Another one for the Weird Archive. If you're prone to headaches or
can't be arsed to read something pretty much confusing and weird,
then please...don't. I'll forgive you <g>

Gem
The Goblin who's chuffed 'cause she got an indirect Christian Bale
reference in there. :)


**
Equilibrium
by Gem.

At first glance it doesn't look that big, or black. You can see the
other side, the inviting ledge, so close, though the nameless faces
tell you otherwise. They sneer and scoff, willing you to fall. But
you move forward, not even sure why.

So you walk the tightrope, struggling to balance, desperate to remain
calm. Yet it looks so inviting, begging you, tempting you, teasing
you with the knowledge that it only takes a second. The urge to let
go is overwhelming, but you know that you will succeed, as long as
you don't look down.

You look.

They laugh at you now, their faces contorted into masks dressing this
dark pantomime. You take a step back to their delight, ignoring the
call of the abyss. The innate sense; the voice whispering in the
shadows. But you won't give up, you can't. Your eyes adjust and you
move forward one step, ignoring the resulting hissing. Though you
hear the call again, louder now. It knows your secrets, your
thoughts. It understands when others don't. The easy way or the hard
way? It would be so easy just to....but you don't, after all, you
can't can you?

Can you?

You feel heavier, tired, but you still walk on, ignoring the dark
thoughts invading you mind, penetrating the ever-weakening barrier.
They goad you; taunt you, pulling you down. If only you could look
straight ahead and take your final journey without fear. Somewhere in
the distance you know someone is waiting, relying on you, though
those hidden sneer at the thought. They stare, their faces covered by
the all-encompassing darkness. They wait for you to slip, to give in.
Again. But not this time, now you're stronger.

Are you?

Taking a deep breath you feel the weight lift, the balance shift;
equilibrium regained. 'For now', they silently add. The play is soon
to reach its third act as you near that point. No return. You take
another deep breath, allowing yourself to smile. You have never
gotten this far before. The air pulsates around you as the hissing
starts again. You nervously place one foot in front of the other as
the cool air hits you. The curiosity begins to nag; you can see the
ledge on the other site, so close you could touch it. Yet you can
also see the black rocks, more effort. You're so tired, too tired to
think. You just want to sleep, just want to ...rest. Almost there
now, to stop wouldn't hurt, would it? Just to pause, regain your
breath.

You stop.

The air suddenly gets colder as the wind rushes around you. You fight
to keep balance, but the rope sways uncontrollably as the black hole
whirls under you. Then the fire starts, the burning heat. Your palms
sweat as the inferno begins to rage. Tired now, so tired. Dante
beckons, and you listen. The barrier destroyed, resolve weakened. So
tired. The whirl comes around again; it rushes past you singing it's
sweet song. Then it is over, the fire put out; the tightrope left
swinging in the breeze.

The howl of joy shatters the silence as the darkness erupts in it's
triumph; one more victory, one more attempt. Though somewhere in the
distance, someone waits. Always patient...

At first glance it doesn't look that big, or black. You can see the
other side, the inviting ledge, so close.