Notice: The following chapter contains gore that may be unsuitable for some. Please skip if you are uneasy about gore.

“How could I possibly surprise you?”

“Because you knew it was impossible yet you still tried. It may have felt possible but deep down you knew there was no way for you to do anything. Scott is powerful enough to singlehandedly commit genocide, Elysif is capable of healing people on the verge of death, and Iscarat is feared by probably the most powerful organizations in the world. You on the other hand have a knife and a shitty memory of the future so what could you do next to them?”

“I know that already. I’m useless.”

“You may be now but with me you have an eternity to become powerful.”

“So will you help me escape this maniac?”

“Of course not! This is just getting good.” he said in a belittling tone. I am getting really tired of this kid.

“Will you at least tell me if I can save this person and if so how to do it?”

“No, they're impossible to save because they’re an Elder One, or one of my children.”

“Wait your child, wouldn’t that make you want to save them more?”

“Of course not, I created them for the sake of this dimension and as such they must live it out in their own way. The reason they can’t be saved is because all Elder Ones can’t change their destinies nor can anyone else. Do you remember what was said about changing things that affect stuff you do?”

“Yes, I can’t change something that affects something I have already done because the universe will correct it.”

“Exactly so him capturing you has forced this moment to be affected by her death. In turn, since all Elder Ones are connected then the death of an Elder One is permanently set in stone. He has sealed the fate of the one he wanted to save, as well as any others.”

“Then how do I get out of here and escape the Masked man?”

“You must unlock your ability or die here. Also he isn’t the real Masked man, just a knock off.”

“Can’t you help me explain it to whoever he is?”

“Nope.” Tim said before I woke up in a cold sweat. Unlike before I didn’t have that falling sensation. What an asshole. I looked around to see I wasn’t on the cot anymore. I was tied to a barbers chair.

“Have you come up with an answer?” The one claiming to be the Masked man said walking over to the left side of the chair.

“I can’t help you even if I unlock my ability. An Elder One can’t be saved, especially since you did something that was entirely dependent on their death.”

“First, I want to know how you knew she was an Elder One and second, what did I do that was so dependent on their death?”

“My power told me they were an Elder One and by capturing me you have set their death in stone.”

“That wasn’t the answer I wanted to hear.” he said grabbing my left pinky finger and snapping it completely back. I cried out in agony before he grabbed the next one. This continued with snap after snap until every every finger on my left hand was broken. Tears ran down my face as I begged him to stop but instead he went to my right hand and continued the process.

“Do you want to go back in time now?” He asked. I nodded in response as I sobbed. My fingers were broken and I couldn’t even move them. My left hand was starting to turn blue and swell from the pressure. “Then do it!” he yelled as he slammed a butchers knife down on my left index finger. I screamed in agony for a moment before looking down at my missing finger.

I attempted to beg for mercy but nothing came from my lips so the knife was brought down again but on my left middle finger. I screamed again but as I did an old rag was stuffed into my mouth in place of a gag. It tasted like dried blood but I didn’t care. The pain was too unbearable for me to worry about that.