Deviant: No Longer Human

Trapped on the ship, Wang Xiao realized jumping off would only worsen matters, risking not only the treacherous waters but also the peril of gunfire.

It soon became glaringly apparent that the ship was a floating prison of children, the numbers reaching into the hundreds, if not thousands.

'What is happening here...?'

The gravity of the situation, initially serious and dangerous, metamorphosed into something surreal, leaving Wang Xiao grappling with a reality he couldn't fathom.

The ship, once a vessel navigating the seas, had transformed into an enigma, its cargo of captive children evoking a sense of incredulity that even Wang Xiao couldn't wrap his head around.

The mystery deepened, and the surreal nature of the unfolding events left him suspended in a state of disbelief and uncertainty.

As if the bewilderment wasn't enough, Wang Xiao found himself unceremoniously thrown into a makeshift jail cell.

The bars, like twisted fingers, offered glimpses of the outside world, a cruel reminder of freedom just out of reach.

*Click*

The jarring sound marked Joseph locking the cell before striding away, leaving Wang Xiao alone in the echoing silence.

"Didn't he say there was someone else here as well?"

Wang Xiao, standing within the almost empty cell, furrowed his brow in confusion.

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A sudden shift in temperature sent a shiver down his spine, freezing him momentarily. His body moved on autopilot as he turned around, pupils dilating in anticipation. A sigh of relief escaped his lips as he recognized the unexpected companion within the confines of the cell.

"Fuuu... You scared me..."

He dropped to the ground, his gaze fixed on the person who shared this unexpected and surreal captivity.

"Who are you?" Wang Xiao asked, his curiosity piqued.

The girl before him, with eyes akin to glistening pearls, blinked in response. Standing at his height, her worn and tattered clothes failed to obscure the flawlessness of her skin, which appeared as smooth as jade. Strands of hair, reminiscent of a mesmerizing rainbow, fell around her like silken threads. The surreal beauty of her appearance left Wang Xiao questioning the limits of his perception.

"Are you from here?"

"Can you speak English?... 中文...? Deutsch, Русский? Anything???" Wang Xiao attempted to communicate, throwing out basic words from various languages he had encountered.

However, the girl remained unresponsive, as if locked in a silent world of her own, leaving Wang Xiao puzzled and increasingly uncertain of the reality surrounding them.

With a slight, hesitant look, she raised her small hand toward him. Intrigued, Wang Xiao watched as her delicate fingers traced over his face.

Her touch revealed skin unusually soft, devoid of the signs of malnutrition that marked his own.

Her lips, tempting him to unravel the mysteries of her presence, stirred conflicting thoughts within Wang Xiao.

Though mentally tempted, his physical strength allowed him only the lifting of small rocks, not the lifting of girls in his current state.

Woosh!

In the midst of his internal conflict, the girl's crystal-like eyes emitted a blinding light, compelling him to shut his eyes tightly.

"Wh-what!?"

Upon hastily reopening his eyes, she was nowhere to be seen, as if she had evaporated into thin air.

"W-Where did she go?"

Wang Xiao's eyes widened in shock, his gaze nervously darting around the now-empty cell. The girl had vanished as if she had never existed.

"Was it an illusion?"

"No!"

"It certainly wasn't an illusion!"

"Hey, you guys saw her as well, right?" Wang Xiao, desperately seeking confirmation, addressed the invisible audience that seemed to elude him. However, only an eerie silence responded to his hopeful inquiry.

"..."

"... Am I going mad?" Wang Xiao questioned, a tinge of terror coloring his words.

Yet, soon, he heaved a deep sigh of relief, finding a corner to sit, adopting a monk-like posture as if to force his racing thoughts into submission.

In the midst of Wang Xiao's internal struggle, Joseph reported to Cain, "General, I have locked both of them together, but why not just kill them? They aren't needed!"

Cain's face contorted into a frown, his brows furrowing in profound contemplation. "We can't kill them here; wait until we arrive at the Atlantic Sea. We'll dispose of them there."

Joseph, with a visible unease, voiced his concern. "But General, wouldn't it be better to eliminate them now and avoid any risks during transportation?"

Cain's gaze held steady, reflecting a resolute determination. "No, Joseph. We must ensure a seamless operation. Their fate awaits them at the Atlantic Sea. Any deviation from the plan could jeopardize everything."

The gravity of the decision lingered, palpable in the tense silence. Joseph, with a reluctant nod, displayed his understanding. "Understood, General. I'll ensure they remain secure until we reach our destination."

Cain, his expression unwavering, delivered the final directive. "Time is of the essence. We cannot afford any mistakes. Proceed with caution, and we'll deal with them once we arrive. Remember, Joseph, we yet don't know whether these children are being sent on a journey to hell or heaven! Make sure they are fed well."

Joseph's eyes flickered with uncertainty. "We don't know? Wasn't it the way to heaven?"

Cain's bitter smile carried a note of irony. "We yet don't know what happens inside. The kids that go in never come back, and even those who do return with supernatural abilities and a bloodlust we have never seen. What do you think would turn them like that? Do you still think there is heaven inside? Don't let your eyes deceive you!"

Joseph's face took on a slight grimness as he nodded inwardly.

Inwardly, he was shaken. Did this mean they were sending thousands of children every day into the pit of hell?

The thought sent shivers down his spine, prompting him to retreat, avoiding this unsettling topic as everyone else did.

The haunting reality of their actions lingered in the air, a collective silence shielding them from the implications of the dark truth they dared not confront.

The journey to the Atlantic Sea persisted for the next five weeks. Everything unfolded with an eerie sense of normalcy; no one came to inspect Wang Xiao's cell, food was slid in without interaction, and it seemed as though he had been forgotten.

In the confines of his cell, Wang Xiao received only two meager portions of food during these last five weeks. The conditions were deplorable—an old, broken toilet seat accentuated the squalor surrounding him.

Yet, the additional rations served a dual purpose. While they sustained him physically, they also contributed to the restoration of his energy and clarity of mind. Most importantly, they solidified the undeniable truth: whatever he had witnessed wasn't a mere illusion.

That girl was here!

She was real!

And she had vanished right before his eyes.