Sean Griggs 310 Christopher Dr. Unit 26 Cambridge !ntario N1" 1#$ 226%&''%0$16 Sean.(ames.Griggs)hotmai*.

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,!-DS .ND G!DS b/ Sean Griggs

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[Chapter Name] 4he earth was dead be3ore we arri5ed. 6t was a deso*ate waste*and +onsumed b/ *a7es o3 3ire and mo*ten ro+7 and peop*e were on*/ a thread o3 m/ster/ waiting to be unra5e*ed b/ the Gods and the ,ords. #ana7een was the god o3 *ight. 8e was the 3irst o3 se5en gods who bra5ed the 3*ame and began our wor*d9s :ourne/ to san+tit/ and pea+e. 8e +ast out the dar7ness and sent the 3ire up to the hea5ens; this is the sun whi+h now gi5es us our *ight and warmth. Sondriede ; god o3 earth she +ame down into the new*/ *it p*anet se+ond and birthed the trees the 3*owers and the 8andrios; god o3 *i3e +ame down with her to 3i** the earth with *i3e essen+e and gi5e birth to a** wi*d*i3e whi+h maintains our p*anet and sustains our own *i5es.

2ith this (a*ahrem <i*indrome -anughan and .nosad 3e** to the earth to grant it it9s most pre+ious gi3t; the gi3t o3 human *i3e. 4hese se5en gods ea+h +reated three peop*e in their *i7eness ea+h more stri7ing than the *ast and beauti3u* in their sp*endor. 4he *ast se5en o3 these wou*d be appointed as the ,ords. ,ords who wou*d 3ore5er wat+h o5er the +ommon peop*e and prote+t them 3rom 3ear and pain.

!5er the *ast 3 +enturies =arth has thri5ed and 3*ourished into the p*a+e we 7now it as toda/. 4he *ords remain e5er wat+h3u* and the peop*e remain 3ore5er grate3u* 3or e5er/thing bestowed upon us b/ them and the Gods. >2hat about the wa**?@ a *itt*e bo/ inAuired puBB*ed to his mother. She simp*/ smi*ed and +ontinued with her stor/. >2ith a** that is good in the wor*d there must

[.uthor0s ,ast Name] 1 [1%2 2ords 3rom 4it*e] 1 3 be something bad as we** to maintain the ba*an+e. 2hen the Gods +reated the ,ords and the 3irst peop*es o3 our wor*d; with them +ame demons who *ur7 in the dar7ness and pre/ on those who don9t 7now about them.@ 4he bo/ *oo7ed 3rightened now. >6 don9t 7now about themC@ she rubbed his hair +onso*ing*/ he :ust pu**ed the +o5ers o5er his head. >Dou 7now about them now sweetie. .** the peop*e do. 4his is the stor/ that the ,ords ma7e sure e5er/ person 7nows so that the/ +an sta/ sa3e. 4hat is wh/ the/9re here a3ter a** right?@ 8e nodded at her 3rom o5er his +o5ers not seeming entire*/ +on5in+ed. >2e9re here toda/ ,u7e. This is wh/ we9re here toda/. 4he ,ords put up the wa** and to*d us about the danger outside o3 it to 7eep us sa3e the/9** always prote+t us.@ 4he words e+hoed in his mind as his mother *eaned 3orward to 7iss him on the 3orehead and sa/ her goodnight. >4he ,ords wi** always prote+t us. 4he/ wi** always 7eep us sa3e.@ 4he words ran through his head as he tried to distra+t himse*3 3rom the s+ar/ sounds o3 rain pattering hard against the window and thunder 3i**ing the night s7/. 4he thunder was so *oud that one +ou*d s+ar+e*/ hear the shri** o3 a mother9s +ries be*ow.

Gemini was panting she +ou*d hard*/ +at+h her breath an/more but she needed to get away. What the hell will they do to him? She +ou*dn9t he*p but pani+ as she 3ound a sta+7 o3 o*d wooden boEes and hid herse*3 awa/ behind them. >Feep *oo7ing there9s no wa/ in he** she got awa/.@ . gru33 5oi+ed bar7ed at what she +ou*d on*/ assume was another man she +ou*dn9t see. 8er breathing got sharp and *oud an/ time she didn9t put a** her 3o+us into it. She heard 3ootsteps behind her and +*asped her mouth with one hand in a 3uti*e e33ort to hide what had a*read/ been seen. She 3e*t herse*3 being dragged upward b/ her hair and she 3ound herse*3 3a+e to 3a+e with a man in a mas7. They all wear those masks she thought to herse*3 in that instant. >2hat 7ind o3

[.uthor0s ,ast Name] 1 [1%2 2ords 3rom 4it*e] 1 $ mother runs 3rom her own +hi*d?@ he as7ed mo+7ing*/. She had no +hoi+e but to run she had no idea wh/ the/ e5en atta+7ed her and her son in the 3irst p*a+e. No. She 7new exactly wh/ it had happened and she wasn9t sure /et i3 she wou*d regret it. No one dares Auestion the authorit/ o3 the ,ords she did dare; howe5er. >Now 6 would ma7e some 7ind o3 +omment on how /ou must ha5e so man/ Auestions howe5er 6 thin7 /ou95e as7ed damn we** enough o3 those a*read/. 2ou*dn9t /ou agree?@ e5en through the rasp/ monotone 5oi+e that rang out 3rom the ominous *oo7ing mas7; she 7new he was sti** mo+7ing her. They do like to do that dont they? 8er mind was wandering she needed to 3o+us. >2here9s m/ son?@ were the on*/ words she +ou*d manage to +ho7e up through her tears. >6 thought 6 said /ou a*read/ as7ed enough Auestions /ou wret+h.@ #e3ore she +ou*d e5en b*in7 the wor*d went dar7 and she was being dragged to god 7nows where.

#e3ore she 7new it Gemini was on her 7nees in a dar7 room. 6t *oo7ed to be a warehouse o3 some 7ind. >4urn on the *ights@ a distant 5oi+e +a**ed. "ara*/Bed with 3ear the +o*d sweat began to pour 3rom Gemini9s 3orehead when her e/es *a/ on the gris*/ sight be3ore her. 8er /oung G /ear o*d son was bound to a +hair atop a pi*e o3 *oose 7ind*ing and appeared to be soa7ed in gaso*ine. Nearb/ a ha*3%mas7ed man stood +hu+7*ing to himse*3 +igarette in hand. >Now the on*/ wa/ we +ou*d truly 7eep /ou Auiet wou*d be to +ut out /our tongueCor 7i** /ou.@ 4he distant man said matter o3 3a+t*/ no emotion in his 5oi+e to be heard. >"*ease p*ease 69** do an/thing /ou want. Don9t hurt m/ bab/H@ Gemini was desperate she +ou*d not +ontro* the tremb*ing in her 5oi+e. >Iomm/H@ the bo/ +a**ed to Gemini o5er and o5er as she p*eaded her +ase to the man. >8mphH (ust 7i** them bothC@ She 7new she was going to die. She was terri3ied

[.uthor0s ,ast Name] 1 [1%2 2ords 3rom 4it*e] 1 ' and /et she 3e*t a +a*m sense o3 rea*iBation +ome o5er her when she g*impsed the true 3a+e o3 her 7i**er. >6 was wrongC695e 3ai*ed /ou as a mother@ her e/es were tearing up. She +ou*d hear the sound o3 her son being burned a*i5e and s+reaming re*ent*ess*/ 3or he*p that wou*d ne5er +ome. 4he on*/ he*p she +ou*d pra/ 3or now was the dar7ness that wou*d +onsume her.

Chapter 2 >So what 7ind o3 a name is "hoeniE an/wa/s?@ a beauti3u* b*onde gir* as7ed +o/ as she tossed her hair ba+7 and sipped her drin7. >2e** 6 was adopted as a 7id so 69m not rea**/ sure what it means .riaC@ "hoeniE *i3ted his g*ass and sipped it +a*m*/. >6 *i7e the honest/ it9s so rare in peop*e these da/s that it ta7es /ou ba+7 a *itt*e when /ou 3ind it.@ .ria had to be the most beauti3u* gir* that "hoeniE had e5er seen. She had *ong 3*owing b*onde hair bright b*ue e/es with :ust a tint o3 gre/ that made the gaBe into her sou* that mu+h more m/sterious; and o3 +ourse a smi*e that +ou*d bring an/ man to his 7nees in an instant. 8e was ner5ous about this date but it seemed to be going we**. ,itt*e did he 7now he was sitting a+ross 3rom the woman he wou*d e5entua**/ marr/ the *o5e o3 his *i3e. 8is one and on*/. 4he waiter +ame to the tab*e with their dinner and as he went to hand the p*ate to "hoeniE he ended up spi**ing the *arge p*ate o3 pasta a** down the 3ront o3 his shirt. >!h m/ god sir 69m so so embarrassedH 69m so sorr/H@ Jyoure embarrassed? "hoeniE thought to himse*3 as he aggressi5e*/ s+rubbed the sau+e out o3 his shirt he was red in the 3a+e.

>!h m/ god 6 +an9t be*ie5e /ou remember thatH@ .ria said *aughing *oo7ing :ust as beauti3u* now as she did then. >6 was so embarrassed; 6 thought /ou9d ne5er ta*7 to me again.@ "hoeniE

[.uthor0s ,ast Name] 1 [1%2 2ords 3rom 4it*e] 1 6 tried to hide it but he was sti** a bit embarrassed 3rom that night. >Dou 7now Cassie9s s*eeping o5er at a 3riend9s house tonight and 6 have had a 3ew g*asses o3 wine@ she said a*wa/s being so +o/. "hoeniE +ou*dn9t as7 3or a better *i3e. 8e had a beauti3u* wi3e and daughter his :ob put him +*ose to the ,ords and he seemed to a*wa/s 7eep them happ/ with his wor7. . per3e+t wor*d a per3e+t *i3e.

,i7e an/one "hoeniE wor7ed a benign :ob doing menia* tas7s that dro5e most men mad. "hoeniE howe5er en:o/ed the re*iabi*it/ o3 repetition and praised the ,ords 3or bestowing su+h an eas/ pea+e3u* *i3e upon him and his 3ami*/. 8e made more than enough to *i5e +om3ortab*/ and his beauti3u* wi3e .ria a*ong with his daughter ,i*/ ga5e him the 5er/ *ight that shone on his bright da/s.

Gemini on the other hand was spending her e5er/ wa7ing moment +*inging to the edge o3 a dar7 pit o3 despair she simp*/ +ou*dn9t *et herse*3 3a** into again. 4he sme** o3 +harred 3*esh and the ringing o3 shri** s+reams haunted her e5er/ da/ in the *ong 3i5e /ears that had passed. >Dou +an9t 7eep worr/ing about the ,ords the/9** ne5er 3ind us down here@ said .res on*/ being mi*d*/ reassuring. >6t9s not the *ords 6 3ear so mu+h as the memories. 4he/9re +*awing awa/ at m/ mind da/ and night and it9s dri5ing me insane. > .res *oo7ed troub*ed and too7 a moment be3ore spea7ing. >Don9t *et it show the others mustn9t see /our 3ear. Dour strength is theirs and it wou*d be i** to ta7e that awa/ 3rom them now.@ Gemini was si*ent but one *oo7 at her 3a+e showed her strength +ome ba+7 a*most instant*/. Ia/be she was 3a7ing it but she did a damn 3ine :ob o3 it nonethe*ess. >Sta/ strong Gemini. 4he/9** be the ones who burn soon enough.@ 8e

[.uthor0s ,ast Name] 1 [1%2 2ords 3rom 4it*e] 1 & ga5e a grim smi*e and turned to *ea5e >3i5e /ears ago wou*dn9t be soon enough. 4he/ deser5e to be 3ed to the demons be/ond the wa**s.@ 4his too7 .res aba+7 s*ight*/. 8owe5er the demons be/ond the wa**s were s*a/ed and +ast ba+7 b/ the ,ords so the stories are to*d. .res he*d his tongue nodded and Aui+7*/ eEited the room. Gemini sat b/ the *ight *ost in thought. 4he anger and 3ear ma/ drag her down at times but it was the one thing that 7ept her 3ighting at the same time.

Chapter 3 !n da/s *i7e these e5er/ person in the +it/ +rowded downtown to hear the ,ords spea7. 6t wasn9t o3ten that the/ wou*d show themse*5es to the pub*i+ man/ men and women ha5e died without e5er +at+hing a g*impse. 4his wou*d be the se+ond time howe5er that "hoeniE and his 3ami*/ got to see the ,ords spea7 to the peop*e and the/ were natura**/ standing right at the 3ront. "hoeniE admired the ,ords. 8e +*ung onto e5er/ word o3 the stories he was to*d as a bo/. Seeing them in the 3*esh ne5er got an/ *ess surrea* and the deep monotone 5oi+es o3 theirs rung out words o3 wisdom and gospe* to his ears a*wa/s sending a shi5er up his spine. >4he 3ine peop*e standing be3ore us toda/ need not 3ear. .s a*wa/s we prote+t our peop*e and our +it/ and to this da/ that has not +hanged.@ "hoeniE was gaw7ing up at the ,ords *i7e a +hi*d seeing a superhero in rea* *i3e. .ria thought it a bit strange but she *o5ed her husband dear*/ and admired the ,ords with him though ma/be not to the same eEtent. ,i*/ :ust a*wa/s seemed to be o33 in her own *itt*e wor*d da/dreaming o3 ad5enture and wondering what m/sti+a* things might *ie be/ond the wa**s. "hoeniE9s wi*d stories no doubt are what ma7e her wonder these things.

[.uthor0s ,ast Name] 1 [1%2 2ords 3rom 4it*e] 1 G >2e need not den/ the dar7ness outside the wa**s as we do not 3ear it. 4hough we 3ee* it is our dut/ to the peop*e to in3orm them when it draws near. 6t did so :ust a 3ew nights ago and on+e more we 5anAuished it ba+7 to when+e it +ameH@ 4he +rowd roared. "hoeniE wasn9t a*one in admiring the ,ords. 4he/ prote+ted the peop*e and deser5ed a** the *o5e the/ re+ei5ed.

>Cand then the/ s*a/ed the beast ba+7 into it9s 3ier/ home in the depths o3 the underwor*dH@ "hoeniE burst out to ,i*/. She *o5ed the stories he to*d her at bedtime and e5en the o*d ones ne5er got o*d. >Good night sweetheart@ he said 7issing her on the 3orehead. >6 *o5e /ou dadd/.@ She said grinning 3rom ear to ear and s*iding under the +o5ers 3or a good night9s rest. >6 *o5e /ou too sweetie. Night.@ 8e smi*ed and +*osed the door behind him. >6 don9t 7now wh/ /ou 3i** her head with a** o3 those ad5enture stories. She9s a /oung gir* she shou*d be hearing about ni+er things than that.@ .ria a*wa/s worried so mu+h. >4he/9re :ust stories dearC@ he 7issed her on the +hee7 and wrapped his arm around her waist >Cand she likes them. So do 6 now that 6 thin7 about it.@ 4he/ both smi*ed and 7issed. >and i3 /ou9re rea**/ that +on+erned you +ou*d a*wa/s te** her her bedtime stories.@ "hoeniE said. >69m not 5er/ imaginati5e /ou 7now that.@ "hoeniE :ust smi*ed at her >ad5enture stories it is then.@ 4he/ both s*id into bed and said good night read/ 3or a good night9s rest.

4hunder was ro**ing through the night. -ain pattered down on roo3tops and e5er/thing around. Nights *i7e these seemed +ommonp*a+e *ate*/. . *oud +ra+7 o3 thunder start*ed "hoeniE awa7e. 8e was sitting there breathing hea5i*/ and sweating as i3 he9d :ust risen 3rom a nightmare. 8is senses +ame 3air*/ Aui+7*/ though and he made his wa/ out into the 7it+hen 3or something to

[.uthor0s ,ast Name] 1 [1%2 2ords 3rom 4it*e] 1 K drin7. 8e had :ust 3inished pouring himse*3 an orange :ui+e with :ust a sp*ash o3 5od7a Lto he*p him s*eep Aui+7er o3 +ourseM when he heard a +*atter in the neEt room. 6t was ,i*/9s room. 4he rain and thunder were so *oud that night that he +ou*d s+ar+e*/ hear his own thoughts *et a*one the sti3*ed s+reaming in the room as he entered. .s soon as he wa*7ed in; a dar7 3igure +ame out o3 nowhere and grabbed him 3rom behind pointing a sma** b*ade at his throat. !n+e his e/es ad:usted to the dar7ness he +ou*d see another shadow; one that was putting a bag o5er his daughter9s head and dragging her b/ the +o**ar out o3 the room. >2hat the he** are /ou peop*e doing?H@ "hoeniE tried to shout but it on*/ +ame out *i7e a sti3*ed grunt. Neither o3 the men spo7e to him the one :ust dragged ,i*/ into his own bedroom and the other *ead him a*ong the 7ni3e sti** stu+7 to his throat. 4he man grabbed .ria mu+h as he grabbed ,i*/ and put a bag o5er her head as we**. 8e threw them both against the 3oot o3 the bed whi*e the/ both s+reamed and +ried sti3*ed b/ the bags. 8e tied them around their ne+7s and too7 out a b*ade o3 his own on*/ this one mu+h *arger than the one he*d against his throat. 8e +ou*dn9t te** 3or sure but it *oo7ed *i7e the man with the *arge b*ade turned toward him 3or a moment. >,i*/ .riaC.Gods no p*ease don9t do this@ it was on*/ a whisper his throat was par+hed and had a b*ade pressed tight to it. 8e +ou*d 3ee* the stee* pier+ing his 3*esh and the b*ood tri+7*ing down his ne+7. 4he man with the *arge b*ade grabbed ,i*/ b/ the head and he*d hers against her mother9s; dri5ing the b*ade right through both o3 their throats *i7e a spit through raw meat. >NoC.Gods he*p meC.@ 4he tears were we**ing up in his e/es pro3use*/ he +ou*dn9t e5en see as we** as he had a 3ew moments ago. 4he man who had the b*ade pressed against his throat remo5ed it and bashed him on the s7u** *ea5ing him un+ons+ious. =5er/thing went b*a+7C

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