Chapter 2: His Journey Begins ----------------------------- Afkek felt the rain pouring down his cheeks. It was time to begin his surge to power. But where should he go? Afkek was unsure about his destination - but moping around in Zozo would be very useless. Perhaps another town would have information? Afkek headed towards Zozo's entrance, stepped outside and looked back at Zozo. "One day," he whispered to himself, "you'll be MINE." Afkek started walking north when he saw a pale figure among the horizon. He continued to walk closer - why would somebody be sitting there out in the rain? As he drew closer, he saw a young girl wearing a dark suit with a fine-featured face. She had high cheekbones and large, bright green eyes. Sascha looked up. She saw a man dressed in a dark black robe that stretched from head to feet. He was about middle-aged and had dark green eyes with shaded white hair. "Who are you?" asked Sascha. "I'm Akfek. What is your name, young lady?" "My name is Sascha." Akfek felt she was not a normal girl. He could sense she was seeking adventure. Sascha looked at his eyes which stared back in a cold, freezing fashion. She felt Akfek was not a normal man; somehow, she could feel a heinous presence behind it, but she was unsure of this. Akfek noticed she held some type of meat in her hand. Upon a closer look, he noticed the meat was a type he had encountered before; it contained toxins and its consumer would die a slow and torturous death. "Fool," thought Akfek. "She has little knowledge of the world around her. Her inexperience is her weakness. She could be of excellent assistance to me." Afkek looked at her again and grinned a vicious, cunning grin. Normally, he would leave a person like her to rot in the soil, but allies would be a valuable commodity now. Afkek took out a bottle of antidote. "Rid yourself of that meat and drink this, Sascha." "What's in it?" "Trust me, young lady. Your life is at stake." Sascha took the bottle and drank the liquid in one gulp. "I am leaving now, Sascha." "Where are you going?" "Do not ask, for it is confidential. But you may come if you like. The choice is yours..."