Project Zero - Blog Posts

It was a horrible view.

What was left of my hair were a few long, light strands. By far longer than my hair.

My eyes were… black. Deep black. Like ITs territory. The left one looked like it could fall out every moment.

As I saw my mouth… or rather jaw, my heart stopped.

Nothing that would resemble lips in any way. Two rows of razor sharp teeth. Like I had a mouth filled with daggers. And it was wide. Very wide. My… jaw… went nearly from ear to ear.

How could I close this mouth? I would surely hurt myself.

I tried. Now I knew where the blood had come from while deer hunting.

I bit right through what one could call my “skin”.

My skin looked like someone had burned it off. I had neither ears nor nose.

I could’ve never dreamed of such a creature. Not in my wildest nightmare. But there I saw it. Worse than the worst thing I could imagine. And it was my reflection.

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

The first half of the deer didn’t last for long. But it sated my appetite, so I took the other half with me.

How long until raw flesh gets foul? I wish I knew. I should eat it by tomorrow ‘round this time, just to make sure it doesn’t get tainted.

After I was back to my cave and had ‘stored’ the remaining half of the deer a question came up.

So… what now? I figured out I can only see moving things, everything else is blurry and reddish. I am able to hunt, apparently I got amazingly sharp claws. Only question is; What to do with this new won free time? Hunting for fun is a waste and only gives me unnecessary attention – What do dragons do in their caves? I guess they sleep in their piles of gold, until some brave hero comes who ends up eaten alive. But I am no dragon, at least I don’t look lik…

Then it struck me, What do I actually look like in this form? I went out again, in search of water. It didn’t take too long till I found some.

I gradually moved my head over the water. To not scare myself too much.

Picture Inside the Cave by Joaru

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Heartbeat

I stretched down. Slowly. To not startle it.

The tree gave off a creak. Shit, I'm too heavy. I need to get the pace up a bit.

The deer looked around immediately, staying like that for a moment. Turning its ears around. But it relaxed again and continued grazing.

I hung motionless for that time, holding my breath. Even when it had already relaxed again. But I continued, stretched myself further and further. Suddenly, a drop of blood. I saw it right in front of me, falling down, slowly. My heart stopped as I saw it. Oh shit The drop landed on the deers head.

To this day I am unsure how long, or rather short, that moment actually was. In my eyes it looked like it took an eternity. But as I look back on it, the deer wasn't even able to react to the blood of drop before I had sliced it in two. I didn't expect my claws to be that sharp, but it was nearly like I just sliced through nothing. Like I sliced through the air. There was no resistance in the deers body at all. Before I knew it I was down on the ground. Standing in between two halves of a deer. I looked at both of them. Besides of other fluids, blood was flooding out like there was no tomorrow. But the deer, it was still alive. At least the half with a head. It all went so fast, it didn't notice that it died.

I bit off its head, to stop the suffering. Even though I'm a monster, an abomination, I'm a merciful hunter. There's no need for suffering, at least if I'm able to end it.

Picture The human heart by SkarlettFury

Music Heartbeat 60 bpm found on Jeroen Klap's Channel

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

I was starting to understand this form. So that's why things seem to disappear sometimes.

With that knowledge I could go hunting. Better than any human hunter. Far better. Although I still had to learn to differentiate between silhouettes.

A glimmer in the corner of my eye Another hare I lept for it. But I overdid the jump. The hare got away.

Damn it! I need to learn to control my strength, my new won abbilites. But I was hungry and it's hard to concentrate with a growling stomach. I went for bigger prey.

I climbed a tree, with ease. Looked around for movement. It took quite a while till I saw some suitable prey. A deer, probably, it came all the way to the tree I was sitting on. Like it wanted to be eaten.

Picture The White Deer by EternaLegend

© 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

In lonely admiration

I waited there. Exactly at the same spot. All day long. Hoping someone would come to end this.

No one came.

I'll probably have to wait till some "brave hero" comes by who is daring enough to kill me. I began to wander around the forest. I moved surprisingly fast. Might come from this... form. I'll have to get used to it -- for now.

My "walk" probably took hours. It was already getting bright again as I found a cave. Carefully I took a look into it. No one here I went inside. The cave was large, larger than it looked from the outside. And before I knew it, that cave became my new... place to stay.

Picture Cave by oceancradled

Music In lonely admiration by MIDERA

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

I woke up in the forest. The clearing was familiar, the sun was shining.

For a moment there I believed it was all just a bad dream. That I still was the little boy from back then who had just lost his parents. Who just escaped from that maniac.

But as I looked down on me, looked at my hands, I noticed; I wasn't. It hadn't been just a bad dream, I wasn't that young boy again who just had lost his parents. Hadn't just escaped from that maniac. I was still this... monster. Abomination. IT. I screamed.

I expected that even the people in town heard that screech, but I didn't care. My life as Bjorn was over, now I was this... thing. May they come and end my life, if you could call it that.

Picture Master Study: Forest Sunrise by Illustrum

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Back to the Forest

Be Yourself for Me

I walked around. The place was familiar. It was hard to make out anything, but I knew where I were. I was at the backside of the house.

Why do I look like this? Could it be that... this is ITs form? As soon as that thought struck me another of those gleaming Humans came, and behind it many more. I was scared.

They don't know who I am... or what. They must be out to either kill me or scare me away. Without making much of a ruckus I fled into the forest. I knew I would be safe from humans there, at least for the night. I hope this spook is over by dawn.

Picture Dark Territory by DarkSilverflame

Music Be Yourself for Me by Dark Matter

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Awakening

Mystic Moods

I woke up.

Hasty I looked around to see where I was, but my vision was blurry. There was a slaugthered animal right in front of me. But even that I couldn't see clearly. My hands were deep inside of its lacerated stomach.

I pulled my hands out. But instead of fingers, I had claws. Four of them on every hand -- if you could call them that. And all of them Razor sharp.

Then I saw something, in the corner of my eye. It stood out from that blurry mess, nearly shining. What was that? And where was I? I went towards this gleaming thing. Why is it so big? Wait --- I'm walking on all fours?

That gleaming thing -- was it a human? It looked like it. Two arms, two legs, head, body & it was definitely standing on it's legs. I tried saying something but I couldn't. The only thing that came out was a screach.

The Human threw something at me. It was long and the tip was warm. And suddenly it disappeared. Only the warmth stayed, this burning warmth. As I looked back up again the human was gone.

Where am I? Why does everything look so weird? What happened to me?

Picture James Heller's Claw Arm Sculpt by Prototype 2

Music Ambient Fantasy - Mystic Moods

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Kioku

There I was; No arms, No legs, lying in a pool of my own blood. And around was nothing. Again. Like the first time I was here. Just me and this... nothing-ness.

Is this how people die? What happens to them after they died? No afterlife, no great god waiting for you?

Suddenly a drop of blood fell on my face. As I turned my head IT was standing right over me. Scared the shit out of me.

$$$cärêd? Ha ha ha ha Ït's $ssûrrêlÿ mørrrê fùn tô ssséé ÝØÛ $sstrrûgglë øût thërê, sssø Ï'll gîvë cøntrrrôlè båck tø yôu Ha ha ha ha

Picture source unkown

Music Kioku from Jigoku Shoujo

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

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

Panic Music 2

It cut my left arm clean off. I looked at it in panick, blood was rushing out of my shoulder.

Ha ha ha ha gøtchå

I somehow couldn't realise it. My arm was lying there, instead of being attached to me.

Ýøû äréñ't zàt wëâk, åræ yôü?

I managed to calm myself down a bit. The lost arm didn't seem to have any other effect than me not beeing able to use it. I can fight with just one arm, that is no problem

I got up again, standing in a more defensive posture this time. I can do this, I just need to concentrate. Take a deep breath.

It came at me again. This time I managed to dodge and even cut it. I was relieved So I can actually hurt it

Ha ha ha ha Dø yüô rrrëàllý belïævê zåt?

Picture Blood on Cloak 2 by mohzart

Music Panic Music 2 by FesliyanStudios

© 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

Intro

Suddenly IT stood in front of me. I could clearly see it although its form wasn't stable. Constantly changing. I wanted to continue to talk to it, but I couldn't. My mouth didn't want to move. Like my lips had been sewn together. I panicked a bit.

Although there wasn't much to see in the darkness I looked around. Maybe there was something here. Then I noticed I had a sword fastened to my belt. I recognised the handle. It was the sword I had forged myself. It wasn't exactly the masterpiece of a well known Weaponsmith, but it worked well for me.

I drew it out of it's sheath to get an even better look. But as soon as I drew my sword, IT jumped at me.

Picture Demon by AlleywayNightscholar

Music Intro (City of Vultures) by Rise to Remain

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Underground

One night I was back in that blackness. I hadn't been there for a long time, but I knew what it meant.

'What do you want? Why am I here again?'

Döñ't ÿøu rrëmëmbërr? ha ha ha ¥øú S$àîd ït ýûørr$sêlf.

'I don't know what you're talking about!' I tried locating IT but it was like the first time. Always just in the corner of my eye.

¥øu töld mê tø $st@¥ qüíèt, ûñtïll ýøû ¢ôüld fîñd øût whø Î äm

The moment IT said it I remembered it like it was yesterday. That really worked back then. IT really followed the wish of young foolish me. But would IT do that again?

'I banish you foul thing from my dreams, from me, whatever you are!'

Ha ha ha ha Ï æm ñøt før¢cêd tø föllôw ¥øûrr ëvérý wî$h, bøý. Î chøsê tö

Picture Blackout found on 巫女miko's blog

Music Underground by ◄-NATURE-►

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

A Face on the Inside

Papercut

Why does it feel like night today? Something in here's not right today. Why am I so uptight today? Paranoia's all I got left I don't know what stressed me first Or how the pressure was fed But I know just what it feels like To have a voice in the back of my head Like a face that I hold inside A face that awakes when I close my eyes A face that watches every time I lie A face that laughs every time I fall And watches everything So I know that when it's time to sink or swim That the face inside is hearing me Right beneath my skin It's like I'm paranoid lookin' over my back It's like a whirlwind inside of my head It's like I can't stop what I'm hearing within It's like the face inside is right beneath my skin I know I've got a face in me Points out all my mistakes to me...

Picture Disturbed by Dunjochka

Music Papercut by Linkin Park

Note from the Author

Yes, this is part of Bjorn's story. Would be boring to write the whole story like a usual book, wouldn't it?

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Whispers

I never saw that huntsman again. My life continued as it had before. The first few days after the incident in town Ruth & Martin kept a close eye on me. They noticed that they didn't need to expect any danger from me so they left their guard slack again.

But whenever I went to town I could feel the eyes of the people on me. Even after I started to work for the smith. I mostly helped Martin & Ruth but whenever I had time I went to the smith.

At first he only sent me to fill up water buckets, get ore or to stoke the fire. Although he noticed how fascinated I watched him hammer ore into shape, he waited till the end of winter before he began to teach me how.

Picture Time by Rizuuki

Music Whispers by Danlsan

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Winterfell

No, it wasn't that she didn't believe. She was unsure if the huntsman lied or not. And I didn't blame her for it, neither do I blame her for it now. She couldn't have known what is true and what is a lie. Even I wasn't completely sure of it at that time.

It would explain a few things. Like what IT meant by 'having control' But what reason could IT have to feed from a dead deer ---wait. Feeding. Exactly. I was starving out there. Does that mean it needs me to survive?

This was the first time after Martin found me that I was completely lost in thought again. Just beeing held in that town by Ruth's firm grip. I was staring far far away.

Picture Still thinking of fall... by Elle-H [EDITED]

Music Winterfell by Ramin Djawadi

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

The crowd was still standing around. Unsure if they should believe the drunken huntsman or not.

Ruth grabbed my hand firmly and went through the masses of people. A few dozen paces later she stopped, turned around and crouched down in front of me.

'Don't listen to that drunkard, he always tells stuff like that.' She calmly said to me.But in her eyes I saw that she didn't completely believe those words herself.

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Brink

The guardsmen both just went away. Still laughing.

The man looked back at me. He was still extremely tense. The people in the croud started mumbling, talking. About me, about the hunter, wether his tale could be believeable. He took the chance and ran. I never saw a man run this fast. While running he shouted something I didn't quite understand. It was something like 'Yer 'ill al' be sorry for not listenin' ter me.'

The crowd was still standing around us. I could feel their gazes on me. Suddenly Ruth, who had been in some stadium of shock-like parlysis, spoke up.

'Do ya believe a lil' wahn loike 'im could do that? Daan't earwig ter this drunkard 'unter. Rather worry abaht findin' a new 'cause 'e won't be comin' back.'

Picture Taboone-Full by mintyfreshmangos

Music Brink by FesliyanStudios

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

' 'tis 'im! Guards! Guards! Capture dis monster!' All people stopped up immediately, and all gazed upon wich the man was pointing.

Me.

Two guards came. Both with there sword drawn, but as they noticed there was no danger, they sheated them again. 'What's happenen eya?' One of the guards asked

'Dis fel -- tin' dare, it ate me game.'

'Coost be a bit mower specific? Yom a hunter, many people ate the mate yaouw bren. That is naaa crime'

'Naw. Yer don't git waaat oi say. Yer man ate me game. Oi 'ad jist shot it, den yer man 'oofed over ter it. As oi came ter 'imself an' asked waaat yer man wus doin' 'is bake wus al' deformed wi' razorsharp teet an' yer man 'ad claws.'

The guards looked at each other. They had to hold back their laughter 'Is that the same kind of story loike that 'un with the three-headed elk yaouw met?'

The man was baffled 'Naw! listen ter me-'

The guards nearly pissed themselves from laughing 'It's alrooight, we'll let yaouw get awoy with this unneeded call fer help since yaouw gave us a bostin loff.'

Picture Deer-ner is Served by Hjoldir-Hildwulf [EDITED]

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Kingslayer

A few days later Ruth and I went to a nearby town for... something -- I can't recall for what or why. Nothing really special was in town. Only masses of people, far more than in my hometown.

As we came by the Tavern a man came out. He was still looking inside while walking out the door. But then, he turned around. And his face went from tipsy smiling to sober fear. He went white as a sheet in no time.

He stood there, frozen in place. He slowly raised his shivering hand, pointing at me. He was opening his mouth widely. Like he wanted to scream, but -- nothing came out.

Picture Prancing Pony tavern by daRoz

Music Kingslayer by Ramin Djawadi

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Ancient Stones

I slept very good that night. No nightmares and after those cold nights in the forest this hay was as soft as a cloud.

Next morning, after we ate breakfast & Martin went out on the field, Ruth repaired my clothes. I was wearing one of Martin's cottes in the meantime and did stuff around the house. Afterwards I helped her in the garden. And I helped her spin yarn from wool.

My days were back to normal again. But, although I knew that Martin & Ruth treated me like there own child, it was still not the same.

Music Ancient Stones by Jeremy Soule

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

From Past to Present

The rest of the evening went without any big happenings.

We ate soup & bread for dinner. It tasted great. And it was great to get something into my stomach again after those days without eating.

After dinner Martin went out and got some hay for me to sleep on.. It wasn't very soft but far better than hanging on a branch in the cold of the night.

Picture Night Swamp by JKRoots

Music From Past to Present by Jeremy Soule

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

A Hug

Helos

He opened the door. I walked in behind him.

'Martin, where 'ave ya been?'

'Met th' wee un on th' way'

'Wee wahn?'

I came forth from behind Martin. I saw in her eyes that she was exactly like him, only wanted to protect the people dear to her. And it seemed like I just became one of those people.

'Wot 'appened ter ya lil' wahn?' She came down and hugged me tightly. I didn't resist, it felt like paradise. I wanted that moment never to end. This warm, sincere hug. Like the one from a worried mother.

Then, still hugging me, she looked at Martin. 'Ya think...'

'Aye, ah think he cam fae that toun'

Picture Black Butterfly by Selenada

Music Helos by Scott B. Morton & Michael Verrette

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

A Small Measure of Peace

Martin seemed to be a nice man. He didn't talk very much on the way but every now and then he looked at me and smiled.

I guess he was a little bit smaller than most people, as he was only two heads taller than myself. He was about the same age father... was, maybe a little older.

I can't tell why but I somehow knew from the beginning he was a sincere & honest man. He had no reason to wish bad things on anyone. Nor did he want any bad things to happen to himself or the people who are dear to him.

' 'ere we er wee 'un'

Picture house by 0BO

Music A Small Measure of Peace by Hans Zimmer

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Martin

A Hard Teacher

Suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder.

Looking around I was kneeling in grass. No more trees around me. The hand was a man's. It was big and scarred, but it's touch gentle.

'Wha's wi' ye wee 'un?'

I tried to say something but I couldn't bring out a word. I began to cry.

'Noo Noo, na need te blart. Ye git a name?'

'...Bjorn' I said faintly

'So Bjorn, ye hungry?'

I nodded, wiping away my tears

'Folloo me then. Name is Martin by th' wey'

Picture Male Peasant by dashinvaine

Music A Hard Teacher by Hans Zimmer

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Anger

Tsar Bomba

I went through everything once more in my mind. I was forced to go through it all over agin. The smell of smoke and burning flesh. The screams of anguish. The guy who kicked in our front door. The voice and the laugther of the madman who set mother ablaze...

Every. Single. Detail.

Picture Anger by BluDrgn426

Music Tsar Bomba by Avatar

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Realization

Starting Disease

I woke up drenched in sweat.

Did -- did this all really happen? There's no other reason for me to be out here. I climbed down from the tree.

Why would the king order this? Why would he send such a madman to our small town to destroy it? We didn't do anything wrong --- or did we?

I was lost in thought for a long while. That was the first time it really hit me what had happened a few days ago.

Picture Creek by TWPictures

Music Starting Disease by Eduardo C.

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Burning Flesh

Horoathea Mass of Aegorath

I dreamt of the Attack again. The screams, the smell, it was all there. I just stood at the edge of the forest. Looking at the sea of flames. But still I heard the screams like I was standing right there. Smelled the burning flesh as if it was my own.

In the middle of it, were the screams of my mother. Those screams filled with pain & agony. Although they were mixed with all those other screaming people, you could hear her pain clearly.

I wanted to run into the forest, to make it stop, but I couldn't move. I was frozen in place. And then I saw a light moving away from the village. Towards me. As it came closer I saw who it was. It was that guy who set my mother on fire. He grinned at me from a distance & shouted 'All Hail the King!'

Picture Inner Flames by JudgePikachu [EDITED]

Music Horoathea Mass of Aegorath by Halgrath

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016