The LIFE OF PICTY

Do having stupid thoughts make you stupid or wise? Well, some people think stupid and they say something more stupid, while some think stupid things and say stupid thing not realizing till they hear it themselves and by seeing the reaction others, which will definitely scar him and will never forget the incident ever and have sleepless night like the one I am having now. Wasting my time sleeping on this bed and having a conversation with myself in my mind and staring at the ceiling like an idiot. Wait how do I know it is dark when I have not even seen the sunlight or gone outside or even seen the time. Does it have something to do with my power? I clearly felt something different when I was outside these walls with those special handcuffs. I felt something in me which was similar to the time I woke up but it was less compared to back then. if I remember right, I feel tired all the time when I am here. Could it be possible it is because my power works differently than others and me being here is only making me tired because I am using my power. How do I contain or stop using it? I will find a way tomorrow morning after waking up I need to sleep now. Good night, wait did I just say good night to myself. I must be going crazy by being here. Ahh what should I dream about this time, how about hot chicks in bathing suit---. Just like that Picty went to sleep.

It was morning and Picty was eating breakfast but then suddenly the door opens, and the first lieutenant commander Slyzdger Kyptor enters. I see your stuffing your face, I wish to talk to you Picty, if that is your real name. I see your still bent on proving that I am a bad guy, what do you want Slyzdger? Call me lieutenant, I am here because I want you to come with me for a while. Are you planning to assassinate me? I would really love to but no, the court orders are clear, any assassination attempt on you will cost the A.A.B. If you want you can make it an accident and the court will have no evidence against the A.A.B. Picty, I shall protect you even if I have to sacrifice my life. Where are you taking me? I have got information that Red will visit a nearby place soon. I want to collect evidence that he is alive. Picty thinks for a while and says, your informer is wrong, and you will not find Red as he is dead. What I don't get is why does the lieutenant has to go on an errand like this and take me to? I am ordered to watch you all the time and the Head General Heyestain has dismissed my request of investigating it, because it was a rumor and rumors about Red always pops up everywhere. Picty smiles and says, you must be really desperate to follow rumors, I will go with you just to prove that I am innocent. Alright Picty, I will ask Head General Alannah for her permission. You can take him! Alannah walks through the wall. Picty surprised, how did you appear from the wall? That is my ability kid, I can hide in walls or anything. Slyzdger laughs, I should have known you were listening, I did not detect you when you are hiding, no wonder why people call you the best spy in the country. Alannah smiles and says, you give me too much credit lieutenant. Now make sure he is in one piece when you return, and I give you time of four days to return. If you don't return in four days, I will report that you kidnapped Picty and fled. Slyzdger stares angrily and says, fine I shall return in four days with proof and then I will personally eliminate him. If you bring proof that Red is alive, I shall personally kill Picty and make an example to our enemies. We shall leave at once get your stuff packed. Picty smiles and says, I don't own anything to pack lets go. Wait, you cant walk around with me in that filthy dress. Picty smiles and says,I am not going on a date with you to feel that way, I will come like this or get my dress back which I was wearing, and you have to sponsor all my travel expense also.Slyzdger in a disappointed look, I knew you were trouble, but I did not expect this much, fine I shall sponsor your expense and buy you some clothes, take it as a final curtesy before you die.

#

It was middle of the day, and the sun was scorching hot, Picty and Slyzdger travelling by foot. Why do we have to walk, are there no cars here? We are going to a village in the forest where the black market is situated, cars don't go there and not only that the Black market is governed so that money inflow will not be interrupted. The members of the black market will ensure every purchase of illegal goods are delivered and paid for, they are funded by high profile politics and rich royals. They have an elite squad of criminals that do their dirty work, if anyone messes with them. The resistance is one of their big shot clients, and they make sure they stay anonymous and happy with discounts, in return the resistance fund ten percent of their army. We are arriving near the village wear this coat and make sure no one sees the power cuffs in your ankle. Yes, I wanted to ask you what is this thing in my leg? It is a cuff that suppress your ability power so you won't use your ability, but you still can use some of your ability power. Now keep quite keep a low key till we reach our destination.

Picty looks around as he walks and thinks, this guy is irritating, I only accepted so that I can see the outside world but till now everything is quite same as earth, frogs, birds, trees, mountains but this place is greener than earth, I think they have better technology for industrial works. Then again there are some new species which I have not seen on earth could it be that industrialization on earth has caused extinction of these species or they evolved due to the existence of power. I wish you could see this, Mabel; you would freak out and run to a nearby library to read history books. You were a true historian, yet you learnt nothing from the past that could flourish the future. I wish I could hate you to end of my core but no matter how much I try I can never hate you even one bit. Why did you have to write that letter and knowing what would be written in that and why did I read it. There is no point in thinking about that but then again mind is a powerful entity that which, when not controlled can lead to what I am facing now. It would have been worse if I did not know the difference between the light and the dark. Looks like I am slowly turning back to the person I used to be, is it because of this calming walk or this cool breeze that is passing slowly through my face or my will to live is fighting back. Whatever the reason, I have understood one thing that is I am not courageous enough to take my own life or even die. Dammit why should I have such good will power and confidence. Well, I think you will be happy Mabel seeing me suffer like this. That's enough thinking about my past let think about the present. This guy I don't understand him, its clear Red did something traumatic that he is directing his frustration toward me. If I have to take a guess, he wanted to kill him but when he heard he died he could not comprehend the fact and is acting on his impulse but yet he is professional and well behaved and following the rules except for current circumstances and its contraindicating from his behavior. Whatever is his problem I better not get involved, I have a feeling he will pop and that's bad for me. Looks like the village is in sight, wait that's a village there is four or five hut made from trees. Should I ask him if it's a village or roadway restaurant. No, he told to be quiet, let me just leave it at that.

Picty, we have reached the village, but something is wrong here rest of the huts are gone and by looking at the marks they are relocating the village to another place we are certainly not lucky, we had to buy supplies here but looks like we have to go directly to the black market. Why do you think they are relocating, wont they get a lot of business as traveler's pass by here? I think it due to the new road that was being built and by the looks they completed it and they are relocating near to that road. Ok now let's hurry to the market and here take this and keep it at all times as that is your pass to enter the market.

Ok then looks like we are here at the entry. There is nothing there but air, Slyzdger where is the entry is it underground? The market is covered by a special kind shield or barrier so it's not visible to the eye, hold your pass up straight and then the door will open. Picty holds his hand up and the pass suddenly starts to shine, a door suddenly comes forward from the ground with steps going downwards. Well looks like the door is open and it looks like a tunnel to another place, so they relocated the market also, no wonder no one else going to the market is seen passing through. Picty keep a low profile just in case, we clearly don't need trouble here. So, then what are we waiting for let us enter.

#

After one whole hour of travelling through the tunnel they reach the surface with cleared sky, raging crowds and tall buildings and shops selling many illegal products in various prices, auctions being called out, fighting tournament and other entertainment and busy restaurants. Slyzdger and Picty walk around and are amazed by the infrastructure they have seen before them. The black market has grown a lot from the last time I was here, it has become a city. The villagers did not move near the black market they moved into it. Slyzdger, is it safe for you here as you are the member of the A.A.B. Picty it does not matter who comes here as long as they don't stir up trouble, now then let us go to the information shop. Information shop? Yes, just like how items are sold, information is also sold. Picty and Slyzdger head towards their intended destination, they hear a large amount of crowd screaming and at someone ,which catches their attention. Picty asks Slyzdger, what do you think is going over there? let us check it out. There is no need that is not why we came here for, let get what I want and leave. And as Slyzdger turns around Picty is already in the crowd, he gets furious and rushes to Picty and says if you leave like that again I'll kill you. Picty smiles and says cool down and look there is a man in the cage and the prize to kill him is a lot of money, I guess. Slyzdger looks at the reward and says,That is a lot of money and that is no ordinary man he is the first in command to the revolutionary army Milogost Ethelbert. He is considered one of the strongest in the revolutionary army, who could possibly wreak him this hard. And then an announcer starts his speech with a screaming voice, this is your all-time favorite announcer the super, fantastic and handsome Mr. Announcer the third and its day two folks and two hundred and fifteen fights fought and still no one is able to defeat this man beast. With only water to drink he is in a weakened state and yet his will is strong even though the new head of the revolutionary army put him in this state he still fights, as of now there are fifteen entry to fight today will he die today? will it be the day this huge reward money be give off to one lucky game and if anyone wishes to participate in the game can register there alias and pay the entry fees as there are reduced slots and no money deposited will be returned what so ever. Slyzdger angrily says to Picty, looks like you were telling the truth the announcer said new head of the revolutionary army that means something has happened to Red. How much trickery there may be, RED is not a man who will let anyone pass by, after inflicting so much damage to his first in command. Picty intentionally taunting Slyzdger, I told you this was a waste of time now let's go back. No there is a new objective now. New objective? Yes, we need to find out who the new leader of the revolutionary army is. Now, you need to find out who the new leader is, the deal was to find Red and when you fail miserably, I laugh at your face. Slyzdger laughs and says, it's not like you know the way back and we are going to the information center, once we buy the information we can head back. So, let's go to the information center, it's a pity that a great warrior life is going to end in a game. Picty and Slyzdger reach the information center where there are auctions for information and pictures of famous celebrities and there are scrolls to old texts most of them probably fake hanging around, there are tellers who are processing the money and handing out the information, Picty and Slyzdger goes to a head teller and ask, I want information about someone. Head teller smiles and reply you are in the right spot, just tell an identifying feature and we will tell his complete history but for the amount of money you are willing to spend that is. Slyzdger with a deep voice says, I want the identity and history of the new head of the revolutionary army. Just as he finished the sentence, the teller looks up and down and asks, are you two together and can you give me your passes. Slyzdger confused questioned, why do you need our passes? The teller replied I need to verify the purchase. Slyzdger noticing something is wrong replies, I want to cancel my request and he is not with me. Teller laughs and says, I can't let you leave after all the reward money is huge. Just as the teller finished the sentence the black-market thugs surround them. Picty looks around and tells, why do I have the feeling we are in trouble? That's because we are, we have entered some kind of game to death. The thugs suddenly start to leave and people with uniforms enter and announces, gentlemen I am a commander of the black markets army and these are my underlings, welcome to the great city of the black-market Tricot and the king himself is awaiting your presence in the royal mansion, we have arraigned your ride there, please cooperate and follow us. The uniformed member takes them to the royal palace where the king is already waiting there for their arrival. As Picty and Slyzdger enter the mansions visitors room they see the king with flashy clothes and servants massaging his feet, he was quite muscular and huge person with an egoistic smile on his face. The king starts his sentence by saying, I was hoping dearly that someone would enter the game, I was considering hiring idiots to go and ask the information, but our principles and client satisfaction was more important after all the revolutionary army is our top buyers. Well, I think our client will surely be happy to know the first lieutenant commander Slyzdger Kyptor of the first division was the one who entered the game, but that being said, who would you be? we have no records of you whatsoever, that is quite rare nothing gets past us. Picty smiles and says, I am Picty, you said game and some reward money? King laughs and says straight to the point well first off, all let me introduce myself, I am the king of Tricot Ortwin Faris and Picty who must you be. Picty smiles and says information is power, why would I give you that for free. King looks at Picty and goes name your price. Let us go and I will give you my complete history from when I was born. King laughs and says that would be a good deal but then again, the game comes with rules which I cannot break but I can modify them, the game shall happen no matter what the cost. If you tell me why you're with the first commander of the A.A.B with proof, I shall permit you two request which gives you the edge on the game. Alright I shall take the deal, my name is Picty, I am with Slyzdger because I made a deal that I would travel with him to the black market to collect information if Red is alive, so that he can present it to court and convict me as a spy and sentence me to death and the proof is this cuff on my ankle. The king stared for a minute and said interesting indeed and I feel like you won't be sharing any more information about yourself, you could be lying but then again I to have no proof that you're not and I have a good eye and I can notice when people lie to me and I think you are telling the truth so I will grant you two request as an edge to the game ask away. Picty closes his eyes and thinks for a while and says, for my first request, I want the complete rule and information about this game and as for my second I want the first in command to the revolutionary army Milogost Ethelbert to be in our team and there shall be no game where all three of us fight each other. The king sits there thinking in silence and says the rule and information will be given by default and the second one will be considered as two requests but then again Milogost Ethelbert has nothing to do with this game, I cannot add participant like that, and he is already in another game. Picty smiles and says who told he is a participant; he is my human weapon and nothing but an object. The king smiles and says, your smart kid indeed, fine I shall do what you want. The king calls for his secretory and orders him, bring Milogost to the palace end the game, refund the money or they can be added to the next grand game or if they still don't accept it kill them off. After some time first in command to the revolutionary army Milogost Ethelbert arrives and as he sees with confusion of what is happening, he is asked to sit with Picty. The king then said, here as you asked your weapon is here do as you please with him. Milogost in angrily says weapon, I am no weapon, I shall kill anyone who show such disrespect to me that means you kid, who do you think you are. Picty looks into the eyes of Milogost and says, if you play this game and we win you get to live and escape from here, it's your choice or you can go back to your last game you can decide. Milogost looks around and says, are you with the A.A.B, as I can see the first lieutenant commander Slyzdger Kyptor is here and I don't fight for anyone other than the revolutionary army. I am Picty and his prisoner as they believe I am a spy for revolutionary army. Your name is Picty right, you can call me Milo and as much I would like to say the last game had no chance for survival for me and if there is a chance in this one, I will take it. The king laughs and says, looks like you are quite a good convincer too Picty, guards remove the cuff from his ankle as it will be a hinderance in the game. As the guard removes the cuff Picty's power is completely exposed and everyone in the room starts staring as they know whose power that is. King is seen confused and after a while of deep thinking he said, I regret not able to take your deal of your history but one thing I am certain that this is going to be an interesting game. The game starts in two days' rest, eat and heal your wounds and let's see what you got Picty. Take them to their accommodation and send a doctor for Milogost, make preparation for the game, give Picty a copy of the rule book.

Three of them are escorted to their common area and they start to chat. Picty why do you have Red's power, what did you do to him? I did not do anything, that's a long story but for now I need to read this book. Slyzdger suddenly hold Picty by his shirt and screams angrily and says, so you are with the revolutionary army or why else would you save this criminal, I should kill you now and here for this. Picty stay quiet for a few seconds and said, he is a criminal in your world, for me he is just another way to survive this game and if we live you can arrest him or even kill him yourself. I did not ask to participate in this game or come here with you, I only came because, I wanted to prove that I am innocent and I do not care who your enemies are or who you wish to kill, I only wish to keep my promise that I have made long ago but the pain was too much for me to understand what was happening around me that everything felt insignificant but after coming here and spending time in that jail cottage, I had nothing to do but only think of my past and how I could have changed it but as time passed by I cant remember the request or promise I made. as time passed by, I remember the request or promise that was asked of me which I kept subconsciously, I have tried to kill myself more than I could remember but I used stupid excuses and backed out of it. if I think about it now, I will say it is not courage that I lacked it but the will to break the request asked of me to never give up on my will to live, no matter what I will not give up my life for no reason. Slyzdger let go of the shirt and walks away in silence, the room was filled with tension, dark atmosphere and confusion spread across the room. Everyone goes to their room to sleep and to plan for the game and how to win. As the wind flows gently and the sun rises the elegance of the whole world greatest resource went by in a flash the two days were done and now mere minutes left for the game, the three of them with different goals in life have come together for one goal and that is to survive the game no matter the cost. After two whole days of silence, Picty broke the barrier by saying, I have read the rule book and there is no way of not playing the game. The game is dangerous, and our survival depends on the reward money, or we can call it as bounty on our head. We can hope it will be less and survive all the rounds. But with that look I saw on the kings face, I have a feeling it will be a huge number. My life rests on your hands now, fight hard Slyzdger and Milo. Picty call me lieutenant, Slyzdger is a name my drunk father gave me, which does not make any sense and it's tough for people to pronounce it.Slyzdger looks at milo, Milo you better not be weak, or the revolutionary army will be a joke. first lieutenant commander Slyzdger Kyptor, it is first in command to the revolutionary army Milogost Ethelbert to you, I don't recall giving you permission to call me Milo. Picty smiling, why do I have a feeling this won't be as easy as I thought it would be. Ok boys the door just opened, and the game begins, I guess. let's find out how much is the reward money for our heads.

#

In undisclosed location at the headquarters of the D.A.B, Head General Alannah Claudie is approached by Theora. Was it wise to send Picty with the first lieutenant of the A.A.B Head General? There is nothing to worry, Slyzdger is strong he will protect him with his life, and he is the only one I trust in the A.A.B. it's not just that if anyone can find out if he is telling the truth its him. I have received word that they got into some trouble, but I don't think it will be an issue to him and this gives us a chance to see if Picty can be of some use to us. what do you mean by use madam? I have decided to list him in the D.A.B as a trainee. I see then can I make a request madam? You want to take command of him right, well I was planning the same thing, teach him well and make sure his skills are put to good use. Yes, Madam but there is one more thing we don't know his past. Theora listen carefully, you can tell someone suffering by looking at their eyes, I could see it in his eyes when I asked him about his past. Sometimes it's best to leave somethings unspoken. Let time heal his wounds and in time we can ask him of his past and then judge him till then let him be a trainee here.