A car, my car screamed down the highway. The full moon beamed down, illuminating the road ahead, a heavy fog swirled around the road, obscuring the surrounding desert. The moonlight gave it an ethereal feel, like I was driving through the underworld, and perhaps I was.

  My hands were numb, my arms like iron. At some point, the terror had flooded out of me. The shot of adrenaline, the coursing fire, had left, only to be replaced with a bone chilling cold. My suit, wet with blood, stuck to my body. Reminding me, over and over, of what I had done.

  My aging car, a decade old sedan with over two-hundred thousand miles on it protested the abuse as I continued to press down on the pedal with all my might. I didn’t stop, nor did I slow down. I careened down the highway with no end in sight. Made worse by the swirling fog.

  A single jerk would send me careening to my death. A single deviation would spell the end as I hurtled forward. Yet, I wasn’t worried. No, I was deathly calm. My eyes were only forward, grim determination pushed me through. This wouldn’t stop me. It couldn’t… Not after everything I’ve been through.

  I still wore my suit from earlier. I hadn’t even changed or stopped at my apartment. The moment it happened, I had jumped into my car and fled. All that mattered was escaping. Getting out of there.

  It seemed oddly fitting. I couldn’t help but laugh. A low chortle into a full belly laugh. If my arms weren’t frozen still, I might have jerked or swayed, but even with my eyes tearing up, my hands didn’t move a single iota. I felt like ice, frozen, not a drop of warmth in my being.

  No doubt, my car would give up far before I did. The gas gauge was running low. Not only that, but even if my car was well maintained, I knew it wouldn’t survive much longer.

  If there was ever a time to stop, it was now.

  I acknowledged that, then simply let it go. I wasn’t going to slow down. I couldn’t. Not now, not yet. I still had somewhere I could go. The border. I would escape south, further away, away from it all. Like a man hounded by death. I ran. Like a man with nowhere to go. I ran. Like a man with no hope, I ran. If only, because I could. If only because of that, I wouldn’t let myself just fall, not like this, not without one final fight.

  Then… it happened.

  A white blur. A small white shadow ran across the road. It came so suddenly that even my dead arms jerked. My whole being flinched. The wheel turned, just so. The car careened. Tires lost traction. One second, I was on the road, the next, I was in the middle of the air.

  The world slowed. I could see the pavement coming ever closer. I could see the white blur staring at me just beyond. A rabbit. A white rabbit. Only… the rabbit looked strange. It glowed, with an unearthly glow. Like it wasn’t a real rabbit, but a spirit, a ghost, or something more.

  Was this karma? Retribution? Was all I had time to think in that brief instant…

  Then… I hit the pavement. Metal screeched. Glass tinkled and shattered. All went black.

  I gasped awake. I smelled smoke, fire. Instincts spurred me on. I fumbled for my seatbelt; it was stuck fast. I couldn’t unfasten it. I fumbled at the strap, it was oddly loose, just loose enough for me to wriggle free and out. I didn’t think as I scrambled out the broken window. The world spinning before my eyes. I felt glass cutting into my arms and sides while I dragged myself out of the broken window. The pain came and went burning and pulsing, reminding me that I was still alive. Only singular desire, an obsessive need to survive kept me moving.

  The pavement was cold to the touch. I dragged myself away from the car. Once I felt safe enough, I collapsed into a heap, rasping breaths left my lips as I tried to catch my breath. Slowly, I flopped over and looked at my old car. It was smoking, and not a moment later, it caught fire. Igniting like a massive bonfire soaked in accelerant.

  I stared. The fire reflected in my eyes. Only after staring for an indeterminable amount of time, did I get up. I didn’t look at my bloodied clothing. I didn’t dare. I trudged down the road. My steps unsteady, at first, unsure, my gait felt off, but soon I got the measure of it and continued forward at a good clip.

  I felt woozy, the world was spinning. My legs felt both long and short, arms off. My whole body just felt weird. Had I hit my head? A concussion or worse? The thought alone terrified me, but also, I’d rather not know, not now. Ignorance was bliss. With grit teeth, I focused on the task before me, pushing on.

  As I walked, I heard it. Steps. Hops. I could feel a presence falling in behind me. A presence I ignored with all my being. I walked and walked; in the distance I could see a city. Towering buildings that took up the horizon. Buildings that seemed to glow in the light of the slowly rising sun.

  Was there a city out here? I thought. Trying to recall my knowledge of maps. I was riding the highway, and the nearest city wasn’t for many miles, even then, it wouldn’t have looked like this. The city before me looked like a metropolis, a massive city filled with towering monoliths of steel.

  A city that didn’t belong in a desert of all places.

  The city was too far away. I wouldn’t make it in time. Not before the sun rose. The temperatures in the desert went from one extreme to the other. Without water, I would perish. Instead of despair, it only resolved me to move faster. I panted, exhausting myself, once again, something tickled my ears. My breaths sounded different. Everything felt wrong.

  I pushed those thoughts aside, my eyes searched for salvation…

  However, I was not yet abandoned by the fates, or whatever gods there may be, not yet anyway. For up the road, was a bus stop. A small, sheltered bench angled just so, so that the sun wouldn’t beat down on those under its blessed shade.

  I trundled over. The first rays of the morning sun burned their way across the land. The road hissed and sizzled, the smell of burning tar wafted up to my nose. I could feel the soles of my shoes already beginning to melt and give under the oppressive heat. The moment the sun’s rays touched me, I felt like I was burning, being cooked alive. I hurried on and threw myself into the bus stop. The shade was heavenly. No longer did I feel like I was being cooked alive.

  I fell down on the bench. Panted. Breathed. The metal bench was icy and cool to the touch. As my racing heart slowed… My eyes drifted shut. My head turned and once again I saw that rabbit. Watching me from the middle of the road. Its head cocked, and it hopped off.

  Then, once again, everything went dark.

  I was woken, by the sound of a roaring engine. Roused from my sleep, I saw it cutting through the desert heat like a mirage, as if a dream come true. A behemoth of steel, its white and blue body gleaming in the sunlight as if it were a god. I watched in rapture as it approached and slowed with a low squeal. It stopped with a wrenching noise and a hiss. Then, the door swung open.

  A man, a man no different than any other man was inside.

  “Heading to the city?”

  Shaking, I stood up. Every part of me wanted to deny what I was seeing. Yet, on stepping inside, being blasted by the cold air. I knew, I just knew this wasn’t a dream.

  I opened my mouth to speak, only to find it bone dry. I swallowed and wet my lips to the best of my ability.

  “Y-yes…” I croaked out after a good minute of trying. The man frowned while looking at me. Then it occurred to me, I didn’t have any money. My wallet, keys, all my wealth was either in my apartment, or with my car. I didn’t like having my wallet in my pocket, or even my phone when I was driving. I hadn’t grabbed them and now, they were likely burned with my vehicle. A treasured gift from a mentor.

  “I’m afraid I don’t have any money.” I spoke out, doing my best not to let my voice crack. My voice was hoarse, but oddly soft. Lacking its usual depth. My throat burned, and once again, I pushed down those nagging worries.

  “No, that’s not a problem miss, I wouldn’t think of charging you. After all, you look like you were in a bad accident.”

  “I was. I managed to get out of it mostly unscathed though. A miracle really…” I muttered, rubbing my throat.

  “I’m just glad you made it to the stop. The summer sun out here can be a real killer. Though, are you sure your injuries aren’t worse? That is an awful lot of blood on you.”

  “No, I’m good. Really.” I press.

  He eyed me again for a moment, then nodded. “Well, come on in and… here.” He hands me a bottle of water. I stare at it. “I drank a little, but you look thirsty.” And boy, was I. The sight of the water filled bottle had me eminently aware of just how parched I was.

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  “T-that’s… thank you.” I end up replying with, instead of rejecting him. Pride be damned, I needed water.

  “No problem miss, just take a seat back there and I’ll get us to the city, no problemo.”

  I nodded, noticing again that he called me a miss. The first time, I thought I was just imagining it, but the second? Surely, he wasn’t making a mistake, right?

  Concerned, I sat down near the front, in range to talk with the driver if need be. I took a sip of the borrowed water and looked up. I very nearly choked.

  In the mirror above, I saw a woman. A young woman. I thought I was losing it. That something was wrong with me.

  “Is something wrong miss?” The driver spoke up.

  “N-no, everything’s fine!” I said, perhaps too hastily, my voice squeaked in my ears, even past the hoarseness. Luckily, he was too busy getting us moving to notice my panic. The bus started with a rumble that shook through the cabin before it began rolling down the street.

  I stared back at the mirror, at the woman looking back. Bottle of water in hand. She looked like me, if I had been a woman, and not a man. Dark brown hair, and beautiful blue eyes, like gleaming sapphires. Where I had broad shoulders, hers were thinner. Her face severe and sharp, as if cut from stone, much like mine, only, hers was softer than my own. No stubble, no beard, none of that…

  I had been handsome, I couldn’t lie about that. The woman before me was beautiful too, but in an understated way. I was pale, perhaps too pale. But a few drinks of water appeared to rectify that.

  I must be having a panic attack. I surmised. This might all be some kind of post-accident fever dream. Right now, I could still be in the car, or even in a hospital in a coma.

  There was no need to panic…

  I breathed in and out. Calming my heart.

  Right. No need to panic. Calmly, I sipped my water and set my gaze forward. The water, as much as I hated to admit it, hit the spot perfectly. It tasted of chemicals, but every sip was just what I needed. Cool water flowed down my throat, addressing my parched throat and dehydrated body.

  I smacked my lips, just enjoying the taste, that and the crisp smell of air-conditioned air, and having my sweat soaked body licked by cold air. It was bliss.

  “Where you coming from miss?” He asked, likely noticing me drifting off.

  Where indeed? “Out of town.” I answered, noncommittally. Lifting my head to stare back at the woman in the mirror.

  “Is that so? Were you heading to the city for work? Immigrating?”

  That… was an odd question. “I was planning on passing through, but well as you can see, I had a bit of an accident. Lost my car, and with it, my wallet.”

  “Oh, that’s quite a shame. At least you made it out without any significant injuries.”

  “Yeah…” I trailed off and looked out to the desert. My mind churned. I could almost hear my brain sloshing about, like a boat in the storm, or like someone churning butter... A plan was beginning to form.

  “By the way, what state are we in?”

  “State?”

  “Yeah, state. You know, in the United States, the US. What state are we in? I think I was in Arizona when it happened, and I don’t think any cities like this exist in the desert.”

  “Arizona? US?” He replied back, sounding increasingly bewildered. “I’m sorry miss, but you must’ve hit your head or something. I don’t know about any US or Arizona.”

  I stared at him in disbelief. “Pardon me? Then what city is that?”

  “Purgatory.” He said with absolute seriousness. “I mean, everyone knows it.”

  Something in his tone worried me. Then he continued with a shrug.

  “But… then again, you are from out of town.” He said it as if that answers everything and… perhaps it did. “And seeing as your car has been lost, and your wallet as well, it wouldn’t hurt to check in at the customs office. We’ll be stopping there next, as it so happens.”

  “Oh… you think they’ll take me?”

  He chuckles at that. “Of course, there is always a job available if you’re looking for it in Purgatory.”

  Ominous and yet… I was riding the tiger, so to speak. I was already on the bus, and I wasn’t going to stop it now. The best I could do was lean back and enjoy the ride. After all, what he said sounded like total nonsense and yet… mm… I’ll just have to see for myself.

  The desert went by. Slowly, it transitioned into farmland. Large fields of corn with the smell of manure seeping in through the ventilation. It was a nostalgic smell.

  Soon, that too faded in favor of suburbia, but different from the usual suburban sprawl I was used too. The streets narrowed and the homes were oddly eastern in design. The houses were similar in looks, like any proper suburb and had walls surrounding their owned land. At the front of the homes were plaques with names, and a gate for people hoping to enter.

  Despite it being late morning, people were walking about and chatting. We crossed a bridge that went over a river into the city proper. The city itself appeared to be well managed. There were no gang tags or trash everywhere. The buildings all had a gothic note to them, with plenty of eaves and even gargoyles standing far above.

  The further we went, the more clustered the buildings became. Steam burst out from vents on the sidewalk and people walked about. It was a bustling city, where everyone appeared to be wearing business suits. Occasionally, I would pick out the gaggle of teenagers or adults in small groups heading to wherever they went. They wore uniforms, which was a bit odd.

  The traffic was bearable, surprisingly enough, and it didn’t take long before we arrived at our stop. Like in the desert, the bus came to a rolling stop with a low squeal of brakes engaging followed by a loud hiss as it finally stopped.

  On stepping out, the man gave me a final farewell.

  “Good luck out there! Be sure to find a place to stay before it gets dark!” And with that, I was alone. Or as alone as I could be surrounded by people milling about. People piled into the bus, and I was left alone at the bus stop. There appeared to be a nearby bathroom and across the street was a large building with the words, Purgatory City Hall, on the front. Clearly, that had to be my destination.

  I crossed the street and made for the entrance, but… A voice cut through.

  “Excuse me miss.” It was a woman’s voice. I stopped and looked at the speaker. Immediately, I tensed. She was an officer. The uniform was unfamiliar. A brass shield was on her chest, but it also had crossed swords on it. On her waist was a normal belt, but… she had a sword, not a gun.

  “Miss, are you okay?” The officer spoke up. Then, I remembered. I was covered in blood.

  “Ah, yeah… I am. Just had a bit of an accident on the way in.”

  “An accident?”

  “Yeah, I was driving, and I lost control. Car went careening and well.” I motioned to my tattered sleeves and blood-soaked clothing. “I was pretty lucky. My car, not so much.”

  She eyed me. Her eyes narrowed at my words. Her lips pursed. “Are you certain you didn’t get hurt? That is a lot of blood.”

  It took all I had not to shift my expression. Not to give anything away. “What can I say, I’m a bleeder.” I said with a forced laugh.

  “Of course…” She trailed off not pressing. “I didn’t mean to pry. Though, does that mean you’re from out of town?”

  “I am.”

  She smiles. “Ah, fallen down the rabbit hole then?”

  Her words… sparked something in me. The rabbit. “Do you know something?” I returned.

  “Just that you made the right choice. Just head inside the customs office and they will get you processed and a job. Use this time to get settled and remember. Here in the City of Purgatory, your past doesn’t matter.”

  I stared at her long and hard, trying to understand just what she was saying. It felt like cryptic nonsense and yet… Ignoring my burning gaze, she about faced and began to walk away, only to pause. She looked over her shoulder and spoke. “Before I forget. I’m Grim. Hopefully I’ll be seeing you around, little rabbit.” Then, she left.

  I didn’t chase her. I didn’t speak up. I just watched her leave. Questions ran through my mind, all demanding answers, but… I had other concerns for the time being. Even knowing that, her visage, her figure was burned into my mind, and her name wouldn’t leave my tongue.

  Unfortunately, I looked down at my clothing, a grimace on my face. I doubt my bloody clothing would give me a good impression. Not like I had any other options at hand, might as well make do…

  I looked back at the City Hall and adjusted my suit as best as I can. Then, I went inside.

  It didn’t take long. A short interview, me listing my job experience, and then the process of not only getting an offer but placed into housing. All of it was done rather rapidly. Next thing I knew, I’m being handed an envelope of cash that represented my bonus, along with a stack of papers detailing the employment contract. It felt way too structured to be a dream, and… the words could be read, but… No… Not the time.

  “Don’t go losing that now!” The employee yelled out as I left. It was… a lot of money for a sign on bonus. From what I understand, it was a special program to help newcomers get settled in. I couldn’t quite complain to be honest. Though…

  I had no idea what my name was. No matter how I recalled it, I always came up blank. In the end, I just made one up. The first name that came to mind, Prima Belle. Not a great name, but it was what it was.

  I made my way towards my new home, at least, for the time being.

  The place was an apartment complex, the interior was built like a fancy hotel, though aging for sure. At the front desk was an older woman humming to herself.

  “Excuse me, ma’am.” I started, “I was told you had a room available for me.” I then passed over the paperwork. She looked it over and nodded.

  “Yup, everything looks good. I’ll need an upfront payment though, first and last month before I give you the keys, along with a security deposit.”

  She named the number, and I handed it over without a fuss. She smiled with glee; her eyes sparkled when the money was in her hands.

  “Here you go, you’re on the fifth floor, room number 27.” I nodded and took the keys, but before I went too far, she called out. “Oh, and take the stairs! The elevators haven’t been working lately.”

  I rolled my eyes but thanked her for letting me know. The stairs smelled musty due to poor ventilation. The stairs, the walls, and the ceiling were all unadorned concrete. Even the floors were in the same state when I arrived at my level, were the same drab concrete. The doors were all thick wood, the wood itself was surprisingly lustrous against the drab concrete with bronze handles to boot. Just looking at it all, it was likely that the elevator had never worked at all.

  I quickly found my room and… well… It was… something. A small single room, with a balcony. There was no bathroom. No shower. No sink. The balcony itself was much like the rest of the place, concrete. There was a single bulb hanging from the ceiling that lit the space up… poorly.

  I looked over my room in growing dismay. It would have been a tight fit before… though… I hadn’t had time to really look over my new body. Or to really think over my new circumstances. Not that I could do it here. As it was, it was just right.

  Leaving my room, I scoured the floor and found what were public restrooms. The female bathrooms were on one side of the floor, male bathrooms on the opposite. Still no shower or bath though.

  I headed down to talk to the landlord and she was at her desk still.

  “Is there a place where I can take a shower or bath?”

  She looked at me then blinked as if realizing something. “Oh, I forgot to give you this.” She went under the counter and pulled out a card. “There’s a nearby bathhouse we’re partnered with. With this card, you can get a free bath a day.”

  It probably comes out of my rent… I thought morosely. She gave me directions and I went back up to gather my things. The bathhouse was surprisingly nice, they sold everything I needed…

  It was strange… I hadn’t even given myself a good look over, but I was immediately guided towards the women’s section.

  I somehow managed to push through and the moment I submerged myself in the warm water… all my worries faded away. All the stress, all the fatigue, everything, just… washed… away…

  My eyes shut. And I let it take me away.