Don't Hesitate

Chapter 1

"How is it that I still can't find my way around here?" Alex questioned with a frustrated sigh. "Seriously the town is not that big."

Alex was a desk worker at ‘Mack & Mark’s Paper Company’. It was just after yet another dull day of work and he just wanted to unwind. He loosened his red tie, unbuttoned the top two buttons of his white office shirt, and ruffled his brown hair in an attempt to at least look relaxed. Alex took a quick look at himself in his rear view mirror, after a small nod of approval he pulled his car out of the parking lot.

Alex continued driving down the roads in his rusted neon; he was contemplating the possibility of the city being able to change its own layout. Alex sighed again dismissing the idea. Despite how much he would love to blame his problems on the world this one was simply impossible.

“Besides,” Alex thought. “There is no way the world would want to fuck up my day that badly.”

Alex took a right turn down a street he thought looked familiar. He frantically scanned the street for any sign that could justify his feeling. Sadly he found none. His eyes twitched when his beloved neon drove into some murky green fog. Alex slowed down and flicked on his high beams.

"Oh, for fuck’s sake." He cursed leaning forward, squinting hard in an attempt to improve his vision. Needless to say this did nothing for him.

Suddenly the ground started to rumble. Alex's neon swerved like the wheels were made of wet soap. He battle with the steering wheel to stay in control when the pavement split. Large chunks of earth and pavement protruded towards the sky adding to Alex's panic as one acted as a ramp.

"REALLY? AN EARTH QUAKE!"

Alex continued to swerve out of control and curse the world’s apparent hatred towards him. He continued to rant until he his vehicle came to a skidding halt. He lurched forward slamming his head into the dash board, having his rant effectively stopped Alex groaned in pain.

When he looked up he was greeted by the sickly green fog that polluted the destroyed street. The road was cracked all over with sections reaching for the sky, building were also cracked or crumbling.

"Whoa..." he paused soaking in the destruction. “Looks like the world fucked up other people's days just as much."

Alex placed both hands on the steering wheel and started driving again. Unfortunately his faithful car bobbed up on the left side and came down with a thud then refused to go forward. Something was interfering with one of the wheels. Alex grumbled under his breath reluctant to exit his car. He looked at the ominous and unwelcoming fog. He hesitated for only a moment before stepping outside. He walked to the tire in question and brought his head down.

"Alright what is the..." He trailed off when he saw a mangled body jamming his wheel. "HOLY SHIT!"

Alex fell back gawking at the crumpled being between the tire and the car. Only its upper body remained with its lower half no were to be found. The clothes it wore were rags with big gashes in them. The body itself was bony with almost no flesh on it.

"Oh god, oh god, oh god, OH GOD!"

Alex was in a state of panic. His mind buckled under guilt. He was soon distracted from his guilt by a sound behind him.
Alex turned to see a silhouette of figure in the fog. Alex called out to it in hopes of getting help. When the figure staggered towards him he thought that he might be the one to offer help. But that thought ended just as quickly as it started.

The figure cleared the fog and Alex's eyes dilated when the figure was roughly the same as the one crushed under his car's tire. It was unnaturally skinny, with torn clothing, and a brownish green skin. Its eyes were solid white with no trace of the iris or pupil. The creature gave off an undead appearance, and from the way it walked and groaned that's exactly what Alex thought it was. He did the only logical thing any man would do in his position. He screamed and ran as fast as he could, drawing more of them to his position.

Meanwhile, in the adjacent street, a hooded man was walking along with an animated pile of junk. The heap of scrap had just finished crushing the heads of two ghouls before walking after his master. He followed his hooded master until they both heard a strange noise.

The hooded man looked up in surprise; after the noise was gone, a moment of silence passed between the man and the metal behemoth. After that the man ripped off his hood revealing his dark skin and black hair. His hair formed into eight dreadlocks that were tied at the back into a form of pony tail. His green eyes were bright with joy and excitement. Too complement that a wide grin stretched across his face.

"Hey Rade we’ve got to help whoever that was!" Cried the man with joy in his voice.

Without any further command the metal construction bent over. His poorly constructed joints whined in protest. The man climbed onto its back clutching the handle he had placed at the top of its spine for this exact purpose.

"Onward Rade, to victory!" He yelled in a cheery tone.

Just as Rade took off he unsheathed his staff from the side of his back pack. He flicked a small latch on the side causing some gears on the inside to shift. A fifteen inch blade shot out one end turning the blunt staff into a small lance.

Meanwhile, back at Alex's current position, Alex had his back against a wall with zombies closing in all around him. His hopes of ever getting back to his boring normal life were gone. He did not blame the universe for loathing him anymore. He simply accepted it and despised it right back.

Alex watched helplessly until the zombies were only twelve feet away. There was no way of escape for him not now, not five minutes ago, not ever.

Alex's fall into depravity was interpreted by a very loud and abrupt appearance.

"YEEEEE HAAAAAW!" Yelled the hooded man riding the giant robot.

Alex's jaw hit the concrete as the metal behemoth thrashed about destroying the zombies under its metal fists. Alex was too focused on the creature of destruction to notice that its rider had dismounted and was crouched beside him.
That unnerving feeling of breath in his ear caught his attention instantly. Alex turned his head to find that the hooded man face was only a few inches from his.

"Hiya!" He shouted full of cheer. "What are you up to?"

Alex shrieked jumping to his feet causing the man to jump back in surprise.

"Whoa! Why are you screaming?" Asked the man

"Why the hell are you so close to me?!" Alex asked.

They both stared at each other waiting for the other’s answer. The sound of the metal giant smashing zombies was muffled in their ears as they waited. Alex was the first to give in, realizing he should not be rude to his savior, especially when that savior has a giant robot that could break every bone in his body.

"Well thanks for saving me, my name is Alex." He reached out a hand.
Within seconds the man had both of his hands clutched around his and shook it violently.

"Hello Alex!" He greeted in a voice of happiness that Alex had never heard before. "My identification is Subject: 109745, but you can call me Walburn."

“Well… Walburn?” Alex greeted trying to pry his hand free. “Where the hell am I and what the hell is that thing?”

Walburn looked back, relinquishing Alex’s hand. Rade was approaching dragging a broken body in one hand and a handful of skulls in the other. Walburn smiled at his companion and waved him over.

“This is my familiar Rade." He explained. “I made him eight years ago, but he has grown a lot since then.” Alex raised a troubled brow at the man.

“What does that make you?”

“Well…” He took a skull out of Rade hand. It glowed a dim blue before shattering. The dust blew away in the wind. He then touched one of the corpses with the same hand. It stirred then rose again. “I am a necromancer.”

Alex gave him a look of mixed feelings. One such feeling was discussed.

“That’s fucked up.” He pointed at him. “You’re fucked up, I’m leaving!”

Walburn frowned bringing his lance down on the weak reanimated ghoul. The blade dug deep into its skull and it collapsed once again. “Where are you gonna go?”

Alex stopped dead in his tracks thinking about what was more important. Life was by far at the top of the list so he walked back to the Necromancer. “I fucking hate you…” He mumbled so he could not hear.

“Now that is out of the way lets address your problem. What do you think the date is?”

“What does the date have to do with anything?” Alex questioned. “*sigh* April 4th 2010”

Walburn grinned. He started to chuckle and eventually fell over, holding his gut in a howl of laughter.

Alex shifted uncomfortably at the sight of the hysterical necromancer. He was unsure what was so funny. “I’m sorry, I don’t get the joke.” Alex apologized, frustration on the rise.

“Oh it’s not funny, it’s just perfect!” He roared. “It seems that without you knowing you are helping me.” He picked himself of the ground and walked towards Rade. “The current year is April 22nd 2313.” Alex’s jaw dropped again. “But fear not 'friend' I’ll get us out of here!”

The way Walburn put extra emphasis of friend made him queasy. His smile was brighter than that of a child who received a new toy. Alex did not want to be friends with this ‘Walburn’.

After a small explanation from Walburn of his plans to return Alex to his world they set out. Alex felt his heart burn with the sense of a new purpose.

“So Walburn,” Alex said. “How old are you?”

“Twenty four.” Walburn answered with out hesitation.

“Really?” Alex asked in disbelief. Alex could not believe he was two years older then him by the way he acted. “You have any other friends or family?”

“Well I have Rade.” He motioned to the giant beside him.

“No that’s not what I meant,” Alex shook his head. “I mean like brothers and sisters or… other humans.”

Walburn stopped walking. His head hung low shrouded in his hood.

“No I don’t,” He said in a calm voice. “I live on my own.”

“Oh so you moved out or something?”

Walburn shook his head. “No my parents died when I was six,” Alex felt a spike of pain shoot through his heart. “I was left to fend for myself in this town of dead for two more years before someone found me.”

Alex was surprised by Walburn’s sudden change in character. Walburn kept his back toward Alex so he could not make out his facial expression, but Alex had a few guess of how serious or remorseful it would be.

“The man who found me was the same man who taught me magic.” Walburn explained. “He taught me more on how to survive. Alchemy, salvage, repairs; he taught me everything I know. He was my mentor and my…” The words stuck in Walburn’s throat.

“Father.” Alex offered.

Walburn nodded “Yes, I loved him as though he was my real father. He was always kind to me and cared for me… But on my Twelfth birthday he never came home.”

Alex could feel the air around the man in front of him darken. He could also feel some of his own misfortunes resurface. The way he talked about him made Alex think he was the one good thing he had and it was taken from him.

“Hey lets change subjects.” Alex suggested.

Walburn sniffled and nodded. They carried on in silence for awhile until Walburn spoke up.

“Hey Alex,” He said grabbing his attention. “Thanks.”

Alex gave him a warm smile that he thought he was incapable of doing.

It was only a few more minutes until they reached Walburn home. His home was a long since abandoned apartment building. Almost all of the walls were gone with the same going for the rest of the crumbling building. The only thing that was intact was the hatch that leads to the basement which Alex assumed was where he lived. Walburn told Alex to stay outside with Rade while he retrieved his equipment.

Alex waited beside the metal giant with an uneasy expression on his face. He was uncomfortable to be standing next to the creature that had shown such ferocity only minutes ago. That however did not stop Alex’s curiosity as his eyes darted to inspected and retreat again.

Between glances Alex found that the creature was poorly assembled. Its fingers were semi pipes cut on the ends at an angle forming stabbing tools on each hand. The rest of its body was a random assortment of junk anyone could find. Most of its internal components were covered in armor made out of street signs. The signs were the only thing on it that seemed to be well crafted or in this case bent. Alex admired how a stop sign bent into a slight dome over its shoulder, and the folded sheets of street signs lining its spine. Alex also took note of the handle at the head of its spine.

Alex heard the hatch open. He turned to see the necromancer in a rather stereotypical state. He wore a hoodie trench coat hybrid. The hood was black with the strings dangling over his exposed chest. The unzipped hybrid revealed a beige tank top and bone talisman. The rest of the coat was also black and can down to his knees. He wore a vast assortment of pouches and bags containing vials, beakers, and herbs. On his back was a large ruck sac with the straps refurbished with bones and rope. On the side was his trusty bladed staff.

"You know, it doesnt help your case when you dress like that." Alex pointed out. Walburn shrugged. "Youre the only other living thing I've seen in twelve years so the thought never came to mind."

Before they began walking again Walburn handed Alex an old SMG. Alex recognized it as a beat up MP 5. He starred at the weapon unable to move.

"Word of advice Alex," He said catching all of his attention. "In this place don't hesitate."

Alex gazed upon his face noticing his serious expression. He found it was hard to take him seriously with that small white swirl tattoo on his cheek. Reluctantly he took hold of the fire arm. Walburn then produced two additional magazines from one of his pouches. As they walked on he taught Alex how to use the weapon.

The trio moved with haste through the streets killing anything that got in there way. Much to Alex's annoyance Walburn continued to spout out his jokes about the dead. They were very corny and by Alex's description "Just bad."
"Just stop with the dead and necrophilia jokes would you!" Alex demanded.

Walburn looked at him with a blank expression before he smiled again. "What do you expect from a necromancer but dead jokes that make you groan?" He laughed hard at his own joke. Alex groaned gripping the sides of his head praying this would all be over soon.

"We’re here." Said Walburn brining the party to a halt.

Alex looked around. It was the town center but it had a massive hole in its center were a fountain used to occupy. Leaning forward he peered into the pit. He could not see the bottom.

"How is this supposed to help us?"

"This is where I will perform the ritual."

"Ok so what now?" Inquired Alex returning his attention Walburn. As he did he found that Rade was nowhere to be seen. He let his eyes follow Walburn gaze to a church's bell tower.

"We ring the dinner bell."

Before Alex could protest Rade gave the Church bell three strong rings. The gongs of the bell rang threw the green mists beckoning the dead from all corners of the town. Not thirty seconds later did they start to fill the streets.

Alex lifted Walburn up by his coat collar. "You bastard! You've killed us!"

Walburn only laughed unfazed by Alex. "I need an immense amount of magic to make this work. Although Ghouls have a small amount of magic they have more than a human such as you." Alex began to calm down with Walburn’s explanation. "With the noise we just made we’ll draw thousands of ghouls here. It does not matter if they`re walking or dead as long as a piece of their body remains I can access the spirits magic reserves." Alex put the necromancer down who straightened his collar.

"Don't waste all your ammo." Walburn suggested handing him a bat.

They nodded at each other and began to work.

About eight hundred ghouls later both Alex and Walburn were breathing heavily. The hoard of ghouls had not dwindled in hours they fought and it was starting to look as though they would never have enough magic. Their hope rekindled when a beam of light erupted from the pit and stretched into the sky causing hundreds of ghouls to louse all magic and crumble to the ground. Alex, Walburn, and Rade all rushed to the edge of the pit to see what had happened.

Inside the pit was a strange wall. Its color fluxed between the sick green of this world and a sky blue to a bright pink. It caught both Alex and Walburn off guard. Neither of them had seen anything like it before. The wall of light flickered slightly when there were no more ghouls to sap energy from.

"Umm... ok what no-" Alex felt a push on his back. Alex gasped as he fell into the pit. He twisted his body to see Walburn falling after him with a smile. Alex felt a scowl form across his face from the new found hatred for the necromancer.

"NO TIME TO HESITATE!" He screamed laughing like a mad man. His chemist equipment clinked together as he began free to fall behind Alex smiling and laughing the whole way.

Alex felt nothing but anger towards his self-proclaimed ‘friend’. "WALBURN YOU ASS-" Were the only words Alex got out before they both collided with the rift. The rift was a nice pink when it broke down their bodies into nothing. They were gone.

***** Extra
Walburn's quiet friend.

My soul had been at rest for centuries. The stream of souls that I was now a part of gave me great peace, but all of that ended when I was summoned to earth.

When I opened my eyes I saw a large human. By the feel of his magic he was a necromancer. I was expecting to be inside a reanimated corpse but today was full of surprises.

My body was a very small assortment of junk. My joints were ball sockets attached to thin metal rods that were my limbs. Between each joint and limb section was a combination of springs which acted as hydraulics. My eyes had small shutters that allowed me to blink showing my confusion.

I looked at my to be master and realized I was toy sized. My master must have been a child of at least thirteen by my new eyes.

When I went to stand on my two artificial legs he picked me up and threw me into the air three times. He had a smile on his face that was hard to hate.

‘He looks so happy…’

In the soul stream I had been told by other souls that necromancer were evil begins that would make your life miserable. When I looked at this child who seemed overjoyed by me I found it hard to believe. I thought that perhaps he would get worse when he gets older.

As the years past I found that my pervious assumption was wrong. My master who I know new as Walburn treated me much more like a dear friend then a familiar, a most uncommon trait for a necromancer or any magic user. Master Walburn had also given me the name Rade a few days after my rebirth.

One day when Master came home he had a surprise for me. From the basement he brought up another heap of metal. It was another body much large then my own. It was in the shape of a dog that I recognized as a Shepard.

I felt saddened that Master was getting a new familiar to better suit his needs. However he placed the limp body beside me and gave me a happy grin.

‘T-This body is intended for me?’ I questioned in my mind gesturing at it. Master Walburn was very good at reading my body language by now and nodded. I was stunned by my master’s kindness and bowed.

From that day forth I was no longer surprised by Master Walburn’s kind heart. I was happy to spend my years with my creative master and was always grateful for the new bodies he made for me. New bodies for me were like getting a new suit to add to my wardrobe. Master never threw out the old bodies. He kept them as a trophy for memories, much like a family picture.

The fifth body was the last one he made for me but he still made additions and alterations to it time and again. The body was massive I was easily twice my masters size when I stood upright, and he was a full grown man now of twenty.
Our days were full of my master’s laughter as he gleefully hopped through the destroyed streets. It was these days that I grew to love. To see my master happy like this brought warm into my artificial body. It was these days that reminded me how much I cared for him, and what I would be willing to do to keep him safe. To offer my new life to save his would be a small price to pay.

I had heard him speak of his mentor in the past. The way he cried after he spoke of him like a father brought pain to my heart. It was then that I felt it was my duty not as a familiar but as a friend to protect him by any means, even if it meant my own demise.