#Patiens Massa
"Suffering Mass"
by Trinady Chase (Chase Designs)
[[Start Story->Start1]] The mass shifts its head to look you in the eye.
"Will you not... do me the service of attempting?" Their voice pained.
It heaves a sigh, and releases it's grasp.
"Then go. Leave me be." The mass moves away from you.
There's a pit in your stomach. You want to help this creature, but killing it is not something you feel you're capable of.
Without thinking, you blurt out:
> [["Wait, I-I can help!"->Refusal2]]A ragged breath is taken from the formless creature clutching your shoulder.
Slowly, it repeats, "End my suffering."
Frozen in place, attempting to fathom the request of this seemingly shapeless, unreal being.
> [["I can't..."->Refusal1]]
> [["Tell me what I can do..."->Acceptance1]]The massive entity seemed pleased with your quiet agreement to help. It twisted slightly, as if to smile with relief or self-satisfaction.
It's claw arm relaxes slowly and it says in an excited voice, "It will be easy."
It twists again, producing a small stone knife with a makeshift handle and puts it in your hands.
You shift your weight, and examine the knife.
[["What am I to do with this?"->Acceptance2]]The Mass shivers violently, then sprouts several makeshift arms and grabs you, pinning you to the stone walls.
“What will you do to help me?!” It roars, it’s hot breath on your face. “I cannot end my own suffering!” It sputters, “If you refuse, there’s nothing else you can do!”
Your heart is racing, your feet are dangling and the cold of the stone is making you shiver.
With a deep breath you say:
[[“Why do you want to end yourself? Why cannot you leave this place and live in peace?”->Refusal3]]
It untwists, and leans close to you. “You insert it into my core, and it will release me from this mortal plane.”
You play with the knife in your hands, turning over the thoughts in your head.
[[“What am I to expect when this happens?”->Acceptance3]]
A deep throated laugh reverberates within the chamber walls. “Silly mortal.” It spits under its breath before letting you fall to the ground.
It paces the room, tracing the stones with a vague claw hand.
“I must be set free to live in peace.” it finally said.
Picking yourself off the muddied ground, you mind jumps ahead. “//Free//” rings in your ears.
[[“How can you be set free?”->Refusal4]]
The mass paces the room another turn, then stops in front of you. It places an spindly arm on your shoulder.
“There’re are two ways...” it says quietly. “One is no longer an option… and the other…” it produces a small stone knife with a makeshift handle, “the other would be to put this through my core… my heart, if you will.”
You can feel your chest tighten.
“What will happen if I put this knife through… you heart?” you ask quietly.
The mass leans in close, and hisses in a low voice, “Peace.”
Cornered against the wall, with an unpredictable monstrosity a breadth from you…
> [[Nod and take the knife->Death1]]
> [[Shake your head, and try to get away->End1]]
The creature, twisted slightly, then seemed to crack open, revealing a glowing crystal core. It was beautiful, and seemingly all the colors at once. The uneven facets, reflected and refracted the limited light in the chamber to create a dancing display of fairies and snowflakes.
A deep voice echoed out from within: “Pierce the core with the knife you hold.”
Gripping the knife with both hands you climb into the gaping maw to the jeweled core.
To your surprise the knife met no resistance, and poked through easily.
The voice, again, spoke, “You must cut it through, to the hilt of the knife. Please. Do it quickly.”
You can feel the urgency in their words. With a little hesitation, you take a deep breath and drive the knife deep into the core.
A spindle arm grabs you throws you away from it, then shrinks into a wheezing ball.
Concern washes over you, yet you are speechless.
[[You sit in the mud, and watch in fearful silence.->Death2]]
The massive creature twists and yells, “You refuse!” then throws you against the opposite wall. A scream of pain erupts from the mass, that morphs into a roar of anger and frustration.
You scramble to run to an escape, but you are not fast enough. The spindly arms whip out, restraining your ankles and wrist.
“If I cannot be free, then you cannot be free.” it growls.
The formless mass cracks open, revealing a jeweled core of immeasurable beauty--jarring in juxtaposition to the mass surrounding it.
The arms force you inside and close around you.
The cramped darkness is stifling. You can feel your panic rising, and you scream. But no noise can be heard.
You thrash and kick and punch and shout more until your throat is ragged. Your foot hits something soft and you hear a yelp from around you.
You kick it again, and again and hear a crack from under your heel.
A howl of pain emits, and the maw opens and spits you out.
[[Bruised and beaten, you sprint for your exit.->End2]]
The mass twists, and untwists.
“What are you concerned about?” it inquires.
“Well…” You pause, attempting to organize your concerns.. “I--if--will I be affected by this? Are there repercussions for killing...you?”
“Killing?” The mass chortles quietly. “You will not kill me. You are releasing me from my mortal suffering, for I am not supposed to be on this plane. I am a god, trapped here because my other half left before I did…” Their voice barely audible. “This is why this is the only way.”
You try to grasp the concept presented to you:
[["What happened?”->Acceptance4]]
The mass paces the walls, tracing the stones with it’s spindly-like arms. “They are reason, they are darkness, they are joy… They are all the things I am not. I am pain, but I am also light, and sadness.”
“Together…” The formless creature pauses, and places a claw finger on your chest. “We are all the things that make you… you.”
The mass observes your puzzled expression, then continues. “When together, we bring peace, love, but then destruction and war. When we are apart, we are pain, suffering, sickness.” Their voice sounding strained, “We have been apart for so long… they are anchored in the etherium, and I to this mortal plane. We but wish to be reunited.”
You’re mind is reeling, and you feel your heart aching, but you grit your teeth, and say:
> [[“Tell me what to do to…”->Death1]]
> [[“I can’t...”->End1]]
In a dazzling display, light beams through the creatures cracking shell, and then, all at once, a blinding explosion of light bursts from the husk.
Floating above the ground, a being, cloaked in a shower of light and sparks, extends a hand to you.
“Thank you.” The being says, their voice like a chorus. “We are so thankful.”
They reach their extended hand to the heavens, bringing light to the dull chamber, and life to the stones and mud. Moss sprouts from the grout, and flowers bloom like a blanket across the ground.
The being begins to ascends, looking back to you. “Life is whole again." it said.
Looking up, you can feel tears falling from your face. You pick a flower, and walk out of the chamber.
The wind rustles your clothes and you hear a quiet whisper: "Now you, too, can go forth to be whole again.”
[[Credits]] You make it to the exit. You pause for a moment to hesitantly look back.
The hulking mass lay at the center of the chamber, screaming.
You keep running.
You can hear the sound of footsteps dragging behind you. “Finish the job, you coward!” a hoarse voice yells.
You keep running until the terrifying mass and the chamber are out of sight.
[[Credits]]Story by Trinady L Chase (Chase Designs)
Website: https://trinadychase.wixsite.com/chasedesigns
A hulking mass shivers against the cold, wet stone walls. The corners of the stones black with mold and algae. The atmosphere heavy with the smell of mud and rot.
The mass stirs.
An arm sprouts from it, stretches across the room and drags you to it.
It leans uncomfortably close, with it's damp breath on your face. In a deep, reverberating voice the imposing figure slowly speaks:
"Please... End my suffering."
You're thoughts race...
> [["I don't think I can do that..."->Refusal1]]
> [["I'm sorry, what?"->Nonanswer1]]
> [["Do you think I can?"->Acceptance1]]