All Chapters of Parallels I: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20
29 chapters
Chapter 10 “Ghost of Past or Ghost of Future”
/DavidRoar of car engine. Classical music playing on the radio. It’s Schuberts piano sonata number 16. Surely this piano gives off some chills, but in a way - it gives a feeling of strife, push for something - as if you’re on your way to a greater manifesto.Road ahead is packed with vehicles - all doing their best to keep up with the flow of traffic. That emerged due to the end of the working day for many.Flood of mechanisms and engines. A hell for the manufacturers and energy consumers. The beauty of the light propellers, the ghastly fear of bad retailers. The advertisements on the side of cars - like battle scars.And what? It’s all possessed or in possession, ownership, discretion of creatures that consume the air, that shit and yell. And stare at you through tanned dyed bodies.A great conveyor belt created marvel - stacked nobodies.Well, maybe somebodies - wearing finest painted, crafted, tailored masks.Put on daily for convenience of interaction, to keep abstraction in the
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Chapter 11 “When Roses Bowed to Emperor”
///There was a story once.About insane King, wise but unstable Emperor and their shared love interest – Rose. King selfishly snatched Rose, looked after him, cherished and protected in ways he could. The Emperor was not fond of such an atrocity - he wanted Rose for himself, so he went to face the King and retreated to Rose. But once the Emperor got to Kingdom - he got sucked into the void of events inside Kings castle – strangest mind twisting games.The Emperor became lover to both - the Rose and the King. Without realizing how it turned out this way. But all three were handsome, lands utter beauty. They devilishly swayed anyone or anything.The heavy fog of lust in the castle was held by Ary – demon, bound by the King. Ary helped captivate Rose. Strangest messes and unpredictable whims that were allowed.Days went on, things were getting mixed up, everything to possessiveness and madness. Becoming fiercely strange.One day, Rose had thanked King and asked him to be released. Rose
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Chapter 12 “Looking at my Grave”
/Niko“Thun-thun-thun” - I can hear my heartbeat. Feels like I was hit by a ton of bricks - body slowly reacting again, though it hurts.Pang in my head, the silence and the dark that enveloped me crashes down.Familiar buzz of cars in traffic, people chatting, opening and closing of shop doors with the ding - the sounds find me, as I am getting my senses back. Another hard smash on me, as I’m pushing to open my eyes, trying to remember how to breathe.After light of day burns and scorches, as I squint eyes, then slowly open them fully - I get to see a familiar sight of the backstreet. A pub called “The Glassblower” and food place “The Warwick”. The life of Piccadilly Circus greets me.Ah, yes, the madness of the endless buzz of the big city. The loud loneliness in the crowd and the quiet shout in the empty street. It’s back alright.After a moment of recollecting the map of the city in my head, I turn to my right, making my way through the back streets to reach Covent Garden. Have a
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Chapter 13 “Dark Corner Bound”
/NikoAfter my body began cooperating - I made a decision to leave the room. Opening the door and stepping out got me greeted with cold air, cold surroundings. The walls were covered in frost, but to the touch some seemed to have more warmth in them.That’s right - this place is in the mountain region and is known as the frost covered town. So, having an endless cold - is what is normal here.Walking on and on, with the cold biting at my skin. Still feeling my hazed and discombobulated mind reminded me of the touch and heat through the wall that came from the Rabbit.Although a bloodthirsty maniac, he’s still a living one.The maze was called so for a good reason - much of it consisted of endless rooms that are square, although different by size variations. And that all is located under the ground level. So, with around ten floors under and around the same amount upwards - it was a cold hell.The cold and the darkness made me remember the feeling of being crushed mentally - fallen in
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Chapter 14 “Bittersweet Labyrinth”
/AdrianThe loud sound of crayon scraping the floor downstairs made the young mother wake up early in the morning and go check the ruckus in the living room.“Adrian! Not again!” – She exclaimed as she saw the new drawings of strange geometrical obscenities on the living room floor.Boy, aged 11, was fully taken over by what he was doing. He would not stop at anything until he would finish this strange map of sorts. It looked like some outer space architecture drop-out, rather than a drawing - if you pay a bit more attention to it.Mother rushed to Adrian. She grabbed him tight and hugged him, but he, with all might, kept on trying to escape to continue. He seemed obsessed. His mother would often say that he was “Possessed by some sort of a demon that made him do this.”Doctors would come and go - trying to figure out this strange occurrence. Yet not a single one had the answer why every third night boy would go and draw, with no memory of his actions he’d silently go back to sleep.“
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Chapter 15 “Escapes and Newcomers”
/NikoThe ruckus caused by someone had made quite the show by now.The shouts and grumbling of the creatures was maddening - the pain and the agony. The shouts of unknown sources echoed from the floors below.I walked to the further wall - a small window located there - I wished to check if I could see anything, but to great misfortune - the window was textured, leaving me with nothing to distinguish out there.Cat was on the edge and defensive towards Doppel. Another barely understood the gravity of the problem when facing White Hare.Although he was the keeper of the Labyrinth and the main trouble of the place - he was not to blame. Not by me at least. He was made that way through all the endless experimentation that happened here. Just trying to protect his new obtained dysfunctional home.He forgot that he could escape from here and be having freedom.Guess I am not the only one with memory issues.Screams and scratching noises could be heard from outside, Hare would not budge fro
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Chapter 16 “Path towards Fate”
/ErickEyes were warmly greeted with familiar sights. The changes were obvious, as many years have passed, but this city I will always recognise.Sun warmed the air, brightening up the day even more. Typical streets of Amereq were crafted of stone. Smooth, great for travel, yet slight texture wouldn’t let your carriage slip off. The great beauty of this city left me in awe every time. Walking through, towards my known destination was a challenge, due to changes, but in my gut - I knew where it still stood.Passing by houses of stone - sand coloured, with great decorated windows, flower pots near entrances and doors with gardenias and petunias blooming. Eyes catching the sight of small bushes of yellow and green leaves. Stray cats crossing streets graciously, not even bothered by carriages or city folk.Fine looking ladies and gentlemen - fancily dressed and acting spoiled. There’s a lot of half-armour dressed “knights” with weapons at their side. Then you can see some drunks sleeping
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Chapter 17 “Fugitive of the Forbidden City”
/ErickI forgot how cold it could be in the mornings. The chill was biting into my flesh even through the layer of my clothing. Waiting for that ‘someone’ sent by Verin is quite a feat. Even though it’s quarter to six in the morning, I don’t like to be late.Due to waking up early, I managed to get a coffee from the cafe. It’s a fine type that makes you feel some warmth circulating through the body. The steam was rising from the cup. How nostalgic.Whole scene reminded me that in this town there are some new technological shenanigans that were installed. One of such was the weather control within the premises of the town.So even though right now it is summer for the rest of the world, today someone from high up decided to have a winter wonderland theme.So, frost on windows, snow on streets, all being warmly dressed as they rush towards their jobs and endeavours. Some long ago I was a part of this world, with friends that were there, family, job… I actually started off from here. Wh
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Chapter 18 “Memories and Light #1”
/ElyonThe high trees and their branches reach towards the sky, dividing it, so full of strength, giving off the light. Strange creatures in this place lurked everywhere. Little beings crawl on the leaves, the fairies that fly around rustling flowers and leaving traces of starry dust behind. All this seemed like a part from a movie or dream that is too real and too vivid.I got up, wobbled a bit, before gaining my footing. It felt like my feet were jelly and my body was made of wet cotton. What is this?Ahead was a path, leading somewhere. Unsure of what was going on, I took a few steps ahead, then bumped into something, almost tripping over.Looking down I saw a fairy-creature standing opposite me. This fairy was barely one metre tall, looking like a child, watching me with her blue-green eyes, her wings fluttering on her back.“You!” – Angrily spoke fairy, hands on hips, eyes squinting.“Me?” – I pointed at myself with a finger in surprise.“For as far as I see - you’re the only int
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Chapter 19 “Memories and Light #2”
/ErickThe town had changed, the outskirts gaining new roads, new connections. Yet there still were deserted, forgotten paths. Less groomed, since not many took the steps through these ancient groves. But still in existence.This same path I once walked, to discover the old lady, with much to tell on the top of the tree. Birds cheeping, tall grass rustling softly from the wind – these things did not change. Although, how much time has passed by now?Some parts grew more trees, some became fields, yet one mighty tree stood untouched. Its slightly bared roots are still coloured in red, although not as bright now. The Color reminded me of rust now.Now the climbing part.I came close to this tree, grabbing onto the trunk, pushing off, then getting upwards. Slowly. The branches were small stoops, at the beginning, very hard to hold on. A tricky tree even years later. After a while the branches began, making it slightly easier to climb.Well, if I did it once, I can do it again! The tree i
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