"No!" Desmond screamed, running back into the temple. "Olivia! Sensei!"

     His hair was flying wildly as one of the helicopters landed feet away from him. There were gunshots and Desmond flung himself to the ground. He could hear shouts before someone roughly grabbed his hair and tossed him out onto the snowy clearing outside of the temple.

     "Stay down!" a voice yelled, above the thumping helicopters, while Desmond felt a barrel against the back of his head.

     Moments later, screams could be heard while Olivia and Sensei were dragged out of the temple and thrown onto the ground beside Desmond. Desmond looked to the side and could see that Olivia was glaring at her captive and Sensei had a look of complete petrified expression on his face.

     "Hands on your heads!" the soldier shouted, the three obeying.

     A cold chill passed down Desmond's spine: it was his fault. Had he been more careful the surveillance helicopters would not have seen him.

     "I don't understand," Olivia whispered. "How did they find us?"

     Desmond shook his head, staring at the ground, "I'm sorry....I'm so sorry..."

     "No talking!" the soldier said, the barrel pressing harder into Desmond's head.

     "What do we do do?" a soldier asked another.

     "It's them," another said. "I'd know Desmond Pierce anywhere. Call the master."

     Desmond looked up and cringed, seeing the same bald-headed man from the Black Dragon facility. He grinned at Desmond mischievously and he looked away.

     "I'll radio him now," a soldier said, strolling over to a nearby helicopter.

     Desmond looked to his side and Sensei began to mouth out words:

     "Go now!" he mouthed urgently. "Leave me!"

     Desmond shook his head; he could not leave his teacher.

     They waited for several minutes, out in the cold, without talking to one another. The silence was nauseating and meanwhile the soldiers whispered to each other urgently. Desmond knew that the slightest movement would bring death, so he locked all of his muscles in place and stayed very still. All they could do was wait in an agonizing way. Olivia stared ahead silently and Sensei seemed like he was praying, muttering inaudible words under his breath with his eyes closed.

     As for Desmond, he sat in shock.

     Meanwhile, the soldiers shifted amongst themselves uneasily, clearly scared of the temple.

     "How long is he going to take?" one soldier whispered, looking at the looming structure.

     "Any moment now," another replied. "Don't have fear..."

     After about thirty minutes another helicopter could be heard off in the distance. It approached them, sending waves of snow everywhere, and landed a ways off from the others. A walking ramp was laid out and a figure strolled down the steps accompanied by several soldiers. Desmond raised his eyes and saw an imposing man dressed in a dark suit, shrouding himself in a thick cloak. As he approached Desmond could make out the characteristics more clearly. He knew it was who Olivia referred to as the Shadow; the leader of the Black Dragon.

     He had thick, black hair combed back and dark, menacing eyes. His face was roughly shaven and a scar snaked its way across one of his eyes. The Shadow's face was finely chiseled and his body thick with muscle. He walked with an air of prominence and superiority, sweeping the ground with his billowing cloak that seemed to absorb the night. As he got closer, Desmond judged him to be well above six feet tall; a naturally imposing height.

     "Master..." the soldiers said, kneeling.

     "My disciples," the master answering with a deep, rippling voice that sent shivers through Desmond's body. "You may stand."

     Their master hovered to the three people kneeling in the snow and swept over them with a glaring stare. Desmond could hear his ragged breathing as the man lingered over his body before moving on to Olivia's. Desmond twisted his perspective and watched the soldier's master stroke Olivia's face.

     "Don't you touch her," Desmond breathed. "Or I will end you."

     He turned his head, inspecting Desmond with an eagle's scrutiny.

     "I...will kill you...Shadow..." Desmond breathed through gritted teeth and shivering in the cold; it had begun to snow.

     "Shadow?" the man repeated.

     Desmond, shaking all over with fear, looked up into his foe's eyes, "I heard you didn't have a name. It seemed appropriate."

    The Shadow grinned, "An appropriate name indeed. Mr. Pierce it is an honor to finally...make your acquaintance."

     Desmond looked away; he couldn't look his parents' killer in the eyes. His mentor had been right, he was afraid.

     The Shadow turned away and hovered over Sensei, who was still mumbling prayers, "And it is a privilege to re-make an acquaintance with another disciple, even one who abandoned their pledge."

     Desmond returned his gaze to the towering foe and could only watch a silver gun protrude into the night.

     "As the leader of the Black Dragon," the Shadow began, "I hereby relieve you of duty."

     Desmond could only scream as the Shadow pressed the weapon against Sensei's head and fired. His teacher immediately toppled over and his body jerked a few times before finally going still. Sensei's eyes stared off into the distance and the Shadow bent to close them. Desmond began breathing rapidly, anger exploding in him with the strength of a volcano.

     "SHADOW!" Desmond screamed, springing to his feet and punching the soldier holding a gun to his head. The others scrambled for their weapons but the Shadow held up his hand.

     "Mr. Pierce," the Shadow hissed like a snake, "it appears that you have benefited from Dr. Harrison's experiments. I thank you for your participation in the trials...even though it was an unwilling one."

     "You took my parents," Desmond sobbed, "and now you've taken the only man who has believed in me since my father! You destroyed my life!"

     "Did I really?" the Shadow taunted. "Or was it the billionaire playboy who couldn't let go? Was it the billionaire that made a fool of himself to the world, just because he couldn't accept the methods of life?"

     Desmond looked at the Shadow questioningly.

     "Things are born," the Shadow said, "they live...and then they die. It is the natural cycle, and it is a cycle that cannot be bent by humanity."

     Desmond's eyes darted around and he looked to Olivia who was still kneeling. They made eye contact and she nodded.

      "But if that is the way you see things," the Shadow said pitifully, cocking the gun, "then it would be my privilege to take part in your escape from your hardships. I should've killed you when I had the chance."

     "But then you wouldn't have gotten the information you needed," Desmond replied, beginning to stall; Olivia was concentrating an aura burst.

     The Shadow tilted his head and smiled, "Indeed, Mr. Pierce."

     Olivia screamed and green energy erupted in every direction. Desmond threw himself to the ground, but the Shadow and all his men were thrown backward. He tumbled and fell but quickly stood up, shaking the snow from his black cloak. Desmond attacked the Shadow but was thrown backward as the man swiftly punched him in the gut.

     "Don't be a fool Pierce," the Shadow mused. "To attack me would be to invoke death."

      Desmond swung several punches but each one of them was easily blocked. The Shadow retaliated and kicked Desmond in the chest, sending him stumbling back in the temple's direction. Desmond tried again but failed, instead getting a face-full of snow.

     "Olivia get out of here!" Desmond cried before the Shadow punched him in the face.

     "My disciples!" the Shadow cried. "Take care of Pierce's accomplice."

     Soldiers started to load their weapons as Desmond was thrown backward. He hit the wall of the temple and slid to the ground, coughing uncontrollably. His body was splitting with pain and the constant blows from the Shadow were not helping. Desmond's mind raced and he remembered something: the swords.

     "I remember when I sent my soldier in to kill your father," the Shadow laughed. "It was the easiest order I ever executed."

     Desmond rolled away and fled towards the temple. He dashed through the hallway and into the room where he remembered Sensei kept the swords. Desmond grabbed the box and tore it open, revealing the glinting weapons beneath it. He could hear the Shadow's footsteps as he entered the temple and Desmond unsheathed both swords while pressing himself against a wall.

     "Mr. Pierce," the Shadow muttered, "a coward like his father..."

     Desmond closed his eyes, his heart battering against his rib-cage with terrible fear. Images danced before his eyes as he began to have a panic attack. Seconds painfully dragged, the Shadow getting closer to Desmond's location.

    "You cannot hide from me, Mr. Pierce," the Shadow taunted. "I will find you."

     Desmond threw himself into the hallway and dashed at the Shadow, swinging his swords wildly. The Shadow ducked and grabbed Desmond's torso; easily flipping him over. Desmond crashed to the ground but quickly swiped with his weapons. The Shadow kicked Desmond in the face and he lost a grip on one of his swords.

     "You are a brave man," said the Shadow. "However, it would be more of a challenge if you knew how to fight," he picked up Desmond's fallen blade. "This will make an interesting addition to my collection."

     "No!" Desmond screamed, standing up and flinging himself at his adversary.

     Their blades collided and Desmond felt the energy vibrate throughout his body. He struck again but was easily blocked, the Shadow retaliating with a swipe to the side. Desmond barely blocked it and in doing so was forced back a couple of steps. The Shadow kept making advancements on Desmond but he was barely able to block every strike. He swung and their blades collided once more, sending sparks flying in every direction and a metallic sound echoing throughout the temple.

     "I will admit," the Shadow said through gritted teeth, pushing Desmond back, "that your teacher has taught you well. But I sense your fear and it holds you back."

     Desmond heard gunfire and saw glints of green from Olivia fighting the soldiers outside. He broke his sword-lock with the Shadow and ducked under him, fleeing outside. The snow smothered his field of vision as he turned around and blocked another savage blow from the Shadow.

     "Tell me, Mr. Pierce," the Shadow said, swiping another stroke at Desmond, "do you feel terror when you look at me?"

     Desmond sheltered himself and closed his eyes, sparks flying between their interlocked blades. His arms almost gave way from under the pressure and his muscles screamed in exhaustion. Sweat clung to his head, but he remained on the defensive.

     "Do you remember your parents?" the Shadow asked, hacking at Desmond. "When you look at me, do you see their pain?"

     Desmond looked into the Shadow's eyes and saw the day his parents died.

     "No!" he screamed, the fear tearing at him and weakening his stamina.

     "Am I the symbol of hatred for you?" the Shadow cried.

     "No!" Desmond screamed, throwing himself behind a pillar. He stood there for a moment, breathing heavily.

     The Shadow approached Desmond and mocked in a deep voice, "Do you want a life of emptiness and fear? Do you want a life that has no meaning? Or do you want a death that will give you closure and relieve you from your pain? It is your choice."

     Desmond closed his eyes and gasped for breath; he had never been more terrified in his entire life. He was facing his foe, the very man who had issued the order to kill his parents, and he was powerless. Never before in his life had he felt so defeated and shamed.

     "I'm sorry Dad," Desmond whispered.

      He threw himself backwards as the Shadow raised his samurai blade and brought it down on Desmond with full force. Desmond held up his sword for protection and gritted his teeth while sparks illuminated the dark temple and pain, mixed with exhaustion, crashed through his arms like a tidal wave. The Shadow brought the blade up and hit Desmond's sword again, causing him to scream in agony. Sparks burned his face and singed his eyebrows. The Shadow brought the blade up and hit Desmond's blade a third time, but it was too much. Desmond crumpled to the ground and he let go of the hilt due to exhaustion. He coughed and spat, laying on all fours, the snowflakes whipping him in the face relentlessly.

     "I will cascade this temple with your blood," the Shadow whispered.

     Desmond looked up into the eyes of his killer and saw a shadowy figure of absolute darkness. His eyes bore through Desmond like drills and made him want to curl up into a ball and die. When the blade began to come down Desmond could see the faint structure of what might have been a smile.

     But then the world exploded in green and the Shadow was thrown backward, the blade spinning out of his hand.

     "Pierce!" Olivia screamed. "Let's go!"

     Desmond looked up and was washed with relief at this sight of his friend. He pulled himself to his feet and sauntered forward a few steps but fell; his exhaustion was too great. Olivia ran forward and caught Desmond.

     "Come on!" Olivia yelled. "Let's get out of here!"

     "My swords," Desmond mumbled. "My swords..."

     Olivia grabbed Desmond's fallen swords and pulled Desmond upright. He felt a sudden burst of energy as Olivia used her aura on him.

    "Whoa!" Desmond said.

     "Here, take your swords," Olivia murmured, sounding exhausted. "They're heavy!"

     Desmond took a hold of the swords and the two ran into the darkness as far away from the Shadow as they could.