Chapter 2

Ex Communicated and a Free Wanderer

Aaron slowly opened his eyes and blinked as he got used to the light.

"He's awake," said the sheriff.

"Where am I? I… I remember…"

"Aaron, get up."

"Sheriff… um," Aaron peered at the sheriff's name tag. "Daniels. Sheriff Daniels, what's going on?"

"Town meeting." He unlocked the cell and pulled Aaron out before walking him to the town hall. The sheriff threw open the doors and firmly guided Aaron down the aisle. The seats were full of people from around town: Aaron's classmates, neighbors, and family. He noticed his brother sitting in the third row. He tried to wave, but realized his hands were handcuffed behind his back. Aaron stared at the floor until he was told to have a seat near the front of the room.

"We are here today because of this boy. A many of you already know, he has done a heinous act. He is now a Dark Artist, which is strictly forbidden in this town. And worst of all, you dragged your best friend into this all. Poor John… your mistake cost his life!" Aaron interrupted suddenly.

"I know that! It's my fault; I know what I did was wrong. I feel horrible about this. You don't even know how-"

"Silence! You will speak only when I say you can. As I was saying… you created a monster! Just look at his forehead and chest!" The judge undid Aaron's handcuffs, removed the boy's shirt, and forced him to stand up.

"He has been marked; these will stay with him forever." The entire room was filled with whispers as the people spoke amongst themselves.

"Now why did you do this, Aaron?" Aaron thought back to when he first found out his dog was dead. He had run into the forest, his eyes full of tears, and was stopped by a man who suggested the dark arts to him. The man had been short and skinny, but Aaron couldn't remember his face. The man had given Aaron the book full of spells. Once Aaron found the spell for resurrecting loved ones, he invited John over and began the rituals.

"I don't know," Aaron said. "I was in a state of shock, I guess. I mean, I just really wanted my dog back."

"Even at the cost of your best friend's life?"

"I didn't want that to happen it wasn't-"

"It wasn't what? Your fault? It wasn't your fault? John just happened to be at your house and you decided to do dark magic together? You didn't plan it? And I suppose John was the one with the book, too, huh? Did he offer to be your sacrifice? Or was it just your choice, Aaron?"

"No! It wasn't like that! We had a sacrifice, but they wouldn't take it!"

"LIAR!"

"I'm telling the truth!"

"Keep telling yourself that. And what about the other man? The one who you burned?"

"I didn't mean to… I… I lost control of myself." The judge turned to the crowd.

"Well, I, for one, do not think this type of behavior is acceptable. What do you think we should do?" The crowd was suddenly filled with the voices of the townspeople.

"I say we should kill him before he does anymore damage to anyone else!" a man shouted angrily.

"We can't kill him; he's just a child!"

"Hey, if we don't someone will. He can't get away with this." Everyone continued to argue until one man loudly voiced his opinion.

"I think we should let him live and make him suffer from the guilt of what he has done. That would be the most appropriate thing to do." The whole town agreed to this solution.

Aaron was released from the chair, and was told to go home and pack his things within the next hour. He grabbed his book and stormed out of the room. After he had gathered his belongings, he walked sullenly out of the town.

For the next two years Aaron lived by himself and kept improving his Dark Art abilities. He began wearing a bandana across his forehead to hide the insignia, and long clothes to hide the marks on his body. As he headed towards the next town, his life evolved more and more away from the old existence he knew. He didn't realize it then, but soon his skills were going to be put to the ultimate test.