AN: Ok, this chapter took a little longer than I wanted but at least it's done. I'm not done with the first arc yet but I plan to have it wrapped up in approximately three to four chapters.
Alienvspredator5- Glad to know I still am able to write interesting stuph. There is a fine line between taking my time and just being lazy and I must say I've been doing my fair share of hopping back and forth over that line. Hope you enjoy teh newest installment and continue to in later chapters.
Whisper dark rose- Ah well, tis a shame your computer conspires against you so. May I suggest taking a boot to its face, always served to put mine back into place. As for the challenge I'll have to put my money on Aqualad. Or whatever his name is, I could swear that was it though but memory has failed me before. Now I have a challenge for you, read the fic and upon the last line a question is asked. If you would, try to answer it.
Wingzero6464- Another reviewer, surely the gods smile upon me today. I'm always glad to hear feedback from readers and I must say your review was quite the pleasant surprise. Jake, though not my first OC was definitely the one I've invested the most time and thought into. I'm glad to hear it wasn't a waste. Please feel free to review again and as always, enjoy the show.
Jake silently followed this Arella, eyes and ears on high alert for any changes in the world around them. But while he was scanning his eyes over everything she seemed perfectly at peace. Not even the distant howl, that of a predator catching his prey, could shake her calm demeanor. She just kept on going as if were nothing more than a stroll through the park.
This more than anything worked its way under his skin. That a world so hostile could seem like home to someone so familiar. His mind reeled for answers but drew up blank every time. Questions left unanswered only served to breed more questions. But the one focal point they all centered around was perhaps the hardest to answer with the easiest explanation. How did she know who he was?
His thoughts were abruptly halted when Arella suddenly stopped and ducked down. She quickly pressed her back to the wall, attempting to hide from whatever it was she saw. He dropped down right behind her and inched his way up to see what had startled her. "What is it?" He whispered.
She didn't respond verbally but jerked her thumb backward over the side of the trench. He slowly peered over the edge, barely enough for his eyes to clear the muddy wall. Over the war torn hillside was another trench carved into the Earth and more importantly was a person running from the very same creatures that had earlier tried to end his life. They darted around corners, ducking and weaving through claws and blades alike.
The person appeared to be a male of a fairly large build. For a moment Jake wondered if that was how Cyborg used to look like before his accident. But from what he could make out this person had a dark grey skin tone and black hair that was in long need of a hair cut in Jake's opinion. And as he watched the unknown person dodging around corners, it hit Jake that that's all they were doing. Instead of helping as she did him, they were sitting by watching him die.
His eyes left the oversized ninja in search of a weapon. As luck would have it he didn't need to look far. There propped up against a wall beside him was a hopefully loaded Lee Enfield bolt action rifle.
He snatched up the rifle and cycled the bolt just enough to confirm it was indeed loaded. After he checked he leaped up over the side of the trench and shouldered the rifle. He dropped into a crouch and thumbed the safety off then squeezed the trigger.
A deafening crack shattered the silence and in the other trench one of the creature's head snapped to the side as it crumpled to the ground. Jake cycled the bolt as fast as he could and put another round down range. Another gunshot pierced the calm and another cloaked monster bit dirt as it drew its final breath. Jake locked another round into the chamber as the remaining three turned to the new threat.
Back in the trench Arella felt her lips twitch upwards in a half smile. "Looks like he may be good enough after all" she thought. "Now lets see how he handles himself in a fight."
As the bolt clicked shut Jake put another round downrange, this time however the creatures saw it coming and ducked out of the way leaving the round to impact the hillside behind them. Then as Jake loaded another bullet, they charged. With all the speed the others possessed they practically glided over the battlefield.
Jake didn't back down, but lined up the next shot and just before he was to be impaled he squeezed the trigger. One stopped dead in its tracks howling in pain and clutching a bloodied stub that used to be its "hand." The. 303 round had went wide but still managed to hit its wrist and remove its hand.
The other, still a blur of black, was on Jake in a matter of seconds. It swung its claw in a wide arc aimed for Jake's neck. He barely had time to duck before it past overhead but as it did another claw was traveling upwards to intercept him.
His life was saved by the gun he still clutched in his hands but the sheer force of the impact threw him backwards over the trench that Arella still watched from. He landed with a grunt of pain on his back but for all the pain that landing caused he couldn't get the break he was hoping for.
A shadow sailed over head and his eyes widened as he saw what was casting said shadow. As quickly as he could he rolled out of the way and just barely cleared its talons as they stabbed into the dirt. Without giving it time to recover he kicked at it and was rewarded with several snaps and a pained grunt from the creature. It freed the claw closest to Jake and attempted to stab him once more, Jake however had different plans. Once again he rolled on the ground away from the blade and as it was once again lodged in the dirt he struck out with his foot again and kicked the appendage.
The beast howled as the ones before it had and pulled its claw free. The sight of the talon dangling limp as if strung up by a rope caused Jake to loose a slight chuckled as he stood to face his opponent.
The humor was short lived as the thing glared at Jake and the looked down at its clearly broken wrist. It took its one good blade and placed it on the broken arm. In the blink of an eye it ripped the blade across the arm and it severed the limb. Once the useless arm smacked the ground it returned its glare to Jake.
Jake was stunned for a split second as he watched the thing remove its own arm. In that lapse of concentration he missed the dull thud of something behind him, and all too late did he realize what that meant. He tried to jump forward but was too late and the being behind him whipped its arm up, across Jake's back with the intention of cutting him in half. Instead with Jake's minor movement his death was postponed for at least a few more moments.
Jake hissed in pain before turning to his attacker, and in abandoning any scrap of common sense he once possessed, charged the eight foot abomination. He stabbed the barrel forward as if attempting to stab it with a bayonet that wasn't there. A small smirk worked its way across his face as it blocked the attack. Now it was left open he pushed all his weight into slamming the rifle butt forward into its exposed torso. The solid wood stock had no trouble breaking ribs and as it doubled over in pain he withdrew the rifle and planted his boot into its chest, sending it to the ground where it didn't get back up.
'One left' thought Jake as he turned to find the other baddie. Who wasn't there.
Jake looked all around, miles of war-torn hell in every direction and not a single one armed devil to be found. Even the sky was devoid of the beast. "Must have scared it off" Jake said to himself with every word laced in sarcasm.
It was then another voice spoke out, one he had not yet heard. "Nah, more like it got bored of waiting for you to finish that one and left for something better."
There was only one person Jake knew that had a sense of humor to rival his own. But he no longer walked among the living, so it begged the question. Who the hell was behind him?
AN: How bout that chapter, worthy of a review? I can't rightly tell, maybe you can. Maybe you'll let me know. And as for you whisper, think your up to it?