Kioku

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

Thoughts

But what now? I had learned to transform by will, had gained back my human self.

There was something I still had to do but... I was much to scared of that scared of going back to my dreams scared of continuing on that path wherever it leads.

So what else do I have left? Living out here would be an option, no one has come yet to solve this monster problem I guess it's true what they say; Out of sight, out of mind

But then again, it would be quite lonely out here peaceful, at least at peaceful as it can be with IT around but very lonely

And I could walk around without problem I got this transforming thing under control But how to continue out there? I can't stay with Martin & Ruth, I'm unsure how much they did notice, and I don't want them to live in fear

But I should at least them tell what happened or at least bits of it, maybe just that I'm alive They should know at least that

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

At first I went right through the water, but noticed after a few steps that it was quite a lot louder than I imagined because of the shallow water. So instead I went a few steps beside the beck, always having it in sight.

It didn't take long till I was at the pond again. Keeping in mind the unknown dangers of it I trod with caution and tried to re-trace my steps.

Ok think... you found the pond... went up on a tree... lemme see... no... no... no... ah! That one!... from there down... and... … into a bush... into... that bush! After that... … I went to the pond... ...why?...

I pondered over that for a moment, Why did I go to the pond? What was there for me to do there?

Hmm... no matter... IT warned me of the pond... then I went further up the stream again...

As I began walking back up the beck I noticed how the area seemed very familiar so I followed that sense of having been here before, the feeling of having seen this before.

After much looking around and searching I found my old camp and all my stuff too. Looks ransacked... hope it was just some animal who hoped to find anything edible here.

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

As I came out again, both arms stacked with raw meat A woman was inspecting the fire I had made Are you serious? No one for years but NOW someone comes by? As she looked up again she noticed me immediately

“Is that your fire?” She asked, eyeing me

“Yeah. Any problem with it?”

“Not really, was just curious who made the fire”

“What are you looking for out here?”

“That's my line”

She seemed rather defensive, from her looks she was a hunter Had a bow, arrows, knife and some sturdy leather boots Looked pretty professional from what I knew

“So, are you looking for anything out here? Or maybe just hunting for sport?”

She squinted at me “Yeah, right. Some half naked guy told me there'd be some creature around here, gave me some good money to take a look. He seemed drunk to me, no clothes and all. So I thought, why not? You seen this... creature?”

That guy really made it to a place where someone listened to him? Impressive.

“Might have, Any hints on what it looks like?”

“Guy was rather panicky, but he said something about nightmarish skin, claws and a horrible screech”

“He was drunken you said?”

“Probably”

“There's this hollow tree further in the forest, really creepy looking. Got 'arms' and has some red plant growing all over it. Can show it to ya if you feel like it”

She laughed “No need, I think”

Wow, that lie worked out far better than I imagined. Good I made this up in the time I was stuck here.

I allowed myself a short laugh too

“Any more problems then miss huntress?”

“Only one question; Any particular reason for being naked?” She chuckled

“Oh” I felt my face redden “Long story”

Picture MMMMeat by NadiavanderDonk

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

POWER

I looked at my hand for a moment clenched it in triumph

Moments later I was lying there anew with that fucktard right beside me

''Are you ready to lose to me another time?''

''Not this time.'' I said grinning

I held up my right hand

Closed my eyes

Concentrated

Drove the energy from deep inside into it

As I opened my eyes again they were there.

Those deep black talon like claws My skin slowly falling off, revealing what is beneath

It was difficult to hide my agony the pain of the transformation was tormenting but I managed

I was still grinning, like a maniac and I looked at him, saw fear in his eyes

I felt amazing,

POWERFUL

''Hey, you're cheating. That ain't part of your body''

''I made it part of mine''

Then his face turned

He began grinning it felt like looking in a mirror and then I realized

This wasn't me

''That's all I wanted to hear, boy. You may pass''

Picture Glowing by Eemeling [EDITED]

© 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

Childhood - Bjorn

Reading the Leaves

My life before I became an orphan was that of a usual kid. I think. I played with the other kids in the village, helped mother in the garden now and then, watched the smith working when I had time. Nothing unusual.

Father was working in the mines. It was seldom that I could help him there. One time he called me and showed me this gemstone he found. He told me that I should show it to mother and ask if she likes it. I did just that. And she did like it.

It's been a very long time since that happened. Many things have changed since then. Many things...

Picture Medieval Village by rissking Music Reading the Leaves by Falling You

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

I waited in the bush

Maybe he didn't notice me but just heard a sound here

He came closer, about a dozen paces in front of me he began growling.

Hê såw yøü hahaha

I know. Shut up. What now? Run or... don't run...? run or not...? run or not...!?

The hound was just a few more steps from me, I had to decide... NOW!

Run!

I swiftly turned around inside that bush and began running as quick as I could

Is it at all worth to try running? Guessing from the guy on the horse this hound is trained for hunting, such a large one probably for deer or stags, I can't outrun him. Gotta outwit the dog somehow.

I ran for my life, not looking back once. I heard the hound still running after me, and I think I heard some hooves a bit further back too. I tried focusing entirely on running, to not stumble over roots or similar, but I felt that I didn't have any chance to outrun him, I really had to outwit him somehow.

Outwit a hound... outwit a hound... come on, I need some good ideas now

I tried looking around while running, but no ideas came up, just trees everywhere, and this quite shallow beck that the hound would just run over like I'd do.

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

I was back in the cave.

I wonder when I have to eat again. Maybe I’ll never feel hungry. Yeah, maybe…

I laid down and fell asleep.

“Ah, you’re back for revenge I guess?”

I had ‘woken up’ directly besides that guy.

“Hey, do you actually have a name?”

“I do”

“So, what is it?”

“I don’t know”

“How can you not…. It’s because your just the image from a memory, right?”

“Exactly. Done talking? Thought you came here for finishing something.”

“Yeah yeah, I’m ready for you”

“As ready as last time?” Ha Ha Ha

He took on the same stance. And again threw a left at me.

I blocked it with my arm.

The same stance, the same attacks? No time for thinking, remember instead.

Again he tried to hit me with the uppercut. I crossed my arms, and threw them downwards.

But I couldn’t block it. There was just too much force.

Damn it-

He hit me again.

And again I was lifted off the ground.

Picture The Art of Punching by Lutherniel [EDITED]

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

I gently stroked through its fur “I thank you, Brother. May your spirit pass on, while your body feeds me”

Yøû ssërióùssly köntinûé wïz zât? Cøme oñ, $hê åïnt 'røùnd nømôre. Jüst kîll ít ænd bê dönê wïz ít.

I held the rabbit up at its hind legs, took a club lying nearby, and hit it in the back of the head. I tried poking an eye, to see if its really dead.

It was.

I fastened it to my belt, and continued.

Did you want anything?

Why ærê yøu sstïll dôiñg zåt? Shæ âiñt 'røûnd tö nôtïce íf yøù dön't.

What does it matter if Ingrid is 'round? She introduced me to it, but I don't do it for her. I do it to show some respect to my prey, to thank it for giving me its body, its flesh. But why do I bother to tell you, it's not like you'd listen anyway.

Büt zêræ ï$ nø ssëñssê în døing zåt, ïts nôt åwæ-

How would you know that? Can you tell? If you can, tell me how

Î... Ï... Åh fück yøû hümâñss ånd yøûr ëmótìónàl sstüff! $sînk mørë rrråtiønæl, lësss êmøtiônål. Yöúr kìnd îs zë ønly ånimæl zât døe$s zæt, zê ønly kînd zæt ssínks êmøti-

Again, how do you know? How can you be so sure?

Didn't hear any more from him after that. Did I corner him? Interesting, doesn't happen very often.

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016