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DANIS ODYSSEYor

SOME COM

MOTION IN

THE HINTER

LAND FOG

32

Written

by:

Winston

Wall

Illustrated and Designed by:Wayland Chu

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A hAnged mAn production

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner

whatsoever without written permission from the publicist.

This is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious and any resemblance to real

people or events are purely coincidental.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF ROLDO MONTGOMERY LEE

SECOND EDITION PRINT MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES

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OUT IN THE DARK

A DIFFERENT WORLD

THE GREAT ESCAPE

THE GRAND ARRIVAL

WANTING

A NUISANCE

AMONGST THE MACHINE

A PURPOSE

THE STARRY-EYED CONQUEROR

NEW EYES AT LAST

RETURN TO THE TOY KINGDOM

PLEASURE OF THE FOREST

BY PEN AND PAINT

IT ALL MUST END

ANOTHER TRAVELER

FEARFUL FORTRESSES

THE DREAMING CREATIONS

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CHAPTER I

SoDown and deep

Well have to seepTo hold their feed until the day.

LongLost in sleep

So they may reapAnd give the purpose to our play.

As purposed points that hide in playHelp pointless tides forget theyre prey;

Snatching such thoughts before the brakeThen sapping away their restless snakes.

For our aid drifts cruel time astrayIf one just breathes our purposed play.Theyll come to dread souls left awake

Once all eyes seal to hear me say:Take

Sweet relief from binding sleep,And never worry why you lay.

Just sleep then sleep and they wont reap,For helpless souls cannot be prey.

AsHapless fools are all that play

When taboo sky consumes the day;Then feed is fire from planted wake,

A pale rain on broken clay.WhyThen fight the welcome touch of sleepWhen the path ahead is far too steep.

LetSilence guide your troubled way.

For who would know what calls them prey?

JustSlow and drift around their keep.

So you wont see whats come to creep.

LetMy fair night drag you deep.

For who would hear what comes to reap?

Oh,Dearest Shade,My starlit weep,

The stranger beckons us to creep.

Yes,Absent Time,

That darling flake,His kin must once again be slaked.

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Its only later in life, when things become quiet, that you might hear the Nights song. When youre young, your ears want everything. But once youve grown old, your ears can finally relax and take notice of what drifts by. Its then that youll hear that creature, being warned of its approach before even the Sun itself; though, by that time, the Night and its mischief will have likely worn away any interest in its spectacle. And that endless song will only grow more dreary, the frequency of its arrival appearing to increase until that tune never again fully leaves your ears. Thats when its monotony will seem to rot, though the song will still continue to exist as a reminder, a whisper thats infected the dusk; one that tells you to seal up your home, close your eyes, and ignore what happens out in the dark.

FOR LONGER THAN ANYONE CAN REMEMBER,the Night has breathed out that gloomy song. Its a tune sung again then again, the Night giving this play a perpetual birth so that a companion might have a share in its tedium. The Night is always so busy with its work, yet those words still find a way to trickle out. Theyre small, light words, but each breath from the creature will give life to a great many of them. Theyll then squeeze themselves amongst the same air that fills and nourishes the animals below, each of those little words continuing to multiply as they fall. That air isnt invisible, and those words arent mute, though both do seem rather keen on going unnoticed.

the Night is Now makiNg its way to aN old frieNd, hummiNg aNd hummiNg, its vast black arms stretched wide aNd eager as it pours itself dowN oNto the world. this creature is excited by its work, a jet griN forms as it watches the waterfalls of shadow flood dowN from its wiNgs. that darkNess is the Nights favorite craft, aNd the laNd its Now approachiNg is its favorite place to create.

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The Night has waited, longing but patient, to come out and have its fun.Now those burnt paws can finally push the sunlight from the sky. That Sun, its too tired to fight, so it lets the darkness have its way. After all, theres much work to be done, and many promises for them both to keep. The sun gives one last show then makes way for the Night; whos already journeying to a distant land thats been waiting anxiously for its cloak.

GORGON Mtns.

Its wings beat and more darkness falls as it soars past the roaring sea. Evergreen hills watch the ageless creature fly by; draping first the tall forests below, then stealing the light from their own rolling masses. The Night lifts up to sail above the mighty Gorgon Mountains, gliding over those grey rock faces with its obsidian brush: blue rocks black, white peaks faded.

As the mountains near an end, the creature knows its work is almost done. Theres just one tired town to go, a final sun soaked stretch of land. Its a place that may appear bold before the creeping shade, but the Night knows it better; this is a town that has become one of its personal favorites as its grown ever-more lost amongst an unexplored flux. Its people have come to fear what the Sun reveals, the changes they see are too strange. They now lie in anxiety, their discomfort only rising as they await the Nights accepting veil.

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Nestled at the foot of the last mountains slope, that little community has grown under the Nights guiding eye. Its watched this place spring from a few loose homes to a hamlet, then from a hamlet into a dreamy village. It must be called a town now; though it still clings to the sweetened remnants from its life as a village. Its a naive youth whos woken suddenly to an adult form. A place thats rich with the pains of growth and changewhich its people have come to realize as a fickle wealth. For this is a wealth that only turns to discord when their town becomes steeped in darkness; the kind of wealth that can create great amusement for the Night.

Many of the creatures sinister friends have taken refuge in this town, helping to instill it with their variety of excitement. Those friends are now calling out to the Night; they crave its cloak of darkness, the mask and fuel for their activities. And the Night, as always, is ever so happy to provide.

It glares down at their yellow roofs of shining straw, the glistening strips of stone, and those splashes of light dancing on the frozen lake. Its all a taunt, one final itch. Those black wings flap and out a great wave pours: a charcoal storm roaring down from the mountains. That sleepy red daylight soon vanishes as if itd never bothered, and that town finally joins the rest of the land under the Nights devious fog.

Things are right for the Night, it knows it must move on, but as it prepares for the long flight, a curious sight grabs its interest. Sable eyes hang down off that cloud to stare into the forest that lies in the hills above the town. Its seen something in that inky land that doesnt quite fit; a little perilous flash: that excitement its so desired. Like a smile amongst scowls, a young girl, a creature of sunlight, has

gone out walking in the Night. Oh, how enticing that must be. It needs to leave, too much time has passed and more lands await, but the Night cant help watch, for just a short time, that little ship sailing off into the storm.

This is a heavy darkness thats been cast below, smothering the land into silence like a manic being forced into his jacket. The Night is delighted by what it sees, swooning at the murk, and it finally lets itself relax before moving on. It rises up to drape itself over a sleeping cloud and watches, content yet eager, as its dark friends rise up to lurk, and the outcasts from the daylight breathe relief in the fresh shadows.

The town now lies roguish in the snowy valley, a puddle of faint lights cradled by the surrounding mountains and lake. It grips the Night with its volatility, this towns nighttime pulse being driven by the influx of deviltry and malice thats befallen it. But, at least for now, it seems calm in its corruption: accepting of it. Still, the Night continues to watch, hopeful as it lets time pass patiently by. Yet the town only broods, remaining free of any strife, showing no signs of that wanted excitement. Despite this rather dull showing, the Nights work has still been completed, and it knows that it must move on. The creature braces itself for the long flight ahead, but before it can leave, a curious sight manages to grab its interest. Sable eyes hang down off that cloud to stare into the forest that lies in the hills above the town. The Night has seen something in this inky land that doesnt quite fit: a little perilous flash, that excitement its so desired. Like a smile amongst scowls, a young girl, a creature of sunlight, has gone out walking in the Nights fog. Oh, how enticing that must be. It needs to leave, too much time has passed and more lands await. Yet the Night cant help but watch, for just a short time, as that little ship sails off into the storm.

It is peculiar, and rather unwise, for such a young girl to be travelling alone amidst the dark and its many dangersparticularly so when its through a land as troubled as her own. On a clear summers day, a journey through this land would be a worrisome affair; yet this girl, as if to deepen her own troubles, has ventured out at a time when the air is cold and the snow is still fresh: forcing her small boots to leave an easy and tempting guide for any nefarious characters out and about. Its a scene strange enough to steal the interest from the busy Night itself, but no matter how foolish, or simply crazed, this girl may seem, there is a good reason behind her journey; a reason that many would consider to be quite powerful.

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This is a good-natured girl, bright in and out, who knows when it serves to be nice but also knows when there is need to be wickedwhich is a rare gift to have. Shed been given a sound mind, which shed helped raise to make sharp, and that trained gift has allowed her to have a clear and privileged view of the world that exists around her; a view which shes found to be both beautiful and terrible in all of its revealing clarity.

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NAME: DANIAGE:11HEIGHT: 410WEIGHT: 70 LBMOOD: ANGSTY

Her name is Dani, and she happens to be perfectly aware of all the dangers that shes facing as she walks through this Night. Dani knows of the bandits, the nasty creatures in the forest, even the witches and cruel conjurers who hunt girls like her for their rituals. But they arent what troubles her tonightthough they do remain on her mindfor she also knows of an evil much fouler and far more sinister thats come to haunt her town. Its an evil that a girl her age should never have been exposed to, yet her keen eyes had still managed to reveal it nonetheless.

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isnt the only creature watching this young girls travels. As she walks down the little trail that feeds into her town, Danis only focus is to keep her eyes fixed on the ground. This is a simple but enormously helpful action, for it lets her own eyes avoid the thousands of others staring out at her from the shadows. These eyes are freakish in form, small and big; pairs of red and black pupils, clustered eyes of green, some as slices of poisoned yellow, with others showing only a dead white. Yet, no matter their appearance, they all watched her nowjust as they have for some timeand their hungry presence served to remind Dani of the fear thats led her out into this night.

she kNows this is a Necessary jourNey. she hates it, but it has to be doNe. Dani had once loved traveling from her home, but those eyes, whispering to her now, had polluted the forest with their evil and twisted her town into a bitter and hateful place. They give the greatest danger to her journey, a danger thats only grown since their arrival. Howeverand quite fortunatelythe pace of that terrible growth has been matched by a desperation thats taken root inside Dani: its voice becoming louder and louder with each day. That desperation is whats forced this trip. Its lured Dani out into these woods, despite the nightmarish state theyve devolved to, by dangling a simple promise before her. Even now, the words are still echoing in her head, guiding her past the horde of eyes that follow her journey. Never again will I have to make such a horrid trip. Just once more and Ill be safe. This is the last time. And this will be the last time, and Dani will be safeso long as her plan works as shes imagined.

The Night

Dani ignores their stares as she pushes on through the snow; pretending to be calm and carefree, even though she cant help biting her lip as her boots announce each step to the surrounding forest. Its trees have been meeting above the trail to provide more shadows for those eyes to hide in, but theyre now slowly spreading apart: telling Dani that her town will soon come into sight.

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Dani is escaping: for the need to do so has grown to be quite urgent. Those eyes, and the savage beasts they belong to, cannot yet feed on this young girleven though theyd like nothing more. But her time inside of this immunity is quickly nearing its end. These creatures evil has been eating away at Dani ever since she first spotted their forms. The simple knowledge of their existence has brought her agony, and soon they will truly have her. But shes dis-covered a way to keep herself from their hands. Most of the people in her town were already victims by the time theyd noticed these beasts, but a bit of fortune found its way to Dani; her unique view helped her to spot them as a child: its given her time to prepare.

A brilliance lives in Dani, an odd but woNderful kind. Its a brilliance that forms out of a crowd-ed life that still manages to leave you alone. Shes had to do whatever she could to learn and survive since the others around her were all too busy doing those very things themselves. Isolation is a cruel thing to bear, but itd helped her to notice the demons that had come to her town. Shed sit alone and catch glimpses of these beasts as they dragged the old off into obscurity. She would see suffering townspeople pass her by, watching as they slowly embraced the evil that tormented them: turning vile and callous before her eyes. Each and every day, Dani had to feel those creatures growing hunger as they waited for the young to ripen for their touch. She hadnt even reached their hands, yet the misery they brought her had already become unbearable; it told her that she couldnt become another hopeless victim: she wouldnt last. So Dani had prepared, and shed found an escape.

STRESS LEVEL: CONSIDERABLE

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The forest was falling away, and Danis town was now stretched out before her in the valley below. The lofty Gorgon mountains climbed up and out of sight as a wall to its left. Lake Kaldrnow frozen oversat close behind the town. And a smaller, jagged rangethe Mezdan mountainsbegan along its right. Her town was old and new; veins of straw and wood met structures of grey stone, and now those faced an infection of metal and glass that was weaving itself into the community. As a child, this had been her cozy villageand that village did still existbut like an untended garden, weedy growths had sprouted up all around.

The moon was alive, a wide amber grin hanging low in the valley. It was sharing its light with the surrounding land, but Dani could see a storm creeping over the lake. That ominous gloom was advancing fast on her glowing friend, looking eager to choke it out, and Dani knew that the moons helpful light would soon be gone. She saw candles giving small warmth to the streets and buildings below, their faint speckles throughout making an ersatz mirror of the stars. Yet those lights were fragile and weak; without help from the moon, darkness would bury her town. Dani hoped that shed be gone by that time.

Dani reached the bottom of the hill, passed by the few outlying structures, then she started down the first dimly lit road. She cut through an alley then turned onto her towns main street before speeding herself into a hasty walkas she always did these days.

MEZDAN MOUNTAINS

LAKE KALDR

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This was no longer her carefree playground, this was no place to doddle or relax. Dani now saw her town for what it was, or what itd become: the monsters giant dungeon, one nightmarish trap. The people here were slaves to their cruelty. They cant escape, so they all suffer; feeding the beasts with their life and will, letting themselves be emptied out. And the beasts, in return, feed them their evil; filling them back up, poisoning them: like a manic creator stuffing rotted food into his puppets. This was a miserable thought that Dani couldnt help frequent. Each person who passed her by was just a walking expression of that evil, existing now to drive ever more speed into her legs as she moved down these snowy roads.

With her head still fixed on the ground, Dani sped around a corner and collided with two men. Shed hit them with such force that the whole trio had nearly fallen to the ground, yet the pair only reacted with dull looks and walked on: the abuse drawing dead on their features. Dani felt horrible for them. Theyd been drained to such a point that they looked ready to disappear entirelyor simply join the other shells that laid about in the corners of town. Dani wished they would lecture heras ridiculous as the notion seems. Shed begun to crave such emotion in her life, but that was something her new black-and-white town now struggled to provide; it gave her hate, or it gave her nothing.

Dani wanted to apologize, out of her desire for normal interaction, but the men had hurried from sight, so she moved on as well: saying a few vulgar words under her breath, now feeling frustrated as well as fearful. Throughout the history of her town, thered been many foul creatures that had arrived to cause torment to her people, but it was these final beasts that had shown themselves to be the nastiest of all. Dani looked around at the leaning structures shed once loved; glowing eyes and gnashing teeth now stared back from their shadows, long tongues snaking out to meet the moons illumination. Her frustration left, and she felt sad. This place is surely doomed.

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With no other outlet, Dani had given her fears to her parentsan act of love through desperation. But theyd only advised her to relax: You have to accept it Dani. With her response coming as a fit of wide-eyed stammering. Shed seen their suffering before, but theyd endured the creatures for so long that theyd eventually lost themselves amidst those delirious years. That accepted defeat stood before Dani as a terrifying form of madness, one that forced her to see their glazed eyes: those little white cakes blinding them to their collapsing world. Many of the townspeople had reached that same fearful acceptance. These were vile demons, but they knew how to carefully dominate their prey: torturing and feeding just enough so that Danis town could still miserably carry on.

A heavy gust funneled through the street, debris painting the form; that wave grabbing at Dani as it passed to then leave the air still once again. She didnt have to think, the gust warned her instincts, raising her eyes to show her that the storm had filled the sky. Itd been impatient, still moving fast over-head but now swirling aimlessly as oil on water, backlit by the moon. In an instant, the air was filled with snow drifting carefully down in large teacup flakes. The town was now colder and darker.

THE DREGS

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Dani closed her eyes, breathing deep while clenching her hands, then she pushed herself on down the road. Passing through her towns main square, she watched the snow stick to surrounding faces. Some raised a hand to clean their skin, though most were content to let it simply melt as they dragged themselves on. Nasty, horrid creatures, Dani thought to herself. As she weaved her way through those late night residents, Dani wished each one success in finding their own escapes from the beasts. She would have helped them all if she couldand Dani had triedbut any thoughts for such a battle had left long ago.

Day after day, for months and years, shed laid down by the towns lake to surround herself in schemes to combat these monsters. Shed wanted to find peace for herself, and, if possible, for the rest of those in her town. But for all her planning and plotting, Dani had only found herself becoming ever-more afraid and ever-more desperate as she watched the struggles of those around her.

Thered been bold adults, daring adults, whod risen up to battle these monsters. Yet, one by one, shed watched as each of their efforts failed, those long battles all reaching the same meaningless result. If they couldnt succeed, then what hope did she have?

Dani had dreamed of battling them, though as her fear steadily grew, those thoughts of battle turned to visions of escape. But what place could she possibly run to? They would only chase her down if she tried to flee, and wherever she ended up would still have its own demons for her to suffer with. As this nightmare around her grew ever worse, Dani began finding herself living alone and plotting alone. Hundreds of plans had formed then slowly trickled away until a solution finally reached her. It was an escape that shed caught a fearful villager whispering of, one that promised to take her away to a world unknown to all.

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This escape she discovered was different, dark and bizarre, yet it stood as the only sure path that could lead her away from the monsters she faced. Theyre all doomed, Dani thought. She was growing into their hands as well, but she would be one of

the lucky few to escape. escape, escape, escape, escape, escape, it rung beautifully in her head. She continued repeating that encouraging word as she hurried down her chosen path. In every corner and shadow, those eyes still watched and waited, but she knew shed be free soon enough.

Dani, that brave girl, had taken her fathers thick coat before heading off into the night. She now masked her face with its oversized hood as she came to a tiny side road that told her shed reached the dregs: a shabby, scrambled mess that filled the southern corner of town; the known gathering place for the demons most drained and thoroughly abused victims.

The buildings watching her now were menacing in their decay, most existing as shanties, though scat-tered throughout were all the mischievous shops thatd found safe haven in the dregs. Dani kept her eyes down and walked fast as she passed by several of their more sinister store fronts. The snow had stolen the moon, but in return, it was chasing any nighttime deviants back to wherever they called home. She felt grateful for that, though she was still in more danger here than anywhere else. The beasts had turned this into a particularly vile place, and Dani could only hope that her bulky hood would give hesitation to any wanting eyes that still remained.

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Her legs moved even faster down these ominous streets, though she still kept her pace from becoming too franticknowing the attention it would draw. Nasty whispers crept out to her from the alleys she passed. They slipped into her ears to echo in her head, but Dani could only bite her lip and ignore them: not knowing if they were from the demons themselves or just the men theyd corrupted.

She noticed the street before her nearing its end and glanced up to finally see the hanging sign thatd been burned with a fallen star. It advertised her destination: a shop that looked as if itd been the heavily used seat of a giant. Its upper level had almost entirely sunk in on itself, and now that collapsed space was serving as the heart of a makeshift bridge that was tying the shops two neighbors together.

Any strangers to Danis town were quick to deem such things as oddities. But af-ter a deeper venture into the dregs, they would always reach the dull realization that these haphazard modifications were simply normal: as commonness had arrived long ago to strip away any special titles. Dani still wasnt sure when the monsters had first appeared, though she did know that it was sometime later when the army of cat-sized woodworking spiders had befallen her town. Theyd stitched buildings together with gnarled planks and formed clumsy nests in every possible crevice and cranny, eventually turning the entire southern section into one large, interwoven den. Of course, the nicer areas wouldnt tolerate these shoddy expansions, so they remained free of the wooden webs. But in the south of town, in the unfortunate dregs, such things were nothing more than standard.

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Dani had already taken several steps towards the shop, but shed suddenly come to a pause at the edge of the road. Her eyes were worried, both now fixed on the buildings one window. Layers of grime had left it hazy and black, though, after a short time, she was able to spot the slightest flicker from a candle inside. That darkness had panicked her for a moment, but Dani was now able to breathe a sigh of relief as she hurried forward and pushed her way through the door, darkened with rot, that sat beneath the fallen star.

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D ani lowered her hood as she entered then hailed the shopkeeper. Lingering nerves muffled her voice, though it hardly seemed to matter: the shop was obnoxiously silent. A single candle was its loudest patron, any whisper could have carried to the back. This shop had established itself as a general store for all things devious. Kalar, its specter of an owner, merged the business elements of his informal professionsapothecary and occultistinto this outlet many years ago. However, since his primary obsession has since become alchemy, he now prefers to be called an alchemist; though his store has still maintained the specialized goods that defined his early interestsdespite the sizeable influx of materials necessary for his latest passion. The room around her was tight, its ceiling low and unsure, its air thick and sour. On Danis left and right, a continuous counter began at the sides of the door and ran towards the back of the shop, sealing her in by turning just before the wall to meet in the middle. An erratic mass of shelves had been packed into every available bit of space behind this counter; they were now struggling under an immense catalogue of wares of wares that managed to defeat the shelves themselves in both disorder and dizzying quantitywith any surplus hanging from the low ceiling. As a result of the stagnant air rich in moisture and chemicals, every surface in the storebuilt entirely with repurposed woodhad become lousy with decay, a rot that was laying dark patterns throughout while warping the already burdened shelves. For Dani, it all amounted to an anxious chaos that seemed determined to flatten her against the floor.

CHAPTER II

Amor F

i

AMOR FATI

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Greetings, greetings, my late night friend, came the voice of a darkened figure whod appeared in the doorway at the back of the shop.

Dani turned to the source of the words, but just as she had faced the figure, itd sunk down as if in a casual faint, vanishing for a heartbeat before suddenly rising up behind the counter on Danis left.

For a moment, the figure towered above her as only a heavily breathing shadow, then it slowly leaned forward to let Kalars features meet the candlelight. A long face had come into view, its emotions hiding behind melted wax. The store froze and the face stared, though its eyes seemed elsewhere. This was a short pause, yet the silence dragged it well past discomfort. Two cobweb arms finally glided their way out from the collection of rags masquerading as his cloak, their fingers reaching forward to wrap themselves around the edge of the counter that stood before Danis face. Their grip slowly tightened, clashing blue veins against bleached skin. His head stretched back then carefully returned forward to say:

his nave audience drawin

g ou

t this sad

istic dram

a.

What can Kalar do for you on this beautiful night?

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Dani had visited this alchemist once before with her father: hed frightened her then just as hed been quick to do now. After that first visit, her father had explained that humans fear death above all else, and since Kalar was a man who was far richer with death than he was with life, she was right to be afraid of him. That vileness leaks off the man, hed told her. How horrible that we should be forced to taste such a thing. Dani remembered those words now, and they helped to further terrify her, though she still knew that there were much worse things than this face staring down at her. This was a softer evil, a type that shed learned to manage and endure through years of unwanted practice.

She took a step forward

then raised and dropped her sack of nicked coins on the counter: echoing

clout through the quiet store.

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1 Lorna - Enough to buy a loaf of bread or pint of mead.

Dani gives the Kalar 31 of these.

1 Quari - Enough to buy a bag of potatos or a yakul hidE.

dani givEs kalar 11 of thEsE.

1 Gruegma - Enough to buy a horse or a cart of luxurious river

fox coats

Dani gives Kalar 1 of these.

Hello, Kalar, she calmly said, Its nice of you to remain open at this late hour. I come on behalf of my father, Sir Renmor, to request a potion. Hes informed me that youre the only man gifted enough to have created the difficult coNcoctioN that he seeks. Dani had backed away after setting down the coins, and she was now looking with pretended interest at her feet.

A smile formed on the shopkeepers face, its effect perverse amongst the mess of wrinkles, while a hand inched over to draw in the coins. Why of course, my sweet young girl, anything for the master Renmor, he spoke in a high, weak voice with his head turned down; his narrowed eyes were busy relishiNg iN the coiNs that hed been presented with. What type of potion does your loving father need me to procure?

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Dani fought to keep herself relaxed as she forced her eyes into the sunken caverns above her. The alchemist needed to be tricked for her to get what she wantedher story was rather weak, but shed knowingly brought an excess of coin to help thicken her lie. My father has grown rather odd as hes aged, she started. He...spends a great deal of time in his private quarters, ancient texts having taken his interest. I hear him speak of bizarre subjects, things I dont understand, Kalars smile was wid-ening, which weakened her voice; it made her realize that shed brought amateur guile before a master, but she still pressed on, and today he called me to... request a Potion of Paradise. Im not quite sure of its purpose, but I feel its in line with his recent interests...He asked that I go and acquire it from you. She then attempted a bored look, hoping to cloak the self-ridicule her story had inducedas itd seemed ever more exces-sive and foolish as shed mumbled it out.

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Kalar had stopped caressing the coins at her mention of the potion,

his face then rising up, a hungered stare worming its way into his features. Is that so? he slowly asked, the ques-tion crawling out between his remaining teeth. Yes, it is so...um, sir, Dani said. I dont believe he means to use it on himself. Perhaps he intends to test it on a sow of ours...or simply store it as a subject of interest. Precious coin on a sow? said with uncomfortable amusement. It has been some time since I encountered your father, but my recollections dont draw him up as such a tender man. He reached up to to squeeze his melted chin as he studied her. With horrible haste, Danis plan seemed to have collapsed. She knew such interests were still taboo, despite the degenerate nature of her town. Now Kalar could simply feign virtue, pocket her coins, then use Danis request to ruin her fathers reputation: a play which would amount to disastrous trouble for Danieven though her offense seemed angelic compared to the apex of deviance looming above her. Danis body was starting to feel weak, and her heart was attempting to tapdance its way out of her chest; she was now on the verge of running from the store. Dani glanced at the exit, but she managed to hold her feet in place. This is the last trip. Things have been well on our farm this year and The alchemist had brushed impatiently at her with a hand, freezing her tongue mid-sentence. You can relax, my dear, Kalar said, in his attempt at a relaxing voice. I see no problem in changing worlds, whether or not your father means to use it in such a manner. He paused, then added, Besides, who could argue with such... his hand rose then dropped a few coins onto the counter, ...vigorous persuasioN. He then gave her another smile. Dani watched him for a short time, stuck in disbelief and not sure of what to do next. His face was still twisted by the smile, but now his head was gently rolling about on his shoulders. Um...thank you, sir, she said, finally breaking the silence. Its not a problem, dear, he immediately replied. Your father seeks the Porta Alchemica, and I just so happen to have that delicious concoction... just so happen. He let out a quick laugh, falling closer to a convulsion, with his mouth freezing at the apex to suddenly form an even wider, fouler smile, which he then directed at Dani. Just a moment, sweet girl.

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He turned and began scanning the mess of shelves, letting his head rest on his left shoulder as he snaked his way about the store. Dani was thrilled, but tried to leave her face dead and disinterested; though her mouth still hung open to accommodate rapid breaths, while her heartslam-ming against her chestflushed her face and pulsed in her ears. She forced her mouth closed, and let her eyes follow Kalar: who now seemed to be carelessly browsing his own inventory. His long fingers had set into a crustacean walk across the shelves, passing over all manners of dried plants, cruel books, colored vials, and pickled bits of what Dani hoped were animals. Shed just begun preparing herself for a long wait when Kalar let out an excited grunt: quickly narrowing his search to a tiny shelf high up along the back wall. He raised himself up, pushed past a cluster of hanging be-

zoars, then drew down a dusty glass tube thatd been filled partially with a puce liquid. He slid his way back to the space of counter before Dani, his face now dominated by the widest, blackest smile yet. Your Potion of Paradise, my dear, he whispered. A Porta Alchemica with a base of belladonna. Should be fun. An arm stretched out to display before her the corked vial. I nearly went with my newer brew, sweet bases of mandrake and aconite, but as effective as that gate would be, the transmission tends to end up rather...revolting, he mused to himself, staring into the dark tube. He then looked down at Dani.

Fun, he repeated, Laced with bits of hemlock as well. Hopefully this will satisfy the... kind-hearted, master Renmor. He slowly tipped the dusty tube towards her outstretched hand. She eagerly grasped it, but he held on for a moment longer. Do be careful, little sovereign. Its quite... potent. His fingers slipped from the vial, and Dani quickly stored it in her pocket.

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She looked up after raising her hood back over her head. Thank you, Kalar, she cautiously said. I hope you have a pleasant night.

He smiled again, the expression still looking awful amongst his features. A thin tongue flicked out to lick a blistered lower lip.

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CHAPTER III

Th e snow, which had seemed intent on smothering the mountain town, had called for a sudden halt to its workas if it wasnt already leisurely enough. Its sizable snowflakes had been finding their windy guide, who was typically calm, to be in unusually high spirits; an excitement which had caused the already imposing storm to escalate into an event which seemed to be all too generous with its peril. That danger was particularly high for all those vulnerable souls hiding amongst the dregs; most of them being scarcely clothed, poorly sheltered, and having only the most well-imagined visions of fire to provide them with any extra warmth.

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Before this curious lull, the storm had given out one long, final burst; making it seem as if the tempest had lifted the towns frozen lake to help sweep the streets clean. This icy attack had forced even the most ambitious and hardened of the dregs inhabitants back into their nests of wood and cobbled stone. That sudden evacuation had created an atmo-sphere that could only be described as both eerie and wildly unsettling; with the storm at a pause, and any loose residents still tucked away in fear of said storm, the streets had fallen into a rare and motion-

less silence. grey had noW squeezed itself in between the White and blacK of snow and sky, and those muted colors lied anxiously about the town as three rivals at a ceasefire; blacK eager to reclaim its Kingdom, the storms white blanket still looming overhead and lying

ominous all around, while the opportunistic grey seized ever more purchase on its dominant rivals. Their fickle nature had given rise to an infec-tious anxiety, one that was already stretching out to fill the eyes and ears of those hiding in the craggy rooftops above. They now waited and watched: keen on resuming their night-time activities but still wary of the indecisive storm.

A figure emerged onto the quiet street. It slowed then stopped after a few short steps, its body becoming stiff, while its head twisted and jerked about. It looked down to the snow, then both its hands rose to grasp at the sides of its face. The figure then set off at an alarmingly fast pace towards the northern quarter of town. From their shanty homes, those dwellers watched that little figure as wolves watch a wounded deer. It was tempting prey, but the volatile storm had given them just enough apprehension to allow this new mark to scurry off and out of reach. They could only sit and watch as it disappeared around a corner: wet and cold, grinding away at their teeth.

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Dani, that poor girl, was moving at a speed she knew full well to be troublesome, but shed finally passed that certain point where such things could still matter; any sense of caution hav-ing vanished as soon as shed left the alchemists shop. That street shed walked out on had been anything but quiet, and it certainly wasnt empty. It might have all looked at peace through an inno-centor a deviouspair of eyes, but the shadows are much thicker than one would like to believe. Those blankets work sinister wonders as they keep whispers, and those who whisper, out of reach from the lights of both candle and moon.

Hordes of new beasts had man-aged to arrive by the time of her exit, with these ones being even louder and nastier than any shed seen before. Their forms had grown, and their numbers had become countless; all of them hissing, shouting, and gnashing their jaws at Dani the moment shed stepped outside. Kalars vial had invigorated her, restoring some of her confidence, but one look at that messy street had been enough to erase any newfound strength, the town appearing as if itd finally been overrun. It was as if theyd sensed her coming escape and amassed to pay one final, haunting tribute to the girl they knew they wouldnt have. Thered always been more of the crea-tureseach time Dani dared look to where theyd lurk aboutbut this latest spectacle had made itself so horrific and overwhelming that itd nearly brought her to tears. She wanted to escape now, she wanted to leave at this very moment. Her caution was gone, and all she had left was desperation to encourage her dangerous pace. Dani clenched her jaw and imagined only her bed and her vial.

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Dani had chosen a different path home with the hope that the demons along it might be lesser in number; the choice was irrational, guided entirely by fear, but terror had been muzzling her usually feisty voice of reason. She now hurried through a neigh-borhood that had always seemed overcrowd-ed. Though its streets were free of people, the BEASTS had still made themselves just as prevalent here as they had in the dregs. A chunk of her fear turned to anger which, having no other outlet, she directed at herself: cursing the panicked de-cision that shed made. Her trip would now be longer and no less Terrifyingthough itd only be worse if she tried to go back. She would have to live with her choice. Dani forced herself on, but since the streets had been hidden, she couldnt help raising her eyes from the snow to nav-igate. The surrounding buildings were quick to tell her the wayas shed climbed every inch of their wallsbut they also forced her to see the beasts of stagnation hanging off their sides. Fiends of rot; their MASSIVE JAWS hung open as if theyd been weighed down with rocks, with each one hosting a winged-swarm of maggots eager to attach and drain will from their hosts. Those beasts tirelessly hunted their victims, as they only ever wanted more of their fruitless spawn, but they could only watch as Dani sped by. Shed already tasted their evil, but she was still too young to be a true victim.

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Still, Dani bravely walked on; preteNdiNg Not to feel all their stares and ignoring all the snarls and the vile things that theyd whisper, but misery still made itself clear on her face. She wished their voices would go unheard, but every awful sound still crept its way out to lick at her ears.

DaNi hateD the very sight of those creatures,

eveN more so thaN the rest.

They climbed all over the walls that shed once

loved and called her own.

Theyd stolen Them from her. Now they stared down from her beloved spots,

teasing and taunting,begging for her

to come and play once

more.

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Her breatHes were growing sHorter and more rapid as sHe pusHed Herself down tHis street. The air was tense and heavy, the storm still menacing just above, and with the road having been turned into a tight tunnel by the dense, over-hanging build-ings, Dani couldnt help feeling like a mouse thatd been dropped into some sadists maze. Sparse candles were giving some light to her passage, though all they were helping to reveal was the grey fog thatd been filling the streets: their lights being too weak to chase off those eyes further crowding her journey. A familiar alley made an appearance in the fog, just a darkened sliver amongst the stone walls on her right. She moved without pause to-wards this new route, anxious to escape the hazy labyrinth of her previous choice. Those stone walls funneled at the end of the alley, causing even thin Dani to have to turn and squeeze her way out. She was ejected into an area of town that had once been lavish and beautiful. Though this place was still quite richits streets relievedly wideany beauty had long ago faded from its structures. Dani used to enjoy walking here with her father, but the beasts had slowly stained this area with their color until its once beautiful structures stood only as revolting eyesores. it was desolate Now, just like everywhere else. If not for the nervous lights cast by the candles in surrounding bedrooms, one might of thought the whole town had up and fled into the mountains. Danis fear briefly gave way to a rush of jealousy; these people were hiding in their homes, they were enjoying a luxury that she now desperately craved. Though Dani did have a true escapewhich, once remembered, helped to restore a bit of comfort. She didnt like the people here, but she would have taken their company now: anything seemed preferable to walking alone with her towns demons.

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Those creatures were everywhere, yet each area of town was always favored by a particular beast. Terrible shouts began reaching down from the candle-lit win-dows around Dani to remind her of what had made this place its home. She knew it was the greedy specters; less in number than the rest, but giant in size and ever so cruel in the vampiric way that they fed on their victims. They drew vile shouts out of the ones they drained, thick and venomous words which stuck to walls and echoed in corridors; further fueling the beasts whod painted this part of town its new color. Her people hoped that their homes could give refuge, being the only shelters they had from the towns curse, but the beasts still found their way in; whether it be the creatures themselves, or one of the many theyd infectedwith the most unfortunate homes being condemned with both. More and more shouts carried down to her as she passed. Dani was nearing the edge of her town, but those growing cries still sought her out, stealing life from her legs to paralyze her in the middle of the street. That pain excited the monsters who hid in the surrounding shadows, charging them into a frenzy while drawing out their own howls, the din rising until the street seemed to be underwater. Their combined sounds became almost blinding. Dani felt as if shed become trapped in a drum that was under attack by a thousand manic drummers. They knew she was close to her escape, and their voices were now far worse than shed ever heard before. Their shouts sunk in to rattle Dani, bringing her panic to a point that was nearly unbearable. She wanted to fall into the snow and cry, hiding her head in her arms and taking what small comfort comes with accepting defeat. But she still had her vial, its sudden memory brought her strength. A shaking hand dug into her jacket to find the cold glass. She squeezed it, biting down on her lip, then she broke into a run; feeling careless to who saw, her face tense and near tears, but that final escape now close enough to lead her on.

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Danis speed gave her some reliefas it always did. It took her quickly from the town and into the forest, but it was the movement itself that brought some ease to her mind. When she ran, not many could catch her, and that turned the simple action into a thing of joywhether she was being chased or not. She sprinted on through the forest even though her speed was no longer neededas that nearing escape was fighting off any patience. glowiNg eyes speckled the trees as she raN by, each pair letting their noxious words chase her down, mocking her panicked speed. She was desperate, but so were they. A ripening meal was slipping their grasp, that was the hated truth, but that desperation still lent a sickening passion to their final calls. Ill soon be free of these beasts, Dani assured herself. They wont have me. She reached into her pocket to keep a hold of the vile as she continued along the narrow path. The forest was thick, its trees wrapping together overhead to leave the trail only a few shades from utter darkness, but Dani man-aged it with little trouble. Even though the snow was slick and high, it helped share what faint light the forest still had, and that extra light was all her practiced feet needed to carry her on. Her feet were sure, and theyd never failed her beforestill existing as her greatest friends.

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She watched the path grow small as the forest climbed into the hills. Dani was exhausted, but she still ran; though her speed was now hardly trumping a walk. The heavy jacket had turned into a curse before shed even left town, but the path had grown too familiar by the time her bodys whimpers had matured into urgent demands. Any crested hill or landmark was now enough to muzzle that nagging fatigue, each just one less step on the final flight of stairs that was her long awaited escape.

A clearing came into view, the desired clearing: the one her family shared with five others. It was just illuminated by what slight light the moon could press through the clouds. A treeless hill helped mark its presence, its bulk standing out from the forest and reaching up and to the right towards the towering Gorgans: their heads high and hidden by the storm. Along its slope, a few faint lights amongst dark mounds stood out, telling her of familiar properties. The two other homes on the smaller hills rising at the left couldnt be seen, their usual candles either obscured or worn away by the long night.

The sighting brought Dani a rush of satisfaction, letting her mind gloat to its doubtful friends below. She slowed as the trees thinned then walked as they fell away, her families property finally in clear view. That two level wood home brought the first smile of the night to her face. It was still some distance away, being the fourth house along and just elevated upon the hill to her right, but even in the dark, memory revealed all of its adored features.

Dani always loved to climb about her home, just as she had loved to climb all the buildings in town, but while climbing her home had remained a joyful andsomewhatappropriate venture, such actions in town had turned ugly; having been met with ever more anger by the townspeople: their patience eaten away by suffering. A climb here also lead to her room, her one haven. It was a place that the beasts still managed to find and penetrate, but one that was still uniquely hers. She had power there, a bit of controlat least for now.

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The journey had been miserable, and her coming escape stood as a giant before her, but the joy from her run and climb was still great enough to momentarily rule her mind. For a few wonderful seconds, she stood smiling inside her room, her troubles temporarily forgotten. Snow had made its way in, the wooden floor wet where she stood, but Dani ignored her mis-take, feeling grateful that the candles had remained lit. Her bed had managed to stay dry, now appearing as a warm sight of comfort in the far corner of her room; its hay mattress cradled by dark wood on top of stone slabs.

She tried to take deep breathes, hoping to relax and cling to her joy, but the memory of her present task still grew until it had once again regained its sobering dominance: washing away her grin and any elation from the climb. She firmly told herself that it was a good thing, a very serious thing, but a good thing nonetheless. Yet those positive thoughts couldnt stifle her apprehension. Dani thought about departing from the window so that she could make the exciting climb once more, but she knew it to be a silly and childish idea. She was still young, but Dani had been told that she was almost a grown up, and it was that forced voice which reminded her not to engage in such pointless horseplay. She knew as well that those creatures were close behind, and the sooner she could escape, the better off she would be.

Dani was approaching the edge of her familys property; the valleys clearing rising up on her left and right to the ranges further on, while the forest resumed its own rise a short distance ahead. She started into a familiar run as she left the central trail and merged onto her familys small path. She ran to the left of the wooden stables, her snow-packing steps drawing a few gentle alarms from the animals, then she jumped onto the hay bails lining the side of her home, bounding up their staircase-form then leaping to grab the edge of the roof to swing in through her window: its wooden shutters still open from her departure.

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Dani took a few steps towards the bed then paused, nerves freezing her in the middle of the room. She squeezed a knuckle and tried to build courage for the coming event. Everything was still freshly swept and tidied since the last visit from her familys servant. Clean, dirty, clean, dirty, clean, dirty: that endless pattern seemed ridiculous to her. How horribly pointless. Not a thing will ever change. She forced out the nasty thoughts, hoping theyd renew her drive. Ill make a better home in the other world, she thought with a nod. Still, there was sadness: she would miss this place. She sighed and took the final steps to her bed. Itd been draped with a warm sheepskin blanket, a favorite of hers, but she couldnt give it any more than a frown as she drew out the little potion from her hood. Her hand brought it up before her eyes so that they could study its contents. I hope your secret world is truly far off and away, she whispered, though her words came closer to a plea. Its contents certainly looked powerful. The candles playing on the dresser to her right made its red liquid seem close to a boil. I hope its a nice place, she thought. She hoped as well that the journey would be free of pain, but a sudden image of Kalar made her doubt that hope just as soon as she had it. She let time pass her by, staring and staring; remaining quite still while her hand moved the vial from side to side, gently rocking the syrupy liquid before her eyes. Shed never seen anything like it. The bizarre liquid filled her with nerves and doubt, but those feelings could be managed, they werent stalling her journey. The delay was from deep inside, from Danis core, her essence. She waS afraid of the unknown; a worry thatd arrived in recent years and grown ever since. And this vialand its worldrepresented a peak of that fear. Shed once embraced such things, but that confident voice had weakened. It still held a place inside, existing now to battle that fear with her, but Danis feet remained in place, and her eyes stayed fixed on the vial. That fear was entirely unwelcome, ever troubling her mind since its creation. It was an anchor that she could only attack with her own thoughts, hoping to break it offor at least draw it in. I mustnt let this silly feeling trouble me. Now is not the time for such childishness. The beasts, those horrible beasts. And father! Father, father, father. He will be ever so cross once he finds out that Ive nicked his coins. The image of her angry father jarred Dani; his wrath would be fierce, but it would only mark the start of a long life of

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She started to work at the vial, fumbling for some time with the cork before it finally slipped free. As soon as itd left the tube, the contents inside breathed. They drew in the surrounding air which brought the liquid to a dark purple; that color oozing down through the vial like a rabid infection. The sight was a shock, but Dani was quick to force it from mind. Its just a color. A silly color. A fog had begun crawling out once the transformation was complete, heavy and rancid in the air. It now sought her face, grabbing at her senses and causing her to gag. Dani tried batting it away with her hand and breath, but it was much too thick to hold back for long. She held the vial carefully in her hand as she climbed into bed, then she stretched herself out on the soft fur, keeping the tube at arms length above her. Dani was silent and still again. She had hoped the potions heavy fog would drift elsewhere, but it seemed to seek out her mouth, nose, and eyes no matter which direction she held it. Ive come so far, she encouraged. Everything will only be worse if I stop now.

Her Hand guided tHe glass spear to Her moutH, tHen sHe let tHe syrupy liquid crawl down Her tHroat. She lifted and began shaking the nearly empty vial over her head in the hopes of urg-ing out the last of its contents, but the effort only made those final drops splash down on her face; which then caused her to throw the tube from her bed in frustration. The liquid came acidic and spoiled, sinking quickly into whatever it touched, already harassing her mouth. What a wretched taste, she grumbled. Dani sat upright and attempted to rub the stinging remnants of the potion from her face. The blunder had left her feeling rather foolish, but she realized that such things shouldnt bother her, certainly not at this moment, so she decided to find a relaxing position for the coming journey.

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DANI TRIED EVERYTHING SHE COULD THINK OF TO FIND SOME COMFORT. SHE TOSSED AND TURNED EVERY WHICH WAY; LAYING DOWN, SITTING UP, THEN LAYING BACK DOWN AGAIN. SHE TRIED PULLING HER BLANKET ON, THEN UNDER HERSELF, BEFORE FINALLY PUSHING IT RIGHT OFF THE BED IN A FIT OF FRUS-TRATION: LEAVING IT BUNCHED ON THE FLOOR NEAR THE EMPTY TUBE. IT WAS A POINTLESS STRUGGLE. THE LIQUID HAD WORKED FAST TO TAKE A NASTY HOLD IN HER STOMACH, AND EACH ATTEMPT TO FIND COMFORT WAS ONLY MAKING THAT PAIN INSIDE GROW WORSE.

Dani reluctantly stopped. Shed known that it might hurt, so she laid still on her back and braced herself for a rocky voyage.

she told herself. Just a little sting and Ill be off and away from all those horrid beasts. She looked to her window; the storm still dominated the sky, but the moon had found a weakness and climbed through. It was giving a small light to her room, warmer and more comforting than the candles. She was thankful for that. Since the potion had first passed her lips, her mouth had been burning. Her stomach pained her as well, but her mouth was first to meet the liquid, so the heat was greatest there, and it commanded her attention. She tried to ignore it, expecting to leave at any mo-ment, but the heat only grew: making her mouth feel as if itd been filled with scalding water. She closed her eyes and bit her lip, but the burning still grew, and she began to panic. Dani took a deep breath of air, hoping that would chase it away, but the air only stoked the fire; causing it to spread down her throat and fully ignite her already miserable stomach.

Be brave, be brave. Dani promised herself it would all be over in just a few more seconds. A little longer, she told her suffer-ing body. But the horrible feeling only grew and carried on. She bit down on her lip again, this time drawing blood, but her senses were too busy to let her taste or feel the metallic liquid running into her mouth and down her chin.

I MUST BE BRAVE,

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Minutes dragged by, each one making itself longer than all that had preceded it until time, the healer of all wounds, seemed content to simply stop; letting poor Dani carry on in anguish for a stretch that was unquestionably deplorable in its length.

Shed been begging the heat to leave, but itd chosen instead to become an inferno. The feeling was venturing beyond unbearable; always growing, always worsening, climbing off into heights that should be criminal to imagine. Dani balled herself up then stretched back out; her two little hands grasping at the sides of the bedding in a frantic attempt to squeeze away the fire that was eating her from within. What a monstrous potion! She wanted to scream out the words, but her mouth and throat seemed to have already melted away.

Dani couldnt understand why she hadnt left yet, her thoughts were coming in confusing bursts, and pain was blurring any reason and sense that she still had. Dani was forced to watch her tortured body jerk and squirm beneath her. It was a sight that came as a tax on her sanity, causing her to quickly close her eyes. SHE SOUGHT REFUGE IN HER HEAD, BUT THE POTION HAD TURNED IT INTO A HATEFUL PLACE. ITS THOUGHTS WERE NOW CRUEL, BUT THEY WERE ALL THAT SHE HAD, SO SHE LET THEM DRAG HER DEEPER INTO HOPELESSNESS. IM A FOOL! IM A FOOL! IM A FOOL! HOW COULD I HAVE EVER PUT MY TRUST IN THAT SHIFTY ALCHEMIST. ILL NEVER LEAVE. ILL NEVER ES-CAPE. EVEN THE AIR SEEMED TO HAVE TURNED AGAINST HER, BE-COMING ROTTEN SO AS TO ONLY BRING SICKNESS AS IT ENTERED HER BODY. DANI WANTED TO WRETCH, BUT THE POTION HAD EVEN ROBBED HER OF THAT AWFUL ABILITY. HER SKIN WAS NOW JUST A FLIMSY CAULDRON, EVERYTHING INSIDE RANCID AND BOILING AWAY. HEAT AND NAUSEA, HEAT AND NAUSEA, PAIN, PAIN, AND PAIN. IT HAS TO END, SHE DESPERATELY TOLD HERSELF, IT MUST. BUT STILL IT WENT ON. She watched her little chest rise and fall as the room around her darkened. A few tears began finding paths down from her eyes, and amidst all the pain, Dani still managed to curse her-self for the childish action. She brought up a hand to clear the blur from her eyes and saw that the shadows had started crawling their way out from the corners of her room. She watched their arms grow thicker and darker as they climbed into the air before suddenly falling upon her: their sticky hands desperately grabbing at her body. They felt cold and nice as they found her burning skin, but their arms still frightened her, she feared their unnatural touch.

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was close to drowning in her daze, her mind now lost and flailing for reason. It sent out sparse thoughts, occasional surges back into reality. These were gallant but unhelpful efforts, only arriving to confuse; they made her wonder why her body hadnt melted, the event seeming long overdue. They tried drawing attention to her jacket, now helping to trap and fuel the potions fire, though when she tried to act on the request, she found that her body wouldnt answer her calls. She begged and begged, but still her arms stayed limp, and Dani realized that her body was no longer hers to command. All the suffering had sapped away her strength, itd left her powerless. daNi was Now just a guest iN her owN form, its writhing foreign before her. The shadows new she was helpless, it seemed to excite them. Their arms were now slithering happily across her skin. They wanted to smother her, they wanted to wrap her up in a cold, dark blanket, but a sputtering voice inside was still desperate to resist them.

It was a potion for suffering. Ill never escape. Dani repeated those words again and again for as long as she could. They were now an awful but welcomed truth, as each of their formations was a scrap of grounded logic to cling to inside the defective reality that shed been immersed in. Any hope had left long ago. A voice reminded her that this would never end, and she managed to call herself a fool. It really hadnt been that long since shed first drunk from the alchemists vial, and she was quite close to her escape, but pain has the frightening ability to stretch time into unimaginable lengths. Of course her hope had slipped away, no amount of bravery could have held it in place. Shed already suffered for an eternity, and now all that her remain-ing thoughts could do was brace her to suffer for an eternity more.

dani

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had found their Way into danis room, and a great mess of their darK arms Were noW sWirling over her bed. they lashed doWn at her liKe drunKen Whips; their hands Were eager for purchase, though they couldnt yet reach her body. but the shadoWs beloW sensed their struggle and began driving up into danis bacK. they bent her torso and forced it into the embrace of the darKness above, then together their hands attacKed her figure. stop, stop, maKe it stop! the hands had nearly smothered her, but that burst of Will caused them to drop her bacK doWn into the soaKed World beloW. The burning in her body was worse now than ever, but the shadows seemed to have given up. For a few moments, DANI WAS LEFT ALONE WITH HER PAIN, SINKING SLOWLY INTO HER MUDDY BED. The lull was short. The room shivered, and the shadows began crawling back out to climb across her again. You wretched things, her voice sounding faint inside her head. The demons had now found their way in as well, their eyes gathering around to watch the nightmarish spectacle. Her tunneled gaze drifted around that swarm of delighted eyes, letting her see the arrival of new shadows: their arms far thicker and wilder than the ones before. They squeezed between the beasts, reaching down to her body to wrap her up as dark tentacles, while others creeped across her window to chock out the warmth and light from the moon. HER EARS THROBBED, BURNED, SCREAMED, THEN VANISHED. THE ROOM HAD BEGUN TO SHAKE LIKE A SWARM OF ANGERED BEES AS IT STRETCHED IN AROUND HER. THE SHADOWS AGAIN PUSHED INTO HER BACK AND FORCED IT INTO ANOTH-ER DISTURBING ARCH, RAISING HER STOMACH HIGHER THEN HORRIBLY HIGHER. HER POOR SPINE SEEMED READY TO SNAP AS IT BENT IN THIS FRIGHTENING WAY, BUT STILL THOSE DETERMINED SHADOWS PRESSED ON; THEIR CLAWS DIGGING INTO HER SKIN AS THEY PUSHED UNTIL HER SMALL CHEST BECAME ALL THAT SHE COULD SEE.

MORE SHADOWS

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she didNt seem to be breathiNg Now. Danis head had remained trapped against the bed, but her body had been twisted and bent like a weakened branch. Her chest now stretched and swam about in front of her face carrying her deep into darkness. That nice light from the moon was gone. The pain was gone toosomewhere in-side she felt very grateful for that. Her body sunk back down into the lake below. She was drenched; not with the water, but with those shadows black. It covered her like oil and let her slip through. Shed surrendered completely to those dark arms shed battled against.

Dani was filling up, then she was rushing out, then she seemed again to be sinking away. Finally, there was nothing. Everything was calm and void in her world for a few peaceful moments.

Quiet and empty

NOTHING, n o t H i n g, and

n o t H i n g .=

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01010011 01101000 01100101 00100000 01101000 01100001 01100100 00100000 01101101 01100101 01110100 00100000 01100100 01100101 01100110 01100101 01100001 0111010001000001 01101110 01100100 00100000 01100001 00100000 01110011 01101111 01101100 01100100 01101001 01100101 01110010 00100000 01100010 01100101 01100011 01100001 01101101 01100101 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101

01101001 01110010 00100000 01110100 01110010 01101111 01110000 01101000 0111100101000110 01101111 01110010 00100000 01100101 01100001 01110011 01100101 00100000 01110011 01110100 01101111 01101111 01100100 00100000 01100011 01101100 01100101 01100001 01110010 00100000 01110111 01101001 01110100 01101000 00100000 01110011 01110101 01100011 01101000 00100000 01100001 00100000 01101101 01101001 01100111 01101000 01110100 01111001 00100000 01101110 01100001 01110100 01101001 01110110 0110010101000001 01101110 01100100 00100000 01101000 01100001 01110110 01101001 01101110 01100111 00100000 01100010 01100101 01100101 01101110 00100000 01100101 01101110 01100100 01101111 01110111 01100101 01100100 00100000 01110111 01101001 01110100 01101000 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01101101 01101111 01110100 01101000 01100101 01110010 00100111 01110011 00100000 01110111 01101001 01110011 01100100 01101111 0110110101000001 01101110 01100100 00100000 01101000 01100001 01110110 01101001 01101110 01100111 00100000 01100011 01101111 01101110 01110011 01110101 01101101 01100101 01100100 00100000 01101111 01100110 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 01101001 01110010 00100000 01101001 01101110 01101001 01110100 01101001 01100001 01101100 00100000 01100100 01100101 01100011 01100101 01101001 0111010001010100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01100011 01110010 01100101 01100001 01110100 01110101 01110010 01100101 00100000 01110011 01100001 01110111 00100000 01100111 01100001 01101001 01101110 00100000 01100001 01101101 01101111 01101110 01100111 01110011 01110100 00100000 01100011 01101111 01101100 01101100 01110101 01110011 01101001 01101111 0110111001000001 01101110 01100100 00100000 01100001 01110011 00100000 01101000 01100101 00100000 01100110 01100101 01100100 00100000 01101111 01101110 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 01101001 01110010 00100000 01110111 01101111 01110010 01101100 01100100 00100111 01110011 00100000 01110011 01100001 01100011 01110010 01100101 01100100 00100000 01110111 01100001 01110100 01100101 01110010 0111001101001000 01100101 01110010

00100000 01100011 01110010 01100101 01100001 01110100 01110101 01110010 01100101 00100000 01100110 01101111 01110101 01101110 01100100

00100000 01100001 01110111 01100001 01101001 01110100 01100101 01100100 00100000 01100011 01101000 01100001

01101110 01100011 0110010101001001 01110100 00100000 01110010 01100101 01100011 01101100 01100001 01101001 01101101 01100101 01100100 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01110100 01100001 01100010 01101100 01100101 01110100 00100000 01101111 01100110 00100000 01100110 01100001 01110100 01100101 01110011 00100000 01100110 01110010 01101111 01101101 00100000 01101000 01101001 01110011 00100000 01100101 01100110

01100110 01100101 01100011 01110100 0111001101000001 01101110 01100100 00100000 01101001 01110100 00100000 01100110 01101100 01100101 01100100 00100000 01110100 01101111 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01100100 01100101 01100101

01110000 00100000 01101101 01101111 01110101 01101110 01110100 01100001 01101001 0110111001010100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01110011 01110100 01100001 01110010 00100000 01101011 01101001 01101110 01100111 00100000 01100010 01110010 01101111 01101111 01101011 01100101 01100100 00100000 01100001 00100000 01100111 01110010 01100101 01100001 01110100 00100000 01110011 01101000 01100001

01101101 0110010101000110 01101111 01110010 00100000 01101000 01101001 01110011 00100000 01100010 01110010 01100101 01110100 01101000 01110010 01100101 01101110 00100000 01110111 01100101 01110010 01100101 00100000 01110100 01101111 00100000 01100001 01110011 01110011 01110101 01101101 01100101 00100000 01100110

01110101 01110010 0111100101010101 01110000 01101111 01101110 00100000 01110011 01110101 01100110 01100110 01100101 01110010 01101001 01101110 01100111 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01110010 01100101 01110011 01110101 01101100 01110100 00100000 01101111 01100110 00100000 01101000 01101001 01110011 00100000

01110011 01101100 01101111 01110100 0110100001000001 01110011 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 01101001 01110010 00100000 01100100 01101111 01101101 01101001 01101110 01101001 01101111 01101110 00100000 01110111 01101111 01110101 01101100 01100100 00100000 01110011 01110101 01110010 01100101 01101100 01111001 00100000 01100010 01101111

0111011101001000 01100001 01110110 01101001 01101110 01100111 00100000 01101100 01101111 01110011 01110100 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01110011 01110101 01110000 01110010 01100101 01101101

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I N

T R A N

S I T

01100101 01101110 01110100 00100000 01110111 01101001 01110100 01101000 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01101101 01101111 01110100 01101000 01100101 01110010 00100111 01110011 00100000 01101011 01101001

0110111001000001 01110011 00100000 01101000 01100101 01110010 00100000 01110111 01101001 01110011 01100100 01101111 01101101 00100000 01110010 01100001 01101110 00100000 01110011 01110100 01110010 01101111 01101110 01100111

01100101 01110010 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100001 01101110 00100000 01101000 01100101 01110010 00100000 01100110 01110101 01110010 01111001

01000110 01101111 01110010 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01110100 01100001 01100010 01101100 01100101 01110100 00100000 01101100

01101001 01100101 00100000 01100100 01100001 01110010 01101011 00100000 01110111 01101000 01101001 01101100 01110011 01110100 00100000 01110100

01101000 01100101 00100000 01100011 01110010 01100101 01100001 01110100 01110101 01110010 01100101 00100000 01110011 01110100 01101111 01101111

01100100 00100000 01100010 01100001 01110010 0110010101010011 01101111 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 01111001 00100000 01110011 01101100 01100101 01110111 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101

00100000 01100010 01100101 01100001 01110011 01110100 00100000 01100001 01101110 01100100 00100000 01101001 01110100 01110011 00100000 01100100

01100101 01100101 0110010001000001 01101110 01100100 00100000 01110010 01100101 01110100 01110101 01110010 01101110 01100101 01100100 00100000 01110111 01101001 01110100

01101000 00100000 01100001 01110010 01110100 00100000 01100110 01101111 01110010 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 01101001 01110010 00100000 01100001 01101101 01100101 01101110 01100001 01100010 01101100 01100101

00100000 01101000 01101111 01110011 01110100 01110011

01000001 01101110 01100100 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01110011 01110100 01100001 01110010 00100000 01100111 01101111 01100100 01110011 00100000 01100011 01101111 01101110 01100110 01100101 01110010 01110010 01100101 0110010001011001 01100101 01110100 00100000 01100110 01100101 01100001 01110010 00100000 01101111 01100110 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01110100 01100001 01100010 01101100 01100101 01110100 00100000 01100011 01101100 01100001 01110010 01101001 01100110 01101001 01100101 01100100 00100000 01100100 01101111 01110101 01100010 0111010001000001 01110011 00100000 01100001 00100000 01100011 01101000 01100001 01101101 01110000 01101001 01101111 01101110 00100000 01110010 01100101 01101101 01100001 01101001 01101110 01100101 01100100 00100000 01100101 01101100 01110101 01110011 01101001 01110110 0110010101010100 01101000 01101111 01110101 01100111 01101000 00100000 01100011 01100001 01101100 01100001 01101101 01101001 01110100 01111001 00100000 01110011 01110100 01101111 01101111 01100100 00100000 01110111 01101001 01110100 01101000 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01101100 01101111 01110011 01110011 00100000 01101111 01100110 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01110011 01101101 01100001 01101100 01101100 00100000 01101000 01100001 01101110 01100100 0111001101010011 01101111 00100000 01100100 01100101 01110011 01110000 01100001 01101001 01110010 00100000 01110011 01101000 01100001 01110000 01100101 01100100 00100000 01100110 01101111 01110010 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 01101101 00100000 01100001 00100000 01110100 01100101 01110000 01101001 01100100 00100000 01110000 01100001 01110010 01110100 0111100101011001 01100101 01110100 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 01101001 01110010 00100000 01100011 01101000 01100001 01101101 01110000 01101001 01101111 01101110 01110011 00100000 01101101 01100101 01110100 00100000 01110001 01110101 01100101 01100101 01110010 00100000 01100110 01101111 01110010 01110100 01110101 01101110 0110010101010101 01110000 01101111 01101110 00100000 01100110 01101001 01110010 01110011 01110100 00100000 01100101 01101110 01100111 01100001 01100111 01100101 01101101

LOADING.........

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CHAPTER IV

ZZZZZZ

Whodat?

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56

But of course she was awake, shed only just laid down to try and catch herself a nap. She took notice of her head as if it hadnt been there before: it felt heavy as it rested on the ground. Her body was suddenly there too, and its form was also feeling rather clunky and heavy beneath her: as if itd been off on a business trip and only just returned.

Her addled figure must have tripped some alarmthe clumsy foolfor Dani was finding herself rising up into judgment, being urged to scrutinize the peculiar series of reports that her subordinates had tried to hand in. She hadnt been all that concerned, yet those odd sensations were still hovering before her, so apparently her attention was required. However, the moment shed begun deliberating, everything below seemed to scurry back into order, and any interest in her figures curious misbehav-ior was quickly dropped.

dani waS awake.

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56

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DARKNESS? the thought came suddeNly, staNdiNg uNpleasaNt amoNgst the other gleeful thoughts iN her miNd. it was aN odd thought to have, seemiNgly lost, so daNi lazily brushed it away aNd turNed her atteNtioN back to the sky. she didNt waNt to leave this spot, let aloNe take her eyes from the clouds; they were playiNg all too woNderfully above, stretchiNg aNd swayiNg, their color per-fect amoNgst the blue. she decided to stay put for some time. thiNgs were good Now, there seemed No reasoN to leave. she placed her haNds behiNd her head aNd eNjoyed the simple show.

HER EYES W

ERE CLOSED

.

Closed eyes are niCe, but it really caN be quite a straiN to keep them that way; particularly if theres No poiNt iN it, but especially wheN theres sights that beg seeiNg. daNi smiled, kNowiNg that was a reasoNable thought, aNd she let her eyes stretch opeN.

Bright light poured in from above, her blindness jump-ing from black to white. She narrowed her eyes, allowing them to grow familiar with the light. Blue was first, arriving slowly, squeezing between the white then pushing that glare until it had left her vision. The clarity was a relief, it let a series of plump clouds make an appearance; some wandering in and out of the blue, with others content to simply rest where they were. A lofty tree had stretched up behind her, its colors hidden by the light. This trees form blocked the top of her vision, but she could still see plenty of the sky, and it quickly became a nice addition to the scenery.

Dani couldnt find the sun. She knew it must be off somewhereas it was providing a great deal of lightbut it wasnt in her vision, so she didnt bother searching it out: she was too satisfied with her present view.

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58

Well that hardly seems to matter! replied a scratchy voice, its words sending an ugly wave through Danis body. Its your rude intrusion that were most concerned with. A branch from the tree behind her had stretched down and seemed to be speaking in her ear.

Dani twisted her head to the right, but saw a wild mess of flesh and stone where shed thought had been a branch. Several crows were poking out from that form. The one nearest to her had its wings folded across its chest, its head shaking slowly from side to side.

The entirety of what she thought had been a tree was now leaning over to block her pleasant view of the sky. The light from above still dressed this curious figure in black, masking everything but a swarm of little eyes and two rather large ones that shined out from the middle: which looked to be growing as they inched ever closer to her face. Those two large eyes just managed to give light to a beak, big enough for Dani to rest comfortably in, that was jutting out beneath them, its tip now within reach of Danis arms.

as daNi watched, aNother straNge thought begaN fight-iNg for her atteNtioN. she wasNt quite sure where she was. that thought wasNt too troublesome, appeariNg odd like the other, but daNi still woNdered why she hadNt beeN botheriNg with it. ITS ALWAYS GOOD TO KNOW WHERE YOU ARE IN THE WORLD, she remiNded herself. IM CERTAINLY SOMEWHERE. BUT OF COURSE I AM. I REALLY COULDNT BE NOWHERE. the grouNd below her felt dry aNd cracked, but she was almost certaiN that she remembered it beiNg wet.

MMMMM, came her relaxed groan. WoNDer Where ive WaNDereD off to.

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58

To Dani, looking up from the ground,

this sight was a horribly unexpected source of terror, chilling in its clash with the tranquility

shed just grown accustomed to. It caused her to flip over and scurry away, only turning back around once shed created

some comfortable distance for herself.

Like an animal fungus, this creature before Dani seemed to have grown itself amongst a megalithic ruin, fusing with it to form a

winged mass of stone thatd been granted animation by the excessive ropes of fungal muscle running every which way about the heap. Crows and vultures had nested amongst the forms decay, all of

their eyes now watching her in disturbing unison with the central pair that commanded the figure. The entirety of

it looked to rival Danis own home in size while easily dwarfing it in weight.

YOUVE COME TO TAKE MY VIEW, HAVENT YOU?The massive beak flapped about like shutters in the wind to spill its long, dull, and very un-bird-like voice all over Dani; its words arriving as they pleased, careless to the frantic mations that had tried to dictate their journey.

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Well, why couldnt you just be wherever you were before this?

Birds, you fool!

The giant beak paused, hanging open, then jerked towards Dani.

She doesnt know its for birds?

D E L I G H T F U L, came a final, drawling voice.

JOKE OF ALL JOKES!Useless child!

Those

eyes still w

atched her

as she sat

on the gro

und,

but their un

ified stare

was shifti

ng from im

patient to

violent.

The initial

rush of fe

ar had hid

their ques

tion from D

anis mind

,

but as the

memory r

eturned, sh

e quickly f

ound her t

ongue and

hurried ou

t a respons

e:

Dani had cautiously picked her final words, eager not to cause any disturbance with the hulking creature. But her effort seemed pointless, for it quickly droned out:

No, no, not at all, she said.I was just trying to find a place to... be, thats all.

The view from the sky is for us birds. You humans dont have to have everything.

It finished and stared, but before Dani could answer, the smaller birds chimed in:

Do you understand that, little girl? Do you understand?

Dani waited for her chance to speak: keeping her eyes on her feet, squeezing her knuckles. She then glanced up once it was clear that the birds had finished.

Of course we dont, um...sirs, she said, finding it hard to keep her eyes on the creatures. And I do understand, I promise. I suppose I was just too curious.

Dani slowly brought herself up to her feet, then she left a nervous eye on the angered birds as she took in her surroundings.

They were standing on a flat patch of brown dirt which itself was sitting on top of a remarkably tall hill; the highest in sight and rising straight up from the ground like a lonely tower, its wide bulk seemingly shaved off. Green was every-where in this gentle looking land, smothering all like some perennial mold.

This scenery was a bit strange, all new to Dani. But instead of pausing to wonder, she turned back to the creature and gave it a small bow. I truly do apol-ogize for trying to take your view...or views, sirs. I guess I must have come up here to get a better view myself. It is rather nice to know where you are in the world, she said, then trying to force a laugh and a smile. And this hill does seem like it would be very helpful for such a thing.

Its not fine!

An abomination!

A filthy crime!

Suppose we...eat her now.

The bird stretched its wings and looked away, giving a bored stare to the land around them. Its fine, child. Theres no need to bind yourself up in any worries, it said. With the other birds quickly adding:

The larger bird continued on as if uninterrupted, Curiosity is one of the great joys, an itch that is ever so blissful when finally scratched. It is hard to fault you for such things. Ive wondered as well about the com-forts in a human home. But that life is not for me, I am a creature purely of curiosity. Why else would I have grown such grand wings if not for the pleasures of exploration?

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Dani regained some ease as she listened; the smaller birds still left her with nerves, but the calm words from the giant itself had done wonders for her fear. She gave the creature another smile, as those always seemed to better any situation, before cautiously approach-ing and sitting on the hill beside it.

Thank you for understanding, sir. It must be incredible to be able to see so much. Is there a name that I should call you? Dani looked up into its eyes, but as it returned her stare, she felt another rush of fear and quickly looked further up to the patterned stone stretching off the back of its head.

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It continued looking down at her. I suppose it is Anzu, if you must know a name. Dani smiled and started to open her mouth, but the bird suddenly raised a wing and cut her off. Before you speak, Id rather not know what ever it is that you call yourself. And for that matter, Id rather you not call me by my own name either. Im having a hard enough time forgetting it as is. I certainly dont need you reminding me of it.

She wont remember! Shell call you by your name! Eat? Perhaps...

Her smile had drifted into an odd look, but she quickly turned to her feet before the creatures noticed. The idea seemed strange to Dani, so strange that she very nearly informed the creature about the importance of names. But she was keen on avoiding any possible provocation, so she swallowed the comment and found her smile again; the smaller birds could be managed, but any anger from the larger creature seemed a sure path to doom.

Well, I think thats a splendid thing to- a pebble had struck her head, with a wave of cackles following shortly after. She pretended not to notice. -that seems like a splendid thing to do, sir. I might even start doing it myself. Though she was quite sure that she wouldnt. Dani glanced up at the creature; it was looking rather sleepy, but it still gave her a small, appreciative nod. She looked back at her feet, debated for a moment, then said, Would it be alright if I asked why youd do such a thing? Because, child, it quickly replied, brushing an enormous wing at her as if she was a bothersome fly, names are memories which are a burden that I choose not to bear. I prefer to see the world through new eyes whenever I can.

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That seems very smart of you, said in her kind-est of voicesdespite the nasty little birds. But the creature again waved its wing at her and continued to look out off the hilltop. They stayed quiet for some timewith the exception of the smaller birds. Dani wanted to ask the creature another question, but it was taking her some time to work up the courage. So, she softly said, do you by chance know where it is that we are? Im feeling rather curious myself as that does seem to be the very reason I came up this tall hill. Dani looked up at the bird then back at her crossed legs. I cant see my home from up here. Im sure that Ill need to return there at some point in time. The great bird brought its gaze to Dani, then folded its ruinous legs to sit. Why should it matter where we are? Were already here arent we? Are you not enjoy-ing it? He gave his great head a slow shake from side to side. You humans dont listen very well. I suppose I could tell you more of what Ive seen in this particular area, but as Ive already said, that is all that I dare commit to my memoryand I do say that Id like those very memories to go away as soon as possible! The creature tried to emphasize the final words, but its voice still seemed tired.

MORON! MORON! RIDICULOUS MORON! THE GREATEST MORON! A TASTY ONE, I SUPPOSE.

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66

Shell never get back! She cant get back! SheS a hopeleSS waSte! a lazy waSte! waSte thatS been doomed! doomed! doomed! doomed!

Dani had closed her eyes as well, wanting to yell back but still too afraid to play with her luck. She did like the idea of eating, and the shining pond looked to be a good place to find a meal. Do you think I could have a fish? Im sure that I need some food. And she was sure that she did, though she didnt feel too hungry. Why not? the bird answered. Just dont take them all. The fish have their own things to be doing, and theres much less reputable characters than I in these parts who would find themselves very sore if the fish were to all go missing, he looked down at Dani and narrowed his eyes as he finished speaking.

Of course, sir. And I wont take them all, I can assure you of that, she said, hop-ing it would convince the birdthough it still gave a few distrusting shakes of its head.

He brushed his wing at the land as if he wished it to go away then spo