Fractured Horizon: Shadows of the Apocalypse

A mechanical whirring sounded in the distance and grew louder quickly. The groundskeeper, a humanoid shell, approached, its metal limbs moving with eerie precision. Thick bunches of dried mud occasionally wriggled free from the tracks, which carried its heavy body.

"You are getting blood on the ground, students. I will have to report this act of vandalism to the headmaster," it stated, its synthetic voice devoid of emotion.

"Damn it! Let's go, guys, campus security will be here soon!" Trevor shouted. His voice wavered with a hint of panic.

He landed one more kick before he and his lackeys scattered like rats, disappearing into the shadows, their reign of terror coming to a temporary halt. Ryne laid there, still and broken, the metallic taste of blood filling his mouth. He watched the clouds for what felt like an eternity.

The whirring of technology approached again, and Ryne turned his head to see two campus security shells, their blue lights flickering. One reached out a metal arm and helped him to his feet, the icy touch of its grip grounding him in reality.

With his bruised and battered body, Ryne relied on their sturdy frames, wincing at the pain that surged through every fibre of his being.

"Who did this to you?" the security shell asked, its mechanical eyes scanning Ryne for more injuries.

"I... I fell."

The lie felt like ash in Ryne's mouth.

"Of course you did. Humans are very clumsy. Don't worry, we'll take you to the infirmary right away!" it replied, its tone unchanged.

Blood trickled from Ryne's nose and below his eye. If he fought back, he might have won, but fighting in school is punishable by immediate expulsion. If Ryne complained, Trevor and his friends would lie, but if he fought, it would be their word against his, and he'd lose everything.

Schooling. Daily work visas. A future for us. It would all be gone.

That voice. For whatever reason, it helped Ryne save Melody from certain death. He made a vow to himself:

From now on, I'll listen to it and I'll use it as my true north.

Security led him through the school. Dozens of students watched Ryne curiously as he staggered through the halls, his body and uniform covered in blood. Whispers followed in his wake, their eyes wide with curiosity.

Outside the doors of the school infirmary, one of the security shells knocked on the door with their free hand.

"Nurse. We have an injured student." it said, sounding as if they were reading the words from a book.

Mrs. Riley opened the door and took one look at Ryne before scooping him up and carrying him through the infirmary.

The school infirmary, tucked in a quiet corner, smelled of antiseptic and laundered sheets. Cots lined the walls, divided by swaying white curtains, while a cluttered desk and glass-front cabinets held supplies. The hum of a refrigerator and faint light from a half-covered window gave the room a clinical yet calming stillness.

Mrs. Riley stopped her advance. Her hands around Ryne's body, gentle but firm, lowered him onto a bed.

An enigma amongst the tension, stress, and anger that filled our school—Mrs. Riley was a vision of true beauty and kindness that seemed almost out of place. Her long, auburn hair cascaded in waves over her shoulders, catching the light and giving it a warm, fiery glow.

Her eyes were a striking shade of emerald green, framed by thick, dark lashes that fluttered delicately as she examined my injuries.

"If only you'd tell me who keeps doing this to you, Ryne," she said, her voice filled with concern.

"I'm clumsy. That's all, Ms. Riley," Ryne replied, forcing a smile.

She sighed, her lips pressing together in a frown. Her skin was smooth and unblemished. Her presence both comforted and disarmed the students around her.

"Please, call me Evelyn. I'm not a teacher here, and you've been here dozens of times under my care."

"Okay… Evelyn."

Evelyn nodded as she carefully removed Ryne's blazer, shirt, and pants. After applying balms and bandages to his injuries, she gave him a couple of pills to swallow before setting his nose back in place.

"Well, I've done all I can. That shirt of yours probably helped you more than I can with school medical supplies. Whoever gave you a gift like that must care for you very deeply. Your father?" she asked, her eyes searching mine for the truth.

Ryne let out a burst of nervous laughter. The only thing that horrid excuse of a father ever gave him was the resilience to stand up to people like Trevor.

"I suppose not, then. Well, rest up and I'll come check on you later," she said, her voice softening.

"Thank you, Evelyn."

Evelyn closed the curtains to his bed, and the mechanical sounds of a keyboard played in a methodical beat.

This is as safe a place as any to get some rest.

---

The subtle stinging that occurred before the voice entered Ryne's head roused him from his slumber.

[Your second task is to secure the underground bunker beneath the security station by your house. The four-digit key code is one-nine-three...]

"Four digits? That's only three? What's that about a bunker? Where do I use the key code?" He mumbled, his mind struggling to grasp the new information.

"Ryne? Are you awake? Did you have a nightmare?" Evelyn asked, as she pulled back the curtains around the bed.

"Actually, I'm not feeling well. Is it okay if I head home today?" He asked, his voice trembling slightly.

"I'll inform your teachers that you've been sent home sick," she replied, concern etched on her face.

"Thank you," Ryne said, forcing a weak smile.

---

The pain from Trevor's relentless assault lingered in every step he took as he made his way back to Fracture. Throbbing bruises pained his body. With each heavy step, Ryne's weary body moved forward, his uneven gait causing the streets to blur as his exhaustion grew.

This is it. Now I'll know for sure if this voice is real or if I'm going crazy.

His eyes drifted to an old security station that stood in solitude along his path. Its worn exterior matched the neighbouring buildings, its cracked windows like faded eyes peering out into the forgotten corners of the city.

An irresistible urge tugged at him, compelling him to explore its depths.

As he pushed open the door, it yielded to his strength reluctantly, as if resisting his entry.

The stale air mixed with the dust he kicked up as he walked. Ryne coughed, covering his mouth with his arm. While the light from outside still peeked through the broken windows, he searched the area.

His footsteps echoed through the empty halls, resonating with a haunting melody as he ventured deeper. Each room he explored revealed mysteries of the past—a rusted metal chairs, cracked monitors frozen in time, and skeletal chairs stripped for their padding. Files sat atop desks, chewed on by rodents and insects, their contents long forgotten.

People haven't been here in a long time, if they were still using paper when Nova City abandoned this place.

Ryne continued his search, his eyes scanning every nook and cranny for any hidden secrets that may exist untouched.

It was in the fading light of dusk that he stumbled upon a ordinary cupboard, its exterior blending seamlessly with the surrounding walls.

Intuition whispered in his ear. The same intuition that told him which places to avoid when practicing parkour in unfamiliar areas. An intuition that urged him to investigate further.

With care and caution, he brushed aside the coat of dust that had settled on the cupboard's surface, revealing a hidden latch. When he applied pressure, a false panel yielded to his touch, revealing a hidden compartment concealed within. Excitement mingled with adrenaline as he reached inside.

Please don't be spiders. Please.

His fingers brushing against a cold, metallic surface. He sighed with relief.

Pulling out the concealed object with both hands, he discovered a terminal. The screen flickered to life, casting an ethereal glow that illuminated Ryne's face.

Before he could press the keypad and figure out the potential combination, the screen flickered and the light dimmed to black.

That must've been the last of the power.

As with much of Fracture, Nova City disconnected the security station from the rest of the city when they abandoned the expansion project.

However, even if he had a power source, time was not on his side. Darkness loomed outside.

Reluctantly, he tucked the terminal back into its hiding place, ensuring he restored the false panel to its original position. The secrets within would have to wait for another day, another opportunity, when he could power up the terminal and unlock its mysteries.

With a final glance back at the security station, he turned away and made his way back home. The weight of fatigue settled upon his shoulders.

He walked on, his steps steady and determined.

The voice was real, without a doubt—as real as the pain that thumped across his body.