Grab the torch and step into the cold black. Descend the stones until the light of the outside world fades away, and there is nothing left but a flicker to guide the eyes. There is naught but fire below, shadows and smoke that swirl and slither wet and sickly. The click of heels on stone becomes an infinite echo to drown out all that once was.
The black water rises with the moon's pull. Swallow it down and lap the salty dregs at the bottom as they crunch and crackle between teeth. Drink up all that will soon be until the belly crusts with the damp chill of crackling power dreadful. Pull the cloak tighter with each step until stars hang darkly and the wind howls surreptitious instruction.
There are no thoughts beyond the imprints of the parts left behind, wanton as shed skin. There is no consequence, no hope but eternity, self-immolating and bland, lingering long past its welcome. Sacrifice time for the timelessness of a writhing body soaked in echoes and ringed in torchlight. Close the door and bare shoulders to the void of what once was.
Step into the cold black and face the mask before it gobbles up the stars and the salt, leaving nothing of substance or sustenance and empty spaces filled with flickering shadow. Breathe deeply of lingering thoughts stretched and flattened into pools reflecting paper stars and eyes that watch unblinking, unperturbed, unfettered.
The barbarous mask, pallid in the moon-dark gloom with wild eyes and gaping maw and teeth that gnash and mangle, lies at the end of the shadow path. Flickering light reveals what was known but will be forgotten when transformation takes hold. Put down the torch and don the ghastly mask to become what is and is not, a contradiction in calculated carelessness.
The cold reveals the flat circle of time.
The water reveals the facade obscura.
The beast within is you.
This piece is an homage to “The King in Yellow,” by Robert W. Chambers. I challenged myself to produce a short narrative in the second-person perspective without using the word “you” until the end.
Thanks for reading!
<3 Fal
This was very interesting. I'm not sure if it's because of a story I'm thinking of, but I am seeing a werewolf transformation lol. Even if that was not your intent, well done.