Apocalyse: Marked by Chaos-Chapter 1 - Betrayed

Lightning split the sky, casting eerie shadows across Olivia's pale face as she pressed herself against the hallway wall, eavesdropping on her parents' hushed conversation.

" We cannot let Freya go," her mother´s voice cracked, heavy with desperation. " she can´t fight those monsters, i can´t lose her."

" Then what do we do, Sophia?" her father sighed, pulling her into a tight embrace.

Freya sat by the window, her face void of emotion. Her eyes, red and swollen from hours of crying, stared blankly at the storm outside.

She had drawn the losing number.

She was supposed to fight. To die.

" Olivia can take my place" her cold voice made both parents turned towards her " We are twins, although we are not that identical, it might work."

" Yes! That's it! Olivia will go instead!" Sophia's eyes widened.

Donovan hesitated. Freya was their favorite. Their golden daughter.They couldn't let her die.

"You are right." He nodded in agreement " Olivia will go in place of you" his fist curled into a ball.

"I am sorry, Olivia," he apologised inwardly.

This decision suddenly brought a smile to Freya's lips, she stood and gave them both a hug.

" I love you guys, you are the best."

From the hallway, Olivia's heart sank in her chest, her throat tightened. Tears burned her cheek as she clenched her fists, willing herself not to break.

Olivia locked eyes with her twin sister, whose lips curled into a slow satisfied smirk, her eyes gleaming with something dark..victory.

Without another thought, Olivia bolted to her room, her shaking hand slammed the door shut. She leaned against it, hands trembling, bile rising in her throat.

" I can't believe this."

To maintain control, a Selection System was created. Every year, numbers were drawn, determining who would fight the creatures.

Freya had drawn the losing number. But now, Olivia would take her place.

She stared blankly at the wall, her mind racing.

Monsters were ranked by difficulty:

Level 1 -3 : manageable.

Level 4-8 : Dangerous.

Level 9-13 : Deadly.

Level 14-18 : Almost impossible.

Level 19- 20: Impossible.

Her hands trembled.

They were sending her to die.

The dawn arrived too quickly. Dark circles shadowed Olivia's eyes.

" It's dawn," she exhaled shakily, staring at the ceiling. " I guess my demise is coming faster than expected."

Her raven black hair looked like a bird nest. Her green eyes hid the pain well, but it was there, buried deep beneath the indifference.

A knock startled her.

" Olivia" her mother's voice was soft, coaxing.

She hesitated before opening the door. Her parents stood in front of her, their expressions unreadable.

" Mother.....Father."

" Can we come in?" Sophia asked gently.

" sure."

Sophia inhaled deeply.

" The system has chosen your sister to fight the monsters... " she reached for Olivia´s hands, squeezing them gently "...but you can go instead, right?".

A dark, suffocating silence settled between them.

" ....No."

Sophia´s expression darkened. Before Olivia could react, a cold blade pressed against her mother´s throat.

"If you don´t go, i´ll kill myself"

Olivia´s breath hitched. Her eyes darted to her father for help... but he looked away.

" Do you want to watch me die, Olivia?" Sophia voice trembled.

" Why should I go? I didn't draw the number, don't I have the right to live? Why should I give my life away? Am I not your daughter too?"

" I don't care Olivia, I gave you both life, so I decide which one I want to keep, it is up to me" Sophia wailed.

Olivia's knuckles turn white. How could her parents be this shameless " My life is mine," her green eyes burned with defiance.

Sophia pressed the blade harder, a single drop of blood trickling down her neck.

" Then watch me die!!"

Olivia's eyes burned, her hands trembling, she knew she was the least important to them, but she never expected it to hurts this much.

She felt anger rising like bile in her throat, she knew she couldn't escape, running away is like throwing yourself to the system to make you a bait to the monsters.

She has no way out. Her parents, whom she had loved and looked up to, has discarded her like trash, with no remorse, or sympathy.

She was nothing more than a substitute to her twin.

She hated to be threatened by her own parents.

Tears pricked her eyes. The betrayal burned through her veins, but in the end...

".. Fine. I will go".

Her voice cracked and her heart felt heavy.

Sophia sighed in relief and lowered the knife.

" Good girl. You leave in an hour." Donovan sadly patted her shoulder.

They walked away as if nothing had happened. As if they hadn't just sold her life away.

Olivia stood frozen.

She had never felt so alone

" If this is what we make you guys happy, I will do it"

she resigned to her fate, letting the tears fall freely down her face. For the first time in her life, she wished she was Freya.

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Her parents had always loved her twin more. But how could they choose Freya over her so easily?

Anger burned through her veins.

An hour later, it was time to leave. Her parents clung to her, shedding crocodile tears.

Freya hugged her, leaning in close." Come back alive" she whispered in Olivia's ear, then stepped back.

Olivia didn't bother replying.

As the jeep rumbled to life, she turned away, never looking back.

Olivia stared out the window as they passed through the higher sections. Everything was different. Their buildings gleamed, their people looked trained, armed. Prepared.

The world outside isn't what it used to be.

Thirty years ago, Earth had collapsed into ruin. The monster's uprising left the world in shambles, forcing survivors into divided sections, ruled by the strongest. Cities had turned to weaponized fortresses, reinforced to withstand the creatures lurking in the ruins.

Survivors lived in sections, the powerful ones in 1,2 and 3, the weak ones like her in 27.

A division at the bottom of the food chain, powerless, disregarded, expendable. Her eyes wandered to the towering buildings as they drove past.

Finally they arrived at the headquarters.

The people who live here are from section 1, 2 and 3. They are the boss, and every other section must listen to them.

Their descendants had trained since birth, armed with resources, power, and skills.

Meanwhile people from Sections 15 to 27 have to rely on luck, if they are ever chosen to battle with monsters.

The jeep halted before a massive underground bunker

" Are you going to stay there forever?" the driver's gruff voice snapped her out from her trance.

" Sorry," she muttered, then stepped out.

Her mouth went dry.

This was it.

" Come with me" the driver instructed, his tone firm.

Her feet followed his footsteps into a steel-reinforced elevator.

Chim.

The door slid open, revealing a bustling underground base. Soldiers, scientists, and combat trainees moved with precision.

She had heard whispers that only the talented could enter the headquarters bunker.

Her heart pounded. She didn't belong here.

" Your squad is waiting for you in Room 105" the driver said.

She hesitated.

His gaze softened slightly, sensing her fear. " Good luck"

The doors slammed shut behind her.

And just like that....

There was no turning back.