FABLE: THE VIRUS

Chapter 1

The skyscrapers of Bowerstone South pierced the daytime smog which covered the land. A crumpled piece of newspaper slowly blew its way across the street bearing the title, "THE NEW KINGDOM AWAITS". As the first of the people spilled their way onto the streets a screen flickered on the broadest building in the centre of town. On the screen was a middle-aged man bearing a pencil shaped moustache wearing a black pinstripe suit.

"Welcome people to my announcement. I am dearly sorry for the early morning wake up call but this is an issue that is important to address right away. For many years we the people have been under the delusion that heroes are here to save us, for many years we have relied heavily upon the saviour of heroes, well that time is no more! I feel that these heroes are a disease that should be destroyed at the source, a disease which is plaguing our lives, contaminating our drinking water and destroying our beautiful city. This message must be spread to every person bearing a scrap of hero blood, you will all be rounded up to have your name signed onto a register. If you fail to be obedient, we have certain ways of denying your existence. For us, the true blooded people, The new kingdom of Albion awaits us, she awaits us all who are of true blood and noble heritage, thank you for listening to me. For all you heroes, your name will have to be signed in the watchtower before next Friday or else..." The man gave a scanning look from the screen down towards the streets, before flickering out and leaving complete darkness in the section that was filled with his beetroot coloured face.

With a sudden breath Tuloze awoke from his heavy sleep with an annoying ringing in his ears. Voices faded in and out of his head as he opened his curtain to reveal a bunch of youths hanging around outside his house. He scratched his bleach blonde hair absently mindedly before diving for his wardrobe, withdrawing some clothes as hastily as he could. The front door flung open as he bounded down the stairs and the youths all started him in the face, the tallest one with the biggest frame talked first, revealing his unusually spotty face as he did so.

"So, have you heard about the heroes then you freak!"

Upon the last word he spat towards Tuloze's feet, the next one in the line spoke, a very short kid with spiked brown hair opened his mouth.

"Yeah freaks like you have to sing a register."

The kids laughed at Tuloze who felt his anger bubbling away inside of him, see he was not a normal kid, he was the last in a long line of heroes, some claimed that his family held the greatest hero of all time, the man who defeated Jack of Blades, however this was a new generation and heritage didn't matter any more.

"Stan I suggest you shut your face if you know what is good for you."

Tuloze sneered up at the tall kid as the words ushered from his mouth.

"What the hell you gonna' do freak show" Stan responded.

"Yeah freak show, what are you gonna do."

The sudden emphasis on the word "are" made Tuloze lose his rage as he swung his arms forward grabbing Stan by the throat.

"I suggest you leave me alone Stan."

Tuloze's grip tightened around Stan's throat, before finally letting go. The youths ran from the house throwing abuse at Tuloze.

Tuloze was a solitary boy, a boy who had no family and no friends. He was an average height with abnormal powers, from birth he had known he was different but he never could harness his powers. Slowly but carefully he picked up a shard of glass off the floor and stared at his reflection in it. He ran one of his hands slowly over his face, he wasn't any different from them, not in structure, not in age however he was more different than you can imagine. The glass cracked against the wall as he launched it across the hall, he stood up with a sudden determination. He walked to his room and when he emerged he had a rucksack strapped to his back and he left the house and walked down the street.

He reached the town centre with relative ease as no-one else had an inkling that he was a hero. He saw the watchtower and walked towards it and spat at the ground near it before striding towards the bridge. The sun finally broke through the smog enough to spotlight his exit from Bowerstone, his final goodbye to the city he grew up in, this he felt was his destiny, it was his life to bring back the heroes.