--Point of View: Crim--

It was a morning like any other. I had awoken to the sight of my beautiful wife, Evelyn, still fast asleep beside me. The sun was just starting to peek through the curtains, casting long shadows across the floor. It had already been ten years since we married, and I had cherished every second since that memorable day. She was everything I could have asked for and more. How she put up with my antics is beyond me. As the years passed, we had two lovely children together, a boy and a girl. Emma, the oldest of the two, took after her mother or at least did not get her school smarts from me. Samuel, on the other hand, took my approach to everything in life. Pure stubbornness and determination. Emma helped him study.

As I laid in bed for far longer than I should, my thoughts and plans for the rest of the day played out in my head. We had a larger than normal escort into the forest today. The usual members of the village were of course tagging along but we had some less than welcomed guests. Officials from the empire decided to join at the last minute and it was causing a fuss around town. Gossip was all it was. The younger folk always suspected the worst but us old timers knew better. Nobody, young or old, liked having to deal with nobility. They all had the same sense of entitlement and superiority. Anyone outside their circle was treated like trash that needed to be tossed away. You quickly learned it was best to just grit your teeth and put up with it. Meddling with them often led to unforeseen consequences like a tax hike or a simple back alley beating if you were lucky.

A clock chime would pull me back to the present with a groan. Being extra careful not to disturb the misses, I threw back the wool covers and swung my feet out. The hardwood floor creaked under my feet as I rose and made my way downstairs, grabbing my neatly folded uniform along the way. Evelyn always had my things prepped and cleaned. I imagined my shirts and pants would have quite a few extra holes and stains if it was not for her. She spoiled me.

The children were still in bed, having been up late the night before. A quick check of their rooms confirmed this. I had seen literal warzones cleaner than this. Luckily for them, they had no lessons planned for today, so I decided to let them sleep in. The kids would need their rest for when their mother awoke and caught sight of their mess. Not to mention I was running short on time thanks to my dawdling.

I dawned my uniform with ease, having done so countless times before. While not as intricate and complex as a knight’s, it was more than the average day worker. You had to be prepared when you ventured into the forest after all. A set of leather armor made up the bulk of the uniform. Not as sturdy as steel but a whole lot lighter. Next, a short sword was fastened to my hip. The blade was seldom ever used and still had a glistening shine when unsheathed. The times I did have to draw it, my enemy was normally a thicker than normal patch of shrub or vines. The last bit of my uniform, but also one of the most critical, was my mana pouch that was fastened securely to my belt. While I was just a simple soldier, I still needed to carry around a supply for various tools and other emergencies.

I did one more pat down of my pockets before quietly heading out the back door. The streets were still bare, the sun only just showing itself in the sky. I quickly realized I should have left a little bit sooner. As I snaked my way down the alley towards the main road, more and more people emerged from their homes to start their day. Before I made it to my first stop, the streets had already become crowded, greetings and good mornings flying all around. There should still be enough time though if I hurried.

Turning down a few more alleys and side streets to save time, I would soon come to stand in front of Mr. Stone’s workshop. I raised my hand to knock but paused as a loose brick caught my eye. I could not help but nudge it with my index finger. For such a talented man, his shop was in disarray. He was one of the few enchanters we had in town and a regular traveler into the forest like me. Back on task, I gave the door a few good knocks and waited. I knocked again. This time I could hear mumbling followed by the pitter patter of feet racing towards the door, which soon opened to reveal a young teenage girl.

“Good morning Lily, it’s good to see you. Is your master available? I have some important news I wish to discuss with him.” I said with a smile. Lily was Mr. Stone’s apprentice and regularly made the trip with us as well.

“He’s being his usual self this morning, a right pain. I reckon it would probably be easier if I just took a message.” She half groaned, glancing back over her shoulder. Tact was an unknown concept to her.

“Yeah, that sounds about right. Well here, give this to him and be sure he reads it before you two head out today, alright?” I instructed, pulling out a spare piece of paper to scribble a note on. “And that is for his eyes only, understand?”

“Yeah, I understand,” she feigned, her fingers already unfolding the paper.

“Good. You take care.” I said with a stern look before turning to leave. I hoped my daughter did not grow up to be so brash. “Oh and tell him he’s got a few bricks loose.”

“Yeah, and not just the building either.” She mumbled, closing the door behind her.

The rest of my trip to the forest’s edge was uneventful. I stopped once or twice to exchange greetings but for the most part had made good time. As I crested the hill leading out of town, I saw a few regulars along with the group of people I was least looking forward to guarding today. The empire had sent more than their letter had mentioned but there was not much I could do about it. I counted half a dozen. They were all wearing black cloaks that covered their faces and most of their bodies, the golden emblem of the empire embroidered on the back.

“Greetings! You must be our guests for today. I’m Sebastian and I’ll be leading the expedition today. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.” I said with a forced smile.

“Yes, we know of you already.” Came a cold, emotionless voice that was unlike anything I had ever heard. “Sebastian Crestfold, thirty-five years of age, married, two children…”

The hooded figure continued to speak, rattling off information about myself that I was not even really sure about. My height, weight, blood type, whatever that meant, and so much more. I just stood and waited, perplexed, until they finally finished speaking.

“Uhm, yes. That is me. May I ask who you are?” I inquired, still stunned. I wanted to ask how they knew everything about me but thought better of it. The empire did not like questions and simply asking who they were was probably too much already.

“That information is for authorized personal only.” He responded almost immediately, his tone still flat and one note. “Experiment 001 was removed from the access list due to uncharacteristic behavior and several protocol violations.

His words struck me hard. Dizziness came over me as my stomach twisted and my vision started to blur. I staggered and fell to one knee, catching myself with my free hand, the other now clutching at my head. Spikes of pain coursed through my skull. My eyes were clenched shut in desperation. I hoped that when I opened them again, the pain would be gone.

“Experiment 001, its time to get ready. Wake up.” Called a distant voice that was both familiar and yet foreign. Part of me felt reassured while the other half was screaming in terror.

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I forced my eyes open as the pain started to dwindle and found myself not outside my village on the forest’s edge, but inside a holding cell. The walls were smooth and glossy, cut from stone with far more precision than I had ever seen. A small light hung overhead. At the other end of the room stood a large, very sturdy-looking door. A bit much for just myself I thought, but I felt drawn towards it, urged by an unknown force to follow the orders given to me.

“Come on now, hurry up. We need to get you ready to deploy.” Called the voice again from outside the door.

Before I even had time to consider their words, my body was moving on its own, urged along by an unknown force. I tried to resist but my efforts were futile. My body was simply moving on its own and I had no say in the matter. With every step, the door grew closer. I started to panic. What was going on? Was this some sort of enchantment? I felt like an unwilling passenger being dragged along against their will. Amidst the struggle, the warm crimson sheen of blood caught my eye. Why were my hands bloody? Had I been injured? I wanted to take a closer look, but my hands were barely visible as I marched obediently along.

The heavy door swung open with ease as I pushed against it, much to my surprise. Slipping outside, this room was huge in comparison to my tiny cell. Desks and cabinets were scattered all around the room, each one accompanied by different individuals cloaked in white. Some of them seemed to be busy with paperwork while others were busy performing some random tasks I surely would not understand. They all were also very short. Or was I tall? My perception seemed distorted. Perhaps I had hit my head.

“There you are 001. Trying to catch a few extra minutes of sleep I take it?” called the voice once more. I felt my head turn to look over towards the sound, a young woman also garbed in white awaited us next to a large steel table.

I gave no response because I simply could not. I felt trapped. Where I was going and why echoed inside me. Would this person hold the answers? They seemed to know me. Who were they though? It was clear they were not from my town.

“You know the drill 001, up on the scale and face the mirror. We need to do a quick scan before we send you out. I reckon you’ve put on weight.” Commented the young women with a smile. She seemed genuinely kind or at least cared somewhat.

I approached a large metal platform and stepped onto it, causing it to beep loudly in protest.

“Yep, I was right. You’re a bit heavier than last time but we can work on that later. Now go ahead and sit so we can get your scan done. Watch your head.” she instructed, placing a hand on my back to motion me down.

Her touch was gentle, and my body responded accordingly, turning slowly before taking a seat. A large mirror-like surface stood in front of us. Blood covered me from head to toe. So much so, that I did not recognize myself. In fact, I was not myself. Before me in the mirror was anything but human. A long muzzle, protruding fangs, and a thick layer of crimson fur shone brilliantly in the light. A Fenrir is what my people would have called it. A giant wolf of legend.

My momentary shock was quickly replaced with horror as I started to scream. It was only in my head at first, but as my mind raced into a frenzy, my voice finally broke through into reality.

“What is this? What am I? What have you done to me?” I howled as I struggled to move whatever this body was. It felt heavy and pushed back against anything I tried. Eventually, I fell to a heap on the ground, shaking uncontrollably.

“Did you just speak? Are you…”she said quietly, her calm demeanor changing to one of concern. She nervously looked around the room before kneeling next to me. “Are you still in there? Can you hear me?”

“Of course, I can hear you!” I sputtered, struggling to retain some form of control over this beast I was inhabiting. “What is this?”

She looked sad, almost horror stricken as she leaned closer to hug my neck. The effect was immediate. A wave of calmness flowed over me, and my shaking seized. Whatever this body was, it was very close to this young lady.

“I am so sorry, whoever you are. It was never supposed to be like this. I had no idea…” she said softly, tears swelling in her eyes. “If only I had known sooner. For how long?”

I tried to respond again, but any control I had was lost. I just laid there, a passenger along for a ride he had never asked for. Perhaps I died and this is my punishment. God was a fickle being at best. While lost in thought, a single word was uttered that resonated with my very soul.

“I know things seem grim…but I will make things right.” She whispered.

At that moment, my eyes snapped open, and I was once again transported somewhere I had never seen before, but this time I remembered. The past was flowing back into me like a raging river, threatening to split my mind open, but I withstood it.

“Crim, my name is Crim.” I spoke aloud, or at least tried to. I was met with nothing but bubbles rushing up past my face. It took me a moment to realize, but I was suspended inside of a large tank of water. An assortment of tubes and wires were attached to my still large furry body. Almost immediately, I began to flail around wildly, ripping most of the equipment from myself before the front of the glass swung open and dumped me, water and all, onto the cold steel floor.

It took me a few moments to regain my balance and stand up, still a little dizzy from the rush of emotions and past events. Once I had regained my footing, I looked around. This place resembled the old one base, but we had just left through the gate. Did it fail? No, we are definitely somewhere else. Glancing around quickly, the area was rather drab, but functional. White stone and steel made up just about everything, even the furniture. The water that had spilled from the tank seemed to absorb into the very solid looking floor. I figured this was not the first time somebody had made a mess here.

After taking a few steps forward, I instinctually shook off the water, sending droplets flying in just about every direction. Once I felt dry, I raised my nose to the air and took a deep breath. Nothing. I smelled chemicals and nothing more. The kind you would use to disinfect a wound. The area was spotless besides where I walked, but even that was quickly taken care of by some unseen force.

“If the portal did in fact work, then Katie and Tom should be here somewhere, right?” I said quietly in an attempt to reassure myself. I’m sure they are fine. Why wouldn’t they be okay?

I sighed and started exploring. Those two had to be around here somewhere. Thankfully, at least at first glance, this place looked a lot easier to navigate. I was used to ruined buildings and deserted city streets. Clean hallways and tidy rooms were much preferred. Yelling probably would have sped up the hunt, but a gut feeling told me it would be best to remain silent. It did not feel dangerous by any means but more like a polite suggestion. Regardless, I tried to remain quiet.

There was only one way out of this room, which at this point had to be a medical bay. Healing pods, surgical tables, and more glassware than I could swipe off a desk. It looked just like the room Katie and I had first discovered in the lab. Taking the only path available to me, I strode through the automatic door into the barren corridors. It was honestly kind of eerie. Creeping along, I poked my head into each doorway I passed. I tried my best to be stealthy, but the doors slid open on their own accord as I approached and after a half dozen or so, I just gave up on the idea.

Although this place felt very similar to the facility back in the ruins, it gave off a completely different feeling. Before, I felt nothing but death and misfortune. Here though, it was quite pleasant. Almost like a second home. I could almost feel a memory swimming up to the surface of my mind, but before it could reach me, a voice called out.

“Crim! My goodness, are you okay?” came the familiar voice of Katie, my ears twitching happily in response.

I spun around so fast I knocked a table and all of its contents over onto the floor. Paying no mind, I leapt forward to meet Katie’s embrace. She threw her arms around my neck, burying herself in my fur. A few moments later, she pulled back to reveal a teary-eyed face.

“We were so worried you know! There was so much blood, and you weren’t healing like you normally did and…” she cried, now thumping my chest with her fists in frustration. I let her get it all out. It had been a very long time since I had anybody worry about me.

“It’s good to see you too Katie. I’m sorry to make you worry but as you can see, I’m perfectly fine now.” I said, giving my usual toothy smile.

“You really need to work on that. You’re going to give someone nightmares.” Came another voice from behind Katie. It was Tom.

“Oh, hush Tom. Be nice. He saved your life too you know.” Reprimanded Katie, temporarily diverting her attention from me.

“I’m plenty thankful for Crim’s help. I’m just saying his smile could use some work. Less gum perhaps.” Mused Tom. It was good to see he was still his normal self.

“I’ll try to remember that but more importantly. Who wants to tell me where we are and what happened? My head is still spinning, and some answers would be nice.”

As if they knew this question was coming, a third figure appeared around the corner, their face obscured by a hood. They looked anything but normal and without even thinking, by body tensed up at the mere sight of them.

“You are currently in my home. Welcome Crim, it’s good to see you again. We have much to discuss so come along.” Said the figure, their voice soft but radiating with power.