Prologue A Chapter of Flames
‘It is truly apparent now. For nearly this entire journey, I have doubted the possible existence of such madness, such inexplicable evil that can reside within this world. But truly, it is here, for I see it with my own eyes, and those that are skeptic cannot deny the flames that fumigate the atmosphere like burning paper.

‘Indeed, never could I have imagined even the faintest bit the essence of what I see now before my own eyes. I have tried and failed to deny it; and now, it is impossible for me to do so. This evil that has continued to endure for long centuries now stands before me. It is both heaven and hell to see this sight.

‘Our guide has already fallen. He is dead. I have no choice but to tell my comrades to run, escape, flee. For that is the only way in which we will live to tell the tale. We have come to liberate the world from this madness, but yet we ourselves become consumed with this sickening disease we call “madness.”

‘It is not enough that I describe how my companions fail. Words cannot allow one to comprehend the inanity of what took place. It is simply by luck of the draw that my friends fell before I did; for that was the only way in which I escaped.

‘This was the one and only way in which I managed to write these words now. Forgive me if I sound proud; for it is a shameful emotion for me to feel. I remain, and most likely always will, fearful of what lies beneath the ground there, yet I will still maintain some sort of gripping urgency to complete what I set out to do.

‘That may yet be reserved for another hero. I, however, have merely become a reporter, one who lived to tell the tale of impossible evil. And now, forgive me if you shudder, but I must speak the name of this evil. For only by repeating it, may others learn the tale of this great animosity that exists without our knowing it.

‘Zakum.

‘That is the name of the creature that devoured my three comrades.’

A soft humming rises tacitly from the engine of the running subway train. Outside, the underground tunnel remains dark, lit up only by the luminous bulbs of light lining the dank walls.

A brown-haired youth closes the black book he had been reading. He brushes a strand of hair away from his closed eyes, as he meditates over the passage he had been reading from.

The youth opens his black eyes, and they dart momentarily left and right, inspecting the ordinary passengers sitting around him. He holds the black book in between the palms of his two hands, contemplating. Just under the wrist of his left hand runs the name of the author: Phillip Truman Wright.

‘Phillip Truman Wright.’ The man repeats the name, echoing it throughout his mind. ‘The name of the adventurer who sought to seek the truth, to see whether or not this fabled creature known as Zakum really existed. He ended up becoming the only survivor as he encountered the monster face-to-face. However, this book was written just before—”

The chiming ring of a cell phone suddenly interrupts the monotonous flow of silence in the train. The brown-haired youth reaches into the bag lying by his side, and extracts from it a silver cell phone. Placing it to his ear, he mutters, “This is Grim.”

A sudden murmuring erupts abruptly from the other passengers in the car, having heard Grim speak. He ignores them, continuing to listen to the person on the other end of the cell phone.

“Got it,” Grim replies coolly, “I’m on the subway. It won’t be—”

The train suddenly begins to slow down to a stop, jerking forth slightly from its own momentum. Grim’s eyes dart towards the approaching subway platform appearing through the windows of the train.

“On second thought,” he adds, rising from his seat, “I’ll be there in about five minutes.”

Shutting off the cell phone, Grim places it back inside his bag, and roughly picks it up from the seat next to him. He slings the bag over his shoulder, placing his hands in his pockets as he shuffles past the other passengers towards the train door.

“I don’t believe it…”

“Did he say ‘Grim?’ It couldn’t be…”

“How many people do you know that are named Grim?! It has to be…”

Grim sighs, scratching his forehead with a slight hint of annoyance as the doors slide open automatically. ‘Being famous sure is irritating.

‘But, I suppose, that’s the cost of being Grim L. Wright, world-famous detective.’
~
Disclaimer: This work of fan-made fiction is neither associated, nor sponsored by Nexon of America, Wizet, or the MMORPG MapleStory. All items, locations, names, etc. belong to the aforementioned companies. All original material found within this work of fiction belongs solely to me, unless otherwise stated. Redistribution of this work is not allowed on or off the Internet without my expressed written consent.

Content Warning: This work is rated for ages 13+ for minor inappropriate language and bloody violence.
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New fanfic from yours truly. =] I’ve been toying around with the idea for this for about a week or so now, and after thinking it through, the plot came out so well-rounded (in my opinion) that I just had to write this prologue.
Don’t worry, Tales of a Lost World is not done for yet. I still plan on finishing it. I just thought this would make a nice side-project. And hey, who doesn’t like someone who can juggle?