Chosen to Survive (ONC2024)

Chapter 12

Jess's POV

The air in the dimly lit chamber feels thick with the Master's anger—a tangible, pulsing presence that fills every corner with dark energy. His eyes, black as pitch, fixate on me, his voice a low growl of command and malice. "Oakley has escaped. Find him... and the others. End them."

A thrill rushes through me at his words, a sinister joy that quickens my pulse. I nod eagerly, my lips curling into a smile. "Of course, Master. They won't get far," I assure him, my voice dripping with a venomous delight.

As the Master turns, his cloak swirling around him like a dark cloud, he issues one final command before stepping into the shadows, his form blending with the darkness until he's gone. "Do not fail me, Jess. This ends tonight."

Alone now, I revel in the anticipation of the hunt. The memories of my past actions, especially the night I took Zoe's life, flood back. The fear in her eyes, the pleading—those final moments had been exhilarating. I ripped her throut out and watched as she chocked on her blood. The power I felt was intoxicating, and I long to experience that rush again.

I leave the chamber, moving through the decrepit halls of our stronghold with purpose. My steps are silent, practiced, as I consider where they might hide. Lily, Zack, Vanessa—they think they can outsmart us, save Oakley and disrupt our plans. The naivety would be amusing if it weren't so irritating.

As I prepare for the night's work, I arm myself with more than just weapons; I carry the certainty of the Master's will, the unshakeable belief in our cause. The town under his rule isn't just a place of darkness; it's a monument to a new order, one I help uphold.

In the quiet before I depart, I think of Oakley, the traitor who thinks he can escape his fate. And Lily, who always believed there was good in me, even as I died. Their hope is misplaced, their efforts futile. They will understand that soon enough.

My excitement builds as I step out into the cool night air. The town lies quiet under the oppressive rule of the Master, the streets empty, the silence a canvas waiting for the strokes of my dark deeds.

First, I'll find Oakley. The betrayal of his escape burns brightly in my mind, fueling my determination. He'll be with the others, I'm certain. They're predictable, bound by their foolish camaraderie and misguided heroics.

I move through the shadows with ease, each step bringing me closer to them. I can almost hear their whispers, see the fear in their eyes as they realize I've found them. The chase, the hunt—it's exhilarating.

As I track them, my mind races with plans of how I'll confront them. Will I strike quickly, savoring their shock and despair? Or will I draw it out, relishing their fear as they realize there's no escape?

The possibilities dance through my mind like flames, each scenario more satisfying than the last. They took everything from me, turned me into this creature of the night. But I've embraced my new nature, and tonight, I'll show them just how complete my transformation is.

I pause, sensing movement ahead. My lips twist into a smile. Found you, I think, my heart pounding with the thrill of the imminent kill. This is what I was made for. This is where I belong: in the hunt, in the horror, in the sweet, imminent victory.

The darkness my ally, the night my domain. They can run, they can hide, but they can't escape what's coming. For Oakley, for all of them, the end is near. And it will be beautiful.

The Master's POV

In the quiet aftermath of Jess's departure, I sit alone in the cavernous throne room of my darkened stronghold. The ancient stones of Crestwood echo with the hollow sounds of an encroaching night. My mind races, not just with plans for the town's final fall, but for the world that lies beyond. The scope of my vision expands each moment, each breath, as I envisage a dominion not just of this small place, but of the entire earth.

The shadows lengthen around me, sentient and listening, as if awaiting my commands to ripple across the globe. "It's not enough to hold one town," I murmur to the darkness, my voice a low rumble that vibrates against the stone. "Not when there is an entire world ripe for the taking."

I rise from my throne, my form more shadow than substance, and pace before the massive, dust-covered windows that once showcased Crestwood's innocuous streets. Now, they frame a realm of despair, a prelude to what I will create everywhere.

"First, we solidify our hold here, crush any remaining resistance," I say, thinking aloud. The thought of Oakley and his pitiful band of would-be saviors brings a smirk to my lips. They think they can disrupt my ascendancy, but they merely provide a diversion from the tedium of conquest.

I step towards a large, sprawling map laid out across a table. It's covered with markers and notes, detailing positions, strengths, and potential resistances. "From here, we spread out," I continue, tracing a route with my finger that stretches beyond the town, beyond the borders of the state, and further. "We will need more like Jess. More... enforcers. The night is filled with lost souls ripe for our cause."

The plan is vast, a tapestry of darkness to be woven into the fabric of the world. I think of the chaos, the sweet descent of society into the anarchy from which I will rebuild it in my image. "Europe, Asia, Africa... all will eventually kneel," I whisper, each word a promise to the night.

The door to the throne room creaks, and a minion—a once-man now barely more than a shadow—enters, bowing low. "Master, what is your will?" he asks, his voice trembling with fear.

I turn to him, my eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. "Gather the others. It's time to expand our recruitment. We will need armies."

"Yes, my lord," he stammers, and hurries away, eager to escape my presence.

Left alone, I contemplate the future. Each city falling into darkness like dominoes, each government crumbling under the weight of their own greed and fear, all replaced by the order of shadows. The world as it should be. As it will be.

But first, I must deal with the immediate irritation. Oakley, Lily, Zack, and that new ally, Vanessa. They must be crushed decisively. "Jess will handle it, or she will fall with them," I muse, the prospect neither worrying nor particularly exciting. Necessary. Just another step on the path to greater glory.

I return to my throne, the heart of my power, the seat from which I will direct the transformation of the world. Around me, the air thickens with the power of unspoken spells, the walls themselves seeming to pulse with anticipation. The horror of what is to come is a horror only to those who oppose me. To me, it is the beauty of a new order, a new era, rising from the ashes of the old.

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