A perfect world is one with no disease, no violence, and no homelessness. Well, soon, there will be no violence. Our poor leader, Jonah, so kindly, is willing to do everything in his power to grant us perfection. "Leah!! Fix yourself!! Jonah is leaving the city to hunt down those filthy vermin, and we'll be joining the parade," mother yelled from downstairs. "Coming!!" I perfected myself then ran out to join the crowd of people. Thousands of citizens chanted out prayers to him as he left with hundreds of 15ft mechanical constructs following closely behind him. "Mother, I can't see him, let's move over there!" I grabbed my mother's wrist and pulled her towards the edge of the city, looking for a perfect spot to view his exit. "Careful, Leah, we mustn't get our clothes dirty, or we'll be no better than them." As I maneuvered my way through, I spot a small opening, realizing I had a chance to see him with my own eyes, I let go of my mother's hand and sped off towards it. "Leah!!!" I heard Mom's voice rang out behind me, but the farther I went, the more it faded away. There I finally saw our great leader elegantly march out with the robots behind him. "WE LOVE YOUUUU!!!" I beamed at him and his robots unaware I had been wandering closer towards them. My mother's voice finally snapped me out, yet as I turned, there was a flash of metal, then everything went dark.

Hours seemed to pass, slowly I was regaining consciousness, and I may have caused a scene because now I hear several voices calling out: "Mama, is she okay? Did I kill her?" "Don't worry, it takes more to kill your sister." "I told you not to move while she carried you!!" I certainly created a sce- wait, sister!? I immediately sat up straight, eyes wide open. I was no longer in the city, somehow, I was outside of the city's walls surrounded by—VERMIN? In front of me stood a soft, unkempt woman in her late 40s, a young man with sharp eyes, his hair messier than the bushes outside of my house, and a little boy, wide-eyed, hiding behind the man, using his fingers to create a crucifix. "Cross to the other side, ghost," The boy wailed in a ghostly whisper, the man poked the boy's forehead. "It's not her time yet, Manao." The man turned to me and took the backpacks I had behind me. "I'll be carrying the bags now." I sat there motionless like a deer in headlights. Why am I all the way out here, in the revolting, filthy DIRT!? "Are you okay, sweetheart? You may have an injury, so please take it easy." Seriously, why am I next to these people, and why does she care "Might I ask...WHO EVEN ARE YOU ALL!?" The older woman simply stood there not even flinching at my outburst. I'm sure they kidnapped me while I was unresponsive and are now holding me for ransom. As expected of them. "I think she lost her memories," the man muttered to her.

 A puddle laid next to me, and when I looked at my reflection, I froze. My face and hair were different, and WORSE. I was disheveled. Why am I wearing someone else's skin? I felt my soul leave my body; it flew upwards towards heaven—it was a perfect ending. The angel's choir welcomed me and the trumpets played, then the huge gates opened. I saw the great light only for me to be pulled back into the earth thanks to the boy pulling on my attire. "Sis...sorry for almost making you go bye bye. Oh, I know!! The abandoned mall we are going to might have toys!! I'll look for a toy for you! It will look just like you!" The boy grinned enthusiastically, bouncing around happily, Manao then grabbed my hand and gently pulled me forward, following behind the woman and young man, "If sis lost her memories, then me is Mamao, she is mama and he is big brother, Haveth! And we need to be quiet or else the bad robots will find us and hurt us." As they should. I loosened my hand from the boy's grip. I had no intention of following these beasts but if I find out the exact location of this building and report to our leader, I could help him get rid of the rot and possibly work for him. "Lead the way boy" I say with a hollow smile, "Manao" "Whatever."

We walked for a few miles, towards the sun, passing by the so elegant and divine stench of carcasses. As we walked, the woman grabs a piece of bread and split it in thirds handing a piece to each of us, I stared at the bread and then at her confused, is she not going to eat? These people would surely devour it in a second... So why give it away? "Let's stop here and rest near that pond." Haveth suggested. Forget about her, I need to care for me! I sped off towards the pond. If I'm going to be in this unsightly body, I may as well look good. As I fixed my hair, I heard the boy's giggles before feeling a splash. He jumped into the pond, sending water towards me, RUINING my clean look. "WHAT DID YOU DO!?" I gasped, seeing my reflection on the pond, ruined once more. I quickly tried to salvage everything I could before it worsened. "Sweetheart, why are you so worried about your looks?" She gently grabs my wrists and lowers it down to my side "Are Jonah's words getting to your head again?" I stared up at her; her eyes looked at me with so much warmth and kindness. Is she an angel? Maybe a fallen one? "There are countless terms for perfection, but Jonah just understands one. What is your definition?".... Does she not know? There is only one definition of perfection. But maybe....

 "I found it! the abandoned mall is north of here," His voice snapped me out of my thoughts, I turned towards him. Haveth pointed towards the trees, and there laid a building that camouflaged with the forest. I re-took my backpack back from Haveth. "I can carry this myself." "Let me help you, you're still hurt. Oh, and also here" He handed me a shirt to dry myself with, why are these people not focusing on the dream rather than each other.

We reached the mall, which was falling apart, pipes were everywhere, water was leaking, and it smelled a lot like metal. The inside was even worse, full of moss and flowers growing through cracks on the floor, it's revolting. "Look a flower!!" Manao held a tiny flower, some petals missing. I took it from him; it lacked any perfection, and yet seeing Manao's love for it made it feel unique. He ran deeper inside the mall with the woman. I put the flower in my pocket and followed Haveth. "Let's go to the roof; it'd be easier to spot the robots' location from there" He spoke. On the roof, I could see the chaos, from both sides, the green grass no longer green. There we saw robots marching towards every direction. "I didn't know they were so close behind us. Stay here; I'll go tell Mom and Manao." Haveth climbed back down towards the 3rd floor. Homeless people aren't vermin; they love one another and remind us of the beauty in even the unsightly. That's when I heard a scream. I looked down through a small hole, spotting a robot inside, heading out of where Haveth and his mom were heading. I climbed down as fast as I could, running towards that hall. As I passed by a store, I noticed a small hand on the ground. I stopped in my tracks to see Manao on the ground.... In a pool of blood, hugging something, I closed in on him, tears already falling, he was hugging a small toy, one with its cotton hanging out, its eyes wide open. I left him there to help Haveth, yet all I saw was a blood path, the robots standing at the end, firm and proud. Jonah's view was always wrong.

 "Perfection means a world of harmony. From both sides."