Waiting, Hollow

Chapter one: One Hundred Year Anniversary

Black smoke billowed up into the clear blue sky as a steamer slowly chugged its way south. Men's voices could be heard calling out to one another in excitement; finally they were nearing land. Many hadn't seen land in months and everyone began cheering, running to the bow to get a better view. Everyone but one young boy.

This boy leaned over the edge of the ship, gazing into the water below. He appeared to be about fifteen though he had a calm and quiet demeanor.

The boy made his way off the steamer once it landed and found a nearby train station. He took the train as far as it would go towards his destination and walked the rest of the way. A few others came with him, soon more joined until he was traveling in a large group. Some of the boys chatted excitedly.

"Does anybody know what to do once we get there?" one asked.

"All I know is that there is some sort of test to see if we're good enough." another replied.

"I know I'm good enough!"

"This is the only thing I could see myself doing, I hope I'm chosen."

Everyone felt that way, everyone had a reason and a story. These boys were off to be educated in the ways of witch hunting at the newest academy, Witch Hunter's Academy Australia. The WHAA, codenamed Waiting Hollow Academy Australia, was the largest academy for training hunters in the eastern hemisphere. The group traveled through dusty fields, a very different climate and terrain than most of the 'recruits' were used to.

"I think I see something!" a boy at the front of the pack called.

A large wooden building loomed in the distance. It must have been a few thousand feet wide and back and was built on the edge of a cliff on two sides. Hundreds of tents surrounded the building.

"Welcome fellow recruits!" A group of cheery boys called from just outside the masses of tents. "How lame, they won't let us in until it is the deadline, but that is still two days away." More boys began to peek out of the tents.

The boys in the tents and the boys in the field rushed each other, instantly becoming friends. But still the lonely boy stood before the tents, not interacting with the others.

In the crowd across he spotted another boy just like him, not interacting or acknowledging anyone. The other stared back. All around them boys looked full of hope, these two shared the look of apprehension, fear and dread.

"What is your name recruit?" The boy in the tents asked. "I'm Van." He had short blond hair and blue eyes. He had a more pointed face and he was shorter and skinnier than the other boys yet still muscular.

"I'm Amon." The boy in the field answered. He was the opposite of the other boy. Dark hair and eyes, firm jaw line, and tall.

The two walked silently towards a weary looking tree that seemed lucky to have survived this long and sat at it's base. "I can tell that we are much different than them." Van started, jerking a thumb towards the tents. "I bet a witch killed someone in their families or something of that nature."

"The witch was my mother, she was a shape shifter of sorts." Amon spoke solemnly.

"Ah, for me it was my Father. He could crush things with his mind." Van sighed. "You know, if we are not accepted into this academy we will eventually be hunted ourselves."

"It is not fair that we should suffer because of who our parents were." Amon growled.

"Since we're in the same boat, why not let us be friends?" Van asked holding out his hand.

Amon smiled and shook Van's hand. "Yes, lets."

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"Aaal righ', mates! Who thinks there ready to become a hunter-in-training?" Everyone cheered upon hearing the man speak. They stood in a barn-like building separated from the rest of the school's campus. The small one roomed building couldn't hold all of the boys and many hung around outside the large glassless windows. The man who spoke stood in the center of the room. "As you all know, to be registered and accepted as a student here you need to pass a test. Here we will see how well you do battle!" He thrust his blade upwards and the crowd cheered. He scanned the crowd and stopped at Amon and Van who leaned into the room from one of the windows. He jabbed his sword in their direction. "You two! Come to the center!"

The two jumped into the room and stood in front of the man. "Here are the rules; just don't kill your opponent, or us spectators!" He drew himself away from the center. "Now fight!"

"Are you ready Amon?" Van smirked, pulling his sword from it's sheath. Amon place his hand on his own sword hilt and bent his knees into a defensive stance in answer.

Van charged forward, the hilt at his eye level and the blade parallel to the ground.

Amon crouched beneath the blade and swiped upwards, knocking Van's sword from his grip. He knocked his knee into Van's stomach and the smaller boy fell onto his back finding Amon's blade at his neck. In one single movement Amon had defeated Van.

"Match over!"

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Year after year, Van desperately continued trying to join Amon at the academy. Every time he failed. After Amon's five years of training in Australia, he was sent back to Japan for two years, for another two years he served in a guild in Great Britain and that was when he found Van again.

"Amon, you look sad." One of his partners commented as they boarded a train.

"It's this witch we're hunting…" Amon stared down at the profile he held. "I know this man."

"Don't let your feelings get in the way of the hunt." His partner warned. "Do you remember what happened the last time one of us had a connection with a witch?"

Amon stared down at the photo. "I know-"

"Just promise me you won't let one of us die because of a witch!" Amon saw genuine fear in the man's eyes and promised him.

The two of them departed the train at a stop out in the countryside, slowly it started to rain. They came to a small house and knocked on the door.

"Who's there?!" came a hysterical voice on the other side of the door. Even though it had been years, Amon recognized Van's voice.

"Edmund and Amon of the Shepard's Guild." answered Amon's partner.

From the other side of the door they heard the man scream. Suddenly he grew quiet. "I know a man named Amon. He was my only friend…" Van's voice shook.

"I'm here." Amon said.

Van screamed again. "No! No! Amon wouldn't come after me!"

"I'm going in." Edmund held his blade close and pushed hard on the door until it gave way and shattered in the empty entryway. The two started into the room. Edmund spotted an open back door and ran out, Amon on his heels.

Out in the open field was Van. He stood facing them with his back to a well. "Amon…so it is you." He turned his gaze to Edmund. "Get out of my sight. This has nothing to do with you." He turned back to Amon and began laughing. "This is fight between brothers!" A wave of water began shooting out of the well.

Amon grimaced upon hearing the man's words, they had only known each other for two days but they shared the connection of being seeds and that bond was very strong. "Please Van, you knew that this would happen one day."

"Don't speak to him Amon!" Edmund yelled. He charged at Van and swung his blade. "Just fight!"

"Who do you think you are?!" Van shouted at Edmund. The column of water shot out and sent his blade flying backwards. It wrapped itself around Edmund, squeezing him in midair. "Don't talk to him as if you know him!"

"Stop it Van!" Amon cried. "You can't kill him!" He ran and tackled the blond man. The water released its grip on Edmund and he splashed to the ground.

Van glared up at Amon. "He tried to kill me!" Soon he was sobbing. "It's not my fault they tried to murder me…"

"When your powers were discovered?" Amon asked, releasing Van. "The ones who were killed tried to kill you?"

"Don't listen to him!" Edmund cried. He shakily rose to his feet and gasped for air. "He is a witch!"

Van glared at Edmund. "You would never understand what its like, you are not like us."

"What are you saying, Amon is no witch!"

"Don't speak of things you know nothing of!" Van rose to his feet and started towards the other man. Water formed into midair pools all around him.

"Van!" Amon warned, also leaping to feet, and unsheathed his sword.

The water wrapped around Edmund's throat. "Kill him now!" Edmund gasped, twitching in search of air.

"Van, please!" Amon cried. "Don't make me do this!" Edmund's face showed with the realization that Amon wouldn't save him. He cried out his last breaths and slumped forward. His limp body feel to the ground with a wet thud. Amon took a step backwards, fear settling in.

Van feel to his knees and put his head in his hands. "Look what he made me do…"

Amon looked from the dead body on the ground to Van to his sword in his own hand. His grip tightened. Amon started toward his sobbing friend and raised the blade. Just as he swung Van turned and stopped the swipe with a sheet of water.

"You are my brother, you can't do this to me." Amon struck and again Van stopped the attack. "Amon." The sound of metal hitting water. "Please." Again, again and again.

"I can't take this." Amon whispered. "This needs to end." He reached into his pocket and took out a cross-shaped vile of green liquid. On the hilt of his sword there was a crest the same shape and size as the vile. He placed the vile in its place and soon the blade glowed green to the beat of his heart. Amon raised his blade once more. This time, when he drew it down and Van blanketed it in water, the water couldn't push it back, the water was forced away from the blade as it made its mark down Van's chest.

The blade blinked rapidly as Van fell backwards in defeat. He gasped in pain but could no longer cry out. The blade blinked faster. Amon staggered away from Van's dying body and clutched his chest. The blade stopped blinking, now it stayed green glow. Amon coughed and feel to his knees. "Why…? This isn't supposed to happen…" Darkness overtook him and his body hit the ground, unconscious.

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Amon sat up straight and gasped for air. He quickly glanced around his bedroom. Just a dream. Amon placed his head in his hands. Not Van again. Then it hit him. It's been exactly one hundred years since that day.

For some reason, Amon's body hadn't aged ever since Van died. He didn't know why, nor did he care all that much. With his existence came many witches deaths.

A knock came from his door. "Mr. Amon, are you awake?" It was the timid voice Amon woke to every morning as of five years. Not all that long for someone who was one hundred and twenty five. "Mr. Amon?"

"I'm coming." He growled, grabbing a shirt and pulling it over his head. He put on a large black cloak and reached for his belt where the still glowing blade and a pistol hung from. Amon swung the door open. "What are we doing today, Michael." It wasn't a question, more like an order.

"Uh, yes Amon, sir…" He glanced down at his clipboard. "It seems the headmaster is meeting with our benefactor this morning." Michael flicked his eyes nervously at the older man. "Is something wrong?"

Amon sighed. "How long has it been since I returned to Australia?"

Michael was confused by the sudden question. "Well you know that the records are off…"

"Just tell me." He demanded.

"S-sixty years." Michael answered, surprised about the way he was acting. "But your only twenty something so we both know that's not possible."

"Right." Amon muttered. "Sixty years…" He started down the hallway. "Where is the headmaster now? Michael?"

Michael stared quizzically at the man, there was something odd about him. He shook off the strange feeling and followed him down the hall.

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"My my, Amon! Why the long face?" A man in his late forties, early fifties chuckled. He was old enough that all the hair left on his head was gray, despite that he had very few wrinkles. The man had the shape of a ball with legs, though he wore a slimming black suit.

"I don't know what you mean, headmaster." Amon said roughly as demanding the man not to press further.

"Hmm." The headmaster changed subjects, fiddling with his bowtie. "I'll be meeting the young miss Kate Mathews this morning-How does this look?" He turned to Michael.

"Very nice sir."

"This morning to discuss…uh, finances." The man finished. He gave Amon a knowing look and added. "No one will interrupt this meeting by any circumstances unless I call for your presence."

"Yes, headmaster, sir." Amon had heard this speech hundreds of times. Quite frankly he thought there was no reason to go to all this trouble, just about everyone knew what kind of 'meeting' he would be having with their benefactress. Everyone, that is, except the headmaster's wife.

"Right. I can always count on you, Amon." The headmaster, finally satisfied with his look, waved his hand and started out the door.

"Oh, Mr. Headmaster, what do you suppose I do?" Michael asked before Amon and the headmaster left the room.

"How about you follow Amon around in whatever he does while I'm busy. Patrol the place and whatnot." He left the room quickly, leaving an exasperated Michael in his wake.

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Kate Mathews was a very beautiful woman, even in her age. She had bleach blond hair that curled at her shoulders, bright green eyes full of energy, curves that would make any woman jealous, and zero wrinkles. No one would guess that she was over forty, no one would guess that she was over thirty five for that matter.

Amon watched silently as once again the great man that was the headmaster simply melted at the feet of that woman. The very existence of man had one weakness; women. He thought that it was foolish to believe that love existed, people just wanted beauty to be considered theirs and nothing more. Amon left the two to their 'fanatical meeting' and roamed the grounds.

"You know that you don't actually have to follow me around, Michael." Amon said to the teen.

"That's alright, I have nothing to do anyway." Boy, that kid was a genius but he somehow couldn't figure out how to take a hint.

They passed by the academy's cafeteria and stopped for breakfast. A woman walked up to them. "Michael, I need your help. I can't get through to some of my students, it's that girl again."

"Ms. Karasuma? But your craft works straight into the mind, you can't possibly be having troubles." Michael then added playfully. "You're the master interrogator!"

"But she guards against me!" Karasuma sounded exasperated. "Michael, the students like and trust you."

"Ok, ok! I'll come with you." Michael followed the professor down the hall and out of sight.

Happy to be alone, Amon decided to wander the grounds. His thoughts took him back to the dream from that morning. Today was the hundredth anniversary of that day, it gave him an uneasy feeling. The dream came more often then usual now. Why? It worried him, it felt as if something was going to happen, but what? Van had died, he was sure of it. Amon left his thoughts there, he wouldn't let this paranoia bother him.

Amon walked out the front gates. This building hadn't changed once since he first came here. He scanned the dusty horizon, looking for any signs of danger despite himself.

"Mr. Amon!" A woman called to him from behind. He turned to see the headmaster's wife waving to him from just inside the gates. Her name was Amber Burmy, she was no where near as much of a looker as Ms. Mathews but she still had a certain quality of beauty. She wasn't as slight or curvy as the other woman, but she had a nice figure. Her hair was short brown and her eyes were a less shinny shade of green. In comparison, She was the shy nerdy girl and Mathews was the outgoing popular girl.

"Ah, Mrs. Burmy, what are you up to way out here?" Amon greeted politely. He started back towards the gates. His gaze fell on the farm that was laid out next to it. Horses trapped around in the field. A few cars sat between the two buildings.

"I'm simply wandering." Mrs. Burmy replied. "Why, you look troubled, what could be wrong?" She asked, noticing Amon's uneasiness.

"Nothing."

"That can't be, you look so jumpy." Amon shrugged and opened the gate to return to his room. "Who could that be?" Mrs. Burmy continued to stare out the gates.

"What?" Amon turned and saw just what he feared. Jeeps pounded towards them in the distance, kicking up a screen of dirt and dust. The only way people came here peacefully was if they walked. "Follow me." He directed and ran off into the building. He sounded the alarms as he went.

Once the alarms began blaring, chaos ensued. The students were on free period, scattered about the campus and having to teachers to guide them. Many ran around, trying to find out what to do, though a large group of students kept at their everyday business as if it were a drill. Amon found the loudspeaker system control room and calmly gave directions. "We are under attack. All year fours and up report to the cafeteria, you are to assemble to defend long enough for the rest escapes then make your escape. Years three and under report to your next period class and with them make your way out."

There was an underground path down and out into the canyon below the school, that was where they would go. Amon and Mrs. Burmy soon reached the room where the headmaster and the benefactress resided. Already hearing the alarm and announcements, the two hurried out when Amon called.

"Are you positive it's an attack?" The headmaster asked. A large explosion sounded and smoke could be seen rising from the front gates. "I'll take that as a yes."

Before they had the chance to move, a jet zoomed overhead and bombed the cafeteria and landed in front of them. A man in a tan military uniform rose up from the cockpit. His uniform was covered in medals and it bore a red symbol with a white circle and a black swastika on his left arm. "Well, well, well." He smiled down at them. "I drop in and who do I find? Colin Burmy?"

The headmaster looked stunned. "Jeremiah Rapture? From hunter's school?" Mrs. Burmy nodded, remembering the face. Mathews scowled. What are you doing with the nazis? I thought you were in America!"

"Do you think I would really stay there? After the love of my life left? No I followed her and my heart here." Rapture responded.

"That doesn't exactly explain why you're a nazi…"

"Anyway," Rapture continued, ignoring the headmaster. "I am now a Colonel and will take this land of Australia for the fuehrer." He held out a hand to Mathews. "and my precious Kate for me." Mathews rolled her eyes. "No? look you don't have a choice."

A second man jumped out of the back cockpit. He was tall, lean and fit the Aryan description perfectly. "Permission to start capture, sir?" He saluted to Rapture.

Rapture waved his hand at him nonchalantly. "Do as you wish." The soldier turned towards the destroyed cafeteria where many student still lingered. Suddenly, those students were grabbed and raised into the air by an unseen force. Rapture smiled at Mathews and the headmaster. "You see, I have become the head of the witch forces, quite an honor. How I would love to have this large supply of hunters for a new addition to my forces." Rapture grabbed Mathews and pulled her towards the jet. He spoke to the headmaster. "And there is nothing you can do to stop me."

Amon leapt behind Rapture, drew his pistol and placed it to the back of the man's head. The witch soldier glared at Amon, sending out a wave of psychic energy towards him. Amon batted the energy away with a swipe of his glowing sword.

"Not so fast Amon." A voice came from their right. Amon knew that voice, it had haunted him for one hundred years.

"Van." He whispered in shock. He turned his head to see Van, not aged in the slightest, with his own sword to his throat.

"Surprised to see me? It is our hundredth anniversary after all."

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