By the time he was fifteen, Chris grew to be over 6 feet per inch. He rejected his family's ways and often questioned what they were doing. He told his parents that he was thinking of enrolling in the regional school, but his family said that he was too young. Yet, he had an active life among the girls and boys his age.
Chris sat down for supper with his family for the last time that evening. Supper consisted of a large assortment of dishes, including fish and eggs. Chris had a habit of eating his food with as much grace as a newly born fawn, but that night was an exception. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed his granddaddy staring at him. In turn, Chris stared back, but was unable to sense any sadness from that individual. On the contrary, Chris sensed something very dark from the old man's eyes. The same blackness that Chris would have found in his own eyes, had he been able to look into a mirror after a timeskip. An unyielding darkness, which told Chris that no matter what he ate, he would never be able to stomach this family's food again.
After supper, Chris bathed and retired to his bedroom. Only part of his mind and soul had gotten used to this grotesque life that was drenched in filth.
Ignoring the putrid scent of decay, he curled into his bed and went to sleep. His sleep was short and disturbed by visions, most of which were jumbled images that he knew were cloudy, yet none of which he could make sense of.
When he awoke the next morning, his granddaddy had disappeared, but was replaced with an army of… things. Their movements, like the jumbled blurred images, were incomprehensible.
Chris was apprehensive about his new surroundings, but tried not to show his fear. Finally, he had to sit down and try to understand what was going on. After the first few uncomprehended moments, he managed to see that these creatures were made of nothingness. There was no 'human in them. They possessed even less substance than shadows.
"Thought you were a human, didn't you?" One of the creatures asked. "And now, you have to learn what you are going to be."
One of the monsters then grabbed Chris and made to throw him into some sort of pool. He struggled, but was unable to escape his captor's grasp. As he was thrown into the pool, it felt like being flung into a wall. He screamed out in pain and then he was faced with a voice that whispered elaborate sentences into his brain. When he awoke, he did not feel any pain. Rather, he felt a tingling sensation that was not unpleasant. In fact, it was quite pleasant. He tried to wash, as instructed by his captor, but was unable to reach his body. His fingers seemed to disappear into the water.
With the help of his captor, he was finally able to reach the end of the pool and undergo a second transformation. His head no longer felt like it was held captive in a steel vise. His arms and legs were not attached to the rest of his body, but to the vise's grip. His body was now encased by a dark plate, which was unlike the coarse horrible flesh he was used to. It was like a seamless blanket. This felt wonderful.
His head began to grow, yet the other creatures were still there, staring at him. They now acted like he was in a huddle and his head was the only one that mattered. It was like a brother hood. Perhaps even a father hood.
"Chris Jones, lend me your ears," the one who held him said. "I have not had time to explain this to you before hand, so listen close. You now have ears, but they are not 'human ones.' No matter what you will see in the future, you will be able to hear whatever I speak to you."
The creatures glanced at one another. They now acted like young children eager to impress one another. "You are now a gargoyle, which was made to fear light and look above, rather than the human you were before. You now have scale. You will learn that feelings may be stronger than any amount or type of weapon or poison. You will experience a love like no other. And you will meet a friend that will never be forgotten. You will find this world strange, yet you will learn to love it."
"This world is not a place for people like you," his new 'father' continued. "This place is a place for those who are strong and determined. This place is a place for those who will never give up. This place is not a place for those who fear every sound and soundless thought. This world has no place for cowards. In this place, the strong survive. In this place, the strong become strong. But that is not all."
Suddenly, Chris felt himself quivering, as a somehow soothing yet frightening feeling coursed through his body. It was as if everything was weighing upon him. He was no longer stiff or cold. Now, fear came in waves, washing over him with each one from his captor.
"I promise you this is a good thing, and you will love it."
The creatures looked at each other again and then they began to blast each other with colorful lights. It created a mortifying sound. Unable to take it for one more second, Chris forced his mouth open and screamed. The sound electrified the creatures, who now began to dance in the patch of light that surrounded Chris. He was no longer the one humming, yet he was the one making it. Soon, his mouth was covered by the ball of light. All that was left of the creatures was the opening of their mouths. They were laughing like children.
At this, a rush of fear washed over him, but he was unable to move. He was trapped in the center of the light, which was now expanding and expanding until it engulfed him. At this point, the light had become a vortex, which exploded and sucked him into the middle of it.
With a jolt, he was now on the floor and his body was twitching. He slowly opened his eyes to find himself looking into the face of someone.
"What a strange one you are," she said as she gazed into his eyes. "What did he tell you?" she then asked as she scrutinized his face.
"I do not know what you mean," he replied.
"Do you not?"
He then realized that he was watching the girl who had first found him. She had been the one who spoke to him first.
"Sometimes it is better to just say nothing," she said. "At least what you said, if you don't know what you saw, it can't hurt you anymore." At this, she smiled, like a child. "What I thought you saw was no horrible creature demanding you."
"But what I saw was all of you waving in some sort of light and laughing," Chris said, who felt like he was talking to a wall.
"It is just a part of you now," she said. "You are a part of something bigger now."
At this, her eyes seemed to glow like fire. She seemed to be a part of the light. Perhaps she was the light itself.
"If only you could see it from me," she said. "If only you could see how I honor the ones who were kind enough to help me after my brother dragged me under a tree to die." At this, she broke down in tears, as she had been the one to find her brother in the forest; he fell under a tree and was impaled on a branch that pierced his body.
When she was composed, she stared into his eyes again. "You are someone wonderful. Do not let others tell you otherwise."
With this, she walked down the corridor. As she walked, she seemed to be surrounded by light.
Chris awoke, his cheek against his folded arms. A face full of salt water hung over his head. Dust hung in the air. Suddenly, the face moved up to the opening of the cave. The cave was the remainder of a large cavern and was the purpose of their bivouac. As Chris blinked and wiped the water from his eyes, he looked at his captor, who was looking uncomfortable.
"You should go. He will be up soon."