[Burokon Zakku]

// Zakku //

Against the grain
That's where I'll stay
Swimming upstream
I maintain against the grain

                  N/A

Zakku had moved into his own apartment a few months ago.  Living on his own had some great perks like he could smoke indoors and not give two craps who complained.  He had a lot more books than he thought he owned.  His mom was very upset at some of the titles but didn't bring it up.  At least not yet.  After shoving most of the boxes he knew he wasn't going to open in the spare bedroom Zakku had spread out om his sofa and fallen asleep. 


Sitting up Zakku could see the sun had long since disappeared.  He rubbed his tired eyes and pushed himself up.  He grabbed a drink from his canteen and went to check his door.  As his hand touched the lock something was wrong.  Slowly pulling his hand back he examined it and even in the darkened apartment he could see the blood on his fingers.  

Throwing the door open he walked out and was greeted with a horrible sight.  Bodies littered the streets.  Everywhere his paniced eyes turned there was a body surrounded and covered in the crimson liquid that seemed to glow.  

He ran looking for answers or even a survivor.  Then he spotted her.  A woman bent over a twitching body.  "H-HEY!  WE NEED T-o leave..."  His pace slowed and he came to stop as he realized she was glowing.  Normally people didn't do that.  Turning to face Zakku she held a body he recognized but their face was blurry even the hair seemed to be obscured.  The woman in long robes had blood around her crimson lips.  White pupilless eyes locked onto him as her pale face contorted into the grin of predator that had thought it had run out of prey.  
  
Zakku ran.  He sprinted through the village and she seemed to float after him.  There were no footsteps but she was always following him.  Then as if appearing from shadows cloaked figures emerged wearing tan patchwork robes.  He didn't even have time to process their presence before they grabbed him and pinned him to the ground.  Their grips were tight and unforgiving.  His arms and legs screamed as circulation was cut off but the cloaked figures didn't care.

The woman appeared as one of the cloaked figures removed his hood.  He held a wickedly curved blade and passed it to the lady.  He mouthed a few words that seemed to take an eternity to reach Zakkus ears.  "The followers will always see it through."  The lady grabbed the blade greedily and brought it down towards Zakkus chest aiming for his heart.


Zakku fell off his couch and smacked his head against his coffee table.  Groaning and rolling around he clutched his head.  The words he'd heard echoed through his head the last images of the dream staying fresh in his minds eye.  "The followers will always see it through?"  He repeated to himself stared at the ceiling as the pain subsided.  

Getting dressed Zakku would leave as the sun began to rise.   Jumping from rooftop to rooftop he began to make his way to the gate to begin his morning run.  He'd be back before lunch.  That was the plan anyway.