The Town Herald

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Silent's Horror Corner

Vanions Story, Part II

by [silent_voice]



Silent's Horror Corner, by [silent_voice]
Vanion D'ask - Chapter One: Bounty Hunter

Shawn saw his victim easily, she stuck out of the crowd like a sore thumb, small, petite, alone. Just the way he liked em. Her high heels clicked as she walked down the street, looking around nervously as she walked, worried, a little panic here and there, Shawn couldn't believe it, she was perfect. As she walked past the alley way he grabbed her heaving her against the wall he knew he had to shut her up, she was already screaming, quickly putting his hand over her mouth he growled "Shut the fuck up and I won't kill you." He hissed at her as he held up a small sharp knife. Her eyes widened and he saw what he loved, terror.

He let out a small laugh and licked his lips, then lent forwards licking her face, a long, slow lick up the side of her face. Ergh, his breath was terrible,she closed her eyes and struggled not to throw up in her mouth, there was no escape for it if she did, his hand was over her mouth. Switching his hands she felt the blade against her throat and felt his other hand somewhere else. She squirmed in discomfort and started to plead to him not to, to stop. He smiled "oh yes that's right, beg... beg for me." He whispered softly, she whined and wished to sink away into nothing, she begged her god for something to save her. Or the chance to do it herself.

She let out a small scream as she felt her skirt and undergarments ripped away by this brute which had a hold of her "Please please don't do this, please oh god please." She begged him, only receiving a backhand across the face "Keep it down!" He snarled, she felt the blade cut a little she let out a little yelp.

Shawn grinned at her helplessness as he moved to unzip himself and prepared. Her eyes widened, but she wasn't looking at him "What are you.?" He looked over his shoulder and felt himself freeze at the sight. It was.... something, a man, no... a creature. Whatever it was stood around 6 ft 3, he wore a dark undershirt, a full body length coat, long pants and a wide brim hat, but that wasn't what scared him, what scared him were the eyes, glowing green cat like eyes stared out at him, the light just falling over the end of his nose, which was not a nose... it was... a muzzle.

Shawn backed up, putting his hands up "I didn't... I didn't do anything!" he said going white, one of the creature's hands was hidden behind its back. Slowly the creature's hand came into view, Shawn saw the weapon of death and his eyes widened "oh shit oh shit no don't please don't." In the dark creatures hand was the weapon of the grim reaper himself, the scythe.

The girl's eyes were completely wide, she was frozen in place by the sight of this mysterious creature that had stopped this man by just his presence. she watched in terror as the creature reached forwards and grabbed Shawn's shirt, he wore thick gloves as he lifted Shawn's frame easily, then opened his mouth, his long sharp fangs becoming visible. Shawn's shock had quickly left him and he lashed out with his knife, the blade running deep into the creature's arm.

It let out a growl of pain, the scythe coming down and driving through Shawn's shoulder, and the wall behind him, pinning him a foot off the ground. It stepped back, letting him hang there and pulled out the blade in his arm, letting it drop to the ground with a clatter he looked at the girl, her eyes widened as for a brief moment she saw the two large scars that ran down its left eye. The gaze was interrupted by a pain filled scream of terror from the man pinned to the wall. His eyes were moved away from the girls as he went back to the man, grabbing him again and heaving his scythe out, he let him drop. Shawn fell as far as he could then was dropped, falling to his arse he looked up at the larger man "Man, whatever I did to you I swear man I'm sorry! I'm sorry man." His mouth opened as he spoke, his voice was low, gruff "It isn't me you should apologise to." Shawn rose, thinking that he was going to get off the hook "Man I don't know but please god don't kill me!"

The creature looked to the girl again, saw her sobbing fear and grabbed Shawn and threw him against the other wall. The girl let out a scream as the long wicked looking scythe slashed down and across, the blood splattering the wall as Shawn's body fell down, dead, his throat slashed.

Shakily the girl grabbed her skirt and put it around herself as she rose slowly leaning against the wall "W-who..... what are you?" She asked terrified. He looked at her over his shoulder, again she saw the wicked looking scars that ran down over his eyes. "Vanion D'ask." He said in the same gruff voice.

"Vanion D'ask" That voice rang through the now quiet alleyway, after he said it there was pure silence that grew too long before he moved, turning away from the body fully he turned to the girl, her heart leapt to her throat in slight panic as he advanced, get closer she shrank back against the wall as his gloved hand came out and took her chin, turning her head from one side, then the other. She let out a terrified squeak as she waited for something, a blow, or a cut, something, anything. But none came, she felt his hand leave her chin and slowly she opened her eyes, he had moved away, bending over he picked up the blade and inspected it briefly, then put it into his pocket.

She watched him in awe as he simply turned away and started to leave, the scythe in his hand. She decided to speak up "S-so that's it? Y-you just go? W-what am I supposed to do!?" Vanion waved his hand slightly "Whatever you want. Go to the cops if you want, but I suggest you go home, and try and forget this happened." She blinked and swallowed as the dark figure disappeared into the fog filled alleyway. She stood there staring after him for some time until the dead man's arm falling onto the pavement from its position made her squeal a little. Holding her skirt to her small frame she ran.

Vanion moved quickly but silently, avoiding popularised areas and staying in the shadows. Finally about twenty minutes passed before he reached the alley behind the pub, he hit the door once, a small bolt slid across and a keen eyes gazed out "Who is it?" Vanion glared at him, his eyes glowing slightly in the dim light "D'ask." He said in his deep dark rough voice. The bolt slammed shut, there was a short series of clicking before it swung open. The man inside was about 6 ft 8, his thick arms were heavily scarred and he had one eye, his other covered by long dark hair. Vanion paid him no heed as he entered, the door quickly shutting behind him as the bar noises became louder, some loud talking, the clinking of glasses and pool. Vanion ignored these as he opened the basement door and walked down the stairs towards the basement, his cloak swishing around him. The large door brute returned to his stool and opened the newspaper once more, looking through it, a picture of Vanion on the front page, just a shadowy glimpse, the headline above read 'The Reaper Strikes Again.'

Vanion walked into the basement, the bar sounds were nulled down here, not a sound bar the breathing of Vanion himself. Un-slinging his weapon he rested it against the wall next to the door before moving further in, standing in the beam of light that shone down from the single bulb in the roof. The people at the end of the basement were shadowed, protected. A voice spoke, one of his employers "This is the Reaper, as the newspapers have dubbed him. He is our best." Vanion kept his face shadowed as he spoke, simple, gruff and it had a dangerous edge to it "Who's the target." He demanded, sick of the talking already.

A fat man spoke, his voice unusually high and jittery "The target, god he even speaks like a professional." he said and let out a laugh that jiggled his fat stomach, Vanion's eyes narrowed slightly, ignoring the fat man. His attention was on the smaller man in the middle who had remained silent so far. His gaze met the eyes of another, like his, they flashed out of the darkness "I will pay you 200'000 if you take out Seamus Roe, he's been a prickle in my-" He was cut off by Vanion, who's unwavering stance sent the others in the room a little edgy "What do you think I am, running a charity? 500'000, no less." He said his face blank. The smaller man barely batted an eye "As you wish. We will give the money to your employer, AFTER you finish the job."

Vanion's employer shook his head "I don't think so Munks. Half now, half when you finish." Vanion couldn't stand the bickering and turned "He'll be dead within the week." he said in his low voice, walking out of the room as the pair discussed between themselves, Vanion could feel the fat man's gaze on his back as he walked out, somehow it unsettled his usually cold persona.

As Vanion came back upstairs the large man at the door looked up "In the papers again D'ask?" Vanion looked at him darkly "Just do your job, and I'll do mine." The scarred man grinned and got up, checking the bolt before opening the door "Have a good night now D'ask." Vanion walked through "Yeah I wish." He muttered, hearing the door slam behind him and the deadbolt slide back in place as he walked through the empty alley way, heading towards his home.

Vanion's eyes slid carefully around the empty alleyway before he dropped down silently, his usual stop off, pushing open the back door of the bottle shop he walked in, silent as ever. A woman stood at the counter and smiled to herself, her shop was empty "You know you can't hide from me Vannie D." She said calmly turning around and with well practiced ease moved into the back.
In here, Vanion could finally let down his hair, finally let himself loose, he calmed "Hello Gabe." he said in a calm easy voice "How was the sales today?" He asked moving over to the hidden trap door and easily shifting the table so he could access it.
Gabriel sighed softly moving further into the back, her fingers brushing the wall, then the stacked up crates "Oh you know, same amount as usual, what about you... how are they treating you? Well I hope." she said softly leaving the wall and counting the three steps to the near center of the room, there was a rush of cool air as she heard the trapdoor open.
Vanion climbed down the stairs, still talking "Oh nothing new really Gabes." He said softly and checked over her weapon stocks "Anything new come in for me?" he called up from the bottom.
Gabes shrugged "Nothing new Vannie. Just the same stuff day in day out, though I'm expecting that new thing you wanted to be here soon, you'll be able to take down a few with that huh?" She asked moving a little closer to the trapdoor until she felt her shoe touch the edge of the trapdoor then stopped "I mean... It will make things easier... and maybe they'll pay you better."

Vanion sighed as he touched the weaponry, then started up the stairs again, as he reached Gabe's height he looked into the dark glasses that showed her blindness and felt secure, it was the only place in the world where he actually felt safe, as far as he knew, she thought him a normal human, but with a bad job. Vanion smiled softly at her "Your letting your hair grow out." He said softly gently reaching out and touching a bit of it.
Gabes smiled "Yeah, just for you, but what about you Vannie D?" she asked softly raising her hand to touch his face. Vanion gently caught her hand in his own, stopping the movement and put it on his chest, he held it there for a little bit before he gently rubbed his gloved thumb over it "I've got to go, I'll be back tomorrow okay? I'll bring dinner."
Gabriel nodded and pulled her hand back after a little bit "hey I better get back out front, I hear customers." She said softly and with more practiced ease she moved out from the back of the shop and back to the front.

Vanion sighed softly as he closed up the trap door, moving the desk back to its original position he looked out over the doorway at the front, seeing Gabriel alone out there he sighed softly and shook his head, silently he moved towards the back door and once again disappeared into the night.

Quickly shimmying up the water drainage Vanion reached the top of Gabes' building. Feeling a twinge in his arm he was reminded of the shallow stab wound he had received in his shoulder, and in turn, remembered the knife. He realised he should have given it to Gabes while he had the chance, but going back wasn't an option. She was upset with him because he still wouldn't let her touch him and as far as she knew he was human. Vanion had no wish to change that viewpoint either. Pulling out the blade that had stabbed him he examined it carefully, it was a switchblade, and a nice one at that, pressing the flick switch the blade popped out. Vanion noted that his blood was still on it and it needed a clean. Examining it more he also noted that it was a keen sharp blade on one side, and a serrated edge on another, Very interesting indeed. Closing the blade up again Vanion put it into his pocket, he had more pressing matters to tend to, he had to get home.

Roughly forty minutes of dodging the lights, double backing to check that he wasn't being followed and going a few misleading ways, Vanion slipped into the apartment that his employers had set up for him. Closing the window behind him Vanion looked around his darkened one bedroom home. He may have called it home but it definitely didn't feel like it to him, Vanion never felt like he was at home, never felt secure enough in a place to call it home, that is unless you forget about the bottle shop, and Gabes.

Silently shutting the curtain behind him Vanion walked to the door at the front of his home, passing his old soft couch and the table which now had the new file of who he was hunting and where he could be found. Vanion checked his deadbolts and then the little mail slot, seeing two envelopes. Raising his brows in surprise at this sudden mail Vanion removed his hat and put it on the coat stand, still staring at the envelopes.

Now free from their restraints Vanion's long furry ears stood straight up, his thick mane of messy red hair rolled down, instantly going over his forehead and eyes for a moment before he pushed it back but it was useless, it just fell forwards again. The deep mess of red hair went almost halfway down his back, standing out proudly against the dark brown jacket. His ears pricked as he heard footsteps coming his way down the hall but he ignored it for now, taking off his jacket he put that on the coat stand, soon after his gloves followed. Now wearing a pair of long black pants and a dark gray sleeveless shirt.

Vanion's arms held a very unique ability to be strong, and at the same time they had length and elegance. Thick black fur ran down his arms, on his left were long crisscrossing scars that ended at his elbow, but started once more down his forearm and stopping on the back of his hand, his right arm had a deep set scar on his rounded shoulder, a V. Underneath that was where the short blade had sunk into his flesh. Vanion picked up the letters and looked at them carefully, noting the return addresses. Looking thoughtful he dropped the letters on the table and flicked on the television.

The news reporter sat at her desk, her face made up and her suit pressed, Vanion was reminded of a coin, made a certain way, and never changing Today's top story, A body was found in the alley two blocks from the city library. Suspicions from the police suggest that it was the multiple murderer 'The Reaper'. Here we have Police Chief Manwell." The camera changed from the office building to the alleyway where Vanion was not two hours ago, they were getting faster in finding the bodies he noted.

The police chief was a crisp man in a blue suit, the badges on his chest symbolizing how high he was in the force. Vanion watched him carefully, taking in every detail he could. "Police chief, care to make a statement of what happened here?"
Manwell turned slowly towards the camera and the reporter "A body was found about twenty minutes ago here in this alley, the perpetrator appears to be the same man who has done the last few murders in town -"
He was cut off by the reporter "You mean 'The Reaper' don't you sir? He asked eagerly. Vanion could see the pain cross the Chief's eyes, he could see that he didn't like calling killers by names like that. Vanion could also see the tiredness in the man's eyes.
"Yes... If that's what you want to call him, then yes we suspect it was 'The Reaper'. We are currently reviewing the tape from that camera behind you to find out exactly what happened. Thank you, that is all As he turned away from the camera he was bombarded by more questions which he ignored, moving back behind the curtain to protect the dead man's privacy.

Vanion lent back in his chair, thoughtful now as the story changed to something else about a dog. Switching off the television he regarded this police chief. A twinge of pain brought him back to reality. Standing Vanion moved into the bathroom to retrieve the cleaning equipment for his arm and settled down on the couch, opening the file on his new target and reading the file carefully as he cleaned and closed his wound, he would memorize this before dawn.

Vanion finished with the file, shaking his head slowly he tossed it to the table and picked up his scraps from cleaning his wound. Standing the lithe panther stretched his body stiff from sitting for so long. Vanion looked up at the television, seeing a pair of people walking down a street he rolled his eyes picking up the remote and switching it off. There was the sound of static as the television died. Moving into the kitchen he dumped the remains from cleaning his wound and looked at the clock, 2 am. Shaking his head slowly he walked out of the kitchen and through the small apartment and into his bedroom.

Looking at his large empty double bed, its sheets unceremoniously tossed to one side he considered sleep, then saw his weights and other various gym equipment. Looking between the two he quickly decided and moved away from the bed, dragging out the equipment he used on an almost daily basis.

Pushing the heavy metal bar up higher Vanion grunted with exertion, his arms throbbed as he pushed harder, sweat beading down his forehead, up, up, higher and higher almost at the point where he could put it on the poles safely, up a little more, he wavered, almost loosing it then with a final growl of effort it was up, it dropped down onto the little brackets especially designed for it. "one hundred...." He breathed heavily arms dropping to hang down beside him. After a few minutes he finally rose standing shakily Vanion moved into the kitchen to get himself some refreshment. As he passed the clock the neon lights lit up, 4 am. Pulling the cool water from the fridge, Vanion took a deep drink, his arms shaking with the effort from before. Finally the large cat finished his drink, he had eaten while reading the file and was still satisfied, moving away from the fridge and kitchen he finally decided it was time for sleep. Vanion took a deep breath as he passed his equipment, the bench he had been using had a wet sweat mark right in the center.

Ten minutes later Vanion lay in bed, his blinds tightly closed to block all light, his door closed slowly he looked around the bedroom before finally those bright green eyes began to drift, slowly closing and opening till finally they didn't open again as Vanion lost consciousness, heading into the dream world.

Opening his eyes Vanion sat up slowly, looking down at himself he saw he was young, about the size of a regular 8 year old, his fur was glossy black and there were no scars along his torso, instantly his hand went to his face, again, there was no scar, his hair was short, he ran his fingers through it and looked around with wide eyes, he was in the middle of a clearing, a gentle voice full of enthusiasm came from behind him "So your finally awake you sleepy head!"
Vanion's eyes widened as he turned, searching for the owner of the voice, as he did so he came face to face with another creature, just like him, she was also a panther! "W-who are you?" he asked stuttering and backing up a bit.
The girl was about five, she had purple marks that ran from her forehead down to her cheeks and her hair was also purple, she had a big smile on her face and her normally black nose had a slight purple tinge to it "Its me you silly bum Vannie, your sleepy has messed your brain!" She said coming up and poking his temple before cuddling him tightly "I missed you big brother." She said softly nuzzling into his fur.
Vanion paused, his mind raced 'Big brother?' He asked silently before he slowly put his arms around the little girl who seemed to be attached to him. The little girl made a soft purring sound before she pulled back and stood, causing Vanion's arms to come away "Come on, lets find Mummy." She said grabbing Vanion's hand.
Vanion staggered to his feet and ran after her, being half dragged by the little girl he ran towards a house, it was two stories and beautiful, his eyes widened "Wow." He said softly as they ran up and inside.

The walls were covered in gentle colours and as the pair ran into the living room inside was a whole group of people, a woman with brown fur and blue markings on her face, another girl, this time with pitch black fur, she was around his age and waved shyly at him, then a perfectly preened black cat with blonde hair, and a large badger at the back. Vanion staggered back slightly in shock and everybody looked at him, he froze up completely.

After a few moments of being stared at the shadows along the walls began to move, shadows danced then moved into forms of people holding weapons, Vanion called out loudly for everyone to watch out but they didn't seem to hear him "LOOK OUT THEY"RE GOING TO GET YOU!" he screamed out then tried to move, but found himself grabbed by two of the shadows unable to move or help he watched as everyone was slaughtered. One of the shadows came up to him face to face and a mask was removed, it was himself, Vanion stared at the older version of himself scars over his body the older version smiled at him and laughed softly "Look at what you've become... a cold murderer." He whispered.
The young boy screamed out "NOOO!!!!"

Vanion sat up sharply in his bed, calling out like his dream and breathed hard, covered in cold sweat he dropped back in the bed after a moment and looked at the roof. Mulling over his dream for a moment he pushed it aside, Vanion had a mission to complete and he couldn't waste time considering dreams, getting up he began to prepare for tonight.






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