CHAPTER ONE

Alec

Darkness engulfs me, but it's not the type of darkness that accompanies the absence of light. It's a different kind, a darkness that envelops me in a pool of sensation. I float in it, suspended in an abyss.

My eyes close and I feel a rush of vertigo. I'm spinning, spinning faster and faster.

Finally, a burst of light overwhelms me, and I land on a soft surface. I open my eyes and take in my surroundings. I'm in a room with stone walls. The ceiling is high, and there are torches hanging from it. The flickering flames cast eerie shadows across the room, and on the other side of the room is a wooden door.

I get up, my muscles aching from the fall, and survey my environment. Besides the torches, there is nothing in the room. No furniture, no windows. Nothing that suggests this place is anything but a prison.

I try to remember how I got here, but it's hard to think straight. All I remember is a small, golden coin. I reached out for it, and then... I ended up here.

My footsteps echoing against the stones, I walk across the room and open the door. It leads to outside, where it's night.

A low mist covers the ground, thin, dead-looking trees placed here and there. It looks like I'm in the country somewhere.

But the country of where? Which state?

I press my hand to my temple. I can't even remember where I was before this - before I touched the coin.

I can't even remember why I touched the coin.

...And what coin am I even remembering?

All I know is that there was a coin, and it felt important that I grab it. Other than that, my mind is a blank slate.

"Hello?" I call out.

There's no response. The area is dead quiet.

I turn around to see where I came from, but there's nothing but the door. No walls. No building. Just a door standing in the middle of nowhere.

A chill ripples through me. This doesn't make any sense.

Gulping, I start walking. Standing around won't do me any good.

As I walk, I try to remember anything that could give me a clue as to where I am and why I'm here. But my memory remains foggy, like a dream I can't quite fully recall. All I know is that I need to keep moving.

Where was I before I touched the coin? Who am I, even? It feels like there's a name at the edge of my mind, but I can't grab onto it.

I need to find out where I am and why I'm here.

The ground is uneven, with rocks and twigs littering my path. I keep my eyes glued to the ground, not wanting to trip and fall.

As I walk, I notice something strange. The mist seems to be getting thicker, almost as if it's clinging to my clothes. It's like it's alive, creeping up my legs and wrapping around my torso.

I shiver, and the mist seems to pulse in response.

My heart races inside my chest. This can't be real. I must be dreaming.

But the mist feels too tangible, too real.

Something rustles behind me, and I stiffen. It sounds like footsteps on dry leaves.

I turn around and study the dark behind me. There's nothing there.

The hairs on the back of my neck are standing on end, though. I swear I heard someone. Or something.

The mist seems to be closing in around me, pushing in tight so that I can’t escape it. I take a step back as I feel the mist brush against my skin.

Suddenly, I hear the sound of laughter. It's a low, menacing laugh that echoes through the trees. My heart races and I take another step back, unsure of what to do.

"Who's there?" I call out, my voice shaking.

No response. The laughter continues, growing louder and closer.

I spin around, trying to locate the source of the sound. And then I see them.

Two figures emerge from the darkness, their eyes glowing like hot coals. They're tall, dressed in cloaks, with unnaturally long limbs and sharp claws for hands. They move towards me with a slow, steady gait, like predators stalking their prey.

I stumble back, my mind racing with fear. What are these things? What do they want from me?

As they get closer, I make out more details. Their skin is as black as the night, and their hair is long and tangled. And there's something else, something that makes my stomach churn with revulsion. They're covered in blood, their clothing stained with red.

I try to back away, but I stumble and fall to the ground, landing on my back. The creatures loom over me, their eyes blazing with hunger.

I open my mouth to scream, but I can't even get my breath to form. This is it. Whoever I am, whatever I’m here for, it no longer matters.

Everything is over for me.