The Diamond Cult

Shut down

The abuser of the truth paints with disappearing colours

Valuing the canvass at worthless dollars

For once the veil of the facade is lifted

Honesty, integrity and trust can never be re-gifted

-

He kept his head low, pushing the memories out of his mind.
Why aren't you more like your brother?
Do you like getting these punishments, Little Bear?
Little bear, be careful. This is your last warning.
Do you want more?
His scars tingled, the coat suffocating him.
He looked around him, feeling watched and wanting to run away from everything and everyone.
Little bear,
Little bear,
Little bear,
Little bear,
The awful nickname repeating in his mind. Ringing and stinging like an terrible poem.

He stood still until someone bumped into him, shaking him awake. Disoriented and hazy he stood looking around him.

He continued walking, humming an old but familiar lullaby to himself.

-

Xenon hesitantly approached Ares.

"Ares..."

"Go away."

"I don't know what happened, but I need you to come with me."

"Go away."

"Ares, please-"

"Go away, are you deaf?"

Xenon sat down next to Ares.

"I got orders to bring you with me."

"How did you know where I was?"

"I know you well enough to know where you go for some peace and quiet. Please, come with me."

"It's about my brother."

-
07/11/2031
"I need my phone fixed and if it doesn't happen I will throw you in front of the lions, pink lions."

"Yes, ma'am. I can't really do any-"

"You find a way or you'll lose your job."

"There's nothing I can do, ma'am."

"Wasn't I clear? You'll find a way or you'll make one, which ever you may choose be sure to bring me a strawberry frap on your way back."

"Yes. ma'am."

Diva turned away from her assistant and fiddled with her rings as she left.

-
"Дорогой, could you help me blow off some steam?"

"Of course, sir."

They strode to the training hall.

"Did anything particular happen, Neville?"

"No, don't break your beautiful mind over it."

"You can tell me, you know me."

"Don't push it, Саша."

"Извините, Neville."

"It's okay. Let's get started."

-

"Styx..? Isn't that a river in Hell?"

Moonlight stood up and rushed to her library. She snatched a few books from the bookcase and went through them without bothering to sit down.

"Hmm, maybe newspapers?"

She went through her newspaper collection and found a few that caught her attention.

"Styx project in Turkey, Russian government involved with US government, Japan creating special AI for international collaboration project? Countries involved in the Styx project...Even Greece? Damn. DARPA reports have been leaked?"

Her flights flickered.

She stepped back and dropped the newspaper.

Everything went black.

-

She held her brother tight, playing with his hair as she hummed.

"Leto."

"Yes."

"When will we go back to Greece?"

"μωρό, we won't."

"What do you mean?"

"We won't go back home, μωρό."

"Why?"

"Well, we're here for the Styx project."

"Won't that end?"

"I honestly don't know, don't count on ever leaving."

"They can't just do that."

"Yes, they can."

"I don't like it."

"Me neither, μωρό."