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Long ago when time stood still, a single figure waited on the edge of a high-risen cliff awaiting the dawning of life. Long had he stood there in the same spot waiting for this time to come, so long that when he tried to move his body felt foreign to him and wouldn’t budge.

Wind that never once was blew its way across the top of the cliff. Parting his dark tousled hair, it forced its way past him and down the opposite side of the cliff. Like an inanimate statue, he watched as this strange wind lifted up a swirl of dirt in front of him. The dust rose effortlessly into it, twisting and turning like a slow dance, as it climbed higher and higher into the dawning sky, only to dissipate out over the raging ocean at the bottom of the cliff.

So many odd and wonderful things happened this day, much to his enjoyment. Lusciously thick green grass grew around his feet, down the back of the cliff and on into the valley behind him. The ocean showed up soon afterwards, crashing its white turf into the bottom of the cliff, while fluffy clouds began to form in the sky.

The most wonderful of all these new things was when the large orange sphere crested over the horizon. Never before had he seen the sun in the dark abyss that harbored his life and although it stung his eyes- making them water- he could not take his eyes off of it. Now it sat directly above him, watching him as he once did it. It was time for him to now search out the other strange new things that had appeared this day, as he stood lifeless on the cliff.

Turning away from the new ocean, he forced his body to move once more, to carry him out across the land searching. Hoping that this was not a fluke, and these things were actually happening this day. As he walked through the valley, trees began to sprout from the once barren ground, bringing shade and beauty to this once lifeless world. Strange beings began to take form, some with two legs some with four. While others had no legs at all, and some even flew in the bright blue sky. Mountains erupted from the ground, while lakes and rivers spasmed into being.

The one thing that was missing were people, humans to walk the land once again. To grow and hunt food, like so long ago. After all time hadn’t stood still forever, it flowed freely just like the ocean and wind did now. But that was long ago, long before this dark age hit the land. Before all existing life was brought to the brink of extinction. He was one of the few that survived that dark age, and witnessed this new birth of the world. Hopefully this time the same mistakes won’t happen again.

At the end of the valley, he saw a strange wonder that he had never seen before. These other new things running rampage through the new grasslands and valleys, he had seen before in books that were given to him as a child. But this one he stared at now was one he had not heard of or seen before. Coming closer to it, he realized his hopes and dreams were coming true. His eyes widened in astonishment as they fell onto the first human to walk this land since before the dark age hit and turned this world into death and destruction.

Just as he was about to reach the human, he awoke from his dream. Sweat poured down his face and onto the sheet surrounding him, as he sat up in his bed. Looking out the window, darkness obliterated all sight. Even his eyes could barely pierce the unnatural darkness, although his were made for doing so. He rose to his feet and walked over to the open window, where he stared out into the endless night. These dreams were happening more and more to him over these past few months, and he couldn’t figure out what they meant. He could only hope that the end of this dark age was coming soon.

Closing the window, he walked over to his dresser and changed. There was no use trying to go back to sleep now, he had but an hour before he had to get up to go to work at the Factory. He sighed as he buttoned the last button to his shirt; the Factory was not a place he enjoyed neither going to nor working at. It was where beings like him were born, although he was entirely different then the ones being made. Unlike them, he was actually born the way he is, not manufactured like them.

He had to admit his parents were both born at that Factory, and died there as well. The Factory owners had said it was an accident, but he knew better then to believe that. They despised his parents ever since they decided to bare a child out from the Factory. A Pure-Born that’s what he was. Not a being that was made from the consent mixing of genes from different creatures and beings, but one born purely from the love his parents shared. It was a shame they had to pay the price for his being, but he would not allow their deaths to be in vain. All he needed was enough evidence of the owners killing them, then he would avenge them.

The Factory had not known when they hired him who his parents were, and he was not about to tell them. If they knew actually who he was, he would be killed just as his parents were, just for him being what he was. He found out what had happened that day at the Factory when his severely injured mother collapsed just outside their home. He rushed to her side and tried to comfort her as she died slowly in his arms. Since then all he wanted to do, desired to do, was kill each and every single person at the Factory. It would be a fitting end considering the pain and suffering they caused him.

Looking down at his ID card, he smiled grimly. Demitrius D’Artagnan it read under a picture of his face. His mother had always wanted a son named Demitrius and her wish came true when he was born. His birth had made her so happy, only to wind up killing her several years later. Shaking his head, he pinned the ID card to the collar of his shirt and left his darkened room. There was no need for him to have a light on as he walked down the hall, his eyes adjusted remarkably well to the shadows and darkness in his house. So well that he was able to see everything as it was when the lights were on, in color and texture.

That was just one of the reasons breeding wasn’t allowed outside the Factory. They did not desire a creature that could harm them in any way, and being able to see through the darkness outside was an advantage they didn’t have, let alone want anyone else to have. He must admit he couldn’t see as well outside as he did inside but it was quite better then they could even with the machines they used to see with when they go exploring the outside world. Out there he could only see things in black in white, sometimes just shadows, but his sight could still reach a great distance away from where he stood. Which was infinitely better then their machines.

Walking outside, Demitrius closed the door behind him and stared out into the darkness. Looking for the telltale lights of the Factory’s Busy Bus that was sent out every morning to pick up their employees. He hated that bus and the annoying noises it makes. He would much rather walk to the Factory instead of taking it, but if he was caught doing so they would know whom he really is and his parents vengeance would not happen. So everyday he sits and waits for hours on end for that blasted bus to arrive and take him to the one place he truly hates.

At least today he didn’t have to wait long. Just as he sat down on the bench next to the street, he saw the bright lights of the bus barely forcing their way through the darkness. Sighing, he stood up as it reached him and got aboard. Walking back to his usual seat, Demitrius noticed someone he had not seen before sitting in the very last seat. Which was very odd, considering he had not heard of a new birth in the Factory for twelve years and there was only one before his birth. But this new face wasn’t old enough to be the one born before him.

Looking up, the stranger smiled as their eyes met, forcing Demitrius to look away. He didn’t enjoy what he saw in the man's face and eyes as they fell on him. As he sat in his seat near him, he only wanted off this blasted bus and back in the safety of his blackened home. This man, whomever he was, had the stench of death surrounding him and was definitely up to no good. Demitrius could only hope that it was not his death that man desired.