Prologue

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The presence of a man, hunched over. Figured shoulders wracked with sobs, head buried in hands, hopeless, useless, worthless. Dark room, very dark, beautiful, the darkness is beautiful, leaching, disgusting, stealing breath, heartbeats, killing, loving, yes, loving, it loves all hates all kills all—

Shoulders still, entire body goes still, as the Spectre realizes. Head lifts up, eyes pour empty rivers, tears, disgusting, lovely, essence of life drips out as the not-human finally fathoms.

—It's all his fault.

Words, spoken but not heard, silent, if a tree falls in an empty forest will it make a sound, a shift, a minuscule change in the ether of the chamber. Sharpened, cold, unmoving, composing itself, if you draw in a breath the air itself will betray you, deadly, laughing as it escapes your cold, dead lungs.

—He will pay.

So soft, whispered so soft, so peaceful, a lullaby, ring around a rosie, only both mean death death death,

death and dark, darkness is coming, ready for you, coming, it's going to kill you, ready for you, ready for you to die.

Strong legs rise, yes, very strong, because the Spectre is prepared, prepared for war.

Our Spectre is ready for revenge.   

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