Deviant: No Longer Human

"Here, take this." A ray of kindness cut through the desperation as another child stepped forward, offering half of his meager portion to Wang Xiao.

The newcomer, a bit more vocal, scolded Wang Xiao sharply. "Hey, you can't just snatch someone's food like this! We're all stuck in this together. If we want any chance of surviving, we must work together. Learn the rules."

"Exactly!"

"You can't just take!"

"Learn how we do things!"

As the chants swirled behind him, Wang Xiao's expression tightened. Without uttering a word, he turned around, his silence becoming a canvas for the unspoken tension.

*Boom!*

"Shut the **** up!" The retaliation was swift and brutal, a clenched fist finding its mark on the short-haired boy, their self-proclaimed leader, who had been vocally enforcing the so-called rules.

*Argh!"

The boy's cry resonated through the confined space as he clutched his bleeding nose. "What the hell are you doing!?" His accusatory yell reverberated, the scene plunged into confusion and chaos.

Wang Xiao, indifferent to the escalating tension, pressed on, his voice a potent force in the charged atmosphere. "Are there only kids here!?"

!!

His inquiry reverberated, a sudden thunderclap in the hushed container, sending a collective shiver down everyone's spine. Bewilderment painted the faces of those present until one keen observer noticed his peculiar eyes, whispering in terror, "D-Demon..."

"What!?" Wang Xiao's own incredulity reverberated, echoing through the confined space. The revelation rippled through the group, a sudden realization that cast an eerie shadow over him.

A child, wide-eyed and trembling, dared to voice the fear lingering in the air. "He's a demon! I heard stories about those eyes!"

The word 'demon' hung like a heavy cloud, and Wang Xiao, caught in the undertow of their fear, felt the weight of their collective gaze. The container seemed to constrict, and he sensed the growing distance as people edged away.

Wang Xiao, his mind racing, mumbled to himself, "No, it's not good...."

Before he could grasp the unfolding chaos, echoes of screams reverberated, blending into a collective cry that transformed the once-muted atmosphere into a cacophony. The confined space became a whirlwind of confusion, with Wang Xiao unwittingly thrust into the center of attention.

Panicked voices intertwined, each contributing to the chaotic symphony. Someone yelled, "Demon among us!" while another cried, "He's cursed!" Fearful voices rose in a dissonant chorus, each note a tremor of terror.

A child's voice, choked with tears, wailed, "I want to go home!" Another, overcome with fear, added, "Make it stop!" The cries of the children merged with the panicked shouts, creating a discordant melody of distress.

Caught in the tumult, Wang Xiao struggled to comprehend the sudden turn of events. The eyes that once questioned now faced scrutiny, and the isolation he felt moments ago amplified into a deafening storm of chaos.

"What....?"

A gasp of disbelief escaped his lips, freezing him in a momentary stupor. He instinctively took a step back, only to be abruptly halted by the creaking reopening of the steel gates.

!!

"Why are you brats creating so much noise!?"

The figure in military uniform returned, his authoritative voice slicing through the chaos. As the stern gaze swept across the bewildered faces, Wang Xiao's eyes narrowed in surprise. "An eagle...?"

His mind raced through a mental atlas of countries, flipping through memories before landing on a piece of memory.

Country M!

The realization hit him with a jolt of uncertainty. Why were they here? And why did their Chinese flow so effortlessly?

A flicker of suspicion crossed Wang Xiao's face as he contemplated the possibilities. Smuggling?

The mere notion ignited a surge of urgency within him. Escape became an imperative thought, fueled not just by fear but by the visceral instinct to avoid becoming a pawn in a sinister game played by shadowy figures.

The Armyman, Joseph, surveyed the chaotic scene, his stern eyes taking in the disarray. 'These brats were so silent for the last week, what happened now?... Oh... So here it is...' His gaze homed in on Wang Xiao, noticing the uneasy tension surrounding him and another boy with a bleeding nose.

"Hey Kid, what's your name!"

"What are you doing in this container!"

He furrowed his brow, realizing that the height of the children they required didn't align with Wang Xiao; he was taller than their specifications!

Suddenly, a hand rested on Joseph's back, a figure even taller and bulkier than him. A voice in English cut through the confusion, "What happened?"

"General!" Joseph straightened instantly.

Cain, eyes narrowed, focused on the unfolding scene, finally fixing his gaze on Wang Xiao. "So you finally woke up... Huh..."

"You know me?" Wang Xiao asked, confusion etched across his face.

Cain's eyes flickered with recognition, memories of discovering this guy buried in the snow during their passage through the dense forests of China surfacing.

"General, you know him?" Joseph inquired.

Cain's countenance abruptly shifted, his expression hardening. "He is taller than needed for going into the tunnel, lock him together with that weird girl!"

!!

Joseph briskly nodded, responding with a crisp, "Yes, general!"

'Together with that weird girl?' Wang Xiao furrowed his brow as Joseph guided him outside. 'What tunnel are they talking about?'

He stole one last glimpse at the stern visage of Cain, etching it into his memory, before the door clanged shut, casting him into the stark, blinding light outside.

The abrupt transition left Wang Xiao standing in the harsh glow, engulfed by a myriad of unanswered questions.

!?

"What—"

Wang Xiao instinctively shielded his eyes from the harsh light before his pupils gradually adjusted, revealing the vast expanse of the horizon.

"Sea...?"

His initial reaction morphed into bewilderment as he took in the panorama. They were adrift on the open sea inside a ship? The salty breeze and the rhythmic lull of the waves beneath them intensified the surreal atmosphere.

"Is it the South China Sea? Where are we going?" He couldn't help but voice his perplexity.

"Shut your mouth, and walk forward!" Joseph's command was curt, accompanied by a firm push that propelled Wang Xiao a step forward.

Wang Xiao staggered, inhaling deeply as he navigated the twists and turns under Joseph's guidance. The surroundings revealed a tableau of military personnel, each armed with semi-automatic rifles. The ship exuded an air of impenetrable security, far beyond the realm of a mere pirate vessel.

A chilling realization crept over him – he had stumbled upon something significant, something monumental.

Whatever it was, Wang Xiao knew he was entrenched in deep trouble.

The need for children, especially those of shorter stature, unveiled a sinister purpose.

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