STORY

STORY

A BURNING SENSATION
[Tower Entrance - Pandora's Tower OST]
Madam
2024-12-29 11:14:40
Madam Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 02:41:00
The elevator the two stood in faced the outside. Its view of the city was immense. No matter what direction one looked the city stood tall.

Madam couldn't help but stare at the towers of cekeki, many now taller than all but the head Zoo Corp building. It felt as if each tower was attempting to reach the heavens above.
"I know I haven't talked about my past much Scab-"
"-if there's anything you want to know before we get to him please ask. I wouldn't hide a thing from you."
Scab
2024-12-29 11:15:05
Scab Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 02:41:20
There had been many times he'd stopped to take in the view of the city from the heights of the city's office buildings. At first it was an empowering view, the elevation came with the feeling that he'd finally made it somewhere in the world. But today, it was just sickening.
"Who was he, before all this?"
"He was Monsieur. My fiancée. We were just a typical couple, but I don't think others saw it the same way I did."
"I won't get into our relationship. It's not important. Just know that I became like this because....."
Madam
2024-12-29 11:16:07
Madam Profile
Posted by ID #53
Last edit: 2024-12-29 11:16:19
"There was a salesman on the beach while we were visiting one day. He was selling these amazing rugs and I begged Monsieur to get me one. You could imagine how great this salesman was. I mean. He was selling rugs on the beach, love, and still able to convince us!"
"But later, that salesman, that Zookeeper realized he couldn't work anymore. I think his senses got to him. Especially after what happened to his sister."
"So someone higher up-" Madam points physically upwards towards the skies. "-came down, and said the Zookeeper position was getting opened. They wanted Monsieur to take the promotion, but he didn't want it."
"So I begged him. Told him, he'd be a good Zookeeper."
"The best one."
"I was right. And now there isn't anymore Monsieur. The machine ate every piece of him and left us with just the perfect Zookeeper."
Scab
2024-12-29 11:17:11
Scab Profile
Posted by ID #53
Last edit: 2024-12-29 11:17:38
He looks at her out of the corner of his eye, taking a long drag of his cigarette as she stops talking.
He offers out a hand for her to hold.
"You said you became like this because of the salesman, but why become a cekeki? Was that part of the deal?"
"It's not like any of that was pushed on me when I joined."
"I believe it's because you're a metaparxi. Your species isn't very prone to getting caught up in self consuming."
"But for me, and a lot of others, you hear about that perfect lifestyle and all the things it offers that you don't have."
"I had to have it. I needed it. The same way someone goes into debt over stuff they never needed. Then their soul is chained to some bank."
"I... Kinda get it? Back with Chordata I got a 'bonus package' from one of my first jobs, included some kind of subscription to this fancy cigarette brand. Several months paid off. Think it was just a ploy to get me addicted so I had more expenses, more of a reason to stay put where money was decent."
"Maybe that's not really the same thing. It was my fault for picking up the habit in the first place."
"Did this really seem like the perfect life to you? Did you even know going into it you'd be eating your own species, that every move you made would slowly be killing you? It just seems like a bad deal."
"I don't think most people getting into a loan think too hard about it. I'm sure I was told the disclaimers, I know Zookeeper tells them too, but when you really want something, disclaimers don't seem so important."
"Funny thing. Things got better when Monsieur.....When this Zookeeper took power."
"Funny. If he wasn't any good, I'd be dead, and never met you...but it would have been better for the universe." Madam stares back out the window.
"I know it's not my fault all of this happened. I was just one part of it. But sometimes it really feels like this is all my fault."
"I just wanted too much."
He wonders for a moment, if it could've been him in Zookeeper's position. The life he'd always wanted was a simple one, it was his mother that made him jump through hoops, ruining the lives of innocent people looking for better pay just to keep a little more money coming in to the family business. If it had been him and Madam on that beach, could her own desires for more have pushed him into that same place?
Scab
2024-12-29 11:22:48
Scab Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 02:44:23
"You said it yourself, it's not your fault. It seems like life wasn't perfect, and you just wanted things to be better. Unless if you were feeding him into the machine by hand, you shouldn't feel guilt over what he chose to do."
"It was a mistake, but we'll get through this now. Together."
Madam tried to not think of the part where he would put himself into the machine. She squeezes Scab's hand. "I know you say that, but I think I'm part of the reason he did that. I just wanted him to be successful because I thought that's what you know." She sighs. "What everyone is supposed to be."
"It's a little of all of our faults for not realizing what that dang ole machine was doing to us, but you're right. No use focusing on the past. We'll get through this."
Madam
2024-12-29 11:29:16
Madam Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 02:46:21
Madam feels the smooth wire down her throat. "I hope," she mumbles as the elevator finally reaches the top floor.
He squeezes her hand in turn, a firm touch so that she'd know he's got her. Then he lets her go, waiting for the doors to open.
The doors slide open and the two are assaulted by a bright light, the smell of smoke, and person with a foul attitude.
"Well well well. Look what the bitch dragged in. Here so soon, lacky?"
"Thanks a lot Scab for firing Ray."
"That's sarcasm!"
"What, you don't like me, Zoo boss."
"Nope!"
"Sucks you be your ass then. Cause I ain't leaving this job to go hang around the assholes who sort fucking mail."
"I don't think he wants you here....."
Ray
2024-12-29 11:31:09
Ray Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 02:48:23
"Sucks to be him. The Zookeeper is hiring me back whether he wants to or not."
("Scab. What happened? Isn't Ray your worker?)
He rolls his shoulder, mostly just to release some pent up energy. He'd spit back, but it's smart to know who you can afford to be angry with.
("No, I fired him. Just stay close to me, okay?")
"I won't waste your time, we're here to ask about Madam quitting."
"Oh. Ok!"
"Bye!"
"That's...it?"
"Yep!"
"You saw the trends, Madam!" Zookeeper pulls out the ever updating chart.
He instantly enters a trance state. Obsessively circling the very peak, just a day ago, before trailing his finger to today.

A small but noticeable dip.
"Isn't it terrible? Isn't it disgusting?"
"That in a WORLD without WOLVES, that DEER must STARVE?"
He looks over at Madam whilst keeping a weary eye on Ray across the room.
"I guess?"
"Didn't take you for a metaphor guy."
"The MONSTER in the MACHINE spoke to me about my WOES. That is what IT said to ME."
"Zoo Corp has never started a war."
"We provide food, water, shelter, and even tv and internet to our workers."
"We also make sure, that no worker is overworked, after we went over our plan called 'Overworked workers die faster, that's bad in the long term!' "
"Boxman did good on that one."
"Actually that was before Boxman."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes I know this because Boxman was part of plan 'Pay workers enough money to buy more entertainment so they don't riot.' "
"I think that was a fantastic plan. Especially the part where we control the entertainment that is brought."
"But sadly. No matter how much I tried. I realized a very horrible thing. We are born, doomed!"
"Is what the MONSTER in the MACHINE told me."
Zookeeper zooms out the projection. As the years go on, the chart continues on a downward spiral. "We are deer."
"And LIFE will punish us for living without WOLVES quite soon."
"Quite sad. We've tamed NATURE, and yet LIFE still wants us dead."
"Don't you think that this is a bit of an overreaction?"
"I do not overreact."
Madam pauses, fear growing within her. He's right. He doesn't overreact.
"So... What's the deal then, boss? Why are you telling us this?"
"Are you saying we need wolves? Predators have their place and all that but that sounds... Bad."
"The whole point of it, is that I don't need Madam anymore, nor do I need Ray."
"Baby! Zoo Corp ain't hiring ever again!!!!!"
The room was off. He puts a hand on Madam's back, getting ready to steer her towards the elevator.
"Then we're done here?"
"You, and all of us are done here."
"I ain't leaving without a job!"
"Ray. There are no jobs. Ever."
He starts to move back towards the elevator, trying to bring Madam along with him.
"You're telling me, there ain't nothing out there for a guy like me. Nothing?"
Madam pulls away from Scab. ("I-I'm sorry I need to ask one more question.") Madam knows that if she goes home now, she's as good as doomed. She'd join the other cekekis upon their tower of melting flesh and wires.
He takes another step by himself, then quickly stops, waiting in tense silence.
"Zookeeper, please tell me what is happening to the cekekis. I need to know."
"I do not know."
Madam lowers her head. She knows Zookeeper wouldn't lie, and yet she asks again. "Please. You have to tell me."
"If I knew. I would tell you. But I do not. So I cannot."
"Honey? Is something wrong?"
Ray huffs a plume of smoke as he keeps track of everyone in the room. "So. There's no occupancies. None? I'd have to kill to get a job?"
"I guess but that appears to be a terrible idea."
He gives Ray a cold look, posture shifting in anticipation.
Madam looks to Scab. She tries to not cry. "I'm sick. I do not know with what. But I am doomed at this rate, Scab."
"I found myself at one of the bases of the cekeki towers...."
"....dreaming that it was me at one of the tops."
"That- That's just dreams. Thoughts in your head. You've not been feeling well lately, that's all it is, right?"
His tail hand wrings at the air.
Madam
2024-12-29 11:53:01
Madam Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 02:53:09
"I thought it was all in my head before. That there's been more paint than usual coming out of my wounds, but it's gotten worse. The wires are starting to erupt within my mouth."
Time slowed to a complete halt for Scab. He thought it was from the news....maybe it was, but it made him notice his bastard of a friend, slithering his way across the room, mouth opened. Taking aim at his wife.
There was enough anger and tension in him already that the movement came naturally. He places himself between Ray and his wife, reaching out with all three hands in an effort to grapple the large cekeki.
This is just what Ray wanted.
Scab was the one with a job.
Ray
2024-12-29 11:55:08
Ray Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 02:54:33
There was no use to Scab trying to stop him. If anything that made it better for Ray. Killing a man, a friend who didn't try to fight back? That's the coward's way of doing things. He NEEDED Scab to fight. The much larger monster pushes him to the ground. His coils wrapping up Scab to keep him from escaping as he bites down on his neck.
Scab
2024-12-29 11:55:28
Scab Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 02:56:18
"You... Bastard!" He barely mumbles the words, between the constricting and the searing teeth sinking into his flesh it was hard to say anything at all. He tries to force his normal hands into Ray's mouth, desperately grasping for the top of his head with his tail hand, just to try and pull it back open.
Madam
2024-12-29 11:55:41
Madam Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 02:56:53
Madam, though much smaller than Ray, bites hard on him and pulls back, ignoring the burning sensation that begins to fill her mouth. "Let him go! That's your friend you disgusting bastard!"
Ray
2024-12-29 11:56:07
Ray Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 02:59:08
The attempts at opening his mouth were futile until Madam bit down on him. He yelps embarrassingly before swinging over to Madam, his anger boiling as his body loosens from Scab. "You little BITCH! I should have killed you ages ago!"
Ray
2024-12-29 11:56:21
Ray Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 02:59:28
"This is all your fucking fault! First you took my pal Monsieur away from me you bitch!"
"AND YOU TURNED HIM INTO THAT FUCKING THING RIGHT THERE!"
"I'm Zookeeper!"
"And who the FUCK knows what you'll do to Scab."
"He's better off DEAD. Dying like a MAN!"
"But if I gotta kill you first bitch. Let it be my damn honor!"
With the coils loosened he doesn't try to get up, he just does his best to hold Ray right where he is.
"Madam, RUN!"
Zookeeper watches as Ray swings around, shooting forward and attacking Madam. From the hisses snarls and bites, one could confuse the two for animals more than people. "It's finally happening!"
"With the stocks going down, the people are going to start killing each other over jobs!"
"Please ignore the tone of my voice, this is actually quite horrible!"
Scab
2024-12-29 11:58:33
Scab Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 03:03:35
Shakily Scab pushes himself up off the ground. He'd never had a pleasant interaction with Zookeeper, and over time as his wife had struggled more and more a resentment for him grew. Even now, as his past love was being mauled, Zookeeper seemed happy. Taunting.
Scab
2024-12-29 11:58:53
Scab Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 03:03:19
It's Ray he should be gunning for. Yet it was Zookeeper's voice ringing in his ears, he feels the blood rushing to his face like he was boiling from the inside out, and all he could see was a bright, blinding red.
Scab
2024-12-29 11:59:03
Scab Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 03:02:57
Scab takes a short step towards Zookeeper as he throws a punch with his tail hand, moving his entire body with the momentum to knock him into the open machine.
Zookeeper did not move when Scab approached him. In his mind, he thought-
("Maybe he will try to quit.") or ("He might be coming to ask me for help.")
Zookeeper
2024-12-29 11:59:18
Zookeeper Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 03:04:46
He never imagined himself being pushed into the open machine. His arm being torn apart and his head crushed.
Zookeeper?
2024-12-29 11:59:54
Zookeeper? Profile
Posted by ID #53
Last edit: 2024-12-29 12:12:12
The machine made a terrible noise as it came to a halt. While nothing had ever jammed it before, it's as if the machine knew it had just killed its caretaker. Its gears slowly move in reverse, spitting out what was left of Zookeeper. A mangled wreck. Something else came out with him too.
Zookeeper?
2024-12-29 12:00:38
Zookeeper? Profile
Posted by ID #53
Last edit: 2024-12-29 12:15:11
The fighting had stopped. All eyes were on the cekeki that pulled itself out of the machine, wet from its own self produced paint.
"No fucking way." Ray trembles slightly as he approaches the cekeki. "Monsieur?"
He takes a step back, then looks over to Madam.
Madam on the other hand looked on in fear for a moment before grabbing Scab's hand.
"Monsieur died."
"He died."
Zookeeper?
2024-12-29 12:01:41
Zookeeper? Profile
Posted by ID #53
Last edit: 2024-12-29 12:15:06
Whatever that thing was.
Zookeeper?
2024-12-29 12:01:51
Zookeeper? Profile
Posted by ID #53
Last edit: 2024-12-29 12:15:01
It was not Monsieur.
Zookeeper?
2024-12-29 12:02:00
Zookeeper? Profile
Posted by ID #53
Last edit: 2024-12-29 12:14:42
"Block the exits, Ray."
"Ray. Don't listen to him man."
"Not gonna give a man a hug or nothin' huh? Just gonna tell him what to do? Good. I like it simple. Right to the point, boss."
With Madam's hand in his he runs for the elevator.
"Sorry pal. Friendship ended with you the moment you fired me." Ray races to the elevator, the only way down, and blocks it.
"Why would you want that? Why would you want me to be your boss?"
He comes to a stop, not getting too close.
"I didn't wanna fucking own you like some pet, I wanted you to be my friend. My equal."
"Are you his fucking pet, Ray?"
Ray spits a small huff of flames at Scab to get him to back off. "Monsieur, this guy, let me tell you about this guy. Piece of shit you know? I'm loyal to this man, and he has the gall to toss me out in to the streets like nothin'. I cooked for this man you know?"
Zookeeper?
2024-12-29 12:03:50
Zookeeper? Profile
Posted by ID #53
Last edit: 2024-12-29 12:14:38
"I see." The cekeki calmly states as it climbs up into zookeeper.
Ray
2024-12-29 12:04:15
Ray Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 03:07:00
Ray doesn't stop talking despite the small input given back to him. "I tell you. I should have killed your ex-fiancé years ago, but I kept telling myself. What if Monsieur comes back you know? I don't care bout his bitch, but the guy is going to be at least a little broken up when he comes up and learns I took her out."
"Ray. Monsieur is dead."
"No he ain't. He's right there."
Zookeeper?
2024-12-29 12:10:58
Zookeeper? Profile
Posted by ID #53
Last edit: 2024-12-29 12:14:23
"Heh..."
Zookeeper?
2024-12-29 12:11:15
Zookeeper? Profile
Posted by ID #53
Last edit: 2024-12-29 12:14:19
"It's terrible you know..."
Zookeeper?
2024-12-29 12:11:29
Zookeeper? Profile
Posted by ID #53
Last edit: 2024-12-29 12:14:16
"That in a world without WOLVES, DEER MUST STARVE."
[Cult of the Lamb [Official] - Shamura]
2024-12-29 12:13:44
Profile
Posted by ID #2
Last edit: 2025-03-07 20:21:30
"I hear you! There surely has to be ways to stop the inevitability of LIFE, well, I do have a few ideas."
Zookeeper?
2024-12-29 12:14:09
Zookeeper? Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 03:08:08
"We could say, set up a law that allows people to have a limited amount of children, that way the population doesn't get too high and we never become locusts, eating our crops until there's nothing to eat but each other!~"
"What a perfect plan! Surely there will never ever be any cruel undertones, or power struggles about which people get to have children, and which do not!"
"Maybe we could just make it trendy to not have children. That way the population thinks it was their idea. Now that would be genius."
Zookeeper?
2024-12-29 12:15:59
Zookeeper? Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 03:08:55
"What? I see that look on your face. Do you think my plan sucks? Well let's be honest, it'd be the only one that would work. No matter how good you are, or how efficient a species is, uncontrolled population growth will always lead to grasshoppers turning into locusts."
"Do you see why everyone hates the Neo? Life and Death? Every species, intelligent and dumb must one day realize that a total success over their environment will also be their downfall."
"How disgusting it is that Life punishes us for wanting to live!"
"For advancing in medicine so we don't suffer or die before we want to. For securing stable food sources so we don't starve. For making tools to keep out animals that might kill us."
"We just don't want to die."
"And Life loves us for that, for she believes that everyone should prosper and create more life. And, should the population grow too big, should the locusts eat every scrap they can, that's just exciting!"
"For in mass Death, only then can she pick her favorite children to survive."
"And right now I see a few people, who are 'Non optimal.' But that's ok. Cause apparently we're joining forces with a guy with a plan."
"A plan to make as much life live for as long as possible."
"Hhhhh what a wonderful sight it will be."
"Stand still. Be quiet. Prepare to live forever."
Scab
2024-12-29 12:18:57
Scab Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 03:10:16
He squeeze Madam's hand tightly in his own, so afraid of Zookeeper he forgets he's taking a step backwards towards Ray.
"What if I don't want to live forever? What if I want to grow old with my wife, and someday just go to sleep, and not wake up?"
"Then why not just kill yourself right now?"
"If living isn't your goal than DEATH IS."
He glances over towards the windows.
"Asshole! It's not that black and white. Someday I want to die, but that isn't today! Not here, not right now!"
The "cekeki" pops out for a split second. "You're taking up resources that could be used for something else. You and your wife are incompatible, genetically speaking. You're an evolutionary dead-end! Frankly I'm being kind in offering you the freedom you don't deserve."
"I see where you're looking, and I agree. Die."
He looks to Madam, trying to meet her eyes. To see what she's thinking.
Madam flicks her lighter on and off out of stress.
He's looking around the room. To Ray, to the windows, to his wife, to Zookeeper. He's looking for a way out.
"One of the things joining Zoo Corp offered, was that cekekis don't die unless they lose their power. Unless they stop working for too long. Scab.....I've never been scared of living."
Zookeeper?
2024-12-29 12:21:09
Zookeeper? Profile
Posted by ID #53
Last edit: 2024-12-29 16:28:48
"She loves me. She loves Life."
"I've never even considered until now, that you would die, far before me...."
"H-Honey... Of course I would, I'm 39."
"Metaparxi hardly ever live to 60."
"I just.....I'm a silly little thing. I never thought about it. Not once. Maybe I just assumed you'd become a cekeki at some point. I feel like an idiot."
"I...am to blame. I never consider what other people want. I just assume. I guess. Looking back. I realize that becoming a cekeki would be your nightmare, wouldn't it?"
"It's..."
Of course it was.
"But what about you? I never stopped to think about how my death would impact you."
"And we just had a child... I would've..."
He pulls in air between his gritted teeth.
He looks to Zookeeper.
"Is she going to live forever? Is that what's wrong with her?"
Zookeeper?
2024-12-29 12:22:59
Zookeeper? Profile
Posted by ID #53
Last edit: 2024-12-29 16:28:58
"What's wrong with her? You mean what's right with us!"
Zookeeper?
2024-12-29 12:23:21
Zookeeper? Profile
Posted by ID #53
Last edit: 2024-12-29 16:29:03
"I understand, Death has abused you for so long, you think Death is what's right. After all, many people have died before you. They couldn't all be wrong to die like that!"
Zookeeper?
2024-12-29 12:23:33
Zookeeper? Profile
Posted by ID #53
Last edit: 2024-12-29 16:29:07
"If everyone becomes SICK with DEATH then you all start to call it LIFE."
Zookeeper?
2024-12-29 12:23:40
Zookeeper? Profile
Posted by ID #53
Last edit: 2024-12-29 16:29:14
The BEAST slams its fist into the wall, crumbling part of it. "I have NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT."
Options exhausting, he looks back at Ray. His friend.
"Ray, c'mon man..."
"I got you man."
"This shit is fucked, and you ain't Monsieur."
"My pal, Scab here, says he doesn't want to live. I think he's a stupid man for that."
"But I'll kill him."
Ray's mouth begins to heat up the light form it blinding those in the room. "Fuck both of you by the way."
"One of you is going to die and the other, fucking is going to get all sorts of fucked up."
"I promise I won't eat your kid. But I ain't gonna promise I'll raise it good."
"........"
He lets go of Madam's hand.
He turns to her and he smiles softly, sadly. He's shaking but he's smiling for her.
"There's nothing wrong with wanting to live."
"Just. Please don't blame yourself for this, okay? It was my choice to be here, to be with you."
He chokes a little on his words, having to turn away from her, taking a few steps away to keep her from whatever Ray was about to do.
"I love you. Maitre will be okay."
Scab
2024-12-29 12:26:02
Scab Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-23 03:16:16
"Whenever you're ready pal."
"Thank you for being in my life. These last 10 years have been some of the best moments in my life, and for no other reason than you."
"I'm sorry, this is how it has to end. For both of us." Madam, not willing to see Scab burned alive leaves through the elevator after nuzzling Scab briefly.
Ray burns Scab alive. Ray had the mercy to make sure the heat of it would kill him as swift as a fire could.
Zookeeper?
2024-12-29 12:26:52
Zookeeper? Profile
Posted by ID #53
Last edit: 2024-12-29 16:28:42
"Death! Disgusting!"
"Yeah whatever asshole that's wearing my pal's skin."
"When the elevator comes back up, you wanna go to a bar or what?"
Zookeeper?
2024-12-29 12:27:23
Zookeeper? Profile
Posted by ID #53
Last edit: 2024-12-29 16:28:37
"Don't you have a kid to take care of now?"
Ray
2024-12-29 12:27:32
Ray Profile
Posted by ID #53
Last edit: 2024-12-29 12:27:38
"Yeah. That's why I wanna go to bar."
"Chicks dig single fathers."
No one is typing.