The Heart of Alabaster

Prologue

     Jakob stood there, staring at what was happening around him. The darkness crept closer, swallowing those he loved as if they didn't even see it. No one that entered the darkness came back out. It was coming for him. He turned and ran, not sure how to escape what seemed like his doom. Everywhere he turned the darkness found him. It surrounded him and closed in. Death seemed inevitable. As the darkness swallowed him, his eyes opened to those already there. He screamed at the sight of those he loved. The flesh was rotting off their bodies. The smell was enough to induce vomit. They came closer to him, shambling as they walked. They were grotesque. Bits of skin fell off and they moaned.

     "Help us… Save us... We need you," was the muffled sound that uttered from their decaying tongues. They grabbed at his body, pleading for him to do something. His will broke as he saw his mother reaching for his cheek.

     "I love you, my son. I know you will save us," she spoke, as her finger dropped into his lap.

     The sight of his mother was too much. Tears flowed.

     That's when he saw the Lord of the Dark. Horns protruded from his head and fangs from his mouth. His jet black body glistened in a dark radiance. The claws on his hands looked as if they could rend flesh with ease. Those giant hands reached out and grabbed the nearest person.

     "If you help these people, all of your family will end up like this," he stated and he ripped the head off of what used to be Jakob's best friend, Stewart.

     Jakob sat upright, almost screaming. Cold sweat beaded off of his skin. The nightmares were getting worse...