By Rachel Tanner

After The Empty Man (2020)

Empty vessel they call me. I don’t have a name. (Not
one I’ll answer to, anyway.) It doesn’t matter.

Everything up until now was beside the point.
Everything I’ve done has been in service
of becoming who I was designed to be. 

My memories aren’t mine. They were placed there
when I wasn’t paying attention. I never
pay attention. You will learn this about me. Or,
maybe you already know. I come from a script,
after all. I come from a place where

in time, everyone will bow down to me.

It’s very simple: I am something to fear.
I am evil incarnate, and I can’t let
anything go.

I don’t feel powerful yet, but I am the closest thing
to a god you’ll ever meet in the flesh.

You don’t want to meet me:
trust me on this.

Be grateful that I’ve spared you. Be grateful
for a life that you alone control.

For now, I will turn the other way
and give you an escape
I’ve never granted anyone before.

For now, you should run.