[hr][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/C4njhfP.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/pzvcW5L.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/f4XE2MO.png[/img][/center] [b][code]Grand Ridge Academy.[/code][/b] [hr] Time rolled back in as quickly as it disappeared. The group was hauling ass, and while unfortunate, Charlie's death was a sufficient distraction for most of the Wendigos. The others were still trying to figure out where the hell they went and how in the hell they disappeared. Kimberly had nary a clue as to where they would retreat to, only that they were going to retreat. Worst of all, they had to carry both Jordan... part of her thought it'd be easier just to leave her. After all, the situation is dire enough... but Kimberly wasn't about to let anyone else die. They ran out the back door of the academy frantically and were out on the streets of Farmer Hill. Kimberly's heart sank when she heard the shout, "I found them!" One Wendigo shouted. "Surround them!" And that was what they did, the group was worn out and couldn't run any faster and the Wendigoes surrounded them in the streets. Covering every exit they had, forming a near-perfect circle around them in merely a few seconds - it felt like. The group had no choice but to hunker down. "You're fucked now!" One of the Wendigos shouted. "TIME TO FEAST!" They all began to charge, converge on their prey... before they all felt a very dark presence. [i]Nothingness.[/i] They looked around, going from ravenous hunger to pure fear. Before they looked in the distance and saw a black fog closing in. "Is that...?" One said. "It is!" "Run!" That was when every single Wendigo cleared the area fast as they could, using every exit they had. Many of them climbed on top of the buildings and jumped from roof to roof until they were all gone. They were obscured by the snowstorm and Zoey wiped some sweat away. "Don't get comfy just yet...." Jordan hissed. "Yeah, you know why the little fish flee...?" Kimberly trailed off as she stood up tall and strong. "... Because there's a shark." The being that was stalking them was not a literal shark. However, a being quickly erupted from the black smoke. A being that made Jordan tense up in fear. A giant black wolf with glowing red eyes ran down the street towards them, leaving behind a fading after image as it charged them at speeds they couldn't hope to outrun. It leaps up into the air and landed not too far away from the group and stood tall and menacing, the size of an elephant. Jordan was shivering in fear as she took steps back, her heart was going so fast that it felt like it was about to stop. The beast stood there staring at them blankly, it was surrounded by a black fog that seemed to form skulls that disappeared after a few moments. It was none other than the Hound, the beast that tormented Jordan in her dreams. "Hello," The Hound said as it lied down, with his head up at full attention. Whenever it spoke its mouth did not seem to move. "Do not be alarmed, I come in peace." "GO AWAY!" Jordan screamed at the top of her lungs out of pure fear, not wanting to play party to a single one of this... apparition's lies. A wave of white light erupted from her being that froze time instantly... "... That's not going to work against me," Merely to demonstrate, the Hound stood straight up. "I am a being with powers above abstractions... and thus I am impervious to them." However, Zoey wasn't letting her guard down for a second. Her arms were coated in electricity the whole time as she said, "Why don't I get a good feeling from you?" "As I am the Agent of Death," The Hound started, "As a living being, you are aversed to my existence. However, it is not you who should be afraid." The Hound turned his attention to the group and only two people seemed to stick out. "Jordan Nichols, and Madeline Levine, in Shimmer's darkest hour," The Hound started. "It is time for me to collect. And I am not leaving without one of you." "What... who are you?" Kimberly said. "What do you want from them??" "The Child never informed you, did they?" The Hound inquired as he walked around the group. "I know they informed you on how the universe functions and what gives you that spark of life... but did they tell you that you have to give it back?" Kimberly shook her head. "The light gives you life, you live and collect all of these experiences, then you die and return it to the God force... and when you do, your memories are added to it and that is how the Godforce grows and it will be how the Child will rebuild the multiverse if this all blows over...." The Hound looked up at the sky as if it was staring up at the Godforce, before he continued, "However, everyone has a clock that determines the time and day they finally die... it isn't exactly perfect I'd say." He looked at the group and suddenly an hourglass made out of white light appeared inside of them. Strangely enough, they did not have any sand inside of them. "With the appearance of the Glutton, it has thrown the whole system out of balance and thus... there are people who live when they are meant to die. Alternatively, in the case of Jordan Nichols, they die when someone else is meant to live." Jordan gulped. "Now that you know this, I will make you an offer," The Hound said, "The Glutton is a disruption to the beautiful cycle of life and death. A balance I promised to maintain, no matter the cost. It is in my best interests to destroy that abomination... however, I have been created with a purpose... a design I cannot go outside of, unfortunately..." The Hound stopped circling the group and then faced them. "... If you give me Madeline Levine and Jordan Nichols, I will assist you in destroying the Glutton. And Jordan Nichols knows what I told her would happen if she were to give herself up." Jordan was terrified... but at the same time, she was considering it. Madison Brown was her greatest regret, and she loved the girl with all of her heart. Was she that selfish to stop her from living her life in exchange for her own? She [i]killed[/i] her after all. However, Jordan knew better than to trust the Hound.