A few days and nights had passed, Aleu trained well under the watchful eye of Regulator Rohn Keppler. Over that period of time he personally trained her in both the use of Darkwatch weaponry and their own hand-to-hand combat technique. And as the time went by she began to know her way through out the Citadel. Usually when new recruits are brought in they become the bulk of the Darkwatch’s numbers as foot soldiers or “Grunts” as their common name. They are the ones responsible for not only protecting Man kind but the entire world. If the malicious forces of darkness were to take root it can spread like an unholy cancer upon the globe; not only pitting Man against fellow Man but also curse the ground itself. Just like how there is Holy Ground there is the opposite, Unholy Ground. It is said that Light cannot exist without darkness and the same can be said about Good and Evil. There is always a balance in this plane of existence and always will be, until the day of Armageddon. That will be the day when the forces of both good and Evil will clash and only one will be the victor. The minions of darkness my seem stronger or more powerful and intimidating but it is, for the most part, a guise. Their greatest strength to that they have the illusion of the upper hand. But so long at there is the tinniest of light there is always hope, Good’s most powerful weapon.

But when there are new recruits who can and do specialize in something particular then the Darkwatch utilizes that skill. Aleu, being an Enginess, the Darkwatch will use her skills to operate their secret trains. Her engine TEXAS has been in the shop getting a complete overhaul and being armored for use in the open ranges of the cursed West. To Aleu’s dismay she may not be operating her own locomotive from now on. The rolling stock the Darkwatch have built were too heavy for the old War Veteran, at least a train long enough to do any good in the field. Aleu’s hear broke when she heard her engine would be assigned almost exclusively as a switcher. She begged not to be separated from her Iron Steed, but she quickly learned that you follow orders regardless of personal feelings. The Darkwatch was a hard and tough organization, not by choice but out of necessity. Aleu’s skills were needed more on their own motive power then her old and aging steamer. Although she’d be running the bigger more powerful engines she will be stationed at the same yard so when not in the field she will be switching with her beloved locomotive.

As the days passed Aleu was not only trained to fight but taught about these supernatural forces that exist right under her own muzzle. Not in her wildest dreams or nightmares could she have known what was truly out there and what bumps in the night. Never will she look under the bed the same way again. But not all of these forces have ill intent. A good example is of wandering spirits of “Ghosts”. Most of them are indeed harmless and are completely unaware of their passing away. Others come back to visit loved ones and to keep a protective eye upon them. Some spirits know of their demise but do not wish to pass on. And some speculate that perhaps many spirits are those of the damned and sentenced to suffer, to see what goes on around you for eternity and have know one acknowledge their spiritual existence. Utter torture to the very soul.

Now she seldom thought of escape but still had the thought in her mind. Late one night she had made her way to the very top of the Citadel, on the top of the massive sandstone monument. The sky was dark with stars scattered brightly about. The moon was full and wispy clouds slowly drifted by. Memories of her past life flashed in her mind and wondered if she’d ever see them again. Even with the hundreds of thousands of men scurrying about like ant below her feet she felt alone, so very alone. She had the urge to howl at the full moon, it light cast a blue hue to the surrounding land scape. It was a feeling she had almost never felt.

“It really is a beautiful night isn’t it.” Said a voice from behind; Aleu jumped and quickly spun her head around to see who it was. Her eyes came upon her trainer, Rohn. “I didn’t startle you did I?”

“How did even get behind me with out me hearing you first!?” Aleu asked.

“Well, when you’ve reached Agent status you have to be quite skilled in stealth. But you might want to train those ears of yours. If I were a “Viper” you’d be dead by now.” Replied Rohn; he then walked over quietly and sat down next to Aleu. “Anyway, I figured I’d find you up here. It’s about the only place that’s away from everything.”

“Keeping an eye on me huh?” said Aleu, slightly annoyed.

“Well yes, but I know you’ve got thoughts of escape on you mind. But I am impressed you haven’t made you move yet!” grinned Rohn. Aleu was taken by surprise at first, was she really that obvious? She was even careful about her behavior as to NOT raise suspicion!

“So you’ve known? You’ve known the whole time haven’t you!” Aleu retorted.

“Yeah, I’ll admit that. Every new recruit has the same thing on their mind. But usually they have nothing to go back to. Most are former outlaws or gunmen with no family or relatives. Or their wanted by the Law, even I had nothing left when I joined. My family, neighbors, our whole town was whipped out. But you, your different Aleu, you have every thing to loose and everything to gain by escape.” Aleu sighed.

“I can see why you’d keep an eye on me.” She timidly replied.

“Though a word of advice, don’t even try. I understand how you feel but trust me. I’ve seen too many good men throw their lives away trying to escape. I’d hate to see you go like that after that you’ve done.” Rohn said.

“What do you mean?” replied Aleu confused.

“After all you’ve done for you’re home road, the WOLF. In all truth we are more than familiar with your exploits and you a bit of a celebrity among the men! Don’t worry though; know how you feel about publicity. We don’t worry too much about it anyway.” Aleu just smiled.

“God, even secret societies know who I am!” she said as she covered her face. But she smiled anyway; Rohn was truly trying to be her friend. She turned to look at him when she took note of something odd. Rohn sat to her right so she could only see the left side of his face. But what was strand was an odd red glow reflecting off the bottom side of his hat. It was a dim glow and was only just noticeable. Rohn noted her staring out of the corner of his left eye. He turned his head to face her and that’s when Aleu saw what it was, his right eye! Well the iris to be more specific. It was red and animal like! Almost evil looking even!

“Y-Your e-e-e…” Aleu stuttered.

“My eye?” Rohn said finishing Aleu’s sentence. She nodded her head “yes” in reply. “There’s an interesting story behind it.” He said and then spun his tale to Aleu.

“It was around mid 1878, before I joined the Darkwatch I lived with my family on a small farm near a small town now lost to time. As I said before I was talented marksmen and had won numerous competitions in both hunting and target shooting. Then one night my whole life, everyone and everything I knew went to Hell and back almost literally. The Darkwatch was in hot pursuit of a powerful demonic entity. It had found our small town and let out its wrath upon us, killing innocents and reanimated their corpses to do his devilish work. This being personally attacked our farm, it was almost as if her were looking for someone. He killed my family, slaughtered my brothers and sisters before my eyes and killed my Ma’ and Pa’. Then he used them as puppets to attack me! I was forced to fight them in order to survive. I used my Pa’s old shot gun to level them. When I ran out of shells I used the gun like a club. Once I had a path I made a break for it to the barn. Even our horses were turned against me! I ran to my saddle and grabbed my Sharps Buffalo Rifle. I took aim at eh Demon and Fired. I don’t know how or why but I injured him by shooting out his right eye! He wasn’t too pleased by that and attacked with a renewed vigor. He pinned me and beat me to the ground. How I lived I don’t know. But once I was on the ground he rolled me onto my back and grabbed my throat. He then put a curse on my and my right eye. It would slowly turn me into a creature like the ones we face every day, neither alive nor dead. The Darkwatch had seen this curse before many times. No one has ever beaten it; the only way to defeat it was to resist its control, to never give into it. Then the demon left me for dead. I would have been eaten alive if it weren’t for Jericho, he found me and save my life. He tried to cleanse me of the curse before it could take root. He was able to slow its spread throughout my body.

Soon after I joined the Darkwatch and 9 long months later I met up with that demon again. He virtually wiped out our attacking force and was about to kill even Jericho! I was just under two miles away and the curse had nearly taken hold of me. My humanity was hanging on a spiritual thread. I found a busted Carson Range Rifle, it still fired but the scope was completely broken leaving me with almost no sights to aim by! With my curse eye I could see the demon clear as day in the pitch black night. With all the will I could muster I took aim and pulled the trigger. I shot his damn head clean off his shoulders. It was then I blacked out. Two weeks later I woke up in the infirmary, Jericho explained what happened and that I had beaten the curse! As a result I can see things that mortal eyes cant. I can see farther and more clearly than any man alive. I was curse with something with malicious intent and through the sheer will power of the human spirit I turned it into an ability that has proven invaluable. And that’s what our enemies fear the most, the power of hope and our Human Spirit.”

Aleu was in awe, everyone in this organization’s ranks has been deeply affected in some way shape or form from evil. It was a very profound feeling she felt, almost humbling. What she went through only a few nights prior was a cake walk by comparison!

“Wow, I can’t believe that really happened!” Aleu said in awe.

“Yeah, I felt I should explain. Only the night reveals what it truly looks like. During the day it looks normal to most, but for those with a trained eye can see. Maybe some day you’ll read that point.” Rohn then stood up to his feet and headed back to the stair well but paused and turned around. “Oh and Aleu, I REALLY shouldn’t be telling you this but while your up here don’t make any suspicious moves. There’s a “Sharpshooter” with a Carson trained on you as we speak.” He said before continuing to the stair well.

“Wait, What!!?! Are you serious!” Aleu shouted, her head swiveling about trying to see where the person was. “Where is he!?” She asked but when she turned around Rohn wan gone. A mile way a Darkwatch Sharpshooter chuckled as he watched Aleu’s reaction through the rifle’s scope.
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Good lord, Chapter 10? When will it end!