back to the real world: Hunter part VIII

Hunter is on a bar.

he is drinking quietly. he looks at his phone. there is a message from a stranger. the stranger called himself Ryker Wright.

some weeks ago Hunter searched on the internet for certain information. he found a website in which he made contact with some strangers, who seem to have been on a similar situation. one of the strangers seems to be interested on making contact with him. the reason unknown.

somehow the name Ryker Wright seems familiar to Hunter. he sends a message to the stranger asking him if he really has information. Hunter wanted to drink till fatigue. but there is someone interested on him now.

[Hunter-

I don't know U. how can I tell U R telling the truth?]

[Ryker-

believe me young man. I know that your friend is a Offering. And you are not. is this enough information for us to meet.]

[Hunter-

can U help me. my friend is an Offering. he is inside of a game. I need of UR help to save him.]

[Ryker-

there may be a way, the problem is that the Gods and Game Masters are always watching over the mortals on the Human World. we can't do much.]

Hunter stops sending messages as he feels tired. he puts his phone down. he looks at his right. the Ferryman walks towards him on his 'human form.'

Hunter is tired of being follow by this Deity, who is only worry about his own games. Hunter talks to the Ferryman. he even asks him to leave him alone. the Deity refuses to listen to him. Hunter looks at the bottle of liquor in front of him.

the Ferryman walks around of the bar. he is making sure to know when those souls are dying? and which Culture is claiming which soul? after he is done. he sits next to Hunter with a huge smile. there seems to be something that he wants to share with Hunter.

Hunter is at the moment only interested in drinking till losing his consciousness. the world has become too cruel and dark to even care. he knows that he has some months left, he has time to do something. but is that time enough?

"for how long do you intent to ignored me. I am much more important of what you will ever know. I am not in here for lack of work. on the contrary I always have something to do. the only reason why I follow, is because you are my responsibility."

said the Ferryman as he looks at the names on his book.

"how important am I to you? I am just a dying man. I only have some months left, there isn't much for me to do."

said Hunter on an emotionless tone of voice.

in every drink that Hunter taste, he feels farther from being conscious. Hunter can feel the texture of the liquor. he is savoring every drop of liquor, every drop that falls on his mouth. he wants to stay some time on the bar alone.

Hunter makes conversation with the bartender. Hunter asked about a frequent client. the bartender didn't say much. he didn't wanted to be on trouble for talking too much. Hunter stopped drinking for a moment.

the Ferryman looks again at his book. he is looking at the names on the book. he looks at an old man drinking on a corner. the old man dies of a heart attack out of nowhere.

Hunter looks at the beer in front of him. he is feeling melancholic. Hunter takes a watch from his pockets. he looks quietly at the watch. he feels frustration. he feels the need to just yield. he wants to scream. to let go of the anxiety.

"don't you see it. it is human nature to die. it is human nature to exist for no reason and then to die for no reason. a human's whole existence doesn't have any damn meaning. jet among those human mortals, there are some who are ready to go with no regrets. they have no regrets for doing nothing on their entire life."

yields the Ferryman feeling rage.

"why do you care so much for humanity? for our mortality and life choices? we are born with free will, because your people knew that freedom, real or not. that concept alone is enough to make us feel like we have no regret for choices that are ours, and not yours. it was a God who gave us the opportunity to live and to die. then why shouldn't we die with a damn smile."

whispers Hunter as he looks at his beer.

"I don't know why, but I feel so much jealousy. humanity was created to fulfill a God's pride & sense of self-satisfaction. jet humanity is fine with their cattle like life. we are the creators, we the eternal Deities, we can't have enough of everything, enough of the universe. not enough to feel satisfaction. there is no satisfaction at all."

yields the Ferryman with rage.

the Ferryman is an honest Deity. it is easy to see that he is jealous of humans. he is jealous of their simple emotions and their simple lives. is truth that a Deity is not absolutely immortal, but that is not the point. the point is that it doesn't matter how eternal a Deity can be, they will never find absolute happiness.

most mortals live afraid of death. most humans live with the fear and then die with multiple regrets for living a short life. but it is the immortality that makes a Deity tired of life, jet even those who are immortal aren't attracted towards death.

death is a concept that scares most beings. one thing that Deities wish that only mortals can feel, is the feeling that only a mortal can experience as they age. the immortality is too long, with too little to do.

the Ferryman whispers some words on Hunter's ear. he smiles with a creepy smile. you may think that the Ferryman is evil, but no, he is just an asshole trying to scare Hunter. he finds joy on tormenting mortals with evil jokes.

Hunter's eyes seem to be hollow. his whole beard is wet with the beer. his lips are dry. he has baggy eyes. he is still an extremely handsome ginger man, but he seems soulless, he seems to be empty. there is no life on his face.

Hunter keeps drinking. he has to investigate, he has to find a way to help his friend. there is a lot to do, Hunter isn't thoughtless. the reason why he is just drinking is simple, he knows that he is going to die at any moment. he is a man feeling the pressure of knowing he will die soon.

the Ferryman sits next to him. he takes Hunter's beer and he drinks it. the Ferryman makes a funny face. he feels dislike for the beer, but he keeps drinking it. the taste of a beer is not for everyone.

Hunter scratches his head. he feels tired. he doesn't want to leave the bar jet. he wants to drink for at least two more hours. he looks at the other men on the bar. they all seem either melancholic or glad to be there. to be in a bar at this our, there is no way you are actually happy or glad to be here.

every men who spend his days on a bar isn't for joyful emotions. it is clear that those on the bar want to forget their sorrows, they want to avoid responsibilities, they want to run away from their miserable lives. every man in here is looking for shelter.

alcohol is the most sweet refuge from reality. no matter how perfect or imperfect is life, liquor is the answer many find to face their worries. oh sweet villain that brings temporary peace to our hearts.

"I don't know anymore. I don't know if I will be able to endure the pressure of knowing I will die. my time is running out. I feel so nervous. I can't with it."

said Hunter as he touches his face.

a lady walks towards Hunter. she asks him if he wanted to have sex. Hunter likes the idea of having a night of passion with her. but no, it isn't the right time. there is a time for everything. now isn't the time for experiences of passion with strangers.

"magnificent, it is just magnificent how you see temptation, and even when you wan to fall for it. a part of you pushes you away from that temptation. you all humans are an interesting species. it will be a lie to deny how much enjoyment we feel from your strangeness, your uniqueness, your foolishness. watching a human is like watching a pet growing up."

said Ferryman with excitement.

for some strange reason Hunter remembers a book he used to love as a kid. it was an old book about a piper. a famous story about the consequences of not fulfilling your promises to others. for some reason Hunter sees some likeness between the piper and the Ferryman. they both are mysterious characters that are hard to read or know.

"we may be a stupid toy for Deities, we may be seen as entertainment. we dedicate our selves and lives asking for help from your kind, Deities. you have no right on making fun of our desperation. you have no right on stepping on our faith."

said Hunter crying.

Hunter is too drunk to even speak properly. what he said. it was nothing less than words he had on his heart hidden from the world. words he wanted to say to a God all his life. Hunter always wished to see a God, to reproach him for all his sorrow. for all the tears he lose on life.

"watching a drunk human is like watching a bird with broken wings trying to fly. they look vulnerable. and when I see vulnerable beings I usually want to step on them. it is nothing personal, it is that I don't like fragile and weak things."

said Ferryman with a sinister smile.

Hunter tries to stand up. he is trembling at every step he takes. he walks away from the Deity. on a wrong step Hunter falls. he tries to stand up, he is just too drunk to even be able to stand up properly. Ferryman helps him to stand up.

"you may be a Deity, but that doesn't make you perfect. you are not perfect, you are not complete. you are lacking more things than a vile mortal like me will ever fail to have. you are not divine at all. you are not a glorious being as you wish to be. you are nothing less than an imperfect immortal."

said Hunter with a mocking smile.

Ferryman is speechless. he is so furious. he can't speak at all. he whispers something. then he vanishes on a mist inside the bar. it was clear that he was too offended or too hurt to say goodbye. those words hurt him.

Hunter steps out of the bar. he receives some messages from Ryker Wright, who wanted to continue with their conversation. there are many things that he wanted to talk about. Hunter felt like this man can be the key to finding the exit.

Hunter walks on the streets with fear. a thief can attack him. he isn't on the right mind to protect himself. Hunter walks slowly as he tries to keep his eyes open. he falls on the ground. he looks at the sky for a moment. the moon was brighter than ever. the night was darker than most nights.

Hunter tries to stand up, just to fall again every time. he gives up. he stays there on the floor looking at the sky. there are no stars on the sky nor cars on the street. he felt completely alone. it is a lonely night to drink. indeed it is lonely.

"people usually say that on an ideal world melancholy, sorrow and pain shouldn't exist. but it isn't about an ideal world, it is about an ideal mentality.... something we humans do not have. and we will never have."

said Hunter laughing.

Hunter laughs so hard trying to disguise it as joy, what in reality is pure sadness. there is nothing for him to do. a dramatic laugh is the best mask to cover the true appearance of the heart, a heart too shy to show its true colors.