2025 November 12, 3: 45

  Exosphere, Earth

  Briar lay frozen; he tried to scream; tried to yell about to wake himself out of the nightmare. Mr. Moon sat in his seat. The train floated in view of earth, the destruction from the chordis leaving in in the shape of a crescent moon, the earth’s burning core exposed to the cold vacuum of space. Mr. Moon sat across from him, he stayed silent as if searching his head for the words to say. The two waited in silence; one unable, the other unwilling.

  Mr. Moon tapped on the window it returned to the solid color white hiding the view of earth. He spoke “Julia, take us to the subspace highway”

  The trains horns scream, Briar feels the train pick up speed. He hears the sound of crackling and shattering from outside the train, the sounds repeated more frequently as they travelled. The train came to a sudden halt. Mr. Moon stood up. He walked down the train until he was out of view. Briar thought to himself “Everyone died, because of him, the planet is destroyed, because of him. . . No . . . it's me, it’s my fault. If I just accepted that damn deal, if I had just hadn’t been so scared. I was given my wish a chance to leave the hell I lived in, but I refused and because I found out; the hell I thought I lived in was a heaven, and I've slaughtered all the angels”

  Mr. Moon returned. In his right hand was a blue plastic cup filled with a pink liquid and in his right was a singular blue pill. Mr. Moon kneels down to Briar head; he pours the pink liquid in the cup into Briar’s mouth. The tasted like salted water and had a disgusting aftertaste. Briar suddenly sits up, causing Mr. Moon to spill some liquid onto the ground. The horn on the train blast at max volume. Mr. Moon waves his hand “I'm sorry Julia, I will clean it up”

  Mr. Moon quickly wipes it off with his black handkerchief. He sits across from Briar. He looked into his eyes, Briar’s gaze was black, he stared at the table blindly. He didn’t even sway or show any signs of life. He sat their life and frozen mannequin. Mr. Moon places the pill on the table “Briar . . . I apologize”

  Briar slowly raised his head; he looked towards Mr. Moon. He looked faded, his stare distance as if he was looking straight through. Briar forced himself to slime, his mouth twitching and shaking, his voice was weak, fragile. “don’t worry, I'm the one at fault. You don’t need to blame yourself . . .. at all”

  “Your planet, it's not too late for it, for those on it” Mr. Moon stated, looking away from Briar’s gaze. Brair laughed, his laugh was fake, his despair leaked through his laughter. “Why bother. This is what I wanted isn't it! An escape from the cycle, the escape from that terrible, oh so terrible world! That stupid wish, that stupid fucking wish!”

  “a choice, a choice you need to make” Mr. Moon continued “but I need you to be focused for me, this will be an important decision.”

  Briar stopped his laughter. He looked at the blue pill on the table. Mr. Moon pushed it towards him with one finger. Mr. Moon sighed before speaking “if you take this pill, you’ll enter a hypnotic dream, you’ll live a dream of your regular life, as if you never met me, you would spend the rest of your life in this dream, unaware of the invalidity of your existence. If you choose not to take this pill, I can help you. You'll help me find the aranenna, restore your planet and save as many humans as possible. It is your choice”

  Briar looks at the pill, he stood frozen at the promise of a perfect reality. He looked up at Mr. Moon's expression. His face was distressed, he had a fearful stare. Briar returned his gaze to the pill. He picked up the pill with two fingers. He held it Infront of his eyes, he opened his mouth. He moved the pill Infront of his tongue. Mr. Moon said “I understand, enjoy your-”

  Briar slammed the pill on the table, turning it into a blue paste. Brair closed his eyes. MR. Moon look ed at his face. Briar's expression was no longer filled with despair but rather a powerful determination. Mr. Moon couldn't help but smile in response “I see, good to have you back wisp”

  Briar smacks his hands on the table “Enough talk! First explain everything you can about this situation, second come up with some magic plan to get my world back! Last, we do the plan, and we never see each other again!”

  Mr. Moon nods “perfect, ask away, Wisp”

  “First where are we right now?” Briar asked, his words still pumped up with determination. Mr. Moon tapped on the windows revealing the subspace highway. “we’ve returned to the subspace highway”

  “Perfect!” Briar stood up from his seat. “I have another question about this place.”

  Briar and Mr. Moon exit the train. Briar ecstatically runs to the subspace highway’s windows. He looks through the window, he sees the same snake from yesterday; he gets a closer look. The snake seemed massive, overwhelming. The snake was a mixture of purple and blue; its surface was covered in several stars, inside of it were five galactic spirals. The snake emanated a white aura. The snake orbited a massive golden sun in the center, the space around it was twisted and bent. The sun emanated a bright white light. Briar looked back towards Mr. Moon “what is that!?”

  “Everything,” Mr. Moon responded “the ouroboros, the collection of everything in existence. Five universes in the shape of a snake. Everything you’ve ever known is in there”

  Briar pressed his face against the window “woah! Where's earth? “

  “It is in the second closet universe to the tail. The universe is called “The Wonders Edge,” the other universes are named “The Sunken Dream,” “The Fagged Fall” “The Eclipse Shade” and lastly but not least “The Crimson Vixen” the five that make up the ouroboros”

  “Why are they in the form of a snake?” Briar inquired. Mr. Moon shrugged “unfortunately I cannot answer that question, that is just the way it formed.”

  “what's that circle in the middle” Briar said looking back to Mr. Moon. Mr. Moon explained “a star, one that is said to be the origin of all light in the ouroboros it has existed for millions upon millions of years.”

  Briar stepped away from the window. “Is there other intelligent life other than humans . . . and you of course?”

  Mr. Moon chuckled “of course, there is more than I could count. Many are even smarter than humans. It is very common for species to travel all across the ouroboros; engaging in trade and communication, some even making alliances or groups. However, it has come to an understanding all across the ouroboros that it is a crime to mess with species that haven’t yet released their positions. . . like humans.”

  Briar interrupted Mr. Moon “but the aranenna-”

  “They are one of the exceptions,” Mr. Moon continued “they attack wherever they please, they have hundreds of enemies across all of existence, many people put bounties of millions across the world”

  “Do you guys use a shared currency? Or is it all different?” Briar queried. Moon reached into his pocket. He pulled out a handful of coins made of a blue, stone-like material they had a symbol of a snake eating its own tail. “This is Angor, or án singular, most places use it except certain places.”

  Briar looks at the coins in Mr. Moon's hand. He quickly shook his head, coming back to focus “that’s enough exposition for now, what’s our plan to beat those bugs?”

  “we’ll first we need to find them,” Mr. Moon explained, “I know a guy that might be able to find them for us . . . for the right price”

  “a space adventure!” Briar yelped “I can’t wait!”

  “But first, you’ll need this” Mr. Moon reached into his pocket. He hands Briar a bracelet. Brair took the bracelet, it was black covered with white diamonds. Briar put the bracelet around his wrist. Briar asked, “What is it for?”

  “It is a transcriber” Mr. Moon responded “it turns foreign languages you hear and see into ones you should understand, human English. You should also be able to speak other languages back to them automatically while feeling like your speaking English”

  “Wish I had this for French,” Briar said, inspecting the bracelet on his wrist “is this type of thing common?”

  “Very, most people rather have some kind of transcriber or already can speak the majority of languages fluently”

  “I assume, you being the latter?” Briar joked. Mr. Moon nodded “good guess now let’s get back on Julia”

  “two more questions please” Briar begged; his hands clasped together. Mr. Moon smiled “go ahead, but make them quick alright?”

  Briar nodded “first why do you keep calling me wisp and second why call the train Julia?”

  “Wisp is a common nickname for those with shorter lifespan than you,” Mr. Moon clarified “and your other question would take me a whole day to explain, I promise to tell you about it later.”

  Mr. Moon walked back towards the train. Briar quickly followed behind. The two stood in the train. Briar took a seat in one of the chair’s “where are we going?”

  “Julia takes us to Dis Pater” Mr. Moon exclaimed. The train’s horn blast and the train moved forward. The same cracking and shattering sound started again. Briar tapped the window “I wanna see what's happening out there!”

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  Mr. Moon touched the window, and the white covering faded. Briar saw the outside. The train flew through a tunnel of vibrant colors and shining lights. The lights and colors suddenly disappear showing the vacuum of space. Briar leans against the window, watching the stars, planet and lights pass by

  2025 November 12, 4: 00

  Exosphere, Dis Pater

  The train stops, Briar looks out the window, he sees a yellow planet, its surface covered in desert with not even a speck of water covering the planet; it was covered in a putrid brown atmosphere covered by black clouds. The planet had barely any distinguishable features except one massive city he could see from space. Briar could see several ships of varied sizes and shaped leave and enter the city. Mr. Moon taps the walls “Julia, closer would be nicer”

  The train darts forward towards the planet. The train bursts through the atmosphere and penetrates the clouds. The train pulls up and lands onto the desert sand outside the city. Mr. Moon and Briar steps outside of the Train. Briar looked around. He feels the sand at his feet it felt hard, like some concrete rather than grains of sand. The sky was a deep brown, and the sky was filled with dark, black clouds. The air was filled with dust. Briar caught repeatedly. Mr. Moon handed Briar a Black scarf. “Wrap this around your mouth.”

  Briar quickly wrapped the scarf around his neck; blocking his mouth from the dust in the air. The train to the subspace highway flew off into the sky. Brair waved as it left. He turned to the city. The two approached. Infront of the city’s entrance was a sign that wrote “Hell’s haven: keep your business to yourself”

  The city had a main road made of dark wood. The buildings were made of sandstone and bricks, many buildings dawned red banners with the symbol of a red hand. Many figures walked the street. Some had extra limbs while some had none at all, some well massive while others were tiny, some had millions of eyes will some hand one but one thing they all shared was the shifty look in their eyes. Briar spotted many big buildings with massive chimneys producing a thick black smoke into the air. Briar noticed several people glancing at him directly.

  Mr. Moon points towards a building. The structure looked old, the sandstone breaking and cracking pieces, the building structure was gone. The building had a massive sign that read “The Night of Sin”

  Briar whispered to moon. “Mr. Moon, I have a bad feeling about this place”

  “We have no choice” Mr. Moon insisted. The two press forward. Mr. Moon places his hand on the door. The dark oak was greatly damaged barely stopping him from just being able to enter. Mr. Moon opened the door. The two entered the building. The inside of the night of sin was much better than the outside. The floor and walls were made of a dark wood that looked as if it was clean every second. There were several round tables and stools scattered around the building. The building was filled with several aliens of different races. Some played cards with other drank and the end of the room was a bar. The countertop was made of travertine and behind it were several wooden shelves that displayed an assortment of several bottles and skulls of creatures. A person stood at the counter cleaning a bottle with a white napkin. Their heads were not there, instead there was a black and purple flame instead. One big white eye was present on the flame. The figure wore a blue suit vest with a white undershirt, he had a black tie with black gloves and wore a pair of navy suit pants. The figure moved smoothly, he moved his body as if he had no joints or bones restriction him. The figure glanced his one eye at Mr. Moon as they entered. It squinted its eyes before returning to their jobs.

  “There he is, my great friend,” Mr. Moon gloated “Kakorrha Theo”

  Briar looks at the the man. He emanated a threatening aura. Just from looking at him he could feel his overwhelming presence. Nriar looked to his right. Mr. Moon was gone, Briar frantically looked around the room. He saw Mr. Moon walking towards the bar. Briar quickly jogged up behind him.

  Mr. Moon tapped the table. The man eye glanced up at moon, he spoke his voice was deep, rough gravelly. His eye changed color to a bright yellow when he spoke “Moon . . . what do you want now?”

  Mr. Moon leaned off the counter “I don’t always ask something of you. Can i not catch up with a friend Kakorraha?”

  A claw of purple flames materialized behind Mr. Moon. It grabbed the back out his neck and slammed it down. Holding him against the counter. People from across the bar looked towards the bar. Briar could hear the laughter of several people behind them. Black flames seeped out of the man’s gloves. The flames expanded and formed the shape of a scythe. The man holds the scythe above his head and in line with Mr. Moon's neck. He roared “You know me well moon, well enough to know not to use that name. Can you manage to remember? Or will another death unclog your memory?”

  Mr. Moon grinned “okay, okay i apologize. I'll remember to call you Phobos. I still prefer your real name though”.

  Phobos squinted his eye, The hand over Mr. Moon's neck and the black fire scythe disperses. Mr. Moon rises up; he sighs before cracking his neck. Phobos glanced at Briar, there was curiosity in his gaze. Phobos suddenly pointed towards Briar “why’d you bring a goddam human here? They're underdeveloped, its against the law to mess with them”

  mr. Moon shrugged “oh please Phobos, when have you ever cared about the law?”

  Phobos rolled his eye, he responded in a threatening tone “I start to care when you start bringing the U.W.G to my door with your bullshit!”

  Phobos returned his gaze back to Briar, then to Mr. Moon. “Well . . . are you not going to introduce him?”

  “This is wisp— I mean briar, a human that I'm travelling with” Mr. Moon. Said, “he actually the reason I came here”

  Phobos reached forward, he waved his hand in front of his eyes. Briar felt his face heat up. Phobos retracted chuckling “he doesn’t speak?”

  “Sorry I was just . . . confused” Briar apologized, pulling down his scarf. Phobos paused. He looked between Briar and Mr. moon “did moon kidnap you?”

  “Excuse me— Kidnap me? What do you mean” briar shuddered.

  “Phobos!” Mr. Moon quickly butted in, “you're going to have him worrying”

  Brair laughed, his chuckle was ragged as he Briefly closed his eye “I'm pulling your leg, kid. I'm Phobos, owner of The Night of Sin, people tend to come here for favors our shady deals. This bastard probably said I'm a friend of his, didn’t he?”

  Briar nodded. Phobos’s eye narrowed “he lied. We're just business partners. He comes here with some crap he got himself into every year, he pays me, I help him with it, and he fucks off”

  Mr. Moon scoffed. “You make me seem like I've been a nuisance”

  “What do you want moon.” phobas snarled, his eye fixed on Mr. Moon. Mr. Moon took out a glass vile of Aranenna blood. He placed it on the counter. Phobos picked the vial up, he juggled it in his fingers. Mr. Moon pointed at the vial “that’s Aranenna blood. the human planet earth; it lost a third of its mass and 20% of its population. Aranenna mothership, The Chordis. I have no idea where it went nor any leads. . . except you”

  Phobos looked up towards the ceiling, he opened the vial and poured the blood into his eyes. The blood evaporated into a thick black smoke, Phobos rapidly blinked before looking back down. “Always the goddamn aranenna causing me problems. I think I heard about a recent expedition”

  “What do you need?” Mr. Moon snatched the empty vial out of his hand. “I need their location as soon as possible”

  Phobos leaned forward, looking Mr. Moon in the eye “what about 12 million Angor. On the dot. Nothing more nothing-”

  “I'll pay it!” Mr. Moon slammed his hand on the table. Briar looked back. Everything inside of the night of sin was looking at Mr. Moon and Phobos. Phobos’s eye turned pitch black “you know not to raise your voice at me. Perhaps I've been too soft with you. You lack respect.”

  “Your choice doesn’t affect me, but it does effect Briar,” Mr. Moon replied “if you want to be spiteful, I won’t judge but know I doesn’t do anything to me”

  Phobos's black eye turns to Briar. Briar feels a sense of despair wash over him. Phobos sighs, his eye returns to its white shade and his gaze softens. He takes a step back, hesitating before he spoke “you're a goddamn idiot moon. . . do an errand for me and you’ll get the information you want free of charge.”

  “I appreciate your generosity” Mr. Moon bows. Phobos slams his fist at the table causing Briar to jump. A claw of purple flames pushes Briar towards the counter, he feels the flame singe his back. Phobos grabs Briar’s chin and looks into Briar eyes, staring less than an inch from his face. Briar felt an overwhelming heat against him. His body shook threating to fall apart. Phobos looks at him up and down. He whispered into Briar’s ear. “Listen kid, I know moon. If you don’t want to die because of his stupidity, you're going to have to grow a spine. Understand?”

  “y— yes, yes phobos!” Briar stuttered, his hands shaking. Phobos drops Briar before backing away from him. “Better speak up next time I see you”

  Mr. Moon turned to leave. He felt something tug at his suit. Mr. Moon looked down. A man sat at the table next to him, grabbing onto Mr. Moon's suit. The man had lemon-yellow skin covered in black warts, his head was free of hair and covered in several spikes. He brandished a pair of charcoal-black teeth. The man had three green eyes, which searched over Mr. Moon’s body. The man wore a black, full-body poncho with red triangles. On the man’s waist was a red rifle, and he had a transcriber on his wrist. At his table, two other people sat with similar features and clothes. The man spoke, his voice grating and guttural. “Oy, sit with us, play a game.”

  Mr. Moon brushed the man’s hand away. “I apologize, my good sir, but I haven’t got the time.”

  One of the other figures at the table chimed in, “Come on, the little guy can play too!”

  Mr. Moon glanced over to Briar. Briar's gaze was fixated on their table. It was covered in several figurines and cards. Briar tugged at Mr. Moon's shirt. “Come on, Moon, I might never get another chance to play with aliens.”

  Mr. Moon looked back at the strangers. They were chuckling. Mr. Moon could feel their ill intentions. He shrugged. “I guess we’ll play a game or two.”

  The man cheered, “Right on, ye! Take a seat.”

  Mr. Moon and Briar sat down at the table. The man tapped on the table. “Why not place a bet? Just to raise the stakes.”

  Mr. Moon reached into his pocket; he placed two Angor on the table. The man grumbled, looking at the coins on the table. He leaned down under the table and searched for a moment. He rose back up with a shocked expression. “Damn it, I left my bag outside.”

  “That’s alright, we can wait,” Briar responded.

  The man shook his head. “Oh no, us Harenae have struggles walking, especially at our age. Please, could you fetch it for me? It's on the side of the building; you can’t miss it.”

  Briar quickly stood up and pulled back up his scarf. “Alright, sir! I’ll get it immediately.”

  Mr. Moon turned to Briar. He sighed. “Hurry back, alright?”

  Briar nodded. “Got it. I'll be as fast as I can!”

  Briar quickly jogged out of the building, avoiding chairs and other people. The man laughed as he left. “Bright old chap.”

  “He truly is,” Mr. Moon agreed. “You never told me your name?”

  The man smirked. “Grill, Shanks Grill. That’s Smurr, and that’s Kars. Pleasure to be meetin’ ya.”

  “I'm Mr. Moon. I give my greetings,” Mr. Moon smiled back. “Why don’t we begin? I’d like to be warmed up when Wisp gets back here.”

  Briar stepped outside of the Night of Sin. The Moment he left; the violent wind reminded him of the abundant dust in the air. Briar clung to the wall to avoid falling over. The winds outside roared, throwing and launching objects across the city. Briar moved along the perimeter of the building. He turned around the corner of the building. He saw a box tied to the wall of the bar. Briar made his way to the box, his hand covering his eyes. He leaned down to the box and opened it. The box was empty on the inside. Briar lifted up the box. Again, nothing.

  Briar suddenly heard pounding footsteps. He turned around. For a split second, he saw a figure before being hit by a metal object. Briar fell backward. He felt his consciousness drifting. The figure put a black bag over Briar’s head. Briar blindly struck and flailed at the air. He suddenly felt an electric shock through his body before falling into a deep slumber.