Okay, so I ran out of ideas pretty quick. I tried getting Nicholas close to some electrical source, figuring a good shock would get him conscious again. Alas no matter how much I willed I couldn't get him to do any more than sway slightly in its direction. I guess I don't have any domination powers. Unfortunate, that would have come in handy in more situations than just this one. Then again, there are extenuating circumstances at work here, so it may warrant further experimentation.
But back to the matter at hand. It's not like I'm going to be giving up anytime soon. I've got nothing better to do than continuing to rebel against the Grotesque's control, but I'm feeling more and more helpless with every passing day. There seems to be nothing I can do to effect the physical world, as long as I'm trapped in here in this dreamless expanse I can't effect the dream world and as far as the digital world goes, sure I can interact with a computer, but unless someone here knows where they can find this here circus and can fight their way through an army of sleep walking maniacs who am I going to contact?
Then again, maybe this is all academic. I don't know if it's going to be of any use (it could just make things worse) but I can feel someone different out there. There are visitors to the circus, I can sense them. I don't know how, but they feel familiar. I can't quite put my finger on it though. If there is one thing I've learned since this all started it's that when something new shows up you can bet it's going to cause some shift in circumstances. I can only hope it'll be for the better.
And for once, in this helpless state, that might actually be possible.
-Shady
Thursday 27 February 2014
Wednesday 12 February 2014
Midnight Circus
It was a strange sensation, losing consciousness. Of course I'd done if before, but not since becoming this new Thoughtborn thing. But when the Ringmaster put his hand over Nick's face, my mind went numb and I faded away. It felt like being consumed by the Quiet. Brought back bad memories.
We woke up in a cell. Or at least I did. Nick was still asleep, but I couldn't wake him up. I couldn't even do anything to help because he wasn't even dreaming. Given the situation, this seemed confusing. It's not the Grotesque's MO to not give nightmares. But it was intelligent. If he's not dreaming I can't get to him, I can't wake him and I can't help him. The worst thing about it though, or at the very least the bit that makes a really bad situation even worse, is that I can't leave his head. Normally I could flow out at will, into someone else's head and their dreams. Talk someone into helping, something! But whatever the Ringmaster had done to us, it meant I was just as trapped as Nick. This was also the time I noticed that I couldn't see if my host's eyes weren't open. Meaning I was blind on top of helpless.
Everyday the cell opens, footsteps are heard and Nick is hoisted to his feet, where he stands, wobbling slightly from side to side. Then he moves forward, in hobbled, sluggish steps he and the others who entered the cell go out into the open. Circus music plays, laughter and screams fill the air. Nick performs several tasks, he juggles, breathes fire, throws knives, contorts himself, and sometimes just bloody self-harms. All while asleep, asleep in his dreamless inescapable sleep. Every once and a while the Ringmaster's laughter can be heard, booming out above all the other noise of the circus. It's all just a game to him.
I don't know what exactly the Ringmaster is. I'd seen him in several other dreams on my mental travels across the globe. He's not always a ringmaster, he appears as whatever's suited to the nightmare that's occurring. But the one thing that's always consistent is his eyes. Like fish, swimming about his face. I figured he was some sort of incarnation of the Grotesque, a partner to the bestial monster who feeds off their victims' life-forces. But then he appeared in real life. I don't think the Grotesque can do that. At least I didn't. It's hard to know anything with any certainty when things like the Fears are involved.
For weeks it's been going on. For weeks Nick gets up, performs his tricks, eats, drinks, stays alive and then returns to his cell and falls once more into the deep catatonic state. But it's only today I managed to access a computer. I don't know why it was put there, but it gives me some opportunity. Something I can finally do. They can trap me in his head but I can still control electronics. I'll find some way to free him from the Ringmaster's grasp. Don't know how yet. But I have to.
-Shady
We woke up in a cell. Or at least I did. Nick was still asleep, but I couldn't wake him up. I couldn't even do anything to help because he wasn't even dreaming. Given the situation, this seemed confusing. It's not the Grotesque's MO to not give nightmares. But it was intelligent. If he's not dreaming I can't get to him, I can't wake him and I can't help him. The worst thing about it though, or at the very least the bit that makes a really bad situation even worse, is that I can't leave his head. Normally I could flow out at will, into someone else's head and their dreams. Talk someone into helping, something! But whatever the Ringmaster had done to us, it meant I was just as trapped as Nick. This was also the time I noticed that I couldn't see if my host's eyes weren't open. Meaning I was blind on top of helpless.
Everyday the cell opens, footsteps are heard and Nick is hoisted to his feet, where he stands, wobbling slightly from side to side. Then he moves forward, in hobbled, sluggish steps he and the others who entered the cell go out into the open. Circus music plays, laughter and screams fill the air. Nick performs several tasks, he juggles, breathes fire, throws knives, contorts himself, and sometimes just bloody self-harms. All while asleep, asleep in his dreamless inescapable sleep. Every once and a while the Ringmaster's laughter can be heard, booming out above all the other noise of the circus. It's all just a game to him.
I don't know what exactly the Ringmaster is. I'd seen him in several other dreams on my mental travels across the globe. He's not always a ringmaster, he appears as whatever's suited to the nightmare that's occurring. But the one thing that's always consistent is his eyes. Like fish, swimming about his face. I figured he was some sort of incarnation of the Grotesque, a partner to the bestial monster who feeds off their victims' life-forces. But then he appeared in real life. I don't think the Grotesque can do that. At least I didn't. It's hard to know anything with any certainty when things like the Fears are involved.
For weeks it's been going on. For weeks Nick gets up, performs his tricks, eats, drinks, stays alive and then returns to his cell and falls once more into the deep catatonic state. But it's only today I managed to access a computer. I don't know why it was put there, but it gives me some opportunity. Something I can finally do. They can trap me in his head but I can still control electronics. I'll find some way to free him from the Ringmaster's grasp. Don't know how yet. But I have to.
-Shady
Coming to Take You Away
We were holed up in the apartment. Nick never mentioned where he lived, so if we were lucky none of the Fears would be able to track me down. After all this time I'm still no closer to figuring out their interest in me. What makes me so important. I've read stuff about receivers and amplifiers drawing Fears in, or maybe I'm just unlucky. But that's beside the point.
A few days passed, uneventful, Nick was coping better with the lack of sleep. A problem which was lessening as I got better at fighting off the Grotesque. Until one day it stopped all together. We hoped it had just given up, decided we were more trouble than we're worth and gone off to focus its attention on some other poor soul. That finally we'd get some peace and quiet.
Since when was that likely?
It was I don't know how many days ago. Weeks ago at this stage. The apartment was silent as we read through text books we'd found at a nearby bookstore. We wouldn't dare enter a library. Nick still didn't trust me, but he was smart enough to trust himself, so we researched the Fears. I knew no matter how well we kept our location secret it was only a matter of time before we'd be forced to run. Or he would, I'd just tag along, being inside his head and all.
So we read in silence, utter silence. No noise was heard from the other rooms, nothing from the streets. The atmosphere was foreboding to say the least. Then we heard it. A soft noise. Music, humming up from somewhere in the building. It grew louder and it became clear that whatever the source was it was heading this way. As it drew closer the music became clearer and I realized what it was.
Magical Mystery Tour, by The Beatles.
Listening to an unknown source of music tell us it was coming to take us away. Well we were scared. Maybe it was nothing, but at this point I think we can agree that any paranoia I suffer is justified. And as the music got louder and louder as it came down the corridor, we decided it was time we barricaded the door. Nick pushed several pieces of furniture in front of the door, while I offered encouragement (Not much I CAN do).
And lo and behold the music stopped just at it reached our door. Nick held his breath and we waited silently for whatever was to come. Things only got worst as the door suddenly unlocked with a click, and began to slowly open, pushing away any barricades that were set up effortlessly. And there, standing in the door frame, was the Ringmaster. The Man With Fish For Eyes.
Nick backed up quickly, trying to find somewhere to run to, but we were trapped. As the Ringmaster stepped in, his false smile and restless eyeballs permanently decorating his face, several other men and women poured in around him. They seemed normal, but their movements were sluggish and their eyes closed. They were sleep walking.
"Step right up, hurry now! This way to the main attraction!" the Ringmaster said, in his booming voice, before seizing Nick by the throat and lifting him into the air with incredible strength. "You don't want to be late!" He tossed him out the door, and he collided with the corridor wall, hitting the ground. The Sleep Walkers crowded around him wordlessly, grabbing his arms and legs and lifting him up. He kicked and screamed as they carried him down the hallway, but they were too strong and his calls went unanswered. The music started up again as we were hauled away, following the Ringmaster like a demented parade.
"Roll up, roll up for the magical mystery tour!"
-Shady
A few days passed, uneventful, Nick was coping better with the lack of sleep. A problem which was lessening as I got better at fighting off the Grotesque. Until one day it stopped all together. We hoped it had just given up, decided we were more trouble than we're worth and gone off to focus its attention on some other poor soul. That finally we'd get some peace and quiet.
Since when was that likely?
It was I don't know how many days ago. Weeks ago at this stage. The apartment was silent as we read through text books we'd found at a nearby bookstore. We wouldn't dare enter a library. Nick still didn't trust me, but he was smart enough to trust himself, so we researched the Fears. I knew no matter how well we kept our location secret it was only a matter of time before we'd be forced to run. Or he would, I'd just tag along, being inside his head and all.
So we read in silence, utter silence. No noise was heard from the other rooms, nothing from the streets. The atmosphere was foreboding to say the least. Then we heard it. A soft noise. Music, humming up from somewhere in the building. It grew louder and it became clear that whatever the source was it was heading this way. As it drew closer the music became clearer and I realized what it was.
Magical Mystery Tour, by The Beatles.
Listening to an unknown source of music tell us it was coming to take us away. Well we were scared. Maybe it was nothing, but at this point I think we can agree that any paranoia I suffer is justified. And as the music got louder and louder as it came down the corridor, we decided it was time we barricaded the door. Nick pushed several pieces of furniture in front of the door, while I offered encouragement (Not much I CAN do).
And lo and behold the music stopped just at it reached our door. Nick held his breath and we waited silently for whatever was to come. Things only got worst as the door suddenly unlocked with a click, and began to slowly open, pushing away any barricades that were set up effortlessly. And there, standing in the door frame, was the Ringmaster. The Man With Fish For Eyes.
Nick backed up quickly, trying to find somewhere to run to, but we were trapped. As the Ringmaster stepped in, his false smile and restless eyeballs permanently decorating his face, several other men and women poured in around him. They seemed normal, but their movements were sluggish and their eyes closed. They were sleep walking.
"Step right up, hurry now! This way to the main attraction!" the Ringmaster said, in his booming voice, before seizing Nick by the throat and lifting him into the air with incredible strength. "You don't want to be late!" He tossed him out the door, and he collided with the corridor wall, hitting the ground. The Sleep Walkers crowded around him wordlessly, grabbing his arms and legs and lifting him up. He kicked and screamed as they carried him down the hallway, but they were too strong and his calls went unanswered. The music started up again as we were hauled away, following the Ringmaster like a demented parade.
"Roll up, roll up for the magical mystery tour!"
-Shady
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