The Chronicles of Sabbath

In a universe similar to your own lives a parallel one. One that mimics the basics of yours almost exactly with some slight differences. For example, this universe is 2x bigger than your own, and the flora and fauna here are bigger because of our realities, air content being thirty-seven percent more oxygen and carbon-rich. Other than these minor differences our worlds are about the same, from landmasses to oceans, and even mountains, but this reality of ours eerily rotates in a counterclockwise rotation in the reality's shadow you call your own. Here lies the one I call my home. The ancients or the first people of this world had many names for this place Earth 2, earth prime, and even New haven. Unfortunately, because of the creatures that roam this world known as '' The Accursed ", they settled on calling this world Sabbath. you're probably wondering who I am, after describing this place and its inhabitants and not myself. Let me introduce myself. I'm Ivy Wilson, a 20-year-old half Korean, half African zoologist of this world with mid-back black dreadlocks. I study the creatures known as, "The Accursed" and live in a place known as the central city or as people in your world would know it as New York City. This is where I work and live with my father Sky Wilson, a man of Korean descent who is a widely known philosopher and researcher that teaches about the beginning origins of the accursed, and the teachings of the ancients that were passed down throughout the ages. My mother Cecilia Wilson, a beautiful gentlewoman of African descent with whom I share many similarities also has mid-length hair. that's tightly curled. She works as a college professor in a city further south called sea salt similar to what you guys would call Florida. You're probably wondering why my parents are living so far from each other and probably assuming they're divorced. The answer is no. Both have careers in teaching, so you can imagine the mental conflicts between whose idea was right and whose idea was wrong," sigh" so they moved to separate places to teach their findings. It's kinda like a love-hate relationship, but in all honesty, I don't understand it myself but they still seem so happy with each other I tend to just go with it.

Chapter 1: preparing the adventure

Today I've been called into the office by my boss about something. I waited maybe a good 15 minutes before my boss, a man in his mid-fifties Mr. Mikhail Foster, came bursting through the door with an excitement that could rival that of a child in a candy factory. He announced barely finishing his sentences because of him gasping for air. "Mr. Wilson we got an endorsement for a physical study on all the accursed creatures around the world and I want you as my most promising zoologist to accompany me on this year-long adventure. So four days from now I would like for you to have everything you need ready". In my head I was ecstatic, but to keep my professional ways I agreed and shook his hand. After leaving his office and walking back to my office did I leap and jump around for excitement. I finally could study the accursed in their natural habitat and not books or their rotten body pieces. Now's the time I can figure out what these creatures are like in the wild. After some time. I left work and walked through the streets of Central city to get home and express the news to my mother and father, but through my walk. I glanced around to take in my surroundings. Surrounding that I've become accustomed to, but at this moment. I was trying to save the memory of my home because in four days. I will leave here for a year and want to walk these familiar streets I call home. Through my walk I noticed myself wondering at the marvels of the retro and futuristic machinery which makes up our city. The retro aspect takes inspiration from the period that you guys would call the 18th century as the ancients adored the architect and how it blended uniquely. From old rustic spherical shaped copper lanterns that hovered just high enough that a person wouldn't hit their head while it illuminates a warm subtle light that flickers similar to a candle in the wind by the light that's been stored from its time being basked in sunlight throughout the day, Lancaster cars which are popular luxury hover cars for central city's most wealthy and sophisticated with its striking rust-colored paint jobs.

The most common design is a rear and mid-mounted dual engine that activates an impeller responsible for lifting the vehicle by forcing air underneath the vehicle to perform a 360 radius of movement, all while hovering at speeds of 120mph. As I examined the technological advancements of this city, the walk home seemed to pass by like a flash. Before I knew it I was standing outside the door of my home and before I could even unlock my door. I was greeted and engulfed in the arms of my father in a hug similar to being squeezed by a serpent. In a bit of confusion and happiness, I squeezed back, but before I could say good evening, my father beat me to the punch.

" I'm so proud of you, my little vine. Mikhail your boss has informed me through the pocket graph (which is a pocket watch that has the same capabilities as what you guys in your world call a cellphone but with holographic projection capabilities which projects a complete copy of the person who is calling you) and informed me of the opportunity that has graciously presented itself to you. When are you going to depart for this analytical study of yours,"?

Father, I said after barely escaping his grasp, and trying to regain the wind that was forced out of me because of his excessive hugging. I'll be departing in four days.

" Hmmm, '' said my father, ' that doesn't give you enough time to prepare. we shall see to your preparations, my son needs only the finest necessity for his journey,".

Chapter 2: Off to Ocixem

These four days have been stressful. not only because my anxiety has flared because of this whole ordeal but also because my mother and father have been making this whole experience a disaster from my father and his over-packing my luggage with clothes and sentimental things such as pictures of us as a family. Along with him packing my favorite childhood teddy bear Mr. Jenkins. To my mothers' constant calling on the pocket graphs to explain the significance of being safe and listening to Mr. Mikhail. I was feeling like a child of 10 again when we would go on holiday to visit my grandparents. Continuing this transgression, I received a call from Mr. Mikhail alerting me of his arrival shortly which made me excited and nervous at the same time. A few minutes passed and a familiar chime came from the front of the house. I walked to the door in just a few steps to see Mr. Mikhail waiting at the door and just behind him a car packed to the brim with luggage most likely filled with his attire and researching material. Before I could say anything. My father called to him from behind me. " Mikhail come in, come in. So we can have a quick discussion about the first stop in you two's daring adventure". During the discussion, Mr. Mikhail explained that the endorsement came from a bank in the wealthier parts of Central city. Who has noticed the connection between the facility in which I work and the famous philosopher Sky, and did it to get on not only my fathers' good side but also make a pretty penny off the research trip to get more clients?

My father thought the sudden willingness from this bank was rather flattering/suspicious but advised me to be on my toes during the trip. I agreed and asked Mr. Mikhail to tell me more about the details of the trip. only to be stopped by him and advised to just address him as Mikhail because for the next year we would be getting closer. I agreed and asked what was our first stop and the significance of the year-long research. Mikhail said " well, ivy as you know we're studying the accursed creatures in their natural and most primal states. Which you should be aware of from your work and studies of the accursed? We know that the ancients categorized the accursed into 12 classes. One which they placed in name to represent each of the constellations in the astrological zodiac. So our first stop in our adventure. is where the first zodiac sign and the first accursed creature known as The Tyrant Aries who is supposedly known to be in Ocixem a small mountainous region south of the border that has an annual average temperature of around 75 degrees Fahrenheit, which is a perfect place for this creature to thrive". After hearing what Mikhail had to say. I played it over and over in my head about a dozen times until my father snapped me out of my thoughts with a firm slap on the back which reassured me everything would be ok. I said, with an excited tone, that I was looking forward to this journey and with a nod of approval so was Mikhail. As we finally packed all my things in his vehicle, it was a miracle that it all fit. I turned to hug my father goodbye before I departed only to be crushed yet again in his hug which I swear I could feel my bones cracking, and after our moment of sentimental affection just like that I was hovering away at rapid speeds looking at my father grow smaller from the distance. Central City was growing ever so distant. As I watched the landscapes move by, I fought with my internal conflict of emotions that ranged from excitement to anxiety until Mikhail reassured me that everything would be ok. After almost nearing ocixem. We only had one hour left in that 20-hour drive.

I decided that before we even stepped foot in this region, I would do some extra research on The Tyrant before our arrival, and to my understanding. There is only the basic information about this accursed creature. So basic as to the only things recorded is its height which can range between 3 to 4 feet (0.9 to 1.2m) high and a physical description in which it has sharp horn-like protrusions running down its back with 4-inch claws, fangs, and big eyes. With this vague description, we can't prepare for this adventure to observe the creature. Our best bet is to discuss with some people in ocixem about their experiences with the creature. An hour passed As I continued to research deeper in the textbooks to find more on this creature until suddenly the vehicle halted pulling me forward. if not for my seat belt I'm sure I would have become one with the dusty pavement. I looked to see what was the cause for this random stop only to glance over and see Mikhail quickly hop out of the vehicle while holding up his pocket graph taking pictures. I asked him if something was wrong or if he had seen the accursed creature. Only for him to turn my way with a smile that was not only creepy but filled with strange happiness for him to say " look ivy there are Caryophyllales on this cactus and look a nine-banded armadillo just scurried into a shrub and look a family of jackrabbits is staring at us isn't it amazing to be out in the wondrous great outdoors for a chance to do our research". As he took a deep breath to breathe in the air of this place, it was also followed by a cough because of him inhaling dust and sand. I laughed and thought to myself how can a man of fifty act like such a silly kid, and I wondered if I would have the same enthusiasm when I reached his age. He explained to me that people in our field can rarely study outside the borders so being able to do so is a great honor. So after his wildlife/ landscape admiration and jotting down some quick notes during his photo-shoot we proceeded back and continued on our trip. A few minutes passed, and we stumbled upon a small marketplace that sold an array of things ranging from pendants with unique patterns to spices, clothing, and food that smelled divine to our noses; and after that excursion, we were starving. Mikhail ordered for both of us a dish that contained a mixture of shredded meat, aromatics, fruits, and spices that was topped with a cream that tastes like walnuts. It was light and filling. After our well-deserved meal, I brought back up asking the people about the creature to get more information and location. Mikhail thought that was a great idea but also informed me to be careful while walking around. I reassured him and replied that he should be careful that he doesn't get into any trouble which received a laugh from him. " Ivy said to Mikhail we'll meet back here in this exact spot in 30 minutes so try to get as much information as you can within that period but nothing more.

Aye aye, sir I said jokingly before we parted ways. I asked a few people that were walking around and the best I received was that the creature has black fur covering its body and it was very agile. As I continued to ask questions, I noticed an older woman approached me. She was shorter than me with snow-white hair braided in one large braid draped on her shoulder. She also carried a basket full of red flowers, some knitting sticks, and some yarn. she seems to have just finished shopping, and she spoke in a soft polite tiny voice

" Excuse me, young man, I apologize for invading your personal space but I couldn't help but overhear you asking people about the creature and would like to tell you what I know about that creature. if it's too much, you can follow me to my home in the center of the marketplace.

I looked at my pocket graph and noticed I had 15 minutes left before I had to meet Mikhail and agreed to follow her. While we walked to her home In my head, I thought to myself that if my mom saw me now walking with a stranger to a stranger's house I wouldn't hear the last. The thought swirled around my mind until we arrived at her home. She was right. She lived in the center of the marketplace in a small square house with a little small concrete wall, a large field out back, and a small courtyard in the front filled with the same flowers in her basket. she must have planted them here is what I thought, but I carried on. She invited me into her home and encouraged me to sit in a rocking chair with flower patterns branded into the wood of the chair with dark green paint for the stems and red for the flower petals similar to the flowers in her garden. The elderly lady sat in the chair across from me. She introduced herself and I learned her name is Cereza Silver, a former florist who explains all the flowers and that she has seen this accursed creature before. She told her story.

"Well it all started nearly 28 years ago, I lived in this small area years before this marketplace was here with my husband, Darrio, and our two sons Henry (7) and Rainne (11). We were happy where nothing ever happened, and we lived peacefully. The boys and my husband were outside playing while I was in the kitchen preparing lunch when a sudden freak dust storm flowed our way from the distance. My sons and husband ran back into the house before the storm became too enraged and we watched it from the safety of our home. The storm lasted throughout the day and long after we turned in for the night, but we weren't prepared for the outcome that would happen later in the night. I was awakened in a full sweat by a disturbing nightmare I was having and walked downstairs to the kitchen for a glass of water to ease my nerves. As I finished, I looked at the storm for a minute watching it still raging with fury when I noticed something in the storm; something black and about the size of a child standing there staring back at me. I rushed to the door and opened it to get a better look at it, only for it to disappear. I walked out on the porch and looked around while the wind continued to blow more aggressively. while I fought with the wind to see, I felt something slice at my leg and I screamed in pain. while holding my injury I glanced and there out in the storm, I could make out my eyes. all glowing shades of orange in the storm's cover. As they tried to drag me into the house. I occasionally looked back only to see black creatures closing in on me. I finally made it in the house but not before I received another slice to my thigh.

While thrashing around I kicked one and with a quick movement slam of the door behind to hear only the storm at the door. I screamed for my husband while holding my wounds only to hear panic coming downstairs in the shape of Darrio. "What happened to my love?" he said in a panic. I pointed and said there's something outside. He turned on the lights, grabbed a knife from the drawer, and proceeded to the door. I pleaded for him not to, only for him to open the door and be greeted by a dust storm and my blood on the porch. He shut the door still in disbelief that this happens only to see our sons at the top of the staircase looking over this ordeal in fear at their panicking father holding a knife and bloody mother on the floor. Darrio tried to explain/reassure the boys that this wasn't his doing only for the lights to flicker hastily before blanketing the home in complete darkness. Henry screamed, and I encouraged Darrio to go to the boys. He dropped the knife and ran and only got to the middle of the stairs before we all heard a crash from the window and the thing I saw standing outside was in our house. It stood on two legs and was covered in black short fur with longer fur on its hands and feet. It was about the same size as our son Henry, so around 4 feet in height, with five long claws on both hands. The wounds that were inflicted on me throbbed by just looking at them. It had a stinging pungent smell similar to that of sulfur and iron with sickle-like protrusions traveling down its back. Its orange eyes locked on Darrio and the kids and within a blink of an eye, it ran after them up the stairs. I stood in pain, but I tried to help only to be kicked back down the stairs and knocked unconscious by something on the way down. I awoke to the sun's warm rays showering over my body along with the chirping of birds and a major headache from the fall. I picked myself up and called for the boys and my husband only to get no answer. I continued to call and search until I was hoarse. I wept, cursing myself for being useless and to the creature that has disturbed our peaceful home. I limped outside, tears blinding me until I saw Rainne laying face down in the dust with severe slices and bruises.