Aldric sprints through the woods. The fog has not obscured everything yet, but the branches overhead and the lack of wind feels sinister. Someone is calling for help. But who? His eyes are wide, but the familiar black branching around them is just as telling as his terror.
By the time he finds what he's looking for, it's too late- Audrey is in a crumpled heap, holding her stomach as best she can and blood is everywhere. He's just barely missed something stalking off into the bushes.
"AUDREY-"
He crouches beside her, trying to put more pressure on the wound but- she's so pale. There's so much. And as he glances around as if someone to help will just be there, he sees it: Evan slumped against a tree, gored and lifeless, and Rillian- ... Just barely recognizable.
"No- no..."
"Daddy...? I... w-we messed up... It hurts-"
Tears well up in his eyes.
"I- I know, I know. Just- stay with me, Audrey, okay? You can do it. We'll get help-"
He tries to scoop her up but it just makes her cry out in pain, and it's easy to see that she's only getting worse- even more so if he tries to move her. How could things have gone so wrong? His shoulders begin to shake as he holds her close, and soon he's crying out uselessly for help.
No one comes.
... Save for a dark-skinned man in white and gold, a black rayed halo encircling his head. He looks emaciated. He looks tired. He looks cruel.
He smiles gently.
Do you wish to save them?
Aldric freezes. The man circles around him.
"What.... who are you-"
Time is of the essence, Aldric. Do. You wish. To save them?
"... More than anything."
I can help you. All it will cost is your name.
"What?"
Give me your name, and your children will be safe at home once more. Of course... it is an arduous process. But if you can stand a little pain...
Aldric stares, deadeyed at his children. And then he looks up at the man, who smiles again and extends a hand that looks more like talons than fingers.
"How do I do it?"
Renounce your identity, and take my hand.
He inhales. And then he lets the man claw his bloodied hand.
"I renounce my identity as Aldric of Haven, son of Laurence."
The man's grin sharpens as darkness surrounds the being formerly known as Aldric, and the illusions of the slaughtered children disappear. The man chokes, and it feels as if he's being burnt alive, flayed and clawed and pierced throughout this entire body and soul. But his eyes are clear.
Oh, "Father"- you truly are a fool. But I'll use you well, don't wo-
"BASTARD. YOU THINK I'LL DIE THAT EASILY?"
Where flesh and bone should have died, leaving only a soul to claim and devour, shadow dissipates to nothing, and then reforms to a familiar shape. Heimr. His eyes burn a golden red as he stands and its easy to see he's double the size you're used to. He reaches for the man in white robes- and the man vanishes, eyes wide with hate and shock.
LAYER FIVE: WHAT'S IN A NAME? (cw: teen/child death, hallucinations)
By the time he finds what he's looking for, it's too late- Audrey is in a crumpled heap, holding her stomach as best she can and blood is everywhere. He's just barely missed something stalking off into the bushes.
"AUDREY-"
He crouches beside her, trying to put more pressure on the wound but- she's so pale. There's so much. And as he glances around as if someone to help will just be there, he sees it: Evan slumped against a tree, gored and lifeless, and Rillian- ... Just barely recognizable.
"No- no..."
"Daddy...? I... w-we messed up... It hurts-"
Tears well up in his eyes.
"I- I know, I know. Just- stay with me, Audrey, okay? You can do it. We'll get help-"
He tries to scoop her up but it just makes her cry out in pain, and it's easy to see that she's only getting worse- even more so if he tries to move her. How could things have gone so wrong? His shoulders begin to shake as he holds her close, and soon he's crying out uselessly for help.
No one comes.
... Save for a dark-skinned man in white and gold, a black rayed halo encircling his head. He looks emaciated. He looks tired. He looks cruel.
He smiles gently.
Do you wish to save them?
Aldric freezes. The man circles around him.
"What.... who are you-"
Time is of the essence, Aldric. Do. You wish. To save them?
"... More than anything."
I can help you. All it will cost is your name.
"What?"
Give me your name, and your children will be safe at home once more. Of course... it is an arduous process. But if you can stand a little pain...
Aldric stares, deadeyed at his children. And then he looks up at the man, who smiles again and extends a hand that looks more like talons than fingers.
"How do I do it?"
Renounce your identity, and take my hand.
He inhales. And then he lets the man claw his bloodied hand.
"I renounce my identity as Aldric of Haven, son of Laurence."
The man's grin sharpens as darkness surrounds the being formerly known as Aldric, and the illusions of the slaughtered children disappear. The man chokes, and it feels as if he's being burnt alive, flayed and clawed and pierced throughout this entire body and soul. But his eyes are clear.
Oh, "Father"- you truly are a fool. But I'll use you well, don't wo-
"BASTARD. YOU THINK I'LL DIE THAT EASILY?"
Where flesh and bone should have died, leaving only a soul to claim and devour, shadow dissipates to nothing, and then reforms to a familiar shape. Heimr. His eyes burn a golden red as he stands and its easy to see he's double the size you're used to. He reaches for the man in white robes- and the man vanishes, eyes wide with hate and shock.
Shadow meets empty air.
He is alone.