AXON

What's the matter?

I--think I'm injured.

What's wrong? Where are you hurt?

I'm bleeding. I was in bed and I felt it. Bleeding, so much, it was like a pool around me.

I don't see any blood.

I'm bleeding time.

Bleeding time?

Yes. Like it's a liquid, just pouring out of me everywhere. Loads of it. I think-- something bit me.

Like... an insect? An animal? Something in your bed?

No. I mean, not really. It was-- when I was-- younger. I must have started bleeding then.

Well... I mean, what exactly happened?

I was on the floor, on my back. Something-- came-- out of the white of the ceiling-- at me.

Like a spider?

Well. I mean maybe, but huge. I couldn't see all of it, just its head, and some long things like legs, anchoring it to the other walls-- but--

Go on...

It was invisible. Like, like its shape was there, but its surfaces were just copies of whatever was behind it. I didn't even see it until it had come down right on top of me. I had my eyes wide open, and it just-- lunged-- at me.

What did you do?

Nothing. I was-- paralyzed, I think. It filled up my whole vision, and then it said my full name in my own voice. And it-- bit me. In my mind. Somewhere in my mind. And all this time it just kept bleeding inside me.

Bleeding time, you said.

Yes, exactly.

But isn't time just a... an illusion? A consequence of being made of matter?

No.

It isn't?

Time is real. It is more precious than your blood. And things-- something-- hunted me down for it. I think it has been following me for years. I-- see it sometimes, against the ceiling corners, waiting to drink from me.

But... But what IS it?

Acompheacmocmecniaz.

What??

You asked me what it is. That is what it is. It told me.

I thought it just said your name.

It's my name too. Just-- the negative of it. Like a-- reciprocal function of my name. An inversion maybe. I heard it, in the spaces, between the phonemes, when it used my voice, to say my name.

Are you in the bath tub again?

Yes.

Burning your feet?

Yes. I only feel good in here now, and for a little bit after. I have had three today.

Try to get some sleep.

Yeah.