The sense of: watching

<< every sense has a story #2>>

The stories you heard, started to make sense,

When you finally saw it on the Netflix screen.

Till then you just accepted your knowledge under false pretense,

You realised how important is the world, so much unseen.

Then only, when you see,

You realised than its always more than what meets the eye,

You were just watching the world in awe,

Now you began to see.

The toddler in the playschool,

He’s now demanding toys he had seen in other kid’s grasp.

You would fill his wishes like a fool,

As after long day at work, you just don’t want to relapse.

One of the key sense of vision

It can teach you deception or discretion,

The power lie in not what you see,

But on how you see.

The key design of human anatomy

Losing it may feel your life will be gloomy,

Sometimes though, loss of vision gains you a perception.

That everything may not be as you see, it was always the mind’s deception.

Unshackle your mind of the maze of sense

For the gift of vision is both blessing and a curse.

For the mind to be free as a spirit,

You need to listen to the story of each sense to make sense.

That “everything and nothing is true” is the ultimate presence.

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The long standing curse

This is a continuation of the fanfiction on Clive Barker’s Undying. Read the previous parts here:

http://insatiableavi.com/2019/08/08/what-remains-of-the-covenants/

http://insatiableavi.com/2019/08/25/youngest-one-awoken/

http://insatiableavi.com/2019/10/31/aaron-vs-aaron/

Curse of The Undying ones

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Aaron Jr was rowing the boat slowly as much as he can. His thoughts were so much in a different world, that he was not even listening to whatever Lizbeth’s head was speaking. By now he knew that the Covenant family curse started at the small island known as “The standing stones”. He had the feeling that the end is near too. Whether it is his end or the Covenants or the curse, he was unsure of. The sky was constantly crimson for some reason. Lizbeth’s head explained that it might be because the Oneiros, the country of lost dreams started to break into our reality after Pattrick Galloway killed Otto Keisinger in a duel earlier.

“Brings back the memories. We were young and naive when this started. Such a long journey we had from being naive to being undead. Ha..ha..ha..ha..ha..” Lizbeth said with her ear-piercing laugh.

Aaron was in his own chain of thoughts. Like what will happen at the standing stones? Will there be more blood? More madness? More remnants? Howlers? Scarrows? All he could understand now that the curse came to Covenants as they invoked the undying Celtic king who was cursed by being buried alive. The only way to kill is by the scythe of the celts which is now with Pattrick, who had recently tried to defeat the undying king and was almost killed.

Aaron docked the boat when he reached the islands. It was a small island stretching about a kilometre. He could see a few stone structures in the middle. When he reached there, he saw five standing stones with markings which are familiar to him now. There was another set of stones with the same markings, but they were lying like someone’s tombstone. There was a splash of dried blood on them.

“Finally! The youngest arrived with a new pawn.”

Aaron jumped towards the source of the voice. Although he had experienced this earlier, this time around was another surprise. The voice came from the head which belonged to Jeremiah. Pale to the core, still wearing specs and eyes glowing with a strange golden illumination.

“I knew that this day would come when you will try to claim power. It has been a tussle amongst all of us for a while, even when we were alive.”

“I at least didn’t get anyone else killed in the process.” Mocked Lizbeth.

“Never should have come here in the manor,” Aaron grunted.

“Ah hello, young Aaron! Mind to tag me along with all of my brothers and sisters? Seems to be a nice family reunion happening on your body and heads. That might be the solution anyways.” Jeremiah muttered the last statement to himself.

“On that, I agree. Take his head and go to the tomb. My howlers are here too, to witness their queen’s ascension. Ha..ha..ha..ha..haaaaa!”

In her reply, about 5 howlers came into view. Two of them were chewing on a mutilated human body, the rest of them were bringing out the anatomy of the body and feasting on them.

“Poor boatman. He was cute to take orders from a talking dead-head. “Lizbeth laughed and continued. “My dear nephew and brother! I intend to make you their dinner if you don’t get me what I want.”

Aaron silently picked up Jeremiah’s head and tied him on the cloth on his back.

“Devils are supposed to be scary, not loudmouths.” He muttered. He noticed that his blood was boiling inside his body. It might be his agitation towards the situation. But it only happened when he picked the eldest member of the family. The sensation picked up on his recent wounds. Out of nowhere, his skin opened up and blood started to drip off his cuts. The blood started to drop and flow towards the stone. In no time, the blood of Aaron, the last alive descendent of the Covenant family, started to settle down on the sign of the horizontal rock. The sigil which was hidden due to dust started to shine blood red.

Instinctively he looked at Lizbeth’s head, now hanging completely lifeless. It was as if someone had drained every remaining soul of hers. Jeremiah, on the other hand, was laughing. His eyes glowing redder.

“She served her purpose, and so did you. It was me who kept her alive. It was me, who sent those thoughts to your head to come here. I am now this close to be the most powerful one in all universe. I WILL POSSESS THE POWER OF HEL AND UNLEASH THE ARMY OF DRAUGAR. I WILL BE THE UNDYING KING!!”

Aaron saw the head of Lizbeth lifeless now as it was supposed to be. He also noticed that all the Covenant family members are moving upwards. They were now placed on his shoulders. Aaron and Ambrose on left. Lizbeth and Bethany on the right.

Many things happened in a short span of time after. Aaron saw two figures running towards him. One with long brown hairs, white shirt and leather pants. He had the Gel’ziabar stone on his neck as well. He was moving his
Hands in some gestures making some spells. Another was completely covered in the hood and had a staff. At the same time, he saw two howlers jumping towards them. One big howler, however, came towards him and struck at his heart. Blood started to slur out of his body and his heart was now in the howlers hand. Immediately, the howler picked Jeremiah and placed his head where the wound was created at his chest.

“For years I was yearning for a stronger body. Now I have yours and the powers distributed amongst my siblings. I am invincible! Ha..ha..ha..ha.haaaaaw!”

This time the laugh had multiple voices.

“Now we Covenants will rule the world as one Undying king. Now no one can defeat us.”

Patrick, who just killed the howlers now had Jeremiah’s attention.

“You will be defeated this time Jeremiah. Once and for all. This hunt of power on the expenses of so many lives needs to end.” He roared. He moved his hands in a gesture and few skulls came out of nowhere and launched and blasted at the new entity Jeremiah has become.

“Never learning. Always the same Pattrick!” Jeremiah levitated from the ground and moved his hands. Suddenly the island was covered with portals from Oneiros. From each portal, there were scarrows coming in. There were Draugar joining them. The Draugars had shotguns and spears just like the Trasanti warriors. Pattrick and the hooded monks were able to deflect and get rid of a few. But they were too many for a small space.

“Now suffer the wrath of the Undying king!” All the heads on Aaron’s body were now in Remnant form. Each head chanting some incantation to control the different monsters. The numbers were overwhelming for two of them, forcing them to fight tooth and nails. Patrick was constantly switching between the scythe and his spells to defeat as many as he can. The hooded guard was also animated and now joined by three more hooded figures, which helped to level the battle. However, the numbers were still too many and the Undying king was not stopping. Patrick knew he needs to stop him somehow. Thus he fired all the silver bullets in his revolver at him.

In an unexpected response, The undying king blocked them midway in air and flicked them away. The bullets ricocheted towards the Scarrows and Draugar nearby.

“Still not learning.” The voices said in disgust, they conjured a lightning bolt towards him and other hooded guards. One of them was unlucky to not notice what is coming at him. He got knocked over to the electric shock and died immediately. There were then bolts raining throughout the ground, Patrick survived only because of the possession of haste and shield spells he had recently learned before the previous encounter with the undying king.

“Two can play the game!” Patrick roared as he shot lightning spells of his own towards the Undying king and blinded him for a moment. He then rushed towards the levitating king with quick glides and the scythe of the celts held tight. With two swift motions, he hit Bethany and Ambrose’s head to disconnect them from the body of Aaron Jr. Both heads tossed to the ground lifeless and some of the monsters dropped dead with them.

“Even if you kill any of us, we will rise again and again. It has been a cycle for years unless the Undying king gets the place he deserved all those years ago. Unless he takes the revenge on those filthy Celtic monks who buried him alive. Unless I..Unless we help him achieve the same. This was a chance via Lizbeth’s cycle like earlier it was me. Next will be Aaron, then Bethany and Ambrose. We cannot die until we fulfil this curse.”

“There is always a way. You do not have to sacrifice your family. Exposing your siblings and now the next generation? You need to end it now and forever.” Saying so, Patrick unleashed the skull storm. Jeremiah did not move and deflected them away.

“You may have gone strong and got these magical spells, but I am way too strong now.” He flicked his wrists and it lifted Patrick and others off the ground. He then moved his hands to throw everyone else except Patrick. He gestured to bring him closer and brought him in front of Jeremiah’s head. “Join me or die. What will it be, my friend?”

“You have been evil since the beginning. I can never call you a friend.” Patrick retorted.

“I cannot be killed! EVER!! And now you cannot leave this ground.” Patrick’s screams filled the crimson sky as the Undying king summoned swords out of thin air and slashed at Patrick’s legs until they were disjointed from his body. Blood filled the ground below as he fell on the ground with his legs drowning in the red pool. Patrick was losing a lot of blood. He knew his end is near. It was impossible for him to beat the Undying king this time. While he was gathering his final thoughts, Lizbeth spoke up, “You are the weakest one. Always wasting time in sparing what can be threatful to you. You are a coward who will never get the glory from this power. Aaron, kill him!!!”

Aaron’s hands moved and pulled Jeremiah to disconnect him from the heart. Then he tossed the head, juggled it with lightning bolts and dropped him in front of a howler. The howler jumped and caught the head. It started chomping on it as if it has been hungry for ages. The crunching sound of the skull can be heard loud. Then the howler hopped out of the view.

“One more down. See Patrick, I helped you too. And now I will finally kill you!” Lizbeth laughed hard. Patrick knew his end is mere moments away. He could not move and he had losing blood. He collected last of his strength and put up the magical shield around him as the last defence. He pulled out the Gel’ziabar stone and yelled, “I summon thee.” A black portal appeared in his shield and the head of the hound of Gel’ziabar appeared. Patrick tossed the stone to its mouth and said, “You know what to do!” The hound went back while the portal disappeared.

“Lizbeth! This is my last moment. But I promise you, this is going to be the last for you too!” Patrick took his last breath and dropped lifelessly. In the next few minutes, the stones started to disappear. The portals to Oneiros were closed. The hounds, draugar and all ghostly elements dropped dead.

“So the past is altered.” Aaron was gaining control back on his mind and body. He pulled Lizbeth’s head and held in front of him. “Power never lasts. Now the Covenant family can rest in peace.

“Noooooooooooo!!!!!” Were her last words as all the Covenant family heads disappeared into oblivion. Aaron dropped on his knees, feeling liberated from the control of the demonic power which held him in control. Aaron looked up, with tears and relief in his eyes. He could see the sky getting cleared while most of the structures of standing islands were fading till the point where there was no proof of conflict. In the next few minutes, the only sound which could be heard was the wind blowing through the island and Aaron being the only one alive. He saw the corpse of the magician, the one the Covenant’s knew as Patrick Galloway. His hands still clutching on the string attached to the Gel’ziabar stone. While Aaron was still comprehending the events of the last few hours, the stone appeared again in the hook of that string.

Aaron knew in his heart that the stone is for him to carry. He was not sure of what has to be done with it but he was certain to pick it up and say goodbye to his short legacy of being associated with the Covenant’s family and the long-standing curse of the Undying King. He picked it up and then went back to the boat to row himself out of the island to figure out what’s next for him. He may have got a taste of power and evil. Now it would be his decision to choose his fate.

---

FRIDAY 13th April 1990

The Covenant family siblings were excited to the core. They were out on their own after many days after Jeremiah discovered about a nearby standing island and a magic book. All of them were excited to play the game of magic. They place the book on the flat stone and started to chant the Gaelic chants in rhythm. Lizbeth being the youngest was excited and giggling her heart out.

Halfway through the chant a purple light appeared and started to become like a magical gate. The children were excited to see this outcome. They became louder as the sky also changed. They stopped when they saw a big brown hound jumping out of the portal and growling at them. The hound had a strange green stone on its neck, which started to glow. The hound jumped on Bethany and Ambrose and bit off their heads instantly. The children are now horrified. They shouted and started to run away from the centre of the stone. But the hound was fast, it attacked Jeremiah and inserted its paws to his heart, drawing it out in open and killing him. Then it jumped towards Aaron and killed him like Bethany. Lizbeth who was happy a few moments ago was now standing still. She was shocked as to how this can be the outcome of their little play. Then out of nowhere she hurled a howl and charged towards the beast. In her child’s brain, this was an impossible outcome. The hound was also taken aback when she jumped on him. But she was a child now. The hound was much more strong to shake her off to the ground. Then it bit on her head, killing her immediately. It then started to drag their bodies towards the portal until half of each body was in the portal. Then it went inside the portal closing the same. The bodies were sucked in and there was nothing left other than the eerie silence.

The End

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This is a work of fiction and does not have any correlation to any living or dead person. This fan fiction is based on Clive Barker’s Undying. All character rights are either with Clive Barker or EA games.

The Youngest one

This is a continuation of the story, “Curse of the Undying One”. Fiction based on Clive Barker’s Undying.

Read the previous part(s) at:

http://insatiableavi.com/2019/08/08/what-remains-of-the-covenants/

Curse of The Undying one

Aaron Jr was terrified. Every bone of his body was shivering on sight he was seeing. The beast in front of him was already horrifying. Also, the creature was holding a severed head. Blonde, green-red eyes, canine teeth were blood-soaked. Her hairs were burnt in patches, and one can smell the smell of burnt flesh. Her forehead had a black layer showing the amount of damage on the skin. At certain places, the flesh inside was visible. There were scuff marks on the chin which was also dripping with blood. It looked like the head has taken a recent victim. The beast also had bloody paws. It howled with intensity. Aaron touched his Scrye symbol. He took the revolver out in his other hand. It was aiming at the beast now. The beast was waiting for her order to charge. The head, however, was observing. It suddenly said,

“See from the other eye.”

He was about to shoot the beast. The head shouted, ” Idiot!! Tap your new ability to see what cannot be seen from normal eyes.”

Aaron lowered his gun and touched his mark. The scene shifted. The beast and the head now had a purple aura surrounding their body outlines. However, the head’s appearance changed. Aaron could now recognise it. The skin was back; the hairs were organised, the skin now was flawless, no traces of demon teeth and blood on them. Even when he recognised it, it was enough to surprise him. He toppled on one of the gravestones while walking away.

He could only say, “Lizbeth? H…H…How?”

“Cursed, dead and stuck here. What do you think? Am I pretty now or earlier. Ha..ha..ha..ha..ha..ha”

The laughter was piercing in his ears. It was demonic. Aaron was perplexed; he couldn’t move due to fear. He couldn’t think of what to do. He was at the mercy of the demons standing in front of him. The head continued, “You know, I am surprised. I never knew dear brother Aaron had done something to give us a way out of this wretched curse. And a chance to get back at Jeremiah. If only I knew before Pattrick came and killed us all. I would have come and eaten your heart out like a delicious snack. He was hiding. Yum!” She smacked her bloody lips. “Now, I am hungry again. So I will give you an option. Kill my beast or have him killed you. Either way, I will be eating another fresh flesh and will access to Covenant blood from a living body to break out. Kick out Otto from here, and control the Undying king for my pleasure. Ha…Ha..ha..Ha..haaaaaw!!!!”

She opened her mouth wide. Long tongue and demonic teeth came into visibility. “KIIIIILLLLLLLL!!” a shout came out of her mouth. The beast dropped her head on the ground and howled aloud. Even before Aaron was able to blink, the beast jumped on a mast in the ground above the light. Hiding it from the visibility. Aaron was now back on his feet. He could hear the howling sound coming close. He could not see it in the dark. The heavy winds blowing were making it difficult to judge. He was now aware that it is now or never, and he would be dead if he cannot kill the beast. He had no idea how to do it, though. He took his revolver and took a shot in the direction of where the howling was coming over. He knew he missed as the next moment the howling direction was different. The beast was suddenly in front of him and attacked him with the big claws. Instinctively he put his hand in front to defend. However, something happened which had the howling beast jump back into the darkness. He saw the Scrye effect flickering for a moment.

Lizbeth’s head was shouting, laughing and enjoying this show. “Kill!!! I want to see blood. Oh! It makes me thirsty. Ha..Ha..Ha..Ha..Ha!!!! I am getting meat in exchange for meat. Ha..Ha..Ha..Ha..haaaaaaahhhhh!!”

Aaron dissed her as he had to save himself first. He changed his position, now the revolver tight in his hand. He tried to listen back to howling. It was hard while Lizbeth screaming. Aaron was sure she is a pure demon. As what he could see was beyond logical explanations. He shot again towards the sound but missed. The direction of the sound changed.

“Dumb!! Like father, like son! Cannot listen to me even when I give the clues. ” She screamed.

He dissed her again. But something caught her attention. His mark was glowing again. He touched it, and his vision went flooded with purple and crimson lights. Strangely he could now see the beast clearly. It was hopping on tree branches away from usual light. It made a high jump towards him to make the final strike. Both its claws open coming at him to take the heart and head. It was going for the kill. It’s instructions clear from the beginning. But Aaron could see it coming. Immediately he aimed his gun to its head. With a well-timed shot, he fired. The bullet went through the brain with a loud burst. The beast dropped lifeless on the ground. It’s head though, hit the tombstone of Ambrose.

“Well, that takes care of the small pest.” Lizbeth’s head squealed. “Well! Well! We have a winner. Does this mean he will rise as a hero? Will he make out alive of the Covenant curse? Being the idiot he is, I highly doubt. Phbbbtttt..!” She took her long tongue out, mocking Aaron. Aaron, already frustrated and flustered, tried to stomp on her tongue to stop the abomination from talking. When he missed, he tried to kick the head. She then said, “Dare to do that, and I will call upon my 50 howlers to rip off your filthy heart and then dine on your intestines and blood like a hot stew. Don’t dare, and I would still do the same, but with that dead trash over there.”

Aaron stopped when he saw himself surrounded by at least a dozen ‘howlers’. They were about 7 feet tall, muscular man-dogs on two feet and big claws. “Now be a darling and escort me to the fresh flesh.” She said with conviction. Aaron, for some reason, felt to comply. He did not have many options, anyways. He was surrounded by too many, and he did not have a lot of bullets. Also, there was a thought back in his mind to see what more is in the store. He picked the head with the hairs. “Ouch! You blithering uncultured baboon! Don’t you know how to treat a lady?” The head screamed.

Now for the first time, Aaron replied with a normal voice, “I do! This is the first time with the ugly undead head only lady. I can tell that you need me more than I need you. Something tells me there’s more to know. Else I would have been shredded into pieces like that poor gardener.”

“Try to be smartass and get killed. Try being dumb and then die. Either way, you will be another headless corpse. Now pick me up and listen. You need to go inside and collect us. Try being smart, and I will invoke the bunch of corpses on you.” She muttered something, and suddenly one of the unmarked graves started to shake. The loose ground began to come apart, and suddenly, a boned hand came out. Then another, a skull started to come in view. Within no time, the whole skeleton came out of the grave. A bluish-white glow surrounding the whole skeleton. The skeleton slowly started to creep towards Aaron. The was inches away from him when he suddenly moved out of the path. The skeleton responded almost at the speed of sound and came back to him again, arms extended. Aaron grasped an opportunity and kicked it on the ribs. The Skelton, being an old one, went into pieces instantaneously. However, the glow was still surrounding it. The different parts started to join back again. This time, the head was in the middle where the stomach gap should have been. One of the arms held another broken arm as a staff and charged at Aaron again. He quickly took out the revolver and emptied the clip on the skull. The skeleton was tattered again. However, this time, it didn’t stand back. Aaron sighed a breath of relief.

“Don’t think YOU finished it. It was my powers which brought it out, and mine only can stop them. Now be a good baby and pick me up. We have work to do. And remember if you try to be smart…haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa” She screamed with her tongue stuck out like a hungry animal. Aaron thought it is best to play along if he wants to live and survive out of this place. He reloaded his revolver with bullets and aimed at her. “For now. You also need a reminder. I am the one with hands body and gun along with the brain.” He picked the head and tied a cloth around the neck as a nook. The other end of nook, he placed at the side of his belt.

“The dead cannot rest even later. Stuck at the most uncomfortable and stinky place and human. What did I do to deserve this.” Lizbeth’s head mocked.

“Shut up! What is it you want?”

“Glad you asked, unlike Mr Galloway, who always shot first. You need to get our bodies to the standing stones and chant some mumbo jumbo to get us out of this undying cycle. And also be alive throughout.”

“What do you mean?”

“Means, go inside, bring the heads of Ambrose and your father, Aaron. Get the head of Bethany from eternal Autumn and Jeremiah from standing stones. Sacrifice and let the course take place.”

“What?”

“Come on, you heard me, now be a darling and do this quick, or become a corpse like that real quick.”

Aaron had no option left. He went inside the gate. He wasn’t sure that he should be terrified, amused or annoyed while carrying a dead talking head. He thought what would have triggered for such undying state of hers.

As soon as he went in, same eerie winds and distant howlings sent a chill to his spine. Despite knowing the source of howling sound, he was afraid. He could not identify the other sound yet. Lizbeth’s head spoke, “Still scarrows are lurking around. If I were you, I would never set foot on that room on your left. Go up and go inside the second room on the right.”

“Scarecrows?” As he skipped steps on the stairs in a hurry to go in the mentioned room.

“Scarrows! Creatures from here lurking from hell. You would see them soon. Focus on the task now.”

Aaron shook his head and pushed the heavy door inside. It was dark inside in what appears to be a big room. Aaron took his torch and lit it. At least he could see something now. He started to look around the room when suddenly he stumbled upon some sort of staff. He crouched to see what it is. It was an axe which had traces of dried blood. Lizbeth’s head suddenly shrieked, “Murderers!!! All of them, hungry and bites more than they can chew. Always!”

“Calm down, demon! At least give a warning before screaming your non-existent lungs out. What are you talking about.” He picked up the axe to check. The blood was long dried. However, there was a flickering green glow coming from the top of the axe. He touched it without thinking. He had a strange surge of energy striking through his nerves, and his scrye glowed brightest. He could see an Irishman talking to Ambrose in his undead form, while Jeremiah was on the mercy of him. He saw a green stone was tossed to Ambrose by the Irish, which transformed him into a bigger demonic form then killing Jeremiah. He then saw the Irishman defeating Ambrose by decapitating him with a big scythe.

Then something strange happened, a big greyhound jumped on the Irishman as soon as he picked up the green stone. The hound picked it up as the Irish went unconscious and jumped towards Aaron now. Aaron fell to the ground by surprise. The hound was standing very close to him, as close as he can feel it’s breath over his face. However, it didn’t do anything to him, but dropped the green stone on his feet and left into darkness. As Aaron picked the stone, he saw the Irish getting up and picking up the stone in his time. Just then, the Scrye vision stopped.

However, he felt another surge of energy flow through him as he held the stone. Now he was levitating; however, it lasted a minute or so. Lizbeth’s head retorted, “Looks like you are more like that pathetic outsider than our own blood. Such corruption will not help. Find Ambrose’s head and let’s go for the next one. Remember, one smart move and my howlers will come on to you.”

“I know, No need to remind. What the hell I just saw though. This is going beyond my head.” He moved away searching for Ambrose’s remains. “Just focussing on what I need to do to get out of here alive.”

“Will you? Ha..ha..ha..ha..haaaa!!” The head screamed, it started to tilt itself so that it can touch the greenstone, which now started to glow brightly as Ambrose was moving towards one of the corners. Aaron slapped her back. “What are you doing? There is still three more to collect before you would try to eat me. Then..”. “Shut up!! I need the stone, it has powers, it is what exactly I need. What you saw is an instance of time-bending. That hound had helped in the cause. Once I rule over the undying one, I will think of sparing it.”

It again tried to roll itself towards the stone. This time, Aaron was then quick enough to deflect it away. He took the stone in his hand and away from Lizbeth. He continued towards the area where the glow was more radiant. He saw a head with a red bandana on it. It was pale white and had a hateful look in those dead eyes. As soon as he picked it, there was a hissing sound behind him. He first thought it was Lizbeth, then he turned and saw a figure about 10 steps away. The figure was slowly creeping towards him. It looked like a mix of a snake and a bird. Had three red beaks coming out of a skull and rest of the body like a reptilian standing on its tail. As it crawled towards him, the creature spat a black substance like a projectile to him. He fell down on the floor on impact. Another one landed on him, his vision was now blurred, and he could feel his skin burning. As it was coming in close, Aaron could feel his death onto him.

《Contd.》

http://insatiableavi.com/2019/10/31/aaron-vs-aaron/