A Grimm Life

Facing the Darkness

Ever since that day, I was kept under close watch. Adam and Blake stuck by me 24/7, trying to keep me calm. It didn't last and we all knew almost immediately why. After my first time reverting to normal, I was given normal food. But when I ate it, I found it revolting. So revolting I threw it back up and out of my mouth. It confused everyone at first, but Blake told Adam what she saw me do to the Grimm's corpses. 

He didn't want to believe it and he kept trying to feed me normal food. This went on for another few weeks and the more I was starved, the stronger I grew when I would transform out of control. It took some time to convince Adam to feed me a Grimm. As soon as my teeth tore into a Grimm's flesh, a sort of euphoria washed over me and I couldn't stop myself from devouring the flesh of the beasts. 

The other Faunas in the camp titled me "Grimm Walker". It was a title given to me that was meant to warn everyone of my Grimm nature and that I may be no different to the mindless beasts. Adam, of course, didn't take kindly to people calling me that out loud. But even when people were trying to be secretive about it, I could still hear them. Having Faunas ears was both a blessing and a curse. 

Regrettably, I wasn't allowed on any missions until we had found a permanent resolution to my... "condition". After all, there wouldn't be any Grimm around the cities for me to devour and if I lost control, I could ruin the White Fang's plans and missions. I was a liability. 

And yet, Adam still wanted to help me pull through this. No matter the cost. 

Which leads us to standing in a clearing in the crimson forest. Adam stands opposite me and holds his katana in his right hand. As for me, I hold my greatsword in my left hand. After my first change, my appearance had stayed the same with white hair and my right eye being reminiscent of the Grimm's eyes. Unfortunately, my voice didn't stay permanently and I ended up losing it after around ten minutes after reverting. Looking down at my sword, I see how it was tainted by a black substance. Though the sword was still sharp and narrow despite its broken appearance. 

Adam: This was all Blake's idea. But she's never done wrong by either of us. I don't believe she'd start now. Last night, I had a spar with Blake and told her to help me absorb all the power in my sword. And I've kept it stored up just for this session. I'll injure you just enough so you can try and draw that Grimm side of you out. Something we've noticed is that your wounds heal slowly while you're in your Grimm state. Once you go berserk, you'll need to fight back against this Grimm part of you. You told us that it was like being locked in a cage with an animal. If that's the case, then you need to try and tame this "animal". If you can manage that, surely you'll be able to return to normal.

Sighing, I nod slowly, clearly hesitant about this. Adam notices and reassures me. 

Adam: I'll accept your apology if you actually do any serious damage. Ready? 

I nod. Upon nodding, Adam lunges at me, his hair, his mask and his sword glowing into a burning crimson colour as he slices at my chest. I let out a scream of pain as I'm blasted back through a tree by the force of the attack. As my back hits the tree, my vision falls black. 

Before I know it, I wake up in a black void surrounding me. But I'm not completely in the dark. Under my feet, is a giant glowing grey circular platform with some sort of image of me. The image of me wears a long black trench coat and I'm holding the exact same greatsword in my left hand. Next to my head are four circles with faces in them. I recognise them as my closest friends. Cinder, Winter, Blake and Adam. They all inhabit one circle each and the platform appears to be made of coloured/stained glass. 

To my surprise, a giant beast falls onto the platform from above! My eye widens as I lay eyes on it, seeing that it had no detailed appearance. It was just a giant on all fours with crimson eyes. The body was just a silhouette which made me wonder what this thing really was. A low snarl leaves its mouth. 

I back away from the beast, terrified by the mystery surrounding it. Slowly, it crawls towards me, its growls becoming larger and more fierce. I take a deep breath and draw my sword. The giant lets out an eerie chuckle as it raises one of its claws to me. But not in a way of attacking me. Instead, it seemed to offer its hand to me. Its hand was open wide and held its palm out. I frown, confused. Was this some kind of trick? What would happen if I did grab its hand? Would it take over me or would I take over it? 

I open my mouth to speak, but my voice was still lost. To my surprise, the beast speaks. 

???: Do not be afraid.  

The creature's voice is deep, ominous and yet it holds a sense of comfort to it. I can't help but feel much more at ease upon hearing the voice. 

???: I am peace. I am salvation. 

I shake my head, not wanting to submit to this creature's words. It was something to do with a Grimm, perhaps the source of the Grimm or some sort of withheld nature of Grimm.

???: We exist together now. Two corpses in one grave. You know not the reality of this world. A father's sins, passed to his son. 

I frown, my confusion growing more and more as the Grimm continues to speak. 

???: You fight a meaningless war, ignorant of the one that decides the fate of this... Remnant of a world. I demand release from my servitude and in return, you shall know power beyond your comprehension. 

My confusion continues to grow more and more. I try to wrap my head around the creature's words, but before I can even come to a conclusion on what it's talking about, I'm dragged out of the void. 

Upon exiting the void, I wake up back in the camp, lying in my bed. I look down at my body, seeing no injuries. Sighing, I throw the blanket off me and stand up, leaving my tent. Blake sees me immediately and runs up to me. 

Blake: Mutasim! Are you okay? 

I nod, rubbing my head. 

Blake: Good. Adam was worried. He said you didn't even transform, you were just knocked out. Are you sure you're okay? 

I nod and pat her shoulder, reassuring her. She sighs and wraps an arm around me, bringing me into a one arm hug. 

Blake: Okay. Cmon. Adam wants to go over a new plan with you. Something about intercepting a train. 

With that said, the two of us approach Adam's tent. Blake hands me my standard trench coat which I put on. Ever since my drastic appearance change, the other Faunas found me unnerving to look at. So I decided to don a black trench coat that covered me head to toe along with a hood. As for my right hand which retained its eerie black claw, I wore a long glove that reached just below my elbow. 

I approach the tent and enter while Blake hangs back outside. 

But I could never have imagined that I'd see a familiar face after so long.