The Mark of the Beast

Its cold, I feel my skin starting to freeze, first on my fingers. I have no familiarity with my surroundings, my eyes struggle to see any light. I am resting against a cold brick wall, my leather jacket struggles to insulate me from the bitter coldness. The pavement is cold, the streets are empty. I don't recall how I got here.

I've spent far too many hours wandering lonely streets. I feel a metal band around my wrist it has a chain attached to it. I try to slip it of my wrist, it won’t come off. I am puzzled how did it get here. I pull on the chain, I feel some resistance, like a dead weight.


I tug on the chain again I feel I’ve moved something. I pull again the chain becomes a little easier to pull. I know now I am not chained to a wall. I tug on the chain again, I hear dragging paws like some animal walking towards me.

I pull harder on the chain now, closer it comes chain spools at my feet, its heavy and its cold. The beast stops in front of me. Sitting against the wall the beast stands looking into my eyes. It moves closer, I feel its hot breath on my nose.

I feel fear for the first time. I reach out with my free hand I touch it, it’s a dog. The dog is big like a huge Great Dane of sorts. It licks me on the cheek. Its black I don’t see any colour in its fur.

I reach into my pocket I search for a lighter, scrimmaging around I find my lighter. "Flick, flick" the lighter burn, the dog stands back slightly in fear. I see teeth, the dog is big, it’s black and has my chain attached to the collar. I try to free the collar, it’s unmovable, too tight to slip over its wide head.

We are stuck together it seems, I slip my hand away I feel a name tag. I hold it my hands. I flick the lighter again, the animal pulls back in fear. I release the lighter. I run my finger over the name tag, maybe it has an owner, why is it attached to me. The two of us stuck in a dark lane way, both lost and unable to be free from each other it seems.

I feel the name tag, I can't make out the marking, I want to use my lighter but I fear what will happen if I startle it. I use my finger nail tracing the letters I make out some letters.

"D" "E" "P" "R"

I release now, its dark, I don’t need rose coloured glasses I am not dyslexic. I run my fingers over its chest, it responds affectionately. It’s attached to me, I wish I could free it.

It flops into my lap, its heavy, I wish I knew how to free the beast, I don't even know how it got stuck to me.

I think its name is depression.

Oz,x