I was just an everyday stray dog running through the streets of Tekcity. I did what all stray dogs did: run in the gutters, smell the trash, and so much more. It was such a wonderful lifestyle, and such an easy one as well. There were no burdens that I had to carry, except the one to eat and survive, and even that wasn’t too difficult with all the food that I would find on the streets. Almost everyone ignored me. They thought I was just another random dog, maybe even one with rabies. There was only one person that trusted me: an older man who ran a small shop. He sold all kinds of things from his own handmade jewelry to some food that his wife made. He would feed me some of that food every so often.

This was my life for several years. I could never truly convey how I felt except through my barking, and even that was limited. Nobody saw me. It was a lonely life some days.

That all changed on the Night of the Rewriter. He changed our entire world, yes, but he helped me. He made me more; he made me recognized by the people of Tekcity. Now, I’m their leader. Their protector. Their savior. All thanks to the Rewriter.

On the Night of the Rewriter, I was doing my normal thing: digging through the trash cans in search of some leftover food. I had just found a half of a hot dog when the sky turned red. It started on the north and worked its way to the south, spreading across the sky like it was a bunch of veins. The light of the full moon was blocked out, casting a red glow across the entire area.

I freaked out. I started barking at the red sky and running around in circles, trying to understand what the heck was going on. Only a few other people around me seem to noticed; everyone else was stuck in their tablets, cells, and glasses. The people who did notice the red sky started to freak out with me. Some stood in complete shock and awe, while others tried to push their way through the people, trying to get away from the ready sky.

In the distance, there was the figure of a man, just floating in the sky. Around him floated tentacles, too many to count. Each one struck out and down, but at what, I was about to find out.

I could hear the screams of hundreds of terrified people a mile away. So many people, screaming in fear at the horror before them. I thought just the sight of the man in the distance was already terrifying, but the darkness that was the Rewriter was still coming. If screams from afar were already horrifying, the screams that came from right next to me were even worse.

I whimpered as I heard the first scream come from a woman who watched as a man was impaled by one of the tentacles of the mysterious man. It had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. It had moved faster than we could see.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

The man was stuck in his glasses, so he hadn’t moved much, but that tentacle must have freaked him out. There was no way he could’veve ignored it, and if he did, didn’t he feel the pain?

I watched as the life was taken from this man. He looked to be around his early thirties. In just a short moment, he looked like he was a mummy from beyond the grave. The tentacle pulled out of him and dropped the man to the ground. He didn’t move.

This happened to several other people around me. Some were left untouched; others did live through the tentacles, but most dropped to the ground motionless, just like the man had.

I was not left alone by the mysterious man. He paid a visit to me, even if I was just a dog. As I was listening to the blood curdling screams around me, whimpering and running in circles, not knowing what to do, I was hit by a tentacle, right into my heart. I felt no pain, but at the same time, my mind thought I was going to die. I was just a stray. I had no purpose for anyone.

A voice spoke in my mind: What’s your name, little pup?

My name was Rover. At least, that’s what it was at one point.

Mmm, Rover. Common dog name, but you are so much more than that. I think Anubis would be a much more fitting name. How would you like to become something more than you think you’re worth, Anubis? I can promise you amazing things, powers beyond imagination, glory, anything. All you have to do is accept my offer.

I would like to be more than a stray. I don’t want to die either. Please, please, I don’t want to die.

All you have to do is accept.

I can still hear that voice in my head to this day. It’s been a year, and the people love Anubis so much more than Rover. Rover was kicked some days, left on the streets. Anubis is honored and respected. I carry powers that no one else carries, and they fear me because of it. I feed off of it.

Today, they brought me a woman. She was in her mid-thirties. Her eyes were ocean blue and her hair was a beautiful brown. There was no doubt she was admired by several men.

They told me of her crimes: prostitution, thievery, and bearing false witness. She tried to deny it. She said the men only looked at her, but never laid with her. She never stole. She told the truth. She was honest with everyone she ever met. She could try and try to deny every crime she had ever committed, but she could never escape true judgment.

I looked into her thoughts. I searched her heart. I could sense her fear, the fear of execution or some other cruel punishment. I could see all the misdeeds she had done, and none of them were worthy of death.

Except one.

I stretched out my human hand and focused on her. I hear her pleas now: “No. Please, no. I have children! They need me!” And she told the truth.

”I’m sorry,” I said, “but judgment must be served.”

I twisted my hand, and her neck snapped. She dropped to the ground.

One of my loyal men came up to me. “What was her crime, Anubis?”

”She had taken a life.” I walked away, trying to push away the new human feeling of guilt.