Shades of Fear ~ 5 - Recognition

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     “So who was this Shadow King?” asked Tusk. 

     Among the sharp red rocks and curved cliff caverns, there was a fire pit that the group of hunters had hunkered down in to rest for a bit.   On one side, Captain was laying down with his hands behind his head and looking up into the smokey sky through a hole in the rocky cavern, calmly trying to see what stars would appear behind the orange and grey clouds.  On the other, Doc Jay was cleaning and stitching a bite wound on Tusk, who was eating the leg of the recently defeated monster and talking to Brant, who after cooking the monster that was now being eaten, was cleaning his tools.  
     It wasn't even an hour ago when Captain watched Tusk jump on the back of a twelve foot scaly horse and beat it's brains out of with a hammer, but after shooting it in the seven of its thirteen eyes and finding out that it's legs could withstand the impact of a forty pound sledge weapon, there was very little options.  Captain only hit four of the eyes, much to his disappointment, and watched as the monster wrenched back from the impacts from Tusk, bit into his shoulder, and threw him across the rocks.  This only seemed to excite Tusk, who rushed back and tried to finished the creature off with only his hammer.  
     But unfortunate, it excited him too much.
     Now, with his shirt torn revealing his olive slick skin with oddly shaped muscle covered in blood, Tusk could hardly remember who the crew was.  It was the side affect of being a Warrior, whenever he went berserk he would lose parts of his memory.  Sometimes it was for just a little bit, but other times... 

     Brant said, "Is." 

     A few seconds passed before Tusk replied.  "What?"

     Brant stayed quiet as he continued cleaning.  He didn't talk much, but when or if he did, it wasn't for very long.  Captain sighed and closed his eyes, trying to ignore the conversation. 

     Doc, trying to stitch with Tusk ignoring him, responded.  "Is, not was."
     “Aw, sorry, who is this Shadow King? I mean, I remember the children stories, but what did he rule?"

     Captain responded without opening his eyes, "Everything and nothing.  What are you asking, Tusk?"

     “Well, I was thinking…”
     Doc added quickly in a low tone, "Never a good sign.”
     Tusk either didn't hear or ignored it.  “…that as much as I hear people talk about the Shadow King, I have never seen him.  How do we even know he was… is real?”
     Damn, thought Captain.  How hard did that creature throw him?  Not even an hour ago, he saw this man jump on the back of a creature with a hand hammer and laughing like a mad man as he started smashing it's face, but now he was just giving this blank expression and asking questions that a child would ask.  Captain spoke out, “I’m guessing you never gone into Pride Castle before, have you?”
     “What, just walk in?  Wouldn’t someone…”
     Doc pulled on the suture with some strength, but it didn't affect the large body of Tusk.  “It’s abandoned.  Keep still.”
      Tusk seemed to just notice that Doc was working on him, but took another bite from his food before he slowly asked, “…Why?”  Captain wasn't a hundred percent sure if he was asking about the castle or keeping still.
      Doc asked without looking up from his work.  “Did you get hit on that head as well by that monster or you being intentionally dense?”
      There was another pause before Tusk answered, “…No?”
      Captain spoke.  "To be fair, most people feel that way about Pride Castle.  Even though no one is guarding it, no one wants to enter inside and see the last battleground of the Burning Man and the Shadow King.  The scorch marks can be seen everywhere, from floor to the ceiling... But still on his throne, is the remains of the Shadow King."
     Tusk thought for a bit, and then responded, "So, he's dead?"
     "Yes and no... in truth, no one knows.  The armor of the Shadow King still sits on the throne, but no one has had the guts to go up to it and check what's inside.  It feels as bad as walking into a tomb without knowing if the inhabitants were dead or not."
     "Cowards."  Brant said, who had finished cleaning his cooking tools and was now cleaning his personal mini chain gun.
     Captain shook his head.  "I don't think so.  I think it has something to do with..."
     "Pride."
     Captain turned to see Salric walk down the side of the rocky hill, wrapped in black strips of leather and carrying a rifle that was as long as he was.  He continued speaking, "It's pride that prevents people from going in.  Would you really want to be the person who would go see if the Shadow King was dead?"
      Tusk, after another pause, replied, "I guess not?"
      Salric ignored Tusk said, "Your turn, Brant."
      "Right."  Brant put down his tools and grabbed his chain gun, and started to climb up the hill to guard for more monsters.
      Salric sat down close to the fire, and removed his upper face bandages to reveal an ashen, short haired male face with sunken black eyes.  If you could imagine a person who looked liked he hadn't sleep for a month, he would look energetic compared to Salric.  He grabbed a small piece of meat that was leftover from the kill and took an even smaller bite through the black straps on his mouth.  He chewed but didn't swallow as he looked over to Doc and asked, "How's he doing?"
     Doc huffed, "It's just a flesh wound, don't worry about it.  It's not as bad as this some of the people I stitched back up at the Arena.”
     Tusk turned to look at Doc directly, “You worked at the Arena as well, old man?”
     So, thought Captain, he can remember the Coliseum still.  Maybe certain memories stay with a person...  
     Doc turned him back and continued stitching,  “Yeah, I worked there.  There were some rough people there, a never-ending amount of them actually.”
     “I never saw you there when I was fighting.  When did you leave?”
     “Right after the Dead Man came in and broke thirty of the Coliseum’s best Warriors in one fight.”
     Tusk eyes widened, “You’ve seen the Dead Man?!  What’s he like?”
     Doc shrugged, but continued stitching.  “Pretty much just bones and metal.  All the stories you hear about him look like they are true.”
     "Except for the drinking,"  said Salric, taking another miniscule bite.
     Captain added, "And the moping.  We've met him too."
     Tusk surprised was evident.  “Even you two have seen him?  Fuck."  He cursed some more, and then started to wonder.  "Now there is someone I would like to fight once, or even see him fight.  Must have been a blood bath then at the arena.” Tusk smiled.
     Captain always felt uncomfortable when Tusk smiled.   Just like Captain and most people, Tusk lost his memory when the Burning Man came, but unlike everyone else, Tusk never found anyone who recognized him.  He took the name Tusk Smith because of the hammer he had with him and the large bottom fangs that grew from his jaw.  Every time he smiled, his tusk like teeth gave an impression that he was going to eat something or someone soon.
     Tusk continued, “Maybe even the worse thing you have seen.”
     Doc's needle paused.  "No, not the worst."
     This caught Captain's attention away from Tusk's smile.  "You witnessed one of the craziest fights ever known in the Silver City, and you're saying you saw worse?"
     After tying off a thread and cutting it off the needle, Doc looked at everyone and sighed.  "About six months after I started working as an healer for the Coliseum, there was this kid who started fighting there. 
     "Now, back then, you didn’t have a choice in the matter of when you could fight and if you wanted to get out.  Back then, it was known as a kill or be killed time…  At least, that’s how things were shown to the crowd.  The owner had a private Angel leaf garden that he used on slaves and Warriors so that they could have serious injuries and be healed like new in a few seconds.  Basically, people were brought to the brink of death and when the crowd left, I would take their bodies and instantly heal them.  It also allowed them to go full powered without fear of death.  The crowd loved those raw frantic fights, thinking that they were watching a new death sport every time.  The owner was getting a ton of money off this, and I got paid as well… but I didn’t feel good about the slaves. 
     "Warriors, like Bruno over here," he pointed to Tusk, "enjoyed fighting, but slaves were brought in as cannon fodder.  Most didn’t make it pass the month, while others turned into monsters themselves.  But this kid…" Captain noticed that Doc was hesitating every time he tried to think about that kid and wondered why, but waited for him to continue. 
      "I don’t know what he was.  He was brought in a slave but he never acted like it.  He got beaten up so many times that they started to call him the ‘Punching Bag’ or ‘Training Dummy’.  The kid wasn’t exactly the brightest person I had ever met, but he had a good heart.  Almost got beheaded in one fight to protect this new girl slave that came in, I had to stitch his neck back together before I could use the leafs on him.  But he just kept on smiling, like it was just another day.
     "Anyway, after some time, he got better at fighting, and he became top winner more than once.  He was getting cocky and powerful… and some of the Warriors didn’t like that.  Now, I found out about this later after the whole ordeal happened, but someone poisoned the kid with Demonbane."
     Captain interrupted, "Demonbane?"
     "It’s a painkiller, the black residue of the Angel leaf.  It’s usually used with small doses to the tongue to create a pain free experience that gives the user a ‘world escaping’ high, so it’s also highly addictive.  However, its side effects usually involve limbs becoming permanently numb and falling off and it’s so powerful that it can kill anyone with blood contact.  So only the foolish or desperate try it.  Well, the kid was a chain smoker and someone had rolled a leaf into one of them and he smoked it… right before going out to fight in another blood sport. 
     "I didn’t see the match, though I heard it was brutal, but I had never seen anyone so fucked up before in my life.  Not counting the multiple stab wounds in his back and chest, the broken bones, and bloody coughs…"  Doc closed his eyes and started to rub them.  "The worst thing I can remember, as I tried to stitch his stomach and chest back up and use all the leafs I could… It was the screams.  He was burning from the inside, his blood turning to dust.  After hours, as his screams died out and his blood started to boil away, he kept coughing up more blood and bile…"
     Doc stopped, and everyone was completely silent, except for the cracking and popping of the fire.  Captain and Salric gave each other a dark look, while Tusk had a confused look.  After awhile, Doc spoke up again.  "I tried to watch over him as he lay dying.  He struggled, but I knew he wouldn’t make it.  How could he?  But he tried… That’s what made it worse."
    Captain had heard of doctors being traumatized after so many battles, but he would never have imagine this from Doc Jay.  He had seen him take a freshly cut arm and attach it back without a hint of sweat.  But for this to effect him like that...
     Something he heard Doc said had bugged him.  He was burning from the inside?  That sounded like...
     Captain's train of thought was interrupted by Tusk bluntly asking, "So why is it called Demonbane?" Captain and Salric both failed to hold back their groans.  Doc opened his eyes again with a tired look and then slapped Tusk's sore muscle, causing him to twitch in pain. 
     "It’s slang from the Traders.  They say it’s like it kills the demons in you, and the name just stuck to it.  Now, shut up and let me finish."  Doc grabbed a rag from his bag, which smelled like strong alcohol, and he dabbed it on Tusk's arm.
     Tusk had the look of someone who knew he asked the wrong question, but didn't wait for long before he said, "Sorry I asked...  So, Captain, where did you meet the Dead Man?"
     One track mind, thought Captain.  Simple and straightforward.
     "We met him on the Black Road."
     The silence from previous seemed loud compared to the response from that answer.  Even the fire seemed quiet for a few seconds.  
     Tusk seemed unconcerned about this.  "What, the road in the Shadow Lands?  What about it?"
     "Drop it, Tusk." Salric said.
     Tusk looked at both Salric and Captain, but that seemed to spur him on more, "I don't understand your hesitation, Captain.  You've been through Hell and back more times than I can count on my fingers and toes.  But as soon as you or Salric bring up The Black Road, you all get really quiet and try to avoid the subject.  What's so bad about that place?"
     "Seriously, Tusk, drop it now."  Salric said again.
     Captain slowly brushed off the dust on his pants and got up.  He strode in front of Tusk, and said right into his face, "You really want to know?"
     Tusk didn't hesitate, "Yeah."
     "Then get up."
     As Tusk stood up, towering easily over Captain, he grabbed his hammer and followed Captain to an open area.
     Captain had asked him once about his hammer, why did he always carry it?  The response he got was, 'What hammer?' and he left it at that.  He was just glad that he broke his large sledge hammer, which Tusk called Finisher Six, on that last monster.  It was going to be hard enough just trying to get this to work cleanly without him swinging a anvil on a stick around.
     Captain checked his revolver, and told Tusk,  "Alright, I'm going to attack you and I want you to defend yourself.  Simple enough, right?"
     Tusk nodded and started to smile.  He enjoyed fights like this all to well in training.
     "We'll turn around and count to five, then we'll start."
     This was new to Tusk.  Usually you always faced the opponent before you fought each other.  It was a weakness and usually not a smart move.  But the look of Captain's face didn't let him argue.  He turned and waited.  As Captain turned, he gave a look to Salric, who just gave him a silent nod.
     Captain thought to himself, I don't know if this would stick with him if he starts to transform again, but I know for sure that it would stick with me, and that will have to be good enough.     
     "One," shouted Captain.
     Tusk could figure out what was going to happen, he would have to dodge as soon as he turned to get away from Captain's aim.  Then rush to his side and try and take him out before he could counter.
     "Two."
     Or maybe Captain was expecting that.  I could try ducking and then rushing at his legs.
     "Three."
     But maybe I should face him first and then throw myself at his hand and knocking his revolver out so that I could just...
     "Four."
     Fuck it, I'll just wing it as usual, thought Tusk in a agreeable tone.
     "Five!" yelled Captain. 
     Tusk turned, hammer in hand and...
     Captain, with his revolver still holstered, was still facing his back to Tusk.  His arms were outreached to his sides, and he wasn't moving.  Tusk, briefly paused and then asked, "What are you doing?"
     Captain stayed silent, his back still turned.
     "Is this a joke?"  Tusk, getting upset, started to raise his voice.  "Face me!"
     Captain didn't move.
     Tusk started to feel humiliated.  He never cared when people tried to make fun of him when he asked questions or talked, but on the battle field it was different.  His anger grew and so did his body, he started to growl and took a step forward...
     A shot fired and a hot wind blew across Tusk's face.  He turned to see Salric on the side of the open area, his rifle pointing a little ways from the field.  Salric simply pointed his finger, and Tusk followed to where Captain was.
     But Captain wasn't there.  He was behind Tusk, tripping his legs out from underneath. There was a brief blur as Tusk head hit the ground and the next thing he knew he was staring into the barrel of Captain's revolver.
     Tusk froze, and accepted defeat.  He had no right to say that it was cheating.  On the battlefield, anything goes, expect everything or you are dead.  
     Captain spoke in a calm and simple tone, "When you fight, Tusk, you always look prepared. You can see where you place your feet and where your weapon is.  You can see who you are fighting and can see their weaknesses.  But on the Black Road, it would be as if they never moved, no openings, no warnings, no time to defend.  You would be dead before you even blinked.  That's why we are scared." 
      Tusk looked nervous at first, but as Captain kept talking, another smile started to show.  It wasn't the creepy smile that Captain disliked, but a different smile.  One of acceptance, and joy.  He was excited. 
      "Sounds like a challenge, sir."  Tusk said.
      Captain continued.  "Have you heard about the stages of fear?"
      "No, sir."
      "That's ok, because it doesn't really exist.  There are no stages, just different shades.  We are all scared of something and it's just a small variation of basic fear.  But on the Black Road, you feel all of it. And either you accept that, or it will destroy you." 
      Tusk started to smile again, but as he noticed the look on Captain's face, and just nodded instead.
      "Yes, sir."
      "Did you understand all of that?"
      "Quite clear, sir."
      "Good."  Captain holstered his revolver and outstretched his hand.
      Tusk looked at it and then grabbed it.  He asked, "Er... sir, can I ask one more question?"
     "Yes, Tusk?" 
     "Who the hell are y'all, anyway?"
     Captain sighed.  Here we go again.
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     "Are you alright, Captain?" asked Salric.
     Captain shook his head and saw that he was in front of his group again.  Metal soldiers were in front of him, carrying the black box with a hole in it.  He could remember looking into it and then...
     It was a memory.  Six month's ago.  How things had changed since then.  Was that some sort of flashback?  It so so clear, but it felt like something was picking through it...
     "Captain?"
     "Did you see that?"
     "See what?"
     Captain looked around and recognized worry in Salric and the groups faces.  He then shook his head again and said, "Never mind, lets get this done with."



End of Part 5 ~
I can't believe how long I had left this alone.  I guess it had to do with me moving to my own place and then... life.  Things happen, and they have been happening in a large amount to me lately.  But I now have the characters fleshed out and next time it will continue with the main story.... but this is important for now.
It will all connect later.  And I'll edit later as well.
Later~

Also, because this was so long ago, here are the other parts -
Part 1 - Unease
Part 2 - Disbelief
Part 3 - Bargaining
Part 4 - Paralyze