Following Eda through the woods, we came to a complete stop outside the gates. This is it kid, out first break in together! Ed's said with a grin. Welcome to the Blight Manor! She said as she held her hands out to the mansion in the distance.

And this... Alador Blight can do as I ask? I asked, with her nodding.

If not, then we leave. She said as she placed her hands on her hips. Just got to avoid Odalia, she will flip! Eda said as we walked through the gates.

Who is Odalia? I asked as I didn't know anyone here.

Aladors wife, and a complete control freak. Eda said as she rolled her eyes. The imposing structure stood tall, its dark silhouette casting an eerie shadow over the surrounding demon-infested land. As we approached the grand entrance, my heart pounded with anticipation.

Swiftly, we slipped past the goo sentries and avoided the intricate traps that protected Alador's domain. Finally, we reached the inner sanctum where we now stood in an empty lab with goo all over the place. This is his lab? I asked as I crossed my arms. Not very sanitary. I said as I touched some of the goo and looked it over. This stuff is everywhere, what is it? I asked as I looked at Eda.

Abomination goop, it's what the Abominations are made of. It's also a spell. She said, with me cleaning my hand off. If he isn't here, then he is most likely at his lab in Blight Industry. Eda said as she crossed her arms.

Or he simply went to the bathroom. A man said from the door, with us turning to face them. He was a pale-skinned witch with a disheveled look. He has unkempt hair with sideburns, hairy arms, and stubble. He has golden eyes and brown hair. Most likely due to the fact he works a lot, he is slumping.

He is dressed in a dark gray lab coat covered in purple stains from abomination projects, along with gray pants with black boots which are also covered in purple stains. He also wears golden goggles with purple lenses on his head. Alador. Eda said with a not so friendly tone.

Edalyn. Alador said in turn as he looked her up and down before looking at me. Your kid? He asked, where I crossed my arms.

Do I look like a witch? I asked as I showed off my round ears. I'm Human, sub-species Mutant. I said, where Eda looked at me with a raised eyebrow. What? I'm still human, just a Mutant. I said as I looked bat at Alador as he was now in my face with a curious look on his face. Personal space dude! I said as I pushed him back some.

A human... sub-species... Mutant? He asked in interest as he rubbed his chin, then reached out to my face. I caught his hand before he could touch me.

Unless you want to turn to dust, I would recommend not touching my skin. I said as I pushed his hand away. Mutants have powers due to a genetic condition, we have something called the X-Gene in our DNA. This causes a mutation in us, giving us powers. Mine just so happens to be the touch of death. But I'm evolving, and I need to know more about myself both inside and out. I said as I watched as he walked around me in interest. Care to speak your mind? I asked, annoyed with him.

If there is one thing that I recognized, it's the potential that lay within one's self. I see it in you, you can make a great scientist one day. He said as he now stood in front of me. So, you want me to help you control your powers? If that's the case then I'm not the person you seek. He said with a wave of his hand as he walked over to the table.

I never said I needed your help for that. I said as I turned to face him. I want you to cut me open to find out what's going on inside my body. I said, where he looked at me in shock. I have been burned, stabbed, electrocuted, hanged, torn apart, ripped to shreds, poisoned and even crushed from the inside and out. I need to know why I can't die! I said, where Eda stepped in front of me.

Kid... is that really what's happened to you these past five years? She asked, looking horrified at what I just said. Kid... is that the reason you don't talk about your time there? Because you remember it all? Do you still feel it? She asked, with me nodding.

Even now I still feel the flames eating away at my skin. I said as I moved her aside. Help me find out the truth! I said as I waited for Alador to answer.

He sighed and shook his head. How old are you? He asked, with me thinking about it.

If it's past March, then I'm 21... if not then I'm 20. I answered as I really didn't know.

I see... you were no older than my son is today when you were tormented. He said with a frown. Are you sure you want me to dig around inside? He asked, with me nodding. This could mean death, you are aware? He asked, with me nodding again.

It's nothing that I haven't been through before. I said, with them looking at each other and then back at me.

You've already been cut open like this? He asked, with me nodding.

Once before, by Belos himself. I was wide awake... he wanted me to be awake. I said as I placed a hand on my chest. The last thing I remember of that day, was him ripping out my ribs after breaking them one by one. I answered, where Eda placed a hand over her mouth.

Ok then. Alador said as he moved his hand to the side, all of the abomination goop cleared off the table and hit the wall. Lay down. He said as his hands were covered in the goop. Remove your shirts. He said as I took them off and handed them to Eda before walking over to the table and sitting down on it.

The table was warm, not cold like I expected it to be. Eda. I said, looking at her. Please... Leave the room. I said, looking away from her. I don't want you in here for this. I said as I was worried that she would lose her mind on what we we're about to discover.

I already have a chill down my spine kid... but I know better not to watch this. She said as she walked towards the door. I'll be outside if you need me. She said as she walked out of the room, leaving us alone.

Laying down, I watched as he pulled out a knife. I don't have the proper tools, so bare with me. He said as he placed the knife at the crop of my chest. I'm going to make the first incision now. He said as he pushed the knife in, but stopped moving all together.

What? I asked, waiting for an answer. He pulled the knife out and placed it to the side. He placed his hands on my chest and pushed down on it. What are you doing? I asked as he placed his hands on my ribs and pushed on them, even sliding his hands against them.

Interesting. He said as he grabbed the knife and continued to cut me open. Once he cut was fully made he then made one across the top of my chest before pulling back my skin. Most interesting. He said as he reached in and pulled out a black substance from inside. It's almost like Abomination, but you can feel the evil coming off of it. He said as he watched it fall back in.

What is it? I asked as I wanted to lay up, but didn't want to risk anything seeing that my insides were opened.

It's your blood. It's black, thick, almost dead. But at the same time, it's alive. He said as he looked at me. Your ribs, heart, stomach, all of it are gone. It's just this. He said, taking me by surprise. With how deep the blade went, I expected to hit bone, but didn't. It went clean in. It's clear to me, that with this pile of black blood, that it's not of the living. He said as he started putting his entire arm in, with him bending him arm upwards.

I gagged as I felt something going up my throat, where he pulled his arm back. Was that your hand? I asked as I grabbed my throat, with him nodding.

I was expecting to find some kind of worm hole or something, but did not. He said as he closed my stomach up and then proceeded to cut my arm open and do the same. It's the same here. He said as he opened it up and then closed it before doing the same to my leg. And here. He said as he walked over to my head. And you don't feel pain? He asked, with me thinking about it.

I feel it... but I think I have an endurance for it. I said as I felt him cut the top of my head and then open it up. You're giving me a headache. I said as I could feel him grabbing something before closing me up.

I think I found most of your organs. He said, where I looked up at him. They are inside your head, well, shriveled up and dead. The only one I couldn't see was your heart. He said, confusing me on what he was saying. "What you possess is beyond anything I have ever encountered. Your existence defies the laws of nature, and the truth behind your creation remains elusive. The answers you seek may come at a great cost." He said as I reached into my pocket and turned a broken branch into petrified wood, closing my wounds.

"True knowledge often comes with a price." I said as it was true. Knowledge was power, and power always came at a price. "So, by your own words, I am dead. I said, with him nodding. "My heart, wherever it may be, may be what's keeping me alive." I said as I thought on where it could be.

"By the looks of your organs, you've been dead for four years." He said, where I nodded slowly at the news. "Are you going to tell her?" He asked, where I shook my head as I didn't want Eda to know that I was dead. "It is your call." He said as I walked over to the door with a heavy heart.

"Thank you for doing this... Alador. I said as I looked back at him.

"Don't mention it... really, I can get in a lot of trouble for this so don't mention it." He said as it dawned on him. "What is your name?" He asked, with me looking at him.

"Dakota." I said as I exited the lab.

Later

Reaching the main gate, I saw Ed's standing there, holding my clothes, waiting for me. "How did it go kid?" She asked as I took my clothes back and put them on.

"Well, everything is there, just my blood is black and thick... and my heart is missing?" I said as I crossed my arms once I was finished getting dressed. "My theory is... my heart is what ties me here, preventing me from going back home." I said with a smirk, one Eda returned.

"Find your heart-" Eda said as she pointed at me with her own smirk.

"-Find Wanda." I said as I pointed back at her.