Whispers of the Shadow

Chapter 1- Prolouge

Copyright© Liam Taubert

A cloud of ash floated above as the cries of the dying filled the air. Revan was lying on the ground in a pool of his own blood. He slowly stood up, clutching his side as blood dripped through his fingers. His gaze scanned the area, taking in the horror that surrounded him. Hundreds of bodies lay in ashes, some burnt to dried husks, others still moving. He stumbled across the ground trying to keep his balance. Suddenly his vision blurred and his head started spinning. Disorientated, he tripped over a piece of debris and he collapsed on the ground.
His eyes shot open. Head pounding, he sat up, surrounded by the dead and cinders. He stood up and rubbed a hand through his hair, the dark grey strands matching the ash that floated to the ground around him. He reached back and pulled up his burnt faded black hood over his head. A sharp, stabbing pain ran through his hip and he looked down to see where he had been shot. He needed to find a healer or an alchemist, or at least the body of one. He slowly walked over to a flipped war machine. It lay there, scorched and twisted, it's cannon melted and disfigured on the ground. A faint purple glow still eminated from its armoured shell. He lay against it as he held his wound and looked around. He noticed the body of dead alchemist sprawled on the ground. Though their face was unrecognisable from the burns, a carbon fibre belt was wrapped around his waist holding all sorts of medicines. Revan crawled over to the body and grabbed a syringe from belt. He placed it against his neck and injected it into himself. He registrered the dull prick just before everything went black.
Groggily he blinked opening his eyes, hearing voices nearby. Slowly, wearily, he crawled around the wreckage of the war machine and peered around the edge. Several figures stood there, all wearing identical military uniforms. He looked down at his wound, it had completely healed but it still hurt. He looked down at his hand, a black twisted mark spiralled around his forearm. Cold power surged through him and he stood up and stepped out into the open. The soldiers turned around at the sounds  of his movements. Upon a second look they appeared to be Bjorian military. They raised their assault rifles and pointed them at Revan, "Don't move, you bastard!"
Revan raised his hands as they approached him cockily. He waved his hand and a spike of shadow shot out and stabbed the middle in the chest, tearing through his rib cage and coming out between his shoulders. Blood dripped from the black mist, which, with a wave of his hand, dissipated. The body fell to the ground with a solid thud, blood pouring from the gaping wound. Revan stared up at the two people standing in front of him, their faces morphing into looks of horror. They raised their weapons in a surge of terror and fired. Shadows consumed Revan until he had completely disappeared. The soldiers stood restlessly, staring at where he had been in confusion. Revan appeared from behind one of them and wrapped his arm around the man, yanking him close. The man had only time for a surprised gasp before Revan drew a dagger of darkness across his neck, slicing open his throat. Blood squirted from his severed neck and ran down his chest as he collapsed to the ground, trying to scream but only making a horrific gurgling sound. Revan disappeared again, face cold. The final Bjorian  appeared to be a woman. She looked around now, terrified and trying to predict where he would appear next. A blurry dark mist twisted towards her, sending her sprawling to the ground. She looked up seeing three creatures made of the same shadow that killed her two comrades standing over her, their faces open revealing pointed spikes of solidified mist. They leant down and grabbed her, tightening their grasp so she was unable to struggle. One of them held down her chest and leant close to her rapidly rising and falling stomach. Tears welled and spilled over her eyes as it looked up at her and made a wheezing sound. She sobbed and it leant down and took a large bite out of her stomach. Her screams of pain and horror filled the air as the others devoured her......then nothing.
I've been incredibly busy with school and other things lately.A  new chapter should be out soon,