Buddhism's Greatest Teaching

So, in Buddhism, King Menander states that if there is no Nagasena, therefore there is self, no life, and no Buddhism. Then, ultimately, there is no chariot.

I love learning about Asian Religions.

The Individuals, Chapter 1: Discovery and Anguish

The story contains some pervasive language, scenes and violence.

The alarm blared the morning talk show over the radio. "Good morning Toronto! ...Well it's not a good shining morning, it's a rainy day outside! Don't forget to bring your umbrella!" 

Adrian didn't want to wake up. Today at work he would have to handle the sandwiches. He worked at a local deli which was famous for having delicious cheap food. The only problem the deli had was it was in a shoddy location.

"Shit... I hate this job..." he thought as he got up out of bed, "at least it pays the bills..." A loud shout came from under him.

"ADRIAN! WHERE'S YOUR MONEY!?" shouted the land lady from downstairs. Adrian had been a few weeks late paying the rent. "You better pay up today or else we're kicking you out!" He had not taken note of this as he was in the shower, and was already late for work today.

*****

"Hope he doesn't find out I went out with his best friend last night..." was one of the thoughts Alyssa read as she walked by the girl who was with her "boyfriend" in the halls. "Gah, I still can't stop hearing these voices in my head... I think I'm going crazy," she thought to herself as she was running towards second period.

The boy the girl was talking about was a guy named Blake, who was in her biology class. Alyssa knew him as they were lab partners before. He seemed quite jittery today as she walked by. "No one can find out, if anyone does, it'll be over for me, and I'm gonna get beaten up and everything..." his thoughts raced though his mind.

"Hey Blake, how was your weekend?" she asked, finding a seat behind him. "O-oh! Hey A-A-Alyssa!" he jumped suddenly. "I-it was good! I, uh, had a fun weekend! Yeah, I went to the carnival and I also did some homework..." His eyes darted slightly as he was talking to her. "Oh yeah, I bet you went with Jill over there," she joked as she unpacked her books from her bag.

At this his eyes went slightly red with shock and horror, and he turned away from her trying to hide it. "Oh no! She found out!! She fucking found out! She can't tell anyone! She just can't! Aha! I have an idea..." Alyssa read in her mind, as Blake thought it out, but couldn't read the idea as the bell rang and the teacher started his lesson.

*****

Scott came over to Adrian, and sat down on the stool behind the counter next to him. "Not too busy yet is it Adrian?" Scott said. 

"Well, look at what time it is," Adrian replied, "school just ended, and kids will be coming in soon." Scott laughed then sighed, as someone came in. "Hey welcome to Dave's. Whatcha need girl?"

Alyssa was feeling pretty hungry, as she didn't eat lunch so she wanted something good. "Give me the special, double meat and cheese please!" Scott looked over to Adrian. "You heard her champ! Get it done!" 

Adrian sped to the sandwich side of the counter and started to build a sandwich, consisting of roast beef, turkey, and ham, along with swiss, provolone, and cheddar cheese, some lettuce and tomato with some mayo. He brought it to the front counter and handed it to Alyssa. Their fingers touched slightly, and a quick sensation of heat and a slight spark occured, both hands jumping back quickly.

"Ah, sorry about that miss," Adrian said as he wiped his hand on his white apron. "Don't worry about it... Adrian right?" His eyes widened with amazement. "How'd she know my name, I didn't even say anything..." she read as the thought passed through his mind. Alyssa paid for the sandwich and left the deli, taking a huge bite out of it.

More customers came in and out, though it didn't matter to Adrian while he made meals. He kept thinking about who the girl was, and how she knew his name. Time passed by, and little did he know, his shift was over. He helped Scott clean up and said goodbye to everyone as he headed home. Thoughts about the afternoon's events still raced his mind about the girl, and what had happened in the encounter. He'd wonder if he'd seen her before, or if he knew her from a previous life, but he came back to reality once he got back to his apartment.

A note was found on the door and a box underneath it:

Dear Tenant: 

As of today, April 10, 2009, you've been evicted for not paying your rent for almost a month. We have left your things in a box underneath the note. We apologize for any inconvienience this has caused, and hope you have a good day/night.

Yours Sincerely, Katherine Newberry, Landlady.

He yelled some really loud obscenities after this and ripped the note off the door. He left it on the floor, and took his box and headed to the street. He started to walk towards the intersection, and pulled out his phone and called up Scott. "Hey Scott... yeah, what's up bro? ...Yeah, yeah... Hey listen, I got kicked out of my apartment and... yeah, you read my mind... thanks a bunch pal. I'll be over in about 10 minutes."

*****

It was about 6pm, and Alyssa was walking home after studying with her friend for next week's final. She had left her house, and walked home an alleyway she usually takes as a shortcut. It was dark, and damp from the morning's rain. The light usually overlooking the middle of the alleyway was now off, probably due to a dead bulb. As she continued to walk, a shadowy figure came from behind a gate she walked past. It huffed nervously, and before she knew it, the figure hit her behind the head with a heavy bag, and knocked her out cold. It dragged her body into the gate, and locked the door.

*****

Adrian came into an alleyway which was a shortcut to Scott's neighborhood. He had taken this way almost a million times and recognized the area well. He noticed the light usually overlooking the middle of the alleyway died. He stopped to look at it glowing dimly, then dying out quickly. He wondered how such a bulb would be repaired, as the buildings are very tall, and he didn't imagine a ladder could be so high to fix it. His thoughts shattered when he heard a piercing wail of help coming from a gate up ahead. A second cry of help was interrupted almost immediately, and he ran towards the gate.

He found it locked and cursed at it, shaking it violently, no hope of having it opened. He slid to the ground, his knees hitting the wet gravel underneath. He muttered under his breath... "Open... open... FUCKING OPEN!" he yelled.

The lock shook violently, and Adrian got up and stared at it, focusing intently while it rocked back and forth. He held his hand out to touch it, and felt something shoot through his arm, and the lock exploded into pieces. In amazement, he looked at his hand, then dashed inside forgetting about what just happened, leaving his box behind in the alleyway next to a girl's bag full of school books.

*****

Blake tied a thick cloth around Alyssa's mouth, muffling her cries for help. She was tied onto a chair, and legs spread apart in the middle of a room . Blake gazed at her body, eyeing her body up and down. "Now Alyssa, I don't know what kind of nerve you had earlier today in Biology, but I won't let you spread rumors, and I won't let you do anything to ruin me. Although..." he laughed maniacally at the situation he had put her in, "I will have my way with you, then kill you!" his thoughts raced through her mind at the same time. Her body shook with fear, and her eyes teared up. She was going to be raped, and murdered.

Her clothes were being torn, and ripped like a piece of meat fed to a bloodthirsty and hungry animal. Very slowly, Blake was undressing her in a cynical and twisted way. "Very soon you will die Alyssa... just enjoy the moment..." He had ripped off her panties, and he took off his pants, and grasped her. "JUST... ENJOY... THE... FUCKING... MOMENT!!" The door bursted open and fell to the ground with a slam, shocking Blake. 

Adrian appeared at the doorway, and saw Alyssa, near naked, tied to the chair on the ground, and Blake hovering over her half naked and went furious. He held his hand out, facing Blake and lifted him into the air choking him at the same time. Alyssa looked at him, and at Blake, who was now grasping his neck. She scared to death at what was happening. Adrian threw the half naked male around the room, tossing him like some silly ball against the floor, the walls, and against the concrete poles that held up the ceiling. Adrian motioned his hand ever slightly, and sent his body flying against chairs. Blake's body bounced against the floor like a ragdoll, still barely alive. 

"Fucking bastard," Adrian yelled, suspending Blake's half naked and bloody body up in the air, "Who the fuck are you, thinking you can do this to a girl!? I should..." Alyssa looked horrified at Adrian, and Blake hanging in the air, and she coughed hard, gasping for air, the ropes around her body loosening.

"No please... don't... I... I... I don't..." Blake choked on his own blood, "I wa-" Adrian interrupted, "SHUT UP! YOU DON'T DESERVE TO TALK. In fact..." His hand closed slightly and Blake was choking and breathing harder. "You don't deserve to live..." Adrian looked at Blake's body in the air, and grasped his hand immediately. Alyssa closed and covered her eyes immediately, and felt a warm sensation cover her body.

When she opened her eyes, Blake was not in the air, but blood and bits of organs covered the walls around her, and pieces of shattered bone were everywhere. Blake was dead.

© 2009 Arden Ramos

The Individuals: Introduction

So, out of the blue, I feel like writing a story about people with special powers.

All of these ideas and characters are of my own invention, and any likenesses are strictly coincidental.

It is the present day. In our world, there are people known as The Individuals. These people are known to have special powers: some of these powers are small, some great, and others terrifying. A government agency known as CONTROL has been created for tracking the Individuals, and if necessary will contain them.


Current Location: Ontario, Toronto, Canada

The government has tracked 3 Individuals all living within 10 miles (16 Kilometers) of each other.

Individual 1:

Adrian Konani

Sex: Male
Born: March 1, 1990.
Height: 5'10ft (180.34 CM)
Weight: 195lbs 
Nationality: Asian/Caucasian
Ability: Psychokinesis (Broad and Specific types)
Notes: Adrian is a very odd subject. Quite distant, yet helpful to others. Has a low pain tolerance and powers tend to fluctuate. Was discovered by CONTROL agents when he accidentally popped a street full of car tires when he coughed. Could be dangerous later on.

Individual 2:

Scott "Prism" Vizon

Sex: Male
Born: October 23, 1989.
Height: 6'1ft (185.42 CM)
Weight: 160lbs 
Nationality: Caucasian
Ability: Eye Influence (See Note)
Notes: Scott comes from a family of well known Individuals, but recently family was murdered. His powers consist of his Eye Influence ability. Eyes will change color according to whatever power he chooses to have at the time. So far, only two kinds of power have been seen:

• Green Eyes: Regeneration - He will be able to regenerate minor injuries done to himself, and to others he chooses.
• Black Eyes: ??? (CONTROL agents have not yet reported what this does, since they are all dead).
  

Individual 3:

Alyssa Morgan

Sex: Female

Born: September 17, 1993

Height: 5'3ft (160.02 CM)

Weight: 110lbs

Nationality: Caucasian

Ability: Mind Reading

Notes: Alyssa currently attends the local high school, where she tries to live a normal life. Discovered when CONTROL agents realized that she was reading their minds uncontrollably. Was left alone because posed no possible threat to the people or world.

=/

I miss the apple smell...