Chapter 29: Libby and Keith

Chapter 29: Libby and Keith

You know hes going to kill you, right? Keith asked as he rummaged through the refrigerator in Libbys apartment.

Shut up! Im dealing with this, and I dont need any of your negative input! Libby said from her desk, as her fingertips raced deftly across the keys of her computer. And dont touch my food.

Im eating your food, bitch. Life is hard, Keith said nonchalantly as he pulled out a Tupperware container of salad. He opened the lid, took a bite, and immediately spat it out onto the floor. Goddamn, cant you even put a little hardboiled egg on this stuff? You live like an animal.

I respect animals, Keith. I love animals. Thats why I choose to eat cruelty-free products and refuse to consume dairy or meat.

Ah, that explains it. I assumed you were so pale because you were a sunlight deprived shut in. Now I know its also because youre anemic.

Fuck you, youre not real.

Fuck you, youre talking to me anyway.

LIBBY! LIBBY! HEY, LIIIIIIIIBBY! Come out, come out, whereeeeeeeeeever you aaaaaaaare!

So, like I was saying, he is definitely going to kill you, Keith continued. Now listen, kid, youve got some options here. This is a nice gas oven youve conjured up! You can just turn it on without igniting the pilot light, put your head inside and just go to sleep. You wont even notice the smell after a minute or two.

Shut up, Libby muttered.

Not a fan of gassing yourself? I see some nice cutlery over here! Just grab a knife, run yourself a nice bath and play north and south with your brachial artery. If you put some icy hot on your arm first, you wont even feel a thing. Oh, and the water will feel so nice.

Would you please stop being so disgusting? Libby asked.

See, the problem with women is that most of them never experience the joy of pissing on their feet in the shower. Thats what bleeding out feels like. Pissing on your foot! Your body heat makes it feel so pleasant! It really wakes you up fast on a cold winters morning.

Not helpful. Not helpful in the slightest, psycho, said Libby.

Then again, I guess its a fair tradeoff, since women will also never know the existential horror that men feel whenever we take a huge shit that splashes toilet water on our testicles when it drops

Security! Restrain him! Libby yelled.

Two metallic orbs materialized out of thin air and fired coiling ropes at Keith, which quickly wrapped themselves around his body, immobilizing him completely.

He fell backwards with a loud thud.

Oh, like I care, Libby! I like staring at ceilings anyway! Preferably from a womans bed, but this is fine too. You really need a Swiffer, by the way. Youve got cobwebs everywhere.

Keith, why are you materializing in my imaginary world? Youre not supposed to be able to exist outside of the astral realm! Its really fucking annoying!

Uh, Libby? Where do you think a liberomnus gains all the information it requires? Keith asked her. There arent any fiber optic cables around here, yknow. Your brain is plugged directly into the astral realm, stupid! That means I can come visit if I feel like it. And man, todays going to be a good show.

How do you figure? Libby asked archly.

Well, its not every day you get to see a guy murder a part of himself! You really got ol Max fuming, didn't you? Like strangling a mouthy hooker, fuming.

And I suppose youd know all about that, hmm?

Well, I am a veteran with over one hundred-fifty hours served in Grand Theft Auto V. Ive strangled a lot of hookers, Libby.

Thats not even an option in the game, Keith.

I designed a mod! he protested.

Oh, I cant deal with this right now, Libby said tiredly. Keith, just lay there and be dead again, please? We, the living, have problems of our own.

Righty-o! Not that youre going to be living for much longer, anyway. Hey, have you noticed what youre doing by the way?

No, Keith. What have I been doing?

Youre speaking to me like Im a separate person from Max. But earlier you blamed him for everything that I did with Aestas! That's a pretty confusing signal youre giving out. Maybe you should pick a position and stick with it, huh?

You are Max, Keith! Libby snapped, as she spun around in her chair to point an accusing finger at him. You are him and he is you! Youre just lying to yourselves

Self, interrupted Keith.

Huh?

Self, Keith repeated. If you genuinely believed we were the same person, you would have said youre just lying to yourself! Instead, you said, youre just lying to yourselves! Like you agree that we arent the same guy at all.

He grinned wickedly before continuing.

"Its little slips like that, that reveal what your true opinions are, kiddo.

Libby said nothing for several long moments. Then she turned her chair around and resumed typing away on her keyboard.

"Huh? Hello?" The frog asked blearily as she awoke. Then, she saw the scorpion and froze in fear.

Hey, you. Hey," the scorpion said quietly. "I want to get over to the other side of this water, yeah? I thought about floating on a leaf, but when I saw you over here, passed out, I had some thoughts. Let me use you instead, okay? You excite me.

The frog was frightened, but the scorpion was too close for her to attempt an escape. She tried to lie and say her back leg was too weak for swimming. Then she said her family was going to come looking for her soon, and she really had to get going, but the scorpion wouldnt listen to any of her excuses.

Give it up, he said. This is happening! No, is a word that darkens my mood. Helter Skelter, baby!

When they were halfway across the water, the scorpion crawled over to the frogs ear and whispered, I can feel your heart beating through your skin. Its driving me craaaaazy. I dont want to this, I dont want to do this, I swear to God I dont want to this, but I have to.

Please dont, whimpered the terrified frog.

I cant let you gooooo, baby. I hope you realize youve brought this on yourself, the scorpion replied. Youre just too fine!

The frog said, No, no, someone save me! Please! I have tadpoles waiting for me at home!

But the scorpion was lost in his fantasy and wouldnt relent. Do you believe in Jeeeeesus? he asked.

Fuck you, the frog sobbed in a failing attempt to sound brave.

You first, baby, the scorpion said as he stung the frogs eye. You first!

Youll die too! the frog moaned as they began to sink into the cold, dark water. Ill wake up in paradise, but youll be cast into eternal damnation!

Like I give a shit! the scorpion happily screamed. All the good musicians are burning in Hell anyway! DIO TAKE ME HOME!

And so, they both were submerged. The next morning, the frogs bloated corpse washed up on shore.

But they never found the scorpions body. Had he escaped? Was he once more wandering the highways of this troubled land, looking for his next ride to nowhere? Or was he now in hell where he belonged, rocking it out to Holy Diver?

Well never know.

Oh, but the frog didnt go to paradise when she died, because all religion is self-deceit. Live your life to the fullest kids!

The end.

__

Libby cleared her throat and then said: You said it was a parable.

It was! Keith replied.

Parables have a point, you moron! Libby spat out disgustedly. Youre supposed to learn a life lesson from them!

The frog sure learned her lesson!

Oh, go fuck yourself, Keith, Libby groaned.

Aww, youre no fun today, Keith said with a chuckle.

You really are an absolute piece of shit, Libby hissed with genuine hatred.

Oh, like I care what you think, Keith said with a frown. Im leaving! Youre way too stifling to be around.

You were never invited here to begin with! Libby yelled.

Someone is literally choosing nonexistence over being in your presence, Lib! Think about where your choices have brought you in life! Keith yelled before fading away.

I hate that guy so much, Libby muttered to herself.

He is such a fucking asshole, Max agreed.

When I hear his voice, I want to clean my ear canals with a Q-tip wrapped in steel wool, Libby said.

If hatred were chicken wings, Id get my daily allotment of protein just by seeing his fucking face, Max said.

If I were trapped in an elevator with Keith, Hitler, and Stalin, and I only had a gun with two bullets in it, Id make Keith strangle the other two at gunpoint and then shoot his balls twice, Libby growled.

He sucks, Max stated.

He sucks, Libby agreed.

Oh, found you by the way, Libby, Max said.

Oh, shit, Libby said.