Where my Dreams take me - part 6 The New Day

Jack stepped through the charred doorway of his former Boss’ office. The office was untouched by flames and was just as flashy and awful as Jack remembered. “Jack my boy, such wonderful new powers you have. I think we can work out a deal. You keep working for me and I will forgive you for killing all of my guards” The Boss said calmly.

            Jack smiled, he grinned ear to ear as he walked forward slowly. “Deals? We are making deals now?” Asked Jack, his smile still wide and frightening. He slowly sat down on a crimson leather chair across from the Boss. Jack leaned over the Boss’ desk and looked him in the eye. “You will forgive me? Forgive me? FORGIVE ME?!” Jack said his voice jumped into a shout toward the end. Jack cleared his throat and brushed his hair back. “You should be begging me to spare your life and you sit here making deals? You should be asking ME to forgive YOU!” Jack said, his voice jumping as he barely contained his anger. “I would never make a deal with you, but I did make a deal with someone else. Someone who wants you dead just as much as I do” Jack said as he looked the Boss right into his beady dark brown eyes. “Who would have the nerve to send you after me? And while I am asking questions, where did you get that magic?” The Boss asked. He didn’t move from his chair, but he was slowly becoming uncomfortable.

            Death slowly appeared into view behind Jack. A floating cloaked skeleton holding a scythe appeared as a response to the Boss’ question. Then a second later Death was gone. Jack didn’t see Death but he assumed the Boss did by his changed expression. All of the color drained out of the Boss’ face when he saw the Grim Reaper.

            Jack stood up and lifted his hammer to strike but the Boss acted quickly and shot Jack point blank with his shotgun. Jack froze and his eyes went wide. He had come so far only to let his guard down for a second and to get killed by the same person and the same gun that killed Isabelle. Everything seemed to slow as Jack looked down to check for damage. As he looked down he saw the Boss was horrified instead of pleased. Green flames spilled out of Jack’s chest and stomach. The flames covered his torso instead of blood. Magical flames moved across Jack’s skin but instead of burning him, they were healing the skin. The flames that dripped to the ground burned a hole in the floor.

            Jack looked at the Boss and smiled “Death sends his regards” then launched forward and grabbed the Boss by the throat. Green flames burned brightly in Jack’s eyes as rage filled his body. Jack lifted the Boss up by his throat and hurled him through the back wall. As the Boss’ body soared through the air like a rag doll Jack lifted his hammer and then flung it forward. The hammer flew straight out and hit the Boss, then engulfed the Boss in flames. The Hammer and the Boss’ body dropped to the ground with a thud. Jack couldn’t see where the Boss landed because it was dark and also his body was sent out past the city limits.

            Jack jumped out through the hole in the wall down three floors and hit the ground. Jack landed on his feet and took off running. This part of Dark city was the section unlucky enough to be built on the edge of the Haunted Forest. Jack approached the forest, which was swarming with spirits and weird glowing eyes that looked on from every shadow. Jack didn’t want to go anywhere near that place. “Halloween night is almost upon us Jack. Halloween is when the Haunted forest grows restless and the spirits become visible and the monsters more aggressive” Death whispered. The Haunted forest was always dangerous, but the development of Dark city riled up the inhabitants of the forest and with Halloween approaching the spirits were even more restless.

            The boss was standing on the edge of the Haunted forest, too afraid to run into the forest to escape Jack, but too afraid of Jack to distance himself from the forest. Jack approached “Not dead yet? Good, more fun for me” Jack said as he walked closer, his hammer burned brightly as Jack approached. Jack lifted his hammer off the ground and held it up with one hand. “J-Jack please, I can bring her back! I can help you. Don’t kill me” The Boss said his human skin dripped from his face revealing red demon skin. Small yellow horns poked out from under his black hat and his eyes glowed yellow. Jack sneered and shot another blast of fire at the Boss.

            The flames burned the Boss’ clothes and melted away his human disguise.

The Boss stood five feet five and was now in his true form. He was still overweight but his skin was scaly and red, his mouth was a large gaping maw and his eyes burned bright like fire. “Disgusting” Jack muttered. The Boss pulled a black gem from his torn suit pocket. He smiled and held it up. “I saved this gem for supernatural opponents, it cancels magic. Since magic is holding you together right now, prepare to be torn apart. The Gem shot out a blast of energy at Jack. Jack threw his hammer at the blast and jumped out of the way. The Hammer and the dark blast collided and caused an explosion. Black, red and green flames shot over Jack’s head as he lay flat on the grass. The Boss was blasted backward into the Haunted forest.

            “He’s going to escape!” Jack shouted. “No, he is not” Death replied. The glowing eyes went out and the spirits that floated around the trees rushed into the forest. Everything that Haunted that forest seemed to move in on the Boss as soon as he landed. Screams echoed out of the forest accompanied by the sounds of bones breaking and meat being torn.

            It was over, Jack had his revenge, and the Boss was dead. Death appeared in front of Jack in the form of a young woman. She was very pale and slender, she wore all black and had long black hair that flowed into her black dress. She walked toward Jack and smiled “You have done well” She said with a kind smile. Death knelt down and picked up the Hammer with ease. “The stories this hammer could tell…” She said as her voice drifted off. Death stared at the hammer as if it was telling her all of its amazing stories.

            “What do I do now?” Asked Jack as he lifted himself up. “I want a peaceful life, I want to be done with this nightmare. Am I even human anymore? What was that green fire inside of me?” Jack added. Death sighed “The hammer’s magic kept you alive. MY hammer kept you alive. Now that you have given it to me, you are as mortal and human as before. Now you can go build your life. It is yours for the taking. Do as you wish with this freedom. The mountaintop, the autumn forest, maple town and even a black cat all wait for you in your future. The traveling and building is up to you” Death explained. “Thank you, Jack” Death added with a smile then vanished from sight.

            Jack felt sore, tired and hungry. Before he left Dark city forever he decided to pay a visit to Old Carl and see if he could make him some food for old times sake.

            Jack stumbled as he walked back into the city, leaving the sights and sounds of the Haunted Forest behind him. As he approached the city he saw a black cat with green eyes. It was just a kitten, it was lost and alone and rummaging through a garbage can for food. Jack walked up to the cat and put his hand out to pet it. Despite living on the street, the cat was friendly and trusting enough to let Jack pet him. Jack saw an old can of pumpkin puree in the garbage and smiled at the dirty logo of a pumpkin patch. The black cat bit down on the can but then reared its head back when it realized the can wasn’t edible.

            “Would you like to come with me? I’m homeless too” Jack told the cat. The cat mewed and began to purr. “Have you ever been to the mountains? I hear they are lovely this time of year” Jack said as he picked up his new cat and placed it on his shoulders. “I am going to call you Karu, if that’s alright” Jack said. Karu meowed.

            Jack and Karu walked through Dark city, toward the Lousy Dame bar. The rain had stopped, the sun was rising and Jack had a brand new life ahead of him.

Where my Dreams take me - part 5 Assault on the Organization

            Jack stood at the ground floor of the Organization’s base of operations. He decided to take the stairs up to each floor because he knew the elevators could be switched off and even unlatched. This was a defense that the Boss used to kill intruders stupid enough to trap themselves in a metal box when attacking a criminal organization.

            “Jack, I have another deal for you” Death said as Jack headed for the stairs. “I don’t want to make a habit of making deals with Death” Jack replied then stopped walking so that Death had his full attention. “I can enhance your weapon. Your killing hammer has seen so much death, it would be very easy for me to augment it with more power. Having extra power would ensure your victory to be sure. The deal is, I imbue your hammer with magic and when you have had your revenge, you give the hammer to me” Death said in a calm voice. “If I am going to retire why would I need my hammer? Its win-win again for me” Jack said. Then paused. Part of him didn’t want to give up his precious weapon for anything. Even though getting rid of it would shut the book on his old life, he still didn’t want to give up his hammer. He had the hammer since he was a teen, he carried it every single day of his life for the past fifteen years. If anyone came looking for Jack he wouldn’t have his hammer to defend himself with. Making his hammer stronger would make it easier to get revenge with less chance of dying, and giving up the hammer would truly mean he was done with his old life, he would be able to move on completely. He could think of his time in Dark city as a bad nightmare that he finally woke up from.

            “Why would you want this hammer? You aren’t trying to do me any favors” Asked Jack. “No, our deals are not meant to help you at all. I am getting something out of every deal. That doesn’t mean it has to negatively affect you though. As for why I want the hammer, lets just say it will be more valuable to me. I collect rare things. My favorite thing to collect are items that have killed large numbers of people, the dark aura on the weapon is stronger if it kills strong enemies. I see many things that you cannot. A hammer that has killed many, that becomes enchanted only to slay more humans and a demon is incredibly valuable to me. You wouldn’t even understand its true worth at that point. So, do we have a deal?” Death asked.

            Jack hesitated, Death answered the question but Jack didn’t feel comfortable giving up the last piece of his past. The hammer linked him to his past, both the good and the bad. It made him remember the awful things he did, but also let him remember Isabelle and the good times. Jack needed to survive this last fight though and agreed to the deal. “Yes, fine. You can have the hammer when this is over. After everyone is dead. The boss, Galore and anyone who was there the night Isabelle died.” Jack said. “Agreed!” Death replied.

            Without any more delay Jack rushed up the stairs. His heart was pounding, he felt like he was being pulled into the underworld with every step. Making deals with Death, challenging a demon to do battle, attacking his old place of employment. It was all a bit much for Jack to handle. Well except for the attacking the former place of employment, Jack was enjoying that.

            Jack reached the second floor and kicked open the door, he lifted his hammer up and green flames engulfed Jack’s weapon. Jack slammed his hammer down onto the ground and flames spread out along the floor burning up everything in its path. Guards, guns, tacky furniture, it was all consumed by the hammer’s magical flames. Death never explained how to use the Hammer’s magic and never even made of show of enchanting it, yet Jack somehow knew how to fight with his newly enchanted hammer.

“Satisfied with the results?” Asked Death. “Very” Jack replied with an evil grin.

With the second floor cleared out Jack could move onto the final floor where his Boss always sat. Jack was glad the Organization was located in a factory and not a skyscraper. Jack ran up the stairs to the third floor and blasted the door apart with his magical green flames. Galore Riggs and a group of guards stood waiting. Everyone had their guns drawn and Galore had an assault rifle. “Sorry Jack, I can’t let you go” Galore said. “The Boss is a demon, Galore. He killed Isabelle and he holds you like a prisoner. He holds us all. The only people who are happy in the Organization are the ones who never get tired of the killing, the drugs and the stealing. The rest of us, we die off. Galore, this is your last chance to change sides.” Jack said, being strangely diplomatic.

Galore laughed “You might be right Jack, but I am the one with the guns and the backup. You have one chance to give up. I am not backing down” Galore replied.

“I gave you a chance, I am actually glad you didn’t take it. You might not have killed Isabelle, but you did stop me from killing the Boss. You wont be stopping me this time” Jack replied as he lifted his hammer above his head. Bright green flames swirled around the head of Jack’s hammer as he lifted it into the air. Galore aimed his assault rifle at Jack and went to pull the trigger when one of the guards spoke up. “Uh, does that deal count for me too?

            Jack and Galore both let out an annoyed sigh at the same time. “Yeah, sure. Anyone who doesn’t want to die protecting the Boss and also wasn’t in the room on the night Isabelle died, can leave” Jack said as he held his hammer ready to strike. Four guards quietly left the room and shut the door behind them. When Jack heard the door click shut he swung his hammer in an arc, which made a flame shield. Galore and his remaining guards unleashed a flurry of bullets. Everything near or behind Jack was torn to shreds. When the dust settled Jack was standing unscathed. “Second thoughts?” Said Jack with a smile. One guard raised his hand but then was promptly shot by Galore.

            “You are a dead man, I don’t care if I have to take you apart with my bare hands” Galore said his voice full of rage. Galore began to unload another clip from his assault rifle as he walked toward Jack. He was determined to hit Jack at least once. Jack outstretched his hand and then turned his hand up with his palm facing Galore. Jack’s hammer began to spin in the air in front of Jack’s palm. The flames from the spinning hammer burned the floor and surrounding area. The hammer spun so fast it was actually blocking Galore’s bullets. Jack closed his hand into a fist and his hammer shot forward and struck Galore. The hammer hit Galore in the face, shattering his skull on impact, the hammer continued to fly forward and smashed open the metal door to the Boss’ office.

            Galore’s body slumped to the ground and the remaining guards tried to run for the exit. Jack’s hammer flew back to his hand. Then Jack spun his hammer around to make another fire shield but this time Jack took a deep breath in and then breathed out with all of his might. Jack’s breath blew through the flames causing a green flamethrower effect. Jack rotated in a circle torching everything and everyone in the room with his green fire breath. There were no survivors.

Where my Dreams take me - part 3 Into the Dark city

            Night had settled on the land, rain continued to pour down on the autumn forest. Jack walked through the forest, sore and exhausted. As he walked he noticed the trees change from bright Autumn colors to dark brown leaves and eventually to bare trees with black gnarled roots. Jack had stumbled into the last remains of the dark forest. The dark forest was a dangerous place filled with wild animals and twisted trees. The Dark Forest is the result of corruption from dark magic spilling into a previously healthy part of the Autumn forest. The Haunted forest, which was now known as the cursed land was the source of the dark magic and corruption that tainted the surrounding area turning it into the dark forest.

            Luckily for Jack he was able to spot a city beyond the dark and twisted trees. Slowly the corrupted Dark Forest was being cleared away in development of cities and roads. Despite aggressive development, the Haunted forest, which was located on the edge of the city, was not touched. Too many workers, hunters, explorers and people in general went missing in that cursed place. The wildest beasts of the forest were nothing to be afraid of compared to the ghosts, spirits and demons that lurked in the Haunted forest.

            Jack walked in the rain toward the city. The dark, twisted trees parted to make way for a large brightly lit city, full of towering ominous buildings and seedy streets. From a distance the city was a beautiful sight, the city lights from the buildings and traffic shined like a beacon in the dark night, but as Jack walked closer he saw the city was unwelcoming and dangerous.

            He approached the city from the forest, he climbed over a fence, walked through a parking lot and ended up on the sidewalk. Jack needed to find someplace that was still open even at this late hour, so he could get directions or maybe even a ride home. As he walked he realized everything was open. This city was very different than his home in the mountains and that forest village were everyone went home at 9 o’clock.

            As strange and foreign as the city was, Jack somehow knew his way around. After a few minutes of walking he found a bar called “The lousy dame” It was a dive bar that no one in their right mind would visit. Jack went in, he felt compelled to go. When he entered the bar he saw it was a dimly lit room, with most of the place being taken up by a large bar and bar stools. A few old booths lined the back wall. The bartender was an old guy with a beard. He might have been old but he looked like he could hold his own in a fight. He had the appearance of someone who used to either box or wrestle when they were younger. Some muscles don’t go away.

            The bartender walked in “you must be lost” he said with a sneer. “Heh, yeah actually. Uh..were am I and could I use your phone?” Jack replied. The bartender’s face stiffened. “Yer in Darkcity. Formerly Dark Oak city. And you are standing in my bar, the Lousy dame. Just figured I’d mention that too ‘cause you look brain dead as well as lost. Also no you can’t use my phone. Only custumers use my phone”  The bartender replied.

 Jack smiled, trying his best to be friendly despite being called brain dead. “Well then I will have a beer a shot of whiskey, a basket of pumpkin fries and some chicken fingers” Jack replied. “Also I would like to use your phone” He added with a smirk. The bartender gave Jack a second look as if trying to place his face somewhere, but then walked into the back kitchen to get Jack’s food.

            Jack was hungry but he wasn’t sure why he ordered all of that stuff. He didn’t want to get drunk. He could have just had a beer, used the phone and nursed his beer as he waited for a taxi. “That’s an awfully specific order” Said a large man as he walked up next to Jack. “Yeah? No one order the chicken or pumpkin fries before?” Jack asked, trying to stay light hearted. “No, they don’t, because pumpkin fries aren’t on the menu, only people that know old Carl order them. He says they are a pain in the ass to make and only makes em for friends” said the large man. “Well it must have been a lucky guess. Who are you?” Jack asked the large man who was now looming over him.

            “Galose Rigs, and you are Jack the hammer” Said Galose the large man. He leaned down and Jack saw his face, which looked like it was in a permanent sneer. Galose has jet black hair and olive skin, he wore a trench coat over a bullet proof vest and a dress shirt. “My name is Jack but I don’t know…” Jack began to say but then Galose smacked the silver hammer that Jack was doing a poor job of concealing under his coat. the hammer flung forward but Jack caught it mid air, spun around kicked Galose so hard that made him fall backward then Jack raised the hammer above his head ready to slam it down on Galose. This all happened in a second and Jack moved out of reflex not rational thought. “Don’t touch my hammer” Jack said with a sneer. Then his face shifted from frightening to confused. “MY hammer? When did I ever buy a hammer?” Jack muttered.

 Galose, who was not afraid of anyone, was now on the ground shivering. He was thought he was going to be executed by Jack. “You kill people Jack, that’s not something you can just forget” Galose said after he got his nerve back. Galose had seen Jack murder people for less and smacking Jack’s hammer was up there on punishable offenses.

            Old Carl the bartender came back out with a Jack’s food and drink and was now wearing a smile. “You know Jack, I thought you were a lost bumpkin the way you were acting. I recognized your face but your attitude was way off. I didn’t know you enjoyed practical jokes so much” Said Carl as he set Jack food down. Jack was now sitting at the bar trying to remember his old life and Galose had left.

            “you know me?” Jack said in a shaky voice. “Yeah a’course I do. You’re my best costumer. I worried you would stop coming by after…you know” Carl said but trailed off. “What?” Jack said looking up with concern. “Isabelle…died. She died Jack, you did know that, right? I mean I heard you were there. I heard…well don’t worry what I heard. You just relax and eat and drink. It’s on the house. You rest up. Did you really need to use my phone” Carl said then began to smile as he mentioned the phone, remembering Jack’s hilarious ‘joke’. “No, it was a joke. I just haven’t been myself lately” Jack replied with his head hung low. Carl nodded solemnly. “I know my boy, I know. You two were set to be married and everything. I-I am really sorry” Carl said and then went back into the back room kitchen.

            Jack began to remember everything. He remembered his past but his present seemed hazy. He remembered Isabelle dying. He saw her gunned down by their boss. Jack was worked for a criminal organization as an enforcer. He grew up in Dark City, he was raised by the Organization and then became their strongest and deadliest member.

            Jack remembered he had just come back from a job when he saw Isabelle. She was beautiful, Tall, red hair with blue eyes. She was standing confidently in front of the big boss. The most ruthless man in the city besides Jack himself and Isabella stood unwavering as they spoke. Jack walked in and heard them talking. She had just joined the Organization for money. She had skills as a thief but knew she needed support to stay out of prison and get the bigger jobs. Her joining wasn’t supposed to be permanent but if the Boss likes someone, he doesn’t want to let them go.

            Jack went out of his way to talk to Isabelle on a regular basis. When she was around he let himself relax. He could be a nicer version of himself when he talked to Isabelle. They connected instantly and after a year planned to get married.

            “We should just run away, Jack. Get married and get out of the city” Isabelle said as she stood on the balcony of their fourth floor apartment. Jack slowly got dressed, as he talked “I can’t just leave, the work pays well. Besides where would we go? Run off to the mountains? I grow pumpkins and you raise kids?” Jack said with a sarcastic laugh. He put on his gray t-shirt, black jeans and black combat boots then walked toward the balcony. “Why would we leave?” Jack asked as he tried to soften his voice. He spent his days delivering death threats and orders, so when he was with Isabelle he had to consciously make an effort to not sound like an asshole. “I joined the organization to make money, I made money, now I need to leave. I don’t want to live in Dark city all of my life. Do you?” Isabelle asked. Jack grabbed his dark green trench coat and put it on then walked to the balcony. “No, I suppose not. The boss isn’t going to be happy” Jack said as he pulled Isabelle close. “The boss is never happy” She said. “You never answered my question. You wanna be pumpkin farmers and raise kids in the mountains?” Jack said with a sarcastic smile. “Ass” Isabelle said, she punched his arm and then kissed him.

            Months later Isabelle and Jack went to the Boss’ office together. “No, I need you both for an upcoming job. Besides you are two of my best employees” said the boss. He was an overweight man who had a taste for expensive suits, flashy furniture and naked woman paintings. Jack didn’t like being around him.

            “You say this every time we try to leave. You promised this wouldn’t be a permanent position for me. We both made money from me working for you. We both made out well, now let me go” Isabelle said. She knew everyone who worked for the Organization needed the Boss’ permission to leave or they would be hunted and dragged back to Dark city. “I can’t risk losing both of you. I can’t count on Galose or Big Davy to do Jack’s work and most of my professional thieves are small time” The boss said. Then he hesitated “One of you can go. Not both” He said then slapped his palm down on his marble and gold desk. “One not both. Take it or leave it” He said.

            Jack turned to Isabelle “You go, I wanted to stay anyway. This can still work” Jack said. “No, both of us. Jack worked for you his whole life. You don’t own him or me. We are leaving.” Isabelle said. Guards stood in her way to keep her from leaving the room. She gritted her teeth. This organization was pushing her patience. Without another word Isabelle grabbed two daggers from her belt and stabbed one into each of the guards. She jammed her daggers into their necks before they could even pull their weapons, or scream. The boss pulled out a shotgun from under his desk and fired it as Isabelle.

            Jack went to jump in the way but was tackled by guards wearing suits and ties. Isabelle only had enough time to turn before she was blasted by the shotgun blast. Blood splattered the white and gold walls. Jack threw the guards off as fury built up in him. “You didn’t have to do that! HOW COULD YOU” Jack yelled. The guards tried to restrain him but he pulled out his hammer and swung it through the air. It hit the first guard and shattered his skull on impact. The second guard was kicked to the ground before he could get close enough to attack, then Jack finished him with a downward hammer drop to the skull. Blood and brains splattered the floor and ceiling. The Boss put his gun down. “Feel better?” He asked coldly. The other guards didn’t even attempt to attack.

"Feel better?! I won't feel better until I split your head like rotten fruit!" Jack yelled then tried to lift his hammer but Galose acted quicker and broke an end table over Jack's back. Jack collapsed on the ground and was carried away.
  “Keep on eye on him. Like I said before I can’t risk losing both of them. He will come around. Jack had nowhere else to go. We are his family” The boss said to one of his goons.

Where my Dreams take me - part 2 Into the Rain

            It was another beautiful day on the Autumn Mountain. The sun was shining, the air was crisp and the birds chirping. Jack walked out of his cabin and stretched. He was wearing his warm coat over a long sleeve gray shirt. He had his normal black pants and brown work boots. Jack went to a tool shed behind his cabin to get an ax. It was a clear day, but Jack heard the rumbling of thunder in the distance and decided to chop some wood for his fire to stay warm on what might be a stormy night.

            Jack opened the wooden shed door, the old metal hinges creaked as it opened. The shed was big enough for Jack to stand straight and walk one step inside. Tools were hung up on the walls and his axe was on the floor with the handle leaning against the corner of the shed. When Jack leaned down to get the ax he spotted a large hammer resting in the other corner. It was the same size as Jack’s wood chopping axe, but it was shining like silver and the handle was made from the same shining metal as the head. The bottom of the handle had a black grip. Engraved just above the black handle were the initials “J.H”

            Jack stared at the hammer, it looked so familiar but he couldn’t remember where he had seen it. He went to touch it when he heard a clash of lighting sound over heard. The rain was getting closer and Jack had errands to do outside. Jack grabbed the ax and went back to the front yard.

           

            Karu was waiting in the front yard, she was playing with one of the pumpkin stems. When Jack yelled at her she bit down hard on the pumpkin then ran off into the house. Jack sighed. He inspected the pumpkin to find it hadn’t been pierced. Luckily Karu was small and her teeth weren’t that sharp.

            Jack began chopping wood in front of his house. He lined up the piece of wood on an old tree stump that he used as a chopping block then brought his axe down hard. Jack forced his axe downward but heard a man cry out. Jack saw a flash of a rainy day in a dark city, a man’s face cried out in horror as a hammer came down and crushed his head. Jack was horrified by this image and his body jerked. The ax missed the wood and chipped off a piece of stump. Jack dropped his axe and ran back to the tool shed. Dust shook from the walls as he pulled the doors open quickly. Jack grabbed the hammer to examine it closely.

            Jack saw another flash, like a memory. It was a man with long wild hair in a long dark coat standing in the rain. As the rain washed away the bloodfrom the concrete, the man smiled, it was a twisted grin. What little light there was in that Alley was reflected off of a bright shiny silver hammer. Jack remembered this happening. He could see it so clearly. The dead man looked familiar too. Jack felt like he had been close to the guy who was killed. Jack began to wonder if this was why he moved to the mountains to get away. Jack’s mind was fuzzy when he tried to remember that far back. He remembered he had been betrayed and then went on the run. Did he steal the silver hammer for himself?

            Jack left the shed holding the hammer. Light rain began to hit the ground. Jack walked out into the rain, lost in thought. When he looked up he saw a woman walking into the autumn forest. No one ever came up to his cabin, so this woman being here was strange. Jack saw another flash, an image of a woman’s face. She had light red hair and blue eyes, her skin was white like milk and her smile was warm like a roaring fire.

            “Isabelle” Jack muttered. He didn’t know how he knew that name but he knew she was important. He ran toward the forest. The rain began to pour down harder and harder. The sky was dark and stormy, the beautiful autumn trees swayed and creaked in the wind. The clouds formed a shadow over the forest making it hard to see. Jack went into the forest and didn’t look back. He held the metal hammer in both hands as he ran. The hammer was sturdy but surprisingly light.

            “Isabelle!” Jack shouted into the rain as he ran deeper into the forest.

Rain poured down from the treetops and Jack was soaked from running in the rain. After a few minutes of running Jack stopped. He was out of breath and he hadn’t seen Isabelle since she first entered the forest. Bright autumn leaves littered the ground, but seemed dark from the rain and clouds. The trees swayed as if the forest was alive and the rain continued to pour down. Thunder rumbled overhead and a second later lighting struck the forest with a loud crack. Jack saw one of the trees shatter and explode. The sound was so loud it was disorienting. Jack stumbled backward and tripped over an old tree root. He landed on his back and hit his head on the ground. Luckily the ground was soft from the rain. Jack stared up at the sky as rain continued to pour down on him, unrelenting, uncaring. Jack gripped the hammer and stood up. He was soaked and muddy and worst of all he wasn’t sure how to get back to his cabin. He wasn’t watching where he was going as he sprinted into the forest and the whole mountain was covered in trees.

            Tired, sore and feeling foolish Jack tried to make his way home. through the forest and into the rain.

Nathan and the Haunted Forest (part 2 of 2)

In the dark and creepy scenery of the Haunted Forest, rests a quiet little house.

This house looks warm and inviting, soft music could be heard from inside and a small garden filled with lovely flowers runs along either side of the house.

            Inside this lovely house was an elderly couple, just as sweet and innocent as can be. A house guest recently arrived at the house and was now being treated to soft music, stories of the old days and the nicest shackles and chains anyone could ask for.

            Nathan sat in the basement of the house, chained to the wall and chewing on candy he had stored in his pockets. “Just great, I should never have trusted those old people. There isn’t even any candy down here!” Nathan said to himself through a mouthful of maple candy.

            The basement was divided into three separate rooms, once you walk down the stairs there is the ‘guest room’ where Nathan was being held. The back of that room had a door, where the old man was sharpening knives. The second room had a tool bench, a stool and a wall covered in knives and chains. Nathan didn’t even want to think about what was in the third room.

            Then there was a knock on the door. The old woman who was still sitting upstairs grinned, showing off a pair of razor sharp teeth. She moved to the door, almost floating as she moved. With the sweetest smile and the nicest voice she answered the door. Nathan could hear her echoed voice from the basement. “hello?” said the woman. “No, I don’t believe so…” She replied. The visitor’s voice was too distant to hear. “you are welcome to come in and look” Said the woman. The door opened, then closed. The door locked and two sets of feet began walking down the stairs into the basement. “Well at least I wont be alone” Nathan sighed.

            The old woman smiled as she led the way, only Nathan could see her real teeth. The stranger followed the woman into the waiting trap. The old man sat at the bottom of the stairs with a net, rope and a newly sharpened knife. “I think your friend might be here after all” said the woman just as they were about to reach the bottom of the stairs. Then without warning, the old woman was struck hard on the top of the head with a hammer. “Urg” was all she could say as she collapsed and rolled down the stairs. The stranger ran down toward Nathan. “Look out!” Nathan shouted through a mouthful of candy. He unwrapped another piece and put that in his mouth to join the others.

            The stranger turned around and saw the old man. The old man was smashed over the head with a metal mallet, but not before he slashed the stranger across the chest. The old man stumbled and the stranger rushed over to Nathan. “Come on, we gotta get out of here” Said the stranger. It was so dark in the basement Nathan just now recognized the man as his friend Stephen the goat farmer. Stephen broke the chains with his hammer and helped his friend stand. “How did you find me?” Nathan asked. Stephen smiled “I followed the candy wrappers” Stephen replied.

            The Old man charged at Stephen with a knife about to stab the poor farmer in the back. Reacting quickly and using the infinite energy supplied by eating gluttonous amounts of candy, Nathan leapt forward and hit the old man with a leaping Nathan punch. It was called this, because it was a move invented by Nathan and he was terrible at naming things.

            The punch was so STRONG, that the old man spun around and slammed against the wall after being struck. “One more thing, how did you know these old people were monsters?” Nathan asked as they walked up the basement stairs. “They were monsters?” Stephen replied. “Haha, oh yeah, I forgot that you are completely insane” Nathan laughed. Joking aside, Nathan never let Stephen meet his parents or grandparents. Stephen wasn’t completely stable and this was a problem sometimes.

            Nathan and Stephen stepped out into the cold, murky air of the Haunted Forest. “Ahhh, Fresh air! Well, sort of” Nathan said. “so how do we get home from here?” Nathan asked. He turned to Stephen, who was now busily burning down the house of the old couple. “Hm? What did you say?” Stephen asked, he seemed distracted at the task at hand. Which was arson. Nathan noticed the trail of candy wrappers that lead back home but then noticed another trail. This second trail was the original trail of maple candy he was following. He thought it ended here, but in fact it went off deeper into the forest.

            “NO! we are going home!” Stephen said. “But…I want to see who dropped all of this candy!” Nathan replied. Stephen sighed. “Ok, but only because I am incredibly curious about it too. just save some candy for me” Stephen said. “Wha?” Nathan half said with a mouthful of candy. He was already three candies in on the trail before Stephen could even agree to anything.

            The two men followed the trail of candy for an hour, eating candy as they went. To their amazement, when the trees parted they found a town. It was Hallows end. “We made it to Hallows End before Halloween!” Stephen said excitedly. The two friends ran into town, Nathan picked up any stray candies he found as they went. The trail ended at a store. There were crates of Maple candies stacked outside of a giant Halloween candy store and one of the crates had a very small hole in it. “They must have traveled through the autumn forest and the haunted forest just to deliver these candy crates to Hallows End before Halloween!” Stephen said. He was glad that question was finally answered and excited that this mystery brought them all the way to Hallows End.

            Nathan was already inside the candy store at this point. The store, named “the candied Pumpkin” Had a large sign, shaped and painted to look like a Jack o Lantern trick or treat bucket. With pieces of candy overflowing from the bucket and across the sign was the name of the store. The pumpkin bucket was orange, with eyes painted black and the candy wrappers were painted different colors, orange and black, pink and white and yellow and red. The inside of the store was full of different colored lights, bins full of every kind of candy you  could ever hope to eat and if you bought enough candy to fill one of the trick or treat buckets than you got the bucket for free. Nathan came out of the store with two free trick or treat buckets full of candy. “here, thanks for saving my life or whatever” Nathan said shyly then gave Stephen one of the tick or treat plastic buckets. Stephen’s had a skeleton face on it and was painted white, Nathan had the original orange Jack o lantern.

            The two sat down on the yellowed autumn grass, on a hill just on the edge of town. It was night, the stars sparkled and Hallows End lit up with yellow and orange lights. Lanterns with various colored fire, orange lights. Pumpkin decorations and the large Jack o Lantern at the center of town burned brightly for all to see. The two looked down at the town and rested as they ate candy. “Happy Halloween buddy” Stephen said with a smile. “Happy Halloween” Nathan replied.