Suddenly worsen crossword clue

Firstly, I just wanna preface this with an explanation that I don’t for a second think this is a problem or struggle, more just went to share this with someone as nobody I know has a clue it’s happening.
I’ve been financially sensible my whole life pretty much, bought my first house at 24. Been overpaying it since day one. Got a good pension, emergency savings and no debt.
I’ve always lived within my means and saved every month for the past 13 years. I’ve reached a point where I don’t really worry about long term money problems even though I still need to be sensible month to month as I don’t earn a huge salary.
I’ve stood on my own two feet since I moved out at 20 and never taken anything off my family. However, my parents just sold their business for £34m. My dads share will be roughly £14m after tax. This is in addition to roughly £3m in assets and shares they currently own.
I found out about this as they wanted to take me through their will one day and I’m named 50% in it… imagine my surprise to find out I will inherit potentially £5-8m one day.
I’ve gone from putting a huge amount of mental focus in money my whole adult life and feeling very insecure to feeling like it’s almost like Monopoly money now.
It’s difficult to take anything seriously anymore, my boss acts like a prick and I’m just sat there thinking this person has zero power over my well-being anymore.
Weirdly, I suddenly feel way less materialistic and my desire to make purchases has dropped by about 90% which is pretty unexpected.
Objects I once saw as highly luxurious and out of my reach now just seem ordinary and shallow. It’s made me really focus on what truly is scarce like my family and experiences.
Not sure where I’m going with this, but this sure does feel weird and not sure how to process it.

Armed with newfound determination, I ventured deeper into the mansion, guided by the cryptic whisper that echoed in my mind. The darkness became my ally, as I navigated the winding corridors, my steps muffled by the threadbare carpeting beneath my feet.
Every room I explored held its own chilling secrets. In one, a broken music box played a haunting melody that seemed to emanate from the past. In another, a mirror reflected distorted images, warping my own reflection into a grotesque caricature. Each encounter only fueled my resolve to uncover the truth behind this macabre labyrinth.
As I reached the lower levels of the mansion, the air grew heavy with a suffocating presence. The walls seemed to close in on me, adorned with sinister paintings that depicted scenes of anguish and despair. Whispers became more distinct, as if spectral voices beckoned me further into the depths of their forgotten realm.
At last, I stumbled upon a hidden chamber concealed behind a bookcase. The room was bathed in an otherworldly glow, illuminating a peculiar altar at its center. The flickering candlelight danced upon an ancient tome, its pages adorned with arcane symbols and faded ink. It was a tome of forbidden knowledge, holding the key to the mansion's enigma.
With trembling hands, I opened the book and began to decipher its cryptic passages. It revealed a tragic tale of a family bound by a cursed bloodline, trapped within the confines of the mansion for eternity. The souls of the deceased family members sought redemption, longing to be freed from their tormented existence.
I realized that the photograph I had found was not a mere coincidence—it held the key to breaking the curse. I studied it intently, searching for clues, when suddenly, the girl's eyes in the photograph began to move. They shifted, fixating on a specific point—a hidden compartment in the altar.
Heart pounding, I reached for the compartment and uncovered a collection of letters, each filled with anguish and pleas for release. They chronicled the tragic history of the family, revealing the depths of their suffering and the secrets that had kept them bound to this haunted mansion.
Armed with this newfound knowledge, I understood my mission. I would become the instrument of their salvation, bringing their story to light and setting their restless spirits free. With a renewed sense of purpose, I vowed to uncover the truth, confront the malevolence that resided within these walls, and unravel the mysteries that had plagued this place for far too long.
Armed with the letters and a renewed sense of purpose, I delved deeper into the history of the cursed family and their tragic fate. The puzzle pieces started to align, revealing a web of deceit, betrayal, and unspeakable horrors that had befallen them.
As I studied the letters, I discovered a recurring name—Evelyn, a distant relative whose actions had triggered the family's curse. She had unleashed a malevolent force, seeking power and immortality at the cost of innocent lives. The family's souls were bound to the mansion, unable to find peace until justice was served.
Driven by a mix of determination and trepidation, I sought out more information about Evelyn, determined to confront her and put an end to the suffering she had inflicted. Legends spoke of a hidden chamber deep beneath the mansion, where Evelyn had conducted her dark rituals.
Following the cryptic clues left within the letters, I uncovered a hidden passage leading to the underground chamber. The air grew colder with each step, and the whispers that had haunted me throughout the mansion grew louder, urging me forward.
Entering the chamber, I found myself surrounded by an eerie stillness. The walls were adorned with symbols etched in blood, emanating an aura of evil. At the center of the chamber stood an ancient altar, its surface stained with the remnants of forbidden rituals.
Summoning all my courage, I recited the incantation I had uncovered from the letters, calling forth the trapped souls. A gust of wind swept through the chamber, extinguishing the torches, leaving me in total darkness.
Suddenly, the air crackled with energy, and the ethereal forms of the cursed family materialized before me. Their eyes glowed with a mixture of sadness and hope as they revealed their stories, their suffering, and the depths of Evelyn's depravity.
Together, we forged a plan to confront Evelyn, to break the curse, and bring her to justice. Armed with the strength of the tormented souls and the weight of their plea for redemption, I prepared to face the embodiment of darkness that had plagued the mansion for generations.
To be continued...

I have yet to experience this with League of Legends, but it has happened so far with Path of Exile (Both standalone and Steam version), as well as Vampire Survivors.
The games themselves run perfectly fine, up until a point where the screen suddenly freezes. If I catch it fast enough, I'm able to go to TTY, but that rarely works. Sound keeps playing for some time. Then one or two of the monitors start flickering, and then they both go dark. Usually, one of the monitors disconnects at this stage, and nothing can be done except shut down the laptop.
I initially thought it could be Steam doing it, as I had dozens, if not hundreds of these in my journalctl:
May 28 15:21:03 berry-garden dbus-daemon[800]: [session uid=1000 pid=800] Activating service name='org.gnome.ScreenSaver' requested by ':1.28' (uid=1000 pid=2937 comm="/home/cherry/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/steam")
May 28 15:21:03 berry-garden dbus-daemon[800]: [session uid=1000 pid=800] Successfully activated service 'org.gnome.ScreenSaver'
But... the same happened with the standalone version of Path of Exile. I thought it was a gamemode error, because of:
May 28 16:18:19 berry-garden gamemoded[61561]: ERROR: Skipping ioprio on client [74288,74288]: ioprio was (0) but we expected (4)
May 28 17:01:56 berry-garden gamemoded[61561]: ERROR: Removal requested for unknown process [74253].
May 28 17:01:59 berry-garden gamemoded[61561]: ERROR: Could not inspect tasks for client [74327]! Skipping ioprio optimisation.
May 28 17:01:59 berry-garden gamemoded[61561]: ERROR: Could not inspect tasks for client [74323]! Skipping ioprio optimisation.
May 28 17:01:59 berry-garden gamemoded[61561]: ERROR: Could not inspect tasks for client [74297]! Skipping ioprio optimisation.
May 28 17:01:59 berry-garden gamemoded[61561]: ERROR: Could not call UnInhibit on org.freedesktop.ScreenSaver: No route to host
May 28 17:01:59 berry-garden gamemoded[61561]: org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.ServiceUnknown
May 28 17:01:59 berry-garden gamemoded[61561]: The name org.freedesktop.ScreenSaver was not provided by any .service files
But... disabling gamemode didn't affect it.
Then, there is this error that keeps getting repeated:
May 28 17:02:35 berry-garden upowerd[53171]: value "-nan" of type 'gdouble' is invalid or out of range for property 'percentage' of type 'gdouble'
​
At this stage, I'm really unsure as to what could be happening. Does anyone have any clues?
​
OS: EndeavourOS
CPU: i7-4710HQ
GPU: nVidia GeForce GTX 980M
Memory: 24GB
Currently using an SSD.

Hey fellow "Succession" fans,
I've been obsessing over the latest season of our favorite TV drama, and I can't help but share this mind-blowing theory with all of you. Brace yourselves, because I firmly believe that Logan Roy, the enigmatic patriarch of the Roy family, has faked his own death, and he's going to make a grand comeback in the finale! Here's why I think so:
The suspicious circumstances: Let's go back to that shocking season finale cliffhanger. Logan's supposed death seemed too sudden and conveniently timed. The circumstances surrounding it felt fishy. Was it really a heart attack, or was it all part of a meticulously orchestrated plan?
Logan's resourcefulness: We all know Logan is a master manipulator and always several steps ahead of his family. He has proven time and again that he can outsmart anyone in the game of power and control. Faking his own death would be the ultimate power move, allowing him to observe his family's reactions and exploit their vulnerabilities.
The missing body: One crucial element in confirming a person's death is the presence of a body. In the finale, we never saw Logan's lifeless body. Roman asked "is he in there?" but no one had the courage to look. It's possible that he orchestrated a situation to make it appear like he died, without any concrete evidence to prove it.
The ominous hints: Throughout the season, there have been subtle hints suggesting that Logan might be up to something bigger. The cryptic conversations, mysterious phone calls, and his knack for secrecy have all contributed to the building tension surrounding his character. These hints can't be mere coincidences.
The Roy family dynamics: "Succession" revolves around the complex dynamics within the Roy family, where power struggles, backstabbing, and manipulation are the name of the game. Logan's return from the dead would send shockwaves through the family, exposing their true colors and forcing them to confront the consequences of their actions.
Now, I understand that this theory might seem far-fetched, but think about how this revelation would completely change the game for Season 4. The Roy family would be left reeling, questioning their loyalties, and scrambling to secure their positions of power.
Ultimately, this theory is just speculation for now, but it's too juicy to ignore. I can't wait to see if the finale confirms or debunks it. If Logan Roy does indeed come back, it will be the most epic twist in "Succession" history!
What are your thoughts on this theory? Do you believe that Logan faked his own death, or is it just wishful thinking on my part? Let's discuss and dissect every little clue we've seen so far. The anticipation is killing me!

Hello!
My first time here! Im writing about an issue I've been having with since I guess day 0 of the build. Its a new PC I built last year, its got Ryzen 9 5900x coupled with B550 AsRock Steel Legend motherboard.
Essentially, my PC loses connection on bunch of occasions. For example, I could be over at discord, and watch youtube or twitch at the same time and suddenly my ping would go up a few hundred before spiking to 5k. I noticed that if I have more streams open it's got a larger chance of occuring. But also it does happen when downloading a bunch of files, even when not maxxing out on download speed. Or even when copy pasting images online. The drivers are up to date. I also tried it out with different routers at different places, different cables, different ISPs and the issue still persisted. So I doubt its an external issue.
I've got no idea how to tackle this, if anyone could have a clue as to what I could do I'd greatly appreciate it!

It was an electronical music song. The main hook was a female voice but a more dark or smokey one. The lyrics are as stated in the title "love...whatever in...my own life". After that came always cool electrical music which was what really got you hooked. It was more a chill song and not one which invited the crowd to the dancefloor. I don't have any other clue. It's haunting me in my head as I have suddenly for no reason remembered this song and I can hear it perfectly in my head but can't describe it better. Thanks!

I spent almost a year floating between 75% and 90% recovered. Was exercising again, got my life back in order. Managed to get back on track with work. Was struggling with some residual worsening of my ADHD which went from manageable before covid to relentless after. but found out I'm not healthy enough for ADHD medication since after 2 EKGs my QTc remains in the 450-470 range. and ADHD medication would increase my risk of sudden cardiac death by an unacceptable amount. about a week after my last doctor's appointment I felt a little odd,then started having heart palpitations again. sore muscles, in general just mild flu like symptoms. then started with the "mantle of sunburn" sensation and realized what I was in for. but it actually started getting better faster than previous times. But now I'm at maximum brainfog,dizzy, coordination is a mess, having trouble with computer screens again..So I guess we find out how long it's going to last this time. Needless to say I'm heavily discouraged, exhausted and frustrated. I've basically lived the life of a hermit to avoid getting it again but during a necessary doctor's visit I was reinfected. To make the feeling of helplessness and anger at the world worse I'm almost certain I know who it was. The chin-masker in the clinic lobby, coughing his lungs out. telling everyone "Don't smoke cigarettes" and that it was "A smoker's cough"
​
I feel powerless and demoralized.... I wish there was more I could do to get better faster. I'm not in the financial situation for this to be happening again now. I depend on commissions and freelancing and working long hours infront of a computer. Guess I will do my best to survive. again

I know nothing about cars so I thought I’d ask here! Mom has a 2013/2014 BMW (have no clue what kind) and I might get it. Only thing is I live in a hilly city now so idk how well it will hold up. Is there a mileage where the BMWs tend to worsen or is constant maintenance key? Any advice helps!
ETA: Found out it’s a 2014 535 if that helps!

I have a lot of chronic health problems, including several digestive issues. These include intermittent ,unexplained gastroparesis; GERD; IBS-C; and tortuous colon. This has resulted in me having chronic, severe constipation and pain, for which I take Amitiza twice a day. Even taking it twice a day, I generally don't have a bowel movement except every 2-4 days (and have gone over 10 days without one, when I am not taking Amitiza); and sometimes I still have to take an OTC stimulant laxative 1-2 a month for it. It has been really bad, and this is the best help we could find (We being my gastroenterologist and I.), after trying just about every medication on the market, diet changes, exercise, etc.
About two weeks ago, I got a severe respiratory virus that lasted about ten days and really put me out flat for most of the time. I'm still having problems with laryngitis and sinus problems, and it has been over two weeks, snce I first got sick. The strange thing is though that during this time, my constipation seems to have resolved itself, after over twenty-five years of problems. I ran out of Amitiza shortly after I got sick, and I was too sick to go to the pharmacy to get it refilled; and I just let it go for he time being. I've run out of it before, and it usually resulted in rapid worsening of symptoms, including very bad abdominal pain, ceasing of bowel movements, etc. However this time, it seemed that my bowel just started doing what it was supposed to be doing. I would describe it as "normal" -- no pain, bowel movements every 1-3 days, and no sickness related to it. The only thing I can think of that actually affected my digestive tract while I was sick is that I was unable to eat anything more than a small amount of apple sauce for several days. I lost eleven pounds in a week but rapidly put four pounds back on, when I realized that I was becoming dehyrdated and started pushing fluids as hard as I could. While I am not complaining in any way whatsoever, I'm trying to figure out what having this virus could have done to my body to make my digestive symptoms suddenly improve so much. I'm even having less stomach pain, nausea, and heart burn now.
The only medication I took for my virus was twice that I took NyQuil, before realizing that I shouldn't be taking a cough suppressant. When I got better, I started eating as much healthy food as I could, until I was back to my normal diet; and the improvement have persisted. I really would love to know what caused the relief of symptoms, in case the symptoms return, and I need to try to repeat the process.

Hi everyone,
So as earlier mentioned I have PTSD. I don’t have autism however since I have PTSD I closely relate a lot because I suddenly can’t interpret people’s intentions, meaning, emotions, etc. This didn’t happen before…
Anyways. So I struggle to understand what happened…
I was forming a friendship at work, however I struggled with intense PTSD triggers. This “friend” was very kind and supportive, she was all green flags and amazing in all ways. Really, she is truly very very kind.
A last conflict happened at work, me turning down an upgrade because I got triggered during the interview and was not able to trust the people anymore. This friend took the interviewers side by saying I was exaggerating and I felt really dismissed. Since then I had the feeling she many times didn’t believe what I was telling her, she started pulling away and she started being a bit hostile if I would ask for help. Before all this, she asked me if I would keep her into my life when I didn’t want to talk to people, and had told me she was going to be there in good and bad times.
When the interview happened and started behaving different, she argued that my emotions and reaction not her responsibility, and that I acted too defensive to her, that my long texts annoyed her (when I would be triggered). In fact, she was responsible for me, and I had tried to tell her in all ways I didn’t want the interview process to continue. I wished she would have stepped in to stop the process but it didn’t happen.
She said it to let it go and forget about it, I had agreed. Because I continued feeling really uneasy and consequently be retraumatized, I wrote her a letter with the help of my psychologist.
Ultimately we phoned a month later, her yelling angry at me that she was done with me, with my letter, my defensiveness, my long texts, and basically everything of me and that I wasn’t picking up the signal that she was distancing and not willing to talk to me. That she was also tired of my long texts (alright it’s on me, didn’t have the mental space to work on it yet), and that she was also done with the first letter I sent asking her if she was willing to work towards a friendship (on her request after me being unable to say it). That she was done with my anxiety, etc. It was like she had lost all trust on me.
Basically it was only left she would have said she hated me.
I don’t understand why she is behaving this way. I am heartbroken, since she was one of the two people I was trying to become friends with. I don’t get it. Any clue?

My TN started after botched dental treatment at a shitty dentist. Two days after a cavity which the dentist was pushing very hard down into the when filling, I began experiencing the worst pain of my life. I came back and they suddenly said I needed 3 root canals among 3 molars because they weren’t sure what was going on. I told them they were insane, as I work in medicine and know for a a fact that their plan made no sense and I wasn’t about to allow them to permanently ruin the integrity of my teeth for a whopping cost of $7500 CAD. I instead elevated for an extraction under a very specific molar on my lower-left side where I said the pain was coming from. Their two dentists and their endodontist quite literally bullied me and refused to let me leave the room until I agreed to a root canal. Their excuse was, I am “too young and they weren’t about to let me ruin my life forever.” I was in so much pain and just wanted it to stop, so I agreed. Two days later, they did the pulpectomy and not realizing it could get any worse, the pain intensified and I wanted to die. They gaslit me and told me it was “normal” and I visited another 3-4 times with the same result. I told them something was wrong with the tooth. I was told it was perfect. Saw another 5 dentists/endodontists who told me the same thing. “Your root canal was done perfectly” except that it was unnecessary. I begged every one of them to pull the tooth, that there was something wrong under the tooth. One dentist referred me to an oral/facial pain specialist who said the dentist severely messed up my bite and send out requisitions for 2 MRIs (one with contrast and one without). Had both done which nothing about my nerves or blood vessels was noted, so I had to now fight with the hospital to get the studies reevaluated properly. In the meantime, I suddenly had worsening pain as the weather warmed up and suddenly I’m rolling on the floor in pain. I see a new dentist who said I need a root canal on a molar next to the offending tooth. I elect an extraction and refuse to budge. She finally extracts and an lo-and-behold, when the tooth was extracted, there was a granuloma (a benign mass) that was sitting between the roots of the offender and the infected tooth that was unseen on the MRIs and the countless X-rays performed. The granuloma was pressing right down on my nerve. The dentist removed it and I thought I would die from pain when she was scooping it out, but had sudden relief the moment it was done. I discontinued pregabalin and for the first time in 2.5 years, I’m actually pain free. It’s been one week off meds and there’s a little dull pain, but not much more than my fibromyalgia and something I don’t even need medication for. Moral of the story: I WAS F$@&ING RIGHT!!! LISTEN TO YOUR MF PATIENTS!!! WE KNOW OUR BODIES!! End rant. I wish all of you to have a good ending and for eventual peace.

One day in the future I’d like to see them revamp how random crimes work in the open world.
I get Spider-Man listens to the police scanner and rushes out to calls, but crime itself could make more sense. Certain calls — fire alarms, car crashes/chases, in-progress break-ins, fights — do feel based in reality. Huge drug and weapons deals in broad daylight in alleys(or rooftops), not so much.
It’d be great to see a mechanic make use of your spider-sense as a proactive crime fighting tool.
Imagine: you are patrolling a neighborhood in Manhattan or an outlying borough you know is a high crime area (you have access to call logs and a blob on the map could be shaded light red).
Suddenly, you’re spider sense starts going off. Why? Nothing seems too out of the ordinary.
The game guides you into looking around for clues. You hone in on someone, and it starts going crazy. After observing for a bit you realize why. Maybe this guy has a gun. Maybe he’s running drugs for a corner crew. Maybe if you follow him a bit he’ll lead you to something bigger.
Whatever it is, you feel like you’re looking after the neighborhood. You’re not humping calls like a burned out cop in a radio car. You’re being proactive. You’re being Spider-Man.

Beep—beep—beep—beep beep—
I lifted the thermometer I had placed in her flushed left ear.
Looking at the reading on the thermometer, it showed "38.2 C".
Although a pregnant woman’s body temperature tends to be higher, this was definitely a fever, no doubt about it.
I slowly lowered my hand holding the thermometer, looking at Hoshino-San lying on the couch, I covered my face and recalled this morning.
…
The usual morning routine, I entered the bathroom for the usual grooming and looked at myself in the mirror.
After coming out, I noticed the mobile phone on the kitchen counter was buzzing with a notification, so I checked it.
I noticed that Hoshino-San had sent me two messages.
I opened the chatroom: "Amamiya-Sensei, I think I have a fever." she messaged—ugh. She sent a sticker—a somewhat chubby white seal looking displeased with a thermometer apparently stuck up its rear—What?
I turned off the phone screen and put it into my pocket. I put on my mask, grabbed the alcohol spray, and rang the doorbell at Hoshino-San's next-door apartment.
After a moment...
…She didn't faint, did she? But then—she opened the door, her face looking somewhat flushed.
"Ah~~Uno you're here~" She—What? "Hoshino-San, are you okay?" I asked.
"Relax! I just feel a little—" she said, waving her hand forward, then her body started to fall forward—"HEY ! HOSHINO-SAN!" I quickly stepped forward to catch her, her head leaning slightly on my shoulder.
"I'll take you to the couch to rest first." I gently assisted her, helping her to lie down on the couch.
…
Looking at her lying on the couch, she was resting with her eyes closed. Apart from looking exhausted, coughing, and a runny nose, her symptoms didn't seem severe. It's possible that she started feeling unwell on the way home yesterday, and her symptoms worsened during the night, preventing her from sleeping well.
I noticed her constantly adjusting her position, so I went to her bedroom and fetched a blanket and a pillow. I gently lifted her head and put the pillow in a comfortable place for her, and then covered her with the blanket.
"Is there anywhere else you're feeling uncomfortable?" I asked her softly. "Hmm... my... my head hurts a lot." she answered weakly, her face showing discomfort and her hands gripping the blanket tightly.
She couldn't take care of herself in this state, and I couldn't bear to leave her alone. "Hoshino-San, do you feel too cold right now?" I asked her gently.
"Uh... yeah, um... yes..." she answered slowly with her eyes closed. I got up, looked around for the air conditioner remote, found it, and turned up the temperature slightly.
After that, I went to her bathroom, rinsed a plastic washbasin, filled it with seventy percent hot water and thirty percent cold water, soaked a towel in it, and brought it to the living room.
I dipped the towel in the water, then wrung out most of the water. I then gently placed the warm towel on her forehead. Her expression seemed to relax a bit.
I watched her resting quietly.
After a while, I reheated the towel and placed it on her forehead again.
"Hoshino-San, did you do anything yesterday that might have led to catching a cold?" I asked her gently. "Uh... drank too much lemon water?" she answered me.
Uh... dinner last night? If I recall correctly, she didn't drink much.
"I saw you didn't drink much lemon water yesterday, was there anything else?" I asked her gently. "Um... yesterday... I think I took a cold shower." she answered slowly.
"For a long time?" I asked her. "I... don't remember, I think... after dancing yesterday afternoon, I showered until you rang the doorbell?" she slowly—What?
She showered until I rang the doorbell? I had finished a movie before I went to see her!
"Do you only take cold showers, Hoshino-San?" I asked her gently. "Well... at the beginning there was hot water, but later it ran out." she answered slowly.
I got up and gently opened the balcony door. The water heater is the same model as mine, the movie "The Graduate" is about 100 minutes, so this water heater can provide hot water for about 20 minutes, which means... 80 minutes of a cold shower.
No wonder she caught a cold... I heard her coughing from inside.
It seemed that I had no choice today. I walked over to the railing, dialed the hospital, and waited for the call to go through.
"Hello, this is Amamiya Gorou, a gynecologist. I have an emergency to attend to. My neighbor suddenly has a fever and can't take care of herself. She has no one else to look after her. I'm sorry, I need to take a leave of absence." I said. "Understood, Amamiya-Sensei, thank you for informing us. Are you sure your neighbor's condition requires your personal care? Does she need to be taken to the hospital?" the other party asked.
"Yes, I'm worried about her condition. I believe I need to see her myself. I've already assessed her illness. I will observe her condition. If it worsens, I will take her to the hospital immediately." I replied. "We understand your situation, Amamiya-Sensei. How long do you think your leave will last?" they asked. "I estimate I will need a day. I will handle this issue as soon as possible and return to the hospital." I answered.
After some more conversation, I managed to take the leave. I started thinking about what food is good for someone with a cold.
…
To be honest, aside from catching a cold when I was a child, I don't seem to have much experience with colds. Among the people I know, the one to ask about making a meal for someone with a cold would be...
But I didn't really want to call— I heard coughing from the room.
…
Sigh. I dialed a number from my contact list, waiting for the other party to pick up.
"Hello, this is the Amamiya residence." the voice on the other side said. "Hey, Grandma, it's me—" She cut me off. "Oh! My dear grandson! How rare of you to call back home! Did you miss Grandma?" she said joyously. "Kind of, but today I wanted to—" She cut me off again. "Gorou, are you bringing your girlfriend home this time? Should I notify the relatives?" She inquired—
Yes, this is precisely why I don't fancy making these phone calls.
"No, no, no, wait a moment! Grandma! Not every time I call it means I'm bringing a girlfriend home, okay!? I have other things to discuss!" I said, burying my face in my hands.
"Well, what could be more important than you bringing back my great-grandson? Gorou, you're nearly thirty now. There are only old folks and adults in our hometown, no children or babies. I'm bored! I wouldn't mind taking care of a child again, after all, I did help raise you!" she started to ramble.
"No, Grandma, aren't you missing several steps here? It's not like once you have a girlfriend, a baby pops out, right? Can't you just let things take their natural course? And today I really didn't call to talk about this!" I answered, feeling helpless.
"So, do you have a girlfriend?" She asked. "...No." I replied.
A moment later.
"Alright then, what did you need today?" she said, sounding a little impatient. "Do you remember what you used to cook for me when I was sick? The kind that made me feel better really quickly?" I asked her.
"I don't recall having any sort of family heirloom elixir. Or are you referring to the usual meals you ate when you were sick?" She asked. "...Yes, the latter. The meals you prepared when I was ill, do you remember them?" I clarified.
"...You don't sound sick to me?" She queried. "Uh...no, it's not me—" She cut me off. "Who are you cooking for?" She asked, seemingly curious. "Well, my neighbor—" She cut me off.
"Oh!? A girl?" She—what? "Does that matter?" I asked, looking ahead. "Of course, it concerns my great-grandchild." she proclaimed proudly.
"Grandma, please, can you stop fixating on having a great-grandchild?" I said.
After a pause.
"Okay, Gorou, it was lovely chatting with you today. Let's talk again another day. Bye—" I cut her off. "ALRIGHT! ALRIGHT! HOLD ON, DON'T HANG UP!" I shouted.
I took a deep breath.
"...Yes, she's a girl, are you satisfied now?" I finally answered. "Oh, I thought it might have been a boy. That's a relief." she responded—what?
"Grandma, you're being too pragmatic." I retorted. "This is about my great-grandchild—so when are you bringing her home?" she asked—wait, what?
"Grandma, first, she is my patient, second, we're not that close, and third, she's only sixteen." I responded.
"Gorou, first, so what? Does that matter? Second, you know they say 'familiarity breeds affection'! Third, I gave birth to your mother when I was sixteen." she countered—wait a minute, the third point, what the hell, sixteen? I never knew that.
"Grandma, what do you mean 'does it matter?' She's my patient, I'm an 'OB/GYN'. How do you think the baby in my patient's belly came about?" I told her seriously.
"And so?" She—really?
"Grandma, babies don't just spring from stones, nor do they reproduce asexually." I replied.
"What is reproduce asexually?" She asked.
…
"Anyway, Grandma! Times have changed. If this were to happen, I would be socially ostracized, seriously!" I told her.
"No worries! Then just wait until she's twenty! I can wait a few more years, no problem!" she said. "No, Grandma, this—wait! Today I really just called for a recipe! She's not feeling well right now, can we talk about this another time?" I asked her.
After a moment.
"Um...alright, rice porridge—add a little ginger, steam some chicken breast and dice it." she answered. "With ginger, right?" I repeated.
"Yes, you could also make her a vegetable soup! Add tomatoes, onions, and garlic. Oh yes, garlic is very important!" she instructed. "Alright, alright, garlic, got it." I echoed.
"I used to stir-fry some broccoli, but softer food is better for someone with a cold." she advised. "Mhm, I'll keep that in mind." I affirmed.
"Oh, our Gorou is finally cooking for a girl! It seems my teachings weren't in vain!" she said, laughing. "Grandma, can you not—" She cut me off.
"I thought that since the family persuaded you to become an OB/GYN, you had lost interest in cooking—"
...
Right, isn't it?
After the family convinced me to become an OB/GYN, how could they think I was still interested in cooking? I gazed at the blue sky ahead.
...
"Gorou?" She called. "Yes, Grandma, I hear you. Is that about it? I have to go, she's not feeling well." I told her. "Alright then! Don't forget to come visit Grandma when you're free! Bye!" she said. "Sure, I will, goodbye." I hung up.
...
I should have just googled it instead of putting myself through this. I looked at the black smoke billowing from the chimney in the distance.
Isn't this what they wanted? Isn't this what I had to do? Isn't this why I switched from being a surgeon to an OB/GYN?
After all, my mother—
I heard coughing from inside the room.
...
Now's not the time for these thoughts; she needs someone to look after her.
I slid open the balcony door and casually closed it behind me, moving closer to Hoshino-San, who seemed to be asleep on the sofa.
I thought about cooking at my place and bringing the meal over later, so as not to disturb her. After all, I just live next door.
Taking the key placed next to her entrance hall, I locked her door and returned to my place next door.
Back home, I took out the necessary ingredients from the fridge. To make a rice porridge with steamed diced chicken breast, I needed to find my steamer, which, luckily, I found after a brief search.
Taking out the chicken breast... ah, it needs defrosting.
Covering my face, I hadn't considered this. But I decided to use the microwave to thaw it.
I put the frozen chicken breast into the microwave and turned on the defrosting function, but I shortened the microwave time.
After each round of microwaving, I would move and turn the chicken breast. It's a bit of a hassle, but at least it ensures that every part defrosts evenly, to avoid some parts being cooked while others are raw.
Once the chicken breast was fully defrosted, it had a nice, even color—from pink to pale yellow. Despite being frozen, it was still not sticky and retained a certain firmness.
I took a sniff; it had no off-putting smell.
Next, I placed the defrosted chicken breast in the steamer and started to steam it. It should take around 20 minutes. Meanwhile, I planned to prepare a vegetable soup.
I cleaned the carrots, onions, garlic, and tomatoes, and cut them into appropriate sizes. I then grabbed a pan, heated a bit of oil, and started sautéing the garlic and onions until the onions turned semi-transparent.
Next, I added the diced carrots and tomatoes and continued to sauté for a while. A few moments later, I added an appropriate amount of water and covered the pan.
The simmering process also took about 20 minutes. By that time, I could start making the rice porridge. I picked up another pot, washed it clean, and washed a cup of rice as well, then drained the water and added four cups back.
After putting it on the stove, I turned on medium heat and slowly brought the rice to a boil until it softened. This also took about 20 minutes, by which time the porridge became thick. By then, the chicken breast was ready. I took it out and let it cool on a plate while checking on the vegetable soup.
Hmm, the scent of garlic was present but not overpowering.
A moment later, I checked on the rice porridge with a spoon. The grains were distinct but had clearly softened. When I lifted the spoon, a thin strand of white liquid was dragged up.
I diced the cooled chicken breast on a cutting board and added it to the porridge. I also prepared some ginger, grated an appropriate amount into the porridge, and waited for the ingredients to meld together.
The vegetable soup was about ready. I seasoned it with a bit of salt and pepper, then covered the pot and brought it over to Hoshino-San's house. Upon entering, I set it on the kitchen counter. She seemed to be sound asleep.
I returned home and saw that the porridge was almost ready, so I turned the heat down and picked up the frying pan, getting ready to stir-fry some broccoli.
I washed the broccoli and cut it into small pieces, then started stir-frying it in the preheated pan. During the process, I alternated between medium and low heat until the broccoli turned green and began to char slightly.
Recalling my grandmother's advice to make it softer, I added a small amount of water. After covering the pot, I turned the heat to low and let it simmer. I took the opportunity to serve the porridge to Hoshino-San, who seemed to have sensed it even in her sleep. With her eyes closed, she appeared to be smelling something.
After that, I dished out the cauliflower and added a touch of salt before bringing it over.
I took a brief rest on the sofa, picked up a tissue nearby, removed my glasses, and wiped the sweat off my face.
The morning sun was illuminating the entire room, and the wind chime on the balcony outside the glass door was gently chiming as always. The quiet hum of the air conditioning wasn't too loud.
Hoshino-San was still sound asleep on the long sofa to my left — albeit with a faint snoring due to her stuffy nose from a cold.
A little later, I went into the kitchen, picked up a bowl and spoon, lifted the pot lid, and served a bowl of porridge.
"Hoshino-San, can you eat?" I asked slowly, then brought the bowl closer to her.
I initially wanted to help her up, but she seemed to get up automatically at the scent of the food.
I handed her the bowl, and she held the spoon in her right hand with her eyes closed.
She scooped up a spoonful of porridge, then — it brushed past her upper lip.
...Uh.
She paused for a moment, then — this time it almost went into her nose.
"Hoshino-San, let me help you!" I said anxiously, fearing she might burn her nose next.
I scooped up a spoonful of porridge.
She kept her eyes closed, her delicate mouth slowly opening to let my spoon in. Once I put the spoon in, she closed her mouth, swallowed the porridge from the spoon. As I slowly pulled out the spoon, it seemed like she still wanted to keep it in her mouth.
She then swallowed, a smile creeping onto her face with her eyes still closed.
...This is just too cut-
No — no, I'm a doctor. I need to stay calm. She's my patient, and she's only sixteen.
I continued to feed her the remaining porridge.
A while later, I had managed to feed her half the bowl of porridge, and got her to have a few bites of the vegetables and vegetable soup.
She didn't seem to like garlic very much and now, with her eyes still closed, she was sitting on the sofa.
Thinking about it now, although I could take care of her all day, I don't have a car in case we need to rush to the hospital. I should contact her guardian.
"Hoshino-San, could you please..." Before I could finish, she had already laid down on the sofa and continued to sleep.
Alright then.
I helped her pull her feet onto the sofa, made her lie flat, covered her with a blanket, and planned to check her phone for an emergency dial setup to find an emergency contact.
Surprisingly, there was one.
I slid open the glass door, walked out onto the balcony, and made the call.

Art of Simone's upgraded power armor and crystal sword!
Chapter Sixty Five: Allies and Scritches.
Looking around, the redhead finds herself standing in the middle of a dark and damp forest. But despite the gentle waves of the breeze moving the flora, there’s no sound. To the Terran’s recognizing eye as well, the plant life appears to be a blending mingle of those on the Gratt homeworld and the fateful operation on the Whista owned world.
Moving forward, her surprisingly lucid mind comes to the conclusion that she is once again ‘dreaming’, no doubt being brought on by the growth in her braincase.
She finds a loose path reminiscent of an overgrown hunter's trail that snakes her deeper into the silent landscape. Although something instinctual in her demands to be fearful of the situation, Simone can’t help to be more curious than anything due to the fact this hasn’t happened in a little while.
After some time of traversing the blending path she catches something glinting off past nearby foliage. Freezing for a moment she stares it down in an attempt to make out what it is. When it proves to not be a barrel of a weapon, she approaches it and reaches out. Her bare hand touches the glint, causing it to fully take form before resting in her palm. In a light dug she draws the dangling object free from a thin branch and brings it up close to her face.
On a thin necklace chain is a bent dog tag and a small grimy triangular device. Manipulating the tag, Simone is not at all surprised to find her own name on it. But as for the device, she surmises that it’s very similar to the thing implanted to her forehead after being kidnapped by the children of Gaia, though clearly a differing model with possibly a very different purpose.
For a moment Simone is almost compelled to put the triangle to her head, but knowing better than to trust the bits of a Manarian mad scientist in her brain she resists and decides to continue down the path. But to her concern the path is no longer there when she turns around. Instead before her is a cliffside overlooking a wide field of absolute chaos.
Down in the valley she overlooks is an expanse of a visceral battle playing out. No longer silent, the explosions and cries of vocals are significantly muffled as if her own hearing was going out.
Still, she steps closer to the drop to get a fuller view. Far down below, yet in perfect clarity to her dream eyes are various sized armies of every known species defending incoming forces from the dark encircling treeline. From the trees themselves are lines of armored Manarians consistently pressing more and more into the valley. From all sides the defenders are overwhelmed from their foes. Few Manarian’s drop in their compressing march. Simone witnesses that as they approach individuals of other species, the defenders throw down their arms before kneeling in surrender. Like an aura of instant submission, those who don’t fall in battle give in to the invaders in an instant. More and more the Manarians gain ground, only seeming to slow as Deathworlders put up the most fight.
Finding the location of the Terrans, Simone’s heart sinks. A small but effective population is fighting against the bulk within their own lines. Disarray ensues as the Terrans divide their bewildered attention from within and what approaches, unable to give support to others or eventually themselves.
Suddenly the majority of the Cali forces turn to their neighboring species and join in on the Manarian’s side. In the midst of this they release a devastating additional army of Malchite that help carve the Manarians an easy path towards the most united and powerful section of the defenders.
In mere moments, ‘Central’ falls, sending a cascading wave of despair to all the remaining defenders. Before the Manarian’s even get close now, swaths of species begin to surrender seeing their best chance at maintaining a defense is obliterated.
Thankfully the Terrans have seemed to have taken care of the internal conflict, but unfortunately it's far too late for it to matter as they practically stand alone in this fight.
Some species flee to bolster and hide behind the Terran’s lines. To their credit, if not for a moment, they fight back hard enough to pause the Manarian advance. There’s moments of grim yet heroic sacrifices, ground freely given in order to lure the enemy into effective traps, and some Terrans manage to not give into the aura of submission long enough for others to run. It’s damn inspiring to see the unstoppable force stall.
But of course, it’s not enough.
Lines break, encampments burn, leaders fall.
Eventually Terrans are reduced to a single circular formation as they stand shoulder to shoulder in defense of the little they have left.
They hold until their ammunition and other supplies run dry. Expecting surrender the Manarains extend the option to stop the fighting then and there.
In a moment of consideration, the Terrans under the flag of their last standing leader charge outwards in a hopeless defiant melee. The fighting is visceral and brutal, but eventually only one Terran stands against an entire universe.
The individual has no energy left to strike out. In their grasp is a tattered and burned flag that can no longer be made out. But the Terran stands, using it as a brace.
A Manarian leader comes up and hammers the final Terran to the ground demanding submission. A few now utterly silent moments pass by before the Terran drags themself up the flagpole into a standing position.
With another blow the Manarian strikes them down again.
But the Terran refuses, and gets up once more.
Having run out of patience the Manarian shoots a leg cleanly free from the Terran.
Yet with a scream, they remain standing, utilizing the pole even more.
Deciding that it’s no longer worth trying, the aggressor levels their weapon to the Terran’s face.
Just before being vanquished for good, Simone realizes that through the cracked open helmet of the Terran that they were looking straight up at her. Despite the distance, the two sets of eyes lock together. There is not pleading in the wounded Terran’s eyes, no fear, no judgment, nothing Simone would ever expect.
What the redhead sees in them can only be expressed in one simple word;
Hope.
As the final shot sings out the valley is encompassed in shadow, resembling more of an massive endless pit.
“I know what’s at stake. Why am I being shown this? You of all people should be elated that this is coming.” Simone thinks for Sharra to possibly pick up.
But instead of an expected occurrence, she feels a warmth from behind her.
Turning her back from the void she immediately sees a small campsite. There’s a tent, a stack of scavenged firewood and a strange cliché knight sitting on a log by a roaring fire.
Feeling her heart skip a beat Simone practically runs to him, expecting it to be an aspect of her father. But she soon realizes that the person’s frame is far too small to be an avatar of him.
Noticing her, the armored individual raises a hand in greeting before staring at the fire. The area behind their visor still pitch dark.
“What is this?” Simone skeptically says in her mind, not trusting this in the slightest.
The knight then speaks up.
“A fire.” they say.
“I mean… all of this… What’s going on?” the Terran presses.
You’re dreaming, and thus your mind is molding things in the manner minds do when slumbering.’ the knight states.
“Okay… so what are you supposed to be? Because with what’s going on with my head a lot of things I ‘dream’ are actually literal things affecting me, like you actually answering my question so directly is pretty suspicious. This a Sharra thing? Usually it’s my dad in the knight get-up, so what are you?” Simone responds in questioning.
“Nothing of substance at all. Or… something vitally important. That’s really up for you to decide really. This is your mind after all, I’m simply here because your mind thought it necessary to conjure me.” the Knight replies.
“But this isn’t how dreams are normally supposed to work, even more lucid ones… right? This is getting real fucking weird.” the redhead argues.
“Then perhaps your mind’s ailment is affecting your mind quite a bit.” the Knight shrugs.
“No fucking kidding…” Simone agrees as she steps up closer, “So… you wouldn’t know where I can talk with whatever’s left of Sharra?”
To answer this, the knight bends to the side and digs their hand into loose soil. Sitting back up they begin to massage it back out to the forest floor.
“Bits and pieces everywhere. Constantly trying to pull together, but is simply unable to be whole. Destined to eventually drive you mad.” they explain.
“Wait, what? How?” Simone asks.
“You have been affected by her unconsciously, have you not? Wanting to viscously bite your lover? Speaking in her tongue? Symptoms of her gradually melding into you. Although she’s not complete, you will eventually start to forget who you really are. Two minds sharing one consciousness… it spells disaster for ‘Simone Thatch’. I suggest you find a way to avoid this.”
“But… but Vermis told me that she’s too far gone to be a problem.” the redhead points out.
“She can’t take your body from you, but she’ll still seep. Regardless if she can even intend to or not. Your mind will survive, but your identity will slip to some degree.”
“Shit…” Simone responds as she plants her face to her hands, “So… your part of my subconscious that is telling me something is wrong?”
“Possibly. Makes sense if that’s the case.” the knight grants as Simone can hear the helmet be removed from the individual.
She attempts to pull her hands away, only to realize she was stuck in this realm of pitch black.
-
Simone’s eyes open from what was meant to just be a brief nap. Her brain was foggy, and the details of her dream was loose enough to question her actual lucidity during or if her dream simply tricked her into thinking she was in fact lucid.
Rubbing her face she sits up to see Chak having a conversation with Sonla across the hotel room.
“Hey hun, how long was I out?” she asks as she swings her legs off the side of the bed.
The princess stands up and begins moving over to the Terran.
“Just a few hours, I was planning on waking you in another hour anyway so don’t fret. You really needed it after everything.” Chak replies with a giggle as she reaches out to address her lover’s bedhead fur.
Allowing the Cali to fix what she can, Simone sighs out of soreness.
“Yeah, I did.” she agrees in a chuckle, “Our new infiltrator caught up to speed?”
“I haven’t shared certain details, but she knows that we are perhaps going to have a less than legal encounter with the Terran President. That won’t harm the president, hopefully.” Chak reports before finishing up with the Terran’s fur, “Oh, and I have purchased some new clothes for you to wear on our trip back. They were delivered not a standard half hour ago. Simple pants and shirt. Your dress has been cleaned and repaired as well.” she notified as she pointed to the closet area.
SImone leans out and kisses the Cali in a tender peck.
“You’re the best hun.” she whispers before standing up and stretching out the ache before striding over to the neatly folded pile of clothes.
“Only second to you.” Chak coyly replies as she enjoys the view for a few moments before snapping to it, “I’ll have our transport summoned.”
…
Before the three can even depart out the front door, as the elevator door opens there’s a crowd of people waiting for them in the lobby. Simone opens her mouth to ask what was going on, but Chak swiftly presses the indicator to re-close the door.
“Chakalata’motaas! One moment of your time!”
“Princess there’s some questions regarding public property damage!”
“When was the last correspondence you had with your father!”
“Is the Terran really your fiance or a roleplay consort?”
Among other raising voices upon seeing the Cali the reporters swarmed towards the elevator just before the door closed and started to go up a level.
“Wow…” Simone utters, “I thought we’d be a bit more shielded from them?”
“If they reserved rooms at the hotel after learning we were here… then there’s not much that can be done.” Chak replies a bit troubled, “We just need to find another way-”
As the door opens again, even more people stand in wait.
“Oh princess! Was your appearance on Thorba the truthful’s podcast really you or did he use A.I to replicate your voice?”
“Was it you present on Kamoi roughly a standard year ago where a restaurant was destroyed in a terrorist attack? Were you the target?”
“What business do you have in Central? Are you going to appeal to have your father’s authority be unrecognized?”
“Have you spoken at all to the Cali Ambassador?
“Care to share any details over the events that transpired with Ambassador Zrreak’s son last night?”
“Is the Vorook also a lover of yours?”
“Is your chitin really deep-dyed?”
“Are you still in fear for your life?”
“Are Terrans-”
The elevator door sealed again, this time needing Simone to hold back people from potentially creeping into the elevator.
“I guess we’re going back down to make a run for it?” Simone huffs in immense annoyance.
“Unfortunately that appears to be our only option.” Chak nods, her patience being tested as well.
“Want me to make big explosion as a distraction?” Sonla offers.
“No need for that.” Chak replies quickly.
“Here. I’ll march us out. Sonla, get on my back.” Simone says before she kneels down and scoops up the Cali in her arms, “Still as light as a feather.” she winks.
Chak’s eyes flash.
“They’ll be given quite the show.” she chuckles.
As told, Sonla clambers up the back of the Terran and gets a firm hold around her neck.
“If an explosion is needed, I’m ready!” she declares just before the doors open for the final time.
Using her cradling arm under the Cali’s back, Simone uses her curled up hand to protect Chak’s head as she marches straight into the crowd.
None wanting to test to see if the bulky Terran considers trampling a valid option, a path is cleared. However the barrage of questions does not let up in the slightest as they followed the trio towards the front doors.
“What was the intention of your stay here?”
“When and where will your wedding to the Terran occur?”
“Is it true that Simone Thatch is a war criminal?”
“Have you suffered any injury while being intimate with a Terran?”
“How many Terrans have you mated with? Are all the ones you brought with you your harem?”
“Are you certain that you are the last survivor of your family?
“Are the Gratt to be trusted?”
“Have you encountered any bouncy hunters in Central?”
“Is the famed Admiral Chucknuq still in your service?”
“Have you been hiding out this whole time on Vapor’perna?”
“Are you planning on commencing a civil war?”
“How much are you paying the Terran to be your mate?”
To the dismay of Chak and Simone, the crowd only grew upon leaving the hotel’s premises. And even contributed around where their shuttle was landing.
Although not completely serious about it, SImone started to humor the idea of Sonla causing a distraction before sharp roaring barks erupts from nearby.
The questions all stop and even a few calls of distress ring out as everyone catches sight of a dozen uniformed Z’ah’tucks approach. In a wide line formation they release warning -though no doubt perceived as outright ‘threatening’- vocalizations. More cries ring out as they unleash fur covered mammalian quadrupeds that run ahead to the trio and begin guiding the reporters away through fear alone.
Simone couldn’t help but laugh aloud at the sight of the Terran shepherd dogs doing what their breed did best.
A Tromple recoils in pale terror as they worm away from one of the canines, who did nothing but exist with an authoritative attitude.
Very effectively parting the crowd away from the three, the lead Z’ah’tuck waved Simone to come to her.
Seeing little reason not to, considering the rescue, the Terran nods and hurries the two other women on her to the line of dinos.
“Thanks, but… what’s this about?” she asks.
The pack of a dozen dinos encircle the three and start walking them away to another shuttle landing zone. The dogs loyally come back to their owners as they make sufficient distance.
“As an apology for you having to get involved with last night’s events, Ambassador Zrreak wishes to personally escort you back to your designated apartment.” she answers as three shuttles await them in the zone. The biggest and most armored of which opens up for the three to enter.
“Oh…” Chak utters in thought before Simone lets her down to enter the vessel.
As the princess steps on in, it’s clear this vessel is meant to fit many guests within on a regular basis considering the scuffing and scratch marks. But at this moment there is only one individual within.
Looking much like his son, Zrreak is of the larger variant of his species. Covered in various deep scars across his scales and adorned in high quality drapery he pets a smaller breed of dog in his lap.
“Thank you for accepting my invitation, Princess.” he greets with a respectful bow of his head.
“Of course, we very much appreciate your assistance with the media swarm.” Chak replies before she finds herself a seat.
“You can get off now…” Simone informs Sonla before following the Cali in.
The Vorook slowly slides down the Terran and does her best to position herself to hide behind the redhead as much as possible, eventually sitting down in a seat that has the larger frame of the Terran between her and the ambassador.
Simone looks the ambassador in the eyes with a hint of weariness. Although she isn’t necessarily suspicious, with the still very significant bounty on her fiance’s head… one can never be too careful. She waits until the seal of the shuttle door clicks shut before speaking up herself.
“Cute corgi, does it have a name?” she inquires.
“Hmmhmm” the Z’ah’tuck hums in amusement as he lightly scratches the canine on it’s rump, causing it to lift its head and perk its ears, “His name is Zioakaa, a play on the Z’ah’tuck title meaning ‘One who has seen the Abyss, and made it weep’. Such a title is usually reserved for artists or passionate leaders. People who can invoke a great shift of public morale, whether it be for sorrow, fear or hope. This dog? Although he is no small part of my public image, he has shifted my morale extraordinarily.” he answers in a relatively reminiscing voice.
Seeing his genuine soft appreciation for the animal is clear as day to Simone, she allows herself to relax as the shuttle takes off with two additional escorts.
“Dogs are pretty great, huh?” Simone chuckles.
“Possibly the best of everything your people have brought to the stars.” the man agrees, “Despite losing a long war with Terrans, Z’ah’tuck certainly gained from it in some aspects.”
“Crazy how that hashes out. And hey, more dogs in the universe? I’ll take it.” the redhead replies before peeking over to Sonla, who was tucking her legs up to make her silhouette smaller.
“Oh, how is your son fairing Ambassador Zrreak? And the others in his and his wife’s company?” Chak asks pleasantly.
“He has been advised to be in bed for a few days, but will make a full recovery. The others will recover as well, but those more substantially injured will of course need a fair bit more recovery.”
“That’s very good to hear. Be sure to pass along our best wishes.” the Princess replies with a nod of her head.
“I will. Though I must apologize for your involvement in his incident. Such business should have been avoided in the first place.” Zrreak says as he extends one of his hands out to Chak, which she accepts sooner than he would have expected from a Cali.
“Thank you for the gesture, the involvement was voluntary, I assure you. Believe it or not Ambassador, I have conducted myself in more perilous situations as you can no doubt imagine.” Chak says pleasantly, “Though I have a feeling you’ve brought us aboard your own personal shuttle with other motives in mind, yes?”
Simone tenses up again as the Ambassador’s raptor eyes focus on the Princess for a moment.
Tilting his horned head, Zrreak then lets out a ‘caught me red handed’ snicker before pulling his hand away.
“Yes, yes you’re right indeed. Though I assure you it has little to do with the price on your head. As much as I still enjoy a good hunt, I’m not one to prey upon my own allies. No, what I hope to discuss is ensuring you are reinstated as the prime monarch of the Cali people.” he reveals.
“Oh… pardon Zrreak… what exactly do you mean by that?” Chak asks as she recovers from such a bold notion.
“I’ve decided to place my bets on you, Chakalata’motaas. I bring you an offer already officiated over by my people’s leaders for you to respond. May I officially present it to you in this rather unofficial setting?” he inquires.
“Very well, but I cannot make a promise that I’ll be receptive to what you offer.” Chak grants as she crosses her lower limbs in her lap.
Zrreak presses an indication in a side datapad, activating a hardlight screen to appear along the middle open area of the shuttle. The text on the screen outlines the terms of the proposal to which the ambassador presents it aloud.
“This proposed bargain has been rattling around the Z’ah’tuck trade leaders since the coup of your father. Though it hinged on whether or not you or any of your siblings survived. Seeing you are indeed alive and making concerted efforts towards freeing your people from his tyrannical rule one way or another you fit the criteria. And so here it is; The Z’ah’tuck Conglomerate will publicly support your right to the Cali throne, and it is prepared to dedicate one-sixth of its war fleets and the Third-fang battalion to aid in the likely event of military conflict.” he pauses to let that settle before continuing, “In return, the Conglomerate requests that the Cali government agree to contribute Ten percent more Natural-grade product and twenty five percent more Clone-grade product to the Z’ah’tuck meat market trade for the next fifty standard year period. Secondly it is also requested that Cali shipyards produce Twenty five hundred trade-ships by Conglomerate provided specifications in the next five standard years. Thirdly, permit Z’ah’tuck trade businesses to set up shop on Cali colonies. Fourth and finally, vote and publicly advocate for the Z’ah’Tuck people to be officiated out of ‘Associate Species’ into ‘Member Species’ status in Central.” he finishes.
Chak scratches the sides of her head with her lower graspers as she seriously considers the alliance deal. It’s an incredible opportunity. With the Z’ah’tucks big economic pull among the carnivorous species of Central -despite them currently being of ‘Associate’ status- this could be very advantageous. But the cost for the support was fairly high, yet not totally unreasonable.
“Your offer is rather tempting, Ambassador. Though I cannot see myself agreeing to it as it stands. You see if open civil war does break out, then I fear my people will need a period of time to stabilize, especially economically. People will need to be fed, buildings rebuilt, and damage to our world repaired. So here’s my counter offer for your consideration;” she says as she reaches out in request for the datapad, of which is candidly handed to her for her to revise the terms for consideration, “Lower the twenty five percent for cloned product to twenty. Provide charitable relief shelter camps where displaced Cali can be warm and well fed during the war campaign, which may prove to be a great source of building up positive relations with not only my people but many others sitting in Member Central seats. And finally agree to grant Cali trade ships official access to Conglomerate trade routes with reduced fines by thirty percent. The rest of your terms are acceptable.” she responds.
“Hmmm…” Zrreak mumbles as he stares at the screen. He brings a claw to his armored muzzle, dragging it along a deep old scarring, “I have the authority to negotiate the terms within reason, and although I know a few trade managers will be disgruntled I believe your counter terms are acceptable.” he nods before transferring the developed agreement to the datapad for both parties to sign.
The Z’ah’Tuck signs first before handing the pad over.
Suppressing her eyes from blasting light to not give away how she honestly felt about this deal, Chak re-reads the entire agreement twice to make absolutely certain that there are no possible term manipulations. The Z’ah’tuck are known to be honerable in terms of business, but one can never be too careful in this realm of dealing.
Once she is certain of all the terms, Chak signs as well and hands it back.
“Your gamble on me is appreciated, Ambassador. I will do everything in my power to ensure that my father is deposed. With your aid, I see the path towards that even more clearer.” she assures.
“Time will tell. And to be honest, we stand to lose little until conflict is certain. The biggest risk we run is a prolonged open war with the Cali. Central history is not kind to Deathworlders declaring war on non-deathworlders, even under these circumstances we may risk being ousted completely from Central. Though I’m doubtful considering our stranglehold on the meat markets. Who else would they turn to? The Truba? With their reputation and recent enormous debacle? I don’t think so.” Zrreak chuckles as he returns to petting his lap dog.
“Such a travesty…” Chak agrees, “Is there more you can share regarding that situation?”
“Just that these Squilla understandably don’t have much of a government. They dwelled in deeper waters and complex cave systems in their comparative ‘iron age’. They are incredibly fast learners, however. Which gives most of the Central council the impression that the Truba have been suppressing the Squilla’s growth as a people for literal ages. I don’t think anything like this has ever happened in known galactic history. It’s still all a mess unfortunately, but important first steps have been taken. I’ve spoken to the representative of the Squilla only a few times, and seeing him come to terms with reality is bittersweet.” the ambassador explained.
“I see. Perhaps I may have a chance to meet him while I’m in central.” Chak says with a shrug.
“It’s a long line to privately meet in an official manner, which is to no surprise I assume?” Zrreak informs.
“Of course, perhaps not then.” Chak concedes.
Wide eyed, Simone looks back and forth between the two.
“Sorry, uhm… I feel like what just happened earlier is a pretty big fucking deal… Military support? Not that I’m complaining, but I’d imagine something like that having a bit more bureaucracy? A quick back and forth and it’s a done deal?” she questioned, utterly bewildered.
“This is how backroom deals tend to go, Simone, you know that.” Chak replies as she reaches a hand to take hold of one of the redhead’s.
She then squeezes in trembling excitement to show that she was putting up a polite professional act.
“Right. Yeah.” Simone corrects herself as she huffs a pant of jubilated air.
The ambassador turns to look at the Terran directly.
“Simone Thatch. If you're at liberty to confirm, through some dealings we have received interesting intel regarding a Terran group that calls itself the ‘Children of Gaia’. Have you encountered them previously?” he inquires.
“Ah, uhm… I know about them. But that’s all I’m really willing to share at this time. What sort of dealings are you referring to exactly?” the Terran responds.
“Nothing nefarious, at least at the surface. We have traded for strange breeds of dogs, tracing their origins to that group. We suspect that they are these ‘pirates’ that invaded the Gratt homeworld. Would that be correct?” Zrreak presses, now looking back and forth between the Terran and Cali.
Chak sighs but nods.
“That would be correct.” she admits.
“Why hide that fact?” the ambassador asks.
“Well, there's a reason to. And I’m afraid we can’t share why, but rest assured their identity will be broadly revealed in due time. Soon, if we can help it, but we have to secure a few things first.” Chak explains, “Apologies for withholding information from you, but I ask that the Conglomerate not share intel of the group for the time being.” Chak requests.
“I can’t promise such, but if it’s in your interest to wait, then it is likely ours as well.” Zrreak grants, “But if we found what we have, others are likely to as well. So I hope whatever you are planning comes around soon, Princess.” he adds.
“As do I, and trust me I understand.” Chak says as she squeezes Simone’s hand once more, “They are our enemies and what we intend to do is to dismantle them.” she assures.
“Ah, I hope you don’t mind a single stop before arriving at your apartment. I have a gift that I wish to present to you.” Zrreak announces after he seems to have received a notification on his Lens.
“Oh, how kind of you. What manner of gift?” Chak inquires.
“One that in some small way may bolster your personal security.” the ambassador vaguely answered a bit coyly.
“Oh joy…” Simone says, unsure if they’d be able to comfortably take on another staff member on the Kwip-chap.
…
Soaring down into a tight one way entrance tunnel, the shuttle eventually comes to a latching stop before being lifted up into an unloading room.
“Come, step out. It’s being brought to us.” Zrreak instructs as he stands and strides out.
Preparing themselves to politely turn his offer down, Simone and Chak step out after him. Sonla on the other hand decided then would be a perfect time to raid the fancy meat snacks she’d been eyeing for most of the trip.
As the three stand just outside the shuttle in wait, it takes only a few minutes for a Z’ah’tuck to turn a corner and enter the room.
“Unfortunately I don’t think we’ll have room to properly accommodate-” Chak begins to say before feeling her legs freeze up in sudden numbness as a beast comes trailing behind the Z’ah’tuck.
Simone’s eye tufts lift in surprise as she looks upon what she initially mistakes as a damn hyena as it shares the rusty red-brown color, stripes and even a shallow mohawk of longer fur going down its back. Though its pitbull-esk face and body structure clues her in that it is indeed a dog.
The thickly muscled domestic canine assertively pats its clawed paws across the floor towards them, passing up the handler it stopped and politely sat ten feet away.
Bending down, Zrreak sets down his corgi which without hesitation stamps quickly over to the comparatively titanous brethren. Sniffing up and around his new friend the loaf of a dog ran a circle around the other unbothered canine before splaying forward in a ‘play’ pose in front of it. Before then running off as if to invite a chase.
“Her name is Zrume, meaning ‘Wall of fangs and talons’. She is only two years of age, but understands commands in Galactic standard and is perfectly trained to guard her charge with her life.” Zrreak introduced before notifying the uncertain fright in the Princess, “She is also trained to assist as an emotional support companion. She can provide more Service-oriented work, but that hasn’t been a primary focus of her training. I thought that may suit someone of your nature, Princess.” he added before addressing the dog directly. “Zrume, at ease.”
The dog’s ice-blue eyes spark with hyper excitement as she breaks her statue pose to spaz out before engaging in play with the corgi, sniffing him in return greeting after easily catching up.
“She isn’t the best I can offer, but I believe she’d be perfect for you. May she approach to meet you?” the ambassador inquires.
“Uhm…” Chak utters before looking up to Simone for an opinion.
Biting her cheek, the redhead gave a tentative nod back.
“Oh, alright.” the princess agrees.
“Zrume, come.” Zrreak instructs.
Turning away and all but ignoring the corgi again, Zrume approaches much closer to the three. Her circular blue eyes look up at the ambassador loyally, only taking side glances of the two women.
“Transfer.” the Z’ah’tuck commands as he points to Chak first and then to Simone.
The head of the dog looked up at Chak, its head pretty much as large as hers.
“D-do I pet her?” Chak inquires.
“Of course, though I strongly recommend that you limit her social interaction to a minimum when she’s on the job. When she’s off, tell her ‘at ease’ so she knows.” Zrreak answers with an amused but serious tone.
“O-okay… Hello… Zrume… uhm… at ease? At ease.” Chak says directly to the animal.
Zrume sinks her head slightly forward to gently press against between the Cali’s lower arms. Looking up with her crisp blues she starts to wag her tail and lightly stamps her front paws.
Chak’s racing hearts start to relax as a familiar admiration feeling rises up within her. Glancing up at Simone, she caught her inwardly biting her lips to resist the broad smile from breaking out.
Looking back at the dog, Chak lifts all of her limbs and begins scritching at the places that she saw these animals enjoy in the media. Behind the ears, under the chin and the sides of the thick neck.
Zrume closes her eyes as her tail aggressively pats against the floor like a happy baton. And Chak swears the dog’s closed mouth smiled, though that could have been a trick to the angle she is viewing her.
“What do you think?” the ambassador asks, seeming to already know the answer.
“She’s so sweet…” Chak replies in giggle, “I don’t think I can say no…”
“Then in that case, I’ll have her supplies loaded up for you.”

Ethnicity: Caucasian — Age: 22 — Gender: Female — Height: 5’8 (173 cm) — Weight: Approx. 158 lbs (72 kg) — Nonsmoker — Doesn’t drink alcohol — Known Medical Issues: Asthma — Unmedicated
Hey, all! First off, I am well aware that no one can diagnose me over the internet but due to my current life situation, I don’t have the means to go to a checkup. So, while I’m working on that, I would like to ask for opinions and experiences of people that have or are going through something similar to me.
It started roughly around March. A couple weeks after a panic attack and a very stressful month, I started experiencing: • sudden loss of appetite • nausea (breathing techniques help this tremendously) • excessive belching and overall gassiness • bad constipation, then loose stools with occasional bouts of diarrhea — though I attribute those to the daily panic and anxiety attacks that started towards the end of April • stomach rumbling • very mild cramping • acid reflux
It’s the end of May now and the symptoms didn’t worsen but rather improved a little, except last night I — and I’m really sorry for the TMI — farted out a small amount of clear mucus after a BM….
I’m just confused because I experience little to no pain or cramping, just a general discomfort every now and again around my cecum, sometimes all over. It’s stressing me out even more and I’m really afraid that if it’s not IBS, then it’s colon or stomach cancer.
tl;dr: stomach problems with anxiety and panic attacks, would like to hear opinions and experiences until i can finally get a diagnosis

Hey, all! First off, I am well aware that no one can diagnose me over the internet but due to my current life situation, I don’t have the means to go to a checkup. So, while I’m working on that, I would like to ask for opinions and experiences of people that have or are going through something similar to me.
It started roughly around March. A couple weeks after a panic attack and a very stressful month, I started experiencing: • sudden loss of appetite • nausea (breathing techniques help this tremendously) • excessive belching and overall gassiness • bad constipation, then loose stools with occasional bouts of diarrhea — though I attribute those to the daily panic and anxiety attacks that started towards the end of April • stomach rumbling • very mild cramping • acid reflux
It’s the end of May now and the symptoms didn’t worsen but rather improved a little, except last night I — and I’m really sorry for the TMI — farted out a small amount of clear mucus after a BM….
I’m just confused because I experience little to no pain or cramping, just a general discomfort every now and again around my cecum, sometimes all over. It’s stressing me out even more and I’m really afraid that if it’s not IBS, then it’s colon or stomach cancer.
tl;dr: stomach problems with anxiety and panic attacks, would like to hear opinions and experiences until i can finally get a diagnosis

It all started with the new student.
Aoki Hana was pretty; one could almost say that she was enchanting. With long black hair, large doe eyes, and bubbly smile on her innocent-looking face, she instantly captured the attention from the whole class. Even Masao, my childhood friend, was charmed. He pretended to look outside the window, but I saw him blush after making eye contact with her. I could still remember that day very clearly; it was a warm spring day, with clear blue sky and faint smell of cherry blossom in the air.
The day that my nightmare began.
I paid Hana no mind. She immediately made friends with some other girls, and I thought there was no reason for me to interact with her. We were just classmates, after all. I continued scrolling on my phone, looking at makeup and latest celebrity gossip, you know, the usual girly stuff. That was when I got a text message.
It was weird. In this day and age of messaging apps, no one really texted through SMS anymore.
First!
Umm… What the heck? I was about to exit the app, when several more texts started coming through.
I’m so excited for this! The ML is so cute!
AHHHHH it’s finally here!!!
Get ready everyone! It’s going to be a wild ride!!
They were all from different unknown numbers and seemed to be expressing excitement at something. I was spooked by the amount and the speed at which these weird scam messages were flooding in. I was deleting them one by one when one of the messages caught my eyes.
Just the first chapter but I know that girl Akane is bad news!
That was my name, Akane. I glanced around the classroom, expecting to see one of my friends holding in laughter as they saw my reaction to their little prank. To my surprise, they were all minding their own business, except for one person.
I was not close with Fukuda-san. We barely interacted at all.
But there she was, staring at me from the opposite side of the room, smiling, unblinking.
I got goosebumps. I wanted to confront her right then, but the teacher told everyone to quiet down and started his lesson. During lunch break, I showed the texts to Masao and told him about my suspicion of Fukuda-san, but he just laughed.
“How could it be Fukuda-san? You guys don’t even know each other that well.”
“I don’t know. Why was she staring at me…”
My sentence was cut short as someone bumped into me with full force, somehow knocking the box of juice I was holding out of my hand. As I stabilised myself, I saw Hana fall to the floor with juice poured all over her head.
I was shocked. How did the juice end up on her head of all places? It shouldn’t have been physically possible. The box should have been knocked to the floor, with only a little bit of content spilling, but somehow it looked like the box had completely exploded. Hana looked terrified; her face was flushed red and she looked like she was about to cry.
I bent over to help her up. I was going to apologise.
But for some reason, I just… laughed?
I didn’t know why I did that. The giggles came out of my throat before I could catch them. I covered my mouth with my hands as soon as I realised this, but the damage was done. Masao looked like he had seen a ghost as he helped Hana up.
“Why did you do that, Akane?” He asked.
That was something I wanted to know too. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to, Aoki-san.”
“It’s okay.” Hana sniffled. “I-I’ll just change into my gym uniform.”
Hana was the one who got juice spilled all over her, but somehow, I felt so humiliated. Everyone in the canteen was looking at the scene I caused in shock, but I noticed that one of the students was smiling, as if the whole thing was entertaining to her. I didn’t even know that person, but her smile sent a shiver down my spine.
All the while, the notification on my phone kept going off in my pocket.
Masao took Hana to the classroom to get her gym uniform. I hid in the bathroom and checked my phone. Surely, there were more mysterious messages coming in.
And so it starts… Pouring juice is so cliché…
If I were the MC, I would have slapped that little fox when she giggled! GAHH SO FRUSTRATING!
I tried to reply to the text, asking who they were, but it wouldn’t let me send. I also tried to search what MC meant, but nothing relevant came up. Who would prank me like this? It must have been someone in my class who was in the canteen, right?
I got out of the toilet stall and washed my hands. Feeling like being watched, I turned around to see a girl standing near the corner of the bathroom, staring at me.
She was smiling.
“What are you looking at?” I snapped. My heart skipped a beat.
“Sorry, Okamura-san.” The girl said.
I gulped. “How do you know my name?”
“Everyone knows who you are, Okamura-san.” The girl answered without blinking.
I couldn’t concentrate for the rest of the day. No matter what I did, there was always someone, somewhere, watching me. Be it a classmate, other student, or even a teacher, they were always there. By that point, I was really freaking out and was counting down the time until this horrible day ended. After school, I told Masao that I would skip club activities and went straight home.
Mom and dad were still at work. As always, it was just me in this unnecessarily big house. Finally feeling truly alone, I locked myself inside my bedroom and tried to make sense of what just happened. The notifications had subsided. I hesitated for a bit, and turned off my phone.
I was trying to do homework when there were knocks on the door.
“Come in!”
“Hey, Akane!” Masao was there in his casual clothes, it looked like he had gone home to change. “Are you busy? Inoue-san let me in…”
I looked past him to Inoue-san, she was the housemaid and also my nanny since I was little. I had known this woman all my life, I even just said hi to her when I came home twenty minutes ago. But as she stood there in silence, just smiling at me, I felt like I was standing in front of a complete stranger.
Masao was clueless as I pulled him inside and locked the door.
“Masao, Did you see that? Why was everyone so weird today?” I gestured to the door, but Masao just sat down on my bed and started to fumble with my stuffed toy.
“So after you left, Akane, I actually ran into Hana again…” He said excitedly.
“Hana? You’ve only known Aoki-san for one day.”
“I know right! But I feel like I have known her for a long, long time!” Masao squeezed my teddy bear. “She’s so kind and interesting. As it turns out, we also like the same manga!”
I had known Masao since we were children. His house was literally next to mine. I could confirm, with the utmost certainty, that Masao was never into any form of manga. I had been inside his bedroom countless times, but never once did I ever find a single manga there. There were only video games and sports equipment.
“What do you mean? You never read any manga.”
“No, I’ve always loved manga.” Masao insisted.
Weird, I thought to myself, but nevermind that, I had more important stuff to focus on.
“Okay. Good luck with that. Can we focus on what I said earlier, please? Don’t you feel like everyone was staring at us today? First, Fukuda-san, then there was the girl in the bathroom, and Tanaka-sensei too. They are all creeping me out!”
“It’s probably just your imagination.” Masao rolled his eyes.
“I didn’t imagine it! Even Inoue-san was staring at me just now!”
“I didn’t notice that.” Masao shrugged.
Masao was clearly not interested in my concern. Some kind of best friend he was. He just went on and on about his little crush. I was annoyed, but I let him stay because I was too scared to be in the same house as Inoue-san alone. When Masao said he really should go home for dinner, I just grabbed his arm without thinking.
“Can’t you stay? Have dinner at my place tonight.”
“I really can’t. Mom’s going to be mad.” He said.
Disappointed, I walked him home. When I was back at my own home again, Inoue-san was done preparing dinner. She was no longer smiling like a menace; she was back to being the kind middle-aged woman I had always known. The dinner was almost normal, but for some reason, Inoue-san refused to sit and eat with me unlike everyday. She just stood there timidly on the side like a servant waiting for the next order from her master.
When I asked why she was behaving weird, Inoue-san said that this was always how it had been. There was definitely something wrong about Masao and Inoue-san. They kept insisting that they had always been doing something I had never seen them done before.
I turned on the phone again before bed. There were some new messages.
Akane you snake! Did you just regret friendzoning him for all these years, just when he’s about to fall for Hana? Too late girl!
I’m glad Masao left her like that lol. From the way she treats her maid, it’s obvious she’s a spoiled little brat.
HANDS. OFF. MASAO.
That idiot Masao! My hands were trembling with anger as I thought to myself. He was the only one who knew about this interaction. Why would he prank me like this? This was way too cruel. Calling me a snake and accusing me of friendzoning him? He must have lost his mind. I was fuming all night and could barely get any sleep. All I could think about was how I would confront Masao the next day.
As expected, Masao and I had a huge fight.
He firmly denied having anything to do with the mysterious texts, so I called him a liar. He then accused me of being unsupportive as a friend and that I was “making up stories and ignoring him.” In the end, I pushed him away and as I was making my way back, I crossed paths with Hana. Judging from how I startled her, she must have heard the whole thing.
I never felt so alone before. Nobody in my classroom could be trusted. I didn’t know who else was in on the prank, but by now I had caught almost half of them staring and smiling at me on different occasions. Masao also gave me the cold shoulder. He only hung out with Hana now, which seemed to slow down the rate at which I was receiving those nasty texts.
Despite me trying to reason with them, or even yelling at them, none of the pranksters would admit to their cruel joke. They just apologised and continued to smile at me. Outside of school was a little better, but not by much. Sometimes, strangers would stare and smile at me as I walked to school. I went to the police, but they were no help. When one of them stopped talking and started to smile, I just bolted out of there.
There was only one explanation for this: if people seemed crazy everywhere you go, that meant it was you who was losing your mind.
I should have taken myself to the psychiatrist, or at least told mom and dad about what I was seeing. But I was too scared that they would start smiling, too. I avoided my parents like a plague and tried to focus on my studies as a way of distraction, promising myself that I would do something about this terrifying hallucination after mid-term.
Weeks passed, and so did the mid-term exams. I was anxious the whole time. I didn’t want the mid-term to be over as I would have to acknowledge my problem just as I promised myself. But I needed to do something about it, and I needed to talk it out with Masao.
I tried to catch him in the classroom, but I was distracted by some commotion by the announcement board. Apparently, the mid-term results were out, although we literally just had the last test yesterday. My school had never publicly announced the score rank of each class like this, as they feared it might bring embarrassment to those students who didn’t do so well. But somehow, they decided to go with it this time.
My name was in second place, which was weird. I never was a studious person and had never even made the top ten in my class. Above me was Hana, she got the highest score…
“Please calm down, Okamura-san!”
Someone touched my shoulder and I jolted. I turned around to see a student smiling at me, and the rest of my classmates were staring at me in horror as I felt a piece of paper crumpled in my hands. The score announcement had been ripped from the board, and I was the one who did that…?
When did I do that? It was like I blacked out for a bit there.
“W-what?” I dropped the crumpled up paper. “I didn’t do that!”
Hana looked concerned. “Akane-chan, please don’t be too upset by the test result. I’m sure you’re still much smarter than I am.”
Huh?
I swore that the moment Hana started talking, the smiling student turned to look at her instead of me. It was the first time I noticed that. I grabbed Hana’s shoulder.
“Aoki-san, no, Hana, I need to talk to you, please!”
The other students started murmuring nervously, but I could tell they were entertained by all this. Masao stepped up as if he was about to intervene, but Hana just gave him her signature sweet smile. “It’s okay, Masao-kun. Akane-chan and I won’t take long.”
Hana followed me to the courtyard while I tried to formulate in my head how I was going to break all of this to her. How come I never thought of this before? It all started on the day Hana was transferred here; surely this whole bizarre occurrence must have something to do with her. I decided to be blunt.
“Hana, have you noticed people staring at you while smiling lately? I mean, Ishida-san was doing that just now when we were at the announcement board.”
Hana tilted her head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about Akane-chan.”
“Come on. You must have noticed it right? They… You think you could just walk in and steal Masao from me?” I screamed.
Wait, no. That was not what I was trying to say. Why-why couldn’t I control myself?
“Akane-chan! It’s not like that! I just wanted all of us to be friends.”
“How dare you! You don’t know Masao like I do! He and I were… Urgh… gahh… STOP TALKING!” I grabbed my own throat in a futile attempt to regain control of my own action. Panic swept over me as I struggled. Hana stared at me with horror; she was on the verge of tears.
That was when I felt a familiar sensation which I had learned to endure so well. Someone was watching us. I looked around the empty courtyard and there it was: a student was hiding behind a tree. She was not moving or blinking, she was just staring at me and Hana, as if she were an inanimate object of sorts.
“There’s one of them right there, Hana. Look!” I pulled Hana towards the tree.
“Please, Akane-chan, you’re scaring me. Stop it!” Hana’s voice was trembling. She tried to stop me with her strength, which was never powerful to begin with.
“I said look at her! Can’t you see it? Are you blind?”
I broke free and pushed Hana to the ground. It wasn’t a hard push, but somehow it sent Hana all the way down into the flowerbed. Hana shrieked and covered her cheek as if I just slapped her, when suddenly her demeanour changed completely.
She started to smile.
No. Not you too.
“Hana?”
“Just play your part. Accept your role.” She said, but it was not in her own voice. It was the voice of an older woman, emotionless, like a robot.
“Who are you? What do you want from me?” I grabbed her collar.
“The Spectators want a happy ending.”
“Stop it, Akane!” Masao yanked me away from Hana. I was in too much shock to be able to defend myself. Almost instantly, Hana stopped smiling and she went back to being who she had always been, a delicate fragile girl who never did anything wrong. She sobbed quietly as Masao helped her stand up.
“You’ve really crossed the line this time.” Masao glared at me. Other students heard the commotion and they started to come out of the building to see what was going on. “What did Hana ever do to you? This is not like you at all.”
“No, YOU were the one who was acting strange. Every single one of you!” I screamed, tears rolling down my face. “How could you pretend that everything was normal? Screw you!”
I got up and ran away as fast as I could. I caught a glimpse of students and strangers staring at me as I sprinted home. It has been four hours now but I refused to unlock my door for anyone, not even Inoue-san. Somehow I felt like I was still being watched, so I closed all the curtains and plucked out the eyes from all my stuffed toys.
The class chatroom was exploding with people talking nasty things about me, as they all witnessed me pushing Hana and grabbing her by the collar. They called me possessed which was truly ironic given what they had done to me.
Of course, the SMS messages flooded in.
You’re done f up girl. You showed the whole class your true colour!!
I’m annoyed with the MC, she should have stood up for herself and beat up Akane
Masao so pretty as always! \swoons**
Akane is the very definition of a narcissistic asshole. She always kept Masao by her side and friendzoned him, then acted like she was entitled to him when Hana came along. Very selfish. I hate a person like this the most.
All these stupid texts made me extremely upset. I couldn’t stop crying at first, but the distress turned into anger very quickly as I realised how absurd these accusations were. I had never had a crush on Masao. I had never been competitive during exams. And I sure as hell, never wanted anything to do with Hana.
As I furiously scrolled through a bunch of texts looking for clues to explain what the heck was going on, one text stood out.
This webcomic is sooooo cliché but I can’t stop reading it! Lol. Akane is a really fun character to hate.
Webcomic? Character? What was this person babbling about?
It took me a split second to realise it, then it hit me like a truck.
I was a character in a webcomic?
Even the idea of it was so absurd, it was almost laughable. But the more I thought about it, the more things started to fall into place. It was a perfect fit. All the pieces of the puzzle came together and formed into a ridiculous, unbelievable revelation.
Yes, all the weird texts I got were very similar to how the comment section of a webcomic might look like. The “story” so far also fitted with typical high school romance plotlines; a charming new girl, a boy having a crush, and a jealous childhood friend. Ever since Hana set her foot into my school, the irresistable power was held over me, forcing me to dance to the rhythm that had been composed by a merciless God.
And as it turned out, God was just some shitty wannabe writer.
The realisation that my entire life was laid in some amateur author’s hand made me so mad in a way I could not describe. I could feel my entire body tense up. Without thinking, I threw my phone at the wall and punched the vanity mirror until it broke. My hand was shaking as blood dripped down into the carpet. As I stared into the broken mirror, my reflection was of a truly unhinged person.
If one of those smiling creeps was here, I guess they would have been satisfied with what they were seeing. After all, I was playing into the character of a crazy villainess pretty well.
You guys wanted me to play my part, to accept my role?
Fine.
Let me show you what a villainess could do then.

Ret: “Looks like we’re in the Wild, Wild Universe.”
Indicate gets up, brushing himself off and looking around. Eventually, he spots a nearby town.
Indicate: “Hey, maybe we can find some clues at that town!”
Indicate dashes towards the town, the other Indicates in pursuit. Once they make to the town, they see a bunch of other Indicates walking around, chatting with one another, riding horses, and just having a good time overall. Despite how small the town was, it was actually pretty crowded.
Denial: “Geez, is every universe gonna be like this? It’s really annoying…”
Signal: “No time for sarcasm, we gotta focus on finding the first shard.”
Denial: “As you wish, your majesty.”
Signal growled at Denial, crossing her arms and pouting. The Indicates step into a fairly crowded bar. The bartender notices that they walked in and they recognized them instantly.
???: “Ayyyyyy, if it isn’t the Superstars!”
Indicate: “Superstars?”
Oversight slowly slid next to Indicate, whispering in his ear.
Oversight: ”We tried to come up with a team name, don’t worry about it.”
The bartender looked at Indicate and Denial.
Sho: “Oh, y’all two probably don’t know me, I’m Sho. Pleased to meet ya.”
Denial: “Yo.”
Indicate: “Nice to meet you too!”
Sho poured a few cups of wine, handing each cup to the Indicates. Ret downs his glass in one gulp while the others drink slowly.
Sho: “So what brings y’all to this here town?”
Indie: “We’re here to find a shard for the Shooting Star.”
Sho: “Well, sorry partner. I haven’t seen one ‘round these parts.”
Indicate groans, pouting.
Indicate: “Well that’s great! Now where are we gonna find the shard?”
Denial: “Can it, Indi. We can probably find it in another town.”
Oversight: “Yeah, and hey. Maybe we could find some cool souvenirs on the way ther-“
Suddenly, someone walked into the bar, the Indicates turning around to face the figure. The background Indicates instantly stop talking and stared at the figure as well. Turns our, it was the sheriff.
Ret: “Aw man, I thought it was gonna be some sort of big, bad villa- oh he has the shard on his badge.”
Ret points at the sheriffs badge.
???: “I see you fellers are looking at my badge. Pretty sweet huh?”
The sheriff smirked, pulling out his revolver, spinning it with his finger.
O.K: “They call me Sheriff O.K round these parts, what’s a couple of outsiders doin’ in this town?”
Indicate springs from his seat, pointing at Sheriff O.K’s badge.
Indicate: “We’re here for that shard on your badge!”
O.K: “Heh, I’m afraid I can’t let you do that partner.”
Denial shrugs, smirking.
Denial: “Well, that’s a shame. Guess we’ll be heading ho-“
Indicate slams his hand on Denial’s mouth.
Indicate: “You and me, standoff, NOW!”
Sheriff O.K looked surprised, but quickly burst into laughter.
O.K: “YOU? TAKE ME ON IN A STANDOFF?”
He wipes a tear from his eye.
O.K: “Alright kid, fine.”
He tosses Indicate a revolver. Signal leans towards Indicate.
Signal: “Are you sure you wanna do this? This guy’s faster than any experienced gunslinger in the entire Indiverse! He’s undefeated!”
Indicate: “Relax, I got a plan…”
A few minutes of prep time later, Indicate and Sheriff are standing outside, staring at each other harder than Luigi’s death stare. The clock is ticking, the sun is beaming, and their hearts and pumping….
….
….
O.K: “DRAW!”
Sheriff shot straight at Indicate’s head, but Indicate smirked, catching it with his teeth!
O.K: “WHAT IN TARNATION?!”
Indicate spat the bullet back at twice the speed, hitting the sheriffs badge and knocking it right off.
Indie: “I…can’t believe that actually worked.”
Denial: “It’s Indicate, you don’t expect anything he does to work.”
Indicate jumps up in the air, cheering.
Indicate: “Looks like I won!”
O.K: “…alright, a deal’s a deal.”
Sheriff picks up the badge, handing it to Indicate.
SHARD GET! 1/4 COLLECTED!
Indicate: “Yeah!”
Signal: “Well, that’s our first shard. Only 3 more to go.”
Ret: “Not gonna lie I really could’ve just killed him easil-“
Indie slapped Ret on the back of the head.
Indie: “Just go ahead and get ready to head out, soon.”
TO BE CONTIUNED!

It all started with the new student.
Aoki Hana was pretty; one could almost say that she was enchanting. With long black hair, large doe eyes, and bubbly smile on her innocent-looking face, she instantly captured the attention from the whole class. Even Masao, my childhood friend, was charmed. He pretended to look outside the window, but I saw him blush after making eye contact with her. I could still remember that day very clearly; it was a warm spring day, with clear blue sky and faint smell of cherry blossom in the air.
The day that my nightmare began.
I paid Hana no mind. She immediately made friends with some other girls, and I thought there was no reason for me to interact with her. We were just classmates, after all. I continued scrolling on my phone, looking at makeup and latest celebrity gossip, you know, the usual girly stuff. That was when I got a text message.
It was weird. In this day and age of messaging apps, no one really texted through SMS anymore.
First!
Umm… What the heck? I was about to exit the app, when several more texts started coming through.
I’m so excited for this! The ML is so cute!
AHHHHH it’s finally here!!!
Get ready everyone! It’s going to be a wild ride!!
They were all from different unknown numbers and seemed to be expressing excitement at something. I was spooked by the amount and the speed at which these weird scam messages were flooding in. I was deleting them one by one when one of the messages caught my eyes.
Just the first chapter but I know that girl Akane is bad news!
That was my name, Akane. I glanced around the classroom, expecting to see one of my friends holding in laughter as they saw my reaction to their little prank. To my surprise, they were all minding their own business, except for one person.
I was not close with Fukuda-san. We barely interacted at all.
But there she was, staring at me from the opposite side of the room, smiling, unblinking.
I got goosebumps. I wanted to confront her right then, but the teacher told everyone to quiet down and started his lesson. During lunch break, I showed the texts to Masao and told him about my suspicion of Fukuda-san, but he just laughed.
“How could it be Fukuda-san? You guys don’t even know each other that well.”
“I don’t know. Why was she staring at me…”
My sentence was cut short as someone bumped into me with full force, somehow knocking the box of juice I was holding out of my hand. As I stabilised myself, I saw Hana fall to the floor with juice poured all over her head.
I was shocked. How did the juice end up on her head of all places? It shouldn’t have been physically possible. The box should have been knocked to the floor, with only a little bit of content spilling, but somehow it looked like the box had completely exploded. Hana looked terrified; her face was flushed red and she looked like she was about to cry.
I bent over to help her up. I was going to apologise.
But for some reason, I just… laughed?
I didn’t know why I did that. The giggles came out of my throat before I could catch them. I covered my mouth with my hands as soon as I realised this, but the damage was done. Masao looked like he had seen a ghost as he helped Hana up.
“Why did you do that, Akane?” He asked.
That was something I wanted to know too. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to, Aoki-san.”
“It’s okay.” Hana sniffled. “I-I’ll just change into my gym uniform.”
Hana was the one who got juice spilled all over her, but somehow, I felt so humiliated. Everyone in the canteen was looking at the scene I caused in shock, but I noticed that one of the students was smiling, as if the whole thing was entertaining to her. I didn’t even know that person, but her smile sent a shiver down my spine.
All the while, the notification on my phone kept going off in my pocket.
Masao took Hana to the classroom to get her gym uniform. I hid in the bathroom and checked my phone. Surely, there were more mysterious messages coming in.
And so it starts… Pouring juice is so cliché…
If I were the MC, I would have slapped that little fox when she giggled! GAHH SO FRUSTRATING!
I tried to reply to the text, asking who they were, but it wouldn’t let me send. I also tried to search what MC meant, but nothing relevant came up. Who would prank me like this? It must have been someone in my class who was in the canteen, right?
I got out of the toilet stall and washed my hands. Feeling like being watched, I turned around to see a girl standing near the corner of the bathroom, staring at me.
She was smiling.
“What are you looking at?” I snapped. My heart skipped a beat.
“Sorry, Okamura-san.” The girl said.
I gulped. “How do you know my name?”
“Everyone knows who you are, Okamura-san.” The girl answered without blinking.
I couldn’t concentrate for the rest of the day. No matter what I did, there was always someone, somewhere, watching me. Be it a classmate, other student, or even a teacher, they were always there. By that point, I was really freaking out and was counting down the time until this horrible day ended. After school, I told Masao that I would skip club activities and went straight home.
Mom and dad were still at work. As always, it was just me in this unnecessarily big house. Finally feeling truly alone, I locked myself inside my bedroom and tried to make sense of what just happened. The notifications had subsided. I hesitated for a bit, and turned off my phone.
I was trying to do homework when there were knocks on the door.
“Come in!”
“Hey, Akane!” Masao was there in his casual clothes, it looked like he had gone home to change. “Are you busy? Inoue-san let me in…”
I looked past him to Inoue-san, she was the housemaid and also my nanny since I was little. I had known this woman all my life, I even just said hi to her when I came home twenty minutes ago. But as she stood there in silence, just smiling at me, I felt like I was standing in front of a complete stranger.
Masao was clueless as I pulled him inside and locked the door.
“Masao, Did you see that? Why was everyone so weird today?” I gestured to the door, but Masao just sat down on my bed and started to fumble with my stuffed toy.
“So after you left, Akane, I actually ran into Hana again…” He said excitedly.
“Hana? You’ve only known Aoki-san for one day.”
“I know right! But I feel like I have known her for a long, long time!” Masao squeezed my teddy bear. “She’s so kind and interesting. As it turns out, we also like the same manga!”
I had known Masao since we were children. His house was literally next to mine. I could confirm, with the utmost certainty, that Masao was never into any form of manga. I had been inside his bedroom countless times, but never once did I ever find a single manga there. There were only video games and sports equipment.
“What do you mean? You never read any manga.”
“No, I’ve always loved manga.” Masao insisted.
Weird, I thought to myself, but nevermind that, I had more important stuff to focus on.
“Okay. Good luck with that. Can we focus on what I said earlier, please? Don’t you feel like everyone was staring at us today? First, Fukuda-san, then there was the girl in the bathroom, and Tanaka-sensei too. They are all creeping me out!”
“It’s probably just your imagination.” Masao rolled his eyes.
“I didn’t imagine it! Even Inoue-san was staring at me just now!”
“I didn’t notice that.” Masao shrugged.
Masao was clearly not interested in my concern. Some kind of best friend he was. He just went on and on about his little crush. I was annoyed, but I let him stay because I was too scared to be in the same house as Inoue-san alone. When Masao said he really should go home for dinner, I just grabbed his arm without thinking.
“Can’t you stay? Have dinner at my place tonight.”
“I really can’t. Mom’s going to be mad.” He said.
Disappointed, I walked him home. When I was back at my own home again, Inoue-san was done preparing dinner. She was no longer smiling like a menace; she was back to being the kind middle-aged woman I had always known. The dinner was almost normal, but for some reason, Inoue-san refused to sit and eat with me unlike everyday. She just stood there timidly on the side like a servant waiting for the next order from her master.
When I asked why she was behaving weird, Inoue-san said that this was always how it had been. There was definitely something wrong about Masao and Inoue-san. They kept insisting that they had always been doing something I had never seen them done before.
I turned on the phone again before bed. There were some new messages.
Akane you snake! Did you just regret friendzoning him for all these years, just when he’s about to fall for Hana? Too late girl!
I’m glad Masao left her like that lol. From the way she treats her maid, it’s obvious she’s a spoiled little brat.
HANDS. OFF. MASAO.
That idiot Masao! My hands were trembling with anger as I thought to myself. He was the only one who knew about this interaction. Why would he prank me like this? This was way too cruel. Calling me a snake and accusing me of friendzoning him? He must have lost his mind. I was fuming all night and could barely get any sleep. All I could think about was how I would confront Masao the next day.
As expected, Masao and I had a huge fight.
He firmly denied having anything to do with the mysterious texts, so I called him a liar. He then accused me of being unsupportive as a friend and that I was “making up stories and ignoring him.” In the end, I pushed him away and as I was making my way back, I crossed paths with Hana. Judging from how I startled her, she must have heard the whole thing.
I never felt so alone before. Nobody in my classroom could be trusted. I didn’t know who else was in on the prank, but by now I had caught almost half of them staring and smiling at me on different occasions. Masao also gave me the cold shoulder. He only hung out with Hana now, which seemed to slow down the rate at which I was receiving those nasty texts.
Despite me trying to reason with them, or even yelling at them, none of the pranksters would admit to their cruel joke. They just apologised and continued to smile at me. Outside of school was a little better, but not by much. Sometimes, strangers would stare and smile at me as I walked to school. I went to the police, but they were no help. When one of them stopped talking and started to smile, I just bolted out of there.
There was only one explanation for this: if people seemed crazy everywhere you go, that meant it was you who was losing your mind.
I should have taken myself to the psychiatrist, or at least told mom and dad about what I was seeing. But I was too scared that they would start smiling, too. I avoided my parents like a plague and tried to focus on my studies as a way of distraction, promising myself that I would do something about this terrifying hallucination after mid-term.
Weeks passed, and so did the mid-term exams. I was anxious the whole time. I didn’t want the mid-term to be over as I would have to acknowledge my problem just as I promised myself. But I needed to do something about it, and I needed to talk it out with Masao.
I tried to catch him in the classroom, but I was distracted by some commotion by the announcement board. Apparently, the mid-term results were out, although we literally just had the last test yesterday. My school had never publicly announced the score rank of each class like this, as they feared it might bring embarrassment to those students who didn’t do so well. But somehow, they decided to go with it this time.
My name was in second place, which was weird. I never was a studious person and had never even made the top ten in my class. Above me was Hana, she got the highest score…
“Please calm down, Okamura-san!”
Someone touched my shoulder and I jolted. I turned around to see a student smiling at me, and the rest of my classmates were staring at me in horror as I felt a piece of paper crumpled in my hands. The score announcement had been ripped from the board, and I was the one who did that…?
When did I do that? It was like I blacked out for a bit there.
“W-what?” I dropped the crumpled up paper. “I didn’t do that!”
Hana looked concerned. “Akane-chan, please don’t be too upset by the test result. I’m sure you’re still much smarter than I am.”
Huh?
I swore that the moment Hana started talking, the smiling student turned to look at her instead of me. It was the first time I noticed that. I grabbed Hana’s shoulder.
“Aoki-san, no, Hana, I need to talk to you, please!”
The other students started murmuring nervously, but I could tell they were entertained by all this. Masao stepped up as if he was about to intervene, but Hana just gave him her signature sweet smile. “It’s okay, Masao-kun. Akane-chan and I won’t take long.”
Hana followed me to the courtyard while I tried to formulate in my head how I was going to break all of this to her. How come I never thought of this before? It all started on the day Hana was transferred here; surely this whole bizarre occurrence must have something to do with her. I decided to be blunt.
“Hana, have you noticed people staring at you while smiling lately? I mean, Ishida-san was doing that just now when we were at the announcement board.”
Hana tilted her head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about Akane-chan.”
“Come on. You must have noticed it right? They… You think you could just walk in and steal Masao from me?” I screamed.
Wait, no. That was not what I was trying to say. Why-why couldn’t I control myself?
“Akane-chan! It’s not like that! I just wanted all of us to be friends.”
“How dare you! You don’t know Masao like I do! He and I were… Urgh… gahh… STOP TALKING!” I grabbed my own throat in a futile attempt to regain control of my own action. Panic swept over me as I struggled. Hana stared at me with horror; she was on the verge of tears.
That was when I felt a familiar sensation which I had learned to endure so well. Someone was watching us. I looked around the empty courtyard and there it was: a student was hiding behind a tree. She was not moving or blinking, she was just staring at me and Hana, as if she were an inanimate object of sorts.
“There’s one of them right there, Hana. Look!” I pulled Hana towards the tree.
“Please, Akane-chan, you’re scaring me. Stop it!” Hana’s voice was trembling. She tried to stop me with her strength, which was never powerful to begin with.
“I said look at her! Can’t you see it? Are you blind?”
I broke free and pushed Hana to the ground. It wasn’t a hard push, but somehow it sent Hana all the way down into the flowerbed. Hana shrieked and covered her cheek as if I just slapped her, when suddenly her demeanour changed completely.
She started to smile.
No. Not you too.
“Hana?”
“Just play your part. Accept your role.” She said, but it was not in her own voice. It was the voice of an older woman, emotionless, like a robot.
“Who are you? What do you want from me?” I grabbed her collar.
“The Spectators want a happy ending.”
“Stop it, Akane!” Masao yanked me away from Hana. I was in too much shock to be able to defend myself. Almost instantly, Hana stopped smiling and she went back to being who she had always been, a delicate fragile girl who never did anything wrong. She sobbed quietly as Masao helped her stand up.
“You’ve really crossed the line this time.” Masao glared at me. Other students heard the commotion and they started to come out of the building to see what was going on. “What did Hana ever do to you? This is not like you at all.”
“No, YOU were the one who was acting strange. Every single one of you!” I screamed, tears rolling down my face. “How could you pretend that everything was normal? Screw you!”
I got up and ran away as fast as I could. I caught a glimpse of students and strangers staring at me as I sprinted home. It has been four hours now but I refused to unlock my door for anyone, not even Inoue-san. Somehow I felt like I was still being watched, so I closed all the curtains and plucked out the eyes from all my stuffed toys.
The class chatroom was exploding with people talking nasty things about me, as they all witnessed me pushing Hana and grabbing her by the collar. They called me possessed which was truly ironic given what they had done to me.
Of course, the SMS messages flooded in.
You’re done f up girl. You showed the whole class your true colour!!
I’m annoyed with the MC, she should have stood up for herself and beat up Akane
Masao so pretty as always! \swoons**
Akane is the very definition of a narcissistic asshole. She always kept Masao by her side and friendzoned him, then acted like she was entitled to him when Hana came along. Very selfish. I hate a person like this the most.
All these stupid texts made me extremely upset. I couldn’t stop crying at first, but the distress turned into anger very quickly as I realised how absurd these accusations were. I had never had a crush on Masao. I had never been competitive during exams. And I sure as hell, never wanted anything to do with Hana.
As I furiously scrolled through a bunch of texts looking for clues to explain what the heck was going on, one text stood out.
This webcomic is sooooo cliché but I can’t stop reading it! Lol. Akane is a really fun character to hate.
Webcomic? Character? What was this person babbling about?
It took me a split second to realise it, then it hit me like a truck.
I was a character in a webcomic?
Even the idea of it was so absurd, it was almost laughable. But the more I thought about it, the more things started to fall into place. It was a perfect fit. All the pieces of the puzzle came together and formed into a ridiculous, unbelievable revelation.
Yes, all the weird texts I got were very similar to how the comment section of a webcomic might look like. The “story” so far also fitted with typical high school romance plotlines; a charming new girl, a boy having a crush, and a jealous childhood friend. Ever since Hana set her foot into my school, the irresistable power was held over me, forcing me to dance to the rhythm that had been composed by a merciless God.
And as it turned out, God was just some shitty wannabe writer.
The realisation that my entire life was laid in some amateur author’s hand made me so mad in a way I could not describe. I could feel my entire body tense up. Without thinking, I threw my phone at the wall and punched the vanity mirror until it broke. My hand was shaking as blood dripped down into the carpet. As I stared into the broken mirror, my reflection was of a truly unhinged person.
If one of those smiling creeps was here, I guess they would have been satisfied with what they were seeing. After all, I was playing into the character of a crazy villainess pretty well.
You guys wanted me to play my part, to accept my role?
Fine.
Let me show you what a villainess could do then.

I’ve had my dog about a year and a half. He’s a mutt but mostly Rhodesian Ridgeback. We have another dog in the house. I have been taking him to dog parks regularly his whole life and he has been to doggy daycare. All of a sudden the past 2 weeks he has been active very aggressive towards other dogs. He snarls, growls and barks at them. I can’t even take him to the pet store. He never acted like this before. I have no clue what’s going on or how to fix it. I don’t trust him around other dogs anymore. He’s fine at home with his sister and my sons dog came to visit and he was fine.

Mary Cecelia Rogers was a captivating young woman who charmed those she encountered. She gained prominence in the vibrant streets of New York City during the early 1840s.
Mary's story began in her mother's boarding and lodging house located on Nassau Street. Growing up, she assisted her mother in managing the establishment. As she blossomed into a striking young woman, her alluring presence caught the attention of John Anderson, a well-known cigar merchant on Broadway.
Intrigued by Mary's grace and beauty, Anderson devised a plan to employ her as both a clerk and an attraction in his bustling store. Although initially hesitant due to concerns about certain visitors to the store, Mary's mother eventually agreed, swayed by the generous offer and Mary's persuasive appeals.
The cigar store soon experienced a surge in customers as Mary's presence drew admirers from near and far. Her conduct was exemplary, as she greeted visitors with warm smiles while skillfully fending off unwelcome advances.
For ten months, Mary flourished in her role at the store until the fateful day in late January 1841 when she failed to appear for work. Her sudden absence baffled Anderson, and her distraught mother feared the worst. The authorities were alerted, and the media sensationalized the mysterious disappearance of the "cigar girl."
Six agonizing days later, Mary returned to the store, but her once-cheerful countenance had transformed into one of sadness and contemplation. Inquiries about her absence were met with terse explanations of visiting relatives in the countryside, a subject Mary, her mother, and Anderson seemed reluctant to discuss.
Whispers began to circulate that Mary had been seen in the company of a tall, handsome naval officer during her disappearance. Faced with mounting rumors, Mary abruptly resigned from her position and sought solace within the confines of her mother's home.
A month later, an announcement reverberated through the community—Mary was engaged to Daniel Payne, a young clerk residing in her mother's house. Happiness intertwined with concern as the couple eagerly anticipated their future together.
On a fateful Sunday morning in July 1841, Mary knocked on Daniel's door and informed him of her plan to spend the day with her aunt, Mrs. Downing, in Bleecker Street. Obligingly, Daniel promised to call for her later that night. However, as evening descended, a tempestuous thunderstorm swept through the city, drenching the streets with torrential rain.
Believing Mary would prefer to avoid the storm, Daniel decided against calling for her and made his way home alone. He informed Mrs. Rogers, Mary's mother, of his decision, and she expressed relief, grateful that her daughter had not been subjected to the elements.
As the following day dawned, Mrs. Rogers eagerly awaited Mary's return, but her daughter failed to appear. Worry consumed her, and when Daniel arrived for dinner, Mrs. Rogers shared her growing anxiety. Without hesitation, Daniel set off to visit Mrs. Downing, hoping to find answers.
To his astonishment, Mrs. Downing revealed that Mary had not been at her home on the day in question. Concern transformed into alarm as Daniel realized the gravity of the situation. The second disappearance of Mary Rogers sent shockwaves through the community, igniting public outcry against the faltering investigation.
Days turned into weeks without a trace of Mary, and the press vehemently criticized the police for their lack of progress. In response, the authorities offered a substantial reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator. They even promised immunity and protection to anyone with knowledge of the crime, except for the actual murderer.
Following the proclamation, an anonymous letter arrived at the police station, shedding light on Mary's activities in Hoboken on the day of her disappearance. The letter described witnessing her accompanied by six rough-looking men who ventured into the nearby woods.
With the newfound lead, investigators descended upon the area mentioned in the letter. Their search yielded crucial evidence in the form of clothing and personal items belonging to Mary.
In the midst of the investigation, another witness emerged—a stage driver named Adams. He recalled seeing Mary in Hoboken with a tall, dark-complexioned man who whisked her away to a roadhouse near the Elysian Fields. A chilling scream pierced the night, sending shivers down the spine of anyone who heard it.
Despite the mounting clues and the community's unwavering determination for justice, the case of Mary Rogers gradually faded from the headlines. Speculation and theories abounded, including accusations levied at Mary's mother, insinuating that she held the key to the enigma but remained silent to protect her daughter's reputation.
The tragic events surrounding Mary's disappearance and murder cast a dark shadow over the city, Daniel Payne, the grief-stricken fiancé, was unable to bear the weight of the loss and took his own life, joining Mary in eternal rest.
Years passed, and the story of Mary Rogers began to fade from memory until the famed author Edgar Allan Poe breathed new life into her tale. Inspired by the unsolved mystery, he penned "The Mystery of Marie Rogêt," transplanting the setting to Paris and introducing his detective character, C. Auguste Dupin, as he endeavored to unravel the perplexing circumstances surrounding a fictionalized version of Mary's tragic fate.
The haunting case of Mary Rogers remains etched in history as an unsolved mystery.