As the day comes to a close and as the artificial sun disappears over the horizon. The restless realm of Olympus began its routine night operations and activities. Factories continued to pump out raw resources and materials for the Order to use, while the Order Militant conducted nightly military drills. Though some areas do sleep, the mission does not. Humanity needed their defenders in a constant state of alertness. They don’t have any other luxury.

  If there was a benefit to living in Olympus, it was how walkable the archipelago nation was. It took Frank only a few minutes to get back to his flat. Even quicker now that he had The Voice wanting to speak to him once more. Some people, most of whom were his students, noticed Frank and wanted to talk to him. He walked past them. Not saying hello or any goodbyes. He was a danger to them, and most don’t know it.

  Frank let out a disappointed groan as he walked into his flat and immediately closed the door behind him. He only felt shame at the state he left it in. The floor was covered in dirt, empty alcohol bottles scattered all over his flat, and it even had a husky smell that he never was able to get rid of. There was a time when his place was clean and respectable, but that was only when he was truly alone.

  ‘This is a sad state, Frank.’ The Voice whispered to him from behind, its tone sounding pity at the condition of his home.

  He grits his teeth, not wanting to speak to The Voice. But Frank knew it was time to confront it. ‘Alright, we are here now. What do you want?’

  ‘I want you to honour our deal. You can’t just leave me here forever. I want to have a turn.’

  ‘We both know I can’t do that. You will put us both at risk. So, you will have to stay out for both of our sake.’

  The Voice growled, like a beast being cornered by a more ferocious foe. ‘That is not fair, and you know it! Frank, it is long overdue. I demand to take control.’

  ‘And get us all killed?’ Frank scoffed as he made his way to the kitchen. ‘No, I will not risk our lives because you want to come out.’

  While Frank reached out to open his fridge to grab a beer, his body froze in place. He grunted, trying to wrestle back control so he could get his medicine to silence the noise in his head. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t break out of its grip.

  Against his will, Frank's head turned to the left to face his dusty window. At the corner of his reflection, he sees it. A shadowy creature, its form distorted by dust and the foggy glass. But he wasn’t afraid, Frank knew who it was. The Voice, the hunger that he tried to bury deep into his heart.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  ‘I will kill us?’ The Voice mocked. ‘Look around, Frank. You are doing that already.’

  ‘I am grieving. You should know by now that I don’t handle death well.’

  The shadow shook its head, or at least what Frank thought was its head. ‘No, Frank. Don’t put Alek or your previous student deaths on this. Your drinking habits are only getting worse as the years go by. You are also isolating yourself from the world. Other than going to work, you never socialise or meet new people. How can you? Why would you make yourself suffer like this? However, let’s not point out your struggles. It has been a decade, Frank. I want you to follow our agreement. I want to be free.’

  ‘Not until I say so!’ Frank grunted as he broke out of The Voice’s grip. ‘Times have changed. You can’t get what you want regardless of what sort of deal we both have made.’

  ‘That is not how it will work, Frank. You will not delay what I am owed. You have to honour our deal!’

  ‘Shut up!’ Frank opened the fridge and grabbed a chilled half empty bottle of whisky. ‘I am in charge! We both agreed that I will have the final decision on our matters.’

  The Voice grumbled but bit its tongue before saying something venomous. ‘We will talk about this soon. I’ll leave you alone till tomorrow to think what we talked about. But I will warn you, I do not approve of this conversation and its outcome.’

  Having enough, Frank raised the bottle to his lips and drank what was left. Drowning the voice away so he could be alone once more. But one bottle wasn’t enough. The taste of the intoxicating beverage made him thirst for more. He went through his fridge and every remaining supply of booze he had on hand to make The Voice leave him alone for a lot longer.

  However, even if Frank drank away. The Voice watched it all unfolded. It could tell Frank was afraid of it and what it could do. But behind all of the destructive acts… it pitied him.

  There was more to Frank than it could recognise, a deep sadness that lurks in his heart. It is time, The Voice thought while it watched Frank become unable to stand or slur a coherent word and eventually made his way to the bathroom to pass out.