Free Shadow Walkers by Micheal Kostura

explained it to me yet.”
    Allison decides to step in and help explains things to the new Walker. “There are four known races in our universe. There are the regular humans, who live on earth. There’s the Void, who live in their home of the same name. Us Walkers obviously come from the Pit. And then the fourth race would be the Inverts, who come from Eros. Like Walkers, the Inverts are capable of using strange abilities that normal humans are incapable of. Some whackjobs think that there could be a fifth race out there somewhere, but there is absolutely no evidence towards such a thing.”
    Isaac nods approvingly. “Correct. The Void are the natural enemy of us Walkers and the Inverts. But there has been a long standing rivalry between the Inverts and us as far as history dates. We don’t hunt each other down like we do the Void, but we also don’t get along with each other. And for the past three hundred years, Walkers and Inverts have completely avoided contact with each other due to a peace treaty created to end the rivalry between our kind.”
    “So that’s why a hybrid between a Walker and an Invert is such a big deal. They weren’t even supposed to meet with each other over the past three hundred years. But according to the Void, there could be an Invert walking among us right now.” Nick says.
    “Thats right.” Isaac confirms. “For whatever reason this hybrid was created, they’re going to cause a lot of controversy here in the Pit. Many Walkers don’t trust the Inverts, and the idea of mating with our rivals disgusts the majority of Walkers. Most of them will think that this hybrid is here to spy on us so that the Inverts can learn our weaknesses. But this Invert that’s supposedly in the Pit is actually the least of our problems right now.”
    Hector nods in agreement. “Yeah, I could care less about the Inverts. Valus said that the Void pretty much planned on destroying the two worlds. Maybe it’s just me, but that seems like more of an important issue than some stupid rivalry.”
    Isaac smiles. “I’m glad then, Hector, because that makes you wiser than a lot of the other Walkers here in the Pit. The threat of the Void takes priority over a petty rivalry. If they truly plan on destroying the ‘two worlds’, then they must be referring to Eros and the Pit. After all, Walkers and Inverts are the races that pose a threat to the Void and their Queen. By wiping us out, they’d be free of any hassle.”
    Allison begins biting on her nails, her mind focusing deeply on the conversation at hand. Nick begins speaking again, this time saying exactly what’s been on Allison’s mind. “But why would they suddenly want to take the Walkers out now? Couldn’t they have done this a while ago? And if they can destroy worlds, why haven’t the regular humans been wiped out yet?”
    Isaac laughs. “Look who’s finally getting to the real questions. To put it simply, the Void is ruled by an all powerful Queen. Three hundred years ago, in a battle between Lydia Walker- the most powerful Walker in history and the founder of the Guard- alongside Serena- the most powerful Invert- and the Queen of the Void herself, the former two managed to put the Queen in a weakened state for all of these years. It looks like she’s finally starting to return to her old strength. I’m not sure why her powers have suddenly returned, but I think that the Void have wanted to get rid of us for a very long time.”
    A spark lights up in Allison’s head. “They needed the Queen’s power to destroy the Pit and Eros, and it just so happens that she’s finally regaining her strength now. They’ve waited three hundred years to execute this plan of theirs, because it wasn’t physically possible without the strength of their Queen. Lydia Walker and Serena threw a giant wrench in their plans.”
    Isaac’s grin let's Allison know that she hit the nail on the head. "That's my guess too. Who knows what tricks the Void are going to