A Lamp in Isolation Casts a Lonely Shadow 1

1.
It's the year 2500 in a dimension not our own. It's hard to say whether they are ahead or behind technologically, with running water and electricity at hand for some and not for others. It would depend on how lucky you happened to be, if being lucky meant being born into a town where you were welcome or born into a town where you were hated. And it seemed quite random and the order of things was only as logical as the people who served. Served themselves or served others, is there any other way? At present those were the thoughts of a lonely girl staring out her basement window as the rain poured down and leaked through the walls. Her room wasn't much to look at, she had a lamp hung from the ceiling, her bed and a desk on bricks to keep the water at bay. She didn't consider herself lucky but she was grateful to have a few books to read, mostly texts of the latest religious fad. These she could get for free on the streets, more people looking for others to serve them she thought. The family she lived with was more interested in her brother, but they couldn't adopt one without adopting the other. He lived upstairs with the wealthy and ate fine meals. She stayed in the basement and ate last night's leftovers. She sketched her name inside one of her books, Mary the Unknown. Mary considered her last name to be Unknown since no one would attach their name to hers. A crash could be heard upstairs. Startled she stood back up and looked out the window but the crash was followed by hysterical laughter so she thought it could be nothing serious. Oh but what has happened? She leaned against the water dripping down the wall and has gotten her hands and shirt wet with something that is not rain. It is black and red swirls thickening and dripping onto the ground. She stood back as something begins to take shape is the murk. It begins to speak, it tells her to read for it. Read for it a few passages from the holy books on your desk. Mary picks up a book it tells her any page will do any passage they're all the same. She reads about how the light will guide them into a peaceful afterlife. The creature cuts her short and calls them lies. Continue it says. Mary reads about doing good deeds will be rewarded. It cuts her off and calls out lies! Mary asks the goo if it knows a better way. It says I do know a better way but you won't like it. Why? Mary asks. The goop replies to her that in order for it to show her the way out of this prison in the basement you will have to drink me all up and I will follow you. Mary looks doubtful and disgusted. The goop replies to her look and tells her the typical response will end with a typical outcome and you can typically continue your stint in this prison, or you can drink me. Another crash can be heard upstairs and more laughter. Dust falls from the ceiling. The goop stares at her and Mary looks in her desk drawer for something hidden under some pencils. A spoon. She sits in the corner of the basement on the wet floor and the goop glides over to her. She picks up the spoon and begins to eat.