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Life and death—mysteries that call to us all.Humanity has always asked, what if?What if we could bend the rules?What if we could reach beyond our fragile limits?
But questions have consequences.In the beginning, they sought answers in places best left untouched.They reached too far into the unknown, chasing power in things they barely understood.
Not the magic of fairy tales, but something worse—abilities stolen, twisted, and engineered.The kind no human should possess. And those who were claimed by E.D.E.N., H.A.L.O., S.A.F.E., or P.U.R.G.E. learned the hard way: curiosity kills more than just the cat.
Let me take you back in time, to the beginning of the curiosity that destroyed the world.It began as hope, became obsession, and ended in ruin.
-------- 19/2/08 ----------
Drs, Scientists and Nurses from the four founding facilities, E.D.E.N, H.A.L.O, S.A.F.E and P.U.R.G.E.
Gather around in the great hall, the white marble floors squeaked as people walk around holding various alcoholic drinks, the squeaking noise is quickly drowned out by the loud chatter as people from all over the world connect for the first time in what seems like months, possibly years, exchanging information from their latest failures and achievements.
The banners of each facility hung around the room meeting in the middle of walls.
Eden’s banner is Deep emerald green and obsidian black half and half meeting in the middle where we find a serpent coiled around a green apple, its eyes glowing a deep gold.Behind it, a fractured DNA strand forms a crown.The banner symbolises temptation, knowledge, and humanity’s reshaping through experimentation.
It meant to be elegant but unsettling, showing even the nicest of things can be a nasty surprise.Safes banner is a metallic midnight blue and steel Gray split diagonally, meeting at the centre to find a silver shield, fractured but still intact, wrapped with black thorned vines.
At the core of the shield, a faintly glowing keyhole reveals a swirling light within. The banner symbolises protection, vigilance, and controlled power.
The fractured shield hints that even the strongest walls have weaknesses, and the light within represents the knowledge they guard.It’s meant to be a mix of safety and hidden danger showing you’ll never be safe, no matter how much power you have, someone will always have more than you.
Halos banner is a soft gold and pale sky blue blending at the centre meeting to find a stylised sun rising behind a pair of wings that extend upward and outward, tipped with faint starlight.
Tiny sparks of energy arc around the wings like lightning.The banner symbolises Hope, progress, and aspiration.The halo and rising sun suggest guidance, while the sparks hint at the risks that come with pushing boundaries.
It’s meant to show the people they experiment on they shine, but it’s not without cost, the cost usually being death.
And finally Purge, Purges banner is a dark crimson and obsidian split sharply, jagged like shards meeting at the centre where we find a DNA helix twisting upward into a sharp, crystalline crown. Around it, faint shadowy tendrils curl outward, almost like smoke or liquid ink, it’s meant to symbolises transformation, experimentation, and dominance over nature.
The crown formed from DNA suggests mastery of life itself, while the tendrils hint at the unpredictability and danger of their work.It’s meant to show beauty fused with menace, again proving, just because it’s pretty doesn’t mean it’s nice.
Today was a special day, hence why over 4000+ people had come to join the celebration, E.D.E.N had perfected their serum, humans could now hold powers, humans could be special, perfect even.
The great hall was on an island where E.D.E.N resides, a secret from most of the world.
They are a government project who need to prove they are good before telling anyone about them in fear of death from the townspeople who already fear them.
The higherarks arrive making their way through the crowd of their employees, security guiding them to the top box, where they can look down on everyone.
Everyone falls into a deafening silence as the governor stands, he stands straight as his hands grip the balcony, his blue eyes flickering over the vast amount of people, he looked tired, his grey hair did nothing to help cover the stress of his job, the bags under his eye proof of the sleep he wasn’t getting.
“Ladies and Gentlemen.” he booms his voice raspy, his eyes still scanning the room.
“I thank you all for travelling and joining us here today, to celebrate the win we have achieved, we have finally completed the serum after years, the world is finally going to change for the better.” he smiles at the cheer that echos in the room, over 4000+ people celebrating him, celebrating his ideas.
He hated being around people, but he loved the attention and the praise he got from them.
“We also officially have our first subject! Whom we shall test the serum on once it is born.” he says bluntly a cruel smirk forming on his face as he watches the reactions ripple through the room, shock, disbelief, agreement, fear.
“A baby?” someone yells.
“you’re going to experiment on a baby!” The man steps forward with the anger and disbelief evident on his face.
“that’s unethical!” he shouts the governor glances down at him before rolling his eyes and signalling to the guards who push the crowd aside seizing the man, pushing him to his knees, lining a gun with his head, and pulling the trigger, blood leaks down his face as he’s dragged away leaving in his place a line of smeared red.
“Does anyone else want to join him?” the governor asks bluntly as people gasp, however no one speaks up, no one moves, it’s like everyone is collectively holding their breath.
The governor turns on his heel, walks out of the door and goes to his office, his top co-workers, the only ones he can stand follow him into his office, and the only reason he can stand them is because they partially have the same amount of power as him.
The four thousand plus people go back to how they were before, trying to ignore what just happened and go back to the celebration, but everyone is tense and shaky, the smell of blood still lingering in the air, the echo of the gunshot still ringing in the back of everyone’s mind.
“You’re snappy today.” Daniel jokes, sitting down on one of the couches placed at the end of his office, the governor ignores him pouring himself a whiskey.
Nathan, Chase and James sit down on a couch opposite him both watching the governor as well, Rebecca, Olivia and Isabella lean against the walls, the governor’s office was a pretty nice place, a bookshelf lined one of the walls, his desk was facing a floor to ceiling window which showed him the warehouse behind the great hall.
“Jessica. How is she?” The governor asks sipping his whiskey.
Daniel shifts slightly, “she’s caught onto the plan but I’m not entirely sure how much she knows.” He mutters quietly, the governor groans but nods.
“we’re moving her to the safe house before she can do anything stupid.” the governor snaps, looking back at Daniel with a slight glare.
Daniel looks down but nods, choosing not to anger the governor further “I’ll move her tonight.” Daniel murmurs, the governor nods downing the rest of his whiskey.
“So when are we moving her to Eden?” Isabella asks, her eyes flickering between the governor and Daniel, she sees the longing in Daniel’s eyes, he wants his baby, but knows he won’t live if he tries to save her.
“The day before her due date.” The governor says sinking into his chair.
Isabella nods “You already know the plan but I think we should run over it again.” The governor says his eyes are glued to Daniel.
“Jessica is brought in and she can have a natural birth if she decides to behave and not fight, or we will gas her and take the baby ourselves.” the governor says bluntly, Daniel is staring at his hands, legs bouncing.
“Are we all clear on the plan and consequences if the plan is interrupted by ANYONE.” The governor says harshly, everyone nods, they may be his friends but it doesn’t mean they aren’t scared of him.
“Dismissed.” he snaps, everyone stands and leaves without question, they go into the great hall to join the celebration with everyone else.
“I have a bad feeling Daniel isn’t going to...comply nor Jessica.” Isabella whispers to chase as they watch Daniel step outside.
“It’s expected, he feels bad about hurting Jess and the baby.” Chase says quietly rubbing her back.
“but he will stick to the plan, don’t worry.” he kisses her temple, “lets just, celebrate our win, yeah?” Chase whispers.
Isabella nods, “yeah okay.” They both make their way over to the bar grabbing drinks and joining their fellow co-workers as they try to get back into the ease of the celebration.
Back in the governor’s office, the governor is pacing, his hands clammy, his breathing shallow, he’s stressed, like he’s waiting for something, someone.
He jumps when the phone rings, but quickly rushes to it, picking up the receiver and putting it to his ear.
“what.” he snaps.
“sir, it’s done, we found one already.” a younger male voice says shakily, the governor’s eyes widen and relief washes over him.
“yes, good, good job Henry, bring it in, make sure NO ONE see its.” he says quickly and quietly, turning to look back at the warehouse looking at one door, the door named, nightmare.
Everything was finally going the right way.
----------- Home sweet Home ------------
I lower myself to the couch with a sigh, it’s starting to get hard to do the most basic things, I hear the door open and slam closed, I jump slightly shaking my head, I hear footsteps running up the wooden stairs, Daniels home, asshole.
I had been snooping in his office recently. I know, I know it’s bad but, I thought he was cheating on me, turns out it’s much worse.
I knew he worked for the government, but I didn’t know he was a scientist, and I certainly didn’t know my baby was going to be his next one.
He caught me in his office and he went batshit crazy. He started screaming and shouting at me. He physically pushed me out of the room, and I haven’t spoken to him since.
He knows, I know, and I bet you he’s already told whoever he works for, I close my eyes when I hear him coming back down stairs.
“Jessica.” he says quietly coming into the living room, I open my eyes, his eyes soften when he sees me, I glare at him, “baby, im sorry.” he starts coming to sit down next to me.
“I’m sorry, I lost my shit and scared you, I’m sorry baby.” he whispers, taking my hand, I just glare at him, he nods, biting his lip.
“You can’t stay mad at me forever.” he whispers a small smile gracing his lips.
“I can when you plan to use my baby as an experiment.” I snap, he pauses, he stares at me before lowering his head and looking at the ground.
“Jess-” he whispers.
“No, save it you monster, I’m not listening to you defend yourself when I saw everything I needed to see yesterday.” I snap.
He stays staring at the ground, “it’s not like I want to.” he says coldly, as he stands.
“I have no choice, it’s either her, or me.” He sneers.“and I’d rather it be her then me.” he hisses before leaving the room, I glare at him.
“ASSHOLE” I yell throwing my water bottle at him, it hits his back and falls to the floor, he ignores it, he ignores me, he makes his way back upstairs, I hear his office door slam shut.
A tear runs down my face, I feel my baby kick, I rest my hand on my stomach, anger flaring inside of me.
I grab a pen and paper, I write out 5 letters all the same, all addressed to my baby.She needs to know, if I die, she needs to know, if she escapes these will be here waiting for her.
To my dearest Ellie,
I know at this moment, you’re reading this very confused, I’m your mummy Ellie, your father and his friends are monsters, they took you from me, they have done terrible things, even before you where born I was never going to be aloud to have you my love.
I just thought you should know, so you don’t think I left you, so you don’t think I abandoned you, I love you and I wouldn’t do that if I had a choice, I think im going to have to give you to them, but I promise, I will find a way for us to be together again.
You are going to be strong, Just like me, just like your female ancestors, who will always be looking after you.
I’m always with you sweetheart Dead or alive, your name is what keeps you tied to me, my mummy was Ellianna, but everyone used to call her Ellie, so this is for you and her sweetheart.
I love you.
Goodbye my dearest.
I burst out into silent tears as I stand hiding the letters around the house.I make my way back into the living room over to the window where I like to sit, watching the animals down by our pond.
I sit in the chair wrapping myself in my favourite fluffy blanket.
A few hours later I hear a car pull up outside and a horn being honked, the door to Daniel’s office opens again and he comes downstairs, he opens the front door but doesn’t close it, I hear him talking to someone.
After a few minutes he comes back inside but he still doesn’t close the door.
“Jessica, we need to leave.” he whispers he was in the doorway of the living room, his voice was calm and soothing.
“where?” I ask quietly, my voice catching in my throat.
“Safe house.” he answers, I look down, they are moving me closer to Eden ‘Just in case’, I sigh and slowly stand, I pick up my blanket taking it with me.
Daniel takes my hand, helping me outside. I see a black SUV surrounded by what looked like military trucks.
Daniel helps me into the back of the SUV and as soon as the door closes the doors lock, the car sets off leaving the gates of my dead mothers house.
I felt a sense of relief as I knew the letters were safely hidden, she could find them one day.
