My Short Story: Nascency

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Nascency

Chapter 1

Viygtg had the starry night in his eyes contrasted by the green hills and deep blue sky day that surrounded him. His eyes were a dark purple that had, what seemed like, multiple pinpoints of reflected light that covered his iris. These hills were all he knew. He never slept, he never dreamed. Night time didn't exist. Nor did weather, sensory information aside from sight, nor even any clue to what his reflection looked like. All he knew was that the night had to exist somewhere, just not in his world. So he made it exist in his eyes. For his eyes were the only thing he could think of that could reflect another world aside his mind. Though, his eyes seemed more tangible than his fleeting mind that was preprogrammed by the words that existed in this world.

There were only two things that existed in Viygtg's world aside from himself, the small grass covered hills, and deep blue sky. No, three things! There exists a bulky encyclopedia, a speaking river, and the occasional dandelion that sprouts for a few seconds but then disappears within an unknown time interval. In fact, Viygtg swears that it only appears and disappears depending on the number associated with his blinks.

Viygtg lives an infinite existence. Day never ends in this world and he never gets tired. He has been in this world for so long, he can't even remember. The world never changes and he has read the encyclopedia many times. The river taught him how to read. The river was all he knew. The river was different than the world around him. It never moved. The water wasn't transparent. It had the texture of slick, blue, cheap, crusty plastic. But it called itself the river and Viygtg just called it that ever since. It was just a short, blue river that thinly lined itself behind the hills.

The encyclopedia hadn't been opened in a while. Viygtg got bored of reading it. He lived vicariously through the images, words, and bright white pages that consumed his field of vision as he stared down the pages. Pages that moved themselves and he didn't even have to move them! The only thing that interested Viygtg was the concept of night. He had read about wars, people, skills, but he had never seen any of these things. The feasibility of these things entering his world were so slim. Night was the only thing he waited for. It seemed as if every second taunted him as the probability of night still existed. The river even said so! The river claimed night.

"Night will befall one day, but nobody will ever know" the river would say. Even with the bulk of knowledge Viygtg carries with him, Viygtg couldn't figure out what the river meant. Viygtg was so limited in expression. He felt so dull to live in a world that never changed. He felt like the humans were like him. They were able to see and read just like him. He knew he had eyes like them and unlike an animal, he could comprehend words just like humans could.

"Hello" Viygtg said to the river. Viygtg didn't have to say much to get the river to respond. "Why are there so many colors that exist, yet this world only has green, yellow, and blue?" he inquired to the river. He would occasionally consult the river for elaboration if the encyclopedia didn't go into detail.

"Viygtg, if these hills were colored black, they would soak up too much sun and burn. If the river were anything but blue, the sky had changed. The dandelions are yellow so they could be easily identified." Viygtg accepted the answer, as always. And went back to the mossy hill that neighbored the river.

"I've never seen a sun in this sky" Viygtg thought. He sat there, again waiting for night. "I wonder if rain would be something worth waiting for" Viygtg stated. He knew it couldn't have happened only during night since the encyclopedia said weather could happen at any point in the DAY. Yet, he felt his eyes have tears in them. "What if this day is reflected from my eyes? What if my eyes are mirrors that can only see these hills?" Viygtg thought. This thought disturbed him. "Besides, I shouldn't want rain anyways...the river is the only thing close to water here...The only other being or object or whatever it is I know..." he thought to try and distract himself from the previous thought.

A blank mind then overcame Viygtg. This was his eternity. He couldn't sleep, only blink. Night would not come for him.

The blank mind was within him for minutes, hours, days, he couldn't tell. Until he one day felt something. He started seeing black. "Nig-" He began to think but he only felt something extremely hot. Something so hot that he began to hear a ringing noise as he felt something hit him, hard.

Chapter 2

A lump of flesh, a man, appeared screaming on the floor. The man's spine was lumpy in places. He was extremely pale and his eyes were a neon blue. Maybe even more neon in this moment considering his scleras were a blood red. A naked mess screamed "Night" as the man was Viygtg. He was shaking off tremors as if he was dropped in boiling water and he blinked his eyes at what seemed to be 90 miles per hour.

"Hello, Darren." a figure appeared before Viygtg's eyes as the calm words soothed his screams.

"M-my name is not Darren! It is Veee...Veee...Vee gi teh guh..Vye get eguh..." He paused. He couldn't speak his name...But in the world of green hills and the crisp blue sky that word...His name, made sense to him. His name was pronounceable and he never once stumbled upon it. He looked up at the tall figure with sleeked hair, a slender appearance hidden behind a blue polo tucked neatly in jeans, and slightly scuffed sperries. "Are you...A scientist?? Where is your coat? What is wrong with my body!"

"A scientist? Well I guess you can say that. I am a specialist in what are called Technological Artifacts. Historic pieces of software of hardware that has been tampered with back in...Around the 1980s-2120 range. I have stumbled upon an old desktop that was made in around the early 2000s but it seems as if the technology available late last century was unethically tampering with the minds of individuals....Placing them within isolated environments within images while creating random objects." The man casually said as he lightly brushed over his notes.

Viygtg paused for a second. "What? How? And why am I here? Who did it!?" Viygtg demanded to know as he now wondered if that were true, who could he have been in the world before his life in the hills. Which was all he knew. It was all he remembered.

"Well. We aren't so sure yet. You and a few other specimen are the only ones to have been successfully extracted from the environments. It is kind of odd, the other specimen was located within a .jpeg file which had a very neon painted picture. Others were just sitting and staring at topaz or grey colored screens slowly losing their minds according to them. Quite a few stories we have heard, but very few answers." the unknown man said. Viygtg didn’t even care to know his name. He was in an interval of time the encyclopedia didn't prepare him for.

"What do I do now? Where do I go? I look like a monster!" The lump spined man said as his words ascended to a scream and he fastly feel his aching back.

"Well I would like to have you in for questioning. We actually have found a few thousands of these virtual desktops that have odd activity within them. We have had a lot of crimes to clean up lately though in regards to this sort of stuff. I am unfortunately just an extractor. There is a crime specialist who will probably question you who I will call up you since you seem extremely sensitive to this world...It must hurt to even exist in this state!" The coated man exaggerated...But he was close. He called the specialist on the receiver. Minutes passed and another man came with two formally suited men who helped Viygtg onto a soft cushion chair. Putting a clean set of clothes on his crooked body.

"Hello, my name is Detective Acker. I have been specifically hired to investigate this case by an organization known as Dowling Architecture Investigators, which I will be denoting as DAI from here on out. We specialize in cracking, examining, and looking over obscure machines and technology from the past." The specialist stated as he smiled and turned on his small recording device.

"What year is this? The encyclopedia only went to the year 1990!" Viygtg gasped as he never has seen architecture this smooth, clothes so angular, and hair so straight on people. It seems as though body modification was now the norm in this society. Everything was so beautiful, yet so natural.

"The year is 2237. I think my first question is pretty much just "What is your story?" I am not one for too many questions. We have to move past these a lot. I want to know what you saw in the desktop environment. I want to know your thoughts and what you were like before the incident. We have a list of names assigned to specimens found in these places. But we don't know for sure who you are. Do you have a name?"

Viygtg paused. "It's...It's something i can say in my head but cannot think...I guess you can call me Darren..." Viygtg said in a little bit of aw. Lazy to think of another name besides what the previous man called him. "I was in this desktop for a while. Time blended. I don't know if i were there for years, days...Decades as far as your years reflect...I remember an encyclopedia, a river, and dandelions that would sometimes appear or disappear..." Viygtg said. "Honestly, that is all. I can’t even tell you more. All I did was sit on grassy hills in zen all day. I couldn't touch, only see. I couldn't feel anything, only accepted that was my reality, you could say" Viygtg froze. He felt haunted, longing to know who would do this.

"Darren, thank you for your participation. We have enjoyed your interpretation. As you may know, we have so many of these to go through. We have arranged a job and accommodations for you to start your new life. Unfortunately, under such tight circumstances and so many cases to examine, we have to find the ones that reach a certain criteria." the casual remark came as a shock to Viygtg.

"What?! I have lived on a desktop for longer than you have been alive! I am deformed and existence hurts!" Viygtg whined as he felt a heat accumulate within his body.

"Well, you see, we have uncovered these archives in an abandoned warehouse that has been rotting within a closed area. We are shocked that the data hasn't deteriorated. Your body state is just a result of data corruption and the encoded and synchronized DNA sequence that has been completely twisted by a chip called "L7S S6Y DUW 2092". We have you, yes, but the thing about people who existed within your time periods have had standard deviations of intellect that are below what they are today. Unfortunately you will be working in a menial clothes factory and in Class D housing. There will be transportation for you, on call, from around 6AM-6PM every day since your state isn't safe to drive. You will be escorted out to see your new abode by this lovely gentleman here." The detective pointed to the man in the suit.

Viygtg still shocked at what he was hearing, after his one question interview, compliantly left with the man. A word was hardly spoken. Viygtg walked into his new home. It was nothing flashy. It had smooth white walls, a dark brown carpet. Pre furnished with a bed with a white rough sheet, a small love seat, and a kitchen. The bathroom was a shower, sink, and toilet. Just the necessities. A small space for a man who might as well be a walking encyclopedia.

"Viygtg. I am still here. I was not a crack in the screen, a crack in the image. But I am the river. I am still existing within you." a voice echoed within his head. His eyes suddenly blurring once the river spoke. Viygtg was afraid at the words. The river was able to stop his new world around him. He forgot a second as to where he even was. Not like he knew to begin with. "Viygtg. I can mess with the layers of your senses. Do not fear this, for I am within your best interest. I find this world fun. I find it interesting with tons of fuel for not just your mind. But our mind." The river said. Both the river and Viygtg had similar tones of voice. Low pitched, but the river was more feminine in sound.

"River. I hate it here. I don't want to know people. I don’t want a job. I want to see night." Viygtg said as he lay on the bed to rest his back. The sun still peeking through the curtains.

"Viygtg I will show you something far more valuable. I want you to close your eyes and try to sleep. I know you cannot do it in the other world but this one you can." The river said.

Chapter 3

Viygtg was feeling kind of weak. He close his eyes as he feared sleep but also wanted to know what it was. The river knew this. The river knew everything about Viygtg. Viygtg couldn't even trick himself into thinking that the river was just a collective of his own self. He tried predicting words for the river to use, trying to trick it, but the river only synched his dialogue to hers. Only blurrying his sense of if she was real or not to him. His world went black. Viygtg saw, but had no control, of what he saw. He saw no color but only changing images of what appeared to be 1920-1950s media. House wives, dancers, poor people, all captured within time. Time that was regurgitated from whatever it be, a broadcast or a plain jane video cassette tape. These images crowded his minds eye. These images of what he considered to be people living within the moment. Not realizing the vast amount of info in the world, but at the same time not caring. Hedonistic teases were what he could see in all this. Viygtg never experienced alcohol. Has only read about it. His perspective within the dream changed. He was suddenly far away in a dark room and faced multiple screens with the media playing on them. He then awoke. He awoke to the river greeting him with "Viygtg, you want to see night? I will show you. But you must wait for me to do so. For what you have just seen is called a "dream" in this world. You have known that already. I will show you night. But only when you are ready."

Viygtg didn't argue. In fact, he only look in the mirror. The pale blue eyes stare at him as he became sad they didn't reflect night. "River, they are blue. I wanted the stars to belong to me" Viygtg said as he begin hyperventalating.

"Viygtg don't be such an idealist. Your only making your eyes ugly as you ruin yourself before work." the river told him.

"River, idealism is not exempt from becomming reality. I want the night in my eyes. It is the only thing I feel..."

"It makes you feel comfortable to identify with something fantasy and something you can escape to." the river finished for him.

"Yeah..." Viygtg said. Then he tried to stop thinking and began to get ready for his first day at work.

Words became rare for both river and Viygtg. Days, months. Months have passed now as Viygtg goes to manage the sewing machines and small embroidery patterns for clothes of all shapes and sises of people. Human labor was cheaper in this sort of industry as most robots worked in higher revenue facilities. Viygtg never deviated from the routine. He would work, go home, sleep, and wake up at 6AM. Or whenever sunrise was. The river never allowed him to view night. Viygtg just assumed it was another world where night couldn't exist.

It was like the grass covered hills...Or was it moss? That Viygtg and the river once inhabited. Then Viygtg suddenly felt something. He felt bored of his life. Bored of not speaking to anyone. Then he remembered the dream he had the first night of the world and was wondering why the river hasn't shown him another.

"Viygtg, routine weakens me. I can only show you so much. So much that is unworldly that is in contrast to this one. This world is so structured and stable so everyone can be able to survive but that comes at a price. This robust system also has the tendency to prevent experiences...Experiences such as night. So we use escapism within our thoughts to live instead. Like an inner world stealing from the external things around us. Even when there is little to take, the mind can warp something." the river said.

Viygtg was getting sick of the river.

"Viygtg I want you to not get angry at me for I am on your side. I will make you happy. I just need you to stay with me. Other people in this world are much different than you and I. Even those who were imprisoned within machines. I think you should look in the mirror. I have something to show you."

Viygtg stared in the mirror. Big purple eyes with multiple shines of light stare back. "Wh-What??" his eyes begin to go back to the pale blue they once were."

"Pretty, are they not? Viygtg, this room is looking a bit dull. You seem to be a visual creature. Why not add a few decorations to busy your wandering eyes. People around you do it. They use simple things like posters, small toys, logos...Just to keep their eyes busy as they sit in a room to themselves. It is almost as if they sit caged and such trinkets make their stay more enjoyable." the river said this. Viygtg was not happy about it.

"River, you have life wrong. It can be seen that way or maybe people just want to spruce things up!" Viygtg said as he grow impatient with himself.

"I don't take kindly to such emotional build up, Viygtg." the river said. Viygtg suddenly heard an intense ringing in his ears. They begin to foam and bubble as he began to croak and his eyes close tight. Then it all stopped. "I want you to go to the library for me. I think there is something we should look at. I would like you to skip work today and go. I will point you to the way. I have been in this world before...But I don't want to be questioned. Do as I say and you shall keep your senses." the river commanded in a tone that spooked Viygtg.

Minutes passed before they finally arrived to the library. It was already a challenge to get Viygtg out of his routine. The river seemed to be able to reveal any sence of fragility within a person. "I would like you to go and speak to that woman. I want you to ask her for research directories from the years 2080-2090. I would also like you to ask her if she has any specifically located within a 30 mile radius of this area." the river said articularly. Viygtg could only then wonder why he couldn't read the river's thoughts. "It doesn't concern you now for I will tell you soon." the river said.

"Hello I'm Darren. I was wondering if you had any research papers from this area from the years 2080-2090" Viygtg repeated as if it were from a script. His words coming out a little bit stale.

"Oh yes, here, look at this section. QR:904-11098." The old haired woman handed him the card with directions to the area. What was different than the 2000s was that museums and libraries are now lumped together. There are fewer but they are greater in size.

Viygtg arrived to the section only to blink, go blank, and all his thought stopped. Only a cover of a dark brown shadow rested on his field of vision. He opened his eyes only to find himself back in his apartment. "W...Was I asleep? We were just as the library!" he said shocked at how realities seemed to be blurrying in front of him.

"Viygtg, don't worry, it was a dream. I want you to quit your job." the river said. Not even offering to calm the scared Viygtg.

"W-what...What if I don't will you take my memories away from me? Will you make me blind? Will you kill me?" Viygtg stated as he grabbed his wide eyed face in his slightly clenched hand.

"Viygtg I think your job is stressing you. This happens to everyone. We will find you a means to make money another way." the river said. “It is human to get stressed by unnatural means. We used to be able to live in safe harmony on the beautiful hills. Humanity is so simple. It is a primitive thing. Like a naked man searching for food in a forest. Complexity can only grow in humans if and only if that primal state is there. Humans are not evolved enough to deny what they need to survive. Simply just bipedal creatures with the ability to verbalize and seek out survival needs efficiently.”

Viygtg picked up the phone without another thought.

Chapter 4

Years passed. Viygtg still hasn't seen night. He had seen everything but the starry skies he had longed for. He had seen the diseases from his time get cured, bacteria getting killed by Nano technology enhanced good bacteria, virtual reality where one can feel the textures of the 3D objects, hell, you can even buy over 30 different types of apples at the grocery store! Viygtg didn't care about any of this though. He was a man from 2002 who supposedly got stuck in technology from around 2090.

"Viygtg it is a simple desire of yours. To view night. Almost a stoic, you are. You never listen in music. You don't even own a television, and you never seem to eat anything unhealthy. You never speak to anyone. But me." the river stated. "You never even think of any of it. I would know."

Viygtg walked over to turn on the small radio he bought at an antique shop. He turned it to a random station that so happened to be playing a slow piano tune. He was at ease. It wasn't a bad idea.

"Why can't I see night? I have seen everything but night. We have been in this world for years now. Yet something has changed. I feel bored. I wonder if i can go to another world where night does exist." Viygtg said this in dread.

"Viygtg night cannot exist in another world for this is the real world." the river stated. Viygtg felt this was a half assed response.

"You have been preventing me from seeing the night! Why are you in my head? Are the other people who were stuck in these desktops stuck with something like you?" while saying this, the end of his words, in his thoughts were "...stuck with a curse like you?" and had anger. The river knew this.

"Viygtg that day you awoke towards the detectives...There was something about them. They wanted to go through each collective of data those machines held. Though, they were unable to hear your case out. I guess A great story can have an average joe as long as an anomaly exists. Though it takes a certain time for that to wake up. Do you remember anything you have read in the encyclopedia? You've not touched a book so long you have become nascent." the river said.

"I don't even know what to say to all that! I have not touched that encyclopedia in a long time. I cannot remember that of which I read. I can only remember the touch of my bed, the taste of my oats, the smell of the freshly sewn fabric, and the bubbling in my ears from that stunt you pulled a few years back" the rushed words grew greater in volume. Viygtg wiped off his cold sweat as he caught his breath from speaking so fast.

"That was all a dream." the river said. "Viygtg, this world dilutes the beautiful green hills and deep blue sky we once both admired." the river said.

"Why is my form here but yours is not?" Viygtg said.

"I guess it is because you seem to possess something the other people didn't in regards to their virtual imprisonment." the river said.

Viygtg then knew.

"That dream you had, we have had a lot of dreams but that one has stood out to you. I have shown you dreams you do not remember the next day. You should pay attention to me more. This routine is stagnating your creativity." the river used its rhetoric again as its voice changed into a slight excited panic.

"I have never painted. I have never wrote a line of prose or poetry. I never have even thought of an image in my imagination besides night." Viygtg said.

"Viygtg you have grown so old. To think you are a few centuries old. Your body too old to leave this house and the temporary things in this room had stopped working. You sit in the dark, bed ridden. And you have a river talking to you. a man said above Darren. A stretcher was wheeled to the side of the bed as Darren was slowly put on to it.

"What! I have been in thought. I am only 47!" Viygtg said.

"Viygtg it is time for you to finally see night. You will see why I have been hiding it from you for so long." the river said.

Viygtg was silent. Darren was rolled out of the room, down the hall. The elevator slowly moved them down. Viygtg was greeted with a starless night. There was a full moon though. The moon greedily hogged that sky. The sky, that wasn't a purple, but a darker blue.

He inhaled deeply.

His vision faded.

Hitting these piano keys as patterns fill the air
Your star is dying, falling deeper with ease
Farther and farther, the moon stares at me

This blues tune is one to weep to
A tune where sleep comes fourth
You can't outrun noise
Noise toys with one's mind
You chase your own silent shadow as your brain begins to cry

Your star grows dim, one cracked within
Eternal sleep creeps through the cracks
The hue non existant
Blue shades become black
Invisibillity begs for one to turn back as your brain begins to lack

The moon disappears
The moon couldn;t have been less clear
Farther and farther, the moon stares at me
The white face sees all


It saw me fall.

WRITER'S NOTE: The setting is on the Windows XP Desktop background.