Chapter 1 Prologue

A shrill blood curdling scream, that's what brought it to consciousness. It lay still, stubborn and indifferent. It tried to pry its eyes open but couldn't, it tried to close its eyes but failed. Its sight consumed by darkness, not even aware that the eyes it believed to have had no longer existed. What the hell, it thought, and for a brief moment, it tried to relax—yet once again failed. It felt its heart thumping so fast, it vibrated like a trumpet on its head.

So it reached out to its chest hoping to meet its rhythm, but found none. It felt hallow, empty, it felt nothing for there is nothing.

In its dark paradise it lay motionless again, too stunned to accept what it has become.

Another scream echoed inside the void. It craned its imaginary head towards its left and then right, up and then down. It's calling, calling once more.

I know that voice, it said to itself, but unsure how to respond.

Screaming

Pleading

Panting

Those sounds kept repeating like a broken record, only louder by every passing second.

"What?" It replied, after convincing itself that the sound asked for its name, more like begged.

"What?" it asked again, and in an instant, it felt a tremendous amount of pain, leaving its body, if it even had one, pulled in every direction. Swirling, stretching, kneading, sinking, bouncing. It tried to scream but couldn't.

Suddenly, a flash of light filled its dark abyss, and then everything went still, motionless.

Ahhh... It sighed in realization

Smirking using its nonexistent mouth, now I remember it whispered.

Towards the light it moved, floated or slithered it did not know, but there towards the light it needs to go.

"Meet you" It kept whispering over and over, afraid that the darkness will cave in again.

"Meet you, Meet you, Meet you."

And the barrier in between, finally broke.

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She lay still, eyes closed mouth agape while lying in a pool of her blood. The white and plain hospital walls are no longer confining her. The heart which beats inside her no longer felt anguished or pained, rejection and doubt no longer held importance. She smiled and raised her hand towards her mouth to take a final puff from the cigarette that's already spent half way through.

Blood trickled from her injured wrist. She closed her eyes welcoming her impending fate, finally succumbing to darkness. Surprise suddenly jolt her to awareness when with half lidded eyes she caught sight of it, the bane of her existence, and root of her sorrow.

No, she managed to say while staring at the thing that hovered above her.

It began like it always did. Swirling hues, but dominantly black, danced, enticing and hypnotizing her to keep watch.

It stretched uncomfortably but never abandoning its rhythmic dance. An arm took shape, a leg swayed, a head formed, and for the first time it took on a face.

With widening eyes and panic in her heart, confusion suddenly filled her head, I—I, she murmured. The death which she longed wavered in her new found knowledge. She stared, oblivious, as the image slowly sank into her. Increasing in familiarity the longer she soaked on the visage.

"You!" She screamed, choking by the dryness of her throat as a tear escaped her eyes.

"Yes." It answered, leaving her barely conscious mind angry, baffled and filled with regret.

"How—Why?" Her words said in a whisper.

It smiled and whispered back.. "Let me show you.