Prologue: A ritualist Awakening

Tsukiko doesn't know how long she's been here, whether that be due to the lack of sunlight, the concussion she likely has or a mixture of both, she's also unsure. Her eyes, or well eye now, had long since adapted to the dark. From what she could tell she was in a basement even though those are extremely uncommon here. At least it's something to give to the police if she ever does manage to escape. No, she would escape eventually, either alive or through death. She heard faint laughter from that voice she's been hearing since she first got that possible concussion. Maybe longer than that, it's a blur but it felt… familiar. Even when it's laughing at her misfortune it still brought her a small bit of comfort. For a bit she could pretend she was not alone chained up in a creep's basement. As far as she was aware she had never met the man before getting her head bashed by a crowbar and getting put in a trunk by him. He did not come much after chaining her to the wall. When he did, he would always ramble on about something to do with her blood and that while she might hate him now, she'd eventually be thankful. The concussion voice seemed to heavily disagree with him. She could not make out most words, but she could tell that its tone was mocking each time and for once it wasn't towards her for once.

Part of her hoped that the man would come today. He was her only source of food and water. He did not even allow her to ration the food he gave her when he came. It was like he got some sort of sick kick out of watching her in this near starvation state. She asked him about it before, but he just said it would be important that she be hungry for when she 'changed,' whatever that means. Speak of the devil and he shall appear, she thought as she heard footsteps descending the unseen stairs. She has already memorized what they sound like. The man that came into her view was her captor. He was an obvious foreigner with shaggy brown hair, paper pale skin and weird eyes that she's never seen anything like before. They were almost orange at the top but yellow towards the bottom, possibly a form of heterochromia. They almost looked like a sunset. It's definitely a distinctive feature she could use when giving a description. "Don't fight this. The more you resist it the worse it'll be for you during the ritual." She didn't see any food on him this time, only duct tape and a black suitcase. Tsukiko's eye widened as she tried to drag herself away, however her weakened body refused to cooperate with her.

The voice also seemed to be panicking. She had a feeling if she did not escape now, that this would be her end. She did not even want to know what kind of ritual he would attempt to her. Is she a human sacrifice? Is this what he wanted her to be starved for? Her attempts to panickily drag herself away don't result in much use as he just grabs her and pulls her back towards him. "I told you not to be difficult. I didn't want to do things this way but you're not giving me much of a choice, kid. I'm just trying to give you the gift you were denied." Tsukiko tried to pull away from the man, but it does nothing to loosen his grip. She had no idea what he was talking about. Probably just delusional rambling or lies to try to make getting rid of her easier. Her foster family didn't care much for her, and she has never had much in terms of friends but at the very least someone has probably noticed she's missing. Maybe that's what this is. Maybe they're closing in on him and he's trying to get rid of her and the evidence. She could only hope that's the case. If it is then maybe she can get someone's attention and get some help. She was still resisting the man, as her thoughts got interrupted when he pulled a syringe from the black bag. "You're the one forcing me to do this. You'll understand it had to be done once the ritual is over." The brown-haired man said. Tsukiko struggled and tried to squirm away from his hold but found the needle was soon in her neck. It was too late.

She slowly stopped struggling, not out of choice but because she could no longer feel her limbs. The world felt fuzzy. Every sensation so far from her that she could barely understand what was happening as her body was placed into the black bag and she was taken into the car. Her eyes closed and she couldn't reopen them as she fell unconscious. She funnily enough found herself dreaming during this time. She can't remember the last time she had a dream. Normally she just eventually closes her eyes and opens them to find its morning. Sleep never came easy. However, that didn't matter as in this dream she found herself in the broom closet that was thrown together into a room for her at her foster home. Across from her sat a figure that looked a bit like but made of static with red glowing balls for eyes and an equally red glowing grin. It didn't feel like something her mind made. She doesn't know how she knows but her instincts wouldn't stop screaming at her. "Ever the interesting human, Tsukiko. You know most people would be trying to run from an invader in their mind." Tsukiko recognized the voice but couldn't place it. The sound of it grated on her ears though. The words were mixed in with what sounded like old broken TV static. "What would be the point? If you have already made it this far into my mind and haven't tried to harm me yet, then I don't think you are. Also, I'm likely going to die soon anyway if he gets me wherever he's taking me. So even if you like hijack my body or something it wouldn't change much. I'd just get body snatched instead of murdered and sacrificed. By the way, what are you? You look like how people describe sleep paralysis demons." The thing's face doesn't change but the static in the air makes her feel like she has said something wrong. More static fills the air as it talks again sounding annoyed. "Don't compare me to one of those cowards. I don't know what I am. I just popped into existence one day you were the first thing I saw so I attached myself to you."

"And you're still attached, why?" Tsukiko asks confused why they would stay with her especially with her current situation. She would think anyone would have jumped ship by now. "It's not that easy to get unattached. Besides if I did that, I wouldn't get to watch more of my favorite disaster human! Humans are such boring creatures. It's all morals this and laws that and, you guys don't even stick to them half the time. It doesn't make sense. At least be consistent. Like the way those people are so nice to the other kids, but they stick you in a broom closet for a room and yap about how terrible you are to anyone who'd listen. Including the other kids." Tsukiko couldn't help but wonder how this thing knew so much about her life. "And you know about this, how?" There was no change in its demeanor, but Tsukiko could almost feel it rolling its eyes at her. "Keep up Dumbass. I'm attached to you. I was there for it."

"So, what I'm hearing is that you've just been sitting back and watching me suffer." Tsukiko asks wondering if she could have gotten help instead of spending so much time in that hell hole. Maybe if there was someone to back up her story of both her foster home and the stalker, which had now kidnapped her, before than it would have been taken seriously, and she wouldn't be unconscious in a bag right now. That would be nice. The room in this dream really was a recreation of her room back at that house. It's been so long since she's seen it. "There wasn't much I could do. The only reason we can even have this conversation is because of how drugged up you are and how close to death you are, has put you within my reach. That being said you had started to hear my voice a bit before due to that concussion." Tsukiko was surprised there wasn't much the static being could do.

Her eye looks over to the static being sitting across from her. "So, you're also stuck." The static being nodded. "Unfortunately. For some reason watching this situation isn't as fun. Do me a favor and don't let this be the end of my favorite show, stupid human." The static being says with a slight tone of what for a moment almost seemed like care. That was impossible though. No one cared about her. It seems the static creature heard her thoughts and replied to them. "All the more reason to care for yourself if no one else will do it." For some reason, that felt genuine but that's something for her to think about later when she isn't in a drug-induced sleep, dreaming of talking to a talking pile of static. "Speaking of… I don't know your name." Tsukiko says realizing she never asked.

"I never really thought of having a name before but let's go with… Eris. That sounds right and is rather fitting don't you think?" The now named being said in her static filled voice seeming to like the name she gave herself. Tsukiko recognized the name from a book she read in the school library while trying to avoid going home. "Isn't Eris the name of the Greek goddess of discord?" She could swear Eris was smirking now even if her face hadn't physically changed. "It is. That's what makes it so perfect."

"Of course. It is fitting. However now I wonder how I'm going to get out of this situation. Are you able to tell when I'm going to wake up?" Tsukiko asks trying to think of a way to get out of her situation. She also questioned if she would still be able to see and hear Eris when she woke up or if it'd go back to just being a distant voice. "Probably right about…" Eris pauses for a moment before continuing. "Now." Tsukiko doesn't even get to reply as not even a moment after Eris says that she finds herself awake. Groggy, sore, and slow but awake, nonetheless. It was completely dark, and she could feel something on her mouth keeping it shut as well as something tying her wrists and ankles together. It was likely the duct tape she saw earlier. She was probably in the bag now. She could feel that she was moving. Too fast for it to be a person carrying her. It's more likely that she's in the trunk of a car.

She lifted her bound hands as she tried to find the zipper. If she could find it, she could at least get herself out of the bag. Maybe she could get the trunk open or find herself a weapon to be able to fight back with once her captor opened the trunk. If she can't escape, she could at least fight and have the element of surprise. Eventually after feeling around the bag, she feels the metal of the zipper. If she follows that she should be able to find the zip and pull it down. She could hear Eris again but couldn't make out the words again. At least now she knows she probably isn't going insane.

Her shaky, clumsy hands eventually find it. It's more difficult to pull down than it would be if she were on the outside but that's not a surprise. She does it though and takes her first breath of fresh air. Well as fresh as air could be in the trunk of a car. She didn't care about that right now though. She crawls out of the bag still feeling her body sluggish. She feels around as she tries to find a weapon. It's completely dark in the trunk. Not a single bit of light was coming in. Though with how shaky and disorientated she felt it was a miracle she got out of the bag in the first place. Light would probably not do much to help her.

Her hands failed to feel anything besides the bag she was in. Maybe her kidnapper knew this would happen and had prepared? Still, she wasn't out of hope yet. She just needed to wait for the drugs to work their way out of her system. She'd be able to think more clearly and move better. She is weakened, but if she manages to stun him, there may still be a way to escape. She'll be able to escape. She didn't get to think further about that though as the car stopped. She backed herself as far back as she could in the limited space of the trunk to make herself harder to reach and grabbed the bag. She sat in wait for the trunk to be opened.

After what feels like an eternity the trunk opens, and she's almost blinded by the sudden light. She's always been extra sensitive to light. She does her best to push past that and forces her body to jump at the man in front of her, bag still in hand. She puts the bag over the man's face and tries to use her weight to keep him there. She could almost hear the sound of cheers from Eris until something unexpected happens. The man effortlessly pulls her off of him and rips the tape from her mouth. "You aren't getting away from me. I don't care how much you fight you will be receiving the gift I have for you, and you will be grateful." The tape on her ankles keeps her from running even though she's not being held now.

"Like Hell!" Tsukiko yelled as she tried to wiggle her way away from him. She didn't want to die like this. Sure, there were times when life didn't seem worth living but this isn't the end she wants. She was still in high school. She hasn't gotten to escape that hell hole. She hasn't gotten to try to find information on her biological family. She hasn't gotten to ask why she was abandoned. She hasn't gotten to learn about Eris yet. This couldn't be the end. When he grabs her again, she kicks and tries to hit him but nothing she does even phases him. "God, I hope when Bailey gets to your age, she's nothing like you." The brown-haired man says as she realized she's somewhere she's never been before. It was part of a city but completely empty. All the building looked like they would fall apart if you breathed on them too hard.

He pulls something out from behind his back. Tsukiko couldn't see it until it was pressed against her neck. It's cold metal blade against her skin making her freeze. The dagger was strange. She hadn't seen anything like it before. Above the handle imbedded in the blade was a vial full of yellow liquid. "This will hurt but when it's done, you'll be reborn as something far stronger. We need to get this done before sunrise or this will all be for nothing." Tsukiko tried in vain to kick and push her way out of his hold, however her opponent was far too strong for her. She was dragged into the building and felt any hope of escape in her die.

"Just remember it's the world around us that is evil. I'm just giving you the power fight against it." The man says as the slow and agonizing process begins. Tsukiko had thought she'd known pain before but all of that didn't hold a candle to this. The blade dug its way into the flesh of her chest. It punctured her heart and with the push of a button that yellow liquid was pumped directly into her heart. As it got pumped to the rest of her body it felt like her veins were burning. That was only the beginning. Her body felt like it was changing with every breath that was starting to get shallower and shallower. As the man pulled the blade out, he didn't make it any easier. He twisted the blade, so the broad side was facing up and pushed up forcing it to come out long ways and cause an even bigger wound. There was no way her heart would recover from this. She was going to die, and she knew it. She wanted to cry but refused to. She refused to give that man the satisfaction of seeing her cry. She didn't cry on Mother and Father's Day. She didn't cry when her bullies tried to bleach her hair but missed and got her eye, she didn't cry when her foster parents beat her for getting in trouble at school, and she wouldn't cry now. She can't die knowing he, of all people, got that from her.

Her body slowly went limp as with every heartbeat lead to another splatter of blood leaving her body. Anyone could see her heart speeding up as each splatter of blood is let out closer and closer together. One of the last things she sees is Eris. Someone left a mirror in this building. She could see Eris in it. Her last realization is that the glass started to crack as Eris's static made fist bangs against it. Then everything goes black, and she hears the sound of glass shattering.