"The winds will blow

To where the stones grow

They call for you to come near

Approach them without fear

Set forth a feast with the living

Remember those no longer breathing

And those without man's soul

So, they may find themselves whole"

A pale skinned woman, clad in a dress of glimmering white, stood on top of the endless, jet-black ocean. Light emanating from her to contrast the abyss around her. Ripples forming at her feet as waves of dark, inky waters formed then crashed onto her unmoving form. Her head, bowed and seemingly staring at her feet. Her hands, clasped to her chest as if in prayer. Her legs, standing strong amidst the cacophony around her.

-:" ...lp…e…he…help…": -

*BOOM*

A flash of light amidst the darkness changed the scenery.

The ocean of black was now a sea of red, human arms and hands jutting out and reaching for an unknown sky. At the middle of the gruesome sight was the woman. Her dress, a dull grey. Her legs, bent and broken, cut and bloodied. Her hands, once clasped now held shimmering gold spattered with red in open palms to her chest. Her head, blasted open on one side with jagged bone jutting out of the edges, a hollow eye socket stared at the nothingness ahead of her.

Then, the remnants of her mouth moved as if to speak

"…"

A soundless effort. Followed by a cacophony of other voices and noises seemingly speaking but in a different language.

-:" ...lp…i…hi…hilfe…": -

"…"

The noise grew louder every passing moment. More sounds added in. The explosion of shells. The whirr of propellers. The clang of metals. The screams of a million voices.

-:" ...hiiiilfe…hiiiiilfe…mir": -

"...the…"

A word finally formed from the lips the woman.

"…for gold…"

-:" ...bitte…hiiiiilfe":

"…the pain…"

-:" ...biiitte…": -

"…for gold…the pain…for gold…GOLD"

-:" ...hiiiilfe…bi…": -

"…the pain…"

-:" ...help…": -

"…THE PAIN…"

-:" ...heeeeeeeeelp…": -

"…the stones…"

-:" ...heeeeeeeeelp…": -

"…go…to…the stones…"

-:" ...HEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP MEEEEEEEEEEE…": -

"TO THE STONES!"

She awoke with a startled breath. Cold sweat drenched her as she sat up with great effort. The dreams never stopped, but neither were they getting easier to deal with. She brought her knees up to her chest, embraced them as if they were the only lifeline she had left, and sobbed silently.

"I'm sorry" she choked out as tears stained her cheeks and dripped onto her legs.

She looked to her bedside table where a few bottles lay empty on their sides. Next to them was an open journal with notes and markings, a few sketches and liquid stains littered the pages. On top a stack of papers, a cube glowed an ominous cerulean blue light dimly, illuminating its immediate surroundings.

"Calm down, Belfast. Just another nightmare." she whispered to herself as her sobs subsided. Her breathing had calmed but her hands would not leave her lower body until a few minutes later.

The woman swung her legs to the side of the bed and sat on the edge for a few seconds.

"…Edinburgh, my sister, I'm sorry…Scharnhorst…I hope both of you can forgive me"