TREAD THE BACKWARD SPIRAL: A Tale of the Bizarre

The story below first appeared in Cyber-Psychos AOD. For more tales of the weird and wild, check out:

Best Little Witch-House in Arkham




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Tread the Backward Spiral
by Mark McLaughlin

A: Preparation

Sever all ties with society. Erase from memory all affections and accomplishments. Forsake all pleasures.

Fast for nine days. See no human face during that time. Remove the cathode-ray tube from a vintage television set. Place the tube in the center of a windowless room. There can be no wiring or pipes in the walls.

B: Invocation

By the light of a small black candle, take nine steps away from the tube. Stand completely still until the candle flame dies.

Walk backward through the dark in a tightening spiral. Return to the tube in exactly nine rounds.

The tube will glow white, then blue, then green. A beach of black sand will appear on the screen. Look to the oily, black waters and wait. An oddly eroded being will emerge from the waves.

Notice the delicate gill slits that line the jaws of this being. It cannot tarry in the open air for long. Do not vex this being by prolonging the encounter. Avoid the gaze of the Subject of the Spiral.

C: Incantation

Speak these words to the Subject: "Open to me the darkness that mindlessly devours. Open to me the yearning that rips the soul to shreds. Open to me the Way of true knowledge."

D: Revelation

Proceed to make inquiries of the Subject. This being, incapable of speech, instructs through visualization. Tutorial images will appear on the screen. Learn of the foolishness of passion, of ambition, of vanity. Learn of the wisdom that comes with an utter lack of self.

Many visions will come unbidden. A stone building with veined walls that pulse and shudder. Fleshy trees, acrawl with voracious crystal insects. Metal cubes soaring on impossible wings. This is the world of the Spiral.

In this place, all is alive – even the black ocean. That is why the Subject is partially disintegrated. The Subject dwells in a sea that constantly strives to digest It. In turn, the Subject drinks deep of the living waters, extracting sustenance to grow new flesh.

Centuries will pass, and the Subject will grow old and weak. The greater hunger of the ocean will at last triumph. Much can be discerned from this example.

Existence is a spiral of relentless hunger. One may dwindle to naught or expand to infinity. Either way, escape is impossible.

E: Damnation

The Subject of the Spiral must be recompensed. Forfeit all identity to the Subject. This nourishment will help It to stave off the ravages of the dark sea.

Having fed, the Subject will depart. The image of the dark beach will fade from the screen.

Leave the windowless room. Return to society. Wander, ragged and vile, among others of your kind. Feel the hungry Spiral twist within you.

Others will peer, out of pity, into your eyes of living glass.

Appease the Spiral. Feast on their souls.

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