'Nahum' Chapter 1 Awakening   Mosque.   The town where the most common job is prostitution; where a scam is always waiting. Where idolatry is common practice. The laws only exist for personal gain, the gain of the Council members who only seek to further enrich their living. The town your mothers don't want you to know about, for fear that the prospect of gaining an easy 'buck' working as a con artist, or perhaps being involved in a pyramid scheme would entice their children.   The town where the most hated man is worshipped daily. Dominic Beruga.   Mosque.   My hometown...   When I was younger, I wasn't very popular. Not much has changed... I was a loner. To me, the only good person was a dead person. I still believe that to this day. The only people who talked to me where my teachers, and then only to chastise me on being a bad student. It wasn't that I made bad grades. I just refused to believe certain things I was taught.   They didn't know it, but I could hear them whispering about me. They didn't know it, but I could see the looks they gave me. They didn't know it, but I knew what they thought about me. They didn't know it, but I had already begun planning my revenge.   But something unexpected happened...   I remember the night as if it were only yesterday. The stars were gone, and had been replaced by a thick layer of fog. I could not have wished for better conditions that night, for I required the cloak of stealth. I heard the sound of a cart being pushed down the stone walkway that ran through the center of the town, and ducked behind a wooden crate to avoid being seen. As it passed, I realized with great surprise that it was a peddler, wearing a black raincoat. But what he did surprised me more than anything in this world.   He stopped and turned to face me. I couldn't see his face because of his hood, but I felt as though his eyes were burning through me. I didn't feel like I was in any danger, but my hand instinctively reached for my dagger.   "Do you think it will help you, boy?" he said, startling me.   "I--Well, it--I just thought--" I stammered, but he interrupted.   "I won't harm you. I've been waiting for you..."   "Waiting? For me? Why?"   "I have something I want to give you."   What could he have possibly wanted to give to me? I thought. And why couldn't he just give whatever it was to me some other time? It was quite odd, granted, but I felt as though his words were true: he wouldn't harm me.   "I won't actually be giving it to you... I'll only be realizing it for you."   He said it as if he had done this before, as if there were others like me, whatever that meant.   "What? What is it? Tell me already!" I shouted nervously.   "Quiet, fool! Have you any idea where you are?" I realized quickly what he meant. People around here were paranoid, especially at night. "Be calm... I already told you I meant you no harm. Now hush, lad, and close your eyes."   After a moment's hesitation, I did so. Almost immediately, I felt something... electric flow through my body, almost as if something had entered, or perhaps left, my body. My eyes snapped open, and the man laughed a sinister laugh. "Wh... what did you do to me?!"   "You will know. When the time comes, you will know," he said, and began pushing his cart again. I slid to the ground with a thud, resting against the crate. What the hell had just happened? I wondered. I watched as the peddler walked away slowly. The fog seemed to have grown even thicker, and it swirled about him, as if alive and exasperated by his presence.   I sat for a minute, gathering my thoughts. Then, realizing time was of the essence, stood and headed deeper into the city. When I reached my destination, a small house set into the monotone stone wall that made up the left side of the city, I climbed into the open window on the first floor. The white curtains billowed around me, blown by the invisible wind. I crept through the house I had been in countless times before, knowing the layout well enough as not to stumble or run into anything in the darkness. I reached a hand out and felt my way up the stairs and into the bedroom.   There he was, lit by a single burning candle. He had fallen asleep apparently reading a book, leaving the candle lit. Very, very foolish of him. I expected better from my teacher. I knelt by his bed, and reached into my cloak to draw my dagger. I placed a hand over his mouth and quickly cut deeply into his throat. His eyes sprung open and his back arched, and with my free hand I steadied his convulsing body. I gazed deep into his eyes, hoping he would understand. Then I brought my head down and drank from his wound. At first, the taste was bitter, but I found myself quickly longing for more. I drank until the blood flowed no more, and released my hold on him. I stood, looking over his body. I turned to leave, and, as an afterthought, blew out the burning candle.   The next day the town was horrified by what had happened to one of its prized citizens. No one even bothered to question me, for I had been careful about it. It seemed to be totally random. I had gotten away with murder. I carried myself around with pride that day, and many afterwards. I would make sure they would fear me. For I was one to be feared...   My name? You may call me Nahum.