Ryan Briggs
05-19-2016, 08:11 PM
Chapter One - Part One
I sat expressionless staring at the shining blade of the scythe sitting in my lap. The light from the overhead lamp reflected off the blade, shining on my haggard face highlighting my unkempt black hair. Below my hair I could feel my eyepatch grip my head softly like a lover’s embrace. I reached up and placed my right hand gently on it. Beneath this patch is something I wish I could just cut out of my head. I grimaced at the thought of my horrid eye, all black with a red pupil. I drew my hand back to my lap. It’s not that I can’t see out of it, it just reminds me of the past which I try endlessly to escape, yet it always finds a way to invade my mind. I shifted in my seat and closed my eyes.
“The flight will commence in fifteen minutes.” A voice cracked over a loudspeaker above me. That’s right, I’m on a plane heading to god know’s where for another mission. My mission like all the others is to gather intel and exterminate all Beastials at the given location. I thought on this a moment when I heard a familiar voice from the seat opposite me.
“It’s like sending cockroaches to exterminate an ant infestation.” I slowly opened my eyes to see the dark, obscure figure known only as Messorem. “Really they expect you to kill your own kind?” He said almost mockingly through a sinister smile of fangs.
“I’m no Beastial.” I thought. “I’m nothing like you monsters.”
“Oh really, you don’t think you’re one of those supernatural creatures huh?” The dark figure quizzed. “Then tell me, how is it that only you can see me and use my powers as your own?” I softly shook my head trying to keep such thought out of my head. “We’ve been together for ten years and you still won’t accept the fact that we’re together for the long haul.”
“We’re only together until the corporation can find a way to separate us.”
“Right, the Pariah Corporation, the final bastion of hope for humanity against the menace of the Celestials.” He said in a sarcastic voice. “ Where were they when you first got use of my powers and you unknowingly killed…”
“Shut up!” I yelled in my mind but the dark seed of that memory had already started to sprout in my mind again.
“Mommy...Daddy…” a small shrill voice echoed in my mind. I saw the inside of the plane slowly become covered in blood as the voice continued to bounce in my head. I heard Messorem start to cackle over the echoing voice. I closed my eyes but it was no use I still saw the horrible image.
I started to fall deeper into the dark memories when I felt something hit the back of my head, jerking me out of the living nightmare. I lifted my head to see the familiar face of Sasha Crane. I glanced around the plane’s seating area, it was back to normal. I looked over to where that evil creature was but he was gone as well. I looked back at Sasha. Her grey caring eyes peered at me from behind her long pink hair. She always seemed so innocent and caring. I was trying to slow my heartbeat when she spoke to me.
“What’s your problem Black?” Sasha asked “You look more stressed than usual”
“It’s nothing” I said quickly so she wouldn’t be worried. She’s always been the type to pick up anything and everything that seems off. I guess that’s why she’s Pariah’s best sniper. “Calm down Black we’ll be done here and then you can go and sulk in your quarters like always.” She said in a teasing tone.
“It’s not sulking, I train my body and mind in my free time.”
“Call it what you will but you still never talk to anybody outside of missions.”
“Just prepare yourself for the job at hand, I’d like you to be attentive when watching my back.”
“Take it easy, have I ever let you down before? How many missions have we done together anyway, fifty?”
“Something like that” I said softly and looked away. The truth is I can’t remember how many missions I’ve been on, let alone with her as my partner. My grip on my scythe tightened. How many years have I been with this corporation? Five years? Ten? Should my time even be measured in years? It seems more fitting to measure it in blood spilt, that seems almost easier to quantify.
I stood up and walked to the back of the plane leaving Sasha. As I walked back I passed a few men sitting down on the hard plane seats. Each of them had Pariah Corp. written on their camouflaged uniforms. As I walked past them they grew silent. I could feel their eyes pierce me like knives. That’s how they all act towards me. Like I’m some Beastial freak who’ll kill them if they lower their guard.
“And she wonders why I never talk to anybody outside of missions.” I thought while glaring at the men. They all averted their eyes as to not make eye contact. “Cowards!” I reached the back of the plane where the hatch was and sat staring out at the quiet night. In the distance I could see the building the Pariah Corporation calls headquarters. The CEO of the corporation, Rockland Frost, chose to build the headquarters deep in the mountains of Colorado where locating it without knowing the location before hand would be practically impossible. I realigned my black trench coat to cover my torso from the cold Winter wind that buffeted me.
I started to scan the area when I noticed the face of one of my old partners, Nick Scarre. He was standing at attention being barked at by some higher up snob. Nick was the epitome of silent and deadly, if you want someone dead without anyone noticing, he’s your man. We were partners for about a year before we disbanded. It wasn’t that he couldn’t trust his life in my hands but the other way around. Nick had a hatred of Bestials so when he found out he would be working with what the corporation called a Specialist, Beastials that hunt and kill other Beastials, he wasn’t too happy.
“What were his parting words again?” Messorem’s raspy voice said from nowhere. “That he would kill all of us Beastials?” I ignored him and continued to stare out into the dark.
“We will be leaving momentarily.” The intercom rang out. “Please be seated.” I turned my attention away from Nick Scarre and the rest of the world and walked back to my seat next to Sasha. She smiled at me as I walked her way. I tried to return the favor but all I could muster was a grimacing smile. Next to her was the guitar case that held her trusted sniper rifle. She always carried her gun in a weird case like that, I guess it’s just another weird quirk of her’s, along with her hot pink hair. I’ve learned not to ask people about the weird things, it’s like opening a Pandora’s box of trouble. It’s easier to just accept things as they are.
I sat down and stared at my scythe. It began to dissolve into my palm while I watched. This is one of the tricks that I learned from having been entwined with the demon Messorem. I squeezed my hand shut into a fist as the scythe disappeared completely and set it down on my lap. I heard the bay doors of the plane start to close. As the doors sealed shut Nick and I caught eyes. What I saw in his eyes wasn’t a silent farewell or good luck, it was a simple message. One that can be described in only one word. Die. The doors slammed shut and we began to roll forward.
“Shall we review the mission Black?” Sasha Asked
“It wouldn’t hurt to go over it again.” I turned to face Sasha as I responded.
“Okay, so our main objective is to exterminate the Vampire clan that has set up shop in some farmhouse not far from here. Our secondary objective is to collect info from the Vampires before we kill them. Intel says they are extremely dangerous and that we should kill all who show signs of anger.” I nodded in response to Sasha’s briefing. “From what we know so far they’ve been living in the farm house for some time now. It’s safe to assume they’re ready for an assault. We can expect that they have plans prepared for us showing up.”
“They might even know we’re coming, the corporation isn’t without its fair share of spies.”
“That may be true but this is a small time job that probably didn’t get much attention during processing. I think we can assume we have the drop on them.”
“How many are we up against?” I asked
“That’s uncertain but it’s estimated to be no more than five. We have a six man squad coming with us just in case though.”
“Yeah I’m sure they’ll be great help.” I said sarcastically. “From my experience larger numbers makes getting a job done harder.”
“The men are going to go in first to try and interrogate any Vampires who don’t attack them right out.” Sasha continued her spiel, ignoring my previous outburst. “You’ll go in after to clean up, so to speak.”
“Where are you going to be perched?”
“On the nearby hills, about a mile away.”
“Your sticking closer than usual, why’s that?”
“I’ve got a bad feeling but I can’t put my finger on it.” She said looking down at the ground. “I feel like I should be close by, just in case.” I nodded and looked towards the men sitting not far from where me and Sasha were. They seemed cocky for heading into a combat scenario. Sitting there cajoling each other.
“Don’t act cocky about killing Beastials.” I thought crossly “You can’t even look me in the eye.” I looked back at Sasha who had taken her rifle out of its case and was now inspecting it for imperfections.
“Hey why don’t you rest your eyes Black? You look like you haven’t slept in a month.”
“Yeah there’s a reason for that” I thought as I leaned back and rested my head on the wall behind me.
“I’ll wake you when it’s time to go.” Sasha said with a voice slowly fading into silence.
I sat expressionless staring at the shining blade of the scythe sitting in my lap. The light from the overhead lamp reflected off the blade, shining on my haggard face highlighting my unkempt black hair. Below my hair I could feel my eyepatch grip my head softly like a lover’s embrace. I reached up and placed my right hand gently on it. Beneath this patch is something I wish I could just cut out of my head. I grimaced at the thought of my horrid eye, all black with a red pupil. I drew my hand back to my lap. It’s not that I can’t see out of it, it just reminds me of the past which I try endlessly to escape, yet it always finds a way to invade my mind. I shifted in my seat and closed my eyes.
“The flight will commence in fifteen minutes.” A voice cracked over a loudspeaker above me. That’s right, I’m on a plane heading to god know’s where for another mission. My mission like all the others is to gather intel and exterminate all Beastials at the given location. I thought on this a moment when I heard a familiar voice from the seat opposite me.
“It’s like sending cockroaches to exterminate an ant infestation.” I slowly opened my eyes to see the dark, obscure figure known only as Messorem. “Really they expect you to kill your own kind?” He said almost mockingly through a sinister smile of fangs.
“I’m no Beastial.” I thought. “I’m nothing like you monsters.”
“Oh really, you don’t think you’re one of those supernatural creatures huh?” The dark figure quizzed. “Then tell me, how is it that only you can see me and use my powers as your own?” I softly shook my head trying to keep such thought out of my head. “We’ve been together for ten years and you still won’t accept the fact that we’re together for the long haul.”
“We’re only together until the corporation can find a way to separate us.”
“Right, the Pariah Corporation, the final bastion of hope for humanity against the menace of the Celestials.” He said in a sarcastic voice. “ Where were they when you first got use of my powers and you unknowingly killed…”
“Shut up!” I yelled in my mind but the dark seed of that memory had already started to sprout in my mind again.
“Mommy...Daddy…” a small shrill voice echoed in my mind. I saw the inside of the plane slowly become covered in blood as the voice continued to bounce in my head. I heard Messorem start to cackle over the echoing voice. I closed my eyes but it was no use I still saw the horrible image.
I started to fall deeper into the dark memories when I felt something hit the back of my head, jerking me out of the living nightmare. I lifted my head to see the familiar face of Sasha Crane. I glanced around the plane’s seating area, it was back to normal. I looked over to where that evil creature was but he was gone as well. I looked back at Sasha. Her grey caring eyes peered at me from behind her long pink hair. She always seemed so innocent and caring. I was trying to slow my heartbeat when she spoke to me.
“What’s your problem Black?” Sasha asked “You look more stressed than usual”
“It’s nothing” I said quickly so she wouldn’t be worried. She’s always been the type to pick up anything and everything that seems off. I guess that’s why she’s Pariah’s best sniper. “Calm down Black we’ll be done here and then you can go and sulk in your quarters like always.” She said in a teasing tone.
“It’s not sulking, I train my body and mind in my free time.”
“Call it what you will but you still never talk to anybody outside of missions.”
“Just prepare yourself for the job at hand, I’d like you to be attentive when watching my back.”
“Take it easy, have I ever let you down before? How many missions have we done together anyway, fifty?”
“Something like that” I said softly and looked away. The truth is I can’t remember how many missions I’ve been on, let alone with her as my partner. My grip on my scythe tightened. How many years have I been with this corporation? Five years? Ten? Should my time even be measured in years? It seems more fitting to measure it in blood spilt, that seems almost easier to quantify.
I stood up and walked to the back of the plane leaving Sasha. As I walked back I passed a few men sitting down on the hard plane seats. Each of them had Pariah Corp. written on their camouflaged uniforms. As I walked past them they grew silent. I could feel their eyes pierce me like knives. That’s how they all act towards me. Like I’m some Beastial freak who’ll kill them if they lower their guard.
“And she wonders why I never talk to anybody outside of missions.” I thought while glaring at the men. They all averted their eyes as to not make eye contact. “Cowards!” I reached the back of the plane where the hatch was and sat staring out at the quiet night. In the distance I could see the building the Pariah Corporation calls headquarters. The CEO of the corporation, Rockland Frost, chose to build the headquarters deep in the mountains of Colorado where locating it without knowing the location before hand would be practically impossible. I realigned my black trench coat to cover my torso from the cold Winter wind that buffeted me.
I started to scan the area when I noticed the face of one of my old partners, Nick Scarre. He was standing at attention being barked at by some higher up snob. Nick was the epitome of silent and deadly, if you want someone dead without anyone noticing, he’s your man. We were partners for about a year before we disbanded. It wasn’t that he couldn’t trust his life in my hands but the other way around. Nick had a hatred of Bestials so when he found out he would be working with what the corporation called a Specialist, Beastials that hunt and kill other Beastials, he wasn’t too happy.
“What were his parting words again?” Messorem’s raspy voice said from nowhere. “That he would kill all of us Beastials?” I ignored him and continued to stare out into the dark.
“We will be leaving momentarily.” The intercom rang out. “Please be seated.” I turned my attention away from Nick Scarre and the rest of the world and walked back to my seat next to Sasha. She smiled at me as I walked her way. I tried to return the favor but all I could muster was a grimacing smile. Next to her was the guitar case that held her trusted sniper rifle. She always carried her gun in a weird case like that, I guess it’s just another weird quirk of her’s, along with her hot pink hair. I’ve learned not to ask people about the weird things, it’s like opening a Pandora’s box of trouble. It’s easier to just accept things as they are.
I sat down and stared at my scythe. It began to dissolve into my palm while I watched. This is one of the tricks that I learned from having been entwined with the demon Messorem. I squeezed my hand shut into a fist as the scythe disappeared completely and set it down on my lap. I heard the bay doors of the plane start to close. As the doors sealed shut Nick and I caught eyes. What I saw in his eyes wasn’t a silent farewell or good luck, it was a simple message. One that can be described in only one word. Die. The doors slammed shut and we began to roll forward.
“Shall we review the mission Black?” Sasha Asked
“It wouldn’t hurt to go over it again.” I turned to face Sasha as I responded.
“Okay, so our main objective is to exterminate the Vampire clan that has set up shop in some farmhouse not far from here. Our secondary objective is to collect info from the Vampires before we kill them. Intel says they are extremely dangerous and that we should kill all who show signs of anger.” I nodded in response to Sasha’s briefing. “From what we know so far they’ve been living in the farm house for some time now. It’s safe to assume they’re ready for an assault. We can expect that they have plans prepared for us showing up.”
“They might even know we’re coming, the corporation isn’t without its fair share of spies.”
“That may be true but this is a small time job that probably didn’t get much attention during processing. I think we can assume we have the drop on them.”
“How many are we up against?” I asked
“That’s uncertain but it’s estimated to be no more than five. We have a six man squad coming with us just in case though.”
“Yeah I’m sure they’ll be great help.” I said sarcastically. “From my experience larger numbers makes getting a job done harder.”
“The men are going to go in first to try and interrogate any Vampires who don’t attack them right out.” Sasha continued her spiel, ignoring my previous outburst. “You’ll go in after to clean up, so to speak.”
“Where are you going to be perched?”
“On the nearby hills, about a mile away.”
“Your sticking closer than usual, why’s that?”
“I’ve got a bad feeling but I can’t put my finger on it.” She said looking down at the ground. “I feel like I should be close by, just in case.” I nodded and looked towards the men sitting not far from where me and Sasha were. They seemed cocky for heading into a combat scenario. Sitting there cajoling each other.
“Don’t act cocky about killing Beastials.” I thought crossly “You can’t even look me in the eye.” I looked back at Sasha who had taken her rifle out of its case and was now inspecting it for imperfections.
“Hey why don’t you rest your eyes Black? You look like you haven’t slept in a month.”
“Yeah there’s a reason for that” I thought as I leaned back and rested my head on the wall behind me.
“I’ll wake you when it’s time to go.” Sasha said with a voice slowly fading into silence.