The search.

The next morning I headed to my place of work and hid out front waiting for May to show up. I managed to stay there for hours without her showing up and eventually I got caught and escorted off the premises. On the way though Sergei passed me and slipped me a note.

"You won't find her here. She quit shortly after the death. Said she couldn't remain working in a place where such a thing happened."

The bitch is on the run.

Well there's nowhere she can hide I won't find her.

I need to come up with a plan. There needs to be some way I can find her.

The tape.

I'm still staying with Maless. Megan is still pissed at me. I was angry at myself earlier but god what an unsympathetic bitch.

Anyways Sergei showed up randomly and handed me a tape. He then left.

I watched the tape on my own. Maless was out at his own job. It showed the product in the testing labs.

There was a woman there. I recognized her from Portnoy's description. It was that May person. She was doing something to the product. She stopped suddenly as Portnoy walked in. She smiled at him and left and he watched her leave before starting up the Product. At which point it exploded and the film became static.

I didn't kill Portnoy. That bitch May. She sabotaged the product. She killed Portnoy and got me fired. I intended to bring the tape to the police and show them what happened but as I tried to eject it the tape got stuck and the film began to unwind and snapped. I tried to get the film but it disintegrated. I had no proof. This was undoubtedly the film from the security camera's so there was likely to be no other copies. No proof. She'd go free. I was going to be blamed. No... I'd be blamed but I wasn't going to let her go free.

I decided I was going to track her down. I'd make her pay myself.

I threw out the pieces of the tape before Maless got home. I headed up to the guest room but I can't sleep.

I'm far too angry. I vow here and now I'm going to kill May for what she did. 

Damn it all.

I went to work today as per usual. Everything was fine. At the end of the day though... Sergei comes up to me.

Sergei: Hey. You the one who submitted the product for testing on Friday?

Me: I nodded.

Sergei smiled and it was horrifying. His mouth seemed to stretch like his skin was wider than his head.

Sergei: Your product exploded during the testing. One of the testers was seriously injured. Oh and you're being fired.

I stood in shock before managing to choke out the words. "Who was injured?"

Sergei: An employee by the name of Portnoy.

Me: Portnoy?! Will he be okay?

Sergei: Unknown. My guess though...

He made a throat slitting gesture which also gave me a great view of a jagged scar across his throat. After that he walked off laughing.

I went to the hospital to see Portnoy. He's still alive but in critical condition. The fan blade launched off and embedded itself about 6 inches into his left eyeball. They say it's surprising he's not already dead. He's... He's not going to make it. I know he isn't. I killed my best friend...

I went home after. Megan tried to console me but I yelled at her. She's angry at me now. I'm sleeping at Maless' tonight.

Lost my job. Killed my friend. Pissed off my wife. Things were going so well...

Long live weekends.

So today is a Saturday. No work. At least, not for me Megan works on Weekends. As a result I called up my buddies; Maless and Portnoy. We made plans to go to Portnoy's house for a guy day.

We spent the day playing video games and talking. Portnoy works at the same place as me but in a different department. Apparently they got a new person too. A woman named May. Apparently she's very strange as well. So, in the same day we get two very strange new employees. We decided we were going to keep an eye on them and tell each other anything interesting we find out.

I just reread that and oh my god we must be bored.

Anyways, other than that nothing happened today. Going to bed now. Megan won't be in till 11:00 so just going to bed alone.  

Woke up today.

I was lying facedown in the bar. When I raised my head I saw Vadim the bartender mopping the floors. He smiled at me.

Vadim: "Oh man, I'm glad you're awake. I was worried for a bit you'd slipped into a coma or something. Never seen a man down 46 drinks before."

Me: "46? That's impossible."

Vadim: "46? Nah, I said 6. Obviously not 46. Nobody could survive downing 46."

I nodded and rested my head back down. I didn't remember coming to the bar and drinking but, my current location and the horrible hangover I had seemed to confirm it. I thanked Vadim for letting me stay there for the night and ten began to make my way home. It was still early morning so the sunlight wasn't too painful.

I made it home and at the front door I realized my wife would probably be pissed. I wondered if Vadim or I had called and told her where I was. Upon opening the door I learned the answer was no. She was sitting in the chair in front of the door. She was asleep, but woke up when I closed the door. She stood up and approached me. I waited and was not disappointed. The slap caught me on the cheek but I barely flinched. I'd always had a high tolerance to pain. After a few seconds her face broke into a smile. She kissed me.

Me: "Sorry, Megan."

Megan: "It's fine just don't ever do that to me again. I don't like not knowing where you are."

Me: "I understand."

I hugged her and she hugged me back.

Megan: "I didn't get much sleep last night waiting for you so I'm going back to bed." She stopped and smiled at me. "You could join me if you want."

I smiled back watching her move as she headed to the stairs but a quick glance at the clock told me it would be a bad idea. I had work in half an hour and hangover or not I couldn't miss today. I went to the kitchen and got myself some coffee.

Work was pretty boring but, there was a new guy today. His name was Sergei. Our boss, Harold, said he was highly recommended but he seemed like a freak to me. Good news though. I finished that project finally. Now it just needs to be sent for testing and if everything is fine it can be shipped next week. Here's hoping it'll be enough to get me that promotion.

After work I went back home. Megan was still sleeping so I didn't wake her. I made myself some dinner and then started writing this. I'll be going to bed now. Night.

Exile

So, I left. I threw up my hands and walked out. Fuck Genome, Fuck The Servants, Fuck The Ne Timu, Fuck The Dying Man, fuck all of it. I'm out. I don't care what happens anymore so I'm out. I didn't tell anyone I just left while they were busy.

I pathed to some random location outside a bar and went inside. It was empty so I helped myself to the alcohol. I'm posting this from there. I'm on my seventh bottle of an unlabeled liquor and I'm fully intent on finding out exactly how much I can drink before I get drunk. Like so many other ways I'm better than a standard human but I'm sure enough alcohol will still be able to floor me.

I don't want to be here anymore. If I drink enough I can close my eyes and everything will be good again. I'll be with Megan again. The world will be back to the way it was. No it will be better than it was. There won't be any fears or Ne Timu. There won't be any Jack either. It will be paradise. Megan and Mom and Dad and Vadim and everyone else I've lost will be there. We'll be together forever in happiness.

Maybe if I drink enough I'll never have to wake up.

Sorry.

Took me longer to get this out than it should have...

I don't feel much like writing but I wouldn't let anyone else make this post

As we were leaving I got another call. It was Megan. She said Genome was right outside and coming in. I was a little confused and asked how she knew where he was. At that moment Megan walked into the amphiteater with a phone and smiled. "Because Genome's the one talking to you. How do you like the body I chose Muffy?"

I stared not getting it for a few seconds then it dawned. I charged towards him jumping over the seats until I reached him and grabbed him by the throat flinging him against the wall. I screamed at him to get out of her body and he just laughed. "Oh Muffins, you know how this works. There's nothing left of her mind in here. I've taken over completely. This is my body now."

"Then I'm going to fucking kill you!" I drew back my fist but stopped. He was smiling. He was inside there. I couldn't... It was her body I couldn't hurt her. Never again...

He waited then spoke. "Well if you're not going to let fly with that fist you may as well put me down."

I did so. "Now then. Allow me to explain how this will work. You stole my chance to become human and forced me to take this path. It's only fitting that I use the only thing you really care about to do so. I'm going to help you with the rest of your quest and every time you look at me and see me using your precious sister's body you're going to silently weep and lament that you caused this. Understood?"

I didn't respond. "Good then it seems you three managed to finish up here so let's head back."

Now here we are. Sitting here trying to find the next Ne Timu with Genome smiling at me with my sister's face. I'm not sure what the point is anymore. My sister's gone, The World's gone. They Dying Man can handle this shit I'm done.  

Ghosts

That's what I'm calling these things. They move through solid objects like ghosts, they don't speak and they're creepy. So ghosts seems like a good name for them. I'm sure there's a better name but who cares. Things we know about them sort of.


They can pass through any non living object at will.
They have pure red eyes.
They are immune to all weaponry.
They can affect things in ways that defy physical laws.


Ie that first one broke Harold's arm by twisting the bone itself through his arm without fully twisting the arm.


So yeah can only beat these things in hand to hand combat and doing so is risky since they can break bones essentially with a touch.


So knowing all of this how happy do you think we were to find Hiiln again in a stadium with twenty more of the god damn things.


It was like an amphitheater of sorts. Hiiln was on stage and the seats were filled with Ghosts.Like last time shortly after we arrived Hiiln stopped and The Ghosts all turned their attention to us. Harold's arm had healed somehow completely in this short time. He seems to have some strange healing factor. From what I understand he's also recovered from being stabbed in the eye, having his hand cut off and many other injuries. So, I don't really question it now. Anyways, we all got ready for some hand to hand combat as the creatures soared up towards us passing through the seats like they weren't there. We stayed in the doorway so they couldn't all attack us at once and began the fight. As long as we were careful they were pretty easy. The Liar got a leg broken but other than that we managed to kill 7 of them before the fighting suddenly stopped. The Ghosts stopped and retreated. They moved to the walls.

Hiiln raised his staff to us. "Enough. You have come for me. Sent by the Disloyal goddess of loyalty to destroy me. My servants could delay you indefinitely but it is a waste. Come. I will end you now."

We moved forward except The Liar who knelt down in the doorway due to her broken leg. We took out our weapons now that we weren't fighting the ghosts and charged. Seconds later we were all huddled over on the ground as Hiiln's Nihilism washed over us. In hindsight we really should have expected that.

Hiiln laughed. "How did you expect to kill me. You've felt my power before and you failed to bring along your immune friend. You are powerless."

Then Faceless stood up.

Faceless: It's funny. Once the idea of nothing mattering would probably have me crippled on the ground lie the rest of you but, I've been dead. I've seen what awaits after death and I already know that nothing matters. All your doing is confirming what I already know. The best part though. I have a reason to continue. I like killing things. It's fun. I don't need anymore reason than that.

As he finished speaking he moved his hand up and lifted his mask. Birds flew out and lunged towards Hiiln. The effect of Hiiln's power broke and we stood at the same moment as The Ghosts's attacked again. I threw myself at the attacking ghosts, an overwhelming sense of purpose replacing the nihilism. As we fought The Ghosts Faceless attacked Hiiln.

I didn't see the entirety of the fight being too busy smashing the skulls of The Ghosts attacking me but I saw some snatches. Faceless and his birds attacking Hiiln who defended himself with his staff and what looked like a hand glowing with black flame. Eventually most of the ghosts were dead and Harold could handle the remainder so I rushed to help Faceless.

I turned my attention to the fight just as Faceless slashed with his Machete and managed to cut off Hiiln's hand but in return Hiiln caught Faceless with a blow to the side with his staff that audibly shattered or broke some of his ribs. As Faceless fell to his knees I leapt up on to the stage and lunged at Hiiln with a blow to the face. A crack appeared in his skull and he started to fall back but I quickly grabbed his necklace and pulled it off. He caught himself and lunged at me with his staff. Dark fire curled up the length of his staff as he swung it at me and I blocked with his necklace. There was an explosion and I felt the flesh on my hand tear as I was thrown back. When I got back to my feet Hiiln's robes were lying empty on the ground his staff broken and his necklace a charred heap of metal on the ground. My hand hurt and I lifted it to see the damage. All the skin was gone and a useless skeletal hand was all I had left. With no muscles I couldn't use it.

The remaining ghosts of which there seemed to be only two fled upon the death of their master. I looked to see if Harold was ok and saw him staring at the entrance. I looked as well and saw The Liar. She was standing perfectly fine on her broken leg and was holding one of the Ghosts we had killed earlier. She was grinning in a manner that can only be described as creepy. She looked at me and disappeared. Immediately afterward she appeared beside me and grabbed my ruined hand. I felt her flowing into me and felt my will disappearing even as my hand began to regenerate. I felt this earlier and I felt it once before all this. The power of The Dying Man. Some how that grey goo from The Ghosts was restoring her fear powers and judging by the rate by which she was healing me and how easily she had begun to take control of me it wasn't just the power of The Liar piece she had restored to her but the full power of The Dying Man. As soon as my hand was completely healed she withdrew from me back into herself.

Me: Are you... Still The Liar?

The Liar?: No. I'm The Dying Man. The shattered god made whole.

Me: ... You're still on our side though right?

The Dying Man: Our goals are the same that is all I can say.

Me: Fair enough.

With that she or I guess now it was gone. I have the terrible feeling we're going to have to deal with it eventually as well.

Of course my trouble didn't end there. At that moment Genome arrived but I'm too tired now to fill you in on the rest so I'll tell you after a bit of sleep...

Oh, Megan...

Servants?

We arrived in the area.

The broadcast was apparently some random guy with a camera and internet live streaming a fight between some Timberwolves and proxies. How coincidental that our first meeting with Hiiln and our last involved Timberwolves and Proxies.

So, arriving there we found the camera guy. It was some kid, no one important. We left him there and took the camera with us. Killing a Ne Timu is something I feel should be broadcasted to the world.

We found Hiiln inside of a church. Is every fight with one of these things going to take place in a church? Well this one at least wasn't a real church. It was a church of The Archangel and had been The Timberwolves base of operations. There were still a couple of them inside just slumped over, uncaring. It made me wonder whether they'd return to normal after Hiiln's death. Speaking of Hiiln he was standing behind a pulpit and preaching when we entered. There was only one person in the audience, but they didn't seem to be slumped over in nihilistic despair. They seemed to be listening with rapt attention to every word.

Hiiln stopped speaking as he noticed us and the man stood up and turned towards us. His eyes opened revealing blood red eyes with no pupils and he hissed at us. I think we may be seeing a Ne Timu servant. Apparently this is a thing. It makes sense, I guess. The Ne Timu are essentially just the fears and Unikeia obviously has servants so, we should have expected this. Hiiln just watched us as we began to fan out, preparing to fight. Harold pulled some guns on the creature and it just lunged. There were several rows of pews in it's way and it just passed through them like they weren't there. It reached Harold in seconds and grabbed his left wrist and twisted. I could see the bone snap as the wrist turned. It wasn't normal. You can't just break a wrist like that. Harold didn't seem to mind though and pushed his other gun to the servant's chest before pulling the trigger. The servant didn't even react as the bullets passed through him. He reached towards Harold's face but I stepped forward and grabbed his arm with one hand as I delivered a punch to his stomach. Whatever allowed him to pass through objects apparently didn't let him pass through fists as he crumpled from the punch and let go of Harold's arm. I lifted his head and uppercut him in the throat hard enough to punch through. He made a choked sound and dropped to the ground as I let him go. There was no blood from the wound. Instead there was some strange syrupy grey goop.

With the servant dead we turned our attention instead on Hiiln. Unfortunately he had vanished during the fight. A scream drew our attention back to the servant. The Liar had touched him and she was screaming we pulled her away and she stopped but as I touched her I felt something begin to try and pass into me. As soon as she was free I let go and moved away. She was unconscious and a look from Harold confirmed he had felt it too.

The Liar's still unconscious and we're still looking for Hiiln. I have a lot of questions now.

Megan contacted me as well. She said Genome has a body now and he's coming to join us. Good it will be useful having another ally.

Arrived in Michigan.

So after going out of our way for the seven hundredth or so time Harold raised a very good point.

"If going normally is going to keep getting us distracted why not go there directly. The domains are all still working."

Oh yeah right... So we did that. We arrived somewhere in West Michigan and decided to ask around to find out more about the place Genome told us about. While searching around we spotted a building which was quickly identified as a proxy base. They'd probably know somethings.

So we headed in. On the way in some guy rushed past us before we could stop him. He was wearing a plain black leather jacket and bicycle helmet. Harold went after him while the rest of us went inside.

Inside seemed pretty empty. Or at least it did until we entered one room. inside were quite a large number of bodies apparently dragged in from other parts of the building and in large red letters (Not blood I checked) was written the words: "Stay Alert, Stay Alive" I don't think we'll be getting help from any servants around here.

We met back with Harold later. As expected he lost the guy shortly after beginning to follow him. Fortunately shortly afterward it all became moot as we caught wind of Hiiln's activities anyways. Dr. Malice contacted us and told us about a live feed of a fight coming from nearby that had caught everyone involved suddenly just dropping to their knees. Sounds like Hiiln is there so we're going immediately.

Dr. Malice also apologized for something but wouldn't say what it was. He sounded afraid.

Going to Michigan.

So just a short update.

We're still on our way to Michigan...

Yeah I know... We stopped quite a few times. We've been hitting huge streaks of servant activity and dealing with it and it's severely increased our travel time... For example we're currently in Montana... We'll get there eventually and nothing too important has happened but we did have an interesting encounter you might want to know about.

Me and the group were heading down when we ran into what appeared to be signs of a nearby group of puppets. We tracked down where they were holed up. It was strangely enough a comedy club. I decided to go in alone cause I had a weird feeling.

So I kick open the doors walk in like a tough guy and stop. There were puppets there but sitting near the back was a guy wearing a mask and a black hoodie. The mask had a large smile and green hair coloured on it with a purple strip going down the left side. He stared at me for a few seconds. I quickly backed the hell out of there and told the others we were leaving.

I am completely unashamed of this fact.

Faceless seemed strangely disappointed when I eventually told them who had been there.

Anyways carrying on our trip now.

Oh also...

Genome I contacted Dr. Malice. He still has some stuff to take care of so just telling you this. I assume he's not there yet. I did tell him and he will be coming. So you can tell the thoughtborns surrounding our campsite not to kill us. Alright?