It Didn't Take Long Till I Found The Other Guy And His Horse. I Pushed The Headless And Blood Soaked

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

“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

Birds... frogs... the stream in the distance... the wind in the trees... Damn it!

I opened my eyes and stood up again.

I looked at the sky, it was the first time I had done that all day. The sun is setting... lets see, two hares... had one in the morning, some berries too... guess I don't have much of a choice... either one risk, or the other... but which is the safer bet?

With every step I took I felt my energy being drained. I had to eat something, now. Even if it wasn't enough. I went back to the beck, took with me some branches on the way to make a fire.

I skinned and gutted the hares. Threw the rests into the forest on the other side of the stream. Something would surely come to eat that, but I wouldn't want that over here.

I fastened the hares to each their stick, and set both by the fire. Washed my hands in the water, drank some, and laid down besides the fire.

What should I do? I can either take the risk of hunting at night, or take the risk of sleeping while hungry and drained of strength. After having some food I should be able to get up on a tree, if I find one, but what if he... IT thinks of any shenanigans in the meantime.

Yøû kñöw Ï cån hær yôú?

… Shut up.

Yòú... Yôü... Yøµ...

I-I-I What?

He snarled at me. Didn't hear much more from him after that.

I laid on my side, watching the hares by the fire, the fire itself, how the flames danced their warm, but destructive dance on the wood...

Sleep... or Hunt?

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

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

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 could take care of the blood on the bow later. People might notice it, but I am hunting after all. It's easy enough to just tell them it's the blood of some prey or maybe even my own... That sounds like a good idea, make up some story where I hurt myself because I wasn't careful. Some story where I learned something from it. Yeah I think people won't question that much... but I guess they won't question that it's animal blood either.

As long as I don't tell anyone it's the blood of some, probably noble, hunter whose head I cut off...

Wow... how easily I can let that run through my mind... I cut off someones head. I decapitated a human. And still... the thought... awakens no big response in me...

I mean, Yes, he was helping someone that wanted to kill me. I was only defending myself but... I can't help thinking that running away would've been enough... but then again I didn't really have any control over what happened...

I guess in the end... it's not really my fault... right, it's not me who did it.

Årë yøû rællý sâtissfïéd wìth zåt? Säyîng ít wâssn't yöú? Sâyïng ìt's zë fåült øf sômeöne élsè?

Ye... no... but...

Ït's yøµr fâült wæ gøt ïntô zåt sitûätiøn. I jµst dïd whæt häd tô bë dønê tó gèt üs øût öf ît ågæîn.

…

$sø døn't hïdê bæhînd thåt lïæ, yøû'rë nô kïddô ånýmørë.

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Note from the Author

Completely forgot to make an episode for last friday, sorry. I’ll make it up with an extra episode this week ^_^

Thanks for Reading, Thanks for Following, and a nice week to all of you :)

Nightmare

Sam Rosenthal: six: thirteen (stretch mix 1)

It’s so dark already. I’m sure it will be night soon. I should find some tree I can sleep on.

I found a nice tree fast. It was climbable and probably high enough so wolves couldn’t get me. After finding a ‘comfy’ position on a branch I fell asleep fast.

Prepare for the Onslaught

’…Survive’ I yelled. Someone came in the front door. It was a man. He had a wound on his face. His eyes were glowing red. I started crying. 'Leave me be, please. I don’t want to die’ He looked at me and grinned 'Like I give a shit. It’s all on the king’s orders’Hahahahaha

He snapped his fingers and suddenly I was burning. I screamed. Louder and louder. Screaming out of pain & agony.

Picture forest by fdasuarez

Music Sam Rosenthal: six: thirteen (stretch mix 1) & Prepare for the Onslaught by Epic Score

© 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

The start of my day was successful. Quite successful to be honest. 'Discovered' some (most probably) edible plant and had already found a way to enhance my meals with it. In my opinion a very good start of the day.

But the day continued, and so I had to continue too.

Continue looking for any tracks of animals. Preferably something large like a deer. Something to get a bit of profit out of.

I remembered the the berry bush I found. There had been some animal eating from those.

I inspected the bush again. The traces were on the upper part of the bush, so it couldn't have been a rabbit or the like. Might have been a deer. Or at least something similar in size. A cow maybe... here in the forest? Well you never know.

As I inspected the bitten of stalks I noticed that they were already dry and brown were it got severed. Guess it's been some time since something fed from that bush.

But I didn't give up. Up until now I had only known how to trace animals by their tracks in the snow, now I could maybe learn how to follow them by other kind of traces they leave.

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

the Author Speaking

This post won't be about Bjorn, sorry to disappoint you there.

This post is about a woman. But not just any woman. She is... *grins* different. She has far more than just a pretty smile. Some might call her weird, scary, or even damaged. But again, she's more than that.

She's intelligent, calm, focused, just, powerful, deep, *grins* almost harmless. I can promise you, you won't find another like her. She's a fighter, a survivor, inspiring, skilled, got the best make-up tips.

Someday, she awoke through a chain of events. And now, she's just incredible. If you ever meet her you'll know what I'm talking about.

Today she's better known as La Kapitana. And to be honest, all I came here for, today, was to wish her a Happy Birthday.

* looks at the text * shakes head * Somehow this always happens when I'm trying to keep it short

Author - out