"So all that... all that... never even happened?", cries out Fausto.
"Crazy right?", sarcastically says Bowie. "Didn't you think things worked out a little too cut and clean? I mean, come on man. We made it out without being horribly maimed and we even found ourselves welcomed home by that pretty girl we miss all so much. Hell, we even had the nerve to stand up to her!", purrs Bowie. "Wasn't it cool how we led her to John's house? Pretty smooth if you ask me."
"If I'm really still in the forest? Then why am I here... and what exactly are you?", frighteningly asks Fausto. "First come to bed, and I'll tell you a story. There's no need to be in such a hurry, Fausto", calmly says Bowie as he motions his tail in a beckoning motion. Fausto doesn't know what to do, he finds all that is happening around him to not make any sense. How is he in the forest if he is here, having this conversation with cat that claims that is him. "Come on, Fausto. It quite a chilly night."
Slowly, Fausto makes his way to the bed. Each footstep feels heavier and sloggier, it felt as if he was traversing his way through a thick marsh and with the wrong step, he will surely drown in a deep cavern of wet earth. What other choice did he really have? This is a question Fausto has asked himself over and over since this horrible night has began. "All because we didn't find those military guys, all because John wanted to play detective, all because I couldn't keep my mouth shut but... but all I wanted was comfort and someone to believe me."
"Don't worry, I've seen it with my own eyes as well. I know how it is to not be trusted either", says Bowie with so much sadness in his voice. "Things didn't end up the way they were suppose to, am I right?"
Fausto stops at the foot of the bed and before going into bed, he asks, "What are you Bowie?"
He gets up and starts doing little circles around the place where he is going to lay down, he begins to knead the mattress with his claws until it is nice and comfortable to his liking. He plops his little body on the bed and begins to explain, "Like I told you before, I am you. Just a not a physical representation of you, I am the person stuck behind those eyes. I walk patiently behind you at all times of the day and I am tethered to you against my will. I just look like a cat because that is your desire."
"My desire is to be an animal?"
"No you're desire is to be a pet! To not think for yourself, to always do what you are told!", hisses Bowie but he calms down and relaxes himself. "I find that aspect of us rather disgusting. We can't help but to think, yet, we wish we wouldn't. We rather numb ourselves with drink instead of trying to dig ourselves out! It's ironic, we need to think of our future to better ourselves, to make sure we have the best outcome possible. But, when we think of what awaits us, we rather go numb. Either we look too forward or we run at the first sign of trouble... I'm sorry I went on a tangent, does that answer your question?," confusedly says Bowie. "I guess, I'm something of an evil twin brother," chuckles Bowie. "I'm the reflection in the mirror: always looking back!", cackles Bowie.
With the explanation that Bowie gives Fausto, it only leaves him with more questions on what exactly is this freaking cat. "I see you still don't get? Well, I'll explain to you in another place, in another time. But for now, come and stroke my fur. It seems like I scared you and it stopped being fun", he pauses, " Fausto, you know I was joking with you, it's not something to get all serious about", mocks Bowie.
"I just need to get back from wherever the hell I am. I need to go back-"
"And back you will go but all you have to do is come to bed, lay down, close your eyes and hear my story", impatiently hisses Bowie. Just wanting this nightmare to be over with, Fausto gets into the bed and lays down. He suddenly feels a weight on his chest, he looks up to see that Bowie is looking back at him with his beautiful green eyes. Right next to his ears, Fausto can hear the chime of a small bell,"Do you hear those chimes? I was calling for you earlier but you ignored me. Now that we have properly met, when you hear these", says bowie as he rings the bell, " it means two things, you are back in the Parasomnia and to look for me as fast as you can. Without me, you could do some potential harm in the waking world. How you got here, don't know but my guess has to do with those vines you touched. So stay away from there."
"Ok got it, now can you tell me your story so I can go back to the "waking world". It's urgent that I go and get out of this weird ass place", frustratedly says Fausto. Bowie lets out a warm gust of his hot-ass breath unto Fausto's face and says, "My story? I was just fucking with you." He purrs and tells him, "I just said that because I thought it would give you a good scare, honestly man, we gotta learn how to relax. All this stress can kill us."
"Fuck you", says Fausto. Bowie purrs even louder and says, "See I'm glad we are in good terms where we can just insult one another...
Fausto's eyes become heavier, all he can hear is the sound of Bowie's mix of talking and purring. The last thing Fausto thinks is, "He just won't shut up."
The Frogmen
Skin made out of horrible rubber: Smooth, thick, reflective, comforting They waste away through the night Singing and croaking about their endless plight.
They gather all together as I watch Happily, within their homes made of mud Not knowing, if today is their last day They are alive, yes. But only for the moment.
The generations will come and go Like the seniors before them They too shall croak before the moon; before their god It's offer them the love and compassion all animals need.
To the cod, hogs, freaks and hawks The white moon, entrapped, in the eyes of all creatures They all desire to see it once more They need their beautiful, white moon
They love for the cycle to continue From infancy to the geriatric More like a spiral, getting tighter and tighter The transitions, lead to the same places.
They all know this.
Yes, even the little frogmen.
-Fausto Merlo