I lift the dark hood of my coat to hide my face. The puffed edges stray to form a spacious oval so I allow the stray tendrils of hair to fall in front of my eyes. Stuffing my hands in my pockets, I trudge forward to activate the control pad. As my request processes, I silently pray that today I will be left alone. My failure in the simulator has left me vexed and snappy.

As the door slides opens I’m greeted by a gust of cold fresh air. I’m still not used to the new sensation of unpolluted air. I inhale the sweet bloom of spring. I continue to trek forward, my legs slightly shaky from the exertion of the simulator.

It’s hardly surprising that the streets are very like the ones inside the simulator. The regenerated earth has been left with homes, buildings, basic technology and an ecological aura. I sigh in pleasure. Though I hate to admit it the Leto have done well in this aspect. Everything has come back; the plants, the wildlife and even the mortal humans I thought were lost to the technology.

The only problem is, they’re not normal. You take out the bad, you take out the human.

The cleansing worked more effectively than anyone could predict. Everyone is polite, friendly with no sins. However, the Leto didn’t succeed it keeping the cleansed pure. It won’t be long before the politeness ends and the real war begins. That’s what the STO is trying to do. They’re trying to show the people what the Leto have done; what they’ve become…and its working.

Everyday, after every STO public meeting, there are more outraged cries, more angry citizens and more people signing up to become warriors. It’s been 5 days and there have already been more than 750 humans sign up for the STO. Many of them are in a different section to me though; After years of controlling the technology, they’ve picked up a valuable set of skills and tips. A few however are fighting Warriors that battle alongside me.

I wander down the clean cobbled street. The sound of chirping birds jangle in the vacant air.  The avenue is completely empty; the monotonous thud of my boots echoes off the walls of the shiny, oblong buildings. Within each silvery grey structure, are about 20 compartments. These are the homes of the Warriors. They surround the main rectangular hub of the STO from all 4 sides.

The STO compound is an enormous white 3D cube otherwise known as the ‘Block’. It houses the simulators, the conference rooms, the gadget and communications room. The heart of the STO lies inside the Block. Obliterate the Block, tear down the STO.

I hike over a copious bank that encloses all of the STO buildings; the Block and compartments included. The invisible wall is the border for any intruders; the semi-permeable membrane allows no one but a warrior through. I hear the hum of the sensor as I pass through.

My feet stumble clumsily down the dewy grass until I reach the bottom of the levee. Crossing over the bank is like entering the real world, a world separated from fake simulation life of the STO compound. This realm is unquestionable; it has the real people with real homes and real lives. I feel like I can be the real Lara.

I cross the road at the bottom of the bank and head towards the fenced woodland park. It’s not late enough for the streets to be buzzing with people but not quite so early that these streets are empty. Unlike the warriors in the STO compound, these humans have irregular sleep patterns. Their exercise routines are not strenuous enough for them to treasure the solitude of unconsciousness; they’re not fighting.

My feet turn into the woodland area and snake down the weaving path. The previously fallen leaves are still arranged on the floor, artfully creating the blanket of autumn. My feet scuff at the leaves, kicking the large piles into the air. They float gracefully up before descending slowly to recover the floor. For the brief time the deadened foliage hovers in the air, the sodden muddy ground of a wet spring is left to the exposure of my eyes. The leaves act like a mask, hiding the authentic appearance of the Earth from the people. You wouldn’t know it was under there unless you looked.

I keep going until I reach a copse. At the back is my bench. Strictly speaking, it’s not technically mine but it feels almost as if it is. The wooden structure is my haven in my distress. I’ve come here every day upon returning to Earth. The copse is fairly secluded, almost nobody walks here. I don’t know why. Perhaps because I always come here at inconvenient hours? Or maybe because people are focusing on the important things in their lives. The friends, the family; the ones they love.

I sink heavily onto the bench clutching at my chest. It still has the faintest resonance of the pea green blemish the gas left. I whimper at the memory. I pull out the Caritas Monile that is trapped underneath my hoodie. The golden liquid swirls like molten lava, emitting power. As I stare into the pendant, I feel the haze begin to draw back and the pain in my chest slowly eases off. I sigh in relief. I push the hood off my head and pull my curls out of my collar.

I sit hunched in the solitude of the cleansed woodland. I don’t know for how long I gaze at the natural garden surrounding me. I collect my jumbled thoughts but become more confused in the process. Where could they have taken Jared? How am I supposed to get him back? How do I defeat my weakness in the simulator? The list of unanswered questions is endless. I doubt I’ll ever find all of the answers I’m looking for.

The silence makes me question my sanity. I shouldn’t have lost, that was an easy win. The scent of lemongrass and cinnamon, was I imagining that? I fiddle anxiously with my hands. A cold gust of wind raises the hairs on the back of my neck. My eyes search around the clearing and I hug my arms closer to my body. I feel as if I’m being watched; the thought unnerves me. A sharp knot forms in my stomach as my heart rates picks up.

I’m stimulated from my trance from the quiet bleeping of my wristlet breaks me out of my stupor. I lift my watch to eye level and groan. The time displayed it 6:30 am. I have half an hour before Ally and Iron awake and check my room. If I’m not there, I’ll earn a strike. I’ve already got 2 and if I achieve another, I’ll be forced to remain in the compartment.

I rise from the bench and head back to the woodland path. I walk briskly, leaving my copse behind. The loud crack of a twig panics me. I gaze around the woodland yet I spot nothing and no one. I quicken my pace to a gentle jog. Another splintering snap has me running. My head turns as a young, lanky boy turns onto the path. He smiles at me, exposing his gappy teeth. I sigh in relief and smile kindly back, yet the smile soon falls off my face. The boy suddenly morphs into huge black creature before my eyes. I scream at the approaching faceless monster.

I don’t look back again as I set off in a flat out sprint. I hear pounding footsteps behind me. I’m being chased.

 My heart hammers in my throat as I push myself forward. My calves and lungs burn as I tear out of the woodland and into the street.  I quickly peek over my shoulders. My legs slow as I see the faceless creature disappear into thin air and the boy stands in its place staring at me oddly. My brow furrows. Did I imagine that? The boy walks closer; he can only be about 14 at most.

"Excuse me miss, are you Lara Hall?" The boy beams, his green eyes brimming with excitement. I open my mouth to answer when the boy begins to change again. The faceless monster rises in wraiths and forms its huge stature. I scream.

‘Get away from me you disgusting beast’ I shriek, as the monster towers above me. My heart races. A wave of darkness blurs my mind and my eyesight. The next thing I see is the monster vanishing and my hands connecting with the boy’s chest. He stumbles back and loses his balance. My eyes widen in horror as I’m left with the trembling child; the one I’ve just pushed onto the cobbled ground. I see the blood on the ground, dreading meeting the boy’s gaze. His eyes are stripped of his previous excitement and instead replaced with fear and tears. I gasp in horror as the boy begins to sob at the sight of his bleeding palms.

“What is wrong with you?” He yells, his eyes scream at me accusingly.

“I’m so sorry” I whisper but the boy doesn’t hear. He scrambles off the floor and runs off.

I rest the cool palm of my hand against my swelteringly hot forehead. I just hurt a child because I can’t control my imagination. It was almost as if I lost all sense and rationality; I was overtaken by darkness. The boy isn’t the monster; I am. What is wrong with me?

The street is already filling up with people although it is early. None of them saw me push the boy to the floor, but I did. The guilt hangs heavily over me. I’m frozen in my stature as I see the last glimpse of the boy, running away down the path before turning a corner. I can’t even apologise properly and the thought makes me nauseous. I tear at my hair in frustration.

I force my feet forward. Already people’s gazes are lingering on me, they’ll recognise me soon enough. I look at my wristlet and the sight sets my heart a flutter. I have 5 minutes to get back to my compartment. I tug up my hood; I cannot afford to lose time now. Once the public realise it’s me, I will be converged. Everyone knows who I am.

I pick up speed, carefully weaving in and out of people in the street; I don’t want to hurt anyone else. I reach the bank and scramble up in. The sensor hums as I tear down the other side. Unfortunately my compartment is one of the closest to the Block. The higher ranking you’re seeded at, the closer to the main hub you live. It works well to put your best fighters near the base; its more safe and protected.

I spot the huge white block from the opening of the street. I sprint down the pavement. A sheen of transparent sweat forms on my brow as my feet pound down on the concrete ground. It’s far easier to run on than the slippery cobble stones.

My building comes into sight and I heave a sigh of relief. The door to enter the building branches off on a separate alley. I activate the control pad and recite my name. The door slides open and I dart inside. I ignore the elevator and head straight for the stairwell. My agile legs take 3 steps at a time until I reach the top floor. I wheeze heavily as I struggle for breath.

I pause outside the door of compartment 22 to check my wristlet. 6:58am. I’m just in time. I sigh in despondence, I’ll have to go in sooner or later; I only wish it could be later. I lift my finger to press the large red button in the middle of the control panel. I whisper my name quietly and the door slides open.

My eyes are met with the sight of Ally and Iron in a passionate embrace. I feel my heart shatter.

Compartment 22. My own personal hell.