Darken: Prologue

Stealthy figures gracefully ran across the forest floor. Though their feet were pounding the leafy forest floor, the sound of footsteps were absent as these were professional assassins trained in the arts of silent killing. Like shadows they stalk their target, consealing themselves in the blanket of shadows the forest canopy provided. Their prey was unaware that he has already been stalked and watched by the assassins for days. The skilled assassins could have finished their job days ago, but the assassins wanted the target to be alone, far from help. So, they had to wait for an opportunity for the prey to wander out on its own before the assassins unleash their fury. And the opportunity came now.

Suddenly, the ringing of a dagger withdrawn from its shield and the sound swift movement disguised as the sound of the wind broke the silence of the forest. The blade of the dagger slashed across the backside of the targeted man, the blade cut through the man's clothing and flesh like a hot knife through butter. Blood sprayed out from the large cut, tainting the carpet of autuum leaves with dark red blood.

The sudden sight of blood seemed to excite the assassins as they made more cuts, criss-crossing the body with dark red lines. The man's reaction was to scream out of pain but his throat had already been cut open and he was condemned to silence. The coup de grace was finally dealt by the assassins and the body dropped to the ground with a thud. It was over.

Five shadows loomed over the dead body. The lips of the owners of each shadow curved into a smile, they had enjoyed the blood bath. The assassins felt no remorse for the death of a human. After all, killing was like breathing to them. They were the assassins of the Dark.