"Lizzie," I whispered softly. "I'm here."

Her eyes met my gaze then—and within them saw reflection of everything lost; every soul claimed by 'Y'golonac's insidious influence...including own.

"I love you, Elias..." she managed one last time before darkness consumed her completely—taking final remnants humanity along with it.

And as Lizzie Thompson ceased to exist I felt something else take hold inside me—a coldness that spread rapidly throughout entire being until every cell vibrated under its relentless assault...

But unlike those poor souls now singing praises 'Y'golonac, refused give in without fight. No matter how futile; no matter what consequences awaited beyond this moment—would not go down quietly into darkness.

So when tendrils lashed out once more towards my flesh did something I'd never thought possible: grabbed hold one of those writhing shadows and pulled with all strength remaining within me...

And it came apart like wet paper beneath touch—a sickening sound echo followed by sudden silence as symphony playing on around us faltered briefly before resuming anew.

Encouraged, reached for another tendril—and then another; each time feeling resistance grow stronger yet determination burn brighter still inside chest. Until finally stood face-to-face with 'Y'golonac itself—our eyes locked together in silent battle of wills neither dared blink first lest lose advantage gained thus far...

Then came voice again—but this time it spoke directly into mind rather than through ears: "You cannot defeat me, mortal," sneered creature before us. "'I am eternal—and you are but fleeting moment within grand scheme existence."

"Maybe so..." I replied softly yet firmly; feeling Maria's presence behind support even as knew she couldn't help here—not against something like this anyway.

"But Lizzie was my friend—my colleague, confidante...and now look what happened to her." Voice cracked slightly under weight emotion but pressed on regardless: "I won’t let that happen again."

'Ygolonac laughed—a sound echoing hollowly through empty streets around us; sending shivers down spine despite warmth of day still clinging stubbornly onto fading light.

"Foolish mortal," it sneered once more. "'You cannot stop inevitable—only delay the inexorable march progress towards ultimate goal."

And with those chilling words uttered creature lunged forward—a mass writhing flesh, teeth and claws intent upon consuming all within reach...

But I was ready: had spent years preparing for moments like these; honing skills necessary protect not just self but also others from forces beyond comprehension. So when 'Y'golonac struck out towards me stepped aside at last second—allowing its momentum carry it past while simultaneously reaching into coat pocket where rested small canister containing...

"Flashbang!" screamed Maria behind us as I tossed device directly onto ground between myself and monstrosity looming large before eyes.

Brilliant flash illuminated everything around briefly blinding both parties involved—but unlike 'Y'golonac, wasn't caught off guard: had already turned away shielding face from worst effects blast.

When vision cleared once more found creature writhing upon floor—its form seemingly reduced size albeit temporarily. Seizing opportunity lunged forward driving knee hard into center mass before it could recover fully...

And then everything went black.

I awoke sometime later amidst chaos and confusion: sirens wailing in distance; voices shouting orders nearby...and Maria kneeling beside me concern etched deeply every line face.

"Elias," she breathed relief as consciousness returned slowly to mind. "Thank god you're alive."

"What happened?" I asked groggily, trying sit up despite protesting muscles and aches pains scattered throughout entire body.

Maria shook head sadly before answering: "'Y'golonac...it's gone—disappeared completely along with all those poor souls who'd been taken by it. But not without leaving behind some kind of residue..."

She paused briefly looking around at devastation wrought upon cityscape surrounding us.

"Whatever that thing was, Elias," she continued softly yet firmly; eyes meeting mine once more in silent understanding between partners forged through years working together side-by-side against darkness lurking just beyond edges society's fragile veneer. "It wasn't natural—and I don’t think we've seen the last of it."

And as Maria helped me stand amidst ruins left behind by 'Y'golonac, knew she was right: whatever force had brought such destruction upon our world would not be so easily vanquished—not without a fight.

But for now at least there remained only grief—for Lizzie Thompson and all those lost along way; mourned silently within hearts of everyone left behind to bear witness horrors visited here today...

And as we walked away from tower's lament together, knew too that darkness would rise again someday soon—when 'Y'golonac returned once more seeking vengeance upon us mortals who dared defy its will.

But until then there was work still undone; lives yet to be saved...and perhaps even hope left lingering amidst ashes of despair.

I woke up to a throbbing pain in my head and an even more intense one pulsating through every fiber of my being—an alien rhythm that seemed determined to tear me apart from within.

My eyes fluttered open, revealing not the familiar ceiling above our bed but instead some twisted parody thereof—a writhing mass of flesh tones punctuated by glistening orbs like those belonging solely unto creatures born beneath fathoms-deep seas.

"Cassandra?" I croaked out her name as if speaking it aloud might somehow dispel this nightmare and return us both to reality. But there was no response save for the distant echo of my own voice bouncing off walls slick with moisture.

I tried moving, only then realizing that something held me down—no...not just 'something,' but someone: a figure looming over where I lay trapped beneath its weight.

"Who are you?" My words came out more as growl than anything else; primal fear giving voice to my innermost terrors.

The thing above chuckled—a sound like wet gravel crunching under heavy boots—and leaned in closer so that all became lost within shadows cast by features too grotesque for comprehension.

"You don't recognize me, Elias?" it asked mockingly before reaching up one hand towards its face and peeling away layers of skin as easily might be done with old wallpaper. Beneath lay another visage entirely—one I knew well: my own reflection staring back at myself yet distorted beyond recognition.

"Y'golonac," the thing hissed, baring teeth now more fang than anything else.

I recoiled in horror but found no escape; tendrils sprouted from its body entangled themselves around mine like roots seeking purchase within fertile soil. They tightened their grip as if sensing my desire to flee—digging deep into flesh until blood flowed freely down either side of torso.

"Please," I begged, tears stinging eyes now wide with terror and pain combined.

The creature laughed again—a sound that echoed through me resonating against bones themselves—and leaned closer still so our noses almost touched. Its breath reeked foully; like decaying flesh left too long exposed beneath scorching sun.

"You cannot escape," it whispered, voice little more than a guttural rasp yet somehow managing to fill entire room with its malevolent intent.

And then came the music—loud enough now that I could feel bass notes vibrating within chest cavity. It pulsed through air around us; throbbing in time alongside heartbeat and alien rhythm coursing throughout my veins.

I felt compelled by some unseen force rising up off bed, limbs moving against will as if controlled remotely via puppet strings attached directly to spinal cord.

"What are you doing?" I screamed at the thing that wore once-my-face but now bore only twisted mockery thereof. But it merely smiled wider still—revealing rows upon row of needle-sharp teeth dripping saliva onto chin.

"Dancing," Y'golonac replied simply before spinning around and joining others already moving in time to music's relentless beat.

They danced amidst ruins left behind by tower collapse; bodies contorting into positions no human could ever achieve naturally. Limbs elongated, twisted at unnatural angles while joints popped audibly like gunshots echoing through empty streets.

And yet despite all this horror there existed within their movements a certain grace—a fluidity that spoke volumes about those who moved thusly having done so countless times before.

I watched in horrified fascination as they twirled and leapt, each step bringing them closer to center where Y'golonac awaited—arms outstretched like some grotesque welcoming committee.

And then I saw her: Cassandra among their number; eyes glazed over completely while she too moved according to unseen commands.

"No!" My scream tore through air cutting sharply against cacophony surrounding us but went unheard amidst general din. She didn't even glance my way as if unaware of presence entirely—lost within own mind perhaps or maybe just beyond caring altogether.

"Cassandra!"

This time she paused mid-step, head tilting slightly to one side before turning towards me slowly—as though awakening from deep slumber.

"It's you," I heard her whisper softly despite distance separating us. "You came back."

I nodded desperately—tears streaming down cheeks now as relief washed over fear still lingering within heart.

"Yes!" My voice cracked under strain of emotion threatening to overwhelm senses entirely but didn't matter; only thing that mattered was getting through this nightmare together.

But then Y'golonac stepped forward, placing itself between us once more. Its eyes burned with hatred—pure and unadulterated—as it glared at me defiantly.

"You cannot have her," the creature snarled before reaching out one hand towards Cassandra's face; fingers splaying wide so that nails dug deep into flesh leaving trails of blood behind them.

She cried aloud in pain but made no move to resist—merely stood there trembling while tears mixed with crimson stains running down either side neck.

"Stop!" I shouted, lunging forward only for tendrils holding me captive tighten their grip further still until bones creaked ominously beneath pressure exerted upon them.

Y'golonac laughed again—a sound that grated against ears like nails on chalkboard—and leaned in closer to Cassandra. Its tongue flicked out—long and forked much as serpent's might be—to lap at blood trickling down her skin.

"Delicious," it hissed before turning back towards me once more, eyes gleaming with malice.

I felt something snap inside then; some final thread holding sanity together finally severing under strain of too many horrors witnessed firsthand. A red haze descended over vision as primal rage took hold—blotting out all thought save one: destroy this thing that dared threaten those I loved most.

With a roar born deep within chest cavity, broke free from tendrils binding me and charged headlong towards Y'golonac.

It sneered mockingly at my approach but made no move to defend itself. Instead simply stood there waiting—arms outstretched as if inviting embrace rather than combat...

And then I was upon it; hands grasping either side its face before twisting sharply sideways with all force could muster behind motion.

Bone crunched beneath fingers' grip even while flesh tore away easily enough revealing skull underneath.

Y'golonac screamed—a sound that echoed through entire cityscape sending shockwaves rippling outwards from epicenter where we stood locked together in deadly embrace. Its body convulsed violently against mine; tendrils lashing wildly about seeking purchase anywhere they might find it.

But I held fast—gritting teeth tightly shut while driving knees into creature's gut again and again until something gave way beneath relentless assault.

We fell backwards then, entangled limbs flailing madly as we tumbled downwards through empty air towards hard concrete below. Time seemed to slow around us; each second stretching out infinitely long allowing ample opportunity for reflection upon choices made leading up this moment.

And yet despite knowing full well what lay ahead still couldn't bring myself regret anything done thus far—only wished perhaps that things might have turned out differently somehow.

Impact came swiftly—a brutal collision of flesh against unforgiving stone sending shockwaves coursing through every fiber being. Pain exploded within chest cavity; blinding white light filling vision entirely before darkness claimed me completely.

When consciousness returned once more found myself lying face down amidst rubble—body wracked with agony from countless injuries sustained during fall.

But alive...somehow still clinging tenaciously onto life despite all odds stacked against survival. I pushed up off ground slowly; each movement sending fresh waves of pain coursing through limbs but determined nonetheless to find Cassandra.

To ensure she too had made it out unscathed...

And then saw her—lying nearby amidst debris scattered across what remained once-proud cityscape now reduced mere shadow its former self. She lay on back staring up into sky above; eyes wide open yet seeing nothing at all.

"Cassandra?" My voice cracked under strain of emotion threatening to overwhelm senses entirely but didn't matter anymore—only thing that mattered was reaching her side before it proved too late.

I crawled towards where she lie motionless, each inch gained feeling like mile traveled through treacherous terrain filled with unseen dangers lurking just beyond periphery vision.

Finally reached destination; collapsed beside form now grown cold beneath touch. Reached out tentative hand to brush away strands hair fallen across forehead—only for it come back stained red from blood seeping steadily forth wound hidden within mass of tangled locks.

"No," I whispered hoarsely, tears streaming down cheeks once more as realization dawned upon me: she was gone.

Dead...killed by creature wearing face my own reflection yet twisted beyond recognition. A monster born cosmic horrors defying comprehension—one whose influence still lingered here amidst ruins left behind its passing.

I cradled her head gently within lap; rocking back and forth while sobs wrack body uncontrollably as grief took hold.

And then heard it again—the music...softly at first but growing louder with each beat until filled entire world around us once more. It pulsed through air resonating against bones themselves—reminding me of dance held earlier amidst ruins; one where Cassandra had moved according to unseen commands.

Only now there existed no joy within rhythm—not even hint celebration found amongst those twisted figures moving in time together.

No, this was something else entirely: a dirge perhaps—a mournful lament sung by celestial bodies themselves as they too grieved loss suffered here today. A symphony played out across heavens above while we mere mortals looked on helplessly below.