Chapter One
"Aaron, are you sure we should be doing this? I mean, we could get into a lot of trouble."
"I've already lost my mom and dad to sickness, and I'm not losing my dog, too!"
"But you already lost him; he's dead."
"I know. That's, why we're gonna bring him back from the dead with the dark arts."
"Are you sure? I mean they're called the dark arts and they aren't allowed here. If you get caught you'll never be able to come back."
"Well, we won't get caught if you stop worrying and act natural."
The two young men carefully snuck into Aaron's cellar carrying a dusty old book. John blew the dust off the cover and lifted the cover.
"Okay, it says here if I use the dark arts then I won't be able to use any other arts."
"Are you sure you wanna do this?"
"Hell yeah, I do. Now it says here that I need to be initiated into the dark arts by using its powers. That's the one were gonna use- bringing back the dead." Aaron read on silently and furrowed his brow as he saw what was to come. He set his jaw and a determined look came over his face.
"I'll draw the glyph. You go get some frogs; we're gonna use them as sacrifices."
"Okay," John agreed shakily. He stepped outside to find some frogs. As he walked back towards the house he heard a twig snap. He spun around and peered out into the darkness. He took a deep, trembling breath and stepped into the house.
"Here are the frogs, Aaron."
"Thanks. Now we have everything we need. I'll set it all up." He put the cage full of frogs in one corner and then placed the dead dog's body right in the center of the glyph.
Aaron closed the book and then his eyes. He clasped his hands together and started to chant in an eerie tone. The farther into the incantation he got, the stronger his voice grew. Involved in the spell, he didn't notice the tall man staring through the window. John detected the man's presence and quickly spotted him.
"Um, Aaron? Aaron! Someone else is-" John was interrupted as a thick black smoke came from the glyph.
"What do you wish to do?" droned a mysterious voice.
Aaron, with his eyes still closed, replied, "I want to bring back my dog from the dead."
"I will need a sufficient sacrifice."
"Over there. I have frogs that will serve as a sacrifice."
"Frogs… frogs will not work, but that boy will suffice."
"No!" Aaron exclaimed. "I brought you the sacrifice, and it is the frogs. Leave him alone!"
"You called me forth, you awoke my deep slumber, and now you dare try to control me?" the voice bellowed. "I do as I please!"
The smoke drifted over to John and began to envelop him.
"Aaron, help me!"
"Leave him alone!" Aaron opened his eyes, grabbed a knife, and tried to stab the spirit, but it was in vain. The smoke lifted John and held him where Aaron's knife would fall to protect itself.
"Help me… I'm feeling… very… weak," John gasped. Aaron hesitated and then ran straight towards the smoke-like monster. He, too, was lifted. He cried out, and then was hurled against a wall before collapsing onto the floor. The knife fell to the floor, and Aaron reached for it, but it was too late. John had disappeared, and all that Aaron could see left of him was a pile of ashes smoldering on the concrete floor.
"The sacrifice has been completed. I will bring your dog back."
"No!"
"No?"
Tears ran down Aaron's cheeks. "I told you; the frogs were the sacrifice- not my friend! Now bring him back or you will pay!" he yelled.
The voice chuckled coldly.
"And just how will you manage that?" Aaron grimaced as he rose to his feet. He wiped away a tear and curled his fingers into tight fists.
"You ungrateful little bitch! Fine, take him and your dog!" the monster roared, before vanishing. Black marks appeared on Aaron's body and burned him all over. He screamed out in pain.
"Now everyone will know you're a dark artist!" the voice called out gleefully. Aaron pulled himself up to see the face of his best friend John and his dog. A shocked look came upon his face. His friend, the dog, and the frogs had all become one being, and were moving towards him.
"What are you? You're an animal! An inhuman beast!"
"You made me…"
"All of this is your fault, Aaron."
"I'm sorry!" Aaron sobbed. "I'm so sorry."
"Sorry- that's all you can say?"
"I didn't mean for this to happen. I- I just wanted my dog back!"
"You made this happen to me. It's all you're fault!"
"I can fix it, I swear."
"I can't trust you anymore."
"I said I'm sorry! I'll fix you up. I promise I'll make everything better."
"Look at me. I don't belong here. I deserve to die right here and now. Kill me, Aaron!"
"No! I won't!"
"Kill me or I'll have to kill you."
"I can't… I just can't." Aaron jumped at the sound of a gun shot. His eyes widened, and he looked up to see a bullet hole straight through the creature's forehead. He turned around and saw a man with a smoking gun in his hand. "Why??!! Why did you have to kill him? I could've saved him!"
"You heard him. He wanted to die."
"You… you…" Aaron walked slowly towards him. The man panicked and shot at Aaron, but the bullets incinerated before they could hit him. Aaron glared at the man and continued to march on. The man froze with fear. Aaron put his hand on the man's forehead and a black fire engulfed the man's body. The more the man screamed the higher the flames leapt.
Aaron laughed manically, and didn't notice the cluster of people surrounding him until he heard his name.
"Aaron, what the hell are you doing?" Aaron was roused from his trance, and gazed around the room at the people who had gathered there before he dropped to the floor.