Shadow within

Chapter 1: Dead Inside

At once, my heavy eyes opened up; taking up all the energy I had left. Looking around, I see nothing. Saw darkness, saw the personification of death all around me. Enough, I say to myself. Focus. What the hell is this place?

I tried fidgeting and I tried to move every muscle in my body. Nothing. It felt like something has been holding me down, like a non-existant beast laying on top of me. My mind exploded with questions the more I strugged, what's going on?! The more I've started questioning myself, the more the corruption spread; the corruption of the mind, one that drives people insane. But - out in the distant - a light. As dim as the dying stars, it reached out to me. I couldn't help but stare. After all, I was weak.

Noises; tiny foot-steps, many of them. Are those rats I could hear? Or is something crawling inside of my head! The noise; amplifying itself like a volume mixer,  getting louder and louder until it drives me mad. Can't take this pain any more, I shake my head trying to wake up from this nightmare. Little to no success. Fuck, I think to myself. The corruption; finally reaching its climax, I blank out.

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'WAKE THE FUCK UP', is the next thing I heard. Shortly after, the sharp deep voice wasn't the only thing I felt; rather what seemed to feel like an elephant's foot stabbing me through my abdomen. My heavy eyes awake once more, but close at an instance as the bright red sun shines with such power that my eyes begin to burn inside. As I concentrate, I can start to hear many different voices. All with different accents, tones of voice and dialect. There was, however, one that stood out the most.

'Good. You finally have awakened. Zero, your time has come to step on to the ring.' same the said deep voice.

It wasn't that voice that stood out, however, rather it was the silent one; the content of the message more encrypted; the language was basic but it felt like a sharp whisper directly in to my ear.

'Zero, huh? That is what they degraded you to? A nobody?'

My eyes sprung wide open once again, fidgeting around once again - this time with more freedom of movement!

'Look at him! He's like a fish, too scared to finish your fight eh Zero? Well that's too damn bad' the voice said, as I felt myself grabbed by force and carried away. Managing to get a glimpse of the individual, he had a strong look on his face. Dressed in fancy uniform, a dark moustache covering his lips. Yet, I couldn't look for much longer; I could feel my head being dragged down to the sands as I'm carried away.

'Zero, the forgotten man. Nobody will remember your story, "Zero". You're just another piece of meat to them, a piece of meat ready to be cut up in front of it's audience.'

The shadowy voice became stronger, became more clear. It became something that can't be ignored, an art of speech. Suddenly, everything stopped. The man carrying me has dropped me down, leaning me against the rusty walls of hell.

'This is the cage, Zero. You've been designed to kill, I expect you to go out there and show me that the test was not a failure.'

'Kiiiiiiill.' said the sharp voice. 'Unite yourself with me, and rise above your name. Rise above "Zero"'.

I shake my head to myself, as I hear the loud noise of horns. In the background - speech, announcing the fight that's to take place. I look outside of the gates that are near me, and all I see is sand. Sand, sand and sand. That is, until I look a bit higher. Walls! Made out of fancy, rich material. Spectators; everywhere.

'Kiiiiiiilll. I will set you free'.

Shaking my head again. No! I'm not a murderer.

'But you are. You have been designed for it. A simple human, with a destiny far greater than those of the common-'. The voice cut off. My focus turned towards the opening of the gates, and the loud cheers of crowds.

'Come on then Zero. Show 'em what you are made of.'

I get up, strength returning back to my body. As I'm pushed in to the 'cage', i hear a loud thump behind me; the closing of the gates. There was a strange feel of confidence, almost like a boost as I saw my opponent enter from the opposite side. He was twice the size of me, meaty and beefy; muscles as a main attribute. Scars all over his face, his half-naked body. He approaches me, I can smell the stench of his breath; this man must have had a lot of experience in killing. He is an artist.

'BEGIN!' shouted a sudden, light voice. Almost at an instant, I was pushed back by him; before I realised what has happened I was on the ground, on one knee trying to lift myself back up. Heat of the moment; the action starting to build up. There are no weapons? How am I to take down this big piece of meat!? Nevertheless, these questions I couldn't answer as he was charging towards me like an enraged, hungry bull. At a high speech, he reaches on to me swinging his right fist towards my face.

With my instincts, I react to it fast enough raising my hand up to block his attack, yet his left fist went straight for my stomach leaving me to stumble back. The fist, seeing how the attack was successful, has began it's way up for an uppercut. Quickly, I grab both of my hands on to his fist and twist it, trying to snap his wrist; unsuccessfully. He has more strength in his wrist than all of me combined!

My counter-attack? Unsuccessfull. It was, once again countered with a fist to my face. I felt myself fall, hitting the sand and feeling its warmth covering my face. The sun, shining down at me has soon enough been covered by my opponent's body.

'Focus! If you want to live, be one with me again! DO IT ZERO!' shouted the whisper in my head.

Almost instantly I regained control of myself, once again a random boost of energy! This time, my sight has disappeared. All I could see is blackness, almost as if I was blind? But quick enough I realised; I let the shadow out. My target, I could see him again once I focused. Only him, however. I saw his entire body; highlighted with blue, and I saw his fist reaching out to me.

Instinctly, I roll to the side away from his moves. Then, turning my attention back towards him I get up. I feel.. different. And no wonder! From the eyes of the audience, they saw a living shadow moving! I start to sprint towards him, preparing to counter anything he offers. As I approach, he reaches out his fists and the closer I got, he started to swing punches towards me. I, grabbing on to his arm before he hits me, jump over him in a back-flip motion. Time - froze. I was up in the air, in the backflip motion just above him. My arms have been centrally in line with his head.

'This. This is the start to your journey, "Zero". Mark this kill as our start to a ..long, prospering partnership'

Out of nowhere, a sword has spawned in my hand; a sword of shadow, enchanted in runes and mysterious cravings. I had little time to inspect it, time has become alive again. Quickly, i run the knife deep in to the head of my attacker, stabbing it in before falling on to one knee to regain my balance. Everything went quiet; the crowd - amazed. What has just happened?

As I turned around to see my dead opponent, the sword has disappeared, and I have been announced as victor of the battle.