The Last One

by Rachel Howzell Hall

Because, sweet honey in the rock, if this is the man who’s gonna save me, I’d let Johny capture me all over again. Not really. But still…

If he lived somewhere other than here, he’d be a dashing knight or a powerful sorcerer. Too bad he’s a no one stuck in a shit-colored town.

“The three sculls up top represent man in his three states: baby, adult, old. The two sculls beneath represent animals and nature. Dogs, bears, mountains, lakes. The circle in the middle is the emperor, supposedly. And the big scull at the base, holding everything up, is Supreme. Naturally.”

“In the beginning of the world, Syrus Wake was born, the first child of the original man and woman. And because he is the long-living, immortal firstborn of the first race, he is to be worshipped.”

Kaivara holds fire, and in the other hand, she holds a cloud filled with rain.

The questions you should be asking are, ‘Where do I go next? Who must I become to get there?’”

Under the cover of night, weak men always find the courage to do their worst.

“Don’t let his rejection make you become someone you weren’t supposed to become.

“Scorch his world by simply believing you are worthy of being loved by a person who will love you always.

You don’t want to hurt me? Guess what? You failed. You hurt me. Fuck you.”