Chapter Three

 

“Who the hell is that?”

 

Matt didn’t know how to answer that question. The ghost tugged on his gray coat, keeping the cold Massachusetts wind from freezing him. He walked towards a steel pillar, and walked his fingers across it, humming a haunting tune.

 

Then he turned to face the three teenagers.

 

“So good for the lot of ya ta come and see me.”

 

“Who are you?”

 

The enigma giggled. “It truly was nice of ya. I was so lonely, running here from there, ya see. Da living don’t like our lot too much. To tell ya the truth, I don’t know why they hates us so. They just do, I suppose.”

 

Kevin turned to Anna. “What is he talking about?” The hyper girl just shrugged.

 

“Oh dearest me, this will not do at all. No sir-e!”

 

“What?”

 

“Ya’ll heard me! You are not dead – although you rightfully should be. Although, I’ll fix really quick.”  The man snickered.

 

Suddenly, he was atop of Matt, in mid air, a giant javelin made out of what looked like bones in his gloved hands. “Welcome to hell, ladies and gents! Please don’t go to the right – today’s human flesh day on the menu!” He shot the weapon down, intent on pining Matt. The lunatic did not exactly expect Matt to jump out of the way.

 

“What the hell you doing?” Kevin demanded.

 

“Why are you doing this? Stop it?”

 

“Stop?” the being quarried as he landed softly on a pile of rubble. “The fun has just begun!” With that, he swung the massive weapon, and a gust of wind sent Kevin and Anna flying into some debris.

 

Matt began to rise up, his strength fading. That’s when he felt the butt end of the javelin rammed into his gut. He squealed out of pain. The mad man swung the weapon across Matt’s back, sending him to the ground.

 

Mat attempted to rise up again, but the attacker slammed his bare foot onto his back. Matt spat out some dirt.

 

“Time to say goodbye, little man.”

 

“No…”

 

No.

 

Suddenly, Matt managed to roll the muddy foot off of him and swung upwards. The masked vigilante leaped backwards, staring at his hand.

 

It was bleeding. It was cut. Not bruised, not bashed as would be expected from a fist wound, but cut. Sliced.

 

Matt slowly got up, using some tall object as support. He stared at what it was: a silver blade with a beast’s head at the end of its hilt, which out of its nostrils a sort of mist seemed to ooze out. Multiple runes were engraved into it, all of which glowed an eerie blue.

 

“What the hell?” he asked no one particular, although he felt that the blade was going to answer back soon enough.

 

“Well, well!” the masked man squealed irritably. “Seems that da Devil Kiddies have come to town! Well, I suppose you deserve ta hear my name now, since you’re in for a hell of a fight here. It’s Job, at yer service.” He bowed mockingly. “Now kiddo, lets have some real fun.” He swung his javelin, and pointed it straight at Matt. “Your go, kid.”

 

Matt licked his lips. “Whatever you say.” With that, he charged towards the madman swinging the javelin out of the way as he attempted to pierce his chest. Right when he would have cut down his heart, Job went flying into some metal support of some unfinished structure.

 

Matt turned to see Anna holding the largest warhammer that he had ever seen. She swung it onto her shoulders. The way she was swinging it, Matt would have assumed that it was as light as a feather.

 

“Anna?”

 

“Don’t even ask Mattie! I don’t even know what’s going on. Speaking of which, where’s –“

 

Suddenly, dirt exploded right next to Anna, sending her flying. Job instantly appeared where the explosion occurred. “First rule of combat, biatch! Don’t get distracted!”

 

“Ann!”

 

The girl would of have had gone flying into an incomplete brick wall if a silver gauntlet and boot clad Kevin hadn’t appeared instantly in thin air, and caught her in his arms. They fell to the ground softly.

 

“What took you so long?” the inpatient girl asked.

 

“My feet were hurting.”

 

Job was not willing to wait for any of them to get comfortable, however. He sprung forward. “Well it’s going to be hurting even more, buddy boy!” Kevin pushed Anna away from him and brought his hands upward, parrying the blow.

 

“Not today!” He pushed upwards, pushing Job off of him. The attacker slid across the dirt onto some ruins.

 

Matt leaped towards the foe, yelling as he brought his blade downward.

 

Job didn’t move a muscle.

 

The blade slammed into Job’s shoulder.

 

It didn’t cut. It didn’t even bruise. It was like a feather had just hit some paper!

 

“What the…”

 

“You’re probably wondering why it didn’t cut me, right?” He kneed Matt in the gut. He sensed Anna charging towards him, and turning to face her, he slapped her, and sent her flying.

 

Job stared upwards as Kevin plummeted from the sky, feet first, fire trailing behind him. Job raised his hand, and blocked the attack. With a shrug, he threw Kevin off.

 

“Here’s the answer fellas. The one with more magic wins. It really is that simple.” He turned to face Matt, who was gasping for air. “And let’s face it. You. Lost.”