And the sky...

It churned above like a living thing, colors shifting violently from blue to red then back again while clouds roiled in patterns that made no sense whatsoever.

"Archer..." Maria's voice barely registered over din created by unnatural storm raging overhead. She pointed towards something further down street—something I'd initially overlooked amidst chaos surrounding us.

A figure lay crumpled on ground, unmoving despite rain pounding against flesh and bone with relentless fury...

As we approached cautiously through puddles reflecting distorted images of ourselves back at us like funhouse mirrors gone mad; it became clear that this wasn't just any victim but rather someone familiar.

"Lizzie!" Maria cried out recognition before rushing forward, heedless now caution or self-preservation.

I followed suit despite knowing better—desperate to understand what had transpired here while we'd been unconscious within warehouse walls...

But Lizzie didn’t respond—not even when turned her over gently onto back so could examine wounds more closely. Her eyes stared up at us blankly, unseeing; mouth agape in silent scream frozen forever on lips now blue with cold.

Her body bore signs of struggle—clothes torn and bloodied from countless lacerations crisscrossed across exposed skin like some macabre roadmap leading straight to hell itself.

"What did this?" Maria whispered horror-struck, fingers tracing edges wounds tentatively as if expecting them still bleed fresh despite evidence suggesting otherwise.

I shook head slowly—at a loss for words capable expressing revulsion churning within gut at sight before us. This wasn't merely an attack; it was desecration pure and simple.

Then I noticed something else: symbols etched into flesh around each wound—not deep enough to have caused fatal injury but still deeply disturbing nonetheless.

They seemed familiar somehow...like ancient runes carved by long-forgotten hands onto stone tablets meant only for eyes capable understanding their true meaning...

"Archer," Maria interrupted thoughts, pointing towards Lizzie's chest where something glinted dully amidst torn fabric—an object half-hidden beneath broken ribs jutting out at odd angles.

I reached in carefully and retrieved it—a small metallic disc inscribed with same symbols adorning corpse before us. It pulsed gently against palm; warm despite rain pouring down around us.

"What is that?" Maria asked unease creeping into voice now as she eyed artifact warily from safe distance away—understandably so given recent events.

"I don't know," I admitted truthfully, turning disc over in hands searching for answers hidden within its surface. "But whatever it does...it's connected to this."

I gestured towards Lizzie’s body lying lifeless between us—a grim reminder that power held here could prove deadly if mishandled.

Suddenly Maria gasped sharply—attention drawn away from our discovery by something else happening nearby.

We turned just in time see another figure stumble out onto street, collapsing mere feet distant with bone-chilling scream echoing off walls surrounding them. It was a woman; her face contorted into mask of pure terror as she clawed desperately at own flesh—digging fingernails deep beneath skin until blood flowed freely down cheeks like tears.

"What's happening to me?" She shrieked, voice raw with agony and fear intertwined.

Maria moved towards help but I grabbed hold arm firmly before could intervene further. "Don't," warned urgently under breath while nodding subtly toward woman’s hands now sprouting extra digits—thick black nails curving into talons sharp enough to rend flesh.

She hesitated mid-step, realization dawning on face as she too recognized signs of transformation taking place here.

We watched helplessly then—as victim thrashed about wildly in throes madness; body contorting grotesquely under influence unseen forces tearing apart very fabric being from within...

And when finally stillness returned once more—only silence remained broken occasionally by distant rumble thunder echoing through streets now empty save for ourselves and remnants carnage scattered across pavement like some twisted game of pick-up sticks gone horribly wrong.

"Archer..." Maria began softly, voice barely audible over din created storm raging overhead. "What's going on?"

I looked up at sky churned into frenzy above—at colors shifting violently back forth between red and blue while clouds roiled in patterns defying logic or reason...

And then I knew: whatever had caused tower to collapse; whatever force now warping reality itself around us...it wasn't done yet.

"We need answers," said finally after long pause, turning towards Maria with grim determination etched deeply into every line face. "Answers only one person can provide."

She nodded solemnly—understanding my meaning without needing further explanation.

Together we turned away from scene devastation behind and set off down street together; leaving Lizzie's body lying cold amidst rain-soaked ruins while seeking solace within arms of another—a desperate attempt cling onto humanity even as world crumbled around us...

But little did know then just how much worse things would become before journey ended—or what horrors awaited those foolish enough dare gaze into abyss staring back at them from depths unknown...

I woke up to a symphony—one that wasn’t playing outside my head but within it, resonating through every fiber like some grotesque lullaby composed by madness itself.

"Archer," Maria's voice cut into the cacophony as she shook me awake. "We've got another one."

Groggily pushing myself up from where I'd collapsed after...whatever had happened earlier—my mind still refused to wrap around it—I squinted at her through bleary eyes.

"What is that noise?" My own words sounded distant, muffled by the relentless din inside my skull.

Maria glanced back over shoulder towards source of sound before turning grave expression upon me. "You don't want know."

But I did—needed to understand what we were dealing with here; needed answers even if they'd drive nails into coffin already being hammered shut around us.

"Show...show me," was all could manage as she helped pull up onto unsteady feet.

We moved cautiously through ruins, each step echoing ominously against silence that hung heavy everywhere except where symphony played on—its volume increasing exponentially with every stride taken towards it. Until finally...

There they were: a circle of people standing around something...someone at center; their faces contorted in expressions ranging from horror to ecstasy as if caught between two opposing forces tearing them apart.

"What the fuck..." I muttered under breath, eyes widening upon realization that figure on ground wasn't just injured—it was being torn limb-from-limb by unseen hands while still very much alive and screaming.

Maria grabbed my arm before could step closer. "Don’t," she warned sharply yet softly so as not draw attention from others present.

"But we have to help them!" I protested, trying futilely against her grip even though knew deep down there was nothing left do for poor soul writhing in agony below.

Maria shook head slowly—her gaze locked onto mine with such intensity it felt like she could see straight through me. "It's not human anymore," came whispered reply.

Before I had chance to question further, symphony reached crescendo—and everything changed again...

Shadows twisted into tendrils that lashed outwards from center of circle; each one tipped by razor-sharp barbs which sliced effortlessly though flesh and bone alike—leaving behind bloody stumps where limbs once were attached. Those afflicted fell silent mid-scream, their bodies convulsing violently before stillness claimed them.

Then came the truly horrifying part: as if controlled some puppeteer hidden beyond realm of sight those lifeless forms began moving again—but this time under own power; crawling towards center like mindless automatons drawn inexorably to source of dark energy pulsating there.

And then they started...singing. A chorus composed entirely from screams and moans—each voice adding layer upon already nightmarish symphony until it felt as though very air vibrated with malevolent intent.

Maria pulled me back further into shadows cast by crumbling building nearby; her breath ragged against my ear.

"Whatever this is...it's not natural," she whispered hoarsely. "We need to get out of here."

But how? Every exit seemed blocked off now—either physically or spiritually—and even if we managed escape, what awaited us beyond these twisted ruins?

As those thoughts raced through mind like rats fleeing sinking ship below me figure rose up from midst chaos—a woman whose features were both familiar yet grotesquely distorted. It took moment recognize her as Dr.Lizzie Thompson—our forensic pathologist friend who'd led investigation into this very scene mere hours ago.

"L-Lizz..." I stammered out before Maria clapped hand over mouth silencing me.

Her eyes met mine again, filled with warning: Don't engage; don’t draw attention our way. But how could we not? This was Lizzie—one of us—and she needed help even if didn't know it herself.

Yet as watched helplessly from shadows cast by decaying world around her began to change once more...growing taller, thinner until resembled nothing so much than some emaciated scarecrow brought horrifying life. Her skin stretched taut across bones like parchment pulled too tight; eyes bulged grotesquely behind thick-rimmed glasses now cracked and askew.

And then she spoke—voice echoing unnaturally loud amidst cacophony surrounding us: "Join...us," it rasped, tendrils of shadow writhing around her like serpents eager to strike. "'Y'golonac calls forth its children—and you are among them."

Maria's grip tightened on my arm as if preparing for flight—but where could we go? There was nowhere left run; no sanctuary remaining amidst this hellish landscape.

"Lizzie...it’s me," I called out softly, stepping forward despite Maria's protests. "Elias Archer—remember?"

Those bulging eyes turned towards sound of voice—and recognition flickered briefly within their depths before being swallowed whole by darkness once more.

"No..." she whispered hoarsely; head shaking slowly from side to side as if trying dislodge some unwanted thought clinging stubbornly onto consciousness.

"Lizzie, please," I begged desperately. "Fight it—whatever this thing is inside you...you can beat it."

But even before words left mouth knew they were lies: whatever force held sway over Lizzie now was far beyond anything human could hope combat against.

And then she laughed—a sound that echoed hollowly through empty streets around us; sending shivers down spine despite warmth of day still clinging stubbornly onto fading light.

"Foolish mortal," it sneered, voice dripping with contempt. "'Y'golonac cannot be fought—not by you nor any other pitiful creature crawling upon surface world."

With those chilling words uttered Lizzie turned away from us—her body contorting grotesquely once more as if preparing for some final transformation.

"Liz!" Maria cried out suddenly, lunging forward despite my attempts hold her back. "Don't do this!"

But it was too late: with a scream that seemed to rend very fabric of reality itself Lizzie's form exploded outward—showering us both in gore and viscera as something else emerged from within...

A creature unlike any other I'd ever seen or imagined—a writhing mass composed entirely flesh, teeth, claws...and eyes. So many fucking eyes staring back at me with malevolent intent.

Maria stumbled backwards away horror before her; retching violently onto ground beside us while my own body froze solid—mind unable process what lay mere feet distant.

Then came voice again—but this time it echoed not just through air around but also inside very skull itself: "Join...us," commanded 'Y'golonac.

And despite every fiber being screaming at me to run—to flee as far away possible from whatever monstrosity now occupied Lizzie's body—I found myself taking step forward instead; drawn inexorably towards source of dark energy pulsating there...

"Elias, no!" Maria screamed behind me—her voice barely audible amidst symphony playing on all around us. But it was too late: I'd already crossed point beyond return.

As approached creature formerly known as Dr.Lizzie Thompson reached out tendrils tipped by razor-sharp barbs towards mine own flesh—and knew there could be no escape now; that soon enough would join chorus of damned singing praises to 'Y'golonac...

But then something happened—something entirely unexpected: instead touching skin those shadowy appendages paused mid-air before retracting slowly back into main body mass. And in their place emerged...hands? Yes, hands—the same ones Lizzie had used countless times during our years working together; the very same which now reached out towards me with desperate plea for help.

"Elias..." whispered voice from within creature—one barely recognizable as belonging to friend once known yet still somehow familiar nonetheless. "Please..."

And so there I stood amidst ruins of world gone mad—a man torn between love and duty on one hand; fear and self-preservation upon other—and knew without doubt which path must choose.

With heavy heart reached out own hands towards hers—feeling cold, clammy flesh press against mine as if seeking solace in final moments before end came for us both.