• < Ironically, Szuru symbolizes both darkness and goodness. Though a hero lurking in the shadows is hardly believable these days, Szuru strikes terror into evil itself, existing as an avenger and protector of life despite being darker than the night. >

    Zharu stepped into the cold, unaffected from the act of pure evil he had just commited. He had just come from the house of the man who had stolen his love, Aricia from him. Aricia had felt nothing for Zharu, but desperately he lusted for her. Heart-broken from watching Aricia fall in love with another man, Zharu went mad, full of jealousy. Both Aricia and the man were brutally murdered by Zharu and all of their valuables looted.
    The forest was lit with a dim glow from the nearby lightposts, but the mood and the stars fled for safety behind the clouds. Zharu crept away like a cockroach, glad to be away from the light along with any chances of being found. Just as a hoarse chuckle emitted from Zharu's mouth, the lights flickered a dark red and shattered, leaving the woods in total darkness. Zharu lept away, startled, but as he gathered himself back up, something else shook the courage out of him.
    Several deep growls flooded the forrest. Zharu became still and his heart began pounding harder. The noises floated closer, threatening to act apon a single movement of Zharu's. As he could of sworn the makers of the dark growls were inches away, the noises suddenly stopped, leaving the sound of Zharu's heart and the crickets to remain.
    "I am Szuru. You will die here, for what you've done." A voice darker than the growls filled Zharu's ears.
    Zharu shook and almost lost conscience, but his instincts prevented him from fainting, for it would surely mean death.
    "W-what? Who..what are you!?" Zharu managed to blurt out in a pathetic voice. A blotch of shadow that didn't match the rest of the forest drew his gaze.
    "I am your end." The shadow darker than the pitch black night whispered, "What are YOU, Zharu?"
    Upon hearing his own name, Zharu lost control and in a frantic panic, pulled out the same knife he killed Aricia and the man with. He pointed the blade at the shadow and lept at it. The shadow was a freshly dug grave, and Zharu slipped into the hole, falling on his own dagger. A shrieking laughter filled the grave, but it was not Zharu's. It dimmed and vanished as Zharu closed his eyes and descended to his death.

    Zharu awoke to the burning morning light filtering in through a window. He was in a hospital bed. Glancing down at his abdomen brought a spasm of pain to his wound. A man walked in the door and started toward Zharu. He stopped by the bed and stood there for a moment.
    "Who did this to you?" He asked, a solemn look on his face.
    Zharu thought a moment before it all came back to him. He shifted uncomfortably and answered, "This... This is my fault. I..I.." Tears flooded his eyes and warmly drifted down his cheeks.
    The man was bewildered, "Why would you say that? ...Do you know that there's a murderer on the loose? He's already killed two and it would appear that he's attempted to get you as well."
    The murderer closed his eyes, realizing what had happened. That..thing from last night had tricked him into the hole. It had been set up to make him look innocent, but why would anyone do such a thing?
    "Well, we're still looking for him. Don't worry, he won't get away without being punished. I'll leave you alone now. Good bye Zharu." The man left the room leaving him to think.
    Zharu had been given another chance because of the 'nightmare' from last night. He bit his lip and swore he would commit his life to doing only good. He would atone for his sins
    "...Wait, how did that man know my name!?"