An unexpected dark turn

A girl told me she liked my writing. She convinced me to write her a story. Probably should mention that there is no pre planning on this, the writing is pretty much all freestyle and i think it shows

Untitled

For Kayla

I felt the blood trickle from the gash below my left eye, slightly stinging, I continued my sprint towards the opening of the cave. The Labyrinth of never ending stone walls was beginning to work tricks on my fatigued mind, how long had we been down here? Did i make a left turn when i was meant to turn right? The hours spent studying what we knew about this place seemed to be in vain. We were way in over our heads and the worst part? I hadn't seen anyone or anything let alone my friends in what seems like hours but i knew something was there, following my every move. Taunting me like a cat might a rat, toying around before delivering the final blow and ending the rat's torment. I hope that wouldn't be the case here, i trained too long to go down without a fight but the problem is we trained together. We knew how to fight as a team but never really spent much time individually and i don't quite know if i am ready to take on anything by myself. I've always been more into stealth so running for my life isn't really my thing. I do the stalking, the sneaking, silent but effective. Close combat isn't my preferred method but if it comes to it, I guess we might have to find out. Finally, i made it to the light, about one hundred metres ahead I could see the opening that leads to the surface. Panting loudly, I quickened my pace so how and managed to stumble and fall as I hit the light. A voice laughed "Did you really think you had made it out?" it hissed "Thought I would let you go that easily? What about your friends? Dont you care enough to even attempt to save them?" D****t, the light faded, going back to the dull glow that the torches on the rough stone wall provided. Who even lit this torches? Why? Perhaps a question for another time, there are more important matters at hand. Like who the hell is trying to kill us this time and how am I going to get us out of this one? I attempted to speak but I couldn't find my voice, for the first time in a long time I was terrified. "What's wrong? The serpent's got your tongue? Or more realistically, your friends?" Cackled the disembodied voice. I'd rather it stay that way, I'm not sure i want to meet the owner of this sarcastic mouth. Slightly shaking, I reached to my cheek and scrapped off the dried blood, the cut had almost healed completely. One of the few positive perks of being a Chosen one i would imagine, although it is hardly worth it, being Chosen often results in a fate worse than death. Drawing my dagger, I might of well pulled out a toothpick, I jumped to my feet and turned to meet the reptilian voice. As my eyes adjusted again to the poor lighting, my heart skipped a dozen beats. I could barely bring myself to look this creature in the eyes, there was too many to pick from. All of them trained on one thing and unfourtnately that thing happened to be me, an oversized mouth bursting with teeth that looked sharper than hypodermic needles was stretched into a sickening grin. A forked tongue licked the air and seemed to drip a neon green liquid that I was sure i didn't want anything to do with, it's deep crimson skin appeared to be pulsating. Towering over me, I now understand why I couldn't outrun this thing. Outrun? that might be the wrong  word as Mr Snakey over there didn't have legs, from the end of his torso that was barely covered by a dirty, mouldy rag, it's body seemed to blend into a strange snakelike body. Human-Snake hybrid, cannot say I've dealt with this before. I couldn't help myself " Oi Snakey, do you prefer Nikes or Vans?" I blurted out, not the time for jokes but if I'm going to die, you better believe I'm going out with a smile on my face. "An interesting choice of last words, I'll eat you last." It barked back, clearly not amused. "Which would you prefer, raw or flame grilled?" Mr Snakey joined in on the jokes, I managed a smile, if i can just keep him busy for a few more minutes while i come up with a plan... I thought to myself as my eyes darted around the room. A torch must have hit a matted piece on the wick and spat flames everywhere behind my newfound friend, several of his eyes went crazy trying to find the source of the flare. That's it! If i can divert enough of his attention, maybe i stand a chance of escaping or even killing him. Calmly, i walked closer, his eyes back on me with intense focus. Verticle slits wide, trying to anticipate my motivies, you name a colour and it was staring at me now. In an unnerving sort of way, it was oddly beauitful to see the rainbow staring at me. "You have rather beautiful eyes, have you ever been told?" I said in a rather babied voice, i felt the stares intensify probably trying to decide if i was being honest or not. "You seem calm, does death not scare you like it did the others?" A confused voice asked, i had managed to put some panic into the back corners of his mind."Someone once said that to die would be an awfully big adventure, my adventure started from birth but yours is just about to begin." I replied casually, hoping that there was no breaks in my voice. Laughter! Now was my chance, as i had practiced a thousand times before, i drew my bow and fired three arrows, one at each of the torches surronding the laughing mess of teeth. The passage of the cave we were in lit up like the sky during a fireworks display, i focused as the eyes  tried to figure out what was going on. Again, i drew my bow and fired four arrows this time, straight into the throat of Mr snakey. The laughing stopped. Sorry, i should probably explain things first, this isnt where our story should start. It all started 16 years ago, i wont go into full details but from birth we were 'chosen', i dont know how or why because at the time we were nothing special. Merely newborns, from different areas of the world, we were marked. A brand on the palm of our hands that always felt cold, each a different shape symbolising different things. Mine was an evergreen in the centre, surrounded by a dark shadow taking up the rest of my palm. To me, it represents stealth, lurking in the shadows and waiting for the perfect moment. I am the thief of the group because of my unqiue talents, one of which i find particularly cool is the fact that shadows seem to bend around me. They surround me much as they surround the tree tucked inside my hand, makes for a great cover when sneaking up on unsuspecting foes. In our small numbers we also have a healer, Claire, she mostly helps the others as the dark seems to heal my wounds. Her brand is probably pretty obvious right? The Rod of Asclepius, dont get it mistaken for the Caduceus because she will use her hands for more than healing, the first time i saw her i made that mistake and a broken nose later she taught me a history lesson i will never forget. As well as her healing powers, she is also the oldest and doesnt let people forget it. I didnt know that four months made a difference but apparently the four months between 16 and 17 are very very cruical for maturity. I can still remeber the look in her eyes when she isnt amused, grey eyes lead to the deadiest of death stares. You would think a healer would have a welcoming look in their eyes but half the time im not sure if she is going to remove the arrow from my back or stomp it through to the other side. With grey hair to match, i must admit that she is stunning, intimdating but absoultely mesmerizing. I often find myself dissappointed when i compare myself to the others, maybe there was a reason i was gifted with the shadows. Take Jayke for instance, the hot head and i mean that quite literally. Even the flames burned into his perfect, non callused palm were more aesthetically pleasing than i was. Even his personality was immaculate, when i first met him, i wanted to hate him so badly but i cant. Glowing eyes like coal, the red tinge made him always look serious but ocassionaly he still manages to crack a smile and show off his brillantly white teeth. Who to mention next? Oh, Jayke’s polar opposite, Peter. Branded with water, his cool blue eyes shimmer when the light hits them as if a tidal wave is trying to escape from his corneas. Always laid back and chilled, like the water before something breaks the surface. Much like an ocean but he has a violent temper, he is getting better at controlling it. When our original home got discovered it was Peter who took care of most of the fiends. “ Our new home has to be by a lake or an ocean or ill go insane” He pleaded with the group for weeks until we settled down, next to the ocean so crybaby didnt cry. I wanted a forrest but i mean never mind me right? Well i guess i kinda got my way also but im still forgetting a few, lets not get sidetracked. Ali would kill me if i forgot to mention her and she is pretty important too, most important if you ask her. Her head is filled with rocks, thats a bit harsh but its true. Probably the sickest brand out of all, the geode in her left palm. A literal geode rests under her skin, we are all jealous but understand the incredible pain it must have caused. Her long, silky brown hair glitters with colour in the sun, many times she has been questioned about this and everytime its the same reply “I use herbal essences shimmer spray” laughing at her pathetic joke without fail. I mean sure it was funny the first couple of times but seriously stop. Shifting on their own, the iris’s of Ali’s have a mind of their own, switching from a deep, earthy brown to a granite like grey specked with black. One time i swear i saw them go green but she denys it, very much about earthy tones and no matter how hard i convince her that a fair chunk of this world is green, shr refuses to see the point and insists that brown is the true earthy tone. I cant disagree too much because she is right but her arrogance really gets under my skin sometimes. The only one left to explain now is Tiberus, he can be cute, soft and cuddly or an absolute nightmare. We arent too sure what exactly his natural form is, i think its the cloud of firefly like lights that i have caught him in when he thinks that he is alone. He can shapeshift into almost anything he has seen, he spends most of his time as a wolf-dog which even when he is being friendly can cause some alarm. The girls always try to get him to shift into some cute little animal but he still has a mind of his own, one time he shifted into the form of a rabbit but when he opened his mouth a pillar of flames broke out from behind a row of razor sharp fangs. I found him wandering in the shadows one night but didnt feel threatened by the large canine that tired to sneak up on me. The others took a bit of warming up to him but he is now one of us, was always one of us. Unqiue, not different as Clair likes to put it. “We arent freaks.” I nervously added when Claire first mentioned it. Her look of approval made me feel warm inside, her eyes a little kinder when she realised that i had been thinking the opposite for so long in silence. “ You dont talk much do you?” she stated rather than asked, back when we were fourteen and where basically thrown together to fend for ourselves. I still dont speak much but if i do say anything, most of the time its to her. She listens for a change and its honestly the best thing in the world. No one else really does so she often repeats what i say so the rest will take it on board. For the past year we have been living in California, Anchor Bay to be exact, we have made quite the home here. With the thich, dense foliage and short  walk to the beach everyone is happy. Hours apon hours have been spent making this place a home, every log cabin was made by hand and everyone built their own. Mine has completly blocked out all outside light bar one spot right about my door, i like to have a solid amount of shadows in my room, shocking right? Ive never really looked at anyone elses little houses before but i imagine they all match their powers too, i know that Peter has managed to create a piping system that ensures he always has fresh sea water running around his cabin. Dont ask me how, theres no power here, except for maybe his own. We have our training area more in from the ocean, training dummies and other various structures that provide a dull but not mind numbing boring training session like most gyms. At the heart of our evergrowing compound is the main fire, we spend a lot of time here discussing serious stuff like who ate the last piece of food or who stole the last can of Dr Pepper. I always get blamed but never once have i actually been caught, not to metion we wouldnt have these things in the first place if it wasnt for me so i think i deserve my fair share of the goods i steal. Tiberus tends to just wander around and do his own thing, im not sure if he even spends most nights here but i spend a lot of time with him at night in the woods, practicing my shooting and provding him with a tasty treat that he didnt have to work for. Occasionally we get a visit from them, i dont know exactly who they are but they provide us with supplies and tasks, Kill this, kill that, kill this but dont kill that blah blah blah. All i know is what we have to kill isnt friendly, many times we have all nearly died but thats for another time. One night, maybe a two or three months ago, there was a mammoth storm. The waves caused a salty spray which is what originally woke me up, i left my window open to listen to the storm. Panicked, i sat bolt upright in my bed, thats when i saw Nyx, the Goddess of the night, standing at the foot of my bed. “Awake child, it is time.” she whispered as she disappeared into the darkness. I was already half awake, i didnt sleep much and i had just discovered why. Quietly i got out of bed and pulled on a pair of jeans and a faded tie dye shirt that once meant something but now was aged and on the verge of falling apart, it was still my favourite shirt. Outside the door i could hear and see fire light, strange considering the stortm raging outside should have saturated  everything and anything. I decided to creep out the hidden trap door to the tunnel system i dug in privacy, secrets will remain secrets after all. Having total vision in the dark, i scurried along the path i had made, it was rough but i think i did a decent job i mean it was still standing and hadnt collapsed. Yet. I found the opening that out me a few metres away from the fire. Ever so gently i pushed up on the trap door, water poured from the top as i flipped open the door all the way. I waited for a minute, the coast seemed clear and like a meerkat i poked my head out of the hole. I couldnt make out how many people where around the fire but i didnt have to. A hand reached down and pulled me up by the hair, i screamed out in pain as i was thrown towards the group. “Ah there you are my child” Nyx’s words smooth and velverty, as if the night itself was trying to settle an infant. ,It was the night herself, “My representative is now present, let us commence the breifing.’‘ Nyx yawned. Meeting? Representative? My confusion was shared with my peers as we all looked at each other. What was going on? Where these the people in charge of the people that come and give us our supplies? Wait, have we just been following orders this whole time? Was there any reason behind what we are doing? If our lives werent confusing enough as it is, this was sure to throw a spanner in the works. Suddenly my mind came to a conclusion, these people can give us answers. Looking around i could see that each of my friends had someone sitting beside them, at the time i had no idea who they where i was relieved when they spoke each others names. The thought of asking them who they were was daunting.”Take a seat my child, we must hurry for there isnt much time.” The night seemed to speak to me in the same calm tone. As i took my seat next to Claire she gave me a stern look, no jokes please is how i took this look.”As you are aware, you five have been chosen. Why? well each of us have our reasons but the point is it is time for you all to join our world.” The man beside Claire made eye contact with all of us as he spoke. Asclepius was nothing like i expected with his curly hair and unruly beard. I recognised him from the rod he held, his rod, the same one branded onto Claire’s palm. As i looked around it become apparent to me, the greek gods, thats who we represented. Thinking long and hard, i looked over to Peter and it made sense now. I was in awe because before me stood the God of the Sea himself, Poseidon. I couldnt believe my eyes, one of the sons of Kronos was standing in my presence or rather I in his. I couldnt understand how Peter looked so calm about this, was i the only one freaking out? I glanced over at Jayke and had to hide a smirk, he looked downright terrified and for good reason too, the broken looking mess beside him could only be one God, Hephaestus. I knew he was cast down from Olympus but i didnt think he would be this disfigured, all hair on his body smouldering with embers. A not quite right looking arm with an oversized hand swatted at the embers chasing each other around his dirty, greasy beard. Nyx appeared to be floating beside me, something i found calming in a strange way, like when you drop a cup when washing and stick your foot out in time to stop it shattering into tiny pieces, only to have it skip across the floor and become dirty again. Now i was face to face in the warm glow of the fire, i could see that Nyx had her eyes closed. Maybe she didnt like the light, i have no idea. She appeared to be in deep slumber, or thought beacause behind her eyelids i could see her eyes moving at a million miles per hour. Sudenly, nothing. The movement ceased and her eyes flung open as if waking from a deep trance, she looked over at me with deep concern in her eyes.”Someone is missing.” She stated in a tone that sent a chill up my spine. Who could possibly be missing? For so long it was just the five of us, we were certain we were the only ones because once we all found each other we all felt complete.”There is only the five of us as far as we know, no one else has been drawn to us and wouldn’t you know if there was more?” Claire managed to keep her voice level. We all met on a camp trip, none of us knew each other up until that point. The chances of us all meeting were probably a million to none, five schools happened to send ten students to a camp at the same time and they included us? It wasn’t a coincidence it had to be fate, there was a reason for this and i felt as if we were about to find out exactly why.”Where is their guardian?” Poseidon bellowed in a rather irate tone, it was obvious he was growing impatient. Guardian? But it was just us, we had no guardian. The steady sound of paws pounding the ground broke through the howling winds, a sharp bark pierced my eyes as i saw the shadow of Tiberus leap over me. He sat at my feet and stared into my eyes, it all made sense now. The reason he spent so much time as a wolf was because he was our guardian, our protector.”Mangy mutt, I told you we should have used an automaton” Hephaestus spat out, Tiberus growled and snarled at him clearly offended by the God’s remark.”Now everyone is here, let us cut to the important part. As you may have guessed by now, each and every one of you serve a purpose.” The God of the sea once again looked us all in the eyes, making sure we were paying attention.”My brother has been kidnapped, now normally i would take great delight in this but it’s no laughing matter. If something has the power to contain a God...” Poseidon trailed off before finishing his sentence, “Wait what do you mean contain a God? Who has that kind of power?” I blurted out in a panic, I wont lie I was terrifed. I didn’t want to know the answer, I didn’t even want to be here. All i could think about was waking up, surely this was all a dream. Everything, not just tonight, maybe this was all fake and in my head. I tried hard to remeber something different, a different life without all of the weird creatures. My friends were figments of some newfound and over glorified imagination that i never had before. I squeezed my eyes closed and pinched my thigh as hard as i could. The sting was surprisingly more intense than i thought it would be, I felt the blood flow return to the inch of skin that i had clasped between two fingers. I didnt dare open my eyes, the acrid smell of burning pine still stung my nose. A cold, soft hand grapped my shoulder. Nyx, “I can promise you my dear that this is all too real, no amount of pinching will wake you from the nightmares you have yet to face.” Her words, like a serpent, slithered their way through my ear and into my brain. I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded as i opened my eyes wide to look at my surrondings. It seems i wasnt the only one who felt this way as i looked over my companions, each with the look of sudden realisation on their dimly lit faces. “We do not know who our true enemies are but we have managed to locate someone who might, our presence will not go by unnoticed but yours will.” Poseidon spoke in a solemn tone, he was keeping his calm but i could see the urgency in his deep and aged eyes. “You are the champions of Olympus, now rest for you shall all need it.” Nyx smiled as she spoke. Much like the night, it was hard to tell if she can be trusted or not. As she finished, she simply rippled and faded to be, vanishing with the slight smell of something i vaguely remebered but the more i thought about it the more i couldnt put a name to it, a flower i was pretty certain. Hephaestus looked slightly uncomfortable in his broken frame of a body as he shifted to his feet, he nodded to me and collapsed forward into the dying fire. Coals swallowed him as he chuckled to himself, obviously pleased but the panic he had caused with his dramatic exit. As my heart settled, Poseidon walked over to me, he held his hand out and i tried my best to give a firm handshake. As my palm touched his, i felt an almost electrifying surge of coolness run through my veins, a satly taste entered my mouth and i felt more refreshed. “I imagine it must be hard for you to sleep, being chosen by Nyx ofcourse.” His voice matched the empathy in his eyes, “You are more important than you know, there was a massive fight over who was going to be your patron. You should know that you will always have the oceans blessing.” A slight tinge of pain slipped through his deep voice. The wind picked up, the God turned to the ocean and calmly walked to the edge of the cliff. He looked up and took one more step, as if not afraid of the rocks that were below. Nothing, not a single sound came as he fell, I leap to the edge and peaked over, he was gone. Sleep as usual wasnt easy, i couldnt keep the thoughts at bay. What have we gotten ourselves into? It didnt seem that we had a choice, i gripped my dagger as a cold chill ran up my body. My hairs stood on end and suddenly, nothing. I was nowhere, my bed melted out from under me yet gravity seemed to bend amd allow me to stay on my side. My dark room and belongings vanished into thin air and left a smell i knew all too well. Death. “Why have you brought me here?” I grimaced “ I already told you my answer.” Silence met my request for an answer. This was exactly the same as all the other dreams. Still quiet, I stood up to no effect. Floating in the absence of anything, even my thoughts grew numb. I knew what was coming next as a projected light appeared in front of my face. The first time i stared at it for what seemed like a lifetime, unsure of what to do or make of it. This time however I stretched my left arm out, dagger in the other and torn open the light reveling select scenes from my childhood. Ones i would and have tried my best to forget. So vivid, as if i was actually watching a small, ruthless version of myself. Unphased anymore, i watched and smiled slighty as i watched myself kick a couch cushion out from undearth my stepsister. Blood streamed from her tongue as she cried, again completely unphased, i watched and followed as i lead myself to my bedroom. Taking one last glance at the thin piece of muscle holding her tongue together, i closed the door as i smiled to myself. I climbed up the homemade bedframe, the ladder creaking with each little foot that put pressure on the rungs. “ She deserved it” we both said as we stared at the ceiling barely inches from the tips of our noses. I dont know why i had an obsession with being as close to the ceiling when i was younger, i was terrifed of heights. Cold and heartless, a trait i tried my best to lose. An eternity later, the same room and the same bed. I rolled off the side of my old bed, landing on my feet, younger me did the same then sprung to his feet. Someone was coming up the hall way, bad move on their behalf. “ Stay out of my room.” i echoed the words i spoke all those years ago. “ Your mum said i could come and play games with you.” Toby, merely 5 years old didnt understand the concept of isolation. I witnessed the look on his face, joy and excitement of spending time with another boy. He lived in a family of all girls and saw me like an older brother. A slightly calm voice broke out after the door slammed. “ My finger..” followed by deep breathing, a gut wrenching scream was let out followed by my name. I walked over and saw what was the cause of the screams. The end of his pinkie was still jammed in the door. The door slowly opened and the fingertip slid down the frame, i picked it up and put it in a spare jar i had stolen from my science lab at school. It still sits in that very jar, preserved like jam in a mason jar. A small reminder of who i am, the scene faded as a sickening small broke my childlike face. The sound faded as i spoke the words again, He deserved it. It all went black again, the next scene is less morbid. My first ever hunting trip, the blood lust started. My uncles explaining where to stab and how to drain the blood, i wasnt listening and was too focused on something i could smell. Like a dog, i shifted through the scents in my nostrils. Halfway through the explantion i noticed my dog lock onto a scent, we took off into the early morning fog. Grass and dirt flicking up behind us as we sprinted around the forrest, moving at impossible speeds and traversing unknown paths. A blur of fur and he managed to lose me and i stopped dead in my tracks. Listening and looking for any hint of movement, i heard the terrfied squeals of an animal that knew it was about to die. I got there in time to watch my dog flick this helpless creature onto its back. Wasting no time i withdrew the knife attached to my belt and pounced onto the boar’s stomach, thursting my blade deep into the soft underbelly and inbetween ribs. I could feel the pressure on the hilt but i didnt lighten my grip. Warm blood flowed over my fingers as i gently twisted the blade, i felt the life draining. i smiled as i could feel the fight leave the pig’s stuggles. He had accepted death, knowing better than to struggle. It was my first kill, and i couldnt have felt more alive. Its funny that, in the act of taking a life you are reminded of how much you are alive. Almost as if i was aborsing the very thing i had just stolen. I licked the blade after removing it, a habit i still have to this day. The taste is undescribable, every drop tastes different depending on what you have killed but yet they all share a similar taste at the same time. As i watched the final moment of this beast’s life, a glassy stare left on his face, jaw ajar as if knowning that his final squeals meant nothing. The scene again changed, scene after scene of what should have been horrible moments of my life but left me feeling content with my actions. I knew what it was trying to do but it wouldnt work. I will not betray my friends and now the Gods themselves, no matter how much i am reminded of my past. Compassion has found a place inside my core and i am no longer an empty monster hell bent on revenge but yet i cannot shake the thoughts. “Nemesis” I pieced this all together. “Well done, young one, you have figured out who calls you to this place inside your head.” A wisp appeared and expanded into a frail looking woman. The voice was eerily similar to her mother’s, Nyx. “Soon you shall see, an understanding will guide your hand as you slay these so called Gods.” And with that, i woke in a cold sweat. The morning was tense, everyone was on edge as we left our home. We followed the map we had been gifted, our party moved with us on the old parchment. “ There has to be a faster way to travel.” A irriated Ali blurted out in frustration. “ Ask Gaia.” I had finally guessed her branding. Ali closed her eyes and a tense look came over her face, the ground opened up and swallowed us. It took amount to come to terms with what has just transpired, torch lights broke out and we were in a tunnel. “ Did she say anything?” Claire spoke for the first time today, her voice made my heart flutter. “ Be careful what you wish for, child, save my sons.” A breathless Ali managed to mutter out. How where we expected to do that? I was only armed with a dagger and my short bow, surely i couldnt kill anything capable of bringing down a God, oh the irony of my thoughts. We were all armed pretty similar, no magical weapons just regular old swords and bows. Claire insisted on fighting with a spear much to the dismay of the group, if she chose to throw it she was left pretty much open to any attack. I couldnt talk much but i preferred ranged combat, i always had my dagger but it could only do so much agaisnt a sword. Get in close if i have to, i would no doubt lose a battle with a sword if i stayed back. We kept walking down the path that had a tiny beacon at what we assumed was the end. Checking the map, Jayke let out a impressively loud “whoooaaaaaaaaa guys check this out.” We had suddenly made it to our destination, well almost. My guess and everyone agreed that the light up ahead was probably the location clearly marked on our map. We made short work of the last remaining distance, at full pelt we broke through the beacon and everything plunged to black. Using the torches, we managed to find a crudely carved door in a tangle of tree roots. We has arrived. My mind snapped back to the present moment, the silence was only tainted by the crackling of the torches. As i went to retrieve my arrows and loot the corpse of a fresh kill, a single eye darted up and stared at me. “You know what you must do.” The same eeire voice that haunted my dreams spoke. The bloodshot eye split open like the bud of a flower revealing a small pill, without hesitation i took the tiny white square and shoved it into my pocket. Heavier than he looked, i shifted the dead mass of eyes onto his back and began looking for anything that could prove to be useful. Matches and a single pale blue key as well as numerous other little things were all i found. Stuffing the matches and the key carefully into my rucksack, i struggled to retrieve the last arrow out of the stiffening maw of my prey. It finally let go with one valiant attempt at finding its finally resting place here, the blood was an off putting shade of blue but i licked each arrow clean regardless. A slightly sour taste coated my tongue and i felt my eyes roll into the back of my head. Idiot, i thought to myself as i began convulsing on the solid and compact dirt floor. “Oh how did i know you would do this?” Nemesis chuckled softly in my ear, once again in the void that was the back of my mind. “ Wh-why are y-yo-you doing this?” I choked back in response. “Because my dear, arent you forgetting who i am? Tell me, what is my title? This is what i do.” She shrugged back as if annoyed i didnt remeber the old stories. Stories but this wasnt a story. I couldnt just close the book and walk away, i had to know the ending because it could be my ending. The life felt as if it was being burnt inside my soul, the pain unlike anything i have ever experince. “ Tell me now, what have the Gods as they like to be called ever done for you? Asked you to save them? Only making their presence in your life known when they needed something?” She has a valid point. I couldnt deny that, why wait so long to make any form of contact? “Surely you know they would have known this for years, perhaps even before you were born. Prophecies dont just appear you know” An idea popped into my head, blood raining from the heavens. Covering the skies as the view pans out, lightning causing the blood to be illuminated and appear almost golden. No, wait the blood was actually golden, the blood of the Gods pouring from the sky like a sink overflowing. I could almost taste it but not enough to single it down to a single taste. “ Yes, this is the fate of the gods, you could walk away now and this could be your future allowing the Ichor to cleanse this miserable world.” Chimed in Nemesis, she manipulated the scene to show me standing on a cliff. The blood of the gods pouring down my open throat. Tears mixed in with the mix, gods arent meant to cry. My mouth watered a little before blocking out the image “I will not allow this to happen, i wil not turn my back on the gods.” I refused to entertain the idea any longer. My eyes opened and i gingerly stood, the feeling of blood rushing to my head caused me to throw up the small remains of bread and cured ham i had ate almost 3 days ago. Dry heaving aside, i was alive. Haven’t seen my friends in 3 days, i thought to myself. I broke down, slumped myself agaisnt the only living thing i had seen in as many days. Tears flooded my face as i faced the fact that i was alone. Again. A few years ago this wouldnt have bothered me but ive grown a weakness. My attachment to my friends has done nothing but leave me broken without them. The only company i have had tried to kill me yet even after that i am on my own again. The memories, how they hurt me as if to say you have nothing. Words echoed inside my head of every fight our group ever had. The last words, mouthed to me by Claire as they were dragged off.. “Stay in the shadows, ill get us out of this, continue the quest.” the look on her face made me panic and with that, i turned into the darkness as the final enemy walked through me. It paused and turned but i was already gone. “I am a coward.” i silently sobbed to myself as i curled into the posistion i knew all too well. I wanted to be brave but i knew it was useless, i couldnt take the world head on. Yet now i am left to face the challenge that was forced apon me. I pulled myself together and crawled my way to my feet. I looked around and followed the pale shimmer that i could see branching off to the left, i was adapt to searching for trails like this. Thief vison, as Peter liked to call it. The more i walked the more isolated i felt, the path at times would grow so faint that i had to strain to see it. Every now and then the corridor would squeeze to the point where i literally had to crawl to continue only to open up to a bigger empty space. Desperation kicked in and i hurried along, wanting to know what was so important in this direction that would leave a trail. My sadness grew to anger, if only they had listened this wouldnt have happened. I begged them to let me scout ahead but no, one went we all went. Something broke the silence, i heard breathing around a bend that wasnt my own. I cloaked myself, readied my dagger. “Stupid maze, this is all his fault.” I paused. Jayke cursed in a mutter and tone i hadnt heard before. A friend was around this stone corner, i slowly put away my dagger and was about to reveal myself when something stopped me. “ Let me scout ahead, stupid moron if he hadnt has caused hesitation i could have saved them.” A bright burn deep in his eyes. He was mocking me, wait. He is balming me for this? My anger boiled, my blood surged with rage. How dare he blame me for this, this is just as much his fault. I told him to turn out his flames which is what got us caught in the first place. “ Didnt even help, turned into a shadow like the little b***h he has always been.” Jayke Spoke with such hatred, I never liked him to start with. So arrogant and cocky, i saw through his acts and lies. Something came over me, a calm coolness that gave me strenght. I walked around him and blacked out. I dont remeber ever lifting my blade but i heard his cries, i caught him at he collapsed. i pulled him in closer and drank from the clean cut on his throat, bitter like burnt coffee with no milk. I wasnt able to help myself. Slurping to the point that nothing was left. I drained him, once again i felt the feeling of his life drain from his body and enter mine. He crumpled to the floor as i let go, his glowing red eyes slowly fading to a dull dark grey. I had put out the fire in his eyes. I fell to the ground in shock, what had i done? Why did i feel no remorse? He had been a friend and now his blood stained my teeth. I looked at my hands, the hands of a murder. Sure i had killed before but this was unjust, he posed no threat to me. Immediatly i thought of Claire but that wasnt a reason to take his life. A coldblooded kill out of rage, i felt a bone chilling breeze and i ran. Waking up in a pool of sweat, i dont remeber passing out. I again looked at my blood stained eyes and nearly screamed. A fresh brand on my left hand was appearing before my tired eyes, Jayke’s brand. Had i stolen his brand? When i drank from his perfectly tanned neck, his very essence being spread through out my body. I had a thought, it was a long shot but i decided id come this far. I concentrated on a lit torch with all my might and watched in surprise as the flames danced their way into my hands. I flinched, expecting pain as the flames spun their way around my fingertips. Nothing. I felt nothing. Not even a slight warmth. I picked myself back up, unsure what had came over me. A feeling that i had never felt before, pure unfiltered hatred. I tried to shrug it off, I had just killed one of the closest people to me and yet i felt a slight bit of relief from it. Once again i was alone. A new branding appeared on my skin, an X that looked as if a frail old lady had scribbled it down with her opposite hand made its way onto my wrist. I had been marked, for everyone to know the sin that i had commited. I let the flames die and continued along, nervous about what may lay ahead of me. Following the same glittlerly trail that had lead me to Jayke, i managed to find it come to an end at a set of iron doors. Alarm bells rang franticly in my head, I have no idea what lies ahead. I tired to push it open and to my surprise the door seemed to open on its own will, this didnt help the alarm bells. As i crept my way into the room, i could hear movement. Without thinking, i lunged at the movement and with my new found power, summoned a ball of fire. Without hesitation or doubt, i forced my palm into the face of the potential threat. Muffled screams were all i heard as we fell to the floor, landing hard enough to snap the neck of whoever i was on. Again, silence. Brushing myself off, i summoned more flames that tiptoed across and in between the tips of my fingers. The room lit up showed a chair, a table and the smouldering corpse that i had just barbqued to a crisp. It seems the fireball didnt stop at it’s face, a blacked snout trickled with blood that had already began to evaporate from the heat. Not a friend, i sighed happily to myself. One final quick glance over the room made me confident but also sad that i was once again alone with another life that i had taken. I knealt down and lifted the limp neck of the half boar half man, I hadnt eaten in days. I bit down hard on the snout that looked a little overcooked. Chewy and burnt i made short work of his face. As i got to the neck, i found the carrotid artery. I felt my teeth slip through its tough skin, as i hit the vein i felt a little pressure push back, the blood still corsing through the vein. I pushed a little harder, pulling the corpse in closer to me. It was hotter than i expected as the blood sprayed into the back of my throat, wonder if blood boils at the same temperature as water, i thought to myself as i pulled away. The same taste as the first kill i ever made, i remeber it well. Being thicker than water im sure the boiling point would be higher, the water would surely steam its way out. After i was done with my make shift meal, i sat at that table. I needed a plan and fast. I dont have much time before my friends are all dead, the only thing that went through my mind. Claire, she surely would have found a way to escape the capture. How would they find me? How would they find me? With my vision, thats why i must be so important in all of this. I always saw myself as the weak link and i just assumed everyone thought the same. I can turn into a shadow, the perfect power for a coward. I wasnt brave and i was terrified. Was, a new found courage replace my fears. I figured it was time for rest. Maybe i could figure out a plan in the morning or night, its hard to tell down here. I pulled down the bar to make sure the door was locked, the only other way in was a small passage that i would need to shadow walk through about the size of a exercise book from school. She haunted me in my dreams, the thoughts i tried so hard to block out becoming almost more than real. Nemesis knew exactly what she was doing. Once again blood poured from the skies, i couldnt help myself and the taste was again mouth watering. She was showing me a future that i could change. But doubt reared its ugly head, the feeling of doing this on my own was too much. I needed to find my friends. Ripping myself from my nightmares, i rolled off my makeshift pillow. Dried blood scratched my skin as i rubbed my stiff neck, i turned into a shadow to waste no time. A deep, earthy smell greeted my nose as i passed through to the other side, i wondered if i was close to Ali. She always had a specific smell to her, although i dont think anyone ever mentioned it just as Peter smelt of the ocean and jayke, who use to smell like a campfire. Following trails around several bends, the smell got stronger. Pungent almost, i could hear voices ahead of me. Unable to make out what they were saying, i cloaked myself in darkness and continued ahead. “ She wont last much longer." A soft voice became clearer. “Good. Her life force has been cut off." A raspy voice croaked in response. Standing in the opening of a a wider chamber was a tall cyclops, his wide, dirty, bloodshot eye blinked once. He was staring and talking to a wall. A soft glow was coming from the wall, I could tell that someone was there but as i got closer to find out who was speaking, the light died. Id never taken down something this big before on my own but i was no longer the same person. Weakness was no longer something i held on to and i wanted to taste the blood of this vile creature made by mistakes of the gods. I took a mintue to gather myself, prepared for a fight. “ I am sorry about my friend, she can be mean sometimes." A childlike tone, blissfully unaware of the events taking place. Puzzled, i looked around and saw who he was speaking to. In the centre of the large void was Ali, chained from the ceiling so she was not making contact with the ground. I had seen her freak out about not being on the ground before, one night on one of my walks i took a peep into her little mud hut back at our old home, the memory made me realise just how far away we were. Inside was nothing, no bed or chairs, empty. My guess is she slept on the floor because she found it more comforting than the separation. Id never taken any notice to her before, we were kind of distant but i couldnt help but feel sorry for her. Sure we fought but she just always had a look in her eyes that i could see through. I saw through her tough outer projection of who she thought she was, the innocent little girl who legitmately ate the mud pies that she made sitting in her backyard. A new feeling entered my brain, i had to kill this beast. Even if he had no idea what he had done, he had to pay. I glided my way over to him, he was distracted by the fire ball i had summoned just for that purpose. “Come here little guy, thats not fair i cant fly!" He cried as i willed the fire to float a little higher, just out of his reach. Arms out stretched, he leaped into the air. Perfect, he landed on his tailbone and started to bawl his eye out. “YOU ARE REALLY MEAN! NOT YOUR FRIEND ANYMORE!" came bellowing out between deep breathes. I brought down the flame, bringing it close to his face and his eye light up. “You mean it? You is sorry? Im going to call you Sparky." His nonesense reasoning and thoughts that the now named Sparky was communicating made me realise he must have the brain of a four year old. Lead astray by whoever convinced him that what he was doing was okay, it didnt matter. This had to be done, just because he doesnt know better doesnt mean he gets to escape his fate. Sparky gently brushed his cheek and he giggled. “ That was warm, do it again." Oh ill do it again, i thought as i forced the flame up a little. I removed my cloak, he was distracted enough and i wanted him to see me do this, for now. I quickly moved up as i pushed Sparky into the giant child’s eye, he screamed out in pain as i let the fire die. “ This is for Ali!" i yelled, plunging my dagger into his delicate eyeball. I heard and felt a pop as i forced the dagger into his eye like you would an olive onto a toothpick. I felt resistence but kept pushing, a sickening crack was heard as the blade hit the back of his skull. The screaming stopped, it was over. As i twisted my dagger, i felt it grip and in one solid motion i pulled out his eyeball, it looked like a giant onion sitting on a cocktail straw. I dropped it and made straight for his soiled looking neck, without thinking sunk my teeth in and tore a chunk from his still warm body. Once again the blood flowed into my mouth. The taste was one i would rather forget. I carefully chewed the raw meat and spat it out in disgust. I couldnt tell whether i was starting at the eye or it was staring at me but i reached out and grabbed my dagger, the eyeball was heavier than i thought. Lifting it up to my eager mouth, i first licked the tears off of one side of it. It watched as i did it, unable to move i secretly hoped he could still see me. They tasted oddly sweet. The feeling like jelly as i quickly ate the rest of it, id didnt realised how hungry i had became. Once my blade was clean i returned it to my belt, i sprinted over to Ali and lowered the chains, they didnt come all the way down. Her eyes sprung open half heartedly, she opened her mouth to speak but it took awhile for the words to fall out of her broken jaw. “I need Claire, thank you so much but you cannot help me." She barely breathed out. “i can, please let me try, what can i do?" i pleaded with her, tears streaming down my bloodcaked cheeks. “Kill me, please." the look in her eyes, the same small child begging me to end her suffering. I couldnt, could i? Surely not, my brain starting going a million miles an hour. There had to be a better way, i dropped to my knees. You cant ask me that, a million voices started to repeat. One broke free, finding its own strenght to over power and silence the others. She has suffered, that small girl inside of her doesnt wish to continue in this state, there really nothing more you can do. It was right, i didnt want to do this but i have no other choice. I stood, i looked her in the eyes one final time and saw the scared little girl. Ali changed, she was no longer the tall, strong person she use to pretend to be. Hanging in front of me was a little girl, jaw barely hanging on. I laid a kiss on her forehead and a smile broke her broken face. I pulled her neck to the side, a cut was already there but i ignored it. I curled my upper lip back and once again plunged my teeth deep into human flesh. A gasp escaped her body, not just her mouth but her whole being took a deeo breath in. Again, i found the right spot and blood spewed from her brown skin. I could feel it mixing on my face, it mixed with the tears streaming from my sullen eyes. Limp. The taste of fresh soil littered my mouth as i tried to ignore the hanging body of my expired friend. I decided another rest was needed, physically i was fine but mentally? Thats a whole different story, I made a makeshift bed using the corpse of the cyclops. That night was an entirely different dream, I felt her there. Ali was with me, or more so i was living in her memory. I spent the vast majority of it crying. I watched at she was hung up and mercilessly beaten by the very cyclops i now laid on. I couldnt take this, the visualisation of what she went through made me realise she actually wanted to die. Her thoughts entered my head, i would rather die by the hand of a friend than the fist of a monster. A friend would kill me out of love. I was woken by a noise, i stayed still. I had no idea what caused the noise and i wasnt sure i wanted to. Before i could react, something grabbed me. Stuffed into a sack, i tried to use my power to escape but to no success. I tried to burn a hole through the fabric but it wouldnt catch. I tried for as long as i could until everything faded. When i came to, i was chained to a wall. My eyes adjusted to my surroundings, Peter was across from me in a small room. He looked unconcious but for the most part minus a few cuts and bruises, he was okay, we were alone. No signs of who managed to trap me. Again i tried my powers but these restraints, like the bag seemed to stop my  abilites. Great, we are stuck, i hung my head in defeat. As i took a closer look around, i could see my stuff piled on a table and Peters, a faded blue door was to my left. I remebered the key and hoped it was still safely tucked inside my pack, Peter groaned. “ You came back, have you seen the others?” A glimmer of hope seemed to shine from his blue eyes. “No, have you? Where is Claire? Is she okay?” I lied, i couldnt tell him. “ She was dragged through that door, i couldnt tell you how long ago.” His voice breaking as he finished that sentence, i could feel the sadness in his tone. I looked at my hands and held back the urge, a new mark had appear on my wrist as well as a beautiful geode i once use to admire now a painful reminded forever embedded in my pain along side the flames. Thats it, a power i have never had before, i could just touch the ground with my toes. This might just work, I willed every force of energy i had left in breaking the anchor point of my resistraints. A crack appeared at the point of contact, it began to slowly fracture its way up the wall and split, forking out and cracking around the rings that held me in place. I fell to the floor and began to take off the shackles. “ How did you do that?” A weary Peter questions as i ran over to free him. “There isnt enough time to explain, we have to find Claire.” I blurted out as i freed Peter in the same method. He watched my hands and once he was free, he grabbed my left wrist. “Wait a second,” he paused as he realised “ You took their powers? How is that even possible?” He sounded almost impressed. “I dont have time to explain, we need to get out of here.” Frustration was setting in, once again no one listened to me. A high pressure blast of water forced me to the wall. “ What did you do?” He glanced at my other wrist and i guess he figured it out. The water didnt let up, “ Peter, stop this.” I gurgled out, was he trying to drown me? Water filled the small room, now around ankle deep. “ You cannot have more power than me.” Jealousy was a bad habit to have, that will get you killed. As the water rose higher and higher i thought quickly, what can i do? Ive never tried to Shadow walk in water, i dont know if it would work. I felt something touch my foot as the water rose up, i looked down and was confused. How the hell did a turtle manage to make its way in here? It swam away and i heard Peter scream out in pain, it bit his foot. The water started to disappear, i managed to allow the earth itself to soak up the water. I tackled Peter to the muddy floor, letting mud set around him as i pressed my hand to his face. Molten lava poured from my palm and through his head, i didnt give him the chance to feel the pain as he died. I took pitty on him, i dont know why but i did. His neck was half melted, i frowned as i couldnt taste his blood. The idea danced around my head for a few seconds, i ran over to my stuff and found my dagger. With a bit of effort i opened up his ribcage, i rather enjoyed it if im not being honest. I broke off a few ribs and threw them aside, Tiberus Changed back to his normal wolf form and catch one of them. He happily chewed on his new bones as i started at Peters heart hungrily. I pryed it out and was surprised about how heavy it actually was. I took a bite and chewed, his heart was salty i joked to myself. Too much seasoning, i threw the other half to Tiberus and sat against the wall. He sat with me and sighed, resting his head on my lap. “I guess its just us boy, lets go find Claire.” I sighed. The room grew cold, the smell of salt heavily lingered and a bright flash blinded me. A presence that refused to be ignored entered the room. Only the presence of a God could be that strong. “ My my my, what have you done?” A serious voice boomed like waves crashing agaisnt the rocks that lined the shore. Poseidon looked at my fresh kill. Rage turned his blue eyes into a stormy black, power filled the room as his trident appeared. I had just angered a god but yet i wasnt afraid. I disappeared to the other side of the room as Tiberus growled at the God of the sea, our bond had been stronger than anything and the fact he was defending me against a god filled my heart with new blood. “You cannot run from me.” He was right but i wasnt running, a bolt of water striked out at me just as it did when Peter caught me off guard. A quick dart behind him suprised him, Tiberus lunged at his throat and that was the first time i saw the golden blood fall, my stomach growled and my tongue refused to sit still in my mouth. I wanted it so badly. I wanted my bow but i couldnt waste anytime, i took my blood encrusted dagger that had slighly been cleaned  during my last battle. I dashed towards the god, forcing my blade through his ankle but he didnt even flinch. I had hoped that this would stagger him but to my surprise, i was kicked across the room and landed head first into the opposing wall. Concussed, i used the wall to steady myself. Tiberus spoke in my mind, “Are you okay?” I told him to stay out of this, i had a plan. “Weak, how did you manage to kill anything.” Gloating doesnt fit well with a person of his power but yet he had every reason to. I was weaponless, i could barely see straight let alone continue the fight. “Goodbye Destroyer, I hope my other brother has a world of hurt waiting for you in his domain.” An almost chuckle came out as he mentioned Hades. Lightning fast, Poseidon raised his trident and hurled it like a javelin right at my neck. I smirked as i vanished, the trident impaled itself into the wall that was behind me. Poseidon didnt have time to react, a gentle push inside the palm of my hand and the trident loosened and fell to the ground. I reappeared and caught it before it fell to the ground, the instant it hit my hand my whole body went numb. I wasnt meant to weild such power but in a blink i was behind him. The ground caught his ankles locking him in place, a thought in my mind told me i had to kill the God who had challenged me. Bending my knees i leapt up and aimed for his neck, “I am not weak but you made a grave mistake.” I bellowed as the tip cleaned easily through Poseidon’s neck, ichor sprayed out, covering my face in a golden tinge like someone had painted me to sit in a busy street motionless. A drop hit my tongue and i was over come with a deep satisfaction. I couldnt if i tried to try and describe what flavours that excited my tongue, “ Beaten by a mere mortal, the prophecy was right about you, you will decide the fate of the Gods.” His last words still chill me to the bone, He fell to his knees as i sucked as much of his blood as possible. I couldnt contain my thirst, the only reason i stopped was because his body started to fade quite literally. His trident shrunk down to a small pendant, i managed to put it on the leather necklace that Peter always wore. It felt cool agaisnt my chest, once again Peters symbol joined the others. A fresh X littered my wrist but nothing came for the God of the Sea. I figured his sign of power around my neck was probably enough. I felt amazing, stronger. I had just killed a God after all, i felt as if the world was at my feet. Nothing, not even a God could stop me. Tiberus had fled, had i scared him? What kind of monster was i becoming and why was i enjoying this so much? What had Poseidon called me? The Destroyer, a fitting title i must agree. I grabbed my stuff and made for the blue door. Fumbling inside my bag, i swore heavily as the key was nowhere to be seen. I rested my ear agaisnt the icy cold door, working my hand over the keyhole i concentrated. Felt the pins turning inside the lock, i saw in my mind the layout and within seconds the door clicked open. Its been awhile since ive had to do that, i walked through the door with an immense feeling of pride. Nobody had managed to drain the life of a God, atleast not to my knowledge. Inside the strangely placed door was a long and narrow corridor brightly lit by torchlight, without a second thought i ran. Claire had to be close, i slowed down. Would she understand? Would she cast me aside for the fact that i had just killed not only our friends but one of the most powerful Gods that Olympus has to offer? Defeated, i put one foot in front of the next as i trudged down the hall, oblivious as to where i was going. Ahead i could see a door to my left, i didnt care anymore, i walked straight in and fired a arrow deep into the skull of a sleeping foot soilder. Using the arrow, i dragged the lifeless body from the bed, with a crashing noise he now rested forever on the ground. His blood nothing compared to the golden blood of the gods. I threw my bag onto his chest and let myself fall into bed, thats when it sunk in. Melanchloy had taken over, my body no longer my own. Who was i becoming and why didnt it really bother me that much? This wasnt me but yet it felt.. right. The worst dream yet, nothing. I did not dream, there were no vision or pestering gods trying to interfer with me. I felt for certain that the gods had turned their backs on me. Everything else had, except Tiberus yet even he ran. The feelings were coming back again, i was alone now more than ever. Even Nemesis was leaving me alone. My sadness quickly changed to anger, how dare they leave me. No one listens and im forced to talk to myself and i am not the nicest person when it comes to me. It was a fluke, one voice said to me, you couldnt kill another God. I found myself debating  in my mind as my body got some well deserved rest.

Author's Note

Please excuse the grammar and spelling errors, i have been writing this in my spare time away from studies and on a laptop that doesn't have microsoft word so i had to use notes. Still isnt finished and probably never will be. All written off the top of my head with no real plan on how the story goes