Cavorting Corpses
By Undead_Heroes
((Origin/Short Story for the Hero Necros))
I was crouched downwind in the shadows as I watched a Reaper with a couple Cadavers drag the old bum screaming down into the sewers. The good doctor Vahzilok was busy this night.
Dont worry old man, I thought, Ill be there in a minuet.
Standing, I shrugged the sword strapped to my back into a more comfortable position before I started to creep along behind the Reaper and his group. As we headed down into the sewers my mind was drawn back to the night when Vahziloks little nurses decided Id be a good patient, heh, as if I could forget
I was walking home from my shop late at night; it had been a good day, I sold a lot of meat and I was in a good mood. I had a nice cut of steak under my arm and a good bottle wine in hand as I strolled whistling down the empty sidewalk. Sometimes I think it was the steak that drew them to me, it was good steak and the cadavers could probably smell it a mile off. Or it may have been my bad whistling I dunno, but whatever the reason as I passed by a dark alleyway they reached out and snatched me. I tried to fight them off, God knows I tried, but one of them rang my bell pretty good and the last thing I saw before passing out was an open manhole.
I dont know how long I was down there, a day, a week, more maybe. My world was filled with pain and drugs; I saw everything through a haze like I was watching scrambled television. I could hear voices though, saying things I didnt understand, talking to me in my few painful moments of clarity, telling me that my operation had been a success. Then one day the voices changed.
What about this one? a males voice said, Dont know. A female voice replied, Seems we were too late to help this poor soul.
Help!? I thought, help me! I remember trying to struggle, cry out, to do something to let them know I was alive. But the drugs and surgery had left me too weak to do anything except open my eyes but it was enough. I can still remember the shock and fear in their voices as they noticed me staring at them.
Oh my God! the woman in blue tights yelled, Hes alive! Crush get over here! Whoa
the huge man called Crush said, Hes alive alright. But does he want to be?
Since that long ago day I learned a lot about what happened. Vahzilok and his ghouls tried to make me one of them. I survived the sick doctors operations and they were getting ready to brainwash me into insanity when Crush and Azure showed up and stopped them. Crush was right, at first I wished I were dead, my body already was it seemed. My flesh was pallid gray and seamed with angry red scars, I couldnt feel anything anymore my whole body was numb and I smelled like the grave. The few times I ventured outside people ran from me as if I were the walking dead and I guess in a way I am.
I spent a few months feeling sorry for myself and avoiding the stray dogs that always followed me everywhere in the hopes for a meal. I even tried to kill myself once but my body just healed any damage I would do to it. So I wallowed in self-pity until Crush and Azure finally tracked me down and set me straight. They pointed out that instead of crying about my fate all the time I should go out there and make sure others dont end up like me. That made sense; I wouldnt wish my fate on anyone. I also realized that I could get back at Vahzilok and his freaks if I listened to what they were telling me and became a Hero. So I did, I became a Hero.
Turns out saying was a lot easier than doing. I had no real super powers besides being able to take a hit and if I wasnt careful to stay downwind bad guys would smell me coming and take off. Crush and Azure helped me though they taught me the basics and helped me realize that I did have one skill in my favor, being an ex-butcher I was real handy with a blade and it usually took a lot of damage to stop one of Vahziloks pets.
I stopped suddenly, inwardly cursing myself as I realized that while I had been lost in my memories Id walked right into the middle of the ghouls I had been tracking and they had a couple of Eidolons with them. Damn
I hate it when I do that.
Well I said grinning, What do we have here? A little botox party?
KILL HIM!!! one of the Eidolons screeched as he threw a mass of dark energy my way, KILL HIM NOW!!! Ripping my sword from its sheath I charged the lot of them and got to work, short and messy work it was but I still enjoyed it.
And thats that. I said as I cleaned my blade and slid it home, Hey old man
you alive? Yeah Im alive skull-face though you dont look like you are. What are you some kinda zombie or somthin? the old bum asked as he followed me through the sewers and back up to the streets. I just grunted in return...I hear that all the time.
When we got back up to the streets I finally got a good look at him and he didnt look like he was doing too hot.
Come on old man I know a place where you can stay for a few days and get cleaned up. I said as I turned to walk down the dark street. The old man fell in beside me then sniffed the air and gagged, Jeez you stink! he said pointing a grimy finger at me. Yeah, I grunted as we made out way down the street Well you aint no daisy yourself old-timer The old man sniffed himself then grinned as he walked along beside me, I hear that all the time he said and I laughed.
