Paradox Chapter One: The More Things Change...

[Toastburner B]

I'm possessed by the old creature
Who had planned all
To take my soul
Too late for me
-Black Chamber by Blind Guardian


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For the first time in over a week, Isaac Knowlton breathed air that didn’t smell of disinfectant and the other things that give hospitals their own, unique smell.

Isaac took a deep breath, forcing himself not to think about the fact that last time he had had a breath of fresh air was before the change.

Pain, the likes of which he had never felt before. Worse than when that mastiff had almost taken his hand off. Worst than when he had been forced to endure having rabies vaccine injected into his abdomen for almost two week as an emergency measure. It was as though every muscle in his body seized into cramps. As he collapsed to the floor, the impossible happened: the pain got worse.

A car honked twice, pulling him from his memories. Ashley Hayes, his old childhood friend, pulled up, and waved for him to get in.

Despite having lived here his entire life, Ashley was one of the few people he knew who still lived in the city. Hampington was unique in this day and age: a city, not a big city, but home to a few hundred thousand none the less, that was relatively isolated. No airport, only one interstate highway, and the nearest city, Voorhesburg, was a good four hours away. That isolation, combined with the closing of several mills and factories that were the lifeblood of the city, had lead most people Isaac knew, including his family, to move away.

Isaac climbed into the car, throwing the small gym bag of clothing that was brought to him in the back seat. “Are you okay?” Ashley asked, a concerned look on her face, “You look like you haven’t eaten in days.”

As bad as the pain was, the way it felt like his bones were rearranging themselves, and that his muscles were growing at an obscene rate, it quickly became overpowered by something else: hunger. Hunger like he hadn’t eaten a day in his life. The sound of the barking and whining dogs filled his ears. His hand…at least, it used to be his hand…gripped the chain-link door of the nearest kennel, and with a tug, he pulled it clean off. Before the dog inside the cage could react, Isaac had grasped the poor things head and snapped the neck. Then he-

“Well, you know hospital food,” Isaac said, trying to force the memory from his mind. For the first few days in the hospital, as his wounds healed and his mind pulled itself together, Isaac was convinced that his memories of the events that happened has just been a dream.

Then the hunger came back.

It wasn’t as overwhelming as it had been the first time he had felt it. It was barely noticeable at first, but now it was always there, like a cut on your finger that you forgot about until you applied pressure to it. The hunger was always there, but Isaac kept it in check most of the time.

Isaac fought the temptation to shake his head to try to clear his thoughts. Ashley was already worried about him, and shaking his head at nothing wouldn’t help anything. “Thanks for giving me a ride home,” he said, hastily changing the subject. “I’m know you’re probably real busy in all, with the new exhibit opening at the museum and such.”

She snorted. “Yeah, the first time in five years someone decided to display something at there.” She said. “You wouldn’t think so many people could resist the prestige of displaying their collection at the Hampington Museum of History.”

Isaac chuckled at the old joke. Ashley was a history major at the local college, and had landed a job at the Hampington History Museum. However, given the isolation of the city, the museum didn’t draw a lot of attention, and as such, when someone decided to show their collection there, it had caused quite a stir in the city.

The animals go crazy as he fed on the dog, and the next one, and the next. At the far end of the kennel, a door opens. “Isaac, what’s going on in here?” Steven Holt, Isaac’s co-worked, called out. The sound draws the attention of the thing, and it leaves its latest meal to investigate. Steven screams, and runs. The creature is on him in seconds, and doesn’t treat the dying man any differently than it did the dogs…

“Isaac? Isaac, you okay?” Ashley asked, her voice full of concern. Isaac takes a deep breath, and pulls himself together. The hunger is beating at his mind, but Isaac pushes it back. “I’m good,” he said, “The doctor said I’d get lightheaded once in a while. Side effect from the shock or something. I’m good.”

Isaac knew he didn’t fool her in the least. They had been friends for far too long to be able to get a lie past one another. Her doubtful gaze lingered on him for a few more seconds but, much to Isaac’s relief, she didn’t call his bluff.

“I still say you need to eat something,” she said.

Isaac sighed, trying to force the last vestiges of the unwanted memory from his head. “How ‘bout a salad bar?”


((OOC: Alright, here we go. I tried to throw in some city description in there: Hampington has a population of about 300,000, so it’s a city, but not a huge one. It’s relatively isolated, but it has everything a city should have. I won’t go into detail on it, so you guys can make it up as it goes along.

At this point, you should be in control of yourselves, but the hunger is now noticeable at any given point of the day. You are unlikely to transform against your will at this point, but the desire to turn and feed is very much present.

Go ahead and just do as you please for a bit. I’ll start to throw out plot hooks later.))