Heart of the Apocalyse

Nexevus, that is the name of the world we live in. Once, a bountiful, prosperous world full of resources and food, having cracked under the pressure of supporting our way of life for endless eons. Though I was just a child, I remember much of the day it happened, this is my story…

The year was 9,998, in two years it would be the turn of the new millennium. Life seemed good, things went on as normal, there was not even a sign of distress. I was born to my parents; Kalina and Ciala, my mothers who were as brilliant as they were beautiful.

My first mother, Kalina, was a scientist of immense renown who worked in mutagenics. Her work consisted of the transforming of genetic information through mutagens, something she believed would continue to revolutionize the world.

Ciala, my mother who birthed me, was a Botanist who enjoyed plants of all kinds. Flowers, fruits, vegetables, she grew them all. As her studies went on, she even discovered all new kinds of plants through crossbreeding. When people asked how she knew certain plants would merge as they did, all she would tell them was that she listened.

I lived a good life, my belly stayed full and my body was kept safe as I grew. However...it wasn’t long before the new millennium came around, on my second birthday the government announced that the world would slowly begin to perish. They had sapped the land dry of all natural resources long ago, having kept this fact away from the public for decades.

At first, there was confusion, then panic, people began to hoard resources for themselves. Riots broke out across the multitude of cities and accidental death was everywhere. Despite how evolved we had become, people still resorted to their most primal of instinct, Greed.

Despite their best efforts to contain the chaos, the government fell within the first month, bringing about anarchy. Homes raided, people killed, women violated….my house was no such exception. Our house was raided, my mothers...killed. I only survived due to my caretaker, Maribeth taking me away on the orders of my mothers.

A maid of sorts, Maribeth was a young retired soldier in her early to mid twenties who had a debt to pay to my mother Kalina. I grew up with her acting as a mentor and guardian, learning to live off the land, fend for, and protect myself.

Society had reverted back to survival of the fittest, if people didn’t adapt to the new rule, they were either killed or died of their own starvation. As the years continued on, Maribeth and I made a life for ourselves in the wastelands away from the new dictator-like system.

I tried my best to take up both my parents' mantles, however, I did not have the knowledge for Mutagenics and my not-so-green thumb turned most plants to ash. Despite not having my parents' natural talents or understanding, I still had one thing to remember them by.

An ornate locket in the shape of a heart that Maribeth passed down to me. It was solid metal with indented ornate designs, a shimmering red painted within the indents, and while it looked to have a latch on the side of it, it would not open. Maribeth said it was a gift I was to carry with me always, keeping it hidden from others.

“Even to this day the locket has not opened for me, however, I believe whatever is within it is one final gift from my parents to me and the future generations to come,” An old man with white hair and auburn eyes sitting at a table was speaking as he gazed over the heart-shaped locket hanging from a chain clasped in his hand.

Across from him sat two young teenage girls, the girl to his left having the same eyes as the man while the one on the right had two different colored eyes, the left being seafoam green while the right was white as if it had been damaged.

“You haven’t tried forcing it open or anything?” The girl with the odd-colored eyes asked, she looked similar to the girl next to her with short dark brown hair in a messy style and freckles across her face. She sported a t-shirt under a denim sleeveless crop top jacket and ripped jeans with combat boots.

“Of course he wouldn’t, that’s a keepsake from Grandma Kalina and Ciala, forcing it open could break it!” The girl on the left chimed in, her hair were longer fiery locks tied back as a sort of curly ponytail. Wearing a plain shirt beneath a long-sleeve plaid button-up, the sleeves rolled up to above her elbows, tennis shoes, and skinny jeans over her lower half.

The man released soft, hoarse chuckles as he watched the two discuss their own thoughts about the locket. After a few moments, he settled them down with hands waving to get their attention, holding the locket out to them.

“I won’t be long for this world soon enough, my age doesn’t mesh well with this environment. So, I’m passing this on to you two, in hope that you may figure out exactly what the final gift really is.” The two girls looked at the locket before each reaching out to gently grab a section of the chain, holding it between them.

“I’m not really into girly stuff like this, you wear it, Hart,” the girl on the right said with disinterest, dropping the chain to let the redhead have it to herself. Hart took it gleefully and excitedly hooking it around her neck. “I love it Dad! Thank you, Ava, I’ll be sure to take good care of it for you!”

The man smiled and nodded to her before getting up from his seat, “Now then, it’s past your bedtime, off you go!” He hurried the two off to their room as the day wound to an end. With the heirloom past and the sun dropped below the horizon, another day within the dystopia that is Nexevus comes to a close, the three unknown to the adventures Ava and Hart are to have in the very, very near future.