Julias ran to the top of the hill, his tattered shirt catching on branches as he forged his path.  The moonlight poured in, bathing the clearing ahead.  He crawled into the bushes when he reached the top, hiding him from inquisitive eyes.

He drew out his breath, silently, like a hunter catching his prey.  He heard the rustling coming up the hill.

Carefully he prepared himself, few moments needed as much attention as these.

***

She followed behind him, pushing branches out of her face and going much slower.  “Julias?”

“I’m here!”

She followed the path he had cut for her, being sure to avoid getting her dress caught on the branches.

Reaching the top, she looked around.  She laughed nervously and looked around, but found nothing but the rose bushes that enclosed the area.  Their flowers were growing, a wall of scarlet.  As she admired them, something soft touched the nape of her neck.  She didn’t dare turn around, frozen in place under the cold moonlight.  Warm arms wrapped around her, comfort and secure.  A masculine smell floated about her, like him.  She softened in that warmth, melted.  It was only then that she turned around to find him.  She would return to that hill every night since.

A voice echoes through my ears.  I hastily look around as my mouth opens to a wide grin, but there’s nothing to be found.  A matter of days, a matter of hours, a matter of minutes, it becomes a matter of seconds.  A faithful flow strains through my filter, but leaves nothing but filth for me to grab at.  So I wait, just me and my filth, and I do small things here and even smaller things there.  Everything slows even on a warm day like this.

As I meddle with things around me I wonder what I could do.  I wonder what effect things have, if I’m just dreaming this purgatory.  I search for things to wake me, but I know better.  A pinch wouldn’t do anyone any good.

Everyone’s left me here, I’m alone in this prison.  I stare out the bars on my window, waiting for night to fall.  I wait for night because when I go to bed the insects come to keep me company.  They never go away, and they flow through the rooms and walls.  I don’t mind them, but they know they’ll find no pity in me.  It’s only natural, but it only leaves me lonelier.  Leaves me again.  Humanity leaves me.

So I wait.  I wait for it to all come back, and in the mean while I chase down others, run around the city person to person.  But never more than a couple hours do they keep me company, then I grow bored and return back to my prison.   At least I have some constant in this flux.

Mood:  Recumbent

Now that Jenn’s left I’m not sure what to do with myself.  She was the thin, silken fiber that held me to reality.  I never thought it was possible to fall so far from grace in such a short period of time.  Where do I start?

The dying man on my front porch.  He stills scratches at my door, I can hear him.  I fired the gunshot that left him the way he is not 10 minutes ago.  I suppose it was my fault, he came looking for me, I provoke him.

The property damage in downtown Vancouver.  Before the man, I tore holes.  Big holes, everywhere, using my hands, using my hammers, using my tools.  Maybe that’s what attracted the dying man to me.  I couldn’t say for sure.

The fights with Strangers.  I attacked them, so I don’t take offense, but they struck me over and over.  I kept getting back up, I kept giving that one last blow.  I would have been dead for sure if it weren’t for those tools.

And the theft, oh the theft.  If my plan was to come together I’d need to plan, I’d need to use that human ingenuity.  Those tools.  It wasn’t easy to get them, though.  I had to be quiet, and I like to think I caused as little pain as possible along the way.

I’m not sure if it counts, but the planning itself certainly was the first sign.  The demented thoughts, the shredded memories fueling the fires.  But I suppose I never mentioned the fires.

I hunch over in my chair both scared and anxious of what comes next.  I have a couple days left until Jenn comes back, I’m not sure what I’ll do next.  I think I’ll go for a walk.