I smelled the scent of blood before me. The metallic sensation mingling with a flowery wisp. My eyes focused on the petals soaking in the deep red poodle before me. Where was I? How had I gotten there? I couldn’t remember a single thing. I only knew, the thing that mattered most, was this faint flowery scent. 

My legs started moving without me controlling them. Before I realized what was going on, I ran down the stairs. Blood had dripped on every single of the stone stepping. It hadn’t dried yet, so if I only were fast enough, I might be able to reach her. 

Wait. Her? Who was her? Who was I expecting to be the victim in need? The only woman I could think of was Pam. Why should Pam be here? Where was this place? My body didn’t seem to bother my disrupted thoughts as it continued moving as if someone else was remote controlling it. 

At the end of the stone stepping lay a body. I couldn’t tell if the woman's hair had been red all along, or if it had been soaked in the blood like the flower petals. Her face didn’t resemble Pam’s, so it couldn’t be her. Who was she? Why did me heart feel so heavy as I watched her chest? 

Oh. It wasn’t moving. I probably shouldn’t be surprised because there was a large cut on her throat that no one could survive for a long period of time. She must have struggled to get away from an attacker, only to find her demise at the end of these stairs. Poor thing. Who would do such a thing? And why did the weight of it pull me down to such an extent? 

I started from my sleep before I realized what was going on. For a moment, I just blinked in the darkness while my brain analyzed the impossible. How did I have a dream? I hadn’t dreamed in all this time since I became a rifter! And even more important, why was the first dream I had this disturbing? Why did it feel so real? 

The world didn’t bother to answer me. I sighed, stood up and threw some fresh water in my face. So far, so good. I still didn’t know what this new day what hold up for me, but I felt a bit more prepared for the challenge up ahead. 

After a short breakfast, I checked my hiking backpack one last time and prepared to set out. Honestly, I wondered why Tarask hadn’t issued any new orders yet. Was he still asleep? Or maybe - he never crossed to my world with me? As I remembered, I hadn’t heard his voice a single time after I returned. Was I free from all this madness before it even started? 

You shouldn’t celebrate too soon. I am still here. 

I was disappointed to hear his voice again, but of course, it couldn’t be so convenient, that everything ended with my return. So, what was he planing on doing now? Even if people thought me dead, Great Britain was still a country with the highest surveillance per head. Especially in a city like London. So sure they probably weren’t looking for me, but once they were, they could spot me effortlessly with all the cameras. 

That’s the first problem we will solve before focussing on the search. I thought about hiding your face with a mask or a hood, but the hiding itself would draw attention to you. Especially wherever others aren’t hiding themselves in broad daylight.

Yeah, that was true. Alone the fact that I would hide myself would arouse suspicion from people thus bringing complications with it. Still, what should I do instead? I could try to blend in with the masses, but there was always a chance someone would recognize me. 

Exactly. So, we won’t take any chances. You’ll be able to walk among everyone without someone recognizing you ever.   

Not that I wanted to be a killjoy, but how should that be possible? Sooner or later, I had to run into someone knowing me.

There is a solution for that. Certain artifacts can obscure your identity with certain tricks. One of them happens to be in this town you call London. It’s a ring we will seek right away. I can feel its power seeping into the environment. 

Things like that existed? I didn’t come across any artifacts like this before, but after all the strange things in the rifts, it could be possible. But how should it work? Would it create another appearance for people looking at me?

Such artifacts exist as well, but no, this one is dealing with it in a more simple way. People will be able to see you just fine, there will be no strange distortion nor any change to your appearance. But whoever sees you won’t be able to recognize you. Therefore, it’s really suitable for my plans. Others may be more convenient, but this is the best in a reachable distance. 

Ok, this sounded like something that could work. With me being able to move freely, things would be over soon. At least, I hoped it would turn out that way. As I still didn’t know what we were searching, I could hardly guess how long it will take. 

Leave your home with the things you packed. We will take a ride to one of the cheapest places you own in this town. How were they called? Hostels? Once you secured a room for the week, you will leave your luggage there, and we will set out to find the current owner of the artifact.