We have made pretty good progress in the last few days. Today was different, as we entered a section of the complex that was different from the others. Just looking back into what we are now walking in, it was darker, and the walls were in much more disarray. All I can hear is the flickering lights above and distant echoes of pipes being used somewhere.

Everyone in the group started to take a much more serious tone. Ryder would lean over to Varrick. He would whisper to him about something. After they were done, Ryder would gesture to DU and me to keep going forward. DU would pat me on the shoulder and smile. With my gun in hand, we move forward.

I lie to myself saying that everything is fine but every movement feels heavier and heavier. It was as if something was watching me. Somewhat missing the conversations we were having before. Like DU saying what she wanted to do after she had enough money which was to build an orphanage. Then there is Ryder doing a funny walk and telling really bad jokes. Varrick has softened a bit around me but he was still himself. But everything cannot stay the same.

Looking around I noticed that one of the rooms had a television that was on and the screen was flickering static as if eyes were looking at me. DU noticed my gaze and quickly shut the door, the sound breaking the uneasy silence. Showing signs of relief but newfound readiness by holding her sword tighter.

“If there’s static here, we’re in trouble.” Her tightened grip on her sword could convey unease.

Varrick rubs his face and then taps the container that holds Emberly. "It doesn't matter, we need to keep going this is the shortest route."

"Yeah, do need to get to our randevu. Let's move out."

I just don't have a good feeling about this and looks faces of others don't relieve me of this doubt. I don't know what this static thing is. Standing here will do us no good either so we start the walk again.

As time passed we were still on edge and occasionally dust falling from the ceiling didn't help along with oddly placed but broken TVs in the halls. Hearing the whispers of the others, it sounded like going to be a few hours in this place still. The nerves of this place are slowly getting to me as I am wishing those hours would speed up now. We will pass a double doorway like any other.

The moment we passed it there was a static noise then the doors slammed which made me almost jump out of my skin. DU and Ryder would go over to check out the door. It doesn't look like going to open anytime soon.

As my heart calms down, is this going to keep happening for the next few hours or are we going end up fighting something here? The book is starting to come back at this moment. Is this what she meant by needing it but what is that empty book good for?

Ryder will take point and we start moving again. Now I just feel over paranoid as if something will pop out of nowhere. Any room we pass can be a trap just waiting for us. I know my inexperience just means I am the weakest link in this group.

As we make more progress, at a turn just a sign of dread comes on to Ryder's face. He signals that this is a no-go and tells us to go back. Going the other path back the dust fell from the ceiling like normally but this time it came with a crack and something fell from the ceiling. The moment I noticed that it was tv like before with the static I was grabbed by DU to move back to the path we abandoned. As I looked back, it was like some sort of being with a void-like form was coming out of the screen.

In a whisper "Don't touch them, and never meet their eyes." DU held me still as we made a turn around the corner.

All I can see is a hallway full of mannequins. As we make our way to them, Ryder and DU start to crouch so I do the same. Why did Ryder want to skip this is all I am thinking about now. I can feel my heart start to pound.

We started to slip by the mannequins which was not so bad. But look more at the floor, is that blood or something else? The smell of the mannequins was that of rotting meat. It almost made me want to throw up but I held in it.

"You know something Varrick?"

"What?" Varrick will give Rick a look.

"You know, I haven’t seen a single short mannequin. Guess that means you’re safe, huh, short stuff?"

"Oh, shut up."

"Yeah, keep the noise down you both." DU will snap back at them both.

The others were ahead of me but I could see that we were almost through. At that moment I felt a hand on my shoulder and I turned to look at it.

"Help Me" whispered the voice of the mannequin.

I turned, dread pooling in my chest, to meet the mannequin’s face—its blood tears staining my thoughts with terror. All the mannequins around me start rattling as the one grips me tighter. I tried to shake it off but it was not working. I started to hit its hand but it stood firm.

In an instant, I was looking at the ceiling with DU above me. With grace DU wielded the blade swinging against the mannequins but looks like it was doing nothing. Without skipping a beat, she picks me up and starts running pushing all the mannequins out of our way.

After we broke out of the group of mannequins they were now staring at us now.

"Get moving this going to become a kill zone if you wait," DU commands the group as she puts me down.

I get up and look at the group of mannequins, which are the ones that DU cut before they started to fall to pieces. Dashing over to Ryder we make our way out of this hallway.

Varrick groans "We have the static to deal with and now this, how worst can this get."

"Come on, we have been through worst. The drinks will be on me if we make it out of this one." Ryder will smirk.

"That is what you said the last time."

The hallway gets dimmer and dimmer as we get farther to the end. In the end, it had two directions, one was blocked by furniture past the door frame but the other was full of more mannequins. Unlike earlier, they are all starting at us. Ryder starts to shoot at them as Varrick joins him.

I look down at my gun. Am I ready for this world? I am the one holding them back right? I shake the feeling. I grip my gun and follow their lead. Start firing at the mannequins in front of us. There were so many of them. Reloading my gun I took a few steps back. Refocusing my aim, I hear a static noise and the door slams closed throwing me into the furniture. Then the darkness sits in.

I felt so groggy as I came back. The door pushed me into this place looking worn and windows broken. I guess the group left me at least they tried. Double-checking my gun and picking it up, I look at the furniture that now blocks my path. I tried opening the door but like before it does not open.

I have to climb this, what a pain. Moving the furniture, I can feel things shifting under me. After making it mostly out I slip and fall out pile of furniture landing on my face.

I pick myself up once again dusting myself off. Now there is just a hallway with windows lined up on one side and rooms on the other. I don't have any other options. I walk forward down the hallways I look into the rooms of the doors are open.

I don't know how long I have been going down this hallway. I would think there would be a turn-off somewhere or something. Stopping to take my breath. Looking at my gun, I need to get back to the group or find my new path in this world.

Breaking the silence the static sound goes off. I turn to look into the apartment room next to me to see the light shining from a different room. Leaning over to close the door there is no door to this apartment room. The room fills with bright light before it goes back to normal. Now the room filled with confused goblins armed with different weapons. Without hesitation, I open fire at them taking a few of them down. One pilled a ping of something which soon exploded as he was the first one I shot. The blast knocks me back.

Get up I run down the hall. The sinking feeling overcomes me as I see more goblins down the hall. I steady my aim once more. A burst of light came from right throwing me out of the window of this large apartment complex.

Not again is all I am thinking. I am not sure if it was because I didn't amount to anything or if it was just that I was going to die the same way. My fate is pretty cruel as God's wanted it. The first part of the fall was graceful then turned into a mess as I felt like I hit everything to my newfound grave.

The only good thing is I landed on boxes making the last part bearable. Up above where I fell there is no other worldly being. I grip my chest tight as the beat of my chest only thing I can feel other than blood painting most of my clothing at this point.

"Some paths only need to be walked once." this sentence with her voice comes back to mind again. I only can agree with her. I don't want to walk down this same path gain.

Reaching for the book in my bag, I see a skeleton of some sort of humanoid. Its head is more of a beast or something but that doesn't matter.

The book feels heavy as always and warm to the touch. Now what, as I stare at the book. "Can you give me a hint or something?"

Nothing just silence, what did I expect? Just how life has always been. I keep trying but see what I got me. Not once but twice. The book slips and falls to my chest. I just need to rest. Yeah rest, something with come to me soon. As I fade back into the darkness once more.

Awaken to lights shined into my eyes. I slowly left myself in a sitting position trying to figure out what it was. Yeah, my luck. I see a band of goblins walking my way. The smell of gunpowder and blood travels all the way to here. Holding the book to my chest I get up and try to escape for a final time.

The sounds of goblins can be heard, followed up with a single gunshot. My strength leaves me as my legs give out. Crashing into the skeleton from before now I cannot get up. I have nothing left but the regret that I always hold tightly.

Laughing rings in my ears as the goblins advance towards me. Their steps were counted down to my end. I felt a warmth on my chest as if something was pushing me to change. The book is the source of the warm but is the book something more? My legs shook, and the pain of my hurt would not go away but this is not how it going to end. Rising my book I point the book at them as I draw my knife.

The book ignites in flames, its heat glowing like a burning forge. The flames creep up my hand, but there is no pain—only a cleansing warmth, remaking me. It felt familiar, like warmth along with a tad bit of sadness. I make a faint smile as I look at the book. Yeah, just never give up even if it is near the end.

The goblins are frozen in place as their eyes widen as bright light shines next to me. From the light emerges a figure that is tall, fierce, and radiating aura of power. She stands in front of me, and I can see her pale fur, her tail flicked with an almost playful menace and purple eyes.

"I guess you are my lord now. I will take it from here." she grins as she reaches over and takes my knife. "You can rest now, I take care of these guys."

I collapsed, my strength spent, but feel better than I felt in a long time. I see a new person cutting down the goblins. Maybe this is the first time things will change.