—Lust.

    One of many characteristics that mankind shares with many other species on this vast earth. However in the case of humans it can be argued that this plays a major role in the advancement of our species as a whole.

The lust for power, the lust for war, the lust for progression. These are but sparse examples of human lust.

Although, through evolution and the development of a generally more sophisticated form of social communication. Human beings have subconsciously steered away from the blatant exposure of the root desire, and topic at hand. One of the most primal instincts embedded into the DNA of all living animals—

That’s right; sex.

    Our lust stems from the innocent desire to attract the opposite gender, with this single goal in mind.

    Fancy cars, expensive clothes, large mansions: These are all but the human equivalent of say; a male peacock ostentatiously fanning his elaborately patterned tail, or a male baboon gesticulating his ferociously red buttocks. All to attract a suitable partner.

    As embarrassing as it may be to think, both you and I are a direct result of this instinct. Still, with this noted desire that we share in common with other fellow beings on earth; we humans practice something that only a select few species on this planet do. And that is the practice of monogamy.

    The ritual of courting a desired partner through various means. The deepening of an emotional connection between two human beings; Romance. One of many social habits that we as humans have developed over the millenia. With this being said, we hold a particular interest in this ritual. Not for the end “result” per se, however the story that is told throughout.

As the saying goes: “The journey is the reward”.

    We idealise the stories of those in love. Even going so far as to record some of the greatest love stories in the very fabrics of history. Romeo and Juliet, Jack and Rose, Allie and Noah. it doesn’t matter if these stories are fact or fabrication, what matters is the journey of the two involved.

    Why? Perhaps to replicate ideas of courting one could not have perceived otherwise, or perhaps to observe and learn of the intricacies for the fickle trail of love that many have traversed before. Or maybe, just maybe, they are one of the few people of our kind that do not possess the courting skills or fortune to find their soulmate. The ones that experience love through others romantic triumphs.

The losers.

    Unfortunate as it may be, there are many who have lived and died before finding that connection with another. However all is not lost, there is still hope for those few.

Have you heard of the red string of fate?

◼️ ◼️ ◼️

“CONGRATULATIONS!!!”

    Words of praise and cheer are exchanged throughout the small, brightly lit, maze like office that holds a slight bit of exhaustion in the atmosphere.

    This office is the worksite of a small scale video game development company. And in this moment they have just completed their largest project to date. As workers are migrating from cubicle to cubicle, everyone is joyously conversing amongst each other. Everyone except —

“Ahhh, geez! I don’t think my heart can take too much more of this.”

    These words of fatigue escaped the mouth of a fairly young looking man, with an unkempt appearance: He was tall and slim, his skin light-brown, with warm reddish-orange undertones. Ruffled hair, five o’ clock shadow, and deep bags underneath his eyes; that even the large frames of his glasses couldn’t hide, as they sit crookedly on his sunken face. Giving the overall impression that he has been without sleep for several days.

    With a deep exhale he slowly sinks into his chair, and calmly collapses his head into his folded arms resting on the desk.

“YO, ARJUN!!!”

    A hardy boisterous voice resonates, as a large shadow looms over him from the cubicle directly across. Without looking up for any facial recognition, as if identified by voice alone; the young man replies in a partly annoyed tone—

“What’d YOU want Old Man’…?”

    Towering in front of him is a rather large, well built man with a small curly afro; showcasing a wide smile across his face, that exhibits similar features of fatigue that others present in this tiny office also share.

“Ouch! Touchy, touchy! I was only joking.”

“Well whose fault is it? Work is the last thing anyone wants to be doing on their so called birthday.”

“That’s exactly why I’m here!!!”

    The large man says this as he reaches across to pat him on the back.

“A few of us are going out for some drinks to celebrate. You don’t usually come out, but today is like killing two birds with one stone, right? With it being your birthday and all!.”

    The young man peeks his bloodshot eyes from beneath his still folded arms in interest. The large man continues—

“It’s not everyday you turn—”

    The large man pauses, and proceeds to count his fingers on both hands.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

“Twenty-four?”

“Thirty damn it!”

    The young man angrily retorts this number.

    —That’s right, although he has the appearance of someone in their early twenties, this is in fact the night of his thirtieth birthday. Now, it’s time for a proper introduction—

    Arjun Ianni, a genius level video game programmer. Failure with women, socially awkward, and a video game zombie. But above all else—A virgin—

A loser.

◼️◼️◼️

Have you heard of the red string of fate?

    The belief that everyone has a soulmate awaiting them on the opposite ends of a string attached to one's little finger. A piercing red string that bypasses time and space, and connects two souls, destined to be together. Quite possibly the same article that brought forth the unison of star crossed lovers and the like. This string created of miracles and hope—

—The red string of fate—

◼️◼️◼️

White.

    White as far as the eyes can see. The synchronized ticking of numerous clocks reverberate through the air, as his consciousness slowly wanders awake. This pure white room feels foreign, but somehow familiar.

How did he get here? Where is here?

    Last he could remember, he was out drinking with coworkers but now…

    He can see clearly, yet he felt as though his eyes are sewn shut. His spoken words only come out as echoing thoughts. And his body feels as though it is a part of the room itself, hidden somewhere amongst the blinding white.

As his mind starts to race for answers, he feels a second presence—

“...A...guest…”

    Standing before him, as if present all the while, stood a beautiful young girl. Eyes closed shut, with pale pasty skin, and long flowing silver hair. Hair so long that it goes on far enough to give the illusion of being one and the same of the white abyss that is this very room.

“...”

    Arjun tries to speak, however not a syllable can cross his lips as he tries to speak to the mysterious girl. As if she could hear his very thoughts, she responds—

“Your mind...is here...yet your body—”

    Without allowing him time to process her words, she continues.

“If...you are here...with me...you must be—”

    The young girl slowly moves towards him however,  something is off—

She’s...floating!

    Nowhere in this brilliant white room was there anything that could possibly be considered a ground to be seen, and yet—

    Currently witnessing a spectacle that most would imagine belonged to a B-Rated supernatural movie, his heart starts to hammer faster and faster with each inch she pulls near.

*SNIFF*

*SNIFF*

    Resembling a bloodhound searching for its wounded game, she circles him while delicately sniffing the surrounding air. She pauses and opens her mouth to speak once more—

“I knew it...you’re...just like me...!”

    A faint smile creeps across her face, as she begins to dance merrily in the air. After a few laps, he upbeat tempo began to gradually die out. As she makes her way back in front of the young man she wears a noticeably perplexed expression on her face.

“But...you are… a man…”

    She presses her two pointer fingers against her temples and begins massaging them, as she slips into deep thought. After a few moments pass, she snaps her head upright and quickly slams her fisted right hand into the palm of her left. And speaking in a matter of fact tone she comes to a conclusion.

“Might you be...what...they call...a cherry boy...?!”

    The statement flustered the young man, however true it may be. Still unable to vocalize his emotions, she adds.

“What...exactly...is going on...in there…?”

    As she raises this question, the echoing gongs of numerous clocks could be heard resonating throughout the seemingly infinite stretches of the room.

“Seems...that’s all...the time...we have…for now...”

    She speaks this with a dejected look on her face. She hovers closer, aligning her face with his and stares at him momentarily. She lets out a quiet chuckle, grabs him by the face, and kisses him.

    For the first time since waking in this room, the young man's eyes jolt open and are frozen in surprise.

    As she continues to kiss him, he can feel a powerful energy flowing into his body. The same body that he was unclear even existed moments ago, was now brightly glowing a kaleidoscope of colors.

    The girl pulls back and ends the kiss, in awe—

“Such...pretty colors…!”

    The young man stares at the girl, as she stands mesmerized by the colorful exhibition of light his body is currently exuding. And—

“You—”

    Finally, after what feels like an eternity he was able to speak once more. However amongst all of the things he could think to say, was…

“...Beautiful…”

    This word snapped the girl back to reality as he continued—

“Who...are...you?”

    The girl once again dances around joyously, while cheerfully humming to the ongoing gongs sounding in the distance. She abruptly comes to a stop in front of the young man once more. However now, unlike before, her eyes are wide open.

    But where there should be an iris and pupil, were only the cryptic turning of multiple gears and cogs; mirroring the inner mechanics of an old clock, that rotated along precisely to the echoes of Tick-Tock.

“I...am Elka...the virgin witch. I reside here...in the outer confides of—”

    One final deafening and resounding gong fills the space, and all of the clatter halts as if on cue.

“I’m sure...you will learn…”

    As Elka speaks these words, the room begins to warp. Bending and twisting in a spiraling behavior. As the once vivid white room warps around the two, the young man begins to lose consciousness.

“See you...again—“

    The last words Elka spoke were muffled and distorted, as his mind finally gives, and drifts off into the darkness.

◼️◼️◼️

    And so begins a story, of two souls connected by this unforgiving string. Two individuals who are not separated by distance, social status, or cultural differences. However two lovers separated by time itself. A love that may not make it to the archives of history, but one that will stand the test of time in its own right.

With this, the wheels of fate have begun to turn.