Blacker than night, thicker than water, deeper than the ocean he fell, slipping away from this world into the abyss. He had no control, the darkness ebbing, crawling, gripping into his mind. Through the pain and shouting, the world became very distant, and the fires that burned made him choke- and as he tried to call out, the blackness struck over his vision-
And time for him stopped.
But the world went on, he went on, and whatever chaos had happened... it seemed he had been taken away from anything and everyone he was becoming familiar with. And it wasn't until days later did he awaken, ruby red eyes going wide as he lay in a crumpled heap in the dark. But this sort of dark was different, and as he looked around, hearing the night owls calls and the clattering of skeletal branches against the star spangled sky, he realized he was alone- so utterly alone, and it was then that the cold had sunk in, and he felt the dampness of the world around him cling to his body, like sweat.
As he sat up, he grew dizzy and clutched onto his head, and it was only then- against a slight sliver of moon light, that he noticed the wraps on his arms had tore away-
and every bit of his skin was revealed. And that skin- which had once been a rich brown, had turned darker than midnight black.
Gasping, he began to fell over his body- up his arm and down it- but there was almost no feeling at all, and in his other hand- the one not yet affected by the darkened curse that crept over him, he could feel his skin texture had also changed. It was leathery, tough- and as he went to move his arm, it hurt, as if the veins were being constricted, or strangled.
And it was only then, did he realize that other things that hadn't hurt before were beginning to suffer the same beginnings of that dull ache and pain that now consumed his blackened limb. And this time, he felt it on his throat. And when he lifted a shaking hand to touch it, he gasped out a trembling breath, feeling a few hot tears roll down his cheeks, as he began to realize how far the curse had spread.
Half of his neck now was covered in it.. and as he padded his skin down on his face...
Now along his chin, some of his cheek and around his eye...
It had gotten so far it was beginning to cover his face.
Blinking, the few tears that hung unshed rolled down his cheeks. And he shivered, curling up against a broken, decaying tree in the dense, nearly swamp like woods he now found himself. And for a moment, he didn't know what to do, as he remained there, and shivered in both cold and fear.
He didn't know how much time had passed, but the creaking of wagon wheels made him perk up. At first, it seemed like a dream- but as he blinked and lifted his head, he realized the sun had just began to rise, and moving just down the hill from him was a wagon.
Attempting to rise, the movement was too much for him, and soon the world was spinning and he, stumbling into a tree, but the second he touched it, he felt a shock rush through him, and the tree- he could have swore- let out a groan. But by the time he had pulled his arm away, the man in the wagon had already dismounted, having been calling out to the Miersck for some time. It appeared as if the boy were in trouble, and if he were startled by the strange pair of wings on his back, the old man made no spectacle of it. What he was concerned about was how the young winged man was screaming in pain-
Mierck had also fallen to his knees, gripping his arm, which now was locking up and unable to be moved. By the time the man got to him, he tried once again asking Miersck what was wrong; did he need help? But Miersck couldn't even lift his head, the pain- being so intense, it brought back tears, and he grit his teeth so hard, he thought they might break.
And he wasnt' sure how it happened, but the man was suddenly screaming, and the same rush, the same sensation as when he touched the tree struck through Miersck, and when a figure fell before him, it was only then did the dizzying world begin to slow for him, as another scream rang out. Miersck looked down at the body before him, that was convulsing. But that was the last thing he'd see before once again, his world went to black.
By the time the woman had brought her husband in to the town on the wagon, he passed away, and soon a crowd was forming around the sobbing, howling woman as they heard her tale. And soon, rumors began to spread about a wicked, winged boy in the forest- who- if he touched you- caused death.
The men of the village were debating starting a hunt, knowing they could not allow such a beast to roam free, but until a solution was figured out- the entire town had a curfew-
To be in doors just before dark- with all of the doors locked.
And no one was allowed to go into the forests. No one.