Chapter 80- Ghosts

35 years ago, I was born in the slums of a city that never even bothered to remember the name of. When I was small I survived by pickpocketing, stealing food at the markets, even dumpster diving for my next meal.

I was a pitiful existence. No name, No parents, no brothers or sisters, no family whatsoever. I trusted no one and did my utmost to live.

As I grew older, I became affiliated with a local gang and used me to transport things like drugs throughout the city. As long as they gave me food and somewhere to sleep I didn't mind doing it. I became really good at it, in fact. I was a minor and had a cute face, that helped keep suspicion off me from the authorities.

Then when I was 15, a couple of gang members and I were walking through our territory when members from a rival gang attacked.

They ditched me.

They left me there as a distraction so that they could get away. Though my hair was cut short and my breasts had just started budding, I was undoubtedly a girl.

I remember how they pulled my hair as I was dragged into an abandoned alley.

I knew what was going to happen, I had lived long enough in these slums to know. These four men were going to rape me in this dirty ally.

I remember thinking to myself 'Not here! Not with them! Not with them! Not my first time!'

I couldn't defend myself as they started to tear my clothes off, I struggled with all my strength but to no avail. And when I started to cry, one of them punched me in the face and told me to shut up.

I screamed and I screamed but no one was going to come, and I knew that. These were the slums, crime happened here all the time and people just ignored it not wanting to become involved.

As I watched them tower over me and start to unbuckle their pants, for the first time in my life, I close my eyes and I prayed.

'Please! Anyone! Someone save me! God Please, save me!'

And my prayers were answered.

*Swish*

I heard the sound of something moved through the wind and when I opened my eyes four headless bodies collapsed in front of me.

One of the heads fell on my lap, the face still had that lustful smile it did before he died.

I remember laughing and crying. It was the sound of wailing mixed in with half-crazed laughter.

'I survived!'

Those were the first thoughts I formed when I calmed down.

Who was it that saved me? I looked up to see a young man not much older than me, he wore expensive clothes and his long black hair was braided into a ponytail, a rusty and bloody can lid by his feet.

What really stood out were his eyes. Purple eyes that swirled like a galaxy, they were full of smiles and curiosity.

I don't know if it was a freak accident with the lighting, but the light hit his back surrounding him in a holy aura.

'Ah, this is God and he came to save me, even though I'm so unworthy'

This was the moment I first laid eyes on His Excellency.

Then he asked me a question.

"What do you desire the most?"

I immediately responded with,

"Power! I want power!"

He smiled and extended his hand out.

"Come with me and I shall take you away from here and give you the opportunity to gain what you wish"

His words dazed me, but I subconsciously reached for his hand and took it.

When I did, I was filled with a sense of security and of wanting. I knew in that moment as long as I followed him, I would never feel such despair and weakness again.

I vowed at that moment to dedicate my life to him. I would do anything to be beside this person.

He walked me out of the slums and I never turned back.

I followed him to an airplane where it took me to an undisclosed location. I wasn't alone either, as I disembarked the plane I noticed 100 kids similar in age, standing in a formation.

A man in a white skull mask and tactical outfit told me to join the rest. When I got in place, the man in white explained what we were doing here.

It was here where I first heard His Excellency's real name.

Acheron Belau.

That was the master he served and if we survived this training, so would we.

Suddenly, we were shot with darts and fell unconscious, when I woke up I was alone in the middle of a forest. A single knife, a fire starter and a note saying "Survive for 5 days, you will be picked when time is up"

This was the first time I ate human meat. I did what I had to do to survive, besides, I'm sure the bear didn't mind me eating its leftovers.

The only thing that drove me to survive those 5 days of hell was the thought of seeing His Excellency again.

When we returned, only 71 of us survived. The next 5 years were pretty much a blur, lots of killing, lots of death, lots of surviving, and lots of training. We hardly talked to each other unless it was for training, so I never bothered to learn anyone's name. That wouldn't have mattered anyway since we were all referred to by numbers.

Only a handful of times can be remembered clearly when his Excellency came to visit to check upon us.

I remember the joy of seeing my savior. Oh! How I relished bathing in his holy presence!

By the end of our training, only 10 of us were left. As our final exam, it was a fight to the death, only 5 were meant to graduate.

It was a difficult fight but in the end I won. I felt strange as I watched my classmate die in front of me, my knife in his chest, but as I looked into his eyes, all I saw was happiness and reverence, I was confused as to why.

Before I could ask why, his last words were,

"All for His Excellency"

Those words struck me like lightning, and I came upon a realization. Everything was for Him, even his death, if it helped me get stronger to serve his Excellency better, then he was happy to die in my hands.

'Oh! Your Excellency! My Master! It appears I was wrong! Everyone here worships you just as I do!'

I smiled at the young man dying before me.

"All for His Excellency"

These were echoed by everyone present, which included the instructors. For the first time in my life, I belonged.

Once only 5 of us were left, the real Final Exam was told to us. We were to be given rebirth.

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1)Another chapter coming right up!