Chronicles of Shard

Xander woke up to the beeping of a heart monitor. His eyes squinted at the bright light, he looked over to see a man he had never met sitting next to him. The man looked to be in his early fifties, he had a blonde mustache speckled with grey hair, but he had young eyes. The man had what looked to be a law enforcement uniform, but he had a cowboy hat on as well. Judging by the badge on his chest, he was the Sheriff of the town he was in. He tried to speak but his voice was scratchy, the Sheriff smiled and poured the young man a glass of water. It was as if Xander inhaled it, the glass was empty when Xander handed it back to the Sheriff.  “My name is Sheriff Joseph Gates, but you can call me Sheriff or just Joe if you'd like. Do you know where you are?” Xander tried to remember where he was before, but the memory was blurry. “I am sorry sir, but I honestly can’t remember.” The Sheriff leaned back in his chair stroking his beard.  “Well, you can stay with me until we can figure out how to handle this situation. Doctor said you can be released when you wake up. I got you some clothes, change and we can get outta here.” Xander thanked him and did as he was told. He got dressed in a red flannel shirt, some dark washed blue jeans and a pair of cowboy boots. Xander signed the release papers and followed the Sheriff to his truck.  “Sheriff, where am I?” The Sheriff looked at the young man.  “Xander Adams, welcome to Boscawen County, Alaska. We are one of the agricultural counties in Alaska. Everyone here lives off of what we grow.” Xander thought about what he had said. Maybe farm life is what he needs given his circumstances. One thing that he could not figure out, is how he got to the hospital. “How did I get to the hospital?” Xander voiced his thoughts. The Sheriff just laughed. “Oh boy did you give Carol Brown a fright. She found you passed out in her field. She grabbed her shotgun thinking you were gonna try to steal her crop. Of course she called me when she realized you were injured, you had a gunshot wound on the left side of your abdomen, and you lost quite a bit of blood.” Xander couldn’t help but feel the heat rise to his cheeks in embarrassment. “If you don’t mind Sheriff, I would love to officially apologize to her.” The Sheriff just smiled at the young man. “Well, you can apologize to her soon, she’s bringin you some supper.” At the mention of food, Xander realized that he had forgotten the last time he had a proper meal. The trip from the hospital to the Sheriff’s house was longer than Xander had expected, and when the two men arrived at the Sheriff’s house, it was already sundown.  The house was a simple wooden house, which almost looked like a cabin instead. Xander stepped inside the house, and he noticed right away the smell of cinnamon. Xander observed his surroundings. There was a fireplace on the far side of the living room, with two leather sofas, and small tv on the mantel. The kitchen was small but still had a certain elegance to it. There were a few cabinets with dishes, there was a gas stove, and the fridge was small, but was filled with photos of what Xander assumed to be the Sheriff’s family.  “If you follow me, I can show you where you’ll be staying.” Xander nodded and followed him. He walked into what now is his room, it was a good size room with a double-sized bed, and closet on the other side of the room. There was a nightstand on each side of the bed with lamps. “You’ll have your own bathroom. It’s down the hall second door on your left.” “How could I ever thank you?”  “I saw your dogtags… This is how I am thanking you.” A call came on the Sheriff’s radio. “Sheriff, we need you down at Luster’s Pub. We got a body, and the place was trashed.”  “Copy that Schmidt, I’m on my way.” The Sheriff looked at Xander. “If you want to tag along you can, or you can stay here and make yourself at home. I have a box of your things in the bed of my truck, if you want to grab them real quick.” Xander smiled. “Since you offered, I have always wondered what it would be like to be a cop.” The Sheriff laughed. “Well let’s get goin’ kid.” Both men got into the Sheriff’s patrol car. Xander had so many questions for the Sheriff, and somehow the Sheriff sensed it. “We will have to save your questions for another time, Xander. I promise I will answer what I can, but I expect you to do the same thing because I have questions of my own.”  Xander nodded. The ride to the crime scene was quiet, but comfortable. When they arrived, there were two people dressed almost identically as the Sheriff. “Hey Sheriff, I didn’t know you had company.” A man who looked to be in his late thirties, had black hair, was clean shaven, and he  shook hands with Xander. “Matthew Schmidt, call me Schmidt or Matt.” Xander smiled. “Alexander Adams, but please call me Xander.” He looked over and saw a woman in her mid-twenties, she walked over and repeated the gesture with Xander. “Kora James, nice to meet you.” Xander smiled at her. “Likewise.”  “What do we got Schmidt?” All four of them walked inside the pub.  “This is Lauren Tyler, got a stab wound to the abdomen, and then she was left for dead.” Xander had some basic medical training in the military. He grabbed a pair of the latex gloves and started to examine the area around the body.  “There are two different blood types here.” Schmidt looked at him.  “How could you possibly know that?” Xander didn’t answer, because he did not know how himself.  “What is her blood type? The Sheriff asked Kora. “She has B positive blood type.”  “Xander, what other type is there?” Xander examined the blood, he dipped his finger in the puddle next to her, then he did something that everyone thought was weird. He smelled it. “This is an O negative blood type.” Xander stood up, the scent never leaving his nose. “I can still smell it.” He started walking to the back of the building, following the scent. The Sheriff followed him, both men walked out the back door. Xander noticed there was another drop of blood. He repeated his actions with the first, he smelled it again. “This is the same blood. I believe our killer left a trail.”  They kept going, the trail led them to the woods, it was already dark. Xander knew that if someone ran into the woods at night, it would be difficult for them to be followed. He didn’t want to give up, so he and the Sheriff kept going. Soon the smell started to get stronger, whoever it was, didn’t get very far. The two men came across a clearing with a man passed out on the ground. “Well this brings me back to just this morning with you laying like this.” The Sheriff chuckled. “Let’s see who this bastard is.” Xander and the Sheriff rolled over the mysterious body. The body had a similar wound to the dead victim back at the scene. “Looks like Lauren got him pretty bad with her self defense.” Xander stated.  “Some punk, didn’t think that Lauren would put up a fight. This is Taylor Davis, always was a troublemaker. I just didn’t think he would try something as stupid as trying to rob Luster’s. Let’s get ‘em some medical attention before we arrest him.” Xander put the younger man on his back and they walked back toward the scene. When they made it back to the scene, the ambulances were ready to load up the bodies.  “I had never seen anything like that before in my entire career!” Schmidt shouted. Xander was just confused, he had no comprehension as to why this just happened. Xander just laughed off what Schmidt said.  “After waking up in a hospital I think it is time for me to get some rest, don’t you think Sheriff?” Xander asked the older gentleman. The Sheriff smiled at the man.  “Yeah it has been quite the day for you son. Schmidt can you handle the paperwork tonight?”  “Sure thing Sheriff, nice to meet you, Xander.” “You too, Schmidt.” He shook his hand again and started walking with the Sheriff back to his car. The ride back to the house was as silent as the one to the scene.  “Kid, how did you even know what the blood type was?”  “To be completely honest with you, I have no idea, it’s like I just..knew.” Xander answered.  “Well it saved us a long ass investigation. I appreciate that.” The Sheriff thanked the young man, but he had an idea of his own. “Y’know kid, we are a little short staffed, if you want to occupy yourself while you’re here, we could use you on the force.” Xander looked at the Sheriff bewildered. “Are you offering me a job, Sheriff?”  “Only if you want it.”  “I’d be honored.” Xander grinned and the Sheriff mirrored his actions. When they pulled up to the house, Xander was excited when he smelled the aroma of Brunswick Stew, a specialty that was cooked back home in Georgia. Joe grabbed two bowls and spoons and fixed Xander a bowl. “I really hope you like this stew. According to your medical records you’re from good ole Georgia. I’ma fellow Georgian myself kid. This recipe was named after my hometown Brunswick, Georgia.”  “Brunswick Stew has always been one of my favorites. Since being in the Army, it was hard to find a place that makes it at all.” When the bowl was placed in front of Xander, he had totally forgotten his table manners and practically inhaled his food. Joe looked at him with his eyebrow raised. “If you eat it any faster you might choke.” Xander felt the heat rise to his cheeks.  “Sorry, Joe.” Joe kept his expression on his face before it dissolved into a grin, and both men couldn’t contain themselves anymore. They just started to laugh. “I can already tell this is going to be a great friendship.” After the laughter died, Xander grew tired.  “If you don’t mind Joe, I think I am goin’ to turn in for the night.” The Sheriff just nodded. “Of course, son. Sleep well, and let me know if you need anything.” Joe got up and started to clean the dishes and watched as the young man retreated to his bedroom. When Xander laid on the bed, he welcomed the darkness of sleep.  It was the twenty seventh of August in the year two thousand and ten. Somewhere in the northern part of the United States, Sergeant Alexander Adams had been chosen to participate in a secret experiment that the United States government had intended to make the ultimate super soldier. To say Xander was nervous was an understatement. He would lay awake, and sometimes you would see him smoking a cigarette which is a habit he wishes he never had, but at least it calmed his nerves a little.  The day finally came and Xander was standing outside the door to the rest of his life. He could feel his stomach churning and the sweat on his hands and brows. Staff Sergeant Mills approached the young man and clapped his hand on his back.  “You are making a huge difference here kid. This could help us win any war we are presented.” Xander turned and looked at his Staff Sergeant, he didn’t know he could feel even more pressure on his shoulders. They both stood, watching that door, waiting for the doctor to start the change of the U.S. Military forever. Dr. Tyson, the lead scientist walked through the door. Xander felt a lump forming in the back of his throat.  “We are ready for you now.” Xander and Staff Sergeant Mills walked through the door into the laboratory. On one side of the room there was a balcony full of spectators. In the center was a chair. Dr. Tyson guided Xander over and gestured for him to sit. The lump never leaving Xander’s throat, and the sweat coating his hands he sat. It was when he sat down that this chair had restraints attached to it. Xander started to question this experiment, if they didn't expect anything to go wrong, then why are there restraints? One of the other scientists started to fasten the restraints. “What are those for?” She looked at him with a blank stare. “In case you lose control.” The lump in Xander’s throat grew from there. Lose control of what? Xander didn’t know what else to do other than to just sit there. He looked over to see Dr. Tyson holding up the needle, presenting it to everyone who was watching.  “I give to you, the change of the century!” Dr. Tyson turned with a firm expression. “Hold him.” He commanded his workers. He inserted the two-inch long needle into the young Sergeant. Xander felt the pinch, and felt the serum entering his body. When the serum was injected Xander didn’t really feel much different, but that soon changed when he felt like his skin was burning. The pain was so great, he couldn’t help but scream. He felt his bones shifting, some were even growing. He broke through the restraints, and every eye was watching him. Xander was no longer there, but a beast that looked to be a cross between a large wolf and a bear. The usually warm kind blue eyes were suddenly cold and murderous.         “My God, this was not supposed to happen!” Dr. Tyson stated as he was in shock. The beast that stood in place of Xander started to snarl at the lead scientist. Tyson’s eyes widened, “Shoot that thing!” Everyone started to panic, doctors and other spectators desperately trying to make a run for it. The beast then attacked, with the serum in his bloodstream his senses were advanced and, his speed and strength were unmatchable. He went after Tyson, the professional scientist scared for his life tried running, but the super speed of the beast was too much for him. Sharp claws pierced the chest of the scientist. The light of life in his eyes diminished, and his body was lifeless.  Bullets started flying, Staff Sergeant Mills leading the charge. He looked at the beast disappointed. He always knew that Xander Adams was an excellent soldier, and now he has to kill him. The beast started killing more and more soldiers. Mills decided that this lab has to be destroyed, to kill the beast and make sure no one would go looking for the recipe to recreate this disaster.  “Target the oxygen tanks we’re going to light this place up.” He commanded. The soldiers started to shoot at the oxygen tanks, and the beast started to retreat. One side of the room exploded and the beast quickly made its way outside. He started to retreat into the forest. Mills ordered his men to still blow up the laboratory, and he went after the beast alone. Mills’ presence did not go unnoticed by the beast. The beast was smarter than Mills thought, he climbed the trees, and that was when the hunter became the prey. The beast stalked him from the trees, and waited for the opportune moment to strike. When the opportunity came, the beast did not hesitate. Staff Sergeant Mills shot at the beast, and injured it, but then the beast made his move. Staff Sergeant Jason Mills was killed. At the sight of the corpse of his Staff Sergeant, the beast morphed back to Xander. Xander unfortunately remembered everything that he had done. He knew that he had to get away from everything he had ever known.He looked at the corpse and felt immense guilt, so took his dog tags, to remind himself that he has to do anything and everything in his power to make sure this never happens again. Xander started walking, where he was walking to he did know. He grew tired, the blood pouring from his wound wasn’t stopping. When he got to the edge of the forest, he saw there was a field with cattle and a house. He kept walking, but at this point it was more like stumbling. He reached the end of the fence before he collapsed, and everything went black. Xander jolted awake, sweat was covering his face, as he now remembered the horror that took place. He now understood why he could smell the blood, not just the fact that it was blood, but the blood type. Xander’s heart was racing, he could hear the screams of the people he had brutally killed. He could feel the beast waking inside him. He shot out of bed and raced out the house. He went deep into the woods that were near the house. He felt the pain again. His bones were shifting again, his limbs felt like they were being rearranged. His heart rate was rising, he tried to fight it, his nails growing into talon-like claws.  “No! I will not turn into this monster. I can’t!” he was yelling, but mostly to himself and the beast inside, breaking the surface of his consciousness.  “I will come out. You cannot stop this.” An almost dark voice sounded in his head. “What are you?” Xander grunted and doubled over in pain. “I am you.” He couldn’t win this fight and soon Xander’s screams turned into roars. “I.. am.. Shard.”  The eyes once again were murderous.