Now, if you want to be able to understand any of this story, you'll need to understand that only three people besides the two of us have made it this far. Out of those people, two came here by accident, and one came here with a purpose in mind. I think you can guess who the more interesting of the trio was.
This guy, this really ridiculously brilliant guy, was... or is it 'is'? I don't know how long it's been. This guy was named Daniel. Not Danny. Not Dan. Dan-i-el. He wouldn't have it any other way. He was fairly tall, taller than I, and had this arrogant look in his eye. I didn't like him right from the start. The arrogant bastard... oh, sorry, I need to remember to mind my language. The arrogant brat was trying to order me around right from the start. Let me make this clear. This is my domain. Nothing and nobody can order me around. I am all-powerful in this place. Except for when people like you seem to pop up here. Eh? Don't sweat it. It doesn't matter. I'm grateful for the company.
Anyway, Daniel was the type of person who probably always gets his way. We clashed from the start. I believe his first words to me were, "So you're the one who narrates for everyone? Great. Tell me the story of my life." I have rules, you know! I don't read people their lives. His was particularly disturbing. Instead, I snarled.
"As if I'd do that." I guess if I had said it more politely, it would've been better, but this was my first time having anyone demand something of me. The others who would later come here were much different, but this first meeting tainted my ideas of what they were like while they stuck around. I know differently now, that Daniel was a bad apple, but he hadn't ruined the whole barrel.
Daniel was, of course, infurated by my swift reply. Dark eyes glowered at me, as if I was some sort of disgusting insect. I'd never seen hatred before. I hadn't disgust, loathing, or anything of that sort. Daniel taught me a lot of that. Well of course I realize not all of you people are like Daniel! I have met two other people besides you, ya know!
It took me a while to adjust to having another person in this space with me. I wanted to ask him all sorts of questions, but at the same time, I didn't want him breathing the same air as me, you know? When you've always had so much space to yourself without another person in sight, you adjust to it, and when someone comes and shares that space with you, it feels strange, like they're violating something. Anyway, let me get back to my story.
Remember how I told you that I had complete power over the settings here? Good. That's about to come into play. Daniel really wanted to know his life story. He wouldn't shut up about it. Hour after hour, day after day... well yeah, this place has time too, ya know. It moves a little differently, I think, but it still exists. Time here is slow. Anyway, Daniel was good at pestering me.
I finally told him I'd show him his life story, in the form of a book. Just like that, a book came into existance in my hands, dark and leathery on the outside, with yellowing, smudged pages inked with both sketches and words to further Daniel's life. The boy practically snatched the damn thing out of my hands.
I kid you not, I held it for a maximum of half a second, and in the next instant, he ran with it, heading for that horizon to your left. I watched him scurry out of sight, his legs flying faster than anything I've conjured up here. Perhaps a minute later, he made a reappearance on the horizon to your right. At first a tiny dot, Daniel flew right by me without so much as a glance in my direction. I'm not joking when I say he did so four more times. I wonder what took him so long.
On his fifth circle he stopped and stared at me. "Something isn't right." He said, glaring at me. "Why are you letting me run... wait, did I just run in one big circle?" I snickered then, grinning.
"This is your fifth one." Daniel was not a happy camper. Temper aside, it was easy to see how cranky he was from lack of sleep, exhaustion, and what appeared to be homesickness. He sat and read the book, until he stopped on the sixteenth page.
"How do you know all this?" Daniel's eyes were squinting at me with a lethal sort of anger. I gave him a blank stare.
"I know what I want to know. You asked, I answered." Forty-five pages later, Daniel stopped and skipped ahead.
"There's no writing here." I blinked at him with surprise. I was seriously considering asking if he was stupid.
"You asked for your life story. This is your story so far." As he was speaking, breathing, living, the things occuring around him were recorded before his very eyes. I'm sure he was surprised, but what did I care? I just wanted him gone.
Hm? Ah, it's getting late. The lights will dim in a while. You should sleep. Don't worry, nothing happens here. Just stay here. If you want a bed, wish for it. I'm sure I can grant it. ...See? Don't look so surprised! I told you I can do stuff like this. Anyway, go to sleep. If you have any questions, just ask.
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A/N: Hey guys! It's been a long time since I've actually written an Author's Note. Anyway, if you wish to interact with my little buddy up there, just send questions, comments, or ideas.
