tongue of the serpent ➵ a.b.

Chapter 19: The Skull of God

"Song By Your Judge week," Andy sighs, walking in circles around the room. The mirror reflects, not only his frame, but his tension due to my soul nearing his own. "I'm clueless what to do."

"What album should the song be from?" I ask, sitting on the floor staring at the disgruntled man before me.

He licks his lips and scratches the back of his neck. "I dunno..." He turns his head, looking at my body that is different in every way. "To me it doesn't matter."

"My favorite album is easily Wretched and Divine," I state, blushing a little.

Andy smiles at me. "You ever seen Legion of the Black?"

Yes. Of course I have. It was their movie for Christ's sake! "I think I still have a copy somewhere."

Andy nods, sending his innermost thoughts forward, causing his thinking patterns to break apart. "Ugh, I forgot what I was going to say."

I laugh softly. "I'm sorry I did that thing behind your back."

Andy seems to roll his eyes. But in a pleasurable way that shows forgiveness. He sends his body to the ground, a couple feet from my own. "I wouldn't have been mad if you would've just told me. We could've worked together."

"Eh," I said, not worrying much. "I didn't want to interrupt your beautiful thinking patterns." I smile jokingly.

Andy bears his teeth and supplies the silence around us with a small chuckle. "So," he stretches out the vowels. "Days Are Numbered?"

"Not to be mean, but that's my least favorite in the album." Did I go too far?

Andy pouts, and I force back a grin. "I Am Bulletproof?"

"Nah."

"You hate that one too, don't you?"

I look at him, big-eyed and an open jaw. "I don't hate any of them!" I pout, "It's just some have a special place in my heart. Unlike others."

Andy twists his lips and stands up again, cracking his back slightly. "Reasonable."

I smirk when he looks away. "I think I know your favorite on the album."

He turns aggressively towards my figure. "Oh, really?"

"Yes," I supply back, confident and ready to strike.

I crawl my way to the stereo and plug in my iPhone. I go down my album list and find "Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones" and thumb down the list until I get to my favorite song, and also Andy's, on the album.

I press play and piano chords begin to fill the soft, fragile room. My hands seem to float away from my phone and I stand, looking at Andy. His face is in content. He is calm and looking at me from a distance. Lost it All.

His eyes swarm with his unanswered questions behind his skull; the skull of God. His hands squeeze up in tension and he lets out a silence-piercing sigh.

I build up my courage and walk slowly to him, matching the piano chords with my steps. "I owned the world; with these hands I shook the Heavens to the ground." His face relaxes as I sing, a soft, mellow chime. "I laid the guns...to rest..." I turn around, facing the mirror.

Andy walks up behind me. "I held the key to the kingdom - lions guarding castle walls," he speaks softly, singing to his own voice in monotone.

"Hail the king...of death," together we ring.

The silence becomes no more as the china on the drums is rung to a beat. "And then I lost it all - dead and broken. My...back's against the wall," I sing at a whisper. "Cut me open. I'm just tryin' to breathe, just tryin' to figure it out. 'Cause I built these walls to watch them crumbling down. I said," I pause, "and then I lost it all." I look up at the mirror and passionately stare into the swirling mass of baby blue eyes. "And who can save me now?"