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Realization

Starting Disease

I woke up drenched in sweat.

Did -- did this all really happen? There's no other reason for me to be out here. I climbed down from the tree.

Why would the king order this? Why would he send such a madman to our small town to destroy it? We didn't do anything wrong --- or did we?

I was lost in thought for a long while. That was the first time it really hit me what had happened a few days ago.

Picture Creek by TWPictures

Music Starting Disease by Eduardo C.

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

A Hug

Helos

He opened the door. I walked in behind him.

'Martin, where 'ave ya been?'

'Met th' wee un on th' way'

'Wee wahn?'

I came forth from behind Martin. I saw in her eyes that she was exactly like him, only wanted to protect the people dear to her. And it seemed like I just became one of those people.

'Wot 'appened ter ya lil' wahn?' She came down and hugged me tightly. I didn't resist, it felt like paradise. I wanted that moment never to end. This warm, sincere hug. Like the one from a worried mother.

Then, still hugging me, she looked at Martin. 'Ya think...'

'Aye, ah think he cam fae that toun'

Picture Black Butterfly by Selenada

Music Helos by Scott B. Morton & Michael Verrette

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

For now I focused on turning back my arm instead of overthinking this.

The main problem with my current situation was, turning back that arm costs me lots of strength. This other body has kind of it's own will. It doesn't want to go 'back'. It want's freedom, which is definitely understandable, but I can't give it that. So it was, as always, a fight to turn back the arm.

Fight may be the wrong term, it's not like fighting someone or something. Not like a classic brawl or arm wrestling where it can go back and forth between both sides. It's more like... something I have to beat down, that simply takes the punches without getting hurt much by it. It needs many, hard punches to go down... if that makes any sense.

And that costs me energy, which means I have to eat & drink more afterwards.

The first meal usually is the biggest, then it goes down drastically meal by meal till I'm back to 'normal'.

This time it was just the arm, so a hare or three as first meal would surely be enough, tho I didn't have that much left.

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

The crowd was still standing around. Unsure if they should believe the drunken huntsman or not.

Ruth grabbed my hand firmly and went through the masses of people. A few dozen paces later she stopped, turned around and crouched down in front of me.

'Don't listen to that drunkard, he always tells stuff like that.' She calmly said to me.But in her eyes I saw that she didn't completely believe those words herself.

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

A Face on the Inside

Papercut

Why does it feel like night today? Something in here's not right today. Why am I so uptight today? Paranoia's all I got left I don't know what stressed me first Or how the pressure was fed But I know just what it feels like To have a voice in the back of my head Like a face that I hold inside A face that awakes when I close my eyes A face that watches every time I lie A face that laughs every time I fall And watches everything So I know that when it's time to sink or swim That the face inside is hearing me Right beneath my skin It's like I'm paranoid lookin' over my back It's like a whirlwind inside of my head It's like I can't stop what I'm hearing within It's like the face inside is right beneath my skin I know I've got a face in me Points out all my mistakes to me...

Picture Disturbed by Dunjochka

Music Papercut by Linkin Park

Note from the Author

Yes, this is part of Bjorn's story. Would be boring to write the whole story like a usual book, wouldn't it?

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

“Gate keeper? Of what gate?”

“One of them who stand between you and your goal.”

“One of them?”

“Yes. One. But enough talk, you want through here, right? Then fight me.”

He changed his stance. Bent his knees slightly, raised his hands. He had no weapons, but he had his fire. Wherever he takes it from, he has control over it.

“How about this. I know you’ve got your fire, and I’ve got my sword. Let’s make this fair instead. No weapons, no fire, just bare fists.“

I took the risk of trusting him.

“You sure about doing this? My fighting involves far more movement than yours”

“You heard me, I won’t go back on that.”

An evil grin spread over his face.

“You’re on, boy”

His eyes began glowing red.

Might have been a bad idea to trust him

Picture Hellsing Fan art by Sharprock86 [EDITED]

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

I slowly woke up in a warm bed, a rather slender arm lying on me. It took me a moment to realize this wasn't a dream, would've been the only good one I had for as long as I can remember. Not fully awake I stared at the ceiling for some time, my thoughts so far away I didn't have any.

Still lying down, I looked around a bit. I was in some house. There was a table with two chairs, a bow and some arrows near a door, another door, a fireplace, still some faint glowing embers in it. On the floor where some clothes, they seemed familiar.

Then this thought slowly came up from somewhere. This arm on my chest, this wasn't mine. Mine was touching some soft skin. I looked to the other side of me and fell out of the bed in fright, landing on the hard, wooden floor. Ouch.

From the jerk Ingrid woke up too, sitting up and grasping the blanket to cover herself.

“I did this for you!” She roared immediately

“Thanks... I guess”

“I heard some loud sound outside last night, turned out it was you. Fell asleep beside my door and fell over. You were ice cold. Pale skin, blue lips & all.”

“Ok... but wouldn't just lighting a fire... been enough?”

“I didn't want it to be my fault you froze to death, so I wanted to make sure. But don't you tell anyone about this! This was a one time occasion! Understood?”

“Sure, stays between me and you.”

“And... I am sorry for yesterday, shouldn't have shouted at you because of this old bastard. I'll let you stay, as long as you're a help on the hunt. Else I'll kick you out. Got it!?”

“No worries, forgiven, understood & accepted. But one question-”

“Your clothes? They're by the fireplace”

I looked down at myself and reddend again.

“...n... no... but thanks...”

I paused shortly, trying to get somehow comfortable with the situation of being around her naked, again.

“How... how did you get me in here?”

She laughed “Easy, I'm a hunter, I'm used to carrying full grown deer to this place. I admit you are a bit heavier, but I didn't need to carry you very far.”

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

A Survivor Born?

Panic Man

I woke up in the middle of the forest. What was that dream? It felt so real, like I was standing right there. I could feel the heat. I looked around. Where am I? Why am I sitting on the ground, in the forest? Why is my back so stiff? How long have I already been here?

Ssø mãny küêsstîønss, ssø fêw åñsswêrss ha ha ha ha ha

What? Where did that come from? 'Hello? Is someone there?'

No one. I was all alone. But where did that voice come from then?

Picture Forest by aJVL

Music Panic Man by FesliyanStudios

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

At first I went right through the water, but noticed after a few steps that it was quite a lot louder than I imagined because of the shallow water. So instead I went a few steps beside the beck, always having it in sight.

It didn't take long till I was at the pond again. Keeping in mind the unknown dangers of it I trod with caution and tried to re-trace my steps.

Ok think... you found the pond... went up on a tree... lemme see... no... no... no... ah! That one!... from there down... and... … into a bush... into... that bush! After that... … I went to the pond... ...why?...

I pondered over that for a moment, Why did I go to the pond? What was there for me to do there?

Hmm... no matter... IT warned me of the pond... then I went further up the stream again...

As I began walking back up the beck I noticed how the area seemed very familiar so I followed that sense of having been here before, the feeling of having seen this before.

After much looking around and searching I found my old camp and all my stuff too. Looks ransacked... hope it was just some animal who hoped to find anything edible here.

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

So my travels began It didn't take long till I came to a village I wasn't really greated by anyone, didn't expect it either the only thing I noticed strongly were curious but harsh eyes They were all around me, every single one watched me with them After looking around for a while, always being kept an eye on, an elderly man came up to me, trying to put on a friendly face to hide his distrust

“What brings you here, stranger?”

“Well, actually I'm just looking for some work, maybe a place to stay”

“We cannot pay you”

“Oh no worries, a roof over my head for the winter & some food would be enough pay”

“Are there any crafts you know?”

“I did work for a smith for some time a while back, but that got kinda broken off 'cause of... reasons”

“Reasons? Hmmm... whatever it may be, I do understand that there are things you won't tell a complete stranger. The smith already got too little to do on his own, but the hunter needs a hand”

“Great.” I smiled & reached him my hand “Bjorn”

“Go to the other side of the village and ask for Ingrid. Tell her I said you can stay at hers as long as you prove to be a help on the hunt”

He took my hand, shook it & this time with a slightly more honest smile said “Ernest”

Picture humble village by Skvor

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016