1Sequence 1. Prelude into the Nightmare
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"When you're born into this world you're given a ticket to the Freak Show, and when you're born in America, you're given a front-row seat." - George Carlin, comedian and philosopher of early 21st Century"
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Todd Griffin has never thought of himself as the main character in any story, or a prominent figure that would one day change the world. Indeed, in this tale, he is but another name in a giant list of casualties and missing civilians. His survival depends not on himself, but on the actual protagonists of this chaotic tale. How ironic that under normal society standards, Todd would have looked down upon these social freaks, labeling them waste of society and call it a day.
In fact, Todd has no clue that he is about to be a part of the very freak show that would affect him and the rest of humanity. Right now, in this very moment, all he desires is to become the Savior of Christmas for his family, before the real saviors come into play.
That is, assuming he can get home in time.
"What the hell's with this traffic!" For the umpteenth time, Todd Griffin swears into his car as he slammed his hands on the steering wheel. Meanwhile, the AM Radio continues to play snippets of reality in an almost palpable distress.
This Christmas Day, the President of United States will be holding a press conference to address what the world has already written off as a rising Pandemic. At the same time, is War the Only Answer? With rising body count and conflicts across Euro-
"And this radio is no better!" Irritated, he twisted the knob back to FM and adjusted the broadcast with disdain. Cheery Christmas classics that his grandparents used to love fill the inside of the car with mixture of jazz and acoustic guitars.
"As if today can't get any worse..."
Christmas Eve, after work, a car loaded in gifts. He is destined to bring home joy. He has prepared for this day for months. And yet…
How outrageous that his boss has denied him the opportunity to leave work early? How outrageous that the smug bastard with a goatee denied his PTO requests and instead smiled like a Grinch as he increased Todd's overtime hours? Dark thoughts of arson and guillotine and the likes continue to circulate in the recesses of his mind, only to be occasionally banished by the thoughts of his smiling kids.
He must make it, no matter what. Never mind the fact that the world was becoming more and more chaotic and crazy. Never mind the fact that the media has continued to promote the coming of a new Plague that would spell the end to the sleeping masses of the world. The rest of the world can burn for all he cares if he cannot complete his mission to get home.
Unfortunately, no matter how many obstacles he has triumphed over, the one thing Todd cannot conquer, much to the dismay of other likeminded holiday shoppers, is Friday night AND Christmas Eve traffic - modern commuters' worst Nightmare.
"C'mon, how long's the damn hold up." Looking up at the digital dials of his Android Watch, Todd stomached another growl of malcontent. "Another 40 minutes... at least, shit. And now the damn fog!"
He has been stuck on the Golden Gate Bridge since the great escape from his sneering boss. It is now 5:40 PM, and he has been staring at the same license plate for the past hour. Because it's winter and the perfect location, the fog has set in relentlessly and covers the whole scenery with graying and darkening mist. With one last struggle in vain, the frustrated father rolls down his window, sticks his head out, and bellows, "C'mon you assholes, what the fuck's with the hold up, huh!"
Needless to say, the sea of drivers has only two reactions: ignoring him completely, or mirroring his anger with appropriate hand gestures and honks. Everyone is emotional; they all want to go home, but somehow no one is budging a single inch.
The damp air taste salty and clings to Todd's fingers and face. Quickly, he ducks back in and shut the window, sighing in relief at the warm heat and saxophones only to note that raindrops has began to clatter against the windshields.
"Great, first fog and now the rain. What's gonna happen next?" Muttering darkly, he returns to manning the steering wheel as cars in front inch forward, slow, stop, and repeat.
Only then did Todd notice the green and red flashes and digital display on his watch. "Ah fuck." They've only been married for three years and he already knew if he didn't answer his phone immediately it would be like the Spanish Inquisition all over again.
"Hi Honey, I was just abo-"
"Todd, where the hell are you! The children will be home in 30 minutes. Tom and Mary are already here helping with the decorations and they are asking for you."
Todd use to own an air horn when he goes hiking. It was a neat little device that produced such a shrilling sound it could scare away even bears. Now, he gets to experience that every time he made any sort of mistake, from his wife of all people. Tonight was no exception.
"I know, I know. Tell 'em I'm Sorry! Just you know, stuck on the stupid bridge."
"I don't care. 30 minutes, make it happen."
With that, the piercing sound stopped and Todd exhales, pausing for a moment to take out a cigarette and lighter. Goddamn Christmas, every year. I'm never gonna quit smoking at this rate.
Rolling his window down a bit, Todd watches as the puffs of smoke melt into the foggy night, disappearing into the intensifying gray chasm while rain continues to crash against the car. Only then did he let his focus relax and realized something odd.
Was the fog always this thick? He has been driving through this bridge for the last twenty years, that seeing fog and rain together is not uncommon. However, tonight just feels different to him. It's as if he is driving into an impassible fog that blocks out even the sun. If it not for the fact that he is locked in bumper-to-bumper traffic, the lights from cars all around him would have easily fade away into the mist. Even the vermillion suspension bridge is fading away slowly from his vision.
It's like we are being swallowed whole by the fog.
Todd shivers with unease, and quickly tosses away his half-used cigarettes and closes the window up. Not really paying attention anymore to the sickeningly happy Christmas carols, his eyes darted to his phone. 39 minutes, and soon we'll be through this fog. I can get through Chrissy's lectures just fine as long as I make it back home with the goods. I can do this!
As if syncing with the world, Todd sees that the cars in front of him have started crawling faster despite the obstructive environment. Sighing in relief, he relaxed his brakes and put the car in Drive once more. Slowly but surely, he will complete his mission!
10... 20.. 40... yes, YES! Finally I'm going ho-
Before the thought even processed, flashes of red paint across his vision and the sound of screeching brakes pierce his ears. Todd feels the seatbelts dug into his chest while his neck snaps and head lurch forward straight into the steering wheel even as his hands instinctively intensified the grip and resisted the motion.
A split second later, he feels another jolt rock through his unprepared body as another heavy force rammed into his car from behind. The force shakes his body like a ragdoll as the safety measures of the car turn on, airbag deployed, and the seats shudder as they absorbed most of the shockwaves.
Before Todd can even utter a cry or take another breath, the sound of screeching tires and incoming beams of light flood his senses before one last resounding roar of metal and glass sent him into darkness.
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Todd does not know how long it takes for his brain to kick back into gear, nor expects to wake up at all. Dizziness, pain, nausea, ears ringing; nothing but chaos floods his brains.
Am I still alive?
Todd tries to move his lips, only to find that he has lost his voice. His eyes can still move, but his vision grasps only a world of black, white, and... red.
Ah, I'm bleeding. I need help...
As that thought lingers, seconds crawl by, and Todd slowly regains a bit more of his senses. Soon, as what could only be a procession of his raging heart roaring into his eardrums, Todd final register and understand the origin of searing pain.
So my arms and legs are still there. A tiny relief bloom from the darkness. From here, Todd struggles a desperately to free his body from whatever shackles him, and find out where the blood was coming from. For the first time in many years, the middle-aged blue-collar worker is truly pushing his limits to survive.
After all, I still have to return to my wife and kids. I MUST!
Much like a baby deer taking its first steps moments after birth, Todd crawls and claws at anything that would help him escape. His lungs burn as he struggles to breathe. Even as pain stabs his body and lightheadedness nauseates him, he never stopped.
I will survive this, as long as I keep going. I feel pain because I am still very much alive. I can do this! Throwing whatever weight he has, Todd finally frees his arms and tears the seat-belts off before his body collapses from total exhaustion.
Inhale, exhale, move, and repeat. Todd continues to loop the thought in his head. He has no luxury to think of anything else until he has escaped his car – now a potential coffin made of twisted metal. It did not take him very long to realize that most of the windshield has disappeared even as his fingers claw at the twisted metal all around him.
Even as crimson blood gushed from his fingertips as they tear at broken glass and metal for leverage, Todd struggles forward. As he reaches closer and closer toward his escape, a mixture of emotions swelled from inside him.
Almost there… another inch, more, more! Today's Christmas Eve… I can't die here, damn it! I need to get back home, no matter wha-
Todd stops dead in his tracks. Seconds ago he could not focus only on making it out of the car. He assumed that the ordeal would soon be over. Yet as he claws his way onto the twisted hood of his sandwiched car, Todd realizes that the world before him is no longer one he knows.
Darkness, rain, indistinguishable sounds except his own labored breath. He understood that he somehow survived a car crash, but to what extent he cannot fathom at all. What Todd can see, however, is that before his very eyes is something that looks like something out of a haunted house – a mangled lump of flesh with fragmented and torn clothes. The only difference is the reeking stench not even rain can take away.
"... No fuckin' way..." Blood, everywhere, on his hands, in front of his face.
Todd wants to deny it, but can only swallow hard as his brain tells him that right before him is undeniably something that once belongs to a living breathing human being. He has no idea which part of the body it belonged to, nor does he care at this point. All he wants to do at this point is to escape before his mind breaks or he vomits – whichever happens first.
Twisting like a fish out of water, with strength mustering from fear alone, Todd finally wrestles free of the mangled mess and lands unceremoniously onto the pavement.
The drop rattles his entire body with pain. Todd grits his teeth even as his eyes well up in tears. He wants to cry and scream, but the image of his family and the fear of ending up like that piece of human flesh force him back into silence. He does not want to accept the reality he is stuck in. Nor is he brave enough to get up to confirm what he has seen. He simply wants to recover enough strength so he can move and get out of where he is.
However, as much as Todd tries to calm down and focus, he cannot help but fear the darkness and rain. Two questions continue to loop inside his mind – What in the world happened? Can I make it out of this alive?
His eyes have finally adjusted to the surroundings, and he does not like what he sees at all:
The fog has dissipated to a degree, but the downpour is still merciless as ever. Lights from the bridge and cars pierce through the air, but the darkness he sees is nothing like the nights that humanity is used to. There is a primordial and unsettling feeling to the darkness that even the scattering lights cannot quell. In the distance, Todd vaguely makes out shapes and shadows, flitting through the rays of light and fire. Somewhere in the distance, thunder rumbles and voices scream.
Survivors!
Todd has no strength in his legs or his voice. But the very idea that there are survivors has brought to him something stronger than food, water, or medicine. He sees a tiny ray of hope from within the abyss.
Even though his legs cry out in pain, the unfit and exhausted man pushes his body back up. Even though his lungs burn and his throat is coarse and dry, Todd cries out two words.
"Help me!"
In the middle of the chilling monsoon and no help in sight, Todd hopes that his voice will reach someone – anyone – that can help him get back home. Nothing else matters.
Something shifts in the shattered beams of light. A shape approaches from the distance. Todd cannot identify the figure because the headlights show only an eclipse of it. He assumes it must be human, however, because the figure is tall, walking on two legs, and waving at him with his arms. Todd waves back at the figure, only to realize that something's not right.
His arms look broken. That head is too long to be a human's. That is not the way a human walks. Don't they usually reply back? More and more thoughts speed through Todd's consciousness, telling him that what is fast approaching him is not going to save him.
In fact, it is not even human.
Stepping over fallen debris with its clawed feet, what emerged from the shadows and fog is an existence that can only be found in science fiction movies and nightmares. At first glance, the creature looked like a giant lizard with a hunched back. Its body is thin, with scales that glistened with sickly green hue under the headlights of nearby vehicles.
However, nothing about the lizard resonated with Todd's recollection of dinosaurs and giant lizards. Countless long tendrils and spikes cover its grooved back like a massive porcupine. They waver between shadow and light, as if possessing a life of their own. Whatever they were used for, he discovered rather quickly as the creature strides before him.
Human body parts - arms, legs, even a few heads – are put on display against the monster's back. The tendrils and spikes are what keeps them attached. Some snake through their corpses as if "wearing" them, while the others wrap around the limbs and play with them as blood rainwater splash everywhere. Many more hold on to nothing, but merely writhe like snakes, as if excited that a new prey is found.
Todd feel sick, nauseated, and most of all, terrified. He wants to run; every instinctual part of him tells him that he will die if he does not. However, he is paralyzed as the monster's giant orange orbs gaze back at him. Easily the size of a Grizzly bear, it strides back and forth, as if studying its prey. Its "trophies" wriggle about its body in a sickening puppet show.
Todd lurches forward as he finally vomits from the disgusting sight. All strength in his legs dissipates as he falls back onto the ground covered in mud, water, and blood. All thoughts of surviving and his family vanish as his eyes meet with those of the monster. He thinks back of the bloodied lump he has seen earlier, and wonders with morbid curiosity just how many people the monster has devoured before him. He also wonders why the monster has not already ripped him to pieces.
Is it toying with me? Or maybe it's full? Hah, what the hell, what a funny thing to think about… haha, I am going to die here, aren't I?
As if answering Todd, the monster leveled its snake-like head inches away from Todd's nose, and smiled. He watches in horrifying fascination as the mouth cracks open into a lopsided grin, before splitting into a giant chasm large enough to swallow him whole. Gooey saliva drip everywhere as the cavernous mouth beckons him forward with rows upon rows of razor-sharp spikes and hooks.
That looks like it's going to hurt... a lot… That's unfair!
"At least make my death quicker, you fucker!" Unwittingly, Todd found strength in his voice. He does not know if it's his last act of defiance, or if he is becoming mad with insanity, unable to cope with despair and fear. There is no life flashing before his very eyes. There is no desperation or any fable act of willpower that would somehow overthrow his terrible fate. There is no image of his children or his irritating wife. There is only anger and rage at the fact that his life will end in such a terrible way, and he is powerless to do anything about it.
Nothing could prepare him for what happened next. One second ago he was frozen to the bones from the monsoon, surrounded by darkness, covered in his own vomit, and crying foul play at his grim reaper. Next second, his vision burns bright yellow and white, before a crackling sound tears through his eardrums, follow by a blast of hot wind and searing heat. The explosion knocks Todd backward and slams his back against the nearby debris. Pain, follow by total darkness.
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"... you... hear me...?"
A voice calls out in the distance.
"... Alive? Can you... me?" Louder and louder, one after another, the voice calls Todd from the fringe of the abyss.
Snapping his eyes open, gasping for air, Todd's lungs burn while a tidal wave of pain washes over his numb body. His fleeting conscious wonders if he has died, but the pain and what he sees and hears tell Todd otherwise.
"Ah, you can hear me. Good." Cradling Todd's head in her arms is a young lady with sleek black hair. Her pale face is covered in blood, ash, and dirt except for the tattoo of a flower that runs across her left eye and cheek. She looks drained and worn, yet her eyes are lit with spirit and her smile is warm.
Todd exhales with great relief. He tries to move his vocal cords to reply, yet no sound comes out other than muffled coughing and more discomfort.
"Ah, sorry, the impact earlier will leave you in this condition for a while longer. Don't worry, I'll have someone come over and check on you once we clear this area." She nods, and is about to stand back up when Todd, more to his own surprise, tugs against her arms.
Todd looks at the bright eyes of his savior, and asked, "I... I'm...alive?"
"More or less... Here, drink up." Without saying another word, the girl kneels back down and pushed a canteen against Todd's lips. A few minutes pass by as he drinks greedily from the canteen. The water, though cold, finally brings life back to his vocal cords.
"T..thank you. I... better."
"Good. Now be good and rest here. I've moved you to a safer location afterwards. My team should be here soon so that won't be an issue." With another brief, detached smile, she stands back up and adjusts her leather jacket and gloves.
"W-wait, this… Not a dream, right?" Inching his way up, caked in sweat, Todd asks the one question he must know the answer of.
"No, it's not a dream, unfortunately. Look, I know you're confused right now, and probably have a million questions, but we are NOT SAFE, not until my team rescue the rest of the survivors and we get you all off this rock." Throwing her hands up in defeat, the girl sat back down and gave him some more water. "Here, take it. Whatever happens out there, you must be quiet, understand?"
"...Your name, at least?" Though he nods in agreement, Todd feels he deserve to know at least that much.
"Rin... Now get some rest." Though her name passed through the cold air as if a passing breeze, the injured man can almost feel the immense gravity behind that single syllable.
Who- no, what are you? Those are his last thoughts before Todd collapses once more from exhaustion.
The girl walks out of the cargo box of a wrecked freighter truck and carefully shuts the steel doors, locking them tightly so that not even a fragment of artificial light can escape. Walking a fair distance away in the persistent deluge, she surveys the broken landscape and the ruin that the bridge has become. Taking out a flare gun, she points it straight up and pulls the trigger.
Like a shooting star, the flare trailed through the sky, its fragmented light and wisp trails glittering through the darkness before fading into nothingness.
Despite its brief existence, the girl believes that her team will see it and gather. Likewise, she expects nothing less from the Nightmare that has corroded into reality. After all, these creatures of the terrifying nightmares love nothing more than to consume all that is living. In fact, a distant roar echo through the cascading rain, and even in this downpour she can hear them.
"I bet they're hungry." Rin remarks to no one but herself. "It won't be long till the first wave arrives, and judging by the sound and bloodlust… Twenty seconds top."
As countdown begins, she stands with legs ajar and her body relaxed. Taking deep breaths, Rin closes her eyes and attunes her senses to the world around her. Focusing and sorting her senses, the girl cuts away all of the excessive noise that would normally overwhelm a person, and enters a state of serenity and balance. It is almost as time has slow down, and her mind is halcyon, save for a blooming flower of fire and light.
From her memories, the words that she once speaks with resentment, anger, and self-loath now flow out like water.
"In the name of the souls that do not dream, and the fools that wander for all eternity, I cast away authority over all that I cannot control, all in exchange for the power to change. I am Pride of the sinful man, and wield it proudly I shall, for the sake of what it means to be human!"
The air around the girl shivers in excitement; the raindrops that mercilessly plunge into her pale skin only seconds before evaporate into dust particles. The space mere inches around her has transformed into an aura of warmth, comfort, and pure determination. As her eyes opened, the last image she sees before pulling the trigger are rows of razor sharp teeth, glistening scales, putrid flesh, and crimson beady eyes filled with wanton destruction. Time's Up.
"Incandescent Howl!"
The words strike like the hammer of a gun and set off an explosion of heat, indescribable pressure, and flames that deny every attempt at touching her. The shockwave transforms night into day, and sends innumerable masses slamming into the upturned concrete and broken cars. Many fall as their bodies shatter on impact against the insurmountable force, yet many more still rise from the rubble. They are predators, and they eye hungrily even still at Rin, knowing naught of fear.
However, Rin too knows naught of fear. It has been a long journey, and she has finally returned home. She is no longer the conceited and ignorant fool she was two years ago. This time, she will make things right, and bring an end to the Endless Nightmare.
Silently, the girl takes the stance of a seasoned warrior. Bluish-white flames dance about her body, and her eyes shine with waking embers welcoming the dawn she cannot see. "Come."