Strange Island and Strange People

(Jason's POV)

As I landed on the side of the island, on a rocky coast, I was able to tell that the atmosphere was crazy distorted. Even if the distortion wasn't on the island itself, the ethernano was warped on it. 

"Felicity." I said

"Yes?" She responded

"What's the Ethernano level?" I asked

"Fluctuating, sir. I can not get a proper reading on it." She replied, "It is strange." 

"Strange it is..." I said as the ship was fully docked, "Interesting...is there a town or something nearby?" 

"Yes. About 4 miles into the mainland." She said, "I had scanned and picked up a decent population. It'll take a while to get an accurate number." 

"It's fine." I said, "I'm getting off. Guard the ship, you have authority to use any force necessary." 

"Understood." She replied, "I suggest you take a transponder chip, sir." 

I saw a compartment open to my side and saw a small metallic badge that had a small speaker on it. 

"Okay." I said taking it, "I'll use it." 

"Call for me if you need assistance." She said

I nodded, "Of course." I said as I flicked a switch

I was then transported outside the ship and onto the ground. I noticed that the air was a bit heavier than usual. 

"Hm..." I said placing the badge on my shirt, "Peculiar...." 

I was taking some deep breaths, trying to get a gauge for what the deal was with the air. 

"Air levels are larger than usual, sir." Felicity spoke through the speaker on the badge, "But not a problem for you." 

I nodded, "Indeed." I said, "Alright, I'll make my way to the town." 

I then started walking towards a treeline. 

*****************************************************

I had reached a small town, the buildings were made out of brick and concrete, which was unusual. I assume this island had trade towns somewhere around. I couldn't tell with all the mist around it. 

"Hm.." I said, "Don't see anyone..." 

Suddenly, I saw as a man ran out of one of the buildings, clutching his head. 

"Ahhhhh!!!" He yelled

I was taken aback by the sudden appearance of the guy, bracing myself and readying a stance. But I saw that he had collapsed to his knees several feet in front of me. 

"What the..." I said

The guy was bald and had several scars on his cranium, "The Gods....!!!" He yelled, "The Gods speak to me!!! O, Great Blazing Black One!!! O, Heavenly Wheel One!!! Save us from this tarnation!!!" 

He was crying; his tears flowing out of his crazed eyes and down his cheeks. 

"Did he say..." I started before I heard a woman screech

I jerked my head to the right to see a woman wearing a robe was also clutching her head as she screamed.

"They come!!!" She yelled, "They come!! Judgement upon us!! The Blazing Black One's raging inferno will descend upon us!!" 

What the hell? What in the hell are they spewing? 

I then watched as several people started wandering into the streets as they were stumbling, and mumbling to themselves. Only the man and the woman were screaming loudly. 

I took a step forward, "Oi." I said

I saw a young woman looking down as she clutched her shoulders, crying, "O, Great Ones, please spare us..." she mumbled, "Heavenly Wheel One, spare us from your darkness....."

I saw as a young boy was also stumbling about, "The eyes.....the eyes...." he said as he walked past me, "Grant us eyes....." 

"Eyes..." I said, "What the...." 

"Do not open the door..." I turned to see an elderly man as he crawled on the ground, "The Door.....the door will open....calamity will spew out...." 

This was completely unsettling, I didn't know what to say at all about these people. It seemed like something had driven them crazy or something. 

Something was definitely up with this island.

"The Calamity...." I heard a man say, "The edge that cut forth.....The Beast....he will return..." 

"Pay them no mind." I heard a voice say

I turned to see an old man sitting on a chair, he was holding a cane as he wore sunglasses. He had long grey hair and a beard. His hands were shaking slightly as his legs twitched. 

I looked at him, "Old man." I said, "You look like you got your senses..." 

He scoffed, "Barely." He said, "I can barely keep my hands still." 

I looked around, "What happened to these people?" I asked him

"A Man." He said, "A man happened, son..." 

I looked at him with a confused look, "Huh?" 

Before he said anything, I heard a young woman's voice. 

"Allan!" I turned to see a woman walking up to us through the crowd

She has dark eyes and long, wavy hair, with a side braid and prominently up-curled strand on the right side of her head. She wore a navy blue button-down coat with shoulder pads. I recognized her.

She was Karameel, the Water Dragon God's assistant. What was she doing here?

Karameel walked up to me, "Who're you?" She asked, "Are you here to harm these people???" 

I shook my head, "No." I said, "I came to investigate what happened here." 

She frowned, "What do you care?" 

I looked at her, "Well." I said

"No matter!" She said, "If you're here to help, come with me." 

She grabbed my hand and pulled me alongside her as she began to walk. 

"What the hell?" I said, "Where're you taking me?" 

"We have work to do." She simply said

****************************************************

"How did I end up like this....?" I said as I was sitting down 

On my lap, a little girl was laughing and playing with a doll. She was looking up at me with bright eyes and a smile. 

"Shut up." Karameel said 

I looked in front of me and saw that she was bandaging up the girl's mother's arm. She had hurt herself in the middle of the usual ramblings. 

It's been a few days since I landed on the island and been helping out Karameel. Without thinking, I said yes and decided to help out in any way I could. I didn't know what overcame me at the moment. 

I came to learn the routine of this town's people. 

Every day around the same time in the afternoon, they are struck with madness, for an hour. They usually walk around, rambling several things. At usual times, they're docile. Some have their senses when it's outside the hour of madness. Others don't, they're simply blank. So a few who weren't afflicted with the madness volunteered to help out. 

It's been tough. I have bathed and changed so many people. I was mostly aiding Karameel since her partner ended up getting hurt by a man's rampaging rambling. His face was completely shredded. 

I'm telling you that I don't know why I am doing this. 

Karameel looked at me as she sat down on a chair, "I forgot that I didn't finish explaining how this came to be..." she said

I frowned, "Tell me about it.." I said, "These past days have been rough, you bossing me around." 

She chuckled, "I must thank you for that." She said, "You look like you're in need of a reward. I can sure use it." 

I raised an eyebrow, "You don't mean..." 

She nodded as she smiled, "But before that.." She said as she looked at me, "About what happened..." 

I nodded, "Yea..." I said

"I wasn't here but this is what happened; About a month or two ago, a man arrived at the island." She said, "And wielding a powerful artifact....." 

"He reduced the Island to this..."