[h]Note: In this story, Black Magic is the equivalence to Hacking[/h]
[h]Note No. 2: In this story, God is the equivalence to GM’s, (I guess)[/h]
[h]Warning: If you are highly religious I suggest not reading this chapter, if not feel free to enjoy yourself.[/h]
[h]Warning No. 2: If you are offended by the cursing, which I doubt you all are.. and I censored what I can, don’t read this chapter since it’s loaded with the bad words, well not really. Someone had to nitpick >: ([/h]

Part 2:

The Stray Dog

Chapter 9

“Kiss me goodbye and keep away from me.”

“Come with me.” I said to the young boy who tortured orange mushrooms with a cheap sword. I had stood behind him watching him gash out the poor defenseless mushroom’s eyes out. It cried in agony. It almost made me want to end its pathetic life myself.
“What for?” the boy asked. He didn’t turn his back or his head to face me. He just squatted down, his knees bent. His chest lightly rested on his knees. He wore a poorly built armor, dents in most places. His head was adorned with a football helmet and the boy also had his poorly built spear stabbed onto the ground. It looked like that toy that had a fork at the end of a long stick. He was young, younger than I. And he had seemed to be deeply interested in the orange mushrooms’ pain, it’s moans and cries seem to be nothing more than music to his ears. And to mine.

I couldn’t comprehend why Amana wanted this child in the guild. He didn’t seem at all mal-tempered. He didn’t even fit the description of what Amana had told me about this boy. I quietly walked closer to him and stood at his side, watching him dissect the poor creature with his cheap sword and his fork spear detained the creature onto the ground, through the mushroom’s forehead. The mushroom’s guts spread widely onto the dirt and, at last, it died a slow painful death. The boy then dug his small hands into the corpse of the mushroom, looking for money, and perhaps he wanted to pop the creature’s cap off to sell it for profit. The orange mushrooms’ blood had scattered onto his armor and onto his face. And for a while it seemed that he enjoyed it as he played with the corpse.

In some strange way… He had reminded me of myself. He reminded me of the time when I had took my mother’s life. I could still feel the nauseating pain in the pit of my stomach; the horrible stench that came from my mother’s room, and in her room was dark. Cold. Eerie. He, most of all, reminded me of the fear that gripped my chest and the anger and hatred that consumed my heart as I watched my mother suffer. That night, she wanted it. She wanted to die. She cried for it. She begged me to kill her. And I remember looking into her eyes to find an answer for a question that I have yet to understand. Why? She threw her life away of a pointless love that never existed. She believed in something greater that I do not believe in. She prayed. I saw her lips move as I took her life, this I remembered well; she prayed. She prayed to whatever god she believed in and begged for mercy. Her lips curved ever so tenderly to form the words ‘God. Have. Mercy. On. Me.’ and with her last breath, I took her life. I took her last breath without mercy. Oh how I remember that feeling well. A sickening enjoyment. However, I doubt that he feels what I had felt back then from a couple of years ago.

“Sunbrain, You have a new home and a woman who wishes to mother you.” I said to him as I watched him play with the creature’s guts. Tossing them about as though they were confetti, or something similar to it. In some respects, it was beyond animal cruelty, or even torture. He then stopped immediately; he turned his head to the side and looked up at me. His eyes were widened and red, filled with anger as though I’ve done something wrong to him.

“Don’t call me that!” he started to scream. “Don’t EVER Call ME That!!!” he shouted as he lunged towards me, tackling me onto the ground. I had landed on some of the creature’s guts and the corpses of the other dead creatures. I felt the cold blood hit my back staining the expensive suit Amana had gotten for me on my previous birthday. I was frozen in shock to see this boy express his rage so viciously; it almost gave me the will to fight this boy. However, I restrained myself from ever hurting this kid because I knew Amana wouldn’t live that down.

“MY NAME ISN’T SUNBRAIN!!” he shouted and snarled at me. He removed his football helmet and raised it high into the air. He then forcefully brought it down to smash my head in. Luckily, I had blocked with my forearm. The impact of his attack caused the bone in my forearm to crack. The crack was loud enough to be heard from a far. He then stopped and smiled. It seemed that he enjoyed it.

For the first time I was scared of someone other than myself. I was scared of a child no less. He was enjoying this, like an enraged little monster. He then raised his helmet up again and forcefully brought it down onto my arm. He did it again and again. I felt the bone in my forearm crack and shift a bit; the shards of the bone ripping out of my flesh as he repeatedly attacked me with his helmet. It was the type of pain I never felt before. Could this be the same pain my mother went through? I screamed and cried. Sweat began to rush down the side of my face, as it turned red with anger and pain. I gritted my teeth tightly to swallow the pain down like a warrior, but it was too much to bear. It seemed that he enjoyed the sound of my bones cracking and breaking, ripping through my flesh like paper. I had lost count of how many times he had struck me with his football helmet. I didn’t even bother to keep count due to the mind numbing pain of the injury.

At the last moment, I used my uninjured hand and threw it around the side of his exposed neck. Locking and gripping tightly onto his pressure point, the area between the neck and the shoulder, and squeezed it until his became unconscious. He fell on top of me as the football helmet fell out of his hand. I pushed him off and slowly sat up before I could rise to my feet. I took a good look at my arm to only find that the bones in my forearm pierced my skin causing it to bleed heavily, the pain was far too much to bear.

“Perhaps I was wrong about him.” I whispered to myself. I looked around in my pockets to find a quick heal potion but they broke upon impact when I had landed on the ground when the kid assaulted me. It angered me to the point that I walked over to the unconscious psychopath and kicked him hard; sending him rolling a few feet away from me on the dirt. “Son of a B*tch” I said to him. I walked over towards him and leaned over. Gripping my hand tightly around the collar of his armor, jacking him up with my good arm and threw him over my shoulder. He was fairly light and small so it was no trouble to carry him. I then took the last scroll to Kerning City out of my pocket and used it, hoping that it’ll teleport me right in front of the bar. Fortunately, it teleported me right in front of the bar where Amana and the rest of the guild hung out.

The noise and music could be heard outside of the bar as I stood in front of it. I kicked the door open, since I was using my good arm to hold the little bastard on my shoulder and my bad arm was f*cked up due to that little bastard who attacked me. As I walked into the bar, I dropped the motionless lump onto the floor. Amana looked at me then my injured arm. I saw her eyes widened with panic and a worried look befell her face. She then asked me if I was all right.

“Does it look like I’m all right? You want this vicious little spawn of Satan running loose with this guild? He’s f*cking insane! B*tch, you’re f*cking insane.” I shouted at her. She leaned closed to me, her chest pressed up against mine. Her eyes looked up on me as though they were apologizing to me. She then looked down to my neck, then shoulders, and arms. She saw the blood on the sleeves of my suit and the shards of bone ripping out of my flesh. My arm was crushed and no longer hand form. I couldn’t even feel the blood drip from my fingertips. The pain was so numbing that I couldn’t feel anything. I looked upon Amana’s face and for the first time in a long time she was concerned about me and asked, “How did this happen?”

“It was that boy and his temper. He freakin’ attacked me with his football helmet.” I said weakly. I began to feel dizzy due to the fact that I had lost a lot of blood. The blood that dripped from my fingertips fell onto my pants and soaked them red. It continued to drip as it formed a pool of blood beneath my feet. And Amana stood in that pool of blood with me. My vision became slightly hazy and I nearly lost my balance as I became disorientated, somewhat. She held me close, in her arms, and asked, “Do you want medical attention?” as though my injuries weren’t life threatening.

Someone in the background, I believe it was Tracy, a close friend of Amana, who yelled out, “This kid kicked your ass!?!? Oh how hilarious!” Then another yelled out. “You’re at least 20 ranks above him, how did you get your ass beat?” This angered me so but I couldn’t muster up the strength to shut them up. It didn’t matter though, I was going to get paid for my services for finding the child, and eventually I would become well enough to trash talk them, as I always did.

My balanced worsened some more and I began to depend on Amana to support me up. I felt her arms around me, holding me close. I buried my face into the side of her neck, “Get me a cleric, woman” I whispered weakly. “Tracy! Come here and attend to his wounds while I hold him up. I don’t want him lying down on tainted blood. NOW!” she commanded one of the guild members. “Y-Yes M’am!”

Tracy, who was the only highest ranked cleric in the guild came up to me and placed her hand on my brutally injured arm. Her hands then glowed a bright green glow as her magic quickly mended my wounds, placing the shards of bone back in its place sealing up the flesh again. Making my arm take the form it had before the attack, it was as though it never happened. She then leaned towards me, her face being hidden slightly by her dark serapis. She whispered in my ear, “I need to speak with you. After your done please meet me at the VIP cab in Ellinia.”

“What for?” I whispered back to her.

“I have a favor to ask of you. But I won’t tell you here.” She said softly. She then stepped back from me. I tried to look upon her face, however, the lights of the bar were to dim for me to see clearly. The dark serapis hid her face well within the shadows. I knew for a fact that her eyes weren’t fixed on me; I couldn’t feel her eyes on me. Tracy appeared to be looking on the floor; her eyes were most likely fixed on the pool of blood beneath my feet. She then raised her head and set her eyes on me. For a moment, it was as though we were connected through silence. It was a type of connection that felt as though she needed me for a task that she probably could not have entrusted to the other guild members. Then suddenly she looked away, giving a small sigh, and walked off heading towards the back of the bar where she was before, drinking whatever beverage she desired.

What does she want from me?

“Awww… honey bun.” Amana said as she approached me, wrapping her arms around me. “Don’t worry about them, they’re unemployed bastards.” She said as she nuzzled her head onto my shoulders. Her body felt warm as she embraced me. I felt her heart race in her chest as it pressed up against mine. Her cheeks were flushed with a bright light rosy color. I felt her soft delicate hands lightly passing up and down my spine. It gave me a soft relaxing sensation, which brought forth a sinful delight within me. She knew as well as any other women knew how to quietly seduce a man with her fingers, as she did that well when she had passed her small hands over my path of my spine.

“Indeed they are.” I said softly as I looked down at her. I looked up at me with a smile as she planted a small innocent kiss on my cheek. I looked over to where Tracy sat. Her eyes were fixed on Amana and myself. Then suddenly she looked away. I had looked around the bar seeing a couple of guild members minding their own business and a few others watch Amana and me in the middle of the bar embracing.

It was no surprise to me that Amana was taken by a Priest. It was no surprise to me when everyone else knew. What truly surprised everyone was that Amana was attracted to me as she was to her fiancé. There was never a time when she left my side, unless she wanted me to do certain task and required me to leave the city for a few days. She was always around me, her arms wrapped around mine, as though she were giving a stating that said: “He my toy”. And that’s how she had always treated me, like her toy.

At times, I swore, Amana acted like a child. When she wanted attention everyone gave it to her. It was as though she was addicted to something. She clung onto me for love, for advice, for anything that a woman needed and more. She used and abused me. For some reason, I never knew, even up until now, what she needed from me. I never even bothered to question it.

I slowly wrapped my arms around her. I felt everyone’s eyes on me. Everything fell silent. It felt as though Amana wanted to prove to everyone that she was the head boss now. That she didn’t need her fiancé’s permission to do anything or love anyone because she was a very mature woman. A woman that often acted like a child. I didn’t know what to think at the moment, nor what to feel, or what to say. I just held her in my arms. My soul was unease by the eyes that looked at us. I felt Tracy’s eyes on me once more. It felt as though her eyes pierced right through me.

“I love you, Rogue”

Amana whispered as she looked up at me. Her eyes shimmered brightly with hope as she slowly stood on her toes to kiss me on the lips. She wrapped her arms around my neck as she brushed her fingers through my hair, deeply and passionately kissing me. She took the breath right out of me. I looked upon Amana’s eyes but they were fixed on someone else. In the reflection of her eyes I had seen Tracy in them. It all came together for me at that very moment; Amana wanted Tracy to see how close we were. I couldn’t push her back or accepted what she had done. Amana then closed her eyes and I heard her giggle slightly as she slowly broke the fake passionate kiss. Whatever happened had happened and there was nothing that I could do about that.

Amana loved me, I suppose. It was something I couldn’t return to her. She wanted something from me that I didn’t understand. She wanted love, but at that time… I was incapable of giving love to her. And as always… she had another toy to give her what she wanted when I could not deliver it to her.

I released her from my arms as I placed my hands on her shoulders. I gently whispered into her ear before letting her go. “You know this isn’t right. Stop using me to make Tracy jealous of you. I’m not your toy for you to abuse, Amana. I’m warning you.”
“As far as it concerns you, you are my b*tch, Rogue. As long as you work for me, I’ll do whatever I want with you.” She whispered back.
“As far as I’m concern, I’m no ones b*tch. And as long as I work for you, I better start getting paid double what you pay me now.” I whispered back giving a small kiss on her cheek.
“What? You want me to spread my legs for you right here and now and make that your double pay?” she said sarcastically.

I slowly crept my hand to the back of her head tightly gripping onto her hair, pulling it slowly. It didn’t matter who was watching at the moment. Her eyes widen slightly with anger as her lips curved to a devilish smirk. It had appeared that she was enjoying it. I brought her close to me and buried my face into her neck whispering “If you love me Amana, damn it woman love me. If you don’t, just leave me the hell alone. I have other things to do.”

Suddenly I pushed her away from me as I gripped my hands onto her shoulders once more. I looked at her eyes then slowly moved my eyes unto her lips. Amana licked her lips every so sinfully, biting her lower lip in a seductive manner as she mouthed the words ‘I love you’ from them. I released her completely as I stepped back from her, giving us both room to breath. She then gave a small kiss and a wink as she walked passed me. I turned my focus to where Tracy had sat but she was no longer there.

I headed towards the entrance of the bar as I heard Amana speak: “If you want me to help you, first you have to help me Rogue. Isn’t that what we agreed on?” she spoke as though she was a true businesswoman, a businesswoman that was far to mature for her age. I stopped right in front of the door as I took deep sigh I turned around and looked at her. I saw her smirk played neatly upon her lips. She stood at the other end of the bar, with one of her hands flirtingly placed on one side of her hips. I couldn’t help but to smile as I said, “Was it before or after I boned you?” in a very sarcastic manner. Her dominate confident demeanour dropped and suddenly she became a true b*tch.

EVERYONE LEAVE

She shouted furiously as she stomped right towards me, her hands crunched up into fist. “How dare you, you damn dirty dog!” she growled at me. “I gave you money, power, and fame… And this is how you treat me! I FREAKIN’ MOTHERED YOU.” She said as she stood before me, breathing harshly.
“No, you didn’t. You made me your slave.”
“And you enjoyed it.” She added.
“Indeed, but do not say you that love me. Because I know you don’t.” I said to her as I turned around to kick the door open. “You don’t love me.” I said to her as I walked out of the bar.
“You never know.” She said.
“On the contrary madam, I do know.” I said in return.

I had started to make my way towards Ellinia, as Tracy had instructed. What could she possibly want with me? For all I knew, she was married to some high-ranked assassin who worked under Amana. She never had once removed her wedding ring or denied the fact that she was married to a man that was hardly there for her. I doubt her husband had much to worry about since Tracy was faithful and she could hold her own. She was strong enough to defend herself and she made some money on the side to provide for her upcoming family.

*Flashback*

*Rogue, you know Tracy? The only high ranked female Priest?
–Yeah?
*She’s pregnant.
–And that’s any of my business why?
*Don’t you find it strange that her ranking is pass the 80’s and she still wears her Anakarune? She’s hiding that belly.
–And?
*Rumor has it that the child isn’t even Nathan’s, her husband.
–So, what does that have to do with me, Robert?
*Well, since you’re close to Amana you should at least know what goes on in the guild. You see Amana is blackmailing Tracy about the unborn child. If Tracy ever disobeys Amana she’ll tell Nathan. And Nathan is one nasty son-of-a-b*tch. He beats women up in far more ways than he beats up monsters. And Tracy is terrified of that. She doesn’t even love him?
–Then why don’t she just leave?
*She can’t! He’ll kill her if she leaves.
–And Amana knows this?
*Hell yeah she does. She recruited Nathan because he’s one crazy son-of-a-b*tch
–Does Nathan know she’s pregnant?
*Yeah, but he doesn’t know that it’s not his. And if he finds out, Tracy’s good as dead

*end flashback*

Then suddenly, out of nowhere I heard someone say “Dogs are always dogs, and b*tches are always b*tches. Correct?” a voice sounded familiar to me. It came from behind me as I walked my way to Ellinia. I turned around seeing Skythe there alone killing the habitants of the area. “I suppose so.”
“She’s your girlfriend?” he asked in a non-chalant way.
“I don’t know what she is to me.” I said to him, quickly sending a party quest to his communicator.
He accepted it. “And Aaru, what is she to you?”

Who…?

“Aaru?” I asked, trying to pretend that I forgot about her.
“You don’t remember her now, how harsh of you Rogue.” Skythe said to me.
“She has her life and I have mine. There’s no use trying to keep up with someone you’ll never see again.” I said to him.
“Did you love her?” he asked.

I thought for a moment as I hung there from the ropes on the side of the trees. I didn’t really know what to feel for any of the women I knew. I couldn’t really feel anything for anyone, let alone myself.

“No. I never loved her to begin with.” I said uncaringly.
“Is that so?” he said with interest, “well I just so happened to bump into Aaru and her teacher the other day. She seems happy and dude, I’ll tell ya, she grew up. She’s a strong little somebody. And she seemed happy with her teacher so I’m guessing she’s dating him. So I assume the both of you moved on?” he said those words as though he was trying to prove a point by trying to make me jealous and admit to the fact that I indeed love her.

How can I love someone if I don’t even remember their face?

“Yeah, I suppose I did.” I said uncaringly
“She was so excited to see me. She ran over and hugged me and smiled greatly because she had missed me for so long. She even asked about you. How you were doing and things of the sort.” He added.
“Is that so?” I said to him with a sarcastic tone of interest.

“Tenan, you dirty damned son-of-a-b*tch”

“You care.”
“I do not.” I replied
“Yes you do. I can tell by the tone of your voice. You miss her and you still love her.” He said trying to prove me wrong and admit to the fact that I love her once more.
“Look, I don’t care about her. I don’t love her anymore and I am damn sure that she’s doing fine with whoever the hell she’s with.” I said angrily at him.

“I’m lying to myself.”

“Oh well excuse me princess, didn’t mean to poke at something so touchy. God.” He said sarcastically.
“There is no God.” I said coldly. I had climbed down from the rope and sat on my little green chair as I faced him.

An awkward silenced fell between the two of us. He and I just sat there facing each other. I believe he was shocked to hear what I had said. I was shocked that I was lying to myself about these feelings that I didn’t understand. “What makes you say that Rogue?” he wanted to know.
“What makes me say ‘there is no God’?” I repeated after him then answered, “Everything. If there was a God he would have been protecting everyone for the everyday bullsh*t that happens in this world. But does he do it. NO! People believe that this God person protect them, and suddenly they end up dying of unworldly causes such as murder or poisoning.”

I had just begun to rant.

I continued, “Don’t you see, Skythe, there is no God. There is no Devil. There is no Heaven. There is no Hell. It’s just all a story to keep all of mankind in check. The only hell that I have ever known is my own damn life. And for the bullsh*t that I’ve done in the past I might as well burn in hell. In little than a year and some months I’ve been a 3rd rank guild member to a freaking jr. master just by boning the guild leader’s lady! I kill for a freaking living because the other bastards are all too scared collecting heads and humans for the guild. You want to know hell. Live in my mind, Skythe, live and understand it. You know what happened to my mother? I freaking killed her, I had sex with a woman that’s at least twice my age, and a girl that’s only 4 years younger than me. I’ve lusted over Aaru and I had lied to her about everything!

“I’ve sinned so many times that I’m damn sure I don’t regret anything that I’ve committed. Everyday is hell for me because I don’t want to live in this God forsaken world! And everyday is worse than the last! I’ve used Black Magic before, I brought monsters flying to me by the hundreds and none of them has ever hurt me and I’ve killed them all to get where I am today. In essence I. Am. God. So don’t even try to preach to me about not knowing happiness, I don’t need it, I haven’t even known happiness. All I have is power, money, and b*tches. That’s the world’s true happiness. I sin to make myself happy. Living is my Hell, and sinning gives me pleasure. What’s your excuse to believe in GOD?” I ranted.

Skythe then spoke, “You say these things because everything has gone bad for you. You use black magic because you are too lazy to get the job done the right way. You say there is no God because you have not been truly happy with yourself. You just want to be love so you do the wrong things to get the wrong attention from people. You want snow-white purity because you are not pure at heart. That’s why you love, or in this case want, Aaru…”

I interrupted him.

“If you think what you are saying is all true than I would have never left Aaru’s side. And to be honest, I sold her to that pathetic cleric without her knowing it. And you say I love her?…

“What in God’s name am I saying?

“There’s no way in hell that I do love her. She’s just some booty that I wanted to tap some years ago, so what!”

I saw the anger on Skythe’s face and I continued on…

“If there was a God, or something pure like God, he would have condemned me to Hell already and I would have been Satan’s b*tch.
And don’t tell me that you’re life is all good and wholesome, Skythe. Don’t come to me preaching of the ‘word’ of God when you haven’t even stepped into a service or read that holy book of his. Don’t start with me about religion, God, or purity because you don’t know sh*t about it.

“And don’t even bring that girl into this. Sure she’s a virgin and she’s naïve and she’s ‘pure’ as you say. But that don’t mean sh*t to me! And so what if I ‘love’ her, it’s not love, Skythe, its lust. It always had been lust and it always will be lust.”

I paused for a moment to calm myself down, then continued.

“Don’t preach to me about God. God is a fraud.”

Silenced fell between the two of us again.

Then finally Skythe spoke, “If that’s what you believe that’s fine. I cannot sit here with you and tell you that there is a God because you do not believe in him. No, I won’t sit here and preach to you about God. To be honest, I don’t really care. I just know he exist but my faith in him is not there. But if you so much go near Aaru and abuse her trust me dawg, I’ll kill you. I don’t give a flying f*ck if you use black magic or not, I find a way and eventually kill you. If you so much think of hurting or tainting Aaru; I don’t care if we’re friends or not, I’ll kill you. And I’ll be clear about this now since you’re been thinking about whether or not I love her. Here’s your answer. ‘I love her more than you’ll ever know’.”

“That was something I already knew”

I rose from my bright green chair and smiled down at him. “Then f*ck her.” He suddenly lunged towards me knocking me down to the ground. He pinned me to the ground as he sat onto of me, placing his gloved hand on my neck and he used his other hand, balled into a fist, to punch me on the face repeatedly. “You son-of-a-b*tch!” he shouted on me. I raised my leg up, cocked it back, and then lunged it forward kicking him on his back. He shouted in pain as he temporarily stopped punching me. I shoved him off me, pushing him onto the ground.

We suddenly stood up at the same time and looked at each other. He lunged towards me again, his fist ready to punch me on the face again. I then quickly moved to the side and snatched his wrist yanking it down, which caused him stumble. My other hand was balled into a fist and was ready to strike him. Then suddenly my fist quickly thrusted violently and deeply onto Skythe’s stomach, knocking the wind and blood, and possibly his lunch, right out of him. I remained there for no more than twenty seconds, my fist lodged deep into his stomach. I rotated my fist clockwise and counter-clockwise, going back and forth. Then I released him, dropping him onto the ground, and stepped back, a few yards, away from him.

Skythe hogged-spit whatever substance was left in his mouth and rose up from the ground. “Weak!” I shouted at him. “Come and fight me when you have enough hatred and anger towards me. Hate me as much as possible, my friend. It’ll fuel that spark that wants to kill me within you. And possibly one day we will continue this fight. But until then, I want you to pray. Pray to whatever God you believe in. Pray that he will give you the strength when the time comes to kill me.” I turned my back away from him as I took a ‘return to nearest town’ scroll from my pocket’. “Pray boy, pray.” I said sarcastically as I used the ‘return to nearest town’ scroll.

I was teleported to the main town; unfortunately I was teleported to a section that was very far from the location that Tracy had picked. I started to walk as I found a secret teleporter, which was located right under the taxi stand. I utilized the teleporter and was teleported up to the north side of Ellinia. I then quickly made my way to the V.I.P Cab and saw Tracy waiting there, sitting in her bright green chair.

“Oh! You finally made it!” she said excitedly as she stood up.
“Yeah, sorry for the delay. I was caught in a previous engagement.” I said to her.
“No worries. I’m in no rush.” She said as she extended her hand towards me. “Come follow me to a secluded place. I have to tell you something and it’s very important. Please turn off your communicator.” She said as she turned off hers and walked passed me heading towards the southern part of Ellinia.

I did as she asked of me and turned off my communicator. I then quickly followed her to a place that was unbeknownst to me, or to anyone at that matter. I followed her to a place high up in the trees. She had stated that she once trained here so she can be promoted to her 2nd job advancement. As she believed we were high enough in the trees, she approached me. She slipped her gloved hands into mine, holding them tightly.

My eyes were set upon her face. I looked deeply into her eyes and saw that she was disturbed about something. Her eyes had been red from crying all night, last night. Her skin was pale, with little signs of pink. Her lips were pale and trembled slightly as she began to speak. “Rogue, I’m not happy.” She said, “I can’t live long like this. I hardly see my little sister anymore. She’s too young to know anything yet and she wants to be a cleric. But I can’t train her.”
“Why is that?” I asked.
“Because of Amana. She’ll hurt my little sister if I bring her near anyone from the guild. But I trust you Rogue. I know you won’t hurt my little sister.” She said.
“Okaay? So what do you want me to do about this?” I asked her.
“I want you to look after her. Don’t worry I’ll provide the money for you to give to her. Just look out after her. I have to many enemies and they might want to hurt, or even kill her!” she said as she started to cry.

Tracy approached me with her arms ready to be wrapped around me.

“You want me to be her body guard?” I asked her.
“No, I don’t want you to be around her physically. Just become her guardian angel. Like… make sure she doesn’t get into any trouble. She the only thing I have left in this world that makes me completely sane and happy. Please, Rogue. I’ll pay you what Amana pays you, but monthly.” She said.
“What’s her name?” I asked her.
“Her name is different from my name. But I assure you we come from the same mother. It’s Rebecca Fire. Although she’s young she likes to be called Ms. Fire. She’s a cleric in training. All I want you to do is just keep an eye on her. And don’t worry about the expenses I’ll send you money to give to her.” She explained.
“Why can’t you do this yourself?” I asked.
“Rogue, I already told you,” she said in a bit of a whiney voice, “Amana will hurt her if she comes near me or anyone apart of the guild! I can’t even see her anymore. Rogue, I’m asking you to do this because I’m moving to Orbis, near the Dead Mines, with my husband and give birth there. So this will be the last time I’ll see you. So please do this favor for me Rogue. Please!” she begged.
“Fine, fine.” I said to her.

Tracy smiled greatly and hugged me tightly. I felt her pregnant belly on my stomach. She released me briefly and placed my hands on her pregnant belly. “I want you to feel it, Rogue.” She said as she placed her hands over mine as my hands rested on her belly. I felt the child inside of her move so lively. And for that brief moment, everything around me seemed to stop. Everything became mute. The only thing I could hear was the heartbeat of the child and the soft humming’s of a mother who hummed a familiar tone only to my ears.

I then gently laid my head on her belly, to hear its heartbeat. I closed my eyes and saw the back of a familiar woman, who was adorn with a bloody night gown, the very same night gown I murdered my mother in, rocking back and forth in a rocking chair. In her arms was a child. “Ah, my beautiful baby boy.” the mother sang unto the child. I set my eyes upon the child. But it was no child. It was a creature with fangs and a demonic face. Its eyes glowed a bright red. I then set my eyes upon the mother’s face; her face was pale and her eyes bled. “You are my beautiful child.” she sang. Her nose then bled, the blood slowly seeping into her pale chapped lips. “My beautiful little Kraven” she said as more blood came from her eyes. This mother was my mother. And the child she held in her arms was my inner-demon.

“Rogue” Tracy said tapping me on my shoulder. She had quickly snapped me out of my daydream.
“Y-Yes?” I asked her.
“What’s wrong? You blacked out there for a moment.” She worried.
“It’s nothing. I was just… thinking of… my mother.” I said.
“Oh. Rogue, I leave today. So I better catch the boat.” She said to me. I had no clue as to what she was talking about so I just went with it. “Oh, ok Tracy.” I said. She walked over to me and kissed me lightly on the cheek. “You’re a great guy, Rogue. Thank you so much.” She said. Tracy then took out a ‘return to nearest town’ scroll. And within a blink of an eye, she left.

I had reminded myself that I had on Kerning City town scrolls left. I used it and was teleported next to the taxi stand, near the exit of the town. I started to walk in the direction of the bar. As I entered into the Bar, I’d noticed that everyone had left. I walked passed the bartender, giving a suave wave of the hand as I walked passed him. I headed upstairs towards my room.

As I entered upon my room, I went straight for the bed, closing the door behind me. I fell onto my cold untouched sheets and hugged my pillow tightly. I then briefly closed my eyes. Then I dreamt of nothing.

Suddenly the mother of my daydream appeared once more, shrouded in a sea of black, reaching for me. She demanded her son back. She shouted of how much love she had for her son.

I opened my eyes once more. Unmoved of what I dreamt, I took in a soft sigh. “If there was a God, he would have no let me dream of such a horrid thing.” I whispered to myself. I turned over, resting on my back. I looked upon the ceiling and saw a message written in black magic marker. “Don’t look under the bed. Don’t Look At Me!” At that very moment, I felt my heart drop. I was frozen. What was I scared for? I had no reason to be scared, but I was. I was scared. I gulped slowly and slowly moved my head to the side to look at a mirror that was adjacent to my bed. As I turned my head all the way to one side, the dreadful mother appeared before me. She looked at me then quickly lunged her ghastly hand towards my neck demanding to return her son to her. She claimed in her dreadful voice that I killed her son. She screamed that she was my mother and I should have been a good boy.

I suddenly woke up in a cold sweat, breathing harshly. I touched my neck, and felt small imprints of slender fingers around my neck. I sat up, resting my back on the headboard of the bed and looked up at the ceiling. There was no writing in black magic marker. I looked to the side, where the mirror was; there was no dead woman. I took a deep sigh of relief and relaxed myself once more.

What do you want from me, you dead woman?

~R