Prologue : Recollection
These streets.
I still remember those walks we used to take through them. They were buzzing with life, I can still recall the children that would stop us.
I close my eyes and I see them, their faces gleaming, their eyes glowing–staring at you in complete awe, so did I. They weren’t the only ones, the townspeople–the way they surrounded you; latching onto you like a blissful dream they never wanted to wake from. You could make grown men remember their inner child, as if they were watching their hero right in front of them.
Your presence allowed them to laugh–lighthearted-freely and not a care in the world, they knew you’d always be there for them. That’s why they would laugh, and so did you. Confidently and proud, surrounded by so much love and euphoric energy.
Now, I stand in the middle of that same street.
However, I’m surrounded by a town turned to ruble broken down walls drenched in their blood.
The smell of sweet confections and bakery perfections, replaced by the stench of burning corpses. The sound of laughter and small footsteps running about the town, has been silenced-a hollow crackingling, the last remnant of life fading away.
I can still hear some of them clinging to the remainder of their lives, the same way they clung to you. What was a home is now a blood soaked abyss; a constant reminder.
Of what we had.
They’re destroying everything, those damn things. Walking through this town, I feel constant rage burning in my chest at the sight. How could I have stopped this? Could I have stopped this?
My doubt is worse than my anger.
It drags me back to your voices–to those words you’d say so often to me.
You’re strong.
You’ll change this world.
As Zakai walks through the destroyed town, he recalls the past. How it felt, what it looked like.
Warm.
He reaches the end of the town, and up ahead-a hill,He makes his way toward it, head lowered, long dark hair falling like a veil over his eyes.
As he stands upon the hill he looks down at Talia, it’s still beautiful, calm, still.
But something within it-beneath it, masking itself in the beauty of the land. Something truly sinister, hellish and dark is waiting for the perfect moment once again.
That thought in itself is enough to send a chill down Zakai’s spine, as he begins to think to himself.
Will I be quick enough this time?
Will I be enough?
Will I be myself?
Looking out on his home, these thoughts raced through his mind. He raised his head to the sky, as tears began to slip down his face.
As he lowers himself on the hill, he knows deep down that a long awaited prophecy is inevitable.
He’s done everything in his power to avoid what’s coming, but as he looks down on Talia, regret floods in his chest:
He didn’t do enough.
It was never enough.
Now as he looks out of his home, these thoughts raced through his mind. He raised his head to the sky, as tears began to slip down his face.
A single question occurred.
Where do we go from here?
They’d given him many names.
Some spoke his name with fear.A few with reverence.
However one thing is certain—
As beautiful Talia may seem,..
Something truly malevolent is dwelling beneath its walls, and it’s only a matter of time before it reveals itself…
