It’s a question often asked and leads people down different paths. Religion, literature, astrology, myth have all provided answers and yet none is any more powerful or accurate than another, as far as we know. Perhaps we find Elysian Fields in a place where the sun is always warm and the nights are always cool, the smell of lavender drifting to our noses. Or perhaps we become nothingness, dissolving to dust and food for the earth, an unending blackness. But I believe that we live through those who come after us, as the paint in the canvas of the artist, the splatter of ink on the pages that will stand against the test of time. I believe that we go where we are needed, and are received with relief and joy. These things I believe, but I admit I do not know.

I’d like to be an elven wife With golden hair, and ruby knives, Never needing to bare a tyke For stolen ones work just as fine. Elysian fields of lavender flowers Just across the fairy towers; Gowns with splatters of silver and gold In the closets, neatly fold. Mansions made of tree and bark Right beyond the mist and dark Elven wives can marry three For all of eternity. Oh i’d like to be an elven wife With golden hair, and ruby knives; With no care in this magic place An elven wife’s and husbands embrace.

Picks up a grapefruit & examines it like its a fine gemstone, from all sides. Drops it into her canvas tote bag that says something in some nordic language, maybe Swedish? Seems to be the world’s largest fan of citrus fruit with duration of time she has stood blocking the kumquats and pomelos.

I’m in a rush, and I need enough limes to get me through a fifth of tequila. My phone beeps reminding me I am supposed to already be in the mix at tonights soiree.

I don’t wish to be rude, so I approach the fruit assortment and manage an “excuse me” Startled, she turns about face & her eyes are directed at me. I’m taking her in. She has lavender hair & a splatter of reddish brown freckles across the thin bridge of her nose. She’s probably a ginger who went platinum blonde who went purple whose hair faded to the peculiar shade it is now.

Its jarring she hasn’t said anything or moved out of the way. We have societal conventions for this! The vacancy in her stare suggests she has one mental foot on earth and the other in a far off elysian dimension. I’m nervous and feel somehow akin to a peeper caught looking in her window. To fill the dead air, I utter I’m there to get stuff for tequila soda limes, halfway under my breath.

I hastily grab a few oblong fruits and drop them into a plastic bag. Her eyebrows tilt downward into a disapproving look and I want to defend myself, “I recycle, you know! I forgot my reusable tote at home!”

No, correction. Fuck this hippie and her judgement. The watershed from her hair dye probably chokes fish ecosystems. I give an indignant look back her way and turn on my heels to self checkout.

I’m halfway there when a feathery yet salient voice cuts across the grocery store. “Hey!” Its lavender head & she has a smirk painted across her visage. She’s holding something in her hands, striding towards me. “Here.. you grabbed lemons”

life with you would be like a day in the elysian fields

full of joy, and happiness

I gave you my heart, knowing the consequences

knowing that you would crush it

you sliced it up and returned it, ruby red blood splattering on the floor

there’s no going back now

I can barely see you any more through the dark lavender haze

and this was once our story.

Her hands are sculpted for holding, she walks with an Elysian grace.

Lavender wisps follow her always, and when I look at her face-

My hands are splattered with paint, and ache. But I reach out for an embrace.

As I’m about to be laid to rest There’s a tale I need to get off my chest I’ve tried to live my life as a reflection of gods wisdom Scared of losing teeth, just wanted all the winnings, call them my Elysian visions

Looking back on my past It’s clear that time flies fast But there won’t be a flag at half mast Forgive me father, at long last I need to repent about a sin, will leave you aghast

Didn’t grow up with much capital Punishments were handed out like candy, it was casual Surrounded by violence at every street corner Every family I knew had the number of the coroner

So I started to slang bricks, out of the back of my off white whip The environment was filled with ruckus So I kept a piece, chamber loaded, fuck a safety, guided by my own moral compass

Soon my vision became blurry Dead presidents piled up in a hurry Knew I needed to get out, Or I’d end up in cuffs in front of a jury

Made enemies, was just one price to pay of many One fateful night, got into it with a dealer called big Jay, we had some words to say

Blows exchanged over turf became heated Didn’t like the stabs coming my way, wasn’t gonna leave them untreated The stage had been set, glow of the moon was the spotlight Get your popcorn, crowd gathered to watch, like a prize fight

I thought I was done with the game My ego didn’t feel the same Felt like I needed imaginary gain So I chose this path, one way lane

Squared up, fists start flying like the mad hatter Blind rage, see red, bang! No more chatter, Blood splatter, brain matter littered the street, like rats, the crowd scattered

Standing there with the gun still smoking Hoping I wasn’t seen, situation felt like a fever dream Shit just got real, killed a man, steel gun steal life don’t know how to feel Body numb, knew if I got caught I was done So I ditched the gun and started to run My whole life until now, I lay here dying, my time has come

Years have gone by, never been caught Image of the carcass still seared in my mind, call it a black thought The center can no longer hold, things fall apart When I get to heaven that’ll be a new start

Family is gathered round, ignorant that I used that caliber Instead my verdict is sealed, God saw the massacre Today is judgement day, Yom Kippur on the calendar Pushing up daisies now, I think I smell lavender Right at the moment of peace, the smell changes to rotting flounder

I committed an unforgivable sin, the blast was eternal blasphemy I thought I could undo the past, logical fallacy The present presence is the angel of death, I’m going to it’s galaxy No legacy, infinite hell is my reality

It was a Friday..I think..hard to say. I still remember the autumn breeze blowing past me as we walked towards the outskirts of town. The air smelled of damp wood and earth as we made our way to the old forest not far from our school.

Lyla, Bruce, Alec, and Kourtney were all there. An odd group I guess one could say, into the occult and all that, but we found solace in being able to sit together underneath the dark hanging trees. We spent our Fridays afternoons in there performing little rituals, nothing dangerous of course, just something we could enjoy together.

Lyla revealed an archaic leather bound grimoire, carefully pulling it from her satchel. “I found this in the public library last weekend, the librarian told me that it wasn’t in their system though so he let me take it home!” Lyla squealed.

Alec turned to me saying, “That’s kind of creepy though, don’t you think Mick?” We all laughed it off, not wanting to spoil the adrenaline welling up inside us. The ritual that followed that evening is still blurred, but maybe it’s meant that we forget.

We must have done something right, because a bright light had suddenly erupted from the old book. The light morphed several times before finally settling on the form of a beautiful Elysian woman. There was a heavy smell of lavender emitting from her, making me feel drowsy to the point it was hard to stand. She approached us at a slow stride, floating off the ground it seemed, stopping directly in front of Lyla. The entity just stared, before leaning in to press a kiss on Lyla’s lips, causing Lyla…to combust. I can still feel the blood and flesh chunks splatter that masked us and the surrounding trees.

I couldn’t hear the others as we all sprinted in varying directions, my heart becoming deafening in my ears. I could see my shadow on the forest floor as I ran. Three bright lights burst from somewhere behind me, only for my shadow to grow in size. The smell of lavender was becoming unbearable, engulfing my senses. I felt so exhausted and heavy with every step I took, eventually coming to a stop only twenty feet from the edge of the forest. I fell onto my back as my legs finally gave out, coming face to face with the woman, now covered in blood and flesh. Somehow..she still gave off a comforting aura, her soft eyes and beaming smile, her embrace calling to me. My heart and breath began to calm as she knelt down and bestowed her last kiss that night.

I woke up not long after, back where we had started. My friends were there waiting for me, the book now closed, and the woman gone. We’ve tried leaving, but we seem to always be walking in circles as we’ve never found our way out of the forest. At least..we’ll always be together in here.

Blood splatter on the ground. The enormity of the silence. The quiet breeze and soft sunlight of the morning coming in through the shattered windows. The crunch of the broken shards of glass under my boots as I walked slowly, weak-kneed, through the aftermath.

I woke up with a gasp, shaking my head of the memory I wished to forget. I was still in the windowless, wooded bedroom of the cabin I had been evacuated to. Worn, yellowing sheets were tangled around me. My neck started to itch as the sweat dried into it. I got out of bed. I needed some air.

I opened the bedroom door quietly. The door was open at the end of the hall. The sheer fabric covering the frame blew in from the gentle breeze. It was nighttime.

I tiptoed, barefoot, down the hall and out the door. I stepped down the familiar three stairs to the ground. My toes touched the cool, flattened earth, the dying patches of grass tickling my skin. I walked out further.

Still nothing. Our surroundings were entirely barren. Still, I walked out into the darkness, the full moon lighting my way.

I walked far enough that the cabin was a speck of light in the distance. I sat on the ground, staring at the moon. At least there was a speck of hope, and a reminder that there was still beauty in the world. I closed my eyes.

The angled rays of sun hit the tall grass. I ran through it, feeling its softness caress my arms. I felt my belly moving with a deep laugh. Lavender plants in various shades of purple dotted the landscape, filling me with calm as their therapeutic scent took over my senses. I plopped down, the soft grass a pillow under me. It surrounded me with comfort. I closed my eyes and felt the warmth of the sun on my cheeks. I heard birds chirping an uplifting tune, narrating this life of joy. Elysian Fields. One day this would be my home.

Elysian had always been fascinated by the art of Splatter. To him, it was a form of expression that captured the chaos and beauty of life. So, when he found out about the Lavender Art Festival, he knew he had to attend.

As he walked through the festival, Elysian was awestruck by the incredible artwork on display. There were paintings, sculptures, and installations that seemed to defy reality. But it was the Splatter exhibit that truly captivated him.

The artist had created a massive canvas, using every colour of the rainbow in a chaotic, yet somehow harmonious, pattern. Elysian was entranced, unable to look away. He had never seen anything like it.

As he stood there, lost in thought, a woman approached him. She was holding a small bottle of lavender oil, which she offered to him with a smile. "Here," she said. "This will enhance your experience."

Elysian was sceptical, but he accepted the oil and applied a few drops to his wrists. Almost instantly, he felt a sense of calm wash over him. The chaos of the Splatter exhibit seemed to fade away, replaced by a sense of serenity.

He turned to the woman to thank her, but she was already gone. Elysian shrugged it off and returned his attention to the artwork.

It wasn't until he got home that he realized something strange had happened. As he was taking a shower, he noticed that the water had turned purple. Confused, he rinsed off and stepped out, only to find that his skin was covered in splatters of colour. It was as if the artwork had come to life and exploded all over him.

At first, Elysian was horrified. He tried scrubbing the paint off, but it was no use. But then, as he looked at himself in the mirror, he saw something else. The colours were beautiful, vibrant, and alive. And suddenly, he knew what he had to do.

The next day, Elysian went to the park and set up a canvas. He poured out bottles of paint and began to splatter it across the canvas in a wild frenzy. Passersby stopped to watch, fascinated by the spectacle. And as Elysian painted, he felt a sense of freedom and release that he had never experienced before.

From that day on, Elysian became known as the Splatter Artist. He travelled the world, creating massive works of art that left people breathless. And whenever he felt lost or uncertain, he would reach for his lavender oil, and let the colours guide him.

To whoever finds this...

We landed on planet Elysian with just half of our crew. This screwed us all up, but it really took a toll on Captain Elerby. It makes sense though...right? It's Elerby's first run as Captain and four of his men die on the way to the planet that we're sent out to raid and salvage. That's the kind of thing that takes an emotional toll on anyone. My initial thought was that if we completed the mission, Elerby's mood would change for the better...

That was before we actually landed on the planet.

I knew there was something off about the planet before we even landed. I could tell from looking out the windows that something was wrong. This wasn't the same location we'd studied for months leading up to the mission. The colors were too bright and too vibrant, they were unlike anything I'd ever seen. Beautifully mesmerizing, and mind-numbingly haunting at the same time. Green's were too green, reds were too red. Everything seemed overly saturated. Like we were landing on a planet from a Video Game with the brightness on high.

We land, and Ziemans was the first to exit. He was also the first to die. He steps out and in the distance, through the blindingly eccentric colors…is this purple blob, that almost looks human. It’s far enough for us to react, but close enough to where Ziemans can’t react without being in a state of panic.

The thing lurches forward. Looking like a purple inkblot with legs. It shifts in a bunch of different directions, all while zoning in on Ziemans. He fires and fires and all I can see is it’s splatter, as it bleeds onto the dirt below. At this point, I’m firing, the Captain is firing and Dobes is firing too. It shoots these weird tentacles out as Ziemans reloads. These things go into his eyes and come out of both his ears, his nostrils and his mouth. The next thing I know…Ziemans face is gone. Like completely…gone.

Dobes was the next one to die, maybe ten minutes after our landing. He steps into the same purple goo that was that monster, and he just sinks like a stone. Screaming until his throat ruptured. As he sank, it looked like it was eating away at his skin…like some form of acid. I could see a red ring around him as he sank, and I’m guessing it was his blood.

It’s just Captain Elerby and myself. We checked the ship for take off and it’s just not working, we can’t put our finger on what the issue is. Maybe it’s got something to do with this fucked up planet?

They do die…they just take a shit ton of rounds. For anyone who comes after us…the splatter means they’re taking damage. Their blood is the color of lavender…so look out for that.

Shoot to Splatter the Lavender.

Private Jordan Alin Blake.