The dreams didn't stop, but he wouldn't call them dreams. Artur tried to make sense of the nightmares that haunted Artur since he arrived to this place, some he could understand, lke the ones with Stell and the old refuge, burning away, but other seemed unreleated from any of his memories. They were the same each time, visions of a white haired person, the moon, a purpose, REBIRTH. Nevertheless, the more he was focused on his goal, the more he could push away those nightmares, burying them deeper and deeper within himself.
He felt his left twitch for a moment, then it stopped.
Artur looked around himself, it was a new cell, the wall were still in the same greyish, dark color. The room was empty, a single lamp keeping Artur company, lightly lighting up the small room. The only thing that connected the anomaly with the outside door was a large metal door, showing no handle or way of freedom, only a single frame of dark glass, leaving Artur exposed for anyone to observe. He looked at his hands, heavy cuffs attached his hands, practically covering everything up to his wrists. The lack of control he had with these restraints annoyed Artur heavely, but with the conditions of this place, he knew he needed to keep calm. He's been in this room for a couple of days, or at least that's what Artur thought, since there was no way how time advanced in this cell. He barely remembers of how he got here, only the glimpse of him losing conscience after he accepted the proposition was the only thing he could retrace.This prolonged moment of loneliness left him some time to think about everything that he learned since he arrived.
He couldn't understand why he accepted being an anomaly so fast, he felt as if it was natural to him, something familiar, or maybe he simply didn't really understand what an anomaly is. He accepted becoming a weapon for the same people who killed the first person he met, he cared about. Each time Artur thought about her, he felt an ache in his heart, but the more he remebered the less it hurt, he started to grow numb from this pain that was her loss. But the emotion of anger never left, he wished to get revenge for the pain that this organisation inflicted on the people he cared about, but he needed to care about the people he could still save. Luna and Sunny were still somewhere out there, he was sure about it, he simply needed to escape and find them. Artur still had no idea of how he could escape, during his imprisonnement, he tried to call back the power that surged within him during that tragic day, but no matter what he tried, nothing would happen.
He knew that the only way for him to escape was to follow the orders, making them believe that he trustful, and when an opportunity presents itself, he would escape. Imagining having to flee other hunters like one who brought him here, terrified him.
After what seemed an eternity to him, the prisonner heard a heavy metal noise coming from the metal door, multiple locks, opening one by one. Slowly pushing away, the door revealed a pair of armed and geared sodliers, Artur could hear an alarm coming from outside the room, exclamating the fact that the prisonner is being extracted. Artur quickly faced the soldiers, staying in a defensive stance, lifting his cuffs, trying to keep the distance between him and his jailers. The anomaly observed the soldiers carefully, they were holding each a large rifle, loaded and surely ready to fire if Artur tried to resist at any moment, their armor seemed to reinforced and complex, but it was different from the one that the hunter wore. These soldiers had a uniform, one made purely for protection and representation, but when the hunter chased Artur, he could only a beast, one made of steel, ready to devour it's prey. Fear was one of the primary goals of the armors design.
Without any warning, one of the soldiers approached Artur, roughly grabbing him by the arm and shoving him in the direction of the exit of the cell. Artur almost stumbled from the push, feeling the weakness that took over him from being locked for days. The prisonner took a careful step forward, glancing at the second soldier who fixated at him, his weapon ready for any desobediance. Artur continued his steps, finally leaving his cell, was able to observe the where he was stuck for the past days. The grand scale left Artur speechless, in the long, well lit corridor, he could see numerous other well garded doors, closing a large amount of other cells just like his. Each door was garded by a pair of equiped soldiers, standing up right, like statues, Artur could hardly see the end of this endless corridor. On the white and grey walls, Artur could see the same symbol repeating frequently: It was a large icon representing a crest with a shining x shaped star in the middle, behind the crest were chains wrapping around spears from both sides. The symbol was envelopped by a laureal wreath. Below the icon, a large title read, "S.A.R.C.O." When the prisonner looked up, he felt a shiver in his spine, from down below, he could see the immense height of the building, countless floors interconnected with passage ways. But in just a few floors above, cramped on the wall, Artur saw a large and towering machine, it's design ressembling a gargoyle, observing the area with it's multiple red bright mechanical eyes, each one moving independently, leaving no blind spot. Seeing how highly the area was garded, Artur felt more and more anxiety as he thought about his plan of escape. But he knew, if such level of material is needed to secure this prison, it meant that anomalies are truly a danger.
Leaving no time for Artur to slow down, one of the two soldiers pushed him with his weapon cross violently, showing the aggressivity addressed to anomalies like Artur. The prisonner wanted to retaliate, but as soon as that thought crossed his mind, he felt the high opression of this prison, living him no potion but to obey. As they continued to traverse the long corridor, without a single glance, Artur felt all of the soldiers staring at him, prepared for any false movement and to execute the anomaly. Artur could only continue his march, keeping his head down, too intimidated and anxious to cross the stare of the other gards. He felt like a captured prey, a trophy, being displayed to the other predators. Beneath his fear, he also felt a deep anger towards those soldiers. In the distance, he could hear the sound of patrols, some heavy machines being transported and the sound of gunshots, maybe the ones of training, "or the ones of execution", thought Artur. After what seemed like an eternity, Artur faced a large, armored, metal door where was written in the center, all in capital: "ARENA ANOMALY TESTING AREA", danger signs could be seen almost everywhere around the entrance of the "ARENA". Artur stopped, unsure of what to do next, "Arena? Testing?", Artur started to have a doubt on why was he finally released from his cell, and he did not enjoy the possibility. One of the soldiers quickly approached the entrance a showed a card to the scanner next to the door, with a screachy metal noise, the heavy door slowly drifted to the sides, making the ground slightly shake as it revealed an immense tunnel extending further than the eye could see. The more Artur witnessed the scale of this place, the more he realised the power and the importance of this organization, resisting this power would take abilities beyond what the anomaly could imagine.
Artur proceeded to the platform, feeling a gust of wind, coming from the tunnel, a strand of hair, stuck to his face, flowed with the new coming breeze. He stopped when he sensed the loud rumbling from the door's movement behind him. Before he could face the tunnel once more, the platform already started moving, making Artur lose his balance for a moment as the movement of the plateform quickly accelerated, traversing the vast tunnel. From the large window of the tunnel, Artur could see an expansive landscape, showing below numerous buildings, tunnels and towers, all enlighted by countless bright holographic lights, showing commercial billboards and signs of companies, many were the ones showing a SARCO symbol. Artur, finally taking a glance to the outside world, understood that the facility was above some more advanced city from the underground ruins, not expecting much of an answer, he asked: "Where... do you lead me?". The closest soldier responded with an irritated tone, forcing himself to answer the anomaly: "To the "ARENA", the place where they see if you're any use to us.", the soldier took a look at the anomaly, Artur could sense the cold expression of the guard behind his helmet, "Consider yourself lucky, being chosen as a weapon. Most of your kind would already be dead, or cut open for research.". The anomaly almost regretted asking the question, hearing about the cruel treatment reserved for the ones like him, but there was one thing he still coudln't understand, ignoring the cold tone of the soldier, he asked: "Why choose me as a weapon? How am I different from the others? Where are the others?", the annoyed soldier grunted before responding harshly: "None of my business, you think you're special? We're not here to answer questions error, so shut it or I'll enjoy beating you to a pulp.". The more the soldier talked, the more Artur felt his aggression, he decided to remain silent, knowing he won't get any knowledge by simply asking questions, he needed to find the truth himself.
While Artur was lost in his thoughts and more so anxiety of what comes next, he felt the sudden stop of the platform, reaching its destination. Another door slowly opened, making an even louder screech than before while sliding to the side, it seemed even more reinforced than the last one. Among the multiple danger signs, a large text read: "ARENA ENTRANCE - KEEP OUT", wherever the soldiers were leading Artur, he knew they arrived to destination, he took a deep breath before continuing forward. As he took a hesitant step past the entrance, of the soldiers pushed him, hurrying the anomaly forward. But when he look behind him, he noticed that the soldiers did not follow him and the large metal door quickly closed itself, leaving Artur sealed in the ARENA. The prisonner looked around himself, he noticed some discrete cameras that were pointed at him, reminding him that he is observed at all times by the people who are pulling the strings of their "new weapon". Seeing no other way out, Artur kept on moving forward to the next room, it was a small rectangular room containing a long mechanical arm right in the middle, coming from the ceiling. Above the twitching metal, three fingered arm, there was a small screen indicating some instructions: "n°139, face the mechanism and put both feet in the circle". Almost automatically, Artur looked on the ground and noticed a glowing circle appear right in front of the machine. Still with a hint of hesitation, the anomaly approached the circle, activating the mechanism. The arm started suddently started moving with a buzzing sound, startling the prisonner, it cramped it's three finger right at Artur's chest, placing a glowing device at his chest, right where his heart should be. Feeling a sharp, stabbing pain, Artur's face tightened, a red stain formed around the device. The metal arm let the prisonner go before dissapearing in the ceiling with a quick movement. When Artur looked down at the device, still feeling the pain of needles stabbed into his chest, he noticed its small screen light up before in a quick movement, hundreds of small needles came out of the round machine, wrapping around Artur's body. With an impressive precision, the countless needles connected, the whole forming a black tight uniform. Surprised by the complex techonology, Artur saw a small number written on the left side of his chest: "N°139", seeing made he feel even more disgusted, knowing that the "anomalies", are considered as mere numbers and not as living people.
Now equiped with a new suit, the screen show Artur the next instruction: "Proceed to the ARENA", the anomaly knew that something big is waiting for him on the other side, no way back possible, only forward. Artur know faced the door, hearing the numerous locks being opened before the door itself slowly drifted appart to the sides, letting the prisonner feel the breeze flow through his long hair. Pushing his hesitation behind him, Artur took a step forward, entering the ARENA, the bright glow that enlightened the area slightly blinded the anomaly's eyes, making him squint while covering himself with his hand. While continuing his advance through the place, Artur adapted little by little his vision and was able to finally observe the place where they wanted to lead him to. It was an immense circular room, it's scale making it able to fit a bulding inside the vast area. As the anomaly looked around, trying to find something in the colossal empty room, he finally saw the large balcony that served as observatory to the ARENA, all envelopped by the same protective dark glass that was in his cell. The ARENA lived up to it's name, its features ressembling an ancient rome colosseum, the observatory being the place reserved for the emperor who will decide the fate of his pretenders. Artur felt like an animal in a cage, soon to be forced to battled other beast simply for the pleasure of his captors.
He felt strange, he was unsure of the outcome of this "test", even uncertain if he would come out alive of this ARENA. Even if the stress accumulated in him, making him unable to control the vast flux of thoughts, coursing through his mind, there was still one thing that was unshaken: his goal. Artur needed to stay alive, stay alive and escape this unhuman prison, all to hold his promess, all to find the truth about this world and why the anomalies existed. The anomaly's thoughts were cut off by alarms in the distance, other people were entering from each corner of the ARENA. With the distance that separated all of them, Artur could barely see their appearance, but he was certain of who they were, anomalies, just like him, something big was about to start.
Without any warning, a voice was broadcasted from the observatory, Artur quickly recognised it, it was the same woman who made him the proposal. Everybody in the ARENA turned their attention to the voice and it's announcement: "Anomalies number 8, 9, 13, 42, 67, 112 and 139, you will tested to prove your use to SARCO. In order to pass the trial and become a weapon anomaly, you are required to survive and clear all soldier bots in the ARENA", the voice stopped before continuing with a colder tone, "You are allowed to use any method to complete this trial.." the woman's voice stopped herself for a moment, "Even if it means killing other anomalies.", she continued coldly, "The trial will start now.". As soon as the voice finished it's announcement, the ground started to shake, surprising Artur and making him lose balance. He looked around himself in alarm, from the floor, multiple high walls and obstacles rose up, separating his vision of the other anomalies. "Clear the other bots... how the hell do I do that?" thought Artur in panick, reminded of the appearance of the other machines he was able to witness in the facility. The situation was dire, Artur still had no idea whether he was able to summon that strength again, let alone control it to defeat robots, but there was not much time to think, danger could come out at any moment. He was certain that if he is not able to defeat his enemies, he will get killed. He needed to find a way to survive.
Understanding that staying in the same place would only lead to trouble, Artur started to advance through the maze like walls. The walls rose up high enough for him to be able to quickly lose track of the other anomalies in the ARENA. He also noticed that along with the walls, other obstacles appeared in the form of stairs, ramps and even simple mimics of houses covered the vast terrain. Artur felt amazed by how quickly the empty field that he saw before, became such a complex environnement where getting lost was not much of a challenge, the areas seeming to repeat in Artur's mind. Not too long after the start of the trial, Artur could already hear some sounds of heavy collisions, surely the conflict between an anomaly and one of those machines. He still haven't been able to witness what other anomalies are capable of doing, the ones who are able to control this power, Artur didn't even know if it was possible to control it, he knew he still had a lot to learn about his kind and their abilities, and for that, he needed to survive this hellish trial. This time, Artur heard something close, a person's voice, at that moment, he understood that trying to cooperate with other anomalies would give him the best odds of survival. Quickly he started to approach the source of the noise, but when he got closer, it had gone quieter, the voice came from just around the corner.
In a hurry, Artur quickly ran and turned to the corner, his feet sliding from the fast turn, but suddenly he stopped, he was breathless, cold beams of sweat rolled down on his face, it was the anomaly. At he witnessed the anomaly, he took a step back terrified, the anomaly was here, sitting agaisnt the high wall, a large dark red pool was flowing around it, splashes of thick still leaking blood were stuck to the walls. Artur approached the anomaly, hearing the thick red liquid get stuck to the shoes of his black suit, making a loud squelch. As he observed the body closer, he covered his mouth, feeling an urge to vomit of disgust, the face of the anomaly was barely recognisiable as human, mauled, crushed and covered in blood. Artur looked down at the anomaly's uniform, it was the same dark suit as his, covering his entire body except the hands and the head, the number was also written in the same place as him; "N°112", Artur noticed the traces of hits in the anomalies torso, reaping it's uniform. Artur was horrified at the sight of such cruel violence and was quickly cut from his thoughts when he heard loud steps approaching his way, feeling a wave of panick take over him, he quickly ran to hide in the corner, trying to make the less noise as possible. The steps quickly became louder, approaching the body of the anomaly, Artur carefully peeked from the corner and as he saw the machine, his breath trembled. The robot had a humanoid fom, it's mechanical musculature reinforced by sturdy metal plates covered stains of dark red liquid, it's hands were drenched in blood, still leaking from it's fingertips, the faceless, mannequin like head had one red glowing eye, moving across the metal head to observe the environnement. It's movement was shaky, each movement being unpredictable as it got closer to the anomaly's corpse. Artur was confused as he saw it approached to the corpse's bloody face, almost as if it was trying to smell it in a predatory way, and suddenly in a speed blitz movement, the movement hit the anomly's face with a dreadfully big strength, provoking an unpleasant cracking sound, blood spashing out even further on the high walls, making sure the body is dead. This horror spectacle made Artur gasp for air, but the quiet noise attracted the attention of the machine, making it suddenly face Artur's direction, as he quickly hid behind the corner, stopping all of his movements, feeling his heart wanting to burst out of his chest, the heartbeat accelerating instantly.
As he heard the loud metal steps of the machine get closer to him, he felt the overwhelming fear envelopping him, the situation was dire, and he needed to find a way to survive this hell, no matter what.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
The following in Chapter 3 : Strength