The Warrior

By Ben Tousey

t's the end of the world as they know it!

The planet Darklands doesn't know this yet, but their days are numbered. Life as they know it is about to come to a violent end and they are not prepared for the battle that is about to take place.
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Yhabbut Publishing
• Release date: Apr 4, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524282868

Ben Tousey

According to the Oracle of the Bacon, Ben Tousey is 4 degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon. Ben's book, "Acting Your Dreams" was reviewed by psychiatrist, Dr. Richard Vath, who also counseled Debby Boone. Debby Boone was in 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders with Brandy Norwood--who was in the 39th Annual Grammy Awards with... Kevin Bacon!Ben has worked as an actor, musician and standup comedian with heavy-hitters such as Grant Goodeve from Northern Exposure, Barry McGuire from the Broadway Musical "Hair" and the hit song, "Eve of Destruction," and standup comedienne Vanda Mikoloski.Ben spent fifteen years in various forms of reparative--or "ex-gay" therapy before finally embracing who he is. He writes about that experience in his book, My Egypt. He is best known for writing occult-themed gay romance and religious satire.

Book preview

The City of the Ages

Darklands City stretched like a sea of concrete, modern glass, and steel, a magnificent metropolis covering nearly two-hundred and fifty square miles. It was centrally located in reference to the rest of Darklands and sat inland about fifty miles off the Nefacarious Sea, the largest body of water on the planet.

The largest river to empty into the Sea was the River Thromins (pronounced Trow-mins). Fifty miles inland, the SanSquire River joined the River Thromins to form the largest river in the world. On the peninsula that jutted between these two massive rivers was the heart of Darklands City.

The River Thromins moved quickly as it hurled itself toward the sea, and because of the speed and volume of water, when it hit the ocean, it created a wall of water several feet into the Nefacarious Sea. The river’s currents created winds that constantly blew down the river and out to sea. These winds could sometimes be very dangerous, sometimes reaching speeds that would capsize even larger boats.

The river had also built up a delta that stretched miles into the sea. On this delta, many unique plants and other forms of vegetation grew. This also brought in fish and other inimitable and bizarre marine life, which floated and swam among the vegetation. Some of these creatures were harmful to humans but preferred salt water, so they seldom made it up the river.

To make it possible for ships to enter and leave the river to reach the port of Darklands City, engineers built a dike down the center of the river at the point at which it met the sea. They dredged the area for a shipping lane into the river, opening a channel for ships to pass unharmed by shallow ridges or reefs under the wall of water constantly looming over the river’s mouth.

Further inland, once inside the city, beautiful bridges spanned the river, connecting the north and south sides of the city. Suspension bridges several feet in the air spanned the great river below them and moved ever so slightly with the air currents that flowed in and out with the river. There were also floating bridges that floated atop the river’s surface, opened and closed for passing ships, and double-layered bridges that allowed twice the traffic to pass.

In the downtown area, massive skyscrapers reached high into the air, so many that they seemed to go on forever. Darklands City boasted the tallest buildings in the world, including the tallest. It rose two-hundred and thirty-six stories into the sky. The view from this height was dizzying. From this building, the ‘City Building,’ one could see anywhere in the entire city and the surrounding countryside. It was truly spectacular.

Only things were not as they appeared.

Caught in Extremes

In the heart of downtown, a police car turned a corner and drove slowly and silently up the street with its headlights off. The car was painted black to blend in with the night and go unnoticed. A few feet down the street, three vagrants sat huddled together in a dark alley between two buildings, trying to keep warm.

One of the vagrants sat with his back toward the street, looking into the fire.

You know it isn’t safe to sit with your back to the street, Numbsie, his friend said.

If they’re going to shoot me, Frank, I would rather not see them do it, Numbsie mumbled.

But what about the gangs? his friend asked. Then, he took on an ominous tone. What about Ryker?

Ryker’s the least of our problems, the third vagrant said. He took a long drink from his bottle and looked deep into the fire.

What do you mean, Willie? Frank questioned.

Our real enemy is this city! Willie took a long look at the streets in front of him. Numbsie suddenly turned around to see if Willie was looking at anything in particular. Willie wasn’t, so Numbsie returned to his position with his back to the streets.

The Promised Land, Willie continued, almost to himself. That’s what they called it—the Promised Land. People flocked to Darklands City in droves, looking for gold. Only to find out the gold is rocks with gold paint. Once you’re in, there ain’t no getting back out. And the City? The City Building. ‘A modern spectacle of human achievement.’ It cost billions. You know how they paid for it? Willie went on without even waiting for an answer. They cut back on the salaries of the city employees. They cut back on benefits to the jobless, homeless, and sick. They paid for it by raising taxes so high that no one could buy food or clothes. Then they left us to starve. Ryker’s doing us a favor. He’s hitting the city where it hurts!

Willie took another drink from his bottle.

Numbsie looked up at his friend. You’d have to be pretty bitter to talk like that. You know yourself that Ryker wouldn’t do no favors for no one.

Bitter? Willie asked. Bitter? Before this damn City got a hold of me, I used to have a place to live. But the City raised my property taxes, and I had to sell it. I had a small business to help support myself, but the city took it over because I couldn’t pay my business taxes. Darklands City robbed all my customers so they couldn’t come to me. Bitter? I hope Ryker tears this City apart!

Willie swigged the last drink from his bottle and threw it against the wall of one of the buildings.

As they talked, the police car stopped a few feet away, and the two officers inside looked hard at the vagrants.

The driver looked over at his partner. What do you think? he asked.

His partner drew his gun and readied it. I think it’s time to exterminate some pests.

Why don’t we check it out before you kill them? the driver asked.

They know the rules, his partner replied.

The car once again started up and raced down the street. The partner rolled down his window and fired several rounds at the three vagrants. Sure enough, they hit their targets, and the men fell dead. The driver radioed headquarters to report the incident and request assistance. Then he turned the car around and returned to the sight where the vagrants' bodies lay in a pile. They sat in the car with their rifles ready. Then, the partner opened his door and stepped out.

Maybe you’d better wait until backup gets here, the driver cautioned as he stepped out.

I’m just going to take a look, his partner said, approaching the bodies.

The driver stepped out of the car but stood in the doorway, one foot still on the floorboard. His partner kicked over one of the bodies and studied him. Yup, it’s just a bum.

At that moment, almost as if they came out of the night, several street kids surrounded him. Two kids grabbed him from behind and held him firmly while the others encompassed him.

The driver quickly jumped back in the car and locked the doors. He jammed his foot on the gas to get away. Two shots were fired from behind, and the bullets shattered the back window and lodged themselves in the back of the driver’s head. The glass was supposed to be bulletproof.

The car spun out of control and crashed into another parked car. After that, there was no more movement. The driver was dead. His partner watched, horrified.

The group parted, and another young kid approached. His appearance demonstrated a dangerous, even treacherous undercurrent. He stood 5 feet 11 inches tall, his arms and legs were muscular, and his overall build suggested he was nobody to mess around with. His eyes were cold and torturous. He approached the police officer. Sweat broke on the officer’s face, and his breathing went shallow. He was afraid, was desperate not to show it.

Ryker? the officer whispered.

That would be me, the boy smirked as he did a mock bow.

The officer was terrified now. Nobody had ever seen Ryker and lived. He was the terror of Darklands City. The officer made another desperate attempt to break free, but the kids holding him were very tough.

You killed a bum, Ryker said.

I was just doing my job, the officer pleaded.

I think you like your job, the boy continued.

It’s just a job, the officer said. They knew the rules.

What rules? Ryker asked.

The officer struggled. The rules.

What rules?! Ryker held a combat knife up to the officer’s chin.

Anyone out after dark is to be killed. No questions asked, the officer answered.

That seems kind of extreme, doesn’t it? Ryker asked. Why would they make such an extreme law?

The officer said nothing, which angered Ryker, and he jabbed the combat knife deeper into the officer’s chin.

Why would they make such an extreme law?

Because of the... but the officer didn’t want to continue.

Because of the what? Ryker asked and jammed the combat knife even further. The combat knife had cut into the chin and pushed into the officer’s jaw.

Because of the gangs, the office finished.

Ryker turned to the people behind him. Well then, I guess we know what we must do, he joked.

The rest of the company laughed while the officer begged for his life. Please? he begged. Please let me go.

You know the rules, Ryker jeered. Then he pushed the combat knife into the officer’s chin, piercing the tongue. Ryker then pulled out the blade and slit the officer’s throat. The rest of them watched and laughed as the officer bled to death. The officer could feel his life floating away from him and could do nothing. They still had him firmly in their grasp, and they held him as he grew weaker and weaker.

As soon as he was dead, the backup patrol arrived.

Ryker and the gang took the officer’s body and, as soon as the other police cars were close enough, hurled it onto one of the cars and disappeared into the darkness. The police slammed on their brakes, jumped out of their cars, and fired several shots into the night. Nothing was left—only the officers' and vagrants’ bodies.

The Dark Facts

Willie was right about the City Building. It was the skyscraper version of a magnificent palace. 235 stories in the air, the floor just before the top level was busy tonight, even though it was late.

The floor of the reception room was covered with dark blue carpet. Large, expensive paintings hung on the walls, and life-size sculptures costing thousands of dollars in and of themselves, dotted the floors and shelves around the room. On the other side of a series of glass doors was the conference room—a large room with the best of audio/video technology.

Thirty of the city’s highest-ranking officials sat around a large oak table. At the head of the table, a visitor, Judith Rokler, stood before a floor-to-ceiling projection screen and explained what those gathered were about to see.

We’ve spent over a year trying to get this video, Judith told them, And this is all we’ve got. The film is incomplete. We hired the world's best undercover photographers and videographers, and none returned alive. They were killed, and their cameras were destroyed where we could easily find them. In reality, ‘we have only what Ryker’s and Slasher’s gangs have allowed us to see.’ With that, she took the remote and started the tape.

The lights went down, and video images began rushing past them. The editing was choppy and pieced together as so much of the footage had been destroyed, but the screen showed a city overwrought with violence and poverty. It was hard to believe that this was the same city that the council saw every day. The pictures so graphic that nobody could watch the whole thing without turning away in an attempt to keep from retching.

The film's opening showed an empty street in the nighttime shadow of the City Building. Then, a sudden jump-cut to a picture of a young man shot and dying on the streets in his own waste. Another image showed a man being stabbed to death in broad daylight. A woman was raped and murdered, and it was caught on tape. A local grocery store was robbed, and when the owner tried to protect himself, he was hit over the head with a baseball bat and beaten until he died. Then, his store was looted, and the perpetrators left the body hanging over the counter to proclaim their victory.

Even before the film had finished, Judith clicked the remote and turned it off. She was sure it would do no good to show anymore, and nobody there had the stomach for it.

She stood in front of them as the lights went up.

Our goal with this project was to capture on video the face of the one man that has plagued this city like a disease. She looked around the table and made eye contact with every person there. He’s an elusive young thug known only as Ryker. Everyone in the city knows his name, but no one has ever seen his face and lived to describe it. We’ve had only two photographers who were able to get undercover with Ryker’s gang, but they were soon exposed, and we found their bodies impaled on a lamppost in front of the police station with their cameras hanging over their necks, dismantled, and their chips erased.

The screen rolled itself back into its cylinder above the ceiling.

For several moments, nobody said anything; instead, they mulled over what they had just seen.

Eventually, the Mayor of Darklands City stood from his chair at the head of the table to address the council. He was a tall, thin man, somewhat menacing in stature, with dark, flyaway hair that made him look just a little like a mad scientist. This gave him a somewhat ghoulish appearance.

Ladies and gentlemen, he said. As you can see, Darklands City continues to grow steadily worse. If things keep going as they are going... he paused to ponder that. Then I shudder to think what might happen next. He leaned into the table and looked around at everyone else. We’ve got to do something drastic.

How much more drastic can we get? one lady, June Perkins, asked. We already have the most drastic curfew laws in the Darklands. Can we get any more drastic than a law that says that anyone caught outside after dark can be shot by the police, no questions asked?

It isn’t drastic enough, Mr. Myer said coolly.

Not drastic enough?! Mrs. Perkins shot back in surprise.

It’s not a question of ‘How drastic.’ It’s a question of what it takes to make this city safe for its residents.

But let me remind you, June said, we’re spending millions in lawsuits by every human rights group on the planet. We’re ineffective because we can’t pay the police to keep the peace as long as we’re busy paying off lawyers, judges, and special interest groups. If this keeps up, things could end up worse than when we built the City Building.

Mr. Myer looked around the room, studying the faces. Then he looked at Mrs. Perkins. If we are to keep this city under any form of control, we must take a tough stance against anything that might undermine our authority. We’re dangerously close to anarchy.

The city’s gangs had all been swallowed up into two large gangs, which was like having two countries at war. Both gangs were bitter enemies, caught up in a vicious rivalry, and bent on destroying the other with little or no regard for the innocent. And they now had worldwide reach. Most experts agree that if we don’t do something about this situation fast, they will completely undermine the entire fabric of our society, and they know it.

How many gang members are we talking about? another council member asked.

Based on our limited information, Judith answered, "these gangs are probably the biggest in the world. That means that ‘Per Gang,’ we’re talking memberships in the thousands. And they’ve branched off or franchised.

As the Leader of the Venomites, Ryker has been undefeated for years, and there is no sign that his power is waning. Legend has it that he grew up in this gang from infancy. He is responsible for the deaths of over a thousand throughout the years. Then she looked around the room.

"Slasher is Ryker’s archrival, leader of the gang, ‘Inferno.’ He is also very good, but he does not have the experience or cunning of Ryker, and he especially lacks patience. From what we know of him, Slasher is cocky beyond words and never considers the consequences of his actions. He has led his gang recklessly and has taken many unnecessary risks. This has also given him a reputation. But it’s also worked in our favor, as we’ve been able to capture pictures and video images of him. For Slasher, killing is a sport, something he does for fun, not only for territory or profit.

Again, Mr. Myers stood up.

Their fierce and bitter rivalry has all but destroyed this city. Nobody knows when or where either gang will strike next, so we cannot prevent an attack, and we don’t have the manpower to stop an attack once it has begun.

So what are you suggesting? another council member asked.

I suggest we call upon every military branch to help with this problem.

Are you crazy? another council member asked. Even if we did have the military power to deal with this, how are we going to deal with our domestic and overseas affairs if our military is embroiled in gang warfare?

Mrs. Perkins added. We’ve already got a form of martial law. Now, we’re going to bring the entire military into this. Do you know what that’s going to do domestically?

The city is in a state of emergency, Mr. Myer said coolly. That’s all there is to it.

As Mr. Myer addressed the city officials, a page boy quietly entered the room and approached Rhend, who was sitting at the opposite end of the table from Mr. Myer and handed him a note. Rhend took the note and read it quietly. When he finished, he angrily handed it back to the boy and motioned him out. The page left, and Rhend quietly and inconspicuously rose from his chair and left the room. Once out of the room, he turned down a hallway and into a small broom closet, where he was met by a young street kid named Borgie.

Slasher says it’s up. We go tonight.

How come I wasn’t informed of this earlier? Rhend asked angrily.

Look! Borgie told him. We do it our way, or we don’t do it.

All right, Rhend conceded, But remember who’s funding this little excursion.

No problem. Borgie slapped Rhend on the cheek. Just remember, we want the money by morning, or your guys are next.

He slapped a newspaper into Rhend’s hand and left the broom closet.

"I can’t believe I steaked my reputation on that hot head.

The Darklands Enquire

Rhend stepped out of the closet and stepped into a large hallway. He took a deep breath, leaned against the wall, and looked down at the paper Borgie had just stuffed in his hand. It was an old paper dated a year previous, at the onset of the war between Rhend and Ryker.

The Paper was The Darklands Enquirer, and the caption read:

COUNSEL MEMBER FEELS STING OF RYKER’S WRATH!

To many, he’s one of the most powerful Counsel Members in Darklands City. He’s survived impeachment, recalls, and brutal primaries. Yet city leaders suggest he might have met his match. Insiders are saying that City Councilman Rhend came into contact with something slimier than he is alleged to be, and that was the leader of the Venomites gang, Ryker.

It all started over protection. Rhend wanted to hire Ryker for protection for his various business dealings (or as it’s known around town, ‘his many illegal operations’). He tried to make an offer Ryker couldn’t refuse, but Ryker refused. So Rhend sent his own attack dogs. The very definition of hubris. He took out a contract on Ryker, who heard about it, and took revenge.

Somehow, the notorious gangster managed to slip past nearly impassible security and penetrate Rhend’s private residence—right into his bedroom, where he left live snakes... cobras... with a note which read, VenonMight, a play on the gang name. Nobody was hurt, but they did scare Rhend, and he had to call professionals to remove them. The greater irony was that he had no idea how many snakes were left in his room—another not-so-subtle message from Ryker.

It's been said that Rhend’s fear of snakes is his Achilles heel. While Rhend and his men were dealing with the snakes, the Venomites set fire to several well-chosen warehouses around the city, making it a very costly night for the notorious gangster, and the cost to his empire was in the millions. The only good thing to come from those fires was they helped destroy evidence.

Rhend furiously tore up the paper and buried it deep into a large garbage bin. He knew Slasher was taking a swipe at him.

If I ever find out who’s behind this rag, I’m going to kill them, he muttered and made his way back to the conference room. "That boy is getting entirely too cocky. Once Ryker is out of the way, then I’ll have to deal with him. still, he’s a useful idiot.

As he neared the conference room, he was approached by another messenger.

Sir, the messenger said and handed Rhend a note.

Rhend looked at it, and he cursed Ryker. He dismissed the messenger and joined the others in the conference room, entering quietly and taking his seat. Nobody had noticed him leave or return except Mr. Myer, who said nothing and pretended that he also saw nothing.

Night Terrors

On this night, as with every night, the streets were quiet. The shops and buildings were locked, chained, and boarded up for the night. Anyone who happened to be unlucky enough to be out that late hurried cautiously to their destination or searched for a safe place to hide until morning, continually glancing around them to see if they were being followed. Even the transients kept themselves hidden in fear for their very lives. It seemed that the only thriving business in this town was the hotel/motel business, and they couldn’t keep enough rooms available and were always locked down by sunset.

It was a night lit only by the faint glow of the remaining neon lights that vandals had not broken. Around the corner of one of the city skyscrapers, as if on cue, Slasher and his gang marched down the middle of the street, where Ryker and the Venomites met them.

Ryker faced Slasher in the middle of the street, and the two gangs lined up behind their respective leaders with combat knives, bats, chains, handguns, machine guns, and various other weaponry. They faced each other, poised and ready for battle.

This was the first time these two gangs had ever come face to face like this. There had been many skirmishes between individual members, but never in their history had they come together in an all-out war. It was time to settle this score conclusively and remove all competition.

Ryker was the first to speak.

You’re on my street! he shouted to Slasher.

It’s not your street! Slasher shouted back. Haven’t you heard? We’re moving you out once and for all.

I’m not going anywhere, Ryker shouted.

Ryker knew his opponent and was not about to let this creep take over. Even if he died, Slasher would die as well. He screamed and rushed Slasher. The others followed, and the war had begun.

All around Ryker, bodies began to fall: some Venomites and some members of Slasher’s gang. Ryker had a couple of gashes in his stomach, one down his wrist, and stab wounds in the chest, but he was fighting as hard as ever.

He found an opening in Slasher’s stomach and drove his combat knife home. When Slasher doubled over, Ryker pushed up the combat knife so that it hit his lungs. Then Ryker pulled out the combat knife and, with Slasher’s insides still clinging to it, he slit Slasher’s throat. Slasher’s body fell to the ground, and Ryker drove his face into the pavement with his boot. Then he stood on Slasher’s body to pronounce his victory.

You’ve been evicted! Ryker proclaimed. I own this city outright, just like I said I would. He laughed triumphantly and jumped up and down on Slasher’s body. And you can tell your Sugar Daddy, Rhend, who is the real winner here! Then he kicked Slasher’s body.

As he enjoyed his victory, surviving members of his and Slasher’s gang ran past him in absolute terror. There were hundreds of them left, and instead of fighting each other, they were running together to escape something.

What’s happening? Ryker asked. Where’s everybody going?

Get out of here, Ryker, someone shouted back. There’s some bad dudes headed this way.

No problem, Ryker shouted. We’ll take em.’

Not these guys, Ryker! Then ran out of view.

Ryker stood alone on the dark streets—alongside the fallen in the fight. Off in the distance, he could hear footsteps. Many footsteps. Faster and faster, they approached. Louder and louder, they grew. Then they turned the corner, coming into view.

The sight of them was terrifying. This was not just an army but a militia of the most hideous and grotesque-looking creatures Ryker had ever seen. Giant bat-like creatures, snake-like creatures that had the body and face of a serpent but stood upright on two legs and had arms off to the sides of their bodies. Those that did have human forms had faces so twisted and distorted that they hardly looked human. Leading the group was the most powerful-looking being Ryker had ever seen. He had cold, dark eyes filled with malice and spite. His body was huge and strong, but the most terrifying thing about him was such an air of hatred that it threatened everything around him. Just his mere presence seemed to suck the life out of Ryker.

The soldiers were on a killing spree, and their swords were covered in blood. They killed everyone they came in contact with. Their victims were hewn down mercilessly by this new contender in the war. They laughed and joked and played with their prey, teasing them, letting them look like they were going to escape, only to surround them and torture them. They had a keen sense of smell and could sniff out people on the streets, no matter how securely they had hidden. They also destroyed house pets and wild animals, including mice, rats, squirrels, and other creatures unfortunate enough to be in their path. Then, they placed their bodies in the most hideous positions they could.

They killed, kicked out lights, broke windows, destroyed buildings, and looted stores. For the first time in Ryker’s life, he was surprised. He had never seen such destructiveness, not even from any of the gangs he had encountered.

The creatures approached Ryker, and he was terrified for the first time. He turned and ran.

One of the guards ran Ryker down and dragged him back to the leader, with Ryker kicking and fighting and trying desperately to break free from the beast’s grasp. The beast held Ryker directly in front of his Leader, and some other guards moved in on either side to help contain Ryker.

Who have we here? Draygon asked with almost a sneer.

Some street kid, one of the guards replied as if making a joke.

So this is the punk that all the fuss is being made over, Draygon observed.

Ryker assumed he was talking about the fuss in the Darklands with the police, military, and authorities, but before he could comment, Draygon continued.

Don’t you know the streets aren’t safe at night?

Ryker struggled again to break free, but the guards held both hands behind his back. Instead of being intimidated by this, Ryker became more defiant.

They’re safe for me. I own them.

Well then, Draygon was calm, It looks as if your reign of terror is over.

I don’t give up without a fight.

Ryker made a sudden jump that threw his captors off guard. He grabbed his combat knife as soon as he was out of their grasp. He swung at Draygon, but Draygon merely put out his hand and stopped the knife. The blade went entirely through the hand, but it didn’t seem to affect him at all. He casually pulled out the knife like he was taking off a glove. There wasn’t even any blood.

As you can see, Ryker, fighting won’t do you any good, Draygon said casually as if commenting on the weather.

The guards behind Ryker regained their hold on him. They grabbed Ryker and held him so tightly that there