Chapter 4

  Promises between William and Dann wouldn't disappear just because they would separate. Even if it was coming, their fate was between a cliff and a single hand, and one choice stood above the rest.

  Two little kids in a destroyed camp climbed from the debris. Crossed by luck in the middle of the unfortunate incident, deaths, and crimson, they did not decide to live. They simply live.

  William thought he had fewer regrets than Dann, who liked to pretend he was always fine, understood that his parents became a mangled mess for a bunch of Hellgars, and that had never left his mind.

  Some things were no different across a bunch of survivors. Dann saw the end of his parents with his own eyes; they were munched right before him as he made his weeping escape. It gave him enough time to escape, effectively saving his life even if what was coming wasn't pretty in the slightest. Those bunkers?

  The munching and sounds of crawling laughter... Thuds. Screams. William?! They left two kids frightened but only one was righteous, until the other eventually pretended to hide his grief with a smile.

  Dann would never forget the terror of Incursion. Even the military did not help. He was no soldier. He was a coward who learned way later how the military came late because the Incursion was terrifying not just Camp Nolan. It pained his heart to this day, but he never blamed the military. Many Walkers died that day. His parents were nothing, frankly.

  A decade-long history wouldn't disappear, as it lived with them, while it was about time to move on. It was typical, if not like a law of this era.

  Even if a family was blessed with a baby bearing an Emblem, it didn't mean incredible safety. It would give hope, however, or various compensations for the parents by those looking for new recruits. Safety was the best choice, since if they were lucky enough, obtaining citizenship to the Federation was possible. Even if they would give up their child as a price, no one would blame them.

  The right upbringing was up to no common people, so raising Walkers fell on diverse individuals. A lot of people hoped for their growth and even more were willing to sacrifice everything for their future.

  Some people were unable to bear this future being lost, or humans becoming obsolete and hopeless. Children were exactly that hope, so William always respected anyone willing to help them, regardless of whether they were Walkers or not.

  His upbringing helped with this ideal. It often changed because of Rifts or brutal mobs of Darks, or... well, the people. In the safety of some trails and zones, time, or human settlements, he could either reveal his Emblem, get help or nasty looks, or not do it. Such times were hard and often turned his journey to shit.

  Pretending to be normal was expected, and there was no denying he was still a human boy, who was before yet another choice. A choice that... seemed to not be his anymore.

  Dann and Miss Anderson said it! He was under the protection of good people and he should pay them back. With the Federation's aid, and programs for the young Walkers, one could see a direction and path ahead.

  But William wasn't thinking about that. He used to detest this matter and come to terms with them. He was stubborn and hesitant for others to touch or see his Emblem. Those programs and recruiting sentiments were rough and he refused every single offer. Alas, not anymore. He failed his promise. He failed his parents. They were nowhere. They were dead. That's it.

  Glancing around his room, leaving might be longer than a minute, which sounded like a lot of time in some cases. The Emblem in his flesh wasn't reacting to anything. It wasn't an aid or a poison. It was part of him.

  “Well, what to think of you?” William asked his shiny crimson delight that many took for treasures. Unsurprisingly, it did not talk back.

  Walkers had multiple visions and types. He had no guesses about his own. He was an orphan who never felt right, so he always tried to stick to the ground or people who felt good. Dann was the first, but not because he was the one from that camp or time.

  Emblems were highly regarded as the greatest path to solving this apocalypse. That idea had many decades of prospects because Walkers contained many generations. Some eighty years back, they began to shine, and before that, no one knew what to expect from them.

  The exact history wasn't clear. Walkers were still relatively new and unique in Emblems or as individuals. Researched and put into new kinds of science, there were stories, legends, or rumors about them. They were like apostles and heroes for some people, and in the Federation, they were like kings and great heroes.

  Still, depending on the continent and culture, they were different, but never very wrong.

  William remembered how his studies proceeded in some interesting direction, either by Miss Anderson, or rare instances of talkative Walkers who came for recruitment or brief lessons. Then, there were other types of lessons, hidden behind the time older than two years old and where he was the lesson, or the surroundings were.

  Walkers should know their duties and worth at due age because they were weak. They needed to grow first before knowing the harsher reality. Because of that, disparities rose and no one exactly knew the best way to get these kids the best shape possible. The things William knew came from multiple layers, so the validity of some lessons wasn't that impressive. He didn't trust every word told by men, for the world and Outside gave more questions and fewer answers.

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  The Awakening was the supposed start.

  William was aware of that word and what it meant. It was about age and numbers. Quality too, he supposed, but where did that end or start?

  Walkers naturally aged like people and Emblem grew with them, which was one of the most critical aspects of their whole existence. It was both a curse and an opportunity. One was because it was too damned slow to grow. The other was a chance to fight back, even with costs, sacrifices, and limited childhood.

  At some point in history, Walkers changed when Emblem reached some effectiveness and major transformation. People considered the Emblem as the primary judgment, rather than the person behind it. That was Outside knowledge, yet was was the truth? People were people. That was what William knew also, and he was never taught by a proper teacher.

  William wasn't sure how he could change; he felt his Emblem and painful memories changed him more than enough. That made common sense for him. At this very moment, however. What of him in a year?

  There were still some common rules. Before this Awakening, youngsters should be physically strong, have excellent stamina, master some basic fighting styles, and not be some dumb prick. Of course, having just two of these perks was enough for most military organizations.

  There were differences between minds and Emblems, or what a Walker could endure. That was natural, as far as William apprehended this fact like his hand. A Walker was riding the Emblem; not vice-versa. How one viewed and saw this topic changed when people and clustered organizations became necessary.

  In the end, Walkers were people, and their minds and Emblem held secrets and power, so not just anyone could become a king.

  Camps contained the word hope in their politics, rather than be clustered necessity. The Federation moved that instead, bearing what camps could not do. Walkers did that too, even in large, dangerous, or little places. It could fuel the order or others and prevent disasters.

  William was at a crossroads and wasn't sure how wide his paths were, or how many he was watching. The Federation was the most dominant, as it was the sole governing body representing North and South America. He lived here all his life. Then, there was the Emblem Academy, the most mysterious place second to none when one talked about Walkers.

  There were also many further places away from these lands, but William was kind of dubious to think of them. Asia was distant and vast, while Europe was small and broken. African Tribes sounded weird. All of them had their respective history and richness. Their people preserved that idea and kept going. Some were completely lost like the majority of South America or Australia.

  Before becoming history, coming and reaching out to the Federation was possible, and this concept had a long narrative in the past century.

  For William, a small-scale organization didn't matter. William got plenty of ideas about his options. This orphanage took this matter very seriously, as it was for a good reason. These youths were young yet their life wasn't theirs. Without parents, someone had to shape their lives, yet they were given a choice for their fate, it was not surprising how hesitant some of them could be.

  Well, a baby could not really choose, could it?

  So what about older kids?

  William tapped his Emblem, clicking it twice and hearing nothing but generic clicks. “So quiet. Why so nervous?” He asked himself.

  Talent. According to him, Walkers have no obvious relation to some bloodline or where came from. They could be born anywhere, and their rules of Emblems were the same chaotic nonsense as everything else.

  They couldn't manifest Emblem's magical properties before the age of eighteen. William understood that, but he also heard some nonsense about efficiency, affinity, and what appeared to be some sort of examinations. Miss Anderson said some choices could help more than others and he could no longer play his stubborn games and refuse all offers or invitations.

  To this day, William wasn't sure what she meant. He was trying his best Outside. His home.

  At his age, with an Emblem of unknown quality and affinity, the unknowns left a sour taste in his mouth, so he never moved out.

  The bad taste was closing on the upcoming choice. What organization should he choose, or what to do if someone approached him once more? He would feel awkward because of his prior refusals.

  However, not every place reaches out to everyone. It was widely known that Emblem Academy was impossible to approach. It was a haughty and mysterious place.

  He didn't like how privileged it sounded, but those mysteries were something most kids loved. Still, why was mystery acceptable? Such Walker organizations should help to the best of their capacity! Why make choices or even refuse some of them?

  William was unaware and ignorant of the truth. There were disparities in kids and recruitment appeased the leadership and worth since putting resources where should belong was paramount. It was true for camps, the Federation, or even Walkers as a whole.

  He grew up outside of these proper cultures, with Outside seeping into his body and mind. It was no wonder his ignorance wasn't as prudent as worse. He was a survivor. He was different from kids who were well into their Walker journey and attended by older Walkers. Dann didn't help with that either, although he tried.

  Something gave him his bloody Emblem, so he had no choice but to grit his teeth and put his worn-down shoes on. William washed his face in a basin of water and walked to the first floor.

  William knew this building was a collection work of many people and even some Walkers. This camp was also close, as stood in its place for almost a decade. It had big facilities and farms, and William believed it could keep going for even longer unless this rarity of the present era dissipated like his lacking time.

  For a camp to last this long, it must be rather important and protected.

  His room was on the fifth floor, so it had a nice lookout. The walls were a bit rough but the quality and appearance were practical rather than extra. It stood firm and long, thanks to sturdy and old pillars for stability, and most floors had simple layouts and rooms. It was one of the best buildings that William remembered, and to this day, he was shocked they got him his own room.

  Named Orphanage of Hope, it was taking care of many children all over the northern regions, and even some parts of the former USA. All in the name of hope, of course. There were more buildings like this, while other camps had smaller-scale orphanages.

  A single safe place, far from any potential dangers, was better. That followed problems due to economics and struggles Outside, while finding and making sure kids were fine, wasn't a goal. It was a continuous effort.

  This orphanage wasn't some stubborn privileged bastion of false hope and dreams. It cared for any kid equally, which was commendable. Of course, Walkers had additional needs because of support from the Federation, and sometimes, they needed further care. It wasn't a terrible thing so very few would ever blame this practice.