The stink of it filled my nose, my mouth, god I could taste it. Face pressed up against the cold steel of the locker, and rotting bloody waste under me, it was all I could do to not vomit. A cramped metal coffin filled with filth.

I heard them, behind me, outside, laughing as they walked away, Madison, Sophia, and Emma. Madison, Sophia, Emma. Madison, Sophia, Emma. MadisonSophiaEmma. An endless chant pulsing through my brain… pain following it close behind. I must have hit my head hard when they pushed me in here.

Shifting, trying to get my hands up in front of me, maybe I can push my way out. The locks on these things can't be that strong, I think to myself as I start pushing.
My head leaves the cool surface of the locker, then, warmth? Why warmth, and wet… blood? I feel it against my forehead, sharp, a screw. Blood runs down my face, managing to reach my hand up, I feel it... Torn skin, the screw is long, my forehead against the cool metal wall...

"Help! Someone, please! Let me out!" I cry, as best I can, gagging, forcing my words around the miasma surrounding me.
What little light there was in here with me was growing dim. My vision starting to tunnel.

I feel sick, I feel dizzy. I feel…

…cold stone under my feet. Cold stone under my feet and a breeze caressing my skin, a breeze carrying the smell of copper.

I open my eyes. I wish I hadn't.

In front of me is a vast lake of crimson, the source of that coppery smell, thick and churning, topped with pink foam capped waves, but as fresh and clear as if it had just been spilled.
I look around, taking in the high black rock walls and the pale blue sky beyond, grey –green clouds floating past a dull and shining sun. The shore is rimmed with obsidian coloured sand turning into mud where the waves hit and it is there where I walk when the voice says, "COME".

I walk to the shore, the waves of blood coating my feet and drop to my knees and I don't know why I do this.

Then I see it.

It's wings, and I say It because it can only be an It not a He or a She, It's wings appear first from the blood, one shattered and pulled close to Its body , the other standing tall pointing into the eldritch sky. Its long white hair streaked with blood, black bandages covering its eyes and robe white and stained red open to the waist.

"COME TO ME CHILD" It says, though its words aren't English I can understand them in my mind, "COME AND KNEEL BEFORE ME". Moving on my hands and knees, sitting on my heels before It, It's voice echoing in my head.
"YOUR END IS BEFORE YOU, AND HAVE BUT ONE BREATH LEFT BEFORE YOU PASS. IS THIS WHAT YOU WISH CHILD?"

"No… I don't want to die in there…"

"THEN TAKE YOUR FINAL BREATH AND LIVE FOR EVER. SELL YOUR NAME TO THE NEVERBORN, GIVE UP YOUR MORTAL DESTINY AND SERVE US. ONLY THEN WILL YOU HAVE YOUR JUSTICE AGAINST THOSE WHO HAVE WRONGED YOU, TAYLOR HEBERT."

"How do you know me?" my voice cracks, empty and weak.

"I HAVE WATCHED FOR ONES LIKE YOU, ONES WHO ARE WRONGED AND WISH TO RIGHT THOSE WRONGS. IS THIS YOU?"

"Yes, I want to help people, I want to bring justice to people like that!", I look down and see images of Madison, Sophia and Emma in the now still lake of blood, and I watch every single thing they've done to me play back over and over. I watch them try to kill me. I watch no one care. I watch my life not matter one bit. And I wonder why should theirs?

"THEN TAKE UP OUR CAUSE AND BREATH! SWEAR YOURSELF TO ME AND MINE LORDS! AND BRING OBLIVION TO ALL WHO DESERVE IT."

"Yes."

It places one hand on my head and it feels like I'm going to split in two. A horrible, disturbing, meaningless glossolalia fills the air and I feel wells of power open in me.

What have I done?

My forehead burns and things I should not know fill my mind. Blood runs down my face and I feel my body strengthen and everything feels light and beneath me.

"ARISE MY SERVENT, MY DAUGHTER OF BITTER PAIN. GO FORTH AND SHARE OUR GREAT WORKS WITH THE WORLD!"

I open my eyes and I'm back in the locker. Shoving as hard as I can the locker door bursts open behind me and I turn, catching myself on my hands and knees. The school is dark and empty, everyone gone for the day. I stand up and walk to the washroom; one must look presentable on their first day out in the world.

"Well then, I've certainly filled out", I say to no one in particular. My previously boyish figure; now curvier, hips and boobs, slight as they might be. My skin chalk white, my hair darker and curls are fuller, and my lips maybe a bit more full? I've got a little goth thing going on now, don't I. "And what is this on my forehead?" Prodding it with a finger, what looks like a blackened brand sits on my brow, a disk of purist black. Sluggish and thick blood dripping from its edges.

I wash up, cleaning the mess from myself where I can. Better, much better, I think to myself. Time to go for a walk. I leave the washroom, leave the school, walking out into the crisp evening air.