Ch.3: Rage, The Monster Within
Brooklyn yawned as he woke up from his stone slumber. The howling sound of the wind from outside whistled through the sewers signaling the storm's arrival. Going outside in this kind of weather almost seemed worse than any attack Demona could throw. Water leaked down from above, plunking a few drops on Brooklyn's head.
"Might as well wait until this thing blows over...," said Brooklyn.
Brooklyn's words cut off when he saw his reflection in the old plates of metal of the sewer pipe. He didn't even look like a gargoyle anymore. Heck, if anyone read fairy-tales people might mistake him for being a dragon instead of his true nature.
"You act as my exsistence is a bad thing,"
Brooklyn looked left and right for the source of the voice that had just spoken, but no one was there. Thinking it was simply his imagination playing tricks on him Brooklyn went walking until the storm decided to pass. The sound of his footsteps echoed through the tunnel as he walked. Then the voice sounded again.
"I've been your prisoner for to long Brooklyn...now I shall take what is mine,"
"Who are you?" asked Brooklyn staring into the dark abyass of the sewers waiting for whoever was speaking to step out. The voice laughed at Brooklyn's pitiful attempts.
"Look into the mirror Brooklyn. For I am the rage you kept buried deep inside you for years. Now I have been set free. And soon I will have taken back everything you have lost...or are going to lose soon enough,"
Brooklyn shivered at the eerie-ness surrounding the voice and nearly jumped as a wave of thunder rolled past. Goliath and the others were probally worried about him right now. There was no time to get to the Clock Tower last night before this teacherous storm came.
Although, now that he thought about it, even if he did make it back to the Clock Tower before sunrise would his clan recgonize him? He shook his head answering his own question for him. No, not even Goliath would recgonize him as part of the same clan. Demona's dart had performed one Brooklyn's greastest fears, isolation.
"Demona" Brooklyn growled into the dark shadows of the sewers "I vow to my last breath that I will hunt you down and make you pay for what you've done to me!"
That's when 'Rage' seized control over his mind. He was no longer the Brooklyn anyone would know, he was Rage, a gargoyle full of pure hatred for anything that surrounded him with the power to back it up. Bashing his way out of the sewers Rage pumped his majestic dark wings and soared off into the raging storm.
Lightning split the sky, thunder rolled, rain cascaded down like bullets striking cold, wet tears on Rage's skin. Eyes glowing white Rage glided into the city of Manhatten screaming out an inhuman yell that although drowned by the storm could still be heard within a two mile raduis.
Some people hadn't made it to their homes yet and were walking through storm to make up for lost time. Little did they know that right now a deadly animal what most people would refer to as a monster was hovering through the skies with hunger glowing in it's eyes.
A old man turned out to be this monster's first victim. The poor, old fool had just left a grocery store with a bag of groceries in one hand and an open umbrella in the other in order to protect himself from the rain. An inhuman howl suddenly cut through the raging wind of the storm.
Scared by the sudden feeling that he wasn't alone the old man turned his gaze up towards the sky, but nothing was there. Taking a deep breath of shaky relief he continued on his way when all of a sudden he felt his shoulders being gripped with what felt like steel sharp talons.
Looking up a scream died in the old man's throat when he saw that a monster is what grabbed him. Not only that but this monster had him several yards above the ground. The creature's eyes were glowing white with rage, it's mouth open revealing it's gleaming teeth. The old man could feel blood start to seep from his shoulders as the creature dug it's claws in deeper.
Finally the creature snapped it's teeth into the old man ripping and tearing at it's helpless victim's flesh. A loud scream escaped from the man's mouth then, but where he was now, no one could hear him.
---------------------
Back at the Clock Tower Goliath and the others watched as the storm started to relent in it's attack. It was nearing the time to search for Brooklyn and two minutes later the clan were in their positions to take off. That is until Elisa Maza ran in.
Seeing the pale look on Elisa's face Goliath asked "Elisa, what's wrong?"
"There's just been a murder!" said Elisa "I need you guys on patrol tonight to see who this 'Rage' guy is,"
"Wait a minute" said Broadway "how do you know who the murderer is?"
Elisa reached into her pocket and pulled out a photo of the crime scene. Almost every gargoyle the room backed up as soon as they saw what was on the photo. There layed the murder victim his flesh peeled away with blood leaking all around him. On the wall behind the murder victim, written in his own blood was the word 'Rage'.
"Oh man," said Broadway.
"Who could have done something like that?" said Lexington.
"That's what I want you guys to find out" said Elisa putting the picture away "can you track down this Rage for me?"
"We shall try" said Goliath then looked at his clan "with Brooklyn gone we have an uneven number for patrol. Broadway and Angela will stay with Hudson and Bronx. Me and Lexington we'll look for this killer alone,"
"Good luck," said Angela.
With a thrust of their wings Lexington and Goliath soared off into the night.
----------------
As soon as Goliath and Lexington left the others alone in the Clock Tower something that had been sheiled in the shadows finally decided to move in. Bronx growled as soon he smelled an intruder in his home. Hearing Bronx's unwelcome call Hudson turned his eyes over to the entrance of the Clock Tower.
"Greetings Hudson," said the voice of the creature standing in the shadow of the doorway.
"Brooklyn?" said Hudson "is that you lad?"
"Close" said the figure finally stepping into the light so he could be seen "but not quite,"
Hudson's eyes widened when he saw the monster that had stepped out of the shadows. It was Brooklyn, but not at all the same. The red, beaked gargoyle had changed into a horrible, montrous form that would classify him as almost being a demon.
Bronx imedatelly attacked, but Brooklyn slashed his claws at Bronx making the gar-beast land on the floor unconious. Seeing that Brooklyn was no longer under his own control Hudson drew out his sword and prepared to defend himself.
"You're not Brooklyn" said Hudson "the lad wouldn't ever think about treating Bronx like that,"
"Brooklyn was weak" said Rage "and I, Rage, will soon be strong enough to take over his life permantley,"
"So you're the one that murdered that old man tonight?" said Hudson.
"Yes" said Rage licking his lips "he was delicous. Just as I am sure you are going to be,"
A ravage fight consumed with claws againist steel. In the library Broadway and Angela were sharing one of their favorite past-times when all the commotion from the fight reached their super-senstive ears. When finally reaching the source of the noise both gargoyles gasped.
There, standing over Hudson who had many bloody marks cut into his body, was a creature that looked neither like a gargoyle or a dragon. The creature's eyes were glowing white as it raised it's claws to strike another blow againist the fallen warrior.
Broadway instantly tackled the intruder and a savage clash ensued. Although Broadway was easyily defeated Angela stepped up into the fight and started to help Broadway battle the beast. Seeing that the tables had turned Rage flapped out his wings and soared away into the night.
Fighting the feeling to glide after their attacker Broadway went to help Angela see to Bronx and Hudson. Hudson groaned as he sat up looking over his scrapes and cuts. His gaze shifted over to Bronx seeing that the brave gar-beast was unconious but not seriously hurt.
"What was that thing?" asked Angela.
"His name is Rage" said Hudson forcing himself to stand "but I'm afriad that's only half of what's happened to me,"
"What do you mean?" asked Broadway.
"I found out where Brooklyn was" said Hudson "when Goliath and Lexington return from their search I don't think they'll like the news I have to give,"