(Here's a story fragment. I'm not sure where it falls in the continuum, but here it is.)

Resurrectionist
It's funny, I never thought it was turn out like this. All of my planning to break free and she simply let me out. And I can't say she was without reason. For once in our lives, I think I agree with her on this. She wanted to do something about the situation, but felt helpless. Anger and hatred are not feelings that she knows. Fortunately, I'm well versed in both. So, she let me out to do this for her. I was happy to oblige her.
He said he was leaving the group. Neither of us minded that. I smiled, with lips I could now control. Neither of us minded, but we were going to make sure he never forgot Lucid Seed. Or I wasn't anyway. Suddenly, I didn't feel so opposed to her and concentrated my anger towards this ingrate who, depsite everything that had been given to him, was leaving without reason. She had passing thoughts that we should just let him leave, but I wouldn't allow that.
He would remember.
Always.
I walked down the path towards Maris, the fishing port which was my destination.
"I'm leaving," he said with a dramatic tone that made me want to vomit.
I could already feel her grip on me loosening. It was as if she knew what was going to happen next.
"I cannot be part of this group anymore. You bore me to death. I simply must go out into the world and experience life in my own way. I want to move to the city and get out of this stupid town. I want to live life for no one but myself."
"Samuel," I felt her lip quiver, "if that's your decision I----" she bowed her head, "I have to accept it."
"Don't get me wrong. My problem isn't with the group. I love Lucid Seed."
"Oh?" She raised her head hopefully, "what is it then?"
"It's you Kalinka. You are a horrible leader. I don't respect you and, to put it quite frankly, you are deathly boring."
And then, suddenly, I felt as if I had just been born. She had given up. She was actually calling on me to help her. I clenched my fist. I was completely overjoyed with this new development, but I couldn't focus on it now.
"So you're leaving for good then?"
"Yes, I need to. To be happy. To enjoy life."
"Enjoy life, huh? What do you mean by that?"
"I want to be able to go into the city and see its colours, to meet its women. I hear they have the best liquor in the city."
"What city are you even talking about Samuel?"
"Megiddo."
Even I, from my limited perspective, knew what Megiddo was. It was a city to the North originally populated only by criminals who had been sent there by the other areas of the country when these areas refused to deal with them. The criminals eventually overthrew the guards that were established there and built their a city out of their prison. Since then, it has become a haven for all sorts of depravity.
"Well then, I guess we'll just have to let you leave. However," I smiled at him, "I'm going to have to visit Maris after you leave. You won't miss what's there anyway."
Samuel folded his arms, "I've already cleaned out all my books Kalinka."
"Ohhh, I'm not going for your books. There's something more valuable waiting there." I said, sauntering out the door.
As I reached Maris, Samuel appeared behind me.
"You wouldn't....oh my God...you wouldn't...," the colour drained from his face as a look of sheer horror hit his face with a gravity that seemed to pull the features of his face toward the ground. I kept walked.
"You've figured it out, huh? I'm glad."
"....why?"
"You won't miss him in Megiddo."
"Kalinka! Stop this!"
I pulled a small spade out of my backpack and tapped myself on the shoulder with it. "You know, it must be terribly frustrating to waste your breath like that."
"You're a monster", I heard Samuel whisper from behind me.
His words didn't stop me. This was the end. He was going to remember forever.
"Monster," the word floated in my head as I stared at the gravestone in front of me.

Straven Martik Mallory

Beloved father to Alan, Leroy, and Samuel

May he receive eternal peace.


Was I the monster? I placed my shovel into the cool, damp soil. Samuel watched helpless as I dug deeper and didn't stop until I heard a sharp clinging sound. I immediately knew what it was and stooped down to open the coffin in front of me.
"Kalinka!!!!" Samuel screamed, "have you lost your mind?"
"I don't think so. I'm not the one who's going to Megiddo."
Sombrely, I pulled the body out of the hole and laid it on the ground. Samuel collapsed next to it and began sobbing uncontrollably. I wanted this to be the last thing his mind would ever process, so that any further moment in his life would be forever poisoned by this one event. It was punishment for what he did to her. I've hated her, but at least I tried to keep my insurrection quiet. And, now that I think about it, if she had bestown the gifts on me that she had given to this man - I would not have thought of rebelling against her.
It was about punishment. It was about justice. It was about my own liberation.
"...how could you..." Samuel fell to the ground, face-first - muttering to himself.
"Samuel...this is what your ungratefulness has brought upon yourself. You're leaving this group," I suddenly felt a growing loyalty to Kalinka's friends, "this family, for a land of sin and despair. Kalinka has defended you from all those who slander you and, in the end, you left by slandering her. That won't be forgotten. So, I hope you never forget this day. I hope you never forget the wrong choice you made. Leaving unconditional acceptance for cheap liquor," I curled my lip and turned my back, "you make me sick."
Samuel continued writhing on the ground.
"Oh don't worry Samuel, I've called the Resurrectionists. Your father will be in good hands. They'll sell him to some doctor for a good price." I sneered. To tell the truth, I fully intended to return the body to its resting place after Samuel left for Megiddo, but did not want to tell him that at this time.
"K-K-Kalinka Blue..." he looked up at me with eyes totally devoid of hope, "you---you are truly the worst human being I have ev--"
"No!" I bent over and put my finger on his lips. "Not Blue," I paused for a moment and then whispered in his ear, "Black. From this day on, that is all you will feel. That is all you will know. Black."
I walked away, feeling a strange warmth encompass me. Even though I had helped her I didn't feel like it was the wrong thing to do. I turned my head one last time, watching Samuel crawl listlessly across the ground - totally lost and alone.

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There you go. The story that demanded to be told. There were reasons for it, but those reasons are since resolved and forgotten.

This is what moving on looks like,
Kalinka Black.