《Whimsical Invitations》 Virtual Machine ¡°Hey, have you tried out that new game?¡± Simon asks next to me as he boots up his computer. ¡°What game?¡± I ask as I input my login credentials. ¡°It¡¯s called Earth. It¡¯s not bad if you¡¯re into simulator games, but the gameplay is kind of boring,¡± Simon says casually as he also logs into his computer. ¡°I love simulator games. Is it on the Universal App store?¡± I ask, opening up the store to check. ¡°What do you think? Everything¡¯s on there,¡± Simon says dismissively as he opens up a browser. He had to do some research for a new game he was playing. ¡°Found it. It¡¯s downloading. Installed. Create account. The no responsibility terms; accept. There; new game,¡± I say as I go through the setup process. ¡°Hey, how do you play this game?¡± I ask, looking at his new baby character on the screen. ¡°Essentially, you play the character on your screen, but you can¡¯t control it as you would normally control a character, and you can¡¯t control any of the other characters in the game either. You can fast forward, reverse, or pause the game to predict your character¡¯s actions, and the only way you can influence your character is to be their inner demon,¡± Simon explains half-heartedly. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°Oh, cool. Can I be the inner demon for the other characters too?¡± I ask, getting more interested in the game. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s the fun part,¡± Simon says with a smile. ¡°For example, if your character has a crush on a boy, you can influence the character¡¯s crush and his friends to gang-rape her. Of course, it¡¯s all for character development,¡± Simon explains, before continuing onto the details of the game. ¡°Different characters have different aspirations and the goal is to have your character achieve their goal. But of course, the reality of the world setting is in place and nothing can be achieved without sacrifices, and as the inner demon, you have to force your character through those sacrifices. There are easier difficulty characters, such as those born with better circumstances, but the characters in the game always want something, and sometimes they want stuff like spiritual enlightenment or stuff like that,¡± Simon explains, feeling that the game was too troublesome. ¡°Cool. Sounds like fun,¡± I respond, before considering a different issue. ¡°This isn¡¯t one of those reality engine games right?¡± Simon smiles. ¡°It seems you caught on. Yeah, this game is based on the reality engine, where it creates the reality based on the developer¡¯s wishes. But don¡¯t worry, they¡¯ve placed this game in a virtual machine, so even if nuclear war happens you can just reset the virtual machine and you¡¯ll be where you started and the characters won''t notice a thing; or probably won''t notice,¡± Simon says in an attempt to reassure me, before opening up his game. ¡°Awesome,¡± I respond, no longer worrying about it. ¡°Hey, what game are you playing?¡± I ask, curious about the scary graphics on Simon¡¯s screen. ¡°Oh, this? This is Earth: Hell Mode,¡± Simon says with a smile. Sexual Frustration It was early in the 2000¡¯s and I took one last inhale from my cigarette, the very last bit, where you know you just inhaled some filter and flicked it on the ground. That''s the true way to smoke a smoke; every last bit. That way, you can tolerate life that much more, because really, what on earth is going on other than killing time? And everyone knows the best way to do that is to smoke. What''s that study say? One cigarette takes away ten minutes off your life? Or something like that. It takes about 5 minutes to smoke a smoke if you really want to enjoy it, so I guess you kill like, two times as much time when you''re smoking. Sounds like good progress to me. But anyway, I''m James, and I am playing hooky on church. My church is really close to the mall, so when my parents bring me there, I just stroll on over to the mall, buy some coffee, smoke some smokes, and read at the bookstore, till it''s time to go. So I walk on in the mall, from the smoker pad, and go over to Starbucks to buy my coffee, when I see the most stunning chick working the cash register. I look around to see if anyone was seeing what I was seeing, to look at the amazed look on people''s faces as they walked up to her, enchanted by her, but no, I was around a bunch of couples and old people. Pfft, old people. Don''t know what they''re missin''. Or maybe it''s just me, and it''s love at first sight, you know? Like we''re meant for each other or something. That stuff''s totally for reals. I mean, I''m pretty pessimistic about life, but love; I''ve never questioned love. When I think about it, I think, that''s real purpose right there. Dedication of your life to another human being; an effort to apply happiness to every aspect of that person''s life. Man, you can''t go wrong with living your life like that. But I''m just fuckin'' with myself. Love, at first sight, is bullshit. Come to think of it, whenever I see a hot chick I''m interested in, I act this way, but I never do anything about it, or act on those feelings, because okay, I''ll be honest; I''m afraid of rejection. I could only really hit on a chick when I''m drunk, or one of my buddies coaxes me into it because then, I''ll have an excuse for rejection. Yeah, I''m a class act, a real romantic. Nope, I do not take chances. I mean, I do talk a lot of bullshit about life, but the truth is, I like the way my life is. I''ve always played it safe. Not too much, not too little, just in the middle of it all, trying to get by. Pretty simple stuff. Anyways, it''s about my turn in line, and I''m trying to shake off that feeling of attraction. "And what can I get for you today?" My god, her voice is angelic. "Uhmm, a cappuccino please; short." I realize I have to stand aside, my turn''s over, and this part of my life is coming to a close. I move to go, but I stop. For some reason, instincts are rattling around in my head forcing me to act. Just think about it, it''s saying, this chick''s personality could be just like her voice, then what? You just missed the greatest opportunity of your life. And so, "Uhmm, excuse me?" I say. "Yes?" "Might you like to go out for dinner sometime?" She smiles. Fucking stunning. "Ughh, well, I don''t really have the time for going out." Ah, fuck. Well played Miss, let me just rip my balls off, they''re obviously useless, and I''ll be going. Thank you for that smile, it gave me a lot of hope, before your rejection. "But, how ''bout I cook for you sometime? Can I get your number?" I stand there, almost speechless. "Ugh, yeah, for sure!" She grabs her cellphone and I give her my number. I''m holding up the line, but who cares, I just got a date. ¡°Can I get your name?" I ask with a weak smile. "Lily." ¡­ ¡­ "So let me get this straight, you just asked to go out and she said yes?" "Yeah," I said. "Wow, so simple. Why can''t I think of shit like that?" "I know man, it was so crazy, it had to work." That''s my buddy Jack smoking next to me. We''re out on our evening smoke. We meet each other after dinner time to get our nicotine fix because our parents don''t know we smoke. I know, we''re rebels. "So when''s the big date?" "She just called me before I left. She wants me to come over next Friday." "That''s legit, you''ll be in her pants in no time." "Hey man, it''s not like that. The only reason I''m coming over is that she¡¯s a little short of cash at the moment, so she wants to cook for me." "Yeah, cook your cock, with her hot mouth." "Fuck you, man." "Why wouldn''t you just ask to pay for her, you know, being the gentleman that you are." "I don''t know man, I wasn''t thinking. All I know is that she basically said yes to my offer, and I was so down for it." "Could have earned you big points, man, I''m tellin'' ya''." "She also wants to watch a movie while we''re there." "What movie?" "Since she''s cooking, I let her pick." I let out a short laugh. "We''re watching ''The Notebook''," I say. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. "Wow, right off the bat. Are you just that whipped?" "Fuck you man, I love ''The Notebook;'' almost cried watching that the first time. Of course, I didn''t, because I''m a man, but I was close." "Fuck that man, ''The Notebook'' was bullshit. The moral of the movie was it''s alright to fuck someone else when you''re engaged if it''s true love. Which is crap, if you ask me" "Man, you watched ''The Notebook?''" "For sure, dude. I really got into those love stories after we watched ¡®A Walk to Remember.'' But I¡¯m probably just horny.¡± "Same here, bro. Same here.¡± "Well, enough of this gay shit, let''s go play some 2K." ¡­ ¡­ So it''s Friday, and I''m in love. Just kidding. Said that ''cause I''m lovesick and I need ''The Cure.'' Just kidding. I park the car, open the door, and walk outside, and I start thinking. Are we going to be alone? I mean, does she have her family around? Does she live alone? How old is this chick? What if she has a dad with a shotgun? Or an overprotective older brother? Or a really judgemental mother? Man, what am I gonna do? I suddenly decide I need a cigarette, and pull one out and light it. As I''m standing there by my car, smoking, I hear her door open and a head peeks out. "Hey James, is that you?" Oh shit! I just stand there with this dumb look on my face and my cigarette loosely hanging out of my mouth. Man, she doesn''t even know I smoke. My god, what a way to tell her. "Ugh yeah," I say as I throw the smoke and step on it. "Just finishing up." I walk over to her, reeking of cigarette. "So you smoke?" "Ugh, yeah." "Classy," she says. "Come on in." She takes my coat and hangs it in the closet next to the door, and says to wait for her on the couch as she grabs the movie. So I sit, thinking idle thoughts. Nice house, big T.V., comfortable couch. Think "classy" was sarcastic, or she really digs guys who smoke? Who knows. She comes down, movie in hand, and I give a weak smile. God, I''m going to dread this. There''s too much cheese in this flick, but hey, at least she seems excited. Which I find kind of cute; just saying. "I can''t believe you agreed to this." She says, with an odd relieved look on her face. "Yeah, I can''t either." Who am I kidding? Of course I agreed to this. Like I said, this chick is stunning. Imagine it. Stunning. Yeah, you know what that looks like. No need for description. "Don''t worry, you''ll love it. Have you seen this before?" "Actually, yeah, with my family." "Oh, really? Did you cry?" "Almost, but I mustered enough testosterone to keep it in." "Oh, how manly." She knows it. "Okay, ready?" "For sure." She pops the movie in the DVD player and presses play. So the movie starts, and I''m coming to terms with it. The movie goes on, and as we get deeper into the movie, I notice how into it this chick¡¯s getting. I mean she''s sitting straight up, hands together on her lap, eyes wide, mouth half-open. This chick must love this movie. Just imagine the emotion going through this girl''s head. She''s completely open to this fantasy world; a real princess. A true product of this great country. Dreamers man, what can I say? No doubt she''s waiting for prince charming. Well don''t fret, James has arrived. She''s rubbing her eyes, as she grabs the remote controller to turn off the DVD player and the television. She lets out a sigh and says, "Ready for dinner?" "Ready when you are," I say. We go into the kitchen where she opens the oven and places our dinner on the table. Steak and potatoes, and all I''m thinking is, what a prize. As we get onto eating I start to say, "So, you were pretty into that movie." "Yeah, that movie really gets to me sometimes. It''s pretty much the most romantic thing I''ve ever seen and it makes you kind of wonder, you know." "Yeah; kind of makes you wish you had that." She looks up abruptly. "Yeah," she starts to say slowly. "You know what it does! I mean, why can''t I have that? I mean, I have to sit here and hope that something magical happens to me. I wish I could just take it from life, with no regrets." "Yeah, about that..." I say as I look up from my dinner, to see that Lily''s just staring at me, intently. Her chair makes a sound as she abruptly pulls away from the table. "Hey now, Lily," I say convincingly. "There''s a time and a place." She walks up to me, and sits on my lap so that my body is between her legs, grabs my head, and starts kissing me. This chick''s relentless. I''m weak-minded so I let this go on, until she says, "Come on, let''s go to the couch." She grabs my hand and pulls me towards the living room. "Maybe we should take this-" I try to say, but she pushes me on the couch and she lies on top of me, kissing me before I could continue. Again, I''m weak-minded, and all the blood in my brain went to my dick, so I stop trying, but after a minute of this, she starts to take off her shirt, and I start to realize, this shit''s going down for real, but all I can think of is the girl watching her movie, putting her hopes and dreams out there for me to see. Have I mentioned, my conscience is a bitch. I''m trying to get this chick down by the fire, and my mind is subtly asking, is this what she really wants? And I really want to say; stop being a bitch. "Ugh, no," I say to myself. "What? No?" She pulls herself up and off me, and man does she looks sad. She crosses her arms, gathering some strength to keep her emotions in, but she''s still teary-eyed. "Do you, not like me?" She says, trying to stifle her tears. "No, no, it''s not that." Man, chicks crying. So vulnerable, like her dreams. It makes you want to turn into a superhero. "It''s just that, you were watching the movie, and I was watching you. And, I don''t know, it just doesn''t seem like you truly want this." She''s rubbed her eyes, and it seems like the tears stopped. Thank god. "You want to be swept off your feet, not fucked by some guy you barely know." She''s still sniffling, but she''s for the most part, quiet and trying to listen. "I just think we should take this slow. Feel it out as we go along. I''m a decent guy, but not the sort that''s going to make you fall in love with me at first sight, but maybe, you never know, if we take it slow, we''ll find out we were meant for each other, and that''s worth the wait, I''m sure." I give a weak smile, hoping I made her day because I still can''t believe I puked out all that cheese. Fuck you conscience, I could be in her pants. She smiles, at the least. "Okay, yeah, you''re right." She says with one last sniffle. "Take it slow." She takes a deep breath. We let some silence pass, and she smiles again. "Okay, I think I''m going to go," I say before the silence gets awkward. "Call me sometime? I''d like to see you again." I say as I walk over to the door. "Yeah, sure, sure. I''ll see you later.¡± I open the door, but before I leave, I turn and say, "Hey Lily, don''t give up on your dreams." And that, my friends, is the cherry on top of my cheese. Why? Because I, James, am a champion. Obviously. The Inevitable ¡°We started walking the dog together. He has been happier lately, and he¡¯s been making an effort. Ever since I¡¯ve focused all my sexual attention on him, our relationship is better than it has ever been. I¡¯m happy right now. Very happy. And I don¡¯t want it to fade.¡± Diane says with a smile as she recalls her recent experiences. Diane stops talking and the room fades into silence. Something begins to build within her. She turns her head to give a hesitant glance at the doctor sitting adjacently from where she lied on the couch before turning back and looking ahead. She closes her eyes and attempts to distract her mind with thoughts of her husband, but her train of thought was broken by his voice. ¡°Go on,¡± the doctor says. Diane opens her eyes and lets out a breath as guilt already begins to overcome her. ¡°Doctor,¡± Diane calls out, as shameful anxiety washes over her. The doctor sighs. ¡°What is it this time?¡± The doctor asks, reminding the woman of a disapproving father-figure. Diane attempts to suppress her urge, but the words still come out. ¡°Can we continue the session in the usual position?¡± She asks, avoiding the doctor¡¯s gaze as her cheeks become heated. The doctor leans back against his chair and rubs his eyes with his hand, expressing his frustration. ¡°We have gone over this at your previous session, Diane. That exercise was simply to acclimate you towards maintaining clarity when experiencing excitement. We have already confirmed that you have the power to delay and target your sexual attraction towards the appropriate outlet.¡± The doctor forces out, trying his hardest to maintain his professionalism. ¡°I know, I know,¡± Diane says in a fluster as she tries to explain her dilemma. ¡°The exercises have been working. I¡¯ve stopped cheating and offering sexual favors, and every time we go through it, I always go home and make love with my husband. I only make love with my husband. Our relationship is better than it has ever been. But¡­¡± She says as tears come out of her eyes. She loves her husband. She loves her husband very much. And she hated herself. Why was she like this? Why couldn¡¯t she stop? ¡°But I need fuel, doctor. I can¡¯t go on without it.¡± She says with frustration as the tears continue to wash over her face. The doctor sits silently and closes his eyes, fully letting her express herself as he tries to block out the sound of her sobs. The range of emotions she has been feeling. The guilt. The regret. And the urge for release. The doctor tries hard to ignore it, and let the process play out without him. To progress, untouched and lighthearted. This was his goal. But¡­ Her sobs die down. Diane sits up and looks ahead at the doctor. The doctor looks back at her tear-stained face and red eyes. He sees her determination. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°Take off your pants,¡± he says as he gets off the couch. Diane lets out a relieved smile. ¡°Thank you, doctor,¡± she says before proceeding to remove her shoes, pants, and underwear. The doctor gets on his knees and Diane sits back on the couch and spreads her legs. The doctor crawls forward until his face is only a few inches away from between her legs. Diane places a few pillows behind her and leans back to adjust her position until she is fully revealed. After feeling the doctor¡¯s breath on her she could finally let out a sigh of relief. The doctor, on all fours, inches away from possible cunnilingus, closes his eyes in embarrassment before forcing himself to continue. ¡°You were telling me about your husband,¡± he says, trying to maintain his dignity. Diane smiles as she immerses herself in the situation. ¡°Yes, my husband,¡± She says before picking up where she left off. ¡°Our dog has been unhappy lately and has started acting up. Turns out my husband has been so focused on pleasing me that he¡¯s forgotten to walk the dog. Dogs need to be walked. Who knew? Anyway, we¡¯ve been walking the dog together and have come across a few neighbors on their walks. They¡¯re a nice couple down the street; we¡¯ll be having brunch next Sunday. He¡¯s an engineer and his wife is a librarian.¡± Diane says, continuing in a more jovial tone. ¡°Tell me about the engineer.¡± The doctor says in an attempt to find a topic relevant to the session. Diane, immersed in feeling the doctor¡¯s breath, briefly loses track of the conversation, before continuing. ¡°Yes, doctor,¡± She says with a hint of elation. ¡°The engineer is very nice. Very successful for his age. His wife¡¯s pretty too. But you know men. Looks at my husband like a competitor and me like a meal he has yet to enjoy. But I don¡¯t think he knows that¡¯s what he¡¯s thinking. His body is honest, though. A woman can tell.¡± Diane continues, getting slightly excited as she thinks about her neighbor¡¯s gaze. ¡°Do you feel any attraction for him?¡± The doctor asks, still attempting to direct the conversation in his awkward posture from between Diane¡¯s legs. ¡°Uhmm,¡± Diane expresses with a bite of her lips. ¡°What was that doctor?¡± She asks, hoping to feel his breath again. ¡°The engineer. Do you have any attraction for him?¡± The doctor asks again. ¡°Yes¡­¡± Diane says in a moment of heightened sensitivity. ¡°I mean, well, yes. He¡¯s an attractive man. And young. Of course, I¡¯m attracted to him. But I would never look to do anything with it. Or should I? What do you think doctor?¡± Diane says, bracing herself for that hint of a touch. Light and almost nothing, but representing his presence. ¡°Of course you shouldn¡¯t. Your relationship with your husband is in a good place, and you¡¯re happy, aren¡¯t you?¡± The doctor asks, bewildered by the question. ¡°But he¡¯s very attractive. Give me some words of advice, doctor. How do I stop myself?¡± Diane asks, readying herself to experience another round. ¡°Okay, we''re done,¡± The doctor says as he gets up from the ground. ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll make any more progress today, Diane. You can schedule another appointment with my secretary.¡± The doctor says, dismissing the session. ¡°No!¡± Diane yells. Feeling robbed and wanting to continue, she picks up a vase and smashes it onto the ground. ¡°We¡¯re not done! Finish the session like a man!¡± Diane yells, fully aware of the absurdity, but feeling too stifled to care. It was almost nothing and yet she couldn¡¯t have it. Why was he being so¡­ uncharitable? ¡°Diane, it¡¯s time to go. Come on,¡± The doctor says as he opens the door and gestures for her to leave. ¡°I¡¯m not going,¡± Diane says sternly. ¡°If you don¡¯t continue, I¡¯ll gladly write a letter to the association about your treatment method. You sick fuck; preying on your patients. Do you think they really have nothing to say about this?¡± She says in a controlled but angry voice. ¡°Now, Diane. You don¡¯t have to do anything drastic. We can talk about this peacefully,¡± The doctor says, attempting to maintain control of the conversation. ¡°Then come here and fuck me like a man!¡± Diane screams. ¡­ ¡­ I sat on my chair after she left and lit a cigarette. She cried after. She didn¡¯t want to cheat on her husband. I knew that from our previous sessions. But I gave her the opportunity. ¡°You¡¯re just a beast,¡± she said before leaving. I take a drag from the cigarette and exhale. ¡°That bitch,¡± I say, unable to stop myself. I take another drag from the cigarette and take out my phone to find her on my contact list. As I look at her name, I knew; I would be calling her later that night. Bezos the Dragon Once upon a time, in a kingdom far away, was a continent where people thrived. One day a dragon conquered a large territory which he dubbed Amazon. From then on, the people inhabiting Amazon was forced to contribute much of their hard earned money to the Amazon territory, for both the sake of convenience that the dragon''s way of ruling provided and the triviality of the dragon''s rule in comparison to the daily drama of life. The dragon was uninterested in the people or their lives; he only wanted wealth. And so, the dragon let the people live their lives as they wished as he slowly drained the people of their wealth. This dragon''s name was Bezos. Other dragons inhabited the land. One day another dragon named Gates passed through Amazon and saw the state of the people. He said to Bezos the dragon, ¡°Bezos, I¡¯m happy for your wealth, but there are many people in your territory who are in need. If you shared your wealth among them, surely they would praise you.¡± The people serving Bezos echoed, ¡°Indeed. What''s the use of so much wealth?¡± You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Bezos the dragon said nothing, and life continued as it was. Gates the dragon said nothing, and his life continued as it was, regardless of what he said among the people. One day, the people of Amazon found amusement in the news of the day. The dragon''s wife had taken a quarter of his wealth and left him! ¡°I''d marry a dragon too if I could end up as wealthy as that!¡± The housewives and barmaids mused. During this, Bezos said nothing and life continued as it was. As such, much like it was when Bezos the dragon took over the territory, the daily drama of life is what concerned the people, and sometimes there were people who questioned the way of things. They would say, ¡°There are other beasts we could offer our wealth to. Why must we offer everything to Bezos the dragon? My cousin''s son-in-law had become a werewolf, and I''d rather offer my money to him than to Bezos the dragon!¡± But again, Bezos the dragon said nothing, and life still continued on as it was. And as such, the beasts of the land grew stronger, ignored, while the people continued to be groomed for sustenance. Just a Taste ¡°Thank you, Kathy. I think that will be all today; we¡¯ll contact you with our decision within the next two weeks. I would shake your hand, but¨C you know.¡± One of the men from across the table says with a smile. I chuckle and smile awkwardly, wiping my sweaty hands on my pants. ¡°Thank you, and please let me know as soon as possible. I¡¯d love to tell my kids the good news as soon as I can,¡± I say as I stand up, trying to look as cheerful as possible. I make my way to the door when I¡¯m prompted to stop. ¡°Wait,¡± One of the men says from across the table. I turn to look at him. He was a handsome man; looked to be fit, with greying hair. He seemed very mature and capable, but he didn¡¯t say much during the interview. He stands up and walks out from behind the table. When he was close he handed me a card. ¡°You seem to be a very talented young lady. Give me a call if these guys don¡¯t take you; I can connect you with people who would love to have you,¡± The man says with a teasing smile. I look at the man, not quite sure what this was, before looking at the other interviewers. The other man was looking away, seemingly entranced by the painting on the wall, while the only other woman in the room looked down and took a moment to give a slight shake of her head. I knew right away that this wasn¡¯t the sort of opportunity I was looking for, but I took the card anyways. ¡°Thanks,¡± I said with a polite smile before promptly turning away and leaving through the door. ... ... One day passed. Two days. Then a week. I sat on my dining table, drinking a cup of tea and trying to calm down. The kids were asleep and my mind was on making it through the month. I take a sip of tea and look down at the table. There was a card there, with a name and a number. Jake Gloom. At the beginning of the week I wanted to throw the card away, but I didn¡¯t, and in the past few days, my eyes often wandered to that card, unsure on whether I should open that door. I take out my phone and put in the number. I look at the card again. I had the number memorized at this point but I didn¡¯t want to make any mistakes. My thumb hovers over the call button, but a thought lingers and my mind wanders. Didn¡¯t want to make any mistakes... Make a mistake... I shake the thoughts from my head and put away my phone. I take the card and rip it up before throwing it down the garbage disposal. ... ... **BRRING** **BRRRING** A new week has started and I take out my phone hoping this was the call I¡¯ve been waiting for. I look at who¡¯s calling and the number was familiar. Instantly, I ended the call. **BRRING** **BRRING** It seemed the man needed a hard no before he gave up. I take a deep breath and answer the call. ¡°This is Kathy,¡± I say, polite with a hint of snark in my tone. ¡°Hello Kathy, this is Jake from the interview last week. I just wanted to let you know that the guys over at Johnson Corporation have decided to go in a different direction with the Administrative Assistant position. I know it¡¯s a bummer, but there¡¯s plenty of fish in the sea, and there¡¯s sure as shit a ton of companies. I¡¯d like to talk over some other opportunities with you over dinner, if that¡¯s okay... Kathy? Are you there?¡± The voice says casually over the phone. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. It was nothing to him, but it was a heavy hit to me. My mind goes quiet and I stare blankly at whatever was ahead of me. My muscles become tense, shrinking as if to escape inside, and my mind quickly goes through what options I have. What do I do now? What do I do? I¡¯m unsure what to do. Unsure whether I should... ¡°Kathy? Kathy, hello?¡± The voice continues to call out. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m here,¡± I say meekly in defeat. ¡°About dinner, what do you say?¡± The voice asks, his manner still casual, as if to say that this was definitely not business. ¡°Where and when?¡± I respond, my mind made up. ... ... ¡°Ah, you¡¯re here,¡± the man says in acknowledgement before gesturing to a waiter. I take a seat, and the waiter appears immediately. ¡°What will we be having today?¡± She asks with a bright smile. She must be expecting a big tip, I think to myself, my emotions on edge. ¡°I¡¯ll have the Caesar Salad and a glass of your cheapest red wine. And the lady¨C¡± He says before gesturing to me. ¡°I¡¯m not here to eat,¡± I respond, my face cold as I let a bit of my anger out. He looks at me, but doesn¡¯t say anything. The waiter simply watches on, maintaining her professionalism before looking back to him. ¡°The lady will have the sirloin, with¨C¡± he starts to say before giving me a teasing smile. ¡°The lady will have the filet mignon, medium-rare, with a side of mashed potatoes, and a glass of red wine, please. Your best.¡± The waiter¡¯s smile brightens. ¡°Of course; right away, sir.¡± She says before walking away. ¡°Don¡¯t be that way; this isn¡¯t what you think. We¡¯re simply here to talk about opportunities,¡± He says with a smile, his voice deep and charming. There was no way I would assume that¡¯s all it was. ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m here for,¡± I reply with tired sarcasm. ¡°Let me know what you got,¡± I say, urging him on. The man smiles, and takes a sip of water; the smile still peaking out from the corner of his eyes. After a moment, the waiter had arrived again. ¡°Your wine, sir.¡± The waiter says as she promptly places the drinks on the table. The man puts down the water and takes the wine before bringing it to his nose and taking a sip. ¡°It¡¯s not bad. But I¡¯ll drink anything. How¡¯s yours?¡± He says, still sounding as charming as ever. I roll my eyes before responding. ¡°I¡¯m driving. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be drinking tonight.¡± I say dismissively. The man shrugs. ¡°Suit yourself,¡± he says before taking a bigger sip and putting the glass down. ¡°As for opportunities,¡± he continues, his tone slightly deeper, as his eyes wander from my eyes to my chest. ¡°There are many people who can do what you do; and there are others who can do them better, and if necessary, cheaper. That¡¯s just the way it is. But¨C there is a way to stand out from the rest...¡± He says before looking back into my eyes. And here it is... I thought to myself. My emotions began to bubble up inside me, and I desperately wanted to cry and let it out. But that would do nothing; it would just make the shame feel worse. My mouth frowns as I hold it in, and I looked right into that dirty bastards eyes. ¡°Come home with me tonight. We¡¯ll get everything straightened out there, and by the end of the week I can guarantee you¡¯ll have a job,¡± He says, his eyes no longer smiling; only waiting. Waiting for the choice I was about to make. I looked down as my mind scatters in different directions, trying to find a way out. ¡°Why?¡± I manage to force out. Why was life like this? Why was my life like this? At this point in my life... I could feel the man watching me as a tear left my eye, threatening to have it all pour out. The man sighs. ¡°There is a price for everything in this world,¡± he says before I hear him gulping down the rest of his wine. ¡°No one can cheat God, and you certainly can¡¯t cheat the devil. If you don¡¯t play the game, the devil has a way of bringing you into his debt,¡± He says, his voice solemn. I look up at him as he looked out of the window and all I could see was displeasure. But he turns back to me with a smile and continues with a teasing voice, ¡°In all honesty, it''s not my intentionto go home with you. I wasn¡¯t even suppose to be at your interview." He says with a light laugh. "I was just dropping by to talk to someone about a favour he owed me. But I happened to be there, and I happened to see you, and a few others. You all wanted the job, of course you did. But you had a deeper desire for it; enough to catch my attention.¡± The man then looks at his empty wine glass and sighs. ¡°I don¡¯t believe you.¡± I say with gritted teeth, willing to doubt everything this man was saying, and biding my time until this moment passed. But something had to happen; the man was still waiting for an answer. ¡°I mean it,¡± The man says, trying to sound believable, his tone turning more playful. ¡°I really mean it. To prove it, I¡¯ll offer you a second deal. Instead of coming home with me, I can get you the job you interviewed for, if you...¡± The man says before taking a moment to ponder. ¡°I can get you the job you interviewed for if you clean my house and do my laundry, for¨C let¡¯s say, three months. I¡¯d also like for you to cook me dinner, but you don¡¯t have to do that if you don¡¯t want to. What do you say?¡± The man says, his smile back, and his voice lingering with a hint of child-like playfulness. I didn''t notice, but in that moment I let my guard down. ¡°Are you messing with me?¡± I say with a raised eyebrow. ... ... The man only continues to smile. There''s a body you''ll have to walk over, but I''ll do my part. As for what the heavens decide for the previously accepted hire; that''s not for me to decide... ... ... And so I cleaned. And I did the laundry. But I never, ever, cooked him dinner. I made that very clear. Within a couple of days, I had gotten the job. But I didn¡¯t feel any better. I was dreading; dreading the day the stakes were raised. But eventually, three months had passed, and I had finished cleaning the house for the last day. I found him in the living room drinking from a glass of wine and reading a book. ¡°Are we done?¡± I asked, not able to believe that it would end as simply as that. He looks up from his book and takes a moment to look at me before speaking. ¡°For me, I¡¯m certainly done. You served me for three months when you could have served me for an evening with the same result. I have nothing left to say, but as for you, and whether you¡¯re done, that¡¯s up to you.¡± He says, his voice no longer charming and seemingly satisfied with the transaction. ¡°Oh, we¡¯re done.¡± I say with certainty before turning away. I left his house with my kids and intended to never look for the man again. Dreams The Demon Lord lay on the ground, broken and bloody. There was an amused grin on his face as he looked up at the righteousness emanating from the hero''s expression. ¡°Good job, little buddy. You defeated the Demon Lord and saved the world from the apparent destruction I was going to cause. I''m sure the praise and applause will be very worth it.¡± The Demon Lord says before laughing out loud without a care for his injuries. The hero maintained his determined expression, on guard for anything else the Demon Lord had up his sleeve. Unfortunately the Demon Lord had nothing else; he had been thoroughly defeated as intended. Which is why he was laughing so freely. In the end, nothing can be done against god. The Demon Lord thinks with a sigh before his gaze once again finds the hero, and a white flash of rage appeared in his mind, controlled under a furrowed brow and a frown. ¡°Do you want to hear a story, hero? The story of a dying man and his last words?¡± The Demon Lord asks. The Hero said nothing and continued to watch the Demon Lord with a guarded face. ¡°You should be interested. Because this is also your story. A story of the helpless plight of man and whimsical gods indulging them.¡± The Demon Lord says, very much wanting to tell this story. If anything was to make his defeat ¨C no, his whole life, worth it, it would be these final words. The Hero raises an eyebrow. Could there have been a reason he did all this? A reason for his spite and discontent for the gods? The hero wonders, curious if this was not the end of his journey; and whether there was a greater evil to fight. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. The Demon Lord saw that he caught the hero''s curiosity and smiled before continuing. ¡°Apparently, once upon a time, some random, sexually repressed kid found favor with a god. The god gave him an opportunity and this random kid with glee and delight decided he wanted to be a hero. The god asked him why he wanted to be a hero and he said it was to fight evil. The god, knowing full well where this random kid''s intentions actually stood, and knowing that this kid had no idea about the implications of anything he was saying, on a whim, decided to indulge him. So that god sent the random kid here.¡± The Demon Lord says with a mischievous grin. The hero''s eyes widen slightly. His interest was now fully peaked. How did the Demon Lord know this? The hero wonders, waiting for the Demon Lord to continue. ¡°Unfortunately, there was no great evil to find here. This world was relatively peaceful and most people lived quiet but happy and fruitful lives. There were monsters and the sort, but that was balanced by the adventurers, as most things in the world was balanced. But a hero was coming and the god needed to find a reason for him. So he found me.¡± The Demon Lord says before letting out another loud laugh. The hero ignores the evil laugh and continues to wait. ¡°Also unfortunate, was that I was neither a demon nor anywhere near the level of evil that would require a hero. But the god didn''t care; the god went ahead with the plan and diligently raised me to be the Demon Lord that was required. My family died, attacked by bandits. My college girlfriend cucked me for a teacher and god gave me the courtesy of being able to watch. When I made enough money and hoped to settle down, I was attacked by ogres, and god in his infinite wisdom did not let me die and left me hanging on to life, by an unbreakable thin thread. In my poor state all my belongings and wealth was robbed. Slowly but surely, the god built up my anger for the world, leading me to seek power and revenge. Then at my height, when I thought I was going to conquer the world, the god came to me and filled me in on this story, only serving to further destabilize me and fuel my anger. The hero is coming, the god said, and so you came. To solve the problem that god had to create for you, to satisfy whatever gross dreams of heroism you yearned for, that very gross dream driven by the lack of love and sexual activity in your life. You very much wanted to kill, but you forced it to be righteous, so god found me. Congratulations, you stupid, stupid, child. Your dreams came true.¡± The Demon Lord says, bursting out with a loud laugh filled with schadenfreude. A similar white hot rage filled the hero and unable to control himself out of sheer shame and embarrassment, he cut the Demon Lord''s head off. Alone in the Demon Lord''s palace, the hero took a moment before turning and making the journey to the kingdom, where cheers and celebration would await. Chaos Architect The door opened and a lady walked into the office; in her arms was a large stack of documents and on her face was a look of exhaustion. ¡°You''ve been assigned a new project.¡± She states clearly before walking over to a desk and planting the stack of documents onto the side of the desk, allowing the sound of impact to resound in the office. The man behind the desk leans back and covers his face with his hands before letting out a groan. ¡°What kind of bullshit is it this time?¡± He asks as he uncovers his face and looks at the pile of documents with heavy eyes. The lady lets out a sigh. ¡°You¡¯re not going to like this.¡± She says as she takes a seat across from the man. ¡°The origin of this one is famous. It¡¯s from the Junior Chaos Architect who designed Heaven and Hell.¡± She says with a shake of her head. The man¡¯s eyes open in shock. ¡°That asshole? Don¡¯t tell me I was assigned to resolve that bullshit!?¡± He says before panic begins to set in. He had recently became a full-fledged Chaos Architect but he was not ready for that kind of work. The effort and the grief involved with cleaning up that mess¡­ The man thinks with dread. I¡¯m definitely not ready for that. He acknowledges. In fact, just thinking about it gave him anxiety, and if the job were offered to him he would have no choice but to reject it. In this place, space and time had less meaning than in the story world settings that Chaos Architects created. If things were understood with a regular mindset, events were proceeded by other events; a natural flow from one to another in a place consisting of space and time. But in this place, existence and nonexistence were separated by a blurry line, and story worlds, or whole universes, existed in a way where they had both been built and had already been destroyed. Many Chaos Architects were aware of famous worlds and stories that had taken place, but at the same time, they were unaware if that was a story that they were assigned or a story that they were involved with working on. For all they knew, the Grand Architect could assign them a project that they had already heard about second-hand, and they would walk into the project while already knowing the general opinion of their work. The Junior Chaos Architect and the man¡¯s assistant raised her hands up and waved them back and forth as if to shake off that dreadful idea. ¡°No no, no, no, no! God forbid, no!¡± The lady exclaims. Similarly to the man, just the idea of it was dreadful. The lady lowers her hands to explain. ¡°After that Junior Chaos Architect fulfilled his wet dream and disgusting fantasy by creating Heaven and Hell, he was severely reprimanded. They were going to strip him of his qualifications and reincarnate him into a random world setting, but as if the Grand Architect specifically wanted to piss us off, that asshole was given another chance. He created the Greek Pantheon. But as you know, even this place shared some similarities with his previous work; the balance was incredibly off between the gods and the humans and the monsters. It¡¯s like this dude specifically disregards the balance aspect of being a Chaos Architect. Anyways, the Grand Architect wasn''t satisfied so he¡¯s been reincarnated, probably as a demon in some random world, as a sick joke by the Grand Architect.¡± She explains before letting out a sigh. The lady leans back on her chair as if the work ahead was already weighing on her. ¡°But as you know, the story must go on, and the people involved in those stories also have to move on. Weirdly enough, the Grand Architect has an interest in one of the gods involved with this world. The father, so to speak, the god of time, Cronus.¡± She says, introducing the man to the project. The man raises an eyebrow. ¡°So what exactly does the Grand Architect want?¡± He asks, curious what the fuss was about. ¡°Well, befitting someone who was born a god, Cronus was a genius, and the Grand Architect sees him as a prospect Chaos Architect. But there¡¯s just one problem¡­¡± She says as her eyes become half-lidded. She lets out another sigh and expands her arms outwards. ¡°His ego! It¡¯s huge! The Grand Architect, well, he wants it whittled to a proper size. Granted, he did sort of live in a place where he was that great, in comparison to what was around him, but that¡¯s not going to cut it as a Chaos Architect. For him to work here he has to know his place.¡± She explains, unimpressed. The man groans again. ¡°Reduce the ego of a god¡­ Fuck¡­ What a shit job. Alright, explain it to me, how does the Grand Architect want this one molded?¡± He asks before pulling out a bottle of ambrosia and pouring himself a glass. He had a feeling he would need it for this job. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°The Grand Architect wants you to give him his first lesson as a Chaos Architect. That there¡¯s always someone better and there¡¯s always more to yearn for. Unfortunately there is a lot of lingering karma in the Greek Pantheon. He has to find closure for a lot of these issues before he can move on. Also, he has a lot of questions that need to be answered. One of which, is related to your task, he has to understand humanity.¡± The lady says before pausing and moving her hand to grab the man¡¯s cup. She casually takes a large gulp and lets out a burp before gesturing with her hands for more. The man looks at her blankly before letting out a sigh and pouring her another glass before pouring one for himself in a different cup. That ambrosia cost a good chunk of karma points¡­ He thought to himself bitterly. The lady takes the glass and continues. ¡°This guys, as is natural for a god, knows humanity for what it is, mundane, sinful, a cesspool for disease and death, etcetera, etcetera. This guy lived through the Golden Age and knows what it¡¯s like to do what you want when you want; he, as a god, doesn¡¯t understand why humans put up with it. Is it because they yearn for something beyond this life? Or is it because they simply don¡¯t understand what it is to live for themselves and the moment? Who knows. Your job is to give him a reason. Hopefully something that makes him say ¡®holy shit, that¡¯s beautiful.¡¯¡± The lady says with exaggerated enthusiasm. ¡°Fuck, do I have to come up with something? The reason hasn¡¯t been set yet?¡± The man asks as he leans back on his chair. ¡°Don¡¯t be lazy. I know you haven¡¯t been a full-fledged Chaos Architect for long but that¡¯s your job now. You have to be involved in those ¡®oh, that¡¯s what life¡¯s about¡¯ moments.¡± The lady says before taking another sip of ambrosia. The man sighs and takes a sip of his own. ¡°Alright. Without even looking at the files I know we have to go with the Earth Template. I mean, it¡¯s the epitome of humanity, and all the great Chaos Architects are from Earth. But I have to say, coming in as a god isn¡¯t going to be easy. The second he realizes his reality, the impact is going to be like a war hammer to the face. Then, we¡¯d have to give him a reason to continue on. I just know he¡¯s going to a huge emo as a teenager. I can already hear him now, ¡®Why is the world this way? Why are these things allowed?¡¯ And of course he¡¯s going to think he could do better.¡± The man says with heavy eyes. It was like someone assigned a child to raise. ¡°Well, that¡¯s your problem. Thank god. I¡¯ll help out with the details but that stuff will have to be left with you.¡± The lady says with a chuckle. ¡°You should know, his wife will probably be involved. He kind of¡­ Has a jealousy problem.¡± The lady says as she snuggles in her chair with her cup of ambrosia. The man presses down on his head. ¡°Fuck. Another one. If that one¡¯s involved, I probably have to deal with the other too, right? I heard a few things from that story; I just know his son will be involved.¡± He says with a creased forehead and a building headache. ¡°Zeus? Yeah, he¡¯ll be involved. As he sees it, the golden age was perfect; there was no reason to build on top of it. Also¡­ Not sure if I should say this or leave it for you to find out¡­¡± The lady says with some hesitation. The man raises another eyebrow. ¡°What? Spit it out.¡± He says, not expecting good things. ¡°He ugh¡­ He saw it¡­¡± The lady says, unsure of how to word it. ¡°Saw it? Saw what?¡± The man asks with some anxiety. He had a bad feeling about this. ¡°He ugh¡­ He saw Heaven and Hell. Displayed in all its glory and sick fantasy.¡± The lady says with a feeling of pity. The man¡¯s eyes open wide. ¡°What! How!? Why!?¡± The man exclaims with shock. He had no idea how he was going to deal with that. ¡°Yup. You¡¯re going to have to provide an explanation for that. And like he said, he saw heaven¡­ and he¡¯s a very jealous man. Currently, super jealous. You¡¯re going to have to sate his appetite while simultaneously giving him a reason to maintain his humanity.¡± The lady says, unable to help herself from letting out a chuckle. ¡°I do not envy you.¡± She says with a smile. ¡°Holy fuck. Why are they giving this job to me? This seems to be a little above my pay-grade. I mean, even I don¡¯t completely understand why that was allowed.¡± The man says before taking a big gulp of his drink. ¡°What can I say? The Grand Architect assigned it to you so he must have his reasons. Also these projects aren¡¯t just for our subjects; there¡¯s also room for us to grow as we work on them.¡± She says with a well-meaning smile. The man lets out a groan. ¡°Ugh. Alright, mom. Relax. I guess I¡¯ll figure it out.¡± He says before looking at the stack of paper once again. ¡°It¡¯s going to be a lot of work. I¡¯ll have to figure that part out later. For now we need humans; a lot of them. Enough to blur the question of what this is all about, and the quality should be high enough so that even a god would feel mundane in front of them. Actually, scratch that; since this project already involves other gods, why not use a bunch of demons too? Demons, monsters, dragons, angels, and gods. On top of that, add on the knights, the vikings, the heroes, the prophets, the nymphs, the mermaids, the cutlivators, the wizards, and the witches. All that shit; all in human form. He¡¯s going to see shit and make connections that I couldn¡¯t even imagine. Actually, this might be kind of fun.¡± The man says, getting a little excited for the project. ¡°As for resources, we¡¯ve been approved to use the people from Heaven and Hell.¡± The lady says casually before taking another sip. ¡°What? Why would I want them? Wouldn¡¯t they all be either crazy or wild as shit from that experience?¡± The man asks confused. The lady waves her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. A Senior Chaos Architect took charge and built a place for them to let out some steam. Ever hear of cyberpunk?¡± She asks with a smile. ¡°Cyberpunk? With these people? Fuck, that must have been a wild ride. But what¡¯s the expectation? That they¡¯re calm enough now to be involved with this one? Because, somehow, I doubt it.¡± He says with a chuckle. ¡°No, it means they¡¯ve been stress tested. Gives you some allowance for how crazy you want to get. And, considering the guy you¡¯re working on, crazy might be necessary.¡± She says with a teasing smile. ¡°Fuck. Alright. For now I¡¯ll start working on the major structure. As for you, I want you to get to know these people, fill in the puzzle pieces. I want to know how it would look if they fit perfectly. After that, I wanna figure out how far we can stretch them. But, of course, not too far. We don¡¯t want another¡­¡± The man says before trailing off, not wanting to say the words. The man felt he had given that place enough of his attention and he would prefer to ignore it was ever there in the first place. ¡°Yeah, yeah. Don¡¯t worry about. I¡¯ll begin with analysis right away.¡± She says before drinking the rest of her drink and standing up. She walks to the door before turning and smiling at the man. ¡°And don¡¯t forget. Have fun.¡± She says before exiting the office. The man sighs, watching as the lady leaves. ¡°Fun? Maybe. But definitely not for them.¡± He says before starting his work from the top of pile. Journey ¡°Ha! I made it!¡± Markel says, a youthful glee on his face. He had set out to become an adventurer and he was one step closer to that dream. I adventured my whole way here from the Southern Shield Kingdom. Here! To the City of Mercenaries, Cloudfall! He thinks with excitement. It was a hard journey, and many nights were spent with an empty stomach, but on the edge of Markel''s mind was the idea of blood and glory, lingering and gnawing at him; always demanding his attention and urging him forward. For this idea, all those sleepless and hungry nights would be worth it. When he was a child he had dreamed of becoming a hero, and he set out with that intent. But this journey had renewed the fire in him¡­ Now, all he wanted to do was to be on his feet at the end of an arduous battle, a battle filled with the clashing spirits of men and the blood of the fallen; he wanted to stand there, at the end, knowing that he made it through the fire¡­ That he made it through all of that, and that he was still standing. The idea of it made Markel¡¯s blood boil. The glory. The honor. It was something no man or god could take from you. No, that feeling, in that moment, it would be yours. And for all of that, Markel¡¯s feet continued to move forward. And he made it here, to Cloudfall. He was finally at the next step. Like an excited child, Markel decides to wander the city. When he made it to the market, he came across an unsightly scene. ¡°Give us your money, Old Sol. The month is at its end and you still haven¡¯t paid your debt. If you don¡¯t hand it over, we¡¯ll take your debt in blood, as a message to anyone that might think that a Crow Gang loan is an act of benevolence.¡± A lean and muscled man says, his sharp and angular eyes scanning an old man like a piece of meat. Beside him were two other goons, much larger in stature; armed and ready for a conflict. ¡°I don¡¯t have it! How can I have it!? A month isn¡¯t enough time!¡± The old man says, his healthy, wrinkled face expressing some anxiety. ¡°Unfortunately, we don¡¯t trade in excuses Old Sol. If it¡¯s not done today¡ª¡± The man starts to say before being interrupted. ¡°Hey! Idiots! You¡¯re in the way! People are trying to walk here. So fuckin¡¯ inconsiderate.¡± A two meter tall man says, his big black beard unable to hide his discontent. The man was armored and a battle-axe of immense size was resting on his back. Markel gulps at the sight. Just the casual passers-by¡­ Markel says as he looks around at all the people who were armed and armored. They¡¯re all warriors¡­ He thinks, his mouth beginning to become a little dry. ¡°And who the fuck are you?¡± The sharp-eyed man says with a menacing glare. ¡°Do you want to fuck with the Crow Gang?¡± He asks, his threatening words mildly diminished by having to look up at the other man. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Annoyance flashes on the bearded man¡¯s face. ¡°Crow Gang? What the fuck is that?¡± He asks casually before a heavy fist was swiftly sent below to where the other man stood. A deep impact resounds from the fist hitting the other man¡¯s face, and his body promptly crumbles to the ground, unconscious. The other two men had anger on their faces, but they hesitated to act rashly. The bearded man looks to them and spits. ¡°Take your little Crow shit and get out of my sight. And apply some healing salve to his asshole while you¡¯re at it. He looked like he got fucked pretty hard.¡± He says before letting out a boisterous laughter. The other two men look to each other but they didn¡¯t know what to do. So they simply picked up their friend off the ground and they left. ¡°Thank you! Thank you, my friend! Old Sol won¡¯t forget this!¡± The old man says, gratefulness on his face. Markel smiles at the happy ending. This is how stories should be. He thinks to himself. ¡°What are you talking about? This isn¡¯t a charity old man. Cough up the cash. I know you¡¯re packing. That face and that plump belly. You must¡¯ve lived a good life. It would be a shame if you couldn¡¯t enjoy it any longer.¡± The bearded man says with a menacing smile. Markel¡¯s eyes widen. No¡­ No¡­ This isn¡¯t how it should be¡­ He thinks, disappointment and regret for something he had no control over building inside him. The old man¡¯s eyes also widen. ¡°Wha-what!? You can¡¯t be serious!¡± He exclaims, still a little unsure if this was a joke. ¡°I¡¯m fucking serious, old man. Look at my eyes. Your negligence interrupted my walk. And don¡¯t bullshit me. I can see you what you are with a glance. You¡¯re simply out here karma harvesting. What was in store for those men if they harmed you? A couple decades of slavery? Hmm?¡± The bearded man says, a fierceness in his voice and a wildness on his face. This man was ready for a fight. Merkel¡¯s eyes widen again. What¡­ What is happening¡­ He asks himself, a little unsure of what the man was saying. Shock was still on the old man¡¯s face, but for a second, a smirk escaped his expression. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about young man. But fine! If you want my money, take it! It¡¯s yours!¡± The old man exclaims before throwing a bag of coins at the bearded man before attempting to walk away. But he was blocked off once again by the tall bearded man. He waves a finger as if to scold a child. ¡°The rest too. You and I both know that this is letting you off easy. But this is also my message to you. Know that I¡¯m not afraid to offend you.¡± The bearded man says, his gaze piercing. The old man lets out a smile. ¡°Fine.¡± He says simply before pulling out a much larger bag and throwing it to the bearded man. After that, he walks away. Markel watches all of this, confused. Compelled, he walks up to the bearded man and looks up to him. ¡°Why-why did you do that? Why did you rob that old man? After saving him?¡± He says, trying to keep his words steady. The curiosity was burning and if he didn¡¯t find an answer he felt his whole outlook of the world would crumble. The bearded man sees the twerp and smirks. Just a baby. He thinks, somewhat amused. ¡°Let me ask you this, young man. How did you get here? To the great city of Cloudfall?¡± The man asks, a lingering lesson in his tone. ¡°How did I get here?¡± Markel asks, confused. ¡°I just walked.¡± He answers, thinking it would be easier to let the other man lead. The bearded man chuckles. ¡°Exactly, my young friend. You walked. And like you, my journey was difficult, but I walked forward with steady steps, and you know where it led me? It led me in front of that old man. And when I stood in front of him, my whole journey had already decided my opinion of him. So I did what my spirit asked of me, as an act of faith to myself, who had walked all those steps, and I fucking robbed that old bastard.¡± The bearded man says before letting out another laugh. ¡°As for you, your journey led you here, asking these questions. But I¡¯ll tell you now, my young friend¡­ This¡­ This whole scene¡­ To you, all of it is just motivation. It¡¯s fuel to get you where you need to go. As for who stood on the side of right or wrong in your eyes, I don¡¯t give a flying fuck.¡± The man says before laughing again as he walks away from the wide-eyed young man. Markel watches the bearded man¡¯s figure disappear into the crowd. He simply stood there, lost in thought. Motivation? Motivation for what? He wonders to himself. High School Certificate Salvadore had finally found someone who could point the way. It hasn''t been long since he''s escaped from hell, but the eternity of pain and suffering had compressed his hatred and killing intent into a black ball of darkness that he couldn''t get rid of no matter what. So, like a mad man, he searched far and wide for the bastard that put him there. He searched high and low, destroying worlds and slaying demons and monsters alike. In one place, he heard of heaven; god was said to reside there on a throne of gold and jade. And in another place, he heard of a man who held the key¡­ Janus¡­ Salvador instantly teleports to Earth, and looks around. Houses made of cheap and fragile wood and stone. In front of one of these houses was a man who sat on a porch smoking a pipe. It was Janus. He was scrolling through a black, rectangular device, chuckling occasionally to videos of cats. Salvador frowns and approaches with the intent to kill. If this man didn¡¯t tell Salvador what he wanted to know, he would slowly torture his soul for an eternity. Janus looks up and smiles. ¡°Hello.¡± He says, before looking around. ¡°Are you looking for something? They sell maps at the 7-11 down the road.¡± He says, trying to be helpful. Intent on showing he meant business, Salvador attempts to oppress the man with his spirit. ¡°I¡¯m looking for someone. You will show me the way.¡± He says as he expresses his spiritual suppression. A breeze ripples out and gently brushes against Janus¡¯s face. ¡°Hmm?¡± He says with a teasing smile. ¡°Was that you?¡± He asks, amused. Salvador¡¯s eyes widen. What is happening!? What happened to my suppression!? He exclaims in his mind. Janus lets out a laugh, knowing what the man was thinking. ¡°I see. You¡¯re not from here.¡± He says before bursting out into a loud laughter. ¡°Oh, man. Holy shit. Did you just teleport here intending to destroy the place? Dude. This is Earth. The laws binding this place are stronger than you could ever be. You realize you¡¯re stuck here now, don¡¯t you?¡± He says before bursting out into another laugh. Anger appears on Salvador¡¯s face. ¡°I have no care for the laws that bind this place! You will tell me what I want to know!¡± He exclaims, but in the back of his mind, he was worried about escaping this place. Janus¡¯ laugh dwindles to a chuckle. ¡°What? What do you want to know?¡± He asks. Salvador looks to Janus, his fierce gaze expressing his intent. ¡°How do I find god? How do I get to heaven?¡± He asks, his feelings of domination somewhat dwindling. Janus raises an eyebrow and he lets out a smirk. ¡°You want to get to heaven? Why? Are you asking because you wish to be rewarded or¡­?¡± He asks, gauging the direction of this desire. Salvador¡¯s face twists into something ugly. ¡°I want to find god to kill him!¡± He exclaims without shame. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Janus¡¯ smirk becomes wider before he lets out a chuckle, then he continues to laugh loudly. ¡°Oh man, this guy. So hilarious. I¡¯m sorry. Let me just open my senses to get a better sense of the situation. You¡¯re saying too many weird things.¡± He says as he laughs. Suddenly, Janus¡¯ eyes begin to glow silver before becoming normal once more. ¡°Ah, you just got out of hell. Congratulations?¡± He says, unsure what else to say. Fury once more appears on Salvador¡¯s face. ¡°What the fuck do you mean ¡®congratulations¡¯!? Are you dense!? I just made it out of hell! Of fucking hell!¡± He exclaims. He had fully lost his composure and very much wanted to destroy this man, but for some reason his body felt powerless. Janus¡¯ lets out a chuckle. ¡°What? I said congratulations. I mean it. It¡¯s a big step. It¡¯s like finishing high school. Good job.¡± He says, trying to sound encouraging. Salvador¡¯s mind began to spin. What the fuck is this guy saying!? Why is he comparing it to a school!? He exclaims. He didn¡¯t want to admit it but he was confused, very confused. Janus smirks. ¡°Do you want me to explain it to you?¡± He asks, deciding to be helpful. ¡°No! I want you to fucking tell me how to get to heaven! You dense! Fucking! Idiot!¡± Salvador exclaims again. Janus continues to smile. ¡°Look, kid. You can¡¯t go to heaven. I can¡¯t even go to heaven. Or I hope to god I can¡¯t go, that would be terrible.¡± He says. ¡°Why!? Why the fuck can¡¯t I get to heaven!?¡± Salvador asks, his frustration having nowhere to go. Janus looks around and spreads his senses to make sure no one was around, then looks back to Salvador before whispering, ¡°Okay, look. I can see you¡¯re frustrated. So I¡¯ll tell you. Just don¡¯t tell anyone, okay? Pretty please? And please don¡¯t tell anyone I told you. It¡¯s kind of a big secret around here.¡± Salvador lets out a sigh. ¡°Fuck. Just tell me.¡± He says, with no intention to keep a secret. ¡°Hmm¡­ Heaven¡­ Heaven is sort of¡­¡± Janus begins to say as his cheeks brighten with a shade of pink. He was somewhat too embarrassed to say it. ¡°Just fucking say it man!¡± Salvador exclaims angrily. The man¡¯s casual behavior was also not helping the situation. ¡°Heaven is *cough* *cough* it¡¯s *cough* *cough* it¡¯s for the babies *cough* *cough* *cough*¡± Janus says through a series of coughing fits. ¡°Fuck man. That was hard to get out.¡± He says before clearing his throat. Salvador raises an eyebrow. ¡°What? For the babies? Is that what you said?¡± He asks, unsure if he heard it correctly. Janus lets out a sigh. ¡°Yeah, man. It¡¯s for the new gods. Well, not all the new gods. Others find themselves in harsher conditions, but yeah, essentially it¡¯s for the new gods.¡± He says as he looks to the sky. For some reason Janus thought it would be cloudy. Hearing no thunder, he lets out a sigh of relief. ¡°Anyways, you¡¯re too old to be in heaven. Just relax on Earth while you can. I¡¯m pretty sure you¡¯re stuck here now.¡± He says. Confusion appears on Salvador¡¯s face. ¡°The new gods? All of them? And how am I too old? Are they not gods?¡± He asks, unable to keep track of this conversation. ¡°Fuck man, can you keep your voice down. Jeez. Yes, these kids recently bit the fruit of good and evil, which set them on the path to godhood. But you already finished high school, you¡¯re much further on the path, so you¡¯re too old to be playing with kindergarteners.¡± Janus tries to explain. ¡°Path to godhood? Me? What the fuck are you talking about? And since when was hell a damn school!¡± Salvador says, his anger unable to fade. Janus smirks. ¡°Look man, god is infinite, and hell, well, hell¡¯s just a thing. It¡¯s like a right of passage. If you make it out, you get your high school certificate, so congratulations. But again, it¡¯s not really an original thing, most people go through it one way or another.¡± Janus says. Salvador lets out an exasperated sigh. Is this guy just spouting bullshit? He wonders. ¡°Look, man. I don¡¯t really care if heaven¡¯s for babies or not. I just need to find god so I can kill him. Can we focus on that, please?¡± He asks, trying a little to be nice. Janus lets out a chuckle. ¡°Man, if god¡¯s up there, I¡¯d feel sorry for him. Sounds like a terrible fate. But yeah, I doubt you¡¯ll find him there. Most you¡¯ll find is an empty throne, or a cult leader. One of the two.¡± Janus says. ¡°It¡¯s terrible enough that angels fall to Earth. Fuck, I hate dealing with those kids. Do you know what neo-nazi¡¯s are? It¡¯s a terrible thing.¡± He says with a shake of his head. Salvador raises an eyebrow. ¡°They¡¯ve fallen to Earth? Then I can find them here?¡± He asks as he looks around. Janus puts a hand on Salvador¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Alright, man. Easy. If you really go find them to spout bullshit I¡¯ll have to kill you. Each one that has come to Earth, did so with a leap of faith. They left the greatness of heaven behind to find themselves. Do you know how hard that is? With an endless journey before you? How small you¡¯d feel in this huge ass world?¡± He says as he looks seriously into Salvador¡¯s eyes. It was Salvador¡¯s turn to smirk. ¡°Oh, you¡¯ll kill me? How will you do that?¡± He asks with a hint of taunt. Janus gives the man a blank look before the back of his hand instantly found Salvador¡¯s face. In an instant, Salvador¡¯s body was rejected from this space. ¡°The fuck outta here. Damn, high school kids. Think they¡¯re better than everyone.¡± He says before taking his phone out once more to look at cat pictures.