ALISTER (Tales of evolution)

The unraveling

Days blurred into weeks, and weeks into months, as Alister isolated himself in his cluttered, dimly lit room. Empty pizza boxes, chip packets, and beer bottles littered the floor. His once-sharp mind now dulled by alcohol and grief.

One fateful morning, Alister stirred, his husky voice barely above a whisper. “What day is it?” He rose from his disheveled bed, his hair tousled, clothes sweat stained, and eyes bloodshot.

Stumbling to the refrigerator, he muttered, “Only one beer left.” With a resigned sigh, he retrieved the last bottle and returned to his bed. “Now I’ll have to restock the fridge,” he mumbled, annoyance lacing his tone.

In one swift motion, he downed the remaining beer, the empty bottle joining the countless others that had become his sole solace.

As the last drop drained, Alister’s gaze wandered, lost in a sea of despair, his eyes now a cold, dead stare, devoid of hope.

Alister’s gaze drifted towards the window, where sunlight struggled to penetrate the pitch black Curtains. A sudden urge to escape his self-imposed prison struck him. “I need to get some more beer,” he muttered, but his resolve faltered as reality dawned: he hadn’t left his room in months.

His eyes scanned the cluttered space, landing on the dusty phone on his bedside table. Forgotten, like his connections to the outside world. He picked it up, blowing off the dust. The screen sprang to life, revealing a barrage of missed calls and messages.

Fifteen missed calls from various numbers, all from friends and acquaintances. “How are you doing?” “Why haven’t I seen you in months?” “Is everything okay?” The messages blurred together, a cacophony of concern.

Alister’s expression twisted in frustration. “I do have time for this,” he growled, shoving the phone into his pocket.

Despite his exhaustion, he forced himself to stand, surveying his reflection in the mirror. Sunken eyes, gaunt cheeks, and unkempt hair stared back. He looked rough, worn down by grief and isolation.

With a resigned shrug, Alister slipped on a long black jacket, covering his disheveled clothes. He stepped into scuffed shoes, not bothering to tie the laces.

Without bothering to check himself, he opened the door.

“ Huh! Damn that’s bright!” he muttered, squinting his eyes against the sun’s intensity. The fresh air hit him like a slap, jolting his senses.“ It really has been a while hasn’t it”

Alister trudged towards the nearest liquor store, his feet carrying him on autopilot. The familiar routine offered a fleeting sense of normalcy. As he pushed open the door, a bell above it rang out, announcing his return to the world outside.

“Hey, Alister! Long time no see! How are you holding up?” the store owner called out, concern etched on his face.

Alister managed a faint smile, obviously avoiding direct eye contact. “Just need some beer.”

The owner nodded sympathetically. “These are tough times for all of us, buddy but they won’t last forever “.

Alister’s response was a curt nod, as he grabbed a six-pack and headed to the counter.

The transaction complete, Alister stepped back into the sunlight, his hand shielding his eyes from the sun, the weight of his isolation still heavy on his shoulders. The beer clutched tightly in his hand, promising a temporary reprieve from the overwhelming emptiness within.

Alister walked away from the store, the six-pack tucked under his arm, his gaze fixed on the pavement. The warm sun on his skin and the gentle breeze carried the sounds of laughter and drifts of conversations from a nearby football field.

As he approached the field, Alister’s eyes drifted towards the players, their joyful shouts and cheers piercing the fog of his grief. Memories long buried began to resurface – memories of carefree days, of laughter and camaraderie, of sweat-drenched matches with his friends.

His feet slowed, and he found himself standing at the field’s edge, watching the players weave and dodge on the grass. A tall, lanky player scored a goal, and the team erupted in triumph, their smiles radiant.

Alister’s gaze lingered on the celebrating team, and for an instant, his expression softened. A small, unconscious smile crept onto his lips, the first in months. The simple joy of the players was infectious, transporting him back to a time when life wasn’t shrouded in sorrow.

A player noticed Alister standing at the edge of the field and waved, inviting him to join.As if remembering his sorrows Alister’s smile faltered, and he quickly looked away, shaking his head. The moment of connection was fleeting, but its impact lingered.

As he continued his walk home, the sounds of laughter and playful shouts faded into the distance. Alister’s thoughts swirled, memories of his happier days resurfacing. He recalled Ryan and Emily Johnson, his foster parents, cheering him on from the sidelines.

The smile returned, faint but persistent, a glimmer of hope in the darkness. Alister didn’t notice, but the weight of his grief had shifted,if ever so slightly.

As Alister walked towards his apartment, the serene atmosphere was shattered by the ear-piercing wail of police sirens. He turned back to see a chaotic car chase unfolding. Police cruisers were hot on the chase of a black sports car on high speed, it’s movement shaking the pavement.

Alister’s eyes widened in bewilderment. “What, high-speed chase?”.

The black sports car zoomed past Alister, splashing water from a puddle onto his pants. The police cruisers followed in hot pursuit, sirens blaring.

Curiosity getting the better of him, Alister wondered what had sparked this bizarre pursuit. His gaze followed the chase to a massive bank nearby, where a car had apparently been rammed.

A crowd had gathered, drawn by the commotion. Alister’s adrenaline surged, and he found himself running towards the crowd, craving the thrill of action after months of isolation.

As he approached, a gunman emerged from the car, accompanied by two others. The skin man, face hidden behind a black mask, held a gun In its jaws and began firing into the air.

Panic set in. People screamed, scattering in all directions. Alister’s heart racing, he joined the frantic crowd, desperate to escape.

But chaos turned to carnage. The men began shooting randomly, targeting innocent bystanders. Alister watched in horror as the police officers fell, their bodies crumpling to the ground.

A stray bullet found its mark. Thick red blood gushed out to the ground, Alister felt an excruciating pain in his chest, and his world went dark as consciousness slipped away.

Within Alister’s body: a multicolored orb embedded in his heart, slowly cracking. A vibrant blue gaseous substance, seeped out, spreading through his veins.

Suddenly, there was no more pain in his body, he couldn’t feel anything, just the sensation of floating, detached from the strangling chains that bounded him to this world.

“Death?”

“Is this what Death feels like? ”

With that, Alister’s vision faded, consumed by an eerie silence.