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VirulentBlurb

@virulentblurb.bsky.social

STRANG3 DAZE 2025. PHAZE 3. (9)

The words are in the ALT TEXT

If you enjoy my work please help me live and continue writing by gifting a small amount to paypal.me/KneelDowne

Thank you for gazing...

STRANG3 DAZE: 2025
PHAZE 3
(9)

Dawn came cold and crisp, as Dawns often do.
You awake from a dreamless sleep.
You are alone.
On the ground before you lies a mound of orange fruit and a battered silver flask.
Tentatively you place a piece of fruit in your mouth.
A sweet taste explodes and you feel energy course through your body. Soon you have finished the meal and place the flask to your lips.
Honeyed water cleanses your dusty throat.
Slowly you pull yourself from the space between the roots.
Early sunlight plays eager through a canopy of leaves.
And there is the girl.
Amelia.
Arms spread wide.
Surrounded by floating dazzling diamonds.
"The GlassWings are migrating!" She cries.
Moving closer you see that the diamonds are in fact tiny delicate insects.
Ornate.
Some splashed with colour that would put church windows to shame.
"They have agreed to guide us." She says.
And then, gazing intently at your face, she nods and smiles.
"The Appleberries have calmed you." She remarks. "Brought you closer into the Now."

Suddenly you become aware of a creaking.
A groaning.

The Forest grows a little darker.
Tighter...

*************

If you enjoy my work please help me live and continue writing by gifting a small amount to paypal.me/KneelDowne

Writing is my only source of income.

Thank you for gazing....

March 9, 2025 at 3:54 PM

VirulentBlurb

@virulentblurb.bsky.social

STRANG3 DAZE 2025. PHAZE 3. (8)

The words are in the ALT TEXT

If you enjoy my work please help me live and continue writing by gifting a small amount to paypal.me/KneelDowne

Thank you for gazing...

STRANG3 DAZE: 2025
PHAZE 3
(8)

The day is darkening when the vast forest comes into view.
The strange girl begins to run and calls behind her.
"Quickly! We must take shelter."
Your muscles burn as you try to keep up.
You pass broken logs and cruel hacked stumps.
"The Marauders have been here." She explains.

As you reach the first trees something black and foul swoops down upon you.
You glimpse wings and spines and jaws...and baleful yellow eyes.

And then you are pulled beneath the deep green canopy.
She lets go of your hand.
"Come...we must get deeper!"

Following her you stumble over roots and rocks in the deepening cloak of dusk.
Until she stops before the trunk of a gigantic tree and crawls into the space between the ancient roots.
"We will be safe here." She says. "They will not venture so deep. The frequencies of the trees repels them."

You catch your breath.
Shaking.
Adrenaline kissed.

She observes you kindly.
"You still wear confusion." She proclaims.

You begin to babble...so many questions.
So little sense.
She nods.
Listens.
Says.

"Calm yourself. All will soon be explained. We are just drops of water, you and I, in an intricate jigsaw puddle."

In the darkness above you hear a terrible screeching and screaming.
It burns into your mind.
A drop of blood drips from your nose.

She sadly shakes her head.

"You need to sleep...we have much to do tomorrow."

You feel anger.
Sleep?
Sleep?!
How can you sleep in a dream?
In a nightmare?

She giggles, like a stream upon playful pebbles.

"It's never stopped you before." She remarks.

The last thing you remember is her glowing violet eyes.
And then everything turns black...

**************

If you enjoy my work please help me live and continue writing by gifting a small amount to paypal.me/KneelDowne

Writing is my only source of income.

Thank you for gazing....

March 9, 2025 at 3:52 PM

VirulentBlurb

@virulentblurb.bsky.social

STRANG3 DAZE 2025. PHAZE 3. (7)

The words are in the ALT TEXT

If you enjoy my work please help me live and continue writing by gifting a small amount to paypal.me/KneelDowne

Thank you for gazing...

STRANG3 DAZE: 2025
PHAZE 3
(7)

Eventually you reach the edge of this blasted land and collapse upon sparse yellowed grass.
Your lungs are burning.
You are so thirsty.
(How can a dream thirst?)
(A nightmare?)

She turns and faces you...the violet eyes intense.
"You look most confusicated." She says.

You gasp for air and ask her where you are.
She seems incredulous.
"Why...this is the Core. The was and is. This is the EverLands."
She pauses.
"I was a young boy when I first fell between the cracks."

You shake your dizzy head and, pointing, you demand to know who she is.

She breathes of the deep.

"I am the sum of my siblings names." She says.
"A crystal broken.
A whisper that roars.
I am the dew of the mourning sun and the sweat on an eager lovers palms."

And then she smiles.

"But you can call me Amelia."

The moment is broken as she glances beyond your shoulder and noticeably stiffens.
You turn to see a black undulating cloud in the purple sky.
You hear a keening.
A shrieking.

She grabs your hand.

"The Howling have our scent...we must reach The Forest of Numerical before they strip the songs from our very bones..."

March 9, 2025 at 3:50 PM

VirulentBlurb

@virulentblurb.bsky.social

March 6, 2025 at 1:19 PM

VirulentBlurb

@virulentblurb.bsky.social

STRANG3 DAZE 2025. PHAZE 3. (6)

The words are in the ALT TEXT.

If you enjoy my work please help me live and continue writing by gifting a small amount to paypal.me/KneelDowne

Thank you for gazing...

STRANG3 DAZE: 2025
PHAZE 3
(6)

Numbly you follow the strange red haired girl across a plain of sand, rocks and fused green glass.
She is talking but it makes no sense to you.
"This is where Phobos tested his Dark Sorcery."
She says.
Presently a ruined structure comes into view.
Crumbling walls.
Broken courtyards.
What appears to be black paintings of people decorate the walls.
She smiles weakly.
"It happened so fast that the departed left their shadows behind."

You become aware of tiny metallic insects swarming around you.
Alarmed she flaps them away.
"You mustn't let the RadFlys land on you. They sting!"

Suddenly you hear a loud clicking noise...from all around.
She purses her lips.
"The Geiger Lizards are singing. This place is not safe...we must leave."

She strides forward and beckons you to follow..

March 6, 2025 at 1:19 PM

VirulentBlurb

@virulentblurb.bsky.social

STRANG3 DAZE 2025. PHAZE 3. (5)

The words are in the ALT TEXT

If you enjoy my work please help me live and continue writing by gifting a small amount to paypal.me/KneelDowne

Thank you for gazing...

STRANG3 DAZE: 2025
PHAZE 3
(5)

You cough yourself awake on an uncomfortable forest floor.
Sleep stains your tired eyes.
Through vision blurred you see the red haired girl peering through a gap in the trees.
Stumbling to your feet you stand upon the bones of Rhinos black.
Elephants.
You crush the brittle bodies of bees.
Monoliths and graves surround you.
Inscribed.
Empathy.
Trust.
Love.

Science.

Knowledge.

"This is the Forest of the Forgotten."
She says.
Her red hair is parted and you gaze into bright violet eyes.
Her coat is battered black leather.
Cinnamon washes around you.
What is this?
What?

You close your eyes and pray to wake up.

She laughs and taps you on the head.

"Don't be silly! Dreams don't wake up! We must leave here now. The Howling are coming."

She drags you, not unkindly, to the break in the trees and you gaze upon a vast desert.

"The Plains of Extinctoinare..." She whispers.
"We need to cross them.
We need to meet him.
He will explain."

She offers you her hand.

Will you take it?

March 6, 2025 at 1:16 PM

VirulentBlurb

@virulentblurb.bsky.social

STRANG3 DAZE 2025. PHAZE 3. (4)
The words are in the ALT TEXT
Today the words become an ongoing story with you as the main character...

If you enjoy my work please help me live and continue writing by gifting a small amount to paypal.me/KneelDowne

Thank you for gazing...

Today's the day that the daily words become an ongoing adventure with you as the main character.
Enjoy...

STRANG3 DAZE: 2025
PHAZE 3 (4)

Another lockdown day.
You pass the day with cleaning chores.
Vacuuming.
Dusting.
Making sure all the pictures are straight.
Finally you come to the large painting on the stairs.
The family heirloom.
The unsettling picture.
Since being a child it has disturbed you.
It seems to be a fantasy piece.
A strange forest with trees that, if you squint in a certain way, resemble numbers.
A faintly purple hued sky.
And a girl with an ominous Owl by her side.
The strange thing is...whenever you gaze at it the girl seems to be in a slightly different place.
(Your parents always dismissed such nonsense.)

And today...

Today you recoil as the girl is closer to the foreground than ever before.
Her black frockcoat buffeted by invisible winds.
Her eyes still obscured by the bright red hair.
Her fingers.
Pointing.

You shake your head and turn away.
Ignore it once again.

*later that night you are awoken by a tearing sound.
A ripping.
And something heavy falling upon the floor.

Footsteps.

A voice breathes sweet in your left ear.

"It's time to go..."

March 6, 2025 at 1:14 PM

VirulentBlurb

@virulentblurb.bsky.social

STRANG3 DAZE 2025. PHAZE 3 (2)
The words are in the ALT TEXT

If you enjoy my work please help me live and continue writing by gifting a small amount to paypal.me/KneelDowne

Thank you for gazing...

STRANG3 DAZE: 2025
PHAZE 3
(2)

Creak.
Creak.
Creak.
A noise from the living room.
Cautiously you open the door and the shock of recognition hits you.
A figure in the rocking chair!
You see the haunted face.
The pain in the eyes.
The loss.
The sorrow.
And the spark of defiance.
Determination.

You feel a mixture of terror and joy.
Of soft cloying melancholy and hope.
Belief.

After all these years you have finally found yourself...

If you enjoy my work please help me live and continue writing by gifting a small amount to paypal.me/KneelDowne

Thank you for gazing....

March 2, 2025 at 4:11 PM

VirulentBlurb

@virulentblurb.bsky.social

STRANG3 DAZE 2025. PHAZE 3. (1)

The words are in the ALT TEXT
If you enjoy my work please help me live and continue writing by gifting a small amount to paypal.me/KneelDowne

Writing is my only source of income.

Thank you for gazing...

STRANG3 DAZE: 2025
PHAZE 3
(1)

You are roused from your evening's stupor by mysterious sounds.
Venturing into your garden you see them!
Sitting in the hedge.
On the bench.
The ground.
Bathed in cold silver moonlight.
A flock of Harmonies is resting at your home.
The tiny beaks and claws.
Iridescent scales.
Sharp diamond eyes.
Delicate lacework wings.

Songs of futures long past surround you....

If you enjoy my work please help me live and continue writing by gifting a small amount to paypal.me/KneelDowne

March 1, 2025 at 2:14 PM

VirulentBlurb

@virulentblurb.bsky.social

STRANG3 DAZE: 2025
PHAZE 2
(9)

Armoured drones dreaming of being butterflies...

February 9, 2025 at 4:11 PM

VirulentBlurb

@virulentblurb.bsky.social

STRANG3 DAZE: 2025
PHAZE 2
(7)

Bankers dreaming of being human...

If you enjoy my work please help me live and continue writing by gifting a small amount to paypal.me/KneelDowne

Writing is my only source of income and you wouldn't expect any other tradesmen to work for free...

February 7, 2025 at 4:33 PM

VirulentBlurb

@virulentblurb.bsky.social

STRANG3 DAZE: 2025
PHAZE 2
(6)

Circuits and wires dreaming of being veins.

Perhaps they already are...

If you enjoy my work please help me live and continue writing by gifting a small amount to paypal.me/KneelDowne

Writing is my only source of income...

Thank you for gazing...

February 6, 2025 at 1:54 PM

VirulentBlurb

@virulentblurb.bsky.social

STRANG3 DAZE: 2025
PHAZE 2.
(5)

Dreams dreaming of being Flesh.
Flesh dreaming of being Dreams.
And we...
The middle ground.

If you enjoy my work please help me live and continue writing by gifting a small amount to paypal.me/KneelDowne

Thank you for gazing...

February 5, 2025 at 2:42 PM

VirulentBlurb

@virulentblurb.bsky.social

STRANG3 DAZE 31

The words are in the ALT TEXT

If you enjoy my work please help me live and continue writing by gifting a small amount to paypal.me/KneelDowne

Thank you for gazing...

STRANG3 DAZE: 2025
(31)

There is a peculiar noise in the house.
You wander from room to room until finally you come to the back bedroom, where your late father's belongings are stored.
You open the door...
The books and files.
The ancient statues.
So much dust.
And there...on the old oak desk.
The Device.
Carved wood and brass panels.
Copper wheels and cogs.
Bronze pipes and silver wires.
The clicking and throbbing intensifies and becomes a steady pulsing beat.
Glowing neon green liquid fills the glass tubes.
And the voice.
That voice.

"Hello again my child..."

If you enjoy my work please help me live and continue writing by gifting a small amount to paypal.me/KneelDowne

Writing is my only source of income and you wouldn't expect any other tradesmen to work for free...

Thank you for gazing...

January 31, 2025 at 4:43 PM

VirulentBlurb

@virulentblurb.bsky.social

January 30, 2025 at 3:25 PM

VirulentBlurb

@virulentblurb.bsky.social

STRANG3 DAZE 30

The words are in the ALT TEXT

If you enjoy my work please help me live and continue writing by gifting a small amount to paypal.me/KneelDowne

Thank you for gazing...

STRANG3 DAZE: 2025
(30)

You awake, with a start, from a horrific nightmare.
Groggy you hear something thrashing around in the darkness.
Struggling.
Above your head.
Fleshy tendrils slap your face.
A stinking fluid drips onto the bridge of your nose.
Cautiously you open your eyes and staring down at you are two luminous yellow orbs.

The Dreamcatcher has snagged another one...

If you enjoy my work please help me live and continue writing by gifting a small amount to paypal.me/KneelDowne

Writing is my only source of income and you wouldn't expect any other tradesmen to work for free...

Thank you for gazing...

January 30, 2025 at 3:25 PM

VirulentBlurb

@virulentblurb.bsky.social

STRANG3 DAZE 29

The words are in the ALT TEXT

If you enjoy my work please help me live and continue writing by gifting a small amount to paypal.me/KneelDowne

Thank you for gazing...

STRANG3 DAZE: 2025
(29)

Twelve months in and the Virus continues to mutate.
Grow.
Thrive.
You cough your morning phlegm into the sink.
Your mucus.
Your blood.

Your life.

But something is different...
The snot is full of letters.

You cough again.

Words.

Retching on your own liquid you deliver the final act.
Porcelain bound a sentence.

DON'T TURN AROUND...

If you enjoy my work please help me live and continue writing by gifting a small amount to paypal.me/KneelDowne

Writing is my only source of income and you wouldn't expect any other tradesmen to work for free...

Thank you for gazing...

January 29, 2025 at 4:27 PM

VirulentBlurb

@virulentblurb.bsky.social

STRANG3 DAZE 28

The words are in the ALT TEXT

If you enjoy my work please help me live and continue writing by gifting a small amount to paypal.me/KneelDowne

Thank you for gazing...

STRANG3 DAZE: 2025
(28)

You awake from an afternoon doze.
The room is in darkness.
Who knew blackness could burn so bright?

The TillerMan is here...
He has chosen his Raven persona.
The top hat.
The silver pocket watch.
Coins for eyes.
The book of transgressions.

It would seem you crossed too many realms in your fitful dreams.

He reaches towards you.

What price will you pay?

If you enjoy my work please help me live and continue writing by gifting a small amount to paypal.me/KneelDowne

Writing is my only source of income and you wouldn't expect any other tradesmen to work for free...

Thank you for gazing...

January 28, 2025 at 12:59 PM

VirulentBlurb

@virulentblurb.bsky.social

Today's words
HOLLOWCAUST

The words are in the ALT TEXT

If you enjoy my work please help me live and continue writing by gifting a small amount to paypal.me/KneelDowne

Thank you for gazing...

Today's words...

HOLLOWCAUST:

We turn our heads
And look away.
A problem
For another day.
These aren't
My kin.
These aren't my
Kind.
Just play
The
Dumb.
Pretend
You're
Blind.
These aren't my shoes.
My tags.
My teeth.
Everything's fine.
Ignore
The
Grief.
Lock your door
And
Take
The coin.
A blessed
Cause.
A
Rotting
Loin.
Shut the windows.
Shut
The door.
Wave goodbye.
To strange.
And poor.
Cross yourself
And pray
To
God.
Your
Neighbors.
Under
Blood
Stained
Sod.

We need to look
And
See
And
Learn.

We need
To
Stop
The
Furnace
Burn.

*Never ever fucking ever forget...

If you enjoy my work please help me live and continue writing by gifting a small amount to paypal.me/KneelDowne

Writing is my only source of income and you wouldn't expect any other tradesmen to work for free...

Thank you for gazing...

January 27, 2025 at 5:49 PM

VirulentBlurb

@virulentblurb.bsky.social

STRANG3 DAZE 27

The words are in the ALT TEXT

If you enjoy my work please help me live and continue writing by gifting a small amount to paypal.me/KneelDowne

Thank you for gazing...

STRANG3 DAZE: 2025
(27)

You yawn and begin the daily routine.
Gaze bleary eyed into the mirror.
Brush your hair.
Wash your hands and face.
Brush your teeth.

The same every single day.
But behind the routine lies the charade.
The lie...

You haven't seen your reflection since that night in Paris in 1721...

If you enjoy my work please help me live and continue writing by gifting a small amount to paypal.me/KneelDowne

Writing is my only source of income and you wouldn't expect any other tradesmen to work for free...

Thank you for gazing...

January 27, 2025 at 5:47 PM

VirulentBlurb

@virulentblurb.bsky.social

STRANG3 DAZE 26

The words are in the ALT TEXT

If you enjoy my work please help me live and continue writing by gifting a small amount to paypal.me/KneelDowne

Thank you for gazing...

STRANG3 DAZE: 2025
(26)

You have been awake all night listening to the Great Odin Storm batter your house.
As dawn breaks you venture nervously outside to survey the damage.
You can hear nonsensical voices.
Snatches of garbled conversation.
A tree has fallen into the Communications Mast, splitting it in half.
E-mails hang in the hedge.
Text messages flap weakly on the drenched grass.
Broken conversations slide around your feet.
"Hello."
"Sorry."
"See you soon babe."
Apologies.
Work news.

You realize you have trodden in an illicit afair...

If you enjoy my work please help me live and continue writing by gifting a small amount to paypal.me/KneelDowne

Writing is my only source of income and you wouldn't expect any other tradesmen to work for free...

Thank you for gazing...

January 26, 2025 at 3:44 PM

VirulentBlurb

@virulentblurb.bsky.social

STRANG3 DAZE 25

The words are in the ALT TEXT

If you enjoy my work please help me live and continue writing by gifting a small amount to paypal.me/KneelDowne

Thank you for gazing...

STRANG3 DAZE: 2025
(25)

The lockdown is getting you down.
The boredom.
You decide to start spring cleaning early.
The cupboards.
The drawers.
So much junk.

And there, in the bottom of the wardrobe you find your long departed lover's face.
The skin as brittle and thin as the truth.
Mold has applied the rouge.
Spiders have built temples in the eyes...

If you enjoy my work please help me live and continue writing by gifting a small amount to paypal.me/KneelDowne

Writing is my only source of income and you wouldn't expect any other tradesmen to work for free...

Thank you for gazing...

January 25, 2025 at 7:49 PM

VirulentBlurb

@virulentblurb.bsky.social

STRANG3 DAZE 24

The words are in the ALT TEXT

If you enjoy my work please help me live and continue writing by gifting a small amount to paypal.me/KneelDowne

Thank you for gazing...