She knows the end is near.

***

You hang chained at the bottom of the world. Infinite darkness stretches on all sides, yet you yourself are exempt from it. Massive bands of shiny, silver material are clamped firmly on your ankles and left hand, the latter of which you hang helplessly from. You struggle and shift helplessly, completely unable to do anything except find a slightly more comfortable position to hang in.

Your chains extend into the impervious darkness, disappearing like shadows into the darker night.

You hang there for an undetermined amount of time, your shoulder beginning to burn under the strain.

There, in the dark. A sound? No, footsteps.

A sickly, grey-skinned man wearing a loose, black wrapping of tattered cloth appears out of the darkness. He looks around before speaking, his blackened hands that could have been burned and charred resting at his sides.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"Quite the dream you have here, Julia," He speaks, still glancing around at the formless void around you, "I wouldn't wish this upon you, this is a prison meant for me alone, despite the fact my efforts were for the betterment of The Grand Chapter."

"Who are you?!" you ask, clenching your unbound hand at him.

"Didn't I say I would tell you when you kill those three people?" he responds, halting in front of you, "Either way, it won't be that long now, L'Neeri Een'mokk is going to die."

Your breath catches. "What?"

"Did you realize? L'Neeri has one of the Shards. Yes, he will die soon, but not by your hand. You have been taking too long on this little quest of yours, so I am intervening."

"No!" You struggle and flail against the chains holding you suspended, desperation and anger mixing into a rushing concoction. "No!"

"Yes, I will. I have sent another Branded One to kill your friend through their Aarkiel, Sell'eff'ind'ond. You might know him, his name is Der'ii."

Your eyes widen and you breathe in sharply. You continue struggling. You scream and curse and throw every swear in your knowledge at this grey, charred man.

He sighs, "Good luck, Julia, but I'm afraid that he will be too much for you. Go and reclaim what is yours, and become whole again."

Everything disappears.

***

You bolt awake, sunlight streaming through your windows.

L'Neeri.