Hallow - Book 1, Panda Bear, Amber DeVore [ebook e reader txt] 📗

The world of the Supernatural. Monsters, Magic, and other things that were thought only to live in legends. A long time ago the supernatural and humans lived together in peace. The humans stayed to their land while the supernatural had their own share of land. Some were even revered by the humans as gods and terrible beasts to pay tribute too. Soon after, though, the humans began to be curious and greedy. They expanded their reach to other lands pushing the supernatural back, even killing them. The Greeks and Romans were the start of this. All the tales of the heroes were all true as they fought against these mythological monsters. Some of those stories less true than others. As time went on, the bloodshed grew more and more. Tired of all this war, but at the same time not wanting to kill out the humans, three very powerful kings came together; The Dragon King, The Fairy King, and The Witchkin King. Combining their strong magical abilities the three used all of their powers to create a ward strong enough to keep the humans out. Through certain guarded passageways, the supernatural could pass back into the human world in disguises. This is how the two races lived on for many years, the humans slowly forgetting about the strange creatures, only remembering them in the legends of the ancient peoples. A strict guard was placed at every major exit/entrance to monitor the flow as best as possible. However, there are some rouge angry beasts that have found cracks and small openings that lead into the human world without the watch of the kings. The worst time of the year is on Halloween. On All Hallows Eve, the ward is the weakest allowing more crazed monsters to pass to the mortal world. Due to this, Hunters have been formed to hunt down and bring back, dead or alive, the creatures as to ensure the peace isn’t broken.

There are many advantages and disadvantages to being dead. The one thing Elden liked about it was not being able to feel pain. As a matter of fact, he couldn’t die as far as he could tell. It all started back in his hometown in Iowa. He was walking to his beat up rusty car one night after work. Before Elden could even reach the rust bucket, some tall dark shadow came out of no where. Elden really couldn’t remember much of what happen that night. It was all pretty foggy. All he did know was that something had attacked him and he had died. Next thing he knew he was in the hospital with his foster parents clustered around his bed. At first he thought it was nothing, but lets just say somethings happened that changed his mind. A few days after he had been checked out of the hospital, Elden had started to notice how fast small wounds were healing up. Even his foster parents began to realize his changes. His strength had increased dramatically and when the moon shone down on him, Elden’s black hair would turn pure white and his eyes would turn a dark blood red. He couldn’t swim any more, like the water made his body freeze up. Everything that was pure iron would burn him if he touched it, not to mention not being able to eat McDonalds fries anymore due to the salt also burning him. Crazy side effects from being attacked by parking lot bears right? Wrong. Curiosity led to him looking up what was wrong with him. Turns out he had all the symptoms of several different supernatural creatures, one stood out among the rest. He was a zombie. Or at least part zombie since he didn’t crave human flesh or mindlessly wander around. In fact, Elden still felt human. He slept, ate, and even had a slight heart beat, which is probably why the hospital doctors weren't freaked out when he walked out of the the hospital.  

Well, that brings us up the present. Elden and his parents had moved from Iowa to Indiana. He was going to start in a new school and a new life. Well, half-life. The house they had bought was small, just big enough to fit the three of them. Elden, being the only child, got the small bedroom next to the bathroom. His foster parents got the only room upstairs, which was the master bedroom for the small house. The kitchen and living room kind of were combined together. It was small, but Elden didn’t mind. It was a cozy little house.

Today was the day Elden Walking was going to his new high school, though it was the end of fall. He would only really be in school for one and a half semesters. Still, his foster parents were set on him finishing high school. Elden could care less about whether or not he finished. He actually didn’t like the place. He really didn’t fit in with the others. Though he had super strength, Elden didn’t look buff at all. In fact he was pretty scrawny and pale looking. The appearance kind of went with the whole zombie thing. He was slightly on the tall side with choppy pitch-black hair. With how dark his hair stood against his pale skin, Elden gave off this eerie look that either made people avoid him or think that he was an easy target to bully. Of course Elden always had a sarcastic remark and a quick getaway plan every time he was cornered. The boy wasn’t a coward. He just didn’t like violence. With his overbearing strength, Elden could easily smash their faces into the nearest wall. Sadly that would end up in a poor human going to the hospital and a one way trip to the police station for the zombie boy.

 Through out most of the day, Elden didn't really talk to anyone nor did anyone bother to talk to him. He wasn't really the loner type, but he was used to people hesitating to come up to him. Once they warmed up to him, Elden was sure he could at least make a few friends. Then again, it wouldn't bother him if he didn't have any friends by the time he graduated. Elden just wanted to lay back, go with the flow, and not stand out. However, fate had different plans for the young zombie and it all started on this day.

"Hello, would you be interested in joining the swim team?" Elden looked up slowly from his book to meet the gaze of a girl. The girl was several inches shorter than Elden, though she held her chin tilted up in a way that told him she wasn’t afraid to take anything on. She had brown bobbed hair, falling just below her chin. In her bright amber eyes Elden could see confidence as well as curiosity. She was wearing loose faded jeans and a white long sleeve t-shirt on under her black short sleeved t-shirt. It was a simple outfit, but all the same it caught his eye.

"The swim team?" Elden asked carefully shutting his book. "Hmm." He acted as if he actually was thinking about the proposal, though the plain truth was that he could never swim again. "I am going to have to turn you down. I can't swim." He went back to read his book, but the girl place her hand over the cover to keep it shut. He looked back up at her.

"I can teach you." She said. A determined fire burned in her eyes now, which made Elden's faintly beating heart sink. She was going to be trouble, that's for sure. "We really need some guy swimmers this spring and I can tell you won't be joining any of the other sports teams." 

"Sorry, but really can't join. Find someone else." Elden sighed. The girl shook her head still looking at him with her amber eyes. If he could swim, Elden would have gladly joined to not cause so much trouble, but he really couldn't. Elden looked away brushing her hand off his book.

"Fine, then I will convince you some other way." She paused for a moment, thinking. "I've got it." She said with a large smile. "Why don't you go to the swim team's Halloween party I am throwing this Halloween? There you can meet the other members and have fun at the same time. If you are still not convinced, then I will give up on asking you to join."

Elden thought a moment. What could be the harm in a little party? His hair and eyes changing color could just be shrugged off as a really cool costume. He shrugged then agreed. With a triumphant smile, the girl stuck out her hand and Elden shook it. "By the way, my name is Ashley Kane, though every one just calls me Ash. If you ever change your mind before hand, just come and find me."

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Elden finished his homework easily that night. A lot was going through his mind now and most of it was about that girl, Ash. Right after agreeing to come to the party, she gave Elden her phone number so she could give him the address. After Halloween, he would have to reject her offer once again. He hoped they still could be friends, though. Something about her just was charming. He sat by the open window starring out at the night. He had always loved the night. The quiet it brought after most creatures went to the sleep. The coolness of the night air also seemed to calm him. Elden suddenly noticed a rather large crow perched on a nearby tree. No, it must have been a raven, for crows couldn't be that big. However, it seemed to be starring right at Elden causing a shiver to go down his back. It was kind of eerie. 

"Beware all Hallows Eve. Beware." It cawed loudly causing Elden to jump slightly. "Beware the Hunters. Beware." It cawed once again. This time Elden quickly shut the window and pulled the curtains closed. Taking a shaky breath, Elden decided it was time to go to bed. He clearly needed the sleep.

The next few days Elden felt on edge. He really didn’t know why, but ever