CHAPTER ONE

As the wind played gently across his face and the dark enveloped him, Stanton allowed himself to whip through the shadows to that place where he was in between crossing. That place where there were no thoughts and no problems. There was nothing good and nothing bad. It was just being there and being alive. That feeling only lasted for a second, and yet it seemed a mortal lifetime. That is it felt that way until he opened his eyes and found himself in yet another stinking alleyway. A place where there were dumpsters and rats and at least three three criminals hiding much less effectively in the shadows than Stanton.

And now he had his thoughts again. His own mind was his worst prison. Being what he was, he only lived with the what there was and the worse there could be. There was no hope. He stepped out into the open and imagined the startled looks on the faces of the nameless criminals that were lurking. This would have brought a small smile to his face if he was capable of the feeling that makes a person want to smile. He wasn't.

He watched as the men went from shadow to shadow 'hiding themselves from view'. He stood there patiently, waiting for them to decide to show themselves. They were a bunch of clumsy oafs, a blind man could have seen that. The three partners in crime 'stealthily' (clumsily) jumped out of their 'hiding places'. Stanton left his face blank and looked from one man to the other. He looked at, oh let's call him Oaf #1, and started to probe his mind. What he was looking for wouldn't take long. He pushed past surface thoughts of wonder at why a man would be stupid enough to Just stand around in an alleyway, and where he had come from in the first place and found a very basic thought. He found a name.

He did this with Oafs #2 and 3 as well. And then he spoke.

"Fingers, Flint, Gary. I've been waiting." He caught the look of surprise on their faces and had a moment of pleasure. But it was only a moment. Because of what he was, he knew there would never be another moment of pleasure. Because of what he was he didn't hope. He couldn't hope. He only wondered briefly how they had earned their names.

He didn't bother with speech anymore. They wouldn't believe speech. He took a bit of his power and held them there, while he spoke to them with his mind. 'I am the servant of the Atrox. Feel priveleged, for you have been chosen. The Atrox has favored you and will give you your hearts greatest desires. '

Stanton looked into their minds and found their greatest desires. Fingers only dream was to become the leader of their band of theives. He sent him an image of himself, ruling all criminals everywhere, and being followed as a great leader, and getting ten percent cut of every theft made.

Flint's desire was to play the harp, strange though it may seem. Stanton sent him an image of himself making music so beautiful that it tamed animals and held women captive.

He found that Gary's wish was to leave the business and settle down. To have a home and a family. Stanton sent him an image of himself with kids running around a house with a white picket fence and a wife who loved him more than anything.

They were ready to lift the weight of the world for him.

'My friends, do you see what the Atrox is willing to do for you. That is how much he cares about you his only wish is for you to care for him in return. All he asks of you is to look into my eyes. When you do you will see. You will see how you can serve. '

Instantly all three heads turned in his direction. Each of their eyes met his. He began to hungrily take all of their hope, knowing that it would never satisfy him. They were instantly connected to the Atrox, and determined to do whatever it took to keep the Atrox happy. That was how it always worked.

'My friends, you have pleased the Atrox. Your soul mission is now to find others and make them like you. Your mission is to give them what I have given you. It is to the Atrox you are pledged. You may never stray. And I am your leader among humans. I am the highest authority next to the Atrox. You will report to my lessers. I am the Prince of Darkness. Begin your new lives.'

And even as he told them this he knew they wouldn't, for this was not a way to live. This was a way to die.