On Better Times Chapter 1 by Spineyguy, literature
Literature
On Better Times Chapter 1
Chapter 1.
Baby Steps.
I couldn't go back to my flat, that much was certain, a teenager had just assaulted two paramedics and sprinted away from the scene of the crime at nearly 40 miles per hour. As Eve opened the door, I saw her visibly recoil in horror.
"Jack! What happened to you?!"
"I don't know, I'll explain later. Just please, let me in." Eve did so obligingly, and immediately went to fetch something. As I passed the mirror in the hallway, I almost had the same reaction as Eve had.
My clothing was caked in thick, dark blood. I had a black eye and my hair was matted from where I had bled into it. My school uniform was ruined, it wa
Prologue
My name is Jack Escher. For those of you who don't know it already. I was born in south London on the thirteenth of September 1992. Before we get to the interesting part of my life, it is necessary to fill in some information on my past. This may seem tedious now, but I assure you it'll be necessary later.
In 2002, when I was just ten years old, my father left home. I had never been all that close to him, mostly because he was a difficult man to get close to. He was tall, thin and darkly handsome, or so others have told me. From photographs I learnt that I have inherited my looks from him, my jet-black hair and pallid complexion, a
When he awoke, Dornez had the impression of being in motion. In the very back of his hearing he could make out a quiet, rhythmic tapping. As his vision blurred into clarity, he could see something grey, the inside of the cabin of some civilian shuttle, seats cushioned with gawdy patterns that offended the eyes, darkened windows beyond which could be seen shapes whizzing past. A cold, white light burnt displeasingly on the ceiling and it hurt Dornez to keep his eyes open.
Even as he registered the ache in his side, Dornez was acutely aware of another presence in the cabin, he looked around but saw no one.
"Did you miss me?" Dornez heard a fa
Screeching with barely contained rage, Seris flew at the monster before her. She hadn't faced a deamon of this sort since that first day back at the farm. She had come so far since then, that trembling little girl was now a deamon-hunter in waiting.
Seris sped past the beast, through it's clod of flies, they bit and scratched at her delicate skin, she whirled in mid-air and cut a deep gouge from the deamon's rotting flesh with her claw, all the while cutting swathes through the flies with her sword.
Seris turned as she hit the ceiling of the cave and launched herself back in the opposite direction, her powerful legs dug craters where they p
The journey back to the dropsite was frought with awkward silence. Seris blished nearly all the way. At last, Inquisitor Dornez broke the silence.
"So, has anyone else noticed it?" He said to no-one in-particular.
"What sir?" Replied a storm Trooper from the back of the group.
"This world's meant to have a Deamonic infestation." The group stopped at this comment several troopers instincively started to shuffle into a circle, raising their weapons.
"Calm down, calm down." said Dornez at least appearing relaxed, "There's no need for that. Just be careful."
Seris blushed again as her stomach groweled, a conspicuous gurgle that she was sure
Haas stalked forward, his battered las-rifle held before him the torch strapped to the barrel projected a cone of
feeble light in the impenetrable gloom. From somwhere in front of him he could hear a faint murmur, the odd
splutter from an infected lung. Heavy, laboured breathing. As it set eyes on him, it stumbled to its feet, its
pained expression twisted and distorted into one of incomprehensible, unnatural rage. It began jogging, then
running, then sprinting, then charging toward him, its mouth held open, baying for blood. Haas' mind raced as he
watched the creature close with him, he only had three charge packs left, he couldn't a
In the darkness, a voice spoke. A voice, heavy with the knowledge of years and laced with arrogance.
"You've a nerve Inquisitor, to disturb me at such an hour as this. Pray I for mercy, for your sake, for a deer whom has a thorn in his filthy skin would not to wake the sleeping Lioness to ask of a removal."
"I have a request, Mein Navigator."
"Then speak sir, but make thy speach quick, for I have not the time for mear Deamon-troubles."
"Yes, Mein Navigator. Surely you have noticed a new soul aboard the ship."
"I have felt no such presence. Not three a se'nnight past did I count for all three hundred, five and twenty souls upon this vess
Seris shiverred at the cloying damp around her. By the looks on the faces of her escort, she could tell they felt it too. A cold, sticky wetness that hung heavy in the air like a damp towel. The bog squelched underfoot, even through her heavy boots, seris could sense that she was walking on sacred ground. The indelible psychic mark left by a steady stream of human feet. That in itself seemed wrong, Imperial records had shown that this planet was completely devoid of life and yet here they were, surrounded by grasslands, thick with alien plants that dripped with fat globs of slime.
'Stay close.' She said through her Micro-bead.'Something's co
Seris awoke to Inquisitor Dornez' gaunt face. She visibly jumped to see a stranger over her, before realising who it was.
"Please Sir," she said shakily "who are you?"
"I am your new master Seris." replied Dornez, his voice soft and calm.
"I remember" she stuttered "You came from the darkness didn't you sir? You saved me from the monsters."
"You were locked in an abandoned poly-tunnel with demons all around you." My soldiers and I brought you out. You acted very bravely."
"Demons sir?" the girl replied, "But sir, there's no such thing as a demon. Everyone knows that."
"Then I'm afraid Seris, everyone is quite mistaken. Demons are very r