Random Machination

Conversation with a Dark One.



Somebody was talking.

“Hey,” the voice said. “Hey!” it said more urgently. I could feel it poking me with what felt like a stick. “Get up already! You’re not dead…yet…”

With that my eyes flew open, and I remembered the fight. Strange dark creatures, not being able to hit them, but they were hurting me; I had tried to run towards NoS, then I was swept up by a large black shadow, then nothing. I was some sort of pitch blackness, but I could still see myself clearly.

“See? Knew you were still around.” I sat up and turned to the voice. I gasped when I saw that looked like my shadow, if my shadow had green eyes and could talk. But for some reason, it didn't have a tail; maybe it was a real version of me, maybe it was my real shadow? "Man, after being awake for four days, you were hard to find. But, I managed, and here we are...."

“What’s going on? What happened?”

The shadow shifted its feet and said, “You were in a fight, and were being attacked.”

“Yeah, I remember that much.”

“Well, when that last one swallowed you up, you were almost a goner.”

“…What do you mean, almost?”

“See, I managed to save you in the nick of time. That particular little creature would’ve sucked out your soul and then use your body as a vessel for more nasty things. But that’s beside the point. What matters now, is that you have a chance to live again, like you never fought at all, good as new, and all that jazz.”

“Okay, thanks.” I stood up and began to walk away. After a few steps, I paused. “Ummm…where’s the exit?”

The shadow smiled, revealing a large green smile. “That’s just the thing. There is no exit.”

“Then how in the hell can I live again?”

“Through me.”

“Well I’m sorry, but you don’t exactly look like a door or anything, so-”

He sighed audibly. “You don’t get it, do you? I AM THE EXIT. The exit is me.”

He was still confusing me. “Well then, how do I use you?”

“Easy. Just grab my hand, and you’ll be back to normal.”

“…That’s it?”

“That’s it…Oh! I forgot one little thing.”

“What?”

His smile grew even wider. “You have to let me take you over.”

My jaw dropped. He continued. “You know, I can be a very powerful ally. I can help you focus what skill you have now, and make then even stronger. All that I ask is to reside in your soul until you die. I mean, it's not that hard, really. I could do it right now, but I personally belive in a...sporting chance...”

I backed off. “NO WAY. NO. UNH-UNH! There’s NO WAY I’m gonna let something evil live inside of me! NO WAY. NO CHANCE.”

He seemed to shrug it off. “Fine then. Suit yourself. You can just sit here and wait to die of starvation in this vast nothingness. Or…” That smile was creeping me out. “You help me help you.”

I thought about it for a few moments. “I swear, you better not pull any tricks on me.”

He puts his hands up in innocence. “Who, me? Naw, I wouldn’t dream of it! Besides, I need your body to survive; you have all of your emotions so bottled up, it’s like having a full course meal.” He licked his lips to his own imagination.

I shuddered and held out my hand. “Okay. Let me escape from here.”

He grabbed my hand forcefully. “My name’s Void.”

In that brief moment, I wondered what horror I had truly unleashed upon myself...