"Three men in dark trench coats walked into a crowded city square. They took in their surroundings, the many people milling about the glowing symbols of an industrial age, as dusk settled. The men stopped on a street corner, lighting cigarettes in the cold wind. Their eyes scanned from one person to the next, then back to each other, as they thought to themselves in keen words. The first man spoke, his hooded eyes drifting amongst the crowd... ' The furious din. The mumbling and tumbling of a wrought, open paradise. Only then will they come; only then will they show their teeth. Only then will they know it...' His comrade shrugged and responded, eyes sweeping the neon scenery. 'That it was safe. For the fire had gone away, and all was calm and strong on the inside. The jungle was tamed, and no one knows himself. The furious flames have flickered, and the people have swept away their pride. No one knows him, and royalty long forgotten has tamed the evil prince. The gears and cogs of society do churn, though the hollow faces of men know not. Their pride long forgotten; the souls of weakened men patrol the streets looking for yet misery to tear asunder.' The first man spoke again, staring at a tall, glowing orange clock tower in the distance. 'A time and age of chaos, only kings and men know of the foul witches that haunt them. The soul is gone, the spirit burns, and madness is rampant in the faces of the masses. Their suffering long past, no one knows these men as kin. Nothing is left but the stink of their cleaved flesh as they pass around their misery in horrible, mindless swarms. The wounds are deep, and nothing seethes in their minds but hate and the agony of what they once were.' The third man, silent until now, shifted uncomfortably, his knowing eyes dropping with a strange menace. He uttered with haste, as the shop beams from the square started to cut through the night. 'These men are lambs, not lions, though they roar with all their might. There is nothing but mindlessness and hate. These are the living dead.   Only then will they know it...' The three men gazed at the darkened skyline. Their work was done. Thoughtfully, they turned away, their trench coats to the cold wind. They walked into the night without being noticed by the crowd."

"A hurried conversation ensued, two men huddled outside of a rundown metaphysical chapel on a cold, windy night. There weren't many people about, only a few stragglers here and there in the distance, going back and forth, obeying the wind. A conversation began... ' There's something in the water. The belief without knowing is too strong. The obedience without thought is too rigid. What have we to do, Bryant?' 'There is naught else, Chester. We must abide. The soma of the masses is upon us. We must take it upon ourselves, and at this time." 'But why would one believe and obey? They are but tantrums that sundry us, nothing but catalytic forms of greed and starvation, lewdness and chastity, all at the same time. Dear Bryant, have you lost your nerve to that we must conquer?' 'No, for I am stolid. No, for I am strong. No, for the fact that I have two hearts instead of one. Do you not see that I am a man, a man who must obey and believe, as I have been told? They tell me to have strength, so I do. Surely, Chester, you would drink of this chalice, too?' 'Half-hearted I am, dear Bryant, for your strength has outweighed my own. This chalice is yours, and the cloudy water within as well. For I believe what I know, and I obey when I feel it. Bryant? Are you there?' A strong gust blew past Chester, as he looked about for a sign of his comrade. Bryant was gone, lost suddenly to the darkness. The wind howled; Chester grimaced as he walked away. A rain started pouring, softly spattering off the statues beyond."

" Data Entry Log: 1401- Just writing some notes to self... 'And they just rearrange it like that, the controllers do. Wrinkle time and space right back together. And people never know what hit them. That's how it is in the Matrix. Things aren't always what they seem. There's a government out there, a government they're not telling you about. They control things, they know things, they have technology you can't imagine.   But it happens. And it's real. I knew a super-soldier in the Matrix not long ago. Supposed to be a chosen one, or something. Fought all through space-time, wars against Nazi cyborgs, even wielded a light-saber like a Jedi. Could shoot lightning and watch it smash right through his enemies. Like I said, the world works like that. There's a lot of things you don't know. They kept him pinned up, the controllers from the machine world, the powers that be. Unknown to the world, living with some crazy woman, almost not aware of who he was. But he fought it. The whole system, that is. What's left over after these controllers cover things up is a joke. Like a fabricated weaving, of what they want life to be, instead of what it is. And he isn't the only one that gets done that way. We all do. It happens to all of us. You have men out there with time controlling machines, possession machines, memory erasure machines, literally technology for every seemingly impossible thing you can think of. And that isn't all. The whole world's a lie. That's how they use those things to build the Matrix. That's the nature of the Matrix.  It's a Matrix of lies. While you incubate through your generic little lifetime staring at television advertisements, going to junior soccer games, and buying products, there's a whole world going on outside of that. And that's where the real shit happens. I work for them, the controllers. I'm a scientist, a technician, I do what they need me to do, and I keep the Matrix running. But it's not much of a life. And I can't leave. Because I know too much. I've seen some impossible things. And people in the Matrix, they don't know, they don't question anything. But the basic fact of the matter is, you live in a world, a world of lies and incredible technology and information, they're not telling you about. A whole secret government you don't know. All you know is what you see. But the rabbit hole goes so much deeper. The chosen one I told you about, Neo. He's the only chance we have. The controllers are getting insane, the Matrix is getting insane. There's nothing that can stop the Matrix and the machine world from destroying themselves by insanity. Except him.' Data Entry Log Completed- 1401- Will get back to my duties and responsibilities in The Matrix Core... "

"It was an ethereal realm, one of mists and forests and enchanted trees. Many came along there, but no one stayed long, as the rasps and rumors of the forest were too strong to bear. There was an inkling, a glinting danger of the forest, that no one could ignore. It was the men, the men who stayed in the forest, who bewitched and slanted anyone who came near it. These were the men, the men of Hollywood. Many an angel came near, listening to their whispers and sighs as the men drew them in closer. Fabulous hair, well sculpted bodies, the most audacious and voluptuous masculinity anyone could bear to offer. The women adored them, threw their lives upon them, cursed all other men who were not of their name. The women disappeared into this forest, lost and bewildered, utterly taken by the shining trees and golden leaves, and the vivacious pomp of the lovely men of the woods. No one knew how to fix this remedy. Daughters, cousins, mothers, lovers, all who were lost and abandoned to the realm of Hollywood. The women would walk by this forest, see it from a distance, even hear it from a friend. And soon, they too would approach the glistening woods. And surely, by fathom alone, they would encounter none other than a Hollywood man. Or group of them. Looking seductive, sulking, doing everything in their fathoming to achieve power over the woman. And surely, that woman too would disappear into the enchanted forest, never to be seen again. Their families cast astray, their lives long forgotten, as they fell into the pomp and splendor of the men of the forest. Jessica caught her hair neatly, as she swished it around her head and gave her father a haughty look. 'Today's the big day.' She winked neatly at him and continued packing her bag for her trip to an enchanted forest. Her father shook his head and sighed, numbly coming to grips with the fact that his only daughter was being swayed by the rumors of Hollywood. 'Hon, you can't mean this. This is a senseless trip. There's something wrong with that forest. People disappear there. Those men are insane.' Jessica rolled her eyes cutely, not hindered for a minute in her pursuit of a luscious, glowing, tantalizing life in Hollywood. Imagine the attention  she would get, being one of those famous, handsome men's beautiful woman. She sighed to herself, then sat down neatly. 'Father, you worry too much. I'm not leaving for a couple of hours. Let's just sit here and enjoy ourselves.' The hours passed, and Jessica was on her way. A few hours in a carriage, followed by a few miles of walking, and she would be there. The famous, glorious land of Hollywood. She wondered which man she would pick, and how famous she would be with him, as her head bobbed up and down on the bumpy carriage ride toward the famous enchanted land. The carriage had arrived at a signpost, and she had taken her bag and headed off up the trail. She had a little money, enough to start a new life in an enchanted land, so she thought. The midday sun was almost up, and she made time towards the enchanted realm. After a few minutes, she saw it. A horizon, filled with gold and sparkle, glistening trees and beautiful light filled her eyes. She gasped, started laughing, and ran towards the beautiful vision with lightness in her heart. Jessica took a deep breath. She had entered the golden woods, casually passing under breathtaking leaves and branches, and started looking around. 'Hello?' She called out in a singsong voice, trying to catch the attention of one of Hollywood's famous men. She walked on the well beaten path, continuing along in the direction the arrows and signs pointed her. Jessica heard a noise behind her. Leaves rustling, a bush shaking, something seemed to be going on just off the path she was walking. 'Hello? Is anyone there?' She looked around mystified, still trying to be happy about her impromptu trip to this famous forest. Golden lights and mystical trees. Blech. Where was the fame, the parties, the beautiful men and the women they'd taken into Hollywood? A young man popped his head out of the woods and held his hand up. His hair was glowing and fine and his form was fit, strong, and unique. He smiled and winked, as Jessica let out a squeal of admiration and ran up to hug the young man. 'Oh my god! Hello, hi, I've been here waiting for you!' Jessica threw herself at the young man and wrapped her arms around his neck. The young man rolled his eyes, smiled again, and started a conversation. He offered to show her around Hollywood, let her meet his friends, and maybe go with her to a party later. She took his arm and they walked off, Jessica thinking maybe this wasn't such a nightmare after all. She walked along with the young man, whose had introduced himself as Justin along the way, and started to notice a few strange things. The arm she was holding seemed to feel like rubber, his beautiful, flowing hair didn't seem to match his face, and his voice seemed overly deepened and stern. Such a beautiful look , or so she thought, but the signs of dishonesty, and his brutal attitude and demeanor, were making her scared. Very scared. Don't. Stop. Running. Jessica heaved breathlessly, trying to find the path again, to follow the arrows and signs backwards and get out of there. She had inquired... Just a brush of his hair. A pinch of his shoulder. And a little question at the end about his voice. He had snapped on her, his wig brushing to the side, his false muscle drooping as she had picked at it. The voice, once stern, deep, and masculine, had gone eerily high pitch and threatened her with death and violence. She dashed through the forest, as she had been able to get away from him so far with a slight kick to his shin. As she ran through a clearing, strange stones that looked like a cemetery caught her attention. Her stomach knotted. She paused for a second, guessing she was out of sight, and examined the stones one by one. She gasped and recoiled in horror. Every one of them. Every last one of them. Female names."

"Trick Harris stared around him. The spaceship, the S.S. Emancipator, was jolting, bouncing violently from side to side, as he tried to regain his balance. The darkness had struck, a black shadow exploding from earth that had torn through outer space like a massive, dark, tidal wave. It had hit everything, even their bodies slammed by this horrible energy, as the spaceship orbiting Earth tried to regain its composure. The crew looked at their hands in disbelief. Something was different. This was no ordinary bomb. The black energy had stuck to them, captivating their bodies, consuming their minds, even swarmed through the ship like a vengeful god seeking obedience. Trick looked at the female co-captain, Marina, with a look of shock on his face. 'What was that?' The blast had passed, a dull rumbling sufficing as the new black energy clung to everything in sight. Marina looked back in horror, shaking her head slowly in an effort to answer. Trick looked out the bay window, coming to grips with their circumstances. He had heard of this war. They all had. A phenomenon on Earth, like a dark terrorist some claimed was more of an angel or a demon than human. Battling for supremacy with the corporations that had claimed Earth in 2022, this Earth terrorist was a terrible myth himself. Rumored to have power over darkness, the corporations had all but annexed Earth from the universe in an effort to isolate his rebellion. And even they hadn't seen this coming. Trick's mind was clouded. He could feel the terrifying sensation sweep over him, as someone else held his hand up. With a dull, entrancing voice, Trick's mouth moved and started to form words. 'Hello, Marina.' A slight gasp escaped the crew's lips as they realized the voice wasn't Trick's. Looking around horrified, they all realized something. They weren't in control of their bodies anymore. With the same listless control, Marina's hand was raised, and a foreign, unique smile came over her lips. The hand waved at Trick, as somewhere in his clouded mind he came to terms with what they had just seen. ' Possession.' That was all Trick Harris could get out of his lips. Marina's eyes widened. The crew were all turned in unison towards the ships vast window, like puppets obeying the whim of a master. Outside, Earth's bright panorama met them in return. Billowing clouds, blue oceans, their home planet too was bathed in the darkness from the massive explosion. A voice spoke, their helpless eyes taking in what they were being forced to see. 'The time is coming.' They stood trembling, unable to avert their gaze, as they were forced to become aware of the obvious developments on Earth. Trick wondered for a second, still slightly able to control his own thoughts. The whole universe. Goddamn. Eyes straying to the company logo on his fleet jacket, he heard a deep, dark laugh rumble from the darkness within him."

"Matthew Stone rolled down the window on his Honda Civic. A homeless woman commissioned him, beckoning him as she came over to his car. She inquired as to his well-being, nodded happily for the dollar and a cigarette, and returned to her position by the road. Not a word, and he noticed it immediately. He drove on, unaware of his whereabouts, skeptical of the passersby as he reckoned his situation. Who was he in this town?   He had come around career success on a television show a few years back. And things had gotten really unusual for him in his hometown of Smithville. Matthew pulled into his driveway, rolling slowly over the slight gravel as he noticed his father outside. Raking away in the garden, he seemed to request a conversation. Always morals. Drugs. Accusations. The usual passive-aggressive shit that got his father by in life. Matthew idled by, heading into the garage, able to get away with a brief acknowledgment. His money still wasn't there. He knew the show was doing well, he had talked with producers and managers over the course of Bad Boys TV  starting up. But the money just couldn't come through. There was something about this town... The people were strange. Why not one mention of his show? Nobody happy to greet him, nobody recognizing him on the street, no one that would even admit Bad Boys TV's  existence. Matthew couldn't put his finger on it.  Why the secrecy? Were these people insane? He remembered the cameras. Satellites, little props placed around his apartment in his dad's house and around Smithville. Reality television, at its finest. He played himself, Matthew Stone, ushering in a new era of bad boy nonchalance. Debauchery, some called it, but he lived by one word, and that's why his life caught on and was put on television, with his inner dialogues put on the screen. Freedom. Matthew shifted in his armchair, keyboard in his lap, activating a television computer hung on the wall. And that was another thing. No show in this area. Goddamn it.   All he got to see were specks on the internet and a little hearsay out of town. Bad Boys TV  had been on for four years. He had caught on, even done some music and movies, and become a big star. What the hell was up with this town? Why would his father not mention his success, or even admit to it, once? Strange old man, he fit into a town of people just like him. Smithville was turning into a chaos factory of lying lemmings who wouldn't admit to his success. Puffing a joint, Matthew sat back and turned the screen to his favorite rock band, Constantine. He turned on Passive, one of his favorite songs, and let the cameras do the work as he got high. He could only make one conclusion in his mind. Fuck those demons." *based on the music video Passive by A Perfect Circle

"Well of maturity, quite sure. And to lean on others and not have a fight for you, sure as well... For you only use your words and say no to things in a false, rumbling voice, almost as if... ...Bro?" Darkness 4:11

"Canst thou not hear my voice? Is it not absurd? Why dost thou not slay me? For my voice is rumbling, and false of fools. For certainly, we are the chosen. The selected of thine light, to perish! Canst thou hear me, brother? Canst thou? Thou canst." Voices 4:11

"The angel crouched at the edge of The Valley of Aiya, herself become a flaming combine, as he listened to the sheep speak in loud tones. 'Forsworn, this mockery! And irony, there is none!' These babbling and mindless sheep chanted in unison. 'Synchronize, synchronize, all we do is tell our lies!' The angel grimaced as he continued to watch. The imitations and mimics cared not. So desperate were they to be this greatness they imitated, and by jealousy, sought to destroy completely. The angel stood up atop the rocky plane far away from the herd and whispered softly to them: 'Go into the combines of fiery and eternal death, go lest you think yourself again, go in the flesh you curse as your own!" Time passed as they marched obediently and stupidly into the combines of fire, chanting in unison. Even seeming to hiss and pop with the same alacrity and tenacity to their own false salvation, as their bodies were torn and burned forever. As the last sheep screamed wretchedly across The Valley of Aiya, finally fed into the machine by itself, the angel turned and walked away with a distant stare. Though both light and dark were his home, he sought the plunder of solitude amongst the darkened limbs, until night came once more to clear Aiya of its ruins. The burning mists of the Aiyan Valley hissed and popped shrilly under his feet as he walked calmly towards the darkness beyond."

"Lux Aeterna. The bawling lightness, the ridiculous flames, of Aiya, and light, and life. What if these forces belong to the darkness? What if light and dark belong to the same throe? Love and hate rendered mute to the presence of his form. He is the angel of love and hate, he is the angel of light and dark, he is the angel of life and death. The world is his, and no weapon ever formed shall prosper against his swords. Of eternity, this too shall pass." Archangel 4:11