So there I was, sitting at my desk with the worst artist’s block this side of the Senegal had ever seen. I chewed my pen and ran my paw through my mane as I stared at the blank paper before me, but the ideas just wouldn’t come. I grew angry and more frustrated with every passing moment as I imagined how easily ideas and inspiration came to others.

“That’s it!” I said to myself.

I had heard of other artists using certain “stimulants” for inspiration and as a tool to get the creative juices flowing. Drugs were never my cup of tea, refusing to try them even during my college days. But this nightmare of an artist's block caused me to have a change of heart. Why should others gain the advantages of using such tools for themselves while I sit here day after day with nothing to show for my talents?

I needed something to get me over this hump, to break down whatever wall was stopping me from producing my craft. Then once I had accomplished that, I wouldn’t need any more help. But to make sure this was only going to be a one time thing, I had to make sure I got the right stuff. I wanted to ensure whatever I took gave me enough inspiration and ideas to last me forever.

So I called my good old friend, Chisedawg. A fellow I met back in college who was somewhat of an expert when it came to this kind of thing. He was a bit surprised to hear me of all people calling on him for assistance in this endeavour. But I explained to him the importance my craft held to me. I was willing to try anything to bring out the creativity that I knew was deep inside me.

Chisedawg offered me his standard lineup; Dreamblooms, Silverbloods, Moongrass etc. I had to interrupt him and remind him that I wanted something potent. I wanted something strong enough to keep me writing and drawing for a lifetime. He paused for a moment and whispered something into the phone in a way which made my fur stand on end.

“DFF3”

He explained to me that this was a new drug on the market fresh from the lab. A drug so new and experimental it didn’t even have a street name yet. He tried to warm me that while the high was the most intense thing I would ever experience, the true effects were largely unknown. I told him he didn’t need to say anymore, I knew this is what I needed and I offered to pay him any price he asked for.

Within minutes he was waiting for me outside my apartment building. We exchanged pleasantries as we made the deal. I looked over my shoulder as I creeped back towards my apartment with the substance clenched tightly in my paw. It was an interesting specimen, a bright neon green liquid in a small vial with a cork.

I took a moment to admire it’s craftsmanship before popping that sucker open and taking a shot of the glowing green fluid. The taste was indescribable at first, followed by a burning sensation which reminded me of the time I took a shot of vodka at a house party. I wasn’t fond of the experience then and I certainly wasn’t fond of it now, but the mild discomfort was worth the result.

Instantly I felt re-energized and my inspiration revitalized as the concoction did it’s work. I excitedly sat down at my workstation and with no effort began writing and drawing like never before. I laughed maniacally as my writing paw struggled to keep up with my mind, spilling more and more ideas onto the pages like a cascading waterfall of pure thought and creativity.

I got lost in my work as the night became a blur, finally collapsing onto my bed many hours later. Pages of art were stacked on my desk while my smoldering pencil lay beside them. When I awoke in the morning I was sober once again. I wasted no time as I jumped out of bed and rushed over to gaze at my accomplishment.

As I flipped through the pages my joyful face contorted to various forms of confusion, shock, and disgust. Before me were the most depraved, degenerate, and perverted works or creation I had ever laid my eyes on. I was appalled, struggling to accept that these abominations had been from my own hand. What deep seeded monster in my subconscious could have even dreamt up such things as Samus Aran from the Metroid series sucking her thumb while wearing nothing but a clearly messy diaper?

I understood what had to be done, they had to be destroyed. I took out my lighter, ready to rid the universe of what I had created. However, to my horror I found myself struggling to do it. Instead, my hands guided themselves to my computer. My eyes widened as I saw I had saved each and every work into a folder on my desktop. I struggled to regain control, my hands trembling as I dragged a file from the folder to the upload section of my website. But at the last second I managed to break away, falling to the floor and crawling in fear to the corner of my bedroom.

“Hehehehehe you can’t HIDE from me” a voice echoed in my head.

“What? Who’s there? Where are you?” I screamed as I looked around the empty room.

“Follow the cold shiver down your mane hehehe!” The voice replied.

I looked over to the mirror, walking towards it as if I was in a trance. What did the voice mean when it said it was me? Was I talking to myself? Or was there something else inside me, something dark and depraved enough to create the works of perversion that I had discovered?

“What are you?!” I shouted into the mirror, demanding an answer.

“Now look at you, now look at me, now look at you… answer the question hehehe” The voice replied back.

I looked deeply into my reflection and I saw the manifestation of my other self staring back at me. A manic creature with wild eyes stared back at me with a look so disheveled you would think he was just released from the asylum. He called himself Hide and I knew in my mind he was here to stay, he was a part of me now.

I sunk back into my chair, totally defeated as Hide regained control. I watched as he guided my hands once again, dragging the file to the upload destination on my account. I closed my eyes tightly as he clicked upload, feeling waves of shame and guilt rush over me as I realized what the beast I unleashed into the world.