1 Unjust Life

Falling? Yep, I'm falling. Of course, I'm falling. Wind screeches and whips my body as I plummet quickly. I can't see the earth below me, but I know there's earth. And prey. That's what mother said, and mom is always right. Hehe, I feel like I'm burning.

High up in the sky, a black, viscous blob descends from the atmosphere. Engulfed in purple flames, it streaks a lavender light across the night sky, until it crashes into a open field of dry grass. Purple flames readily overtake the field in seconds leaving behind and violet sphere and gray fragments of ash before dying out.

Hehe, I will be faithful to mother. I will make a home for mother. Hehe, haha, wahaha. Then, the sphere cracked open, releasing a wisp of air and nothing more before disintegrating.

***

"Get out filth!" "Leave!" "You're not welcome here!"

Strangers surround me, and beat me with their sticks and legs. My hunched body aches and stings all over. What have I done? How have I wronged you? The townspeople continue to vent their grievances on my bony body. They've collectively conspired against me, putting fault on my very presence, so that they may hide their ineptitude from their friends, or their misfortune from their families. But, I have done... nothing.

Life is never fair, it was never meant to be fair. Life is a struggle for dominance, a survival of the most fit, and justification for the powerful to take everything from those who are vulnerable.

And I'm the most vulnerable.

"Kick him out of the village!" "Cursed brat." "Bringer of bad luck!" "He killed my babies!"

Fuck, my head! One of the sticks broke against the back of my skull. Pain, all I feel is pain. My head throbs as I try to get up and run. My blood splatters along the streets, but the townspeople -these animals- don't want to let me go. They kick the back of my legs, rip the clothes off my body, and beat their sticks on my back. I falter, but I still run. I use my hands to protect my neck and head, but a stone managed to hit me between the bones of my spine.

Fuck my life.

I tumble forward and fall. My brief escape seemed to enrage them further, because they came at me with even more fury. But, I can't feel it. I can't feel anything at all below my chest. Moving my left arm is difficult, nonetheless I can still move it and feel it. My right arm, however, is the same as my legs. Just kill me already.

Cracking sounds emit from below me. That should be my legs. Should I feel happy that I can't feel either of them? I twist my body to peer down at myself. My right leg is contorted. My heel is facing my face. What the actual fuck!

"It was you wasn't it? You burned our fields!" "Ungrateful." "Shameful brat." "I'll fuck'in kill you!"

"It wasn't me-" I whimpered.

"Liar!" "The criminal dares to lie." "Who else but you! My daughter saw you in the fields last night. Are you calling her a liar?"

I haven't done anything, why am I to suffer. I haven't lived done anyone harm in my life. I am innocent. But, none of my thoughts were voiced. They wouldn't listen anyways, why waste the energy. I should have known. Amidst their unfounded anger, none of my words will ever reach them.

I'm tired.

***

When I woke up. I found myself naked and chained in a dark, damp cell. Both my wrists were bound by iron clamps against the cold brick walls. There's a bundle of matted straw under me, how considerate. My body aches as I turn, but I'm able to look closely at my body with the small rays of light allowed to enter. Bruises, cuts, scrapes are littered around my body. A mix of dirt and blood formed a dry layer on my skin. I lay back against the wall, closing my eyes.

A day passed. I can see the moon through the crack in the wall near the ceiling across from me. Nobody came to visit or to give me any food or water. My stomach grumbles every once in a while, increasing in volume as time passes. Some of my cuts hurt really bad when I move.

I'm tired.

Another day passed. Again, not a single soul came to visit me. Yellow pus is starting to leak out of my cuts and scrapes, leading to a horrible smell as it mixes with the smell of rotting straw. My throat is dry, my lips are cracked, and my stomach seems to be digesting itself. I don't have the energy to lift my head anymore.

Let me rest.

No. Not rest. I don't want to die here, without a deed to my name. If I get out of here alive, I will get my revenge on all of the villagers. I will kill them all. Yes...I will kill them all, every last one of them. I don't care anymore. I don't care what I have to give up, as long as I can kill them all. I don't care who I give to, as long as they can get me out of here. Yes, escape then kill, kill. Kill.

"Hehe, haha. I like you." A voice sounded beside his ear.

Whose voice is this? I thought. I'm a bit curious, but I don't feel like learning who it is.

"Are you here to help me?" A haggard, nearly inaudible voice escapes from my lips.

"Of course, of course!"

"Can you free me?" I asked weakly with a tinge of hope.

"Open your eyes and you'll know."

I opened my eyes, looking straight ahead and a black, viscous goo stares back at me. Or at least, I think so.

In its center, a large cavity gapes open and close. I guess that's where it speaks to me. It has thousands of feelers, of which allows it to attach to the wall. What a hideous creature.

"Do you still want my help?" The ends of the cavity curved upwards. I nodded resolutely.

"Don't blame me for what happens, haha!" The black goo lunged at me mid-speech, burrowing in my through my eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.

My body jolted as if I was hit by a cow. I felt like I was burning in hellfire. Searing pain courses through my veins while my muscle and skin are shredded by an invisible force. Before my blood spills outside my body, it hardens like a rock and falls off blackened and coarse. My fists clenched tightly because the iron clamps prevent me from clawing myself open. I feel faint.

This damn thing is trying to kill me too! I won't let this thing take my body. I'll kill it!

"Aaarg!" I let out a screech. I, must kill the townspeople who beat me and locked me up. I, must kill this beast who lied to me.

"Stop fumbling about, it's hard enough trying to change your body," said a tendril of goo from deep within my ear.

"Then, why am I bleeding so much? A human only has so much blood."

"Oh, then just power through it. Unless your revenge isn't as strong as you claim." It cackled.

"You, how do you know about that?" I asked blank faced.

"Listen to yourself mumble, you sure don't pay attention. I've entered your brain, of course I'll know what you're thinking." The black goo cackled louder. I shuddered.

"Bare with it some more, you've yet to begin the more painful processes. Haha. Hehe. Let me witness your spirit." Screams, irregular in length and pitch, resound from the cell.

The sun began to rise when the body molding finished. When I got a good look at my body. Some areas were covered with black, yellow, or deep red filth. A layer of scabs lay below my feet. But, my body does feel more powerful. My body distinctly feels heavier, and my muscle lines are defined. I should probably thank that black goo.

"Yes, yes you should. Worship me lowly lifeform. Wahaha." On second thought I won't say anything.

The sound of a door opening in the distance draws my attention. Torchlight moves closer to me, gradually illuminating my body.

Dana. What is she doing here?

A girl, not much older than me, stands behind the cell bars. She covers her mouth, distraught, with tear drops steadily falling down her cheeks.

"What have they done to you?" She asks with a shaky, quiet voice.

The familiar braided auburn hair that drops over her shoulders. That lovely, dimpled face and silky, fair skin.

Ah, now I remember… how outrageous this world is.