[center][img]https://hplaltrove.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/banner03.jpg?w=620[/img]

[h3]B l a c k t h o r n e[/h3] [/center]

[I]"We stop checking for the monsters under our bed...."[/i]

[center][b][u][i]Former City of Glasgow
- Scotland Penal Colony -
April 20th, 2041[/i][/u][/b]

The sky was grey as concrete as the rain came down on the massive prison colony. Shortly after the Earth had surrendered, massive columns fell from the sky and landed in the waters surrounding Scotland, forming a massive wall that trapped all inside. After that, massive towers landed in the middle of Scotland's major cities. Within weeks, they began rounding up the 'undesirables' and leaving them there. Every few months, death squads entered the country and performed a culling to make room for more. Rumors continue to persist that the squads occasionally take people alive. Why is unknown. All that is known is that these people are never seen again.

Glasgow was still a functioning city for all intents and purposes. Minus a stable government that was along with the lack of proper power. It was one of the most populated areas on the penal colony. What were once boroughs became territories for some of the more ruthless and most powerful. All except Gorbals, home to the Spire and the one place to get your rations on a weekly basis.

Marcus stood in line among the rest of the crowd. He grit his teeth and scratched his head as the voices whispered. The new moon was coming again and the monster that dwelled in him was becoming restless, hungry. Especially in the presence of all this fresh meat. Marcus's mouth, or rather Sirsir's mouth watered at the scent.

[color=purple][i]'AlL tHiS fReSh MeAt....AlL tHiS cAtTlE....wE mUsT fEeD....fEeD uS....'[/i][/color]

Marcus squeezed his eyes shut and forced the whispers to the back of his mind. They had an agreement. No sacrifices till the New Moon. Nothing sooner, nothing later. The monster was impossible to control, even in it's weakened state. It wanted him weak, gone, erased. Even so, Marcus had demonstrated exceptional will. Stronger will than any host before him. It only made the creature wish him gone more. Like a parasite though, it needed him. For now at least...

"[b]Move forward![/b]" called a voice over loud speakers. The line shuffled forward slowly as person after person collected their weeks rations. Dehydrated food supplies, fresh water, the works. The labor camps would give extra rations to those willing to work but the work often was dangerous and could end in death. Courtesy of your new alien overlords! Marcus still couldn't believe that Earth's so called "heroes" had been powerless to stop this. They died in a last stand that had been called the Seven Day War. In the end, it ended with perhaps Earth's mightiest hero having his skull crushed. Pathetic...[/center]

[right][I]"....when we discover they live in our own heads"[/i][/right]