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"To Hell with God," I mutter, pissed that he would do this to me. "Why should I destroy the Darkness? For all I know, it's probably already dead...." I trailed off, thinking. "No. The Darkness is alive and well, I can feel it." I should go and ask about it, I thought. I started down the dirt path, on which I had been standing. I believe there is a village near this road.. I'll ask for help there.

Not only was it a village, it was a giant city. I stared in amazment. My, my.. My hometown sure has grown. I approched the front gate.

"Halt!" shouted a voice.

"Huh?" I asked in shock. Oh.. It's only a city guard.

"You must pay the gate fee in order to enter the city of Balrick," stated the guard. "The fee is three gold pieces," the guard stated mechanicly, holding out his hand.

"But I don't have any money," I pleaded. There definately was not a fee when I was alive.

"Then, what is that?" The guard pointed at my belt.

"What's wha-" And there it was... a pouch stuffed full of platnium coins. I take back all I said about you, God. "Will this do?" I asked, handing a coin to the guard.

"It'll do," the guard was short of breath, his eyes widening. Man, humans are greedy...

I walked past the guard, smiling, and walked right into the most crowded marketplace I had ever seen. The overwelming feeling of being crushed to death got the better of me and I pushed my way out of the marketplace. "When did it get so crowded," I gasped as I tried to regain my composure.

"About three years ago." I spun around ready to fight. "Hey, hey. Calm down. I didn't mean to scare you," spoke a gruff looking man. I quickly examined him, to see if he was an enemy. He was a tall man, in his mid-thirties, bald, heavy built, and wearing an apron. Heh.. an apron.

"Who are you?" I asked lowering my fists.

"The name's Thor. I'm a expert blacksmith, and okay silversmith," stated Thor. "Now, what're you doing in this part of town?" he asked, eyeing me.

"Well the market freaked me out, so I left it and found myself here." It wont hurt to lie about being afriad... I think.

"Looked more like you were running for your life," laughed the blacksmith. Gah, he saw me. "Well what are you doing in Balrick?"

"Am I on trial?"

"Sorry, bad habit. Well you can answer on the way out of this place," Thor said as he lead me out of the street and into a rather nice looking shop. "Here's my shop." I pulled up a stool near the furnise and sat down. I don't know why I trust this guy but he seems nice. "I'll be right back," he said as he disappered through a door on the other side of the shop. As he walked through the door I noted a strange cross on his arm. I couldn't recall were I had seen it before. Then it all came back to me.

----days earlier----

"This is the mark of Darkness. Only those who have been graced by me or follow Darkness can see it," God stated holding up a scroll. A upside-down cross with a snake wrapped around it, was inked very vivedly on the scroll.

----present time----

My eyes widened. Oh no... I just fell into a trap. I stared at the door Thor had gone through, unable to move.

Move now!

I flung myself off the stool and just barely avoided being half a person. A large axe completely splinttered the stool, the pieces catching aflame. I looked up the axe, up the arm, and looked right into my attacker's eyes. His eyes were lit with hatred. It was the city gate guard! I rolled and sprung to my feet ready to defend myself. Just at that moment Thor burst through the door and plunged a sword through the guard's helm. The guard fell to the floor, dead.

"What the hell!?!" I shouted confused.

"I knew you were being followed, but it sure took its time."

"But are you not one of them?" I asked shocked and confused with a strange cold feeling in my stomick.

"Me? No. I'm on your side. Besides, there's a difference between human flesh and demon," Thor stated pointing.

"What demon?" I asked. I looked to where he pointed. In the place of the guard was a hidiously deformed demon. Its Dark black skin stretched tight over its bones, its small wings were twitching slightly, its mouth agap in a silent scream of agony, a sword was impailed through its forehead, and... the Mark of Darkness burned brightly on its chest. "Oh... THAT demon."