A Scary Nightmare

Chapter 5 - District Seven

(Thunderclouds...Lightning strikes)...(A voice in the background)

Skull...Dust...Blood...Scars! Not once has the darkness been conquered, not once did the red skies become clear...for the land so barren filled with trees, flowers so withered away and the soil so hot like the fire from the dawn of creation. A kingdom ruled by a supreme ruler where no one ever goes against his wishes. The ancient kingdom...the land of misery...the Kingdom of CHAOS!!!(Lightning strikes).

(Voice slowly fades away)...

(Michael and Anna travelling over the barren lands)...

"Eight districts were created by Death in order to maintain order. Each one ruled by the most powerful evils of Chaos" Michael said as he placed a scarf around Anna's neck. "This will protect you from any long ranged attacks but be careful, the most tricky of them stay in District Seven" He said with a serious expression on his face as he continued to walk.

Anna adjusted the scarf and continued to walk with him. "Are you talking about the Six generals that are loyal to Death?" She asked with a curious expression. Michael tells her the Six generals are really strong but none could challenge the one who rules over District Seven.

He continues to explain as he told her about Death's closest friend and only comrade, the one who was strong enough to challenge even Death as he was a greater evil of his own. Immediately Michael mentioned this, Anna instinctively knew who he was talking about.

"I was told many stories about him when I was a kid. He trained the Six generals of Chaos and was once Death's right-hand man. He had the power to place anyone under his will. He fought many wars on his own and also came out victorious. The one who walks alone...Desire" Anna explained in a calm manner. She noticed Michael was quiet and asked him if he was okay. "We're being watched" He said as he stood his ground and unsheated his blade. "What? Where?" She asked in a scared tone as she moved closer to him and pushed her back against his. Suddenly, shadows started coming out to the surface and what emerged from it was eight beasts of Chaos...dark in colour with red crimpson eyes...their figures were not quite made out as they were blurry. They are the watchdogs, protectors of the barren lands of Chaos...also known as Bloodhounds.

They growled as they approached Anna and Michael with hot saliva pouring down their mouths.

"Stay close to me no matter what and avoid direct contact with them by all means" Michael warned Anna as he held his sword firmly. The Bloodhounds continued to growl as they closed the distance with each step. Three immediately jumped towards Michael in unison but instead their heads were cut off in a flash before they landed. Blood was gushing out of their heads as they roll on the floor. The remaining five became more aggressive as three of their brethren had already fallen. They were about to attack but they saw Michael's eyes and instinctively knew they had no chance against him. They decided to retreat.

(Note: Michael's eyes are gold in colour...they also glow when he uses his Angelic abilities)

"Why did they suddenly retreat?" Anna asked with curiosity as she steps in front of Michael. He replied as he continues to walk: "They know who I am. We need to hurry!" Anna and Michael decided to pick up the pace.

A few %^&$$# Later....

Meanwhile, Death was approached in his Royal Hall by the Bloodhounds that evaded Michael.

They knelt before Death as he raised a finger commanding one of them to come closer to him. A Bloodhound moved closer...Death stood from his throne and bent a knee before the watchdog. He began to stroke Its fur as he asked for a report. "What happened my child? What has frightened you so much to have you all so nervous?" Death asked in a devilish tone.

He suddenly noticed three of the Bloodhounds were missing. He returned to his Throne and sat while holding his Scythe. Death starts to emit a demonic Aura strong enough to make any being submit before him.

Death's left eye began to glow as he reads the Bloodhound's memories. He now had the knowledge about what happened.

(Note: One of Death's abilities is the power to read any creature's mind. This power resides in his left eye).

"Archangel....He's here!" Death laughs with a devilish expression on his face as he hits his Scythe on the ground which made the whole castle vibrate. "Grimoire...come forth!" Death commands in a devilish tone. Suddenly, a huge smoke started pouring off the ground and began to take a human figure. What came out was a naked human with chains all over his body and a hole in his chest. He was bald and had a handsome face with green crystallised eyes.

(Note: Grimoire is a loyal entity to Death. He was among the first men but fell in love with an Angel who was disguised as human. His love was taken for granted as he felt betrayed when she returned to the Creator. He studied the ancient words his whole life and learnt the dark ways of the forgotten one {Samael}. He destroyed countless villages until the Angel decided she could not allow him to destroy humanity anymore. He was cursed by the Angel he loved. His chains are symbols of his imprisonment while the hole in his heart is that of the betrayal he had suffered from his beloved Angel. His curse was immortality with extreme pain in his body everytime. He never had rest.)

"My King! why have you summoned me?" Grimoire bows his head before Death while groaning in pain. Death moved closer to him and placed his hand on his shoulder. "Rise my loyal servant! Your time has come to prove yourself once again." Grimoire stood up while his gaze was down. "I am yours to command my Liege. Tell me your Will and it shall be done" He replies Death as he continues to moan in pain. "I just discovered someone who I had since forgotten had been among us all this while! He's responsible for our imprisonment...the one who fought us over thousands of years ago. The Creator's warrior is here! He's been here all along! The Archangel is here." Death tells Grimoire as he circles him while explaining. "Do you want these insolent chains gone? I promise I will set you free once you bring him before me....same as the human who travels with him." Death convinces him in a devilish tone. "Your will shall be carried out my King" Grimoire said as he vanished along with the smoke.

However, Michael and Anna had such into District Seven using an abandoned tunnel which lead to the main square. Immediately they got out, Michael brought out hooded cloaks from his travel bag and told her to put it on. Their aim was to gather up enough information about Death's agenda and a way to exit Chaos and return to Earth. "Be careful Anna and stay close to me." Michael whispers to her as he opened the gate to the main square. Anna quietly followed along as she also covered her face with her hood.

(Note: The hooded cloaks were crafted by Michael and infused with one of his Anfelic abilities which grants the power of illusion to whoever puts it on. The cloaks gives an illusion to anyone who sees them as evils of Chaos.)

The creatures were passing them by without any sign of detection. Michael suddenly drags Anna into an Alley. "We should be safer this way." He convinces her as he continues to walk ahead of her. Michael suddenly noticed a figure from the shadows that approached them. Immediately, he stops moving. "What is it? Why are we stopping?" Anna whispers as she had no idea about what was going on. "Someone's coming...or rather something." Michael replied Anna with a serious expression on his face. Anna also noticed the figure and took a stand beside Michael. A man came out of the shadows with chains all over his body engraved into his skin. "We have to run. He's here!" Michael said in a serious tone. Anna became so scared as soon as she saw his chains. She couldn't move and stood still like she was frozen. She was so afraid of the creature right in front of her. Suddenly, she remembered one of the stories Gerald had told her as a child.

"It's bedtime Anna...go to bed my sweet child" Gerald said as he covered her up with a blanket.

"Am I safe Grandpa?" Little Anna asks with a scared expression on her face. Gerald convinces her she was safe with him. He promised to always protect her. "But what if he comes back?" Little Anna asks Gerald in a concerned tone. "His chains and the hole in his heart will forever be his weakness Anna. He is always in pain." Gerald explains to her.

Anna was lost in thought until Michael called out her name. "Anna!Anna!Snap out of it!" Michael said as he held her hand and unsheated his blade. "It's him Michael..it's really Grimoire" Anna said in a scared tone. "It's too late to run now but I promise I'll protect you with my life" Michael reassures Anna as he stands before her and took his stance with his Angelic sword. Grimoire continues to approach them as his chains dangles and sparks on the floor with each of his footsteps. "There's no way out" Grimore said as he laughed out hysterically. Dark wings popped out of his back and an axe conjured in flame suddenly appeared in his left hand. It was engraved in ancient words.

Michael instinctively knew he had no chance against the creature that stood in front of him at the moment but he had to protect Anna so he put on a brave look. "Things just got out of hand" Michael said as his eyes starts to glow.