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墨書 Inktalez
Marbury instinctively wanted to reject the man's words; everything felt too strange and unnatural. He told himself he should leave, as this man exuded an indescribable aura of danger. However, just as he was about to voice his refusal, the man suddenly grabbed his wrist roughly. The hand was dry and bony, like a skeletal claw, gripping Marbury's wrist with astonishing strength, causing him to wince in pain.
"You—" Marbury prepared to shout, wanting to break free, but in that instant, a wave of intense agony surged into his mind, overwhelming all his rational thoughts like a flood. The world before him twisted and blurred suddenly, and scenes flashed through his mind like frames from a movie.
In those images, he saw a man—fat, bloated, and listless—who was unlike anyone he had ever encountered. This man radiated an air of decay; both his body and soul were filled with the exhaustion of being crushed under the weight of life. He lived a lifeless existence, his body seemingly wrapped in layers of fat, moving with heavy and feeble steps. His job was merely that of an ordinary security guard, sitting day after day in the security room, idly passing each boring night without any future or hope.
The emptiness, helplessness, and feeling of being utterly abandoned by society pierced Marbury's heart like a blade, bringing forth a gut-wrenching pain.
"What... what is this?" Marbury's breath quickened as he stared blankly at the scene before him. He tried to comprehend it all but found himself trapped in this invisible force with no way to escape.
The next images were even more brutal. He watched as the man walked toward the abyss of self-destruction, repeatedly sinking into endless self-denial and completely giving up on life. Fat, lazy, incompetent—everything corroded his soul until he became a worthless person abandoned by both society and himself. The entire scene was filled with countless failures and pains of that man; each frame silently screamed and struggled.
Marbury was stunned; his hand remained firmly gripped by the man, unable to break free. His eyes had unknowingly turned red, vision blurring as tears welled up. The pain felt like a massive flood dragging him into the abyss.
"Is this... you?" Marbury's voice trembled, barely audible. The despair and loss in those images resonated with the deepest emotions hidden within him. He had never felt such intense pain; this anguish from deep within his soul left him utterly defenseless.
The man lowered his head slightly, forcing a bitter smile that revealed infinite darkness in his gaze. "This was once me, and it is also... the future you will become if you continue down this path, Marbury. You too will become a worthless person abandoned by society—valueless and unable to escape your failures."
As Marbury listened to these words, the defenses within him crumbled completely. Tears finally fell uncontrollably as pain and fear consumed his heart. He knew the man spoke the truth; every moment captured in those images reflected his deepest fears—the powerless version of himself with no future. He had been avoiding all of this, but now that fear had finally become reality.
"No... I don't want to become like this..." Marbury murmured softly, his tone filled with helplessness and despair.
The man leaned closer to Marbury, his voice hoarse and eerily resonant as if whispering from the depths of hell: "Follow me, Marbury; let us find true power together and break free from the shackles of this society... You don't have to continue living such a meaningless life; you can take control of your own destiny."
Marbury stood rigidly in place, the beer in his hand trembling slightly, producing a faint "thud" sound. With the man's words, his grip on the can grew weaker, as if its weight pressed down on his very soul. The familiar waves of self-loathing and helplessness surged within him once more. He looked down at the beer in his hand, wanting to say something, but his throat felt constricted, rendering him speechless.
He knew he had reached a point of no return in his life. Growing up in a single-parent household, the poverty and chaos at home had tightly bound him like chains throughout his existence. He had a sister and a brother, but like him, they were all castaways in this society. They had been neglected since childhood, with parents who showed no concern for their upbringing; the pressures of life had shattered their family into pieces.
Marbury remembered that their family survived mainly through various underworld jobs, with strangers constantly coming and going from their home. His sister and brothers did not live normal lives like other families. Having witnessed such a life from a young age, he was already filled with weariness and helplessness, yet he also understood that he lacked the ability to escape this fate.
Books were never taken seriously by them. Neither school nor home emphasized the importance of knowledge, and no one ever truly guided him. He knew his education had been neglected, and his life was already half ruined. No matter how hard he tried, it seemed impossible to change this reality. The bitterness and confusion of life felt like a vast net that ensnared him tightly.
At that moment, a deep sense of despair welled up within Marbury. He looked at the beer can in his hand, feeling its cold aluminum like shackles he could not break free from. His hands trembled even more violently, and his gaze dimmed. He thought about how if he continued down this path, he would inevitably end up like those trapped in the underworld—living a life without a home or dignity, becoming another victim of society's lower class like his family.
"I..." Marbury's voice quivered as he struggled to respond. He couldn't determine whether he should accept the man's invitation, but his heart was filled with disgust and despair towards reality. He knew he was sinking deeper into the mire, almost unable to see any hope.
The man's voice rang out again, laced with an irresistible temptation: "Your life is not over yet, Marbury. You have a choice—a chance to change everything. Follow me, and I will give you the power to no longer be a victim of society, to no longer be abandoned by this world."
Marbury tightened his grip on the beer can, tears welling in his eyes. He knew this might be his last choice.
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