The lights erupted to life and the crowd roared with anticipation for this promised to be a show they'd never forget. A tall man in a top hat and tails appeared in a puff of smoke, his wide grin beaming in the dancing lights as his lovely assistant joined him. Tonight was the night they'd witnessed true magic.

In a rather grim looking forest, a little off the beaten path, stood a somewhat rundown little house. Its deep black tiles were sliding off and half the windows were cracked, but it mattered not as the occupant wasn't interested in lavish styles. All he needed was a working roof to keep the elements off him and his experiments - and being left to his own devices, it does not do well to disturb a scientist at work.

Solace was why Wilson had come to this place, away from gossip mongers and the judgemental stares of his former colleges. He knew well how they'd whisper about madness and dark secrets of questionable experiments. He'd scoff at the notion he wasn't mad they were too dull of mind to understand his workings - he was ahead of his time, a revolutionary in his field. The experiments though.. well sometimes for higher knowledge, and the betterment of humanity, you had to wade through the filth.

Hunched over a desk scribbling diagrams and equations Wilson muttered probable reactions and results to himself before sitting back, folding his arms with a thoughtful look. Tapping his foot to the rhythm of his rapid musings, he brought a hand to his chin as he spoke his new hypotenuse aloud as if to a non-existent assistant.

"Substituting the chlorine for fluoride should make the process less.. explosive, yes I think it might work."

With a glint of determination flashing through his eyes Wilson jumped to his feet and scurried to his lab equipment. He quickly assembled the primary mixture and eagerly grasped at the fluoride. 'This time it'll work' he thought as a hopeful look spread across his face then.. Boom! As the mixture violently exploded engulfing the room in obnoxiously thick smoke, with a cough a chest fallen Wilson slunk away contemplating the disappointing results.

"I was sure it wouldn't have been so reactive.. what was wrong this time.."

With a heavy sigh he fell into the comforting embrace of the cushions, it was becoming too much of a routine an experiment would fail and he'd mull in the darkness for hours on end. Though he was a scientist and knew he'd failed this time each miscalculation provided new information leading him one step closer to his goal. However failure is still a failure and its repetition cut away at his patience and resolve. It hadn't always been this way when he was younger he remembered looking to the stars with wonder, marvelling at the paradox of life endlessly complex but with a simplistic sophistication. The universe just demanded to be known, understood and revered as it called to those with unbridled passion for discovery at its finest.

"Hnmm.. the road to enlightenment has many pitfalls, I've just had my fair share."

Suddenly the sound of static broke through his melancholy, as he spun with a start to the source of the noise.

'Say pal..'

It was his old radio, the intermittent static spluttered on as it struggled to maintain the signal. His brow half rising in puzzlement he didn't remember turning it on as its light finally flickered on and it resumed its broadcast.

'..looks like you're having some trouble!'

An uneasy feeling settled over him it seemed like the radio was addressing him directly, but that was impossible. He moved closer picking up the radio his eyes narrowing to a frown as he examined it closely. It had to be some kind of elaborate prank, the alternative didn't bear thinking about, but who'd go to this trouble.

'I have secret knowledge I can share with you, if you think you're ready for it?'

Secret knowledge. Surprise and desire overtook his skepticism, nothing more could make him happier then to finally realise his dream of understanding and recognition. Words failed him as he tired to reply just nodding with an ecstatic grin but the speaker seemed to get the message.

'Ok then.'

Then something truly unexpected happened, more so then his radio suddenly speaking to him, knowledge seemed to just pour into his head. The rush of dioramas on alien creatures, molecular structures, unheard of equations, concepts and elements made him dizzy. Closing his eyes he held the radio above as if greedily trying to get every last drop of information. Then all too soon the flood ended, opening his eyes it was almost as if he was looking at the world for the first time. It all just made sense he couldn't believe he'd never understood these fundamental properties, always around him just out of reach. With a giddy smile plastered across his pale features he ran to his desk, scrapping up several sheets of paper he furiously committed the knowledge to paper. He just had to see it physically, the world had to see it.

Hours past.. no it was closer to two days, during that time he had refused to leave his desk or stop writing. Becoming incensed when he ran out of paper refusing to stop he'd started writing on the walls, the table, any surface available even if he had to scratch the symbols into the timbers. His body ached and begged for nourishment as he stepped back and with heavily lidded eyes admired his handy work, his magnum opus. To be fair it was impressive though the move from paper to wood looked closer to the act of escapee from bedlam then a refined gentlemen.

Looking closer at the scribblings and notes he realised while separately they explained much of the world, as a whole they made the blueprints of something greater. A most wondrous machine, that'd change everything.

The following morning Wilson set to work on the contraption so clearly burned onto his mind it seemed criminal not to see its capabilities. For the next few weeks he worked tirelessly on the apparatus and its many strange components, he was like a man possessed even sacrificing his own blood for it. On and on this went as his neglected body thinned and his mind became disquiet, until the day he finished his painful labour and brought the machine into the world. His body quivered with exhaustion and excitement as he admired his creation. As he reached for the lever to awaken it for the first time did a worrying thought break through the mental barrier that had blocked all needs and notions that would have slowed him down. Only now as the psychogenic wall fell away did he realise he didn't even know what it did. This entire time he'd slaved over this machine he hadn't once questioned why, for what purpose did it serve. The thought of such blind obedience to a flurry of images in his mind and maddening scratches on the walls frightened him.

'Excellent.'

The radio behind him whirred to life once more as the speaker returned. Just who was this mysterious man why had he been so keen to give someone like him this overwhelming knowledge. With a nervous curiosity Wilson's hand hovered over the lever, as the radio sparked with excitement his hand hesitated and stalled.

'DO IT!'

With a jump Wilson pulled the lever, bringing the machine to life. Cogs began to churn, steam hiss and the middle section rose higher, its towering form capturing the shivering man in its formidable shadow. Immediately he could tell his was not going to end well, as he looked into the newly formed metallic face that stared at him with villainous joy. Gulping in fear he stepped back as the radio began to fill the room with malicious laughter, before he could flee shadowed hands burst from the ground. They twisted around his frame and yanked him down with tremendous force, not to the floor but into the floor. Too terrified to even make a sound Wilson was dragged into the maw of the shadows and he knew no more.

In a distant meadow the early morning rays pierced through the rolling mist and twinkled in the dew laden grass, before coming upon Wilson's unconscious form. As the light shone across his face he moved his hand to obscure the offending glare. 'Its so bright.. wait.. am I outside?' He moved his other hand, gripping onto the long grass beneath confirmed his suspicions. 'My head.. I can't remember what happened.. Whatever I took, never again.'

'Say pal, you don't look so good.'

'That voice it seems familiar.' Then like a train it hit him, the radio! This was the voice that'd guided him to make that mechanical monstrosity.. it had really happened. Sitting bolt right up Wilson turned to the stranger, he was lanky in stature, with slicked back hair and wore a tuxedo - he looked more ready for a stage then the backwoods.

"You're the one would spoke through my radio, who are you?"

The mans features seemed to sharpen with pride at the recognition, even though he seemed more occupied with is nails then the confused man before him. After a moment he looked up, not at Wilson but past him with a bored expression.

"You better find something to eat before night comes."

With that he vanished into a flurry of smoke, leaving a startled Wilson to contemplate his situation.

As much as he loathed the idea of following instruction from this man again - the pang of hunger urged him to comply. Moving further into the forest picking berries, wonderfully sweet to the taste, as he went, he wondered about this strange place he'd found himself. Had he been teleported or maybe, just maybe, this was another plane in the multiverse, after his unorthodox mode of transport anything seemed possible - if not probable. If indeed this was another dimension or universe the prospects for discovery were immense, this place could use different factors for evolution, even properties of physics. Slightly overexcited he picked up a small stone and threw it up into the air, it arced and fell to the ground with a loud thud. Well gravity, with a laymen test, seemed the same. Oh how he wished for his equipment for precise readings to compare when he got home.

Home.. how was he going to get home he only vaguely understood how he'd arrived, which was strange as before it was so clear. 'I'm sure it'll come back to me, I just need to clear my head.' Continuing on he tried to relax is wary mind with peaceful trivialities of the woodlands, the way the tall pines grazed the sky, how the sunbeams flowed through the heavy mist that obscured the sky. However he quickly found himself speculating over differences in this world and how he'd measure and test them, it was just in his nature. He continued on in this fashion until the air grew cold as the sun began to set.

"The days are a lot shorter here, must be a faster rotation. I better get a fire going before nightfall."

Gathering some wood and dry grass he setup a hasty campfire, it was simple but did the job as night blanketed the land. It was then that Wilson was faced with a rather peculiar aspect of this world - despite a clear crescent moon in the sky, outside of his campsite, there was nothing but pure darkness. Standing at the edge of the light it was impossible to see beyond the meter radius, he stuck out a makeshift torch. It lit only a small area immediately around the flame and nothing more. Curiously he reached out his hand to the gloom and surely enough it disappeared into the nothingness.

"Amazing, I've never seen anything like it." He gasped in astonishment, then something grabbed hold - something strong.

It hurled him into the darkness, dropping his torch and crashing into the dirt Wilson lay for a moment dazed. Until whatever 'it' was moved again, its thunderous footsteps shaking the ground, its presence seemed everywhere. In desperation Wilson dashed back to the ring of light, he wasn't sure how he knew but something told him light was his only safety. The creature in the dark wasn't ready for its prey to escape - something sharp ensnared his leg, fangs, talons? It hardly mattered whatever it was their efficiently at shredding flesh was evident as they sunk into his leg.

He screamed in agony, tears of pain and fear rolling down his face. The atmosphere began to change, the oppressive force of the creatures presence softened as it let him go. With uneven, terrified breaths he dragged himself across the ground, he didn't know why the thing had released him but he wasn't passing up this chance. 'I have to get back, hurry!' He tried to pull himself to his feet, but his injured leg gave under him slamming him into the ground again. Nearly choking on the ground and muck his heart jumped and drummed against his chest as he heard the creature again, this time it wasn't hammering footfalls it was like laughter. The sound chilled his blood it was everything laughter shouldn't be, only describable as a cacophony of ill tuned wails brimming with blood lust and psychotic mirth. It was enjoying his torment, just playing with him like a cat plays with a mouse.

Hulling himself towards the light he could feel the monster rear up for the final blow, no this was not how it was going to end he still had so much left to do. With a harrowing protest from his injuries he scrambled to his feet and lunged for the torch. Feeling the reassuring warmth of the fire he spun thrusting in towards where the monster had been... nothing. He held there for a long minute, his erratic breaths the only sound, before wearily backing into the campfires protection. Still fixated on the looming darkness, that hungrily pushed against the wall of light, Wilson tried to ease his oxygen thirsty body into normal breaths.

"Ah, looks like you've met Charlie."

With a yelp Wilson turned to see the stranger from earlier sitting on a large rock by the campfire, catching his breath he just about managed to splutter a poorly composed response.

"Cha-Charlie, that thing has a name!?"

"Come now, I would have thought you'd show more decorum towards the poor girl, she's been through the mills."

The scientists original shock was washed away by a cool contempt at this mockery. Disgust filled him as he looked upon the lunatic that'd brought him to this world of beasts.

"My apologies if I don't seem accommodating." Sarcasm edged the words as he gingerly inspected the wound to his leg. For all the pain it wasn't deep as long as it didn't become infected he should be fine, the pain however was going to make travel and work worryingly difficult. With a stiff limp Wilson settled on the ground beside the fire - he just wanted to stay as close as humanly possible. Looking back to the stranger he continued pointedly. "Humph, you insult my manners with your cavalier attitude, running off after I asked your name."

Bemusement lit the strangers face, it must have been an age since someone had the nerve to speak to him as an equal.

"Very well, allow me to introduce myself." He stood and gave a ludicrous bow. "I am Maxwell, king of this realm and all that dwell within are my playthings. I do hope you put up a good show."

With a sneer Maxwell once again melted away into a foul smog, leaving Wilson alone with his troubled thoughts. He tried to drown them out with rational thinking but to another it was clearly just desperation. 'It doesn't matter if I am in a parallel universe theres nothing to say that man as any real power here. There must be countless fools with delusions of grandeur in the multiverse.' Although try as he might he couldn't shake the feeling this truly was just a cruel game for wicked creatures to watch lost souls die amongst the mud and ruin.

The new dawn couldn't come soon enough, its merciful rays providing tentative respite form the horrors of the void. After Maxwell took his leave the gloom had seemed to come alive with sounds unseen predators and their shrieking prey. Wilson cupped his brow with one hand to protect his tired eyes as the other gripped a crude spear, the best he could fashion from the simple materials at hand. Having not slept he had tried to use his time constructively, it was the fearsome snarls in the woods that lead him to crafting the make-shift weapon.

Using the spear as a rudimentary walking stick, to alleviate pressure on his injury, he noted the available resources in the area, it was worryingly low. There was little food or fresh water nor any true shelter from the terrors of the night particularly in his weakened state. Collecting the scant food stock he couldn't help but revisit the scene of last nights attack. A small amount of congealing blood marked the place, surrounded by the frantic clawing of his escape. Looking closer at the chaotic scene were imprints that appeared humanoid that weren't his own. Regardless of all the improbable circumstances he found himself in, he just couldn't picture the bestial thing that'd thrown him through the air and ripped into his leg could be anything vaguely human.

Stepping back he noticed other tracks, large wolf-like tracks covering the area. Judging by their size and depth they seemed to belong to a heavy set creature maybe twice the size of a normal wolf. There was something else, peering closer Wilson found fleshy scraps of a unidentifiable animal torn to pieces and trodden into the ground. A shiver went down his spine as he saw they'd been circling just outside the ring of light, the faster he left the better.

The trek was gruelling despite the aid of the 'walking stick', his leg throbbed and began to feel disturbingly warm. His body ached to stop and his vision wavered but the memory of those savage looking tracks entwined with fervid imaginings of hulking muscles and snarling teeth pushed him on. Stopping only when the sun fled the world, each night he'd huddle next to the fire clutching his spear and anxiously waiting for the sun to rise. The only sleep he obtained was when he passed out from exhaustion.

Several days trailed on as he continued the endless trudge, surviving on only the bare minimum to keep moving. A fevered sweat ran down his face adding to his blurred vision. His heart beat against his rib cage making the rasping breaths wracking his body all the more difficult, he knew all too well he was reaching his limit. 'Not yet, just a bit longer.' He pleaded with his weakening self, he was still to find a steady supply of water without that, more so in his condition, he wouldn't last long.

It hadn't rained once since he'd arrived in this world, but there were plenty of delicate plants so water had to be somewhere. With a sigh he cast a shadowed eye to the unchanging sky, the rays of sunlight breaking up the mists that lazily swirled among the tops of trees. Maybe they collected water directly from the haze, if that were true he'd have either gather water from the tree or climb it - unlikely in his shape. Without warning his crippled leg gave underneath him, the dry earth cracking beneath him as fell to his knees. With a hallow inhale he forced himself up, knuckles turning white around the spear. But for all the will in the world he couldn't stop his vision narrowing as ringing filled his ears.. it became harder to think. He just about felt the splinters, as the spear snapped under the strain, burrowed into his hands, before they slipped away and ground rushed to meet him.

"Say pal, you're not getting away that easily."