Misfortune

[Noaru]

72nd of Summer 512 A.V.

The chatter and laughter was coming out of the small ''pub'' in Zeltiva. The night was silent and calm.
The pub shone a little light outside, making visible only the front of it, and the night was mostly dark.
There were people conversing in this place of gathering, they spoke of many things,
things that social groups usually would discuss about.


It was only then that the neighborhood drunk opens the pubs door and stumbles into the place,
his presence was something everybody had gotten use to and people ignored him.
The drunken man wobbles to the bar and sits, stinking of liquor and urine;
he gestures the bar keep to bring him something to drink. The bar keep was use to the middle aged mans
random appearances in his small bar despite being a drunk, he paid his share of cash the next day and
so he tolerates him when he can.


Close the door, you'll let a draft in!'' John ''The Bar keep'' said.

Alright! Alright! Keep yourself together, old man'' Rob says tauntingly.

I'll show you who's an old man!? If you say that again '' John ''The Bar keep'' says while infuriated.


The people in the bar laughed as the two men argued, again something that wasn't new. The two men always argued with each other playfully; though, you could never tell at times. Rob stretches out his hand and reaches for the open door; it slams shut before he can actually reach it, so hard, that it startles everyone inside the pub for a brief moment before they continued to converse amongst themselves.


Whoa! Slamming doors are we? I guess that old mans getting to ya huh?'' Tom says inquisitively.

No! That damn door closed on its own!'' Rob said.

I believe you've had one to many and now your seeing things...'' Tom said.

Listen to me damn it!? The door closed on its own!'' Rob shouted.

It was probably just the wind or something, come sit back down with us man! Don't worry about it.'' Tom said while grinning.

Alright, fine. I'll come over'' Rob said with a grumble.

[Noaru]

The folk inside the pub were completely oblivious to what was going on around them. The bar keep whips up some fine drinks for the ladies and gentlemen inside his decent sized pub, they applaud him! These twenty young souls having the time of their lives, drinking, partying; some where even making out to most of the other guests disgust, those two were asked to leave and the rest...Well, just continued with what they were doing.


Rob'' The one who experienced a door slamming on its own was thinking deeply of his odd experience, he couldn't shake the thought that something was up, he constantly would look towards the door and then the entire room, as if, he could feel something was there but was unsure; he wasn't wrong, something was there, waiting for another opportunity to play with their minds! Noaru was the culprit, as he used his soulmist to close slam the door which nearly crushes Rob's hand. He now simply observes and searches for the weakest mind and the most vulnerable one but to his displeasure all were to occupied and thus he had to capture their attention.


What's wrong? Still thinking of the magical self-closing door?'' Tom teasingly said to Rob.

Oh ha, ha, real funny...'' Rob said before he takes a sip of his drink.

I'm telling you guys it was weird! The door slammed on its own'' Rob said as he placed his drink down on the table.

We know already! How many time are you going to tell us! Casey said to Rob.

Maybe, it was a ghost? Boooooooooo!'' Christi ''The waitress'' said to the young group of friends.


Rob, Casey, and Tom laughed at Christi as she winks at them and laughs herself. These four didn't believe in ghosts and spirits, they lived in a time where science explained everything! Though, science itself couldn't explain spiritual phenomenons such as ghosts and the occasional undead. Noaru took no delight in the brief conversation and decides to play a little ''trick'' on the young waitress as she carried drinks to another table.


He while using his soulmist moves a short chair in her path, she doesn't notice it and trips, drinks fly into the air; water and beer splash all over a large group of customers. In the group of sixteen people only a few were soaked while the other ten laugh at their friends misfortune, they were drunk as hell and they didn't care because it was party day and they were going to get wasted.


Though, the young waitress wasn't so fortunate she scraps her knee badly on the floor and she grabs onto a table to try to lift herself up. Noaru notices a drink on the table and tips it over with his soulmist, the beer seeps onto the table. Christi's fingers become slippery from the wasted beverage and she looses her grip, causing her to hit her head on the floor hard and lose consciousness. Noaru stands over the body of the unconscious woman and grins sadistically, he had plans for her and now he waited for medical help to take her away just as he planned.


The help did come, seeing that Christi hit her head pretty hard, they took her to the hospital. Noaru followed and devised a nasty plot in store for Christi, her friends and all who were present within the bar.

[Noaru]

The sun ascended high into the sky; it was a fine morning and a good day to live out one’s life! It was a fine day to live out one’s life alright and a good day to lose ones sanity as well. Christi rested on the hospital bed, exhausted and slightly dazed from the drugs; she had been sleeping for quite some time since late last night, she places a hand upon her head, removing the cold sweet from her forehead.


This must be the hospital. Ugh, my head, something must have happened '' Christi thought completely unsure herself.


She looks around the room; it was dull looking to her both boring and plain. Its white walls seemed to be frozen in time, nothing about them changed no matter how long she gazed upon them. The wait for her became unbearable and she begins to sit up as she throws her feet off the bed and dangles them just above the floor. But before she could completely get out of the bed, she hears something outside the door and lies back down in the bed, pretending like she was sleeping.


The door opens but she hears and see’s nothing but the door sways open and closes on its own, as if, someone had walked through it. Christi doesn't pay any mind to it, she was a woman of science and she believed not in such things as ghosts! Her opinion would soon change, as someone gently whispers her name from outside the door; she gets up to investigates and peaks her head outside the door but see's nothing.


Hello child... Said Noaru.


He materializes without warning, without sound...

[Noaru]

No, that voice it couldn't have come from inside the room because I'm supposed to be alone in here!'' said Christi in total disbelief.

She glances and see's the large spirit hound behind her sitting by the window at first she mistakes it for a kelvic of some sort that crept into her room without her noticing but as she focused her eyes upon the figure, she saw that it was smiling at her and when it lifted its head and opened its eyes. The fear settled in and she realized what she was gazing upon, some kind of malevolent entity!


NO!? Someone please! HELP ME!?’’ said Christi in a frantic tone of voice.


Christi quickly ran down the hallway screaming for help! Noaru was behind her running and approaching quickly with every step he took! Christi panicked as she looked back to see the large entity from the room pursuing her, she could not believe this was happening! That she would die this way, torn apart by some evil spirit for no reason and when her life was just starting! Christi falls and slides across the floor; her back hits the solid white brick wall, forcing her to face her possible demise! To face the being that would take her life.

Noaru walked steadily but not on the floor but on the ceiling with a smile placed upon his face. He, being the malevolent spirit that he was, felt no sympathy not remorse towards the young girls pleading’s! He was going to torment her as much as he could or to at least to the point where he could possess her body which was his main objective but his mind quickly changes and he had different plans for this young female human, he would manipulate her.


STAY AWAY!? Don’t come near me! I DON’T WANT TO DIE!?’’ Christi pleaded.


He didn't listen to her pleas and cared not for her tears! The suffering! The destruction of her mind! And the uttermost blackening of her soul is what he wanted as he scaled the ceiling above her head! Noaru's eyes were fixated on her and Christi could see her reflection in Noaru's black mirror-like eyes, he was now walking down the wall towards her, his mouth was gaped open to bite the young woman; she screams and closes her eyes only to open them and find Noaru had disappeared, gone without a trace; however, he was near but only observing her as doctors ran down the hall to check on her.


What’s wrong? We heard screaming!’’ Said the ‘’Male Doctor’’.

N… N… Nothing at all! I just fell’’ Said Christi.


She knew that they wouldn’t believe her story! Who would believe a ghost was chasing her when there’s no evidence to prove that he was around? And so, she kept quiet—afraid to what might happen at nightfall. The worry consumed her and made her nerves, paranoia would soon set in upon her and she knew this; it would become so due to Noaru’s influence!

[Noaru]

Night descended upon Zeltiva and darkness arised! The outcome, of the strange appearance of that spirit from earlier haunts her mind still. Christi rested in the hospital bed wondering: what would have happened if those doctors didn't arrive in time? She questioned whether or not the experience and what she saw was actually real! Maybe, just maybe, all of that was just a hallucination produced from the drugs the doctors had given to her for her head injury.


The door to her room was open: occasionally, a nurse would check up on her; this gave her comfort and soothed her restless soul but she would still think of that spirit sometimes seemingly fascinated by it! She turned sideways in the bed and faced the door to the right of the room, her eyes shut and she slowly began to sleep until...


Hello child... Said Noaru.

What do you want from me!?'' Said Christi.


Noaru materializes in front of the window. He was one however that would create this, as an eerie silence surrounds him, as he sits quietly before the moon and its glorious light! He, despite the surreal moonlit night sky still emitted an aura of sheer menace. He would not have himself be displayed as a being that instills fear in all that gaze upon him, at heart, he is a curious soul but his curiosity will always be seen as destructive and life ruining.


The blackening of your soul... Said Noaru.

[Noaru]

Wha..What do you mean!?'' Said Christi.

Christi slowly made her way to the door; she faced the spirit by the window as she did so with her back facing the door. She was able to hide her fear and nervousness for the time being but if this ''thing'' got any closer than he was then that would be an entirely different story. She was only but two meters away from the door before it slams shut and locks! Noaru disappears from the window in an instant and slams the door; he had a satisfied grin upon his face that revealed his many jagged-sharp teeth.


It is as you think! I will take over that precious body of yours and you will become my vessel... Said Noaru.


NOOOO!?'' Said Christi.


She was now pinned to the wall and cornered, it was only then that she remembers the smiling faces of her friends, their warm embrace, and their laughter comforted her in this time of trouble. This warmth however, was quickly replaced by blackness and a profound coldness that traveled throughout her body! Noaru had placed his hand upon her face; the coldness of his touch was extremely uncomfortable for Christi as she closes her eyes.


Isn't it just better to give up? Why fight a losing battle? Just give up your body to me, give me permission to enter. Said Noaru in a calming tone of voice.


He knew that she was close to breaking! He would possess her body and kill and or torment her friends as she watched in agony! The malicious thoughts he concocted within his mind was so devious that he had to hold himself from laughing but then his enjoyment came to an end once the door flew open and Rob entered the scene.


Don't listen to him!?'' Rob Shouted!


The good guy comes to the rescue huh? Interesting! Said Noaru with a smile.


The appearance from this man was unprecedented! Noaru's plan to take this young maids body was foiled but the battle to obtain a body wasn't quite over yet. Noaru vanished and gracefully exited through the two story high window and onto another building! He runs across the rooftops on all fours, heading towards his next ''would be'' victim!

[Noaru]

The days passed, several days in fact since Noaru's appearance before Christi. Rob was nervous about the whole ordeal! He wasn't accustoming to seeing spirits especially those of the demonic sort. The day he looked upon Noaru's form was the day he officially saw a spirit; terrorizing him was the thought that such a spiritual being was roaming around unhindered and doing what it pleased. The thought of Noaru appearing again was a very unwanted one and thus he pretends like it didn't happen.


How’s the old man doing?'' Said Rob.


Anyone would be able to hear the concern in Rob's voice. The uncertainly he felt didn't help him feel any better; he feared the worst but hoped for the best. John was an old barkeeper an honest man who harmed no one! The innocent old man was dying mysteriously and occasionally wrote inside a journal that he allowed no one to see, sometimes he would talk to himself at night while facing the window while writing in his journal; this was believed to be his will and him talking to himself was believed to be a sign that death was approaching.


Not to well. The doctor wasn't sure but he did notice something in John’s blood! These small black specks were like all in his blood: maybe, someone is doing this to him!'' Casey whispered.

Why would someone doing anything to him? We've known John for years he has no money and he's not related to anyone who's rich and famous. He is just an ordinary old man.'' Said Rob.

-------------------------------------------------

Late that night, Casey walks down the hall to her room, she hears suddenly—John talking inside the room but he wasn't alone another voice could be heard inside the room: a faint voice more like a whisper was there. Casey peeks into the room and see's nothing but John resting in his bed peacefully with the curtains open, she would've sworn she had closed them before but she closes them again and leaves the room, kissing John on the forehead before she leaves, closing the door behind her.

John opens his eyes and smiles, turning his body to the window. The silhouette of a tall figure could be seen, it smiles towards John as he smiles towards it; Noaru was back. The next day, Johns missing but a note staying ''I'll return'' was left in his bed, nothing was taken from the room and nothing was left out of the ordinary. The room had been cleaned and tided up and what rested on the bed was that note saying ''I'll return'' resting ominously on Johns pillow.

[Noaru]

John, Casey, Christi all mourn to the disappearance to their father figure who took them all in from the orphanage and raised them all as his own! But there was one that remained calm unwilling to shed a single tear for his missing father, one that was void of sympathy not even a shred of it remained in him! And this was Tom, John’s first and only son by blood. He did not care for his missing father, he was glad that he was finally gone. The pub would be torn down and he would be able to see the suffering faces of his ''brothers & sisters'' something he enjoyed a lot was their suffering.


I guess we should start moving his stuff out...'' Said Tom.

What! How can you say that? We haven't even begun to search for him and yet you want to start moving his stuff out today!'' Said Casey

How could you, he's our father your father.'' Said Christi

You son of a b**tch! HE RAISED YOU; HE RAISED US ALL AS FAMILY!?'' Shouted Rob as he grabs Tom by the collar of his shirt.

Family... FAMILY!? What do you know about family? You all are not MY FAMILY!?'' Tom shouts back, pushing Rob off of him.


The four siblings fought amongst themselves, confused and disgruntled from their fathers sudden disappearance, they all soon calm down and sit around the bar in the front of the building feeling guilty as they couldn't think of any good they've done towards their father. The door flies open but it’s just the wind, nothing special and Toms goes and closes the door.

What are we going to do now?'' Said Casey.

I don't know, we should just wait till nightfall '' Said Rob with his face hidden within the palm of his hands.


The young adults venture off into their own rooms, resting from a long day of arguing and worrying; they would have to search tomorrow after they've restored the mental balance within their minds!

[Noaru]

The four siblings searched for their lost father oblivious to the troubles around them! In the shadows Noaru observed from a distance, learning about their habits and particularly their fears or what bothered them the most. He wanted to not only know about them but the habits of humans beings and other races he may run into in his travels such as their: habits, values, strengths and especially their weaknesses. He needed to know most things about all that he will and had encountered.

Noaru took his time and thought of ways to gather information, he had to casually observe them while keeping a steady distance so that his presence wouldn't be discovered. He found himself lurking stealthy while watching his targets; observation, analysis and stealth were the key attributes to this ''operations'' success!


It's getting late, we should head back and try tomorrow.'' Said Christi.

Yeah... Christi does have a point, its getting pretty dark'' Said Rob.

Oh now you guys want to call its quits...'' Said Tom.

This is not the time for your attitude Tom! Christi and Rob are right we need to rest maybe something will come up.'' Said Casey.


There! That was Noaru's chance as a drunken man slept from drinking copious amounts of alcohol. Noaru possesses him, using the mans body as a tool to implant the seed of rumor and manipulation of the groups emotions. The process was successful as the drunken mans mind and soul temporarily assimilated into Noaru's own being and when the group approached he spoke to them.

I heard that there was an old man hanging around the pub.'' Said Noaru while acting as a drunken old man.

WHAT '' Said Christi, Rob, Casey, and Tom.

Yep, sometime earlier today but I'm not sure since its probably a just rumor.'' Said Noaru with a grin.

Look here! Old man, don't toy with us, did see him or not!?'' Said Tom while grabbing Noaru by the collar.

Tom was displeased, very displeased! His anger wasn't directed to the drunken man but to his fathers appearance and siblings brightened faces of hope, it sickened him to hear such a thing that his father was found alive and kicking, he throws Noaru to the ground and storms off, leaving his siblings and Noaru behind.

Tom wait!'' Said Christi.

Hey! We haven't finished talking to this old man yet'' Said Casey.

Man you really need to calm down!'' Said Rob.

Noaru stands to his feet with a sinister grin...

[Noaru]

What a sad ending...'' Said Noaru.

What stood before him was a burning house, four souls screamed to the top of their lunges! A tragic scene it was, to see souls bathed in scarlet flames, it took one with a truly insane mind to watch such a grotesque moment! The spirit wasn't alone, next to him was the body of Tom, his throat was slashed of coarse by Noaru after he tries to double cross him! Noaru had struck a deal with Tom to cause pain in his family, he had also struck a deal with John who wished for him to kill Tom and spare his old miserable life as well, Noaru lied to John and manipulated the hate between a father and son in order to cause strife and confusion to all in the family.


The building explodes and the bodies of Rob, Christi and Casey are propelled from the building! Their bodies suffer severe lacerations and second degree burns, some kind of luck they had huh? The three were then brought to the hospital and Noaru vanishes, leaving the family...


John was trialed and sentenced to a lengthy amount of time in prison but was payed a visit by Tom's angry spirit sent by Noaru who took advantage of his rage. John and Tom suffered a horrible fate! The two would spend an eternity in hatred!