C. Schmidt - Hock City

The room grew quiet as each one of them looked around the cold, shadowy environment. They were all thinking one thing: how to get out. There was only one set of doors, which were more than likely guarded by the Guardian’s security. Getting past them would be a task.

“What else did he tell you?” Kinth asked.

“Man… what the hell is going on in this city? He told me that he killed the original Guardian – our father – and took over. Is this true? Well, actually, he said that he had him ‘removed.’ I kinda put two and two together.”

Kinth grumbled to himself. Then he kicked another barrel, smashing it with ease.

“I don’t mean to add to your frustrations. But I really need to know more than what he told me. Anything. A little bit more info can help me figure the rest out myself.”

“Wait a minute. Why did you say ‘our father?’ What did he tell you?”

“He told me that our father impregnated several women – and he said that he had these women removed from the city to protect the family.”

“Bullshit!”

“I’m just telling you what he told me.”

“I don’t believe it. There was no signs of this – never! Not one time has anyone spoken anything like this,” Kinth paused his aggravated rant, “I don’t want to believe this shit, but let’s pretend for a minute that it’s true. So, you are trying to tell me that you are a child of one of those women?”

“Seemingly so. Which makes me –“

“My brother.” Kinth finished Langston’s statement, both of them became silent, as they processed the conversation.

“Whoa,” exclaimed Jesse.

The room got quiet again. Faint sounds of conversations and footsteps were just outside the doors, along with a subtle blowing of wind that came from cracks in the foundation walls.

“The pretty boy could be my brother. How about that,” Kinth chuckled to himself. “I’m not surprised. I knew something was different about you when you came by my station.”

“What do you mean?”

“That watch you had on – you remember the design on the face? It’s the same design I have on a pin that was given to me.”

“What kind of pin?”

“You know, a pin that you put on your clothes. Not a writing pen. When you showed me that watch at the station, it didn’t register to me until after that the design was the same.”

“Father.”

“Yes, he gave you that watch. He gave us all something.”

“This pin you speak of, he gave you that too?”

“No, no. It was given to me by someone else.”

“Who?”

“I can’t say.”

Silence filled the space again.

“There you go again. Being cryptic,” Langston felt deflated.

“I know. I have no choice in this regard. But I can tell you other things. What’s funny is, what my brother told you is probably the first time he has been somewhat honest – ever,” Kinth sighed at the brief moment of recollection. “It’s tough to talk about the past,” he sighed and then continued.

“Yeah, I get it.” Langston listened attentively.

“Hock City is just one of many places in the Pines. At one time, this land we walked on was all one. One land, one people – connected; working together toward common goals. Peace, love and survival. We lived in harmony amongst the mountains, the hills and the animals. Many years went by and these people did well. They worked together without much strain or issues. My father, his father, and many generations before them. Then, suddenly, something fell from the sky. Something fell from the stars. Whatever it was – it was large; bigger than any mountain I had ever seen, larger than parts of the sky. It crashed into the ground we walked on, breaking the land. Large cracks, over time grew larger, creating seven separate areas.”

“The corridors.”

“Right. Whatever this object was – when it fell – it separated our lands. We eventually called the separate areas ‘corridors.’ This event was devastating. Many of us were torn apart. Our families, way of life – everything. I was very small when this happened and I was changed.”

“Changed how?”

“The object from the sky did something to us. The energy within the object combined with the genetics of the people, made us different. It made some of us stronger, smarter, and faster. Shorter, taller, nicer, and meaner. It changed some of us completely. It was like the energy amplified certain things about us. Whatever our individual driving force was, the force that made us live, and hope – this force was amplified. For some, the object killed them on impact. For my father, it made him stronger – like physically strong and wise. Many people admired his strength. He built many things using only his hands and resources from the land. But he was weak when it came to helping others. People took advantage of his kindness.

“The object also brought great evil to this place. More evil than good. When this evilness swept our lands, my father defended those like him; the people who wanted peace. Because of his actions and accomplishments, he was awarded with the title of Guardian, even though he didn’t seek this title. He never wanted to lead anyone. He just loved his home – the place he spent his childhood. He just wanted it to be what it once was, before the event. He and many others found a way to connect the lands via the tunnels and bridges. It took many cycles to complete. As the lands moved further apart, my father and others extended the tunnels so that we could always travel to where we needed to go.”

“What about me? They call me ‘human.’ What is a human? And the Desert Dwellers and the other odd looking people?”

“Before the event, everyone on this land were humans. But after the event, most of us were changed. Only a small number of people did not change. These specific people were later considered different. They were outcast by those who were envious of them. The humans scattered and hid all over the seven corridors, blending in and pretending to be different. Others weren’t fortunate. They were killed as soon as they were discovered. You are the first I have seen in a while. I am shocked you are still alive.

The energy within the object also affected animals. Many are now able to walk and talk like humans. For some of us, it combined our energies, causing us to have a blend of traits and abilities of other species.

The object from the sky crushed others, driving their souls into the land, and I guess this is where the Desert Dwellers come from. Angry, lost souls – whom were trapped in the sand.”

Langston closed his eyes as he listened, imagining what the event might have looked like. He envisioned a large ball of light, dark orange in color, falling from afar. The object appeared tiny in the sky, but grew larger the more he stood and watched it. Eventually, it became large enough where more people stood in wonder to look at it. They held their hands to their faces to provide shade to their eyes – due to its brightness. Soon, these people started to scatter as they became more afraid of the unknown. What was the object and what harm could it do? They ran to their homes and watched from the windows. Then, the sky went dark, after a loud sound traveled across the land.

“I’m at a loss for words.”

“It was spectacular and a horrific thing to witness. So I was told. All those people that you have seen, survived that event; or were born after.”

“You said you were small when this happened. How did this event affect you?”

“It gave me abilities.”

“Which are?”

“I don’t know. I was young, so even after the change I felt the same. But the older I got, the more I felt different. All I know is I am stronger than most. Sometimes I have trouble controlling my strength. Other times, I feel strange when I am around people. I know things about them. I have visions, but most of the time the visions are incomplete and sporadic. I don’t know what they mean.”