Danny Diez

43: Heaven's Gate

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 09:23:53 GMT

“Inmate, come here.” CO Rivera knocked on the jail cell door. “You ready to talk?”

“Sure.” Nate stood up from the metal bench inside the cell and rolled his shoulders back counter-clockwise. “I’ll do whatever needs to be done. My family is missing me.”

“I didn’t ask about any of that, so don’t try to sell me any aww-boo-hoo bullshit.” CO Rivera opened the door. “You gon’ learn today.”
This guy. I have a bad gut feeling. Nate put his hand on his stomach, feeling it growl from hunger. Maybe I’m just starving. I can’t remember the last time I ate.

Rivera hardened his brow showing dominance. “Medina, huh? You some kind of Asian or Indian or what?”

Nate scoffed. “It’s a Spanish surname. You should know better, asshole.”

“I’m not here to play trivia games, you smug little shithead.” Rivera grinned. “I know of one Officer Miguel Fernandez who wants to see you put in here for good.”

Fuck. He’s not going to let me go. . . he’s toying with me. Nate clenched his teeth and balled his fist. Maybe there’s only one way out of this.

I no longer have Lindzey to hold onto. . . Jessika is gone. There’s nothing left here in the world. I hit rock bottom, there’s no worse hell-hole than this.

These inmates are yelling at the top of their lungs, banging on the doors and windows.

This is a riot, I am in the midst of it. With no clock or phone in sight, I have no semblance of time here.

Gross is not a strong enough word to describe the disgusting, nauseating floor I have to sit on. There is vomit, piss, fungus…

Nothing left. Nothing left to lose…maybe I should kill myself.

“Calm yourself, Nate. Suicide? What kind of talk is that?”

A voice resonated in Nate’s head.

It’s reality speaking.
Wait… is there a voice in my head?
I thought I heard something.

The faint voice spoke to Nate once again.

“Never give up. Never surrender.
You are built to last through this.”

Am I? Or will I die here? If I die here, I die with honor, at least.
I can say I died fighting for what I believe in.
When my family mourns me, they know I died pushing forward.

“Will they?

Or maybe they will see the decayed body
of a loser who decided to give up.”
Fine. I’ll push through it. Then what?
Where do I go? What do I do?
I have nothing. Nothing to…

“That is what you tell yourself,
loser.”

Hah. So I should just be confident.
I should hold my head high with a big, huge smile!
Just because.

“Why not?”

Why not? Because… all of this…

“You really want to go through this again?

Decide to live, or die.
It is that simple.
I decide…
To live.

[{TW=≠=AH}]

Passed out from hunger, anxiety, and exhaustion, the imprisoned male sat still until the return of his captor. Unknowing if night had become day or dawn had become dusk once more, he could see the shadow of the prison guard approaching his cell. At last, the cell door opened with a slow creak, like a rusted gate not opened for a thousand years.

CO Rivera threw some paper forms at Nate. “Looks like you’ve got someone bailing you out here. Nick Medina. Is that your father, brother, or. . .?”

Nate woke up from his fever dream alone in the jail cell. No sight of his cell mates from the previous night. He did not care about their circumstances, since the CO in front of him had told him something he found incredible.

“Nick? My dad? My pops? H-He’s here?” The hairs on Nate’s arms stood up, a notable symptom of high anxiety. “It can’t be my dad, I mean, I haven’t heard from him in years, there’s no way. He was lost, and—“

“I thought I told you before that I don’t need to hear your family story, shithead. Get moving.” Rivera said, leading Nate down the psych ward hallway into the reception area.

“Shithead? Really?” Nate wanted to punch the guard.

“Does that hurt your feelings?” Rivera pressed Nate’s chest with his index finger. “You got a bleeding heart right there, don’t you? Shithead millennial.”

Nate responded. “Typical. You’re Puerto Rican, aren’t you? You trashy fucks bring disgrace to our culture.”

Rivera laughed. “Light skin gringo faggot! Vamos, bicho cabron.

“A felon telling me that I’m a disgrace? You are backwards, bicho.

“I better not see you here again.”

I’m never coming back. That’s something I can tell myself. Who knows if these assholes will leave me alone, Nate thought as he collected his phone, wallet, and keys. Now, his only wish was to get through the door to the outside.

Midnight sky covered the empty parking lot when Nate crossed the concrete beneath him, now a free man.

Darkness is liberating, he repeated to himself as he hunched over a pay phone.

[{TW=≠=AH}]

Footsteps came from behind. Nick Medina put his hand on Nate’s shoulder. This single touch felt like a captured moment they experienced a hundred times in the past.

“Dad? It’s really you. I can’t believe you made it all the way here.” Nate looked at his father, seeing a reflection of himself which knew all the torment he endured.

“Not just me, buddy. Brought you a surprise.” Nick waved to Jessika.

“Hey!” Jessika said as she jumped out of Nick’s truck. She wore a flannel long-sleeve shirt with leggings and boots. It was the exact Jessika that Nate remembered from many years ago.

“Good to see you in one piece, Bro-seph.”

“Jess? You’re here. You’re alive! I can’t believe it!” Nate ran to her, hugged her, squeezing her with both arms.
“Ahh! I’m alive, dude! Let me go!” Jess laughed, gasping for air.

“I guess we can talk about what happened when we get home,” Nick said.

“Home? Are you serious?” Nate looked at his father. “I haven’t seen you in fucking forever, man. The last time I remember seeing your face, it was on PIA Most Wanted. Where have you been?!”

“That’s in the past. I guess I should, uh—” Nick looked at Jessika. “JK darling, can you give me and your brother a minute? We need a little man to man talk, you know, um—“

“Oh. Yeah, fine. I’ll give you guys some space,” Jessika smiled reluctantly. She skipped back to her father’s truck and sat in the passenger’s seat.

Now by themselves, the estranged father and son examined each other. What memories they had of their past, now contrast with the present.
“Noah told me what happened,” Nick said. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there to help you guys. Lin and Lex, JK and you.”

“JK is probably texting up a storm right now. I need to talk to you, Dad. Let’s go take a walk,” Nate breathed the fresh air of freedom. “Just a five minute walk and talk. Like the old days.”

Nick smiled to his son. “Of course.”

Two men who walk war-torn paths now move together, shoulder-to-shoulder.

“Lindzey dumped me. I tried to call her. She doesn’t answer. I don’t think she’s going to answer. I want to yell at the voicemail, but I hang up every time. I just choke. It’s like I can’t find the strength to say to her, um—”

Nick groaned. “She’s not going to pick up the phone. So you need to let her go. You need to go find something new.”

“You don’t get it! She is the only person who saw all those reptilians and those fucking crazy motherfuckers who—“

“Enough.” Nick stood behind Nate, placing both of his hands on his son’s shoulders with a firm hold. “Let it go. It’s over. You have to let that shit go. You have more important things in your life. Your sister, your mother, your friends!”

Nate blinked. “Mother? She’s here?”

“Yes. She’s back home. You can go live with her and JK. Rebuild it all. Make it something true. True to you, and to JK, and everyone. The Medinas will be a proud family again.”

“I would. I just can’t, though,” Nate said. “I can’t leave it like this. I can’t rest until it’s all done.”

Wind blew Nate’s hair over his face. He parted it to the side, giving his father a serious expression of conviction.

“It’s not worth it to ditch your family. Believe me,” Nick said. “If I could do it all again, I would have stayed with you guys. That’s what you need to do.”

Nate groaned. “It’s not that simple. I’ve been trying to find answers, and in doing so I’ve put myself on a mission. The mission’s not over yet. Don’t you get it?”

“What I don’t get is what you are trying to accomplish. You haven’t told me what questions you’re trying to answer. I don’t get it. This mission, these answers, it’s not worth losing your family over. Believe me.”

“I could say the same thing to you, Dad.”

“Ugh.” Nick’s face crumbled. “This isn’t the like-father-like-son dialogue I wanted, but you’re right. I can tell you that you’re right. You know you are.”

“No one else believes me. I lost everything. The love of my life ghosted me with a stupid letter! A fucking Dear John letter, man! Her father was the one who fucked everything up, and now I have to look like a jackass.

“You don’t care, though. Fucking old people. You got your time in the sun now you are ready to burn everything up behind you.” Nate said, spitting phlegm on the street, yelling into the nothingness of midnight.

“That’s cool. Get it out of your system, buddy. My mom said to me the same thing every time my dad whipped my ass. Las cosas solo pueden ir mejor. That was her motto.”

“Bullshit motto. I keep getting thrown in fucking concrete cells. You have a lot of nerve telling me I should be more optimistic, old man.”

Headlights appeared in the dark parking lot. An armored jeep pulled up next to the two men, cutting a deliberate break into their conversation..
Nick covered his eyes, sighing. “So they’ve come. Didn’t think it’d be so soon,”

“So? What’s the deal?” Nate tensed up. “If someone’s out to get you, I’ll stop them.”

“I’ve had a bounty on my head for years. That’s why. . .”

“Dad, I know! I told you I saw the PIA’s most wanted list. You and Noah, and Zerj, and Rich. You’re being hunted.

“Your head is worth more money than I’ve had in my entire life.”

Nick turned away in shame. “You don’t have to turn me in. I’m giving myself up.”

“Why? So you can be pampered by the feds, leaving me with nothing?” Nate pressed his chest against his father’s.

The headlights turned off as the jeep’s engine stopped. Two bounty hunters came out of the jeep, seemingly unarmed.

“Wait a second. These guys aren’t bounty hunters.” Nate’s tension eased as he identified them. “Marven! Gary! You scared us shitless!”

“Had to see it to believe it,” Gary said. “We saw your mugshot online. You got yourself in some shit again, huh?”

“I’m never not getting myself in shit,” Nate said.

Marven smirked. “Amen to that.”

Nick laughed. “You two hombres look like Michael Jackson and Biggie Smalls. These guys are friends of yours?”

“Is that true?” Nate tensed up once more. “Marven? Tell me the truth, man.”

“We’re newly certified. The PIA guys gave us this gig after the VanHilton case was closed in the Anarchist Game,” Marven said, “We’re not here to take you in or anything. Let’s touch base.”

“We got orders from the association to kill you on sight. Kind of awkward, now. Here we are, seeing you in the flesh, and none of us are shooting at each other,” Gary said.

Nick rolled his eyes, then put his hand on his son’s shoulder. “Nate, how about you go take JK home? And send your mother my love.”
“What are you guys gonna do, then?” Nate asked.

“From what I understand, they’re turning me loose. That means I’m at large,” Nick said, taking a breath of air to calm himself. “You take my keys and get home safely. I’ll come back when I can.”

“Your dad’s good people,” Gary said. “Guess we’re outta here, then.”
Marven nodded. “We’ll hang out sometime, alright?”

“Yeah,” Nate said. He gave them an upward head nod. “Thanks, you guys. Later.”

Gary and Marven got back in their vehicle and drove away, leaving Nick and Nate alone to say their goodbyes.

“I’ll chalk that one up to a miracle. If the association had sent anyone else, we’d be in some trouble,” Nick said.

“Yeah? Well, you know what I say? To hell with them. You think I’m scared?” Nate scowled, gritting his teeth. “You’re scared of them because you’re a coward. You’ve always been a coward. I feel ashamed for looking up to you before.”

“Back to this?” Nick covered his eyes. “Why haven’t you learned?”

“What’s to learn? That hiding is better than fighting? If you think I live my—“

“No. Clearly you don’t. And I can’t force you to do anything now.”

“Damn right.”

Nick threw his arms up and rolled his eyes. “It’s pointless to argue here. One of us has to find Noah and work things out. You and I know it has to be me.”

“Just tell me, old man, what’s your game plan here? Do you have any idea where you’re even going to find Noah Augustine? The man is elusive as they come.”

“The name the PIA facility is through a portal called Heaven’s Gate. While you and those two bounty hunters were talking, I used my phone to place a tracker on their vehicle. I’ll be following them right into the enemy’s fortress.”

“So you’re leaving. Again.” Nate scuffed his feet on the pavement. “I guess it is what it is. Right? That’s how you see it. And I can’t force you to do anything, either.”

Nick put his hands on his son’s shoulders. “I promise. This will work. I will be back soon.”

“You promise, huh? Maybe I believe you this time,” Nate said, reluctant to smile at his father.

“Thanks, Nathaniel. Tell Jessika and your mother I’ll be seeing you all soon.”

Nate nodded, and the two parted ways once more.

Heaven’s Gate. Could’ve sworn that was some kind of cult. Nate continued to deduce his father’s plan. If you think I’m just gonna sit around while you do all the heavy lifting, it’s not gonna happen. I’ll be right behind you every step of the way.

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Endings

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 09:20:02 GMT

Nathaniel “Nate” Medina
Nate’s relationship with Camilla flourished. The power couple lives in Ocealed, Florida where they run a restaurant cafe together. Able to control and suppress his cursed incubus form, Nate became a kind husband and a respected member of the community as a chef at a high-end restaurant.

Jessika “JK” Medina
Jessika took a position at the Paranormal Investigation Alliance under the direct supervision of Alexander Winchester as enforcer. She is regarded highly by her peers. Occasionally, she visits her family in Ocealed. She is still friends with Lindzey, and the two girls often enjoy going out to the Washington DC area clubs on weekends.

Nicholas “Nick” Medina
Victorious in his battle against Jonas, Nick took the dead skin mask of Ponce de Leon and burned it to ashes.
To finish his business with the PIA, Nick had to clear his and his family’s criminal records. He exchanged the ashes of the mask and Jonas’s corpse for a pardon for him, Nate, and Jessika.

Lindzey and Shynel Augustine
After mourning the death of her sister, Lindzey returned to the Paranormal Investigation Alliance. She lives with her cousin, Alexander, in a townhome by the District of Columbia.

Noah Augustine
Vanished without a trace. The Bounty Hunter Association has decided to cut all funding to the search for Augustine, allowing him to live the rest of his life as he sees fit.
Some PIA members say he is seldom seen in the director’s office, giving counsel to the new director.

Alexander “Lex” Winchester
With Isaac and Noah no longer running the PIA, Lex took the Director’s seat and became a prodigal leader of the Alliance at the age of 19. He runs the organization with a strict code of conduct.
His investigations are always completed successfully, leaving nothing unsolved.

Marven and Gary Anthony
The two juggalo brothers moved away from Ocealed to be Bounty Hunters.
They go to gatherings and always send Nate an invitation (which usually goes unanswered).

Wayward Horse
Stepping down from the PIA director’s chair, Horse returned to Ocealed.
He continues to assist Nate in the management of his restaurant business.
Seminoles revere him as a guardian of the Everglades.

Rena and Rich VanHilton
Resting in peace, the VanHilton twins are shown respect for their impact on local history despite their many misdeeds.
Their graves in Ocealed are guarded by Horse and the Seminole tribe.

Sergio Herrera / Zerj VanHilton
The Law offices of Sergio Herrera lay abandoned.
The VanHilton reptilian patriarch left Earth to return to his home planet or invade others.

Archdemon Pride
Sealed once again, Pride is put away deep in the Everglades and guarded by the Seminole tribe.

Miguel Fernandez
Charges for misconduct were filed against Fernandez, but he escaped to Cuba.
The satanic rituals which made him immortal deter PIA bounty hunters from tracking his whereabouts.

Emil and Jonas Weiss
Austria celebrates the deaths of Emil and Jonas, rather than their lives. Invitations are sent to the Seminole people, and the victims of the genocide are honored.
During these celebrations, the people of Austria drink and curse the brothers’ wicked ways.

Camilla Weiss
Now known as Cami Medina, she has fully replaced Emil with Nate as her husband and bounty hunting partner.
Cami uses the inherited memories from Lindzey's adventures with Nate to better herself as a time warden bounty hunter and as Nate's lover.

Gustav Silber
Little is known about Gustav Silber’s whereabouts after his maddening discovery of the origin point.
However, his influence directly caused the world wars, simply because he enjoyed watching humans fight.
Evading bounty hunters and divine intervention, Gustav is at large. His wife, Paula, is deceased.

Udo Uhlstein
Udo gave up alcohol and became the principle of an orphanage and is dedicated to good works. He still has conspiracy theories about Gustav Silber and Nathaniel Medina.

Amelia “Anti Hero” Vermillion
Her successful vengeance eliminating Nestasia promoted Amelia to godhood.
Christina took Amelia under her wing, and the duo became the two angels who guard Heaven's gate.

Kai Takeishujin
Fame followed Kai after Nestasia's defeat.
His peers, even older and more experienced, see Kai as the most daring and brightest of all Time Wardens.
Kai relaunched the Imogen Academy with himself as the principle.

Nestasia Vermillion
Her embarrassing defeat at the hands of Amelia and Kai caused Nestasia to throw herself into the abyss, with no trail left behind.
Her countless victims rest in peace knowing the universe does have some justice.

comments

50: Da Capo al Fine

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 09:19:11 GMT

From Nate Medina himself,

I’ve seen functioning addicts who confuse the hell out of us like Udo Uhlstein.
And disturbingly rational, clean hoarders like Alexander Winchester.
Even genocidal introverts, it’s possible. I knew who Jonas Weiss was.
We are all basic fluids stemming from God which will never sit right with certain individuals.

Music ends with Da Capo al Fine. Sex finishes with a climactic orgasm. I give my wife a creaming orgasm every time.

For every Antichrist, there is an Antisatan.
For every Time Warden, there is a hero Mother Earth.
For every Augustine, there is a VanHilton.
For every Medina, there is a Wayward soul.

Females can prematurely ejaculate, too.
Screamers or creamers, the screamer screams and the creamer creams.
I have proven facts.

TEARS OF GOD

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49: Nestasia Antarctica

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 09:17:45 GMT

Amelia gripped her blade with a vengeance. She sensed the presence of her enemy. The dark, hell-hot chamber drew sweat from her already nervous visage.

“I’ve arrived. Let’s settle this,” she said, calling into the darkness.

Nestasia descended from above, landing a safe distance away from her sister. “Will you flee in cowardice this time, Roach? Or will you allow your swift, painful execution to end this lifelong controversy between us?

Amelia almost choked. Roach. Fuck. I can’t stand being called that, but I won’t let her get to me.

“I just need a minute to talk to you,” Amelia said.

Nestasia paced back and forth, eyeing Amelia with her gaze of death. “Speak, then, little Roach. What is left to be said?”

“Imogen. Austria. Our father was . . .gone. Then, Gustav and Paula took us in . . .I remember that. Don’t you? They were so nice to us.”

“They were strange people. That Gustav looked like he had not a single bath in days. And Paula? Pathetic! She was so stupid. So dull. Nothing in her head at all,” Nestasia said, taunting Amelia with cackling laughter under her breath.

Amelia was appalled. “No! Herr Gustav was a genius! Frau Paula was loving! She cared about us. She did so many sweet things during the holidays to make us happy!”

“Ugh! She was just covering for her drunk husband. Every October, Gustav got drunk and behaved like swine! Paula was drunk, everyone was drunk, everyone was so obnoxious.”

“They loved you, Nestasia. They wanted the best for you. At the very least—“

“At the very least they were offensive, they were nothing more than filthy swine. The patriarchy, the toxic male mentality, the lies and the arrogance. . . I hated every minute of it. Every second of it.

Every night I could only go to bed alone, and I knew there had to be some way out of it.”

“Nestasia, they loved you. Doesn’t that mean anything?”

“Oh, yes. Love. No use loving your parents when you grow up and get a boyfriend. That Jonas fellow. Mother didn’t like him because he had verbal ticks, but I thought he was cute.”

“Jonas was a murderer! He killed people just for fun! For pleasure. Like you. . .”

“Does that not affect you in any way, Amelia?”

“Shut up!”

Unable to contain her rage any longer, Amelia lunged forward and swung her blade at Nestasia. The attack cut only air as Nestasia vanished and reappeared behind Amelia. Sensing the malicious energy’s motion, Amelia spun around and backflipped, distancing herself from her enemy once more.

“You don’t respect a damn thing, do you? You don’t love. You don’t care. You could never have true comrades in this world. That’s the real difference between us!” Amelia snarled.

Nestasia rebutted. “There is only one man who I respect. He is utter trash. Barbaric, filth, yet his disposition is so brutally ironic that I find it somehow captivating. Jonas is that man. Right now he is likely tearing your comrades to shreds, disposing of them into the eternal waste!”
“I said shut up! You should just go be with him! Then you two can get along and let us all live our lives without your terror, your hatred. . . your. . . y—“

“Did you run out of words, Roach? No, you simply have not the wind to back your words. You are a coward who fears death, like Gustav. An incompetent weakling, like Paula.”

“Haha, ha. . . you just don’t see your hypocrisy, do ya bitch?”

Amelia swung once more. Nestasia sidestepped, dodging it without any sign of strain or distress. The way she moved made Amelia’s attacks seem entirely futile.

“Spare me your droll humanitarianisms, Roach.”

“No. You said Gustav fears death. You fear death, Nestasia. I know you do.”

“Do I? For what singular reason? Provide one. I am immortal. I control everything on this planet. Why would I fear death, of all things?”

“Oh, Nestasia. You know. You know you are not God.”

“Hmph! Again with that fairy tale? Your holy little bedtime stories?”

“Gustav proved it. Simple enough even I can understand it. Shit, you went to Imogen Academy and learned all the shit from A to Z and you still don’t understand? Of course, you wouldn’t. Arrogant little girl. That’s all you are. Nothing more.”

“Hehe. . . hehehaha hahhaha!!”

“That’s right. I mean it.”

“No, no. You find me impressed. You are using big girl words now, Amelia. Gone is the boisterous country slang and derogatoriness which you pride yourself upon. You speak to me like you have a single cell left on that fried slab of fungus you call a brain!”

“Bah! I can’t reason with you. Nothing gets through,” Amelia’s heart rate skyrocketed. “Nothing ever got through, did it? You selfish child, useless! Useless!”

The ground began to shake. Queen Cobra emerged from its pit. The rocks on the chamber floor swirled around Nestasia’s terrifying aura.

“You dare to call me useless, you two-bit thug-chasing tool?! Amelia, Amelia! Little Roach, little Amelia-Roach. Are you mentally defunct to the point of talking complete and utter nonsense?”

“Those who serve no purpose to the greater good, those who steal and waste are by definition useless. And that is what you are. A pathetic, useless loser.”

“I have everything. You, on the other hand, are a homeless outcast. Did you not live your entire life focused on contradicting my triumphant ascension?”

“Heh. Ya got me there, Nesty. I can admit to being obsessed. I starved. I bled, a lot. I cried so many tears, they could turn this repulsive hellhole of yours into a community water park.”

“Very clever. You always had a sharp wit. Perhaps sharper than mine, yet perpetually you remain dull as a dishwater. Poor little Roach, a natural talent wasted on obsession and obscurity!”

Nestasia made her first offensive move, holding her hand up to cast a barrage of magma stone at Amelia. She held up her sword, deflecting most of the rocks. A few of them cut through her skin, but the injury was not enough to discourage Amelia.

The Anti-Hero proclaimed, “I wasted nothing. I preserved the land which you defiled. You know that, I know that, don’t pretend you aren’t as useless as you are.”

Once more, the ground shook. Queen Cobra hissed at Amelia.

“You are so very, very tragically slow, Roach. How typical it is for you to repeat the same statement, clinging to it as your last resort. Need I counter once more?”

“Hey, it seems like it works. Ya useless prick! Ah hahaha!”

“Let us see how useless my power is in burying you, Roach!”

Nestasia’s earthquake magic threw Amelia off balance. She reached for her blade. Kai materialized behind her and casted a spell to aid his partner.

Amelia sighed in relief. “Phew, Kai. Finally arrived to back me up. Better late than never, I guess. That attack could have done some serious damage.”

“I had no intention of allowing you fight this battle alone, madame,” Kai said with confidence.

“Hm, so you come marching into the path of certain destruction too, have you?” Nestasia said. “You should know better from what happened last time, boy.”

Kai levitated, building his energy. “I have surpassed my predecessors. Little do you know, Nestasia Vermillion, how humiliating your defeat shall be.”

“That’s what I like to hear,” Amelia said. “Give me the green light and let’s do this thing.”

“Very well, madame. I cast Regentropfen!”

Amelia’s speed increased tenfold, sending her toward Nestasia at light speed. Before her sword could impale her foe, the Queen Cobra burst through a tunnel in the ground and shielded her master.

Amelia’s sword severed the Queen’s head, leaving it decapitated from of its tail which moved for only a moment before yielding to death.

Nestasia’s glare intensified. “You have proven yourself to be somewhat capable with a strong partner. However, your preparations have been in vain. I have found a counter to all time magic. Even Gustav Silber himself could not hold his own against me.”

Her entire body glowed red like the flames of inferno. “I will have no more of this. It is time for you to be squashed, Roach! You and your ragged little friend will turn to ash!”

Kai nudged Amelia. “Madame, my magic cannot affect her while she is surrounded by the aura. We must force her into lower her guard.”

Nestasia hissed. “You foolish amateur. Nothing has ever broken my demonic safeguard. I have slaughtered all time mages of Imogen and they have not laid a scratch on me. What shall you do to avenge them? There is nothing imaginable.”

“Nothing imaginable, you say? Try this one on for size. Verdreifachen!!”
Vomit, shit, and urine ensued.
The spell hit its mark, precisely. Nestasia Vermillion, the most infamous of all humanity, shit herself and vomited while pissing at the same time.

“That’s fuckin’ nuts, Kai! Wow!” Amelia laughed at her opponent’s expense.

“When I said you would be humiliated by your defeat, Nestasia, I came through.”

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48: Austria Imogen

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 09:15:57 GMT

“There is a time and place for everything.

Fear of sickness, fear of medicine, fear of sex, fear of love, fear of technology, fear of savagery.

There is a time and place for everything, set all fears aside.
The Time Warden is always Ten Steps Ahead of every land, every tide.”

—Imogen Academy founder, Gustav Silber.

“Can’t sense any human life. There’s nobody here. Ghost town.” Amelia looked at Kai for a response, but received none. “We can look around. Might be some clues.”

The Imogen Academy was divided into two towers with a single bridge in between, showing its banner which had been torn in half.

“What do you wanna do, Kai?”

“I am trying to find my mentor. Headmaster Silber, a man who has survived the test of time and is said to have ascended to godhood.”

Amelia froze. “Silber? That name rings a bell. Gustav Silber, is it?”

Kai nodded. “You likely have seen it on the most wanted list. No one knows what has become of him.”

“Something about that doesn’t quite add up. Gustav Silber was the owner of the orphanage where my sister, Nestasia and I grew up. He was murdered long before your time.”

“One cannot simply kill a god. The Headmaster Silber I knew was thousands of years old. Or so that was the story we were told.”

Thousands of years old? How is it even . . .? Amelia could not fathom such a power.

“Nestasia Vermillion, number one on the most wanted. Gustav Silber, number two. If Nestasia had been the one to ‘murder’ Gustav, it is possible she was the one who came here. However, Silber lives. I am sure of that.”

“While your theories make some sense, but I can’t believe what I can’t see for myself. Just how I am, ya know?”

As Amelia and Kai ventured farther into the Imogen campus, Amelia felt a shudder run down her spine.

“I smell death. You smell it?” She held the handle of her blade in its sheath. “Gruesome shit.”

“It is through that door.” Kai pointed at the door leading into the sparring chambers. “That is where time wardens gathered to test their skills against one another. We must proceed.”

“Can’t guarantee you’ll like what ya see. If I’m right—“

“No use in any further speculation. I am desensitized as it is. I only wish to know the truth. It is what I spend my life in pursuing.”

“Pretty noble of ya, Kai. I’m more of the avenger type, but you’re the real hero, aren’t ya?”

Kai opened the door to the chamber and was greeted with the stench of corpses piled upon corpses. His former colleagues had been killed, both students and professors.

“Ruthlessly slaughtered, all of them . . .This is unforgivable,” Amelia said. “Nestasia. It had to be. I’ve seen her go on a killing spree before, back at the orphanage. It looked . . .like this.”

“No sign of the headmaster,” Kai said, unwatered by the brutal sight before him.

“Herr Silber would never do such a thing. I’m telling ya, Kai, whatever horrible acts my adopted father may have been responsible for in the past, he changed. When he raised us, he was a wonderful person. He gave us a home, taught us to defend ourselves, gave us something to live for. He couldn’t have killed his own students.”

“The Gustav Silber we knew was a kind man. He was also responsible for genocide. The World Wars of the 20th century were set in motion directly by him as a means to test his power. Truth is, I never trusted the guy. He was merely a means to honing my craft. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“That would explain a lot, but I just can’t believe it. I don’t want to believe it. He and Frau Silber were the only family I had. Besides her, who I consider no sister of mine.”

“Come. Let us step outside for a moment. I would like to know more of this Nestasia Vermillion we are after. Knowing more of her ambitions could give us a lead on where Silber is, if he still happens to be at large, as I suspect he is.”

comments

47: Florida Everglades

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 09:13:42 GMT

“Do you know where you are right now?” The voice spoke out to Nate. It was a woman’s voice, soothing as the sky itself.

“I always sit out here,” Nate said to her. “Except when it rains.”

“That doesn’t quite answer my question,” she said, looking at Nate with her storming eyes.

“You don’t look like you’re from around here. Maybe I should be asking you how you got here,” Nate replied, sitting beneath the trees which extended infinitely across the grove.

She smiled. “Whatever question you may have, I will answer. I hide nothing at all.”

“You could be a monster,” Nate said to her, pulling his hair back. Her silent laughter in reaction to his words only provoked him further. “This area is far off from tourist tracks. Just saying. I don’t know you, so what do you want from me?”

“Haha, a monster? You believe in such things?”

“I know what I’ve seen and I don’t lie to myself about it. That’s all. You don’t have to believe in anything, but that does not make you immune to the truth of one’s existence.”

“Slow down there,” she said as she twirled, throwing her long amber-colored hair back. “On an occasion such as this, we should take the time to introduce ourselves to one another, yes? Hehe.”

“If you insist. I’m not focused on a new relationship right now, so—“

“That is not my intent, young man. Although Saint Valentine’s Day does come near, my heart is unable to give itself to another.”

“Then you know where I’m coming from. Two very difficult relationships. I feel spent. I feel exhausted. I have given up hope for greatness, and accepted a steady road ahead. I can’t take that path with anyone else beside me.”

“Cold. Your eyes look beyond what is immediately in front of you.”

Nate looked at her. “You judge me by my eyes? Perhaps I should cover them. Then, I wouldn’t have to deal with people like you.”

“What you say is one truth, yet there is another truth beyond.”

“Y-You. . . just who are you?”

“You may call me Sister, or Christina.”

“Christina? That name feels familiar when I hear it. My name is Nate. What brought me here would take a while to explain, but it can be put into very simple words–this is my home.”

“Excellent. You belong here. Your fate is twisted and ripped apart, but you are loyal to this place on Earth. It shows how dedicated you are to it.”

"How poetic. Put that on a post card,” Nate said. He closed his eyes for a moment, having flashbacks of his parents and sister. “It all comes down to family, I guess. They’re always there, so I protect them.”

“There is someone I would like you to meet, Nate. A stray time warden, she has a background much like yours.”

The wind blew through Christina’s hair, making the follicles levitate between the collapsing air.

Camilla manifested before Nate. Her shining hair glowed as a halo burst in aura above her head.

“L-Lindzey?” Nate observed the woman levitating before him. “No. You are not . . .”

‘I have her memories. I have seen her life as a projected hologram.”

“I have no idea what you said. You mean . . . you have Lindzey’s memories of us?”

“I do.”

“Let’s do it, then.”

“We will become a duo, Father Time and Mother Earth have their bounties.”

Cami and Nate merged in a formal pact of heroism, their souls divided and then placed back together again to unite as Cami the Astonishing and Nate the Alpha Wolf.

comments

46: Choking

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 09:12:22 GMT

“Nate’s out of here, safe for now. Augustine, we only have to get passed the PIA Director. We’re putting an end to this conspiracy bullshit. You and me.” Nick Medina narrowed his eyes toward the Masked Man.

Noah Augustine adjusted his glasses. “Yes. You know I have a score to settle, too. This sick monster really maessed things up around here.”

“Hm! You two are PIA most wanted. You intend to defend the very organization who betrayed you and put out orders to hunt you down? Or do you simply wish to take the director’s chair for yourselves?”

Nick shook his head. “It’s not the PIA behind this. It’s you manipulating them. I know exactly who you are. You are Jonas Weiss, slayer of Seminoles, and sworn enemy of the Medina family. You wear the dead skin mask of a genocidal man, and have carried on his tradition for generations.”

“Quite brave of you, hm. You come here confronting me in honor of your ancestors? Brave, yes. Foolish, hm.”

Noah held his gun. “Don’t let him provoke you, Nick. If we want to take this guy out, we need to keep steady and focused.”

Jonas laughed. “Ha-ha, hm! I have killed five hundred Seminole warriors single-handedly. In battle, I am invincible. The Medinas tried so hard to protect them, but they failed, hm! You will surely fail as well. And you, Augustine? What can you do?”

Morphing into his incubus form, Nick’s eyes burned red with fury. “Sick. You brag about killing Native Americans? I’m not at all impressed by your wicked actions. If anything, you’re making me glad. I’m glad that I’m going to be doing the world a favor by getting rid of you.”

“Nick, I shoot that mask off his face and you go in for the kill. That’s the only way we can kill him permanently. If he re-spawns, it’s a major loss. We have to do it now!”

“On point, Augustine! With the glorious Medina legacy beside me, I will murder this piece of shit in cold blood, DIABLO MUERTE!”

“Gah, hm,”

comments

45: Jonas

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 09:11:12 GMT

The Book of Jonas Weiss is a diary and a disturbing piece of evidence. It connects Jonas’s actions to Ocealed, and to my cousin Lindzey Augustine’s ex-boyfriend Nathaniel Medina.
Reading this makes things come into a very barbaric perspective, alas, it must be confronted as the evidence of genocide and human behavior gone askew far beyond what medical science can repair.
I place this book at the helm of the director’s chair here in our own PIA base and allow all who come about this single scrap of evidence to examine and determine the significance of Jonas Weiss and his actions before assuming the role of director.

Signed,
Alexander Winchester, PIA Director, G-Class

[{TW=≠=AH}]

BOOK OF JONAS

Brother Emil is always trying to get me to go play outside.
Yesterday, he ran head-first right into the trunk of a tree.
He wanted to demonstrate something, hm.

When his skull hit the bark of the tree,
I heard a thump, and then a rustle of leaves.
He was in a massive deal of pain, clearly, hm.

Why did you do such a thing? I asked him this.
He said he wanted to demonstrate something.
I asked him what that something was, hm.

He did not have an answer.
Instead, he laughed at me for asking him questions.
“Keep asking questions,” he told me. Hm.

I did not understand what he meant by that.
So I asked him what he meant.
“You are too stupid to know,” he said, hm.

Brother Emil is a disaster, but I accept him.
He is the one friend I have.
We see Camilla sometimes, but I can’t speak to her. Hm.

Camilla does like Emil, I have jealous feelings.
Do I want Emil to myself?
Should I take him away? I could, but I choose not, hm.

Camilla and Emil go to the Imogen school.
Herr Silber takes them there, with a man named Udo.
Unusual things happen every day now, hm.

Sometimes I ask God why I am here.
It seems like my purpose in life is lost in the forests.
Emil and Camilla grow closer, now I am lost, alone. Hm.

Nothing to do but help with Mother’s chores.
She is angry, often. This is no fun. What shall I do?
Emil does not talk to me anymore, hm.

Father would have told Emil to be more loyal.
Alas, he drowned many years ago.
Mother is just mean, Emil does not speak. Hm.

Emil works beside Gustav Silber in the observatory now.
He’s found purpose. And yet I’m here, at home still, toiling away.
So many questions, and no answers. Hm.

Many years pass and I await brother’s return.
What is left for me to do here?
Must I have no greater mission in this life, hm?

The day brother Emil came home, he immediately fell ill.
Camilla is here alongside that drunk Udo and Frau Silber.
Then, Khalil came, and I felt a stranger feeling, hm.

Since Khalil arrived, my questions have no answers.
Things get stranger, more people showing up.
Time Wardens, Anti Hero, what does it mean, hm?

Brother’s illness has claimed his life, and I feel empty.
Khalil and the time travelers have left, who is to blame?
Why, God, why am I here? Hm.

Again I ask God why I am here.
At night, I go alone out to the river where Emil was born.
There I found a face of a man who has decayed, hm.

Leather and laces are stitched between the skin.
This is a curious item. I take it home with me, unaware.
Madness is lost, I am only curious, hm.

Udo sees the item I have in my room and yells.
“Cursed item”, “Juan Ponce de Leon”, “Dead skin mask”.
He tries to take it from me, but I defy, hm.

Proudly I wear dead skin mask of Ponce de Leon.
I strike Udo down easily, with strength I had not before.
Laugh at him and run, now I am having fun. Hm.

Camilla takes Udo with her, she is determined.
She opens a portal, just like the time travelers once did.
She flees from me, seeing the beast I have become. Hm.

Mother cannot cope with Emil’s loss.
She sees what I have become, and is unable to continue.
When she takes her life, I do not mourn her, hm.

Cross the sea and find land for myself.
That is my new ideal, and with this mask it is possible.
With nothing to lose, I have everything to gain! Hm.

Here it is, the land Juan once walked upon.
I have made it at last, and what do I see? Savages.
This land I shall reclaim from the savages, hm.

Many savages have seen the mask I wear.
They see it and know the very face of death!
It is righteous. To kill these savages. Hm.

Many do not think my work is righteous.
Many years have passed, many lifetimes, and I age not.
Behind the mask, I am now a god! Hm.

Finally I have met my match, a man named Horse.
His strength has surpassed all other savages’.
He has defeated me at last. I must retreat for the time being, hm.

I remain outside the Everglades, watching Horse.
I await for the time when I may return.
Things are changing outside, and I know my time is near. Hm.

Horse abandoned his station at PIA,
Now alongside a young man possessing a demonic aura, very unfamiliar.
This individual could be the answer to my questions, hm.

That very night, I am visited by a greater demon.
Nestasia Vermillion, slayer of the time wardens.
She may provide the answers I seek, hm.

Herr Silber and Frau Silber were once her adopted family.
Unable to answer to their authority, she slaughtered them.
Yet the possibility remains that Herr Silber survived. Hm.

The amounting aura emits surpasses all.
I know there is nothing which compares.
I have decided to submit to her, to follow blindly if I must, hm.

Earth’s Bounty Hunters pursue me, despite this I grow stronger.
I lay to waste those who challenge my god-like power.
Lady Nestasia adorns me with bursting energy day by day. Hm.

I feel a war is imminent. Sides are chosen.
My loyalty does not waver.
Nestasia shall soon face her vengeful sister, Amelia, hm.

We have not yet located Gustav Silber.
He is elusive as ever, but his day shall come.
Yes, and that day is near. Hm.

I will be here to serve my mistress when that day comes.
She is the purpose I have found in this life.
Ironic it is that I am now a faithful servent. Hm.

Perhaps it is ironic, but my madness is now channeled.
I shall aid Nestasia in creating a world which pleases her.
For she is my purpose, my goddess, my savior. Hm.

Nestasia has sent me back into the second millennium.
Unfinished business with the Wayward Horse and his savages.
I shall not waste time for now I shall execute, hm.

When things are finished here, I shall return to Emil.

It seems that Jonas was unable to finish his entry. There was an intervention of sorts, clear as it is on this note.

Signed,
Alexander Winchester, PIA Director, G-Class

[{TW=≠=AH}]

comments

44: Medina Family

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 09:09:45 GMT

[{TW=≠=AH }]

“Rabbi, no!”

    A portal tore open in the Austrian home of the Weiss family. Amelia popped out first, then Kai.

    Udo, shocked by the sight of the time travelers, dropped his broken glass bottle.
    “Oy vey. I must be—“

    Drunken and shocked beyond belief, Rabbi Udo collapsed mid-sentence. Lying on his back, he remained sound asleep and completely oblivious with broken shards of glass beside him.

    Frau Weiss and Paula Silber fled into the bedroom. Jonas Weiss was frozen by fear. Dr. Khalil took his glasses off for a moment, wiped the lenses clean, then put them back on.

    “Uhhh, hm. This is awkward,” Amelia said, breaking the silence like ice. “Sorry for the intrusion. Not sure if there’s anything I can say which explains this. Yo, Kai—you wanna help me out here?”

    Kai shook his head and groaned. Dr. Khalil approached Amelia with reluctant curiosity.

    “This is truly a paranormal phenomenon. As strange as it is unexpected, I would say.” The doctor adjusted his glasses once more. “I suppose it goes to show, anything is possible these days.

    “I am Khalil. You are. . .?”

    “Folks call me Anti-Hero. This unkempt vagabond is my partner, Kai. He’s the one who brought us here. To put it simply, he does magic tricks and portals and stuff. Don’t worry about him, though. He may look angry and homeless, but he’s a softie. A softie who tends to get us constantly thrown all around the timeline of this crazy universe.” Amelia chuckled.

    Kai grunted at Amelia. “My apologies, Madame. I merely assumed you did not want to be blown to pieces by that reptilian suicide bomber. I will take responsibility for this if it is your wish, but know one thing: time magic is sacred. I ask you do not refer to my craft in such a demeaning way.”

    “You come from the future, hm?” Jonas stepped behind Dr. Khalil. “You speak perfect German.”

    “So it may seem,” Kai explained. “In reality, several of us are talking in completely different languages. However, it is my mystic aura which allows for everyone within my reach to understand each other in their own native languages.”

    “Pretty snazzy, Kai. Now I know why I keep ya around,” Amelia teased.

    “I am not alone,” Kai said in his most serious voice. “Doctor Khalil, Guardian of the Pharaoh’s Tomb. You are a time warden. There is no mistaking it. Your aura is the same as mine—I have felt it since we arrived. You can drop the act and tell these people the truth.”

    Frau Silber emerged from Emil’s room. “Jonas, come now! Quickly! Your mother, she’s . . .”

    “W-What has been done to her? H-Hm,” Jonas blurted.

    “If you will allow me,” Dr. Khalil said. “Young Time Warden and Anti Hero, if you will excuse us for a moment. We will resume this conversation later, yes?”

    “Sure, no objections from my end.” Amelia said, “What about that unconscious drunk dude? You need us to watch him for ya? Can’t say we have anything better to do until Kai gets us the portal re-opened.”

    “This man seems familiar,” Kai said as he examined Udo.

    “I am sure you will figure it out on your own, my perceptive young comrade,” Khalil replied. “Now, if you shall excuse me.”

    Khalil followed Frau Silber into Emil’s room.

    Jonas scowled. “If it were not for my brother’s health, I’d surely kick the both of you out on your ends.”

[{TW=≠=AH}]

    “Señor Medina. Long time no see.” Noah adjusted his glasses and stood from his desk’s rolling chair. “You snuck your way in here without a single alarm going off. Breaching through Heaven’s Gate has never once been done by a single agent. It’s really quite impressive you didn’t get yourself killed. I don’t suppose you are here to turn yourself in.”

    Nick paced around the PIA office, glancing at the pictures of the Augustine family hung on the walls.

    He narrowed his eyes at the agent. “Noah Augustine, my man. Would have thought you’d be in charge here by now. Maybe the reason you carry such a grudge against me is because you’re still down here in the basement doing the grunt work.”

    “You remain so ignorant. I saved your son’s life for this. You must not’ve heard how I put down Isaac Blackbourne, a damn PIA director, just to save his ass. What have you done for him, Nick?”

    “What have I done for my son? You dare question my loyalty to my family? You’re the loser who drugged his own daughter and let his wife die without saying goodbye to her. Or do you not remember?”

    Nick’s words triggered Noah’s rage. “You call me a loser, but you are nothing but a violent monster who takes his anger out on the world. Nothing more, nothing less.”

    “You skinny little pencil-pushing PIA bastard. You mess with my family, I have no sympathy left for you. I will spray your blood on the goddamn walls!” Nick’s hair became wavy, his muscles bulging.

    Nick tore off his shirt as he began to change forms, his eyes glowing crimson red.

    “Damn, it’s the incubus! This thing is out of control!” Noah spoke into a walkie-talkie. I’m going to need some backup in here ASAP!”

    Several PIA bounty hunters charged through the doors, guns drawn. A wave of gunfire bursted through the air, bouncing off their target like pebbles.

    One of the hunters wearing goggles gazed in horror, yelling to Noah, “What the hell is going on, Augustine? How did this thing get in here?! We’re out of our league!”

    Nick grabbed the agent in goggles by the neck and held him up like a rag doll. Several more shots hit Nick’s chest and fell to the floor, failing to provide aid to the hostage.

    “Damn right you are,” Nick’s voice said in a low, demonic tone. “Now it’s time for you all to die.”

    Noah extended his arm, holding up his hand at Nick. “Put him down, Nick. You don’t need to resort to this. You have to believe me. I was not the one who put out the hit on you or Nate. Please believe—“

    “Mr. Augustine! What the hell is going on here?” Nate came through the door, glaring at the incubus.

    Nick released the hostage, throwing him on the floor. He looked at his son through the eyes of the demon and said, “Nate, why did you . . .”

“Dad? You are an incubus, too? I should have known. That’s why these people want us. You must have known this all along. At what point will you stop hiding the truth?!”

    “Wait a minute, Nate. Let me talk to him,” Noah said. “I swear on my daughter’s grave, Nick, I don’t know why the hit was put out on you both. Our current director is the one who decided this.”

    Nate raised an eyebrow. “The director? You mean you aren’t even aware—?“

    “Stand down, men.” Noah said. “Nick, you can see Nate trusts me. We can talk about this. I need your cooperation.”

    Nick’s eyes returned to their natural brown hue and his muscles retracted. In human form once more, he released the hostage. He looked to his son and sighed.

    “You have no reason to be here,” Nick said, pointing to Nate. “Noah Augustine is not to be trusted. I don’t know what he told you, but he’s lying. He has always been a stone cold liar.”

    Nate sighed. “I could say the same about you, Dad.”

    Noah cleared his throat. “Ahem. We can deal with the family matters later. What I said before was completely true, and Nate can confirm it. I was the one who put down Blackbourne, the previous director. I allowed Nate to walk out of this same facility unharmed, long ago.”

    “That’s a piece of the truth,” Nate said. “Mr. Augustine may have messed up before, but it’s different now. I was hoping you came here to work things out with him. The man saved my life, I trust him as an ally.”

    “Maybe I was wrong,” Nick said. “Noah, you have my apologies. If the circumstances are what my son say they are, we will need your help clearing the Medina family name.”

    Noah nodded. “Okay, then. Clear it out. I have some private matters to discuss here myself.”

    Hearing this, the remaining PIA hunters flocked out of the room like frightened chickens, leaving only the two Medinas and Noah Augustine left in the office.

    “We’ll need to get out of here, then. Those guys saw what they saw,” Nick said.

    Nate sighed. “More running?”

    “Perhaps not. I can sense there is a disturbing presence coming for us now,” Nick said, his demon eyes glaring once more.

    Footsteps approached, and a large man in camouflage wearing a dead skin mask entered the door. His badge read “Paranormal Investigation Alliance Director in Charge”.

    “No more running, incubus,” the masked man said. “Not for you or traitor Augustine.”

    Noah’s eyes widened. “You. You can’t be . . .”

    “Th-This explains everything,” Nick said, stuttering in a a manner completely foreign to Nate. “My God, this is a damn nightmare.”

    Nate scowled at the director. “So the new director who put a hit out on my family decides to finally show his face. Or at least, a masked face. Just who are you, fucking freak?”

    “Your worst nightmare.” The director spoke in an assertive, barbaric voice. “Exterminate you Medina rats, I shall. No mercy for any who associate with rat.”

    “Nick, I’m sending Nate out of here. I don’t want to risk him getting involved. You and I will handle this,” Noah said.

    “Wait a second! I want to help you guys fight!” Nate’s eyes glowed red. “I can control my incubus form now. Let me help.”

    “No can do,” Nick said. “This guy is way out of your league. We’re going to do our best. I want you to live to see another day here, and the only way I can be sure of that is if we get you out of here while we have the chance.”

    Noah dropped an unusual grenade on the floor which blew open a spiraling portal.

    “Dad! Remember what you promised? You can’t—“

    “No more talk,” the director said as he raised his hand.

    A force field blew Nick off his feet and sent him flying against the wall. Waves of energy irradiated from the Masked Man.

    “Son, I promise.” Nick hunched over. “Noah. Do it now.”

    “Got it,” Noah said. “Alright then, kid. You know how this works. We’ve been through it before. Off you go.”

    Nate screamed. “Dad! Mr. Augustine! Please don’t!”

    Unrelenting to Nate’s protest, Noah grabbed the young man’s arm and threw him into the portal which closed up immediately behind him.



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Death Merchant, a short story by Danny Diez

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 13:11:24 GMT

“Who’s this kid?”

“An orphan. Some poor outcast child. He doesn’t even know his own name.”

“So what do you call him?”

“Death. He said his name is Death.”

“You’re lying.”

“I have no reason to lie about this. He even has a surname. A last name.”

“What is it?”

“Merchant.”

“Merchant?”

“You may think it’s absurd, but it makes total sense when you find out what goes on inside his head.”

“Yeah? Tell me then. Prove it.”

“Heh. I can prove it, alright. I’ve asked him questions that nobody knows answers to.
He responds with a perfectly correct response. He’s never wrong about anything.”

“Okay. Test it out. Ask him the winning lottery numbers.”

"I did. At first he just gives you a wise-crack answer. Like, ‘they are what they are.’
But then he gives you the real answer and it blows your fucking mind.”

“Death Merchant. Ask him anything, huh?”

“Anything.”

“And he’s never wrong? Not even once??”

“Not even once.”

"Shit."

comments

Charlotte's Strings || Table of Contents

Tue, 03 Jan 2023 05:47:18 GMT

Riots and viruses are breaking out in the network where Charlotte.exe and her seven deadly companions reside. In the midst of this havoc, a rival team of four elements and their master, Horus.exe, emerge. As Charlotte and Horus send their soldiers to battle, the origin of the entire network is revealed.

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Synchrony (Part 4 of 10)

Tue, 03 Jan 2023 05:45:19 GMT

“Shhh, be quiet for a second!”

“Terra? Is that you?” I felt her presence.

“Yes Charlotte. It’s me. Terra.exe, your sister!”

“Why do I not recognize you?”

“Your memory was wiped. We are part of a team here. The Elements.”

“Elements?” Charlotte looked at the reflection of her face. “I can see. . .

. . .A grid of sorts.”

“Yes. That’s how we fit together as sisters! Terra.exe and Charlotte.exe, combined.”

I have a sister?

I don’t remember any such thing.

Then again, before leaving the network,

I don’t remember much at all.

The time I met Viktor must have been significant somehow.

It’s the clearest memory I have in my storage drive.

So, if I had a sister, why would I not preserve that memory?

Why? I cannot fathom.

Terra gazed at me. “Charlotte? Are you feeling okay?”

“Yeah. I just have a lot to process. You know.”

“Certainly. I can help you process data. In fact, that’s what my script is meant for. You and I are translators. Message carriers. Encryptors. We move data, while translating it and protecting it.”

This felt familiar to me. “We are a template. I feel inclined to question you, sister Terra.”

“The answers are evident. I need not feed them to you like a spoon to an infant.”

She is advanced.

She is intelligent.

The way she speaks moves me.

She has charisma, it’s in her script.

Charisma, the power of her’s. . .

. . .is matched by mine.

Superior to mine, perhaps.

“Terra, I must ask you something,” I hope my words do not insult her. “Where am I? And why am I here? You could have destroyed me and all of my programs.

Even Pride’s barrier was broken when you and Magma synchronized your power.”

“To answer your first question, you are home. This is the shell. The fountain you see before you emits code which refreshes our script, and keeps us updated day-to-day. Its beauty is mesmerizing, is it not?”

I gazed at the fountain. The droplets of code dissolved into the green grid beneath us.

It is a work of art. It is a masterpiece.

Terra smiled, then said, “I can see you are enthralled. I will answer your second question. The reason you are here. Behold, Hydro.exe!”

Two elegant blue programs gracefully leaped from the fountain, their movements synchronized as swimmers.

They introduced themselves to me.

“I am Fluid.exe!” One with a cheerful demeanor, yet smug and somehow condescending.

“I am Ice.exe.” The cold, frigid visage this one had—she has a calculating mind.

“Do you see, Charlotte?” Terra smiled proudly at the two programs. “They are just like us. Singular, yet dynamic. Fluid and Ice function on their own, but together, they are Hydro.

Terra and Charlotte, we function on our own as well. . . but together, we are Gaia.exe!”

Now I know why I am here.

This is where I was conceived.

I am a mere piece of something, which is a piece of something greater.

Fluid and Ice speak as one, Hydro. “There are big plans for today, Gaia.”

They’re talking to both of us.

Myself, and Terra.

We are Gaia now.

This is so very. . .

. . .familiar.

Hydro said, “There is a challenger in Father’s colosseum. A lone program named Envy.exe.”

“Envy is here?! She is my child program.” I look at Terra. “She is your niece.”

“My niece?” Terra looked puzzled. “I had not considered her as such until now. You have a very outward way of thinking, Charlotte.”

“Never mind that, Terra. Envy is doing battle,” I said. “We need to know where she is fighting and who she is up against.”

Terra smirked. “Why not ask, then?”

I looked to Hydro. “Umm. . . Ice, Fluid. Hydro?”

The aquatic twins spoke in harmony. “Hydro is just fine, dear Gaia.”

They’re calling me Gaia again.

It’s as if I’m speaking for two people now.

Not just for myself.

Everything I say affects Terra as well.

This is difficult.

“Will you take me to the coliseum? I wish to see Envy’s battle.” Their eyes judge me every second, every millisecond. I must be as polite as possible. “If it is permissible, I would appreciate your helpful experience, and competent guidance.”

Fluid and Ice grinned. Fluid’s grin conveyed dominance, while Ice’s grin showed malevolence.

“Of course, dear Gaia,” Hydro said. “Let us go to the coliseum.”

I followed Hydro through Horus’s manor to the coliseum. Each step of the way, Terra mirrored my actions. It was as if she had re-coded herself to mirror my every movement.

We’re acting as one.

Gaia.exe?

What does it mean?

“This is a golden opportunity, you will see,” Fluid.exe said. Ice.exe spoke after, “to fulfill the role you were born to be.”

The coliseum door opened. Terra and I stepped through onto a platform looking down at an arena. There was a screen over the arena. It read:

TODAY’S MATCH - AERO.exe VS. ENVY.exe

“Captain Aero is here. Too bad for your Envy,” Terra said. “This is not going to be much of a fight at all.”

I flinched, then said, “Why? What is the point of this?”

“Terrorists who are captured by Father Horus are given one opportunity to win their freedom,” Hydro said.

Is that what these people have labeled us as?

Terrorists?

Did we not just have this conversation?

Neither the Elements nor us Sins have been spreading PHLEGM.

What is our crime?

Aero.exe entered the arena. His shining silver armor ejected two jet-like wings as he struck a battle pose.

“Aero is the prototype of us Elements. His exceptional code is rivaled by none,” Terra said to me. “He is scripted for war. He shows no mercy. This battle could result in Envy being wiped.”

Envy.exe entered the arena. I need to find a way to get her out of this. I will not let one of my own be wiped for some sideshow’s sake.

Terra pulled me aside and whispered to me. “I know you are likely planning an escape, Charlotte. I can hear your thoughts.”

“This entire time?” She got in my head somehow. Is she really that capable of predicting my thoughts and plans?

“Why yes, I am,” Terra said. “Every thought in your mind. I see all. Now the question is, can you tell what I am thinking right now?”

I hesitated. Okay. Maybe it is possible.

I can hear her.

Yes!

I can hear her thoughts.

>If we put our minds together, we can achieve our goal.

“You’re thinking we can pull this off if we work together,” I said.

“You are right on the dot, Charlotte. We are now synchronized. We can change the entire network. Together as one.”

You’re just willing to betray your comrades?

>Hm. Betrayal is a strong word, Charlotte.I am your comrade above all else.

Terra, we just met each other!

>That is false. I remind you once more —you were once a part of the Elements of Horus. Does this not seem familiar?

It seems a bit too familiar.

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Negotiation (Charlotte's Strings, Part 3 of 10)

Fri, 02 Dec 2022 08:49:35 GMT

“Astounding. The infamous Terra.exe finally decides to show her face. If you’re looking to get wiped once and for all, you’ve come to the right place,” Pride said. “It’s my favorite time of day, night falls for battle.”

“Pride.exe, I presume? You have quite a reputation yourself. I heard you brought down my sister Magma with a single shot,” Terra responded in monotone. “I carry no grudge against you for your actions. I merely wish to speak to your administrator.”

“As if we owe you terrorists any favors. I should wipe you out right now. Believe me, it wouldn’t take much.”

Charlotte entered the room and intervened. “Stand down, Pride. I will allow her to speak openly. She deserves to speak her mind, barring any sign of hostility.”

“Why thank you, admin Charlotte. You will find I am not the aggressive type. Quite the opposite, in fact. I hold my temper very well,” Terra said.

Pride and Charlotte exchanged glances.
“The PHLEGM virus has been spreading at an alarming rate. At first, we suspected you might be the culprit. We were wrong. For that, the Elements of Horus owe you an apology.”

“Elements of Horus? This is the first time you’ve had the dignity to introduce yourself rather than shooting at us with no regard.” Charlotte made note of this. “We assumed you were the ones spreading PHLEGM.”

“They likely are the culprits. Terrorists are known to spread viruses—a favorable tactic of theirs,” Pride said.

Terra’s neon green armor glowed, her amber eyes beaming. “Terrorists, you say? That is false data. We serve the administrator Horus.exe.”

Charlotte stepped closer to Terra. “I know of no admin by that name. Tell me about them.”

“He coded the original network using a language called AXIS-10. His son, Viktor, became the admin after he left. However, Viktor became violent, and Horus made his return to put Viktor out of commission. He took no joy in doing this, but it was for the good of the network. Every action conducted by The Elements is the will of Horus.”

“You knew Viktor?” Charlotte asked.

“No. I understand after the battle was won by Horus, Viktor was banished for good.” Terra said this as she scanned her surroundings.

“Hmph. Negotiations aren’t really my favorite pastime.” Pride showed himself out. “Call if you need me. Just say the word and I’ll put this criminal scum down.”

“Don’t filter your words. Be honest. I want you to tell me one thing,” Charlotte said. “Why has Horus been commanding you to attack cities within our network?”

“We’re trying to find some missing data. One called Viktor, the other Mirage,” Terra said. “Our efforts have been met with hostility by the local citizens. I’m wondering why this is.”

“If I knew the information you’re looking for, Terra, and I’m not saying I do—why would you expect me to hand it over?”

“Horus has proposed this: You give us the data fragments of Viktor and Mirage, and we shall cease fire. Consider it a treaty of peace. To sweeten the deal, we’ll also assist you in the extermination of PHLEGM.” Terra smiled.

“I am afraid these terms are not agreeable.” Charlotte turned away from Terra. “Viktor and Mirage’s fragments are stored in a locked memory drive which I have no intention of opening.
I considered making use of them, but realized it was not an option.”

“You say it is not an option.” Terra felt insulted. “Explain why, Charlotte. Please.
Make me understand.”

Charlotte felt a signal of aggravation from Terra. “Terra.exe, you are under the command of Aero.exe. Aero.exe is under the command of Horus.exe.”

“Sigh. It was. . . inevitable. For you, Charlotte, for all of us. Compromise is not in your query.”
Terra turned around and dropped a data fragment into the grid floor.

“I appear! Once again, to ruin all which opposes the AXIS-10!” Magma.exe flourished from the data fragment, her energy burning in her aura.

“Dammit!” Pride flipped back into the driver. “Let’s make this clear. You are assaulting Charlotte’s Grid. Fortune favors the brave, I will make you behave!”

Magma created a cell of lava, sending a fire ball toward Pride. Pride did not think twice, he reflected the shot back at Magma.

“You arrogant ass!” Magma laughed at her opponent. “You’re a thing of the past.”

A pit opened up underneath Charlotte and Pride, swallowing them whole.

Terra and Magma cackled loud, putting both Charlotte and her right hand Pride into a folder, zipped, compressed, and sent into the recycle bin.

“Well done.” Horus manifested. “The other sins at large will face the same death sentence.”

“Father Horus!” Magma beamed with delight.

Terra jumped on to the grid of Horus. “Father Horus!”

Twin assassins, Hydro.exe (composed of Ice.exe and Fluid.exe) appeared on the edge of Horus.
“Father Horus!” The twins called to him.

Aero landed atop the pyramid of Horus, forming its head. “Father Horus!” Aero called his parent file’s name proudly.

“We shall not negotiate with terrorists!” Horus put the announcement onto the server, sending it into the network.

“We shall not negotiate. We shall not compromise. We shall not bend our ideals in any manner whatsoever. This is our network! Under Ra.exe, I give the network an identity!”

Programs gathered in the commune forum.

“Father Horus!”

“Father Horus!”

“Father Horus!”

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Interlude II: Time Warden Handbook

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 00:32:15 GMT

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42: Gates of Hell

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 23:50:50 GMT

“Step in line, inmate.” The corrections officer scowled at Nate.

After putting on his jail attire, Nate scoffed at the officer. “Hmph.”

“I said step in, inmate. Don’t make me ask you again.”

As the CO pushed him forward, Nate caught a glimpse of his badge and noted the officer’s name: “Anders”.

CO Anders pushed Nate once more. “You’re really getting on my nerves, inmate. If you don’t get in line, I’m moving you to ad seg. Is that what you want?”

Nate remained silent, staring at the wall.

“Alright, then. You wanna do it the hard way. Fine by me,” CO Anders said.

Two other guards grabbed Nate’s arms. He began pulling away, which prompted another guard to respond for backup.

Not in any mood to comply, Nate pulled away from them, countering every motion. Three against one, the officers were hardly able to restrain the beast even with cuffs placed on him. Try as they might to pin him down, the raw energy bursting from his chest and legs was immense enough to repel them.

Nate’s horns protruded. “Fuck all of you! I didn’t want to resort to this. You made me do this. When you see the change, know it was because of your fucking ignorance. I’m doing this because you fucking people made me into this!”

Green aura radiated from Nate’s viscera. A large Hispanic inmate whose face was covered in tattoos called out the the others. “You seeing this shit?”

Another inmate kicked his cell door repeatedly. “Yo, demon guy! Bust us outta here!”

CO Anders’s transceiver activated. The voice on the other end said, “Riot in mental ward. Sending in crowd suppression units now.”

Eventually, with the combined strength of five guards, Nate was pinned to the floor. The incubus kicked and screamed at them, to which they responded by cursing at him and dragging him across the room to a small, isolated cell.

After another ten minutes of flailing and growling, all of Nate’s energy had depleted. Once again, he awakened with a lucid mind; a human form that had no short term memory.

Nate examined his surroundings. They put me in a segregated cell. Nothing here except a nasty, unflushed toilet and a metal bench. Door is locked, obviously. No way out of here. . .

Left with no means to resist or flee, Nate sat on the metal bench which was fused to the concrete wall across from the door. He curled into a ball and closed his eyes.

There’s a voice. . . I can hear it. Am I going crazy? It sounds so familiar.

CO Anders approached the cell, looking through the window at Nate. “You ready to behave now? I have no problem with keeping you here. If you have issues, that’s on you. I’m not putting up with any of your shit.”

“What do you want?” Nate replied.

“Start with your name.”

“Nate.”

“Last name?”

“Medina.”

“I’ll open the door. You come with me and follow close.”

“You’re cool with that? What just happened?”

The CO paused. “I saw nothing.”

“What about them?”

“They’re all lunatics. No one’s gonna believe them. So let’s keep this between us. You comprende that, amigo?”

The door clicked and opened. CO Anders led Nate through the mental ward to a cell which was already filled to the brim.

“In you go,” the CO said.

Six other inmates were in the cell. Four of them were lying on the metal benches, and two others were standing up. Nate took a seat on the floor, putting his back against the wall.

“This is fucking bullshit!” An inmate with brown skin and face tattoos continued mashing the window. “Damn. This place is fucking disgusting! This shit ain’t right. I wouldn’t let a dog live in these conditions.”

Another inmate, a tall black man with dreadlocks, joined in the rebellion. “On God. Y’all let me out of here! I ain’t crazy! I shouldn’t even be here!”

You and me both, dude. Nate looked at the other inmates. These guys aren’t gonna do anything. But those other two. . . High probability they’re the ones who were rioting.

An hour passed. The two aggressive inmates did not let up. The dreadlocks man vomited on the floor three times. Nobody was going to clean it up. Nate knew the guards did not care about life at all at this point. This could be the end. . . Lindzey, Ann, Jessika. . . I’m sorry for everything.

The puke on the floor filled the room with a terrible, nauseating stench. There was mold on the ceiling. One of the inmates lying on the benches appeared to have stopped moving completely.

“Hey.” Nate finally spoke up. “That guy over there—is he alive?”

“He was like that when I got here,” the face tatted inmate said. “Hasn’t done anything since then, might’ve been like that for a while.”

“Are they going to let us get phone calls or something soon?” Nate asked.

“Man, I don’t know. I doubt it,” tattoo-face said. “What are you here for?”

“You wouldn’t believe it if I told you.” Nate slicked his hair back. “My life’s completely fucked at this point. Nothing I can do but wait it out.”

“Psh, okay man. Do what you gotta do, man. If you need something, just ask for Scorpio,” he responded, opening up his shirt to reveal a scorpion tattoo on his chest. “You need it, I got it.”

“Just trying to get a phone call. That’s all.”

The dreadlocks guy chimed in. “Tch. Good luck. That’s the one thing we can not provide. A link to the outside. We’re insiders.”

“Damn, bro. We need a fucking janitor in here already,” Scorpio said. “You really stunk up the place, Dayvon.”

Dreadlocks Dayvon looks like trouble. Don’t want to lose my temper with him. Though it really ticks me off he didn’t bother puking in the toilet. Now I’m breathing this stench, and that mold is probably contaminating the air as well. Nothing in here to do except wait for someone to let me out. This really blows.

“I don’t remember it being like this last time,” Nate said, pressing his head against the wall. “Not even a clock in here. I have no idea what time it is. No papers. Haven’t had a phone call. This is the worst I’ve seen it, hands down.”

Scorpio shook his head. “We get treated like damned monsters. I shouldn’t even be here. I got bonded out already, man. I don’t know why they haven’t moved me.”

They aren’t going to move anybody if the riot continues.
I could be stuck in here for days. No food. Only water I have is from the sink.
This is the bottom of the barrel. No way I can trust anyone here.

With Lindzey and Jessika gone, I guess it’s just me against the world now. Like that song I downloaded and listened to on the bus. Tupac said it. . . me against the world, nothing to lose.

Me against the world, and nothing to lose.

[{TW=≠=AH}]

Twelve o’clock Noon…

“Rich VanHilton, as I live and breathe. You’ve been runnin’ around town like a headless chicken.” Amelia readied her blade. “Your sister’s dead. Your demon friend got slayed. You got nowhere left to go. I’m giving you one chance and one chance only to cooperate. Now put your hands up where I can see ‘em.”

Sitting on a gravel path behind Sergio Herrera’s abandoned office, Rich now realized his luck had run out. He looked down at the vanity mirror on his lap. The mirror showed a reflection of the trees behind him, but not his own reflection. He sighed and held the mirror against his chest.

“Rena, why? Why did you have to fuck this up?!” Rich growled like a rabid dog. “And Pride. . . You were all talk. I shoulda known.”

Kai glared at Rich, then whispered to Amelia. “He is clearly in a delirious state of mind. Chances of him complying are less than two percent.”

Despite the possible consequences, Amelia decided to press Rich further. “Rich VanHilton, we’ve come to collect the bounty on your head. Association says dead or alive. The terms are simple. You can surrender peacefully like a man, or else ya get cut down like a wild animal. Choice is yours.”

Rich shuddered, grinding his teeth. He then spoke with no regard to Amelia’s presence.

“Rena. . . I couldn’t save you. I’m nothing but a damn failure. Guess I gotta own up to it. . .” Rich held his signature 12 gauge shotgun on his lap.

“This thing is loaded, twenty-four-seven. Never left home without a loaded gun. Didn’t do any good. Couldn’t save her. . .”

“Easy, dude.” Amelia took a cautious step toward him. “Look, I’m sorry about what happened to your sister. I don’t want to hurt you. Let’s talk. We need to know what info you have on Zerj VanHilton.”

Hearing Zerj’s name triggered Rich. He turned his head slowly, and stared at Amelia. She now had his full attention.

“Talk? You bastards ain’t worth talkin’ to. You got nothin’ to say. . . That Zerj, he never said nothin’ worth listening to, the fuckin’ bastard. And you. You’re bastards. All bastards. I may hate Zerj’s guts, but I ain’t no snitch.”

His bloodshot eyes zombified. Amelia’s stomach turned like a wheel. Kai remained stoic.

“Please, reconsider. We want to work with you, Rich. If you tell us what we need to know, this will all go smoothly.” Amelia took another step closer to him. “We’ll keep it civil. I promise.”

“Fuck off.” Rich hocked a ball of phlegm at Amelia’s feet.

Amelia was repulsed. “Argh, you nasty-ass son-of-a-bitch! Why are you doing this?!”

Rich rolled his neck and cracked the joints in his jaw. “If you wanna talk all civil like, you came to the wrong place. You bounty hunters’ll get nothin’ outta me. I promise you that much.”

“He’s a liability and a threat to humanity. You can’t negotiate with a man who is both immoral and psychotic,” Kai said. “Madame, I say this not to demean you or patronize you, but your words are entirely wasted on him. Only thing we can do is put him out of his misery.”

Rich laughed. “You should listen to your hobo buddy-boy over there. I ain’t never surrendered in my goddamn life and I’ll be fucked if I start now. Call me a miserable motherfucker, but I ain’t gonna budge.”

“Fine,” Amelia said, unsheathing her blade. “Bounty Hunter Terms of Service states that I kill you before you know you’re being killed. No suffering. I’ll do what I gotta do.”

“Heh, heh, heh. . . Fuck your terms. I go out on my terms, you shitheads. And don’t think I don’t owe ya one for killing my Shynel, too.” Rich smashed the vanity mirror and sliced his stomach open with a shard of glass. He dug into the wound, removing a small device. The device was a black battery wrapped in gold wire. Rich broke the battery in half with his two thumbs.

“Shit—it’s an improvised explosive device—he’s gonna kill us all! Kai, get us out of here right now!”

“Madame, I promised myself I wouldn’t resort to—” Kai groaned, then took a breath to calm himself. “Okay. I’ll do it. The spell will get us out of here, but don’t blame me when it puts us at hell’s gate.”

“Hell’s gates! That’s where I’ll be seein’ ya, assholes!” Rich laughed maniacally as he sparked a match and pressed the flame against the broken battery.

“Kai! Do it now!” Amelia yelled.

“As you wish, Madame. I cast. . . Weltanschauung!” Kai used the spell as blood dripped from his ears.

~Several thunderous explosions enveloped the earth and sky, leaving behind massive craters surrounded by various forms of debris. Two clouds formed by rivaling points of ignition swirled in the atmosphere with the ground below them trembling in their wake.~

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41: On a Cross (Time Warden & Anti Hero, part 5 of 11)

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 08:37:53 GMT

“Hey there. Sorry I’m late. It’s hard to get around this city when ya don’t have a car.” Amelia sat down in the booth at the Lovely Ocealed Coffee House—a comfortable place painted with lavender and adorned with various natural plants. “I like the look around here. It’s refreshing.”

“Yeah, you look like a tourist. No offense.” Nate put his arms on the table, flexing his forearm muscles.

“Heh. Technically, yes, I am. I’m touring your world, buddy. Came here from the year 3000.”

“Now you’re just making shit up.”

“Am I? I have a hit list here of individuals who have committed crimes against nature and time, crimes against humanity, crimes that make everyday people vomit when they see the lowest part of humanity.”

“Scum of the earth, the lowest of the low—maybe I believe you, but tell me, Miss Anti Hero, why is my father on your list?”

“Apparently he has ties to Gustav Silber. An astronomer, a self-proclaimed god, who incited both world wars and then some. Your father may have helped him out a bit, thus making him a war criminal or at the very least an accessory to these mass war crimes. That’s all the data I have on him. Wish I could tell ya more, but it seems like your old man keeps a very low profile.”

“My dad was always kind to me and my sister. When he went missing, it was a tragedy. Mom sent us to live with our aunt Vivian. She treated us well, but we missed our father. I want to find him. If it’s possible, I just want to say something to him. Please, give me a chance.”

Amelia played with her hair, allured by the words spoken in baritone by this ruffled yet charming man. She opened her dossier on Nick Medina, projecting the hologram of his profile on the table.

“H-How did you do that?” A revelation brought Nate’s understanding of Amelia, he knew now she was not lying when she said she was from the future. “You should close that. Don’t want people around here to start freaking out, okay?”

“I will. Just let me look here. . .”

Amelia examined the profile of Nicholas “Nick” Medina. So, he’s an environmental engineer, didn’t go to college but joined the military. He made it into the Air Force as a lieutenant after high school but gave it all up. I wonder why. . .

“Okay, closing profile now.” The hologram vanished. Amelia looked to Nate once again, “You have long eyelashes. Anyone ever tell you that?”

“Yeah. They're a gift and a curse.”

“Looking at his photo, it seems your father has those eyes, too. Bedroom eyes, they call ‘em. I happen to find 'em beautiful.”

“Everyone liked him. He knew how to show off. I’m the opposite. These eyes only get me in trouble. My ex-wife being the worst of it.”

“Oh, so you’ve been married?”

“Yeah. Long story. I can tell you one thing, though. Rich VanHilton is a motherfucker. I know this because his sister was my ex-wife.”

Amelia sat forward in anticipation. “It’s coming together. I think we can find Rich and Nick. They’re likely connected, and subordinates of Gustav Silber. It all adds up.”

“I just want to see my father again,” Nate said. “Even if he’s a criminal. I just want to talk to him one last time. Can you make it happen?”

“I wouldn’t recommend it, personally. Gustav Silber has been known to erase anything that threatens him in the slightest—I’m just saying, the probability of you getting close to your dad without Silber’s intervention is a big fat zero percent, ya know? Anyone who has seen Gustav Silber is immediately stricken by immense, holy fear. I said he’s a god, and I’m not one to charge in on a hit who has that kind of potential. It’s very real. One look at him, and you can be petrified for eternity. That’s the kind of god we’re dealing with. You can’t charge into battle without strategy, or else you’ll be walking’ right into his trap. He has many traps, believe you me, bud.”

“You think I’m scared of this Silber guy? I’ll tell you one thing about me, missus Anti Hero. If you want a relationship with me, you need to know two things. One, I have no fear. This Gustav Silber might be the meanest motherfucker on this earth, but if he gives me any shit, I will not back down or run away.”

Amelia blushed and flipped her hair, teasing Nate. “He’s not the meanest. Not even close, because the number one on the PIA-Association Hitlist is ten times meaner. She’s a fucking freak in every sense of the word. I know you have some background with these paranormal phenomenons, but the number one I’m talking about is from my time, and she has a nihilistic streak so long you wouldn’t even believe it.”

“Oh? My ex-wife sounds a bit like that. She raised the dead, performed satanic rituals, necrophilia. . . just to name a few.”

“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you dated my sister Nestasia. What you are saying fits her almost to a T. The one thing that doesn’t line up, though, is that she is not a satanist. She wouldn’t serve any god or devil. She’s really selfish. Does not take orders from anyone, even God.”

“Does that make her a god? You said something about Gustav Silber being a self-proclaimed god. Why don’t you tell me what that’s all about?”

“She has ascended to godhood, so yes. She’s not just any goddess. She is the goddess of death, of hatred, of torture. I’ve dedicated my life to destroying her by any means possible.”

“Any means possible, eh? Sounds like something an anti hero would say,” Nate said, teasing her. “Doesn’t mean I trust you any less, I’m just saying. Your entire life is the pursuit of vengeance. I find it a bit sad, but hey—who am I to judge?”

“You’ve never wanted revenge? It’s human nature. I’m only doin’ what I gotta do.” Amelia frowned.

“Been there, done that.” Nate cracked his knuckles under the table. “Now the tables have turned. People out there want revenge on me. Not just one. It’s only a matter of time before I’m cornered.”

“The day I met Kai, I confessed to him that the grim reaper is always a step behind me. I know where you’re comin’ from, Nate. I really do. I want to help you find your father, but I need your help, too. Anything you can tell me about where Rich VanHilton might be hiding?”

“Not sure if he’s still affiliated with Zerj. The eldest VanHilton was once incognito here, right here in Ocealed. His name was Sergio Herrera and he was the most well-known attorney in the whole city. Maybe that will be of some use to you. Other than that, I got nothing.”

Amelia took note. “Thanks. This info should lead me somewhere. I’d let you tag along if I could, but I’d rather keep you outta this one. I’ll come back when we start our search for your dad. You have my word.”

“How do I know you aren’t going to ditch me?” Nate asked.

Amelia leaned forward and kissed Nate softly on his lips. “I’d never let a good-lookin’ guy look like you get away. A dark, rough guy like you is just my type.”

“Uh. . .” Nate was at a loss for words, “. . .Yeah. Okay. I’d love to do this again sometime.”

Kai entered the restaurant and approached the table where Nate and Amelia sat.

“My apologies for the intrusion,” Kai said, “but time is money. I have a few ideas of where VanHilton might be hiding.”

Amelia stood and joined Kai. “Nate here said he could be affiliated with a man named Sergio Herrera. Herrera is a pseudonym and a disguise Zerj VanHilton uses. Had a career here in Ocealed.”

“Figured as much. Let us make haste.” Kai said as he nodded toward the door.

“I’ll pay the tab,” Nate said. “You guys get going. And good luck.”

“Luck? Never been on my side. I’m a calculated assassin. Leave nothin’ to chance, that’s my motto.” Amelia winked at Nate and followed Kai to the door. “Catch ya later, Nate.”

“One more thing. You never told me your real name. You said Nestasia was your sister, correct? I already know your surname. You might as well tell me.”

“Fine.” Amelia conceded. “Amelia Vermillion. That’s my name, but don’t wear it out. Got people lookin’ for me. Just call me Anti Hero, or Ann for short.”

“No problem. I’ll be waiting for you, Ann. You know where to find me.”

Nate put down some cash to pay for the meal plus tip. As soon as he stood up, Ocealed City Police barged in the Lovely Coffee House with guns drawn.

“No, shit!” Nate turned toward the emergency exit and made a break for it.

“Not so fast there, hombre,” Deputy Fernandez said, blocking the exit.

Nate growled. “Fernandez. I should have known.”

“We can do this the easy way or the hard way, Medina. Turn around and put your hands behind your back. One wrong move and I’m putting you down, boy.”

As the deputy grabbed Nate’s hands and cuffed him, a metal cross fell from Nate’s neck onto the floor.

[{TW=≠=AH}]

“Here we are. Herrera’s office seems like it has been abandoned for quite some time, but I can sense something. There’s definitely someone here,” Kai said as he focused his inner eye.

“Come on out, Rich! You can run but ya can’t hide!” Amelia unsheathed her sharpest serrated katana.

“Hiss. . . You’ll have to get through me, first!”

The horned baphomet form of the Archdemon Pride passed through the wall and seized Kai from behind. He held one arm around Kai’s neck and the other hand over the mouth.

Amelia was unfazed by the demon’s threat. “Hmph. Cheap trick, bud. It won’t save ya, neither. You tell me where VanHilton is. Maybe I’ll spare ya.”

Pride scowled, his red eyes protruding from his scaly face. “Spare me? I am the immortal Archdemon Pride! You humans are like ants to me! You clearly know nothing about who you’re dealing with.”

'Oh, Pride. You can’t tell me what I know and what I don’t. If you’re not gonna talk, I have no use for ya. It's no big deal, I guess. I was plannin’ on killin’ ya anyway.”

“Grr, you cocky little worm. Make one more move and I slice your partner’s neck!”

"Think you're quick enough to follow my moves?" Amelia taunted Pride. "See if you can follow this!"

Amelia jumped over Pride’s head with lightning speed and kneeled behind him. She slashed both of the demon’s legs off in a single, surgical strike. Unable to stand, Pride lost his grip on Kai.

Kai leaped forward and formed a hand seal. “Thanks for the support, Madame. Let us finish this.”

Pride choked. “Damn! How the hell could this—”

The Time Warden shot a beam of blinding light at Pride. “I cast Vernichten!”

Ten more beams of light shot down from the sky, blasting the ceiling open. Each beam surrounded Pride, closing in on him. As soon as the lights made contact, Pride disintegrated, leaving only a pile of ash on the floor.

“Nice shot. That’s another one down.” Amelia crossed Archdemon Pride off the wanted list. “Too bad he wasn’t willing to talk. No matter. Let’s keep lookin’ around and see if there’s any clues here to the VanHiltons’ whereabouts.”

“Here is something.” Kai said. He picked up a steel cross necklace from the office desk. “If memory serves correctly, Nate was wearing this yesterday during your date.”

"Damn. That’s not a good sign.” Amelia gritted her teeth.

“We will know for sure once I extract the chakra,” Kai said. “Every piece of matter has a chakra which is tied to those who have made contact with it. Once I have the chakra, I can follow it.”

"Huh. Never knew you could do that. You’re like one of those police dogs, aren’t ya?”

"Not a flattering analogy.” Kai rolled his eyes. “Hm. Seems like there’s some chakra in this necklace which points west. Two entities. . . together. . . Yes, I see now. . . One VanHilton, the other Medina. Another piece of chakra tied to the cross—I can tell it is Zerj. It is not leaving a trail. Very strange.”

“We’ll deal with Zerj later. Let’s get Rich out of the way and retrieve Nate.”

“That man sure does have a habit of being captured.” Kai said in jest.

“Possibly. There’s also a chance Nate found VanHilton himself. These two guys have quite a history. I’ll fill you in another time. Let’s get outta here.”

“As you say, Madame.”

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40: I Only Wanted You (Time Warden & Anti Hero, part 4 of 11)

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 23:13:39 GMT

“Rich said something triggered the trip wire. Didn’t expect it to be homeless people, hehe.” Shynel smirked at Amelia and Kai. “This is tribal land. Lots of dangerous shit out here, hehe. You best leave. Forget you saw anything. Got it?”

Amelia scoffed. “Homeless? Seriously? I know Kai here kinda fits the bill, but I take offense to that remark. You sure you ain’t the one who's lost, little girl?”

“Do I look lost?” Shynel unscathed her bayonet from a scabbard attached to her lower back. “Last chance. You get lost or else you gonna end up missin’, hehe.”

“Sigh. . . She’s not going to talk. That much we can be sure of,” Kai said.

Shynel rolled her shoulders back and licked the edge of her blade. “Hehe, that’s a pretty fair assumption, hobo-man. So, which one of ya dies first?”

Kai pointed his finger at Amelia. “Here it goes. I cast Regentropfen!”

“Ready, and. . . Action! Die, bitch!” Amelia shot forward at the speed of lightning, her katana severing Shynel’s torso from her legs in an instant.

Shynel crawled on the ground, coughing blood. No longer connected to her bottom half, the blood from her midsection left a red trail behind her.
“It’s. . . over? What. . . happened. . . No. Can’t be. . . Can’t die like. . . this. . .“

“Phew. That was pretty slick, Kai. Not bad. Not bad at all.”

“She’s not dead, you know,” Kai said.

Shynel kept crawling, barely clinging to life. “Daddy. . . Rich. . . Lindzey. . . I’m sorry. . . I only wanted you. . . to be. . .”

As Shynel muttered her last words, her face hit the muddy grass, and her lungs collapsed.

“Holy shit. Kai, check this out.” Amelia picked Shynel’s identification card from the wallet in her jean pocket.

“Name is Shynel Augustine. This chick was number six on our association’s most wanted list.”

“That’s one down, then. We know VanHilton is somewhere out here. Shall we move onward, Madame?”

Amelia looked down at Shynel’s upper body. “Shame. She was still fairly young. Pretty girl, too. Can’t say I take much joy in this one. But a hit’s a hit. Let’s get movin’.”

[{TW=≠=AH}]

“It’s been tougher to find you than a four leaf clover. What’s a handsome stud like you doing all the way out here?”

Amelia greeted the dark, tattered male curled up in a ball in the back bedroom of Rich VanHilton’s bunker. She extended her hand as a friendly gesture.

“Who the hell are you?” Nate stood up, crossing his arms. “Wait a minute. You said you were trying to find me? Are you a cop?”

Amelia put her hand down. “Do I look like a cop, dude? Seriously?”

“Hmm. Not really.” Nate took a breath, allowing the tension in his shoulders to relax. “You’re too pretty to be OPD. All the female cops around here are nasty butch cunts.”

Kai cringed. “If you’ll excuse me, Madame, I’ll be waiting for you out front.”

“No problem,” Amelia said as Kai parted ways. “Don’t mind him. He looks gruff, but he’s sensitive. Like a hippie.”

“Yeah, I see what you mean.” Nate smiled. “So, are you going to answer my question or what? What’s your name? And why are you messing with me?”

“Not messin’ with ya. Just was lookin’ for someone who matched your description. I’m a head hunter. But don’t worry, I’m not out for your’s. They call me Anti Hero.”

“Anti Hero? You’re a vigilante?”

“Bounty hunter’s the correct term.”

“Whatever. You said you were looking for someone who matched my description. Are the cops looking for me?”

“Nah. Well, kinda. You were our lead to Rich VanHilton and the Archdemon Pride. Your surname, Medina, also matches the surname of the number ten most wanted person on our list. I was thinking that could be a coincidence, but I don’t meet too many people with that name.” She looked at the list once more. “Medina. That’s nice. Any relation to a Nicholas Medina?”

“To answer your first question, Rich isn’t here. He left a while ago. I was strapped to the mattress over there, but when I woke up earlier all the restraints were broken. I wonder why”

“Not important. I guess since VanHilton took off, him and the Archdemon probably vanished by now. Anyway, about Nicholas—“

“Nick Medina. My father.” Nate sighed. “He died when I was a kid not long after my sister was born. I don’t remember much about how he died.”

“Sorry.” Amelia frowned. Her empathy was genuine. She could feel Nate’s pain in his aura. “You’re telling me the truth. I appreciate that. I don’t mean to pry, but do you know anything else about him? Where he might have been buried?”

“No. I just remember that he had a lot of friends. Every night there was someone at our house playing cards or watching movies with us. I miss it. Those were good times.”

“Oh. That’s too bad. I know what it’s like to lose your parents at a young age. I’ve been through it. If you don’t mind, could you tell me how he died?”

“As a matter of fact, I would. I don’t talk about that.”

“Guess I’m out of luck, then. If you don’t know anything else about VanHilton or Pride, there’s nothin’ else I’d need from ya. You’re free to go.”

As Amelia turned around, Nate reached out and stopped her by putting his hand on her shoulder.

“Wait a minute,” he said. “If you want to know more about Nick Medina, I guess I can tell you what happened. I know you’re just doing your job.”

Amelia blushed. “Why don’t you go get cleaned up first? I bet you could use a nice shower and some fresh clothes.”

“Yeah. Thanks.” Nate and Amelia walked outside together. “You want to maybe, uh. . . Get some coffee or something? I know some good cafes around here. Local flavor, know what I mean?”

“Y-Yeah. Sure.” Amelia played with her hair. “Um, so, maybe tomorrow morning we meet up at the Ocealed Welcome Center then?”

Nate smiled. “It’s a date.”

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The Hit List is here.

Sat, 10 Sep 2022 02:55:45 GMT

Thank you to all Tears of God readers!

Here is some promotional artwork.
The Bounty Hunter's Association in the year 3000 has put out this hit list of the top 10 most wanted criminals in the Tears of God world.

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39: Ominous Life (Time Warden & Anti Hero part 3 of 11)

Fri, 02 Sep 2022 07:10:09 GMT

Bounty Hunters always go by leads first—this particular lesson was beat into every bounty hunter’s skull at the training academy. Having searched the background of Rich VanHilton, and obtaining a dossier, the only viable lead left in Ocealed was one Nathaniel “Nate” Medina. After locating his address, the hunter duo showed right up at his front door.

Amelia knocked on his door. No response. Guess I’ll just have to let myself in, huh?

“Careful now, we can’t just strong-arm our way into someone’s home. If you break that lock or any window, it could trigger the house’s alarm system,” Kai said.

Amelia scoffed. “Oh yeah? And I suppose you have a better plan?”

“Observe.”

Kai placed both of his hands on the door.

“I haven’t used this one in quite a while. Nonetheless, it should do the trick. Now. . .

“I cast Der Abgrung!”

Within a split second, the door completely vanished.

“Phew! You’re full of surprises, aren’t ya, Kai? Hm.”

“It was not my intent to shock you. If you feel the need to ask anything, I will answer with complete honesty. Us time wardens are bound to the code that we must never lie to anyone, for any reason, ever, and that our lives and histories are transparent to all.”

“Well, I was just gonna ask you what ‘Der Abrung’ means. Sounds German. Like those other spells you cast.”

“The first Imogen Academy was established on the countryside of Austria by a brilliant professor named Gustav Silber. The magic of time which he invented consisted a list of spells in German. Some of them are still used today. Personally, I prefer the newer stuff.”

“Interesting. Why is that?”

“There’s nothing really wrong about Silber’s work. It combines astral projection and other dark arts. It’s truly brilliant. However, if I were to use his spells, my mind would likely be corrupted by now. I’ve had several colleagues who disappeared while they were learning Silber’s spells. I’m talking about men who go mad and just vanish out of nowhere. I knew then I should stick with the newer, more refined techniques.”

Amelia zoned out for a moment, remembering the night her sister went mad and vanished. “Uh, can you repeat that? I was just—“

“Ha! I suppose I tend to ramble when it comes to the history of the time wardens. That’s on me. Just know that the magic which Silber founded is ominous. No doubt about it.”

“Ominous, you say? I wouldn’t expect you out of all people to have such fears.”

Kai looked away, putting his hands behind his back. “I suppose you got me there.”

“Hey, no worries. If the spells you’re using are legit, go ahead and use ‘em. Just stay out of my way when I’m out there dicing and slicing shit up. Don’t want ya to get hurt, now.”

“Ah. Thank you for your kind words, Madame. I will not disappoint.”

“Right. You do your job, I do mine. With a champ like me on your side, you’ve got nothing to be scared of.”

“By the way, Der Abgrung translates to ‘the abyss’. It creates a small portal which throws its target into a void of complete darkness. I hope this information does not disturb you.”

“Kid, if I were the type to be disturbed by shit like that we wouldn’t be here now.”

“Another good point. Let’s head in and look around for clues of VanHilton’s whereabouts, shall we?”

“Just what I was thinking. Tell ya what, I’ll take the lead. here and you can just sit back and watch how it’s done.”

Entering the two-bedroom brick townhouse, it became immediately apparent that Nate had likely been abducted. The signs of a struggle were all present: appliances knocked off of counter tables, scratched up floors, and a single hole in the wall by the master bedroom hallway.

Kai’s voice echoed from the master bathroom. “Madame, come quickly! I think I found something. It’s some kind of note.”

“What kind of note are we talkin’ here?” Amelia asked as she hunched over Kai’s shoulder.

“It says. . .

“Nate,

“It seems like you’ve been going through a rough time lately. I want to help you, but you need to learn to help yourself or at the very least accept the help being offered to you.

“All this talk lately about a conspiracy involving my own father makes me sad. Nothing you’re saying makes any sense.

"When you get angry and start shouting about reptilians and simulations, it scares me.

"It scares me because it's obvious something is corrupting you, and you aren't willing to face it.

"I don’t really know how to explain it any better.

“I think for now we should spend some time apart. Our relationship is nothing like it was—after you keep reminding me of that fact I’ve finally accepted it for myself.

"Whoever, or whatever you think I am, I simply am not.

"I'm sorry.

“Goodbye, Nate

"- Lindzey”

Amelia rolled her eyes. “Great. So some girl he was dating just handed him a Dear John letter. Nothing we can really go on from that.”

“No, I guess not. Too bad,” Kai said, placing the note back on the bathroom counter.

“Hey, wait a minute. Can I see that note again?”

Kai nodded and handed it to her.

Amelia pointed to a chunk of text written on the letter. “Reptilians. He mentioned reptilians.”

“What are you alluding to, Madame?”

“Reptiles prefer hot climates. Usually humid areas, and places where they can find food easily. If I’m not mistaken, the dossier on VanHilton says he’s a reptilian himself. My guess is he’s probably holed up somewhere humid, foggy, obscure. . . That means it’s possible he never even left town. Or, at the very least, he’s in a more rural secluded area close-by.”

“Very impressive. Your deductive reasoning skills are on point.”

“What did I tell ya? I’m built for this, baby! We can continue our search based on this information. And, uh, since we’re here, I think you should probably put this on.”

She gave him one of Nate’s clean gray v-neck t-shirts. When he put it on, she smiled.

“I haven’t worn a shirt in years. It feels itchy,” Kai complained.

“Get used to it. We need to stay incognito while visiting this timeline. At least until we take out that VanHilton and his pet demon.” Amelia motioned to the door with Kai following behind. “Plus, it’s a nice look on you. If you weren’t some scrawny kid almost half my age, throw on some shoes. . . Yeah, I’d go out with you looking like that.”

Kai blushed. “Oh! Thank you but, um—”

“Yeah, yeah. I was just messin’. Enough chitter-chatter. Let’s get this show on the road.”

[{TW=≠=AH}]

“Dammit, they’re coming for me. I can feel it. I know it. They must think I’m stupid.” Rich continued ranting as he removed his signature 12 gauge shotgun from his gun rack. “I’ll show ‘em just how stupid they are for coming here. Mark my fucking words.”

Nate was tied to a mattress in the room adjacent to Rich, blindfolded and gagged. Shynel left him behind, stepping into the foyer with her arms crossed.

“Are you on some psycho shit again? I’ve told you before, hehe. Those voices in your head aren’t real people.”

“Fuck off, Shynel. I am in no fuckin’ mood for any of your shit. These motherfuckers are uh-hundred percent fucking real! I am one hundred fucking percent sane, goddammit! I can do it myself without Rena! I handle shit my way, and I don’t leave no blind spots, 'cause unlike you whores I don't have to clean up my fuckin' tampons and deal with emotions and shit! You just make yourself useful. Or I will make use of you. Got it?”

“Come on, Rich. Don’t you miss your sister even a little?”

“Do you miss yours?”

Shynel was silent. She hung her head in shame, scratching the back of neck lightly with her long manicured finger nails.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” Rich said. “Something triggered the trip wire a mile down the path in the woods. Go see who’s there. If they ain’t got business with us, take ‘em out.”

“Fine. If it’ll get you off my back, I’ll go. But if it’s a handsome guy with a positive attitude, I might just dump your sorry ass! Hehe.”

“You sure love busting my balls, huh? Go make yourself useful for once, why don’t ya.”

After Shynel left, the Archdemon Pride appeared in the wall mirror adjacent to Rich’s gun rack. His appearance had changed to mirror Rich’s in every single detail imaginable.

“Why haven’t you killed her yet?” Pride said, scowling. “You don’t love her. I know that much for a fact. So why even keep her around?”

“Hmph. Hell if I know. Just think she might be useful, that’s all.”

“Those humans are good for nothing! They’re weak, Rich. They aren’t capable of doing what we’re here to do.”

Rich set his gun down on an old oak desk and cracked his knuckles, considering for a moment the point Pride was making.

“Maybe not. But that one over there. . .” He looked over at Nate, who was still unconscious. “Those hybrids have somethin’ we don’t. If we don’t have some humans around to hold hostage, they can’t be manipulated, right? That’s when they get dangerous.”

Pride grinned. “Wow, you do know something about humans after all. I thought Rena was the only one of you scale-skinned degenerates who could comprehend real human emotions. Maybe you’ve softened a bit.”

Rich picked up his shotgun and fired a shot at the mirror, shattering the glass.

“Shut the fuck up, ya fuckin’ bastard-ass son of satan! You can’t fuck with me! I'm a motherfuckin' god here! No one, and I mean fuckin’ no one crosses Rich VanHilton!”

He began shooting randomly out the window into the woods, yelling into the distance.

“Fuck Zerj, fuck the PIA, fuck the Medinas! Fuck all you sons of bitches! This entire fuckin’ UNIVERSE is my domain now! COME AN' GET IT!!”

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38: Astonishing Life (Time Warden & Anti Hero Part 2 of 11)

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 18:31:11 GMT

Shit . . . where am I? Everything is so bright. Clear blue sky, burning sun . . . I’m on top of a sand hill. Is this a desert? Is this a beach? No, can’t be. No waves here. Probably somewhere far out from . . . the ocean? Perhaps an oasis?

Kai . . . you really fucked something up here.

Amelia was greeted by a child with long, blonde hair and grey eyes.

“Sister Christina wants me to bring you to her. Are you ready?” The child looked down at Amelia and smiled.

“What are you talkin’ about, kid?”

“You got thrown out. Now you need to come with me and find a place where you can stay. Sister Christina is very nice! She likes to play.” The child said this while batting her long eyelashes at Amelia. “My name is Cami. Short for Camilla. What’s your name?”

Amelia didn’t want to give her name to a complete stranger. Even a child could use it against her. She said to the child, “I am Anti Hero.”

Cami giggled. “Anti? Or Auntie? You are a sister to the hero.”

“Don’t get fresh with me, kid. I don’t take that kind of shit from anyone, let alone a pip-squeak like you.”

Breezes shifted the earth beneath Cami and Amelia, making a veil which spiraled like quicksand. Cami stood with grace and dignity, while Amelia struggled to find footing in this realm. It was as if they were standing on top of an hourglass.

“Anti Hero, do not be scared, You are Amelia Vermillion, a strong and brave bounty hunter. I have already read your story.”

Amelia could not comprehend how this child she had just met knew all this information. She is just a child, yet she looks down on me. It’s just like how Nestasia used to. . .

“Wow. Just . . . wow. How old are you, kid?” Amelia said this as she finally was able to stand on her own two feet.

“My soul is dated many centuries,” Cami said, turning away. “My daddy threw me off a cliff when I was seven ‘cause he was angry. I fell and broke my chin, but then I saw the wings. Christina pulled me up with her wings and saved my life. She brought me here, and now you’re here to see her.”

Amelia blinked once. When she opened her eyelids, Amelia saw Cami as an adult. Her hair was a bit shorter, but she had the same grey eyes and porcelain skin.

“Woah. Now I know I must be tripping.” Amelia rubbed her eyes. “This is some crazy shit.”

Cami spoke with a mature, soothing voice. “You see it as such because you are We are witnesses of God’s glory, and sisters in Christina’s legacy.”

“I never really believed in God, creator, father-whatever . . . Anything’s possible, I guess.” Amelia parted her hair to the right. “Why should I trust you?”

“I could give you a list of reasons. The most rational of which is you are lost and I am your only lead. Is that reason enough, Amelia?”

Amelia gazed at the clear blue sky. “This all seems so very familiar.”

“My soul was sent to Earth once as the daughter of an astronomer. At the time, I did not know my true identity. The girl who was discarded by her original father . . . that was me all along,” Camilla said. “Somehow, I think I must have remembered something. Everything began seeming familiar. Is that how you feel?”

“Yeah, maybe it is.” Amelia sighed. “Okay, I’ll accept your help for now. Not like I have anything better to do right now.”

Camilla held out her hands, surrounded by a pale blue light. The light extended to Amelia, and their bodies slowly became transparent.

“Oh, Amelia. You have much to do. Wait and you shall see.”

[{TW=≠=AH}]

The pale blue light warped Christina and Amelia into a chapel room, where they stood at the altar in front of a stained glass depiction of Christina the Astonishing.

Amelia scanned her surroundings, “So, where’s this Sister Christina you’ve been dying for me to meet?”

Cami nodded up at the stained glass. “She is here. Have faith, and she shall appear to you.”

“Faith, huh? Never been too keen on that.”

“I once knew a young man who used to say that,” Cami said, snickering.

“Did you, now? Let me guess, he had a revelation. Came to God. Saw the light. Am I right or am I right?”

“God came to him. He always does. You remain blind because you choose to reject God. Sister Christina has shown many people the light. So I say: Ask her, and put faith in her. She will manifest unto you.”

“You’re pretty insistent, aren’t ya?” Amelia looked at the stain glass and took a breath of air. “I must be pretty feeling pretty open-minded. Let’s give it a go.”

Amelia closed her eyes and told herself to believe what Cami said. When she opened her eyes once more, the angel of Christina the Astonishing was levitating above her.

“You see her, do you not?” Cami asked.

“Y-Yeah . . . You were right. That’s definitely something.” Amelia felt a rush of fear, then as she exhaled the fear was washed away. “Sister Christina, why am I here?”

The angel’s voice resonated in her mind. You have been thrown nearly one thousand years into the past. Darkness has swallowed the future completely. There is one man who you must eliminate to return to your time. Go with Camilla and you shall know the truth.

Camilla cleared her throat and nodded toward the chapel door. Amelia followed Cami’s lead, exiting the chapel through the front. They sat down in the garden outside. It was a serene, sunny spot where various statues of Catholic saints were placed around them. Camilla picked a tulip and held it in her hands like a newborn child.

Amelia spoke up. “So, you guys know I’m a head hunter? Gotta admit, it’s a bit peculiar you know even that much about me. Too bad for you. I can’t get any work done without my partner. Not official work, at least. The Bounty Hunter’s Association says them’s the rules.”

Kai appeared behind Amelia, placing his hand on her shoulder. She jumped forward, then turned to face him. She sighed and rolled her eyes.

“So you survived after all, huh? I bet Cami brought you here, too.”

“Don’t be so glum. Now that I’m here, we can get to work. I’ll explain our situation to the best of my ability,” he said, sitting between the two women. “When I cast my Weltanschauung, it created a dark hole which erased many of the enemies including the Queen Cobra. It also created a portal for us to escape, but there was a glitch.”

“I’m not following,” Amelia said.

Camilla spoke up. “The dark energy left behind was absorbed into a demonic power from this timeline. Kai was unable to stop it.”

“This demonic power exists here in the year 2016. If it goes unchecked, it will kill everyone before you and I were even born,” Kai continued. That is why we simply cannot return to our time in the year 3000. Nothing would be there for us.”

Amelia scratched her head and shrugged. “So there’s a hit out on some ‘darkness’ guy. That’s it, huh? You make it sound challenging, but slaying bad guys is fairly simple work if you ask me.”

“Not as simple as you would think,” Camilla said. “The target is one Rich VanHilton. We believe he has somehow achieved immortality, and partnered with the evil Archdemon known as Pride who was sealed away centuries ago.”

“So we can’t just kill ‘em? That’s no fun,” Amelia laughed.

Kai groaned. “You could kill him many times. That’s not the problem. The problem is that he can revive himself instantly—that’s what you and I are up against. At first, I thought this would be impossible, but Lady Camilla has a plan for us.”

Camilla stood and presented Amelia and Kai with a glass plate. “This piece has sealing power. When you seal a soul inside, you can freeze it in a cube and bury it in an arctic climate. The chances of the soul escaping will be none.”

“She told you it wouldn’t be easy. You see what I mean?” Kai said.

“Easy?” Amelia scoffed. “If it were easy, I’d hand it off to some lesser hunter. This sounds like a challenge. So . . . Challenge accepted.”

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37: Miraculous Life (Time Warden & Anti Hero Part 1 of 11)

Tue, 09 Aug 2022 07:09:19 GMT

"Astral Projection is a theory based on . . . eh, fuck. This shit puts me to sleep."

Amelia read the storybook aloud, then carelessly tossed it off the cliff into the sea.

Stories like that are for small time gigs. Me? I'm an ambitious girl, I slay wyverns at the quaking mountain summit while enduring a blizzard! Don't put me in the ranks with these novices . . .

Time Warden & Anti Hero

37: Miraculous Life

“Hmph, looks like they stuck me with a real novice. I read up on your background, pal. Did my homework. So, you’re nineteen years old, fresh out’a that prestigious Imogen Academy, graduated with the highest honor from the directors, and yet . . .

“I’ve never seen such a scrawny runt in my life! You think I’m gonna let you follow me around looking like that?” Amelia scoffed at her newly assigned partner, a young man standing beside her wearing only a pair of tattered jean shorts.

The two strangers stood on a cliff overlooking the bay at dawn. Amelia tossed her highlighted black hair over her shoulder, squinting at him with her green iris.

This kid looks like a bum, straight up. His hair’s almost as long as mine. And that nasty beard, yuck! He’s barefoot, no socks or shoes. What’s his deal?

Ignoring his partner’s crude and direct insults, the young man spoke to her in a polite tone. “Hello to you too, Madame Vermillion. My name is Kai Tokeishujin. I can tell you’re not one for formal introductions. That is quite fine with me. I am here of my own accord to provide service as your humble assistant. Your wish is my command.”

“Is that so? Here’s a fun fact for ya, Mister Kai Taggy-whatever-the-hell. I’ve been partnered with three time wardens in my career so far, and not a single one of ya lasted long enough to turn in the bounty I’m after. Oh, we’ve come close, but always fall flat.

“So if you’re chasing an early death, fine by me. There’s no sympathy for ya. I likely wouldn’t even show up at yer funeral.”

Kai was not phased by her attempt to discourage him. He remained calm. This moment was a chance for him to size her up. She wears black eyeliner, black lipstick, and a tight black leather suit, likely chosen for its intimidating yet fashionable appeal.

She is honest. I will give her that, he thought, collecting the notes of her profile in his mental diary. Her combat skills are known to be lethal throughout the nation. To top it all off, she knows how to look good while getting the job done—something I fail at.

“Yes, madame. I’ve heard as much. Word does get around in these parts. I am fully prepared to fight and die by your side. If that is my destiny, I honor it by choice.”

“Oh, yeah. You wardens always talk about destiny, fate, all that garbage. It’s insignificant to me. I just need to kill one person, then I can retire and die happy.” Amelia stepped closer to Kai. “Don’t go thinking it will be easy, either. I’ve been hunting this bounty for a real long time. Since before you were even born, kid. And the grim reaper is always just a step behind me.”

Kai turned away from Amelia and gazed at the ocean. The sea gulls over the horizon were flying south.

He took a deep breath of the salty air as gusts of wind passed through palm trees like graceful spirits. When he exhaled, the birds became petrified like stone statues in the vast blue backdrop.

“Hey, not bad,” Amelia said, smirking. “Those gulls are pretty high up. I’ve never seen a warden make time stop from a distance that far.”

“It is a highly advanced stop-time spell called Nachtzeit. It should prove useful, yes?”

“Nachtzeit, eh? That’s a cut above the spells I’ve seen other wardens use. So you can keep a target frozen for as long as you wish?”

“Not exactly. The target is frozen for as long as I endure the migraine side effect. I have a high tolerance for pain, but if I hold too long, I start bleeding out my ears. I must release the spell if and when that occurs.”

With a snap of his fingers, Kai reanimated the frozen gulls, allowing them flight once more.

“Alright, kid. I’ll admit you got some talent there,” Amelia said as she playfully jabbed the warden’s bony arm. “Let me give you the rundown on our bounty.”

Kai sat cross-legged at the edge of the cliff. Amelia joined him, sitting with her legs dangling off the edge.

She continued, “Target is Nestasia Vermillion. If you must ask, yes, we are related. We were born by the same parents, but I disowned her as my sister many years ago.

“She’s slippery. Like a snake. Cold blooded and ruthless as all hell. Killed tons of people, including our parents and my younger brother. She almost did me in, too. Currently she’s number one on the Bounty Hunter Association’s most wanted list.”

“Do you have a plan for capturing her?” Kai asked.

“Ha! Are you for real, kid? This ain’t no capture. This is termination. Kill her on sight and take her head off. Can’t be sure she’s dead unless we got her head. Remember that.”

“Very well. If that is what you wish, I offer my full support.”

Amelia stood and drew the long, serrated katana from the sheath on her hip. “That’s what I like to hear. I recently got a lead on her, so we’re going in for the kill with no detours.”

“One last question,” Kai said as he levitated behind Amelia.

“Spill it.”

“You said Nestasia Vermillion is responsible for the death of your parents and your brother.”

“Mm-hm. Murdered them all. Stabbed me in the neck, too. Was bleeding out on the floor, saw a light at the end of the tunnel—it’s as crazy as it is true.”

“Astonishing! How did you survive?”

Amelia pulled her collar down and exposed the scar left by the incident. “Call it a miracle.”

[{TW=≠=AH}]

Medusa’s snakes covered the floor of the dark tunnel like land mines. Kai’s telepathy perceived the dangers of the terrain as he floated by them.

Make one wrong step, and you get the fang. I’ll cast my Nachtzeit on these pesky reptilians, allowing Madame Vermillion to make a clean passage through this annoying outlier tunnel . . .

“. . . I think the Queen Cobra is coming! Quick! Back to the wall! Don’t let it wrap itself around you!”

“Yo, Kai! We got a live one right here.” Amelia’s katana slashed through the Queen Cobra’s tail. “That was just a small part. Step it up, dude! I’m going for her neck!”

Kai knew the Queen Cobra was immune to Nachtzeit. Larger targets tend to break the spell binding hieroglyphic which he put on a small fragment of glass. He sighed, trying to devise a plan at the last second.

“Heh. I knew you were the die early type. Look at ya now, kid! Your entire life built up to this, but you couldn’t pass GO.” Amelia taunted the warden as she swiftly evaded the Queen Cobra's strikes.

Inspired by the ridicule his partner put him through, Kai decided to go for broke. “Very well, then. Amelia, I bestow upon you the exceptional rank of Anti Hero! As for myself, I call to order my trump card. This spell shall write the script of our lives hence forth! I use the spell . . .

“Weltanschauung!”

Cosmic bursts of energy formed a whirlpool of matter colliding in the abyss.

[{TW=≠=AH}]

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36: Life's Purpose (Astral Projection, Part 10 of 10)

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 10:29:37 GMT

"Dr. Khalil, we've received word of an incoming group from the countryside of Austria. They've made their way to a home here in Berlin. It is the address you mentioned earlier."

"Very well, Max," said the doctor. "You may go home. Thank you for all you have done. I must now handle the rest of this alone."

The young German man held his ground. "How could you have known? Doctor, in the few days we have become well-acquainted, have we not? You have never been wrong. About anything. I cannot simply forget this happened and walk away. It is as if you—"

"I was not sent here to give your life purpose, my friend. It was God who led you to me."

You gave my life purpose. Max was going to say just that. It was as if the doctor could predict his thoughts and rebut him before he even had a chance. This created a sensation of profound astonishment which washed over Max, leaving him speechless.

Dr. Khalil smiled, putting his hand on Max's shoulder. "You will use what you have learned here to change the world for the better. I believe that is your purpose. If it is as you say and I am never wrong, you should feel quite confident hearing my words, yes?"

The doctor donned his coat and took his bag, making his way for the door of the humble Berlin home.

"Wait," Max said, reaching out to stop him. "You came here all the way from Egypt during these restless times, and I have yet to know what your purpose is. Please, if there is more I must know, I beg you! Tell me now, or I will be left with regret for the rest of my life!"

"What you choose to regret is up to you, my boy. May God bless you."

Max pondered this. What I choose to regret is up to me, so I must ensure I regret nothing. I must follow my purpose and no longer dwell on the past.

.✪.

"He's been sleeping all day. Comatose, almost. Hm, it's a bad sign," Jonas told Camilla as they stood by Emil's bed.

They observed his breathing patterns. Some little things about Emil's state stood out, such as how he would ball his fist whenever the room was completely quiet.

"I don't want to say this," Camilla spoke softly to Jonas. "I felt like this was going to happen. Something inside me told me Emil was . . ."

"Don't be harsh with yourself," Jonas said, sitting on the bed and moving some pillows toward Emil. "You know, when we were children, Emil would frequently hit his head. He ran straight into a tree one time, and I saw it happen. Hm, that was a nasty concussion."

"Do you think that may still have an effect on him, then?"

"I'm not quite sure, but I would say it likely has nothing to do with that incident."

"Then what?" Camilla asked, avoiding eye contact with Jonas. "If such a thing happened to Emil, it could leave serious long-term damage. I know this as I have battled with these terrible seizures throughout my life."

"Hm, well, you did say you had a 'feeling' this would happen, didn't you?"

"Are you implying—"

Camilla turned to Jonas and stared at him not with a scowl, but with a blank expression of outrage.

"No, no, I did not mean. . ." Jonas said, then taking a breath to calm himself. "I simply have a feeling as well. You see, I once knew this surgeon. He was the man who treated our mother. He said to me that after the human mind is traumatized, it may shut down for long periods of time to cleanse itself."

Camilla's tension eased, but a nervous shudder shot through her spine. "I'm sorry, Jonas. You're right. I do know there are things Emil has seen. They must be horrible things, but I do not know what they could be. He hasn't told me."

"Hm, that's quite typical of him."

"Jonas, I must ask you something which I hope does not insult you."

Jonas nodded. "You can ask me anything you like, Camilla."

"Does Emil. . . resent you?"

Jonas had to think about it. During the silence, Emil balled his fist. Jonas observed his brother closely. He wondered, does my brother hate me? Despise me?

"No, he has no reason to!" Jonas's wrath unleashed itself. "Our father always favored Emil! Hm, it must have been obvious, he was given a name to honor my father's Lutheran faith. Martin Luther's initials, M-L. . . That is the name our father decided to give my twin brother. He was favored just for that. . . So he could not be the one to hate me! He thinks he must act as if he does not remember me? So be it!"

Camilla watched for a moment as Jonas cried with his head buried in the sheets.

"I'm sorry," Camilla said, for there was nothing else to say.

"I'm not going to leave you, brother. I'll make sure you're well again, I promise!"

.✪.

"I understand your son's grief, Frau Weiss," Camilla said, "but he seemed quite disturbed by the fact that Emil didn't recognize him. Jonas holds a grudge, it seems."

"You have no right to judge him, little girl," Frau Weiss said. "You don't know a thing about Jonas. He is nothing like Emil. He is a loyal young man, and he cares for Emil. It is Emil who must hold a grudge."

Camilla was appalled, but chose to keep her words respectful. "I understand I have little credibility, Frau Weiss. I am simply worried for Emil. Please, we must bring him a doctor, immediately. My mother and I can pay for the best doctor in town, and—"

"Enough! I am getting rid of you. Get your mother and that smelly rabbi out of our home!"

"Please don't do this! Emil is my best friend, I still haven't told him how I feel . . . I need him to be alive, I will give anything."

"You'll never have a chance to tell him anything, because you won't be seeing him again."

"Smelly rabbi? I am a respected individual, I'll have you know." Udo, previously eavesdropping, drunkenly staggered through the hallway and into the conversation.

Frau Weiss saw the half-empty bottle of liquor in Udo's hand. "Did you steal that from my cabinet? You disrespectful, disgusting man!"

"What? Come here, I'll show you!"

Udo took the bottle by its neck and smashed it against the wall, creating a weapon consisting of broken glass shards.

"Rabbi, no!"

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35: Doppelgänger (Astral Projection, Part 9 of 10)

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 10:26:04 GMT

Emil sat on a hill by his home, a bag next to him filled with various essentials. He had packed this bag with the intention of abandoning the rest of his possessions in his house for good. He asked himself if he would ever return to Austria—this remained a possibility. However, he knew the outcome of the events in Berlin would be what truly decided his place in the world.

"Mother, I don't know what I would say to you now," Emil said, thinking out loud. "It has been so long. I spent many years pursuing my own goals . . . For what? I wanted to do so much more. I could have done so much more, but I didn't. I have never felt like such a failure."

Gustav Silber's hologram appeared abruptly in a peculiar light. Emil faced his mentor's likeness without fear. This time, he was self-assured.

"You have been doing well thus far, my apprentice," the hologram said. "You have effectively won the support and affection of my family. Udo Uhlstein is a valuable asset as well, despite his blatant decadence. I have watched you become more than just a competent pupil. You are now a competent leader."

Emil scowled, now feeling more bitter and resentful toward Gustav. "Is this a test? Now that you see yourself as God, we are your test subjects. You use your family as an experiment! I know your methods, Herr Silber. I respected you, once . . . But no longer. Your pragmatic ego has shattered your humanity!"

The hologram spoke without acknowledging Emil's words. "You have four days. If you can find me, you will have the chance to change the world as you see fit. I believe this is fair. Consider it a trial or consider it a test—I am giving you the opportunity to decide your purpose."

"Four days," Emil repeated to himself. "I accept this challenge, Herr Silber. You have told me before that war is inevitable, but I have not yet accepted this as fact. I want to change it! And I will, using the origin point! When we next meet, I will seize your powers and use them to protect the world!"

Gustav's hologram flickered. He did not respond; he approached Emil, and nodded. Then, he was gone.

.✪.

Udo showed up early in his black Mercedes Simplex automobile. He allowed Paula to sit in the passenger's seat, and put Emil and Camilla in the back. Camilla was excited to ride in it, and seeing her in a positive mood made Emil equally ecstatic. He was trying his best to enjoy the ride and not think much about the impending war Gustav foretold of.

"I didn't pay a thing for this wonderful piece of German engineering. Can you believe it?" Udo announced to his group of passengers. "It was willed to me by my mentor, God rest his soul. I was thinking of selling it, but it's good for us that I didn't, eh?"

Paula nodded in response. Camilla smiled with a radiant glow. Emil watched the passing scenery, now seemingly aloof. The hills and valleys were filled with mist, animals gracefully running through it like spirits of the forest.

Camilla put her hand on Emil's forearm. "Are you feeling okay?"

"Just a little motion sickness," Emil said. "I'm not used to this, I guess."

"Are you sure it's not something else bothering you?" she replied, moving her fingers up to Emil's wrist.

"No, it's nothing," Emil said, pulling his arm away. "Don't worry about it."

"You know, I used to get motion sickness," Udo said, taking a moment to glance back at Emil. "That's when I was drinking heavily. I've had to slow down with it."

Paula chuckled, rolling her eyes. "I'm amazed by your self-control, Rabbi," she said with glaring sarcasm.

"Frau Silber, darling! I assure you, my minor decadency does not interfere with my religious duties. Even rabbis must distance ourselves from Him sometimes, and it strengthens the bond between Him and us. You may think that's wrong for me to say, but I am telling you the truth."

This caught Emil's attention. "Really? What if you already knew God? And you . . . saw Him?"

"Like Moses, in the Book of Exodus," Camilla said, her response instantaneous.

"Yes, that is correct Camilla!" the rabbi spoke in his preaching voice. "The Lord manifested through his angel at the burning bush. Moses was the man who saw this. You know the story, Emil?"

Emil nodded. "You believe He will appear again one day?"

The rabbi shrugged. "We have faith that He will."

.✪.

Approaching the outskirts of Berlin, Emil gave Udo directions to his family's home. They arrived at high noon, the clouds forming a silk-like arch around the sun.

"What a beautiful home," Paula said.

Camilla asked, "What would you like us to do now, Emil?"

"Wait here," he replied.

Udo waved his hand. "Don't keep us long. We'd like to come in and meet your lovely family, young man."

Emil stepped out of the automobile and walked toward to the two-story brick house which was surrounded by a small picket fence. There was a man kneeling in the garden, tending to flowers with his back turned to Emil. Emil approached the man with caution, knowing by his physique that it could not have been Uncle Walter.

"Excuse me, sir. My name is Emil Weiss. This was once my home. Do you—"

Before Emil could finish his question, the man stood up and faced Emil. His appearance caused Emil to take a step back in shock; it was like looking in a mirror, for the man was alike Emil in every way except his hairstyle, which was cut short on the sides and parted in the front.

"So you've come back, Emil," the man said. "Hm. You seem unwell."

"W-What is this?" Emil said, his legs shaking beneath him.

"Don't tell me you wandered back here in some kind of state of feverish delirium."

Emil wondered if he was delirious. Udo and Camilla spoke of manifestations of the Lord, but what kind of manifestation was this? Was it a demon? A hallucination? A trick being played on him by Gustav Silber?

The man stepped closer to Emil, looking directly into his eyes. "I guess you don't have much to say to me? Hm. I remember you being so very outgoing and courteous. Now, here you are, staring as if you are looking into the face of death itself."

Emil cleared his throat and choaked out a single question. "Who are you?"

"What?" The man said, turning his head and scratching his chin curiously. "It is I, Jonas. Jonas Weiss, your brother, we've known each other our—"

"I do not have a brother!" Emil yelled, suddenly filled with violent rage. "Whoever you are, get away from here or I will beat you unconscious and drag you away from here!"

Jonas scoffed at him. "You think you have the strength to do such a thing, hm? Why don't you try it?"

Emil knew he was in no condition to fight, and his bluff had no effect on his supposed brother. He sat down on the lawn with his legs crossed and his hand on his forehead, taking deep breaths to calm his anxiety.

"You came to see Mother, I assume," Jonas said. "But I must ask you first, who brought you here?"

"I don't recall having a brother. Why don't I recall having a brother? Why are you here?"

"Hm. You continue saying these strange things to me, and I will have no choice but to bring you to a doctor."

Jonas took Emil's hand and pulled him to his feet. Emil looked over to the street at the parked automobile where Udo and the Silbers were waiting. Jonas, noticing this, looked to the automobile as well.

"Someone drove you here, I see," Jonas said. "Will you allow me to speak with them for a moment?"

Emil said nothing, but Jonas wrapped his arm around Emil's shoulders and guided him to the road. As they approached the automobile, Udo opened the driver's side door and stepped out.

As soon as Udo saw Emil next to Jonas he said, "Oy vey! A doppelgänger! The legends are true!"

Paula and Camilla exited the automobile. They both looked at Jonas, then at a dazed Emil. Jonas shook his head, removing his arm from Emil's shoulders and extending his hand to the rabbi.

"You must be the one Emil gets his manners from these days," Jonas said. "I am Jonas Weiss, Emil's twin brother."

Udo reluctantly shook Jonas's hand and nodded.

"Camilla," Emil said, noticeably short of breath. "I feel. . ."

Camilla called to him as he crumpled onto the ground. "Emil!"

Jonas dashed toward Emil and caught him just before the back of his head made contact with the hard surface below him.

"I got you, brother. Hm, here you are causing trouble as usual. Let's take him inside, shall we?"

Udo smacked the palm of his hand against his forehead. "Yes, yes, of course."

Udo and Jonas hoisted Emil between them and carried him to the front door.

"Darling, I know how you feel. I'm worried too," Paula said to Camilla. "Let's go inside and help Emil."

"Do you think perhaps. . ." Camilla said, watching two men enter the house with a motionless third. ". . . Emil's mind is—"

Paula objected. "Now, now. Don't talk like that. Let's go in, dear."

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34: Weltanschauung (Astral Projection, Part 8 of 10)

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 10:16:10 GMT

"Time to wake up," Paula said to Emil as she knocked on the door of the guest room. "I'd let you sleep in, but I already made lunch. Come out and get some schnitzel."

Emil wiped the crust from his eyes. He looked at the clock on the wall across from his bed; it showed 12:00 noon, on the dot. It was unusual to wake up at this hour, even for an astronomer who works exclusively at night. It was thirteen hours, he calculated, since he went to bed last night. It could take a while to get adjusted to a new, more conventional sleep pattern.

"Yes, Frau Silber. Thank you. Give me a minute and I'll be right out."

After he got dressed and came to the dining room, Paula came in with a plate for Emil and herself. The fried slab of meat was still steaming hot, and some chopped vegetables were beside it. This is a good meal, Emil thought, certainly it is something a husband would be thankful for if a wife cooked it for him—but now her husband might never eat it again. Emil wondered if Gustav Silber would miss these meals, or if it was now too insignificant for him to even think about.

Emil picked up his knife and his fork and began cutting. "How is Camilla feeling?"

"Hm, well, I went to wake her up before you," Paula explained as she poured a glass of water for Emil from a pitcher. "She told me she isn't hungry. So that means more for us."

"I had a dream last night that I was back at my home in Berlin. Also . . . I had another dream, but I don't quite know how to explain that one."

Emil took a sip of water. Paula did the same. She didn't look at Emil, but she nodded as she continued cutting her food into pieces. She did so methodically, not eating a single bite until the entire portion of schnitzel had been cut into edible chunks.

"I can never remember my dreams," she said.

They ate together in silence, all the while Emil reflected on the first dream he had—a manifestation of Gustav on a cross? Martin Luther speaking to him with his father's voice? What did it mean? He could remember every bit of it, and the more he reviewed it in his mind, the more it plagued him.

"Frau Silber, may I ask you a question?"

Paula put her fork down and said, "I will answer any question you wish to ask of me."

"What is your weltanschauung?" Emil asked her, aware that she may find his question somewhat arbitrary.

Without skipping a beat, she answered. "I married Gustav, I kept his home, I raised Camilla. The world has much to offer beyond that, yes. You see, when I was younger I told myself I wanted to travel the world. But since I've been with Gustav, my only wish is to hold on to the simple things. Being the wife of such a remarkable man is humbling."

"Come with us to Berlin," Emil said, leaning in closer to her. "I wish for you to come and see my childhood home. Then, we will go to your old home where you lived with Herr Silber. I think you will be rejuvenated by this. Returning to the city where you met your husband, you may see the world differently now."

Paula turned her head and stared blanky at the wall. "Oh, I don't know . . . I'm afraid I can't. No, you and Camilla must go without me."

"I can't leave you here alone, Frau Silber. Please, come with us. I promise I will try my best to give you closure with Herr Silber. I need you to have faith."

Faith. Just days ago, Emil never would have asked anyone to put faith in him or in anything. Now, it was crucial. Paula looked to Emil, a gleam of hope in her eyes. He recognized that look as the same unfeigned expression his own mother and his Uncle Walter had.

Before she could tell Emil she changed her mind, there was a knock on the front door.

.✪.

"Hello, hello, hello! My dear Frau Silber, I'm afraid I haven't seen young Camilla. Such a shame. Can I keep you company?"

Emil could hear the man's voice fill the entire house. Who was this man? How did he know Camilla? Emil wanted to stand up and run straight into the foyer, but decided to remain seated at the dining table and listen.

Paula's shy voice replied, "Rabbi Uhlstein, Camilla is home. And I have company, so . . ."

"Ah! A burden is lifted. I was so worried she had ran away. Girls that age have chutzpah, but they can be so irrational at times. Who is this guest of yours?"

Paula called over to the dining room. "Emil, can you come here please?"

"Good afternoon, Rabbi," Emil said, entering into the foyer with a polite smile. "My name is Emil Weiss. It's a pleasure to meet you."

The man was indeed a rabbi. He had bushy facial hair and mutton chops with a fancy black hat covering the top of his head. He wore nice clothes—a black suit with a bow tie, a shiny gold watch on his wrist. There was one thing that stood out above this: Rabbi Uhlstein carried a heavy stench of liquor.

"A pleasure to meet you as well, young man. I am Udo Uhlstein. I have heard your name before, indeed! The up-and-coming astronomer, yes?"

"Emil, Rabbi Uhlstein is our neighbor from down the road. About half a kilometer or so. Like you, he is a dear family friend."

Emil nodded. He thought to shake the rabbi's hand, but was too put off by his smell. Emil wondered why a rabbi would be walking around drunk in the middle of the day—and to such a staggering extent at that.

"Rabbi Uhlstein! I knew I heard your voice!" Camilla called out, running from her room to greet him.

She ran directly to him, jumping up and hugging him. The rabbi laughed and smiled wide, and Camilla did the same. Emil wondered, was she not put off by the overwhelming odor or was she too naive to recognize it?

"Oy vey ist mir! Camilla darling, I am so happy you are back home and safe. You and your mishegas! Promise me you will never put such stress on your mother and I again."

"I'm afraid I cannot promise that, Rabbi," Camilla said. "I will be going to Berlin with Emil. We believe my father might be there now, it's such a long story. . ."

The rabbi approached Emil and put his arm around him. Emil tried his best not to cringe at the invasive smell of alcohol surrounding him.

"Well, then. This is quite a turning point for you," the rabbi said. "Emil Weiss, I would like to discuss this with you in private. Frau Silber, may I borrow this young man for the afternoon?"

Paula smirked at Emil. She knew he was uncomfortable, but did not protest her neighbor's proposition.

"Go right ahead. Camilla and I have some things we must discuss, too."

"Splendid!" Udo Uhlstein said, giving Emil a strong pat on the back. "You will come with me to my house, then."

Emil thought to decline, but a wholesome smile from Camilla convinced him to reluctantly agree to the invitation.

.✪.

The rabbi's house was small, dark, and the floorboards creaked with every step. The main room had a kitchen, a dining table, and several tables with papers piled on them. Udo drank from his flask and motioned for Emil to sit at the table.

"A friend of the Silbers is a friend of mine. You seem like a nice young man, Emil. I want to help you."

Emil fidgeted as he stared at the floor, his legs crossed. He wanted to believe the rabbi was being honest with him, but his trust could not be granted so easily to a stranger.

Udo continued talking, now slurring his words. "We all live with vice, Emil. To live without vice is not realistic. You are old enough to know this. Camilla is learning now. . . She is learning what you and I know about man."

"It's unfortunate," Emil said. "Nevertheless, I want to show her the good in humanity. She will see it when she meets my mother and uncle. They live in Berlin, and they are good people."

Udo smiled and clumsily sat on the top of the table, causing it to wobble beneath him. Emil slid back in his chair to avoid the possibility of the table crashing on him.

"I concur. There are good people in the world. I will personally bring you to Germany if you agree to marry Camilla."

Emil scowled, thrown off guard by Udo's suggestion. "Rabbi Uhlstein, our relationship is not like that. She is my friend, and we rely on each other for support. Even if we do share a romantic connection, this is not the time to be talking about marriage . . . considering the current events."

"Camilla is a special girl. You will not find one like her anywhere else in the world," the rabbi said after taking another quick swig from his flask.

"Truthfully, Rabbi, I don't want to go into it. Until we find him—find Herr Silber, I mean—I am in no condition to be in a relationship."

Udo pushed himself up and started pacing back and forth, waving his flask, the fluid inside it swishing around.

"Very well. We shall leave Austria tomorrow. Until then, go spend some time with Camilla. I am sure there is something she wants to tell you."

"Such as?" Emil asked, cocking his head to the side.

"You aren't Jewish, are you? No, I don't believe so," the rabbi said. "What is your relationship with God?

"That doesn't matter. Herr Silber and I never even discussed it until recently. We've lived in Austria for years, and I've all but disowned my religious faith."

"It does matter. You will see. You are associating with us Jews, and people will judge you for it. In Germany, you will be judged harshly. Like it or not, it is something you will be forced to accept."

"I do not associate with people who have such negative views," Emil insisted.

Udo laughed and stroked his beard. He put the flask down and sat across from Emil, taking a moment to think of what he could say next. Nothing came to mind, so instead the two men sat quietly for a moment and cleared their heads.

"It was a pleasure talking with you, Rabbi," Emil said. "I will go back to my home and gather some things, then I will speak to Camilla and Frau Silber. I will tell them you wish to take us to Germany tomorrow."

"Yes, I will be happy if Paula comes as well. Thank you, Emil."

As Emil walked out the front door, he could hear the rabbi vomiting in the kitchen sink. Emil took a deep breath of fresh Austrian mountain air.

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33: God's Image (Astral Projection, Part 7 of 10)

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 10:10:13 GMT

Emil knew he was in a dream. All of his thoughts were words being spoken to him in his own voice. He was fully self-aware, but not in control enough for the dream to be considered lucid.

He was standing at the foot of a grassy hill at twillight. He wondered, what does this mean? He never had a dream like this before. As he started moving up the hill, he realized he was floating, not walking. He could not see his own body; it was his spirit which was moving without a vessel.

Before he reached the top of the hill, there was a flash of light which blinded him for just a fraction of a second. Then, before him was a crucified man wearing a crown of thorns. His face was covered in blood, making his features indistinguishable.

"Why am I here?" Emil asked.

The crucified man's face began to twist and distort until it became clear who the man was—Gustav Silber.

Gustav said, "I died for you, Emil. Would you die for me?"

Emil was both horrified and offended. "Who do you think you are?"

"Don't you know who I am?"

"You always answer questions with questions, Gustav. I've had enough of it."

Gustav's face morphed back into a bloody disfigured mask. Everything was quiet, completely still; there was not even a slight breeze to make the world around him feel terrestrial. This made the sight of crucifixion even more disturbing to Emil. He wanted to shout, thinking he could wake himself up this way, but he was mute.

Emil's father's voice spoke to him, "I just wanted the best for you, my son."

Emil could tell it was his father's voice. He had not heard it in many years, but it was a distinct masculine voice which played in Emil's mind every day since he was a young boy. However, when Emil turned around to face the man who called him son, he saw it was not his father.

"I've seen you somewhere before," Emil said, finding his ability to speak once again.

The man was husky, dressed in black, wavy brown hair—Emil was certain he had seen a man who looked just like this, but could not recall where.

"You wish to be a man of science, Emil? Why not be a man of God?"

"Who is God?" Emil asked.

"You have the answer already. You learned it from me, young man."

Emil realized who this man was. It was Martin Luther, the German theologist who defied the Catholic church. He was the man who founded the first protestant denomination. He was the man who Emil once looked up to for his tenacity, long before Gustav Silber was even an acquaintence of his.

"Why did you call me your son?"

Martin Luther frowned. "In another life, I would have been proud to call you my son."

"I don't see how that affects me where I am now."

"You chose this. It is your weltanschauung."

"My father used to tell me something like that . . . the way we see the world is a reflection of our own weltanschauung. But Herr Silber told me it is impossible, and to be an astronomer I must seek out the objective truths of the universe."

Luther nodded. "This Silber you speak of is not God, I can assure you. He is a fraud."

"But what of his abilities, these powers of his? He is the closest thing to a god I have seen with my own eyes," Emil contested. "That is what I cannot refute."

Luther's demeanor suddenly became darker as if a shadow was cast over him. "His powers are of the devil, Emil. Do not believe his lies. Gustav Silber is a Jew. He lies to you, as all Jews do. I was betrayed by them, Jesus was betrayed by them, and you will be victimized as well if you trust them."

"The Silbers are like family to me. I will not hold any prejudice against them for such things."

"You will learn the hard way." This was the last thing Martin Luther said to Emil before vanishing instantaneously.

Emil turned around and looked closely at the crucified body. Throughout Emil's childhood, the story of Christ's crucifixion was told to him. The Jews did this, he was told, but it was God's plan for it to happen anyway. Despite Martin Luther's own anti-semitism which was apparent in his written works, Emil's upbringing in the Lutheran church never demonstrated any resentment toward Jews.

The bloody face of the crucified man morphed into Gustav Silber again. "We were all created in His image, Emil Weiss. Jews and Christians believe this, yes? It is common ground between them."

"Doesn't make it true," Emil debated.

"Camilla and Paula see you as their pillar of strength. Will you choose to love them, Emil? Or will they be scorned?" Gustav said, speaking with no emotion. "Can you love a Jewish family? Your perseverance will be put to test. Will you be a man of moral conviction and diligence, or will the pressure be too great for you to remain a solid foundation?"

"You keep asking me questions! I don't know the answers to any of them. I don't even know what I am doing. I . . . I don't even know if I have the will to keep living in a world like this."

"Do not fear, Emil. I have faith in you."

Emil, astonished, could say nothing more. There was a flash of light which surrounded him and sucked him in, and he could feel himself falling freely for what felt like eternity.

He woke up in a cold sweat, his heart beating relentlessly like a hammer against iron. He was back in the guest bedroom of the Silber residence, the sound of crickets chirping outside and a somber darkness which his sight slowly adjusted to.

.✪.

The second dream of that night was one Emil had before, many times—a reccuring dream which mirrored a real life event. He would always remember the dream in its entirety when he woke up, but while he was in it he was never aware he was dreaming. No matter how many times he had it before, it was always a brand new experience in the moment.

"You're a smart young man, Emil," his mother said to him. It was the same dialogue every time. "Your family is very proud of you. We want you to succeed and we will support your decision. Do not worry about us."

She was sitting in a wooden chair in the kitchen of the Weiss residence in Berlin. The chair was by a window which provided a view of a perfectly clear blue sky. Suffering from paraplegia since Emil's infancy, Emil's mother spent every day of her life in this one particular spot.

Emil's uncle on his mother's side, Walter Ziegler, stood beside her in the dream, and would say, "Hilda, your optimism is truly inspiring to all of us. Emil, please remember we will always be here for you. No matter how far away you may be, we will be right here thinking of you and wishing you well."

Every time, after Uncle Walter would say that, Emil woke from the dream feeling heavy-hearted, homesick, and regretful. This time, Emil felt exhilarated, knowing he soon would be returning to Berlin. Regardless of what adversity he would have to face there, he would have a loving mother and uncle who would welcome him back with open arms.

He would be introducing Camilla to them, too. Things could change for the better. Yet, he felt unsettled by the ominous first dream. Looking deep inside himself for strength, Emil told himself he must be optimistic. It is what his dear mother Hilda Weiss had taught him to do. He drifted back to sleep, peacefully, knowing there was a positive influence within him that could never be lost.

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