Most of Narcissus is actually intact. The rolling hills and domes still pervade the area. It's the shopping district that has suffered the most damage, due to both looting and destruction caused by citizens hopped up on the Tithonus brand power steroid.
As a result, commercial areas have been abandoned for the most part. There may be squatters here and there, but the residents that are left don't venture there. The residential areas are fine for the most part, especially those on the outskirts of the district.
Paid access is no longer necessary to venture into the land that used to be Narcissus. After Titus' disappearance (which many do not know the circumstances of), the general infrastructure of the area falls into disarray. What is left of Tithonus will stop funding the Narcissus project in an effort to save face. The health, wellness, and fitness facilities and services that Narcissus was once known for will cease to exist. Residents will have to accommodate medical and wellness needs elsewhere.
The power steroid had perhaps, worked too well. Though Titus was loathe to complain about the entire situation. It had been some time since he witnessed true destruction --true deterioration of the human mind into savagery. So far, the show had been extremely worth the watch.
Titus idly sipped a glass of wine as he took in the streets of Narcissus below him. Shops that were once filled with customers belched flames from their windows. Bodies dotted the scenery, unfortunate victims of the mutated beasts that had warped themselves in an effort to reach their full, superpowered potential. It was a shame, really. He had had such high hopes for the little vial of power steroid. But there is success even within failures. Perhaps another time, in another life, he could right the wrongs of his work and create something even better.
Tithonus’ building was not exempt from the dangers. Frantic radio messages had already informed him of the experiments’ --no, his children. He had handcrafted them, they were really nothing less at this point-- mass escape. Some had left the district indefinitely, setting a course for freedom and whatever it may bring. Others were still tearing through the aboveground levels of the Tithonus facility. There was blood on their minds and blood on their hands, revenge twisting their desires into something dark and lethal. It was only a matter of time before someone burst into the sanctuary of his office. He was quite sure that when it happened, it would be his end.
He coughed into the pit of his elbow, the smoke agitating his lungs. Titus had awaited his death many times before. He was never quite sure of what to do before the final blow. (When it wasn’t a suicide, of course. He knew expressly what he needed to do in those situations). After his first death, there really wasn’t much for him to reconcile with himself. He had lived full lives, was quite satisfied with each. There was never anyone he wanted to see in his last moments, or anyone he wished to apologize to for his transgressions. It simply wasn’t in his nature.
Titus swivelled in his chair. He was bored, extremely so. He had attempted to watch television earlier, before the cable had cut out. But nothing of interest had been on. The news seemed hellbent on covering The Big Tithonus Scandal. While Titus appreciated the coverage (being the center of attention was pure bliss, no?), he had grown tired of the story. He had lived it after all. He knew all the juicy details.
What had surprised him was that the media had obtained footage of his inner laboratories. There must have been a mole somewhere, though at this time he really couldn’t pinpoint whom it could have been. Titus’ guess was Jerry, down in the Bio-Weaponry Testing Department. He never seemed with the program… always complaining about ethics and basic human rights. The man was a killjoy, most definitely. Please stop please don’t do it please for the love of god get that scalpel away from their eyes you’re a monster stop it just stop it, indeed.
What time is it? he sighed inwardly. Titus had shut off his phone. Too many nosy people had been trying to reach him. He debated for a moment on whether or not it’d be worth it to start up a movie, when there was a gentle knock on his door. Titus blinked. Well, it was about time.
“Come in,” he called. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
A young girl slipped into his office, dark hair spilling onto the floor in low pigtails. She had not been his first guess as to who his last visitor would be, but her presence was not entirely surprising. The recovery team had been swift to retrieve Tithonus’ lost lamb, after the order had been given out. He’d let the girl have her fun, but her return home had been long overdue.
Titus smiled indulgently.
“Hello, Pestilence. It is good to see you.”
She stared at him, eyes gleaming red in the dim light. Her face was bare, nose soaking up the toxins of the polluted air. His smile grew just a little wider at the sight of the frown that marred her face. This conversation had been a long time coming, he knew. And he was sure that it would be entertaining.
“You’ve grown so much, since the last time I spoke to you.” Titus arose from his chair and sauntered towards her. He patted her on the head, continuing on, “You’re seventeen now, aren’t you? As of the this past March. Time really does fly.
“You’ve done very well for yourself, I’ve heard. You’ve integrated into society, learned new things about this world, made friends… I’ve even heard that you have a girlfriend. Congratulations. I’m glad that you’re happy.”
Pestilence glared off to the side, avoiding his gaze. A petulant child, as always. But she was his child and she was cute because of it. Titus pulled her into a hug, affectionate in his last moments. He chuckled as she stiffened in response.
“You… are a terrible man,” she murmured into his shoulder.
“I know.”
“You have done many terrible things…” she went on.
“I know.”
She grunted, fingers clutching the fabric of his shirt. Titus was sure that this was not how she had envisioned this confrontation. He could feel the frustration coming off of her in waves.
“Do you want an apology?” he asked. “I cannot say that it will be heartfelt. But hearing it might make you feel better.”
“No…” Pestilence sighed. “That is not what I seek from you… It used to be… but it is not anymore.”
“Surely, you had to have come up here for a reason. Is it revenge? I can hardly blame you. I’ve hurt you so much. It is only fair that you hurt me in return. I read through your archives, you know. Very emotional stuff. I cried reading the posts.” She huffed in annoyance, pushing away from you.
Titus laughed. Really, such a cute child.
“A monster such as you cannot feel. I know this well… I have read of you in fairytales... of dolls that are beautiful but no heart do they possess.” In the distance he could hear footsteps. They were thunderous, they were many.
“I will not do it,” she murmured quietly. “I have made my peace… with what I am and where I came from. But they…” the roar grew louder, a cacophony of screams joining the noise, “They have not.”
They flooded into his office, a sea of the mutated and sick --their bodies wracked with scars from the progress of science. The mob of experiments swarmed around the small girl, engulfing her completely as they madly scrambled towards him.
Dismemberment, Titus thought bemusedly. These kinds of mobs are always fond of dismemberment.
“I wanted to thank you.” Pestilence’s voice was faint but he could still hear it as his muscles were torn and his bones were wrenched out of their sockets. Teeth ripped into his throat, his jugular trembling feebly in the jaws of one of his children. His insides leaked out along with his blood, spilling onto the floor and squelching underfoot. “You are a monster, but you are the one that made me. Even though the circumstances have pained me...I am glad that I exist.
“Thank you... for all that you have done.”
And once more, the world went dark.
-
He awoke in the passenger seat of a black car. His body was again intact. Taking a deep breath he glanced out the window. The scenery was not Exodus.
“It was painful, wasn’t it?” Tamara’s voice broke through the silence. “You must have come back to life several times while they tore you apart.”
“Where did I go wrong?” he asked instead. She was fishing and he was expressly ignoring it. Tamara’s sadistic interest in the gruesome details of his death(s) could wait for a while longer. “I had scheduled my downfall for much, much later.”
She gave him a sideways glance, her subtle pout if he ever knew it. “And here I thought that you would appreciate my efforts. You did seem to be tiring of the entire venture.The benevolent, princely roles never did suit you.”
“Ah, so it was you,” the man that was no longer Titus Fox laughed and ran a hand through his long, dark hair. He would need to cut it again.“You really do know me too well. How long has it been? Sixty years?”
“Your calculations are off, but that is to be expected. You are rarely very good with numbers.” He reached over to switch on the radio, but Tamara slapped his fingers away. He had forgotten the woman liked to drive in silence. “Thirty-six years since I have known you. Sixteen since you established Tithonus. Seven since you became its president and CEO.”
“I can always count on you for details like that. You truly are exemplary --the finest woman I have ever known.”
She hummed in response, answer noncommittal. Compliments from him never meant anything anyway.
They drove on.
“And what do you plan to do now?” Tamara asked, after a minute, an hour, after who knows how long.
The man that was no longer Titus Fox yawned. He was tired of living. Perhaps it was time to take a break and let the world turn... until Titus Fox was but a memory. Until those he knew had long since gone.
the sentiment is belated, but thank you to those that wished me well on my last visit to this site. things have been hectic lately as we prepare to tentatively launch a new product for the Narcissus area. hopefully it all goes well.
