Chapter One--The Curse Begins

As a young lad, I never expected to become a killer, but the life found me. It consumed me like a raven searching for a seed on a dry summer. I first realized that the world was corrupt when a stranger, wielding a dagger, took me by the throat and told me that he could take my life much faster than I could blink my eyes.

Years later, now in my mid 20’s, I found myself homeless with only the clothes on my back. I began to travel, on foot, all over the country.

   This was until I was cornered  by two men in midnight purple suits with masks that covered their faces. They looked like birds, ravens in fact.

     “What do you want…? I have no money to name.” I told them as I backed up against the wall. I saw that the guns they had were pointed to my chest, their fingers on the trigger. “I am not worth it.” I spoke softly.

     “Oh, but you are…” One of them said in a mocking tone. “We don't want money, we want you.”

      “No...No... Please, I swear that I'm not worth your time.” I began to plead to them.

      “Shut up, boy” The other spoke in a tone that I would not argue with, so I began to back up. Sadly, the cold brick wall stopped me from going any further. The one that spoke in such a tone held a cloth in his hand.

      

       “What is that for?...” I asked, my back pressed harshly against the brick.

   Before I had a chance to evade them, they attacked me. One grabbed my arms and the other held the cloth over my mouth and nose.

     

       I awoke with a start, but I soon noticed that my arms and legs were secured to a surgical table. “Hey!...Hey!...Someone help me!” I cried out, but I got nothing in response. I heard footsteps striding down an empty hallway.

      

      “Shh… Shh… There’s no reason for all that screaming, darling.” It was a woman in bright red heels and a white lab coat over a short black dress.

      

      “Let me go! I’ll give you everything I have!” I felt myself begin to nearly scream.

      “We both know that you have nothing to give.” She sneered at me, then held out a large needle, tightly in her gloved hand.

      “Wait.... Wh-What’s the needle for?” My voice shook. “What do you want from me?”

      “That no longer matters, Vincent.”

      

       “You know my name?!” I increasingly became panicked, now struggling harder than I ever had before.

 

      “Now, Now… Time for your weekly dose.” The needle she held was filled with a thick black serum.

      “Whoa!... No.” I broke out in a sweat.  

     “Oh, don’t be a baby.” She pulled up my sleeve forcing the long needle into the most prominent vein in my arm.

   A few seconds later I felt light headed and unable to move any of my limbs. Slowly, I faded in and out of consciousness, my whole body shaking slightly with every beat of my heart. My vision became a blur as I watched the woman assemble her tools. ”Now that you are immobilized, I can carry out my tests” She spoke calmly and left the room with all her things gathered.

    “You can’t lea--” My voice trailed off, and I fell into a coma-like state. I woke up after the “tests” had been done to me. I was in a comfortable bed, but my chest, back, and arms were quite sore. “Where am I?” I asked myself. I looked around seeing nothing but a clean room with beautiful white decorations.I look down to see that I am wearing the same suit that my kidnappers wore. “What the--...?” I stood up slowly, almost losing my balance, I grab onto the nightstand only to see the raven mask sitting there staring at me like a horrible nightmare.

     

    “Put on the mask, son.” An unfamiliar male's voice spoke to me.

   “Yes, sir.” I picked up the mask and uncontrollably pressed it to my face.

    

   “You are my Raven Child, Vincent. You will kill for me.” He chuckled with a soft tone letting it trail off.