Standard disclaimer: I do not own or make money off of 'Dark City' or its characters, this is a work of fan fiction only. :)

Authors notes: "Journey" is a fic that was created through prompt-based writing challenge based on the 22 major arcana cards in the Tarot deck. Most of the prompts stand alone somewhat, and are of varying lengths, and approached from different character POV's and tenses depending on what worked best for that particular prompt. However, the prompts link together and are meant to be read in sequence. Here I have presented them as story chapters.

Please note that prompts 13, 16 and 17 have been heavily edited from their original format in order to keep the fic to a Mature rating for .  If you would like a link to the director's cut, please feel free to drop me a message. Please likewise be advised that this work contains mature themes including abuse and homosexuality.

Tarot - The Fool

Fool

"Where are you going?" He had asked John Murdoch.

The man who had, without knowing, saved his life, simply said, "Shell Beach."

And he walked off with a spring in his step, the world whirling around him as his newly awakened powers made everything perfect again. At least, everything that mattered.

Emma - Anna now, would find him there, Schreber knew. He'd made her new memories very carefully, very specifically. He was sure that, even not knowing him, she would fall for John again. Who wouldn't fall for John?

He'd landed hard on his bad leg in the fall, but after so long, Daniel Schreber was used to physical pain. What he didn't expect was the heart wrenching loneliness that overcame him as he watched Murdoch walk away. Without realizing it, Schreber had harboured the smallest spark of hope, but... for what? Friendship? Fate and chance were the only things that had brought Murdoch into his life. What reason had he to even give a second thought to the hunched, marred figure he now left behind?

And so he let Murdoch go, beautiful and optimistic and full of hope, to find his own future. And he, scarred and ugly, limped back to his office, alone.