Oh, the silence, I cannot stand the silence, the silence which has seeped into my brain and driven me to do what I normally would not—no—what I normally can’t do and I must keep it away before it overcomes me again, yes;
but they are gone, all of them gone because I wanted them gone ever [...]

Neon blood pulses through the twists and turns in the letters, glowing faintly in the darkness. Shadows dance along the street—not those pale imitations of darkness but rather little blobs of black that broke away from the whole…

Soothing was the light that illuminated all things around me. I could almost hear its whisper upon form as silk upon skin. Here, it spread to all things, unveiled even the darkest corners, lavished vibrance upon the gloomiest of colors. Its source was the very nature of life itself, and life depended on this light.
I [...]

Etrius shivered. Partly because of the cool, slicing wind blowing through the barn door, and partly because he was alone. The rest of Jade Squad was in the Farmhouse playing poker.