The Son of Light Book 1: Rebirth

by Parker, Chris

  To make things more confusing, his right hand had a faint outline on it. It itched and tingled and let off a faint glow. What the hell was going on? Whatever was happening, Seth and his brother needed help. He peeked over the road again.

  Walking around the playground with those crazy people lurking about would be suicide. Maybe I can sneak past them to that tree? He gathered the courage to come out from hiding, tiptoed to a nearby tree, and climbed to the top of it. With the thick dead branches hiding him, he got better view of things.

  The crazed people were lifelessly standing around. They weren’t like the people from the soccer field. They looked strange. Then he looked up at a building in the distance off to his right. A body was resting on the roof, and there was something familiar about it.

  He climbed down slowly and made his way to another tree, creeping as quietly as possible. Once he reached it, he climbed to the top and gazed towards the building once again. This view was a lot better than before because now he could make out who it was on the building.

  "Nick?" he said, recognizing the black mist around the body.

  As he leaned forward to get a better view, the dead branch broke and he fell to the ground. The crazed people turned in his direction and raced towards him, screaming at the top of their lungs. Josh popped up and ran like hell up another tree, the crazed people grasping at his heels. Now he could see their screaming faces.

  Their skin looked sickly and pale with a faint pink glow and dark purple veins bulging. Their eyes were glowing pink too yet they were soulless. Suddenly, a handful of them started attacking each other.

  "Jesus!" shouted Josh.

  He jumped to another tree closer to the building. He jumped to another tree until he reached the roof of the building, the crazed people following after him. He bolted towards his naked brother and pulled him up by the shoulders as the black mist faded away. Nick’s skin was like ice. He was bruised and cut. Who would do this do him? How did he loose his clothes?

  "Nick! Wake up! Wake up!" he begged in a panic.

  By now, the crazed mob had surrounded the building, while some were approaching the roof from the trees. After being shaken for a few seconds, Nick finally opened his eyes.

  "Oh thank God!" said Josh hugging him.

  He turned to the crazed people climbing onto the roof.

  "What do we do?"

  Nick stared at him, his face emotionless. Josh turned back to him.

  "What do we do?" he asked louder.

  Nick still just stared at him.

  "Nick!" Josh urged.

  Nick smiled and let out a hysterical laugh. Josh watched him, confused and worried. Is he going crazy? he thought.

  Then without warning, Nick punched him and pushed him off the roof. Josh crashed onto his right arm, letting out an agonized scream. He gazed up and saw Nick beaming down at him still laughing, now in a high-pitched, demonic voice. Suddenly, black and purple mist covered his body again. When it faded, a figure appeared wearing a long, thin, hooded black cloak. Lord Damen stood in Nick's place, his eyes glowing blood red.

  He flew over Josh’s head, covered in black and purple mist, to the end of the section, and created a dark sphere out of thin air. The pale blue orbs began to move towards it. Josh struggled to his feet, his arm screaming in pain. The crazed people gave chase, but suddenly they dropped to the ground like rag dolls and rotted away as Josh watched in disbelief.

  Pain stabbed his right arm again. He twitched and looked at it. It was dislocated. But then his looked on his hand. To his surprise, there was an upside-down triangular symbol with small circles on each of the corners, glowing. The top left circle had an “M,” the top right a “B,” the bottom an “S,” and half of the center was shaded in. A white and light-blue glow shimmered inside its shape.

  Using his other hand, he carefully lifted his right hand closer to his face. It was painful to do so, but he had to get a better look at it. Then, without warning, a beam of light shot out of his palm and hit the black sphere. Just like before, the black dripping sphere boiled, letting out nasty fumes. The fire faded and a new path was revealed.

  What the hell was that? What’s going on? Somehow, he knew he’d seen the man in black before. Was he attacking Nick and Seth? Either way, he had to get to the bottom of this.

  Chapter 11

  Reunion

  Josh

  The sky was a dark shade of gray. The atmosphere was heavier and freezing cold. Ghostly pale purple orbs covered in black mist floated through the misty air around dead vegetation.

  Josh stood on another broken road. In the distance, he saw a large run-down college about seventy yards away. On its front lawn, a tall tower of the strange fire swirled around a single spot on the dead grass.

  However, Josh’s face was pale, his breathing increased, and his entire body was shaking. In front of him was a massive lake with dead bodies of older men and young boys floating around.

  He looked desperately for a way across, but there wasn’t any. Unfortunately, according to the damaged sign that floated in the dirty water (“Section 3 - Brevig University”), this was the place Seth had mentioned. Nick was in there somewhere. He had no choice, he would have to swim to get across.

  He took a deep breath and climbed down into the ice-cold water. As he began to walk, a few bodies floated towards him. Their dead, pale, empty eyes glared straight at him. He immediately rushed back to climb out. This is too much! he thought. I can’t do it!

  But his brother’s face flashed in his head. He couldn’t give up now. Not after coming this far. He took a deep breath again, closed his eyes, turned around and started walking. The cold bodies bumped against his neck and chest causing him to stop every now and then. He peeked to see how close he was to the other side—not even close. He walked faster, shutting his eyes tight, again.

  The ice cold of the water stabbed him like knives as the dead bodies continued to bump against him. Then, as if a hand had pulled his legs, he sunk down into a deeper part of the lake. He screamed as he splashed around, gasping for air. The water tasted like blood and dirt as it entered his mouth.

  He continued to frantically splash around until he finally reached the other side. He pulled himself, with his good arm, up onto land. For a few moments, he just laid there, his eyes staring towards the sky as the ghostly orbs gracefully hovered above him.

  He turned his head to the left and saw the tall stream of fire fade, revealing a body. He looked harder and saw his brother again. This time he was clothed in gray sweats and hoodie. Josh pulled himself up and approached him slowly. As he did, he found a large stick at his feet and picked it up. If it was that man again, he was ready to beat some answers out of him. Once he reached his brother, he poked his arm.

  He saw Nick slowly open his eyes. As he watched Nick sit up, he backed away. Nick looked as he had had waken from a dream. After a few moments he flinched when his eyes landed on Josh.

  "Josh?" said Nick, incredulously.

  Josh backed up again.

  "W-Where am I?" asked Nick looking around. He turned back to Josh.

  "Josh?" he said trying to stand.

  "Stay back!" ordered Josh, still pointing the stick at him. He wasn’t going to fall for it this time.

  Nick finally got to his feet and slowly moved towards him. Josh was shaking so uncontrollably his eyes watered. Nick noticed Josh's right arm dangling at his side, his wet clothes, and busted lip.

  "What happened to you?” he asked with pained expression.

  "Stay the fuck back!” Josh shouted as his voice broke.

  Josh swung the stick, but Nick calmly caught it with a hand and pulled his brother towards him.

  "Calm down," said Nick coolly.

  Josh stood there, still shaking. This Nick was nothing like the one before. He was warm and familiar. Nick took him by the sides of his head.

  "Look at me! Calm down. It's okay, kid."

  It was definitely Nick. He could feel it. Josh stopped shaking and melted
into his brother’s arms. He grabbed him tight and wept. After all that he’d been through, he was finally with his brother.

  Then the mysterious fire surrounded the entire perimeter of the college section. Black and purple mist appeared in the flames and moments later, a figure stepped out. Terror stretched on Nick’s face as the figure in a thin, blood-red hooded cloak approached them. Lord Hexen had arrived.

  Chapter 12

  His Worst Fear

  Josh & Nick

  Josh saw Hexen remove his hood, revealing his face. Is this the guy from before? He looked like him, but he didn’t have red eyes or look particularly abnormal. He was muscular with a chiseled face; his eyebrows were dark and thick above pale eyes, and his head was shaved. Josh saw a handful of the ghostly orbs drifting towards the demon lord. Hexen absorbed them and his eyes were healed. Josh stood frozen as his turquoise eyes met Hexen’s black ones.

  It was simply mesmerizing. Hexen’s gaze sent chills through Josh body. Everything seemed to have stopped and yet Hexen was getting closer. Then he heard a voice.

  "Josh, run!" yelled Nick.

  He felt himself being pushed back and saw his brother racing towards Hexen.

  Without warning, Hexen fired black lightning from his fingertips, catching Nick off guard. Josh saw Nick catch the bolts in his hands. He stood there, watching them, still confused and shocked. He failed to notice, however, the black and purple mist forming above his head.

  From it, Damen dropped down in front of him. Josh screamed as he saw a flash of purple light. He felt himself being blasted into the air and through the gates of the college. He rolled into the student center, hitting his face on the ground as blood streamed from his nose and forehead.

  He sat up and saw his brother’s cell phone in front of him through the blood in his eyes. Damen came flying towards him, firing more lightning. Josh rolled to avoid the bolts, which instead hit the ground and phone with a loud bang. He scrambled to his feet and ran away towards the corridors.

  Meanwhile, Nick continued to block Hexen's roaring black bolts at the front gates of the college. With great fury, he converted the bolts into a bright blue beam and pushed it towards the demon lord. But the beam quickly became black bolts again, much more powerful than before. Nick leaped out of the way and created a flaming orb in each hand. He turned to the flames, hoping to use his special attack, like he did in the City of Pasag. The flames did not heed his command, however. He turned around and saw Hexen commanding them into the ground. Moments later, a pillar of fire shot up under Nick, but he managed to dodge it in time. Hexen commanded another fiery pillar to shoot up. Nick dodged it again, but felt his sweater burning. He pulled it off and clapped his hands over his head, and a blinding flash hit Hexen’s eyes. He turned and saw that Josh was gone. With great speed, Nick headed straight for the college.

  Josh ran through the corridors as purple lighting blasted past his head and legs. He ducked and covered as pieces of the corridor crumbled around him and dust particles blinded his sight. He fought against the temptation to look back at Damen, who was laughing manically behind him.

  Eventually, he gave in and glanced back, hoping his attacker had gotten tired. To his surprise, Damen was gone. Josh looked around frantically. Suddenly, he felt something bite his right shoulder. He fell to the ground, shrieking in pain, and saw Damen standing over him, laughing. His teeth were bloodied and his eyes glowed red. He let out a loud screech as purple lightning flashed on his body. Josh crawled to his feet and ran away screaming.

  Meanwhile, Nick bolted onto the walkway and saw Josh running out of the corridor. Before he could move, Hexen appeared in front of him. With great hatred Nick lunged at him, swinging his fists and hollering like a wild beast. None of his swings were connecting, however. Then all the air was forced out him as he felt Hexen’s iron fist drive into his gut. He fell to his knees and watched Hexen head towards Josh.

  Josh scrambled up a tall flight of stairs to a stone garden all the way at the back of the college. The garden held large stones in a wide circle around an even taller rectangular stone. Etched around the garden in blood was an outline of the symbol that matched the one on his hand. He turned and saw the strange fire mixing with purple lightning, and the ghostly orbs around him. Damen had appeared again a few feet away, commanding them. Josh dropped to the ground and threw his hands over his head. Suddenly, the symbol on his hand flashed and light covered his entire body. Damen’s attack hit Josh, creating violent flashes.

  Down on the walkway, Nick struggled to his feet and leapt onto Hexen, placing him in a tight chokehold. Hexen thrashed around as Nick beat him viciously in the face. Hexen reached over and threw him into a classroom. The demon lord flew towards his fallen foe, but he was met with a sparkling jet of blue fire roaring towards him. Nick stood up and continued the attack. Hexen was blocking the swirling blue flames with his bare hands and in moments, had converted them into a force wave.

  Nick felt himself launch into the air. The entire college came apart under the force of Hexen’s counterattack, from the shattering windows of every building, and the falling bell tower that crashed into the library and gym, to the exploding classrooms and stores. Everything was in ruins. Nick hit the ground and gave out a loud cry. He looked down at a rusty pole sticking out of his left calf, blood gushing everywhere. Hexen ignored the screams and headed for the stone garden.

  Damen ceased his attack once he saw Hexen approaching. The light shield faded, leaving Josh exhausted. He felt a cold hand gripping him by the throat, and he felt himself being lifted off the ground. He looked down and saw Damen holding him high in the air, wearing a wide grin.

  Josh kicked the demon lord anywhere he could, but it was like hitting stone. Then he saw Damen open his mouth and a long, wet tongue protruded out. Josh squirmed as it brushed across his mouth and his nose. Damen’s eyes glanced over to an approaching Hexen and then back to Josh.

  Nick quickly melted the bottom end of the pole and pulled it out of his bleeding calf. He limped after Hexen, grabbed his cloak, and pulled the demon lord onto the sharp pole. Hexen screamed, falling to the ground. With one hand, Nick engulfed Hexen in flames and with his other, encased him in glowing ice. Hexen moved no more.

  Josh felt his throat squeeze tighter and tighter until suddenly he felt himself fall to the ground. He looked up and saw pain stretching across Damen’s face. He stood paralyzed as Josh backed away. Moments later, Nick arrived, firing another jet of blue fire and destroying Damen's body. Josh saw Nick struggle towards him and pulled him to his feet. Josh was horrified. What the fuck is happening? Everything was going so fast.

  Before he could speak, a storm of black and purple mist appeared in front of them. Hexen stepped out, his face emotionless. Josh quickly moved behind his brother, who was trembling just as much as he was. He saw the ghostly purple orbs entered Hexen’s body again and within seconds all of Hexen’s burns and wounds were healed.

  Josh saw Nick create blue flaming orbs in his hands and heard him say, “When I say the word, run away as fast—”

  But before Josh could hear the rest, he saw Nick drop to the ground gasping for air as Hexen’s mist covered his head. He rushed to aid his brother as Hexen closed in on them.

  “Leave him alone!” wailed Josh.

  Hexen continued to stride towards him.

  “I’m warning you, stay back!” he ordered, clenching his fists.

  Hexen did not listen. With his blood boiling, Josh leaped at Hexen and punched him in his chiseled face. It had no effect. Josh pulled back his fist in pain. It had been like hitting a brick wall. He stood there for second in shock, then as if in slow motion, he saw Hexen raise his right hand and bring it down at him. Josh felt a sharp pain in the back of his neck and then darkness.

  Chapter 13

  Face to Face

  Josh & Nick

  Through the mist, Nick watched Hexen carry Josh in his arms. Hexen gently rested him on the center of the stones, under the taller stone. Hexen
stared at Josh’s bloodied face for a moment before raising his hands and commanding black mist to form mini black spheres on the stones. The dark spheres immediately began drawing the ghostly orbs into them, from around the area. In one quick hand movement he commanded dark beams to shoot from them into the sky.

  The beams met and created a colossal black sphere. Finally, Hexen created a symbol on Josh's chest similar to the one etched around the garden, with Josh’s own blood. Nick tried moving, but he felt weaker and weaker as the black mist continued to grip him. Suddenly, he saw a flash and moments later Hexen was gone, but Josh’s body was left behind.

  Josh woke with his vision blurred, but once it cleared he saw nothing but a pinkish glow. He looked below his abdomen and saw that he was in a sea of purple and pink orbs, similar to the ones he had seen in the park.

  "Wh-where am I?" he moaned, wearily.

  He looked at his hands and they seemed transparent. He soon realized his entire body was see-through. Only a symbol glowing on his chest, that looked similar to the one on his hand, was solid. This surely had to be a dream, but it couldn’t be. He could feel pain all through his body. It was like a million small, hot knives carving into him slowly.

  "You are with me, Son of Light," said a cold voice.

  Josh turned and saw Hexen standing on a piece of land a few feet away. Josh stared at him, totally in shock. He franticly looked around the never-ending pink sea for any signs of Nick.

  "He is not here," said Hexen.

  Josh looked back at Hexen wide-eyed.

  "You. Who are you? What do you want?" asked Josh nervously.

  "I am Lord Hexen," answered Hexen calmly.

  Josh stared at him with confusion: Hexen was speaking, but his mouth wasn't moving. He heard two voices coming from him—one sounded normal, one sounded demonic. And for some reason, Hexen was getting taller.

  "I knew someone like you once. He’s gone, but here you are before me with the same powers," said Hexen, beaming at Josh.