Chapter 1: How it all begins.
Chapter 1
Finally. We had finally got through the raging crowd that was swarming at the main entrance. A quick inspection of the tickets we had and we were let through. Easier said then done when you get a crowd like that. But at least we got in. Even though there was a heavy amount of people outside, it did not look like it could compare with the amount on the inside. Because of this, we got forced to the back, but made it the middle as everyone else came in. Upon seeing the look of everyone else’s attire, I would blend in pretty well; midnight black t-shirt, black jacket over that, dark jeans that were ripped at the knees, and dark trainers that seemed to stand out somehow. With my deep blue eyes that everyone seemed to get lost in and medium length jet-black hair, I probably fitted the role of my clothing. My brother wore the same sort of thing. The smell of drugs, alcohol and sweat had filled the air long before we had arrived.
After what seemed like an hour, which was only 5 minutes, the band appeared on stage. A fury of applause erupted from the crowd, whistles and cheering could also be heard. As the members prepared for the show, a dense amount of smoke filled the stage, making it near impossible to see. The applause started to die down, and at that point, a guitar string was picked, catching all of our attentions, not as if we were not already, and the lead singer jumped down from where the drums was elevated. The cheering volume rose once again as the song started. The thrashing of the drums, the strumming of the guitars and the outstanding vocals being sung made everyone jump up and down in motion with the tune and people scream along with the lyrics.
The song had finished and the crown cheered once again while chanting 'Encore, Encore!' But sadly, it was the only song they played for their gig, but more bands were coming up. We all waited for the next band to come on stage, knowing who they would be.
The band appeared on stage in barely any time at all. The first notes of the song were played by the piano, at that point the crowd fell silent. As the chorus came up, the horrifying smell of blood entered my nostrils. I had known that riots tended to happen at metal concerts causing some blood to be shed. But this worried me; it was so close to me. I turned to where my brother stood to ask if he could sense the smell too. I couldn't. He lay there on the ground, eyes wide open, unblinking, his mouth agape. I looked down at his neck. My eyes rested upon a large slit across his throat with blood still freely pouring out of it. I dropped to my knees down beside my now dead brother as tears started forming at my eyes. I grasped his wrist in mine and moved my head to his shoulder. Tears were now bursting out my eyes and flowing down my cheek as my mind got flooded by thought of me and him together. Even though we fought from time to time, we were always there for each other; through thick and thin. I just stayed there on my knees crying on my brother's shoulder. I didn't even know that a crowd had formed around me until I raised my head. Everyone just there, staring at me, even the band who had stopped playing. I slowly got up to my feet and try and fight back the tears to come free flowing again. I started to look around while apologizing for interrupting while looking around for what to do.
Out there, in the distance, I saw a shadowy figure dash for the exit. Even though the characters posture was hard to distinguish, I saw something in its hand that was unmistakable on what it was. A bloodied knife.
My feelings got the better of me as I sprinted after him, barging into the crown, knocking some people over. I continued apologizing as I made my way to where it had exited. I smashed open the door to find myself in a dark alleyway. I looked to my left and saw the figure make a sharp turn around a corner. I dashed after him once again and followed him wherever he went.
For what seemed like ten minutes, my breath finally ran out, while he was still running. Trying my best, I still followed him. Giving up after another two minutes of playing cat and mouse, I placed my back on a wall. If I had known, I would have chosen any other place than this. I felt a strong arm wrap around my chest and saw a blade out of the corner of my eye. Struggling, I got free of his grasp, but I wasn't quick enough. He had just caught me with the blade on my left forearm. Throwing the blade away, he waltzed up to me while I was staring at the blood flowing from my forearm and punched me flat out. I fell backwards on my feet and my head came in contact with the concrete.
Even though opening my eyes didn't help much as my sight was blurred, my hearing was somehow fully intact. I heard heavy tyres screech on the road and saw, what I believed, a blue van. The side door opened up.
“Did you get the job done, Pendant?” asked a feminine voice with what I could see was black hair.
“Night Fire, what did I say? Use my full name. I despise it when people don't, and you know that.” spat back the guy, who had blonde hair, standing mere inches from me.
“Oh fine then. Did you get the job done, Arctic Pendant?” she questioned back, stating his full title.
“Yeah, I did. But there was this guy who chased me here, I don't know why.” he said while pointing at my non-moving body.
“Just leave him there, nobody even comes down this street any more, it's been dead for years.”
“Good point.” Pendant agreed with her.
After that, my vision blacked out and my hearing switched off.
The first sight I was greeted to when I opened my eyes back up was the face of my room-mate. Her beautiful magenta eyes staring down at me and her rainbow hair draped down the side of her face. My thoughts gathered together to bring her name back to mind. Rainbow Dash. I didn't exactly choose her as my room-mate, I just applied for this apartment and here she was. My head was banging like mad and my forearm still hurt from the incident. I slowly got up and started pacing the room.
“You okay? I mean, your face looks kinda messed up from, what I assume was, a punch to your temple, and you got that cut on your forearm.” she asked while pointing at my arm.
“Yeah, I'm... fine. Just a little pissed, that's all.”
“About what? Just because you got roughed up last night?”
“It's much more than that, Rainbow. They took my brother's life last night. He was all the family I had left.” I weakly answered. “At this moment, all I want is revenge.” My mind quickly spurred into action as it came up with an idea, “And I need your help to do it.”
“Oh, uhhh, I'm not sure about that.” she replied as she fidgeted her feet.
“Please, Dash? I would really appreciate it if you helped. I know all you have left of your family is your brother too. And you never know, we might run into the person who took your family's life.”
“Please, I... I don't wanna talk about it. But sure, I'll be glad to help you with your scheme. Just one thing though, anything that you earn during this, I want a share of it, okay? And I don't wanna kill anyone, you can do that, but I'll be willing to supply you with things, things like that I'll do. So, are you fine with my offer?”
Was she really going to go through with this if I accepted her offer? She was the only person I trusted at this moment forth, so I decided to accept her help. I turned to look at her. She wore a sharp blue t-shirt, cyan like. Around her neck rested a necklace which consisted of a cloud shooting out a rainbow like lightning bolt. She also wore jeans that were slightly ripped in places like the knees and thighs, at her feet, pure white sneakers were planted on the floor. Looking back up at her upper half again, her posture was with her hands placed on her hips and her elbows far away from her body. On her face, a grin was placed and her hair flowed down part of her face, obscuring one of her eyes slightly.
“What would you be willing to do?” I enquired looking into her one visible eye.
“Well, I'd be willing to get you the equipment needed. Things like that. But I'm not going to be killing anyone, just supplying you, that's all.”
“Okay, deal then. I hope you know that this means a lot to me.” I said while thinking of multiple jobs for her to do. “I have something to do for you already.”
“And that would be?” she asked, flipping the hair out of her face.
“I want you to clear out the basement, get me some equipment for the job and also get a rental van. You know, for the pick-ups.”
“Yup, sure thing, anything else?”
“Yeah, get me a large, high metal table, but don't get them yet, I don't need 'em straight away.” I replied, just remembering that. “Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a funeral to go to. And come with me, it'd be comforting for you to be there with me.”
“All right then.”
We stood there, surrounding the coffin in which my brother lay in. I wanted to just rip open the coffin and hug him, in desperate need of his life to return, but I knew it wouldn't happen. A tear started to form in my left eye and trickle down my cheek.
“For Dark Fortune was a loving and caring brother.” the mourner finished with his speech.
Every time I heard my brother's name I would wince a little and clench my fists in anger. I watched as the coffin was lowered into the ground and covered in mud and dirt to be concealed by the rest of the world, and a tombstone with fresh engravements was placed at the head. As every one walked away, me and Rainbow remained there. I walked up to the tombstone, kneeled down and placed my arm on the top of it.
“Hey, want me to leave you here with him?” asked Rainbow.
“Y-Yes please. I... I just need some t-time.” I said as more tears started flowing, blurring my vision.
“Okay then, I'll start to get the stuff”
I thanked her and watched her leave before she got out of my eye-sight. I turned back to the tombstone. I delved into my pocket and rummaged for something. I pulled my wallet and opened it up. Inside was my money, not that it was much, some cards, and what I was looking for. An image of him and I together, his arm draped around my shoulder, a huge smile across both of our faces. It's easy to forget how he is my big brother, but now I'm on my own, with Rainbow Dash. I remember the day that photo was taken. It was such a happy time, it was the time when our parents were still alive, but now my brother has joined them.
I closed my eyes and brought the picture to my lips to kiss it in sorrow. I put it on the ground just next to the tombstone where the many flowers were. I opened my eyes and wiped away the tears so that I could see and read the tombstone: 'Here lies Dark Fortune, 1992-2013. The first son of Midnight Novel and Ocean Lily. Brother of Vulcan Shadow. May he now pass from Equestria and live forever in the afterlife with his parents.' And then there was some Latin that I couldn't translate.
My name is Vulcan Shadow, and I will get my revenge on whoever started this. No matter what the cause, no matter what the cost. And to be damned if I'm giving up.
I slowly got up and looked out at the horizon. The sky was a dim pink colour, showing that it was time for me to leave. I turned around and started making my way home.
Walking down the street, I looked down at the floor, showing how depressed I am, and kicked stones. I heard laughing coming from the other end of the street, probably a couple having a good time. I looked up to see them dancing while walking, they looked stoned out of their mind, but knew they were just having a fun time. I couldn't make out their appearance well as it was getting darker by the minute, all I could make out was blonde hair on the guy and black hair on the girl. So I decided to walk to make my way over to them.
I got into earshot of them, but they didn't give a blind bit of notice to me. I watched them walk into a shop and decided to follow them. Watching them walk around the aisles and laugh made me die a little on the inside as I knew I would never get that sort of feeling again. They were just roaming around, picking up stuff and putting them back down. They waked into an aisle where some sort of games were sold. I eyed them through a shelf on the other side of them, so I could only see their backs, and a bit of the female's face.
“Ohh, Pendant, sorry, Arctic Pendant, please get me this game, I've seen adverts and reviews about it and it looks fucking epic.” said the girl, giving what I could see was a puppy dog face.
“Anything for you my little Night Fire” the male replied, picking it up and pulling out his wallet.
My body froze at that one moment. It was the people who murdered my brother! I wasn't ready for this yet! They turned around and faced the shelf where I was spying on them. I swear to Celestia, that Pendant looked me straight in the eye. I moved out of the way in a flash. I was expecting for a yell followed by a collapsed shelf as I was pummelled to death. But nothing happened. He hadn't seen me, thank sweet Celestia. 'I need to be more careful' I thought to myself. If I'm not, I'll end up just like my brother. Then who will get revenge? Whatever I had in mind to do related to following them was quickly discarded and new ideas replaced them. One stood out the most and was probably the bet option.
I need to get the fuck out of here. And fast.