Chapter 2: Hurt

  Abel felt weightless, drifting away, deep into his own subconscious. He felt something rising to greet him. It was a memory. He felt his feet softly touch the ground and saw himself and his brother standing there…and his parents…and Cash.

  “Maybe a bit more explanation would help. Follow me, boys.” Cash said.

  Abel was 15 again. Standing next to his brother Kaine, 14. They were at their parents’ house in the old village. He knew this memory. This was the day Cash let them in on his secret.

  “Are you sure they’re ready for that, Cash?” A short man with long red braids said. Abel had almost forgotten what his father looked like when they were young. There wasn’t much time for remembering anymore.

  “Willy, if they are going to lead the Undertakers, they need to know.” It was the boys’ mother. She stood almost a head taller than her husband, nearly as tall as Cash. Her complexion was dark as was her curly hair. Seeing her, even in a dream, caused emotion to well up in Abel.

  “Anita...” Willy started. He knew he couldn’t argue with her because she was right. He stopped himself from continuing and sighed. “Alright. Boys. Outside. This is important.”

  Kaine and Abel nodded silently, confused, but knowing better than to question Cash or their parents when it came to Undertaker business.

  Cash led the boys from the living room into the backyard of the cottage. A tall fence protected it from outside eyes and a large tree canopied most of the yard. It was set against a hill, mostly dirt and rock in the heat of late spring. Abel could feel the sun on his face again.

  “You boys know this is bigger than just us,” Cash motioned to the group, “versus them.” He pointed behind himself. “You know the ‘Holy One’ is a son-of-a-bitch, a liar...and a monster. What you don’t know is what kind of monster he is. This...” Cash stopped, measuring his words very carefully. “This is going to require some faith.”

  The brothers looked at each other, then nodded to Cash. Abel scratched his chin. Kaine stood at attention. Abel remembered being concerned for Cash’s well being. He recalled thinking the old man had started to go senile.

  “Alright. So.” Cash said. “The ‘Holy-One’ is…well, he is an extension…an avatar…of one of the Four Horsemen.” He stopped, weighing their reaction. Abel remembered being perplexed. “He is an avatar of Strife. He is a physical manifestation of the horseman, Strife.”

  The brothers looked at each other, concerned. Kaine broke the silence. “Sir, that's...difficult to process. Do you mean figuratively or...?”

  “No.” He said, his face dire. “I wish it were a figure of speech. I mean he is a god-damned horseman of the apocalypse. Part of one, anyway. He’s as far in this plane as he can get without making himself vulnerable.”

  “But that’s...impossible. Isn’t it? Aren’t they just an old legend? That can’t be...REAL...can it?” Abel said. He felt his heart pounding like he was still in that moment.

  Cash sighed. “Look I know it seems crazy but think of what you’ve both seen. If everyone knew what was really at stake here, they’d just give up. I mean it's three of the horsemen of the apocalypse against one...” he stopped.

  “Sir, you mean one of the horsemen is…helping us? Aren’t they all about bringing the end of days and the downfall of humanity?” Kaine asked.

  “Son, I’ve lived as a mortal for two lifetimes now and I’ll be goddamned if I’m gonna let those bastards win.” Cash looked down at the boys, tears welling in his eyes. “I was made human just over seventy years ago by a death cult. They wanted to bring me to this world to hasten the apocalypse, but it backfired. With me in a mortal body, the fourth seal remains closed. Mankind has a hard-enough time on this mudball without those bastards making it worse.”

  “Are you saying that...you’re one of them? Which?” Abel asked in disbelief. His confusion felt silly now.

  Cash chuckled. “You need to read more, son. The fourth seal. Death. I am the fourth horseman. I am the pale rider. I am the destroyer of worlds. I am the grim-fucking-reaper, kid!” He laughed in spite of himself. “I know I must sound like a crazy old man so let me just show you. Just...keep it together. Remember, I’m still me. It’s still Cash.”

  A dark shadow crept over the yard starting at Cash’s feet and spreading outward. Abel felt his skin go tense with goosebumps as waves of cold emanated from Cash whose form grew tall and gaunt. A horse, pallid as death, skin tight around bone, came silently from around the tree Cash stood under. Cash’s face, however, was unmistakably still Cash. His voice sounded like it was coming from everywhere all at once. “This is as close as I can get to my...other self without killing this mortal form. This is who I was made by the ancients. But I was born a man and have felt your pain. Death is part of life, but what the horsemen want to do is not meant to be done. This world does not deserve that kind of suffering. I fought them off when they came to claim your Earth with your father’s father and your mother’s mother. I pass on the knowledge to keep me locked in a mortal form so that I never forget and never succumb to the other three.” He stopped, shrinking back to his aging, frail form. The pale horse faded into mist. “Your parents are entrusted with that secret. They will teach you, in kind. Now, the other horsemen...so far, we know of one. He goes by the Holy One. His real name is Strife. The other two are still out there. Watching. Waiting.”

  Cash stared at the boys a long moment before leaning in, hugging them both tightly. “Nothing's changed. I’m still me. But I need something from you boys.”

  They nodded in unison. Abel remembered how scared he was. How small he felt.

  “One day, you are going to be left in charge of the Undertakers. On that day, I’ll head into the east. We need more people if we’re going to fight these bastards. I need you both to keep up the fight. Defend the free people. Keep them safe. Can you do that for me, boys?”

  “Yes, sir,” they both replied.

  He smiled at them, putting a hand on each one's shoulder. “My boys.”

  Watching the scene played back before and around him, Abel felt like he was crying inside. He missed his mother and father. He missed how things used to be. But he knew change was the only constant in life.

  Then he woke up. Abel lay in his bed roll. The dream still echoed in his mind. The memory. He rolled forward, unzipping the door flap. It was still dark out. He watched the dawn come, shining gold on the horizon. The mists of the previous night slowly eroded as pale beams of sunlight lit the camp dimly. The sun didn’t rise as high as it used to. He could hear Cash exit his nearby tent and watched as he came into view. Cash faced the rising sun, feet bare, shirt hanging open. He coughed and lit up a cigarette with the end of his finger.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  Without turning, Cash said, “Mornin’ Kaine. Hope you slept well.” His young protege was making his way towards him. Kaine was always quiet as death. Abel found it unnerving. He didn’t notice his brother until Cash addressed him.

  “Good morning, sir. I take it as the mission is complete, you will begin your next project?” Kaine asked.

  “Good of a day as any, son. I guess you already know what I’m gonna say, then, huh?”

  “Yes sir, but I must protest. Abel is much more competent in the field than myself. I would be happy to represent the Undertakers, but they...we...need a field commander...” he was cut off by Cash.

  “No. We don’t. The war is on hold. We need someone to guide us forward. In peace. You are that man. Abel is a great leader and a talented soldier, but diplomacy completely evades him. I’ve already spoken with him about this. He agrees. Don’t you?” Cash said.

  Abel had made his way up behind the pair, but Cash always seemed to know right where he was. It had long since ceased to surprise him. “Yes, sir.” He turned towards Kaine. “I will be here for you when you need me. If there’s a fight, I’ll take care of it. Otherwise...I’ll work in the armory. I’ll train the troops. It's like Cash said. I don't have the patience for diplomacy.” He leaned towards Cash with a cigarette between his lips. Cash pointed at the end and it sparked red.

  “Alright. Just know that if bad comes to worse, I will not hesitate to hand over command,” Kaine said.

  “We know, Kaine. That’s another reason I chose you. You are wise beyond your years and more patient than I’ve ever been,” Cash said with a chuckle.

  “I still don’t think you should be going by yourself, Cash. How are you supposed to do this alone?” Abel buttoned up his wool pea coat against the chill in the morning air. “You’re not as young as you used to be.”

  Cash smirked and looked sideways at Abel and gave a small chortle. “You have no idea. I did this once before, you’ll recall. I started the Undertakers fifty years ago with your grandfather. Telegraph lines got stripped of copper years ago, so I’ll just have to take the word by foot and start again. I’ll recruit like minded folks to our cause. We will have an army massed under a banner of freedom. A flag of no surrender. The army of mankind united against the Holy One and his brethren. Then…then that bastard will see what mortals can really do.”

  Abel looked at his brother who looked back with the same concerned expression.

  “We believe you, sir. We’d just feel more comfortable if you had help,” Kaine said.

  Cash took a long drag from his cigarette before dropping it to the ground, grinding it into the dirt with his bare heel. “I need you two to keep your people...mankind...safe. I know you can’t do it alone and I’d never ask you to. I’m gonna find more people like you who can help us keep them,” he jerked his thumb towards the camp of the Holy Order, “from gaining more power.”

  “It’s a lot to ask, sir,” Abel said. “But we’ll do our best.” He knew the plan. Cash stops at every town between this side of the world and the other, starting new chapters of freedom fighters wherever he could. But now that it was happening, he was trepidatious. He feared for the old man’s safety…such as it was for an avatar of Death.

  “Gather the troops. I’ll try and explain things to everyone before I go,” Cash said.

  Kaine and Abel nodded and began rousing the Undertaker commanders and instructing them to meet at the center of the camp. Within a few minutes, the whole host had gathered around the command tent. Cash stood at the head of the column. He cleared his throat and straightened his coat.

  “I’m leaving,” Cash said flatly. The gathered soldiers began to murmur. “Signing this treaty goes a long way in getting UNS and other settlements on our side since one of the terms is that we no longer mount counter incursions. But that won’t be enough in the long term. I’m heading out to find more people to join the cause. People who will fight alongside us when the time comes. I’ll send word when I find them. Abel and I agree that Kaine should take charge. Abel is staying in his current position maintaining battle readiness,” the brothers walked up to flank him, Kaine on his right, Abel on his left. “As part of the terms of the treaty, we can not kill a member of the Holy Order,” another murmur swept through the crowd. “Abel will be working with everyone on non lethal options.”

  Abel raised an eyebrow at the non-lethal part and gave Cash a wary look. He wasn’t exactly the first person people spoke to about de-escalation tactics. Cash smiled at him then turned back to the crowd.

  “Keep investigating any invasions by the dead or the living. Keep protecting the people. Don’t give up the faith.” Cash looked out over the crowd and nodded sagely. Then he stepped away, moving back to his tent. Kaine and Abel followed him.

  As the trio entered the canvas enclosure, Abel asked bluntly “So...how exactly am I teaching people to use less than lethal force?”

  Cash chuckled. “Give me a minute and I’ll show you.” He began packing up his meager belongings. “I’m not leaving without giving you something. I am giving each of you a part of myself. My power. My abilities.” He put his bag down and reached a hand out to each of the brothers. “Take my hand, both of you.” They did, and a shadow crept over them momentarily. Cash dropped his hands. A thread of shadow remained in their hands, connecting them to Cash. Slowly, it faded. “You’ve both been marked. You will have access to some of my power. Power you can pass on to those you trust. No one can ever take this power from you. In time, you will learn how to use this to keep your people safe.” Cash turned to Abel “As for less than lethal, I’d suggest warding our weapons against killing to start,” he traced a shape in the air that burned into Abel’s subconscious. “Trace that onto our weapons. It’s not perfect, but it’ll help. Guns will still be dangerous even with less chance of being lethal, so practice not hitting anything vital.”

  Abel smirked. “Easy for you to say.”

  Cash smiled. “Now, you boys take care. That thread is always there, connecting you to me. Connecting you to anyone that shares it. I don’t know exactly how this will all work. I’ve never shared my power with anyone like this before. I promise you, though, I will be back. I know you will do what’s right. I trust you both like…” he trailed off. “Your mother and father would be proud of the men you are. Never forget that.”

  “Sir...I...” Kaine was lost for words after all that he had seen and heard. Abel had never seen him so choked up. It was nice to see he was still human after all.

  “Just do what I know you do best, son.” Cash reached out and hugged the pair. “Be safe. Watch out for each other. Trust in our bond. Trust in your bond as brothers.” He whistled, and his pinto trotted to the tent. He mounted the horse, giving them a wry smile. “Walk with me out to the flats.”

  The trio walked out, away from the camp, towards the dusty flats. “Goodbye, boys. I’ll see you soon.” He urged his horse out towards the field, kicking up a trail of dust. The winds whirled, and he disappeared into a cloud that showed pale gold and dim rays of the rising sun. A tumbleweed rolled past.

  The brothers stood, alone, as the dust began to swirl around them. Abel turned to Kaine. They both nodded. They made their way back to camp in silence. Once there, they gathered the other officers for one last meeting.

  Kaine addressed them. “Anyone who wishes to may leave. No repercussions. No reprisals. Tell your soldiers. I expect anyone who is still here by noon to return with us back to base at El’Arafa. That is all.”

  All around Kaine’s feet, a cloud of cold shadowy mist had been forming. Once he finished speaking, it began to dissipate. Abel looked at him, seeing concern and confusion stitched into Kaine’s eyebrows.

  Abel shrugged. “Cash said we’ve been marked. I’m sure that’s just the beginning. This means we’ll be able to copy his abilities.” Abel grinned and returned to his tent to pack up. Kaine did likewise.

  As Abel loaded up his horse, he saw the Holy One’s guards standing outside the meeting tent. That same guard, August, stared him down, his eyes slits. Abel stared back, fighting the urge to get some comeuppance. He settled for spitting in the dirt in the man's direction.

  Noon came, and with half of their original force, they began the march home to El’Arafa. It took them three days by horse through the flat plains, but, at long last, they arrived home to their stronghold, an oasis nestled into the short mountains southwest of the border of the Holy Empire. Tired and road weary, they all returned to their peacetime duties. Many returned home to their families and professions in the nearby town of New Cairo to spend their newfound downtime. Others stayed to tend the gardens and livestock that the Undertakers used to feed their forces and supplement their friends and family. None could afford to live simply as warriors. There was no nation to collect taxes to afford such a luxury. Only the officers among them were spared the lion’s-share of labor. Abel set to his duty of preparing them all for whatever was to come.

  Chapter 3: