Heroes and Villains, Season One

[spideyfan914]

A ghostlike figure phasing in and out of the air like a projected dream. A skeletal monster instilling fear into the hearts of its victims. A crazy cultist worshipping a demonic warlord. And one lone kid stuck in the middle of the strangest battle of inhuman history.

See it all from the beginning. Coming soon!


Note: Please refrain from commenting in this thread. Any comments, questions, etc. may be posted in the separate comments thread. Any miscellaneous posts here will be deleted.

[spideyfan914]

Episode One: DEATH'S EYE

“So there I was, staring Death in the eyes. I couldn’t move. I could feel my legs, but they weren’t moving. I swear, I thought I was going to die....
“But I’m getting ahead of myself.
“I want to tell you what I was doing in there in the first place. You see, my little brother, Blake, had gotten pretty sick recently. My mom told me to go to the medicine store and pick up some drugs for him....
“It was dark outside.
“I didn’t think it would be much of a problem.... Just get some drugs and come back home. Heck, the store’s only a few blocks away....
“But then, while I was passing by 24th street, there was this alleyway. I know it sounds crazy, but it was.... calling to me....
“It was saying, ‘Jake, over here.... Over here, Jake....’
“Now, I know it’s stupid to listen to creepy voices in our head, but I felt.... compelled to....
“Before I knew it, I was in the alleyway, staring through a window leading into an abandoned warehouse. The window was cracked open a bit, so I slipped in.
“That’s where it happened. There was something down there. In a black cloak. Wielding a scythe. It looked like the Grim Reaper. And then, it tilted its head up a bit and I saw beneath the cloak. A skeletal face, with glowing red eyes.
“That’s when I knew it was no joke.
“I told myself to run, but myself didn’t listen. I was frozen in place as the Reaper came closer, raising its scythe with those bony hands....
“I was praying. I swear, I was praying. I didn’t think I’d survive.
“But then, a great wind came in through the window. A phantom-like creature swept in, and grabbed the Reaper with its ghostly hands. The Reaper waved its scythe, but the Phantom phased through it. Soon, it had engulfed the Reaper entirely, and, as if a last resort, the Reaper disappeared into thin air, leaving behind a cloud of darkness. It had escaped.
“I tried to thank the Phantom, but it left as quickly as it came.
“I was alone once more....”
The class laughed. Even Doug Urson, whose usually quiet, was in tears with laughter. Nick Sanchez was bawling on the floor. Shawn was pounding on his desk. Only Zamxus didn’t react.
“Jake,” the teacher said, “the assignment was to write a story of something which recently happened.”
“That’s what I did!”
“No, you wrote a ghost story. Though that may be legitimate around a campfire, this is school and when I tell you to write the truth, I mean to write the truth!”
“But it is the truth!” I protested. “There’s a lot which happens when the sun goes down, and we don’t know it all.”
“Demons? I mean, come on!” Nick laughed. “No one’s that stupid!” I really hate that guy.
I took my seat next to Shawn. How embarrassing....
“Jake,” he said, leaning over, “you should probably stop arguing. Mrs. Eviscer gets pretty upset about that kind of stuff....”
“But it is true! C’mon – you’re my only friend. You have to believe me!”
“Dude, I’m sorry, but you’re really not fooling anyone....”
Just great. No one believed me. Not even my one friend. And, to make matters worse, Nick would never let me live it down....
The bell rang. Finally.
I waited for everyone else to leave first. I didn’t want to get caught up in the crowd.
After a minute or two passed, I swung my backpack over my shoulder. I’d be late to my next class, but so what.
“Hey.”
I looked behind me. I had thought I was the only one left. Even Mrs. Eviscer had left to teach her English class. But Zamxus was still there.
“I believe you,” he said, and left the room.
---
Next period was gym. I hate gym. It’s the place where the jocks shine and the good little nerds are squashed. And I’m not even that nerdy!
Not to mention that Nick’s in that class.
“Hey, Jake! Look out! There’s a Reaper behind you!” he called out. I walked along with my head looking to the floor. Nick and his gang cracked up.
It wasn’t even funny!
A dodgeball smacked me in the back of my head. Barney Katcher had thrown it. I fell over and my glasses flew off. When I put them back on I could see Nick and Barney high-fiving. His girlfriend, Rose, let out a laugh.
I just kept to myself.
---
After school, Shawn and I went by my house to study. Blake was playing on the Wii, cursing each time he lost.
“Thought the kid was sick,” Shawn joked.
“It was last week!”
Shawn shrugged it off.
“Okay, so, can you please explain this Watergate stuff to me again?” I said when we sat down in my room, opening up our textbooks.
“It’s really quite simple. Nixon approved to send some folk to burglarize and wiretap the Watergate hotel, where his Democratic opponents were meeting.”
“And that’s what got him impeached?”
“No. He tried to cover it up, but it was eventually leaked that he had actually taped every conversation in his office, and those tapes proved him guilty.”
“So that’s what got him impeached?”
“Actually, he wasn’t impeached. He would’ve been, but he resigned....”
“Now, that makes no sense.... I mean, why’d he wanna resign?”
“He did so in disgrace, but it’s a little less embarrassing than being the first President forcibly removed from office.”
“Okay....” I still don’t get it! You’d think the guy would keep trying to prove his innocence ‘til the end.... But whatever – Shawn is the smartest guy in the grade, so I guess I gotta listen to him....
Still, it was hard. I hadn’t been able to take my mind off the Reaper thing all week....
I couldn’t stop thinking about Death’s eye....

[spideyfan914]

Episode Two: THE DAY I DIED

“Did that really happen, Jake?” Blake’s eyes were wide in astonishment. I nodded. “Wow.... Spooky....”
“Wait – you mean you believe me?”
“Well, of course I believe you! Why would you make something like that up?”
“Thank you! Sheesh – the guys at school think I b*******ted the whole thing!”
Blake shrugged. “Their funeral.”
“Funeral?”
“Oh, come on, Jake – a freak with an axe is running around killing people. The non-believers are always the first to go.”
---
I walk along a street leading to nowhere. I hear a voice. It’s calling my name. Or at least, I think it’s my name....
I wander towards the voice. I don’t know where I am. The walls seem larger. The path seems narrower. The walk seems longer, but the end is unclear.
Something emerges from the shadows. A Reaper of souls.
It takes its scythe and stabs me. I fall to the ground. I’m bleeding. It keeps slashing and slicing and stabbing as my insides simmer out.
---
I bolt awake. I am in my bed. No blood. No blood....
I crawl out of the room and go downstairs for breakfast.
Just a dream. Just a dream.
I turn on the television.
Just a dream....
“You are not dreaming.”
I jump. It’s the anchorman.
“A woman in her late 50s was brutally murdered last night. Her body was found this morning in an alleyway on 23rd street with several holes piercing her upper body. Though the murderer is not unveiled, the woman has been identified as Cynthia Eviscer.”
....
“A teacher at P.S.96. Police are investigated into....”
Was it just a dream? Blake’s words stream through my mind. The non-believers are always the first to go....
---
Class was grim that day. No one liked Mrs. Eviscer, but for her to die?
When I reached that period, the assistant principal subbed for the class. He explained to us that things like this do happen, and that it’s always difficult, but that we have to move on. Then, he asked if any of us wanted to say anything.
It took a long time, but eventually, one hand went up – Rose Bielle’s.
“I.... I think we have to remember the good times.... like this once, when we had this writing project thing, and I didn’t know what to write. So I came to her after school, and I was like, ‘I don’t know what to write!’ And then she told me.... something I’ll never forget.... ‘Sit down and start writing.’”
The A.P. nodded. “Thank you. Anyone else?”
The dream. I needed to know. I needed to know what they thought. I rose my hand.
“Yes, Nick?”
“Yeah, I got something to say,” Nick grumbled. “Um, why do we care? I mean, let’s face it – she wasn’t exactly the greatest teacher of all time! The only good time, to be honest, was when she made fun of Jake yesterday....”
The A.P. scowled.
I put my hand down. They wouldn’t believe me, anyway....
When the bell rang, the class filed out, as usual. I tried to follow them, but got pulled aside. Zamxus.
“You put your hand up,” he said. “Know something we don’t?”
I stared. I didn’t know what he expected me to say....
“Yesterday, you were telling us about getting attacked by Reaper. Our teacher didn’t believe you. Now she’s dead. Did Reaper kill her?”
“Why – why are you calling it that? Like a title?”
Zamxus smiled.
“Nouda told me....”
He left the room before I could say anything more....
---
“Hey, Jake, see any reapers on your way home today?”
“What? Blake, why would you think I’ve seen one today?”
“Well, they’re after you, aren’t they?”
I got it. He was being annoying.
“Blake, shut up.”
“I heard seeing a reaper is an omen of death! Are you gonna die?”
“Blake, I thought you believed me!”
“Are you already dead? Are you a zombie?”
“Blake!”
“ZombieJake! ZombieJake!”
“Shut up!”
I ran up to my room and slammed the door in his face. I hate brothers.

[spideyfan914]

Episode Three: DREAMS OF SHADOWS

I arrive at my apartment and walk inside. There is someone already in there.
I look towards him and laugh. A man wearing a black cloak. Funny.
I head over to the kitchen to get some food. I ask him if he wants anything.
He doesn’t answer.
As I look at my reflection in the window, I feel him coming closer. Yet the reflection is only my own.
I spin to see his scythe raised high in the air, high above his face cloaked in darkness.
I dart underneath his left arm as the scythe tears apart my kitchen. I flee for the door.
But the floor is icy. I slip. I hit my head on the floor and I bleed. I look up and see the scythe.
I know I’m going to die....
---
“Shawn....”
Shawn looked up. “What is it, Jake?”
“Please.... I know you don’t believe me about the Reaper.... But I really need you to....”
“Um, what?”
“I’ve been scared lately. Scared for my life. I keep thinking that it’s going to come back. I feel like I’m going to die.”
Shawn stared. There was silence.
Finally, he spoke. “Jake, you’re not going to die. Even if you’re serious about the Reaper, it must’ve been a dream. Nothing more.”
“That’s the thing, though. It could have been a dream – I don’t know anymore. But I’ve been having a lot of dreams lately.”
“You have? Seriously? Like what?”
“Like a dream where I was Mrs. Eviscer and I got killed by the Reaper.”
Shawn stared bug-eyed.
“You – you must’ve been shocked by how she died....”
“Impossible – I didn’t find out until I woke up. And that’s not the only one I’ve had....”
---
The scythe falls down upon me. My life is about to end.
I close my eyes and wait for it to come. I won’t fear death.
But I’m scared.
And the scythe is taking an awfully long time. Are the last moments always this long?
I open my eyes and look up. There’s someone else in the room now.
A Phantom.
---
“Zamxus....”
Zamxus looks towards me. “What is it?”
“You.... know about the Reaper and the Phantom, right?”
“Yes. I know Reaper.”
I don’t why, but when he said that, I felt a chill run down my spine.
“Then, do you know what these –”
“Dreams?”
I blink. “Um.... Yes.... Yes, do you know – wait – How do you know about the dreams?”
“It means that you are a primary target of Reaper. Since your encounter, you have formed a bond.... A connection with him....”
“Why do you call it a ‘him’? Like it’s a human?”
“Because sometimes, it is.”
I don’t know what he means, but I shrug it off. “So, um, what do you mean that I’ve.... formed a connection....”
“He will track you down and kill you. He’s giving you citations of his other killings as warnings. He wants you to fear him.”
“Oh, God.”
“No, not God.... This is someone else....”
“What do I do?”
Zamxus laughs. I swallow my fear.
“Zamxus, you once mentioned the name Nouda.... Who is Nouda?”
“You want to know who Nouda is?” A creepy smile spread across his face. “In the next few days, I’ll bring you to my place. Once there, I will answer your question.”
---
As they fight, I merely stare. Reaper, on the one hand, spins his scythe and blocks Phantom’s attacks. Phantom can phase through walls, but somehow, he can’t get around Reaper’s scythe. Maybe it’s because they’re the same type of thing.
Huge gusts of wind pour in even though the windows are shut. They slam into Reaper, and he disappears into a blur of darkness – only to reappear directly behind me.
I leap away, and Phantom comes to fight off Reaper. It is not safe for me here. I have to get away.
---
“Wow.... I had no idea....” Shawn’s eyes were wide with terror.
“You believe me then?”
There was another moment’s silence. I believed he was contemplating.
“Yes,” he finally said. “Jake, I believe you and I want to help you.”
“Then what do I do? I asked Zamxus and he said that he thinks the Reaper wants to kill me! Like these dreams are just a warning!”
“Zamxus? What does he know about it?”
“I’m not sure, to be honest.... But he was the first guy to believe me.... He mentioned someone named Nouda.”
Shawn leaped backwards.
“What? Something I said?”
“Jake, stay away from Zamxus.”
“Um, what?”
“Nouda is evil.”
“Wait – you know who Nouda is?”
“I’ve.... heard of it....”
“It?”
“Stay away from Zamxus. He is evil.”
---
They are blocking the door. I need to find a way around them.
I run towards the ruins that were once my kitchen and grab a silver spoon out of the drawer. I don’t know if it will work, but it does in the movies, so it’s worth a shot.
I return to the main room. They’re still blocking the door. I throw the spoon over there. They keep on fighting, but Phantom seems to look towards me.
He suddenly shifts his shape – he turns into a harpoon of sorts, and stabs himself into Reapers stomach, or at least where the stomach should be....
They fly backwards, away from the door and away from me. The path is clear, and I make a run for it. As I run, I feel a wind lift me above the ground. I will not slip on any ice.
I escape the room. I know not where to go. But I do know who to go to.
I woke up.
---
As I walked home, I heard my name being called out.
“Jake! Psst! Jake! Over here!”
Now, I know what happened the last time I listened to strange voices. I know what happened to Mrs. Eviscer. But this voice was different. It sounded dire, urgent. And I know what I saw in my dream last night was real.
So I turned toward the voice, into the alleyway. It was from behind the dumpster.
I held my breath and pushed the dumpster aside.
“Jake, please – you were right! I don’t know who to go to, but I’m scared. And I can’t believe I’m saying this to you of all people, but I need your help!”
I stared down at Nick, dirty and bleeding.

[spideyfan914]

Episode Four: THE SACRIFICE

When we finished washing off the blood, we went to my room.
“Man, where are your folks anyway?” Nick asked me.
“They’re still at work. They don’t get back ‘til late. And my brother does club stuff after school. What about you?”
“They’re.... dead....”
Oh. That.
“It wasn’t the Reaper, though,” he added. “They’ve been dead for a while. I live by myself and take care of myself.”
“It’s the same with Shawn. But his parents aren’t dead. They’re just always away. I don’t know why.”
“Yeah, well, mine got knocked off by a drive-by shooting. My dad was part of the mob, but he wouldn’t do this one job, so they took him out.”
“What was the job?”
“To kill his brother.”
I tried to change the subject.
“So, I take it you believe me now, huh?”
“I’m here, aren’t I? I just didn’t know who else to turn to....”
I shrugged. “I think it’s going after people who don’t believe in it.”
“What?”
“First Mrs. Eviscer, now you.”
“Mrs. Eviscer? She was attacked too?”
“Yeah, I....”
I faded out. This is the kid whose made me the butt-end of his jokes since the 8th grade and I was about to tell him that I have dreams where I’m getting attacked by Reaper?
“What? What were you going to say?”
“Why me?” I finally ask. “Out of the hundreds of kids in our school, why do you pick on me?”
He shrugged. “Well, it’s more Shawn, actually. But you’re his friend, so I guess that’s why.”
“What? That doesn’t make any sense!”
“How doesn’t it make sense? Listen, if it makes you feel any better, I didn’t always pick on you – it used to be Doug Urson. Kid’s a freakin’ genius, and he’s so quiet.... But then, I don’t know, it was kinda more fun with you and Shawn.”
“Why? Why is it fun?”
“What is this? Twenty-one questions? Listen – I guess that it’s just that Shawn’s, like, smarter or something, and he gives me more of a reaction, so, yeah....”
God, this guy is such an idiot!
But before I could say any more, my phone went off. Unknown caller.
“Hello?”
“If you want to know who Nouda is, meet me at my sanctuary.”
“Zamxus?”
“It’s on 23rd Street, right at the corner of 7th Avenue. I’ll be waiting.”
He hung up.
“Um, Nick, I’ve.... I’ve gotta go....”
“What? But what if that – that thing comes back?”
“Listen, I think it only attacks at night, so you should be fine for now....”
“Where are you going?”
Where was I going?
“I don’t really know....”
---
It wasn’t that hard to find Zamxus. He was standing on his porch, dressed in blood-red robes. I didn’t ask.
When he saw me approaching, he smiled and bowed as he showed me into his apartment. In the distance, the sun was creeping away. Red lines pierced the sky.
Zamxus led me through a tall hallway, decorated with bizarre portraits of demons, of dead, of sulfur, of brimstone. It was lit with candles, painting the walls in twilight.
We then arrived in a large, round room. It was bigger than I had ever seen before, and it was pitch-black.
“Dude, how do you afford all this?”
“I don’t.”
“How does this even fit on that small block?”
“It doesn’t.”
He lit a fuse, and as it burned up, the flame lit up candles all around the room, and finally led upwards into a chandelier.
The room was mostly empty, aside from the side opposite myself. There, two stairs led up to a balcony like in a mansion you’d see in a movie. I could make out a doorway on the balcony, but it was obscured by the statue in-between the stairways. The statue of a large, red, winged, horned, fanged demon. It was made of bronze aside from the two glowing rubies which made the eyes. My skin creeped up.
“Nouda,” Zamxus said, “is the demon who has promised the Apocalypse.”
I turned to him.
“This statue was built in His honor. For only those who serve Him shall be spared.”
“What – what are you talking about?”
“I am His most faithful servant. And when He returns, I shall serve by His side. I shall rule the Netherworld with Nouda for all of Eternity! All He needs is the proper sacrifices.... The right amount of blood.... The right amount of death....”
“You’re – you’re insane....”
“Am I? If Nouda does not exist, then how do you explain Reaper? How do you explain Nouda’s greatest creation? Reaper was formed in this very room. Reaper is to be the bringer of the Apocalypse, the bringer of Nouda!”
“Wait – Reaper was created here?”
“What’s wrong, Jake? Did you not notice where you are standing?”
He lit another candle and placed it on the floor. Chalk marks formed an enormous circle, with inscriptions and pictographs filling it in. A rune. An actual rune.
“This is where Reaper comes each night to reveal his true form. This is where he returns to disguise himself and blend in. This is where he plots. This is where he plans. This is where he and I work together to summon the great Nouda!”
I stumbled backwards.
“And this.... this is the scythe with which he does his reaping....”
I looked towards Zamxus. He held the scythe in his hand. He was fitting on the cloak of Reaper.
“How do I know.... that you’re not Reaper....?”
Zamxus grinned. I think that’s his way of laughing.
Suddenly, he swung the scythe and I jumped back. I started to run, but Zamxus was faster. He was swinging it like a madman, and I could barely stay ahead.
I ran down the hall, aiming for the exit. There was no way that he would dare follow me out into the open.
The next swing cut through my right shoulder and the small of my back. It hurt like Hell. I could feel the blood dripping out. But I kept on running. I had to escape. I did not turn back.
I ran out the door and kept on running. All the way to my house. The sky went violet, and then turned dark.
It was night now. Reaper was out there. It would not be safe to go out in the dark.
Blake was in his room when I ran in. My parents weren’t back yet. Nick had gone, probably home.
I ran into my room and left a sign on the door: “Headache. Do not disturb.”
I laid on my back and the blood was soaked up by my pillow.
He tried to kill me. Psycho tried to kill me!
---
I’m back in that room. That frightening room.
Zamxus is there. He wears the cloak and dons the scythe. He smiles.
“You’re back.”
I hold out my hand. He gives me the scythe.
“I have a message for Jake Bradley. He’s seen Reaper. That is an omen of death. And he will die. They will all die.”
I lift the scythe above my head.
Zamxus grins. “But whose next?”
I bring it down upon him.

[spideyfan914]

Episode Five: SECRETS IN THE DARK

There.
Two people coming out of that restaurant’s back door: a guy and a girl.
“Alice, please! Don’t run away!”
“It’s too late, Jack! I’m sick of you!”
“I don’t get it – what’s wrong? What’s gotten into you?”
“We’ve been going out for three years! Three years! And you haven’t once even thought of asking me!”
He laughs.
“Oh, that’s the problem?”
“What’s so funny?”
“Alice – I was going to do that tonight.”
“You – you were?”
He takes out a small box and opens it.
“We may not have the atmosphere for it out here, but I’ll go ahead anyway: will you marry me?”
She runs up and hugs him. They’re together. I start to step forward.
“Yes, Jack – yes, I will m-”
They turn.
“What was that?”
I step out of the shadows and look them in the eyes. They stare back at me. A chill is running down their spines. I can tell.
I make it quick. Two swift slices and they fall to the ground, blood gushing out of the wounds.
One thing left to do.
I take the blood and begin to write something on the wall.
“I know you’re watching, Jake,” I write. “You should know the next target is....”
---
Zamxus wasn’t in school that day.
Nick Sanchez sat in his own seat, frightened as a dog. Barney Katcher was staring at him awkwardly, like “What the Hell is the matter with you?”
Doug Urson was scribbling something on his paper. I peeked over at one point, curious, and it was just a bunch of random scribbles.
Shawn was quiet the whole time, probably in response to my own quietness.
I couldn’t stop thinking about my dreams.
---
Nick was in the hallway talking with Barney and Rose after school. I wondered if he had had the dreams too.
“Hey, Nick,” I called out to him. They turned to me.
“What the -? Hey, Nick, why’s this kid talkin’ to you?” Barney grimaced.
“I, um, I was wondering if you could talk for a minute.... about yesterday....”
“Last night?” Barney laughed. “Why, what happened yesterday? Did you bring him his homework?”
I looked to Nick. He apparently hadn’t told them.
Nick bit his lips. “I – I don’t what he’s talking about. I was at home yesterday, sick. I never see Jake outside of school.”
I couldn’t believe it.
“But, Nick – you weren’t sick! You were attacked!”
“Shut up!”
“You know I’m telling the truth! You know that Reaper exists!”
“I said shut up!”
A football hit me in the face. I couldn’t tell which one threw it.
“You wanna know what? Next time you’re within an inch of life, don’t come to me – ‘cause I’ll just throw you back to him!”
---
Shawn and I walked over to my place after school again.
“So, how you doing?” Shawn asked me.
“Fine, fine....”
“We, um, got those History tests back.... How’d you do....”
“I bombed it. I never did get all that Watergate stuff. Too much.”
“Uh-huh....”
We were passing by 23rd now. We weren’t that far from 7th Avenue. But we only needed to pass it by. I wondered about Zamxus.
“Hey, Shawn, would you want to go get something at Dunkin Donuts before we head over to my place?”
“Not really hungry right now.”
“You could get a coffee.”
He laughed. “Sure, why not. Let’s go.”
We made a right. Dunkin Donuts was right past 7th Ave. I had to know. I had to know.
We were passing by it now. The sanctuary. It looked just as it did the night before – an ordinary house, too small to fit what was inside.
While Shawn was ordering, I headed outside. I’d be brief. He wouldn’t notice.
Holding my breath, I rang the doorbell.
An old man answered. “Hello? What can I get for you?”
“Are you his father?” I asked.
“Whose father?”
“Zamxus. Zamxus Zane. Are you Mr. Zane?”
He looked at me awkwardly. “No one by the name of Zane has lived here in a long time. My family bought the place about a year ago.”
That’s when I noticed the décor. Several pictures hung up around the small room. They featured people. Ordinary, regular people. The man’s family and friends, probably. To the right was a staircase leading up to a few doors. To the left was a short hallway leading to a closet, and an opening on its left.
It wasn’t the sanctuary.
“This is.... this is wrong....”
“Do you have the wrong door?”
“No, I mean – what happened to the hallway? With all the demons? What happened to the runes? To the statue?”
“You must have the wrong door....”
“No! This was it! This was the place!”
“Son, it’s clearly not what you think it is.... I don’t know this Zamxus fellow, but perhaps if he was some kind of Satanist, then the house was like that before I came along.... Though I can’t say I remember any of that....”
“I was here last night!”
He shut the door in my face.
“Jake....”
I turned around. Shawn was there.
“Jake, this isn’t Dunkin....”
---
“So that’s it. I went to Zamxus’ and I’m sorry, ‘kay?”
“I told you he was evil....”
“Did you know that would happen?”
“Yes, actually, I did. Nouda only ‘speaks’ to his worshippers.”
“You act like the thing’s real....”
“Oh, please, since when does any god or demon speak to anyone who doesn’t believe.... It’s typical....”
“Sorry.”
“It’s fine.”
“So, what exactly do you know about all this anyway?”
Shawn sighed. We were in my room now. I had told him everything.
“Nouda is a demon whose supposed to bring about the Apocalypse. According to his followers, the post-apocalyptic world is one in which they will reign supreme side-by-side with Nouda himself.”
“So they join up for power?”
“They believe that everyone would do the same. They don’t think anyone can be genuinely good, but that everyone is just as twisted as them. That all you need is to be true to yourself and that you’d realize they’re right.”
“Twisted....”
“That’s why they’ve come to call themselves the ‘True Society.’”
“Why haven’t I heard of these guys?”
“There aren’t that many of them. For fear of persecution, they tend to keep to themselves and await Nouda’s return.”
“So, how do you know all this?”
There was a pause. He hesitated.
“Because my parents were members....”
---
I’m in a room. I know the room. I know it well.
I’m in bed, trying to get to sleep, when I hear a crackling at my window. I look toward it and see ice forming.
There is a swirl of darkness in front of it, and when it fades, that Reaper is standing there.
I see his eyes – his glowing red eyes.
I can’t move as he steps closer.
He raises his scythe. I’m scared of death.
---
I jump out of bed.
That room. I know that room.
I run into the hallway. My parents are up. They must’ve heard me. They’re coming into the hallway, too.
“Jake, what’s wrong?”
I ignore them. This is more pressing. I go up to the door and open it.
No one is there. Just an empty bed.
---
I know you’re watching, Jake. You should know the next target is Blake.

[spideyfan914]

Episode Six: SHADOW DANCE

Blake. My own brother. And now he’s been taken, or killed. I don’t know. But he’s gone. Just to get to me.
Reaper.... Why me? Why do you attack me? Why do you hurt me? What did I do to you? Why me? Why me???
And Phantom, where the Hell are you?? You’re the hero! You’re the hero! That means you’re supposed to help people so that this doesn’t happen!
WHY ME???
---
I had to go to school as though nothing had happened. I had to go about all the regular routines and act natural, even though it’s impossible to act natural when this kind of thing happens. So I went through the day solemnly, keeping to myself even more than usual, silently weeping when nobody watched.
I figured out Urson’s scribbles. It means you’re confused, or frustrated, or angry, or upset. Because when you are, you want to let it out. I understand that now. It’s hard to let it out without people noticing. So you take a pen or pencil or whatever, stab your paper, and violently make random markings. That’s why I scribbled.
I hope Reaper attacks Nick again. He didn’t let up all day. He was the only one to notice something was up with me and, of course, he decided to use it to his advantage. I’m not even gonna say it. I just won’t. But I will say that Barney was on the floor laughing by the end of it. And Rose was just standing there, holding her books, and staring, as always. What does she see in that kid?
Shawn tried to cut me off at the end of the day to check up on me, but I know his tricks. He always expects me to go out the front entrance, so this time I went out the back way and escaped him.
Zamxus still wasn’t in school.
---
My parents had set up a search party, but no luck. They didn’t find Blake.
They kept trying to ask me how I knew he was missing. I didn’t say, though.
Shawn called me at one point. He had heard from a cop about Blake. I hung up.
I wanted it to stop. I wanted it all to stop. Not just the dreams, but the entire nightmare. I wanted Reaper and Phantom to just go away. I wanted Zamxus to fall off the edge of the Earth, if he hadn’t already. I wanted Mrs. Eviscer to come back. I wanted the images to go away. I wanted Blake to return. I wanted my parents off my back. I wanted not to scribble. I wanted the scar to heal. I wanted my blood to return. I wanted to forget that any of it had ever happened at all. I wanted to learn that none of it had ever happened at all.
But it did happen. And it would only get worse....
---
That night was the lousy dance. I didn’t have a date, but I promised my parents I’d go. Something about clearing my mind.
Fat chance. The first couple I ran into was Nick and Rose. Typical. Nick made fun of me for showing up with no date. I told him that at least I had a higher bar.
Barney Katcher was there, too, with his freshman girlfriend Sandy. When I saw him coming, I ducked into the bathrooms.
I hate dances. How was this supposed to get my mind off Blake? Of course, my parents don’t know about the dreams.... I wondered if I could find Blake in my dreams....
When I came back out, the place was crowded. I barely knew anyone. It was mainly just the “popular” kids, the ones who everyone hates. The jocks and their cheerleaders, the snobby dramatists, the druggies and drug-sellers, the pretty boys and their mini-skirt girls. Only the geeks and nerds didn’t seem to be there.
Except Urson.
Now, I’m not saying I’ve ever spoken with the kid at all, but at least he wasn’t one of them, so I sat down and talked with him for a while.
“Hey, Urson. What’s up?”
He looked at me puzzled.
“I’m Jake. We’re in Creative Writing together.”
“Oh.”
“So, um.... What are you doing here?”
“I don’t know.”
“Oh.... Well, um.... I’m here ‘cause my parents made me come....”
“Why are you talking to me?”
“Um....”
“No one ever talks to me.”
“Oh.... Well, um, I could call you lucky.... They talk to me, but not in a good way....”
“I hate them.”
“Yeah, um, so do I....”
It was getting awkward.
“Hey, Urson, um, can we talk about something else?”
“Why?”
“Um.... Well, there’s so much else to talk about....”
“Like what?”
“Um....”
“The Reaper?”
“Uh....”
“You’re the one who wrote about that Reaper, right....”
“Yeah, but can we not talk about that either?”
“I was only going to compliment you – it was funny....”
I sighed. “Sure, whatever....”
“My story was lame.”
“I don’t remember. What did you write about?”
“The janitor.”
“Oh, yeah! That was great!”
“It was so random.... I just couldn’t think of something to write about....”
“Well, sometimes, random things work out pretty well!”
“I’m a bad writer.”
“I don’t think so. I liked your –”
“What time is it?”
“Um, what?”
He pointed to my watch.
“Oh.... Um.... It’s 6:17....”
“Sundown’s in 18 minutes then. I should leave.”
“What – why?”
“Curfew.”
He got up and began to leave him, but I grabbed his wrist.
“I saw your scribbles,” I said.
“Oh.”
“Is something bugging you?”
“Why would something be bugging me? I just like to scribble.”
“It’s a good way of releasing tension.”
“Speaking of which, can you let go of my wrist now? I need to go.”
I gave him a look. “Something’s bugging you.”
“If I tell you, can I go?”
“Sure.” Maybe his problems will relieve me of my own?
“I black out at sundown.”
“What?”
“Every night,” he looked around to make sure no one else was listening, “I black out. Sundown to sunrise, I’m out. I don’t know why.”
I just stared. He ran out of the room.
It was almost sundown. Reaper would be out soon. And now my mind was back on Reaper, Phantom, and Blake.
Why is it always me?
---
“Look at Jake over there! He’s so miserable without a date that he cried himself to sleep!”
“Well, I think it’s kind of cute,” I tell Nick. He looks at me awkwardly.
“Rose, what are you talking about?”
“Why do you always pick on him?”
He shrugs. “It’s funny. Don’t you think it’s funny?”
“I don’t know....”
“Don’t be mad at me!”
“I’m not!”
“Prove it!”
A new song is starting. “Let’s dance,” I told him.
It’s a slow dance. Romantic.
“You’re beautiful, you know,” he says to me. I nod. “I like your hair. It makes you like a rose.”
It’s red, cherry red, and very curly. Short too. I guess I see where he’s coming from.
“Do you think we’ll get married?”
I nod. Why not?
He smiles. He leans in and we kiss.
After the song, I tell him I need to go to the bathroom.
I head in. I’m the only one there. I’m looking in the mirror and I can clearly see that I’m the only one there.
And yet....
“Rose....”
I spin around. The first thing I see are the glowing red eyes.
---
I screamed. Everyone turned to me, but I didn’t care.
He’s here!
I ran to the bathroom – the girls’ bathroom.
“Jake, what the Hell are you doing? My girl’s in there!” Nick. You traitor. Still, Rose was a different person. She didn’t deserve it.
I opened the door, and there she was, staring Reaper straight in the eye. I hate to say it, but I froze for a second. It was the first time I’d seen him in person since that first night.
But I didn’t look in his eyes.
His scythe was raised. He was ready to kill.
I didn’t stop to think after that first freeze. I just charged in and tackled her out of the way. I heard the scythe whish past me.
But when I turned, Reaper was gone. A crowd had gathered outside.
“Jake! What are you doing to her?”
“She’s not your property! Get off!”
“What the Hell, Jake?”
“Are you insane or something?”
“Ha! This is great!”
Nick walked up to me and punched in the face. My nose started bleeding. He punched me again and my eye throbbed. He punched me again and I lost a tooth.
“Don’t you ever even think of doing something like that again, or you won’t live long enough to call a doctor. C’mon, Rose.”
He grabbed her by the hand and left the dance....

[spideyfan914]

Episode Seven: SHADOW'S EYE VIEW

“Go,” Zamxus tells me. “There are people to kill.”
I nod.
He gives me a list. I must follow it.
---
The first one on the list is a man named Jonathan Sprout. He is currently in Central Park, walking his dog.
I stand in the lake and it freezes up. I pique at his curiosity that way and Jonathan walks over to the lake and stares inwards.
But instead of his reflection, he sees me – he sees death – and I kill him.
---
Next on the list is a Harold Moore. He is in bed, sleeping with his wife.
I creep out of the closet. They hear nothing.
I walk up to them and stab them both ten times. They do not scream. They don’t know how.
---
I have to kill a Maria Cirenza next. She is at a bar, getting drunk.
I wait outside in the alleyway until she comes out. When she sees me, she laughs.
She knows what’s coming. I slash her with my scythe.
But then, he comes. Phantom.
Maria is half-dead, lying on the floor. He grabs her and places her across the alleyway, away from me.
I encase the alley in ice, and Phantom begins to feel the cold. But then several winds come in and blow me back. I regain my balance and fly towards him, readying my scythe. As I slash at him, he warps his very body such to avoid my attack.
Then, he shapes himself around me in a bubble of sorts. I will not stand for it. I travel through darkness to the ground and then merge with the shadows. I watch Phantom as he stands there, waiting for me to come out. I sneak around behind him, biding my time.
When I strike, he doesn’t see it coming. He would have died, but disappeared with the winds before my scythe could get too deep.
And so, I turn to Maria. She is still awake. But not for long.
---
Pierre Collier is the next name I must kill. He has no home, and so I find him on a Subway train.
I don’t bother with eccentrics. I appear before him and he smiles. He says that he’s been waiting for me. He craves it.
I grant his wish.
---
I must then find Emily Carter. She is coming home from a late night of drama rehearsal at her school.
I hide in the alleys which she uses as a shortcut. As she passes, I come out and look her in the eyes.
Before she can scream, her body falls to the ground.
---
The next man on the list is Michael Masters. He is a cop and is currently on duty.
I found a nearby woman and decide to use her as bait. Before I kill her, I let her scream.
Masters and his partner whose name I do not know run up with their guns raised. I swipe my scythe to first disarm them. They try to flee, but I create ice and they slip. I’m ready to kill them.
But then, Phantom arrives. He sends the wind gusting towards me, as if to crush me with it. I simply spin my scythe like a fan and push it back. He tries a new approach, turning his hand into a ghostly sword and striking me with it. Pathetic – I am far greater a weapon specialist than he will ever be.
I block all his strikes and then send out my own. He falls down and I thrust the deadly blow, yet he phases through the ground. Now it’s his turn to play in the shadows.
I don’t bother to wait – I leave the mission unaccomplished.
---
While Phantom is left confused, I go after my next target – one Kara Smith. She is at a friend’s house and they’re talking about boys.
The room is dark, and so I hide in the shadows. I encase them both in ice and I then ascend.
My scythe moves quickly, shattering both their lives in one swift blow.
---
Dylan Dempsey is to be my next victim. As he is only six, he is tucked neatly into bed.
I appear in his room and take aim.
One strike to the heart should do it. I thrust my scythe downwards.
Phantom grabs my scythe by the handle and stops me. He steals it from me.
I duck into the darkness. I come up minimally, pulling Phantom’s feet in. He lashes the scythe downwards, shattering the floor and awakening Dylan.
The boy screams and his parents come into the room. Before they can scream too, I freeze their mouths shut. Then I move through the shadows and emerge where they stand. Phantom lunges at me, but I use them as shields – and as swords.
I throw the father at Phantom. He phases through, but does fall down through the hole in the floor. He bleeds, but does not die. Which is well, for it must be the scythe which kills them. Phantom doesn’t know that, though.
I grab the mother by the throat and begin to squeeze. She kicks and struggles, but it takes a while. I look to Phantom and he understands what I mean. He gives me my scythe.
First, I stab the mother in the heart. Dylan screams. Phantoms vanishes and tries to appear behind me, but I vanish as well.
Dylan’s screaming may awaken the neighbors, and I don’t too much like chaos, so I kill him next. Phantom can not turn around in time.
I appear below to kill the father, but Phantom has caught on and appears. He grabs a hold of the scythe with two hands and we struggle. Ultimately, I disappear and travel through the darkness. As Phantom falls forwards with momentum, I appear behind him and slash. He whisks away just in time.
I turn to the father and raise my scythe to finish the job, when Phantom surprisingly reappears, and, with great wind, pushes me out through the wall and into the streets.
Before anyone can see me, I disappear and move on.
---
Vanessa Minkov is the next one who shall die at my hand. An elderly woman, she now rocks in her rocking chair, awaiting the inevitable.
I jump right to it. She does not scream; she does not run; she does not even turn her head.
In one strike, she is dead.
And Phantom appears before me.
He must have found a way to follow me. I cannot risk it. I must leave at once.
---
Only one name remains on the list now. Zamxus told me with great emphasis to kill this one. I do not know why.
Usually, the people he tells me to kill are random. Only several times has he ever had specific reason. But this time, it seems, I must place this one’s death at even greater priority.
I appear in his room. I sneak inwards, readying my scythe.
And then, I see him. Phantom. He is already there.
He lunges at me and I duck aside, spinning my scythe and slashing at him. He phases through the wall to dodge my strike, then sends one of his own on the winds. I’m blown back across the room.
It’s a lost cause.
I vanish.
---
“That’s alright,” Zamxus tells me when I encounter him at the end of the night. “There is a reason that you couldn’t kill him and that is because his power matches your own. I now know who Phantom is....”

[spideyfan914]

Episode Eight: CITY OF DEMONS

“Jake!” I turned and saw Shawn running towards me. “Jake – wait!”
“What is it, Shawn? Class starts in ten minutes.” My voice was monotonous and emotionless. He looked up at me.
“Jake.... You’re as pale as a ghost.... Is something wrong?”
“Zamxus was in my dreams last night.”
“Oh....”
“He gives Reaper a list of names of people to kill. And he knows who Phantom is.”
Shawn’s eyes went wide. “Do you – do you know who – Phantom is?”
I shook my head. “I wasn’t even sure if Phantom was a human at all until last night. I mean, I know Reaper is, but Phantom too now.”
He looked at me for a second, then felt my forehead. “You’re burning up, y’know.”
I shrugged.
“Jake, I heard what happened last night.... I mean, at the dance....”
“No you didn’t. Reaper was there. I bet you didn’t know that.”
“N-no.... I didn’t.... So is that why -?”
“I saved Rose from Reaper, yeah.”
Shawn stared blankly for a second, then the bell rang. I turned and went to class.
---
Lunch.
I didn’t sit with Shawn. I didn’t feel like it. I went to the library. I hate the library, but I went there anyway.
I took out a book on vampires. Midnight Moon or something. Hey, if ghosts and shades are real, why not vampires? I figured I might as well be prepared. If I even made it through this, that is....
“Hey,” someone said. I looked up. Rose was sitting down next to me.
“Nick’s gonna have my head if he sees you here.”
“I broke up with Nick.”
Oh....
“Um, why?” I asked.
“He knew about the f***ing shade thing.”
“His name’s Reaper,” I interrupted.
“His?”
“It’s human.”
She looked at me a bit skeptical. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I am. How did Nick know that Reaper was there?”
Rose lowered her voice. “He told me afterwards: he saw it. Jake, he was attacked a few days ago, wasn’t he?”
I nodded. “Yeah, he hid in a dumpster for a bit and waited for me to ask for help.”
“And.... did you?”
I sighed. “I don’t really know much about what’s going on.... But since I first encountered Reaper weeks ago, I’ve been having these....”
Should I say it?
Before I could decide, Rose finished. “Dreams?”
“How did you -?”
“I had one last night. I was a.... a child.... No older than 3.... I wandered off while my parents were in the store. Like a rugrat. And then, that – that thing came and killed me.” She closed her eyes, weeping slightly. “Do they happen every night?”
I nodded. “Yeah. Rose – did you have any dreams from Reaper’s point of view?”
“No.... Why would....?”
“Did you have any dreams in Central Park? A bum on a Subway? Lonely old lady? Anything with Phantom in it?”
“No – just – just the one.... Do you mean that – that you have multiple dreams a night?”
“Not at first, but by now, they’re really clear. I don’t think I miss any of Reaper’s actions.... But there were no lost toddlers last night....”
The librarian walked up to us and told us to keep our voices down. She had a stern look of disapproval. I suppose our topic came off wrong....
“Jake,” Rose whispered. “if it helps, I woke up after the dream. It was 3:35 AM.”
I thought back. 3:35 AM. That was the time on that girl – Kara Smith’s – clock.
But wasn’t that.... impossible....?
---
I didn’t go to sleep that night. It was time. I had to confront it.
I walked through every alleyway I could find. I would find him. For I had to know. I had to know who was Reaper.
At 12:27 AM, I ran into a pair of muggers. I emptied my pockets and gave them three dollars and thirty-five cents. It was all I had. They weren’t happy, but they were honest muggers, so they kept their word and let me go.
At 4:48 AM, I found a dead woman lying there. Blood gushed from several sharp wounds. Reaper had been there. It couldn’t have been anyone else – the angle of the wounds came from above.
At 6:01 AM, I met Phantom.
I was walking through an alleyway on 23rd Street. All night I had been on 23rd Street. Funny thing about 23rd Street – every killing had been on 23rd Street. Well, most of them anyway. A few of the ones with specific targets, like Nick and Blake – those were off 23rd. And that guy, Jonathan Sprout, who died in Central Park – well, he lives on 23rd. I looked him up. Zamxus also lives on 23rd. Or at least, whatever that sanctuary thing was had some sort of entryway on 23rd....
So yeah, 23rd Street. I was walking through an alleyway on 23rd Street.
Some guy jumped me. He had a knife. Asked me to empty my pockets.
“Sorry, fella – another mugger beat ya to it,” I told him, turning my pockets inside out. He didn’t like that. Not one bit.
And then, Phantom arrived. He appeared out of thin air, on a tide of wind, and then smacked the mugger up against the wall. He was about to leave.
“Wait,” I called out, “I’ve been looking for you.”
Phantom turned to me. He shrunk down to size and planted two feet on the floor.
“I just – you saved me from Reaper several weeks ago.”
He looked at me blankly. He didn’t talk. I didn’t even know if he could talk.
“I – this is more than a thanks. It’s more than that. I’ve – I’ve been having dreams. I know what’s going on with you and him. You guys are – are constantly fighting. You’re trying to stop him, but he’s winning. He said – well, his superior said – they know who you are. I just....”
Phantom nodded. He knew.
“Do you – do you know who Reaper is?”
Phantom shook his head. I bit my lips.
“I came out tonight to try and find you and Reaper. These dreams are – are driving me crazy. I want to find out what’s going on.”
“Are you sure you don’t just want to die?”
His voice sent a chill up my spine. It wasn’t rasp or anything. In fact, it was perfectly smooth. But it sounded echo-ish. Like, there was one voice, this really deep, powerful one, and another, a high-pitched, weakened one.
And what he asked me?
“Of – of course not....”
“You’re not sure?”
“No – I mean yes – I mean....” I took a breath. “I don’t want to die. I just.... want to know what’s going on....”
“Many people lie to themselves because they don’t want to face the truth. If you merely wished to understand, then is walking through darkened alleyways late at night when you know a demon lurking in said alleyways – a demon who seeks your blood – is looking for said demon really the best way to understand?”
“I....” I changed the subject. “How’d you know to save me from the mugger? Don’t you usually look for Reaper?”
“It’s not easy to follow one who lurks in the shadows, even if you lurk in the shadows yourself. Sometimes, you arrive too early. Sometimes, too late. Sometimes, a few alleys apart....”
“But.... you’ve been improving?”
“Yes. I believe that Reaper is here right now.”
A swirl of darkness emerged behind him. I shouted it out just in time. “Duck!”
Phantom dove to the ground just as Reaper’s blade swung over his head. I was looking at Reaper in the eyes now. Those cold, blank eyes, emerged in darkness. Ice was creeping up my legs.
I struggled, trying to break free, but Reaper was there. He rose his scythe. Phantom intervened suddenly, though – he pushed Reaper away, towards the awakening mugger.
“What the -? That’s it! I’m reforming!” the mugger ran out of the alleyway, and so I was alone with the supernatural beings.
Their struggle was like a superhero fight. Phantom would morph his body into giant bricks and pound against Reaper, but Reaper would use his scythe to block the attacks. It was actually quite interesting to watch.
But then I noticed something – Reaper was shorter than I remembered.... He was shorter than me....
What was going on?
Phantom and Reaper fought for the next several minutes. They didn’t let up – either of them. If Phantom had let up, even for a second, I would die.
The sun was rising. What happens when the sun rises?
Reaper had Phantom down suddenly. He rose his scythe and prepared for the final blow. And then.... he hesitated....
Right before my eyes, his skeletal mask was cracking. His eyes were fading, turning white, gaining color. Lips formed over his teeth. Skin grew out from under his skull. His hand had pigment.
That was when I realized what was happening: he was turning back into a human.
Phantom remained fixed. He didn’t budge, and he wasn’t going through the same transmutation as was Reaper.
Neither of us moved. We simply waited as Reaper kneeled over and fell to the ground face-first. His scythe lay still. The hood of his cloak covered his face.
Phantom got up, and moved toward him. He got at eye-level with Reaper’s head and peeked under the hood. His mouth hung open.
“Well, Jake.... You said you wanted answers.... I think you got more than you bargained for....”
Phantom threw off the hood and I stared into the drifting eyes of Blake. My brother.

[spideyfan914]

Episode Nine: MY BROTHER'S KEEPER

Right before my eyes, Reaper’s skeletal mask was cracking. His eyes were fading, turning white, gaining color. Lips formed over his teeth. Skin grew out from under his skull. His hand had pigment.
That was when I realized what was happening: he was turning back into a human.
Phantom remained fixed. He didn't budge, and he wasn't going through the same transmutation as was Reaper.
Neither of us moved. We simply waited as Reaper kneeled over and fell to the ground face-first. His scythe lay still. The hood of his cloak covered his face.
Phantom got up, and moved toward him. He got at eye-level with Reaper's head and peeked under the hood. His mouth hung open.
"Well, Jake.... You said you wanted answers.... I think you got more than you bargained for...."
Phantom threw off the hood and I stared into the drifting eyes of Blake. My brother.
It didn’t make sense.... Blake.... Reaper....? But.... Blake was attacked by Reaper! He couldn’t be Reaper! Could he?
“Go to school, Jake. I’ll take it from here.”
“No.” My voice was firm. Phantom looked towards me. All I could say was, “He’s my brother....” But Phantom understood.
He nodded and then disappeared into a gust of wind.
I peered out of the alleyway. The sun was up now, and people were moving onto the streets, getting ready for the day’s work. There was no way I could just bring Blake home now....
I heard a window opening – an old lady was popping out of the window. Thinking fast, I grabbed Blake and hid behind a dumpster. The lady was hanging up clothes on a clothesline. Must’ve never gotten used to the drying machine. Still, I wasn’t complaining – it was just what I needed.
When the old lady popped back into her apartment, I ran up the fire escape and snagged some clothes. It wasn’t stealing – we needed them.
I dressed Blake in the old lady’s clothes, leaving his Reaper rags and scythe in the dumpster. He was still unconscious....
I swung one of his hands over my shoulder and dragged him out of the alley.
But he was heavy, and I always flunked gym. There was no way I’d manage to carry him all the way. So I took the obvious approach and called over a cab.
I didn’t have any money, but the cabbie didn’t know that.
“What’s with your friend?” the cabbie asked without turning to me.
“Brother. He’s a bit drunk.”
“Isn’t he underage?”
“Please, our parents would kill him.”
“Whatever, not my job to judge. Where to?”
“25th Street and 5th Avenue West please.”
He started moving as I tried to relax.
Come on, Jake.... You know that your brother isn’t really Reaper.... It’s impossible.... I mean, yeah, you.... saw him change.... but that doesn’t mean he’s Reaper.... He could’ve been.... set up, yeah....
“Why’s he dressed that way?”
I looked up. The cabbie.
“What do you mean?”
“Woman’s clothes. Too big, too.”
“Oh, um....”
“How drunk is your brother?”
“No, it’s that.... um.... Well, he’s a transvestite, you see.... Please don’t tell our mom....”
The cabbie laughed.
“Yeah, right. Tell me what your brother really is.”
I looked at the street signs. The cabbie was driving along 23rd, opting to head for 5th Ave first.
“What – what do you mean?”
“Do you believe in ghosts, kid?”
I blinked. “Ghosts?”
“Yeah, y’know, spooky transparent dead people risen from the grave. They haunt those who killed them, frighten people they don’t like, hang out in their old house, or even summon demons.”
I faked a laugh. “I think you’ve been reading too much Stephen King.”
“Oh no, ghosts are real,” he continued. “I saw one.”
I bit my lips, looking at street signs. We were at 6th now. We’d be turning soon.
“Fine, I’ll bite – when did you see this ghost?”
“Oh, every night. You seen him too, Jake.”
My heart sunk. We hit a red light.
“How did you -?”
“Oh, but you didn’t get a good look at my face, did you?”
He turned around.
“Z.... Zam....”
“I still expect you to pay me, by the way. This cab doesn’t pay for itself, y’know, and worldly money is one thing Nouda doesn’t have....”
I got out of the cab and ran, dragging Blake along with me, but I tripped over the curb.
Stumbling up, I looked behind me to see if Zamxus was following. The cab was gone. Or maybe it was never there....
---
Before we reached the house, we turned into another alleyway. I wouldn’t be able to explain Blake’s sudden return to my parents, and I knew that. Besides, I needed to hear from him what was happening.
I slapped Blake’s cheeks a few times and poured a few buckets of water on him. Nothing worked, so I just waited. It had to have been around noon by the time he finally woke up.
“J.... Jake....?”
“Hey, Blake....”
“What happened?”
“That’s what I was going to ask you....”
He clenched his head. “I.... I think I was....” He bent over and threw up.
“Blake....”
“God! I hate throwing up!”
“I know....”
“I just.... hate it!”
“Blake....”
“I....” His eyes widened. “Jake, I....”
“You....?”
“Oh, my God.... You were.... But I must’ve been.... I.... You....”
“What, Blake? What is it?”
“How – how did you find me?”
“Well, you weren’t like this when I found you, I’ll tell you that....”
“Then.... you know....?”
“I’ve been waiting to hear from you what’s really happening....”
He sighed. I put my hand on his shoulder.
“Blake, you know you can tell me anything, right?”
“Yeah....”
“Then tell me....”
He took a deep breath. “Okay, well, I was....”
“Attacked by Reaper....”
“No! No – he didn’t attack me! It was something else....”
“What? What did he do to you?”
“You saw what he did to me! He did that! He turned me into that!”
Reaper had been shorter than I remembered.... Shorter than me....
“So then you’re not Reaper.”
“No! I mean yes! I mean – I don’t know!”
“It’s all right, Blake. Just go on. You were.... that by night.... What about by day?”
“Well, when I woke up the first day, there was.... this guy....”
“Zamxus.”
“Yeah, that sounds right. Zamxus. He told me that – that there was this thing....”
“Nouda.”
“Yeah, Nouda! That was it! And he said that.... he wanted me to....”
“To kill people.”
“Well, he didn’t word it like that, but yeah....”
“Blake, did you do this intentionally?”
“No! No – of course not! I’d never do that! I –”
“Tell the truth.”
“I.... I didn’t want to do it.... But.... he said that if I didn’t cooperate, I’d.... I’d never see you again.... He said that he’d just kill me on the spot and that I’d never get to see any of you again....”
Blake was in tears. He was just a kid....
“It’s over now.... He’s not going to get you again.... You’re safe now....”
Not quite....
I don’t know what it is, but at that moment, something – some innate instinct perhaps – something told me to get out of the way. Grabbing Blake, I rolled over to the left as a scythe slammed into the pavement where I just was. We didn’t look up – we knew what would happen if we did.
Reaper had arrived.
“I-I thought you only attacked at night!” I stammered. He didn’t answer. He swung his scythe again and, still grabbing Blake, I ducked just in time.
We had to get out of the alleyway. Even if Reaper was attacking during day, he’d never risk public exposure. Taking Blake, I sprinted the short distance into the streets, and stopped only to avoid getting hit by a car.
Behind us, Reaper had disappeared into darkness. He was gone once more, for now anyway.
---
For the rest of the day, we stayed in the public eye, making sure that we were never too alone.
And then, as the sun set, we settled down in a deserted bar. It had taken a lot of arguing, but I had convinced Blake to let me see his transformation. Perhaps together, we could control the demon within.
The wait was frightening. We were unsure of what would happen next. But at last, Blake changed. It was fast: his eyes turned white, his face blank, and his skin melted into his body, revealing the skull face beneath.
“Blake?” I asked. “Do you recognize me?”
Blake’s expression was completely neutral. It was a skeleton, nothing more. But finally, he nodded.
It wasn’t much longer after that. Reaper jumped out of the shadows in his cloak, wielding his scythe and slashed before we could react.
Two of Blake’s ribs fell to the floor. He wasn’t after me – he was after Blake.
He grabbed Blake with his bony hand and began to teleport away.
But I couldn’t let them get away. Not again.
I leaped for them, grabbing on at the last second possible.
And then, I was plunged into darkness....

[spideyfan914]

Episode Ten: DO YOU FEAR DEATH?

The last person on the list was named Kyle Johansen. He was an elderly, washed-up lawyer. His first trial was thirty years ago, when he defended a man accused of rape. The evidence was clear – the alleged rapist was one hundred percent innocent, had never committed a crime in his life and never would. He was even white. Kyle lost the case.
Since then, he lost all his cases. He never won a single trial, with the sole exception of a woman he recently freed. She was guilty, though.
Kyle’s wife had abandoned him years ago, frustrated with his constant failures. She sued for ownership of their two children, an eight-year-old and a fourteen-year-old. And Kyle never won a case.
Now he sat alone in his Queens apartment, eating cereal alongside cockroaches. He was still waiting, waiting for something to improve his life.
I gave him that something. I gave him the end.
---
I went through the darkness and reappeared before Zamxus in the sanctuary.
“You’re back,” he nodded. “Good.”
What about the Wraith, Zamxus?
“Blake is chained to the wall downstairs, alongside his obnoxious brother.”
You mean Jake?
“Yes, Jake. He’s still sleeping.”
Shall I kill them?
“Well, of course, Urson! What else would I have you for?”
I should be going soon though.... Almost sunrise....
“Yes, yes, I know – wouldn’t want your human half to find out. Then I’d have to kill you.”
I’m your last demon.
“I can find others.”
Very well. Now, bring me to them.
Zamxus leads the way and I follow him. Soon, we arrive.
Blake stares up at me, angry.
Are you here to kill me?
Yes.
It’s almost sunrise.
This won’t take long.
“Wake Jake, first. I want him to be awake for this.”
I go over to Jake. He’s sleeping like a dog. I slap him across the face, but he does not waken. So I form ice all around and he’s finally shocked
and awakened.
I look up at Zamxus and Reaper, side-by-side. “Doug? Doug Urson?”
Soon....
I couldn’t believe it. But I couldn’t say I hadn’t been suspicious. He told me himself that he blacked out at night and didn’t know what became of him.
Then, Reaper turned to Blake. He was sitting beside me, staring up at Urson’s rising scythe.
Jake. I’m sorry.
Reaper brought his scythe down into Blake’s skeletal chest. Blake screamed – it was ear-shattering, like nails on a chalkboard. Starting from his chest, a golden light leaped out as the bones disintegrated. It was beautiful, and it was hideous.
The light slowly consumed Blake’s entire body, and the screeching got worse. It wasn’t just his jaw – it was every bone in his body. Every bone in his body was making itself heard. It was like seven babies crying.
And then, the light simply blew up. I went blind for a second – I couldn’t see anything but red and gold.
When my vision returned, Blake was gone. Only the old lady’s clothing remained.
Zamxus laughed. “Go home, Urson. We’ll torture Jake a little more before we kill him.”
Reaper nodded and faded away.
I wanted to strangle him. I wanted to kill him. But Zamxus was turning around then, heading up the stairs. “I’ll bring you your breakfast in a little bit. If you can stomach it, that is.”
Blake. My brother.
---
“Daddy, when can I go in?”
“In a few minutes, Jake. Just wait here and the doctor will get you soon.”
He went behind the door and I sat down on the bench, waiting.
“C’mon, kid, let’s go to the waiting room.”
“No! I want to wait here!”
“Um, I really don’t think that’s a very good ide-”
Someone screamed. Mommy! Mommy was screaming!
I ignored the doctor – I ran inside to see what was happening.
And then, the screaming stopped. In Mommy’s hands was a small doll. A baby.
“Jake,” Daddy sighed, “I told you to wait....”
“I heard screaming.”
The baby was crying.
“Why’s he crying, Mommy?”
“Tears of life, Jake. He’s just been brought into this world.”
“What’s his name?”
“Blake, we’ll call him. We’ll name him Blake.”
---
“Catch it if you can!”
I ran backwards, blocking the sun with one hand and reaching out with my mitted one. The ball was coming closer, but then – the glare.
It hit me in the head.
“Ow!”
“Haha! Jake! You’re supposed to catch it!”
“I know that! But how?”
“Oh, wow! You’re so bad at this game!”
“Blake....”
“Fine, I’ll tell you what – I’ll never make you play again if you catch just one ball.”
“Deal.”
My five-year-old brother picked up the ball and tossed it. I almost caught it then – almost had it! It was inches from my mitt – heck, it was in the mitt but -
“Kids! Time to come in!”
And, of course, I dropped it....
”Haha!”
“Oh, come on! That so counts!”
“No way, Jake! You’re gonna be playing with me every day for the rest of our lives!”
---
A few years later.
I was twelve, and he was eight.
Our parents had brought us upstate for the week, to Lake George. It was Friday now. We’d be heading home in the morning. And so, we were sitting on the grass, looking out at the lake and the sunset. It was a beautiful sight, and the perfect way to end a perfect day of frolicking through the woods, splashing in the waters, and just overall playing.
“Hey, Jake, do you think we’ll be here forever?”
“Mom wants us back by dinner.”
“No, I mean here at Lake George! Away from the city and all of its noisy tourists and polluting cars. Away from the hustle and bustle and the constant fuss and all that annoying pavement. A place where we can just sit back and relax.”
“You sure about that, Blake?” I joked. “You can be a fuss too, y’know....”
“Jake! I’m serious!”
I sighed. “We’re heading back home tomorrow.... We can’t stay here forever, Blake.... We have to move on.... Sorry....”
He frowned, upset. Then he looked back at me.
“Hey, let’s run away!”
“What?”
“C’mon, let’s do it! We can be the wild childs, running around Lake George together! And then we don’t need to leave! We can stay here forever and ever and no one can tell us not to!”
I laughed.
“Jake! I’m serious!”
“No, Blake.... We can’t stay here forever.... No matter how appealing it may seem....”
“But, what if we become like those other brothers.... The ones in all the cartoons.... Where the little kid’s just an annoying brat and the older guy’s just a bullying idiot.... I don’t want our lives to be like that, do you?”
“Well.... What if we did stay here – what would we eat? Where would we sleep?”
“Bugs and trees, Jake.”
I laughed. “Blake, you silly!”
“But I don’t want to leave here! I don’t want our lives to be like that!”
“And that’s why you’re so silly! Just because we can’t stay here doesn’t mean we can’t stay like this!”
“What – what do you mean?”
“Let’s make an oath, Blake. That no matter what, we’ll always be by each other’s sides forever and ever.”
Blake smiled and nodded. “Okay....”
I got up. “Now let’s go back to Mom for dinner.”
“No, Jake. You just said that you couldn’t stay here. So now, you have to wake up and face Zamxus.”
“What?”
“Wake up, Jake. Wake up.”
I stared out at the dungeon. It was cold and dark. I couldn’t take it anymore.
And then, I noticed something – when Urson had went home the night before, he left his scythe behind.
I looked around to make sure that Zamxus wasn’t in the room, then I stretched out and grabbed it in-between my feet. Pulling it up, I managed to stand it up and get a hold with my left hand. Carefully, I broke open my right shackle. With that hand free, I broke open my left one.
Still gripping the scythe, I ran upstairs.
The door at the top wasn’t just unlocked; it was a crack open.
“Ah, Jake, I can see you finally noticed that I left the scythe downstairs.”
I looked up to my left. I was in the big room, the one with Nouda’s statue and the door right behind it. Zamxus stood in front of that door.
But wait – there were no other doors in the room, so where did I -?
I turned around. The dungeon was gone.
“Strange things happen in this realm, Jake Bradley,” Zamxus said, walking down the stairs towards me. “You have to remain on your toes.”
“Realm? Then I was right – this place – it doesn’t exist, does it?”
“No, not in your world. But in Nouda’s, it most certainly does.”
“Then this is.... Nouda’s realm?”
“Yes. Some may call it Hell. But, as you can see, it’s a bit too cold to be Hell. Unless, of course, Hell has frozen over, in which case you might want to take up gambling against the odds.”
“You killed my brother.”
“With all due respect, it was Doug Urson who killed your brother. One of my Wraiths.”
“Wraiths?”
“Oh, you mean you don’t know? Lesser versions of Reaper. Much like Blake was. But of course, they can’t paralyze you with fear by simply looking you in the eye. Plus they’re not nearly as good with the scythe as the real Reaper is.”
“Then.... Doug isn’t Reaper either?”
“Well, of course not! That’s ludicrous! Wraiths are victims of Reaper, Jake! Transformed by the blunt end of his scythe. Another power which only the real Reaper possesses....”
“Why are you doing this to me? Why are you in my life?”
He took his last step to the ground. “To tell you the truth, there’s no real reason. It was just bad luck.... Could’ve been anyone walking by that day when Phantom first showed up – but alas, it was you. And after that, well, I thought it would be fun messing with you....”
“I hate you.”
“I know,” he said with a grin as he walked up to me. We stood on the very edge of the rune. “But what are you going to do about it?”
I grabbed him by his cloak and tossed him into the center of the rune, then ran up and lifted him into the air with one hand, readying my scythe.
“I’m gonna kill you, you b******!”
Zamxus smiled.
“Jake, Jake, Jake.... So pathetic.... Don’t you get it yet? Blake’s not Reaper. Doug’s not Reaper. So who is Reaper?”
My eyes widened. “Oh my God....”
He grinned. “No.... No, God’s not here right now....”
A kick in my gut and I flew across the room, dropping the scythe. As Zamxus landed on the floor, I saw his skin sink back behind his skull and Reaper came out. He held out his hand and the scythe flew into it.
I didn’t look at him. But I was scared. Without even looking at him, I had to somehow get away.
The head!
I ducked just in time to avoid the scythe slicing above my head.
The feet!
I jumped just in time as it turned to swipe at my feet.
Finish it!
I leaped out of the way as the scythe dug into the chalk inscription on the floor.
After him!
I ran around the room in circles, trying to get away.
Cut him off!
I skidded to a halt and turned around, barely avoided Reaper as he snuck out from the shadows.
Still daylight! Don’t let him get out there!
I ran for the door.
Block the way! Aim for his head!
I dove down as the scythe sliced above me, and I shoved Reaper to the side, running out the door.
Fine then! Just have to kill his friends.... Phantom, too....
The school. He was headed for the school.
---
I didn’t take a cab. I took the subway. I hate subways, but right about now, I think I hate cabs ten times more.
His thoughts.... That had to be it.... The dreams – they’re evolving. Before, I’d only dream from the victim’s eyes – always the victim’s – Blake and Doug were victims too, after all.
But now, now I could hear his thoughts.
Kill them all.
Even now, I could hear his thoughts.
I remember this girl. She used to make fun of me when I went here. She thought I had a crush on her. Fat chance. Well, she’s dead now, so it’s over with....
It had already begun.... He was killing them.... My classmates....
Oo! Mr. Trainer! My old English teacher! Hey, guess what – I hated your class!
My teachers....
Hey, Urson! Remember me? Don’t worry, I won’t kill you – just everyone around you!
My friends....
The subway had reached my stop. I was right below the school now. I had to run.
Nicky, Nicky! I believe we have unfinished business.... Slash! Oh, come on! Stupid lady pushed him out of the way!
I ran out of the station and looked towards my school across the street. I ran without looking both ways. A few cars honked, but it was nothing compared to several hundred lives.
Get back here, Nick! Urson? What are you doing? Get out of my way or I’ll kill you too!
I ran into Nick and Rose on my way.
“Wrong way, Jake!” Nick screamed. “That thing from your story is attacking the school! We, like, just got out!”
“I know – but I’ve gotta do something!”
“Do something?” Rose cried out. “Do what? You’ll kill yourself!”
“Are you sure you don’t just want to die?”
I don’t want to die. If I did, I wouldn’t be so scared.
“Just because we can’t stay here doesn’t mean we can’t stay like this! Let’s make an oath, Blake. That no matter what, we’ll always be by each other’s sides forever and ever.”
And I will be by your side. Even when I’m in Earth and you’re in Heaven, or wherever you go when you die. Even now, you’re here. You’re with me.
And that’s why I cannot lose.
I ran inside, ignoring Nick and Rose’s cries of protest.
I have to do this. For Blake. For myself. For everyone whose counting on me.
Reaper, today you die.
---
Urson, you’re getting on my nerves.... I’m going to have to kill you.... But wait! No! Here comes the main course....
But.... I’m not there yet.... He’s chasing someone, but it isn’t me.... I wonder – does he even know I’m here?
You can’t hide from me, Shawn!
No! Not Shawn!
I run down the hallway and find Doug, scrunched up on the floor, looking down.
“Doug, I....”
“What is that thing?”
He has no idea.... “Doug, I.... I know why you black out at night....”
“You.... do....?”
“Yeah.... You’re not gonna like it....”
“I’ll just let the doctor tell me then – he’s examining me tonight.”
“No! Doug, at night, you – there’s no easy way to say this....”
“Just say it.”
“Last night, you killed my brother.”
“Wh- what? Why would I -?”
“But it wasn’t you – it was a.... Listen, that thing that ran by, it’s Zamxus. You remember him, right?”
“What’s he got to do with this?”
“’Cause he’s that thing! Reaper, he calls himself! And he turned you into something like him – a.... a Wraith, I think he said....”
“Jake, this is crazy....”
“Listen, please just tell me – which way did Zamxus go?”
“He went that way,” Doug points. “C’mon, we should be safe down this way.”
He gets up and starts to go, but I bolt down after Reaper.
“Jake!” Dodgers calls out, but I ignore him.
Reaper is chasing Shawn. He’s gonna kill Shawn! Just to get to me!
I see them down the hallway now. I keep running. I need to catch up.
I failed the mile. I got 15:36. But this time, it’s different. This time, the stakes are high. This time, I’m going to give it everything I have.
And I pass the gliding Reaper. I even catch up to Shawn.
“Jake?”
“Hey, Shawn! Long time, no see!”
“You weren’t in class today....”
“Sorry, man – Reaper kept me.”
“And now?”
“I’ve come to outrun him with you.”
Shawn smiled. “How’ve you been, Jake?”
“Never worse, actually. Reaper killed Blake.”
“Wait a minute – what?”
“I said Reaper killed Blake.”
“But that’s im – I mean, that stinks! I – sorry, Jake – I’m never really good when it comes to deaths....”
“That’s fine, Shawn. I’m the same way.”
“Oh, drat!”
“What?”
“I just remembered – this hallway leads to a dead end!”
“Could we climb out a window?”
“No time! We’re at the end!”
“Quick – in there!”
“The janitor’s closet?”
“Where else?”
We dive in and shut the door as Reaper swipes. We see the tip of his scythe break through the door and pull out. We wait and it strikes again. And again. And again. And again.
“We’re not gonna make it,” Shawn says suddenly.
“Don’t say that.”
“He’s gonna break through, Jake, and you know it.”
The scythe came through again, this time leaving a large hole.
“Listen, Shawn, we’re gonna make it!”
Kill them!
“How can you be so –”
Kill!!!!
“Trust me.... I know....”
Now!
The scythe comes down and a triangular piece of the door in the bottom-right falls off. It begins to wobble.
“Jake....”
“Yeah?”
“I just.... I just need three minutes.... Please....”
“Alone?”
“Yeah....”
Kill them now!
“I’ll distract him,” I say, and before Shawn can protest, I crawl out through the opening and stand up.
I look down at Reaper’s feet to realize he doesn’t have any. Creepy.
“Jake, you finally come to face me?”
His voice hurt, like nails on a chalkboard, like seven babies crying, like Blake dying....
“If you’re so brave, why don’t you look me in the eye?”
I do it. I look up and stare at Death. I stare at Death in the eye and I do not blink.
It’s just as I remembered. Ghost-white skull. Covered in shadows from his hood. Two glowing rubies in his eyes. Rubies.... or....
“Is that.... blood?”
He charges, slashing with his scythe, but I leap aside. I pick up a mop which had fallen out of the closet and swing it behind me to block the next strike. He strikes down low, and I block there as well. I force his scythe upwards and, hooking it on its point, knock it out of his hands. I look him in the eyes while fighting.
I point the mop at him at charge, but he fades away into darkness.
Behind you!
I turn around and smash his skull. He stumbles backwards, holding his head, then points down towards his fallen scythe and it flies back into his hands.
“I see. You’ve grown in spirit, somehow. Interesting. But you still don’t stand a chance.”
He flies towards me and I lean backwards, using the mop to push his scythe up against his chest, but as he passes me, he flips, managing to slice the mop in two.
He comes at me again, attacking continuously and relentlessly. With each block, I use a different piece of the mop, treating them like nunchucks. And then, he kicks at my feet. I jump, but stumble on the landing and fall over, dropping the mop.
He lunges down his scythe now, aimed for my chest. I grab it with two hands, pushing up with all my strength.
His hood fell off when he lunged, and so his entire head is now exposed. I can even see where I left a fracture. But mostly, I see his eyes. But they no longer scare me.
He continues to push down, and I continue to push up. It seems like a stalemate. But then....
A great wind thrusts Reaper through the air, landing him across the hallway. As his hood flies back up, Reaper lands on his feet and turns, but it’s too late – a ghostly punch knocks him back some more.
I look at the janitor’s closet. The door is wide open, but Shawn is not there. Instead, there is a rune chalked onto the wall.
I smile.
Phantom has Reaper completely off-balance, knocking at him relentlessly. For Reaper is weary from his battle with me, but Phantom – he’s only just transformed....
“Give it up, Reaper.”
“Never! I won’t lose to you!”
Suddenly, Reaper does something I know I won’t soon forget. As he flies away from Phantom, he takes his scythe and turns it. And thrusts into his own body.
Reaper lets out a scream – an ear-shattering scream. And then, in a burst of golden light, he fades away, as his cloak and scythe fall to the floor....
---
“So, that’s it, then.... It’s over....”
Shawn looks to me. “Yeah.... It’s over....”
“But I don’t get it – why would Zamxus take his own life?”
“He knew he lost. And what’s more, he lost to me and you. He didn’t like that. Not one bit. So he chose to fall by his own hand instead. He did it to be sure that we would never truly beat him....”
I’m sorry, Shawn. But I don’t believe you.
Zamxus did things because he liked to mess with our heads. There was no “honor” involved.
No, he didn’t kill himself in order to prevent us from doing the job. He didn’t kill himself at all.
This is gonna sound crazy, but remember that I’m the one with the dreams.
Zamxus is alive. Somehow, somewhere, he lives. And he’s going to come back someday to finish the job.
He’s still out there – I can feel it in my gut and my dreams.
Reaper is out there somewhere....
---
“I’ve just been diagnosed with cancer....
“Cancer....
“I’m going to die in six months, they say....
“Wait – what’s that?”
My husband and I look out into the night. A creature is coming out of the woods. A creature with.... glowing red eyes....
I want to scream, but I’m just too scared. I cannot move, not for my life. And that is the stake as he readies his scythe....
“Six months? Not even.”

The End?