Cryo Town Sidestory: The Agony of Hazel Walker

Prologue

I ran as far as I could. It felt like I was walking on air. The world around me felt so real, but somehow so fake. When I'd gone as far as my legs could carry me, I fell to the ground, finally collapsing under the weight of the image I'd just seen. The image I'd run from. My throat was dry, my vision stark, and yet I wasn't taking anything in. I could only remain in my thoughts. My legs were sore and my hands shook. I buried my face in my hands, shutting my eyes tight. Why her? I thought. Why not me? Why her and not me? If there's a Lord, how could you be so merciless! If I hadn't been such an idiot, if I'd just gotten there when I was supposed to...

"You couldn't have saved her."

There was a moment of silence. "...What?" I opened my eyes. My face was wet with tears. I hadn't even realized I was crying. I opened my eyes, but it looked as if I hadn't. The world was shrouded in black. I looked up.

I couldn't tell if the voice I'd heard was simply my own thoughts manifesting, or something else, because when I looked up, it was the same blackness that greeted me.

"Did you not hear me? You could not have saved her."

"Who...who is that? Who are you?"

"A friend. To you and many others."

"Have no fear, friend. For I can help you right this wrong."

"How can you do that?"

"For a small fee, you can go back."

I wiped more tears away from my eyes. "...What..?" After a few seconds of silence, I got a response.

"It's true. I can help you go back if you give me what I want."

"Then what do you want? I don't even fucking know you." My weak voice got raspy as I choked on tears.

"I'll tell you what I want..."