Death Runners

chapter 1

What is life? Is it a twisted joke of a higher power make puny mortals suffer terrible fates?

A twisted gamble to get the right set of cards?

Or a game of running till you're just brittle bones crumbling on rainy day?

No one knows what happens to the innocent or the downright devious after death, heaven or hell, no one knows, right?

Right, Mr Barns?

Mr Barns looks up towards the tall young man and huffs.

You really wanna know, do you, boy? His eyes tinged with irritation.

Plain and simple.... we all get chucked into the same damn pot of damnation to be severed to a hungering god, which shall feed on our suffering.

Is that satisfactory for you, boy?

"The rumours are true then, you gone mad" he said slamming his hand into the table, rattling the claims which bind Mr Barns still.

Mr Barns unfazed from his rage, taking deep breaths, thinking it could be one of his last, you truly do have your fathers rage.

The boys eyes widened with a sombre look, you knew my dad?

Before the words could even leave the boys mouth, Mrs Barns spoke, David Tezlic is your father if im right? As he drinks cold glass of water.

How do you know that as the boy chokes on his own words as if they even saying that was strangling from the inside out.

Mr Barns paused and then spoke, the same damn way I know what happens after death they whisper to me, guess you haven't been listening much have you but as plus does help that I knew him personally, just by different name.

The Boy paused with fear as he stares at Mr Barns, a man who is about in his late 40s, long blonde grey hair unkept, every inch of him seems like it crawled out of a gutter, his voice as loud as lions roar but as raspy as smokers lungs.

Yet he wasn't always like this, he was a man of great promises, owned his very own company, he invested in all right stocks in the early 1980s and made it up to the top of the food chain Amongst the rich but after that not much is known by the public but I Zack Tezlic have insider information from my father David Tezlic, he would tell me all of his stories of his Adventures discovering all sorts of wonders of the wolrd.

Until he disappeared when I just 4 days after I turned 15, ever since I wanted find out what happened to my father and this was the closest lead I have, it may have been 4 year from then but the capture and retainment of Mr Barns should lead to some answer.

So Tezlic, how are you feeling there Mr Barns said smiling, I am fine, just glad to know I'm talking to the right Mr Barns from my dad's stories.

Ohhhh he spoke about me did he now as Mr Barns leans back into the chair, hopefully all good yesss?

Back leans in with a smirk only a man with goal could glean, yes all good besides you were such a coward.

Mr Barns smiling expression slowly switch to twisted face of anger, trying stoke my flame boy, cause it might just send you to see him.

Zacks next cocky move swallowed down into his gut as he try puzzle together what Mr Barns just said.

Wait is he Implying that he murdered my father gotta press further but don't know if I want to Zack thought sweating up a storm.

Are you saying that you murdered my father he said quietly?

Me a murdered nonsense unless you push me boy, then you can make a man into anything you wanted.

If you didnt kill him what happened then? As zack clutches his cross.

Well we were exploring an Ancient tomb, it's wall littered with history, as we got further and further in we all learnt the truth, everything we do is meaningless in the end and death in this world is no escape, we just get put into another world stitched together by murk and dread, the tomb bellowed at us as your dad took a snap with camera, unhappy the tomb realised something older and stronger than me and your dad combined.

It tore shreds out of your dad like he was just paper, his blood planting on to me like a crazed artist, blinded by its bloodlust it was more focused on your dad's unmoving corpse than me so got away.

People came into that tomb with me to find nothing no Remnants not even drop of dried up blood, they all called me mad from what I was spotting but no I mr barns know what I saw, you beleive me don't you Tezlic? His eyes screaming at Zack to believe him as tears drip down the drugged man's face.

Uhhh I?... Zack didn't know what to even say? How could he believe such a thing all things that Mr Barns has been mumbling about goes against his very faith.

You don't believe me do you? You don't believe me do you? You don't believe me do you! His voices went from a near silence to bursting with rage.

Well if you don't believe me well just have to show you won't I Tezlic.

As quick as his cuffs broke from the table he reached into his pocket pulled out a make shift blade of some sorts, mix of steel and wood, adorned with various marks and charms almost cultist.

Mr Barns pounces on to Zack with killer instinct of a wolf, The makeshift dagger plunged deep in the innocent throat of Mr Zack Tezlic.

Everything muffled as he chokes on the very things which keep his body a float, gripping at the wounds trying to do anything to keep himself alive but there was nothing which young Mr Tezlic could do, as it was not just one stab to his tender neck but multiple, the police soon rushed in and restrained Mr Barns.

The poor mangled body of Zack was put away for inspection of his body draped in the finest white silk, would be buried in nicest grave money could buy and put to rest.

This is not the end for Mr Tezlic as he has fate worse than death that everyone must deal with.

The game of runner... the death runners.