City of IF

[Phang]

Prologue.


What was going on? Wait! Wait! Help me, help me! Dad…help me!

I could barely see his face in the darkness, but I could feel him holding me by the shoulders. “I’m sorry, . I can’t stop this, and its all my fault. But I grew to love you. I love you, .”

I tried to talk back. But all I could hear was screaming, silent screaming. I wanted to tell him it didn’t care, tell him he could stop this. Help me! But…

The nothingness swallowed us both. No help for me.


It was one of those places where no one ever knows what goes on there, or what’s in there. You know a place like that, don’t you? It seems there’s one in every area. On the rare times we go on holiday, there’s always a ruin, or an old house, or something…

In this town, it’s the Factory.

That’s what all the kids call it. Its actual name is . But it looks like a factory, so it’s the Factory. And no one talks about the Factory. Not even my parents, and they work there. In fact, a lot of my friends’ parents work there. Probably how we got to know each other, so whatever.

By the way, I’m .


Help me help me help me! Daddy, help me please! Help me help me help me! Please, daddy, please!


Damn, that was a huge structure. Big metal thing, all rusted with massive bolts. And I’d no idea what it was for – with all my experience, I could still make no sense of the thing.

This uniform’s itchy as hell. Why do we need to wear this crap? All black and stiff and creasy, and way too small. I scratched at my right arm, snagging my nails on the fabric. I’d manicured them just last weekend and all. Contrary to popular opinion, I do take pride in my appearance.

Anyway, back to this big metal tower thing. What was I supposed to do again? For some reason, with a blank mind I walked up and laid a hand on it. It felt strangely warm…and I was kind of drawn to it…I noticed the door in the side. It looked like I could pull it open…open it. Open it!

“Hey!” The supervisor’s shout brought me back to reality, just as I reached out to the door. I jumped back, smiling nervously, but it was clear from the man’s glare – what you could see of his eyes under his silver, army-like helmet (reason for wearing it: unknown) – that he wasn’t having any of it. “You hurry up and re-fuel the damn thing…we don’t want to lose you like the last one.”

I’m not that stupid. There’s some dangerous stuff in there, I know that. Now then…re-fuelling – is that what I’m doing?


Nyeheheh! Feed me, feed me! Little mortal, I don’t want these liquid chains!

Ohh, help meeee…


Yirrss...how very incomprehensible...make of it what you will. Things may make themselves clear, but do you want to know? Ignorance is bliss.

(Also, the colours are prettier than I imagined!)

[shy_blu_eyes]

Hmmm

Can't wait to see what kind of Evil you're preparing to unleash.

[Black Hawk]

that was..... strange

[Phang]

Ahahahaha, the colours, the colours! I was so excited waiting for replies...this is gonna be good!

Feed me! Feed me compliments! Nyehehehehow...hohhh...

[Syranore]

That was confusing, considering i read it after midnight, just recovering from a headache. i will look forward to anything that makes it less confusing, as i don't like being confused.

[Vampireidiot]

Nice, confusing but awesome!
looking forward for future chaps,to see where this is heading...probably to something EVIL!!!
Damn you for not putting the names in...it's almost like cheating. lol


heehee, would you could you...?

lol, i'll be keeping up with this, indeedydoo. :P

[Phang]

First Chapter.


I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to do that.

Those towers are starting to prey on my mind – God knows why. I sometimes lie awake at night, staring out of my bed, into the darkness. And I feel like something’s…there.

Of course, it’s just at nights. Yes, just at nights. Everyone has weird thoughts then. So it’s ok. Besides, I’ll bet everyone else working at is creeped out at first – working that close to something that dangerous. But it’s for everyone’s good, so I’m ok staying.

Not that it’s a good job at the moment. I can barely afford my house, and that supervisor could do with throwing into the tower!

Throw him in! Throw him in! I don’t like him. Sorry. Help me.

“Anything happen at the Factory today?” I ask this question every day, as my parents get home. I remember my older brother used to join me in my enthusiasm. Not so much now, but you know, he’s older. I’m kinda giving up now, but every now and then you get something.

“Stop calling it that, .” Dad cricks his neck back and forth, before taking off his jacket and throwing it over a chair – though the shirt underneath is just as thick and itchy.
Mum flops down next to me, giving the TV a nonchalant glance. “Nothing much today, mate. At least, not on my shift…?”

Dad grunts. “Just a new operative under my supervision. She’s a bit absent-minded, but they all are at first. Yet to get into the swing of things…” He soon falls silent again. They both tend do, on the subject of the Factory.

Dad takes his helmet off and clonks my snoring brother over the head with it, who jerks awake. He then plonks himself down on the sofa with me and my mum, leaving to nod off again.

“What’s this program, then?”

“Ehh, some new thing. D’you want the news on?”

Both looked at each other, with some strange air of hesitation. “Y…no. It’s ok.”

It’s watching me, I swear. Something’s watching me and I don’t like it.

No; no, I’m just seeing things. Heh, that big shadow on the ceiling looks like a butterfly or something. Now it’s a bowtie. Ooh, how about it turn into a piece of that pasta? You know, the butterfly/bowtie shaped one? Really scary.

Though I still get the feeling it’s glaring at me…some crushing malevolence…I’m so tired; I wish I could get to sleep.

I can see her. My good friend. Help me, won’t she, won’t you? Help us all.

Ahh, poor ignorant. She knows I’m here, though. You can’t ignore us fully, no, not at all; and I’m sorry for that! So very sorry.

What now? I’m bored. Perhaps I should come get her already – but they wouldn’t like that. But what do I care? Foolish mortals! Help me!


It’s not that I am a shadow. A shadow is darkness through something else blocking the light. Darkness is the absence of light; it’s not unnatural to just have darkness going around. The light’s been pushed somewhere else.

Or am I the light? Are we the light? Is he the light? See, I don’t know anything. Maybe I’m hearing, not seeing…in which case, I guess it’s like…static…like a radio tuned out. Oh, but you don’t get those sorts of radios anymore, I bet. All digital.

But if this, what we’re feeling now, was like an old radio…maybe, just maybe, I can hear the traces of a song…

Shit. What was that? I heard something! Something just crashed downstairs, I heard it!

Screw giant shadow butterflies, I’ve gotta hope that’s not a burglar or something – I really don’t want to get involved in all that kinda crap when I’ve just started a new job. I thought this area was supposed to be crime free anyway? Just my luck, huh.

And…wait. Wait. There’s something down there…I don’t know what it is, but…so powerful…so evil…

I don’t want to go down there. I’m scared. So scared. The crashing continues, the force trashing up my place. But…I don’t want to…it’s evil!

My heart’s beating at double pace, I’m sweating even though it’s far too freaking cold. I can’t see – but I don’t think that’s the darkness, I think it’s because I’ve screwed my eyes shut. I’m not sure. I don’t think I want to know.

Wait! Come on now, . Let’s think about this; pull yourself together! We’re going to go down there – I don’t care what sort of evil thing you think’s waiting for you! Come on, we’re gonna face it. But wait, we gotta think…clothes…perhaps a weapon…


Alright, now let’s try it. Look, the first light’s coming through the curtains. It doesn’t seem so bad in the light, does it?

The stairs are just round the corner. Right foot down…oh my god. What’s that behind us? I can feel it…

My resolve, shattered. There’s a great, malicious force right behind me. I can feel a kind of…heat on my neck. But I’m so cold…so scared…

But that’s nothing compared to what’s down the stairs. And it is down there, it is, and it is evil. I know there’s something in this house – I know, I know, we know!

But I can’t stay here, balanced on the stairs. Can I? No, no – I’ll fall right into the thing’s grasp. It’s there, it is, it is…

Ok, calm down. Just one step forward, down the stairs. And another…there’s nothing down there. But what’s behind me is another matter. It’s following me. I can still feel that menacing presence…

I’ve reached the door. Everything’s quiet behind it – that means it was nothing! Doesn’t it? I must! I’m not going mad…I’m not scared!

I reach for the handle. Come on, come on! Everything’s so slow all of a sudden…or is it fast?

Finally I swing the door open – and suddenly the sheer force of this ear-splitting roar slams it back closed. The noise, the noise! It all starts up again, the crashing, the thumping. This monster downstairs isn’t content to sit quiet and menace me, unlike the one behind me.

The one that just pushed me into the living room!

Hoy oh boy oh my oh my. We cannot say we didn’t try…try what?

There’s…nothing here.

Everything’s as I left it – a little messy, but nothing’s smashed up, and there’s no monster. I peek behind me. That evil power has gone, and there’s nothing there either.

Ohh, I’m surely going nuts now.

Morning! Wait, that’s not good. I don’t like mornings, especially on school days. Funny, my alarm hasn’t gone off.

I check the clock. It’s how early?! Oh man – might as well go back to sleep.

Except…oh. My friend’s here. ‘s kind of late…

I’m not late. We’re early, like you, .

I was just messing about with someone else.

Ohh, man. Do I ever hate mornings! Especially when it feels like I didn’t even have a night! I am knackered beyond belief…

Let’s see now…shirt, then jacket, not the other way round…wait, I should already know is. They just look so similar, in the dark…wait, it’s not dark either.

Ok, shut up, just get on with it! Why do I keep trailing off like this? Ok, ok, getting ready now…ready! Hmm…breakfast, food! Food! I get that soon, don’t I?

Ehh, no time, can’t be arsed. I’ll just get one o’ them little kid smoothies of the way. Is there a shop on the way? Do I have money? Who cares.


O-k! At , and certainly not mad! Feeling much better now, yes? Yes!

Ahh. That funny, metallic smell’s quickly getting familiar. And the uniform seems less itchy today. Those towery, silo-y things, though…they’re still just as imposing and weird. I should probably get over that. I work with them.

Or at least I thought so. “!” The supervisor shouts for my attention from the right. I wave to show I’ve heard him, then jog over. Now what could he want?

“Listen,” he says, “Don’t think you’re special, ‘cos this is an offer we give all the new operatives – but there’s a demonstration going on today. Like I said, we give everyone a chance to see one, and this is yours. I believe it’s something to do with the Life Project…you heard of that?”

“Can’t say I’ve heard of that one. What’s it about?”

The Life Project. Life! There’s no life there. Only pain! Don’t go, don’t go, don’t go, so help me! Help me! Help me! Don’t!

We’re hysterical. It’s not good. But I can sense it, our pain. And yet we live…but there’s no survival to be had.

We wish you could hear us. Hear them. But even if you could…you’d think it was madness. Ohh, dear friend, won’t you see me again…I’m sorry…

Then again, if you could hear us, and know that there is no madness in the world…you’d still ignore me…help me, please, let me out instead! If I warn you, do not go…

“Heheh. Well can’t you guess by the name? You taking this offer, or what?”

[shy_blu_eyes]

WOW...

I would have never thought it was possible to write a stream of conciousness SG, but you've pulled it off beautifully so far! I'm speechless...

as for the DP, I think that the new employee should let her curiousity get the better of her, although I'm afraid of what effect that will have on her "friend."

I'm not sure if you want DP options restricted to the one character or not, so I'll leave it at that for now. I can't wait to see what comes next!

[Phang]

Schweeeet.

Me did gud den?

[Christalnightshade]

It's good Phang. Reminds me of 'little prisoner' Lets see what happens next.

[Phang]

Lel' presner? Ne'er heard of it. Sorry.

Anyway, care for a suggestion? I'm in nee-heed.

[Crunchyfrog]

Wow, how did I miss this?
Never read anything like this before! :D

I'm concentrating on the Factory worker's DP 'cos its the clearest... Ask for more information. 'Twould be interesting to see the boss's reaction, like if the offer was an 'accept it or die' type thing.

:D

[Phang]

Nice.

I'll get writing soon then, because indeed I've waited long enough... unless anyone else wants to suggest? Speak now!