The sight makes me dry heave my already empty stomach. Every skull has been forced onto a pole, each spaced a few feet apart.

  Where am I? I don’t remember leaving that cell, was I truly that incapacitated? Based on the pain radiating through my body, I wouldn’t be surprised. And somehow the dead bodies from before have followed me to this strange place.

  This place feels different. Unlike anything I have experienced before. The energy feels more…alive. As if I have come from a land of shadow, only to be reborn in one of light.

  The grounds of wherever I am are massive, the fields of dead grass spanning for miles, only ending at the tall, stone wall that surrounds the withered farm. Behind the wall appears to be a thick treeline, so colossal I can hardly see the sky.

  I take a step towards the poles, and to my horror, find a flesh covered skull that is so fresh blood is still dripping from its decapitated neck. I gag at the sight, suddenly recognizing the blood splattered, beige curls. The same curls of the boy the General stole this morning.

  Most of the poles have bits of garments nailed to them, as if marking their graves. I recognize some of the clothes, like the rotting leather jacket that had belonged to Stevens, he had been at the prison for nearly five years before he disappeared.

  And then I see scraps of blue and green, ruffling lazily in the breeze. Without realizing what I am doing, I rush over, dropping to my knees in front of the cracked skull that used to be my friend.. Luca’s blood is still stained on his skull, even after the years that have passed.

  Reaching for the flannel, I tear it from the pole and button it over my chest, cleaving to the only piece left of him that will ever be.

  I look around the sadistic excuse of a graveyard, and take in the perished boys who were once trapped in the same prison I was mere minutes ago. Because there’s no doubt in my mind that that is who these boys used to be. Prisoners of the compound. If I needed any more proof, the pile of dead bodies I arrived with confirms it.

  My eyes flick back to the blood dripping head of the blue eyed boy and my heart nearly stops. If this is a graveyard of boys from the home, and if that boy is here…

  Stumbling backwards, taking a final look at the boys I once knew, I bolt.

  I take off to the wall that ends the flat, dead grass field, my legs desperately trying to move my drained and battered body. The wind tears at my face, and I’ve actually made good progress, until a thunderous roar sounds from my backside.

  I begrudgingly glance over my shoulder, and I fall to the ground as I see it.

  As horrifying as the esha was, it did nothing to prepare me for the creature now hurtling towards me. My breathing stops at the sight of the kraj. It’s even bigger than I possibly could have thought, the paintings in my book did it no justice. Like the esha, the kraj is one of Varkashi’s creations from after he stole the Mothers heart.

  Though they have the faint resemblance of a human or fae, the Kraj are beings who vary in appearance. For the more flesh they consume, the larger they grow, but it only works if they skin their victims and bind the fresh layer onto their own.

  Their forms mock that of the fae, their faces a combination of those that they steal. They speak from all of them simultaneously, each stolen life combined into one, each voice an echo of who they used to be.

  I can’t believe what I’m seeing right now. Is that truly a kraj? It must be bigger than my childhood home, and has thousands of faces woven into its sickening, lumpy head, its body a patchwork of varying skin that makes me queasy. The sparse remainder of hair from the scalps of its collected victims flow behind it as it gallops closer, all four of its limbs pounding into the earth like a stampede of elephants.

  The beast has already made significant progress, the realization that within the next few moments I’ll be sewn into its ghastly figure makes me scramble to my feet. I pivot from the creature as it again roars loud enough to shake the nearby trees, and run as fast as I can possibly move to the only chance I have of survival.

  “Come here, sweet little thing,” the beast calls gratingly.

  The chilling sound is a mix of so many different voices I nearly stop in my tracks. I’ve never heard something more terrifying, including the scraping of the esha’s talons that night.

  I make the mistake of turning around, and yelp at how close it’s come. There’s no way I’ll be able to climb the wall before it grabs me, let alone make it there.

  My steps slow, mind racing. Come on Delphine, think! What do you know about the kraj that is actually useful? The kraj are ghastly creatures with very few weaknesses. They only have one…but what is it? Gods, Delphine, the one time this actually matters you don’t remember.

  The beast is so close I can feel its wretched breath slamming into my face as it lunges at me with its massive, skin patched hand.

  I don’t have the ability to scream as it plucks my body from the ground. The monster pulls me around, and I recoil as each of his stolen mouths turn into wide, menacing smiles.

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  “Well, look what we have here!” It squeals. He holds me up to what must be his original face, seeing it is the only disgusting part of skin with eyes that are way too human for my liking.

  The beast wets its cracked lips with its thick, black tongue, “I didn’t expect another so soon, I hadn’t even finished with the last. Still need to add his face, oh how glorious his screams were. And your scent. How delightful. I’ve always loved a human. But you smell different, don’t you, little thing? Strange to me like I have never seen. Yes, yes, you will do nicely.”

  I just stare open mouthed at the thing in front of me. His true face is horrible, I can’t imagine a worse way to go.

  “Who- who are you,” I gasp.

  “My name is Szah, I rule these lands.” All of its many mouths chime.

  Szah. Why does that name sound familiar…

  The General.

  He said something about a Szah. Is this where he sent me? To this…this feeding ground?

  Szah begins to lift me to his mouth, and I strain under his grip. But it’s no use. It's now or never. Maybe I just need a distraction…

  “How long have you been here?”

  “Far longer than you will be,” it chortles, sending it into a coughing fit that has it hacking up bones, “Was just finishing him up when you got here.”

  Szah picks up one of the wet, partially flesh covered bones, and uses it to push my hair away from my face, “Yes, a nice face, I’ll put you near my own, and such fine hair you’ve grown.” I recoil as much as I can, but the creature only holds me tighter, “You will not be escaping me, little thing, not like the two who ran from me last dawn.”

  I look terrified into the too human eyes of the kraj, the only eyes on his monstrous form. His face is repulsive, it's-

  It's his weakness. The realization hits me so hard I forget where I am. The weakness is his true face. The kraj are ghastly creatures with very few weaknesses. They only have one, and that is their true face. By destroying the proud eyes you may find your freedom, though without you would do best to accept your demise.

  I have to remove its eyes. But how do I do it? He has my hands strapped to my sides and the only knives I have are the three secured to my thigh. Think, think, think.

  “I know I cannot escape you,” I state as evenly as I can, “So at least let me do you the favor of removing my clothes first so you don’t have to consume them, too.”

  “I am not a fool!” It growls, “I will not be putting you down for you to just try and escape, you pathetic human!”

  “Don’t put me down, then,” I don’t even think I’m breathing anymore, “Just unfurl your hand.”

  He looks at me for many painstaking moments, but then slowly lengthens his fingers so I’m resting on his stitched palm.

  I move quicker than I ever have before, and spin two blades into my hands just as the creature begins to close its clammy fingers. A growl rising from its dulled teeth, I fling the sharp blades into his mahogany eyes.

  They strike perfectly, and the beast howls in every collected scream as it drops me from its grasp, sending me flying to the ground and thumping onto the dead grass. Thick, black blood splatters everywhere, smothering my chest and mouth.

  “YOU VILE CREATURE,” the kraj roars, his hands frantically moving to his eyes, “I’M GOING TO FEAST ON YOUR FLESH FOR A WEEK!”

  But I’m nearly at the wall by the time he finishes. As he roars behind me, I at last reach the barrier, desperately looking for the quickest route.

  “WHERE ARE YOU!” It screams in the voices of every consumed soul.

  I turn back to the wall and frantically make my way up the protruding stone. I’m going to have to send the Colonel a thank you gift, it seems like his obstacle course really will come in handy. Reaching the top, I hoist my body onto the ledge that ends the climb.

  When I turn to look back, I’m satisfied to find that the kraj is still thrashing around the field, screaming is such a terrifying way that I have to pause to regroup my thoughts. Where am I supposed to go? What am I supposed to do? I don’t know how to get back to the compound, a part of me is wondering if I even can. I think I’m somewhere else entirely.

  I know it’s crazy. But I think…I think I’m in Hythalla.

  The thought is absolutely ridiculous. There’s no way it’s possible. But what else would explain that monster? What else would explain the esha that night?

  I pull away from the now blackened beast and gaze into the dark jungle. If I’m right, a thought that seems wholly impossible, that treeline must be the beginning of the Piandra jungles, or perhaps Ivierma. It could be either, based on the humid air and thick, green vines.

  Regardless, it could be easily as dangerous as the place I’m leaving. But one look back at the skull topped poles has me finding my first foothold to get down from the wall.

  I sprint to the wildly tall treeline, having jumped from halfway down the wall. I can’t believe that just happened. If any part of me still thought Hythalla was an illusion, that put an end to it. No matter how crazy it makes me seem.

  I skid to a halt at the first vine covered trunk, and peer into the looming jungle. It’s as dark as dusk, and from what I’ve read about Piandra, it could be raining so hard you can’t see your own feet at a moment's notice. This could be foolish…

  I again peer around the wide tree and try to get a sense of where I should possibly go.

  I mean seriously, what am I supposed to do? I just woke up here, with no guidance or instructions, or even an explanation of where I am. And if the kraj are real…then are the other monsters real as well? I suppose I know they are. I’ve already seen an esha.

  My heart stops dead.

  There is a very real possibility of stumbling into an esha hoard here. The clusters of the vile beings are typically carved into large trees or the ground. They are depicted as black, spider web-like nests that trap victims for future devouring. They could be anywhere, and this jungle looks like it could be the perfect breeding ground.

  The kraj again bellows from the otherside of the wall, brining me back to reality. Sighing in acceptance, still feeling somewhat unsure, I at last taking my first step into the jungle.