1 ~ Prologue ~

"Step up on the alter," a cold voice resounded in the hall as the circle of hooded men waited for the young child to proceed as they instructed.

The cold walls were frosty with the soft blue hue, as the light from the narrow ventilation openings, brought in a surreal feeling of stagnant suffocation. While the old blue fire on the torches that hung from the decorative cornices, flared some much needed illumination towards the only raised platform at the center, the comfort remained a fleeting grace.

The marbled floor echoed the soft steps of the child, who walked naked, with his head down as if too scared to look up and find something ghastly hanging from the domed ceiling.

"Sit at the center and don't move," another set of instruction came for the child, as the hooded men stood stiffly, watching for the right opportunity to chant their wordings.

The child sat as though under an alien influence, the aura of blue surfacing up from his navel, dragging its claws over his tender flesh.

"We shall lock your core now, and it would be painful, but hopefully, you will be able to endure."

The child didn't know how much pain they were talking about, but as soon as he thought the mantras would be spoken, his body seemed to be pierced from all directions as the sharp pain started to spread in every part of his nerves.

The experience was so excruciating, that a scream tore through his gut and all that could be heard was the shrill howl of a child's tortured soul.