hello !! thank you for taking your time to read my project. just a couple of notes before we start.
WARNING !
this project includes body horror, mutations, themes of horror and suspense, gore, death, slight mentions of anxiety and depression, trauma.
again, reader discretion is advised.
happy reading !
Little Dark Age
by MGMT
PLAYLIST
I. little dark age — MGMT
II. ashes — celine dion
III. seven nation army — the white stripes
IV. go to war — nothing more
V. understand — christian leave
VI. pretty boy — the neighbourhood
VII. prelude in e minor —chopin
VIII. can you feel my heart — bring the horizon
IX. HERO — yvncc
X. fireflies — spaceouters
XI. everybody wants to rule the world — LORDE
XII. jesus don't like that i'm gay, but satan's cool with it — lil boodang
XIII. ketamine siouxxie
XIV. nightmare — plenka
XV. plea from a friend — datfootlove
"I will now activate the host."
The clarity of night sustains a slate sky, and silver clouds. The clouds were so faint, it was like someone smeared them lightly with an eraser.
The wail of a siren sounds through the street, creating a Doppler Effect. The sound waves were frequent when they were closest to the open window, then the pitch reduced as the vehicle continued down the street.
Traffic whizzed by, some people shuffled about. The constellation of bright neon city lights of Tokyo was a dreamscape for any tourist.
Garfield Logan, was a young man of twenty-four years. Following the recent conclusion of his schooling, Garfield moved from America to Tokyo to pursue a career. After several years of art studies and mentoring in the art field, Garfield has embarked into the manga industry.
Right off the bat, he was a hot shot. Editors recommended Garfield to some of the most top tier studios in Japan, like MAPPA, Wit, Ufotable, and Kyoto Animation. However, Garfield declined those positions, and created one for himself.
He worked from home, using an extra room in the house as his workspace. His manga series mainly focused on the genres thriller or dark fantasy.
Garfield boasts one best-selling series in particular called Unnatural.
The series even went so far as to become an animation, of which was streamed globally. Even with his productions well-known to the world, there were very few people that knew him privately.
A tan complexion, teal-green eyes with speckles of hazel, brown hair with a few jade highlights, and a well barbered beard and cut. Garfield wore glasses, a couple of silver rings, and he had a glove of small tattoos on his hand.
Garfield is snoozing off at his desk. The desk, a fertile wood, standing with strong iron legs. It was aging slowly with wooden swirls— it was the doorway of infinite imagination.
He was in the middle of sketching a panel. The colored pens, the stubby, half-graphite shaded erasers were strewn across the surface; buried amongst loose sheets of paper. Garfield had shelves upon shelves of his own manga, and a few others he liked to read on occasion.
Garfield snaps out of his snooze, and looks around his room frantically. His eyes scan over the shadows the moonlight carved, and the silhouettes of objects. Last time he checked, sunshine was spraying through his window, and the world outside was more vibrant.
"Damn it, I dozed off again. If I keep doing this, I'll never finish this volume," He wipes a thin film of drool off of his scrap papers. "I could have sworn I heard a voice, too. Could just be the jitters after waking up."
Garfield gets up from his desk, and advances to the kitchen.
His younger brother, Gabriel, who is fifteen years old, is sitting on the couch playing video games. Gabriel resembled his brother perfectly, except his eyes were more of a striking, pure blue.
"Hey, Gabe." Garfield greets drowsily.
Gabriel replies. "Hi, Gar. You sound tired."
"I am, I'm more tired than I could imagine. I'm sure if I eat something and get a full night's rest, I'll be as good as new."
"That's a possibility. Shoot! I've played this round at least five times and I still can't win!" Gabriel exclaims, clenching the control angrily.
Garfield rummages in a cabinet, and gets a pack of Pocky. Pocky was one of the most well known snacks in Japan. The snack consisted of a crunchy biscuit stick, and two thirds of a sweet-coated combination. Any flavor from strawberry, to Garfield's favorite, chocolate banana.
He opens the box, and smiles lightly as he crunches into the treat.
"Sucker."
"Why won't you come and play it yourself then?" Gabriel huffs.
"Nah, I'm good."
"Aha, you're scared that you'll lose."
"No," Garfield leans against the countertop. "Maybe I just want to eat my snack?"
Gabriel smirks at his brother. "Oooooor, maybe you think you're too cool for video games."
"Couldn't be me. Video games will always be valid."
"Yeah, yeah, okay, boss. I'm gonna go off to sleep, I've got a civics exam tomorrow."
"Alright, buddy bro. Good luck, and I'll see you tomorrow."
Gabe neatly packs up his controller near the game station, then leaves the room. Garfield sighs, switching the television through several channels.
He cruises past a few anime series, a couple of documentaries, comedies, then settles with the news.
"Good evening, everyone. A stubborn and brutal reality check this evening as we hone in on the heart of Japan… Tokyo,"
Garfield's eyebrows knit slightly as his attention focuses on the report.
"A bowl-shaped cavity in the resemblance of a crater has appeared in the main streets of the northern eastern side of the city. The most confusing thing about this is, there is no sign of a meteorite or another celestial body."
"What? A crater without an impact?" Garfield asks himself quietly.
"Here is a perspective from a book keeper that works nearby the scene."
The camera switches to a young oriental woman.
"I don't know what could have happened. Usually when you see a crater, of course you expect to see some big rock of some sort… At least some cars overturned, houses destroyed, and casualties. However, we can't find any of that evidence. It's just a massive hole in the middle of nowhere. As if someone stamped it there intentionally."
Then, the view pans to another witness.
"There was no sound, light, nothing. No shaking or anything like that. I was walking across the street, and next thing you know, a crater's in my path. Luckily, I caught myself right before I walked into the thing. You know, weird things happen every day. This thing…" The witness chuckles, then shakes his head. "Is something that you can definitely tell your grandkids for a bedtime story."
The television displays footage of the scene. Civilians and tourists alike are awestruck by the view. Government officials and first responders try to make sense of the mystery while keeping people calm and away from the ditch.
Garfield's eyes widened.
"Woah…"
The reporter returns to the screen.
"...And that is what the people of Tokyo have to say on tonight's enigma. We will keep updates on this riddle, and be back tomorrow morning with more. Thank you all, and be safe."
Garfield's brain stutters for a moment. His eyes take in more light. He's quiet within, feeling his emotions stir in his soul. His hands grow clammy, and suddenly, his heartbeat is louder than anything around him.
It was like he found himself unexpectedly on a platform, feeling a train approaching, and realizing that his destination wasn't for him to choose.
"I can see what caused the crater."
with love,
Dee.