He had to understand who this other was. Their meeting, the look and the words exchanged, had given rise to the implicit signing of a pact that would not tolerate any transgression. A pact signed with the syrupy liquid that had escaped from the body of Charles Zondi, from whom life had previously been extracted with forceps, without any compassion; this other was a barbarian." Here is a collection of short stories with twists, set in disparate and changing worlds, all having in common the fact that they address these terrible and inseparable states of mind that are despair and resignation - and their antonyms hope and struggle -, hatred and love, fear and incomprehension. These short stories may often seem harsh, they borrow sometimes from science fiction, sometimes from the police thriller, sometimes from heroic fantasy, and are intended to be among those that surprise momentarily and touch lastingly. They are the reflection of the tumultuous thoughts which, far from extracting all optimism, sometimes allow access to a certain tranquility, psychological and physical transformation shared by the protagonists who evolve there. The wish of the author, Clément Zugetta, is that you see the fantastic path that he tried to trace through the foundations of this human mind so complex and tortuous that it is fascinating, and that you take pleasure in borrowing its dark meanders. Order Publication date: March 1, 2023