Twisted Machine: a Jojo story (Eng)

Chapter 1: WHAT IN THE WORLD CAN YOU DO

Marlin was heading to her car in the parking lot when she thought she allucinated.

The phone dropped from her hands. Two shining armour-like anthropomorphic figures were punching each other. At least she assumed. It was too quick to spot exactly what was happening. Inhuman cries coming from the direction while the anthropomorphic figures were floating in the air. She froze up and screamed aloud.

Her friend who was heading to her own car in the other direction screamed back and run in her direction calling her name and asking if all was okay.

A fraction of second later the figures just disappeared out of the blue just like they came. There wasn't anything in sight which could testify what she saw. No damages on cars, no blood, anything.

The absence of any physical proof gave Marlin an hard time explaining what happened to her friend Virginia.

Luckly, the latter was very familiar with hallucinations and she calmed her down explaining to her that it all happened in her mind and that nothing dangerous happened. She wasn't judging her, she was completely calm and understanding.

They both sat on the ground of the parking lot. Marlin after some minutes had the strenght to light a cigarette.

"thank you baby, I'm really speachless"

"as I always say.. The mind plays bizarre tricks on us sometimes... You know, when I heard you screaming for a moment I also had the impression of seeing something. You see how bizzare our minds are?"

"yes..  Who knows what my mind wanted to tell me with such an hallucination"

"mmmmh have you been fighting with Sei lately? Maybe you saw some sort of projection of an unsolved issue"

"yeah.. Might be..."

Virginia made sure Marlin  was clear headed enough to drive home, offering her multiple times to stay with her for the afternoon but Marlin kindly declined.

After a few minutes of driving she felt something punch her stomach from the inside. Something she never felt as if something was trying to come out of her stomach.

An image of the classic movie Alien appeared in her mind, making her feel the urge to stop the car. She parked on the side of the road and as soon as she opened the car door she puked her brunch. Avocado and salmon bagel.

"oh fuck" she cried while her mind was dozing off.

She dialed Sei's number crying. "please answer please answer" he did answer. In a very worried tone of voice already. As if he knew something bad happened. He always knows.

She tried to explain the hallucinations and the feeling she had in the car. Completely loosing it this time and freaking out even more than in the parking lot. 

"stop right where you are and find a safe spot. You're not in danger but I don't think those were hallucinations. I'm coming over there".

And that right there was yet another shock. He was not the kind of person who drops whatever he is doing. He is always busy and only comes over when he plans accordingly.  

"S-H-I-T. Something really bad is happening to me" she thought. 

Marlin tried to sing along the radio to calm herself down while sitting on the passenger seat. The windows were open so she could smoke a cigarette. 

So deep in your room, you never leave your room

Something deep inside of me - yearning deep inside of me

Talking through the gloom

What in the world can you do

What in the world can you do

I'm in the mood for your love

For your love

For your love

For your love

"please stop it. Let the Duke alone. He doesn't deserve this. And neither do I. "

Sei was here. She heard his deep and low voice outside the car. She smiled in relief, still confused about what was going on. 

He had parked a few meters away and got there without making any noise, as usual. He could be extremely quiet and sneaky if he wanted to. 

He opened the car's door to let her get out. She run into his arms saying softly "that's it. I've gone mad I'm so sorry for causing you this much trouble." 

"you haven't gone mad" he replied firmly. "I'll try to explain what I think it is in the easiest way possible." 

"do you remember when I was younger? I used to spend time working between Sardegna and Roma?" 

"Yes I recall you told me that but we never got deeper in the topic" 

"there's a reason why we didn't. I wasn't actually working, actually I was working as well.. Let's say I was pretty much multitasking at the time. It was 2011" 

"you never tell me shit..." she scoffed. 

"please listen, I hate repeating myself. 

At the time I got in touch with many different people. Let's say I had a talent that was needed by people who where pursuing a goal, or a dream as they liked to call it.

 I'm not the only one with this kind of, let's say, talent. And people who posses this talent attract each other. That's the first thing I learnt. And this explains why I met these people while working in a completely different business."

He paused and looked to his side. His mind floating in memories. 

" long story short: I offered to help them in exchange of the most powerful currency: information."

"whay did you help them do? And what's about this talent of yours? Is it related to drawing or..." 

"you always focus too much on the words themselves. Words are powerful indeed, but they are nothing but empty shells. What matters is the meaning you fill them with. 

In this specific case, the meaning of talent is: spiritual projection that can manifest itself in the physical plane. "

Marlin's mouth dropped open." what are you even... "

" ok let's cut it. It's easier showing than explaining. We need to get to that point"

He smirked and shouted "INSTITUTE!".