"Damn it, Barkley, let go!"

I screamed, trying my best to snatch the book away from the dog's jaw.

The dog growled, not wanting to let go of the book.

For some ungodly reason, My roommate had suddenly decided to adopt a dog and in the last few weeks this dog had done everything to make my life miserable.

From peeing on his bed to tearing off the sofa. I was usually a dog lover, but this one dog had started to change my mind.

"You better let go, Barkley, or I swear I will sell you off to that crazy woman next door."

As if understanding the threat, Barkley deflated and loosened his grip on the book. Seeing the opportunity, I snatched the book away and began assessing its condition.

"He just thinks you are playing with him." Lounging down on the sofa, my roommate Virek spoke, his eyes set on the TV in front of him as his fingers operated the controller in his hands.

"You wouldn't say that if he was eating your stuff," I spoke, waving the book in my hands.

The book's cover had been torn with deep bite marks on the side, not to mention the last pages, which had been shredded to smithereens.

"And just when I was about to finish the first book."

I sighed and collapsed on the nearby chair, looking at the vile dog walking through his apartment.

"Just get another copy tomorrow, you were going to the bookstore to get the rest of the books in the series anyway," Virek spoke and threw the controller towards him.

"I guess so." I caught the controller and started walking towards the sofa.

This wasn't the first time that the thought of replacing the dog with a similar-looking, mild-mannered one had crossed my mind. Yet, looking at the unapologetic dog was only strengthening the thought.

I sat down beside Virek. That's when it happened. Out of the apartment window, I saw a large truck hurtling toward our direction.

The feeling was hard to describe, I didn't even had time to consider the absurdity of the situation, considering how our apartment was on the fourth floor.

"RUN!!!" I screamed and turned around. Only it was too late. Something heavy hit the back of my head, causing me to collapse on the ground.

At the same time, I saw the truck coming and crashing down through their window into the apartment.

And before I knew it, my vision darkened, and I lost all consciousness.

===

…

…

"… rise from depths below,

Claim this life, I solemnly offer."

When I gained consciousness, I was greeted by the sound of some strange murmurings.

Shut up. I wanted to speak, but the words didn't come out. My body felt stuck for some reason.

My vision felt blurry, too, slowly coming to normal. The voice, however, didn't stop.

"To Zarethar, who rules through pain."

"Zarethar, rise from depths below."

Confused, I tried to get up once again. Fortunately, by now, my body had started to regain its control.

Forcing my legs, I shoved away the things lying around me and stood up. But what I saw made me pause in horror.

It was nighttime, and I was standing inside a forest, yet that wasn't the shocking part.

Surrounding me were hundreds of corpses, all lying around in a circular formation. In the center of the circle stood a figure covered in red robes, his face covered in a red hood.

The figure seemed to be the one speaking those chants; his hands raised high as a swirl of red energy revolved around his body.

At once, thousands of questions took over my mind. What was this place? Why was he here? Who was that man? Why did he seem so familiar? Shouldn't I be freaking out looking at all these corpses?

"To you, Zarethar, eternal crown.

Take this gift, consume, devour."

Oblivious to my presence, the man was continuing his chants. Sometimes stopping to take a breath and then continuing, speaking to some being called Zarethar.

Wait, Zarethar? Did he say Zarethar? Once again, a feeling of déjà vu took over me. I knew I was supposed to be scared out of my mind right now, but all I could think about was where I had heard that name.

Wait, hadn't I read something similar in the book 'Echoes of Fallen.' One of the villains, Siv, likes to dress up in red robes and make offerings to a demon named Zarethar.

Was it the same guy? But how was that possible?

Even though the entire thing sounded impossible, for some reason, my instincts were screaming at me that it was true.

Whatever it was, I needed to get out of here. It doesn't matter if it's the same guy or not; I was currently standing in the middle of a field filled with corpses.

Making up his mind, I silently took a step back.

For now, the man's back was facing in my direction, so he hadn't seen me. I wasn't going to get a better chance than this.

Unfortunately, the plan to escape didn't go as planned. I was somewhere near my third step when suddenly, a sharp pain assaulted his head.

"Argh." I couldn't help but scream in pain and fell down on my knees. It was like someone was trying to dig several holes in his head.

A set of memories not my own began to penetrate my mind, merging themselves with my own. Under the blinding pain I began to remember a new life, unfamiliar yet at the same time so familiar.

Noticing the ruckus behind him, the man finally noticed me. The man's chanting paused as he hurriedly turned around to look at me, his eyes filled with shock and fear.

Oh, I am done for. I could already tell, yet my body was refusing to move. The pain was only increasing, and from the corner of my eye, I could see the hooded guy staring in my direction.

Or at least that's what I thought. The moment the chanting stopped and the Hooded guy turned around, something else happened to the red swirl of energy surrounding him, as it began to lash out in the form of whips.

The man noticed it, too, as he immediately turned around and began tending to the energy.

"Through bloodied hands and broken will,

We offer life, and the silence stills."

He began chanting again, his eyes becoming more and more panicked with every moment passing.

Alas, there was nothing he could do. The out-of-control energy didn't stop; instead, it transformed into an eldritch monster with sharp teeth and tentacles.

"NOOOOO NOOOOO!!!"

The man tried to scream and run away, but it was too late; the creature latched its tentacles over the man's body and began dragging it inside itself.

About to pass out, the last thing I saw was the red energy binding itself onto the hooded man before his body exploded from within, scattering his body parts in the surroundings.