Blood and Ember

I'm not sure what's going on but I really need some way to make money fast. Without money I can't have a place to live, food to eat, or anything in general. So the first plan is to earn money or find a way to live somewhere comfortable. When walking down the streets of Housoy, I kept an eye out for anything help wanted signs, an inn, hell even a friendly face. The town was very big and open with people walking around as if it was downtown of my home city. There was some traffic with carriages. Walking down the dirt roads caused the air to be a little dusty for me so I had to make a makeshift bandana.

Help wanted. Hell yeah an open job I don't really care what the job is I'll do it!

Nope not doing this job. Let's go back 10 minutes.

 As I walked into the merchants job application it was dusty and dirty as if all the dirt from outside filled up the room. A man walked out of a curtain from the back of the room. The man's grin stretched unnervingly wide, revealing teeth stained from who-knows-what. His circular glasses reflected the dim light from a single overhead bulb, making it hard to see his eyes. I hesitated, caught between the fetid smell of the room and the unsettling figure before me.

"Ah, a strapping young worker! You're just in time," he said, clapping his hands together, sending some of the goo splattering onto the already filthy floor.

I instinctively took a step back. "Uh... yeah, about the job. What exactly does it entail?"

He chuckled, his laugh high-pitched and wheezing. "Oh, nothing too complicated. You'll be assisting me in my... experiments."

"Experiments?" I repeated, my voice tinged with suspicion.

"Yes, yes! Very safe. Very simple. You'll just be handling a few... volatile materials and possibly keeping some of the test subjects calm. A brilliant opportunity for someone in your position!" He gestured vaguely to the back of the room, where I noticed several large jars filled with murky liquid. Shapes floated inside shapes that didn't look entirely human.

Now to the present.

"Yeah, uh, I think I might've walked into the wrong place." I began to inch toward the door, my instincts screaming at me to leave.

"Nonsense!" the man exclaimed, moving surprisingly fast to block my exit. "The sign says 'help wanted,' and help you shall provide. Besides, the pay is... generous."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pouch that jingled with coins. My stomach churned at the thought of staying, but the weight of my empty pockets felt heavier than ever.

"How generous are we talking?" I asked, against my better judgment.

"Enough to eat like a king for a week," he replied, his grin somehow growing wider. "And all you have to do is follow my instructions. Easy, yes?"

I looked back at the jars and then at the door. This was either the worst mistake of my life or the break I desperately needed.

"Fine," I muttered. "What do you need me to do?"

"Well it isn't gonna be much, all you'll need to do is put your hand inside of this hole" he said excitedly with a bright smile. 

"What? That's the first job when I just got hired" I shouted surprisingly. 

"Trust me I already said you'll be paid handsomely"

"Fine but you still haven't even told me your name?" I asked.

"The name is Elias Kestrel, just call me Elias" he said loud and proud.

"Alright then Elias, what's the purpose of me putting my hand in there?" 

"Well it's to get some rare gems in that creature right there so you can be paid and so I can get a power source" I said happily.

"Then I will be happy to do this" I said with a big bright smile.

As I put my hand in there it was pitch black and I could feel the coldness on the black goo which had a foul smell as if it came from a pigs farm. It was wet and thick at the same time, a sensation I've never felt. I'm not sure if I should say this but it felt amazing not the smell but the feeling of my hand in there. It was cold, wet and gooey but still it was a creature so no weird stuff or thoughts.

"So dig in deep and you'll feel a round ball in there" Elias informed me.

I don't want to think about where that ball is coming from but wherever it is it's earning me money. 

"I feel the ball but why is it a little warm?" I asked.

"Now take it out slowly or els-"

CRACK!

"No.. no no no no. Take your hand out FAST!" I shouted.

I pulled my hand out hard using all my strength because I would rather break a bone than risk not trusting the dude who told me to stick it in there. When taking out my arm all that cold goo was turning piping hot to the point it almost started boiling.

"Whew… almost lost an arm there" I said exhausted.

Elias looks at me with concern as if I had done something he has never seen. 

"You actually… y-you really took your hand out?" He replied, shaking.

"Well it wasn't that big of a deal? All I did was pull it out sure it took all the strength I could muster but I did"

"You're not from around here are you? Tell me your name again" he asked.

"Oh yeah I never introduced myself to you, the name is Kain Morrian" I said.

"Kain… Morrian…" he muttered quietly.

Kain Morrian was a name Elias, Elara, Darius, and the entire city of Housoy will never forget.

Later that night

"So Elias, where do you think I can stay the night?" I asked.

"You can stay here. I have the space and it'll be much easier for you to help out in the lab. I get the feeling your a good person Kain" he said happily 

"Thanks Elias, really thanks if you haven't helped me today I really don't know what I would have done" I replied.

"Okay good let's get you situated, Follow me Kain" he insisted.

I followed him into the back room where there was a dimly lit hallway down the hallway was a staircase leading to an attic. The hallway smelt like an old grandparent house. The hallway had 2 rooms one on the right and one on the left while the staircase was up ahead. The room on the left was slightly open while on right it was fully closed. When I saw a glimpse of what was in the room I could see lab coats hanging off of something, a desk full of paper and drawings of what I assume invention ideas, and a bed made perfectly.

I was confused on why the bed was made while the rest of the room looked messy but I guess he's only messy when working on something.

 As we walked up the stairs I smelled old in the room. I don't know how to explain it but it felt like someone had lived here before someone old. The room had blue walls with just a bed in the room. It had a circular window with a shade. 

"So this is my new room?" I asked.

"What you don't like? I don't have any spare rooms at the moment so if you don't like this one you can stay in the basement" he said annoyed.

"N-n no it's fine this is better than nothing" I replied.

"Okay that's good I'll head out, I also left some food for you on the table done the stairs to the right" 

I guess the room on the right was the dining room.

"Okay thanks for the hospitality man you really aren't that bad" I said. 

"Oh… thanks" he said with a smile while blushing a little.

After Elias left I sat on the bed.

"Wow I really got a place to sleep, good to eat, and a stable job already. I guess I'll head out tomorrow looking for some info on my brother" I muttered to myself.

I headed to sleep after eating dinner with Elias until I was woken up by the unsettling sound of the wind banging on the window.

The wind was blowing hard outside. Banging on the window in my room. 

"What was that?"

"AHHHH" a scream I heard outside.

"Okay what the hell is going on" 

I was confused. Was there another explosion like what happened before I got transported to this world? No that can't be it was I a catastrophe? No it's just a coincidence. What can I do to help everyone? Hmm… alright I got it I'll head out and help people. I know it may not be much but at least I can try to see if people need anything or something like that.

I got up from my bed and changed into the clothes I was wearing earlier. I bolted down the stairs and went into Elias' room to check on him. 

"Wow he's a sound sleeper" I muttered.

Elias' room smelled like flowers surprisingly. Anyways I ran down the hall and outside the lab to find a woman in trouble. The air smelled like blood and bones. The city streets that were once filled with people were empty. No fire in sight at least I know I'm not a catastrophe. There was nothing in front of me but a giant demon dog and a woman on the ground lying praying for help.

The demon dog creature was biting on her leg. The dog had sharp teeth with drool all over that poor woman. The dog had to be at least 13 feet tall and 8 feet wide.

"Hey lady you're gonna be alright I'll distract the dog" I said softly to her as I walked closer and closer to the dog.

"Please… Sir I need you to save me" she said with tears in her eyes.

"MOM! MOM! Where are you?" A young boy's voice said.

I turned to see where the sound was coming from and there he was a young boy who could not be over the age of 8. 

"MOM IS THAT YOU?" He screamed out.

"STOP screaming, the dog will come for you" I said to the kid.

The kid started to run towards his mother but I pulled him away in time before the dog could hear him. 

"Kid calm down I'll save your mothe-" 

"MISTER! RUN AND SAVE MY KID" the woman shouted. 

NOM!

What the hell happened? Why am I tired? 

I looked down at my right arm and found it bleeding. 

"AHHHH! AHHHH! NO NO NO… this can't be happening" I screamed and shouted in pain.

I rolled on the ground in unbearable and agony. The dog was chewing on my arm letting all the blood come out. I feel tired, I feel weak. My arm is on fire, why WHY am I in tears to this pain right now. It burns BURNS. 

"AHHHHH… it hurts… kid run out of here NOW!" I told him. 

"B-b-but my mom sir and your arm" 

"Don't worry about me… I'll save your mom"

Grrrrr!

"Run now and don't look back I'll bring your mom safely to you" I told him.

The kid wiped his tears and smiled a little at me and ran off ahead.

"Okay I need to stop the bleeding" I said.

Damn it now if only I had some sort of magic ability at the moment with fire or with anything.

"Ok I think a piece of my pants should be fine"

I ripped off a part of my pants. I tie it around my ripped arm area to stop blood flow and to stop the leaks. 

"GODDAMN it that hurts like hell" I screamed in pain.

On the right arm of mine the dog ripped off all the way to my elbow so the blood is still dripping but it's much less than before.

"Damn it I need help, real bad I can't do anything with just me" 

I stood up from where I was and turned around.

"Oh God!" I said surprised.

Tears started running down my eyes. I realized I lied to that kid. I'm an idiot, how could I save her? What's wrong with me? I can't do anything properly.

"GOD DAMN YOU!" I shouted at the dog. 

"Why her? What did she ever do to you!" 

I'm not sure why I'm feeling this rush of emotion. Danté lying on the ground lifeless flashes in my eyes.I have to do something. Something to bring hope to that kid. If I can at least distract the dog and take it out I will have accomplished something. I'm down an arm but I will keep pushing forward to kill this damn dog.

I ran towards the dog with nothing in my left arm preparing to attack.

"AHHHHH"

The dog started lunging at me about to bite my head clean off but just in time I ducked down and slid under the dog and kicked its belly up.The dog screamed in pain as I kicked it.

"How you like that you bitch" I said happily.

GRRRR!

"Damn it" 

The dog turned its head towards me and bit my left leg.

"AHHH! Damn it, what the hells your problem you stupid dog" I screamed.

My leg finally ripped out of its mouth.

"GOD DAMN IT" I said with tears falling out my eyes.

"What more do you want from me and I can't just give up here" I said.

"You stupid dog, you think this will kill me? I'll kill you before you ever get the chance to kill me" I shouted at the confused dog.

I looked towards the mother with tears in my eyes.

"I'll take you to your son if that's all I can do I'll make sure your body does rot in a place like this" I said.

I crawled to her body tired and full of pain until I couldn't move anymore.

"I-I… I think I pushed all I could lady, I'm sorry for not saving you" I said as I was crying in pain.

"On your feet you're not done here" a strong commanding voice said.

A woman's voice?