After the Pandemic: Suffer (725 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 1.81 on 25 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Id (View user info) at 2005-03-09 20:24:45 EST
http://www.ubersite.com/m/61238 - that which started it all.
Thank you Jack.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Please don't fight it. What is about to happen could not be more natural. For within our two forms shall the web of life be played out. What I will do is nothing more than what God intended for every creature on Earth.
I know. You don't want to die. I understand. Why would you want to die? You're young. You're beautiful. In life, I would have lusted for your embrace.
Believe me when I say that I respect your wish to live. I wanted to live too. But, as you can plainly tell....I didn't.
Hush now....no tears. This is not a time to be sad. This is a time to think. To ponder. You still have time to consider yourself. Time is precious, and it a gift I am now giving to you.
I want you think on your life. Has it been what you wanted? Did you, with the short time you were allotted, pursue your dreams? Did you love those around you? Were loved in turn?
.....I'm sorry that your parents are dead. Truly. I know what it's like to lose those you care for.
But really think on it. Until things came to be as they are now, in the times before the disease, on those days before our world ended....were you happy? Now, listen closely. Were you happy with your life, yourself?
Why am I....doing this to you? You must believe me when I say that I don't mean to bring you pain. I am trying to make you understand.
That I am not here to make you a victim.
I did not come on this night to steal you life.
I came to give you your life back. To the way it was before fate snatched it away from you, from all of us. How long has it been? Almost a year, I believe. Maybe 10 months. Does time really have any meaning anymore, in this dark world?
Yes...I know you want to live. You've told me enough times now for the message to stick. I really do want to help you. To help you through this. The transition that you will be going through very shortly.
Here, have some wine. I keep a flask with me for times like these. Of course I don't drink it. But it'll calm you.
That's better. See, no more tears. Breathe deeply. You'll feel better. Enjoy it. Breathing is one of many things that I miss.
Now listen to me. In the days before the disease, you were happy, yes? And since the outbreak? No doubt you've been on the run from all the danger and evil that run rampant now. How many companions and friends have you lost on your way? How many nights have you spent huddled in the dark, freezing in the cold, trying with all your might to stay away from them? From those that would feed on you, those that would maraude your body and cast your remains to rot in the sun?
And let me ask you this. Have you known happiness in all that time of running? Have you smiled just once in all those nights shrouded by fear and doubt? For what is there to smile about now?
Aren't you tired of it all? Why continue?
.....I see. Hope you say? That one day things will change? That the divine light will shatter the darkness and deliver you from evil? Or are you more practical? Do you hope to find other survivors such as yourself, to run away to the frozen north, to start a new life and a family? Would you, could you condemn your children with the life of a hunted beast?
To see the looks of fear upon the face of a son or daughter over and over again, as the black tide of unholy monsters loom ever closer? To live with the fact that each night could be your last, that your family might be consumed? And you and I both know that when I say consumed, it is a literal meaning.
Or worse. Would you bring new life into this existence, only so it too can be corrupted? So that your son would walk the earth bent on feasting on the flesh of all life? So that your daughter would stalk the earth, never to see the sun again, to live for centuries feeding on the blood of the innocent?
I tell you this. There is no hope for mankind on this world. All that survives now is death and decay.
I tell you that I mean to save you from this. To take you away from this nightmare. To bring you into the light.
.....no......
No.
I have no intention of making you as I am. You do not know what you ask.
....ah. You make an excellent point. Why should I exist when I find this life unlivable? Why take you off the mortal coil as I linger on? Why not bring you into my world of eternal night, to make you my infernal consort, to roam together across this brave new world for lifetimes.
Allright. I have a proposal for you.
Take this. Yes, this is a wooden stake. Go on. Take it. Good.
I offer you a chance for your life. You know what to do with that weapon. I offer you this one time. Thrust it into my heart. Kill me. Then you will be free to once more roam the Devil's Road. Until the next one, the next leech of the human soul comes along. But enough talk.
Your life. This existence that you have clung to so fiercely for so long is in your hands.
That's it. Place the point on my chest.
Do it.
You can't do it, can you. You can't kill. Now tell me this: if you can not bring death to me, I who means to end your life...then how would you ever drink the blood of your kills each and every night? How could you live with yourself, knowing full well that the blood that surges through your veins is not your own, that it was stolen.
You do not want this life of mine. If it can be called a life.
Make no mistake. The disease does nothing to the human personality. If I were to turn you into a creature of the darkness, you would not become evil. For the disease merely enhances what already exists. The fact that most leeches are ravenous, uncaring monsters simply shows the inherent evil in most of humanity. It is the one, true sign that we truly live in a damned world.
Do you not see now, that for you there is only one path left? I want to free you from this torment.
Can you not understand that this hurts me as much as you? Do you not think that I know that I am a killer, a monster? Do not think for a moment that I choose this, choose to become a vampire. I was given no such option. I was not offered sweet death.
But come now. Your time is at an end. Yes, it is right to cry now. You should mourn our dead world. The one we once had. Cry for those we have both lost. Cry for your pain that you have endured. Cry for my pain that I shall forever endure.
Your tears shall be a liquid eulogy of mankind.
It shall a pure thing in this impure world.
One last, final question to you, brave one. What is your name?
Sondra. Beautiful.
My name? Would you know death's name?
If you insist. Damien.
Come to me, my beautiful friend. Let me embrace you, let me take you from this world.
Take my hand. Take my hand, my Sondra. This will hurt only for one moment. Then you will be free.
You will suffer no more.
User Reviews
Submitted by notyou (user info) at 2005-07-11 15:28:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Benny (user info) at 2005-05-18 23:33:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Very nicely written. Monologues are a lot more challenging than standard third person and you did an excellent job of it.
Submitted by nrduncan (user info) at 2005-05-12 17:48:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I have just got done reading these all and I have enjoyed them all. Great work everyone, +2's for all!
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2005-03-24 11:17:19 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
SUPERB!
Submitted by Yankee_In_TX (user info) at 2005-03-16 10:07:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Very unique, sticks to the story, well written, and entertaining!
Submitted by Dannie (user info) at 2005-03-14 14:17:33 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2005-03-09 20:38:57 (#)
Ranking: 2
Don't do it Sondra!!!
Submitted by Professional_Peon (user info) at 2005-03-12 12:00:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Here is my contribution - http://www.ubersite.com/m/61730
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2005-03-11 18:38:13 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Man, the variety of different takes on this thing is pretty wild.
Submitted by brokenlizard534 (user info) at 2005-03-10 15:29:09 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Phinch (user info) at 2005-03-10 11:21:08 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I love the one sided conversation technique.
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2005-03-10 08:31:48 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Kinda sorta reminded me of Lestat.
Submitted by Avals (user info) at 2005-03-10 05:09:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
(chanting) Use the stake! Use the stake!
Submitted by Id (user info) at 2005-03-09 22:47:09 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2005-03-09 21:24:43 (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Id (user info) at 2005-03-09 21:00:28 (#)
Ranking: 0
And to all these I say: meh. Do as you will. At least you explained your rating.
And by the by, I'm not a he. Just for future reference.
***************************************************************
I find this oddly surprising. I think it's because a lot of what you write relates to male interests -- and by male I mean "geeky." But in a good way. You know, vampires and warriors and all that cool stuff.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yeah.....I'm a big dork. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a Dungeons and Dragons character to make.....
Submitted by foster (user info) at 2005-03-09 21:56:24 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by LadyPlural (user info) at 2005-03-09 21:33:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I like it.
Submitted by Mister_Fahrenheit (user info) at 2005-03-09 21:33:03 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2005-03-09 21:24:43 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Id (user info) at 2005-03-09 21:00:28 (#)
Ranking: 0
And to all these I say: meh. Do as you will. At least you explained your rating.
And by the by, I'm not a he. Just for future reference.
***************************************************************
I find this oddly surprising. I think it's because a lot of what you write relates to male interests -- and by male I mean "geeky." But in a good way. You know, vampires and warriors and all that cool stuff.
Submitted by JMG114 (user info) at 2005-03-09 21:14:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Deep and clever. Good suspense through the wide paragraph space.
Submitted by Id (user info) at 2005-03-09 21:00:28 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Howie_Felter (user info) at 2005-03-09 20:44:17 (#)
Ranking: 0
I didn't like the writing...I just know that what he wrote is something that a lot of you like to read. I gave my rating and I stick with it 100%. Sorry if you disagree
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
And to all these I say: meh. Do as you will. At least you explained your rating.
And by the by, I'm not a he. Just for future reference.
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2005-03-09 20:54:01 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I liked the unique perspective in this story. Good monologue. A vampire with a heart of gold! Er, who still kills people.
Submitted by Howie_Felter (user info) at 2005-03-09 20:44:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I didn't like the writing...I just know that what he wrote is something that a lot of you like to read. I gave my rating and I stick with it 100%. Sorry if you disagree
Submitted by bob (user info) at 2005-03-09 20:42:39 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
howie, if you know its good writing, but didnt like the subject, you simply give a 0.
but dont give a -2 to something that was well written such as this. its just common respect.
Submitted by Judoka (user info) at 2005-03-09 20:40:47 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
This read like good WoD fan fiction.
Submitted by Howie_Felter (user info) at 2005-03-09 20:39:46 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
I liked your last post, this one just isn't my thing. I'm sure you'll get a lot of +2 though so don't take this to heart.
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2005-03-09 20:38:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Don't do it Sondra!!!