Are we really what we are?

"Hmmm.....

Interesting.....

The fuck is it supposed to mean???"

Azman looked at the screen, as random messages started popping up on his screen.

" WE HAVE REACHED OUR RANDOM DESTINATION-

TIME- UNKOWN

JUNGLES OF GHANA

ITEM TO ACQUIRE-

HEAD OF ANANSI- THE TRICKSTER

EXTRACTION TIME- UNKOWN

ALL THE BEST....

AZMAN.... THE FALL-(indistinct noise).."

"The hell is wrong with your main frame, JZ?"

said Azman as he closed it and went on his search to locate Anansi, the spider trickster. Along the way, he starts to learn about his next target as he goes on his monster hunt.

"Anansi, the name derived from the singular word in the akan language for SPIDER. Holding the form of a spider with a human face, is known to hold all the wisdom and stories of the universe in its head. Winning the knowledge from the hands of the sky father Nyame, the God of all stories and wisdom, who tasked Anansi to capture the most dangerous creatures to exist in their time,

Python Onini,

Leopard Osebo,

and Mmoboro hornets. As Anansi completes the tasks without any hindrance, Nyame sets him as the God of all stories and wisdom."

Azman keeps on reading as he sits in a place, trying to figure out his position.

"Great, kill a God.... bring its head....

dick move... JZ...."

As Azman sits, taking large gulps from his alcohol, a voice trembled across the deep, lush forests.

Azman looks over his head to find a giant spider like entity looking over him. Unfazed, Azman pulls out his knife and gets himself ready in the most unenthusiastic form. The spider, Anansi, climbs back into the trees, vanishing in front of Azman's bare eyes. As he opens up the night search mode in order to hunt for the giant spider, suddenly, a soothing voice calls him from the back.

"Azman.... you are gonna have some beautiful wings, that mankind has ever witnessed."

As he turns around, Azman sees a man dressed in black, smiling back at him. As he pulls his gaurds up, Azman asks, pointing the knife,

"who are you??? how do you know my name???"

"There is.... no need to be afraid of me.... child.... I know you... As it is my blessing as well as curse..... to know everything... my name is Anansi... keeper of the wisdom...of the complete universe..."

Azman felt his nerves calming at this point, as he slowly, yet cautiously puts his weapon down, not removing his gaze from the well suited man in front of him.

"ya know, wearing leaves on your crotch was more of this time... don't you think?" asked Azman.

"Well, Its not like it matters what you wear.... I'll be taking that..." halts Azman midway as Anansi gestures him to. He brings out his left hand from his behind to reveal a severed head of a spider, with the features of a human, and slowly keeps it in a neutral ground between himself and Amzan.

This surprises him, to an extent where he remains awestruck for a moment.

"JZ.... scan the item..." blurts Azman as he slow and steadily puts away the knife, gaining trust in the actions of the person in front of him.

" ITEM AQCUIRED-

HEAD OF ANANSI...

OBJECTIVE COMPLETE"

With a meager smile, Anansi looked at Azman and said, " now that we've completed your business, care to join for a drink???"

Azman slowly sits down, accommodating himself by the bark of the nearest tree, making himself comfortable.

Anansi slowly walks towards Azman, steadily occupying the place beside him. As they both share the silence, Azman feels he has felt this moment before.

"Somehow, it feels like.."

"deja vu?" addressed Anansi.

"Y...yes.... how would you know?" asked Azman, bamboozled.

"Well, I do own the knowledge to everything.... Regardless of time, space, and of course.... emotions..." acclaimed Anansi, as he raised his hand towards Azman, gesturing to pass the bottle he kept to himself.

Taking few gulps from the bottle, Anansi loosened his tie, crossed his legs and laid down.

Azman felt a sense of calmness running through his mind, as though he knew Anansi as along forgotten friend reuniting after decades.

"Your name... is unique..." exclaimed Anansi, as he glanced towards Azman, who kept looking up towards the sky lost in his thoughts.

"Azman.... meaning the sky.... With no possible ending... a creature.... living an eternity...." to which Azman looked confused. He felt the feathers in his back rub against the hard barks of the tree, feeling bit uncomfortable.

"They're gonna be beautiful.... trust me...." said Anansi, pointing up towards the sky.

"Those are a gift, to someone cursed....

I cannot say more to you than that....

but remember, all our brothers, are by your side....

you met them before....

and you're gonna meet them.... again....

For a reason....

You're special, Azman...."

Azman felt comfort in the wisest man's words, but in a sudden rush of thought, Azman remembered his previous mission.

Looking bit confused, Azman turns his head towards Anansi to ask, "that means.... the sins.... they're you're..."

"yes...." replied Anansi with a broad smile on his face, looking at the skylight through the orifices between the lush green trees branching over.

"They're all some forms of idiots though... so it is good you got them.... will teach them a lesson...." smiled Anansi with a small grin.

Azman felt.... calm. Million questions ran through his head in a singular moment. Yet, he had no hurries to move on.... from this serenity. This... peace.... he couldn't remember the last time he felt this.

Azman asked, "Do you know what does this sign means?" as he bares his chest to show the tattoo of ouroboros. Anansi smiled, without glancing at him.

"It's the mark left on you by someone we can't escape....

It is a signature of you.... being your own impending doom....

you are always your end... as you begin with yourself....

The mark...

of the infinite OUROBOROS...

No matter... what you do....

everything will lead me to you...." says Anansi, as he slowly gets up, dusting the back of his suit.

Hastily, he walks towards Azman, and gives a small click on JZ's system behind Azman's ear.

Azman's system shuts for a minute and begins rebooting.

" What did you do?" Azman asks in the most calm tone he has ever heard himself speak in. He was surprised to hear his own voice. Calm, serious, and serene in his own head, no signs of intimidation in his own head.

"Since you need all the feathers behind your back, I made sure you give a visit to most of my relatives and family, as soon as possible....." smiled Anansi, as though he cracked a joke.

"Remember, in the end.... it never is about winning.... it is just about how you utilize your time before seeing...

him....

again..." Anansi finished. In his face, Azman felt the emotions behind his words.

Finally, JZ finished rebooting. Beginning up with the same welcome window, JZ opened up a new screen, unfamiliar to Azman.

WELCOME.... AZMAN...

THE LAST SON....

EVERY RANDOM DESTINATION POINT WILL LEAD YOU TO YOUR FATE....

YOUR BROTHERS STAND WITH YOU....

LET US FINISH WHAT WE STARTED"

As the messages finished, the screen returned back to normal. Azman looked with wonder on the screen as he could see a figurative representation of time on his screen, with dots filling every smaller and smaller distance.

"A parting gift, perhaps searching for what you need will remind you...

of what you are....

your purpose..." said Anansi, with sad eyes, and a distant smile, that didn't seem to meet the eye.

" T-MINUS 10 SECONDS TILL NEXT TIME JUMP"

As Azman crackled his fingers to get ready for his last jump, Anansi departed him with a hushed voice,

"See you soon....

brother..."

Before Azman could glance a look towards Anansi with a surprised expression, he got sucked into the wormhole.

While passing through the tunnel, Azman looked closely on the creatures moving around in the dimension. He felt a strange presence following him. As he glanced, the creatures seemed to enchant something.The 5 seconds felt an eternity. Azman tried his best to keep his senses sane as he looked over in every possible directions. He could feel the creatures speaking something, in their own languages. But somehow, he understood them. He could feel them, screaming in agony as he passed by them, one by one. In the moment, he heard their cries.

"HELP....

AZM...."

Azman looked at the creatures with helpless eyes. For the first time, he could feel. The feathers crawling out from his back. He could sense it. The dread. What he became a part of.

The wormhole came to an end.

"YOU HAVE REACHED YOUR DESTINATION"

rang JZ. Azman stared as the message popped up.....