Prologue: RECORDS OF DEATH’S GATE

When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes,

I all alone beweep my outcast state,

And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,

And look upon myself and curse my fate

I am a good for nothing, miserable creature, that serves no purpose other than causing pain and suffering to all those around me. This world would be better off without my pitiful existence. Ever since I’ve been a child, the idea of death and loss has been more than familiar to me. It’s just now that the cross has become too heavy for me to bear any longer… The only source of respite I ever possessed in this life was you… Your radiant smile, your carefree laugh, and your uncertain words… They made me forget my pains… They made me forget my anguish… They made me forget who I am… I was simply happy to be in your company… And, even if, those days are now long gone… And, even if, it is all my fault… And, even if, I am not worthy any longer of saying such things… I’m sorry… And more so importantly… Thank you.

The man stood up from the crouching position he had maintained for so long. He looked at the grave, once again, the name freshly inscribed on it. He hadn’t even brought flowers to offer. All that he could leave behind there was... his heart.

With the rays of the setting sun behind him, he turned away from the stone. He took a step, then another, and he kept walking forward, as he made his way outside the desolate graveyard. The man smiled lightly, as he kept walking.

—

The door clicked open, as the man entered the tiny apartment that he called home. He seated himself at his desk, as he pulled out a small journal. He rummaged through the pen stand to his right, as he grabbed a pen and started writing in it.

“RECORDS OF DEATH’S GATE”

To whoever reads this,

This is a rather unconventional format for a "record", but judging from the nature of this affair so far, I have a feeling that it would be in the best interest of not only me, but everybody at Crater Daily, for this to be recorded. This is the journal of myself, William Korspole. It contains records of transpiring events that I've had to witness so far, and ones that I will do in the future, pertaining to the Shinsakimon Incident of December, 1997.

If I, god forbid, am unable to bring this report to a conclusion by myself due to inconvenience, injury, or death; it would be my utmost wish for my respected co-workers at Crater Daily to uphold their oaths of integrity, and duty as journalists, by broadcasting the truth to the world, unaltered and the way that I found it.

Signed: W. Korspole

(Junior Reporter, Crater Daily)

06.12.1997