Several hours had passed since the four began their journey. Not a sign of another human being. Just the empty, grimy streets lay before them. Not taking in, nor giving out. The stillness in the fog-ridden air was almost unbearable. Absolutely no movement whatsoever- BRAAAAAPPP!!! The sound of machine-gun fire crackled overhead. The four stared at their surroundings in horror. "What the fuck?!" exclaimed Fernando. BRAAAAAPPP!!! The ground before their feet erupted in a fierce spray of hot, sharp cement as bullets tore through it. Celia's eyes bulged in terror. "RUN FOR IT!!" she screamed. Celia was off in less than a second. The others followed close behind. Bullets punched into the walls and windows of the buildings they passed. Celia soon spotted a dumpster, and leapt behind it. The other three soon joined her. As the teenagers looked out into the fog, they saw brilliant flashes of gunfire light up in the distance. Soon, dozens of forms began to materialize, in moments forming one huge mass. Angry shouts cut through the thick air. The fog parted around the mass. It was a large group of teenage boys and girls-armed with chains, guns, knives and clubs. Gina momentarily looked to her right. Her eyes widened in shock. "Hey!! Look there!!" The others followed her lead. Another group of teens came forward, armed with the same weapons. In an instant, they were upon each other. There were gun blasts, the sound of metal against metal, and ripping flesh. Amidst the angry cries, shrill screams symbolized the death of a combatant. Bodies were hurled out of the fray onto the cold asphalt. The four watched in utter disbelief as the two groups inflicted their savagery upon one another. The fighting became more and more vicious every passing moment. Animals, excited by the smell of blood and flesh, wanting more and more. The hatred surging through the crowd was such that it seemed to cast a harsh shadow upon them. It grew more and more ominous as the fighting continued. Suddenly, multiple sets of lights pierced through the darkness, followed by the loud roar of engines. A group of cars appeared at one end of the block. The fighting all but ceased, as the gang members stared in fear at the lights. The windows opened, and Uzi machine guns emerged from them. They opened fire. Corpses dropped in the hail of death. The survivors ran off, screaming. The cars thundered onward, continuing their lethal spray of bullets. Those who were too slow were crushed instantly by the massive metal behemoths. The machines chased their prey into the darkness before them. Slowly, the gunfire and screams dissipated to nothing. Fernando's head popped up from behind the dumpster. He gazed nervously over the bloody, carnage-ridden asphalt. "Shit..." "Is it over?!" exclaimed Celia. Gina and Miles cautiously rose to their feet. Step by step they moved into the open. They looked upon the corpses with repulsion. "Yeah...for these people..."uttered Miles solemnly. "Crazy bastards... it doesn't make sense!!" "This isn't anything new." added Gina. "I've seen this before. When the gangs around here rumble, they rumble!!" Fernando and Celia stood up. As soon as she saw the dead, Celia's stomach churned ominously. "O-Oh Gawd-" She threw up alongside the dumpster. Fernando jumped back, cringing convulsively in disgust and holding his nose. "Goddamn, girl!! Nobody told you to look!!" Gina rushed over to her side. She glared at Fernando heatedly. "Lay off her!!" Gina instantly turned her attention back to Celia. "Easy, easy, easy!! It's all right!! It's all right!!" Celia coughed violently, chunky gobs of orange goo shooting out of her mouth. She spun her head towards Gina, eyes wild with rage. "All right?! ALL RIGHT?! IT AIN'T ALL RIGHT!! IT AIN'T ALL RIGHT!! Three motherfucking weeks I've been wandering around this shit!! THREE!! First I see a girl wasted, and now THIS!!" Celia ripped herself from Gina's grasp. She stomped off, marching onto a section of sidewalk a few feet away from the others. Her feral gaze cut into the fog above. "DADDY, WHY?!? WHY DID YOU SEND ME INTO THIS LIVING HELL?!? WHY?!? WHY THE FUCK DID I HAVE TO BE BORN?!?" She dropped to her knees and began to cry bitterly. Gina ran over to Celia, kneeling down beside her. She placed an arm around the crumpled, quaking form. "Sssssh...Take it easy...Sssssh..." Fernando and Miles eyed the pair apprehensively. Celia obviously lost a sizable chunk of her sanity. And really, who could blame her? It's not every day you get to see a prostitute smashed through asphalt, or gangs gouging the life out of each other. Life's sure amusing, isn't it? Hell, with amusement like this, it's a small wonder that the two boys weren't screaming along with her on the sidewalk. Fernando couldn't help but feel guilty about his reaction to her. Probably, his exterior grew too tough. But Fernando needed to feel that way. Newspapers and TV were bad enough. Then you had the tax collectors, crooked landlords, shady bosses-especially shady bosses. Fernando's father once worked in a factory. A place that was dangerously low on safeguards. His boss used to say, 'Naw, don't worry about it! There's no real danger. Trust me.' And what happened? His funeral six months ago. Fernando grew to HATE people. HATE AND MISTRUST. They were all the same. Nobody cared. Nobody understood his feelings. Now this, with Celia. Was he wrong? Was this somebody who could relate to him? Should Fernando even try to assimilate with Celia? Maybe. Maybe not. More reminders of pain? Fernando didn't know. All he knew was, for the first time in a long while, he felt sorry for somebody. But Fernando wasn't completely ready to be open. He had reservations. He was afraid of being hurt, of not being appreciated. "Poor kid." He turned to Miles. "W-What?" "I don't know if she'll make it. Look at her carrying on." Fernando's gaze moved from Miles to Celia. Enough was enough. He had to say something. Fernando walked over to the pair and knelt down by Celia, who was still crying uncontrollably. He still felt very uncomfortable about opening his mouth. But something deep inside would not allow him to keep still. He spoke. "L-Look, I'm sorry about before. Forget this shit. Put it behind you. Trust me-you'll make it if you put it behind you-" "What the fuck are you talking about?!" screamed Celia. "Have you ever seen people DIE LIKE THIS?!?" Fernando paused in uncomfortable silence. With great difficulty, he spoke again. "Yes." "WHO?!" "My dad." Celia instantly fell silent. Her anger dissipated in an instant, the features in her face filling with shock and disbelief. "W-What?!" "He wasn't gunned down. But he was killed. A chemical plant. No precautions. His boss said it was safe to work there. I hated him working there. He got paid chump change. But there wasn't something else. The company was rich, and had the best lawyers. We had shit. And-a-and the government looked the other way-" Fernando stopped abruptly, squinching his eyes shut. This was too painful. He wasn't here to tell his life story. He was here to make a point. "Look, the point is we all see and experience bad shit. The trick is not to let it win us over. It's okay to cry, but you've gotta stop sooner or later and go on. Otherwise, you'll go nuts-" He stopped again. Fernando spoke too much. Too much talk. He didn't want to show how much he felt for Celia's plight. Fernando stood up, hardening his features again. "T-That's all I have to say." He stiffened, and walked back to where he once stood, facing away from the three. Celia rose to her feet. She walked up to Fernando, gazing at him with pity. "I'm sorry." Fernando instantly shook his head, annoyed with her statement. "No. I don't want you feeling sorry for me. I don't want you feeling anything for me. I just said what needed to be said." "B-But-" "NO!!" Fernando immediately spun around. He looked Celia straight in the eyes, his face filling with pain and anger. "Let's get one thing straight. I'm a loner. I have no friends. I don't want friends. I don't even want company! It was this guy's idea to invite you along. Not mine. I don't even want him with me! The only reason I'm putting up with it is because we're all going to the same place. I don't normally open up to anyone like that, so don't get used to it. Forget that I exist. Just-just stay away." The mask of stolidity covered his face once again. Celia stared at him in bewilderment. He looked erratically at the others. "I'm not staying to get my brains blasted out. I'm gone. Join me, or stay. I don't care." He walked off. The three looked at each other. Fernando was obviously someone with wounds-deep, festering wounds. Celia couldn't help but feel bad for him. She appreciated his action. Celia saw beyond the hard shell-the hurt, angry, frightened being within. It amazed her that regardless of this, he opened up to her, albeit briefly. Celia felt she owed him. No one should shut themselves away from the world. Celia decided she would try to help him open up again. The teenagers left the war-torn block, the fog closing around it like a curtain. They continued onward for several blocks. Celia quickened her pace, leaving Miles and Gina behind. In moments, she was alongside Fernando. His eyes instantly darted in her direction, eyebrows arching in anger. "I said I wanted to be alone!!" 'Why? Why this need to be by yourself?" "Look, I don't need to explain myself to you or anyone!! Lay off!!" Celia fell silent for a few moments. Her eyes narrowed slightly. She spoke again. "Listen, I'm not going to hurt you. I figure, since you helped me, I'll help you." "Who says I need help?!" "I know what it's like to lose a parent. My mother died of ovarian cancer. My father was devastated. He really adored her. It virtually destroyed his whole world. He had me, but it was hard. Hard for both of us. My grandmother helped as best she could. They always insisted on me furthering my education. Mom especially. I always wanted to become a criminal lawyer. So, I'm doing this not just for myself, but for my parents-especially Mom. She loved my choice, and really wanted me to make it. It hurts a lot when I think of her..." "Why are you telling me all this?!" "For one reason- practice what you preach. Look at yourself. You got a right to hate those people who did your father in. But you've got to go on! You can't expect to get ahead on your own-" "Hey listen!! Do me a favor and butt out!! I've been doing all right on my own, and I don't need anyone's fucking advice!! Stop acting like you give a shit!! Leave me the fuck alone!!" He stormed off ahead of Celia. Her eyes narrowed in anger. "I do give a shit!! I'm not being a hard-ass like you!! Fernando!!" He glared back at her furiously. Who the fuck was she to give him advice?! God or something?! Fernando didn't want-didn't need her advice!! Why couldn't she mind her own goddamned business?! THWUMP!!! Fernando staggered backwards, grimacing in pain. He had just run into a person coming from the other direction. The heavy-set man stared at Fernando irately. "Why dontcha watch where ya goin'?" Fernando shrunk away slightly at the sight of the man's huge stature. An apology was definitely in order. "H-Hey, I'm sorry man." "Just what the hell are ya running from, boy?!" The other three soon ran up to Fernando's side. He spoke again. "Gang fight." The man's eyes widened in surprise. "Another one?!" He shook his head in disgust. "Goddamn kids..." "Excuse me, but do you know where Assimilation Point is?" asked Gina. "Assimilation Point? Hey, i-is it that special school I hear about all the time?" "Yeah, yeah!!" exclaimed Gina excitedly. "What's it look like?" "It's a big white oval building, with a golden gate around it. This place, we're told, always moves from one area to the next. You've seen it by any chance?" The man paused in deep thought. "Uh...well...Oh gosh kids, I'm really sorry. 'Fraid I can't help ya. I don't recall ever seeing a place like that! I've seen places that look a little like that, but not by that name, ya know? But ya know somethin'? Maybe that preacher around the corner can help ya." The four looked at the man quizzically. "P-Preacher?" asked Miles. "Yeah!! See, he travels a lot, and knows many towns and stuff. Ya really should ask him. I'm not all that familiar with these parts. I've only passed through here a couple of times. " "Okay, uh...thanks a lot." "No problem. Watch yaselves out there, kids. Lots of sharks about." He left the four, continuing on into the fog behind them. Gina looked at the other three. "Preacher, huh? What do you think?" "Let's go for it." answered Miles. "This place isn't exactly teeming with people." The teens walked around the corner. As soon as they did so, they spotted a thin, scrawny figure standing atop a large box. The figure held what appeared to be a megaphone. He was shouting some unintelligible gibberish through it. Since he was too far down the block to be seen or heard, the group continued forward. The gibberish soon began to unravel itself, and the man's words started to ring through their ears. "Children, oh my little children of God, where are ye?! Your true salvation rests with me-yes, me!! Faithful servant of the Lord Jesus- Yes!! Only through me can you find the true path to inner peace! Let me lead you to the Lord Jesus!! Come one, come all!! All those weak in spirit and mind, come, so that you can be liberated!! LIBERATED!!" The wiry, white-haired man spun instantly to his left-so quickly that he startled the four teens. They jumped back a couple of steps. The preacher had apparently sensed their presence. He broke out in a broad, toothy smile. "Oh...Oh my little children...My little children, it is so good to see you here!! I pray that you've come to hear the word of God!!" The teens eyed him uneasily. Gina spoke up. "Uh-well, uh, actually, we're trying to find a-a certain place." The preacher stepped down from the crate, and looked Gina square in the eye. "Place? What place?" "Well it's called...Assimilation Point." At hearing those words, the preacher leapt back as if struck by a snake. His eyes narrowed in fury. "How DARE you utter the name of that heathen institution!!" "What are you talking about?!" exclaimed Miles. "Assimilation Point's a school that's supposed to show you how to get ahead-" "FOOLISHNESS!!" roared the preacher savagely. "PAGAN FOOLISHNESS!! And you actually BELIEVE this nonsense?!" "This school's been advertised since before our time!!" exclaimed Gina. "All our folks talk about this place!! They talk about success stories!! We're all from poor families!! We just want our chance too!!" The preacher stared at Celia in disbelief. He lowered his head, and chuckled. "Oh misguided children...Is that what they told you?" The preacher looked upon the four. "All of you have been fooled!! This so-called Assimilation Point doesn't offer happiness!! It doesn't offer success!! They've been sinking their claws into the naive for years!! None of that is true!! There is only one road to real success. And it is through me that you will find it. Give all of yourself to me, and I'll show you the path to true success-the success you find with the Lord Jesus!!" Fernando eyed the preacher incredulously. "Why should we trust you?" The preacher stared at Fernando in bewilderment. "My dear boy, why would you say such a thing? I'm a man of God!!" "Says you. We don't know you." "True. But you have to trust someone in this life. How else do you get ahead? No one gets ahead in this life alone. Others have to be there to help you! I can offer you that help! You children are new to these streets! You need the proper guidance. I can give you that guidance." Fernando paused momentarily. He turned to the others. They all felt confusion and anxiety. After all, Assimilation Point wasn't a reality to them. But it had been to many others. Or at least that's what the ads told them. Assimilation Point...the place where you learn the tricks of the trade called Life. All of the teens felt alone and lost. They needed guidance. But from whom? Miles thought about his folks. A sickly father. An unemployed mother. He thought about the advertisements for Assimilation Point. Miles especially thought about the testimonials. Testimonials from politicians, businessmen, film makers-the graduates of Assimilation Point. His parents were awed by this. They had made all the wrong moves, which resulted in their current situation. Both parents wanted better for their son. So did Miles. But he never actually met the people who made all the testimonials on TV and in the papers. Maybe it was because of where he lived. A ghetto. Run-down. Dank. Dirty. The poor ran amok in his world. Successful people didn't give a rat's ass about his kind. If they did, why didn't they go down in person to help them, motivate them? A real flesh-and-blood person was better than some two-dimensional image on a monitor or a piece of paper. Maybe the preacher had something there... Miles approached the preacher. "Can you really help us?" "Yes my son, I can. All that I require is that you give up your worldly possessions, and follow me. I will lead you to the Promised Land." Miles turned to the other three. "Y'know, maybe he can help us out. I mean, what have we got to lose?" "Don't give me this we business. " answered Fernando bluntly. "I'll make up my own mind. I don't need anyone else to make my mind up for me." At hearing this, the preacher's eyes narrowed in contempt. "And why is that?! Is it because you don't believe in the Lord?! Is it because you don't believe I'm the Lord's messenger?!" "I don't know what to believe. And I'm not so sure I believe in you. You're big on talk, and small on substance." Fury ripped through the preacher's body in a great series of waves. He immediately pointed a bony finger at Fernando. "Nonbeliever!! Blasphemer!! You shall be damned to the BLACKEST hell!! You are not worthy of the Most High!!" The preacher then spun towards the two girls, who stared at him in fear. "You!! Who do you side with?! I, who am the servant of the Lord, or that scum who stands yonder?! Answer me!!" Gina and Celia shrunk away from the wild-eyed man, like ice by a fire. His eyes pulsated erratically. "ANSWER ME, DAMN YOU!!!" "We side with ourselves." answered Gina in an even, but somewhat nervous tone. "Thanks, but no thanks. We can find our own way-" "BLASPHEMOUS SLUTS!! NON-BELIEVERS!! You shall roast in your own vile juices!! Frailty, thy name is woman!!" The preacher turned again to Miles. "Surely, you will not join these vermin, my son!! They are nothing!! They do not believe in the Lord!! You wish to find the true way, don't you?!" "Well...I-" "Don't you?!" "Well...yes...yes I do-" "Then join me!! Give all of yourself to me!! Why spend your life trying to find something that constantly eludes you?! Deal with something you can be sure of!! I can help you!!" Miles paused for a few moments in thought. All the wandering around he had done. And for what?! All that talk of Assimilation Point...It was just talk!! Miles was tired. Tired of constantly trying to find his way. Tired of running into dead ends. Tired of running into people who couldn't help him, or didn't care. Maybe the preacher's way was best. Why shouldn't he give him a chance? Miles looked up at the preacher. "You really can help me?" "Yes, my son!! I can help you!! All I ask is that you give all of your worldly possessions to me. Then I will show you the way." "But what about the others?" The preacher looked upon the other teens with disgust. "They've made their decision. They're not worthy of my time. They made their choice, and now must abide by it." The preacher turned back to Miles, gazing deep into his eyes. The boy froze. There was a powerful aura emanating from the preacher-an aura that penetrated his mind, his soul. It wanted him...it needed him... "Come, my son." said the preacher slowly, and with purpose. "Join me..." A few moments passed. Miles turned to the others. "This guy makes sense. We're making a big mistake! I'm going along with the preacher. Come with me!!" "Don't tell us about mistakes." said Gina bluntly. "Worry about your own life. You live with your decision, and we'll live with ours." "But the preacher's right, you know!! Assimilation Point's too damn hard to find!! I've been wandering around for five months!! I can't take it anymore!! Fernando, join me!!" "Man, get outta my face!!" snapped Fernando. "Don't tell me what to do!! I don't need your help!!" "Come, boy." said the preacher coldly. "Don't waste any more time with this trash." Miles nodded slowly. "Yeah...You're right. They're not worth it..." The preacher took hold of the boy's hand and led him away. He turned his head to view the three teens. A sinister smile crossed his lips. Suddenly, the pair began to glow. The glow increased in brightness as they moved further and further into the fog. Soon, they faded from sight. Celia stared on in disbelief. "Why did he smile like that?! Where did they go?!" "Forget them." answered Gina. "Worry about yourself. Let's get out of here." She and Fernando walked off. Celia stood in her spot, observing the area where Miles and the preacher disappeared. He was off to his new destination. Perhaps Miles would find peace at last... "Good luck..." she muttered silently. Celia turned and went to join the others. Part 3