Prologue

I've been having these weird dreams lately...

I'm falling. But... I'm floating? Is this water? I can breathe...

Like, is any of this for real?

I open my eyes as my feet touch ground. Have I reached the bottom?

Or not?

White birds fly out from under my feet, revealing a stained glass painting of a girl in a yellow dress eating an apple. There's nothing other than that. Just... Darkness.

I hear a voice. It's telling me how to move. How to function.

I know how to do this, why is it telling me?

A shining sword... A magical wand... Or a strong sheild...

I have to pick one? That's simple.

I reach for the shield.

The voice asks if I'm certain. Of course I am.

I give up the sword. Violence is all it brings. Ruin. I can't be a part of that.

The ground shakes beneath me and the glass breaks.

Falling into darkness...

I land on another stained glass. It's blue and has a huge clock on it.

What's that noise? It sounds like humming wheels. I turn quickly and see... what is that?

"EXTERMINATE!" it shouts in a metallic voice. The sheild is in my hands and I block the beam of light it shoots at me, and reflect it back to him and he dissipates into green orbs.

I walk up to one and inspect it. As I reach for it, it absorbs into my skin, and I feel better. Healthier.

Is that a path?

I climb the pathway. The new stained glass platform is brighter. It's yellow.

My shadow grows longer... then bigger... and... What is happening?

The shadow is massive, and still reflecting a darker version of myself. I've never seen anything like it.

I try to run, but as I reach the edge I realize I'd fall into nothing.

I turn just as the giant shadow is reaching for me. I take my shield and push against it's hold. The shadow retreats, ever so slightly.

I continue pushing at it, as it tries to send more darkness towards me, but I've pushed it almost over the edge. And then -

It's falling. But not off the stained glass.

It's falling towards me.

I try to run, but there's nowhere to go.

Darkness is swallowing me.

The voice is telling me to not be afraid.

Further into the darkness...

"You are the one who will open the door."