The Venom

Prologue: Fate

     The city of Pacifica was recovering after the events of 'the schism'. James, a young child, was running around his family home, swinging around a fake sword. "Having fun?" James's father asked. "Yes, father. I want to become a warrior." James said enthusiastically. "Careful with your words. If you so wish to do what you think is right, be ready to face consequences." James's father said. "I'll be mindful, father." James said, as he kept playing. James ran outside, and ran around the yard, pretending to fight someone with his sword. 

    James played for a few minutes outside, when he noticed a group of people riding towards the house on horseback. James was confused by the armor-clad men, as their shoulder capes didn't have the city's flag on them, like the Pacifica Guardsmen. These shoulder capes had a shield and crossed swords on them. "Who are these people?" James thought, quickly running inside. James went to his father, tugging on his shirt. "There are people heading towards our home." James said. "How close are they?" James's father asked. Suddenly a banging came from the front door. "That close." James answered. James's father crouched down to eye-level with James. "Go to your mother. She's upstairs with your brother." James's father said. "I'll go." James said, running upstairs. 

    James entered his mother's room in a panic. "Is there a problem, James?" James's mother asked. "There are armored people outside, and I think father is going to talk to them." James answered. "Damn." James's mother muttered under her breath. "You two, get under the bed. Now!" James's mother commanded. James and his brother quickly crawled underneath the bed. "Stay quiet, James." James's brother said. "Don't worry about me, Aaron." James responded. James's mother closed the room door, pacing nervously within the room. Muffled words were heard downstairs, getting more and more intense. "Break down the door!" Yelled one of the men. A sudden crash was heard, and voices yelling. The sounds of swords clashing were heard, and the sound of a body hitting the ground was heard. A stampede of footsteps rushed upstairs. "Check every room, find the woman. She knows where the sacred gem is located." Said one of the men. James's mother quickly crouches down, handing James the gem in a small pouch. "Keep it safe." James's mother said.

    The door burst open, and one of the men grabbed James's mother. "Where is it?" The man yelled, as the other members looked around. "Those who defy the Insurrection do not live to tell the tale." The man said. "Let me go!" James's mother yelled. The man threw her to the ground, unsheathing his sword. Aaron quickly got out from under the bed. "No!" Aaron yelled. James stayed quiet, as all the attention was on Aaron, and his mother. "Grab the boy, he'll be sent to the prisoner camp." Said the man. James saw the window was open, and tried to sneak out from the bed. "There's the other boy!" Yelled another member. "Get him, too!" The man yelled. James ran as fast as he could, quickly climbing out of the window. The men watched as James fell, rolling off of the lower ledge, and landed on the ground. 

     James hurt his arm in the fall, but quickly managed to stand up and keep running. James ran for the woods behind the house, as two of the Insurrectionists pursued. James looked back to see them catching up. James climbed up a tree, and jumped to another branch. "Damn kid. How can he do that?" One of the Insurrectionists muttered. "Keep following. He's bound to fall soon." The other said. James jumped from branch to branch, until he reached the river. James stood on a low branch. "Cut the branch." One of the Insurrectionists said. The other member quickly chopped at the branch with his sword. James jumped into the river, quickly getting swept down stream. "The boy's getting away." The Insurrectionist said. James struggled to stay above water, hitting rocks under the water. James hit another rock, knocking him unconscious.