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Between Chains

fabricio
63
chs / week
The average realized release rate over the past 30 days is 63 chs / week.
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Synopsis
​The Seattle of 2077 is more than just futuristic; it's a battleground. Following the "Fracture," a dimensional rift that spewed primordial horrors into the city, life boils down to a constant struggle. Natasha Warner is a "Vibrant," a hunter with enhanced reflexes and a raw talent for surviving in the gray zones, where the law is dictated by claws and fangs. ​Her only chance for advancement, and the key to avoiding being devoured by the monsters infesting the ruined skyscrapers, lies in "The Organization's Tournament." This shadowy entity controls access to scarce resources and the very technology that keeps the city running. The Tournament is its showcase: a series of Lethal Challenges broadcast live, where Vibrants are forced to fight dimensional Aberrations—from the hybrid Scorpion Feline monster lurking in the flooded subways to The Organization's Robotic Drones patrolling the tower rooftops. ​Natasha enters the game not for glory, but for the Vibrant Survival of her small group of refugees. With every victory, she gains more than just credits; she earns the chance to expose the truth behind the Fracture and The Organization's tyrannical control. ​But the Tournament hides a terrible secret: The Organization doesn't just fight the creatures; it breeds and controls them, using the Vibrants as bait to refine its own weaponry. To win, Natasha will have to fight not only the supernatural horrors but also the human manipulators who turned the disaster into a spectacle of death. ​How far can she go before the price of her survival turns her into a monster? And what will happen when she discovers that the ultimate lethal challenge is taking down The Organization from the inside out?
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Chapter 1 - Silver frost on a dying leaf

— Natasha...

I hear Lilian's voice echoing inside my mind, I struggle in the middle of a completely white scenario with a light shining at the end of my vision. I walk quickly towards that sweet melody that surpassed the surroundings of empty space. Suddenly, I see myself running through a forest amid the trees. Stopping right at a creek. I look at my reflection in the water and go over to drink some water. As I approach, something pulls me under the water. I swim incessantly and fall over a waterfall.

I open my eyes, getting up slowly, with a scene destroyed and surrounded by fire, I turn my attention to Lilian, who was lying on her lap, watching her merely bruised face with her yellow hair shining on the flames.

"Lilian, step back. say

I get up quickly, regaining my strength, and throw a sword at the hooded figure, who dodges it by leaning his body back. Causing the blade to stick into the wall. Launching himself at the parked cars and holding on to a small metal bar attached to one of the stores, spinning his body. The figure leaps between the buildings and escapes into the darkness.

— Are you well? Frederick asked

"I am, it was close. The bullet hit my phone not my heart. Natasha said

' For a moment, it looked like he had stopped breathing. — said Lilian

"I know the feeling well. But we're fine. said Natasha. — And the most important. Cheers.

"Natasha, I...— Andrew said, stumbling over his words.

"Hey, I'm fine. Don't worry your pretty head, dear Andy. — said Natasha — Let's go home. That is, wherever the safe zone is. Frederick said.

"We have to rest. — said Lilian

Altogether we were too weak to even think about facing another fight against some challenge or monster, I think they knew exactly that. They would use every lethal weapon they possessed to try to finish us off.

We were at the edge of town, almost reaching our hideout. When I was crossing the path that led to the neighborhood where Liam and Mom were. I was thrown, sliding on the ground, rolling and somersaulting on the dirty asphalt, injuring my forehead.

A blue energy barrier had just appeared before our eyes, with white beams between passing through the entire place, it was an ambush. We were trapped in a sort of electromagnetic prison.

What is happening? Frederick asked.

"Some kind of mental voice game. said Natasha getting up from the floor and wiping the blood from her mouth.

— Voice? What are you talking about, Natalie? Frederick asked.

It's a long story. I'll tell you later. Natasha said

"How do we get out of here?— Andrew asked

"How about the trusty axe, Nat? asked Lily

"It wouldn't be a good idea, Lily, since it's made of metal.— said Natasha. "It could have the opposite effect.— You might end up getting out of control. And hitting one of you by mistake. It would be a great fatality.

"You're right, it was a stupid idea. said Lilian, tying her hair.

"Let's think of a strategy. Andrew said .

Andrew's optimism encouraged me, even when the chances were slim of something happening, he was always there with his great sense of calm and reassurance. Even if it meant the end of the world. That apparently didn't faze him. That's what I call peace of mind and cold blood in extremely deadly and dangerous situations.

"Well, the fortress is essentially pure energy, if we can turn that very ability against them?— Frederick asked.

"With that, the electro volts will be fired into a current of air, damaging whatever unit they're using, shorting out.— — said Natasha — This is my girl. Frederick said .

Natasha smiled tucking her hair behind her ear.

Did you understand anything? Andrew asked.Absolutely nothing. — said LilianGood, because I thought I was the only one lost. Andrew said .

We planned to blow up the central base where they were sending us the barrier, in the right corner of my father there was an iron bar that had been removed during the fight, it was hidden behind a fire hydrant.

Sticking in the ground and placing my ax on the end of the bar with the blades pointed towards the barrier, we hope everything falls into place. The rain of lightning that roamed all over the place, was soon attracted with a perfect throwing of a stone towards the rays.

Natasha threw the stone hard hitting and pulverizing the small rock and going against the ax blade that glowed brightly.

"Everybody get down. Frederick shouted.

We all run and throw ourselves behind parked cars and admire all the action from afar. Meanwhile, electrical waves ran through every inch of the houses. Arriving to set fire to all the trees in the place, ashes and smoke circled the sky, the rays drew the air, getting close to the blade radiant colors appeared, shining on the metal.

"Look at those radiant colors!— ' exclaimed Lilian in astonishment.

"Lily, stay down. ordered Natasha .

All good. — said Lilian

We nervously waited for all the action, suddenly a bright red bolt shot across the sky. Upon reaching the top, a large hole was opened, debris falling desperately. The electromagnetic field quickly disappeared.

"Come on, we're free. Quick before something finds us. Frederick said .

You're right. Natasha agreed.

— Now we have to find Liam and Veronica. Frederick said .

We were running, dodging several pieces of steel on the asphalt, when we arrived through a long avenue with several signs indicating the direction. — And now? asked Lillian.

"Natasha, do you still have the radio in your pocket?— Andrew asked.

Yes. Answered . — Natasha

"Then we'll use it to communicate. Andrew suggested.

Exchange... Exchange...

Liam's voice on the alque ring exclaimed for a short moment, Natasha positioned it at her ears, listening intently to every word. In codes, the girl deciphered the encrypted message.

"Nat?— Andrew asked.

"Wait Andy, I'm trying to understand that last sentence.

The last house, where the sun went down... Old, flowers, 75 East Street...

I understood. — said Natasha