Chapter 1: When it all began
Using a wooden cane to support himself, Zack limped his way out of his makeshift wooden house.
The winds outside blowed violently against his battered bruised body causing a cold chill to assail him.
Dressed only in shredded clothes that looked like rags, Zack shivered as he endured against the harsh treatment of the cold wind.
The moment he stepped forth, a familiar but irritating voice sounded.
"Seriously don't you ever give up?"
Zack turned to the person who had just spoken.
Before him emerged a tall young man dressed in dark thin and light robes. The young man had short white hair, ocean blue eyes and delicate skin.
Zack took a moment staring at the figure who had appeared before him, still not getting used to the unnerving sight of how identical he was to him. Aside from the different hair color which his was black Zack's features were the same as the young man.
The young man was Zack's corruptive double which had haunted him ever since he committed the massacre and crossed the river of Darkness.
Zack's gaze landed at the figure and with contempt he said.
"What is it now you devil?"
The devil in question stared at Zack with an astonished expression as if it had suddenly heard something preposterous.
After a moment of astonishment, the double broke into laughter as it said in amusement.
"Honestly to think that l am the one labelled as the devil, your shame truly knows no bounds. l mean it's like a kettle calling a pot black."
Zack who was fighting off the cold by releasing his body's heat then gave a cold mutter.
"Just leave me alone "
The human double pretended not hear Zack and continued.
"To think that you actually have the audacity to call me a devil. l mean l aren't the one who went and murdered our family in cold blood. "
"SHUT UP!"
Luke at this moment suddenly yelled, glaring at irritated young man with blood eyes.
"Don't call them your family. You know nothing of them. "
The devil stared at him for a moment before saying with a shrug.
"You are right. At least l was fortunate enough to be birthed after their demise. "
A taunting smile appeared on his face seemingly trying to provoke Zack.
A hint of sadness appeared on Zack's expression, and his eyes welled up as he recalled his tragic past.
His corruptive double watched his pain in delight.
Not willing to pass off the chance cause more pain the double added another provoking remark.
"Its too late to be sentimental now, don't you think. "
Zack calmed his emotions and suddenly cast a glaring look at his corruptive double.
The corruptive double upon seeing his glare, suddenly curled its lips into a sinister smile.
"Now that's more like it. Well what are you waiting for then? Release all that anger again. Although I will have to warn you that unlike last time I won't just leave you with a few bruises. After all if l can't keep going easy on you, it would tanish my hard earned reputation. "
Zack kept glaring at the young man in front of him, thinking if all the possible ways he could kill him, but after after a long moment of rational analysing he gave up on that thought.
As much as he wanted to beat up this annoying fellow he knew the impossibility of such a task.
Thanks to his knowledge back at the academy, he knew that corruptive doubles were usually twice as strong as the original.
And Zack's original double was an unusual one.
Not only was he stronger than him, but his strength exceeded the twice benchmark.
Zack had seen the double finish off the terrifying creatures of this island which he himself could never as much as scratch them.
He judged that his double due to the corruptive influence of the river had somehow transcended into a very powerful higher existence. A level and identity that Zack was very far away from. Especially after his former powers were stripped away from him.
Seeing Zack's lack of reaction to his taunting, the corruptive double then sneered in contempt.
"What is this now. Don't tell me that the infamous blood eyes has actually backed down from a fight. And here I thought that you had some spine. "
Zack just gave a cold glare at the young man who was actually a devil in disguise. He chose to ignore his provocation and simply began to limp his way towards the distant trees that marked the entrance to the forgotten forest.
Staring at Zack's back for a few moments the evil double decided to follow behind silently.
After walking with great difficulty Zack finally reached the forest's entrance, he peered inside it and saw the usual gray fog that always wafted inside the entire forest.
Zack could not perceive much of the forest's interior since his vision was obscured by the gray fog within and he did not dare to venture inside due to the dangers that were associated with foresy itself.
He didn't know that much of the fogortten forest other than the myths and legends he learned back at home.
According to ancient myths the fogortten forest was one of the most dreadful places that had appeared since the last fall. All kinds of Mysteries and harrowing secrets were hidden inside there
It was said that the forest contained whisper that informed secrets that could kill and the fog that made one lost into oblivion.
Whether these myths were true or not Zack didn't dare to test it.
And also the fact that even his evil and powerful twin was even cautious against the dangers of this forest further solidify his decision.
He even suspected that if he were to one day venture into the forest that fellow would not follow him.
'Well that's one way of getting rid of that bastard '
Zack stood at the entrance of the forest as he simply stared at the gray shifting fog within.
The evil double was right beside him curiously and amused by his usual persistence.
A second later it asked again its usual question which it knew would only be replied by silence.
"Don't you ever get tired of this?"
Zack ignored his evil twin and continued to stare into the forest in silence.
The evil double did not give up it's pestering and continued.
"l mean why persist in such a hopeless situation when you can end it all right here?"
Zack continued to stare at the shifting fog in silence.
"Why do you keep persisting anyways"
"Your family is dead, you made sure of that. You live in a hellish island inhabited by harrowing creatures and on top of that you are being mentally tormented by a sinister fellow like me. So begs my question. Why not end it all?"