The Horrorscope - Episode 33: High on Stress

Who disappeared? asks Wasa. It is Mary, sir. Her tracker was in the same place for a bit too long, so when when a patrol car went to see where she was. She was nowhere to be found, says Phenos. How does that even happen? asks Ram. We don’t know. The officers told us through dispatch that she was nowhere. They said they had searched through the sewers under the road and only found her tracker and her foot, says Phenos. Why do you keep tabs on criminals? asks Kei. Exactly because of things like this, says Wasa. But then why not chip them in the head or something? Kei asks. Because that is illegal. We cannot do such a thing without consent and, you probably figured it out by now that none of them would consent to something like that. Did the employer say anything? asks Wasa. No, sir. From what we understand, as much as she hated her job, she was content with the fact that at least no one sees her, says Phenos. Well, then why would this happen now? asks Kei. Oh, rude guy. You’re still alive, says Phenos. What? asks Wasa. Nothing sir. We don’t know, says Phenos. Try asking other precincts. See if this happened somewhere else. Try world-wide if you somehow can or if by chance you’ll get some answer. See if anyone else knows something. And sorry to hold you overtime like this, says Wasa. Will do, says Pheno as he sighs and leaves.

I’ve always wondered, says Ram, why don’t we crush the criminals heads? he asks. It’s simple. You wouldn’t solve anything. They’d have the same rotten personality, without any of the knowledge. And holding someone like that in a correctional facility is cruel and illegal, since technically they’re a new person. Which is why we prefer them like this rather than have a 8 out of 10 chances that they’ll just repeat a crime, says Wasa. Understood, says Ram. The problems remain. We have no idea who killed his partner, how and why. We have no idea who those two that approached Kei and Ken are. We do not know who or why attacked us. We do not know what happened ten years ago. We do not know who N is and why he isn’t talking. And these have been the most stressful three hours of my life. And in 24 hours I have to give you guys a lead or I’ll have to quit. Which honestly, now sounds just about wonderful. But the guilt and my ego does not let me to simply give this up and walk out the door. So, let’s try to find a profile about those two idiot that left you free to walk in here. Because they’ll regret ever peaking their stupid heads out, says Wasa as he pulls out a baggie of white powder from his chest pocket.

So, one had lion’s hands, says Wasa. Anything else you can tell me about him? he continued. He was tall, almost as tall as Telum. He called himself Yellow or Y or something in those lines, says Ken. Yeah, one was called X and the other was called Yellow, Kei chimes in. Any other features? asks Wasa. No, he was quite plain looking. He had light brown eyes, almost yellow-ish in sunlight. And he looked like a box. He wasn’t well built, he was just built. I don’t know how to explain it, says Ken. And the other was rather weird. He looked skinny, but that’s only if you don’t really pay attention. He was well defined. A crooked nose, but not too crooked. Big cheekbones, I guess? Not big, but like… Two halves of a circle, very well defined. He also had slick hair and some weird sunglasses, says Kei. Well, that’s not helpful, says Wasa. We can’t do much with these descriptions. It’s not like I can just write those descriptions into the computer and have a result, he continued bemoaning. But, the Leo thing is a start, right? asks Ram. Right. We’ll start on that. We’ll have to look through driver’s licenses records and the sort. Maybe we’ll find a match. And we should also look at the camera footage around Kei’s apartment and the cameras at the entrance to the city too, says Wasa. So, let’s get to work, he continued.

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The Horrorscope - Episode 32.5: UN Announcement

We, the people, have decided that from today onward we live together as one country, The United Nations! Within these United Nations we’ll have federations to govern, so that voices of all people, the needs of all people, can be met and their rights upheld. We, the people, have decided that no person should have their rights, freedoms, travel restricted! No matter, their creed, color, shape or sexuality! Yet freedom comes with responsibility! It is our duty as people to hold the civility, the peace, the harmony in these United Nations! And no one’s freedom is more precious than another one’s. We have but one planet in an infinity of darkness that we call the universe, which is why, we, the people, have voted as such. To live united, to live in peace, to live as one unity, yet to remain many individuals. Today marks an historical day. A day of unity, love, yet also purpose. To protect each other, to share in each other’s cultures, to love and leave the violent days behind as we look towards bright future ahead.

People in the future will look back at our history and they’ll ask themselves, how did it take them so many years to realize this? How did no one have the foresight to have done this any sooner? It is simple. We were selfish enough to put the priorities of the few ahead of the priorities of the many. We were hungry for knowledge, but what we sought was actually violence. We had a long road to learn, about ourselves, about this planet and about what is right and wrong. Which is why we are here today, to show that we have learned. We grew, we developed, we advanced and we are one people under the sky. No race, no ethnicity, but one people, united! We are here to tell those that will follow us, those that will be foolish enough to think that before was better, that they are mistaken. We who have seen war. We who have seen violence. We who have suffered at the mercy of others and had our freedoms striped away. We can tell you that before, it wasn’t better. Before, it didn’t make sense. Imaginary lines, fences, armies, restrictions, terror, war, violence, makes no sense if this is your only world. And we, the people, have decided as such.

It has taken us way too many years, way too many days, to realize this dream. A dream for you, a dream for me, a dream for every living being on this here planet. To live free, to live a good life, to lead a better life than before. Why? Because we owe it to ourselves to be better and live better. We owe to our neighbors, co-workers, families, friends and strangers alike to be better than we were yesterday. We shouldn’t feel sorrow, grief, pain, to please others. We shouldn’t sacrifice our time and resources to only benefit the few. As such, we, the people, have decided to put our hands together, to garner strength. To stand up…. To put an end to such misery. We, the people, have voted to live under one nation, united, yet culturally diverse. To live with love in our hearts for a brighter future, tomorrow and today. We, the people, have declared today! The first of January! The day of unification of all under one country! The United Nations! says Ken, Thank you Ken, you can sit down now. Who wants to read next? asks the teacher.

The Horrorscope - Episode 32: Alone with Rats

Those are valid concerns, Kei, says Wasa. But, there’s not much to know, is there? Unlike the murder of one, the murder of a billion is hard to track down and figure out. I don’t doubt the UN supreme council hasn’t worked hard on this. The only thing you might not know about is N, the only survivor. But then again, it barely even matters, as he isn’t talking, finishes Wasa. Have you thought he isn’t able to talk? asks Kei. Holy shit, exclaims Ram. Don’t worry, we thought about that. But he doesn’t even want to write. And don’t tell me in however many years he has he didn’t learn to write, says Wasa. Okay, but what if he has amnesia? asks Kei. Well, we had doctors look at him, and he seemed fine. Which means we are kinda at the end of our ropes with that one, says Wasa as he sighs. Have you talked to the council? Or anyone at UN? Or in the federation? asks Kei. No. Not from the federation, not from the council, not from any minister of any kind. The only thing we have is N and the device he held when we found him. That’s it. I don’t think they were prepared for that disaster. And I don’t think that if it were to happen again, they still aren’t. Even now, ten years later, says Wasa.

I don’t understand it then. What about his partner’s death? Did anyone contact you about that? asks Kei. No. And after what just happened here, you’d think they would, says Wasa. But then it really doesn’t make any sense. Do they even care? asks Kei annoyed. It’s more complicated than that. A terrorist attack just occurred. Ten years after a billion people died. This is a very sensitive matter and you don’t want the public to go wild with panic. So they have to be really careful with what they say. Besides they can’t look like a bunch of morons because a building just exploded because of lack of government oversight. And if they don’t know about Ken’s partner, this whole ordeal is going to get nastier. Especially since we had so many years of peace and quiet under the UN, says Wasa. Okay, but then. Why aren’t they here? This is a matter of security, world-wide security, says Ken. I don’t know. That’s the problem, I don’t know either. And I don’t know why I don’t know, when I should know, says Wasa angrily. So, please stop asking me these questions, because I do not know, he continued. In so many years working here. I haven’t heard of a secret police, a spy agency, anything of the sort. And I don’t understand it either. It feels like we’re just on our own, says Wasa as he puts his hands in his hair.

Wait… Really? asks Kei. Yes, says Wasa. Then who were the two that got us? asks Kei whilst looking at Ken. What do you mean? asks Wasa. Ken takes a step forward. I was out looking for Kei and some guy with lion hands approached me and told me to follow him. So, I did. There I met Kei, says Ken. Same thing happened to me, says Kei. The two told us that they were from the secret police and that they suspect you of fowl play, sir, says Ken. So, they wanted us to infiltrate and find what you know out and report back. We would’ve lied probably to them anyways, since they didn’t have any proof or didn’t provide any, continued Ken. But, they don’t seem to know about N, says Kei. Well then, we have another mystery on our hands, says Wasa. They knew about you, about what was happening here, and that Telum was in interrogation, says Ken. That means I was right. We do have a rat here. But, on the bright side, it’s a shitty one, says Wasa. That doesn’t make him any less dangerous, says Ram. You’re right, Wasa agrees. The door is flung open, Phenos enters all a sweat and in a hurry. Sir, a criminal just disappeared!

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The Horrorscope - Episode 31: Encounter Ahead

See? Nothing. You got nothing out of him, says Wasa. But, I will. I promise you, says Ram. You won’t, I tried. I don’t really understand it either. The doctors said he was okay, physically. Mentally he probably went through the same shock as us. So, I don’t get it. Years later after we got around to torturing him, someone suggested we bring in a mortician that worked with us during the blackout. She cut him open, maybe there was something wrong within him, something you couldn’t tell during a physical. But, she found nothing. When anyone that interacts with you finds nothing, you really must be a nobody, says Wasa. That’s why you call him, N, says Ram. Well, let’s go see what else is happening up there. We need to find whoever did this and I have less than 24 hours to do so, says Wasa. You know, you could have not promised such a thing, says Ram as he locks the door behind him. I know, but I was going to quit soon anyway, says Wasa whilst looking in the distance. There is something I must’ve done wrong. Whether it’s the fact that what happened ten years happened or that it’s been ten years and it happened again. This time to one of our men… I don’t know, says Wasa.

Captain, says Pheno, Ken and Kei are looking for you. Wasa looks a bit confused at Ram. Let’s see what all this is about, says Wasa as they go back up. Ken, what happened? asks Wasa. A lot. Can we talk? asks Ken. You must be Kei, says Wasa as he extends his hand for a handshake. Kei nods and shakes his hand. Of course, let’s go in my office. Leave whatever electronic devices you have here, outside, says Wasa. Should I come too? asks Ram. Yes, of course, Ram, says Wasa as he taps him on the shoulder. You two seem close, says Ken. Oh, well… You know, says Wasa as he opens the door to his office. So, what happened after you told us about Telum? I know you went to find him. How’d you find him? asks Wasa. He was in the forest by the banks. He jumped out the window of his apartment, broke his legs, got in a taxi and left for the forest. Luckily we got to the taxi driver which got us to him, before anyone else. Then, we came here, says Ken. Wasa takes a bit to contemplate. Hmmm, okay. Good. You did good, maybe. We’ll see. Telum didn’t tell me anything. So, what can you guys tell me? I mean, you went after him for a reason, right? So, what did you two learn that Telum isn’t willing to tell me? asks Wasa.

We learned about the blackout, a potential way to kill someone, but it’s just a theory. We found this device, it was some sort of contraption, like a cylinder. But, that went up in flames, so we don’t know where it is. Most of whatever evidence we had either burned down here or burned down at Kei’s place. There is one more thing, before the explosion, we learned about the name a sentiment or something like that, says Ken. Wasa sits down in his worn-out leather chair. Well, you seemed to have quite the busy day today. Anything else? A theory? Some idea? A lead? asks Wasa looking at Kei. Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot to introduce myself, I am captain Wasa, and this is Ram, says Wasa. Well, there’s a lot I don’t know. Having a theory now would be like shooting blindfolded with a pp gun and expecting to hit the bullseye. I can’t do miracles. For example, I never understood why the UN doesn’t have a suspect list. Why haven’t they arrested anyone? Why did not one tell us anything? It really does feel like the supreme council is covering something up and fucking us over with. So, the short answer is, I don’t know. Unless you can tell me whatever we are missing, captain Wasa, says Kei.

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The Horrorscope - Episode 30: Night of the Covenant

Glad to have you two on board. Honestly, makes our jobs way easier, says X. We wanted to propose that you’d help us, anyway? We just thought that maybe we needed to a little push. Now, here’s the idea. We need you two to find out what the police knows, says X. Why? asks Ken. Well, it wouldn’t be much of a secret service, if we were to walk into a PUBLIC PLACE! Now would it? asks X. And, I am pretty sure that if Captain Wasa is a more experienced you, says Yellow whilst looking at Ken, he has some stuff he’ll never tell anyone about from ten years ago. Otherwise, why do you think he was involved in the investigation ten years ago? he continued. You might not remember, Mr. Ken, but Wasa was captain back then too. While all you were running wildly around town trying to calm people down and help them. He was gathering information. We’ve been trying to infiltrate the precinct for a while now, there has been an investigation into him since that day ten years ago. But, we’ve been unsuccessful in finding much about him. Which is why we need you. He trusts you, Mr. Ken, says Yellow. I’m sure he knows something… Otherwise he wouldn’t have started investigating the death of one of his men, says X. Ken and Kei look unsure about their proposition.

Looks like we have some convincing to do, says Yellow. Well, I don’t know what I expected, says X. Take a seat, says Yellow. From what you told the two of us, you seem to be a bit mislead by what happened. Because whatever you think happened, didn’t. If you think about it a it. I’m talking about ten years ago. We are talking about a billion people, dying within the same hour. That’s quite unnatural since that was the first time in our recorded history that someone actually died. And think about it, one person barely does one job that has something to do with five other people on its own somewhat well. Nevermind a job that has to cover every single Virgo in existence. How do you kill ever single one thing of something at once in one hour? That’s right, you don’t. Not alone at least. That means that, somewhere, somehow, there are a bunch of were working to plot and murder every single Virgo, and that’s just a maybe. Because they might have wanted to kill everyone, including themselves. So, if you were those people, how would you have done it? How would you have coordinated a bunch of people to help you murder a billion immortals? There clearly is a way to do this. Which is why the death of your partner is so worrying, Ken, says X.

Mr. Ken, we might be the secret service, but our powers are quite limited. We can’t spy on people through their devices, UN clearly prohibits this and the council will send you for an eternity to prison for breaching anyone’s privacy. Even in extreme cases like this death. So, we have to find collaborators and your precinct is quite the tight knit group. Even people that left that place twenty thousand years ago, don’t blab about anything that has ever happened there. Even if they hated it to work there. So, we really need you two, Mr. Ken, Kei, to work with us, says Yellow. We need to know what he knows. He might have a lead that might help us. This is really important. He sent you out there to investigate for a reason. Why you? What’s that reason? Why not someone else? And what does he know, that you don’t? asks X. So, what do you say, Mr. Ken? Will you help us? If you find anything, I promise to enlighten you on a few things about what we think happened ten years ago. Ken finally gives in and shakes Yellow’s hand. Good, thank you. You have no idea how much we appreciate this, says Yellow.

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The Horrorscope - Episode 29.5: A Phenomenal Day

Tall, handsome, the most admired of officers, the man, the myth, the legend with the juiciest lips ever, Pheno! And here’s where everyone would clap and whatever, says Pheno. Man, you have quite the imagination, says Ada. Well, what the hell am I supposed to do? Luckily, nothing’s happening on patrol, says Pheno. Man, that’s why you’re just a lowly officer, man. You could’ve advanced so many times and you passed the opportunities so many times. Do you really like being sent on patrol that much? Asks Ada. Pheno nods furiously. Absolutely man, I’d be long depressed if I ever had to spend one day in there doing reports and calling and stuff like that. I prefer seeing people, being out. Living. For example, did you know that at that corner there was once just the coolest coffee place ever? And then when they legalized cocaine and all drugs and stuff, like a hundred thousand years ago or whenever that happened, they fucking lunatics came and burnt it down? Why? Cause they thought the coffee was suddenly too mellow. Life is crazy if you look at it. It’s like the void, it looks back if you look into it, says Pheno as a car explodes at the corner as they wait at a crossing in an intersection.

It’s one of those pranksters again, says Ada as Pheno pulls the car over. They’re the fucking worst, says Pheno as he gets out of the car and starts running after the two guys that stood with a remote in their hands watching the car explode. They’re so lucky we don’t die, says Ada. Ada! You genius! exclaims Phone as he pulls out his gun and start shooting at the two running away from them. Damn, right, says Ada as he pulls out his gun and starts shooting too. The two manage to shoot the runners in the back and one of them in their right leg. Wooo! exclaims Ada. That’s how you do it, says Pheno as the two high five. It was just a prank, I swear, says one of the two. Yeah, it was our car. Tell him. We bought it and we blew it up. That can’t be illegal or anything, right? says the other. Yeah, it was… What do you call it? A social experiment, to see how people react, quickly adds the first guy. Are you two morons? asks Ada. Of course it’s illegal to blow up stuff in public. Just because we’re immortal, doesn’t mean we do this type of horrible stuff. What’s wrong with you two? asks Pheno. How old are you? asks Ada. We’re twenty five and a bit, says one of the two. And you’re still doing this type of stuff? Grow up, you two, says Pheno as he picks the two up and pushes them towards the direction of the car.

See you tomorrow, Pheno. Take care, says Ada. You too, buddy, says Pheno. I can’t wait to get home. I haven’t had such an eventful day in a while. Not that I ever wished for this type of stuff. I guess it’s better than literal death, or worse… Office work… Pheno looks down at his bicep. I guess we’ll take care of you two tomorrow. Tonight, we have to hydrate this gorgeous face and these lips. We can’t get them to crack now. Not now that I’m proud of ‘em, he says as he gets into the car and drives home. As the night’s sky slowly turns into darkness, the lights on the street shine bright over the hood of Pheno’s car. No music, no distractions, just him, the car, the noise of the engine and the road. It’s like therapy, nothing compares to your own car and the way it works. They can give me whatever newest car they desire. They can give me whatever they think works best for work. But the feeling I have when driving this, is priceless. You really could say today was a phenomenal day, he says as he starts laughing. Half an hour later he arrived home. Honey, I’m home!

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The Horrorscope - Episode 29: An Offer You Can't Refuse

Mr. Ken, I really do hope that what you’ve told me is the truth and nothing but the truth. Because depending on what you told me, this relationship might go quite easy and well, or it might get rough and bumpy. And I don’t think you’d appreciate the latter, right? asks Yellow as he parks the car. Here we are. Now let’s see if what you told me is true or not. Ken looks around as he gets out of the car. Warehouse after warehouse, giant container after giant container, giant machine after giant machine, an industrial park, thinks Ken to himself. Right through here, says Yellow as he opens the door. Ken enters and Yellow follows him through. Right there at the end and to the right, says Yellow. Ken turns his head back to look at him. Don’t worry, I won’t do anything. You came here willingly and I am more than content with that. So, go on. You’ll meet someone interesting at the end. Or how did you think we’d verify your story? Ken’s face lights up at his question. You know, Mr. Ken… You are very earnest when it comes to the people you care about. Makes me wonder if you don’t care for yourself too much. Ironically, just like your partner. Ken’s face turns from delight to a somber expression. I’m sorry, says Yellow as he opens the door for him.

Ken enters the room to see a strange man across from Kei. Kei! You’re fine! exclaims Ken. Ken! What are you doing here? asks Kei as he sees a weird man with big cat paws behind him. Yellow brought me here, says Ken. Yellow, huh? What a coincidence, says X. So, this is Mr. Ken. The one who dragged you into this, right? X asks Kei. Yes, says Kei as he shakes Ken’s hand. Well, you two get to catch up as I have something to talk to with Mr. Yellow here, says X as he leaves the two alone. Thank you for being here, you have no idea how much X talks, says Kei as Ken starts to chuckle. What? Why are you laughing? Ken gives Kei a strong, tight hug. Because you’re fine. Glad to see you are fine, says Ken. So, what happened? asks Kei. Bala found us a lead, someone named a sentiment or something like that, then Telum left the building and then the whole precinct and someone crushed Bala’s head. And that’s after we learned someone burnt your apartment to a crisp. So, someone is clearly after us, says Ken who’s now out of breath. Yeah, someone was knocking on the door to my apartment, had to jump out the window. I don’t know what we can do, X has everything now, says Kei as the two are approached by X and Yellow.

Mr. Ken, says Yellow as he puts his hand on Ken’s shoulder. Seems you haven’t lied. Your stories are similar. Now, here’s the thing. We can’t let you go, says Yellow as the two get restless. But, it is until we figure this out. Right now you two are quite important to this story, so we can’t have you running out there on your own. And putting police, bodyguards on you or any security detail, would attract unwanted attention. We don’t want that, says X. And the information you gave us is quite very… Interesting… So, we appreciate that. Which is also why we can’t let you out there. It’s a security issue, mainly, says Yellow. I am sorry, Kei, but you are now part of this. Otherwise we would’ve let you go, says X. So, make yourselves at home. You are going to be here a while, continues X. Ken stands up gripping his crab arm. Calm down, Ken. This won’t do you any good, says Kei. Or… If you don’t like this. You could work with us, as consultants. Under one condition. What we say, goes. No temper tantrums, no questions asked, no out of line behavior. Am I understood? asks X. Or, you can as well spend the next years of your lives here doing each other…

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Prokaryote: Scum Sold Out For Money - The Pilot Program 2021

Yesterday, I wanted to kill myself. Today they’re trying to kill me. And for some reason… I ran.

- Come out, come out, wherever you are.

Where even am I?

- I swear, if I catch him I’ll stretch his innards like bubblegum, says one of the men.

- What the fuck is wrong with you? Why would you say something like that? Asks another one as his puts his hands on his hips.

What’s wrong with these guys?

- You have to be more menacing than that… I’ll split open his fucking head… Something like that.

- Like it matters. He’s vermin. Worthless. He doesn’t deserve such quality threats. So, if I want to say that I’ll chew him up and spit him out like the trash and tasteless chewing gum that he is, that’s what I’ll do.

Worthless? Why would he say that?

- Fine. Let’s just kill the useless piece of shit before the boss finds out he escaped.

What? Useless?

- Come out! They scream as they point their guns upwards and shoot a few rounds into the air.

I look around me trying to find some way out. Surrounded by wooden boxes, small carton boxes, large carton boxes, a few weird metal boxes and as I look up, I realize I’m in a giant metal box. A weird warehouse that is cold, sterile yet feels damp at the same time and on one of the walls has a big green sheet on it. A few bright lamps hang off the ceiling and illuminate the place as the men keep looking for me. My eyes try to wonder and find a way out. A way past the men and into freedom.

- Yo! Aren’t you guys done yet? What are you doing diddling around like that?

- We’re searching for the fucker.

- Searching? You let him escape?

- It’s not me. It’s Jack.

- Don’t use my name, you moron!

- Oh, I’m am sorry JACK… ASS… For you letting him go. You should’ve tied him up.

- But, he was unconscious and we had to unload the van. You asked me to, DICK!

Where did the third guy come from? Is there a door around them? Or do the doors blend into this warehouse? Why though? What do I remember? Two of them took me here, put me down and went out to the car. I woke up and instinctively ran and hid. But, I can’t for the love of me remember how I got here in the first place. I’d reach into my pockets to find something, but I’m afraid to make any noise.

- You guys sure he didn’t leave this place?

- Yeah, we sure, man. We were at that door, unloading the damn van. We would’ve seen him or heart him, at least, says Richard.

- But, you two know that this place has at least two more exists, right? Richard and Jack look dumbfounded at the third man. One’s there, in that corner. And one’s that big thing. How do you think they move these big and expensive things in and out of here?

Right. But that means we’re in an industrial park. Somewhere with many warehouses, probably. I can’t run faster than bullets, so trying to make a dash for it is irresponsible, probably. Wait… What am I saying? I was ready to shoot myself in the head yesterday.

- What’s this guy’s deal?

- Well, from what I’ve heard he’s scum. Pushed all his friends and family away. Everyone at his job despises him to the point that everyone only talks through emails with him. He hasn’t had a girlfriend in over ten years and spends all his time at home after work, doing jack all. And apparently his best friend sold him out to our boss, says Richard.

- Damn… Imagine your best friend selling you out like that. Must hurt, man.

I remember now. I was out with that fucking traitor, Alex. He sold me to the fucking mob? What the fuck?

- I wonder what the fuck must be wrong with guys like that to get here. How fucking bad must you be as a person for someone to fucking sell you like you’re just a bag with organs.

Fuckers. How dare you talk about me like you know me. Like you know what I’ve been through. The things I’ve suffered through.

- No wonder he wanted to kill himself, damn, says Jack.

I’ll show you motherfu… I push a stack of boxes towards them and start running towards one of the exists!

- There he is!

- Shoot him! Screams Richard.

I’ll show that fucker! I’ll show them all! You can’t fuck like that with DRAKE like that!

- Catch him! Screams Jack.

I’ve never felt more ALIVE!

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The Horrorscope - Episode 28: Find the X, Ask Y

Bag over my head, he pulls on me. Come on, move on. This feels so familiar, thinks Kei to himself. And here we are, he says as he pulls the bag off my head. Do you know why you are here? I shake my head. Do you know what you did? I shake my head once more. Well, I’d say you are clueless, but I know you are lying to me. So, of course we are from a government agency, secret service, yada yada. You get the gist of it, right? Now, we wanna know what you know so that we know where to start about all this. Well, unless you want to make this painful and fun. We might be immortal, but pain is still pain. And from what I understand, you’re not one of those that were born with the inability to feel any pain, right? By the way, you can call me X, for expository, I don’t care. What I care about, is whether you are going to cooperate or not. I imagine you think this took to long for the government to respond, right? Another person dead, ten years after a billion died. That’s quite the shock, am I right? I remember when they died, ten years ago. I thought that in 11 days, we’ll all be just… Gone… No one knew what happened. Do you know what happened, Kei? I shake my head. Well then, tell me what you know…

Mr. Ken, do you know where we are going? Ken shakes his head. I never understood you. Why are you like this? You always keep low, you always keep silent, you always shut up and don’t talk until the last minute. You’re like a weird sponge that just sits there, absorbs as much as possible and then lashes out towards whatever conclusion you think it’s the right one. Fascinating. Ken sits silently looking at him intensely. By the way, you can call me Yellow if you want. If you want to ask me any questions, go ahead. Ask me why. But, I will need you to tell me what you know. I’m just curious about your theory. For someone that absorbs so much information, you must have some thought on this whole disaster. Well, considering it’s your partner we are talking about. I don’t want to know how much you hurt deep down inside. It must have been quite the shock, for your friend to be the first and only person to die after ten years. A Scorpio, why? Why not a Cancer? Or any other zodiac sign? It doesn’t make sense, right? It’s not even the next one in the horoscope after Virgos. So why? Tell me, Mr. Ken, why?

Well, dear Kei. I wonder if what you told me really is the truth, says X. It is. There is no reason for me to lie to you, right? If you are who you say you are, you have known what I know already. So, if you think I lied to you, that’s because I might not know the truth you know. So, I have no reason lie to you. I don’t want to know the effort you had to pull to somehow find me and the luck you had finding the taxi driver. X starts laughing. Well, it wasn’t luck. It was skill, but yes, you are right. I wonder why he dragged you into this though. It doesn’t make sense. Can you read the horoscope? Kei looks confused and disgusted at X. What? No. X nods along. I see… I have no clue why you’re involved with this. Why are you involved with this? We’re talking the death of an immortal. Who are you to be involved with the grandest tragedy in our history? Who are you to learn about the most taboo thing of all? Who are you that you must know of death? Got a fetish for it? Life maybe too boring? Who are you, Mr. Keiteki.

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The Horrorscope - Episode 27: 'Nterogation

Well, until next time, N, says Wasa as he gets out the room. It’s your turn, he continued. What do you mean? asks Ram. I mean, go in there and talk to him, beat him, clean up, do whatever. But, bring me the bag. I forgot it in there. Ram stands next to captain Wasa. Sir… What if he is innocent? Wasa gets in his face. Then why isn’t he talking? He’s was the only Virgo left on this god forsaken planet and he had a weapon on him. Why not talk? Why not help to help yourself? Or to help those that suffered? Not like he’s the only one that has had some trauma after the fact. A billion died, Ram. A billion. That means another 9 billion suffered. The whole planet suffered, Ram! If he is innocent he should have said something a long time ago. We all lost someone that day. If you didn’t someone you know did. It’s been ten years. Any decent person would have said something, anything. We’ve poured time, money and effort into him. Giving him a safe place to live in, whatever thing he wished to eat, drink, snort, shit, piss, fuck and then some. When that didn’t work, we tortured him for a year. Guess what? Exactly… Nothing… Now go in there and see if you can figure this out…

As I enter, N is on all his four spitting out blood. I look around to see a mop with a bucket and a broom next to it. But first I go near N to try and help pick him up. As I reach with my arms, trying to pick him up he puts his hand out. I stop, grab it and pull him up. You are gorgeous! Did you know that? I couldn’t see your face until now, but you are god damn breathtaking. I just want to look at you. God damn, captain! You should’ve put him in the vault ‘ cause he’s a diamond! Here, use this to clean yourself up, Ram hands I’ll go get the mop, to clean this up. Go sit down somewhere. What the fuck. What is happening here? This feels like a joke, Ram thinks to himself as he pick up the mop. They should put you in a museum, man. And they say you’re how old? You don’t look a day over 125. Ram stops in the middle of the puddle of blood, mop in his hand, looking at N. This doesn’t make sense. Why don’t you speak? Why were you naked? I get the crying part. But naked when a billion, literally every Virgo but you, died, doesn’t. And you holding some metal contraption in hand, in public, doesn’t either. What was that? But then again, a billion immortal beings died suddenly… Well, not so immortal anymore, anyway…

N sits hunched down in a chair, hand with cloth over his mouth. You know, that’s not the only thing I don’t understand about you. The captain is right. It’s been ten years. Why haven’t you talked at all? If you’re innocent, you should say something. I don’t think anyone is just not going to believe you or incriminate you for what you haven’t done, right? I mean, think about it. If they did, you would’ve already been sentenced to jail for life and made a scapegoat out of you. So, I don’t get you. Because you don’t seem to be stupid to me. Someone reading this many books, can’t be that stupid even if it’s been just 10 years, right? So, I don’t get it. And even for motive. Why kill all Virgos but yourself? Wait, says Ram looking intensely at N. Were you trying to kill yourself but it all backfired? asks Ram while laughing like an idiot. That would be tragic, ironic and funny at the same time. You must have had your reason. What is it? N raises his head and looks at Ram…