《Shadow Walkers》


 Rules and Death

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    ¡°

 White and Black

    I hear the muffled sounds of people talking to each other, chatter I can¡¯t understand, then it goes dark, I hear the sounds of machines, beeps are alarms. I feel the warmth of touch,  then it fades away to black.


    It feels like my eye lids are tied down with boulders, my body doesn''t hurt. I don''t know if I''m alive, my thoughts are with me, my body is not cooperating though. After laying for a while to soak in all of noise around me I try to open my eyes.


    Steadily opening my eyes was a chore. The room was so bright and white they wanted to instinctively shut. Finally, after many failed openings, I¡¯m able to keep them open. After giving my heavy eyes time to adjust, I could clearly see that I am alive. Scanning the area around me I notice first my body is covered in bandages, the only color to bounce off of them were the black straps holding me down.


    Tears start racing down my cheeks, all of my emotions just started flooding out all at once. I''m laying on an actual bed. I turn my gaze to a window that wasn¡¯t obstructed. Such a beautiful view, I thought.


    There were short trees with white flowers blooming and the wind was whisking away the pedals. People outside walking around without a care. Mechanical vehicles were zooming down a road in the distance. I had no idea this world was so advanced.


    After taking a deep breath I come to the realization that I am alive. This place must be some sort of medical facility.


    Just as I sigh in relief, I look over to see a woman standing in the doorway, she was small bodied, and blended in with the white of the room. She turned around after staring at me for what seemed forever and started yelling as she ran out of the room, "Doctor Bryce, Doctor Bryce!" As her voice reaches out of hearing range I hear her say with her raised voice say "He''s awake!" It sounded like she was happy that I woke up. A part of me felt something when she spoke her words. It is hard to describe, it¡¯s like, I could feel her sincerity in her voice. Like she was genuinely happy I was awake.


    Shortly after she returned dragging an elderly man by the arm she pointed at me, "See, I told you sir." she said as she was trying to regain her breath.


    "Indeed you did Nurse Flores, now let''s get a full re work up on him and I want all this done yesterday." he said in deep, gruff tone.


    "Right away doctor" she said with urgency as she had one foot already out of the door.


    The doctor approached me and flashed another light in each of my eyes while staring at them. His eyes were a gentle blue, like a still ocean. He kept talking to him self in low mumbles. He looked like he was quite old, his skin was wrinkled and his hair was dull gray. He was short, his coat almost swallowed him whole.


    After checking some of the machines behind me he finally spoke to me.


    He talked really slow trying to mask his gruff tone, "Do you understand me?" emphasizing each word as if he was talking to a child. I nodded back anyways.


    "Amazin''," he said while writing something down on his clipboard, "My name is Doctor Bryce, what is your name?" he said with the same slow pattern.


    I tried to speak back to him but my words were nothing but air. He interjected immediately "You probably can''t speak yet, we did what we could to keep your mouth clean and moisturized but it only goes so far when you are sleeping for longer periods of time." he said talking normally while reaching for a glass on a table beside me.


    "I''m going to tilt your head back and help you drink this alright? It''s just ice water." he said as he was already moving my head back. He brought the glass to my lips, it was cold and wet, my body is screaming at me to drink. I took a few sips to wet my palate, erasing anything dry.


    I tried again to make out a word, this time sound came out. "Se-Se-Se-" the doctor was sounding the word out with me, "Se-ee-v-" he asked me, "Seven, are you trying to say seven?" he said in a happier tone, I nodded in return.


    I sounded out another word, "N-a-m-e," the doctor immediately responded with cheer in his voice. "Your name is Seven, like the number?" I nodded in response again.


    "Amazin'', so your name is Seven. I''m going to tell you a few things alright?" He said ecstatically, he didn¡¯t even give me time to nod my head in response.


    "First, you have been sleeping for twenty-six days. Now don''t let that startle you, you have been well taken care of. When you were brought in by the brigade you were very badly injured, we sewed up all of your open wounds and put your arms and legs back into their sockets. We also put castings on you and strapped you down so you couldn''t move, all to speed up the healing process. I''m sure your brain made you sleep for so long to give your body the proper time and energy to heal. Do you understand everything I have said, Seven?" he said staring into my eyes awaiting my response. I slowly nodded as I was taking in all the information.


    Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    The Doctor brought out his clipboard again and said, "Is it alright If I ask you some questions?" I nodded.


    "Do you remember what happened to you?" I nodded.


    "Do you remember anything before the incident?" I nodded again.


    "That¡¯s Great, now more specifically, do you remember what happened before you passed out?" he said as his exited tone turned serious.


    I knew what happened that day, but I shook my head anyways. I think keeping that to myself would be best for now.


    "No problem, I''m sure your memory will come back in time." he said as his voice turned dead. He quickly wrote something down and headed to another machine behind me.


    I could here footsteps approaching. The nurse came back with a hoard of people. Most of them huddled outside of the doorway while others started to pile in.


    Doctor Bryce spoke to me one more time before leaving, "My team is going to run some tests, you can never be to sure when it comes to comatose patients" I¡¯m sure he also forced a smile as well.


    Once the doctor left the group bombarded me with equipment, stickers and wires everywhere. The sounds of machines making their robot like noises filled the room for a few minutes. They didn¡¯t care about me at all. None of them spoke a word. After taking everything off of me the group was gone just as quick as they came.


    Now it was just me and the nurse, I looked at her and she was giving me a smile as if she was apologizing for what just happened.


    She stepped over and drew the window open and spoke softly. "This little one comes here everyday and lays by your window. I figured there must be a connection there. It kept coming back even after I shooed it away multiple times." She said with a kind voice.


    She didn''t have to say anything else, in my heart I already knew what ¡®it¡¯ was. My little fur ball made it out to. A little nose poked through the window and started moving sporadically. Magenta took hold of my scent and scurried to the side of my bed and jumped. She nestled herself into my side and closed her eyes. I couldn¡¯t help but think she was just happy to see me as I was to see her.


    I took a deep breath and spoke to the nurse the best I could, "Thank you," she responded with a genuine smile, "We usually don''t allow this kind of thing, but I''ll make an exception just this once, for a little while."


    "I''ll leave you alone now Seven, My name is Nurse Flores, if you need assistance just say my name and the room will notify me, it doesn''t have to be loud or anything even a whisper will work. I''ll be back in a little while to check on you." Holding her clipboard to her chest she stepped out and closed the door behind her.


    Now that everything has settled, I tried to get some rest. With Magenta here that shouldn''t be a problem. This isn¡¯t so bad, I thought as I closed my eyes for some sleep. A loud knock rang out through my room, followed by another. The door opened and two figures stepped through.


    One tall man wearing a gray uniform with colorful patches on the shoulders. He was holding his hat to his chest, he looked older, but maintained some of his youthful features. He had pitch black hair that was combed back. He has a nice chiseled face with glasses covering his eyes.


    The woman was a little shorter than him but you could tell right away she was the dominant one here. Her uniform had more patches on it and she has a sword attached to her hip. Her hair instantly caught my attention, the way it glistened against the white of the room, she had it wound into a tight shape leaving just enough to part to the side of her face. Her eyes were two intense suns, that locked onto me. She tried to hide her slender curves under her uniform but I could tell she took care of herself. Her skin was tanned as if she let the light from her eyes darken her skin.


    She spoke in a very dignified manner with a very smooth voice, "I am Major Kuma West and this is Lieutenant Cross Dormen. We are from the Second Magic Brigade daughter to the Great Army of Threas. We understand you are talking and coherent. We would like you to answer our questions to the fullest extent of your knowledge."


    I let out a deep sigh as I notice Magenta is on high alert. Calming myself is also calming her. I''ve been a slave for a year, almost killed, and woke up in a hospital. Now I''m discovering this new world one piece at a time. It''s a lot to take in.

 Magic and Memories

    The air was stagnant and awkward, even the breeze left the room when these two arrived. I can only assume this staring contest is supposed to happen, after the Major demanded me to answer her questions she sure isn''t asking any. Clearly she is the most patient person in the room. So I decide to break the silence since these two wont.


    Letting out a deep sigh to calm my nerves I say "I can speak, but slowly, my voice is still recovering."


    "Good enough for me." said the Major, snapping her reply right after I finished speaking.


    "First of all, I have to ask, is that a hyrax?" she says while pointing to Magenta with hey eyes lit up with joy.


    The dignified sounding Major just turned into another person as she picked up Magenta and started to inspect her. Her mouth started moving so fast I could barely understand anything she said.


    Her dignified and firm tone is now light and whimsical. "Where did you find a Hyrax, she is so cute and fluffy. These are one of the rarest animals in the world. I have only ever seen one when I was a child. This one has an odd color around her eyes though. Usually they have black around them. They''re shrouded in mystery. Apparently they share some sort of connection with the Shadow Walkers, Oh, she is so adorable." Rubbing her face against Magenta''s fur she murmured some words I can''t make out.


    Just as I was about to say something the Lieutenant covered his mouth with his hand and said, "Ahem¡± also clearing his throat.


    Clearly speaking louder to catch his superiors attention. "I am terribly sorry for the behavior of Major West. She can be quite, fierce, when animals are involved." he said as he put emphasis on the word sorry.


    Realizing what she has done, the Major sets Magenta down and her cheeks begin to turn red. Magenta scurries off to the window to be at a safe distance. She clearly didn''t like the Major''s ''fierceness''.


    "Right, I do apologize. Back to the matter at hand." the Major said back to her dignified tone.


    "Can you tell us what you remember?" she said.


    "Look, like I told the Doctor, I can''t remember much." I said choosing my words carefully. I don''t know if these two are enemies yet. I wont say anything about the lightning and the voice I heard before I passed out.


    "I understand why you may be hesitant, Seven. That is your name correct, or rather, slave number seven." she said as she fastened her hat back on.


    I''m sure they heard the sound of me swallowing and can see the beads of sweat forming on my forehead.


    Relaxing her posture the Major said, "You can rest assured you are safe Seven. The dark elf Shavana was captured, she will not be committing any more crimes. We are here to finish our report and get you registered. Nothing more, nothing less."


    Taking in her words and letting them sink in, I look down at my arms and legs. My heart fills with relief and anger. No one else has to suffer because of Shavana, but I wont be able to get revenge either.


    Gathering myself I reply to the Major, "I''m glad she was caught. What about Vero, and the others. Did you guys save them as well?"


    "Unfortunately, Vero the Vile eluded us. As for the other slaves, after they were rehabilitated, they were all registered and given citizenship in Threas." she said with a more solemn tone as she started tapping her sword handle again.


    Changing the topic completely as if she didn''t want to talk about her failure to catch Vero."Listen Seven, we know you were summoned here. So I''ll ask again, what do you remember. Please, tell us everything.


    I feel in my heart that I can trust these two. So I told them my story, How I was a failed summon and made a slave. My memories of this past year. I told them everything up until I passed out. Of course, leaving out the part where I''m sure something spoke to my mind before the lightning hit.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    After I told them about how I did not remember anything that happened when the lightning struck, the Major spoke.


    "Thank you for sharing your story with us. I''m sure you have some questions, so feel free to ask us anything." she said as she looked down and re positioned her sword.


    "How was I found? Did you guys find me?" I asked the Major.


    "Yes, I led the raid on Shavana''s compound. We have been tracking her for a while. She moved around a lot, we knew she had to have a home base but we were never able to find it. Catching a break in her case we located her. It just so happened that that wild storm helped mask us as we prepared to launch the assault. After that enormous lightning bolt hit, we launched our assault. After we captured Shavana, Lieutenant Dormen found you among all of the rubble attached to a rack. After we freed you we gave you the best first aid we could and rushed you to the nearest hospital."


    "I see, I guess I got lucky." I said.


    "I would say so", she interjected. "Every thing within 10 meters of you was destroyed by the bolt. The only thing left was yourself, and part of what used to be a tree." she said with a curious tone, but didn''t push her curiousness any farther.


    I couldn''t help but think, what a coincidence. They planned to capture Shavana the same day she was going to have me killed.


    After thinking for a little while I asked my next question.


    "Is there a way for me to get home?"


    After a long pause the Major finally replied.


    "No, I''m terribly sorry, but we do not have the means to send someone back to the world that they came from. That is the main reason we were after Shavana in the first place. Summoning anything from a different area of existence is a forbidden act of magic here in Threas."


    "Why," I said "Why is it forbidden?"


    The Major''s expression turned somber as she told me. "I''m sure you have realized by now. I bet you can remember pieces of your previous life. Something may happen and stir up those memories. You retain those fragments in your new memories, but eventually, your new memories start to overwrite your previous ones. It''s a drawback to the magic used to do the Summoning. Our country, Threas, forbid it centuries ago."


    I knew something was strange all along, when I was first summoned I couldn''t even remember my name. Certain things would happen to trigger my old memories but as time went on fewer and fewer things were triggering my old memories. I remember the things that came back, but nothing else. Everything the Major said is true, all of it.


    I am sad I wont be able to remember my old life, but there is one word that has been said multiple times now, magic.


    "So, you say I was summoned with magic, I can assume this world has magic then?" I asked to take my mind off of my memories.


    "That is correct," she says as she points her index finger towards me and says with poise, "Lumina Orbis." An orb of light started to form around the tip of her finger. It was bright, but the light didn''t hurt my eyes.


    "You can do almost anything with magic." she said as the little orb of light started to dissipate.


    "But enough of that, I think we have everything we need. All that''s left is to get you registered." she says as she look at Lieutenant Dormen.


    "Right, I''ll begin the process now." he said as he stood up.


    "Notitia Oculis" said the Lieutenant as his eyes lit up with a faint green glow.


    "I''ll begin by documenting your attributes," he said as his manly voice became more fixed and robotic. He is looking me up and down. "183 centimeters long, weight is sixty-two kilograms, age is eighteen years, dark brown hair, and green eyes. Identifying features, multiple elongated scars along the back, arms, and legs. For your registration to be complete, what is your full name?" he asked.


    "This isn''t embarrassing at all is it." I replied. "My name is Seven."


    Major West interrupted saying with sincerity "You are no longer a slave, Seven, so if you want to call yourself something different you can."


    "I appreciate the gesture Major, but, I want to remember who I was when I got summoned here. Besides, I''ve been Seven for so long I''m used to it." I said cracking a slight smile.


    "Very well," she said smiling back. "Seven it is."


    "Seven confirmed, registration complete." he said as the dim green glow in his eyes started to vanish.


    "You will receive your identification before you are released from the hospital." he said as she stood up to open the door for the Major.


    "We will also be stopping by before you are released to go over some programs to help you start your life." Said the Major as she stood up.


    "I hope you get better soon, Seven." I could hear the sympathy and respect in her voice.


    "Thanks Major, for everything. I would shake your hand but, under the circumstances." I said with a slight laugh.


    Letting out a light chuckle herself breaking out of her usual dignified demeanor she said as she put her hand on my bandaged arm. "I am sure you will be fine if you can make jokes after what happened to you, We will see you soon, Seven."


    "Get well soon, Seven, see ya later" said the lieutenant as he motioned a salute from his hat.


    "Thank you both again, I guess I''ll see you once I''m all healed." I said.


    "Oh, and you better take care of that hyrax!" The major said as she walked out of the room.


    After they left I heard the patter of little paws walking across the floor. Magenta jumped up on my bed and laid down letting out a long breath of relief.


    "Yeah I know, I like them though. Especially the Major." I said as I closed my eyes to think about everything that happened today.


    I hope it doesn''t take long for me to finish healing. I''m ready to explore this world.

 Multiple Faces

    It''s been ten days since my visit from the brigade. My castings are off and my body feels great. I am almost fully recovered aside from some stitches that need to stay in a little longer. Being able to move around again is nice.


    The system in place is convenient for anyone who was summoned. I don''t have to pay for anything until I find work and become independent.


    According to Nurse Flores, Lieutenant Dormen will be stopping by tomorrow to help me start my life. It''s to bad the Major wont be joining him, I''d like to see her again.


    I''ve been spending a lot my time roaming the hospital grounds, Magenta never misses a chance to be at my side. We usually eat lunch and dinner under the shade of her favorite tree, one that had a hole dug into it''s trunk making it a suitable, but temporary home for my furry friend.


    Nurse Flores likes to stop by, often after her shift has ended to talk to me about Aether, the world we live in. I''ve learned about the some different countries like Threas. Which is a neutral power, and where we live. Then you have places like Laswrath, a country that was born from conflict. It borders Threas and has been causing some problems lately.


    What interested me the most was magic. Unfortunately she didn''t know much about it. I learned that ''Magus'' as they are called, numbered around one in ten-thousand. And most of them were recruited by the military.


    After soaking in what information I could from Nurse Flores I didn''t have anything to do but wait. Lieutenant Dormen is supposed to be here early tomorrow morning.


    So I eat dinner and hurry to sleep, that''s the fastest way for me to pass the time. I tried to fall asleep but it took a while, the excitement kept me awake.


    Suddenly, an eerie feeling envelops me, breaking into a cold sweat my breathing became quick. My sense of dread made me want to keep my eyes closed. After feeling a sensation slowly pressure my mouth I open my eyes, and the hand of a shadow figure that looked of nightmares and terror, covered it.


    A faceless head loomed over me with endless black smoke slowly resonating around it. Whispering with a terrifying unnerving voice, "Wake up," it said as it opened it''s eyes. Revealing the faces of all my fellow slaves. "Wake up now!" it said with a screech of mixed voices.


    "Now!" it said with the most gut-wrenching scream I have ever heard.


    Out of sheer panic I open my eyes in time to see a hand slowly reaching for my face. My body was already in a heightened state of panic. I rolled off the bed getting entangled in my blanket as I hit the floor sliding to the far wall.


    "I am curious, how did you know I was coming." he said as he started to walked towards me stepping into the moonlit spot the window provided revealing his identity.


    "Doctor Bryce, what are you doing?" I asked as I tried to free myself.


    "I can''t let a summon just walk out of here, there is so much to be done, now come quietly, or I''ll have to hurt you." he said in a cynical tone.


    Looking for a way out the only thing on my mind was to run. Doctor Bryce may be an old man but something told me to run.


    Pulling out a metal object from his coat, he pointed it at me.


    "This is a dart gun, loaded with a steel tipped dart with paralyzing agent coated on it''s tip. It won''t kill you, but I''m sure it will be painful. It''s unfortunate I need to use this but-." he said with determination as he readied his gun.


    I knew he would use that on me so before he could finish his words I kicked my blanket up at him as I heard little bursts of air, force darts into the blanket.


    My only way out was the window, I charged at it full speed and dove with my arms covering my head.


    Breaking through, the sound of hundreds of glass shards cracking under pressure of the jump filled my ears. I landed head first into the ground, trying to gather myself quickly. Little piece of glass embedded themselves in my arms and feet as I stood up and started running.


    I hear the sound of air, piercing by my head as I take cover behind a tree. If I run out in the open he will surely hit me.


    After thinking it over I decided the only way I could stand a chance would be to fight. That damn doctor moves a lot quicker than his age suggests leaving me no time to react.


    "If you surrender willingly I''ll make sure not to kill you while I experiment on you." he said with a corrupted laugh.


    "I never would of thought a Summoned would fall right into my lap. Yes- I have been waiting for moment like this. A key for my elixir of life. It has been decades since the last one arrived and she died before I could get my hands on her."


    "There is nowhere for you to go so- come out!" he said as he lost all humanity in his tone instantly reminding me of Shavana.


    Looking frantically around for a weapon to defend myself with, I couldn''t find anything but a small stone that my hand easily wrapped around.


    It''s a gamble, I thought, but if I can hit him with this stone I may be able to give myself a chance to escape.


    Steadying my breathing and focusing, I just visualized his head. My target, if I can hit it, I''m free. If I miss, hes going to catch me.


    I listened for his footsteps to get closer, he knows where I''m at, but he doesn''t know what I''m about to do.


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    It felt like time slowed as I counted his steps, I could hear the grass cry out as he stepped on it. His heavy breathing trying to catch his breath. The closer he got the more I focused. Almost, I thought. Just a little closer. At this range, I think I can hit him.


    I step out with the stone clenched in my right hand, I rear back taking a deep breath. Whipping my arm forward like a cannon and snapping my wrist as the accelerant. The stone flew from hand like the cannon ball.


    It whirled through the air making the most brilliant whistle. As if the air couldn''t hold it back. Then it cracked, just like the whip did when it was used on me countless times.


    The sound shattered all of the surrounding windows. It must of taken my attention away from the doctor, because when I looked at him, my stomach turned. The stone hit with so much force his face was flattened and cracked. As he fell to the ground his blood painted the empty canvas around him.  I was also painted with a streak of crimson across my face. A lifeless body laid there with the stone stuck in the mess of mangled skin, tissue, brain, and bone that used to be his face.


    My knees hit the ground as I braced my stomach, throwing up all of my dinner. Alarms filled the area from the aftermath of my throw.


    I- I just threw it to distract him- not kill him. How did that even happen? It was normal- it was all normal- a normal throw- then why? Why did this happen? My mind was swirling with grotesque images of his mutilated face.


    Letting out a scream I pound the ground with my fists. The sounds of sirens in the distance are steadily making there way here.


    I am a murderer, sure he was probably going to kill me. He said he wanted to use me as an experiment for fucks sake! It was me or him- yeah- he had to die so I didn''t. It was kill or be killed- I was in danger so I did what I had to- No- that''s not right. I was going to escape- why did I kill him- a life is not worth a life- there had to be another way- there had to be.


    I stayed on the ground the whole time, as people started to flood the area I was glued to the ground uttering the same words on an endless loop.


    "Sir, what happened here?" A man said as he placed a hand on my shoulder


    "There had to be- there had to be." I kept saying, over and over.


    "Captain, I think you should come over and take a look at this." the man said with urgency.


    As another man came over to his request. Kneeling beside him he looked at me with grimace.


    "Mercy be, what happened to you boy." he said as he looked at my defeated pose, noticing the scars that covered me.


    Shaking my body he asked again louder, "What happened here? Answer me!"


    My response was the same.


    Clearly having enough, he gave his an order to the man beside him in a hurried tone. "Tell Yeral to get over here now, and bring me something to cover him up."


    "Yes sir," said the man as he ran off somewhere.


    Soon after, a blanket started to warm my body, and another man came to the Captain''s side.


    Barking his order immediately, "Calm him down." he said to the new face.


    "I can try," he said while pulling out a vial from his pocket.


    "He is in a severe state of shock, it may have the opposite outcome." he said with anger.


    "It doesn''t matter," said the Captain as he looked Yeral in the eye.


    "If we leave him like this he may never recover." he said with an appealing tone.


    "Don''t blame me if this goes sideways." he said as if he was aggravated.


    He raised the vial to the air and spoke with grace. "Come o''light, create serenity, create augury. Calm a broken soul o''light, purge the bad so the good may flow again. Let it be done o''light."


    The clear liquid in the vial began to turn light blue. He took no time to hold the newly transformed liquid to my nose and said one word, "Disperse."


    Turning into vapor, the liquid found its way into my lungs. I could feel my thoughts vanish. My mind becoming serene. Filled with a gentle light that barricaded Doctor Bryce behind it.


    "So, can you tell me what happened here?" the Captain said with familiarity.


    "I threw the stone embedded into the Doctor''s head, I killed him." I said not holding any details back.


    "He tried to capture me with that dart gun, he cornered me so I threw that stone at him to try and escape, but it killed him instead."


    "That is not normal, no human can put that kind of force behind a throw." he said weary of my story.


    "Do you have registration?" he said as if he already knew the answer.


    "I do not, Lieutenant Dormen was supposed to bring it tomorrow morning."


    "Hm, you don''t say. Lieutenant Dormen huh. I don''t know how you pulled that off, but I''m still going to have to take you with me to headquarters until we can uncover what happened here." he said while helping me to my feet.


    "I''ll contact the Lieutenant so he knows where you are." he said as he helps me to the back of his car.


    As the door shut, my mind had returned to normal. This whole mess almost rattled me to the point of no return. The car starts driving and I just stare out of the window, smirking.