Chapter 10: The Birth of a Villain
Meriella and I stood in stunned silence, watching the scene unfold before us after passing through the time portal. We had traveled back in time to the city of Arcadia before it was split into two, and what we saw was both fascinating and disturbing.
"Look at that," I whispered to Meriella, nodding towards a man standing in front of an office window, with a book and pen. "Seems like he is journaling." I walked over to peek over his shoulder and read what he was writing:
Shadows of My Past
In the depths of my mind, a darkness resides
A labyrinth of pain, where shadows abide
The ghosts of my childhood, they whisper my name
Echoes of a fragile boy, forever lost in the flame
The bullies, they came for me, like vultures in the night
Their cruel laughter, a haunting melody, a constant fight
But it was the ones who should have loved me, who hurt me the most
Their addiction and hatred, a toxic poison, forever the cost
My parents, they beat me, with fists and with words
Leaving me broken and battered, like a fragile, shattered bird
The scars they left, they still linger, a constant reminder of the pain
A pain that I've learned to hide, but never to wane
But even in the darkness, a spark remains
A flame that flickers, a fire that sustains
A desire for power, for control, for revenge
A burning need to rise, to overcome, to ascend
And so I'll rise, from the ashes of my past
I'll build a new world, where I am the master at last
A world where the strong survive, and the weak are cast aside
A world where I am the one, who holds the power and the pride.
"Meriella, you should see this. It's deep. He's lost in thought, haunted by his past. He can't see us, right?"
Meriella's eyes widened as she took in the words of the poem. "Everything looks exactly how it was back then, but no, they won't be able to see us or interact with us. This is Pedro Abstainace, the man who would eventually become the first president of Arcadia," she breathed. "It's hard to believe he was once a fragile, timid boy, especially because he was a monstrous father."
"This man is your father!?" I exclaimed, my voice laced with disbelief.
"Well, he was, although that is merely the title he was given," she responded, a hint of weariness in her tone.
As we watched, Pedro's thoughts seemed to drift back to his childhood, to the abuse he suffered at the hands of his parents. I could feel a pang of sympathy for the man, despite knowing the villain he was emerging into.
"Look, Terrchel," Meriella said, pointing. "There's Arnold Maximus, Pedro's childhood friend and also the man whose body you've reincarnated into. I'm sure you've been searching for more information on him."
We saw Arnold and Pedro walking into The Arcadian Academy. This must be where they studied, although it looked vastly different from the current version in the present time. There wasn't any high-tech equipment or cyber architecture, and people were dressed very modestly, unlike the bright colors we were used to seeing in New Arcadia City. Arnold and Pedro shared their love for science and disdain for the cruel world around them, daily confiding in each other during school breaks and after school hours, participating in debates and putting in extra study hours in the Arcadian Academy public library. It seemed the two boys formed an unbreakable bond, finding solace in each other's company, laughing and crying together.
"Meriella, this library they're at, where is it now?" I asked, a sudden thought striking me. "I searched on my swatch earlier today, actually, but it popped up as an error."
"Years ago, when my brother, President Lawrence Abstainace, took charge, he shut down the library to cover up my family's lies and schemes," she explained, her voice low.
"But that's a public facility, and the information it holds is precious!" I exclaimed, my surprise evident.
"Precisely," Meriella affirmed. "He is the president now. He does whatever he wants, and the people are too occupied with their glowing devices and tech advancements, which have significantly removed all their responsibilities, to notice what is going on. With only the Arcadia Space and Arcadia Webspace to search and retrieve information and materials from, the Arcadia Patrol has complete control over what the people know and limits their knowledge by all means possible. Hence, you received that error pop-up. But luckily for you, I was the head scout for the patrol years ago, and I know how to get you into that library!"
My mind was blown by what Meriella had just said. I looked at her, my mouth open in shock at the extreme measures, and decided not to ask what those secrets were. I was sure if she wanted to tell me, or if it was important to all this, she would bring it up. But it made 100% sense. I'd definitely remind her about the library when we got back to the present time, but for now, we needed to keep up with what was happening here in the past. "That's crazy," I simply stated.
As we watched them navigate the treacherous landscape of their school years, Pedro and Arnold would often discuss their dreams of creating a better world, a New Arcadia where people wouldn't have to suffer as they did. They devoured books on philosophy, psychology, and sociology, determined to understand the intricacies of human nature and create a utopia where everyone could thrive.
The time portal fast-forwarded to after graduation, and we saw how Pedro's determination only grew stronger. He became a charismatic leader, rising through the ranks of Arcadia's government with ease, promising the people a better future. Arnold, meanwhile, pursued a career in science, becoming one of the most renowned experts in his field. Their plan was always to combine their skills to succeed in their ambitious goals.
As we continued to observe, we saw Arnold meet Arlene, the love of his life. She was a brilliant archeologist with a passion for uncovering the secrets of the past. They met on a dig in the scorching deserts of Enlyn, where Arlene's sharp wit and Arnold's quick thinking saved them from a treacherous sandstorm. As they navigated the ancient ruins, their mutual respect and admiration blossomed into romance. They married soon after, and their son, Emerson Maximus, was born a few years later.
Pedro watched his friends' happiness with a mix of joy and envy. He had always felt like an outsider, a stranger in his own skin, and Arnold's newfound happiness only served to highlight his own emotional numbness. As the years went by, Pedro's obsession with creating a New Arcadia grew more all-consuming. He became ruthless in his pursuit of power, crushing anyone who dared to oppose him, including his own family. Arnold, who had once been his closest friend, grew increasingly concerned about Pedro's actions, but his warnings fell on deaf ears.
"And so," Meriella murmured, her voice heavy with history, "the seeds of villainy were sown, nurtured by the dark memories of my father's troubled past and his unyielding ambition to reshape the world in his image."
"What happened next? How did everything come together?" I asked, captivated by the unfolding narrative.
The time portal shifted, and we were back in the desert of Enlyn. Arlene was there on a solo mission, it seemed. She must have returned to finish what she started the day she met Arnold years ago. She entered a cave that was filled with luminous crystals and glowing insects crawling and buzzing through the air. Her boots were dusty, and her breathing increased as the space grew smaller and the atmosphere turned cool compared to the outside temperatures of the desert. The cave seemed to have an ecosystem of its own and thrived in its environment.
Arlene had a forged golden key with her. The key had a ruby at the top of it that illuminated the cave in shades of red as soon as she placed the key into a wall where there seemed to be a slight keyhole peeking out. All the crystals in the cave turned red, and the wall started to shift, creating a small entrance way. Arlene slipped through the small space, and I looked at Meriella and then at the opening, wondering if I would fit but also knowing we needed to hurry and follow her or we wouldn't see what was coming next. We nodded at each other, as if we read each other's minds, and silently squeezed through the entrance, but midway, Meriella nearly got stuck; it appeared her bust was in the way. As I saw her struggle, I couldn't help but burst out laughing despite the extremely important mission we were on. She looked back at me with an intense stare and sternly said, "Help me, you idiot! Don't laugh. If we miss what comes next, I'm blaming you!" I gulped, wondering how on earth I was supposed to help her, as if my abilities included "boob shrinkage," but it was better if I didn't tell her that. "Just push through it, it's not that BIG of a deal," I said with a grin on my face, knowing very well it was exactly that big of a deal, which was why we were in this situation.
"Are you testing me!" Meriella hissed. "Just push me through, make it quick."
I gently placed my hands on her shoulders and tried shoving her through without hurting her. But it seemed if we were going to see what was on the other side of this entrance, I was either going to have to yank her out so I could go in alone, or cut off her boobs. "Look, this isn't working. Try lifting your arms and pushing your breasts down on the sides and just push yourself back my way. I know it might hurt, but we don't have time for this, and I'm considering the effort it would take to get you and your two friends back out after we get you in."
She gave me a sad pout but did as I said, wincing as she probably hurt herself in the process. "Well, go, run, meet me back here," Meriella instructed.
I nodded and bolted through the entrance, engaging my speed and acute sense of smell to track my surroundings and where Arlene had gone. This part of the cave seemed like an entirely different world I had stepped into. The heat was extreme, and there was a deadly toxin in the air. I coughed and choked, struggling to breathe as I wandered deeper into the cave. This all felt way too real, as if I was actively part of the past. How is this even possible?
I looked back at the entrance I had left behind. All I could see was the red glowing in the distance and Meriella's golden eyes staring at me, her hands folded, cupped on her chest. She seemed concerned, but I would be way more concerned if she were here with me, given the extreme conditions of this part of the cave. By now, I had adapted to the toxins and the extreme vacuum atmosphere.
I spotted Arlene; she had a gas mask over her face. She must have known these were the conditions in here and brought it along in her backpack. In her hand, she held a rare transfiguration box with a luminous orb inside. She wrapped it in some material and placed it in a case in her backpack. It was time to get out of here. But as I followed her to the other side of the cave, making our way to the entrance where Meriella waited for me, I sensed a threat approaching. Ten individuals to be exact, with spears, and I could feel their immense physical strength. They grabbed Arlene, and somehow, they grabbed me too! Meriella let out a cry of shock, and our eyes met.
We both didn't understand how this was possible! We weren't even really present; we were just supposed to be observing.