Full Summary: Evil resides deep within the human soul. While some can resist the tempting pull of evil, others willingly submit to the darkness. The few that remain find themselves struggling between good and evil, constantly fighting their inner demons that threaten to surface. In a world full of chaos, one man battles to retain the good that is inside him. Can he overcome his inner demons or will he fall into the world of darkness forever?

Prologue

"Kill her…" the whisper came softly, in an almost taunting manner.

The woman whimpered helplessly around the makeshift gag fastened in her mouth, her hands bound tightly behind her back with a thick, leather belt that was rubbing her skin raw. The mattress she laid upon was ragged and dirty, the only real piece of furniture in the dark, dingy basement in which she was trapped. She was left at the mercy of the man that had kidnapped her, a man whose face she could not see. Only his eyes were visible to her; eyes that held no compassion. All she could see was a cold, heartless stare that only meant to bring her harm.

"Kill her…" the whisper came again, this time more persistent. "She is not one of us. She must die."

With a desperate jerk of her hands against the leather belt, the woman released a terrified sob with the knowledge that there was no escape. She was going to die. There was no one to save her from her fate. Tears streaming down her cheeks in winding paths, she pleaded with her eyes but they seemed to have no effect on her killer.

He merely stood over her, the dim light of the room casting a shadow over his hard frame as he peered down at her with that piercing gaze. What was he waiting for?

"Don't fight it," the same whisper returned. "Do it. Do it and watch the blood seep from her body, watch the very life drain from her eyes. You love to watch them die, don't you?"

The eerie sound of the blade slipping from it's holster caused another sob to escape the woman. Her eyes squeezed shut as she continued to struggle against the belt. It was worthless, but she continued to try to free her hands until she felt the solid, cold metal of the knife dragging over the sensitive skin of her throat. A quick inhale through her nose, she ceased movement as her pulse hammered so loudly that she was sure that he could hear it.

She could hardly breathe as she felt the tip of the blade sliding over her skin as if he was toying with her. If he wanted to kill her, why didn't he? Swallowing hard around the lump growing in her throat, more tears were leaking from her eyes. Her entire body was trembling, thoughts of her family at home not knowing where she was coming to her mind.

"Kill her now!"

As the knife was withdrawn from her skin, her eyes slowly cracked open, holding the slightest bit of hope that he would let her live to see another day. That hope was instantly crushed as the knife was lifted in his hand, only to come back down with a murderous slice across her neck, quickly ceasing the scream that rose up her throat.

Blood splattered, and as he watched the life diminish from her eyes, a sinister smile, hidden by the black ski mask, graced his lips.