White was now dismal grey. I saw things as they

were. This city wasn’t bright and clean, it was dingy and dim. 

My eyes were adjusting to the half-light that bled through the 

dome which filtered the sun

traversing sky above the Earth. Everything looked childish and

simplistic within my eyes. This was what greater perception

did to me. I had seen things outside of this blunted existence

caged by a false God and his self-centered schemes.

           Darkness was boiling inside me again.

           The spire stood before me. It didn’t scare me any

more. I held it and its owner in contempt. He had to answer

for what I saw as transgressions against all humanity as well as

principalities beyond our ken.

          Stale air filled my nose and lungs. This place was foul

with the stench of slow decay. It was like aroma of dead bodies

and feces littered the contained atmosphere.

           Everything was worn and cracked, as it always was.

I had never truly noticed how sad the city was because I had

always lived here.

           The people staggering around seemed dead. Their eyes

were lifeless. Their minds were hollow. Their muscles were

underdeveloped. Flesh was gaunt and unhealthy. I’d say it was

constantly in a state of mild undernourishment.

           I must have looked like something superhuman to any

of these creatures with an active mind. In reality, as I knew,

they were all mindless and unaware of any critical thought.

They merely existed for water, food, and sex; nothing more.

         My clothes were the ubiquitous uniform of the common

city dwellers. I was able to procure them from a typical supply

point during the night when almost no one was around to see

me get fresh duds.

           My hair, though, was a little longer and a little wilder

than anyone else’s. I cut it as best I could with a mirror and

scissors before I re-entered from below. It contrasted against

my tanned skin.

          Hitting the lift button, I prepared to ascend for an

unexpected meeting with my “maker”...