"What do you suppose will happen next?"
Titus looked all around him, but did not see anything.
"You don't have to look for me, I am here."
"W-where?", rasped Titus.
"Here"
Titus became agitated as he realized that he had involuntarily lifted up his arms at the same time he had heard the reply.
***
***
"Do you see that rock?"
"Yes" he croaked back.
"Concentrate on it. Try to make it do something."
"Like what?" answered Titus.
"Oh, anything really, I want to show you something."
After a few moments with no observable change, despite his forced concentration, Titus gave up and stood silently, unsure what he should do next.
"My turn. Now watch closely..."
Within moments the weathered grey rock began to slowly pulse, much like a heart. Soon Titus could sense that the pulses were beginning to resonate with his own heartbeats. Before long they began to beat together at the same time.
Then the rock stopped.
Titus immediately doubled over in excruciating pain, experiencing a flash of boiling heat in every nerve ending, so intense that he was paralyzed by the assault. Thankfully, Titus became unconscious, keeling over face first into the dust.
Then the rock stopped.
Titus immediately doubled over in excruciating pain, experiencing a flash of boiling heat in every nerve ending, so intense that he was paralyzed by the assault. Thankfully, Titus became unconscious, keeling over face first into the dust.
***
When he came to, his body immediately began a series of violent, wracking heaves. Once again, his involuntary muscles responded in an attempt at preservation as it forcibly cast out the mouthfuls of dust he once again had ingested. When at last his body could give up no more, he lay exhausted in the clumpy dust recently spewed out, staring at the rock. Slowly, it had begun to pulse again, seeking synchronicity with his own heart, causing Titus to whimper. Unable to look away, he realized what would soon transpire.
Unfortunately, it did not occur to him that the next event would be worse.
***
Consciousness came unbidden.
A bleary film seemed to cover Titus vision. No tears came to wash the gritty coat away and blinking seemed an insurmountable task in his weakened state. Every joint was swollen, an orchestra of inflammation yielding a discordant riot of pain. His throat felt like an open wound, desperately seeking the soothing salve of even a brief trickle of moisture.
Unfortunately, it did not occur to him that the next event would be worse.
***
Consciousness came unbidden.
A bleary film seemed to cover Titus vision. No tears came to wash the gritty coat away and blinking seemed an insurmountable task in his weakened state. Every joint was swollen, an orchestra of inflammation yielding a discordant riot of pain. His throat felt like an open wound, desperately seeking the soothing salve of even a brief trickle of moisture.
"Look at the rock!"
"P-please n-no m-mor-" whispered Titus.
"Did you enjoy what happened to your eye?"
Titus curled into a ball and began to whimper like an abandoned infant, left to experience its last moments of existence through suffering.
"Why...are you...doing...this?", Titus croaked.
"Why...are you...doing...this?", Titus croaked.
"I need to make you into something...useful", the voice smiled, "now, look at the rock!"
Shaking uncontrollably, Titus slowly unwound himself, wildly seeking with his remaining eye the focal point of his misery, holding his breath in anticipation of what was to come.
And screamed.
***
Titus was now able to stand erect.
Arms extended out from his sides, he slowly began floating several inches above the ground.
And screamed.
***
Titus was now able to stand erect.
Arms extended out from his sides, he slowly began floating several inches above the ground.
"Ah, that's much better, now you've become something I can work with"
Titus glanced down at the stone and watched it slowly melt. If he had been capable of receiving sound, he might have noticed a thin keening wail sounding disturbingly like his original voice.
"Wherg...arg...yougah?", Titus throat gargled.
"Wherg...arg...yougah?", Titus throat gargled.
"You seek me? To what purpose? Do you think to cause me pain? How pathetically silly"
Titus clenched his fists and shrieked. Immediately a firestorm encircled him, extending out nearly thirty meters. When the flames eventually faded away, all the surrounding stone had melted into a dark, black igneous glass.
You feel hate, no? That is good. Those that will soon follow you here bring nothing but hate. They hate you for what you have become and will seek to destroy the destiny I am providing you."
"One other thing. Your hunters, pathetic as they may be, can be clever from time to time. Beware the weakness of the past. I can see that you once felt love and that it hurt you, no?"
"Love is an illusion and has no place in your future. Seek out a place among the gods. Your test is nearly upon you. Do not fail."
"One other thing. Your hunters, pathetic as they may be, can be clever from time to time. Beware the weakness of the past. I can see that you once felt love and that it hurt you, no?"
"Love is an illusion and has no place in your future. Seek out a place among the gods. Your test is nearly upon you. Do not fail."
Titus was slowly turned toward the horizon, observing a flash of silver light.
" Failure is eternal"
