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Oripathy--
How can one describe it?
Oripathy--
How can I describe it?
Oripathy--
It's something indescribable. So let's try describing it.
For me--
You want to know how it is for me?
It's like--
Having a lightning rod in my brain.
How much is Oripathy? How much is simple madness?
She knows, but she doesn't want to look at it. She doesn't want to look at me. She's afraid of me. Isn't that amazing?
Texas, Texas...
It's like having a lightning rod in my brain.
Especially now, right now; I'm overflowing. Words keep appearing and they don't go away, they only pile up inside my head and threaten to burst my skull from within.
How great would that be?
Oripathy, Oripathy. It hurts, it certainly hurts, it hurts so much, I love the way it hurts, I hate it.
I know what you're thinking. What's wrong with her? She's even harder to understand than usual. Don't trouble yourself with that. It's just that I haven't had the opportunity to let out any of the pressure, so the words are filling my whole body and spilling out of my mouth, that's all.
What are you most afraid of, Doctor? What shakes you to your core? Is it--
Oripathy?
Oripathy.
It's not a very evocative name, is it? Oh, it makes sense etymologically speaking, but when you hear it just as sounds, just as an unknown word, it doesn't convey the reality of what it is, does it?
It's just the polite way to say what everyone really wants to say.
Infected. The Infected. The Infected.
Isn't that a laugh riot?
They treat the Infected like they-- no, like we, like we just appeared from nowhere, for no reason, a random act of God.
It wasn't any God that did this. Take one look at the world now, and you'll easily conclude that God is dead. This was all the work of man. A wonderful energy source, with all sorts of uses, enabling our advanced technology and the luxurious lives of those who are still entitled to a place in society.
What an amazing discovery! A huge step forward for us who walk the Earth! Or do we roll the Earth now, in our sad, frightened mobile cities?
It's only a miracle until it gets inside you.
I can feel it. Oh, it's certainly powerful, yes. Truly a miraculous substance. I can feel it now, rippling through me, tearing through me, arcing through me.
It's enough to make me want to tear you in half! Ahahahaha-- I'm just kidding, Doctor. Look at your face...
I can't see it. I can't see your face. I wonder what you really look like, under there? Are you afraid of me?
I am Oripathy, after all. I'm dripping with it...
Don't worry. I wouldn't remember your face either way. I only remember one face anymore. Just one.
The 'crystals' on my skin-- you can see, can't you? You can see. Like obsidian. It hurts, you know? Sometimes it bleeds, when they push, push up out of the skin. Sometimes it just bleeds. And it always hurts. It never stops hurting. Spreading through every cell of my being, flooding me gloriously with agony, the purest sensation in the world.
Oh, but I'm sure you've seen my medical reports, of course, because you are apparently some kind of doctor.
Yet you prescribe death more than anything, don't you? I suppose silly things like oaths are a thing of the past now, in this world we've created for ourselves.
Everyone hates the Infected, because they're afraid of becoming like us.
Me?
Ahahaha... I'm loving it, of course! Just look at this winning smile. I can't let a little thing like my body and brain slowly and steadily mutating and crystallizing get me down. Always look on the bright side! For example, if I weren't like this, I may not have even come here in the first place, and then I wouldn't be close to Texas, would I? It's a blessing, truly!
A boon, yes, a boon not from God but from the unseen Devil foolishly summoned by mankind, that horrifying demon we call Originium.
With this power, I can punish the wicked!
With this power, I can tear any opponent to pieces!
With this power--
I can take revenge.
Hahahaha... You've stiffened up again. I wonder, how serious do you think I am? Do I have anything to seek revenge over? And on whom, for what?
You don't know. I know you don't know. You're too afraid to try and know.
I appreciate your support, Doctor. To think you would trust me enough to advance my power to this level; you, too, must take wicked pleasure in what I do... Don't you? Hidden behind that mask, watching me rip sick people, suffering people, people just like me, limb from limb. Cut open the chest and let out the screams of agony and regret inside. Watch the fear and despair in their eyes. That's the essence of battle.
You should be thankful that they wear masks, just like you.
It must be much easier to view them coldly as mere vermin to be exterminated,
even though if you take off the mask,
it's just more sick, scared, suffering people,
rising up against this Hell their oppressors have created,
and who can blame them?
Oh, are you done already? I was just getting started, Doctor. No, that's fine, that's fine. Let's go on another operation soon.
When we do...
I want you to listen.
Listen very carefully, and drink in every detail of the laments of the damned.
Feel the madness of this world. Let it soak into you. Savor it.
It's truly marvelous.