Henry's face went pale. Flashing through his mind were alien images, a group of people walking through a dark hallway following a man masked in shadows. Henry's mind fractured, the pain was like nothing else his vision being split between memories he did not create. His mind slowly being consumed becoming a space for recreation.
A group of eight people walked through a dimly lit hallway led by a man drenched in shadows his steps silent. A small woman couldn't hold back and asked the shadowy man a question.
"Uhmm… where are we going?"
The seven followers turned facing the woman with a mix of shock and fear. The shadowy man stopped… murmuring,
"You will follow."
The man restarted his march, paying no mind to the fearful followers. A body, now taken by another began to whisper to the woman.
"Stay quiet, we don't know what he'll do."
The woman lowered her face, now filled with dread, mere minutes from when she would be put to rest eternally. The group made its way to a large open space rising up hundreds of floors.
"Do you know why you're here?"
The shadowy figure spit out the grimy question continuing to face away from the group. A young man barely 24 puffed his chest spewing out a response.
"Because you led us here!"
The young man seemed prideful with his confident reply. The shadowy figure slowly turned to face the group, his face veiled by a thick layer of smoke.
"What's your name."
The confident young man pushed his chest up for another reply.
"Asher!"
The group may not have been able to see the veiled face of their captor however they could feel his power, how dangerous he was. A smile crept along his face you couldn't see it, but you knew he was smiling.
"Asher if you could let one person here go who would it be?"
Asher felt as if he was owning the conversation, knowing that over the three older men, the younger teen, and the three women his choice was obvious. The young woman shorter than the rest shook with fear, Asher was going to be her white knight, her savior. He pointed at the young girl the only other who had spoken throughout their capture.
"Her let her go."
Asher kept a smirk on his face he had saved someone, his victory over this man would be quick and effortless. The shadow pointed at the women whose face had gone from relief to fear.
"I would like you to copy after me. Can you do that?"
The shadows voice was broken and strained. The girl shook her head yes quickly fearful of what would happen if she didn't.
"Good."
The group watched as the shadowy man lifted his right arm up moving is gloved fingers to the shape of a gun holding it towards his head. The young girl did the same slowly lifting her hand towards her head.
"Allow me to introduce myself."
The figure made a shooting motion towards his head, simultaneously the woman fell to the ground landing with a heavy thud the sound echoing throughout the room. She was now dead, the life gone from her eyes, her body frozen and her soul missing.
"I am Nero, and I am here to help."
A faint voice could be heard yelling from a distance.
"Henry-"
"Wake up!"
Henry's eyes opened his mind racing with what he had just gone through he looked around disoriented.
"Are you okay?"
Above Henry, Ryan was standing with a face of worry.
'What the fuck just happened.'
Henry's mind raced with several thoughts whose memories had he just seen, why did they follow the man, and who was Nero. Henry thought more and more before realizing… where was the person watching from above. Immediately Henry scanned above him trying to see any trace of the man looking down at them.
"Did you see him!"
Erratically Henry grabbed Ryan who was quite confused.
"What!?"
"Did you see him, the man above us, on the catwalk?"
Ryan looked up before looking at Henry.
"I didn't see anything, where is he?"
Ryan eyed the corners of the room keeping his hand steady near his pocket. Henry had finally stopped shaking clearing his mind to focus on the situation he was in.
'If the man is able to kill without a second thought we need to play it safe.'
"He was on the catwalk. Stay quiet he knows we're here."
Henry needed time to think but out of all the things he had one of them wasn't time. Fighting an Awakened especially one strong enough to kill without touching a person was a extreme challenge this was a trial if he was to survive he would have to find some way to kill the powerful Awakened.
'This is a trial… wait.'
Henry was an idiot he had forgotten that he was Veiled he wasn't just here at random he was given resources to help him survive. All Veiled are given two things to fight with, a Veil and Attributes.
Veil:[The Apprentice]
Veil Description: [You followed the teachings, listened to the masters and for what, to be told you were talented. To learn that you were good just not good enough to become the master. You are just a lowly student.]
'What the fuck, how is this supposed to help me I'm just an angsty student. What about my Attributes.'
Attributes: [Spectral], [From The Fog].
Attribute Description:
Spectral:
[Your mind is fractured your body seeps in the minds of those lost in the Veil are you losing your mind or are your memories not just your own.]
'That seems to be what caused the memories from before.'
From The Fog:
[You are deeply connected to the fog, a place long forgotten, it speaks to you, and calls your name.]
'Well that's just great coincidentally everything that was supposed to help me survive is fucking useless.'
Henry's mind switched back to Ryan who had been keeping an eye out for the man… for Nero. Henry tapped Ryan's shoulder.
"We need to get out of here, he's watching us somewhere."
Ryan focused on Henry with an upset face.
"I can't just get us out of here that's not how it works."
'What the fuck does he mean that's not how it works.'
"Elaborate please."
Henry started watching the corners of the room its marble floors reflected the blinding white light coming from above.
"I can't just move around at an instant we need to be in specific places ones that my body is used to… like my office."
'Great a teleporter who can't teleport.'
The Henry proclaimed useless teleporter, was on edge awakened have higher senses than others perhaps he was able to see something Henry couldn't…
"Listen if we ran out from here how long would it take to get us to others like more awakened or law enfor-."
A chill seeped into the room the atmosphere thickening the silence was deafening.
"What's your name."
An eerie mumble came from behind the duo, from the entrance the only way out.
"Listen, we don't want any trouble, you can keep being creepy and killing random groups of people, and we'll just walk away."
Henry attempted to stay prideful knowing fully that Nero could most likely kill him immediately.
"I already know your name… Atticus."