Rise of War

Chapter 1

A bright flash of lightning briefly revealed the beast's bloody maw. Wind and rain blew through the shattered windows. The bodies of his wife and child lay broken on the floor, their blood turning the pooled rain pink. The beast paced side to side waiting for the man to make a move. The man lunged towards the beast with a chain wrapped around his knuckles. He managed to land a glancing blow on the beast's shoulder as it snatched him out of the air with its paw. As the beast began to close its fist, sirens and flashing lights neared, causing the beast to drop the man and flee the scene. Police and EMTs entered the house to find the man on the floor holding his dead wife and child while the chain, Adam had found it at work and brought it home for a project, lay off to the side in a puddle of pooling rain and blood.

Jolting awake, drenched in a cold sweat, the man looked around his small concrete cell. Catching his face in the small mirror above his sink, he saw that his face had become an emotionless wall. His broad shoulders were toned with muscle from his time in the prison yard. He is prisoner 9567. That has been his name for the last five years. To the outside world he was the man that had murdered his family five years ago. He has to remind himself everyday what his name is. Every morning he thinks to himself " my name is Adam". This helps him remember who he is and the nightmares every night help remind him about what happened to his family and how he couldn't help them.

Today was the day Adam became a free man. After a plea deal with the district attorney, he had managed to land only a five year sentence due partly to the fact that the police were unable to find a murder weapon and mostly to an overall lack of convicting evidence. A guard came to his cell to take Adam to the gate of the prison. Along the way he stopped to change into his civilian clothes and had his cellphone and wallet returned to him. After leaving Adam called for a taxi and went out to the city impound yard to get his car.

Along the way he began to think about what to do. Adam knew that returning to his past life in Atlanta, Georgia was impossible. He knew he needed some source of income to get back onto his feet. Leaving the impound yard with his car and driving into downtown Atlanta he noticed a help wanted sign outside a hardware store. After finding a parking spot and entering the store to speak to the manager. After having a conversation with the manager he got hired on the spot. Leaving the store he realized he was going to need a place to sleep and decided to meet up with an old friend.

After a short drive Adam finally entered the familiar busy streets of downtown. Stopping outside of an apartment building he went inside and used the buzzer to buzz for his friend. Ernesto Santiago's voice came through the small speaker " Hello, who is it that is requesting my attention and time?" " Hello my old friend," Adam replied. Ernesto, thoroughly confused, asked " would this person who claims to be an old friend give a name?". Surprised that Ernesto had forgotten who he was, Adam replied " It's Adam Panneki and I'm hurt you forgot about me Ernesto.". A very startled Ernesto replied with " Stay here, I am on my way down.". A hispanic man that looked like he was carved from granite came down the stairs coming face to face with Adam. "Adam it is you, where have you been for the past five years." Ernesto exclaimed. Adam looked up to Ernesto and said " it would be better if we talked in private.". Ernesto just looked around and nodded and then led the way up into his loft.

After entering the loft Ernesto poured two glasses of water. Sitting on the couch Adam gave Ernesto a brief summary of the last five and a half years since the murder of his wife and child. Ernesto sat in stunned silence throughout the story. Ernesto asked "how did you make it taking the blame for something you didn't do?". " I simply distracted myself and vowed vengeance on the creature that murdered my wife and son." Adam replied. "You can stay here for as long as you need pal." Ernesto said as he handed Adam his spare key to the loft. "I'm going to need a new wardrobe soon." Adam said. " We can go out now, I have the day off, let's go make you look like a free man again." Ernesto said.