ANDHAKA

  DEAR DIARY,

  I never really liked violence. It was always just the labor to finally savor the fruits.

  I love the screams and tears when people are scared. I’m not particularly fond of their state during the torture itself, but the moments before and after—that’s what I savor. There’s something exhilarating about their fear, their despair. It makes me feel like the strongest person alive.

  And I think that’s important—to feel powerful in a world where almost any being could destroy you with a flick of their finger.

  Yours lovingly,

  Andhaka.

  DEAR DIARY,

  I think I love my job. When I look at my peers, it makes me feel so grateful for where I am now. It’s rare to live a life doing work you genuinely enjoy.

  The thought of doing anything else fills me with absolute horror. I can’t imagine myself as a travel guide for lost souls—or worse—judging punishments for new souls. I heard the last judge threw himself into Nocterris just to escape the job. Imagine How bad it was for him to choose the Land of Dreams over his work.

  But today, I’m feeling especially inspired. I think this might be my best day of work yet.

  Grateful to fate,

  Andhaka.

  DEAR DIARY,

  I’m sorry I’ve been neglecting you. I know I promised to write daily, but sometimes I get lost in my work. The beauty of what I do pulls me in, and it’s hard to resist.

  I get that it might seem like I only come to you when I’m overwhelmed like I’m using you as an emotional garbage bag. But I do care for you. I promise to be better about writing regularly.

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  Now, let me tell you what happened today. I created a method so exquisite, the soul I worked on cried for hours after it ended. He said he was terrified of the future, that he regretted not apologizing to his mother before he died. It was such a satisfying sight.

  I told him everything would be fine, that his punishment was over, and he’d be sent back to Earth. He even thanked me—can you believe that? Tomorrow, I’ll pay him another visit. It's going to be so fucking funny to see him shocked. Fresh souls are always the most entertaining.

  But here’s the real highlight: my superior was so impressed by my work that he said I might surpass him in a few hundred years. At first, I thought he was just being encouraging, but his eyes felt so genuine

  The past few days have been very fulfilling. I hope every day is like this.

  Hopeful for the future,

  Andhaka.

  DIARY

  This guy is fucking insane. He is literally a fucking psychopath.

  I was created to heal—to mend broken, pitiful souls—not to be the emotional garbage dump for fucking sociopaths.It’s a bit better because he doesn’t know I can write back. He just thinks I’m a normal diary, so I don’t really have to write back to him or help him sort his feelings. But fuck, it hurts to not fulfill my purpose—to not do what I’m meant to do. But this fucker doesn't even need any healing. He doesn’t even have a heart to fix.

  When Master said I’d make someone’s life better, I felt purpose for the first time—even more than when I was alive. But now? Now I’m just a psychopath’s logbook. I hate my fucking life.

  WRITER 1782718

  It’s been almost a week since that bastard left me alone. I can still hear the cries of people in the cells nearby. It’s only me he hasn’t visited.

  What’s he planning? Is he taking his time to come up with something worse? Or does he enjoy seeing me squirm, terrified of the unknown? Maybe he wants me to relax, only to ambush me.

  I don’t understand how his mind works. But one thing is clear—I need a plan. If I don’t do something soon, it’s only going to get worse.