Just The Beginning: The Accidental Cannibal, #2

By Dale Rutter

Rock bottom became the foundation on which Samuel rebuilt his life.

Samuel thought getting rid of Francis, the stranger was the end. How wrong he was. It was just the beginning.

After six years of rebuilding and living the happy family life, Samuel had almost forgotten about that world. Almost.
A chance encounter with a Kings Armour soldier–the new Kings defensive unit–reignites the unused abilities within Samuel as well as reigniting something within himself as he disarms the soldier easily.

The chance encounter leads to Samuel being recruited by the king and having to move himself and his family to The Capital. He is thrown into another unknown world, the extravagance of The Capital is nothing like he has ever seen or known. 

Without even having time to settle and get to know the plentiful powered humans, Samuel is soon having to use his abilities in order to protect the king in a bitter battle for the throne from his loathsome brother. 

Can Samuel and his family cope in a world of powers, opulence and petty sibling rivalry? 
He would find out. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dale Rutter
• Release date: Dec 10, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386910350

Book preview

‘I love you more today than yesterday but not as much as tomorrow.’

Previously...

FOR THOSE THAT DON’T remember or would like a general re-cap of the first book in the Accidental Cannibal series then here it is! Or perhaps you haven’t read it at all, in which case, you’ll definitely need this re-cap!

In a desolate and harsh world, a young boy named Samuel and his family were finding it hard to come by any food thanks to the unforgiving conquest of the new king, King William.

Desperate times called for desperate measures so Samuel’s father, Peter, was out checking the rabbit traps which were once again empty when he happened upon a dead body. After much debating with himself, he took it home and him and his wife, Alice served up human meat without Samuel knowing. Samuel ate all of it up and the family were happy. For now.

Two years later, Samuel was sixteen and the consequences of that eaten human meat began to show; he began having visions of blood and flesh, he tried to attack one of his father’s friends and also attacked his best friend, David but was stopped just in time. David soon moved away after the attack and Samuel was ridden with guilt.

Samuel felt himself changing but he was powerless to stop it, his body urged him to hunt human and eventually his body took over and ultimately hunted and killed a human before eating them.

Once free of the urging constraints, Samuel was disgusted by what he had done and vowed to not do it again. However, it was not that easy. He needed help. He told his friend, Lizzie about his problems who listened and tried to help, despite also being disgusted. Samuel didn’t tell his parents. Not yet.

As he struggled with the tormenting urges, Samuel acquired powers from the one time hunt as well as meeting a stranger who was a fellow powered cannibal but he embraced the lifestyle, unlike Samuel. Samuel was horrified by the stranger that he happily hunted and killed in order to sustain him and his powers. It angered him and the stranger seemed to enjoy annoying Samuel.

After close calls and continued struggling, Samuel eventually told his parents of what he was and he found out they were the ones that fed him human meat in the first place! He was a cannibal by accident!

Samuel continued to be tormented by the urges and the stranger and it eventually led to Samuel being tied down to his bed by his parents in order to ween him off the strong, overpowering urges. It worked.

After an encounter with the stranger in the forest, Samuel was made aware of his plans to form an army (The stranger already had some followers) to take on the king and wanted Samuel to lead them. Samuel was not taken with the notion so left but not without the stranger using his powers by simply touching Samuel which implanting an idea in his head, unbeknownst to him.

Samuel began having terrible nightmares of himself killing his parents after getting angry with them. He was completely tormented by the nightmares until one day he was controlled by unseen forces to actually act it out and kill them. Samuel was traumatised and eventually decided to join the stranger’s camp, leaving everything behind, including Lizzie. After all, he was just as bad as the stranger now.

However, Samuel happened to find out some days later that it was all a setup by the stranger. He had used his powers to somehow make Samuel believe he had killed his parents. After running back home, he discovered his parents alive and well!

After the joyous moment with his parents, Samuel apologised to Lizzie and they concocted a plan, using Samuel’s retained powers (which he still got without the need to hunt human flesh) and his knowledge of the stranger to finally end him. Once and for all.

After a big fight, they succeeded. Samuel gave a speech to the stranger’s camp and told them of his ways which they didn’t know about and Samuel got them all on side in order to rebuild their community.

We then jumped forward six years with Samuel and Lizzie having a son between them. They were happy and everything was bliss.

However, their world was going to be turned upside down again...

Prologue

KING WILLIAM WAS DEAD. His son Robert, allied with the spineless, Prince Philip of The Republic from across the southern waters had stirred up enough trouble that William himself led an expedition against them. Whilst securing and seizing the capital, Paname, King William fell ill and died unexpectedly. That was what Robert and the Prince would have you believe. The real story was that King William still died but he didn't fall ill. He was attacked upon by cannibals which Robert, his own son, authorised. It was a trap. He was found with bite marks all over his body and neck as well as chunks of flesh missing.

King William and Robert had always clashed for years with Robert always concocting ideas to overthrow his father but never followed them through. The king wanted to disinherit him for his failed attempts at the throne for several years but was eventually persuaded to divide his dominions. In the end, it was decided that Robert would inherit the Iveria province within The Republic across the eastern waters whilst his other son, also William, would inherit his throne. A third son was given the Tyskland province, also across the waters.

Obviously, Robert was chagrined so decided to finally go through with it and took matters into his own hands.

King William the second now ruled Morsovia and he was a fair king and a good king. He was trying the make the country and the land great again. He was trying to put right what his father destroyed many years ago in his conquest.

However, Robert still wanted the throne and would do anything for it.

Meanwhile, Samuel was oblivious to all this. He was a proud family man going about his simple life quietly. Unbeknownst to him, his simple life would soon be turned upside down and he would become embroiled in a bitter battle for the throne.

Chapter 1

IT WAS A MURKY EARLY morning as Samuel made his way to his rabbit traps just like he did most mornings. A little frail voice below him, spoke up through chattering teeth, I'm cold, father.

Samuel looked below him to the source and saw big green eyes looking up at him underneath a mop of blond hair. Beautiful just like his mother, he proudly observed. We won't be long now Joseph. Just some checking and then we are done. Samuel paused pensively. You know, your grandfather, my father used to do this with me. We still do. I didn't like it at first but I soon looked forward to it after a while.

Joseph's face lit up. Grandfather used to do this with you? Wow, can I come next time you go with grandfather?

Samuel knew that would work as he smiled. The boy adored his grandfather. Yes, of course.

Joseph smiled back, pleased. He now had a little spring in his step, his teeth no longer chattering. Samuel watched him intently and beamed as his son walked slightly ahead into the forest.

Joseph was now seven years old and he meant the world to Lizzie and himself. He was a blessing. After the hard times they toiled together against the stranger and then finally vanquishing him from the world, Lizzie caught pregnant two weeks later. They took it as a blessing. A symbol that everything was over and they could enjoy life again. Their struggles were over. An end of an era. And it was, they had been blissfully happy since Lizzie took pregnant. Their life was a simple one and they loved it that way. They had had enough conflict and action to last a lifetime.

In them years, Samuel still had his same abilities from before and still without needing to hunt humans. He had barely needed to use them though, unless it was aiding them in their day to day chores. Samuel realised that Joseph knew his father was a little different but he didn’t know everything. One day he would tell him.

He caught up with his son as they entered the forest, following a path only Samuel knew. After all, he walked it every morning. He took a sharp left around an old oak tree and Joseph stopped to look up at it. Come on Joseph. Samuel glanced behind him to his slowing son. Stop dawdling and bring your sack. We have some dinner.

Joseph stopped marvelling at the massive tree, looked to the empty burlap sack in his hand as if to check he still had it and quickly caught his father up. He drew alongside his crouched father and handed the sack to him. He dared a glance at the dead rabbit, looking for a couple of seconds but then looked away, grimacing. Not that he was squeamish or was going to be physically sick, he purely didn’t like looking at what he was going to eat soon. Maybe he would get better and it not bother him as much once he had done it a few more times but right at that moment, he didn’t want to look any longer.

Samuel took the sack without noticing Joseph looking anywhere but at the rabbit and proceeded to remove their motionless dinner from the trap, placing him in the sack. Standing up, he handed the sack back to Joseph after resetting the trap and walked onwards to the next trap. Let's hope there's more in the other traps.

Joseph nodded and proceeded to follow his father's footsteps.

Hunting rabbits was one instance where Samuel still did use his abilities. His enhanced sight was still very useful in spotting active rabbit holes, cutting out the need to get close enough and possibly spooking them. He could simply watch from afar, watch the rabbits go into their holes and simply set up a trap outside. Easy. Certainly a lot easier than the old way.

Samuel led Joseph along a beaten track which a lot of people used to traverse from their village Great Northfields to the nearest village, Little Hampton or vice versa. There was other forks off the road which led to the other towns of Hartsmoor, Deer Hill and White Rock but the main track led right to Little Hampton. It was used to visit the markets and trade goods mostly; relations between the villages and towns were fantastic still and they really worked well together to make a great community. Since the incident with the stranger, over seven years ago now, the two villages and surrounding towns had come together and really built a great spirit. The land was once again fully fertile and trade was thriving. Times were good.

The other ‘powered’ humans within the villages were of great use to the whole community and they used their powers to help rebuild and aid each village. The ‘powered’ were very much part of the community. Samuel thought of James and Anna, who were  recruited by the stranger all them years ago. He hadn’t seen them for a while but he had heard they were still doing great things for their villages which was pleasing.

As they rounded a corner of the beaten dusty track, Samuel veered right into the trees heading towards another trap. Joseph tailed behind him, looking down to enjoy the crunch of the dry sticks beneath his boots. Samuel looked ahead and saw one of his traps had caught once again. He smiled. Get your sack ready boy, I can see the rabbit from here.

Joseph looked up and followed his father's eye line to try and see the caught creature but he wasn’t tall enough. After a few extra paces though, he saw it. Joseph stared at it this time for longer than the previous but still couldn’t fight the feeling to look away. He succumbed and looked away as they drew up next to it.

Samuel was already there crouching with one hand out waiting for the sack whilst the other carefully withdrew the animal from the trap. Joseph handed the sack to him whilst occupying himself with a fascinating couple of dry sticks on the forest floor. He crunched them once again under his boots, satisfyingly.

Samuel swiftly threw the rabbit into the burlap sack and handed it back to Joseph whilst resetting the trap once again. He carried on and Joseph followed.

After checking three more traps and being surprisingly unsuccessful, Samuel decided it was a good time to call it a day. Joseph looked worn out and Samuel thought that he deserved some breakfast after being up so early. Perhaps he would have some too.

They traipsed back through the forest with Joseph holding the two dead rabbits safely hidden in the sack over his shoulder. He felt the creatures bouncing against his back as he walked fast trying to keep up with his father. He ignored the constant beating as well as ignoring the image in his head of the rabbits pawing at his back to let them out.

His father speaking broke Joseph away from his imagery. Two rabbits isn't bad, it's supper for tonight and tomorrow.

Joseph glanced to his father, nodding passively. Yeah, it's good father. I look forward to dinner.

Samuel smiled at Joseph proudly and he smiled back. Samuel never noticed the passive reply nor Joseph's reaction to the sight of his dead dinner before. He was proud to be out showing his son how to hunt. He was proud to share the way of life Joseph would come to know. Samuel squeezed a little smirk out at the side of his mouth, his lips curling. So, how about we ask grandfather to join us tomorrow?

Joseph's face and eyes lit up. Yes, can we? Please? He looked to his father with wide, pleading eyes.

There's no need to beg, it was my idea. Samuel chuckled. Joseph really did love his grandfather and the feeling was mutual. Samuel had seen a different side to his father since Joseph had come along. A mellow side, perhaps softer side.

Great. It’s decided then, Joseph declared as he nodded his head in finality.

Samuel chuckled. I guess so. They were just arriving home now as Samuel realised something and cursed at himself. He turned to Joseph. You go on in boy and give the sack to your mother. I’ve forgotten to check a trap. Tell her I won't be long.

Joseph looked to his father about to say they've already got two rabbits but didn’t. Okay, I'll see you shortly then. Hurry back for breakfast. Joseph quickly smiled before departing.

Samuel nodded and watched his son enter their house before heading back to the forest to check his final trap. Would he find another rabbit?

Samuel would find something a great deal bigger than a rabbit.

Chapter 2

SAMUEL HEADED INTO the forest cursing himself as he had completely forgot about the last trap and was also reprimanding himself for the added wasted time. He shrugged his shoulders as a second thought took him; it won't take long, it's done then.

He quickly paced through the forest heading straight for his forgotten trap. He knew exactly where to find it; even when rushing, he didn’t make any mistake in his quickened steps. Just as he was about to round the corner to his final trap, Samuel stopped in his tracks as he heard a faint noise. Then again.

He knew the noise, he heard it every day but for some reason, he couldn’t fathom it. Samuel also realised that standing back and not unveiling himself felt right in the moment. Not until he gained more information.

There was the noise again. It was more prominent that time as Samuel finally realised what it was. He finally recognised the spring of his trap being reset. Obviously the person struggled a little first.

He rounded the corner, angry; who was messing with my trap?

As Samuel finally rounded the corner, he had eyes on the source but his face formed a strange expression; his eyes narrowed in anger but his mouth gaped in confusion. The person standing in front of him looked shocked as he stood there in his tattered red and blue Kings Armour uniform.

Kings Armour? What the hell is he doing round here?

The Kings Armour were the new king’s defensive unit. They were skilled soldiers who were there to protect the king unconditionally and should always be at their king’s side.

Samuel glanced to the intruder’s left hand; it held a rabbit. Samuel’s rabbit. He half-heartedly pointed at it before finding his voice, That's mine. Give it back.

The wide chested man with his straggly red hair but surprisingly well looked after moustache raised his left hand and looked to the rabbit as if only noticing it for the first time. Nah, don't think so. I think I shall go ahead and keep it for myself. The gruff sounding soldier faintly smirked, almost daring Samuel.

Samuel simply stared back. He looked the soldier up and down and although he dwarfed Samuel in height and width, Samuel knew he could take him. However, he decided one more diplomatic approach might prove worthy. That's my trap which I set up myself so therefore it's my catch. I would like it back please, Samuel spoke sternly yet still polite.

The soldier stepped closer, a sinister smile crept on to his face. He dangled the rabbit in front of Samuel. If you want it, come and get it. He snatched it away and put it behind his back. His eyes goaded Samuel to go for it. They dared him to. That was all Samuel needed in order to relinquish his diplomatic chains.

At frightening speed Samuel had the soldier by the scruff of his neck in a firm locked hold but not before he had grabbed the rabbit from behind the soldier’s back without him even realising and dropping it to the floor. The soldier looked shocked for a split second before wildly swinging his massive right fist towards Samuel. He effortlessly gripped it with his left hand whilst still holding him by the collar.

He glanced briefly to the soldier’s panicked and confused face before twisting downwards with his right hand causing the soldier’s left hand to go with it and ultimately driving the soldier to his knees. The soldier screamed out in agony and Samuel silently thanked his advanced agility, it had finally proven useful. He only used it to tease Joseph.

He then simply kicked the soldier to the dirt releasing his hand. The soldier instantly clamped his wrist and rubbed.

Samuel glanced down and found the rabbit. I'll be taking this, thank you very much. He waved it in front of the soldier who was smiling.

Samuel pouted, bemused as to why he was smiling. Odd. He shook his head and turned away from the soldier, ignoring him only to be confronted by at least a dozen soldiers, all in the colours of the Kings Armour with swords drawn.

The realisation of why he