Chapter 40 – Another Strategy
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The criminal organization known as the Wild Cards had no regard for human life. The unfortunate people living in their slice of the Pit were forced to endure constant, random acts of violence and bloodshed. Many hundreds of lives were lost under their brutal rule every year.

The Wild Cards started as one of the Pit's many street gangs that sprouted and died like leaves with the passage of seasons, but they persisted thanks to the tireless efforts of their leader Lila. Over time, the gang grew to become a major force with a permanent headquarters at the heart of Grandebelle. They found their niche in the underworld by procuring and selling slaves. Their alliance with the Controllers was a profitable marriage of convenience. In exchange for an enormous quantity of human capital, the Controllers made them rich beyond their wildest dreams.

Most of the Wild Card's victims were members of the lowest strata of society: the poor, the homeless, and the mentally-challenged. But the Wild Cards weren't above launching an attack on mainstream society to further their ends.

"The Burnette Family Grocery. This is where we're going to harvest the cattle. Supercontroller-6, wait until my slaves are in position."
"Yes, Lila."

The Burnette Family Grocery was a typical run-down neighborhood grocery chain, located in a rough part of town. Business was always best on the weekends, and the store was packed with even more people than normal due to a massive sale. The Witch of Darkness Lila carefully positioned her psychic slaves around the exits before giving her Controller partner the signal to start the operation.

"We're doing it now. Send in the sub-Controllers. Control as many as you can. We're killing the rest!"
"Understood, Lila."

A group of ten overweight Controllers in stained gray sweatsuits confidently marched inside the store and raised their hands into the air. The sight of their bulky bodies filled the cramped aisles of the little supermarket with dread. Every customer within a twenty foot radius was immobilized instantly. People started dropping their groceries and lining up at the front of the store. A group of twelve Wild Cards in sinister white armor came in next and executed half of the hostages for sport. Customers screamed and pleaded for mercy, but the killers laughed and ignored them.

Only a few were strong enough to resist the Controller's mental commands. One after another, the stragglers' corpses fell to the floor as the Wild Cards moved through their ranks like hungry sharks. By the end of the slaughter, there was an eerie silence in the small store. There was nobody left to scream or shout for help.

"Give them the Cloud. There's plenty of food here, and we might as well get them started now. We're burning this place to the ground when we're finished."
"Understood, Lila."

The Controllers pulled out unlabeled pill bottles from their pockets and started distributing medication to their newly mind-controlled slaves. After about twelve minutes, chaos erupted in the store as the slaves scrambled to eat as much food as they could while the armored Wild Cards looted the cash registers. The Controllers did their best to keep their charges focused on their goal, but a few of them wandered outside and had to be shepherded back in to continue eating.

"We need to keep the area secure. I'm sure the Pit Razors are on their way. Let me know when your scouts detect them."
"Yes, Lila."

The feeding frenzy continued until the slaves (now budding Controllers) were sated. It was all over in less than an hour. An orderly line of mind-controlled minions filed out the door holding crates full of stolen goods led by overweight men in gray sweatsuits. The Controllers split up and headed off to their hideouts around the Pit, leaving the nightmarish scene behind. But the Wild Cards remained to dispose of the evidence.

"My pretty pets, reveal your true forms and eat your fill!"

One by one, Lila's personal cadre of slaves transformed into massive slug-like monsters made of brown and black slime. They cleaned up the mess with their long tongues, eagerly consuming the piles of fresh human flesh with unrestrained viciousness. Their hunger was unquenchable. They licked the bloodied walls and floors of the supermarket, slurping the gore and viscera up like thick pudding.

When the last piece of human meat was gone, the sludge monsters shed their filthy shells and reverted back to their former forms. A loud popping sound rang out as the slime hardened and fell apart, revealing the dull grey bodies of several dozen skinny teenagers. Their faces were twisted in pain, but their eyes shined with joy and satisfaction.

"We were lucky today. No Pit Razors to ruin our fun! Before long, all the cattle in Grandebelle will belong to us! Controllers and Wild Cards, what a perfect match!"

Lila twirled around gleefully, her thin lips curled into a smile of pure delight.

"Now, Wild Cards! Burn this building to ash!"

At Lila's command, her soldiers in white armor ignited drums of fuel and set the Burnette Family Grocery ablaze. Within moments the entire store was engulfed in fire. The tall, smoky flames reached high above the roof and lit up the night sky for miles around. Supercontroller-6 watched in silence as the Witch of Darkness Lila grabbed a skinny slave by his shaved head and forced him into a celebratory kiss.

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