[center][color=0076a3][h2]Zachary Ackerson[/h2][/color] [img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/301690986252206080/379378144672743424/Zach.gif[/img] [/center][hr] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L1DEvzsftw&t=271s]The same young boy sits alone[/url], surrounded by a dark forest he knows not the way out of. For as far as one can look to any direction, there are no landmarks, no ways to discriminate one tree from the next, and simply no feasible way to discover which way one would head. On top of this, the landscape was almost pitch-black while the floor was covered with roots and rocks, and branches occasionally blocking his path. The minuscule light he owned gave him but a couple feet's notice before he might trip, so he was sure that simply taking off in a direction would lead to unnecessary injury. It was a situation that inspired no hope. And so it had been for some time now, but it wasn't always like this. At one point, the young boy knew of an ever-present brightness. A sun that knew not but to shine. Although he sometimes believed it to be too much for him to handle, he now missed its warmth, its brilliance, and its company. The Sun had not entirely abandoned him. It merely could not keep up with its old habits. Rarely, he would be blessed its swift return and the light that came with it, before being met with an even swifter goodbye. Each time it came and went, it took longer to reappear and it was there for a shorter amount of time. He knew, given this trend, that it was only a matter of time before the Sun would eventually cease to come at all. And so, each appearance left him with a very bittersweet feeling. In the dark, the trees seemed to take on a sinister appearance. Each one was terrifying in some way, but they mostly consisted of unsettling expressions of anger or some twisted happiness. No matter what, though, they all managed to cause the young boy distress. This was particularly true for a bigger, scarier tree. It caused the young boy to startle each time he saw it. It was the most recent addition to the forest, too. It made him realize that he wanted to escape more than ever if things were going to get even worse for him. [b]"Can anybody hear me?"[/b] The young boy unsurely asked into the dark of the forest. He received no answer. [b]"I would like to leave this place. I'm scared."[/b] A soft whistle of the wind was his only response. [b]"...please, I need help...I want to leave..."[/b] His voice grew softer and softer after each failed attempt. Eventually, he could do naught but whimper and by then he decided it would be best to just give up. His voice would not reach anybody, he knew this. Despite being alone in a forest, the young boy was not the only person here. In fact, there were so many people here that he could spend days and days counting and never be finished. But that did not mean he was safe. It was quite the opposite, really. Because there were so many people around him, it was much more difficult to find help. The truth of the forest he found himself in was that there was not a single tree in it -- it was a forest composed of faceless people who heeded no words of his. They frightened the young lad, ignored his pleas, and gave him no way to escape. He had begun to 'understand' that he was never going to make it out of this place, as he could no longer rely on the Sun to light his way for him. The forest was not a real place, but simply one of many ways he perceived dealing with life. He was weak. The boy, to some, might appear otherwise in another situation, but the truth was that the young boy could not do things on his own. He lacked true confidence in himself. He intentionally hid this under a guise of overconfidence, but in truth, there was only one thing he could really say he prided himself in, and aside from that, he felt he was rather useless. An existence lacking in purpose, and one much too cowardly to put an end to itself. All he had was his father and his skill with a bow. Unsurprisingly, the young boy was none other than Zachary Ackerson, the Infinite Archer. A young man who earned a title many could only dream of acquiring. A man who showed no signs of doubt when nocking his arrows and striking his targets, a man who nearly bested another Infinite at their own talent, and a man who claims they could do so again. A man, many would say, was overconfident. A man, unknown to most, who was a coward. There was a contradiction. The young boy in the forest was Zachary Ackerson. But he was also a completely different person from the Infinite Archer. It would perhaps be better to say, rather than him being the Infinite Archer, that he was the one behind Zachary Ackerson. Zachary Ackerson, the Infinite Archer, was merely a mask. One that was intended to protect himself, but in reality only managed to cause him indirect harm. Foolish as he was, he did not know that this was the case, and so he chose, willingly, to continue wearing it. Both hiding his true character from the world and removing his best chance at finding his way out of this cruel forest of people. It was here he thought he would sit until eternity. He gave up on hope and was allowing despair to take root. He had figured something out: That if Zachary Ackerson, the Infinite Archer, was able to lead a more enjoyable life than the boy stuck in the dark forest, then should he not simply remove the boy altogether? Why wear a mask when you can BE the mask? The young boy was unsure of himself, bad with other people, and plagued by a guilt for committing a terrible crime fueled by rage. The Infinite Archer, however, was confident, perhaps not the most likable person, but one many could respect. Someone strong enough to stand on their own two feet and escape the forest alone. Yes, that was all correct. And since he was now trapped in a place much more frightening than a dark forest in reality, it would be best to give up on that young boy and let him disappear. And so the young boy gazed one last time towards the many 'trees' in the forest, but was startled to see one that looked particularly frightening. It was the newest, the biggest, and the scariest of the 'trees' in the forest. But... the young boy did not actually feel frightened upon seeing it again. Rather than that, he had begun to notice something he hadn't noticed before: ...it was glowing. ... ... ... ... ... Zachary Ackerson awoke the next morning, just as the announcement went off. He did not feel tired as he had the many nights before, despite what had happened yesterday. It was probably because, after all, that was done, he was incapable of doing much else BUT sleep. Today would be the first day since he got here that he'd slept well. And hopefully, today would be the last day he could say he'd experienced an execution. With the current intent of getting a cup of morning joe, he left his room.