Caleb
pulled his hat down over his face, and stepped under suitable cover from
the rain. The dark sky hung heavily down, as the mists from the falling
rain rose from the ground. The long depths of the Egyptian desert,
fell back to near non-existence, forcing a feeling of apparent isolation
upon the small and darkly lit town, in which he stood. Pulling his
coat further down over his shoulders, Caleb remembered why he had come
to where he was. He needed to remember, for it was all that was left
in his life. Days past, he had searched for further revenge, as the
rage of fire he still felt, flooded into the mortal world. Tchernobog was
dead, yet Caleb still felt a need for vengeance, for what he had done.
He also had the Cabal on his mind. His confrontation with them was
not yet over, even though their great leader had fallen. He was now
on a mission of revenge, against everything connected to him.
Over the weeks, Caleb
had found what he needed to know. He had beaten his own, and now
he had to face a greater challenge, as it was all to erase those thoughts
from his mind. Stories told of one who was of pure evil, and a dark
legend in his own right. Egyptians feared him, and forced him to
live alone, in this god-forsaken town. This town of ghosts, with
a history once filled with tragedy. Few knew of this place, and Caleb
could understand why. The man with no name that he needed, was told
to have a murderous past. He sounded like Caleb's kind of man.
As Caleb snapped out of his thoughts, he could feel a dark figure close
behind. He spoke with an unsurpassed confidence, as this may have
been his only chance. "I am searching for a man." Caleb stood ever vigilant and awaited his imminent response. The dark figure
drew closer and stepped, with shadows falling back, into the dust ridden
light.
"Good, then you sound
like the one I have been waiting for. My name is Horam, and I know
of your name because I have awaited this day, for a very, very long time." The dark figure of Caleb turned, forcing the light from the face of Haram,
who turned away, as if loosing the concentration he once held. With
a light cough, close to that of laughter, he spoke. "Truth is Caleb,
news travels fast in these parts." He swung his hand out, presenting
Caleb with the silence of a deserted, rain soaked town. This time
Caleb laughed, if only to gain Haram's respect. He stood back, so
that Haram's face could be once again seen by the light. He was an
elderly man, with hair tied back, and a light unshaved beared covering
his chin. He wore a dark brown coat, quite unusual in appearance,
that's collar covered most of his neck. Haram turned and walked into
the rain, as if not feeling it's soft touch. "Come Caleb, there is
little time, and much that must be explained." As Caleb walked with
Haram, the conversation continued.
"Caleb, there is little I do not know. Over the years, I have collected a great deal to do
with the 'underworld', that I feel should all become accessible to you.
However, I have taken what information I believe you need to know, and
placed it in a small scroll, named Askham. With it at your side,
you will make many decisions. If you read it well, you will make
those that are correct, while if you do not, you will be unprepared for
what you will face. Do you understand me Caleb?"
"The story I have
to tell you Caleb, comes from a time in Egypt's past, when an earlier forming
of the Cabal was at hand. A great Egyptian priest, who held awesome
power, wrote a book that held a great deal of magic. This book was
later split into two tomes, that helped the priest create a magical pathway
down to hell. This pathway, under the city of Varkahn, became the
focal attention of the gods, as they themselves could not even create such
a thing. Not long after, a large assault using the Cabal was directed
towards the priest, and taking the tomes that he held, away from him.
When the priest had been captured, the gods, who could not use the tomes
made a deal with him. They would give him something that he did not
have, if he would open up the hole to hell he had made. Still angry
with the gods, the priest was left with little choice, and decided on taking
their only offer. Now Caleb, the pathway down to hell still exists,
and I am the only mortal alive to know where. I also have the power
to destroy the tomes Caleb, and that is a wish of mine. If you can
get them from the gods themselves, not only will you enrage them beyond
imagination, but you will also be helping me."
Caleb looked to Haram with a glint of vengeance in his eye.
"Your in luck Caleb, all the women have
left this town." A small bout of laughter followed his words, as
his hand fell to Caleb's shoulder. Dust flew into the air, as the
figure of Caleb stood still. "Laugh damn it Caleb, I get so few here
to share a joke with. Time alone has changed me a great deal, from
what I once was." Caleb turned to face the man, his coat following
a few moments behind.
"Jokes rarely make me laugh. Give
me something to shoot, and I might reconsider." A smile slid across
the face of the man. "You're alright Caleb. Little on the boring side, but I guess you've had your days." Caleb cut in quickly. "I
have."
"I see no reason why not, show this information
to me."
"In good time Caleb." Haram paused his walking and turned to face Caleb. "This scroll, the one named Ashkam, holds much info that is now long lost and can not be found again. With it comes a story, one you must remember should things go wrong for you." Haram placed his hand on Caleb's shoulder, and smiled. "Yes Caleb, your revenge will come, but it will not be by bullets alone."
"A pity then."
"Perhaps for you, but you must trust in
me to give you what you want. Walk with me should you wish to hear
this story." Haram continued his walk through the town, leaving Caleb
standing alone. The rain subsiding, Caleb remembered back to why
he had come. He ran and then slowed to be by Haram's side.
"We will see old man, bring this story by me." Haram knew, that his time, was almost also at hand. This time, the gods would pay for
what they had done.
"I would not do this for you."
"I did not think you would Caleb.
Do it for yourself, though do not underestimate your chances of succeeding. I may have seen the future Caleb, but there are more lines of time in which you exist, and some may not have the ending that I have seen." Haram took the hat from Caleb's head, and held it's brim over what he held in his hand. What rain still fell bounced safely from it to the ground. One over the other, he held them out for Caleb to see. "Take the scroll Caleb. It is the second I have written, for the first was done long ago. With it you stand a chance of survival." With the scroll now in the hands of Caleb, Haram drew them both to the side of a wooden house. As the last patters of rain fell, and the sun drew from it's hiding behind the clouds, Haram lay down a map on the ground. He took out a knife and lay it by the maps side. "Take the flight just out of Cairo, and fly to the destination the knife shows you to." Flicking the map up in the air, Haram then drew down to pick up the knife. In a motion of effortless speed, the knife was flung into the airborne map, to land pinned against the wooden wall of the house, with a thud. Both men drew closer to take a more accurate look. Haram looked to Caleb, who stared at the knife, embedded deeply in the wall. "That Caleb, is where you will dig. Take the map, the scroll, and all the weapons I have. Cairo awaits you my friend..."