Chapter 1: Freedom
"Come on Kess, get up. You're out of here," came the voice of the DWMA's only deceased professor, Sid Barett, the zombie. Keys clinked in his hand as he unlocked the door to one of the cells in the school's basement. Stepping inside he could see the prisoner sitting in the corner. He was a young man of about 30 years old or so. His hair was reddish brown, quite long and shaggy. He had gray eyes that shone with intelligence and mischief as he looked up at the zombie.
"So you finally got sick of lookin' at this face?" Rael Kess joked. His voice was loud and characterized by a thick New Jersey accent.
Sid chuckled and shook his head. That kid was crazy. He'd always been amazed that even after being locked up alone down there for five years Rael was still cheerful and joking. "It wasn't my decision. I was just told to come down and let you out." As he spoke Barett handed the prisoner a pile of clothes. "This was what you were wearing when they captured you. You get them back now."
"Bet they'll still fit me even," the young man laughed. "I sure as hell didn't gain any weight in here." He thought for a moment before adding, "Probably didn't really lose any either. You guys treat your prisoners pretty decent." Rael took the clothes from Sid and began slipping out of the things he'd been given by the school and into his old things. "Sure feels good to get back into my own stuff again," he said as he buttoned a pair of gray jeans and put on a red shirt.
"Now look," Sid said, his voice serious, "there are some rules you're going to have to follow."
"What? You mean this ain't a 'get out of jail free card?'" Rael protested as he slipped on a navy blue jacket and a gray paper-boy cap. "How can there be rules to being released?"
"This is parole, Kess. It's not exactly the same thing. Now listen up and try to pay attention. I'm not in the habit of repeating myself."
"Huh? Say what?" Rael laughed at his own lame attempt at humor.
Sid only shook his head and continued. "First rule: you cannot leave Death City. Number two: you must check in with me each week. We'll discuss your situation and if necessary I'll make recommendations for changes to Lord Death."
"You take my case all the way to the big man himself? You must think I'm a big time crook, a real threat." The man in the cap smiled at the thought. He liked people to think he was tough and deadly.
The zombie groaned and continued with what he was saying. "You'll be expected to get a job and become a productive member of society. If you cannot find one on your own someone from the school will assist you. Rule number four…"
Rael didn't hear the rest of Sid's lecture. His mind had begun to wander. His thoughts became focused on the subject that had been foremost in his mind recently, his brother. Where was he now? Was he even alive after the battle for Baba Yaga Castle in which they'd both fought? Rael had never encountered him or heard of him being a prisoner at DWMA. He was pretty sure that in five years he would have heard about his brother. He was pretty unforgettable and really good at getting himself noticed. No, he had to be dead or had somehow managed to escape that day.
As Sid droned on, Rael's mind fixated on the idea he'd been toying with for months now. Everyone he'd ever cared for was dead. He was alone in the world unless his older brother was still out there somewhere. The truth was that they'd never gotten along. In fact Rael hadn't even seen him since he was ten years old. His older brother wasn't really the first person that he would have chosen to associate with, but he had no one else.
If Rael was honest with himself, which he seldom was, he was downright afraid of being alone. He'd been that way once and it had led to the biggest mistake of his life. He didn't want to be that vulnerable again. No, if his brother was out there then Rael had to find him.
"I'm sure he's alone too. He probably needs me," Kess told himself. "Wouldn't want him to get too lonesome." Over the years he'd become a master at fooling himself into believing his own tough macho lies, but try as he might he just couldn't convince himself of this one. Who was he kidding? His brother had never needed anyone, but then again, it wasn't about his brother. It was about his own curiosity. He wanted to see what the other man was like now. Had he changed? Though what Rael cared about most was that fact that his brother was all he had and Kess would risk everything to keep from being alone and unloved for the rest of his life. Yes, there was nothing else to do but to find him.
"Kess! I said 'those are the rules. Do you understand?' Are you even listening?" Sid snapped.
"Oh, uh yeah," Rael said quickly with a nod.
"Good. Now come with me and we'll get you out of here."
Note: Rael's name is pronounced "Ray-el" or basically if you talk fast like he does it just becomes "Rail" like the things trains run on. It's a name my friend, .com came up with for me. It could also be a derivative of the name Gayle or Gael, I suppose.