Worst Curse: A Ghostwalkers Journey, Book II

Chapter 1

     Ten years of darkness lifted off of the city after Pilo's cleansing. A calm returned to the community within its subconscious. After the Light Witch aided in harnessing the darkness, a small feeling of security moved in. Word spread quickly about the evil, hiding in the shadows, wounded, and running for shelter. With evil retreating, the people forgot about the dangers once plaguing their streets. They wore their false sense of security like a badge of accomplishment. Lying in wait, those feeding off the shadows, recuperated, and allowed their prey to forget about the capabilities of the dark magic.

     Eight years of peace caused the guardian's diligence to lack. No one spoke of the Light Witch as she faded into a memory. The High Priestess, along with Therion, after the loss of the coven, abandoned her den, and moved into an abandoned castle at the foot of the mountain. The Ghost Walkers no longer patrolled the streets. Outside the wall, surrounding the city, the Ghost Walkers stood watch for any approaching dangers. Hunters focused their efforts outside the city gates, inside the forest. The Counsel of Those Cursed were quiet under their new management. They still fed, but the group made sure to not draw attention to their actions.

     Protests gathered out in front of the Capitol building often. When the darkness broke free from control, it infected people, creating a disease without a cure. Eventually doctors learned of ways to combat the sickness, with the help of the Light Witch, who some grew to call the White Nurse. The sickness spread, and became difficult to manage. With the evil threats absent, the people wanted to stop spending their tax money on hunting expeditions, and start funding medical research. They wanted to see P.A.C.E. (Protectors Against the Cursed and Evil) disbanded, and more doctors and nurses, educated and brought in. Their protests were falling on deaf ears.

     Eyes focused internally, and the community divided. They turned their back on the predators gathering strength in hiding. The apathy of their elected officials became the new monsters. Lack of support from the community offended the Hunters and Ghost Walkers, and it affected their diligence. Recruitment for P.A.C.E. suffered over the years, making it harder to maintain the guidelines in the selection process for applicants. Many of the original members were hitting their twenty year mark, and were looking to move on from the job, if they hadn't already.

     Once a trouble maker, Austesh joined the ranks of Ghost Walkers to keep from going to jail. He enjoyed his youth, and it kept him distracted. His imagination and hormones focused his thoughts on anything, but what had been required of him. Several walks with the Hunters gave him a reputation, and he didn't last long on search detail. It didn't take long for them to put him on guard duty during the worst shift of the night, outside the gate. Years working on the farm with his father gave him strength underutilized on guard duty. Knowing his enlistment neared its end, Austesh kept a secret to himself.

     Ghost walking, on search detail, he came across a house, hidden deep in the forest. A young woman, living in the house, caught his eye, and consumed his thoughts. She lived a hard life surviving off the land, and Austesh wanted to know her story. Underneath the disarray and dirt, her beauty burned an image in his head, keeping him company whenever he left her. Although he had an infatuation with her, she didn't know he existed. Within the spirit realm, he watched her. She could be seen as clear as day, and Austesh couldn't figure out why. In all the time he observed her, she didn't work with magic, or show any signs of evil. A wolf always stood watch near her, but during the full moon she never changed. The more he watched her, the more his feelings attached to her.

     He took every chance he could to steer the Hunters away from her location while he was on search patrol. One of his outlandish attempts to misdirect a search party received him disciplinary action, and had him placed on guard duty. Taken off of search patrols, he grew nervous about them finding her. If a Ghost Walker, or Hunter discover her existence, they would certainly take her life. His anxiety about her wellbeing caused him to leave his post often to stand guard outside of her house.