TRACK 2 – WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER – QUEEN

“Hiro, how’s it going my man?” Mailman Scott asked, tossing me a small wave as he headed over to me.

“Hey Scott, not much. What’s going on with you?” I replied, setting the broom aside. I always like Mailman Scott. He was always nice to me and just seem like a cool dude.

“Not much just last delivery for the day. This is for you.” He said, handing me the package and typing some things in on his pad then gesturing for me to sign.

I did so and then saw the package address and noticed it was from my dad. Holy crap!

“See ya Hiro. I’m gonna go out and party tonight.” Mailman Scott said, waved and walked out.

I barely saw him leave let alone say goodbye I was so engrossed with the package. I walked over to the coffee bar and grabbed a knife then opened the small brown box. The first thing inside was a folded piece of paper which I opened and read.

Dear Hiro,

Hey pal! It’s been awhile. Sorry I haven’t seen you in so long, but works been really busy, and I haven’t had any time to get back.

Anyway, I heard from your grandma that you moved in with her and that you no longer live with your stepmom and stepsiblings. I didn’t realize it was so hard for you there. I thought that it would be better for you to have a mom and some other kids to grow up with, but guess I was wrong about that.

Anyway, I’ve stopped sending them money and will be sending it to my mom, your grandma, to take care of you. I’m in Asia now and probably won’t be able to send you another letter for some time so take care of your grandma and be safe. I found this in Korea and thought you’d like it.

Take Care,

Dad

(P.S. It’s supposed to be magical. Ha Ha!)

I read the letter a few more times and then set it down. I couldn’t believe he sent me a letter and I couldn’t’ believe it was over two years old! The letter was written when I was sixteen. How could he be so outdated with information. No wonder my life was crappy, he didn’t know shit. I shook my head and then took a deep breath and blew it out. Well, fuck it. I never counted on him before why should I now? I looked back in the box and saw a small black container inside the popcorn packaging. I took it out and handled gingerly.

The box was light and made of some type of onyx colored wood. I turned it over in my hand as I studied it and admired the craftsmanship. My attention focused down to just the box and I felt an energy begin to emanate from it and I couldn’t’ contain my growing curiosity. The lid opened with a click and I stood mesmerized at the contents. Sitting inside was a small silver and gold pedant which looked like a dragon shaped around a yin yang.

I reached a hand in and brushed the little amulet with the tips of my fingers and time seemed to stop. It felt like my soul was connecting with the little dragon and I could feel something starting to happen.

“Hiro, are you done out there? I’m finished in here and am going to change and clean up in the bathroom.” Tiffany called, waking me from my trance.

“Uh… yeah…” I replied, still staring at the amulet when then the door chimed again.

I snapped the box shut and turned to the door expecting to see Mailman Scott again, but when I looked up no one was there. I set the black box down on the counter and hurried over to the door. This time I made sure it was locked. When I turned around, I almost pissed my pants because standing not two feet in front of me was Nick.

“Hey, you piece of shit. You think you can laugh at me?” He growled, as he rushed forward and punched me right in the gut.

I doubled over all the breath gone from my lungs and he followed up his punch with a knee to my face. My nose crunched from the blow and blackness and stars exploded in my vision as I crumpled to the ground.

“That’s right you little fucking bitch. You don’t ever get to laugh at me ever again. I guess you didn’t learn your lesson last time. I’ll make sure this time you’ll never forget it again.” Nick said vehemently, then spit at me and followed it up with a few choice punches to my already broken nose.

I blacked out again for a moment as the back of my head hit the hard terrazzo floor. When I came to this time Nick was walking to the front door and it was like I was watching a stop motion film. He stop-walked to the door unlocked and opened it and then his crew filed in one after the other in some insane parody of a real life horror movie. When they all were inside, he relocked the door. My senses started to comeback one by one then time restarted and my vision went back to normal.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“Hiro? Nick? What the fuck are you guys doing in here?” Tiffany yelled, from the entrance to the girl’s bathroom.

I tried to cry out, but my throat was choked with my own blood and my lungs still hadn’t caught their breath. Nick made a gesture and I watched his crew fan out and move sinisterly towards Tiffany. She finally caught sight of me, and I watched her face go white and show surprise and real fear for the first time.

“Oh my god! Hiro are you ok? Nick you are gonna go to fucking jail for…” She started to say.

“Shut the fuck up you dumb bitch. You aren’t going to say shit. Take her in the bathroom and get her ready.” Nick ordered, then turned his attention back to me and ignoring his posse and the girl.

“Get the fuck off me! No! Fuck off you pieces of shit!” Tiffany screamed, her voice continued in a more muffled fashion as they dragged her into the girl’s bathroom and closed the door.

“Now that we’re alone again it’s time to get this party started.” Nick said, with gleeful malice in his eyes and an evil smirk across his face.

Terror, mind numbing fear struck me to the core of my being. I realized that not only was Nick going to beat me up, he was going to kill me. I was going to die tonight. My breathing went shallow and I started hyperventilating against my will. Nick saw this and started laughing and snorting from his position above me.

“Yeah, looks like you finally get it. I’m going to fuck you up just like all those animals you saw before.” Nick whispered menacingly, then hefted me up and held me off the ground with one hand.

I didn’t think it was possible, but even more fear coursed through me then. I stared wide eyed at Nick who grinned wickedly at me, his face resembling a skeleton. Then he spit in my eyes. Temporarily blinded, he chose that moment and hit me in stomach a few times then pushed me back to the ground as I threw up involuntarily. If you have never been choking and throwing up at the same time, I don’t recommend it. It’s the worst. Imagine drowning in your own vomit while not being able to get any breath. Yeah, like I said I highly don’t recommend it.

“Ugh, you’re fucking disgusting. Puke it up puke boy.” Nick cackled, turning his head to the sounds of Tiffany still screaming in the bathroom. “Don’t you fuck her yet. I go first you fucking twats!”

Oh no, it wasn’t just me that was going to die it was Tiffany as well. I mustered what strength I had left and lurched to my feet then grappled onto Nick’s back. He had turned his attention from me to the screaming girl and I caught him by surprise. It didn’t matter though. He just laughed and turned while slapping me across the side of the head and sending me sprawling into the coffee bar and then careening into some table and chairs.

“Don’t worry sweetheart. I haven’t forgotten about you. Just hold tight for a sec your girlfriend needs some personal attention. Hey, wait for me you shithead horndogs!” He yelled, smiling broadly as he squatted over me.

He accentuated his point by punching me in the face a few more times and knocking my head against the ground again. My consciousness went in and out, but I could see Nick head to the bathroom in fits and starts as I passed out again.

Wake up!

Get up you stupid shit!

What the fuck? Where was I? Who was yelling at me?

I was sitting in a black void. At least some part of me was. I felt like I was not in my body and it was just my consciousness floating into the nothingness.

Finally, that’s a start. Your subconscious is awake. Give me your consent and I will save you.

“Who the fuck are you?” I asked, in my mind.

I am the Heavenly Son, the Celestial Emperor, Dangun the Beneficent. Bow before me mortal for you are in the presence of divine greatness. It has been over a thousand years since I have met someone that can talk with me. You have the innate Ki type that connects with mine. It is a one in a million chance that we would meet, and our Ki’s would be compatible. Now, give me your consent and I will take control of your body and mind then defeat your enemies.

“Ok, well that’s nice and all but you can go fuck yourself. I’m not giving myself to you I’d rather die in control of myself thank you very much.” I shot back.

You foolish boy! I am a god and am giving you the chance to get vengeance on your enemies and save your woman. You will never get this chance again. Hurry and decide, I can tell by the young girl’s screams time is running short and the demon will be back in a moment.

“My life has always been shit, but at least it has always been mine. It seems like you need me because you said that you hadn’t met anyone like me in a thousand years. I don’t mind dying because I’m pretty much living a dead person’s life now anyway. So, here’s my terms you old prick. You help me kick these guy’s asses and save Tiffany. If you do, I’ll keep you around.” I said, not really seeing him take the deal but I figured it was worth a try. I mean what did I have to lose except my crappy life.

My consciousness and the Celestial Emperor Dangun’s spirit had a type of metaphorical standoff. Time seemed to stretch forever as the ancient spirit just stared at me. He didn’t have any eyes he was just an amorphous cloud of transparent blue energy, but I could tell he was looking at me hard.

Suddenly, the amorphous cloud morphed before my eyes and took on the countenance of an old Asian warrior. He was tall at least a few inches over six feet. His hair was done up in a warrior’s topknot and he had the classic Korean style beard and mustache. His clothes were in the style of the ancient warriors I had seen in K-Dramas and such. They really did a good job with those costume designs. If I had to guess he was probably in his late forties or early fifties. I couldn’t quite tell because he was still that opaque bluish color.

“Fine, you win.” The apparition said.

“Wait, what?” I stammered, pretty surprised that my gamble had worked.

“You win. I can see that you would really rather die than give up control of yourself and I don’t want to be stuck in this shitty amulet anymore. Ok, I propose a new bargain. You will retain control of your body and mind, but I will stay on within your consciousness as a passenger so to speak. I will help you defeat these enemies and then we can discuss future arrangements. Do we have a bargain?” He asked.

“Well…” I started, hesitating before answering.

“I said hold her down! Quit moving you bitch or I’m going to make it hurt worse!” Nick yelled, his voice, the sound of a slap, and Tiffany’s scream adding to my burden and reminding me time was of the essence.

“Let’s fucking do it.” I told the ancient apparition.

He nodded once, closed his eyes, and bowed his head. I was about to say something but then I blinked back to reality and opened my eyes. The coffee shop materialized around me again and then the pain returned to me all at once in a body and brain numbing rush. It was as if the whole time I had been talking with Dangun the pain had been waiting and gathering itself into a waiting trap. When I woke up it I sprang it and it hit me all at once with an all-consuming blanket of agony.

And then I screamed…