The sun blazed overhead, its relentless rays scorching the parched earth below. Even the breeze that was supposed to bring relief and solace burned hot.
Below, on a plain expanse of far and wide dry soil, people stood in line beneath the shade of a broken bridge. The ones in the front were fighting for the water that dropped from the sole tap the slum had.
Sezel lingered at the rear, his gaze fixed on his bare feet. He knew the futility of securing water amidst this sea of towering figures. His clothes fluttered loosely over his frail, stick-like body. His raven hair tangled in chaotic disarray.
The world had plummeted into chaos after the first Spirit Gate appeared about two decades ago, connecting Earth with the enigmatic spirit realm.
Though it was both a crisis and opportunity for humans, held little consequence for Sezel. He was born 5 years after the great cataclysm happened. People started awakening Spirit Channels that allowed them to use the Spirit Energy.
Sezel existed as an unremarkable orphan. His life was one straight out of a nightmare, one can say, yet he never uttered a grievance . The slum area he lived in was destroyed completely when a Spirit Gate opened right in the middle of nowhere just a few days ago.
Several died. Sezel, however, clung to gratitude for his survival. "What does it matter if I have food or not, I am alive, isn't that enough?" he thought once again, looking in front.
The two men in the front were fighting for water that came out of the factory after being treated. One landed a brutal fist, felling his rival with a thud.
"You piece of shit," the man on the ground growled in fury, instantly standing up and lunging back at the man. Soon a full-on fight broke out; drawing the slum's denizens like moths to a flame.
They all enjoyed such things. After all, they needed something they could cheer for, and the random fights provided just the fun.
Unseen, Sezel slipped forward, filling his old rusty metal glass with water. At sixteen, his gaunt frame belied his age, indistinguishable from the younger ones around him.
He walked back through the blistering heat, barefoot on the burning ground. Suddenly, his leg hit something and he fell face-first. His cup clattered away, its contents, the precious water he had secured evaporating into the insatiable earth within seconds.
Sezel glanced back, his expression a stoic mask of resignation. It was another person's foot. He slowly looked upwards, meeting the cruel gaze of Arty. His lips curled into a vicious grin.
"Oh no, I am sorry, Sez," Arty mocked, crouching beside him. "I am really sorry for the water, but you can get more. It's just water, after all." He rose, his laughter venomous, and walked off.
Arty was an Awakened and a registered Slayer, though only level 1, the weakest. But he had reputation and an abundance of resources provided by the corporation he registered with.
Sezel stared at the near-empty cup, his vision wavering in the heat's shimmer. "You'll meet your end first," he cursed under his breath.
"Sez, are you okay?" a soft, sweet voice called from behind, passing a helping hand toward him. "Here, stand up."
He pushed himself off the ground with his own hands. "I am okay, Rilli," he murmured, brushing dust from his tattered clothes.
"Did Arty do that?" the girl asked, puffing her cheeks. "I will ask him to say sorry and give you water," she declared, anger flushing her features. She was just as frail and dirty but her brown hair and piercing eyes still made her beautiful.
"No need, I am alright," Sez slowly rejected and walked to his glass, picking it up. His lips twitched as his eyes filled with drops eager to fall, but he swallowed hard, not letting even a drop escape. The glass still had some water left.
The girl looked at him with pitiful eyes and decided to go with him. She walked beside him silently, but Sez tried to avoid her. If not to anyone else, it was clear to him that he was in love with Rilli, his only childhood friend who always helped him.
But he couldn't accept it. She deserved better than a wretch like him, he believed, and his attempts to shun her only met her unwavering friendship.
Sezel and Rilli walked silently like ants toward the other side of the slum camp where Sezel used to live with his little sister—not blood-related. Sezel had just taken her in when her parents died of an unknown illness caused due to exposure to Spirit Energy.
Suddenly, through the silence, a voice echoed. "Oi, Sezel," a deep voice.
Sezel looked toward the noise. A group of 3 boys stood there, 2 of them with big builds, and another one—their leader—a thin man but older than them all.
"We have a good offer for you," one called. Sezel ignored them, resuming his trek, but the next words made him halt without a thought.
"Water and food," the older one said. Sezel looked back, narrowing his eyes, listening carefully.
"We are going in the Gate," he started explaining. "You will get 20% of the harvesting for just carrying our stuff," he laughed.
"And Arty will be joining, so it will be safe," another one added.
"Sez, don't listen to them," Rilli said. "It's dangerous for you." Her voice was filled with concern.
Sezel froze. His mind raced to make a decision. Food—that was the key here. He hadn't eaten for 3 days, and now he only had one day worth of food left for his sister. "I will join," he announced, his voice shaking.
Rilli gaped, stunned. "Sez, what are you thinking?" she cried.
"Rilli, let me do this," he insisted, his resolve unshakable. He pressed forward.
"I will also join, for free," Rilli announced behind him.
Sezel froze and turned abruptly. "Wait, what are you—" Before he could complete, She silenced him, her hand against his lips, her eyes locking onto his. His heart raced. "I'm an Awakened, Sez. You're the one who needs to reconsider."
Her words struck like a hammer, his weakness laid bare. "She's right. I'm the weak one, even if not a slayer she is still an awakened." he realized.
He just silently turned around and left, his head buried down in shame.
**
Evening descended swiftly, the sun sinking below the horizon, bathing the sky in a haunting amber glow. Birds retreated to their unseen havens.
And here, in front of a tear in reality itself—a purple oval-shaped mass of energy swirling like an eye of death—stood the group of six people.
Sezel stood behind all of them, his frail body burdened with the mass of a bag and its heavy contents.
Arty led the group like a leader, standing proud at the front. "It will be easy because this Gate has already been explored by the government officials. We will just take the leftover Spirit Essence," he declared, confidently.
And with his gesture, the group followed him inside without hesitation. They were confident—they had two Awakened with them, and it was an already explored Gate. What could possibly go wrong?
As they stepped inside, They emerged into a vast, spectral wilderness, rich with black and purple-colored energy. It was dark. There was no sun, no moon—only darkness spread like a sheet, only illuminated by the light from the Spirit Essence around.
Suddenly, the earth below them trembled, shaking everything with strength beyond their comprehension.
They all fell to the ground. Sezel's mind reeled. Arty's shouts were mute, swallowed by the chaos. Then, silence fell. The Gate sealed shut, trapping them inside, in the middle of a nightmarish forest.