One Day As We Went Out Hunting, When We Already Were A Bit In The Nearby Forest, Ingrid Gave Me Her Bow

As I looked around I suddenly noticed the severed head from the headless horseman. The more I looked at it, the more it seemed to be watching me.

Creepy... better put it back to it's... owner?

I got up and walked towards it. As I bent down to pick it up, I for the first time noticed that my leg wasn't hurting anymore. I inspected it immediately.

No injury left, only the scars from the hounds teeth that cut into my leg

I dropped the leg of my pants again and picked up the riders head instead. I went to his body and put it roundabout there where it would be lying if it still was attached.

Then I noticed that the man was carrying a knife on his belt.

I shouldn't...

Büt hê's dæd.

But... that's stealing...

rïght nøw nö ôné døès pôss$ë$ss thåt knîfë, yøú'd stëâl thæt ås müch âs yøü'd stêäl thé førès$t æ hår€ whên yøµ ëæt ît

hmm...

cøme øn, tåkë ît, whö's göññæ pµnïsh yøû för ít?

That was about the first time I agreed with IT. I took his knife, and I did search him for other usable stuff.

© 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

The Madman

Descendent of God

They marched into the village. It was still early. The Sun had just dawned and the cock hadn't crown yet. Behind them lay already the soldiers who were supposed to watch the road.

Finally. After all these years in that goddamn dungeon someone saw my potential. Someone saw that my power, my lust for destruction isn't something bad, it's useful. He snapped with his fingers and a spark emerged from them. It flew to a house in an instant. WOOOSHH The house was ablaze an instant later.

Mwuahahuahahua After all those years... His eyes started glowing red. He snapped his fingers again and another house stood ablaze. ...I nearly forgot how much fun this is Hahahahahaha Burning people started running out of the houses. Screaming out of pain.

'Go. Do has he told you. Don't let a single one survive. All Hail the King' Mwuhahuahahuaha

Picture Crimson Mage by Izzy Medrano

Music Descendent of God by DeVso Music

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

All of sudden I felt my claw gripping into the tree, me swinging towards the tree and bumping into it. Then I was just hanging there.

It took me a lot more time to realize... to fathom what just had happened. As I looked up I saw that I was just a bit below the branch I had been sitting and sleeping on. Just about an arms length.

My mind began working again without all that surprise and wonder twisting into every single thought. I pulled myself up and sat on the branch again.

For a a moment I just sat there, looking at my arm.

IT saved me again. I would maybe have survived the fall, if I was lucky enough to not fall on my head, but I had surely hurt myself badly or broken something. And that out here, without any help.

How come that IT has already saved me two times? It's not like I don't appreciate surviving, I just wonder why IT has to help me with it. Clearly it's helpful to have a partner with you, but I don't think I could consider IT that.

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Suddenly I was in another place. There was tall grass all around me, taller than me. The sky was clear, the sun stood high, and it was awfully warm. Something was calling to me, bidding me to come closer, and without much of a choice, I followed. After a few dozens steps I got out of the grass, and there were large stone steps before me. As I looked up I saw a large temple made of nothing but stone, with plants growing all over it. There were figureheads in some places, some looking human, others more animal-like. I wanted to go on further. Suddenly something heavy was pushing me to the ground, standing on me, clawing into my back. I felt the blood drain from me. I looked behind me, a huge feline was standing over me. More sturdy built than a cat, and with fangs going beyond it's lower jaw. I stared into one big golden eye with a pupil that was so dark and deep, that I couldn't look away. Before I knew what was happening it bit right into my neck. I woke up disoriented. What just happened? Where's that cannibal? I looked down at myself, my hands were covered in a dark, red, sticky fluid. I knew the feel, blood. Then I saw that guy on the ground. I was sitting on him, his throat slit, but he was grinning.

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

Drying, Crumbling, Scratching

Panic Music 2

What should I do? If someone finds me here like this... I need to find some water

After wandering through the forest for some time, partially looking for water, partially lost in thought, the blood started to dry. To crumble. I could just scratch it off. And so I did.

I did get most of it off but still there were visible remains. I had to find some water.

Picture Blood on Cloak 2 by mohzart

Music Panic Music 2 by FesliyanStudios

© 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

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

At first I didn't hear him at all I was still scared of myself

What am I doing? I do hate this guy for what he did but Just a moment ago this hate consumed me I was only this hate for him no more, no less

I was afraid of it where did this all consuming hate come from and how could it take control over me like that

Many questions, no answers only the idea, the conclusion, that it came from IT somehow through the claw.

But how?

I wanted it gone but I couldn't focus enough not enough to get rid of it again

''Hey! Boy! We're done here! You can go on.''

I looked at him shortly and in him I saw a solution only a temporary solution but better than nothing

''Hit me''

''What?''

''I said Hit me! Like those hundreds of times before''

''But-''

''Just do it for fucks sake''

Note from the Author

Thanks for reading, for following, for liking. It's good to get some feedback, and even better if it's mostly positiv.

Merry Xmas to all of you ^^

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016