Read Erabareshimono (The Chosen) :: Chapter 8: Like old time pt. 1

Chapter 8: Like old times

Morales drives through the city, as the moon shines above his car. The city quieter than usual, hearing or seeing nothing on the streets left Morales alone with his thoughts, and emotions. Having a basic understanding of the mission, he still questions why him, and Bashiru were chosen. “Why didn't Inori just pick Mateo or Aiken?” He questioned, as he got closer to Tess’s bar. Driving to the back he Turns off the car, leaning back in his chair, he begins to remember his brother, and the last time they went to Japafri. Having glimpses of His brother he begins to cover his face. “I let him die…” he repeats to himself. Thinking back on the mission he began to relive the mission Beginning to have another glimpse of him and his brother fighting a shaitan, and how the Shaitan smiled before ending his brother's life. “I won't let that happen this time brother…..Whatever it is I'll kill it myself.” He says as he clenches his fist.

Looking out the window, Arkham smirks as he puts down his cup of beer. “Seems like he actually showed up” he says to a nervous Bashiru. Tess cleaning a glass Smiles seeing Morales walking into the bar, but just from the look on his face she can tell something was off, he seemed determined, angered, and most importantly saddened. Tess walking up to Morales stops him in his tracks. “Hey are you ok?” She asks him, but ignoring the questions completely “Where are they?” he asks her but before answering she looks into his eyes. “ Morales what's wrong?” She asks again in a more concerned manner, Reaching for his face she tries to show care but Morales gently grabs her hand. “I'm just a little shook up” he says to her, Tess does a light smile as she takes her other hand and softly rubs his cheek. “I know when something is not ok, Morales” she says to him, Seeing the look of concern on Tess' face causes Morales to smile, “thank you Tess…but Ill be ok” he says to her.

Arkham, seeing Tess and Morales talk, gets up from the table and walks over.

“When you love birds are done, we're back there” he says pointing back at the table. Morales, looking at Tess, nods his head before walking towards the table. Seeing Morales walk up to the table Bashiru begins to sweat, and looks more nervous than before. Morales begins to observe Bashiru seeing sweat drip down Bashiru's face, and his eyes dilate he begins to question what's happening with this mission. Grabbing a chair, Arkham throws his phone on the table “This is the hole that was created in Japafri…People have gone missing, and the energy signatures are giving off something very similar to a past signature” Arkham says to them. Morales grabs the phone looking at the picture in more detail he realizes certain markings around the hole. Becoming more aware, his anger grew, realizing what was happening in Japafri he connected the dots, based on Bashiru reaction, and the place where the hole was made. “He's back isn't he?” he asks as his eyes begin to turn a bright red. “Yes. Tiras has returned…And he's stronger” Arkham replies. Morales tosses the phone back to Arkham, and pulls out a chair. Sitting across from Arkham, he leans up against the table as the energy shifts in the room. “You sure it's him?” Morales asks, as Arkham takes a hit from his cigar. “I mean everything adds up…..Same place, same energy, same time of year.” Arkham replies sarcastically to him. Balling his fist remembering his Brother, “Well put him down for good this time” Morales says. Arkham smirks as he looks at Bashiru, then back at Morales. Tilting his hat Arkham gets up from his chair. “It's your call, I would go by myself ... .but it wouldn't feel right,” he says to Morales. Morales nods his head, as the three of them get up, and walk towards the basement.

“Once we are in Japafri I have a cool down, I won't be able to teleport far distances for 1 to 3 days” Bashiru says as he eyes begin to turn a grayish color. Walking over to Bashiru, Morales puts his hand on his shoulder. “As long as we all get back that's all that matters.” He says. Bashiru's eyes turn white, and they teleport to Japafri. As they teleport, Morales hears a voice call out to him, but would instantly disappear as they land in a random location in the woods. Catching their footing they check on each other before moving around the area. The hole just a few feet away from them they see a group of kids looking down the hole. Morales walking out the woods towards the hold begins to walk towards the kids. “Back away from that hole!” he yells to the boys. Hearing Morales scream the boys look up. “Fuck you old man” the bigger one of the bunch says, assuming to be the leader of the boys. The boys begin to laugh. Morales cracking his neck dashes over to the boy and picks him up. The boy begins to kick Morales, but he doesn't even move an inch. “ I said Leave '' Morales said in a slow, intimidating way. The other boys, seeing Morales grab their leader, turn around, scared for their lives and run away. Morales lets go of the kid, stares at him for a few seconds, the boy gets up and starts crying from fear as he runs away. “Geez a bit rough Morales” Bashiru says walking up behind him. “They need to leave before things get ugly.” Morales says while Arkham walks behind him. “Agreed” Arkham whispers.

The three of them begin to look around, trying to see anything out of the ordinary. Bashiru looking into the hole becomes curious. Picking up a rock he tosses it down the hole. Slowly Getting down on all fours he puts his ear closer to try and hear when the rock hits the ground to see how deep the hole is. “How deep is it?” Arkham asks him, as he watches from afar. Bashiru, not hearing the rock hit the ground, shrugs his shoulders “I have no Idea, it seems to be endless” he says. Morales looking over at them notices a trail leading from the hole to the woods. “Footprints” Morales thinks to himself, crouching down and inspecting them in more detail realizing the foot steps have been here longer. Morales whistles, getting the other two attention, and continues to follow the path. “Morales” Arkham says as they continue down the path. “Yeah?” Morales replies. Arkham, taking a hit from his cigar, smirks “You sure you're gonna be ok ... .The last time we came here” he says before Morales cuts him off. “I’m fine, just stay sharp, '' Morales says as he keeps walking forward. Arkham smirks, “don't get hostile with me, we're a team here” he says as they continue to follow Morales down the path. “I'm just making sure you're ready.” Arkham says. Morales making a full stop signals them to stop. Hearing something chew, Morales begins to slowly walk towards the sound. Activating his base form, he gets ready to hit the shaitan. The shaitan would stop chewing and slowly turn around looking at Morales. Revealing its face puts Bashiru and Arkham in shock as their eyes widened and recognized the face of the shaitan, but not of the one they fought years ago. “Big brother” the shaitan says to Morales. “Jeramiah?” Morales whispers as his ability dims away. Slowly approaching the shaitan, Morales sticks his hand out, trying to show no hostility. “It's ok we won't hurt you” He says softly as tears begin to form in his eyes. Arkham, sniffing the air, pulls out his revolver and aims it at the shaitan. “MOVE MORALES! '' He yells, But Morales gets in front of the gun. “What are you doing?” Arkham yells. Morales, blocking the shaitan, looks at Arkham with anger, “you're not killing my brother” he yells. “Don't be stupid Morales, that's not your brother” he replied to Morales as he continued to point the gun. “Don't do it Arkham, we have to make sure” Morales yells in a panic state, but seeing this Arkham smiles. “You know Morales ...even if you stand in my way I'm gonna hit my shot.” he says confidently as he points his revolver to the right and lets off a shot. Looking at Morales, Arkhams eye turns a bright orange with a bullseye in the middle. The bullet he shot off was now under his control, which allows Arkham to aim it right back at the shaitan behind Morales. Widening his eyes, Morales stands in shock as he hears the bullet penetrate the shaitan's head. “NOOOO!” He yells as he runs over to Arkham and tackles him, “WHAT DID YOU DO!?” he yells, but Arkham pulls Morales by his shirt, and head butts him. “ Saving your life, idiot” he says as he gets up off the ground, and looks at the shaitan changing form. “HOW DID YOU KNOW?” The shaitan said, wiping blood off its lips staring at Arkham. “You stink” Arkham utters as the Shaitan dashes away at a high speed. “Y'all ready” Arkham says to the two of them while they put their guards up. They both nod their heads. They stand back to back trying to catch the shaitan, but they're not quick enough. The shaitan would kick Bashiru in the face, sending him flying towards a tree. Knocking the air out of him, the Shaitan then picks him up by the face, and slams him in the ground. Pushing his face in the ground Bashiru tries to pick his head up, but can't because of the amount of pressure the shaitan is putting. “I'LL BREAK YOUR SKULL…YOU PIECE OF SHIT” He yells before getting punched by Morales. Dashing past Bashiru, Arkham shoots two shots which the shaitan dodges. “MISSED” The shaitan says. Morales activated his “second wall: Blue flame” which caused his hands to turn into a rock-like substance spewing out blue fire. Dashing behind the Shaitan Morales spikes it into the ground, which Arkham followed up with a kick to the face, “I never miss” he whispers before the two shots he lets out before come flying behind the shaitan hitting it in the chest, and arm. “GAHHH” The shaitan yells in pain before dashing away. Morales, and Arkham continue to chase the shaitan, but as they continue to chase Morales grows confused. “ This shaitan is ten times weaker than the one we fought years ago” he thinks to himself as Arkham dashes past him. Catching up to the Shaitan, Arkham tries to grab its clothes but misses an inch. Morales' eyes widen as he finally figures out “WAIT ARKHAM THERE'S MORE THAN ONE!” He yells. Arkham, turning around confused, realizes someone approaching his blindside sucker punching him in the ribs sending him through four trees. The shaitan that punched Arkham with a quick reaction tries to catch Morales, but misses. Morales sliding back, sets his feet while the shaitan smiles. “It’s good to see your Morales” The shaitan says, as his hand with markings, and red energy flowing through it makes a charging sound, and smoke flows out of the cracks. The shaitan stood 6 '5, pale skin, with messy White hair and red eyes. Teeth sharp like a wolf, and eyes like a tiger. “How long has it been?.....Three years?” The shaitan asks as Morales fist turns to a rock substance again. “Doesn't matter, Tiras.” Morales says to him as his anger grows. Tiras smiles before dashing towards Morales going for a right hook which Morales counters with a punch of his own, the colliding of their powers sends a shockwave through the woods. Bashiru teleporting towards Tiras and tries to catch him in a blindspot, but gets tackled by the other shaitan that they originally found. “You coward,” Bashiru says, getting up, and dusting his clothes. “How am I a coward?” The shaitan says with an evil grin, as his body transforms back to Morales' brother. “Wearing that face using it for evil” Bashiru replies. The shaitan then dashes towards Bashiru trying to punch him in the face which is blocked by Bashiru. “IT'S A PRETTY BOY RIGHT!” The shaitan yells in Bashiru's face. Bashiru kicking the shaitan in the chest sends it back a few feet, as his eyes glow white. “First wall: Zone Calamity” He whispers, holding up both his index, and middle finger on both hands, and making them connect at the tip making a triangle. Bashiru would then teleport behind the shaitan sucker punching him in the back of the head. Bashiru would then grab its shirt and teleport to the sky, throwing the shaitan back down to the ground. The shaitan crawls out the hole that was made from the impact, as the cloud of dirt begins to fade away Bashiru and the shaitan make eye contact. Spitting out blood from its mouth, it smiles while Bashiru makes an angry face. “Lets wipe that smile off your face” Bashiru says while they both dash at each other again. Morales, and Tiras both throw right and left hooks, matching each other's speed, and strength. Morales would then throw a right hook, which Tiras dodges under hitting Morales in the side with a left body shot. Seeing the punch affect Morales, Tiras with his right hand would charge up a blow, the same one he hit Arkham with, But Morales seeing the punch charge up uses his first wall switching positions with him causing Tiras to make contact with the ground. Sliding away, Morales resets the fight. “You know ... .you've gotten stronger Morales” He says to him as they walk around each other. “Yeah I had to take care of you monsters” he replies to him, Smiling Tiras scratches his neck. “Monster?....Im the future” He says before he stops across from Morales. “Just don't die on me Morales!” he yells before dashing to Morales and punches him in the chest. Morales grabbing his fist using the momentum to drag Tiras with him slamming through trees, Morales gets two punches off before they both get back on their feet, and begin to brawl once again. Tiras goes for a right hook which Morales blocks, and counters with a jab. Throwing Tiras off balance, Morales using the distraction to his advantage goes for a leg sweep, and a solid right hook to the face as the shaitan falls towards the ground. Catching Morales' punch the charging sound begins to get louder, Tiras then smiles as he slams his head on the ground and a shock wave of power sends both of them in the air. Catching Morales he spins in a circle and throws him to the ground, and follows with a punch to the gut. Morales gasping for air, Tries to keep up with Tiras who's punching him in every area he leaves open. Tiras would then with one last blow charges his fist again, and punches Morales in the face sending him flying 10 feet away. Morales, completely dazed, lays there as seeing a blur of him slowly walk towards him. “You know Morales ... .while I sat in hell waiting for this day to come I grew excited…..Eager to get this chance again” he says

while picking up Morales by the throat. “Yet three years pass, and you have that same look of defeat on your

face”he continues to rant as he punches him in the gut, and throws into the open field where Bashiru, and the other shaitan fight. Bashiru teleporting around, throwing the shaitan, and landing multiple blows. Winning the fight would soon be shattered as Tiras intervened, catching Bashiru, predicting where he was teleporting next, and stabbing him in the abdomen. “BASHIRU!” Morales yells crawling towards the fight.

This content is intended for mature audiences for the following reasons.