"Can I play with you guys?" A young Knox said as he approached a group of kids playing together.
But the kids all ran away in terror as they looked at the large and muscular build of Knox. They would go crying to their parents.
Everyday, Knox would be treated like nothing but a weapon. His parents used him to carry heavy stuff even when he was still 12 years old.
Although Knox was a very muscular and scary looking child, his heart wanted someone to love him and not see him as a mere tool or monster.
"Hey! Long time no see, friend!" Knox's father said to his friend.
"What do you mean 'long time no see'? It's been one day!" His father's friend said as he grabbed a beer from the box.
"Yeah well I don't know what the hell to do when you're not around." Knox's father said.
They clinged their bottles of beer and took deep chugs of it.
"What's all this stuff for?" His father's friend asked.
"Oh, we're moving." Knox's father said.
His friend scoffed, "Well ain't that a bummer."
"Obviously I'm not moving out of the city, just somewhere else." Knox's father said, patting his friend's back.
"When you gonna start carrying all this stuff?" His friend asked.
"Oh I'll just tell my boy to carry all of this, that's what he's meant to do!" Knox's father and his friend laughed together as they drank their beers again.
Knox looked down at the ground, sad, but not even slightly angry. He's used to being used as a tool or weapon but everytime he heard it, no matter how many times he's heard it, it always hurt.
"Dad!" Nixon shouted, stepping in front of Knox.
"He's got feelings too! He is your son, not your tool!" Nixon shouted angrily at their father before storming away, dragging Knox away.
Knox's father put his beer down and smacked his lips, "Boys! I didn't mean it like that!" He tried to call out to them, but Nixon didn't even glance back. "Boys!"
"Kids these days man.. Ugh.." Knox's father sighs as he picks up his beer again.
His friend scratched the back of his head and looked at Knox's father, "Look, I know you're my friend and everything but your kid is right. He's your son, not a tool."
"You just fucking laughed with me just now!" Knox's father said.
"Yeah well I thought you were joking around!" His friend said.
Knox's father sighed, "I get what Nixon means but look at Knox... He's a fucking unit."
"Show love to Knox, man." His friend said.
---
"You gotta start saying no, Knox!" Nixon said, scolding him.
"But I need to help them.." Knox said nervously.
"They're fucking lazy, dude! They're gonna keep using you! You wanna be loved, I know that, but you're closer to being an actual weapon than a human!" Nixon said.
"What am I supposed to do?" Knox asked.
Nixon grabbed his shoulders, "Be human. You're not a monster. You're not a unit, weapon, tool, no, you're none of that. You're a human. All of us are."
"How do I be human?!" Knox asked aggressively, his voice cracking as tears formed in his eyes.
Nixon stared at his eyes in pity before hugging Knox hard and passionate, "Be yourself... That's being human.." Nixon said, rubbing Knox's back.
---
A scientist flicked an injection syringe with glowing blue fluid inside, "The first sample of Composite V has officially been made..."
"We don't need to do any testing... Just reproduce it and send it globally." Sovereign said, his face resting on his fist. Sovereign already had superpowers before the first sample of Composite V was even created.
Governments around the world were handed the recipe of chemicals to creating Composite V, and in just a few weeks, billions were reproduced.
The message was sent globally to everyone, "NEW ADVANCEMENT IN THE HUMAN EVOLUTION: 'COMPOSITE V', THE ULTIMATE WEAPON TO CULL THE POOR."
It was sold at a price of 5 thousand dollars, Sovereign chose this decision in order for none of the poor to be able to get Composite V, because at the time 5 thousand dollars was merely a cent to billions of people around the world.
"It's like pouring water in an ocean..." Sovereign said to himself as his wealth grew exponentially by each second.
Of course, Knox's family bought Composite V as well. Knox didn't want it as he thought that gaining superpowers will truly make him monster but he had no choice.
The entire population of homeless people who were hiding underground would be killed mercilessly by the rich who were testing their powers out.
But to avoid collateral damage, Sovereign set out execution camps for the poor to be executed by the rich to test their powers out.
Knox's family attending such a camp to see what these powers felt like.
A line of poor, homeless people were on their knees, hands tied behind their back. Their expressions empty as they knew this was their end.
Knox swung his hand once and it chopped someone's head clean off. He didn't stop, he enjoyed it. Knox ripped their hearts out, snapped their necks, crush their skulls. But at the end of the line was a child, no older than 5 who was bawling his eyes out.
Before Knox could kill him, a hand grabbed Knox's wrist. "This boy is very handsome."
They were a couple and that couple just so happened to be executives in HEX HQ, the 5 year old boy was adopted by these executives and ever since then, Knox didn't know what happened or where that boy is.
Knox eventually joined training camps meant to forge elite soldiers for higher authority and a strong reputation for their country.
Knox would come out top at every exam whether it was physical, mental, endurance, durability.
Eventually, Knox would become the very thing he never wanted to be, a monster. He didn't have any remorse for any homeless, not even a drop of pity.
Ultimately, Knox became the strongest executive in HEX HQ, being Sovereign's strongest and valued soldier.
But still, Knox always hid his true feelings with his monster side. When the truth is, he's lonely, he wants to be adored and loved.
He hated being a monster, he only acted as one because he thought that it was the only right decision. If only...
"If only I had listened to you, brother..." Knox said, sobbing as he felt his life slowly fade away.
"I'm sorry... Everybody wants me to be a monster but why doesn't anyone wanna see me be just like them? A human...? I wanna be loved and cared for just like you all..." Knox was talking to himself, letting out the last words before he dies.
Then, his eyes finally close as Knox feels his life slowly fade away.