100

By Steve Eik

Prologue

The man sighed sitting down. His brown hair waved as he looked over the mountain, sitting down and closing his eyes. He sat there a few minutes silently, a small bead of sweat dripping down his forehead.

Suddenly his eyes started moving back and forth wildly under his eyelids. The small bead of sweat turned into many, which dripped down from his hair. His mouth opened wide in a shape of pain and horror. His breathing got very rapid and suddenly he started screaming.

“No¼” he said softly, panting, after he stopped screaming. Softly he opened his eyes and stood wobbly to his feet. He closed his eyes again but the image wouldn’t leave his mind and he fell to his knees weeping. “Can’t be¼can’t be.” He said softly.

Not even he knew how long he stayed up on that cliff. It could have been minutes, hours or days. But he knew he had to do something¼he had to warn someone, warn someone so that they would be able to stop¼ “Perfection.

Chapter 1

1980 – Somewhere in the Nevada Desert.

John Winston sighed, running his hands through his red hair. He walked down the hall into his master’s room.

“You wanted to see me sir?” He asked, bowing his head slightly. John was 20, and still just a beginner in the clan. His master was at least 80, and had been training him for five years now.

The old man’s face wrinkled with concern. “Yes¼my son.” He said softly after some time.

“What is it sir?” John asked, becoming worried.

The old man sighed. “The time of prophecy is almost here¼your training must become more¼how do you say¼advanced.

John swallowed hard and nodded. “I understand.”

A flash of anger was seen in the old man’s eyes for a second. “You know you’re role in this should not be taken lightly! The outcome of this will decide the fate of the world!”

Again John nodded. “Yes master...I am ready.”

“Good¼then let us begin to train¼”

20 years later

1999, 11:44 PM

Somewhere in the Nevada Desert

“It’s happening!” John cried, running down the hall, sweat dripping down his face. His eyes were wide with fear as he called for help.

Everybody had already heard the woman screaming, as they rushed into the room.

John sighed, looking at the girl sadly. She was so young¼mid 20’s¼it was a shame she had to die, John thought to himself.

The doctor ran up to her, and yelled to push; she did as he said, tears running down her face.

Nearly the whole building stood there, unable to speak, praying everything went well.

“Come on¼come on¼”John whispered, looking at his watch.

The doctor continued to yell at the girl to push, and as the clock struck twelve he shouted. “I got him! It’s a boy!” as everyone began to cheer the doctor moved over to the mother with a face full of horror. “Oh my God¼she’s dead.”

The room continued to cheer, as if they didn’t even hear the doctor’s horrid news. John sighed¼he knew somewhere else a baby boy was just born.

Chicago Memorial Hospital

Fraternity Ward

Linda Krand smiled happily; sweat finally starting to cool her warm skin. She was finally calmed down, but still breathing hard. Her brown hair was matted onto her forehead and her husband was standing there¼rubbing his swollen hand.

The nurse knocked softly and walked in, carrying a baby. “He’s so beautiful.” Linda said more tears starting to form in her eyes. Wayne nodded¼smiling too. “Beautiful Scott Krand¼”

Somewhere in the Nevada Desert

John sighed, sitting down in his room, and closed his eyes. His face was filled with worry, which made him look a lot older then he actually was. A few seconds later the doctor burst into the room, John was startled for a second, but he knew what was about to come.

“I don’t understand it¼” the doctor said. “The birth went perfect¼”

“Yes¼everything is fine.” John said.

“How dare you! Someone just died!” The doctor cried out, his face turning red. “I have never lost anyone during birth¼especially like this!”

John sighed. “I’m sorry¼it couldn’t be helped.”

“W-what? Don’t you even care that a young girl just died!” The doctor yelled extremely angry now.

“Of course I care, but she knew what she was getting into when she agreed to it!”

“What? You’re fucking crazy!” The doctor said, and wiped some sweat off his forehead with his sleeve.

John stood up in a flash, his eyes peering at the doctor filled with anger. “Don’t you call me crazy, you have no idea what has just happened tonight, nor can your pathetic mind even begin to even comprehend it.”

The doctor took a step back as if John had just punched him. He was speechless. “W-hat? What are you talking about?”

“It doesn’t concern you.” John said softly, sitting back down. “Please leave.”

11 years later

John sighed, rubbing his beard, which had grown over time. He looked at himself in the mirror, seeing how he had changed over the years, and how his goal was still the same.

Today was the day to start Mike’s training, the day that John would know if Mike were really able to complete the mission. He sighed again as someone knocked on his door.

“He is here sir.” The man said.

John nodded. “Send him in.” The man nodded and shut the door behind him. A few seconds later a small boy entered, he smiled seeing John and walked up to where he was sitting. He had short blonde hair and bright green eyes. He wore the same suit everyone in the organization did¼although it seemed a little big on him.

“Hi John!” he said smiling and sitting down a few feet in front of him.

John didn’t wait to get to the point; Mike could tell that something was wrong¼John just seemed nervous today. “Mike, most of your life we have had a father son relationship.”

“Yeah¼so?” Mike asked, fear in his voice.

“Well it has to stop.”

“Why?”

“Its your 11th birthday.” John said softly, trying to explain to the young boy. “And from now on you will start your training, and I will be your master.”

“My training¼but I though training started at 15?”

“Not with you.” John said.

“Why?”

“Because¼your special.” John said moving over to an old book in the back of the room. It rested on a pedestal, a small light shining down on it. He blew off some dust and opened up to the first page.

“What is this?” Mike asked, running up behind him.

John sighed. “This is the basis or our own clan.” He said, staring at it as if he was in a trance. “Years ago a great priest had a vision of the future, of you¼an event that could destroy the human race¼and he wrote this book.

He soon gathered other priests and formed this place. It has grown more advanced over the years of course, but basically stayed clear of the outside world.

We trained and trained over the years, passing down this book¼his warning¼we trained to prepare¼to prepare for you.”

Mike was silent for a minute, and suddenly something caught his eye on the cover page of the book. It was in big print in the middle of the page¼

“The end of Humanity”

“W-what’s that?” Mike asked.

John sighed. “It is his warning, I want you to read this book¼all of it, that will be your first assignment.”

Mike nodded, and moved up to the book, John sighed again and stepped back, sitting down again and beginning to meditate. Mike sighed, seeing a smaller list of things under the title. It was in much smaller letterings, and Mike struggled to see it.  

I Life turns to Growth I

II Growth turns to Curiosity II

III Curiosity turns into Learning III

IV Learning turns to Knowledge IV

V Knowledge turns to Power V

VI Power turns to Greed VI

VII Greed turns to Ultimate Knowledge VII

VIII Ultimate knowledge turns to Ultimate Power VIII

IX Ultimate Power turns to Chaos IX

X Chaos turns to Insanity X

XI Insanity turns to Pain XI

XII Pain turns to Hate XII

XIII Hate turns to War XIII

XIV War turns to Death XIV

XV Death consumes all XV

The 15 steps that will lead to the end of Humanity¼

Life to Death, Light to Dark, forever...

My warning to you all¼

“W-what does this mean?” Mike asked¼ his face flushed white.

John sighed. “That is but the beginning Mike¼you have a lot of reading to do¼you best get started.”

Mike just nodded and turned to the book, sighing. “This isn’t a very happy birthday¼”

5 years later

Life

Life is wonderful. The beginning of everything, the start of something new. In the beginning, the start of everyone’s life, when it starts¼we are pure¼with no evil thoughts in our hearts, our minds, or our souls. The beginning is pure and happy, but it will change. Nothing can stay pure forever.

Mike sighed and leaned back against the bed. His face was filled with sweat, and he breathed hard. He had been practicing all day and was exhausted. John had him practicing five kinds of martial arts seven hours a day, and meditating ten hours. That left seven hours for sleeping and eating¼nothing else mattered.

“Why do I have to meditate so much?” Mike had asked John.

“I think you know why.” John said. “If not¼maybe you should read the book again.”

“No, no¼I know why¼its ok.”

Mike sighed and laid down on the bed, enjoying the time he had to himself.

Chicago

Growth

No¼nothing will stay pure forever. For we go into the second stage, Growth. Growth is and should be the most hated stage of our development. Fear Growth for Growth means change. Growth comes without warning to us, while we are young and pure, with not a worry in the world, and changes us, like a virus, into beings that worry, fight and have evil hearts, minds and souls. Because of Growth, all of us pure hearted men and women, with no cares or worries, have been transformed into beings that only care about material things. Transform us into beings that worry about their own deaths, beings that would kill one another for trivial reasons. Growth in the mind, and in the body¼Growth in the brain¼is why I am making this warning to you.

Scott Krand sighed as the bell rung for homeroom.

“Dweeb!” Someone yelled as he started walking to class.

He sighed again. Scott was smart, really smart. He got strait A’s in all his classes, even though he rarely paid attention, or even cared about them.

He hated all his classes, that is except for Science. Scott loved science, it was all he did, he knew when he grew up he was going to be a scientist.

Being in 12th grade at 16 was a little weird, especially since the work was so east, and most of the kids picked on him because of it, but Scott paid it no mind.

Being smart was something he liked, something to be proud of, cause Scott knew that some day¼he would change the world.

Scott had wavy blonde hair and green eyes, he was moderately tall and seemed to always have a serious expression on his face.

He smiled as the bell rang, and he ran out of the building, even forgetting to put his books in his locker.  It was a beautiful day, so Scott took off his coat, resting it on his left shoulder.

He took in a deep breath and smiled glaring up at the sun. He frowned seeing clouds moving in front of it.

He sighed. “Damn¼of course.” He put his coat back on and started to walk faster. As he turned the corner he bumped into a man.

“Oh¼sorry¼” He mumbled, looking at him. He was about his age, with blonde hair and green eyes. Scott was amazed at how much he looked like him.

The boy wore a black trench coat and was silent. He started at Scott as if he wasn’t even there, as if he saw right through him. Scott seemed to fall into a trance as well, looking deeply into the boy’s eyes. Who was he¼why did he look so much like me?

A bolt of lightning was heard in the distance, shaking Scott from his trance. He shook his head as if trying to shake the thoughts of the boy out of his mind, but yet the boy was still there, still staring at him with those cold uncaring eyes, and that face with no expression or feeling at all.

Suddenly the boy pulled out a gun, pointing it at Scott. Scott’s face turned from curiosity to surprise, then quickly to fear. But he didn’t get a chance to run, for the boy shot him in the chest, without speaking a word, or even blinking at the shattering sound of the blast.

Scott moaned softly and fell to the floor, pain flowing through his body. He looked up, his breath coming out as rasps, and blackness flowing in the corner of his eyes. The boy was now looking down over him, he seemed to cover him, and still showed no emotion at all.

The boy’s lifeless eyes still stared into his, and he held out the gun in front of him. Scott tried to speak, but couldn’t it, it felt as if the darkness that surrounded him was trying to swallow him forever.

How can I fight? How can I die like this? Scott asked himself full of fear. The boy smiled slightly, for the first time he showed an emotion, but to Scott it seemed phony, as if he was just doing it to make him feel better. This person, this boy wasn’t alive¼he was heartless and cold, and he would never forget him.

The boy just continued to smile then suddenly shot the gun four more times.