I don’t know how long I’ve been here. I think… I think it’s been a long time.

Ah… but I can hardly think at all. My thoughts… they come so slowly. As if my brain is filled with molasses instead of neurons. And I can’t see or hear anything. No smells either, thankfully. My eyes are open, but either this room is perfectly and purely dark, unlike anything that could conceivably or realistically exist, or I’ve gone blind.

Being blind makes more sense. Most of my other senses are also gone, including my more supernatural ones. The only sensation I seem to have in this place is being able to feel my body. I can’t move, but I can tell I’m floating, and slowly sinking, at the same time. Somehow.

But there’s no feeling of air or water around me. There’s only darkness. What am I sinking into? What am I floating in?

Maybe none of this is real at all and I finally lost my mind completely. I thought it would be more… chaotic. Violent. This… is this madness? Or is this… death?

Did I finally die for real?

I thought death would be more… peaceful. But I’m restless. Itchy, but not physically. No… this isn’t death. I don’t know what this is.

And I don’t know how long I’ve been here. I think… I think it’s been a long time.

Did I already say that? Can’t remember…

There are so many things I can’t remember…

Ah! There it is again!

It’s unclear and it’s hard to be certain, but I believe someone has been calling to me. Someone I don’t know. Someone very far away. In a language I don’t understand. Is it even a language? Or just a feeling?

I hear it inside my head, not outside. It feels similar to that… presence I always felt back in Ashvale. The one I talked to all the time for comfort. But they never spoke back.

That presence isn’t here now, but now there’s something else. Something new. I couldn’t hear it before, but after coming here, it feels like… like it was always there, inside me… calling to me.

What is it? Who is it? And what is their connection to that other presence in my head? Is it going to keep calling until I answer? But I can’t move… I can’t speak… maybe if I leave this place, I can-

Dang. There’s something else too, calling out to me, and it’s a lot closer, and a lot clearer, but it isn’t… a person?

Nothing makes sense in this place with no senses.

I don’t like this other voice. There’s something inside of me that rejects it. Repels it, like a mismatched magnet.

Never thought about it before now, but isn’t my head getting a little bit crowded? Is that why I can’t hardly think?

There’s the quiet ever-present presence from the start, and now there’s that distant voice, and that closer one I don’t like… and let’s not forget Fintan is still napping away in there as well. I wish he would come back… He would know what to do.

The current feeling of my body might also be an illusion. Like when someone loses a limb and grows a phantom in its place. But in this case, it’s my whole body. Otherwise, I’d have truly gone mad from not ever blinking, right? I shouldn’t like that at all, and my eyes should be really dry, but it doesn’t bother me for some reason.

I don’t… I don’t think this is my body. I don’t think I’m here.

I don’t know where I am.

Help, I’m somewhere where I don’t know where I am!

Hehehe… okay, but… in all seriousness, where am I am what is going on?

I’ve been here for a long time. I want to go back.

Oof. What the- I seem to have… landed… somewhere. Flat on my back, and not lightly. I didn’t think I was sinking that fast.

That kind of hurt a little. But it didn’t hurt my body. The pain is… somewhere else. That doesn’t make any sense at all.

So I have finally reached the bottom of wherever this is? I was beginning to think it had no end. But I still can’t see anything. Or move. How do I go back?

“If you wanna go back, then stop ignoring me.”

What? Who is there? There’s something in the darkness! It’s not a person, it- wait… not… not a person?

“What a small-minded wretch. I’m real enough! In your eyes because I’m not human I’m not a person? Preposterous. Even Sapient Beasts are considered to have Peoplehood. You dare place me below those creatures?”

Um… sorry? Uh… can you read my mind?

“And now you accuse me of doing such an underhanded thing. You can’t do much in this place, since you’re so weak and pathetic, but your intentions can still be heard and felt. Isn’t that the same as speaking? Are you going to police language as well?”

Speaking through intention… I wonder if that was what Fintan was getting at when he said Spirits don’t have language like humans. Then there are other forms of language. That distant voice must be using one of those. That’s why I can hear, but I can’t understand…

“Everything else about you is so feeble, so unworthy, but at least your brain works.”

Thank…you? I guess… but why are you so angry?

“Isn’t that your fault?”

Huh?

“Just kidding. Well, half kidding? I did say your intentions affect this place, didn’t I? Pay attention, to everything, or even a brain like yours will be wasted. Your eyes certainly will be.”

The thing, err- person, I guess, so it claims, laughs. It’s sounds a bit… unhinged. Not maniacal or anything, but unrestrained. A bit wild. Like it isn’t grounded in reality. But it’s not loud. It’s hard to describe. It makes me uncomfortable.

“You mistake anger for indignance.”

Indignation? Isn’t that just being angry at injustice?

The, um, I mean, he, I suppose, judging from the voice’s low sound, laughs again. A little louder this time. Like there’s a growing madness. It makes me feel… tense. Like a guitar’s string that was tightened too far. One more turn and… snap.

“Uh huh, that’s right, that’s why I said you were half right. But the distinction is important. The origin and proper names for things is important. And it might be a good idea to know the truth of my origin and name if you’re gonna be recklessly going around using me all willy-nilly.”

Using you? What does he- um, what do you mean? On one hand he seems to be fairly cordial, but there’s an edge in his voice. As if he doesn’t like me much either. A sort of… resentment? Is that what this is?

“You don’t even have your Shadow yet at your age. Either of them. The Grand Prophesy is already so skewed. How exciting! That old hag must be biting her nails in anxiety down in that place of dead things.”

If I could see him, he would surely be sneering at me going from the tone of his voice.

“Anyways, you can’t use Spirit Energy without a Shadow, you dumb, silly thing. Even you should know that by now. If you tried to use it, you would, quite literally, explode. Kaboom. Hahaha! Dead. It’s well documented among your kind.”

Okay?

“Okay? Che.” He mocks my voice with a high-pitched variant that sounds more like Chayla on helium gas than me. “Just what powers have you been using then, weakling? Hm? Mine. Without even asking permission. It’s damn rude.”

Oh… oh no.

“Oh yes.”

So the thing with Traitor Martha, and Detective Idiot, and the loud annoying bell…

“Ding ding ding! We have a winner! That’s right, that was all me. Well, us, technically, but the power came from here. So it came from me. You didn’t even know what you were doing, so don’t think about claiming credit! If I didn’t hold you back, you would have blown up along with that whole Shitsville you live in. I almost let you, too. So be grateful! Hey, why do you want to go back there so badly, anyway? You hate it there. Makes you very mad. All the time. Gives me lots of juice to work with, though, so I’m not complaining or anything.”

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Oh gods.

“Oh, come on! I finally get you talking and all you’ve got is oh no and oh gods.” He inaccurately mocks my voice again even though I’m not even speaking out loud. “Who fucking cares if you blow shit up? That’s your destiny! And what do you care?”

You said I’d blow up too!

“Huh? Oh, right, yeah. But if you get your shit together you could just come back, so like I said, who cares?”

…You said you being angry was my fault. What does that mean? Were you saying I annoyed you or… is there something else?

“I am the Justice of this world. And I usher in the Arrival.”

Um… I don’t know what any of that means. Or what is has to do with my question?

“I’m also a part of you. I was born with you.”

You’ve been inside of me since I was born?

“That’s right. Well, I’ve been with you since my second birth.”

Second… birth… I still don’t quite understand what you’re saying.

“My first birth isn’t that important right now. It seems I overestimated your brain a little-”

Hey!

“Kidding, kidding.” More crazed laughter. He seems to be… slowly losing it. “We grew up together, little wretch. And your emotions and intentions affect this place. And I’m inescapably linked to this place. So you also affect me. Duh! You can’t blame me for being angry when that’s kind of all you’ve felt for many years already.”

What you’re saying is my emotions, intentions, and even personality have influenced your development?

“Yes, exactly.”

Oh dear.

“Now cut that out! What’s so bad about that? You’ve insulted yourself, hah!”

Didn’t you say that you’re some kinda arrival of judgment for the world or something?

“Uh, well, it’s way more complicated than that and also that’s wrong but not incorrect, but sort of, yes.”

…I’m going to cause a fucking apocalypse.

“Hot damn, I sure hope so! Wouldn’t that be so much fun? It’d be a complete waste keeping something pathetic like you alive if you didn’t.”

What part of me did that false assumption come from!? I would never consider that fun.

“Che, I said you were involved in my development, but I’m not some kinda mind slave, especially not to someone as unworthy as you. You think you can control me? Dream on! I’m still my own person.”

A person that wants to blow up the world! Living inside of me! Oh shit.

“Don’t start hyperventilating I just said it would be fun. I don’t control what comes out of the Gate. That’s your job. I just open the damn thing. And channel whatever is on the other side.”

What ‘gate?’ So you’re a key of some kind? How do I control what happens? When does it happen? And why me?

“Calm down. Sheesh. You’re way too weak to understand anything right now. You have to study more. And regain those parts of yourself that were lost, taken, erased and withheld. You can’t do much as things stand.”

You mean regain my memories?

“You’ve lost a lot more than just that. Oh and you need to Bond with your Shadows before they kill them and destroy them.”

Did… did you just say ‘Shadows’ plural?

“Yeah of course. Most mixed bloods have the opportunity to obtain Shadows from multiple bloodlines. It’s not recommended though because that always ends with them going insane. Like batshit nuts. But that won’t be a problem for you. In fact, it’ll be a much bigger problem if you don’t.”

Why would it matter if I only get one or don’t pick any?

“Because you’ll die. Permanently. And your death will cause a fracture in Fate. That will cause an awesome calamity. Which will most likely destroy the world. Kaboom. Hehehe. I wouldn’t really mind, but you’re such a pansy so you might not like that.”

Why would I die permanently? I thought I’d come back again? That’s what everyone keeps telling me…

“Hm, well it’s a bit complicated. I’ll try to dumb it down for you. It’s the powers and abilities of both your Bloodlines that allow you to defeat death. Your Bloodlines were Activated when you died last week. But you have no Shadows to support the Power that was used. Also, there’s no ‘take backs’ when you Activate a Bloodline. Honestly, it took most of the juice I’d collected over our lifetime to prevent both you and Shitsville from blowing up the moment you died. It was such a waste. But then those idiots surrounding you managed to piss you off enough in just a few days that I’m already almost recharged! Isn’t that great? Hahaha!”

It’s so... wonderful. Keep going.

“Okay, okay. So, hm, how to put this… you know Shifters have a form that looks, well, normal, and when they activate their powers, they Shift and they look a lot different, right?”

Right.

“Wrong. That’s not how it works, dummy. Shifting doesn’t turn off once it’s been Activated. That’s why most Shifters wear a Glamour of some kind. The Bloodlines and abilities and powers and what have you are always ‘on’ in the background. From the second they’re first Activated. And of course, these powers use Spirit Energy. Which requires a Shadow. You see where I’m going with this?”

I don’t think I like where you’re going with this.

“Hehehe… you don’t any Shaaadows.” He mocks me with a childish singsong voice this time. “But you’re using powers that require Spirit Energy! I’ve been using your rage to fuel everything as a replacement but that’s not a lot different that trying to put diesel in a gas-only car, little wretch. It’s keeping you alive, but it’s also destroying you. Without the right Shadows, your body and Spirit will rot. You need both because you Activated both Bloodlines. Even if you get one, if you miss the other, you’ll still die eventually. Like you’ll really die, and without a Spirit, you’ll die permanently. Even with your fancy-pants Bloodlines, you only get one replacement Spirit. You already got that one. And that’s the one that’s rotting. Haven’t you wondered why that white git hasn’t woken up yet?”

Fintan… is rotting?

“You are too. Slowly, but surely. From the inside.”

Fuck. Is that connected to the Soul Rot that weirdo helped me with?

“Oh, right, yeah there’s that too. HAHAHA! I wonder what will obliterate you first? Will your body decay first, your Spirit buddy Fintan, or your Soul?”

You don’t have to be such a dick about it…

“But I’m genuinely curious! The Soul Rot isn’t connected though, by the way. That was the fault of those two brats that did you in the first time. Those morons knew you were a fellow Shifter, and conveniently forgot they belong to one of the Infectious classes. Ah, you have no idea about that right? You poor, pathetic thing, I’ll tell you. Infectious Mutants can spread their Bloodlines, or a part of them at least, onto Sapiens. But if they do the same to a Mutant, it infects that Mutant’s Soul and body. While a lot of different Mutant species can interbreed, this is different obviously. You can’t just mix infectious blood between Mutants that are already born. They will always be incompatible after they’re born. That’s basic science.”

Both Fintan and that weird wanderer said similar things. That Clifford and Stupid Boy had messed me up somehow. So their attempt to save me actually killed me? Why would they even try it, then?

“They’re clumsy idiots. That stupid boy tried to mix his energy with you, not his blood, but he fucked up. And that puppy had already infected you with his killer throat slash. What a thing of beauty that was. Thing is it’s not so much about blood as it is about the DNA in the blood. Mutants all have a natural immunity towards invading DNA, it’s a passive ability they all have. Otherwise with all the fighting and wars the entire Mutant race would have long since died out. Or all of them except the Infectious ones. But that’s an ability that can turned off. You subconsciously turned it off when he asked you if he could save you. Because turning it off is the only way to share energy.”

I… I did?

“That’s right. Like a total sucker. You would have come back even without their interference. If you had your memories, you’d have known that. But you didn’t and despite having no Mutant education, you still had the instincts. Unfortunately, once you turned it off, their DNA also got mixed in. And it infected your Soul before it passed on. That’s why there are special, sterile ceremonies for that kind of thing. It’s not something you should do in a dirty alley after a scuffle.”

Those fucking idiots. I’m going to sue.

“Why bother suing? Just kill them. Kill all of them.”

I can’t just- besides, I promised the Council I wouldn’t fight them anymore.

“So what? What do you care? Don’t try to pretend. I know you better than anyone else.”

Mister Key’s voice is different now. He was so… manic… and random before, but here? His voice is cold. Before it was a playfully burning rage, but it’s become a fierce and sharp and cold anger. The far more dangerous kind.

“What did that Council promise you, anyway? Anything? What did you get in return? Nothing but public humiliation and fake apologies. What have they ever done for you? Everything that’s wrong is their fault! Wouldn’t your life be so much easier if they all just… disappeared?”

Now I remember the feeling I had when I was falling… sinking and floating. I’d gotten distracted by all the information I forgot that I don’t like this person. I remember the repulsion I felt, even before I met them.

This guy is a walking hazard. Chaotic in a way that I don’t want to be.

No, this isn’t me.

“Maybe not. But I’m more fun.”

I should go… I don’t know how long I’ve been here, wherever this is, but… I think it’s been a long time. Too long.

How do I leave this place?

“I told you before, if you want to leave, stop ignoring me.”

I’m not-

“All you had to do was ask. Politely.”

…May I please return to Shitsville?

There’s a long pause before he laughs again, quieter this time. More subdued. Like the mania and the cold madness from earlier was yet another illusion.

“Alright, I guess. But you have to talk to me sometimes. That’s the deal.”

What?

“I’ve been stuck down here, alone, for fifteen years. If you want to leave you have to agree to talk to me sometimes!”

But… how do I come back here?

“Che. Who said you can come back here? I only let you in here to keep you alive after you gloriously crashed after that Meeting of the Hypocrites. And to forge a connection. Now that you’ve been here once all you have to do is call for me and we can just talk in your head like that white git got to do before he took a nap.”

My head is getting way too crowded.

“Well, get used to it. You haven’t even Bonded with your Shadows yet. Hehehe, I hope I’m wrong and you really do lose your m-”

Shut up. So I just say ‘Hey, Mister Key’ and I can talk to you?

“I’m not gonna respond to such a stupid name. You should call me Dawn of Justice.”

That’s an even stupider name and I’m not gonna call you that.

“Well then I guess you’re stuck here.”

I guess I am.

“…You- you’re just going to stay here?”

Yup. It’s not like I can move.

“But- but you’ll die.”

Won’t that be funny?

“Yeah, but- but what about the calamity!?”

Isn’t that exciting?

“I know you’re manipulating me.”

I know you know. Don’t we know each better than anyone else?

“But there’s so many great things that are gonna start happening…”

By great I assume they’ll be terrible things.

“It’s all a matter of perspective.”

What a shame we’ll miss it all.

“…I guess there are worse names.”

You know me so you know very well there are lots of worse names.

“Fine. Don’t forget, you need to Bond with both your Shadows as soon as possible. They won’t make that easy. Also, regain your erased memories and find what else was taken. And don’t forget to properly dispense justice!”

Sure. How hard could all that be?

He laughs, and now the mania is no longer being held back. If I had more senses right now, I’d have chills. Before I can adjust to his sudden change, rather abruptly my body feels like it’s both floating and flying at the same time… Somehow.

Below me, Mister Key is still laughing. Just when I’m almost out of hearing distance, he shouts:

“Go raise hell.”

Well, alright… if you insist…