The night was broken by mountains rising in the distance as the moon broke through a cloud. It was a brisk Saturday night that would soon turn into a turmoil full Sunday morning. Despite being high in the mountains neither of the young man who were walking into the mountains on this evening could see any stars despite the fact that there was only a little cloud cover and the moon was a crescent moon late in its waning stage. Being unaccustomed to the mountains neither the man, named Darrell and Sal, thought anything of the darkness which seemed to have fallen upon the silent and peaceful mountains. In only a few hours the darkness would be the only thing either of them could think about.
Earlier that week they had met, never having met before that fateful day, due to a post card which told them to go to a cemetery out on an island near New York City where the sender would communicate to them a message. Before describing the events that took place in that cemetery it is first important to describe the man themselves.
Darrell was a young man of good looks and charms. He never had any trouble with any ladies except when they would never leave him alone; which happened surprisingly often. Darrell was a bit of a survivor having persevered through rumors and what such about him that came with him trying to reach the big time as an actor. He was also quite agreeable and in no way confrontational; he would much rather sit with you and discuss the issue rather then fight with you.
Sal was not much different the Darrell. He was of the same good looks and charms. He did from time to time have girl trouble how ever he allowed him self to bounce back. All that met him knew him for his humor which was always characterized by a long joke that would leave everyone nearby cracking up. He was not a cynical man and like Darrell was an actor albeit with slightly different tastes as he was also a musician of some talent and skill.
The fateful events that brought them together was simple; they had received a post card from no sender (for their address was the only address on the postcard which was unstamped) and the post card read:
You are to meet me at the enclosed location at the enclosed time. You will not be late; this I know. I hope to see you soon.
Signed,
Me.
Neither of them knew someone named “me” and had gone to investigate. Once they arrived there, both on time, they saw a man of an almost angelic light who radiated warmness. He wore only light colors that gave him almost a divine feel and owned a stare that warmed one's soul and melted evil from one's heart almost like a how a fire shall melt ice except faster then even that. This man of an almost divine and grandfather like quality gave the two young man a deep soulful and began speaking to them in a gentle yet authoritative voice:
“You have many questions, this I know. And I apologize for being unable to give you all the answers at this moment. What I can tell you is that I am me and I am my self and therefore what stands before you is fact and not fiction. You may call me Sam. You may wonder why a grave yard and the answer is simple: It is the start of a journey that will begin at the end of the journey of others. Darrell I wish you to be a new hero. This is your sword” he said as he handed the surprised Darrell a sword, “And you Sal are not forgotten. You shall be a trickster, may your thoughts and jokes leave despair upon your enemy. I apologize, my time here grows short. Before I leave I must tell you, there are others like you. You must find them quick for what is is fading into what should not be. From the darkness the evil is coming. Head to the mountains of just north of here, your sense will tell you where. You shall find another there” he said as he slowly faded leaving the two completely awestruck. It took a day for them to absorb all of the information. Another day for them to make sense that it was all real from the fact that Darrell still had his sword and yet another day to prepare for their trip. In all three days had past from when they had met in a place of what has been so they may begin what is to be. When they left on Wednesday they had no idea what to expect from their trip. By Sunday morning they had reached a small village in a valley having not endured many hardships but instead were quite hungry and yearning for some sleep after walking all night so they stopped into a local inn.
“May we have a room” asked Darrell
“Do you have the money” asked the inn keeper, a rough looking man who appeared to have been through a lot.
“Do you have the discounts?” asked Sal, staring him straight in the eye expecting a laugh.
“Ten percent off for gentleman like you” said the inn keeper. While they had not noticed it at this point when they looked back they saw he seemed a little bit off as if he had been hypnotized.
“We'll take it” said Darrell as he handed over the money and noticed that they were getting low on cash. How ever he figured it would be a problem for later; sleep would be needed to find the other which he had heard of. They went to sleep at 7 in the morning and awoke at 12 in the afternoon. During their three days of preparation Darrell had learned how to work the sword and was know able to conceal it easily by putting the blade it self within the hilt; a concept he did not fully understand. What they did not think of at the time was that from a lone window in an abandoned factory sitting on a silent and dark corner was a beast watching and learning them.
It was around two that day that the screaming began from the factory puzzling many as the doors were locked and no one had been in there many years since it last operated. Sal and Darrell decided the best course of action was to investigate. They went through a broken window silently as the rest of the town lay gently waiting on the other side of the factory for the police officer who was several towns away and contending with three fallen trees to arrive on scene. The best estimate on arrival time was at five that evening. They slowly walked around the old, dark factory being careful to not disturb rats when Sal asked something.
“Do we even know why we're here?”
“Because we were asked to be here.” said Darrell
“By some weird man we never met before”
“Glad to see I'm not the only one” said some one else in the dark armor of a knight. His face was not visible as he wore his visor down however his chain mailed glistened in the thin light. At his side he held the hilt of his sword which he slowly raised and out of it came a beam of light that zoomed past Darrell and Sal. “That is not good” he said.
“And who are you?” asked Darrell and Sal at the same time
“Maximus. Oh and a being embodied as shadows is behind you. I recommend you watch out”.
Suddenly the shadows began to twist and turn behind them slowly into the shape of a person.
“Stop” said Sal and while it slowed it did not stop. “Stop” he said once more in a stronger voice and this time it stopped as Darrell unleashed a blast of anger with his sword among the being. Soon it stopped affecting it.
“One second” said Maximus as the light from his sword formed into a sharped edged blade which he used to cut into the being. “It adapts to fighting styles and then becomes immune to them. Oh, will you shut up!” he yelled over its cries of pain.
“I am the last of my kind, help” it pleaded
“No you are not, there are many more of you. I saw them.” said Maximus
“But it is coming. From the darkness of what should never be it shall come and we will die”
“Is that why everything acts this way. Because the end is coming and you don't care anymore about others. Well guess what; I am the end and I will meet your tribe and let them fear me”. Said Maximus
“You shall die. Burn, burn, BURN” it screamed as it faded into the nothing.
“What happened to it” asked Sal.
“It died” said Maximus
“But what was it?” said Darrell
“A disembodied being which took for through a shadow. It's not dead per say but it won't bother us again. Now if you don't mind I'll explain what I am. I am the Templar, my task is to find The Weapon. And yours?” said Maximus
“What weapon?” asked Darrell
“Just 'The Weapon'” said Maximus
“Well we were told to seek” said Sal
“And what do you do” asked Maximus as he closely examined Sal, “mind powers?”
“Trickster”
“Close enough. And you?”
“I'm a hero-I think” said Darrell and at these words the Templar bowed before Darrell and begged for good blessings.
“Yes good blessings to you but we were wondering what to do know” said Darrell
“Your names?” asked Maximus
“I'm Sal and he's Darrell” said Sal
“Follow your sense and you will find something” said Maximus. “I apologize but here I part.”
And so he left. Shortly after he left the man returned to their room, collected their supplies and went to the south west of their location. They left at four o clock. At five o clock the police arrived and found no sign of struggle and was utterly confused for their was a scream but no screamer. The village would eventually write it off as an oddity and never connect the three strangers.
But unseen to the strangers was another stranger who lurked in the darkness and watched. And as darkness began to slowly fall he walked away to his next destination knowing soon sides would be picked and the first great battle of what may be the Last Great War would begin shortly.
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