You never get used to pain, but eventually you stop trying to avoid it. Ken had been in this place of pain for lifetimes. One by one he revisited each horror of the night of pain. He'd been each person countless times.

After a few hundred years of agony his perception had changed. For example, whenever he relived having his head folded into his ass, for some reason he kept noticing how a joint flew overhead and stayed in his vision until just before the end. Each punishment he had released into the world he had relived. It had become his everything. He was the torture, the killing and the rape. He experienced giving and receiving. Each person or spirit's perspective relived endlessly in his personal hell. It was what he deserved.

While being slowly consumed by ants upstairs something caught his attention.

“...you” A voice interjected.

What was that? Ken thought to himself while as the ants kept chewing. The pain hit a new cord as the ants started chewing at the spinal nerves. After another few more minutes consciousness finally faded as the ants had successfully chewed their way through his eyes and were devouring his brain. It was what he deserved.

The fiend wasn't limiting itself to Ken's natural biological entry points. As always it seemed to prefer Ken's diaphram. After tearing him a new hole, the creature seemed to enjoy forcing Ken to inhale and exhale to the perfect beat of his sexual torment.

A new noise punctured the sounds of his agonized, desperate breathing and the creatures sounds of dark pleasure, “Are you...”

Ken didn't have much time to think about it, he was too focused on breathing... at least until the creature adjusted his aim and skewered Ken's heart. It was what he deserved.

While being slowly consumed by ants upstairs something caught his attention.

“...you... yet?” A voice interjected.

That doesn't belong here, Ken though to himself.

“Hello?” Ken called out.

The pain hit a new cord as the ants started chewing at the spinal nerves. Ken couldn't talk anymore, but he did see something. Ken was standing in front of himself and he looked annoyed. He stared at himself in confusion. After another few more minutes consciousness finally faded as the ants had successfully chewed their way through his eyes and were devouring his brain. It was what he deserved.

While being slowly consumed by ants upstairs something caught his attention.

“...you... yet?” A voice interjected.

That doesn't belong here, Ken though to himself.

“Hello?” Ken called out.

“You done yet?” The voice was clearer now.

The pain hit a new cord as the ants started chewing at the spinal nerves. Ken couldn't talk anymore, but he did see something. Ken was standing in front of himself and he looked annoyed.

“How many more times do you need to do this before you're done?” Ken asked himself.

This is what I deserve for what I did, Ken thought. After another few more minutes consciousness finally faded as the ants had successfully chewed their way through his eyes and were devouring his brain. It was what he deserved.

The fiend wasn't limiting itself to Ken's natural biological entry points. As always it seemed to prefer Ken's diaphram. After tearing him a new hole, the creature seemed to enjoy forcing Ken to inhale and exhale to the perfect beat of his sexual torment.

A new noise punctured the sounds of his agonized, desperate breathing and the creatures sounds of dark pleasure, “Are you done...”

Ken looked over and saw himself standing there looking frustrated.

Why would I be done? Ken thought to himself... he couldn't control his breath though and eventually the creature adjusted his aim and skewered Ken's heart. It was what he deserved.

While being slowly consumed by ants upstairs something caught his attention.

“...you... yet?” A voice interjected.

That doesn't belong here, Ken though to himself.

“Hello?” Ken called out.

“You done yet?” The voice was clearer now.

The pain hit a new cord as the ants started chewing at the spinal nerves. Ken couldn't talk anymore, but he did see something. Ken was standing in front of himself and he looked annoyed.

“How many more times do you need to do this before you're done?” Ken asked himself.

This is what I deserve for what I did, Ken thought.

“You've been here for an eternity. You've officially punished yourself a million times more than what you did to them.” The sane and standing Ken said to him.

His vision was fading, he was about to die. It was what he deserved.

While being slowly consumed by ants upstairs something caught his attention.

“Are you done yet?” A voice interjected.

“Hello” Ken called out. Ken was standing in front of himself. He looked hopeful.

“Are you finally ready to end this?” Ken asked himself.

This is what I deserve for what I did, Ken thought.

“You've been here for an eternity. You've officially punished yourself a million times more than what you did to them.” The sane and standing Ken said to him. The pain hit a new cord as the ants started chewing at the spinal nerves.

“I'm thinking you may be ready after a few more rounds.” Ken said. “I'll wait here for you.”

His vision was fading, he was about to die.

While being slowly consumed by ants upstairs something caught his attention.

“Take my hand” Ken interjected.

Ken reached out to the healthy Ken standing in front of him and grasped his arm. As if he was being pulled out of water Ken drew himself out of his personal hell. He was floating on the outside and spent a few moments watching as his victim was torn apart by the dark creatures. Shame dragged him back down whence he had come. He deserved to suffer.

The fiend wasn't limiting itself to Ken's natural biological entry points. As always it seemed to prefer Ken's diaphram. After tearing him a new hole, the creature seemed to enjoy forcing Ken to inhale and exhale to the perfect beat of his sexual torment.

A new noise punctured the sounds of his agonized, desperate breathing and the creatures sounds of dark pleasure, “So how much suffering is enough?”

Ken looked over and saw himself standing there looking frustrated.

There is no such thing. This is unforgivable! Ken thought to himself... he couldn't control his breath though and eventually the creature adjusted his aim and skewered Ken's heart. It was what he deserved.

While being slowly consumed by ants upstairs something caught his attention.

“Do I need to go get Jesus?” Ken interjected.

“Huh? Jesus?” Ken replied to himself standing there.

“I don't remember being Christian, but if you need help with forgiveness...” Ken argued.

This is what I deserve for what I did, Ken thought.

“Bullshit. I got angry and hurt some people. I understand that pain more than they do now.” The pain hit a new cord as the ants started chewing at the spinal nerves, but somehow a peace spread through Ken's agonized body. He relaxed. He really did understand that hurt and maybe he had suffered enough.

“I'll catch you next time and we'll try again.” Ken said. “I'll be here for you, be ready to stay out this time ok?”

His vision was fading, he was about to die.

While being slowly consumed by ants upstairs something caught his attention.

“Take my hand” Ken interjected.

Ken reached out to the healthy Ken standing in front of him and grasped his arm. As if he was being pulled out of water Ken drew himself out of his personal hell. He was floating on the outside and he watched the activities within feeling sad. It was a shame that he could do this to someone. The moments of hate and excitement looking in were hard, but what really concerned him that he was actually aroused looking at some of it. HE was the sick mind who summoned the sexual horrors and...

...No. he didn't want to think about it. He was a good person.

Ken looked up. Ken was staring back at him.

“You look like me.” Ken said. “What do I look like to you?”

“The same.” Ken replied. “I'm not very creative right now.”

“So... we can't both be me. Can we?” Ken asked.

“Why not? I am both of us.” Ken replied.

“So why was I in there where you were out here?” Ken asked.

“Because you were the part of me who couldn't forgive myself.” Ken replied. “I am the rest of me who was stuck waiting for you to get over it if I didn't want to be a brain addled moron.”

“ah.” Ken said. “So what do we do now?”

“Well...” Ken replied, “you spent countless lifetimes in there. I used a few of them to get some training.”

“What kind of training?” Ken asked.

“Life, the universe, everything.” Ken replied.

“So when we reconnect I'm going to know all that?”

“Kind of.” Ken replied. “The rules still don't allow me to suddenly know unless I remember the learning, but let's just say our gut feeling is a little more educated now than it was before.”

“How's that work?” Ken asked.

“All I can say now is that, our first guess is going to be a good one much more often than before.”

“So I don't get training?” Ken asked.

Ken smiled knowingly as he said, “I didn't say that.”

A huge dark form flew overhead.

Something the size of a small mountain shouldn't be able to move that gracefully, Ken thought to himself.

And yet I can, the dragon projected with an ancient mind voice filled with power, wisdom and controlled violence. Encountering the ultimate hunter, Ken knew deep within that he was powerless to prevent himself from becoming dinner, and an embarrassing facet of mammalian biology expressed itself. Ken pissed his pants.

Ken (somehow with dry pants) knowingly grinned back at himself as the stain spread. He held up a new pair of pants. “I've been here before.”

The gigantic winged lizard turned and started flying back. Somehow even though his wings were beating it looked as if he was hovering. It took a few moments for Ken to realize that the dragon was shrinking!

Diminished to the size of a small pony, the hunter landed about 30 feet away and waited for Ken.

Confused Ken looked at himself for answers as he changed his pants.

“A friend of a friend owed us a favor.” Ken answered. “These are the kinds of favors which build empires.”

The dragon's chuckled rippled through their minds. Warm, approachable and yet mildly irritated. I should know. Empire building is a time consuming process.

As the Kens looked at him, he continued. In short, I am your teacher. I will teach you magick, and I will teach you to temper your reactions to prevent THAT (he nodded toward the personal hell floating below them) from happening again. In a couple years you will be ready to return and face the challenges which plague your life.

The dragon sat down and looked at the Kens. First though you need to recover yourself. I'm not going to teach two of you and since my commitment is goal oriented, I can't teach only part of you. There's an easy way to do this, but I doubt you are ready for it. So follow me and we'll do this the long way.

As far as Ken could tell the dragon reached forward with his will to collect the two Kens and then reached out to reality around them... and somehow pushed. In a nauseating transition the Kens were suddenly standing outside of a cave high in the mountains overlooking a beautiful valley filled with streams, a river and more trees than you could count. Inside the cave a bright light flickered off the walls as if a campfire were lit.

I already know you better than you know yourself. The dragon declared, however, what matters here is becoming at peace with yourself. As long as there are two of you, you hate yourself too much to be anything but useless. I could stay here and help, but frankly you are a young and ignorant imbecile. We have infinite time, but I do not have infinite patience. I have prepared this home for you to talk to yourself and find peace. The fire will always be lit. The deer on the spit will always have more meat, and there is water flowing through the back of the cave. Take as long as you need. Nothing will bother you here. If you venture away from the cave I make no such promises, but, perhaps some time in another afterlife will do you well.

The dragon leapt into the air and with mighty wing flaps he reversed his shrinking trick. Ken became aware of how vast the valley was by the fact that the enormous lizard, nearly as tall as the mountain they stood on, wasn't even 1/10th as long as the valley.

I will return when there is only one of you. The dragon projected as he flew through a hole which appeared in front of him.

Ken dropped his eyes and turned to look at himself. Then they walked into the cave to talk.