"Good fight again, Dead Man. At least you left some survivors this time..." The bookie gave away a bag of coins with a regretful look. "Please, don't come back anytime soon."
The bag barely fit into the mechanical hands of the Dead Man. A skeleton standing large with metal plates covering most of his body, with only some bones and wires exposed. His face never registered anything the other person said.
Mostly because he didn't have any skin to make an expression, except for the fiery bluish optical devices inside the large white skull. DM pulled a bottle from his side and walked away without another word.
With a swig of tar like wine, he walked away from the Wrath's Coliseum and down towards the center of town. People saw him and quickly moved away to make sure they were not nearby him. Some even screamed and fainted as he walked by. Whispers rose up and talked of the myths that have been told of this Dead Man. Of how he defeated Death and how he bows to no one...
But DM was just walking back home and thinking of a project to work on.
While smashing a warriors spine in the Coliseum, he was suddenly flashed with an idea of inspiration again. A figure of pure art. All he had to do was keep the memory fresh.
He took a small swig from his bottle again. He pushed back his want to just down the whole bottle this time for the slight chance that an overcharge from his water wheel may cause him to lose the thought. Time was an issue, though. How long was it going to be before he could make it to home?
The Dead Man made it to the beginning of the Black Road and left the city to begin his journey back.
DM contemplated as he walked down the road. Even after the petrified forest, the Black Sands, the Deep Canyon, it was only the though of a single image going through his mind. Having lost his shadow soon after he woke up in this world, the creatures of the eternal night didn't bother to attack him, giving him nothing to worry about as he strolled down the Black Road.
The only problem was time.
Without any stars or sun rise, there is no way to accurately measure time in the Shadow lands. After every sixty steps or the next lamp pole, DM would have to take a swig from his drink. Around the tenth drink he would have to change out the bottle where his stomach used to be and start drinking from that bottle. After having done this for so many years of his 'life', he did this without much though.
His thoughts dealt with a single image. A face and body. Something from a far dream...
Minutes pass, and then hours. How many passed are unknown since DM didn't count.
The thought had to be kept.
After more canyons and petrified trees, DM finally reach the doors to his large mansion made from dark rock and black brick. He pushed through and walked by his paintings, the shelves and rows of bottles he collected, and continued down towards his forge. The fire in the forge still had some heat from days ago and he threw in some logs to start it up again. After pumping the bellows to where he wanted the heat to be, he grabbed a cupful of broken glass he kept nearby in a pot and dropped them in a metal pot.
Time passed. Only the image was within his grasp. Just heat the glass more in this area...
Then after some molding and shaping, it was done.
The glass cooled and figure was finished. Once again it was a female figure in a dancing pose. The face was smoothed out just like the rest of his figures, but the pose was different than the others he had done. He placed it to the side and looked at it for a bit.
Why did he do these glass sculptures? Maybe a hobby at first, but was there a reason? He didn't understand either. Just dreams within the darkness of...
How long did he take a drink? Where was his bottle!?
He started rushed to the other side where he placed the figure but he started to slow down. He looked at the tools he was using for the familiar shape of the glass bottle and found it next to the corner. As he grabbed the bottle, he could feel parts of him slowing to a stop. He lifted the bottle to his teeth...
And the cold took him again.
Time isn't real. What passes in death? And where does the dream begin or end?
DM woke up again with an empty bottle. Something was different. Dust covered him and his surroundings. Noises outside the forge were sounding threatening. And there was the girl in front of him. The girl looking at him with horror. The girl with a familiar face...
“What are you doing in my house?”
The girl with looked like she was just over twenty years old. With her white and black shirt with a red scarf and short cut jeans that were torn from wear she looked tired and dirty. DM looked at her for a bit and asked her again.
“What are you doing in my house?” His voice box gave his usual mechanical sounding voice, but it felt dry. He could never understand why that happens, as he no longer had any way to feel in his rubber tube throat. It must have be something to do with his memories remembering from the old days...
His brain felt tired and it felt as if it was only working on a little energy. DM's eyes looked to the bottle in his hand for a long time before the sockets of his eyes turned black. As if it was a ritual of sorts, he placed the bottles top a little ways from his teeth and a sort of an electronic hum came from wherever he used to speak from. He opened his jaw and in one swift movement, lifted the bottle above his head and poured all of the dark red content into his mouth.
Luckily, thought DM, I can't taste it. Who knows how long this bottle has been in my hand and open to the elements. If that girl hadn't come by... I need a few more drinks.
DM changed the bottles and poured the liquid down his throat again, even though he couldn't taste the drink anymore, he felt some memory of what wine tasted. He felt a tingle near his center and a shock of electricity jumped his brain to full power. The girl jumped at the sudden flash and started to look at the doorway. She hesitated at first, still in a surprised shock at what she was looking at, but then she spoke. "I... we... they chased us into here. I don't know..."
"They?"
"Those soldiers. They got my friend and now they're chasing me."
DM dimmed his eye lights and took a closer look at her face. She was kinda pretty for such a young girl, but he didn't see anything that made him think that she was some sort of criminal. She didn't even have any shoes... "What did you do for them to chase you?"
She look scared and confused. "I don't know... I'm just trying to get home."
Home? Thought DM. How can she be wanting home? Is she from the Silver City? But no one calls that 'home'. Unless...
He looked down again at her feet and saw it. Barely within the light, was her shadow. She still had her shadow in the Shadow Lands.
Interesting.
"For you helping me, I will repay my debt. Hide and keep quiet."
Patience is something you gain with time. And DM has had plenty of time. He stood as still as a statue in the center of the room facing towards the doorway. He just had to wait...
DM heard the door open up and a scream went through the room. If it wasn't for the fact that it came from somewhere in front of him, he would of thought it was the girl. Good thing he didn't have any lips anymore or he would have cracked a smile.
"Jesus, man. Calm down." said another voice.
"I-I-It's theee De-Dead Mmman!! Let's get out of here!"
"It can't be, that's just an old legend. It's just a statue. Just look for the girl and we can give it that commanding... thing."
"Aren't you scared? This is the Dead Man's house..."
"I'm more scared of Merihem. Now move!"
DM could hear at least four of the soldiers moving around as they looked for the girl, but all he had to do was wait. Just wait.
He heard footsteps walk around his body. And he waited. Then one of them stopped in front of him. DM twitched his arm to make a 'clink' noise and waited. Then he heard it.
"What the..."
DM moved fast and clapped his large metal hands between the soldiers head and placed them just as quickly back. Without opening his eyes, he knew that hurt.
He heard the the body fall, and more footsteps came close. Good.
3...2...1...Now.
DM's eyes opened. And all hell broke loose.
DM doesn't really think when he fights, he just reacts to the actions of those who attacks him from years of fighting. His stone mind which holds his important memories, current events, and needed deeds, could not hold the memories of what he considered a dull fight.
From what he remembered, as soon as he opened his eyes, the remaining four soldiers tried to shoot him with pistols which had no effect on his mostly metal and rubber body, he threw wide punches that seemed to knock out another soldier, grabbed his sickle weapons from his side and sliced up the arms of two of the soldiers. More screaming, more blood... Boring stuff. One even tried calling for help, so DM threw one of his sickles near his face and caused him to be terrified enough for DM to hit him over the head with his fist. The ones who could still stand were given a dark look, and DM spoke out.
"Grab your tin soldiers and get out of my house."
The soldiers ran away and the room was clear except for DM and the girl. DM sighed and went to close the doors behind them so he could talk more to this girl.
But then the door broke and DM was stabbed in his heart by a spear.
Or he would have been stabbed there, if he a heart. Having been the first organ to go, DM had changed it with an energy register and had it battery powered for a bit. Then when he started to run out of battery power, made the water wheel reviver to make his drinking last and, in a way, his mind...
DM grabbed the spear pole and instantly broke it. He then was slammed away by what appeared to be a someone in heavy green armor. Before he could give it a thought, DM threw a punch towards the figure, but was blocked and pushed away again.
Interesting, thought DM, someone worth remembering fighting.
The figure's armor was a deep toxic looking green, like a heavy duty gas suit. Not an inch of skin could be seen under all the green plates and dark mesh like armor. It's gauntlets held two black spears that gave off a slimy feeling, with at least six more in a carrier on it's back. Even after being stabbed and breaking one, DM still could 'feel' unclean.
But the face... The helmet just looked wrong. Multiple tubes came out from it's mouth and sides, making almost squid like. The solid head piece had knobs and levers that did something DM guessed to regulate it's breathing or whatever. And the eyes... were covered in a black tar like substance that couldn't be seen through. DM thought this was odd. Even his false eyes had some light in them.
The only part that wasn't green or black was gold lettering on it's chest. On it were the words -
So, this is the 'commanding thing' that DM heard the soldiers spoke of.
Let's see how well he can fight then. Thought DM.
Having throw one of his sickles into the now broken door, he only had one in his hand. DM charged forward, moving his recently awakened body faster than should have been possible for being mostly made of metal, and threw a punch towards Merihem's center.
Merihem blocked the punch and countered with another jab from his spear, hitting near the same place as before. DM grabbed again and pulled it in further to throw another punch towards it's head, but it ducked down to dodge and received a stab with the sickle instead.
However, the sickle broke easily from the armor and didn't even put a scratch on it.
DM looked at the broken blade quickly and noticed that the once shiney blade was now dull and rusty looking. How long had he been asleep? Or is it an effect from...
He kicked off the soldier and as he was pulling out the spear, Merihem pulled another spear from his back.
DM backed away and ponder as he prepared to defend. His greatest problem wasn't time or it's strength, but it's reach with it's weapons. DM would already have to repair the damage that happened from the two stabs, but without a way to stop or slow down the strikes, he would definitely have a problem fixing up any more holes in him.
"Here!" shouted the girl.
DM turned and caught his large sledge axe he usually uses for the petrified wood outside his house. He turned it in his hands and it felt familiar in his grip.
A little primitive, but it will have to do.
DM lost count long ago how many people he has fought during his 'life'. However, he has mostly only fought against humans and the shadow creatures that were outside his house.
Merihem was nothing like either.
Every step that DM took to swing his sledge axe Merihem would copy with his spear, until DM attacked, then Merihem would dodge and strike out to DM who would use the handle to block and counter back. This went on for at least four times, each move happening quicker and quicker.
If DM had the lip power, he would be scowling.
Even though DM didn't have muscles anymore, his complicated use of wires, compressors, and pumps had made him exceptionally strong. In fact, he mostly had limits place on his mind and body to make sure he doesn't use too much and burn out any parts while fighting. It was like shifting into gears, having to start slow a bit before going into full power. Without organs, he could never tire as long as he had a power source. Unlike a regular human, who would tire after heavy blows and become slower.
Merihem, however, didn't slow down.
It didn't speed up either though.
Reach and strength were now taken care of, but now the main problem is time. How long had it been since DM took a drink? How much power did he have left and did he have enough to attack or just enough to defend? These are all thoughts that would usually go through DM's mind.
But DM's deep thoughts where unfortunately on something else.
I need a drink. Thought DM.
Addiction is a strange thing to a smart person. A smart person knows when they are addicted to something pretty quickly, and if it harms the person to a point, will try to get away from the addiction as fast as possible. However with time, boredom, or just with nothing to fear, going back to that addiction is the easiest thing to do. When DM became as he is now, the most basic desire he had was thirst. Even without flesh, throat, or taste, his thirst was so strong it distracted him from most thoughts. It didn't need to be alcoholic, although it helped to keep the insides of the power wheel clean, but even with water, which was rare in the Silver City, he still imagined a strong taste like alcohol.
I need a drink, right now.
"What's wrong?" Yelled the girl, awakening DM from his thoughts.
DM didn't want to get the girl involved, but he didn't have much choice with his hands full with Merihem.
"I need fuel."
"What? Like oil or something?"
"A drink! I need a drink!"
"What kind and where?"
"Just find me an empty bottle. I have plenty around."
"I didn't notice." DM thought she said this sarcastically, which probably meant she had gone past the hallways of his house that was covered with empty bottles. Or his rooms. Or his yard...
The girl looked around for a bit while DM defended against Merihem's attacks until she came across another glass bottle that was intact. "I found one!"
"Here!" DM shouted, and she threw the bottle.
Throughout the years, DM has realized that his 'need for a drink' was his weakest point. He has had more than his fair share of close calls of defeat because of this weakness. But, through years of experience, and his use of metal and glass, he has developed some techniques for dealing with this weakness.
As the bottle started flying into the air, DM quickly used a full front kick to Merihem to give them some distance between them. He then quickly used one hand to open his stomach and pull out the full bottle of dark red drink he had been using and put it in his mouth, using his teeth to hold the bottle down. He grabbed the oncoming bottle with his now free hand and quickly loaded it into his stomach. Then he lifted his head and for a few moments 'felt' the liquid go down his sensors and start turning his power wheel...
But Merihem had charged back and thrust one of his spears into DM's bone jaw, causing the bottle top to break in his mouth.
However, the spear broke off on his jaw, which was made with his original bone, but filled with metal and covered in a hard rubberized white plaster with his teeth being the same, and while he grabbed the falling broken bottle in his one hand, DM swung the sledge axe into the side of Merihem's body and sent him flying to the side and into DM's work bench. Merihem tried to pick itself from the bench, while DM looked at his bottle.
A broken bottle.
A broken bottle caused by that thing.
A broken bottle caused by that thing that spilled some of his drink.
"In my house."
In DM's mind, rage is a feeling of intense or growing emotion related to one's psychological interpretation of being offended, wronged, or denied with a tendency to react with retaliation. It is usually a worthless emotion that ends up being more trouble than useful.
But as DM downed the last of the liquid and spat out the broken glass from his mouth, he only saw red.
DM charged forward with both hands on his axe, while Merihem charged again with another spear. And just before Merihem could thrust into DM once more, DM used his newly gained charge to let his limit break and swing his axe fast enough to pierce the side of it's armor. At first, the creature soldier didn't have much of a reaction, but it couldn't move as well as before. It tried to thrust again, but DM dodged again and hit it heavily with the axe again on the other side. The crack, this time, didn't produce any blood, but this black ooze that started to pour out from it's armor. Then DM hit it again. And again.
And again.
After awhile, even though there was no blood, the armor had so many crack, dents, and ooze that it could barely stand or move anymore. All but one spear was left unbroken. Even though the threat felt gone, it's eyes were still looking at DM.
DM didn't care. As he knew this thing need to be destroyed.
The girl spoke up. "Um... I think you won."
DM looked at the girl, with a worried look on her face. She probably is frightened of me like all others now, he thought. "He broke into my house and started a fight. This is how it must end."
"Wait, don't!" she yelled.
DM raised his axe above his head.
And then DM was kicked in the face by a metal boot.
There wasn't much power in the kick, but the sudden surprise of impact to the face caught DM off guard. He stumbled back a few steps and almost lost his balance from the weight of the sledge axe.
A dry, rough voice spoke. "The lady said to stop."
DM looked down and saw that it was a thin man. Short compared to DM, and covered in a stitched up leather coat and a fedora that seemed big on him. He was smoking, which instantly upset DM, who couldn't smell the smoke, but didn't want the ash to dust up his house. He had one boot that was steel toed and holes all along his pants and shirt.
But it was the eye that gave worry to DM. One eye gone, stitched closed in thick leather string, with the other giving off an intense feeling, like it was burning... It burned DM's vision just by staring at it.
DM also realized...
Another kick came close to his body, and he quickly reacted by defending with the axe handle.
...that he was very quick.
He also felt lite. DM pushed back the handle and the man jumped high in the air and countered with a heel drop kick.
Interesting. Two good fights in a row? What, DM thought, would be the odds of that? Well, since he started it, might as well finish it.
DM drew the sledge axe back while the other man drew his leg back for another strike.
Until the girl rushed out in between them. "Stop it ,Scare!" she yelled.
The man, now known as Scare, lowered his leg and gave the girl a confused look. "But Selene, you yelled at him to stop."
The girl closed her eyes and sighed, "I was yelling at both of you. And it's Sophie, Scare, remember?"
Scare stared at her, then at DM, then back to her. He sighed out with cloud of smoke, "Yeah, sorry Sharon." Causing the girl, now known as Sophie, to have an exhausted look.
And in a sudden flash all respect for his skills were gone, as DM realized that the man was an idiot. An nothing disappoints DM more than an idiot who had his interest.
Wait... wasn't there something else DM was...
"You!" yelled out Scare to the damaged armor creature known as Merihem.
Merihem, with whatever strength it had left, threw from his corner his last spear...
Towards Sophie.
Within noticing, DM's automatic reaction was to step in front of her and grab the spear before it would hit her, but his body's energy, already slowing down from the constant fights and not enough drinks, couldn't move fast enough. So he had to do the next best thing... and take the hit. The spear once again hit DM in the chest, roughly around the same place he had been stabbed before.
Not a fatal hit, thought DM, but still annoying.
Before DM could pull the spear out again, Scare rushed out with a trail of smoke and front kicked Merihem in the chest. He then started to kick it constantly while yelling, "What is your deal with stabbing people in the chest? You put a hole in my best shirt and another one in my coat. You green slimy dick! Wait... that didn't sound right..."
DM cringed and almost blanked out from the stupidity of that statement... but he would have to erase that memory later. Right now, spear.
Whatever threat and dangers Merihem had left was beaten out of it by Scare. After tripping it up, Scare finished up with a powerful stomp kick to it's center back. It stopped moving after that...
DM pulled the spear out, and threw it to the ground, where it started to melt away. He grabbed the sledge axe and walked over to the body of Merihem next to Scare. Sophie join them to take a closer look at the body.
"Is he dead?" she asked.
"It." DM corrected.
Scare took another puff from his cigarette roll and spoke with another cloud of smoke. "Yeah, no. I just paralyzed it for payback. I figured that it would be best to leave him for something worst, since we are at this house. The Dead Man." He looked around him as if making sure nothing was behind him. "Wherever he is."
DM and Sophie both looked at him.
Scare looked back with a blank expression. "What?"
Sophie pointed at DM. "You do realize that he's the Dead Man, right."
Scare looked at DM and a pause filled the room for a good couple of seconds. Scare's mouth drop his cigarette and he started an awkward laugh the most people do when they realize that they are in front of someone who quite literally has a legend attached to him. "I... yeah...uhh... Sorry for attacking you."
Idiot. Thought DM as he stared hard at him.
Scare then grabbed Sophie's hand and started to back away, but Sophie shook him off and looked at Merihem again.
"What are you going to do?" she asked DM.
"Put it out of it's misery. Something is wrong with it."
"So you are just going to kill it, just like that?" She pointed at the axe. "Isn't that a little heartless?"
Scare jumped in. "Are you really getting in an argument with the Dead Man? It's his house, he can do what he wants, let's go." Still trying to get her to move away. "Besides, he's right. It's not human."
"What do you mean it's not human? You and him keep saying that, but it's obviously..." she started but looked at both DM and Scare as they stare at her.
Scare sighed and placed his boot on Merihems back. He looked at the armor and then with one hand, started to unbuckle some latches attached to the helmet. "You ready with that axe?" He asked DM.
DM held the axe back up and waited.
Scare pulled off the helmet and...
Sophie screamed out as a black slimy head of a monster with no eyes and sharp teeth, shaking back and forth and screaming a high pitch wail. It turned with it's eyeless form and faced Sophie.
DM didn't hesitate to drop the axe on it's neck.
As soon as the axe blade hit the floor, the human shadow creature disappeared. The armor flattened out and where the spears laid turned to slime and slowly disappeared. With that, DM let go of the axe and a still quiet went across the room. He walked over to the wall and grabbed a lamp that turned on with his touch. Sophie took her hands away from her face and looked around the room and finally ending with the shadow that DM was projecting.
DM didn't have any lungs, and so had no need to breathe. He didn't have muscles, so he wasn't sore. But he was still slowing down and making a hallowed humming noise like a long sigh.
Sophie noticed this while staring at the shadow and knew what needed to be done. She turned to Scare and asked, "Um... Scare, can you do me a favor and grab another glass bottle from outside?"
Scare, trying to light another cigarette, turned to her and asked, "What for?"
"Please?" she asked calmly and gave him a look.
Scare sighed. "Yeah, sure, can do. Be right back."
As soon as they were alone, Sophie tried to speak to the Dead Man, but she had trouble trying to start speaking again. DM understood, seeing the way he was.
He looked up where she was looking, his shadow from his body on the wall. Even though he lost his shadow, his mechanical parts still had their shadows, with gaps missing from his bones which were the only things left that were originally his. But there was one place where it obvious that there was a gap. On his upper left side of his chest, where Merihem had been constantly stabbing, was a hole in the shape of a heart.
Well, that's embarrassing. Thought DM. And kinda odd.
DM looked down, but didn't see the hole in his ribs. Where was a mirror when you needed one?
"Do I have any broken bones?" He asked Sophie.
"Yes... your ribs..." She point in the general area on herself.
DM sighed. "Damn. Shattered or split?"
She stepped closer and gave a closer look. "It's not too bad, just broken in two. Like a split?"
"Oh, good. I can fix that. I hate replacing bones. Nothing is as solid and flexible as bone... metal is so stiff. You can never understand the subtle differences that can be made until it happens to you. I mean... look at my hands." He lifted he hands, still having the large fingertip sensors gloves. "When they were young and of flesh, they could sew a wound or create masterpieces that would make even the heartless shed a tear. Now they are of metal and without feeling... but I suppose that also has its own specialties..."
"Like breaking the faces of our pursuers." Scare said as he came in with another glass bottle. He passed it to Sophie, who then passed it to DM. He quickly switched the bottle in his stomach and started to drink again.
After getting half way through the bottle. He asked her, "You alright?"
"Yes." She replied. Scare answered, "I'm fine too, by the way."
"Good. Now get out of my house." He turned and started to walk out of the room.
"Wait!" she yelled out. "Get out?!"
"Yes, get out. You brought these men in my house and made a giant mess. Now I got to clean everything up, build new doors, and repair myself. Going to be busy for the next few days. Leave." But even though he said that, that wasn't what he was thinking. He was very curious about the girl... but he wanted to she what she wanted.
Scare answered, "Sounds good to me, lets go." He went to grab her shoulder and lead her out, but she stepped closer to DM.
"Could you help us?" She asked DM sincerely.
Scare groaned.
DM kept his face still. "Help? How could I help you?"
"I'm looking for the Shadow King. To get me back home."
A silence filled the room again. Shadow King...but isn't he...
DM stepped towards Sophie, who almost started to back away, but held her ground. He got close to her and stared into her eyes. "And what reason would I have to..." He paused as he heard something.
And then, in the silence, he heard it louder. A slight, sharp, recurring click. Like someone tapping...
"What is that noise?"
"What noise?" Scare asked.
"It sounds like a heart... beating... but metal."
Sophie answered. "Like a ticking? Like my watch?"
Watch? Thought DM. Why does that sound familiar? And should it?
"Watch?" DM asked.
"I mean this. See, watch."
DM looked at the thing, but it still confused him. "I'm looking but I still don't know what it is."
Scare squinted his eye as he pulled out another cigarette to light. "She means 'watch' is what it is called, even I know that."
DM held back the groan and kept his skull face straight. "I know that... but what's it for?"
Scare and Sophie looked at each other and gave a confused look. Sophie spoke in a slow tone, "It's a device that keeps time?"
Ah, time. DM thought. Now that I know of.
"Keeps time? No such thing. Time is defined as a measuring system used to sequence events and compare durations of intervals. Its operational use is observing a certain number of repetitions of one cyclical event that constitutes one standard unit such as a second..."
Both Scare and Sophie stared at DM with a dumbfounded expression.
"There is also the idea of space-time, bringing the nature of time into a group related to the nature of the cosmos and natural philosophy..."
This hadn't been the first time DM had embarrassed himself over a memory problem. With the limit of memory that he has on the Stone he uses as a brain, he had gotten rid of memories that could seem as the simplest of things. Because of his lack of need for it, he had once forgotten about the word 'food' and it's use to people. After a horrified week of seeing people eat things into there body by ripping and chewing and not knowing why, he was reminded that it was a necessary for others to 'eat' and had to re-memorizes it's uses.
"Time is also of social importance, with sayings like 'time is money' and 'time passing', which could be considered to be inconsistent because it is arbitrary, like the personal value with life spans..."
Better not go into Eternalism... it might hurt the dumb one. But lets see if I can't make him drop his jaw.
"There are two specific views on time. One is that it is a fundamental structure of the universe, where dimensions and events occur in a sequence. Things like time travel can be possible in this view..."
But why this? Why that device? It seems like it was so simple and a useful device. Would make it easier for me to figure out when to drink and would be useful to make an better way for energy distribution. So why don't I remember that thing?
"However, like Leibniz and Kant, I believe that time does not refer to any kind of space or area that events and objects move through nor could even flow, but only a idea of structure for people to compare events."
Scare's unlit cigarette dropped to the floor. Sophie still looked stunned. DM hid his grin.
"Time is neither an event nor a thing, which can not be measured or traveled. Thus it doesn't exist."
Silence once again filled the room. Scare suddenly started to cough, a heavy cough, and pulled another cigarette out to lite it up. The coughing stopped as soon as he took a drag. An addict? Of what though?
The only thing Sophie could reply with was, "Oh..."
DM offered his hand. "May I see it?"
Sophie gave a confused look. "I thought you didn't believe in..."
"I believe in technology."
Sophie started to hand off her pocket watch to DM, but as she was about to place it in DM's large hand, she paused, looked to Scare, and then with a grin, pulled it back.
"How about we make a deal?"
Scare couldn't help but grin through the smoke as DM raised his eye socket.
DM sighed as he started to repair himself in his mechanic room, which even with the many years he was asleep, was in good condition. In return for sheltered time at his house and the watch, he would have to help the girl to her meeting of the Shadow King. After a short time thinking, DM agreed for three main reasons.
One, he had nothing better to do.
Two, the watch, after some intense study of it's gears and springs, would be a great asset for his body mechanics.
Three and the most important one, too many mysteries. Who is that girl? Why is she looking for the Shadow King to go home? Who told her that? And her companion, who or what is he? And why couldn't DM remember something as seemingly simple as a watch?
DM snapped his rib back in place, and with some tape and metal fix, repaired it to his satisfaction. He gathered his armor pads and started to add them on his arms and legs as he was going through his mental check list.
Chest? Check. Arms? Check. Legs? Check. Helmet?
DM looked around and found it on top of his shelf. He went to grab for it...
And then stopped.
I don't really need it anymore. Back when I was flesh, it was used more to install fear into his opponents during the Colosseum fights than actually protecting my head. But now, with my face as is... not to mention the limited sight on it.
And what would the girl think? She seems to be use to my face now... but if she saw this...
He pulled back and walked out of the room, not even looking back at the helmet.
Which bottle? Which bottle? DM looked at his vast collection, ranging from large to extra small. He picked four good sized bottles and then walked over to his vat room of different drinks. He pretty much left the already opened caskets alone and went to his unopened vats.
Even without taste, each one had a different memory to it. A different effect. DM didn't understand how or why it happened, but he used it to his advantage to help his thirst, boredom, and most importantly his power charge. He filled two bottles with his usual dark red wine (except fresh instead of the almost vinegar tar that he had been drinking), one bottle with a pitch black oil type of drink, and the last with a milky white fog alcohol that moved oddly. He corked and loaded them into his back metal holder and walked out.
He picked up another empty good sized bottle which he attached to his side, and then a large glass jug which he placed in his stomach. There, he thought, all set except...
He went into his room, filled with different weapons he had collected from his fights at the Coliseum days. DM looked at the swords and sickles he was use to using, but nothing seemed to fit him at the moment. He loaded some sickles again to his sides and legs... but something seemed missing.
DM walked back into his blacksmith room and looked where the now empty armor of Merihem was. Next to it, was the sledge axe that Sophie threw at him to use to defend himself. It wasn't very sharp and it didn't have any power in it, nor any decoration like some of his swords. Just... weight.
And reliability.
DM picked it up and threw it over his shoulder and started to walk out. But a gleam caught his eye lens and he turned to where he had been standing for so long before he was awakened.
There, on the self he had placed long ago, was the last glass figure he made. To DM's eyes, it looked like a faceless dancer sitting on the floor, turning her head back and looking at something unknown.
It also, oddly enough to DM's mind, was the same pose he saw the Sophie in when they first met.
"Yo, Dead Man, you ready yet?" he heard Scare yell from outside.
DM turned, and as he walked out, noticed that the light once again showed his body's shadow, and even with the armor on and his injuries fixed, there could still be seen a hole in the shape of a heart.
2nd edition - 5/19/2013
To be continued in full story - Kings from the Shadows
And now, the preview of the next short story -
The soldier looked among the wreckage in the canyon. The fires burned whatever was left of there carriage, and bodies laid on the floor, lifeless...
Was he the only survivor?
And then he saw a shade move.
He pulled out his gun and aimed towards the darkness. He didn't see anything else move at first, but...
The fire started to dim, and a cold feeling came upon the soldier.
Then he was pulled up, and saw big sharp teeth.
"Hurry! Move!" a small fearful voice spoke from the teeth. The soldier looked again, and noticed it was a mask.
"They are coming... Move or you will die."
Coming soon... hopefully...
Shades of Fear
The girl with looked like she was just over twenty years old. With her white and black shirt with a red scarf and short cut jeans that were torn from wear she looked tired and dirty. DM looked at her for a bit and asked her again.
“What are you doing in my house?” His voice box gave his usual mechanical sounding voice, but it felt dry. He could never understand why that happens, as he no longer had any way to feel in his rubber tube throat. It must have be something to do with his memories remembering from the old days...
His brain felt tired and it felt as if it was only working on a little energy. DM's eyes looked to the bottle in his hand for a long time before the sockets of his eyes turned black. As if it was a ritual of sorts, he placed the bottles top a little ways from his teeth and a sort of an electronic hum came from wherever he used to speak from. He opened his jaw and in one swift movement, lifted the bottle above his head and poured all of the dark red content into his mouth.
Luckily, thought DM, I can't taste it. Who knows how long this bottle has been in my hand and open to the elements. If that girl hadn't come by... I need a few more drinks.
DM changed the bottles and poured the liquid down his throat again, even though he couldn't taste the drink anymore, he felt some memory of what wine tasted. He felt a tingle near his center and a shock of electricity jumped his brain to full power. The girl jumped at the sudden flash and started to look at the doorway. She hesitated at first, still in a surprised shock at what she was looking at, but then she spoke. "I... we... they chased us into here. I don't know..."
"They?"
"Those soldiers. They got my friend and now they're chasing me."
DM dimmed his eye lights and took a closer look at her face. She was kinda pretty for such a young girl, but he didn't see anything that made him think that she was some sort of criminal. She didn't even have any shoes... "What did you do for them to chase you?"
She look scared and confused. "I don't know... I'm just trying to get home."
Home? Thought DM. How can she be wanting home? Is she from the Silver City? But no one calls that 'home'. Unless...
He looked down again at her feet and saw it. Barely within the light, was her shadow. She still had her shadow in the Shadow Lands.
Interesting.
"For you helping me, I will repay my debt. Hide and keep quiet."
She didn't move at first, shocked at what he said. But when he started
moving to the center of the room she ran to the far corner. He emptied
another bottle as he got to the center and as soon as the surge
finished, he turned off his eyes and waited in stillness.
"I'll show you how you deal with tin soldiers."
Patience is something you gain with time. And DM has had plenty of time. He stood as still as a statue in the center of the room facing towards the doorway. He just had to wait...
DM heard the door open up and a scream went through the room. If it wasn't for the fact that it came from somewhere in front of him, he would of thought it was the girl. Good thing he didn't have any lips anymore or he would have cracked a smile.
"Jesus, man. Calm down." said another voice.
"I-I-It's theee De-Dead Mmman!! Let's get out of here!"
"It can't be, that's just an old legend. It's just a statue. Just look for the girl and we can give it that commanding... thing."
"Aren't you scared? This is the Dead Man's house..."
"I'm more scared of Merihem. Now move!"
DM could hear at least four of the soldiers moving around as they looked for the girl, but all he had to do was wait. Just wait.
He heard footsteps walk around his body. And he waited. Then one of them stopped in front of him. DM twitched his arm to make a 'clink' noise and waited. Then he heard it.
"What the..."
DM moved fast and clapped his large metal hands between the soldiers head and placed them just as quickly back. Without opening his eyes, he knew that hurt.
He heard the the body fall, and more footsteps came close. Good.
3...2...1...Now.
DM's eyes opened. And all hell broke loose.
DM doesn't really think when he fights, he just reacts to the actions of those who attacks him from years of fighting. His stone mind which holds his important memories, current events, and needed deeds, could not hold the memories of what he considered a dull fight.
From what he remembered, as soon as he opened his eyes, the remaining four soldiers tried to shoot him with pistols which had no effect on his mostly metal and rubber body, he threw wide punches that seemed to knock out another soldier, grabbed his sickle weapons from his side and sliced up the arms of two of the soldiers. More screaming, more blood... Boring stuff. One even tried calling for help, so DM threw one of his sickles near his face and caused him to be terrified enough for DM to hit him over the head with his fist. The ones who could still stand were given a dark look, and DM spoke out.
"Grab your tin soldiers and get out of my house."
The soldiers ran away and the room was clear except for DM and the girl. DM sighed and went to close the doors behind them so he could talk more to this girl.
But then the door broke and DM was stabbed in his heart by a spear.
Or he would have been stabbed there, if he a heart. Having been the first organ to go, DM had changed it with an energy register and had it battery powered for a bit. Then when he started to run out of battery power, made the water wheel reviver to make his drinking last and, in a way, his mind...
DM grabbed the spear pole and instantly broke it. He then was slammed away by what appeared to be a someone in heavy green armor. Before he could give it a thought, DM threw a punch towards the figure, but was blocked and pushed away again.
Interesting, thought DM, someone worth remembering fighting.
The figure's armor was a deep toxic looking green, like a heavy duty gas suit. Not an inch of skin could be seen under all the green plates and dark mesh like armor. It's gauntlets held two black spears that gave off a slimy feeling, with at least six more in a carrier on it's back. Even after being stabbed and breaking one, DM still could 'feel' unclean.
But the face... The helmet just looked wrong. Multiple tubes came out from it's mouth and sides, making almost squid like. The solid head piece had knobs and levers that did something DM guessed to regulate it's breathing or whatever. And the eyes... were covered in a black tar like substance that couldn't be seen through. DM thought this was odd. Even his false eyes had some light in them.
The only part that wasn't green or black was gold lettering on it's chest. On it were the words -
Merihem
So, this is the 'commanding thing' that DM heard the soldiers spoke of.
Let's see how well he can fight then. Thought DM.
Having throw one of his sickles into the now broken door, he only had one in his hand. DM charged forward, moving his recently awakened body faster than should have been possible for being mostly made of metal, and threw a punch towards Merihem's center.
Merihem blocked the punch and countered with another jab from his spear, hitting near the same place as before. DM grabbed again and pulled it in further to throw another punch towards it's head, but it ducked down to dodge and received a stab with the sickle instead.
However, the sickle broke easily from the armor and didn't even put a scratch on it.
DM looked at the broken blade quickly and noticed that the once shiney blade was now dull and rusty looking. How long had he been asleep? Or is it an effect from...
He kicked off the soldier and as he was pulling out the spear, Merihem pulled another spear from his back.
DM backed away and ponder as he prepared to defend. His greatest problem wasn't time or it's strength, but it's reach with it's weapons. DM would already have to repair the damage that happened from the two stabs, but without a way to stop or slow down the strikes, he would definitely have a problem fixing up any more holes in him.
"Here!" shouted the girl.
DM turned and caught his large sledge axe he usually uses for the petrified wood outside his house. He turned it in his hands and it felt familiar in his grip.
A little primitive, but it will have to do.
DM lost count long ago how many people he has fought during his 'life'. However, he has mostly only fought against humans and the shadow creatures that were outside his house.
Merihem was nothing like either.
Every step that DM took to swing his sledge axe Merihem would copy with his spear, until DM attacked, then Merihem would dodge and strike out to DM who would use the handle to block and counter back. This went on for at least four times, each move happening quicker and quicker.
If DM had the lip power, he would be scowling.
Even though DM didn't have muscles anymore, his complicated use of wires, compressors, and pumps had made him exceptionally strong. In fact, he mostly had limits place on his mind and body to make sure he doesn't use too much and burn out any parts while fighting. It was like shifting into gears, having to start slow a bit before going into full power. Without organs, he could never tire as long as he had a power source. Unlike a regular human, who would tire after heavy blows and become slower.
Merihem, however, didn't slow down.
It didn't speed up either though.
Reach and strength were now taken care of, but now the main problem is time. How long had it been since DM took a drink? How much power did he have left and did he have enough to attack or just enough to defend? These are all thoughts that would usually go through DM's mind.
But DM's deep thoughts where unfortunately on something else.
I need a drink. Thought DM.
Addiction is a strange thing to a smart person. A smart person knows when they are addicted to something pretty quickly, and if it harms the person to a point, will try to get away from the addiction as fast as possible. However with time, boredom, or just with nothing to fear, going back to that addiction is the easiest thing to do. When DM became as he is now, the most basic desire he had was thirst. Even without flesh, throat, or taste, his thirst was so strong it distracted him from most thoughts. It didn't need to be alcoholic, although it helped to keep the insides of the power wheel clean, but even with water, which was rare in the Silver City, he still imagined a strong taste like alcohol.
I need a drink, right now.
"What's wrong?" Yelled the girl, awakening DM from his thoughts.
DM didn't want to get the girl involved, but he didn't have much choice with his hands full with Merihem.
"I need fuel."
"What? Like oil or something?"
"A drink! I need a drink!"
"What kind and where?"
"Just find me an empty bottle. I have plenty around."
"I didn't notice." DM thought she said this sarcastically, which probably meant she had gone past the hallways of his house that was covered with empty bottles. Or his rooms. Or his yard...
The girl looked around for a bit while DM defended against Merihem's attacks until she came across another glass bottle that was intact. "I found one!"
"Here!" DM shouted, and she threw the bottle.
Throughout the years, DM has realized that his 'need for a drink' was his weakest point. He has had more than his fair share of close calls of defeat because of this weakness. But, through years of experience, and his use of metal and glass, he has developed some techniques for dealing with this weakness.
As the bottle started flying into the air, DM quickly used a full front kick to Merihem to give them some distance between them. He then quickly used one hand to open his stomach and pull out the full bottle of dark red drink he had been using and put it in his mouth, using his teeth to hold the bottle down. He grabbed the oncoming bottle with his now free hand and quickly loaded it into his stomach. Then he lifted his head and for a few moments 'felt' the liquid go down his sensors and start turning his power wheel...
But Merihem had charged back and thrust one of his spears into DM's bone jaw, causing the bottle top to break in his mouth.
However, the spear broke off on his jaw, which was made with his original bone, but filled with metal and covered in a hard rubberized white plaster with his teeth being the same, and while he grabbed the falling broken bottle in his one hand, DM swung the sledge axe into the side of Merihem's body and sent him flying to the side and into DM's work bench. Merihem tried to pick itself from the bench, while DM looked at his bottle.
A broken bottle.
A broken bottle caused by that thing.
A broken bottle caused by that thing that spilled some of his drink.
"In my house."
In DM's mind, rage is a feeling of intense or growing emotion related to one's psychological interpretation of being offended, wronged, or denied with a tendency to react with retaliation. It is usually a worthless emotion that ends up being more trouble than useful.
But as DM downed the last of the liquid and spat out the broken glass from his mouth, he only saw red.
DM charged forward with both hands on his axe, while Merihem charged again with another spear. And just before Merihem could thrust into DM once more, DM used his newly gained charge to let his limit break and swing his axe fast enough to pierce the side of it's armor. At first, the creature soldier didn't have much of a reaction, but it couldn't move as well as before. It tried to thrust again, but DM dodged again and hit it heavily with the axe again on the other side. The crack, this time, didn't produce any blood, but this black ooze that started to pour out from it's armor. Then DM hit it again. And again.
And again.
After awhile, even though there was no blood, the armor had so many crack, dents, and ooze that it could barely stand or move anymore. All but one spear was left unbroken. Even though the threat felt gone, it's eyes were still looking at DM.
DM didn't care. As he knew this thing need to be destroyed.
The girl spoke up. "Um... I think you won."
DM looked at the girl, with a worried look on her face. She probably is frightened of me like all others now, he thought. "He broke into my house and started a fight. This is how it must end."
"Wait, don't!" she yelled.
DM raised his axe above his head.
And then DM was kicked in the face by a metal boot.
There wasn't much power in the kick, but the sudden surprise of impact to the face caught DM off guard. He stumbled back a few steps and almost lost his balance from the weight of the sledge axe.
A dry, rough voice spoke. "The lady said to stop."
DM looked down and saw that it was a thin man. Short compared to DM, and covered in a stitched up leather coat and a fedora that seemed big on him. He was smoking, which instantly upset DM, who couldn't smell the smoke, but didn't want the ash to dust up his house. He had one boot that was steel toed and holes all along his pants and shirt.
But it was the eye that gave worry to DM. One eye gone, stitched closed in thick leather string, with the other giving off an intense feeling, like it was burning... It burned DM's vision just by staring at it.
DM also realized...
Another kick came close to his body, and he quickly reacted by defending with the axe handle.
...that he was very quick.
He also felt lite. DM pushed back the handle and the man jumped high in the air and countered with a heel drop kick.
Interesting. Two good fights in a row? What, DM thought, would be the odds of that? Well, since he started it, might as well finish it.
DM drew the sledge axe back while the other man drew his leg back for another strike.
Until the girl rushed out in between them. "Stop it ,Scare!" she yelled.
The man, now known as Scare, lowered his leg and gave the girl a confused look. "But Selene, you yelled at him to stop."
The girl closed her eyes and sighed, "I was yelling at both of you. And it's Sophie, Scare, remember?"
Scare stared at her, then at DM, then back to her. He sighed out with cloud of smoke, "Yeah, sorry Sharon." Causing the girl, now known as Sophie, to have an exhausted look.
And in a sudden flash all respect for his skills were gone, as DM realized that the man was an idiot. An nothing disappoints DM more than an idiot who had his interest.
Wait... wasn't there something else DM was...
"You!" yelled out Scare to the damaged armor creature known as Merihem.
Merihem, with whatever strength it had left, threw from his corner his last spear...
Towards Sophie.
Within noticing, DM's automatic reaction was to step in front of her and grab the spear before it would hit her, but his body's energy, already slowing down from the constant fights and not enough drinks, couldn't move fast enough. So he had to do the next best thing... and take the hit. The spear once again hit DM in the chest, roughly around the same place he had been stabbed before.
Not a fatal hit, thought DM, but still annoying.
Before DM could pull the spear out again, Scare rushed out with a trail of smoke and front kicked Merihem in the chest. He then started to kick it constantly while yelling, "What is your deal with stabbing people in the chest? You put a hole in my best shirt and another one in my coat. You green slimy dick! Wait... that didn't sound right..."
DM cringed and almost blanked out from the stupidity of that statement... but he would have to erase that memory later. Right now, spear.
Whatever threat and dangers Merihem had left was beaten out of it by Scare. After tripping it up, Scare finished up with a powerful stomp kick to it's center back. It stopped moving after that...
DM pulled the spear out, and threw it to the ground, where it started to melt away. He grabbed the sledge axe and walked over to the body of Merihem next to Scare. Sophie join them to take a closer look at the body.
"Is he dead?" she asked.
"It." DM corrected.
Scare took another puff from his cigarette roll and spoke with another cloud of smoke. "Yeah, no. I just paralyzed it for payback. I figured that it would be best to leave him for something worst, since we are at this house. The Dead Man." He looked around him as if making sure nothing was behind him. "Wherever he is."
DM and Sophie both looked at him.
Scare looked back with a blank expression. "What?"
Sophie pointed at DM. "You do realize that he's the Dead Man, right."
Scare looked at DM and a pause filled the room for a good couple of seconds. Scare's mouth drop his cigarette and he started an awkward laugh the most people do when they realize that they are in front of someone who quite literally has a legend attached to him. "I... yeah...uhh... Sorry for attacking you."
Idiot. Thought DM as he stared hard at him.
Scare then grabbed Sophie's hand and started to back away, but Sophie shook him off and looked at Merihem again.
"What are you going to do?" she asked DM.
"Put it out of it's misery. Something is wrong with it."
"So you are just going to kill it, just like that?" She pointed at the axe. "Isn't that a little heartless?"
Scare jumped in. "Are you really getting in an argument with the Dead Man? It's his house, he can do what he wants, let's go." Still trying to get her to move away. "Besides, he's right. It's not human."
"What do you mean it's not human? You and him keep saying that, but it's obviously..." she started but looked at both DM and Scare as they stare at her.
Scare sighed and placed his boot on Merihems back. He looked at the armor and then with one hand, started to unbuckle some latches attached to the helmet. "You ready with that axe?" He asked DM.
DM held the axe back up and waited.
Scare pulled off the helmet and...
Sophie screamed out as a black slimy head of a monster with no eyes and sharp teeth, shaking back and forth and screaming a high pitch wail. It turned with it's eyeless form and faced Sophie.
DM didn't hesitate to drop the axe on it's neck.
As soon as the axe blade hit the floor, the human shadow creature disappeared. The armor flattened out and where the spears laid turned to slime and slowly disappeared. With that, DM let go of the axe and a still quiet went across the room. He walked over to the wall and grabbed a lamp that turned on with his touch. Sophie took her hands away from her face and looked around the room and finally ending with the shadow that DM was projecting.
DM didn't have any lungs, and so had no need to breathe. He didn't have muscles, so he wasn't sore. But he was still slowing down and making a hallowed humming noise like a long sigh.
Sophie noticed this while staring at the shadow and knew what needed to be done. She turned to Scare and asked, "Um... Scare, can you do me a favor and grab another glass bottle from outside?"
Scare, trying to light another cigarette, turned to her and asked, "What for?"
"Please?" she asked calmly and gave him a look.
Scare sighed. "Yeah, sure, can do. Be right back."
As soon as they were alone, Sophie tried to speak to the Dead Man, but she had trouble trying to start speaking again. DM understood, seeing the way he was.
He looked up where she was looking, his shadow from his body on the wall. Even though he lost his shadow, his mechanical parts still had their shadows, with gaps missing from his bones which were the only things left that were originally his. But there was one place where it obvious that there was a gap. On his upper left side of his chest, where Merihem had been constantly stabbing, was a hole in the shape of a heart.
Well, that's embarrassing. Thought DM. And kinda odd.
DM looked down, but didn't see the hole in his ribs. Where was a mirror when you needed one?
"Do I have any broken bones?" He asked Sophie.
"Yes... your ribs..." She point in the general area on herself.
DM sighed. "Damn. Shattered or split?"
She stepped closer and gave a closer look. "It's not too bad, just broken in two. Like a split?"
"Oh, good. I can fix that. I hate replacing bones. Nothing is as solid and flexible as bone... metal is so stiff. You can never understand the subtle differences that can be made until it happens to you. I mean... look at my hands." He lifted he hands, still having the large fingertip sensors gloves. "When they were young and of flesh, they could sew a wound or create masterpieces that would make even the heartless shed a tear. Now they are of metal and without feeling... but I suppose that also has its own specialties..."
"Like breaking the faces of our pursuers." Scare said as he came in with another glass bottle. He passed it to Sophie, who then passed it to DM. He quickly switched the bottle in his stomach and started to drink again.
After getting half way through the bottle. He asked her, "You alright?"
"Yes." She replied. Scare answered, "I'm fine too, by the way."
"Good. Now get out of my house." He turned and started to walk out of the room.
"Wait!" she yelled out. "Get out?!"
"Yes, get out. You brought these men in my house and made a giant mess. Now I got to clean everything up, build new doors, and repair myself. Going to be busy for the next few days. Leave." But even though he said that, that wasn't what he was thinking. He was very curious about the girl... but he wanted to she what she wanted.
Scare answered, "Sounds good to me, lets go." He went to grab her shoulder and lead her out, but she stepped closer to DM.
"Could you help us?" She asked DM sincerely.
Scare groaned.
DM kept his face still. "Help? How could I help you?"
"I'm looking for the Shadow King. To get me back home."
A silence filled the room again. Shadow King...but isn't he...
DM stepped towards Sophie, who almost started to back away, but held her ground. He got close to her and stared into her eyes. "And what reason would I have to..." He paused as he heard something.
And then, in the silence, he heard it louder. A slight, sharp, recurring click. Like someone tapping...
"What noise?" Scare asked.
"It sounds like a heart... beating... but metal."
Sophie answered. "Like a ticking? Like my watch?"
Watch? Thought DM. Why does that sound familiar? And should it?
"Watch?" DM asked.
"I mean this. See, watch."
DM looked at the thing, but it still confused him. "I'm looking but I still don't know what it is."
Scare squinted his eye as he pulled out another cigarette to light. "She means 'watch' is what it is called, even I know that."
DM held back the groan and kept his skull face straight. "I know that... but what's it for?"
Scare and Sophie looked at each other and gave a confused look. Sophie spoke in a slow tone, "It's a device that keeps time?"
Ah, time. DM thought. Now that I know of.
"Keeps time? No such thing. Time is defined as a measuring system used to sequence events and compare durations of intervals. Its operational use is observing a certain number of repetitions of one cyclical event that constitutes one standard unit such as a second..."
Both Scare and Sophie stared at DM with a dumbfounded expression.
"There is also the idea of space-time, bringing the nature of time into a group related to the nature of the cosmos and natural philosophy..."
This hadn't been the first time DM had embarrassed himself over a memory problem. With the limit of memory that he has on the Stone he uses as a brain, he had gotten rid of memories that could seem as the simplest of things. Because of his lack of need for it, he had once forgotten about the word 'food' and it's use to people. After a horrified week of seeing people eat things into there body by ripping and chewing and not knowing why, he was reminded that it was a necessary for others to 'eat' and had to re-memorizes it's uses.
"Time is also of social importance, with sayings like 'time is money' and 'time passing', which could be considered to be inconsistent because it is arbitrary, like the personal value with life spans..."
Better not go into Eternalism... it might hurt the dumb one. But lets see if I can't make him drop his jaw.
"There are two specific views on time. One is that it is a fundamental structure of the universe, where dimensions and events occur in a sequence. Things like time travel can be possible in this view..."
But why this? Why that device? It seems like it was so simple and a useful device. Would make it easier for me to figure out when to drink and would be useful to make an better way for energy distribution. So why don't I remember that thing?
"However, like Leibniz and Kant, I believe that time does not refer to any kind of space or area that events and objects move through nor could even flow, but only a idea of structure for people to compare events."
Scare's unlit cigarette dropped to the floor. Sophie still looked stunned. DM hid his grin.
"Time is neither an event nor a thing, which can not be measured or traveled. Thus it doesn't exist."
Silence once again filled the room. Scare suddenly started to cough, a heavy cough, and pulled another cigarette out to lite it up. The coughing stopped as soon as he took a drag. An addict? Of what though?
The only thing Sophie could reply with was, "Oh..."
DM offered his hand. "May I see it?"
Sophie gave a confused look. "I thought you didn't believe in..."
"I believe in technology."
Sophie started to hand off her pocket watch to DM, but as she was about to place it in DM's large hand, she paused, looked to Scare, and then with a grin, pulled it back.
"How about we make a deal?"
Scare couldn't help but grin through the smoke as DM raised his eye socket.
DM sighed as he started to repair himself in his mechanic room, which even with the many years he was asleep, was in good condition. In return for sheltered time at his house and the watch, he would have to help the girl to her meeting of the Shadow King. After a short time thinking, DM agreed for three main reasons.
One, he had nothing better to do.
Two, the watch, after some intense study of it's gears and springs, would be a great asset for his body mechanics.
Three and the most important one, too many mysteries. Who is that girl? Why is she looking for the Shadow King to go home? Who told her that? And her companion, who or what is he? And why couldn't DM remember something as seemingly simple as a watch?
DM snapped his rib back in place, and with some tape and metal fix, repaired it to his satisfaction. He gathered his armor pads and started to add them on his arms and legs as he was going through his mental check list.
Chest? Check. Arms? Check. Legs? Check. Helmet?
DM looked around and found it on top of his shelf. He went to grab for it...
And then stopped.
I don't really need it anymore. Back when I was flesh, it was used more to install fear into his opponents during the Colosseum fights than actually protecting my head. But now, with my face as is... not to mention the limited sight on it.
And what would the girl think? She seems to be use to my face now... but if she saw this...
He pulled back and walked out of the room, not even looking back at the helmet.
Which bottle? Which bottle? DM looked at his vast collection, ranging from large to extra small. He picked four good sized bottles and then walked over to his vat room of different drinks. He pretty much left the already opened caskets alone and went to his unopened vats.
Even without taste, each one had a different memory to it. A different effect. DM didn't understand how or why it happened, but he used it to his advantage to help his thirst, boredom, and most importantly his power charge. He filled two bottles with his usual dark red wine (except fresh instead of the almost vinegar tar that he had been drinking), one bottle with a pitch black oil type of drink, and the last with a milky white fog alcohol that moved oddly. He corked and loaded them into his back metal holder and walked out.
He picked up another empty good sized bottle which he attached to his side, and then a large glass jug which he placed in his stomach. There, he thought, all set except...
He went into his room, filled with different weapons he had collected from his fights at the Coliseum days. DM looked at the swords and sickles he was use to using, but nothing seemed to fit him at the moment. He loaded some sickles again to his sides and legs... but something seemed missing.
DM walked back into his blacksmith room and looked where the now empty armor of Merihem was. Next to it, was the sledge axe that Sophie threw at him to use to defend himself. It wasn't very sharp and it didn't have any power in it, nor any decoration like some of his swords. Just... weight.
And reliability.
DM picked it up and threw it over his shoulder and started to walk out. But a gleam caught his eye lens and he turned to where he had been standing for so long before he was awakened.
There, on the self he had placed long ago, was the last glass figure he made. To DM's eyes, it looked like a faceless dancer sitting on the floor, turning her head back and looking at something unknown.
It also, oddly enough to DM's mind, was the same pose he saw the Sophie in when they first met.
"Yo, Dead Man, you ready yet?" he heard Scare yell from outside.
DM turned, and as he walked out, noticed that the light once again showed his body's shadow, and even with the armor on and his injuries fixed, there could still be seen a hole in the shape of a heart.
2nd edition - 5/19/2013
To be continued in full story - Kings from the Shadows
And now, the preview of the next short story -
The soldier looked among the wreckage in the canyon. The fires burned whatever was left of there carriage, and bodies laid on the floor, lifeless...
Was he the only survivor?
And then he saw a shade move.
He pulled out his gun and aimed towards the darkness. He didn't see anything else move at first, but...
The fire started to dim, and a cold feeling came upon the soldier.
Then he was pulled up, and saw big sharp teeth.
"Hurry! Move!" a small fearful voice spoke from the teeth. The soldier looked again, and noticed it was a mask.
"They are coming... Move or you will die."
Coming soon... hopefully...
Shades of Fear
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