THE NEW GUY

"I can't believe it! He's the first out of the four! But what about the other two? They didn't take it too well. And this leads us to another problem; what about the fourth? He or she could be anywhere.

Ravenhedge School, Christchurch

Matt took his time walking into school. It was three days since his outbreak at Simon's house. Ever since then, his mind had been furiously working on how to make them believe him. He had come to the conclusion that his only option was to trust this new Whitecraft and find out what happens.

It was peculiar at Simon's house. When he was angry and frustrated, he felt an energy pulsing through his body. Like he controlled things beyond himself, and could bend nature to his will. This feeling hadn't returned since then.

Hey, Whitecraft, I don't know which version of you I'm talking to, but if you can here me, send me some reassurance please! No response. He sighed and continued walking.

A piece of paper drifted through the air on the wind and rested perfectly in Matt's hand. He looked up to see the blank sky, unchanged. The roofs had no-one on it and it couldn't have come from someone in front of him, there was no-one. Uncertainly, he unfolded the crinkled, ripped paper. It said five simple words:

Matthew Joshua Dathrin

Turn around

Frightened and nervous, he turned around to something unexpected. There was a bald boy, no older than thirteen. His skin was dark and flawless. He wore ragged, grey clothes that hung loosely to his body. His muscles bulged and he didn't move at all. All he did was stare, deeply into his eyes. As if probing his mind and figuring out secrets most sacred. His eyes wouldn't move off that unchanging face, his mind wouldn't work. Upon his forehead was an evil, malice looking black eye. It seemed to literally stare at him.

" Matt, over here!" he cracked out of that state to see Valora running, her smile glowing as if nothing happened those days before.

"How you doing? Sorry about what happened at Simon's. Oh, yea… You probably don't want to talk about it do you?" Matt shook his head silently. He gazed back at where the boy used to be. He was gone.

After putting their bags away and readying themselves for their first two periods, they sat down on the peeling painted seats.

"I'd tell you more, but you wouldn't believe me or give a damn about it." hissed Matt.

"Matt, don't act like this. Let's just forget it all and start new."

"Okay." He said dully.

That day carried on uneventful, he didn't bother talking to Whitecraft and just got on with his work. After two boring hours, the bell rung throughout the school and people emerged onto the field and playground. The sky was a shallow grey, unusual for this time of day. Matt met Valora and Simon at room seventeen; it was ten minutes before all of them were there.

Matt and Simon locked there eyes on each other, it felt awkward, remembering what happened before.

"Well," said Simon. "Is it just me, or does it feel colder than it said on the forecast?"

Matt jolted out of the awkward silence. "Yes, it does; much, much colder. I don't like it."

Matt, Valora and Simon walked slowly towards D-block on the west side of the school. Here is where the so called outcasts went to spend time. It was always quiet, and it was mostly shrouded in the shadows of trees and buildings. Over the years, the three had realised that D-block looked more like a fortress and a school. Balconies surrounded it and the classrooms were like walls of a castle.

"Simon, Valora," whispered Matt, determined not to break the peaceful silence. "Look over there. Look at that kid, I saw him this morning, just before you came Valora. Then I looked back and he vanished."

They turned their heads to see in the shadows, leaning against a pole under the veranda was the bald stranger. He was wearing the same tatted, ragged clothes and had the same, still expression.

"He's freaky, lets get out of here." croaked Valora. They ascended up the stairs to the balconies. As they went up, he yet again, flicked his eye back to the boy. The boy's grey eyes flashed like lightning and a deep voice rung through his head.

I am watching you Matthew Joshua Dathrin.

Instantly he looked away, terrified of what just happened. Next time he passed the place where the boy was, he was gone.

Matt, Simon and Valora proceeded out to the Acacia Ave gate. Yet again the bald boy stood in his ragged clothes in the bushes. His blank stare still piercing him like it did before. He had a feeling this new guy wasn't friendly; and it all connected back to the world of Whitecraft and Alaria. There was another creepy thing; they seemed to be the only ones able to see the bald boy.

"Hey, have you noticed that we seem to be the only ones able to see that boy? Everyone else seems to just walk past without giving him a glance." Valora pointed out. They watched a group of boys passing him; they looked right through him, as him he wasn't there and continued to laugh and talk. This was making them all nervous. Simon suddenly gripped him by the shoulder firmly.

"Matt, I'll tell you this much. Something is happening to this world, and it involves us three, I'm starting to believe you. I've been feeling it. This is not just normal weather; something is making this world change." He ran off, hoisting his pack. Matt was speechless. He looked back at the boy, he was gone.

They arrived home at four o'clock. After a quick packet of crackers he rang Simon.

"Hey, you want to come round today?"

"Ok," said Simon casually. "Meet me in the reserve by your house, okay?"

"Sure, oh and this might sound weird, but bring a stick or something to use as a weapon." Before Simon could respond, he hung up.

Reserve, Longspur Ave

Matt waited for Simon patiently. He himself had brought a wooden baseball bat. He knew Simon wouldn't believe him if he mentioned that the bald boy had something to do with Alaria. There was no sign of the bald boy yet. He had expected to see him following him.

Simon arrived wielding a long, polished oak stick. His wild clothes matched by his untamed hair. They were in what they called Hut Devroy; their third largest in the reserve.

"Matt, what's this about?"

"Well, you know that kid we saw at school today. Before you protest, I need to tell you some things." Simon began to speak but was quickly cut of by Matt. "That boy communicated with his mind to me. I don't know how, but he did. Another thing, when I arrived at school. A piece of paper perfectly landed in my hand saying turn around, and then I saw him. As you said, this world is changing and I believed that boy was going to be here."

Matt and Simon stood silent facing each other. The sun was descending to south-west and the atmosphere was chilling. A foreboding air settled on the reserve. A darkness was approaching, and both Matt and Simon could feel it.

"Simon there's something I have to show you." Said Matt remembering the energy he felt when he became angry at Simon's house.

"What is it?" asked Simon.

Matt pressed his finger to his lips, signalling Simon to be silent. Matt closed his eyes and spread his arms out. He was trying to summon the energy and power he felt over the air around him previously. Last time he gained it through great anger. This time he was attempting to summon it through peace and tranquillity. Simon leaned against a tree, patiently waiting for something to happen. He knew that interrupting would be something he would regret.

Matt's senses became sharper yet again, eyes like cats and ears like a hawk's. His arms tingled after many minutes of waiting for something to happen. Not willing to give up, he continued. Perseverance brought him through and a spectacular scene transpired.

The energy raced around his body, he felt lighter in the body, more agile and athletic. The wind began to grow stronger and change direction according to his will. He had little power over the wind at the moment only enough to change the wind's direction. He made leaves swirl around him, encasing him in a cocoon. His vision flashed into only shades of blue, zapping his body with a strange force. He felt light headed and weak, and at that, the power left him.

He collapsed to the ground, feeling exhausted and feeble compared to the rest of the world. The leaves floated peacefully to the ground around him, resting softly on his chest and the dense ground. He closed his eyes to rest for a moment. His special senses faded away from his body, leaving him weak and tired.

Slowly he pushed himself to his knees and pulled himself up to lean against a tree. He puffed and looked at Simon's eyes and expression. They were utterly stunned. His mouth hung open and he looked frozen in disbelief.

"How'd you do that?" he asked cautiously as if Matt was a stranger and hostile. "I definitely believe you now, but how'd you do it?" A rustle in the bushes disturbed the silence between them. They looked to see a dark grey rabbit bound out from the shrubbery. Its eyes were jet black, they almost looked cunning and evil. There was no pupil in each eye, it was just plain black.

"Well, I don't know, it all started when Whitecraft came to me in the dream. Then when I went to your house and got angry, I felt a sort of energy in me. Like I was invincible, and now I'm starting to learn how to control this energy." said Matt, his shoulders still heaving up and down from the lack of energy. "It makes me really tired when I try, but every time I do try, it costs me less energy."

Matt tried to stand up, but quickly collapsed to the ground. He did not have the strength to even stand at the moment. His gaze landed on the rabbit, still contently sitting there, unmoving. It wasn't until then, he noticed embedded within its grey fur was a mark. It was an eye, it was the eye, the same one he saw on the stranger at school. Oh no! He though desperately. If that boy was here, that could only mean trouble.

Mustering all his strength left, he tried to grasp his weapon, and it was just out of reach.

"Simon… the rabbit. Get away from it, it's the stranger we saw at school." Matt whispered weakly. Simon opened his mouth to protest. "No, Simon believe, just let's get away from here quickly." Simon picked up his weapon he brought. "Look at its forehead Simon! Look at it! That mark, the eye, it was on the stranger as well!"

Simon looked at the rabbit, and he stumbled backwards. The rabbit had begun to change, or morph more like. It all happened very swiftly, its short, stubby legs lengthened and the hair vanished from sight. The neck extended and the front limbs grew into arms. The long ears shrunk to human sized ears. The rabbit's face transformed into a bald human head. The body twisted, looking like it was tortured, changing into a boy's body. The skin expanded over the growing body as the face finally formed to see blood red eyes and slit-like nostrils. All of the hair had matted together to create ripped and torn grey clothes. The creature stood up in its new shape, flexing the hands and feet.

Matt stared in horror, and Simon was frozen in terror. He had his stick clenched firmly in his hand; it was white from holding it so hard. The creature had mild dark skin, looked like a boy and a black eye was engraved upon his head. The boy has been watching him wherever he went, and he didn't know it.

Matt scrambled away from him, sending leaves everywhere. He grabbed his bat and leaped up quickly beside Simon.

"What is that thing?" Simon whispered, fear could be heard in his voice. "Is this why you told me to bring a weapon? You knew he… or it would be here?"

"Know, of course I didn't. I had a suspicion it would follow me here. It speaks with its mind, not through its mouth." Matt said, his legs still shaking at what he had seen. Finally after a long silence of the boy just gazing at them, studying them and giving the feeling of it being able to see your thoughts, he mustered up the courage to speak. "Creature, who are you and w-why are you here." He stumbled through the sentence, still holding his bat in a threatening position. The creatures look flicked and focused on Matt, almost paralyzing him with fear.

I told you I was watching you Matthew Joshua Dathrin. I still am, as my master wishes to… meet with you. Its deep voice echoed through their heads and faded. This time Simon spoke.

"Who is your master and why does he have any interest with us?" The creature didn't reply. "Answer me!" Simon yelled in a commanding voice. The creature just looked at him as if he was an annoying fly buzzing round his ears.

The voice erupted into their heads once again. My master is the Swift Death, Scourge of this world, and The Black Mind. He alone is the ruler and heir to the Throne of Lords. The voice had the same bland tone through every word. The answer to your second question is not of my concern. All you need to know is that you will come with to meet him, it is my orders.

"Go with you? Now why on earth would we do that?" Matt snared at it. "You're a shape shifting creature with a master that we've never heard of and most likely wants to kill us!"

You will come with me, or I shall have to take you via force.

"There are two of us, one of you, we have weapons and you don't. The odds are slightly with us I think." Simon said, his eyes trapped challengingly on the creatures. "Now I'm telling you to leave us alone or we'll attack." He raised his weapon slightly.

"What do you think you're doing?" Matt hissed to Simon. "This thing can shape shift and speak telepathically. For all we know it could conjure fire or something! You could get us killed!"

Do not attempt to attack me; it will only make my master's anger grow. You will come willingly or not. My master commands it.

Simon lunged at it, swinging his stick like a mad man. "No, Simon!" yelled Matt, apprehension rising. The stick struck the creature and shattered into splinters. Like lightning, the creature spin kicked Simon into a tree, ten feet away. He heard a crunch and he saw Simon slump to the ground, blood dripping out of the new wound. He saw his chest rising and falling well, he was alive.

Its gaze fell back to Matt. I have demonstrated my strength, now come or you shall face the same fate.

"You can't defeat me." Matt growled, steadying himself for an attack. "I have a power that extends beyond the earth, but into the sky. Do not challenge me."

I have now been given the order to kill, especially you. The Alarians must not fulfil the prophecy.

Matt didn't have time to ponder on this "prophecy". The creature ran at him and went into a battle stance. Matt smashed the bat against it, knowing that it would be ineffective. It splintered into millions of shards, and the creature continued to attack. It made swipes at his head, but they narrowly missed as he threw himself out of the way.

Show me these powers of yours, Matthew Joshua Dathrin. It said as it landed a blow on his shoulder. Pain spread through his chest and he slammed on a tree. The creature whacked him on the nose, he heard a snap and new it was broken. It stomach ached like hell as he was picked up by the throat by it. He never thought his life would even come close to ending in a fight against a creature never seen before. The cold fingers began to squeeze tight, he couldn't breath. He struggled, but to no prevail. He felt life leaving him, his vision begun to fade.

He saw Simon getting up silently, almost as if a new strength had seized his body and forced him to fight back. He heard words being muttered by him, and saw Simon raising his arms, what was he doing?

Matt had seconds left to live, the noise of Simon screeching in rage and noise like thunder pierced his ears. A brown blur like a stone shot out of no-where and he felt a vibration going through the creatures arm. He heard it convulsing and its grip loosened as he saw the lights leave its eyes. The creature hit the ground with a dull, thump.

Matt fell to his knees gasping for air. Relief flooded through him as air rushed through him. He was trying to take in as much air as possible at one time. He didn't notice the pain of his broken nose and blood gushing from it in the panic. It was many minutes before it occurred to him what happened. How did Simon do that? Had he discovered a power like his? He looked over at Simon to see him collapsed on the ground, his eyes glazed but still breathing. He saw the creature dead, the grey rock embedded deep within its neck, a black substance oozing out. He saw the eye that used to be on its forehead had disintegrated to dust once it had been killed. Simon had somehow thrown that rock at it with enough force to kill it. That would have taken much strength. Simon had killed it, but how?