. Do it.”

  “He’s too scared,” Carter mumbles.

  I begin feel like a coward so I pick up the pen and slowly sign my name under Garrett’s. I can feel my sweaty hands just sliding against the pen. I don’t even know if my mom will be happy or not. Deep down I know Carter is right. I can’t have my mom hiding me from everything. I look back up and everyone is staring at me.

  “What?”

  “So proud of you dude. We’re going to be so best soldiers there is. Just imagine, me and you ordering people around,” Carter says as he places me in a headlock.

  “Is that what you think we do?” The troop asks. “Being a soldier means much more than that. It takes guts and…”

  Before the troop could continue, Carter interrupts “Yea yea anyways, we’re all going to have it all. The injection will no longer oppress us.”

  “Yea I guess, whatever man,” I chuckle.

  I can’t believe I just signed my name on that piece of paper. Everything on my body is telling me to go back and erase it, but it’s either that or the injection. I just don’t know how my mom will react to all of this.

  “I think it’s starting,” Vera says.

  All of a sudden the music stops and everyone stops dancing. We all turn towards the stage where a woman in a black suit walks in the spotlight.

  “That’s Commander Ace,” Garrett whisper.

  Her black hair is pulled back into a ponytail and is wearing thick eyeliner, making hers look more pissed than any other Northern Troop. She begins her speech and her voice is hardens.

  “In the year 2216, Geographic evolution has already taken carnage; a supercontinent that has ravaged the Earth’s tranquility, forcing all nations to collide in a pure chaotic civilization. In urban cities, fire broke out, rendering some of them in to ashes and ruins. A new Era where survival was everything, lives were killed over mere bread, fresh water became the new gold and the lower class were nothing more but test subjects. An Era where countries no longer had an ocean, separating them from other nations that use to deliver threats with heighten nuclear tension; they are now on the same continent as everyone else. Instead of learning the ways of one another, greed took over. To repent from this brutality, the Governments from all over the world agreed it will best to divide the supercontinent into four realms, leaving the middle ground or most people would call it “The Cyto Field,” as an apocalyptic warzone. It’s designed to compete for each other’s resources and dominances. Every year, two random gates open, leaving us venerable to the Cyto Field. We are not sure which territory we’re up against but we’re not letting them take our domain without a fight. Realm Leader Greg could not be here today. He has other things to attend to,” Commander Ace says..

  “That’s who I want to be like when I grow up” Vera says.

  “You all look at the injection as another name for death or a death sentence, but other it was their REDEMEPTION! I know you have been waiting all night to see your Saviors, the ones who will protect you, guild you and the ones who will bring you your salvation,” Ace looks over at to her left. “So here they are, the survivors of the serum, the Redeemed. Meet Demetrius, Hunter, Arlo, Rylan, Nyra, Leah, Lauren, Tristan, Baesim, Devin, Kala and Arraya.”

  Ace begins to tell us that there are six abilities that were discover during the experiment. As she went on, I manage to only recognize a few. An Immune: the ability to become invincible to any attack. It’s mostly used for terrorist acts. A Barge: Capable to pushing objects with great telekinetic force. A Mirage: contaminating a person’s head with illusions. The other three categories are named Discern, Glitch and Shatter.

  A group of teens ranging from the ages 13 to 20 start to walk on the stage and they are all wearing black clothing. Most of the males has black leather hexagon pattern on their shoulders that is designed smoothly down to their arms. They all have the upside down triangular diamond scar under their right eye. Everyone starts cheering as they present themselves.

  I can’t believe Arraya survived the injection. Carter starts towards the stage and his sister is right behind him calling out to Arraya in joy. Mrs. Rivera is also running towards the stage as well.

  “MY DAUGHTER” she screams.

  Even though everyone is cheering I can’t help but notice that some people are speechless of the fact that their child might be up there or worst, not. I stare at one of the soldiers named Rylan. A part of me knows it’s him but I still can’t accept the fact that the brother I knew died long ago.

  “HAZER” my mom suddenly runs to me.

  “Mom is that…”

  “Yes it’s your brother,” she says.

  I can see that she’s crying but she looks happy in her own way. I look back and everyone is putting their offering on the edge of the stage. My mom and I walk pass a few people as we hold out our offering. I hold the watch tightly as I make my way to the stage. Mrs. Rivera is reaching out to her daughter and she’s telling her how much she loves her.

  “My sweet Arraya” she yells.

  Arraya doesn’t say anything but just stares at her mom in sorrow. I place the watch on the stage while looking at Rylan. My mom puts her food offering on the platform near Rylan as well.

  A man in a red shirt suddenly pushes me out of the way. I nearly hit my head on the edge of the stage.

  “GIVE ME BACK MY SON!” the man shouts as he attempts to climb on to the stage.

  Everyone gasp. Some of the savior’s eyes turn to its Redeemed form, revealing the inhuman nature of their kind. Their eyes glow in variety of different colors, missing of their pupils. Rylan places out his hands and the next thing I know the man flies back landing onto the grass.

  “Everyone calm down” Ace orders.

  Everyone looks in fear at the fallen man. Their eyes change back, making their pupil visible again. Garrett passes me and holds out his rock. One of the Redeemed, Hunter locks his eyes on the stone that approaches him. He doesn’t look amused. I start to fear for Garrett as Hunter’s eye turns violet.

  Two black dogs miraculously appear behind him. The Dobermans start to growl at Garrett, causing him to fall back in fear. Everyone backs away as well.

  Hunter looks to Ace for permission before she nods.

  The dogs suddenly jumps off the stage in front of Garrett. My heart begins to race as their watery mouths approaches him. Why isn’t Ace stopping them? The worst has occur as they attack Garrett, biting his legs. People begin to scream.

  “Relax it’s just an illusion,” Ace says, nodding to Hunter.

  The dogs suddenly disintegrate in glistering purple tiny lights. Garrett stops screaming. We all look to his legs which is unharmed as if nothing had touched it. I realize Hunter must be a Mirage, tricking people with hallucinations.

  “Useless,” Hunter spits.

  “Mom lets go” I say as I yank on her arm.

  She doesn’t move and instead she walks towards the stage where Rylan is at.

  “Mom what are you doing?”

  “Rylan,” my mom calls out, her voice is soft but it’s enough to grab his attention.

  Rylan turns toward my mom and stares at her with a blank expression. I grab my mom before he tries to hurt her or uses his ability. Rylan looks straight at me with a surprise and discomfort. Our similar features seem to have made a unify connection.

  I quickly pull my mom away from the stage. I then help Garrett up and three of us walk to the back of the crowd.

  “Honey I’m fine. Why don’t you stay here with your friends and I’ll head home.”

  “Okay mom but I need to tell you something. I just signed up to become a Northern Solider” I say.

  “We’ll talk about this when you get home.”

  She walks back to the trail where some people are leaving as well. I look back at Garrett and he is still rubbing his legs and the fear on his face tells me he’s st
ill in shock.

  “Let’s go find Carter” I say.

  “I can still remember the bite,” Garrett says, trembling in fear.

  I look back at the Saviors and they’re all walking off stage now. Some people are starting to pack their stuff from the stands. I finally see Carter walking with his family with Vera.

  I pull on Garrett’s arm in order to catch up with Carter. I can tell how heartbroken his family is. I just don’t want to be the ones to make them even more upset. Coryanna holds on to her mom’s waist. This probably what my mom is going through right now. Finding out your child is alive all this time and you can’t even give them a hug.

  IV

  “They’re here,” says Coryanna.

  We look over and five military trucks pass the first house on our street. They circle around us as if they are rounding up animals. The finally park and I nervously grip my sweaty hands.

  “Good luck boys,” Mr. Rivera says, encouraging us this will be a life changing event.

  Carter, Garrett and I walk towards the military vehicle and stand with our hands behind our back. The doors open and the troops surround the area. Commander Ace walks out last and she looks even more furious than before.

  “INITIATES!”

  We all stand up straight as she walks pass us. Her eyes are nearly drenched in dark eye linear. Her pony tail swings back in forth as she passes each one of us, giving us deadly stare.

  “We choose solider who FIGHT with a purpose. Soldiers who will risk their lives for our cause. Not weak individuals who associate with emotions over loyalty” Ace yells.

  A troop walks to Ace holding a black suitcase.

  “We must all face anger, grief and remorse when are fighting at war. Emotions are a distraction, a weakness on the battle field which we cannot afford” Ace says.

  I don’t know why she telling us this. The man opens the suitcase and it’s a pistol. Ace grabs the pistol in her hands and looks over at our family. Everyone panics as she waves the gun at them.

  The gun lands my mom. My heart sinks deep. I can barley breathe.

  “No connections, no distraction”

  BANG!

  I quickly wake up as I realize I’m still in my bedroom. I place my hands to my chest and my heart is still thumping like a drum. What a dream.

  As I try calm myself down and I can’t help wonder if mom is in danger. I look around the room and something was off. Usually I’d wake up to the bright sun in my face but the curtains are still covered. Usually they are pulled back before I open my eyes but I’m still lying in my dark room. I slowly sit up and stretch. I don’t hear my mom cooking either. Something she always does in the morning. She might be drain from the festival last night. Seeing Rylan and learning he’s well and alive must have over whelmed her. I better go check up on her.

  I walk out in the quiet hall and Kaleb is sleeping in front of my mom’s door as usual. She doesn’t let him sleep with her because his paws are always covered in dirt. I don’t blame her; I wouldn’t want Kaleb to step all over my bed. Who knows where he’s been when we let him out.

  The lights are still off; I guess my mom is still depressed over seeing Rylan for the first time in 8 years. I walk into the bathroom and turn on the warm water that quickly gets colder by the second if I don’t hurry up.

  After I shower I quickly step out and get ready for the day. As I walk back in the hall I realize my mom is still not out as I stare at close door. What’s going?

  Kaleb walks downstairs as I reach for the wooden door knob. I quietly open the door and the room is pitch black from the closed curtains.

  “Hazer is that you?”

  I walk towards the window and pull the curtains, letting in some sunlight blocked by the tree branches right outside. I turn around and there are tissues everywhere. I have never seen her like this before. I gently sit on the edge of the bed and my mom peeks out of her covers.

  “Mom, are you feeling any better?” I ask.

  “I’m sorry Hazer but you just have to go over Carter’s house for breakfast today. I’m not feeling too well."

  “Its fine I’m not that hungry, so about me signing up for Capa’s military?”

  “Hazer I’m so happy for you honey. I do think this is your best shot to avoid the injection.”

  “Really?”

  “I just want you to live your life,” she says.

  “Hard to do since now I have to fight for my life now,” I chuckle.

  “You’ll be fine.”

  My mom begins to cough and wheeze. I realize there is blood on some of the tissues. This starting to become serious because I know for a fact depression couldn’t have caused this.

  “Mom what’s wrong?” I ask.

  “I don’t know. Yesterday I was feeling fine but now I feel so weak.”

  She reaches over for more tissues. The bite wound is spreading; her veins are purple and swollen. Now I know she‘s not tell me something. What kind of animal would leave a bite mark like that?

  “Don’t lie to me mom. What is that?”

  “I wanted to tell you yesterday but I didn’t want to worry you before the festival.”

  “Tell me what?” I ask.

  “I was out in the woods near the creeks and when I reached for the beats, a snake comes out. It striked me so fast that didn’t even notice what kind of specie it was, whether it was poisonous or not. I didn’t want you to worry.”

  “Mom I’m going to have Mr. Rivera come over here to check up on you.”

  “No Hazer. I’m alrgiht.”

  “No you’re not!”

  I realize our arguing isn’t going to make things any better. I kiss my mom on the forehead and went straight towards the door.

  “Hazer!” my mom calls out.

  “I’ll be back. I promise.”

  I rush downstairs and quickly put on my leather hooded jacket because the fast moving dark clouds. I quickly run across the wet street trying to avoid the large puddles and towards the house where I would hang out most of the time when I was a kid, Carter’s house. It’s is a lot bigger than mine considering it holds up to six people. Their lawn is about the same size but he has stone steps that lead to his front door. The familiar vines hang freely under the old wooden white balcony. I run to the door and the lighting suddenly strikes behind me. I look back and water starts to fall from the sky, claiming its domain. I quickly knock on the door before the rain soaks me.

  The door opens and it’s Carter. I can tell by his face that he just woke up by the messy hair along with his wrinkled cloths. Carter usually wakes up earlier but I guess he’s also overwhelm finding out Arraya survived the injection.

  I wonder how Mrs. Rivera must be feeling right now, compare to my mom, she’s a lot more emotional. Last winter I heard screams coming from Carter’s house and I thought something had happen, but Carter told me his mom overly reacted when all of her flowers died.

  Carter invites me in and quickly closes the door as the rain gets heavier. The moment I walk in the house, the air welcomes me with its sweet summer scent. Chrysanthemums are one Mrs. Rivera’s favorite, which can be found almost in every corner of the house along with other exotic flower she placed in lurid vases. There’s also a tiny flower that haven’t bloom yet in a pot, hanging in front of a window above. Mrs. Rivera is known for running a flower shop but once the economy went down. She’s selling them in her home. All of her flowers have a certain smell to it. Almost as if she sprayed unnatural fumes on it. I guess that’s why her business is booming.

  “Hey I’ll be back down. I’m going to go clean up.”

  “Alright man.”

  I wait in the kitchen as Carter goes up stairs to shower. Their kitchen is always clean, Carter tells me Mrs. Rivera cleans when she is stress and it relaxes her. If I was able to do that I would assume my room would not be a mess. I’m too much of a carefree kind of guy but my mom translate it to laziness.

  I notice there are a lot of pictures on the wall consisting of the environ
ment. I walk over to the window that reveals Mrs. Rivera’s beautiful garden. Her garden is off limits and I laid my eyes only once when my mom asked for tips on growing plants, considering my house is a graveyard for them. The flowers outside looks miserable in the rain, speaking of miserable Mrs. Rivera walks in and she’s in a red robe. Her brown hair is all tied up in a bun and she has no makeup on.

  “Good morning Hazer. Didn’t realize you were going to join us for breakfast today?”

  “Yes. My mom isn’t feeling too well today.” I say.

  “Well make yourself a home. You’re always welcome”

  She walks over to the stove and turns on the fire. Mrs. Rivera doesn’t look too sad about Arraya but then again her smile always has another side to it. I sit patiently at the white kitchen table and Carter’s little sister walks in.

  Her big round eyes look baggier than ever. I guess she stayed up all night thinking about her sister Arraya.

  “Hey Hazer” says Coryanna with her soft voice.

  “Coryanna can you help me get the plates?” says Mrs. Rivera as she cracks an egg in to the hot pan.

  “We’ll look who it is!”

  I look over and it’s Carter’s dad, Mr. Rivera. His big smile always cheers me up. I can always count on him, considering he’s basically like an uncle to me. He’s holding a daily new paper and I can see the headlines, The Cyto Field’s Gate is Open: Only the Redeemed can Save Us. Mr. Rivera always had an ambition to win the 1,000 dollar prize on the back of the article, but was never lucky enough.

  He’s wearing an extra large red button up shirt, the same one he wore when he took me and Carter out for camping and hunting. I had a great time but we stop doing it because the animals in the woods are now caring a virus that will make people sick for days if you ever ingest the meat.

  “Hey Mr. Rivera.”

  Mr. Rivera walks over to the table and sits across from me. People say Mr. Rivera has added on some weight ever since Arraya was taken. He’s also grown out his Greg bear. Carter finally comes down and walks into the kitchen.