*
In the cave, something strange was happening. The ç'aether had begun to move, twisting like crystal snakes towards their prey. Their unsuspecting, unaware, human prey. From cracks in the floor and from offshoots from the larger columns, ç'aether crawled. They inched towards the sleeping occupants of the cavern, oddly ignoring Maloch entirely in their slow but unstoppable onslaught. They reached Barsch first, the snow-covered ç'aether taking to him like vines to a wall. In minutes, he was covered from head to toe, wrapped in a transparent, violet cocoon. The chrysalis pulsed with light, making it appear as though Barsch was glowing. It was an eerie sight, one that was repeated twice more for Kingston and Alza. In the cave, something strange had happened, something which would change the occupants’ lives forever. Still asleep, Barsch was about to experience a true nightmare...
The glade. Always the glade.
SOMETHING IS WRONG.
For an instant, an image appears in my mind. An image of a violet, heart shaped crystal, pulsing with a faint light. As quickly as it came, it goes, leaving me with a deep sense of unease. The glade is as it always has been: empty, dark and dangerous. From an unseen place, a wolf howls, sending an uncontrollable shiver down my spine. Somewhere close, a beast is baying for my blood. Somewhere close, a beast is tracking the stench of my fear.
The glade unravels as I walk, with blotches of darkness opening up like tears in old paper. The rifts carry a sense of foreboding, but for some reason, I do not pay attention to them. Again, the wolf howls, closer this time. It's coming to kill me, to rip out my throat. How do I know? I'm not sure, but I know what I know.
And, aside from the beast, another creature is stalking me this night. A creature of unrivalled ferocity and wrath. A creature that I have come to call ALZA00971.
A creature that I once sought to befriend. But then, after it learnt the truth of its origins, after it discovered its true nature, it changed... It became a monster. No, that’s not true. It merely remembered that it had been a monster, and thus strove to become a monster once more. It is hunting me now, trying to fulfil its mission. To bring havoc to the world, and bathe all existence in the flames of chaos.
Once upon a time, before it became the monster, it was a normal girl. Well, normal in this case is a bit of a misnomer. Still, she was... not completely unpleasant and did, on occasion, talk to me. But then we faced the madman and after that, everything changed. She discovered her monstrous heritage, and Alza, a somewhat strange girl, became ALZA00971, an inhuman monster revels in bloodshed.
The wolf is close now, almost within reach. It sounds weaker, perhaps strained from its long hunt. I know it, just as I know the monster. I have faced both before, but never together. I do not know if I have the strength to keep both at bay…
The glade is almost gone, lost to the dark rifts. All that is left is a small patch of grass, and a withered oak. They are both there, waiting for me. ALZA00971, with its deathly pale skin, bone-coloured hair, and crimson eyes; and The Beast, a violent creature with fur as black as night, teeth as sharp as daggers, and deep blue eyes.
Together, they howl. Together, they reach for me. There is no escape. There is no salvation. There is no hope. There is only death.
Awakening Page 198