Introduction

I laid there on the cold floor completely exhausted after the numerous beatings I have received in who knows how long. No matter how hard they kick, even if they kill me in the process, I would never give up my mind and identity.

In the room with me was the leader of this despicable organization. I couldn't see his face that was covered in the dark, but I would always remember his body language; the way he seemed relaxed, despite the fact that I had alerted the Seekers to the location of his base of operations.

The man was casually smoking a cigarette, seemingly oblivious to the fact that I was even there. After releasing a few puffs of the smoke, one of them directed at my face, the leader flicked the cigarette away and focused his attention on me. Despite all my training with the Seekers, I still couldn't resist shivering in wariness as the leader of the Phantoms looked me over.

He stepped closer until his whole figure blocked out the light from the bulb on the low ceiling. I narrowed my eyes as I tried to adjust to the blaring light that shimmered past the Phantom leader.

Said man dropped to his knees, his glowing cyan eyes observing me like a lab rat. I glared at him with all my might, but the man merely chuckled.

"I can see why he is interested in you," he commented. I had no idea who he was referring to, though. "It's a shame that you oppose my organization. You would have made an excellent agent."

I clenched my teeth in anger.

"I would never work for you, not after you took everything away from me!"

It seemed that my hatred for the man only amused him.

"You allow your emotions to control you too much. If you were too let go of them, imagine the potential you could gain. You would truly bring peace to this world."

I snarled at his ridiculous statement.

"So you think that by losing the one thing that makes us human, a person could bring peace? Look at your organization; look at all the lives it has taken. That's not peace; that's genocide!"

The Phantom leader did not even flinch at my outburst. Instead, he reached for my neck, and swiftly ripped off the simple silver necklace. He twirled it in his hands, studying it under the glaring light, all the while pissing me off even more.

"This is a worthless responsibility that you have put on yourself. Even after all these years, you still carry your mother's necklace?"

I didn't say anything. I merely glared at him with all my might.

He shook his head.

"The sense of finding comfort in material goods is a waste of time. Instead of mourning the past, you have to focus on the future. Never let anything stand between you and your mission's goal, isn't that what the Seekers taught you?"

I once again stayed silent. The leader of the Phantoms shook his head in disapproval.

"And here I was so sure that you of all people would understand that moral."

At this remark I snapped.

"What do you know about morals? All you care about is gaining power, even if it means nuking the entire planet to get it. You know nothing about being human, even if the answer was right in your face." I paused, taking the time to observe his reaction. When he showed none, I continued. "You would never understand what it's like to be free; to show love for the ones you care about. You can't be human."

Silence filled the room, enveloping it in an eerily atmosphere.

"Is that so?"

I shuffled nervously as he kneeled in front of me. He harshly grabbed my face and forced me to look at him. For the first time ever, I finally had a good look at his face, although what I saw took me by surprise.

He was regarding me with a knowing smirk. I stared back in shock. He had his eyes!