Journal 1: The Beginning

Empress Zenovia

He has been visiting me in my dreams.

Ever since I went into that cave behind my bookshelf. And he's ready to make a deal. What deal is he talking about?

It's been a few weeks since everything happened. I want to go to my husband but I know I can't. I feel like my time is running out. I haven't been training Avery, with little to no information in the books. How can I? Everything is just going downhill. I have no one to talk to, my grandparents are dead. My mother would be of no use. Hopefully from this journal I found would be of help.

Things have been getting crazier. The other day a guard was found dead, his throat was slit, drained of all his blood. At this point he's toying with me. He's bored waiting for my choice. I had to up security because of that, I had to make sure all the guards were tight lipped about what was going on, no one can know anything. I know they are looking for answers. This is the second murder they have seen and I can't even give them any. I had too close down St. Clare to the public, just to make everyone feel safer.

I was at St. Clare doing some work, I could have had my assistant do it but I needed a distraction. Avery was here with me as well, I have to start getting her ready for this. I look up and see she's on her phone as usual.

"Hey mom, I'm going to go on a walk." She said never taking her eyes off her phone. I looked at the time and it was only 1:30. I guess I can give her a break.

"Okay, that's fine." Once she left I pulled out the journal and continued to read where I left off.

DATE: NOVEMEBR 20, 2045

It's been 8 days since I last wrote in this journal, and in those 8 days things have gotten worse. I found a hidden cavern on the far left side of the volcano, it had a hole in the wall where the sun gleamed through. It was dimly lit but I could still see through the room. It was eerily quiet, the only thing you could hear was my heart racing. It didn't feel like I was alone in the room, like someone was here with me. I left that cave as fast as I could. I took one quick look and could've sworn I saw someone in that room.

People think I'm going crazy. I hear the whispers whenever my back is turned, I feel eyes boring into the back of me. My friend Adonis, told me that I have been wandering off in the middle of the night. He told me he doesn't know where I go or what I do in the middle of the night. He said he followed me one night.

To the cave. He said he saw me go in there and move a boulder in front of the door. He doesn't know how I was able to move that boulder since it looked so large and heavy to move by myself.

How could I move something that big by myself?

What is going on?

DATE: November 22, 2045

My wife had our second child, a baby boy Zayn. Our eldest Zora was elated to be a big sister. Even with everything going on she still finds a way to put a smile on my face.

It's been hard these past couple of days. Our supply is running extremely low, everytime a time is sent to collect more supplies, they come back empty handed. People are still getting sick, they will have a low fever, then the black spots start to appear, then it turns fatal.

Plus I started having dreams, after I went into that cave. Ever since then I had this urge to go back. I haven't been back since I spoke to Adonis.

Maybe I'll go tonight.

• END JOURNAL -

My phone broke me out of my reading, I look to see who is calling me. 'HUBBY' it read. I answered it.

"Hello?"

"Hey, I have something you might want to see." He said over the phone.

"Okay, I'll meet you in the lab in a few minutes." I wonder what it is that he found? I made my way to the laboratory which was in the basement. I made my way to his office, and walked in.