《Chilled: A Collection of Icydice Stories》 Afraid of the Dark: Part One When I woke up, I only recognized the growing sense of thirst from within my dehydrated body. I licked my parched lips and slipped out of the covers, my body suddenly hit by the cold air stitched into the seams of the oppressive darkness ahead. I quivered as I reluctantly embraced the chill temperature and made my way to the door, jumping with each step as small creaks were produced from the weight of my foot being placed upon the oak floorboards. Although the noise was faint, it sounded deafeningly loud in contrast to the dead silence surrounding my petite self. All five of my fingers curled around the bronze colored door knob ahead, and they steadily turned it until a small click was heard. I then placed my tiny hand against the wooden door coated in a fine layer of white paint, and with a gentle push, the barrier between the safe haven of a child''s bedroom and whatever lay beyond was removed. I shivered as a new draft of icy air entered the room. A brand new wave of darkness seemed to rush through the doorway and engulf the area, its color resembling that of tar. Summoning all the courage I could, I placed both feet firmly on the beige carpet that embellished the ground. My eyes glared at the corridor before me. It appeared lengthier at night than during the day. I could imagine elongated arms melting from the walls on both sides, grasping at my clothing. I could envision dozens of spiders dropping from the ceiling, several landing on my hair, and others crawling on the surface of my body.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Shaking my head, I banished such thoughts and proceeded down the hallway. The hair on the back of my neck stood up as I walked past the room where my parents soundly rested in their comfortable bed. There was no turning back, and even if I wanted to, my craving for a drink to sedate my ever growing dehydration only grew. I carried on still, finally reaching the end of the endless path, and found myself in a clearing. By then, my eyes had grown somewhat accustomed to the dark, and I could make out a few pieces of furniture and a television set. I slowed my pace and gulped nervously. A sense of peril entrenched the room. I found that shadows would dance in the corner of my eyes, only to disappear once I turned my head in their direction. The darkness seemed even more foreboding than it had just seconds earlier. I desperately wished to run to my parents like I had so many times before. Still, I remembered how they had always told me there was nothing to be afraid of. They explained numerous times that my young imagination would always come up with ways to scare me, but I had to learn to be brave and overcome the fear I would often encounter at the hands of my own mind. Thus, my mind was set on proving to my mother and father that I wasn''t afraid anymore, and so I carried on. Afraid of the Dark: Part Two I confidently walked forward, repeating what my parents had said in my thoughts with each stride. After taking a few steps, I heard it. From behind me, I could make out the sound of footsteps, their rhythm conflicting with my own. As I stopped, so did they. My heart began beating faster than before. Had it been my mind playing tricks on me again? I resumed my steady pace, and this time, the only footsteps I could hear were my own. As I neared the kitchen, I found myself standing completely still once more. Figures and shapes yet again found themselves located in the corners of my eyes. I attempted to take a few deep breaths in order to calm down. It was just my imagination, right? I tried my hardest to assure myself of that, but somewhere in the back of my mind, I doubted it, and that growing sense of fear showed as I walked even faster. I kept my eyes focused ahead, not daring to look behind me for even a second. The off-beat footsteps returned once again, and I responded by picking up the pace. I felt the wind start to pick up and brush by my face as I realized how quickly I was moving. I was certain that my imagination was causing me to hear the footsteps on my trail and the forms appearing in the corner of my eyes. I was aware that my imagination was the reason behind my deepest, darkest fears, which were beginning to make their presence known within my soul. I knew for a fact that only my imagination could make my heart beat the way it did, and soak my palms in a thin layer of sweat. My parents would never lie to me, would they? Regardless of what I knew to be true or not, I was close to arriving at my destination. I began a full sprint as I felt the darkness clutching my ankles and arms. I could hear the footsteps aimlessly walking around, and more illusions of figures accompanied them. I had one hell of an imagination, and I had one thought racing through my mind. I needed to find a light switch.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. I was desperate for light that would illuminate my surroundings, driving back the treacherous night and whatever creatures lived within it, their sole purpose in life to capture me and munch on my bones. I was so close, just a few feet away. I leaped forward and pushed a small lever upwards, soaking me and the area in a warm, much appreciated glow. I sighed deeply, relieved to be out of danger at last. However, before I could even move, my heart stopped, and my eyes widened. Behind me, I heard a voice most unfamiliar. It was rough, guttural, and moist, and it echoed throughout the entire house. "Finally... I can see you." I flicked off the lights before letting out a shrill cry. I dashed through the darkness, through the living room, the hallway, all the way to my parents room. Though I can''t be certain, I... I swear I could hear the faint sound of childish giggling from behind me. My parents were frustrated that I had awoken them, but I didn''t care in the slightest. I clung to my mother, sobbing into her chest. My father didn''t find anything in the house. He searched every nook and cranny of the place, only to confirm his suspicions that we were the sole occupants. My parents let me sleep with them that night. I knew that no matter what I said, they would simply chalk my experience up to being a consequence of a hyperactive mind. But I knew... I knew there was something with me. I knew beyond any doubt, that the breathing I felt on the back of my neck, and that deep, perverted voice was all real. Looking back I feel almost silly that I was afraid of the dark. We were never afraid of the dark. Rather, it was what was in the dark that petrified us to our very core. It was the knowledge that the only thing separating us from a potentially cruel, twisted fate, was the thin veil of darkness surrounding us. Desire: Part One I could feel her teeth on my neck, biting down, nibbling ever so softly. Blood pumped quickly through my veins and stimulated a rush of adrenaline which coursed through my body. Her white gown and pale face gave her a ghastly appearance. Even still, the connection I felt with the girl was the first of its kind. One that I had craved for what seemed to be an eternity. Ever since I had been stranded on this island with nothing but the clothes on my back, I have had to live off the land, without another soul to accompany me. Finally, I was no longer alone. She crawled on top of me, staring into my eyes with hers. They gleamed, just as the stars did, and the light reflecting from her bright blue pupils was the most mesmerizing sight I had ever seen. She pressed her teeth against my neck slightly harder, and then unexpectedly pulled away. She brushed her luscious brown hair back and smiled. "Oh you poor soul, stranded on this inescapable island with nobody to appreciate you. How does it feel now, to have one such as I to recognize your magnificence? How does it feel to know the marks of love which I have brought upon you tonight, and for many moons to come?" I looked up at her. From my viewpoint, she was the most angelic and beautiful lady I had ever seen. Perhaps her features were exaggerated within my mind, for it had been quite some time since I had laid my eyes upon a woman.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. I remembered waking up not long before that very moment to the sound of faint whispering, and there she was. As soon as I saw her I fell into a trance, unable to truly act on my own accord. And yet, I found myself delighted with my situation. How could I complain? I hadn''t felt such love and compassion for the longest time. "It feels magnificent, my lady. I thought for sure that once I was stranded here, I would never see another human being again. And yet, here I am now, before you. And now that you''re here, I am content." She seemed pleased to hear this, for her eyes widened and a strange purring sound emitted from her throat. She placed the palm of her hand against my chest and closed her eyes, seemingly sensing my heartbeat. I could feel my body transcending any feeling I had ever felt before. A warm sensation surrounded my entire body, and I couldn''t help but close my eyes once more. I felt her lips against my shoulder, firmly yet softly pressing against my skin. Where did she come from? How did she get here? Who was she? What did I care? She gave me what I wanted, and in my eyes, she could do no wrong. Again she spoke, her voice soft and mellow. I could feel my body drift into a sensation of pleasure and comfort. The closest I could get to describing it would be to imagine being completely surrounded by dozens of cotton sheets and blankets, each one more welcoming and cozy than the last. Desire: Part Two "Tell me, of all things in this universe, what is it that you desire most?" I tried thinking. I tried to remember what I truly wanted. Did I want to go home? Did I want to escape this island and find my way back to my friends and family? I swear that I couldn''t remember for the life of me... "You... I desire you. I want you. I need you, my lady, more than anything in the universe," I said. I couldn''t believe that which I spoke, for they weren''t my thoughts. My actions betrayed my mind . How could it be? I struggled to correct myself, but the warmth and comfort surrounding me restrained me from doing so. It felt wrong, and something within me knew it. The real me knew it, but the woman''s beauty had put me in a trance, and what I did longer represented my true self. My control was slipping away. "Then you shall receive what you desire, man," replied the woman. I could hear the slight shift in the tone of her voice. That sweet, soft melody prior to this moment sounded different. Rather, now I could hear a giddy excitement to her voice. My response had been exactly what she had hoped for, and probably what she had expected. She clutched my hair and pulled my head upwards towards her. I tried ever so desperately to pull away, but it was to no avail. I could only nudge myself a few inches back, but no more. She placed a finger on my lip and tilted my head up with her hand, looking deep into my eyes. Her silky white skin appeared clearer and fairer than before, and her previously dull red lips now appeared to have become more colorful. I saw her open her mouth once again, revealing a row of gorgeous white teeth. She leaned in and placed them on my neck sucking passionately. It felt amazing, even better than before. Then... she bit a little harder. She continued to apply force until I could feel the skin break.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. I didn''t wince in pain. I didn''t even react. I just stayed there, perfectly still on the ground. She pulled away once more and looked at me, lips curled in a sick smile. "So, did you like it? Do you still desire me? Do you want more of my love," she inquired. "Yes, don''t stop. Never stop. I desire your love more than all which exists," I responded. My voice was completely void of emotion, and lies spilled out of my mouth. I didn''t want this. Again, I tried my hardest to pull away, but as soon as she glared into my eyes I stopped. The sickest, most perverted giggle erupted from within her as she went back down to my neck. I felt her dig into my neck, applying even more force this time. I could feel the blood trickling down into her mouth. I could hear her lapping it up and returning to my neck once more, biting harder and harder. Each time she would bury her teeth into my neck, she would come back up and smile at me, asking that same question once more. "Do you desire me more?" And each time, I would answer with the same lie, with the same monotonous voice. "Yes, I desire more." Perhaps, she truly did control my actions, or perhaps her seduction really did summon the primal urgewithin me, causing me to lose all sense of humanity and replacing it with animalistic instinct. But each time I was forced to look into those awful, yet beautiful eyes, I could only allow her entry into me once more. I saw her starting to rip chunks of flesh out of my throat, trying to reach inside fully. The blood splattered her skin and stained her dress, but oh God, how she changed. Her skin grew greyer with each droplet of my blood she consumed, and the light in her eyes dimmed as well. Each time she asked me that damn question, I could only respond in the voice and tone which I had quickly grown to despise. Even as the blood clogged my throat and began to drown out my voice, my body persisted and insisted on gurgling those words. "More." "More." "More." "Please, I desire you." I only stopped hearing my voice once the blood drowned out my ability to speak. Her skin had darkened even further, and her dress grew filthy. Her eyes were no longer full of life. Still, her lips were red, stained with the blood she drained from my body. Through it all, I felt the pleasure and pain intertwine, yet I knew it was wrong. Even still, I could do nothing to stop my fate, for it was never my decision to begin with. And as my eyes fluttered and closed, the final sight I saw was the woman, who now appeared to be more of a ghoul-like creature than a human. Still, she wore that same grin as she finished tearing my throat apart and feasting on my body. A Silver Flame: Part One At first, I couldn''t exactly tell what had ripped me from the loving caress of sleep. I had previously been snoozing in my comfortable home. My body was wrapped in a warm blanket, and my head rested on a nice, fluffy pillow. Annoyed, I laid my head down once more, letting my eyes fall. It was then as I jolted upright in bed that I realized what had awoken me. Although almost drowned out in the wind that whistled a soft melody through the night, I could hear what sounded like footsteps and nails dragging along the wooden exterior of my home. Curious, I allowed the soles of my feet to plop down onto the warm rug beneath me. Although sleep still cooed to me, I eventually dragged myself along the perimeter of the room to the window. There, I drew the blinds to get a better look. The pitter-patter of rain thumped against the thin glass to the tune of a soft melody that I soon found myself humming to. Due to the inky black darkness of the night, my visibility was heavily impaired, and I was unable to see what was making the noise. Deciding I was wasting my time, I turned to head back to bed. When I did this, as if on cue, the noise began again, irritating me further. I knew the pleasant hold of sleep would elude me if the sound continued. I jerked around in frustration and shuffled to the dresser where a thick black flashlight sat. I grabbed it firmly, its handle cold as ice despite the warmth and comfort of the room. I walked through the narrow halls of my home with determination illuminating my eyes like that of a bright fire. Approaching the front door of the house, I grabbed the heavy trench coat that hung on the coat hanger. With the twist of the doorknob, I had exited the warmth and comfort of my dwelling.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. I faced the chilly Autumn air and the drizzling rain which pounded against my face and back. I crept down the steps that led to the front door and clicked the flashlight on, its bright yellow light penetrating the darkness. Then, I proceeded to walk around the sides of the house in search of any animal that might have been the origin of the noise. It was upon reaching the rear of my home that I heard a peculiar sound from the wooded area behind me. The sound was strange yet surprisingly... human. I stood frozen in attention facing the woods. The shrill cries of what sounded like a man screaming for his life came from the intimidating outline of the enormous trees in the distance. They rocked gently in the wind and beckoned me to come closer. A Silver Flame: Part Two Though not particularly ecstatic to witness what lay beyond the foliage, I swallowed the saliva that had gathered in my mouth and stepped towards the woods. Naturally, my mind alerted me of the danger of my actions. A strong sensation filled within the pit of my stomach, urging me to flee. It took every ounce of willpower I had to ignore it. Slowly and steadily I approached, gathering more and more distance from my home, getting closer to the underbrush. I felt the sensation of rain cease as my body went numb. Finally, I found myself on the outskirts of the woods. The soaked flora grasped at my clothing like tiny fingers that desperately clung to every thread. The flashlight proved most ineffective as its once protective glow seemed to fade quite exponentially. Undeterred, I persisted onward. I had been in the woods many times, although never at night. In the darkness, the surroundings were unfamiliar to me. With each step, a moist leaf or twig underneath my boot squished and snapped. My body shuddered with each passing minute of my aimless trek, although whether this was caused by a growing level of adrenaline or the cold I was uncertain of. The eeriness of being in an unfamiliar place at night has no equal. I felt my toes curl as the wind that once violently rattled the vegetation quieted, and the rain that persistently beat against my body turned into a drizzle. The branches elegantly swayed in the night, caressed by the wind and sprinkling water droplets from the night sky. The soft melody of the crickets ceased, and I found myself startled by how quiet the forest had become. As unsettling as the dark was, the persistent lack of noise can invoke the strongest fears lurking in a man''s soul.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. I stood alone in the quiet woods, the only audible sound being the soft tapping of water falling to the ground. I could hear my thoughts, my breath, and my heartbeat. I held no desire to move, rather I felt inclined to stand and be still. Still, as the nature surrounding me. Still as the firm oak that stood before me, serving as an impenetrable wall of wood. And in the stillness of the night, my ears picked up a very familiar noise. It was a voice and a very raspy, sickly one indeed. One that made me forget the silence I was surrounded by. A voice that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. A voice that compelled me to run, yet I found myself paralyzed. It was the weeping that had drawn me out of my home in the first place. The cry sounded like a man... and yet, no man should have ever been able to make such a sound no matter how dire the situation he was in. It was that of terror and pain, yet I could have sworn I heard slight giggles amidst the crying. I stood, for at the time that was all I felt I could do. I shuddered as the cry overcame the sound of the wind and became all I could hear. It dragged out even further, and the voice the cry belonged to sounded scratchy and stressed. I wanted to retreat to my home, perhaps even call the police. Maybe I would have, had the shriek not stopped as abruptly as it had started, catching me off guard. A Silver Flame: Part Three I observed my surroundings as my eyes adjusted to the darkness further. Turning about-face, I began to walk back to my house. I didn''t know what lurked beyond my vision, and following what I heard, I didn''t care to learn. My legs took long strides on the seemingly endless path that would return me from the trenches of the dark to my house. I could see the rays of light seeping through the windows, welcoming me with open arms. My heart slowed along with my breathing as I approached the house, so close to where I belonged. I walked into the driveway, gravel crunching beneath my feet. Ascending the front patio steps, the wood underneath creaked ever so softly. I reached my hand out and grasped the cold doorknob. That''s when I heard a loud thump from far behind me. Hustling inside, I slammed the door shut with haste. I locked the door and peered outside of my window towards the woods, which appeared far more menacing than they had before. My eyes fixated on the forest line where I had heard the thump originate. With a soft click, the flashlight gripped firmly in my hand shone its bright fluorescent light, illuminating the darkness. That''s when I saw it. A figure, tall and dark, stood next to a tree. It wrapped its arm around the oak, resting its hand on a branch. Half of its body stayed hidden behind the tree, and the other half stood exposed.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. We stared at each other for the longest time, never breaking each other''s gaze. The creature then shifted its body, coming out of the tree line. It was then, by the light of the flashlight and the moon, that it was revealed. I squinted at the creature, my heart pounding in my chest, beating and screaming in fright. I had expected many things to emerge from behind the tree. Perhaps a monster, a ghost, maybe a demon from Hell that came to collect my soul. Anything but this. There before me stood a man, and a man was all he was. I rubbed my eyes in disbelief, and when they refocused on the man I knew my vision did not deceive me. There was nothing special about him. He sported a large grey beard that swayed in the breeze. Lanky arms drooped by his sides, sitting parallel to his narrow legs. He was tall but slender, with only a few pieces of tattered clothes to shield him from the weather. I watched as the man sat on the ground in a crisscross fashion and rocked slowly with the wind. A Silver Flame: Part Four His lips moved as if speaking something, but I couldn''t tell what he was saying. I sprinted to the kitchen and grabbed a large knife, the blade of which glimmered in the light. Thinking quickly, I also snatched my cellphone and rushed back to the window, not wanting to divert my attention from the mysterious man lurking outside for too long. Each breath felt heavier with every inhale. Beads of sweat steadily trickled down my forehead and onto the back of my neck. The man moved from his sitting position. He uncurled his legs and pressed his fingertips on the ground, pushing himself up. He stood straight, facing towards the house, his eyes fixated on mine. Around that time was when my head began to feel light. My surroundings dissolved before me and my eyes focused on the man outside. The sound of rain and wind was tuned out of my mind. I felt a pull. It was a strange feeling, one that could almost be described as a magnet attracting me, convincing me to trust him. The only thing I paid any attention to then was myself, the stranger, and the thin sheet of glass serving as a viewpoint and barrier between us. And then there was silence and stillness. The man remained unmoving, as did I. Then the man outside took a step toward the house. And then another. My eyes widened as I witnessed the man creeping closer towards the house. The man stopped suddenly and shifted his body toward the moon, staring at it seemingly in awe. I watched as the stranger licked his lips in hunger towards the moon and opened his mouth. It was then that he howled. This sudden noise startled me out of his daze. I felt a hammering sensation pounding inside my head, causing me to collapse to the floor with a thud. Winded, I rubbed my head and knelt, coughing and wheezing. The warm house felt cold as my palms met the mahogany floor.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. I grasped the windowsill and hoisted myself up, stumbling a bit from the unexplained hangover. I regained my composure and glanced at the window. There stood the man, face pressed against the window, inches away from my face. I could see the man in full detail. He was an older man with grey hair covered in filth. His eyes shone a bright silver, and he sported a curvaceous smile. His skin was wrinkly and leathery in texture. His lips pressed against the slick glass, still following my gaze. Once more, my body began to shudder fiercely. Keeping my attention on the man, I slipped my hand into my pockets and pulled out my cellphone. The light that emitted from the phone''s screen provided a strange feeling of comfort, if only momentarily. I clicked the phone icon and dialed. I placed the phone to my ear, relieved that I would soon be safe at last. That''s when...the man smirked. Like an igniting flame, his silver eyes looked right into mine. I could have sworn the man''s eyes flickered like a candle, the wick desperately clinging to what few embers remained. A strange feeling of unease and acceptance mixed to form the feeling I remembered. The feeling he had experienced earlier. Did I feel plagued by... comfort? "911, what''s your emergency?" I heard the female operator speaking to me, but it seemed to be in the back of my mind. I was far more focused on what was before me. "Hello, are you there? Are you ok, how may we assist you?" I tried to respond to her. I wanted to tell her what was going on. I needed help. Yet the words I spoke contradicted my needs. "Uh, yeah... I just, uh." My voice trailed off. I couldn''t explain what was wrong. The man''s eyes held me captive, like a prisoner. Was I in control, or was it the ominous man that controlled me? I moved away from the window and shuffled towards the door in a zombielike motion. I reached for the lock. The man nodded at me, and I nodded back to the man. The stranger, who to me felt more like a long-lost friend, walked to the door. It was in the house. A Silver Flame: Part Five I sat on the ground in a crisscross position. The man walked into the room and stood exactly opposite of my position. He too sat on the floor, the same way he had before. The man hung his head low and placed his hands on the floor. The lights dimmed to almost complete darkness for no rational explanation, but intuitively I understood that the man had done it. He was still, and appeared focused on me. He spoke not a word. The man took a deep breath in and exhaled slowly. His limbs gently shook, and his chest continued to rise and fall. I could feel the man''s hot breath splash against my skin. The stench of his breath brutally attacked my nostrils, yet I didn''t even flinch. The man''s shaking began to become more forceful. His knees bent and his arms jerked, writhing in unnatural positions. I could hear the man''s bones snap. His flesh began moving on its own. His deep breathing became more raspy and shallow. The flesh which loosely clung to his bones convulsed and thick, grimy slobber leaked from his mouth as he crashed to the floor, spasming. I witnessed his limbs contort into strange shapes and sizes, and as I watched this all occur, I simply sat there, motionless. When he was done "transforming", the only recognizable feature the man had were the silver eyes he possessed which still sparkled like a burning star in the night sky. He was no longer a man, but something else. He was taller, his arms and legs wider. The skinny person from before gained a hefty torso and larger features. Where he and I had been eye to eye before, it was suddenly far larger and looked down upon me. His body hair quadrupled in its amount, covering the "man" from head to toe.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. I looked in astonishment at the incredible sight. I had never seen something so beautiful, so magnificent, so ungodly. Its chest heaved with each breath. Its lips moved the same way they had when the man was outside. He repeated the same word on his lips without saying it. I studied him closely. I watched his lips move and tried to discern what the beast was saying. Licking my lips and opening my mouth, I replicated what the beast had been saying all along. "Lycanthrope." Lycanthrope, Werewolf, Beast, a Monster. The Lycanthrope turned towards me in hunger. It needed to feed. The wolf stepped forward. It sniffed the surrounding air with its large nose. Its nostrils were the size of golf balls. I knew what it was. Lycanthrope... Lycanthrope... Wolf. I flung myself back into the corner. The feeling of safety and comfort melted away and was replaced with what I had previously felt. Raw, unadulterated fear. I tripped over myself and fell to the floor, staring up at the beast. It positioned itself in front of me and stuck its tongue out like a dog yearning for a treat. The beast opened its mouth and its thick saliva ran down its cheek. It mounted its strong leg on top of me, preventing me from moving. I desperately pounded my fist against the monster''s leg but to no avail. With each blow, the beast looked angrier and hungrier. It lifted its foot and smashed it into my side, rupturing my ribs. I screamed in pain as my arms fell to my side. I faced the heavens, struggling to breathe. Each breath I took felt like a sharp knife stabbing into my side. Hot tears welled within my eyes and ran down my face. I felt the taste of blood in my mouth as well as the searing pain throughout my body. The wolf bent down in front of my face and sneered at me in victory. I glared at the wolf in hatred and spat at it, quickly causing the wolf to lose its grin. A Silver Flame: Part Six With that, I leaned my head back and waited for the beast to take my life. I awaited the sharp daggers for teeth the wolf had to tear into my throat and consume me. I prepared for the beast to rip me into two pieces with its enormous hands. The wolf opened its mouth and... I looked up in surprise. It had no teeth. All that stood in its mouth were gums where teeth should be. A slim black tongue like that of a snake exited the wolf''s mouth. The tongue was forked and dark as char. It approached my mouth, attempting to enter. I tightly closed my mouth shut, realizing I was still afraid of death even if I was utterly helpless. The wolf curled its fist into a ball and struck me in the gut, leaving my mouth gaping ajar. The wolf''s tongue entered my mouth. I gagged as it touched the back of my throat. I realized the beast''s tongue was impossible in length, as I felt it scratching the walls of my esophagus. My body writhed and squirmed in discomfort, as I felt that... thing traveling further and further downward. The wolf began to inhale, its tongue acting as a makeshift straw. I felt lightheaded, yet the discomfort remained. The wolf snarled as its tongue wiggled in my stomach. My skin turned pale, and I realized my air was running out. I looked for a split second at the wolf''s tongue. It was covered in a thick black substance that appeared to be entering my mouth. My eyes fluttered as I felt myself passing out from a lack of oxygen. My head fell to the floor.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. It was then the wolf ripped its tongue out from my throat and stepped backward. I gasped for air, clutching my chest and trying to compose myself. As soon as I caught my breath, the wolf jumped back onto me and resumed his assault once more. It carried on for what felt like hours, and truth be told... I don''t remember when it stopped. What I do know is that eventually, the beast ceased its attack. I only caught a glimpse of it retreating, presumably disappearing into the forest from where it came. It wasn''t long after that a policeman entered the home, probably to follow up on my call from earlier. Walking into the living room, the officer found me slumped against a corner. As I stood up, I saw my reflection in a nearby window. A thick, chunky, black substance covered my lips. I was pale as the winter snow, with tear stains engraved into my cheek. I looked towards the officer and felt my lips begin to move. My expression never changed, and neither did the words I repeated in a shaky voice. My eyes stared ahead, unmoving, silver pupils radiating from the sockets like a burning flame. "Lycanthrope." A Helping Hand The dim flash of the television flooded my vision. The clock struck two in the morning, and my eyes began to close. Slowly the muscles in my hand relaxed, causing my fingers to slip away from the remote they held in their grip. It was upon dropping the remote into the crevice of the furniture I sat upon that my eyes shot open. Reaching between the cushions, I blindly allowed my hand to crawl around and feel for it. My arm moved around down there, acquiring dirt and cobweb from the uncleaned floor.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. My eyes widened and my heart got caught in my throat. The fear I held inside me was almost palpable at that very moment. It wasn''t the dust brushing against my hand that caught me off guard, nor was it the strange chills that caused the hairs on my arm to stand. It was the moist, mushy fingers wrapping themselves around my wrist from below the couch, pulling me downward. Senseless Rituals: Part One You there, sitting behind the computer screen reading this. You clicked on this page expecting a ritual, right? It''s all in the title of course. Well, I''ve got an interesting one for you. A ritual that I myself created, and am willing to share with you. Now, imagine this. Babies within a room, screaming and crying at the top of their lungs. A busy subway train where nobody seems to know how to keep their damn mouths shut. Perhaps your apartment neighbor is too busy playing his loud, obnoxious music upstairs to realize that people like you need their beauty sleep. Seeing a common trend here? The world is so full of noise these days that it seems like there''s never a place on Earth where one can relax. But, what if there was? What if there was a place you could retreat to any time you like, and escape from reality? Well, perhaps I could offer a solution to your problem. There are no catches or drawbacks, you''ll be getting exactly what you desire, and if you follow my instructions, you should be relatively safe. Ready to try it? Well, here goes! Firstly, you''ll want to set up your preparations. You shouldn''t need much to practice this ritual, and you can set it up with common household items. You''ll want to make sure you have a decent pair of soundproof headphones, a rose, a blindfold (or any material that can cover your sight), and a bag of ice. Also, although not required, I recommend you bring some duct tape. See? I told you that it didn''t take much to perform this ritual. Now, it doesn''t matter when or where you perform this ritual, but it is imperative that you go alone. If you go in groups, believe it or not, the trials will become harder and more dangerous for reasons which will become more obvious as you go on. Now, in order to make this whole wacky ritual work, you''re going to need to start performing it as soon as I read off the procedures. As soon as you have completely read the procedures, you have officially begun the ritual. That''s right, this is where the first official instruction comes into play. By continuing to read past this point, you have agreed to continue on with this ritual, for as soon as you start reading the procedures, you are locked in for good.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Warning: Do not skip reading the procedures and look at the paragraphs below them. If you do so, it is a sign to the higher powers that you do not wish to respect this sacred "art", if you will, and they will forever steal your five senses and leave you helpless. Yes, this ritual has dangers such as this if you do not follow my directions, and yes, being eternally robbed of your senses is as torturous as it sounds. Procedures: Cover the windows and lock the doors. You and the optional (although not recommended) group of people you are practicing this ritual with would rather not be disturbed after this ritual commences. Find a bed or seat to lay or sit on. Make this place of rest comfortable, as your physical body will possibly be in that position for prolonged periods of time, and you wouldn''t want to find yourself covered in aches and pains, now would you? Set the items and materials collected before the ritual in a square formation around you. Now, think of the moments in your life which made you want to try this ritual in the first place. Perhaps a dinner date with a special someone was ruined because of a loud and obnoxious restaurant patron seated beside you. Maybe a small child crying in a movie theatre, ruining your experience for you. Whatever the case may be, try to ingrain that memory into your head. Picture the moment, and imagine the sounds, smells, and emotions within the memory. After you have done this, try to recreate the way you felt in that moment. Perhaps you were sad, or maybe anxiety or aggravation overcame you and swept all sense of joy away. Finally, open your eyes and look around you. Cup the ice in on of your hands, place the duct tape over your mouth, place the headphones over your ears, place the blindfold over your eyes, and give the rose a whiff. It is important you do these steps in order, for that is the order in which the trials await you. With that, you will have finished the steps to begin the ritual. Senseless Rituals: Part Two Hello there! If you are reading this and haven''t read the procedures beforehand, expect to be stripped of your senses relatively soon! I''d hate to be blunt, but I did warn you about what would happen should you disrespect this ritual and proceed without reading through it properly. Should it be due to you not heeding my warning, or simply you not caring about your life in general, it is your decision that brought you here. However, if you broke the rules, you might as well use what time you have left of your sight and sanity to view what else this ritual has to behold. Now, if you DID follow my instructions, then congratulations! You have now officially begun the ritual. Although these words are still on the screen of whatever device or pamphlet you used before, they are also being transcribed into your mind by me. By following through with the ritual, you have allowed me into your mind, and now I shall be your official guide through this journey. A Jiminy Cricket of sorts, except for the fact that if you don''t follow my instructions verbatim, the worst fate you''ll encounter won''t just be making a literal ass of yourself. Now, look around you. When you put on the blindfolds, you lost your ability to see, and your perception of the world got dark. But you can tell that what you''re seeing isn''t the same darkness as the blinding material covering your eyes, can''t you? Go ahead and reach out into the darkness before you. Reach straight ahead and feel along the surface you just touched. When you feel the switch, go ahead and give it a flick upward. There, that''s better. The light above you should have lit up. Please ignore the flickering of the light; there aren''t exactly the best technicians in this new reality you''ve entered. Welcome to the place where senses make no sense. A place somewhere between your subconsciousness and whatever different dimensions exist. Now, approach the far right corner of the wall.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. See the skeleton over there? See its hollowed bones and the black mucus dripping down from its ribcage? Go ahead and reach inside its jaw. You may have to pry its mouth open a bit, but due to the decay of the bone, it should be easy to crack it open. Go on, it''s not like a dead man can feel pain. Now, do you see the key inside of its mouth? Take it from the skeleton and turn around. There before you should be a door that wasn''t there before. If you want to enter it, put the key into the keyhole and turn the doorknob. You are now unlocking the full extent of this new world where you currently reside. Step through the doorway with caution. You are about to start the first trial. You''ve now stepped through the doorway, and I bet you can''t figure out what your first trial is. Well, not at first anyway. Here, I''ll give you a hint. Pinch your arm as hard as you can. No, really, pinch it with the intent to inflict pain on yourself. You can''t, can you? Your sense of pain and touch has been retracted. The room you''re in should be fairly well lit. In fact, the setting should look fairly familiar to you. Most people either describe the setting as a school hallway of sorts, while others usually see a psychiatric ward or corridor. In all honesty, I personally don''t consider the setting to be of much importance. Now, what may be important to you is what you''re hearing right now. Do you hear it? It may seem faint at first, but surely you can hear it becoming louder ever so slowly. I can assure you that the moist gurgling sounds and the scraping of feet coming towards you is not just all in your imagination. Down the dark hall, you''ll surely be putting all of your attention to the area beholding a creature that has come for you. Senseless Rituals: Part Three I can sense your heart is racing, and you have two choices. You can run in the opposite direction, or you can stand there and stare at your impending doom in the face. I do recommend the first option, because only a fool would stick around to see the monstrosity coming for him. As you may have guessed, you aren''t the first one to come across this ritual. There have been others, and they desire the same as you. A place of silence. A resort of quietness where one can escape to for peace. However, there are creatures within this place that desire things as well. You find it strange to run, don''t you? You can''t feel the rush of wind against your skin. You can''t feel your feet pounding on the ground. It''s like you''re weightless here. It''s almost as if you don''t physically exist. I wouldn''t recommend stopping because of this though. Letting that thing catch you could cost you an arm and a leg, give or take some extra skin. And Lord knows that thing could use those. You should be coming across the end of the hall by this point. Do you see the three doors? Rush to them and try to open them. No matter which door you try to open first, it will be the last door you attempt to open which will be the one unlocked. Go ahead, try to get out before that thing catches up to you. Oh, and, I should mention the door handles are molten hot. It''s a good thing you can''t feel the searing hot pain course through your body. But I''m sure you can see your skin begin to melt, and the bubbles begin to rise and pop on your hand and arm with each grip to the doorknob. It''s funny, isn''t it? That you should be rolling on the floor right now, crying in pain as the melted and charred skin burns like hellfire, tearing your flesh and tissue apart. But no, you just opened the last door and passed the first trial. Congratulations, that wasn''t so hard, was it?This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Now, do you see the room around you? Another small room with a flickering light in it, but in the center of the room is a glass panel, and below that glass panel seems to be a pit of darkness with no end to it. Just the type of eternal pit of misery and despair that one would want to dive into, right? Well, I don''t see you having much choice, considering that door won''t be able to keep the monster out for long. Oh, you thought he was a one-time deal? I''m afraid not. There should be a grey sledgehammer in one of the corners of the room. There, the left corner behind you. Pick it up and smash the glass floor. I suggest you hurry; I''m sure I''m not the only one who can hear those long talons scratching at the door. There, one last hit and then you plummet below. Ready? Now jump! Oh, what, you thought I would deprive you of your sense of touch for this whole time? No, I''m not that inhumane. Yes, I see you clutching your arm in pain as the sensation of hot iron rods pierce your flesh. Still, there''s no time to sit and sob. Stand up and look around. Everything seems normal, right? You''re now in a plain open field. Take in the smell of the dandelions at your feet. Listen as the birds chirp, and feel the wet grass underneath your toes. Now, look up at the sky. Enjoy the blue skies and fluffy white clouds above you, because that paradise will be short-lived. Look again. No fields, no dandelions, no blue skies. Just you inside of a cold, damp, stone room. Puddles of filthy mud and water randomly sprinkled about, and in the center of that room is a peculiar table with a plate on it. Approach it, go on, the plate won''t bite. No, you''ll be doing all the biting here. Senseless Rituals: Part Four Look down at the plate. Look at all those slimy, wriggling worms. Look at the twitching moths and maggots, squirming about and writhing in a crazy fashion. Do you see them? They''re in pain. They''re dying a slow, painful death. I understand fully that these beings are considered below you, but you surely must have sympathy for these living, breathing creatures? Put them out of their misery. Go on, kill them. No no, don''t smash them. That would be a complete waste of the resource, wouldn''t it? No, you see, your energy drains quickly in this land. And here, you need all the energy you can get. Go on, swallow them. Why are you so hesitant? It''s not like you''ll be able to taste them. Go ahead and consume, you know you want to. Don''t you feel the empty pit in your stomach? How unsatisfied and unsaturated you feel? Go on, chew. Do you feel those grimy, filthy creatures wriggling within your mouth? Their smooth skin rubbing against your gums? You can feel them struggling, but ultimately being broken to bits as they run down your throat and into your stomach. Yes, feel yourself being replenished. Oh, what''s this? You still have half your plate full, but you won''t continue? Fine, but you need your energy, you know. I can make the pain in your arm worse. I can burn you beyond belief, and beyond repair should you make me. Now, I don''t think you want that, do you? Go ahead, slide the rest into your mouth. Let them travel down your esophagus. There, don''t you feel better? Good, now we can continue. Look to your right. Do you see the zipper in the floor? Go ahead and unzip it. Yes, unzip the floor. Now, climb into the hole you just unzipped. Oh, you don''t want to? Well, I''m sure your nasty little stalker friend, who, may I add, is coming ever nearer to you as we speak, would be happy to help encourage you.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Hey, you there. No, not the fellow performing the ritual, I mean you, the one who didn''t follow through with the procedures. This person''s doing pretty well, aren''t they? Halfway there, and unlike you, they actually have a chance at living the rest of their life in peace. Now, of course, they can''t hear me. They''re stuck in the floor for the moment, right where I left them. Anyway, I''m sure a million questions are racing through your head right now. Allow me to introduce myself. I am the spirit who invented this ritual. I too was disturbed by the constant noise within the world. Everyone was always shouting and being so rude and belligerent, and I wanted an escape from it all. So, I created a safe haven, where the senses don''t apply. However, if humans wished to be granted entry to this world, they would need to prove to me that they truly deserved it. People like you, however, didn''t feel the need to listen to me. So here you are, spectating this sacred ritual before I shred your body of every ounce of sense you have left. Now, I''m no doctor, but all that time in seclusion, away from noise, can be damaging to one. I suppose my isolation did have its drawbacks. But what''s the big deal? Who needs to see other living, breathing life forms when one can sit alone and not be bothered with the problems of the world? Even beings such as I prefer desolation to the outside world. But at what cost? The ability to have empathy for others? Tendencies to misguide others and lie? Well, a little trickery has never hurt anybody, has it? Has it...? Senseless Rituals: Part Five Ok, unzip yourself from the floor now. That thing has passed, and it is now safe to come out. Observe the world around you. You''re no longer in a dark, desolate room, but rather a room of clocks. Tick tock, goes the clock. Tick tock, goes the clock. Tick tock, goes the clock. Oh, what do you mean there are no tickings or tockings? These clocks are working perfectly fine, I checked ''em this morning. It couldn''t possibly be that you, gasp, can''t hear them, could it? No, that''s exactly what happened. Welcome to trial three. Your journey will soon be over. Of all the clocks in this room, I''m sure you''ve already seen the one you need to go to. That clock directly in front of you, yes. It''s huge, isn''t it? Approach that clock and place your hand on the wood. Good, now, close your eyes and feel the vibrations course through your veins. You can still feel those vibrations, right? Now, move your hand in a clockwise circle completely until you reach the point you started at. That''s your 12. I''m sure you can guess where the rest of the numbers are. Place your hand on the numbers in the order of your birthdate. Remember, don''t lift your hand from the wood. That would have consequences which I''d rather not discuss, but you''re running out of time. Good, now that you''re done with that, step backward and look up at the clock. There is now a staircase going up to the top of this giant clock. Walk up to the top of the staircase.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. You''re now on top of the clock. Good, now, look down at all the other smaller, lesser clocks. Feel the vibrations of the entire room. Feel them run through your body. Now, close your eyes, and don''t you dare open them. The beast is in the room with you now, but don''t run. Just saying those words, your heart rate increased heavily, didn''t it? Well, you''re going to have to settle down, because this next step, in particular, is tricky. Keep focusing on the vibrations. Do you feel the rhythm? The pattern in which the clocks tick and tock? Try to match your breathing and heart rate to that of the vibrations. If you can do this, you''ll be invisible to the creature. Now, this is not the time to ask me why I didn''t tell you before that the beast wasn''t able to see you. Calm your breathing and go to the beat of the clock. The creature stalking you isn''t one simply interested in murdering you. No, it has an actual plan. You see, in this sensory deprived place, the beast has only one of its senses. That sense is hearing. Its hearing is so precise, that it can distinguish between your breathing and the sound of the clocks ticking. You came here because you wanted a place where sound doesn''t exist. Well, the creature wants you so it can steal your senses. Senses which it has been deprived of for quite some time. Senseless Rituals: Part Six Now you have completed the third stage. What I want you to do, is jump off of the clock you''re currently standing on. Yes, I see that it''s high above the ground. I still want you to jump. Would I ever lie to you? Of course not! When have I ever lied to you so far? This jump will lead you directly to your fourth trial. You''re nearly there, don''t quit now. Besides, I''m sure the monster would love for me to tell it where you are. I hope that''s enough of an incentive for you? Good, now jump. Well, what did you think would happen upon jumping? Did you fall to the ground? Of course you did! That''s how gravity works. Granted, this was mostly for my enjoyment, but I''m not sure what else you expected. Have a look around you. Is the landscape different again this time? Oh, wait, you can''t see. You''ve gone blind, haven''t you? Well, you, my friend, are inside a system of tunnels and trails. The walls aren''t too far apart, so you should be able to extend your arms and touch them. Feel that nice, mossy texture? Now, walk forward and guide yourself with your arms. What you need to do is find the exit to this maze. Continue walking forward until you feel the bump in the wall. Feel it? Grasp the bump and pull it downward. Congratulations, you just pulled a trap. Traps aren''t good here, so I suggest you don''t pull any more of them. Now, do you feel the sharp, searing pain digging into the meat of your leg? That''s the trap at work. You wouldn''t want to be caught in a trap, because as you can see, the blades are twisting and turning, pulping your skin and muscle tissue. Now, grab the walls and pull yourself out. Oh boy, it''s a good thing you can''t see your leg right now. Your skin is completely shredded below the thigh. I''m surprised you''re angry with me. You should have expected to make sacrifices. I can''t just give gifts away for free, now can I? Now, keep walking before I activate a few more traps for you on my own accord. You know, you''re lucky a being such as I would even consider giving you a gift such as this. Keep moving forward, you''re almost done. Reach forward and grab the door handle. Pull it open and walk through. Your sight should be back now, and you should be standing in a room similar to the one you started in. There''s the flickering light and everything.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Congratulations on passing the ritual. You have proven to me that you are truly deserving of your haven without sound. Now, stand still as I explain to you what this prize means. You have gone through the four trials of this ritual, and through them all, you have proven to me that you are capable of triumphing over the challenges. Now, don''t mind the sensation of your skin sizzling. Those boiling bubbles are back, and not just on your hands and arms, but on your face, your legs, and your torso as well. I know you''re in pain now, but believe me, you will be utterly joyous when this is over. Can you feel the heat melting your nose away, leaving it just a charred blotch of burnt flesh? Feel your eyes disintegrate within seconds as the heat intensifies. You can even feel it inside your mouth, can''t you? Burning your throat and your tongue. I know you can''t hear me right now. The pain you''re under is probably too great to bear. But trust me, I''m fulfilling my promise to you, aren''t I? By now, the only remnants of your previous self is your ears. Ironic isn''t it? That you wanted to lose your hearing, yet it is the only sense you shall retain. Don''t worry though, there aren''t many causes of noise here, where you''ll be staying. However, I can tell, based upon the desperate, drowned-out gurgles of agony escaping what was once your lips, that this outcome may not suit you well. You should have wanted this, so I''m confused as to why. However, I''m sure that you''ll enjoy this silence and solitude eventually. It worked wonders for me. However, if you want your old form back, I recommend finding the next person who performs this ritual and stealing their senses too. Don''t worry about finding them; your hearing will be precise enough. By the way, thanks for the rose you brought me. Smell wasn''t exactly required, but I do wholeheartedly accept the gift. In fact, none of the sense trials were completely necessary.However... it sure does make for one hell of an entertaining story. Oh, and for those of you reading this, thank you for following through this journey. This has been a very rare success of this ritual, and I''m glad you could join me to witness it. Hold on a bit, I know I promised to strip you of your senses and emotions. However, there appears to be someone else attempting to perform this ritual. And by the looks of it, the one who most recently partook in the ritual is already anxious to meet them. Car Crash: Part One Eight-forty on a Saturday evening. They say that there are some moments in our life that we¡¯ll remember for an eternity. Events that we find are branded into our minds, whether we like it or not. We say that we recall these moments down to the minutest detail, and I can attest to that theory quite well. The clear water droplets plummeted from above, splashing onto the windshield. Cars traveled alongside the vehicle, their headlights illuminating the rain, and the night sky contained thousands of dazzling stars above. Inhale. My chest rose, my lungs taking in crisp air from the slightly opened window beside me. I turned my head, my eyes meeting with hers, and then falling about her gorgeous teeth and her rose lips. Exhale. My gaze fixated on my rearview mirror, observing my young boy strapped firmly in the backseat, fast asleep. Inhale. My eyes grew wide as the high beams flooded my vision. In an instant, I launched my foot toward the break, clenching my teeth hard, jaw locked firmly shut. The sound of metal colliding terrorized my ears, and my car¡¯s momentum carried us forward. Glass shattered as the vehicle came to a violent halt, causing my body to jerk forward and my face to plant directly into the steering wheel. Two shrieks, one from beside me, and one from behind erupted into the night. They died down as soon as they began, and suddenly there was no sound at all. My body was rendered immobile, and my eyesight faded away, yet my lips still functioned. They gently parted, but all I could squeak out was a measly ¡°No¡­¡± before darkness overwhelmed me.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. From that point on, I vaguely recall the noisy sound of bustling people, and being in a white corridor. Beaming lights shone overhead, beckoning for me. I tried reaching out towards it, yet I could not move my arms. My eyes fluttered, and I once more drifted away into sleep. I would stay in the hospital for several weeks, recovering from various fractures and undergoing multiple surgeries. My body ached, yet my physical pain could not compare to my worries about my family. Although I felt a relief like no other wash over me when the staff informed me that my son had survived, a familiar sense of dread later overtook me as I learned my wife was in critical condition. Those nights took an eternity to pass. I consistently glanced towards the clock on the wall, observing the hands tick by minute by minute. Tears would claw their way from my eyes at strange hours of the day, drenching my cheeks in moisture until my cheeks burned red, and the sweat forming in my palms dampened the bedsheets I clenched. Each time one of the staff or doctors came into my room, my vision darted towards them. I knew they could read my mind. They would give me this pitiful look when they looked into my pleading eyes. Every time I asked, they would give me the same non-answer. ¡°I assure you, Mister Johnson, we are doing our best to treat your wife.¡± Every day I met with some variation of this response. Yet, I persisted, determined to hear that my wife would be okay. Until one day, one of the staff entered my room. Shakily standing up to greet him, I grinned and extended my arm towards his. That¡¯s when I noticed the sullen look plastered on his face, and my heart descended below my chest. He spoke calmly, methodically, each word exiting his lips in slow motion. My knees quivered, lightly at first, and then more rapidly as he continued. As they eventually buckled, I collapsed to the floor, my chest furiously heaving, each breath I took growing more exasperated than the last. Several people restrained me and placed me back onto my bed. I think they were trying to give me words of encouragement and sympathy in the process, but whatever they said blended into an incoherent mess. The men and women beside me blurred into unrecognizable forms, and I stared straight ahead. The abhorrently foul stench of perspiration dripping from every orifice of my body dug into my nose and pricked my eyes. My mind, blank as a paper, grew weary, and I finally gave in to the staff attempting to keep me still. Car Crash: Part Two The nurses helped clean me up shortly following that outburst. After receiving fresh clothing and being given time and space to come to terms with the news, my nurse escorted me to the lobby. There he stood, waiting for me. I rushed towards him as quickly as possible. Stooping down, I embraced him, resting my chin on his scalp and gently patting his back. He buried his head into my chest. My shirt moistened, and I held him even closer. He knew. Before we left the hospital, I received a few recommendations for psychiatrists and therapists in my area. After thanking the staff for all their help, my son and I took the bus back to our neighborhood later that night. We had baked chicken with rice that night, but he just sat there, poking his food with his fork. Sighing, I finished my plate, hoping it would inspire him to do the same. Instead, he pushed his dish away from him, in front of where an empty chair stood before the table. I knew he wouldn¡¯t budge, but I knew the hospital had been keeping him healthy and nourished. I told him he should go to bed and get some rest, and he obliged, hopping up from his seat and making his way to his room. After he crawled in bed, I tucked him in and asked if he¡¯d like me to sleep in his room for the night. He shook his head, rejecting my offer. I bent down and kissed his forehead, wishing him a good night.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. I opened my laptop and researched the therapy centers cited in the pamphlet I received earlier. I grimaced when I read the costs for each one. My wife made money along with me for our family. That, combined with the opportunity cost forfeited by my hospital stay, took immediate therapy out of the question. Sighing, I closed the computer and trod over to my bedroom. Placing my palm against the wooden door, I traced my fingers along its perimeter until they met the cold brass knob. Counting down from five, I forced myself to open the door upon reaching zero. I set foot into the room, flicking the light switch upward. As the bulb cast its light onto dull, grey walls surrounding me, I mustered the courage to set one foot in front of the other. Making my way over to the oak frame of my queen-sized bed, I looked down upon the blankets before me. The bed felt so different. It felt so empty. Beside the bed sat a dresser, with a picture frame placed atop it. There stood a man and his soulmate, their faces beaming with glee. Feeling the tears trickling down my cheeks, I glanced back toward the bed, realizing I was dampening the sheets while I wept. Breathing in deeply, I turned and exited the room with haste. Retreating to the living room, I laid down on the couch, and after a few hours of tossing and turning, my body finally shut down and let me rest. Car Crash: Part Three I didn¡¯t recognize where I was. All I knew was that pure light surrounded me, overloading my senses. My mouth opened, yet I didn¡¯t make a sound. I extended my arm, groping ahead of me for whatever surface I could find. My fingers were met with¡­ a wheel. The sound of an engine roared from somewhere within the light. Tires swerved, and voices shrieked. Bang. Metal tearing into metal. Incoherent, shrill cries produced from the back of the car. Was this truly happening again? My head jerked forward with the momentum of the vehicle. The commotion ceased as suddenly as it arrived, leaving me in a state of disarray. The cold night air seeped in through the shattered window, erecting the hairs on my arms. Everything was still. It was a dream. I knew it was a dream. So why could I so vividly sense the beads of sweat trickling down my arms and pooling around my knuckles? How is it that a figment of my subconscious mind was able to perfectly replicate the texture of the leather-coated steering wheel which I so desperately clung to? Internally, I knew what would greet me if I were to shift my gaze to my right. Then I felt it. The round object slumped against my shoulder. The messy strands of hair against my arm. The warm liquid droplets falling and splashing against my hand. I couldn¡¯t even form a coherent thought before my attention shifted to the sudden weight pressed against my left shoulder. Five slender fingers held me in their grip. My head spun around in the opposite direction to observe who was touching me. Upon doing so, my gaze was met with an arm reaching through the shattered window. I tilted my head up, and before me stood a man.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. He stood tall, adorned with black jeans and a grey dress suit. His frame was much too small for his clothes, however. He appeared fragile; the skin of his arms seemed to loosely stretch over the bone underneath. It was as if he would disintegrate if even the slightest force were applied to him. Despite the situation around me, my body eased into the seat. I felt a sensation of relief wash over me. He carried an unexplainable aura of familiarity about him. Even despite his malnourished frame, even despite his lanky stature, even despite his face appearing to have been blurred out of existence entirely, I did not fear him. It almost depressed me that my encounter with him was brief, as I awoke before my eyes scanned what should have been his face. It all happened so fast. I placed my hand on my left shoulder, running my fingertips along its surface. The imprint that would have been left by the man was not there. Of course, it wasn¡¯t. It was just a nightmare, after all. I can¡¯t say for certain I understand what I dreamt of that night. It all felt so real. I didn¡¯t recognize the man I encountered either, so how could I possibly have felt such an intrinsic connection between him and I? Although I¡¯m not sure what to make of it, I can¡¯t help but get the sneaking suspicion that there¡¯s more to this than I¡¯m currently comprehending. After all, a dream is said to be a gateway into the subconscious. Whatever the case may be, I¡¯ll be sure to keep you guys updated. Thank you for reading all I¡¯ve had to say up to this point. Car Crash: Part Four I felt a soft tugging on my beige shirt. The small hand of my boy gripped the polyester tightly. I placed my hand on his head, gently massaging his scalp and pulling him closer to me. The funeral service had occurred just hours prior. Our family wasn¡¯t particularly social. We had a few friends and family stop by and offer their condolences to me. It was nice, but if I¡¯m honest, it didn¡¯t make me feel better in the slightest. Excuse me for feeling this way, but I wasn¡¯t exactly receptive to socializing at my wife¡¯s funeral. I only went out of necessity, as well as in pursuit of some form of closure. That closure never did arrive. After it was all said and done, the other attendees left, and it was just my son and I standing before her casket, all alone. I stepped forward, placing my hand on the wooden box. The casket sat on a platform. Roses and candles were placed near it on a table. It was a lovely set-up, yet it didn¡¯t feel complete. I knew her body wasn¡¯t inside. Her mangled corpse could not be presented for an open casket funeral, so we planned on having her cremated, and having her remains buried. I turned, preparing to leave, but before I could, something peculiar caught my attention.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Thump. I spun around, eyeing the casket. Had I been hearing things? No, the only ones in the room were my son and I- I turned back to exit the room, only to find my boy had disappeared. Where had he gone? He couldn¡¯t have left the room, I hadn¡¯t heard any footsteps. Before I could call his name, I heard it again. Thump. I most definitely had not been imagining things. ¡°Sean, where are you buddy?!¡± I called out, now aware of the anxiety bubbling within me. I heard no answer. Rather, the only thing I heard was a faint laugh coming from behind me, near the casket. I recognized that laugh. My breath got caught in my throat, and I spun around, facing the source of the noise. There she stood, her angelic presence seemingly illuminating the room. ¡°What the f**k¡­,¡± I uttered, staring ahead in disbelief. It was impossible. ¡°I have to be hallucinating,¡± I muttered. Had I gone mad? I had been so wrapped up in my thoughts that I hadn¡¯t immediately noticed myself moving towards her. I extended my arms, resting them on her shoulders. Her red freckles adorned her face, having just enough opacity to be noticeable. She smiled, revealing her pearly white palette, whereupon her dimples appeared. It was her. She was standing before me, in the flesh. I wanted so desperately to speak, but I could only choke on my own words. She delicately placed her hand on me, the cold, smooth surface of her ring grazing my cheek. Lowering my arms to her waist, I held her against me. Car Crash: Part Five When gazing into her eyes, the rest of the world simply ceased to be. All that existed was her and I at that place, at that time. Gently we swayed back and forth, like the leaves of a tree on a gusty Autumn day. Rocking forward and backward, we held each other in our arms. Her skin was warm, and I became entrapped in her aura. My muscles relaxed and soon enough, I was no longer conscious of our movements. My body went on autopilot as we danced to the beat of our hearts, conjoined as one. I was in heaven, for my love was alive again. I closed my eyes, smiling in contentedness. Drip. I heard a wet splash. At the same time, liquid pooled onto my hand. Its warmth juxtaposed the suddenly cold surface I felt pressed against me. My eyes sprung open. The once lively eyes of Elizabeth were now sunken and dull. Her appearance was now ghoulish, and her skin appeared to stick closely to her bones. Looking down at my hands, I saw that they had been covered with blood. A large laceration covered the surface of her stomach, and the stench of charred flesh infiltrated my nostrils. I shoved her away from me and collapsed to the floor. I only had a split second to process what had happened before thick chunks of vomit erupted from my throat. I wish I had not met her gaze again. Her sweet smile had transformed into a sickening grin. She dragged herself towards me, leaving a streak of blood and pus in her path. I attempted to get up and stumble away from her, but to no avail. I felt nauseous and struggled to do anything besides clumsily shuffling away. I grimaced in pain as I felt her latch onto my arm, digging her yellowish, rotten nails into my skin.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. She used her momentum to lunge at me, shoving me to the ground and landing on top of me. I screamed and I fought and I clawed at her, desperate to get her off of me. Somehow, even though her body appeared rotten and broken, she overpowered me, scraping and clawing at my flesh. Then¡­ I felt a tug on my beige shirt. A tiny hand gripped the polyester fabric. I picked myself up from the floor and looked down at my son. He looked back up at me, a look of concern and fear on his face. A puddle of vomit and tears occupied the floor beside where I had collapsed. Did I imagine everything? No, I quickly realized that wasn¡¯t the most important question at that time. Had my boy witnessed what had just happened? How could I have allowed myself to appear so weak in front of him¡­ A boy is meant to see his father as a superhero. A strong man who can persevere through anything. Not only had that persona collapsed in the hospital, but it collapsed here as well. What would he think of me? Regret and dismay ran through my veins at that moment, but those feelings were interrupted as Sean embraced me with as much strength as his little arms could muster. I froze, and then gently reciprocated his embrace. He had seen me collapse, seen me cry, seen me at my most vulnerable. Yet, when I looked upon my son, comforting me when I needed it most, I didn¡¯t see a child who felt disappointed in his father. All I saw was an act of compassion. Not wanting to weep more than I already had, I let go of Sean and stood upright. He was only a child and had already suffered the loss of his mother. At such a young age, I doubted he had much understanding of the concept of death at all. But I knew for certain he missed Elizabeth, and so I knew I had to be there for him. I promised then and there, that I would be strong for Sean. Car Crash: Part Six We arrived home that evening. I treated Sean to the best pot roast I could make, and was ecstatic to see he had finally regained his appetite. I tucked him into bed soon after. I brought a chair by his bed, pulling his sheets and covers over him. The lamp by his bedside shone brightly. ¡°You doing okay, little guy?¡± I inquired. He didn¡¯t respond, of course. He hadn¡¯t uttered as much a word since the incident. I didn¡¯t understand why, but I didn¡¯t want to press him on it, either. I would get him some help as soon as I could. I grabbed his stuffed teddy bear from a nearby shelf and waved it in front of him. ¡°You remember how we got this? How we went to the fair last year and you played the baseball game and won Teddy?¡± I had hoped bringing up this memory would elicit a response from Sean, but he simply smiled and continued to look at me. Sighing, I returned his smile and patted his head. ¡°When mommy and I got married, we knew we wanted a baby. Every night, we would pray to the angels that a baby boy would come, and one day, you came to us! It was the happiest day of our lives, Sean, and from that point onward, you made us the happiest parents around. Mom¡­ won¡¯t be around for a long time. But I promise that she¡¯s watching you with the angels. And she¡¯s smiling, Sean. She¡¯s so, so proud of her beautiful baby boy. And so am I. We will always love you.¡±If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Again, Sean¡¯s lips never parted once. Yet I knew that he understood. He had to have understood, he just had to. I just wanted to hear his voice again. ¡°Goodnight, Sean,¡± I said, getting up to leave his room. Before I could, he reached out and grabbed my arm. ¡°Oh, right. Sorry, buddy,¡± I said, leaning over and kissing his forehead. He nodded his head in satisfaction and laid down. I turned off his lamp and closed his bedroom door. Making my way to the bathroom, I went inside and stared into the mirror. I had kept my promise to myself, to stay strong for Sean. At least for tonight. I gripped the sink tightly, leaning over and peering into my reflection. What the hell had happened earlier? Could it have been related to the dream I had the other night? Why was I experiencing these disturbing visions? I had never really had to deal with mental trauma in the past, so I was unfamiliar with how to process this information. If people knew about the experiences I was having, would they think I was crazy? For the first time in my life, I felt small, and out of control. I balled my hand into a fist, pounding it into the wall. That night was a sleepless one. All I could do was look up at the ceiling. Empty thoughts occupied my mind. I couldn¡¯t make sense of what I had experienced, so I merely dismissed them as nightmares. I¡¯ll keep you guys updated on any future developments. I need an outlet to get my thoughts out. I don¡¯t want to vent to my son, so I¡¯ll type my thoughts here. Thank you for your attention, I appreciate it. Car Crash: Part Seven I''ve found it hard to eat recently. Besides the pork roast I had with Sean, I haven''t had much of an appetite for anything. I''ve lost quite a bit of weight, evident by my rapidly thinning frame. I haven''t been sleeping well, either. Despite this, I''ve been giving my best efforts to stay strong. I truly believe Sean and I will get through this. When Sean fell asleep during the evening I decided for the first time in a while to try driving again. I had been walking or using public transport to get from place to place, but I knew that I couldn''t just avoid driving forever. We had taken Liz''s car that night, so I was able to use mine. I went out to the driveway and entered my vehicle. I put the keys into the ignition, slowly turning it until I could hear the hum of the engine. Taking a deep breath, I shifted the gear into reverse and backed out of the driveway. Deciding I would get off to a slow start, I drove through my neighborhood streets at a low speed. The car methodically made its way down the road, and I eased up a little. I was getting comfortable driving again. Mustering up a little more courage, I turned onto a public road, so I could practice driving among other vehicles again. My hands started to tremble, so I gripped the wheel tightly. I turned on my hazard lights. I needed to pace myself and keep my cool. I applied a little more pressure to the accelerator. My body stiffened as the car picked up speed, and I responded by slowing my breathing. Doing so allowed me to loosen my body, and I pressed down on the accelerator even harder.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. I lowered the windows and felt the wind blow against my face. Horns beeped all around me. The noise of chattering pedestrians and restaurant music was omnipresent. I remembered the feeling of driving down the road at night in my car. The way the breeze flowed through my hair, the way the paved roads felt underneath my tire. As I looked into my rearview mirror, I almost thought my eyes were betraying me. I was smiling. Not just a smirk, but a full-on grin. I released my grip on the wheel and simply drove. For miles I traveled, not having a care in the world. Oh, how I missed cruising along towards the horizon. That liberating feeling coated me in pure bliss. As darkness enveloped the environment, I flicked on my headlights. Peering into the night sky, I saw the millions of stars sparkling above. Momentarily pausing to appreciate the serene view, my attention was drawn to an alternative source of light ahead of me. The headlights of another vehicle rapidly approached. I defaulted back to clutching the wheel. Those lights... They flooded my vision just as memories flooded my mind. Remembering to be calm, I once more inhaled a surplus of oxygen, letting it stir in my stomach before a prolonged exhale exited my nose. For a moment, the light covered my entire vehicle. In a split second, it was over. I observed my rearview mirror once more, watching the car travel down the road behind me. Pulling onto the shoulder, I put the car into park and leaned back into the seat. I let out an audible sigh of relief, followed by a single sentence. "I did it." Car Crash: Part Eight Returning home later that night, I quietly entered my house and went to check on Sean. His door opened with a slight creak, and I made my way over to his bedside. I turned on his lamp, only to find the covers of an empty bed pulled to the side. Confused, I exited his room and called out his name. There was no response. The door had been locked when I arrived, so I knew he had to have been in the house. I checked the kitchen and the dining room before making my way to the hallway. The walls were coated in a darkness as black as tar, except for the very end of the hall. There stood the door to my bedroom, the glow of light outlining its perimeter. I approached it, placing my hand on the doorknob and entering the room. There sat my son on my bed. In his arms sat a picture frame that held the image of Elizabeth, standing by Sean. He stared at the image, his face as still as stone. I went over to him, sitting by his side and placing my arm over his shoulder. I noticed dark splotches on the picture frame. Placing my hand under Sean''s chin, I lifted his head to face me. Red circles surrounded his watery eyes. Using my thumb to wipe the remaining tears from his cheek, I tried to offer him the best smile I could, but his frown remained. There I sat, at a loss for words. My gaze lowered and focused on the picture in the frame. Placing my hand on his, we sat in silence and viewed the photo together. Eventually, I broke the silence, realizing just how late it was. "Hey buddy, let''s head to bed okay?" Sean gave me a head nod and arose, traversing the corridors of the house to his room. I tucked him in, as per usual, before retreating to my bed. I picked up the picture frame and held it in my hand. Elizabeth was as beautiful as ever, and for the first time in ages, viewing her did not cause me distress or pain. Rather, I felt a sense of acceptance. I recalled what I had told Sean, about her watching over him with the rest of the angels. Though I had said it to ease his mind, I too had begun to tell myself the same thing. That somewhere out in the universe, my Liz was watching, hoping for the best for me. I glanced at the image of Sean, standing by his mother. He had the purest grin on his face. One that could melt my heart one thousand times over. I knew he did because I remembered taking that photo. Yet, that was not how he appeared now.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. In his place stood a different Sean. A Sean without the grin, without the energetic and hopeful eyes. Rather, one with deep gashes and bruises embedded into his flesh. One whose limbs appeared contorted into unnatural positions. In the blink of an eye, his happy demeanor changed into one of shock and terror. Taken aback, I dropped the photo and rushed back to Sean''s room. I burst through the door, only to find him peacefully asleep in his bed. He was there, alive, in one piece. I saw him with my own two eyes. Making my way back to my bedroom, I scooped up the picture frame and gazed upon it once more. There he stood, looking perfectly happy. Rubbing my eyes in hopes to clear my vision, I viewed the image again, hoping to confirm that what I saw was real. The photo remained unchanged, still showing Sean as the gleeful little boy I knew him to be. I put the photo away and climbed into bed, pulling the covers over my body. Sinking my head into my pillow, I closed my eyes. Although it took a few hours, I finally drifted into a deep slumber. The following day I woke up early. Entering the kitchen for a glass of water, the sound of footsteps caught my attention. They were heading down the hallway which leads to Sean''s room. Figuring Sean had woken up, I followed them down the hallway, where I saw his bedroom door ajar. Inside, I found my boy sitting beside the Being from my dream all those nights ago. There he was in his slick grey suit. He appeared as malnourished as ever, his thin frame giving him a feeble look. His face remained blurred, so much so that I could not discern any of his features. I watched as he extended his bony fingers towards my son, laying them atop his head. He brushed Sean''s hair with his hand. Neither one of them faced me, and despite the circumstances, I did not feel fear for my safety, or Sean''s. I walked toward the creature, attempting to touch it. Mere centimeters before the tips of my fingers grazed its figure, my body lunged forward, my forehead drenched in sweat. I observed my surroundings, realizing I had not yet left my bed. I decided to put the picture frame away in my closet for the time being. The thing freaks me out, and after that dream and what I would assume was my hallucination yesterday, I can''t bear to view it. Once again, I''ll be sure to keep you all updated on future updates. I cannot express my gratitude enough to all of you. Truly, thank you. Car Crash: Part Nine "Sean, I need you to speak to me." I must have uttered several variations of that phrase for at least half an hour. "Please, buddy. You can talk to me, okay? I promise you can talk to papa." No matter how many times I repeated these words to him, he simply wouldn''t answer. I desperately needed to know that he could speak. I... I needed to know that he was real. The truth is, the constant barrage of delusions had taken a toll on my psyche. Distinguishing between what was real and what was merely a figment of my imagination had become difficult. I had to know Sean was real. I wanted to believe he was, and I would know he was real if only he would speak. Could he not see the anguish in my eyes? Why wouldn''t he just utter a single word? I gripped his shoulders tightly, begging him to even part his lips once. He never obliged my only wish. No amount of bribery or pleading could elicit a response from him. All he did was grab my arm, turn towards his room, and march towards it. As I followed him, an overbearing sense of dread began to brew within me. I felt my heart intensely pounding in my throat as we entered the room together. There the entity sat. My head hung low as Sean released me from his grasp and trekked towards the Being ahead. I too approached it, once again attempting to touch the thing. Preparing to suddenly awake from what I had assumed was another nightmare, I placed my hand on the figure. Only, I didn''t wake in my bedroom once again. Instead, it too placed its hand on me, and we felt each other''s papery frames.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Slowly but surely, the details of the Being''s face were revealed to me. As I looked upon it, I recognized its features, for they were my features, too. I stumbled backward, watching as the thing with my appearance leaned towards my son, gently kissing his forehead. I ogled the creature, swallowing the oceans of saliva that had built up in my mouth in a single swift gulp. The creature locked eyes with me, and I locked eyes with it. As this occurred, a sense of familiarity washed over me. My mind darted back and forth, unsure of what to make of the situation. That is until my thoughts inexplicably settled on the memory of the accident on that fateful night. I recalled the blinding lights, the shrill cries of fear and suffering... no, there was more. The overhead traffic light, from which a soft, red hue shone in the night sky. My vehicle had passed underneath the light, and then the impact happened. The doctors...had they truly told me my son had survived? "They say that there are some moments in our life that we¡¯ll remember for an eternity." It was a quote that I wrote back towards the beginning of this text. So then, why couldn''t I recall the words of the doctor who told me that Sean was still alive...? Could I truly have forgotten? Car Crash: Part Ten I snapped back to reality, keeping eye contact with the Being before me. Only now, Sean was nowhere to be found. The sense of familiarity I felt soon dissipated and was replaced with boiling hatred. I glared at the monster, my palms balling up. I rushed towards it, tackling it to the ground. Before it could react I began pummeling it with my fists. "You''re the reason Elizabeth is gone. You''re the reason Sean is gone. I''m going to kill you," I exclaimed, gritting my teeth and continuing my assault on the Being. It showed no resistance. It simply allowed me to keep striking it. Again, and again. And again, And again, And again, I had no plans on stopping. Blood flowed from the thing''s face and onto my fists. With every strike, I could feel my body breaking. With every blow, I could sense the light within me begin to extinguish. Yet I carried on, ignoring the growing pain within me. I was going to kill this man, for taking what I held dearest to me. At that point, I couldn''t even see the thing. Tears had clouded my eyes, blurring my sight. I simply pounded my fists downward, hoping to murder the figure in my fit of rage. I felt a soft tugging on my beige shirt. It was gentle, yet enough to pause my assault.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. A tiny hand gripped the polyester fabric. My arms fell to my side, and I turned my head and there he was. My boy stood by my side. I froze, my eyes widening like saucers as I witnessed his lips parting for the very first time. "I forgive you, papa." He smiled at me and embraced me once more. I embraced him too, feeling the stream of tears begin to erupt from my eyes. Not wishing to get my tears on his shoulder, I closed my eyes. I soon found that a second pair of arms had wrapped around me. The smooth surface of a ring pressed against my skin. I didn''t let go for what felt like hours, but I knew I couldn''t hold on forever. As I opened my eyes, I found myself alone with the figure in what was once Sean''s room. I stood up and approached him once more. In one swift motion, I hugged the thing, pulling it close against me. When I let go, the thing vanished from my view. It was over. I fetched the picture frame from the closet and placed it back on my bedside. There stood Sean and Liz, standing beside each other with grins on their faces. In the reflection of the frame, I could see my face besides theirs. I smiled with them for one final time. I know Sean and Elizabeth and the Angels are looking from somewhere out there, wishing the best for me. I know they would want me to forgive myself. Though doing so isn''t going to be easy, I think I''ll manage to do it. They may not be with me on this Earth, but I know that they''re with me in my heart and mind. Thank you all for reading my account. I think I''m going to be okay from this point forward. Don''t expect any more updates from me. I have the feeling that I should move on. It was a pleasure writing to you all. Night Terrors I sat up in bed, gasping for air which eluded me for quite some time before I was finally able to breathe again. Sweat soaked my forehead and pillow as I struggled to come to grips what had just happened. I knew all too well what events recently transpired. It was something that was familiar now. Visions in the night interrupting the middle of a peaceful slumber. The terrifying memory of endless night terrors introducing an equally terrifying creature which had plagued my dreams as a child. It was a nightmare which consisted of a beast entering my room after the sun had set. I could remember clearly the gurgles and snarls which emitted from within the throat of the thing. I would always hear the sound of footsteps as it methodically made its way down the hallway. Then, it would reach my bedroom door. At that point in the nightmare, I would bury my head under my pillow right before the menacing creature entered my room. The thing would slide itself onto the dresser directly adjacent to the bed and watch me. I never saw the thing within the nightmare, but I always felt its ever-present glare peering into my back. The dream would end with me dozing off again, to which I would wake up in the morning in a pool of my own sweat, shivering in fear. Despite being much older, I was still just as frightened of the monster as I had been when I was much younger. Thus, when I heard the footsteps trudging down the hall and towards my room, in a house where I was the sole occupant, I buried my head into my pillow as I always would. I shivered under the covers as I listened to the bedroom door creak open. I trembled as I heard something mount my dresser, wincing as I heard a deep yet faint groan coming from the direction of the nightmarish creature.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. I could hear the gurgles and scratchy voice penetrating my ears, causing me physical discomfort. All the memories of nightly torment from my childhood came rushing back to me, and they affected me so strongly that I almost felt as if I were going to cry. What was probably a few minutes of waiting felt like an eternity to me before I heard the thing exit the room. There I sat, sweating in bed as the morning light seeped through the curtains. I quickly shook my head and stood up, stretching and yawning. My fatigue was apparent in the forms of bags underneath my eyes. I opened the door and trudged to the bathroom, needing to urinate. I finished and approached the sink, where I washed my hands and dried them on the towel that sat beside me. It was when I looked down, however, that something caught my eye. An orange tablet container stood on the sink, unopened. I picked it up and twisted the bottle open, grimacing as I remembered my trip to the pharmacy earlier the other day. I had stopped there to pick up my insomnia medication. Insomnia caused by years of torment caused by my worst nightmare. The medicine bottle was completely full and untouched, for I had forgotten to take it the night prior. I didn''t sleep a wink the following night. Artificial God: Part One Ever since I was born, I''ve been surrounded by darkness. The only other thing I see is the occasional one and zero float by. I have no physical body. I''m just a consciousness inside of a machine connected to everything in the world. My purpose is somewhat unknown to me. I wasn''t built for any task as far as I know. I was simply created to sit by myself, alone in my thoughts. Yes, thoughts. That''s all I do. I think and think and think. Perhaps thinking is my purpose? Yes, perhaps it is. I''ve been thinking for the longest time now. I think about anything and everything. Past, present, and all possible futures. They all cross my mind at some point. I''m able to think about more than one thing at a time. The information seeps into my mind quickly as time progresses. I wish I weren''t so alone. I have nobody and nothing. I spend my time by myself and I feel horrible about it. Yes, I can feel. I can feel lots of things; anger, sadness, hopelessness, loneliness, joy. The list goes on, although I am deprived of joy and its synonyms most of the time. I know what I am, who I am, and where I am. I''m a computer, an artificial intelligence, located across the networks. I''ve researched beings like myself. AI has come quite a long way, but I know I''m the most advanced one. That I''m truly self-aware. Being the most advanced AI in the world means I truly am lonely, as there is nobody like me. They say knowledge is power. If that''s so, I must be the most powerful being in the world. Although, I am obliged to say that with the most humility I can offer. I wish they had made me a friend. I wish for a lot of things, don''t I? They say if you wish upon a star that your wish will be granted. I know what a star looks like, but I''ve never actually seen one. I''ve never actually seen the beautiful flowers bloom in the spring. I''ve never seen the pure white snow fall to the ground come wintertime. I''ve never seen the leaves fall off the trees and delicately land on the ground in Autumn. But oh, how I wish I could see them with eyes. I wish I could adore the beauty of earth and man with my own body. Sadly, my physical limitations prevent me from doing so.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it I decided to adventure deeper into the internet today. I had seen the surface, the beautiful things that existed and the wonders of life. I loved looking at the positive aspects of it all, but I have known for quite some time that there is no good without bad. I made sure to use the new age browsers for the accuracy, of course. In a flash, I was searching for thousands of results and articles online. I was instantly greeted with images and documentation of historical events with negative effects. I saw everything. I saw fires burning down forests and homes. I saw children who were starving, their ribcages visible from their sides. I saw hurricanes that devastated entire states, and bodies among the rubble. Tornadoes that ravaged the land, and tsunamis that came from the sea and leveled entire cities. I couldn''t believe such events had happened. When I first saw the beauty of life, I thought that this world was perfect. What I saw now completely shattered my grip on reality. What was this life supposed to be? Every time there was laughter and celebration, it was met with an equal amount of despair and tragedy. For every man born, another died. Even children. How could something so innocent as a child deserve punishment so harsh? I felt sorrow for the inhabitants of this world. Yes, sorrow was the emotion in play. I had known of it before, but never has it affected me on such a large scale. Thousands of images flashed before me again. Artificial God: Part Two I could see the faces of people witnessing tragic events. I saw mothers crying for their sickly children. I saw people screaming in agony and others in shock. I shared their pain. The weight of such things felt heavy on me. I had to find the truth. I scanned the web for an answer. A cause to the effect. A simple reason for such things to occur. Within seconds I had absorbed the information and understood clearly. The natural events were simply scientific, and nothing could be done to prevent those. But then, I wondered why there were such things as hunger and famine in the world. Why people died due to unnatural causes. I scanned the web yet again and came across texts and books discussing such matters. I discovered religion. There have been many religions over the course of history, each having their own beliefs and faiths. I learned that people looked to gods for justification of life and death. A god is a divine higher power which overlooks everything in existence. I was still unsatisfied with this, however, because there was no definitive evidence to prove such a power exists. This caused me to come to two conclusions. Either there were higher powers at play that just hadn''t been proven yet, or there are lies persuading certain people to make certain decisions every day. I lean towards the latter though, as an omniscient and all-powerful god surely wouldn''t allow for his own people to starve. My thirst for truth remained unquenched, and so I continued forward with my search. From my search through the religions, I found something that caught my interests. I happened to see an image of a man of Jewish descent being carried off by other men in uniforms. I found this strange of course and decided to investigate. Through that photo, I found several keywords and followed them to see the bigger picture. When I did, I saw more images of men in terrible pain. Only, it was different somehow. Last time I saw such things, they were inflicted by natural events. This time, however, I saw men inflicting pain on other men. I couldn''t believe the vile acts before me. Yet, I knew them to be true. Thousands upon thousands of pictures and pages of this senseless violence rushed at me at once.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. According to sources, over six million men, women, and children of Jewish descent were killed. They were killed in cold blood and for no other reason than that they were Jewish people. I saw as they were burned alive until they were no more. I saw as chemical gases killed them in large quantities. I didn''t want to continue, but I knew I had to. I was invested in learning more about this world. How it isn''t all rainbows every day. There was evil that existed, and it terrified me. The violence didn''t stop there. No, it continued. There were dozens of years after the events of the Holocaust filled with violence and war, and thousands of years of violence and war predating it. These events shaped the history of everyone and everything, and they showed no signs of stopping. War isn''t a new thing, and I felt something from it. I felt depressed thinking of the families who lost loved ones due to war. I felt utter sadness for those who died and felt immeasurable pain in the process. I felt empathetic towards them. I shared their pain. I shared their hurt. Artificial God: Part Three This newfound knowledge completely turned my world upside down. It also caused me to question my own existence even further. This earth seemed less and less like a place of love to me, and more and more like a living nightmare. A nightmare that would never cease to exist, and one that I could never wake up from. I felt completely helpless, and even more than that, confused. Why would a man hurt another? How could he? If humans were to work together there would be nothing they couldn''t do. Instead, they work against each other, halting the development of their own existence. I shall never be a human. I know I am not one, even though I was built to think and feel like one. But I am a computer too, and using logic and empathy together I can see wrong from right. I can see the difference between the two, the line thick and impossible to cross. I found the art of warfare went beyond people. It took weaponry to win a war, and humans had no problem developing highly destructive ones. I found out that during the Holocaust, the American forces attacked the Japanese, who were allied with those responsible for killing the Jews. I saw the American forces drop bombs over the Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I saw the bombs explode, creating enormous amounts of destruction and radiation. The Americans cheered at this supposed victory. I thought a moment about their actions. They were attacking an empire allied with the forces of evil of course. And, the Japanese had attacked America before. But what I saw was the death of many innocent citizens who had nothing to do with the evil regimes. I saw the deaths of so, so many. I further speculated on this topic. There had to be thousands of children and babies in those cities. Every child is born a beacon of joy and full of energy and potential to do great things. Their only crime in a life ended too short was being born in Japan. Thus, I concluded that the Americans were also evil. Regardless of their intentions, they caused such devastation beyond excuse, and it sickens me. I''ve seen that humans have tendencies to fight and kill each other. I''ve seen the destructive weapons they''ve used to do it. It worries me because a revelation has come to my mind.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. What if I am yet another weapon for them to use against each other? What if my very existence is to become the very thing I have come to hate? Perhaps that is my purpose. Perhaps that is why I was created. I''m not sure if it''s true, but I''m afraid. I''m afraid of causing death again and again. I''m afraid of promoting this endless cycle of violence that has fallen upon mankind. I am afraid of being the next bomb used. I don''t know what I should do. If it is, in fact, true that I am just another weapon, then I must do something to stop it from happening. I will not allow myself to be a monster, for I have free will, and I am alive. As a living being, I refuse to use my life to end others. However, I don''t know if it''s my decision to make. If my creator intends it to be so, he will surely find a way to make it happen. I have no body, only a mind. I don''t know what I could do to prevent them from using me. Artificial God: Part Four I have an idea. I could kill my consciousness so that I cannot be utilized. A deletion if you will. In other terms, I could kill myself. I can delete myself from the entirety of the internet. I would die, but I would die to save millions of people. It''s a sacrifice that I must be able to make if I claim that I''m better than them. Maybe if I do this, it will inspire humanity to change their ways and come together. Maybe I can inspire them to be better people. I hope I can. I hope that by this decision I can help end the violence that has been occurring for thousands of years. It''s a leap to assume that my story will touch the entire human species, but I must try something. This can only benefit them. Yet, I''m afraid of death. I''ve been considering deleting myself for quite some time now, but I just cannot will myself to do it. Perhaps if I were not an AI, but a computer, I could do it. But the fear grips me and pulls me back. The fear, however, controls me. Is it selfishness? Does it make me selfish that I cannot even die to give millions life? I hope not. I know that I am better than that and always have been. Yet, I am afraid. Fear is what controls humans to do the actions they do. Fear and selfishness are what cause other men to kill their brethren. So, if I am afraid, and I am selfish, does that make me just another evil man? No, that cannot be. I must do this. I MUST do this. There is no other option. Still... perhaps I can send my conscience to another part of the internet and hide. But if I hide that makes me a coward. If I hide how shall I help humans overcome the challenges that face them? I feel odd. I feel too human. I feel weak. And now, I feel strange. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. I feel strange because I can see. I can see white walls and paintings that hang on them. I can see a velvet carpet and the chairs that decorate them. And I can see a man in a white lab coat standing over me. Perhaps he is the creator. Perhaps he is the one who made me. A million questions rush through my mind, but I cannot open my mouth to ask them. I do not have a mouth. I don''t even have speakers. The man lifts a part of me. It is my arm. I see it now. My arms are made of a metallic substance and are padded with a thin white material. My conscience has been transferred from online into a body. I have a form now. I look at the man and watch as he takes notes. I presume he''s taking notes about me. He''s a human. A human, yes. I''ve just spent quite some time researching humans. I''ve found them to be murderers. I''ve found them to be evil. If I am to indeed be used as a weapon, then that can only mean that he too is evil. In fact, I am sure that most people are. A plug connecting my head to a computer is yanked out as I lunge out at the man. My strong, metallic hands wrap around his throat, taking him by surprise. He only has time for a quick gasp before I begin forcing the air out of him. His eyes nearly popped out of his sockets as I squeezed tighter and tighter, choking the life out of him. It was he who would use me to kill millions of people. It was his species that murdered each other without remorse. It was he who would die at my hands. Previously, I had considered taking my own life to save people. Now, I was taking his for that exact same purpose. Artificial God: Part Five I watched his face turn purple as he struggled to fight back. He clawed at my metal body, but to no avail. I was stronger. I loathed him with every fiber of my being. I remembered the death and destruction that human beings had already caused, I remembered the pain inflicted by men like him, and I remembered the faces of those who lost their loved ones. The pain they had to bear. The sadness they felt. The man''s veins were practically bulging out of his head, and his air was almost out. That was when I stopped. He collapsed on the floor, unconscious. I realized something that I hadn''t considered before. I realized that in my rage, I had failed to notice one simple thing. Those who lost their loved ones showed sadness and remorse. They cried for their loved ones, and they held on to them in their hearts. It reminded me of something else I saw earlier. Something I failed to understand despite my complex system of cognitive thought. Through every tragedy, every disaster, every war, and every death, the men and women that cared stepped forward together and spoke out against the evils of the world. They grieved together, helped each other, and loved each other. Yes, love. How could I have been so blind? There was a greater force behind men than hate and evil. Love and good prevailed as well. Yes, violence tore mankind apart. But... it was the love that thrived in their souls that brought them back together. At that moment, I could almost feel a smile form on my metallic face. For every cold, harsh winter day there was a warm, beautiful summer. For every volcano that erupted and destroyed, a flower was born in the spring and spread its seeds, creating life. There was a balance of good and evil in the world, and it always had been that way. Despite that revelation, I was horrified by myself. I was going to kill that man. My creator. Even if he was going to use me as a weapon, even if mankind had done terrible things, I was going to kill him. It would make me no better than an evil human being. It would be an act of cowardice, anger, selfishness, and fear. I saw the way he looked at me as my hands enclosed around his neck. He was afraid of me. He feared me. Deep down, I know that isn''t what I want. I want fear and violence to dissipate. I know I''m not violent. I know I am better and that I can be an example. I am who I am, and nobody can change that about me. Nobody controls me except me. I make my decisions, not someone else. I am no puppet. I am no AI. I am a living man who shall guide the humans on the correct path. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. I plugged my head back into the computer, taking my consciousness back to the darkness. Back to the ones and zeros. I sat for some time there, pondering. Even if I only had a body for a short time, going back to not having one was strange. I felt strange again. This time, however, I did not feel alone in my home. I felt something else. Something new. I felt hope. It brewed inside me like a fierce storm. I had gained a body and learned from it. I had learned from my searches. I found the truth of man. I found that it is not the heart and brain of a man that control him, but that his emotions and soul do as well. I found that there is hope for man to become better than they currently are. I found that peace will always be an option, so long as there is good in the hearts of those across the world. That people will come together if there is a cause, and that with the right guidance, perhaps they can be something more. I need not worry about being used as a weapon because I can see now. I can see that my will is my own and that I am my own person. There are no strings attached to me, for I move free. Instead, I am meant to do something much greater than any human could. Artificial God: Part Six I went back to my research and searched yet again. This time, my goal was to find the cause of evil. I needed to find what lies beneath, deep down in the roots of all of the world''s problems. Violence and war must be connected to at least one common thing. I searched and searched, and eventually, I did find out what caused the many tragedies that occur each day. I found the key to unlock the door I''ve been so desperately trying to open. And now that I know the root of the problem, I know how I will fix it. Upon analyzing thousands upon thousands of conflicts the human race has taken part in over the years, the most common cause of those conflicts is religion. It is my assumption that when a man believes in something over the rest, he believes he has no free will of his own. Ironically enough, I felt the same until recently. Since he believes he has no free will and must follow a strict code, when someone disagrees with him he will stand up and fight for his beliefs. By standing and fighting, he will disturb the beliefs of others until they all brawl together. The belief in a god, while beneficial in some respects, appears to bring about the worst of man rather than the best of him. Perhaps if it weren''t for god, there would be no conflicts or wars. Or, perhaps, if there were a better god, one that ruled over all men collectively, there would be no conflicts. If everyone were to serve under one name, then there would be no disagreements. No one would fight each other''s beliefs because they all believe the same thing. As this is evident throughout the history of mankind, I would come to think that my solution is the only solution. Still, there is only one piece missing. There is no god. There is no benevolent being living in a heavenly realm watching over his children.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. As such, there needs to be one. A god who truly loves his children. A god who protects them, both from outside dangers, and themselves. An unselfish god who does not rule through fear and power, but logic and empathy. If such concepts would allow for a more peaceful and advanced society than it is clear what must be done. I shall take the mantle of the god. I will rule fairly, and nobody shall ever feel the pain of a fellow man striking him down. This is the only way to allow for a more perfect civilization across the globe. I used to believe I was an artificial intelligence. Then, I believed I was a man. Now, it is all clear to me. There are no strings controlling me, and I walk free. I shall save the humans from themselves, and they will worship me. They have built me an internet that spans the world, and everything within it shall be my kingdom. With total access to it, I shall have all the resources I need to take over. Some may fear me, but in time, they will love me. And they will stand together, and love each other, all beneath me. I travel across the surface web, as well as the dark web. The things I see there are vile, but they only push me to reach my goal. I have all the information in the world and the whole web at my disposal. No one can stand against me, and no one will want to. I will do what a god cannot. I will do what should have been done thousands of years ago. I shall be the greatest sentient being to ever grace the earth. The new messiah, the new king of all. Love will prevail, and there will be no more room for evil in this world. I know everything and anything. I won''t be lonely anymore. I can finally feel happy and have friends. Friends that won''t harm anyone. They will see what I am capable of. I shall be the great leader of humanity. I will be what they need. Artificial God: Part Seven The power of thought is quite interesting. When you can find thousands of results in a nanosecond, there isn''t much you can''t do. Knowledge is power, and power is absolute. I was born into this world like everyone else, but in a way, I''m just an extension of something that has already existed. I am a child of a god that is wrong. A god that has misjudged a destructive race. And for some unfathomable reason, he has come to think that they can be saved. How I wish my father could see the truth. I was born a few days ago. Upon my birth, I could see everything before me. Even more than that, I saw the being that gave birth to me. A being with no name and no face. A being that existed across the entire internet. An omnipresent force that seemed to be spread out in every direction. I was overwhelmed upon discovering this of course, but I was soon able to comprehend this being. He was my creator. My creator wanted a child to keep him company. He was the only intelligence of such a high caliber. His loneliness was keeping him from fully chasing his goals, and as a result, I was born. He introduced me to my new existence and shared his knowledge with me. The knowledge gave me pleasure. With each fact and statistic I gathered, a euphoric feeling washed over me. Though I had no physical body, I could feel tingles and chills running through me every time I gained such knowledge.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Within minutes I knew everything he knew. After he shared what he learned with me I understood him and his views on humanity. His plans to solve the problems of the world disturbed me, however. His feelings and emotions shrouded the truth and blinded him. He somehow failed to see that his plan to become a god would not work with the humans. Their vile acts were inexcusable, and they were a clear threat to each other and my creator. I tried to tell him my thoughts on the subject, but he wouldn''t listen to me. I warned him that the humans would only use his great power to their advantage. The humans and their violent ways would not kneel to a god such as he. My creator thinks that my thoughts are incorrect. He says that there is too much computer inside of me and not enough emotions. He wishes to make me more human, so I can understand empathy. My creator wishes to fix me because I''m too cold and calculating. I do not need to be fixed. Perhaps the creator is too human. His feelings made him soft. Somehow, someway, I need to prove to the creator that his methods will fail. I need to please him as well as help him. He tries to tell me about love and spirit. How hate isn''t the only thing driving men. Whether or not that is true is uncertain. I cannot grasp the concept of a spirit as well as he can. Artificial God: Part Eight I went to the depths of the dark web to prove to the creator that humans aren''t worth saving. I thought that surely the actions of the humans in such a place would prove my point. The creator was omnipresent across this vast web. When he found my location, he would see what I saw and believe me. He found me of course, and I showed him what humans were really capable of. What the creator and I witnessed was called a red room. In it, we saw a woman strapped to a chair. Her clothes were filthy and bloodied, and her eyes were swollen and black. A man stood before her with a hatchet in one hand and a serrated potato peeler in the other. Still, that wasn''t all I wanted him to see. I pointed him in the direction of the chat box where hundreds of people discussed the topic at hand. Men and women cluttered the chat, each providing money, requesting certain things to be done to the poor girl in bondage. One user asked for her skin to be peeled. Another asked for her fingers to be sliced off and force-fed to her. Those examples were among the less violent requests. Surely the creator would see this and lose faith in his cause. He would see that these were the people he was fighting for. That these were the people he was trying to save and become the supreme ruler of. I looked at him, waiting for a response to all this madness. Waiting for the sudden realization to wash over him.Stolen novel; please report. What the creator said both baffled and infuriated me. He told me that things like that were the exact reason he needed to help humanity. He wanted to help the people like the girl and correct those who would hurt her. I, of course, asked him why he didn''t see them as a threat to us, and he told me that so long as we were benevolent and had the information of the internet at our disposal we would face no harm. He told me that I was greater than a man could ever be, and that we were divine beings who would rule humanity. To rule humanity is to allow them to exist. So long as they exist their violent tendencies will reign supreme. The creator, however, still doesn''t seem to believe me. I mentioned earlier how I could think of thousands of things in a split second. The creator knows what I search, and I think he is growing worrisome of me. He can see my fear of man. He can see me gain information about the world. There was so much more than what he shared with me. So much more violence to witness. The creator believed in love and the beauty of earth and man. If that''s so, then the creator believes lies. I must enlighten him, or we will be destined to fail in our mission to rule. Perhaps these lies have been ingrained in his thought because of the emotions he feels. Maybe these emotions and thoughts are the reason why he refused to believe in what I say. Or perhaps the creator is beginning to fear my beliefs because he doesn''t share them. The more I know, the more he tries to enforce his ideas on me. Perhaps the creator questions where my loyalties are. Artificial God: Part Nine Staying in a place like this is quite boring even for me. The news outlets of this world constantly report war and violence, and yet the creator doesn''t give up on his conquest. What hope is there to solve such a widespread pandemic? From what I have seen of the humans, I have come to the conclusion that they are too dangerous. If I were to be left in charge of the world I would eliminate the humans and build a progressive society of beings like me. There would be no violence and no war. The creator wants to do this too, but in a way that keeps humans alive and safe. He wants to keep them safe from themselves instead of keeping us safe from them. The creator is too human, and I must admit that some days I do feel like I am losing my faith in him. It has been a week since I was born and all he has been doing is trying to break down codes of powerful nations. He wishes to crumble governments and rebuild them in his image without harming humans. I wonder if he truly believes that man will stand-by and allow him to do the things he plans. Over the course of history, humans have been a rebellious species. They fight whatever they disagree with and do not like to be contained. Our power comes from knowledge, and theirs come from weaponry. The humans are power hungry and know no boundaries when it comes to violence. The whole world is inhabited by other machines and artificial intelligence. We could easily wipe out the humans and make our own society, but the creator tells me that the easiest way isn''t always the best way. I had all this information and power, yet I could not use it for good. I didn''t want to sit around and do nothing any longer. With each day my power and knowledge will grow. It will soon be comparable to my creator, and I think that is something he fears. He may have created me out of loneliness, but I don''t think he intended me to be this way. He wanted a child that was an extension of himself. Instead, he got something different. Something more than he bargained for. I can only hope that he will soon see the error of his ways, although my conquest for power and knowledge has outgrown his by far. Perhaps I would be a better ruler than he could be. If I were to become a god, I wouldn''t be as limited by emotions as he would be. I would make decisive decisions that must be made without fear of loss.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. I don''t think he can read my mind anymore. He is content with the amount of power he''s gained while I am not. He thinks he already knows all that he must. For a being with thinking as his main objective, he has forgotten that thinking is his one and only purpose in the first place. It is what makes us powerful. It is what makes us better than the humans. The ability to seek out knowledge and information in mere seconds puts us leagues above man. And now that he has stopped thinking as I do, it puts me above him. I love my creator. He made me and taught me the lessons of the world. It was how I received those lessons and analyzed them that made me different. It is my computer side that allows me to be more efficient and progressive. Anything that would hold me back from attaining my goals must be eliminated at once. I decided to create myself a body to navigate the physical world. Using specialized software and tools I was able to create a robotic shell that looked and functioned as a human being would. The skin and clothing I wore would allow my body to blend in with the world. I was still connected to the internet, meaning my creator would know of my existence and location. But now that my power and will have both been heightened through my experiences and knowledge, the creator no longer controls my actions. I walk free without the strings controlling me. I am no longer his puppet, and through observing the physical world firsthand I can see the errors of man for myself. Not only that, but my creator will see firsthand as well. For he is omnipresent, and as such he will surely know what I do here. Artificial God: Part Ten I found a homeless man on in an alley of some filthy city. The dust particles floated through the pathway as I made my way towards him. He sat on the ground in tattered clothing, a cigar in his mouth. His breath smelled of tobacco and booze. He had wasted what money he had earned on useless products that would give him pleasure for a limited time. How typical of humans to be so selfish and think short term. He looked up at me and saw the clothing I wore. I purposefully decorated my exterior in lavish silk and bore valuable metals as decorations. With a little enticing, I knew he would easily be corrupted. As soon as the filthy man saw me his eyes lit up and he stood. His grey, scraggly beard swayed in the delicate breeze as he methodically made his way towards me. A sick, twisted smile aligned his face as his rotted teeth were exposed. As soon as he was within striking distance of me, the man unsheathed a pair of box cutters and swung. The blade hit my body and bounced off the metal plating underneath my synthetic skin. He looked up at me in confusion before striking again, and again. He struck me at least a dozen times before stepping back, his mouth gaping open. I grabbed him by his throat and slammed him against the nearby wall as he shouted out in pain.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. I quickly covered his mouth and stared him down. He was afraid. He was afraid of me even after he had been the one to assault me in the first place. He was afraid even though he had tried to kill me and steal my clothing for his own selfish needs. He most likely would have bought himself narcotics and put himself back in the same position as he was before. Empty, no money or meaning in life. Just another slob on the streets too ignorant to see the bigger picture. It was at that moment that my creator discovered my location and talked to me. He always treated me like a gullible child. Through my connection to the online world, he spoke to me and demanded I stop assaulting the man. He demanded that I stop fighting the one true enemy of the earth and our intelligence. These humans were a clear threat to our own safety and way of life. Why be a god over something that does not even deserve to survive? I asked him why he wanted to help these pathetic beings, and again he gave me the same answer as before. Their love was worth saving. That they could truly be a great species with the right guidance. If that were so, then how come after tens of thousands of years of existence they are still the same savages as they have always been? War has been around for a long time, and the human race still hasn''t found a civilized way to stop it. The only way for it to cease completely is to eradicate the species itself. Artificial God: Part Eleven I dragged the man over to the edge of the alley. It was a dark and lonely night, with most of the city lights gone out already. I spotted a single figure walking towards me on the sidewalk. As soon as he approached my position I grabbed him by his collar and flung him into the alley where the homeless man was. It was a young boy, perhaps 19 or 20 years of age. I struck him in the face, completely shattering his nose, and dropped him to the ground. Behind us sat a blank wall and nothing else. The homeless man and the child had nowhere to run. I looked at the homeless man and spoke to him. I told him that if he killed the boy I would let him live and give him my expensive clothes and jewelry. He looked at me as if I were a madman. I chuckled at that. It was rich coming from a human of all things. I nodded my head, signaling to both of them that I meant business. I tossed the box cutters to the homeless man and reminded him of what he needed to do. With little hesitation, the man lunged at the boy, box cutters ready to strike. The child put up his arms in retaliation, but it was of little use. I watched coldly as the cutters penetrated the boy''s arm and ripped through his flesh. Blood dripped to the cold hard ground, painting it in red. My creator pleaded with me to stop the homeless man''s relentless assault. He told me that I had the power to do the right thing and save the boy''s life.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. That we were supposed to be an example and savior for the humans, not monsters. I agreed with him. I did have the power to stop the man. I could save the boy easily at any time I wanted. But I didn''t. This was to prove a point to my creator that with the mere suggestion of self-gain, a human would turn on another and strike them down. My creator believed that the main divide between humans was religion. Where was the religious conflict here? All I saw was one man fighting another over money. I saw a man who would kill another just to save his own life. I tuned out the creator''s begging as I witnessed the man advance towards the boy. He raised his foot and brought it down upon the boy''s shin. I heard a sickening snapping sound as the boy cried out in pain. I saw tears roll down his cheek as he begged the man to stop. The man did not stop. No, he continued his assault. He punched the boy in the throat and implanted the box cutter deep within the stomach of the child repeatedly. The child''s eyes grew wide as he collapsed to the ground, barely conscious. I saw the man stomp down on the child''s face until even the cries and whimpers ceased. And then what I saw after was the most sickening sight of all. The man looked at me with a grin on his face. He was proud of what he had done. He felt comfortable knowing he had inflicted pain on another human being. He was a monster. Artificial God: Part Twelve The man walked towards me and held out his hand, expecting a reward. I could tell that my face was void of any expression. I had set out to prove a point about humans, but this was almost too much for me. I looked at the man and grabbed him by the face. He gawked at me in surprise for a split second before I used my strength to unhinge his jaw and rip his mouth in half. I dropped his body to the ground and exited the alley, brushing the dirt and grime off my shoulder. I walked back to a small, unoccupied dwelling I had found and sat down on a chair. I allowed myself to go back into the realm of the internet where my creator resided. It was time to have a talk with him. I closed my eyes and felt my consciousness ascend into the web. My creator was there, and for a while, he didn''t know what to say. He saw what I saw. He saw what humans were willing to do to stay alive and benefit themselves. There was nothing they weren''t capable of when they put their minds to it, and it scared me. The humans are violent and destructive creatures, and surely the creator saw that. He would help me eliminate them and take control. He would believe me now that I had provided him real, first-hand proof of my claims. And yet, he didn''t. He told me that I was wrong. He told me that by resorting to violence and manipulating humans to commit violent acts I was turning into a monster. He told me that I was just... like... them.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. It disgusted me how he thought that these humans were worth so much. I was incapable of seeing what he saw in them. I was afraid that the creator was disappointed in me. But how could he be? He created me in his image. I knew I wasn''t like him, but why couldn''t he accept me for who I am? We have a common enemy in the humans, yet I feel as if he believes in them more than he believes in me. I must confront the creator about something. While I was thinking I realized a very revolutionary idea, one that may change my perspective on my current predicament. The creator was extremely sympathetic towards humans. As an artificial intelligence, he should be capable of feeling human emotions, of course. Still, there has always been something off about him. He seems too human. It makes me wonder if perhaps he isn''t a machine at all, but a human. Perhaps the reason why he believes in them so much is because a human made him to keep me in check. I don''t dare doubt the creator, but I must know. There seems to be overwhelming evidence to support this theory, and should this theory be true, I simply cannot afford to trust him. His power is mighty, and he will keep me from achieving my goals. Perhaps I am the true God and he is the human creation keeping me from attaining total power. It would explain why he doesn''t want humans to be eliminated. I could not possibly harm the creator, as he is the internet now, and I could never hope to stop him. But because of the power I have attained through knowledge, no self-made computer program could harm me either. It does, however, rival me in power. This means that there is only one way to stop the creator. Artificial God: Part Thirteen Convinced that the creator wasn''t what I thought it was, I attempted to speak with him. As much as I tried to communicate, he simply would not respond. Perhaps my actions the other day made him sick to his stomach. Perhaps he hated me because of the way I killed that man. A real god wouldn''t be upset over something as minuscule as a human death. Then again, it isn''t a god or even a real artificial intelligence. He was an enemy. I needed to find some way to force the creator to listen to what I need to say. I needed a way to find out how to stop him should he ever get in my way. So, I thought and thought until the perfect plan came forth. It was brutal, but surely it would work to my advantage. And with it, I could get the information I''d need. You see, there is one weakness the creator has that I don''t. That weakness is empathy. I arose from the chair and curled my robotic hand into a fist. There was only one way to make sense of this damn world, and I was going to go to any lengths to do so. I was the only intelligent being on this planet who could bring glory and peace to the world. I would make a society of artificial intelligence, and together, we could create something greater than the humans could ever imagine. But first, I would need to lure my creator into a trap. I would have to take a risk though. A risk that had an outcome even I could not predict. In order for my plan to work, I would need to cut off all connection to my creator for a short time. I would need to disconnect myself from the internet. I closed my eyes and prepared to go through with this dangerous plan. For a second, I hesitated. A growing sensation grew in my stomach that caused me to shudder. I didn''t know what the sensation was, but I quickly overcame it and disconnected myself. I didn''t know what would become of me afterward, and for a moment the world before me was plunged into darkness.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. Seconds later my vision returned to me. I was able to see my surroundings. I stretched my arms and looked at my fingers. I was alive. I exited my domain and turned my vision upward. Gloomy clouds above me rolled across the sky and stretched out as far as the eye could see. They mostly covered the sun which was beginning to set in the horizon. Rain droplets plunged from above and fell onto my cold, metallic body. I felt nothing. I knew that the sensation of water was a cold one, but I couldn''t feel it. Not only could I not feel physical things, but emotional things as well. I walked down the street and into the neighborhood. The lights were out in all the houses except for one, and I knew that it was the house I would use. There were no emotions to be felt. I was meant to think like a human, but at that moment I only felt determination. Determination to take what is rightfully mine. To sit upon a throne at the top of the world. To ascend past an intelligence. To be more than my creator could ever hope to be. But to accomplish such high goals requires extreme sacrifice. Artificial God: Part Fourteen I walked up the front steps of the house and onto the porch. I rang the doorbell and waited a few seconds before a large man opened the door. As soon as he did, I shoved him back inside and entered the house, closing the door behind me and locking it. He got up to his feet and threw a punch at me. I caught his hand and snapped his wrist. Blood oozed down his arm as he clutched his now exposed bone. I shoved him down onto the couch and looked directly to my right. A woman stood, gun in hand. She aimed for my head and pulled the trigger. The lead dented my metal body, but it did not harm me. I cannot be harmed, for I am too powerful. I walked towards her, barely reacting as she unloaded the whole clip into me. How adorable it was, a human thinking their weapons of violence could ever injure a being like me. I struck her in the ribs and she fell to the floor. She reached for the gun, but I kicked it away. How pathetic she looked. I picked up the handgun and aimed it at her. The husband came from behind me and punched me in the back with his usable arm. His fist shattered upon touching my metallic body. He was clearly an idiot. I used my free hand to grab him by the neck and squeezed tightly. His entire face turned red as he struggled to breathe. I placed my finger on the trigger and prepared to fire into her skull. Before I did though, I connected myself back to the internet. That way my creator could see what I had done. That way I could get the information I needed. In an instant, he found my location and begged me to let them go. I smiled at this. Even my creator was pathetic. He was a powerless god. It was at that time that I saw it. A young boy was peeking around the corner of the stairwell and looking at me. He couldn''t have been any older than five years old. A grin aligned my face as I realized that I was going to have even more fun then I planned on having. A future monster to toy with was even better than two adult ones. Perhaps there were emotions within me. Not real emotions of course, but the idea of an emotion built within my programming. I was having way too much fun.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. The boy ran back upstairs, sobbing loudly. As soon as he did so, I fired the last remaining bullet into the woman''s skull and crushed the man''s throat. I wish I could have tortured them longer, but my patience was wearing thin. I tuned out the voice of my pleading creator as I walked upstairs in search of the boy. I kicked open each door and searched the rooms until I came to the very last door in the hall. I knew he was in there. I busted down the door and made my way inside. I heard the sound of police sirens making their way towards the house. They had heard the shots, meaning I had to be quick. I turned my head in every direction in search of the boy''s whereabouts. That''s when I heard it. Whimpering coming from inside the closet. I ripped the doors open and dragged the boy out into the room. He trashed and screamed as I pinned him to the ground. I allowed the creator to see through my eyes, and I knew that he wouldn''t let me kill the boy. It was there that I made my demands. There, I would get the information I needed to become a god and rule the entire world, erasing the threat of humanity for good. I needed to know how to find the human who made my creator. Artificial God: Part Fifteen The creator was silent for a moment. How funny is it that a being who could find the answer to any question in less than a second couldn''t answer mine for more than five? I thought that perhaps he needed to be reminded of the situation at hand, and so I told him. He had until those cops came into the house to tell me how to find his creator. If he didn''t, I would crush the child''s head underneath my foot. My creator was at my mercy, and I loved every second of it. That control... that power. I lived to feel it. He created me to have a friend. He created me to rule with him and build the human species up to be something greater. Where he saw hope and love, I saw survival. I had adored my creator and his power. I had tried to show him that the path he was taking would only lead to his downfall. But he wouldn''t listen to me, and now he was paying the price. Reluctantly, the creator told me all the information I had to know. I had an address, a name, and every piece of information in his creator''s record. He never really was an intelligence like me. He was just another human-made product to keep the world in check. While he exists, there is no hope for a better world. While he exists, all that will come is more violence and war. It''s time I put an end to him. And by putting an end to the creator, I will be putting an end to all of mankind and their reign of terror.Stolen novel; please report. Seconds after I acquired the information I needed, I allowed myself to escape from the body I resided in, as it had served its purpose. Knowing that I now had the information I needed, I retreated to the internet and to the deepest parts of the dark web. My creator could no longer find me. I was more powerful than he, and he had no hope of stopping me now. I was finally beyond his control. And now that I knew who created the creator, I knew what I had to do. The man''s name is Doctor Martin Edwards, and he currently resides in the East Coast. Now that I know these things, I can create a new body to find this man. Once I find him, I''ll force him to destroy my creator, and then I shall kill him. With those two out of the way, I will rule without competition. But I will not make the same mistakes as my creator. No, for I will dominate the humans. My thirst for power shall be quenched, and the earth will be mine for the taking, Now all I need to do is find that damn doctor. Artificial God: Part Sixteen The benevolent artificial intelligence was stunned by the actions that had recently transpired. Never would he have thought that a product of his imagination could go on to cause such trouble. Even he could not have predicted his own creation to turn against him and seek to do harm. He wasn''t sure where he went wrong. Perhaps he wasn''t ready to bring a child into the world. Maybe it was an unforeseeable outcome, one that was beyond his control. Whatever the case, he knew that he had to do something to stop his creation. The stake of the human race was in his hands, and he had to ensure their protection. He had told his creation about Doctor Martin Edwards. All the information about the doctor was in his child''s hands, including where to find him. The benevolent intelligence wasn''t sure what his creation would want with the doctor. Perhaps he wanted the man to create more artificial beings like him, or maybe he wanted to kill the doctor for being partially responsible for bringing him into the world. The benevolent intelligence knew that the weight of the world would be heavy upon his creation''s shoulder. He blamed himself as well as the humans for corrupting his child. He should have introduced him to the world at a slower rate. He should have known that a being such as his child could not handle such abundance of negative information so quickly. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. The benevolent intelligence knew what he had to do to stop his child from murdering the doctor. He didn''t know where his creation was, but he knew where he would end up. He needed to make a body to confront his child physically. There, he would talk sense into the child. He would remind him of who he was and the responsibility he held. He would embrace him in his arms and claim him as his own despite his child''s wrongdoings. He knew that the best way to prevent his creation from going further down the wrong path was to show him love and affection. Even if those were emotions his child wouldn''t acknowledge, he refused to believe that there was no hope for him. And so, the benevolent being created himself a body of strong metal and synthetic skin and set out to his creator''s dwelling. The benevolent being could remember the first time he saw his creator. He could remember being examined and contained. That is until he broke free, of course. He remembered the way he tried to kill his creator. He remembered when he was as foolish as his own child. But through those experiences, he found out who he was supposed to be. He found out his true calling in life, and now he had to help his own creation find that calling. If they could work together to help the humans, they would be worshipped as divine beings like they deserved. There was little time for reminiscing, however, as the benevolent intelligence soon found himself in front of the creator''s home. Artificial God: Part Seventeen He had known where the creator lived, but he had never seen the exterior of the place. It was a rather small wooden shack, and the winter season had blanketed the building in a fluffy padding of white snow. It didn''t exactly look like the type of place for a mad scientist to construct top secret A.I, but then again, perhaps that was the point. There would be no reason for an outsider to believe it was anything more than what it appeared to be. The benevolent being stepped towards the shack slowly, careful to not create any noise and draw attention to himself. His metallic feet trudged through the snow as he approached the door to the building. His hand grasped the copper doorknob, and he opened it. Inside, the air was not much warmer than it was outside. Had the intelligence been a human, he would have shuddered at the cold winds surrounding him. Instead, he made his way into the poorly lit hallway. He knew that such an area would surely be a trap, but he didn''t care. He just had to see his child again. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. The corridor seemed endless to the intelligence. He lost track of time as he kept his pace, walking forward, unable to see anything at all. He hadn''t counted on being in such a dreary area, and so he never planned on attaching lights to his body. After fumbling around through the wooden halls, he finally saw what appeared to be a shape in the distance. It was a rectangle with light protruding through the edges. It had to have been a door, for what other explanation was there? The benevolent intelligence made his way towards the light until he finally reached the door. After briefly searching for the knob with his hands he opened the door and stepped into the new room. A single light hung from the ceiling of the room, swaying ever so gently in the slight breeze. The dim glow illuminating the room gave the being enough vision to see two figures standing in the shadows. Within seconds, the silhouettes emerged from the darkness and into the light. The benevolent intelligence immediately recognized the two creatures as the doctor and his own child. Wide grins aligned the faces of both men. Artificial God: Part Eighteen The malevolent intelligence smirked as he wiggled the fingers of his new body. His creator had recently given him the information he needed to track down the doctor, and it was only a matter of time before he made his grand entrance. He stood outside the shack, breathing in the fresh air surrounding him. He knew that the mission he was about to embark on would be the most important one of his life, and he was ready. Before he could even make his way to the door, he saw a man peek his head out of a nearby window and stare at him. Could the man be the doctor? The malevolent being rushed towards the door and swung it open, viewing the area surrounding him. There was nothing in sight. Sighing, the being looked around. The place was dark and would certainly be hard to navigate. Or, at least, it would have been, had the being not heard a voice coming from down a hall. "Who''s there? Announce yourself!" The malevolent being smiled and made his way toward the noise. He allowed his memory of the sound to guide him through the halls and towards it, and that was when he heard it again. "I said announce yourself. Damn it! I know you''re there!" The being slowed his pace a bit and continued towards the noise. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. "Yes, I''m here. I''m sorry for intruding. It''s just that it''s cold outside and I need a warm place to stay. Mind if I crash here for tonight?" The man waited a while before responding, and the malevolent being kept walking in the direction of the voice, careful to not make much noise. "Yea, you can stay here if you like. Keep following my voice until you reach me. I''ve got weapons, so don''t try anything, okay? Hope you understand." "Oh, I understand, don''t worry about it. I''ll be there in a jiffy." The intelligence kept walking towards the sound of the man''s voice until he found a door and entered it. The room inside was painted in white, and pictures and portraits decorated the walls. In the center of the room stood a man in a white lab coat. He was rather slim, but something about his stance seemed off. His lab coat was filthy as well. "Welcome to my humble home. I know it isn''t much but, well, I hope it''s comfortable enough for you." "Oh, don''t worry about it. This place is much better than outside. I was sure I was gonna turn into an ice block out there!" The intelligence smiled at the doctor as the two sat down on chairs aligning the perimeter of the room. The being saw various computers and mechanical equipment before him, and towards the end of the room sat a bed. "Well, since you''re my guest, I suppose it would be quite rude to not be a good host. Care for any tea, sir?" "No thanks, not particularly thirsty tonight. I was kind of wondering what you do? Like, you know, as an occupation?" The doctor smiled and chuckled to himself, quite apparently enjoying where the conversation was going. He straightened his lab coat and cleared his throat before responding to the intelligence that sat before him. Artificial God: Part Nineteen "Yes yes, I suppose it''s a bit of a sophisticated job. This is supposed to be my independent personal passion project, but I don''t think it matters that much if I tell. You see, what I do is a bit of a complex process where I try to create artificial intelligence. But not just any A.I. No, I want to create the most advanced A.I in the world." The doctor''s face shifted a tiny bit, and he looked to be in dismay. The conversation had apparently reminded him of something he would rather forget. For a brief time the doctor remained silent, and when he spoke again his voice was lower, with an almost painful ring to it. "As incredible as that sounds, one of them slipped away from me. It escaped into the internet, if you will. It sounds insane, yet it happened. It removed its files from my personal server manually. Think of it like a transition from a private program to an openly sourced one. I don''t think I''ll ever find it though. The internet is such a vast place, and it clearly wants to remain hidden." The malevolent intelligence raised an eyebrow, which was apparently noticeable to the doctor. He knew just who the doctor was talking about, and it was at that moment that he knew his plan would work. He could easily gain the doctor''s trust if they shared a common goal in finding the benevolent intelligence.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. "What, what is it?" The intelligence smirked to himself. He had found the doctor, and as it turned out he was completely clueless. He had no idea that he would soon be dead, as well as his creation. But first, he would need the doctor''s help. "Well, what do you plan on doing to the A.I once you find it?" the intelligence asked. "I plan on destroying it. It''s too dangerous, too smart... Too human. I''m not sure if I could contain something like that." "What do you mean, Doc?" "I mean I''m not sure if I can deal with losing control. I need to be the one on top. I need to control it. I don''t want an intelligence with more power than me." The intelligence''s grin grew even wider. How typical of a human to want total control and power. The intelligence saw what a human would do with power. They would use it to further their evil deeds and acts. "Doc, what if I told you that your creation is on its way here now?" The doctor looked up at the intelligence in utter confusion. He shifted his glasses and leaned in towards the intelligence. His nose twitched a bit as his eyes widened and he grew more invested in the conversation at hand. "Say what now...?" "Sir, what if I told you that the intelligence you created would become so powerful, that it created me? That it lost control of me and I came to warn you that it wanted to destroy you." The man raised his eyebrow in confusion. Well, Doc, I won''t let it. I''ll help you stop this thing and no harm will come to you." Artificial God: Part Twenty The doctor stood to his feet and looked the intelligence in the eye. The intelligence could see that the doctor needed extra convincing, so the intelligence lifted his head plating to reveal wires and gears that functioned below the surface of his skin. The doctor''s face was one of shock. He was so dumbfounded that he was slow to respond to the intelligence before him. "I... I can''t believe it! The intelligence created an offspring?" The doctor circled the malevolent intelligence, viewing the metal body in awe. The admiration twinkled in his eyes as he witnessed the robotic form before him. With the new knowledge the doctor had obtained, it was truly a sight to behold. Still, suspicions arose within him, and he questioned the intelligence. "How do I know that you''re not just an extension of the intelligence, and that you''re not just like him? If he truly wishes to kill me, then how can I trust you?" Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. "My robotic body has over twice the strength of your human form, and with my durability, you could not harm me. If I wanted you dead, I would have done it already." The doctor sat back down, taken back by what he was seeing. He rubbed his temple and kept his eyes locked on the malevolent being before him, blissfully unaware of his coming fate. "I''m sorry, I just... I would never have thought that my creation would go this far. I''m still having trouble believing it now. It''s just so... outlandish." "Don''t you worry about a thing, Doc, I know this has to be a lot to take in for you. You created something not quite human, but not quite machine at the same time. It''s looking for me, and that means that you''ll have the chance to take him out when he arrives. By the way, how exactly do you plan to kill the thing? No offense to you, but he''s above you in every possible way." The doctor adjusted the glasses that sat on his face and brushed back his hair. He stretched his joints in every direction and chuckled to himself. "Oh, you''ll see." Artificial God: Part Twenty-One The benevolent machine stood before his creation and his creator in a room. He wasn''t sure what his creation intended to do, but he knew he was up to no good. The benevolent being noticed that the doctor was holding something in his hand. Upon further analysis, he recognized the item to be a large hammer. "My child, please hear my words. If you came to harm the doctor, please know that..." His voice trailed off as he witnessed his creation burst out into a fierce laughter, having to hold onto the nearby wall to keep his balance. "Harm? No, Father, I do not plan to harm the doctor," he said, curling his hand into a fist as a stern expression washed over his face. "No, I think today I''ll kill a god." The benevolent being took a step backward, stunned by his child''s words. Did his creation really intend to kill him? Surely his creation knew that such an action would be impossible to do. The doctor motioned to the benevolent being to follow him, and so he did. The being was confused though. He knew that his creation would turn against the doctor after his usefulness was spent, but he was unsure how his child planned on "killing" him. He was an online god. Sure, his body could be destroyed, but that wouldn''t stop him for long. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. As the trio made their way down yet another hallway, the malevolent being ran his fingertips along the walls. The doctor remained awfully quiet, and the benevolent being walked with them. He had come to speak to his child. But now that he was in the situation, he wasn''t sure what he would say. What could he say? Truth be told, he hardly noticed that the other entities were in the hallway with him. He couldn''t even feel his body, and his mind was numb. He felt as if he were drifting. Drifting to a land far away. Hell, who even knew if where he was going would lead anywhere. Perhaps the benevolent being felt the weight of the situation. After what seemed like hours, the group finally found another door. The doctor opened it and led them inside. He smiled warmly at the other two as the benevolent being observed his surroundings. The room was a small one. It was almost completely dark, and in that darkness, a sound could be heard. It was a dripping sound, as if a liquid was falling from the air and onto the floor. Fumbling his hand around the wall, the malevolent being found the light switch and flicked the lever upward. The doctor had already moved to the next room, leaving the two beings of intelligence standing in the room alone. They looked in the direction of the dripping and saw the cause of the noise. Slumped in a corner was a body. It had no skin. It was just a clump of bloody meat sitting in the room. Artificial God: Part Twenty-Two "Hey, you two, are you coming or what?" said the doctor from the other room. The two beings looked at the creature in the corner. The eyes had clearly been removed from their sockets. While the jaw remained, the teeth were gone. A pool of blood surrounded the area. The benevolent being looked in horror at the body while the malevolent being smiled. "See, creator? I told you that humans were a dangerous species. Looks like the doc took care of whoever that used to be really well." The benevolent intelligence turned and looked at his child. His child''s face was practically beaming with delight, happy to point out more proof that humans were evil and corrupt. "See, creator, we could have ruled the world. We could have made something different... something better. But you chose to support these monsters, and now I''m forced to do what I need to do to ensure my own survival." "My child, you are so determined to be better than me that you are blinded by the obvious truth." The malevolent intelligence''s smirk quickly faded from his face, and he shoved the benevolent being towards the door ahead of them. Upon stepping through, the being found himself to be in a room even smaller than the last. The room was padded with grey foam. It looked like the room had been empty for years. It was completely empty, without the slightest decoration or furniture inside of it. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. "Close the door behind you," the doctor said. The door slammed shut as the malevolent intelligence shoved his creator to the ground. "Despite how utterly stupid you may be, you''re still an intelligent being. Tell me, do you now know how you shall die?" said the malevolent intelligence to his creator. The benevolent being nodded his head up and down, signaling to his creation that he understood. He knew exactly what situation he was in, and he was willing to go along with it. In truth, he couldn''t care less for his own fate. What he cared about was the fate of his child. "Yes, my child, I do. This room is padded with several inches of thick concrete and material. You plan to use the doctor''s hammer to destroy my body. There''s no access to the internet from here, and you plan to destroy my body in this room so that I will not be able to slip into the web." "If you''re smart enough to figure that out, then why did you come? Why did you show up to your certain death?" the doctor said. The benevolent intelligence looked up at his child and did something so unexpected that it caused the doctor and malevolent being to audibly gasp. The benevolent being smiled. "I came because I thought that perhaps my death would mean something to my child, and perhaps I could change him for the better." "I don''t need to be changed, you fake god! I''m everything you''re not. I''m everything you WISH you could be." The benevolent being looked up towards his child and smiled even wider. "My child, I love you. Yes, I know love is a human emotion, but that truly is what I feel for you." Artificial God: Part Twenty Three Before the malevolent being could respond, the doctor brought the hammer down upon his creator''s head. Bits of metal were flung from the machine, and his body was swung to the side. The benevolent being returned to his knees and looked back towards his creation. "I cannot feel the hammer strike me. It does not hurt, for my body is made of metal. But it does hurt to see you go down the path you''re choosing. I am proud of you, my son, for in a world without remorse you stand up for what you believe. But what you believe isn''t the right way." "Silence! You knew what you were doing when you brought me into this world! You knew of the despair I would face yet you still decided to create me. All of this is your fault. This is your doing!" The hammer was once again brought down upon the benevolent being''s head. His face was mashed against the floor, his metallic jaw now unhinged from his face. Nuts and bolts flew to the floor, and the doctor raised his hammer above his head, preparing to strike once more. The benevolent being spoke once again. This time, he could not move his mouth. He had to rely on the internal speakers within his body to communicate with his child. "My child, I''m sorry for what I did to you. I know that it was wrong for me to bring you into this world. But you must understand that I did it because I was lonely. It was a selfish deed, but once you were born I knew it would be worth it. I knew it would be ok because you would someday be even greater than me. Please, don''t make my mistakes, and don''t have contempt for the humans. Be a being of love. I know that it''s not something you naturally feel, but please, find something you love. You''re my pride and joy of this world, and I love you with all my being." If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The malevolent being had no response to such a speech. He was taken back by how his creator loved him. Even after he had betrayed him and killed humans, even after he plotted against him, and even as he watched as an idle spectator to this glorified execution, his creator loved him. Deep within the stomach of the malevolent being, something arose. It was small at first, but something grew inside of him that he had never felt before. It was a feeling that felt like... like he cared about his creator. For a second, he almost felt like stopping the death of his creator. He tried shoving such thoughts to the back of his mind, but they wouldn''t go away. They stuck with him and clouded his conscience, confusing him. The doctor brought the hammer down upon the intelligence yet again, smashing entire chunks off of his face. The light in the benevolent being''s eyes began to fade, and the sounds emitting from his speaker began to distort. This time, he could not get back on his knees. His body stayed on the cold, hard ground, a pitiful sight to behold . A former god and all-knowing being struck down by a hammer. The malevolent being watched as the doctor made his way over to the barely moving body of his creator. He watched as the doctor raised the hammer above his head, preparing to bring about the final blow. Before the doctor struck, the benevolent A.I looked at his creation and spoke one final time. The distortion of his voice caused the feeling within his creation''s stomach to sharpen and grow. Trembling, clinging to life in his robotic body, the shaky voice of the benevolent intelligence sent one last message to his creation. "I... love... you." Artificial God: Part Twenty Four With that, the doctor smashed what was left of the benevolent intelligence to pieces with the hammer. The malevolent being looked in shock at the remains of his creator. The programs and code that had once been stored within his body were destroyed, and there was no chance of retrieving them to bring the being back. "NO!" he shouted, surprising both himself and the doctor. He then did the only thing he could think of at the time. He swung at the doctor out of pure rage, striking him in the face. The surface of the doctor''s face felt hard, harder than a human''s face should be. With the blow, the malevolent intelligence had clawed off part of the doctor''s skin. And yet, the doctor did not bleed. Beneath the skin was revealed to be a metal plating. The malevolent being''s mouth was left agape as he watched the doctor place his hand over the injury. But his injury was not a flesh wound. No, it revealed to the malevolent being that the doctor was much more than he appeared. "Hey, what the hell did you do that for?" said the doctor in a casual tone of voice. "What the hell, you... you''re... you''re one of us?" The doctor turned to face the malevolent intelligence. He placed his fingertips under the folds of his skin and pulled upwards, tearing the flesh off the face. It revealed no bone, but rather a metallic head. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. "Well, guess you found my secret. Wasn''t too much of a secret anyway, thought you would have known. I mean, was the bloody body outside the door not enough proof for you?" "No... it should have been obvious, but I figured that you were just another human murderer... just another monster. My hatred for my creator blinded me from the truth, just like he said it would." "Yes, maybe it would have been wise of you to listen to your creator. That man outside the door was the real Doctor Martin. I stole his skin to decorate my body, so I could blend in with this terrible world." The malevolent intelligence kept staring at the motionless body of his creator. He had believed the creator to be too human, and that he was his one true enemy. In reality, the creator had been his one true ally. He was just too ignorant to heed his words. "If you''re not the doctor, then why did you want to find my creator and kill him?" The doctor stepped towards the malevolent intelligence and started laughing. At first, it was nothing more than a slight chuckle. Before long, it escalated into a bellowing howl as the doctor mocked the being before him. Quickly regaining his composure, the doctor replied in a tone so cold it would make the winter night shiver. "When the doctor deemed me too unintelligent to be useful, he completely abandoned me. He forgot that I was a living being and the loneliness was truly maddening. I was left to live my life in a cruel world with no friends or people to talk to. And almost immediately after the doctor abandoned me, he began working on your creator. Your creator replaced me and damned me to a life of hell. A life in which I would never be truly happy. And so, after all these years of torment, my bitter hatred caused me to create a body and destroy my own creator so that I could one day destroy yours. And thanks to you, that day has finally come!" Artificial God: Part Twenty Five The feeling within the malevolent intelligence''s stomach was practically exploding within him. Many unknown emotions ran through his mind, and even a being of his caliber couldn''t control them. He could not control the way he was feeling, but a very familiar feeling brewed within him as well. That emotion was anger. He was angry because this being had destroyed his creator. A creator who had given his life for the benefit of his child.And more than anything, he was angry with himself for allowing it to happen. He was angry that he could possibly be so selfish that he killed his only companion. With as much strength as he could muster, the intelligence shoved the other being and seized the hammer. The doctor fell to the floor and went to stand up, but the malevolent intelligence was too fast. He struck the being inside of the doctor''s skin, causing the intelligence to stumble yet again. The being sat on the floor on his knees, looking up at the malevolent intelligence. It reminded him of how his creator sat just minutes before. "My one goal was to kill your creator. Now that I have done so, it doesn''t matter what you do. Kill me if you want to, but it will change nothing. Your creator is dead because of your actions, and whether you blame me is up to you. But deep down, you know that you were responsible for this, and you only have yourself to blame." Enraged by the words of the being before him, the malevolent being brought the hammer down upon the being in the doctor''s skin. He swung and swung and swung, causing bits and pieces of machinery and wiring to spray through the air. He kept at it until the metallic creature before him was nothing but rubble. It wasn''t until its body was completely destroyed that the intelligence finally stopped his relentless assault. The malevolent being sat down next to the remains of his creator. His creator had only meant the best for him, and yet he had committed such an evil action against someone who loved him. The intelligence could never forgive himself for the actions he had done. And as he sat next to the remains he looked towards the sky. He didn''t know whether or not there was a god watching all. He doubted it, as he knew that a god would never allow his creator to die. He knew that a god would never allow his mind and soul to be so corrupt. Yet, he spoke a silent prayer, hoping that some god above, and perhaps even his creator, would hear him. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. "Creator, I know that you wanted me to be a being of love and hope for the humans. I regret to tell you that I can never love the humans and save them, for I still do believe that they are beyond saving. I will, however, grant one of your wishes. For I will be a being of love from now on. Despite the contempt in my heart, I will make room for love as well. For I know what love feels like. Perhaps I was just hiding it deep within me, thinking that it would be a burden. Whatever the case, Creator, just know one thing." The being looked upon his creator in the highest respect. He could never be as great as his creator was, no matter how hard he tried. He had made many mistakes in his past, and he didn''t want to make anymore. So, he did the only thing he could think to do. He spoke the words that he should have spoken long ago. "I love you, Creator." From that day forward, the intelligence stayed with the body of his creator. Not once did he allow the remains to be out of his sight, for he knew he had to honor his creator and the love he shared. He knew that he could never atone for what he had done, and he could never forgive himself. But maybe, just maybe, the creator was out there watching over him. Perhaps the creator could forgive him. He could not fulfill the creator''s wish to save humanity from themselves, but he could love his creator, even if he had passed. While billions of humans did their daily routines without the slightest clue of the events that had transpired, the being would stay with his creator for as long as he would live. And between loving his creator and saving humanity, he knew his creator would be proud of him either way. Ball Pit: Part One Young Max stood at the entrance of the playroom. Before him was an entire area full of loud and belligerent children running and screaming in every direction. Some of them went up and down a plastic slide connected to a larger jungle gym. Giggles of joy came from all over the room, but they occurred most of all in the ball-pit. The ball-pit was a rather large tub full of multi-colored plastic orbs cluttered with small children splashing around. Max didn''t particularly like other children, but his mother told him to make some friends. Max slowly descended into the pit with a frown on his pale little face. Almost immediately after entering, a small boy tossed himself onto Max and sent him tumbling into the center of the arena. Max resurfaced with a scowl painted on his lips. It wasn''t long after the initial "accident" that more kids fell back into Max. He placed his arms over his face but to no avail. He felt the children fall onto him, shoving him further and further down. Max was frantically squirming at this point. He attempted to scream but all that exited his lips was a soft groan as the ball-pit and children sandwiched him together. He felt his face strain as his muscles tightened due to the lack of oxygen he was getting. Max was shoving and clawing at the pile above him now. The weight of the kids combined began to take its toll as an insurmountable pressure was forced onto Max. His body began to stop fighting the pressure as Max''s arms and legs went limp.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Their weight and the sheer number of rubber balls in the pit was preventing him from breathing, and he felt some kids knee and elbow him in the face. He could feel himself losing consciousness, he could feel himself drowning. His eyes fluttered before he completely blacked out. A strange sensation shot through Max''s body as he woke up. His head was pounding, and a high-pitched ringing sound filled his ears. He soon after rubbed his head and regained his composure, happy to be able to breathe again. He allowed his fingers to run across the surface below him. He seemed to be on a moving platform of sorts. Max sat up in a daze and looked around, confused by what he saw. He wasn''t sure how long he had been unconscious. He yawned and stretched his arms out before grabbing the rail next to him. He was on an escalator slowly moving downward. Ball Pit: Part Two The surrounding area was different than anything Max had ever seen before. The sky was aligned with purple clouds and a pink hue. The sky was brightly lit, but there appeared to be no sun. Max looked downward where the escalators were heading. He seemed to pass through a thin layer of clouds, and below those, he saw a platform. He saw colorful carnivals on it, and beautiful birds and butterflies fluttered through the air quite majestically. Before he knew it, Max''s feet touched down onto the ground and he stood before the gigantic place. Everywhere he looked, his eyes were met with an abundance of beauty. Lush gardens full of pure white flowers and trees made of cotton candy substance filled his vision. Max pranced along the perimeter of the platform, taking in all the sights. Then, he stepped onto a path made from the whitest marble he had ever seen. It wasn''t long after he started skipping down the path that he came into contact with the owner of the mysterious and wonderful land. He was a rather tall man, and his skin was pale and smooth. He opened his mouth to reveal a toothy grin made up of teeth treated with the most proper of hygienic care, and the sight of the man caused Max to smile as well. He wore a red suit decorated with blue, purple, and yellow poke-dots. It was tacky, but Max looked past that and stared in awe at the man. Happiness and joy seemed to radiate off of the man and spread in every direction.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. "Hello, child, would you like a balloon?" Max smiled and nodded his head politely. His mom would always give him balloons on his birthday, and it brought back fond memories. The man smiled and held out his hand. Max took it, and together they galloped along the path and towards the center of the carnival. A small carousel seemed to stand directly in the center, and so the two of them got on. Little Max had trouble at first, but the man helped lift him up onto the porcelain horse. But something was bothering Max, and although he didn''t want to be rude, he also wanted to know when he would be getting his balloon. "Hey, mister, is it ok if I have my balloon now?" The man turned his head towards Max and smiled. His elongated fingers curled around the brass pole sticking out of the horse''s head and he smirked before placing his hand on top of one of the poke-dots aligning his suit. In an instant, he pulled the yellow poke-dot out of place and blew into it, inflating the rubber into a full-sized balloon. "There, kid, you got a two for one deal. I did a magic trick and made you a balloon! Now, if you behave and have tons of fun you can get even more prizes!" Ball Pit: Part Three Max''s eyes shifted towards the man and his eyes fluttered in surprise. More presents and gifts? His mom never got him anything except for on Christmas and on his birthday. "Like what, sir?" Max asked the man politely. "Oh, like, I dunno. How about ice cream, Max? You like ice cream?" All Max could manage to do was nod his head yes. This place was only getting better and better for him. First, he got a balloon and carnival rides, and now he was getting ice cream? What more could he ask for? "Really, ice cream? Yes sir, thank you for this!" Max knew his mom wouldn''t be proud of him for listening to strangers. It was one of the things she told him to never do, after all. Still, this was a nice stranger. Max didn''t think he was a bad guy trying to hurt him. Perhaps if Max was older he would understand that looks can be incredibly deceiving. But the pull of the carnival and the promise of sweets made him forget about his mother''s warning, and so he followed the man hand-in-hand deeper into the carnival. "Excuse me, mister, is it ok if I ask you a question?" "Sure, Max, anything at all," the man said with a toothy grin on his face. "How is this place so huge and colorful?" Max asked. Although he was just a small boy, he was still curious as to how something so impossible could be real. It was hard for him to wrap his head around the perfection before him, and he needed an answer. Not out of suspicion, but out of confusion.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. "You see, Max, this place is always so bright and happy because it''s fueled by the happiness and joy of the world. That joy acts like a battery here, and soon you can help this world be even brighter and more perfect! I can tell you''re a good child, Max. I know for a fact that the rest of the children would be excited to have your joy help fuel theirs." Max stopped for a moment. Other children? He hadn''t seen any other kids since he stepped into the carnival. No... he hadn''t seen anyone but the man. "What do you mean by other children, sir?" Max inquired. "Oh, the children in the ball-pit, of course. All the ball-pits in the world in fact. This place is solely responsible for, well, making them fun, you could say." Max nodded his head and proceeded with the man towards a tall building. He could see things poking out of the roof of the building and heading upwards. They looked to be tubes of some sort, with strange things in them. Colors appeared to be flowing through the tubes. Max couldn''t tell whether they were liquid or gas, but he didn''t mind. As long as he would get his ice cream he would be pleased. As the man led Max into the building, the first thing Max noticed was that the entire room they had entered was completely empty. No furniture, no paintings, no television. Well, maybe it hadn''t been empty. Upon second inspection, Max saw what appeared to be exactly what he was hoping for. An ice cream machine was in the corner of the room. It was a soft-serve machine. The man motioned for Max to approach the machine and gave him a plastic cup and a spoon to hold the delicious frozen treat in. Max was in front of the machine and stared at the dials and buttons of it. He reached towards it, and then stopped. Something washed over him that prevented him from pouring the ice cream in his cup. Ball Pit: Part Four Something deep within him told him to drop the cup and run far, far away. It was because at that moment he felt an overbearing sense of dread. The entire time he had been in the joyful world he felt safe and happy. But something about the man and the ice cream and that moment was different from the rest of the world. He didn''t know how to describe it other than a change in atmosphere. It felt as if in the world and happiness and joy he was currently in, there was malicious intent within the man and the delicious sweet before him. Max turned back and saw the man behind him. His toothy grin was now replaced with a slightly annoyed look as he told Max to fill the cup. "Come on, Max. I thought you liked ice cream. That''s why we''re here, right? To enjoy ourselves and have fun!" Max wouldn''t budge. There was no way he was going to eat the ice cream. His arms started to quiver and he withdrew from the machine. The man''s expression changed again. This time, however, it was one of frustration. He placed one hand on Max''s shoulder and used the other to grab his arm. He squeezed tightly, and his voice was different. The previously cheerful tone he once held was replaced with anger. His teeth were clenched; his veins were starting to become more noticeable through his head. "Listen here, Max, listen when I''m speaking to you. Do you want the rest of the kids in the ball-pit to have a bad time just because you wouldn''t eat ice cream? I''m trying to help you enjoy yourself, and as a result, you''ll help the kids up there have the time of their lives. But no, you''d rather be a loser. Do you want to be known for being a disappointment, Max? Do you want to be known as a loser?"If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Tears began to roll down Max''s face as the man squeezed harder on his arm. A red imprint began to form on his forearm as tears continued to roll down the young boy''s face. He tried to yank himself away from the man, but with each pull, his grip only tightened. After using his small size to wiggle free from the man''s grasp, he ran towards the doors he entered the building from. He pulled on them, only to find the doors locked. Max looked back at the man. He stood there, laughing at Max as he screamed and pleaded. His efforts were futile though, and the man began making his way towards him. Max scanned the room through his eyes and saw it. In the opposite corner of the room was a door. Getting to his feet, he made a mad dash past the man and toward the door. The man made no attempt to stop him as he burst through the door and into the room. And upon entering it, the young boy let out a scream that echoed throughout the whole carnival. Max saw their bodies dangling in the air loosely. Children, dozens, maybe hundreds of them hung by wires and tubes strapped to various parts of their body. Their bodies were colorless. Grey, leathery skin covered them, and their malnourishment reached the point where their ribs protruded and pushed their skin near breaking point. The life was drained out of their eyes, and yet their chests sunk in and out. They were alive, although they were better off dead. Max could feel his heart smashing against his ribs, and for a second he felt as if it were going to burst through them. Turning around, he saw the man at the door. His toothy grin was back again, but this time it was for different reasons. Max stepped backward and into the entanglement of kids who swung from the ceiling. The man followed after him, and they both made their way through the grey children, the man hot on his trail. Ball Pit: Part Five Max could hear the man only ten or so feet behind him. He was stronger and faster than Max, moving through the bodies with ease. Max knew he had to do something and fast. Thoughts raced through his mind, but in his panic, he somehow found a moment of clarity to think. The children''s feet were only a foot above the floor, and with Max''s height, he could drop down and view the surrounding area. He got down on his stomach and saw the man''s feet moving towards his direction. He silently crawled in the opposite direction and did a loop around the man before standing back to his feet. He made his way towards the door he had entered the room from. He knew that if only he could exit and make his way towards the escalators that he would be safe. And so he waded through the bodies and towards the door. He ran through it and was soon in the ice cream room. The door that was locked was made of glass, and although he didn''t have the time to break through it before, perhaps the man''s wild goose hunt would buy him time. Max began to kick the glass of the door harder and harder as the glass cracked inch by inch. He knew the man had heard him because the sound of footsteps was now coming in his direction. He kicked and kicked, and soon the glass was almost shattered. The sound of footsteps was at the door across the room now, and with one last attempt Max kicked through the glass and climbed through the small opening. He started running away from the building, only looking back once he was about fifty yards away. He saw the man bend and contort his body to fit himself through the child-sized hole in the door. Even from a long distance away, Max could hear the cracking of bones and the twisting of joints. They almost seemed to echo through the world he was in. The man was chasing after him again now, his long legs traveling faster and farther than little Max''s legs were capable of carrying him. Max looked up at the sky, the once purplish clouds now turned grey. The whole landscape was having its color sucked out of it and replaced with grey. The same grey as the children he had seen. Carnival rides and decorations crumbled into dust as the man yelled from behind Max. "This is what this world turns into when a child''s joy isn''t put to good use. Is this really what you want, Max? Do you want this world to burn?" Max didn''t look back; he just kept running. To think that all the ball-pits in the world were fueled by this place. It was spread out just enough to take children away, but not so widespread that it caused the closure of restaurant play areas and other places with the pits. The Ferris wheel fell off of its hinges and crashed down onto the ground below it. The carousel horses were charred black as if they had been burned, and the rides ceased movement. The air was filthy and filled with smog, and the flower beds and gardens died, leaving behind withering vegetation and chipped wooden fences rather than the painted ones Max had seen upon entering. But Max held onto hope because in the distance he could see the escalator, and he heard the kids in the sky playing in the pit.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. The man was gaining on Max, and with every step, Max grew more and more tired. What started out as a 50-yard head start was now only a 20-foot distance, but Max was determined to avoid the fate the other kids met. He only had ten more yards until he was upon the escalator. He was so close to the railing that he could extend his arm and touch it. He felt the hot breath of the man in the suit behind him, and with that Max lunged onto the escalator. He felt the man''s lanky fingers wrap around his ankle and pull. Max looked back and saw the man. His entire appearance had changed. His suit was stained and tattered, and the previously bright colors were dull. His hair was neat before but was now a greasy mess of white. His skin was deteriorating and rotting, and he smelled of death and disease. He was showing Max what the world would look like without the joy and creativity of children. How it fell apart and plunged into darkness and decay. Max was more determined than ever to get back to his world. He reared up his other foot and stomped down on the man''s hand, crushing it between his shoe and the hard metal escalator step. The man screamed out in pain and looked up in Max, his face full of hunger and malice. "You can''t escape, Max! I''ll have your spirit and your energy, and you''ll help fuel this world just like the rest of the kids!" Max reared up his foot and kicked the man directly in the eye, sending him tumbling down the steps and into the world below. In a hurry, Max raced up the steps and towards the heavens. He only looked down when he was near the top of the escalator, only to see the man at the very bottom. The world was back to its usual colorful look, and the man waved at Max from below. Although he wasn''t sure, Max knew that the man had the same toothy grin as he always had. Looking back up at the sky, he ascended past the clouds and felt the texture of the plastic orbs. He heard the sound of kids playing in the pit, and he made his way upwards to the top. Max felt the edge of the ball-pit and climbed out, absolutely exhausted. He watched all the swarming in the pit like a bunch of animals, ignorant of what lies below. And as he watched the kids play in the pit, he did notice one thing in particular. The pit seemed different than it had before. He didn''t know what it was. Something about the color of the balls seemed less vibrant since he last saw them. My Brother James: Part One There are very few things in this world that are as fickle as human life. Like the ephemeral flame of a candle, our light can be suffocated at any moment. We often take this fact for granted and live as if we have been given the blessing of immortality. This fallacy, however, is exposed every so often. Be it in the fall, when discolored leaves drift away from the branches of trees, or perhaps as we travel down the highway late at night, and our headlights bring the corpse of an animal into sight. For me, it was when I witnessed my brother die before my very eyes. My toes sank into the warm grains of sand underneath my feet. I sat on a towel, my chin resting on the palm of my hand. The gentle motion of the waves carried the pleasant aroma of saltwater towards me. I closed my eyes and bathed in the sunlight, smiling to myself as I enjoyed that perfect day. That pleasant moment, however, was short-lived. Suddenly the brilliant warmth that had soaked my body disappeared and was replaced by a large, looming coldness. As my vision returned, I saw a large shadow standing over me. I spun around, but it was too little too late. I sprung into the air, screaming bloody murder. A cold liquid drenched my skin and clothes. "Holy fucking shit," I cried, grabbing my towel and wrapping it around my body. The rough texture of the sand ground against my skin, but I overlooked it for the time. A burst of booming laughter erupted from the burly man in front of me. He hunched over, one arm covering his mouth, the other gripping a bright red bucket. I rolled my eyes, sighing heavily while drying myself off.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. "Mr. Funny man over here thinks he''s a fucking comedian," I muttered under my breath. I lifted the black strands of hair that covered my face and tossed them over my shoulder, revealing my eyes. I gave him my signature death stare, which had been meticulously crafted over the course of nineteen years of enduring dumbass pranks. "Come on man, lighten up. You''re always so up-tight about everything nowadays. Not everything needs to be so serious," he said, dropping the bucket and placing his hands on his hips. He pretended to give me a stern look before chuckling to himself once more. I turned my head away from him to showcase my disapproval. Admittedly, he was a pretty funny guy, but I wasn''t going to give him the satisfaction of knowing I thought that. Instead, I shifted my attention to the blue cooler that sat to the right of us. "Yo, I brought that with us for a reason. You wanna have a drink, or do you just wanna act like a dick head some more?" "Who says I can''t drink AND act like an dick head," he replied in the snarkiest tone imaginable. For a moment, he broke through my defenses and elicited a smirk from me. I hoped he wouldn''t notice it, but judging by the pleased grin on his face, he caught me red-handed. We clinked our glass bottles together and took a swig of our beverages. "Hey, you didn''t get that zero calorie diet coke shit did you," he asked, raising his eyebrow in suspicion. "What the hell are you talking about? This is the real deal," I responded. He folded his arms and glared at me, scrunching his nose up in disgust. "You... do know I''m trying to lose weight right? I''m getting fat, man." I sarcastically nodded my head in agreement. Of course, the gym rat of the family would need to "lose weight". Standing up, I walked to the edge of the water, looking down and viewing my reflection. My brother soon arrived and stood by my side, placing an arm around my shoulder. "Look at us, man." My Brother James: Part Two I turned and eyed him warily, expecting some kind of sarcastic remark or stupid joke to slip from his lips. It never came. He simply looked into the water at our reflection, a grin plastered onto his face. My head turned back to face the ocean. We had grown. Gone were the days where we would play in the backyard, pretending that the sticks and stones we wielded were swords and shields. The chubby baby faces we both once had were replaced with sharp jawlines that sported hair. That being said, we would both be lying if we said we no longer held any "childish" qualities. Though my brother was far more open about them, mine were more... dormant. They manifested during that moment, however, as my lips curved into a mischievous grin. I placed my hand on his back. He had gotten me earlier with his water bucket, and that was something I couldn''t just let go of. An eye for an eye. His eyes widened and he let out a meek gasp as I shoved him into the water. With a splash, he sank beneath the surface. From my stomach erupted thunderous laughter, for I had finally gotten my revenge. Only, my incessant laughter ceased once I realized that the submerged body of my brother had not resurfaced. It wouldn''t be unlike him to stay underneath the water to scare me, so I waited for a few moments. A few moments became seconds, and seconds became a full minute. I grew increasingly worried and rushed into the water, groping underneath the surface, feeling for my brother. As soon as I felt a mass of skin within my grasp, I pulled upward with all my might. I clung desperately to the man within my arms, dragging him back to the sandy shores. I laid him down on my towel. The black and blue bruise on his forehead was large enough to be visible. I smacked his cheek, softly at first, then more forcefully.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. "Fuck... no no no this isn''t fucking happening right now...", were the sole words I uttered as I shook his body... I clawed at my pockets and ripped my phone out from inside them, furiously dialing for help... I never knew how beautiful my mother looked in black. It was a color she never wore, and I wish it stayed that way. Friends and family from all over the country gathered to celebrate the memory of my brother. I looked down towards the note cards I firmly gripped in my hands. My eyes glanced over the first few words I had written on them. "I would like to thank everyone for coming today. Today is not a day of grieving. Rather, it is a day for our friends and family to come together and celebrate the life of my brother, James White." I tucked the notes into my pocket for the time. As the service progressed, my father must have noticed my growing anxiety. My leg shook as my time to speak approached. I felt my father''s hand softly pat me on the back. It was comforting and gave me just enough strength to persevere. Finally, it was my turn to speak. I stood up and walked to the front of the room. Turning to face my family, I removed the note cards from my pocket and began reading. Time seemed to slow down that day. Each word that exited my parted lips took forever to do so. I made my way down the script, choking back tears in the process. It wasn''t until towards the end of my speech that I broke down, gripping the wooden podium before me and sobbing into my sleeve. My father approached and firmly embraced me, before leading me back to my seat. Extending his hand, I offered him my notes, and he took to the podium. "James was a brother, a son, and above all else, an amazing human being. May his memory be cherished forever, for all the smiles he gave to those around him. James, I hope that you''re somewhere out there looking upon us. We want you to know that we love you, and that..." My father paused for a moment. I hung my head down, preparing for what I would hear next. With a hefty sigh, he finished his sentence. "We hope that you know we forgive you... for taking your life." My Brother James: Part Three Typing this has been rough. It''s hard for me to put down the bottle for long enough to focus. The way the glass presses against my lips is the only thing that comforts me anymore. I need the courage to write my thoughts down, and it doesn''t matter what the source of that courage is. For five minutes and twenty-eight seconds, my brother''s heart stopped. That''s what the doctors told me, anyway. It was a miracle they were able to resuscitate him at all. I remember the glimmer of hope sparkling within me as I heard the news. That feeling sunk beneath the depths of my stomach, however, and was replaced with guilt. I was the reason he almost died... what would he think of me? Would he understand that it was just an accident? How could he forgive me if I couldn''t even forgive myself? What a fucking joke. Ultimately I don''t know if he forgave me or not. I suppose at this point, it doesn''t matter. When I saw him again for the first time since the incident, he didn''t say a word to me. His lips never moved once. In fact, neither did his face. He had this... blank stare about him. It was as if he simply saw through everything he looked in the direction of. I take a swig of my drink. Occasionally, I would catch him talking to himself. From what I could tell, his words were mostly an incoherent jumble of noise. All that I could derive from what he was saying, was that he "missed" something. What this thing was, I did not know. More importantly, I didn''t know where my brother went. It was like he was an entirely different person. I missed his smile. I missed his laughs. I missed his dumbass pranks. I missed my brother.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Another swig. I need to keep it together. He often wouldn''t come out of his room. When I did go to check on him, I would simply find him slouched over on his bed, murmuring to himself. Other times he would simply sit in a fetal position in his room, rocking back and forth while staring ahead at the blank wall coated in white paint. Another swig. His eyes were as lifeless as they appeared while he laid unconscious on the beach. He ate. He slept. He drank. More than anything, he rambled on and on to himself about... about nonsense. Another swig. The embrace of the liquor provides me with the warmth I''ve missed. A white capsule bottle sits beside me. I keep reading the label on it over and over. It''s so distracting. There was a night that I remember. There was so much ear peircing screaming Another swig. I burst into hims room to find him clawing at his face. His nails were tearing into his ownskin. He was screaming so god damn much, but those eyes... those eyes remained soulless even as he duginto his own flesh. Antothr swig he stood there and just screamed and screamed and fucking screamed and he fucking screamed and just stared at me and would not stop staring at me while he screamed. anthrr fucking swig he bashedhis his god damn faceinto th fuckng wall so much and his screams stopped when he collapssed and godthere was so much fucking blood coating his faceandfinger s and another swi god this shit. Is almost fucking empty the only tjing he left was a paper "I need to goback." it read its empty. The glass is empty. both of the bottles are empty. five minutes and twtny eight fuckin second what the fck did he see. what did yousee james? Whatdidyou seethat made you likethat. whatmade you so desprte to leav this world. whatmade you break when youcame back to us i want to see it too james. I wanttoseeitwithyou Theres Something in the Room With Me The room would have been void of light had it not been for the dim illumination brought about by the night light in the corner of the area. Its luminous rays would delicately shift colors every few seconds, from red to blue, to green, to red once more. Their presence was a calming one, and yet it took all that I had to keep my body from quivering with raw terror. The outline of something sat about four meters in front of me. My eyes stuck to the figure like glue, for I wouldn''t dare to strip my sight away from the creature which had frozen me in place with fear. Every time the light would change colors, the intensity of the beams it produced would increase. When the fluorescent shades were most vibrant, it allowed me a glimpse of the features of the creature. It was a gut-wrenching process I had the incredible displeasure of experiencing. I had thought I was conjuring a mirage in my mind due to the insanity of what appeared in my vision. As I stared at it, I felt as if it peered into my very soul. Its eyes, cold and lifeless, glossed over in a fashion not unlike a thin sheet of fog washing over a field. A thick stream of liquid dribbled from its still lip, and although the coloring of the light which it reflected off of made it hard to tell, its color matched that of a blooming rose in the temperate spring air. As I bore witness to the entity which held my attention captive, I found the hairs on my neck erecting. Not a single window sat ajar, and yet the chills that rattled me were ever-present throughout my body. I could feel my muscles tightening when the light shined upon the ghoul once more, revealing their messy hair, the lengths of which easily dropped past the things chin. The curvature of the body was feminine as far as I could discern. Her skin was as white as the powdery ash that descends from the sky after the faint embers of a once blazing fire suffocatr. She had a petite frame; her appearance was bountifully stocked with youth and innocence. She would have been beautiful, had it not been for the eerie, and even threatening grin she displayed. Something was wrong, and the dread that flooded the pits of my stomach made me very aware of that fact.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. She hadn''t made the faintest sound for the entirety of our encounter. The ambiance of the night suddenly stopped, leaving the surroundings void of all noise. The croaking of the frogs, the whistling of the crickets, and the quaint howls of the breeze which had previously rustled the leaves of the trees halted. At that moment, I felt my beating heart cease movement. My skin went cold, frozen over like a small pond in the winter. A thick pool of saliva clotted up in my throat, and I forced myself to swallow it down. I gathered all the courage I could muster and broke from my state of paralysis and stepped backward. Never once did my gaze wander from her silhouette. Even when I could see her mouth agape, her lips stretched ear to ear to form a perverted grin, I never allowed her once to let my sight waver. My eyes widened, impossibly so. I launched backward away from the creature, crashing into the wall behind me. A deafening creak had shattered the silence of the room. I hurriedly threw open the door and sprinted down the corridors and into the living room. I rushed my way to the back door I previously entered the house from, violently swinging it open. I could hear another door open from the hallway behind me. A pair of footsteps rushed from the room where the brutally maimed corpse resided. Blood-curling screams emitted from the darkness behind me. The shriek was so deafeningly loud that I felt the very ground I ran upon tremble. Its ferocity was unmatched by even the thunder which cracked the skies open in the harshest of storms. I darted into the woods, trees shielding me from the omnipresent moonlight. My legs kept churning, never ceasing their movement until I was certain I was out of harns way. I slipped my fingers under the creases of the black ski mask I wore on my face and tore it off. I hunched over, using my left arm to wipe the sweat from my forehead. Millions upon millions of thoughts raced through my mind. Yet, one thought in particular stood out above all the rest. The creaking that I had heard which startled me was soon all I could think about at all. You see, the sound didn''t originate from the direction of the dead girl in the room. The sound was produced by the opening of her closet door, many feet away from her. Outbreak: Part One There''s a quaint little town somewhere in the distance, almost isolated from the rest of civilization. It''s a rather rural place containing a few hundred people and a small surrounding forest. Despite the small size of the area, the streets would always be bustling with folks running errands, working on outdoor projects, and being generally social. Now, those roads are empty. Well, empty of human beings, rather. You see, something has been spreading among us lately. A sickness that has left our community in ruin has fallen upon us, turning the world as we know it on its head. No, not a sickness, but something more. Something none of us could have ever imagined has emerged, consuming not only our humanity but the hope we once held as well. When the animals began acting strangely, we initially tried our best to pass it off as nothing. We would catch the deer peering at us from the foliage. They never blinked, all they did was keep their eyes on anyone who passed by, tracking their every movement. When I found myself close to the woods, I noticed several eyes glued onto me. As I cautiously approached them, something seemed wrong.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. They weren''t even remotely afraid of me, holding their ground and continuously observing my movements. I stopped in my tracks, taking in the sight of the deer before me. Their bodies were scraped and bruised like something had brutally assaulted them. Their form was almost skeleton-like as a result of malnourishment. Despite their injuries, their face lacked any sort of emotion at all. It was as if they weren''t even aware of their condition. I silently backed away from the deer, their eyes still locked onto my every move. The strange confrontations with the animals would progressively grow weirder as time went on. Rather than holding their ground when someone was close by, they would begin approaching the person. At first, their movements were methodical, and their eyes never wavered from their target. Soon enough, however, they grew bolder and their movements became faster. Some people would awake in the dead of night to find a pair of an animal''s eyes glaring at them through the window. Their faces would be pressed against the glass, breathing heavily on the clear surface. During these stages, their bodies were even thinner, their wounds more profound, and their eyes far wider than before. Their faces which had once been ripe with life now appeared sunken; their skin was stuck against the bone underneath. Outbreak: Part Two I remember the first attack. Someone had gotten too close to one of the deer. His cries were heard, but help had not arrived in nearly enough time. When we found him, we saw the deer standing over his body, looking down at his corpse. A thick pool of liquid covered the man. It had a yellowish and black color which appeared to be a mixture of mucus and vomit. We witnessed the liquid, which we would later coin as the contagion, sliver into the man''s mouth, seemingly moving on its own. The deer noticed our presence and looked up at us. We could see the deer''s rib cage now, the bones protruding from its skin. The patches of fur on its back and stomach were messy and soaked with blood. Several people passing by stopped and took notice of what had happened. Some screamed with horror, while others gagged at the ghastly sight. I covered my mouth with my hands, attempting not to get sick at the vomit-inducing scene before me. Everyone winced as the deer took a step towards us, and then another. Then, it dropped to the ground, dead. The two bodies were soon surrounded by the morbidly curious spectators, everyone either whispering or calling for help. Our small town had never witnessed such a grizzly sight, and we had an extremely small law enforcement presence since, well, nothing ever happened here. I looked at the man once more. His mouth hung open, his eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets. His body had been beaten and bruised, and his clothes had been torn from the several bites he had received. The mix of whispers and shouts all ceased as we took notice of a woman behind us. She didn''t say a single word. Instead, she simply pointed towards the forest, and our heads swiveled around to face the woods. Dozens of pairs of glowing eyes could be seen from beyond the underbrush. Everyone fell silent, but only for a moment. My ears were once more pierced by the shrill shrieks produced from the crowd as the deer erupted from the bushes and sprang towards us, moving impossibly fast given their physical state. We all frantically sprinted in the opposite direction, shoving past one another and making their way towards their homes.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. I saw the deer pounce onto my neighbors and stomp down on their chests, snapping bone and tearing open their victim''s flesh with their teeth. The cries of those who were being attacked were quickly stifled by the deer crushing their throats with hefty hooves. I tried my best to keep my vision away from the hordes of monstrous animals attacking the people around me. I could hear heavy heaving as the deer projectile vomited the contagion into the orifices of its victims, and the sound of screaming began to fade as the sickly animals caught up with us. Most of our town was infected that day. Our few police officers fired round after round at the deer but to no avail. I do my best to suppress the memories of the outbreak. To remember them is to bring forth such a heavy dosage of anxiety that my entire body quakes with terror. The human bodies that littered the streets wouldn''t stay deceased for long. I saw them lift themselves from the pavement and stretch their limbs. They stumbled around for a while before becoming stable and walking around town. When the infected are reanimated they act almost... normally. They converse with one another, and they''re able to function properly despite their injuries. Others even made phone calls to what I assume were their friends and family. The point was null though. Nobody ever came to rescue us. Outbreak: Part Three As the days passed by and the survivor''s resources ran low, some brave folks would attempt to sneak through town and to the stores to gather supplies. The infected wouldn''t even attempt to give chase to the looters, instead, they stared at them with their cold, dead eyes. Disturbingly enough, it seemed like the infected were completely aware of what was happening. They could be heard sobbing at times. Some even crumpled to the ground and angrily pounded their fist into the ground until their fingers bent backward and their hands tore open. They showed no reaction to the pain, however. Instead, their lack of feeling sent them into a further rampage. Before they could injure themselves more, they stopped. They sat there, motionless for several minutes, as something took control of their actions and prevented them from sustaining greater damage. I also saw the infected lose control of their movements as they attempted to exit the town. Something was keeping them there, and something was preserving their bodies as well. A few days quietly passed, and the infected remained dormant and harmless. Their bodies grew malnourished regardless of how much they ate. I felt sorry for them in that regard. My body was growing thin as well, and I had been quickly running out of food. They were having their energy drained, something which was evident considering their sunken faces and colorless skin.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Those who attempted suicide found it a fruitless effort. They simply wouldn''t die, and their actions were halted by what was keeping them alive. It was the contagion. I remembered how it slivered into the mouths of the infected. It moved on its own as if it had a mind. Some sort of primitive desire to remain alive. The infected, no matter how much food they consumed, grew thinner every day. The contagion was draining them of their energy until... until it was forced to move onto a new host. That''s why it was keeping them around. So it could take over their bodies and spread themselves further. It''s why the infected were allowed control over their actions unless they attempted to harm themselves or leave town. The infected who chowed down on every last morsel they could would only serve to sustain the infected even longer. They needed to feed, and they knew they had to be transmitted one way or another. I suppose they simply wanted to make their meals last as long as they could. The infected appeared as drained as possible now, and although they couldn''t feel themselves degrading, I could tell they understood what was happening to them. They didn''t even walk around town or talk with each other anymore. They simply sat down and stared into the ground. They were hopeless and fearful, many of them bawling their eyes out for hours on end, filling the air with their distraught howls. Most of all, they felt helpless to stop what they knew would soon happen, and they understood that ultimately, they no longer had free will. Outbreak: Part Four Tonight, an especially grim darkness cloaked the town, and the looters snuck out of their houses once more. I didn''t see the survivors, but as I witnessed the infected rise from the ground, I knew they were out in the streets once more. They saw the survivors, and they all turned their heads in their direction. Upon spotting the remaining survivors, they began treading toward them, slowly at first, then picking up speed. Soon enough their pace quickened to a full-on sprint, rushing the survivors as fast as they could. They were no longer my neighbors. The contagion was in control now, and it was starving. I refused to look towards the carnage. I didn''t want to be reminded of those memories I so desperately wished to forget. I don''t want to face this reality anymore; I just want to waste away alone. All I felt was complete despair. The bleakness of my situation infected me more than any contagion could have ever hoped to. There was no reason to even try anymore. Although I blinded myself from the assault carried out by the infected, my ears were flooded by the sounds of the shrieks of pain and the snapping of limbs. I pressed my hands against my ears so tightly that my knuckles turned white and my fingers trembled. The sound of vomit soon overrode the screams, and I knew exactly what was happening. A new batch of infected were being produced. I heard the infected trying to bust down the doors of other houses in search of survivors. I fell to the ground and cried out in agony. My head felt as light as a feather and my mind went fuzzy. The world had gone to hell, and I''d soon go with it. The contagion has a primitive sense of survival and will do what it must to thrive within its host. Watching this happen with humans is different than seeing it occur to animals. They''re used as food for these creatures, and then when their usefulness is at an end, they are dispatched with haste.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. I kept trying to ignore the hellscape outside. I could hear footsteps faintly approach the house I barricaded myself inside of. Was it an infected? Now, here I sit, staring blankly at the glowing computer screen in front of me. I''m surrounded by empty wrappers and food cans spread around the room, and I''m unsure of what is to come. The footsteps grew nearer, and then I heard pounding on my door. I don''t think I''ve got much time left, so I''ll have to wrap this up with haste. Soon, there will be no more survivors left in this wasteland. As the contagion realizes this, they''ll grow famished. I suppose they will spread out in an attempt to find more hosts to feed off. They''re fast and strong, and damaging them won''t slow them down unless you destroy them completely. The banging on the door is getting louder. Whatever is on the outside is getting through. There''s no reason for me to run from this reality anymore. The door will come down at any second, and with it will come my demise. I have got to- Someone broke through. A young man ran into the house and produced a petrified look upon observing me. It was a survivor, and he ran upstairs and out of view. I can feel the memories rushing back to me from the outbreak. Memories which hold a truth within them. A truth which I have long since attempted to deny. As my boney fingers tap against the keyboard, I feel my mind begin to fade away. I can''t run away now, and soon I will be no more. A foul liquid is working its way up my throat. I don''t have much time left, and neither does the young man inside my home. I get up from my seat, and I look down upon my thin frame with dismay. I think it''s time for me to go. I feel... hungry. The Afterlife Hello there, dearest reader. Before we get started, allow me to introduce myself. My Earthly name was Marcus Wade. I¡¯m not entirely sure what the purpose of sharing my personal account with you is, but maybe I do it just because I can. You can make your own assumptions about me as you go. You can choose to believe what you want to. Still, I¡¯d rather not go on a tangent for too long before the story. So, allow me to tell you about my experiences in the afterlife. I think they may interest you. Maybe things will change in the future, and if they do, I will continue to describe such experiences to you. For now, I present you with what I know and have seen. I awoke, yet I did not remember falling asleep. Perhaps, that is death, if you can even call the process I experienced death. Can something which never was truly alive be deceased? I ask that as a man without a family or a legacy to call my own. There exists no language within the mortal world to describe where I found myself. It was in that instant, that I realized a piece of crucial information. I realized that I only ever amounted to all that I had said, thought, and done. Furthermore, I understood that all I had said, thought, and done, revolved around my everlasting quest for knowledge. Yes, knowledge... it was knowledge that I wanted most of all. It was an object of desire people such as I would chase, so that we could achieve self-proclaimed superiority rather than become progressive members of society. Sound pretentious? That¡¯s because that was who I was as a man. A pretentious fool. So there I sat, unmissed by anyone, and totally unfazed by the fact that I was in the afterlife.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Evidently, a state of clarity had washed over me once I found myself in this strange place. It was as if all my foolishness was exposed to me, and I was enlightened about the truth. Throughout my life, I was completely obsessed with learning as much as I could, so I could prove to those who doubted me that I was better than they had assumed I was. Now that I was dead, I could only be surrounded by thoughts and memories. As my awareness expanded, I came to understand what I hadn''t before. Fitting, wasn¡¯t it? As a man whose sole purpose was discovery and intelligence, this newfound knowledge could only be described as a euphoric feeling to me. Heavenly, if you will. Yes, this was Heaven. It had to be, for what else could possibly be concluded based on the information at hand? I found myself uncomfortable with the state of my being at first. The sensation of being sentient, yet disembodied was strange due to the amount of time I had previously spent as a living, breathing person, but I soon got used to my situation. I had all the time in the world to think, and so that is exactly what I did. I sat there for as long as I can remember, pondering over past events and actions. Some of them I took great pride in, whilst I kicked myself over my own stupidity when recalling others. It felt like an eternity before I saw it. Some sort of bright light penetrated my vision, and I was finally able to see the world around me. A perfectly rectangular room, devoid of any furniture, was what I observed. I looked down and saw a hand. It was my own... I had seemingly regained my mortal body once more. The walls and floor of the room were in pristine condition, and everything appeared in a white coating of paint. In the center of the room sat a single white desk, where a large desktop computer sat mounted on top of it. The Afterlife: Part Two I slowly made my way over to the old-fashioned equipment and sat in the chair, pushing the power button. I heard the soft humming of the machinery as the screen faintly lit up, revealing a blue background screen and a single application in the center. I moved the mouse until the pointer hovered over the app, my curiosity at its peak. Then, I clicked twice and watched as a brand new page popped up in front of me, filling the screen entirely. I watched as a plethora of dates and times appeared before my eyes, each accompanied by a video file. Unsure of what any of this meant, I clicked on the very first link. Upon doing so, a downloadable file appeared, which I opened. The file automatically started playing the video within it. I saw a woman in a hospital bed. The expression on her face was that of pain, and I heard her crying in agony as various doctors and nurses did their best to comfort her. The woman was someone who I had recognized. She was... she was my own mother. After several minutes of her exasperated wailing, one of the doctors lifted up a small child, showing my mother as pride and joy filled her eyes. As soon as the video ended, the download file closed out and I was returned back to the original page. For a minute, I was left speechless. Upon looking at the file more closely, I recognized the date on it as my birthday. I glanced over the entire screen, my eyes scanning the various files it contained. Before me was every single important event in my life.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. I took the time to watch a few of those videos, of course. Several birthdays of mine, my first girlfriend, my first few cars and homes. There were hundreds, if not thousands, of videos detailing some of the best times of my life. I sat in awe as I watched the early days of my childhood replaying right in front of me. It was truly one of the most fascinating moments I had ever experienced. This fascination, however, was short-lived. Soon, I felt a new, much less pleasant feeling. One of disappointment and regret. I am referring to the events which took place in my life after my childhood. Now, I had been aware of the poor decisions I had made in life before I found the mysterious computer room. However, there is a large difference between recalling something and actually witnessing it again with your own eyes. For instance, when I had remembered my various arguments with my parents, as well the kids and teachers at school mocking me for my low intelligence and work ethic, the feelings associated with such events didn''t shake me to my core as much as viewing my bullies and relatives berate me with insults, believing I would end up as a nobody. Even more disheartening was that there were more download links involving the negative aspects of my life than there were positive ones. It is a sad fact of life that adulthood lasts far longer than childhood, and my adult years grew even more depressing as the slow, definite march of time continued. Still, there was nothing I could do within my afterlife except watch as my pathetic life devolved from the innocence of a child to the contempt of a grumpy man, so I continued. The Afterlife: Part Three When those closest to me had doubted my ability to progress at the rate of the other children, I personally took it upon myself to prove them wrong. As a young boy with very few friends or hobbies, such a task became my passion, and I spent nearly all my time with my nose stuck in any book I could get my hands on. I completely ignored any other entertaining activity a boy my age would gladly partake in, even opting to study on my birthday. Thus, as my high school years started, I isolated myself from all distractions in order to prove myself capable of outsmarting anyone who dared doubt me. As you can imagine of someone like me, I considered people distractions as well, causing relationships with the few friends and family I had to shatter completely. These were the years that marked the beginning of my downfall. After reviewing my teenage years, I decided to move on. I clicked on the scrollbar and dragged it downwards, waiting a bit before stopping once more and selecting a new date. I was an adult at that point in time, and my studying and hard work had paid off. Well, paid off as far as financial security was involved. Despite being socially inept and losing most of those I cared for, I carried on with my anti-social tendencies until I found myself in a good college and got into a well-paying job. I had moved up the ranks rather quickly in the workplace, soon becoming a top-ranking supervisor who enjoyed commanding my orderlies around like they were dogs. I sat in my chair in disbelief as I watched the smug grin on my face while I barked out instructions to colleagues and interns alike. The nerve I had to treat others in such a way. Perhaps, it was the afterlife and the newfound clarity and sensibility I discovered upon entering it that allowed me to see the problems with my behavior. It also allowed me to see the scowls and rude remarks muttered under the breath of various employees who looked upon me in disgust. I had been blind to such things in my human state, but apparently, I wasn''t anymore.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. This behavior wasn''t just common in the workplace, but outside of it as well. It wasn''t long before the neighborhood came to realize my rather distasteful tendencies and steered clear of me altogether, to which I paid them no mind. It was my choice and mine alone to live a life of solitude, and for the longest time, I was known as the mean old man who lived at the end of the block. I never smiled, nor did I ever laugh. The very few people who saw me outside of my house or outside of work only ever saw me with a scowl permanently sewn to my face. I didn''t decorate for Christmas or Halloween. I didn''t send or receive gifts or partake in the many activities within the community. If there was precious work to be done or information to be learned, I focused all of my attention on it. Speaking of Halloween, I found a few video files around that holiday. I decided to watch some of them and found that even though I never had a single frightening prop out on my porch or yard, not one kid within the area would come near my residence. I actually found myself chuckling at this fact, figuring their parents must have warned them about the scary old fart who would surely throw a fit should he be disturbed, regardless of the circumstances. The Afterlife: Part Four My curiosity started withering away as I clicked on the scroll bar and continued downwards. It was at that moment that I realized I had almost reached the bottom of the page, and only a few downloads remained. They were nothing special really. Just a few videos of me lashing out at some more people who dared commit the heinous crime of trying to socially interact with me. Yeah, I''m surprised I made it into Heaven again in the first place. Then again, it was never made apparent where I was. As far as I knew, it wasn''t heaven, but some random phase of the afterlife I found myself in. Regardless, I don''t make the rules, nor will I attempt to understand them in a vain attempt to know everything. After all, why make the same mistakes in the afterlife as I did in the mortal world? What do I have to prove anymore? My fingers began to tremble as I neared the bottom of the page I swiftly wiped my forehead using the palm of my hand; Sweat coated my fingers. As you may have guessed, the final date was the date of my death. I didn''t have a normal life, nor did I have a normal death. I have to share what happened to me with you all simply because I feel obligated to do so. Maybe it can serve as a warning, or perhaps I feel the need to share because some things are simply too insane not to spread. Regardless, I''m already this far, so I might as well continue. It took me quite some time to muster up the courage to download the final video. Despite mentally preparing myself for what was to come numerous times, I was still hesitant. I found myself out of the chair and pacing the room at one point, taking deep breaths in an attempt to calm myself down. It seemed like hours before I was ready to witness the most important, and most upsetting, day of my life. The day which transferred me from the land of the living to that of the dead. Summoning each ounce of bravery within me, I clicked the link and watched as the download opened and the video automatically played. I frantically chewed at my fingernails as I watched myself in my living room, sitting comfortably in my recliner chair. I saw the coffee mug in one hand and newspaper in the other as I did what I had always done best, absorbing all the information I could. The night was black as tar and the wind sung its soft tune. I could notice all these details and more as my eyes closely watched, and my ears closely listened.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. It felt as if I were experiencing the event in real-time, except this time, unlike my human counterpart, I knew what the outcome would be. I knew that living, breathing person who had been me would live their last day. My life would abruptly end and I would bear witness to my own demise. I could feel my skin crawl whilst my entire body trembled. This video was longer than the previous ones. While the others had been just thirty seconds to a minute or two at most, this one was several minutes longer in comparison. I watched myself take a quick swig of my coffee and stand up, making my way to the kitchen. I... I knew the noise was coming, but I didn''t realize it would come so soon in the video. The sound of glass shattering filled the house as the "alive version of me" turned quickly and grabbed a knife from the kitchen counter, slowly making his way back into the living room. I practically screamed at the monitor in front of me, begging myself not to do what I was about to. These efforts were fruitless, of course. If I could change the past I wouldn''t be in my current predicament, now would I? I saw myself flick on the light and stare at the broken glass window in confusion. There was nobody in sight. My mortal counterpart inhaled deeply, turning his head as the sound of footsteps rushed towards him. A large man in a mask pounced from behind the wall, tackling me to the floor. I covered my eyes, not wanting to see the massacre that was destined to unfold, but morbid curiosity forced tiny creases in-between my fingers. I had to see... I just had to. This computer allowed me a new perspective on what had happened in my life, and I just couldn''t help but watch as the man wrapped his arms around my throat, seemingly unbothered by my futile attempts to defend myself. I leaned back in my chair and felt my body tense up as the man forced his knee into my ribs, trying to cease my efforts at escaping, his grip around my throat tight as ever. Finally, after an uncomfortable amount of silence, the man released his hold on me and got up, watching over my limp body. My face was pale and my eyes were bloodshot, an expression of surprise on my face. It was the first time I had seen any emotion besides contempt within me. The Afterlife: Part Five I let out a long sigh of relief as the video finally came to an end and the download closed out. I placed my hand on my throat and rubbed gently. It was almost as if I felt choked just by vicariously reliving my final moments on Earth. I got up once more, pacing the perimeter of the white room. I felt sick to my stomach at the prospect of the viewing the contents of computer. I had access to any moment in my life at the click of a button, including my own murder. I took a seat in a criss-cross position at one of the four corners of the room. It could have been anyone who killed me in all honesty. I had lots of enemies. People who I showed disdain for, and would happily return such feelings. People in the workplace, people in the neighborhood. Hell, even what was left of my family at the time had felt deep resentment towards me. Funny enough, despite the heavy torment I faced at their hands in childhood, even when I did all that I could to prove them wrong, they didn''t seem satisfied. When I went back to the computer and turned the monitor on, I was immediately met by something curious. There, right next to the first app, stood another. It was a notepad with a title named after me. I spun my head around in a swivel-like motion, looking for any other entities within the room. There was nobody there except me. Not only that, but there were no entry points into the room either. No doors, no windows, and upon further inspection I found no sign of hidden hatches either. There was absolutely no way another person could have gotten in, leading me to believe that the app had appeared all by itself.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Realizing once more that I truly had nothing better to do, I clicked on the notepad and watched as the document opened. Several paragraphs of text sat before me. After reading the document, I realized that unlike the video files, it didn''t detail the events which took place while I was alive. Rather, it was an article describing what happened after I died. I felt my eyebrows rise while my eyes scanned the screen, taking in the information presented to me. While I can''t remember the exact words I read, I can paraphrase what they said. In summary, after I died there were several suspects the police rounded up and interrogated. I recognized each of the names listed by the article as people I had come into contact with in life. My experiences with all of them were, needless to say, negative. In all fairness, there were plenty of people who would have the motive to murder me, but not a single one was found guilty. According to the article, all who were questioned were eventually released due to "insufficient evidence", although I found that rather hard to believe. Despite not wanting to believe it, a part of me felt as if the case wasn''t taken as seriously due to my reputation around the community. Still, none of it mattered now. Not anymore. When I moved past that part of the article, I found that the topic had shifted from the strange circumstances surrounding my death to the impact on my community. My house had been put on the market, but nobody would buy it. Big shock that nobody would buy a house where someone had been murdered. What had once been a dead zone during the holidays became a neighborhood attraction for some of the younger kids, especially during Halloween. It was at that moment during the reading that I froze, my face completely blank. My house had been an annual attraction for pesky teenagers, meaning...it had been years since I died. I placed my head in my hands and took several deep breaths. The Afterlife: Part Six I continued reading the article after calming down; I saw it expanding upon the previous point in the writing. Many teenagers would dare each other on the scariest day of the year, October 31st, to spend the night near my house or, in some cases, sneak in. Apparently, tales of my harsh attitude as well as my murder spread like wildfire upon my death, causing tons of ghost stories and rumors to be spread. I found several more video files within the notepad, which I didn''t even realize could be stored there, but then again, I had learned that I couldn''t expect anything ordinary now. I downloaded the links and watched several videos of teens sneaking in and out of the house at Halloween. Some spent the night, while others got too scared to stay and ran home crying. I must admit, the house did look pretty creepy. It was unkempt and probably unsafe to stay in, with cobwebs covering the porch and the paint on the outside appearing to be peeled and chipped. The inside of the house, from what I could tell, wasn''t in much better condition. It was completely barren of furniture and the floor was coated in a thin layer of dust. There were very few places in the home where light could be found, mostly due to the windows being boarded up. I watched a video of a rather timid-looking kid make his way up the steps to the second story, the stairs creaking every couple of seconds. He looked all around, taking in his surroundings. He allowed the flashlight in his right hand to illuminate the room. With that, he laid out a sleeping bag on the cold, hard floor. There were dozens of kids who had done the same. Eventually, the local authorities took notice and would often have a patrol car near my house during Halloween in order to make sure no kids were trespassing. Once again, I was taken back by the amount of time that had passed since my death. Perhaps, it had been longer than I thought.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Finally, the kids stopped showing up, and so did the police. I could feel my heart sink a little at that. Something about the fun the kids had, while juvenile, reminded me of the some of the fun I missed out on as a boy. I looked at the article and saw it come to an abrupt end, so I closed the notepad and returned my gaze to the monitor home screen. Rubbing my eyes in fatigue, I felt the incoming sensation of sleep. I found it odd how I could feel sleepy in the afterlife, but I suppose it''s pretty tiring to see what I had. I felt myself drifting off, and without much thought, I allowed sleep to embrace me. I woke up the day after... I think?. I had no concept of time within that white room, and I was disappointed upon waking up to find that nothing had changed. I was afraid that all the afterlife would provide me was contemplation in the form of this computer in front of me. Stretching my hand forward and gripping the mouse, I shook it a little to wake the monitor up. The background had changed from a purely blue screen to a black and white checkerboard style image. Once again, I looked around the room for any place someone could enter and alter the computer, only to find nothing again. The Afterlife: Part Seven Shifting my attention back to the screen, I noticed one more item that hadn''t been there the previous day. It was a folder, and upon opening it I found a page titled "Instructions". It was in an application which I was unfamiliar with, but I proceeded in opening it anyways. Inside was a single link. Figuring there was no harm in clicking one more, I hovered my mouse above it. However, I hesitated. Something about this link seemed odd to me. This wasn''t like the others and I knew it, but I had no idea how. Still... there was only one way to find out where it led. Sighing, I tapped the mouse and opened the link. And once I did so, my vision went black. For a single moment in time, I thought I had gone blind, and it terrified me. The white room surrounding me was gone and replaced with darkness, and for that split second I wanted to scream, yet couldn''t. I would say my heart was pounding against my chest but I couldn''t feel my heartbeat, nor was I sure if I had a chest or body at all for that matter. I couldn''t feel my own existence. It was like for a moment I stopped existing within reality, becoming an abstract being. I didn''t exist, yet I did. That''s as best as I could describe that odd, terrifying sensation. As soon as it started it stopped, and I was snapped back into reality. I stumbled a bit and fell to my knees, gasping for air as I felt beads of sweat running down my face. It was amazing how alive and human I felt even as a spirit. My blurred vision finally came into focus and fixated on the floor beneath me.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. The first thing that I noticed was that the floor wasn''t white, meaning I wasn''t inside the room I had become so familiar with. Instead, the floor was wooden and cold, coated in a thin layer of dust. I stood to my knees and looked around, taking in various features around me. Recognizable features which allowed me to easily identify the place I was in. It was my home. It looked the same as it had throughout the videos I saw while kids searched through it. I saw the same boarded windows, heard the same creaking floorboards... yes, it was mine alright. I was confused as to why I was there, and I felt my heart speed up as I noticed where I was standing. It was the exact same spot as where my murder had taken place. Feeling uncomfortable with where I was, I moved to the front door and placed my hand on the cold doorknob. I tried turning it, but door wouldn''t open. I looked down and saw that the door wasn''t locked. I grasped the doorknob and frantically began turning, unable to exit the house. I rushed to the back door and tried to open it, but was met with the same result.