Turquoise Puppet

Prologue

Tell, what have I done with my life?

You are the survivor of a series of unfortunate events induced by none other than yourself. Looking back now, you acknowledge all the million different ways you could have prevented this outcome. It is too late, you realize as you lie on the hospital bed, all alone. You gambled in a zero-sum game and lost magnificently. It was a gamble you did not have to initiate; it was the heat of a moment that started it—no. You shake your head, correcting yourself in your mind. You yourself had started it in the heat of a moment; there is no point in blaming anyone or anything else now, even if that thing is fate itself.

After it all, you know for certain that there was no "invisible hand" guiding your actions ultimately proven foolish. It is you and you alone that is to blame for your situation now.

That being said, as you lie in bed, wide awake, you feel a presence looming over yours. You cannot see anyone, but you suspect you know what kind of being it is.

If it isn't Satan himself, coming to get me, you think to yourself.

So close to death that you can feel me, is it...comes the alluring voice of a man you don't recognize, alas, your time has not yet come. The gates of the abyss will open for you in due time, but for now, go back to sleep...Koen Bauder.

You don't have the strength. Otherwise, you imagine you would chuckle wryly. This must be a just punishment for what you've done, you think to yourself—even hell would not take you in and end your misery. The voice that spoke in your head did not introduce himself, but he did not deny it when you named him as Satan.

Even the devil would not have you.

For a moment, you wonder if what you did was just that sinful. The next instant, you smirk to yourself, answering your own mindless question with of course it was.

What to do, now, with this life of yours?

Oh, well. You decide to go back to sleep and figure it out tomorrow.