In Darkness is music

Her Name hadn't Always Been Shadow, It used to be Alana, But that was before the move that was before everything around her changed. That was before the war. The war wasn't really much of a surprise, no matter what the papers said. Even Alana knew the war was going to happen. The only surprise really was the date, Alana knew her birthday was unlucky, then again, maybe it was just her. The fights just broke out uncontrollably, no one thought much of it as fights happened all the time in their neighbourhood, What made it plain that the fights weren't normal was when the television was turned on and the carnage could be seen, All over the world people were dying and fighting. An organization no one had heard of before had come up with the perfect weapon, The problem was once it was released there was no stopping it. A select few were immune to the violent effects but eventually it would wear down some of the people until only the strong survived. It had become a world of chaos and to a six year old it was truly frightening. At the end of all the fighting only about 2 million people out of the billions that once graced earth lived. In the next few years names had changed and people lived in small groupings, not too big but not to small. They had become dark times and a king rose up from all the pain and dispare to rule over all with an iron fist. Alana was hidden in those times she was not to show her face as she was different to the rest. her eyes had changed, she had been affected by the toxin and her clan did not wish for the king to find out about her existence, they erased her old life from any history and changed her name to the clans original leaders 'Shadow'. Shadow didn't know of any of this and that was how the clan wanted it kept, at least until they could find what other things had changed about her.

Chapter 1: in darkness is music

Shadow woke to the sound of marching feet and beating drums. the king was coming that day and she was to hide in the Armines till he left. She wanted to see the king but it was forbidden, so like her name entailed she left silently and invisibly, straight to the Armines not knowing about the ambush that awaited her.

"Okay boys, lets get ready for the pretty little thing." Jack was smiling happily as he thought of catching the 'secret' girl.

He didn't know her name, her ranking or even what clan she was from and to catch her would be perfect as he had seen her 'gifts' as he liked to call them. She was quiet almost inhumanly quiet, and her speed was remarkable. She was like the vampires of the old legends, and she was going to be his. She was also very smart, her wit was what had first intrigued him the first time he saw her, She was only 8 then and spoke as though she were 20, she had grown up fast and the few words she said carried along the wind, on a voice so musical that he wanted to sit there forever just to hear her speak once more but she never spoke again. It was too dangerous, she was to be nothing, invisible, a shadow among men, never truly seen, never heard. 'snap' Jack turned to the sound outraged thatsomeone could of made the mistake of stepping on a twig but as he turned he saw the mystery girl

"I know you have been waiting for me, You cannot have me, You come here everyday and you still cannot have me.You will never have me as I am never truly here nor there, I am a shadow." Jack stared at her, shocked by her words but finally was able to say "what is your name? I want to know what I can't have at least." He noticed that her face was blank and cold, as if emotion was impossible "My name is Shadow and yours is Jack." Then with that she disappeared from his sight. Jack sighed as he looked out to the Armines and saw her enter the small opening dun into the cliff face.

"well boss, what are we going to do?" Jack slightly jumped at the sudden noise but smiled as he said "We'll leave Shadow for now, but I will have her soon.

Shadow was getting very frustrated with Jack.

She had heard his men calling to him as she was walking up and knew that he just wouldn't leave unless she cronfronted him.Probably.

Shadow knew that attention was dangerous and if they got any louder the king would head towards the Armines to investigate.

The Armines was a name for the large grouping of strange tunnels found in the 'Ar' Cliff. Shadow loved the Armines, they were her real home and the wolves that hid there during the day were amazing. She would sit and watch them while she waited to be collected.

The wolves would sometimes sit by her as she sang softly; she was far enough in the caves not to draw attention to her singing. Shadow would sing songs from older times when pop, and rock were around, she still remembered them, her memory was near perfect, but she couldn't remember her mother or father, or any of her childhood friends, just the songs. The howls of wolves set a chilling counterpoint to her music, She loved it.

Shadow may have been alone when it came to human company but any animal that came near her was drawn to her instantly. Animal life was generally feared by humans as the toxin had affected them the most. Animals stopped hunting the wildlife and wandered into cities looking for human flesh. the tables had turned on the humans who had always thought themselves superior, now they were the ones hiding in the cages they themselves built.

"Shadow?" Shadow turned to the entrance knowing that her collector had come and removed the dozing wolf pup from her lap.

"I will be back soon. I promise" She gave the wolves a final stroke each and left to go to her clan. As she exited the Armines there was a strange boy waiting by her clans slave master. Shadow looked up at the master and he sent her a quick smile.

"Shadow I would like for you to show Benjamin here one of your talents." She knew what he meant and sent a glare to him and a smile to Ben. "Hi Benny, watch closely." She turned and ran blindingly fast to a tree standing behind both Ben and Alec the master.

"Did you see that slave?" Alec sneered at the boy who looked very frightened. Ben just nodded his head as a reply."That girl will catch you before you even reach three feet of your boundries and if that doesn't stop you, the wolves might enjoy the snack." and as if to emphasize what he said a howl rose up into the air, to be carried on the breeze as far as it could go.

The frightened boy started shaking as Alec laughed "That's enough Alec." Shadow looked at him seriously as Alec slowed his laughing. "whatever princess." He replied smoothly as he walked by her he ruffled her hair and she let out a growl which only scared Ben even more.

"I am sorry Ben if I frightened you; I just do as I must. Please forgive me." Ben looked at Shadow startled but didn't reply. Shadow wondered about that until he yawned and she saw that Ben was lacking a tongue. She felt for the poor slave boy and wished he could of told her what monster had done that to him. But that was impossible, What answer would he have been able to provide apart from strange noises?