<color=#000000>Today was my mͯ̏ͧ̌̎ͬ͊͐͐̌҉̸̢͡҉̰̠̼̼̭͔̻ơ̶̘͍͓̱͙̹̩͔̣̩̹̻͉̙͎͈͔̞̩̑̈̇ͯ̀͗̑̏͑͠͡t̷̡̨͓̮͖͕͖͖̱̣̺̦͓̻͍͓̯̝͋̂̈̓ͩ̐̀̚̚̚ͅh̃͒ͩͮ͐̔͒ͦ̈́̐͗ͧ͐̎̉̔҉̪͖̯͇̹͔͖̖͎̻̀͘͢ͅě̵̸ͮͧͥ̓̅̃̊̈̇ͦͣ͆̑͊̂͋͑͆͏̦̠̙̹͎͍͙̼̟͞r̮̙̼̫̤̘͚͚̲̺ͨ̔̏̎͑̑ͯ̌̉̾ͣ̕'̴̧̻̫̞̬̺͇͓̹̻̙ͪ̽͋ͤͯ̋̑̊ͮ̋͌̚̕s̱͓̲̹̩̱̐̏̇ͮ̃̂̐ͫ̾́̃̇ͨͩͤͤ͑͊̉̕͠ birthday.
We didn't expect it to be any different than normal. I set up the party balloons while M̸̰̘̘̣̘͙̹̼̼̥̜̰͎̠͐̇ͪ̀̓͘͢͢ͅo̷̸̦͈̥̜̲̜͍͇̤̯̐̾̈͛ͨ̆̊͗̄͆ͩ̾̄ͨ͊͘̕͟m̢̧̛̟̝̹͙͖̫̤̹̲̯̪͖ͦ͑̀̈́͒̌ͣ̈́̓ was at work. D̸̴͉̻̣̘̙͚͓̝̭̖͍̮̩̥̪̾ͩͧ̔ͬͬͭͮ̃̏̍̌̅̇͊̈̚͘ͅà̆̅ͣ̃҉̮̮̯̩͇̙ͅͅd̢ͯͥͦͬ́̈́ͧ̔̃̈͐͂̚҉̫̭͕̬̺̦̠̟͇̤̗̩̪̥ ordered Chinese takeout on his way home. My s̵͉̯̰̩̬̯͈̭̐͐̽͆̍̆͋ͤ͑ͧͥ̄̓ͩ͢ͅi̸̋ͪͦͬ̏̑ͩ̊͂̑͒̾ͫ͌͋ͯͨ͝͏̤̯͔͕͉̺̪̼̺s̴̪̹̞͉̫̠̭̙̱͉̮̩͇̺̖̹̣̓̋ͪ̚̚͘͘͞t̴̛̗͕̪͔͖̜̐̓ͩͮ̎̅ͯ̄́̑͊͢͝͠e̴̷̗̲̲̼͉̰̬̦͍̩̙͉̞͇̯̹̭͖ͪ̆̄̓̇ͥ̌̊ͩ͌̄ͪͨ͒̔ͭ̃̕ͅȑ̫̱̳̰̯͔̙͇̰̞͎ͣ͂̌ͮ̍̓ͣͥ́ͨ̂́̎̚̕͢͜͠ baked a cake and invited over a few of M̧̧̞͓̥̖̙͇̑̐̈́͊ͨ́͢͠o̶̜̥͔̪̗̩̓̋ͣͫ̅̇ͨ̂̅̀͒͐͂͗͒̊͘̕͠m̅̄̄̑̀̇̓ͥ͗̉ͥͪ̒̐͛̿͋̅́͘͜͠҉͎̞̬͕̭̭̩̺̣̱̯̳̭͈̟̖'s friends. I pulled out the old chairs from the basement.
Down there today, however, was a book.
A book called "T̛̰̝̦̳̭͒̾ͣ̑ͭ̈́̀̊͊͊̉̐̐͒͊Ḩ̵̸̼͕̦̔̉̓ͣ̒͆ͣ̏͊͌͋͗̓̾̔̃̚ͅͅE̸̴̢̼͎̺̬͓̺̰̤̫͇ͨ̏͆̄͜ͅ ̸̈́̂͂̃̈ͦ̂̑ͬ̈́͗ͣͣͦͨ͐̿̀͘͘͏̹̞̥̬Ę̴̒͌̌̇ͬ̀́̄̐ͮͫ̽̅̃ͧ̚҉̖̲̣̼͉̪̖̺̝Lͪ͌ͣ̌̚͡҉̗̰͔̜̞̠̦̭̮̩͎̰̤̳͎̀Ḑ̸͊̾ͤ̍ͤ͞҉̹̙̺̜̯̭̥̝̯̣͇͓̙̺̲̙ͅͅĚ̗̺̭̼̳͇̯̦̼͚͔͇͕̺͙̤͆̓̿ͬ̒̓̀̐̑̽͗́͡Ŗ̸̛̺͉͈̭̬̪͙̹̟̩͇̟̭̯̯̜̻ͧͫͩ̿͋̍ͣͥͬͥ͊̀̂̈͒̓̎̐̕͜ͅ ͇̗̜̳͔̻̜͖̯͕̫̤͎̪͕͇̙̹̇̉͐͂ͣ̀͞Ĉͭ̃̈́̅͑̈́̔ͦͥ̑̅̑҉̡͓̗̟̪̜̲̤̜̘̰̣̫̟̬̝͘͢R̘̻̻͈ͣ̽̾ͮ̾̀͘E̡͛͌͐͛̐̍̃͗̽͊ͣͨ̇̒͏̗̰̣̻̲͚̹̹̼͙̳̻̭̠̯̺̟̤̜Á̸̼̘̭͍͙̝̭̱͔̟̹̺̭̗͔͍̜̊̉͌̓ͤ͂̃͟͟͞T̵́̌̾ͧ̑͂̇̾ͥ̈́̉̔ͨͤͯ̾̂͡͡͏̩͓͙͡Ů̾ͦ̌̒̓̊̔ͥ̎̚̚͜͝҉҉͈͙̺̮̥͉̺̮͉̙̘̳̖͚͈̫͚Ŕ̵̴̡͓̦̫͖̗͚̠͑͛̈̑͆ͬ͑̚̕E̳̹͇͐̄̔ͭ̉̈̉ͨ̈͢͞S̸̃̏̓̓̆͌̒͂̊̿́ͣ̔̊̋̐̈́͏̱͓̰̼̼̝̫̗̫̪̱̤̞͖̀͜͞". It was bound with a strange, smooth leather. Curious, I plopped it on the chairs as I carried them upstairs.
<color=#200000>The guests arrived and ducked behind the couches and chairs in the living room as well as under the table, and they all leaped out roaring "SURPRISE!" as Mom came in. All but one. H̔ͦ̃̀͗̆́̔̍͒͐ͦͬͩͮ̑́ͧ͞͞e̴͑͐ͯ̿͑͒̑̇̿ͬ͛͊͗ͣͯͧͤ̀̉̀͝l̷̑͆͊̽e͛́̾͌̑̂҉̡͟n̢̎͑ͦ͗̒͑̍̾̔̎ͥ͒͐̍͊ͩ̓ͧ͢͜͠͝aͯͣͮ̂ͪͦ̏̇̉̓͂̎̉͘͜ ́ͮ͑̏̅̊ͧ̓̒͆̎͒̕͜͏̵P̏̆̑̔̑̏̓̌ͮ̉̓̉͐̑ͫ̔̉̚͏̵i̢ͧ̊ͮ̿ͨͧͣ̾́̓ͥ͌͑́ͩ͂ͦ̚̚҉̨c̷̸̢̧͊̃̔̃ͪ̆͋̕k̷̨ͥ̑́͌̑̽ͤ͊̽̈́̎̽̇̀̚͡h̴̽ͩ̓̂ͤ҉͝ä̡́̒̅ͣ͆ͫ̀̋͌͌͊͋͂ͧ̾͡mͪ͌̅ͦ̚͏̧ stayed behind the couch. Curious, I went over to see if she'd passed out or something. She wa͡s̢ ͞st͟aring ͢a̴t ̨the͝ ẃa͠l̀l di͡vi͡d͜ìn͜g̴ ͏the͏ ҉li͟ving room from my computer room. I tapped her on the shoulder, and she jumped almost out of her skin. "Oh, I ? sorry! Is your mother here yet?"
<color=#300000>As she shuffled off to the dinner table, I looked at the wall. It... was a wall all right. I wondered what spooked her so badly.
The Chinese food was delicious. M̶͕͍͍̫̻̼͓̠͋́̊̀̾͋̎̀ͤ͑͘o̵̥̳̝͙͖̞̩̫͕̪̪ͮ̓ͯ̈́͐͆͗͛͑̊̏̑̑̍̐̒̈́͐̀͡m̷̴̞͎̗̯͐͛͊̓̅͒̐ͧ̑̋͗̀́̚ blew out the candles on her cake and Dad cut it up. Then the long boring dinner conversation began. After about half an hour of increasingly dry and painfully gossipy chatter, I took everyone's plates to the sink and sneaked out of the kitchen into my computer room. I considered turning on the computer, but my eyes fell on "Ť͚̲̭̜̞̣͖̙͇ͦ͋̏͛̇̆̕͡H̸̢̛͇̘̤̣̠͔̟ͪ̐̒ͨ̈̾ͦ̆ͤ̽͂ͦͨ̔ͨ̒̓̂͞E̔̄̌̑̎̊ͫ̊̄̑͑̈͏҉̭̦̥̺̠̫̮͉̞̻̣͈͘ ̷̯̲͙͓̮̒͑̏̊̓͋̈͗ͨ̓ͦ̆̃̕Ę̰̻̥̲̻̬̣̥̺̔ͩ̈̌̔̎̿̊́̑̓͐͛̃͆̚L͌̓͊̇̎̾͛͐ͭ̿ͬ̈́͛͏҉̛͕͔̘͍̼̠̣̻͠D̵̨̮̦̱͕̻̫͍̥̖͎͕̠͔̣̅ͣ̃̌ͭ͑̋͊ͯ͗́͜ͅͅĒ̛̟͙͈͓̞̱̝̪̠͌ͮ̉ͯ̽ͨͧ̒ͯ͂̈́̎̊̾͟͡͝ͅR̨̤̫̗̖̹̽̃͊̌͋̔̈͋̕̕͜͝ ̢̨̤̩̙̖̻̤̞͖̼͕͔͈̣̝͕̣̓͌ͧ̋̋͆̇͋ͬ̃̽̔ͯ̑̚ͅͅC̴̸͆̓̀ͣ̓͌̾ͯ̔̌ͯͥ̅͏̤͖̩͓̟̲͓͙̩̦̱͇̮̦̰Ŗ̡̛̺̗̱̪̘̗͍͓̼ͨ͐͌̈́̂ͮ̓̎͌͊̓̍̃Ȩ̧͙̖̥̦͈̇͑ͦ̒ͧͧ͆̅̐̆̋̒ͮͭ͒͛ͫ͜͞A̠͍̗̬̤̣̙̙̙͌̇͛ͩͨ͛͊ͦͬ̋̍̅́ͅT̸̒̋͊͗͛ͨ̆̽̍ͩͯ̄́̆͡҉̪̲̘͕̜͎̱̭̮̰̼̭͖͚̟̭̰U̧̓̀̐̽̐́̊ͣ͂̽ͭ͑ͫ͗ͤ̿҉҉̪͉̝͚̺͖̟͕̝͙̭̥͓̬̫͢ͅR̠͕̣̍͊̑ͬ̏ͭ̌̈͂͊͡ͅE͖̙̝̖̥͉͓͕͈ͧ̂̌̔ͯͣ͋͗ͬ̑̋̅̿̂̆̓͘͡͡͡ͅͅŜ̢̘̦̞͔̠̰̜̟̗̤͔̜͋ͮͥ̃ͦ͋̏ͦ̈̐̈̇͘͢" instead.
<color=#400000>I've always considered myself a spiritually sensitive person, but even I was surprised at the sud́den ̶w͢av̧e ǫf͡ ̧ŕevulsi͡o͏n҉ I ͡felt a̕s ̵I̵ ͏reach͟e̶d ̨f͏͠o̷̴҉r͞ ͏̡the̡͞ b̷́͏ơ̧o̵k̡̛͙͕͍̖̲͓̜̩͙̭̰̫̩͎̝̙̻̻͍̊̍͊͂̅. Yet my insatiable desire for lore ideas to fuel my own fictional creations made me pick it up anyways. I mean, it's a book about o̵͉̜͖ͬl̟̹ͭ̀̾̓ď̦͉͙̤͙̣̥ ̬̲̺͑̎̉̋͒͌͛ḅ̈́̆ͩ͑͟e͓͚̺ͫi̮͚̲ͥ̃͊̽ͧͭ̚n̖̭̫ͬͮ̓ͬg̙̹̥̙̔͆ͩͦs̼͉̬̰̝̫̗ͭ͛͂! What could be better for idle c̵onsi͠de̴rati̧on͠ ͜t̶ó ҉p͠a͠s̶ş ͜th̨e ̸t͜imȩ at an͡ ̢o̢l͡d͠ ̕l͘adies party? So I forced myself to pick̴͟ ̕͠u̵̴p̵̸ t̸h҉̧e̸ ̸b͜͢o̡ok̶̛.̶͠
It felt wa̵rm̧,͞ a̴lm̸ost ͜a̵liv͠é. ͏ I̧ ̀bl͟ame͠d͠ th͘e ̡s͠pa̵ce ̢h̶éa̧ter my s͝ister always leaves on in the room and the high quality leath͢eŗ.̨ I c͡r͡a͢cked it open.
<color=#500000>W͞ha̧t͏ I śaw įn̛si͟de ͡s̨c̢ar͜r̶ed̴ ͟me. ͠ Í ̸cann͠ot ͞a̛d̡èqua͢tel͢y̴ ̢de͜s͟crìb̢e҉ the͏ i̛m҉agę ̨t̵h͢a̛t͞ l̕a̛y̛ ́on ́t́h͘e ͠p͡ag̶e̢s͡.͡ ̢ It̶ w̡a̛s ̵Eng͘lişh,͝ ̵I thin͘k,̸ b͠ut̷ w҉r̵itt͜eń ̶in ̢aǹ i͠n͘k͞ ̸t͡h̡a͠t̶ ̛w̛a͠s ̶c̀o͟mp͡l͝e̴t̵ely̴ ͡f̢la͢w̕l͜es͏s ͡a̢n͟d́ s̴o b͡l͘ack̀ įt ͜suc͠ke͜d aw͞ay̡ all̷ t͡he̵ liǵh̀t́ ̡t͝h͠a͝t h́i̵t̴ ̢it. ̢It ͢wa͢s͜ ̨l̶ike̕ leer̨in͜g̷ ͘t͠h҉rǫugh a̡ ͏w̴o̷rmh̛o͘le͠ i̴nt͢o space̛. ͡T̸h̶e͘ t͡ext̕ ̴see͜med to d̀esc͘r̨i͢be ͢a̶ ͜t҉h̕i͝n̶g c̢al͏l̶ed ̸Ashe̶rah̕,̶ ̶b̷uţ ̸the ̢im҉age tha҉t̢ ̢ac̢com̶pa҉níe̵d͜ i͡t͜ w͟a͜s ͢be͝y̡o҉n͟d a͝ll sa͠ne ̵e͝xp̶l̡a̸n͢a̡t̛ío͝n! ́I͟t͞ áppea̷red ͝t̶o b̀e a̢ cr̸e̢at̛u̢ŗe of ̢w͝a͘t̡er̀,͠ ̷w̨i͢t̨h ̕t́e̷ntàc͞lȩs ͞st̷r̸ea̕ming ͝f̷r͠oḿ it̀s͢ face ͘a͏n̸d l̵ím͝b́s, ͝aǹd it ̴ap҉pèar̡e͡d̶ was͡ a ̧ho͏r̛r̷ib̢lȩ ̶gre̢e͠n̴ a̡n͡d̷ b͝lac͟k co̵lo̵u͡r. ҉ D͢e̡sp̵i̡t̶e͘ ͠b͜ei͘ng̛ a ̀d͝raw̸in҉g, ͞i͡t̷ ͘w͝a̛s̡ ̢so re̕al͘ t̶h͡a͡ţ ̢i̶t se̴e҉med͡ to̴ ̡cre͝e͡p ac͞r͝o͏ss̷ t͡h͝e pa̢g̴ȩ.́ ͠ ҉A̯̫n̲͖͢d ̶̲̰͕̟̯i̡͓̘̲n̫͕͜ ̦̫̪͎̫̕t̡͓͉͎̤͖h̟͚̬͕̫̳ͅe̗̦̝̠̱̪͇ ̟̼̤̰m̞͔̖͚̼i̭͓̬͕d̺̗̹d͈̭̥̮̬͙ͅl̴̼̝͖e͏͓͕ ̪̯̀o̭̩̖̕f̢͕̞̻ ̥͖it̫̙̥͔̯͟s̙̥̖̗͡ ͖͇̬f̴͚̹̰͍̻̼̲a̡̼̮̬͈͈c̫͍͇̲̪̜ę͍̝̯̱̪͍͚, ̩͉̠̝a̩͎̠͖͟b̲̪̻̲̲̱ͅo̪v̶͚̟e̞̮͓͓͚̰͖ ̖̩ţ̬̥͚̣̤h̠̀ͅe͚̠͍̩ ̺̪̫̗̜͚m̘̗̼͚̬a̜i̪̝̥͞n ̧̱s͚̜̤̤̼̦̕ͅu̩̪͎̠̳r̠̗͠g̜̳̼͠e̛͕̞̫͍̭͙ ̡̭̬̱̗o̜͖̭ͅf̘͞ ̵͕̘̯͙͉̩t̻̪͍̠̟èn͇̙ͅta̭̤c̲͔̟̙͙͓͘l͏̪̳͉̮͍̟͖e͉̬̭͍̣̝̱̕s͈̥̘͕̱̕ͅ,̭̮̳͇͚͙͡ͅ ̲l͏̪ạ̥̼ͅy̘ ̬̺̱̞͝t͔̤͔͕͕w͇̲̟̪͓̦͡o̵̞ ̣̫̮̟̞̳g͓͢l̷o̖͢wín̢̪̣͎g͞ ̩̖̩̣̖͉ͅr̸͉̙̱͔ͅe͇͉̖̥̰̞͡d̤͖̦̦̜͍͈ e̗̞̬̜̯͚͘ͅỵ̯͈é̞̝̠͇̣͇s̝ ̰̮̭̤͉t͍̫͎̻̟̱͔͢h̯̝̮̕a̛̦̫̺̝̙t͇͉͔̺ ͓̺s̢̳̭͔̟͖ța̺͇̺̲̱̟̭rȩ̙d̞͟ ̤̮̥͖͔d̤͈͍̤̀i̩̙̘̞̟͡r̺e͕c͉͓̬ͅt̘̟̲͖l̤̞y͖̟̪̬͕͍͟ ̟a̤̩̱̖͈t̰̯͕ ͕͘m̧e.̵̪̖̭̺͖̠̞ ̺̦̦͘ ̬͉I͖͓̬̟ ̞̠we̠͈n͎͕̺͎͍̤t͔͇̟̭ ̡̻̺̣̗b̸͔͈̞̩̠̭̲l̵̬̻̳̜i̴̪͓ņ͈̩̠d.̬͎̣̻̲̼̥ A̶s̢ I ͜tried̀ ͟to ̡d͟r̵ǫp ͡tḩe҉ ̨book a͜n̴d loo̢k aw̶ay҉ ̛f͞rom̴ ͠the ͞h̷oŕr͏įble̕ pa҉ge,̢ ͟I ̀c̡oul̸d heaŕ H͞el̡e͠na w͡a̴i̷l̛ ͢wit͜h̶ ̨a ̛d́ęep ̵v͢o͜ìce ͝f͡r̴om t͝ḩe̕ ͘d͝ini̶ng ̴ro͘om̢. M̛y͢ ̴si̶gh҉t b͡egań ̢t͞o ret͠u̵rn ̛s̵lo͜wl͝y̢ ͡as̡ I͝ l̨ǫo̶ke̕d̶ ̸aw͘a͏ý f̕r͘om̀ ͟thȩ g͞h̴a͠stl̕y d̡rawing,̕ b͝ut ̕I ̕coul̨d̡n̵'͢t ҉drop ͝th͏e ͞b͢oo̴k. ͠I ͝rea̷lized i̴t ha͞ḑ p̡ain͟les̵śly̷ sȩared̷ ͞to my̴ ̛fl̸e̡s̵ḩ, a͞nd ̸was͟ s͢lo͞wl͘y͞ ̧de̢vo͜u̶ring ̧my ar͡m͜s.̀ ͜ T͞he l̡e͞a̛the̕r͟ ̨w͢a͠s͠ <color=#550000>hu̶man skin͡ ͟?͝ a͘ńd ̢mơre͠! ͢ ̢H̡elen͏a̵ ͏b̡e͟gan ͏t̵o̶ sc͠r͡e̢am ͝l̵oúd́ly a̢s͠ ͜an̸ ͞i͝m̶m̧ȩn͡se ̸ear̀th̀q̵u͟a̢k͟e͏ ҉sh̀o͝ok҉ ͝t̴h͟e h҉ou͘s͜e.̧ ͞ S͝he͏ ͜sc͞re̕a̵͜med̶̵ ̀"҉̵͢A͜͟L͏L̷̛͢ B̷̴́O̢͜͟W̨̕ ̴͘͝Y̨̧͝O̴͠Ư̸R ̢̡͜H͟E̢̨Ą͘͝ḐŚ̴ ̷͘͝A̕N̢͡D͝͝ ͡W҉E̸͞EP F̶̶OR̶̛ I̕͘T̷͠ ̴͜͠Ç̷Ờ͢M̛̕͟E͞͏͠S̶̀͝!̷͏́ ͠A͘S̕H͏̶E͠R̨A͟H̶͟͠, ͘R͞҉Ì̵͢S͘͡E̴ ̷͞F̷ŔO̧M ͞Y̷̧̛O͏UR͏ A͝҉҉B̴͡Ỳ̢͞S͏҉S̢̀!̧ ̧́D̛҉̀A̧G̛͡ƠN͞ LOO͟͞Ḱ͟ ͏D͢Ǫ̷W̨Ņ͘ ͏U͜P͡͝͞ON̵͢ ̶̀U͢S̵͘͠ ͟A̢͏̶N͜͜D̡͠ ̀M̕͏AÝ ́H͘U͝M̢͡A͢͡͞N̸I̷T͟Y͞͠ W͘EE̷P̴͟ ́͏̡A͞S̨ ͜͠I̷T̶̛̀S̕҉ ̴̀͠D̛̛O̵͞͡O̵M̸͢͝ A̷҉Ŕ̸R̡I̷̸̕V͝E̴S̶͟ U̧P̛Ǫ̴Ń̷ IT́!"̡ ̨͞ ̵Th̷̛͏ȩ̕ ͢͝w̴͠all̀s̡ ̶e͝xp͢l͠o͢dȩd áwa̴y̧ as҉ ͢da̡rk,̸ ͡da̢rk̡ gr͡e͜M̶͍̱̙͇̘̥̼̲͈̖̫͙͖͞͝Y̶̛̞̜̰ ͝҉̴̸̰̻̫̭̠̬̻̰͎̬̮̩̪̮̻̣̥ͅE̕͘҉̧̛̱̫̯͎̝̗̖͚͉̠̱̱Y̵̵̴̴͉͉̬̥̲̤͖͖̺̜̞͇̟̳̪̯̖͟È̸̲͍̫̱͕̘͕̖̺̻̣̟̼͘Ş̸̲̠̮͎́̀͜en͡ t̛en̷tacļes ̀o͜f̡ incŕed̴i͜bl͞e size ͜pun͢ctu̡r͜ed t̢hrơugh them from un̷de͢r͟n̨eath. ̸ ͠I ̷c͢oul̶d ̴h͢ea̡r ̛t͞hę ̧sc͏reams ̧as on͘e̶ ̶by ̡o҉ne͠,͝ ̷my fa̸m̕įly̨ an͢d ̢my͏ ҉Mo͠m's f͝rie͘nds w̡er̡e͡ s҉w̧ept͞ ̕a̵w͟a̷y ͟in͡ t̴h̛e͢ ̶s͟u̷d̡d͞ȩn̶ c̕h̡ao̧s͞. ̶ T̀h̷e͞ f͞loor o͏f̀ m̕y ̨ex̧-͝co̵m̨put͡e̵r r͝oom ̕som͟èh̵ow͜ ̶rem̛a҉i̧ne͢d ̛intac̷t ̡as̸ I ͜str͡u͘gg͢l͠e̴d͟ ͏to͢ stop ͡th͘e͏ ̧b̀òók f̶r̴o̡m̛ c͏o͠n͡s͡u͜m͏in̨g͘ my ̀up̕p͠er ar͘ms, ͞wit͡h ̛th̨e̕ ͠l҉ea͏the͜r f̨loẁìn͢g͠ ̛l͝i̷k͞e͟ ̛l͏i̡q̛u͞i̴d ̕m̷èt̨al ͜t̡o ̢acco͘m̨pa̶ny t҉h͢e ad̴d̕ed͠ ͟mass.̡ ̵H̢ele̡na͞ ͢w͟a̡s s͠ţr͢u͘n͡g̵ ̷up͢ b̷y thr̛ee t͢en͜ta͏c̕ĺes̢, ͞e͘a͞ch ́pu͝ll҉i̧ng̨ ̸in͜ a ̴d͘iff́e͢rent͏ d̛i̧r͏ect̶i͏o͠n̶ ̡w̴ith i͏ńc̢r͟ȩd̛įb̡le͡ for̛ce.͝ ͞ Boilin͏g pi̕tch ̀s̸treame̵d ͝f̢r̨om̸ h̡er͜ ҉e͏yés͡ as̴̀͝ ̡s̴̀́h̛͡e ҉͟s̷͏҉ćr̡͘͟e̴̴ame͏̴d̴ ́͜"̶̢T̨͜͢HĘ ̢͞S̨O̕͠Ǹ͡G҉ ̶̀͞O͏̨F̸͢ H̵̛Ú̕M̛AN̕I̸̧T͝҉Y ͟͠I̛̕͞S̡͞ ̸FI҉͟͞Ǹ̵͘I̧̕S̴̛H̀͢E̴͞D҉ ͏̛A̢̢͢ND̸ ̕͘Ẃ̡͟Ę̴ ̧̕͞M̢U̷S͜͝T̵͞ ͘ŅO̧̡͟W͢͝ ͠PA̶͝Y̸͡ ̀T̢Ḩ̷̨E͢͠ ̸P̵̷͡I̧̧͜P̛͜E̶͝R!́ ͏ H̨E͟͡͠ ̨̡W̡̨͘H̶Ǫ ̧͝W̕A̢̢̢I̵T̵S̸ ͏͢͟WI̡͜͏T̛̀HI̸Ǹ̡̢ ́̀T̢H̀͘͜E ̧W̶̸̕AL͝L͞S͘ ̕͜I̧S̕͘ ̵̸͡U҉͟P̡͘͟ÒN͠ ̨U͠҉͠S҉ A̶͠L̴̷L̡!̷̢̀" ̸̢͡ ͟͠S̀h͟e̶̛͜ ex̵p̡ļ͜o͟͟͡de̛͢d ̛in͏҉͢ ̨͟t̶̡h̷r͟ȩę ̧di҉̀f̢f̷é͟r̢e̢͡n̛͟t̸̛ ͟͡͏d͜҉̷i̶r҉́͠e̡̡͟c͘͏̡tio҉̵̢n̸̸͢s̷,̡́͡ ̴̸s͝pr̛͝҉a͟͢y͟i̷n̸̷͞ģ̡ ́͝b̢͟l̷o͘o̢̕d̸ ̴͞a͝͝nd̸͠ ̵͢t̛͟͟a̴̧̕ŗ̶ ͝ȩ̷̕v͏̨e̴̴ry̨w̶͘͢h̴̢er̕͞͞è̵.͢͝ ҉ ͡͞T̴̸͞h̀ȩ̶̢ ̕b̛o̵̕òk̸ ҉̕w̴̧a̵͘͜s up to my tor̷s҉o̵, w͟h̶er͞e ̧it s͜ud͡de̶n͝l͢y͡ <color=#600000>ch͝ar͢gȩd de̸e̢p͠ int̷o my ̨ch͘e͜s͢t ̢ca͝vit͝y. M̧y͜ t̴wi͡t͞ch͘in̶g n̡er͠v͝es͟ aĺl͝ ̀pu̶l̷l͞e͟d ͜th̶r͡o̢u͞g͟h ͡thè ̵f͏l̴esh̶,̢ ̢al̴l de̴spera͟t̶el͝y tr̶yi͞ng̸ ̕to͡ tòuch ͡the ͜b͞o͏o̵k͟.̛ ̶I ̛be͡g̵a͘n͘ ͟to shri͡e҉k̡ in̛ a͏gony ͢as ̕t̷he͡ ner̀v́e̕s tie͠d ͟in̶ u͜n͜na͘t̡uŗa͡l͠ w̴ays̶ ̵an͞d̢ ̸iǹfor͜m̷at͘i͡on began̡ st̵re͝am̸i̛n̴g͠ i͝nţo̷ ͢m̨y҉ b̸ra̷in w̶i̶tḩ e͜ąc͘h j̡ol͢t҉ ̛o͢f͞ pure ̢pa̶in ͟?͞ kn͜o̢wĺed͠g͡e̶ ̵t҉hat̡ wa̛s n̵ót ̕mea̴n͞t t̢o b͞e̷ k͟n҉own ͠b͜y ̛an̡y̢ meŗe̸ mor͠t͢al.͘ M̶y͠ b́r͡a҉in f́elt l̛i҉k͡e̵ i̢t̛ ͝was fol̵d̀i̵n̵g͜ ̢in͠ o̴n͜ ̴its̸el̡f, ̸tr͏y̷ing to ͡c͝o̵pe w̧i̢t͏h ̸t̶hę ti̡da̵l w͢a͢vè ͡of̴ ṕu͢ŕe̵ ͝ho͟r҉ro͜r̸ t҉h͘a̶t̵ ̨b͟e̶si͠ege̴d̛ ͡i̴t. ̕ My q̴u̧ickly dy͏i͢n͝g̛ ͏e͜yes ͏coul͠d̕ ba̡re͜ly ̧foc͢u̶s ̀o͜n t̢h̕e̕ s҉įg͡hts in fro͏nt òf̸ ͢m̶e̕,̵ ̀but̛ t͠h͟e̛y co͝ưl̸d͢ j̵ųs͠t̀ ̀m̛a̢kè ou̡t̛ ͘t̷he̷ ͟imm̧en͞se̷ hèa͏d ̀o̧f͘ A̢͏̸̴s҉̸h̡̨̨̡̕e̕͢͡r̀̕͟a̵̛͢͢͜h́͠ r͠i͟s̴in͘g from̨ ͢t́h́e cr͞ater tha̷t ͝us͏ed ̴t̡o ͢be ̴m̛y ҉h͘ouse, w͞i̷t͟h dark̀ e̛y͜e̵s̶ co͡l͏o̵ured ̕a ͡colo͡ur ͢t̴hąt ͡my̴ ͘br̶ain͠ coul̡dn't ̴havę c͞o҉n͡ćeiv̨ed̕ ͘o̶f҉ mer҉e̶ s͜econd̡s͘ b͢e͞fo͘re,͏ ̴i̴nf̴or͝me̴d͜ onl͞y ̴b̵y th͘ȩ ću̡rse̵d͢ ̀k҉no̕wl͘edge͝ ̷tha͜t ̕a̴te my̡ v̴er͡y ̶being͠. ͢ I͞ ̕sh̵r̨iék͟ed͘ loude̸rT̵̨͔̞̼̲͈̺̳̮͕͢͟ͅH̯̻̯̤͟͞E̛͡҉̵̦͎͍̝̖͔̹̹͈̺̫͙̘̜Y̶̷̨̢̪̳̬̖͎͙̭ͅ ̺̱̩̪͎̕̕͝C̢̠̩̫͎̕̕͢͜Ǫ̴̶̡͇̟̹̺̺M̡͈̺̼͓͉̖̦̬̹̗̦͇͉͖̮̮͘͠É̸͍͖͎͓̖̙̻͕̻͓̣͖ ͘͝͏̜͇̲̣̠̠͚̣̟̘͎̰̰͕̮̰̯͎T̛̪̠͉͈̙̺̱̩̼̺̮͙̪͈̝͙̀ͅͅḨ͜͏̞̣̹̫̰͍̩͉̖̞̘͕̫̟̫͈̣͚È͝҉̨͉͔̖̮̩͎̥͙͚̟̩̭̱͔ ̪͓̭̬̠̙̲̥̥̱̻̘̱̪͚͓̀̕͝ͅŲ̖̬͙̰̝̠͘͟͠͞N̴͈͚̹̘̘͍͙͚̞͢D̷҉̴̧͈̪̩̙̣̫̰̥͍̰̦̀R̸̛̜̟̟͙̟̘͍͚̞̖͕̯͢͟͡È̀͠͏̮̦̥̟̗͇̼̳̝͕̤͔̰̜ͅA̷̷̺͉͍̹͎̬͔M̶̶̨̛̝͍͉̼͉̥͙̭̕I̞̺̱̮̤͎͚̲̠̰̥̼̮̱̱̕͡N̸̡̢̗̯͚̠̭͘G̴̛̛̹̗̫ anḑ h̷a̴r͝de̵r̀ ͠as͡ ͠my͝ a̶rm҉s ̀and leg҉s ̶m͡e̸l͜teḑ o͟f́f, sl҉i̶d̶ing̷ l͞ike ̷s̕na͢kes̛ ͟i͏n͏to t̵h͜e ͢en͝dl͟es̀sly d̶e͠ep p͏i͜t ͞belo͢w m̕e an̡d͟ l̷e̢aving͝ tar̀ry͞ ͜v҉i̶sc̛e̴r͟a҉ ha̶n̸gin͟g̛ ̕off̷ t̴he st̨ump̴s̴.̷ ̧ ́Tȩn̵t͢acle̛s͟ wr͞ap͡p͝ed̵ ar͢o͏un͘d͘ the ŗe̡ma͡in̡d͝e̛r ҉of͞ ͠me͘ ̢a͘s <color=#650000>s͏k͡ín ̴s̀l̷oughed̢ o̕ff ͘me͜ l̷ìk͜e ̡used͞ t̛is͟sue. ҉As̛ my vi͜s̶ion ̢ c͘u͏t͡ ́o҉u̴t̛ en͝ti̕r̀e̶ly̷, ͞Į c͜ơu̢l̵d fe͠e͠l th̛e sc̨le̴ra҉ lèa҉ki͟n̡g̷ f̴r͝o͏m t̡h̶e̡ ͞bu͜rs̡t͠ ̸sa͏cs in ̵m̸y̕ eye̵s ̛an̕d͝ str̢ea̛m d͘o̴w̨n͢ ̢my ͡faće. ̸All̛ ́m҉y s̛eǹses were̷ ̕o̢v͠e̸r̸ridde͠n̶ ̧w̢it͡h ̛pu͏r̢e ͡p̢ain͜.͢ ҉I kn͡e̸w t͏hat t̷he̕ ̕hơŗr̡oŗ ̀wąs quic͟kl̕y̛ ͝spre̴adi̸n̕ģ ͜o҉ut͞ ov̴e̡r m̨y͢ ͏unas̕sum̴i͠ńg t̡o͢w̕n, p͞re̷pa͜r̷ȩd͝ ̶tò ҉k̛il͜l e҉ver͟yo͠n̢e ẃi͜t͏hout ̡m̷e͜ŗc͘y̢ o͘r̸ ̡w̢a̴rni̧nǵ. ̡T͞he ҉w̢o̢r͘l͘d̀ ̶w҉as ̵d̀o̧om͞ed̴.͘ Th̵e͜r͝e w̶as ̶o͢n͡l̴ỳ ͜on͏e̢ que̛sti͟on͏ I ̀d҉idǹ'̴t u͏ǹder̸s̕t͝and, one t̵ha̷t̷ t̕he̶ h̵órr͏i̶ble ͟bǫoḱ ̀t̢h͟a̵t̕ h́ad̕ ͘bưr͘r̶ow̴ed int̶o my̧ ̧very҉ ͜be͢in̶g and rip͝pe͝d̢ ̛awa͜y ̨everyth͏i̷ng had͢n'͢t answere҉d͝.͘ As m͜y ͠v͢oic̵e̵ fraýed awa̵y͡ from şh͞rie͞ks ̶an͠d ̵a̧s ̵th͘e b̵oiling p͘ìt͞c҉h̛ ͢t̡ha̸t̡ ̴m̕y̡ ̢hea͝rt ̷p͡u͠m̷péd ͘o̶ver̴whelY̶̷̮̤͓͓̩̩͗̋̈́͒́͟Ö̸̡̮̩̝̖͔̯̯̮̥̜̹͙̙̭̥̗͙́̉̅ͬͦͩͭ̔͒ͨ̌ͪͫ͐̚̚U̍̅̎͑͠͏̶̷̵̫͕̠̱ ͓͖̱̼̪͚̦͎͉͔ͥͤ̍͛ͩͤ̓̀͢͜Ç̶̐̍ͩ͐ͨ̓̔̇̽̂ͪ͛҉̥̩͙̘̼A̴̵̶͈̥͇̺͚̹͖̞̩̼̫̝̾͐̊ͯ͒̅̐ͨͪ͟͞ͅͅN̸̸̢̫̖̻̗̻͕̼̙̘̺͒̌͑͌ͪ̏̚͢͝ͅN̛̝̜̻͓͈̲͉͈̲͍̰̹̺͎̪͐͌͛ͨ͂̔̂ͥ͗ͮ̓͌ͪ̀́͞O͓̖̜͇̥̝̅͑̓ͮ̔ͪ̽ͦ̿̓͛͌͆̃̐͆̕͜͟͞Ţ̶̵̏̓ͩͭ̾̏ͤ̉̾̉̑̑̂̓͞҉͉̭̥̖̭̠͕ ̶̫̼̣̜̱͎̠͉̹͖̝̼͚̋̓̈́̆͒̐͂ͬ͌̐̂̀ͤͦ̌́̆͢͞͞ͅǴ̷̟̦̗̳̫̦͓͕͓̝̬̬̟̎ͭͨͤͬͬ̒͆Ě̡̬̖̬̲̲̱͉̗̦̮̝̪̖̭̘ͭ̏̒̀̍ͪ̔͒͂͂ͭ̉̕͝͞T̷̅̓͆ͧͤ̂̿ͥ̿͋͌͒ͩͥ͆̉͊̃͢͟͠҉̖͉̹̣̝̗̤̯̖͇̲͇͈̩͔͓ ̐ͧͫ̈́̆͒ͧ͂ͬ̉ͦͦ̍ͪ͜͏̖̹̺͖̤̲͕̝̣̻͖͉̩͚Ā̷̿̈́̓͒̋͛̈ͣ͛ͥ̌̋͠͏̱̦̗͍̳̼̬͖̻̘̺̻͍̼̹͚̥ͅͅW͇͈̼ͭ̆̈̋̅̀ͤ̍̿̀̽̅ͨ̌͘ͅĄ̤̪̹̩̭̪̼͇̱̻̲̃ͥ̏̒͂̽ͮ̂ͬ́͘͜͡Ÿ̴̡̢̞͍̪̞̘̥̮͕͖̜̫̳̳̽ͧ̾͠ ̴͚̖̖̫̠̤͈͗͒͋̒̚͟Fͮ̓̎ͭ͒̎̈̔ͫ̎̋̏͏҉̢̘̰̟̯͓͉̤̱̠̲̬Ŏ̴͒̌̓̎̽̔̓̀̅͐̈́̇ͫ̆̚͢͏͏̴̟̞̣͓̠͚͓̞͉̦̳̮̻ͅͅÖ͎̘̩͕̻̣͕̙̱̠̝́̂̊͋̎͗̇́̉̆̈́́ͭ͑ͣ̚͟͞ͅL̷̢̾͑͐̊͡͏͖͈̖̥̰̹̗͓̟S̶̴̘͚̗͓͈̳̗̩̙̼͉̗̝̱̩̳͙ͩ̒ͮ̆ͥͯͣ̏͛̈́͆̔͛̌ͅm̀e̸d ̵m̷y͝ v̵ery̕ ̧e͡sse̡n̶cȩ, I ̢ho͘w̕led̢ ̵a͞ s̶imp͝le̸ ̵"Wh̵y̕". ͘ A͏ cḩill̛i̷ng ͝ŗoar͠ o̕f t̢e͘rror ̸ànd̡ ques͘t̸i͠on̡i͞ng̀ b͏e͢foŗe͡ be̸ing swe̷p͟t͘ ̢a̧way̡ ͟witḩoųt̵ ͜re͘as̶on̷.̛ W͏ha͜t m͏o̸t̡ive̶ ̛c̴oul͝d̷ t̀h͢is mońs͟te͘r ̡have̵ f҉or suc͏h ̸ch̢a̧os a͠nd͞ ̵de̕śt̵ru̸ctio͘n?̴ ̀A͞ş my ̶h̵e͝a͠r҉ing̛ ̢fa͜de͜d ̸int̵o͜ noth͞ing̨, ͠I hea̡rd ̕Ą̴̷̝̜̬̹̦̼̞̞̼̆ͬ̇́̉̕ͅś̷̴̡̰̣̳̱̠͍̦͇̹͚̙̻̩̬̜̈̌̇͊ͮ̉̾̀̾̔ͨ͊͂̀̇ͥ̚h̴̋ͧ͆ͮ̿ͭ͛ͦ͂̆̽ͮ̔̑͏͈̼͙̻͙̱͓̺ē̛̜̪̟̳̤͎̰̟͉̝͕̽ͤͨ̿̓̌̉͐́͂͑͝ͅͅr̊ͤ͐͒̌́̎̿̓̍̃͏͎̹̝͖̺͟͞͞a͋ͤ̐͑ͥͭ͒̎͛͒̋̉҉̷̧̪̦̰͍̻̩̝̥̗͓̜͚̪̲̺͈̙̀ͅh̨͌͂ͦ̊ͤ̄̓͗͜҉̨̻͕̻̮͖̳ ơp̀éǹ i̕t̴͢s ̶͞cųŕs̡e̶̡͜d̸̕͡ ̷̸ḿ͟o͏̕u̸͞t͘h͢͝͡,̷ ͘f̀ȩ̡l̢͘͢t̛ ̶̛i̡͘͡t͠҉ f̵́o͟͡c̀͟ús̨̛ ͜i̴̷t̡̛ş ́͢wi̢͞t̨he͞r͘i͘n͘҉g̸ ̴͜ga҉z̧͡e͟ ͢u̕p̷̕o͘n͘ ̡̡m͞ę̧,̷̢ ̢̢̛t̨͟h̸͟e̴̶ ̧m̷̧è̷r̡̛e̸̕ m̷҉҉or̨͢͝t҉̀̕al t̡h̵at̸̡ ̶̡d̷ȩ͝f̷̛i͢͞e̵̕d̕ ҉̢it ҉͞e̢͘v̨́̕e͏͞͝n ̧in͜ d̀ea̷͜ţ̧͠h҉,͏̷ ̀̕an̡̛͞d̶͢ ̢h̶e҉̵͞a̷rd̶͞ ͘i͘ţ̀͠ ̴̴̨s͘͡áy th͜͝ąt̵͠ ̵҉ actually, it's about ethics in gaming journalism.
