The Manticore King

"Hey Thanatos! How's it going?"

"Oh, hey Dave!" I said, "Man, I haven't seen you in ages!"

"I know right? It's been, what, two years?"

"Sounds about right."

Dave has been my best friend, and only friend, sense middle school. We were like twins and clicked together within the first five minutes of meeting each other. We like the same stuff, we're interested in the same stuff, and we both don't give a shit about relationships. We haven't seen one another in two years because Dave got a two-year full scholarship to California state collage. We now just so happened to run into each other while  I'm walking to work.

"So what have you been up to these past couple years?" Dave asked me.

"Not much. I got a job."

"Really? YOU got a job? My ass you did!"

I deadpanned. "Fuck you to ass hole. I'm serious." I told him, hoping he remembers my sense of humor. Which he does if his laughter is anything to go by. "I'm actually on my way there right now if you want me to prove it." I said with a smile.

"Oh you're on! But if your lying I get to punch you." So that's how you wanna be huh?

"Deal. But if I'm telling the truth than I get to punch you!" He nodded his agreement.

We started walking again and for about ten minutes we were just catching up on all the hilarity of the past two years. After that he got a little bit more serious but stayed lighthearted.

"So, you get anything like a scholarship?" He asked with a smile.

"Don't even get me started!" I said in exasperation.

"I'll take that as a yes. Who from?"

"Just about every part of the military! Navy, Navy SEALs, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, Para-rescue, hell even Delta Squad!!!"

"Delta Squad? Never heard of them."

"Exactly! Delta Squad is SO top secret that every member is declared officially dead, and given a new identity. Funeral included! Yet they waltzed right on up to my front door and offered me a position as a Commanding Officer. It's insane!"

"Damn Thanatos. The hell did you do?"

"Long story short, the school got attacked by a bunch of terrorists and I killed every last one of 'em." He sped up and stopped in front of me, looking me dead in the eyes.

"WHAT!?" He shouted, "How can you say that like it's nothing? You realize that makes you a hero right!"

"Ya and I don't like it so stop talking about it." I said bitterly.

"Whatever man, I'll get the details later. Come on, you don't want to be late for work do you?" He said as he started to walk across the street.

I'm about to follow before I hear a blaring horn from a Semi-Truck zooming down the street. Heading strait for Dave, while he's just standing there wide-eyed. Like a dear in headlights.

With the truck clearly going to fast to stop I reacted on instinct, and ran forward and tackled him, throwing us both safely out of the Semi's way.

When we landed we hit our heads on the concrete and got dazed so it took us a minute to get up, but as we did I started to yell at him. "THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU! YOU COULD HAVE DIED!!!" I would have screamed at him more but the truck driver came running up behind us.

"Oh my god, are you two okay!?" She asked.

I turned around with a sharp glare. "Ya. No thanks to you." I almost instantly regretted saying that as she than looked immensely remorseful.

I straitened up and closed my eyes while I took a deep calming breath, than opened them again. "Sorry for snapping at you like that." I said.

"No, don't be. Heh, I'm the one who should say sorry. So what do you say? Am I forgiven?" She asked hopefully.

"That depends on how you answer my question." She looked a little crestfallen at that, while I just smirked. "Did you, of did you not intend to hit my friend, and if not than why are we having this conversation?"

"What!? No of course not! I would never intentionally harm someone! My brakes stopped working so I couldn't stop."

My smirk broke into a full-on smile. "Then of course your forgiven! Now come on. I'll help you fix your truck."

"Wait. Your gonna forgive her? Just like that? But she nearly killed us!" Damn it Dave! Think about it from her perspective!

"Dave? May I ask you a question?" He nodded. "If you were in her situation, than how would you feel if you were blamed and/or jailed for a situation beyond your control? Not well I'd imagine." He opened his mouth to speak but hesitated.

"W-We-we-well... I, um. How do we know she isn't lying?" He said smugly.

My answer is simple. "We don't."

"Exact-!" I held up my hand and he stopped talking.

"But everyone deserves the benefit of the doubt until they prove they can't be trusted." I spoke wisely.

....... "Fine."

"Oh quit your pouting and lets help this lady fix her truck." I finished with a smile.

"You're to kind. I couldn't ask you to do that after almost hitting you." She said.

"Then it's a good thing you don't have to. We'r-" I looked back at Dave, who's still pouting. "I'm, offering."

"Oh I just can't thank you enough! This shows so much about your character! I would love to get to know you more." She's exited.

"Then we can tell each other about one another on the way to your truck. Lead the way."

It was a five minute walk there, and along the way we introduced ourselves. Turns out her name is Crystal. I don't know about you but I love that name. Dave warmed up to her pretty quickly as well. So that's always nice.

I'm currently working under the hood of the truck while Dave and Crystal talk off in the distance about something. While working on the car, something flew in so fast, out of nowhere and struck a fuel line before I could react. Then with the gasoline spewing everywhere, a bullet flew in and set the liquid on fir - A BULLET!?!?! "SHIT! RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN!!!!!!!!!!" I shouted as I sped off towards the others. They look at me, then the growing inferno behind me and there eyes became as wide as dinner plates...

Right before an explosion behind me sent me tumbling through the air from the concussive blast.

I landed head first and slid about ten feet. I likely have a concussion, broken nose and a skinned face.

"Thanatos!!" I heard Dave and Crystal yell.

I slowly and lazily lifted my upper body up, supporting my self on my arms with difficulty. I wish I hadn't though, because as soon as I was stable I noticed everything got tinted red, and after that, the first thing I saw was Crystal sitting on my right and Dave on the left.

"Oh my God! Are you okay?!?!?!" That is the last I heard of her as her head exploded into chunks, blood and brain-matter splattering me, making me more red than before.

A looked at Dave and crocked out a single word. "R--Run." He tried to, but as soon as he stood up, he to, turned the ground red. Only for him his torso exploded rather than his head.

"NO!" I shouted with a random burst of adrenaline.

Using this new-found energy I tried to crawl to the cover of a nearby car, only to feel my arm get dismembered st the elbow as a high-caliber bullet pierced my flesh. Screaming in pain I rolled onto my back just as another bullet shot my other arm.

At this point I didn't even feel the pain and I new I was a goner. Feeling nothing is worse than feeling everything.

So for the first time in my life I gave up.

I just laid there as I bleed to death painlessly.

And as my vision faded from red to black,

I heard a voice,

No, two voices,

One Angelic

One Demonic

The Angelic one spoke of a new life,

While the Demonic one spoke of new powers,

You have done well, but your time is not up and it never will be. You will be reborn. There will always be some beings that need your help somewhere, and I will be with you the entire way. Helping to guide you when you need it, and to keep you from succumbing to evil.

You've only just begun to tap into your TRUE potential. You will learn of things you can do that you never knew was possible. I will help you develop your abilities until there is none that can stand in your way! You are immortal, and every immortal must have the power of gods at there disposal!

"An immortal life and unlimited power. Cool...."

That is my last thought as all consciousness flees from my mind.