CHAPTER 1 — Where I Awoke
There's something in the center of my chest.
Something I can't explain.
What is it? I don't know. Where did I come from?
Was I even alive before this?
I can't remember... not even that.
This feeling in my chest — it makes no sense.
Everything looks... bright. Too bright.
Is this the place I'm in right now?
Or have I been here before?
I can't tell. Maybe something created me…
But why?
I look around.
There's an object nearby with a strange, definite shape.
I can see behind it, through it. I seem to be peering out from it.
A massive orb of light illuminates everything outside.
But I can't recognize any of the objects around me.
The smell is horrible.
Is that what's causing this feeling in my chest?
Or is it something else?
I can't stop coughing. Over and over again.
This place is damp. Even that giant light source isn't enough to brighten the whole room.
I hear creaking from the floor.
Voices. Someone's shouting.
Are they… asking for help?
I guess I have to check.
Whoever that man is — he's yelling at the top of his lungs.
And the way he walks... it's like the ground shakes with each step.
I feel like I have to leave this room and check.
There's nothing else I can do anyway.
I don't know where I am.
Not now, not before.
I have to explore.
I don't even know what the things I'm seeing are.
That black, decayed thing… what was it?
BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!
What the hell?! Is that coming from the object?
Or am I… going insane?
"Open the damn door, idiot! What the hell are you doing in there? It's been ten days! You said you'd stay for one! Pay up and get out!"
Door?
Maybe that strange object is what they call a door.
"I don't know what kind of crap you're up to, but it stinks back there. Open this door, or I'll break it down!"
"What? Wait... okay, I'll open it. But how does it open?"
"Are you mocking me?!"
(The door breaks open.)
"Pay your damn rent and get lost! And what the hell is that smell?! What did you do in here?!"
Honestly... I have no idea where the smell is coming from.
And I have no money.
What am I supposed to say?
"I don't have m—"
"Kill him."
"What?!"
"What do you mean 'what'?! You messing with me?!"
"Skin him alive. Step on his flesh."
"Who's speaking?!"
"Alright, that's it. If you don't pay up..."
(He pulls out a knife.)
"…this won't end well for you."
"Wait—please, calm down! Look, I don't have the money. Let me pay you later. Please."
"You bastard! If you're broke, why the hell are you staying here?!"
(He grabs me by the ear and presses the knife to my skin.)
Suddenly...
A wave of rage erupted from my chest, drowning my thoughts.
No...
This isn't me.
This isn't me!
He — it — began attacking.
And I...
I couldn't stop him.
My hands lunged at the man's eyes, fingers plunging deep.
I crushed them in my palms.
But I wasn't the one doing it.
A demon had awakened in my chest.
That rage...
That feeling…
It wasn't mine.
It was his.
The man screamed.
He was about to cry from the pain.
But he couldn't.
From eyes that had only ever shed tears — now came blood.
Thick, mucus-like blood.
His screams echoed through the building.
It didn't last long.
With one sudden movement, I snatched the knife from his hand and drove it into his throat, up into his brain.
Silence.
This was my...
My first time killing someone...
I was clumsy.
My grip slipped. I cut my own hand in the process.
What have I done?
I just wanted to knock him out.
To escape.
I never thought it would go this far...
The room was soaked in blood.
It sprayed from his neck like a fountain.
Endless.
And now...
That horrible stench was joined by the iron tang of blood.
What do I do with the body?
I rushed down to the main floor of the building — the kitchen.
There were boxes, crates, and large containers.
I filled the containers with water and hauled them upstairs with the crates.
I began cutting the limbs into pieces and placing them into the containers.
Then, I brought them back to the kitchen and placed them in the freezer.
My hands trembled.
Water sloshed onto the floor.
Drops of blood… everywhere.
While waiting for the water to freeze, I curled up in a corner of the kitchen.
I didn't even understand what I'd done.
Did I do it unwillingly?
But I couldn't afford to get caught either.
My mind slowly began returning to me.
I could finally recognize objects.
I understood what they were and what to do with them.
I devised a flawless hiding plan.
Except for one thing I didn't plan for —
a soul...
a presence...
a being...
"You enjoyed it, didn't you? But you're good at hiding it. You're a natural."
"What? What are you? Why did you make me do this?"
"Me? You're the one who popped his eyes. Now you want to blame me?"
"You… you infected my thoughts! You made me angry! Who are you?!"
"..."
"Answer me!"
"..."
That voice inside me…
It wouldn't respond.
I didn't care anymore.
I tried to stand —
but my legs shook violently.
I could barely stay upright.
Evening began to fall.
I spent hours talking to myself — like a madman.
The air was growing colder with every passing minute.
I was staring out through that strange, clear thing…
The sky was darkening.
Then I saw someone.
Carrying a gas lantern.
He looked sharp — neatly dressed, a shiny badge on his chest, and a revolver at his waist.
A sheriff.
The moment he turned his head slightly, I ducked out of sight.
Fear overtook me.
And I passed out right there.
"What the hell? That giant ball of light is burning my eyes.
Is it morning already?
Did I fall asleep?"
I stepped outside.
Despite the brightness, the air was cold.
I decided to look around.
That's when I saw it — an endless sea stretching beyond the horizon.
I needed to head toward town.
But first… I had to clean myself.
I reeked.
Like rotting meat.
I searched the lodge for somewhere to wash.
Found the bathroom.
I took off my clothes.
I was just about to get in the tub —
but then I noticed something horrifying.
"What the hell is this?
Why is there a hole in the center of my chest?!"
I placed my fingers into the wound.
They fit.
It was perfectly round —
as if carved with precision.
And it was scorched inside.
The blood had clotted into black scabs, and the foul stench filling the room...
this was the source.
This… was the pain I'd felt from the beginning.
My hands and legs began to tremble.
Panic returned.
Still shaking, I stepped into the bath.
Slowly, I started to clean myself.
I didn't want to put those bloody clothes back on.
So I searched the lodge for something else to wear.
I found a dark, mossy green outfit.
Thicker fabric — good enough for the cold.
I wrapped a brown leather vest around myself.
Then slipped on a pair of old, black burlap trousers.
Found some worn boots, tied them tight.
To hide my wounds, I put on leather gloves.
And finally, I placed a feathered hat with gold detailing on my head.
That's how my journey began.
I needed to scout the surroundings.Find out what's out there.
Blend in.
My ears stung from the cold wind.
While wandering the streets, I realized I'd made it to the heart of the city.
It was crowded.
Markets, fishermen, bars everywhere…
I could see the sheriff's office from here.
I had to get rid of that man's remains — before I got caught.
Maybe… I should dump them into the sea?
No. That would draw too much attention.
The sea here is calm — no currents — crates might float back to the surface.
And this place? It's a sailor's town.
Fishermen probably dive to the seafloor.
Even if I used metal to weigh them down, they'd still find them eventually.
At least the weather is cold.
If I store them in ice, maybe the smell will stay hidden a little longer.
Whatever. I'll head back to the lodge first.
Once there, I carefully placed the body parts into crates.
One by one, under the cover of night, I spread the crates across the city — unseen.
As I did, I began to understand the city better.
It was massive.
Hunters everywhere — most of them lived off the land.
I saw some docking galleons, unloading cargo.
Others survived by trading, hauling, fishing...
But me?
I needed money. Urgently.
Especially after what happened yesterday.
I had to find a job. Fast.