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Shadow Ravena -> RE: Never Should Have Been (2/11/2012 20:01:02)
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Not Quite Human
I pull my sword out of his- its maybe- head. A quick kill, a painless kill. Good. It was better that way... for both of us. A quick death, a silent death... yes, the best kind. Anything to avoid... that. That... scream. A scream of pain, of hate, of fear, of betrayal. A scream that torn through your soul... a scream that reminded you, yet again, that you have done the unthinkable. You can see it on their faces, as well. The hurt, the betrayal, the stare that says, "You just committed the most horrendous act." And they're right, you have. To avoid stare, that scream... may mean the difference between life and death, sanity and insanity, humanity and monster.
I took of my notebook and marked down a number. 725. "Heh, one of my favorite numbers. I wanted this spot for my quarry... but it matters not. He will be next... at least, very soon. He can't run forever... but I can chase him for the rest of my life." I then marked the dead creature's name and score. He was a ten- having managed to evade fighters for years. Wiping my sword off, I strode towards the nearest community center.
I walked through the grimy streets of the destroyed town, searching as usual for any creatures hiding in the shadows. The crumbling buildings and littered streets gave many hiding places, so it was advised that whenever walking through towns to keep one eye behind you at all times. Those that didn't payed the price- if they were lucky, they died quickly. Humans didn't come here at all, voting to stay in the settlements. But for us, the fighters, we made a few of these towns our bases, simply because they were usually were in the center of several settlement districts. As I drew closer to the center, I thought I spotted a figure walking on the roof behind me. Not turning, I flung one one of my throwing knives at the shadow, then drawing my sword, turned towards it. I heard the clink of my knife being deflected, then relaxed when I saw it one was one of us.
"Jones, when will you stop trying to get yourself killed?"
"When all these creatures are gone. I had to make sure it was you and not a doppleganger." There were a few still running about, but were getting steadily fewer, fortunately.
"Meh. What are you doing up there anyways? It isn't your shift."
"I heard sounds of a fight, and decided to see if you needed help."
I tilted my head. "Mine wasn't a 'fight.' I snuck up on it and decapitated it before it saw me."
"Then what was- shh. I think I hear it again." We both listened closely, and sure enough, a faint shriek pierced the air.
"Sounds like someone is in trouble... lets go." Nodding, he jumped off the roof he was on to the ground below. We silently raced to where the sound was, one of us always facing backwards in case anything tried to ambush us. After a few minutes, we reached the sound of the struggle.
One of the younger fighters, Lilthe, was fighting a ten foot creature, who looked like a kind of stone ogre. Well, fighting is the wrong word. She was barely standing, and the brute kept hitting her, knocking her back while she tried to defend herself. Nodding at Jones, I motioned for him to get on the creatures right side, myself on the right, and like that we would attack. He crept off, and I quickly walked in the shadows towards the position. Whistling softly, I lunged at the creature, knocking Lilthe back into safety. The creature blocked my sword swipe, but this allowed John to jump on him from above and plunge his daggers into the creature. He roared, then tried to shake John off. While he was distracted, I slashed him across the chest with my sword. It barely broke skin, but thats all I needed. Alternating attacks, John and I kept hitting the same area, driving out weapons deeper and deeper. Finally, we both backed off, then nodding, charged at the same time, with blows that killed the creature. With a bit of struggle, I pulled my sword out of his chest, while John checked to make sure it was dead. Usually we decapitated them to be sure, but this creature's hide was too tough for that.
"It isn't breathing, and I can't see any signs of a pulse."
"Good. We know did both, otherwise it won't have been panting or bleeding like it did. I doubt its a reviver, so we just need the incineration team to finish him off."
"Right. Since you already need them, you go and get them, I'll take care of Lilthe."
I nodded, then ran off. Back at the center, I was greeted by Flamer himself.
"Sounded like there was a fight. Need my team?"
"Yep, we got two creatures- one armored and one with stone skin."
He thought for a minute, then called two individuals from inside. He gave them instructions, then they ran off. Turning to me, he said, "Any luck with your hunt yet?"
I sighed with frustration. "No, not yet. I thought this one was it, but no, it was the Deathstriker."
"Well, you'll catch him eventually. I've never seen you NOT get your quarry."
Heh, I was somewhat famous for that. I never gave up on a quarry- chasing them for months at a time. This, the fact that I picked ten point monsters more then men twice my age, and the fact that I was one of the youngest elite fighters gave me a reputation. Though the last was mostly due to being thrown in a situation where you had to kill or be killed... and as I grew in strength, I did all I could to keep others safe. I had the ability to take down the strongest, so I did, to prevent another from being killed in the process. This didn't happen overnight... it took me over two years. But the fact that a teenager had survived being killed by a ten point monster in the first place was for many impressive enough. Though lately, I had earned their respect with a high point count as well... there were some with higher kill counts, but not many in this area with higher point counts.
"Well, I better find him soon, this is getting annoying. Much longer and I can't call dibs on him anymore."
"Not officially, but you know no one dare try and slay him." He was right on that. He was a ten pointer that would be eleven if the scale went that high- many fighters avoided him. The only ones that could kill him knew he was mine to kill, and left him alone. Mostly. They would fight him, but chased him off instead of killing him.
The two assistants returned, carrying different tools for incineration. We always burned the monsters to make sure they were dead, and to keep revivers from returning. It was usually safer this way. I led the group to where the ogre was, and as the assistants got to work, I walked over to where Jones and Lilthe were.
"Hasn't woken up yet?"
"No. I'm starting to get worried. Her blood loss wasn't that bad, and while she has a few broken bones, it shouldn't cause this unconsciousness."
"Let me look." Killer though I may be, I have trained myself in some medicine. On the battlefield, the more you know of healing, the better. I had a bit of a gift for it, being able to tell more easily what was wrong with someone. Examining Lilthe, I found what seemed like a small wound, with the skin blackened around it. Looking up, I asked the assistants, "Wait. Did you find a small knife or dagger?"
They looked around, then one brought what looked like a tooth over. "Could this work?"
"Maybe..." I looked at the tooth, which was shaped like a dagger, and dripping some substance. I touched the substance, then quickly wiped it off. It was some sort or acid- it burned my skin on touch. If Lilthe had been stabbed by this... who knows what damage it would do.
"This is bad. This stuff degrades on contact, if she has any large amount in her, it could cause quiet a bit of damage. I suspect it already has." I said while looking at her barely breathing form.
"Then we need to get her treated, now."
"Yes, but the nearest place is miles from here."
"Then what do you propose we do?" he said, his voicing rising in concern.
"We'll take her... but first, lets move to somewhere were we won't be disturbed." I said, shooting a glance at the incineration team.
Jones looked confused, but moved to help me. Carefully, we cared Lilthe to an alley that provided some privacy.
"Ill go stand guard," John said, as he climbed up onto the roof. Meanwhile, I sighed, and began to get to work. Taking out some chalk, I drew a circle, then a sun around it, with the North, East, South and West points being longer. Inside these I drew some runes, as I did in the center of the circle. Praying this would work, I placed one hand on the circle and one on Lilthe, and muttered, "Leib geben magnus!" I glowed for a second, then Lilthe did in a golden hue, as did the drawing. Once it ended, I semi-collapsed, and Lilthe stirred, coughed, then blinked her eyes open.
"Where- where am I?"
Struggling to move, I dragged myself over to her. "Your near where you were fighting that creature. You got knocked out, so we brought you over here."
Lilthe sensed there was more I wasn't saying, but kept quiet. Meanwhile, Jones had come down to us.
"Well, good to see you conscious. How are you feeling?"
"Like I got steamrolled."
He chuckled, then said, "Well, lets get you back to the center for treatment. Or rather, travel to treatment."
"Argh... all the others will laugh at me."
"Nonsense," I said, "That thing was twice your height, there's no shame in getting beaten, especially at your age."
"Says the girl barely two years older than me.
I laughed silently, then replied, "Who has three years experience on you."
"Ain't my fault if they didn't let me fight at the start of the war."
"Ladies, lets cut the chatter and get moving, okay?"
We both nodded, and John helped both of us into a standing position. Supporting Lilthe between us, we walked back to the center. There, Lilthe got in one of our few cars to go to the hospital. Meanwhile, Jones pulled me aside.
"How did you do that?"
"Do what?"
He glared for a moment, then replied, "Healed Lilthe. She already looked quite a bit healthier, and like she never got poisoned."
I looked away. "I just did, okay? I don't want to explain how."
Jones tried to get me to tell him, but I simply walked away. I registered the creatures we had killed in the computer, then set off after my quarry again.
In truth, I did not know how I had healed Lilthe. It was a spell of some sorts... I had seen it in a dream. All I knew was that it drained me immensely to work, so I rarely used it, unless it was life and death. How I knew it was a mystery. Then again, most of our powers were a mystery....
Ever since the creatures showed up, most of the fighters noticed we had... changed. We gained abilities, powers. For some, it was major, like Flamers fire powers. But for most, it was subtle changes. We were faster, stronger, smarter. Whatever skills our foes had, we seemed to gain... especially those whose weapons we kept. I speculated that the weapons were imbedded with a sort of magic from whatever universe they came from, and the longer we used them, the more of that magic became imbedded in us. Kinda like the old superhero stories with radiation in them, though this change was much slower. I was one who seemed to gain more power than usual, and I assumed it was due to the magical nature of my sword. It never got dented, never rusted, never needed care. I assumed it had to due with the gems on it, but I couldn't be sure. In any case, I wasn't quite human anymore. I was stronger, and had higher endurance then most of the other fighters. But the oddest was my speed. I could, if I saw it coming, actually dodge bullets. Well, deflect with my sword, but still. And I could use a healing spell.... The others feared me for this. We all had changed, but I seemed to have changed the most. More than once people have mistaken me for Murder, because I was nearly a strong, swift, and good at hiding he was. Plus, we both wore similar outfits- red long sleeved shirt and pants, black vest and black half cape. Mine was brighter in hue, but still, people kept mistaking me for him. It was unnerving to be honest. Had I really become so similar to the one I hated? What differentiated us?
Sure, he was evil and I was good, but we both killed. The fact that I killed to protect others didn't change the fact that I did murder people. And in the end, what difference did it make what my motive was? My soul was just as stained for the death of those that meant harm as theirs were for the death of innocents. At the end of the day I try and tell myself that what I did was for the best, that I was justified, but the screams... they invaded my dreams, hunting me day and night. There was never any relief. If we seemed like we joked too much or were too used to death, it simply was that we were, and we were trying to forget it. There is only so much a person can take... and not being able to was not a sign of weakness, but rather of humanity. What that made me, I did not know...
I walked along, my thoughts keeping me company. As I exited the town, decrepit roads and abandoned land greeted my eyes. Nearly everything in this world was long destroyed in the long, long war. Four years may not seem like much to those who weren't involved, but trust me, four years of constant bloodshed, of never knowing if you are safe, is an eternity. The few that made it this far were trying to rebuild what they could of society, but it was a slow process. Besides the fact that all able-bodied man and many woman were fighting, in between the creatures and the humans, everything was stripped of anything remotely useful. Thus, everywhere except the settlements was in utter ruin. Even there, it was little better... but it was better than nothing. We had crops, water, shelter from the elements, and enough manpower to guard them. Many of the fighters now were local militia, protecting their homes from any invaders. But some of the strongest, such as myself, decided to try and hunt down all the remanning creatures, to make things safe once and for all. We had no real base, instead just areas where we hung out. Nearly every settlement helped us if we needed it, since we kept the strongest of the creatures away from them, and made the world safer. The ones that didn't were usually too poor. Understandable enough. The settlements were grouped up usually, with the militia lines overlapped each other. They traded with each other, and helped out if the other fell on hard times. In general, any settlement would help another, its just that it wasn't feasible unless they were close. Cars were rare now, with horse and wagon being the most common transportation nowadays. Because of this, and because it wasn't safe, people rarely went outside settlement lines. As such, any form of government was impossible- the settlements each had their own ways of doing things, and trade laws were usually agreed on by the mass, as was property lines. Fortunately, we still needed each other, so fighting was minimal. Though it did hearten me when there was some actual arguments about laws and such, it meant that society was starting to form itself back again. I assumed most countries would go back to the way they used to be in a few years, and for now each settlement was a mini-country that mimicked the larger one it was in. This was mainly why we all got along- there were also few settlements near the borders, thank God. The time for fighting that out was when we were strong again. The only good thing I can say came of the war was unity between people. I doubted anyone now living would forget this unity, and I hoped it would continue. In the meantime, I did all could to help, and for me, that was hunting creatures.
There weren't many left, and what ones were left were all cataloged and pointed. Many were being tracked, with at least a rough idea of where they were. The points system was for how strong/evasive they were, but we also used to for fun to see who was the best hunter. Ya, ya, we need a hobby. In war, that was the closest thing to a hobby we had. Maybe once the war ended I could become a historian, documenting what happened, and collecting whatever history books I could. I don't think many books were destroyed, but many were scattered. But, it was odd. It was almost like I didn't want the war to end... for I had no idea what I would do then. I was sixteen when it started, now I'm twenty. In terms of maturity, in many ways I never really grew up, and in other ways, I was many years older than my physical age. It was odd. To be honest, I'm not sure if I could even function in regular society again, not after what I've seen and what I've done. I was a fighter through and through, and I doubt I will ever feel comfortable anywhere besides a battlefield, or in some business of war. Maybe I could be in charge of defense of the settlements, if they let me. "But, that is for tomorrow. Right now my job is to fight, to protect. And to avenge."
With this, I quickened my pace. There was only one place I haven't looked or someone else hasn't. If Deathstriker wasn't in this area, that means months of leads were useless. That means the last good clue I have was an old one, saying my quarry was in or near the capital... my old stomping ground. Well, if he was there, I would find him.
It took me a good week to travel south to my old state. I didn't encounter much trouble, but still, there were many miles between myself and my old home. As I went, I also stopped by some settlements, seeing if there was any new information I could find useful. Once I was in the old state of Maryland, I heard heartening news: a creature with the ability to blend into his surroundings was spotted farther south a few weeks ago. Good, I was on the right track. It did always amaze me he was the only creature with this ability, but it was useful for tracking. A day later, as the sun set, I reached my old home. I was surprised to see it was still in good repair- the raiders must have avoided this area after the initial plundering, during which I drove them off. But, it did look like someone had been here recently. Narrowing my eyes, I went back behind the house.
Before searching the area, I stopped by my family's graves again, to pay my respects. They were still in good repair- I stopped by here at least once a year, on the day of their death, to pay my respects and make sure they weren't destroyed. When I had finished it was dark out, and the moon gave light to the land, throwing eerie shadows. Drawing my sword, I walked up to the house and went inside.
I searched through the rooms, searching for any signs of life. Almost immediately, I saw some footprints in the dust covered floor. I followed them through the house, looking for the maker and if anything was taken. Surprisingly, the walker seemed to have been in a hurry, and the house was mostly untouched. When I was near my room, I thought I heard the sound of someone downstairs, and went to investigate. Sure enough, there were new tracks, leading from my Mom's room. I peered in there quickly, nothing had been disturbed. Maybe I interrupted him? In any case, I quickly crept down the stairs, and once in the kitchen, decided to take a different door out. I quickly ran down to the basement, then exited through that door, and entered the backyard again. I found the intruder where I thought I would- in front of my family's graves. Creeping up through the plants, I suddenly lunged out at him, using the flat of my sword to knock him backwards.
He grunted, stood up, then said, "Well well well, what do we have here?"
"What are you doing here, Murder?" I snarled.
"I was simply visiting these two," he said, motioning to the graves. "They aren't much for conversation though."
Resisting an urge to lunge at him again- thats what he wanted- I instead said, "Hogwash. Why are you really here?"
"Why do you care?"
I took a step towards him, but he held his ground. "Because this is MY house and you are NOT welcome here!"
His eyes glinted as he said, "If you must know, I was trying to get back to my own world. This one has been fun, but I have run out of good prey here."
"Over my dead body. You aren't leaving while I still live!"
"I can arrange that." He said as he leapt at me, drawing two short swords as he did. I parried the blow with my own sword, then tried to slash him. He evaded me, then tried to jump to the side and attack, but I merely faced him again and blocked. We continued in this fashion, moving back and forth across the lawn. After what must have been an hour of fighting, I was starting to grow tired. Murder was eleven points for a reason, and I had a hard time evading his attacks, much less striking back. The fact that he was stronger, faster, and practically immortal didn't help in the slightest. Though, having his sword did seem to help- as I had suspected, it did more damage to him than most weapons. I did not know why, nor did I really care. I just had to kill him.
But it seemed Fate had another idea. Murder managed to him me in the head with the blunt edges of his swords, knocking me over and nearly knocking me out. It might as well have knocked me out, since I could hardly move. That was it, I was finished. Murder sheathed his swords and started laughing.
"Is this the great Shadow Warrior I've heard so much about? And here I was thinking you would be an actual challenge. I guess I was wrong. And now, you're dead," he said, as he walked closer to me.
My laughter stopped him. "I'll admit, I didn't fight as well as I would have liked, but I still did better than anyone else. And finally, I managed to wear you down enough to give you a fatal injury. The next fighter that meets you will finish you off, and I'll have the satisfaction of knowing I did what I have been meaning too."
Murder stopped, and tried to figure out what I meant. As I thought he would, he checked the back of his neck, and on seeing the blood there, gave a shriek. Long ago I had figured that his one weakness was his one strength: he couldn't be killed as long as his spell was in place. On his neck was a small spell circle, which I had finally managed to break. Now, he could be killed- I had succeeded. It was doing this that I left myself open for the attack that felled me, but I cared not. In the end, I had won.
"You rotten girl, I'll kill you!" He said, near jumping forward. Once again, I stopped.
"So? I don't care. I made it my mission to kill you, and I've succeeded. You will die of your wounds this time, and even if I can't see it, I will know that I have finally avenged my family. Besides," I said with a smile, "now I get to see them again."
He paused at that, then drew a small penknife from him pocket. Cutting himself in the arm, he started to draw in blood a circle, among other things. When he had finished, he started to laugh again.
"Maybe in your universe, but I doubt that would work in mine! In the end, I get the last laugh. You lose, I win."
He placed his hands on the circle, and started to chant. The circle glowed a scarlet color, the light getting more and more intense. I felt like I was being shredded, but I fought through the pain. Right before I passed out, I said, "I doubt... that would make any difference. But... you're not escaping... me!" I said as I lunged and grabbed him by his shirt, dragging him into the portal that opened in the center of the circle. We entered a weird dark tunnel, where I lost my grip on Murder, and he went hurtling off somewhere else. The tunnel seemed endless, but finally, I felt myself falling, and then hitting the ground, the force knocking me out.
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