“The entrance to the underworld is in Los Angeles” – Rick Riordan
In the dream, I watched Belial watch her. His gaze followed her in steps, and moves, counts and rhythms. He definitely was watching, and I think she felt him. Yes, sir, I know she did!
She dry’s inside, her shell replete, with modern crimes, of living, she is sleepy in deceit, the sun so high beyond those Hollywood hills, bares down its breath in a drug fogged spill. And all about her, it’s the end of days, the angels cry, while “The Miracles” play, “Going to a Go-Go” in the dark tinted windows of a hearse going by. Colors holding knifes it’s another day, in LA. Star’s line up, while the moon stands still, an operatic drama for the damned and ill, the same man who decries war and hate, makes his art on screen, with violence displayed. Dehumanizing life in another state of mind. The craven of the culture, look to the vultures that fly around LA. Could be the final of her days, yes sir, could be the final of her days.
A song of many tenor’s flies across her wound, a second chance of playing while there’s still some room. She walks through the Getty Center to see the photographs displayed. On a Sunday Afternoon, the “Cotton Mill Worker” helps to keep her thoughts displaced. She thinks it would be nice if the clouds split from the sky, drove her deep underground. Still she thinks, her smile drawn back until it becomes a certain frown, I’d still be in LA. I’d still be in LA!
The darkness is heir apparent as the sun stands still, the smog that prisms colors, makes the coming night have will. She turns her mind divining, she’s got to drive away, open up, leave LA, to the desert, she will leave LA. It is her final day. Yes, sir, it’s her final day!
Life holds no demeanor, out on the filled freeway, sirens mix with chanted sounds of rap debased, she looks in her rearview mirror and see’s the demon wave, she opens up, but she wants to return to LA. Yes, sir she’s moving on but she wants to go back and stay.
In the dream, I watched Belial turn. His gaze followed the white broken lines dividing the far-right lane until it meets the western horizon, somewhere near the Santa Monica Pier. His eyes weren’t empty, no sir, they were not, and I think he saw me dreaming up there. His eyes just started to unwrap from there in steps, and moves, counts and rhythms. “I’m open to the desert”, I heard him say, far away. Yes, sir I’m open to the desert! – 10.03.2017-דָּנִיֵּאל
Post Script
And so, it begins, the month of spirits and spells, and Daemons that fell. These are Daniel Swearingen’s haunted, neurotic dreams. I invite you to a celebration of fear so strong, that what you see, is what you don’t read, you will harbor it in your heart, and it will never go away. Yes, sir you will laugh, for it’s not real, it’s just in that crazy writer’s imaginings. You will breathe and recognize your alive, and how you will smile your mouth disjointed in that crazy smile….and then your smile will disappear for your dreams will start too, and you will know Belial is alive, yes, sir he is! – 10.03.2017-דָּנִיֵּאל
This is a brilliant dark read. So many ways one can take your words, and so many stories and avenues, or in this case freeways to travel down. It was so low key that the spookiness of it kind of lulled me and then as you said in your postscript became a part of me. Now I have chills! 🙂
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Hi Elizabeth, funny about the freeways, I suppose that is all I hoped for with this piece. Thank you for a wonderful comment. As Alice Cooper said, “Welcome to my Nightmare”. 🙂
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Hi Daniel, I had to smile when you mentioned Alice Cooper’s “Welcome to my Nightmare”, recording, it was a favorite of my older brother’s, and to this day he plays that album constantly. His children grew up to it and now his grandchildren are growing up to it, Getting back to your work and my original comment. The thought provoking visuals that you create in all your work always amazes me, and I do appreciate the talent that you have, and always look forward to reading your prose. ❤
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Mysterious writing Daniel, that I’m hoping is promise of more to come, because one shiver will never do!
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Thank you Arctic, I like the shiver quote. Wishing you a great day, and thank you for your comment.
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Your welcome Daniel, best of the day to you as well!
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This was a different sound from you Daniel, I found it intriguing, and I liked it. The point of the piece can make the readers mind wander, because there seems to be many points. There is a slight tension throughout, that makes me think the woman could be someone that I know, and praying that its not me. 😉
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LoL, I pray she’s not you either Ginger, but you never know she might end up be the hero of this tale. Thank you for a great comment. 🙂
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🙂 your welcome
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I Loved this, it had a touch of Alfred Hitchcock to it.
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Thank you, now that is a wonderful compliment, I could only dream of being as good as Hitchcock, but I am honored just the same.
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The low intensity of terror throughout any Hitchcock production is what always made his films so great in my opinion. Your writing here is the same, and I for one would love to see you build on this theme. 🙂
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Daniel, I am constantly amazed at the versatile way you write, moving from spiritual mystery to the haunted mind in the Gothic world to the comical and then the sad. I have to agree with Liz, this let my mind wander to many things, and picture many things, and yes it gave me a goose bump or two, that probably will not leave me, anytime soon. ❤ Ruby
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Thank you dear friend Ruby. I have to tell you I wasn’t sure weather to publish this one or not, It for some reason just didn’t feel right. Thank you for helping to assure me it was alright to let it rip. 😁
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As long as you are talking about feeling free to write and not RIP. 😉 Sorry, I could not resist. I don’t think there is anything wrong with taking a chance on publishing any writing as long as you’re not overwhelmed by the thought I should not do this. Personally I loved this piece. ❤
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Spooky stuff in the slight noise in the calm of the night kind of way. I will be back for more!
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Hi, so sorry for the late reply. Thank you so much for reading and commenting, and I will be happy to have you back for more. 😉
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I find your writing to be full of mystery, and “Los Angeles” is overflowing with just that. If your intention was to leave the reader somewhat bothered by something lurking, you were successful with this reader. Great writing, I will take this type of hallowed strangeness over the slash and burn of blood and gore any day.
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Hi Darrin, Thank you for your insightful comment. I too am a fan of the shadow, and the lurking, it allows one to use their imagination! 😉
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We have lost so much of the use of imagination anymore. One of the many reasons I appreciate coming over to your writing is how you bring the element of imagination into play.
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Daniel you were successful, your dreamscape is embedded, and now it waits the next installment, eagerly. Who is this poor woman? 🙂
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Thank you Summer, I am trying to get another installment up this weekend. We will see. Ther poor woman is indeed a mystery, but I am sure somewhere all of us might know her. 😉
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Yes we no doubt do. 🙂
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This was fantastic. I am now in the mood for the month of shadows and bumps in the night. 🙂 After reading this however I have many questions as to where it is all going? Will there be a sequel?
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Thank you Lacy. I too am enjoying reading some great prose and stories this month. As to a sequel, we shall see, I am sure in some form or action their will be something! 😉
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Looking forward to it! 🙂
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Spooky writing with a subtle hint of something dark to come! Loved each word and looking forward to a next installment!
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Thank you. I am trying to get something up this weekend, we will see if the muse helps or not! 😉
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🙂
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Daniel, well done as always. This Belial fellow sounds like a nasty enough creature, having followed your links, I pity the outcome for our possible heroine in the desert. You do know how to weave a yarn my friend. 😉
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Hi Ryan, thank you, I thought he was a rather forminable character myself, dangerous to look at through a vision in the distance, and certainly I don’t want to get close! Thank you again for your kind compliment.
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Those kind of fellows always been here, no doubt always will be, making things rough for the rest of us. Your welcome, it’s always fun to read your writing friend!
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Thanks again Ryan.
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This was a very different style of writing coming from you Daniel, and of course I loved it too. Looking forward to this month, and your promise of strange dreams. ❤
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Hi Heather, I suppose I put myself in a situation to have to deliver this month now. 😉 As always, I thank you for your reading and wonderful comments.
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You have, and some of us are a tough task master! Shabbat Shalom Daniel. ❤
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Shabbat Shalom Heather!
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❤ ❤ ❤ this!!!
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Thank you very much Toni. 🙂
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YW ❤
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I believe we had such favorites as “Depoithika” around this time last year, one that I printed off for my own reading enjoyment, and I suspect I will do the same with “Los Angeles” as well. Really great seasonal writing Daniel. It leaves an unsettling tingle! 😉
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Good Morning Wang, My apologies for a late reply. I am honored and happy that you like this sort of thing. Good old Depothika, we shall see perhaps where it is at this this year and his wanderings about! 😉
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Your welcome Daniel, I would enjoy another visit from “Depothika”. Tis the season after all. 😉
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I loved this and here is why. I was looking for the reason, the theme, the antagonist, the protagonist, the beginning, the middle and the end. All were difficult to find to the point of being nonexistent. Still there was fear and tension, and a great desire to know what it was all about, and would everything be okay. Great, great writing Daniel! ❤
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Thank you Danika, I loved your comment. You put into words what I was hoping for from this little piece. The small amount of unsettlement, was what I wanted the reader to experience. Thank you again.
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It is the best kind of entertainment. Happy Halloween month! 🙂
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I tip my hat sir, you have done it again. The mixing of rhyme with narration, is a nice trick, and a dark piece told with so few words masterful.
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Hi Alex, thank you very much for your kind words. I like to mix the narration with the rhyme, and am looking toward moving that way more in the future. Have a great rest of the weekend.
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It is like a conversation, and really different to read, very enjoyable.
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Very nicely done in what came to me was an eerie calm before the storm, and no brother I doubt that it leaves my heart. 🙂
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Thank you Dennis, your comments always make my day, and yes brother no doubt you are a prophet for it is the calm that comes before the storm. 🙂
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Heh, then lets be oft with it then, good kind sir, the night is waiting. Shavua tov brother.
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Shavua tov Dennis!
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Daniel this was written in such a way it presented a surreal world, that probably is very real for some. The rhyme was fantastic, and the visuals chilling. I loved the song as well. ❤ ❤ 🙂
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Thank you Anlosa for mentioning the song, I absolutely fell in love with it. I am happy you enjoyed the piece. 🙂
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Your welcome Daniel.
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I loved the quote you started this whole nasty business with Daniel, and from there it got dimmer and dimmer, and now I might not sleep tonight. Well done! 😉
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LOL, thank you Stafford, you honor me with your thoughts of the night to come.
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It has always been a favorite time of the year for me, and the spookiness surrounding Halloween brings out the kid in me. 🙂
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This was really, really well written! I will have certain visuals with me for some time to come! 🙂
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Hi Kim, thank you so much, I appreciate your comment very much, it lets me know my writing hit where I hoped it would. 🙂
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You have a way with words, I enjoyed this very much.
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Thank you Scott, I appreciate you reading and commenting.
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Fascinating prose, you have a wicked gift! 🙂
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Thank you Brittany, and welcome to my blog, very honored to have you here and commenting. 🙂
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Thank you, I have spent much of the weekend reading your work. 🙂
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And here I have one measly Hallow’een post planned for the end of the month. However, I assure you that I have been collecting skulls since that month of fear and haunted dreams ended in the last year. I’ve more than one skull for each month, Nonetheless after this well written piece of horror, I’m hoping to find something extra hideous to add. Think I’ll scout it out in Chinatown.
If your Hollywood Belial wants his gaze to follow me, he’d better be good, because I’m pretty tricky.
Wonderful piece, Daniel, and I look forward to a very interesting month of prose over here at “Dusk & Resurrection.”
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My dear friend Resa, your ladyship as it were, and it is!! Your world is a constant of mist and craft, an eternal flame of midnight dancing and soft cloth, specters and masquerade balls. And mysterious love and fortune, your life is Halloween, full of surprise and moonlit walks looking over the North Sea, watching a distant storm, gathering energy unto itself, knowing always knowing something wicked this way dies come, and what a fine delicious thing it will be. 🙂
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You really know how to make a lady blush… and love!
Moon light and you destroy
Preconceptions of Hallow’een.
Laugh with me, and I’ll show
You a midnight’s dream scream.
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Wow I might get the vapors after that! 🙂
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