The start of it all

The machine clicked and Etserü’s eyes opened, groaning slightly. He turned on the bed, his white shirt crumpled around his upper torso. He stood, his large sweatpants falling down from his thighs to his feet. He walked to the mirror and stared at the black bags under his eyes, his messy black hair sticking up from under the machine that pushed onto his head. The screen, near the never opening door, finally turned on. “Etserü, are you up?”

“Why wouldn’t I be? You’re damned thing always make sure I’m awake…” He sighed, tugging the top that was tightened around his head. “I have served my time within this prison, so let me go.” He leaned close to the screen, staring at the scientist on the blasted thing.

“No, you’re not allowed to leave young man. Once you came into this prion, you gave away your rights.”

“No long after my time was done.” Etserü sighed, going to his chin up bar, starting to pull himself up and down to get his heart rate up. He heard a shuffle and smirked to himself as the lead researcher came onto the screen.

“Do you want to escape?” The researcher asked. “I’ll let you go.” That made Etserü stop and look.

“You would let go of your lab rat?” He asked, dropping down. “What’s the cost?”

“Well, one, you will have to fight like the rest of the men that are worthy of death plenty. A fight to the death.” That did not bother Etserü, but then the researcher went on. “But you also have to find me the meaning of life.”

“What?! You’re asking me to find the answer to a philosophy question?” Etserü growled, but the machine loosened its hold on his head.

“Well, it’s the cost. Now go on, go figure it out, and fight. Let’s see how well the genius can survive in the real world,” The man smirked to himself as the room emptied of its one and only prisoner, the cap once on his head, now on the ground.

“I would like to join today’s match,” Etserü mind was a blank after the hour of waiting only to sign up to get a chance to fight. “Freedom fight.”

“You? Alright shrimp, what weapon do you want?” The keeper of the match grunted, turning. Etserü had already had more than enough time to think.

“The staff, one with the reinforced steel, still flexible though.” He yawned, holding out his hand.

“A staff? Well, alright kid,” Keeper sighed, putting the thing into Etserü’s waiting hand. “I’ve seen plenty die with that thing.”

“Because they didn’t know how to work it with math and calculate the projectory,” Etserü turned to go mingle with the crowd coming to see the fights of the day. “That’s why simpletons choose guns, just point and shoot.”

On the day the genius was free to fight, Suymiko had come with her brother, who was acting strangely that day. Once he had gotten off of the computer, done with work, and said ‘we should go to the prison and see a fight’. She bumped into Etserü and blinked. “You’re using a staff.”

“I am, easiest weapon to win with. If you take a gun, then how can you black or dodge?”

“How can you do those with a staff?” Etserü was about to answer when he saw the top researcher, Suymiko’s older brother.

“You, you’re coming here to watch me fight?” Etserü gritted his teeth, knowing this was some sick joke.

“Yes, you still in the prison, I can still study with you…meet my little sister Suymiko…and I am named Gerski.” Gerski smiled widely, his pink neon hair glowing in the light. Suymiko blinked and stared at Etserü, hiding her face slightly with her scarf.

“You’re the genus? What did you do the even get into the prison?” She asked, staring at Etserü with wide eyes. He sighed, holding his head.

“I was paid to do college essays and the figured it was me when I put money into my account and I didn’t have a job, or parents.” Etserü grumbled, still glaring at his researcher.

“Which was how we were able to keep him for so long.” Gerski smirked, putting his hands on his little sister’s shoulders. “Oh, do I hear a bell?”

“I’m going to find the meaning…and then I won’t be a pretty butterfly for you.” Etserü snarled, walking back to step into the ring stained with the blood of the past.

“The meaning of what?” Suymiko asked softly, going to the railing to see the prisoners fight.

“The meaning of life, at least for him.” Gerski laughed, watching as well as the second man walked into the ring, carrying a rather large machine gun. “Let’s see how long he will last.”

“Welcome to Dead Man Standing! Today, we have long time resident Etserü vs. Milton! Etserü’s crime is…” The crowd rumbled in confusion while the speaker tried to find the crime. Gerski smirked, tapping something on his phone. “Ah! Here it is, thank you researcher Gerski for sending his paper!” Etserü paled when those words were spoken. “Etserü in in for….mass…murder…a genocide in a small town…”

“That’s bullshit!” He screamed as everyone reeled back from the railings, horrified by the false words. Suymiko blinked, staring at Etserü, who was as shocked as everyone else.

“Let us see how well you can search for the meaning of life if people won’t even look at you…” Gerski’s face was shadowed under the harsh lights, but an evil smirk was visible.

“Milton is in for manslaughter, one count, while driving under the influence,” Milton smirked, looking down at the shaggy kid with a simple staff. “He has been in these walls for 2 months! Let the fight….start!” A cheer rose up when a bullet scrapped Etserü’s face. That snapped him back and he backed up, his eyes tracing and analyzing each shot Milton fired.

Kick back, 2%, accuracy, 50%, experience, around 10%. Bullets are coming at me with the rate of 2 per second. Each round is about 2,000 bullets, which means I have 16 minutes and 75 seconds for one round to unload. He is stuck in that single area, I have the flexibility to van to behind him. He can slowly follow my progress with his gun, I have to run in a way that makes me a much harder target. About 3 seconds have passed, 6 bullets fired. Etserü’s eyes scanned the area quickly. He is at least 10 meters away now, the circumference of the ring’s walls are 125.6 meters around. I have to run about 15 to the nearest wall, or if I run towards him at an angle, about 25 meters, it would be best, to then use wall to launch myself and knock the gun away. 3 more seconds, 12 bullets wasted. Chance of success, 75%. With that in his mind, Etserü made a mad dash.

“What is he going?!” Suymiko yelped once Etserü stopped dodging bullets and started to run at the much larger man. Gerski clicked a timer and wrote something on a clipboard.

“He formed a strategy within 6 seconds, if I’m correct, he has about 75% of success with his strategy.” Gerski smirked, leaning over, watching the rat run toward the cat.

“How do you know that?” Suymiko asked, watching in awe as Etserü ran past the man, whom was trying to turn faster without losing control of his gun, which was still firing.

“I knew this match was going to happen since 9 this morning.” Gerski smirked slightly, seeing Etserü pause for a split-second. “Those calculations took me hours to do and to figure out which was the best possibility for him to survive.”

30 seconds to cross at full sprint, 72 bullets wasted. Struggling to turn, 10% of being hit with a bullet. Etserü feet moved again, running toward the struggling man. Chance of success, He rose his staff and swung hard, like it was a baseball bat at the spinal cord of the man. “100%....” He panted as Milton crumbled onto the ground after a sick crack. That’s when he noticed he didn’t have shoes. “…so that was the missing 5%...” He grumbled, staring down at his feet, throbbing at the pain of running of fast without protection. Suymiko was the only one slightly cheering.

“Etserü, please leave the ring until your next match.” The loud speaker droned, Etserü shrugging and leaving through the open door. Gerski went to grab his sister’s arm, but she was gone.

“Where…oh no…” He groaned, then ran to try and stop her from going to the cells. “If those men even touch her!”

Suymiko walked in, then froze, feeling the eyes of hungry men strip her of her clothes. She tried to step out, but went into the chest of the largest. “Hello…” She whispered, her eyes widening in hear, understanding her mistake. “Please don’t…” She whimpered as they closed into a light circle around her.

“Yo, Suymiko!” Etserü called, using his staff to push the men apart. “What are you doing here?” He held her hand casually, then leaned over as if to kiss her, but whispered to her ear. “Pretend to be my girlfriend, which should scare them off….I don’t think they want a mass murder to be upset.” The men pulled Etserü away, causing him to grunt in surprise.

“Who is this chick little boy?” The one that had originally trapped Suymiko growled. A name on his vest, Gunner, was all Etserü had.

“My girlfriend,” He retorted casually, shrugging the men off of him. He slowly put a hand around her waist, mumbling something about ‘chance of success is 80%’. Suymiko leaned on him softly, smiling. What a weird guy. But, he’s nice, I like him. She nuzzled him as the men started to back off. He smells like ink and paper… She was suddenly pulled away, yanked from her daydreams.

“Etserü! What the hell do you think you are doing with my sister?!” Gerski hissed, holding his sister protectively. Suymiko look around in a daze. How much time has passed? When did the big scary men leave?

“Protecting her better then you have.” Etserü grunted, sitting down wrapping his feet.

“Th….thank you Etserü sir…” Suymiko smiled a bit, looking at his bed head. “Can…Etserü and I talk some Gerski?”

“….I don’t see why not…but I’m staying right here,” Gerski snapped, typing on his phone. “Ten minutes!” Suymiko helped Etserü wrap his feet.

“Why did you protect me from those men? You didn’t have too…and I’m the sister of the guy that trapped you…I…hate to say it…but I think you would let them….rape….me…” She mumbled. Etserü rubbed his head, watching her stand.

“It…wasn’t right, and the percent of success was 80…” He stood, then patted her head. “You might be something important in my equation…” Gerski tensed and pulled his sister’s arm.

“I want to help!” She yelped, smiling at Etserü. “I’m going to help you find the meaning!”

“Shut up Suymiko!” Gerski yelled, pulling her away. “Don’t give him hope.” Etserü smiled slightly, putting his hand out as Suymiko did as well.

“We’ll get me out of this help…thank you…Suymiko…”

Author's Note

The first chapter of the story, i would like to know if there are character gaps and story gaps that should be explained in the first chapter of a story.