"To Time, Death meant nothing.
For a far great many words to be read, those well-not written were treated as another passing tragedy, lost in the pages of history."
Tempus 1:24
The Night's Sun fawned at the street; through its Eyes, She could see. Death washed ashore a red sea- a sharp breeze of fresh and rotten meat, twinged from the entrails that splashed lethargically afront Her feet; a mural for Her, made in Her namesake. Were breathing a necessity, this scene disagreed; it spat upon the notion of Life's existence and laughed that it even tried. She stood bare, upon ground unholy, and yet, what held this but Her? The world still turned, the wind still blew, and the bird still sang its song- nothing outside had changed.
That was the part she found to be scary
.
.
.
Therein, upon a star, lay a child of millions young;
and it is said that It held a Name,
and Its name was Yssi.
This isn't right... none of it's right! How can so many people die and just- just- nothing? Shouldn't there be something? A sign? Acknowledgment? A scream?! Ever since life began, it's always had an end, but not like this... not like this! It's too unfair! Life is unfair!
It was a being that knew of Justice;
It was a person who knew of Hurt;
0f so it was believed.
The others agree; they would- if they were still here. What's happened? We were at the door and then... gone. Just gone. I guess it's only me again, now.
It was of a shape that held an Eye,
yet It could not see with proper sight.
I can't stay idle. I have to find them, and find out what's what. But how...? I can't hope to wander into everyone randomly... could I?
She now blinked twice,
unto then,
She saw with unspoken sight.
What... in this world... is that?!
What She had witnessed held a form unlike any other;
the creature was, in the truest make of the word...
Disgusting
With words come association,
along expressions of simplism,
to the effect that it emulsified a series of emotions into a name:
one, rarely used, was 'Monster';
another, regarded, is 'Disaster';
that, of wide renown, 'God';
an Invocation nay common-used,
yet common-known.
This thing was 'Disgusting';
that alone was all it needed to be.
This Creature was unseen,
nay in the worlds It had been;
a novelty- a disgusting mystery;
yet, of that mystique, was not where Terror had taken habitancy:
of corpses- the hors d'oeuvre,
garnished with maggots;
scum, festered in waste;
of all that mortem could stand for and be;
the creature was eating.
It was there She became frantic:
I have to get out of here! I have to- bleaugh!
noise, She created;
molded, and retched,
from the recesses of Her stomach;
to the orifice of Her mouth;
noise, they heard.
I need to get away- but- the others- gotta stay and look for them- no, run!
She took one thought to stumble another,
and fell into a hole:
of terrifying abode.
No, no, it wasn't them! It wasn't them being eaten! No! Don't think that way!
She Cursed at Herself,
and as a result,
She stumbled once more.
-ack! Get it together! Now's not the time to trip over a corpse!
Then, She thought to hide;
then, She thought to run;
then, She thought to hide, once more.
I can't hide! It knows I'm here! What if I just dashed out? No, it's definitely faster than me! My stupid breasts are too large! What about a house?! Open, please!
It was a door of primitive make,
however resilient-
no different from the town that made it;
it held significance in change;
with Time, it could be a location;
for now, it was merely progress;
with Death... it is stagnant:
interesting, Death;
some call it Change,
some say it Static;
Time could tell, if any truly remained- to be asked.
She wanted for focus;
formulated plans,
and more.
Think- think- think! Use my brain and think! Just like in those detective stories! What was it? Uh... situation report! Sitrep! That's it!
A bunch of huts around me; that thing in the marketplace ahead. I'm at least three huts away from the gate, and it already knows where I am. Even if I hide behind one and move the other way... will it hear me? Or smell?? Do I just run? No, I've already established that I can't! Ugh!
She knew of the word Frustration;
it was known to Her,
for She lacked Intelligence;
She lacked Wisdom;
She lacked Wit;
She had no Tact;
it was all known,
and yet, now,
it was discovered.
Aaargh! I'm so dumb! No, no- calm down! Calm down! I can't lose it! But I'm not good at this! What am I even good at? I don't even have power-
Another, she rediscovered.
Powers! I totally have powers! I have plants! But... what can I do? With plants, what can I do? Are there even any? Yes! There are! Random plants sprout from the ground- like, tiny ones- on the sides of buildings! I don't know what they are, but they're always there! What do I do with them? What can I do? How can they help? How do I-??
She was frantic;
far it be known of poor quality;
to propose not for Her, who, thrived within.
Pollen! Of course- pollen! If I scatter it around, it'll cling onto that thing, and I'll know where it is! But could I? Could I sneak around? Would it work? It didn't notice me earlier- only after I made noise; so it only works with sound? Not smell?
'Thinking' was the trait She had every right to oppose;
She was a manner of being who would simply 'do';
and the panic allowed Her most of all, as it would enable Her too.
... or maybe it didn't notice my smell until- or it could have been blocked by the scent of dead- or even- eaaagh! I don't even know anymore! I just have to try!
She spoke words kind to newfound allies;
there found no real need to so, yet She did all the same.
Alright, flowery friends, it's just us now! I'm counting on all of you, please! Thank you!
Yssi Level Up! Lv 2!
"You did it! Wait... I did it??"
Yssi Power (Magic) Discovered:
Natural Set: Pollen Sensor ~
Yssi is able to use pollen from nearby plants for a very short duration as an intruder alert system. Yssi can recognize the energy signature of pollen and when it is released from surrounding plants, she searches for an area of accumulation, indicating that something has blocked the pollen's movement. This gives her a vague sense of where an object is. Due to the nature of pollen and its minuscule energy, Yssi is unable to focus on this technique for long and can only use it in an enclosed location, or nearby.
She and the creature danced to a song of Death;
it came from the left, She moved to the right.
I just have to be really quiet when I-
She moved to the right, it came from the left.
She moved to the right;
She heard a sound;
it comes from the right;
now, they come, from both sides.
There's another one!? Of course there's another one! Why did I assume there was only one?? Why was I impatient? What am I doing!? My life is at stake and I can't stop acting like an idiot! Everyone else probably made it because they weren't as stupid as I am! What do I do- what do I do? The doors are locked- what do I do??
An avid distinction to earlier panics:
a loss to mindful thoughts;
relinquish claim to Her own mind;
and in frightful silence, Fear moved to capture Focus;
thus Her Focus was now on Fear.
DOOR- DOOR- DOOR- PLEASE- DOOR- PLEASE- DOOR!
Her hands bled;
this was a mistake:
it only hurt Herself;
Her hands bled;
Her fingers trembled;
Her nails creaked;
to counteract the door,
She became unhinged.
Magic! Magic- magic- PLANT! W'do I do w'plant!? Plant! Door! Magic! Door! Magic! PLANT!
Growth;
simple,
unrefined.
When Time was still young, younger than it was before, one of the first questions was posed:
'If, on a whim, Nature were notioned to destruction... do you think you would be protected, within your sedentary, sedimentary homes?'
One must, in order to feel safe;
for, given reason,
a small copse of trees, spread,
could encompass the circumference of a whole world;
Quoth the Ravenous, 'one feels lucky they have no taste, nor sense to devour.'
And so, trees, unbound to the little town, made their roots, easily, underground.
Time? Distance? Space?
A simple door held nothing in relation.
Get-in-get-in-getin! Okay! I- ACK! Not again! Huff~ huff~ falling is loud; loud is bad! Thank goodness I landed on this... this... this... don't. Scream. I'm lying on something squishy and that's okay. Everything's okay. Do not-
"Help... me..."
NOT OKAY! THE CORPSE IS ALIVE! THAT IS NOT OKAY!
A voice, in the void, to be heard,
that spoke a language unknown,
yet strong Intent behind words;
that, alone, was understandable, if directed towards It.
The voice kept speaking,
as She consoled;
hushed;
lulled.
She was yet to realize that a voice could not listen.
"Mommy... help... daddy..."
A Child;
much like Her;
much like It;
however more youthful.
Death had festered upon the wake;
She refused to let It claim the child;
for shame that in Darkness,
Her Eyes held little sight:
She had forgotten to See.
Are you okay? Are you- HYA!? Wet?! Is that... blood? Oh... my... God.
An Invocation!? Blasphemy! Yet to her fortune, it remained unheard.
Gods did not like to be Invoked;
not for petty matters;
not for Death;
They hated It the most;
It had been problematic to Them;
As It had been to Her.
Hiii~! That's such a massive gash! I have to tend to the wound, right now- but how?! I have no medically thingies- much less experience- and even if I could, he'll definitely scream and- and-
Clarity of mind wandered in and out of focus;
as of now, it holds the image of a grove's creek;
running, but clearly- albeit, with a wash of foam.
GROOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
Storm:
the Thoughts alert- they fly;
Ideas peek from their hedges and disperse into the night;
She'll lash forward, trying to catch as many as She can;
yet only at its latest moment, has She noticed the 'why'.
THEY'RE OUTSIDE! PLANTS, PLEASE! HELP ME! PLEASE!!!
Plants can grow over;
mask;
Eyes.
hide;
from seeking
Forget being quiet! It's already an emergency- but that's good; gives me options! Like... like... what do people normally do?! Call a doctor? No, you- UGH! Something I can do... um... it's uhm... umm... closing the wound! Sewing! Yes! I GOT IT! I GOT IT! I DID IT!
The timing was early,
but celebration forth-coming;
She had long awaited it;
She anticipated as it came;
this... 'moment'.
But- plants! Plant's fibre! Oh my goodness- I'm actually smart right now! I'm- okay, breathe! Breathe! Breathe... huff... okay! Okay- okay! So if I take a strand of fibre from a plant! I can use it as thread! Then I just need needle! Oh, I'm actually doing it! I'm actually going to save someone for once! Yes! YES! I can save someone!
Roots with thorns;
boundless teeth;
made to tear,
and made to eat;
to Her, they were needles;
to Her, they were useful;
to Her, the child could now be saved.
Why do these roots- you know what, nevermind- let's do this!
But She could not.
C- come on! I said let's do this! What's wrong, me?! W- why...?
Her fingers were shaking;
She was frantic;
anticipation set;
adrenaline faded.
I can't afford to waste time! Please, just stop for a second! Focus! Focus! Focus! Phew... alright! Let's do this!
But She could not.
Why! Why?! Just stop shaking already! Didn't I already calm down?! Why?! Why are you still shaking?! Stupid hand! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Please! He's dying! Please! If you want to shake then shake later! For now, just for now, please! Just work already!
It is said that in the time of mortals, the greatest observation came from within; a sense of self-awareness. It was what set them apart from beasts, and at times, even the Gods. Those who know their boundaries, and reach within it, shall find they have more than those who do not. Those who try to break outside their Domain, and reach for that which they may not attain, shall find themselves caught in a precarious Plane. From that location, one should either fall, far beyond where they had initially began, or ascend, to a place they cannot comprehend. Thus, it would be, to command the realms of what can and cannot, as does a God; 'those that acquiesce to the universe', and 'those the universe acquiesce'. This applies, of course, as well, to Her; and It.
Plea-ea-ea-ea-se!
Her tears were a-let down;
they fell in disappointment,
and CRASHED unto the floor;
they carried the heaviness, in Her heart, that bore;
Her Hope, now weightless, as a cloak, She wore;
it CRUMPLED from the might of the atmosphere;
like a diamond in its rough; her mind was not clear.
Focus! It's not hard! Why can't I just FOCUS!? Why- can't I- feel- why can't I feel my arms- why?? Just! Aaagh! Think! Properly! Stupid brain- stop buzzing- just think!
Hysteria: a mental breakdown;
for She hated none in this world; she was kind;
none but Herself, for It was cruel.
Powers! But how!? I know that I healed myself but... can I transfer that? Could I heal someone?? I just have to- I have powers- things should be working, right?? Right?!
She attached to a new source of reliance;
She rendered Herself futile.
...
Why am I so useless when I'm alone? I finally get a chance and... and... all those years... telling myself I could help people if I was just... better! Was that a lie?! What was all that complaining for, then?! Excuses!?
The Past haunts Her;
She is soon to be taken;
Time wished to stake its claim;
yet Her Soul belonged to It;
Her Soul could not be taken, not lighly;
It could not be denied;
It held governance over Death, and, by extension,
Life.
What was that childish name they used to mock me with?
That's right...
Grim
In our Reality, those who share in the eyes of Crystals warn of a figure that lurks;
It stays not in shadows, in dark wynds, nor where the cold spiders sleep, but worse:
It stays in the reflection of one's Eyes- where none can escape Its sight;
It saw lives lived in their last, as Its own, and only, Life;
It became not a person, but a watchful guardian, providing eerie sense, to they upon Death.
Then, to a day, came a Name;
familiar, to it, but not;
nor could be, yet the intentions to have been.
It was a paradoxical name;
one that could not be who it conveyed itself as, and one that must cease to exist;
wherefore it had to be someone else:
albeit the same name- but it was someone else;
it had the same name- but it was someone else;
the exact same name- but it was someone else;
the Eye can tell- but still, it would be, someone else.
That could be why, that as she died, she could not recognize It:
not because It had become different,
but because she was someone else;
not because It wore a mask;
because she was someone else.
And as two strangers greeted Eyes;
she saw the face of Death,
and the face of Death saw someone else.
Yet that hollowed mask began to form fissures- pieces fell outward;
something crawled from the inside, looking to escape- like spiders, webbing fate:
"It's me. It's Yssi."
The mask was too strong;
It let nothing to leave;
small cracks were not enough;
It had to crumble
It could decidedly not;
It had to break;
It decided to not;
and from there,
something inside broke to compensate.
And torn from the other side of the veil-
where stars roam,
whispers shared their truth with a small, broken heart,
blowing a soft breeze into the rifts of the dark...
"And time and space; beginning, and lifelike motions, and decay, came together in one place, to decide on a name for their new child. They pronounced it: Death."
Grim 3:61
It all lead to this:
there was no regret,
for regret could not be forgiven;
It held a strong position,
where Good was done,
where Good could happen,
where a Soul could be saved;
to regret would be to deny,
to regret would be to forget,
and Death was far too kind.
That changes nothing! There's no way to make up for idling by; you always have to try! But I did try! I tried and failed miserably! So I tried again! I kept trying! I'm still trying! I've tried so hard and why?! After all these years, why can't I do one thing right?? Why can't things go my way!? Am I just wrong!? Should people be made to suffer?? WERE people made to suffer!? Someone's life is in danger here so why!? Why am I still thinking about myself!? Of course people shouldn't suffer- it's just that I can't do ONE SINGLE THING RIGHT! I finally have the chance... IF THE WORLD WANTS TO LASH OUT THEN LET ME BE ON THE SUFFERING END- WHY!? WHY EVERYONE ELSE- WHY ANYONE ELSE?! WHY!?
You see?
For some;
to all;
Death was far too kind.
Now,
She could not breathe;
She could not think;
She could not see;
She might as well have been dead.
I- huff- I can't- I can't- why is everything so fuzzy?!
Hysteric;
erratic;
lost it.
My ears are ringing- what's happening!?
Anxious;
dizzy;
shortness of breath.
Help- help me- help me, PLEASE!
Palpitations;
trembling;
numbness.
I can't f- I can't f- wha-ah-ah-ah-
These symptoms fancied a diagnosal;
they call for a panic attack;
and the cure?
Nothing can be done.
First, there were flashes;
then, the images;
then, the memory of coming back.
Yssi.
Who?! Who's there?
You can save them.
I can't! I can't!
You have.
When!?
You did all you could.
AND IT WASN'T ENOUGH!
It was for them.
How?
Was I not for you?
Lyn...
What do you think of yourself? Failure?
...
I failed as well.
You didn't!
I couldn't finish my lessons.
But you left me with enough!
So did you.
But-
When you're the only person who cares, you're the only person who matters; a victim's logic from a victim's mind.
So, what? I was just... the only thing they had? Someone better equipped could have helped them but unfortunately, I came first!? I was just in the way?? I was a hinderance?!
They needed to need someone, and you were there. So they latched their needs onto you. Because you were there, Yssi. No one else was- it wasn't a coincidence. You were the only one who cared. You're the one who's there. Always, in their final moments.
I... but why couldn't it be at 'a' moment. Why is it always when they die...? Why can't I get to know someone... hah- hahah... you know... I just realized... I haven't seen a real, proper living thing. I don't even remember what they look like. My eyes...
You've spent your time listening, having learned nothing. You've spent your time looking, having seen nothing. You've spent your time acting, having done nothing. You've spent your time enough. Now, use it, sparingly; not to waste it all.
But I...-
Yssi, your eyes have been able to see for a while now. Have you not noticed?
... I can see... I can see!? I've been using my eyes!? My real, actual eyes!?
Hahahahah! What does the world of the living look like? Focus, Yssi. Pay attention.
Right! Focus! If the fibre's detached, I have do it by hand- but if I could control it... I won't have to worry about trembling! So... breathe life into this thread...? What if I reattached it to the plant? Come on! This is the root you came from! These are your roots! Think of it as your mother and go back into mommyplant! No, no...?
What if I extract a new string but left just a tiny bit attached? No, too short. What if I used my powers? I could lengthen them... but that would take the focus off the barricade. If I pushed it into overgrowth then... I might even hurt the tree. Then two things would have died meaninglessly! My eyes tell me they're fine, but if I use Sight... the tree's lifespan is definitely being used to reinforce growth. Sorry, tree... I wish I could give it back to you. I'll be more careful from now on... but-
Agh! There has to be something! Something I could use! Something! Wait... me. I'm- I'm a living thing, right? I'm part of nature! That's right! What if I could attach the root to myself!? K- ku~! Errrrg! Just stab it in myself! Grr- IT'S NOT WORKING! He's already lost so much blo- BLOOD! I'M SO STUPID, WHAT AM I THINKING!? I've been panicking and looking around for so long- letting him bleed out the entire time! Pressure! That's what I couldn't remember! Wounds need pressure, you- ugh! WHAT ARE YOU DOING, YSSI!? YOU'RE ACTUALLY SO MENTALLY-NOT-WORKING-BRAIN THAT YOU- MURDERED-
GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!
The barricade. I- I lost focus on the barricade.
BLEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!
H- haha. Oopsies. As usual, stupid, pathetic me...
On that Gloriful Day, It was here
Death had arrived
Rejoice
"There are some who live their lives with a purpose; others who find one later on. I didn't have one of those. I just wanted everyone else to be happy. And if they were, I'd be content to just sit around. I suppose that's what you would call loafing- but you know? No matter how worthless, no matter how useless, I refuse to die. Because there's still hope- for me, as long as I'm still alive."
Yssi 'Here, and Now'
Thus ends Chapter One
of
The Book of Death