dreams died slowly at the Fairfax Gardens or so it seemed as I moved in the place is damned I heard someone say I looked back a vagrant shrouded in a dark hoodie and trench coat was glaring at me from behind the complex Gates had he said it but I was just a letters and numbers guy was no time for nonsense as the days turned into weeks I instead withdrew deeper into myself and my plight unable to sleep I would roam the area late at night every night my recent breakup had me reeling in a dark plac
e it had also manifested into writer's block something fatal in my line of work every time I sat down to write it came out as a letter to her my plots devolved into schemes to win her back the antagonists I hunted tortured and murdered were the guy with which she had cuckolded me my book was due at the publisher and I had nothing but disjointed musings and convoluted ramblings maybe the Publishing House had been right about my having to get out of LA and out of my head to start anew elsewhere pe
rhaps in New York but those 3 A.M La streets pulled me back into the moment and coaxed me to stay I returned to the Fairfax Gardens Before Dawn as I typically did the vagrant was lurking around scrutinizing the complex as if casing it various stray dogs were roaming around seemingly eyeing the complex as well I was too broke to move so I didn't dwell on it I had bigger problems I had to sleep and then again attempt to write the termination of my publishing contract was likely imminent for missin
g deadline after deadline I needed a miracle a hideous woke me hours later a sudden pounding at the door made me Flinch and jump to my feet I angrily cracked open the door to a smiling young woman I'd never seen before she nudged her way in to my dismay woohoo look at you sleepyhead I live across the way I'm Sistine the stray dogs could be heard barking like crazy outside the complex your apartment has new paint my place was a dump new paint or not she seemed quite Young no older than 20 or so a
nd whatever entered her mind seemed to just come out of her mouth I'm in the middle of something I mentioned I work from home what do you do uh she was quite forward and I was still half asleep and annoyed I didn't care how pretty she was several things I snapped angrily most of them legal woohoo look at you so secretive she replied as she casually walked around the apartment while occasionally gazing at me I'm just a letters and numbers guy you're good at numbers it used to be and letters too I
lamented mostly to myself about my terrible writer's block but I stopped myself from saying more a seductive and disarming as she was she would not be getting into my head I was still a wreck after being eviscerated recently by my divorce I used to be good at things I pondered aloud solemnly Sistine got up close to me while gazing into my eyes I'm trying to move out of my mom's place over across the way and get out of here far away from the Fairfax Gardens but all I have is a few hundred I know
they say the odds of winning the lottery suck but I'm desperate to get out that's why she was here money I'm no financial advisor I replied so I'm gonna buy a bunch of lottery tickets If I Lose I'm still leaving and I'll figure it out later if you insist on going high risk there's an up-and-coming company I'm watching she just stared at me blankly as in the stock market the company reports earnings next week the stock price will likely Spike since they'll likely report profitability for the fir
st time that's when you sell I grabbed a pen and wrote the Stock's three-letter ticker symbol on her Palm Sistine moved closer gave me a wet kiss and whispered I'll do anything to escape mother she ran out of there with me dazed seconds later a crazy-eyed woman stormed into the apartment clutching Sistine by the arm while screaming at me in absolute rage stay away from my daughter you pervert or the last thing you'll see before it goes black will be her face what you know damn well you're playin
g with Danger danger what the hell was this crazy lady talking about no wonder cysteine was hell-bent on moving out to get away from her toxic abusive mother whose name I later found out to be Lilith she shoved Sistine out of my apartment and slammed the door shut behind them I pondered calling the cops but Sistine was an adult I decided to stay out of it since what I really need was to get my life back in order so as to get the hell out of the Fairfax Gardens away from all the crazies that seem
to be coming out of the woodwork my objective was singular and I would not be detailed but I again failed to break my writer's block and wandered the 3am streets again that night trying to clear my head and instead brooding over the burning turd my life had become that insurmountable rut and downward spiral left me consumed by a nauseating sense of impending doom as I felt myself descending into illness both physical and mental I arrived back at the Fairfax Gardens bent on bypassing sleep to ma
ke another attempt to write but as I approached my apartment the vagrant was there glaring at me this place is damned he granted a calmly walked past him Unsure how he got into the complex the gates were always locked you must leave he ordered we each make our own hell and lie in it I replied as I opened my apartment door and entered why else do you think the complex is near empty he said people get their wish around here the vagrants stood at my door as I closed it stay away from her He barked
through the door a surge of paranoid rage hit me did my ex-wife hire you to harass me isn't it enough she took everything She Wants My Sanity too I yelled back I furiously opened the door clutching my kitchen knife but the vagrant was gone I slammed the door shut and paced around the apartment for a while I sat at my desk eventually and fought back a sub I recommitted to the fact that my only escape from the Fairfax Gardens would be through my writing like any prison break it would not be easy i
t was either that or die so I tuned out the World by switching on some classical music and raising the volume to the max I closed my eyes to focus I gradually began typing away at my laptop computer slow at first then faster and faster until my fingers banged away furiously at the keyboard I was venting aimlessly it was all coming out as a grievance letter to my ex-wife then suddenly veered toward what seemed like a complaint to the police explaining all the illegalities being inflicted upon me
one way or another all the harassment was going to stop I was livid and I poured out my rage my heart my soul into the narrative my written rant eventually morphed into some kind of Manifesto about not only what was wrong with my life but what was wrong with society and Humanity I felt myself slipping into an envious hatred of those who were more successful they surely were at fault for the disaster my life had become I was possessed more and more by a jealous rage as I boiled in The Cauldron of
Venom where the worst scourges of human existence were forged there in the caustic stew of sociopathic degeneracy where those who hated their own lives chose to instead fix the world rather than themselves my Manifesto had blown out of the gates of hell and had landed somewhere between Karl Marx and Mein Kampf the two biggest catalysts for industrial scale mass murder the world had ever seen I stopped and clutched my face that was not who I was I harbored no envious Rage or hatred toward anyone
I'd never blamed or demonized others for my failures what was happening to me after so many hours of writing this is what I had created I wept as I slowly emerged from the depths of Hell rejecting hate i instead slowly refocused searched my soul and gradually remolded the vitriol into embodiment and personification of virulent evil then sugar-coated it with charm and beauty and self-proclaimed moral virtue so as to Rebrand that toxic rot into candy for the masses that was the huge breakthrough
I'd been desperately pursuing for months the antagonist of my new novel had been born as ours gave way to days of War excruciation out of the ashes of my dwindling sanity arose my new yet deeply flawed protagonist as well as that main character's Redemptive journey to stop the evil antagonist my new novel was finally taking form as days gave way to weeks of escalating excruciation while the classical music blasted so as to tune out the world I engineered the formative years of both my protagonis
t and antagonist and the inevitability of their collision course I clawed back my inner demons as I engineered theirs their fears their failures their traumas their wounds their conscious and unconscious desires their Darkest Hours and how it all had warped their world of views both my protagonist and antagonist were as broken as me but over the course of their turbulent Journey as their clashes grew increasingly fiery only one would transcend their demons and survive to obtain what they wanted
as I wrote I laughed I cried I raged like a madman for such was the life of a writer one is what one writes and as the story's Journey neared its end I came to forgive myself for all my failings and I forgave my ex-wife and the guy with which she cucked me at my novel's climatic end I forgave the world for all perceived Grievances and injustices as the old me died along with my virulently evil antagonist just then to my dismay my antagonist Rose From the Ashes and defeated my protagonist in a su
dden double twist producing a superior and more satisfying ending the bad guy had won I stood and slowly backed away from the computer what the [ __ ] but the more I tried to rework and rewrite the story and the ending the more exhausted and ill I felt my will was proving unable to kill my virulently evil antagonist instead my heroic main character protagonist laid dead and could not be resurrected to Rise From the Ashes as well so as to win in the end via some ironic triple twist Masterpiece of
some kind I was not a good enough writer to execute my ambitions for the story which was that good always prevailed in the end I had failed and eventually succumbed to the will of my Evil Book I collapsed too exhausted to continue the battle my antagonist embodiment of all my demons and floors and rage and wrath and everything tragically wrong with me as a human being and quite possibly everything wrong with all human beings stood Victorious hate had won I decided to delete it all and start ove
r after a brief rest a hideous rule I awoke on the floor beside my desk the roar again raged it's mine I stumbled to my feet the clock read 3am I realized it was my first time sleeping through the night in the apartment since moving in normally I'd be roaming the nighttime streets to clear my head or more recently fervently typing away all night were blasting classical music wait that goddamned book I was going to delete it I stood in order to do just that there was a sudden I flinched but then
rushed to the door angrily refusing to be harassed and tormented anymore by that degenerate vagrant as I opened the door Lilith sistine's crazy mother charged in and threw two handfuls of kush in my face I jumped back as she screamed at the top of her lungs you son of a [ __ ] did you give that money to my daughter I had never seen anyone so enraged you pervert Sistine is 19 and too young for you you low life I didn't give anybody anything I finally mustered how the hell did she get thousands of
dollars I clutched my head in disbelief as it dawned on me that she actually bought my stock tip good for her lilis landed a scalding slap to my face you have no idea what you're messing with stay the hell away from my daughter mind your own damn business you don't know anything about her and her special needs Lilith stormed out I stood there in my living room in shock clutching my aching face it was clearer than ever that Sistine was a prisoner to her abusive mother I rushed after Lilith but t
he vagrant was outside the complex Gates glaring at me menacingly wagging his finger no as if I were some idiot child a large blade seemed to Shimmer from inside the opening in his coat the dogs were howling my heart sank no wonder Sistine wanted so badly the hell out she was in grave danger because everyone around her was out of their minds I was going to get the hell out of the Fairfax Gardens but I could not leave Sistine behind to die I resumed my nightly walks as if nothing had happened it
was my way of not signaling my intentions to escape with Sistine mostly I was subtly casing the inside and outside of the complex every time I came and went but like a predator stalking prey the vagrant always seemed to be glaring at the complex from the opening of his cardboard box shelter across the street he was never camped at the same spot twice the dogs likewise never stayed long in a single spot and never seemed to take their menacing sights off the complex as they roamed around it was as
if they had something cornered inside the complex I just needed the hell out and didn't care what was happening with all that instead I was increasingly focused on planning a move to New York I was done with LA and at soft weather its superficialities it's worsening vagrancy it's increasing insanity it was bringing out the worse in me perhaps New York's Mooring cold it's suffocating summer humidity it's realer people and the DraStic change it offered could help restore my well-being perhaps eve
n offer me a chance to reinvent myself but I had never fled My Demons instead I'd always confronted them I needed to close out my La life before leaving departing La had to be on my own terms not some cowardly Retreat I had decided and how was I going to fund it all wake me I stumbled out of bed I assumed it had been a nightmare a beam of sunlight was permeating through a crack in the blinds suggesting it was afternoon I flinched as the phone rang I answered it it was my agent she informed me th
at they loved the book what book I hadn't even sent out my new book to anyone had I no quite the opposite I was going to delete the Dan thing I rushed to my computer to check what the hell was going on as my agent boasted about having started a bidding war at the major publishing houses that was impossible on all levels firstly because I had not sent it to her but mostly like Hemingway said the first draft of anything is [ __ ] just then I dropped the phone upon seeing the sent email to my agent
with the book file attached no subject no message just the file my evil had been Unleashed into the world but how I had no recollection of sending it surely it hadn't been sent itself I grabbed my phone off the floor but before I could warn her the best offer thus far is a one million dollar advance she said a Macabre couple made me Flinch I looked around frantically I was losing my mind I needed the hell out of the Fairfax Gardens fast I accept I responded not caring about the details I'm gett
ing the hell out of LA and coming to you guys in New York I hung up while assuring myself I'd fix the book in coordination with the Publishing House editor I was going to kill my evil antagonist hell or high water deus ex machina if necessary the gravest of all writing sins there was a pounding at my front door what the hell I rushed to the door and opened it Sistine barged in and shut the door behind her locking it and leaning against it as if trying to keep something out the dogs could be hear
d howling we're here look at you she casually said with a mischievous smile uh I'm leaving like today she said leaving I'm finally moving out like I told you right yes of course I said still reeling from the Avalanche of everything seemingly happening at once but I managed to get it together fast good really good yes get out of here this place is batshit crazy I was relieved she was getting out before me one less thing for me to worry about but I think you have something of mine though she said
I do my mom I'm so embarrassed I'm so sorry right the money she threw in my face your money from the stock trade I happily grabbed the cash from the kitchen drawer and handed it to her she hugged me tight I slowly hugged back go on run on out of here I said I don't want this to be goodbye she sighed don't worry about me I'm moving to New York to start over in a new place she continued holding me tight I think maybe I need to start over in a new place too she whispered presumptuous or not right o
r wrong I wanted her get your stuff and meet me back here fast to load my car I'm leaving most everything behind I said look at you are you safe to get your stuff mother and I have a new understanding Sistine replied ominously and kissed me lightly slipping her tongue into my mouth then ran out the right girl had destroyed me in every way perhaps the wrong girl was not all that wrong Sistine felt and tasted so right New York awaited I rushed to the adjacent carport where my old clunker was parke
d I loaded into the trunk a suitcase with my clothes and a backpack with my work materials and laptop that was all I was taking I rushed back to the apartment my heart sank the vagrant was standing in my living room instead of Sistine why was the girl here he said menacingly he looked taller and more foreboding than ever are you stalking us I replied why was she here he raged I glimpsed the Shimmer of the large blade on him through the opening in his coat I fled to sistines rather than my car th
e vagrant furiously ran after me no God damn you he raged I stormed into Lilith and sistine's apartment but was pummeled by a kaleidoscopic stench of roses and rot I keeled over gagging then frantically cowered back at the sight of Lilith's headless corpse sitting on the sofa legs casually crossed Lilith's maggot covered head was on the coffee table beside scattered cans of Rose air freshener the eyes were gone the vagrant rushed into the apartment after me unfazed by the horror why did you do t
his I screamed at him leave this place the vagrant ordered as he calmly assessed the situation where she will do the same to you and browse the Hideous War shook the walls what took you so long to come and face me the vagrant Cooley drew his Long Blade and stood in a defensive stance as if readying for something to come at him get out now the vagrant yelled at me just then Sistine scurried in on all fours and pounced on the vagrant with animalistic speed the hell look at you Sistine roared while
clawing at him as he covered his face with his arms I ran out of there never more horrified unsure of what I saw or what was happening wait for me Sistine roared I ran straight from my car never looking back I jumped in and peeled out of the carport but Sistine jumped in front of the car clutching a small suitcase I slammed the bricks she looked normal again I didn't know what to believe as my my frayed mind teetered on the brink Sistine ran to the passenger side opened the door and jumped in a
s she tossed her suitcase into the back seat let's go he's coming Sistine pleaded her nose was bleeding the vagrant had clearly beaten her I slammed my foot on the accelerator caring only for her safety just then I could see the vagrant in the rear view mirror sprinting after the car and gaining fast he punched his fist through the rear passenger window and held on as I sped away the vagrant swiftly climbed in through the broken window and into the back seat gone in hand like some professional a
ssassin Ambrose Sistine screamed leave me alone you know this guy I screamed he is a murderous Slayer she cried Slayer of what do as I say or I'll kill you both the vagrant calmly ordered not so much as breathing hard or sweating despite all that had happened why are you doing this I pleaded things like her do not exist because things like her are eradicated by us he rasped in the rearview mirror I saw the dogs chasing after the car until we eventually left them long behind the vagrant had me dr
ive deep into the Santa Monica Mountains at gunpoint these idyllic mountains remote in some places separated LA's Valley from the ocean I noticed Birds darting out of trees as if unable to flee us fast enough I didn't give it another thought as my heart sank when it became evident that the Wilderness was the perfect place for murder look I'm sure this is some big misunderstanding I pleaded with him deciding it was time to act or die trying at least let her go you saw what she did to her own moth
er the vagrant grunted I'm not sure what I saw uh you killed my mother Ambrose she coolly said as if mocking him how could you I asked the vagrant he angrily jammed The Gun Barrel into the base of my skull she's a witch the vagrant growled the most powerful one we've ever encountered a living conduit to Hell she's an abominant and even animals know it the vagrant was clearly just another mentally ill homeless person delusional and wandering the streets of LA unmedicated and unhelped I have money
I bluttered it's yours if you let us go money the vagrant grunted unimpressed that's what she got you got me unlike you the mother at least had Integrity as she foolishly refused our help choosing to go It Alone to try to save her daughter she she was holding Sistine prisoner to contain the evil the vagrant growled but the mother was in over her head and paid for it with her life I'll pay for your psychiatric treatment and anything else you need any good fortunes you recently Came Upon are not
yours the vagrant roared at least the mother had enough Integrity not to sell out what are you talking about this witch has a talent for granting Wishes the vagrant said by selling people's souls to Satan on their behalf so their wishes come true I was at a loss for words on top of demon Conjuring curses and other witchcraft the vagrant added why because the devil wants souls and Sistine delivers them to him what do you intend to do to her I asked unable to stop myself we will break all her pack
s with Satan emancipating your soul and others I won't let you hurt her the vagrant blasted me in the head with his massive fist time for you to stop the car get out and walk back to the city Don't Look Back maybe just maybe you won't burn in hell for eternity my mind and heart raced as a gut-wrenching Choice became evident no way was I giving back my book my cash advance or Sistine I was just in numbers and letters guy and though nothing added up or made sense anymore I was prepared to accept m
y new reality damnation or not Sistine and I were going to make a life together in New York I accepted that she was my muse and my enchantress and I somehow knew she would make all things right I violently while flooring the gas pedal since the vagrant was the only one in the car not wearing a seatbelt woohoo look at you it all went black I awakened in a hospital bed the Recollections swirling in my frayed mind felt impossible to believe had it all really happened after they told me no one else
was found in the wreck I agreed I must have fallen asleep at the wheel Knowing damn well that wasn't what happened I was released after an overnight observation for my concussion and bruised ribs I never returned to the Fairfax Gardens as I instead rushed straight to the airport via Taxi my agent had made all the arrangements including my reservation at a Midtown Manhattan hotel where I would stay until I found an apartment to my dismay upon my arrival they had put me up in the penthouse suite c
ourtesy of the Publishing House my agent said I was the Publisher's flavor of the month that's how much they had loved the book proposal as they called it I wasted no time driving into a second draft to kill my evil antagonist while considering their developmental editing notes according to my agent we were going to make lots of money and there was already talk about film rights I enjoyed the complimentary champagne and caviar as I wrote at my fancy desk in the Posh study of the opulent penthous
e after a soak in the hot tub while enjoying a second bottle of champagne I went to sleep on the luxurious king-sized bed life was Grand and I now had most everything I'd ever wanted I was shaken out of bed by a blood cuddling shriek at 3am unfazed I eagerly approached the front door of the penthouse and opened it without hesitation somehow knowing full well who it was well look at you Sistine casually said as she strolled in admiring the place and looking more beautiful than ever dressed in a l
ong snug flowing black dress I felt no need to ask her how she found me and why she looked more stunning than ever I took Sistine into my arms kissed her ravenously and then carried her to my bed the letters and numbers did not add up and the narrative did not work none of it made sense and I didn't care there was no doubt everything the vagrant Slayer Ambrose had said was true I was not naive enough to believe otherwise this was all a dream come true but dreams come true did not just fall from
the sky I had not earned any of this not yet and not at this scale yet I happily accepted it and so the transaction was complete I had fully sold out my soul in exchange for all of this had been successfully brokered by my beloved Muse and enchantress Sistine I was not blameless in any of it nor any of its eventualities I even rationalized it as taking back what was rightfully mine what was taken from me in the divorce so be it my beloved Sistine my muse my angel witch my imminent destruction my
eternal damnation woohoo look at us as we [ __ ] all night amid breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline through the penthouse glass walls of the master bedroom that would be as close to Heaven as I would ever get the Reckoning awaited if not tomorrow the next day next month next year or next decade the light at the end of my tunnel would indeed be hell
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