Chapter One

I traveled to the place where the Shadows first came to the world. The year is 2005, ten years before this Land will be destroyed by the first wave of Evil. I searched for the Nine, going to every wise man and seer alive. After traveling for many months, I came across an old soothsayer. And as his eyes rolled back into his sockets, the whiteness of his eyes peering into the unknown, he said to me in a cracked voice unlike his own: "TRAVEL TO THE GRAND VALLEY FULL OF GREEN...THERE IS A MASKED GIANT WHICH HOLDS THEM WITHIN HIS GREAT WALLS.....THERE YOU WILL FIND THEM..."

I ran in search of this "giant" only to find out that the "masked giant" was the front of a school building. "MHS", I said heaving, trying to catch my breath. I made a conclusion to myself that the ones I was looking for were great scholars or teachers, but to my great dismay...They were a group of teenagers, not much older than myself.

"The Nine will be together again!" "Yeah, Finally!"

I ran to where the voices came from. Not wanting to lose them I cried out to them, "PLEASE!! SHADOWS WAIT!!" As I turned the corner, two girls had stopped and looked around, finally spotting me. "Did you call us?" the shorter one of the two asked. I nodded in reply, but before I could do anything, the taller one cut me off. "Who told you we were Shadows?? Who?" I stood up straight and walked closer to them. "My mother did. She is a descendent of the Nine." The taller one stifled a laugh, "a ......descendent??" " I nodded and looked around, "I come from the future, and I need some divine help. Can you help me? Please?" The shorter one seemed more sympathetic to my cause for her eyes were full of compassion, the other one however, seemed confused and skeptical. She spoke slowly to me. "I'm sure that you were told that we are very generous and all, but listen Kid, don't take us for fools. I know we may look it, but don't lie to us, we can gererate enough manpower to wish you were never even born. Now tell us again, who told you who we are?"

I couldn't believe what she just told me. She told me straight out that she thought me to be a liar!! I was about to enlist the help of a bunch of paranoid idiots!! But I needed their help...No matter what....I needed them for my plan to work.
"Listen," I said urgently, "I come from the future and that's no lie. I know who you are because of that fact....Shadow Two" I montioned to the taller girl, "and Shadow Nine" They glared at me unable to say anything and I knew i finally had thier attention. I smiled to myself. I know the Shadows inside and out, thanks to my family's research on the Original Nine.

Shadow One is Hope. This Shadow was born for Mans need to believe in something when nothing is going the right way. Hope is the First and Last thing people believe in.

Shadow Two is Darkness. This Shadow was born for Mans Dark need inside them. Not considered Evil, but a barrier that holds people back from becoming animals. Darkness is the only True thing Man believes is out there.

Shadow Three is Love. This one is all the emotion a person can feel when they meet someone truly love. This Shadow was born for the need to never be alone.

Shadow Four is Thunder. This Shadow was born out of Mans desire to fight. This Shadow is considered one of the three"essences" of Human Nature.

Shadow Five is Courage. This Shadow was born when Battles took place on the Earth. Man needed something besides Hope to win and live.

Shadow Six is Fire. Another "essence" Fire is what fuels people in thier passion for life and abilities. Also known as the Flame of the Soul or Fire Within. Fire rekindles passion.

Shadow Seven is Light. Counter part to Darkness, Light is the compaion to Hope. Light is needed when all other lights go out.

Shadow Eight is Lightning. Partner to Thunder, this Shadow is the Last of the Essences and is compariable to the feeling of "the heat of the moment" and "spontanious" behavior.

Shadow Nine is Wisdom. Able to see the truth and what is not, Wisdom was born to aid great rulers of the past. However, Wisdom does not mean Truth....just what may seem right.

"How do you know our numbers? Only those who are part of our group know that! Who are you anyways.....?" The shorter one said to me in alarm. I shrugged my shoulders and said in a whisper " I told you, I'm from the Future. I know who you are." "Fine then. I am Gina, a.k.a Shadow Nine." the shorter one said while placeing a fist over her heart and extending it forward. "and this is my friend, Cat, a.k.a, Shadow Two." I nodded in respect to them. "Listen, " Gina said while looking at her watch, "we have to get to class or the teacher will have our heads." She looked up at me, "Meet the Nine in the back of the school building and we'll discuss the matter further." Gina nodded a good bye and started to walk to her class. Shadow Two stared at me, her eyes trying to read mine. "Listen Kid," she said " I have NO idea who you are, where you came from or what you want with us, but listen. And LISTEN good. If I find out that you're lying to us, I'll have YOUR head. You can count on that!! Besides," she said while casting a backwards glace at me, "the Nine dont like Liers..." She laughed and continued walking towards Gina. I stood frozen to the spot. I had just survived an encounter with one of the most dangerous Shadows in the History of Time. Wither she knew it at the moment or not. Shadow Two, as our reasearch had proven, will backstab to get what it desires most.
I let out a sigh and waited for the end of the day to come.