The treasure hunters looked at the large life-sized statue of an ancient lion-serpent. According to the map, the directions all pointed to something inside the statue. Puzzled, the group circled around the statue, looking for an opening or an inscription that might give them some clues. They accidentally shoved a smaller rock, which caused the earth around them to rumble. A small rectangular opening revealed itself, the inside pitch black. As the group looked inside, they were blinded by two giant irises that kept shifting colors. The ancient god remained silent as the hunters ran away from the site. Finally, the light dimmed and it was pitch black once again.

This was Max's fifth time at the doctor's office; his parents were desperate to get help. Ever since he was young, Max suffered from a condition that peeled his skin. Everyone around him had a strong shiny silver covering, but Max was born without the protective layer, leaving him vulnerable to the harsh chemicals found throughout the State. He was distraught that the operation had failed--he would never look normal like everyone else. His parents decided that the best thing for Max is to be with his own kind, other people in exile who suffered from the same condition.

The dancers came out on stage in vibrant costumes, celebrating the annual folk festival. As the audience cheered, the dancers threw celebratory masks in the air, to invite the audience members to join them on stage. Eager to participate, most of the masks were greedily snatched up by the excited villagers. As the villagers put on the mask, the music took on a more sinister tone, and the people began to grow worried. The masks seem to stick to their face and have a life of their own. Before anyone could sound the alarm, the villagers were transformed into strange, four-legged creatures. The dancers began to run away in horror as the creatures pounced.