Suspended in the air, ensnared by the metallic tendrils, I dangled like a marionette in the hands of a puppeteer. The mask before me, its presence ominous, seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy.

The rain continued its relentless dance, each droplet a witness of my transformation.

"My queen…Aclima," the whispered words echoed through my mind, a strange mix of reverence and possession. The tendrils shifted, adjusting their grip. Fear and confusion gripped me. Like I was an unwilling participant in a dance with the unknown. Standing on both of my feet, I carefully picked up the mask. The mask wasn’t just a logo, it existed as a tangible object. The exterior presented a blank white canvas, adorned by the persistent raindrops. In stark contrast, the interior revealed a profound darkness, illuminated by a mesmerizing blue glow that seemed to emanate from within.

My mind, clouded and tumultuous, couldn't think straight. Without fully comprehending the consequences, I turned it over and placed it on my face. In an instant, a sharp pain shot up my back, as if something pierced through my spine.

A barrage of whispers resonated in my mind, the enigmatic voice of the Whisper amplifying the disarray within. The whispers grew louder and louder, an incessant chorus that seemed to reverberate through the very fabric of my consciousness. The words echoed with a strange blend of reverence and elation. Each whisper, a fragment of the cosmic symphony, carried an otherworldly weight. "Our Host!" The tendrils pulsed in tandem with the rising crescendo of voices. "One with the host."

"Rejoice!" Their words echoed as if they've found comfort within me. "REJOICE!" The voices reached a zenith. Another set of metallic tendrils sprouted from my back, extending with an otherworldly grace. The mask, now one with my being, emanated a pulsating glow. Its blue radiance merged seamlessly with the darkness that enveloped my extended arms. As the tendrils extended, I felt a surge of power coursing through me. The pain, though sharp, gave way to a strange euphoria. My limbs, now a deep black, seemed to embody a duality that mirrored the mask itself.

My head hung low in a mixture of defeat and fatigue. A hollow chuckle involuntarily escaped my lips, my eyes locked in a widened gaze as if they were stuck in a perpetual state of shock. The voices from the Whisper joined in, their eerie laughter merging with my own. The chuckle evolved into an intensified, manic laughter that echoed through the empty streets as I looked up to the darkened sky.

"What have I become?" The question lingered in the air; its answer sickeningly clear to me. The transformation I underwent now reflected not just in my appearance but in the chilling laughter that spilled from my lips. A whisper attempted to escape my mouth, my voice strained and weak. "I’ve…become…a monster." The confession hung in the damp air, drowned out by the haunting echoes of laughter that resonated within my head.

Suddenly, a profound silence settled in the air, suppressing all voices. I continued to gaze up at the sky. "No…What am I saying?" I whispered to myself. As my eyes shifted downward, a grotesque sight greeted me. Eight mechanical tendrils, covered in my blood, sprouted from my back, twisting and turning in a grotesque dance that defied the laws of nature. Simultaneously, my arms appeared disassembled, separated into small parts and held up by black rods.

Desperation fueled my attempt to regain control over my body. I commanded the mechanical tendrils to pry the mask off my face. It began to peel off, revealing a glimpse of hope, but in a defiant response, the mask resisted. Claw-like appendages emerged, digging into my face with a cruel tenacity, thwarting my efforts.

"NO!" The voices sobbed, their mournful chorus echoing through my mind. The resistance against the mask intensified, a symphony of internal conflict reverberating within the depths of my consciousness. Each attempt to free myself was met with a relentless defiance from the mask, its clawed grip unyielding.

The voices pleaded and bargained, their tone shifting between desperation and a strange semblance of negotiation. "PLEASE!" "HOST!" "WE. MAKE. DEAL." The words echoed in a disorienting chorus. The sudden mention of a deal caught my attention, a flicker of curiosity amidst the turmoil.

"A deal? With some parasite trying to take control of my body? Stop with this…this shit! And give me my body back! I won’t let you take control!" I retorted, the defiance in my voice cutting through the chaotic symphony of whispers. Undeterred, I continued my relentless effort to pry the mask off, fueled by a fierce determination to resist the unseen force. “HOST! PLEASE! PLEASE!”

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"Alright! Alright, fine. Let's hear it. What kind of deal are you proposing?" I questioned, letting go of the mask. The persistent whispers softened briefly as I reluctantly ceased my struggle against the mask. "Host. Let. Mask. Off. Return. No. Abandon. No. More." The voices responded, echoing the words repetitively. I remained silent, struggling to grasp what the voices were trying to say. Amidst the chaotic whispers, a more composed voice emerged. An entity, clad in darkness, materialized. "My host, forgive my fellow whispers. Allow me to state our deal." it spoke with a tone of reason.

"We will allow you to remove the mask, but please, my host, don't abandon us. Keep us by your side." it continued, its words carrying a plea that echoed within the recesses of my mind.

“And why should I trust you?" I responded.

The whispers persisted, but this time, an unsettling stillness underscored their response. "My host... I can't provide you with a reason at the moment. Just please, use us. Don't abandon us." The entity's plea echoed in the air, leaving me with a sense of unease. "What's up with the host thing anyway? Why me? What have I done to deserve this?" My voice quivered with a mix of anger, frustration, and despair.

"It's for only one reason! You are the catalyst, the host, the one who came first, Aclima. After being sealed for many years by that...that disgusting man, we finally gained back our freedom. Your very existence is what gave us power once again. Our only wish is to be useful to the host." The entity's words carried a sense of desperation and sincerity.

"The one who came first? The catalyst? That doesn’t answer anything." I was left even more confused. "Fine. I will agree to your deal. In one condition. If you can’t accept that, I will force you out even if it means ripping my face off," I responded, my voice carrying a mix of determination and reluctance.

“Of course, my host. Anything! Anything you ask for!” The entity responded with unwavering enthusiasm.

Taking a moment to contemplate, thinking of a way to potentially get them to back out of the deal. An idea sparked in my mind, and I spoke with a hint of cunning. "All of you will be mine. I will own you and your power. You will all follow my every command. How about that?" I smirked.

"Of course! It will be our pleasure to serve you, my liege." The whispers, now subdued, resonated with satisfaction. I was shook, not expecting them to agree to my terms. The claw-like appendages loosened their grip, allowing the mask to gradually peel away from my face. As the mask detached, a surge of relief flooded through me. The tendrils retracted; the disassembled appearance of my limbs began to revert to their normal state. The blue glow within the mask dimmed until it was just a blank white object once again. I held the mask in my hands, its ominous presence diminished.

"Thank you, my liege. We are forever thankful for your mercy," the entity expressed as it slowly faded away, its whispers dissipating into the echoes of the night. I took a moment to secure the mask, tying it to my side with a rope I found on the ground. With the mask now tethered to me, I made my way back to the camp. The journey through the damp streets felt different, as if the very air held the residue of the encounter. The rhythmic patter of rain accompanied my steps, a somber melody to the silent contemplation that occupied my thoughts.

As I passed through the camp, the warriors looked at me with disgust. I was filthy, wet, and covered in blood. Entering my building, Zara was still laying on her bed, her eye still glowing. "Hey kiddo, how was your wal—GODDAMN KID! WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?" Zara exclaimed, rushing towards me. Desire floated towards me and latched onto my neck. "Where have you been, Mari? What happened to you?”

I remained silent.

"Nevermind that. Now, allow me to access your condition." Desire said as he quickly attached something to my neck, then detached, scanning my body with a faint blue light. "Other than a low blood level, everything seems to be fine. However, there’s something that’s peaking my interest here. It seems like there is something living within you. A machine of sorts. It seems so primitive yet, its construction is similar to mine." Desire observed, his eyes narrowing as he analyzed the results.

Suddenly, weakness surged through my body, and my legs gave out, sending me tumbling to the ground. However, just before impact, tendrils sprouted from my back, gracefully catching my fall. The entity materialized once again. "It is an honor to finally meet you. We are the Whisper, loyal servants to Aclima," the entity spoke with a bow that exuded both grace and reverence. “The Whisper, you say? I see. That explains everything. I congratulate you for finding your host.”

“Your words honor me, Lustreth,” The entity responded. “Don’t call me by that name. I will kill you.” Desire’s tone changed, threatening the whisper. The entity bowed once again, dissipating into thin air.

"Uh… What the fuck was that? What did I just witness?" Zara exclaimed.

"Not of any importance, Miss Zara. Please, continue to check on Mari," Desire replied, seamlessly shifting back to his normal tone.

"I'm… okay," I managed to say in a weak and strained voice. "Just a little exhausted, that's all." Zara gently carried me, laying me on the bed. "If you say so, kiddo. But for now, just chill. Your skin is getting pale. I’m guessing you lost a shit ton of blood considering you're all covered in it and all.” I nodded, slowly succumbing to the seductive embrace of sleep. Zara reclined on her bed; the room enveloped in a hushed stillness. Desire positioned himself next to me, curling up like a contented cat. As I drifted into the realm of dreams, a loud blaring siren started to ring outside.