Topic: A Stronger Grasp on Reality

TheMaskedMan

Date: 2012-05-04 14:11 EST
"Coming," said the man as he wound through the halls of his little home to approach the front door at the sound of the bell ringing. It rang again. "I said I'm coming!" exasperated, he reached down to twist the deadbolt and unlock the door, his hand curling around the knob to turn and pull to let in the cool breeze of the nighttime air as it flowed across his meticulous lawn. The door slammed open with considerable force and crashed against the adjacent wall, a shadowy figure of swirling limbs and grasping tendrils swept in with long and pale fingers extended from his wraith-like robe to curl around the man's throat.

Wide eyed and terrified, the man with his dark hair and tanned skin tried to wrench those lithe hands away, but his assailants fragile arms were tougher than they appeared and there was more strength in those digits than he could have anticipated. He felt his lungs begin to burn with the need for air and tried desperately to gulp down another breath as he stared into the mismatched eyes of the pale figure swathed in shadow that crushed the life from his body.

"Sleep," his voice was a whisper that seemed to echo across a vast distance, full of dread and cold that made the very air seem to chill. The tears that were beginning to stream down the dying man's face crystalized and froze against his cheeks. The lights guttered out and his eyes faded into the blank, glossy stare of death. His resistance ceased, his arms fell to his sides and his body thudded against the floor. The specter glided over the fallen man in a swirl of black smoke to invade those lifeless lungs and fill them with the breath of life again ? or undeath, as fate would have it.

The body rose from the floor and reached out to swing the door shut. The lock slid into place as he turned and went up the nearby stairs to his waiting wife and children.

TheMaskedMan

Date: 2012-05-04 21:48 EST
REPORT:

Officer: Detective Robert Devorston

Location of Incident: 28890 Gravston Lane

Description: Hilde family found murdered in family home at 28890 Gravston Lane; Luke Hilde (husband/father) found in bathroom, apparent signs of strangulation causing death; Serena Hilde (wife/mother) found in upstairs bedroom, suffered from seven stab wounds to the chest, apparent murder weapon resting on right hand nightstand; Charles and Amelia Hilde (son and daughter) found in shared bedroom across the hall, blunt force trauma to skull apparent cause of death, murder weapon missing. No apparent signs of forced entry, investigation remains inconclusive, no DNA samples discovered as of yet. Murderer thought to be still at large. Questioning of neighbors and relatives is underway.

Robert's home was small and dark. The only light was from a dim lamp to the left of a chair he sat in while nursing his scotch and skimming the letter in his other hand. He'd found it with an extravagantly colored feather lying next to Luke Hilde's body, though he failed to mention it in his report. His eyes were wide and his hands were shaking as he read the letter for the seventh time over.

Too long have we left you to fester and succumb to the corruption of your society. Rhy"Din is a plague ridden place that must be cleansed if you are to ever see a future without sin. We will kill each and every sinner in this gods forsaken city if we must and the demon spawn this city passes off for children will die with them. Too long have we hidden in the shadows and feigned death. We refuse to wait any longer.

The time is approaching when Rhy"Din will be forced to answer for its sins. We will be there to pass judgment, to deliver divine punishment and free all of existence from your vile taint. Rhy"Din, we are coming. We will not show mercy again. This is your last warning. Tell your watch to stop their foolish little hunt. We will not be caught. We are above any mortal power you think to use against us. Tonight it starts again.

The only chance you have now is to weep and beg forgiveness, to atone for your sins. We will not show you mercy, but the gods might.

We have been waiting.

We have been watching.

And now we will act.

Good evening, Rhy"Din, and good luck.

~ The Masked Man