SINS

  Chapter 4: Devil

  They land with a thump on the ground. *nngh* *groan*

  [Ow. Ow. What.. where am I?]

  Hiro got up from the ground and looked around the place. They had fallen into an old underground bunker. The place had no energy and there were holes in the ceiling that provided some light. The rest of the place was dark and there was something that blended with the darkness but was barely visible.

  “Sssshh”

  There were monsters. They were quiet and were standing still while making quiet sleepy noises.

  Hiro looked at Arlo who was watching the sleepy beasts, then he looked at Hiro with a glare. “If you really wanna die so bad then go for it. I’m leaving.”

  Hiro was standing in front of the monsters, he had his opportunity right in front of him. He thought to himself. [I.. I don’t have to live… but why… why am I scared? Why does it feel unfair?] He couldn’t explain what he was feeling. Scared, sad, not happy or relieved to bail out of this world.

  Hiro felt like he had realized something.

  [Who am I?]

  [What… What purpose do I have in this world?]

  Arlo was moving quickly while not making any sound. He was focused at the bright light at the end of a tunnel. [Once I am out of here, I’m leaving him. I’m not coming back even if they scold me!] Arlo hated people who would easily throw their lives away, and those who would think that they don’t have a purpose. [Just because you don’t have a purpose for living doesn’t mean you can just throw away what was given to you.]

  “GRAAAAAAAAGHHH”

  There was a deep scream behind him that echoed the whole place. [F*cking scumbag killing himself with no second thou-] Arlo was surprised at the sight before him. Someone had run past him. He was running as fast as he could and was crying. That being’s only though was [I WANT TO LIVE! I WANT TO KNOW WHO I AM!] Behind was a swarm of monsters, they had black eyes, and rotten teeth. Their flesh had grown a few fungus and moss. It looked as if their skin was merging with each other. Forming into one.

  Arlo felt a pain in his stomach, as if that same being told him so shove his words back up his ass. Then he smiled “haha.. you got guts! I like that!” and for a split of a second Hiro found himself being carried. [What! When did he?] Arlo was moving fast as if he was bullet train [How is he so fast?!] They made it out of the tunnel and the other two were waiting for them behind a rock. “Ok now push!” they were pushing a big rock near the entrance, enough to cover the big gap.

  [We made it out… I’m alive! He saved me… but why?]

  Henry rushed towards Hiro with a worried expression. “Hey are you ok?! Did the big dumb bear hurt you?!”

  Hiro glanced at Henry and shook his head gently. Arlo looked at Henry with an angry expression “I’M NOT DUMB!” he said with a red face and steaming nose. He then looked at Hiro with a serious face, and then he smiled. “Hey, stand up. Join us!” Hunter looked at Arlo with a shocked expression. Henry’s face agreed with Arlo’s declaration.

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  “We were looking for a fourth member for a while and I know you will fit right in” “What are you saying?! He is just a weak stick!” said Hunter frustrated. “It doesn’t matter!” said Arlo “He could become stronger in the future.”

  He looked back at Hiro “what do you say?” he said with a big smile and leaned a hand.

  Hiro staggered, trying to figure out how he would live. Yet he finds himself getting an offer from strangers he has just met. He made a serious face, but he was emotional inside that we couldn’t stop the tears from emerging. He nodded in response and took his hand. He stood up and looked up at Arlo with teary eyes and a smile.

  “Well?” said Henry “what will his title be?” [Title?] thought Hiro, still clueless in the conversation of the others. Henry sees Hiro’s confused face and he tells him.

  “In this world there are groups like us. They go exploring around the land and make names for themselves. They usually have a title, so we are making up one for you. But, its gotta align with the name of our group.”

  “?”

  “The name of our group is now the four devils” said Arlo “it used to be three, but we now got a new rookie” Arlo puts his arm around Hiro and gives him a smile.

  “How about we tell him our titles first?” said Arlo “I’m the greed devil. Even through death I won’t stop until I get what I want! And I’m the leader here!” Arlo exclaimed with enthusiasm.

  “They call me the lust devil. I’ve been with a few women here and there” said Henry with passion.

  “And Hunter is the anger devil because… well you already know why” said Arlo. “That’s a stupid title” said Hunter with an angered expression.

  “and you will… you will be.. the.. uhhh” Arlo tries to make something on his mind but his face looks like a clueless child who is hungry. Hiro also tries to think of something, and his expression looks more intelligent. He is looking at the sky with his hand on his chin.

  “Hmm… oh! I know!” Arlo clears his throat and tries to sound professional. *ahem* “from now on, you will be…”

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  The group of men decided to make the team official. They were called “The Four Devils” and they didn’t have a clear objective. They would only do whatever they want corresponding their title. After their underground bunker encounter they headed towards a city or any colony.

  “Where did you get that?” said Hunter, he was taking out a jar of bullets from his leather backpack and reloading his rifle.

  “hmm? I got this bad boy in the underground place” said Arlo with pride as he was holding a sword.

  “When will you ever need that anyways?!” said Hunter annoyed at his childishness.

  “C’mon, a man needs to hold a sword at least once in his life!” said Arlo with a smile. Hiro was admiring the black sword. Henry was looking at Arlo with jealous eyes. “Get your own sword!” said Arlo as he noticed the two men with desire to hold it.

  “Everyone gather up.” said Hunter, “we will be searching for a city so stay alert.” He said this while looking at Arlo and Henry. Remembering that last time they were goofing off.

  The four men started walking. Hunter and Arlo were leading the group. Arlo was holding his sword tightly. Hunter was annoyed at the flies that would hover over him. Henry was in the back with Hiro, teaching him how to speak.

  The group walked for a few hours before stopping to rest at an abandoned cabin. The structure was made of wood. It had a front patio and wooden stairs. The building was tall so it had to be two floors and inside the place was destroyed and scavenged.

  “We will spend the night here” said Hunter “Henry, I need you to go bring wood to start a fire.” “Can I bring Hiro with me?” he said with a tail wagging happily. “No, he will stay here.” he said in a firm voice. Henry was annoyed and left with his hands in his pockets.

  Hiro walked up the wooden stairs. The creaking becoming louder with each step he took and entered the cabin. He saw the condition of the scavenged home and headed upstairs. He couldn’t put his finger on it but he felt an odd presence. A presence as if someone, or something is inside with him. The place was dark with only a few broken windows illuminating the place. He walked slowly and was nervous. The only sounds he could hear was the beating of his heart and the small creaking from each step he took.

  “HIRO!!!”

  He was startled at the sudden loud voice. “If you need any help just give us a yell!” said Arlo. Hiro was holding his heart and made a thumbs up gesture with trembling hands, showing that he understood what he said. He continued walking down the hall slowly. Arlo pulled up his pants and headed outside.

  He entered a room. The wallpaper was stripping off the wall showing a sign of inhabitation for a long time. There was a destroyed bed and drawings pinned to the walls with transparent like paper. The room was dusty and smelled like old decaying people. Hiro walked towards the window. It had a paper glued in it with very creepy words.

  (I can see you)

  |creak, creak|

  There was a sound of creaking on the hall as if someone was walking towards him. It couldn’t have been any of the others because it came with a very odd noise.

  |SHRRRK-CRKKK | |SKRRRRKKKKRRRR|

  Hiro hid out of sight, he leaned on the wall and covered his mouth from breathing heavily. The sounds of whatever was in the hall was getting closer to him, as if it knew where he was. He was scared, he knew that if he yelled, he could get help from the others, but it would reveal his position. And then it happened. Hiro saw from a small reflection on the glass shard, a sinister figure with a horrible appearance.

  A monster standing in two legs and swaying its arms. But there was something different about it. The figure appeared to be broken or disrupted, with parts of it divided into sharp rectangular blocks of distortion.