This is chapter 1 enjoy. DMC belongs to Capcom anyone else belongs to me. Carry on Citizen.
Simplex Vita
Neon signs flash with colors of red, yellow, blue and white, sporting breasts of dancing girls at every flashing billboard. While inside historical- looking buildings there are flashing dance floors, bars and clubs belching techno music loud enough to drown out the noise of passing traffic with its harsh tones blaring from the open doors. Burly men stand guard at the front doors of brick buildings ushering men (and women) into insides that flash between blinding white and solid black. There is a constant flow of people walking up and down the sidewalks, being assaulted by hot air and destructive sound. Many go about their business while others give into their curiosity and stop to admire the world of sin. Others, lots of others, are drawn in giving satisfaction to the demons within themselves. They become filth and filthy things aren't welcome here. This was Limbo City – the world between good and evil - the first circle of Hell. If you kept to yourself you were safe just as long as you stuck to the rules…but once the line was crossed you were swallowed up whole and it dragged you down into the pit of darkness.
I walked the streets with a steady rhythm, a cigarette hung loosely from between my lips, the paper nearly burnt straight to the filter; yet, I puffed on it anyway, considering I would have to wait for good hour and a half until I reached my apartment. Needless to say, I was determined to make this one last as long as possible. I looked down the sidewalk and saw a mixture of suits, skirts, and jeans. I liked the nightlife of Limbo City for one reason and one reason only…here; you were treated like an equal. It didn't matter if you had wealth or were as dirt poor as they come- anyone could become a sinner. There was temptation everywhere- hot women seemed to climb from shadows pulling at you, beckoning you to follow them into their world; doors were opened wide allowing you indulge in the life you 'wish' you had, one full of heat, heavy perfume, and sex… it was a portal into a dark fantasy…. A fantasy I would particularly prefer to stay out of.
I experienced enough seedy underbellies to last me until death. So to be in the midst of this lifestyle creates a sour taste in my mouth. Stealthily a woman steps to me, scratch that, a girl steps up to me. She barely looks in her teens yet she puts her hands on my chest and looks at me with eyes that could make a corpse breathe hard… but I'm not a corpse and I'm not gullible. I slip by her without so much of a sideways glance. She screams something at me but I could care less. Blending back in the crowd I take a drag of my cigarette, biting into the filter as I do, I look up and blow a steady stream of smoke. I watch as the cloud becomes thin turning into tendrils that dance, spin, and shake in the air until vanishing into the atmosphere.
As I'm walking someone bumps into me, barely above a whisper, they apologize and continue on their way. Brushing it off I spot a trashcan with an ash tray on the side. Working my way through the small crowd on the sidewalk I am careful to stay away from the edge to avoid the passing cars. I take another step forward when I see it, the abstract glimmer of a running figure. Their gold outline blurred as they ran forward. As I prepared to step to my left I felt it – a heavy cold feeling in my chest, it held my gut and made a chill run down my spine. I looked past the golden, fleeing body and saw its pursuer- looming, large and bulky- its body overlapped with the brick and concrete buildings to the right, passing through them as if they weren't there. I was so engrossed with its size that when it raised its foot to resume its chase, I found myself right underneath its massive path. Instinctively I raised my arms over my head to protect myself however; like a ghost it passed right through me continuing to pursue its quarry. I peeked through my arms and saw a couple of curious eyes leering at me with a quick movement I moved onward. I passed a quick glance over my shoulder and saw the escapee turn the corner into an alleyway with his 'Goliath' not too far behind. I wasn't too far away before I heard the sickening crunch of bone and flesh being pounded into the ground. Poor bastard…
I had just reached the ash tray when the church bell tolled. Loud and thunderous, it rang the beginning of a new day with its deep tone drowning out the music from the bars and clubs.
Once
Looking up to the sky it reflected that of a large, red river. The clouds parallel to that of river rapid's natural ebb and flow the clouds creating the crashing waves; it was a huge red stream that expanded endlessly; extending over the brick buildings and into the unknown.
Twice
The women disappeared, vanishing back into shadows.
Third Ring
The doormen began to close the clubs ushering in as many as they could while keeping the rest locked in.
Four
A hobo that was against a heavily graphitized brick wall slid deeper into his tattered parka.
Five
Sixth ring
A large gust, pushed past legs and feet, carrying the trash of the night sending flyers, posters, and food wrappers from the bars and clubs into nearby alleyways.
Seven- The last and final ring of the cathedral bell
Streams of bright sunlight glowed above the roofs of brick buildings and the world observed as the sun made its way high into the sky casting brilliant light over everything. The world that was before was no longer to be found: the neon lights were dead, the women were gone, and the doors were shut. Any and all remnants of this dark world vanished, even its trash. No one noticed or even seemed to care that not too long ago their nighttime world was as black as the abyss. Not that I minded… I could care less about how the mortals operated in their world; I put my messily bit of a smoke into the ashtray of the trashcan and resumed my trek home. I heard a soft crush of paper underneath my foot and looked down. I raised my eyebrows slightly as I read the flyer.
"YOU LIKE WOMEN? YOU WANT A GOOD TIME? THEN COME TO CLEOPATRA'S CLOSET. Open till Dawn! Catering to your darkest fantas-"
The rest had been cut off by my foot and from what I could tell there was a name on the flyer above a busty blonde woman, curious I moved my foot slightly and began to bend down to retrieve the paper. Out of nowhere a gust of wind slid the flyer clean out my foot and worked its way to the alleyway on my left. I scoffed as I watched the flyer disappear into the darkness of the alleyway, vanishing clear from view. I saw a figure, too large for a dog and too animal- like to be human, materialize from one side of the wall, crawl to the other side and disappearing just as quickly as it came. I didn't bother to do a double- take straightening myself I kept walking. Weird shit like that normally doesn't faze me… but every so often it surprises me just how weird this city can get… it isn't natural, it's not even supposed to exist… yet here I am in Limbo—"the first circle of hell"—oh well… I straightened my brown jacket and began my trek to the bus stop, hoping, to get home by a decent hour.
The sun was bright and the city life keeps moving as the new day has just begun. This is Limbo City- the city I found myself in. Full of the haves and have- not's, the wealthy and the poor, it's just like any other city on the surface. But it's not. This place has old magic and knowledge that should have died years ago. But I'm not curious nor am I crazy and I never want to see just how far the rabbit hole goes…
"How is he doing?"
"We're making progress. We're at the beginning now."
"Good."
Behind a large dark glass two figures stand staring at a young man whose head is lulled to one side and his eyes have rolled into the back of his head. Large machines beside them click and whir as they work furiously to project the images on the screen above them- a fuzzy picture that shifts between clarity and white noise- showing a lanky looking teenager with raven black hair with pale white skin, wearing a heavy brown leather jacket with dirty jean overalls and a white t-shirt that is just, if not more filthy, than that of his jeans getting onto a bus.
One of the figures crosses their arms and looks dead at the young man and a smile softly makes its way across their face.
"Tell me all your secrets… Dante…"
Fin.
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Flashing multicolored lights and women's breasts are draped across every billboard, display, and even litter the sidewalk. The vulgarity is obvious, you can be offered any love you can think of french, russian, american... even a "mother's love" if you are willing to pay for it. The world is polluted by lies, money and false love. But if you have the taste for it it can be yours: an all expense paid trip. Many are drawn in, giving satisfaction to the demons within themselves. They become filth and filthy things aren't welcome here. . If you kept to yourself you were safe, as long as you stuck to the rules…but once the line was crossed you were swallowed up whole and it dragged you down into the pit of darkness.
