The city didn't truly rest.
It just… drained.
Kael Thorn hunched on the edge of a housetop, in case you may still call it that — most of it was disintegrating, and he might feel bits of concrete move beneath his boots. Underneath, Ancient Avalon extended out like broken teeth, spiked and dull. Neon spread the sky — that debilitated green blended with bruised purple — and its gleam flashed within the sleek puddles way down on the road.
Somewhere underneath, Seekers were out. He seemed to listen to their voices — uproarious, giggling like they didn't have a care in the world. Their armor caught the neon and made them see like divine beings or something.
And over all of it…
The Doors.
Scars within the night. Rugged, revolting things beating with that cold, hungry light that continuously made his skin slither. The most up-to-date one was as close — three roads over, possibly less. He might still see the dark fog sobbing from it.
As well, damn near.
Kael's stomach turned. He hadn't eaten. Not truly. He'd come out trusting to rummage, discover something — a coil of copper, possibly, or, if he got fortunate, some food that wasn't too far gone.
And after that, the entryway opened.
He felt it, just like the world shuddered. The discussion itself vibrated. The hair on his neck stood up. He should've run.
But starvation makes you do doltish things.
And presently? The door didn't sit there. It pulled at him. Like it needed him.
There was a flash within the fog.
Kael solidified.
Something ventured through.
Tall. All off-base points. Knife-edges. Appendages are long as well. A bone cover for a confront. Eyes like pale fire.
Gate-beast.
No. Not today evening time.
He turned. His foot hit free rubble.
He fell.
Tumbled down the side of the building. His skin tore on rusted metal. He hit the concrete hard enough to see stars.
The thing turned toward him.
It listened.
Kael attempted to move. His intellect shouted at him — move, move presently — but his body wouldn't.
The mammoth came closer.
His hand brushed against something within the earth.
A pendant.
Cold. But somehow or another, warm, as well. Dark metal, with a rune carved into it that gleamed swoon violet within the murkiness.
He got it. Didn't think. Fair acted.
And the rune blew open.
Torment — fire, ice, everything at once. He shouted.
But underneath it…
Clarity.
The world snapped sharply.
The mammoth jumped.
Kael rolled. His fingers found a rusted pipe. He needs to get on his feet, in some way or another.
The pendant lit him up. The rune on his palm beat with his pulse.
The thing wavered.
Kael raised the pipe. His arms shook, but he didn't back down.
"I do not need to kick the bucket."
The door cracked over. Lights glinted over the city.
And some place within the dull behind that Gate…
Something observed him.
Something that knew that check on his skin.
Today evening, Kael Thorn— the boy with nothing — claimed to begin with a rune.
The Doors would never disregard him once more.
End of Chapter 1.