And Less Than The Blink Of An Eye Later I Was Standing On Solid Ground.

Something ripped me out of my sleep.

As I opened my eyes I saw the ground below me, and it was coming towards me quickly.

After what felt like a moment or two I was wake enough to realize it wasn't the ground coming towards me, but me falling down towards it. Down from my safe branch.

Why had this to happen this night? Is it just a coincidence or is it somehow connected to me thinking about it earlier? And if yes, how could thinking about something affect if it's going to happen? I mean, naturally if you plan on going hunting and shoot a deer, that does affect it very much. If you hadn't had that thought you might have not gone to do that. But something like this, like thinking about that it'd hurt to stumble and fall on your face and it then happening only a while later. That can't be connected, right?

Suddenly I noticed this pain in my arm, and through that also how numb my whole body was. It was transforming, beginning at my elbow and slowly crawling towards my hand. Slowly it moved, I didn't have any control over it, towards the tree, reaching for it.

Then things began to get faster, I was falling faster, my arm was moving faster.

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Blood

Calm Panic

Blood. I had blood on my hands. BLOOD. Why do I have blood on my hands? Whose is it?

I went back to the pond to wash it off, but it wasn't there. I remember wich way I had to go and I was sure I went in the right direction but the pond was gone.

I followed my own footsteps back to the tree to double check. As I came to it I noticed that there were bloodstains all the way up to the branch I was on. And this wasn't at all the tree I climbed up last night. How did I get here?

Picture Blood on Cloak by mohzart [EDITED]

Music Calm Panic from P.T.

Note from the Author

Hope you do like the story so far. And that my writing is not too horrifying :D But anyway, I'm always happy about some feedback so just send it my way ;)

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

May the Brave Come

Temple of Light

While being there, in that cave, doing nothing, I gradually got hungry. And I thought about it for a long while.

Should I find something to eat? Or should I just let hunger end this? NO-- I won't give up. If I don't get to be Bjorn anymore, I'll be the monster of this forest. May the brave come and test their skill on me.

I went outside my cave, to look for something eadible. It wasn't easy to find anything with this sight. Suddenly I noticed another gleaming thing. So they've already come for me? I screeched, to scare them.

The gleaming vanished for a moment. Then it was there again, moving into the distance. But it didn't look like a human, it didn't even move like one. It was much faster and it made quick, long jumps instead of running.

Was that-- a deer? Does that mean these gleaming things... I looked around. It didn't take long to find another. It moved similar to the deer, but it was much smaller. This gleaming, it's movement. So I can only see moving things clearly.

Picture Magic deer! by Reneder

Music Temple of Light by Electus

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Dark Cave Ambiance

Back in my dreams. As always he was standing right beside me; waiting, laughing, provocating.

But this time I was ready, I knew what to do.

Again he did the first hit, a stiff right. As usual. Blocked.

Ok, now turn. In that moment I realised something, but I didn't even have time to think it.

I woke up

''Damn that bastard!

Wait, calm down. This was your own fault.''

I had totally forgotten how I turn my eyes. I knew how to, but couldn't recall the steps. It had become automated.

Like breathing.

So I stayed awake. Sitting in my cave, remembering how I turn my eyes, trying to apply that principle to my arm.

But it was exhausting. By far more than turning my eyes,

I could feel this 'energy' stream trough my arm, but it wasn't enough.

I'm unsure how long it took exactly, sitting in the darkness of that cave the whole time. But after what probably was a dozen days or so I finally did it.

I turned my right arm back to normal. Only the lower part but now I knew how to do it.

Picture Hand Study 1 by irysching [EDITED]

Music Dark Cave Ambiance (Part 1) by Cr1msonKing

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Dreams

A Way of Life

Then I snapped out of it.

What the hell am I doing? How could I accept to be this demon, to continue to live like it?

It was like I had lost myself, my own thoughts. Somehow. I had been controlling this body. But all this time, it wasn’t my will who steered me.

Did IT take over on that clearing? When I gave up on life?

I didn’t want to stay in this form. I wanted to become myself again. To rid myself of this unnameable horror. And so I did what had to be done.

I need ITs… help. ITs… counsel. IT knows how to shift shape, it can surely teach me how I can regain my body. My face.

I went back to the cave. Found a place to lie down. To sleep.

Is it that why dragons do sleep for eternities? Do they too search for something in their dreams?

So I went where I first had met IT. Where ITs domain lies.

To my dreams...

Picture Sleeping Dragon by Disse86

Music A Way of Life by Hans Zimmer

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

“What was it you wanted to talk about earlier? Had enough time to sort your mind?”

“Well... I've sorted my mind but... I still have no idea how I should ask this”

“Then work around it, what is it you wanna ask me about?”

“It's... it's this... well my, or rather our, 'contract' “

“Oh you mean the staying for winter? You're right, winter is over but... if you wanna stay for longer do so”

“That's... not really it, tho I'm thankful for your offer, but... hmmm”

“What are you worried about?”

“I... I'm... … I'm worried I leave you without giving you anything back for what you showed me. That I leave without repaying you properly”

She put a hand on my shoulder and looked into my eyes“Do you really think I did this with the plan to get some compensation for it? I did this because I wanted to, because I had a feel you could use it in the future. Compensation neither needed nor wanted.”

“r... really? You sure?”

“Yes, and besides, you gave me lots of fun memories” she smiled

“...but-”

“No buts! It was fun for me, that's more than enough pay”

She hugged me suddenly, the first time since IT forced its way out. At first I was scared, worried, but I didn't wanna take this hug from her... and didn't wanna let it slide myself. We both needed it.

“Thank you Ingrid, a thousand times and infinitely more”

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

We went back to the village in silence.

We had ventured out far. Were back in village a bit after noon.

Nothing really special happened there. People greeted as usual after we came back. Some asked if the hunt was bad. We told them bout the stag we followed but, we altered the story a bit. First time we got asked Ingrid improvised, then we agreed keeping the story of a pack of wolves coming out of nowhere. That they luckily went after the stag instead of us. Must have noticed that he was the bigger meal. We kept the rest to ourselves. No need to tell anyone.

After that day talking between Ingrid and me kept to the most important stuff. Every now and then, I saw in her eyes that she really wanted to get closer to me again, but she didn't try. She feared what might happen. Wished I could have done something about IT back then.

Then spring came, the snow began to melt, birds were chirping in the forest... and my 'bargain'; a warm place to stay in winter, paid with my help came to an end.

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Ssø bë ît

Fallen City

Covered in a layer of mud I continued to wander through the forest. Does this damn forest never end?

Î wøñdërr whö zät bløôd bèlóñgëd tø ha ha ha ha haaa

There was that voice again. What does it want from me and where does it come from? Can other people hear it too? 'WHOEVER OR WHATEVER YOU ARE, DONT TALK TO ME ANYMORE! LEAVE. ME. BE!'

--- at least until I can find out who or what you are

Ssø bë ît

Picture Disturbed by Dunjochka

Music Fallen City by G Empire Music

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

I held my sword up to deflect the hit. One hand on the grip, the other on the tip of the blade.

The hit was hard. Harder than I imagined would be possible for something of it's size.

My grip around the sword was tightening. I was far too concentrated on counteracting the pressure. IT loosened the pressure and kicked me in the stomach.

It didn't hurt at all for some reason. Although there was much force behind the kick. Right, this is just a dream after all

Nøt cömplêtèlÿ trrüè bôý. Êvën ìf thïss íss nøt yôür phý$icäl fôrm, yóù'll stîll gët d@mågëd.

I noticed my hand was bleeding. And although I only was surprised for a moment, it was a moment too long. IT attacked me again, but this time IT hit.

Picture The Demon Within by lauraneato

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

“I ran into a forest... not far away. It was the only place I could think of.

Then... one morning... I think it was the first, I had... I had... blood. It was everywhere... on my hands... my face... it wasn't mine. And there was that voice... it was... h-h-horrible. So deep... and it was... everywhere.”

I paused for a moment, to relax a bit.

“I... I got it off... somehow. Beyond the forest... I met a guy... Martin. He and his wife, Ruth, they took me in, cared for me... raised me.

And then... years later... one n-n-night... I... I... I...”

The words were stuck in my throat. Why was this so hard? I took a few deep breaths. Ingrid didn't say a word, didn't move, I barely noticed her breathing. This break was longer. We just sat there in silence, for a while.

“That night... I had a dre-dre-dre--

LËÂVÉ HÎM ÂLØNËËË, HÊ Í$$S MÌÎÏNÊÊ!! YØÛ HÈÅRR MÆ FØÔLÍ$HHH GÎRRRRL? ÅLL MÍNÊÊÊ!!!”

I was surrounded by blackness, by this feel of nothing, again.

Why am I here? Why now? WHAT did you do!? And what are you doing right now?!?

Mäkê ss$súrrê yøü rrêmëmbèr bøyyy, Yôü åré mînè, ând mìnë ålønæ!!!

What? I have no time for your nonsense now, let me back again. Don't you dare hurt her.

Øhhh, ýøû'd cärê íf Î hürt hær? Wê cån ärrràngé zât, yöû knøw.

Don't you dare!! You piece of shit!! It's me you want, come here and fight me.

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha YØÛ thînk yöú'd sstând å chäncssæ ågàïnsst mê?!? HA HA HA HA

I... I... godammit, FUCK YOU!! What is it you want from me? What do I have to do so you leave her be!?!

Æsy, døn't têll ånyønê åbøût më ânýmørê. Nëxt tïmê zërê wøn't bé å wàrning

Sure, you've got yourself a deal, now let me

“OUT!!”

Whoa, I was back. She was sitting a few steps away from me, looking at me in terror, tears running down her face.

“Whatever happened, I'm sorry. IT--”

Hêy, rrëmêmbèr whåt YØÚ jüsst ågrêêd tø?!

“...I-I-I sometimes have these... no, I can't lie to you. Now I really can't tell you. For your safety. Else you'll get hurt, and I don't want that.”

“But-”

“Please Ingrid, it's no threat, no bluff, it's... a warning.”

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016