Oriana was a city that never slept. Its skyline was a jagged line of steel towers clawing at the heavens, their reflective glass facades glinting coldly beneath the twin moons. Below, streets teemed with life—merchants hawking wares, children weaving through the crowds, and the ever-present Gene Soldiers patrolling with rifles slung over their shoulders.
For Caleb, it was all background noise. At just eight years old, he was more concerned with keeping up with Kai.
"Hurry up, Caleb!" Kai shouted over his shoulder, his voice filled with excitement. His dark curls bounced as he dashed ahead, effortlessly dodging the bustling marketgoers.
Caleb, clutching a small satchel against his chest, stumbled after him. "I'm coming! Stop running so fast!"
Kai skidded to a stop near a fruit vendor and flashed Caleb a cocky grin. "If I didn't run fast, I'd have to wait for you, slowpoke."
"I'm not slow!" Caleb puffed, his small chest heaving as he finally caught up.
Kai ruffled Caleb's unruly hair. "You just need more practice. Stick with me, and I'll make you fast. Faster than anyone!"
Despite the jab, Caleb couldn't help but smile. Kai had a way of making him feel like everything was an adventure, even in a city as grim as Oriana.
The Syndicate loomed over everything, a shadow that no amount of sunlight could chase away. Soldiers in black-and-gold armor patrolled every street corner, their faces hidden behind reflective visors. The people of Oriana had learned to keep their heads down, their voices low, and their dreams buried deep.
But Kai wasn't like the others. At ten years old, he was fearless—or at least, he pretended to be.
"Come on," Kai said, tugging Caleb toward the edge of the marketplace. "I found a new spot."
Caleb hesitated. "Is it… safe?"
Kai rolled his eyes. "What's the fun in safe? Trust me, you'll love it."
Against his better judgment, Caleb followed. They slipped through a narrow alley, past crumbling walls covered in faded posters of Syndicate propaganda. The air grew cooler as they ventured further from the city center, the sounds of the market fading behind them.
Eventually, they emerged into a clearing on the outskirts of Oriana. It was a forgotten corner of the city, where nature had begun to reclaim the ruins. Vines crept up the sides of dilapidated buildings, and patches of wildflowers bloomed defiantly amidst the rubble.
"See?" Kai spread his arms wide. "Told you it was cool."
Caleb's eyes widened as he took in the scene. "It's… beautiful."
Kai grinned and flopped onto a patch of grass, pulling an apple from his pocket. "You're too easy to impress."
"Where'd you get that?" Caleb asked, his stomach growling at the sight of the fruit.
Kai tossed it to him with a smirk. "Swiped it from the market. You're welcome."
Caleb caught the apple, his brow furrowing. "Kai, you can't just take things…"
"Why not? The Syndicate takes everything from us. It's only fair we take something back."
Caleb didn't have a response to that. He bit into the apple, savoring the burst of sweetness.
For a while, they sat in companionable silence, watching the clouds drift lazily across the sky. It was one of those rare moments where Caleb felt like the weight of the world didn't matter.
But peace in Oriana never lasted long.
A low growl shattered the quiet, and both boys froze.
"Kai," Caleb whispered, his voice trembling. "What was that?"
Kai was already on his feet, his eyes scanning the surrounding ruins. "Stay behind me."
The growl came again, louder this time, and a shadow emerged from the underbrush. It was a wolf, but not like any wolf Caleb had ever seen. Its fur was matted and bristling with metallic spines, and its glowing yellow eyes burned with a predatory hunger.
"It's a Class F beast," Kai muttered, gripping a rusted pipe that lay nearby. "We can take it."
"We?" Caleb squeaked, clutching the apple like it might offer some kind of protection.
The beast snarled and lunged, its powerful legs propelling it forward in a blur of motion. Kai swung the pipe with all his might, the impact sending a sharp clang echoing through the clearing. The wolf staggered but quickly recovered, its fangs snapping dangerously close to Kai's face.
"Run, Caleb!" Kai shouted, dodging another swipe of the beast's claws.
But Caleb couldn't move. His legs felt like they were made of lead, his heart hammering in his chest. All he could do was watch as Kai fought desperately to keep the creature at bay.
The wolf feinted left, then lunged right, catching Kai off guard. Its claws raked across his arm, drawing a sharp cry of pain. Kai stumbled, blood dripping from the wound.
"No!" Caleb screamed, the sound snapping him out of his paralysis. Without thinking, he grabbed a jagged piece of rubble and hurled it at the wolf.
The rock struck the beast's head, and it turned its glowing eyes toward Caleb.
"Idiot!" Kai shouted. "What are you doing?"
The wolf advanced on Caleb, its growl deep and menacing. Caleb backed away, his hands trembling as he searched for another weapon.
Before the beast could pounce, a sharp whistle pierced the air. A figure clad in black armor stepped into the clearing, a glowing blade of energy humming in their hand.
The Gene Soldier moved with precision, striking the wolf in a blur of motion. The beast let out a final, pitiful whine before collapsing to the ground, lifeless.
The soldier turned to the boys, their expression unreadable beneath their visor. "You shouldn't be out here," they said, their voice cold and mechanical. "The Wild Zone isn't a playground."
Kai stepped forward, his injured arm cradled against his chest. "We were just—"
"Save it," the soldier interrupted. "Go home. And next time, stay in the city."
The boys nodded and hurried away, their hearts still racing.
As they walked back to Oriana, Caleb couldn't stop glancing at Kai's bleeding arm. "Are you okay?" he asked softly.
Kai shrugged. "It's just a scratch."
"You could've died," Caleb said, his voice breaking.
Kai stopped and turned to him, his dark eyes serious. "That's why I need to get stronger. One day, I'll be strong enough to protect you from anything. I promise."
Caleb didn't know what to say. He only nodded, his chest tight with a mixture of fear and admiration.
As they entered the city, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting Oriana in shadow. For Caleb, the day had been a glimpse of the dangers that lay beyond the city's walls.
For Kai, it was a reminder of the strength he still needed to achieve.
And for both of them, it was the beginning of a journey that would change their lives forever.