Echo

This is the canon prequel for DeadRaiser's Dust to Dust and an opposite universe to that of Dead Redemption.

Written by Violetofen4.

Intro
Hello guys, this is one of my newest works and ideas. I thought it was time to leave the wonderful, glittering and perfect universe of Dead Redemption and get a little more realistic:

Life is not easy, and Richtofen and Kramer both need to see that by now.

Echos are flashes of life that waver in and out of the mind and come out as something brighter than it seems, but in the end, it all comes crumbling down into a pit of darkness.

And darkness you'll see.

Prologue - Richtofen
First, I'm not going to start this off as "Once Upon a Time." There is no princes or fairies or noble kings in the real world.

This is reality. It's not so happy.

Let's start this off about my family.

Where can I begin? My mother's name was Carlene. She had bright green eyes and red hair, which was unusual for Germans of the time. She was the quiet but forgiving kind of person. We were in the middle class but leaned more towards poor than rich.

My father's name was Aldric, he wasn't as nice. He was stern, and looked more like how I look today. High raised cheekbones, furiously sharp eyes, and chestnut brown hair. He was stern and cold on bad days, but the other time he always spent time with me.

I was born on January 1st, 1911, in the city of Berlin. My name's Edward, Edward Richtofen. I was a bright child, as everyone told me. I started reading at age 3, and by the time I was 4, I was reading Moby Dick. I was marveled by all who knew me.

I had to take care of my younger siblings. They were twins. Antoinette and Elric. I was dearly close to my sister, Elric was spoiled as a rat. I was the only one allowed to go to the park at my age, just to get sunshine really. I'd sit and read a book, or kick a soccer ball around, but really I had no friends.

Not yet.

Prologue - Kramer
I was a child prodigy as my parents told me. I was born on May 23rd, 1911, in the city of Berlin. My family was the rich class, but I certainly was not spoiled.

My mother's name was Mieline, but she was not born German, she was Austrian by birth. My father's name was Alfonzo, and I had a younger sister named Julia.

Of course, I was born smart. I loved books but that wouldn't happen until I was about 10.

I often went down to the park with Julia and my mother often. My father was busy at work. I grew up loving my family and respectful of my friends.

Most of the time, my only job was to clean the dishes. I started the day I could hold a plate in my hands. Julia dusted the house. We were often very busy.

I became friends with Ludvig Maxis at a very young age. His family was also very wealthy and he was very outgoing. We nicknamed him The Scientist for his love of science. We were all close.

Close enough to be friends.

Chapter 1 - Richtofen
I sat alone at the park. It was sunny, 71 degrees Fahrenheit, and there was no breeze to blow the pages from my book. Every other kid was at the playground.

I was reading Newton's Laws of Motion's History and I was halfway through. I was extremely shy and what you'd call a bookworm. Quiet and nimble, like a mouse, who barely crept away from the shadows unless into the warmth. My mother didn't take me to the park, she told me I was responsible enough to go alone. And that I was.

My mother had several friends who were rich. That's because she was disowned by her wealthy family, but her friends stayed true. My father was often at work, he was a scientist of the time.

"Hey kid!"

Three boys were standing in front of me within seconds. I stared on into my book, ignoring them.

"Why don't you ever play?" one of them sneered. He had blonde hair and blue eyes, and smirked.

"Alois, you're being too headstrong, I bet he's some foreign exchange kid," another boy cruelly joked.

"Am not," I growled back. All three giggled, and I put my book down and glared at them.

"Aww, the pipsqueak is going to fight back! How cute!" the third one whispered. The other two laughed again.

I slapped him across the cheek. He staggered, then glared.

"No one messes with Kramer von Frederick!" he roared back, then balled his hands into fists. Suddenly, I realized how serious this was getting, and dodged his swinging hands. One landed me against my nose. It stung but I gritted my teeth. The other two boys just gasped and pointed. I reached for my book so I could run, but this kid, Kramer, was still trying to get back at me. I kicked him in the shin in self-defense, then burst into a sprint.

Then Kramer's mom came. She grabbed him and calmed him down while I cowered behind the bench.

Yes, the "oh-so-great" Edward Richtofen grew up a coward. Don't laugh, I didn't know better than to back down from fighting.

I just didn't know.

Chapter 2 - Kramer
"I had him mom, I had him!" I snapped. I tried to get out, but the boy was still cowering.

"That's my friend's son, and you shouldn't hit him," my mother replied back, struggling to keep me still.

"You two should go home," she added to Ludvig and Alois. The two boys timidly nodded and began to hurry in the opposite direction.

The boy had fearful green eyes and deep chestnut brown hair. For the first time ever, I calmed down.

"I'm sorry I hit you." I whispered.

He nodded in sorry too, but I don't think he was listening anymore. He hugged his book close to his chest, and began to walk away.

"What were you thinking, Kramer? I'm disappointed in you!" my mother asked me, whirling me around to her gaze.

"He just looked so...annoying," I knew my reply didn't make sense.

MORE COMING SOON