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Fragments (Fragmented)

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    it to stick. %ther times it$s &ust that "$m put into a place where " ha#en$t already e(perienced how " gothere. 1ike now. 1ast " remember is a nightclub. " had &ust left a meeting of my clan and gone to anightclub. "s that where " met her+ 1ook for the note. 'otes! handy things. " generally try to lea#e myselfone or two in any gi#en time flash! it customarily helps me later on. "$m wearing my usual black slacksand turtleneck sweater with a leather &acket. " reach into my &acket pocket. " pull out the notes.

    6ou ha#e a room reser#ed at the Marriott Royale on East Timberlake 0t. Rent has been paid foruntil the first of March 7889$

    6er name is 0amantha! you think you lo#e her$6eep an eye out for Tony! he owes you a big fa#or 79;;

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    6,alled Tony about gun! //. owes me$6,rystal will get you a meeting with Decker 79;

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    waiting )uietly! his eyes flick around though. e seems calm! but he isn$t. e seems comfortable! but hewatches e#erything. " glance back at my notes and find the one about him again. is lies/" should becareful. " flip the note o#er and glance at the back! there$s a second note scrawled )uickly on it.

    6*ill ha#e to be remo#ed when no longer useful$0o Tony! " put away my notes and glance up at him. Did you do the fa#or for me yet+0ure as hell " did! he reaches into his &acket and pulls out some rolled up papers. "t took some

    real maneu#ering to get the info as )uickly as you wanted it! but " managed.

    e sho#es the papers towards me with an e(cited flourish. e knocks my drink o#er! spraying thetabletop and myself with coffee. " curse and wipe at the stains. As though this suit wasn$t ugly enoughalready. e grows #ery still and looks at the stain in surprise.

    oly shit! you were talking about that+ Damn "$m sorry! " should$#e known with it being youand all. Anyway! here$s the info. ou can look it o#er and all but it$s e(actly what you told me it$d be.The gun was owned by Decker. " e#en found some of the guys he went hunting around to when he wasgetting the phosphorus rounds.

    " take the papers and read o#er them. es! this is what " was looking for! the proof. Decker did it!he killed his own childe in cold blood and for no apparent reason. *ith this " could e#en get the princeand his men off my ass and hunting the right ass. -ut/why should " do that+ After all! "$#e gone throughthis much! " suppose " should see it to the end. -esides! Decker has enough clout he might &ust buy hisway out of the mess by promising all sorts of fa#ors. 'o! he killed 0amantha! and now he$s going to die. "write myself a note! Tony watches.

    %h man! you$re seriously going to go and do it aren$t you+ Man! you ne#er seemed the type. eruns a hand through his hair ner#ously and lets out a gusty sigh of breath. 1ook/" still owe you for morethen &ust this research is going to pay back. ow about " come with and make sure e#erything goes okay+

    " glance up at him suspiciously. 6-eware his lies$. e has led me to Decker! he says he$s a friend.e does owe me though. " nod and write out a second note before we go. There$s a snap! and "$m gone.

    "$m standing in a well furnished sitting room. The walls are bright white and co#ered with largepaintings of shattered black landscapes. A large red throw rug lies across the white tile floor. A design ofan intricate star within a circle sewn within it. There are a pair of black leather chairs placed around a low

    black glass table. 0tanding behind one of the chairs is a pair of young men. -oth in nice gray suits! bothblonde! both blue eyed. 0itting in the other chair is a dark comple(ioned man with an eye

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    hand down )uickly on the hammer of his gun! fanning the magnum. The bullets smash into me like tinycannonballs. "$m again tossed back against the wall! only this time " stay down. " groan weakly as " slumpto the ground! my body torn open.

    *hat the hell were you thinking Dono#an+ ou shouldn$t ha#e let ,rystal get into your head.'ow it looks like "$ll ha#e to deal with both of you.

    There$s a snap! and "$m gone.

    "$m running down a dark back street alongside a ri#er. The chill night wind rushes o#er my face.The black waters of the ri#er gurgle and slosh in the darkness. My arm hurts. " come to a stop. " straightenmy leather &acket and look around. *here am "+ *hat was " doing+ *hy was " running+ E#en as "$mreaching into my pockets for my notes somebody slams into me from behind.

    5ot youAh! that e(plains it. " was running away from this guy. "$m thrown forward to land hard on the

    pa#ement of the sidewalk. e grabs the back of my head and pushes my face into the ground. " hear theclick of a gun hammer being pulled back. %b#iously " was running from him. %b#iously he means meharm. Thus it$s ob#ious what my reaction needs to be. " do appreciate when " don$t ha#e to second guessmy actions. "$d hate to think " hurt someone when " shouldn$t ha#e. " )uickly sho#e my hand into my

    &acket and grab the re#ol#er waiting there. " feel him press his gun to the back of my head. " twist there#ol#er so it$s pointing up through the back of my &acket. " fire.

    " hear him scream in pain as his weight suddenly lifts off me. " roll up to my feet. My &acket is onfire. " curse and bat at the small flame. My assailant is getting back to his feet! his right arm clutching hisside. e$s a young guy! dressed all in black with a black trench coat. For some reason " seem to recall him

    being a deputy of the sheriff. They$re hunting me for killing 0amantha. -astards. As though my pain atlosing my lo#e wasn$t enough. The young man$s eyes suddenly shift behind me! " feel a sudden chill.

    Then the shadow wraps around my throat. %f course The sheriff of Detroit is a 1asombra! surelyso would be some of his flunkies. " gag and struggle in the free3ing grip of the li#ing tendril of shadow.The young man charges forward )uickly. is arm snaps out and slams into my gut. " feel a rib pop as "double o#er in pain. e )uickly spins to the side and clubs both of his arms onto my back. More bonessplinter as " collapse to the ground. is foot skips out! his boot crashing hard into my face. "$m lifted up afew feet and spin around before the shadow tether suddenly grows taunt and pulls me back to crash hardonto the pa#ement.

    This guy hits like a tank " better do something )uick! or "$m dead " growl as my fingernailssuddenly elongate. 0harpening and forming into brutal talons. The 1asombra curses and )uickly hops

    back. " take the second of free space to rip my claws into the shadowy tentacle holding me. The inky

    blackness shreds apart under my blow! "$m free again. " spin towards him! but he$s pulling out anothergun. That$s bad! " only ha#e a partially loaded re#ol#er and "$m a lousy shot. " spin away from him andrun for it. There$s no nearby co#er! so " take the ne(t best option. Two bullets slap into my back and ripthrough my body as " leap up onto the guardrail. " leap off and sail through the air down towards the blackwaters of the ri#er below. " hit hard! sinking deep. The free3ing black depths close in about me. There$s asnap! and "$m gone.

    My clan is a clan of fools and losers. The only bigger losers are those who belie#e that makes ususeless. My clan is useless. se less. se less bothersome mistakes and you$ll get to the correct answerfaster. -ut the answer is ne#er as it seems! especially to my clan. The clan of fools and losers. ,lan yousay+ ,lan is a family! a brotherhood! a collecti#e gathering. My clan is called Malka#ian. *e! thecollecti#e body of that clan! are Malka#ians. *e are #ampires. Gampires you say+ Gampires!

    bloodsuckers! li#ing corpses! the undead! monsters. My clan is a clan of monstrous fools and losers.Monstrous as in the monster! not the )uantity. Though the )uantity of foolishness is )uite high.

    My clan is known for madness. "t is in our blood! it eats our souls. The other clans fear us. Forwe are wild and untamed. The other clans ignore us. For we are undirected and hopeless. The other clansmock us. For we are mad. Mad as in insane! not angry. " am mad. Mad as in angry not insane. *hy dothey dismiss us so+ *hy do they think they know what goes on within our skulls+ a#e they opened themup! looked inside+ es. 0ome ha#e! but inside is only gray matter and blood/cracking open skulls offerslittle in the way of answers. The other clans are clans of fools and losers.

    "$m standing on a snow swept rooftop. The chill night wind blows across my face! rustles throughmy hair. There$s an old man standing near the edge of the building. is face is twisted up in a scowl! his

    bushy white eyebrows nettled together. e grips a cane tightly in his hands as he eyes me. neeling

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    behind him is a woman. er face is that of a sculpture. er perfect features are no less beautiful for thelook of fear on her face. 0he wraps her arms about her lush body! her thin! steel gray dress ripplingslightly in the stiff wind. A man with spiked! bleached blonde hair stands in front of me. "$m pressing amagnum into his back. My arm hurts.

    *ell! well! well. " ne#er e(pected to see you again! sneers the old man. " suppose you$re stillupset o#er that whole 0amantha delusion of yours+

    " sneer back at him! 0amantha is real. " know that. " )uickly reach into my pocket. "$m not

    wearing my usual leather &acket and black sweater. "nstead "$m in a hideous powdered blue lounge li3ardsuit with a big brown stain on the front and a yellow tie. " hate yellow. " pull out my notes and glancethem o#er.

    6er name is 0amantha! you think you lo#e her$6eep an eye out for Tony! he owes you a big fa#or 79;;

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    " leap to my feet with a growl as " rush for Decker. *e both run for the door that leads down intothe office. "t$s the only escape route he has. e$s got a slight lead on me! his mo#ements fast andfrightened. " curse and run for all " can! " run for 0amantha. -ut he$s too far ahead! he nears the door.0uddenly a loud crack splits the night. Decker gasps and staggers! his hand clutches at his chest as blood

    bubbles forth from a large hole there. " slam into him! casting him down onto the snow. " plant my foot onhis chest as " look o#er at ,rystal. 0he smiles slightly at me as she saunters o#er! the smoking magnumstill in her hands.

    Do it ,hristopher! finish him off nowThanks ,rystal! you$re a doll.er bright eyes sparkle under the clouded sky. The snow drifts slowly down around us. " turn to

    look down at Decker as he weakly writhes on the ground. My claws fle( slightly as " smile down at him!my fangs glinting in the lights of the city. There$s a snap! and "$m gone.

    "$m sitting in a diner. 0ickly fluorescent light washes across me as " stare down at the table. Mynotes are in a small pile ne(t to my hand. A hand that clutches a note.

    6,rystal will get you a meeting with Decker 79;

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    " add onto the last one that Decker tried to kill me. Those two were his ghouls. " had gone to themeeting and they had taken me down. " seemed to recall starting it! but " could be wrong. "t didn$t matteranyway! now " knew Decker was up to something. " glanced back at my notes! Tony! " should call Tonyand see what he found out. " can$t belie#e " ha#en$t yet. " must ha#e been distracted. " find a pay phoneand use some of the cash " found on the ghouls to pay for the call.

    This is Tony! what$s happening+"t$s Dono#an! did you trace that gun yet+

    *hoah! Dono#an m$man. "$d heard so much crap on the street " thought you must ha#e boughtit by now. The prince is pissed! he has half the damn ,amarilla out scouring the streets for whoe#er killed0amantha.

    And they still think it was me! right+Right/but! " may ha#e the e#idence to change that. *hat say we meet at the usual spot! okay+%kay/uh! Tony+eah+*hat is the usual spot+

    " hate my clan. They are weak and stupid. " hate the other clans. They &udge without knowledge." hate myself. A being superior yet without purpose. 4urpose you say+ 4urpose is a goal! a )uest! a reasonfor being. All beings need a reason for being. A being as in a person. A being as in e(istence. " know whathappens to those without this reason of being. They shri#el up! they rot away. Dust and ash is all that isleft. "mmortality re)uires discipline. Mental discipline. our mind is what will kill you. -oredom to animmortal is a reason for death. Death comes to those without a purpose! thus you must always ha#e a

    purpose! lest you be dead. " am not dead.My clan is a clan of fools and losers. They are all wrong in the head. 0ome are )uite normal!

    belie#ing themsel#es to be gods or demons. 0ome are )uite mad! fearing the color purple. 0ome belie#ethe world is out to get them! some ha#e more then one #oice in their head. -ut all that is foolishness.There is one #oice! you listen to it and know you are not a god or demon. ,leanliness is not a worthwhileobsession! purple will not kill you. %bsessi#e compulsi#e is foolishness and my clan is foolish. The otherclans are foolish too! they think the madness is simple or bi3arre. To be controlled or to be destroyed.a#e they ne#er considered the third type of Malka#ian+

    "$m dri#ing my car down the street. "$m in a lousy neighborhood full of boarded up windows andbusted street lamps. My arm is sore. " pull o#er and try to get my bearings. There$s a note stuck on thewheel.

    6ou went out to feed$The note is still in one piece! that means " ha#en$t fed yet. "t$s important to keep a system likethat going. 2ust in case " get too 3ipped around in any one period. After all! what would happen if " &ustkept trying to do some task like ordering something through the mail. "t would be an annoying day whentwenty copies of afka$s The Metamorphosisshow up on your doorstep " know " sound a little pissed/

    but it was #ery irritating when that happened. -ut now " ha#e a system! " tear up the unimportant notes."$m back in my usual black slacks! black turtleneck sweater! and leather &acket outfit. " dig out my notes tosee where " am.

    6ou ha#e a room reser#ed at the Marriott Royale on East Timberlake 0t. Rent has been paid foruntil the first of March 7889$

    6er name is 0amantha! you think you lo#e her$6eep an eye out for Tony! he owes you a big fa#or 79;;

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    *ho is this! her #oice is sharp and o#er enunciated. %b#iously she$s spent way too much timetrying to perfect her image as a noblewoman. " am almost certain she$s a Gentrue. Either it$s a guess or "might already know it. -ut in any case it seems to fit with what " remember! or shall remember! about her.

    "t$s Dono#an.*hy the hell are you calling me+About that meeting with Decker/*hat the hell is your problem! her #oice is getting angry! losing some of it$s ci#il touch. *e

    &ust made that deal twenty minutes ago. " asked for at least two hours"$m sorry! did " happen to tell you about my condition+es you told me! but " thought you$d at least remember things for a few hours" might ha#e! sometimes " can go through whole nights without/'e#er mind! &ust call me back in about two hours. %h! and ,hristopher+ ou do remember that

    you$ll ha#e another bit of business to take care of! right+ ou do ha#e that feeling+er #oice is syrupy sweet now. My hand slips into my pocket and ruffles through my notes. 6she

    seeks to control you$ " try to keep from laughing. Doesn$t she know+ "$m the rubber band man.0ure " remember! &ust make sure " get the chance! set up that meeting.%kay ,hristopher! you take care! don$t let them get you.0he hangs up before " can ask who is going to get me. -ut then " figure if it was important "

    would ha#e left myself a note. " hang up the phone. *hat had she asked me to do+ ad " done it already+5uess "$d find out when " showed up in the future. -ut that was neither here nor there! though it would besoon enough. As it was it looked like all " needed to worry about now was getting some food. " turnaround and walk towards my car! thing is there$s a guy standing there. A young man with strong facialfeatures! he$s dressed all in black and with a black trench coat. e scowls at me as " approach.

    Don$t try anything stupid. My name is Michael! come )uietly.Do " know you+'o! but you know why "$m here. " work with the sheriff! now come along )uietly.%f course! " mutter as " pull out my notes. 6*atch for the prince$s agents$ " glance back up at

    Michael! he must be here for that/but what does it mean+ m/would you mind reminding me why "ha#e to meet you! " ha#e this condition/ A small tingle of warning creeps down my spine/something "should remember.

    ou ha#e broken the 0i(th Tradition! and now you shall face the prince$s &ustice.%h shit. %f course " really! really! really hate it when " manage to lea#e myself incomplete notes.

    The 0i(th Tradition is the right of destruction! means they think " went and killed a fellow indred. "talso means that if " go with this guy "$m going to be dusting a sunrise by morning. Thus " do what any

    normal and sane person would do. " run e shouts and starts after me. " rush down the first alley " cometo. There$s a fence barricading the end! " )uickly scramble up and o#er it! my in&ured arm sending &abbingpains of protest lancing through my ner#es. " spare a glance back as " keep running. Michael easily leapsthe fence and comes right after me. There$s a snap! and "$m gone.

    4rologue: Memories *ished Forgotten

    There$s a snap! and he$s gone. " ha#e been e(pecting this point. "t$s the perfect time to start myplan for the ne(t killing. "t$s mostly mine! he might ha#e a few glimpses! but it won$t matter. "$ll ha#e agood two hours of pretty solid control till he$s back/or forward. e might be forward. E#en " can$t knowe#erything. "$m a god! that doesn$t make me omniscient. "$#e been in a club! " &ust left a meeting of theclan. " think " shall kill Decker. The old fool is dangerous for a moron! harmless for a wise man. e$s asorcerer! or so he says. 0orcerer you say+ ,on&urer! wi3ard! mage! illusionist. 4erhaps he is! we all ha#emadness$ of #arying sorts. " glance at my notes.

    6ou ha#e a room reser#ed at the Marriott Royale on East Timberlake 0t. Rent has been paid foruntil the first of March 7889$6eep an eye out for Tony! he owes you a big fa#or 79;;

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    ou did it again! didn$t you+'o 0amantha! "$m fine. 0he shrugs in apology. " was right about who she was. " grab her arm

    as " stand. ,ome on! we should get going.*hat about the friend you said you were going to meet+" decided " don$t like him #ery much.

    "$m in a hotel room. "$m sitting on a chair looking at the bed. There$s a dead girl on it! a

    blackened hole in her chest. My arm hurts. "t takes me a moment to reali3e "$#e already been here before.That "$#e already felt this way before. "$#e already done all of this before *hat$s going on+ "t can$t be thesame time. As strange as my life is " still only get to e(perience e#erything once. This is wrong. *hy am "

    back here+ %r still here+ *here was " last+ *hy did " lea#e the club+ *hy was 0amantha human still+0he was! " could remember the smell of her blood. *hy could " remember that+ " glance down at myhands! "$m holding my notes.

    6ou ha#e a room reser#ed at the Marriott Royale on East Timberlake 0t. Rent has been paid foruntil the first of March 7889$

    6er name is 0amantha! you think you lo#e her$6eep an eye out for Tony! he owes you a big fa#or 79;;

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    "$m sure you are ,hristopher. 1et me guess! you already know what "$m going to do+ 0helaughs. *hy+ Doesn$t she know "$m the rubber band man+ Doesn$t she reali3e the danger+ " tried to warnher. -ut " think it will all work out for me. After all! you$re going to be on my side! or are already on myside. owe#er that works for you.

    " don$t know what she means by that. -ut " will. And she$ll get what$s coming to her. %f that "swear. 0wear you say+ 4romise! a#ow! pledge. 0he will regret playing a game with the rubber band man.There$s a snap! and "$m gone.

    "$m standing in some condo somewhere. My arm hurts. " look around in confusion! it looks likethe place has been ripped to hell. -ooks lay strewn off of shel#es. ,loset doors hang open. Drawers ha#e

    been pulled from cabinets and their contents dumped upon the floor. *hat am " doing here+ " look downat myself! "$m wearing a powdered blue lounge li3ard suit with a big stain on the front and a yellow tie. "hate yellow. There$s a dead man in front of me. is eyes are nothing but two bloody sockets! his throathas been torn open. " look down at the note in my bloodstained hand.

    6Decker is going to kill ,rystal! you need to help her and deal with his ghouls$There$s a thump from another room and the sounds of someone coming this way. " )uickly slip

    up to the wall behind the door. The shadows ser#e to hide me from #iew as " wait )uietly. 0omeone walksinto the room! a young man with spiked bleached blonde hair. e looks around curiously. "n his hand is amagnum. " leap out from behind the door and slam into him from behind. *e crash to the ground! one ofmy hands grabs the wrist of his gun hand. My other hand grabs his hair and uses it to smash his face ontothe floor repeatedly. e bellows in anger and shock. e$s stronger then he looks and stands back up! hisfree hand reaching around to grab a hold of me.

    2esus Dono#an! what$s the big deal+ " pause in shock and he manages to untangle himself fromme. e rubs at his broken nose as he glares at me. Damn man! why can$t you do more then predict whenyou$re about to do something stupid+ ,ouldn$t you at least stop &umping me e#ery time " turn around+

    " know you don$t "+eah! yeah you know me. "$m Tony! " agreed to help you out! remember+" think " might.%f course you don$t! he sighs as he slips his gun under his leather &acket. e raises his hand to

    cut me off e#en as " start to speak. eah man! yeah! " know you got a condition! okay. 0o what did youfind+ *e were trying to figure out where Decker went to.

    e$s going to go kill ,rystal.ah! couldn$t ha#e happened to a nicer Gentrue. 0o what$s the chance we &ust write her off and

    blow this damn town+

    'o! " hold up the note! " don$t know why but " ha#e to go. *e ha#e to be there on the tower.5reat. " try to tell him! but will he e#er listen to me+ 'o! nobody e#er listens to cra3y ol$ Tony" ignore his complaints. %b#iously " learned something important about Decker and now he$s

    trying to get to me. Apparently he figured that this ,rystal was in#ol#ed too. es! he$s going to kill her. "remember that. As Tony starts to heal his nose " pull out my notes. 0ome ha#e gotten wet and are hard orimpossible to read in places.

    6er name is 0amantha! you think you lo#e her$6eep an eye out for Tony! he owes you a big fa#or 79;;

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    6*ill ha#e to be remo#ed when no longer useful$" motion to Tony and we lea#e the condo. My car is waiting out front and we hop into it.

    0omebody$s gone and torn up the roof. " frown at the damage as " start dri#ing. *hen the hell did thathappen+ Tony tells me where ,rystal hangs out. 0he has offices in the top story of a large office comple(.The si(ty story building sits smack in the middle of downtown. The roads are subdued in the lull betweenlate night dri#ers and the early morning starters. "t$s almost )uiet as we climb out of my car. A burst ofcold wind suddenly brings with it a flurry of snow. The white flakes rain down around us in silent dro#es

    as we walk up to the front entrance.*e walk into the lobby. The stuffy and unnatural warmth of a heating system flows around us.

    The stagnant heat bringing with it the fetid smell of death. -ehind the main desk is a security guard! he$sbeen shot twice in the chest. Messy work! ob#iously Decker$s ner#ous and antsy. Tony presses the ele#atorcall button. *e wait )uietly as it comes down to us. "t was up on the thirtieth floor. The other one is at thesi(tieth. The ele#ator arri#es and we get in. Tony pulls out his gun and ner#ously checks it. " keep acareful eye on him! the words of my note flaring through my thoughts. 6Don$t trust him/*ill ha#e to beremo#ed$ e glances up at me! his eyes look at mine.

    o! Dono#an! you still with me man+There$s a snap! and "$m gone.

    " am the third type of Malka#ian. " am not mad! " am normal. " am normal and thus am mad.Mad as in insane to the first! mad as in angry to the second. They thought " would be cra3y and sought tocontrol me because of it. The others of my clan! sire and broodmates! thought they could bend me to theirwill and understanding. -ut " am the rubber band man! " stretch and mo#e and bounce around. They try tograb on! but are cast aside. %ur clan works through the powers of mental trickery. My mind is an ironfortress to any such power! a mo#ing target! a rubber band castle that mo#es too )uickly to be hit. Thatmo#es too erratically to be targeted.

    " am the rubber band man! and " am normal and safe from the curse of my clan. Thus " am free tosee the world as no other can. " look through the sheet of insanity with the wisdom of normality. " knowthat purpose is what is needed to maintain our life. 4urpose against death. "mmortality$s boredomdefeated. " alone can deal with this fact. " alone am the rubber band man with the brain that shall ne#erstop. " alone shall last until the end times. *hen all else is dust " shall be there to watch the end of theuni#erse as it collapses in on itself. Then " can recreate the world into a new #ista of truth and knowledge." shall be god on this new uni#erse. -ut " am not mad! " know " am not god yet. -ut the time will come.

    ,hapter Two: ,offee and ,onfessions

    "$m sitting in a diner. 0ickly fluorescent light washes across me as " stare down at the table. Mynotes are in a small pile ne(t to my hand. A hand that clutches a blank note. My other hand holds a pen!ready to write. My arm hurts. A blank note! " hate this sort of thing. 0omething tells me that whate#er "was about to write down was important.

    0o are you going to write this down or what+" look up! "$m not alone. A woman sits across from me. er face is that of a statue! car#ed by the

    hands of a master. A steel gray e#ening gown hugs her graceful body. A soft shawl of pale i#ory iswrapped loosely about her bare shoulders. er flashing crystalline eyes watch me as her glistening lipscur#e slightly upwards into a smile. A steaming mug of coffee is in her hand. 0he holds it close to her

    pale face! allowing the heated #apors to add color to cheeks. 0he arcs one perfect eyebrow when she notes"$m not mo#ing.

    *ell+*ell! what+

    " said " could get you that meeting with Decker! do you want it or not+A meeting with Decker+ *ho is she! what$s going on+ " glance o#er my notes )uickly as " try tocatch up. %r back/sometimes " ha#e to catch back.

    6ou ha#e a room reser#ed at the Marriott Royale on East Timberlake 0t. Rent has been paid foruntil the first of March 7889$

    6er name is 0amantha! you think you lo#e her$6eep an eye out for Tony! he owes you a big fa#or 79;;

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    Damn/" can$t belie#e " didn$t lea#e myself a note. " know this isn$t 0amantha! she$s dead. -utshe does seem to know me! and know what "$m doing here. The rest of you ha#e no idea what that feelslike. a#ing to ask others what you$re doing. "t tears apart that which is the only truth that anybody e#erseems to hold. Their free will. 0uch is the price of the rubber band man. " glance back up at her.

    "$m sorry! did " mention " ha#e a condition+er eyes flicker slightly! then she smiles. 0he tells me " ha#en$t mentioned any condition. 0o "

    e(plain it to her )uickly. 0he smiles as " do so! as though she$s laughing at me. " glance back down at the

    blank piece of paper in my hand.0o what was " going to write down+4robably something about the meeting. ou asked if " could arrange a face to face between you

    and Decker. " told you it was possible! for a price.And you are+My name$s ,rystal. " want to help you out. Don$t you remember me telling you about Decker+" don$t of course. -ut " write down her number and the information. They seem familiar. De&a

    #u$! story of my life. 0he smiles at me as she sets down her coffee. er ga3e locks with mine. er bright!gemstone eyes glimmer. " feel my world fade away till all " can see are those two gleaming points.

    'ow listen to me carefully ,hristopher. " will take you to see Decker. " know you want to killhim! but " need more then that. " need you to kill him! and then let me kill you. ou$ll let me kill you!right+ After all! what else will there be for you to li#e for+ 'ow repeat after me. After " kill Decker! " willlet ,rystal kill me.

    After " kill Decker! " will let ,rystal kill me.5ood! now forget that " e#er/There$s a snap! and "$m gone.

    Do it *hat are you waiting for+"$m standing on a rooftop. 0now billows and gusts around me on the stiff cold bree3e. My arm is

    sore. 'earby Tony lies in the snow. is back ripped open! a look of betrayal on his face. ,rystal standsnearby! a smoking magnum held in her hand. er statue

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    and laugh! she$s beautiful e#en in death. A face molded to perfection. A death mask of the gods. " turnand hurl her heart o#er the edge of the roof. "t arcs through the air! trailing behind it a thin spray ofcrimson droplets. " turn around as " hear Decker start to rise. e looks at me in fear. %b#iously wonderingwhat will come ne(t.

    0o do ".There$s a snap! and "$m gone.

    0o this is Decker$s place huh+ " sorta e(pected more."$m sitting in my car. "t$s been banged up. The side

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    There$s a snap and he$s gone. " smirk o#er at 0amantha as " pick up the phone and dial again.0he$s watching me curiously now. er wide eyes full of unease. ow strange of it for her to think "$macting strangely. "$m not acting strangely. There is no act to it. " am strange. -ut it is thinking strangely "suppose she should accuse me of. The phone finally stops ringing as he picks up.

    ey! this is Tony.Tony! this is Dono#an here. "$m at my room! do you know where that is+0ure man. ey! what the hell was up with your disappearing act. Did you lose your note or

    something+ " sat around for a whole fucking hour and

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    0he hangs up before " can say anything about the deal. " wonder if she would ha#e wanted toknow that deal will be her last+ %h well! " ha#e the information about Decker. " grin as " tuck the noteinto my pocket and clench my hands. "$m going to go down there and kill him real painful like. 'ow! ifonly " can remember where " put my car. There$s a snap! and "$m gone.

    "$m in a hotel room. "$m standing by the door looking o#er my shoulder at the bed. There$s adead girl on it! a blackened hole in her chest. 0amantha! my lo#e. My arm hurts. " glance down and look

    at the note in my hand.6The re#ol#er killed 0amantha and shot you in arm. 4hosphorus rounds. 0erial number 7B=@C.$Re#ol#er+ " feel a weight in my pocket and slip my hand into it. There! laying on top of my notes!

    is a re#ol#er. " pull it out and look at it. Two chambers are empty! two shots. %ne for my arm! one for0amantha. " pull out my notes and glance them o#er.

    6ou ha#e a room reser#ed at the Marriott Royale on East Timberlake 0t. Rent has been paid foruntil the first of March 7889$

    6er name is 0amantha! you think you lo#e her$6eep an eye out for Tony! he owes you a big fa#or 79;;

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    " hang up on him! " already know he$ll get what " need. " &ust wish he$d somehow rememberabout the coffee. -astard. 'ow! if " remember right! " need to go and see about getting the meeting withDecker. There$s a snap! and "$m gone.

    "$m in the lobby of a hotel. " bet it$s my hotel. " seem to be facing the e(it! so "$m probably on myway out. My arm is sore and throbbing. "t looks like e#eryone is looking at me. " grow tense! worried whatmay ha#e happened. -ut then " reali3e they aren$t. They$re looking slightly off to my side. 1ooking at the

    woman who is tugging painfully on my aching arm as she walks towards the e(it." can understand you wanting to hurry up! we should get out of here. -ut why so rude+" glance up at the woman who &ust spoke to me. 0he$s wearing an elegant e#ening gown of steel

    gray. A simple i#ory shawl is draped across her bare shoulders and around her slender arms. er eyes areflashing bits of bright gleaming hardness. er face is calm and perfect! it looks to ha#e been car#ed frommarble in a day now long gone. An ancient and timeless beauty in a classical and eternally stylish dress.er thin lips are glossed with a colorless lipstick. 0he smiles slightly! her face barely seeming to crease orchange from the motion. "t looks like a smile of friendly concern and care.

    "$m sorry! do " know you+ " ha#e this condition/-ut you knew my name.Then " ha#en$t told you+Told me what+"t$s impressi#e but she somehow manages to pull off looking surprised while still maintaining

    her perfect statues)ue austerity. The people are looking at us! my arm hurts! she seems to think " shouldknow her. " feel the one thing that has e#er caused me panic or fear. A feeling of ignorance about thecurrent situation. To anyone who has ne#er li#ed my life it might seem strange. -ut though gunplay!kni#es! fire! damnation! staking! decapitation! spiders! darkness! and any of a do3en other things gi#e meno concern whatsoe#er ignorance of a situation will. "t$s the feeling that " should know something anddon$t. "t$s especially problematic because with her hanging off me " can$t get to my notes.

    *ell! " ha#e this condition! " attempt to start telling her while trying to work my arm free. -uther gleaming eyes flick o#er the crowded lobby. er fingers tighten across my arm. "t hurts.

    *e shouldn$t stay here! they$ll be on their way by now.*ho will+The prince$s agents. 0te#en does look poorly upon anyone killing a fellow indred within his

    city. " suspect you could be in #ery big trouble #ery soon. 0he keeps pulling me towards the door. *e stepthrough the re#ol#ing entryway and out into the brisk chill of the night air. 0he drags me towards thenearby parking lot. Though she acts worried her features remain calm and flawless. A chill bree3e hisses

    across us! tossing the edges of her wrap and dress around her. er brown hair remains firmly andperfectly within the elegant bun atop her head. " look up at the serene night sky and the twinkling starsabo#e.

    "t$s going to snow tonight.ow do you know that+" &ust do.*ell do you &ust happen to know a good spot to hide out for a while+ " shrug! she sighs and

    motions me to get into my car. ow did she know which car was mine+ " must know her somehow! but "can$t seem to recall. *ell it doesn$t matter! she mutters as she climbs in ne(t to me. " know a nicelittle diner they won$t check. 1et$s go.

    " start dri#ing. " spare one last look into the rear#iew mirror as the hotel fades away behind me. "can$t help but get the feeling "$m forgetting something important there. " don$t know what. 0he leans backin her seat and watches me )uietly. er only action for the ne(t few minutes is to gi#e me the occasional

    pointed direction. 0he also glances at her watch on a regular basis. " don$t like it when people go so )uiet

    on me! it makes them harder to remember. Maybe that$s why " can$t remember her. *e pull up in front ofan old fashioned roadside diner on the outskirts of town. "t$s not the sort of place she belongs. The staffand customers all eye her curiously as we sit down in a secluded corner table. 0he orders two coffees andthen glances at her watch again.

    "t$s almost time! and " must say "$#e done a good &ob.*hat do you mean+*ell! " made the calls you wanted and got you to come with me like you asked. 0he smiles! her

    eyes remaining little cold flashes in her car#ed face. 4lus " didn$t let you write down anything yet! &ustlike you said.

    1ike " said+

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    My hand darts into my pocket and grabs my notes. 0omething is not right here. 0omething #erystrange is going on. *ho is she and what$s she talking about+ " pull out my notes and pen. 0he waschecking the time! almost like she knew how long "$d manage to last on this &ump. *hat$s she up to!who$s she working with+ " slap down a blank note and start to write! " need a warning. " need toremember to watch out for whoe#er she$s working for. There$s a snap! and "$m gone.

    All times ha#e a meaning and a purpose. -ut not all purposes ha#e a time. " know this better then

    any! for " am the rubber band man. Time is a logical progression! but logic progress differently dependentupon perception. 4erception is not a logical progression! it is a choice of what you pay attention to. ouwalk into a room! you notice first the ceiling fan! then the ceiling. 2ust because you notice the fan firstdoes not remo#e the need of the ceiling. ow could there be a fan held up without ceiling+ Thus is

    perception! you notice things in an order. -ut the order is flawed and pointless. An order for fools andlosers.

    " know " shall be a god for " ha#e seen it. 'ot in dreams or #isions as might my foolish andpathetic clan. 'o! " ha#e seen it for " was there. " went there first and learned all that would become ofme. That was my gift and greatness. " shall be a god! it is ine#itable. -ut " must last till that point! that iswhy " ha#e become the rubber band man. " need to stay elastic! stay fresh! stay sudden. " cannot allowmyself to e#en once consider something boring. " cannot allow myself to e#en once fall into a rut ofrepetition. " must last through my immortality in order to become the god that " may alert myself of what "must do.

    "$m walking along the ri#er. My eyes are turned away from it! scanning the streets and alleys."$m wet and muddy. My &acket has been torn up a bit. My arm is sore. " pause! there$s a note in my hand! "look at it.

    6ou lost your car. 1ast " recall is pulling myself from the ri#er. ou$re walking north along it inthe hopes we can spot it. 5ood luck$

    5reat! " really hate it when " get so flippant with myself. The note is still in one piece! that means" ha#en$t found my car yet. " keep walking along! my eyes scanning the streets. " dig my hand back intomy damp &acket and find my other notes.

    6er name is 0amantha! you think you lo#e her$6eep an eye out for Tony! he owes you a big fa#or 79;;

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    Dono#an! what the hell are you doing+ is #oice sounds more annoyed then fearful. " mightha#e made a mistake. Damnit! you did that mind hopping shit again! didn$t you+

    " know you then+ a#e " told you about/our condition. eah! " know about the damn condition. 0ometimes " swear " hear nothing but

    about your fucking condition 1ook! &ust check your notes )uickly. "$m Tony. *e$re heading up to,rystal$s office and " don$t want to take on Decker alone.

    " notice the ele#ator is climbing. The button for the si(tieth floor is lit. " glance back at Tony and

    then reach for my notes. My leather &acket is gone. "$m dressed up in some ugly! powdered blue! loungeli3ard suit. There$s a large brown stain on the front! and "$m wearing a yellow tie. " hate yellow. My notesare in one of the coat pockets. " pull them out and flip through them )uickly. 0ome ha#e gotten wet andare hard or impossible to read in places.

    6er name is 0amantha! you think you lo#e her$6eep an eye out for Tony! he owes you a big fa#or 79;;

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    come loose and billow about her elegant face. " sho#e Tony along ahead of me! his gun to his back. This isit! the finale! no time for mistakes. There$s a snap! and "$m gone.

    There$s a snap! and he$s gone. "$m standing in the doorway of my hotel room. Tony standsoutside. e pulls a re#ol#er out from under his &acket and hands it to me.

    ere you are man! what$s this all about+Don$t worry about it Tony! it will all make sense later. 'ow here$s what you ha#e to do. 5o

    home and wait for my calls.,alls+2ust wait for my calls! you$ll understand later. *hen you get both of them head out to the coffee

    shop on Rutherford a#enue.*hat! that one out by the city limits+es Tony! be )uiet will you+ " snarl at him slightly! he goes )uiet and waits. e knows he still

    owes me a boon for sa#ing his life. "t was silly of me to do so! but now " get to reap the rewards for myefforts. *ait in an alley outside. "$ll show up with ,rystal and ha#e a meeting. After it$s done "$ll comeout. Then " need you to come and tell me not to trust her.

    %h! " get it! so you$ll remember then what you know now.0ure Tony! that$s why. Then go back home and wait. "$ll call again to find out about the gun!

    that$s when you agree to meet me and tell me it$s owned by Decker. Tony nods in confusion. After that&ust stay with me! "$ll need your help for the end. %h! and "$m going to apologi3e ahead of time. "accidentally &ump on you once or twice! but don$t worry. " don$t hurt you.

    %h! good. Apology accepted. %kay man! see you then" close the door and walk back into the apartment. 0amantha still lies sobbing on the bed. er

    cheeks stained crimson with tears. 0he screamed for )uite a while after " changed her. ou$d think she$dha#e appreciated the touch of a god. " pull out my notes.

    6ou ha#e a room reser#ed at the Marriott Royale on East Timberlake 0t. Rent has been paid foruntil the first of March 7889$

    6eep an eye out for Tony! he owes you a big fa#or 79;;

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    "$m standing on top of a building. The snow silently falls around me. My hands are coated withblood. "$m back at the scene of my mistake. " look down at Tony$s body. " look o#er at ,rystal$s. " finallye#en look at Decker$s. 'one of them. 'one of them deser#ed it. " didn$t know *hat had " been doing+*hy had " done it+ "t &ust doesn$t make sense for me to ha#e done all that. "$m in charge of me! that$sabout the only fact " thought my life would e#er hold. That has been the only constant " ha#e possessed.-ut it was gone. *hy+

    The snow falls white around me. The red blood drips off my talons. The lights of the city are

    bright and stabbing beams of yellow. " hate yellow. ellow you say+ ellow stands for fear! cowardice.My cowardice of not e#er looking within myself and facing what " am. " look up at the falling snow. %nthe distant hori3on " can see the lightening of the sky from black to blue. -lue! opposite of yellow. " don$tcare. "$ll stay here and think. "$ll face all that " am. 1et the sun claim me. 4erhaps that will erase my sins.

    " lo#e you 0amantha/and "$m sorry.

    ou think you$#e caught me now! don$t you+ ou think you$#e figured it out and can stop me.ou won$t let it e#er happen again will you+ ou$ll walk out into a sunset and end yourself before themadness e#er grabs hold again. -ut you are not mad! " am. ou are not me! " am. ou are not aware ofour future and past! " am. ou cannot last in a world where " am real and you are nothing. " am the rubber

    band man " cannot be caught.ou e#en now pull at your hair and curse the god that has forsaken you. 'o god has forsaken

    you! for " am your god as " am that " am the rubber band man. ou will try to stop me! you always do! butyou cannot. After all! " am my future and you are my past. "t cannot be changed! " win! you lose. Thinkand you will remember the battle yet to come. "t will all happen again and there is nothing you can doabout it For " am the rubber band man! you will ne#er remember that which will make you hate thyselfthat is myself. For " am the rubber band man! and soon my brain will rocket away to safety as "/

    0'A4


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