Pale Flesh

At first, Aiden couldn't believe what had just happened to him. It was like something out of a horror movie, leaving him sitting confused and bloodied on his bed.

A blood red flash dot appeared in Aiden's vision, spreading into a holographic status board floating before him. Strings of letters formed:

Xiir Haevae Esterrae Divinii

Assimilating with host

0%

10%

20%

40%

60%

80%

99%

Complete

The screen vanished. A gentle whisper like the voice of something inhuman said "say it."

"Say what?" Aiden thought.

The voice replied "Status."

"Status," Aiden said unwillingly.

The blood red status screen returned, showing statistics about Aiden's body:

BIOMETRIC INFORMATION

ⓘHEALTH - 100%

ⓘSTAMINA - 100%

ⓘHUNGER - 75%

ⓘINTELLIGENCE - 140

ⓘREFLEXES - 180

ⓘSTRENGTH - 80

ⓘSPEED - 160

Aiden frowned. "What is this?"

The voice calmly responded. "Feed."

Aiden recalled how his head had regenerated. It seemed impossible, yet had happened.

Aiden's stomach growled; he was starving.

He approached the mirror. His head was fully healed, but now his skin was pale and glossy as marble. His once icy blue eyes were now blood red. A small red dot pulsed, signaling the AI's presence.

Dread and wonder filled Aiden as he contemplated what mysterious power now flowed through his veins - and what gruesome sacrifice had awakened it. Still, this power promised answers, so he knew he would follow wherever it led.

With trembling hands, Aiden turned from the mirror and walked into the unknown.