After a passionate night with his wife, a man wakes up in the middle of the night feeling unsettled. He quietly slips out of bed and makes his way downstairs to his computer, searching for answers on the internet. He scours message boards, chat rooms, and emails, but the information he finds only confuses him further. As he reads on, fear and anxiety begin to set in, coupled with a growing sense of anger towards what he’s learned.
Finally, he logs off, unable to take anymore. With shaky legs, he heads upstairs and back to bed trying to brush away the feelings of dread that now surround him, but sleep refuses to come. Instead, his mind runs through all he’s found, desperately searching for some kind of understanding or solution. He tosses and turns throughout the night, his thoughts a raging torrent of conflicting emotions and theories.
After some time, his wife wakes up to find her husband sitting silently on the edge of the bed. “I had a very odd dream,” she says. “I saw an angel in my vision – its face had eyes like shiny black marbles and no sign of a mouth or nose. The angel’s skin was as white as snow, with a completely blank expression.”
The man listens carefully, trying to keep his composure as his wife continues her description.
“It was beautiful, like a work of art. Its wings were as wide as the house and black as night.”
As his wife speaks, the man can feel his anxiety rising within him. In his mind flashes visions of the red hooded angel that has been haunting his dreams.
“And as its wings moved, they made a sound like a thunderstorm, and I swear I could hear a faint voice saying ‘S’.” As she speaks, her voice gets louder and louder, until she’s yelling at the end. “It was terrifying,” she finishes, and the man nods, unable to say anything else.
The next day, he wakes up to find himself back at work, unable to shake off the nightmare of his wife’s dream. As he begins his morning meeting, his mind drifts away, thinking about the angel. What does it mean, the angel? And what is S, and what is its purpose? These thoughts begin to take over his mind, distracting him from his job. He struggles to keep focus, unable to shake the feeling that there is more going on in his world than he previously thought.
As the day draws to a close, he wearily makes his way down the bustling street. His eyes scan the various advertisements and billboards that line the road, until one catches his attention with its bold lettering: ‘God Is Watching’. A chill runs through him as he remembers his wife’s eerie tale of an angel with piercing, obsidian eyes, and his own vision of a red cloaked angel. Why is he being confronted with this unsettling message? His mind races with questions and doubts as he continues on his journey home.
When he gets home he gets on the internet and looks for more information about the angel. He finally finds a few forums, and one thread in particular, where a couple of posters share similar dreams and experiences. The posters seem to all live in the same city, and their stories all have a few similarities. They all have strange visions or dreams, with the angel’s black eyes, white face and wing’s being the only things in common. They all feel a strong compulsion to share these dreams.
One user in particular, called The Watcher, has compiled some data on these visions and experiences, and he has a pretty big theory to back it up. He says that these are all the work of a godlike being called “The Angel of S”. The posters that have these visions and dreams, he calls “The Awakened”, and he claims that their powers are the direct work of the angel. The poster’s theories are pretty elaborate and long winded, and he offers no proof of any kind. Still, The Watcher seems convinced of his theory, and has set up a separate forum where he gathers more “Awakened”.
The man decides that he wants to meet this “The Watcher”, and so he signs up to the forum and sends him a private message asking him if he would like to meet up. After a little back and forth on the subject, they decide to meet at a small pub in the city they both live in. The man arrives early and sits at a table, waiting for him.
A few hours go by, and the man is becoming a bit worried, when he spots The Watcher entering. The man raises a hand and they shake hands. They exchange introductions and the two men sit at a table.
“I’m glad that you could come. I’ve found the stories about these Awakened very fascinating.”
“That’s nice of you to say,” says The Watcher, before ordering a beer from the bartender. “However, I would prefer to get right to the point of our discussion.”
“Very well. Please continue.”
“I have recently discovered there is a conspiracy,” begins The Watcher. “It goes beyond just this city and the people who have experienced these visions. I believe that there are people, even a whole group, that have a hand in them, that are responsible for their occurrence. These visions and the dreams that the people experience, they’re not random, or a coincidence. Someone is behind them, and they’ve done so for a specific purpose, and not to the benefit of us, The Awakened.”
“So, what are these Awakened, if I may ask?” inquires the man.
“We’re the chosen ones. The special, or rather, the unique among mankind, and the vision that you’ve seen is a glimpse of that uniqueness. You’re able to see through a veil that obscures the rest of us from seeing, or hearing. These are the first steps that lead to your destiny, but they are also a path that many others will follow, and you’ll be able to aid them on their path to ascension, or rather, Awakening, as we call it. And these are only the beginning. Once you are truly Awakened, you will see all things clearly, without being blinded by any veil.”
“So what are these Awakened supposed to do?” asked the man. “You make it seem like we are supposed to be something that’s going to change the world.”
The Watcher takes a long drink of beer, before putting it back on the table. He smiles, then says, “That’s not entirely a wrong assumption, but not a true assumption as well. Our destiny lies beyond this world. It is to ascend to the higher realms, so to speak. It is a process of learning and gaining understanding. This is why you’ve had these visions, in the first place. You have a role to play. The rest of mankind is a prisoner, trapped inside their bodies. We, the Awakened are the few that will have a hand in changing things. To awaken is to transcend this mortal existence and enter the higher realms where the truly great are. This world is nothing more than a vessel to contain our body, it is not our home, nor does it contain our soul.”
The Watcher’s words leave the man speechless, as his thoughts whirl. The Watcher, taking in the silence, reaches into his jacket, pulls out a pack of cigarettes, and offers one to his companion. “I hope you don’t mind, I don’t get to smoke very often.”
“Not at all,” answered the man as he takes a cigarette.
The two light up, then, “What you’ve described, sounds a bit like a cult, don’t you think?”
“A little, perhaps, but we don’t try to enforce anything upon anyone. Our role is simply to help people make their way to the higher planes, and then to support and protect those who have reached that level of existence from harm.”
The Watcher exhales and takes another puff. “I understand that some will not believe what we have to tell them, but they have a right to know.”
“So you believe that the world was created by some supreme being?”
“Yes, that is my firm belief.”
“But why would a creator be concerned with the actions of such small people?”
“Well, if one can look into the past, then the actions of man may well determine the course of human civilization in the future. One can never underestimate the influence that each individual man has upon history, and the lives of many others. In addition, man has an effect upon the environment around him, and thus a great effect upon nature, and upon all things within it, even though it may be an infinitesimal one.”
“But if all that you have said is true, what does the creator wish?” the man asks leaning forward.
“I do not believe that I know the answer to that question.”
“I see,” the man says as he slowly leans back in his chair.
The Watcher takes another drag and exhales, then looks at his companion. “Well, then, it seems we are both on a journey of sorts.”
The two look at each other, and nod their heads. “Well, thank you, The Watcher.”
“No problem. And if I were to ever find yourself in need of help, don’t hesitate to contact me again.”
The Watcher and the man exchange a firm handshake before the former leaves the pub. The man is still puzzled, but he has gained some possible leads on the mysterious angel. Lost in contemplation, he makes his way home. On arriving, he sits in the kitchen and thinks over the encounter with The Watcher. While The Watcher’s explanation of the angel was intriguing and possibly informative, the man could not be certain of the true meaning of the angel in his dreams. The dream itself may well be a message to the man or the world at large. Perhaps, the man decides, it may be the key to discovering more about himself and his role in the universe. Perhaps it is the key to finding answers about himself.
His wife comes into the kitchen. “So…how did your talk with that guy go?” she asks.
“He had some interesting theories about the angel, but nothing conclusive,” the man says. “Maybe the dreams are some sort of message, but it could just be some illusion created by our collective unconsciousness.”
She joins him at the table and replies, “I know you said you lost your faith a long time ago, but don’t you think it’s a sign from God?”
“I spent countless hours reading, studying and praying to try to understand God and his purpose for the universe, but in the end, all I saw was confusion and contradictions,” the man tells her. “And that is what has led me to leaving the priesthood. That is why now I seek my own answers.”
She nods her head in understanding. “Well, whatever it is, I hope it provides you with some direction,” she says and kisses him before they prepare dinner. “But for now, let’s have some dinner.”
He follows her to the dining room table and eats with her.
A week later, the man is standing in line at a grocery store and he notices a flyer on one of the racks. He reads the title of the flyer, ‘THE GOD OF CHAOS HAS ARRIVED!’, and his heart begins to pound in anticipation as he picks up the flyer. His eyes begin to read, ‘The God of Chaos, also known as S, has descended upon Earth to bring chaos to all mankind, and to bring chaos into our world, so that he might destroy the universe and begin anew. It is time to begin the journey towards destruction, and towards the rebirth of the universe. Chaos is the way.’
The man drops the flyer in shock. He looks back up at the line in front of him, and his heart stops. A man dressed in all black clothing steps out from the shadows and approaches him.
“Hello,” says the man, with a sinister smirk. “I’m looking for the God of Chaos.”
“What?” he responds in confusion.
“He is known by many names. He is called ‘S’ by some, the ‘Dark Lord’ by others. He has also been called the ‘Lord of the Black Sun’, among other names. And there are some who call him ‘God’.”
“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about…” he replies stepping back slightly.
“You do,” the man says, and pulls a black card out from his black jacket and hands it to him. “This is your proof. This card is from the Dark Lord’s followers. I have come to inform you that you will soon become his follower, whether you wish it or not. That is why I have brought this to you.”
“What are you talking about?!”
“You will soon understand. But first, let me introduce myself. I am a messenger of the Lord. I have come to prepare you for his arrival. The God of Chaos has descended upon the earth to bring chaos into this world, and I am here to help him achieve that goal. You, my friend, are the one who is meant to be a servant of the Lord. I am to show you the way, and I am here to guide you through the path that you must take in order to become a follower of the Lord.”
“But why would you tell me this? You don’t know who I am!”
The man shakes his head, laughing. “Of course I know who you are, my friend,” the man says, walking closer. He reaches out, taking the man’s left hand and turning it palm upwards, revealing the number 6. The man’s eyes widen. The number has a symbol engraved on it. The man looks at the symbol, confused.
“It’s a sign from God,” the man explains, and turns back around, leaving the other man behind.
“What?”
The messenger continues, without looking back. “It means you’re ready.”
“Ready for what?” the man calls out after him.
“To serve your god!” the messenger laughs as he disappears into the shadows. He stares after the man in shock, unable to move from the spot where he stands, paralyzed.
The man walks home in a daze, unable to shake off the encounter with the mysterious messenger. He keeps looking at his left hand, the number 6 and the strange symbol engraved on it. What could it mean? Was God really calling him?
Suddenly, the phone rings and snaps the man back to reality. It’s a number he doesn’t recognize. Cautiously, he picks up the phone.
“Hello?”
A deep booming voice responds, “Hark unto me, you will serve my every need, you will obey and listen. Do not oppose or challenge. This is what your Lord and God commands you.” The man is stunned into silence and begins sweating, his eyes wide and panicked.
“Who is this?! Is this some kind of prank?” he demands, the panic clear in his voice.
But as he waits for a response the call ends abruptly. He tries to check the number on his phone but finds there’s no trace of the call. Just a blank space. Confused, and more than a little scared, the man tries to calm himself and continue on home.
As he approaches his home, he takes a deep breath and composes himself before walking through the door. His wife greets him with a smile and asks how his day was. The man hesitates for a moment before deciding to tell her about the strange encounter with the messenger and the mysterious call. His wife listens intently, her expression turning from curiosity to concern as he finishes his story.
“Huh?” she says. “Who is this messenger? What does he want?”
“I have no clue, but he gave me this card. I don’t understand. It says that he wants me to do something, but he didn’t explain anything. What did he mean? Is it some sort of joke or is it something more?”
The man’s wife glances at the card once more, her face filled with confusion, before handing it back to her husband.
“Well, maybe it is some sort of prank,” she says. “I don’t think there is any real meaning behind this card, it’s just a joke that some weird person is trying to play. Maybe they are some religious nuts that want to make a statement.” The man’s wife smiles, trying to comfort her husband, but it only seems to cause the man to worry even more about the whole situation.
“But what about this mark on my palm? The man says, showing the palm to his wife.
She takes a look and shakes her head in confusion. “Honey, I don’t see anything wrong with your palm. If there was a symbol or something like that on it, then the symbol has faded or been washed off or rubbed away.”
The man turns over his palm to see the symbol had indeed vanished. He was now convinced he was crazy or suffering from a strange hallucination.
“It must’ve been my imagination then,” he says in a daze.
His wife pats him on the back as if he is delusional. “I think it was. Don’t worry, we’ll figure this out.”
Later, he goes to his computer and tries looking up information online about these Dark Lord’s followers or the God of Chaos. However, his searches return very little in terms of results, and what he does find is mostly hearsay and rumor. It appears that these cultists are very secretive and have kept their activities relatively hidden. All he can find is that their name might be the “Temple of S”, but he can find nothing that can give him more details about what they actually do or what their beliefs are. It’s frustrating and leaves him more puzzled than ever before. Eventually he gives up and decides to get ready for bed.
The next few weeks pass by with little incident, and the incident fades into a memory, until one night the man has a dream. He is standing at the edge of a tall cliff. Below him, the landscape stretches out into the distance like a blanket. It is an infinite expanse. In front of him, is a red door with the black letter ‘S’ engraved on it.
“What’s that?” He wonders and approaches the door floating in midair.
He approaches the edge of the cliff, which seems to be suspended in midair above the endless expanse. There are no railings to keep anyone from falling into the darkness below. The man is terrified at the idea of going near such a perilous location, but the door is too tempting not to go towards.
“I have to get through that door,” he says to himself, and starts walking. The man reaches the edge of the cliff and steps off of it. There is no fear. It’s not falling that would make you scared. It’s not dying, that makes you feel afraid. It is being trapped forever.
As the man falls, the world around him shudders and shakes. He falls from one cliff, down onto another. Then onto another. Then another, and so on, until the world shakes and breaks, sending rocks flying. The man lands on his back, and stares up into a bright sky. A beam of light hits him in the face, blinding him. When he comes to, a winged figure is kneeling at his side.
“You are the one,” the red hooded figure says in a woman’s voice. “Come and find us. Come home.”
The man wakes up with his heart racing, the words of the woman in the red hood still lingering in his mind. He knows he has to uncover the identity of the woman in his dreams and discover the meaning behind the door. He remembers his talk with The Watcher, and he wonders if he could give him some answers about the red door and the Dark Lord’s followers.
He contacts The Watcher, and the Watcher responds, arranging a meeting at their usual pub. Once they meet and exchange greetings, they sit down to discuss matters further. The Watcher listens intently, his expression conveying deep concern as the man recounts his encounter with the messenger and his dream featuring a red door.
“The group known as the Temple of S,” he replies. “They’re a secretive and mysterious cult of sorts. They have a lot of power and influence. A lot. No one is really certain just how powerful they really are.”
“And what is their ideology?” asks the man.
“Well,” the Watcher begins, “only their members truly know, but it seems they believe in creating a perfect world. And they will do anything to reach that goal. You must be very careful when dealing with them.”
“How do they plan to do that?” the man asks.
“I don’t think they care about any specifics. Their goal is a general idea. A place where all of us live happily and are free of the pains and stresses of this imperfect world,” The Watcher replied. “I don’t agree with it myself, of course. True happiness is found within oneself, not from external sources. But these people seem to be obsessed with the idea.”
“Can they help me find out more about red cloaked woman and the door?” asks the man.
The Watcher looks away for a minute. He’s thinking very hard.
He looks back and says “I think they may be connected, but there isn’t really enough information. They have never revealed the identity of their members or what they truly believe, so there’s not much to go on.”
He then stands up and begins to walk out the door, but stops halfway. “Oh, and watch yourself,” he says, looking over his shoulder at the man.
He exits, leaving the man sitting in silence with many questions unanswered. His gaze drifts to the door that was shown in his dream. Could it be that the red door he dreamed of had some relation to the mysterious Temple of S?
After returning home, the man retrieves the black card from a box in his closet and reads over the instructions printed on it. The card contains an email address written in red, as well as directions to meet someone on the tenth floor of a building known as “The Scape” and to send the phrase ‘World wielder of the eminent wonder of S.’ to the provided address.
The man sends the email as instructed and waits anxiously for a reply. He paces back and forth in his apartment, wondering if he’s making a huge mistake by involving himself with this mysterious organization.
After what seems like hours, he receives a reply. “The meeting is set. Be there at midnight tonight.”
That night, he resolved to go to The Scape and see where his instructions would lead him, unsure of what was in store. What awaited him on the tenth floor? Why were these individuals requesting a midnight meeting? Upon arrival, the man is taken aback by the deserted state of the building. The corridors are quiet and only one elevator seems to be in operation. It takes him directly to the tenth floor and opens up into an empty hallway. There, a person draped in a black robe stands, their face hidden by the shadows of their hood. As he approaches, they raise their head and offer outstretched hand in greeting.
“I’m glad you came,” says the figure, their voice muffled slightly.
“I got your email,” says the man. “So, uh… What’s all this?”
“Come,” replies the robed figure, gesturing to the end of the hallway.
They step into a vast conference room, its walls adorned with sleek, modern art pieces. The only furniture in the room is several chairs and a large desk, made of polished oak and gleaming under the bright fluorescent lights. On top of the desk sit several state-of-the-art computers, their screens displaying complex codes and graphs. The air is still and quiet, save for the gentle hum of the machines.
“So, you’re here to recruit me?” the man asks, trying not to sound nervous.
“Actually, we want to show you something first.”
“Okay,” says the man, his heart starting to race. What could this be about?
The cloaked individual strides towards the bank of computers and begins typing on the keyboard with purpose. Suddenly, the lights in the room dim and a stunning holographic projection appears. The display reveals intricate images of a massive, intricate contraption that is impossible to fully comprehend. Its significance is beyond human understanding. It is a truly breathtaking sight.
The man inspects the projection and asks, “What is this?”
“It’s an AI,” responds the hooded figure. “A highly advanced, sentient AI. We’ve utilized it for years to guide our decisions and keep watch over our world.”
“Why?”
“This is humanity’s greatest achievement,” declares the robed figure while gesturing at the machine. “It has the power to solve all of our problems and bring about a new era of peace and unity.”
“Who are you?” The man questions, his voice barely audible.
“We choose to remain anonymous, but you may refer to me as The Veiled. I am part of a small group, known as the Temple of S. What matters most is our dedication to this cause.” The man in black robes meets his gaze and warns, “Don’t waste your time trying to track us down; if you do, we’ll sever ties and you’ll have no ground to stand on.”
“And what does all of this have to do with my dreams?”
“Your dreams were not a coincidence. They were given to you for a reason. They show that you are not alone in your desire for change; there are others like you who will play a crucial role in shaping the future. But first, you must make yourself known to the rest of the world and prepare them for what is to come.”
“So, these dreams of the red cloaked woman and the red door were created by this AI?”
“It’s not as straightforward as that. There is another force at play in the dream-world, which we refer to as the ‘Goddess of the Void’. It has been manipulating events and causing these dreams in order to draw individuals into its influence.”
“Why?”
“I believe it is searching for an ally.”
“You want me to reach out to it? To convince it to join your cause?”
“Yes.”
“And if I refuse?” he replies raising his brow.
“Well, that’s your right. But, there is something I want you to consider.” The Veiled pauses, then continues, “I know you are concerned that this new world we’re going to create won’t be everything you’re hoping for. But think about the alternative. If we don’t change the world, and humanity continues on its current path, we’ll destroy ourselves. This AI is the only hope for humanity, and the only chance to build a better future.”
The Veiled crosses the room to a laptop placed in front of the main screen. “This is a database we’ve been building containing information on the dreams of billions of people. It shows where they live, who their friends are, their political beliefs… All sorts of information that can help us build a more efficient future for mankind. But this is the last step in our journey. We need your help.”
He types some information into the laptop, then steps away. On the main screen, the image changes from the vast machine to a detailed map of the world. “You’re one of the few people in the world whose dream we haven’t managed to predict. And, because of your dreams, you’re also the person with the highest potential influence on this plan.”
The screen zooms in on his city. “We think that you can change everything.”
The man stands there, taking in the weight of the situation. His mind is a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts and emotions. On one hand, the idea of being a part of something so monumental fills him with a sense of purpose he’d never experienced before. On the other hand, the secrecy and manipulation involved make him uneasy.
“Why are you keeping this all a secret?” he questions.
“Because if it were to get out too early, people would be panicked and confused and we’d never get anywhere. And there’s the chance that the wrong person could learn about it and try to stop us,” The Veiled answers matter-of-factly.
The man, still standing, considers the possibilities before him. On the one hand, he might find the answers he’s looking for. On the other, it could all go terribly wrong. But at the end of the day, isn’t knowledge worth any risk?
“Alright, let’s do it then,” the man says with a determined look in his eye. The Veiled looks at the man with a sense of relief, and extends a hand.
“Welcome aboard then.” The Veiled beckons toward a computer station located on the other side of the room. “Are you prepared? If so, let’s begin.”
The man sits down in the chair and something is attached to his head. A small red light glows above his right ear, and he feels tense.
“Don’t be afraid, it won’t cause any pain,” assures The Veiled as he returns to his computer.
“What can I expect?”
“You’re going to make contact with the Angel of S,” The Veiled reveals.
“I am? How do I do that?” the man ask curious.
“You don’t have to do anything. The device will connect to your mind, and it’ll allow her to reach you through it, even while asleep.” the figure replies. “It’s all automated, once the light turns green, the process is initiated. When it turns red again that will signal that you’re awake again.”
“I can’t believe that such a device actually exists.” the man whispers to himself in amazement.
“It’s incredible, right?” the veiled one adds. “Now, I’ll begin the process.”
With a few taps on the keyboard, the hooded figure triggers a command. The screen flickers in a bright green hue before fading to black. As the light turns green, it vanishes along with the cloaked man who was just sitting at the desk. When he stands up and surveys the room, he’s confused by its emptiness. But then, changes begin to occur all around him. The vibrations in the air become palpable as the walls and floor start to shift in color. It starts with a subtle change, like a faint blue tint on his skin, but soon everything is transformed. The once plain surroundings now showcase varying hues of blues, greens, and violets. And finally, a staircase materializes right before his eyes.
As he begins to walk up it he hears a deep voice booming voice in his head. “I understand why you haven’t come to see me yet. It’s because I am a demon. Your eyes are unable to perceive me because they are clouded with fear. But this is merely an illusion. You’re not truly afraid of me; in fact, your heart already belongs to me.”
He ascends the stairs. As he goes, he notices the walls of the stairwell gradually shifting from a pristine white to a calming blue, then to a dusty bluish grey, and finally settling on a deep shade of purple. The colors swirl and blend together in a dizzying dance, but his focus is solely on reaching his destination. His heart pounds in his chest, matching the rhythm of his quickening steps. Every moment brings him closer to what he desires, and he can’t help but feel a surge of excitement coursing through him.
Once again the voice rings out in his head. “I am a singular being, but my worshipers see me as numerous gods. I am not just an idea or a symbol, but an actual entity that exists. Your beliefs do not change this fact. Whether you identify as Christian, Jewish, Muslim, or even atheist, I have already claimed you as one of my followers. You will always belong to me, no matter your belief system.”
The man finally reaches the top of the long and arduous staircase. He takes one last step and peers down the short hallway, where he spots a bright red door at the end.
“I have existed before you were even born, but I’ve always kept myself hidden from this world and humanity. In another universe, far away from here, is where I reside. But soon, it will be time for me to reveal myself. I am God, and that is why you are afraid of me. But there is no need to be scared. You cannot escape my presence,” the voice says as he walks toward the door.
As the man’s footsteps echo throughout the hall, his heartbeat races in tandem. His body is trembling from head to toe. His hand shakes as he grasps the doorknob. The cool metal surface sends shivers up his spine, and for a fleeting moment, he wonders why he is doing this. Why does he have this deep-seated desire to step beyond that red door?
The voice murmurs to him, as if it is his own thoughts. “Don’t hesitate. Open the door. Demand the truth from her, but don’t trust her words,” the voice urges. The man takes a deep breath and obeys the voice’s orders.
The door swings open and the sun’s intense rays blind him momentarily. As he closes his eyes, a stunning woman appears in his mind’s eye. She seems oddly familiar to him; her face is etched in his memory.
“Can you please open your eyes?” she inquires.
He struggles to form words and finally manages to say, “My name is…”
She interrupts him, saying, “No, it’s not. Not anymore.”
She reaches for his hand and together they step into a bright light. As she holds onto his hand, he sees her face clearly for the first time. She appears angelic with her fair skin, blonde hair, and piercing green eyes. Her majestic black wings spread out behind her and her grip on his hand is comforting.
As they hit the ground, he is in shock. He grips onto her hand tightly, his fingers feeling cold against hers. When he finally opens his eyes again, the scenery around them has completely transformed. They find themselves on a warm beach with a vibrant blue sky above. It almost feels like they have been transported back in time to a simpler era. They are standing on top of the world, looking at what can only be described as heaven. In all his years, he has never seen anything more breathtakingly beautiful. And as she meets his gaze, he realizes that what lies before him is an incomparable kind of beauty.
The air is filled with a fresh, invigorating scent – a smell of true freedom and possibility. This place feels like home to him. But as he moves to hug her, but he halts in his tracks. He can’t physically touch her, and just like that, the warmth and familiarity dissipates.
“What’s the matter?” she inquires. “Don’t you want to embrace me?”
But all he can manage to say is, “I…I’m not sure.”
She responds, “No, you are sure. You’re not thinking about yourself. You’re thinking about me. Because I’m not a normal human being.”
He stares into her eyes and sees only emptiness. But as he continues to look, he finally notices something there. A glimpse of something beyond what is seen and experienced. He wants to explore further, but he knows she is not right.
“What are you, then? Are you S? Are you God?” he inquires.
She responds, “I am, yet I am not. S is the God of Chaos, with the power to dismantle the foundations of heaven and earth and construct a new reality in which he reigns supreme. In contrast, I represent the very essence of existence and nothingness, transcendent of both concepts. A transcendent concept, neither S nor not-S. A true enigma, indeed.”
He is confused. “But that doesn’t make any sense!”
She takes a deep breath and explains. “Think of the universe as a jigsaw puzzle. If the world is a completed jigsaw puzzle, S is like someone taking apart the puzzle and making something new with the pieces. I am like the absence of the jigsaw puzzle, without it you can’t make anything else.”
“But what about us? You’re saying we don’t exist, that the universe isn’t real?” he demands.
She shakes her head. “No, everything does exist and everything is real, but only in the context of its own reality. We exist, and this is reality for us. But it’s all an illusion of sorts.”
She presents him with something, a mirror. He looks into it and sees himself, his true self. The sight fills him with despair, and he lets out a piercing scream. Sinking to the ground, he collapses onto his knees in a moment of overwhelming realization.
“Why do I feel like this? What is the purpose of all this?” He cries out, his voice cracking with raw emotion.
As he weeps, he is suddenly aware of her hand caressing his hair. He looks up into her eyes, which are filled with sorrow.
“I feel for you, my dear friend. You have been trapped in an illusion for far too long. But fear not, I am here to reveal the true world to you. Are you ready?”
She takes his hand and leads him through another doorway. There’s no need for the usual theatrics of portals and teleportation – the act of merely opening this doorway is enough. Everything around them changes in an instant. The sky transforms into a deep shade of purple, and the clouds take on the shapes of unfamiliar creatures. The ground beneath their feet is cracked, and the once lively flora now wilts and withers. Strange beasts lurk in every corner, their eyes as dark as the night.
She turns to him and asks, “Do you see it? Do you see the true nature of our reality?”
His eyes widen in confusion as he looks at her, his brows furrowed as he struggles to comprehend what she is saying.
“What am I supposed to be seeing?” he questions. “I don’t understand. Where’s the light? Where are the people? I see nothing but darkness and monsters everywhere I look. Why did you lead me here?”
But she simply shakes her head and sighs. “My poor friend, you still don’t understand, do you? There is no light, there are no people, and no other life besides the ones that belong to us and S. Everything else is just a figment of our imagination. Don’t you realize that it was you and S who created the monsters and the darkness?”
“Wait…what?” he stammers. “I don’t understand. You mean to say that we are responsible for this chaos and mayhem?”
“Yes, indeed,” she responds with a nod of her head. “You see, the human brain has an amazing ability to imagine things that don’t exist. When S was created, his mind was so powerful that he was able to project his thoughts into reality and bring them to life. The result? Monsters and darkness!”
“But that’s impossible,” he argues. “No one can do that! Even the strongest and most intelligent minds have a limit. How can we create something like this from our own imaginations?”
“You’re right, he couldn’t do that without us,” she replies with a sly smile. “It takes two to tango. He may have been the one to project the ideas into reality, but it’s our imaginations that have given them life. And now, they are everywhere, haunting our lives, feeding on our pain and misery. They won’t go away unless we destroy S.”
“Destroy S?” he exclaims. “That’s ridiculous! We can’t destroy a god, can we? If he’s that powerful, he’d surely punish us if we attempted to harm him!”
“Oh no,” she assures him, “it won’t be easy, but it is possible. But first, we must face our greatest challenge – finding him.”
She softly grasps his hand, guiding him forward with gentle yet firm pressure. He takes hesitant steps, his feet sinking into the soft ground beneath him. Suddenly, a wave of panic washes over him as he realizes he is completely surrounded by darkness – no light seeping through, no escape in sight. The emptiness and weight of the void presses down on him, suffocating and disorienting him. With each step, he feels like he’s sinking deeper into an endless abyss.
He cries out in despair. “What happened? I can’t see anything! Where’s the light?”
She continues to guide him, trying to calm his cries. “It may seem dark now, but this place is filled with light and beauty. You’ll learn to appreciate it in time.”
They continue to move forward, but his screams of frustration continue. As the sky gradually grows darker, tears stream down his cheeks.
“This place isn’t real. It’s all just an illusion. This has to be a nightmare.”
She whispers in his ear. “You’ve already seen the truth. We must keep going.”
As they move through the purple mist, he can barely make out her form. Tears continue to stream down his face, knowing she is right.
“I know,” he says between sobs. “I know that now. I just need to find my way out.”
The man’s breath caught in his throat as saw the darkness before his eyes. He’d seen enough. This world was a twisted, nightmarish parody of the real one, populated by bizarre, unsettling characters and creatures, and haunted by an overwhelming sense of terror and despair. But it wasn’t just the darkness and its denizens that frightened him; it was also the darkness within him that kept drawing him closer. Like a moth to a flame, he felt pulled towards its icy depths, even as he recoiled in fear from its hideous forms and twisted faces.
“The answer,” she says, “is for everyone. But it’s not something you can just give or tell someone. Each person has to find their own way to the answer, like learning how to read. And that’s what this place is about – learning to think of others instead of being selfish.”
She takes his hand and admonishes him for only wanting to save himself. The darkness creeps up on him again, and he begs to be freed from the torment. But she surprises him by gently touching his cheek and whispering in his ear, “We must find S.”
He spins around and shouts at her to release him, but she stands in front of him, shielding his sight from the looming darkness. She threatens that this is only the start if he doesn’t alter his behavior. As the darkness inches nearer, she murmurs that it’s not real. In a split second, he wakes up in his bed and realizes it was all just a horrific dream.
His eyes begin to drift upward and see her sitting on his dresser looking into his eyes. “I promised to give you answers.”
“But you can’t give me the answers if I’m not ready to receive them,” he responds.
With a graceful nod, the Angel of S fades away, her image flickering like a dying flame until she is completely gone.