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Description
Book 1 chapter 16
Bells of warning

Location: The Necropolish.

The day is still young. Everyone hard at work. People going on dates. Hanging out with friends. City busy with all kinds of fun activities and great food. But a man spends his time mostly alone. Working on the latest tech. Building in his own workshop/home. Charlie.
The skin on his hands dry and bruised. Always building something new. He enjoys his work. Likes the compliments and awards. But it can still be pretty lonely. Only having a special visitor come by every month. His darling little student brining him home cooked food. Sloppy but still better than canned food. The newly fresh flowers on his tables brought by her, switching out the old and brining in the new. He looks at them often, knowing someone cares. Thinking of another life he would have if not for his brilliant mind to build things. Charlie’s creativity doesn't run out. Neither do his dreams of a different life.
He hears a knock on the door. Charlie surprised as he wasn’t expecting anyone to visit. He gets up to see who it is. Turning the camera on to see Eric waiting alone. Charlie grows a smile and pushes the button to open the door. He needs to clean himself up. Unable to find a towel to clean his hands. Runs around looking for it, holding his hands up. " Where is it? Come on."
Eric walks in to see Charlie running around. "Hello. Um.. You all right?" Eric asks
"Yea I’m just looking for a towel. My hands are dirty. Ah I’ll just wash them." He goes over to the sink to wash his hands. The warm clean water on his broken hands, a real comfort. " So what can i do for you?"
Eric walks to the table and sets his guns down. " I got to test your guns. They're pretty good. You have outdone yourself."
Charlie walks up. " Thanks. So anything i can improve on?"
Eric grabs one gun to look at it precisely. " Handling. And maybe the recoil. And i notice this has a bit of a scratch, the start of a crack."
Charlie grabs the guns. They're heavy. "Okay. I can work that out. But these were prototypes. I have made an actual version of it now. I present to you" *the box opens and two new guns inside* "The no name."
Eric looks at Charlie. "The no name?" Charlie pulls them out of the box " Take a guess why they're named that. ( he sets them down) I am a busy man, have no time for names."
Eric takes them and he already feels them different. All black with red on the top edge, both sides. " These are pretty good. Anything else different?"
Charlie gets close, excited to reveal the big twist. "They have a special power now. You can now let the power build up and make one powerful shot. A shot so strong it can blow up a car. Like a grenade. All you have to do is just sacrifice one soul out of many and you can do it. It can still make regular shots, but this is something extra if you need it."
Eric amazed. "Damn Charlie that’s powerful. I can be unstoppable with these."
Charlie giggles. "Yeah, but making that powerful shot can be so strong it can blow up the gun in your hand. And maybe lose your arm, and maybe more. But you're a vampire so you could grow it back."
" Charlie. What. The. Hell. You can’t be serious. When will i ever use it to blow something up, with my arm and the gun." Charlie ignores that part and goes to the back room. He brings out a some new gear, something more mechanical. "Tell me Eric. Do you have trouble losing your knives when you throw them?"
Eric looks with a blank face. "No."
"Well then you're in luck. I have something for that, gear that has strong strings of metal connected to the blades. 4 knives, 2 go up your sleeve and 2 to your hips. It even comes with a holster for the new guns. When you throw a knife, then you can imminently whenever you want. Just do this with your hand." Charlie tries to demonstrate hand movements. But can’t get it to work.
Eric: "Charlie. Charlie! (louder) Charlie stop!"
Charlie stops trying. "You get what i mean. You can use it as a grapple aswell. Like maybe when you're on the roof. You can put it in the wall and then get down. Oh but maybe it will get stuck. Okay nevermid, just use it where you see fit. You're the being hunted here."
Eric puts the new gear on and his coat over it. It fits perfectly. Eric looks at Charlie with gratitude. "Thanks. This can come handy."
" No problem. Well... off you go. I have work to do."
Eric: " Well alright then. See you again some other day. Have a good day." They wave goodbye to each other. Eric walks back to his car and sits down. " Wow i can even sit down with this gear all over my back. Nice." Eric starts driving away. Charlie looking through the camera, as Eric drives off. Again alone. He sits down to get back to work. With single light on the table. " Oh dammit, i forgot to say hello when he came in. Agh"

A while later Eric goes up to the 28th floor. To Tanja’s office. The 3rd in command. Eric walks in to see Erwin and Tanja talking, deciding not interrupt and just sit down on a comfy chair behind them to wait it out.
Erwin, the general of the necropolish. Finishes talking to Tanja and turns around. Spooked to see Eric. "Ah Eric. Didn’t see you there. It’s like you’re a vampire or something. Hah. Bye, I’m off to work!" He walks past him and leaves. Eric watches as he leaves, quiet. Tanja seeing Eric more silent than usual. It concerns her inside, but doesn't show it. She sees a little sadness in him, they share that feeling.
She decides to break the silence. " Hey. You okay?"
Eric takes a moment before speaking. " I'm just wondering. I have been with Juno for over a while now. Enough to give my mind on the situation. I think it’s good. I'm glad she’s back. Even after... you know."
Tanja stands up to sit next to Eric. "That's good. I was worried if i made the right decision. What's the situation with Daeer?"
"He is somewhere i don't know. The Hellking was not much help with him. Just told me to be careful. Met some interesting people in hell and on my way there. Like that boy with the Power Of Eddious."
Tanja: "Don't think about it too much. He's in APEX now, will see what happens. Maybe we will make him an ally to the necromongers."
Eric stands up and looks down upon Tanja. He says with a disappointed voice. " He's just a kid. He deserves a normal school life and a home. Not the Strongest prison in the world. The others with that power aren't in prison. I haven't met them but if they aren’t in prison they must be doing something right."
Tanja stands up aswell. "I know. But you haven't met them like you said. I have. They aren’t too different, but they learned that doing what you want will only get you so far. Well maybe this one girl, Alisa. She’s really weird and dangerous. However we know her, so we know to let her be free. Jack is unknown, being a kid with the Power Of Eddious is the worst. Because you can't trust them."
Eric becomes angered by that. "You don't have to believe a kid when he says he won’t rape someone. You know, he won't do it. But i understand you know what’s best for the boy. You have proved me wrong before. I just wish I could do more."
Eric continues: “You’re methods seem cruel. But they are very effective. You can do good with a lot of evil.”
Tanja feeling sorry for Eric. She hugs him. "You are the one that keeps me from going too far. To keep the good in me. You are the best with that." Eric saddened by her words.
Eric: "You know i will follow you to the end."
Tanja: "No you won't. And i hope you won't. When i become the very thing we fight against. You must do what’s right, I will do what i believe is right." She lets go of him. Feeling a need to tear up. But holds it back and walks back to her desk. "Get rid of this problem with Daeer and get back to work!"
Eric likes that she holds a strong side. To show her strength. Even after all she’s been through in the past. And still is. It gives him a structure. He walks away with a strong form.

Back at the city Hai is coming back from the store. She walks down the road as the sun and sky shine orange. She hums to herself in a joyful mood. Things looking brighter for her. Not so much in a scared mood after she had told Erwin about her story. Got things off her chest.
A sudden ring of church bells are heard. It grabs her notice, as the sudden cold breeze blows by her. She looks to her side to see a church. The bells ring aloud across. She hasn't heard them for a long time. Curious, starts walking up the small hill to the white small church. She enters and sees a big room with cracked walls. Old chairs and pictures of people on the walls. So many of them. Most of them are people who died to the 99th line.
She hasn’t visited the church ever since she was a child. It had a lot more people back then, now its empty. She enjoys the peace. One of the biggest cities is so calm often. Sitting down as she looks at the beautiful colored windows, they shine a beautiful light in. She goes to a happier memory. Closes her eyes and listens for the wind that swooshes by. The small bells that move to the wind.
A man walks up from behind her. She senses it but isn't startled. Hai looks behind her and sees a man wearing blue and gold yellow clothes, priest type of clothing. His face is hidden in darkness as he has a hood over his head, a man of god. He walks around her to sit next to her. They both sit there quietly, the man looks straight ahead and Hai follows after.
She breaks the silence. " You are not a necromonger. Or maybe just half. Who are you?"
The man looks at her back. White from his eyes spotting out from the darkness. " My name is number 9. Or 9th if you would like. I am yes only a half necromonger. Father human and mother necromonger. One of those special necromongers, from the sisterhood. You know, the ones that get sent to the 99th line"
Hai: " Oh. My name is...."
9th: " Hai. Yeah i know, a friend of Eric’s. I've met him before. Not many people visit anymore. But he likes to keep a purpose for this church. You two live together."
They sit there in quiet for a little before 9th speaks. "I'm sorry. I didn’t mean to seem intruding."
Hai: "It's okay. Glad to meet people who are friends with Eric."
"Why are you here?" A startling voice is heard from behind. Hai turns around to see Eric behind her. She stands up. " I'm sorry. I just wondered in here." The man still looking ahead. Quiet. Eric sits next to 9th, where she sat.
Eric looks at Hai. "It's okay. You have nothing to apologies for. I was heading home but i felt you're presence further away. So i came to see if you were okay." Hai glad to hear that Eric was just concerned.
Eric: " Number 9 here is one of the best demon hunters. You still taking jobs every now and then?"
9th uneasy to admit he hasn’t. Eric realizing he should not ask further. Hai asks: " Why has he not helped you fight Daeer, if he's a hunter?"
9th: "It's not my battle. I hunt demons who are on their own out there, hunting for blood. Causing ill will. Business men and Freelancers serve someone. It's just business. I don't get involved with that. I would help my friend, but would i be any different from Daeer. Just killing."
Eric respects his view on things. Something that he doesn't see often. "Why did the bell ring? I haven’t heard it for years now?" Number 9 hesitant to answer. Just bows his head. "I didn't ring it." Eric doesn't seem to believe him and stands up. " Let's go Hai. And 9. Stay true." Eric starts walking away, as Hai looks at 9th. He looks back, he doesn’t scare her, despite his appearance.
"Bye!" Hai says with a sweet voice. She goes with Eric as he is waiting at the doorway for her.
They walk down the hill, the big bell going off again. She looks behind to see the man waving goodbye. She waves back to him and walks away.

Back with Daeer. He and his 50 men arrive at an old abandoned factory in the underworld. The line of cars stop in front. Daeer coming out from the 2nd car from the front. He looks around to see piles of rubble around with an old and broken road. He admires the view. The rest of his crew gets out with guns in hands. They walk up to join Daeer.
One of them asks: "Why are we here?" Daeer turns around smiling. "Bitches and assholes. Welcome! This is where we end it. We will use this place to take Eric in. And kill. Perfect spot. All this old rusty machinery, can be useful to hold him down. While i chop off his damn head." He goes to the car and pulls out a rusty sharp axe. Starts doing tricks with it. Not concerned if he hits anybody.
"So how do we do it?"-A demon asks. Daeer stops and starts dancing to a rhythm before running up a hill formed of rubble. Some follow. They get to the top to see the view. A bright light at the distance. The Necropolish. Daeer with an axe over his shoulder, smiling at the view. " We start there!"
Daeers men admire the view as they have never seen The Necropolish before. "Set up! I want guns high and low." Daeer orders with a serious tone. The men rush down to get things ready. As they are so close to The necropolish, and Eric.

End

Description
Book 1 chapter 16
Bells of warning

Location: The Necropolish.

The day is still young. Everyone hard at work. People going on dates. Hanging out with friends. City busy with all kinds of fun activities and great food. But a man spends his time mostly alone. Working on the latest tech. Building in his own workshop/home. Charlie.
The skin on his hands dry and bruised. Always building something new. He enjoys his work. Likes the compliments and awards. But it can still be pretty lonely. Only having a special visitor come by every month. His darling little student brining him home cooked food. Sloppy but still better than canned food. The newly fresh flowers on his tables brought by her, switching out the old and brining in the new. He looks at them often, knowing someone cares. Thinking of another life he would have if not for his brilliant mind to build things. Charlie’s creativity doesn't run out. Neither do his dreams of a different life.
He hears a knock on the door. Charlie surprised as he wasn’t expecting anyone to visit. He gets up to see who it is. Turning the camera on to see Eric waiting alone. Charlie grows a smile and pushes the button to open the door. He needs to clean himself up. Unable to find a towel to clean his hands. Runs around looking for it, holding his hands up. " Where is it? Come on."
Eric walks in to see Charlie running around. "Hello. Um.. You all right?" Eric asks
"Yea I’m just looking for a towel. My hands are dirty. Ah I’ll just wash them." He goes over to the sink to wash his hands. The warm clean water on his broken hands, a real comfort. " So what can i do for you?"
Eric walks to the table and sets his guns down. " I got to test your guns. They're pretty good. You have outdone yourself."
Charlie walks up. " Thanks. So anything i can improve on?"
Eric grabs one gun to look at it precisely. " Handling. And maybe the recoil. And i notice this has a bit of a scratch, the start of a crack."
Charlie grabs the guns. They're heavy. "Okay. I can work that out. But these were prototypes. I have made an actual version of it now. I present to you" *the box opens and two new guns inside* "The no name."
Eric looks at Charlie. "The no name?" Charlie pulls them out of the box " Take a guess why they're named that. ( he sets them down) I am a busy man, have no time for names."
Eric takes them and he already feels them different. All black with red on the top edge, both sides. " These are pretty good. Anything else different?"
Charlie gets close, excited to reveal the big twist. "They have a special power now. You can now let the power build up and make one powerful shot. A shot so strong it can blow up a car. Like a grenade. All you have to do is just sacrifice one soul out of many and you can do it. It can still make regular shots, but this is something extra if you need it."
Eric amazed. "Damn Charlie that’s powerful. I can be unstoppable with these."
Charlie giggles. "Yeah, but making that powerful shot can be so strong it can blow up the gun in your hand. And maybe lose your arm, and maybe more. But you're a vampire so you could grow it back."
" Charlie. What. The. Hell. You can’t be serious. When will i ever use it to blow something up, with my arm and the gun." Charlie ignores that part and goes to the back room. He brings out a some new gear, something more mechanical. "Tell me Eric. Do you have trouble losing your knives when you throw them?"
Eric looks with a blank face. "No."
"Well then you're in luck. I have something for that, gear that has strong strings of metal connected to the blades. 4 knives, 2 go up your sleeve and 2 to your hips. It even comes with a holster for the new guns. When you throw a knife, then you can imminently whenever you want. Just do this with your hand." Charlie tries to demonstrate hand movements. But can’t get it to work.
Eric: "Charlie. Charlie! (louder) Charlie stop!"
Charlie stops trying. "You get what i mean. You can use it as a grapple aswell. Like maybe when you're on the roof. You can put it in the wall and then get down. Oh but maybe it will get stuck. Okay nevermid, just use it where you see fit. You're the being hunted here."
Eric puts the new gear on and his coat over it. It fits perfectly. Eric looks at Charlie with gratitude. "Thanks. This can come handy."
" No problem. Well... off you go. I have work to do."
Eric: " Well alright then. See you again some other day. Have a good day." They wave goodbye to each other. Eric walks back to his car and sits down. " Wow i can even sit down with this gear all over my back. Nice." Eric starts driving away. Charlie looking through the camera, as Eric drives off. Again alone. He sits down to get back to work. With single light on the table. " Oh dammit, i forgot to say hello when he came in. Agh"

A while later Eric goes up to the 28th floor. To Tanja’s office. The 3rd in command. Eric walks in to see Erwin and Tanja talking, deciding not interrupt and just sit down on a comfy chair behind them to wait it out.
Erwin, the general of the necropolish. Finishes talking to Tanja and turns around. Spooked to see Eric. "Ah Eric. Didn’t see you there. It’s like you’re a vampire or something. Hah. Bye, I’m off to work!" He walks past him and leaves. Eric watches as he leaves, quiet. Tanja seeing Eric more silent than usual. It concerns her inside, but doesn't show it. She sees a little sadness in him, they share that feeling.
She decides to break the silence. " Hey. You okay?"
Eric takes a moment before speaking. " I'm just wondering. I have been with Juno for over a while now. Enough to give my mind on the situation. I think it’s good. I'm glad she’s back. Even after... you know."
Tanja stands up to sit next to Eric. "That's good. I was worried if i made the right decision. What's the situation with Daeer?"
"He is somewhere i don't know. The Hellking was not much help with him. Just told me to be careful. Met some interesting people in hell and on my way there. Like that boy with the Power Of Eddious."
Tanja: "Don't think about it too much. He's in APEX now, will see what happens. Maybe we will make him an ally to the necromongers."
Eric stands up and looks down upon Tanja. He says with a disappointed voice. " He's just a kid. He deserves a normal school life and a home. Not the Strongest prison in the world. The others with that power aren't in prison. I haven't met them but if they aren’t in prison they must be doing something right."
Tanja stands up aswell. "I know. But you haven't met them like you said. I have. They aren’t too different, but they learned that doing what you want will only get you so far. Well maybe this one girl, Alisa. She’s really weird and dangerous. However we know her, so we know to let her be free. Jack is unknown, being a kid with the Power Of Eddious is the worst. Because you can't trust them."
Eric becomes angered by that. "You don't have to believe a kid when he says he won’t rape someone. You know, he won't do it. But i understand you know what’s best for the boy. You have proved me wrong before. I just wish I could do more."
Eric continues: “You’re methods seem cruel. But they are very effective. You can do good with a lot of evil.”
Tanja feeling sorry for Eric. She hugs him. "You are the one that keeps me from going too far. To keep the good in me. You are the best with that." Eric saddened by her words.
Eric: "You know i will follow you to the end."
Tanja: "No you won't. And i hope you won't. When i become the very thing we fight against. You must do what’s right, I will do what i believe is right." She lets go of him. Feeling a need to tear up. But holds it back and walks back to her desk. "Get rid of this problem with Daeer and get back to work!"
Eric likes that she holds a strong side. To show her strength. Even after all she’s been through in the past. And still is. It gives him a structure. He walks away with a strong form.

Back at the city Hai is coming back from the store. She walks down the road as the sun and sky shine orange. She hums to herself in a joyful mood. Things looking brighter for her. Not so much in a scared mood after she had told Erwin about her story. Got things off her chest.
A sudden ring of church bells are heard. It grabs her notice, as the sudden cold breeze blows by her. She looks to her side to see a church. The bells ring aloud across. She hasn't heard them for a long time. Curious, starts walking up the small hill to the white small church. She enters and sees a big room with cracked walls. Old chairs and pictures of people on the walls. So many of them. Most of them are people who died to the 99th line.
She hasn’t visited the church ever since she was a child. It had a lot more people back then, now its empty. She enjoys the peace. One of the biggest cities is so calm often. Sitting down as she looks at the beautiful colored windows, they shine a beautiful light in. She goes to a happier memory. Closes her eyes and listens for the wind that swooshes by. The small bells that move to the wind.
A man walks up from behind her. She senses it but isn't startled. Hai looks behind her and sees a man wearing blue and gold yellow clothes, priest type of clothing. His face is hidden in darkness as he has a hood over his head, a man of god. He walks around her to sit next to her. They both sit there quietly, the man looks straight ahead and Hai follows after.
She breaks the silence. " You are not a necromonger. Or maybe just half. Who are you?"
The man looks at her back. White from his eyes spotting out from the darkness. " My name is number 9. Or 9th if you would like. I am yes only a half necromonger. Father human and mother necromonger. One of those special necromongers, from the sisterhood. You know, the ones that get sent to the 99th line"
Hai: " Oh. My name is...."
9th: " Hai. Yeah i know, a friend of Eric’s. I've met him before. Not many people visit anymore. But he likes to keep a purpose for this church. You two live together."
They sit there in quiet for a little before 9th speaks. "I'm sorry. I didn’t mean to seem intruding."
Hai: "It's okay. Glad to meet people who are friends with Eric."
"Why are you here?" A startling voice is heard from behind. Hai turns around to see Eric behind her. She stands up. " I'm sorry. I just wondered in here." The man still looking ahead. Quiet. Eric sits next to 9th, where she sat.
Eric looks at Hai. "It's okay. You have nothing to apologies for. I was heading home but i felt you're presence further away. So i came to see if you were okay." Hai glad to hear that Eric was just concerned.
Eric: " Number 9 here is one of the best demon hunters. You still taking jobs every now and then?"
9th uneasy to admit he hasn’t. Eric realizing he should not ask further. Hai asks: " Why has he not helped you fight Daeer, if he's a hunter?"
9th: "It's not my battle. I hunt demons who are on their own out there, hunting for blood. Causing ill will. Business men and Freelancers serve someone. It's just business. I don't get involved with that. I would help my friend, but would i be any different from Daeer. Just killing."
Eric respects his view on things. Something that he doesn't see often. "Why did the bell ring? I haven’t heard it for years now?" Number 9 hesitant to answer. Just bows his head. "I didn't ring it." Eric doesn't seem to believe him and stands up. " Let's go Hai. And 9. Stay true." Eric starts walking away, as Hai looks at 9th. He looks back, he doesn’t scare her, despite his appearance.
"Bye!" Hai says with a sweet voice. She goes with Eric as he is waiting at the doorway for her.
They walk down the hill, the big bell going off again. She looks behind to see the man waving goodbye. She waves back to him and walks away.

Back with Daeer. He and his 50 men arrive at an old abandoned factory in the underworld. The line of cars stop in front. Daeer coming out from the 2nd car from the front. He looks around to see piles of rubble around with an old and broken road. He admires the view. The rest of his crew gets out with guns in hands. They walk up to join Daeer.
One of them asks: "Why are we here?" Daeer turns around smiling. "Bitches and assholes. Welcome! This is where we end it. We will use this place to take Eric in. And kill. Perfect spot. All this old rusty machinery, can be useful to hold him down. While i chop off his damn head." He goes to the car and pulls out a rusty sharp axe. Starts doing tricks with it. Not concerned if he hits anybody.
"So how do we do it?"-A demon asks. Daeer stops and starts dancing to a rhythm before running up a hill formed of rubble. Some follow. They get to the top to see the view. A bright light at the distance. The Necropolish. Daeer with an axe over his shoulder, smiling at the view. " We start there!"
Daeers men admire the view as they have never seen The Necropolish before. "Set up! I want guns high and low." Daeer orders with a serious tone. The men rush down to get things ready. As they are so close to The necropolish, and Eric.

End