Reaper of the Damned

Chapter One

It was a cool night for summer but Ryan didn't mind much, it allowed him to open his windows and enjoy the crisp air before going to sleep. As Ryan began to doze off there was a sudden knock on the door, who could that be he wondered, getting up he put on some jeans and walked over to the door, surprisingly it was his friend Alex. "What do you want now?" Ryan asked holding back a yawn, "Dude there's this party over at the bar, I was wondering if you'd like to come along, get your mind off things." Alex replied. Alex kept talking and giving details but Ryan's mind drifted back to the war he served in, gun shots and explosions echoed in his head, the sound of the fellow soldiers that never made it home burned in his mind, engraved were the names of all those that fell, all those that would never get to see their family's and friends, with all the chaos going through his head Ryan fell to his knees, when he finally came to he saw Alex kneeling over him, his face carved with concern. "You alright man?" Alex asked helping Ryan up, "What happened?" Ryan asked not knowing that he had fallen. "It happened again, you started to think about the war, and you just collapsed." Alex answered. Knowing that this would only get worse Ryan asked if Alex would drive him to the hospital. The way there was quite as Ryan didn't want to risk thinking about the war or anything to do with fighting. When they arrived the hospital was packed with people getting check ups and vaccines. Ryan went and sat down while Alex walked up and told the nurse what was going on, surprisingly the doctor took them before anyone else. "Tell me everything you saw, if we see that you start to go back, then we'll snap you out." said the doctor. "Well, ok.....I'm in the forest, there explosions and gunfire all around me, my fallen squad members, they never got to even go home..." Ryan's voice trailed off as he began to tear up. "It's alright Ryan, the families all know that their in a better place now." Alex told Ryan attempting to calm him, "You don't get it, Kirk was among the fallen, I promised i'd keep him safe, I promised him he'd get to come home, I broke that promise I failed him!" Ryan yelled as tears poured down his face. "You know what I do when I feel I've fucked up beyond all forgiveness?" Alex asked, with hope that he'd agree to it. "You pray, you ask your god for forgiveness." Ryan replied, "Not at all, I asked that he watches over their family, I help them to the best of my abilities." answered Alex, come on, we can go to the church together after we're done here. Smiling Ryan agreed, but everything went down hill, after Alex finished the doctor noticed a mark on Ryan's hand, it looked as though it was burned on, "How long ago was this war?" asked the doctor, "3 years, why?" asked Ryan puzzled at the doctors remark, "Have you felt at anytime between when you came home to now a sudden unexplained chill, like you were freezing to death, but it was warm outside?" asked the doctor suddenly terrified, "Well once, yeah, a few days ago in fact." replied Ryan, all of a sudden the doctor turned to Alex, "Get him to that church, NOW!" shouted the doctor suddenly turning pale, "I believe you've been marked." the doctor said to Ryan who was now terrified. Speeding down the street towards the church Alex was pulled over, in a panic Alex looked around for his license so that they could speed things up. "Sir do you know how fast you were going?" the cop asked looking at the two of them. "Yes sir, we're in a rush." answered Alex, "And were are you going at that speed may I ask?" "I'm taking my friend to the church officer, it's a matter of extreme emergency." Alex replied, "And how is going to church an emergency....." the cop was interrupted as Ryan held up his hand to show the mark, "Go on then, I'll give you an escort there." said the cop as he ran back to his cruiser and drove in front of them. Shocked Alex and the cop sped off towards the church, not stopping till they got there. As Alex and Ryan rushed inside the cop posted himself outside. "Pasture, Pasture!" Alex yelled while running towards the Priest. "Yes my son what is it, and who is this?" asked the Priest looking at both of them, "Sir we need your help" said Alex holding up Ryan's hand to show the mark, "We believe he's marked." grabbing Ryan's hand the Priest splashed some holy water on it, causing Ryan to yell out in pain. "My child, I'm sorry to have to say, but you have indeed been marked." said the Priest, "Marked by what, what is it." asked Ryan. "This is the mark of the damned, what have you done since the tragedy happened." the Priest asked, Thinking Ryan realized that all he did was mourn over the loss of his friend. "Nothing, other than mourn the loss." replied Ryan, "You'll be tested, if you show that you can do something other than mourn these losses, then you'll pass, be kind, help the families, and you'll do fine." the Priest said, "And if I fail the test?" asked Ryan, "You'll be killed and feasted on like the other damned." replied the Priest, "I'm sorry, but I believe that you can pass these tests." the Priest said. Ryan looked at Alex, hoping that they'd both survive these tests.