Before all hell broke loose and the apocalyptic pop sound ushered in the new reality known as the Statis World, Larry Owour had been living his best life.
You see, Larry Owour had always wanted to become a journalist.
It wasn't just a childhood dream,it was a lifelong ambition, an obsession that rooted itself with every passing year.
He often recalled the day Norlan gifted him his first camera. He remembered the weight of it in his small hands, the thrill of taking his very first picture, and the way the other children at the orphanage looked at him afterward,with admiration, envy, and wonder.
Every year, he became the one who took the annual photographs. The children would gather around him with eager smiles while the caretakers praised his growing talent.
Those little moments of happiness, insignificant to others yet precious to him, slowly shaped his future.
And as he grew older, Larry discovered that journalism was more than just taking pictures or telling stories. It was a way to expose the truth, preserve memories, and give voices to people who would otherwise be forgotten.
That realization cemented his decision.
Larry Owour would become a journalist.
He would work harder than all his peers,learn the art of being a paparazzi,learn the art of getting to the bottom of things,give people voices and learn all he could to the best of his ability,all in order to become the best journalist around.
And more importantly,the most famous.
The hardwork paid, Larry Owour became a journalist. Although just a local journalist,his passion for the job never waivered. Always ready to get to the bottom of things.
He was living his best life, regularly improving his skill, gaining local fame,creating more awareness and raising funds to the orphanage that raised him in his Early years. And much more.
21 years old,with a bright future.
But then, everything changed.
The first culling process was a nightmare. The second even more so.
To him and all others,the change occured too fast. The transition too brutal,making sure at least every person who survived knew someone who didn't.
It was a nightmare,from living under the shelter of civilization and society one minute to trying his best to survive in a rain forest full of beasts the next.
It was too drastic. His mind always in the brink of madness as he trekked this new reality.
Fortunately, after a few days of horror and always being alert, his mental exhaustion receded after some sleep when he encountered other people.
It was a group of ten people. A group of ordinary folks that banded together to increase their chances of survival.
And indeed they survived,their strength in numbers allowing them to pose a certain threat to first level awakened beasts.
But it was only a threat. How could ordinary people fight an awakened beast?
And so,with every encounter,there were casualties,and depending on the level of awakened beasts,the casualties varied.
Fortunately,they were not the only people who banded together. After two days in this stasis world,they met another group. Then they met another and another, until their group boasted a significant two hundred people.
The saying humans banded together in times of adversity couldn't be more true.
With such numbers and the use of tools made from bones of slain beasts,they could now at least trek the rainforest with a bit of security.
More importantly,with the bit of Knowledge given to all during the first culling process,and a fortunate encounter with one who survived the perils of a dungeon,some were even able to open the divine aperture to become awakened.
A single fire control skill further bolstering the sense of security.
With that,they found a clearing. A place where they camped using the hides and skins of beasts to form rudimentary tents.
A place where,they would clear beasts around it every few days.
A community of sorts. A temporary safe heaven.
But the number ratio between awakened and mortals was pitifully low. And in accordance to human behavior and tendancies, hierarchies were formed.
Classes became evident. The strong get more beast meat. The strong get more fresh water. The strong get more say.
Larry Owour watched all these changes. He watched how the many conformed to the will of the few.
How they conformed to one man's will; Jeremy, the one who survived the dungeon and the first to become an awakened among this group.
Sigh,the strength of the few.
Larry watched it all. His lack of strength killing him inside. His lack of strength making him unable to stop what he envisioned would happen.
From his brief encounter with Jeremy,he knew what kind of man he was. This was not a good man. Just his gaze towards Larry's skin color told him all he needed to know.
This guy was a conservative, racist son of a bitch.
---
And as Jeremy became the defacto leader, Larry watched what he feared become reality.
He watched how easy it was for the whole camp to bend to the whims of the strong.
He watched how those who protested were silently get rid off during the night.
He watched how the strong monopolized the fire control skill. Now no longer accessible to just anyone.
He watched how one of the awakened took advantage of a young girl under the watch of over 200 people.
He watched how the many,grind their teeth with anger,some looking away,some disgusted and some even relishing the sight.
He watched the strength of the few suppress the will of the many.
And his heart broke.
If this were a civil, societal world,maybe,maybe journalism would help.
However it was not. This world was now devoid of any civilization. The buildings were no more,mass media had died and pitifully,humans were now reverting to their barbaric ways.
For fucks sake,it hadn't even been a week since they came to this stasis world.
Is this what all those years of civility and human society led to?
He could not understand, the first culling tested the will of the people,how could people who were able to survive that, now this cowardly?
Was there not one among them who can stand up for the girl?
He told himself... should one of these people stand up for the other,he shall join!
He shall fan the fire of the many! He shall spread the fire of rebellion should it come to that.
But alas, even he wasn't able to stand up for others.
He wasn't able to be the first to start the fire.
He took was among the cowards.
Understanding well that he,like the others, survived the first culling process due to the will of survival.
He would give anything to survive. As long as he is alive,there was always a chance.
A chance to become strong,a chance to become the few.
****
A few days later.
Larry Owour had enough. It was at night,and he was taking a piss. He witnessed Jeremy and his minions; who were cultivated by him personally giving pointers,kill a man in cold blood.
He knew that this had been happening,but seeing it himself broke the camel's back.
How many had died so far? He wondered, would he join the dead if he speaks up for the many? Or would he become one of the few abandoned by the many?
He felt a startling realization. He too was among the many who abandoned the few.
That man,who was being killed in his sleep had only slightly oppossed Jeremy's idea of sending mortal scouts into the forest.
Why did he not speak up at that time? Well he knew very well that,if he had spoken up,and the many did not back him and this poor guy,he would also join him in death.
Are these people Worth risking his life?
Hell no!
Does he feel guilty after identifying himself as part of the flock of sheep.
Yes!
Can his conscious handle such things?
Not for long.
Especially after another group of 7 people joined them the next day.
He saw someone familiar. A childhood friend,a sister whom she took pictures of every year. Tessa.
"Why am I not happy to see her?" He asked himself.
He knew the answer. Tessa was a lovely 17 year old with a blooming body. She had an innocent and easygoing character all her life,and when the two met,Larry could still see it even now.
Somehow,she had not been affected by this new world.
Tessa was ecstatic when she saw Larry. This was the first familiar face she had seen ever since she awoke from the first culling process.
And so the two were inseparable. With Tessa taking on the little sister role and obeying all of Larry's instructions.
Fortunately,she did not yet capture the eye of any of the awakened.
But what if she did? Would Larry still continue to turn a blind eye?
He knew he couldn't,and when he continued to notice the little maneuvers of the awakened,he made up his mind.
His conscious could not handle being able to see all these transgressions and do nothing. Especially when it could be Tessa's turn at any time.
Or even worse,it could be him.
However he was alone.
He decided to find like minded people. Those who have at least now formed a bit of comradery with each other. Those who at least have something to loose.
If not one of them could stand up for others, maybe it was time he did.
Luckily all was not lost.
One night,he found two like-minded people during his night patrol. This was a system of keeping eyes at all time,where one is needed to warn the others whenever beasts appear.
These two were among five apart from Larry during this particular night.
They whispering how vile the awakened were,and how they can't take it anymore. They were planning to run. To split from this group and leave their survival to fate.
"Don't do anything stupid." The two were startled with Larry's voice. They hadn't noticed him. Maybe because it was night time,and Larry fit right in during the night. But these two most certainly won't comment this in Larry's face.
Larry ignored their tense gazes and spoke ellequently. "Do not worry, am not one of Jeremy's people."
"Exactly what one of Jeremy's people would start with!" One sputted out.
Larry had nothing to argue with.
"Sigh,let's say I am one of Jeremy's guys, doesn't that mean you won't see the sun rise tomorrow?"
The two suddenly twitched their faces,their color drained and turning pale.
Larry laughed quietly," That guy is one racist son of a bitch. Do you really think am one of his guys?"
Suddenly it made sense to them. This guy can't be Jeremy's person. They relaxed their bodies,looking at Larry with a bit of a friendly gaze. They seem to come to the same conclusion, maybe they found another like minded person!
"In every night patrol,there is always three awakened. Do you know their task?" The two frowned again.
"You guessed it right. It is to watch over you. Should you habber any thoughts of running, should you have any thoughts of against him,he will know, and you will be disposed off before the night ends.
So gentlemen,do you still want to try your luck?"
"Why are you telling us this mate? It can't be because it's from the goodness of your heart.Surely you have something in mind right?" One asked in an Australian accent.
"My name is Chris,and this is Tony. We're Australian" Chris added before Larry could speak.
Larry nodded. He understood that even among the 200 plus people,those from the same place,those familiar or of the race race would stick together. It's just he was unlucky to be the only dark skinned person among them. Hence segregated, with only Tessa to keep him company.
They acknowledge his presence,but they don't actually actively seek him out. He was accustomed to this, for even in the civil world,it was the same,just slightly better.
" I do have something in mind,but it'll have to wait for sometime." He wanted to watch their actions,how these people carry themselves before trusting them. For now,he would only try to fan the flames of dissatisfaction in them.
"All I can say is that,you shouldn't think about running of during the night. Even if you succeed,the dangers here are too great. This forest has more beasts than you can imagine.
In the coming days,just try to find other people. The more the better. You have to be careful. After we have a considerable number,we can then try something."
The two thought it through and found it acceptable.
They exchanged a few ideas here and there and got to know each other a bit. Larry found them to be good people. Intelligent and willing. Well, at least Chris was,Tony was just spewing ideas here and there without thinking about the consequences.
They were a good pair. That was Larry's impression of them. Hopefully they don't disappoint him.