Prologue

"In the middle of the journey of our life I came to myself within a dark wood where the straightway was lost."

-Dante Alighieri-

Near the end of the 18th century

Darkness…everything around me…Darkness. The void was empty, hollow and eerie. I ttied to move and raise both of my hands but I couldn't see my own limb because of the inky blackness.

My eyes widened in realization; neither wind nor sound was present in this realm. I couldn't feel it I couldn't stay like this. I had no desire to stay in this realm any longer. Not even a second.

Let me out…I said but only unnerving silence answered me.

Let me out! I screamed but my voice seen to stop working.

I panic. I don't want to stay in this world anymore! .Out!

The darkness above me formed a crack. It was small at first but then it began to crawl. The cracks ran along, spreading further and further. Bits of black material started falling onto me and then, as it was the first time, I saw a light.

Slowly, the light seemed to lift me away from the darkness, from this vacuum of soundless space. I calmly stared at the light, bewildered but at the same time relieved as I passed through the gaps of the earth. A very cold rush of air began to envelop me. I greedily inhaled and gasped, as if this was the first time I'd breathed, like there's no tomorrow. I stared at the light again only to discover…it was a big, bright, full moon.

The moon, like it had eyes, seemed to looked at me first, wondering what I was doing in that realm maybe, and it slowly put me down.

A sudden coldness swept against me. I whirled around. Where am I…? I looked around and tried to find some landmarks that I knew.

I was in…some kind of a graveyard. Rows and rows of tombstones, mausoleums and statues of angel and saints stood at my sides, forming an open corridor. A wind blew again drawing my gaze to a tombstone, standing behind me and then I saw a peculiar thing. The moon's light was bright enough me for me to read the words, the name of the owner of the grave that I was standing near.

HAYTHAM KENWAY

BORN: DECEMBER 4 1725

DIED: SEPTEMBER 16 1781

The word burned in my eyes since it was glowing. I looked down and saw three things that were neatly put and embedded deep in the snow. A sword, a pistol and last a small green velvet book.

"Hah…" I breathed out an air and thought. Why do I need a pistol…? I looked at the items with tired eyes but somehow for no reason.

I picked up the pistol and put it in my cloak, then the small book to my cloak robe pocket and last the sword, although I still had no idea if it was mine or belonged to someone else.

When I tried to move my leg, pain crawled across my right foot. I clicked my tongue with displeasure and, a little bit disoriented, decided to use the long sword as my cane. And with that, I decided to walk away from the strange man's grave. For some reason, I prayed that the name embedded on the stone wasn't mine.

Outside the graveyard was a dense forest. I struggled, and made several grunts, as I took a step on the uneven ground. My right foot ached more. I held the sword on my right hand as tightly as I could while still balancing myself, but I soon came to a halt.

In front of me was a crystal, frozen pond. I pondered whether to move closer, to see a face which I couldn't remember. I moved to the pond as fast as I was able and stared at my own reflection.

"This…is…me…?" I slowly muttered as I touched a scar on my middle-aged face. A blue cloak was across my shoulders, and when I turned around, I saw a cape attached to my back, adorned by a symbol of a cross and what seems to be an eagle spreading its wings.

But the strangest thing that I noticed about myself…was the hat on my head, making me look like a traveller.

"Am I a traveller…?" I asked myself, but the wind only blew lightly and made my cloak flutter.

I took one last look and then, slowly, I moved away from the pond.

The path that I took was very long and silent. The branches of the trees were covered in icicles, my feet shivered even though I have brown boots to protect my lower limb.

I continued and as I walk I was also thinking.

Who am I? Was my name Haytham Kenway, the one etched on the stone…? If so, I'm already dead…but then why am walking right now? Why can I breathe, think and feel the coldness of this white earth- "Ah!" I tripped and fell to the snow, face first. I was so busy thinking that I had not paid attention to the path.

As I groaned and lifted myself up, a sign ahead caught my attention.

NEW YORK 10 MILES

"A town…?" A sigh of relief escaped my mouth. Finally, a town; maybe I could ask for help there or search for some clues about my identity.

"New York…" I muttered and started to quicken my pace.

The town of New York was filled with loud blaring music from the bands; the sky was lit up by different colors of fireworks and light sparklers. But I ignored the festivities, since I had no interest in it and I only need help.

"Happy New Year without the British rats!" A group of men that I passed cheered and shouted in happiness. A lot of people were shouting the same.

What's the celebration…? I thought as I staggered from my tired walk from the graveyard, but my journey paid off after I saw an officer standing among the crowds, cheering in unison.

"Officer…" I mumbled and quickly moved towards him. "O-Officer…" the man didn't even look at me. "O—officer…" He looked and came face to face with me, but instead he waved to the woman standing behind me, as if he didn't see me. "O-officer- I need h-!"

A man, who seemed to be too drunk to walk, wobbled and toppled over me. I quickly reacted but to my horror, he passed right through me.

"H-how…!" I exclaimed, but it seemed no one could hear me. It happened again when a woman passed through me. I almost fell down as a dog and a little boy came running towards me only to phase through my thick cloak like it wasn't there.

My eyes darted frantically. I tried to touch people but my hand passed right through them. Horrified, I started to shout.

"He-help me! Someone-help me!" The people ignored me. No…they couldn't see me. My eyes went wide, my mind went blank. 'Why can't they see me?' was the question that was running in my mind. And then to my horror I remembered the name on the tombstone. Am I really dead?

It seemed that I had lost my consciousness at that moment because after a loud firework exploded and lit up the sky, I woke up from the daze.

"Someone…help me…" I cried. I moved back to a child who ran towards me and saw the same result.

And with that…I ran away, horrified, clueless and in despair.

I ran as fast as I could. I completely forgot my aching right foot; the horrors that I had experienced back at the town continued to play in my mind, which was empty to begin with.

I couldn't remember anything, I don't know my name…who am I? Someone…tell me…please…I'm begging- I tripped and fell to the ground yet again. Still breathing heavily, I tried to stand up, only to face the same tombstone from before.

I had returned to the cemetery.

The name 'Haytham Kenway' was still there, dirty and almost unreadable.

"Haytham…Kenway…" I muttered the name as I stood up. I slowly faced the moon behind me and stared. "Is…that my name…?" The wind blew lightly, my cloak fluttered in silence.

Then, after believing that the wind could be the answer, I interpreted it as a big resounding 'yes', I asked in agony:

"Why…why did you revive me…?" The cemetery had gone silent. "Why!?" I screamed, but the moon only stared at me and didn't answer. Slowly I saw the clouds begin to move and covered the big white heavenly body until darkness enveloped me.

Just why did you revive me…what is my purpose now…and…what horrors does this world have that I will face…? The question burned painfully in my empty mind. The moon revived me…it resurrected me and yet I wasn't happy at all. I was angry, vengeful and scorned. It didn't give me a life…it gave me something worse. I could feel it.

"Haytham Kenway…" I said. My voice has gone harsh. "…If that is my name…" I raised my long sword and pointed to the covered moon. "Then I'll take it and you'll remember it since it will be the name of the man who will destroy you." I continued, "Let there be war between us, and I swear if you appear before of me, I will rip you apart." I cursed the moon and then I begrudgingly added:

"If you have allies…I'll see them and bring them death, instead of a welcoming face. I swear that I, Haytham Kenway, will bring death to those who conspired to revive me!" I shouted, and with one final thought, concluded.

My name is Haytham Kenway. I was born on December 4, 1725…and laid to rest on September 16, 1781.

And with certainty…I am not, and will never become, a Guardian. Instead, I will destroy the Guardians and those who believe in them.

Just a few changes and reupdate of this old chapter. Special thanks to JustUptownFuckMeUp for proofreading. :)