One step, two step, three hoof, four dead: small town, big brotherby ShadowmancerEliteChaptersChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 1Thump...Thump....THUMP I was pummeling a punching bag when I heard the tell-tale creak of the front door of the anger room being opened. Hmm? The anger room was a room designed for people like me, people with major anger issues. I kept punching away because I all ready knew who it was. The schools psychiatrist, Dr. Lewis Giver, was supposed to be for kids with extreme paranoia, but then again, I was also paranoid as all hell. I could hear him shuffling nervously behind me before making his way over to the bench that was closest to me. "H-hello Mr. Feld... Do you know who I am?" I stop and tell him, "Dr. Lewis Giver, school psychiatrist, father of Leroy Giver. And your here to see if you can get rid of my paranoia.", before pummeling the sand bag again. He stayed quiet for a few minutes before asking, "How do you know that?" I chuckle as I slam my fists into the leather bag filled with sand, though it was spilling sand in a few places. "There's a trust program or something the school does so that the kids here can feel safe when talking with their doctors. I decided to check up on it, you have ten years of work, have had two wives since the first died of cancer, and you have a single son, Leroy." He sat there quiet for another few minutes while I kept on punching the sand bag. "Where does your paranoia stem from? What do you fear?" I stop for a minute and think about it. Where did my paranoia stem from? I sigh as I remember, "Did you know I was once a bully?" That seemed to have caught him off guard, "W-what do you mean?" I frown as the memories start bubbling up to the surface, "I meant just that, I was once a bully." He was writing down something if the sounds of scribbling was to be trusted. "What made you stop?" I close my eyes as I start hearing them. "I flipped my morals..." I heard the pencil stop before he said, "You don't just flip morals like that Mr. Feld." I go back to pummeling the bag for a few minutes before stopping and actually looking at Mr. Giver, "I was beating up a little kid, around ten years old, because he didn't pay up for a dumb-ass fine I had set up on one side of the road. I kept beating the shit out of him when I had vision of some sorts. I could see my baby sister, aged up and everything on the ground, crying as if I had beat her up instead. I just...stopped. I broke down when I saw that vision, made me think that if I kept up the way I was going, I was going to pummel my own sister for my selfish wants. I got depressed for a while, then I got an idea. I went around and got the addresses of every single kid I had beaten up for money or food. I made a few dozen cards, all of them hand made with an apology in each one. Well, all but one..." He just stared at me slack jawed before clearing his throat and asked, "What did the last one have?" I just stared at the ground before saying, "A thank you letter with an apology. It was for the kid I had beaten up when I saw Annabelle beat up in his place. I learned all I could so I could make it sound a sincere as possible. His name was Stewie Logan. A fucking genius at mathematics. Turned out he forgave me when I gave the letter because after a week of punching bags in here I got a letter in the mail from him. I don't know how he knew where I lived, but he knew. He had sent a letter explaining something I had once known..." He was writing with a furious determination before stopping and looking up with an eyebrow raised and a question on his lips, "What did it say?" I could feel hot tears running down my face as I remembered what it said, but I wasn't about to let him know, "I'm headin' home, see ya later doc." Mr. Lewis looked like he wanted to press it but stopped and gave a curt nod and said his good byes as I left the anger room and started heading towards my locker. I passed by about six classes that held up to several kids for detention on my way to my locker. Most of them were stuck up pinheads who knew nothing, but acted like they owned the world. The others were outright bullies, people I would've spent time with about six years ago. I had finally reached my locker and looked at the name plate on it, 'David Feld'. Each locker had a nameplate on its front. The school did that every year, but it was mostly for show than to promote friendliness. The school actually has sported quite a few very rich kids. It's the only reason the school was even built, to house bratty kids that important people didn't want to raise. I chuckle at how few of the rich kids actually make it through highschool. I put in the code for the locker and jump back when a package falls out. I stand there for a few seconds before a grin reaches my lips. I've made a few friends in the school, but my best friend was the local janitor, Gary Locar. He was just as paranoid as me, but instead of just being paranoid I swear he can predict outcomes of certain events. When we first met he had given me a note in the hallway to meet him in his 'office' and chat for a bit at twelve thirty sharp. After we finished chatting I found that a whole farms worth of cows had broken loose at twelve thirty sharp and started running through town. I've asked a few times about that but he deflects topics like a master. I kneel down and grab the package and unwrap the bulky object contained inside it. What I found confused me. Inside was an obviously custom made gas mask, but that wasn't what confused me, but rather how it was built. There was a rebreather and gas mask nozzles combination at where there should only be the gas masks nozzles. The eye piece looked like it came out of a pair of ski goggles. Plus the back was the oddest part. The back looked like it was supposed be screwed together with a panel that was attached to one side. There was also metal plates in the places where there was nothing. All in all, it was a strange gift, but not the first. There was a reason I gave my locker code to Gary, but his gifts weren't the only things he put in there. I grabbed the note that was inside the gas masks even odder interior. The interior had a small hole, almost like a straw, but why on earth would there be a straw? I chuckle at the thought and open the note and frown at what it said, Dear David, I hope you find this before they reach here, but you need to grab your family and get out while you can. I've gotten a small cabin in the rainier woods and should be good. I only had enough for two so I'm sorry I couldn't give more to you for your family. stay good man, and don't take it off until your sure as hell that you're alone when you take it off. They spread through liquid contact, so be careful ya hear? And do me a solid and ride your bike, don't take any offered car rides. With hope, Gary The last part concerned me, what the hell did he mean by don't take any offered car rides? I always take my bike, but sometimes there's offers from the nicer kids for car rides to cemetery hill. I usually turn them down, but there's always the chance my bike will break down, but even that's rare. I just rolled my eyes and placed the mask on my face, and as usual, it fits perfectly. Just how do you get it to close? I finger the mask till I find a button on the bottom of the chin. I push it and I hear the mask cleaning the air immediately and a light blue glow illuminates the inside. I can see perfectly and the blue color was a bonus, but the whirring in the back concerned me for a few seconds before I realized it was the panel sealing itself closed. I look at the mirror on the back of the locker door and actually smiled, not some halfhearted smirk, but a full-blown smile at the face that stared back at me. I looked freaking awesome. I chuckled again before realizing the mask gave my voice a double-tone. Now that was freaking awesome. I locked the locker door back and grabbed my backpack and started walking towards the exit. As I walked I noticed that all the classrooms were vacant now, but something was... off. Meh, maybe they got out early or somethin'. I exited and walked towards the bike rack and unlocked the bulkiest one there. My bike was more motorcycle then bike, but the only reason it was technically a bike because I could ride it like a normal bike and a motorcycle. It started out as an experiment, but then it turned into a full on engineering project of mine. Won an award because of this baby. I started the bike and was about to leave when someone called out, "Hey!" I turned and looked at a friendly acquaintance of mine, Manuel Diaz. He's from Mexico but hes spent most of his life here in Lakern. I wave since nobody can see through the mask, but he seemed to recognize my infamous jacket that I wear everywhere, even if it's in the nineties. He came to a stop and asked, "Nice mask, but Mom said to ask you if you needed a ride. So, need one?" Manuel was always nervous, but he was always calmer near me. I chuckled and said, "Nah, my bike's fine, but thanks for asking." He just nodded and ran back towards the car that contained his mom and anyone else from his family. I started up the engine and sped off with only a quiet purr coming from the engine as I took off into the streets. I smiled as I sped down the roads heading towards cemetery hill as I listened to one of my favorite songs, Radioactive by Imagine Dragons. I smiled under the mask and turn towards the road leading up towards my home, cemetery hill. There's a reason it's called cemetery hill, actually two reasons now that I think about it. The first is because there's two cemeteries on the hill. One on top, and one the bottom. The one on the top is actually a military cemetery, but that didn't do any good for the second reason. The second one was the fact of how the road leading up to the old houses was made. They made an error or somethin' and if you drive within five feet of the edge, there's a very likely chance that the ground underneath you will crumble and fall, with you on it. It's happened once, and it'll happen again. I just ignored the signs as I rode the cement floor to the top. I looked over the edge and decided to stop for a second to admire the view. The golden leaves, mixed with spatters of red and green really pleased my eyes, despite the unusual way they clashed. After sitting there for a few minutes I spotted something really odd. I had just discovered the telescope feature built into the mask and was just zooming in at random when I saw a familiar car caught in what looked like a car jam, but there was something extremely off. I take out the jack that let me listen to my music and stared in fascinated horror as I saw people with fucking wings landing on top of cars, ripping through the roof and pulling people out and flying straight up and... Deep throating them? I then caught sight of one of their tongues and almost immediately regretted it. Their tongues looked more like tentacles. But some didn't have such features. There was one with rather large, erm, equipment and was spraying a very viscous liquid everywhere that a normal human was. I started my bike back up and sped the rest of the way home as my mind replayed the events happening in town. I even saw a few that looked like horses, but that's impossible...Isn't it? I had finally reached the house, a single story house that housed a family of five, six if you counted our dog. I set my bike next to the old van and raced up the steps and unlocked the door. As I walked in I could hear the t.v. going in the living room, but that was it. I practically sprinted into the room only to see..."Sis? Shouldn't you be at your recital?" Sitting in front of the t.v. was my little sister, Annabelle. She was watching the news and had tears running down her face as she stared at the t.v. in shock. "They left for the farmers market in the southern plaza..." My heart dropped as I saw the note she was gripping in her hand. I softly pulled on it and she simply let go. As I read I felt my face growing paler at each word till I felt black creeping into the edge of my vision. Hey sweetie! I know you'll most likely be back at around four, so we left you the rest of the pizza we had in the refrigerator. We're leaving to grab some veggies from Mr. Howlan at the farmers market and we'll be back in an hour or two, and keep an eye out for your little sister, her recital got canceled as they were halfway there. Something about a sickness affecting every other school. See you soon! P.S. Take out Rex when you get home. He just went, but knowing him, he'll need to go again. With love, your Mom She had gone to the southern plaza, and was either halfway there and stuck in the madness out there or hiding out in the only hotel in the town, Middens lantern. A family run business, but the main reason it was our go to place was because it's where Dad worked during the day. A cleaning manager at day, and a night guard from dusk to dawn. payed pretty good, plus the owners let us sleep there when there's not so many clients. I looked up from the note to see the news reporter going on about a huge plague affecting everybody, and to stay indoors till the military gets there to deal with it, but for some reason I doubted that will be happening anytime soon. They even showed a picture of what the infected looked like at certain stages, but the last stage was the oddest. They looked like a miniature horse, or would that be pony? I don't care, nor does it matter. Why? Because a fucking virus causing humans to turn into ponies was taking over the world. Author's Note I've began a second story!? WHEN!? Oh, right now? Huh, that's what I get for being forgetful! I've gotten permission from one David Silver and I adored his story, so I've made a story based on it! Chapter 2Thunk, I opened the cabinet containing several personal objects. I sifted through the junk before grabbing a bulky pistol like weapon, a taser gun. It was a gift from my uncle during my birthday, but it caused a ton of grief to be directed at him from my Dad. I rarely used it but I had a feeling it would be used a lot in the coming days. I then jogged over to the closet in my parents bedroom and grabbed the key from above the door frame and unlocked the gun cabinet. I really don't want to use any of these but precautions needed to be made if we're to survive out there. I grabbed the single revolver from the pistol holder, a .38 special. It was my Dads first gun, but it wasn't his last. There was three other pistols and a carbine. The only other thing in there was a bag filled with ammo. I grabbed the bag and one of the nine millimeter pistols before closing it back up. I jammed the key in my pocket, just in case I needed to get something from there later. I groaned as I realized that Dad never bought any holsters for any of his guns. We're going to have to stop by the local gun store if I'm going to have these things on my person. I walked back out to the hallway before realizing that I was rather famished, and I'm probably not the only one. I poke my head into the living room and asked, "You hungry?" She nodded and meekly said, "Yes...A PB an' J, please...." I nodded and jogged into the kitchen and started slathering a slice of bread with peanut butter when I heard something that made my blood run cold. CLEE, THUMP.... NO, NO, NONONONONONO- "NO!" I sprinted into the living room to a disgusting sight that made me almost puke. A pegusas was deep throating my sister with its fucking tongue tentacles. I grabbed the .38 and fired, hoping to high Hell my aim was true. BOOM, splat, I... I killed it.... I guess all those stories lied, eh? I don't feel any remorse, none actually. I guess he was right when he said...I looked up to hear my sister was chocking on the now dead tentacles. I started panicking as I grabbed the tentacles with a towel from the coffee table and threw them onto the body. I wiped her face clean with cloth, but it only made the blood smear across her face. I hefted her onto my shoulder and ran to the bathroom. When I got there I grabbed a wash cloth and plunged it into the now running tap. I cleaned her face again, but with better results this time. After a minute of rinsing the blood off of her I saw the blood on my hands. I panicked at first but then something odd happened. The blood just, refused, to stay on my hand. Even when I cupped it, it practically leaped out of my hand and into the drain. While I was pondering Annabelle apparently had woken up after blacking out. She was shivering and crying even harder. I picked her up bridle style and walked towards her room and said, "Get changed, pack lightly, and grab your sandwich in the kitchen, I'm goin' to see if I can find the keys to the van, alright?" She sniffed and quietly sobbed, "I'm sorry..." I cringed at what she said before hugging her as tightly as I could without breaking her, "It's fine it's not your fault. We're heading to Middens, we'll be able to see Mommy, Daddy, and your big Sissy. Won't that be nice? To have all of us together..." She nodded before heading back into her room while jogged towards Dads study. It's the only place that he could actually have any peace. We were always told to stay out, but from what Dad has said, the van keys should be there. I moved to turn the knob when it abruptly stopped, locked. I didn't have the key to his study, but did I really care? No, no I didn't. I backed up all the way to the kitchen and charged the sturdy door and slammed my shoulder into it. creak, BAM! Ow... I really should've thought this through better, but I'm through. I looked at the book filled room before alighting on the desk in the middle of the room. I walked up to it before pulling out each before spotting an open safe on the floor. I frowned before opening the safe all the way and looking in. There was mostly papers, probably important documents. But the most surprising thing was the finely polished trench knife sitting underneath the familiar van keys with a note sitting atop of both of them. I grabbed the letter and opened the letter to see, Dear David, It's me, Gary. Don't ask, I know you'll have a lot of questions, but you need to get M.L. immediately. You'll see your Dad's message on his workstation. I need to hurry or neither of us is going to make it. Stay with your sister and make sure to keep her safe, or we're both doomed. Don't ask, but I can see IT. Don't ask how I know, or how I'm able to do what I do, but know this. Our time is coming to a close, but I'm afraid I can't make it. You'll make it if you follow the trail, but whatever you do, avoid the temple. With hope, Gary What? Lantern doesn't have any temples, at least the last time I checked we didn't. Whatever, when he says to avoid it, I'll most likely run into it. I grab the knife and keys and stuff them in the ammo bag before running to the kitchen. Annabelle was munching on her sandwich when I burst in. She didn't even look up, just sat there before managing a small, "Hi..." I nod in her direction before grabbing one of the large coolers from the laundry room and dumped a bags worth of ice in it before placing lunch meat, cheese, and other refrigerated stuff. I ran outside and unlocked the van before placing it in the back. I sprinted back inside and grabbed an entire liter of root beer and shoved it next to the ice before grabbing two reusable cups from the kitchen along with about ten water bottles. I looked around for anything else before remembering to grab the extra batteries for the taser. I grabbed the batteries and scrambled to get to the front door. I stopped for a micro second and ran back towards the kitchen to grab Annabelle, but she was gone. I nodded before running back out and found Annabelle strapping herself in on the passenger side. I looked around before remembering my bike. I just hefted the heavy thing and gently placed it next to the food. I had to place the back seats down to fit the bike in, but it fit. I ran towards the drivers seat and yanked it open before climbing in. The van was an old KIA, but it worked fine. I shoved the key in and turned them, but nothing happened. I panicked for second before groaning in frustration at the fact that I had been turning it the wrong way. When the engine sputtered to life I backed out and set out towards the beginning of cemetery hill. The ride down cemetery hill wasn't bad, if anything it was actually pretty calm. I rolled my eyes at the thought of cemetery hill being calming. Annabelle was clutching at my side the entire way down. I stopped at an intersection before taking a left. I really didn't bother with any of the rules. Why? Well, it's an apocalyptic world right this second, so the rules weren't very high on my list of concerns. I just strolled down Kapowsin ave. and kept my cool. I looked at my sister who had stopped clutching at my side in favor of complaining about how her back was itchy, but her back showed no sign of any growths, so I wasn't worried about that right this second. She just squirmed a little bit more before falling asleep. I sighed a bit before turning my eyes back towards the road. There wasn't a living soul around, just me, my sister, and the van. I started humming a little tune before a ear shattering screech broke my concentration. I stopped and looked out the windows, but there wasn't anybody. But that means-! KREESH! I stared slack-jawed at the hooves piercing the roof before grabbing the closest thing, me. I yelled as I was pulled into the sky with a pair of horse like hooves clutching my armpits. I started screaming bloody murder as the van started shrinking till I assumed we were about fifteen feet above the ground. Fun fact about me, I absolutely hate heights. After screaming for a minute or two I was flipped to see the oddest mouth trying to kiss me, er, well, trying to anyway. The mouth was split in the jaw, allowing more room for the tentacles to move. After a minute of the flying thing mashing its tongues on my mask it gave up and looked at my face more clearly. What I saw could only be related to an almost adorable pony. It tilted it's head before saying, "Why no accept gift?" ...What!? These things can talk!? I twisted trying to get of its grip, heights or not, there's no way I'm staying here! After a minute of thrashing I looked back at the 'pony', only to see it smirking. I could feel my anger beginning to boil over before I chuckled. It grew a confused face before it squawked out, "What so funny?" I just laughed at its expression before digging my hand into my pocket and clutching at a certain bulky object. I stopped laughing for a second before leaning in close with the 'pony'. "Do you know why you shouldn't mess with me?" The dumb-ass shook its head before saying, "Why?" I pulled out the taser and pushed it into the chest of the quadruped. I kept staring it in the face before calmly saying, "This is why." And I fired point blank. KZZZZT There was no sound except the taser going off. Sure, I felt it, but not as badly as the 'pony'. I could see wisps of smoke curling off its mane as it shook in nerve wracking pain. I just laughed as we fell. I felt...dizzy for some reason, but I could see the ground coming up to meet me. I let out one more chuckle before impacting on the pavement. I groan as I felt a headache starting to wind down, but not fast enough. I just sat there for a minute feeling the nice, cool, and refreshing washcloth running over my head...System emergency protocol 092341 in last phase...What? I opened my eyes to see the nice clear autumn sky before suddenly hearing a steadily growing crackling sound. When the sound reached its apex nothing happened it jus-Kzzzt! FUCK! I rolled around for a few more seconds before picking my shaking body off the ground. I looked around me to see one body on the ground next to me. It was the body of the pony thing that tried to do that hentai shit with me being the subject. I shuddered at the thought of them reaching down my throat and infecting me. That was wrong in so many ways. I looked at the van still sitting fifteen feet away from me. I limped on over to see Annabelle sleeping a quiet as a baby. She really must have been tired if she slept through all of that. I looked at the crooked body of a pony before getting in the van. I checked my mental map and took a right to come straight into one of those underground parking lots before parking in between two other trucks. I yawned as I felt myself drifting off into the world known for its dreams, the mind scape. I smiled as my mind drifted more, and more, and peeked an eye at Annabelle before muttering, "You can't be the only one who gets some sleep...." Chapter 3I looked around at the heavy fog surrounding me before I reached up instinctively to see if my mask was still present. I let out a sigh when I flt the comforting presence of its cool metal plates on my fingertips. "Comforting? That's a new one! I spin on my heel to see... Myself? Well, more like a reflection of myself. It was me but instead of my casual jeans and black as night hoodie with neon blue lightning streaking across it, the doppelganger had the blue jeans and neon blue changed to a rather deep blood red. The soft blue coming from the mask also had been changed to a deep bloody red. My doppelganger walked a complete circle around me before saying, "Would you kindly not call me a doppelganger? My name is Gewalt. And I would like to offer you a proposition." I backed up and sharply spat, "Why the Hell should I trust you? For all I know you are a figment of whatever twisted imagination I have!" 'Gewalt' chuckled before saying, "I'm from the Void kid, better believe me when I say you'd want to hear me out." We stayed there for a minute before holding out a hand tantalizingly and said, "Come on, just one little hand shake. And you can have an almost unlimited power source to tap into~!" I looked at his hand and back to the mask before asking, "Why take the shape of me? Can't you take a different form?" He nodded before replying, "I suppose it's best to tell you straight. I'm basically attached to you right this second, and I don't have a stinking clue to undo it. Plus, this'll end up helping both of us!" I reached out a single hand and hesitated before firmly grasping his left hand with my own. He nodded before snapping his fingers and opened a door way. He tugged my unreleased hand and pulled me through. Whoah! I could see darkness in every direction, but spaced throughout the darkness was beautiful bands of light that seemed to slowly gyrate and move throughout the void of darkness. I looked around to see if Gewalt was anywhere near me when I nearly collided with the rings of a bright, almost neon, red bands of light. I stared at it for a minute before it clicked. This was Gewalt, in his normal form. Or whatever that is. I held out a hand and lightly tapped one of the circlets when I was assaulted with sounds, emotions, and different colors briefly flashing. After a minute of head splitting sounds and bright lights it stopped. I let out a groan of pain as the bands of energy seemed to flash and began to condense back into Gewalt's human form. He shook his head and said something, but I couldn't understand him. All that noise practically destroyed any hearing I had. He tried again before putting his fingers to work and started snapping. I could hear again, if that was the familiar sound of snapping fingers was any help. I cracked open my eyes to see Gewalt creating a door and, with another snap of the fingers, tossed right into it. I sigh in relief at the muted gray of the fog. The door back into whatever that was closed and collapsed on itself. I heaved myself to my knees and faced Gewalt, "What the hell was that!?" Gewalt chuckled and simply said, "Home of course! That's also the only way to show you my other form." I raised one of my eyebrows when I realized how sweaty my face had become. I pushed the button and waited a minute before realizing that nothing was happening. I started panicking when I realized I couldn't take it off. I started breathing heavily when I felt a hand on my shoulder, "Take it easy David, it's a dream, just imagine it gone.' I nodded, closed my eyes, and thought about a cool breeze blowing across my face as if the mask didn't exist. After a tense minute of concentration I felt a cool breeze pushing my hair back with the familiar sound of birds calling. I opened my eyes to see the peaceful forest that surrounds Lakern, rainier forest. I carefully touched my face and was relieved to feel my skin. I looked over towards Gewalt and realized he still had his mask on. He had a comforting aura and had almost looked... Sympathetic? I chuckled and said, "Thanks, I was getting panicked in there..." Gewalt looked uncomfortable for a second before nodding and replying, "No problem, that happens to me a lot. Since I was a being of pure energy I couldn't feel anything, and I often felt crushed by the silence of my world. When I came here I felt so... Overwhelmed. I suppose I should've prepped you for that, but as usual I get ahead of myself." I nodded in agreement before remembering the void, "What are you exactly?" He shuffled and shook his head before explaining, "I can't say exactly, and no, it's not because I can't tell you, but rather the fact that I don't know myself. But I can tell you what we are made of. We're made of energy, but there's a few like me. I symbolize violence, but others symbolize different things, like my sister, who you can call Betrug. She symbolizes deceit, or the act of lying." I frowned at that. Deceit? Violence? I looked him in the eyes before asking, "Is there others? And if there are, are they here?" He shuffled nervously before nodding slowly and said, "Yes... and yes. There are more than just maybe three or four here. I'm positive there's at least seven others, but others could be hiding like me and my sister, so I don't have a defined count. For all I know there could be from five hiding to a few dozen, I don't know." I shivered at the thought of more of his kind running around wreaking havoc without abandon. I nodded once before realizing something, "Where's your sister Gewalt?" He stopped shuffling and stood stock still before practically melting into the floor, er, tried to anyways. I stopped his descent with a thought and dragged him towards me and snarled into his face, "Where. Is. Your. Sister!?" He tried moving but after a minute of useless struggling he stopped and looked at me dejectedly before muttering, "...Your sister..." No. I growled and I could feel his fear. He just squirmed a little bit before saying, "At least she has someone to turn to if we don't... survive?" He looked nervous for whatever reason. I personally didn't care, but the fact that my younger sister has a being of energy inside that bases itself on lying wasn't comforting. I dropped him before storming off, forest or fog, I didn't care. He was scrambling to catch up when I whirled around and yelled, "What do you fucking want!? You want to add more of my friends and family to your little group!? What's next!? untrustworthy!? Greedy!? How about something more your speed, death!?" He stopped as if I had slapped him. I grabbed his collar again and yanked him close and snarled, "What do you want dummkopf!?" He just kept quiet before saying, "I'm going to tell you, but why do you think I enjoy death?" I just continued to stare at him before dropping him on the ground and kept walking. When he appeared in front of me I simply walked out of his way and straight into a wall. I looked around and saw that I was completely entrapped in a stone box. I turned around and saw Gewalt standing there patiently. I just stared right back at him. He shook his head and spoke, "I need you and you need me. Why do you think I asked for you to shake my hand? I needed help, and you needed help too." I clench my fists as I shakily nodded my head, "Yea, but why? Why do you need my help?" He chuckled before saying, "I've never had a body, I've always been energy. So I have not a clue on how to operate a body, but I'm also a tad lazy. I don't want to have to create violence, but you with your anger issues..." I glared at him before turning away and muttering, "I'm not that bad... Am I?" He chuckled as he shook his head, "No, you're much worse. I've seen your more violent thoughts and boy were they beautiful! But that's the point! My, and by extension, your magic is fueled by anger, violence, and all around terror." I flinched at his lat word. Terror...Many students at Lakern High school feared me, and with good reasons. I've beaten up dozens of kids, I've beaten up other bullies who went after my sister, and I've once sent an entire group of drunkards to the hospital. I'm a rather terrifying person to be honest. Gewalt nodded and said, "Yes, terrifying. But you have a certain flare for it and you put in a different perspective!" I raised my eye at that, "What do you mean a different perspective?" He chuckled before pulling out a thick book out of... somewhere... and opens it and says, "There's so many different 'villains'! But they were always so, 'I'm evil because I am!' Or, 'I'm really jealous so I'll kill to get what I want!' There's rarely a bad guy who is 'evil' because of an actual reason! They're always just plain evil or 'misunderstood', but not willing to be evil on purpose because of something worthwhile! You want to protect your sister! You're willing to do evil to accomplish it!" I ponder that. Be evil to protect my own sister? "Do I have to always do evil? Isn't it possible to do it with as little of bloodshed?" He again nodded sagely before tossing the book behind him and put his arm over my shoulders and walking me... Somewhere. "You see, there's tons of people who've tried that already! But they don't get recognized! Soldiers, mercenaries, even a few diplomats! But they're left behind in the dust because of them dying while they do it, and therefore are seen as corrupted and swayed when they are killed because of someone important to them being took and held hostage and are given orders to follow or their relative or whatnot gets their head blown off. But your different! You've gotten your sister, but you need to keep her safe and sane!" I nodded before a random thought shoved its way forward, "What do you mean by 'sane'? Is the virus going to destroy her mind!?" He pause for a second before busting out laughing, "W-what do you mean 'virus'!? They're actually calling it a virus!? BWAHAHA! That's fucking priceless!" I blinked in shock at his blatant ignorance of what I had just asked. "Are you going to answer my question or not!?" He wheezed as he nodded before letting out a few final chuckles before saying, "Yes, your sister will be mentally tried and you'll need to be at her side at all times to keep her sane. And as for the 'virus', it's corrupted magic from a different dimension across the void." I thought about it for a second before looking at my hand and asked, "What makes your,er, our magic so different?" He actually paused and said, "My magic draws off of violence, therefore it's looked upon as shady and the world reflects that. The magic you use will be shadowy and rather dark physically. For others their 'nicer' magic is looked upon as better and friendlier than our magic. So their magic could be almost transparent, more shaped, and most of all, less conspicuous then ours. You'll think of the evil wizards magic and you think of dark magic, which is colored darkly or sinisterly. A unicorns magic is seen as healing and luck inducing when a unicorn could very well impale you on their horn using levitation should they fancy it. The point is, our magic is just like theirs, just a different source." I nodded as I drank in the information when a large question popped up, "How did I get you? I didn't get infected nor did I get caught in whatever started this." He nodded again before explaining, "I'm in the mask, and I'm not the first mask he has created either. He's made another three. Whatever he's doing with them is probably not very good, especially since hes got another being like me in him." I could feel my blood freezing. It would explain so much. Such a his ability to predict things, make things that have no reason to exist, and his odd behavior! But that means, "If there's more of the masks, who's going to get them?" He paused and stroked the bottom of his mask before stopping abruptly and yelling, "No time, you've got to wake up!" I tripped as I felt a violent shudder go through the misty realm before everything started to fall off into an abyss below. I turned towards Gewalt when I saw the last of his body melting into the ground. "Fuck!" I felt a shudder go through the ground once more before it crumbled beneath me as I screamed, "FUCK!" Author's Note Hi guys, I'm even more tired and errors might have been made. So please alert me to any and all errors that have occurred because of my tiredness or any way to improve this chapter, why? Well because something feels off and I can't place it. And as usual, goodnight and enjoy! Shadowmancer out!
Chapter 1Thump...Thump....THUMP I was pummeling a punching bag when I heard the tell-tale creak of the front door of the anger room being opened. Hmm? The anger room was a room designed for people like me, people with major anger issues. I kept punching away because I all ready knew who it was. The schools psychiatrist, Dr. Lewis Giver, was supposed to be for kids with extreme paranoia, but then again, I was also paranoid as all hell. I could hear him shuffling nervously behind me before making his way over to the bench that was closest to me. "H-hello Mr. Feld... Do you know who I am?" I stop and tell him, "Dr. Lewis Giver, school psychiatrist, father of Leroy Giver. And your here to see if you can get rid of my paranoia.", before pummeling the sand bag again. He stayed quiet for a few minutes before asking, "How do you know that?" I chuckle as I slam my fists into the leather bag filled with sand, though it was spilling sand in a few places. "There's a trust program or something the school does so that the kids here can feel safe when talking with their doctors. I decided to check up on it, you have ten years of work, have had two wives since the first died of cancer, and you have a single son, Leroy." He sat there quiet for another few minutes while I kept on punching the sand bag. "Where does your paranoia stem from? What do you fear?" I stop for a minute and think about it. Where did my paranoia stem from? I sigh as I remember, "Did you know I was once a bully?" That seemed to have caught him off guard, "W-what do you mean?" I frown as the memories start bubbling up to the surface, "I meant just that, I was once a bully." He was writing down something if the sounds of scribbling was to be trusted. "What made you stop?" I close my eyes as I start hearing them. "I flipped my morals..." I heard the pencil stop before he said, "You don't just flip morals like that Mr. Feld." I go back to pummeling the bag for a few minutes before stopping and actually looking at Mr. Giver, "I was beating up a little kid, around ten years old, because he didn't pay up for a dumb-ass fine I had set up on one side of the road. I kept beating the shit out of him when I had vision of some sorts. I could see my baby sister, aged up and everything on the ground, crying as if I had beat her up instead. I just...stopped. I broke down when I saw that vision, made me think that if I kept up the way I was going, I was going to pummel my own sister for my selfish wants. I got depressed for a while, then I got an idea. I went around and got the addresses of every single kid I had beaten up for money or food. I made a few dozen cards, all of them hand made with an apology in each one. Well, all but one..." He just stared at me slack jawed before clearing his throat and asked, "What did the last one have?" I just stared at the ground before saying, "A thank you letter with an apology. It was for the kid I had beaten up when I saw Annabelle beat up in his place. I learned all I could so I could make it sound a sincere as possible. His name was Stewie Logan. A fucking genius at mathematics. Turned out he forgave me when I gave the letter because after a week of punching bags in here I got a letter in the mail from him. I don't know how he knew where I lived, but he knew. He had sent a letter explaining something I had once known..." He was writing with a furious determination before stopping and looking up with an eyebrow raised and a question on his lips, "What did it say?" I could feel hot tears running down my face as I remembered what it said, but I wasn't about to let him know, "I'm headin' home, see ya later doc." Mr. Lewis looked like he wanted to press it but stopped and gave a curt nod and said his good byes as I left the anger room and started heading towards my locker. I passed by about six classes that held up to several kids for detention on my way to my locker. Most of them were stuck up pinheads who knew nothing, but acted like they owned the world. The others were outright bullies, people I would've spent time with about six years ago. I had finally reached my locker and looked at the name plate on it, 'David Feld'. Each locker had a nameplate on its front. The school did that every year, but it was mostly for show than to promote friendliness. The school actually has sported quite a few very rich kids. It's the only reason the school was even built, to house bratty kids that important people didn't want to raise. I chuckle at how few of the rich kids actually make it through highschool. I put in the code for the locker and jump back when a package falls out. I stand there for a few seconds before a grin reaches my lips. I've made a few friends in the school, but my best friend was the local janitor, Gary Locar. He was just as paranoid as me, but instead of just being paranoid I swear he can predict outcomes of certain events. When we first met he had given me a note in the hallway to meet him in his 'office' and chat for a bit at twelve thirty sharp. After we finished chatting I found that a whole farms worth of cows had broken loose at twelve thirty sharp and started running through town. I've asked a few times about that but he deflects topics like a master. I kneel down and grab the package and unwrap the bulky object contained inside it. What I found confused me. Inside was an obviously custom made gas mask, but that wasn't what confused me, but rather how it was built. There was a rebreather and gas mask nozzles combination at where there should only be the gas masks nozzles. The eye piece looked like it came out of a pair of ski goggles. Plus the back was the oddest part. The back looked like it was supposed be screwed together with a panel that was attached to one side. There was also metal plates in the places where there was nothing. All in all, it was a strange gift, but not the first. There was a reason I gave my locker code to Gary, but his gifts weren't the only things he put in there. I grabbed the note that was inside the gas masks even odder interior. The interior had a small hole, almost like a straw, but why on earth would there be a straw? I chuckle at the thought and open the note and frown at what it said, Dear David, I hope you find this before they reach here, but you need to grab your family and get out while you can. I've gotten a small cabin in the rainier woods and should be good. I only had enough for two so I'm sorry I couldn't give more to you for your family. stay good man, and don't take it off until your sure as hell that you're alone when you take it off. They spread through liquid contact, so be careful ya hear? And do me a solid and ride your bike, don't take any offered car rides. With hope, Gary The last part concerned me, what the hell did he mean by don't take any offered car rides? I always take my bike, but sometimes there's offers from the nicer kids for car rides to cemetery hill. I usually turn them down, but there's always the chance my bike will break down, but even that's rare. I just rolled my eyes and placed the mask on my face, and as usual, it fits perfectly. Just how do you get it to close? I finger the mask till I find a button on the bottom of the chin. I push it and I hear the mask cleaning the air immediately and a light blue glow illuminates the inside. I can see perfectly and the blue color was a bonus, but the whirring in the back concerned me for a few seconds before I realized it was the panel sealing itself closed. I look at the mirror on the back of the locker door and actually smiled, not some halfhearted smirk, but a full-blown smile at the face that stared back at me. I looked freaking awesome. I chuckled again before realizing the mask gave my voice a double-tone. Now that was freaking awesome. I locked the locker door back and grabbed my backpack and started walking towards the exit. As I walked I noticed that all the classrooms were vacant now, but something was... off. Meh, maybe they got out early or somethin'. I exited and walked towards the bike rack and unlocked the bulkiest one there. My bike was more motorcycle then bike, but the only reason it was technically a bike because I could ride it like a normal bike and a motorcycle. It started out as an experiment, but then it turned into a full on engineering project of mine. Won an award because of this baby. I started the bike and was about to leave when someone called out, "Hey!" I turned and looked at a friendly acquaintance of mine, Manuel Diaz. He's from Mexico but hes spent most of his life here in Lakern. I wave since nobody can see through the mask, but he seemed to recognize my infamous jacket that I wear everywhere, even if it's in the nineties. He came to a stop and asked, "Nice mask, but Mom said to ask you if you needed a ride. So, need one?" Manuel was always nervous, but he was always calmer near me. I chuckled and said, "Nah, my bike's fine, but thanks for asking." He just nodded and ran back towards the car that contained his mom and anyone else from his family. I started up the engine and sped off with only a quiet purr coming from the engine as I took off into the streets. I smiled as I sped down the roads heading towards cemetery hill as I listened to one of my favorite songs, Radioactive by Imagine Dragons. I smiled under the mask and turn towards the road leading up towards my home, cemetery hill. There's a reason it's called cemetery hill, actually two reasons now that I think about it. The first is because there's two cemeteries on the hill. One on top, and one the bottom. The one on the top is actually a military cemetery, but that didn't do any good for the second reason. The second one was the fact of how the road leading up to the old houses was made. They made an error or somethin' and if you drive within five feet of the edge, there's a very likely chance that the ground underneath you will crumble and fall, with you on it. It's happened once, and it'll happen again. I just ignored the signs as I rode the cement floor to the top. I looked over the edge and decided to stop for a second to admire the view. The golden leaves, mixed with spatters of red and green really pleased my eyes, despite the unusual way they clashed. After sitting there for a few minutes I spotted something really odd. I had just discovered the telescope feature built into the mask and was just zooming in at random when I saw a familiar car caught in what looked like a car jam, but there was something extremely off. I take out the jack that let me listen to my music and stared in fascinated horror as I saw people with fucking wings landing on top of cars, ripping through the roof and pulling people out and flying straight up and... Deep throating them? I then caught sight of one of their tongues and almost immediately regretted it. Their tongues looked more like tentacles. But some didn't have such features. There was one with rather large, erm, equipment and was spraying a very viscous liquid everywhere that a normal human was. I started my bike back up and sped the rest of the way home as my mind replayed the events happening in town. I even saw a few that looked like horses, but that's impossible...Isn't it? I had finally reached the house, a single story house that housed a family of five, six if you counted our dog. I set my bike next to the old van and raced up the steps and unlocked the door. As I walked in I could hear the t.v. going in the living room, but that was it. I practically sprinted into the room only to see..."Sis? Shouldn't you be at your recital?" Sitting in front of the t.v. was my little sister, Annabelle. She was watching the news and had tears running down her face as she stared at the t.v. in shock. "They left for the farmers market in the southern plaza..." My heart dropped as I saw the note she was gripping in her hand. I softly pulled on it and she simply let go. As I read I felt my face growing paler at each word till I felt black creeping into the edge of my vision. Hey sweetie! I know you'll most likely be back at around four, so we left you the rest of the pizza we had in the refrigerator. We're leaving to grab some veggies from Mr. Howlan at the farmers market and we'll be back in an hour or two, and keep an eye out for your little sister, her recital got canceled as they were halfway there. Something about a sickness affecting every other school. See you soon! P.S. Take out Rex when you get home. He just went, but knowing him, he'll need to go again. With love, your Mom She had gone to the southern plaza, and was either halfway there and stuck in the madness out there or hiding out in the only hotel in the town, Middens lantern. A family run business, but the main reason it was our go to place was because it's where Dad worked during the day. A cleaning manager at day, and a night guard from dusk to dawn. payed pretty good, plus the owners let us sleep there when there's not so many clients. I looked up from the note to see the news reporter going on about a huge plague affecting everybody, and to stay indoors till the military gets there to deal with it, but for some reason I doubted that will be happening anytime soon. They even showed a picture of what the infected looked like at certain stages, but the last stage was the oddest. They looked like a miniature horse, or would that be pony? I don't care, nor does it matter. Why? Because a fucking virus causing humans to turn into ponies was taking over the world. Author's Note I've began a second story!? WHEN!? Oh, right now? Huh, that's what I get for being forgetful! I've gotten permission from one David Silver and I adored his story, so I've made a story based on it!
Chapter 2Thunk, I opened the cabinet containing several personal objects. I sifted through the junk before grabbing a bulky pistol like weapon, a taser gun. It was a gift from my uncle during my birthday, but it caused a ton of grief to be directed at him from my Dad. I rarely used it but I had a feeling it would be used a lot in the coming days. I then jogged over to the closet in my parents bedroom and grabbed the key from above the door frame and unlocked the gun cabinet. I really don't want to use any of these but precautions needed to be made if we're to survive out there. I grabbed the single revolver from the pistol holder, a .38 special. It was my Dads first gun, but it wasn't his last. There was three other pistols and a carbine. The only other thing in there was a bag filled with ammo. I grabbed the bag and one of the nine millimeter pistols before closing it back up. I jammed the key in my pocket, just in case I needed to get something from there later. I groaned as I realized that Dad never bought any holsters for any of his guns. We're going to have to stop by the local gun store if I'm going to have these things on my person. I walked back out to the hallway before realizing that I was rather famished, and I'm probably not the only one. I poke my head into the living room and asked, "You hungry?" She nodded and meekly said, "Yes...A PB an' J, please...." I nodded and jogged into the kitchen and started slathering a slice of bread with peanut butter when I heard something that made my blood run cold. CLEE, THUMP.... NO, NO, NONONONONONO- "NO!" I sprinted into the living room to a disgusting sight that made me almost puke. A pegusas was deep throating my sister with its fucking tongue tentacles. I grabbed the .38 and fired, hoping to high Hell my aim was true. BOOM, splat, I... I killed it.... I guess all those stories lied, eh? I don't feel any remorse, none actually. I guess he was right when he said...I looked up to hear my sister was chocking on the now dead tentacles. I started panicking as I grabbed the tentacles with a towel from the coffee table and threw them onto the body. I wiped her face clean with cloth, but it only made the blood smear across her face. I hefted her onto my shoulder and ran to the bathroom. When I got there I grabbed a wash cloth and plunged it into the now running tap. I cleaned her face again, but with better results this time. After a minute of rinsing the blood off of her I saw the blood on my hands. I panicked at first but then something odd happened. The blood just, refused, to stay on my hand. Even when I cupped it, it practically leaped out of my hand and into the drain. While I was pondering Annabelle apparently had woken up after blacking out. She was shivering and crying even harder. I picked her up bridle style and walked towards her room and said, "Get changed, pack lightly, and grab your sandwich in the kitchen, I'm goin' to see if I can find the keys to the van, alright?" She sniffed and quietly sobbed, "I'm sorry..." I cringed at what she said before hugging her as tightly as I could without breaking her, "It's fine it's not your fault. We're heading to Middens, we'll be able to see Mommy, Daddy, and your big Sissy. Won't that be nice? To have all of us together..." She nodded before heading back into her room while jogged towards Dads study. It's the only place that he could actually have any peace. We were always told to stay out, but from what Dad has said, the van keys should be there. I moved to turn the knob when it abruptly stopped, locked. I didn't have the key to his study, but did I really care? No, no I didn't. I backed up all the way to the kitchen and charged the sturdy door and slammed my shoulder into it. creak, BAM! Ow... I really should've thought this through better, but I'm through. I looked at the book filled room before alighting on the desk in the middle of the room. I walked up to it before pulling out each before spotting an open safe on the floor. I frowned before opening the safe all the way and looking in. There was mostly papers, probably important documents. But the most surprising thing was the finely polished trench knife sitting underneath the familiar van keys with a note sitting atop of both of them. I grabbed the letter and opened the letter to see, Dear David, It's me, Gary. Don't ask, I know you'll have a lot of questions, but you need to get M.L. immediately. You'll see your Dad's message on his workstation. I need to hurry or neither of us is going to make it. Stay with your sister and make sure to keep her safe, or we're both doomed. Don't ask, but I can see IT. Don't ask how I know, or how I'm able to do what I do, but know this. Our time is coming to a close, but I'm afraid I can't make it. You'll make it if you follow the trail, but whatever you do, avoid the temple. With hope, Gary What? Lantern doesn't have any temples, at least the last time I checked we didn't. Whatever, when he says to avoid it, I'll most likely run into it. I grab the knife and keys and stuff them in the ammo bag before running to the kitchen. Annabelle was munching on her sandwich when I burst in. She didn't even look up, just sat there before managing a small, "Hi..." I nod in her direction before grabbing one of the large coolers from the laundry room and dumped a bags worth of ice in it before placing lunch meat, cheese, and other refrigerated stuff. I ran outside and unlocked the van before placing it in the back. I sprinted back inside and grabbed an entire liter of root beer and shoved it next to the ice before grabbing two reusable cups from the kitchen along with about ten water bottles. I looked around for anything else before remembering to grab the extra batteries for the taser. I grabbed the batteries and scrambled to get to the front door. I stopped for a micro second and ran back towards the kitchen to grab Annabelle, but she was gone. I nodded before running back out and found Annabelle strapping herself in on the passenger side. I looked around before remembering my bike. I just hefted the heavy thing and gently placed it next to the food. I had to place the back seats down to fit the bike in, but it fit. I ran towards the drivers seat and yanked it open before climbing in. The van was an old KIA, but it worked fine. I shoved the key in and turned them, but nothing happened. I panicked for second before groaning in frustration at the fact that I had been turning it the wrong way. When the engine sputtered to life I backed out and set out towards the beginning of cemetery hill. The ride down cemetery hill wasn't bad, if anything it was actually pretty calm. I rolled my eyes at the thought of cemetery hill being calming. Annabelle was clutching at my side the entire way down. I stopped at an intersection before taking a left. I really didn't bother with any of the rules. Why? Well, it's an apocalyptic world right this second, so the rules weren't very high on my list of concerns. I just strolled down Kapowsin ave. and kept my cool. I looked at my sister who had stopped clutching at my side in favor of complaining about how her back was itchy, but her back showed no sign of any growths, so I wasn't worried about that right this second. She just squirmed a little bit more before falling asleep. I sighed a bit before turning my eyes back towards the road. There wasn't a living soul around, just me, my sister, and the van. I started humming a little tune before a ear shattering screech broke my concentration. I stopped and looked out the windows, but there wasn't anybody. But that means-! KREESH! I stared slack-jawed at the hooves piercing the roof before grabbing the closest thing, me. I yelled as I was pulled into the sky with a pair of horse like hooves clutching my armpits. I started screaming bloody murder as the van started shrinking till I assumed we were about fifteen feet above the ground. Fun fact about me, I absolutely hate heights. After screaming for a minute or two I was flipped to see the oddest mouth trying to kiss me, er, well, trying to anyway. The mouth was split in the jaw, allowing more room for the tentacles to move. After a minute of the flying thing mashing its tongues on my mask it gave up and looked at my face more clearly. What I saw could only be related to an almost adorable pony. It tilted it's head before saying, "Why no accept gift?" ...What!? These things can talk!? I twisted trying to get of its grip, heights or not, there's no way I'm staying here! After a minute of thrashing I looked back at the 'pony', only to see it smirking. I could feel my anger beginning to boil over before I chuckled. It grew a confused face before it squawked out, "What so funny?" I just laughed at its expression before digging my hand into my pocket and clutching at a certain bulky object. I stopped laughing for a second before leaning in close with the 'pony'. "Do you know why you shouldn't mess with me?" The dumb-ass shook its head before saying, "Why?" I pulled out the taser and pushed it into the chest of the quadruped. I kept staring it in the face before calmly saying, "This is why." And I fired point blank. KZZZZT There was no sound except the taser going off. Sure, I felt it, but not as badly as the 'pony'. I could see wisps of smoke curling off its mane as it shook in nerve wracking pain. I just laughed as we fell. I felt...dizzy for some reason, but I could see the ground coming up to meet me. I let out one more chuckle before impacting on the pavement. I groan as I felt a headache starting to wind down, but not fast enough. I just sat there for a minute feeling the nice, cool, and refreshing washcloth running over my head...System emergency protocol 092341 in last phase...What? I opened my eyes to see the nice clear autumn sky before suddenly hearing a steadily growing crackling sound. When the sound reached its apex nothing happened it jus-Kzzzt! FUCK! I rolled around for a few more seconds before picking my shaking body off the ground. I looked around me to see one body on the ground next to me. It was the body of the pony thing that tried to do that hentai shit with me being the subject. I shuddered at the thought of them reaching down my throat and infecting me. That was wrong in so many ways. I looked at the van still sitting fifteen feet away from me. I limped on over to see Annabelle sleeping a quiet as a baby. She really must have been tired if she slept through all of that. I looked at the crooked body of a pony before getting in the van. I checked my mental map and took a right to come straight into one of those underground parking lots before parking in between two other trucks. I yawned as I felt myself drifting off into the world known for its dreams, the mind scape. I smiled as my mind drifted more, and more, and peeked an eye at Annabelle before muttering, "You can't be the only one who gets some sleep...."
Chapter 3I looked around at the heavy fog surrounding me before I reached up instinctively to see if my mask was still present. I let out a sigh when I flt the comforting presence of its cool metal plates on my fingertips. "Comforting? That's a new one! I spin on my heel to see... Myself? Well, more like a reflection of myself. It was me but instead of my casual jeans and black as night hoodie with neon blue lightning streaking across it, the doppelganger had the blue jeans and neon blue changed to a rather deep blood red. The soft blue coming from the mask also had been changed to a deep bloody red. My doppelganger walked a complete circle around me before saying, "Would you kindly not call me a doppelganger? My name is Gewalt. And I would like to offer you a proposition." I backed up and sharply spat, "Why the Hell should I trust you? For all I know you are a figment of whatever twisted imagination I have!" 'Gewalt' chuckled before saying, "I'm from the Void kid, better believe me when I say you'd want to hear me out." We stayed there for a minute before holding out a hand tantalizingly and said, "Come on, just one little hand shake. And you can have an almost unlimited power source to tap into~!" I looked at his hand and back to the mask before asking, "Why take the shape of me? Can't you take a different form?" He nodded before replying, "I suppose it's best to tell you straight. I'm basically attached to you right this second, and I don't have a stinking clue to undo it. Plus, this'll end up helping both of us!" I reached out a single hand and hesitated before firmly grasping his left hand with my own. He nodded before snapping his fingers and opened a door way. He tugged my unreleased hand and pulled me through. Whoah! I could see darkness in every direction, but spaced throughout the darkness was beautiful bands of light that seemed to slowly gyrate and move throughout the void of darkness. I looked around to see if Gewalt was anywhere near me when I nearly collided with the rings of a bright, almost neon, red bands of light. I stared at it for a minute before it clicked. This was Gewalt, in his normal form. Or whatever that is. I held out a hand and lightly tapped one of the circlets when I was assaulted with sounds, emotions, and different colors briefly flashing. After a minute of head splitting sounds and bright lights it stopped. I let out a groan of pain as the bands of energy seemed to flash and began to condense back into Gewalt's human form. He shook his head and said something, but I couldn't understand him. All that noise practically destroyed any hearing I had. He tried again before putting his fingers to work and started snapping. I could hear again, if that was the familiar sound of snapping fingers was any help. I cracked open my eyes to see Gewalt creating a door and, with another snap of the fingers, tossed right into it. I sigh in relief at the muted gray of the fog. The door back into whatever that was closed and collapsed on itself. I heaved myself to my knees and faced Gewalt, "What the hell was that!?" Gewalt chuckled and simply said, "Home of course! That's also the only way to show you my other form." I raised one of my eyebrows when I realized how sweaty my face had become. I pushed the button and waited a minute before realizing that nothing was happening. I started panicking when I realized I couldn't take it off. I started breathing heavily when I felt a hand on my shoulder, "Take it easy David, it's a dream, just imagine it gone.' I nodded, closed my eyes, and thought about a cool breeze blowing across my face as if the mask didn't exist. After a tense minute of concentration I felt a cool breeze pushing my hair back with the familiar sound of birds calling. I opened my eyes to see the peaceful forest that surrounds Lakern, rainier forest. I carefully touched my face and was relieved to feel my skin. I looked over towards Gewalt and realized he still had his mask on. He had a comforting aura and had almost looked... Sympathetic? I chuckled and said, "Thanks, I was getting panicked in there..." Gewalt looked uncomfortable for a second before nodding and replying, "No problem, that happens to me a lot. Since I was a being of pure energy I couldn't feel anything, and I often felt crushed by the silence of my world. When I came here I felt so... Overwhelmed. I suppose I should've prepped you for that, but as usual I get ahead of myself." I nodded in agreement before remembering the void, "What are you exactly?" He shuffled and shook his head before explaining, "I can't say exactly, and no, it's not because I can't tell you, but rather the fact that I don't know myself. But I can tell you what we are made of. We're made of energy, but there's a few like me. I symbolize violence, but others symbolize different things, like my sister, who you can call Betrug. She symbolizes deceit, or the act of lying." I frowned at that. Deceit? Violence? I looked him in the eyes before asking, "Is there others? And if there are, are they here?" He shuffled nervously before nodding slowly and said, "Yes... and yes. There are more than just maybe three or four here. I'm positive there's at least seven others, but others could be hiding like me and my sister, so I don't have a defined count. For all I know there could be from five hiding to a few dozen, I don't know." I shivered at the thought of more of his kind running around wreaking havoc without abandon. I nodded once before realizing something, "Where's your sister Gewalt?" He stopped shuffling and stood stock still before practically melting into the floor, er, tried to anyways. I stopped his descent with a thought and dragged him towards me and snarled into his face, "Where. Is. Your. Sister!?" He tried moving but after a minute of useless struggling he stopped and looked at me dejectedly before muttering, "...Your sister..." No. I growled and I could feel his fear. He just squirmed a little bit before saying, "At least she has someone to turn to if we don't... survive?" He looked nervous for whatever reason. I personally didn't care, but the fact that my younger sister has a being of energy inside that bases itself on lying wasn't comforting. I dropped him before storming off, forest or fog, I didn't care. He was scrambling to catch up when I whirled around and yelled, "What do you fucking want!? You want to add more of my friends and family to your little group!? What's next!? untrustworthy!? Greedy!? How about something more your speed, death!?" He stopped as if I had slapped him. I grabbed his collar again and yanked him close and snarled, "What do you want dummkopf!?" He just kept quiet before saying, "I'm going to tell you, but why do you think I enjoy death?" I just continued to stare at him before dropping him on the ground and kept walking. When he appeared in front of me I simply walked out of his way and straight into a wall. I looked around and saw that I was completely entrapped in a stone box. I turned around and saw Gewalt standing there patiently. I just stared right back at him. He shook his head and spoke, "I need you and you need me. Why do you think I asked for you to shake my hand? I needed help, and you needed help too." I clench my fists as I shakily nodded my head, "Yea, but why? Why do you need my help?" He chuckled before saying, "I've never had a body, I've always been energy. So I have not a clue on how to operate a body, but I'm also a tad lazy. I don't want to have to create violence, but you with your anger issues..." I glared at him before turning away and muttering, "I'm not that bad... Am I?" He chuckled as he shook his head, "No, you're much worse. I've seen your more violent thoughts and boy were they beautiful! But that's the point! My, and by extension, your magic is fueled by anger, violence, and all around terror." I flinched at his lat word. Terror...Many students at Lakern High school feared me, and with good reasons. I've beaten up dozens of kids, I've beaten up other bullies who went after my sister, and I've once sent an entire group of drunkards to the hospital. I'm a rather terrifying person to be honest. Gewalt nodded and said, "Yes, terrifying. But you have a certain flare for it and you put in a different perspective!" I raised my eye at that, "What do you mean a different perspective?" He chuckled before pulling out a thick book out of... somewhere... and opens it and says, "There's so many different 'villains'! But they were always so, 'I'm evil because I am!' Or, 'I'm really jealous so I'll kill to get what I want!' There's rarely a bad guy who is 'evil' because of an actual reason! They're always just plain evil or 'misunderstood', but not willing to be evil on purpose because of something worthwhile! You want to protect your sister! You're willing to do evil to accomplish it!" I ponder that. Be evil to protect my own sister? "Do I have to always do evil? Isn't it possible to do it with as little of bloodshed?" He again nodded sagely before tossing the book behind him and put his arm over my shoulders and walking me... Somewhere. "You see, there's tons of people who've tried that already! But they don't get recognized! Soldiers, mercenaries, even a few diplomats! But they're left behind in the dust because of them dying while they do it, and therefore are seen as corrupted and swayed when they are killed because of someone important to them being took and held hostage and are given orders to follow or their relative or whatnot gets their head blown off. But your different! You've gotten your sister, but you need to keep her safe and sane!" I nodded before a random thought shoved its way forward, "What do you mean by 'sane'? Is the virus going to destroy her mind!?" He pause for a second before busting out laughing, "W-what do you mean 'virus'!? They're actually calling it a virus!? BWAHAHA! That's fucking priceless!" I blinked in shock at his blatant ignorance of what I had just asked. "Are you going to answer my question or not!?" He wheezed as he nodded before letting out a few final chuckles before saying, "Yes, your sister will be mentally tried and you'll need to be at her side at all times to keep her sane. And as for the 'virus', it's corrupted magic from a different dimension across the void." I thought about it for a second before looking at my hand and asked, "What makes your,er, our magic so different?" He actually paused and said, "My magic draws off of violence, therefore it's looked upon as shady and the world reflects that. The magic you use will be shadowy and rather dark physically. For others their 'nicer' magic is looked upon as better and friendlier than our magic. So their magic could be almost transparent, more shaped, and most of all, less conspicuous then ours. You'll think of the evil wizards magic and you think of dark magic, which is colored darkly or sinisterly. A unicorns magic is seen as healing and luck inducing when a unicorn could very well impale you on their horn using levitation should they fancy it. The point is, our magic is just like theirs, just a different source." I nodded as I drank in the information when a large question popped up, "How did I get you? I didn't get infected nor did I get caught in whatever started this." He nodded again before explaining, "I'm in the mask, and I'm not the first mask he has created either. He's made another three. Whatever he's doing with them is probably not very good, especially since hes got another being like me in him." I could feel my blood freezing. It would explain so much. Such a his ability to predict things, make things that have no reason to exist, and his odd behavior! But that means, "If there's more of the masks, who's going to get them?" He paused and stroked the bottom of his mask before stopping abruptly and yelling, "No time, you've got to wake up!" I tripped as I felt a violent shudder go through the misty realm before everything started to fall off into an abyss below. I turned towards Gewalt when I saw the last of his body melting into the ground. "Fuck!" I felt a shudder go through the ground once more before it crumbled beneath me as I screamed, "FUCK!" Author's Note Hi guys, I'm even more tired and errors might have been made. So please alert me to any and all errors that have occurred because of my tiredness or any way to improve this chapter, why? Well because something feels off and I can't place it. And as usual, goodnight and enjoy! Shadowmancer out!
