Ch.8: Rage Reborn

As soon as Goliath's clan arrived back at the Clock tower along with Elisa all eyes almost turned simontaneously to Lexington. The small green gargoyle knew that he had a lot of questions to answer for, so might as well explian. Not surprisingly it was Goliath who asked the first question.

"Why did we leave?" he asked.

"Because.." said Lexington "I knew that tower was about to collaspe,"

"How?" asked Broadway.

"Because Brooklyn asked me to it," said Lexington.

(Flash Back)

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Lexington's POV

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I never thought this day would come Brooklyn had joined forces with Demona..again. Only this time it wasn't his fault. Because of that dumb silver dart the Brooklyn I knew while growing up was no more. Now he was this murderous thug called Rage, and right now I was his victim.

There was no telling what his dark personality planned to do to me, and I wasn't planning to find out. Turning away from the city I headed striaght for the park hoping to lose him through the trees. No such luck, he was still on my tail.

Before I could even think of another chance to bolt strong hands grabbed my shoulders and I was being pushed towards the ground. I felt myself hit the ground full force and the strong grip of the claws pull away for just a flash of a second.

Shakingly I tried to stand up but was pushed againist the wide trunk of a tree before I halfway off my knees. Brooklyn's eyes were glowing white and I guessed that the dark personality was in control, but then...

"Destroy me...,"

I looked up in confusion to make sure what I heard was true.

"There's no...other way" said the Brooklyn side of Rage "destroy...ME!!"

The hands pinning me to the tree instantly went to cover Brooklyn's head. It almost seemed like he having a serious headache. I didn't stay around to see if either the Brooklyn or Rage personalities had won that battle inside my friend's mind.

But out of respect for my friend's wish I gathered as much explosive I could find and blew the tower in hope's that Rage was finally gone.

(End Flash Back)

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While Lexington was busy explianing this to Goliath and the others however some pedestrians who dared to walk the lonely streets at night had stopped to stare at the remians of the ruined stone tower. Sirens could be heard as the police arrived pushing back the small crowd so they could see the damage for themselves.

For just a moment everything stood still as the cops slowly closed in on the pile of rubble. Suddenly a rock from the top of the pile shifted and rolled down the rough hill to one of the officers feet. Turning on his flashlight that one officer approached the pile of pebbles. He was about to consider that a rat had probably made the stone fall but then an arm burst out of the pile and grabbed him by the shirt.

A deep, montrous growl came from beneath the pebbles and soon whatever was buried underneath that pile at rock burst to the surface showering many upon thousands of people with stones. As soon as the unexpected hail storm had passed everyone, including the cops gasped.

There completely shuttered in darkness was a monster like noone on Earth had ever seen, least of all Manhatten. The cop who lay helpless at the creature's mercy choked back a scream when the monster's cold, white eyes glared at him.

Guns were drawn from the other officers belts all aimed at the beast that now held one of their own. The creature's eyes narrowed and flung the young cop away from him towards the other officers. Distracted by this unexpected move the creature disappeared into the shadows, but it didn't stay that way for long.

Before anyone could breathe a sigh of relief or even sense the fear crawling up their spines a barrage of claws and teeth had them all screaming in terror. Bullets were fired but all managed to miss their target for the creature was moving to fast to see.

Then as soon as clash had begun it was all over. Bodies lay screwn across the ground seeping blood into the asphalt of the street. Brooklyn/Rage looked at the sight as if it were a mere nothing but lives lost to save his ever-lasting appetite for flesh.

"All those people" thought the Brooklyn side of Rage "killed because of me,"

"Yes" hissed Rage "human lives are worthless just like Goliath's clan. Our purpose is to destroy all who stand in our way, to rule the world as gods,"

"No" said Brooklyn "it isn't right. That may be what you think life should be but I don't,"

"But I am you" said Rage "every memory, every thought, everything you've ever felt or done I've been there tainting the dark edges of your mind. Demona's spell only released from the chains that had kept me imprisioned there, giving me the chance to take complete control. I took her offer,"

"She was insane to release" said Brooklyn "just as I was for creating you in the first place,"

"Creating me, ha!" said Rage "you couldn't create a cold. I ruled this body before you took over, but by some bizarre twist in fate your personality ruled out over mine. For many years I tainted your thoughts with whispered remarks, reminding, tempting you to a point where I could set free again. Demona's spell has freed me from my chains and now my reign of terror begins,"

"I won't let you do this," said Brooklyn charging at Rage, but was stopped by chains that suddenly grabbed onto his arms and legs forcing him to remain in place.

"Welcome to my world," hissed Rage.

Rage now had complete control over Brooklyn's body now that Brooklyn's good side was trapped, and just like had said to Brooklyn, his reign of terror has only just begun.

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As Rage flew off into the night another form erupted from the pile of stones, her eyes glowing red with fury. The red glow in her eyes dimmed however when she saw more of what surrounded her. Blood lay spilled along the ground and fourteen people lay dead.

For the first time in all her life Demona felt pity for the human race. She was the one who had released Brooklyn's dark side and shown it to the world, and now that part of him was completely out of control. There was no telling who he would destroy next.

Looking up with tear-filled eyes at the darkened sky she said "What have I done?"

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Another day had come and gone and Goliath and his clan were nervous for what the future might hold if Brooklyn were to remain a monster forever. Elisa had called in that there had been more murders which meant that the tower's collaspe had been unsucessful in killing Goliath's second in command.

Everyone just sat waiting for news...any news, that concerned Brooklyn. What they got instead was visitor. Bronx's growl alerted them that night that they had some unexpected company at their front door. However when they saw who their visitor was nothing could explian the look of shock on their faces.

"Demona," said Goliath with a mix of surprise tinged with anger.

"I didn't come here to fight" said Demona "Rage has to be stopped,"

"Why should we trust you?" asked Broadway.

"Because the murders have gotten out of hand and Brooklyn has broke loose from my control" said Demona " I suspect that his dark half is winning the battle and has nearly taken full control of Brooklyn's body. Unless you want to witness more blood spill across the streets, you'll help me find a cure,"

Noone could come up with any agruement as all eyes turned to Goliath to hear what their leader had to say. Sighing Goliath said "What do we do?"

Minutes later Demona, plus Goliath's clan landed at Xanatos's home. Again the couple was found busy playing chess except this time on Fox's side were carved figures of Goliath's clan and Demona, while all Xanatos had was a single carved figure of Brooklyn. The odds seemed hugely in Fox's favor, but even in chess even the side with the largest numbers can lose.

Seeing Goliath Xanatos smiled and said "Welcome back, and what I do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"

"Brooklyn is getting worse" said Goliath "we need to speak with Puck,"

"He's in Alex's room" said Xanatos "I'll ring for him to come here,"

Moments later Puck/Owen arrived. Looking at the little aduience gathered before him Owen guessed to what their reason for being here was even before Xanatos said "Our friend Brooklyn seems to be losing his war againist Rage. Is there anyway to cancel that silver dart's spell?"

"Like I said before" explianed Owen "the silver dart hasn't been used in spells for centuries. Brooklyn's will has prevented Rage from taking full control over his mind, but his body has apparently lost that ability. Which means that if Rage is able to exist any longer the Brooklyn we know will be gone forever,"

"Then how do we stop the spell?" asked Angela.

"The spell might be in the Grimorum or with Oberon, but I have no idea which," said Owen.

"We'll start with the Grimorum then," said Demona.

With that the gargoyles left for the library at the other side of the castle in order to retrieve the ancient book of spells. Once the Xanatos family was alone again Xanatos again looked at Owen sensing that he did not tell the gargoyles something.

Noticing the look Puck sighed and said "Time is short. In two nights Rage will have complete control over Brooklyn's will, body, and mind. It doesn't matter how hard he's fighting now,"