I awoke in a grand four poster bed made of finely polished mahogany.
It took me a little bit to figure out where I was.
I realized I must have passed out of pure exhaustion.
Yet what about those voices?
It was most likely delirium created from my exhausted brain.
Then he brought me here to rest.
Oh shit how long had I been here?
I expected Jebadiah to be there staring over me menacingly.
I was in fact quite alone.
So he was a gentleman after all.
He respected my privacy, just like he said he would.
So he hadn't drugged me.
I was just exhausted. I was tired, beat, and washed up.
Why did I always have to invent some conspiracy? Why did I always have to think the worst scenario?
I suppose because it was my job.
It had been my job for quite a while.
It was only natural for me to expect the worst.
I noticed the wounds I had had on my hands were gone. They weren't just gone they had completely vanished. There wasn't a trace left of any damage, not even a scar.
Normally when you burn yourself there is always a mean sting that settles in afterwards, after while it tingles slightly yet strangely there wasn't even that.
I saw nothing and I felt nothing.
I expected to have him sneak up on me but I found myself all alone.
I could get used to this.
Why did I always have think there was a conspiracy going on? Why did I always have to invent the worst scenario?
It had been my job for quite awhile so it was only natural for me to expect the worst.
Trust me if You we're to investigate murders and explore haunted houses for a living your whole mindset and perspective on the world would change too.
I was a the Talisman Times Unofficial paranormal investigator.
I never went main stream with this kind of thing, It was just that I was the only person brave enough to take on these journalist jobs.
I was just a thrill seeker back then not a thrill junkie but I just liked a good challenge.
I liked the feeling of doing something that everybody was too scared shitless to do.
I was never in any real danger at least I don't think I was.
I never felt like I was in any danger.
My instincts never told me to run.
I was always very fearless, now I was just stupid. Stupid for coming into the home of a murderer.
Now I was even seriously considering of staying here.
This guy steals bodies out of morgues for fun and he's not even human plus he just admitted to being a monster.
This is a dangerous situation here.
You need to get out.
Leaving would be the smart thing to do.
Why don't you just sneak out?
Wait, I didn't even know my way around, so how is in the hell's bells was I supposed to escape if I didn't even know where the exit was?
I couldn't sneak out if I didn't know where the way out was.
I was just getting dumber by the moment.
I hastily made my way out of bed but my feet were wrapped in the sheets.
I I twisted the blankets frantically in frustration but it didn't free my feet like I had hoped instead the blankets and sheets and as well the bedspread just held even tighter around not only my feet but around my legs as well.
I decided not to bother with all that stuff and just headed towards the door.
I stood up for 5 seconds and then fell over on the floor with all the blankets and sheets still attached.
I didn't just fall, I toppled over like a dead tree in the forest.
I fell with a great thud. I'm sure he heard me. There's no way he couldn't have heard my fall.
Once I was on the floor I finally managed to get all the bedding off of me and I actually was able to stand up and walk out the door.
All was quiet. Silent as the grave just as he said.
Perhaps he was a man of his word after all.
I saw the usual marble hallway that I had seen before extending out ahead of me.
I wasn't quite sure where I was going but I had a feeling that I would find Jebadiah at the end of this hallway.
Maybe I was just being hopeful.
Everything was empty and void of all sound and life.
I thought I heard a soft scurry of fast feet, a brief exhale, and short grunt come from behind me.
I saw a small black shadow twist around the corner out of view.
When I went to look straight ahead I nearly fell over again because Jebadiah was right smack dab in front of me.
"Going somewhere?"
He was wearing a grim smirk on his face.
"Yes I was actually.
I was going...going to find you actually and look I found you.
Man my instincts are incredible.
I always seem to know exactly where to find you.
Damn I'm good at investigating".
"You're rambling again.
You were looking for a way out weren't you?"
I wanted to rush past him and avoid him altogether but instead I took the time to glare at him.
"Yes I was if you must know.
The real question is how long have I been out for?"
"Such a clever tactic switching the subject like that.
You've been in recovery for 3 days.
That sentinel must have drained far more energy than either of us anticipated.
I trust you're rest was pleasant".
He sounded as if the word pleasant was a painful experience for him like gravel and glass in his mouth.
"Yes it was.
It was kind of weird though.
It wasn't like any sleep I've ever experienced.
It was a sleep without dreams.
I don't know how describe it exactly.
There was just nothing, it was void and empty almost like death or at least like I'd imagine death would be."
"That's a common side effect of the mental bond.
You see the sentinel must have cleansed your mind in the process.
You'll feel a little out of sorts for a few days but I'm sure your brain will adjust to the change."
"What change?
Wait will I ever be the same?"
"They made a few changes, a few improvements if you will, inside your head, inside your brain, inside this complex mind of yours.
It's such a pity that I wasn't able to perform the procedure myself but I suppose that can't be helped now.
What's done is done."
"Does that mean I'll have to stay here forever?"
"No of course not.
You can leave if you wish...at any time but I warn you once you step outside here you'll have to join the rest of those robots you call the human race.
There are far greater things out in the universe than anything that's out there, I assure you.
I can show you all of time and space.
I can reveal to you every secret of the universe if you wish.
Stay here and you won't have to ever take part with any small talk ever again.
Stay here and there will be no disappointment, no heart ache, no sorrow, no worry, no pain.
Stay and you can give up on humanity all together".
Those words weren't just smooth but they were mesmerizing and promising to my ears.
I liked the sound of giving up on humanity.
I could feel a warm elated wave of joy envelope my heart.
Time and space, the secrets of the universe, it all thrilled me to the very bone.
I didn't want to say no.
Every cell in my body seemed to scream yes.
Yet my damn common sense got in the way.
Humanity was all I'd ever known.
Was I supposed to just deny everything and everyone I ever loved and cared for?
He was asking me to stay forever, to live forever, what if I making that kind of sacrifice would cost too much?
What if the cost was my sanity and my soul?
What if I lost my compassion and my kindness?
What if that innocence I had hidden away was lost forever as well?
"I'd love to but humanity is all I've ever known.
If I give up on all of that out there...I could lose everything I've ever worked for."
"Yes all that work and you still can't even afford a real apartment.
All that work and still everyone ignores you and acts as if you're invisible.
All that work and Nobody has even heard of you outside of this wretched little town.
Yet still you want to go back to that life of disappointment and deep depression.
Forgive my crassness but if you were to leave, better yet disappear from their world, no one would ever think of you again.
What's worse is no one would ever even date speak your name.
They'd forget about it, they'd forget you, your face and eventually all your hard work.
I don't mean to be cruel but humans are not only narrow minded but they too soon forget especially when it comes to the things that truly matter like kindness and compassion for instance.
I understand you have this loyalty that you think is undying but your loyalty means nothing to any of them.
Before you go off on another tirade awnser me this have you ever once felt that you belonged in that world full of humans?"
"It's not my purpose to belong, my purpose was to help people and bring justice to those who are too weak to fight for it.
That's why I keep going back, so I can make a difference out there amongst all those robots.
If they forget me than that's fine but at least they'll remember what I gave them.
I gave them my patience, my kindness, my time, my attention, my fearlessness, my courage and my loyalty and love.
That should count for something."
"There will be a day when they won't even remember that.
Believe I know of what I speak for I too used to be a part of the human race.
Long ago I thought my services to humankind would be well noted and respected but eventually they turned their backs on me and they forgot my work and my legacy.
So I strived to be better and I did.
I achieved success and true greatness outside of their world.
I became stronger, smarter, I was enlightened and far more insightful.
I evolved and transformed into someone invincible and indestructible.
Now no man can kill me, no woman can destroy me, I am eternal".
"Whoa...that's great and I'm happy for you but still I'm not going to just waltz off into time and space and ditch this world altogether.
I mean I wouldn't mind staying here... for the time being...but I'm not going give up on humanity just yet.
Is that alright with you?"
He nodded but I could tell he was displeased with that decision.
He grimaced, grimly grunted in agreement, then he walked off.
"Well you don't have to be like that.
Look I'm sorry I didn't mean to disappoint you or anything I'm just not ready to give up everything I've ever known."
"Who said I was disappointed?
You've made your decision wether I like it or not.
What matters is you're staying.
I must say that's excellent news.
So I'm far from disappointed."
"Well you still don't seem very happy about it".
"I'm rarely happy about anything or anyone
I am now though if you must know.
I can't deny that it gives me a certain amount of pleasure to have someone here that isn't already dead."
"So you might just keep me around for awhile hmm?"
"Yes I might keep you alive... for now.
The dead after all are not much company".
.
