Why Must I Suffer?

~The things I hold in my hands are droplets of time. Softly I grasp them, forgotten memories, lost words.~ Nakushite Kotoba - No Regret Life


The halls of the University were practically empty, save for a student or two. Jaiden walked them caution, his hazel eyes taking in every movement. DarkSades were able to blend in easily. They would be somewhere quiet. Normal humans were able to see them, so the sixteen that were here had to make themselves hidden. Jaiden turned a corner and bumped into a student. The student turned.

"What are you doing?" He asked Jaiden.

Jaiden frowned. "You're the one just standing here."

The kid paused. "Alright fine. I'm trying to skip class in peace here."

Jaiden's attention was drawn behind the kid. A DarkSade! It was crawling on the wall hurrying towards them. It's hallow eyes were fized on them. It's deformed dark skin looked as though it had been burned. Jaiden could hear it's nails dig into the wall. Why was it allowing itself to be seen!?

"GET DOWN!" Jaiden yelled and pulled a Beretta from his bag. The kid's eyes grew wide. He ran past Jaiden and down the hall, yelling about a mad gunman. Jaiden fired a shot at the DarkSade. It jumped from the wall to the floor. It ran at him on hands and feet, it's head twisting to the side. It's mouth opened to let out a piercing screech. Down the hall, the kid gasped at the sound and fell to the floor. But Jaiden was genetically altered to not be affected. He shot off another round of bullets. The DarkSade fell to the ground as it took three bullets to the head and more to the torso. It lay lifeless as it's body turned to ash.

Frantic yelling drew Jaiden's attention. Two more DarkSades were upon the guy from earlier. He was kicking at them. Jaiden drew his other gun and ran down the hall, firing off bullets as he went. The DarkSades were turning to ash as he reached the student.

"Get up!" Jaiden demanded as he reloaded.

The guy just stared at Jaiden frozen. Jaiden yanked him up by his shirt. "I said get up!"

"What the fuck are those things!?"

"DarkSades. And it appears you are their target."

"How can you tell? What the fuck is a DarkSade!? Who the fuck are you!?"

"I know you're their target because they never hunt the same human. They each prefer their own meal. DarkSades are what your society has rejected, and my name is Jaiden. I'm here to save your ass so the next time I give a command, do it." Jaiden cocked both guns and waited.

If this guy was their target, they would come to him. Three down, thirteen to go. Jaiden looked at the student.

"What's your name?"

"Seth."

"Follow me."

Jaiden walked down the hall towards the staircase. Best place to look would be the basement. Seth would have to be bait. He could easily take them down once they surrounded Seth. Jaiden stepped into the stairwell, Seth close behind him. Jaiden paused holding out a hand for Seth to pause to.

scratch scratch scratch

They were in the stairwell. Jaiden hurried down the stairs. The best place for a vantage point would a landing. He'd have a clear shot from both sides. As he touched the landing a DarkSade came clawing it's way up over the railing catching Seth by his shirt. Jaiden threw out his arm pushing Seth back. His other arm pressed the barrel against the DarkSade's head. Jaiden pulled the trigger splattering the wall behind it with ink black sludge. He turned to Seth, who was gritting his teeth and panting.

Jaiden kneeled down in front of him. The DarkSade had sliced through his shirt and deep into his chest. Seth's shirt was soaking his blood. The scratching noises of walking DarkSades grew louder and quicker. They could smell Seth's blood. They wanted him.

Jaiden looked up. There were probably two above and the rest were below. He looked at Seth. The guy was in no condition to move. He wasn't used to such injuries as Jaiden was.

Seth looked at Jaiden. "Are they coming?"

"Yes. They can smell you injury."

"Oh, shit! What are we gonna do?"

"I'm going to kill them."

Jaiden stood. The first ones were coming from above. He raised both guns and started firing. A few seconds later black ash began to fall down on them. The other DarkSade jumped down upon them. Jaiden twisted his body and shot out his leg. His heel connected perfectly with the DarkSade's head, throwing it against the railing. Jaiden fired a bullet intot he side of it's head. More DarkSades were climbing over the railings. Jaiden just fired bullet after bullet after them. Seth sat against the wall, watching as this white haired stranger took down each monster one by one. He was awed, despite his injury. He felt no real fear. This stranger would protect him, he was sure.

Jaiden buried a bullet between the eyes of the last DarkSade. The stairwell was littered with black ash. It was like a dark snow had fallen. Jaiden turned to Seth. He pulled Seth's arm over his shoulders and helped him stand.

"You need to recieve medical attention."

"The hospital it only-"

"Not the hospital. From one of my medics. You're coming with me."

"Where are we going."

"To the USER HQ. We must hurry away from this school. People have probably already heard the shots. We should leave from the ground garage. It would be safest."

Jaiden helped Seth limp down the remaining stairs. Seth sighed to himself. It was turning out to be quite a day.