- 2022 -

Fog rolled over the grassy knolls as she sat looking over towards the east to the forest of spruces. The sun was just peaking above them, cascading gray over the land and waking up the sounds of nature. She brought a mug to her lips. Vanilla black tea. Her favorite.

Her lungs took in a full breath of morning air. It chilled her, but brought sense to her nerves. She held it, bringing it to body temperature, then released it causing a hazy to form.

Stillness.

She put the mug down and cradled her head in her hands. To the side of her a pen and paper lay. Blank. She peered at them through her fingers then started to massage above eyes.

Confusion.

Snatching the mug from the porch floor and taking a large gulp she stood up and walked bare foot into the dewy grass. Fog continued to roll in and her feet disappeared in a layer of it. Her eyes frantically danced around. The trees, the rolling fog, the house, her blank soul, back to the trees and then to the sky. Her steps built in speed as she paced around the wet grass.

Manic.

She tossed her mug and it faded into the fog then trodded to the forest. Emptiness, panic, frustration, shame crawled from the earth and up her legs. She stomped through the forest. Roots and twigs ripping and tearing at her flesh. Her eyes kept alert, darting, searching, wishing , praying. For what? Would she know when she saw it? Would it help? Her thoughts seemed distant, heavy. Her body moved on it’s own now. Looking, but not seeing.

She emerged from the forest. But was she the same?

The pen had rolled off of the paper.

It was still blank.

She was still hollow.

It was still empty.

She searched for her mug among the fog, found it, and returned to the porch. She looked up at the gray sky. It stretch endlessly beyond the mountains and the trees. A haze the blanketed everything. She leaned back and closed her eyes. The blanket of haze weighted heavier on her mind and soon she was fast asleep.

Inspired by those days when you seemed to be weighted down by haze. It rests in your mind, dulling and warming your senses. Had th is song on repeat while writing. I love the background beats Walk Away by Point Blank Society

It was just another day out there. Another morning, another body in the park. I threw off my coat in the passenger seat of my car and pulled my badge from the dash and clipped it to my belt. I would like to say that this wasn’t a normal occurrence, but the big city. It had teeth and liked to strike often. I walked into the park, squad cars, an ambulance and a whole mess of people were already there. I sighed. The spectacle never got old for some.

“Frank, man, how is it going today” Jimmy said bitting into sandwich as he went to meet me. This guy never seemed to stop eating. Even when the dead were present something was always in his mouth. It upset me greatly in the beginning, but over time, like death, I got used to it. But it still pissed me off a bit

“Jimmy, get that thing out of your mouth, have some respect. Your going to choke to death and end up laying next to our victim one day” I said.

Jimmy laughed and choked on his sandwich. The day might come sooner then later. “yeah yeah, I’ve heard that one a million times.”

“What do we have here” I asked

“Nothing to unusual. Stabbing, robbery, pretty young thing. Shame” yeah, shame. A single word that now encompassed a persons life. Their future and past. What a shame.

We rounded past the ambulance to where the body was. She lay in the middle of the grass in front of a row of trees. My eyes moved up and up. There was something else there as well. I turned to Jimmy, but it seemed that he was frozen in place. I looked around. Everyone and everything was frozen, color seemed to be dulled from their faces. I looked back over to the body, but it wasn’t the only thing there. Something twenty, no thirty feet tall stood behind her cascading into the sky. It’s legs and arms where solid muscle with skin that was a dark blue. Armor that fit almost as second skin that seemed to shine with cosmic rays reflected in impossible directions and flames danced around the edges of it’s enormous body. Elaborate rings spun around it’s wrists and around it’s waist. A tattered cloak wrapped around it’s neck and covered the right side of it’s body. The head was nothing. A cloud of burning embers and dust that glowed with a dull shine.

I stepped back to retreat behind the ambulance, but as I did it’s faceless face seemed to peer into me. I could feel it’s gaze rip through me. To a quantum level. It seared it’s vision through every instant of my being. To levels that I could only imagine in the darkest of nights. It gripped my soul with it’s presence and if I could weep from the core of my existence I would. The thing straightened back up and I felt it’s presence slice and tear itself from me. I gasped for breath. Oxygen and something more. I refocused. Next to the being was the women who had been stabbed and now laid at it’s feet. Her face had a visible sadness that jabbed me. A frown, tears running down her face as she looked aimless towards me. The being opened it’s large hand and she put hers on one of it’s six fingers. It wrapped her hand gently and two wings burst from it’s back. The wings spread miles long and were a blackness that seemed to suck everything into it like blackholes. The wings snapped up and the being started to raise as if it was levitating. The womens arm extended upward and it pulled her. She hung as if she still had gravity pulling her down. She looked away from the creature with a sorrowful look. The wings snapped again and reality seemed to bend and strain around it. A wave of energy whipped across the ground and as it hit me I braced and slid on my heels backwards. It felt as if I was coursing through space at the speed of light. My body in infinite velocity. My entire being being burned away in a kinetic torrent. I fell to me knees and my stomach gave way. My vision spun as if I was in space and the ship was spiraling out of control with me in it.

“Whoa, shit Frank, you alright?”

The world had regained it’s color and motion. Jimmy handed me a bottle of water and I gulped it down.

“Yeah, yeah I’m fine. Something I must of ate last night, just hit me the wrong way.” I wiped my mouth and struggled to stand up. It was like nothing had happened, but I knew what I saw and felt. The feeling of my soul being ripped and torn from my body still remained. I hoped that it would subside one day. I reached for the cigarettes in my shirt pocket and fielded one. I went to light it, but the vision of that thing crept into my mind. I threw the cigarette to the grounded and handed my pack to Jimmy.

“Take em, I’m going cold turkey from now on” I looked towards the sky. I might need to quit drinking as well.

This was inspired by the mythology surrounding angels. In truth, angels are pretty scary. They are describe as sort of humanoid and there are different levels of angels hat look completely different. Human’s cant comprehend what they look like. They are divine. They hold incredible destructive power. So seeing an angel might be a terrifying experience. I am fascinated and terrified of beings of that caliber.

While the song really isn’t about this, the melody in the background and general feeling fit what I was feeling when imagining this being. I do love the this song. Very sad, but beautiful I the Mighty - Slow Dancing Forever

James sat at his desk fiddling around with some spread sheets on his computer. The sun was shining through his windows beckoning him to bask it it’s glory. Outside. But work was work and he had to finish. He flipped a pen in his right hand and in his other hand slapped the arrow keys on his keyboard looking for a number among millions. The pen slipped from his fingers and fell. It rang out against his table and snapped him out of his hypnotic state.

“Okay” James rubbed his face with both hands and stood up “Coffee time” He took the pen that he had dropped, spun it through his fingers and set it straight up on the table. The pen, which was a fountain pen, was flat on the cap side, which allowed it to stand on it’s own. He moved carefully away from the desk to make sure not to disturb it’s balance.

James brewed some coffee, swirled some milk into it and returned to his desk. He set his coffee on a coaster and went to retrieve the pen which he had left standing.

Now, there were two pens standing straight up next to each other. James looked at them both. Did he stack two? He might of, he had three of the same pen sitting on his desk. He grabbed the one he was flipping in his hand earlier and set the other one on it’s side. Maybe he was losing his short term memory. The numbers and charts flowing together and making him lapse his reality. James laughed a bit to himself. Who knew that excel cells might mess with you.

The zone they call it. James was flying through numbers, formulas and bar charts, like it was his divine right.

A knock came at his door. Again he snapped out of his trance. The knocking came again. He took one last look at his computer screen and got up to answer the door. His office was just a round the corner in his house. He looked through the window to see who it was, but no one stood at his door. The knocking came again. He opened the door. The sun greeted him, but that was it. He sighed. The zone, would not come back easily. He closed the door and returned to his office.

As he entered his office he stopped just beyond the door. His desk, the floor, the shelves, any where there was space, pens sat standing up. Hundreds of them. All standing like small pillars raising from a tiny world that lived on the surfaces of modern life. He looked down to his feet and pens stood just beyond his toes. He backed up, he heard his front door open. He jolted to it. His heart pounded as he stood wide eyed peering out into the sunny day. The door was wide open. Again his front entrance was empty. This was to much. He went to leap through the front door, but it slammed shut. Suddenly. All the doors, cabinets, drawers in his house started opening one by one. First his closet shot open, then drawers and cabinets in his kitchen started to spring open. They squealed and creaked as he stood whipping his head back and forth at each sound that assaulted him. He grasped and pulled at his front door, but it would not open. The window he thought. He moved, but all at once, everything that was open, shut in one thunderous clap. James dove to the ground out of panic. The house was silent.

Something started to creak. Somewhere door hinges grinded open. James eyes trailed the hall way, past his office and into his bedroom. A shadow cast across the floor. His closet door was slowly blocking out the light from the window in his room. Then something else blocked the remaining light.

James went to speak, warn or question what ever was happening. He never got the chance.

This was inspired by when I came into my room and had two pens sitting next to each other. They were both Twsbi Eco’s, my favorite fountain pen. One was a black cap and the other was a coral color. I remembered distinctly using one of them just a few minutes before and when I sat down, I could not remember having two next to each other. This got me thinking of something like the scenes in poltergiest. The scene where the mom turns around and the chairs are stacked on each other.

I thought that this would be really creepy. The first time, you think you just mis remembered, but then is happens again. You were paying attention the second time and you know something creepy is happening.

“If you kill yourself. I will do everything to bring you back, and kill you myself.” Those were the last words I heard Mat say to me.

I walked out of coffee shop and back to my apartment. What was meant to be, was not meant for me. The clouds looked normal, the sun was nice on the skin and cool breeze swept across my cheeks. Today was a good day to die. The last thing I remember is looking down at the street and timing my jump. This was my journey, no one else’s. If I hit someone on my way down, well let’s just say I wouldn’t be able to forgive my self. I heard that many people regret it after they jump. For me, it was just pure terror mixed with excitement. What comes next? Will this actually hurt? Hopefully it’s quick. And it was over. Nothing. No transition, no evolution, just emptiness. That was until my eyes shot open.

Everything hurt, the world was so blurry, but I could move somehow. Had I made it somewhere, reborn? Someone was speaking to me, their voice muffled at first then……fuck. How in gods name?

“You stupid son of a bitch, do you think I wouldn’t. Spiritual pact. Remember that. We die together. On fucking Venus.”

I rolled over and dead weight carried me off on onto the floor. I tried to speak, but it felt like blood was still trying to get to the outer parts of my body.

“How” I croaked worming my way across the floor.

Mat took his foot and rolled me over on my back. He shoved a book in front of my face. The same one that said to be taking me to another plane of existence. It didn’t work on me though.

“Killing your self doesn’t get you to the other side man, I tried telling you that. It’s a ploy to weed out people, it’s a trick. You fell for it. I know it’s been hard, we have been on this for at least ten years, but you know, you have to sort it out, and take it slow. I almost didn’t think I could get you back. I mean fuck, your body was all over the place, it was like a bag of soup when I dragged you here. Almost ruined my car with all your blood and whatever.”

I sat up against the counter. My vision sharpened and I could feel everything coming back to normal. Good as new?

“You brought me back with a spell or something? Which one?”

Mat flipped to a page and scratch his forehead “Look, you left me no choice. Just, you know, play it cool”

I looked at him in confusion “What are you talking about?”

A pool of darkness spread from where my body was. Like a living shadow it swirled around extending further until it filled most of the apartment. Everything seemed to dim then a flame extended from the middle blinding me and making my ears ring. It went out as soon as it appeared and the light regained its muster.

A being stood where the flame was, it’s figure slouched against the ceiling as it was to tall to fully stand. It wore old Victorian clothes that twirled in golds, blues and a shimmering silver. Puffy sleeves and pants. It’s feet were long and curled at the end. Arms gloved in shadow like nit gloves that hung from it’s sides.

“What the fuck is that?” I said. My mouth hanging open from shock.

“Gentlemen” The thing swung itself around. Two large black beedy eyes bulged out of it’s dark furry face. Sharp overgrown teeth smiled at us both. A bowlers hat rested on it’s head, which was still sideways from being slouched. “It’s looks I have a new partner, you”

“Me?” I stammered

“Yes, you, name and occupation please” The thing melted down into a crouch and moved it’s way towards me. It’s arms and legs moving in liquid smooth motion.

“Tyler…Tyler Smitten, I am a tailor.”

It stuck out it’s long gloved hand. I shook it reluctantly.

“Smitten? haha not for you, but you will do I guess. You ever kill anyone before?” It smiled sweetly at me.

“No”

“You will learn”

I could see Mat starting to back away.

“Summoner, you are in this too”

“Come one man, I just needed to bring him back” Mat whined.

“You two, wizards? Not much, but there are others like you. Abusing the powers of the othersides, messing around us demons. Disturbing our black jack games, slots, and fancy times with those sweet sweet tender things”

“Bro..come on”

“yeah we don’t need to -“

“regardless you humans are fucking things up and not all of them are unknowingly as you to are. Our job, hunt these abusers of our magic and wasters of our time, and slay them. Then return to the world of endless indulgence, to reep the benefit of everything pleasurable. You accept?”

I looked at a Mat. He had that dull stupid look on his face when he had no choice. I looked at this thing that had come back with me.

“Is there a choice?”

“No” It responded quickly “Honestly, I don’t want to do this either. You pulled me from a blackjack game where I held blackjack. Let’s get this over, maybe I can get back before the game ends”

The thing proceeded towards the door and went right through it.

“Was this worth it?” I shook my head at Mat.

“Bro, Venus, totally worth it” He smiled and ran after it.

I really didn’t know what to think, but I was alive and now in league with a demon. What else could happen?

Inspired by the first line. I think of this sometimes in a dark comical sense. Like it’s a threat that seems so absurd. If someone is going to kill themselves, or going on a suicide mission where they won’t return. It is a line that seems so absurd if said, but even more absurd if carried through with. Something that one might brush off, but what if the person saying it, is completely serious. Even if Mat doesn’t kill Tyler, the line still holds some meaning. Stay away from magical books that promise something after death.

There is nothing good about suicide and if you are thinking of it, please talk to someone.

The sun was high in the sky surrounded by large clouds that sailed across like battleships. The cicadas drowned out the sound of the saw against the wood. Tools, lumber and furniture lay all over the yard. Shoji, wooden panels with milky white translucent paper screens, lay stacked against the large wooden house. Sett had bought the place on a whim. Trying a change of pace, he had heard of cheap houses strewn around in the country side of Japan. He knew the language from his studies of Japanese business and History, two subjects he was deeply interested in. One day bored again of his life back in the states he saw the opportunity. He didn’t have to much money, which is why the deal looked good to him. He could fix it up, and live cheaply, commuting to the city for his new found translation job.

The house was large. Two stories, traditional Japanese style and a hefty plot of land to go with it which was surrounded by a dense forest. Partially covered in trees and rocks and the other with bamboo sprouting up. He had over estimated the work, but he had time. The tatami floors needed to be replaced, along with the wooden support around the kitchen. Much of the wood needed to be sanded and stained. Heat and air conditioning needed replacing and basically anything that he could see, had an issue. But it was his and he was going to make it the best he could. Sett reached for his wooden hammer to knock together some of the support beams, but it was absent from where he placed it. He stood up and walked around peering under all the internals of the house he was working on. Nothing. He scratched his head and looked around for anyone. Then he saw it. Propped up against a tree near the edge of his yard. He strolled over to it.

“How did you get over here” Sett said picking it up. Wind blew through the forest and clouds covered the sun. It suddenly felt very cold and dark. He glanced into the woods. It’s branches and leaves waved back at him in an eerie fashion. Beckoning him in a way.

“Come on in” it whistled at him. “Return to nature”

Sett backed away. The sun returned and wind died down. This wasn’t the first time his tools had gone missing. Through out the day, things of his would be there one second and gone the next. Each one ending closer and closer to the forest. His hammer now being the closest. It hadn’t bothered him till now. He just thought he kept misplacing, but now a feeling crept up on him. He looked back all the work he needed to finish. It was never ending. This house was calling on him to finish it, restore it, and live in it. There had to be an explanation. Once he got further along with the house he would take a serious look. He returned back to the wood and hammered away.

Lanterns hung from the beams on the outside of the house and blazed with fire which he lit every night. Another fire, an Irori, blazed inside the house warming a pot of soup hanging above it. The night air was hot and sticky. Sounds of animals and bugs swirled around to make a symphony of nature. Sett sat on the edge of his deck by one of the wooden columns. The deck wrapped around half the house and Shoji panels could be slid open to expose the house to the outside. He took a sip of tea and peered into the sky. It was cloud covered and black as ever. The wind started to pick up again. The forest waved back and forth at him. He then noticed the lantern furthest away form him growing dimmer and finally going out. He stood up to relight it, but noticed that the next lantern was doing the same. It’s flame slowly receded and blew away into smoke. The symphony had stopped too. He turned to take shelter by the irori, it’s flames raging now reducing to embers which glowed brightly then were reduced to a smokey haze that drifted towards him. There were four more lanterns to him, he looked out, but it was all darkness. Then a thump. His head snapped towards the fourth lantern which was now dimming. As it went out another loud thump came towards him. Something large. Each movement hitting the wooden floor, just beyond his vision, just beyond the lanterns light. The third lantern dimmed and died. Thump.

“This has to be a joke, right” Sett stammered “Who are you?”

The lantern in front of him flickered in a response then immediately went out. The thump was so loud and he could feel it so close to him he jumped back under the last lantern next to the wooden column.

“What the fuck do you want” he screamed, wide eyed, searching, straining to see anything in the pure darkness. Now even the wind stopped. The forest sat still. No longer waving hello to him, or was it waving goodbye? He wanted to bolt, but fear weighted him down and crushed him under the light. He put out his arm and reach a bit into the darkness. Nothing. He pulled back and as his arm reached the edge of darkness a hand grasped his wrist with incredibly strength. It was pure black, intensely cold and caused fear to course through every fiber of him.

The last lantern ceased to shield him, and he screamed.

Inspired by all those cheap houses in Japan in the country side. I often think of doing the same as Sett. Buying one and fixing it up. Japan has a ton of demons, ghosts and mythical stories. I will say that most ghosts stories in Japan are pretty scary. Their voilence is baseless, unrelenting, and emotionless. If you cross one, it’s already to late. Stay safe out their among the light. A if the forest beckons, you might want to run.

The universe is vast. Filled with the unknown, the crazy, the unsightly. Out among the stars that hang and project their light into the eyes of the willing,sits a large floating colossus stone and metal structure. On top of an asteroid caught in the orbit of a small star the building rotated and spun with the turn of the rock. It looked like giant cone. The outside was carved with groves that wrapped around and spun to the top of the needle. Windows cut the wrapping and painted horizontally around the whole building. Large holographic adverting illuminated the darkness and floated around the needle. Near the base, wrapped around was a space port. It looked like a metallic wave stuck in time crashing away from the structure. Each window corresponded floor which was staffed with rows and rows of old style wooden desks. Each one had two draws on the left side, dull grey metal handles, and a holo typewriter which sat on the desk. One could look up and see another person fiercely typing away or drinking the copious amounts of atomic coffee that flowed through all the writers. These rows of desks rested on the floor and on the ceiling. While there was no need for them, large columns connected the floors. They interrupted the continuous view from one side to the next. As you moved up the cone to the top the offices got smaller and nicer. Some writers had their own fully furnished space and when you got to the top you ran into the big boss. A room decked in all the luxuries space could offer.

At one of the wooden desks a women sat with her feet propped up. She was wearing a tight fitting space suit of blue and purple. Small golden accents polished her shoulders and boots. Her hair was a dark shade of purple and ran down her shoulders like a silk water fall. A black headband sat in her hair just before her poofy bangs which covered her whole forehead. A holo panel was lit up before her eyes and she was swiping between panels and news from the the far galaxies. News was always in, but important news was harder to find. A man stood in front her desk which she didn’t notice till he slammed his hand at the base of her feet. She slid her feet off and turned off the music which was blasting in her ears.

“Amanda” The man shouted “I have been standing here for five minutes, Mr. Gerryheld needs to see you, now”

She stared at him blankly then lookd up to the desk on the ceiling from her. A lady stared wide eyed then returned to her writing.

“Reason?” Amanda turned the holo panel off.

“Does it matter? Come on” The man started to trail off and she hopped off her chair and followed.

In the middle of the room sat a single office. Frosted Glass which seemed to drip from the ceiling surrounded it in a circle. The man phased through and she did the same. The sounds from the large room deadened and classical music of Jupiter bells and Martian pianos replace them. The room was seemed much bigger on the inside.

“Mr. Gerryh-“ the man started, but was cut off my Mr. Gerryheld putting up his hand.

“shhh, a single moment please” Mr.Gerryheld looked young. He had ash blue skin, black hair which was cut and smoothed to the sides. His eyes were a dull grey, but his features were soft. He sat and they both stood waiting for the music to finally crash and die out. Mr.Gerryheld nodded and ushered them to sit.

Mr.Gerryheld took in a breath and looked over a panel to his right then leaned forward towards them. “Amanda”

“Yes sir”

“What stories have you published in the last six months?” he stared intently.

“Well sir, I have been working on so-“

“How many published” his stare grew more intense

Amanda searched the ceiling with her eyes and bit her bottom lip “None”

“None, that’s right” Mr.Gerryheld nodded. “You have publish nothing in the last six months, no article about wars, love, the new trash of a restaurant, Burger Atoms, nothing. You know this is a news service, we supply news across the galaxies. No matter how small or big. So tell, what have you been doing? If not publishing”

The room was silent. Amanda ran through some of the stories she had tried writing. One about some asteroid snakes, another about a man who thought he could read minds, A sand biker who fell off a cliff and into another dimension. Nothing had stuck and she had grown bored
and unable to finish anything. It also didn’t help that others beat her to the punch.

“I’m sorry sir, but everyone always gets to the stories before me. Or at least they publish before me” Amanda said throwing her head back.

Mr.Gerryheld propped his head up with his left arm and yawned. “Okay okay, you have a month. A single month. Get a new story, publish it, and if. IF, it does well, you might get to keep your job.”

“A single month” Amanda stood up “That’s to short, it will take me that long to travel somewhere interesting”

“Well then you should pack your bags, because you, Amanda Elara, need to get started as soon as possible.” Mr.Gerryheld smiled.

Amanda scowled “You know what?” Mr.Gerryheld shrugged “I’m going to give you the greatest story you have ever known, it’s going to slay ratings” she took a breath and stomped off towards the frosted wall.

“You just watch me” she yelled before slipping into the large room.

The man that had gone to fetch Amanda remained.

“Why didn’t you just fire her now, six months, she should have hundreds of pieces published in that time, and just one in a month? Sir, I just don’t get it”

Mr.Gerryheld leaned back into his chair and clasped his hands behind his head.

“Miss Amanda Elara has not been publishing because she has been doing other sorts of things. And I would say they are a lot more interesting then the garbage we put out here. Shes a golden ticket up this corrupt pin we reside in.” Mr.Gerryheld smiled and a gave a laugh “Many secrets that one has”

Inspired by Space Slaves of Venus Cover by ALY FELL I read what that comic is supposed to be about and it talks about a Galatic Newspaper and I thought that seemed pretty cool. Also the girl on the cover looks like a badass.

I fumbled a bit with this and I might actually rework this character in the future. I would like Amanda Elara to be more swashbuckling. Someone who enjoys adventure and saving planets and danger. She could also be a reporter as well. Elara is one of Jupitars Moons

Flashes of her mutilated, broken body swiped his focus again. He took another hit of whiskey. The room started spinning once again. He was trying to make it never stop.

“All accounts, we find Jeremy Stevens, not guilty” The mans smile spread across his face and he looked back. Their eyes met. He was pierced by sheer devastation. He couldn’t move, speak, even blink. The man turned back around and hugged his lawyer. As he walked out he blew a kiss at him. Falling. That’s all he could feel now. Spinning out of control, drowning in unfairness, betrayal, humiliation and absolute devastation. It had been a week since that day. Since then he had lost his job, spent the last of savings on alcohol and taxi fair. He would ride and just look at all the people enjoying their lives, getting away with happiness. He would of cried, but all the tears had left him. When they found his sister. Devoid of any recognition. He cried then, but then he thought justice would give some solace. It didn’t come. He cried again. Now only dry sobs. His whole body convulsed and he fell to his knees. He had to get out. Be broke for the door. He hobbled out of his apartment and onto the midnight air. It was cool and sobered him up a bit, but the city still swam a bit. He wandered. Stumbled. Then he came an alley way and leaned against he inner wall, sliding down it to sit on the concrete. He squeezed his eyes shut and took in a broken breath. Would he just die out here? Alone, broken in the cold? He opened his eyes and looked towards the sky. It was dark, cloud covered and filled with light pollution. Yet, he could feel the stars shining through, poking him with an existence. Why should one get away, if my life is over, so is theirs. Anger dripped over him like a syrup, slowly filling all his being, rage followed, but then. What he really needed. Purpose ignited. He bolted up and caught himself on the wall. He would kill him. That son of a bitch. He would torture him for days, months, years, how ever it took to make the pain go away. Everything he did to his sister he would send back an infinite fold.

He turned to leave the ally and felt something that took the wind out of him. A figure stood a bit back in the ally that he had slumped in. It had to be at least ten feet tall. A black trench coat draped its huge figure and a wide brimmed black covered it’s head and eyes. This is one of those moments a person should run and thats what his body started to do. Then the hat tipped forward and their eyes met.

The figures eyes glowed red, light illuminated from them and as it walked closer, silently he could see them more clearly. The eyes were black, with red glowing rings moving from the outside of the eye and into the center like an infinity mirror. It got close and look down at him. Those eyes hypnotized, he couldn’t move, then a voice came.

“Samuel Millson” The figure had no mouth, just a gray plate that bent around its chin and below its nose. It’s voice was deep like an anchor being drug against the ocean floor. “Vengeance has stirred a purpose in you. Do you want vengeance, a deserved justice?”

Sam whetted his bone dry mouth “Yes” he croaked

“Then you will help me and I shall help you get your justice. Seven days you will help me and then you shall have your justice.” The figure held out it’s hand. The fingers were long and sinewy and it had skin which was a thick black leather. Sam clutched the figures hand. It’s fingers wrapped around his whole wrist and then slid off.

“Monsters exist, Sam. You have just made a contract with one. Come, we have work to do”

Inspiration came from thinking about old fairy tales and that it seems humanity has gotten a little too hubris. Back in the day tales of monsters and hell kept people from doing bad things to each other. I got to thinking that the world might need monsters. Something out there to make sure that humans don’t get to much out of line. That peopel that murder (on purpose) and get away with it have something to fear.

So I thought of this figure with glowing red eyes. Specifcally like an infinity mirror. He would be ominous, shrouded in mystery, kind of like the Butcher from the Midnight Meat Train, but have a purpose and being basically older then time and lurking in the shadows. Wise and calculated, unrelentying and always infinite steps ahead. I might write the whole story of this character. I have an ending to this story. One day.

I tap my fingers against my chin watching her. She sits there on the porch reading another one of her romance novels. Yellow flowery dress whipping around in the wind. Damn she looks great in yellow. She teases me, always when the sun is high in th sky and no clouds to be seen, she wears yellow. It is so bright every time I get near a window it catches my eye and I just cannot pull my eyes away from it. She flips the page. To the contrast of the yellow dress her nails are coral color. It matches her lipstick. She matches so effortless. Every time I see her, always put together. Perfection at its highest order. I break away from her and move towards the door. No reason not to greet a perfect sunflower, right? It’s hot outside, but a cool breeze brings some relief. I walk towards the edge of my yard to inspect my shurbs. I do that a lot. They need to look good, or at least be trimmed to keep sight. I inspect. I cut them in the night, I know they are perfect. I looked up to catch her glance, but ignore. I am not that desperate for her attention. Bending down I take a look at the roots and dirt. These shrubs need to be healthy. When I stand up I smile towards her and give a wave. She puts down her book. I got her.

“Beautiful day is it not?” She speaks like that sometimes. Poetic, but small talk.

“Yes, I often worry sometimes of the heat for my yard, not much rain lately” I respond. I wish we could get off the fucking weather and into her house. My cheeks are burning from the sun and my wide stretched smile.

“Plants are more resilient then we know. I do wonder about you Tim.” she laughed brushing her golden hair off her forehead. Please don’t stop “I see you in your garden more then I see you in your house”

“I like to keep a cool front, I guess” If she only knew. Each angle was optimized. The trees were cut to see through, the shrubs were sheered to peak above.

“Well, we are having a party this weekend. How about you come on across the fence. I am sure a lot of my friends will be impressed with your garden. It’s how you say, unique” My smile gets bigger if that is possible.

“I.would.love.too” I have to use all my energy to not burst out in happy laughter “Thank you” I lick my lips and return my smile. It’s to fucking hot out here.

“Starts at 4, but your welcome to come to help set up if you like. Never too much help”

“Of course, it would be my pleasure” I wipe my forehead “well I will see you then, enjoy your um” I point to her lap “book” She picks it up and waves at me with it.

“I wouldn’t worry about that, see you then”

When my door closes. I let out a large breath.

This was inspired from the album Famous Last Words - Two Face Charade I wrote this a while ago and I would say that the show You kind of this vibe as well.

“Were going to blow him up!” a man shouted in a small crowded room

A women turned from the window “what? blow him up? I thought we were just going to write a complaint?”

“No no no, blow him sky high” The man yelled and the rest nodded.

“all the way to the moon” one said

“To mars” a small girl yelled

The lady nodded with the group. “So Mr.Dem, we blow him up” they all nodded again “then what?”

“Take his money or something, look it doesn’t matter. He was the one who ran into my bike, he is the one that needs to be exploded”

“blown up”

“percisly”

“And where does Mr.Dem live?” The women asked.

“1450 West Tilman street” the man answered confidently.

“You sure?” she questioned. He had been wrong about things before.

“Of course I am sure, Why don’t we just go over and check how he is doing then” The group nodded along and the women shrugged. The group put on their coats and hats and marched out of the tiny room, through the apartment and out into the wintery night.

They walked a bit, around a corner or two and arrived at the stoop of fancy brown stone. The women stepped up and knocked.

“What are we going to say?” a person in the back said

“What if he recognizes us” another piped

The women shushed them and the door opened.

“Hello” a man with a monocle and mustache said. He was dressed in a warm thick robe of red and gold.

“Hello, Mr Dem, we just wanted to make sure that you didn’t need any chimneys swept or stoops cleaned” she said

The man gave hearty laugh “Close, but Mr.Dems lives over there” He pointed to the house next door “1451 West Tilman” he emphasized the one in the address.

“Oh” The women laughed and turned a bit to glare at the man and bunch behind her “Sorry sir, we will move along then, sorry to disturb you”

The man waved and shut his door. His booming laugh continued from behind the thick wood.

The women stomped down the steps “We almost blew up the wrong
house” She exclaimed in a whisper.

“I-uh - I swear it wa”

“shut it, cmon” She stomped down the street to the next house. It looked just like the one before, but it’s door was cast-iron. She knocked.

The door opened and a man with a long white beard stepped out. He was dressed in high class clothes and even a top hat adorned his head. He took one look at the group and let out a gasp.

“Sir” Mr.Dems stepped down past the women and to the man “I tried to find you gentlemen, your bike, I destroyed it” The man opened his mouth “I was so shocked at the damage I was a bit taken back, I saw you, but you sprinted off, here, one moment” The man waded through the group and back into his house.

“You ran?” The women cranked her head at the man. “I thought you said he chased you away” Mr.Dems reappeared and she brought her smile back.

“Here you go lad” Mr.Dems slapped a large stack of money into the mans hand “Look, I would like to talk more, but I have been hearing some disturbing things from my back yard”

“Oh, what things?” The man stumbled to say, his eyes fixed on the money in his hand”

“Well, these cretins back there are talking about blowing me up” Mr.Dems gave a laugh “Could you see that?”

The whole group of people laughed nervously with Mr.Dems.

“Uh, I think it might be a joke or something” The women stepped to Mr.Dems “Like an expression, you seem like a fine man”

Mr.Dems scrunched up his face “Maybe, but- “

“You know what” The women lit up “How about we go talk to them, you helped us out tonight, let us return the favor”

“Well it was more me paying the lad back for his bike, I don’t know”

“No trouble at all, please, let us help you out, we know some of the folks over there, we can smooth it out for you” She said

Mr.Dems smiled and shrugged “Alright, If you know them, thank you. Again, sorry for the bike lad, that should cover it and more. Good night to you” He waved and returned to his house. The group waved and as the door shut all eyes went to the man.

“Well, you know it was all fuzzy” he said

“Come on, let’s get back” They wrapped the corner and another. They all went in and back into the small room. The women looked at the back window. It was wide open and beyond it was Mr.Dems back yard. She rolled her eyes and closed it.

We almost blew up the wrong guy.

Inspiration for this came from the thought of a bunch of people talking nonesense. Making light of blowing someone up and that the whole story is totally oddball. I could hear the dialouge in my head and it sounded sort of funny. One women of reason among a bunch of people that just went with things.

Happy 2022 Everyone!