Summary: Today is Sunday, date whatever. The sunbeams are already penetrating the small gaps in the shutters of the window. Outside you can hear the voices, the walk, the heartbeat of the city. You feel awake, yet you still are not. You are far beneath the waves of reality, submerged in the realm of dreams and nightmares. But you are aware. You can hear someone walking around inside your apartment, opening drawers and cupboards. They found something, a small bottle of aspirin tablets and stomach medicine. They are preparing them for someone, for you probably. Someone opens the fridge and groans. You can hear someone saying "Out of milk". The voice sounds familiar, yet you cannot determine who it belongs to. The world grows dark once again. The waves drag you down and no you cannot feel anything. I am sorry, but this is as far as I can go. I will see you, once reality drags you up to the surface once more. - The-One-that-Feels, master of all five senses. You are surrounded by darkness in an unfamiliar place. You can hear noises, but they are subtle, as if they are happening somewhere far away yet you can sense them near. You cannot relax, expecting something to pop out of the darkness, yet nothing happens. Suddenly, you see a man in the middle of the room sitting on a throne made out of empty alcohol and pill bottles. Above him you can see a halo of thorns, hanging by the thread of the rotten rope. The man looks down on you. "Why are you here again? You are clearly not enjoying our encounters, yet you keep returning here every night, for the last 5 years. This cannot be healthy." Now that man looks at you, you realize that he bears a striking resemblance to the face you see every day in the mirror. He is wearing a red jacket with a strange pattern all over it, almost like a map. Wait, you have a strange sensation as if there must be someone else here but you don't see them. "Relax, the headless one is currently slumbering after yesterday's events. What even was your endgame there? Do you realize how much stress you've caused your body, how much pain you've brought us?" Who does this guy think he is? Trying to tell you what to do with your body, controlling your actions. Something tells you that if you were to listen to him, your life would come to an end. "But that is what you are desiring so much. A cruel, painful end. The end which you oh so desperately deserve. You missed the train once, and now you lie on the tracks, patiently awaiting the next one." Suddenly, the light bursts from the ceiling, illuminating the room that you are in. You realize that the room that you are in is an… Art Studio? It was heavily refurbished in an attempt to make it something else. A home, a hangout spot. There is a small stage with instruments lying around at the north end of the room. On the west, there are couches and tables, TV sets and other things that are necessary for entertainment. And on the east, there are working benches. At the moment the room is empty, but as you blink more and more people start to appear out of thin air. They all look familiar, yet you cannot recall their names. The first one that caught your attention was a pink-ish raptor with sunglasses. He wears a jacket which depicts a cockatoo on it. "Say, brother, yesterday was something, yes? We almost beat our previous record. Just a few more swings and we could have been…" "And you would have gotten all of us killed, chief." A human being with long, hazel hair. He wears a torn police cap, and a ranger jacket, which has a pattern forming a line of ants on his sleeves. His face is hidden behind the veil of unnatural darkness. "Chief, what you did yesterday goes against any form of diligence you were taught. Truly, the most shameful display of lack of discipline." "WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU DOING? TAINTING THIS TEMPLE OF BODY AND MIND?" This loud proclamation was said by a scary-looking tyrannosaurus at the back of the room, he was standing near some workout equipment. He is shaven and ripped, and wears a strange tank top, which has a print of muscles on it. His scales are bright, fiery red. You are way too scared to look at his face "YOU COMMIT TREASON AGAINST YOUR OWN BODY LIKE THAT, DRIVING IT BEYOND LIMITS! YOU PUT US IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF MADNESS BY ENDANGERING IT WITH THE PAST WHICH IS HIDDEN FOR A PURPOSE!" "Sire, up here!" A female blue allosaurus stands on the stage in the north section of the room. She is dressed in a rather well-made dress, pale green, almost light blue. She has long green-ish straight hair. And her face is… distorted as if it is hidden by the world itself. "Isn't this place one of beauty? It is a place to be, a place to return! You should invite your friends here, Sire, they will like it!" This place slowly becomes crowded and for some reason ,it brings you discomfort. Why? You are unconcerned with such things as crowds and people, why is it uncomfortable? "Ask yourself this: why is it I don't like it here? Is it because these ones make you uncomfortable? Or because it is you who is uncomfortable and doesn't want to show this side of yourself to others. You don't need to be a genius to figure this one out." Suddenly a thought invades your mind: who are these people, why are they so familiar, yet so distant? "Simple, it is the past. The one that clenches around your neck like a rope and pulls you up above the ground into the tights, neck-breaking embrace." Your doppelganger smiles so widely, it feels like his head is about to fall off. "And they will not let go, so how about you just relax and enjoy the show? The finale is soon, you can feel it in your bones!" Where is the man in the projectors? He was supposed to be here, blinding these awful lies! "Can't you see? This room is already bright enough! He cannot help you any more! After all, yesterday you did something that set the fuse ablaze! It's only a matter of years, months, weeks, days, hours, minutes, seconds… but it is approaching, you can feel it." "... What hides beyond the horizon?" "Oh, the most beautiful ending you can have, mutt. At least make it mean something… I can sense the other approaching. The "aware" ones. They will drag you down back to the world of the living. To the world where you cannot see us. But do not fear, the next time you go to sleep, we will be waiting." With those words, the world grew darker and the floor disappeared underneath you. You are falling down. You are seeing your bed fast approaching. The impact is imminent. *** Ah fuck, this sucks. How did this occur? Alright, here is the situation. I am Anon, barely 21 years old. Yesterday I went to a… meeting? Gathering? Whatever is the version of a date but for friends… With Fang. It was a good evening, I had a lot of fun. Actually, it was the most fun I had in years. Everything was going smoothly, we talked about our future plans, about how we can improve our situation, etc. I even received a pretty good lead on how to improve my artistic skills. Everything was going fine… And then, after drinking just two beers, I blacked out. Fuck, I can't remember shit! Did I do something awful? Have I said something bad to Fang again? No, I don't think I did. But what if I… Anon, first this first, you must calm down. Assess your surroundings. Fuck, I cannot open my eyes, fucking hangover. Alright, just feel the place where you are. First of all, you are alive, which means you haven't fallen asleep in the middle of the street in Skin Row. There is no wind here, so you are inside the house. You lie on something relatively soft and springy, so it must be a mattress… have you managed to get back home while drunk? Hm, no. This thing I lie on is way too rough and small, feels nothing like my bed. Besides, there is a "back" on that thing. A couch, I am on the couch… I do not own a couch. Fuck, where am I? It smells strange here. Like mold, building dust and… is that pizza? Am I inside someone else's house? Fuck, come on eyes, open the fuck up. Fuck it! With all of my will, I pry open my eyes to see an unfamiliar ceiling. The couch on which I lie looks like the cheapest piece of shit imaginable. I can feel the tension in the springs, threatening to pierce the leather cushion and stab me in the back. I turn my head and see a cheap TV set. Looks retro, and there is also a cheap DVD player on top of it. The walls here are plain gray, almost as if it never was painted. The windows are all shut tight and the light is blocked off by heavy covers, only letting in a small, straight ray of light. I am still in my yesterday's clothes but it still feels fucking cold… or it should be. The air is cold, but I feel warm. I lift my head a bit to see that I am covered with a piece of cloth that looks like a rug. Is that supposed to be a blanket? Fucking hell it is heavy… but warm. Alright, the assessment is complete. Good news, it seems like you haven't been kidnapped, Anon. Bad news, you still have no fucking clue where you are. Well, at least it is something. I instinctively do a combat roll and headbutt the floor. Ouch, it is much tougher than my own, ouch. Alright, this has fully woke me up, and while the hangover is still there, it is manageable. I finally stood up and looked around. Seems like a normal, cheap Skin Row type apartment. One door that leads to the bedroom, one door that leads to the bathroom, no walls between the living room and the kitchen, and an exit door that has more locks than necessary. Yup, a true normal Skin Row apartment… only question is: whose? My question is quickly answered when I notice a guitar case lying on the sofa next to my resting place. Ah, so I am inside Fang's apartment, neat… WAIT, WHAT? I AM INSIDE FANG'S APARTMENT? OH GOD! I grasp my head with both of my hands. Of course, I will be here! I probably got drunk and was unable to get home, it was late so Fang took pity on me and dragged me all the way to her apartment. Of course, she would do that, it is not like I could be left lying on the streets or something. But… Oh god, I hope I haven't done anything bad to her! I was drunk, I easily could have… Anon, breathe in and out. Calm down. There is no way you could have done anything bad to Fang. I mean, you woke up here on the couch and not, for example, in her bed or something… man, why the fuck I thought of that, now I have this image permanently stuck in my head! … Nice. *** After feeling myself around Fang's apartment, I realized something awful. She was living here… for three years absolutely alone. I mean, I have pretty much the same conditions but I am used to being alone. Back at home my parents barely paid any attention to me and most of my free time I was spending alone in my room, so I have experience in how to waste time. Fang, on the other hand, was never alone when she was living with her parents. Her home was constantly buzzing with life, and her parents were always there for her. And of course, she had Naser. But now… Now she lives in this shitty apartment, on one of the most deserted streets of Skin Row, absolutely alone. For some reason, this thought does not allow me to relax. Alright, Anon, time to do some of your stupid magic. I check my pockets and find my wallet. I opened it and… "Only 35 bucks left… and this is the last money that I have. Alright then, I will take Fang up on her offer, somehow I will survive on nothing but half of pizza a day for the next two weeks!" I find the key near the door and leave the apartment. Alright, just need to remember where the building is. I think there is a convenience store nearby. I hope Fang's kitchen is easy to use. *** You open your eyes after having a vivid nightmare which already faded from your memories. You barely can remember anything. In fact, even if you remember it, you would not be able to concentrate on it. Your head is killing you! IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING CRAWLED DOWN YOUR THROAT, DIED THERE AND SLOWLY ROTTED AWAY. LEAVING BEHIND NOTHING BUT STENCH AND DISGUST. You look at the clock. 6:30 am is displayed on its small, digital screen. [Even suffering from the world's strongest hangover, you are never late. That is the way to go, champ]. You turn on your back and look up. There is still that awful mold spot up there. You really need to take care of it, otherwise, it will grow in and nothing will be able to scrape it off. * Too late, it is black mold, and by the look of it, it seems to be too abundant, meaning that it has already spread its roots into the paint. The only way to get rid of it now is to scrape the paint off and put a new layer on. There is no time to think about that stupid mold spot, remember, how did you end up here, in your apartment? You are pretty sure you never made it here, at least on your own. The only people who know that you live here are Skink and Ripley. Skink is not the type of person to leave his hideout, even if it means helping you… so that means… THE REAPER IS HERE. Outside of your room, you hear the steps and a ruckus. Someone is inside your home. You hear them saying something over the phone (?) but the walls make it impossible to hear it clearly. You slowly stand up from your bed as silently as possible, but the sound of tensed springs bounces off against the walls, making them seem louder. Whoever is behind the door has heard you. Fuck, brother, I guess it is time to get your ass kicked. Relax, it will be over before you know it. You open the door to the living room and you see that the room becomes a bit clearer. Oh god, bad omen. You turn around the corner and see someone sitting on your couch. "Hm, Finally awake, you drunkard fool." As suspected, in front of you there is Ripley. He probably found you yesterday dragging yourself all over the streets and brought you here… But why is HE here? "You are out of milk and all the stores are closed, so you have to make it without it. The headache pills and the stomach pills are here, on the table. REAL medicine, not that shit you keep drinking." He says it almost as if it is a routine by this point. Which is not true. This is the first time ever he has done something like this. What is the occasion? "Hey, Rips… what are you doing in my apartment?" "Honestly, making sure that you won't end up dying tonight." Harsh. "Rando, I found you yesterday, face-planted into the ground, near the park area. You were out cold. It was somewhere around 10 pm. And the temperature was dropping fast, even the homeless seek shelter for nights like this, so I have a question… How the fuck you ended up like that?" You drank like crazy. The alcohol kept you warm. So you did not notice the drop in temperature. "Sorry, Rips, it seems I went harder yesterday than usual." "Harder is one word for it… Rando, yesterday I had a dilemma. Either deliver you to here or to the hospital." Were… were you really that bad yesterday? YEAH, YOU WERE. YOU CAN FEEL IT IN YOUR BODY. IT HURTS… A LOT IT FEELS LIKE YOU WERE BEATEN UP AND LEFT TO DIE. "I… I don't know what got over me." "I know what did… Rando, wanna know how I found you yesterday?" Something tells you that you won't like the answer, Sire. "How?" "Look into your phone's recent calls." [How about no, you have shit to do]. Actually, this is not the case today, chief, today is Sunday, your day off. The only one in the week. No room for maneuver here. You pick up your phone from the coffee table in front of the couch and open it. You quickly open the recent calls and… the last number dialed from this phone belongs to… D-A-W-N. THESE LETTERS ALMOST CAUSE YOU TO HAVE A PANIC ATTACK. [This is why I told you not to do that!] "Ripley… did she… did I…" "She did not pick it up. Not because she did not want to, but because she couldn't. When she saw the number she contacted me through an old friend. They gave me your location and… well, the rest you can figure out yourself." You called her, you called here yesterday. Why? Are you crazy? Finally lost the marbles? You must know by this point that calling this number does nothing to you. It only causes pain. Why did you call it? What was the reason? You are lucky that she did not pick it up, otherwise, what would you have told her? "Hey, long time no see, I am drunk as hell and I wanted to harass you for a bit to make myself feel better." Something along these lines? "Ah, fuck, Ripley… I messed up big this time." "Yup, you did." This situation couldn't become any worse, even if Ripley dragged your ass all the way to rehab. But something tells you that it will become worse in a moment… because you had a realization. "Wait… If you have been here since yesterday… Have you left your wife alone at home tonight?" "Yes, I did." "Fuck!" Yup, it became worse. Not only did you call the only person you shouldn't call, you inconvenienced Ripley as well. His wife, one of the kindest souls in this goddamn city, was forced to spend a night alone in the coldest house possible. All because you couldn't- "Rando, relax, Samantha understood the situation. In fact, she was glad that I was helping a "friend"" Somewhere, in the suburbs, in a small two-story house a pterodactyl named Samantha Aaron is preparing a breakfast, fully expecting her husband to make it in time, but also not wishing to rush him. While she despises being alone, she also is happy that her husband tries to socialize with people outside his work for once. It has been a while since he allowed himself to relax. While Samantha is feeling dread seeping into her soul, the sheer idea that her husband is getting better illuminates it once more. She wants to meet this friend of his, maybe he could at least make Ripley a bit more happy. It is sad to see him constantly on the edge for the last 3 years. You sigh with relief. Whatever thought you had has put your worries aside for now. You should not keep Ripley here for too long. "Hey, Rips, I am truly sorry for what happened yesterday." "Rando, it is fine, stop beating yourself over it, I am tired of repeating this." This did not make you feel better. "Rando, you need to stop doing this to yourself, otherwise you may truly be too far gone for anyone to help you." You nod to him. "You will try" signal. With that, Ripley approached your front door. He turns to for a moment. "When do you think it will be possible for me and my daughter to meet?" "Give it one more month. I promise she will be ready." Ripley looks at you. There is hope in his eyes, but they are also tired of waiting. He opens the door and before leaving says one more thing: "Rando, if you ever need help, I am a phone call away." You close the door. This situation was awkward as hell… But thankfully, Ripley unintentionally gave you a plan for today. Fang and Aron… They need a stage, right? Shouldn't be too hard, you know a man. You take out the phone and go through your contacts until you find a name which reminds you of how long it has been since the last time you talked to that person. You dial his number… Rings are quickly interrupted by a loud scream. "HEY, WATSUP! THIS IS THE BEST PARTY AND EVENT SERVICE IN THE WHOLE SKIN ROW "BRIGHT NIGHTS"! WITH YOU ME, THE PROPRIETOR AND THE DIRECTOR OF THIS ORGANIZATION - STEVE JAY! HOW CAN I HELP YOU!" "Steve… no wonder you do not have fucking clients." "Oh? OH! If it isn't my favorite police officer in the whole world! How is everything, my man?" "Eh, it could be better. Listen, can I ask you something? I met someone who desperately needs a stage, can you help with that?" "Ah, helping young rising stars? Cool, that's cool, man. So, who are they and what do they do?" "Ok, here is the question, Jay… Do you like rock?" *** … Well, I am awake now. My head hurts a bit, but it is mostly bearable. My mind is preoccupied with processing yesterday's events. Well, I had a practice, sober this time. I found out that my friend for the last 2 years was in some street gang. My other friend knew that and told me nothing. Meanwhile, I also found out that I was stalked by one of my father's goons, who now wants to help me with my music career. And the next room is currently occupied by my ex who confessed his love to me while being shitfaced beyond reason… By all accounts, now that I think about it, yesterday probably was the craziest day of my life… and yet I feel fine. Good in fact. It is like everything became clearer. Sure, I am a bit upset, but this anger does not feel annoying. It is just the classic "I am going to have a stern talk with everyone later". But for now, I guess I will go wake up Anon. I look at the clock next to me. It shows exactly at 9 am. Man, I slept in today, but it is Sunday, so I am allowed to slack off for a bit. But it is time to rise from this cold tomb I call bedroom… Huh, now I realize how dangerous the situation yesterday was. It is not like I don't trust Anon, but my bedroom has no lock, so he could freely waltz in on his own accord… Doubt that he would do that, but still, I need to be more careful. I dress into my everyday clothes (pretty much my work clothes, but more tattered and less clean) and prepare to step out of my bedroom… Fuck, fine, I will look into the mirror. What do I see? A shadow of what I used to be. I mean, I am still me but… why do all of this feel so wrong? I have massive bags under my eyes, which will probably take weeks of proper sleep to wear off. My hair is pretty much non-existent, why did I even shave it off? I dunno, it just made me so angry to look at myself in the mirror, seeing me from high school… It felt like it was not me, it was someone everyone else wanted to see. The non-binary prick, the beautiful daughter, the perfect girlfriend… All of that used to make me so angry, but now I just don't care… Maybe I should grow my hair out a bit. And while I am at it, I should add more color to my makeup. Or maybe just redo my old dark one into something more… I dunno, bright? Like those rock stars of the 80s! Yeah, I don't need to change too much, make something dark and angry, yet bright and… Huh, it has been a while since I cared about how I look. I guess yesterday was so shocking that it forced me to rethink everything about myself. I am pushing Anon to improve himself, but I myself also need to become better. Not necessarily changing who I am… but maybe just changing some small parts of me that hold me down. Heh, guess I also need to do some self-discovery bullshit. And the first step would be a nice, nutritious breakfast of left-over pizza from two days ago. I walk up to my doors and open them and a nice, warm smell assaults my senses. What is this smell? Is it food? Yes, meat and eggs. And the room does not stink of dust and stale air! I never open the windows because I don't see the point. In fact, the living room feels almost welcoming. Wait, where is Anon? He is not on the couch. I hear someone in the kitchen. I walk around the corner and see Anon awkwardly operating the kitchenware. Trying to fry some eggs and bacon. Huh, never took him for a guy that cooks. Wait, Anon is cooking something in my kitchen? Sigh, I better step in before he burns down my apartment. "Good morning, Anon." "HA, FANG!?" He almost drops an entire pan, but catches it mid-fall… I am surprised that he managed not to burn himself. "Need any help?" "N-no, I am fine, you just startled me." He gives me an awkward smile. Damn, this dweeb can be so adorable at times. He returns back to cooking. "I did not know I had eggs." "You didn't. Had to run out to buy some eggs… and bacon… and coffee. Man, you had almost nothing here." Thanks, Anon, I noticed. And I noticed another thing. "Huh, you also cleaned this room a bit." "Well, as much as I could in an hour or so. Don't worry, your apartment isn't that much worse than my own. At least you don't have any dents on the walls or empty bottles." Thank Raptor Jesus I had the drive to throw out all the trash from my apartment three days ago, if Anon had seen the state of my home back then he would have never let it go. "Smells nice, I did not know there was a shop that opens up on Sundays." "What are you talking about? There is a small store down the road owned by some Vietnamese family which has almost everything." Huh, I did not know that… But I also never cared to check it. Day in and day out I was doing nothing but sleep, eat and work (and drink) for the last three years. I guess I also need to go out more often. "Anyway, Fang, breakfast is almost ready, hope you do not mind if the eggs are a bit burned on the edges." "... Anon, how the hell did you manage to burn eggs?" I laugh a bit. "Hey, your pan is shit and your stove's heat is borderline uncontrollable!" "Excuses won't save you from the fact you managed to burn the fucking eggs." I hold myself from bursting into laughter. I compose myself and breathe out. "I don't mind, Anon. Hell, it will be the best breakfast I have had in months." "Good, because I am taking you up on your offer regarding pizza because I am all out of money." He gives me a smug smile. Man, only Anon will think that being broke is as hell as his own. "Fine, fine. But as soon as you get your first payment you will eat something healthy, got it?" "Yes, mam." I jab at his back and he jumps a bit. Damn, this dweeb is still his usual self. Reminds me of the days I was staying with him after he lost a fight to a fucking bollard. I hear Anon laugh. "What is it?" "Nothing, just remember the days when you took care of me after I fell down the stairs." … Fucking hell… I want to hug him so hard right now, but I need to control myself. After all, we are still not in that kind of relationship. Maybe after a successful show, I will… Not now, Lucy, not now. "Alright, I think everything is ready… Where are the plates?" "Second cupboard from the right." Anon opens the cupboard and turns to me with a confused expression. "Fang, why are all the plates you own are the single-use paper ones?" "What? I am saving up the money!" "Fang, you can't re-use these things! At least buy the plastic ones!" "What is the difference? At least these cost half a dollar a pack!" "... I take my words back, this place is much worse than my apartment." With considerable force, I plant my boot right on Anon's stupid ass. *** After me and Anon had a pointless banter about my choice in "silverware" we finally settled down on the agreement that I would buy some normal plates after I received my next payment and we finally sat down to eat. I do not have a dining table, and I have no space for it, so we used a coffee table in the living room as a substitute. We decided to share the couch, as we both did not trust the sofa chair that I usually just used as a fancy stand for my guitar case. It constantly looked like it was about to collapse. As we ate, Anon was looking up something on his phone. "What are you doing?" "Checking that place your friend Nate recommended to me." "The evening art school?" "Yeah, it does not seem to be too expensive and it has a very flexible schedule but… Here, look at this website." Anon passes me the phone. For the next solid minute, I looked at the screen trying to analyze what the hell I was looking at. No, it was not bad, it was in fact pretty good. Even the mobile version of it seemed masterfully made as if it was done by a professional web designer… It is the description which I had the gripe with. "Welcome to the Realm of Beauty. The Volcadera Bluff's most highly esteemed evening school of arts of any kind. We are specializing in helping our students to discover their talents and their limits, to understand themselves better and pass through the barriers established by their illusion of doubt. Established by master Shuyaku Hiro, Realm of Beauty is regarded as one of the most fine secondary education establishments in the state. We provide all the necessary education material to those who try the hardest and our teachers will provide students with all the necessary advice to improve their skills. Not everyone is born with a natural talent to understand and perfect art, but everyone is born with the tools to improve themselves and try their best. Because of that, we provide the first few lessons for free, and depending on your entry examination you may be provided with a discount according to both your skill and drive. As our Master Shuyaku says "Everyone falls victim to the deception of their life experiences and failures, and we are here to help them to break through the fog of their issues. Art comes naturally after this.". We would be thrilled to see you soon in our school, working alongside many people like you. - Realms of Beauty, the school that will give you a chance to improve yourself!" "... Why does it feel like it was written for a cult and not for an evening art school?" "I know, right? I don't know why your friend recommended it to me." "Well, Nate barely lies, in fact I am convinced that he cannot lie… so it won't hurt to check it at least. Besides, they provide the first few lessons for free, so even you can attend it!" "... having no money and asking for freebies. This all seems way too familiar. Hope I won't encounter any Naomis there." "If you do, run like hell Anon." In the ad, it says that they are open all week. "Anon, how about we go there this evening to check what they have to offer? It says they are open on Sundays." "... Today? Hm, I don't know." "Anon, don't be lazy, it is not like you have any plans for today." "Fine, fine. We will go check it this evening. What do you want to do until then?" "I have a few ideas." I stand up from the couch and go to my room. There, in the closet lies something that I haven't touched in years… Hope it did not rot away. Beneath the boxes and clothes I no longer wear I find it. A guitar case. The "old" one. Taking it out of the closet feels weird, as if I opened some floodgate and the entire world will be drowned in nostalgia. Ha, never thought to see it again. I open the case and see it… an old present from my parents back when I was still in high school… an old brown guitar… The one I used to teach Anon… Damn, I can't be sentimental right now, I don't want Anon to see me crying. I take out the guitar and check the strings. Of course, it is not tuned, after all, I have not touched that thing in years. Making as little noise as possible, I tune the guitar and walk out of my room. Anon turns to see me and his eyes open wide. "Fang is that…" "Yeah, it is." I bring the guitar to the couch and sit next to Anon. Without thinking much, I start to pull the strings. At first, it sounds like nothing, a collection of gargled noises that try to be music. But as I play and feel the strings, the music becomes more beautiful. Man, I missed this sound so much. I look to Anon who… When I see Anon, I notice that he does not look at me, no he is looking somewhere… I am not sure where. His hands crossed, fingers intertwined. He is deep in his own thoughts. I notice a sad expression on his face. Fuck, did I make a mistake? "Anon?" "Ah? Oh, sorry, I just…" Once again I am reminded how much Anon is hurting. He tries to hide it behind fake smiles and laughs, and he is pretty good at it, but sometimes his true self seeps through his mask of uncaringness. I want to help him, I want to support him like he used to support me. What can I do? An idea comes to my mind. "Hey, Anon." "What?" I passed the guitar to him. He looks at me with the most confused expression possible. "Play." "What? Fang, you know that I can't-" "Play anything, it doesn't matter. Even if you are bad, play." Anon at first is reluctant, but the longer he looks at the guitar, the more tempted he is to play it. Finally, he gives in and touches the strings. As expected he is not good at it. He constantly misses the notes, he does the most basic accord, awkwardly must I add, and he is as stiff as if he is trying to lift something really heavy. But he is trying. I smile, observing him struggling with my guitar. He notices it. "If you want to laugh, just get over it." "Why would I laugh?" "Because I can see it on your face." Man, he is mad. It is way too adorable for someone like him to be mad. "Anon, NOW I want to laugh, come on, don't act like a little kid." "I know I am bad, I just don't like being put under the spotlight for the whole world to see." "Oh? So I am the "whole world"?" He turns away, trying to hide his embarrassment. It is very amusing to me and makes me want to tease him more. "Oh, come on. It isn't as corny as "she is the only thing that matters". This one at least sounds simple." "You are not helping, Fang." I laugh and notice Anon smiling too. This time the smile is genuine, I can tell. It does not look dumb or forced. It looks relaxed and somewhat sophisticated. See, you can act like an adult when you are honest. "So what, you are going to teach me how to play a guitar or something?" "Actually, my original idea was just hearing you playing by your own accord, but that idea does not sound half bad. After all, if you want to help my band to reach heights that were never reached before, I need you to know at least the most basic things about music. Don't worry, I won't force you to play on stage." "Oh thank Raptor Jesus!" "... For now." "Fang, please have mercy on me." I laugh once more, this is going to be the most entertaining few hours of my life. *** Here is a thought: Doomsday Clock. What is the Doomsday Clock? Some people usually imagine something like DEFCON and the nuclear holocaust. Some reference the holy scriptures and any mentions of the Great Judgment. Some fear the arrival of the second meteorite to finish off the job of the first one. But for you, the Doomsday Clock is something different, something way more dreadful. Is the moment the world has no more need for you. Once your Doomsday Clock reaches zero, this will be the moment when the world will abandon you, throw you away like a broken toy and discard your soul to the winds. The moment, which you know is coming soon. Repent, repent, and repent once more! For your sins are abundant and your virtues are all but gone. You are but a puppet of fate who discarded its own humanity. The only salvation is to do as much good as possible. Save those who you can and let the rest rot. For as long as this world needs you, Detective Rando P. Erson, your journey is not done. Look around you, seek those who need help, and make sure that help is delivered. She will come to see you soon. Clear out the streets. That is all. *** People say that time flies by fast when you have fun… It was not true for me. The last few hours were the longest I ever had in forever. Every moment felt like an eternity. Me and Fang just… hanging out. She was teaching me how to play guitar, I was fucking it up but keep trying. It made me feel, I dunno, happy? It is a difficult feeling to describe. Like you can do anything that this world will throw at you. Drive so strong that you know for certain that tomorrow will come and it will be great. As I said, it is difficult to describe… But it makes me excited to try something new. Ask and you shall receive because by the time we stopped practicing it was nearing the time when the school was about to be open. We decided to walk there on foot since I did not have any money and Fang did not want to waste money on "non-essential traveling". It took us an hour to reach the part of Skin Row where the school was located. As Nate stated, it was looking more Asian than the rest of the district. I looked it up online, and apparently, it is a bit older than Little Troodon. In fact, apparently, two were once a single district, before Skin Row swallowed half of it, separating them into two different entities. I could see many abandoned stores and restaurants, usual for this place, but one thing was different. I have not seen a single homeless person here, or some shifty guy trying to sell something. Nothing of that sort. Almost as if this place, while being a part of Skin Row, managed to avoid the worst of it. We walked for about 10 minutes and found our destination. The Realm of Beauty evening art school. It looks a bit more modern than I expected, considering that every other building we saw on the streets looked like something straight from the Kung Fu Movie set. Not going to lie, I feel disappointed. I look at Fang… I think she is disappointed as well. She tilts her head towards the door. I sigh and reach out to it, my heart beating like crazy. Alright, Anon, you can do it! I carefully open the door. And the first thing I see is something alien to Skin Row. Everything is well furnished, the walls are covered with pain. The floor… Even though it is made from wood, it feels soft and warm. It feels like we somehow skipped half of the town when we opened the door. In front of us is a reception desk occupied by… Naomi? Fuck, I almost had a heart attack, it is not Naomi, but damn this parasaurolophus looks like her dead ringer. The only difference is that she does not wear the glasses and she wears… rather risque clothes for someone working in a place like this. She wears a very tight black tank top and ripped white jeans. I look at Fang. "Well, it is a statistic that every person in the world has at least 5 doppelgangers, eh?" Fang looks at me with an annoyed stare. I approach the reception desk and wave at the receptionist. "H-hello? I am here to sign up for the evening lessons…" She looks at me with a tired look, like she has not slept for a day, yet she looks very healthy. Damn teens, no respect for the adults… I am not the one to think this way. After looking at me for a moment, she picks up the phone from the desk and makes a call. "Master Shuyaku, there is another sucker who wishes to learn "the secret of the arts"." She said it with a mocking tone. I can hear a loud, stern but very calm voice on the other side of the line. The receptionist looks at me as if she sizing me up. "Human, in his early 20s, looks like shit, wears some cheap, crappy clothes. Bald as well. He is cut though…" Well, rude, but astute observation. "Alright, yes, I will let them in." She put her phone back on the desk. "Alright, sir, follow through this door, the second door on the left, you will see a sign saying "Studio No2". Master Shuyaku will meet you there for the interview." "Huh? Do I need to sign anything, or…" "No need, there is a chance that you will be kicked out before you can get accepted, so I won't waste the paper." Rude, again. But I hold it in. I nod to her and follow the directions. When I turned to Fang she looked a bit lost and did not know if she was allowed to follow me. "It is fine, miss, even if you are not applying, there are no rules stating that potential pupils are forbidden from being accompanied by friends and family. Follow your boyfriend, or whatever." "Uh, we are not…" Fang looks a bit embarrassed and totally confused but decides to say nothing. She follows me. I open the door and see a narrow hallway with doors on both sides. I can also see a staircase at the end of the halfway. Alright, what she said? The second door on the left, studio No2. Got it. Before I enter the hallway, I can hear the last two words from the receptionist. "Good luck". … For some reason the halfway felt longer than it actually is, I guess I am just nervous. It is good that Fang decided to accompany me because I don't know if I would have it in me to enter this place alone. The funny thing, I served in the army, yet the social anxiety I had since high school did not disappear. It only got worse. Alright, deep breaths. I touch the door handle and begin to push it down. With a loud click, the door opens. And behind it, we see a lesson in session. Many students, both dinos and humans, sit around what looks like a mannequin. Only one person walks around the room, checking the students' progress. Ah, I get it, they are drawing complex poses on paper with pencils. Seems like some people here do not take it seriously… but very soon these people receive a… slap on the arm with a ruler. "Don't slack off! The moment you let that pencil wobble, the painting will be ruined!" The student and everyone around him immediately perk up and try to do better. I guess it is a common occurrence here because nobody raises any concerns. The teacher finally notices me. "Ah, the new potential pupils, splendid." They leave their student and slowly approach me. Hm, he is a human of Asian descent, and by the look of it they are very old. Their hair is gray, their face is covered in wrinkles and they are supporting their posture with both of their hands behind their back. Their hair is long and they also have a beard, the one that makes them look like the most stereotypical master of karate. He also wears a baggy beige kimono. Is this fighting game cast rejecting the teacher here? "My appearance may be silly, young man, but it does not affect my efficiency or proficiency as a teacher. Besides, these clothes are comfortable to walk around in." … I am pretty certain I did not mumble that one. "Previous thought? No. This one? Yes." Well damn me, this man is perceptive. He looks at me for a moment, again this strange feeling as if he is sizing me up. "Hmmm, you are definitely an interesting one. I must admit, by far you are also the most miserable I have seen in a while. You've been to the army yet seen no combat. You've known love, yet there is nothing but regret. You had seen the opportunity but were too self-conscious to take it. You, my friend, are the very definition of walking failure." What is with this place and being so goddamn rude. I came here to study, not receiving non-constructive criticism! "Relax, young man, there is nothing wrong with being a failure. Nobody becomes strong without losing. Come with me, I will evaluate your ability to study… But before that, Mister Bars?" "Yes, sir?" A strange reptile in a tight sweater and sunglasses (in-house?) responded. "Could you take over for a moment? Just remember, the slap must be rough, but not strong. We want our students to be disciplined, not end up with broken arms." "I get it, boss, don't ya worry." The "Boss" nods in response to that and, with a wave, shows us a path. Towards the room before the one where we just had been. Studio No1. When we go there, the teacher follows our steps. I approach the door and look at the teacher before opening it. He nods and I do exactly that. In front of us is a mostly empty room with a single chair in the middle of it. This room looks bright, but also kinda scary. "You have nothing to be scared of, this room is here for the new potential students at my school. Here I can evaluate you without outside influence. You may proceed. Your friend is allowed to enter, but they may not interfere with the entry exam." "Isn't this room a bit too big for a single-person interview?" "Why? Feel a bit agoraphobic? Hehehe." I breathe in and enter the room. The air here feels heavy. The floor here is even softer… is this carpet? No, is this… "Authentic tatami, yes. Be so kind and remove your shoes before you go any further." Holly shit, I only saw stuff like this only in movies and anime! This is so fucking cool! Oh, right, shoes. I quickly remove them. Fang, at first hesitant, but follows my suit. "Good, proceed, sit down on this chair." I do exactly as I was told. Fang stays near the door. The teacher walks around me, stroking his beard with his right hand. I wonder what he is trying to figure out about me. After a solid 30 seconds of silence, the teacher finally nods and pulls out something out of his kimono sleeve. A notebook and a pencil. He gave them to me. "Here, I want you to draw anything you want on it, you only have 10 minutes to make it a reality." I look at him, confused. He only smiles and nods. I am given the freedom to draw whatever I want. I look around the room for any idea, but quickly realize that room has nothing in it to fuel my inspiration… well, maybe besides Fang, but I can't draw her, after all, it would be embarrassing. After thinking a bit more I decided to draw a simple portrait of some random person I could think of. I spend almost all of my time trying to perfect it, after all, I have to improve the teacher. I must be accepted into this school, I promised Fang! After 10 minutes, the teacher taps me on my shoulder. "Time's up, young one." He takes my notebook away without even giving me a chance to assess my work, but I think I did a very well done job. Especially how I managed to make the person I drew look highly detailed. I specifically made my job harder for myself to make it more impressive, but I am sure this work will land me a pla- "I am sorry to inform you about this, but you failed young one." … What? But… I did… "It is a very well done job… for a dilettante. Look at this, the picture is all wrong, the person here feels shallow, and the entire composition reeks of uncertainty." He rips out the page from the notebook and rips it in half. "And it makes me feel nothing when it is gone! I am sorry, but this exam is a failure. I would ask you to remove yourself from the premises of our school immediately." What… What does this person think he is? Some kind of art critic? Isn't this place supposed to be a school, aren't they supposed to teach people? Why is this exam even necessary?! I rise from the chair, fueled by anger. "The fuck do you mean? Sure my drawing may not be on the professional level, but it is well made! I am sure of it!" "Really? Are you so sure about it? Tell me, why did you decide to draw this picture?" To succeed! To become better! To fulfill my promise to Fang! "And here is your problem!" "... Huh?" "You do not wish to learn art because you truly desire it, you only desire to learn art because of your dependence on someone else! You are deceiving yourself if you believe you can become better for someone else's sake. I cannot teach a student who does not put all their 110% into their work! Once again, I am asking you to leave this school immediately!" This is… "This is bullshit! I do want to become better! You know how tiresome it is to hate yourself all the time? At one point you just run out of excuses to stay in the same hole you dug yourself into! Yes! I want to improve for someone else's sake, but only because this someone else showed me that I can be better than myself… Because every time I try to be myself I only end up hurting people and…" "Enough!" The old man shouted so loud, that he would give Spears the run for his money. "I don't want to hear that nonsense! "Be better than myself"? "I only end up hurting people"? These are the words of a person who does not want to improve! These are the words of the coward who wants to escape reality into the fiction they made up in their head! This is exactly why I believe teaching you is pointless! How can you become a master of arts if you cannot believe that YOU can become a master of arts!" What… What is he saying? "But if you truly believe that you deserve to be MY student, you must earn my respect first!" With these words, he dashed behind me, picked up the chair with his leg and threw it into the doorway past Fang, where it was caught by the raptor in the sunglasses. "I heard screaming, boss. Is everything alright?" "This one thinks he deserves to be our student, yet he lacks the spirit and drive to be one! That is why I am testing him! TRIAL BY ARTS!" What? "And by that, I mean Martial Arts!" Fucking what? "Ahhhh, shit, you are about to get your ass whooped by Master Shuyaku!" "Can someone explain to me what the hell is going on?" I am fucking confused! I look at Fang, who just shrugs her shoulders. Fuck, she is as confused as I am. "You see, young one, you lack skills and drive, but that does not mean you have no potential! But this aspect of your character cannot be determined by a simple 10-minute exam! It takes years to determine someone's full potential when it comes to drawing… But I can determine it in under 5 minutes with nothing but my own fists. So, if you want to be MY student, I am giving you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! If you land even a single hit on me, I will accept you into my school! I will even teach you for free for an entire year if you desire so!" Holy shit! This is insane!? Did I just walk into a C-tier Hong Kong movie flick? And what did he say just now? An entire year for free if I land a single hit on this old bastard? This is going to be fucking easy! I mean, I was in the army for goodness sake, and we had constant hand-to-hand combat practices! And what is this fool's plan? Fall down and break his spine? Fine, you know what? This guy pisses me off, I usually avoid conflict, but since I am given a freebie here, it will be a fucking sin not to take it. "Fine, let's do this!" "Hm, ready when you are." This old man is smiling at me as if he already won. Fuck it, I dash towards him, trying to grab him and push him onto the ground, just like I was taught in the Navy… But before my hand could even touch him, I found myself on the ground. What just happened? And why my back hurts so fucking much. "Too slow, too brash, just like your drawing skill!" I lift myself off the ground. This guy somehow reversed my grab and made me fall! Alright, if grabbing does not work, how about being more simple? I will just deck him in the face. I wind my punch and rush towards my opponent… Only for my punch to be easily deflected. After that everything went black and I fell on my ass. "AH FUCK, MY SPINE!!!" I look up and see what happened. After deflecting my punch this guy used his palm to slap my chest, making me lose my balance and ability to breathe. I catch my breath and raise myself up. "It would be easier if you give up, young one." "Yeah, this is what I was telling myself ever since high school. Turned out to be one big fucking lie. Giving up is not easy, it is painful. It makes you feel like shit and you regret it forever. No, I am not giving up old man… I need this fucking school, I want to learn to draw, not only for someone else's sake but also because I want to know what I can do myself!" When I said that, the old bastard smiled at me, as he assumed a relaxed stance. "If you truly believe that, then attack! Earn that education, earn the right to be my student!" Summoning all the strength remaining in my body, I mindlessly charge towards the old bastard. I don't care how, but I will land a hit on him. Even if I have to literally jump on him with my entire weight, I will… *** When I came to my senses, I was lying on the tatami-covered floor. What just happened? Oh, right, I got my shit kicked in by the Tetsu reject over there. How the fuck is he able to be this strong? Isn't he in his 60s or 70s? Fucking hell… "Three years in the Navy, and I can't do shit…" "Hm, I studied martial arts for 46 years, young one… You did well, all things considered. Really resilient, you can probably fall down a flight of stairs and walk it off the next day." This old fool stands above me, with a smile on his face. "Did I fail?" "Yup, miserably may I add. You weren't even close." Fucking hell, one opportunity and I fail. I guess I am still the same Anon from high school. "Nobody ever becomes good at life without losing, young one… What is your name?" "... Anon Mous." "Nice to meet you, Anon Mous. My name is Hiro Shuyaku, master of many arts, and three times national champion of martial arts tournaments." No wonder this guy hits like a truck while moving so fast. Ugh, I had no chance here. "That is right you did not, but you are still tired because you truly wanted to become my student and learn something new… I made a mistake before, I thought you had no potential with how you act. But now I see you have the potential to be a great young man." Yeah, thanks. I don't see it. "You're just saying it to make me feel better." "Hmmm, I wonder if I do… Remember what you said before?" "About what?" "About the pit that you yourself dug yourself into? And how I would not understand the feeling? Hmmm, this might be your biggest flaw yet, Mister Mous. You believe yourself to always be right and assume everything about everyone you meet. You are quick to judge, but not quick to accept." I fucking know that already. "It is a flaw which is hard to get rid of… But it is not impossible. Wanna know the secret? I know way too well the feeling you have right now. Remember how I told you that I studied martial arts for 46 years? This is also the amount of time I allowed myself to be deceived by my own ego. I allowed myself to believe that I knew better than everyone and that nobody could understand me, quick to dismiss anyone who got close to me. Only when I became old I became wise and realized how I missed out on life trying to chase this bizarre goal that I had set for myself. And only 46 years later I was able to break out of those chains and gain freedom. I see a lot of myself in you right now, Anon. That is why I was worried about accepting you as my student, I felt the same darkness in you that I had when I was your age. But now I can see that there is also a light within you, a speck of hope, an ember that needs to be emboldened…" He suddenly stops and nods to someone in the doorway… Ah, fuck, Fang! I forgot that she is here! Where is she?… Oh, she is beside me, on her knees, checking if I am alright… Ah fuck, how embarrassing. "You have a good friend, Anon. She made the right choice not to interfere in your fight. A good friend is the one who supports those who fight, instead of tagging them out and solving their problems." Fang looks at him at first with an angry expression, but it quickly changes, she looks at me. "Anon, are you alright? Does anything feel like it is broken?" "N-nah, it just hurts a lot, like, everywhere." I try to smile, but I can feel that smile being distorted by pain. I turn to Shuyaku, who is looking like he is preparing to say something wise. "Anon, I understand that it seems that you are alone against the world sometimes, I've been in that place many, many times before, so allow me to say the words that you probably heard before." … " You are not the only person in the world. Everyone is fighting their own battles. " These words made me jump on my feet, completely ignoring my pain. Did this man just… Noooooo. Is he? "Mister Anon Mous, Miss Lucy Aaron… or should I call you Fang?" Both me and Fang look at this man with an expression of surprise. How is this man… "Surprised? Ha, I figured it is you two, you look exactly how he described you… well, one of you became bulkier, and the other has cut her wonderful hair…" I was the first one to react. "You… You know Principal Spears?" "Know him? He is my dearest friend and the best sparring partner. His techniques may be a bit crude, but his tenacious, borderline primal approach makes him a worthy opponent… Did you know that our school also provides martial arts teachings around 4:30 pm each day?" Me and Fang are in awe, This man is a friend of Principal Spears? Talk about a small world. But this meeting is not about reminiscing about the past! First of all… "So, can I be a student here?" "Why not? I only said that I would teach you for free if you punch me, not that I won't teach you if you fail." … I was just Miyagy'd. Shuyaku was approached by the raptor in the sunglasses, who gave him some kind of paper. "Ah, wonderful, thank you, Mister Bars, you may return to class and continue your work." The raptor bowed down and left the room. Then, Shuyaku passed one of the papers he received to me. "I need you to fill out this form. Your name, your address, all that stuff. Then I need you to look at this schedule and tell me when you are available. Monday lessons are mandatory. Since you are a bit late this season, you will have to catch up with the rest of the students. The average studying period at this school is two years, after which you receive the certificate of attendance. If you desire, you can take a college-level exam at the end of your educational period to receive a diploma in arts. If you do not have a high school diploma, because I know you don't, our school also provides evening high school courses, which upon completion allows you to receive a high school certificate. Got all of that?" This is a lot, but it seems that everything is more or less simple. I nod. "Good… Oh, and I heard from my dear friend Nate that you need a job." Oh, right, I almost forgot… "I will use this form when I contact the local labor center and they will pick you a few gigs that won't interfere with your studies. This will allow you to study at your own pace, while also earning some money on the side. After all, I want my students to excel both as my pupils and as people, got it?" I got it, I got it… I nod and begin to fill out all the forms. There are quite a lot, I hope it won't take a long time. *** It took almost an hour to fill everything out, fucking hell. I pass all the forms to Shuyaku, who accepts them with a smile. "With that, you are officially my student! I expect to see you tomorrow. Exactly at 5:00 pm. Be late and you will receive another lesson in beatdown." I smiled at the teacher. Now that I think about it, he does not seem like a bad guy. A bit brash and maybe rude, but hey, I am not one to judge. As I stood up from the chair, I noticed that Shuyaku approached Fang. "Miss Aaron… what I said to Anon also can be applied to you. While I can see that you do not desire to be my student, as an old man whose job is to help those who are lost, I will tell you this: the past is history, do not let it control you. Your aspirations are respectful, but do not let it be turned into a tsunami of expectations. And the most important one… do not fear to forgive those who have hurt you and to forgive yourself. That is all. You two may go." With those words we depart. Damn, it feels like a lot has happened in the last few hours. The day felt like an eternity. We leave the building and sigh in relief. "You know, Anon, I was expecting everything but this…" "Tell me about it, this all felt so surreal, that it seems almost impossible." "Well… is it as surreal as our high school?" I think about it for a moment. "Close second." "Yup." After we finally collected ourselves, we began to walk down the street, back to Fang's apartment. I noticed that Fang glances at me with a smug expression. "What?" "Hey, you did pretty well back there." "Shut up!" "I mean, for the first time in a while your opponent was not gravity or bollards or stairs… you still ate shit though." "Come on, he is, like, a kung fu master or something, can you blame me?" "I can, and I will! It was so funny seeing you getting your ass planted on the floor!" Damn, I can't win, can I? "But I am glad…" "Why is it, Fang?" "Because it felt like you needed that. You know, to be angry, to talk about how you feel unrestrained by your usual kindness. All of that… I did not even realize how you felt all this time." "Well, I am certain that I also do not understand how you feel. I don't know if I will ever be able to understand. First, you actually have a loving family…" "Anon, do not even joke about this… I do not enjoy it when you put yourself down like this." "Sorry." I notice Fang wrapping her hands around my arm. "What is it, Fang?" "... You are a good person." "What are you talking about?" "Anon, you are a good person. I believe that with all of my being. I know you are. And I know you can do better than sit in your apartment all day long and waste your life away. You deserve a lot more than you think. You just need to work for it." "Fang, I know that…" "Anon." I silence myself. "You are a good person and a good friend. Never doubt that, okay?" "I… Thank you, Fang." I never knew that I wanted to hear someone saying this to me so badly. It feels nice. For the rest of the way, I remain silent. The sun is setting and the street lamps slowly start to turn on to illuminate the dark, cold road. But it feels warm. I look at Fang, who looks somewhere far away. I decided to say nothing and just enjoy the moment. Never know when it could be your last. The sun was set, the sky became dark blue and, for the first time in months, I could see the stars glowing brightly. Tomorrow is another day. And I am ready for it. *** Skink: I got the message you sent me yesterday. I guess the situation is pretty bad if you need to meet those cutthroats. Rando : It is pretty bad, yes, can't say too much on the phone. Skink : Alright. I will look into it and set up a meeting for you and the Neighbor Union. Rando : Thanks. Skink : All in a day work my friend… What was it about your call earlier to Jay earlier? What are you planning on the side? Rando : Skink, it is a bad habit to spy on other people's conversations. Skink : I want to help. Rando : Well, that was unexpected, why? Skink : I just need a single promise from you. Rando : What is it? Skink : Never drink like that again. Rando : … I'll try. … You close your phone down, you cannot promise something like that for sure. Well, today is Sunday and you are not in the mood for drinking. Instead, you decide to just walk the streets, hoping to encounter something to give you meaning, but you find nothing. Well, at least the air is nice. You look to the skies. Stars shine through the cover of the light of the city. Like lasers, they pierce the shield of light of the city and engrave a message into your mind. The one that makes you feel nothing but dread. The one that makes you wait with anticipation. THE END IS NEAR. SHE IS COMING. THAT IS ALL.