Blood…it surrounded me like the sewer where I had first met Recluse. It flowed like a river around me. Walls dripped the crimson fluid; the coppery smell was irritating my nostrils. There were no bodies, nor were there any signs of a fight having occurred recently. My gaze was focused on the people standing before me.
Overthrower, Kellhound, Lady Pitch, Sha Da, X., Shenmue, and a few more, all were members of the Titans of Paragon. And all of them I once considered to be my friends. I stared helplessly as my hand slowly rose. Dark magic surrounded my arm and with a burst of death magic I watched as all of my old friends were ripped apart. Their shredded bodies now decorated the room; and there screams echoed around me, it sounded like a twisted symphony. I considered the scene to be worse than the scene in the sewer. While similar in design, no longer were the bodies of people I hated, they were of my old companions! And it was I that created it!
But I didn't vomit like I did with the Vahz. Instead I turned my back on the scene and faced the person standing behind me. Lord Recluse stood before me, is red eyes glowed in joyous amusement. He obviously seemed pleased with what I had done, but his joy was short lived as I raised my hand for the second time. His eyes turned to shock just before I unleashed my magic at him. His body joined the Titans in painting the room red. The look on his severed head I found to be quite pleasing.
I turn around, and while I do the scene changes. No longer am I in a blood covered room. Instead I am in a building the size of an aircraft hanger and kneeling before me is the entire Arachnos army. My view suddenly shifts from first person to third as I get a clear view of myself. My body was covered in a dark black metal with blood red runes inscribed in it. Over my black armor were metal replicas of my bone armor; however they were red instead of bone white and protruded fangs. My shredded cape was replaced with a midnight black cape with a red skull design on it. In fact the only thing that hadn't changed was the blue cloth and chain that wrapped around my eye sockets.
The new me stood proudly before the Arachnos army, now called the Shattered Skull. The soldiers slowly rose and cheered my name…but it wasn't my name. It was the name of the new leader of the criminal world. The name that struck fear into anyone that heard it…Lord Plague.
"AHHHH!" I scream as I shoot out of bed, a cold sweat covering my body. I steady my breathing before getting out of bed and throwing on some lounge pants. Sleep wouldn't come back to me tonight. I walk over to my window and open it, staring at the many buildings that made up Cap Au Diable…not that I could see them or anything, but the cool night air would do me some good.
The apartment I had been living in for the past couple months wasn't anything special; just a one bedroom, one bath. But it did a good job providing me with shelter and a place to get away from the "police" of the Rogue Isles. It would have been more cost effective to have gotten an apartment in Mercy Island, but I wasn't desperate enough to live in that hell hole. Besides if I was ever short on funds I could rob a bank for the money I needed.
As my thoughts wandered they traveled back to the dream…or nightmare for that matter. I used to never have nightmares but recently they have been growing into a nightly occurrence. They had started off as nothing but night terrors, then moved on to screams, but now they were became detailed scenes of me murdering my old allies and new enemies. However, none had been as clear or as vivid as the one I had just had. Were they nothing but dreams? Or were they premonitions? Whatever they were they were eating away at me; waking me up in the wee hours of the morning and preventing me from falling asleep. The few hours of sleep I did get were hardly enough to make up for the lack of hours I didn't. Shutting the window I drag myself over to my closet.
'Could I really kill my old friends? Would the Titans of Paragon meet their end at my hand?' I question myself, not getting any answers.
I take a few relaxing breaths as I entered my walk-in closet. Moving away a number of clothes that I hardly ever wore, I reveal my skeletal armor and rune covered pants. Taking off my lounge pants I put on my runic black cargos and a pair of black socks. Pulling on the last sock I reach for my armor and start to strap it on. Slapping on the last piece I stand up and head to the front door of my apartment.
According to rumors, Arbiter Mikhail, a highly wanted criminal in Paragon City was visiting a local Arachnos base. Doing a mental check of what day it was, I remember it is December, seventh. Since it's the season to be giving, I'll give Paragon City, Arbiter Mikhail. Wrapped up in a body bag for the holidays…