[Nicholas Acker Villin]

Acker was in the forest when it happened. A thick fog had engulfed the forest in minutes, even the machines had issues seeing through the fog. Acker had a motorcycle, but he couldn't drive in this weather. A snowflake fell on his cheek, but a black smudge was left on his finger when he wiped the snowflake off his face. Ashes. It was snowing ashes.

Acker decided that he had spent enough time in the forest for today "Let's retrace our steps" the dogs led the way. By retracing their steps they could exit the forest from where they had entered. The GPS wasn't working, which was odd, but the dogs had stored their movements in their memories.

While Acker was trying to get out of the forest, a siren started blaring from a church unfamiliar to Los Eurosia. The church belonged to a cult, its members believed themselves to be witch hunters aka they hunted people with powers. Unfortunately, the siren couldn't reach the forest, but it was a warning for whoever was around town.

Acker had to stop walking when everywhere turned dark "It's night already? What's happening?" rain replaced the ashes. The machines had to turn on their lights, but it was still difficult to see. Suddenly, one of the drones started shooting "What are you shooting at?!" an amass of flesh was approaching, it looked like the stuff of nightmares was made of.

There was a hole in the monster's body, an acidic substance gushed from it and hit one of the machines. Acker witnessed the acid eating away at the drone until the drone crashed into the ground. He felt his power retreating from the drone once it stopped functioning.

The monster gushed that acidic substance again, it looked like infected pus. The acid was aimed at Acker, however he had already started running away. The dogs and the remaining drones were with him "Keep retracing our steps!" the dogs obeyed and Acker followed them. They kept running until they reached a clearing "I don't understand...the entrance to the forest should be here" at least that was where he had come from.

What Acker couldn't know was that the Los Eurosia's forest and the SIlent Hill's forest had blended together. Acker was standing in a clearing that he had never seen before. Suddenly, he turned around when he heard footsteps behind him. Was it a person? Or a monster? The drones were ready to shoot.

//Everyone, besides personal characters of course, are NPCs that can be moved by anyone//

[Deleted]

Deacon woke up hearing a siren. Woke up on a sidewalk with his bike downed next to him and he was leaned against a wall, as if someone had placed him there. He assumed that he had way too many beers and ended up crashing on the streets. He had no memory of what happened before he woke up but that seems to be a likely story, unless someone kidnapped him and placed him on a walkway for no reason. His wallet was in place, his .45 was stashed on his pants, and he was pretty sure he still had both kidneys. "Fuck my life. I'm never drinking again..."

He blinked a few times and rubbed his eyes noticing the thick fog, there wasn't anyone around, no cars passing by and he had no idea what time of day that was. Well, at least no one to call the cops because someone has crashed on the sidewalk, he quickly lifts up his bike and prepares to live still confused as to what the hell went on and what the hell is this fog, he didn't remember any fog being on the forecast for this week but then again he doesn't even remember what happened before he crashed.

As he walked his bike towards the road he heard the sound of panting and taps on the pavement, as if dogs were nearby, as the sound grew larger he looked around, seeing three dogs walking through the fog, as they noticed him, they charged fowards at breakneck speed. The dogs were emaciated, hairless with rotten skin and large jaws with blood around their mouths. "The fuck?!" As a reaction Deacon sparked his electrokinesis, sending a wave of lightning at the dogs, pushing throwing them five feet away as if they had been caught in a net, the electricity coarsed through their bodies as Deacon made his getaway with his bike. At first he thinks its one of his nightmares, but this feels too real to be a nightmare. Perhaps one or more gifteds are doing this?

he rides around town for a while, seeing no one around, hearing some noises and screams but as he looks for them nothing happens... Until he started seeing weird creatures like those dogs, not only animals, but also people made out of flesh, rotten flesh. At this point all caution to hide his powers was thrown into the wind, he theorized that it must be some gifted's power and he has to be careful, causing the minerals on the pavement and the dirt to morph around him, encasing him in an armor made out of rock.

As he crosses one street he dodges a parked truck at the last second, not having seen it because of the fog, as he turns a creature appears on the sidewalk, a bloated corpse spitting some kind of acid at him, causing him to ditch half of his armor as it was eating through it, Deacon sent lightning flying towards the creature, and made out before it got back up to spit at him again. 

Making his way out of town he stumbles upon a forest he does not recognizes, but still goes through with it thinking that wherever it might lead him, its still out of town. He had to ditch his motorcycle along the way, grabbing the saddlebags with his shotgun, some ammo and his bike's battery, reforming his armor as he walked towards what he assumed was the opposite way from town.

As he arrived upon a clearing he saw a man surrounded by what appeared to be his dogs and drones. Deacon was practically a man of dirt and stone now. His armor was compromised of rocks, minerals, dirt and roots that were stuck on the dirt. It was clear that something human was underneath and wearing a leather jacket and jeans. "You're human too? Good, do you know what the hell is going on?" He asks relieved that Acker isn't spitting anything acid yet.

"I woke up on the middle of town... Found no one, heard some screams and cries but still found only rotten dogs and people made out of flesh... There was this siren blasting and this fucking fog..." For the first time in his life he rambles, he has seem some fucked up shit before, but not on this level.

[Nicholas Acker Villin]

It was night. The fog was gone and the ashes had been replaced by rain that tasted like tears. The darkness was barely pierced by the artificial light coming from the drones. However, there was enough light to see a bunch of rocks, minerals, dirt and roots speaking to him.

The drones had an eye in the middle and one of the drones focused the eye on the debris-man as consequence the drone's light shined more intensely on the talking debris. The light revealed that there were clothes underneath the debris.

Acker listened to the man while catching his breath from all the running he had just done. The other man's story made sense because it sounded like what Acker had experienced. The emptiness, the fog, the monsters. However, he hadn't heard any siren.

"You look like one of those monsters, Debris-Man" Acker retorted.

The Lads went on alert and turned around then started barking, it meant that danger was nearby "Where did you come from? Back there? We need to retrace our steps before that monster reaches us!" he was referring to the monster in the forest who had attacked him "A monster attacked me in the forest and there must be more, we need to get out of here!"

Acker run past Deacon and kept running. Now that the fog was gone, he could actually survey the area from above. The drones floated up and shined their lights down below, it made the visual more clear. His glasses connected to the drones' cameras and stopped running for a moment. He had a bird view of the path in front of him.

He couldn't keep running without a specific destination, so he observed the cameras' live footage. An exhilarating laugh escaped his lips when he saw the way out from the forest. He willed his mechanical dogs to reach the destination and the Lads started moving. The dogs knew where to go thanks to the bird view, they had a sense of their position in the forest correlated to the bird view because they could connect to the drones' cameras.

Acker followed his dogs without checking if the Debris-Man was doing the same. The way out seemed longer than it should have as if it was stretching on its own accord, but the drones' bird view confirmed that the way out was still there. At least the combined light from the drones was enough to see through.

Acker reached the way out at the same moment the darkness switched back to the fog. It wasn't night anymore and Acker was exhausted. He must have been on that path for a long time, enough time for the night to turn into day again. Or maybe time had become arbitrary too alongside everything else.

The way out faced the open road, probably a way for vehicles to enter the forest. He had to sit down on the concrete to catch his breath. Although, he hadn't ever noticed that entrance before or he would have used it when riding his bike. The path leading to the way out hadn't been there before too, he was sure of it.

He knew the forest, he had surveillance drones positioned strategically around the forest for observation reasons so...the drones! Acker took a deep breath and felt his power spread all around him. Some of the surveillance drones weren't reachable by the power meaning that they were down.

However, the power managed to connect to the remaining surveillance drones. Acker examined the footage from their cameras, trying to understand what had happened, but all they recorded was the forest being engulfed in the thick fog. After that the cameras' visual was hindered by the fog, all the footage glitched when nightfall had come.

Acker stopped examining the footage and tried to connect his power to anything that could help. And that's when it hit him: he couldn't connect to anything. Even his drones and dogs were losing energy, sooner or later they were going to shut off for lack of energy. Usually, sun powered energy was enough, but the sun was blocked by the thick fog and clouds.

Even his home was without electric energy, he could feel it through his power. No power meant no technology. No technology meant that he was powerless. He checked the dogs and the drones with him, they didn't have much energy left. Being challenged with the possibility of losing his power motivated him.

Acker stood up, energized by a problem that needed solving. He will not be powerless! He would reach his home and use the back up generators. One generator at a time would last him for awhile. Then, he would use his technology to understand what was happening and find a way to fix the situation if it was possible. That was the plan.

"I wonder if the city has changed too alongside the forest" only one way to find out, so he started power walking down the road with purpose. If anyone tried to stop him then he would fight back, monster or human. He was determined, a mad man with a plan.

The drones and dogs were following him. The dogs looked back for a moment to check if Deacon was following too because programmed to check for any potential threat.

@deacon

[Deleted]

Debris-man? Deacon was somewhat amused by his comment, but it made sense after all. He looked like one of the fleshy monsters due to all the dirt on the debris. Maybe its for the best as he doesn't need anyone identifying him while he is using his powers, and he can't let his guard down when danger is all around. That thing's acid was so power that it melt the stone right off his body, he doesn't want a single drop of that to reach his skin, that's bad news. 

"I can control minerals and electricity." He shares, expecting for the other man to at least know what gifteds are, he is acting normal for someone talking to a man wearing armor made of debris, on a forest likely surrounded by monsters. "I came from the city, right through there." He points to the way he came from. "It has changed... The forest shouldn't be this way, town has changed, more monsters there. I bet they're all around, we need to find a way out for good."

As the fog cleared he followed the 'Tech-man' and his entourage of dogs and drones, figured he had a better shot to make it out there alive with someone else rather than on his own. This wasn't normal at all even by gifted standards, but Deacon has engaged on survival mode right now, the time to ask questions comes after monsters aren't lurking around.

Trying to keep up with Acker wasn't difficult, his armor was heavy but he was using his power to lift the weight, focusing on moving as fast as possible. Saddlebags were attached to his belt and armor as he ran along, having some essential items in there for his own survival. He sure wished he had his own squad of drones right now, but his powers will make do. 

He notices time has changed once they have moved out. Something appears to be whacky with the night and day cycle. He wonders if its the adrenaline that is making time fly by as his mind and heart is racing. Or perhaps this is really some fucked up nightmare, or work of a gifted. Can gifteds really be this powerful? Perhaps its even multiple gifteds, one for each effect.

As Acker sat down on the concrete by the road to catch his breath Deacon paced around and concentrating on his powers he kneeled down and placed his palm on the ground, starting to get a feel, seeping into his Geokinesis as a small tremor happened on the ground. After Acker becomes ready to move he follows. "The soil is weird, it doesn't match with the readings from Los Eurosia, doesn't make sense, we are still in the city." 

Deacon wasn't only checking the minerals on the soil, he was drawing from a lava source down bellow, keeping it close to the surface in case he ever needs to use it, he is going to move it along with them. Unles Acker's scanners has a way to pick that up, it wouldn't be evident. The biker is happy to get some use out of his Geokinesis.

Following Acker was no easy task, he felt like the Techno-Man was always five steps ahead, he must have everything planned out on his head. Meanwhile Deacon is making it up as he goes along. If any monsters came along the way, he'd either try to shoot them down or use his Geokinesis to throw rocks as he didn't want to waste his battery.

"The city has changed, passed by streets I didn't recognize, it seems bigger..." 

Energy consumption was a problem, he couldn't feel any close electrical sources in the area, the powerline must be dead and with the sun blocked he doubts they're going to get any luck with the generators. He has a lot of energy left but it is a finite resource, he can't use it freely until they come across a source. 

"If your drones are running out of juice I can fill them out for you. I can charge batteries too, but my electricity is finite." Deacon was about to elaborate when they were stopped by multiple sounds of exhaust pipes. One creature appears from behind a truck, made out of brown flesh and are leaking a dark substance, it has exhaust pipes stuck into its lungs and cavities, pumping out a dark smoke  as each pipe flashed and made a popping sound. 

"What the fuck?" Deacon was about to shoot it when the creature bloated up and deflated like a baloom, causing a loud and gutteral sound to come out of its pipes, they begin to hear movement all around them, likely monsters drawn by the noise from the creature close to them. Dark smoke starting to cloud the street, the air smells of smoke and grease. 

Nicholas Acker Villin

[Nicholas Acker Villin]

Acker had acted pretty normal at the Debris-Man because he had just imagined that he was talking to a Gifted and it had been confirmed by the Debris-Man by revealing what his powers were. After all, Acker had just faced monsters in an unknown forest, so another Gifted wasn't really that big of a deal in comparison. However, it meant that it wasn't just Acker and his machines against the world, a new challenger had entered the arena.

Usually, Acker would have felt annoyed if another person tagged along like a lost puppy. Usually, he would have used this person to save himself and his machines. Putting the lost puppy in front of a monster to asset its attack damage? Sure. Purposefully leaving the tagger along behind? Eh why not. Perhaps the Debris-Man was better off by himself, but it was too late.

The Debris-Man could be useful to Acker, so the line had been crossed. The decision had been made. He would let this puppy tag along given how useful his powers were. It was like a match made in hell.

Acker stopped power-walking and turned around to face the other Gifted, his machines moved with him in unison. Instinctively, he willed his glasses to scan, but the Debris-Man's face was covered. The other Gifted made a comment about the terrain "Interesting, also it makes sense, the forest has changed, it's like a fusion between Los Eurosia's forest and an unknown forest" he looked above the other's man shoulder to focus his attention on the entrance to the forest behind.

"This fog developed suddenly and then everything changed" was it the fog then? Did the fog have some kind of properties? Was the fog like a vessel to Gifted powers? Like an object that when touched can give superpowers. Was it hallucinogenic? If the fog was a vessel to powers or hallucinogenic then could it last even during the night when the fog wasn't present? One of the smaller drones collected a sample of the fog and the snow/ashes.

The mad scientist moved a leg forward, but the foot didn't make contact with the concrete. He had felt the urge to go back to the forest and collect some samples, but his survival instinct warned him that it could be a fatal mistake. So he stood where he was, he had changed his mind, but he also regretted it "Did you pick up anything from the forest? Did you sense anything? Is any of your debris from the forest's terrain? If so may I have a sample?" would the sample coming from a Gifted be tainted by the power? Ah, the mad scientist itched to answer all those questions.

Staying still wasn't the smartest option right now. Acker started walking again, but more slowly to make sure the two Gifted didn't accidentally split up. Acker's machines were around him like an entourage "Perhaps what happened to the forest happened to the city too" he meant that Los Eurosia had blended with another city, like the National Forest had blended with another forest. Although these were just theories, only scientific evidence could give the final verdict.

The Tech-Man felt it again: the nothingness. It felt like his chest was hollow. Only beacon was his home, his power was drawn to it like a moth to a flame. There was functioning technology there, perhaps the only available in this ghost town. Acker side-glanced the other Gifted "What would happen if you exhausted your electricity reserve?" would the Gifted pass out? Acker asked because he had all the intentions to use electricity available from any source. He didn't even thank the other man for offering.

Acker grabbed his phone and brought it to his ear calling his assistant, but he grimaced and jerked the phone away from his face "Static" he explained "White noise" which was interesting in its own regard, worthy of investigation. Even though the situation was dire, the mad scientist in him couldn't help but giggle like a school girl. This city was like a belated Christmas gift, wrapped it up with a bow for the mad scientist to dissect.

Another monstrous gift made its appearance ready to be unwrapped. Acker turned around towards the monster, alerted by the Gifted and the unique noise of exhaust pipes. The drones positioned themselves in front of Acker as a shield, but the monster deflated "It's attracting the other creatures to our position" Acker figured after hearing the loud noise "I know the way to my home, but it's probably changed now!"

Either way, they couldn't stay put. The monsters were slowly invading the streets. Acker took a turn that should have led him to an open road, but instead brought him in front of a church "This church doesn't belong to Los Eurosia" he had never seen it before. People were running into the church "...why are there so many monsters during the day? The night is when they are restless! Our prayers should protect us during the day!" Acker caught some mumbling coming from the church goers.

The church seemed to be their shelter, or at least they were running to it like it was. He wanted to send a small drone into the church, but video feeds seemed to only send back static.

Some of the monsters had caught on with the church goers. Acker could have shot the monsters down, but instead he let the monsters be. Acker didn't want to reveal his position and the mad scientist wanted to observe. One of the monsters had claws and ripped a church goer in half like a twig. Interesting. And terrifying like only new scientific discoveries could be.

Acker felt like strings were being pulled from inside his chest, it tickled. It was his power yearning for the little technology present in the town "I need to go back home, but to do so we have to pass the church" they had to be careful or soon enough they would have to deal with another kind of monster: fanatics. If the church goers saw them using their powers then they would think they were witches, but Acker couldn't know that.

Inside the church, a woman named Christabella and her fanatics were praying. It seemed to be effective because the monsters didn't pass the church's threshold "We need to investigate the church, we must know why the creatures won't go there" if they wanted to go then they needed to hide their powers to not freak anyone out.

Meanwhile, the drones started shooting at a pair of monsters approaching the two Gifted from behind. Some of the church goers turned around, attracted by the noise of gunshots.

@deacon