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Halo - Chapter one

Rain and Lightning

It sucks to die young. Not only does it ruin your social life but you find out you end up in this dam place. The Underworld...the world parallel to the real world or some crap they teach here. I was told that the day arrived here. I was watching an emergency crew pull my body from my dad's car. He managed to wrap it around a tree pretty nicely. He made it out thankfully when his door opened and he got tossed out..

I just stood there for hours. Even after the took my body away I couldn't move. I felt glued to that spot. Something wouldn't let me leave until this guy appeared. Dressed in all black like a butler. Standing all prim and proper. He took my hand and everything melted away. When I woke I was in a bed far from anyone I knew. Far from my life, family, everything. I don't even remember what I looked like them. When I woke up here I was different. I was way too "Fuzzy".

The people here call people like me Anthromorphs. When i passed through the world between. My soul must have collided with a dogs. A German Shepard specifically. They told me its not uncommon for this to happen. But it doesn't stop the looks from the regular looking humans who made it here. They look down at me like I'm some sort of sub human. They snub their noses at me when i have to go into town.Guess that's why I keep to the woods.

Luckily I found my own little group to fit in with. A few of the Anthromorphs who didn't want to keep getting looked down at. We try to treat each other with respect. Most of the time anyway. Its kinda nice when you don't remember much of your life before you died. No worries, no past, no deeds left undone like a fresh start.

This place feels so old. The Underworld isn't anything like I imagined. I was picturing fire and lava with big puffy clouds and gold above it. But this place is just like home. Well home probably 1000 years before I born. Phones, Computers, and technology are scarce. It was odd the first few weeks, I kept checking my pocket for my phone. Guess that's just an old habit. The buildings look like something out of a story book. Carriages clop through the cobble roads of the counter side.

I only wish we could live closer to the capital. The place I learned all this stuff when I woke up. Halo; the Imperial city of the Underworld. You could say when you die you go there to be judged to heaven or hell. But I was told I didn't fit into either since I didn't really do much in my life. So I was stuck in a crack of the system. Which is bullshit I didn't even get to choose. A lot of people choose to live here. Carry out a new life in a new world. Start over but not me. I was told I have to live a new life out here in this place. Grow old, get a job, do something to prove I'm worth something. That is some real bullshit. So I ditched them.

Its not all bad though. I got Karu. She's an awesome girl. I met her when I left Halo. Its peaceful in our little shack at least. At least when our leader Damien doesn't give us some errand to run. The big wolf is a jerk at times but his friend James keep in check. He reminds me of what little bit I remember about my dad.

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"Hey what are you writing over there!" A voice snapped me from my journal. I looked up from the tattered pages. The soft thump of the heavy leather binding coming from my hands. "Heh, its nothing Karu, just something I do so I don't forget anything," I smiled at the orange and black cat. She was so pretty for a cat. Big blue eyes, sweet smile, nice big hips, and a little flat chested. She slide over to me picking up my journal suddenly.

I reach up for it in a slight panic. Snatching it from her hand as quickly as I could. I couldn't have the nosy feline looking through my private thoughts. With a sigh she snapped her tail across my nose. "Your always so weird," She snickered under her breath. Moving away her foot paws thumped on the loose boards of the shack. I couldn't help but stare at her hips as she walked away. A slight blush ran across my muzzle. James slept quietly across the room on blanket. Snoring loudly we both let out a short laugh.

The big stallion usually slept for most of the day. Lazy, funny, and kindhearted was the best way to describe him. His brown fur matted down to the old blankets in the summer heat. Our cloths were no more than stray bits of cloth we had found or stolen.

Our room smelt of mud and body odour. But still this was home to me and my little family. Outside we could hear Damien returning from town. The sound of crunching leaves and twigs from the unkempt grounds gave him away. His white fur flashing by the openings in brick walls. The brown sheet we so luxuriously called a door moved to the side. A fine puff of dust brushing off into the air silently.

The bulky white wolf stepped in with a grunt. Huffing he looked down at us and let a smirk cross his muzzle. "So feline and canine still flirting and the horse is still asleep," He stepped up to James. His muscles flexes as he stared down at the stallion. Seeing him laid out and snoring loudly. Lifting his foot he delivered a swift kick to the horses side. James let out a whinney in surprise as he shot up. "Glad you could join us!" The wolf chuckled under his breath. "Jesus Christ! You could have just said get up," The equine nearly screamed.

"Aw poor pony boy got his hair ruffled," Damien hissed through his teeth.

"No! I didn't, good thing your the boss or I'd take you down," The horse snickered and grabbed Damiens leg. Pulling it suddenly the wolf collapsed down on top him. I lost sight of them behind the dilapidated couch. Hearing them yelling and fighting playfully on the other side. I couldn't help but chuckle under my breath as they bickered. This was a daily routine of our lives. Outside I could hear some rain beginning to fall. The windows turning droplet collectors as condensation blocked the view. A droplet of water dripped through one of the ceiling holes. Tapping my nose with a soft splatter onto my muzzle.. My sigh went unheard with the arguing. I slide my journal away into a dry spot and pushed an old bucket under the hole. The steady drumbeat of the water echoing in the metal pale.

"So Damien? Did you find any food its been a week," Karu plopped down on her blanket. "Well...yes and no," the wolf sat up suddenly. Moving across the room and grunting down across from her. "Whats that supposed to mean?" I asked wrapping my arms around my legs. He rubbed his head as he seemed a little unsure. "Heh well its still stealing so it ain't free, but its not from the town so we don't have to be too careful," He looked at us with a sly smirk. The mane of fur around his head fluffing up a bit. "Theirs a carriage that's going to come down the East Road heading to Halo. I know its a big shipment of expensive shit heading for the imperial city," He crossed his arms behind his head. Leaning back on the wall the loose boards behind him creaked loudly.

"Wow like how expensive? Like gold expensive?" James perked up a bit. Poking his head up from the other side of the couch. "Yeah gold and some kinda magic tech comin from some swamp out east, figured we could get it, sell it and be living easy for a while," The wolfs legs crossed. We all looked at one another for a moment. Its true we had to steal to survive mostly. Whatever little money we got we blew on food or beer. We had never gone far enough to robe a carriage. It was dangerous but if we could pull it off we could finally stop living like this.

After a few hours of deliberating. Going over the dangers and what could happen we couldn't pass up the opportunity. We waited through the afternoon just going over our plan with one another. The biggest threat is death. If you die in the underworld you don't go anywhere else. You just fade away into nothing. You basically disappear from every ones memory. Its something we don't like to think about very often. However, this shack is the result of this rule. When we found this shack it already had beds and stuff. Even my journal was already here but blank. It was like someone had just erased the pages clean.Our first few months here we would talk about them. Try to imagine who lived here before they vanished.

"So its settled! We take the carriage and get outta this dump!" Damien howled.

"Hell yeah boss!," James laughed as I looked at Karu. The sun began to set on the horizon. "You ok?" Karu rubbed my shoulder. It snapped me from my thoughts. "Oh yeah fine...you?" I looked back at her. "Nervous...should we really do this? I mean carriages don't just go to Halo for nothing," She gave me a weak smile. "Yeah but we could live off it for a while pretty good," I smiled back trying to reassure her. Karu was always the nicest to me. Damien and James were like my dad and brother but she was something different. I met her when I left Halo. We just kinda just clicked.

"Hey, you ever think you should go back...take a job?" She leaned her head on my shoulder. A blush ran over my face turning my brown fur red. Her arms slipped around mine as she purred. "Oh uh...no not really...I mean we can live here as long as we aren't stupid," I rolled my eyes a little. Unsure and shaking I felt her kiss my cheek. I gulped as she closed her eyes and held my arm. We sat that way till the sun was gone. Twilight gleamed over the land as the night was moving in quickly.

"Alright kids nearly time," Damien sat up suddenly. Looking over at us we glanced up at him. James shuffled up to his hooves as the two stepped from the shack. Karu let out a soft sigh and kissed my cheek softly. "Don't leave me ok?" She whispered into my ear softly. I nodded at her words and we joined the two outside.

We made our way through the rain into town. A fine mist filling the cold streets. In the twilight. Keeping out of sight from scanning eyes. The humans would definitely not welcome a big group of Athromorph's walking through. Especially unannounced and during nightfall.

Keeping quiet we entered the country side. The rolling hills turned a deep emerald green as the rain slowly stopped. We could see the east road running through the fields. A long solid stream of slate stone as wide as a bus was long. I remember walking down it two years ago when all this started. Murder on the feet but I bet on a carriage it would be great. Trudging the now muddy dirt road we came to its side. At this hour not many people traveled the road. We weren't the only thieves making a living by stealing.

"Alright James will run diversion, Karu and I will grab the loot, Aaron you keep lookout, alright?" Damien ran through the plan with us. With a nod we hunkered down in the tall grass. It seemed like hours passed quickly with anticipation. The town in the distance was dark and silent. The moon hung heavy over the underworld. Its light cast a pure white sheen across the tall grass. The thick smell of mud and wet hanging around us. Our ears flickered as the sounds around us. Crickets, dripping, and soft rustles kept our minds busy. Only to be broken by a sudden clacking. Looking up we could see the outline of a large carriage coming down the road. It was odd as most carriages are pulled by something. Yet this one seemed to be rolling by itself quiet easily. The dark window rattled at the tiniest bump in the road.

"Must be magic, that's gonna make this tricky," James grunted a little. "Wait...maybe we don't have to stop it..." Damien patted his shoulder. Behind the carriage was a large cart being pulled along behind. The cart overflowed with boxes an something large covered by a sheet. "Change of plan, just get on the cart," Damien spoke and looked at all of us. We all nodded quietly and as the tiny train of wheels began to pass. We rushed out trying to be as quiet as we could. It wasn't moving fast enough to outrun us. So reaching the side we were easily able to jump up onto the cart.

Damien was the first to get on the back. Reaching out; me and James grabbed his hands. With a short tug we were pulled up next to him. Landing on the small amount of space of the cart with a thud. Karu leaped up with some grace landing atop the sheet covered item. Extending her toe claws to keep from slipping. We quickly got to work opening boxes.

Looking through the cargo quietly we were in a bit of shock. No gold, wine, or anything of value. It was wires, metal fittings, and computer hardware. This may not have been the most valuable stuff. But it was rare in the Underworld. Unbeknownst to me Karu had found something of her own. Lifting the sheet covering the large item she let out an audible gulp. Moving quickly she rushed to my side and grabbed my arm. "We have to go," She spoke in hurried tone. Trying to keep quiet she pulled me towards the back of the cart. "What are you goin, this junks gotta be worth somethin!" James tried to muffle his voice as he saw us.

Karu didn't say anything as too all of our surprise. The carriage came to an immediate stop. The wheels stopping as if there was no momentum behind them. The force of the cart stopping so suddenly caused all of us to tumble and fall. Me and Karu landed atop one another in the back of the cart. My face landing at her shoulder as I tried to push up to keep from pressing down on her. I couldn't see where Damien landed among the crates. However, James slid of the side suddenly and landed with a thud on the road below.

It was at that moment something happened. The air around us changed without warning. The thick smell of Ozone filled out noses as the door of the carriage opened slowly. Looking up from Karu's neck I could see the sheet move at the motion. Sliding back over the crate showing a large engine. Coated in white plates with many small devices along its length. An emblem was carved on a massive piece of machinery. A jellyfish emblem illuminated by the moonlight on the white cover plate.

"Ugh...what happened," James grumbled and looked up. Across from him stood two figures. Having escaped of their compartment with little effort. The first was a woman. Tall, curvy, and kind of cute to be honest. She was an Beast-man, someone who more human than animal. Her hair was bright pink and tied back in a bun. A pair of glasses sitting low on her nose. Her yellow eyes glaring at us from her beautiful face. Her outfit screamed business casual. A knee length skirt and button up shirt. Covered only by a slightly open white lab coat. A thin puff of pink wool poking from around her neckline; much like a collar of a shirt. Two small horns poked through her hair curling along her head. One of her black gloved hands gripped the sheep woman's hip. The other held a clipboard tight across her ample chest.

"Oh uh hi there ms. Sheep...is this your stuff," James grinned slightly. Shaking a little as a smirk crossed her face. Me and Karu slide off the cart quietly as we could. Peering out around the back towards them. Seeing her; but it wasn't she who terrified us so. The man who stood next to her was shorter. Maybe even shorter than myself as he hunched forward. His head leaning froward in a deadly silence. It was hard to tell what he was as the moonlight bled through his blue translucent skin. Most of his blue skin was covered by a body length white lab coat. His hands poked from the overly long sleeves. His fingers were long and thin with no nails. Over his coat hung a heavy blue layer of translucent cape. A jellyfish bell leading from his neck and covering him like a shroud. Long tentacles dragging from it behind him. His hair a moist mass of long blue jellyfish ribbons resting on his shroud.

What scared us most was his face; or lack there of. His identity was hidden by a bleach white mask. It was creepy to speak lightly. It had no features except two perfect eye hole. Just a plain curved oval covering his head from hair line to chin. However, his eyes were unmistakable. Yellow and bright as topaz glaring at us. Not once did they blink in the cold night air as he stared.

"Uh hehe a beast ma...I mean woman and an Anthromorph, we really aren't that different perhaps we could just forget this every happened," James tried to keep calm. He hobbled a bit. He must have hurt his leg when he fell from the cart. "Master...I think this poor boy has harmed himself, perhaps we could assist him," The woman spoke softly. Her voice was cool and calm. Keeping a very astute and professional tone. I could feel Karu shaking over me. A soft bit of wetness dripping onto my head from her. She was crying. But why? What was she crying for? Was she scared?

"Perhaps we should my dear Electra," The jellyfish spoke. His mask didn't move, as his cackling high pitched nasal voice echoed from his mask.

"Shall I save you the effort?" She closed her eyes.

"No my dear, It has been quite some time since I operated on a living body," He hissed and raised his hand slowly. "James get down!" Karu suddenly yelled over top of me. Shocking us both James turned to us as I looked at us drawing his attention away from the man. "Ah ah ah my subjects will always look at me while I operate," The jellyfish let out a soft shriek. In a flash his fingers extended turning into long fine tentacles. Shooting forward with extreme speed. I blinked for mere second. Only to have more wetness coat my face suddenly. The scent of iron filled this wetness. Opening my eyes slowly. I could taste the blood coating my face.

Staring in disbelief I couldn't move. James stood shaking two tendrils had pierced his legs, one in his left arm, one in his stomach, the last piercing his collar bone. "No!" Karu screamed.

"I...run," James uttered as the tendril extended suddenly. Whipping around his body tightly like a vice. His body shook and convulsed as they writhed through his wounds. Each one wrapping further around him. Stinging every inch they touched causing extreme and untold amount of pain.

"James!" A voice came from the cart. The sheets lifted suddenly and Damien growled loudly. Staring like a beast in the moonlight. He looked down in fierce aggression at the two. His hair stuck on end as he clenched his fist. His claws extending quickly as he bore his teeth. "Release him...," He demanded. The tone of his voice took a serious, deep, and forceful nature.

"How dare you insect, this is..." The sheep woman looked up at him.

"Now now my dear, lets see if the pup can sufficiently force me to release his friend," The jellyfish growled under his breath. With a fierce growl he lunched himself from the cart. Jumping Claws and teeth barred as he prepared to slice the hand that bound his friend. Those yellow gleaming eyes moved suddenly. Never closing as his other hand rose sharply. A pulse of electricity ran up his body. Starting at the farthest tentacles to his other hand. Every inch of his hand began to glow. Bright shinning with a mix of red and purple electricity. Spark fired from the tendrils laying behind him.

Before Damien even got close. The energy exploded outward into him. A flash of purple lightning surged through Damien. Burning his fur along every inch of his body. His body lost all momentum. Falling short he slammed into the ground hard. Twitching hard his body curled up in pain.

I was in shock. I didn't know how to react as I felt Karu grab my hand. Karu pulled me away from the scene as quickly as she could. I stumbled and tripped trying to look away. I knew I couldn't help them. I was helpless as she urged me to continue to run. I wanted to look back so badly. Knowing my friends were going to die and I couldn't do anything for them. "Don't stop," Karu ordered. I didn't even hear her as we ran faster.

Damien grumbled slightly as his body convulsed. With crying eyes he reached out towards James captor. Desperate to try and grab at any bit of flesh. To force his friends release at any means possible. Without a word Electra stamped her heel down on his hand suddenly. Mashing it down to the ground. "Hm, I'm surprised your nervous system is still working, Master Cerce's attacks usually fry low level Anthromorphs," Electra mocked.

He continued to fight. Fighting against it as hard as he could. James sputtered and shook harder as his body writhed in pain. "Hey boss...sorry I messed up," James looked back a fleeting look in his eyes as they pulsed form pain. "Le...let....him go," Damien growled trying his hardest to force himself up. His arm couldn't support his weight as their were scalded through. "Very well," Cerce hissed and his energy surged down his finger tentacles. The tendrils ignited in a flare of brilliant purple as James gasped out as his body dissipated to metalic stained ash.

"J...James...." Before he could speak his final words. Electras heel moved sudden into his face. Hooking under his chin and with a smooth motion. A soft crack radiated from the wolfs neck; a merciful blow.

"My my my how quaint for little thieves, it took everything shred of holding back I had to keep them alive for as long as possible," Cerce turned and entered the carriage. "Well you do tend to get bored with your subjects when they show they cant last" Electra smirked softly following her superior. The carriage carried on as if nothing had happened once its occupants had reentered.

Meanwhile Karu and I had just managed to come to a stop. We were miles from home and completely worn out. My shock still hadn't worn out as we stood in the middle of a field. I just stared at the ground. As their memories began to fade from my mind I couldn't hold it. My stomach turned and I ejected whatever I had in my belly. The squelch as it hit the ground was extremely unpleasant. She lifted my face and I nearly collapsed. She pulled me to her and buried my face in her chest. My arms instantly wrapped around her. Next thing I knew. My eyes stung and my face grew wet. I was sobbing hard into her. My two best friends were suddenly taken from me. Taken so quickly and I just stood there looking like a useless idiot.

"Aaron...Look at me," Karu spoke softly. Looking up she only smiled down at me. "Are you ok? Are you hurt at all?" She wiped my face. "No...I....I threw up and..." I choked out from my frozen lips. "Shh shh its ok, its ok, there was nothing you could do, don't blame yourself," She ran her fingers along my hair pulling me in for a huge tightly. As their memories seemed to bleed from my mind. I knew something wasn't right. "Wh...why aren't you upset? They were our friends," I asked holding her tightly. She took a sudden breath and pulled back a little from me.

"You knew him...you tried to save us," I whimpered softly.

"Yes..." She whispered soflty.

"Wha...who are you?" I sniffled and asked.

"I'm still Karu...I just I've been here a lot longer than I said," She choked out a little.

When I met her it was leaving Halo's gates. She was leaving just like me. She told me she was just another person who didn't want to serve anyone. How far had she lied? How much was real? "When I met you, I had just left my position as Imperial Guard," A few tears caused her to whimper out. "That man is one of the Underworld Immortals...a god of ancient earth, Cerce...God of Knowledge and Lightning, I saw his emblem and I knew I had to protect you...I tried to warn them but, Cerce is unpredictable at best and...I was," She sniffled and composed herself as best she could. This little bit of the truth made me angry more than anything. I wanted to scream and push her away. However, the need to hold someone and be held overpowered me. I just held her tighter taking in the information I had just been told. My body shook violently as I couldn't help but be terrified. Darkness overtook my sigh slowly. I was passing out in her arms. Collapsing fast I lost myself in the void of unconsciousness

End Chapter -.