A Face On The Inside

The wound healed in mere seconds.

Ha ha ha ha ha

It came at me again. I was ready to dodge it again, ITs attack was far more open than the last ones. Suddenly -- it disappeard. In midair.

I felt a warm breath at my neck but before I managed to turn around, my other arm was gone too.

Høw dö yòû wännå fîght mé nøw? Ha ha ha ha

I was baffled. What am I gonna do now? If cutting doesn't work headbutting or biting---

IT dissapeared again, and the same instance IT cut off both my legs.

Picture source unkown

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

I thought about it all day. What could have happened that got me my eyes back? Let’s go through it all once more

I ‘woke up’ there, in my dreams. IT, whatever its name may be, told me my real name, 片 Kata. Then IT shouted at me for not knowing what my real name is. That was basically it. How could that give me back my eyes?

Could it really be because IT told me my real name? But that wouldn’t make sense. IT wants to see me suffer, and I’m sure IT wants to take full control someday too. There's no sense in IT helping me so freely to turn back. There must be some catch to it.

Although I’m still unsure about ITs real intentions, now I do know that it really was my name that helped me turn back. It took quite a while till I found out what power my real name had. And what power I had if I knew ITs real name. But I can’t simply break of the whole tale here.

Note from the Author

Welcome to all my new followers and many thanks to the people who liked my posts. It’s not like I define myself through these followers and likes, but I always appreciate to get some kind of feedback ^^

That’s it, I won’t hold you off from whatever you’re gonna do now.

Have a nice day and thanks for reading

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

It had become dark already but I still hadn't decided what to do... or... I had... in a way. But I didn't want to... tell myself... I guess, so I just stayed there, watching the glowing embers, that the fire left behind.

I had eaten both hares some time ago already, but still I was just lying there, watching the embers and... kinda enjoying the... emptiness in my head.

I was woken by a weird sound in the distance. The first thing I noticed was how numb my left arm was... or at first I was worried if I still had it, but I think that would have been painful instead of numb.

I got up and looked around.

Nothing... lucky I guess

Although my arm was still numb I was back in hunting mode.

There... that sound again... but... it's different... and from another direction... or did I just mishear the first time?

I had never heard that sound before, nothing like it either. It was a long, dull sound.

Another...! over there this time... two short ones this time...?

I wasn't sure what to make of those sounds. What animal could make this sound? My imagination ran wild... maybe something human-like, but bigger, fur all over, with the head like a bull? I wouldn't wanna meet that in person

I got scared by this thought, wanted to climb high into a tree, but my arm was still numb. I found a bush instead, hid inside and inspected my arms.

No scars... just like usual... I tried to move my fingers. Didn't work as good as expected. I helped with my other hand, bending each finger by itself, moving the hand around a bit, bending the elbow, moving the whole arm.

The numbness left my arm again.

Suddenly my arm was filled with another weird feeling... like ants were crawling all over it. Out of panic I frantically shaked my arm, I didn't see any ants but it came out of reflex “Get them away, get them away” I thought, tho there was nothing on my arm.

The feeling vanished, my arm was back to normal

I looked at it in wonder... What was that?

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

We went back shortly after. Neither of us said much. I looked at her every now and then, to see if she got hurt somewhere. Physically she seemed fine, but I was sure there had to be some serious mental & emotional damage after that.

She didn't tell me what had happened. She might think I know what happened, that I saw it all, but had no control over it. Or maybe... No, I had to stop overthinking this, without asking I can never guess what she thought. It was simply not possible to think myself into having no idea at all of whats up with me. I know not all of it either, but I know some important bits.

“Ingrid-”

I tried to break the silence, had to find out what happened.

“Whatever happened, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't tell you beforehand, but I don't want people to know, for their safety. And now I'm forced to not tell anyone”

She didn't answer. She just continued walking, looking at the ground, staring far far away. Just like I did back then. Seeing that helped me a bit, helped me understand. It was a different situation, a different enemy, a different time, but I think it was somehow still very similar.

“Please Ingrid...” I put my hand on her shoulder “...please, I beg you, tell me what happened. I don't know, I cannot tell you why, not even what, but I never remember those...” I paused, carefully looking for the right word, to stay true to my contract “...those moments”

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

It’s gone?

A Lannister Always Pays His Debts

It -- gave up? That easily?

'You won't trick me, you're still there aren't you?' No reply

Is it really gone? Why would it give up so easily? It must have had some reason to come. Did it find what it searched for? Why even overthink it. I finally got rid of it, whatever it might have been.

At that time I really thought IT was gone. That I'd never hear IT again, never again feel IT's presence. I was wrong.

Picture Hunter x Hunter (2011) --- [E131] --- Gon Freecss

Music A Lannister Always Pays His Debts composed by Ramin Djawadi

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Raw Rabbit

Distant Horizons

My stomach was rumbling Nothing edible in sight --- at least nothing I know is edible. I hope that I find another town soon. Else I'll starve in this forest.

I noticed that there where many animals around now. Although I only saw that beaver in the days before. Maybe if I somehow manage to catch a rabbit --- no, I wouldn't be able to make a fire here and raw rabbit doesn't sound very good.

Continuing through the forest I thought about what I could find here that was edible.

Picture Deer by IntroducingEmy

Music Distant Horizons by Jeremy Soule

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

How could I've been so dumb not getting that. That also explains why there are nearly now plants in or directly by the pond.

That means the source of whatever danger, is directly inside the pond, or a bit further up the stream. I saw the fox drinking from the stream, and I drank the water myself even further up, it must be safe there.

I decided to go further up the stream again, hide and wait there. There weren't going to be any animals near here anytime soon, that I was sure of.

I'm unsure if you can hear this, and if you might still be ignoring it but... Thank you, probably saved my arse there

Î dïd zæt før mýssëlf, rrêtård

I didn't expect any other answer from IT so I didn't bother saying anything else.

After a while of walking upstream I found myself a new branch to sit on. The sun was already near the horizon and it began getting darker. I climbed the tree cautiously and sat myself on the branch. As usual it wasn't comfortable, but it was safe

...unless I'd fall down in my sleep.

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

After completely focusing on my arm for some time I had back my own arm and hand. Skin, five fingers, nails, hair and all those small marks.

I ate what I had left, emptied and refilled my flask twice. By the time I was done the sun was high in the sky. My stomach was grumbling and I sensed that I was far from my usual state. I usually wasn't the guy to go jumping through the woods because he was overflowing with tons of energy, but now I was near to drained.

It was time to preserve my energy as good as possible, to think twice about it if it's worth running after some prey. Naturally I had to take some risks, but even those had to be close to a bet I'd surely win.

I left all unnecessary stuff at the tree, including my shirt and shoes.

It was rather warm and the air stood still, so it was much more pleasant to run around with just pants, bow, arrows & a knife. Might have been a good idea to take some rope with me too, to set up some traps in case I found any good spots, but didn't really think of that then. The Idea was more, fast & much. And traps usually weren't the fast way of getting prey.

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

The Plan

And after that? I could travel

Maybe, just maybe, I can find a way to rid myself of IT Perhaps I'll find out what IT really is, what IT wants from me

And even if I'm destined to live with IT till the very end I'll get to see new places, learn new things Probably help people in need Maybe even hinder something like back then, when my hometown got burned down, to happen again

And so my plan was set Only one question was left Where should I get some clothes from now? I could rob a caravan or the like, naturally without hurting anyone, just taking what I need

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

So my travels began It didn't take long till I came to a village I wasn't really greated by anyone, didn't expect it either the only thing I noticed strongly were curious but harsh eyes They were all around me, every single one watched me with them After looking around for a while, always being kept an eye on, an elderly man came up to me, trying to put on a friendly face to hide his distrust

“What brings you here, stranger?”

“Well, actually I'm just looking for some work, maybe a place to stay”

“We cannot pay you”

“Oh no worries, a roof over my head for the winter & some food would be enough pay”

“Are there any crafts you know?”

“I did work for a smith for some time a while back, but that got kinda broken off 'cause of... reasons”

“Reasons? Hmmm... whatever it may be, I do understand that there are things you won't tell a complete stranger. The smith already got too little to do on his own, but the hunter needs a hand”

“Great.” I smiled & reached him my hand “Bjorn”

“Go to the other side of the village and ask for Ingrid. Tell her I said you can stay at hers as long as you prove to be a help on the hunt”

He took my hand, shook it & this time with a slightly more honest smile said “Ernest”

Picture humble village by Skvor

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016