I think I dreamt what happened next, or maybe it was the result of the drugs combo I'm still not a hundred percent sure and Brin has never admitted it to me, so I'll just tell you what I remember and I'll let you decide for your self.
I walked into a Nightmare, well that's what I thought. Everything was black and lifeless. The trees were ash from root to tip and as I reached up my hand, the bark crumbled to nothing under my touch.
I gasped and shrank back, but still I kept walking. The leaves under my feet made no noise as I felt them break under them and over head in the grey sky skeletal birds with lifeless eyes dragged their bodies through the air.
Everything around me was dead or dying, decaying flesh and bone were all I could see.
Death had come for me! It was only a matter of time.
So I walked, and I walked and just for a little change of pace I walked some more.
And saw nothing. Nothing but life slipping far away from me.
I felt the shadow appear behind me and I obediently turned. He was incredibly tall and skinny, but strangely enough he didn't seem evil. I'd expected a malevolent stare or stance. But he just stood there calmly waiting.
As went to his out stretched hand I heard a voice come through all the fog that had suddenly swept into my brain.
"Why?"
"Huh?" I turned my head sharply and stared into the dust. A figure was coming towards me. A magnificent cape around his broad shoulders and a unyielding look on his face.
As he reached me, he towered over me. His deep voice filled me as he said.
"Why do you give up?"
"I'm… done." I replied nonchalantly "I have nothing left to give." And I really felt that way too. They'd conquered my body and forced it to their will. They had the supremacy, they could do anything they wanted to me and I would of course obey.
"No, they do not have the power."
That startled me for a second. Did I say that out loud, or had he just read my mind.
"They may have taken over your body and your mind. But there is something they cannot touch."
"What my soul?" I asked sceptically "Sorry to burst your bubble pal but this is starting to sound like a bad movie of the week."
I laughed expecting him to look really hurt, but instead he laughed too and nodded his head.
"I guess it does really, but I thought you liked dramatics?" I frowned at him then turned my back on him and accepted my feet's permission to walk into Deaths arms.
"NO!"
Un-death guy grabbed my arm hauled me back.
"I cannot let you do this."
"Why not. They've won. I can't do anything else against them. But this…" I gestured to Death who was just waiting there patiently in a gigantic hooded robe and smoke-paloosa…. Hey He's wearing a pair of white clogs?! Hmmm Yeah! Sure!
"This I can do.. They won't be expecting it and it'll serve them right for taking away my life."
"But isn't this giving them exactly what you think they've done to you? You're stronger than this Bliss. I've seen your heart and I know your spirit. This is not who your really are, nor who you want to be."
I started to open my mouth just then but he cut across me.
"You are a warrior Bliss, you always have been. I heard your cry just now and I felt it go right through me."
I blushed "Oh sorry I never knew I could scream that loud"
"No it was not a scream but a warrior's cry." He came right up to me then and with a beautifully large hand he stroked the side of my face. "One who knows the strength to keep fighting for life." I nuzzle into his hand but then shake him off annoyed that he couldn't have told me sooner.
"But I lost". I almost wail.
"Battles are neither lost nor won in the end Bliss. Only fear is conquered."
He steps away from me. God he's beautiful I think. Dark wispy hair and a magnificent presence.
"Fear of what?" I ask as he steps further away from me.
"To fight for what you really want. Even if it might hurt."
I cock my head to the side confused. If you get what you want in the end surely that's a winning. No more fighting?
"What do you want Bliss? I know what I did when you called me to that alley"
"What?" I look up quickly but I only see a dark shape dissipating to more dust.
I'm so shocked I almost forget to breath. Was that really my mysterious saviour from the Nightclub. Had I called out to him. How did he hear?
Urgh! Too many thoughts flooded my brain. I couldn't think. I tried to recall my memory from that night but only pictures of Dickhead came flashing.
"Aghhhhhh" I yelled in frustration and I sat down heavily on the ground. Little puffs of dust rising up around me.
I felt a little tap on my shoulder. It was death. He was bending down toward me and tapping at his wrist. It seemed it was time to go. But now I was so confused that I didn't know what to do.
I looked about the grainy atmosphere and shuddered.
Death didn't seem to like my stalling very much so with out so much as a by you or leave. He grabbed my arm and pulled me along behind him.
"Hey!" I yelled in protest as I squirmed in his grasp.
So much for getting a choice in the matter. It seems I was yet again being forced to do something I didn't want to do, or rather hadn't decided to do.
Death wasn't it bothered it seemed. Much like Hades hags, it had been decided that my time was up and the string was about to be cut.
Oh that was it! I was so pissed off with being tugged about.
Standing up and squaring off before death. I smiled radiantly and the soccer punched him right in the face.
HOLY HELL that felt good!
Death went spinning away from me and was soon eating dust.
"Hmph!" I snorted at him and as I turned my back on him and walked away. I lifted my head to the sky and yelled to who ever it was that was in charge of this limbo, that I wanted out and I WANTED OUT RIGHT….NOW!