[Hello, i am... well you can probably read that can't you. anyway, this is officialy my first publishing! i know right, i'm so excited... and oh so dreadfully nervous, i'll say this now i'm not the best when it comes to the writing format, i have been told many times by my freinds that i have severe issues. so pointers and hints appreciated. now be merciful and (hopefully!) enjoy the story.]
The Paths of The Cursed
What do you do when the one you sweat blood and tears for leaves you in the dust? Simple answer, you drink. Fox McCloud, now a washed up excuse for a mercenary, drinks away his money in self-pity trying to come to terms that the blue vixen of his dreams who had shared a bed with him on more than one occasion had blown him off for Panther Caroso and star wolf. Now on his last legs Fox meets his old friend, Bill Grey, he tries to comfort Fox, failing that he offers Fox a job. It worked out for a while but Fox got fired due to a scuffle with one of the workers who called Krystal a traitor. Despite his pain Fox ultimately blames himself for Krystal's leaving saying if he had paid more attention to her she wouldn't have felt the need to leave.
Krystal now part of star wolf has become quite docile compared to her usual kind and energetic self. After a year of working with star wolf, Panther has tossed her away like garbage leaving her to wallow in her shame and sorrows. Realizing how much Fox had truly meant to her she wonders if Fox would take her back. She decides against it thinking he will hate her for all his pain. Down in the dumps Krystal leaves star wolf and becomes a bounty hunter using the alias of Kursed, Hunting down the world's worst criminals for money.
Three years pass as such; Fox and Krystal continue their lives. But Fox's life has turned around somewhat. After a year and a half of self-pity and booze, Fox McCloud once again begins working as a mercenary, the great fox is in a museum and Falco is with Kat as a team, Slippy married Amanda Toad and Peppy is commanding the Cornerian army, now without a team Fox begins his work, dyeing his once vibrant orange fur a dark foreboding Black, spreading rumors about a black furred Fox mercenary that will do any job if the price is right. Fox McCloud has severed all ties to the past, now going under the name Isaac Martin, and the alias of 'The fang' he has become a well-recognized solo mercenary with a heart of stone and ice in his veins. The merciful mercenary is now a killer.
X
Chapter 1
World so cold
Located on the planet Kew, Fox sat alone in his apartment that night, the digital clock read 9:43 PM. He looked back over at the desk, there lie a folder, all the information he had gathered on his current target. Anton Beck, 45, weasel, grey hair, married, two kids, he owed money to a suspected crime boss who had hired Fox. Anton had some gambling problems, and his back room of choice was the back room of the night club "Crimson Reality" dancing, music and girls. But Isaac had lost all interests in girls, unless it was part of his job but then that was just seduction. Nothing serious had happened between him and a woman since… well since a long time ago. It was almost time for his job.
X
Isaac stood in line to get in the club, the bouncer; a Dark furred tiger had turned away three people dressed nicer than Isaac. Who had dressed in casual black sneakers, blue jeans, a black sleeveless tight-fitting t-shirt, and a button down dark green over shirt with rolled sleeves just above the elbows, there wasn't a dress code for the club so Isaac didn't have to really think about what he was wearing. The bouncer motioned him forward asking "name?"
Isaac moved forward, his aviator sunglasses covering his eyes, "Isaac Martin." He said, the bouncer looked down at the list and flipped the page.
"Get lost." He said shaking his head.
Isaac frowned "what?"
"I said scram street trash," the tiger said looking up from the list, down at the black furred vulpine in front of him, "or I can have Lee remove you from the line."
"I'm sorry who the hell is 'Lee'?" Isaac asked. A hand dropped down on his shoulder a BIG hand. Isaac looked to the hand then the veinie muscled arm to the bulldogs smashed face a good foot taller than Isaac who was 5' 8'. "You Lee?" Isaac asked brushing off the hand.
"Yeah," the bulldog said leaning down.
"Wow man great job," Isaac said with a thumbs up, getting confused looks form the two bouncers in front and behind him "I mean seriously, if I had known that this was the Halloween party I would have worn my jack the ripper mask." A vein in the bulldog's temple pulsed as he drew back his arm to smite the little shit. His swing passed right through the air where the fox had been, looking down he saw the Vulpine hugged in close to his body his hand clenched into a fist. The Vulpine struck the floating ribs on the bulldog's right side, there was a crack and the bulldog gasped. Stumbling backwards he fell to his knees, holding his right arm over the cracked ribs. "Amateurs." Isaac spat as he turned toward the tiger. "Did you find my name on the list yet?"
"No I haven't," the tiger said "and I never will, scram."
"Oh my mistake you checked the guest list, no I need you to check the special list." Isaac said pulling down the sunglasses, revealing his cold, merciless, eagle eyes. The tiger's breath caught in his throat.
"Oh, here you are sir," the tiger said frantically "my apologies go inside please." Stepping to one side he allowed Isaac to pass unhindered. Isaac walked through the doors; first thing to hit was the smell booze, sweat, and sex. The lights pulsed and changed colors with the music. A sense of vertigo came over him as he traveled back in time to his early years at the flight academy. The pulsing of lights and sounds that assaulted the senses, the music was loud "when the sun goes down down down down, Boy are you afraid of the dark," the blue feathered avian in front of him turned to face him giving a thumbs up, he smiled back at the avian.
"What's up!" the avian shouted over the music.
He shrugged "not much."
"You got a name?" the avian asked.
"Yeah, names ~~~ ~~~~~~~."
The avian let out a bark of laughter "ha-ha, no shit. So your that guy huh, Well ~~~ it's nice to meet you," he said reaching out his hand. They shook "well my name's Falco Lombardi; I'm aiming for Ace pilot."
Isaac shook himself and headed toward the bar lined with lights that ran the length of the bar top. He sat next to a weasel that was wallowing over the meager pile of credits that looked like his winnings from the back room. "Not the luckiest man today?"
The weasel jumped in his seat and looked over at the black furred vulpine who had just sat down "you could say that." the weasel said in a nasally voice.
"Yeah," Isaac said "well life's just one big shit isn't it."
"No," the weasel said looking over at Isaac "I have my anchor, so life's still good, as long as I have her." Isaacs hand slammed down on the bar top causing it to rattle. The weasel jumped and caught his drink.
"What the fuck man, I almost spilled my drink. What's your… damage." The, weasel trailed off, looking at the fox, his ears flatted on his head. "Major damage."
"More like critical," Isaac waved over a bartender and ordered a bottle of the strong stuff. His first shots where just the beginning. "you want a swig?" Isaac asked the weasel.
"Well if we're sharing a drink, what's your name friend?" he asked Isaac.
"Isaac, you?"
"Anton, you call me Tony, Isaac."
A couple of drinks in the two were talking like old friends laughing at each other's stories "so, the teachers says to him 'alright let's see how you fly' to witch the avian reply's 'alright teach let's do this' so he gets up there in the pilot's seat and starts flipping switches, when he turns it, on the jet rumbles to life and shots through the hangar doors. Everybody rushes out of the hangar, about a hundred yards down the runway is the burning wreckage of the fighter, and high up is a parachute with the avian coming down. When he calms down he looks up at the teachers and says "sorry teach I forgot to take my foot of the gas." Tony erupts in laughter and Isaac follows suit wiping tears from his eyes.
Tony leans over and shakes Isaac "I'll bet he didn't get that license."
Isaac shook his head "No he got it," looking up at Tony "the reason is because after the accidentthe teaching board determine it was a fluke and wouldn't happen again cause he was the highest in score."
"That's a load of bull." Tony said "there's no way he got a license after that."
"Yeah," Isaac and Tony looked over to an altercation between some bouncers and a drunk pink furred cat, she had just drop kicked the guy, a rather short terrier who had felt her up. Tony gave a laugh and turned in his seat to watch the tussle. Isaac pulled a small paper wad from his pocket bit of the top and poured what looked like sugar into Tony's drink, then discarded the wad. Looking down at his watch Isaac stretched his arms and stood, "well it's about for me to get going."
Tony turned back toward Isaac then picked up his glass "yeah I suppose I should get going too, she'll be angry if I'm not home soon." He tipped the glass and emptied it. Smiling he reached out his hand to Isaac; they shook and then headed out the door.
X
Krystal, now Kursed knelt on the edge of a roof watching a limo as it raced through the streets carrying a fat tabby cat, Massa, a known crime lord. Kursed glared through her binoculars, the wind blew her shoulder length hair, she wearing in a full body combat suit that showed the curves of her body, the only thing out of place with her attire was a single Wristband made entirely out of metal. A friend had begged her for help. Michael Savar, His daughter had witnessed a meeting between two major crime syndicates and naturally the father feared for her life, of course the police had assured protection for his daughter, if she testified in court. The friend was an attorney who had helped Kursed gets out of a law suit. She was charged with battery and assault after a tiger had gone too far in flirting her. She smirked at the thought of the tiger, he had bitched about it like no other. Kursed was content with the fact that she had broken his arm and embarrassed him in front of the entire bar that night. The next day she was visited by the police asking her to answer some questions.
It was getting on to midnight when Kursed arrived at the large mansion. the fat cat could be seen getting out of the limo and into the house. Kursed observed the site, guards armed with assault rifles patrolled the walls around the mansion; she could see sentries on the roof and guessed there would be more inside. It was time to move; Kursed dropped down to the side walk silently and ran over to the wall.
After thirty minutes Kursed had gone through a great number of guards, she soon reached the room she was looking for, kicking open the door. What met her was a double line of guards with Assualt rifles aimed at her, a fat cat sat behind the guards. He smiled as she walked in "ah, Kursed." The cat said in a purr "so nice of you to join us. Well at any rate let's get down to business. What are you being paid; I can double it and get you a job working for me." The cat continued to purr as he talked.
Kursed cocked her head to the side in confusion "I don't see how you could double a favor." The cat looked up at her with a slightly annoyed look; he looked her up and down admiring how the suit showed off her body.
"Well at any rate you could do better, come work for me. I can get you anything you want."
Kursed put on a smile and said "wonderful!" the cat grinned at her "you can start by giving me your head." Kursed said with a grin.
"K-kill her!" the cat shouted. Kursed whipped out a bladed whip and swung it at the guards cutting open stomachs and ripping muscles and tendons. She danced around as she dodged the blasters cutting the guards to shreds. The cat looked on in horror as the last guard fell, trying to keep his guts in his body.
"It's your turn." Kursed said to the cat as he cowered behind the desk. She walked in front of him and stood there.
"Perhaps we could discuss a deal?" the cat asked.
Kursed glared at him and replied "I don't deal with criminals." The whip whistled through the air and cut the cat's throat. He bled to death, Kursed surveyed the carnage she had created, and she left.
Back at the apartment she was staying in, Kursed pulled out a computer and began typing as static filled the screen of the computer as the figure of a wolf in his early 40's came on-screen "good evening Michael." Kursed said.
Michael smiled when he saw her "good evenings miss Kursed, to what do I owe this pleasure?"
Kursed smiled "your daughter is safe Michael, He's dead."
A weight seemed to lift from him, he smiled gratefully "oh, thank you Miss Kursed! What do I owe you for the job?"
He was still smiling at her, she smiled back and said "you don't owe me anything Michael I told you it was a favor for helping me."
Michael smile faded "but I told you I would pay you… I can't not, you've ensured my daughter's safety, surely that warrants…" Kursed laughed and Michael became even more confused as she laughed.
"Michael I told you I won't accept any payment, I have repaid a debt to a friend and that is all."
The wolf grinned and sighed and then chuckled to himself "you always were strange Kursed, but I guess everyone has their reasons." He sighed again and said "Kursed, if I may, you have a beautiful laugh, and you should use it more often." Kursed was stunned, for a minute she thought he said 'Krystal' instead of Kursed "good night Miss Kursed." And then he was gone.
Kursed started thinking about how many times Fox had told her that her laugh was beautiful, that she was beautiful. She got the old pains back, those aches of the heart that she thought she was over. She shook herself "no, no, you are over this, Fox won't take you back now, not after what you did." She said it quietly. Kursed changed into some jeans and a T-shirt and walked to the door grabbing a jacket on her way out.
X
The bar was empty except for a group of animals in the corner booths. The bartender had introduced himself as Rex, he was an old bloodhound that had been quite friendly when Isaac had walked in. at first Rex had been a little reluctant to talk but after about Isaac's fourth drink Rex had started up a conversation "so what brings you here?" Rex had asked.
"Work." Isaac said before downing a shot.
"What kind of work." Rex asked leaning over the counter.
Isaac looked up at the old dog and said "you don't want to know." Rex was a little put off but shrugged.
"So do you have a family?" Fox stopped mid swallow then continued.
"No." Isaac said.
Rex got a sad look on his face "oh, sorry 'bout that."
"Don't be, it's alright, I've gotten over it." Fox drank down another shot, his face was getting flushed from the alcohol and it was starting to impede his judgment.
Rex had been watching Fox for a while now and was getting a little nervous "don't you think you've had enough man?" Fox looked up at Rex and sighed, putting down the glass
"It's never enough." Fox said.
Rex looked at him and asked "never enough for what?"
"To forget." Fox said simply.
"Forget something or someone?" Rex pried.
Fox picked up the glass and drained it "A girl."
Rex leaned on his elbows "mmm, that's a mighty big thing to forget. She dump you?"
Fox let out a bark of laughter "something like that."
Rex came around the bar and sat next to the black furred Fox "you want to talk about it?"
Fox looked over at the old hound and chuckled "you volunteering to be my shrink?"
Rex laughed a deep laugh "you can look at it that way. I prefer to think of it as two Men sharing a heart to heart."
Fox had been reluctant to talk but "where to start, let's see." Rex sat quietly next to him "she was my world, you know, that refuge when I had problems and worries, I could bring them to her and she could dispel them instantly, my pain, my sorrows, my fears, and she made them ours, our pain and sorrows, and fears."
"Sounds like you two were happy." Rex said.
"We were, more than happy, life was perfect or as perfect as it can get when you live as a mercenary. But things fell apart, I get caught up in work, and I stupidly left her alone for too long, she found someone else to comfort her when I was gone." And so it went Fox spilled his guts to the old hound for the next fifteen minutes.
"I should have told her what she meant to me, and I don't mean the usual I love you crap that all guys can say to a girl. I mean the way I truly felt, she was the center of my world and I let her go too easily, spent a year in the bottles and ended up working here."
Rex had listened quietly; he got up and walked back around the bar so he was directly opposite Fox "well if you ask me she's probably a broken woman now."
Fox looked up at Rex "why do you think that?"
Rex shrugged "what you just describe was something everyone hopes to find in life."
Fox was getting confused "and what's that?" Fox asked sitting up straighter in his chair.
Rex laughed and said "Love."
"What do you mean?"
Rex stood in front of Fox "exactly what you just said, any man can tell a girl he loves her but very few can honestly say what you just did. Look at it this way. could you in all honesty, even if you knew you would die, would you risk it all to save her?"
Fox answered quietly "yes."
"then there you have it, ask that of any man when his girls around he will say 'yes' put him in a situation where he could save her less than half would do so if it would cost them their life." Rex said patting Fox on the shoulder.
Fox turned around as the bell on the door opened and a young vixen walked through the door, Rex looked up from Fox and smiled at the vixen "evening Kursed."
The vixen or Kursed as Rex called her smiled at the old hound "hey Rex, Got room for another customer, place looks pretty full."
Rex put on a mischievous smile and played along "gee I don't know girl, it's been pretty busy today but I think I can make room for my favorite fox." Kursed walked up to the bar and sat next to Fox who looked over and noted the blue fur on her hands and face. Fox nearly dropped his glass when he saw her but he caught himself, it's not her Fox don't get all excited just because it looks like her, after mentally kicking himself Fox turned back to his drinking he was almost to his second bottle.
"Oh, got anything good to eat Rex?" Kursed asked. The old blood hound turned around and thought about it for a while.
"Is chicken okay?"
Kursed leaned on the counter and purred a little "sounds great." Rex chuckled and walked back into the kitchen; Fox could smell chicken fat burning on the grill.
Kursed sat next to the black furred vulpine, he seemed familiar somehow. when she sat down he looked up from his drink, Kursed nearly forgot to breathe, his green eyes bored into her, just like Fox's did when she tried to hide her injuries from him or her problems. He looked away taking another drink. They sat quietly for a time before Kursed asked him "so do you work around here?"
Fox looked around and said "no." Kursed tried to read is thoughts but was met by a storm of emotional turmoil that nearly pulled her into it, now she wasn't so sure if she should talk to him but before she could ask another question Rex came back out of the kitchen carrying a platter with chicken, fries and some greens.
Kursed set to work right away on the chicken Rex sat down next to her and asked her different questions "so did it work out okay?"
Kursed swallowed a piece of chicken before she answered "you mean the job?"
Rex nodded "it went as planned." Kursed said before getting a mouthful of chicken.
Rex smiled and asked "do you know your next job?"
Kursed shook her head "no, but I need another job."
Rex was quiet for a while then he got up and walked over to a poster board and pulled down a couple papers which he laid in front of Kursed she looked over the papers "these are the highest paying jobs I got now." Kursed slid the chicken away and grabbed the small stack of papers which she laid out in front of herself. The first was a Crazy haired badger; under the picture was a list of crimes and the pay. Wade Felt, 37, height 6, 2'' weight 247 lbs. crimes includes theft, grand theft auto, and murder, bounty 20,000 credits. Kursed shuffled though the pile until she came to a page with no picture. The title read "The Fang" Kursed pulled the file out and looked it over.
Fox looked over at his wanted poster and let out a chuckle, kursed looked over at him "what's so funny?" Rex looked at Issac with a questioning face.
"Hmm?" Fox said "oh, just the alias, seems rather odd."
Kursed looked him up and down trying to read him "sorry but who are you?" she asked.
Fox looked back at her, he could feel wetness in his eyes so he turned away, "Isaac," he said casually.
Kursed looked back at the paper "black market contracts, arson, man slaughter!"
Rex took the poster from Kursed and looked it over "this guy sounds like a piece of work, a really mean son of a bitch."
The door swung open with a loud bang and the trio jumped, fox spilled the last of the bottle across the table, and kursed knocked the plate off the bar, Rex's hand moved under the table, a rowdy bunch of teens consisting of an avian boy and girl a female lynx, and two husky's.
The three looked at each other and their reactions, Fox looked at Rex who's hand was still set firmly under the counter Fox looked up and asked "what's under the table Rex?" He looked down to where his hand was and gripped something before letting go and bringing his hand back.
He shrugged and said "just some insurance, nothing to worry about." He set his hands on the counter top. Fox was picking up the bottle that he had spilled; Kursed was picking up the broken pieces of glass plate from the floor. Rex looked at Fox and the bottle "need another?"
Fox looked at the hound and shook his head "no, no more, I've had enough, when you spill the bottle it's time to quit." Rex nodded but jumped again when Kursed let out a startled cry. Fox looked down. He smelled the blood before he saw it, it dripped on the hardwood, Isaac could smell sweetness from it, it stirred something deep in his mind, he remember a feeling of pain and terror of a feeling he had forgotten.
Kursed cradled her hand; the blood was turning her blue fur purple. She ran a finger along the cut probing it; she gave out another yelp and a wine when she found the piece of glass in the palm of her left hand. Isaac knelt down and took her hand facing it palm up, examining the gash, he ran his thumb over the wound revealing the torn skin under the soft blue fur. Fox looked up at Rex "can you get some bandages and some anti-septic, Rex?" with a nod Rex headed off.
Kursed sat on the stool facing Isaac. Rex had brought out strips of bandages and had set them next to Isaac as he had requested "now hold still." Isaac said, She held out her hand. When Isaac touched the shard she jumped and pulled away, Isaac grabbed her wrist and kept her hand palm up. His hand held firm to her wrist but was gentle in his handling.
Isaac sat picking out shards of glass from Kursed's hand; everything about her seemed to remind him of Krystal, even the eyes, her mannerisms, everything screamed Krystal at him. He looked up once to make sure he wasn't causing unnecessary pain to the vixen. She seemed to be in a dreamlike state.
X
Krystal or Kursed was startled when the vulpine drooped her hand; she looked closely at the bandaged hand "thank you." She said in a small voice. Isaac looked back to the Blue Vixen, it drove him mad how much she acted like Krystal in the early days.
"It's no problem." Isaac said fidgeting with an empty glass, he couldn't look at her; it was too much like looking at Krystal.
"So what do you do for work?" Isaac asked.
"Me? Well I work as a bodyguard, if you can believe that." Isaac had spent a good long time talking to the Vixen about her work; she said she was hired protection, which meant that one day Isaac might have to deal with her in his line of work. Still it had been enjoyable to talk to someone. She seemed to enjoy herself as well; she had brightened up once they had started to talk.
X
Kursed sat at the bar stool, tracing a finger along a heart with an "A&H" someone had carved into the wood counter top. A giggle escaped her as she thought about the man who was Fox McCloud, whom she still loved, but for all the love in her she couldn't find the courage to start searching for him to ask him that one question "do you still love me?"
Rex looked over to where Kursed sat, heard her giggle, saw her mood change from happy to miserable. Rex walked around the bar, the only two there, the bartender and the self-loathing mercenary. "Seen that face before."
"Yeah," Kursed said "a lot of people have, but not everyone knows what's behind it." Her ears where low and her tail was still "it never stops hurting does it."
Rex patted her shoulder "I don't know Kiddo, I really don't know, if you live forever, maybe but no one's lived that long, so no one knows." He said sitting next to her.
"Did you ever love someone, Rex?" Kursed asked.
Rex looked over at Kursed who was staring at the heart carved into the table, took a deep breath "yeah, I did. Mary."
Kursed looked up from the table at the mirror in front of her "what happened?"
"I killed her." Rex said.
"WHAT!?" kursed yelled.
"Or at least that's what I tell myself, we were getting ready for the wedding. But we were short for the fee, so I went to borrow some money for a loan company, well I didn't read the fine print in their fucking contract that says, we'll come after your family if you don't make your payments on time." Rex Straightened and walked back around the bar. "Kursed I couldn't tell you if It stops hurting, cause I'm still dead inside."
X
Fox, also known as Isaac, parked his hover bike and walked into the hotel where he was staying at. The clerk was a young brown haired husky girl who always seemed to be at the desk when he left or returned to the hotel, she looked up from the desk when he walked in the door "good morning Isaac sir."
Isaac looker around "hmm, oh good morning Jessica," Isaac did a double take "mor-morning, Jessica it's not morning yet." Isaac looked down at his watch, it was morning.
"I'm sorry Isaac but you were gone for a very long time," Jessica said "it's almost time for breakfast." Isaac looked down at his watch again. 6:13 AM. Breakfast was served from 6:45 AM to 9:45 AM. Hmm, Isaac thought, I could hang around until breakfast, he looked back to Jessica at the counter, or I could have a breakfast date.
Isaac walked up to the counter, Jessica was crunching numbers when she saw him, and she set aside the papers "what can I do for you, Isaac?" Isaac leaned one elbow on the counter.
"Well since I'm not that tired and you don't seem to be very busy you could tell me what you think about grabbing a bite to eat with me this morning, say around eight." Jessica looked at him then back at the counter.
"We-well I guess I could slip away for an hour or so."
Isaac nodded "great, I'll see in two hours." Isaac left and walked up the stairs to his room he needed a shower and a change of clothes.
Isaac arrived at his room to find… mail. Pulling it out it was addressed to Isaac Martin. There was nothing that said who it was from. Sliding his card Isaac walked in to the small but cozy apartment. Walking in he set the envelope on the table and stripped off the T-shirt he had been wearing in the club, it smelled like smoke, sweat and alcohol. He felt sticky and dirty, wanted to wash off the blood, he couldn't see it but he always felt, always knew that it was there covering his hands, his face, his fur. It was there, red, warm and wet that seeped into his fur, down to his skin. His left his pants by the bathroom door and walked in. he turned on the hot water and let it run while he stood in front of the mirror. His eyes had this withdraw look, dead emerald eyes. He didn't see himself in the mirror as he was, he saw a ghost of himself writhing in agony, born from his own sins. Isaac stepped into the shower and let the hot water roll down his back, it felt good, reaching over he grabbed the bottle of AXE glacier waters. He lathered it all over his body letting it soak through the fur; it had been awhile almost three days since his last shower. After drying off, Isaac walked into the bed room. He pulled on a pair of blue jeans and turned on the television. The brownish female fox was reading the prompts "a gang style attack on millionaire Massa Nagada, left him and a majority of his body guards confirmed deceased in what seems to be a gang style execution. As authorities arrive on the scene they begin to see just how gruesome it is. We now go live with Frank Denounce at the scene, Frank."
The view switched to a boxer hound who was fidgeting with his tie a lot. "thank you Monica, I'm here at the mansion of Massa Nagada, who upon arrival was pronounced dead, he bled to death from a cut across his throat, all wounds are that of a blade. A suspect has not been identified as of yet, Back to you Monica."
The feed switched back to the female fox at the station. "alright thank you Frank, it seems we have a dark day, local store owner Anton Beck found dead just outside the night club "Crimson Reality" bystanders say that Anton emerged from the building only to stumble, fall to the ground and start convulsing, and foaming at the mouth. Paramedics say all signs point to a discrete and almost untraceable poison ingested through food or drink. Further details are being withheld until the family is notified."
Isaac gave a huff as he walked toward the closet the first thing that caught his eye was his old flight jacket. The color was faded and worn, the white dirty.
Fox sighed, reaching out he felt the material it was comforting to have something to remind him of better days, it was also an unending torment to look at "someday," Fox said "I'll take you take a tailor. Refitted and renewed, I'd like to go back just once."
Isaac saw his hand holding the Flight jacket he pulled away and looked at it like it was something he hadn't noticed until now. He pushed the jacket aside and pulled out a grey stone washed short sleeve shirt he pulled It on it was rather small to be honest, looking back in he found a leather bikers jacket and pulling it on he headed out the door and down the stairs.
X
Michael Savar paced back and forth in front of the living room window. Kursed had dealt with the problem but he had still insisted that Jessica come straight home after her shift at the hotel. It was nerve raking not knowing her whereabouts, and she had forgotten her cellphone. A roaring engine brought Michael to the window a black furred fox wearing aviator sunglasses and a Husky with a black helmet.
X
Isaac swerved through traffic as he sped toward the outskirts of the city. Jessica held tightly to his jacket as he tore through the streets. The landscape suddenly changed from concrete jungle to the suburbs. Fox and Jessica rocketed down the streets until she pointed to a two story house with a faded green paint job and a dark blue SUV parked out front. Fox pulled up to the curb in front of the house. Jessica hopped off and took off the helmet handing it back to Isaac "thank you, Isaac, It was fun."
Isaac held the helmet under his arm "good, I'm glad. It was nice to talk with someone; perhaps we could do it again sometime." Jessica smiled at him
"Jessica!" Isaac looked over toward the house as a grey wolf descended the steps from the front porch and walked briskly toward them.
Jessica turned as the old wolf came toward her "Hi daddy."
Isaac frowned "daddy? But you're…"
Jessica turned back to Isaac "he isn't actually my father, mom remarried and I was already four years old,but I just call him dad." When the wolf reached them he wrapped his arms around Jessica and held her "dad I'm ok."
The wolf regained his composure "I know, I'm sorry Jessica I just worry about you." The wolf straightened and brushed out the wrinkles from his suit "but still I ah," he looked over to the black furred fox on the hover bike "wish you would be considerate of who you let drive you around the city, not everybody is a good person sweetie."
Jessica was looked from Fox to her father "Isaac's a good person dad, why would you say that, he's been nothing but kind since I met him, why do you have to do that every time I bring someone home!" She ended with a stomp on the ground and walked briskly to the house.
The wolf looked over to Fox who was still on the bike "I'm sorry Mr."
"Martin, Isaac Martin, you must be Michael." Isaac reached out his hand; Michael took it and gave a quick shake.
"Like I said Mr. Martin, it's nothing against you, it's just this planet isn't that safe anymore, I worry about her. Her mother was so stubborn, she wouldn't have it when I told her we should leave Kew, and she..."
Isaac nodded "I understand sir."
"No you don't, how could you, what have you lost in your life?"
"I know it hurts, more than what people think." Michael looked up "that unbearable crushing weight that seems to hold you down every time you fall, until you remember why you can keep going. "Mr. Savar, I don't remember my mother, but I do remember my old man, he was all I had, and that day when his best friend came and he didn't, everything that had been was gone."