Chapter Three - A New Start

Roxy stumbled onto the cold floor, dropping Tyler at her feet. The room was dimly lit by the hanging torches that sat on the stone brick walls. The air was dense, and the atmosphere was ice cold. In front of Roxy was a tall man sporting lengthy robes that had rotted grey with age. The shadow of his hood hid the man's face; however, his long beard reminded Roxy of a wizard in a fairy tale and stood out from the darkness.

"What happened to him?" The Grand Master asked.

Roxy tried to explain the events that just took place, but instead, she collapsed, gasping for air, her body shaking from fear and her arms shaking from Tylers's body.

"REAPERS— REAPERS attacked us—" she tried to finish her sentence but couldn't reach any further.

"Someone get her some water!" The Grand Master demanded. A hooded figure, small in height, brought a jug of water and a small glass - Roxy grabbed it and began to drink recklessly.

"REAPERS attacked us. I had to defend us! I didn't mean for him to find out about us, Grand Master, but he's badly hurt." She gestured to the knife sticking out of Tyler's pale, lifeless body. "I killed those men in front of him. This didn't go as planned, Grand Master."

"At least you made it out alive. Take him to the medical bay now! He needs urgent medical care!" Instructed the Grand Master, gesturing at two hooded individuals. They lifted Tyler's body and carried him. "If the REAPERS were after you, they already know that the Hunters exist. I suggest taking things slow from now on. Keep a low profile. Be the first one there when he wakes up. Was there anything else you needed to report?"

"Yes, actually, there is. At school, I saw someone watching us at lunch. So I investigated and found burn marks scorched on the walls like claws. Nothing like we've seen before." Roxy replied.

"Interesting. I'll send a couple of scouts over to take some samples. In the meantime, head to the med bay to get checked over and type up your report. Good work today, Roxanne. Your parents would be very proud of you."

"Thank you, Grand Master." Roxy curtseyed before leaving the room and making her way to the med bay.

Days passed before Tyler slowly opened his eyes; Roxy stayed by his side the entire time, listening to the beeps of his heart monitor as reassurance that he was okay. Tyler's whole body ached and burned as he tried to sit up, but with no relief.

"Stay down." Roxy softly told.

He looked around slowly: stone walls, medication on the bedside table, a wooden door casting a dark and frightening shadow on the floor. In the corner, sitting on a small plastic chair by his bed, working on a laptop resting on a wooden desk, was Roxy.

"What happened?" Tyler asked.

"You don't remember? At all?"

Tyler began to feel the panic rise through his body.

"Those men! You killed them!"

"Calm down, Tyler," She began, "I understand you're confused and scared but believe me, you need to relax. I'm the same girl you met in school today. You were never meant to find out. I'll explain as much as I am allowed when you are ready, okay?"

Tyler slowly brought lowered himself so he could lie down.

"So, what are you?" Tyler asked with terror in his voice.

Roxy sighed and picked up her bag by her side; she pulled out a brown book bound in leather. Written in white stitching, wrote: 'The Great War.

"This book contains the real history of the world. The history that the government banned from being known as it is far too dangerous in their eyes. If I give this book to you, will you read it?" She asked.

"Is it more lies?" Tyler asked.

"Hey!" Roxy's voice grew harsh, "You've only known me for the day. You don't get to say I lied to you. I've sat here by your side, praying that you'd recover. You'd be dead on that rooftop if it wasn't for me. You were collateral damage, Tyler. Read the book, and you'll understand. Please? For me?" She packed her laptop into her bag, handed Tyler the book and closed the door behind her, leaving him alone in the room.

Tyler looked down at the book he had been given, contemplating opening it. He finally flicked open the cover, blowing the dust off the first page. He began to read:

'Many years ago, long before the fall of the horsemen, King Reynold V believed his castle was under attack when meteors began hurling from the night sky, crashing into the stone walls, the marble statues and the desert sand. The radiation from these meteors made the citizens, and King Reynold V change into something inhuman. Thus, the first monsters were born. These monsters had a lust to kill and began hunting the surrounding villages, slaughtering all those that stood in their way.

But new warriors rose from the blood and ashes that remained from the attacks.

Two new factions were born; The Magicians, who harnessed the radiation from the meteors to create what is known today as magic to search and destroy the rising monsters, and the Hunters, a civilization who trained to become merciless killers. They refused to use the power that the meteors had gifted the magicians.'

The more Tyler read, the more confused he felt; "Monsters? Magic? None of this seems real!" He doubted everything he was reading, refusing to believe this could be real.

The book explained that The Magicians grew to be the most powerful faction, taking over the humans and the Hunters, but traitors rose with this newfound power. A group of Magicians began harnessing darker magic, practising on humans. These members were disbanded and created their faction, 'The Dark Magicians.' Before Tyler could read further, Roxy entered the room once again.

"I'm sorry, Tyler." She began, "You must be so scared by this all. None of it likely makes any sense to you. How far did you get with the book?"

"The Dark Magicians." He told.

"I think I'll explain it from here. The Dark Magicians and the Magicians went to war, wiping each other off the face of the planet, leaving the humans, like you, monsters, and us Hunters. We made it our duty to take on these creatures to protect the humans now that the Magicians are extinct. And we have done it for many years. The government created a task force to take out these creatures and any other 'magical' being, including the Hunters. The people on that rooftop were that task force. They are known simply as Reapers. The names an acronym, but we don't know what."

Roxy could see Tyler trying his most challenging to process all he was just told, and placed her hand on his forehead and began caressing his face. "Can you stand up? The Grandmaster wants to see you. If not, I can bring him in here for you."

Tyler shook his head and began to sit up once again. The aching returned. Roxy helped him climb out of bed and supported him while walking together to the Great Hall.

"What does he want to talk about?" Tyler asked fearfully."

"Truthfully, I'm not sure at all. Just speak when you're spoken to, and you'll be fine. I'll be right here next to you." She kissed his head and opened the door leading to the room Roxy had first brought him to.

"Ahh, Mr Brown. It's great to see you up and about. How is the wound." Bellowed the Grand Master.

"Much better, thank you. Thank you for all you have done for me." Tyler replied, his voice still shaky.

"It has been our pleasure. Now, Roxanne has explained the situation to me. Normally, we would kill anyone who finds out about us. However, due to the circumstances, I understand it is not your fault that you discovered this place." The Grand Master's voice turned cold and shrill, "Therefore, I offer you a choice." Three hooded men walked and faced Tyler, presenting a set of robes much like their own. "You have the choice. Join our cause and train under the Hunters, or follow the fate of those who discover this place. Make your decision."

Tyler thought that the Grand Master was joking until he turned to see Roxy's face turn pale with fear. Before placing his hand on the robes, he knew this was his only decision. "I swear my allegiance to the Hunters. Train me as one of your own."

The Grand Master stood up and unveiled his wrinkly pale face from underneath his hood; "Tyler Brown, you are here-by named an apprentice of the Hunters. Please take your robes and wear them with honour. Your training starts tomorrow at 5 pm."