tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49399558901844124992023-11-15T23:27:28.864-08:00Soulturin. Short Stories(That's Sibilance Sucka!)
I write short stories... that is all :)
Lewishisall@gmail.comSoulturin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07298755994347420266noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4939955890184412499.post-62799365798631044402014-04-27T05:39:00.002-07:002014-04-27T05:42:56.487-07:00The Art of Flight.<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="color: black; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="color: white;">Two boys were sitting on the castle wall, looking over the grounds, the lights of their hometown shining some way in the distance in a bubble of chaos far away from the calm of the castle. The keep was of Norman design and despite most of it having crumbled away, you could still make out the bailey, the motte however, was now less of a raised hill and more of a sheer drop to the ground below. The rooms that were left intact within the castle were now filled with discarded bottles of cheap beer and cider, amongst the array of plastic wrappers for various sweets and sugary snack foods. It was rare that the ruins were deserted; usually they were bustling with teenagers doing what it was they did best, but for some reason, that night, the castle was vacant.</span></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The bigger of the two boys was sat still, staring contemplatively towards the town, the other, a small, timid, but excitable child, was fidgeting and kicking his legs against the wall as he struggled to make himself comfortable.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“This wall isn’t comfy!” he exclaimed after some time of squirming.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“I know, Barry.” The other said, simply, “But you’ll just have to get used to it.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Why are we here?”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Because I wanted to come here,” he bluntly replied.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Is there nothing else we can do, James?” Barry inquired, clearly displaying his boredom purely by the tone of his voice. Barry’s whining irritated James in a way that he was struggling not to snap at him.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Do you have any better ideas?” Barry thought for a bit, biting his lip and looking up into the night sky, before shaking his head in defeat. “Well then, just shut up about it, and enjoy the view.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“It is… pretty, don’t you think?”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Yeah, Barry, yes it is.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Barry threw his arms out either side of him, narrowly avoiding hitting James in the face, “I wish I could fly, don’t you, James? Looking at all this, it just makes me think how much better it would look… from up there!” He raised his head, and again, looked inquisitively at the stars.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">James turned his head to look at Barry gazing up at the stars, his dark eyes studying him, almost maliciously. He licked his lips before saying the words.</span></div>
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</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“You know that you can fly, don’t you, Barry?”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Barry looked at him, puzzled, “what?”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Yeah, you can fly.” James’ throat had gone dry, partly due to excitement, partly due to fear. He swept the hair out of his eyes and turned to look out over the scenery, he couldn’t look him in the eyes for this, not even when it was this dark.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“I can?” Barry questioned, a slight sense of excitement rising in his voice, “but how?”</span></div>
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</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Anyone can fly, they just need a big enough drop to get started-“</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Really? Seriously?” Barry was now visibly excited by the prospect of his potential flight.</span></div>
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</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Yeah, no kidding, you can do it any time, you could do it now, we’re in the perfect spot for it.”</span></div>
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</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Barry stopped, his smile dropping from his face as he gazed down toward the ground. He suddenly became extremely aware of how precarious their choice of seat was, he couldn’t see the grass clearly beneath him, it was too dark; all he could see was a void of blackness with only a hint of dark, murky green.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Boy, that’s a long drop down, don’t you think?”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Yeah, it is, that’s why it’s perfect for this.” James clasped his hands together tightly to stop himself from shaking. He still couldn’t bring himself to look Barry in the eye, he knew if he looked at him he would lose it.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Are you sure?”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Positive.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“How do you know?”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">James thought back, his teeth clenched at the memory, “I’ve seen it happen before.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“You have?</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> “Yeah- there was a man who lived in the same building me and mother do, I was in my bedroom, looking out of the window, when he flew past.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“He did?”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“He did, mother said he jumped from the roof, he was trying to fly, and just before he reached the bottom, he did it, and he flew away.” James looked down, his eyes trying to focus on the ground below, but like Barry he was unable to see anything other than a murky, green shadow waning in a deep, sea of darkness. “We’re higher up here than the man who jumped from my building, so you’ll definitely do it.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some of the excitement, and colour, had returned to Barry’s face. He had started to fidget again, but this time it wasn’t due to lack of comfort, it was purely the anticipation of flying that had caused this elation.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“This is so cool!” He put his hand on James’ shoulder, “you’re my best friend, James!”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> “Oh,” He looked Barry in the face, for a brief moment he developed a lump in his throat which he quickly rid himself of, “thanks, you too.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Barry smiled wider than James had ever seen, then he began to shuffle forward so he was teetering on the edge of the wall. James’ heart began to thump wildly. Barry looked into the blackness, and after a minute of deliberation he shuffled back slightly.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“What’s wrong?”</span></div>
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</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“I don’t think I can do it.”</span></div>
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</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Why not?”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“I’m not brave; I’m not brave like you.” Barry looked as though he might cry, his eyes becoming somewhat moist and his freckled cheeks growing red with embarrassment. James placed his hand firmly on Barry’s back, pressing firmly against his spine as he gently patted him comfortingly.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“I can promise you, Barry, you are way braver than I will ever be.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Barry chuckled as he rubbed his reddening eyes, “you’re just lying to make me feel better.”</span></div>
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</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“No, seriously, if you even consider doing this, you are already braver than I am.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Really?”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Really,” James smiled.</span></div>
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</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Okay- okay, I won’t let you down, I’ll do it! Watch me fly!”</span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once again, he shuffled forward, his hands clutching onto the edge of the crumbling stone wall. He began to breathe faster, his skinny arms trembling as he held on. His legs felt so completely exposed and powerless as they hung over the void aimlessly. His eyes searched for the ground as he bit his tongue in the hope he wouldn’t shout out and show James how much of a coward he was. Then it hit him, something clicked in his brain and the realisation came; he was going to be fine, he was going to fly, there was nothing to be afraid of. The fear he felt in his heart, in his mind, in his stomach, it all dissipated into nothing and he could finally do what he wanted to do. He turned to James and smiled at him, “thank you.”</span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then he pushed himself forward, and he fell.</span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">James listened and heard the crunch as Barry’s body hit the ground.</span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now there was nothing but silence. </span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">James got up from his seat and began to walk away, but something made him turn back and look back over the edge of the wall. He couldn’t see Barry anywhere, he was really gone. James smiled as he felt a weight lift from his shoulders, then a single tear fell from his eye.</span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Mother said I was too old for imaginary friends anyway.”</span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He found his way down to where Barry would have fell and still failed to find him. Maybe things worked out better than he had hoped; maybe Barry had actually mastered the art of flight and flew away. The thought filled him with happiness as he walked the long, dark walk home.</span></div>
<br />Soulturin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07298755994347420266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4939955890184412499.post-64470617410013567292014-03-22T08:41:00.002-07:002014-03-22T08:41:20.845-07:00Land of the Living<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">Border Security,
Night Watchman: Peter Horák<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">January 12<sup>th</sup>
2015.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">Entry 1:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">19:15 - Gunfire
beyond my range of vision; the sound was dull, but familiar. I don’t know if
anyone is dead, although it is rare to hear gunfire without an intended target,
but I suppose I can be optimistic just this once:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">Deer - Deceased.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">The chances of
the victim being an animal are about as likely as this conflict ending within
the next few months, that’s to say, minimal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">21:00 - Ivan
perked up, he could sense something out there, I knew he could, his eyes were
wide and his ears were twitching.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">“What is it,
boy?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">I asked him
several times but he didn’t move, he simply sat where he was, looking into the
darkness. It made me uneasy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">22:30 –
Screaming, female, I requested someone investigate, but apparently we only step
over the border under extreme circumstances, I’m beginning to wonder exactly
what those circumstances might be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">22:45 -
Currently there is no sound, and no sign of movement anywhere beyond the
border, although the screaming lasted for a good 15 minutes, it stopped
suddenly, I’m trying not to think about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">00:15 – Jakub
has come to relieve me of my duty, we played cards for about ten minutes before
I left to rest, Ivan has not settled down, it took a lot of coercion for him to
leave the post with me, even now all he does is stare out of the window into
the darkness beyond.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">January 14<sup>th</sup>
2015.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">Entry 2:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">Patricia Novak –
Deceased.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">Olga Peterson –
Deceased (With Child).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">Those are the
two of the five who could be identified, by dawn’s first light we found the
bodies of four women and one man propped up against the walls. Cause of death:
Multiple shots to the head, abdomen, limbs- everywhere. Someone dragged them
here, what for? Maybe it was a warning, a message, or maybe some sick,
unsympathetic fuck just thought it would be fun. How funny is the price of
freedom, the freedom to gun a defenceless person to the ground and play with
their corpse? Apparently it’s priceless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">19:45 – Ivan
hasn’t changed, for a trained guard dog he is one of the most mellow german
shepherds I have ever encountered, he still senses something, but he’s
unwilling to bark, or give any sign that he knows something is wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">21:00 – I can
see smoke. The village closest to us is burning, maybe it’s in my mind, but I
think I can hear them screaming. What is our purpose here? We sit idly by,
watching, waiting, but never acting when these atrocities are committed less
than a mile away from us. ‘Don’t move’ they tell us, ‘stay put’ they say, but
they don’t have to listen to the bullets hitting their targets, they don’t have
to clean up the bodies of civilians every other night. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">22:30 – We had
refugees at our gates. They wouldn’t let us let them in, they wouldn’t let us
help. Some of them gave up and ran, some of them persisted. Those who ran where
gunned down by the soldiers waiting in the forest, those who stayed were gunned
down just the same, and we watched.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">Some of us fired
on them, maybe even killed a few, but those actions were condemned and met with
scorn. Reduced rations for the next month, like they fed us enough to be
grudging of less. Apparently our job is to protect the border, not to aid the
citizens who are not our side. No, not citizens, let’s call them what they are,
HUMANS, we were not allowed to help the Human Beings who were crying for our
help, whose houses had been burned to the ground, people who had nothing,
no-one, with nowhere to go.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">I am sick.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">00:10 – I did
not stay to play cards with Jakub, I hardly said two words to him, I just
wanted to get away. Ivan would not come, after so long I gave up, Jakub said he
would take care of him. Let him stay, if he wants to keep watching, so be it,
but I am done with watching for tonight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">January 16<sup>th</sup>
2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">Entry 3:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">22:00 – Tonight
has been uneventful, and I am thankful. Ivan seems to be more settled also, I
even managed to get him to play with the tennis ball I brought along with me. I
am glad to have my canine companion, sometimes I feel everyone here is losing
their humanity, and I feel it’s due to Ivan that I’ve remained grounded, that
I’ve retained a sense of morality through this shit-storm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">Or maybe I’m
just going crazy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">23:45 – We have
been fired on. The watchman just down from me took a bullet through the eye.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">Tomas Petrov –
Deceased.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">It could have
been me; it could just as easily have been me. I’ve been dismissed, but I’m
still shaken, they’ve gotten bold, if they are actively attacking the border
now, how long before they try and cross it? I cannot bring myself to sleep,
knowing any minute this could be the day the scales of war are tipped.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">January 18<sup>th</sup>
2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">Entry 4:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">Adam Vanev –
Deceased. Paskal Holub – Deceased. Simon Bakalov – Deceased. Mila Hornick –
Deceased. Andon Láska – Deceased. Imrich Antov – Deceased. Linas Krastev –
Deceased. Anna Pasternak – Deceased. Silvester Sykora – Deceased. Mladen Sykora
– Wounded. Aras Tomov – Wounded. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">Jakub Vantchev –
Deceased.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">Ivan – Dead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">19:00 – We were
ambushed today, early morning, no-one expected it so soon after their initial
attack. We met them outside, unprepared, unbalanced, and we fell. We kept them
at bay, and they’ve stayed back for now, but we barely made it back ourselves,
we are weak, and we can’t handle another attack, not now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">I’ve never
clutched my rifle so tightly as I have this night, and it is only the beginning
of my watch.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">20:00 – Every
rustle in the trees alarms me, every sign of movement, a watchman should be
alert, but he should not tremble at every whisper of the wind. I feel
vulnerable up here for a number of reasons, but the one that sticks like a
thorn in my side is the lack of Ivan by my side. My danger detector has
disappeared, but more than that- my friend is gone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">21:00 – I think
they are in the trees, I can hear them whispering, I can hear voices, noises,
sounds, something. They’re there, they have to be there. Where else could they
be? Why is it so silent? The only sounds I can hear are the wind and the
whispering in the trees. Despite the utter blackness of the place I swear I can
see shadows moving between the barks, they’re here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">22:00 – This
needs to stop, I cannot bear it any longer. They’re mocking me! Tormenting me! Why
won’t they just leave? Why won’t they show themselves? The cowards! They think
they are so clever, lurking there in the woods, just where I can’t see them,
just far enough for me to sense they are there, but not close enough for me to
be sure. That’s what they did to Ivan. Clever, clever, so clever. But they are
cowards, whining, craven, little cowards! I won’t fire the first shot, let’s
see if they are bold enough to do that, let’s see if they’ll do it. Let them
take the first shot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">23:00 – They did
it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">January 19<sup>th</sup>
2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">Entry 5:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">They let me keep
one thing when I crossed the border. I chose to keep this notebook. I think
records are important, personal or otherwise, every record has value. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">Peter Horák –
Deceased.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Andalus","serif";">The land of the
living has little meaning to me, their petty squabbles and inconsequential
conflicts amount to nothing, only more unwilling spectators on this side of the
veil. Let them fight, let them meet their demise, then they will join us, and
they can watch their world burn in spite of their sacrifice, and they will see
just how little difference they made, when the powers above dictate their every
move. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Soulturin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07298755994347420266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4939955890184412499.post-37314362566677223852014-01-12T11:11:00.002-08:002014-01-12T11:11:47.247-08:00Glyph.(Part 6)<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He had been
called in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> A few days had passed with absolute silence,
Scorch’s broadcasts had stopped, but the people were still riled up. They were
demanding to know why the truth wasn’t being let out, riots had begun in the
streets and the silence continued. Isaac was growing increasingly agitated with
every passing day, every phone call, every knock on the door, he was convinced
that would be it, someone was going to be on the other side, and they were
there specifically to deal with him. The more time that passed, the more he
began to hate and fear the people of G.L.Y.P.H. He thought of the cold,
calculating P and how she had almost killed him, how they had literally held a
gun to his head and were ready to fire. He shivered at the memory, he had never
been so close to death than he had at that moment, and he had little desire to
be in that situation again, although some part of him told him it was inevitable.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Then he had
received the call. P’s easily identifiable voice was on the other end,
apparently there was a ‘situation that required his attention.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is it, </span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">he thought, <i>they’re going to kill me, well… I’m not going to go down without a
fight. </i>He couldn’t stop his body from trembling though, the thought of
death was so daunting he almost collapsed, which was when his mother appeared.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Are you
okay, Isaac?” she asked, “who was that on the phone?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Isaac knew
she was feeling concerned for him, he didn’t want to worry her any more than he
had to, although he couldn’t think of a more justified reason for concern that
his current situation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“It was
nobody mother, listen, I have to go out, okay?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“What? Now?
I-“<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Look, I
just really need to meet some people.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Isaac made
for the door, but felt his body protest, he wanted to throw up, he wanted to
cry, but he wasn’t going to let that happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Isaac,
wait!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Dammit, why does she have to make this
harder than it already is? </span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He stopped with his hand on the doorknob.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Isaac,
listen, I wanted to just say- I know things have been hard since your dad left,
and we’ve never really spoken about it since it happened- and- and that’s my
fault, because I was afraid of what you might think of him- and me- I just want
you to know, that what happened- it wasn’t because of you, it wasn’t-“<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She cut off
as Isaac embraced her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I love you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I love you
too.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Isaac felt
this was a better ending for them than he could have hoped for, it felt like a
natural resolution rather than a forced exit. He put his mother’s mind at ease,
and made sure she would stay in the house before leaving and heading to the
place he sincerely did not want to be. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He arrived
at the alleyway far sooner than he anticipated, and it is was only mere seconds
before the doors opened to welcome him. There was only Franklin in the doorway;
he’d expected armed guards, or at least something other than the appearance of
free will. He found his way through the mess of corridors somehow and arrived
in the room where they’d first witnessed Scorch’s broadcast. The room was just
as it was before, only now people seemed to be heavily engaged in work rather
than staring at a blown up, disembodied head on the screen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’m glad
you could make it, Isaac,” said P. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Isaac jumped
as her voice appeared from nowhere behind him. He turned around and glared at her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Listen, if
you are going to kill me, just do it, don’t try and dress it up, just do it,
please, I can’t deal with the anticipation anymore.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She tilted
her head slightly to one side and studied him curiously.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Kill you?
Why would I kill you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You’re not
going to kill me? But you told me once you were finished with Scorch you would
deal with me, I can’t fight you people, there’s too many of you…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">P almost
smirked, “you’ve proven yourself to be of value, Isaac, killing you would be
foolish, besides… Scorch hasn’t been dealt with; not yet.” She looked around
the room briefly, her dark eyes gazing over the situation, before muttering: “come,
we need your assistance.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Isaac
hesitantly followed her down some more complex and uniform corridors until they
arrived at a series of rooms that seemed to be heavily secured; the doors were
large, circular and metal with no window to be seen, beside each of them was a
digital pad with a series of numbers running across the screen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“This way,”
said P, they made their way around the corner and entered into another room,
this one requiring a pass card to enter, inside was a man in a black uniform
with extremely sunken eyes and a creased forehead. One side of the room was
purely a window looking into the room with the circular, metal doors… <i>These are cells.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the cell
sat Scorch, his eye patch was missing, and his regular clothes had been
replaced with a dark grey overall, but his hair still stood on end as it always
did, and his one eye was still blinded with the
‘X’ that was his Glyph. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I don’t
understand,” muttered Isaac, “what do you need me to do?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“He’s
planning something, he wants to be here, I know he does, but I don’t why, and I
don’t like it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“So what am I meant
to do? He’s not going to talk to me!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You can get
inside his head, Isaac.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“No! No I can’t,
every time I’ve tried I’ve only ended up being able to look for a few seconds
before getting forced out, he’s too strong.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I don’t
need you to look into his mind, not yet at least, just talk to him for now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Isaac felt
his anger rising and overtake the fear he was feeling, he was fed up with this,
he was fed up of feeling this way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’m not
going to do that,”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I don’t
know who the good guys are, I know he isn’t,” Isaac pointed at Scorch, “but you
definitely aren’t much better, and I’m just meant to follow you blindly? I know
that you are not going to help me- I know that you’ve done terrible things-
this whole organisation is built for the sole purpose of killing people! And
while I know Scorch’s motives aren’t good, what he is doing, revealing the
truth behind all these corrupt institutions, it’s hard to feel justified
fighting against it, so how about you tell me exactly what is going on here?
Tell me some truths, and maybe I’ll consider helping you!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">P’s facial
expression did not change whilst Isaac spoke; she merely looked at him with
cold, calculating eyes. Then she smiled, nothing significant, only a small
grin, but on P’s face it seemed abnormally large. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Fine,” she
said, “If you don’t want to go and speak to him- I will- but do me a favour,
stay a while and watch, you might learn a thing or two.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">P left the
room and Isaac glanced briefly at the man with the sunken eyes. He didn’t turn
his gaze from Scorch; he barely seemed to blink. Isaac followed suit and
watched the scene in front of him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She entered
the cell and saw Scorch sit upright in his chair, his hands remained handcuffed
to the table the way they were meant to be, his eye seemed to sparkle with
excitement when she entered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“The
notorious P comes to see me finally… I’ve been in here for a few days now; I
was expecting a visit sooner.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’ve had a
busy schedule; namely cleaning up your mess.” She said without a hint of tone
to her voice. She sat down in the chair opposite to him, “So… Scorch, you know
why you are here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“And I know
why you are here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Of course
you do, so let’s skip past the niceties and get to the point, what are you
planning? Tell me now, and I can make life a lot easier for you, or keep up
your silence and life suddenly becomes a lot more difficult.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Scorch began
to chuckle, “You really expect me to believe I live after I tell you
everything? Please, I know how this operation works, you drill all the
information you can out of me, make sure there are no loose ends, if there are,
you tie them up or cut them off, and then when all is done, I get a bullet in
the back of the head if I’m lucky, or I get to be one of your gruesome little
experiments if I’m not.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Fine,”
muttered P, “let me rephrase; I can make death a lot easier for you- or not-
your choice.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“So, if I were
to tell you that there is a remote device somewhere that will automatically
restart the broadcasts if not attended to after a certain amount of time, would
that be considered a loose end?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Oh good,
well it’s a good job that isn’t the case then, isn’t it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’m not
here to play games, Scorch, what are you hiding?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“The real
question here is, what are you hiding… Penny?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Isaac
gasped.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You expect
me to be shocked because you know my real name?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Oh, I know
so much more than your real name, I know about your father, the owner and
founder of this organisation, the philanthropist on the surface, the mass
murderer underneath, I know about your two sisters and their little mishaps, I know
about your Glyph that stops me from reading you… I wonder how many people here
actually know that you are one of us? It’s not on the G.L.Y.P.H. Records, so it
certainly isn’t public information around here, but I doubt it’s entirely
classified information.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“That’s
enough.” Stated P.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“But I’m not
interested in any of that… what I want to know is what you are working on down
there. I was unfortunate enough to be caught before I could get the
information, but I can guess, aside from all the experiments to try and rid
people of these powers… I think you are trying to find out where they come
from, aren’t you?” He smiled deviously, “what is it? Have you found out yet?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“So, that’s
your angle is it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“No, my
interest in the origins of our power is purely out of personal curiosity, but I
will take a look at what you have found at some point, I guarantee it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“If you say
so, until then however, I’m afraid I will have to leave you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“So soon,
Penny?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Oh, don’t
worry, I’ll be sending a friend in to see y</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">ou very shortly.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I look
forward to seeing him,” Scorch smiled once more before the heavy door swung
shut with a dull ‘clunk.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">P returned
to the surveillance room. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You-“ Isaac
stopped, clearly lost for words.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Me,” stated
P, “I intend to explain everything later, Isaac, but for now, we have to deal
with him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“He knows I’m
here!” Isaac’s eyes conveyed fear, but she could tell he was trying to supress
it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Of course,
are you ready to speak with him now?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Soulturin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07298755994347420266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4939955890184412499.post-52584570162091669262014-01-06T16:48:00.001-08:002014-01-06T16:48:55.049-08:00The Silence of the Stalker (TDC Part 6) I<div class="MsoNormal">
It was another two years before I finally discovered who had
been behind the goings-on at the castle, and as it happens, so much more otherwise.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I’m getting ahead of myself. Jane and I left the castle
without further incident; we showed the stuffy, pretentious manager of the
place the footage we had found. Needless to say, he wasn’t impressed, not only
was everything that happened somehow related to me, and therefore my fault, but
we had caused damages that would cost money, as if we weren’t aware of that
before. I tried my best to explain the situation, and when he wouldn’t see
reason, I tried my best to convince him that the smashed mirror was actually an
improvement to the most disgusting excuse for a bathroom I had ever seen in my
life, but that only cause him to become more upset, so we left before any more
damages could occur.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a lecture on being civil, Jane promised me she would
help me find whoever it was we saw in the castle. That’s how our search began.
We checked every ghost hunter’s blog, every supernatural website to find any
sort of anomaly in the system, we asked around the local area to see if anyone
had noticed anything suspicious, we sought out local historians, local crazies,
anyone who could provide even the slightest bit of information, of course
everything turned up a dead end. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Any unusual occurrences at or around the castle had stopped
almost immediately after our departure, and no-one reported anything after that
night, it was as if nothing had happened. Jane wanted me to call my parents, I remember
her exact words:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Tim, whoever is doing this obviously has some kind of
vendetta against you, for some reason, and if you don’t know, maybe your
parents can tell you something that you don’t know, some family thing… I don’t
know.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I shrugged her off, I can’t remember what I said, probably
just a fleeting ‘maybe’, but I knew I wouldn’t call them, it had been months
since I had spoken to them, and I had no desire to hear the lengthy talking to I
would receive due to said months of no contact. I have no idea why I had
drifted so eagerly and so easily from my parents, but for some reason the separation
felt natural to me, like it was supposed to happen, just the way it had. Either
way, I knew all that I would get from returning to that family would be grief,
so I made a vow to avoid that moment until it was upon me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Months passed with no signs of anything happening, I
genuinely began to think it didn’t happen, that somehow my mind had gone to yet
another extreme. Me and Jane moved in together, we had spent the majority of
our time together the past few months anyway, so we figured it was a natural
step, it already seemed we were living together after all. It was not long after
I had moved in that she suggested we take up another job. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It makes sense, don’t you think?” she said, still chirpy as
ever, “if this guy is out to get you, and that’s the way he likes to do it, he’s
going to get involved with some kind of paranormal incidents, or at least try and
lure you to one, I say, we carry on working, and see if anything turns up, if
not at least we are back to work.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I agreed. Of course, it was difficult to find anyone who was
willing to let us go snooping around their properties, especially since we had
screwed the first outing of our new career up so fantastically. Sooner or later
however, we had some invitations to check out some odd, seemingly unexplainable
occurrences. Most of them, as I highly suspected, were just the imaginings of
paranoid citizens who believed they were hearing the ghost of one of their dead
parents or grandparents in a house the happened to own. The majority of time,
as I also suspected, these incidents came to nothing. However, there was one
that was genuinely chilling, but not because of any paranormal activity.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A woman in her late fifties called us late at night,
severely distressed, her name was Andrea Blake. She was near hysterical at the
beginning, it took Jane some time to calm her down enough for her to be
comprehensible, but when she had settled somewhat we managed to find out the issue.
Apparently she had been visited several times in the past week by the ghost of
her son. Seemingly a standard case, however, it soon became apparent this wasn’t
a typical ‘haunting.’ The first night she was visited by this ‘ghost’ she had
blamed it on the medication she was taking, the doctor had warned her that
there could be hallucinations as a side-effect, so whilst she had been greatly
distressed, she saw no reason to make any note of it. The second time he had
visited, she had been off the medication for at least a week, this time she
called the police. Obviously the spectre had vanished by the time they arrived,
and with no apparent crime or disturbance the police saw no reason to look into
the incident any further. The third time she called the police again, this time
they threatened to charge her with wasting police time should she call them out
again, and recommend she go for a psychological wellbeing check. After the
fourth time, she resolved to find an alternative solution. That was us. We told
her we would come by first thing in the morning… and we did.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We arrived at her house, which she seemed understandably
reluctant to be in, and took a look around. The whole house seemed eerily
normal, usually in a house with so called ‘supernatural happenings’ there is
some sign of stress, anxiety, paranoia… something that shows that the owner of
the place a little on the unstable side, but in this case, Andrea’s house was average,
if slightly obsessively clean. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Are you still staying here, Mrs. Blake?” I asked, as coolly
as I could.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I can’t stay in this house until this is dealt with; I’m
staying with my sister for the moment, so you two can take as much time as you
need.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We inspected the place a little further before sitting
Andrea down in the living room to discuss the situation. Jane asked the
questions, she was better with people than I was, I hadn’t had much experience
in that field, I just took notes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“If you don’t mind me asking, Andrea, when was it that your
son died?” she asked gently as she placed her hand on Andrea’s.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Just over four years ago now.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“And how did he pass away?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“He worked on a construction site, and there was an
accident- he was always so careful- but the machinery malfunction- or so they
told me- they were hauling bricks or tiles- or something- over the top of the
building, and somehow the thing snapped and they all fell down, one of the
bricks hit my David with such a force that it broke his neck.” And with that
she began to wail once more, and Jane had to step in to console her. She went
on for some time regarding the safety and ethics of a construction site, and
how the insurances companies hadn’t covered her son properly, before getting
back to the topic at hand. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Tell me, Andrea, before these hauntings started to happen,
was there anything unusual or out of place that you happened to notice? Anything
at all, every little helps.” Jane smiled warmly at her. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Andrea shook her head, “No, I’m sorry… wait, wait a moment,
yes I think there was, I remember thinking I’d heard footsteps around the
house, but I could never place where they were coming from.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Okay, that’s fine, thank you, just one final question if we
could Mrs. Blake,” Jane soothed, “Did you have a funeral for your son? Did you
bury him? Cremate him?” She shook her head. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“David wanted his body donated for study, we never got to
bury his body, but yes, we had a funeral, we just didn’t get to bury him…” That
set her off into another fit of hysterical tears. Then it started to get dark,
and she left the house to us. I remained sceptical at this point.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What are we doing here, Jane?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What do you mean?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Do you really think we are going to find anything here
tonight?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Oh right, I suppose you think she’s crazy, don’t you? Think
this is all in her head?” She scolded.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“No… no, she seemed sane enough, It’s just… these visits
from her son, they are specific to her, right? So why would anything happen to
us? It doesn’t make any logical sense!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Since when did logic come into question when dealing with
ghosts?” She quizzed dramatically.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I sighed; it was hopeless arguing with her. But in truth, I didn’t
truly believe what was coming out of my mouth, in reality, I just wanted a
reason to get out of there, something felt… off, wrong, and I didn’t like it. I
was getting that same sickly feeling in my stomach that came around every time
just before a situation took a turn for the worse. I needed to stick this out
though, something told me it was important to be there, maybe it was the same
sense that was also screaming at me to get the hell out of there, not that that
makes any sense at all…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nothing happened for a good few hours; we sat in silence for
the most part, with visibility at an all-time low. While the wait for something
to occur had helped ease the uneasy stomach churning I was feeling, it had done
nothing for my bladder, and I needed to relieve myself. So I left the room,
leaving Jane to monitor the downstairs by herself while I proceeded upstairs to
the bathroom. You would imagine after my previous experience with bathrooms, I was
quite weary about entering one again, but the boredom that had set in after so
many hours, and the fact it was a pleasant looking room made me drop my guard.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I did what I had to and went to wash my hands when Jane
called out to me. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Tim! Get down here, now!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I rushed down to her, panicking due to the urgency and
tension in her voice. I found her staring wide eyed out of the window. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What is it? What did you see?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“There was someone out there, Tim.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It was like he was swinging from something, I only caught a
glimpse of him, but he was white, and most definitely not alive.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Are you sure?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’m positive.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Right, I left my stuff in the bathroom, I’ll go grab it and
we need to look on the roof… or in the attic.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Okay, be quick.” She squeezed my arm gently, genuinely
fearful.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I rushed upstairs and quickly washed my hands before picking
up my torch and the extra set of batteries I had packed as insurance. I looked
up at the mirror and gazed at my reflection. There was something odd about it.
Something strangely familiar to this scene… I don’t know what it was but something
was wrong with my reflection. The longer I stared, the more it began to concern
me. Then my heart dropped and my throat constricted. My reflection was a pale
as a ghost; my hair was falling out, my eye sockets retracting. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I stepped
away from the mirror, the image got closer until it was pressed against the
glass. This wasn’t me. I was fine, I was being idiotic, I wasn’t looking at
myself… I was looking at a corpse, and I knew whose corpse it was. I was
looking at the body of David Blake… but how was this possible? I ran to the
doorway and called Jane to come to the bathroom, but when she got there the
image had disappeared. I told her what I saw, and the look of concern grew on
her face. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Tim, I don’t like this, this isn’t like anything we’ve
dealt with before…”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“No, I know, it’s…”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then it clicked. This was like something we’d dealt with
before! The mirror!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It’s a hollow mirror; it has to be… help me get it off the
wall, Jane.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What?” she looked at me bewildered. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Help me take the mirror off of the wall.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We did exactly that, and sure enough, there was a large hole
hidden behind just big enough to fit a body… only there was no body. Just an
arrow, pointing upwards, painted in what appeared to be blood. The attic was
the next logical step; someone was practically leading us to it. The scene that
met us up there was not something we anticipated however. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The body I had seen through the mirror, and presumably the
one Jane saw swinging just outside of the window was hanging by its hands in
the far corner of the room. On the floor was a variety of symbols, painted,
once again, in blood. The smell was the first thing that hit us however, the
stench of death was in that attic, and it was almost as haunting as the
lifeless corpse that was hung so crudely in the corner like a pig that had been
slaughtered. I realised in that moment that is what we are… just meat. The
symbols on the floor made no sense to me, the largest was reminiscent of a
pentagram, but far more complex, at three distinct points however were three symbols
I could understand: ‘P’, ‘A’ and ‘S’. It wasn’t until after we had called the
police to take over that I realised the significance of those letters,
fortunately Jane wasn’t quite as slow as I was. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You realise who was behind this don’t you?” I nodded, but
she felt the need to speak the name out loud anyway, “Prima Aetus Subortus.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yes, thank you, Jane, I got that,” I couldn’t help but
scowl, “what I want to know is how the body still looks so fresh after all this
time.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Well, I spoke to one of the medical team, apparently it was
preserved in basically the same way cadavers are preserved in universities for
testing.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Someone went to a lot of effort to set this up, didn’t
they?” I thought out loud.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Sound like someone else we know?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We need to find out where that body was donated, if we can
track where it went, maybe we can find out who is behind this!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It took nearly a year, but we finally had our first lead on
the person in video, and yet, I didn’t feel any sense of accomplishment, only
one of dread, it seemed the closer I got to finding out the truth; the less I wanted
to hear it. We were questioned for a while after that, we were in quite a bit
of trouble for snooping around on someone else’s property, even if the owner
had permitted it, apparently it’s an odd request for someone to make.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Excuse me, were you the officer who answered the call when
Mrs. Blake first called out about this?” I asked the officer who seemed to be
in charge.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I am.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Well then, I sincerely hope you are going to apologise.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’m sorry?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Andrea Blake has been traumatised, and you and your fellow
officers did nothing to help, not the slightest thing to even put her mind at
ease, so I think, although it is just my opinion that you owe her a pretty
damn, good apology!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I spent the rest of that night in a jail cell. Which gave me
plenty of time to reflect… I was haunted by the deathly face of David Blake, and whoever went to such lengths
to preserve him, for whatever reason, or even just to get to me, I had to find them,
because they had subjected me to a sleepless night in jail at the least, and
much, much worse at the most.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
(End of Part 1)<o:p></o:p></div>
Soulturin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07298755994347420266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4939955890184412499.post-15071582696922408222014-01-05T19:04:00.000-08:002014-01-05T19:04:22.229-08:00Moving On<div class="MsoNormal">
“This isn’t working out, is it?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Those were his first last words to me. They aren’t as
poignant, memorable, or as philosophical as the kind you see in movies or
romantic novels; they still stung though. He was right. I was just wishing he
was wrong, but I knew, we both did, that what we were doing simply wasn’t
working.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We had a good run, but I think you know, just as much as I do,
that we can’t carry on like this.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I needed to say something- something to break away from this
uncomfortable clichéd breakup before we got caught up in the whirlwind of
emotion that threatened to overwhelm us both.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Before you say anything else,” I said, “I just want to tell
you-“<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I stumbled, of course I did, how could I not? Words don’t
come easily for me at the best of times, but when they matter, really matter,
well then it’s a miracle I don’t choke on my own saliva.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I want to tell you-“ I croaked, “that this, what we have-
had- what we had, may not have been perfect, we may not be destined to be
together- not that I believe in that kind of thing- but I’m going to be forever
grateful that it did- happen , I mean.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He brushed the hair from my eyes and kissed me lightly on
the forehead. He always did that whenever I stumbled nervously over my words. Then
it was his turn to speak.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I feel the same way, I am so lucky to have found you when I
did, I never told you how I was feeling the day we met, did I?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“No.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It would have been the worst day of my life had you not
shown up.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Why?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He sighed and looked down at the cold pavement beneath our
feet. I could see his breath in the air as the cold breeze swept it away from
me. His ears were red, his cheeks redder, and his lips were starting to become
chapped and dry. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“My ex had been in contact with me that morning, the only
person I was ever close to before you, she explained in detail how much she
hated me, how much she loathed me, she told me that I wasn’t emotionally mature
enough to maintain a relationship, how I was vindictive and spiteful, how I pushed
her away, all because I was afraid of getting too close to someone, to letting
another person be so close to me that they could see who I was inside. When I got home, my mother echoed her every word, as she had done ever since we broke up. It was that day I left home, and it was
that day I lost faith in relationships, in companionship.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He placed his hand on my cheek and looked me in the eye.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Then you came along and restored it, almost instantly,” he
smiled warmly and I wanted to hold him again, even though I knew I couldn’t, “still…
I suppose she was right, we are breaking up after all, just the idea of a
relationship… it scares me more than you know, but if anyone could make me believe
it could work for me, it is you.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I could see his concern was genuine, and I knew that whatever
that girl had said to him had knocked his confidence, not just a little, but
enough to shatter it… and I hadn’t even noticed, I had been so preoccupied with
my own insecurities that I had failed to acknowledge his. I needed to address
his fear, if I could help take some of it away, even a little; I needed to do
that, for his sake.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“If there was ever a spiteful or vindictive side to you, it
is gone now, I have never seen it, I don’t ever think I will, because you are a
kind, generous, giving person, and if that is what she saw in you, then she is
either delusional, or she was simply projecting her own insecurities onto you,
do not dwell on what she has said anymore, because you can take my word that it
is all lies.” His eyes became wet; I could see he was struggling to keep his
cool. “You will find someone who will make it work, you may not believe it at
first, but when she comes along, you will know, I’m just sorry that person
couldn’t be me.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I don’t believe anyone could compete with you, if I ever
had any chance at a genuine, happy relationship, you were it.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I struggled to believe that. For two reasons, first, he was
beyond extraordinary, he could easily have had any girl he wished, he was good
looking, funny, kind, and easily the best person all round I have ever met, and
second, I was almost definitely the opposite, introverted, shy, and inherently
awkward.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“If you don’t think you can do any better than me, you must
have the oddest standards I’ve ever known.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What do you mean?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Well, look at me!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I took a step back and allowed him to bask in the
incomparable lack of glory that was me. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Am I meant to be seeing a fault?” he asked, genuinely
bemused. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Are you serious? Do you know the reason I’ve never been able
to commit to a relationship, a serious one at least?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“No, tell me.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I don’t believe I deserve one. Whenever I find a man who
genuinely seems to care for me, who treats me well, and wants to look after me,
I begin to wonder where it will all go wrong, where I will slip up and ruin everything,
and I run away before that can happen, even though I know I’m going to be
miserable and lonely, I do it every time, because the fear is greater than my
happiness. The longest relationship I’ve ever had is with you, and it’s given
me hope that one day I will actually be able to commit to someone the way I commit-
committed to you.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It dawned on me at that moment just how final that was. It
was over, the end of a relationship, the end of an era, the end of my life as I
knew it then. I didn’t feel sadness though, I had for a very short period, but
then it ended abruptly, and all I felt was a kind of relief, a freedom, not
just from the restraints of a commitment, I felt I had grown, I now had a new
perspective on people and relationships and life… for the first time I had hope
that I could be happy. Then he spoke once more.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You deserve every happiness life can give you.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You deserve more.” I chuckled, a single tear escaping from
my eye.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We embraced for the final time, and I held onto him tight,
knowing that it would most likely be the last time. I can still recall the
warmth of our bodies together; the feel of his arms wrapped around me, and mine
around him. It’s a moment I wouldn’t change for anything.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Thank you for making me happy again, genuinely, thank you
so much.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then we parted. I suppose you are wondering why I am writing
this now, why I’m reflecting on this so many years afterwards. I don’t think I realised
at that moment just how significant that point in my life was, or just how
pretentious and stupid we were, I felt like it was everything back then, now I know
it wasn’t, it wasn’t everything, but it was certainly something. Too little
value is placed on ‘somethings’, because that one ‘something’ changed my life
for the better, and led me to where I am now: a husband, three children, a
house, two cars, a part time job and most importantly… happiness.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
And I’m certain that he is happy too, wherever he is, maybe
we’ll meet again one day, I sincerely hope we do.<o:p></o:p></div>
Soulturin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07298755994347420266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4939955890184412499.post-88998758616876433132013-12-15T07:37:00.000-08:002013-12-15T07:37:55.744-08:00Glyph. (Part 5)<div class="MsoNormal">
Isaac swallowed the lump that was building in his throat. He
was concerned that he was visibly shaking, although it was hard to tell as his
heart was beating so violently that he could feel it in his head, and in his
toes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He was standing in the library where they had first met. The
very same spot. Isaac felt a bead of sweat trickle down his forehead, but he
didn’t want to move, any form of movement would only make his stomach churn
more violently. The small droplet moved from his forehead and tickled down the
side of nose and across his lips which were sealed tightly. It was 3:30… <i>He should be here by now, why isn’t he here?
What if he found out somehow? He could have done that, he could have found out,
who knows what information he has access to?</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He focused on his breathing, in,
and out, in, and out. <i>Why is it such a
struggle, just to breathe?</i> The ticking of the clock was louder than before,
and the library was practically abandoned, it was silent, and desolate, and
Isaac has never felt more vulnerable. Then he heard a door open. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Scorch stepped into view, smiling coldly, his eye patch strapped firmly across his good, unmarked eye.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Isaac, how nice it was to hear from you, I’m so glad you
changed your mind.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Isaac breathed a sigh of relief, perhaps too obviously, but
Scorch’s demeanour didn’t alter so Isaac felt reassured that, at least for the
moment, he did not suspect anything.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I knew hearing a few home truths would change your mind.”
He smiled once more, almost viciously.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It’s no surprise that the government is corrupt, I just
never knew the extent of it, it’s not something I feel can be tolerated
anymore.” Scorch sat down at a nearby table, and he motioned for Isaac to join
him. He rested his elbows on the wood and clasped his hands tightly together.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Isaac, there are lots of things that you don’t know, but I plan
to bring you up to speed on all of them, then you will see the true nature of
these disgusting liars that govern this country. Unfortunately that means you
won’t be able to enjoy the regular announcements I’m giving, I’m not a fan of
spoilers, but I feel I can make an exception in this case. Are you ready?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Isaac glanced out of the window briefly, hoping he would see
the soldiers closing in on the building, but he knew it was too soon, they
wanted him to extract as much information as he could before they captured him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I am.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Good… where to begin? It may interest you to know that
there are a great number of secret organisations that are hidden from the
public eye, you will have heard of MI5, MI6 and so on yes? All of them are
simply decoys, red herrings, to mask the true organisations running behind
them. I don’t suppose you’ve heard of an organisation by the name of
G.L.Y.P.H.?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Isaac shook his head, although he suspected he had been in
their headquarters, spoken to their members, and gone along with their plan.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It’s an acronym of course, any idea what it might stand
for?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Again, Isaac shook his head.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“General Liquidation of Youth with Propensity to Harm, or in
other words… people such as us. They don’t like the power we possess, Isaac,
and they will do anything to rid us of it.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Isaac was growing increasingly uncomfortable, he knew that
G.L.Y.P.H. had wanted him dead, but to have it confirmed, and in such a cold,
calculating way, it made things infinitely worse. <i>How did I get myself into this mess?</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“The women in charge… She goes by the letter ‘P’-“<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Where is he getting
all this from? If he knows all of this, does he know why I’m here? Is he just
toying with me?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“-She is a terrible human being Isaac, she has committed mass
murder in the name of her family, in the name of her organisation, and she must
be stopped.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What exactly has this organisation done that is so bad?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Scorched barely blinked before answering:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’ve seen all of their records, they’ve experimented on
humans Isaac, many of these tests could easily be considered torture, and most
of them resulted in death, those who survived have been imprisoned, treated
like animals, after all… they are merely failed experiments. Aside from that?
They’ve purged hundreds of people in this city alone, merely for owning one of
these!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He pointed towards his uncovered eye, the one marked with a
prominent glyph. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“And that is only one organisation; there are dozens out
there, taking citizen’s money and using it to commit atrocities, all in the
name of advancement.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Advancement?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Of the human race, everyone out there is afraid Isaac,
afraid of the unknown, and all of these people are looking for a way to get the
upper hand, to be ready for whatever comes, whatever the cost.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“And what would you differently?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Scorch blinked. His marked eye studying Isaac closely- suspiciously.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You are scared, aren’t you Isaac? What are you afraid of…
is it me?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You’re still wearing your eye patch… you don’t trust me.”
Isaac did his best to control his breathing as his mouth became void of saliva.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I wouldn’t take that personally, I don’t trust anyone.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It’s hard for me to believe what you are saying when there
is no trust between us.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Isaac lied, in truth, everything he had told him he had
swallowed, he couldn’t help it, there was something about the way he spoke- he
was so blunt and utterly convincing- it was difficult not to process every word
he was saying. He glanced once more at the clock, and then at the window.
Scorch smiled once again.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You’ve seen into my mind Isaac, why don’t you tell me what I
would do differently?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I was only present for a few seconds, I did not see
everything; I didn’t have time.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Scorch’s smile only grew wider. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You saw enough though, didn’t you? You saw enough that you
felt the need to run and tell on me, to run to ‘P’?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
His heart stopped, his eyes glazed over. <i>He knows! Of course he knows!</i> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Isaac didn’t know what to say, what to do- what could he do?
There was nothing, Scorch was immune to his power; he was infinitely more
clever than him, and as bloodthirsty as it was humanly possible to be. He was
outmatched in every way, there was nothing he could do but allow Scorch to
unfold his plan. <i>No! They’ll be here!
They’ll take him into custody! They will have heard what he said, and they will
be coming! They have to!</i> Not that repeating the thought convinced him any
differently.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Just so you are aware, even if I didn’t know where your
loyalties lay beforehand, I would have been able to tell within a few seconds
of conversation with you, never try to deceive me Isaac, you will fail, you may
be able to see into people’s minds, but I can deduce how someone is feeling,
and what they are thinking, merely by observing the tiniest contours of their
face.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Fine, so now you’ve found me out… tell me why.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Why? Why am I doing all this?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yes.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Have you ever looked back at the history of the world? Have
you ever just taken a look at the state of the world? Throughout the entire
history of the human race, there has been an endless amount of oppression,
genocide, destruction of entire peoples and places… I aim to solve that. I will
follow the guidelines set by previous dictators, only I won’t make their
foolish mistakes. The most beneficial scenario for everyone is the destruction
of the world as we know it, and a new one to rise, with me as the leader. I
become the most powerful man on the planet, and we find peace in a reign of
fear where everyone is so afraid, they dare not step a foot out of line. The
world I will create will be one of perpetual peace, there will be no
discrimination, no prejudice, no war, no hate crimes, why? Because everyone
will be the same- they’ll be beneath me.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“And you think people will stand for that?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It is human nature to seek out conflict, out there, they
are already preparing themselves to rip each other to pieces, and all it took
was a few words from me to provoke them, what does that say about society? What
does that say about humanity? Subjugation is by far, the easiest option; I am
doing you all a favour, and helping myself in the process.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You are wrong, you are basing your argument purely on
figures, if you went out there and saw the world, saw the good that can be
found in humanity you would not be so certain! You would build your throne on
the corpses of the innocent; I can see you won’t change your mind… I can only
promise to stop you.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Scorch smiled, “I look forward to seeing you try.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Isaac looked out the window for the final time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You won’t have to wait for very long.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Scorch stood up and strolled carelessly to the window. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Ah, Three squadrons, approaching from the east, west and
south, one air team inbound, soon to land on the roof of the building, most
carrying assault rifles, ACR, SCAR-H, typical AK47 with some modifications,
also heavy weaponry, several grenade launchers, M32, seems a little excessive
if I’m honest. Oh, and air team landing in 3, 2, 1…”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There was a loud crash on the roof, then silence.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Hmmm… they may have had an accident with their parachutes,”
he turned to Isaac, “they can be so careless when they pack those things.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Almost simultaneously, there were several loud explosions
outside, balls of fire erupted into the air, scorching the trees and
surrounding buildings. Isaac could hear the sound of screaming, but he didn’t
dare to look outside. Instead Isaac addressed Scorch; he was powerless to do
anything else.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I don’t understand… how?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Landmines, I prepare for any potential scenario,” he smiled
malevolently, “and now, I believe, if I remember correctly, I warned you
against trying to stop me. I don’t want to kill you Isaac, you are potentially
a great asset, but if you choose to resist me I have no other choice.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before Isaac could register the threat, the sound of a gun
clicking sounded at the back of Scorch’s head. A group of masked men with guns
had formed behind him, led by P. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Mr. Scorch, I believe?” Stated P as coolly as ever, “we’d
like you to come with us.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Just Scorch is fine…”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Very well,” she snapped the handcuffs onto his wrists, “Scorch.”
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She turned to Isaac, and observed him with the same
calculating, unfeeling stare she always wore.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Good work, you did well under pressure.” Despite the
praising comment, there was no tone of gratitude to be found anywhere in her
voice.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What about all those men out there? What about all the
people he just killed?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“They knew what they were signing up for- now- we need to
get back; we have some questions for this one.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Aren’t you going to read me my rights, P?” Scorched asked,
jokingly.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You have no rights you son of a bitch.” With that they began
to drag him away. Before they got to the door however, they ripped his eye
patch away from his face, and Isaac couldn’t resist the temptation. He entered
Scorch’s mind, with one question burning inside him, <i>why didn’t you resist? </i>To his surprise, Scorch answered:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“One thing you will learn, Isaac, is that everything that
happens, even if it seems to be going against me in the worst possible way,
will be exactly what I want to happen, there is nothing you can do, no trick,
no deception, no angle you can take that I will not have considered a thousand
times beforehand and planned ahead, I will always be ahead of you, every step
of the way, if I want to be caught, I will be caught, if I want to go free, I will
go free, and if I want to kill you, or anyone else, it will happen, it’s only a
matter of time, and how I decide to approach it.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Isaac could not bear being in his mind for one second
longer, the anger, the fire, the hate… all of it, was too much. When he
returned to his own mind Scorch was no longer in sight, but he shouted one last
thing before they pulled him out of the building.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Remember, Isaac, once they are done with me, you are next
in the firing line!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
He knew that this was far from over, and he knew there would
be blood before the end. <o:p></o:p></div>
Soulturin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07298755994347420266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4939955890184412499.post-50066113498792315902013-11-17T08:56:00.000-08:002013-11-17T08:56:50.396-08:00The Haunting in the Castle (TDC Part 5)<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Where are we going?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I asked this question more than once, however it was only
on the fifth attempt that I got an answer out of Jane.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Jesus, Tim, why are you so eager to know?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Honestly? I’m
more afraid of the unknown where people are concerned… at least I know all that
supernatural stuff is in my mind.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“So… you’re still convinced ghosts don’t exist? You don’t
change, Timothy,” she had a smug, satisfied look smeared perpetually upon her
face as she drove, “oh, did you hear about Galloway Hall?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“No, what happened?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Well you know they were demolishing the place to build-
well I’m not sure what they were building actually, a library or something?
Anyway, as they were tearing it down, they found something-“ she paused for
dramatic effect. I figured I would give her what she was expecting.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Something?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“A room- or a basement- something, hidden away.
Apparently some cult had been using this room to sacrifice children, they’ve
found dozens of skeletons, and apparently they are still finding more.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“That’s horrible!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“I know, right?” I could sense part of her was bragging,
she may not have even been aware that she was doing so, but she recalled the
events of the night we spent in Galloway Hall well enough, and this just proved
that she was right all along, something horrific had happened there. “I did
some research on this cult when I heard the news; they call themselves <i>Prima Aetas Subortus. T</i>hey believe
sacrificing their offspring to some obscure ancient demon brings them
youthfulness, meaning so long as they keep reproducing and killing their kids,
they live forever.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Christ, see what the supernatural does to people? They
believe in these ridiculous fantasies, and end up committing mass murder!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Yeah, strange though… the cult seems to have died down
nowadays,” She chuckled to herself and turned onto a dirt road, “we’re almost
there!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Throughout my childhood, I had never been particularly
afraid of the dark, no more so than anyone else at least. However, I think it
goes without saying, that due to the experience I had in my apartment only a
couple of nights previously, I was apprehensive about driving in the pitch
black at the very least, and utterly terrified at the most. I remember it
surrounding the car, swallowing the little box of metal in its immersive
endlessness. When it came to the point where I could no longer breathe, I was
sure I would pass out, and the darkness would once again attempt to devour me,
but a series of dull lights in the distance loosened my oesophagus. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“You okay, Tim?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Fine.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“You’re looking a little pale…”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“I’ve always been pale.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Alright, more pale than usual.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I just shrugged. The destination was fast approaching,
and as it did, I became more and more sceptical that there was anything there
for me. The place towered far above the surrounding fields. Even in the dark it
was clear where we were going. This was a castle: Motte and Bailey, and mostly
intact, although there were clearly certain areas that were in disrepair. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Are we seriously going to a castle?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“I told you I had a new job didn’t I?” she quizzed,
somewhat frustrated, “well I’ve been asked to investigate and document any
supernatural occurrences in and around the area, and this castle has one of the
most frequent sightings in the country.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“We’re searching for a ghost in a castle? What is this,
Scooby Doo?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Were you always this cynical, or did I just not notice
it all this time?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“You’re telling me that you don’t feel this is just a tad
absurd?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She didn’t feel the need to dignify my question with an
answer as we pulled into the courtyard. There was only one other car present, a
white BMW with a private registration plate. The castle itself was actually as
far from foreboding as a castle can be, all of the lights were on, and the
natural embellishment that had been added to the place, presumably for
tourist’s eyes, had actually made the building rather beautiful. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The minute we pulled up a man emerged from the giant
mahogany doors that led to the entrance of the main body of the castle. He was
short, bald, and had such an obvious sense of self importance that he reeked of
pretention. He addressed Jane solely, and acted as if I were not there. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Jane, is it?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Yes, that’s me, how do you do sir?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“I would be much better if I was at home in front of the
fire with my dogs- which at this point will have to wait until tomorrow to go
out now- but I digress, thank you for coming on such short notice, I was hoping
we would be able to get this over with as soon as possible.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“I’m sorry- get this over with?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
He wrinkled his nose, as if there were some distinctly
offensive odour pervading the air, where in actual fact, all I could smell was
the slightly overpowering scent of the array of flowers and bushes surrounding
the courtyard. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“I do not like anyone poking around my castle at the best
of times.” He didn’t feel the need to expand on that point, instead he simply
shoved the warm keys into Jane’s hand and headed to his car. “Also, please do
not entertain the idea that you can steal anything, all security systems are in
working order, and if you so much take a step out of the building with anything
that doesn’t belong to you the police will be on you quicker than you can say
‘sorry’, alright? Try not to damage anything either…”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
With that, his shiny bald head disappeared into the
black, tinted windows of his car, and he sped off into the night. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Well, he was delightful wasn’t he?” laughed Jane,
“c’mon, let’s go!” She practically ran into the castle, and I reluctantly
followed, although I admit, I was somewhat anxious to get out of the open air.
As I shut the door behind us I couldn’t help but notice the large amount of
crows perched on the ramparts, on the roof and various ledged dotted here and
there. I wasn’t going to dwell on that though, and I didn’t. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The castle was quite impressive on the inside, at least I
thought so, the preservation was extraordinary, the majority of it looked
authentic; it was passable at the very least. However, it wasn’t long before an
atmosphere set in, it was odd; something felt off. I do not know what it was,
maybe everything was a little too perfect, I did consider that, but I couldn’t
be sure, all I know is that Jane felt it too. Then again, Jane always had those
kind of feelings, and they were always more extreme than mine. Then it occurred
to me; I knew nothing of this place, I wouldn’t be able to deduce anything, my
mind would not be able to concoct any wild imaginings because I knew nothing. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Did you read up about this place, Jane?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Of course I did, I have to do my research don’t I?” she
shot me a cursory glance, “why?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“How do you know that anything that might happen tonight
won’t simply be a product of your imagination based upon what you already
know?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She considered this for a moment, “I don’t, I know that
little things won’t amount to anything, knocks on the windows and walls,
objects moving by themselves, it doesn’t prove anything, and I’m aware enough
to acknowledge that, but I don’t believe my mind is proactive enough to create
a whole scenario that will fit to what I already know. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“We’ll see.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It was at that moment the lights went out. My stomach
convulsed, my throat constricted and my heart jumped. I was taken back to my
apartment, and I had to force myself to breathe because at that moment I could
have let myself asphyxiate just to escape. Fortunately Jane had packed several
torches with an abundance of batteries.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“You were expecting this?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Apparently it’s been happening quite frequently over the
past few weeks, power cuts that is.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“I see.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Tim, there’s nothing to worry about.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“I know- I know that.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Then came that sound. The sound of clawing. Fingernails
on the floor of the room directly above us, and as time passed it only became
more and more intense- desperate. Naturally we proceeded to check the room, but
as was to be expected, no-one was there. It looked to be another infuriating
search for phantom noises that would amount to nothing. The room itself showed
no signs of anything out of the ordinary… however, it was a peculiar room. It’s
original purpose was unclear, but it was obvious that the managers had
designated it as a place to show the entire history of musical instruments.
Considering the size of the room, it ultimately ended up looking cluttered,
with various woodwind instruments hanging on the walls, some of them in frames,
some of them merely on stands. In the centre of the room there was a large,
suspiciously modern looking, grand piano.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Again, that feeling of misplacement, that sense that
something wasn’t quite right came back. I didn’t like it there, maybe it was
the way so much had been forced into one room, maybe I was simply feeling
overwhelmed, claustrophobic, I don’t know, but I knew I wanted to get out of
there. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“There’s something underneath these floorboards,” Jane
suddenly stated, her voice monotone and cold, I looked over at her and saw her
face had lost its entire colour, “can’t you feel it?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It took me a moment, but sure enough, I could feel it,
aside from a very faint buzzing, which I could feel more than I could hear,
there was a light clunking sound. I fell to my knees and pressed my ear to the
floor. The cold, wooden floorboards did not welcome my ear, they were rough,
and so icy it burned. I could hear it though, sure enough, there were
footsteps. The significance was not lost on me, although it only dawned on me
at that moment what was happening.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This place was channelling all of my major past
experiences with the supernatural, from the most recent to the depths of my childhood- first the darkness, then the
clawing on the floor, now the footsteps- what was it? I considered the fact
that because I knew nothing of the history of the place, that my own history
was beginning to come to light, but was that even possible-plausible even? It
seemed ridiculous, and even now I struggle to believe that is the case, but
what other explanation can there be? I am yet to find any link between myself
and that castle, no history, no prior knowledge, nothing has come to light; and
yet, my fears were being reflected within those ancient walls. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We followed the footsteps, what else could we do? At this
point, my fear had become so intense that I could block it out, much like when
a person is in so much pain that they become numb to the entire experience. All
that was driving me now was my curiosity; I needed to know what was happening. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Following the footsteps led us to every inch of the
castle, every time we came close to the source of the sound it seemed to shift
to an entirely different location, at times it would appear that the footsteps
were just above us, below us, or even directly where we were standing, the
sound grossly loud, but then in the next second it would become faint once more
and be marching along the hallway next to us. After what must have been hours,
we reached a final location where the footsteps were so loud the whole room
seemed to shake tremulously. At this point my eyes were beginning to blur over,
I was exhausted, I was frustrated, I felt no more fear; that had dissipated
about an hour into the chase. My feet had gone numb, and I could feel myself
falling into what can only be described as a temporary, lack-of-sleep-fuelled
state of insanity. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The room we found ourselves in was not part of the
original castle, that being said, it was by far the most horrifying room there.
It was a bathroom; the men’s bathroom to be precise. It was grimy, grey, grim
and falling apart. It genuinely looked like something from a horror film. There
was a large mirror that took up the majority of the one wall, and it was so
filthy, it was near impossible to see a reflection of yourself without it being
distorted in some way. The sound of footsteps vibrating was so violently that
the doors of the bathroom stalls threatened to come off their hinges… and then
it stopped. Just like that, there were no more footsteps; just silence. That
was probably more unsettling than anything else we had experienced that night,
but at that point, the only thing I felt was a sinking feeling in my stomach. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I slumped against the wall, defeated. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“This was a giant waste of time.” I muttered, as Jane
struggled to hide her sense of disappointment, “it’ll be light soon, it has to
be, we should get out of here.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Something is going on here, Tim; you know it, why can’t
you admit it?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“I can’t deny that something I going on here, if it
wasn’t, we wouldn’t have chased the sound of footsteps all over the damn place,
but that doesn’t make this any less pointless, we aren’t going to find
anything… because whatever is going on here, it’s purely messing with us,
nothing more.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Then there it was. Of course, I should have expected it,
but I guess I was holding out hope that my theory was nothing but wild
speculation. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
On the mirror- the disgustingly dirty mirror- was a
gentle tapping. Someone- or something- was on the other side. I could feel them
staring at me through my monstrous reflection, I could see their mischievous
grin snarling malevolently at me as they watched my internal torment. What I
felt at that moment is indescribable, a mixture of fury, fear, anxiety and
frustration soaring through my body with so much energy and ferocity I could
scarcely control myself.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
One of the toilet seats had broken off and lay solemnly
on the floor next to the stall. Barely thinking a grabbed it and hurled it at
the mirror. I watched with delight as the glass shattered, the cracks
spreading, resembling a sharp, jagged cobweb. It did not break entirely
however, and that was not something I was going to settle for, despite her
attempts to restrain me, I managed to shake Jane off and smashed the seat into
the mirror one final time. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The glass gave up the ghost and shattered entirely. As it
fell, a black void appeared behind it, something neither of us expected.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We both fell to the floor, overcome with the shock of
what had just happened. I had never acted to so impulsively before; I had never
been so overcome with emotion that I had felt the need to do so. We just sat
there for a while, neither of us moving, staring into the space behind the
mirror. It was Jane who moved first. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She glanced into the space, and then turning to look at
me briefly, she climbed inside. Naturally I followed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The space behind the mirror was a room in darkness, but
filled with lights of every colour, some of them flashing, some simply shining
on, and never blinking. As my eyes adjusted it became clear what the place was.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Tim, over here… look!” Jane’s voice cut me out of my
reverie, “this panel here… it’s the reason we’ve been hearing things all
night.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“What?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“There’s a system built into the castle walls, most
likely for tourists on ghost walks and things like that, a kind of horror
‘ambience’, and someone has left it on.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Why would anyone do that?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Publicity, maybe? I don’t know,” she sighed, clearly the
first day of her new job wasn’t going quite as expected with the discovery the
whole thing was staged, “you were right, this whole thing was a waste of time,
everything tonight was set up.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I pondered for a minute, something still didn’t add up.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Yeah… it was set up, but it was set up specifically to
target me!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“What? Why? What are you talking about?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“The lights going off, then the clawing on the floor, the
footsteps, then the tapping on the mirror… that’s too many coincidences to
ignore!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Okay, Timothy,” she put her hands on my shoulders,
“think for a second, what you are saying, why would someone go to so much
effort, just to get to you? I mean, how much effort must this have taken? I’m
sorry, Tim, but that’s insane.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She was right, logically of course, it made very little
sense, but then the CCTV footage switched on. Jane and I both watched as a clip
from only an hour earlier played by itself. It was the music room, except it
wasn’t empty. There was a hooded figure slowly making its way towards the
camera. Its face was obscured, although you could just make out white, skeletal
features behind the hood. As it drew closer to the screen, it held up a white
sheet of paper, although the picture was black and white, as well as grainy,
the words printed on it could just be made out.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Happy Hunting, Tim’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Then the screen cut to black and silence pervaded the
entire castle. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Jane looked at me, fear evident in her eyes, I remember
because it was the first time I had seen her truly scared. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Tim… what the hell is going on?”<o:p></o:p></div>
Soulturin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07298755994347420266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4939955890184412499.post-91101406824601481872013-10-26T17:13:00.002-07:002013-10-26T17:16:59.821-07:00Conversations With My Psychiatrist (Part 1)<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“Tell
me, Damian… why are you here?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“What?”
I remember the bluntness of the question terrifying me, making me sick to my
stomach, my hands began to shake, and my brow began to sweat. I had to force
myself to swallow the overwhelming mixture of spit and phlegm that was
squatting in my mouth, and feel it tumble clumsily down my dry throat. “What
sort of question is that?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">The
good doctor relieved his nose of the pressure of his glasses, and wiped the
immaculate lenses on his bright, white shirt before settling them back, with
care, on his face. “I believe it is a fair enough question, you’ve been coming
to me for several months now, and I’m yet to understand exactly why you are
here, it says here-“ he lifted up some of the papers piled on his desk and briefly
glanced at a file somewhere near the bottom of the pile, “yes- it says you
checked yourself into therapy, but you did not give a reason, and you haven’t told
me anything thus far that would lead me to believe you need to be here.” He
straightened out his already creaseless tie and coughed lightly. “I have told
you before now, that if you do no provide us with a valid reason, we shall be
forced to discharge you, the only reason you are still here now is because you
have insisted, but now it is my turn to insist; I would like you to tell me why
you are here, so that I can help you, it benefits you to tell me, far more than
it does me.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">I
remember how heavy my breathing became, I had to close my eyes for a moment, I could
feel the anger building inside me, but I didn’t want him to see that… I wanted
to confront him, but I couldn’t- I couldn’t bring myself to.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“Maybe
there isn’t any definitive reason… but surely, if I feel the need to be here,
surely that’s enough… right?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“It is
clear to me that you have some issues, Damian, but until you communicate with
me, there is no way I can help you, and so long as you don’t, there is really
no need for you to be here.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">I
began to panic then. I didn’t want to be discharged, I didn’t want to face
everything alone again, I wanted to be there. My mind began to frantically pace
the corridors of my anxiety, each of them blending into one another, until
there remained just one single idea.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“Okay…
I have a problem, a problem with trust, and I find it hard to communicate with
people I don’t trust.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“You can
trust me, Damian.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“You
say that… but can I? I have no reason- no reason to, trust- at least to me-
trust is earned, not given because it says so on a certificate. I need to be
able to trust you.” I remember rambling on like this for a while; I also
remember thinking how unusual the word ‘trust’ sounded after some time, until
he interrupted me.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“Damian,
what can I do, that will make you trust me?” There it was again, how strange,
that word: ‘trust’.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“You
need to tell me something about yourself.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“Okay,
anything in particular?” He asked, nonchalantly.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“Something
you wouldn’t particularly want to share with me, something- something you would
have to trust me with.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“Anything
you have in mind?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“A
memory- a bad one- something embarrassing, maybe? Or something painful…”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“I don’t
know-“<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“It’ll
work, trust me-“ I remember that being the first time I had smiled in that
office, it was small, but light, largely made of wood; wooden floor, wooden
desk, wooden bookshelf. It felt homely. I could tell that the doctor was
somewhat apprehensive about sharing with me, but maybe it was the sight of me
smiling that caused him to change his mind, it was after all, the first time. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“Fine-“
he paused for some time, and seemed to search for the perfect memory to recite,
“a few years ago,” he began, “I was driving back home” he continued, “it was
late, and I had just had one of the shittiest days of my entire career, but it
was about to get a hell of a lot worse.” He sighed and interlocked his fingers,
“I stopped at a set of lights, when all of a sudden this guy- a patient of mine
starts banging on my car window, obviously he had recognised the car or
something- I don’t know- anyway, he is shouting and screaming and crying at me,
telling me I was the worst person he had ever known, telling me that I was a
useless psychiatrist and that I hadn’t helped him one bit-“ He sighed again,
louder this time, and longer too; he looked to the floor, “now this guy, he had
some serious issues, he was bipolar among other things, I won’t go into detail-
anyway- like I said, I’d had a shit day, and I just wanted to get home, but
this guy, he was basically just rubbing salt into the wound, he sent me over
the edge- I didn’t stop to talk to him, I didn’t even wind down my window, I just
stuck my middle finger up and drove off.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">I must
have looked somewhat shocked, or maybe he thought I should simply be shocked as
a natural reaction to his tale, as he began to try and explain further.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“Next
week, he didn’t turn up for his session, I wasn’t exactly surprised by that, I wouldn’t
have turned up if I was him, but it wasn’t until later that day that I was told
that he had killed himself that night,” he took off his glasses one more time,
just to be sure every miniscule particle of dust was vacant, and rubbed them
against the white fabric of his sleeve, “I’ve had to live with that for some
time now, I essentially murdered a man, but if his death can help someone else-
if it can help you communicate with me, then he will not have died for nothing.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“What
was his name?” I felt the compulsion to ask, and did so, without thinking,
which was extremely uncharacteristic of me.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“I don’t
think that is relevant.” <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“I’m
sorry.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“That’s
fine, Damian, now, is there something you wish to tell me?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">The
sweat on my brow had ceased to exist, and my hands were hardly trembling at
all, but I still felt sick, I still had that horrible urge to regurgitate all
of the shit I had forced myself to eat. He had done what I had asked of him,
and it had made me trust him more, it didn’t erase the fear however, it didn’t
stop the fact that once I began to utter the words that were the narrative of
my life, that they would solidify and become a part of reality, a reality which
I would then be forced to face head on, with no-one to help me, or guide me, or
tell me how I should tackle it. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“There
are quite a few things I wish to tell you, but they are not things that I really
want to speak out loud…”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“Well,
let’s try starting with one of the less severe things you want to talk about,
and we’ll work our way up from there, and hopefully, you’ll be able to trust me
as we go on.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“I
suppose we could do that… okay, well, I think basically, I keep trying… I’m
afraid of living.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“What
do you mean by that exactly Damian? Do you mean you are afraid of being alive,
or do you mean that you are afraid to live?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">On
some level I understood the distinction he was trying to make, but on the
surface, that distinction seemed pretty arbitrary and ultimately meaningless,
and more simply put; it confused me. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“I don’t
know… both I suppose?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“Okay,
so what would you say the main characteristic of your fear is?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">I
could break my fear down into many things, the fear of the outside world being
one of them, the fear that life was ultimately meaningless and void of anything
that could possibly hold any form of meaning was another. Honestly, what was
the point? That was what I told him. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“Would
you say you fear the outside world, or that you just simply do not like it
there?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">It
felt too soon to be answering such deep, elaborate questions, but for the sake
of our agreement, I tried my best.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“There
is nothing in the outside world that I would consider to be good, there are no
good people in the world for one, and the world is full of horrors and
atrocities that I don’t have the courage to face- but it’s more than that- why I
am here, I mean- I am terrified of everything out there, but at the same time-“
I remember laughing in frustration and anger, “this is going to sound
ridiculous,” I sighed, “despite hating and fearing the world, I desperately
want to be a part of it.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">The
doctor studied me for a while, his eyes boring into mine. He picked up the cup
of coffee that was sat on his desk and brought it to his lips. I noticed the
monotone, rhythmic ticking of the clock at that moment, and began to monitor it
as closely as I could.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“Humanity-
or at least the majority of humanity- craves human interaction; it is not
unusual for you to feel that you want to be a part of the world, if you isolate
yourself for long enough, you begin to develop that craving. If anything, I believe
this is a good sign, if you told me you had absolutely no desire to be in
contact with the community, I would be
led to believe that you were a severe sociopath, as it goes, you are looking
more and more human.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">That
was a surprise for me.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“I’m
not a sociopath?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“It’s
too early to tell for sure, do you believe you are?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">I
considered for a moment…<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“I don’t
see how I am not, I am completely apathetic to everything, I don’t care about
anyone or anything anymore.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“You
truly believe that?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“I do.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">The
ticking of the clock was still the same, it ticked at regular intervals, and
never sped up or slowed down, but the hands of the clock had moved, and it was
almost time for me to leave, a fact that had become apparent to the good
doctor. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“Damian,
I would like to thank you for opening up to me today, we’ve made some excellent
progress, do you think you’ll be able to continue this way in our next session?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“I’ll
try.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“Good,
until next time then…” He held out his hand- he hadn’t done that before- I supposed
I should grab it, and shake it, the motion had always confused me however, I was
never entirely sure what purpose it served… still, I did it. I turned to leave,
but there was one question that was burning at the back of my mind, and it was something I had to get out
now, or I would never mention again, I knew that I wouldn’t…<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“Doctor-“<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“Please,
call me-“<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“No,
no, no don’t… please… I was wondering… do you think there is something wrong
with me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">For
the final time that afternoon, he removed his glasses, but this time he did not
wipe them, he simply placed them next to his coffee mug.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“Damian,
you could search the world, meet every person in existence and still not find a
single human who doesn’t have something ‘wrong’ with them, you are not an
anomaly, you are not a freak, there is
nothing ‘wrong’ or ‘right’ about you, you are simply… you, and dwelling on what
you consider to be your flaws is a pointless exercise, one I would consider
trying to cut out, at the very least reduce, because you will drive yourself
mad if you consider it for too long.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">I
considered what he had said, and knew that my answer would have been the same,
no matter what words came out of his mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Aldhabi; font-size: 18.0pt;">“I
think I want there to be something wrong with me…” And then I left.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Soulturin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07298755994347420266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4939955890184412499.post-69358765168393416602013-10-17T07:30:00.000-07:002013-10-17T07:30:07.652-07:00The Silence...And i'm back!<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Apologies for not posting for some time... The move to University hasn't really left me with much free time, and the free time I have had has been used watching Breaking Bad instead of actually doing anything productive, but I shall do my best to get back on schedule... or something.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As recompense for not posting for such an extended period, here is something I produced for a seminar I had last week... be warned, it's pretty depressing, and pretty dark, but isn't most of the stuff I have on here?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><u>The Silence</u></b></div>
<div>
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
know who you are”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">She
said;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Lost
in a blinding dream.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
know who you are”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">She
wailed;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">With
no air in her lungs to scream.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">“You
are the pride, you are the sloth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">That
has been sent to punish me for living this way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">You
are the lust, you are the greed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">That
has come here to see that I dutifully pay<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">For
my crimes, for my cowardice and for my fear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">You
are the glutton, you are the envy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">That
is here to judge if I am humbly sincere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">You
are my own wrath<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">For
leading myself down this foolish path.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
know who you are”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">She
cried;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Her
tears impairing her vision.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
know who you are”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">She
sobbed;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Sincerely
regretting her decision.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And
as the darkness took her,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And
her pain disappeared into the night<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Her
senses dulled and crippled, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">She
uttered with both defeat and defiance:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
know who you are-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Silence.”</span></div>
</div>
Soulturin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07298755994347420266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4939955890184412499.post-3284750431843644072013-10-17T07:24:00.002-07:002013-10-17T07:25:22.248-07:00Glyph. (Part 4)<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Isaac rushed into the house and ran up the stairs to grab
his coat.<b><u><span style="font-family: FairydustB; font-size: 36.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Mom? Mom! I’m going out!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
His mother appeared in the kitchen doorway.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“What are you talking about? I’ve just made us some
dinner, plus you’ve only just got in!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Trust me, it’s really important, don’t wait up for me,
I’ll give you a text to let you know when I’m coming back!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Isaac!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Bye, gotta go, love you!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Isaac, get here right now, you aren’t leaving until you
tell me where you are going!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Isaac sighed, knowing what he had to do, but regretting
it before it was even done. He walked up to his mother and looked her in the
eyes, he erased all worry and concern out of her mind, and made sure she would
go to bed at a decent time instead of waiting up for him. He kissed her gently
on the cheek. “I’ll see you later, mom.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She nodded quietly before entering the kitchen again. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Be safe, Isaac!” she called out just as he left the
house. <i>Amazing, even when she isn’t
worried or concerned at all, she still says that- it must be instinctive,
rather than a product of concern. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
He had little time to dwell on it however, he needed to
meet P quickly, they had arranged a time and place, and Isaac couldn’t imagine
anything good coming of tardiness. There was a bus that would take him into the
city centre; from there it was only a few minutes’ walk to the designated
meeting point. Turning a corner on the street he could see the bus approaching,
and rushed to make it on time. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It turned out to be quite busy at that night. There were only
a few seats available, and none of the occupants of the neighbouring seats
looked particularly welcoming. Isaac sat at the awkwardly at the back, he
refrained from reading anyone’s mind, although he was tempted, his run in with
Scorch had left him somewhat shaken. The bus stopped a frustrating great amount
of times at the designated stop points to pick up passengers who could no
longer sit, so were forced to stand holding onto the bars on the ceiling. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Eventually the bus arrived at Isaac’s stop. Several
minutes late, Isaac noted. This meant he now had to rush to the meeting point
also. As he exited the bus the enormity of the city dawned on him. He was at
the very centre and the buildings towered above him, suddenly he was nervous,
he was way out of his depth here, there was too much at stake, he was getting
involved in things he had no business being involved in, with people whose
names he didn’t even know. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
P would be waiting for him. Fearful of getting lost, he
checked his phone one more time, looking at the route his map was giving him,
it seemed pretty simple: left, left, right, left, left, right, right, right,
left, then straight for a while, then left one final time. <i>Easy…
right?</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The roads and pavements all blended into one, every
street equally as enormous and uniform as the other, somehow however, he found
his way into the alley they had agreed to meet in. Just as he had anticipated,
she was there, waiting for him. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“You’re late.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“I’m sorry, the bus driver picked up every single person
on the way here…”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“It does not matter, what do you have for us?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Earlier today, after we met, I went to a local library,
there was a man there, not much older than me, said his name was Scorch, he
had…”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Go on.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Isaac motioned towards his eye, “markings of some sort,
on his eye, he was blind, but he said he could see, see everything-“<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“What did these marking look like?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Isaac became very aware of another man standing directly
behind P, and another approaching himself from behind, both of them wearing
dark suits, and earpieces. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“It looked like an X, with some embezzlements.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“I see… and how do you know that this is the man we are
looking for exactly?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“I- I- I don’t, I saw-“<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“What did you see?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Isaac sighed deeply, feeling sick with fear as he felt
the presence of the two men edging closer. He knew he had to tell her the
truth, otherwise she would never believe.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“This won’t make any sense unless I show you-“ <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Isaac pulled off his glove and raised his hand so she
could see his palm. Almost at the same moment he felt a cold block of metal
press against the back of his head- a gun. The man stood beside P was also
aiming a gun directly at his head. The man behind him whispered.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Don’t try anything- lower your hand.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Isaac did as he was told, shaking slightly<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
P Smirked, “I knew it.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“So what, I’ve given you valuable information and you are
just going to kill me?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Anyone in possession of a Glyph is a danger to all of
mankind and must be eliminated, I hope you understand.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The man stood next to P suddenly changed his stance; he
pointed his gun at her head, with a click. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Jackson, what the hell do you think you are doing?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“I’m sorry P, he can’t hear you right now, he’s under my
control, so you can shoot me if you like, but if I die, he will fire, and he
won’t stop firing until you are confirmed dead.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Well done Isaac, you have successfully proven my point.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“I was backed into a corner, what did you expect me to
do? I am not your enemy, the real danger is out there, his name is Scorch, and
you are only giving him more time to put his plans into action while you are
wasting your time here with me!” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Isaac raised his voice, clearly the situation was getting
out of control, but he was unsure exactly how to resolve it. The only thing he
could do was try and trump whatever it was she threw his way.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“And what are his plans exactly?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Let me go and I might tell you-“<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“In case you were not aware Isaac, I can quite easily rid
you of your power, of your glyph, if I wanted to, so it is in your best
interests to tell me everything you know.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Her voice, whilst remaining cold was now clearly
conveying a tone of anger and frustration. Isaac sensed this woman rarely did
not get her own way.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“I think I’ll decide what is in my best interests from
now on…”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
P glared at Isaac maliciously, her hand twitching,
obviously eager to act, but held back by the fear of the guard at her side. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Do not, push me!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
An old, rusty door at the side of the alley opened
abruptly, banging loudly against the wall as it swung open. A bald man appeared
in the doorway.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“P, you need to see this!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“What is it, Franklin?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“You need to see, some guy named Scorch is on every
network, he’s making demands- what is going on here?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Never mind! Give us a minute!” P’s face had grown red,
and her fists were clenched at her side, “Isaac, it seems you were telling the
truth, would you come with me?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“I want to stop this guy- but I’m not going anywhere with
you!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“I give you my word that no harm shall come to you until
we have caught this man, and we have him in our custody.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Isaac couldn’t read her mind, but he sensed she was
telling the truth, plus this was the only way he was going to stop Scorch, he
couldn’t do it by himself, he knew that much.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Fine.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Thank you.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The four of them entered the door and found themselves in
a vast conspiracy of tunnels, all of them identical to look at, and all of them
winding. P however, navigated them expertly and soon they were in a large open
area, with wires strewn across the floors and group together, pinned against
the walls and ceilings. All of the walls were glass, and there were dozens of
workspaces, all with complex looking computer setups, with some equally obscure
technology. On the far wall was a large screen, and that was where Scorch’s
face was mounted, in HD, and as menacing as ever. His voice rang out through
the room.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“I shall repeat this one final time, for those of you who
are just joining us, I have taken control of every channel, every frequency and
therefore every screen throughout the entire country, I have done this for one
reason and one reason alone, and that is to deliver a message directly to you
all. This country’s government is a lie. It is corrupt; it is built upon lies
and controlled by more lies. Every major corporation and business that you
welcome into your home has a puppet and each of these puppets has a chair in
government, and together they recreate a giant fucking Punch and Judy show for
us all to enjoy in our ignorance. Why should this effect you, I hear you ask?
Well, my friends, my brothers, you do not know the extent of this disease that
is democracy, you cannot conceive the severity of the cancer that is eating
away at our society, it needs to be destroyed. The lies you have been told- the
deception- it begs belief. I do not expect you to act upon my word alone
however, which is why I intend to reveal to you, every hour, for the next 72
hours, a secret the government does not want you to know. I believe you will
find this experience enlightening my brothers, my sisters, my friends, to
discover what is being done with your hard earned money, to discover the many,
many atrocities that are being covered up daily on our very streets! I promise
you, that when we are through, those who evade persecution shall be delivered
justice, and all of those who have spent their lives being punished daily-
shall find liberty”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Scorch’s passion was so convincing that Isaac could
almost believe it, despite knowing, in his heart, he was as apathetic as it was
possible to be. The face on the screen did not speak for a moment; instead, it
seemed to contemplate something. Scorch appeared to be stalling.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“And I say to those who would stop me, think on your own
sins before you act, look amongst yourselves before you trust and then- only
then- may you decide which side you wish to choose. Look upon this as
enlightenment, and you will see that my cause is just.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The screen flashed and was then enveloped by darkness. P
looked inquisitively at Isaac. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“It would seem Scorch has already put his plan in
motion.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“No- that was not the plan he had in mind when I met him,
he has changed his tactics.” Isaac was overcome with indecision. He knew Scorch
was bad news, but his words were convincing him otherwise.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>What he is saying
sounds legitimate- but it can’t be- can it? He is a craze, power hungry,
unfeeling dictator. He doesn’t care about liberation of the people, he doesn’t
care about justice or equality or… What is it the government is hiding anyway?
What could be so bad that the people would- <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“He’s going to create chaos! That’s it! The people will
rise up against the government, and the government will try and put the people
down, and when all the dust settles, everyone will look to him for the
solution, he will become the champion of the people, the saviour, and he will
rule over everyone with no regard for any of them- no-one but himself.” Isaac
shook his head, the ramifications of such a thing were frightening, he couldn’t
let it happen, “we have to stop him.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Agreed,” stated P, “for now, you’ll be working with us
Isaac, we will need your full support in this.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“I see- and what exactly is my role here?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
P’s mouth curled up into a smile, and her dark eyes
glimmered, it was frighteningly unnatural.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Simple… you’re going to be bait.”<o:p></o:p></div>
Soulturin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07298755994347420266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4939955890184412499.post-18639320774515075342013-09-18T08:42:00.002-07:002013-09-18T08:42:28.650-07:00My Sister's Mannequin<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Throughout the
majority of my life, my sister has been the pride of the family. Daddy’s little
princess, Mommy’s little star, Nanny’s little angel. She was a dancer, a good
dancer, I’ll give her that much… But it was precisely the dancing that led to
the events that I am about to recollect. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
My parents were
busy individuals, meaning me and my sister spent a lot of time at our
grandmother’s house. This unfortunate arrangement seemed to benefit everyone-
everyone but me- my grandmother was the one who made all of my sister’s
costumes, therefore all our time there was spent dedicated to her. Measuring,
sewing, crafting, decorating and miniature performances, courtesy of my sister,
were how we spent our time there; sometimes I was dragged into the activities,
and sometimes I was pushed to the side-lines. I didn’t particularly enjoy it
either way. I wouldn’t say I was jealous as such, maybe a little, but mainly I was
just overcome with boredom due to my exclusion. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Anyway, when
my grandmother designed these costumes for my sister she would pin them on her
mannequin. For years she used the same one, it was a dismembered torso,
consisting of a hard plastic skeleton and blue velvet flesh. It was covered in
odd black tags which could be loosened or tightened to adjust the dimension of
the thing, I always though they looked like rotten scabs or skin tags. To top
it off, there were several hundred pins that had been jabbed into the body, as
if it were some giant voodoo doll. I hated that thing, it freaked me out beyond
comprehension, but then again, I was only young. Maybe it was because it was
lacking limbs and a head, maybe it was because it had furry, blue skin, or
maybe it was simply because it stood in solemn, perpetual silence. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I should say,
my sister was quite a few years older than me, and she was in her mid-teens by
the time I was seven years old. That was one of the reasons my grandmother
abandoned her old mannequin; my sister had grown beyond the dimensions the
mannequin could reach. Not only that, the wretched thing has become so battered
and torn that she had little choice to get rid of it, or rather, replace it.
The new model could not have been more different to its predecessor: it became
the object of my obsession. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The first
difference- this mannequin was full bodied and its flesh was the colour of-
well- flesh. It had been specifically crafted to be the exact proportions of my
sister, but that was where the similarity between the two ended. Her face was
brighter, kinder, she always had a smile fixed upon her face, her hair was
golden, and her eyes were a luminous, glorious green. She was less of a
mannequin, and more like an oversized Barbie doll. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The second
difference- this mannequin did not stand in solemn, perpetual silence.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At first she
was just another figure, albeit an extremely well-crafted one, but it wasn’t
long before that changed. She was extremely lifelike; she had all the features
required of a human, she only lacked that spark of life which would make her a
living soul, like myself. Her eyes were beautiful, but ultimately, they were
dead- but that didn’t stop them from following me across the room.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That was how it started. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At first I didn’t notice, but over time it became more
and more apparent. It filled me with hope, but I never approached her, for fear
that she would retreat if I did.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
One night I was lying awake, stuck at my grandmother’s
house once again, bored out of my skull. The darkness seemed heavier than
usual, I assumed it was because I was tired, but not tired enough to sleep. I
heard something shuffling through the untrimmed grass in the back garden. I
pulled myself out of bed and peered cautiously out of the window. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And there she was. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Stood at the end of the garden, her plastic flesh
gleaming in the moonlight: my sister’s mannequin. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Her lifeless eyes gazed at me, looking into my own eyes
and into my soul. Although they were unmoving, and blank, I swore I could see a
glimmer of happiness inside her retinas. She waved at me, stiffly, and smiled.
I was in shock, she seemed so please to see me- why? It was only me. I waved
back enthusiastically, smiling just as wide. I don’t know how long I spent
gazing out of the window at her, but when I turned away- just for a second- she
was gone.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Things were uneventful for some time following that
night. Several months passed, with nothing out of the ordinary occurring.
Although there was one thing I found peculiar, my grandmother took more
interest in me, nothing extreme of course, my sister was still her pride and
joy- the apple of her eye- but I wasn’t as excluded as I once was, on some
occasions she even went out of her way to ask me question about school and my
friends. My sister remained as ignorant as ever.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
During that
period, the mannequin remained still. For some reason, after that night, she
became extremely shy. I would sometimes go up to her during the day and ask her
why she didn’t move, why she wouldn’t talk to me, but I never received an
answer. Eventually however, she did move again, and like the time before; it
was at night that she came to life. Apparently she wasn’t shy when it became dark;
I thought maybe she was self-conscious. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I don’t
remember much from that first night, It is hazy now, I just remember seeing her
standing still outside my door, peering in, studying me. Her hand, with her
fingers all stuck together, opening the door just a fraction more. I invited
her to come in, but she shied away at the sound of my voice. I was so bored,
and so lonely at my grandmother’s house, I just wanted a friend to play with,
just someone to relieve the monotony of each day spent there, and she was
unwilling to come and play with me. Eventually, however, I coerced her into the
room.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I guess the reason I loved her so much, was because
whenever I was in that house I felt unloved, and uncared for. When she was
around, it was all about me, which is selfish I know, but for a brief amount of
time, it was what I needed, because I wasn’t getting that kind of attention
anywhere else.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
After that first night I would look forward to visiting
my grandmother’s every week. Me and the mannequin would play almost every night,
once everyone had gone to sleep. We played lots of games, but out favourite was
always hide and seek. Sometime she would be lying under my bed with her
motionless hand sticking out, or she would be hiding in my wardrobe with the
door open just a crack so her inanimate eyes could peek to see if I was coming.
It was more fun than usual because we had to be extra quiet, so we didn’t wake
anyone. This went on for some time, until one night we made a little too much
noise.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We woke my sister.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She emerged from her bedroom, and her mannequin ran away
and hid. She asked me what the hell I thought I was doing, and I told her
everything. Needless to say she didn’t believe me, she told me I was being
stupid and that I should go back to sleep. I insisted that I was telling the
truth, but she refused to believe me, eventually however, after some persistence,
she agreed to let me show her. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We ventured down the stairs and into the front room where
the mannequin stood, still and lifeless. However, no amount of convincing or coercion
could wake her from her slumber, and eventually my sister returned to her room, and I returned
to mine, confused and disappointed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I knew she was shy, but I didn’t understand why she did
not want to play with my sister as well as me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I was determined to prove it to her, not matter what. The
next time we stayed at my grandmother’s house, I told my sister to hide in the
wardrobe, so she would be able to see that I was telling the truth when her
mannequin decided to visit me that night. She reluctantly agreed, stating that
she was only doing it to ‘prove me wrong’ so that I could give up my ‘stupid
story’. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Night came, and I settled into bed as usual. Time passed
slowly, and I soon became fearful that she wouldn’t show. I came close to
admitting defeat, maybe I had in fact, imagined it all, but just as I was about
to tell my sister she was right and that she could leave, I heard a familiar
creak sound from the stairs. I was overcome with excitement as she appeared at
the door. However, she wasn’t smiling like usual, something was wrong. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She entered without hesitation and sat on my bedside. She
was silent, and wouldn’t look me in the eye. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“What’s the matter?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Your sister- she can’t know about me- about us.” Her
voice sounded tired, and hoarse.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Why?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“She wouldn’t understand.” That was all she said to me. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I remember beginning to cry and the mannequin holding me
in her cold, solid and unmoving arms. The rest has faded from my memory. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When my sister emerged from the wardrobe, once her
mannequin was gone, she didn’t speak a word, instead she simply left the room
in silence, her eyes wide, and went to bed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The next day our parents picked us up. When we arrived home,
my sister asked to speak to them in private- without me. <i>She’s excluding me again! </i>I thought to myself. I don’t know for
certain what she told them, but I can imagine it was about what had happened
the night previously, because when they came back there was a lot of crying and
hugging- from my mother at least- from my father; there was only anger. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I didn’t see my grandmother again after that day. We
never stayed the night, or even visited, I didn’t really understand why. My
main reason for returning of course was for the mannequin, but my parents would
never let me go back. According to my mother, my grandmother had done something
extremely ‘bad’ and according to my father she was a ‘monster’ <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I don’t remember a monster, I only remember the
mannequin.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It became clearer to me in time what had truly happened
in that house. I cannot remember the reality, but honestly I don’t think I want
to, I much prefer to recall the mannequin. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Although it is no longer a source of obsession, not
anymore, now she simply haunts my dreams, my nightmares, and I cannot remove
those apathetic eyes from my mind.<o:p></o:p></div>
Soulturin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07298755994347420266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4939955890184412499.post-41125495214194870582013-09-09T08:28:00.003-07:002013-09-09T08:28:45.394-07:00Update (September)...And so September comes :)<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I suppose I should stop to say 'thank you' to all of the people who have taken time to view this blog over the past few months, I will constantly endeavour to improve the blog, making it easier on the eye and more accessible. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I didn't get round to posting two new chapters of the 'Timothy Dallow Chronicles' unfortunately, however I shall do my best to remedy that by posting two new updates this month, as well as the next chapter of 'Glyph.' and a couple of new ideas I have floating around. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As you may have already noticed, the completed 'Words Over Coffee' is now in one place, in a tab at the top of the page so you can read it easily in its entirety... I shall do the same with any other series I complete in the future, so look out for them there. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Last month I was told about a subreddit: /r/writingprompts/ which is where the latest story has emerged from. If there is anyone struggling to find their feet with writing, I would highly recommend visiting the page and writing some stories, it's a fantastic source of inspiration, and I imagine there will certainly be a few more stories on this blog that have originated from a prompt over there.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
I think that is about it for this update... thank you all again for reading, and I shall see you wherever this path takes us :)</div>
Soulturin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07298755994347420266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4939955890184412499.post-9998396783866670552013-09-09T08:17:00.001-07:002013-09-09T08:17:12.196-07:00The Last Emails of a Bigamist.<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
Dear Maddison,</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
If you are reading this, then I am dead.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
This is an email- a short passage- to show my appreciation and admiration for all you are and all you have been to me.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
I know I’m not, and never was, the most attentive husband, I know I wasn’t always there for you, but I can tell you now, without a doubt in my mind, that I always cared deeply for you, more so than anyone else. You were my world and have been since the moment we met.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
I think now of all the little things that you do that make me love you- simple things- the way you smile when I return home from work, the way your eyes glimmer whenever we see a production, the way you tie up your hair as you cook. The most trivial things are the ones that stay with me, maybe it is because I like to think if I remember the trivial, the rest will come easily to me, that way I can picture you exactly as you are. I want you to know that I love all of those little things about you, I always have, and I always will.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
Do you remember our holiday to Greece, back in 92?</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
If I were to choose one memory to take with me on the journey to the other side, it would be that one.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
The hotel was terrible, the food not much better, but it didn’t matter, because we had each other, and we sat on the beach watching the sun set and talking about things that didn’t even matter, until it was cold and dark and I had to hold you close to warm you with my embrace.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
If there is a heaven… that would be it.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
There is a chance- no- more than a chance-</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
A Likelihood that your perception of me in the coming weeks will be flawed. I plead with you not to think badly of me if such events occur, I know I could have done more, I know I should have been there for you when you needed me most, there is nothing I can say that will justify my many faults, I just hope that my persistent, passionate, undying love for you redeems them to some degree.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
I will miss you when I am gone, my love.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
I shall miss your compassion, your kindness and gentle nature. You are the most caring individual I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, let alone loving, and it has been my delight to share my life with you. Goodbye, Maddison</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
My love remains with you,</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
Forever and always. X</div>
<hr style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px;" />
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
Dear Andrew.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
If you are reading this, I am dead.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
This is an email- a short passage- to say some of the things I never said to you whilst I was living.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
I love you.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
That was something I said… but never said enough. One of my biggest regrets is not treating every day with you as precious, and not telling you how much you meant to me on each of those days. If I could relive our time together, I would be sure to say ‘I love you’ every morning as the sun rose, and every evening as it set.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
Another thing I wish I could take back are the fights we always had, the majority of them caused by me.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
It is a terrible thing to admit, and it makes me hate myself even to type... but I was ashamed.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
You could see that whilst I loved you with all my heart, I was never comfortable, I was never settled. It’s funny… but lying here now, I know that should I be granted the privilege of life I would never spend another day living in shame. I would walk through the streets, hand in hand, even shouting our love from the rooftops. You may not believe me, that’s understandable, I wouldn’t believe me either.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
The day we got married was the happiest day of my life, and despite what has been previously said, that day I felt no shame. It was disbelief I felt more than anything; disbelief that someone such as yourself would ever consent to marrying someone such as me.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
You have an attitude with which you approach life that I could only ever dream of. You are the living definition of Carpe Diem. Every day is a blessing to you, and you treat it as such, doing anything and everything you can to entertain yourself and others. You introduced me to a whole new world of thrills, and I am forever thankful, you are solely to blame for bringing me out of my shell. You are by every definition, the better half of me, the side that thrives in this world, instead of hiding from it.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
Our first meeting in Athens, back in 92, was surely divine intervention. You may hear things of me in the weeks following my death- rumours. I implore you not to listen, and simply to think of the time we shared and what it meant to us both. It is for both our sakes, so I can rest in peace, and you can continue to live knowing without a doubt that you were my one true love.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
I’m sorry if I ever hurt you- no- I know I did, and I am sorry.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
You deserved a love greater than I could give.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
Goodbye, Andrew</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
My love. X</div>
<hr style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px;" />
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
Dear Samantha</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
If you are reading this, then I am dead.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
This is an email- a short passage- to tell you what is on my mind as the end draws near.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
You were always the one who listened, and I the one who talked, constantly, endlessly, and you never said a word. You never complained, you never seemed dissatisfied, and I was selfish.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
If I could go back now, I would shut my mouth, and allow you to open up for a change. I would listen attentively to your every word and console or support you, whichever was required at the time. Of course, it is too little much too late now, but I wanted you to know that I do think of you, even if I never seemed to show it.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
The reason I made you listen is because I loved you, and I love you because you listened. Without you, I would surely have been driven mad many, many years ago. You always brought me back down to earth, you are the anchor that grounds me, and I am forever grateful to you for that.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
You were the perfect wife, and I the neglectful husband.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
You cared for me when I was ill, you listened to me when I was in need of someone to confide in, you were always my shoulder to cry on, and I am eternally grateful for that.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
You were always ambitious however, and I wasn’t always supportive of your prospects. I want to apologise for that now, because as death looms ever closer I realise all I want is happiness for my loved ones, and you deserve the utmost happiness.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
When I am gone, I want you to pursue your dreams, the way you never could whilst I was still your husband.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
You have been my rock for far too long, I was selfish to always lean on you, and you should now have the opportunity to have the life you always dreamed of.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
You will recall the time I was called away to Greece back in 92? Every waking moment of my time spent in that gorgeous country was spent thinking of you, my mind constantly returning to my love waiting back at home.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
I fear I am going to be leaving this world very soon.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
The end scares me Samantha.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
I fear the dark void of death- I fear going into that darkness alone, without a soul to hold on to. I’ve never been a particularly brave man- you know that- so you can imagine better than any other what effect this is having upon me.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
Although I always confided in you, you must know that there are some things I kept even from you, Samantha. You may begin to hear rumours once I am gone. You were never one to listen to such things, so I trust you will not indulge them, but if you should, please- I beg you not to think too harshly of me. I am a flawed man, I’ve never pretended to be anything more, but I fear what might be said could be past redemption.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
Be well, my love.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
I love you,</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
Always. X</div>
<hr style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px;" />
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
Dear Mother</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
If you are reading this, I am dead.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
And I am sorry… no parent should live to watch their child perish. I have a confession to make, one that pains me, and one that will no doubt pain you also.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
I am a coward, I am a fool, and I am a terrible, terrible human being.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
I am a liar, a cheat, a fraud and a charlatan.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
I am a bigamist.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
I married two women and a man, and have remained married to all of them for just over twenty years.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
I don’t know if you can ever forgive me for my mistakes, you always had such high hopes for me, you always thought I had such great potential, but it turns out that this is it.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
I am certain that, following my death, the truth will come to light, and when it does- all of the people I loved in life will hate me. They will curse the name of their dead husband, their fiancé, their one true love- because they were not mine.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
I need to say this however- I love them all.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
I never lied about that.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
My love could not be satisfied by one person alone, I love all of them more than life itself, and I will continue to love them even in death. It pains me that they cannot be with me, by my deathbed, all of them, because I need them here now more than ever.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
I want to tell them that I am sorry.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
I want to tell them that I wish things could be different.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
But I cannot choose who I love, and I would not want to, for they have made me the happiest man alive during my time on this earth. I shall weep for them, and they shall weep for me, until they discover one another, then the weeping shall stop.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
I took a holiday to Greece in the year of 1992 with Maddison in attempt to clear my head. In the end, I left one love behind, I took another with me, and I found one whilst I was there. It was that year that I accepted who I was, I accepted it, but I never liked it… I always loathed myself.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
Mother, my love is extended to you who cared for me all these years, who guided me in life and saw that I knew the difference between right and wrong. I fear that in light of this new information you may feel you have failed where I am concerned, but do not think that way, you were the best mother I could ask for, you are the one person alone I can trust absolutely, and the one person I know will love me unconditionally throughout this whole sordid affair.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
I’m sorry for all of the trouble I have caused, and all the trouble I am yet to cause, you deserved so much more.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
Thank you for everything mother.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
I love you.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
And please, if the worst happens, and my spouses discover one another, would you do me the favour of telling each of them that I truly did love them, and that I am so very, very sorry.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
I’m so afraid, I have never felt so utterly alone.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
The thought that you will be here soon... with me, when I am close to passing, is a comforting one. Thank you for always being there.</div>
<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px;">
Love Always-</div>
<ul style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: outside; margin: 10px 2em; padding: 0px;">
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Your Jack x</li>
</ul>
Soulturin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07298755994347420266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4939955890184412499.post-33785957802153035832013-08-30T14:21:00.001-07:002013-08-30T14:22:36.468-07:00The Darkness on my Doorstep. (TDC Part 4)<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I should say this, before I continue with my tale- I have never
had many friends. I have never been one to attract the attention of others,
quite the opposite in fact, I seem to repel them. Jane was my closest friend,
and even that relationship was cursed, because I wanted more than she wanted
from me. In the end it led me to distance myself from her, ultimately I
distanced myself from everyone I knew, including my family. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I do not say this for sympathy, but merely to provide context. By
the time I was eighteen I had moved out of my parents’ house and was living in
an apartment at the centre of town. I was alone, and as a result, I was lonely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I rarely went out, save for food shopping, I rarely saw anyone
either. It was a pitiful existence, one I'm glad to have escaped from.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The only real connection I had with the outside world was my blog.
After the events of Galloway Hall I had become more interested in the
supernatural, not so much in the sense of mystery, but disproving the facade of
phantoms and other nonsense. I would post my theories online for others to gawk
at and criticise or agree with depending on their own viewpoint. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">With every believer commenting I grew more cynical and as a consequence
only became a more assertive sceptic. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Looking back at my eighteen year old self is not something I
enjoy, the person I was becoming was not a good character, not in any sense. I
was in a rut that only seems natural at that age. It was a time when I had no
idea what I was to do with my life, there was no obvious direction, not was
there anyone I could turn to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My only escape from that rut was the supernatural, disproving
ridiculous theories was how I channelled my frustration, but it was only a
temporary measure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is worth saying that while the apartment I resided in was more
than adequate, spacious and generously furnished, the location was dismal. My
view from the window was a dirty, squalid back alley where groups of teenagers,
not much younger than myself at the time, would loiter and smoke illegal
substances. I could also see into the apartments of others just beyond the
alley. None of the tenants were particularly interesting. Still, the view was
far better than peering into a darkened forest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was on a dark winter night that I first noticed something
unusual going on with the tenants of the other apartments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The lights of the apartment on the far right did not come on.
Nothing unusual about that, maybe they were staying with family, with friends?
Then I noticed the apartment directly beneath it was also absent of any
lighting. The same could be said for the apartment below that and the one below
that- the apartment on the ground floor. That was odd, but nothing to cause
alarm, I just noted it. I had become extremely observant of any behaviour that
was out of the ordinary over the years, coupling that with paranoia of growing
intensity, and I was nearly a nervous wreck. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Still, I was able to dismiss this abnormality relatively easily as
a simple anomaly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The next night was a different story. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The four apartments remained in darkness, but now, the four
apartments neighbouring them were also devoid of light. I tried my best to look
into the darkened windows, but they were too far for me to see clearly inside. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I had to dismiss it as nothing, I had to make myself belief that
nothing was wrong, that there was nothing out of the ordinary, that I was simply
being paranoid and was deluding myself as I had done so many times before. I
reminded myself of how active my imagination was, how I had more than once made
myself belief things were there that were not. This was another one of those
times, nothing was wrong. I kept telling myself over and over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Nothing is wrong. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I sat down, watched some TV, updated my blog, everything was
normal. Sleep, however, didn’t come easy that night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The next day slipped away far too fast. I could feel night
approaching, its black tendrils encroaching upon my sanctuary. I needed an
excuse to get out; but I had none. I didn’t have any friends to go out with, I could
have visited my family, but such an unexpected visit would not be easy to
explain. So I was forced to sit in my abode and wait for night to come
knocking. Inevitably; it did. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I wasn’t going to look out of the window. That’s what I told
myself. Of course, it was nonsense, just a front, although who it was for I have
no idea. I was going to look out of the window eventually; it was just a case
of how long I would delay before it happened. I lasted until midnight, which
was when my curiosity got the better of me. I crept to the window, as if I could
surprise the scene, and therefore reveal its falsehoods. What I saw alarmed me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Not only were the eight flats from before in darkness, but the
next eight across were also completely black. Now the entire side of the
apartment building, visible from my window, was experiencing a blackout. I
could see into the nearest window. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As I peered into the darkness, an unwelcome feeling crept up on me,
a feeling I was being watched. I stared into the window and began to imagine it
looking back at me, the emptiness simply watching me; reflecting me. My hands
began to tremble, my knees grew weak. Something was definitely staring at me
from across the alleyway. In one of those apartments, there was someone,
something, peering through the darkness, specifically at me. I began to breathe
deeply, and in doing so, became uncomfortable aware of my breathing. It was the
only thing I could hear aside from my thumping heart as the blackness began to
fill me up slowly. There was nothing over there, and nothing was staring back
at me with a malevolent grin upon its face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I don’t know how long I was stood there. It must have been at
least an hour, time become so meaningless in times of fear. In the end I did
see something. Something I didn’t want to see.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A single, pale hand pressed against the glass of the window I was
staring into. I didn’t wait to see what would follow. I abandoned the window,
shutting the blinds and returning to my bedroom where I would lie awake until
the next morning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I don’t recall getting out of bed the next day. I did at some
point, but I do not remember at what time. I only remember the fear I felt of
going outside. Ironic, I was more afraid of going outside, to what could only
be the road to safety and comfort, than I was of remaining inside and facing
whatever I knew was coming for me. I found out an old torch and filled it with
new batteries, light was the only way to combat darkness after all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I found myself glaring out of the window once again that night, anticipating
the worst. No lights flicked on across the alley as I so hoped they would;
there was no glimmer of glorious reality to save me from the nightmare that was
lurking in my mind. I had every source of light in the apartment switched on,
no expense spared. I wasn’t going to let this thing devour me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was almost midnight, and the darkness was more imposing than
ever. There was no life in the alley, no teenagers getting high, or some
drunken idiot urinating in the corner- nothing. The silence reminded me of my
time in Galloway Hall, that deep, powerful and impenetrable quiet. The
apartment across from me was vacant, no signs of any hands pressing against the
window, just emptiness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then I felt it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Something behind me. I could feel its breath on my neck, I could
feel its claws closing in around my throat, I couldn’t see it, I couldn’t hear
it, but it was there, and it was going to swallow me whole. All I could do was
continue to gaze into the darkness across from me, and know that whatever this
creature was, it was a product of that same darkness. The hairs on my neck
stood on end, my flesh tingling with the anticipation of my demise. I was going
to be sick, the bile was rising in my throat and the foul breath of blackness
was penetrating my nostrils as it breezed down my spine. The moment was almost
upon me. It was going to happen now. This was it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That was when all the lights went out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My apartment was swallowed by darkness, everything failing simultaneously.
The lights died. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was here- whatever darkness had claimed the residents over
there- it had come for me. I knew, somehow, that I had brought this upon
myself, that this was my fault. I had exiled myself- I had marooned myself on
my own island with no others and waited for the tide to claim me. It was all
me, no-one else, I had done this. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I had to undo this. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In that moment, when I was certain the darkness would claim me, I forced
myself to turn around and stare into the face of my own failure. I did; and
there was nothing there. My eyes were greeted with emptiness, no creature, no
phantom, no monster. The place was in darkness, but there was nothing in the
darkness. Or was there? I couldn’t be sure. I turned the torch on and allowed
the beam to cut through everything. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I made my way to the front door, only to discover it lay open. I was
wrong. There was something in there with me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The place that was my sanctuary from the world had been disturbed,
and never again would it be a safe haven. I knew now that something lay in wait
for me in the darkness. I let the torch light the way, first the bedroom, which
was empty, although I was convinced there was something under my bed. I was
wrong. Then I checked the closet, again, I was wrong. The kitchen was empty, so
was the study. The bathroom was the only room that remained unchecked. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I slid the door open and peered inside. The usual scene appeared
before me. Nothing out of the ordinary- but my face. I looked into the mirror.
Was that me? It scared me more than the darkness, more than all of the things I
had ever encountered. I looked at myself, and I hated what I saw. I was wearing
away. I was fading away. My eyes were bloodshot, my skin was pale and covered
with acne, my hair was greasy and lifeless, I looked decades older than I was,
and I felt it too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I turned on the tap to rub some water on my face, as if that would
somehow reveal that I was in fact wearing a mask, and my true, youthful face
was underneath. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The substance that came out of the tap was not water. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was thick, too thick to be blood, but it had the appearance of
it. Dark, dirty and red sludge spluttered out of the tap into the sink. I
imagined it to be similar to a person coughing up blood when they are fatally
ill, at least that was the conclusion I came to at the time. I turned the tap
off, but the substance forced its way out still. Then the showerhead began to
splutter too, choking on the same ooze as the tap. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I got out of there, only to find that my apartment was now
drastically different. Whereas before I had imagined things to be in certain
places, they now were. There were creatures under my bed, their deformed,
bloodied fingers clawing at the carpets, their screeching echoing through the
hall. My closets were also full of skeletons, moaning to be set free. My
kitchen taps coughed up the same bloodied substance as the ones in the
bathroom. But most importantly, the darkness grew. My little torch became
obsolete as the darkness swallowed it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now there was something there. Something in the blackness that I couldn’t
see, it was feeding off my fear, it was crawling closer and closer, ready to
strike, but now it wasn’t a fantasy, it was real, it was frighteningly real. I
ran, relying on my knowledge of the apartment’s layout to find my way to the front
door. It was closed. Not only that, something wanted to come in. It was
knocking so heavily that the door threatened to break free of its hinges.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now I had to choose, I had to decide whether I faced the creature
within, or allow the demon outside to enter. There was next to no light left in
the apartment, it would soon swallow everything, it my mind there was no
choice. I had to open the door. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There was one flicker of doubt before I allowed myself to push
down on the handle and let the demon inside. For a second I contemplated
allowing the darkness to swallow me. Just give in. Just let go. It was almost a
comforting thought, knowing that there would be nothing left, but that feeling
only lasted a moment; and then it was gone. I opened the door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And there stood Jane. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Everything stopped. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The room was suddenly illuminated once again. There was nothing in
there with me; there were no creatures, no demons, and no darkness. There was
only her- and her alone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Timothy?” She asked, her tone obviously conveying a sense of concern
alongside doubt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Jane,” was the only word I could muster. I practically fell into
her arms, which were clearly not expecting me, and therefore she struggled to
hold me up. Somehow she dragged me to the sofa, straining as she did. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It took me some time to come around, and even when I did, I was
slightly delirious. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“What happened to you, Tim?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Nothing,” I replied, self-pity taking over, “and that’s exactly
it- nothing happened.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jane fetched me some water, and with time I regained myself,
though still shaken from what I had experienced. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Why are you here, Jane?” I eventually asked. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“A couple of reasons- but mostly because of your messages.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Messages?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Yeah- you don’t remember? You sent me some pretty disturbing
messages, I had no idea what was going on, but you seemed frightened, terrified
even-“<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Can I hear them?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“No- I’ve deleted them, because you asked me to- you honestly don’t
remember sending me any messages?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“No, No I don’t, I-“ I stopped at this point. I looked out of the
window to see that the apartment building opposite was fully lit; I could even
see the woman in the resident across from me making herself something to drink.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I think I may be losing my mind, Jane.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“It was bound to happen sooner or later- cooped up in this place-
it’s kinda why I’m here-“<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I’ve been offered a job, and I would like you to come with me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The job in question was something that would turn my life around,
it couldn’t have come at a better time either, I was clearly teetering on the
brink of insanity. After reading all of this you may start to believe that I am
making this entire tale up, I can assure you, that whilst everything I saw may
not be true, it is what I saw, heard and felt with certainty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have gone over that night many times in my head. My only
conclusion is that my isolation and solitude were killing me, and my cynicism
and fear of the world are what kept me from removing myself from it. If it wasn’t
for Jane, I may well have died that night. Either way, I was driving myself to
the brink of insanity, whether it was boredom, or loneliness or something else
entirely that forced my brain to create such vivid and horrendous hallucinations,
I will never know. All I can say with certainty is that there was no trace of
anything out of the ordinary following Jane’s visit, there was no sign that any
of the things I had witnessed had come to pass, and ultimately the entire
scenario had been created in my own head. It is because of that experience that
I live in constant fear of what my imagination might do, because if it can
concoct something so vicious as the darkness that threatened to devour and
dismember me, what else is it capable of, and what will the consequences be
should it be allowed to take over completely?</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Soulturin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07298755994347420266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4939955890184412499.post-15156135876899372972013-08-21T06:27:00.001-07:002013-08-21T06:27:23.449-07:00Glyph... (Scorch)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAomb3BOKci1dOT6y3ZCDK5b_xKAUvhShTOhSNxyCwwGBZ3o7S5_1ou3OwaybWQIhfNANFuMZMXUJ824dXsvRjMEO22ALDBVNfnLtDUQs_wdkSSCdg61Fov0k82FKKv7WT1sr83_evnv5k/s1600/IMG_0256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAomb3BOKci1dOT6y3ZCDK5b_xKAUvhShTOhSNxyCwwGBZ3o7S5_1ou3OwaybWQIhfNANFuMZMXUJ824dXsvRjMEO22ALDBVNfnLtDUQs_wdkSSCdg61Fov0k82FKKv7WT1sr83_evnv5k/s320/IMG_0256.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
This is my imagining of what Scorch should look like in Anime/Manga form :)<br /><br />Soulturin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07298755994347420266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4939955890184412499.post-21701655412321686462013-08-21T04:02:00.001-07:002013-08-21T04:02:20.072-07:00John: The Worker Ant<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s that time of the day again; the time when all of us
workers go out into the open to retrieve various resources to bring back to
colony. I wake up every morning with the fear and anxiety growing inside me
like a disease, spreading into my antennae, making me shiver. My curse: a fear
of wide, open spaces… otherwise known as agoraphobia. Whenever we venture out,
I tend to stay in the shadows as much as possible, I will scavenge under the
leaves, or venture through a variety of rocks and pebbles, anything to avoid
going under that big, open sky.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There have been several occasions when it has been
unavoidable, times when I have had to scramble out into the open. In those
moments the enormity of the sky pushes down on me, and I feel like I am
drowning in the open air, on other occasions the feeling is entirely different,
but equally as terrifying, I feel almost as if I might float away into that
endless blue- falling into the sky. It is ridiculous I know- for someone like
me- a worker ant, to be afraid of such things; but it cannot be helped. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is getting worse every day. I have even refused to leave
the colony before now, the other workers looking at me with disgust. There is
no place for a worker ant that does not work, it is meant to be in my nature,
but I am different from the others… I always have been. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today… today is going to be different. I’m going to force
myself out of the colony, I’m going to stroll out into the open and I won’t be
fazed by any of it. It’s not the first time I’ve told myself this, it’s not the
first time I’ve been determined to beat this phobia, but for some reason, even
though the fear is tingling in my antenna and boiling in my abdomen, I feel
today is going to be different. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I follow the other workers out of the colony, marching in
time with the group, allowing myself to be filled with optimism, but unable to
shake the doubts gathering in my head. We emerge into the light, it is almost
blinding for the first few seconds, until we all adjust. The heat is equally as
intense, threatening to boil us alive. We will not be deterred by the sunlight
however, as we march onwards, through the thicket of leaves and grass and
weeds. They provide a vast amount of shade, this is the environment I am
comfortable in, in the colony everyone thinks I am defected, and out in the
open I am scared to death, only here in the shade am I truly at ease.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But now the time is fast approaching. We are reaching the
edge of the garden and will soon step out onto the pavement, completely exposed
to the world at large, and I can scarcely keep time with my marching. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I see it- the entrance to that huge, open void, it’s
threatening to pull me in, I’m going to fall, I’m going to bend, I’m going to
break. No! I have to fight it; I cannot allow myself to be consumed by fear. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first step into the sunlight: everything is fine; I’m
going to be okay. With the next step I feel less confident. I can feel the heat
bearing down on me now, the rays of the sun focused directly on me. Then the
next step. I know now what is going to happen. I ‘m going to look up, I’m going
to gaze into that sea of blue and I’m going to fall, fly, float away. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I look up and suddenly I’m rooted to the ground. There is so
much sky. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The workers behind me bump into me, causing a domino effect
to take place, all of the ants behind me falling to the ground. Now there is
shouting, yelling, screaming- the entire workforce against me, but I cannot
hear them, all I can focus on is the sky. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know I have to run, I have to hide, I have to get away
before I am swallowed whole. I uproot myself and dash into the shade, feeling
the cool comfort of the shadows envelop me. I breathe a sigh of relief as I
hear the chaos in the distance. I suppose I should be mad at myself, I suppose
I should be ashamed… but I’m not. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The other workers will never understand, the queen certainly
won’t understand, not one of them is sympathetic to an anomaly in the
community. I will do all I can to fight this phobia, but I must do it on my own
time, otherwise I will be of no use to anyone. I can gather in the shadows for
now, until I gather the courage to try again. Why am I not angry at myself? I
think it is because never before have I willingly stepped out into the open. I
have made progress… no matter how small. I managed to stand in the open for
some time without passing out, even if I was consumed by my fear.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the end I suppose there is nothing to do but try and try
again until I have conquered my demons. I will stop at nothing to make it so. I
don’t know what this is… but I guess I have never had so much hope before, I
feel, for the first time, like this might be possible. I will finally not be a
freak anymore… I will be able to blend in eventually, and then I will be the
same, it’s just what I’ve always wanted. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I will stop at nothing to be just like everyone else. <o:p></o:p></div>
Soulturin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07298755994347420266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4939955890184412499.post-39513930916935251012013-08-18T06:06:00.001-07:002013-08-22T05:12:53.772-07:00Glyph. (Part 3)<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Isaac was walking home. He had kept his head
down the past few weeks; he didn’t want to draw attention to himself if he
could- besides- he felt like he was being watched. He feared any behaviour out
of the ordinary would attract unwanted attention. He still entered minds; it
was almost a compulsion now to read peoples thought now, although he had
refrained from attempting to control them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The walk home from college took around half an
hour. Usually he would catch a bus, but for some reason they hadn’t turned up
that day, the streets themselves seemed eerily empty. He turned a corner into a
lane that was practically abandoned. That was when the car pulled up beside
him. Isaac’s heart lurched in his chest. <i>Who
are these people? What do they want?</i>
It clearly wasn’t a simple group who were going to mug him; the car was
far too expensive. A large, shiny, black Bentley parked directly next to him-
something was very wrong. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The door opened and a familiar face appeared.
The dark haired woman who has been present throughout his questioning sat
inside, her skin was perpetually pale, and her glare was always icy; it was
some time before she finally spoke a word. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’m going to need you to come with me, Mr
Rivers.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Isaac returned her cold stare.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“I was taught from a young age not to get into
cars with strangers.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“We both know that I’m not here for anything so
crude,” She deflected, sounding almost disgusted at the suggestion, “but if you
are concerned we will drive away with you inside- Frank!” She called out,
presumably to the driver, “leave us for a few minutes would you?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black;"><i><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That
wasn’t a question- that was an order, </span></i><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Isaac thought to
himself. He needed to see what this woman’s intent was, he needed to see into
her mind.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He looked deep into her eyes. They were
unmoving, and grey. Isaac could not see past them- <i>this hasn’t happened before.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i style="background-color: black;"><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Something wrong, Isaac?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He lingered for a moment, trying and failing to
penetrate her mind, “no- nothing.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The glyph on his hand began to itch, and
suddenly he was extremely thankful that he was wearing his fingerless gloves to
cover up the marking, otherwise the twitch of his hand would have drawn her
eye. He stepped, hesitantly, into the car.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The atmosphere was warm and the seats were
ridiculously comfortable, the only thing inside that caused him any form of
distress was the person who was inside with him. She closed the door behind
Isaac before he had chance to close it himself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The woman was adept at staring. Again, words
were not spoken for some time, Isaac was under the impression that she was
observing him closely, looking for anything even remotely out of the ordinary.
He felt extremely vulnerable- exposed even- he couldn’t see what she was
thinking, nor could he change it should something go horribly wrong. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“As I’m sure you are aware,” she began, “I was
present throughout your brief time in custody, I was observing you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Why?” Isaac blurted out, unthinkingly. She
stopped, sighed slightly, and then pulled out a briefcase from the side of the
chair. She opened it and began to flick through the files within, almost as if
by force of habit rather than to gain any information from them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“There are certain-“ she paused again,
apparently to weigh up her words,”- individuals within our society who pose a
threat to our way of life. They are extremely dangerous, volatile and if they
are not caught and contained then there is no telling exactly what they might
be capable of.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“I see-“<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“I believe you may be one of them.” Isaac’s
eyes widened; he was a suspect? How could she possibly know about the Glyph?
Was that even what this was all about? Questions ran through his head without
providing any answers, and each one filled him with even more fear. “Nothing to
say, Mr Rivers?” she smiled. Her smiled was somehow even more chilling than her
usual relatively blank, mildly agitated, default expression. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“I- I’m not a criminal” Isaac stated, “I’ve not
committed any crime, and I don’t plan to any time soon either.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">She seemed unconvinced. Her eyes still boring
into him mercilessly, she began to chew, even though there was evidently
nothing in her mouth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“You should know that it is my job to track
these individuals and bring them to justice, if you are telling me the truth,
then you have nothing to be afraid of, but I’m warning you now- there are
people out there who wish to do you harm, people with more power than your
average lowlife.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’ll keep that in mind, am I free to go now?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“I have no reason to keep you, but should you
notice anything suspicious, or anyone acting out of the ordinary, contact me-
immediately.” She handed him a small, formal card with a number and an email
printed clearly in a bold font. There was no name, just a symbol, a glyph,
eerily similar to his own. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“What do I call you?” he asked, now securely on
the pavement outside of the car. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“For now? Just call me P.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“As in, the letter?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Is there any other kind of P?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Isaac had to stop himself from laughing; only
regaining himself when he became aware of how immature- let alone
inappropriate- it would be to laugh at something so idiotic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“I can think of a few,” he smiled. She grimaced
back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">At that moment Frank appeared, seemingly from
nowhere, and re-entered the car. In the next moment, the car was gone, and the
whole scenario seemed like nothing more than an odd, fleeting dream. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The second the car was out of sight he began to
shake. <i>Did that really just happen?</i> He couldn’t go home and be seen in this state,
he needed time to cool down, to gather his thoughts. <i>Why couldn’t I read her mind?</i> <i>Have
I lost my powers? </i> He needed to go
somewhere where he could sit and just think for a while. He was pretty sure
there was a library not far from where he was, he’d been there a few times, it
would be quiet at this time- at least he hoped it would. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The place was closer than he anticipated, but
was just as quiet as he suspected. He entered the building, passing by the woman
at the front desk and finding himself a deserted corner of the library. Finding
a small table with a few chairs scattered around it, he sat down and placed his
head in his hands. Before he could simply convince himself he was being
paranoid, but now, now he had proof that he was a suspect, they would find out
about his power. In truth, he felt it may even help to have someone know, the
power he had frightened him, it was too much too soon. How would his parent’s
react? What would happen to his education and career? <i>Who am I kidding; I have no idea what I’m doing…</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i style="background-color: black;"><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Something on your mind?” Isaac jumped. Someone
stood in front of him: a man, not much older than himself. He wore a navy
jumper with the white collar of a shirt underneath sticking out from the neck;
one side of the collar was up, while the other was neatly folded over. His hair
was a dirty blond, and was the very definition of windswept, with it branching out
at all different angles; it also seemed to protrude higher on the left hand
side. Also, on his left eye, a large black eye patch shielded his vision.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Isaac hesitated a moment. “S-Something like
that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Well, it isn’t surprising,” he stated, “everyone
one in five males suffer from depression or other form of mental disorder-
statistically it’s not unlikely that you are a victim of such an illness.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He was taken aback, <i>is it possible to be any more blunt?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i style="background-color: black;"><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“And who are you, exactly?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Name’s Scorch.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Scorch?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Gave it to myself- I don’t know my real name, I
may not even have one, I’m not entirely sure I need one, what purpose do they
serve really? Once you know a person, you know their identity, you do not need
to put a name to a face- not really.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Isaac’s bemusement was evident. “O- Okay.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Scorch picked up a large book that had been
left on the table. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Hamlet- interesting- is this yours?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“No, someone must have left it there before I got
here.” Scorch turned away from Isaac. He looked at the book inquisitively and
lifted up his eye patch. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He turned back, the eye patch now once again,
sealed firmly over his eye. <span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">“There
is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>He had quoted the play he was holding
in his hand, Isaac couldn’t help but be impressed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“You’ve read it then?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Only just heard of it,” he replied, throwing the book in the
air for Isaac to catch, “have you?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Isaac stumbled out of his chair and rushed to catch it. The
book landed painfully in his hands, the hardback cover digging into his palm as
he caught it. Sighing, he turned to Scorch who was now perusing a shelf,
seemingly with no true goal.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’ve read most of Shakespeare’s plays- so how did you-“<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Force of perception, you observe anything close enough and I
find you can learn all there is to know about a single subject that there is to
know.” He stated without looking Isaac’s way. He stopped at another book and
lifted his eye patch as he had done before. <i>There
is something off about this man.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i style="background-color: black;"><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Isaac wasn’t entirely sure what he meant by ‘force of
perception’, it sounded like he was talking nonsense; maybe he was. It suddenly
struck him- he still was unsure whether or not he was still able to enter a
person’s mind, surely he should try now? It would, at the very least, sate his curiosity
as to who this strange man was.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Scorch.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He turned to face him and Isaac looked into his eye. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This mind was unlike any other, he knew that from the first
second of being inside, the place was boiling. Every corner of his mind was
bristling, teeming, bursting with information, an army of databases on a
massive scale of subjects, all of them fully understood and appreciated. There
was a distinct lack however, of any sort of memory, only the past month could
be remembered, anything beyond that was darkness- and fire- so much fire,
burning, smotherin</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">g- scorching. Then there was the anger, the frustration, the-</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">GET OUT!</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It screamed at him. The voice was so loud it almost made his
ears bleed. Then there were arms wrapped around him, forcing him away, pulling,
tearing, grasping. He was being forced out of his mind- violently. His head
throbbed, his heart ached, his ears felt as though they were about to explode
as the voice continued to scream at him, amplified at an alarming volume.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He fell back into the chair, panting and sweating, horrified
at what he had just experienced. Scorch looked at him, a wicked grin spreading
across his face.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“So- after all this searching- I’ve finally found someone
just like me,” he looked as though he might burst out laughing, but not a
carefree, gleeful chuckle, more of a menacing, vindictive howl. “I’ll show you
mine if you show me yours!” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Without thinking Isaac removed his glove and threw his arm in
the air, showing Scorch his marked palm. At the same time Scorch ripped away
his eye patch to reveal the ‘X’ emblazoned on his eye. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Aren’t you the lucky one? You didn’t have to sacrifice an
eye for your power- not that I mind all that much of course- it is merely a
slight inconvenience.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Your power-“<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“I don’t know how much you saw while you were trespassing in
my brain, but let me put it simply for you: with this eye, anything I see I can
instantly understand, I immediately have all the information on a topic, I am
aware of every potential viewpoint and any alternatives, it is all installed
into my brain- instantly.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“What happens when you look at a person?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“I know all personal information about them: their name, age,
weight, ethnicity, I can also immediately assess their character, whether they
are selfish or selfless, introverted or extroverted- but you- I can’t see you.”
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“You can’t?” he stuttered.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“It’s why I came to talk to you, I needed to know why I couldn’t
read you, and now I know why.”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“I saw- I saw what you want- what you are planning-“<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“I don’t want anything; I am doing what must be done, for the
sake of humankind.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“You can tell yourself that if you like, but you w</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">ant it, and
it is wrong- don’t you care about all the devastation you will cause?”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Scorch simply stared at him. Isaac knew the a</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">nswer to his question;
he didn’t know why he bothered asking.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“You can join me- if you wish- your power would be invaluable
to my cause.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Isaac simply shook his head. He wasn’t going to be part of
anything this man was planning, he could see the malice in his intent, they joy
in his purpose, and it was terrible to
behold. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Very well,” he resigned, he picked up his eye patch and
placed it over his good eye, so only the glyph remained visible, “you will not
be able to penetrate my mind again, so don’t even try.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“How did you know?“<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“You needed me to face you when you wished to enter my mind,
it stands to reason that you can only access people’s brain through their eyes,
and since I am technically blind in this eye, despite the fact I can see
everything much clearer, you will not be able to access my thoughts any longer.”
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He pulled out a torn, burnt piece of paper from his pocket
and picked up a pen from the table. He scribbled something and thrust it into
Isaac’s hands. “My number; if you change your mind.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He turned to leave, walking slowly towards the exit, “oh, and
just a warning- do not try and stop me.”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Scorch! I understand how you feel, I have seen your
frustration, I have felt your pain- the burning- it never ends, but doing this-
it won’t make it any better, it won’t change anything.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He stopped for a moment, absorbing Isaac’s words, then
without saying anything more, he turned a corner and vanished. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As if I didn’t have enough to worry about. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The thoughts inside Scorch’s head were terrifying. He sought
the devastation of society as it currently stood and a new order to put in its
place: a utopia for him, oppression and misery for everyone else. Families
would be torn apart, whole cities burnt to the ground, governments overthrown
in a violent tidal wave and the entire world thrown into disarray, simply
because he misunderstood the meaning of humanity. Isaac knew what he had to do;
but he was reluctant. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He pulled out the card from his pocket. He stared at the
glyph emblazoned upon it, afraid of the consequences of his actions- no- he had
to do this, for the sake of all that mattered to him. He pulled out his phone
and dialled the number on the card.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Hello?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“P?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Yes?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: black; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“I think I’ve found who you are looking for…”</span></span><span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Soulturin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07298755994347420266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4939955890184412499.post-18550749507221698872013-08-16T06:35:00.001-07:002013-08-16T06:35:57.679-07:00Dreamscape: Lifetime<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So... this is a bit of an unusual one. I am currently working on a novel, and it struck me that the parts that I enjoyed writing the most were the dream sequences. So I thought to myself... why not just do a fun old dream sequence? So that is what I did. Turned out kind of dark in places, but overall I think you can appreciate what i'm going for. So yeah...</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
A-Is for Abandonment: Alone in a vast plane of emptiness
and darkness. A<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Baby, crying and starving on the ground, its tiny lungs
gasping for the air it is deprived of, its miniscule hands reaching out for the
touch of another human being- someone- anyone. Now it is fumbling, falling
through the vapid emptiness of space, only to land in the empty seat of a <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Car. The baby is in the passenger seat, in the driver’s
seat is a man with a look of desperation and concerned etched upon his face, a
sweat upon his brow and a tear threatening to drop from his eye. He is trying
to start the engine- so determined, and so destined to fail. He looks to the
horizon ahead of him and my eyes follow his, and as I look I see light
beginning to trickle into the darkness-<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Dawn is breaking. On closer inspection however I see the
landscape littered with the walking<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Dead. A hand clasps tightly onto my shoulder. I turn to
see two pairs of dead eyes gazing at me, I instinctively know that they are the
baby’s parents. They do not linger for long. They simply request I take caution
on the road ahead. The whole scene shifts and suddenly I’m standing on an <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Escalator, but I’m going the wrong way. The escalator is
going down, but I’m struggling ahead. I persist, sweat dripping from my brow,
knowing I must fight the tide, but not knowing why. Some thought buried deep
inside my head has morphed into fact, and the fact is that something is waiting
for me ahead and that something is leading me onwards. The escalator suddenly
begins to drop, the steps becoming level and still at my feet. There is a boy
ahead. He is reading a <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Fable to himself, speaking the words out loud. The book
he is reading from is beautifully crafted and the pages are a brilliant white,
but the words he is speaking are morbid and curious. I begin to wonder whether
he is reading the story of my life, but the notion strikes me as ridiculous.
The scene around the boy and myself begins to shift once again. Trees grow
ominously tall and dark, imposing on us both, but the boy barely seems to
notice. I see a trail make itself known through the newly constructed forest,
and somewhere in the distance I can see an old, dreary, worn out, decrepit<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Gate, swinging open and then shut. I follow the trail and
pass through the dismal gate, the hinges screech and I wince at the sound, as
my ears protest the sudden rise in pitch. The forest begins to thicken and the
trail becomes more and more obscure. Fear begins to consume me, I feel bile
rise in my throat as my stomach acid begins to boil. In the distance I hear a
faint, but haunting,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Howl. Maybe it is all in my mind, but I feel the wolves
closing in on me, their feral eyes leering at me through the underbrush, their
teeth bared, ready to gnarl, gnash and gnaw on my flesh. Then the <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Insects begin to buzz around me. I have disturbed their
nest, and now they are seeking vengeance. Fighting my way through the endless
onslaught of the forest’s weapons, I realise that the wood around me is no
longer in the form of trees, but exquisitely carved and crafted benches and
desks and stands. I am in a courtroom. The buzz that previously belonged to the
insects now belongs to the crowd and the jury, and is eerily similar. I stand
in front of them all and look up at the imposing<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Judge. I hear the jury tutting and sighing and silently
but surely judging me. The judge is speaking nonsense, but his tone clearly
conveys his disgust and disapproval. It all becomes too much, suddenly the buzz
in room grows louder, and the temperature increases, and the room gets smaller,
and I cannot take anymore. I see myself- an adolescent- jump from the box in
which I was sat, and<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Kill the judge with a blade. The buzz becomes a roar and
the whole room becomes chaos. Everyone lurches for my adolescent self, but
before any of their prying hands reach me I stab the knife through my heart.
Through the devastation, much to my relief, out of the corner of my eye, I spy
a <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ladder. There is a woman there, holding it steady for me
to climb, and she smiles, her teeth gleaming white. I climb up, out of the mess
and the madness, into a place where it is constantly<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Midnight. I look around at the scene. A clearing littered
with candles, all burning brightly, and radiating warmth. As I walk however I become
aware that my feet are bare. I realise I am<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Naked and exposed. I begin to search for clothes, but
there is nothing in the surrounding area aside from trees and candles. My eyes
adjust to the dark and I see bodies on the ground. They are moving. All of them
intertwined with each other, squirming, wriggling; limbs wrapped around limbs,
lips pressed together. The cold, night air is filled with the sound of moaning
and hushed whispering. The <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Orgy I have found myself in is odd to me, although my
nakedness somehow now seems far more appropriate, and I am comfortable with
myself. In the middle of the clearing, out of nowhere, a <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Podium rises from the ground. Feeling more comfortable
than ever- I step up to it- above the mass of bodies below and I begin to
speak. Just as I open my mouth however, I spy another podium in the distance.
There is a figure stood at this podium just as I am, high above the people
below. A <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Queen. I squint to try and see her better in the darkness.
I spy a heart, stitched into her dress. I suddenly become struck with fear and step
down. As I do I trip and fall to the cold ground where a<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Rabbit, white and energetic, bounds past my face at an
unnatural speed. I crawl across the ground following the rabbits trail. It take
forever- or almost a minute- to arrive at a small, sandy cave that is
illuminated by an unseen light source. I look around and immediately feel at
home. I know this is a <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Safe Haven. I must leave some time however; I cannot
linger in this haven forever, lest I forget what is really outside. I stay for
as long as I can, enjoying the warm, salty, night breeze and the sound of the
sea gently falling against the sand. I watch the playful shadows dance against
the roof of the cavern and feel at peace. I have to leave. As I step foot
outside the cave I am immediately shoved to the ground, it takes me some time
to realise what has happened, but it becomes clear that a <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Thief has stolen something precious from me. Not knowing
what has been stolen, but certain that something has, I pursue the shadow that
is bolting away from me along the beach. Just as I am about to reach him, he
changes course and begins to run into the sea. I follow him into the depths,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Underwater, the shadow continues on into the darker blue
regions of the ocean. I pursue him further until eventually he relinquishes the
item that he stole. The photograph of my parents drifts past me, and then
begins to float towards the surface, out of my reach, lost forever. The shadow
is gone, but I am still deeply submerged. I look through the murky water;
imbedded into a rock I see a <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Valve. I have an insatiable desire to turn it. I swim to
through the heavy waters that are bearing down on me and wrap my hands around
the cold metal wheel. With great difficulty I begin to turn it, with a loud,
satisfying ‘click’ the water from the ocean begins to drain. I see the surface
rapidly approaching me from above- I close my eyes. When I open them again,
there is sunlight, I’m in a <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Warzone, with the heat from above bearing down on me and
the sound of gunfire blazing through the air. I run through the turbulent
atmosphere. Bombs, bullets, shouting, screaming, blood, sweat, heat- I can feel
them all, shooting towards me like I am their primary target. I manage to
locate a tent and quickly manoeuvre my way inside. There are several officer
and generals stood around a map. I pick myself up from the ground, covered in
dust and dripping with sweat. I look at the map.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘X’ marks the spot. The map doesn’t resemble anything
even remotely sophisticated, it is instead a hand-drawn map of a series of
islands, with a giant ‘X’ blotted on one of the land masses. Confused, I step
outside of the tent, hoping the air will clear my head. The scene has once
again changed. The heat has remained, but I am no longer at the centre of a
warzone. I am on a beach, on a tropical island. The water is terrifically
clear- I can see all the rocks and fish beneath it. In the cove is a large<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Yacht, which is evidently mine. I look into the sky and
see that it is littered with an army of <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Zephyr planes. I begin to laugh, and spread my arms wide,
feeling the tropical breeze wash over me. I’m suddenly an old man, with his
wrinkled, old feet submerged in the sand, but I feel overall contentment. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And then I wake up. <o:p></o:p></div>
Soulturin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07298755994347420266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4939955890184412499.post-4943296868058305222013-08-09T11:09:00.001-07:002013-08-10T15:17:09.326-07:00Just... Hello<div class="MsoNormal">
Okay, so I wanted to see if I could write a short love story in 1000 words or less... I failed, it's actually over 1,100... but y'know, I'm only human... Jesus!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyway, here it is:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I lightly knock on the door. Three times.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tap. Tap. Tap. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hear footsteps and my heart starts to pound inside my
chest. My eyes start to water, my hands tremble, my knees shake. I could faint,
the heat is intense, and the light is blinding. I start to panic, thoughts
rushing through my head at a speed that does not allow me to linger on a single
idea for more than a second. I start to question why I am here, I start to
question if I should leave, I still have time- I could run and never look back,
I could abandon this foolish endeavour and just leave. I don’t want to though.
I want to be here, but I have to remind myself- more than once- that is what I
believe, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t true. Still, I’m plagued with doubts
and apprehension; I don’t know what the reaction to me being here will be. I
don’t know if I’m wanted. Again, the feeling that I should run comes back to
me, but this time it is too late, the footsteps have stopped on the other side
of the door, if I were to run now, I would be caught, and it would all have
been for nothing, I would show my cowardice and conflicted mind. There’s no
time for any of that though- not anymore- the lock clicks and the door swings
open. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It isn’t her. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Hello?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I fumble for words, spluttering, choking on my own saliva. I
eventually manage to articulate some form of greeting. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Hi, is Juliette there?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Ermmm- yes, I’ll get her for you- and who are you?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Felix.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Give me a minute,” the door closes, slamming in my face. I
can hear words being spoken out of sight, but I cannot make out what they are
saying. I could run now- no, don’t be ridiculous, she knows you are here now,
he will tell her it is you, and then she will come to the door, expecting to
see you, only to find you have run away- how stupid are you? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The door opens once again, this time; she is standing there,
looking as beautiful as ever, radiant in the fading glow of the afternoon sun.
Her deep blue eyes sparkle, as they always do, and look directly at mine. The
freckles on her cheeks seem to have multiplied due to the amount of sunlight
she had been exposed to over the past few days, although she never burned, her
skin seemed to have an inability to flaw, instead obtaining nothing but a
light, golden complexion. She opens her mouth to speak-<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Felix, what are you doing here?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I breathe heavily- in and out, in and out- trying my best to
focus.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I came to see you, I couldn’t leave things the way we left
them-“<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What are you trying to say?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The words I had set in my mind beforehand have abandoned me,
her beauty has swept them away, and I am left lost, sinking into a void where
articulate expression is impossible, unthinkable even. I have no choice but to
try and say what I am feeling, simply from the top of my head and the bottom of
my heart. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’m trying to say- these past few days- we started out
strangers, and now, well now I don’t know what we are. But what we’ve shared,
all that we’ve done, you cannot deny that there is something between us,
something confusing, something ridiculous, something that probably shouldn’t be
there- but it is, and I cannot stop myself from feeling it, and I cannot stop
myself from thinking about you. I have spent every day trying my hardest to
fight my affection, but it has all been in vain. I know you are engaged, I know
you are here with your fiancé, but something tells me that you do not love him
the way that you could potentially love me. You have spent these last few days
apart, without barely a second thought, and that must mean that somewhere deep
down you know that he isn’t right for you. Maybe I am way out of depth, maybe I
am being arrogant and presumptuous, maybe I am way out of line, but everything
I say, I am saying because I have the deepest admiration and love for you, one
that I have never felt with any other human being on this earth. So- I guess
that is it- it’s your turn now- say something- please- before I start
hyperventilating and I collapse.” I chuckle nervously, feeling physically sick,
my eyes blurring. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You shouldn’t have come here Felix- not now.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I had to, even if you don’t feel the same way, I at least
had to let you know, I will understand if you want to stay with him, because he
makes you happy, and I want nothing more than your happiness, but if you look
at the reality of the situation- I don’t think that is entirely true”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I can’t- I can’t say or do anything, not here, not right
now.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What are you saying?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’m saying you aren’t wrong, and I have feelings for you- I
do, I shouldn’t, but I do, but this isn’t the time or the place to act on
impulse, it will only make things more complicated. I need some time to work
things out, I need some time to figure out what I need to do, and what is
right. I cannot just run into the sunset with you, that isn’t real life.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I relax my shoulders, a sense of wonder and also relief
presenting itself to me. She loves me too. She loves me!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I know-so what do you want me to do?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Leave, you have to, and I will contact you when I am
ready.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“How long?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I can’t say Felix- I don’t know, I don’t know how I’m going
to tell him, I don’t know how I’m going to break off this engagement.” Her eyes
fill with tears and I immediately feel guilty for putting her through this.
What am I doing?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’m sorry-“<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“It’s not your fault that I love you, Felix” she pauses, and
then smiles gently, “well- actually- I suppose it is.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You’re welcome.” I grin, unable to contain my happiness.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Now go- leave- before I change my mind!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hesitate, unsure if I should- but I do. I plant a kiss on
her lips and turn to leave.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“How am I going to explain to him why you visited?” she
says, just as I am about to walk out of earshot.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Tell him I just came to say hello,” I smile, “just… hello.”<o:p></o:p></div>
Soulturin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07298755994347420266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4939955890184412499.post-58793842659279927722013-08-03T07:04:00.001-07:002013-08-03T07:06:09.838-07:00Words Over Coffee (Part 3)<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Starbucks, The Final Frontier- okay, that was a lousy
intro, my apologies, let me start again:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Hello! I have just returned from what I'm almost 100%
certain will be my last coffee meet with Melanie- ever. It went pretty well in
my opinion. Well, I suppose technically it was an absolute train wreck... But
you win some and you lose some I suppose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">First, allow me to put into words my thoughts before
arriving to meet Melanie. I was somewhat confused at the best, utterly lost at
the worst, I had never experiences such mixed feelings before in my life. It
had become apparent to me that I still wanted her, and there was nothing I
could do to rid myself of that, but at the same time, I still felt a certain
sense of disdain towards her, maybe it was because she was the author of her
own misery, or perhaps it was simply because I still hadn't forgiven her for rejecting
me way back when... Of course, this made me angry at myself, I felt like a
child again, getting angry and frustrated at such petty, trivial things, I was
meant to have grown into adulthood, but here I was, still whining and moaning
because I hadn't gotten exactly what I wanted. In reality, I guess most of us
are all still spoiled little brats deep inside. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">But I didn't have a massive amount of time to dwell on
it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">This time, when I walked through the doors, she was
there, waiting for me, which told me things were going to be different from the
start. This was a far more serious affair- in case you haven't been paying
attention thus far- I don't do serious very well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">There was no Metro either- people were gonna have to
find another way to get around. It's not like a tube strike is anything new
these days anyway...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Sorry, I'm straying from the point again aren't
I? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">She looked different. It wasn't anything to do with
physical appearance, she looked- changed. I felt pity for her; a strange sense
of pity. She saw me and smiled a warm, caring smile. My heart shook and my
stomach instantly filled itself with metaphorical butterflies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Stephen! It's good to see you again...”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"You too, Melanie, how have you been?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Good- yeah, I've been good- you?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Fantastic, swell, brilliant, delightful, all of
the above"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">She laughed and then stopped abruptly. Jesus Christ, I
was a wreck. We ordered our coffees, she bought them both this time, I didn't
object. She ordered a latte- I'm still unsure whether she did that on purpose
to make me notice, did it on purpose and hoped I wouldn't notice, or whether
she did it absentmindedly due to what I had said. Either way, I instantly felt
ashamed of the effect I had, so no matter what her motive, she still managed to
provoke another emotion to flare inside me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"So- how are things with you? We didn't actually
speak about you all that much- the last time we spoke."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"We spoke enough about me for my liking" I
chuckled nervously. She politely chuckled with me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Still- I feel bad going on about myself all the
time- how is your family?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I don't know why she felt the need to bring my family
into the mix, but either way she did, and from that point there was no escaping
the matter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"You know my family... still turbulent, still at
each other's throats."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Ah, I see... I’m sorry."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"No, it's okay, you would expect after all this
time that they would have managed to resolve some of their issues by now, but
no- if anything they just keep making things worse and worse with no
consideration for me at all." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"So... the divorce?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"It's gone through, my parents are officially
separated, but that doesn't stop them from verbally bludgeoning each other, and
they like to use me as a chess piece, not that either of them actually takes
into consideration how I feel." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Again- I felt like a child- nothing more to say.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"And your family?" I said, sipping the froth
from the top of my coffee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"They're alright, nothing really going on with them;
I don't see them all that much anyway... not anymore."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Of course- University and all that jazz."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Yeah."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Yeah."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I think there is a lot to be said for awkward
silences. Sometimes they can be hilarious, I've always enjoyed them anyway,
mainly because when you laugh it breaks the tension and everyone starts
laughing, unless it's something serious. Laughing at a silence during a
funeral- for example- would not exactly be appropriate, although I imagine it
would still be quite funny, the forbidden laughs are always the sweetest. I say
all this because, whilst I most often enjoy these kinds of things, in this
situation, I couldn't hate anything more. The silence lasted longer than I wish
to comprehend. We didn't look each other in the eye. We listened to other
people's conversations rather than engaging in our own. We sipped our coffees
to begin, and then began to gulp them down, simply because it was one of the
only things we could do, sat opposite to one another, not daring to speak or
move. I would have laughed, had I not felt so ashamed, awkward and ultimately
humiliated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Then something happened which was of the greatest
relief to me, because it meant I could relieve all that tension. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Melanie spied something- someone. Sitting in the
corner of the shop. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Someone- with someone else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">HER someone- with someone else!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I noticed her looking intently over my shoulder and
asked what the matter was. She didn't say a word for a while, she simply
stared. Finally she spoke to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"I think- I think that is Metro over there."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Obviously I had looked before, when I first saw her
glancing past me, but I didn't see Metro, but then again, I wasn't keeping my
eye out for him. But sure enough, when I glanced back for the second time there
he was. Not only that, he was there with a girl, a girl with long jet-black
hair. I couldn't see her face as her head was turned away from us, but that did
not matter- he was with another girl!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I suppose the correct thing to feel at that moment
would have been pity- or sympathy- for Melanie, as the discovery of her evident
asswipe of a boyfriend potentially cheating on her would be distressing- for
her at least. However, not being in exactly the correct frame of mind, instead
I felt a nice, smug sense of satisfaction, followed by a very, very
inappropriate sense of amusement. Especially- oh, how I enjoyed that moment-
when he leaned in to kiss the mystery girl and Melanie swiftly got to her
feet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Naturally she stormed over there, and I- somewhat
behind due to my savouring of the moment- remained in my seat, until it became
apparent what was happening and quickly followed behind her as best I
could. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"What the hell is this?" she exclaimed, much
to the delight of every customer in the place. Metro separated his face from
the girl's and looked up at Melanie. Clearly bewildered, he simply stared for a
while. I did my best to suppress laughter as I looked at his face; clearly his
brain was very, very, very slowly coming to terms with what was going on. The
words that his brain decided were the most appropriate for the situation were
appalling. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Hi, Melanie."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Hi? Hi? That's what you have to say- to
this?" she pointed at the girl, nearly taking her eye out as she did. The
next words that came out of his mouth were no improvement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"You're with him?" I actually winced at that
one, I could feel Melanie's wrath boiling inside her so intensely I was afraid
of being scorched. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"ARE YOU SERIOUS RIGHT NOW? YOU'RE SUCKING THE
FACE OFF THIS BITCH, AND YOU QUESTION WHAT I'M DOING WITH AN OLD FRIEND? FUCK
YOU!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Who are you?" the girl asked, somewhat innocently.
I caught a glimpse of her face then as she turned to look at us. She was Asian-
at least part Asian- and unbelievably attractive. She had dark hair and dark
eyes, a button nose and a light distribution of freckles on her face. I had to
give it to Metro; he had good taste in women. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"I'm his girlfriend! Who are you?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"His girlfriend."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I could see that Melanie was about to explode, her
face had gone bright red and there was fury in her eyes, Metro actually looked
somewhat frightened. Obviously, at this point I felt the need to have my say.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Hey Metro, nice to see you again- good venue for
a date, don't you think?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"I'll give you a fucking venue!" he
bellowed, rising from his chair. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"What?" I laughed. He evidently didn't know
what venue meant, "I don't know why you are getting mad, I was
complimenting your taste, clearly this place is so good that you have to bring
all your girlfriends here- it's good planning on your part I would say."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Melanie shot me a dirty look which instantly silenced
me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"So, you're cheating on me?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"No!" This time I did let out a small
chuckle, but I don't think anyone heard. I was extremely anxious to see him
talk his way out of this... He didn't disappoint.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"It's not cheating if you are both my
girlfriends."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I exploded. I mean... seriously, how could anyone be
that fucking stupid?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Melanie turned on me, her punches barely even
registered through the hysterical laughter, but eventually she gave up and
turned her rage back to Metro. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"You're a two-timing, idiotic little shit!"
she bellowed, now throwing her fists at him, doing even less damage than she
did to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"What about you?" he yelled back, "with
him?" Melanie seemed lost for words at the very idea. Fortunately, I
wasn't.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Well Metro, it wouldn't be cheating if we were
both her boyfriends." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">He lurched for me. Luckily by this point the staff had
become aware of the situation and two security guards from the shopping centre
appeared at that exact moment to save me from the savage, Neanderthal fists
that belonged to Metro, we were all thrown out, but not before I told them I
hadn't finished my coffee. They weren't too impressed with that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Metro's second girlfriend- girlfriend.2, girlfriend#2,
girlfriend B... you get the idea... he had two girlfriends- managed to slap him
around the face before walking off without another word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Melanie however, managed to stay a while longer just
to reprimand him. I won't go into the details of the lecture, needless to say,
it was long, painful, tearful and condemning, but somehow for me, it was made
redundant by the fact I imagined she'd given the exact same lecture many times
before, just in a different context, to different douchebags. Then she turned
to me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"As for you- you enjoyed all of that way too
much- you get your thrills from other people's misery and pain- and someone
like that could never truly care for someone else."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Maybe you are right, maybe I do enjoy it too
much, and it is inappropriate, but maybe the only reason I do, is because I
spent too much time caring that in the end I had to give it up, because it was
hurting me too much to see someone I cared about being constantly fucked
over," Her face seemed to drop, and her eyes told me she suddenly
understood, "I used to care- about everyone- about everything- about you,
but how can I anymore, when there is nothing but misery waiting for me if I
do?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">She didn't say anything else. She just stared at me
for a while, taking in my words, and then she left. She didn't even look at
Metro, who for some reason had lingered while we had been talking. I looked at him;
I saw his big muscled frame and his tiny, confused brain and almost felt pity
for him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Sorry for what I said, Metro," I smiled,
"it's hard enough losing one girlfriend, let alone two at the same
time." Somehow, he knew that I wasn't being a cocky dick this time. He
didn't say anything at first, he just looked at me; then he uttered one
word: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Why?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">That was probably the only remotely intelligent thing
he had asked me since we had met. I still don't know whether he was asking why
I was sorry, or why should I be sorry when he wasn't, or maybe he meant
something else entirely, maybe he meant it rhetorically, not that he would know
what that meant. Regardless of the true nature of his question, the answer was
always going to be the same.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"I don't know." With that, I began to walk
away, but then turned around for one last comment, "your second
girlfriend- she was pretty hot." He smiled at me... for the first and last
time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Yeah, she is" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">And that was it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Now? Who knows what happens next? I'm certain I will
not be seeing Melanie again. Obviously I didn't have some form of epiphany and
suddenly realise I didn't care about her- no, quite the opposite, I came to
realise that as long as I held out hope that something might develop between
us, I would always crave her attention, so to combat that, even if she does
contact me again, I will make every effort not to indulge her, because it would
just be prolonging something that will only cause me more dissatisfaction, and
besides- she doesn't care about me in that way- I may as well flog a dead
horse, that's a very morbid saying, and I've never liked it, but I must admit
it accurately conveys the point I’m trying to make.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In the end- I suppose I’m happier. I've learnt some
things too- I’m too quick to judge, and it isn't my right to judge anyway... I
mean sometimes people need putting in their place, but who am I, with all my
flaws, to do so? Also, if I’m to look for love, which I do believe, despite the
odds, I will eventually find, it will probably be better not to come across
so... me. Who knows? Maybe that hot, Asian, second girlfriend of Metro's will
be my future lover? I can dream! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">For some reason this whole experience has left me with
one resounding emotion... something which I don't fully understand... hope.
Maybe I will look her up after all. Maybe things will go well. Maybe we'll
connect. Maybe we will talk online for a while, and then I’ll ask her out on a
date, and we can have some words over coffee.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Fin... or something.</span></div>
Soulturin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07298755994347420266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4939955890184412499.post-4865361247568522162013-08-03T05:20:00.001-07:002013-08-03T14:38:43.762-07:00Update (August)I figured I should do a monthly update thing... don't ask me why I figured that, I just did.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This month I'm going to try my best to do at least a couple of stand alone short stories instead of these series' I'm currently working on. I have a couple of ideas at the minute, but none of them are fully formed yet, we shall see what happens... I came to this conclusion because I understand how misleading the title of "short stories" can be if the stories actually happen to be quite long, only they are spaced out in shorter intervals. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Aside from that, things should hopefully continue on as usual... I'll blurt out the last segment of 'Words Over Coffee' this month, as well as the next 'Timothy Dallow Chronicles' installment (I'm actually hoping to get at least two done), and finally continue on with 'Glyph.' I'm aware that one is a bit slow to start, but I promise you that it is going to get much, much better, and far more exciting than it currently is :)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And that's it for this month... thanks for joining me in this weird... thing... I'm creating :)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Toodlepip!</div>
Soulturin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07298755994347420266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4939955890184412499.post-13693822476128083362013-08-03T05:14:00.000-07:002013-08-18T13:35:48.179-07:00Glyph. (Part 2)<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">The bare, blackened skeletons of trees surrounded him. Naked, with
only a few scorched scraps of clothing hanging to him, he pulled himself from
the ground. Now in a sitting position his eyes adjusted to the scene around
him. He glanced briefly at the trees. They were all leaning away from him,
whatever had happened, he was the epicentre of it all. He looked to the sky
with wondrous and inquisitive eyes, his left iris was a dull grey, evidently
blind, but etched on his eyelids were four black markings surrounding his
eyeball, four jagged spikes forming an 'X'; forming a glyph.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">Isaac continued to repeat the process at work whenever he was
there, it made the whole time there bearable and far more enjoyable than it
ever had been. College was just the same, reading minds helped alleviate the
boredom, but a day came when something was out of the ordinary. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">His teacher, Mr West. He had always been depressed during classes,
you didn't need to enter his mind to figure that much out, but Isaac discovered
there was more too it than that. There were far more layers than he ever could
have anticipated. The roots coming from childhood abuse, the roots then being
cemented during years of bullying an mockery in school had led to the growth of
a mindset where he believed himself worthless and undeserving of any form of
happiness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">This particular day was worse than ever however. He had found
solace in his wife, and children, and for years he had managed to fool himself
that he could finally be happy, until his persistent pessimism drove them away.
That drove him insane. Now he was in a state of frenzy. Considering everything,
Isaac couldn't help but admire his strength and determination that was required
to put on the front he had whilst teaching.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">His mind was frantic, pulsating with anger, self loathing, hatred,
misery and malice. Consumed by his flurry of negative emotion, one image
flashed through his head, over and over, becoming clearer and clearer with
every second. The three of them; dead. Him, his wife, and his daughter. Dead. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">The class ended, and the college would soon begin to exhale
students and teachers alike. Mr West was going to return to his home, pull out
the knife from the wooden holster in the kitchen and pay a visit to his family.
They were settled in a nearby hotel. Isaac wasn't going to allow this to happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">He dialled for emergency services as soon as he was able. He asked
for the police.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">"Hello?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">"Hello, what is the nature of your emergency?" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">"My teacher is about to murder his family! It sounds
ridiculous- insane I know- but I- I heard him!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">"Do you know where your teacher is at this moment?" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">"He will be heading home right now, but his family are
staying at a hotel on Reston Avenue, you need to send someone down there-
now!" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">"Alright, we will get someone to the site as soon as we
c-" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">Isaac didn't wait for him to finish, he needed to get to that
hotel, he needed to warn them! But he didn't have a car, he had no spare change
for a bus or a taxi. He ran. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">By the time he reached the hotel, he was sweating all over and
panting heavily, the day was darker now, and the air cooler, but Isaac was
unable to feel the chill through the exertion and exhaustion. Isaac
looked up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">There he was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">Mr West. He seemed possessed, his eyes manic and bloodshot, his
hand trembling. He slipped his hand into his coat pocket and began to toy with
something inside. Isaac caught a glance... A gun! Where the hell did he get a
gun? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">He entered the building. Isaac didn't follow, what could he do? He
was powerless.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>So what? You're
gonna let a couple of innocent people die? Who am I kidding, I'm not a hero,
I'm nothing.</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Woah, I'm
starting to sound like...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">The thought scared him, so he erased it from his mind, the idea
that he had been influenced by Mr West's mind was something he didn't even want
to consider. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">There was a disturbance. Isaac could hear shouting. Manic, almost
incomprehensible, and fuelled by fear. He backed out of the door he had
entered. The gun he held in his pocket pointed at his own temple. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">"Put the gun down, sir!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">Several police officers emerged from the hotel, all of them
unarmed, evidently thinking better of pointing weapons at a man contemplating
suicide. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">"What's the point? What's the point in any of this?" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">Speaking those words Isaac felt all of the pain Mr West had
suffered, all the years of torment had amounted to this, and Isaac was
overwhelmed with pity. That pity caused something inside to unlock, suddenly
Isaac's fears were no more and he knew he had to stop this before everything
ended in tragedy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">"JONATHAN WEST!" Isaac's voice rang out across the
street and echoed through the adjoining alleys.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">He turned, his eyes staring hopelessly at Isaac. He penetrated his
mind, and screamed a thought into his brain, so that nothing else could be
considered. Three words:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">"Don't do it."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">The gun fell to the floor with an unremarkable 'clunk' and a
police officer took advantage, tackling the teacher to the ground and
handcuffing him as a precaution, not that it was needed, Jonathan West would
never consider suicide again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">Isaac stood frozen in disbelief. What had just happened? He
watched the scene unfold before him, he watched his teacher be bundled into a
police car that emerged from the corner, he saw an officer walk up to him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">"You're going to need to come with us"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">"What, why?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">"You're a witness, plus you helped stop a man from taking his
own life, and his families, don't worry, you're not in any trouble." For
some reason Isaac wasn't reassured, something told him that getting involved
with the authorities was not a good idea in any regard, it could only lead to
trouble.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">What followed was a series of questions in a series of different
rooms from a series of different people. He was forced to lie on several
occasions, the most common being 'and how did you know Mr West was about to
commit murder?' The answer being 'I heard him muttering under his breath, I
didn't catch all the details, but I heard what he was planning.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">There was woman who seemed to be present throughout it all
however. She had a cold expression on her face every time Isaac looked at her,
and she would often throw him a suspicious glance, though she never said a
word. Her hair was jet black, she had a fringe which covered the entirety of
her forehead, but ended just before it covered her eyes. It was several hours
before he was released. When he stepped out into the lobby, he found his mother
waiting for him, her face red with fury. She had spent all of her time at the
station shouting at any officer that walked by, asking why her son was being
kept so long when had done nothing wrong- when he had actually been heroic. She
was also mad at him however-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">"What the hell did you think you were doing, running in to
save the day like that? You could have been killed!" she embraced him and
squeezed so hard he could hardly catch his breath. Isaac understood how worried
his mother had been about him- but he also knew that she was proud- she
wouldn't show it right away, she may not show it all, because she wanted to
convey to him exactly what he had put her through, but Isaac knew she was proud.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">When Isaac returned home he was left- once again- to ponder on his
power. How far did it go? He now knew he could manipulate people's thoughts,
but to what extent? It began to scare him, he knew all too well that people
with too much power easily become corrupt, he didn't want to be that
person, <i>I won't be that person. </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif;">He resigned himself to not use his power unless absolutely
necessary, to avoid becoming mad with it- lest he become the menace he feared
was inside him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<u1:p></u1:p>
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<u1:p></u1:p>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Soulturin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07298755994347420266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4939955890184412499.post-49363115230374132712013-07-29T13:38:00.001-07:002013-07-29T13:39:29.345-07:00Glyph... Isaac.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
A visual representation- for anyone who requires that kind if thing- of what Isaac's Glyph should look like :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsfS5WFpekOBifgrU2yhdPxBUrK0tjrHXl2Y6OTIx37Rl1XIQbwddilZEiojiRdKSZpSVBmo7YVFQ7c2t6ay7lNucQV6rGDpRmVZ_So9TCrf7iuqeJRd_VT-CHyM1vEFZ8-bLLC7jM64L/s640/blogger-image-1833591187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsfS5WFpekOBifgrU2yhdPxBUrK0tjrHXl2Y6OTIx37Rl1XIQbwddilZEiojiRdKSZpSVBmo7YVFQ7c2t6ay7lNucQV6rGDpRmVZ_So9TCrf7iuqeJRd_VT-CHyM1vEFZ8-bLLC7jM64L/s640/blogger-image-1833591187.jpg" /></a></div>
Soulturin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07298755994347420266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4939955890184412499.post-64938655726559527412013-07-28T10:19:00.000-07:002013-07-29T12:15:02.462-07:00The Screaming in the School (TDC Part 3)<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you are still reading this, then that means I have- to
some extent- peaked your interest. However, there is a chance, if you are
anything like me, that you will have some reservations about my story thus far.
You could be a sceptic, who believes that I am simply creating a fantasy for
the enjoyment of my readers. Or you could believe that the stories I
have related so far are not truly ‘supernatural’ but merely a matter of me
being deliriously paranoid and highly impressionable. Both viewpoints are
entirely understandable, and if I had not lived it, I may well have shared your
stance. This next instalment should address the second belief, although there
is nothing I can do to convince the sceptics out there. Of course, I could ask
my primary school classmates to relate the same tale to you, or I could allow
my parents to tell you of the episode I had as a child, but neither would be able
to prove or disprove what I heard on those nights, and therefore confirm that
my tale is genuine. All I can do is continue to tell of my experiences and hope
you take something from them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That being said, this chapter was one of the most
vivid and lucid supernatural experiences I can recall, which of course, makes it
one of the less believable accounts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is easy to deny a single odd experience during childhood.
Everyone goes through some strange, surreal, stage during that time, and when
you grow, it becomes less of a memory and more of a dream that you once had,
and can scarcely remember. However, having two or more of these experiences,
especially with a similar theme and pattern- well- then it becomes somewhat
harder to ignore, let alone forget. As children, we are all afraid of things
that go bump in the night, when we become adults, all our fears suddenly become
rational, and if they are not rational, they are dismissed as stupid. Our adult
minds tell us that the monster that goes bump in the night could be any number of
things: a blocked drainage pipe, a loose tile falling to the floor, a frenzied
bird slamming into the window pane, but in the back of our minds, our childish
voice persists, telling us it could be something more, and that there is a
possibility- a tiny, miniscule possibility- that the thing that is keeping us
awake, is in fact, something that needs to be feared. It’s those same fears
that originating from our childhood experiences that make us afraid when we are home alone, as we walk
around an empty house, glancing down a deserted, darkened corridor, or out of a
window where the only thing visible is the vapid, blackness of night, fearful and
terrified that there might be someone there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The fears we know we should leave behind do not disappear;
they persist in the back of our minds where the irrational is a potential
reality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, by the time I reached high school, I wasn’t only plagued
by the fears any normal teenager is faced with, but an entire array of other
fears enforced by my childhood. Needless to be said, I wasn’t the most popular
guy in school, I had become somewhat reserved, and was relatively weedy, though
I was tormented to an extent, it was never so bad that I couldn’t cope. I was
more afraid of the school itself. The building was imposing for a start, it was
an old school, built at the beginning of the 20<sup>th</sup> Century, and I
could have sworn the teachers were from the same time period to, it wasn’t a
particularly friendly place. Galloway Hall was its title. I don’t believe it
exists anymore, as with everything in life; it was removed once it became
useless. Luckily, in spite of the social awkwardness, and substandard school, I
found solace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">More specifically, I found a girl named Jane. She was no
ordinary girl; she was like me. She had supernatural experiences when she was a
child, hers even more vivid than mine, every night for two whole years a shadow
had stood over her bed, just watching. She would hear crying, and laughter, and
footsteps, and breathing around the house where there should have been nothing but silence. Eventually she changed homes, the noises stopped, but the shadow tailed her as if it were her
own. As the years passed, the shadow became less and less present, eventually
disappearing altogether, although should Jane be believed, she claimed it was
always with her, even though she had not seen it in years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The difference lay in our beliefs, I remained a sceptic,
whereas she believed in the supernatural, she would read all the ghost stories- fiction or 'fact'- and devour them with a burning
passion, she craved the truth behind the unexplainable, and deliberately sought
it out. I was content to live in ignorance, for while I did not believe in
ghosts and spirits and the rest, I did fear what could happen where
ghosts and spirits were concerned. How could I not? I had experienced their
power first hand. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sometime during the first term of our second year at Galloway Hall, Jane
proposed we sneak into the school at night and explore. She said she could 'feel
it in her bones' that there was a mysterious history to the place; some
dreadful secret buried. ‘I can feel it in the rooms, can't you?’ she said, ‘they are
always so cold- and there’s this sadness that kind of clings to the walls.’ My
fear of the unknown was overcome by the fact I was smitten with her. So I
agreed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The school, as I have said, was old, and subsequently was
practically crumbling and even falling to pieces in certain areas. This made it
laughably easy to break in, there were whole sections with cracks big enough to
fit several people through, never mind the vast amount of ladders and
scaffolding littered around the building left from unfinished repair work. We
entered through a smashed window on the second floor; a ladder conveniently
placed only a few metres away from the makeshift entrance. The first thing we noticed as we
stepped inside was the silence. Most buildings have some form of heating
systems, drainage systems, water supply, power supply etc. Galloway Hall didn’t
seem to have any, we knew of course that it did- it must- but it must have all
been shut down at night, because there wasn’t a whisper to be heard anywhere. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Jane- this is dangerous- if any of this old scaffolding
breaks, we’re done for!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Don’t be such a-“ Jane's foot slipped and she wobbled precariously over the edge, threatening to fall to the ground floor, as I rushed to catch her she began to laugh wildly, “Gotcha.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Unbelievable.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We made our way through the deserted corridors, the silence
persisting as we continued onward. Each room we looked inside seemed surreal.
Anyone who has ever visited a school night will know the feeling, it is not
a feeling of fear, but more like of misplacement. As a student there is
an ingrained sense of school being another world entirely, and that when school
hours are over and you return home,the school, along with all of the
teachers and classrooms, disappears from reality, only to return the following
morning when school time comes around again. Being in a classroom at night
therefore, is much like meeting a teacher outside of school, it feels somehow
wrong. That feeling grew more and more intense with every classroom we visited.
Not only that, after exiting each room and returning to the corridors, they
seemed to continue on for longer, they stretched out further and the bends and
corners were sharper. Maybe it was a sense of claustrophobia gripping us or maybe something
else entirely, but the more time ticked by, the longer it seemed to take us to
reach the end of each corridor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“What are we even looking for, Jane?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I’ll know when we find it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“So in other words- you have no idea.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We entered the main hall and listened to our footsteps and
our breathing echo through the dust-filled darkness, our torches barely
powerful enough to illuminate the ceiling the sound reverberated on. We had
been there for almost an hour and there was nothing but empty space and
silence. There was something so sorrowful and solemn seeing the school
deserted, I could feel a sense of sadness descending upon me as I looked around
at the empty tables and chairs. Jane looked equally sad, but I believe that was
more down to the fact that she felt disappointed, as well as defeated. We were
going to head back when we heard something.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Normally, the sound would have gone unnoticed, it was so
distant and subtle, but due to the fact we had grown accustomed to the almost
unnatural silence of the place, it may have well have been the fire alarm.
Scratching. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“It came from over there” Jane whispered, clearly afraid
that any loud noises would startle whatever the source of the sound was. We
made our way to the source as silently as we could. It grew louder and clearer;
Clearer and louder and more urgent. It sounded desperate. It sounded hopeless,
like nails on a chalkboard- no- it was nails on a chalkboard. Definitely.
Someone was scratching away their nails against the harsh, solid surface of the
board. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We reached a door. The sound was behind it. As we placed our ear next to
the wood of the door it suddenly shook violently and the scratching moved to an
inch away from us. Someone was clawing at the other side of the door, trying to
reach us, desperately longing to be the free of that room. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We stood there for a while, not daring to move. The noise
didn’t stop, nor did it decrease in intensity, it just continued on with
disturbing energy. Jane was the first to move. She placed her hand gently on
the door and then let it fall to the handle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Jane, what the hell are you doing?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“There is nothing behind this door.” She stated
matter-of-factly. Naturally I thought she was insane. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She opened the door, and
sure enough, the place was empty, not only that; there was no sign of
scratching against the door. We searched the room for some time, finding
nothing noteworthy, it seemed like any other classroom, maybe a little dustier
than the others, but other than that it was largely unremarkable. I checked the
chalkboard in the corner of the room where the scratching sound originated, it
was seemingly fine, no signs of distress aside from what the years had done to
it. In the corner however, there was something- something different. I had to
bend down to get a decent look, and I shone the torch directly at it. They were
tiny, and old, and almost impossible to see, but on the bottom left hand corner
of the board, and on the wooden frame that held it in place, were several tiny
indents. Someone had been scratching at the board, but it would have been years
ago, god knows how many. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It scared me, the fact I might be wrong, I couldn’t have
imagined that noise which then turned out to have some obscure relevance, when
I did not even know anything about it. My subconscious had nothing to go on, no
clue, no story, nothing that could have made it produce that sound. So what the
hell was it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Things then began to escalate at an alarming rate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Don’t you hear it, Tim?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“What- you- what are you talking about?”I turned to see Jane staring
out into the corridor, her eyes glazed over, her hands hanging limp either side
of her. “They’re calling for our help, all of them- screaming- so loud- so
helpless- we should do something- they’re screaming at us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Her voice wasn’t normal, she was speaking in softer tones
than usual- slower too. I couldn’t even begin to comprehend
what any of it meant, I was too overwhelmed to understand the implications. She
began to walk out into the corridor. I stood up to go after her, but as she
left the door slammed shut behind her, and was impossible to open. I shoved all my weight against it; the thing barely shook.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was alone. The room seemed darker than before, the air
heavier, the dust thicker, the silence greater. My ragged breathing was the
only thing that seemed real- the only thing that felt real. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then my torch began to fade.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I remember the light starting to dim and flicker. The room
slowly becoming less and less visible, and the darkness growing ever closer.
There were no windows, the room was in the centre of the building, there would
be no light provided by the moon or the stars. The electricity was apparently
shut off at night, so as soon as my little ray of light faded, I would be
alone in the closest thing to absolute darkness I had ever experienced. And I was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As the last of the light drained away, and I fell to the floor hugging my knees, backing up against the door that would not open. The musty
smell of the room became apparent to me at that moment, not only that, it was
mixed in with something foul that I could not put my finger on. I waited in
fear for the scratching to start again, any second, some unknown thing
lurking in the darkness would begin clawing away again, and eventually throw
itself against the door as it did before, only this time it would be me it was
clawing at, not the door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In that impenetrable darkness I believed anything could be
real, for reality is based upon perception, so in darkness anything is
possible, for we perceive nothing. At least that was how I saw it at the
time. Then, when I finally resigned myself to whatever terrible fate would inevitably
swallow me, the door opened behind me. I fell backwards onto the floor, into
the corridor, now gleaming with pale moonlight. As I stood up, uneasy and far
from surefooted, I became aware of the unnatural chill that now ran through the
halls. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A gust of cold air forced its way down the corridor,
becoming more and more powerful. The lockers on either side of the hall began
to open and shut wildly, without synchronicity creating an inharmonious, percussive symphony. Then,
amidst the chaos, a single scream penetrated the air. A shrill, ethereal
screech, that despite being distorted, undeniably originated from
Jane. I ran. Against the wind, against every signal telling me to get out, I
ran. The corridors all became one, all the same, all never ending, each corner
resulting in a hallway no different from the last. What was worse- the
screaming continued, but was impossible to track, every time I thought I was
close, the sound would shift someplace else, or the room I thought it was
coming from would turn out to be empty when I burst in. The noise was everywhere and nowhere at
exactly the same time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I became delirious, convinced it was all in my head, that I
must be going mad, or this was someone’s sick idea of a joke. Not that it
mattered, from the clatter of lockers and the endless shadows and ear piercing
scream that only seemed to get louder with every passing second, I was sure to
go mad regardless. Eventually I fell to the floor in another nameless,
unremarkable corridor. Then a figure appeared at the end, a tiny figure in
shadow, face just hidden from view. It edged slightly closer and became visible
in the pale glow of the moon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My brother; the same age I remembered him. His finger was pressed
gently against his lips in a hushed motion, then in the next second he ran
around the corner, and I followed. He entered a door and closed it behind him,
only just able to reach the handle. I edged forward, my hand trembling, and
opened.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jane was standing on a table, gazing at the ceiling, her skin as pale as chalk. All thought of my brother instantly disappeared at the sight of her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Jane, what are you doing?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">No response.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Jane!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I crawled onto the desk beside her and shook her wildly,
panic coursing through my veins. Her glazed over eyes suddenly snapped to look
at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“They were here- so many of them- so much hopelessness- don’t
you feel it? Don’t you feel the cold?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“JANE, SNAP OUT OF IT!” At this point, I couldn’t contain my
fear and frustration any longer. After a little more shaking and screaming she
seemed to regain herself, but she was cold, and fatigued. The wind gushing
through the hallways had stopped, so had the banging lockers and incessant
scratching, the silence had returned, and in a way, that was far worse than the
veritable array of disturbing sounds. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We made it outside, the air felt far colder than when we had
arrived. Jane collapsed onto the ground, exhausted, and sighed deeply. I gave
her my jacket and rubbed her shoulders for a while, and after some time she
seemed to return to her normal self, but when she did, she couldn't recall much of what happened past entering the classroom where the scratching
had originated from.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I went into a trance? Are you serious?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Am I serious? Jane- you scared the living crap out of me!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“I guess this proves it then! Something weird is going on in
this school…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“This proves nothing except that you are gullible enough to
believe stories and get carried away with them.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You seriously think everything you described to me was just
us imagining things? You know- as well as me- that what happened in there
cannot be explained rationally!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At this point my anger took over, I temporarily forgot my
fear and anxiety, resulting in me proposing this:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“You want me to prove it to you? Let’s gather a group of us,
and do this again- I bet nothing will happen.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She agreed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">About a week later we returned. We had managed to get a
decent group of people, considering I wasn’t the most popular and I actively
tried to persuade people not to come. In the end we had a group of about
twelve- maybe more. As it was now a school holiday we decided to stay the
entire night, we brought a whole bunch of sleeping bags, snack food, fizzy
drinks, and lots and lots of light- with extra batteries. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As I predicted, no-one saw or heard anything odd. In
fact, things were so normal it almost became abnormal- all the sounds one
usually hears in any building- the ones we didn’t hear previously, were all
there. They were quiet, extremely quiet, but most definitely there. Everyone
stayed up late, and seemed to enjoy themselves. Jane was the only one who
seemed slightly down, and I was the only one who knew why: she wanted something
to happen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Eventually everyone fell to sleep. Except for me. I couldn’t
sleep because of the screaming, I could hear it even more so than before, and
whilst everyone else slept soundly- or so It appeared- I endured a whole night
of spectral shrieking echoing through the halls. Maybe it was my imagination,
but I somehow knew that Jane knew it was there too, maybe it was just the hint
of a smile on her face in the morning, or maybe it was nothing but my suspicion
after all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We never mentioned it again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Much later on, a discovery was made at that school, something
terrible, not only that, something relating to me and my past, but that story
comes later on, and I wouldn’t want to reveal too much before everything is fully explained…</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Soulturin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07298755994347420266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4939955890184412499.post-77486887923517428172013-07-22T15:25:00.003-07:002013-07-22T15:25:45.907-07:00Update (1)It would seem this blog is becoming less of a short story site, and more of a 'series of short stories which are actually chapters to a bigger story which cannot really be classed as a short story, but then again isn't exactly a novella, so who the hell knows what it is...' blog.<br />
<br />
That being said, if you didn't figure it out, 'The Tapping on the Window', and 'The Footsteps in the Forest' are both from the same series, which collectively i'm going to refer to as 'The Timothy Dallow Chronicles' mainly because I can't think of another name, and also because I actually think that name is kind of cool. Each 'chapter' will retain it's own name, but I shall put a little bracket after each 'chapter' that looks something like this:<br />
<br />
(TDC Part_)<br />
<br />
Just so it is nice and clear which series that particular story belongs to.<br />
<br />
The third (and most likely final) installment of 'Words Over Coffee,' is yet to be imagined, i'm not entirely sure when I will get round to that, but I will finish it soon... hopefully.<br />
<br />
Then finally, the latest story 'Glyphs' which I am super excited about will also be a series, and to keep that one simple each new installment will just be 'Glyphs (Part 1)', 'Glyphs (Part 2)', 'Glyphs (Part 3)' and so on and so on.<br />
<br />
Okay, just thought I should post a little update so everyone knows where everything stands, not that I have many regular viewers anyway :)<br />
<br />
P.S. I may changing some of the layout of the blog soon, as I am now getting a better understanding of the whole thing.Soulturin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07298755994347420266noreply@blogger.com0