BING! BING! BING!

Then immediately, her shackles and her binds unlocked. Marco found herself free from the chains. She took off the muzzle and started to feel her way around the area. Marco still didn’t have any shoes, so she had to be careful not to step on the nail.

Marco looked out the broken-out window to see the sun setting fast. All she saw were cornfields for miles and miles that were twice as tall as she was.

“For fuck sake!” Marco said out loud.

There was no getting around to it; Marco had to leave the house and go into the field. She opened up the door and immediately ran off the porch and into the field. The wind was picking up, and the cornfield was wrestling about, creating an unsettling ambiance.

But there was no way around it. She had to go into the field if you ever wanted to save her best friend and her baby.

As she walked forward, she snagged on the tripwire. It triggered the well-placed bells and chimes that alerted the wolves in the area.

The fear finally took hold of Marco as she ran into the field. With little to no direction on where she is going, she was good as blind. All she had to do was keep going straight, she thought. And it worked. Like she even had an option, to begin with.

She felt and heard something was coming from the left of her, and she dodged right. There is a good strategy, but she still garnered a lot of attention as she felt tired. It has been days since she hasn’t had anything to eat or drink. It felt like she was running on empty for something was compelling her to even run in the first place.

Her legs felt heavy, and her lungs were screaming as she just ran as it felt like hours. Unfortunately, it was pitch black. And she couldn’t see her hand in front of her face. That was until she found the cornfields becoming less and less dense as she found a way out, only to find herself in a vast countryside filled with trees and broken down farm equipment that has been used in decades.

If only she had a flashlight so she could rummage through the parts. Marco wanted to get something strong so she could defend herself. Then she heard a loud squeal from far away. It wasn’t a pig or a hog. It felt like something bigger, probably even more demonic.

But Marco had to get going, even though she felt dazed and confused. Even though she wanted to give up, she was compelled to win this twisted game. However, her body was betraying her as it was becoming harder for her to stand. Marco felt hot and sweating out of her clothes.

Only the moon was the only light source that illuminated this dark area. As if it was the heavens giving her a break for once. She spat on the idea. Always have to run from town to town. Always keeping to herself, so no one would know who and what she was. Always keeping herself at arm’s length so she would never have to love anyone, only ending up hurting them. She had learned to run and be afraid of who she is.

Realizing her defeat, she took solace at a nearby tree and rested. It didn’t matter if some unholy creatures come out of nowhere and tear her apart. At least she would be free, she thought. Hearing the same demonic squeal but closer, she tried to get up and run, but she couldn’t. She hyperventilated and cried while crouching under the tree.

“Lydia, I’m sorry… Please forgive me…” Marco pleaded, closing her eyes tightly, preparing to die.

As she could hear the demonic beast roar and charge towards her in the darkness, she can hear footsteps wrap aside her, charging at the beast. There is a struggle as the beast was fighting someone in the darkness. She can even hear the demonic beast cry out in pain while hearing hard packing sounds of stabbing.

Marco didn’t know what was going on, but the cries of the demonic beast stopped completely. Breathing heavily, she sat up and opened her eyes. It was then she saw three women in the moonlight, only wearing black tunics. The three were tall and well built, but one had fair skin while the others had dark skin. Then, the three paid their attention to frightened Marco.

With high regality, the three slowly walked towards Marco, who is petrified to run away.

Marco even felt tears running down her face, “spare me! I didn’t mean to tread on your land…! I didn’t mean to do any harm or--”

Then the girl with this fair skin knelt before her as Marco can see her world green eyes sparkle in the moonlight. She can even see her face as it was the expression of sadness. Out of character of her vicious nature, the fair-skinned girl gently wiped Marco’s tears away. She was pretty, have to be young, probably in her 20s. She had long white hair with a heart-shaped face.

They stared at each other for about 10 seconds, but it felt like it was longer than that.

Then, the young woman spoke, “you have been suffering a great deal…” She spoke in a Scottish accent.

Marco didn’t know what to say, but she had to do something. So she said what was on her mind, “You have no idea…”

“Are you lost?” The young woman asked.

Marco nodded, “I need to get out of here!”

“Yet you have found what you have been yearning for…” The young woman said.

Marco was at a loss, “I don’t understand…”

“You have always been afraid of what was inside of you…” The young woman stated.

“Feel like I’m in the world made out of Styrofoam, and everyone has lost their minds…” Marco agreed.

“Aren’t you looking for warmth, comfort, and replenishment?” The young woman asked.

Marco shrugged as she tried not to answer truthfully, “I had a hard few days…”

The young woman looked at her with such determination now, “the wolves are at your door and will devour you. Would you want to awaken from your nightmare and free from your bondage?”

Marco nodded, “they’re going to kill my friend and her child. She did nothing wrong.”

“Are you willing to unlock the power that is inside of you and able to do what is beyond righteousness and depravity?” The young woman asked.

Marco always knew that her being an Umbra Witch was a tough life. There was no room or place for people like her and her kind. They hid for many decades, even centuries, to avoid scrutiny or being hunted down by various religions. But their struggle for normalcy was pointless. Even now, the third revelation.

And so, Marco made the only sane choice in this insane world, “would you want me to do?”

“Do not cower. Stand along with us.” The young woman demanded as Marco rose to her feet, staggering a bit. “Remove thy garments.”

Marco’s fear was creeping up again. She saw the faces of the three women, and they were dead serious. They wanted her to strip down naked in front of them. Then she thought about Lydia and her baby. Marco didn’t want to waste any time as she took off her sweater and her pants. Also, removing her bra and panties. Modestly she covered herself up and shivering in the process. The young woman even undid Marco’s messy hair bun and her long black hair fell to her waist.

“Do not be afraid of what those have envied for so long,” the young woman praises.

“I guess that’s a compliment…” Marco grumbled as she started to blush.

Then, the young woman gave her the gigantic bloody heart of the beast that was chasing her, “eat your fill.”

Marco hesitantly took the bloody heart with both hands as the other two dragged the beast away. It’s not like she didn’t want to eat it, but she had one little problem, “is there any way I can… um, cook this?”

Knowing Marco has fully accepted being a complete Umbra Witch, the young woman smiled, “however you want it prepared is up to you, and I shall guide you.”

Marco knew many spells that required a lot of Netheral energy but being around this place that was a hotbed of such energy gave her a significant boost. She used a weak but effective fire spell to cook the heart medium-rare. Afterward, she consumed the heart. It was a lot to put down, but at least flesh was soft to chew and flavorful.

Marco immediately felt her whole body change, also known as The Daemonia Shift, a transformation that nephalems like Marco go through when they finally unlock our true natures with those who have daemonic heritage. It all depends on what type of creature you are descended from. In this case, she has the blood of the Umbra Witch coursing through her veins.

Immediately, Marco felt her body temperature rise as she started to sweat profusely. Her breathing was shallow as she started grunt a little for air. Her heart felt like it was about burst out her chest, since it was beating rapidly. This went on for at least a minute.

Then, her body started to cool off, her black hair started change into a silverish white. Her heartbeat slower and slower. Marco’s eyes even changed from a soulful green to a sultry cherry red. She felt more relaxed and comfortable in her skin, even when she was naked. She even felt more empowered by the darkness and nature surrounding her, giving her strength. Most importantly, all of her fear was gone. She can even see as clear as day in the nighttime. The supposed creatures of the night feared her instead of the other way around as they kept their distance from afar.

The young woman was amazed by this as she even blushed at the sight of Marco’s complete transformation. Moreover so, she approached Marco and gave her a passionate kiss. Marco couldn’t help but giggle at her first lesbian experience. It was nice, but she preferred men.

Then the young woman guided her by the hand as they walked in a vast grassland. Marco didn’t know where she was going, but she can feel different presences nearby. All strong, all of them were Umbra Witches, but not as strong as her.

Then the young woman guided her to a bonfire where many Umbra Witches were celebrating and chanting around the fire naked. Marco had witnessed a coven holding a Witches’ Sabbath around a bonfire. As if the wind was guiding her now, she joined along with the coven chanting and dancing as if she knew the words herself. Marco never felt so alive in her life as she finally let it all go and set herself free.

Marco then found herself levitating above the bonfire with her fellow coven. She couldn’t help but laugh at the pure joy of finally being herself and finally being one with the darkness and nature.