Words, they never matter now. Our war stricken world is destroyed by it. People are hiding underground. We fight above. Protect those who deserve it. The criminals fight, we've all messed up and risking our lives is punishment for the others we messed up.

Some people don't fully understand what we do, that the monsters above can kill people easily. Criminals though, we have a different set of skills then normal humans. After figuring out how to place powers in the human body, they inserted them into all criminals into the prison, setting us out to fight for our crimes.

The serum we are given affects everyone differently. No one is really sure how these things are decided. They appear in the next 4-14 hours. Mine is a form of Blood Manipulation. I now have an infinite blood supply. Though I have to be careful, it may be infinite but I can still get affected by doing too much.

In a few days, it's my turn to go to the top. To fight. To change. To believe I can be a new person. My life is my purpose, it's my reason. I take a deep breath; it took 5 hours for my powers to appear. This is the day they analyze how far I can push myself before it's too much.

These days, I've heard, are the worst. Everyone has a limit and we have to find it before we never come back. Our base is in the cellar underneath where the White House used to stand back in 2140. That was before the monsters came and started to strip the US into a total wasteland.

The whole of the people who survived have connected many underground tunnels, built cities. It's all we have left. Someone has to protect it.

My palms sweat, I'm staring at the ground, my hair falls before my face. In my chest, my heart pounds and I clench my hands to keep them from shaking. I'm so focused on the beat of my heart, that I don't hear a door open. I don't hear my name called. It isn't till my shoulder is tapped that I look up. "Luna Cadwell, it's your turn."

I take a deep breath before standing. I fix my posture and try to walk with confidence. The other people waiting their turn, stare. I'm walked through a heavy metal door. The security closes the door behind us, making a big slamming noise. I open and close my hands and breathe as I am told to stand in the center of a dark room.

The first thing that catches my eye is the yellow eyes that dot the darkness. A dim light floods the room, the yellow eyes belong to the enemy I am fighting. The veins soon become visible on my arms. Blood shoots from the palm of my hands into swords."Ready?" A voice booms out. I stand in a ready fight pose.

"Ready." I feel like a warrior already.

"Commence fight." Instantly, the blood shrouds my body as a cloak. It gives me time to attack the first enemy from the air. I stab one sword through the heart and the other straight through the head. Quickly I move on the next enemy, the next.

I move rapidly as I slash each enemy. The blood from each enemy helps me teleport to different places, more enemies. Even after one hundred of these enemies, I'm not tired. I'm told to freeze and I do. The swords in my hands dissipate.

The next level of enemies is faster, stronger. I move a little slower with using a sword and shield. Block then stab, twist and pull. I do that once then aim for a shot at the head. Crush internal organs then, take out the center for all activity. Simple and easy to remember if one does not get too carried away.

After the next two levels, I grow a bit slower, sweat a bit more. It's been about two hours now. Next they bring out a replica of an actual monster from above. It's big and stretches to the ceiling. I switch to longer swords.

Quickly, I moved around, dodging and slashing. I got hit to the wall a few times, thrown to the ground easily. I used the blood I still had to help me float higher and get more shots. My slashes are quick, blood keeps flying.

After an hour, I'm able to make the final strike. I stab both of the gigantic swords I have through the beast I plant my feet onto it and quickly run up dragging the swords with me. I pull them through the shoulders. I teleport to the back as it falls. I jump onto the head and in just a few moves, spin slash through it. I land on my feet, my back to it. My swords are gone and I am now panting on my knees. I know any longer and I would've reached past my limit. My body aches.

No words are said as I am helped up and limp out. Once again, the people stare. This time though, I don't care, not one bit.

I stare at the ceiling, lying on my bed in the recovery ward. My heart is still pounding, my blood is still flashing through my veins, my breathing rapid. "How did you do?" An unknown voice questions out loud. I don't realize they're talking to me at first. "Hello, vein girl next to me."

"Lasted four hours and killed the earth monster in one. Any longer and my limit would've been reached." I reply.

"Really? What power do you have?" The boy asks, curious.

"Blood manipulation." Silence follows my answer. It's an unusual ability that's for sure.

"How are you not in anybody's group?" I turn my head and gaze at them, confused. "The groups for the outside battle, you know?"

"No. I'm usually by myself. I don't mind it though, I think I can do pretty well on my own." I look at his black hair and his green eyes. He stares straight back into my light blue eyes.

"It's not as easy as you think. I've heard the monster's come in groups of two to three. No one could survive by themselves."

"I guess so. What's your power?"

"Umbrakinesis. I can mentally repulse photons to create a battlefield of shadow to hide and attack from. Our two powers could create a great team. What do you say missy?"

With him, I could survive longer than being by my lonesome. "Deal." I tell him

"What's your name?"

"Luna."

"I'm Emmett."

"Cool." Most of me could care less about something that doesn't really concern me. I survive for me and me alone. That's it. The silence stretches as I turn back to stare at the ceiling.

I can feel Emmett's eyes still on me. "What's your deal? You're very closed off."

"I'm not the biggest fan of talking to people in general. I don't really like talking." I reply to him.

"Why's that?"

"You really think I'll talk to you about it?"

"No not really, but it was worth a shot."

I clasp my hands over my stomach and close my eyes, breathing steadily. My mind flashes with pictures. First slow then fast. Everything, all at once. I open my eyes and take a very deep breath. Sitting myself up, I stare at my hands. The veins of them are still visible. I bite my lip. 'Not now. Definitely not now.' I think. I look at the boy next to me. I don't understand, criminals aren't supposed to be nice.

He opens his eyes and I turn away quickly, my face reddening. "Staring are you? It's not nice to stare." He chuckles.

"I wasn't staring." I say quietly.

"Sure you weren't. You're weird, you know?"

"You aren't tough for a criminal you know?" I retort.

"I can be, but I chose not to. Not all criminals are bad people."

"That's your opinion."

"I thought you didn't like talking?"

"You started it."

"Child."

"Do not call me a child." My voice is low, like a growl. "I hate that word." I clench my teeth and grasp my jeans tightly. 'A child, is that all I really am? A pathetic child?' My face drops and my heart feels heavy. I let go of my jeans.

"Sorry?"

"No one is." He stays silent after that and so do I. My fists are balled and resting on my thighs. 'Child child child. No no no.' Tears hit my hands. I stay like this for a good twenty minutes. After I stop being a baby, I lay my head down and fall asleep. The next days of recuperation pass by fast, Emmett doesn't talk to me. If he has, I haven't noticed. It's hard to hear anything but the voice in my head.

Today is the day we leave to go fight. I sit in my chair, in the armor they gave us. It's alright, as long as it gives me protection. "Now that everyone is ready for deployment, let me mention a few things first." The combat leader starts. "The pattern on your armor is the color it is depending on your power. If the color fades, then you have reached your limit and need to get to safety and rest. You cannot fight past your limit. Do not risk too much. Be safe out there. Now before I let you guys go, I want to go over a few things that are quite important when fighting. I'm going to call out two of the top people from the simulator test up and we will continue from there." Someone hands him a clipboard. "Let me see Luna Cadwell and Jax McGillian."

I sigh and stand up. "A girl is in the top ranks, interesting." I hear one boy chuckle. I snap my head to the boy walking down the aisle towards the combat leader too.

"Do not underestimate me because I am a girl. There's nothing wrong with me, I'm just as strong as a dumb boy like you." I turn back to the front and go to stand at the bottom of the stage.

This Jax looks me up and down, "You can't be that strong, you're so tiny."

"Size means nothing. I could kick your butt easily."

"Doubt it, sweetheart." He touches my arm.

My veins start to become visible. "Back off."

"Or what?" In a few fast movements I have him pinned on the ground. "What the hell I didn't even see you move."

"Calm down Miss Cadwell." I stand up quickly. "As you can see, do not misjudge your opponents. Also do not try so quickly to rush up into battle. Your opponents could see you coming if you're not careful. Miss Cadwell, can you please demonstrate for us? Mister McGillian, can you close your eyes for a moment?" I put myself on the side of the stage, safe from sight. "Okay open. Now you're the enemy and she's the opponent, see if you can sense her coming."

I crawl underneath the stage and towards where I know he is. I feel his burning blood. I have to say blood manipulation makes everything seem weird, especially since I can feel my blood move in my veins. I found where he stands and pause a moment. In a few quick movements, I make him fall to his knees and put a knife to his neck. "Checkmate." I tell him. I pull the blood back into my system.

He stands up. "You have no signal, I couldn't pick you out."

"You were looking in the wrong places." I look at the combat leader. "I'm done with this." I start to walk back to my seat. I hear a whistle and turn around to catch a dagger flying at me. "Don't try show off so much." I drop the dagger to the ground and sit down in my seat. The rest of the small demonstrations are done with Emmett, who is number two in the simulator. Jax is number four and I am number one. I don't know how but I am. When they finally release us, I am ready to fight. They inform us that we need to get in our groups for the upcoming fight; we are to go together.

I started walking up to Emmett when Jax stops him. "Hey dude, do you want to be in my group? We could be unstoppable."

I pause, curious for his response. "Thank you." I ball my fists, about to turn around when he starts again. "But I already have my own group." I make my palms straight, shocked that he still wanted to be in a group with me despite my actions. He walks over to me. "Let's go partner."

We walk away together. "You still want to be my group partner?" I ask.

"Yeah, you're so ace man. So fast too, that was awesome!" He exclaims.

I rub the back of my head. "Thanks you were too. It was so cool when you made the whole room dark. It was weird feeling everyone's heartbeat but not seeing their faces. Jax was sweating it."

"Someone's becoming a bit more talkative."

"You're an exception to my rule now. As long as you don't double cross me, you should be on my good side."

"Cool." He rests his arm on my shoulder; I never realized how tall he really is. Unlike most people I don't shrug him off or get angry, I smile and let it stay there. "You ready to kick some butt?"

"Definitely ready." We walked together to the elevator that took everyone leaving today to the surface. I clasp my hands together and take a deep breath.

"Are you nervous?"

"No." I say really quickly.

"Why?"

"I don't really want to die."

"And you call me not tough."

"Well the only reason I got into the jailing system is because I cannot control my temper. I punched a bunch of people and broke a few body parts. I haven't really liked people that much, so contact, stupid names, and pushing me was never okay. I literally punched a criminal in the jaw and broke it. I don't know what I was thinking."

"Everyone has their reasons, I'm pretty sure yours would be better than mine. I got into jail because I robbed a jewelry store for a girl I liked. When the cops showed up to arrest me, I punched one in the nose and ran off."

I chuckle a bit. "You did all of that for a girl?"

"Well, we used to be really close friends and I wanted to be with her forever and a day. I thought that maybe if I somehow caught her attention she would finally start to like me. She actually turned me away when I showed up with the jewels because she already had a boyfriend."

"Oh."

"Yeah so why do you not like people and contact and names?"

"I don't want to talk about that here and right now."

"Alright, I understand. After a few good days of fighting then, when you're more comfortable."

I nod. "Alright deal." 'What made me change how I've kept myself? What changed?' I think to myself. I guess things really can change quicker than one could realize. It's strange but oddly nice. We stay silent as we exit. The surface looked very barren. Dead tree limbs flapped in the wind. Dark patches dotted the ground where explosions could've happened. Monsters did all of this, but how did they get here in the first place. I turn to Emmett as we walk in a cluster towards a row of buses. "Hey do you know where we're headed?"

He looks down at me. "Were you not paying attention at all? We're headed to one of the old bases. It has a weird name."

"Got it."

"Why? What are you planning?"

"Nothing I'm just curious." We step onto one of the buses and keep our voices soft, taking a seat in the middle.

"You know something?"

"Possibly and it frightens me."

"What is it?"

I stare him straight in the eyes. "Us and the monsters, I think we're the same. What if it's what we become?"

He gives me a confused look, but doesn't say a thing. His hand moves to his face as if in deep thought. Emmett stayed silent for an hour. "So you mean to say that when we reach our limit, we turn into the monsters?"

"It's a theory but yes. I felt something happen when I got so close to my limit. It's an odd feeling. My blood felt like it would burst. My heart was on fire, I just didn't say anything to anyone. The first time I tried to fall asleep, images flashed through my mind of corpses and death and those beady yellow eyes. Then it was the monsters. I've seen this before, this place." I explain. This is the most I've ever talked to someone.

"I felt the same kind of thing when I was done with my limit test. If we push too far we change into those monsters. That's what they're testing. That's a horrifying thought to have." He comments. Isn't it?" I look over at the trees. "Does that post look familiar to you? I feel I've seen it before." I point at a post just up the road sitting on the curve.

"An ambush."

"Stop the bus!" We both yell at the same time the bus quickly stops, throwing everyone off balance. Emmet and I bolt off towards the trees. I pause to search for someone's blood. We run into a clearing. I pause again then take off to my right. When we get close, I stick out my hand to stop Emmett. He gives me a hand signal and I nod. I cover up any trace of me as I make my veins become visible. I sneak up to the bushes.

In an instant I have a knife at someone's neck. "Aw hell."

"Why the Ambush?" The leftover group of five guys stares at me and Emmett. I glance at their uniforms. "You're the same as us."

"We want to protect you."

I let go of the guy I'm holding and zip in front of the one who spoke. "You know? So it's true?"

"We had one of our own turn on us. We want to save our fellow people."

Emmett walks up next to me. "We'll help but we can't let them get too suspicious. Just follow the bus."

I look at Emmett. "But..."

"They're already suspicious of you take us back."

I sigh. "Fine."

"We wish luck to the both of you." The man waves as I take us back onto the bus, directly into our seats.

"What the hell is wrong with you two?"

I'm about to speak but Emmett butts in. "Luna felt something in the forest after us so we went to check but there was nothing there."

"Alright, just no more antics." The leader shoots me a look before turning back around. "Go!" The bus is set in motion.

I look out the window. Everyone is staring at me wondering what the hell is wrong with my mind. I clench my fists. A hand touches my arm. "Calm down alright? We won't have to obey them for long."

I raise an eyebrow as I turn to him "What do you mean?"

"You'll find out when we arrive. This time, I'm the one with the plan." He leans down and whispers, "Are they following us?"

I close my eyes, scooting up so I can place my feet on the floor and place a hand on the window. "Yeah they're a little ways back as if not to pick up suspicion."

"Got it. Let's just rest since we obviously aren't fighting anything today."

"Yeah." I yawn. "I thought this day would've been more exciting." I place my head against the window. "I'll see you when we get there." Instantly I fall asleep. I dream of nothing. My brain is filled with no real thoughts but the beat of my heart.

I awake to a tap on my shoulder. "We're here, can you move your legs?

"Oh I'm sorry." I set my feet on the ground.

Emmett chuckles. "It's fine." We get off the bus but head around to the back where the guys from the camp stand. "The plan."

"I'm gonna need more information than this." I wave my hand in their direction.

"Tomorrow night, we're gonna get everyone outta here. These guys are gonna help."

"Then what?"

"We're gonna fight back, and find a way to change the people who have become their own monster."

"Despite what they tell you, the monsters are not all the same. When someone becomes a monster, they become their insecurity or something that brings them down." One person from the group says.

"That's a horrifying thought." I turn to Emmett. "I'm in, but we should get back, they're already annoyed with us."

"One more thing, you guys are a group right? Trade some of your blood, it can give you the other's ability it's more helpful than you'd think. Have a good night and good luck to you. We'll see you tomorrow." They disappear into thin air and we walk away.

"Trade blood, that's certainly different." I mumble. We fall in with the cluster of other people walking towards what I assume to be the barracks.

"Two people to a room, if you're in a group stay with that group." Someone tells us. People scatter already finding their groups and going room hunting.

Emmett and I are already inside at the very end of the hall. We pick our room instantly but find it to be locked. We wait outside until someone comes up to us. "You two are a group?"

"Yes sir." Emmett replies.

"Is there anyone else in your group?"

"No sir."

He raises an eyebrow but doesn't comment on that. "Names."

"Emmett Maxwell." He writes that down then looks at me.

"Luna Cadwell." I tell him.

"Move please" He unlocks the door. "Stay in your rooms, we get up early in the morning, and just don't be stupid."

"Well that was a bit odd." I say, walking inside.

"Eh at least we have somewhere to sleep, I'm exhausted."

"Wait they said we needed to exchange blood, it's probably best to do it now rather than later. Maybe it can help us find the other one if need be."

"Oh yeah." We each sit on a bed.

He pulls out a dagger and makes a cut across his hand. I watch as I form my own cut with my mind in the middle of my hand. We shake hands then pull them away. I pull the blood into my skin and instantly feel a change in me. I heal his wound and put the blood into his hand. Without words we both change into a set of nightclothes we found and go to sleep. Words don't need to be said. We're both tired. We can figure it all out in the morning. I don't get much sleep as I am awoken by our room door opening. "Luna Cadwell, please come with us. You are being taken for the fact you have been acting very suspicious."

"What? How?" I look over at Emmett.

"We just came to retrieve you, orders of our leader."

"Retrieve? I am not an object." I tell them, sitting up.

The main one comes over to me. "It does not matter, you are coming with us." They yank on my arm.

"Hey." I look over at Emmett, bewildered. They force me to stand up.

"You can't just take her."

"I suggest you go back to sleep Emmett Maxwell. You'll be fighting tomorrow."

"That's my partner though."

"Find a new one." They pull me out of the room. Somehow they stop me from using my ability as the drag me down the hallway.

"What's going to happen?"

"You'll find out." His voice has a more sinister touch to it.

I gulp. "That sounds sinister in itself."

"That's because it is and so am I. Now shut up. I can't think with your idiotic blabbering." They take me down the hallway into another building in silence. My heart beats faster; it's hard to fight back against power soldiers when you don't have weapons. "In here." His guards open the door. They guard it as the man puts me in a chair. "This might hurt, a lot."

My limbs start to feel heavy. I rolled my head. It bobbled around. I felt like I would fall over yet I was secure in a chair. There was a catch in my throat. Squeaks came out instead of words. My blinks are long. I look at this man. He laughs. I flinch at the loud sound. "It's funny how power works right? It's dangerous and breathtaking." His voice is distorted. I want to cover my ears but if I move my arms, I fear they may fall off. My vision swirls a bit but I notice the blurry needle in his twisted hand. I squirm. "Now, now, if you keep squirming, this is going to hurt more than it should."

I squeak, sounding as though I am dying. His laugh sounds as demented as he is. I focus on the door, trying to snap my world back into clear view. Something pinches my arm but I don't scream until I actually feel the pain. The world just turns into an upside-down mess. "What... is... your problem?"

He comes into view, kind of, with a rearranged body. "What a good question. You know, truthfully, everything. I don't mind it though because pampered people, like you, can't tell me what's wrong. Now you're the monster."

My hands are shaking and I can barely feel my legs. 'Monster? I don't want to be a monster.'

I watch as his disfigured body grows closer. "Feel the pain yet?"

My head starts to pound. My heart starts to burn. I push the chair backwards so I'm not so close to him. The chair hits the ground with a very loud thud. I shake my head and put my hands on my chest. He laughs again. "Shut... up..." I breathe out.

I'm moved onto a table. "You know what happens now?" I slowly shake my head. "You become who you really are and destroy everything."

That's the last thing I hear before everything just stops. My eyes remain open. My hands stay clasped on my chest. This is what's wrong with the world; everyone wants to believe they're the only ones with problems, with feelings. Damn the world, trying to create a different one won't prove a thing. It won't stop anything because eventually things change. I need to get out of here; the silence, my heartbeat, is annoying me. I concentrate, hard, on moving. I regain the feelings in my hands first and sit myself up. My feet come back next. My vision isn't too wonky as I place my feet on the ground. "I have to get out of here." I mumble. "I can't let him see me this way." With a shaky hand, I open the door. I stumble down the hallway, my hand running along the wall. "Luna!" I look up.

"Emmett, stay away from me."

"What? No? I came to find you. We need to go."

"I thought that was tomorrow."

"It's been a day."

"Crap, I need to go."

"Why?"

"I'm going to turn into a monster. I don't want to hurt you." He steps in my path. "Move please." I plead.

"I said we're partners and I meant it. I'm not leaving you behind." He puts an arm around me and helps me outside.

There's a slight breeze and lots of commotion. I fall to my knees groaning in pain. "Emmett we need you to help fight."

"I'm staying with Luna."

I let out a scream. The dude backs away from me. I feel my body change. "A child I don't understand."

"What brings her down." I hear Emmett mumble.

Maniacal laughter exits from my mouth. I throw my head back. "This is who I am." I stand up.

"You aren't a child."

"I'll always be the child. Everyone's told me that, even you."

"I didn't mean it that way."

"Who cares?" I watch as people run up to us.

"For a leader, you don't do much leading nor are you good at secret keeping. In fact let's just say you're bad at everything."

"Luna..."

"I am no longer Luna." I cut Emmett off.

"I wouldn't insult the one who controls you miss monster." The leader replies.

"You can't control monsters. You wanted something vicious though. I mean you created all of us. Well, I'm your monster now. Happy?" I tilt my little head to the side and giggle creepily.

"Who would be happy with you around?"

"Insults? I control what happens here. I know that you want a different world, that you're selfish also right? I also know that this dude standing near us was one of the first tests." I point to him. He lets out a piercing scream as I rip out his beating heart.

The leader looks at me horrified. "What have you done?"

"This is what you wanted right? Monsters with no hearts or minds and only you can control." I put the heart back in the man's body and he takes a breath of life. "Things don't work that way." A wave of red light shines around me. My hair flows up and my little dress flaps. "It's your turn to feel pain." Blood quickly flows from my hands.

"Luna!" my hands are pushed to my side.

I shake my head. "What are you doing?"

"This isn't you."

"Yes it is. This has always been what I am."

"No it isn't"

"You don't know me."

"Maybe not all of you, but I know that you don't want to be a vicious person. You don't really like fighting, you prefer protection. Their words don't define you, it's how you see it."

"What do you mean?"

Emmett is kneeling in front of me when I look at him. "Well, all I used to do is just make people upset and be cold to them. I don't know how so many people put up with me. I was never grateful. When you treated me coldly the first time we met, I finally realized how other people felt. I wanted to be nicer. That's why I refuse to leave you alone. I can't stand to leave another person unhappy."

Tears fall from my eyes as I hug him around the neck. "Thank you." I whisper quietly into his ear. I feel myself change back to normal.

Emmett hugs me back. "You're welcome. Now dry your eyes, we have people to help."

I pull away and sit back on my heels. I rub my eyes and notice everyone staring at me. Someone pokes me then backs away quickly. "She's not a monster anymore."

"Because I don't see myself as the monster."

Someone else comes to me and helps me up. She stares me dead in the eyes. "So you're not going to kill us?"

"No." I chuckle. "We are all a team. We need to make sure we don't become the monsters." Emmett stands next to me.

"So what now?" A girl from the back calls.

"Well," Emmett starts.

"We're gonna go back," I continue.

"To where we came from,"

"And save the people,"

"From becoming the hate put on them,"

"And we're gonna do it,"

"Together." We say at the same time, lifting our clasped hands up. The warriors cheer.

"What about the dead people?" Someone asks us.

"They attacked us first, not the other way around. When we get there, we don't fight until they do and we're going to stop them from making people like us."

"Then once we do that, we save the rest of the world from plummeting down to the end of the spiral." We all start walking towards the direction from which we came. We are headed down a dark road where there may be more bloodshed. This is one battle where everyone may not come back alive or well, but we have to try. This needs to stop before our world is too far gone to bring back.