Endless Loops: Black Tendrils

I stare at the light flickering above me and all I can do is laugh. I don't know how long I've been stuck in here, but this bottle of rot gut seems to never be empty so I don't mind it so much any more. I can't feel the pain in my arms or feet anymore, much less feel anything. Except my head...that laughter continues, but I've almost gotten used to the sound. I sit up to look at the evil twitching fungus, its black tendrils still not coming into the area that is faintly lit up by the terrible lighting. That's one of the few things I've learned being in this place: The mushroom cannot be near any light source, also everything in the room changes every time the light flickers except the black mass. The bed I originally woke up in is no longer there and the door constantly shifts places. I learned that one the hard way.
Drunkenly I decided for a 2nd attempt at freedom. I had noticed that since I had been sitting completely still and silent, the fungus stopped pulsating and making any noise. Maybe my fear and frantic movements had been triggering it. Slowly rolling over on top of my stomach, I started to slowly inch my way towards the door. One arm in front of the other, pulling with my arms, and using my hips. I had watched enough movies and seen many heroes do it like this so I figured this was the correct way. I was actually getting closer to the door this time. I stopped about 3/4s of the way to look back at my 'sentry.' Still not doing anything. I held my breath and continued forward towards my escape. All I want it to leave here.
I lay motionless in front of the door, my anxiety starting to rise, because I know my next move is to stand up so I can actually get the damn thing open. I look back and can't even see anything but the light and the bottle underneath it. I decide that now us the time. I slowly get to my knees. Ok good. Now I can reach the handle. As soon as I reach out, the light flickers and I hear the laughter. Shit! I have to leave now! That's when I notice the door is gone.
I feel the burning in my legs as I turn around in horror to see black tentacles grabbing them and start to drag me through endless amounts of ooze back towards the fungus in the corner. Pain shoots completely through my body like a thousand jellyfish stinging me all at once. The warbling laughter starts to almost make words that sound like, "Endless pain. No escape." I look for anything to grab on to so that I can break free of its grasp when I notice that I am passing by the light. I reach for anything and hit the bottle, the fungus shrieks and recoils back in pain, temporarily losing its grasp just enough to get a grip on the neck of the bottle. I turn towards the tendrils on my legs and begin to smash them repeatedly with the bottle and it lets go. I frantically crawled back into the light.
And now, here I am. That had to have been a few hours ago. I can't find the strength to even begin to figure out what I am supposed to do next. But that's ok. Like I said before, this bottle never empties.

Endless Loops

"For the first time in my life, I absolutely don't mind crawling out of bed and going to work. Funny right?" I joked to my wife as we both got ready for our day. "No joke," she said, "getting you out of bed to do anything was a chore, much less trying to get you motivated to go to that shit job...I sometimes wonder why I even stuck around." "Because you couldn't resist how awesome I am!" I said flexing in the mirror, both of us chuckling. Then we both caught a glimpse of something. Something I tend to hide. Scars. Our moods shifted quickly and we were both quiet for a moment. She ran her finger down my arm tracing the lines. After a solemn moment, I spoke up, "Thank you...for sticking around." "My only regret is that I wish I knew this was going on at the time..." she said quietly. "Hey babe, that was a long time ago, I've...we've changed. Things are much better now," I said smiling. She latched on to me, I held her also. "Ok, enough of this romantic comedy shit," she laughed through her emotion, "we have to go to work."
It was no lie that things sucked back then. Our shithole apartment, our shitty jobs, barely affording to live...Hell sometimes we couldn't afford to eat. It was too much for me, but I bottled it up and powered through it. Then it all came down one night when she was working a night shift and I was alone. That day, something inside me broke. Nothing new had happened, I can't even begin to rationalize what I was thinking, just that this was the end. Needless to say it wasn't. Here I am now, a new place, new job, actually can afford good food, and I'm even driving a 'new to me' car. We aren't rich, but life is good.
Taking slow sips of my coffee, carefully because I don't want to end up a burn victim while I drive, I see traffic start to slow down in front of me. "Shit, this lane has been closed for months, do people still not know how to properly merge?" I turn on the radio to see if there is any traffic reports. "Bbbbzzzzzrrhrhtthhh Pain gggzrth nothing ghhhrth." "What the Hell? I honestly haven't tried the radio in a long time so it probably went out a while back. Whatever." I reached for my phone and something in my rear view caught my eye. "Oh shit. Oh fuck. That truck isn't slowing down. This is going to hurt," was all that was going through my head at that moment and not two seconds later all I could hear was metal crunching.
"AH! SHIT!" I screamed, breathing heavily. Its dark, I'm in a bed, gripping a pillow. It was a nightmare. I turn over to wake my wife to, honestly, just get some assurance when I roll into a wall. "The fuck? When did this wall get here?" I face the other way, nothing there either. Still groggy from being jolted awake, I slide all the way over and off the bed. When my feet hit the floor, I get an odd sensation. The floor is cold and wet. Then it finally hits my thick skull, "Where the fuck am I?" A light bulb without a cover flickers on in the center of the room. This room is completely foreign to me. Trying to figure out what is going on, I finally look down at my feet, some sort of black ooze is all around this area of the room. The I look around to see the same ooze covers the wall, but only on this side of the room. It seems to even be clumped together in a mass in the corner. I want to believe its a trick of the light, but it seems to be pulsating. The longer I stand there trying to decide what the hell I am looking at, I an ever growing pain in my feet. It stings. "Fuck! Why have I been standing in this shit for so long?!" At the moment run to get out of the gunk, the pain increases ten fold, and I hear a very high pitched, warbling...almost like laughing sound.
The light goes out and I trip on something. I hit the ground hard. Solid concrete.
BEEEP BEEEP BEEEP. Fucking alarm clock, I thought I got rid of this thing. I slam my fist on it to stop its infernal racket. Then I open my eyes. "No." I turn over to see a note laying on the cardboard box I used for a night stand, "Hey babe, I didn't want to wake you, but I was just reminding you I have to work the night shift tonight." the note read. I shot out of bed. "NO!" This room is familiar. This was our old place. My arms ached. I looked down to see them bandaged. Tears welled up in my eyes. "No God dammit! Take me back! Take me back to where I was!" I scream as I ball up a fist. Roaring, I punch the wall as hard as I could. My fist sticks to the wall and pain shoots through my body. Barely able to see through my rage and tears I see what's holding my fist. The wall around my fist is black, the tar like ooze spreading outwardly from the point of impact. Almost instantly the room shifts back into the dark prison I was previously in.
The light flickers and I see what I had tripped over. A bottle of whisky. I have to find a way out of this place, I'm already starting to lose it. I see a door on the other side of the room and I bolt towards it.
My feet still hurt, my arms ache, and I have a dull headache from tripping, but nothing is stopping me from getting out. I sprint hard and fast. Still running, I hear the warbling sound again. That noise is the most unnerving thing I have ever heard. If mushrooms could laugh, that would be the sound it made. Fear sets in hearing that "laugh" and all I can do is focus on running for escape. I'm starting to get winded, how big is this room? In a giant pulsating blast, the noise gets louder and an unseen force knocks me down. I roll over and get up, facing towards where I started.
"Son of a bitch..." I mutter. I literally have not moved. I am no close to the door and no further away from the growing black cancerous mass in the corner. I look to my right and see the bottle. I'm nauseated at the thought, but I grab it anyway. Anything to numb the pain. It doesn't seem like I can leave here any time soon, and this ooze also seems to not get this close to the light so I might as well enjoy myself until I figure a way out. Or wake up.

Tufer Origins Chapter 5: Live By The Sword....

Rage. Hate. Unfulfillment. Those were the only things I could focus on. I failed. I failed to protect them. I couldn't even make things right. Its been six months since we started living in this abandoned burrow and I only feel the shadow grow stronger.

"Tufer..."
SLAM!
"Tufer."
SLAM!
"TUFER!"

My eyes burned, "Dammit! WHAT!?" I realized at that moment what I had been doing. "Tufer! You can't cut that log any smaller !" I heard Ony reply, somewhat agitated now. I looked at the ax in my hand, then at the log-turned-twig in front of me. "Ony, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean---" She cut me off, "Its fine, Tufer. I completely understand. Its fine." As she had started to walk away, I decided I should start gathering the wood that was salvageable for a fire tonight. Just as she thought she was out of earshot, I could hear her say, "Tufer...I worry about you just as much as you worry about me. I'm afraid you are losing yourself....and I'm losing you too..."

Those words stabbed into my soul. Dammit Tufer, you are supposed to be protecting her. Helping her. Not freaking her out and getting her upset. "Don't worry, Ony, soon I'll fix everything, and you can be happy."

Sleep wasn't happening that night. I couldn't tell if it was from the storm raging outside, or if it was from the one inside my head. Neither storm seemed to bother Ony at all she was completely out on the bed. I was glad that at least one of us was at peace tonight.

I paced back and forth wrapped up in my own thoughts. Looking over at her asleep, I felt guilty for hiding so much from her. I had ulterior motives for training every day alone. I used that time to hunt for the location of that demon, Garou. Earlier that day, before the "log splitting" incident, I had found him at last. I was tired of hiding, tired of feeling beaten and hopeless. Tonight I would avenge Pop and Ony's family. Tonight I end this. Most importantly, after tonight, Ony would be safe.

A flash of lightning, crackle of thunder, and I headed for the door.

"Tufer? What are you doing?" Ony said, half asleep, "Go to bed, Tufer."
"I'm just going out for a night time walk...err...in the rain, I'll be right back. Everything is fine, just go back to sleep."
"Stop, Tufer." I froze and turned around, the tone in her voice had shifted. "I know what you are doing. I'm begging you, Tufer, do not go through with this. Think clearly for a moment...There is no point to doing any of this!"

"No Point?! Dammit, Ony, I'm tired of running away from this! I have to find them and finish what they started! I swore an oath to you and Pop that I would protect you! I failed! Now the only way to fix that is to kill them for what they have done!"

"And what will that do, Tufer? Bring Pop back? Bring my family back? No! It won't! Screw your oath, Tufer! Do you only care about me because it is your made up duty? What good does your oath do if you go out there and die tonight?"

"No, Ony, you don't understand. I have to do this....I have to protect you."

"And killing those werewolves is protecting me, right? Shit, Tufer, listen to yourself! I don't and never have needed you to protect me! You know that is true. Cut the bullshit with me, you and I both know that you feel doing this resolves you of your guilt. And I get that, I really do. The fact is, though, you aren't guilty of anything. Is resolving your imaginary guilt more important than staying here and moving on with our lives?"

We stared at each other for what seemed like forever. I could feel tears welling up in my eyes. "I'm sorry, Ony. One day I hope you can forgive me. I have to do this," I calmly spoke as I walked out of the burrow. The rain drenched my fur, my ears flopped to the sides. Lightning streaked all across the sky. I couldn't understand what Ony was yelling at me because the thunder covered her screams. I walked and never looked back. The shadow had gripped my soul enough that I only cared about one thing, fulfilling my goal. Killing Garou. Ending this. Ending my suffering.

That was the biggest mistake of my short life.

Tufer Origins Chapter 4: Round One. Fight!

At that time, I still didn't know how I had the knowledge to survive or where my fighting capabilities had come from. It all seemed to come just from the most basic of instincts within me. Any downtime I had from making sure Ony and I survived another night in our abandoned burrow was spent on honing my combat abilities. After a long while of this, Ony joined me in training. It was a good thing we trained as much as we did. She would need the skill more than ever now. In all honesty, she really didn't need much, she was naturally fierce and scrappy all on her own. I walked away several times after our 'bouts' with more cuts and bruises than she. Hell, I still remember the first time we fought for real.

"Charge me!"
"I won't hold back on you!"
"Good! Now shut up and charge me!"
She growled and started to sprint as fast as she could at me. I calmly stared at her, with a slight smirk on my face. This, I learned, was a bad idea. Never antagonize a girl bunny...especially if she is your best friend, she will make you regret it. I thought I had picked apart every flaw in her form, turns out, I hadn't. She had no form. She was completely unpredictable, she also played my hubris against me. She was in complete control the whole time.

When she got within a few feet of me, I noticed her right paw was up. I prepared to block that high punch and counter with a throw. That is when I felt intense pain in my lower jaw. I had totally forgotten she was left handed. She took advantage of that as she uppercutted me. I saw stars, couldn't focus at all. Ok, I am going to have to be serious about this. "Shit! That hurt!" I whined as I tried to regain my composure.

"Aww, wanna stop? Want me to go fix you an ice pack and some tea?" she smirked," Oooh! I have a better idea! How about you stop being a little bitch and fight me!" God I love her attitude. I chuckled as I started my relentless counter attack. Right hook, left jab, left hook, right uppercut, leg sweep. I didn't hold anything back, problem was, she blocked and dodged everything I threw at her. Then I saw my opening. She tried to feint a right hook again and catch me with her left. "Not this time," I muttered as I grabbed her left paw and flipped her over. Still holding on, I put my foot on her chest, as well as pressure on her wrist, fully expecting her to tap out. It was tough, but I beat her. It was a good fight.

The huge grin on my face quickly faded when I felt something sharp tap my inner thigh. I looked down in horror to see Ony wielding a small knife, resting it right below every guy's weak spot. "You crafty...You sneaky bit---"

"Hey now, choose your next words carefully. Don't want me to ruin your, ahem, ego any more do ya?" "Fine," I grunted as I let her go, "Where the hell did that even come from?" "I have to keep some secrets don't I, best bud?" She said as she hopped up, I just looked at her, arms crossed. "Aww don't be a grumpy bunny," she said playfully as she shook me, "I tell you what, for being such the perfect badass you are and best trainer ever, one so amazing that I could never surpass, I will make you something to eat tonight. I will even let you decide what it is, k?" "Okay....fair enough," I replied, managing the best smile my hurt pride would allow. I knew she was joking around with me, but no matter what, it always made me feel better.

Until the shadow took over again.

Tufer Origins Chapter 3: Painful Memories

Sorrowful screams. Horrifying howls. Those sounds are permanently implanted into my memory. Sounds I never want to hear again.

It was the middle of the night, I was startled awake by a nightmare I had. Funny enough I can't remember the actual dream, because what I had awoken to was a worse nightmare. I heard a scream just as I snapped to. That was Ony! I burst out of our shelter to see a conflagration before me where the farmhouse should be. Wicked shadows danced all around, both inside and outside the smoke and flames. Laughing. Howling. I quickly spotted Ony clenching something. A body. No. It can't be.

"Tufer, they....they killed Pop..." Ony cried as she clenched me tight. I held her, staring at the lifeless body that had once saved me from death, that took me in, took us both, the kindest, gentlest human ever to walk this Earth. I couldn't repay my debt now. I couldn't save him. I tried to comfort Ony, but nothing could come out of my mouth. My teeth clenched, my ears stuck straight up...Something inside of me snapped.

That was the first time I felt the shadow of death and destruction inside of me.

I released Ony and looked her square in the eyes, "Hide. Now. I am going to fix this." "No Tufer, I...I can't lose you too," she said with tear filled eyes. A wave of confidence and strength I had not felt before rushed over me, "I will be ok, Ony, trust me on this one." I turned to go face Pop's killers when I felt something hard smash me across the face. My body flew the air, but came to an instant halt as it connected with the shelter's outside wall. My body should have been broken by that assault, and it sure as hell hurt, but a forgotten survival instinct kept me alive. My spirit wasn't broken. I slowly stood up, focusing on my attackers. There were five of them. Werewolves. Savage beasts that should not exist. Shit! My focus shifted to one thing I feared more than werewolves. Ony was taking them all on by herself with just a burning stick! I told her to hide dammit! I can't...I won't let her be hurt!

I used all of my energy to push through the pain and get to her. I tried to get the wolves attention, but they were too busy taunting Ony.
"Aww look at the cute wabbit trying to protect her DEAD LOVED ONES!"
"HAHA! Such a tragic, yet funny, sight don't you think, Master Garou?"
The biggest one stepped in front of the other four, "Yes it is, my friends. And I declare there will be a feast tonight in our and our Lord's honor....after we have some fun with the love one that is." Ony was swinging the flaming stick like a champ. Who knew she had it in her? At that moment, she threw the weapon Garou. However, he calmly shifted his head and it missed, hitting one of the wolves behind him. "Shit! She got me!" he yelped, "I will rip out your throat, bitch! And after that I'm gonna skull fu..."

"SHUT UP!" Garou yelled to his comrade in pain. He sniffed the air. "She smells familiar," he looked down. "I know this one." I have to move faster. Dammit body move faster! Get out of there Ony! "Boys! Gather 'round for a story," Garou started, "before most of you were born, and before I was Alpha, I had raided this spot before." I saw Ony glance in my direction, good she saw that I was still alive, keep their attention for just a little bit longer. Garou knelt down to get on Ony's level as she backed away, always facing them, smart girl. "Ya see lads, I had orders to come here...but I also came for the hell of it. I stumbled upon a burrow close to where we stand now. To my surprise, I saw a whole happy family...of little bunnies inside." The wolves behind him started to howl and laugh. I am sick of this. I see a broken stick with a nice, sharp edge on the end. "I am not particularly proud of what happened next, lads, but you see, I was famished," the most evil grin spread across his face, the fire reflecting off of his evil eyes, "So, I killed them all and ate them, except one." My bones froze, Ony slunk back in fear and sorrow. The only sound I could here from her were, "No...no...it can't...I'm not..." repeating over and over. Garou started to continue his story. Sorry Garou, you aren't going to get to finish.

Everything went red, strength came from deep within, a dark strength. I grabbed the sharp stick I found, hoisted it up, and threw with everything I had. "Hey asshole! You forget about me?!" I screamed running behind the flying weapon. The shock on Garou's face at the sight of me was almost as satisfying as the sound of his eye getting impaled by my weapon. I raced to Ony to get her to run. She was almost catatonic, just repeating the same thing. "Dammit Ony! We have to go now!" She looked at me and nodded as we heard pain filled grunts and howls behind us. We ran. We ran as far as we could. Behind us we could still hear them, "Find those motherfuckers! If none of you do, I swear by our Lord that I will rip out your own asshole and force feed it to you!" Garou was angry. Good. But I had to get us out of here now.

We ran till we saw daylight. We didn't stop to rest until then. The five seconds we had taken to stop, Ony passed out. We still weren't complete safe here, even though I am positive we lost them. As savage as werewolves are, they aren't very quiet. No, they like their presence known, for the thrill of the hunt I guess. I could feel every bone in my body scream in pain as I picked up and carried Ony. Luckily I didn't have to go far till I found and abandoned burrow. I carefully crawled into the hole, still carrying Ony. I called out to see if anyone may have been squatting inside like I intend to do for now. Completely empty. Lucky I guess. I found a bed that just so happened to be big enough for the both of us. I laid her down on one side, still out of it. I sat on the other side. It hit me. Everything we had gone through together, nothing had prepared us for this. Everything we known...gone....gone just because some assholes decided to 'have some fun.' I couldn't help but still feel that all of this was somehow my fault. Ony. She didn't deserve this. To know the truth. Pop. He definitely didn't deserve to be brutally killed for no reason. Hate filled my soul.

That was the second time I felt that now familiar shadow inside of me. A shadow that would remain with me until the day I died....and after.

Tufer Origins Chapter 2: Six Years Ago

 The first memory I have of my old life took place six years ago. All I remember was being cold, wet, and in pain. That's when he found me, The Farmer. I called him Pop. Next thing I can recall is waking up on a makeshift bed made of straw, a fire providing comfort, and the most beautiful girl bunny I had ever seen in my life. I tried to introduce myself to her, but the only thing I managed to utter was, "AAAARRRGGHHH!!!" My ribs were definitely broken. She immediately told me to lay still as she ran to the door of the shelter. Ok, I won't argue.

 I hear her call out, "Pop! He's awake!" "Good," I hear an older man reply. I glanced over to see a human figure enter the shelter, followed by the bunny. For reasons unknown to me, when the man crouched beside me, I immediately reacted by throwing my hands up into a defensive stance. "Calm down, friend. Everything is ok. You are safe here." I glared at the man, unwavering in my focus despite the excruciating pain.

 Then she spoke.

"Really you are ok now. We found you clinging to life on the Market Road. He saved you."

Something in her voice completely disarmed me. I dropped my guard. "I'm...I'm Tufer," I managed to grunt. The Farmer stood up and smiled, "Call me Pop, my friend. Iffin' ya give me a moment, I'll be back with some medicine." "Thank you, Pop," I replied nervously. As soon as Pop slipped out, the girl bunny approached me, I couldn't help but stare at her. Something about her, she was special. "I'm Ony, I'm so glad you are still with us Tufer. Let me get you something to eat," I could only nod as she smiled and went to grab a bowl of something. "I made some carrot stew, yeah, I know its stereotypical for us rabbits to eat carrots. But they are just so damn good dontcha think?" I laughed a little, it hurt, but I didn't care. I grabbed the bowl and started chowing down on what would become my favorite dish for the rest of my, well, life.

"Do you remember anything?"

"No....nothing....only that my name is Tufer. This stew is amazing by the way."

"Thank you," she grinned. I was caught in a trance, the stew started to dribble out of my mouth. "Umm Tufer," she pointed. "Oh shit! I'm sorry....I was just trying to remember...remember anything," yeah real smooth there Tufer, you old suave SOB.

"Haha! Its totally ok! Well, I guess you would like to know where we are right? I have to go back into my own past a little," she got really serious and looked away from me, "I was abandoned in a burrow close to Pop's garden. He found me alone, crying because I hadn't eaten in a long time. That's what he had told me at least," she paused for a minute with a grim expression, deep in though. I felt so bad for her. She looked back up at me smiled, "Anyway, I have lived here my whole life repaying Pop for saving me by helping him out with the garden. Sadly, time hasn't been kind to him and the harvests have been getting smaller." "I...I am so sorry to hear all of that...seriously though, thank you for all you have done to help me. As soon as daylight hits, I will be on my way. I'll find some way to pay you and Pop back for the kindness."

"Well you can stay here and help me n' Ony out with the garden if you want to pay us back that much," we both turned to see the kind old man standing in the doorway holding medicine, "You just rest now and get back yer strength alright?" "Thank you, sir. I will. And I promise that you won't be disappointed," I replied.

This was the beginning of my old life. Ony and I developed a rather unique bond over the course of the next five years. She was my best friend, my confidant, the only being I trusted and loved...well besides Pop. I guessed this is what a family felt like. I still don't remember anything before meeting Ony for the first time and I don't know if I ever truly want to. I was happy. Life was good.




Then, a year ago, those bastards came.

Hate Post Filled Rage Rant

I'm trying this out for once in my life, just ranting at nothing in particular. Here it goes.

I am a creature filled mostly with rage and hate. I have never since I was a child been able to control my emotions in a healthy way, hence why I am trying this out. What exactly do I hate? Nothing and everything. "Oh I'm just being overdramatic," maybe I am, in fact I know I am, but fuck you. This is my moment, my page, I have the floor, I'll be a 5 year old if I want.

Its not a hidden fact that I have gone through and dealt with some shit in my short life so far, but here's the thing, in some fucked up way it has made me stronger, but also I am not a god and it wears on me constantly. Here is the Hate Load I am about to spew. I NEVER HAVE COMPARED MY LIFE TO ANYONE ELSES. I make one joke ever and it's "Waaah I had a bone come out my leg," when someone complains that they hurt themselves. If any of you ever thought I ever truly meant that in a hurtful manner, I am sorry, really, because one thing I hate the most is people who One Up someone about anything.

"Oh you got $50 well I got $100," well congradufuckinglations. I was just simply telling a story and I didn't realize I was in the presence of fucking royalty and should keep my peasant mouth shut because I'll never be on your level.

Yes that was a silly example but seriously think to yourself has there ever been an instance were one upping someone has resulted in a positive experience? Well for the asshole it was, because they just stroked their ego in front of everyone and blew a load of smug on their face.

This leads me to my next point, I hate that not a single fuckin person takes me seriously at all. Like I know 99% of you are just thinking I'm a fucking moron right now, well gratz! You are wasting your time reading my stupid shit and ramblings. Who is the real winner now? Obviously I want the attention right that's why I'm putting it on the interwebs. Not exactly true, fucktard. My pen broke when I tried to write this down the first time. And ya know, I'm sure there is at least one person who might find my mind interesting. If you are that person, I love you and you are awesome. Stay that way.

I know I am a badass individual, one that cares, one that loves, and who is fiercely loyal. I am passionate about things I like and don't....wait what am I doing, this is a hate post. That. What I just did. I fucking hate that.

I hate when people look too deeply into what I am saying and twist my words. I have a hard time articulating my thoughts as it is, why does anyone think I have some deeper motive about what I am saying or what I am doing? Being coherent is a struggle enough, ask anyone who has ever heard me talk at length. Hell this right here is an example.

Anal Tremors. I have your attention now? Good so listen real good to this next part...this whole thing is directed at no one. If you are at all offended at anything I said and think this was a direct attack at you, wonderful, you have an ego problem. I am just really angry and letting it all out.

Seriously I did not think at all while writing this, it just kinda happened. Huh....I guess this did help. I'll probably do this again...or not. Fuck.

Tufer Origins Chapter 1

"I have to find her. I need to see her...to tell her that I am ok. That I am back. That everything will be fine now. But....but will she even recognize me?" I see my own reflection in a water puddle at my feet. A broken shell of the bunny I once was. A skull now replacing a smiling face I once had. Burning yellow orbs sunken into eye sockets. What fur I still had was warped and charred black from the flames of Sheol. The only familiar feature I still possess is my floppy ears...now drooping behind my head from being soaked.

Wrapped in my own thoughts, I forget about the torrential rain that has been here since I arrived. I brought it with me. I have become something different, just nigh of a god in this realm now. I finally have the power to accomplish what I wanted so much back then, but does it really matter anymore? Will revenge change anything? Will it end my rage? My guilt? Her grief? With each thought, the rain beats my skull harder than before. Flashes light up the sky, thunder shakes the ground I stand on.

My old burrow was not far from where I stood. I know she is in there, I can feel her presence, her sorrow. I could hear her voice, "Why Tufer? Why did you have to go through with this? Why couldn't you just let it go? Your hate....your rage....it consumed you. I couldn't bear to see what it had done to you...I shouldn't have let you leave that night. I should have stopped you, I should have comforted you. I miss you so much, Tufer. Its all my fault that you aren't here now...forgive me..."

"No...nothing is your fault, Ony, I am to blame," is what I want to tell her. I can't....I can't let her see what I have become. If she saw the monster that I am now, her grief would only grow exponentially. I shouldn't have come back here. My mind is conflicted now, I don't know if I can continue my original mission. "You think you are insignificant my small, rabbit friend, but you are destined for much greater things if only you accept it," I was told before my resurrection on this plane. I need to focus on that, fulfilling my destiny. I turn my back on the burrow, to Ony, to my past. I have to use my rage, my pain, to fuel the destruction of the evils of this world...and every world. I can still hear her cries.

"Dammit Tufer! Just go back to her! Fulfill your destiny later! This is the real reason you came back!"

Before I could react, I felt something strong hoist me up from behind, binding my arms behind me. I struggle against whatever creature is holding me, but it is much too strong, and my body too small to break free of it's grasp. "Look alive guys! I got us a fighter here!" The voice behind me growled. Three figures appeared in front of me, growling and laughing. Werewolves, the foulest creatures of this world. "Get your fucking hands off of me!" I desperately scream, for what reason I don't know. They stepped closer to me, I could feel their breath,"Oh I just love it when they resist! Bahahaha!"
"What the hell is wrong with this one? Its disgusting!"
"When have you ever cared what anything looked like? I saw that troll you brought back to your cave with you last night, bitch was hideous! This is just food!"
"What did you just say, mate?!"
"ENOUGH!" A voice roared from behind the three in front of me. "Shut the hell up and let me take a look at our prey!" The three whimpered and backed off, then I could see the alpha. He was massive....and missing an eye. "No," I thought as fear gripped my heart. A surge of rage flowed through me. A force pulsed from my body. "The fu...!" The one who had been restraining me suddenly dropped me, startled by the sudden energy burst. It can't be him. Not now. Not here!

My eyes now burning with hate, I can feel my body changing, taking it's purer form. Like a living shadow, the dark energy envelopes my whole body, covering every exposed 'weakness' like sinful armor. I grow in size, the same height as my assailants, the same ones now cowering in fear, except for their leader who stands unflinchingly in front of me. "YOU!" Of every thought, every emotion, that was all that could come from my mouth, "YOU BASTARD!" Standing with his arms crossed and smirking, "Do we know each other, friend?" With another burst of raw, hate filled energy, my transformation is complete. I look my foe in the eye, "You...you did this to me...All of my pain! Everything I have done in my life! ALL OF IT! YOU CAUSE ALL OF IT! YOU ARE THE BASTARD THAT KILLED HIM! YOU...YOU KILLED ME!"

Making a Withdrawal: A How To with Kooter and The Pizza Guy

"Wake up, cupcake!" A man screams in agony from a cigarette being put out on his forehead. "Oh quit being such a baby! See, nothing I have done to you hurts that bad!" The maniac takes an extremely large knife and slices his own forehead with it, letting the blood seep down his face all the while cackling. The victim struggles and tries to scream but the gag in his mouth prevents him. He glances upward to notice he is suspended by chains attached to his wrists. "OWW SHIT! OK...that did kinda hurt...daddy needs more juice...hang on a second...oh....haha...HAHA! GET IT? DO YOU GET IT? YOU'RE HANGING FROM THE ROOF! Oh I am just too much sometimes hee hee," the psychopath mutters as he makes his way to a sort of counter top covered in white powder.

The hostage takes a moment to examine his captor. His face is scruffy, a dirty mohawk with a bad dye job sits on top of his somewhat shaved head. He is shirtless revealing a scar covered body, he isn't exactly built, but fit in an odd way. His mannerisms show a hint of intelligence behind his obvious madness. This guy is skilled, he has done this before...several times.

The room they are in cannot be any bigger than a cheap apartment, everything is out in the open except for a small hallway leading to another room. The room the man hangs in is filthy, empty pizza boxes, pill bottles, whiskey bottles, various dismantled electronics, and a wall adorned with.....'tools.' The whole room is lit by artificial lighting, no windows at all to let in any sun. A small whirring can be heard in the distance, possibly that of a generator.

The lunatic buries his head in a mountain of the white substance and breathes in deeply. "WOOOOOOOH YEAH! I'M BACK BABY!" he screams in excitement. Pressing the knife underneath the man's left eye, the maniac continues his interrogation, "So...one more time...why...oh why have you been moving large amounts of cash from one account and trans...oh fuck it, I don't get paid enough to pay attention, WHO DO YOU WORK FOR?!" The man tries to respond a muffled response but at that instant a siren blares in the room. "AH SHIT DAMMIT!" Startled, the captor loses balance and accidentally slices the guy's cheek. "Whoops...my bad..."

A speaker blares, "Kooter, I have your usual pizza here, and you changed the door code again so can you let me in?"
"PIZZA IS HERE! I FORGOT! I hope you're hungry pal!" Kooter runs towards the door like a kid running for ice cream. The hostage had a multitude of thoughts running through his head, he didn't know if to be scared, or upset that his captor screws around too much.

"Nice to see you too, Kooter..." the pizza guy remarks to the lunatic stuffing his face, "By the way, Mr. McDaniels had a message for you..." Kooter stopped and looked deadly serious. "Enzo! Empty your pockets now!" Kooter demanded. "That isn't my name, its..." "NOW!" With a sigh, Enzo reached into his pocket and hands Kooter his cell phone, "Please...its my fifth phone this week...oh great that's ok too..." Kooter had already smashed it on the ground. "What have I told you about them listening and tracking you here?!" The pizza guy just walks past Kooter into the 'chamber' saying "Sup?" to the hostage. "Your payment is in the giant stuffed rabbit as usual. AND DON'T TAKE MORE THAN THE USUAL 5 GRAND! I know exactly how much is in there...and bring me the radio!"

"Whatever, Kooter....fucking psycho," he mutters. "What did you say?!" "I said...you are a psychic!" "Damn right I am! This metal plate isn't just for show!" The hostage is strangely enamored with the exchange between the two, all while trying to get Enzo's attention to help him.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN I HAVE THE WRONG GUY?!" Kooter screams into the receiver. A voice on the other side responds, "Dammit Kooter! I told you from the East Branch Bank...he is from the WEST Branch! Do you not listen?" Holding the radio in front of his mouth, "You know I dropped out of school, Jack! I can't read! What do I do with him?!" "I don't care what you do, just fix this!"

Kooter looks over to Enzo, who is eating his pizza, then looks back at the hostage. "Well my friend it seems I screwed up, I wasn't supposed to kidnap you. Oh well...you'll give my condolences to the missus wontcha?" Kooter says as he walks over to the over joyed hostage, finally seeing some sort of hope of freedom from this madman. "Now...I am going to let you go...and you aren't going to tell anyone, ok? Or that beautiful family of yours will all burn...got it pal?" Tearfully the guy nods and as Kooter takes off his gag, tries to thank him. "Shhhh," the maniac presses a finger to his lips, "don't speak...don't ruin the moment....and give me your coat, I like it." The man hurriedly removes the coat and throws it to Kooter.

The psychopath points to a staircase that leads to a door, "Now go! Be free! I'll miss you Mister Bank Man!" Without thinking the man runs to the door and sprints outside. It seems he was being held captive underground in a bunker, nothing but flat plains all around him. He just wants to go home and hold his wife, and to escape this hell. He sees both Kooter and Enzo standing in the doorway and runs in the opposite direction.

BOOM!

Chunks and a red mist rain down.

"You weren't going to tell him about the landmines where you..."
"I thought about it....buuuuuut I figured it would be more special this way. Now get out of my house Enzo!"
"Always a pleasure, Kooter....I always know where I can find two lifetimes of nightmare fuel if I need it..." The heavy iron door slams behind the pizza delivery guy as he carefully makes his way past all of the traps back to the road.

Atoning for The Dead One

I grip the blade as I make the journey to my final resting place. The sun doesn't shine where I am going. Only darkness, forever. My whole life I have only spread sorrow and destruction. I have shamed my name and my blood with the things I have done. I am here. And he is waiting to ambush.

I kneel in the soft, brown leaves, pointing the edge of the blade to my stomach. I can't erase my existence and the pain I have wrought, but maybe I can atone by spilling my blood on this sacred ground. I ready myself, weary from my own sorrow, to grant eternal forgiveness. A shadow catches my attention. Through sheer reflex, I deflect something from behind.

"You hesitated, I was just ensuring that you would pay for your sins with your own blood," I heard a voice behind me growl. Turning around, my eyes meet with my foe. A grotesque figure clad in my exact armor, large black blades in the place of human limbs. A menacing grin on his face. Immediately I stand on my feet, ready for the next attack. Sure enough it comes. The first blow I parry, but the force knocked me off balance. The second hit its target.

I fell hard onto my back, searing pain in my cheek...I taste my own blood. "Why are you suddenly fighting to survive when moments ago you had almost finished the job?" The looming creature inquired. I didn't have an answer for him....I could only fight back out of instinct. "You are weak! You are no warrior! Only a maggot that plagues everything around him. Not worthy of the gifts you have been granted," he sneered. I stood to face off with my tormentor again. I struggled to speak, "Even if what you say is true, it is my decision to make, not yours. I will live and die by my own choice!"

Knocked down again, I see the gash in my armor, the pain sapping my energy. "You are truly a pathetic fool, you can't even face me...much less face all the destruction around you." I feel a grasp on my throat as I am hoisted up. That is when I saw what he wanted me to. "Do you not see all of the death? All of the pain?" The trees. Bodies. Hundreds of bodies hang from each limb. "All of this is your doing. Every selfish act you have made, every person you abandoned and broke because you are too weak to face reality. You couldn't fix yourself so you unleashed your pain on others, innocents. This is because of you. You are not noble, you are not some flawed hero. You are lower than an animal. Animals are oblivious of the consequences for their actions, you know full well that no honor would be brought, yet you do not care and hide under this noble guise. This is why you have to die, because you of squandered your life and made it meaningless."

I landed hard as he dropped me. I want to believe everything he said was a lie....but its not. Everything. All of it was true. Kneeling down, I utter one last request, "Before you kill me, demon, who are you?" A dark, maniacal laughter fills the air and chills me to the bone. "You poor dog. You don't even know. You summoned me by coming here. I have been called many things, but in this land I am known as the Guardian of Akibahara Forest. You think you are the first one to face me? Or the last? You pathetic piece of flesh, you aren't special! I have helped many atone for their past here! You should feel honored to join their ranks."

This is it. This is where I find peace. This is where I get what I deserve. Its over.

No....

I have to make things right. I have shed enough blood and fought too long to just let it end. Everything I have endured has brought me to this moment. I have to face this, I have to face him! He nearly had my head if I hadn't rolled out of the way. I find my sword where I had dropped it and get to my feet. Exploding in anger, the demon lunges at me, "Why don't you just GIVE UP?!" Metal clashes, I stand my ground, only the hilt of my sword remains. Most of the blade shattered deflecting the demon's onslaught. He laughs again, his rancid breath hitting my face.

His guard is down, he thinks I'm finished. Now is the moment to strike. I drive the broken sword underneath his jaw, upwards. Shock appears across his mangled face. With every ounce of strength I have left, I pull towards me, splitting his face in two. The demon collapses in front of me, "You....you are the only mortal the have bested me...remember this battle...remember your scars...you have been granted a second chance...do not be so easy to throw your life away again. I will not be as forgiving next time." Just as he suddenly appeared before, the demon vanished. I let go of my blade. I no longer need this tool of destruction. The pain I wrought and have held on to stay with this sword. I know what I must do now.

My journey didn't end here like I thought. I still have fight left in me and more I have to do. I have to fix what I've done, and find the strength to continue. Two beings had met in that forest, only one left.

Comfort Lost

The light, I can see it. A hand. Reaching to me. It glows with purity. I reach to grab my salvation, but the crimson stained meat hooks pull me back. I tug harder on the captive devices, as they rip my flesh.

Still the hand reaches for me to grasp. I...can't....reach! Grabbing at the looks, I rip them out. Blood spills to the floor, I roar to cover my pain. Only a few left now, two exactly piercing the Achilles tendon.

I grip each one...motivated by only my eventual salvation, I painfully rip them out, dark red spray painting the dirty wall of my prison. Legs give way and  crumble. I hit the floor with a grunt and a curse. I look up to reach.

It's gone. The hand....is gone?!

Cursing the name of every diety, I pound my fists into to cold rock floor. Bones in my hands crack, the pain is nothing new. What or who was going to save me? Why did they leave me?! Did they not see I was freeing myself so I could reach them?

Bloody, cold, and alone, I slump against the walls of my chamber. Cursed again by hope. Hope....who knew it could be such a powerful weapon, twisted in darkness.

As I break out of my hypnotic trance, I see something else....a second hand descending. Something is different that the first, but I have to take it. Dragging my bloody stumps behind me, I crawl towards the hand. This one I can reach!

I grab a hold of the hand. It slowly hoists me up to my salvation. That...that's when I notice the difference. This hand is scabbed, vermilion colored, bones exposed from rotten flesh.

The hand turns into claws that crush mine. I try to let go, but I cannot free my hand. I look upward, damning this 'savior,' to see four tentacles, each one like a spear, rush through me. I cough, blood sputters. I see, through intense pain, that the spear-like tentacles piercing my body, are merely anchors meant to hold me in place.....to imprison me to were I once was.

The hand drops me. A resounding thud as I collapse. I can't stand from the pain and the destroyed muscle tissue. I see the hooks coming now to finish the job. They rip into the flesh. Holding me here.

Darkness envelopes this bloody shell of a man. He is alone once again. Sobbing, he sees another hand, much like the first.

He just stares at it, with tears in his eyes, until it disappears