The Beginnings of the Shadow Demons, Part 1:

"Down once more to the dungeon of my black despair!

Down we plunge to the prison of my mind!

Down that path into darkness deep as hell!

Why, you ask, was I bound and chained in this cold and dismal place?"

- Phantom of the Opera

Section 1: Renna

Twisting, turning, flapping my arms around like a bird trying to fly.

Swimming in a sea of thick blood and liquid.

Just a fall - a spiral downwards, I?m going to cry.

Shadows hold onto me, tease it, believe me when I really say...

I am going to die?

?Just breathe.?

It?s constricting?

?Push. Push it out.?

It?s cold! The light, it burns my eyes!

?It?s? Here??

Where am I?

?H-How is it??

I feel so?

Feeble?

What happened?

I part my lips.

But there was only a cry?

?Beautiful.?

?? It?s so beautiful??

?Aaaah!?

?Shhhh, don?t cry? Shhh??

I don?t understand, what are these people?

What am I?

?What?s your name, hm??

My name? What is that?

?Renna?? She said.

?Renna?? He questioned.

Ren? Ah?

?Yes, your name is Renna.?

?It?s a beautiful name.?

What is beautiful?

?My? Child? My beautiful Child.?

?We?re your Daddy and Mommy??

M? Mom?? Da? Dy?

?Looks just like you, babe.?

?Really??

?Perhaps our little one will have your spirit, too. So strong.?

?Yes, yes, of course. And your kind heart.?

My name... Is Renna?

?He?s such a beautiful boy.?

?Just like his Father??

__________________________________________________ _

In the popular myths of forbidden love, there was always one of the mortals and one of the forever burning light joining together to bring forth a child of both factions. Of both powers. Immortal, yet, destructible.

?Father,? I tugged against his sleeve, ?Why did Mommy have to go?? He was so tall, and I felt small standing to the height of his hip.

I hated it, I hated being look down upon like that.

The same old question again and again, and he answered in the same tone of voice every time. ?Because she has a job to do, Renna. You know she?s a very special Lady who has to look over the threads of evolution.?

?Evol? U? Tan??

?Evil-lu-tion.?

?Ah? What is that??

?Well,? He stopped walking, moving to bend down to my height.

That was better. Now I didn?t feel so weak.

?You see Renna, your Mother fell in love with me. I was once like those monkey people you saw the other day in the forests. Remember them?? He talked like they visited zoo-animals.

?The one?s that look hairy and make silly noises?? My eyes had widened nearly shocked, though not fully understanding. They did look very silly. In fact, at the time I saw them I felt really? Strange. Like I should be one of them, too.

?Yes, like them. But with her powers-?

?Powers? Like magical powers? Can she fly, Daddy??

?Yes, she can - and yes, powers. I don?t know why she did it, but I am very thankful? By making me she put herself in a very bad situation with her bosses. I shouldn?t exist like this and nor should you.?

?I shouldn?t? Why? Is Mommy going to be hurt??

?No - no,? He smiled that smile; the look he used when he was lying, ?She?ll come back.? Was his voice full of hope? At the time I didn?t notice, I simply believed the words other than the voice behind it.

?What will happen to us??

?We?re both a little immortal, so we have many, many life times to wait if we want.?

?Okay, Daddy. I can wait. S?long as you wait, I will wait.? I nodded, looking towards the door of our cottage - so modern and so far ahead of its time.

I grew up there. A slow painful process as the world around me changed, though I, myself, did not. Well, not much. I grew a little, though, still holding the old mind and soul inside of a child?s body and mental capacity...

That was torture, I hated every single minute of it.

I noticed a few changes in the world - those icky hairy things started to look a lot like me. They even talked and before long? They were doing things that I could do - walk on two feet, talk in languages? They looked all different, some were taller, some had funny ears and faces, some had different coloured skin... Some came from places I have never heard of before and hell, almost all of them lived in oddly shaped houses by now. Close to the design of the cottage I lived in.

I always thought the world consisted of me and my Dad.

I was wrong.

?? Daddy! Monkeys!? I exclaimed pointing out of the window to a bunch of those things who were once very hairy and primitive. Now they were children playing together, just like me. For some reason, I still called them monkeys even if they were nothing like them anymore.

They looked to be laughing and playing some kind of game.

My Father placed his hand upon my shoulder, ?Yes, Renna? What?s wrong?? Even he too peered out of the window.

?They?re trying to kill each other.?

He chuckled, ?No, don?t be silly - they?re just playing.?

?Playing? Like me and you? Laughing and stuff? Hide and go Seek??

?Kinda - I think these guys are playing off-ground touch.?

?Can I go play with the monkeys?? I looked up at him with those puppy-dog eyes I secretly knew that would eventually cause him to fold under my innocence. It was so easy to manipulate my Father. I think it was because I reminded him so much of Mother.

I didn?t mean to take advantage of our situation without Mother, my Father was perhaps the only most important figure in my life, and I to him. But I couldn?t help but use that for my favour. It was just natural for me to use him like that.

He held his ground and said no. But I understood.

I had no choice but to obey.

I don?t know why I was never allowed out much. I never really did find out why.

One day, when I sat in my room playing the odd wind instrument the self proclaimed ?humans? created - I believe they called it a Recorder; my mind began to wonder. Father had mentioned that my birth was a special though dangerous procedure - and that my Mother should never had created my Father into what he was today?

I couldn?t help but think?

Was I a mistake?

Is the reason I am not allowed out punishment for my birth? I threw my Recorder across the room and broke out into one of my many temper tantrums. It was an odd sensation when I did get angry - something far more comforting than my Father?s arms, and I was ashamed to feel it. That?s why I always bottled it up like a good boy.

My childhood consisted of me faking my anger half the time.

Disillusioning myself into thinking I was a part of the human race, being at my Father?s side and never allowed to venture too far from his careful watch. I felt like a prisoner in my own body, I needed answers to my questions.

Where was Mother?

Why wasn?t I allowed to live life how I wanted?

I found out.

In the worst way.

There was noises coming from my Father?s room one night and, curious, I moved to his door and listened.

?? You have done well.?

?I can?t lie to him no longer!?

?You have too.?

?He?s my son!?

?And that?s why you must contain him here, or we will deal with the matter ourselves.?

Was I hearing right? Was I being a imprisoned by my own Father?!

?No? I love my son? I will look after him? My wife? How is she?? He sounded so? Sad. It pained me then and it still even pains me now.

?Still being questioned about the human cult she associates herself with.?

?But why? What motive had she to make contact with the humans? This seems all too strange for me to understand??

?She was attempting to destroy the very deal we have between mortal and immortals inside of Ayanee. We created them, and we look over them but never interfere with their evolutionary growth.?

?I know myself and Renna was a mistake? Please do not take that into account?

?Renna is a child born of holy blood, he is to come with us when the time of his powers awaken.?

?? Don?t take my child.?

?I have not come here to bring you news of your wife. I am sorry, Dariel? Give me the half breed.?

?No! You cannot not take him. You have taken my wife, but not my son too!?

?You should know better than to get involved in this. You have been warned? Give me the child.?

There was a sudden crash! And I had parted the door, the shadows of the two men - one being my Father and the other, being the winged creature were pictured upon the wall opposite. There was a loud, strange sound - it almost sounded like bubbles rising to the surface of a geyser. Even the spray of blood arching across the floor seemed to sizzle.

I couldn?t look away.

My Father was killed by the creature.

He turned his sights onto me.

Section 3: A Turn of Good Fortune

?How many days hasn?t he spoken for?? Maruam turned his head to the other Angel, who had clutched in his hands the cell door?s skeleton key - an elaborately designed key with many twists, turns and protruding sections.

This other Angel too had blonde hair - almost impossibly beautiful with long curly locks and muscular physique. His toga was fairly loose and revealed a little too much, though this did not bother him here, or others. ?Several weeks now?? The Angel shook his head, peering into the tiny glass window and into the bright white padded room, spying the long black haired form of Renna stuffed into a corner rocking back and fore. ?I am afraid his solitude has? Driven his mind into himself??

Maruam?s eyes lowered, guilt ridden in his beautiful features, ?Open the door, I wish to speak with him.?

The other Angel shook his head, ?The Council insists that he remain like this. No one can see him? Even you, my Lord High Priest.?

?Open the door.? Now the Priest was raising his voice in the most unorthodox threatening tone that caused the Angel to cringe, though, he acknowledged and did what he was told. The key was slid into the large metallic door and twisted sharply almost with a struggle, the door dimmed in light briefly and several long drawn out mechanic noises animated from the keyhole itself. With the key being twisted and withdrawn, the door opened on it?s own accord allowing for Maruam to step in and move to his knees before the long black haired child.

Renna was naked, his skin scarred and wounded from what appeared to be whiplashes, each wrist pierced with two large crudely created nails etched with various ancient and foreign runes of warding. Preventing the boy from suddenly discovering his untapped powers.

?Renna?? Maruam?s hand touched the boy?s cheek under the wall of hair, ?It?s me. How are you today? I wish I could have visited sooner but-?

?Leave me alone.?

?Renna? Don?t be silly, I am your friend... I want to help you.?

?Do you??

?Of course I do.?

Renna?s head titled up, his nose parting the hair, ?? Give me back my parents.?

Now the Priest?s head bowed, almost ashamed, ?You know they have passed, my child. I am sorry for your loss and I know it was harsh of the Council but? I am riddled with guilt for killing your Father. It was merely a job - you must understand, Renna, I didn?t want to ruin your life.?

?Let me go? I want to be free.?

?Renna?? He shook his head, standing with his hand retracting from the boy?s cheek, ?I will do all I can, the Council?s punishment was too harsh in my opinion for you; a mere child subjected to eternal torment? For things you did not do yourself.?

?Please? End me. I want to see my family again-?

Maruam bent down gripping the boy?s shoulders, giving Renna a rough shake while glaring down into those deep, hypnotic red eyes. ?You cannot give up, Renna! Your parents deaths will be in vain if you do! You must live for yourself and their wishes! Do not let me or the Council?s punishments get in your way of living life as a free man? It is the right of every sentient to have freedom, remember that...?

The boy?s eyes were wide, and staring. They grew with tears and he fell into despair, his hands flying to his face as he wept with the older man?s hands grasped upon his shoulders. ?I?m sorry!?

?Be strong, Renna. Only the weak give up.?

?I can?t!?

?You can, and you will! Or you will die!?

That stopped his tears, the younger one was shocked into silence.

?I will stand by your side... I will help and change the Council?s punishment. I will take you under my tutelage and? I will be a Father to you.?

Section 4: Renna's Unholy Act.

Part 2

That undying love was not for me or my Father, Maruam explained later in my life.

I was too young to understand that my Mother didn?t have but one lover - my Father, but she had many, many others. Apparently, I am not the only one. Many of my half brothers and sisters were put to death thanks to my Mom?s eternal lusty encounters with mortal men!

Ugh?

If only I was born Angelic; if I was born pure and untainted - just like Maruam and the rest of the Order and then I could have had a normal life. I would have not had been prejudiced and discriminated by the Council, and perhaps done some good to make up for my Mother?s misdeeds?

It was all thanks to that disgusting blood that flows through my veins and for the fact that my creator was a whore.

I taint the bloodline? I should have been killed like the rest of those rejects.

I was not born because I was wanted?

I was born to bridge the gap between the creator and the created - to disrupt the flow, to damage, to overthrow and then to finally destroy?

Destroy what?

Maruam never answered, he had told me in that all-knowing tone of voice that: ?There will be a day for me to find out what my Mother was planning, I should not go looking for the answers. The answers will show themselves to me when I am ready.?

I envy him.

He?s the only one who cares for me, who really listens, who defends me against the others? I don?t fit in this heaven? I deserve to be cast out into the dirt of the mortal plane.

One day, after many of our centuries, Maruam and I were asked to pay a visit to the Chamber of the Council members and of course, we went, with me standing behind him grown - yet still afraid.

There was such a huge contast between us two too - him being tall, blonde - holy and outspoken when he addressed the Council, while I? I was dressed in black sulking in his shadow, long black haired, head bowed and scared into silence? I didn?t want to step out of line and be turned mortal just so I could die in such a horrific manner of being cast into the living abyss?

A place where nothing can live for long in the thick never ending pit of choking tar?

?The boy shall witness his Mother?s mistakes.? The voice continued, the same one who sentenced the boy to become Maruam?s responsibility, ?You shall both go to the mortal world and put an end to his Mother?s regime and mindless advocates; the self proclaimed Black Monks of the Shade? You will eliminate them all, leave no survivors. Today we put an end to the Darkness??

?Amen.? The Council?s collective voices in a rush of crowded echoes, which of course brought some uneasiness into my voice; I never seen or spoke to them directly before, so I saw my chance and took it without fear.

I stepped around from my guardian and lifted my head high, proudly almost. ?I will do as you ask of me.?

?The boy speaks so boldly to us,? the voice mused, ?Tell us child? What have you to gain by killing these rebels of our Holy cause??

That took me back and it was most unexpected - I was prepared for them to retort even opening my mouth let alone actually questioning me? I replied back, though really it was whisper. ?I? I don?t know.?

?You don?t know??

Maruam interrupted, placing a hand lovingly onto my shoulder - I shuddered, that strong grasp so comfortable and reassuring... I couldn?t help but smile. He begun by clearing his throat, still intimidated by the Council?s authority but unmerciful in his hard tone, ?The boy is young, forgive him. We shall do as you ask of us.?

He bowed, and I bowed right on after him - not wanting to offend of course. Secretly, I wanted each and every one of them to crash and burn before my feet. We left, and I glared each and every one of them down. Staring right into those darkened white hoods - I could smell and taste their fear? I knew for some reason they feared me.

?? Maruam?? I begun as we left the chambers, moving close to hold his hand? So warm, so soothing.

?Yes?? He looked down, blue eyes sparkling in the blinding light.

?Will you look after me??

?Of course, Renna, I am your guardian now - only death can stop me.?

?Forever?? The question posed, I stopped and soon after he stopped - after all where could he go when I was gripping his hand so tightly?

It took sometime to reply; he had no choice.

I kissed him.

Section 5: Death by Shadows

Part 2

It was like killing an ant.

When you lifted your foot off of the ground; when you were a child, knowing full well you stepped on it - accessing the mess that was once a living breathing insect? You felt guilty. A brief haze would pass over your eyes.

You killed it.

It did nothing to you.

How can something so small and insignificant make you feel so terrible? What if the ant was bigger? Would it scream? Would it scream like that man did at the door? Ideally I heard nothing, but when he hit the ground, what was left of the air inside his lungs rushed out - causing a moan, like a zombie.

But he remained dead.

And the door closed.

These ants. These mortals I shared half a bloodline with! What was I doing? What if the shoe was on the other foot? What if for instance I was killing the Angels instead? Would I still feel the same way? How could I tare myself apart from both worlds?

Pretend it?s a job, Renna.

Forget the screams, pull a straight face; no, no worries? It is only blood splashing across your face - ignore it?

Ignore it!

But it?s so warm. Have I ever bled? Does that not make me immortal? Does that not make me human? Like my Father? Or? Like my Mother?

Women.

Children.

Men?

Each one I had slain I uttered a sorry; a prayer? I asked for their forgiveness like any other Crusader would. But? Didn?t they kill anything and everything? Didn?t the Crusaders kill anyone that was different to them? Am I? One of them?

Am I a murderer?

I had lost count.

The screams were now sobs and pleadings for their lives and? Slowly, I broke out of my stare - out of my emotionless actions and finally responded? I smirked. I never felt so great. I? Smiled while I tore them apart - the more I killed - the more I grinned - the more blood I shed - the happier I became and before long I was laughing!

Uncontrollably I laughed as I tore limb from socket, heads from shoulders and private parts from body? I was caked in so much blood my footing was slipping across the wooden flooring. Those who were alive and injured were crawling away or searching for their limbs.

Moans? No longer sexual.

I? Felt? Hard. Disgustingly I looked down at myself to only see my penis standing erect under the toga! I gripped it with both hands, and fell to my knees.

Go away. This is wrong. I don?t understand why your acting like this! I do not enjoy this! I am not like them! I am not like a mortal? But, I lost breath - the very tip of it was so? Warm. And? Almost painfully pleasurable to touch? Swollen. Needing for something warm and moist to hide?

A woman ran down the stairs, breaking for the door. Soon she too fell face first - skidding across the blood covered ground and directly into a wall as her leg was severed clean off by one of my Shadow Arms. Her scream?

Drove me onto her.

I came in here to end the sin, not too subject myself to it!

Is this what I am like? Is this what Mother wanted?

It suddenly hit me.

Mother, was a Fallen Angel.

Father, was a mortal man?

Mortal man, easily corruptible, easily bent to desire?

Was those desires beating in my chest - amplified by my Mother?s plans? Yes? I see it now clear as day like her memories were my own.

?Mother?? I cried?

I am of Holy and Mortal Blood? Of good and evil? Balancing out. I am something new. The Council? Something they fear.

I climaxed. Finally, ending the poor woman?s life - crushing her skull under my palm.

?No more spawn? There can be only one Trueblood? Angels. Mortals?? I chanted, standing to feet, scarlet eyes glowing. ?Man. Woman. Child. Gods. Goddesses? I am neither? I?m something new. I am, the link?? It was like I was being reborn - everything right through my teachings with Maruam, to the lectures of what was Holy and what was not by other Angels - it was all gone.

I don?t care anymore. They?re all as bad as each other?

One more mortal fell; I tasted this child?s blood from the wound in his neck - and it was? So? So? SO sweet.

It tasted like revenge should do. Served warm. And painful.

?What am I to do?? I looked about myself, and at the mess I had made. ?I? I don?t want to be? A God? I want to?? My fists were pure white at how strong I clenched them.

?I want everything to end.?

Fallen Angel? No.

Immortal man? No.

Demon?

I turned to the door as it opened behind me, panting so hard that even my chest felt tight with each passing breath. All I could hear was Maruam and his gasp.

By the time I turned fully he was gone? I never had felt so abandoned. I love him, I?d never hurt him? Why?

Why did you run, Maruam?

Section 6: The Order In Chaos.

Part 2: The Battle Begins...

It was rather fitting of me to manipulate the dead whereas my Mother created life. A Necromancer? Perhaps, but each and every corpse forever gave me their Immortal service; each soul twisted, and placed back into the vessel.

Yes. I am the Creator of the Demons?

We will rule. The time of Angels is over.

Gnawing on the flesh of legs and fingers.

I can?t help but find them? Cute.

After all they need to quench their hunger; they don?t need to eat, mind you. Perhaps it?s just for the exotic flavour that I too was slowly coming accustomed too. I, am something living - something Immortal, but, a guy has got to eat hasn?t he? Life would be boring otherwise.

Village after village fell to the Shade. Each and every woman, child and man was murdered and pillaged of their souls and bodies for my cause to end the disgusting bureaucracy that was the Order. Their lies and decent run so deep, yet the Mortals refuse to rise against them?

Weaklings? To think I was even half blooded to these spineless cretins?

Years went by, and my numbers grew. My Army of Black Monks. Grew?

My powers seemed to develop faster than they ever did before - I was soon forgetting all the pointless teaching of Maruam and gaining knowledge of my own abilities.
These? Arms? Are so powerful? So strong? They can tare - rip and shred through almost anything! Armour? Useless against me. Magical shielding? Pointless?

My goal is clear. My Army is strong. My powers, unmatched?

There?s just one thing I need to master.

The powers that was bestowed upon my Mother and passed down to me through genetics.

The ability to control Evolution?

I may be able to create new beings such as the Black Monks, but, is it possible to? Reverse it?

Can I destroy the Order?

Can I kill Immortals?

Yes.

They will fall under my vengeful wrath?

I just hope Maruam stands with me and not their lies?

I don?t want to kill him? Do I?

The final battle beyond my shoulder was just marvellously colourful. The scene had quickened my breaths for the blood to be spent on the Council?s grounds?

Skeleton vs. Flesh, Demon vs. Angel. Black Monks vs. the Order?s Angelics? Boned teeth gnashing away at the feathers of brilliantly white wings - a Holy forged sword slicing heads clean off shoulders of my minions?

A battle between the Immortals that would rage for days?

Days and days. Months and months? Years?

Unfortunately for the Order the War had major repercussions over the Mortal world, Ayenee. The lands went unchecked - it fell into chaos and it was so, so beautiful to finally see the Humans acting like they should do.
Fighting other races - Elves, Drows, Dwarves; killing each other? Raping, amassing armies against another? Indulging themselves in sin?

Every moment an Immortal Angel fell from exhaustion, I grew in strength. I had conquered Ayenee without even trying.

Finally at the Gates of the field of expansive white flowers; the Council?s domain, one man stood in my way.

Just one - the Council would never dare get their hands dirty, even now when I was so close to their end?

Bloodied, his toga now ragged and barely clung to his perfect muscular formed body? Maruam held his sword waveringly, pointing it directly towards me and my massive Horde of Black Monks with its new recruits behind.

The Angels were no longer, alive.

They joined me without choice.

NO compassion - NO mercy for those who destroyed my life! NO forgiveness!

NONE SHALL SURVIVE!

?Maruam?? I whispered as I approached, knowing that victory was just beyond that tall golden gate, ?This is futile, join me? Please. I do not want to see you harmed?" I extended out my hand, hoping silently he would take it.

I guessed his answer?

As he charged towards me?

Maruam?

I am so sorry it has come to this?

Section 7: Renna's Mortal Wound

Part 2: Renna of the Dark! God of Abolition!

I never noticed how beautiful the sky was before. How can it be that colour? How can it be so unnatural? Why was the light burning my eyes and aching my head?

Pink? Red? Lilac? Black?

Had I gone blind?

Was this? The end? Is this death?

Is it nothing? Am I? What? Why? Where?s my peace? This? Pain?

No...

I am not dead.

I can still feel pain?

This ache in my chest - was it? Betrayal? Was it? Love? No? My love is one sided - my love is unholy, I should just? Go to sleep.

Yes? Sleep.

There is no pointing in fighting it, anymore...

Cold?

I have failed...

So? Cold?

NO!

I mustn?t? I mustn?t!

I have to do this...

I will end the Order!

I will make them pay for destroying my family! I will make them all pay!

But isn?t it too late? Haven?t I tried? And failed?

Give in?

Mother?

Give in to me. Give into us? Give in to my powers that has slept within you for so long? Why do you fight it? Why do you let them restrain it?

No? No! I will not become what you want me to be!

You must?

Mother, why?

Because? There is always an end, to a beginning?

But I don?t want to cause any more pain!

I, was the beginning, and you are now the end?

I don?t want to!

You are the end. It is your purpose!

No!

Open, your eyes?

Maruam!

Open, your? Eyes!

No! I will not kill him! You can?t make me!

Open them!

No! You can't make me!

Open!

No!

Open!

No?

What seemed like an eternity perhaps passed in just a few mere seconds? Maruam still remained over Renna?s gasping body, that sword grasped tightly with both hands upon the hilt - lifting it up to jab downwards and into his old apprentice?s throat...

?Rest in peace, Renna of the Dark! God of Abolition!?

Scarlet hues would open suddenly, a sneer would pass across Renna?s face as the sword would impale his throat to the ground. No, Renna did not die. Still he lay there with eyes open and teeth bared, bubbling up the blood across his lips with each breath he had taken?

With hands lifting to grip the blade, slowly he would push up against Maruam?s opposite force, slowly, pulling the blade out from his neck without injuring his hands! Moving a palm to rest against the tip, he would battle further against Maruam until the sword?s blade was clearly an arm?s length away.

?How?! You are supposed to be-? Maruam gasped, there was no wound! Renna?s wounds were gone! ?How can you be doing this? Renna?!? Maruam had little choice now, he would let the sword be gripped within the hands of Renna while he stumbled back in fear as his apprentice slowly got to his feet unharmed! His back would smack against the closed Gates of the Order?s Council chamber, those impossibly beautiful angelic blue eyes wide.

Renna stood with Maruam?s sword in hand? The metal? Was physically melting away into nothing? But that was not Maruam?s real reason for his fear?

No.

Dark and light feathered Angelic wings would sprout from Renna?s back? Each feather a different shade of the grey scale?Slowly Renna?s hand would move out directly towards him, palm wide.

Maruam held up his arms to cross over his face, protecting his eyes from the sight that was to be his last...

Inch by inch Maruam would unwrap? His cells would break apart and his skin would peel away to reveal the twitching bleeding muscle below? His expression would contort with his scream?

Until he detonated into a sickening display of blood and ash?

Tears of blackened oil would slip down Renna's cheeks...

The Beginnings of the Shadow Demons, Part 2:

?Fear can turn to love -
You'll learn to see,
To find the man behind the monster; this...
Repulsive carcass, who seems a beast, but secretly dreams of beauty,
Secretly...
Secretly...?

- Phantom of the Opera

Section 1: Little Thieves With Big Hearts.

?Get back here you little thief!? One rather large plump man came running out of his Butcher?s shop wielding and twirling a meat cleaver high above his bald shiny head. The white piny worn across the front of his chubby stomach was drenched in dried blood of the animals he had mangled today into presentable edible chunks. The piny was too quickly becoming saturated in his horrible, stinking sweat? Not a pretty sight, but comical none the less.
?Get! ? Back! ?? He shouts over his pants, slowing to a waddling stop, pointing the meat cleaver to the ragged little black haired girl running away with a rather large light fingered helping of freshly cut steak, ?Someone! ? Stop? That girl!? Ahh! St? Stop!?
Unfit, he would fall to his knees in the mud of the town?s un-cobbled street, meat cleaver being lost somewhere to his side. The poor man was trying to regain some air into his lungs as he screamed obscenities after the fleeing girl.
The people that were simply bystanders congregated around the large man, trying to help him back to his feet while being more than half confused as to what was going on in the first place. Of course, they struggled to pick him up which only added to the thief?s laughter.

Some minutes down the long market stall riddled road, the little girl skidded a corner rather expertly, leaving the butcher biting on her dust.
Knowing the streets like the back of your really did have its advantages! The slimy helping of steak was most certainly staining her clothing? But did she care? No. She was having way too much fun in running away from absolutely nobody!
Giggling childishly, she would turn sharply off from the main street and down a long dark alleyway that was simply too small for most adult to chase after her. She was away scot-free! No one can catch her now!

Exiting the alleyway into another somewhat smaller street, she scampered directly across the path of a moving horse and carriage. She yelped, but her feet continued its pumping!
The driver however, was nearly having a fit as he struggled to stop the horse from trampling over the young girl that ran out in front of him, who seemingly came from nowhere!
The horses stopped and reared onto their two back legs - screeching and huffing as the carriage was pushed backwards by their retreat.
The driver lifted his fist, shaking it about into the air as he tried to regain control of his transport, blaring obscenities like the butcher had done to the petite annoyance.

The escaping girl disappeared sharply down yet again another darkened alleyway! You can tell she has done this before, giggling still with, glee?

Several more corners taken and out into another street she ran. The black haired terror avoiding stall after stall, weaving between people all the while glancing back, making sure no one was in persuit.

Over one stall of vegetables she hopped rather suddenly, skidding across another empty one until she sneakily and purposely knocked over a stall of fruits in her rampage.
In her near-stumble to the ground, she stopped herself, panting but still giggling despite how fatigued she felt.
Glancing brown orbs back to the owner of the stall she had knocked over, he looked more than half vexed and perplexed and so cheeky little smile grew on the girl?s lips as she plucked an apple from the ground with one bloodied hand, nibbling onto it as she darted off into the crowd.

?Thief! Thiiieeeef!?

?Someone stop that girl!?

?Hey! You gotta pay - hey! Stop!?

?Stop!?

?Watch where you going, kid!?

So much fun was to be had for the girl everyday as she did her job down to a fine art, but, there was a serious side to the whole ordeal?

Lucy Ren was the ?gatherer? for her family.

She was the one to go out and steal food for them to eat on a daily basis? She was the one risking her life everyday so that she and her parents could survive in a rundown shack of wood and crudely fashioned brick on the poorer outskirts of town, close to the vast ripe ranges of farmland which none of this family owned... But unofficially ?borrowed? from.

If Lucy was ever caught stealing the law states that thieves have their hands removed on the spot by a local who had the authority of the law. Lucy ran that risk willingly for her family and became quite the little good natured bandit in the process?
Loved by people in the street, despised by shop owners? The eye of envy for many would-be beginner thieves that were barely the same age as her...

Lucy believed life couldn't get any better...

?Tha? little rat only stole two! There be three of us!?

?Now, darling? Sh? a little dumb, we know tha?, jus? go easy on ?er okay??

?Easy?! I show ?er easy! Lucy!?

?We wanna speak t? ya hun!?

???

?Why? did ya only steal two?! Ya dumb ?ittle snot bitch!?

?Calm down??

?Don? tell meh ta calm down woman!?

???

?Well?!?

?I? Dropped it??

?Ya dropped it?!?

?I?m? S? Sorry??

?Tha?s not good enuff now s?it?! M? gonna smack ya ?till your brain leaks outta ya ears!?

?I?m sorry!?

?Darlin! Calm your-?

?Know ya place whore!?

?Stop it! Stop hitting Mommy, Daddy!?

?An ?as for you! No food! We be eatin this steak! Ya can go get ya own!?