THE KROSS CULT
He could see their eyes fixated on the ancient stone carving. He could see the questions in their minds but were too afraid to ask. Might he pass this off as another of his old relics from the Higher Plain. "Do you know the legend?" he asked. Obvious he was talking about just that. "No." Yubel said. "Perhaps now would be a good time to tell you." Shinato said. "This isn't going to be some fairy tale is it Shinato?" Astar said. "No this is far more than some falsely told tale."
"That creature you see is the same that will cleanse the earth. That creature is part of the "greater good." Shinato said. "That thing? Its only a statue." Astar said. "So it appears. For every person you boys collect from," Never a question of how he put his words. "Their soul energy is given to the creature. When enough soul energy is collected the creature will awaken, rising from the deepest darkest pit in the Higher Plain. So the legend tells." "What happens when the creature is woke?" Jesse asked. "It will rid the earth of its problems so I can make a new world."
In other words Shinato was playing god. He believed he was a god. Living for five hundred years he had seen too much destruction. Even though what he thought was doing good at the same time it carried ill intent.
As more time went by they became more comfortable with their tasks. They lived these rules. They let no one stand in their way. Astar could generally be found hanging around Shinato's Church. Dark sunglasses always concealing his eyes. His blonde hair spilling over either side of his face. Arms folded. Leaning against a row of seats. This particular day he had a cigarette hanging from the side of his mouth.
Yubel snatched Astar's smoke. "That's a bad habit to pick up Astar." "Lay off would you. Smoking isn't forbidden. Besides I never lit it." He said in his defense. "Maybe it should be a rule." Yubel said. Astar stuck out his tongue. "How many did you get today?" "Only five. I happened to be around when more money was being wasted. They could have used that to fix the road." Yubel answered. "Now it can." Astar said.
Jesse entered the church holding a freshly printed news paper. It still smelled of the press. "I think they're onto us." "I can only imagine." Astar wasn't amused. "Shush Astar let the kid talk." Yubel said. "There is an article about the back ally murders. They don't know who's doing it but they are saying security will be tightened around the higher-ups." Jesse said. Astar grabbed the paper. "Next time we'll try harder then maybe we'll make the front cover." "This isn't a game. We need to stay in the shadows otherwise we will get caught. I don't think master Shinato would be too proud then" Yubel said. "Fine. Fine. We'll lay low for a little while." Astar said.
One paper started a buzz all over the city spreading slowly like a virus. Sure people were aware of the murders, they were random and not many at one time. At least not in one place. With the increasing number people were more likely to put their guard up.
