ã€ŠFear the Girls From Willow Reverie (Monster!Magical Girls)ã€‹


 Prologue Entry (1/2)

    The girl that walked forward in the dead of night, looking forward but staring past anything before her, only had the one question rattle within her head. A question that she¡¯s echoed for most of her meaningless life:

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me¡­¡± Calypso let it free from her mouth, in a mumble.

    Alone on the streets of a town she¡¯s barely known, let alone can all a new home. She refused to learn the names of these old town avenues, let alone where they lead. The pale red, pentagon brick sidewalks that still looked rained on from the day before, the equally shimmering pavement of the streets. The girl stopped by the black, antique street lamps¡ªthe orange hue of its dual lights in turn shining off the girl¡¯s short, brown hair.

    Calypso told herself to stop once she¡¯s seen a bus stop of some kind, and almost an hour in, she couldn¡¯t even do something so simple right.

    Once again, the question¡¯s raised within her aching mind. Calypso wiped at her drenched, pitiful face. Driven by frustration and faintness at the situation she¡¯s cursed herself with, as she leaned against the pole directly at her side.

    She felt her sweating, pale skin clung to the insides of her violet jacket, the pink shirt, the plaid skirt, the tights, and the boots. All of it uncomfortable, all of it reminding her at such a rushed hack job it was putting the outfit on, not together.

    Her hand, which was already gripping her newly bought book until her nails turned white, was shaking. An escape once, a hobby that allowed her for once to not only turn off her murky mess of a mind¡ªbut allowed her to feel things for once. Emotions that didn¡¯t require boring themselves through 100 feet of unexpressive crust, before giving up the fool¡¯s errand. Calypso stupidly thought she¡¯d be at least able to read once she got the stop but. Alas.

    But the greatest weight was against her back. The stupid girl already had a slight and noticeable hunch to her dainty frame, and hoisting a massive backpack with everything she¡¯s brought to this town didn¡¯t help her ruined posture. She had to remind herself, to keep looking back at it¡­ Since it was covered in gash marks, the holes grew bigger with the slightest odd move.

    Calypso knew though. She couldn¡¯t help thinking about it. It wasn¡¯t the weight of the barely unpacked clothing or items that never left their packaging. It wasn¡¯t the fact she¡¯s a useless body with barely enough energy or positive physical aspects.

    It was the metaphorical crush. Trying to bear the honest truth that she was leaving people who cared about her, when that was in very short supply. They took her in. They were the family and friends¡ªloved ones she hadn¡¯t yet alienated. And now she¡¯s spitting in their faces.

    Calypso closed her gray eyes, trying in pitiful vain to stop the manifesting, undeserved tears.

    ¡°At least¡­¡± she muttered, her already croaky voice strained. ¡°At least¡­ I won¡¯t be able to think about this¡­ Or anything anymo¡ª¡±

    Immediately stopping her grim thoughts, Calypso turned herself on a dime. Towards the chill that didn¡¯t just hit her spine, but slammed so hard that it caused her body to react so violently.

    Down the street, there was a hulk of a man bathed in shadows. And on closer inspection¡­ His size wasn¡¯t due to physical prowess or bulk necessarily but¡­ His body looked like it¡¯s been stuffed. Brimming with something that has no business being inside of a normal human.

    ¡°¡­Oh no¡­¡± Calypso angled herself in a hurry, facing the freak with her free hand jammed into the left pocket of her jacket, walking backward with a tremble. Cursing herself for her aversion to cellphones.

    She knew she had nothing in that pocket. It was either faking like she had mace¡ªor using her keys as a makeshift shiv. Calypso liked disappearing in the night due to insomnia and consistently did it within a big city... She knew a creep when she saw one.

    This was not the standard creep. Calypso was kidding herself into believing such¡­ But she felt how badly wrong this was.

    The man simply walked forward. His arms not only barely moving at his sides, but the left on the verge of bursting, and the right barely matching the length of what a normal arm should be. Gut not just hanging forward, but wobbling with each sluggish movement.

    With very audible slushing of liquid, ripping across the empty street.

    ¡°Please¡ªlet¡¯s jus¡ª¡± Calypso shook her head in a rageful, mournful fit before shouting at herself for being stupid, even now, failing to gather her words. ¡°Let¡¯s just think about this, please!¡±

    It was due to the girl vowing internally to never let her gaze away from this creature, that Calypso realized yet another harrowing detail about the ¡°man¡±. The clothes he was wearing were so torn to shreds, hugged so tightly against the bulbous frame, that the razor-thin threads were steadily cutting through the flesh.

    Black ooze leaking from the garroted tissue. Mixing into the disgusting sheen of death-colored flesh.

    ¡°I¡¯m a college-aged, young woman¡­¡± Calypso tried to inject her dry sense of humor into her pleas. ¡°Y-you¡¯ll make headline news here! Depressive girl killed before her time¡ªonly came here because of a great personal tragedy, to live with her extended family¡ªWELL LIKED extended family¡­ Imagine what they¡¯ll do to you once they catch you¡­¡±

    And if the previous red flags weren¡¯t somehow apparent, the lumbering wad of flesh purposefully evaded every single streetlamp that Calypso had passed so far. A grand total of 5-to-6 times of carefully, walking around every single wide radius of light.

    Somehow closing the gap between her and it. Effortlessly. Calypso shuddered at the sheer reality being imposed on her.

    ¡°I¡¯m serious! You don¡¯t want to do this, I¡¯m begging you at this point!¡± her voice was always so awkward, and due to being so utterly pathetic, she never knew how to command power when she yelled. ¡°I¡¯ll scream! I¡¯ll scream right now¡ªsomeone¡¯ll hear and then--!¡±

    With a sudden, sickening squash¡ªCalypso looked down, realizing she was proven wrong.

    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    It was less remains and more a dried sack of sick. The heel of Calypso¡¯s boot stepped on a flaccid, meaty puddle¡ªand the revelation should¡¯ve made her gag. She stepped away from it, trying to offer some useless last respects for the victim, but as Calypso faced that side of the street¡­ She detected four or seven sacks, littering the place. Some from the windows of the buildings.

    Calypso was completely and utterly alone. Nothing can save her at this point.

    She shakingly gulped, before whimpering a measly cry. She knew she was going to die.

    And the cacophony of flesh tearing, bones crackling, and blood pouting on the ground confirmed that fact for her. Calypso tensed in response, clamping down on her usually-pouty lips and squeezing her tired eyes shut to endure the sounds.

    But once it was done, she glanced behind her. The final details of what Calypso traded her life for reared their ugly head.

    The Bat¡¯s head was somehow photorealistic and stylized. The tuff of fur, extended ears, the glistening teeth¡­ The beady, black eyes that had no shine, no sense of brilliance of life. Dark and yet the shadows that it was made of had definition, the features clean cut into edges to give a somehow fiercer look.

    It raised its leather wings, the span easily stretching past a car from hood to trunk. Unveiling its entire body, which hung the last semblance of humanity left.

    The body, hanging upside down like a bat. The monster¡¯s origin point, as the once-walking corpse was cracked open, the black viscous oozed out from these cracks. These goop-like strings being pulled up tightly, which all mash up into the imposing form of the monster. The body, too torn apart to tell who it once was, all could be disgusting features were blurred into facial horror and ruin.

    Sans the black, glazed-over eyes, with equally so ¡°tears¡± streaming upside down his face.

    ¡°Damn it¡­¡± Calypso uttered softly. ¡°You, this¡­ Me, most of all¡­¡±

    With that, she took off into a sprint. A sprint that meant precious little, but it was the only option she had control over.

    Pressing her novel against her chest, her baggage constantly battering her aching back, Calypso constantly looked behind herself. Knowing if she ran on either side of the street, it would simply fly after her, such an advantage vantage with an open space provides.

    She tried again in vain. She had to.

    ¡°PLEASE!¡± Calypso waveringly yelled. ¡°WE DON¡¯T HAVE TO DO THIS!¡±

    Running so briskly and turning the head was easier said than done, and the girl didn¡¯t gain the best view of the Bat. But she did hear the gust of air forced downward, something soaring through the dead night¡¯s air.

    And soon enough, felt the wind gusts rattle her bob-styled hair. There was no way out of this.

    But something caught the corner of her eye, on the right of her. Calypso instantly trained her head towards the sight¡ªan alleyway. A narrow alleyway she just passed. It was her only chance.

    Turning on her rubber heels, stumbling due to the fact, but Calypso managed to turn and booked it towards the alley. She ran in, panting and whimpering as she did, the sweat flying off behind her.

    Looking back¡ªshe knew it was dumb, but she had to.

    The sight of what happened next caused her blood to run cold.

    As the Bat circled in the night above the alley, it motioned to dive, tucking its large wings onto its sides to become an arrow arced towards the poor, stupid girl.

    Crashing onto her with full force, right onto the ground, everything on her person scattered across the area. The audible slam was accompanied by various cracking of bone.

    Calypso screamed. Shrieked. Howled pathetically in pain. Knowing that no one could possibly hear her. Knowing what was likely to happen next, and there was nothing to be done about it.

    But she was still able to move. Twitching, barely able to go beyond an inch, but she could still move.

    Face-to-face with this thing, as it¡¯s muzzle slowly opened to let the shadow-y drool fall out, chittering in zeal to bare it¡¯s impressive fangs.

    ¡°P¡­Puh¡­¡± Calypso couldn¡¯t form words anymore. She tried to raise her hand, showcasing her palm. ¡°Wa¡­rning¡­ you¡­ Please¡­¡±

    The Bat reeled back, while digging its claws deep into her shoulders. And slammed her down onto the wet brick that made up the ground. Again. And again. And again.

    The impact so hard, it interrupted Calypso¡¯s shouts. Her panicked expression rendered into a daze¡ªthen soon blank, her short brown hair flying about, and her normally gray eyes losing their brilliance of life and fading fast.

    All Calypso could do in that moment, was twitch.

    And the monster sensed that, slowly raising her body upwards, towards itself as it straddled over her. Drooling with physical shadows, it opened its jaw as it chittered gutturally. As if it were laughing.

    Only for something impossible to happen, that caused its jaws to fasten shut with unseen force.

    Calypso¡¯s shaking hand being that impossible thing.

    Gripping from the side of its head, pressing the thumb under the chin and digging her fingers into the cheek.

    Drawing black blood.

    ¡°I¡­ Warned you¡­¡±

    Calypso looked at her victim with a sorry expression of fear. Looking at it with eyes of black sclera, glowing amber irises, and a pulsating, changing face.

    ¡°Now I won¡¯t be able to stop myself¡­¡±

    At once, Calypso¡¯s hand sprouted claws from each digit, causing the Bat to shriek in pain yet unable to open its maw to express that agony.

    High-pressure black blood showered the once-pathetic human, as she laid still yet constantly moving... And not of her own will.

    And with a sudden jerk on her end, Calypso managed to toss the thing she just pleaded to across the alleyway. Arcs and arcs of black blood streamed across as it finally slammed onto its back.

    ¡°Aaaaah¡­ Finally¡­¡±

    The Bat lifted its punctured head in confusion. Its beady eyes searching for an explanation, anything, to make what¡¯s happening make any sense.

    But it was only met with laughter. Deep, sensual¡­ Lacking any humanity.

    A stained Calypso rose to her feet, drunkenly almost. The girl was drenched in the oily ichor so harshly that she was nothing more than a black silhouette. It didn¡¯t help that her head was angled downward. As if she was stewed in her body tensing, before bulging in size, finally shrinking back.

    Her transformation beginning to take shape.

    She took a loving look at her claws and took multiple licks at them. Unveiling a set of eggshell white, curved, and bladed digits that was more razors than fingers anymore. But as Calypso flexed them, it showcased that each claw was segmented, designed in a skeletal-like fashion.

    ¡°Don¡¯t care if you¡¯re not so yummy or not¡­¡± Calypso raised her head, showcasing her face, literally twisted with malice. And bearing her own fangs. ¡°I¡¯ve been stupidly holding back for what felt like fucking millions of eons¡­ Thank you, little dreg. I can finally lose my mind~¡±

    Almost like she planned the timing, various bone spikes ripped through the girl¡¯s frame. Individually, one after the other. With such force, she was jerked about and was so violent, it caused her to get on her hands and knees.

    Calypso hugged herself, or whatever was left. Trembling. Huffing out visible, thick mist as she made¡­ Sounds that were everchanging as she was in that moment. If one was generous when they heard it, they¡¯d imagine it was crying¡­ But it was too muffled, low, and frankly zealous to be considered sadness or pain.

    But whatever it was, it soon morphed into crazed laughter.

    The girl started to shine in a dull, iridescent glow.

    Her laughter grew in an uproar, as she started to grow in size. Cackling, as audible cracks rang out in the night, as more blades and bone burst through every surface, creating fresh squelching sounds.

    Her laughter shredded into screams, as the glow coated the entire area. Slowly but surely masking her still transforming body. Everything human being torn away.

    Soon the shine faded. What the Bat saw before it, as its basic eyes shook with realization¡­ was a much better monster.

    All it could see was bone piercing out of the girl''s frame and covering it as a twisted mockery of armor. It saw fangs, it saw claws that were several inches long. Dual elbow scythes jutted from what looked to be skinned arms. Shadow of a mane that traveled down the back. A perfect union of human and monster, with all the beastly beauty that resulted from it.

    All it could do was simply gawk.

    Calypso giggled lowly, as her dark eyes still pierced through sudden darkness. Hauntingly sad, disturbing inhuman.

    She leaped forward, towards her early morning breakfast.

 Prologue Entry (2/2)

    The Bat Monster tried in vain to crawl away, flipping itself onto the stomach, and digging its claws into the brick floor which it easily penetrated.

    Only to hear the giggle of a girl, and feel her own claws plunge into its back, dragging it back.

    The primal screeches it was belting out echoed within the alleyway, adding more to this already debilitating experience. It was acutely aware of how effortless this was for her, meticulous, and overall, how much enjoyment this girl was getting over it.

    ¡°Mmm¡­¡± the voice was still human, but twisted into sadism and cruelty when it was once small and soft. ¡°Struggle more, please. It feels so nice digging deeper into you¡­¡±

    The Bat Monster felt her grip on its wound and easily jerked its body back further into the alley, slamming into the ground as it shrieked.

    Darting its head up, desperately trying to see what it thought was just a simple human attacker.

    But she was gone from the spot.

    Yet it could still feel her stare. Trembling, it arched its head towards that dread.

    And amber eyes met back.

    Calypso hung on all fours, claws clinging to the wall. Upside down, her breath visible steam, fangs glistening in the small reflection of light that struggled to reach from the street. Cloaked in shadow with her eyes and teeth visible.

    ¡°If only you didn¡¯t snack on every human you saw on this lane~¡± Calypso chirped smugly, radiating superiority.

    The Bat screeched, trying to back away. The monster girl tilted her head at this, before her fierce eyes widened. And her grin grew.

    ¡°Aw. You know what I am, dreg~? That sucks the fun out of it¡­ Hey! If you tell me the things I have questions about, I¡¯ll think about sparing you!¡±

    Suddenly she laughed in an uproar, darting from the darkness so fast, all the Bat Monster could follow was a flashing gleam and the sound of something cutting flesh.

    The Bat couldn¡¯t see anything. Because black blood completely obscured any line of sight. And the pain was unbearable.

    The Bat Monster was not only pinned down but spewing out blood from the shoulders like geysers.

    Calypso was over it, her bony claws clasping each other, tenting, in a relaxed manner.

    It was the set of blades that jutted out from each elbow, that severed the monster¡¯s limbs, causing the blood spray.

    And despite being so close, despite this former human practically lording over it¡ªit still couldn¡¯t completely see what Calypso became. As she was coated from head to toe in the monster¡¯s own black blood. Once again, only the dark eyes and wide smile were visible.

    ¡°Theeeere we are. Now you can¡¯t fly away and make this boring¡­¡± Calypso purred, admiring the casual carnage she was issuing out.

    The Bat¡¯s head wrestled, and the body squirmed, but it led to the same regrettable endpoint. Stiffening pathetically in pain as it whimpered. Almost human.

    Calypso¡¯s sunny disposition turned into a sour squint. Startlingly fast.

    ¡°Oh don¡¯t give me that bullshit.¡±

    Slamming the sides of the Bat¡¯s head with her sharp claws, Calypso felt firsthand how the entire head squished briefly. The shape reformed, but it didn¡¯t change the fact that this girl had the strength to cave the head in, there and then.

    And as if minutes or even hours pass, the standard range of humans getting over negative emotions¡ªCalypso¡¯s expression returned into a deranged zeal in reaction. Shivering at her display of power.

    ¡°You¡¯re not human anymore. You ate this person from the inside out. You don¡¯t get to act innocent, you disgusting thing¡­ That¡¯s why I have to. That¡¯s why I have to not only eat you until you¡¯re nothing but scraps; but stay like this¡­¡±

    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Without warning, her claws just grabbed at the sides of the Bat¡¯s face. Again, with effortless strength on her part as she held it still. The claws cut softly and easily into the flesh. Hot knife through butter.

    ¡°I know it hurts and I know it scares me that I can be like this¡ª¡± Calypso was literally ranting to no one, her brow twisted in a concerned state despite the rictus smile spread across her face. ¡°¡ªBut it¡¯s better this way! I-I¡¯ll leave everyone alone! I¡¯ll stay out of people¡¯s way! I won¡¯t have to act like I¡¯m ssssomething I¡¯m not anymore! And maybe, jusssst maybe it can ffffinally work thissss time!¡±

    As much as she didn¡¯t want to do so, Calypso quickly pulled a claw away from the head, wiping the trailing drool from her maw before diving right back in.

    ¡°Sorry, I tend to slobber whenever I have cool, awesome ideas~¡±

    She angled the finer points of her claws inside of the Bat¡¯s head, within the wounds she made wider. She then shoved her thumb-claws into the mouth, forcing it to smile.

    The monster girl leaned forward. With such a cocksure, lowered gaze upon her prey. Such a swagger that illustrates that the person hasn¡¯t been thinking more clearly than they were now.

    ¡°Again, I have to thank you¡­ You¡¯ve made me finally accept it. My fate. This is my life now, prowling the streets, a creature of the night¡­ I was so scared of this curse as a human¡ªbecause a human would only see it as a curse. A dark side, some kind of corruption? Ha! I was always like this, it¡¯s been finally let out!¡±

    And finally, she began to pull upwards. She couldn¡¯t help but giggle madly, as she watched the Bat¡¯s eyes tremble in pain.

    ¡°In the end, this is all pleasure for me. Serving my aching id, to ease my fervent mind¡­ To fill my empty, soulless body¡­ I was always a bad person. I was always meant for this! Now die, meaningless dreg¡ªbe my first kill of absolution!¡±

    Calypso felt something grasp her cheek. It was so sudden, her expression of murderous superiority was still frozen on her face.

    Turns out, she did not cut deep enough.

    The Bat¡¯s small, trembling claw cupped the monster girl¡¯s cheek. It¡¯s beady, soulless eyes¡­ Briefly flashing a sheen before plunging back into darkness.

    The proud, assured monster girl began to shake herself.

    A sickening snap ensued, with a final spray of black viscous signaled the end of this terrible being¡¯s life.

    Calypso hummed, as she felt the showers hit against her transformed body. Reveling in the sensation, taking in how much she enjoyed it¡­ And the ping of guilt that echoed within.

    ¡°I was like this¡­ Always like this¡­ Even before this transformation into a monster,¡± Calypso said to no one. Trembling. Only her so-called truth rattling within.

    The black stains all over her body began to shrink away in seconds. Her nightmarish frame produced so much heat that the black blood was vaporing from it, burnt wisps floating into the air.

    But Calypso didn¡¯t watch any of that. She watched the now mess of shadow as her lips wavered.

    She growled at herself, shaking her head violently to free herself of clouded or second thoughts. ¡°It¡¯s true! All of it, Calypso! I have to accept it¡ªeverything! Regardless, I have to feed! I-I have to¡­¡±

    As she opened her dark, glowing eyes, they were shaped by forlorn. With a sheen of lost humanity of her own.

    ¡°If I don¡¯t do this¡­ Then I shouldn¡¯t have survived¡­¡± Calypso¡¯s croaky vocal tone returned and she was all too aware of it. ¡°I have to make this work¡­!¡±

    The monster girl reached out, seeing her outstretched claw beginning to prod itself into the dark corpse.

    Only to witness her claw slowly, but surely, morph back into her dainty, pale hand.

    ¡°N-no¡­¡± Calypso reeled back, on the verge of tears as she felt the changes take hold.

    She clutched at her head, feeling her long mane of hair roll back into her short bob. In her sway of confusion, wobbling due to bones popping back into place, muscles shrinking back so that she could fall back on her knees again. The poor girl groaned, echoing the sounds she made as she turned¡­ But clearly in pain and sadness.

    ¡°WHY CAN¡¯T I STAY AS ONE THING?!¡± Calypso roared out, into the black, clear skies. ¡°WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?!¡±

    Her misery was cut short, as the halfway girl heard a very loud stirring as she panickily looked across the alley. Were those shadows? Was she imagining things? Has she finally gone insane? And even so, are they actually human?

    She didn¡¯t want to find out.

    Using her remaining claw, she turned towards the nearest wall and began to scale it fervently. She did slide down at points, due to turning back into a human, but it didn¡¯t matter. Calypso hoisted herself onto the rooftops and began to prowl to hurl herself across many others. Until she was safe.

    With her enhanced strength and agility, Calypso got away in no time. With her enhanced senses, she looked over her shoulder multiple times, making sure she wasn¡¯t followed.

    What didn¡¯t help was this town was still unfamiliar. Too wide, too quiet at times. She was already deep in her usual self-hatred for running as a monster; Calypso didn¡¯t need to dwell on the fact she was sent here basically as a sick patient.

    She found herself in the woods. Pressing her back against the tree as she slowly turned back, holding her stomach as it rumbled like thunder.

    Then felt the bones in her arms creak painfully, before righting themselves again. Was it punishment after pushing herself? Or is it another transformation brewing once more?

    Hunched over, cold, in pain, within the dark, Calypso only had her thoughts.

    I don¡¯t know what to do¡­ I couldn¡¯t hide this¡­ But I can¡¯t commit to this either¡­ I don¡¯t have it in me to be so terrible but¡­ That was me. Regardless if it was so deep down¡­

    Shivering, and it wasn¡¯t just from the cold. She dug her nails into the pale arms, knowing that black viscous would be drawn. Dripping down them.

    What am I¡­? And why did I survive, only to have a fate worse than death¡­?

    The girl looked up to the Moon, clouded by wispy fog. Afraid that she¡¯d die once again, before an answer could be found.

    ***

 (META) The FAQ Is This?! (Quick Q&A, Explanation and Aim of Story)

    So! You just watched a young adult lady turn into a monster girl and ate another monster that wasn''t kawaii as her.

    You''re probably wondering what''s with that sentence alone-

    This is Fear the Girls From Willow Reverie, a Magical Girl series where the frills are instead fangs. It''s a genre mash up I''ve had in mind for years and I wanted it to be put out there in the world. If you wish to just see things play out, then go on ahead, thank you for reading and especially placing trust with me. But for those still on the fence...

    Let''s run down the deets that won''t be apparent for a bit:

    >The theme is monster girls, "Beastly Beauty", and their abilities are more witch-like and a curse

    >While yes, they''re monster girl hybrids and a more armored take: strangely enough, the armor takes cues from dresses and formal attire, if not a twisted version of them. So we do have the frills, just fanged

    >They can use magic, but its not only black magic but takes time for them to learn

    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.>Yes, there will be a team--it''s just that our main heroine will be alone at first due to her depression and aversion to things, but hey, power of friendship right?

    >And most importantly, yes--there will be over-the-top transformation sequences, just merged with supernatural horror leanings that''ll be "tamed" as they get better

    >And most most most most importantly, yes, there will be attack names and transformation phrases

    To clarify yes, this is meant to be an straightforward take on the genre. It''s just that, akin to the yearly motif changing of PreCure for example, the monster/modern gothic theming will mutate the standard tropes that comes with Magical Girl works. I''m not trying to be Madoka Clone 3456.7, because that''d be boring.

    The intrigue of this work is meant for us to question, "well, what can work here under this rather dark theme--can the power of love, friendship, and peace survive the jaws of a monster?" Just like the protagonists who are suffering under this curse--can their humanity ultimately triumph, or do they have to change that further?

    Hopefully you''re still interested enough to see these questions be answered, and if not hey--thanks for hearing me out regardless.

    Enjoy the work, or don''t, just thank you for checking it out.

 Entry 0.0 (1/2) - Who Is: Calypso Grimes?

    Calypso awoke to a team of doctors swarming above her. She really shouldn¡¯t have been alive right now.

    As her blurry eyesight tried to make out her reality, she wracked her throbbing brain around it. How? How in God¡¯s name did she survive that?

    A mass she couldn''t make out became a man¡¯s hand, pressing a breathing mask onto her cut-up face, forcing it down. She should have felt the irritated and painful gashes or the blood coasting down from her sliced up cheeks. But she was at a point where her pain cannot be measured not because it¡¯s overwhelming, but because everything¡¯s gone dangerously numb.

    So it left her dwindling mind wondering. Trying to access memories, but unable to focus. As the light grew brighter and the audio cranked to a crescendo¡ªit just made her ask the same question.

    Why isn¡¯t she dead?

    Why did she survive, when her friend died horribly?

    And what is lurking and breathing within her body?

    ***

    ¡°I think this is the place¡­ That or Mapquest sucks a bag of severed butts¡ª¡±

    She was following Alice, looking at her straight, short black hair and her massive backpack from behind. Business per usual, even in the end.

    Calypso laughed. ¡°Man, you always have such a way with words¡­¡±

    Alice turned back as she continued to walk. Her freckled face with her warm smile, as she simply stuck her tongue out at her friend before looking forward again.

    ***

    Calypso screamed from the throat, her back arching from the table. Even when she stopped, it trailed off into agonizing wailing as she shook her head rapidly. The various deep cuts across her body, flexing open on their own as she trailed off in absolute misery.

    ¡°My god¡ªshe¡¯s supposed to be under!¡± a panicked voice shouted; Calypso was in too much pain to care who it was.

    ¡°Well, crank the up the dosage, and let¡¯s try again!¡±

    ***

    ¡°Y¡¯know what¡ªfuck it¡ªwe¡¯re doing this live. We¡¯re doing it live.¡±

    Despite the jovial phrasing, it was searing cold in tone. Alice was violently stomping the map onto the black dirt. And then, she stomped on it more, grinding her boot on it for good measure.

    ¡°Fuck it, we could do it here or whatever. Why remotely plan for anything? There¡¯s no point¡ªespecially fucking now. Why bother? Who cares? I don¡¯t¡ªI fucking shouldn¡¯t anymore.¡±

    ¡°Hm,¡± Calypso always felt so small when she said that¡ªin response to Alice¡¯s episodes. There just wasn¡¯t much to say. She couldn¡¯t find the right words. Nobody could.

    But as her only friend, she had the duty to at least try, but is so far down her own pit that she couldn¡¯t if she did.

    Terrible person, so that meant she was a terrible friend as well.

    It was the reason why they made the trip here in the first place.

    ***

    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    ¡°HER CUTS ARE OOZING A BLACK SUBSTANCE, SIR!¡±

    ¡°I-is it some type of infection? It¡¯s nothing like I¡¯ve seen before!¡±

    ¡°And she¡¯s up again! She¡¯s up again!¡±

    ¡°We cannot lose our composure, not now. Administer the proper tools and we try again.¡±

    ***

    ¡°¡ªStop fucking with me, Cal¡ª¡± Alice pushed her friend away from her, wincing after despite her nostrils flaring. ¡°Don¡¯t you fuck with me Calypso, please, not you¡ª"

    Her eyes were wild, searching. To see if Calypso were like the rest, that their entire friendship was a sham despite how impossible that idea was. But it was so hard to meet that gaze, as Calypso¡¯s eyes were swimming in her tears.

    ¡°I told you!¡± Calypso whined. ¡°I saw something, I-I keep seeing things, they¡¯re all over us! I could see them from the train--! I did see them since the train, I mean--!¡±

    ¡°If you wanted to bail out and leave me to do this myself, you should¡¯ve just fucking said instead of going all horror clich¨¦ on me!¡± Alice spat out verbal venom, clutching her fists so tight that her fingers were white.

    ¡°I am telling you the truth,¡± Calypso stressed. Calypso straining in emotional pain.

    Alice shouted in a huff, walking around in place, tossing and turning, fists raised high and aiming aimlessly. Calypso was twitching in fear that she was going to get hit. There was always that fear.

    ¡°F¡ªfine, fuck it, we find a camping ground and set up and we try again in the morning or some shit, I don¡¯t know,¡± Alice growled. ¡°Because I refuse to go back home when I¡¯ve made it this fucking far. I¡¯ve made my choice and I¡¯m not going the fuck back.¡±

    As she began to walk pass a trembling Calypso, Alice stopped in her tracks. Sighing, wistfully.

    The rageful girl instantly wrapped her arms around her trembling friend. And used that strength that she tightened her fists into a more nurturing, intimate hug.

    ¡°I¡¯ll never hurt you, y¡¯know that right¡­?¡± Alice tone was mournful, pleading. ¡°I-I can say that, I can be proud of something in my stupid life that I never ever got to hurt you, at least¡­¡±

    Calypso just nodded. She was still too affected, when normally she would just as instantly snuggle into her best friend¡¯s lovely hold.

    Alice sensed this, and slowly parted away from Calypso. Walking ahead, being eerily silent, Calypso wanting more than anything to see anything other than her back.

    ¡°Besides. All this paranoia and it could just be Smokey and his family tryna plan a reunion and we¡¯re fucking it up, Cally¡ª¡±

    Calypso chuckled. She kept chuckling and held her beating chest. Closing her eyes, and letting the soft tears streaming as she laughed genuinely, with Alice joining in softly.

    ¡°We¡¯re fine if we don¡¯t have a lighter,¡± Alice walked forward, with a pep in her step. ¡°And we¡¯re too much of the same loser breed to smoke a doobie anyway~¡±

    ¡°Yea-yeah,¡± Calypso followed after, clutching her backpack¡¯s straps.

    But as soon as she turned away, she felt them. The stare of something non-human.

    ***

    ¡°We don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on¡­ There¡¯s something parasitic happening, but we have no idea what it could be and have no tools to properly handle it¡ªwith our patient slowly deteriorating¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡ªAnd she¡¯s up again. Does this thing cause anesthesia to wear off quickly?¡±

    ¡°Then we have no choice. We have to be drastic if we are to save this girl. We can¡¯t lose another¡­¡±

    ***

    ¡°Just run¡ªgo¡ªleave, Calypso! Forget about me!¡±

    Calypso was crying softly, whimpering at the sight of her best friend, without an arm, and bleeding fast to the point she¡¯s become pale. Shaking.

    ¡°N-not without you!¡± Calypso sobbed in protest. ¡°Your arm¡ªyour arm is--!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, gone, so I can¡¯t shove you like I usually do¡ªI¡¯m gonna settle with my legs if you don¡¯t use yours¡­!¡±

    Alice fell onto her knees. Her eyes glazing over in real time. Her shakes turning violent as she tried to look around.

    Calypso just turned, with the yellow stares of the night meeting her gaze. Mocking her for not telling her dying friend sooner.

    Everywhere she looked, there was blinking, movement, glancing. If it wasn''t for these stares, everything would¡¯ve been pitch black.

    ¡°Oh god. Oh fucking god. They¡¯re just watching. They¡¯re letting that thing finish the job and they¡¯re just waiting¡ªCAL, WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE?!¡±

    Calypso went limp. Standing in place with her knees were the only things moving on her.

    ¡°It¡¯s why we came, right¡­? T-to let fate fall, where it m-may¡­?¡±

    Calypso had her back to her friend, she was too paralyzed to meet her gaze. She didn¡¯t have the right to anyways.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t¡­ M-meant to be like this¡­ Taking it into our own hands¡­ For once in our miserable lives¡­ Please, Cal¡­ If you valu¡ª¡±

    There wasn¡¯t even a scream.

    Calypso turned to see her friend turned into paste.

    As the beast who was framed in shadow sans its eyes, shining like a train hovered over her still body, cocking its head towards Calypso, and leaped seconds later at her.

 Entry 0.0 (2/2) - Who Is: Calypso Grimes?

    Calypso walked out of her house, with the routine sigh included. Funny how she¡¯s able to hear the idiot lantern louder than the cries of her mother that wastes away in front of it.

    Calypso had to walk forward. Away from the house. Away from everything that¡¯s the source of her needless sorrow.

    Her front lawn was always pitch black until the porch light or the neighbors was toggled. But the poor girl needed something blank to focus on, so she can once again accept her lot in life. Just accept, and not let herself drown in it.

    She can¡¯t get angry, simply because she¡¯s Calypso. Calypso is the quiet, passive girl that probably ¡°never¡± gets angry, an impossibility. She was simply a walking, organic idea of a person¡ªversus living, breathing, human flesh. Even if she did get angry¡ªit wasn¡¯t the same as normal rage. It would peter out, only be a burst, fade before it even began. Maybe she always was angry, but her barren, empty body could never process such.

    There was that inevitable crush that followed. A crush that invalidated everything but it.

    Calypso can¡¯t angry. Or feel remotely anything. She was too much of an other for that, and she just has to accept it. Accept it until her body dulled with exhaustion.

    But it was odd¡­ Calypso was fighting herself so harshly this time, there was this very sharp, everpresent aching across her body. She rubbed at her blazer-clad stomach, then rolled her neck as she clasped at the left side. It was so sharp, she had to close her eyes tight to weather it.

    ¡°Hey.¡±

    The sound caused not only her eyes to shoot open, but ease the pain immediately.

    Her dear friend was wearing her puffy jacket for the winter months. Torn jeans, one of her tight shirts that hugged her body and bared her midriff. Alice was trying desperately to pose under the streetlight, leaning against it like a 50¡¯s greaser with lowered eyes and hands in her jacket¡¯s pockets.

    Trying so hard to be cool.

    Calypso huffed in amusement. But lowered her eyes with a grateful smile, returning the sense of comfort.

    ¡°Hey.¡±

    As Calypso walked toward her friend, she was puzzled at how far she walked¡­ She was practically at Alice¡¯s neck of the woods, which is 30 or so minutes away crossing a bridge¡­ But the poor girl didn¡¯t mind or care.

    ¡°So, Mama Penny fucked up again~?¡± Alice tried to snark, but her voice was nearly shot. If the sudden coughing fit didn¡¯t somehow clue Calypso in further. That only meant one thing.

    ¡°More or less,¡± Calypso leaned closer to her friend. ¡°Screaming match with the new boyfriend¡­?¡±

    ¡°Not mine, at least,¡± Alice said grimly. ¡°It¡¯s fucking stupid. I guess, with you pointing that out, there¡¯s no doubt me and her are mother and daughter, huh¡­?¡±

    Calypso put her hand on Alice¡¯s shoulder without a second thought. Rubbing it softly, as Alice¡¯s own hand met it to grasp it, squeezing it gently.

    It was moments like these, that made them such great friends. Movies, TV, even literature¡­ Portrays it as endless conversation, constant social stimulation¡­ There were times when Calypso and Alice said nothing. For an hour at worst.

    But they needed that.

    ¡°Thanks for making me not give up entirely on humanity, Cally¡­¡± Alice smirked, she couldn¡¯t exactly take what she said seriously, before that smile wavered a tad. A grain of truth in the joke.

    ¡°Likewise,¡± Calypso moved her hand gently, to put it in her own pockets. ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s cold out here¡­¡±

    ¡°Duh, ¡®cuz the world¡¯s cooooooold~!¡±

    Calypso giggled at that. So she was completely off guard when Alice leaned her head against her dear friend¡¯s shoulder, causing Calypso to stiffen.

    ¡°They don¡¯t know how to handle us, Cally¡­ It¡¯s only gonna get worse on from here, y¡¯know?¡±

    The poor, silly girl untensed. Letting Alice snuggle in closer as Calypso closed her tired eyes.

    ¡°Disappointed, but not surprised.¡±

    She had to accept that, too. But she would be lying to herself, more than usual, if that truth was extremely taxing to force down into her chest.

    But with Alice¡¯s warmth, Calypso couldn¡¯t help to fall into that pleasant lull. One of the few reminders that she could feel on some level, and it isn¡¯t all terrible or meaningless.

    Such a sweet lull, Calypso could feel the gravity of her head nod forward¡ªimmediately causing her to awake from the sudden rush.

    It wasn¡¯t the only sensory overload she was experiencing at that moment.

    ¡°Jesus fucking Christ on a bike, Cally! I get that you¡¯re Einstein 2.0, but to sleep through the entire class?!¡±

    Calypso wanted to ask what her friend was remotely talking about¡­ But she looked around. She saw many of her classmates packing up, crumpled papers shoving against fabric¡ªzippers¡ªidiotic teenage chatter¡­ All of it surrounded her.

    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

    This was Mrs. Thompson¡¯s class.

    Alice leaned forward, her hands slammed against Calypso¡¯s desk. There was never a sense of personal space in regards to her, as she smiled cheekily, looking her friend up and again. The freckles on her cheeks somehow highlighted her mischievous body language.

    ¡°Maaaan, you are out of it. Having trouble sleeping still or¡­?¡±

    Calypso¡¯s face was notoriously stoney. So neutral that others took multiple versions of what they thought she was feeling from one moment. So for her burrow to be tightly furrowed, her eyes squinted as she looked around¡­ Utterly dumbfounded. It pained just how confused she was at this moment.

    ¡°¡­So it would seem?¡± Calypso loosened her face and proceeded to rub at her left eye with a balled fist.

    ¡°Poor baby,¡± Alice cooed in her special way. Her voice softened, yet playfully lilting, as if she physically took Calypso¡¯s chin and raised it. Had it been anyone else, it would be demeaning. ¡°Guess I won¡¯t totally talk your ear off, since you need to crash or something. Winton Bridge or Mickey D¡¯s~?

    It proved to be very unsatisfying, rubbing her eye¡­ No crust being cleared from the eye, and no need to wipe said eye due to the access tears¡­ And as Calypso¡¯s mind lingered on this detail, not much feeling from the action entirely.

    Alice took that hand, gently taking it into hers. ¡°Cally. You look seriously out of it. I¡¯m getting worried¡­¡±

    If being startled wasn¡¯t enough, the rumbling of speeding cars that resonated down the concrete pillar Calypso sat under definitely caused her to lock up. Her head darted in all directions, taking in the fact that she was under the Winton Bridge now.

    Calypso¡¯s dour, droopy eyes were wide with uncertainty. Staring at her trembling hands, before quickly grabbing onto Alice¡¯s outreached one again.

    ¡°¡­D-dissociation getting worse, I guess?¡± Calypso¡¯s voice broke multiple times, due to shaking. ¡°My brain¡¯s getting sicker and sicker¡­¡±

    ¡°At least you have a word for yours, man¡­¡± Alice took the brown bag-covered beverage she¡¯d been liking more lately. Sighing after she¡¯s done with her swig. ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re so fucking smart, man. You¡¯re totally gonna beat whatever it is.¡±

    Calypso immediately suppressed a huff of trite. As her aching mind quietly shot the various images, capturing the long hours at the library ¡°researching¡± something to explain what mental disorder she likely had¡ªall bad¡­ She wondered what was so smart about failing, having even less of an idea before you came out with something?

    ¡°You¡¯re crystal that you¡¯re okay¡­?¡±

    Calypso nodded, looking down. Trying to not give any signs of her self-doubt. ¡°Rant away. I have a feeling it¡¯s going to be a big one¡­¡±

    Alice abruptly took a large swig of her drink, creating a very pregnant pause.

    ¡°So, Corey¡¯s dumped me because he hated how I played his Bagpipes,¡± Alice lowered her head, huffing her barely contained hurt through her flared nostrils. ¡°Cue another round of ¡®Graves-Digger¡¯.¡±

    A sympathetic sigh whistled through Calypso¡¯s pout. ¡°Of course. Perverted ingrates... Between this and your bad luck in general, the world¡¯s telling you to become a serial killer--¡±

    ¡°I JUST DON¡¯T GET IT!¡± Alice suddenly roared, swinging her arms wildly in an arc. Even knowing her for so long, it always caused Calypso to tense.

    ¡°I know,¡± Calypso knew that her reaffirmation would be drowned out, especially in moments like these.

    ¡°They tell us to act all normal¡ª¡®go find a club, make friends, get with a nice boy: things¡¯ll be hard, but it¡¯ll work out! I¡¯ve¡ªLITERALLY¡ªDONE FUCKING EVERYTHING! It¡¯s stupid! It¡¯s all fucking¡ª¡±

    Alice jumped from her cross-legged stance to her feet, chucking her vice into the concrete river to be swept away. She belted out a primal shout, clutching her fists, punching her calves until she simply got tired to keep going. Ending up just standing there, her face away from Calypso as she used her entire body to pant.

    The poor, silly girl¡¯s jaw clinched the entire time. Trying to find the right words to say.

    ¡°Well, for one, Corey clearly doesn¡¯t know what he¡¯s talking about,¡± Calypso knew she had to be both bold and banal at this moment.

    And considering Alice immediately giggled, it worked. ¡°Cally¡ª"

    ¡°Plus,¡± Calypso hid her smirk, before settling back. ¡°As I keep telling you¡­ All of these norms only worked one time, for the one person, and just wants to spread misery knowing people can¡¯t live like they have. It¡¯s collective bargaining at this point.¡±

    And with that, Alice erupted in mirthful laughter. Hugging herself to keep from falling.

    ¡°W-what did you say to Mr. Erikson about that fucking book we had to read¡ªw-with the American dream and how it¡¯s a rotting corpse we all eat or something--?¡±

    Calypso let her eyes move about, to signal she was searching for a memory. ¡°I cannot tell you. I¡¯ve made the statement, and other fucked up remarks, a lot during my career as a party pooper¡ª"

    ¡°Aaaaah, Cally¡­ I¡¯m gonna marry you someday. And we¡¯re having four kids.¡±

    ¡°Odd how the number keeps going up¡­¡±

    ¡°Hey, if we have four kids, we can ride a rollercoaster as an entire family!¡±

    Calypso wanted to laugh. She wanted to stew in this lovely moment of kindred between her friend¡­

    But something was clearly wrong. Utterly wrong.

    She only just noticed how she was covered in Alice¡¯s stolen drink¡­ And she doesn¡¯t feel a thing.

    She never felt the wind that usually gusts, hitting her. Not even her clothes that should brush and hug the skin¡­ In fact, her entire view¡ªthe world around her¡­ It was there, but it had no detail.

    She couldn¡¯t focus on it.

    ¡°Caaaaaaaally¡­¡±

    Calypso turned, only to see a corpse being flung directly into her face. Alice¡¯s decayed, rotting skull continued to speak.

    ¡°Just fucking die already, you freak.¡±

    Calypso screamed as she rose from her hospital bed. Kicking the covers off of herself because she finally found the courage to run.

    ¡°A---FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!¡±

    She started to calm, looking around in her blue, overly lit room. Tiled flooring that reflected the strobe lights on the ceiling. She was the only one in the room, framed in the metal bars of the bed.

    Her hands quickly rose to her face, smacking them against it. Stewing in her shame and sweat, she parted her fingers to look down at her gown.

    ¡°Well,¡± Calypso muffled against her palms. ¡°Trip failed.¡±

    She banged her head against the pillow, draping her arm against her eyes. ¡°Whole purpose of the trip was to never come back. And I¡¯m back. And Alice is probably in the other room getting questioned. And Mother should be barging in concerned and screaming any second now. What a failure.¡±

    By moving her arm from her eyes, she wiped the sheen off her brow in tandem.

    ¡°I guess that¡¯s what happens¡­ Your brain trying to make sense of things at the last moment. Otherwise, yeah, what the fuck was that¡ª?¡±

    ¡°The creatures of the damned¡ª¡±

    Calypso jumped, and shot her head to the left.

    Where a mauled Alice stood before her. Calypso couldn¡¯t even take the sight in, as the apparition was fading and barely there.

    ¡°And one¡¯s eating you from the inside out right now, Cal. I want you to keep looking at me, Cal. Please. Just keep looking at me.¡±

    But the poor girl heard the heavy breathing behind her.

    She couldn¡¯t help it.

    Looking back, she saw the massive, hunched, decaying skeleton monster peering into her. Not getting a good look at it, as Calypso instantly ran from it.

    She tried to scramble away, but the thing grabbed her by the ankle, using its claws to not only grip but dig into her now bleeding skin.

 Entry 0.1 (1/2) - Who Is: Calypso Grimes?

    Calypso yelped pathetically, her arms flailing on the floor before getting yanked like a tweezer plucking a stray hair.

    But in a flash of dumb luck, her hands banged against the metal frame that was under the bed, hands fumbling within seconds as they gripped for dear life. So harshly, her left ring finger was pressed against the bar and palm.

    It didn¡¯t matter. She didn¡¯t care, despite hearing the slight crackle of bone¡ªeither by her tightening grip or the creature pulling her leg nearly out of the socket.

    ¡°I CAN¡¯T DO ANYTHING HERE, CAL!¡± her dead friend strained her voice. ¡°YOU JUST GOTTA LISTEN, PLEASE, THINK OF A PLACE¡ªANYWHERE! THINK OF IT AND RUN!¡±

    ¡°I CAN¡¯T--!¡± Calypso cut herself off with a wail as the monster just continues to tug. ¡°IT HAS MY FOOT, IT¡¯S GONNA KILL ME, PLEASE, DO SOMETHING, PLEASE--!¡±

    ¡°IT¡¯S STUPID!¡± Alice shouted, cutting her friend off. ¡°IT¡¯S NOT HUMAN, IT¡¯S AN ANIMAL, JUST USE YOUR HEAD! YOU¡¯RE SMART, CALLY!¡±

    The poor, silly girl felt her wrists start to pop, causing her to sweat in agony more, so overwhelmed by this astonishing, casual strength.

    But that conversion, ultimately a couple of mere seconds amidst being completely subsumed by fear, was what Calypso needed.

    She let go, causing her to swing away screaming, turning into a blur as the force that snapped her backward was enough. The suddenness was too much for the monster to adjust for.

    The monster¡¯s casual grip, despite it damaging her ankle, was broken instantly as Calypso slammed into the wall behind them, then slamming directly onto the floor. Each impact resounding in a sickeningly crack.

    It was strange, Calypso gathering her thoughts during these moments of near-death, or whatever this was. But she got it and got it quick¡ªthis thing is stronger, has the advantage. So, it¡¯s lax, and she¡¯s fighting for her life. There is a chance. No matter how small it is.

    As she got up, Calypso realized, thankfully, the cracking sounds wasn¡¯t the result of her own bones.

    But the relief instantly faded, when she realized what did, as Calypso looked behind herself.

    The wall began to faulter, as it crumbled, as if the structural integrity became ancient within seconds.

    But it was too late, she felt the stomping. Even without the vibrations, the presence was just as piercing as it¡¯s claws.

    As it broke down, there was no debris left behind. And it wasn¡¯t so much crumbling, but fading away, bit by bit.

    Only leaving this pitch-black void to spill into this fake room. The wispy, black nothingness arching outwards like smoke, draining even the colors of the room.

    And the more Calypso stared at it, the more her primal fear of the dark kicked in.

    Slapping her palms onto the titled floors as they began to crack as well, Calypso thrusted herself across the floor, her gown¡¯s friction aiding the precious little it did.

    She moved out of the way, just in time, as the monster slashed at the floor, directly at the place where she once laid. Her hammering heart clouded out what she could only gleam as Alice shouting more things. Telling her to run? Hide? It didn¡¯t matter right now.

    The girl ran for the door, rushing, her limbs clambering against each other at points that caused her to jerk forward and hunch in response. Her heaving breathes were nothing but mutterings, pleas to give her something, anything to go and grab, go and grab, just please go and grab.

    But she made it, Calypso grabbed onto the handle tight, and jerked the door open in desperation and bliss. Relief.

    Only to be met with nothingness once she tried to bolt forward.

    Calypso screamed, reeling back, her arms flailing in panic as she looked down. For nothing was below, or above.

    It was infinite darkness that surrounded the room. The room floating within it.

    Before she could even right herself, the monster grabbed her around the midriff, and flung right back into the room.

    Skipping as if she was a stone, but Calypso¡¯s body rocked with each bounce¡ªvision wavering into a blur, getting crooked and contorting as she hit until she skid onto her belly.

    Until she rested at the growing, gapping maw that was once a hole in the wall, now taken hold of a quarter of the room.

    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Calypso laid there, battered. Bruised. Beaten.

    Face down, panting, not only sweating naturally but due to her breath travelling back up from the floor onto her face. It was over for her. She had nothing else left.

    ¡°You have to go back there, Cally!¡± Alice¡¯s voice, it took a moment for Calypso to realize it was her. ¡°Please, I know it hurts, but think of a place! Something that¡ªthat just comes to mind! Anything, anywhere!¡±

    ¡°dead,¡± Calypso simply eked out. ¡°dead.¡±

    She felt her legs beginning to hang from the hole, actively swallowing her up as she laid limp.

    ¡°PLEASE! DON¡¯T DO THIS TO ME! DO IT FOR ME, CALYPSO! FOR ME!¡±

    In that nebulous flow of her broken head, Calypso realized that the weirdest things trigger the mind. Hearing Alice, her best friend and only friend, simply saying her name gave her yet another precious moment. Allowing the rest of her words sink in.

    Gripping the cracks within the ground, Calypso used the last of her strength to get up again, hoisting herself as she struggled to.

    Now face to face with the monster.

    It was decay in every sense of the word. Black mold and rot spread across the hulking, hunched skeletal frame. Not acting as flesh, but simply what was left, caked in remnants and simply had made do. One shoulder jutted downward, making the claw outstretched. The ribcage was actively fluttered as it haggard out breath, the skull and neck tilted towards the opposite side as the moss gathered like inflated cancerous tumors. The brow forever stuck in a scowl, and the eye sockets not only empty, but featured the same pitch darkness as their surroundings.

    And Calypso was just a girl in a hospital gown, with battered arms with bruises beginning to spread, scrapped up legs that were trembling. With a mind that was barely there, racing to find what to do, under the crushing weight of this horrible reality.

    She stumbled forward, her arms hanging limp as the monster readily raised its.

    But she only stumbled a few steps, before flaccidly flopping back onto her belly.

    As she glanced upwards, her gambit worked somehow.

    The monster peered down, and if it were capable of expression, it would be confused. Dumbfounded. For a moment, the readied claw was still hovering over her, unmoving.

    It was all she needed right now.

    Calypso closed her eyes. Took a deep breath. And focused. And focused. And focused.

    There was nothing to it, Calypso slid on her belly, crawling on the floor, clawing her way towards the door in a dash when moments ago.

    Only to reach for that door, arm outstretched, and fell back into the ground again. Losing her newfound energies, she was all but a corpse in waiting.

    Until a natural breeze hit her fevering skin, causing her head to snap upwards, where the natural light hit her face.

    The monster stupidly turned, raking its claw in the air in an attempt to decapitate her, trying to anticipate Calypso reaching for the door. Only to literally rip it off the hedges.

    Grabbing onto the metal threshold built into the frame of the door, a final heave gave Calypso the motion to across the opened door, into the light and breeze that she was oh so familiar with, and never thought she¡¯d took for granted for all this time until now.

    She was grateful for falling on pure asphalt. She was grateful for the sounds and smells of engines. She was grateful to see the smog covering and choking the white, cloudy skies.

    The monster caught up, hopped through the doorway, landing with a thud. Looking over her shoulder, as she trembled in the sight of it, still can¡¯t clearly make out the visage despite being in broad daylight.

    It was much harder to move. She was scrapping skin against the harsh ground, but she had to do something. All of the previous breakthroughs have culminated into the current breaking down, as Calypso was dry heaving for air as she cried out in the seconds, she only had precious little of. All of the consequences piling on at the worst time.

    Despite her eyes swimming with tears, they clearly saw the monster prowling slowly towards her. Effortlessly, but determined now, reaching out as if this was already done.

    Too bad that it paid no mind, or cared very little, to modern society¡ªas a massive truck rammed into it from the side.

    Panting, closing her eyes as tears rolled down, Calypso had to cry. She had to fucking cry then, in pure and utter relief. It worked. It actually fucking worked.

    The sounds of beeping horns validated her plan. She wanted to go home, but knew she¡¯d be trapped. She wanted to trap it into the school, but everything would¡¯ve been empty, easy to chase and swipe away at.

    As she opened her eyes, Calypso witnessed the strangest thing. The monster wasn¡¯t harmed by the semi that smashed into it, unsurprisingly, but it had erratic movement. The traffic that suddenly surrounded it, it was like if the creature reacted as if it never seen vehicles before, yet carried a very knowing hatred for them.

    It didn¡¯t care. It started to smash and tear into the various cars around itself, and the constructed cars proceeded to run it over despite that not amounting to much. But it was what Calypso needed right now.

    Calypso struggled to move to the white, small railing of the city¡¯s bridge. Still out of breath, hoisting herself up as she leaned on it. Looking at the congestion of cars that would be keeping the monster busy. Coughing, leaning onto her side so she can flip over the rails, falling into the civilian pathway. On her hands and knees, it was her aching muscle memory that served her, stopping in place to force herself to stay up before embarking again.

    Feeling that she¡¯s at the place, she forced herself onto her stumbling feet. Knees buckling, she pressed herself against the railing, letting her head hang but with a purpose. Her eyes looked for the ladder down to the concrete river, under the bridge.

    She always felt uneasy, doing this, even when she was healthy. But Alice likened it as being on the edge, feeling the weight of the life you¡¯ve held as you make your way down.

    Closing her eyes, she climbed onto the railing, over it, hanging off as she slowly made her way to the ladder. Rusted, supposed to be tucked away and hidden unless the person is a maintenance crew. Gripping it, despite the rust poking her skin and one of her fingers swelling, she quickly scaled down, feeling the little life she had left as the meters decreased.

    Her feet planted themselves onto the concrete, as she scrambled towards the first massive pillar she saw, tucking away under the bridge. She fell onto her left side, shouting out in pain. But she was safe. She was safe for now.

    ¡°Of course you picked this place¡­ Of all the freakin¡¯ places, my Silly Willy Cally¡­¡±

    Calypso glassy eyes looked up, and she wished she hadn¡¯t.

 Entry 0.1 (2/2) - Who Is: Calypso Grimes?

    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Calypso had to fight against her shaking vocal tone, against her body trembling and stuck within inaction. ¡°Oh Alice, nooo¡­¡±

    She used to have smooth black raven hair, that crested down to her neck with a strain that curled down, crested against her forehead. Faint freckles on the cheeks that complimented her ivory skin. Always wearing tees that had no sleeves, showed her midriff, tied together with various black or camo cargo pants and those thick military boots crusted with dry dirt.

    The girl was destroyed. All of that, destroyed.

    Her side was mauled, her arm just gone, her side taken a massive chunk, and the side of her face folded into itself, with her hair hanging and only shielding the mess that was her gored eye. Her clothes in tatters, her neck having lesions, and the side of her mouth cut to make a makeshift smile.

    ¡°Hey, hey¡­¡± Alice turned to smile, naturally. ¡°I looked like this on the inside anyways, Cally¡ªI mean hey--in fact I look waaaaay better here versus outside-outside¡­ But hey. There¡¯s no need to do all of that, trust me¡­¡±

    Calypso collapsed into a fit of tears, onto her knees. Her eyes flooded but she could not look away, no matter how much she wanted to.

    Alice desperately wanted to reach out, to coo her best friend¡­ But once she saw her only arm in her crippled field of view, she retracted, grimacing sadly.

    ¡°As much as I want to keep you from freaking out, there¡¯s really no time,¡± Alice reported, desponded. ¡°So, look, you have to listen, you have to trust me¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve killed you¡­¡± the silly, stupid girl sobbed out pathetically. ¡°I¡¯ve left you to die and I¡¯ve killed you¡ª¡±

    ¡°Look, and if you keep crying like you did back there¡ªthen you¡¯ve learned nothing!¡±

    Calypso froze, trembling. Alice, wincing despite her face being damaged and limited in expression.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, even dead, I still flip my lid¡­¡± Alice waved her arm, flapped down in defeat. ¡°Unlocked the secrets of the universe and shit, and yet I¡¯m still fucking angry for no fucking reason¡­ But Cally. If you truly want to make this up to me, then you fight. Here and now. But you have to listen to me.¡±

    The girl was still tearing up, sniffling, wallowing in her physical misery. It wasn¡¯t until she covered her sniveling mouth, was when she nodded in understanding.

    Alice gripped the normal part of her head. ¡°Okay¡­ Right. Like, centuries of knowledge I gleamed in vague amount of time and condensing that in layman¡¯s terms¡­ So uh.¡±

    She motioned her finger towards Calypso, ¡°We¡¯re in the screaming death throughs of your soul¡­ Okay no, that¡¯s totally gonna make things more confusing¡ª¡±

    ¡°Wha--?¡±

    ¡°Christmas Carol!¡± Alice squeezed her eye shut. ¡°That kinda shit, what they meant about your life flashing before your eyes¡­ The soul, your soul, it¡¯s everything from memories to dreams. Where we are now, it¡¯s the greatest hits. This isn¡¯t the afterlife, this is inside of you.¡±

    ¡°Even if I can buy¡ªwell, wrap my head around the fact that souls exists¡­ Why are you here?¡±

    A warm, tender smile spread across Alice¡¯s lips.

    ¡°I¡¯m here because¡­ Despite everything, you grabbed a piece of me and held me close, Cally.¡±

    ¡°W¡­what¡­?¡± Calypso looked at, studying her friend, as much as it hurt to look.

    ¡°I got killed and my soul shattered¡­ You held on to one of the shards that scattered out,¡± as Alice explained it, her tone got softer by the word. And even her maimed smile, it perfectly conveyed wistfulness. ¡°That would¡¯ve been it for me, no chance, game over. So yeah, once again¡­ You saved my ass again, girl¡­¡±

    It calmed Calypso, both that sight and the very idea. It was her time to smile, genuinely, as she felt her face somehow run more hot.

    But Alice¡¯s expression turned dark. ¡°¡­ Which is why it¡¯s too late for me, those bastards more or less killed me twice in an instant. Physically and spiritually...¡±

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    The maimed girl bit whatever was left of her lip, before continuing.

    ¡°But what you¡¯re going through, it¡¯s so much worse¡­¡±

    Pointing up, hearing the roars and screeches of tires, Alice continued. ¡°That thing up there¡­ It¡¯s inside of you now. Creeped inside of your soul and eating you from the inside out. The reason why your soul¡¯s screaming out because it¡¯s on the verge of bursting. And once it¡­ Once it¡­¡±

    The maimed girl hesitated, what¡¯s left of her face trembling until it tightened, as she forced herself to bite her lip before screaming out.

    ¡°It¡¯s gonna wear you like some fucked up suit! Once it finishes eating your soul, it¡¯s gonna take all of this! Your memories, your personality, your lame word jokes¡­your stupid ¡®I¡¯m so smart¡¯ smile¡­¡±

    The specter of a girl never looked in pain until those words left those lips. ¡°Everything. Just to use you like some cheap ski mask so that it can rob and eat more humans¡­¡±

    There was no clear, definable expression that was etched onto Calypso¡¯s face. Aspects of mock horror, tensity of fear, wide eyes of insanity, mouth agape with disbelief, brow furrowing with confusion. All blended together and traded spaces across her sweating, tired face. There was nothing to say, because there was nothing to understand in any of that statement Alice made.

    ¡°But there is a way, Cally¡­ I promise you, there¡¯s a way and as soon as we¡¯re done talking, we have to do it and fast. There¡¯s pieces of your soul that¡¯s already been broken off¡ªwhy these places are cracking away, since the bastard is set to burst, it flings off the debris as an effect. If we gather enough portions or even just a big piece of your soul? You¡¯ll be able to fight back. Drive the bastard away, kill him. You can walk away from this and live¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­T¡­That wasn¡¯t the plan, though¡­¡±

    Alice just looked at the girl, now looking down while her hands were firmly planted onto the concrete ground as her shoulders acted out her sniveling.

    ¡°We came here because¡­ You were sick of it and I¡­ I wasn¡¯t strong enough to handle things anymore¡­ Why do you think I¡¯m going to do any of this? Why can¡¯t I give up¡­? And be with you and just let this be¡­¡±

    Calypso looked up at the specter of her friend, talking to her as if she were an agent of a higher power, so she could answer what was gnawing at her as long as she could remember.

    ¡°Why did I survive¡­? Why am I still here, when I wasn¡¯t strong enough to begin with¡­?¡±

    The hand of Alice quickly cupped Calypso¡¯s cheek, causing the girl to still. There and then.

    ¡°Speaking from the other side of the fence¡­ I wish I could take it back. But I can¡¯t. You can.¡±

    Calypso wavered in her words, and couldn¡¯t maintain her stare without mewling softly into whimpers. The fact that her only meaningful connection to the world has been forever severed. All of that sinking in.

    ¡°Cally¡­¡± Alice smiled, halfheartedly. ¡°The fact you¡¯re here now¡ªthe fact we¡¯re doing this, is because you¡¯re strong enough for this¡­ This doesn¡¯t just happen to everyone. People don¡¯t even know what happened to them before they¡¯re gone to these fucked up things. Like it or not, there¡¯s a part of you that¡¯s holding out. It¡¯s your job to figure out why, because you¡¯re living through this.¡±

    The maimed girl couldn¡¯t help but stroke her thumb against Calypso¡¯s wet, flushed cheek. And Calypso couldn¡¯t help but to take comfort in that, leaning into her dear friend¡¯s hand as she closed her eyes.

    The sounds of crushing cars were getting heavier, noticeable, causing the pair to look up shakingly, darting away from each other.

    ¡°awhfuckright--We have to find that piece, Cally¡ª¡± Alice looked at her friend. ¡°It¡¯s like a scavenger hunt¡ªone that you planned like six months ago and you¡¯re trying to remember what the spots were¡ªthink, what¡¯s the place you associate with the most right here, right now?¡±

    ¡°Uh¡ªI¡ªUm,¡± Calypso panickily spat out, before ruffling her own brown locks. ¡°Are there any more details¡ªany things I need to know before we do this--?¡±

    ¡°CALLY!¡± Alice waved her arm comical. ¡°I KNOW YOU¡¯RE ANAL ABOUT STUFF BUT LITERAL LIFE OR DEATH ON THE LINE--!¡±

    ¡°Alice,¡± Calypso bluntly began. ¡°You¡¯re here, as a specter, telling me that not only has a monster killed me, but has jumped inside of me to finish the job by eating my soul. I feel like I¡¯m allowed.¡±

    The maim girl stood¡ªor rather floated there, twisting the little of her lips in a bout of being stumped.

    ¡°Y¡¯know Cally, you always have a way of making me feel dumber than I thought I was¡ª"

    Calypso eyed the horizon, thinking, before seeing the place she figured this piece would rest.

    The poor girl crawled on the concrete, towards the first massive pillar that held up the bridge, and was the sight of so many rants, conversations¡­

    ¡°But seriously, of course you¡¯d chose here of all places,¡± Alice snarked behind her, Calypso briefly pondered how she could walk now, or rather float.

    Instead, her mind was focused on what was before her. It was odd, Calypso simply saw the pillar¡ªit¡¯s thick concrete base, the white double cylinders that had their own series of ¡°mini-bridges¡±. But the structure itself began to shift, glow, and become a mirage of sorts, the girl absentmindedly reached out towards this visage.

    Ethereal echoes of those past conversations manifested, those moments of her and Alice finally having sanctuary to themselves. Gestures of excitement, mirth, mostly anger or depression.

    Winton Bridge was between their neighborhoods. Calypso happily crossed it to visit, and Alice did the same. Of course this turned into their meeting place. Their home away from home.

    It was at the point that these images overlapped, becoming this brilliant light.

    ¡°Good!¡± Alice cheered on. ¡°Just like that, Cally! ...Whatever you just did, keep doing that--!¡±

    Calypso shook her head, glancing about to see what her friend was talking about.

    Only to feel something in her dainty hand, racing her eyes downward towards her open palm.

    A small shard of a crystal, pale pink with milky white wave detail. Those waves to slowly move, animating within the structure.

    And before she could comment on how beautiful it was, the monster finally got through boring down the bridge. The last thing Calypso could hear barring the crumbling of rock, was her named screamed out.

 Entry 0.2 - Who Is: Calypso Grimes?

    Calypso had lived a cushy life. She had a cushy life and was adverse towards anything that could possibly hurt her. It¡¯s the reason why the girl broke as badly as she did when she was alive.

    So, as she jerked awake, it took a while for Calypso to realize that she had blacked out. And blacked out while being carried by the river, at that.

    Calypso had to stop her series of splashes, as it obscured her sight. She needed to see how this fresh hell somehow got worse.

    As she was sailing away, Calypso got a better view of the now destroyed bridge. The monster chasing her left what was once traffic into a junkyard. Cars, motorcycles, even trucks were shredded into bits that created scrap piles. These piles surrounded the now gapping gash it created in the bridge, as it tunneled downward from where it exactly stood the whole time.

    To top it all off, the black cracks started to spread across the skies, beyond the bridge. Almost like a pulsating, deep wound¡ªthe black void was growing downwards. Almost following Calypso¡¯s location.

    All of that was once metal, brick, concrete. Now it wants to do something special and horrible to solely Calypso. She knew that, for this beast, it was a display of power. A warmup. Now, it can finally have fun.

    And as soon as she made that realization, Calypso was helpless as the Monster emerged from the river, leaping from the waves as it arched towards her.

    There was no plan. No ideas or sudden ability to act that was locked away within Calypso this whole time. The girl simply cried out, screamed, waved her arms feebly because that was all she could do. It was all that she simply was, defined by these last moments.

    Until there was this growing, iridescent flash. And it didn¡¯t just emit from Calypso¡¯s raised hand, that was thrusted forward which again¡ªwas based purely on panic. The air around her, the skies, the water, the scenery behind them¡ªthe light gathered within these spaces and converged towards her hand¡ªengulfing the monster as it shrieked in unholy rage, being flung back so hard that Calypso was sprayed in the face by the water droplets that hung on its body.

    Panting so hard, it felt like she was forcing out the air she needed at that moment, Calypso glanced at her hand, seeing the shard of her soul, still pressed into her palm.

    Her body immediately tensed in pain, floating on her back once more as the light faded. Everything about this battle for her very soul was taking its toll. She was so tired, that she just elected to barely float within the current. She was on the verge of tears as this kept escalating, but was simply too tired to do so anymore. Every inch of her being felt like dull knives firmly digging into her, just simply too tired. Resigned to her pending fate.

    Until she felt a new type of pain¡­ One that feels rather recent and that wasn¡¯t a cut, or a bruise, or simple exhaustion.

    It was at her side, as she felt it with her dainty hand under the water¡­ It was a slap mark.

    Alice.

    Calypso realized and looked back at the now far away bridge. In the ruin and chaos, her dear friend not in sight.

    The girl clutched at her side, where once again her friend saved her. Once again, waxed on about how her life is somehow more worth it than hers. And for what? A girl that¡¯s oh so smart and yet does nothing meaningful with it due to no imagination? That could use her so-called talent to do anything she wanted, when she never had a tangible or good desire in her pathetic time on Earth?

    Everyone so quick, to give her reasons to keep stay¡ªwhen that wasn¡¯t what haunted her during those terrible moments she was left to her devices, left alone. When she was forced to look inward, open up this oh so pretty tin box of a girl, the contents inside scarce, stale and ultimately lacking. Could anyone not listen close, only gawk at how well made this tin box was, when all she--it did, was rattle?

    All this quest had done was made this frail and lifeless girl confront the nature of her existence, and how it was barely held together.

    ¡°B¡­ But¡­¡± Calypso struggled to talk to herself, something that came so naturally she can barely do now. ¡°Me being¡­ Used for murder¡­ Would hurt them more¡­¡±

    It was yet another flimsy excuse, but at the very least two things were true about it. Other people¡¯s lives were at stake¡ªin addition to the image of her legacy.

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    And if this was just a test of survival, to show whatever this supernatural system how she lived¡­ Calypso, above everything else she was capable of, was brilliant of keeping excuses alive better than herself.

    Closing her eyes, Calypso forced herself into thought. Probing her memories, trying to concentrate on what could be next.

    Only to feel the flow of the river stop clean, causing the girl to fumble in what clearly was a change of the water. Chemical smell, the volume of it a lot of feet deeper than before, and her splashing echoing against walls.

    Riverside High¡¯s pool hall.

    Calypso struggled to swim, then climb out of her former high school¡¯s pool. Coughing up the mix of river and pool water in her lungs, as she flopped on the checkered floors.

    Only to hear the now-nettled screams of the monster bursting from the pool¡¯s surface, Calypso jerked awake from the daze to roll out of the way and thrust her palm forward once more.

    She then felt a massive gash slice at her side. An eruption of blood quickly following after, as the light blinded them both.

    This was yet another different level of pain, a way different breed. Calypso couldn¡¯t scream out in reaction, she could only let whatever the impact was carry her across the pool hall, as she slammed into the nook that was the entry point.

    Falling onto the ground, right on her ass, once she was finally allowed to move¡ªimmediately clutched at her damaged side. Wide-eyed, face stretched into terror as she tried to make sense of what the hell just happened.

    Lifting up her hand, to see it coated with black ooze.

    Peering her eyes down in a hurry, Calypso saw that her wound wasn¡¯t ordinary. It was more of a tear versus a clean slice of flesh. Torn to the point of being repeatedly serrated into chunks, a wound so deep yet Calypso couldn¡¯t feel any¡­ Piercing or puncture. Almost as if, whatever was cut¡ªany organs or tissue, it was shredded into liquification.

    If that didn¡¯t do it, a quick series of flashes within her mind caused Calypso to deem this a terrible revelation. An out of body experience, she saw glimpses of herself being brought into the ER, covering in multiple gashes that oozed this black liquid. Are those wounds catching up to her¡­?

    As she pathetically held the goop that was once her innards, Calypso looked towards the monster, praying that it wasn¡¯t going to follow up on this attack.

    But. It was clearly dazed, still dazed, due to her soul¡¯s radiance that was slowly fading.

    Was it a stray swipe? A last dig at her before it was stunned? Calypso reasoned that it could be either, it was still¡­ Wrong. Felt wrong on the limited information she had.

    Until she noticed the pool¡¯s edge, where they both emerged from.

    Claw marks that were deeply embedded, to the point where a chunk was ripped off alongside the craving, already sunk at the bottom of the pool.

    As the black crackles began spreading forth and outward, covering the surface of the water itself within these crazy moments. Much faster than before, somehow possible.

    It clicked for her, glancing back and forth from the cracks and her wound. Calypso fashioned the logic, as she recalled what Alice said. Destruction of her soul, yet another unfair advantage the monster had, able to attack her AND her surroundings. Getting much worse as the quest continues.

    As the monster shook its head, growling audibly into tangible hatred. What it thought was a simple takeover, proving to be a massive annoyance.

    She didn¡¯t understand how she did it, but Calypso scrambled onto her wet feet, forcing her back into the door, and slipped into a run onto the halls. She had to get there, despite how painful it¡¯s going to be.

    But her feet couldn¡¯t find stability, grip, as she waved her arms and jerked about, cursing herself. Craning her head back in fear, the monster was already gaining, it was seconds away from just snatching her.

    Thankfully, her racing mind gave her the quick solution to her problem. Using it.

    Calypso quickly adjusted into a surfing pose, leaning towards her left as she lets the momentum carry her across the hall, her slippery soles allowing her to dart towards the stairs within precious moments.

    Before running forward, she fell onto the first step, hands and knees due to the surge of discomfort from her ruined side. There was nothing for it, Calypso grasped at it¡ªusing that pain to jolt herself strength, as she struggled onto her feet and dashed up.

    From the sounds behind her, the monster did not like any of what happened at all. But she couldn¡¯t focus on that, as she coasted on the damage boost as she climbed what used to wind her when she was normal and alive. It was a surreal experience in general, but it was that aspect of it that negged at her as she crossed one floor, then the next.

    Giving out completely on the third. When she had two more left, and there was no more energy in her to even cross a step.

    Practically throwing herself onto her back, Calypso then raised her arm up again, ready to counter the oncoming scream of the damned.

    And nothing happened.

    ¡°no no no no,¡± Calypso looked at her palm¡¯s crystal, now seeing how little brilliance it had left. ¡°please no, we¡¯re almost there, no, not yet¡±

    But the sight that she took in, after hearing sudden silence, more or less solidified that she had little to no chances now.

    The monster stood there. Just quietly grimacing, as if it knows that doing so was much more scary than screaming or howling.

    And without warning or pause, raked the stairway¡¯s brick wall¡ªwith cracks spreading instantly from the impact zone.

    Calypso watched as her raised arm splattered out black ooze. An expression of confused, defeated sorrow as multiple gashes reopened and dotted down her forearm at an upward angle, the back of her hand spilt into sections, and how her pinky now hung at the end of what she could call a flap of flesh.

    She could only whimper. She could only gawk. And as the monster reared back both it¡¯s arms, Calypso could only wait for the inevitable.

    Be it insanity or just pure and utter spite, Calypso simply refused.

 Entry 0.3 - Who Is: Calypso Grimes?

    It was small, it was merely just a ray, but light shot out from her now-bloodied palm once more¡ªhitting the monster directly in the right eye socket, causing it out to bellow out in rage as it staggered back.

    Unclasping her unruined hand on her slashed side, Calypso hoisted herself slowly, back onto her shaking legs, and turned around as she forced herself, step after step.

    All of this reached a dangerous point. There was no more pain, nor exhaustion. Just a dull, scarily warm sensation that felt like needles prickling all along this poor and damaged girl¡¯s body. She could feel her internal tug-of-war in slipping in and out of consciousness, and now an entire limb was mangled.

    But the girl could not be more overjoyed.

    Now she can push herself until she breaks, and if she does break, it didn¡¯t matter other than not being able to move, versus being trapped in pain as she was multiple times already. It was the edge, distillment of how this is a game of life or death.

    And after all these years, after shrinking in the face of all the unwarranted proclamations that she was a genius when she was simply going through motions, Calypso never felt smarter than right now¡ªafter processing information in seconds and committing to plans the second after.

    But most importantly, Calypso took delight in making this idiotic animal look stupid. That it can¡¯t kill a what basically amounted to an injured little rabbit.

    Only for that terrible, but expected pang of guilt to follow, rightfully following every time she inflated her head too much. Just boasting to herself, how she¡¯s immune to pain now, when that familiar stabbing deep in her heart made the usual round. Even when actually using her so-called-smarts, Calypso fucks it up somehow.

    That pain turned itself into an intrusive flashback.

    She felt herself cook within the summer''s haze. It was so hot the day, that the heat caused her stinging right cheek reignite with pain.

    But it didn''t matter. Because she got the little bastard back, who did that too her.

    Her entire class back then, they all gathered at the jungle system. As Calypso was on the platform before the pole, smugly looking down at the ants.

    Gawking at that brat''s twisted arm, as he writhed in pain, crying out for anyone to help him. Peyton Rickman. Always boasted about "taking it", pain, is the reason why he constantly hit Calypso. He "needed" to teach her to stop being "so sad" by toughing her up. "Good guys" are strong, "bad ones" weak.

    So the girl made an offer he couldn''t refuse. She dared him to keep his arm outstretched on the platform, stomping on it until he said "uncle". Knowing back then he wouldn''t ever give up.

    Revenge and mockery, in one fell swoop. Calypso never felt smart then, as she looked on with a huge smile on her face.

    Until the exact moment her 3rd grade teacher rushed onto the scene, cradling Peyton as he screamed out. Her face, panicked and confused... But once they settled on Calypso. It was rage. Nor fear.

    Scorn. A scorn that not only burned into the girl, but still raged until this day.

    As the flashback ended, Calypso just held onto the crumbling rail. It was that day, that she learned a very important lesson--and it wasn''t in the classroom. She was a bad guy, not a good one. Never a good one.

    Just in time for the monster to once again spring forth, angrily.

    ¡°You¡­ Really are stupid¡­¡±

    Using everything, Calypso used the broken-down railing as a metal pole and swung right into the monster¡¯s literal skull, causing it to shriek and stumble backwards. The bar crumbled soon after in her hand, but she didn¡¯t care. Immediately, she kept moving forward, leaping toward the section that wasn''t destroyed it. Letting herself sway forward to use gravity to give her the momentum to keep working herself up, her blackened hand gripping the railing. Despite the railing itself began to break apart in her very hand, due to the cracks spreading so fast.

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    The monster roared out in increased volume. It was trapped, able to keep pace not to fall in, and yet couldn¡¯t regain the footing it once had. It was ample time for Calypso to create distance between her and it.

    Better yet, as the girl looked about, and despite the cracks coating the location all over¡ªthis was Calypso¡¯s floor.

    The memories flooded in the quite literal sense. Echoes of people she was supposed to call fellow classmates. This wasn¡¯t from scorn or malice¡ªAlice had that aspect covered. Just as these specters did, barely translucent yellow shadows that gathered, walked, and vanished¡ªto them, that¡¯s what Calypso was.

    Calypso scolded herself mentally, for plunging back into emotions she thought passed, complete with official graduation. But it didn¡¯t help that she lurked so slow, almost like a zombie, as she made it down the halls¡­ Once again, no different than what she was, a couple of months ago.

    She tried to keep focus¡­ But the echoes started to gather beyond her peripheral vision. Surrounding her on all sides, as she looked on questionably.

    Until the crowds pushed through her in the literal sense.

    These ghosts walking through her as if she¡¯s nothing, with enough nagging force that it caused Calypso to be tugged about, as she desperately tried to regain ground. Overwhelmed in an instant, she had to resort to looking towards the ceiling, just to keep to the path. Only to see stray cracks forming.

    Only for smaller gashes forming on her face.

    As much as she tried to move forward, as much as she knew that saving her soul was much more important¡­ It was something about the display, something about the echoes tossing her about, taking her energy that she knew for a fact was gone hours ago¡ªbut Calypso could feel heaviness take hold with now glacial steps.

    A corner. All she had to do was make this corner. Calypso told herself this, over and over, as they just keep slamming into her. It was a struggle to keep her own eye lids to stay open, at this point. Everything else in her mind faded away as the wariness practically pressed itself down her other thoughts. Perfect prey for the monster she¡¯d been fighting for now no reason. All of that bravado and effort, only meaningless because she ultimately is.

    ¡°¡ªFINALLY! A cheat code, but I¡¯ll take it¡ª!"

    Not only was Calypso startled by the sound of Alice¡¯s shouts, she was equally surprised at how she was pushed forward by her. And before she could even turn around and look at her, Calypso¡¯s wrist was gripped tight and yanked forward.

    Everything around her became a blur of varying yellows, whites, and greys to the point it hurt her eyes. Closing them, before gaining the strength to open them again.

    Maybe it was the angle. Perhaps her souls or memories or whatever altered this in her dying mind. But she took immense comfort in seeing Alice¡¯s back once more, as she led the way as Calypso followed. How it should be. How it should¡¯ve been.

    Alice tossed her forward as she crossed the corner, causing Calypso to snap out of it as she skidded on the floor. The silly, stupid girl couldn¡¯t help but to look back at her maimed friend, like the puppy she was.

    To see her flickering, barely maintaining a corporal form.

    ¡°KEEP GOING!¡± Alice gave a thumbs up, despite that action ¡°repeating¡± multiple times, over and over. ¡°YOU¡¯RE ALMOST THERE!¡±

    As if she had a choice. The monster soon sprung from the walls, destroying the hall that they were in.

    Calypso huffed, sounding dry. The girl used her only working hand to adjust herself forward, towards her second landmark.

    A black, metal bench that was fixed within the red brick walls. The sight that encapsulated her third year, where she entered the school and headed straight for this seat. Purposefully missing classes, lunch, just to get away. Calypso knew that simply not going to school in the first place would¡¯ve served it better, but she was too scared in that.

    She sat there, hoping that maybe an absolution was coming. Some teacher scolding her, her grades taking a hit that helps along a parent-teacher conference, a bully making fun of her, or even Alice coming along to make her happy. But no. Everyone simply stared and moved on with their lives. When all she hoped for was someone to stare into her eyes, to tell her that they saw something there, something alive staring back at them.

    Once again, a piece of her soul simply manifested during her mental lapses. Shakenly, she put the much bigger piece¡ªthat had a sideways chuck taken out of it big enough for the last piece and a gash for the previous one¡ªand slotted them together.

    There was no victory, no celebration. The exhausted girl simply laid there, curling into a ball while laying in a puddle of her own accruing black blood.

    She didn¡¯t care that the monster was looming over, amidst pouncing and nearing its arc.

    Calypso glanced at it. Unflinching. It wasn¡¯t different from everyone else.

    And with that revelation, both were engulfed in a now potent, searing light. Screams that once haunted Calypso were weak and cried out in pain, as that too was soon muffled, along with her sight.

 Entry 0.4 - Who Is: Calypso Grimes?

    The girl only pretended to be unconscious as she laid face first on the pavement. Calypso simply pretended not to hear the near-muffled cries, probably telling her to get up, stand up, be strong. When all she knew was to simply pretend through life, pretend to be alive.

    She was only reminded, the many times she simply stared forward as someone talked. Such a high volume of occurrences, they blurred together into the one image.

    Buried in her mind. Wondering what was wrong with herself.

    Calypso was pulled up regardless, now on her knees, against her will and autonomy per usual. It was then that she took in the sight of what she feared when this entire nonsensical thing was explained her. The very last place she ever wanted to be.

    One particular night, where she sat outside blocks away, shrouded by the featureless night. A car riding by--a neighbor''s car, with said neighbor calling for her. Not her only family, but the neighbor she told to do her dirty work for her.

    Disappointed, but not surprised. She sat there. Buried in her mind. Wondering what was wrong with her.

    A house that sat in solitude despite being surrounded by others, due to how spaced out the lot was. Coated in alabaster white and deep blues¡ªbut it was so white that once any grime took hold, it was impossible to clean thoroughly. The placement of the windows was always so odd, the roof rose at an awkward angle, the overall structure felt squashed and sallow.

    All of these regrettable details, amplified and twisted due to the current destruction of Calypso¡¯s soul.

    The cracks had such a grip over the house, the entire structure was warped upwards, the smaller pieces trailing off into the oblivion that acted as a backdrop behind it. Giving it the appearance of a broken shack that could barely stand anymore, the odd features now overly punctuated, and the grime completely caked in.

    Every thought that Calypso hid away, tried to throw away, and ultimately buried¡ªright there in her face. Unable to deny the fact that she is, indeed, an ungrateful and horrible person. Horrible, pathetic, and sad.

    ¡°Hey hey hey,¡± her one-armed friend Alice verbally chided her. ¡°That feels like quitter energy, Cally.¡±

    Calypso simply let her head hang towards its side, aggravating the cut made around there to bleed.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid it is.¡±

    There was a blurring flash, and Alice was simply before her. Calypso didn¡¯t bother to figure out what nor cared.

    ¡°We¡¯re literally at the home stretch--!¡± Alice shouted out, offended, grabbing Calypso¡¯s shoulder as she shook her. ¡°Home run, homeward bound¡ªit¡¯s literally your house--!¡±

    ¡°And if you were actually my friend, then you know how horrible that is,¡± Calypso tone was cold, sharp. But the immediate shame that radiated from her numb body felt deeper.

    It was surprising how one eye could portray feelings of hurt, betrayal, and utter crush. Alice¡¯s pupil was shaking, searching for the angle Calypso was going for, but was too devastated to focus.

    ¡°How the hell am I worth any of this?¡± Calypso began, fully knowing that she was summoning energies that could¡¯ve helped her complete this quest, ultimately survive. She wanted to burn through it, all of it, once and for all.

    ¡°Because you are, you fucking asshole!¡± Alice cried out, just aghast at this entire display. ¡°To me, your mom, your family in general! How is it that a literal fight for your fucking life, you take the opposite t-th-thing from it?!¡±

    ¡°Being reminded of how much of a nothing I am,¡± Calypso began to list. ¡°Being reminded that no matter what I tried, how many times I asked, how many times I reached out towards you all¡ªnot once did you ever teach me why things are worth it.¡±

    Alice simply shrunk as her friend continued on.

    ¡°It¡¯s not like I don¡¯t WANT to try: I don¡¯t know how! It isn¡¯t like I¡¯m not aware of how much of a crazy person I sound like, some fucking serial killer--And when you do clue in that I¡¯m more or less an emotional cripple¡ªthen it¡¯s just silence! Suddenly all the proverbs and the stock Aesops disappear in an instant, and now you all want nothing to do with me! Honestly, moreover, why the fuck are we having this conversation in the first place, Alice?!¡±

    Calypso pointed at her mauled friend, as her near-severed pinky hung off her hand.

    ¡°You understood that! I somehow managed to understand you! We understood that we were both broken in the first place! We made a pact¡ªwe came here to die, and here you are, stringing me along like everyone else!¡±

    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    ¡°YOU¡¯RE TALKING ABOUT HOW EVERYONE¡¯S STEPPING DIRECTLY ON YOUR SO-CALLED WOUNDS WHEN YOU JUST STOMPED ALL OVER MINE!¡± Alice roared out suddenly, which caused Calypso to jump. ¡°I AM NOT EVERYONE ELSE!¡±

    Calypso was always afraid, whenever Alice¡¯s rage was triggered. The signs were already there, signs that Calypso had to painstakingly learn so she could walk around them¡ªjust that she didn¡¯t care to in this moment. First confusion, then fear, then just explosive anger born from accusation and vulnerability. It was just as self-destructive as her emptiness, only that it was offensive versus defensive and fragile.

    Perfect. Now Calypso was going to finally get what she wanted, and hell, she was going to be dead anyways.

    ¡°Fine, then tell me why the change of heart¡ªand don¡¯t just say you seeing the light cured everything, because clearly it didn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°W-why are you putting me on trial all of a sudden?!¡± Alice screamed. ¡°I died! I¡¯m dead and I don¡¯t want you to, you fucking jerk--!¡±

    ¡°So you want the little part of you to live on through me? Is that it?¡±

    Alice sputtered, she huffed. While her eyes burned with anger the same temperate as her reddening face, they were completely wet with tears.

    ¡°I¡¯m not some evil mastermind or some shit, man! You know me, I¡¯m fucking stupid and dumb! You really think--?!¡±

    ¡°Then why throw away this pitch perfect opportunity?¡±

    Calypso¡¯s pointing soon morphed into wild swings as her voice got deeper, rawer. The only pointed things she was performing were her tone and the swings moving along each dig she made.

    ¡°Two girls gone camping¡ªgot mauled by something due to them being stupid¡ªone died in the ER¡ªeverything covered up¡ªnot probed further¡ªwe would¡¯ve gotten away scott-free sans the fact that they¡¯re monsters using us as meat suits! So what is it¡ªwhat really is your grand excuse for me to go on living while they bury you?! All the shit you pulled¡ªall that we¡¯ve been through, can¡¯t you see living doesn¡¯t mean shit without you¡­? Don¡¯t you get that I didn¡¯t want to keep pretending anymore¡­?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Because I don¡¯t deserve it¡­¡±

    Calypso¡¯s eyes narrowed, looking up and down at her friend.

    ¡°I don¡¯t deserve it¡­ You do¡­ Because I¡¯m the one that got you killed.¡±

    A cold chill swept across the domain, as Calypso was stunned into a hush. Became so silent, that one could precisely hear the crisp scrapping of leaves against the rocky pavement.

    Alice was a mess physically and now emotionally. Tears coming from one eye, down one scrapped up cheek. Sniffling despite missing most of the nose, and gnashing her teeth that she was stretching the wound on the side of her torn mouth. She eventually found strength to continue.

    ¡°Y-yea-yeah, I do everything I can for you¡ªan-an¡ªand you gotta understand that this was meant to help¡ªI wasn¡¯t some Satanist or something, you just gotta understand¡­ You were crushed, I didn¡¯t have a future¡ªI thought it was a great idea¡­!¡±

    Once again, Alice was cut off by her own sobbing. As her partial face morphed from anger, regret, shame, and ultimately sadness¡­ Calypso was just frozen. Petrified.

    Alice breathed in, so she can get by in a rush, ¡°I went to that place¡ªthat you always wanted to go to¡ªTeresa¡¯s Old World¡­ Of course, went to the book section, an-and I found it¡­ I couldn''t b-buy it or st-steal it so I ripped out the good pages, but it was a book where it explained what these things are, about how the supernatural was real, all sorts of shit. It was up our alley, we love crazy shit like that¡­ And the more I read, the more it made sense and¡­ I had to see if it was real¡­!¡±

    As this was laid out, Calypso finally moved. It was her hand creeping upwards to cover her gaping mouth.

    ¡°So I did what said about luring out these Subsumed things!¡± Alice¡¯s tone rumbled into ruin as her grief turned tangible with every single word. ¡°If I wasn¡¯t so fucking stupid, then it would¡¯ve gone well! We set up camp, maybe a fucking small one comes out, I bust out the pages and we take it down! Don¡¯t go to some college and just solve creepy ass mysteries together¡­! But I killed you! I ended up fucking killing you, the only person I ever LOVED!¡±

    Alice collapsed in a fit, as Calypso now covered her mouth with both hands. Flesh turned somehow paler, finally allowing herself to not only breathe but shudder out startled exhales. Eyes wide with disbelief, body tensed in realization. Face despite half-covered¡­ Illustrating how much her mind cycled from betrayal, bargaining and devastation.

    But the maimed girl rose and kept herself on her hand and knee. Looking up with her glossy eye and trembling lips as she continued on.

    ¡°Yo-you can resent me, forever if you have to¡­ But you gotta live first. You wanna have a reason to keep going, des-despite n-not having these feelings¡­? News flash: you do and this entire thing proves it¡­ It¡¯s small, it¡¯s whiny, and it¡¯s wishy-washy as you¡­ But it¡¯s there and you can actually figure out how to tap into it¡­ But you have to¡ª¡±

    Alice¡¯s spirit was torn to shreds as Calypso screamed out in abject horror, falling onto her back as her eyes were fixed on the murder. Rendered into bits once more, just lacking blood this time.

    Despite being the attacker, the monster that has plagued Calypso so much instantly collapsed. The girl noticed amidst her shocked horror, heavy steam radiated from the creature. But once it forced itself upright again, the picture was entirely clear for the girl.

    It was burned to the bone, to the 4<sup>th</sup> degree as scorch marks took the place of it¡¯s very little flesh. Now completely skeletal. Bones barely connecting and hung, making the beast more imposing, spread out, deathly. Moving forward as it creaked, only its fierce determination was the thing keeping it alive.

    Whenever she looked inward, there was always a question. Pondering. Reasoning. All converging to only end up slamming against each other, causing the poor, silly girl to second guess into giving up.

    Here, Calypso knew exactly why this was the point she¡¯s lost her mind.

    Her screaming was less of a fearful shout, and more of her vocalization of her mental exhaustion, anguish, and damage.

    She got to her feet and rushed towards the looming threat¡ªonly to fall limp once she got close, diving under it¡¯s legs, it too slow and can only roar out in anger.

    As she raced, Calypso continued to yelp out in disturbed zeal and provoked belligerence that was long pent up. Now she didn¡¯t care in a different fashion. Didn¡¯t care that she was losing blood as long as she moved, didn¡¯t care that her very vision was fading in or out. She was going to get this done, and if it ends up killing her? As long as she takes this thing with her.

    Only to feel in real time, her back being craved open with a simple and well-timed swipe.

    Slamming onto the ground with a thud, as she was coated with black blood, it did not matter.

    Calypso dug into the ground with her available fingers and crawled her way towards the door.

 Entry 0.5 - Who Is: Calypso Grimes?

    Calypso knew that she was producing more cracks by practically ripping up the ground. She knew that there¡¯s greater chances of her bleeding out before even getting to the doorknob. She figured that the thing is just as damaged as her, and just as slow. None of that was important anymore.

    Though she did jump, as the door opened on its own.

    Outstepped an echo of Calypso. A Calypso of the past, before any of this. An overly glum girl that walked like a zombie, as this oh-so-poor girl had her face practically in her morose novel of the week.

    The one on the ground was amazed at how fast the echo walked past her, considering. But she was able to look at the echo¡¯s face, somehow so detailed, like it was a moving picture.

    Sullen eyes yet stiff face, as if there has to be constant decorum. Pout lips that hung with the put-upon stress conjured up, and cheeks positioned in such a way that it could catch and guide tears the moment they happen.

    It was so debilitating, seeing it from the outside perspective. No wonder people were at a loss to help her. And no wonder the ones that want to, they ultimately gave up on her.

    Those voices began to rattle within her mind.

    You''re so nice...!

    C''mon, don''t feel that way--!

    You''ve got nothing to complain about.

    With the grades you''ve got, and you don''t care about school? Why are you wasting your potential, Ms. Grimes...? You''re wasting it! You''re wasting your life!

    Calypso tried to lift herself back to life--

    Who cares about... What was it--? "Being empt--?" Whatever. You''re making the people around you feel bad. Knock it off.

    You''re just making yourself miserable.

    Only to lose that energy to keep going again, falling limp.

    And yet, something told her to look at her gem. With a struggling, black blood covered hand, Calypso made it face her.

    A faint, pale color.

    But. Despite how pathetically it shined, held out the smallest faintness of light.

    Calypso Grimes from Riverside High has not only won for her school in this Oral Outreach program, but has won herself a hefty scholarship prize in the process! We the Judges of this presentation event recognize her wit, her almost Virginia Woolf-lite prose gripping us, and her seemingly boundless depth. I present her prize with honor, knowing that this was incredibly taxing for her, and to praise her further, because no one would''ve guessed that with the brilliant performance given. Her future is nothing but bright, and it''s all because of you, Ms. Grimes!

    Always in your own dangone head, Cal... Step outta it sometimes. I know I won''t be around anymore, but remember to do that time to time. Love ya'', cuz.

    You''re fucking gorgeous, Cally. Don''t let nobody tell you different... Not even me, whenever I ruin it with being stupid. I wish... Y''know. But don''t dwell on it. Just believe me, even if you can''t see it. Just believe...

    It was the first time Calypso had legitimate proof and confirmation. Finally. Finally, it all felt so real--Calypso couldn''t help but smile. The energies that suddenly swelled from her chest to across her entire body wouldn''t let not to.

    She had to see this through. Or at least die knowing that she tried.

    Like the worm she was, Calypso continued to slither¡ªclaw¡ªdrag herself towards the porch of her former home. Hoisting herself up with her arms with each step that felt like scaling Everest.

    Making it over just in time, before the toll of losing a leg was imposed upon her.

    Out of the corner of her eye, she saw it sail into the darkening air, and pressed on. Managing to make it into the living room, this oh so familiar living room.

    Glancing over, the echo of her mother sat in her usual spot, back then. The massive TV¡¯s light beaming over her form to the point she was a mere shadow. Apt.

    The monster tried to take the opportunity, only to crash right beside of the new mangled girl, when it desperately wanted to make the final blow. It was too spent. Too far gone at this point.

    That gave time for Calypso to roll away, hitting the wall adjacent to their old stairwell for support. Once again, she scaled steps by slamming her palms on each one, over and over, groaning and shouting out in defeated determination¡ªneeding to do so as part of the process.

    At some point, maybe it was at the beginning. But at some point, the monster feebly grabbed at Calypso¡¯s arm and tore it off clean. Leaving her with the ruined hand that also had her soul in the palm.

    She tried to keep screaming, but it whittled down into whimpering coughs. There was no strength anymore, just jerking motions that only resulted in causing her ¡°body¡± up. Riddled with involuntary spasming, covered in too much blood that was supposed to be inside of her. But it was that neglected aspect of herself, that eluded her to near insanity, was the only thing left of her.

    It was at this point where Calypso¡¯s opened back failed her. It had torn itself to great, and caused the girl to buckle back down two steps. When she was nearing the very top.

    As her cheek slammed against one of the steps, Calypso feebly opened her mouth to clamp down with her teeth. Whimpering as she kept herself hoisted, no matter what. The force of her bite making the step creak as she held on. All she could hear, other than her dwindling gargling, was that step slowly creak.

    Blinding her to the sounds of the creeping behind her, until it was too late.

    The following sensation was completely alien, yet familiar to the dying Calypso. Being pried open in a hurry, the feeling of muscle being tugged at opposite ends, before the feeling of force against her.

    Screaming out to the point of it making her throat raw, at the awareness of being worn like a suit.

    She tried writhing against the monster¡¯s body. She tried letting go of the steps to fall down, only for her own mangled hand to betray her. The efforts didn¡¯t matter anyways.

    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    A skeletal arm erupted from the stump of her arm, soon followed after a bony leg. Shuddering without her control, as a series of scythe heads began crawling out of her opened back.

    With her own strength suddenly reignited, the monster¡¯s arm reached up and clawed the side of Calypso¡¯s face off, peeling it off as if it¡¯s a shroud. Revealing the near-featureless black skull underneath.

    Calypso could only whimper. Whimper at the unfairness, whimper at her weakness. Whimper at the fact that now she cannot see clearly¡ªnow with only one eye. Whimper at the various voices from her past were all that she could hear, not even her dwindling heartbeat anymore. That she couldn¡¯t even ball up her own fist in pitiful frustration. That despite everything, she''s going to die with the feeling of shame at being a terrible person--frustration yet destructive zeal with dealing with Alice... The guilt that it only took her now, to turn her life around.

    But she couldn¡¯t ignore that unfinished gemstone in that palm. What it represented. And how much she valued it more than ever right now.

    With that destroyed fist, Calypso pounded at the step it rested on, caving it in.

    Thus confirming her slight second assumption.

    ¡°Tha.. Fo¡­ The¡­ Boos¡­¡± the corpse eked out her possible final words.

    With a final heave, Calypso used the strength that was killing her, against the monster¡ªlifting her into the air and coasting above the last series of steps she could not make on her lonesome.

    Sailing until she hit the wall that signaled the entryway to them, Calypso had scaled the stairs. Finally making to the top of them.

    And dreaded this encounter or not, she had to face it.

    But she couldn¡¯t help it. Even if she couldn¡¯t clearly see him, the presence alone caused her to not just cry. But weep.

    ¡°Hey hey hey, sweetheart, what¡¯s wrong with ya¡¯¡­?¡±

    The voice, hearing his voice again somehow hurt more than the monsters culling Calypso from the inside. Knowing that it¡¯s still not him, that it¡¯s just an echo of a previous conversation with him.

    ¡°In¡­ gu¡­¡± Calypso closed her eye, sputtering ungracefully. ¡°I¡­ Got hurt, D-daddy¡­¡±

    She could hear her father¡¯s footfalls. Remember him taking a knee, kneeling for her.

    ¡°How much does it hurt¡­?¡±

    ¡°N-no¡­Not much¡­ But I hate how much¡­¡± Calypso struggled to recite it, say it, even now. ¡°I¡­ Cry¡­¡±

    Her father sighed. She can still picture his worn smile.

    ¡°No one can help crying, sweetie¡­ We all do it. Every single one of us¡¯ done it and we¡¯ll keep doing it, even your dear ol¡¯ Dad.¡±

    Calypso simply huffed out a wail, that croaked into nothingness. While it was more or less what she did 3 years ago, it was an excuse for her to just do it, to get through this.

    ¡°It¡¯s like getting sick, y¡¯know? It sucks going through it, but hey, once you do get through it¡ªyou know what it is, you know what to do when it happened the next time¡­ So sneeze all ya¡¯ like, sweetie, get it all out¡­¡±

    The man had a tangible pause. ¡°¡­There I go, getting my sayings mixed up. Parenting is hard, kiddo¡ª¡±

    Calypso laughed softly. A small relief during this agony.

    ¡°Now I want you to keep this in mind¡­ Whenever you cry or feel sad or bad¡ªanything. It¡¯s better to feel these things, because that means you¡¯re human, you¡¯re alive. You¡¯re meant to feel these things, no matter what anyone tells you, even me or your mother whenever we¡¯re feeling something bad ourselves. You rather feel everything versus nothing at all. Got it~?¡±

    That did it.

    It was a bloody hand, but Calypso wiped and wiped and wiped and wiped at her eye. Until it was cleaned and cleared.

    Opening it, as it was deary, doughty, molded by her eternal grief of losing him not too long after this talk. When the little that she felt, or the too much that she felt, was completely numbed by his passing.

    His brown hair, peppered with varying gray and swirled to a clean hairstyle. His perma-stubble. His larger-than-life smile that perfectly crested his face. His plain green dress shirt that had rolled up sleeves, battered jeans and brown shoes. Either always working or always taking rests. But always made the time for her.

    Her kneeling father smiled at her with his eyes closed.

    Calypso mewled out something she didn¡¯t say then. ¡°I m-m-miss you ssso much, D-daddy¡­¡±

    Her father simply said the next thing she¡¯ll always remember, ¡°Love you too, sweetheart.¡±

    Calypso saw the final piece she needed shoot out of the man¡¯s heart, quickly raising her hand up as it slotted into place.

    The monster that was the side of her face screamed out in terror, shaking their head in fear. Finally, it¡¯s turn to understand what it meant to be helpless in a scenario it can never win.

    Calypso slammed her gem palm into the side of its skull, as it continued to shriek, escape, anything. Crumbling into dust as light grinded it away, it being very different this time. The beams were getting stronger, more lethal¡­ This. Whatever this light came from, it simply shined from everywhere, wrapping around the damned creature just like how the Sun simply shined in normal, everyday life. Pure warmth eradicated this interloper.

    The monster¡¯s arm slowly became Calypso¡¯s once again. Its face morphed back into her face. Everything, inside and out, all hers again.

    Not only did this light eradicated the monster, but the chamber surrounding them all as well, all becoming one with this brilliant shine, expanding softly until Calypso could see nothing but it.

    She floated within this brilliance. Her body somehow restored, her face cleaned of her tears, becoming the very center of whatever this plane is.

    Looking down at her palm, the gemstone was complete. A pale pink with milky waves, waves that move within the smoothed-out surface. A pristine texture, until a very sharp and noticeable red shard embedded within it.

    And as Calypso looked up, she saw her maimed friend again. Looking at peace yet forlorn at the same time.

    Alice floated up to the still dazed Calypso, taking her hand that held the gem, and hold it with her only one.

    ¡°Like I said¡­¡± Alice said softly, pained. ¡°It¡¯s up to you, to do what you want¡­ Just know that¡­ It¡¯s your choice and all. And just know that¡­ I really did¡­ I really did love you, Cally. My first and my only.¡±

    Calypso thought she couldn¡¯t possibly cry anymore, laughing at herself as a wavering smile formed on her remorseful face. ¡°No more j-jokes¡­ We finally admit it and I¡¯ll never get to see you aga-again¡­?¡±

    ¡°It would take death for us to finally admit it¡­¡± Alice trailed off, looking down. Before gazing at Calypso¡¯s face one more time.

    As Alice faded, she leaned in and puckered her ruined lips at her friend, desperate for that one last kiss. And before Calypso could meet with hers, her dead friend disappeared into the beyond. Never to receive that final, beautiful catharsis.

    ***

    Calypso woke in her hospital bed. Her eyes, the only thing that wasn¡¯t wrapped up, were blank and empty.

    Out of instinct, she moved her arms within her casts, barely able to wiggle her bounded fingers¡ªher middle clamped down to the machine monitoring her vitals.

    And she couldn¡¯t even take in the peace, hearing the beeping. Because she heard the guttural whimpering of a monster.

    The broken girl turned her head towards the sound. Her expression was masked, but her heartbeat spiked as she stared at what she saw.

    What was left of the skull monster, was a withering, physical shadow that shivered in the corner. It tried reaching up, at the windowsill that was just a few inches away adjacent, but it was far too weak now. It knew so. Looking back at Calypso, fearing her.

    Calypso continued to stare. And stare. Her stare dead, lacking any compassion, light¡­ Humanity.

    Slamming her bandaged hand against her bed¡¯s railing, Calypso forced herself up. Her head still craned at the disgusting thing, her stare unmoving and unwavering. The monster, all it could do, was whimper and shiver.

    There was no chance.

    Calypso leaped off the bed, falling onto the floor as her machines smashed onto their sides. The monster tried to scramble away, but it was too late for it.

    The girl quickly tugged, missing once¡ªtwice¡ªfour times, but finally tugged off the wrappings around her mouth. Dragging herself towards it, before throwing herself onto its weak body.

    Calypso opened her mouth wide, and began eating the monster. Consuming it, bit by bit.

    It couldn¡¯t scream anymore, because the girl went for its throat to begin with. Reeling her head back, before racing it back down with her jaws stretched out. Forcing everything into her small mouth, swallowing what ultimately amounted to flavorless goop.

    She craned her head to the sounds of questioning, shouting, beyond her door. With her wild eyes, she looked back and forth, and ultimately chose to keep eating the corpse until she was done.

    Snorting everything down into herself, as people busted down her door.

    ¡°Lemme thr¡ª¡± a croaky voice commanded. A familiar croaky voice. ¡°LET ME THROUGH, THAT¡¯S MY BABY!¡±

    Her mother raced over, holding her dear daughter tight as she got Calypso from the floor.

    Penelope tried vocalizing her clearly pained, anxiety-filled relief and sadness. Glad to have her baby still, but seeing her so hurt and nearly losing her beloved again¡­

    And judging by her reactions, Calypso reasoned that she made no mess. As if none of this happened.

    And that, that was what made her breakdown once more.

    She cried along with her mother. Alone within a full building. Alone with each other. Because what they were weeping together over, was completely different from one another.

 Entry 1.0 - A Monster: Without Purpose

    ***

    Her name was Calypso Grimes. 18 years old, female. A girl with average brown hair that was short, pasty skin, and a dainty body.

    Now she knows that the supernatural was real. She nearly died when a monster mauled her and stalked her into her very soul. She battled for her soul, realized that her troubles with human emotion could be mended¡ªactively choosing to live when before she never would¡¯ve done so. And she was the one that not only killed this monster but ate it alive in a frenzy she wasn¡¯t sure what made her do so.

    But she was alone with this information, as her best and only friend, was killed along the way.

    So to have this... Mock therapy session, this utter farce, not only wasted the time of everyone present--but nearly made Calypso walk back everything that she promised herself to do.

    The fact that it was held in a patient room signaled to Calypso that this was an utter shitshow. The "doctor" was at his desk, the girl''s files clutched in his constantly moving hands. Also signaling uncertainty, which Calypso would''ve found sick enjoyment out of if she wasn''t physically and mentally shattered.

    But the most damning aspect of it all was the fact that her mother was sat right next to her. Not even centimeters away.

    It wasn¡¯t quite catatonic¡­ But Calypso just blankly stared out. Her face sagging into an expression of wretched vacancy. A total summation of her entire life--but even then, even then, she wondered what the fuck was going on here.

    Was this a new method? A sick joke? The one time she wanted to express something, the one time she... Wanted help...

    Muted. Hack-job. Barely there.

    "Sooooo..." the "doctor" twirled his pen between his fingers, looking at the files again. His face buried in his auburn curls and massive glasses. It made this scene even more of a parody in the poor girl''s head. "Ms. Grimes. Calypso Grimes, what a beautiful, beautiful name... Are we doing okay today...?"

    "I never really understood what ''okay'' was in the first place," Calypso bluntly spat. Just to get a reaction.

    A nod. A series of nods that got to the point of head shakes as he continued to look down at his notes. "You''ve clearly had... Such a bad string of rotten luck lately. But hey. Youre going to get through this. And soon after that, it''ll be like it never ever happened in the first place."

    He proceeded to grip the files, press the pen into the one hand, all to push forward a box of tissues that was on his desk toward Calypso.

    Calypso simply stared at the packaging. Baby blue, with a literal toddler''s face on the verge of bursting with hears. "We''re here whenever you''re ''swaaad''", the tagline for the brand read.

    It was all the vindication she didn''t need right now. But as an immediate result, the broken and empty girl simply locked up, drowning out whatever this person had to say. Absolutely numbed.

    All she felt was the passive patting of the back from her... Dear mother. Calypso wanted to explode from that alone, never mind the fact this shoe-string session was going to go on for an hour.

    It all began to blur, anyways.

    Most of her recent days were the same. Didn¡¯t matter what the background or circumstances were¡ªof lying in a hospital bed, being checked on periodically, the police coming in asking her questions, or the odd reporter that somehow made it in and was immediately chased off. She responded to it all the same. Speech muted into mumbles or gestures, consistent and long form thoughts given up on. Alive only in the most baseline sense.

    As a person¡ªor thing¡ªthat reveled in morbid subject matter, in tragically ironic theatre, her current condition was not lost on Calypso.

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    Back then, when she wanted to think, Calypso debated about writing everything down. Telling everything¡ªtheir tale, their struggle, and as much as it pained her then, their admission of guilt. All everyone got was this fabricated story of these two girls wanting to go camping, a last hoorah before entering the adult world. The girls knowing fully well that they made this story as sanguine as possible, to bury not just the doubt, but their respective troubled histories. Maybe they would¡¯ve chickened out. Maybe they would¡¯ve agreed that they overreacted. But the literal impossible robbed them of that choice.

    Calypso then ruminated, truly letting it sink in that legitimate pure evil existed in the form what she and her friend experienced that night, the concept wasn''t hyperbole anymore. The supernatural not only exists, but the natural order of things allow it to exist. Everything, every single thing, that these two girls whined about¡ªthat there is no hope, no point, and no meaning. All of that was vindicated.

    So the girl elected to do nothing. Because it never would¡¯ve mattered anyways.

    But she couldn¡¯t dwell in doing nothing for too long. Because she had a funeral to go attend.

    It took a week or so, but the service for her dear friend was finally put together. Calypso was wheeled in by her mother, still in her unmovable state as she gathered stares from across both aisles. Not many people knew Calypso, but knew of her influence. It only took a look, and one knew that aside from the girl¡¯s own mother or family, Calypso was the most hurt being there.

    As the girl hung her head low, Calypso tried not focusing on the details that gnawed at her. How the funeral felt inexpensive, how the casket was firmly closed due to what¡¯s left of the contents inside. How the family¡¯s aisle either had empty seats, or people incredibly spaced out from one another. How the guests were only teachers, staff and some of the members of her friend¡¯s soccer team. None of the two-bit, digesting boyfriends she had even showed up.

    The girl¡¯s mother. Her poor yet infuriating mother was practically wailing out into her wetting hands, as what Calypso assumed was the current boyfriend trying to console her, clearly uncomfortable.

    As Calypso glanced across the row of the 5 or 6 pictures set up around the casket, she remembered their shared aversions of them. And among brewing muck of guilt that submerged her, Calypso was very regretful about that fact.

    The result of it all became a funeral that didn¡¯t feel like a sendoff, but an exercise in trying to redeem a deeply flawed person, a person that clearly had good in them, but it was still apart of a very damaged whole. School teachers focused on her potential that was never going to be seen, one of her aunts talked about how she was such a joy when she was younger. One of the soccer team members just said that she¡¯ll miss her and that she always made her laugh.

    Calypso chided herself, as she gripped the handle of her wheelchair. She should¡¯ve been up there, shaming these people for never reaching out towards this spirited, poignantly rash young woman. Who used humor to not just cope with her insecurity she had to fake not having, but use it as a tool to communicate with these humans, to connect with them, versus their self-critical judgement.

    But whatever revving anger she tried to ignite became cold quickly, giving way to a crestfallen crush. Calypso very well knew that summing up Alice Graves was a difficult task. She was the reason that they were attacked that night, she baited the monsters and didn¡¯t know what she was doing. Ending her life and forever altering Calypso¡¯s for the worse.

    How can one eulogize a friend that raged at you with the fury of your mortal enemy? How can you remember the good times, when she was often the source of bad moments you want to forget? How can you love someone that only took their death to finally admit that the feelings weren¡¯t an elaborate joke?

    The most frustrating part of all was that it wasn¡¯t planned, wasn¡¯t on purpose. Alice was just as guilt-ridden as she was rageful. Creating this person of painfully compromising good and ill. But humanity wasn¡¯t quite built, nor accepting, for handling complications.

    But fleeting, broken up thoughts passed the time for Calypso. It was time for the final tribute, everyone becoming silent as the funeral staff set up the television and started the movie maker video.

    Calypso¡¯s eyes became glossy as the familiar tones faded in

    Somehow the family got a hold of Alice¡¯s CDs, the most recent album most importantly. They only listened to it once or twice in her room, out of many moments of intimacy. Alice confided to Calypso on more than one occasion that her musical tastes were also a failed attempt to appease, to fit in. She never liked the grunge, metal, or rock bands that the people she found herself in the circles of¡ªbut she had to. But, there was the one band¡­ Alice could never voice it on her own, but their music not only expressed her plights but hit on her exact issues as a struggling problem, trying to be a person.

    As she wept, Calypso silently mouthed the lyrics to Leave Out All The Rest. Trembling under the hard reality that Alice was truly gone, and ultimately collapsed into a fit of tears. Wailing. Painful screams.

    All her mother could do for her in that moment, was to grip and rub her broken daughter¡¯s shoulder.

    ***

 Entry 1.1 - A Monster: Without Purpose

    Even behind her mask of frozen squalor, Calypso¡¯s eyes became razor focused towards the sight of her mother. Doing the same, tired deflection and follow up.

    ¡°D-deary¡­ Why not go wash up for tonight, huh?¡± Penelope stuttered out nervously, backing away despite only having her head and shaking fingers poking from the doorway. Only to slither in an instant before Calypso could answer her.

    Eyes narrowing in contempt, a growl escaping between her still lips. Things Calypso never thought she was capable of, but felt more than vindicated in doing.

    But she shook her head, lethargically rising out of her bed, gathering the pile of clothes that she once folded into her dresser, and walked out with the articles balled into her fist, hanging out of it and dragging on the wooden floor.

    ¡°--You know that I love you, right--?¡±

    Not even seconds out of her room and going down the hall, Penelope cared from a set distance again.

    Calypso slowly and deliberately, craned her head behind herself. Staring acute, pointed daggers at her mother.

    Her hands were pressed against her chest, wearing a massive dark grey sweater, as she was hunched over in the moment. This position did not do any favors for her sharp nose, her messy blonde but graying hair she tried to put into a bun, but strains flopped over and stuck to her sweating pale face. They shared the same gray eyes, but Penelope¡¯s pair boasted very visible veins. Due to lack of sleep, overwork, lack of care¡ªanything goes for this woman.

    Calypso knew that she was trying. She knew that this woman kept her alive in multiple senses and on multiple levels. And it would be more hypocritical energy than she thought she was capable of if Calypso derided her mother over clear and present neuroses. She loved her mother. More than anything. She''s the only family she had left.

    But Calypso did not want this right now. Calypso did not need this right now. While she had sighed in the past, played along, showed appreciation with her bare minimum¡ªdealt with her mother¡¯s baggage, she simply could not right now.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Calypso made sure her tone was steeped and crusted in raspy annoyance, right from her throat. Then she proceeded to the bathroom, closing herself off from the uneven panting or panicked words following after.

    It wasn¡¯t just the days blurring together, even moments became uneventful for Calypso. She knew she went to shower, she knew she got clean¡ªshe has an entire procedure that makes her sessions infamously long. But despite all of that, Calypso walked in, and now she was drying off before the mirror, wiped thoroughly of the mist collected on the surface.

    Ironically, it was her thoughts about not living in the moment, Calypso finally caught something that should¡¯ve been noted weeks ago. She stopped midway through drying herself with her towel, as her dead eyes alight with fear.

    Her cuts, that were more like a thousand or so gashes that practically segmented her flesh¡ªand were pried open as black goop ran out of them... They were gone, they were healed.

    There was no way. That made no sense.

    In a flash of panic, Calypso looked at her left hand, specifically at her ring finger. When she was smaller, when she took her first interest in crafting and sewing, the needle ended up digging into her finger in an freak accident, nearly killing her interest in the hobby then and there due to how bad it was

    That was years ago, and it was still there, still faint. There was no way serious injuries like that completely fade overnight¡ª

    Calypso gasped out in utter confusion, as she saw her old scar was shrunken. Once as long as the distance between the knuckles of her finger, now almost like a small scab.

    It was then Calypso took her startled gaze back at her reflection. If the terror wasn¡¯t set before, it was once she took a long overdue look at herself.

    She looked fine, but it was all off. Something fundamentally was wrong with her now. This wasn¡¯t self-hatred, this wasn¡¯t dysmorphia, depersonalization¡­ There was something about her skin. The color of her hair, her eyes¡¯ movements, the way she breathed. What was her staring at her reflection, trying to figure out what¡¯s wrong with her, became a shattering illusion of Calypso Grimes. Every trait and everything about her were disturbed and replaced, akin to a room being messed up and hastily put back together.

    Calypso huffed, turning into bouts of hyperventilation as she held her head with her hands as she shook it in disbelief, backing away into the wall.

    "What''s wrong with me--?"

    In a hurry, she got dressed. She didn¡¯t know why, what purposes it served, maybe an attempt to remind herself that she¡¯s human despite evidence being the contrary. Pulling open the bathroom door, Calypso verbalized her impeding breakdown with loud heaving as she continued to hold her head.

    She tried to walk past her, but Penelope grabbed her shoulder with an outstretched arm, ¡°Baby, baby¡ªwhat¡¯s going on, I heard those noises you made in there¡ªdo you need the hospital again--?!¡±

    ¡°I DON¡¯T KNOW!¡± Calypso snarled out, causing her mother to lose her already weak grip on her. She closed her eyes as she shook her head more, ¡°I don¡¯t know, I don¡¯t know, I don¡¯t know! Please just make the decision for me, I¡¯m compromised--!¡±

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    ¡°D-do you need to go to the hospital¡ª¡±

    Calypso¡¯s eyes shot open in manic incredulity, as she shot a look at her mother.

    Only to see, per usual, her cowering ways away from her.

    She snapped.

    ¡°I¡ªwha¡ªWHY DO YOU KEEP DOING THIS TO ME?!¡± Calypso roared out, causing Penelope to shout out in fear.

    ¡°W-what am I doing to you--?¡± Penelope could only ask as she shivered.

    ¡°Even before father died¡ªyou! You being you¡ªconstantly at arms length, constantly distracting yourself while he did the ¡®heavy lifting¡¯!¡±

    Penelope shrunk at the wordage. Both out of clear fear, and the subtle drop of her heart.

    ¡°Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah,¡± Calypso nodded fervently, beating her chest like an animal with her hands. ¡°Don¡¯t think I never heard the conversations¡ªyou wanna know why I never said anything? Why I never questioned you until now? Because I had in my empty-ass head that maybe one day you¡¯ll step up, maybe one day that something would jog you into action finally. 18 now, about to be thrown into the pit with the rest of the wolves¡ªended up nearly being mauled to death¡ªand do you finally do it?! No! You¡¯re a parent! This goes beyond your comfort!¡±

    Penelope was backed into the corner in very sense, the woman just continued to shrink under the agitated presence of her daughter, her fists balled up, covering her mouth as her eyes shook.

    ¡°Give me the reason!¡± Calypso pleading now, genuinely. ¡°Do you hate me?! Was I an accident that you couldn¡¯t justify?! I¡¯ve been through enough trauma--I can take another personal blow! Just talk to me for once!¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡­¡± Penelope quivered too much for her to vocalize her words, her feelings. ¡°I¡­ Can¡¯t¡­ I¡¯m so sorry¡­¡±

    Calypso sported a new kind of blank stare and resulting facial expression. It didn¡¯t portray emotion regression, but was simply unreadable. Wild eyes that were more white than irises, mouth agape, nostrils flaring subtly.

    Trying to comprehend and then decode those words. Running by every configuration, syntax, and ultimately the sticking point, meaning. And each one she made, they were all bad.

    She stormed into her room, glancing out of her peripheral vision that her mother flinched at her daughter passing her, cowering as she slid further down the wall, arms thrown over her head in a hurry.

    The imagery was instantly burnt into her mind.

    Slamming open her door, Calypso scanned across her room. Everything white. Organized, filed, balanced. Virtually spotless and textbook, except her broken crafts desk¡ªbut even with the expected messes that comes from creativity, her materials were in a neat multi-squared cubic box, while her tools were rolled up in a strip-like bag.

    How can such an unstable person like herself play it off for so long? How can someone that ruined every single thing she touches keep her dirty hands from contaminating these surfaces? All of it was a fa?ade, a lie. Calypso Grimes tried too hard to be this battered angel, this saint¡­ But compared to everyone else, she was what she deserved to be.

    In a whirlwind of grief and rage, Calypso began grabbing things. She didn¡¯t care what, she grabbed things and threw them. Smashed them. Pummel them, if need be, despite her hands immediately bruising as she destroyed her room.

    She did it until she fell off her feet, directly onto her side. Calypso whimpered, curled into a ball, holding her hurt hands. Stewing in her just punishment.

    Only to look down, and see in real time, the bruising and red spots slowly but surely fade back into pale, white skin.

    Calypso screamed from the tops of her lungs, until her throat turned raw, and her mind broken further.

    ***

    Calypso stood at the curve alone. It didn¡¯t matter that she was surrounded by her belongings, it didn¡¯t matter that passerby continued on with their lives, walking behind her on the sidewalk. It didn¡¯t matter that she was just inches away from her house.

    The fact that she was being sent away from the only family she had left, meant that she was truly. Utterly alone.

    The back was hunched over, with the massive backpack adding more weight. Her eyes were sallow, red, and empty of light. Her hair was only styled to give the appearance that it¡¯s clean, but even then it was still a mess.

    It all was tied together by her haggard expression of sorrow. Stress lines apparent, skin clammy. Her frown baring little to no energy and eyes looking forward, but at absolutely nothing.

    And she just stood there. She didn¡¯t care that her aunt was on the way, to take her to some small town that was hours away, states away, entire cultures away.

    There was simply nothing to do but stand there. It¡¯s all she could do in her worthless life. Stand and wait for things to get worse and worse.

    The girl¡¯s eyes widened, in response to the sharp pain that prodded from within her. Telling her, screaming at her, to run. Something is wrong, run.

    Calypso gasped suddenly, clutching her chest before slowly letting up. Getting more worked up, panting softly even, versus the small, momentary pain she felt overall.

    But she didn¡¯t have any time to dwell on it, as Calypso lifted her head towards the oncoming musical cacophony that approached her.

    A light grey, beaten up car pulled up to her, the music so loud that even with the window¡¯s up, it was clear. Thankfully, it was turned down before the car door opened from the other side.

    ¡°Hey-hey-hey. Man. Ya'' look like shit¡­¡±

    Calypso couldn¡¯t help but smile.

    The girl had dirty blonde hair that tumbled past her shoulders, the blacks of her roots very pronounced, exposed as she briefly scratched her head. Her skin tan, wearing a white shirt that was tied up at the front, short sleeves, and green shorts as if it wasn¡¯t below 53 outside.

    All while wearing a beat up, fading blue snapback that she fastened back on her head. That detail alone was unmistakable to Calypso.

    ¡°And you still kept that stupid hat, huh¡­?¡± Calypso tried to sound jovial, but the crackling of her voice made her fail.

    Sal Grimes, Calypso¡¯s cousin, quickly rushed over to her. Hugging her tight despite her usual demeanor. Rather, what the girl remembered her to be. It¡¯s been years, after all.

    ¡°Ya'' shoulda brought me along¡­¡± Sal softly needled her cousin, tightening her hold. ¡°I woulda took out whatever the fuck that got you both¡­¡±

    ¡°Would you though¡­?¡± Calypso asked incredulously.

    ¡°Hell yeah,¡± it was odd hearing her drawl, when Sal was from the Northeast like Calypso. ¡°I woulda found ¡®em, saved y¡¯all, and took over as their queen in one fell swoop~¡±

    Calypso huffed in amusement. ¡°Three years and you didn¡¯t change one bit, Sally¡­¡±

    Sal gently placed her hands on her cousin¡¯s shoulders, giving the two distance as she looked on with her gray eyes.

    ¡°And clearly, ya'' went through way too much, too soon. I¡¯m so sorry, Cal. I wish I coulda been here for ya¡¯. Honestly.¡±

    Maybe it was the reunion. Maybe it was looking at her cousin, who normally is so teasing and cutting, looking miserable with pity. But Calypso couldn¡¯t look at her anymore, she had to look down to avert her gaze.

    ¡°¡­I-it probably wouldn¡¯t have helped,¡± Calypso felt her eyes well with tears. ¡°I would¡¯ve pushed you away too¡­¡±

    ¡°Well first off, you¡¯re too weak to push me away,¡± Sal squeezed a shoulder.

    Calypso snorted. There was the girl she grew up with.

    ¡°And secondly, I¡¯m here now and I¡¯m gonna make up for that lost time,¡± Sal confidently said. ¡°Once we touchdown back home, that Reverie air¡¯s gonna fix ya¡¯ up somethin¡¯ fierce~!¡±

    Calypso didn¡¯t agree. Hell, she didn¡¯t even respond. At least verbally.

    She simply looked back up at her dear cousin. Just portraying an expression of weariness, exhaustion and hurt.

    ***

 Entry 1.2 - A Monster: Without Purpose

    It was hard for Calypso to gauge how much time had passed. It was strange how she¡¯s so zoned out, staring outside her window at the Sun drowning the sky, and yet keenly aware how deeply she stewed in this silence.

    Hell, the fact Sal elected to turn off her music at all was telling alone.

    Sal was driving, keeping her eyes on the highway¡¯s road. From the nervous glances Calypso made every odd moment, it was clear that she was struggling. Which again, is so odd for Calypso to see.

    Her cousin was the definition of go-getting. She didn¡¯t care about looking dumb, about failing or the possible consequences of her actions. She did things and worried about it later while making fun of you for sweating on her behalf. She could talk about and talk to virtually anyone and everything. So the fact that even the immutable Sal Grimes can¡¯t figure out what to say to her, Calypso wondered if this entire ¡°idea¡± was a waste.

    Another thing she wasted. Time and lives of others when she should¡¯ve taken care of¡ª

    The car suddenly stopped. Not to the point where Calypso was flung out of her seat, but a notable jerk that caused her to look around. Looking forward, it seemed like there was some traffic, but not terrible considering. Maybe the car in front was being careless¡­?

    Calypso couldn¡¯t think further, as her head turned towards the sounds of a bag opening, zipper being undone.

    Only to see Sal opening her CD case, taking one out and putting her finger through the hole as she causally put the case back.

    Her cousin wasn¡¯t meeting Calypso¡¯s confused gaze, which made this somehow weirder. Sal, now sporting a vacant face, just slid the disk into her player, and then leaned back as she had one hand on the wheel, and her arm outside the rolled-down window.

    Calypso was on the verge of paranoia, opening her mouth to ask what¡¯s going on, only to be cut off by very familiar opening bars.

    ¡°¡­¡± Calypso¡¯s eyes raced side to side, her face tightened in confusion. It relaxing in realization, with her deary eyes going so wide the first time in weeks.

    She began to laugh. Genuinely laugh.

    And yet, despite that, Calypso could clearly hear the muttering of Sal. Her smirking as she purposefully mumbled out nonsense that was once lyrics. Craning her head, destroying the song¡¯s intro as she was belting out scatting towards the girl.

    Calypso covered her reddening face with her dainty hands. Her laughter getting hearty, louder as the song was going towards its first bridge.

    To which Sal, pushing her face towards the girl¡¯s red-tipped ear, just whispered nonsense that was once the song¡¯s iconic line. Sending Calypso into hysterics as she feebly tried to push Sal away, as the latter laughed and yet kept going.

    Despite being red in the face, despite the now-streaming tears, Calypso couldn¡¯t help but to discordantly harmonize with her Sal, knowing that her fit of laughter would mangle the song more.

    It was before life went to shit. It was a representation of their familial bond more than anything. Not just this song, but many. It wasn¡¯t like they hated music or the latest hits, but there was nothing more funny to Calypso and Sally Grimes than riffing on them, their terrible takes adding nonsense words and noises that even by saying one of them, it would cause the other to fall into laughter.

    What made this so¡­ Blissfully disarming to Calypso, was that this was a hit from 2004. Literally the last year before Sal couldn¡¯t visit anymore. Before the death of her father, and then the spiral that resulted for both her and her mother. And now before the death of her only friend.

    It made her realize¡­ No, remember that she¡¯s always had someone else. When family fell through, when friends go away¡­ She¡¯d always have Sal somehow.

    What followed was an improv session, so much so that Calypso ended having the opposite problem from before. She didn¡¯t realize how much time just flew by. It was only when Sal turned the volume down on her player that Calypso realized the passage of time.

    ¡°You¡­ Bitch¡­¡± Calypso wiped a tear. ¡°You¡¯re such a bitch¡­ I just got out of the hospital and god, I¡¯m so sore right now, I could¡¯ve died for real this time¡ª¡±

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    ¡°You¡¯re gonna crash at my house and go to my college¡ª¡± Sal grinned while still looking forward driving. ¡°Of course I¡¯m tryna kill ya¡¯¡ª¡±

    Calypso giggled, ¡°It¡¯s so strange, imaging you being a college student¡­¡±

    ¡°Only because Maw and Paw forced me into it,¡± Sal pouted a bit. ¡°I wanted to keep helping out at the farm, but nooooo. My future n¡¯ all. We compromised with, y¡¯know, only going to town¡¯s college¡ª¡±

    ¡°Hm¡­¡± Calypso looked out of the window again. ¡°Your hometown of 560 people¡ª¡±

    ¡°Hey, we¡¯re at 1000, and just celebrated the fact--!¡± Sal verbally sneered at, clearly laced with comedy.

    Calypso just turned her head, with an unimpressed but amused smile.

    Before it faltered again, her thoughts catching up to her once more.

    ¡°It¡¯s just weird¡­ Everything¡¯s going to be¡­ So compressed. So¡­ Communal. Isn¡¯t it a creepy place too?¡±

    ¡°So is Sleepy Hallow¡ªor Hollow or whatever!¡± Sal argued back. ¡°And those guys use that for tourism!¡±

    Calypso sunk in her seat.

    ¡°Plus, it¡¯s so funny talkin¡¯ to ya¡¯ again, you have literally never changed yourself,¡± Sal practically sounded like she was smirking, Calypso didn¡¯t need to look to confirm.

    ¡°Totally meant inside, by the way,¡± Calypso turned back towards her cousin. ¡°Like seriously, you exploded. I tried to push you away and my hand nearly stunk into your chest¡ªwhy must you always show me up?¡±

    Sal¡¯s disposition and attitude makes one forget that she¡¯s rather pretty, Calypso thought. And it wasn¡¯t like she didn¡¯t know it, considering how much skin she was showing and how rather tight her shirt was.

    ¡°Hey, the adults meant somethin¡¯ when they told us to drink our milk~¡± Sal knowingly smirked as she stopped due to the traffic once more.

    ¡°You grew up on a farm,¡± Calypso spat overdramatically, aware. ¡°You got a head start!¡±

    ¡°And it paid off wonders~ Now, when they get me for offin¡¯ ya¡¯, I can bribe ¡®em all with my beauty and get away scott free!¡±

    Calypso giggled once again, lightly slapping and then punching Sal¡¯s arm, who in turn was laughing along with her, paying no mind to it.

    ¡°Man, I forgot how much I hated you¡­¡± Calypso said in warm reverence.

    ¡°Hate ya¡¯ too, cousin,¡± Sal smiled at her. ¡°Glad that I could make ya¡¯ actually smile.¡±

    ¡°The first time in weeks, I might add¡­¡± Calypso looked forward, again looking at nothing and nowhere in particular. She could see Sal fidget softly in response to it, before facing forward herself and resumed driving.

    ¡°I never even heard of ¡®clinical depression¡¯¡­¡± Sal scrunched her brow. ¡°Of course, I¡¯ve heard of depression, but clinical? What makes it special or is it the actual medical jargon or somethin¡¯?¡±

    ¡°All it means is that I get to enjoy a niiiiice side order of happy pills with every meal I take from now on~¡± Calypso chirped, but lacking in positive cheer nor comedic leaning.

    She was surprised and caught off guard when she heard Sal hum in worry, glancing at her.

    ¡°Lord, that sucks¡­¡± Sal looking very crestfallen. ¡°Now people are gonna think you¡¯re some wackjob¡­¡±

    Calypso scratched her cheek. Nervously. Pathetically.

    ¡°I¡¯ve always been a wackjob, to be fair¡­¡±

    ¡°Cal.¡±

    Her just saying the girl¡¯s name made her cold.

    ¡°You just went through stuff that not even a grown ass man could cope with. You¡¯re not crazy or insane. You¡¯re hurt, and you¡¯re comin¡¯ up here with us so you can heal. So let¡¯s start doin¡¯ it, alright?¡±

    Calypso was going to respond. With a ¡°yeah¡±, or a ¡°hm¡±, something noncommittal yet ultimately pleases the person¡¯s concerns.

    But she doubled over in pure fear.

    Clutching at her sides as she hugged herself tight, pulling against the seatbelt, sweat immediately forming on her clamming skin, and starting to pant as if the breath she had was sucked away from her at an instant.

    It was happening again, something causing her body to launch into fight or flight. But there was nothing there, there couldn¡¯t be. Nothing about it made sense.

    Because the danger wasn¡¯t around them, or afar. Weirdly enough, her senses were going into overdrive¡­because her body deems HER the danger.

    Calypso was so wrapped up and crippled by the response, it took a violent stop of the car to snap her back to reality. Slamming her back upright onto her seat.

    ¡°Cal, Cal!¡± Sal grabbed her cousin in concern. ¡°Are you okay?!¡±

    Calypso looked at her cousin. Then at every side, all with her pupils still shaking and delated.

    Realizing that Sal pulled over from the road, and into the parking lot of a plaza of rest stops and restaurants.

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing¡­¡± Calypso could barely go above a pained whisper. ¡°It¡¯s nothing it¡¯s nothing it¡¯s nothing¡­¡±

    ¡°Did I do this¡­?¡± Sal looked gutted, far and away from her self-assured expressions. ¡°Was this because of me-?!¡±

    ¡°No¡ª¡± Calypso took a big gulp, somehow provide relief for her drying throat. ¡°N-no¡­ I just need a moment¡­ It¡¯s another m-men-mental thing I have to go through¡­¡±

    Sal just looked on. Her face shifting from fear, hurt, to finally guilt.  She was waiting for what Calypso was going to say next.

    ¡°Please¡­ Just give me a moment¡­ I¡¯m getting better now, in fact¡­ Just a few and we can resume arguing with each other¡­¡± Calypso twitched, in the effort to form a smile.

    ¡°¡­okay¡­¡± Sal sounded so little. ¡°Okay, yeah, okay¡ªbut we¡¯re totally gonna go to the nearest drive thru and piggin¡¯ the fuck out. We¡¯re having a detour anyways.¡±

    A dainty, shaking hand rested on top of Sal¡¯s. If Calypso couldn¡¯t use her usual standard of words, or her back up plan of faking smiles¡ªshe had no other choice in giving her cousin the assurance she needed.

    But Calypso was scared, scared of what this could mean for her¡­ What it already meant. Is the monster still alive inside of her¡­? No, that sensation was wildly different, she was painfully aware of it being alive, wriggling against her skin. This was fundamentally different.

    Somehow, someway, she was mortally afraid of herself¡ªjust as much as the shadow monster that nearly killed her.

 Entry 1.3 - A Monster: Without Purpose

    ***

    After hours on the road, after all the stops and tourist traps Sal forced her to go through, Calypso couldn¡¯t help but to laugh in bemusement over the fact that their destination is a massive ditch. Not hyperbole.

    As the cousins passed its city limit sign, as Sal pointed at it and needled Calypso about its population of 3.5k; Willow¡¯s Reverie was a town founded within a crater. A calamity that was lost to time, but the effects made a literal mark on the landscape. The settlers had no other choice, as they made camp here and hoped for the best that things might get better.

    Seeing the warm colors, the intricate structures, and the natural feel of the incoming town, Calypso felt that their hope paid off. A secluded paradise sandwiched between scenic seas and cliff face ridges.

    It was¡­ Very different. Buildings either being squared, or were rectangles glued to each other, or was just a colonial era landmark with a surface level refurbish. Fall-colored trees just strewn across the sidewalks, rivers that cut nonchalantly through roads¡­ All these images suffocated by predominantly red brick. Well, brown bricks, yellow bricks, navy bricks and the black metal flourishes for gates and windows. Tied together with cobbled roads crested with greying sidewalks, old streetlamps dotted across them.

    All of this, at an angle as well. San Francisco, but building around a sinkhole versus steep hills.

    ¡°So what we¡¯re riding on is called the ¡®Old Vessel¡¯,¡± Sal drove a much slower pace. ¡°¡ªOr the ¡®Main Vein¡¯, which is cooler¡ª¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s good that you guys lean into the fact you¡¯re unintentionally creepy,¡± Calypso interjected as she continued to look out her window.

    ¡°It¡¯s homely and quint, ya¡¯ drama queen,¡± Sal rolled her eyes, glancing at her cousin before fixing her gaze back at the road.

    She shifted into a more causal, and comfortable position as she drove¡ªleaning her chair back and her free arm hanging outside of her rolled down window. As she looked to her side, Sal suddenly got spirited in her movement, honking before waving.

    Calypso eyes were wide, looking around, unable to peer out of Sal¡¯s window to see. ¡°Who¡¯s waving at you¡ªpeople wave at each other here--?!¡±

    Sal looked back as her eyebrow was perked. ¡°And people in NY don¡¯t--?¡±

    Calypso groaned as she sunk in her seat. ¡°I have to meet people now¡­¡±

    With that, Sal laughed uproariously, even stopping the car briefly to ease her mirth. And an petty and embittered Calypso that was moping could¡¯ve sworn that her cousin shifted this laughter into an evil tone.

    Quickly recovering, Sal resumed giving her informal tour, ¡°Bu-hu-hu-t yeah, every street and bridge leads back here¡ªit¡¯s why we put ol¡¯ Grand Standing Plaza in the middle of it all~ That¡¯s where all the government and important shit¡¯s at¡ªalso my future stompin¡¯ ground~?¡±

    Calypso snapped out of her moodiness to do a double take. ¡°Say what--?¡±

    Sal shrugged with a content smirk, ¡°Iunno, it was a joke class I chose, that Political Science, and turns out I¡¯m pretty good at understandin¡¯ it~ Plus it¡¯d be so funny, seein¡¯ the farm gal be Mayor one day~ I mean, provided Ma and Paw manage to pry me away from the farm--¡±

    ¡°The smear campaigns will be loaded from top to bottom,¡± Calypso chuckled out, ¡°And I¡¯d provide them with most of the information¡ª¡±

    It was Calypso¡¯s turn to be pushed at, while laughing with a playful sneer.

    ¡°Anyways, yeah¡ªCrater Lake, Cornerstone Park, Port Acadia: no matter how different everythin¡¯ is, from East Ward n¡¯ West Ward, it¡¯s aaaallll connected here. Remember that, when you eventually get lost,¡± Sal winked at her cousin.

    ¡°Yes Sally, because I¡¯m totally going to get lost in a literal circle¡­¡± Calypso snarked drily, as her eyesight wondered off.

    There was a slight ping of relief that washed away, at the sentiment. Like it would be better if she never learned landmarks, for the good of this place¡­

    Sal continued on, but now Calypso was buried in her thoughts. What¡¯s going on inside of her? This conflict manifesting into odd bouts of¡­ Hysterical dread? And that¡¯s not including her accelerating healing¡­

    Repeated hospital visits showed that her blood was fine, her health was relatively fine. So it could stand to reason that the Monster isn¡¯t back or growing inside of her, nor was there any visual effects from eating what¡¯s left of it.

    If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    But that was the thing. Visual. Only visual and man-made sources.

    If Alice could randomly find a book that changed the fate of their entire lives on a whim¡­

    ¡°Hey uhm¡­¡± Calypso was surprised at her dour tone, before coughing to right it. ¡°Are there any bookstores around here?¡±

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t ya¡¯ ask when I literally talked about the strip, ya¡¯ dum-dum--?¡± Sal needled.

    ¡°I zone out now, it comes with the psychosis¡ª¡± Calypso then shrunk at Sal¡¯s fixed glare at her comment, before finishing, ¡°S-sorry, but really, I¡¯d like to hit one up before we go to the farm¡­¡±

    ¡°We are on-route home, Cal¡ª¡± Sal whined in response.

    ¡°Sally,¡± there was an element of being halfheartedness in Calypso¡¯s stern cadence, to show that it was a semi-important thing to her, ¡°Either you go there, then I ask your parents to go, and you drive back¡ªor you do it now¡ª¡±

    ¡°But we have to make a whole ass tuuuurn¡ª¡±

    ¡°You will do it or I will invoke Full Name Ultimatum.¡±

    Sal just gasped out, holding her heart with her free hand, looking at Calypso with widened eyes and her carefree fa?ade broken.

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m a boring young adult that likes to be proper, and your parents wouldn¡¯t bat an eye at it. You know how much power I wield, here.¡±

    Sal¡¯s face crumbled into faux-despair, but very overt tiredness.

    ¡°Dammit, man¡­¡± Sal mewled out pathetically. ¡°Fine, whatever girl¡­¡±

    As she felt the shifts within the car, Calypso rubbed her hands together with the expression of an evil genius to match, enjoying wearing that hat despite the immediate wash of shame after moments like these.

    But soon after, it turned into nervously tangling her fingers on top of each other as she bit her lip in concern. Letting her brow rise in anxiety as she felt the sweat acuminate, raising her hands to her mouth as both are balled fists.

    Calypso had to get to the bottom of this. And fast.

    ***

    ¡°Annnnd, homeward bound! Y¡¯know, again¡ª¡±

    Calypso had been tapping her fingers against the cover of the tome that rested on top of the other three, just to keep her restless mind busy. ¡°Oh, uh, nice nice.¡±

    Sal said something about ¡°why do you like to read¡± or something along those lines. Calypso didn¡¯t know anymore.

    It was on the precipice of being unbearable, these mental breakdowns of hers. It took the worst aspect of an impending medical crisis. Moments where one feels fine despite the underlying pain, immediately followed by spikes of worryingly intensity that triggers the fight or flight response. ¡°Stop kidding yourself, go to the ER, go to a country that fixes this¡ªwho cares, do anything, we¡¯re dying¡±.

    That¡¯s what Calypso¡¯s mind was screaming at her¡­ About her own body. Every single thought she had, it was met with this primal scream of fear. Something was coming, something is too near, something is on the verge of hurting you, is hurting you, killing you¡­ And it¡¯s her. Get away¡­ From herself.

    There was no escaping it. Calypso could only freak out, hiding behind her mask that was slipping away inch by inch due to the sweat she¡¯d been producing, and the manic expression she¡¯s been locked in. All she needed was time alone, time to read, and hopefully there¡¯s something after because the idea of this continuing is¡ª

    ¡°¡ªHey um¡­ There¡¯s gonna be forest on the sides of this road¡­¡±

    Calypso stiffened, only to find a worried Sal looking at her. Relaxing, softly shaking her head free of the ensnaring mental razor floss wrapped around her brain.

    ¡°N-no--?¡±

    ¡°Huh--?¡± Calypso asked in a hurry, trying to decode what Sal meant instantly.

    ¡°Do you wanna go somewhere else, or--?¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Calypso shouted, before immediately retracting, ¡°N-no, uh¡­ I¡¯m fine, I¡¯m good, let¡¯s go, I can handle it¡­¡±

    ¡°Are ya¡¯ sure?¡±

    Calypso had to quickly bite down on her thumb. So she could not flip out on her only family that remotely stands her.

    Calypso took a deep breath through her nose, before unclamping and raising her head away from the thumb, ¡°Sal. Part of the process is facing the¡­ Problem¡­ Just trust me.¡±

    ¡°Alrighty¡­¡± Sal straightened her lips into a line, looking forward, tightening her hold on the wheel as she moved forward.

    Calypso looked down on her thumb, red and with bite marks, which receded within seconds.

    Shakenly grabbing it with the other hand as she stared out her window, Calypso shuddered out a pant. She had to fight against opening one of these books and tearing it open right now, but she had to maintain some semblance of sanity, especially at this point.

    But as the girls drove down this dirty road, surrounded by tall trees, it was hard not flashing back. Not even in the forest itself, but the train ride there.

    Where Calypso could even see the creatures of the damned from there, from out of the train car¡¯s window. That she called herself dumb, afraid, an idiot in an instant when she did. But now she can¡¯t help to think¡ªwhat if she voiced it then? Would it have made a difference in the end?

    Despite it feeling like an eternity, Calypso soon saw nothing but open, green fields. Stretching until they became fertilized and hoed farmland, finally leading to a humble two-floor home.

    It was basically like the postcards that Calypso saw in the past, a wide place with thin wooden pillars that held up the roof, creating a patio. Brown and white shades made up the palette, the windows not only boxy but were in pairs. The rooftops were more like trapezoids in a deep brown, the paired windows were more narrowed as they emerged out of the massive roof piece. A caramel paint coating the walls with white boarders around the windows as a finish.

    And despite being rather spacious, one could easily see the red barns dotted behind it. Clearly holding some form of life that were shadowed and moving from this view.

    Something that Calypso had to remind herself of, that they¡¯re just barn animals.

    Now as they got closer to her Aunt and Uncle¡¯s, Calypso took soft breathes to herself, steeling herself. Adjusting her mask with the standard neutral calm she¡¯s cultivated.

    Pulling up to the front of the house, Calypso saw the duo. Aunt Artemis waving with both arms, as Uncle Bradley merrily shaking a cardboard sign that said ¡°WELCOME HOME, CALYPSO¡± scribbled with stylized letters.

    ¡°I had to deal with that energy for years¡ªnow it¡¯s your turn,¡± Sal took her tongue and hooked it out of the side of her mouth, as she took out her keys. The frustrating thing about her cousin was that everything she says is layered deep with humor, making it hard for Calypso to deem what¡¯s a joke and what¡¯s not.

    ¡°Oh boy¡­¡± Calypso had to keep a handle, had to keep the mask steady. She opened her door, and got out, putting her books under her arm as she walked forward.

 Entry 1.4 - A Monster: Without Purpose

    Only for her Aunt to pull her into a massive, hug, uncaring about the awkwardness of it in very sense.

    ¡°Auntie~!¡± Calypso invoked a jovial cadence to her hollow words. ¡°It¡¯s been too long¡­¡±

    ¡°That it has, sweetie¡­¡± Artemis, like her mother, had a very weird and croaky vocal tone, but hers was more rough, stringy, she made it fit her overall personality.

    As Artemis ceased the hug, resting her hands on Calypso¡¯s shoulders, the girl had a better look of what she wore. Wolly plaid shirt, with a black tee under it, with jeans and boots. So virtually the same ever since Calypso last saw her, which was 3 years ago. She tied her head back as well, dirty blonde into a ponytail. Sporting grey eyes as well, behind her squinting disposition with crow¡¯s-feet.

    ¡°Just know that it wasn¡¯t your fault¡ª¡± Artemis lightly shook her head. ¡°And it wasn¡¯t Penny¡¯s fault, you were both stressed, it happens, all you need was a bit of space and to cool off, just don¡¯t hold any of this against her, y¡¯know--?¡±

    ¡°No no¡­¡± Calypso looked down, actually guilt-ridden. ¡°Either way, I st¡ªI still did it, and have to live with that¡­ I¡¯m grateful that I wasn¡¯t sent to some mental institution and that shows that she does care about me. I was wrong, and I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    Calypso felt a massive mitt pat at her head, to see her strapping Uncle right next to his wife, aiding in the consoling.

    ¡°Either way, there¡¯s no need to be so formal about simply comin¡¯ home,¡± Bradley smiled, fully with his shining teeth. ¡°You¡¯re family, Calypso. We mess up, n¡¯ we deal with it, n¡¯ keep the bed warm~¡±

    He was a tall and handsome man, with dark skin and curly short hair. It suited his large chin and high cheekbones, that complimented his genuine, warm smile. Right now, he was wearing a dress shirt + sweater vest combo, with black dress pants.

    ¡°You sayin¡¯ all that and you¡¯re dressed like you¡¯re bein¡¯ interviewed again by the news, Paw¡ª¡± Sal snarked, popping open the trunk.

    Uncle Bradley then used his large hand to pat at his chest, as if he¡¯s dusting himself off. ¡°Well, I need to look my best to convince a Grimes that I¡¯m a good person¡ªI had to it the first time, after all¡ª¡±

    ¡°You keep talking like that and Cal¡¯ll see firsthand how I run this realm,¡± Artemis teased good-naturedly.

    ¡°Y¡¯know¡­¡± Calypso smiled a bit. ¡°Always wondered where Sal gets her¡­ Well, everything from. I often assumed that she¡¯s the tyrant¡ªand how wrong I was¡ª¡±

    ¡°Well, depends if she finally decides to let me fall off the tractor or something,¡± Artemis smirked as she heard her daughter forcefully laugh out from afar. ¡°It¡¯s a family saying¡­ ¡®Laughter¡¯s the easiest gift you can give someone¡¯~¡±

    ¡°I like that¡­ That philosophy¡­¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± Bradley patted Calypso¡¯s head again. ¡°Because you¡¯re probably gonna hate these rules¡ª¡±

    Calypso was shocked, but instantly prepared for the worst. ¡°Well, it¡¯s your home after all¡­ It doesn¡¯t matter if I like them or not.¡±

    ¡°Man, if only me and Penny swapped kids or something growing up; you are such a dear, Cal¡ª¡± Artemis then chuckled as Sal groaned from afar, as if it were music to her eyes. ¡°But no, as much as we joke, it¡¯s not a dictatorship¡­¡±

    Artemis held up a finger, ¡°1) No swearing in the house. Be creative in your words with anything else, but no cussing once you step into the threshold.¡±

    Calypso blinked in disbelief, ¡°Now I¡¯m not the most swear-y person, but I¡¯m a New Yorker, Auntie¡ª¡±

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    ¡°And you¡¯re a Reverian now, so we¡¯re showing you the ropes for your own sake~¡± Artemis held up the following fingers as she counted on. ¡°2) Help out when you can¡ªwhile we¡¯re not gonna force you to work out here because that¡¯s much, but pitch in from time to time, especially if someone¡¯s asking for extra hands. 3) Once it¡¯s 10:00 PM, you¡¯re in the house and in your room. Things come up and things happen, but leniency only works if you¡¯re making your way back.¡±

    ¡°Be happy that it was recently amended from the original version; which was ¡®Lights out at 10:00 PM¡¯,¡± Bradley chuckled while crossing his arms.

    ¡°I don¡¯t really have any latest technology on me and it¡¯s not my style aways¡­¡± Calypso swayed her head lightly in thought. ¡°But no light while reading would be much¡­¡±

    Artemis chuckled in turn as she squeezed Calypso¡¯s shoulders, ¡°But yeah, follow those rules and it¡¯s nothing but simple living here~ Sal can drive you to campus, or hey, don¡¯t be afraid to ask to us to go into town and get you something. You¡¯re comfortable and safe here, Cal. We¡¯ll make sure of it.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s going to be sounds and bumps at the night, don¡¯t you worry about hearin¡¯ any of it¡­And hey, if there¡¯s somethin¡¯ more, best thing about farms are the shotguns hidden about it,¡± somehow Bradley made that statement feel thoughtful and jovial.

    ¡°But enough about what we¡¯re gonna do next Saturday that rhymes with ¡®Rooting Strange Cactus¡¯¡ª¡± Artemis laughed as she maneuvered around Calypso, wrapping her arm around her dear niece. ¡°Let¡¯s get ya¡¯ unpackaged and under the sheets. The ride must¡¯ve taken a lot outta ya¡¯¡­¡±

    She didn¡¯t need to elaborate further for Calypso, the comment made her blood run cold. It questioned if her blood is even red anymore to begin with.

    There is no sleep, no rest, until Calypso figured everything out.

    ***

    All of the Folk And Their Strides, Tales of the Skinwalkers, and the Log of What Could Be Insane were strewn across Calypso¡¯s new bed.

    Her new room was yellow, and humble, and great¡ªshe even allowed herself to laugh at the coincidence of her room having the same relative position at her actual house, across from the bathroom down a long hall.

    She was too busy on the verge of tearing her hair out. There was nothing to help Calypso in those books, and she was on the last one. The girl spent most of her issued funds in getting these things, and aside from being dusty paperweights, they only prod at Calypso¡¯s heating up mind, not soothe it.

    Old World Parables and Folklore¡ªthis had to be it, it had to be. Calypso tore through every page, skimming every line, pouring all attention into this tome.

    At least one thing was clear with each page turn. It didn¡¯t matter the block of text, the moral of the story, the description, verbiage: it all boiled to fearing the shadows that lived. Watch for the shade and pray that it didn¡¯t stretch too far, be rid of it especially of one¡¯s home from every single corner. Even if you heed the warnings, the moment you think your troubles are over¡­ The knowledge of them alone can be a killer.

    It sounded about right to Calypso, but none of the stories offered more useful information¡ªonly focusing on the madness of the post-encounters, or the aftermath of the grizzly tragedies. Not the complicated middle, like she was.

    This was the point that Calypso¡¯s hands shot up towards her already bed-tossed hair, ruffling her brown locks in a frenzy to keep from screaming or trashing her new room¡ªwhich only had the briefcases sprawled all around.

    But, the moment of insanity gave her a much needed thought¡ªa bout of clarity. Flipping back towards the glossary, she searched for ¡°skinwalkers¡± again, maybe this book would be a better lead than the others.

    And much to her surprise, Calypso not only saw the page number, but the circle around it. Hazard, clearly a pen mark.

    She shoved her fingers into the tome, wedging it open and making a mad dash towards the page. With each page number passed by acting as a countdown of sorts, her last resort, her last chance.

    And what she found was not what she didn¡¯t expect at all.

    The bookstore they went to, it was already informal¡ªif not treated with any form of respect at all. The books were just put back without organization, said books are weathered and neglected, and when it was said and done, Calypso had to pay as if they were mint. So seeing some writing in a book shouldn¡¯t be surprising.

    What was said rocked her to her core, as she read on:

    ¡°I DON¡¯T KNOW HOW MUCH I HAVE

    I THOUGHT I ESCAPED THE FOREST, BUT I NEVER LEFT

    A VOICE THAT SOUNDS LIKE MINE IS TELLING ME TO DO THINGS I WAS NEVER CAPABLE OF    YOU HAVE TO BLEA  <u>BELIEVE ME</u>

    WHEN YOU END ME, PLEASE, TAKE ME A PART SO YOU COULD UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED, NO ONE CANT GO THROUGH THIS PLEASE

    GOD BLESS GOD BLESS GOD BLESS GOD BLESS GOD BLESS GOD BLESS¡±

    The writing was craved into the page, writing over the printed text.

    With trembling hands and a mind finally overwhelmed, the tome collapsed out of her hands, only for Calypso to follow after.

    ***

    ***

 Entry 1.5 - A Monster: Without Purpose

    Calypso was greeted by a voice before the lights finished blinding her.

    ¡°Ah¡­ Ms. Calypso Grimes, am I correct?¡±

    The girl didn¡¯t even know who she was for a second. Her senses discombobulated her, and it took moments before the over-sensory faded¡­

    For Calypso to realize that she¡¯s showed up to her first college class. With everyone, from students to the professor eyeballing her.

    ¡°¡­I-I-I¡ª¡± Calypso looked around in confusion.

    ¡°Three I¡¯s in one breath? I assure you that you¡¯re making quite the first impression already, no need for more egotism. But, I did ask you a question.¡±

    Calypso had to focus, so she focused on the professor.

    She had a messy head of black, entangled locks that grew past her shoulders. Her face barely peeked out of the locks, being weathered and worn despite seemingly young, with rounded glasses that barely hung off the nose. Wearing a light green suit top that looked in better shape than her hair, with a long white skirt with a floral finisher that hit her ankles, which black dress shoes appeared under.

    Calypso had to stop further, trying to meet the woman¡¯s gaze, but it was too late. She felt like she was gawking at the professor¡¯s wheelchair¡ªmaking it a spectacle versus apart of this woman¡¯s everyday life.

    ¡°Sorry, yes, I¡¯m Calypso¡­¡±

    The professor gripped her wheels, angling herself to face Calypso, ¡°Thank you, Ms. Grimes¡ªI never thought that transfer students were more literal nowadays. Is there any explanation that you¡¯re so late to my class and showed up at the near end of it¡­?¡±

    Calypso looked down at herself before anything, trying to drown out the faint laughter she heard. An excuse to look bashful (which was very real), but to confirm that she¡¯s actually dressed right now¡ªwhich was a baggy yellow shirt and black shirt with sneakers.

    Calypso rose and shook her head at her professor. All of this was trivial, given how she¡¯s fighting an oncoming panic attack, and trying to shake off the effects of an actual fume state.

    ¡°Well, at least I value honesty,¡± the professor was blunt as she was banal. She gestured toward a free seat.

    As Calypso walked towards this seat, she gripped at her old school bag¡ªshe even had her school bag! It was buried in one of her suitcases¡ªshe had to actively find it! This went beyond a blackout episode, beyond anything ¡°normal¡±.

    So into her own head, Calypso slipped as she sat into her desk, fumbling into it.

    ¡°Drugs are pretty rad, huh--?¡±

    Calypso turned her head at the swift slap to the side, just in time to see the target say ¡°ow¡±.

    A shaggy haired youth, red shirt with a screaming and faded explosion on it with blackened jeans. Very noticeable buck teeth with uncaring eyes crested with bushy black eyebrows. He rubbed at his side, as a tan girl in cheerleading gear scowled at him with her arms crossed.

    ¡°I call it like I see it. She¡¯s clearly zoned the fuck outta her mind, I¡¯m allowed to say shit¡ª¡±

    Calypso heard the professor clear her throat, before she could get a name. It started with J.

    ¡°Ms. Grimes joining us gives me the excuse to reiterate the rules. We operate on a strictly professional relationship, I expect you all to perform at high-end level, and finally, we are all adults here. We respect each other at a baseline level and I will not accept anything less. Am I clear?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mrs. Moses,¡± the class sans Calypso mewled out. Finally giving her a name to this intensity.

    ¡°Now, since we¡¯re on the same page¡ªdue to Mr. Barker¡¯s slight he made, I expect 2 pages, written or typed, about yourselves and what book impacted you the most. I¡¯ll be lenient and not mark off for grammar, given that I wasn¡¯t going to give you an assignment on the first day until now. Thank you and dismissed.¡±

    The hall was filled with groaning as everyone shuffled their things away.

    Calypso felt a kick behind her chair. It wasn¡¯t a forceful one, more disguised as a stray movement.

    ¡°Thanks a lot, bitch¡­¡±

    The J-Baker boy proceeded to walk in a huff, into the outgoing crowd of disgruntled students, with the cheerleader arguing with him as they exited the door.

    ¡°Ms. Grimes. A moment, would you?¡±

    Calypso snapped out of fog trance once again, blinking excessively. She looked to her professor, and struggled to get out of desk, before grabbing her bag and walking forward.

    Mrs. Moses leaned forward, putting her arms on her desk with her fingers tented together.

    ¡°I understand that things have been harrowing for you lately¡­¡±

    Calypso¡¯s eyes widened, searching the woman up and down.

    Only for Mrs. Moses to raise her hand, ¡°As they gave me your files, they made a note of it. I was puzzled and asked if that¡¯s a massive breach of privacy, but knowledge can¡¯t be taken back: just used in an even-handed manner. But sincerely, my thoughts go out to you during this trying time.¡±

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    ¡°Thank you¡­¡± Calypso felt the words spill out of her mouth. None of what was happening felt real yet.

    ¡°But. When you come into my classroom, I expect you to perform like the rest of your peers. By entering, you¡¯re telling me that you believe that you¡¯re ready to be educated and prepared to work on your career. Keep that in mind next time, when you¡¯re unfit and debating about attending.¡±

    ¡°Of¡­ Of course. Of course. Again, sorry¡­¡±

    Mrs. Moses pushed her glasses back onto her hazel eyes. ¡°That being said. Go to our consoler services and request another week or so off. Clearly you¡¯re not fully recovered, and it¡¯s irresponsible to have you continue as if nothing¡¯s wrong. I recommend it.¡±

    Calypso perked up, once again out of her fume state. It was odd hearing this blunt, detached tone suddenly have warmth to it.

    Only to see the professor looking through her papers, reading and paying the girl no mind. ¡°Hope the rest of the day proves better for you, Ms. Grimes. I can¡¯t wait to meet you properly.¡±

    Calypso could only nod, knowing that the teacher couldn¡¯t see. Grabbing her head, she immediately made her way for the exit.

    ¡°Oh, and I am expecting those papers when you return,¡± Mrs. Moses voice cut though. ¡°Along with the other possible outstanding work¡ªbut I won¡¯t mark off points for tardiness, at least, so you have my kindness¡ª¡±

    ***

    Calypso forced herself to walk back to the house. She could¡¯ve found Sal somewhere on campus, to gain a ride back, but that would raise too many questions she did not have the answers to.

    As she was running, out of breath even before reaching this point¡ªearlier in her journey, Calypso was surrounded by woodlands. She looked down, at the dirt road despite kicking up particles into the air, she didn¡¯t care. She knew that they were there anyways, that they were here too, that they were watching.

    She took the advice of her cousin, travelling down the Old Vessel, let it lead the way back, doing the near-impossible task of making sure she was heading towards the woodlands but not taking in the landmarks for later.

    There was no more trust in herself. Her body is fearing her, she¡¯s unable to focus, now there¡¯s lapses in memory. Calypso was going insane, and it could be felt on many levels. She needed to direct her possible last moments of lucidity in one last ditch effort.

    It was a struggle, but Calypso pushed through the forest, onto the fields of farmland, finally arriving at the house, storming up the white porch.

    Jerking the door open and rushing inside, Calypso didn¡¯t care about the rather confused mumbling that echoed within the walls. She made a break for the bathroom, pushing herself inside as she tumbled onto the floor with a thud.

    Scrambling upwards, Calypso hoisted herself using the tub edge as a prop, before cranking the one of the nozzles. The sounds of rushing water muffling Calypso¡¯s very audible pants of worry.

    Calypso¡¯s head turned towards the knock at the door so fast, she was convinced something popped.

    Knowing that it wouldn¡¯t have mattered, as she stared hopelessly at her scrapped leg seal the wound in seconds.

    ¡°Cal? Cal is everythin¡¯ okay in there--?¡± Uncle Bradley asked, clearly bothered.

    Calypso couldn¡¯t hide the very real emotional distress that was brewing in her tone, nor her struggles not to cry.

    ¡°I ne-need a moment, please,¡± Calypso sputtered out. ¡°I-I want to be alone r-r-right now, please, I-I¡¯m sorry¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡­Okay. Just know we¡¯re here to help, al¡¯ight? Shout if ya¡¯ need to.¡±

    She had to hold her simpering, so she could hear the pregnant pause, followed by the sounds of walking down the stairs.

    Shuffling back onto her feet, Calypso faced the sink and turned it on for good measure. Taking in her utterly frazzled look in the mirror. Her hair stuck to her face that poured with sweat, her eyes beady, her lips dry.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ Who I¡¯m talking to¡­ Whatever you are, whatever I am¡ªbut I demand to get an answer right now¡­!¡±

    She had to grip the sides of the sink, as Calypso started to away as sudden vertigo rocked her fevering mind.

    ¡°Tell me¡­¡± Calypso struggled to raise her voice, struggled to keep her eyes open. ¡°Face me! I-I fought to live and I am going to live, da¡ªdarn you! Now tell me what I need to know--!¡±

    She snapped into place. Her face that was just stretched into accusation and fear suddenly settled into a blank daze. Her eyes wide open, her mouth agape. Not exactly hung open, but parted in pause.

    Calypso saw as her body shuddered in a chill. But that wasn¡¯t quite what happened, it was her trying to define something that was completely unnatural.

    Her muscles didn¡¯t just stiffen, but¡­ produced what could only be called a fleshy wave of tension. Slowly and roughly rolling up her body. All with a sickening squelching sound.

    She immediately reared back, slamming into the wall as she struggled to scream for a moment, only pained squeaks followed out of her trembling lips. She was on the verge of wailing out, was about to grab her head in despair before a glint of light shined in one of her eyes, that were about to close in frustrated desperation.

    As Calypso looked on, tilting her head in confusion steeped in dread, that she¡¯s gotten her answer. Too bad she didn¡¯t like it.

    It was the gem. The gem that was her seemingly immaterial and immortal soul, was resting in the sink that was filling with water. Droplets and water residentials were splattered everywhere, showing that it somehow flopped out of her.

    There was nothing to it, Calypso immediately fished it out. As big as her dainty palm, the disk was clutched by her shaking fingers as the girl then turned everything in the bathroom off, and stormed out of it.

    Slamming the door of her new room, Calypso stared at the gem, panting as she focused on the one blemish on an otherwise beautiful work of art.

    The visible red shard that was embedded within.

    She didn¡¯t know what she was doing, but Calypso jumped on the bed, throwing her bag off, digging into it in a frenzy pulling out a binder. Opening it to a fresh page of paper and a pen at the ready with her other hand, she yelled at the stone.

    ¡°Alice, you got me into this mess¡ªyou explain what the hell is going on, right now!¡± Calypso spewed venom in her voice. ¡°You¡¯re still with me, I know you¡¯ve been watching, not doing anything¡ªyou want me to forgive you for fu¡ªscrewing up so massively?! Then clean your mess!¡±

    Calypso instantly felt the pull.

    Her hand took a life of its own, scribbling wildly against the sheet, as Calypso looked on, actually surprised that this worked. Shocked that Alice was here the entire time, not helped he once.

    Before any resentment began to settle, Alice was done writing with Calypso¡¯s hand:

    ¡°limited words, 5 or less

    Im so sorry

    I fucked up massively

    Not only killed you

    But gave you a curse

    Im sorry

    Im sorry

    Im sorry¡±

    Calypso couldn¡¯t breathe. A lump formed in her throat, and her hand was taken again as Alice wrote the next page:

    ¡°they call you:

    the monster¡¯s monster now

    not monster but not human

    transforming nearing, hours away

    been happening, chipping you away

    cant stop

    cant ever stop now

    I cant remember anything else

    im sorry¡±

    She let go of the pen, she let the gem fall to the wayside. Calypso could only whimper softly into palms.

    Until she felt her face rumble under them, with an accompanying growl.

    So panicked, she flailed her arms and didn¡¯t care where they landed. Until she looked down, seeing her hand hit the gem.

    Getting a perfect view of what happened along it¡¯s surface.

    The milky waves weren¡¯t design¡­ They were clusters of screaming faces in agony. Transient in shape, until they morphed into Calypso¡¯s very visage. Each one, while portraying different expressions, all were emotions that she harbored. And even then, despite how visceral the imagery was, they were still muted. Pathetic.

    She couldn¡¯t throw it, because who knew what could happen if it shattered. She couldn¡¯t run away, because that results in her family looking for her. No matter what she could do, it all became meaningless.

    Calypso could only wait, as she shivered and rocked in place. Prepare and wait.

 Entry 1.6 - A Monster: Without Purpose

    ***

    A series of knocks interrupted Calypso¡¯s writing. What amounted to both a will and a confession letter.

    ¡°Hey, Cal¡­¡± Sal¡¯s muffled voice tried to reach out beyond the door. ¡°I know you¡¯re not feelin¡¯ well, but maybe comin¡¯ with us to the Founding Celebration might take a load off, eh¡­? It''s the 200th-or-somethin'' b-day for the town, a lotta events planned, I think you''d love--¡±

    Calypso hoped she didn¡¯t figure out that her very back was pressed to the door. In clothing disarray, notepad against her lap, unable to stop shaking.

    ¡°No, I just need time alone right now¡­¡± Calypso couldn¡¯t hide the despair, how it wavered and crackled her tone. ¡°Go on without me, have fun¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­I will stay here with you, if that¡¯s gonna help¡ª¡±

    ¡°And all that¡¯s going to do is make me feel worse,¡± Calypso mustered the strength to fight back.

    She heard Sal¡¯s long, mournful sigh.

    ¡°The moment somethin¡¯ happens or you need anythin¡¯: you call, al¡¯ight? Maw has a cell.¡±

    Calypso swallowed, as the terror gripped at her throat from within.

    ¡°A-alright, can you d-do me a solid and have wherever the house phone is hooked up¡ªput it in a visible place? It would make things a lot easier¡­¡±

    ¡°Gotcha. We love you, y¡¯know that right¡­?¡±

    ¡°I love you all too¡­¡± Calypso felt it was going to be the last time she¡¯ll get to say that.

    She waited for footfalls to fade. She waited until the sounds of locks rang out. She even waited until she heard a truck pull off and away.

    She set aside the note, putting it in plain view for later discovery. She crawled on hands and knees, climbing into her bed as she laid down, shaking alone.

    Whatever was coming, it was there. Finally here.

    ¡°Oh GOD!¡± Calypso pathetically reached her hands up at her sweat-drenched face in a blur. ¡°IT¡¯S HAPPENING! IT¡¯S HAPPENING!¡±

    She fell off the bed screaming from the tops of her lungs, from the bottom of her throat that was becoming rawer by the moment, hitting the wooden floor with a sickening thud. Rolling around on the patterned carpet in pain, and it wasn¡¯t because of the fall.

    Shivering turned into shuddering. And that turned into outright spasms that she tried to hug herself to keep herself under control in vain.

    The sensation itself, putting her body into such an existential panic because the threat is so beyond what it could sense, what it could try to take on. It was different from the invader that tried to hollow her from the inside out, it tried to fit into something that it simply couldn¡¯t, creating a feeling that something was breathing under her own skin.

    Here? Her entire body, from muscle, and bone to even cells. They¡¯re dying. All at once, fighting and refusing to let that happen, meaning precious little as they struggle into exhaustion. Succumbing to this death and beginning to become something else entirely.

    Calypso grabbed her throat, wondering why there was no sound rumbling out of it. Even the act of screaming was slowly being taken from her.

    Her writhing mind was in survival mode, she scrambled back to the bed, watching her twitching fingers grab the mirror on her bed while pulling her sheets down with her on the floor. She had to steady her hand by grabbing it with her other one, looking at the mirror with fervent, desperate eyes.

    Only to find, only to see, her entire face shuddering rhythmically. Slower than her beating heart, but fast for it to be clearly abnormal.

    The worse part was the fact she was smiling unknowingly in delirium as it happened, when she knew that she felt nothing but despair.

    Her shuddering, turned into pulsating.

    The shock caused her to snap the handle with her bare hand, causing her to jump. She quickly looked at her hand, noticing no blood coming from it despite having the shards deep within her shaking palm.

    And watched as these very shards shot out of her hand. One by one in quick secession, as those ¡°wounds¡± closed.

    Calypso had seen her dead friend talk to her from the beyond. She gathered pieces of her shattered soul and formed it into a stone. She fought and then ate a monster that was going to do the same to her. She¡¯s witnessed the supernatural and knows that it is indeed real.

    But she could not simply believe what was happening to her. A human, childish denial in the face of this horrible reality.

    Bone. A skeletal frame manifested on her hand, forming itself, drawing from the skin and meat of her hand. Bone replaced veins from the back of the hand, connecting the forming claws, knuckles popping out to act as a mediatory. Giving the appearance of a skinless claw, as the eggshell white and curved nails popped from her fingers. Her pale skin so flushed, that it was turning peach colored. No, it was simply turning into a peach pink hue.

    ¡°a-alice,¡± she sounded so small, before shrieking out: ¡°ALIIIICE! I¡¯M SORRY! I¡¯M SORRY, PLEASE! HELP ME! HELP ME--!¡±

    As she bellowed out her final ¡°HELP MEEEE!¡±, her elbow destroyed itself before reforming into a long and boney fin. Despite being a clean break, strings of her changing flesh hung off the scythe, as if they were skin-covered veins desperately holding on. Jutting inches away from her arm in a glacial and purposefully painful pace.

    In vain she grabbed her changing arm, only to finally notice that said other arm was in the same transformation process. She hugged herself, the tears pouring from her eyes, so potent that they were cutting through the sheen of sweat.

    Her new claws were cutting the sleeves of her yellow shirt, until she curled into a ball forwardly and rocked on the floor. Weeping. Gnashing her teeth. Slamming her fists feebly on the floorboards, in so much turmoil that it rivaled the burning death she was feeling on every level of her body.

    All before her head shot up, and she hunched forward. Stilling. Her expression blank, her gray eyes fading into white nothingness.

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    Her back arched. It kept arching, her back muscles swelling so wildly that they expanded in size before settling back down.

    ¡°¡­O¡­¡±

    It began pounding again, riding up her baggy shirt effortlessly.

    ¡°¡­O-oooh¡­¡±

    It started throbbing again, and expression returned to Calypso¡¯s face once more. Despite the mess, the tears, the sweat¡­ It was a pleased, relaxed calm. Her face drenched in dazed curiosity with lowered eyelids.

    ¡°Y¡­ Yes¡­ M¡­ More¡­¡±

    She screamed again, as her spine exploded out of her back, ripping a long strand down her shirt. Soon after, it formed into plates and fastened itself down the girl¡¯s exposed, flushing pink back.

    Still shuddering, still holding herself, Calypso¡¯s brown hair covered her dropping head. Panting so hard she was cutting herself off until there were little sounds at all.

    And within that stillness, she began to chuckle.

    She didn¡¯t know what was remotely funny about this, but she did know how beautifully agonizing it was. It was like an art form to it. Sure, the pain was reaching highs she never thought she could have felt¡ªit felt like she was mere moments of dying for real. But.

    This agony, this aching¡­ Was all encompassing, ever-present, had such a grip on her body to the point this pain felt¡­ All pooled together into a very engrossing, sharp tingle.

    It was intoxicating.

    She couldn¡¯t get enough.

    She was falling in love.

    ¡°Hehehehe...! ¡­ A-ah¡­ yeah¡­!¡±

    Her head rose up in a snap, her throbbing face sporting pure delirium as her pupils became amber. A rictus grin literally stretched across ear to ear at the point of stretching pass its natural boundaries.

    ¡°Yeah! Yes! FINALLY!¡±

    With a wavering smile on her face, twitching uncontrollably, she used her claws to rip her baggy shirt to shreds. She honestly felt that she didn¡¯t need it, or any article, anymore.

    She was thrusted forward, as ribs shot from her sides. There was no counterreaction, no flinching. She let this happened, she had hungry eyes watching this unfold before her.

    Each the ribs connected and produced a ribcage, fastening with sudden force and locking against the skin. Her flesh, which was completely peach pink... It was mailable, shifting. Her body was destroying itself, then reforming into a more vicious, more feral build. To the point that this armor wasn''t "form-fitting", but merged to her body. This process jerking her about like a ragdoll.

    With her head hanging back, Calypso basked in this pain for a moment. Her mouth open, feeling a trail of saliva drip from the corner of her mouth, chuckling lowly, shuddering uncontrollably¡­ And for the dwindling life of her, she couldn¡¯t be bothered to stop.

    She then jumped for twisted joy, onto her feet. Looking down, she caught that the frame reached down to her legs, forming a bone line pattern that acted as smaller fin edge. She adored how her kneecaps grew spikes, how her toes were shooting claws from her nails, how a foot guard made of bone formed¡­

    Giggling as if she were younger, she shredded her underwear in a frenzy. Watching in opened mouth joy as a pelvis formed itself over her lower half. Locking in place with her spine and her leg fins in discordant harmony.

    Only for three elongated prongs of her ribcage from left to right break from the mold, clamping down the sides of her midriff, causing the poor girl to yip out in pain. Breaking themselves, they became more finger-like, with the longer segments of each "back" prong bleeding what could only be described as a "bone-strip" on her sides, connecting the ribcage and her pelvis in a unified look. Giving this appearance of a torn up, ruined dress.

    Her shaking pupils stared on, as her pelvis sprouted multiple spikes growing downward, acting as semi-flexible flaps that became a skirt, stopped past her pink thighs.

    She was stood in her room, possibly changing irreversibly, and she was loving every single detail of it. Looking at her new body, despite it being already altered, still shifting before her eyes--getting everything right if it meant twitching everything in place, if it meant drawing out the pain.

    Grinning ear to ear, she kept giggling mindlessly. Still hugging herself, shivering as if it was absolute zero, swaying over to her room¡¯s door as she felt the transformation still tearing her body apart.

    She banged herself against the door, before leaning forward against it with each clawed hand pressed upon the surface, still twitching in delight. Even by barely moving, she was causing the wood to bend against her newfound weight. Of course, she didn¡¯t care in this wonderful moment.

    For some reason, she could feel her own hair grow in volume. And it wasn¡¯t a point of feeling it streak past and down her bare back, but she could feel her roots push the hairs out.

    She reached at her now-wild bangs with her claw, getting a lock. Watching the boring brown transmute into a magenta hue before her very eyes.

    ¡°Ooooh¡­¡± Calypso cooed, her eyes empty and yet wild. ¡°What a wonderful makeover I¡¯m getting right now¡­ Suck it, Sally--¡±

    Her brow scrunched in confusion as she heard rattling close to her, before looking down.

    Seeing her own arm trying desperately to grab the knob on its own. In a sense.

    ¡°Hush yoooou~¡± Calypso grabbed her rogue arm, making it tense until she¡¯s regained control. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare, the last shred of my humanity. Stop ruining things, you waste~ You were worthless, ineffective and nobody loves you, now die for real this time¡ª¡±

    She reared her head back for a bloodcurdling scream. Her neck having veins appear and twitching as fangs erupted around the collar bone area.

    She felt herself grow in height, her spine stretching her upwards until it simply didn¡¯t anymore, causing her to stumble onto her spiked knees. Putting her on all fours as she panted visible steam out of her mouth. Too busy enjoying the pain to notice that she now sported sharp fangs within her mouth of her own.

    The fangs sprouting around her neck became a jaw, raising out of her entirely peach-colored flesh until it formed a mockery of a high collar. The large fangs pressed flatly against her pink neck, still throbbing and the jawbone itself merging onto the top of her ribcage, the connection point fattening fast. Smaller, jagged teeth sprouting from this jawbone.

    Clutching at the sides of her head, trembling as she screamed out. It felt like her head was on the verge of splitting, as much as that thought sounded sublime in her warped mind.

    While she couldn¡¯t see it herself, a skull burst from the top of the head. Forcing her already wild hair to push down to cover the tops of her squeezed-shut eyes. It pushed, and pushed, and pushed out at such a slow, methodical rhythm until it finally stopped.

    Reaching at with the tips of her claws, she felt the top half of a deformed skull rest on her as a makeshift crown, with two fangs stopping near her now hidden forehead. Exaggerated so much that it was so wide to cover her head easily. She purred with pleasure at the discovery.

    Trying not to gash her own face, she moved her claws downwards upon her twitching face, slowly throbbing and easing to a halt. Gently feeling her cheek as much as could be done, she felt in real-time herself age a couple of years in one sitting. Her lips getting fuller, face longer and angled, as her eyelids were lowering in approval.

    As she hummed, the sensation of dying slowly gave way to that all embodying, ever-present, aching.

    Her heart was hammering away at speeds she never thought possible unless it was an imminent heart attack. The burning blood coursing through her making it feel like entire body was ablaze. Limbs so heavy, yet could feel the power stored within them. Not to mention how yummy she felt she looked.

    She had to look at herself. Now.

    Her newly christened eyesight made things not only look sharp, but enabled her to do ¡°sharp turns¡± with this new vision. Searching, her new eyes suited for hunting.

    Just needed the mirror to prove it. How much better she looked.

    She crawled towards the mirror on the floor, despite her body being nothing but burning. Exhausted yet rejuvenated, she briefly shook her head of the sweat coating her face and mane of hair before making her way.

    Looming over the mirror, she jumped back in surprise, her already hammering heart spiked in pace faster as she dragged herself way a few feet. She panted so much, she drove her claws into the wood of the floor to have some grip to bring her back to reality.

    If a mere glimpse was enough to scare her¡­

    Quickly crawling back, giggling with such a lack of innocence, she loomed back over the cracked mirror. Missing pieces, cracked beyond repair.

    It was enough.

    And what stared back were pitch black, void eyes with shining amber irises. A pink-skinned monster taking the aspects of a girl, or a girl who finally threw away her needless skin so she could finally be what she looked like underneath. And a crooked, lost smile that said it all.

    She could feel herself physically well up in tears, as she looked on.

    Then Calypso laughed. And it grew loud. And grew louder. Laughter that soon turned sinister, guttural--almost as if she wasn¡¯t physically capable of it. And yet still sadly human, as it sounded pained and out of breath at points.

    Taking her slimy, long red tongue to glisten her maw as she continued into a low chuckle, her face steeling into a pleased, terrifying expression.

 Entry 2.0 - Who She Is: Misery

    ***

    The poor cattle were frozen in place. Making concerned noises for someone, anyone, to hear them.

    ¡°Aww, come now¡­ You could at least cower in the corner there~¡±

    Calypso was perched on the fence post, huffing audibly as fog escaped her maw, hanging open in the form of a smile. Her glowing eyes providing light other than the moon.

    ¡°Eh,¡± she shrugged, not at all showing a hint of hesitance or remorse for what¡¯s she¡¯s about to do, only glee. ¡°Ah well.¡±

    She pounced at the nearest cow, tackling it down as she raised her head, then clamping down with her jaws.

    It screamed, tried to thrash, but it meant precious little. Calypso dined as blood splashed all over her, humming as it cooled her down, as she was finally getting full.

    The smell of blood. It splashing onto her. The prey having so much meat, almost tasting the fear it produced throughout its body. Calypso¡¯s new senses very much enjoyed the itch finally being scratched.

    It was a number of minutes, ending with her making an impressive dent into the livestock. Reeling her head back, dragging her tongue to clean her sharp fangs, she chuckled at her craft¡­

    And the ¡°itch¡± instantaneously returned. As if nothing happened.

    She blinked in confusion, raising her blood-soaked claws as she licked at them. Frowning after she¡¯d cleaned him.

    ¡°¡­Huh. I thought that would be enough¡­¡±

    Calypso rose to her feet, placing a hand on her exposed midriff. ¡°It¡¯s funny¡­ I feel full on some level. Just¡­ Not the way I wanted? This should be it, right¡­? Feeding from bloody, still warm flesh¡­ That feels right, actually¡­ Do I have to eat all of them? Or do I have multiple stomachs now? That¡¯d be--¡±

    Expression tightened in a moment, as she caught the airy wisps that floated into her eyeline.

    Looking down at the source, her magenta eyebrows rose in surprise.

    As she looked at her arm then at her chest and finally down her body, the traces of blood evaporated from her pink skin, burning up into the air. She became clean within moments.

    ¡°Aaaaaaw man¡­¡± Calypso sounded like a child. ¡°I was looking forward to licking all of that off¡ª¡±

    A thought donned on her, and she raised her arm up to her nose and took a series of sniffs.

    ¡°Ah, okay, I still reek of blood¡ªI can live with this now¡­¡±

    Her black eyes glanced down at the cow, as it made pained noises as the energies left its body. Calypso cooed as she squatted down.

    ¡°There there,¡± she grinned as she brandished her claws. Wiggling them against each other to make a pleasant sharpening sound. Despite trying to sound somewhat sincere, her overtly smug smirk said not only more, but otherwise. ¡°I¡¯ll put you out of your misery~ Maybe you and Alice can be best friends in the great beyond¡ªbe better than I was, at least~¡±

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    It was meant to be a simple swipe.

    She blinked, felt a gush of blood slap her face like a whip and then witnessed the cow¡¯s head soar into the back of the barn, causing the others to make startled noises but still unable to move.

    ¡°THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ME SLITING YOUR THROAT, BUT THAT STILL WORKS, I GUESS?¡± Calypso laughed in disbelief. It took her a while to stop doing so.

    She stopped to lick her claws again, wrapping her long tongue around each finger. Truly savoring the flavor to confirm her suspicions, her eyes narrowing.

    She snapped onto all fours, turning herself around as if she were a cat. ¡°Yeah. Bland. Super bland. I¡¯ve already had cow my whole life¡ªjust not fresh. Need a challenge. Driven by fear, but--Something tasty and fights back, but runs because I¡¯m better. Something satisfying. But what? Where¡­?¡±

    Once it donned on her, she did nothing but break out into a manic smile.

    ¡°Human.¡±

    It was so simple, she was shaking her head laughing at how she didn¡¯t think of it before. Besides her mind being overwhelmed by these other senses, pain, and hunger.

    She was about to embark until she felt a tear streak down her cheek. Turning into steam before trailing further, before she could even see it for herself. She sighed at herself.

    ¡°There you go butting in again, conscience~¡± Calypso berated herself. ¡°I¡¯m not human anymore, I¡¯ve transformed into a monster. Possibly forever¡ªwhich, yay! Soooo, it¡¯s not amoral if morals can¡¯t work on me anym¡ªooooh, how low, to make that ping of guilt hurt¡­ Fine. When we get to the town, we can find a criminal¡ªno, someone who deals with sex trafficking! I kill them, chop them into pieces, and I try a bite one by one to see if it works! Dealing out justice and clearing out the sstreetz!¡±

    A claw was placed on her cheek as she giggled helplessly, her palm feeling the excess saliva. ¡°Oh¡ªhrrffph¡ªgod, I¡¯m drooling¡ªhonestly drooling at the thought. See? It¡¯s perfect! I have to do that now, since yesterday, and the night¡¯s still young~!¡±

    She aimed for and jumped back up to the fence post effortlessly. Humming as she shivered at her own display of power and ability, looking out to the forest miles away.

    Huffing from her nose, she leapt and touched down on the dirt road, making a sprint down the path as she laughs uproariously.

    She couldn¡¯t believe the speeds that she was going in. She almost wished that a car came by, so she could judge if she could outrun it or not. But that would end the hunt, and that¡¯d be boring for her.

    But Calypso did start to noticeably slow, forcing her onto her hands and feet again as she kicked up the ground. The ¡°itch¡± started to become painful, almost gnawing at her, but it was a necessary evil.

    Once she¡¯s made to the forest¡¯s entrance, she cooed in excitement for what she was seeing.

    Well, it was the fact that she could see. It¡¯s the dead of night in a low light small town, and it retroactively made Calypso realize her new ability. While it wasn¡¯t night vision like the goggles, her eyes could cut through the darkness of the night. Giving her perfect sight.

    She rushed into the fray in delight, looking up at the trees as she jogged upright once more with the frenzied grin. Trying to make something happen, but on edge for anything to jump out or unfortunately cross her path.

    But she found it, a big enough tree to scale.

    Her claws dug into the bark like it were butter, causing her to giggle again, before climbing up the tree as if she¡¯s done this millions of times before. Clutching branches on the way up, seeing the birds dart away and resisting the urge to slice them in half for fun.

    Calypso made it to the top, and perched like she did on the fence post¡­ What, 3 minutes ago? An entire trip under 3 or 4 minutes.

    And from this height, she was leering over the faraway sight of this sleepy town she was caged in. Skin and bone shining lightly in the moon, her eyes still illuminating brightly. Drooling again, her brow furrowed in a worryingly overwhelmed expression as she opened her maw in joy.

    ¡°Here I come, Willow Reverie~!¡± Calypso exclaimed. ¡°You have a twisted freak to deal with now, and who knows? Maybe my rampage will be the first bit of excitement you¡¯ve ever had!¡±

 Entry 2.1 - Who She Is: Misery

    ***

    It was so odd for Calypso, being the monster that lurked within the shadows. But with any trepidation, every second guess that managed to manifest in her twitching mind, all the more it felt so nice. More incentive to do what she was doing.

    The monster girl did what her former family told her to do, follow the Old Vessel and the entire town was her to enjoy. The stupid, overly-rational side of herself worried at how much attention she could draw to herself, but her new body continued to prove how amazing it was.

    With her new legs, Calypso was able to dart around behind buildings. With her new claws, she was able to grab onto these buildings to climb the walls, and scale up them. And as she tucked into the darkness, with her new eyes cutting through it, making her the only one to completely see between predator and eventual prey.

    All she had to do was follow the ungodly cacophony that her new senses were overloaded with.

    Gatherings and parties were already noisy non-events for her as a human, but it was a beacon for Calypso now. The itch was growing unbearable, her thoughts nothing but ways to figure out how to lure people away¡ªor maybe just go rabid into the heart of the party.

    Guess it depended on how many are there, Calypso cheerily mused to herself.

    Peering over the ledge, Calypso¡¯s maw turned into a razor-sharp grin.

    This was the first time she¡¯s seen Grand Standing Plaza, and what a festive look it had. Renaissance fair mixed with modern trappings, white tents filled with all sorts of trinkets and trivialities¡ªwreaths and tinsel that were green and gold, as this tinsel connected the oradenate street lights that had rounded glass covers, pulling the warm aura together with an expansive stage that was the source of the musical entertainment, all of this with the backdrop of the town¡¯s government bodies surrounding the plaza.

    Crowds of people. Hundreds. Pairs of couples, groups of friends, herds of families. Corralling themselves by being so close. Engorged by decadence, living their lives. Blissfully unaware of what was lusting over them.

    Calypso growled in a low, pleased hum. She was digging into the brick of the building top she was on. Slobbering like mad with her dark eyes twisted with zeal, grinning so wide that it pushed up her new cheekbones. She was going to ruin this day, focusing her sight and choosing which person she needed to ruin the life of.

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    It was the sight of a young, black-haired girl that ran with her arms out, her coat taking up most of her bulk, that snapped sense into Calypso.

    ¡°...¡± the monster then sighed to herself, pulling back from the ledge. ¡°Why aren¡¯t I eating that stupid guilt-trapping part of myself, again? I¡¯m not turning back; might as well finish the job¡­ Party pooper.¡±

    Calypso pouted as she continued to talk to herself, ¡°Yes yes, bad humans first¡ªthen maybe other humans next¡ªokay fine, exclusively bad humans, no wonder people fucking hated me¡­¡±

    Her head perked up, as Calypso picked up on a passionate spat that wasn¡¯t too far from here.

    Leaping towards the direction of it, the monster gripped on the ledge again as she watched two people, in an alley, having a screaming match with another¡­ Two very familiar people.

    ¡°Wanna make a big deal outta this shit? Fine¡ªwe? Are over.¡±

    Calypso simply smiled, slowly, ear to ear. She could never forget such disgusting smarm.

    As the Baker boy from class stormed off, hands firmly into his tan jacket, leaving his cheerleading partner in tears¡ªCalypso made her move.

    Suddenly, it was hard to stalk as effortlessly as she did before. It wasn¡¯t because of any loss of skill or some negative complication; it was purely because Calypso was so fucking excited.

    She leapt from building to building, rolling into a ball of dancing blades before righting herself again. Gazing at the brooding whiner, then repeating the process again.

    The Baker boy looked behind as Calypso was easing down the nearest building in relation to him, still in the shadows. But he knew that something was there, his shaking breath was visible in the cold air. With a tug of his collar, he upped his pace without a second thought or word.

    This made Calypso cackle with ardor. She instantly let go, crashing into the tin trash cans below her, causing two of them to crumble loudly onto their sides.

    The Baker boy looked back and started to sprint.

    But Calypso was already faster, once she put her claws onto the ground.

    The streets they were running across were eerily quiet, possibly due to everyone being at the festival. Clear skies, streetlamps working properly, it all made for a rather mundane, ordinary night.

    The one thought Calypso had in her mind, reveling that this Baker boy was questioning why this was happening, given that.

    He then tripped over his own legs, crashing into the concrete with a thud.

    Using this blunder, Calypso jumped, sailing in the air as she slammed on top of him, giggling with no warmth. And barely restrained anger.

    ¡°Hiiiii there¡­¡± Calypso seethed merrily. ¡°Jake? John? Jerry¡ªI never got your name, forgive me~ I know it started with a J--¡±

 Entry 2.2 - Who She Is: Misery

    The boy screamed right in her face. Calypso didn¡¯t know what was about it, the vibrations she felt, seeing him so scared¡ªshe had to stew in that fright and found herself in a brief and loving daze.

    Giving the boy a much needed moment to scramble from under her, escaping as he exhaled out in panic with every step. Unfortunately for him, Calypso¡¯s honeymoon experience was over.

    Still on all fours, Calypso simply closed the gap with a few gallops, finally grabbing his right ankle in a well-timed swipe. Yanking him, causing him to crash right on his chin.

    ¡°Ooooh¡ª¡± Calypso¡¯s voice was mockingly low, ¡°I saw teeth flying out¡ªwas that teeth? I hope not, because you can¡¯t say your name now¡­¡±

    She just lifted him up, as if he was a caught fish. The action gave her pause, before remembering how tall she is now.

    It looked like Calypso¡¯s perfect eyes weren¡¯t seeing things, as J-Baker¡¯s front teeth were smashed into stubs, blood dripping out of his reddening mouth into his fearful eyes, in addition to his chin that now had a skidmark that torn it up.

    ¡°Ikn¡ª¡± he tried to sputter out, ¡°I knew y-you were fucked up; I sssaw you! Your face--!¡±

    ¡°My faaaace¡­?¡± Calypso tilted her head.

    ¡°Eyesss! Fucked up eyesss, facish¡ªit wassn¡¯t just you being mad, your shit changed in a sssecond--!¡±

    ¡°Interesting to know¡­!¡± Calypso smirked at this pathetic person. ¡°But you do know what that means, yes~?¡±

    J-Baker ¡°replied¡± with a whimper.

    ¡°That¡¯s right~! Now I really have to kill you. Well, I was, but y¡¯know¡ªI wouldn¡¯t put it pass me to somehow mess things up or whatnot. And why make it such a morose affair~?¡±

    Calypso felt his ankle collapse into pieces in her palm, causing her to shoot her gaze there, ignoring the bloodcurdling screams of pain.

    ¡°Oh my god, I really do not know my own strength, do I--?¡±

    She was then kicked in the face a number of times. J-Baker¡¯s boot sole digging into Calypso¡¯s cheek, immediately drawing blood with each impact. The boy in pure survival mode, all latent strength of his own being unlocked in this desperate, dire moment. His free leg twitching afterwards, expending everything he had.

    All for it to heal within seconds, Calypso smirking at him.

    ¡°As I was saying¡­¡± Calypso let the simmering drip from her words. ¡°Let¡¯s have fun with this, Jared.¡±

    It was a whim, simply put, something easy to think about as much do.

    There couldn¡¯t have been a better definition, of Calypso tossing the boy so hard, he battered the side of a car¡¯s door. Flopping to the ground, as the alarms began blaring, the lights flashing on and off.

    Adding to Calypso¡¯s casual strut, the area illuminated before plunging into darkness again.

    ¡°No one¡¯s going to miss you,¡± Calypso ridiculed. ¡°And ultimately, when the shock and sympathy wears off¡ªremember you either~! Though¡ªwell¡ªthat¡¯s not true either¡­¡±

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    Plunging her claws into the shoulder, forming it into a grip as they were embedded in flesh, Calypso shuddered with a huff. Picking up the dangling body as she continued to belittle further.

    ¡°I¡¯ll remember your little remarks, at least~ That¡¯s your legacy, Jamie. I hope every single one was worth it¡ª"

    Calypso was cut off by a sound that she never heard before.

    It wasn¡¯t quite mumbling. But they were nowhere near words either.

    The boy could only twitch. Twitch and burble out weak sounds that were only seconds in length, cutting out in pauses. His eyes starting directly at her, but clearly vacant.

    ¡°¡­no,¡± the first time since she¡¯s transformed, Calypso sounded so small. ¡°T-that was me¡ª"

    The immediate shame became sharp pain in her chest.

    She dropped the boy, recoiling as she started to shiver. Her dark eyes, filled with terror and regret, looking at her blood-stained claws.

    ¡°Oh god¡ªwhat have I¡ªBut I wanted to¡ªwhy did I want to--?!¡±

    She grabbed at her head, looking around, her face that was designed to be fearsome, now only stretched in fear.

    ¡°I¡¯m no different¡ª¡± Calypso muttered out. ¡°¡ªNo different from that skull monster¡ªI did the same thing, I¡¯m doing the same thing--!¡±

    This wasn¡¯t sudden clarity, nor regaining control¡­ But destabilization, a collision that leaves both forces broken beyond repair.

    Both sides shared the same fear, of being proved right all along. And the deserved feeling of weakness following then after.

    The internal conflict was beginning to tear her apart. So sudden a tug-of-war, her features were shifting, back and forth. Before ultimately rescinding.

    ¡°No no no!¡± Calypso shrieked pathetically. ¡°Not now, please not now¡­!¡±

    She didn¡¯t know if she pleaded that for the sake of staying the monster, to be absent of the shame she¡¯s feeling at the moment. Or the possibility of getting caught, and being branded as a crazed near-murderer.

    Regardless, Calypso ran. Ran away from this new, somehow harsher reality she¡¯s found herself in. Vulnerable in the dark, because she now knew what she was within it.

    ***

    ¡°GOOD LORD!¡± Artemis practically jumped in her own skin. Recoiling back, but knowing that she needed to keep going forward.

    ¡°My¡ª¡± Bradley cut himself off, turning around and motioning towards the girls. Sal, mainly.

    ¡°Don¡¯t let her see this¡ªshe doesn¡¯t need to see this¡ªoh my god¡ª¡±

    Sal hugged Calypso, moving her back from the murder scene before looking forward at it again. Calypso made no attempts to react, never mind move against her.

    She was hoping dearly that her cousin that hugged her didn¡¯t catch on. That she was wearing a completely different sleeping outfit. That she still smelt like a hint of iron, despite doing nothing but scrub for the remainder of the night.

    ¡°What the hell happened here?!¡± Bradley wasn¡¯t yelling at his wife, more at the situation at hand. Who caused this.

    ¡°It ain¡¯t anything that¡¯s normal, that¡¯s for damn sure!¡± Artemis lowered her volume, so Bradley could hear her. ¡°What can lob off a head that easily?!¡±

    ¡°What leaves its meal like this and only takes out a chunk¡­?¡± Bradley whispered in disbelief. Rubbing his sweating brow.

    ¡°And the rest of the animals are traumatized¡ªoh god, this¡­ This is just awful¡­¡±

    They were whispering and yet Cal could still hear them. Loud. Clear. As her face was stuck in a distant, sorrowful mask.

    ¡°Please tell me you didn¡¯t hear this in the night while we went out¡­?¡± Sal braced herself as she thought she knew the answer.

    Calypso couldn¡¯t swallow due to her throat being so dry. Her mind repeated the one thing over and over, as she shook her head lightly.

    But her walls were down. Gone. She openly wept before falling into Sal¡¯s hold.

    Sal hugged her cousin. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry Cal¡ªI knew I should¡¯ve stayed, I knew I should¡¯ve fucking stayed¡­¡±

    The parents looked on at the display, having heavy, forlorn expressions before snapping back into seriousness.

    ¡°I¡¯m calling everybody,¡± Artemis told Bradley. ¡°We can¡¯t let no one not know about this¡ªits almost like there¡¯s a demon on the loose. You go help calm her down and I---I¡¯ll try not to give Penny her own panic attack when I tell her what happened as well¡­¡±

    Calypso sobbed, breaking down. She knew she was doomed. That she was still hungry after everything, that she was destined to keep transforming back and forth, that even the discussion of becoming a human eater is now off the table that they know that she¡¯s alone. And the unbearable sadness that made her sicker than the fact that she ate a cow alive.

    She hated how her ¡°fun¡± was ruined. And that she wanted to simply kill everyone for ruining it.

    ***

 Entry 2.3 - Who She Is: Misery

    There was a series of knocks, cutting through the soft ambience of Calypso combing her hair.

    ¡°Come in¡­¡± Calypso stared at the mirror, perched up via her crossed ankles resting against them. Just looking at what¡¯s staring back.

    Calypso looked up, seeing her dear cousin Sal approaching her. The poor, silly girl had to keep herself from flinching, getting away from her cousin to protect her.

    ¡°I¡¯m actually surprised that you¡¯re not tryna pack or leave at this point¡­¡± Sal began, glumly.

    Calypso simply smiled. ¡°Kinda difficult, given that I¡¯m hours away from what I know at his point¡­ And y¡¯know, not really up for travel.¡±

    Sal proceeded to suck in air sharply, exhaling in frustration as she looked up at the ceiling.

    ¡°God, I suck at this¡­¡±

    Calypso sighed. She then put her comb aside, taking the mirror away from her feet, ultimately tightening her already crossed legs.

    ¡°Sally¡­¡± Calypso put her hands on her knees. ¡°You can¡¯t blame yourself about any of this if I can¡¯t blame myself for being so screwed up.¡±

    ¡°But you¡¯re our responsibility now,¡± Sal argued, balling her fists briefly. ¡°And we¡¯re¡­ It¡¯s like life suddenly decided to just, pile onto you n¡¯ it¡¯s so unfair¡ª¡±

    ¡°Eh.¡±

    Sal snapped her gaze toward her cousin, towards her causal if not blunt tone.

    ¡°It¡¯s unfair for everyone. Part of me getting over this means sucking it up, stop whining about the woe-is-me. Your burdens shouldn¡¯t be my burdens.¡±

    Sal took a pause, studying her cousin. ¡°¡­Iunno Cal, you don¡¯t have to be so cold about this.¡±

    Cal reached at her chin, rubbing it idly with her fingers. ¡°Sympathy can only go so far, y¡¯know? Like, not denying you all¡ªfamily is meant to put up with each other, regardless of anything¡­ But it isn¡¯t everything. Sometimes? I¡¯m wrong. I don¡¯t need the pity, in fact, it¡¯s coddling me and not addressing my issues.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re kinda scarin¡¯ me, Cal,¡± Sal shook her head, pursing her lips before continuing. ¡°You¡¯re so¡­ Calm about this.¡±

    Calypso chuckled lowly, looking down at her bed.

    ¡°It means the medication is working, is all.¡±

    Calypso directly looked into the eyes of her cousin, sporting a worn but warm smile. ¡°Besides. I think I finally got it out of me. Last night was very bad for me, but I really needed that cry, so I can¡¯t discount it¡­ I think I¡¯m okay, Sal. I think I¡¯m finally okay.¡±

    ¡°Y¡¯sure¡­?¡±

    She took Sal in. It was so odd, seeing her so nervous, so cautious. Raking her tan fingers against her hands, rubbing them with frantic energy. Her sunny and cocksure face morphed with doubt and fear, it clearly being new to do that sort of thing. Even her old, stupid snapback hat was crooked, off-kilter.

    It took a moment for Calypso to rise up from her bed, going over to hug Sal. While lacking in power and was loose, was unquestionably something driven by familial love.

    ¡°I¡¯ve never been thinking more clearly than right now,¡± Calypso comforted Sal, in a caring whisper.

    She felt her cousin shift on her feet, felt the sigh travel up through her nose.

    ¡°Ya¡¯ sure?¡±

    Calypso nodded, hummed to punctuate such.

    ¡°¡­Really sure?¡±

    ¡°Man,¡± Calypso breathed out in slight disbelief. ¡°You being so careful and¡­ Hesitant is hurting me as much as me being all glum is hurting you¡­ But yes.¡±

    ¡°¡­Will I see you tomorrow, Cal?¡±

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    It was just a question. It was just words, and yet Calypso was knocked back with such force, causing her to separate the hug. Her turn to study Sal.

    The heaviness ever-present on Sal¡¯s face made it hard for her to say the next line, ¡°Just so I can try to make ya¡¯ happy¡­? So I can just¡­ Do somethin¡¯ meaningful for ya¡¯¡­? So¡­ So that this entire darn thing ain¡¯t for nothin¡¯¡­?¡±

    Calypso tightened her lips at the sight. Her throat tensing then relaxing as the weight transferred from the atmosphere passed, robbing her the ability to speak words. Making her already overheating brain reach dangerous temperatures.

    This had to be the best lie she ever came up with. She had to draw upon the truth for it to work.

    ¡°None of this was for nothing. What you do for me¡ªany of you, day after day, wasn¡¯t for nothing.¡±

    Calypso then smiled warmly, her cheeks pushed up so that her eyes did so as well. ¡°The thing in my head is strong, but it will never be as strong as you, Sally. You¡¯re too stubborn to let that win, anyways.¡±

    Sal quickly pulled down her hat, to obscure her own eyes. A common tactic that she remembered, the surprise on Calypso¡¯s part was more that Sal still did this.

    With a shaken huff, Sal formed a wavering smile, ¡°And ya¡¯ say you don¡¯t wanna write n¡¯ stuff, god danggit¡­¡±

    Cal chuckled softly, ¡°Look, there¡¯s a sizable difference¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡ª¡®Between bein¡¯ the reader n¡¯ bein¡¯ able to write¡¯, yeah yeah,¡± Sal just as quickly turned on her heels.

    Calypso finally able to look down at the scuffed up floorboards, hoping that Sal didn¡¯t step on one of the slash marks and notice. ¡°Sure, but y¡¯know, with proper diction and¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m so kicking your butt tomorrow, ya¡¯ drama queen,¡± Sal still had a wavering tone despite being in her teasing mode. Still standing there.

    Calypso then extended her leg out, ¡°trying¡± to kick her cousin from behind, giggling. ¡°You¡¯re the one that barged in! Now get outta here, you know my process takes 12 hours, I¡¯ll be ready by then if you actually leave now!¡±

    Sal proceeded the go, walking away into the hall. Calypso moved to close the door, ignoring the splinters she stepped on. What she just did pained her more.

    She let the changes take their hold, after using most of her available will power from keeping it at bay.

    Calypso could feel herself, her features, become twisted and sharpened. But, it wasn¡¯t going through completely, at least not yet.

    Staggering back to the bed, what she saw first was her warped fingers. Not quite claws, but nowhere near what fingers should be. Leaning over, forward, was her hovering over the broken mirror Calypso used. The broken shards reflecting the same, deranged visage in facsimiles.

    And yet, it¡ªshe¡ªhad the gall to wear a forlorn expression.

    She pulled back, getting away from the bed. Glancing at what was behind her back when she was sat there, a cleared out crafts box that held her gem¡ªand a folded up note atop it. Something she had to stop herself from tearing up.

    Reading it over and over, how hollow her final words rang true. About how whatever they find, she was not that¡ªthat she was their family, how she really loved them¡ªwhen she was the furthest thing and had to try so hard to do so. Something innate, human¡ªand how what she did last night forfeited her final chance.

    The reason why Calypso didn¡¯t go through with destroying it was because they needed something. Calypso only had memories and a red slither of her friend, and even then, she¡¯s giving that up too. So, she added a revision: that she was getting away from them. Saving them for being contaminated by her.

    Calypso darted to the window in a leap. Lifting her¡ªthe window slowly, climbing out of it before shutting it.

    ***

    Calypso shivered, holding herself, crunching the dead leaves against her bare soles. Still reeling from her failed kill. Still reeling from the fact that she''s trapped, in all senses of the word.

    All because she can''t do anything remotely right.

    ¡°D-disgusting creature¡­ You deserve nothing. No one¡¯s attention¡­ n-no one¡¯s love¡­¡±

    As she berated herself, describing herself, Calypso fell onto her hands and knees.

    ¡°And yet, you never commit¡ªyou can¡¯t accept that, can you¡­? Easier to whine, easier to evade! Either snap already or get out of the sight of everyone!¡±

    A sudden surge of pain ripped throughout the body, causing her to scream. Despite being familiar, despite wanting this, it wasn¡¯t continuous, just a burst.

    Calypso lifted her head up, towards the cloudy skies¡ªher eyes glowing amber as she grits her teeth in despair.

    ¡°There it is! There it is¡ªright there! You know who you are¡ªwhat you are! Jusssst¡ªfucking accept it!¡±

    Her new fangs were coming in, slurring her speech as Calypso shook her head at the tugging sensation. But it wasn¡¯t totally voluntary, as her flesh tensed rhythmically, pulsating. Across her body, so potent at points, parts of her body was engorged with power, so much that they tore against cloth before settling.

    ¡°You¡¯re a monster! You always had been! A monster that wanted so desperately to be human¡ªnow it¡¯s time¡ªa chaaaanccccaaaaaagauuuuh!¡±

    A series of spiked bones shot across every surface of her body, head to toe as they scrunched in pain. Calypso let her head fall, as her hair was growing along with the spines forming down the back. She had to vocalize her immense agony, as the bone stopped, her hair stopped. Everything on the precipice.

    ¡°A-a chance¡­ A chance to just¡­ Give in, but finally be constructed¡ªconstructive with it¡­ Stop this pitiful fa?ade¡­ No more acting¡­ No more letting people down¡­ No more fucking whining¡­¡±

    She rose her head, her hair covering the half of her face.

    But it was clear, Calypso¡¯s visible eye becoming flushed with physical darkness. Only the golden pupil shining through. Her tension and pain washing away under an eerie calm.

    ¡°Let¡¯s stop kidding ourselves anymore¡­ And allow yourself to be the miserable, inhuman bitch you were destined to be¡­¡±

    Her screams ripped through the cold air in that night, as the transformation tore her apart equally so. But just like it, her pitch¡ªher volume eventually settled. Into what she was always meant to be.

    ***

 Entry 2.4 (1/2) - Who She Is: Misery

    Calypso sat atop the tree she scaled the night prior, once again. Looking into the night, through the clouds and heavy shadow that seemed to grip the area tight.

    ¡°Dumb clouds¡­¡± Calypso pouted with her more mature, angled face. ¡°I wanted my lovely bone armor to glisten in the moonlight¡­¡±

    She then looked at her claws, brandishing them to herself, letting them clash against each other as the sharpness was audible.

    ¡°I guess it¡¯s rather fitting¡­¡± Calypso lowered her claw, looking out over the horizon. ¡°I suppose the plan¡ªwhich is just what life is gonna be now¡ªis to hide out here, watch for prey¡­ Maybe even visit the homestead from afar¡ªmaybe even protecting them from trouble! Now that would be¡ª"

    She snapped her head to the left and sniffed at the cool air. ¡°Oooh. I can smell that. I can never forget that smell if I tried¡­ But it means the one thiiiing~!¡±

    It wasn¡¯t just the suddenness of the smell that allowed her reservation of before.

    This was simply her life now.

    Calypso took a swan dive from the top of the tree, towards the smell, her sharpen arms in an airplane formation as she stared at the approaching ground.

    As if it were casual, she then angled both her arms and legs in front of herself. Smirking as she was waiting.

    Once palms and soles hit the leave-covered ground, Calypso used all of her might to sprint forward, sailing into the air in a single bound.

    As the wind scratched at her face, it occurred to Calypso that she was getting tired smiling. She tried to remember the last time she smiled, let alone for how long. But it didn¡¯t matter.

    Thrusting out her limbs again as she landed, kicking up a wave of leaves once she made impact.

    ¡°HUMAN!¡± she screeched, looking up towards the disgusting aroma.

    Only to find nothing left but blood.

    ¡°¡­ Aaaaw¡­¡±

    She picked herself up, patting away the leaves that snagged on her body as she pouted. Walking over to the spot and on closer inspection, it was a mauled campsite. There were so many shreds, it was impossible to discern what was tent, bags or clothing because it was smothered in blood.

    Calypso used her claw to pinch and peel off a scrap, making a disgusted expression. ¡°Still relatively fresh¡­¡± She then rolled out her steaming tongue, letting it flicker closer and closer to it, before ultimately stopping and putting it away. ¡°Calypso. You may be a murderous creature of the night now, but you are not an animal.¡±

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    She dropped it, but not out of disgust. But a chill creeping down her spine.

    ¡°¡­And something tells me that what caused this¡­ Wasn¡¯t an animal.¡±

    Glancing around herself, she saw them. Different ones, but she couldn¡¯t deny it. She could never forget them, let alone deny it.

    Yellow, glowing eyes blinked at different speeds. Surrounding her at all sides. But now with her new eyes, she could see more. Despite being pure shadow, she could make out the various shapes and how¡­ Wrong they are. A jaw that was twisted away from the head. A worm that stretched too far. A man that was split, held together by a flap of flesh. And they all gawked at her.

    Calypso giggled. ¡°Well. I know you¡¯re not the same ones, but I¡¯ve uh¡­ Had a run-in with your New York branch~¡±

    They just stared. Moving, breathing, looking at each other before returning their gaze.

    ¡°Awww, c¡¯mon. I may look different, but I¡¯m one of you now! You all look different from one another regardless, I¡¯d thought you understand¡­¡±

    Flexing her fingers that were sharper than a knife, Calypso shrugged. ¡°Ah well~ It doesn¡¯t matter if you understand me or not. I was but a silly, scared girl that let you kill my friend and alter my life forever. I¡¯m hungry. I¡¯m angry. And I need to work out this all-consuming aggression.¡±

    Calypso licked her lips, hunched over with her claws raised. Assuming a battle stance.

    She expected¡ªno, wanted them to start swarming. To tackle her on the ground with their numbers so that she can swipe and wipe out an entire row of them at once. She wondered how easy it was for her to crush them, mash them, mangle them now that she had these wonderful powers. She could actually believe the anticipation could kill her right now, more than them posing a threat.

    Instead, what happened caused Calypso to gulp silently. As if her accelerated heart rocketed into her throat.

    Nothing prepared Calypso for the fact that the new intruder rested their chin onto the girl¡¯s shoulder. As if nothing was wrong with this picture.

    "Holy shit, you''re such a newbie... Couldn''t even sense that we were here the whole time? That''s lesson one, man!" the female revealed herself to Calypso, in a causal and chipper tone.

    Calypso could only give a crooked smile. In a full, swift move¡ªthis person established the tone. And easily took control.

    ¡°O-oh no¡­¡± Calypso responded, trying to look from the corner of her eye. ¡°I¡¯m well aware of how utterly fucked I am...¡±

    ¡°Good!¡± the woman patted Calypso¡¯s arm. An arm that could be considered a weapon. ¡°Smart and talented! You¡¯re really interesting for such a low level Consumed¡­¡±

    Calypso just huffed. Tried in vain to hide the fact that she was unnerved, but couldn¡¯t hide the shaking she was doing.

    ¡°And considering how¡­ A-affable you are?¡± Calypso smirked and shivered. ¡°You must be very high level, yourself..."

    ¡°You¡¯d be right, buuuuut not really¡ªman, see, you got a great head on your shoulders! But where were we¡ªah yeah. Oh yeah, we''re sort of a big deal¡­¡±

    Calypso heard the soft footfalls, circling around the girl from behind, now meeting face-to-face. Even her writhing mind caught that it was just her. Not others. But why "we?" Quickly glancing about the area... It didn''t mean the other monsters. They were frozen in place like she was.

    Blonde hair that hit at her neck, dim golden waves that had streaks of black. Blue eyes that were big, and expressive. A grin that stretched ear to ear, which raised her rosy cheeks. A fashionable black coat, with a multi-color scarf wrapped around the neck.

    Eerily pale.

    "You''re looking for food and a fight, huh?" her smile grew wider, showcasing very telling fangs. ¡°You wanna tangle with me for a bit~?¡±

 Entry 2.4 (2/2) - Who She Is: Misery

    ¡°W-who are you¡­?¡± Calypso backed away, despite being the inhuman monster, and it was the young blonde woman that was casting a shadow. ¡°What do you want¡ªwhy are you even here?¡±

    ¡°Was literally going to ask you the same thing~!¡± the fangs seemed to get bigger, sharper in the pale girl¡¯s mouth. Along with the grin that stretched, illustrating clear bloodlust.

    ¡°You said it yourself¡­ I¡¯m a lowly¡­ C-consumed, was it? I don¡¯t know anything¡ªI just wanted to hunt and eat and live in the forest from now on.¡±

    The woman in the black coat tilted her head, with an overexaggerated pout.

    ¡°Maaaaaaaan. Kinda sucks that we scary things shitless with our presence alone, sucks the fun outta things¡ª¡±

    ¡°SHUT UP!¡± Calypso roared, her head shaking along with her voice. ¡°SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP! SKIP TO THE POINT, GET ON WITH IT!¡±

    The monster was meant with a firm grasp over her fanged maw. The young woman leaned forward, her grin somehow getting wider.

    ¡°Since you¡¯re so eager to learn and die, we¡¯ll give ya¡¯ a quick crash course~¡±

    Being so face-to-face, Calypso¡¯s now trembling, dark eyes were forced to look into how utterly dead the blue ones that bored into her.

    ¡°And juuuuust to keep you quiet¡­ And give us a quick pick me up.¡±

    She easily pierced into Calypso¡¯s lower maw, and she couldn¡¯t even scream. But that wasn¡¯t the end of the horror of the experience.

    Something¡ªa series of things¡ªwormed their way, under her hot pink skin and dug themselves into the middle of her flesh. Warm, lively¡ªbut had such a¡­ Wet, lifeless texture that felt like horrible, hard to get rid of ick.

    And yet, that wasn¡¯t the worst part.

    Calypso proceeded to feel each tendril began to violently tug, all at once. As if this woman was yanking on her nerve-endings from the inside¡­ Until Calypso eerily recognize what the oppressive feeling turned into.

    Draining. The same level of discomfort, greatly magnified, of a blood test procedure.

    ¡°Not gonna tell you the complete story, but hi! I¡¯m Cassie Morgan¡ªor was. It¡¯s all kinds of weird. Since you don¡¯t even know the difference between a Consumed and a Subsumed are¡ªjust think of me as the big daddy of Subsumed. The one that tried to kill you and you thought you were hot shit by killing it? All these fuckers around you watching this and doing jackshit? They all wanna be us. And just to be clear but make you piss yourself more¡ªnot ¡®us¡¯ with you and me. ¡®Us¡¯ with me and what I¡¯ve become.¡±

    Suddenly, the woman began bleeding from the ears. Then eyes, the corners of her smile¡­As if cranking the knobs of a faucet, the leakage starting weak before gradually getting potent.

    And the disturbing detail being the liquid changing from red to black and red again. Endlessly.

    ¡°I admit¡­ The reassssson we¡¯re not offing you is becausssse of the promise¡­¡± Casey slurred, being cut off by the blood. ¡°We saw what you did¡ªwith one of my guysss you didn¡¯t even eat¡­ And we¡¯re interessssted. At leassst to help us out for ssssomething we¡¯re putting together~¡±

    Cassie Morgan¡¯s ears began to explode in a shower of blood. Revealing twitching, black Bat ears sprouting in the wake. But they were different, as Calypso noted, because she can only look on with horror.

    The ears¡­ They looked bat-like, but on closer inspection, they were strewn together veins. Twitching, variously dark-colored yet still flesh-accented veins. The phenomenon was more noticeable at the base of the ear, but considering how impossibly smooth the ear was... Even a fool could notice something wasn¡¯t right.

    The girl that once thought she was a monster simply started to tear up again. She felt her death imminently.

    ¡°Hey-hey, shuuush¡­¡± Cassie cooed. ¡°Didn¡¯t you pay attention? We¡¯re not gonna kill ya¡­¡±

    The bleeding monster pointed at the crowd, still surrounding them and still motionless. ¡°They will. Well, if you don¡¯t fight back and all. Consumed have shit life expectancies¡ªyou¡¯d think they¡¯d play sports or something.¡±

    Cassie proceeded to let Calypso go, causing the pitiful girl to gasp and gag uncontrollably on the ground. And without a hitch in her step, Cassie proceeded to just walk away. Simply leave.

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    ¡°Have fun!¡± she waved, showcasing her whipping, fleshy veins that writhed out of her fingers, before snapping back.  ¡°That means you, boys~!¡±

    Calypso clambered back onto her bare feet, panting, looking around... Realizing how truly outmatched she was.

    One by one, they took a step forward. No pushing, no rushing. It would¡¯ve been rhythmically, unified, had they been side to side. Leering over the monster girl, looming over as if they lost the ability to stand anymore. Beginning and ultimately forming a march that caused the darkness to grow around them. The light of the moon dimming as each took a step. Getting too dark that Calypso¡¯s eyes can process a deep shade, when she could¡¯ve seen crystal clear before.

    ¡°F-fine!¡± Calypso started swinging her arms wildly. ¡°Underestimate me! You won¡¯t live long enough to regret it!¡±

    She instantly clawed at the moving darkness. Easy target, obvious, and mass. Nowhere to run or hide.

    Only for her claws to pass right through it. Her face along with her heart dropped.

    A gangly arm that was more twig than limb yanked at her arm.

    Then a massive head rose, and clamped onto her calf.

    Calypso watched as the living shadows manifested the creatures she insulted moments ago. Their eyes gone, given way to gaping holes in their bodies that swirled with intensity.

    ¡°G-get away!¡± Calypso tried to desperately rip away in vain. Her formerly lowered eyes widened, her smile into a panicked frown. ¡°GET AWAY!¡±

    Not a moment too soon, she slashed at the arm and yanked her leg away to slice the head.

    Turning on a dime, she rose her arms and formed an X with them, rushing into the darkness so she could escape.

    Covering her head, thus her sight, while doing this¡ªshe only heard the sounds of the damned getting¡­ Not sliced to bits, but receive a gash. But she felt, she knew, that she was doing more than that¡ªbut a loss of limb, being torn apart¡­ It¡¯s just a skinned knee or a black eye, to them.

    Once she felt the night¡¯s cool air against her body again, Calypso knew that she was home free. So of course, the monsters managed to band together to hold her back once she made it out.

    In such a frenzy, in such a panic, she couldn¡¯t even note what they were doing to her. She just wrestled, against their grapple, knowing that it would be a losing battle against a walking blade like herself¡ªbut that assurance quickly turned into hope. Begging.

    She was in so much pain. She was so hungry. And this itch, this agonizing wanting, turned into knives culling her from the inside.

    Taking her back to that night again.

    Making her realize she¡¯s still the same, despite everything.

    ¡°Pleeeease¡­!¡± Calypso cried out, hating that she¡¯s saying that in her new voice. ¡°PLEASE!¡±

    Giving into the fear, it gave her the much-needed boost for her to rip away. Running away so fast that she more than enough gained a head start against them.

    Darting around the trees. Kicking up the dried leaves into the air. Panting audibly that it wavered her vision along with her heart.

    Away from the dark. Running from the monsters.

    It was more her running out of her once-boundless energy versus her choosing to stop and hide. But she did, resting her back against the trunk of a tree, sliding down it while uprooting the bark in her wake. Trying desperately to catch her breath.

    ¡°W-well, thank go-goodness that I¡¯m just enough human to remember our greatest asset: knowing when to run the fuck away¡­¡±

    Placing a hand on her chest, her heartbeats like raging thunder now, as she peered from her vantage point.

    She watched in confusion, as the things that forced her to run for her life¡­ Are dancing.

    Some marched on. Others pranced across the forest, and the smaller and odd ones of the bunch chose to dance forward. Taking the time to spin, and twirl, before leaping forward to catch up with their herd.

    It was so unbelievably weird. It infuriated her, almost caused her to rush out to confront them.

    She just closed her eyes, growling under her breath she was still trying to catch. Feeling up her lower maw.

    Too scared, hungry, and in pain--to remotely understand what just happened to her. Or what any of it means.

    Until she heard a loud slam, snapping her head towards the sight with her eyes like dinner plates.

    A straggler. A small imp creature whose special trait was only it¡¯s long devil tail. Otherwise a formless blob with dimples for horns.

    Calypso sprung like a spring, laughing insanely as she sailed towards this thing, slamming her body onto it.

    Smiling in delight as her knee immediately impaled it. A mouse caught by a trap, but fighting on despite the neck getting crushed.

    ¡°Predators are predators because they know when to use their strength!¡± Calypso slobbered in zeal. ¡°Remaining in the face of adversity! Welcome to the circle of life, little one! You¡¯ll understand once you¡¯re being crunched by my fangs!¡±

    Pressing her knee down, but grabbing the rest of its body with her claw, Calypso ripped the being apart, and slapped its remains onto her face.

    Rearing back again, slathering what she could find into her gaping maw. Chewing noisily that was drowned out by her moans.

    The ¡°itch¡± finally being reached.

    For what amounted to a minute or so.

    Calypso looked at her claws. In concern and abject terror as they shook like her hands did.

    ¡°B-b-but--!¡± she stammered. ¡°I did it! Surely, this is right?! This works?! It¡¯s full circle!¡±

    For some reason unknown to her, she grabbed at her wrist. Her entire claw started to shake, and then twitched, finally spasmed.

    ¡°No,¡± she sounded small again.

    As she watched her claws morph slowly, but surely into her soft, dainty hand once more.

    ¡°No no no no no no, please!¡± Calypso pleaded with herself. ¡°Not like this¡­! NOT AGAIN¡­!¡±

    But as she pleaded¡­ An arm suddenly transformed back, but overgrew. Only to revert again.

    And soon, her entire body kept doing this process. Causing her to fall into the ground, causing her to spasm.

    Her eyes darted around. Feeling the stares again.

    Wasting no time, she ran into the night. Crying as she¡¯s back to square one.

    A terrible person. A terrible monster. Nothing to redeem.

    ***

 Entry 2.5 - Who She Is: Misery

    The engorged, twitching claws tapped away at the brick she rested it on.

    ¡°I¡ªSimple, it¡¯s just simple, Cal¡­ I¡¯m running out of options~ I have to go down there, we have to just kill one of them out in the open. There¡¯s no beating around the bush, I¡¯m a horrible person anyways, and you need to get over this cannibalism thing! Can¡¯t be one if you don¡¯t look like them!¡±

    The monster girl was leering on a roof top. Breathing heavily due to the misplaced weight, her entire side monster, and the other weak human. Massive limbs made from bone, but twisted and malformed. An arm that was five sizes too much for her, with a leg that was somehow less than a stand skeleton¡¯s leg. Her brown hair growing so long it hit pass the calf. Her right-side pieces of her skull jutting out.

    She had been crying the entire time, her normal eye flushed red while the other is pitch black with no pupil nor irid.

    ¡°No more thoughts,¡± Calypso huffed. ¡°Thinking hurts because it¡¯s dying. Now to cause a lot of death¡ª¡±

    ¡°Hm.¡±

    Calypso tightened, turning towards the darkest part of the roof.

    Her eyes widened in disbelief at what she saw.

    ¡°It was really as simple as I thought it was¡­ Calypso Grimes, new student of my class, and a wild beast being reported all over town¡­ All reported around the same time¡­¡±

    Mrs. Moses was hovering in the air as water currents wrapped around up her legs, crossing her mid-section in a helix as she glided forward, her arms extended and the source of the water.

    ¡°As an intellectual, I¡¯m shaking my head at myself. But as a lover of YA genre fiction, you couldn¡¯t have hit the major story beats any better...¡±

    With a flick of the lady¡¯s wrist, water streamed up her arm to form a blade that bubbled under it¡¯s water surface. Aiming it at her mad student.

    ¡°Too bad that you¡¯re not going to have the same end.¡±

    Calypso smiled. But it was broken like the rest of her. Forgetting how to do it due to her exhausted brain, and physically unable to do it.

    ¡°B-but you can¡¯t¡ªyou wouldn¡¯t! You¡¯re bluffing~¡±

    Calypso was instantly stabbed in the chest, in her feeble human side. Cutting the air out of her body.

    The woman didn¡¯t even move. Her water blade just extended from where she hovered.

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    The fear set in. The reality immutable.

    Calypso tried grabbing at the blade, and her fingers fell through it. ¡°P-please! Be humane! I¡¯m just a girl¡­!¡±

    ¡°That put a boy into critical condition, if my hunch is correct. I am being humane.¡±

    Calypso¡¯s face crumbled into a mess of tears. Collapsing before her murder, all she could plead.

    ¡°I c-came all this way¡­! And for what?! I survive, then turn into one of them! And I can¡¯t even do that right¡­! I fought and fought, and fought and fought and fought and fought and fought! When I didn¡¯t want to in the first place! Why?! Why?!¡±

    She blubbered, wailing. A girl crying, with the reverberation of a monster¡¯s roar.

    ¡°You¡¯ve ¡®fought¡¯? Explain. And quick.¡±

    Calypso whimpered, gasping and hiccupping.

    ¡°I-I-I and¡ªA friend let die b-because I was weak¡­ Her sp-spirit helped me, I fought the monster that got inside me¡ªand then I became this!¡±

    ¡°¡­Interesting.¡±

    ¡°I can¡ªstill feel it inside! Trying to w-e-ear me like a skin¡­¡±

    ¡°You could feel it¡­? The monster that tried to take over? When it happened, completely aware of it¡¯s movements?¡±

    Calypso rose her head up, seeing Mrs. Moses¡¯ raised eyebrows.

    ¡°Ye¡­yesh¡­¡±

    ¡°...¡± Mrs. Moses brow then furrowed. Letting silence build, outside of the sounds of rushing water.

    Her blade collapsed, causing Calypso to fall onto the ground. Still twitching, still somehow alive.

    ¡°I was silently remarking upon your transformative healing¡­¡± Mrs. Moses put her fingers on her chin. ¡°You¡¯re on the verge of death and yet still able to trigger that¡­ Unknowingly.¡±

    She sighed visibly, using her entire body. She adjusted her falling glasses with her middle finger, at the center of the bridge.

    Letting the shape of water move for her, Mrs. Moses moved to the pathetic girl. Lowering her onto her knees, and holding her still. Calypso was still whimpering, looking at this woman who was casually using water magic, completely at her mercy.

    ¡°Tell you what,¡± Mrs. Moses looked down upon her. ¡°You look to have¡­ One more transformation left in you? If not that? If you manage to survive it, then you have my kindness. If this kills you, then you have my mercy. Do you accept this?¡±

    Calypso twitched, panted with reverent eyes. ¡°H-help me¡­ Please¡­¡±

    ¡°I need you to be clear with this. In fact, I¡¯ll be more clear with you. I am helping you either way. One is a quick release that¡¯ll end this senseless tragedy before you spread it to others. Another is explaining what a terrible fate that you will have to live with until it consumes you or the toll of it paid in full.¡±

    She placed a hand on her own chest. ¡°I¡¯m an example of the latter. Despite the despair, despite the pain, and how limited my days are despite being 33¡­ I¡¯ve fought to have a decent life in the end. But you do have to keep fighting. And you might lose it all despite fighting back.¡±

    Calypso looked down. Using the last of her dwindling brain power to search for an answer.

    ¡°And to make this less, er¡­ Pardon the pun, but grim¡­¡± Mrs. Moses watched Calypso tilted her head. ¡°Well, you seem to be a skeletal monster. Grim.¡±

    Calypso took a while before understand, and then laughing softly. ¡°S-sorry, I likes wordplay¡­¡±

    Mrs. Moses smiled a bit. Ironically, this caused Calypso to shiver.

    ¡°It would be a shame¡­ For you to not survive. You¡¯re rather unique in various ways, and I would love to inform you of your potential.¡±

    Calypso felt herself come down. Her arm sagging away from her body by the second, her struggling to mouth the words.

    ¡°I¡­ Accept¡­ Please¡­¡±

    She jumped, as she realized that her teacher grabbed her head with both of her water coated hands. As they looked eye to eye.

    Mrs. Moses¡¯ eyes were voids, but with aquamarine lights radiating in them.

    ¡°Very well. Fight on, my dear new student.¡±

    ***

 Entry 3.0 - A History: Of Mistakes

    ***

    Calypso jerked awake. All too aware of her status, at in someone¡¯s home. But at least draped in covers.

    Tensing at the sound of something scrapping against the table, it took her a moment to understand that a cup and saucer was being pushed to her by a hand. Made of water.

    Looking up and across from the oak table, she smiled gratefully at her teacher.

    ¡°T-thank you.¡±

    Mrs. Moses nodded, whipping her hand back before putting her actual ones atop each other. ¡°Drink it.¡±

    Calypso grabbed the steaming cup, noticing that her nails have grown longer. Sharper as her hands clasped the sides. With a sigh through her nose, she took a long swig of the contents.

    ¡°Witchery Root,¡± Mrs. Moses explained. ¡°In turn made into Witch¡¯s Brew. Discovered here and grows in bulk in the Northeast, if one knows where to look.¡±

    Calypso set the cup down. Her face turned up in knots as her eyes swam in her welling tears.

    She looked down, and only saw a thick, emerald sludge in this nicely sculpted cup. And in the remnants of the liquid, nuggets of grain slowly fell down into the sewage.

    ¡°It¡¯s, um¡­¡± Calypso nearly coughed that phrase out. ¡°Very strong.¡±

    ¡°Oh yes,¡± Mrs. Moses nodded. ¡°Like most natural things, it¡¯s bitter and odd to taste, but ultimately good for you. And it burns hotter than your stomach at the moment, hm?¡±

    Calypso grabbed her stomach on instinct.

    ¡°¡­Oh god¡­¡± Calypso sniffled in relief. ¡°It¡¯s over¡­ It¡¯s finally over¡­¡±

    The girl quickly grabbed the cup, throwing her head back to down the rest of the brew. Closing her eyes, letting the excess tears finally fall out of her eyes as she took in the inner peace.

    ¡°It won¡¯t last forever, maybe for a few hours depending on the person, but it will give you time to get your affairs in order,¡± Mrs. Moses looked on at her student. ¡°A substitute, if you will.¡±

    Calypso nodded. She was too focused on fighting the urge to keep the brew down, and battle against her burning throat, and keep from shattering her teacher¡¯s fine china from her strength alone.

    ¡°Also. I take it that you don¡¯t have your Illuminator with you?¡±

    Calypso looked from side to side. ¡°I¡­ Have a¡­ ¡®Illuminator¡¯?¡±

    ¡°Dear Lord¡­¡± Mrs. Moses wiped her forehead with a cloth. ¡°The crystal that is your soul.¡±

    ¡°A-aaah¡­¡± Calypso nervously brushed her long, wild hair from her face. ¡°Urm¡­ Is it bad that I¡¯ve locked it in a box out of pure panic, sadness, and regret--?¡±

    Mrs. Moses tented her fingers, before hitting her forehead against them with a sigh.

    ¡°Just¡­ Picture it in your mind. Make a fist and imagine it in the palm of your hand¡­¡±

    Calypso looked at her raised palm. Closing her eyes, she couldn¡¯t make a fist due to the length of her nails, curled her fingers slightly.

    Before feeling the stone in her hand second later, her eyes shooting open with surprise.

    ¡°B-bu-but--!¡± Calypso exclaimed in confusion.

    ¡°Surprisingly, something called a Illuminator and is your soul has some magical properties to it,¡± Mrs. Moses snarked behind her hands, putting her chin atop of them unveiling her smirk. ¡°This is so cute. You basically know nothing¡­¡±

    Calypso felt her face flush with embarrassment. Since school was so easy for her, teachers never paid her any mind. She never had one tease her so thoroughly.

    She stared at her stone, watching it. ¡°It sounds like a cheap informercial item anyways--Well that explains why it was so hard to get rid of¡­ But is it really it? For something eternal and immaterial¡­¡±

    ¡°Well, it is normally. But we unfortunate victims had ours ripped to shreds. What we have left turned into that stone. And despite the horror of having it outside your body, it is still the essence of who you are.¡±

    Mrs. Moses raised her hand and flipped the back of it towards her student. Her ring, custom made and studded with a beautiful gem shined in the darkness. Calypso gathered what she was doing.

    ¡°No matter how far you go, it is you. Therefore, can go where you go.¡±

    ¡°Yours is so small¡­¡± Calypso looked in awe.

    ¡°Mm. It used to be as big as yours. Again, I¡¯m on dwindling time. It also takes form of your current state.¡±

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    Calypso felt sorry for her teacher. She looked around in this dining room. Covered in trinkets, photos, and yet the entirety of the room felt so empty. As if no one lived in this house for years despite having the one person.

    ¡°So either fashion something that can seamlessly blend into your everyday clothing or put it in something that you carry everyday,¡± Mrs. Moses instructed. ¡°Without it near when you transform, the process can be thrown off, eventually causing malformed transformations such as what you were before.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­¡± Calypso suddenly held the stone closer to herself. ¡°So, you¡¯re like me, a monster¡­ Person¡­ Thing¡­ Wait. Consumed? Or is it Subsumed...? Can I ask what you are¡­? Y-y¡¯know, what kind of monster you are¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure through context that you can discern what it is¡­¡± Mrs. Moses teased with a slight smirk on her worn face.

    Calypso pouted. ¡°You¡¯re technically on off hours. Surely you can tell me the answer to this one, teacher¡­?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m teaching you still, aren¡¯t I, Ms. Grimes?¡±

    Calypso made an exasperated noise. Clearly exaggerated, just to not incur any possible wrath. ¡°But¡­ How? How did you¡­ Control yourself? And for so long¡­?¡±

    Mrs. Moses¡¯ expression turned dark for a moment. Contemplative. It was clear she knew the answer, it was just attached with bad experiences.

    ¡°I can¡¯t sugarcoat this, Ms. Grimes. There is no control. Control is mankind trying to place his values onto the mindless wild of nature. When I said before that you must live with it, I meant that. Regardless of how you look and how you act, it is you. Just a self that¡¯s been long dormant and shouldn¡¯t have been awoken.¡±

    ¡°So just let it¡­ Me run rampant¡­?¡± Calypso looked crushed. ¡°But¡ªyou were going to kill me because I was going to prey on humans! If we¡¯re letting fate fall where it may, then¡ª¡±

    ¡°Acceptance, Ms. Grimes. Acceptance and resonance.¡±

    Calypso looked down at her cup, as if the former word managed to weigh her down. "I... Tried doing that. Acceptance. I''ve tried doing it all my life..."

    "Acceptance by itself is only that. That''s why I pair it with resonance, another action, another step. If you allow me..."

    Mrs. Moses pulled out a miniature chalkboard from her lap, causing Calypso to blink in disbelief.

    ¡°What can I say?¡± Ms. Moses looked back with a deadpan expression. ¡°I live and breathe my profession.¡±

    She flicked her index finger, causing it to transform, a claw that was scaled in a lavender shade. It left Calypso gob smacked. And more importantly, confirmed that she could have easily killed her without a second thought.

    Mrs. Moses drew a blob with eyes with her claw, as it flawlessly acted as makeshift chalk. Then far on the right, she drew a stick person. Finally a circle in the middle.

    ¡°We are called the Consumed. Humans turned monsters, hybrids that can have a place in both the day and night. But can just as easily become outcasts in both. To become one is a ritualistic rite of passage that requires you to die, in a sense. Monsters of our world¡­ They¡¯re superstitious, irrational beings¡ªand it¡¯s reflected in their physiology. With their numbers, they could take over the Earth and reign for hundreds of years¡­ But they¡¯re scared of the world we¡¯ve created for ourselves. They can¡¯t leave without preying on humans leading them back.¡±

    She drew an arrow, from blob to the stick figure. ¡°So they hope for humans to find the fringe areas they dwell. Old folklore, fairytales, those bedtime stories to scare kids into behaving? They¡¯ve modeled their methods after them, killing their victims, and invading their bodies. Becoming Subsumed.¡±

    ¡°So¡­ I was a Subsumed¡­ That became Consumed?¡± Calypso titled her head.

    ¡°Yes. And I assume through the context of the meaning of these words, you understand the difference?¡±

    Calypso nodded. ¡°Consume, well, to consume¡­ Which I did to the monster that nearly kille¡ªWell, did kill me? But I came back because I gathered my soul? Was that the rite¡­?¡±

    Ms. Moses nodded.

    ¡°And subsume¡­ To add to its mass¡­?¡±

    ¡°Yes. That is their nature. The monster inside eats the human¡¯s soul and wears their empty vessel as a suit.¡±

    ¡°The crazy thing is¡­¡± Calypso reflected on her memories, shivering. ¡°I still¡­ I still felt like me. My friend told me that¡ªh-her spirit and¡­ I didn¡¯t believe it. My thoughts, my mannerisms¡ªit was me.¡±

    ¡°Remember when I said your stone is still your essence? That¡¯s the insidious deal of it all. The monster subsumes your soul, adds you into itself. So it does know your thoughts, mannerisms¡ªyou. It tricks the last ambers of yourself that¡¯s deep within darkness that you¡¯re in control. And then it gives you your darkest dreams, making them reality. Wanting to rip your most hated person to shreds? It will give you the strength to do it. The fact that you could feel what normally would¡¯ve been a seamless takeover is incredible.¡±

    Calypso looked to the side at the praise, once again combing her wild bangs out of the way. But immediately looked back. ¡°What does the end stage look like?¡±

    ¡°A fully Subsumed person is the monster finishing the ¡®deal¡¯ with the victim, the last shards of humanity extinguished. Uncanny ¡®humans¡¯ that helps let its true brethren into the mortal world. Causing tragedies, crimes, instability so they can exist in more places. A long game that they¡¯re willing to wait for.¡±

    The woman tapped on the arrow, repeatedly to drive the point home. ¡°This, Ms. Grimes, is what we have to feed on.¡±

    The girl pictured Cassie, and her wide grin. And shivered.

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°They are our natural opposites. Monsters that finally understands humanity. You see, just feeding on humans¡ªhuman¡¯s food, or just feeding on monsters¡­ It doesn¡¯t work. You¡¯re ignoring one side of yourself over the other. Consuming the Subsumed appeases both sides. It¡¯s how we came to be, after all.¡±

    Calypso looked shaken. ¡°While I¡¯m glad it¡¯s not humans wholesale that I have to eat¡­ I¡­ It¡¯s such a terrible fate, isn¡¯t it? If I eat them, then that means no chance for those people to achieve what I have¡ªto which¡ªwas down to pure luck¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s mercy. Especially in the cause of the Fully Subsumed. The soul is forfeit, gone, erased. All we can do is to act as the natural order against such an unnatural thing. Otherwise, we don¡¯t have much choice.¡±

    She pointed to the stick man. ¡°The human mind that was forged and rose against innate savagery of the world. But being human and their sensibilities cannot satisfy the monster.¡± And then tapped at the blob. ¡°A being that represents this innate savagery, becoming incarnations of such. But too big, too strong, and too tragic to make a proper existence for itself. It was what you were, not mere hours ago.¡±

    Mrs. Moses dragged a wavy line within this circle. ¡°That¡¯s what I meant when I said resonance. You can¡¯t control the monster. The monster can¡¯t fully commit to becoming one. Each side opposes the other, despises each other, and it will kill you metaphorically and literally if you continue to let them war within yourself.¡±

    Calypso chewed on her lip. It was so much to take in. She looked down, at her hands. Dainty, small, but long claws growing out of the nails.

    Her eyes, looking so tired that they had bags under them, took the sight in.

    ¡°So,¡± Mrs. Moses began again. ¡°We have a few hours to find a Subsumed for you and even less before dawn comes.¡±

    The woman set the board down, grabbing her wheels. ¡°Get ready, we¡¯re going out.¡±

    ***

 Entry 3.1 - A History: Of Mistakes

    Calypso was shivering. And not because the air was cold that night.

    It was the idea that she was walking with her professor into the forest, the two alone, and she was all too aware about the imagery that could be read from such. Every step, she hid behind a tree, watching and waiting for Mrs. Moses to traverse ahead before darting to the next.

    ¡°I-I don¡¯t want to come across picky, but why couldn¡¯t you offer me any--?¡± Calypso whimpered out.

    ¡°Despite being charitable as I can be, I am not one, Ms. Grimes,¡± the woman kept moving forward, as she traded her normal wheels for ones that can handle terrain. ¡°Besides, it¡¯d be a tad redundant.¡±

    Calypso snaked out of her hiding place, the covers pulled tight against her bare body. ¡°¡®Redundant¡¯¡­?¡±

    The duo found themselves in the middle of an empty field. Dying grey grass swaying in the night breeze, the Moon being visible from the absence of trees.

    ¡°Now then,¡± Mrs. Moses turned to face her confused student. ¡°With the aid of your Illuminator, your transformation can go much more smoothly. Turn, here and now.¡±

    Calypso gulped. Conflict written all over her tired face.

    ¡°W-what if I just simply turn back into whatever I was again¡­?¡± Calypso asked.

    ¡°This is why we have to do this now,¡± Mrs. Moses unwaveringly explained. ¡°You have to re-establish that this is simply another facet of you: regardless of the danger, regardless of what becomes unearthed¡ªif you let conflict of the two halves dictate and dominate your mind again, then this one chance will be entirely wasted.¡±

    The girl¡¯s wavering lips allowed Calypso to pant softly in fear, on the verge of hyperventilation.

    ¡°I j¡ªJust don¡¯t want you to kill me¡ª¡± Calypso stumbled. ¡°Kill you¡ªkill anyone¡ª¡±

    Mrs. Moses quickly shut the remark down with a lowered head that allowed her to stare daggers at her student. ¡°Then allow that to be your motivation, Ms. Grimes.¡±

    That rocked Calypso to the core. Whatever that was made up of, nowadays.

    With a shaking hand, she let go a bit of the cover, before letting it fall completely to her ankles.

    Lifting up a hand, Calypso still couldn¡¯t fathom how her Illuminator managed to get into her palms. But she shook her head. There was no time for reason.

    Gently, she folded her slim fingers onto it, brushing and then pressing onto the surface. Watching it not only glow a pale white, but see her soul writhe in the ghastly facsimiles. Beginning to form faces that screamed in silent agony.

    Around the same time she did, as Calypso wailed out from the throat, immediately hitting the ground with her bare knees.

    Glancing at her hand in pain, she saw the stone immediately sink into the skin like waves drowning ships, allowing her to finally slam both palms into the ground. Just to express how grueling it was, to regain the little control she had, anything. She didn¡¯t know, because she couldn¡¯t think anymore. It scared her, that she couldn¡¯t think anymore.

    What made it worse however, was realizing that she couldn¡¯t ball her fingers into a fist anymore, either.

    Calypso watched as her digits shot out bone claws, tearing away at what was once human within seconds, and individually at that.

    As she screamed, she can feel her tongue rubbing up against her sharpening teeth, making the sensation somehow more horrible as it twitched and writhed, therefore raking itself over the pointed edges.

    She tried looking at her teacher, but her locks were already growing out of control.

    Maybe she shouldn¡¯t have been granted mercy at all.

    ¡°The more you try to bargain for control, the more the transformation will take your autonomy!¡±

    Calypso struggled to raise her head, as her spine rocketed out of her back and was slowly pushing the spikes. But she eventually did, to gawk at a determined looking Moses.

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    The professor¡¯s hair was bellowing with the wind, her stoic fa?ade dropping into a spirited scowl. With her own claws being out, scrapping against the handles of her chair, being the thing to bring Calypso into shock.

    ¡°This is re-establishment!¡± Mrs. Moses shouted over her pupil¡¯s agony. ¡°Braving the body shutting down! Surviving against the pain! And being able to flex, to feel, to move, to reclaim the form again! It¡¯s you, Calypso! It¡¯s yours!¡±

    If the prior imagery didn¡¯t do it, hearing Mrs. Moses¡¯ resentful, yet determined passion was what did it.

    Calypso lifted her head upwards as she was on her hands and knees. Not screaming, not shouting, but groaning out, lulling her growing tongue out of the sharpening mouth. She didn¡¯t have the strength to vocalize her resolve, but she had it.

    The skeletal armor soon quickly fastened itself around her gestating body, rocking as if she was being pulled and jerked around by invisible parties. But she threw her head back further, allowing her aching body to rise up, once again just on her knees as they grew spikes.

    Letting her hair grow into a mane, feeling it coast across the throbbing back, she closed her eyes as she used her claws to comb through it, as her elbow scythes finally had the room to manifest. Humming as it all happened, but she wasn¡¯t quite sure why.

    She clutched at her head, feeling her head spilt open, Calypso knew what she had to do. Both to appease her teacher, and her fervent mind.

    Calypso put her hands flat, and pulled at the sides of her head. Growling as she did it, her eyes squeezing shut, but ultimately helping to allow the skull-like crown to crest from where the opening was formed.

    Her eyes shooting open, as they swam in dark voids, the pupils glowing amber being the only source of light.

    There was no sound at first. All Calypso could hear was the hammering of her heart. Before giving way to her very audible and visible steaming pants.

    Finally, hearing the clapping, causing her gaze to fix towards it.

    Seeing Mrs. Moses, earnest but worn grin, as she clapped with her scaly claws.

    ¡°You do have potential, my girl,¡± Mrs. Moses congratulated her student. ¡°You just had to understand what many others before you had to learn the hard way. Myself included.¡±

    Calypso chuckled. Again, empty, almost without breath. But she lowered her head, despite it being crowned.

    ¡°I have you to thank, my merciful teacher¡­¡±

    Calypso couldn¡¯t see, but heard Mrs. Moses¡¯ chuckle of amusement. Approval.

    ¡°Now then,¡± Mrs. Moses¡¯ voice continued. ¡°We better get your meal.¡±

    The monster girl rose up. Being in such a stronger body, compared to how she usually was, it was more challenging to reconcile that they¡¯re one in the same, versus the radical change itself.

    ¡°So¡­¡± Calypso looked at her claws, balling them up. ¡°How do I hunt¡­?¡±

    ¡°Thankfully, it¡¯s rather simple,¡± Mrs. Moses adjusted her glasses. ¡°But for the sake of brevity, I¡¯ve fashioned a backup plan.¡±

    Before Calypso could ask, or even finish tilting her head¡ªshe was slammed into.

    Sailing in the air due to the sheer force of it, Calypso¡¯s new instincts gave her the moment she needed to correct herself before she landed, digging her limbs into the soft ground.

    On all fours once more, but in a more predatory posture, Calypso rose her head with a growl.

    Before her fierce face softened in response of what she saw.

    It was pitiful as it was horrid. It was a black snail, but with human remnants acting as a shell. But only halfway, the arms of the former human dangling off the side it occupied.

    But what was telling, was that fact Calypso recognized the small scraps of clothes that covered the corpse.

    ¡°The campsite¡­¡± Calypso sadly realized.

    ¡°You stumbled across the mess, did you?¡± Mrs. Moses asked.

    ¡°I did, yes¡­¡± Calypso looked on. Crestfallen. ¡°Ironically, I wanted to eat whoever was there too. And yet I¡¯m remorseful¡­¡±

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be.¡±

    Calypso turned her head at Mrs. Moses.

    ¡°Or rather, remorse isn¡¯t going to help in this case,¡± Mrs. Moses clarified. ¡°Again. What before you is no longer human in any sense of the fashion. Just a filthy Skinwalker, and not even a regular one.¡±

    Calypso looked forward again. The thing couldn¡¯t even charge like it did before, it slithered towards the women, as it haggardly exhaled from the human¡¯s mouth it took.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been tracking it for its crimes,¡± Mrs. Moses explained. ¡°Subsumed in general can sniff us out, they want to find us so they could lay claim to fame, to kill us. Even the misshapen and pathetic stains like these types. In a way, it was like you not so long ago. A hanger-on that can barely keep itself alive.¡±

    Calypso nodded. Still glum. Still hesitating.

    ¡°I understand. You want to know if there is a chance, to save them, to give them absolution from this¡­ Utterly horrible fate. I¡¯ve been searching for answers and a way for years, and I¡¯ve sadly kept reaching the same conclusion. You have to kill it. You have to restore this unnatural and unfair order in your own way.¡±

    ¡°¡­Thank you,¡± Calypso uttered softly, her eyes closed tight.

    Before a guttural shriek ripped through the monster girl¡¯s throat, Calypso leapt forward in barely contained frenzy.

    She was too hungry to cling to her humanity anymore. And yet held too much awareness and reasoning to solely be this monster.

    The opposing sides formed into the drive Calypso needed, as she chomped down into the ink-like flesh. Shuddering, on the verge of moaning. Everything, every level, being met all at once after so long.

    There was no stopping, after that. Her itch was finally quelled.

    It took minutes for her, to finally let her head away from the now complete corpse. Calypso hollowed out the body, only leaving the back of it. Fang and claw marks etched across, and still so fresh.

    Calypso purred, unexpectedly from herself. There was something, about looking at the aftermath, the carnage. It was like another aspect of the meal.

    Something plopped next to her, causing her to crane her head in response.

    Only to realize that it was Tupperware.

    ¡°Slice off a slab, would you?¡± Mrs. Moses called out. ¡°I was going to eat, but then you came along, so¡ª"

    ***

 Entry 3.2 - A History: Of Mistakes

    The skies were beginning to break into dawn. The dark purple of night fading slowly into the light blue, transforming across the ensuing spectrum between the extremes. The light that was slowly forming made things so much more clear.

    Especially for Calypso, as she carefully divided up the corpse into pieces.

    She couldn¡¯t exactly hide her pouting face. Thinking about it, thus taking her mind off it, she figured that her monster guise is tied to her emotions, not just the primal instincts. But as soon as she focused back on her task, it really didn¡¯t matter and she really didn¡¯t care.

    Calypso turned her head towards her teacher. ¡°Are you sure that we have to save these for later¡­?¡±

    The woman was taking the stacked Tupperware into her pack that hung at the back of her chair. Mrs. Moses proceeded to give an unimpressed look.

    ¡°I¡¯ve hammered in ¡®not letting one side take dominance¡¯ how many times this night--?¡±

    Calypso sighed that trailed into a growl. With a sneering glumness, she resumed cutting what little of the flesh the ¡°failure¡± Subsumed had, flinging it into her set of Tupperware with a longing look.

    ¡°Besides. Despite the innate connection we share, a Subsumed is still paranoid. They prefer to hide, stalk, it¡¯s their nature and makes confrontation tricky. You need to ration out your kills. Both out of pragmatism and¡­¡±

    There was a horrible sound. Something between a hiss, and gargling. The sound trailing off with the bass of a foghorn.

    It immediately caused Calypso to jump up, and proceeded to get on all fours towards the threat. Only to see Mrs. Moses, holding the side of her face as her other hand was shaking with the Tupperware in tow.

    Her glasses were at the end of the bridge of her nose, and now she once again sported black eyes with aquamarine pupils. Despite still sporting a tired face, her features were twisted and became razor sharp near the edges.

    ¡°¡­As I was saying¡­¡± the woman panted out. ¡°Sorry¡­ It teaches restraint above all else¡­ A lesson you still need to heed, regardless of your tenure¡­¡±

    ¡°Man¡­¡± Calypso rose from the ground, flicking the dirt from her claws. ¡°If I¡¯m allowed more questions¡­How long is your tenure, professor?¡±

    Mrs. Moses let her hand fall from her face, and righted herself.

    ¡°I¡¯ve turned around the same age as you.¡±

    Calypso¡¯s face fell. ¡°And you¡¯re 33?¡±

    Her professor smiled, ¡°At the very least, let¡¯s focus on the fact that I¡¯ve managed to get to 33, considering. There¡¯s going to be pain and strife from this life, Ms. Grimes. But it¡¯s not impossible. Especially if you dedicate yourself to learn along the way.¡±

    Calypso shook her head and raised her claws, ¡°So you dealt with all of this while getting your Masters to teach as well?¡±

    ¡°While taking personal trips here and there to research more about these phenomena, also being the head of a now-defunct Coven to protect this city from the Deep,¡± Mrs. Moses adjusted her glasses, before sighing. ¡°I still question how I managed to function without sleep, never mind not dying during any of that¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­You really could¡¯ve killed me,¡± Calypso stared on, awestruck.

    ¡°I work on a case-by-case basis anyways,¡± Mrs. Moses assured. ¡°No matter how draining that is.¡±

    The monster girl couldn¡¯t help but to smile gratefully. To be mentored by such a triumphant woman.

    She looked down at the remains she just picked clean. Remembering how her professor told her that it was her, in a sense. A representation of her very tangible end. Then she looked back onwards, at her possible future.

    There was something¡ªthat wasn¡¯t a fully formed thought nor a primal desire, to crouch down. Her body wanting that versus standing upright, like a human. Calypso proceeds to squat, her claws planted firm in the dirt. Continuing to look up in reverence.

    ¡°So I managed to luck out and move to the town where the only Consumed/Subsumed expert lived¡­¡± Calypso shook her head in disbelief. ¡°Which leads me to my next question¡­ How did this happen? What¡¯s the history of all this¡­?¡±

    Mrs. Moses shifted in her chair. Straightening her back and leaning upwards in reconciliation.

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    ¡°It¡¯s rather simple, really. The Subsumed¡­ Are our distant family. Estranged brothers and sisters, if you will.¡±

    Calypso tilted her head. Making her confusion apparent, but elected not to voice it so her teacher could continue.

    ¡°There¡¯s hints, throughout our history and our world, that there existed a lost era. Even with the scraps I¡¯ve managed to gather, there¡¯s little documentation of it. But this early, lost era of history¡ªit was us at our darkest as a species. In fact, we weren¡¯t called ¡®Humanity¡¯¡­ But ¡®Monsters¡¯.¡±

    ¡°Bu-but that doesn¡¯t make sense¡­¡±

    ¡°Of course. Saying this now is utter madness, and rightfully so. But language is an interesting thing. What was once terms describing one thing morph and evolve along with us. Words, titles, names¡­ Once applied to something, only to apply to something else entirely. And that was the same with the term ¡®Monster.¡¯¡±

    Mrs. Moses tented her fingers together, resting her elbows on her handles.

    ¡°Us Monsters and the Subsumed¡­ We were different yet similar clans. We equally dominated our environments in different ways, the Subsumed hid, undermined, became the shadows themselves. We Monsters adapted, hunted and gathered, and from nothing we became apex predators. The Subsumed were shapeless, us becoming sapient. There was¡­ An odd kinship, born out of mutual fear¡­ And respect.¡±

    Mrs. Moses raised her finger. ¡°But that¡¯s what ultimately drove us apart. Our sapience.¡±

    ¡°Us evolving¡­?¡± Calypso asked. ¡°They¡­ Felt cheated over us progressing?¡±

    ¡°Indeed. Not only had we rose out of the blood soaked and tribal lifestyle, but away from such. Developing reason, intellect¡ªand ultimately society. They hated that because they can¡¯t break free of their habitual tragedy, and seeing us move on to the point of forgetting this storied history¡­ Well, they went mad.¡±

    She combed her fingers through her messy black hair, before pressing her fingertips together. ¡°As I¡¯ve mentioned, they¡¯re a ritualistic sort. Their very identity revolves on their complex narrative they uphold as a species¡­ So they performed a hex, on themselves and those who come after them. Their mission to force us back into our tribal roots. Or die trying.¡±

    Calypso covered her mouth with her claw. ¡°So all of this¡­ Is millennia old revenge to them¡­?¡± the question whistled out of the gaps.

    Mrs. Moses glanced across the forest afar, ¡°Vengeance. Necessity for survival. A purpose for existence? It¡¯s all of those at once.¡±

    The monster girl looked behind her, eyeing the dead Subsumed.

    ¡°How did we¡­¡± Calypso turned back towards Mrs. Moses. ¡°What makes our society so¡­ Scary to them? They¡¯re just buildings. You said yourself, they could easily take over¡ªan-and I know it¡¯s mainly them being irrational, but I¡¯m trying to¡­ Understand the context.¡±

    ¡°It was a lot easier for their tactics to work in our past,¡± Mrs. Moses gestured her open again towards her student. ¡°Hell, it inspired most of our folklore and they proceeded to copy it to refine their methods of undermining our society. It was easier to kill, to kidnap, and ultimately disappear into the night. They adore gaslighting us, so we could accuse each other and fight and of course, sink back to the worst parts of ourselves.¡±

    A flicker of realization shined in Calypso¡¯s otherwise dead eyes.

    ¡°Now we have phones,¡± Calypso nodded, beginning to understand. ¡°And surveillance. Contemporary times ushered in unprecedented progress that they¡¯ve been at a loss to handle. Am I right?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a shame that you¡¯re such a terrible student, otherwise you would be such a great academic,¡± Mrs. Moses smirked.

    Calypso smirked in turn, ¡°I get straight A¡¯s without trying~¡±

    ¡°Half of the battle,¡± Mrs. Moses replied back sternly. ¡°Otherwise, why bother with the other aspects?¡±

    ¡°F-fair¡­¡± Calypso lowered her head. She quickly raised it back up, ¡°Oh yes, I forgot¡ªthe nature of my powers? Why am I so special¡­?¡±

    ¡°I thought that the question before was your last one,¡± Mrs. Moses teased.

    Calypso wondered if she were capable of blushing as she was, and how that looked like right now.

    ¡°Luckily, I¡¯m a teacher, and I adore questions~ But¡­ For one, you boast a rather ancient type of monster, the Grim.¡±

    Calypso¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°I thought there was just¡­ T-the one--?¡±

    ¡°Oh no, they were a race,¡± Mrs. Moses shook her head. ¡°They had to be, in order for the legend of the Grim Reaper to work completely, otherwise it¡¯d be localized. But they were a rare breed, considered themselves as harbingers of death itself. Therefore, thought they could dictate who lived, who died, when and finally how. All by their hand. They¡¯re very much endangered because of that self-appointed title. Both humans and Subsumed fought back against them.¡±

    Calypso looked at her claws, flicking them against each other. ¡°I¡¯ve gotten the best monster¡­?¡±

    ¡°Well, not THE best, but certainly a rare and hard to counter kind. Not only that¡­ From what you told me¡ªyour ritual involving spirits, the fact you could feel the Subsumed inside of you¡ªall of that is considered the best-case scenario. The process of being Subsumed is a lotus-eating trance all but in name, it¡¯s the bog standard.¡±

    The professor put a hand on her chest, ¡°Even I didn¡¯t understand until I¡¯ve seen the signs multiple times. You knowing from the off and having help as well¡­ It¡¯s all very interesting. I¡¯m very eager to see how your career turns out.¡±

    Calypso slowly became crestfallen. ¡°It feels unearned.¡±

    She jumped once more, again at a rather strange sound. This time, it was her professor¡¯s chuckle.

    ¡°To be fair, who in their right mind would want to become a soulless creature of the night?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡± Calypso put her claw on her forehead. ¡°Once again, good point¡ª¡±

    There was a cold, yet liquid touch on Calypso¡¯s bare shoulder, causing her to look at her teacher, who extended out her water hand.

    ¡°Remember what I¡¯ve taught you. Use this lull you¡¯ve been granted to breathe, to heal. But understand that this is your responsibility now, and there can¡¯t be self-pity anymore. You¡¯re a bright woman, Calypso. It¡¯s time you stop cutting yourself off.¡±

    It took a moment for that to sink it. And it didn¡¯t take long for Calypso¡¯s eyes to well. The tears rolled down without resistance.

    But once they got to her cheeks, though faintly, Calypso saw that they were crimson red. Immediately bubbling before evaporating into the air.

    Calypso reached up with her claw, and grasped Mrs. Moses¡¯ hand. Letting it break apart and wash down her body as a result. It didn¡¯t matter if it wasn¡¯t the actual hand.

    She¡¯s just so grateful that someone like her offered themselves to her, after so long.

 Entry 3.3 - A History: Of Mistakes

    Climbing into the window, Calypso flopped right onto the floor, thankfully before she shifted back into human.

    She couldn¡¯t bask in the fact that she was normal again, the girl darted towards her travel pack she let hit the floor, rummaging in it.

    Thankfully Mrs. Moses gave it back to her, after both an admission and a lecture about leaving things behind--she''s both hunted and a hunter now. Calypso could''ve whined about how she sort of lied about not having anything to offer her during the woods, but it didn''t matter at this point.

    Finally pulling out her robe, and fastening that on. Calypso breathed a sigh of relief, looking around at the room given to her that she nearly abandoned.

    Glancing at the bed, seeing that box along with the note¡­ She reached over it, grabbing both. Folding the paper into her robe¡¯s pocket, to slowly open the box that held her soul.

    The gemstone held the small, ghastly faces under its surface. Turning into smokey wisps, before they can truly take a form. But it was enough to create expressions, readable as much as a cloud can be ¡°anything¡±, the beholder imprinting meaning onto them due to the reaction they had due to such.

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    All Calypso saw were the miserable pouts, the overdramatic screams, the crying whines. All of that her, maybe unchangeable due to her problems being so immutable.

    But as Calypso softly rocked the box in her hands¡­ The words of Mrs. Moses rang out in her thoughts.

    Closing the box, Calypso darted about in her room. Gathering a variety of things, the bag where she put her craft tools in when she took from the box. Fumbling in one of her bags, pulling out a brown leather glove. Finally, getting her glasses case from the set-up dressers.

    Getting onto the bed, putting on her glasses, Calypso soon got to work. She cut the fingers on the leather glove, carefully created a hole that didn¡¯t bore completely down the back of said glove, leaving a thin layer. Meticulously putting the gem into the glove, using the spare parts to create a safety fasten so it doesn¡¯t come a loose. From there, it was cosmetic and quality of life additions, as Calypso worked on this for the entire dawn to morning.

    Maybe there is no way in stopping what she is, her misery. But at the very least, maybe she can make something from it.

    ¡°¡­Huh. Is that a smile I see over there~?¡±

    Calypso couldn¡¯t deny it, once she rose her head at Sal at her door. It was worn, it was wary, but it was a genuine smile.

 Missing Entry

    ***

    It just wasn¡¯t worth it. Melissa had to get out of there.

    She gathered her things, she didn¡¯t bother changing out of her nurse scrubs. As she exited the lounge, Melissa fought the urge to keep looking back as she raced briskly down the hallways.

    Things were getting weird, and the woman¡¯s been ignoring things for far too long.

    Melissa gasped out, stopped, now frozen in place within the dimly lid hallways. Quickly ripping open her bag, to the point of her various keychains and buttons pressed against it rattled so hard it replicated her shivering as she dug in. Tensing, despite forearm deep in the bag and trying to search in vain.

    Only to sigh in relief, as she felt her phone deep within. Shaking her head, Melissa continued her brisk walking, still looking about side to side.

    She had enough self-deprecation to know how mousey she was as a person. There wasn¡¯t much to hide, her curly blonde hair looked like it takes hours to get right, if her hands weren¡¯t fidgeting, they were gripped tight against the strap of her bag, like they were at the moment. Blue eyes so wide and expressive that one can see more the white of them versus the pupil at times. And no one could have trouble seeing how much she loved collectibles and trinkets, but someone like Melissa can only see the admitted madness of each one¡¯s placement and equally sentimental value.

    So, she notices things. It¡¯s the one trait of hers that could be salvageable into a positive, it¡¯s why she felt like the medical field was a no brainer for her. A job that required her to be cautious and seeing the small details that hinge on life or death. For someone that gets marred over the concept of choice, it was effortless for once. Find medical school, in a small town, be an intern on the side¡ªfinish clean and have enough to move into said small town. That¡¯s the plan, it had been for 2 years in now.

    The sudden ripple of the deep, but familiar screaming down the halls caused Melissa to gasp out loudly again, stopping right in her tracks. Shivering once again, then the tense as she closed her eyes to stop the nervous tears from emerging.

    This is why. The young woman can ignore things for the sake of other things at play, for the sake of herself. She understood that sometimes she flies off the handle, that she¡¯s too paranoid. Most if not all of the worst moments, mistakes, decisions of her life are linked at her cowardice and inability to cope with fright¡ªor aversion in general. Melissa did it, because she needed to make this life choice work¡ªshe couldn¡¯t just go back home because of what she tried to rationalize away as weird stuff in her head.

    Various people coming into the ER with oozing black sludge throughout the week isn¡¯t just weird, but insane.

    Melissa clutched her head, sighing in relief as she can move again, under her own strength. Now the brisk walk turned into outright jogging, running away from the guttural screams.

    But, being her, the woman looked towards the tiled ground¡ªreviewing everything in her head, lining it up, all for the insurance that maybe if she explained everything, then maybe her punishment wouldn¡¯t be so bad. Maybe they¡¯ll understand her this time, don¡¯t immediately chalk it up to her having a breakdown over ¡°nothing¡± this time.

    Willow Reverie was a strange town. It¡¯s in the middle of a massive crater, for one¡ªbut what was charming quickly became the first clue that something was up, for Melissa. Folks here being too lax in their simple living. People with jobs such as construction or law enforcement too married to the job, as if there¡¯s a role system to it all that Melissa isn¡¯t in on. And there was one aspect that¡­ Hit her on the nebulous and somewhat superstitious level.

    The nights here were too dark. The moon was always visible, the stars a ton more visible compared to where Melissa came from, there were working streetlights¡ªreflections on cars or surfaces¡­ But it didn¡¯t matter. There was a barely there, but potent, dark grey sheen over the environment. Swallowing these lights whole.

    Melissa reasoned to herself that maybe that was the reason, why the hospital gets more victims at night¡ªa completely normal and standard thing in the medical field but¡­ The patients they got during these nights. They weren¡¯t broken just physically, but they were straight up just broken.

    She stood there, she had to watch, as her superiors tried to reason with them post-admission. How they had these long stares, or how they randomly wailed out as if their swaying heads didn¡¯t hurt their necks. Or the ones that did respond, how¡­ Melissa hated thinking about it. But how even as they spoke, there was no warmth. No hint of quirks or inflections or no stumbling or flubs what so ever.

    Melissa shook her head, covering her ears as the screaming only multiplied. There was no other way around it.

    Bolting out of the double glass doors, her heart not only hammering but swelling with grief because she knows she¡¯s leaving people she knew alone to deal with all that. She didn¡¯t care that it was pouring down with rain, her quicking pace managed to allow the woman to make it to her usual bus stop moments faster than usual. And she knew how much an afforded moment could decide everything.

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    Arcing into the booth in a fast, Melissa slammed her shoulder onto the glass side in a panicking series of huffs. Her eyes closed, her hands clutched at her soaked scrubs, her mouth open to gasp at the air.

    But soon she managed to settle down, her eyes easing open as they swam in tears. The reality of once again bailing¡ªmaking a brisk choice that fucked everyone over hit her at the usual spots.

    All she wanted was to be safe, relief, absolution¡­ And she always got it, when she decides to make those choices to get it. But it never lasts. It never lasts past the choice.

    Melissa wished that she could harness that shame. She wished that she could capture the good parts of that feeling, versus focus on the negative. The negative only fueled the gross habits that she can¡¯t shake, just to get rid of them.

    With her trembling hand, she dug into a pouch of her bag, only to pull out one of her dear death sticks.

    She went through the usual motions. Putting it between her fingers, opening her dumb mouth, angling it between her lips as she clamped down, all for her hand to once again dig into her bag to find the bag. It was almost zombie-like, how she always did it.

    So whenever there was a clear disruption to this process, it immediately sent Melissa into fight or flight mode.

    Gasping through her nose¡ªsomething she didn¡¯t even know was possible¡ªMelissa looked down into her pouch, her light not there.

    Her mind raced¡ªher mind began to overheat¡ªher mind could only offer the relevant scenes of her day that it could muster¡­ She shivered, because she remembered that she smoked during her lunch break, which had an abrupt end as she was rushed back in.

    Melissa debated about crying right then and there. As she was literally trapped, between the worst forces of her personality. Her fear, telling her that she¡¯ll die if she goes back there. And her addiction, telling her that she¡¯d rather be dead if she didn¡¯t get it. It wasn¡¯t a push or pull, but rather being crushed behind such equally devastating weight. So trapped within her own misery, it numbed and muffled her to the outside world

    Which is why she instantly tensed, as her not only heard the flicker of a lighter, but saw the small flame of such gently coast towards her.

    An offering.

    It took her a moment, but Melissa was allowed to sigh, once again out of her nose. Embarrassingly, she nodded her head in zeal before leaning into the stranger¡¯s lighter¡¯s flame. Taking the sweet puff before exhaling with smoke.

    ¡°Gooooooolly¡­¡± Melissa eeked out, tiredly. ¡°I don¡¯t even know how to thank you, dude¡­¡±

    Cassie waved her free hand in dismissal, before letting the flame die out, putting it into her black and stylish long coat¡¯s pocket merrily. ¡°Believe me, you were freaking out pretty bad¡ªit would¡¯ve been terrible to not help out there. Bad shift at the 9-5, huh~?¡±

    ¡°Heh¡­¡± Melissa again meekly made sounds out of her mouth. ¡°You can say that. It¡¯s just¡­ Y¡¯know¡­

    The poor woman brushed her wet locks with her fingers, looking down with the cigarette in view. ¡°I¡¯m in that cycle¡ªy¡¯know¡ªwhere I promise myself to stop and then have a massive breakdown¡ªthus needing to do it again¡­ It sucks and I suck more.¡±

    Cassie shrugged, which was caught in Melissa¡¯s peripherical vision. ¡°Eh, we got vices up the ass: plus, we have bad habits too, sorry about oversharing the first bit¡ª¡±

    Melissa laughed a little, thankfully had her cigarette between her fingers.

    ¡°So, I can¡¯t be a judge of nobody~ Besides. Why judge, in our humble opinion? Aren¡¯t we kidding ourselves if we do?¡±

    Melissa hummed in thought, her face relaxed in wondering. She took a puff, before answering. ¡°Yeah¡­ I can see that¡­¡±

    ¡°Life ain¡¯t fair, so why pretend it is~? Plus, people¡¯s ¡®fairness¡¯ ends up being just as bad as the thing they¡¯re crusading about. It¡¯s frustrating, so I don¡¯t deal that bullshit at all,¡± Cassie smirked, but with her lips. Not at all showing her teeth.

    ¡°¡­You must be from Port Acadia,¡± Melissa chuckled in disbelief, looking directly at Cassie. ¡°Or at the very least, you remind me so much of my roomie who was a Philosophy major. But less surfer girl, oddly enough, haha...¡±

    Cassie looked at Melissa in turn. ¡°Whacha see is whacha get. A simple gal with a straightforward goal, no grey areas or blurry lines in the slightest. That¡¯s all~¡±

    It was then, when Melissa¡¯s senses for detail blared. In meeting this stranger¡¯s eyes, it was far too familiar. Melissa had seen the same soulless stare, that drove her to run in the first place.

    ¡°T-tha¡­ That¡¯s fair, ye-yeah¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­Though, we do want one thing right now,¡± Cassie straightened her colorful scarf with her pale hand.

    Before Melissa could even gasp, Cassie causally swiped with her other hand-turned-claw, goring off Melissa¡¯s throat within seconds.

    ***

    ¡°¡ªFrom what they said it was horrible! They came to the stop and the place was covered in red!¡±

    Calypso stopped in her sulking tracks, craning her head towards the elderly couple.

    ¡°Nursing student, they said,¡± the old man raved to his wife, who nodded even between him not saying anything. ¡°Left in a hurry without signing out, nobody knows other than saying she had those head troubles¡­ The body was gone but the blood was the only thing left. All they got to go on is someone in a black coat, long scarf¡­¡±

    Calypso¡¯s blood ran cold at the description. It only meant that Cassie woman was still in town and is openly killing. She glanced at her hand, which shook a bit. She¡¯s still no condition to stop a regular Subsumed, let alone her.

    ¡°Which goes to show ya, Paulie¡­¡± Calypso¡¯s ear perked up at the elderly woman¡¯s voice, which continued on. ¡°She was an out-of-towner too, a darn fool that got into something she didn¡¯t know and wasn¡¯t prepared for¡ª¡±

    ¡°Are you really blaming a murder victim for not being ready to be killed? Is that what I¡¯m hearing right now?! I get it, this is a town of paradise, but come on¡ªget out of your wrinkly ass!¡±

    The words didn¡¯t just spill out, they poured from Calypso¡¯s mouth before she even realized.

    Covering her mouth, Calypso immediately walked away from the couple, whose own mouths were agape. Rushing towards her school, the girl felt her face pulsate¡ªnot out of nerves or anger, but near-transformation.

    ¡°Oh no¡­ I-I need¡­¡± Calypso muffled to herself. ¡°I need to do something¡ªfind something quick¡­ Or I¡¯m going to lose the little of my mind left¡­¡±

 Entry 4.0 - Kinship: A Mutual Exercise

    ¡°¡­ ¡®It drove him insane to know.¡¯¡±

    The girl felt her eyes water, but only a layer of mist coating them, versus welling tears. She removed her reading glasses and wiped her eyes with her violet jacket sleeve. Sighing at how easily she could be affected.

    Calypso was just rooting for the protagonist to give into his murderous impulses a moment ago.

    Nearing the end of ¡°The Darkness: Our Only Companion¡±, where the protagonist tries in vain to delay his shadow finally becoming one with him, his lover is begging for him to not give in. But the union has already happened, and at this point, has murdered everyone in his path in twisted bliss. Even his lover is wavering, can only see the monster he became.

    But this sentence, the narrator¡¯s musings of this entire scene. The reason he¡¯s roaring because maybe, he knows she can¡¯t see him anymore, how he isn¡¯t a man anymore. And the little humanity he lingered within, it was the very thing that drove him insane. Despite being gone at this point.

    This was the shit Calypso adores¡ªshe¡¯s been steadily getting giddy the more and more he lost it, the more he finally gives up his meek human skin. She only got the book yesterday, and she¡¯s already at the end of a 200-page novel.

    But for the life of her, she couldn¡¯t turn the page. The musing stuck in her maw. Her dainty, pale hands didn¡¯t have the strength to turn the page. She constantly wiped her brown locks away from her moist brow. Her usually pouty lips tightened into straight line. Her gray eyes shaking behind her reading glasses.

    She sighed again¡ªtoo aware of how this is the second time. She folded her glasses, letting them hand from the collar of her fairy blue shirt, and laid the book flat against her purple skirt.

    Leaning her head back against the bark of the tree, not caring of her brown hair would get something tangled if she did so. She took in the chirps, rustling, and stillness of the woodland night. Clearing her overly-sensitive mind.

    ¡°Calypso Grimes, you are the most wishy-washy person I¡¯m forced to know¡­¡± she berated to herself. ¡°You search for morbid smut, and yet can¡¯t handle the consequences that come with it¡­ Despite you finding these things so you can understand these consequences. You do this to yourself¡­¡±

    Calypso rose her head, patting the back of her brown locks that reached to the back of her nape. She was going to sigh again, but withheld it, clamping her lips together as her brow furrowed. Before melting back to her stony, indifferent face.

    ¡°Now then,¡± Calypso lifted the book from her lap, raising her brown eyebrows lightly. ¡°Let¡¯s finish this cautionary tale, hm?¡±

    A wad of slime slammed the book back down, making it too heavy for Calypso to lift¡ªnot alone hold onto. She blinked, watching as the pages grow soggy within the layer of flim that shone in the moon light.

    ¡°¡­That was¡­ A 20-dollar book¡­¡± Calypso said, dejection mixed with irritation rumbling her tone of voice.

    She continued to look down. Then sucked her teeth as a sigh escaped her mouth. If she wasn¡¯t frustrated then, she was now.

    Regardless, Calypso put a chipper expression as she looked up. Her anger still coming through with her eyes and mouth smiling and her jovial cadence.

    ¡°So how can I help you night, friend~?¡± Calypso spat indignantly.

    She was met with a sneering, walking jaw.

    Crooked fangs as big and wide as tombstones. A ¡°body¡± that only served to perch this jaw and extended outwards as if it were a head, but it didn¡¯t stop just at that. It was to the point that Calypso felt the support was purely bare minimum, as the beast bobbed its front seemingly involuntarily. Amphibian-lite legs which folded into themselves to provide what should be impossible support with taloned feet that dug into the leaves-covered ground. A beast writhing in literal darkness, dribbling mad with guttural panting.

    ¡°I do not like¡­¡± Calypso blinked in confusion. ¡°Any of that¡ª"

    Calypso cocked her head, almost the same time as the Jaw Monster¡­ ¡°Titled¡± its own head to its side. ¡°I don¡¯t quite understand why my mind went to it, but you¡¯re kinda why I hate possums¡­ Fucking snouts are just too long for me. Rats and stuff? Sure, but they¡¯re relatively small. Just seeing that magnified just gives me the willies¡ª"

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    The Jaw only growled in response, as Calypso closed her eyes, taking off her jacket and tossing it to the side. She leaned forward, her head within biting distance of its fangs, with lowered eyes and assured grin.

    ¡°Now then. Why am I granted this conference, dreg~?¡±

    While it was hard to read expression, the movement and the gestures were loud and clear. The Jaw Monster gritted its goop-covered teeth pensively, as it put one foot behind itself. Steeling in a stance while reeling back as it possibly could.

    Calypso couldn¡¯t help but smile at that.

    ¡°Ooooh¡­ This new to you, huh? Expecting the old song and dance of a human screaming or fighting back despite not having a lick of chance~?¡±

    The meek girl gently grabbed the edges of the ruined book, lifting it with all of her available might, whimpering as she laid it away from her legs.

    ¡°Wow that was heavy, I think I might¡¯ve torn something¡ªAnyways, sorry, you really won¡¯t get that from me, I¡¯m afraid. Especially since, you know. Ruined a 25-dollar book I was just going to finish.¡±

    There was a series of roars that emitted from the beast, frantically throwing back and then thrusting the ¡°head¡± with each one trailing into a piercing screech. So deep and so loud, Calypso could feel the reverberation in her skull, and her ear drums on the verge of bursting. After it stopped, it was clear the action had a toll on the Jaw Monster, as it was visibly panting with the entire body.

    Calypso rose up to her feet as her boots crunched the leaves, with a full body shrug.

    ¡°Good attempt, at least¡ª¡±

    Within that second, Calypso was pinned into the tree by the beast.

    Using its head like a lance, the Jaw Monster extended its maw and adjusted it to the left. Thrusting the head forward like a whip, it trapped the girl within its trap, slamming into the tree and immediately biting down into it.

    Calypso couldn¡¯t help but laugh at that.

    ¡°Bad move, little dreg.¡±

    Her features twisted, sharpened by malice and pleasure. And despite her smile becoming crooked in shape, it was a lot more genuine than before.

    A full buck from both Calypso¡¯s arms caused the Jaw Monster¡¯s namesake to break. And with the freed arm, Calypso punched the beast away, right into its insides. It sailed away, planting right into the ground, with the most pathetic whimper it could manage.

    It tried to shuffle away, with its jaw hanging off the left side. But it was still able to vocalize its pain, its fear.

    As Calypso continued to laugh lowly over it, despite trying to take its mournful wails in.

    ¡°You should¡¯ve followed your initial instincts, dreg,¡± Calypso shook her left hand, freeing it of spittle. ¡°You should¡¯ve just accepted the confusion, and just run.¡±

    Raising her left hand, as a leather fingerless glove suddenly covered it. On the back of it, a large, milky white gemstone rested.

    On closer inspection, wispy ghosts skimming across the smooth surface.

    Calypso¡¯s grin lacked sympathy, remorse. ¡°Now you¡¯re mine.¡±

    The Jaw Monster opened its mouth in awe at what it was witnessing. The girl was bathed in light, and her chuckles grew deeper. She was cut off, by sudden jerking of her body as her shadow grew in size, showcased the violent changes of her once feeble body. And her gestures conveyed what a sheer delight it was for her to do this.

    Sharp bone sprouted from her flesh, as it turned into a peach pink hue. Her elbows destroyed themselves to become scythes, jutting out from her trembling arms as the last of the flesh barely cling on.

    The structure of her body, not only growing double the height, gestated into a more fiercer, primal vessel. Despite the chaotic nature of the growth of these bones, they ultimately converged into armor that was a mockery of a ripped dress. Ribcage acting as a bust and bodice, an extra jaw that formed at the neck acting as a high collar, the pelvis sprouting bone flaps that hit the thighs. Any hint of surreal elegance veered into spikes, and blades. Literally crowned as a deformed skill manifested on top of her head, as her magenta mane flowed in the chill of the night.

    Without a face, the monster still conveyed fear. Hopelessness. Resentment. Anger. And then fearful rage as it now looked up at its enemy. Meeking out an unstable, pitiful roar.

    ¡°Cute~¡± Calypso grinned with her fangs visible, her dark eyes glowing. And a moment after, she pounced forward.

    It wasn¡¯t even a battle. The Jaw wailed, wallowed in immense pain that it brought with itself. The woodland creatures, even those of the night, turned their heads respectively at the noises, the sounds of flesh being torn and life squeezed out by a predator. They quickly vacated the area, out of fear of their own lives.

    Moments later, and covered in disgusting black tar, Calypso salivated over the shredded corpse as her panting was not only audible, but visualized with steam.

    ¡°Nooo¡­¡± Calypso grabbed at her arm with her claw. ¡°No, Calypso¡­ You have to save this, that¡¯s why I waited, you beast¡­ It¡¯s so yummy raw though¡­¡±

    She turned her head up at the Moon. Her eyes and rows of slightly dirtied fangs being the only visible part of her at the moment.

    As she idly licked at her raised claw, her terrifyingly jubilant expression quickly fell.

    ¡°Still not as tasty as a full Subsumed¡­¡± Calypso grumbled. ¡°These groundlings are somehow getting more and more terrible¡­ But what can I do¡­?¡±

    The innate surge that rocked her within caused the monster girl to shudder, Calypso hugged herself until she settled.

    ¡°I know, I know¡­¡± Calypso argued with the new side of herself. ¡°I need it, a proper challenge¡­ I don¡¯t care how, but I need it nooow¡­¡±

    Calypso clutched at her head, starting to chuckle.

    ¡°I¡¯m still scared to try, to find them all again, but I can¡¯t stop imagining it¡­! A thrilling hunt¡­ A fight to remember! Me against them! Me against them all! Me against my very own fear!¡±

    She laughed uproariously, as she hugged herself looking up at the Moon, as the black wisps floated away her body. Calypso Grimes may have lost her mind, and her soul, but this experience has steadily and consistently felt so grand.

    ***

 Entry 4.1 - Kinship: A Mutual Exercise

    ***

    As she slammed her alarm clock off, Calypso wondered if reality was doing the same to her without stopping, as she groaned in bed.

    And continued to mewl out groans, as she realizes that it¡¯s the actual morning now.

    ¡°At least I got 4 hours of sleep this time¡­¡± Calypso¡¯s voice was still raspy. ¡°Ha, like my eyeballs that are currently on fire cares about the difference¡ª¡±

    She picked herself up, rising from the bed as she feet searched for her slippers before ultimately finding and sliding into them. Toes nestling into the soft, white fuzz of the bunny design.

    She walked to her door, and took her perched robes away from the hanger, putting them on but too tired, to immediately fasten the belt, but she eventually did.

    Swinging the door open, Calypso marched and hunched over towards the bathroom like the undead. Crossing the halls, and hoping with her non-existent soul that she was fast enough.

    ¡°Damn Cal, ya¡¯ want the breakfast I¡¯m fixin¡¯ or braaaaaaains~?¡±

    She glanced over at Sal, her door open, as if she was waiting for her cousin to bug her.

    ¡°Fuck off, Sal,¡± Calypso droned, still marching forward towards the bathroom and fumbling at the doorknob.

    ¡°Oooooh, I¡¯m tellin¡¯ Ma that you¡¯ve cuuuursed~¡± the older cousin quipped, winking with her tongue out.

    Calypso stumbled into the bathroom regardless and locked the door. Disrobing, she turned on her portable radio that rested behind the sink¡¯s faucets. Cranking the cheesy pop music to imply things she would rather out herself as a monster than let people think about her.

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    Climbing into the tub, turning the shower on, she closed her eyes and let her mind race.

    She still couldn''t believe that her desperate idea was proving to be amazingly beneficial. Acting as bait as if she starred in some horror movie turned out to be an elegant solution to her troubles. Two or so months so far of managing the curse...

    Considering how I wanted to rip Sal¡¯s head off there¡­ Yeah. The walls are weakening and my urges are becoming unruly, I¡¯m afraid¡­

    She shook her head, causing a knock-on effect of her wet hair flinging water outwards, hitting the curtains. Fighting against her new instructive thoughts telling her to just go through with it, proceeding to sigh softly. Isn''t in control of all of it, of course.

    That¡¯s really bad¡­ I love Sal being annoying, even when I hate it. ¡°Rip her head off¡±? Monster Calypso is somehow more dramatic than Normal Calypso¡­

    Reaching up to a wet lock, twirling it in her fingers. Noting that what was once nape-length and barely hitting her collarbone is now at the beginning of her back and at her chest.

    And the hair is getting longer, too¡­ I suppose I can still ¡°hide¡± this, won¡¯t be that noticeable¡­ I pretty much evaded everyone yesterday and no human remembers anything important past a day unless they recorded it, so.

    She stopped twirling her lock, looking down at her hand. Seeing that her nails have grown in size.

    Hopefully the nails won¡¯t be much of a problem, either¡­

    But after a time of washing up and drying, she found herself scrubbing her teeth with her toothpaste as she stared at herself in the mirror.

    Before stopping, with a look of discontent etched on her tired face.

    Looking down, she saw that yet another toothbrush was ruined. Shaking her head, tossing it into her pink baggie, and grabbing the glass of water to rinse her mouth, spitting out bristles into the sink.

    She flashed her teeth, some of them sharpening and her canines becoming awfully large.

    Eh. I don¡¯t smile or remotely talk to anymore outside the house, I¡¯m fine today. But it¡¯s the next day I¡¯m worried about¡­ I have to figure out how to groom all of this effectively, and quick.

    Calypso gulped, uneasy in her expression. She loved what she¡¯d become, but not everything was fun¡­

    ***

 Entry 4.2 - Kinship: A Mutual Exercise

    ***

    ¡°Well, you folks better hope that I made this right, or we¡¯re all on the can tonight,¡± Sal quipped, emptying the contents of the pan for the final plate.

    ¡°I honestly don¡¯t get how you¡¯ve raised her¡­¡± Calypso shook her head, looking at her Aunt then Uncle respectively. ¡°Must¡¯ve been impossible¡­¡±

    Aunt Artemis always wore some form of plaid, this time it was blue on black, a buttoned-up shirt with rolled up sleeves. Her dirty blonde hair was tied up into a bun despite the few strands hanging, adding character to her youthful yet worn face as she smirked a bit.

    ¡°Where¡¯d ya¡¯ think she got it from?¡± Artemis leaned in, softly patting the table.

    Uncle Bradley leaned over to Calypso, closing his newspaper slightly. ¡°They gang up on me, Cal. Them and the animals¡ªI¡¯m glad you¡¯re livin¡¯ here because you can save me.¡±

    Calypso laughed, because the image of that was so ridiculous. Uncle Bradley was a strapping man, wearing overalls and a white dress shirt with short sleeves, showcasing his tattooed, broad arms. His face was angled but warm, he wore an afro evening everything out.

    Sal settled at her chair, taking off her beat up baseball cap and rising it near her. She was a mix of her parents, having a natural tan complexion with darker blonde hair. The smirk of her mother, and the casual air of her father¡ªand yet her own sassy take on both.

    ¡°Also, are we gonna ignore the fact that we just heard Cal laugh?¡± Sal quipped, gesturing at her younger cousin. ¡°Like, it¡¯s gonna freakin¡¯ snow, ¡®cuz Hell¡¯s frozen solid¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll have you know that in Dante¡¯s Inferno, there¡¯s already a level of Hell that¡¯s frozen¡­¡± Calypso pouted.

    ¡°Yeah, thank god he recorded his scientific findings¡ªotherwise we¡¯d be lost today,¡± Sal smirked.

    Calypso turned to Artemis, ¡°Am I allowed to flip her off, at least Auntie--?¡±

    Artemis shook her head lightly and slowly. Bradley patted Calypso¡¯s shoulder as her eyes narrowed at Sal, who only fluttered her stupid perfect eyelashes at her.

    Calypso looked at her plate, a literal breakfast platter of meats, pancakes and eggs. It was hard for her to rip her eyes away, looking up at her family.

    ¡°Well, it was lovely talking, but I¡¯ve met my three-sentence quota for today¡­¡±

    The girl rose up, grabbing her plate and walking towards the stairwell.

    ¡°Caaaaaaal,¡± Sal whined. ¡°You said at week, like, nine, that you¡¯d be eatin¡¯ with us normally!¡±

    ¡°Nah, I said I¡¯d think about doing it,¡± Calypso smiled lackadaisically at her. It was the only smile she liked wearing, no effort but nevertheless cheeky. ¡°Besides. Would you all like seeing me pop open my happy pills and downing them for the first few minutes in silence anyways?¡±

    Sal pouted and slumped in her chair. ¡°Fair, whatever makes ya¡¯ comfy¡­¡±

    Cal resumed going to the stairs, climbing them in a hurry before going to her room.

    She rested her plate on her bed, darting to her semi-hidden mini fridge that rested in the corner.

    Opening it, multiple Tupperware bowls held the remains of the Jaw Monster. She took two, closing the door as she hummed to herself.

    I¡¯m running out of time¡­ I need to find a proper Subsumed or else these methods will cease their potency¡­ I¡¯ve already ran out of Witchery Root, and have to spend tonight searching for that alone¡­ When Mrs. Moses said it was hard to maintain this life, I thought it was just a bitter adult thing.

    Placing the meat alongside her bacon and sausage, she licked at her darkened fingers and couldn¡¯t help to whimper.

    She didn¡¯t even bother with the fork and knife, Calypso shoved the meal into her mouth, shuddering at how both sides of her were being fed after holding off for so long.

    I can feel it¡­ Usually I can ¡°control¡± it, feel the incoming change. A feeling of a deep dive within the self, before elevating, giving that beautiful rush¡­ But now? It¡¯s almost like before any of this settled into place. Something gnawing at me from the inside. While that was literal since the monster tried to make me Subsumed¡ªthis¡­ This is just me not caring. About me trying to ¡®balance¡¯ anything. Destroy this pathetic life, run away into the wild, and just live my life as¡­ A halfling witch, I guess. Kill anything standing in the way of that. To which, doesn¡¯t sound awful¡­

    Ripping her head away from just burying her face into the plate wholesale, she grabbed her mug with a layer of napkins at the hilt. She wavered at the bubbling, dark green brew, closing her eyes and knocking her head back to just ingest it all in one gulp. Just to get it over with.

    She had to fight with her own throat, waving her arms in distress as she comically teared up. It was seconds, what felt like months, after her throat gave up and she swallowed the brew. Leaving the burning, herbal tracks behind.

    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    Yeah, I need to track down the wannabe humans. This is the human side of me just hating the fact that I burn out my insides every day. I will comb the fucking streets day and night if I have to¡­

    ***

    Calypso wondered, as she gazed out the window, if what she was feeling now was like how psychopaths felt. If so, she understood why they often snap.

    She scratched at her cheek, so she can shake the need to dig into flesh. Clutched her teeth together, to stop her annoyance from overflowing. And finally, retreating into her mind to not focus on people.

    Her teacher, her classmates. Any human that was in radius, it has hard not just leaving them. Harder not to turn and leave nothing behind but the remains.

    Stifling a sigh, Calypso was a tad forlorn. She was getting so used to it, her two sides were in-sync, as things should be. Her fighting against herself was not only tiring, thus lowering her walls further, but was too much of a devolution. It only reminded her that she was doing such a piss poor job of this. Reminding her that no matter what she does, she¡¯s weak.

    Back to being who she was.

    ¡°Ms. Calypso Grimes?¡±

    She slowly turned to her teacher¡ªwho she couldn¡¯t bother to learn the name of. Eyeing her with a distant look.

    ¡°Since you¡¯re so informed with philosophy clearly, tell us about the difference between nihilism and existentialism.¡±

    Calypso continued to stare at the professor, as she leaned against the front of her desk with her arms crossed. She felt the gaze of everyone in the class within seconds.

    A common tactic to weed out and make an example out of someone. Fine.

    "Well, it¡¯s rather frustrating,¡± Calypso began. ¡°Nihilism often gets a negative reputation, really. All because of the Nazi-loving sister altering the author¡¯s original texts. What we often picture what nihilists are is warped and ruined by yet another thing by Nazi Germany, if not indirectly. But to actually answer your question, nihilism is the acceptance of the meaningless of existence. Existentialism is about man wanting to triumph over the absurd meaninglessness of the universe, thus giving it meaning. Am I right, professor?¡±

    She listened to the murmurs she pretended to not be aware of, staring directly at her teacher. ¡°Of course she knew that¡±, ¡°How the fuck does anyone remember that?¡±, ¡°That was kinda hot¡­¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± the professor was clearly flustered. ¡°Good that you know. Let¡¯s carry on¡­¡±

    Calypso wanted to flash her smile, but that was victory enough. Glancing out the window again. If anything, at least she can fill nourished by reliving this moment over and over again until class was over.

    Which she did. Her smile growing more and more wide every replay.

    Gathering her book and notes on her desk, Calypso calmly rose from her seat.

    Only to be met with wild blonde hair, beaming green eyes, clothes so coordinated and fashion conscious that overloaded Calypso''s own eyes, and a smirk that reeked of confidence and ego.

    "''Grime'', was it? Wait, no--don''t help me, I gotta get it--Greens, Gives--GRIMES! Right, yeah, Grimes~?"

    Calypso stretched a smile on her face that was fighting her. "Uh... C-calypso Grimes, yes."

    "Badass, girl," the loud ego with exposed legs complimented, cocking her head towards one of the legion of girls that were behind her. "See Carmela--that was no where near your boring ass name--they''re not gonna confuse you two--And can I say, speaking back to you Grimes, as a friendly stranger? Don''t go into the office job. That shit needs to be like, on TV or something, bold letters every time you come on~"

    "Y-yeah, sorry, Hanna..." Carmela (or Calypso assumed) meeked out, finally giving her a name to this force of why-humans-are-the-worst.

    Calypso had to force her throat to create laughter, adjusting such for it to be soft and curt. She had to keep her smile plastered, working the already weak muscles to exhaustion. The monster girl had five more seconds of social energy in her, and she knew that this was going to be another minute.

    "I-I, well," Calypso searched in her brain, for the words she needed right now, as it exploded in rage and stress. "Who knows what they want to do after college? Especially at this stage--?"

    "Oh man, I''m like, working on that shit even while we chat it up here~" Hanna flashed her smug grin. "You better hop to it girl, the world doesn''t wait and it only gets faster! If you don''t wanna be a loser or some invalid--world''s words not mine!--figure it out and quick~!"

    Calypso''s lips involuntarily perused for a moment, because she nearly growled at this girl. She had to hide her hands because her claws were digging into her palms, she felt liquid trail down them. It took everything to keep still, keep quiet.

    Alice was the talker, Calypso never said anything but at her. And even then, despite Alice being naturally extroverted--these humans tired her out after she was done, bemoaning about them with her.

    But it wasn''t just about talking. It was the act, the tightrope. With every conversation, Calypso was reminded of what she naturally lacked, how keeping these appearances made her feel so alien. How every moment she made created the instant feedback that she was fundamentally wrong, with exhaustion that taunted her about even trying.

    "Anyways! That was awesome, you fucking over that teacher--need more smarties to help us out with tutoring and junk. You game or~?"

    "I''ll uh--" Calypso was about to wave her hand, before remembering that it''s covered in her own blood, before stiffening. "I''ll... Well, I''m still getting used to being here and uhm, I don''t want to decline so readily but--"

    "Say no more!" Hanna waved her own hand. "I''ll give you the time you need~ In fact, hey, if you''re going to the Fall Formal in town--maybe we can chat it up there~?"

    Calypso closed her eyes, her smile trembling before righting itself upwards. "Sounds like a plan~"

    "Alright~!" Hanna''s voice rang out. "Let''s go, girls~"

    Calypso waited until the last possible foot fall ceased. Before immediately opening her eyes, huffing through her nose, forcing the rest of her things into her pack--grateful for her advanced healing but uncaring about her blood staining her materials.

    She did not want to see another human for 12 hours, around a 24 meter radius, ever again in that moment.

    ¡°Uh¡­ Calypso, was it~? Such a cute name!¡±

    Calypso blinked in confusion, as she looked towards this person. She had jet-black, straightened hair that hit her shoulders, which were bare due to wearing a tie-die tube top. Washed out jeans that ended with bell bottoms with a gaudy belt buckle.

    But it wasn¡¯t the thing that gave Calypso pause.

    It was her necklace, which clearly had wispy ghosts swimming under the smooth surface.

    ¡°Gale Pratchett¡ªI uh, think this is the only class we share¡­ Yeah uh, like¡­¡± the girl rubbed the back of her neck. ¡°Kinda wanna make sure. But are you like me? Y¡¯know¡­ The same¡­?¡±

    Calypso was just overwhelmed. She couldn¡¯t wrap her head around it, and how random it all was.

    ¡°¡­The universe is meaningless and absurd,¡± Calypso answered.

    ¡°I mean, even I can tell ya¡¯ that, man~¡± the weird girl laughed, still rubbing the back of her neck.

    Calypso tried to review her options. Looking this woman up and down, around her, behind her. If this was a joke, a trap, a twist.

    ¡°¡­Why not we¡­ Discuss this over some tea¡­ I know a place¡­¡± Calypso tried to find her words, verbally scrambling for something, anything. ¡°Are you willing to come with me?¡±

    ¡°Sure!¡±

    ***

 Entry 4.3 - Kinship: A Mutual Exercise

    Calypso was just staring at the girl. Taking in every odd movement, every odd breath this girl took. Being mindful to not show her own hand in doing the same thing, tipping her off to anything Calypso couldn¡¯t control or downplay. If it wasn¡¯t for her stony face, Calypso¡¯s worry would¡¯ve been written across her face and then some.

    What made this worse was this girl¡ªGale Pratchett¡ªfor all intents and purposes was enjoying and gushing about the tea they were drinking.

    ¡°Maaaan, you sure know your tea, Calypso!¡± Gale beamed, smiling ear to ear practically. ¡°Not too sweet, not too herbal, coats the throat nicely. You gotta tell me, like, the name of it again¡ªI totally need this for my morning yoga, y¡¯know? Eases me into the day with a strong start!¡±

    Calypso just smiled back, fingers over her own cup like a spider, feeling the diminishing steam hit her palm. Making deathly sure that her bases are covered.

    They were sat at a hybrid in-door, out-door caf¨¦ that Calypso recently discovered on her walks at night. Of course, they were at the outside area, secluded in the corner at the end of the section. Sandwiched between the ambient music coming from the in-door area humming from the walls, and the outside, mindless chatter that swarmed pass, buzzing in the air.

    And yet the girl gave no signs of danger for Calypso. Her honey skin was practically brimming with energy that could power the sun. She was the one that wanted this meeting to happen, and the implications of all of it--and yet this was a simple tea powwow for her.

    ¡°But, back to like¡­ The reason why we¡¯re here to begin with¡­¡± Gale smiled, even though her brown eyes were unsure, scared. ¡°Kinda realized that I was being all discreet and yet, kinda laid my cards on the table¡ªbut considering how, y¡¯know, small the town is¡ªI legitimately thought that I was the only one, and yeah, kinda made my peace with that¡­ I guess to wrap all that vocal-nothing up¡­ Are you like me~?¡±

    The ball was in Calypso¡¯s court now. And she had the backup excuse rearing to go.

    ¡°¡­Am I that obvious?¡± Calypso giggled nervously, injecting her actual feelings in the act. ¡°I thought I hid it well¡­ But I guess one can always tell, somehow, if they look deep enough. But here you are, upfront and asking. That¡¯s college life, I suppose~¡±

    Gale squealed. Her fists balled up and close to her large, expressive mouth. Her white, plastic seat could barely contain her excitement, let alone herself.

    ¡°Finally!¡± Gale shouted, before hunching over and adjusting her volume, still with a smile on her face. ¡°It¡¯s¡ªso¡ªgood to finally find another after all this time! I mean, I¡¯m kinda recent in the grand scheme of whatever this is¡ªI mean I doubt there¡¯s a grand scheme to anything, but hey!¡±

    She leaned over the table, offering a hand with closed eyes and a toothy grin.

    ¡°Nice to meet ya¡¯, fellow creature of the night~!¡±

    And there it was. Official confirmation, right there and then. Calypso just stared, feeling like she still has to piece everything together again.

    ¡°¡­Why?¡±

    Gale instantly snapped back, shrinking back into her seat and retracting her hand back with a worried expression on her face. ¡°W-why--?¡±

    ¡°Why¡­ So bluntly reveal yourself in the open like this?¡± Calypso asked, her face dropping all false pretenses entirely. Judging by the subtle eye shifts the other girl had, it was very noticeable when she did. ¡°What if I were fully against the idea of others like myself being in the same town? That could¡¯ve resulted in a lot of consequences.¡±

    Gale just shifted in her chair for a bit. Before resuming her smile, laughing softly while rubbing the back of her neck with closed eyes.

    ¡°I guess that¡¯s the thing. I kinda suck at this so far. My first instinct to anything is go for help.¡±

    ¡°¡­Hm,¡± Calypso lifted her hands from her cup, raised it to her mouth, taking a sip. With an answer like that, she would never have the means or ability to be underhanded. She could finally relax.

    Setting the cup down, and quickly dapping her mouth of liquid, ¡°Fair enough. But I would still be hesitant about this. You know how destructive and murderous we can be. Coming to one, even as a human, it still holds risks. They could still be a monster inside and out, after all.¡±

    Calypso was looking down as she placed the napkin down onto the table, which is why she was caught off guard by Gale¡¯s laughter, shooting her eyes up at the girl.

    ¡°But it is kinda funny¡­¡± Gale simmered back down, enough to talk. ¡°By being dumb and doing this¡­ I kinda got what I wanted? Someone to show me the ropes and super duper smart about it as well!¡±

    Calypso squinted a bit, with an added pout. ¡°¡­So it would seem.¡±

    The silly girl sighed and lifted her cup of tea back to her lips again before talking. ¡°Anyways¡­ ''Show'' you ''the ropes''? You mentioned you¡¯re rather recent, correct?¡±

    Gale nodded. ¡°Mhm! Like¡­ 3 weeks ago, more or less!¡±

    Calypso made a sound as she continued to drink, setting the cup back down. ¡°Right. A few months for me, so far.¡±

    ¡°WOW! You do not at all look or feel like it, man! You must be a natural or something!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what they keep telling me¡­¡± the silly girl looked down into her cup. ¡°And yet I¡¯m barely living on scraps.¡±

    Gale deflated in real time.

    ¡°Oh. I was kinda hoping that¡­ You would help me on that front¡­¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m terrible at the hunt I guess,¡± Calypso shrugged. ¡°Running low on Witchery Root as well. So my days are numbered at this point¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh oh oh!¡± Gale regained her seemingly boundless energy again. ¡°I can farm that stuff, man! Or at the very least ask the ground to make more!¡±

    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Calypso blinked at her. ¡°A-ask the ground¡­?¡±

    ¡°¡­Oh yeah,¡± Gale rubbed the back of her neck again. ¡°I guess I should reveal what exactly I am, huh?¡±

    ¡°It would help with the lacking context, yes,¡± Calypso continued to blink in confusion.

    ¡°Weeeeell¡­¡± Gale turned her fingers to shift her cup from the right to left, her turn to look down at it.

    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ A plant girl. Sort of. Like, I can legit talk to the trees and the Earth as I¡¯m like how I am with you and junk¡­¡±

    ¡°Aaaah, makes sense, makes sense. So druid, then? I don¡¯t think they¡¯re that monstrous from the folklore I could recall about them, at least at the moment¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Well. I ain¡¯t a druid, no¡­¡±

    Calypso tilted her head, but softened her expression. She could see the slight embarrassment etched on the weird girl¡¯s face.

    ¡°¡­I¡¯m a swamp person. Y¡¯know, like the monster.¡±

    ¡°¡­Oh,¡± Calypso looked about not to look at her. ¡°I¡¯m sure that¡ªit¡¯s not too terrible, is it--?¡±

    ¡°Oh no, I¡­ Might look super cute in a weird way,¡± Gale then sighed. ¡°Eyes, beholders and junk. Just, y¡¯know¡­ I¡¯m all goopy.¡±

    ¡°But what a versatile ability you have¡­ I can only do the one thing, myself. You have the capacity to¡­ Influence. Direct and maybe even create plant life.¡±

    ¡°Aw man¡­¡± Gale smiled returned to her face. ¡°You sure know how to talk to a lady, Calypso.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, you can just call me Cal,¡± Calypso nodded. ¡°It can be a mouthful at times.¡±

    ¡°Thanks again, Cal!¡± Gale chirped. ¡°It¡¯s just that¡­¡±

    Her expression turned dark, forlorn. ¡°It¡¯s a reminder of that terrible, no good night.¡±

    Calypso went silent before leaning in. ¡°The day you became a monster. Am I right?¡±

    Gale just nodded solemnly.

    ¡°You¡¯re in no¡ª¡± Calypso managed to cut herself off. ¡°There¡¯s no obligation to tell me. It¡¯s fine.¡±

    ¡°No, no, no¡­¡± Gale shook her head on the same beat. ¡°Talking about it helps it. Eases the pain. Takes the weight that slams onto your chest and flattens your stomach into rumbling.¡±

    It was such a foreign concept, to Calypso. She squirmed in her seat, was on the verge of explaining how the idea of knowing something so personal about a person was uncomfortable to her. But she was in too deep now. Any information on this girl would aid her in the future.

    ¡°So uh¡­¡± Gale bit her lips, before swallowing the pain welling within her. ¡°As you can see, what you see is whatcha get for me. I¡¯m a rather ¡®go-with-the-flow¡¯ type of gal. Super liberal about things because we only got the one life, y¡¯know? Better spend it knowing you¡¯ve tried every single thing life got to offer you before you go¡­ So that¡­ Stupidly¡­ Translated into dating.¡±

    Calypso nodded, and could only nod in this moment.

    Gale huffed through her nose, clutching at her cup to the point of her hands shaking.

    ¡°It was fun, and they were fun, the guys I¡¯ve met and¡­ Shared whole hearts with. Whole and heart, and on some level, I do still love each and every one, y¡¯know? But the tail end of that¡­ More and more, each one got more¡­ Detached. Leading up to¡­ I¡¯m gonna call him ¡®Ritche¡¯. ¡®Ritche¡¯ was very mean to me. Only wanted me for the whole and not the heart. Got in my face and screamed until he was red in his whenever I brought this up to him. And the life of me¡­ I couldn¡¯t bare to¡­ Y¡¯know.¡±

    ¡°And this was weeks ago?¡± Calypso asked, incredulous, fury on behalf the girl she only just met.

    Gale just nodded, shrinking away. Calypso caught herself, and evened her emotions.

    ¡°I tried breaking it off¡­ On that day. We were in the woods for¡­y¡¯know¡­ and he was not happy. He just. Got silent. And that was the sign that I knew I really made him mad. Next thing I knew, I was falling towards the ground. But it wasn¡¯t directly onto the ground. He didn¡¯t realize it until he did it, but he pushed me down a slope and next thing I knew¡­¡±

    She motioned, leaning her head to the side, and making a quick and sickening popping sound with her mouth.

    After that, the impact of that sound, needed the seconds of silence following it.

    Calypso reached out, placing her hand onto one of Gale¡¯s, her eyes glossy with a sympathetic stare.

    ¡°Gale. I am so, so, so, very sorry for you¡­ You did not deserve any of that. You understand that it wasn¡¯t your fault, right? None of it, right?¡±

    Gale chuckled, somehow mustering a grateful smile. ¡°Yeah, yeah, of course¡­ And besides. I got a second chance, didn¡¯t I? I came back, and like, came back stronger!¡±

    ¡°But it¡¯s still a curse, Gale¡­ We¡¯re still damned, soulless creatures now. Granted¡­ I very much enjoy what I am now but¡­ It took time for me to cope. And you¡¯ve only had a few weeks.¡±

    Gale laughed softly to herself.

    ¡°Life¡¯s nothing but suffering and mistakes and bad decisions¡­ Like. We had a raw deal as basic humans, Cal. And we¡¯re the first world country born with first world problems, at least we were born with our organs inside of us, or have parents, or a house and money¡­ Just to say that¡­ Yeah, it¡¯s nightmarish, but life was already like that. This just made it more intense¡­ The best thing we can do is get past all that, towards the good stuff. Yeah?¡±

    ¡°¡­You¡¯re an interesting lady, my friend¡­¡± Calypso sat back in her seat, her arms crossed.

    ¡°I¡¯m alright,¡± Gale made a doofy face to make her point. Stopping, giggling.

    Calypso cracked a confused, but genuine smile at that.

    And moments after, realizing and aware of this, it was hard to maintain it. Calypso dropped it.

    ¡°I guess it¡¯s fair, to relay my own struggles, on my part¡­¡±

    ¡°Hey, the same can be said for you¡ªy¡¯know, what you said for me¡ª¡± Gale shook her head before getting her words straight. ¡°You don¡¯t have to share, man¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡¯ll spare you the details, then.¡±

    Calypso looked to the side. Watching the streets from afar with a vacant and yet pained expression on her face.

    ¡°I only had my best friend in the whole world, and I lost her. Now I¡¯m alone again, far away from my home, because no one can trust that I could be around sharp objects. Not that they¡¯re wrong¡­ I¡¯ve just been so empty since the start of my pathetic life. Told that I¡¯m pretty, told that I¡¯m smart, told that I have this future ahead of me¡ªand none of that is mine. Just given, used to simply get by. Borrowed and it doesn¡¯t amount to anything in the end¡­ Isn¡¯t it a wonder I took to this life so quick? That I can just erase every single trace of the me now, to become this confident, capable, truthful, and free version of myself that should be the default¡­ And no matter what I try, I can¡¯t. I just rather be the monster, than the human, the mask.¡±

    It took Calypso by surprise, but she was instantly pulled in for a hug, Gale wrapping her arms around her.

    ¡°Oh geez¡­¡± Calypso tried to snark. ¡°You and my cousin, always with the hugging. I guess that¡¯s a small town thing¡­?¡±

    ¡°Now we definitely need to become partners or something¡­¡± Gale sounded morose. ¡°Otherwise, you¡¯ll be alone again¡­¡±

    The series of words disarmed Calypso. And the pure, genuine intention behind said words, caused her to crumble into an expression of sadness.

    ¡°Tell ya¡¯ what! Since we¡¯ve bonded and all now, tonight. Let¡¯s go hunt tonight!¡±

    Calypso snapped out of the funk, only to hush Gale over the last line.

    ¡°oh yeah sorry¡ª¡± Gale lowered her volume, Calypso feeling her body wince. ¡°you game~?¡±

    Calypso gritted her teeth, looking down. ¡°I guess I don¡¯t have much of a choice, do I¡­?¡±

    Gale quickly broke the hug, motioning to grab both of Calypso¡¯s rather cold hands with a smile.

    ¡°Hey. We are who we chose to be, in the end¡­ It¡¯s the only choice we have, y¡¯know?¡±

    That instantly gave Calypso pause. Her eyes were wide, her expression softened.

    ¡°¡­Now I really can¡¯t decline,¡± Calypso said in a hush. ¡°Otherwise, I¡¯d be a bigger asshole than I am, turning you down¡­¡±

    Gale giggled in a charmingly doofy fashion, smiling ear to ear. ¡°A date in the forest it is, then~¡±

    With a series of warm pats on Calypso¡¯s hand, Gale rose from her seat, reaching into her pocket to set a couple of bucks on the table. A cheery was followed soon after as the kind girl made her leave.

    As Calypso waved, with her eyes closed and a rather conflicted smile¡­ She felt familiar leather suddenly strap herself on that hand.

    Lowering it quickly, Calypso found her Illuminator summoned, her hand trembling.

    It wasn¡¯t until she glanced down at the gemstone, that Calypso realized why that could be. Focusing on that small, but vibrant red crack that was in the center.

    ¡°¡­Yeah,¡± Calypso softly rubbed at that spot, with crestfallen energy behind it. ¡°Sure. As if I deserve ¡®friends¡¯ again¡­¡±

    ***

 Entry 4.4 - Kinship: A Mutual Exercise

    Calypso was always the punctual sort, even with events that involve ultra-violence. She had been uneasy about this entire ¡°partnership¡± with Gale for the entire day, expecting it to implode throughout this cold night, bracing for inevitable failure.

    And nothing punctuated that imminent demise more than the fact the two never agreed on a meeting place, before making this deal.

    As she hopped over roots and brambles, Calypso didn¡¯t blame Gale¡ªas she didn¡¯t think of that either in the moment¡ªbut the girl knows when there¡¯s a bad sign, especially now. Stopping in her tracks once she¡¯s found an open area, glancing about for the young woman, her visible breath floating in her line of sight at points.

    The silly girl figured that maybe being exact wasn¡¯t the solution, here. Maybe she has to be what she assumed of Gale, aimlessly walking while deep in thought. Create enough noise¡ªeither attracting her, or at the very least a weaker Subsumed¡ªtransform¡ªand create enough noise to draw the girl to her.

    Calypso cursed at herself, rubbing her arms that were dotted with goosebumps, her left feeling the leather of her summoned glove. She wore the last of the basic clothing she had, and there was a que of shredded material she had to fashion back into shirts, skirts and socks.

    This new life truly takes its toll. Calypso was struggling with the lighter costs, she gulped at the thought of facing the truly devastating prices she had to pay one day. Ruminating that said ¡°one day¡± could come tomorrow, or could be that very day now.

    ¡°CALLY! CALLY, HEY~!¡±

    Calypso snapped her head towards that sound, towards the person that dared to say that name. She didn¡¯t have to see it for herself, Calypso felt her face transform into a fierce stare. She even snarled softly.

    All for Gale to freeze in her tracks, still wearing what she had before. Her arm that was relaxed, was waving, it stiffened in the air as she trembled. Her eyes widened, staring about the area but Calypso right now as sweat formed her tense face.

    Calypso immediately shook her head, ¡°No¡ªsorry, sorry, sorry, I am so sorry. I-I just¡ª¡±

    ¡°I-if that name hits a n-nerve, then like, the fault¡¯s mine¡ª¡± Gale clasped her hands together near her waist. ¡°I¡¯ll¡ªI¡¯ll keep it in mind¡ª¡±

    Calypso slid her hand down her face, as she sighed.

    ¡°As you¡¯ll soon find out tonight, I am simply a cocktail of severe issues and complexes¡­ I snapped. I¡¯m the one that¡¯s sorry, here. But just to keep things civil, yeah, avoid¡­ T-that name¡­¡±

    ¡°Hey, we¡¯re here now and it¡¯s all fine~¡± Gale smiled with her eyes closed. It being undercut by her slight trembling soon after.

    Calypso was going to look away, mumble about how much she sucked until Gale continued on.

    ¡°Yeah, sorry about not coming up with a meeting place?¡± Gale rubbed her neck, laughing after. ¡°It took, like, two hours before I realized¡ªalso y¡¯know, not exchanging numbers¡ª¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have a phone anyways,¡± Calypso assured her by lightly waving her hands. ¡°And giving my folk¡¯s house number would make things suspicious¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­You don¡¯t have a pho--?¡± Gale cut herself off, sucking her lips before chuckling nervously. ¡°No, right, ¡®cocktail of issues¡¯¡­¡±

    ¡°¡®Cocktail of issues,¡¯¡± Calypso rubbed at her arm, glumly.

    The sound of Calypso drumming her fingers against her pale, cold flesh. Gale shifting causing the leaves to crunch on the forest floor. Chattering creatures from afar in the dark, which only echo the uncomfortable silence.

    ¡°So uh¡ª¡± Gale looked forward. ¡°Should we, like, do this now or--?¡±

    ¡°¡­ That only just occurred to me¡ª¡± Calypso¡¯s eyes encapsulated her embarrassment.

    ¡°Yeah, because we only did it by ourselves, that¡¯s why¡ª¡± Gale laughed a bit. ¡°I mean, I¡¯m fine but¡ª¡±

    ¡°I would rather we not¡ª¡± Calypso mopped her forehead with a hand. ¡°¡ªWe literally just met, and¡ª¡±

    ¡°It¡¯d be weird, yeah¡ª¡±

    ¡°And it¡¯s a matter of comfort, yes--?¡±

    ¡°Which I value, I value your comfort--!¡±

    ¡°Thank you and¡ªand¡ªI am too, likewise!¡± Calypso looked off the side. Desperately trying to get away from this subject. ¡°¡ªWith yours, to be exact¡ªI value your comfort!¡±

    ¡°Totally¡­!¡±

    A second that felt like hundreds of years passed.

    ¡°Let¡¯s find a bathroom out here so we can change¡ª¡± Gale cut through with her strained tone.

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    ¡°Yes, lead the way¡ª¡± Calypso nodded, eager for this to end.

    The duo walked across the forest, looking out for a trail that led them towards their destination. While Calypso helped on occasion, she kept her eyes out for the Subsumed that are definitely lurking.

    She had to. She couldn¡¯t be a burden again.

    That triggered more than memories of that day. It hit the various, torqued nerves that barely laid under her surface. The feelings of betrayal that stewed within her, knowing that her late friend would begrudgingly wish her the best with her ¡°replacement¡±. Hell, the fact that she¡¯s trying to get close to people outside of her ecosystem in general, more people to let down.

    Calypso had to steel her thoughts, focus. She only agreed to help, show the ropes. Nothing more than that.

    They arrived at a ramshackle restroom area by following a dirt path. Despite being made of brick, it somehow looked brittle, to the point of Calypso thinking it won¡¯t hold the girls¡¯ respective transformations.

    ¡°Ah well,¡± Calypso shrugged. ¡°Beggars can¡¯t be choosers, I suppose.¡±

    ¡°I wonder how that phrase, like, came about¡­¡± Gale stroked her chin. ¡°Did¡­ Beggars back then make crazy demands that pissed everyone off, or¡ª¡±

    She then crumbled over, groaning in pain as she held her exposed midriff. Calypso motioned her arm out of instinct, only to realize what that meant.

    ¡°¡ªYeah, maybe we can save this for later¡ª¡± Gale struggled to make into words. ¡°The bad time again, the clock¡¯s struck it and stuff¡ª¡±

    Calypso watched Gale run into the women¡¯s side of the restroom building. She wondered if the transformations were still ¡°raw¡± for the girl, before that very same feeling rocked her own body. While Calypso has a handle, it was only by so much.

    Rushing in, stumbling into a vacant stall, Calypso saw that the one next to her was locked. The various sounds confirmed that it was indeed Gale in there.

    ¡°Ju¡ªaaaaagh!¡± Calypso tried to desperately form words against the pain. ¡°The gemstone¡ªjust having it isn¡¯t enough¡­! Don¡¯t¡ªgah¡ªfight it, make the change yours¡­!¡±

    Calypso felt her spine emerge violently from her back, causing her to hunch over as she press her changing hand onto the wall. Her fingers morphing into the eggshell white claws that dug into the material.

    As her height slowly, and painfully, adjusted itself¡ªCalypso looked up at something that caught beyond her darkening eye.

    Gale¡¯s hand slammed on top of the stall wall that Calypso was leaning against. The girl had a honey-skinned complexion to her, so watching the hue of her fingers transform into a cyan color was a lot more crazy than Calypso thought.

    The fingers writhed, trying to hold on for dear life. Only for¡­ small vines grow and embed themselves into her skin, as Gale whimpered.

    And Calypso thought she was seeing things, but she can¡¯t discount it¡­ But she saw the top of what looked to be a mushroom of sorts? It bobbed into her line of sight, as Gale continued to scream out in shouts.

    ¡°I¡­ It doesn¡¯t get better¡­¡± Calypso shuddered out, as bones shot out and converged into armor. ¡°But the after¡­? Moving your arms, taking the first breath¡­ It makes it all so worth it. Focus on that...! Reclaim everything!¡±

    She balled her claws, thus digging through the wall of the stall, causing Gale to yelp out in surprise. But Calypso rode out the final touches of her changes, seeing her wild magenta locks stop growing, feeling her skull crown settle, her ribcage locking in place.

    Taking that glorious inhale, letting that ache radiate across the body, as steam exits her toothy maw.

    Letting go of the wall, Calypso fell on her hands and knees, letting her head hang low. Before taking more deep breathes, she took a frontal stretch as various things through her body popped and rang out.

    ¡°Trust me¡­¡± Calypso was in a wonderful daze, flicking her red, long tongue out of her maw briefly. ¡°You¡¯ll never want to get used to it¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ Definitely a good work out¡­ I¡¯ll give it that,¡± Gale followed up with her own laughter.

    Calypso grinned, getting onto her barbed feet. ¡°I¡¯m just glad that my curiosity¡¯s finally going to be sated once I open this door¡­¡±

    ¡°Are you kidding? All I saw were those claws!¡± Gale responded. ¡°I have to see what you look like now~!¡±

    ¡°Then let¡¯s not wait any longer!¡±

    Calypso nearly took the door off its hinges, but she managed to get out. Her armor clipped at the sides, but the spikes simply bore through.

    ¡°¡­Oh my god,¡± Gale sounded awestruck, if not a bit horrified.

    Calypso turned with a smug expression, only for that to fall.

    It was so weird, yet¡­ Captivating. It fit Gale to a T.

    Her cyan skin had smaller vines and roots across everywhere that it was exposed. And her skin had a shimmer to it¡­ A gooey texture. As if she¡¯s made of exotic mud now. She ¡°wore¡± a green leaf-based dress with an impossible V neck that damn near reached her midriff¡ªa forked, thick midrib creating a design on the front. Backless, with an opening that showed her left leg, with the barest hint of petioles that keeps the ensemble together. Tying the insanity together was mossy green hair, that had a giant mushroom crossed with a stink flower, massive ¡°pedals¡± that were just a red cap divided into segments with a yellow underside. Softly raining down small, soft white spores that coated her body.

    But her dark, yet violet, glowing eyes were still wide. Trying to take Calypso in, and struggling to do so.

    Calypso felt sheepish, which was super weird for this side of her. It wasn¡¯t natural, that was a ¡°Day Calypso¡± trait.

    ¡°It is a change, Gale¡­¡±

    Gale snapped out of it, waving her hands in a frenzy. ¡°No-no-no¡ªIt¡¯s just¡­! Like. Man.¡±

    Calypso¡¯s head quickly snapped at the cyan sludge being flung about. It was so surreal seeing something so digesting yet so cute.

    ¡°You¡¯re so¡­ You, I guess¡ªwhen you¡¯re a human¡­ All unassuming and nice and¡­ Not this,¡± Gale tried explain in her own way. ¡°It¡¯s a total 180¡­ You¡¯re super scary now!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ Take the compliment and diss, I guess~¡± Calypso flashed her fangs at her, if not teasingly, into a grin. ¡°Meanwhile¡­ It¡¯s odd that this fits you so well? When I thought ¡®swamp monster¡¯, I expected a total devolution. This is more you in a wacky costume.¡±

    Gale lit up, rushing over to Calypso, ¡°Thank you so much man¡ªI legit thought it was that for the loooongest time!¡±

    ¡°¡­Did you not use a mirror? At all?¡±

    ¡°¡­I was scared to look in one, so I never knew¡ª¡±

    Calypso simply stared at the plant lady, before softly patting her wet shoulder with a claw.

    ¡°My skin is Floam now, Cal,¡± Gale pouted. ¡°Sure¡ªoverreacted, but you get why, y¡¯know?¡±

    ¡°It is concerning¡­¡± Calypso looked at her claw, covered in muck. ¡°No offense but¡­ I don¡¯t think you can take a good hit or two.¡±

    Gale answered with a confident, fang-filled smirk before vocalizing it, ¡°You¡¯d think that~ You¡¯re gonna be so surprised the moment we walk out~!¡±

    Calypso smirked in turn. ¡°Heh¡­ Well then. Let¡¯s go, Gale Pratchett. The night is ours.¡±

    ***

 Entry 4.5 - Kinship: A Mutual Exercise

    Calypso so positively giddy, she was dribbling from the sides of her maw. Which was odd, given that¡¯s she was driven both by her instable hunger and her endless self-loathing. It created a ravenous gnawing that was pleasing to her, Calypso found.

    This was the first time that she was on a hunt¡ªrather actively and not being totally impaired in judgement. Until now, Calypso elected to ¡°play prey¡±¡ªdon the mask of the innocent girl that walked at night when she shouldn¡¯t have, playing up her very real feelings of fright and unease with the Subsumed that came her way. Which made the immediate rush of turning all the more pleasurable.

    The monster girl jumped from tree to tree, only targeting the trunks of each, so she can still be relatively close to the ground. With each landing, her twitching head scanned the locale, for something, anything at this point. They were at this¡­ For 15 or so minutes? But it didn¡¯t matter, as every second that wasn¡¯t killing something dragged for eons.

    ¡°Maaaan, Cal¡­ You¡¯re like. So into this thing¡­¡±

    Calypso perked up and turned her head. She nearly forgot that Gale was there, and this was supposed to be a partnership for a night.

    Gale simply walked, despite being a girl made of goo with a mushroom-flower on her head.

    Calypso arched her magenta eyebrow, ¡°It¡¯s interesting that you¡¯re not.¡±

    Gale blinked, her eyes still so expressive despite being dark with only the smallest violet light emanating from them.

    ¡°Aw man, am I doing this wrong then--?¡±

    Calypso jumped from the tree, landing on all fours. ¡°So¡­ You don¡¯t feel different? Anything at all?¡±

    Gale glanced down at her cyan, vine embedded hands. Flexing her fingers, as they gently disappeared into themselves and created a set of massive mud wads in the process.

    ¡°I mean. Aside from the hunger and the relief of the transformation being over¡­ Iunno. I still feel like me.¡±

    She flashed a very toothy grin, still somehow conveying the same despite the rows of fangs, laidback and airy feeling. ¡°It was one of the¡­ Signs, y¡¯know? That maybe this wasn¡¯t all so bad? At least I¡¯m¡­ Still me. Still in control.¡±

    Calypso gave a very curt hum. ¡°Interesting.¡±

    Gale motioned to rub the back of her neck, but instantly caught herself, which gave Calypso pause. ¡°I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s super different for you¡­?¡±

    Calypso smiled deliriously, ¡°It¡¯s like all of my inhibitions were torn away and I¡¯ve finally given into the darkest well that existed in my very being. The result giving me such a high, I don¡¯t know what to do with these wasted years I¡¯ve suddenly been granted back, but only dedicating them in indulging these amazingly terrible urges that were stupidly warded away.¡±

    ¡°¡­Yeahokaythatscoolhappyforyaman¡ª"

    Calypso pursed her lips, against the very familiar rumbling of her foundations being rocked. Only to quickly pout and turn on a huff.

    ¡°Alice would¡¯ve thought it was cool¡­¡± she said in a grumbled, pained whisper.

    ¡°What was that, Cal¡­? Did I touch a nerve agai--?¡±

    Calypso simply turned her gaze back, and Gale froze. ¡°We need to focus, or we¡¯ll lose out on the hunt. Our lives are on the line, as well as others, here.¡±

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    ¡°Right¡ªright, right, right,¡± Gale was but a voice to Calypso now.

    Calypso shook her head to herself, psychosomatically clearing her raging thoughts, ¡°Now I don¡¯t know the exact location¡ªif there is one¡ªbut they gather together¡­ Almost like a chorus of sorts. But even if we don¡¯t manage to find them, the weaker vermin will try to seek us out anyways to prove themselves¡­¡±

    ¡°I seeeee¡­ Well, we¡¯re good for the night regardless, that¡¯s cool!¡±

    Calypso sighed, ¡°But quantity can only do so much for upkeep¡­ We need quality right now, Gale.¡±

    Her super sensitive ears twitched at Gale¡¯s downtrodden hums. Causing Calypso to dig her claws into the soil. It wasn¡¯t like Calypso was suddenly this master¡ªlike Mrs. Moses, but Gale was hitting so many buttons that¡­ The monster girl not only wanted to leave alone, but purposefully became this to run from such.

    ¡°But wait, you said you don¡¯t know where they are and you know the way¡­?¡±

    Calypso glowered, her expression tightening.

    ¡°I can¡¯t forget what they sounded like, since that day. I admit, most of this is self-preservation¡­ The other is just simple vengeance.¡±

    Calypso¡¯s eyes sparked to life, as she settled into an assured grin.

    Her new vision gave Calypso the ability to cut through the darkness, easily peering through what could be pitch black. But, due to that terrible night, she knew that the presence of the Subsumed always left a very tangible shadow in their wake.

    And a sizable, moving streak was ways before her. A fading line that was thinning before it snaked across.

    Calypso licked her lips, ¡°Try to keep up, dear.¡±

    With an evil chuckle, Calypso sprinted her way towards the looming shadow, immediately turning to the right once she made it to the place she saw it in.

    There were instant mad swipes, Calypso not taking a chance in the slightest. She chased the shadow like a cat rushing towards a laser pointer. It was to the point that she fell into the ground and dragged herself forward before getting up right again, slashing towards the tail end of her prize.

    But there was something to the Subsumed¡¯s movements. As if they were at a lower speed, but still nimble, getting out of Calypso¡¯s grasp in precious seconds. Offbeat, but with purpose. Discordant, but even step in their movements.

    And these were the stragglers and hangers-on. It enraged Calypso that on very level, the dregs she conquered were complete outcasts and washouts.

    It was a thought that proved detrimental, as the monster girl tumbled, thus losing her momentum as the trail left her in the dust.

    Grumbling, slamming her claws in frustration. She rose up on her feet, jaw clenched, as she turned towards Gale, who was so far behind that it seemed like she didn¡¯t leave.

    ¡°What the hell¡¯s wrong with--?!¡±

    Calypso was appalled, as Gale simply rose a finger to her lips.

    But before the pink monster could sprint over in rage, it clicked for Calypso once the swamp monster girl then used her other hand to point at a tree nearby. With her eyes closed.

    The grim girl put her claws onto the ground once more, shifting carefully into all fours, darting her inquisitive eyes back to the tree and to the other monster.

    Calypso pouted, figured that it¡¯s a matter of trust at this point.

    Rearing back, Calypso bounded behind this tree, slamming her heavy body onto whatever was there.

    To her surprise, a groundling Subsumed that was a tube-shaped mite, struggling against her pressed claws.

    ¡°Holy¡­¡± Calypso¡¯s eyebrows rose in shock.

    Jumping in her skeleton armor, as Gale landed behind her. ¡°Oh, thank God¡ªI was hoping like, you¡¯d figure out my signal and we didn¡¯t talk about that and¡ª¡±

    ¡°Wait¡­¡± Calypso craned her head towards the girl. ¡°Did you¡­ ¡®Talk¡¯ with the plants?¡±

    ¡°That I did! I need to stand in place, or still really, and¡­ I can hear them, commune and stuff, right? I¡¯m so connected that the whole place sorta becomes like my body. I felt the gnat on my arm and told my buddy to hit it for me~!¡±

    ¡°¡­Wow,¡± Calypso just looked up and down at Gale. ¡°Just wow. You¡¯re¡­ Well, a force of nature now.¡±

    Gale giggled, letting the spores lightly fall down from her mushroom-flower, ¡°Well, more like a¡­ Force of nature in training. I can only do around me and I have to stand still¡­ So cool, but kinda useless on my own.¡±

    ¡°Fair¡­¡± Calypso turned her gaze down, onto the Subsumed.

    Only to see it not struggle anymore. It¡¯s bug eyes, on the tips of its pincers, staring up at Calypso.

    ¡°Let¡¯s streamline the process here, dreg~¡± Calypso radiated smug confidence. ¡°Tell me where your ilk is going to, and maybe, we¡¯ll let you catch up.¡±

    ¡°Can they talk¡­?¡± Gale chimed in quizzically.

    And before Calypso could answer, the thing did for them.

    ¡°Terror¡­ tide¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh¡ª¡± Gale backed up a smudge. ¡°Uh¡ª¡±

    ¡°Terrortide¡­ Terrortide¡­ Terrortide!¡±

    ¡°Hey, little guy¡­ I¡¯m afraid we don¡¯t know what you mea¡ª¡±

    Calypso cut Gale off, by stuffing her face with the creature, munching messily on its body.

 Entry 4.6 (1/2) - Kinship: A Mutual Excerise

    ¡°CALYPSO!¡± Gale exclaimed. Before waving, gesturing her slimy arms, stopping at times due to the shock being so overwhelming to her. ¡°WHAT THE HELL, MAN?!¡±

    Calypso couldn¡¯t help but laugh, as her claws held the remains of the monster she unceremoniously eaten. Maybe it was the potency of the outcry, but Calypso never not done such a thing and not feel terrible ever.

    It was freeing.

    ¡°What do you mean, ¡®what the hell?¡¯¡± Calypso responded, craning her unempathetic expression towards her. ¡°It¡¯s what we came to do, no?¡±

    ¡°I¡ªYeah¡ªbut¡ª¡± Gale then sighed, to regain her wits. ¡°It wasn¡¯t doing anything, though¡­ Heck, it talked! Isn¡¯t that¡­ Not normal?¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± Calypso tossed the rest of the body to Gale, who in turn shrieked¡ªstumbling to catch it. ¡°I only encountered ones that just growl and grumble. But even if I should be amazed over them flapping their gums¡ªgod, I¡¯m spending way too much time with my family¡ªWhat does anything they have to say mean anything to me? It¡¯s conversations with cattle the hunter-gathers spent days in rounding up.¡±

    ¡°W-well¡­ Yeah, I guess you¡¯re right.¡±

    It was looking at the soft, off-balanced shuffling of her feet. The palpable unease that radiated from the girl. Gale looking downward, which covered her eyes due to the mushroom-flower-hat.

    All proof to Calypso, she was no better than who the poor girl had been with.

    Calypso turned forward in a huff mixed with a growl.

    Face alighting once more when she heard soft whispers from afar. A chorus of soft whispers from afar.

    ¡°Hey, at least knowing that they babble¡ªthey give themselves away~¡± Calypso coyly teased. ¡°Stay with me, Gale. For we¡¯re feasting tonight!¡±

    Calypso didn¡¯t bother to wait, the monster girl dashed forward on her claws and peds. Running full throttle, trying to focus on what she was hearing over the sounds of her own scrapping against the ground.

    Listening¡ªbeing driven by, this one and nonsensical phrase.

    ¡°Terrortide!¡±

    ¡°Terrortide¡±, over and over, at different tones, enunciations, and volume. ¡°Terrortide, Terrortide¡± again and again. Any curiosity Calypso had immediately perished, after hearing this ad nauseum. But she¡¯d be continuing to lie to herself if she thought she had any to begin with.

    Bounding from the floor of dirt, leaves and fallen sticks¡ªCalypso sprung right into the spot that looked the darkness, where the moon light couldn¡¯t shine down on. The moment her eyes caught that segment of shade, she didn¡¯t even take anything else in.

    So when Calypso landed, ready to attack with keen vigilance on all sides¡­

    What she finally saw took her by complete surprise.

    It was like¡­ They were maiming themselves. Purposely destroying themselves, bit by bit.

    A circle with a wide, reaching range. It didn¡¯t matter the height, the width, the shape nor matter. Each of them took their tooth, their claw¡ªhorns, extra eyes, feelers, pincers. Anything that defined them, they painfully ripped from their now featureless forms and threw them into a growing void in the middle.

    All chanting, ¡°Terrortide!¡±

    ¡°Whatever that is¡ª¡± Calypso charged forward, rabid. ¡°¡ªI¡¯m not letting it make you all less sorry than you already are--!¡±

    She felt a grip on her shoulder, forcing her to turn on a dime and drive her balled up claws to pierce deep inside of the fool that tried to test her right now.

    Gale winced, face contorting with rising pain, as Calypso buried her fist deep within her abdomen.

    Calypso¡¯s face in turn surged in a plethora of emotions. Flashes of different events, but with the same regret that hit so hard. She would¡¯ve immediately stumbled backward, run away, but Gale¡¯s muck was very¡­ ¡°Rich¡± the more deep she got. It felt impossible to rip away out of, and Calypso¡¯s entire arm was enough to tear flesh into shreds.

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    Gale used her other, trembling hand to grip Calypso¡¯s shoulders tight.

    ¡°You. Have. To. Slow. Down. Please¡­¡±

    Calypso didn¡¯t know if the emphasis was for getting the message through to her, or she was in immense pain.

    ¡°i-I¡ª¡± Calypso swallowed, and yet her throat was still so dry. ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry¡ª¡±

    ¡°Hey¡­ ¡®Cocktail of issues¡¯,¡± Gale winced, now only squinted the one eye. ¡°Hold on, I¡¯ll help ya¡¯ out¡ª¡±

    Before she knew it, Calypso was kicked squarely into her own gut, propelled directly into her quite literal boney butt. But now free from Gale¡¯s stomach, her arm covered in slime but free.

    ¡°No, that¡¯s very much deserved¡­¡± Calypso then coughed. ¡°I need a kick right into the stomach from time to time¡ª¡±

    Gale completely covered her line of sight, as the swamp lady offered her hand, as the other clamped down on her wound. Calypso grabbed it as Gale effortlessly hoisted her up, despite not deserving it in her mind.

    ¡°But yeah¡ªthat¡­ All of that behind you, that¡¯s actually happening and not some twisted dream, is any of this normal for them or--?¡±

    Calypso looked back, ¡°¡­ At this point, they could all dance towards the Moon, and I¡¯d believe that this is what they simply do this on Tuesdays¡­¡±

    It was insanity made physical. The void that was being created, it fanned outwards, under the ¡°feet¡± of the Subsumed. Fanning out, thinning itself out, until it created a bowl. The shape and the scale were too taxing for the living material, as it broke as it formed.

    But it wasn¡¯t done. Various shades of blacks, greys, and whites. The bowl constructed whatever survived of itself into a broken auditorium. It was hard to tell what were stairs and what were ¡°seats¡±, the groves bled into the structure causing it to warp. And once again, as this process happened, the auditorium construction itself made the structure tear itself apart, to the point of it breaking like a dinner plate. But it didn¡¯t matter so much, despite segments being higher than the other ones, and others being so low that they sunk into the ground.

    Pillars. They shot from the tainted ground, manufacturing themselves into the auditorium¡¯s outside walls, then finally erecting inside of it as well. To the point that they acted as goal posts, for the walls to lance forward and mirror the now-bottom of the area to create the top level of such. Bending, buckling for moments before righting themselves with a flicker and wave.

    They were detailed, rendering a sculptor¡¯s life¡¯s work null and void for what took seconds.

    And they were made of faces. Heads. Legs, eyes, lips, cheeks, antlers, gills, hearts¡ªmade into various forms and shapes. But ultimately in a fashion of twisting.

    ¡°Terrortide!¡± Now echoing within these horrible halls. And rocking within the cold air, as the stragglers made their way into them.

    ¡°You think we can take them now¡­?¡± Gale laughed, uneasy.

    With a low growl, Calypso took one step before being grabbed by the wrist by Gale. Who sported a face that Calypso didn¡¯t think she was capable of.

    ¡°Can we at the very least look into this¡­?¡± Calypso tried to ease her tone for her. ¡°To make sure that they¡¯re not¡­ Starting up a campaign of murder or something¡­?¡±

    Gale sighed, making Calypso unsure if she could see through her bullshit.

    ¡°Just the ones outside, Cal¡­¡± Gale responded, proving that she did.

    Calypso raced to the crowds that ambled away from her. As if she didn¡¯t matter. And did that sting from the inside.

    ¡°The hell are any of you on about?!¡± Calypso was impatient at this point. ¡°I¡¯m right here! At least terrorti¡ªterrorize me like before, damn it!¡±

    She tried to provoke, she tried to at the very least kill so they could take something of any meaning from this. But whatever they did to themselves, they were just physical shadow more than ever. Ghastly specters that muttered the one phrase, constantly. Looking towards the hazy night sky as they made their way into the halls.

    Calypso huffed from her mouth, a blast of steam following it, trailing as she craned her head back. ¡°I promise that I won¡¯t go in, but I¡¯m looking into the tunnel, okay?¡±

    Rushing forward, Calypso leaned to her side to angle her view.

    It was just that. Subsumed piling into the seats, still muttering the nonsense word. Looking up at the skies, and weirdly enough¡­ Calypso felt jubilance. She practically could taste such, let alone feel it in the air.

    Now she wanted to really know what ¡°Terrortide¡± was. So that she could find it and stomp on it for all of them to see it. Calypso hoped it meant something for these pitiful spawn, so that she could take it away from them, and make it this performance they staked so much for.

    ¡°Man¡­ Sorry that I¡¯m such a bad luck charm, haha¡­¡±

    Calypso snapped towards Gale, who was walking up with her closed eyes and wavering smile. ¡°I¡¯ve missed up your mojo and how these monsters usually work¡­ But don¡¯t worry! I have my Root stash and maybe we can try again tomorrow¡ª¡±

    ¡°Gale. You have a massive, caring heart. Do not let these living shit stains into it.¡±

    Gale¡¯s eyes opened and they were wide as tea saucers. ¡°¡­Night and day. Actual, like, night and day. It¡¯s so crazy and¡­ Scary at time¡­¡±

    Calypso gritted her teeth. She had to be nice, for her sake.

    ¡°Regardless¡­ They¡¯re the definition of unstable and unreliable. It¡¯s why hunting for them is pure chance at points. Maybe we¡¯ll find a way to actually conquer them, but yeah, it¡¯s not tonight certainly¡­¡±

    Calypso pouted, walking towards Gale. ¡°I suppose we just trigger ol¡¯ Plan B¡ªwhich really should just be A at this point¡­ Wait and see a suicidal bastard march along to test their mettle¡ª¡±

    ¡°And so it shall be tested¡­ Half-breed¡­ Witchling¡­ Vermiiiin¡­¡±

    Gale stiffened and screamed, towards the terror that faced the duo.

    But Calypso stared on. Stared on with a razor-sharp grin, and soft panting, steam escaping from the openings of her glistening fangs.

 Entry 4.6 (2/2) - Kinship: A Mutual Exercise

    ¡°¡­Hey,¡± Gale waved. ¡°Hey. Heeeey¡­ Uh, there! Hey there, man!¡±

    Gale winced so hard, a sizable drop of gunk fell from her face. ¡°What brings you to this side of the neighborhood~¡­?¡±

    It was another Jaw Monster, but totally and fundamentally different.

    There were so many teeth loaded into the mouth, layered on top of each other, it created an overbite. Thick scales covering the legs, they curled upwards into spikes. Its head was still faceless, but with a viper¡¯s skull, with a shark¡¯s snout elongating the namesake¡¯s trait. Bony frills crested from the head, twitching feelers, each one connected by translucent webbing. The long neck Calypso assumed it had was folded inwards, becoming a mix between a wattle and frog¡¯s vocal sac. All resting on a bullish, tensing torso.

    ¡°Do not address meeee¡­¡± It growled out, opening its maw to speak. ¡°As if we¡¯re equaaaals¡­¡±

    ¡°C-communication is the first step in understanding what we want here¡ª¡± Gale then turned towards her fellow monster girl. ¡°Cal, please, help me out here¡ª"

    All Calypso did was pant in its presence. A slow, methodical series of inhales and exhales. Using her entire body as it tensed, and her already wild hair bangs fell and covered her face. Her eyes, shining and unhidden from the bangs, lowered in an assured fashion, as if she¡¯s finally found home.

    She raised her claw, flexing each one individually that hollow cracks rang out before flicking them at the same time. Her bloodthirsty grin not once leaving her face.

    ¡°Oh god, you¡¯re just as worse--!¡±

    ¡°Hold that thought,¡± Calypso spoke, not once breaking her eye contact. ¡°Fine, we¡¯re lower than you. What brings you here, blessing us with your eminence?¡±

    ¡°Revengeeeenccce¡­¡± the Jaw Monster didn¡¯t open its maw, showing that it did not need to move its mouth to speak. Projecting the voice somehow.

    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s fair¡­¡±

    ¡°¡®Fair¡¯?!¡± Gale exclaimed, waving her arms. ¡°What did you do, Calypso--?!¡±

    The monster gritted its tombstone-sized fangs in a low snarl.

    ¡°So it was you¡­ Who robbed her from meee¡­¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were capable of love, let alone gender¡­¡± Calypso mused, putting her chin in her open palm, resting the face against the claw.

    ¡°Do nooot¡­ Involve your human perversion into things¡­ Our bonds are purely thaaat¡­ A pact to be honored in the eeeend¡­¡± the Jaw Monster growled out, stepping forward. ¡°And you took that awaaaay¡­!¡±

    Only for Gale to step in between them.

    ¡°Okay okay okay okay, look¡­¡± Gale had her hands up in a defensive stance. ¡°Just¡­ Tell us. About her. About what exactly happened, and we can work from there¡­¡±

    The monster¡¯s head moved about, jerking and snapping to the sides, in barely restrained anger. ¡°Your ramapaaage¡­ Destroyed what could have been an entire brood, with your choice... Your human perversion¡­ cost me my maaaate, and I will eat you to avenge her and take that power for myself¡­¡±

    ¡°This is all pretty interesting¡­¡± Calypso put her arms behind her back. ¡°And as much as I want to issue condolences because, I don¡¯t know, I wanna be nice for once¡­ I literally do not remember your so-called mate. So.¡±

    Calypso then shrugged. Obviously, this was a complete lie. But the itching within was becoming white hot. She needed this fight. Wanted this challenge.

    And even before Gale could possibly interject, the Jaw Monster roared as it continued to monologue.

    ¡°You will not stop me¡­ From continuing to consume my wayward, former brethren, to gain their wasted power from this stupid faaarce¡­ Then the humans, then everything in my path!¡±

    ¡°¡­Well. In that case¡­¡±

    Calypso stepped out of the way, performing a mock-customary bow.

    ¡°Then by all means, good sir! Sure up your defenses and your gullet, so that our fight to the death will be proper and earned.¡±

    ¡°¡­So there is honor, lurking within that taiiinted blood of yours¡­¡±

    It rushed forward, too fast for Gale to stop the trajectory. With her outreached hand still hovering in the air, the swamp monster girl started to tremble in place.

    Calypso looked at the display and proceeded to roll her eyes. ¡°This is benefitting us¡ª¡±

    Gale quickly turned on her heels, swinging her arm of goop as it splattered everywhere in a rage that caused Calypso to jump.

    ¡°Did you miss the part about him eating people?!¡± Gale shrieked out aggressively.

    Calypso¡¯s maw tightened, still maintaining her steely gaze. ¡°It happens every single night in this rundown town anyways¡ªyou¡¯re just aware that it happens now¡ª¡±

    ¡°And again, we¡¯re letting that happen¡ªnot just putting a stop to it?!¡± Gale stormed over, clenching her fists together that they¡¯ve melded into blobs. ¡°What¡ªIs¡ªThe matter with you?! Why are you letting this happen to yourself¡ªnot the monster stuff¡ªbut you¡ªjust¡ªbeing so into your own darkness?!¡±

    Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!

    Calypso squinted, gritted her fangs, before firing back. "Jokes on you, you need to accept the fact you''re a monster now. A part of the process, if you''re still trying to retain something--"

    "There''s acceptance and there''s just outright holding something in!" Gale swung her arm. "Not letting things go an-and stewing in your own crap! Is that really acceptance, Cal?! Or is it another excuse just to be crummy?!"

    The questions hit the various chords that Calypso deemed untouchable.

    ¡°Why did I agree to this half-assed trainwreck in the first place?!¡±

    Gale shrunk in fear, in the presence Calypso¡¯s advancing anger.

    ¡°Hell, why did I ever entertain interacting with another human again?!¡± Calypso swiped her arm at Gale, which prompted the latter to yelp out in distress. The instant feedback of the action caused the raving monster to tense in despair, before relenting back to her fury.

    ¡°See?! This is what I do! What you all do to me¡ªother than her! Alice and I, Sal and I¡ªthat¡¯s all I ever need! Any more and it¡¯s so blindingly obvious that I deserve nothing but! Why bother with ¡®friends¡¯ or ¡®others¡¯, when all it does is prove the divide between humanity and I all the more stark?!¡±

    Through Calypso¡¯s panting and bluster, it was interesting for her to see Gale¡¯s facial journey. Her stunned shock vindicating the monster¡¯s point. Then her expression crumbling into near tears, and a desperate struggle to fight that.

    ¡­But it all snapped. Her face becoming unnervingly still, only her brow etched in silent, but palpable, seething.

    Calypso found herself being slammed into the tree behind her, to the point she coughed out all the available air present in the lungs. And the damning thing in that moment, was the realization that she didn¡¯t fall onto the ground.

    She thought it was the well-deserved punch she earned. Turns out, it was much worse.

    Gale¡¯s arm transformed into a massive wad of slime and earth¡ªa volume of sludge that covered her body sans the head. Calypso¡¯s racing eyes caught a few details that could¡¯ve explained this insane scene¡ªthe fact that the girl¡¯s legs disappeared into raised soil, becoming one with such. In turn, her body became this swirl of both her natural material along with the soil, becoming consecrated at the now engorged arm.

    Her mossy hair fell in front of Gale¡¯s simmering expression. Her violet eyes glowing in the dark, harsher than before. And the looks of it, this was merely the beginning of what her exploding mind thought up.

    Calypso simply sighed, despite being clearly scared. Shutting her eyes, knowing when it¡¯s the inevitable end.

    But there was nothing. Nothing immediate, at the very least.

    All Calypso heard¡­ Was the sounds of meditated breathing.

    She opened her confused eyes, as she took in Gale looking down. Her measured breathes easing the tension in her face, allowing her to drop the rage, despite it still being plainly visible.

    Gale looked at Calypso. A face that was not amused, but never more unwavering.

    ¡°Maybe you don¡¯t try because you¡¯re scared. It¡¯s easier for you to call it off, to sabotage¡­ All because you¡¯re so driven to mess it up and run. I don¡¯t wanna say that your friend was a bad one, for letting you get so bad¡­ But clearly, you needed more people than her. People that can tell you it¡¯s okay not to be so terrible. And the thing is¡­? I don¡¯t think you¡¯re a bad person, Cal. I think you¡¯re one that¡¯s hurt, and refuses to get that looked at. Call me an enemy, call me whatever¡ªbut I am NOT giving up on or giving into you.¡±

    For a girl that managed to hit every single hot button of hers, there was no grid for this.

    So the emotions that brewed such a torrent from within, it ripped her apart, Calypso could only sit in it. Sit in it, and absorb every aspect that whipped her stupid ego.

    "Resonance" doesn''t seem to be such a foreign concept anymore. A far off promise.

    ¡°¡­Thank you,¡± Calypso hung her head low, without knowing why she said it exactly.

    Soon after, Calypso fell from the tree, as the slime retracted back into Gale¡¯s being. Landing on her spiked knees and razor-sharp hands, the monster girl wanted them to give out, her face hitting the dirt with the weight on her back.

    Only for her instincts to tell her to look up, as Gale offered her hand. Pointedly, the other one.

    ¡°Now, the bad guy probably got supped up during all of that¡ªbut let¡¯s at least try, alright~?¡±

    Yet another hand offered to her, unprompted.

    So of course Calypso took it.

    Once she rose back up, Calypso dashed forward, towards the dark auditorium. Claws at the ready for what she thought was a violet storming.

    Only to run in, unrestricted in any way or form. But it was when she made it in the epicenter that it all made sense.

    ¡°TERRORTIDE!¡±

    Most of the ghastly Subsumed were swarmed at the Jaw Monster. They couldn¡¯t do anything, at the very least damaging. But it was a thick fog that was physical, layered around the thrashing, angry monster that roared at them. Roared at them for ¡°betraying¡± it, how it doesn¡¯t need them anymore.

    Calypso admitted to herself that it was funny, the coincidence.

    ¡°Ready to finish this off, partner~?¡±

    The monster girl turned to see¡­ Gale moving, but still rooted into the ground. Leaving a very pronounced trail behind her.

    ¡°¡­I didn¡¯t know how to get out of this¡ª¡± Gale looked around nervously. ¡°In fact, I didn¡¯t know I could do any of that¡ªand this¡ª¡±

    A brilliance flared up in Calypso¡¯s usually dead eyes. She proceeded to raise a claw, pointing at the Jaw Monster with a half-assured smirk.

    ¡°Gotcha~¡± Gale giggled.

    Like a crack of a whip, Gale¡¯s arm made of mush was flung far¡ªhitting the raving monster sloppily, but enough near the mark.

    The Jaw Monster¡¯s peds were locked in place due to the slime, as its roars got more loud and ferocious.

    Which was perfect for Calypso, as she had a target, curling up her claws and bringing up her elbow scythes with manic zeal. The manic zeal that was no different from the type before, but actually directed for what she thought was impossible¡ªdespite her declaration months prior.

    Once she entered the darkness¡ªshe quickly sliced about. Every time she felt the rake of flesh under her blades, Calypso jerked¡ªgashed¡ªstabbed, letting the screeches batter at her eardrums. Being pelted by the black ooze that tied all of these damned creatures together despite their shapes and sizes, Calypso experienced ease, a calming.

    Calypso then felt a pull, as she was yanked out by Gale¡¯s extended arm, landing right next to her. Clearly written on her slightly shocked face that she didn¡¯t realize what she would do after slicing up the Subsumed.

    The two monster girls watched as the Subsumed all stopped. As if they¡¯ve solved the interruption themselves.

    The ¡°Terrortide!¡± chant starting up once more, slowly returning to their seats.

    So it caught them off guard, as a blur shot past the shared left of them, causing the duo to snap their heads quick.

    But it was too late.

    The Jaw Monster, who was a mere worm-like abomination now, was already tunneling through the floor. Before the both of them could form a stance, its rear end was buried by the excess dirt.

    Causing Calypso to turn back, seeing its rather large legs remaining, caked in a puddle of its blood. So much in amount, it washed away Gale¡¯s gunk.

    ¡°¡­Well, at least they¡¯re as big as me!¡± Gale chirped.

    And without warning, the weird swamp girl pulled Calypso into a hug. The skeletal monster doing the human thing of keeping her arms firmly at her sides in embarrassment.

    ¡°We¡¯ll take these home and we¡¯ll finish what we¡¯ve started tonight¡­ After that? Yeah, I won¡¯t be, like, offended if you wanted to end things afterwards¡­ But like I said. I¡¯m not leaving you alone, Cal. Especially not now~¡±

    She wanted to buck back. At how contradictory the statement was, how she didn¡¯t remotely know her yet. On why she would go this far for someone, when she knew intimately well how much that burned. Then what she said earlier that day, ringing loudly in Calypso¡¯s head. Gale Pratchett simply had love for everyone.

    It was quite ironic, how it was Calypso who melted in the hug.

 Entry 5.0 - Union: The Only Solution

    ¡°So, er. You wanna talk for once, or?¡±

    Sal was slumped in a folding chair, she set up in Calypso¡¯s room. Her arm draped over a leg as she slouched forward. Her usually bright eyes, staring, searching, accusingly.

    It didn¡¯t help that Calypso was just climbing into the room through the window, wearing baggy sweat clothes, with the hoodie not only up but obscuring most of her face, and oven mitts.

    After feasting on the Jaw Monster¡¯s legs together in the forest, Gale allowed Calypso to crash at her home. Not only that, let her loan spare clothes and helped her hide her growing hair, nails, and fangs. She was hoping to get all that under control, but this was going to be somehow worse.

    ¡°¡­To be fair,¡± Calypso began, slightly muffled due to the hood fastened tight around her mouth. ¡°I don¡¯t think you could hear me well with this on¡ª¡±

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    ¡°Can hear ya¡¯ loud and clear there, Kenny¡ª¡± Sal spat, unamused. ¡°Or ¡®Kendra¡¯, I guess.¡±

    Calypso sighed against the fabric, also proving Sal¡¯s point. She then completely climbed over the window plane, landing on her slipper-covered feet (which she also borrowed from Gale).

    ¡°Well then. What do you want to talk about¡­?¡±

    Sal gestured, almost offended, towards her cousin, ¡°Yer wearin¡¯ mits for Christ¡¯s sake--! You should be tellin¡¯ me what¡¯s goin¡¯ on!¡±

    Calypso¡¯s eyelids hung low, under a mighty weight. ¡°Worried about if I¡¯ve finally lost it or not, got it.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not just me, y¡¯know¡­ Ma and Paw are too, but they¡¯re the ¡®wait and see¡¯ type. Tried to do that, tried to give the benefit of the doubt¡­¡±

    Sal shot from her seat with balled fists, ¡°But I ain¡¯t anymore! I know you¡¯ve been sneakin¡¯ out at night, I know ya¡¯ roamin¡¯ around the town! So spill about the why!¡±

    The monster girl was glad that her face was obscured, and her tone muffled, in this moment.

 Entry 5.1 - Union: The Only Solution

    The monster girl was glad that her face was obscured, and her tone muffled, in this moment.

    So it easier for her to shrug, Calypso raising her arms, ¡°What¡¯s so hard to understand about me being a crazy person nowadays? Isn¡¯t that enough of an answer?¡±

    But Sal stood firm, her arms crossed. ¡°If ya remembered, I¡¯m takin¡¯ classes in seein¡¯ through bull. Try again.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Calypso rose her mitted hands. ¡°Clearly I¡¯m the enemy here. Just tell me your points and I¡¯ll provide answers¡ª¡±

    ¡°Actual answers!¡±

    ¡°Actual answers,¡± Calypso tried to ease her dear cousin through her light hand motions. ¡°I will give actual answers. This is just all so sudden for me, I don¡¯t know exactly what to say to you right now. I feel that¡¯s fair.¡±

    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll layin¡¯ all the cards on the table,¡± Sal rose her fingers to dictate her points, while maintaining her folded arms. ¡°You tryin¡¯ everythin¡¯ in your power to keep avoidin¡¯ meetin¡¯ people¡ªextended to us too, you not even showin¡¯ up to most of your classes or even sleepin¡¯ in them, and now you¡¯re sneakin¡¯ out! That don¡¯t paint a picture of someone tryin¡¯ to get better!¡±

    Calypso first responded with a long, rueful sigh.

    ¡°It¡¯s not like there¡¯s a map for recovery, y¡¯know. I wish to heaven that there was, but there really isn¡¯t.¡±

    It was in that moment, Sal sunk a bit in her stance. That was about as hard to watch as it was trying to her damnest not to lie to her. Calypso had no qualms in faking emotions, coming up with truths people only want to here¡ªit was the only skill she was good at. But this was Sal. Seeing Sal trying to be a disciplinarian alone, when Calypso knew more than anyone that all she wanted to do was to have fun and tease.

    It hurt her heart, when Calypso figured that this was the source of this entire thing. Trying to get back, those simple times. How impossible it seemed, and the harsh reality that it truly is to achieve that with her now.

    ¡°Sally, I¡­ It¡¯s not like I want to be this way. It just seems like with every step, the very universe conspires to keep me low, in the dirt. And yet¡ªthat¡¯s exactly¡­ My problem. I am overdramatic, I am whiny and¡­ It¡¯s just that¡­¡±

    Calypso felt her eyes water for the millionth time, muttering such a small ¡°damn it¡­¡± under her breath.

    ¡°Oh, forget it¡­¡± Calypso grumbled more than she liked. ¡°It¡¯s a tangle of wires that are nerves. We want to untangle them, we have to untangle them because its unhealthy, it¡¯s not meant to be that way. But for whatever reason, it is my normal. And you all have to respect that sometimes.¡±

    ¡°Then all of this¡ªit¡¯s for nothin¡¯!¡± Sal pleaded, ¡°What¡¯s the point then?! You have to get better, you just said so yourself! So why keep fightin¡¯ up unless there¡¯s nothin¡¯ we can do?!¡±

    Calypso looked downwards, ¡°You said it, not me.¡±

    She practically heard the air sucked out of the room.

    ¡°My own mother threw me out, after all. And hey, you yourself said that Aunty and Uncle don¡¯t even want to face me like this. It is hard, Sally¡ªno matter what anyone does. You get entangled with my nonsense, and you have no idea how to get out.¡±

    ¡°Just¡­¡±

    It took a few seconds for Calypso to look back at Sal. To see her drained, defeated and devastated.

    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    ¡°Just¡­ Can you not brave this alone? Just¡­ Tell me what¡¯s going on¡­ Trust me again.¡±

    Calypso immediately chomped down on her lip. She didn¡¯t care that she drew blood, that her fangs punctured it. The pain was minuscule.

    But she had to let go, feel it slowly heal back after. Suck away the excess so what she was going to say next was absolutely clear.

    ¡°Tell you what¡­¡±

    Calypso extended her mitt, towards her dear cousin. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to you about everything tomorrow. And not only that, I¡¯ll keep touch with you every single day afterwards. Just like old times when we all lived together, chatting up about everything under the sun and until the moon rises. I do owe you that much and willing to take that step, at least. Do we have a--?¡±

    Sal pulled her into a hug, nearly strangling her under her affectionate weight.

    Calypso sighed out, both out of relief that she didn¡¯t have to dig into with her claws during that possible handshake and the fact that offer was enough for her cousin.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be glad once you get back to your usual self¡­¡± Calypso joked. ¡°Otherwise, this caring Sal is a tad too much for me to handle¡ª¡±

    ¡°I care,¡± Sal verbally pouted, it made Calypso proud. ¡°I just express it differently, by pushing n¡¯ proddin¡¯¡­¡±

    ¡°So like a psychopath with animal test subjects¡ª¡± Calypso smirked a bit at the irony.

    ¡°Like you aren¡¯t one either,¡± Sal quipped and bit back, patting her back.

    Calypso giggled, pulling away from the hug. ¡°See? It¡¯s already working, you¡¯re actually making fun of me again~¡±

    The wrapped up girl smiled with her eyes, by closing them and pushing up her cheeks. ¡°Now lemme get ready for class and begin the day right. But starting tomorrow, you¡¯re looking at a Calypso that¡¯s going to start trying¡­¡±

    ***

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t call it lying, Gale¡ª¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re not even going to school today¡ª¡± Gale immediately pointed out, ¡°You told me to meet out here and evade any kind of eye contact¡­¡±

    Once again, the duo found themselves in the forest. It was minutes since they¡¯ve met up again, Calypso telling Gale what happened that morning. Calypso was flexing her semi-normal nails, still long but aren¡¯t claws anymore, her brown hair trimmed back to her nape again. The only longstanding problem left were her very pronounced fangs, which she swirled her tongue around because of how unnatural and unruly they were being.

    ¡°True, but¡ª¡± Calypso sighed. ¡°Even ignoring¡ªy¡¯know¡ªthe massive elephant in the room of telling your family that you¡¯re a murderous monster to begin with¡­ It¡¯s not like I haven¡¯t done this before. Obscuring of truth? Sure. But I do tell people what I¡¯m ultimately feeling, just not the details. Because hearing the overall statement is already draining, so I get off scott-free every time¡­¡±

    Gale rubbed the back of her neck as she continued to walk with her new friend, ¡°Yeah¡­ I guess it¡¯s not really lying in that case¡­¡±

    ¡°And that¡¯s going to be the case here. Use my clinical depression as a metaphor for what¡¯s going on. Play up my lunacy, say that going out at night and roaming are coping mechanisms to keep the worst at bay. Maybe even mention you¡ªn-not as a bad influence, but me being desperate for friends¡ªso when you call, I follow.¡±

    Calypso then gestured towards Gale, who turned to her. The skeletal monster girl having her hands in a presentation and showmanship of proving something existed, all with a very lazy smile.

    ¡°Can you question such a damaged and tortured face like this anymore, once you hear all that~?¡±

    Her face and energy dropping as soon as Calypso turned forward was too fast, even for herself. Especially since there was an audience seeing that happen in real time.

    ¡°Okay, like, it¡¯s super weird seeing both of you show up at the same time¡­¡± Gale tried to ration out her response.

    ¡°¡¯Both of you¡¯¡­?¡±

    Gale had both index fingers upward, swinging them side to side as she explained.

    ¡°Remember how last night, that I legit think it¡¯s night and day, with you turning and what not--?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not an evil personality take over,¡± Calypso banally shot down. ¡°The two fucked-up halves make a terrible whole, trust me¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡ªAnd I do! But you definitely let things loose when you¡¯re a monster¡­ But I kinda saw both sides show up there, during that whole explanation.¡±

    Rubbing at her arm, Calypso hummed in thought. ¡°Well, I guess¡­ It¡¯s less sides and¡­ What¡¯s beneath the surface. You never know what lurks under the surface, really.¡±

    She suddenly stopped. Her eyes widened, looking side to side.

    ¡°You felt that too?¡±

    ¡°A tad, yeah¡ª¡± Gale shivered, looking at Calypso. ¡°Is it the Jaw Guy¡­?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no way¡­¡± Calypso made her voice low. ¡°Regardless if it had hours to fed and power up¡­ It was bravado and honor, it would''ve met us head on or rushed in already. This? This feels¡­ Calculated. Human and clearly not.¡±

    Gale made a noise of worry, getting close to Calypso as a result.

    ¡°And here we thought we were going to be the hunters today¡­¡± Calypso looked about, unable to hide her trembling smile that flashed her fangs. ¡°But we¡¯re the prey, once again.¡±

 Entry 5.2 - Union: The Only Solution

    Every leaf fall, rustle of the grass. Chirping of wildlife, every hint of movement. All of it could mean a predator that could kill the both of them.

    Gale moved behind Calypso, pressing her back against the visibly smaller girl. Calypso couldn¡¯t dwell on that, she looked about her surroundings she couldn¡¯t trust.

    ¡°W-what do you think it is--?¡± Gale sputtered out. ¡°Who it is--?¡±

    Calypso sighed, refraining from closing her eyes, such a habit. ¡°I have a possible inkling. And if it¡¯s the case, which at this point it¡¯s totally her, then we¡¯re absolutely fucked¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­Who else did you piss off, Cal--?¡± Gale ruefully asked.

    ¡°To be fair, we¡¯re too low on the rung to do that, apparently¡­¡± Calypso turned her head, towards what she thought was strange rustling. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you more as we go, it¡¯s a lot to unpack, but there¡¯s a bat-themed Subsumed that¡¯s basically super powerful¡­ I assume, because I certainly ran and did not want to find out.¡±

    ¡°¡­The fact that you ran says, like¡­ Enough,¡± Gale deflated a tad. ¡°I hope that it isn¡¯t her¡ª¡±

    Calypso darted, away from Gale¡ªwhich caused the latter to jump in her skin. Staring at her, on the verge to scream ¡°what the hell¡± before the skeletal monster girl cut in.

    ¡°Either way, we have to keep moving and be on guard. We¡¯re looking for clues for the other Subsumed anyways, and going back to our respective homes is completely out of the question, now¡­ We stay here, until we face either of them.¡±

    ¡°Y-yeah,¡± Gale shook her head before running after her, ¡°Right, right!¡±

    The duo kept an even pace, glancing about from side to side, before looking forward and keeping such. Gale was clearly on edge, her panic etched on her face, brow furrowed to punctuate it. Calypso in turn had her usual smirk, always reflective of her anticipation¡­ But it melted into worry. Every time she wanted to be excited, the memory of her running on sight, because of that woman¡­ Who casually rested her chin on Calypso¡¯s armed shoulder. No threats, no soul-shattering screams to unnerve. But immediately set the tempo that Calypso was forced to follow, right to this second.

    So much so, when Gale suddenly stopped, Calypso snapped into action¡ªher fingers angled to invoke the imagery of her claws.

    ¡°N-no, sorry, sorry,¡± Gale waved her own hands. ¡°I just thought of something¡­¡±

    Calypso sighed, continuing to walk forward, ¡°Well, at least share with the class.¡±

    ¡°Weeeeeell,¡± Gale clasped her hands together. ¡°Maybe this is nothing to you but¡­ Have you turned in the day at all? Because maybe we can just get ready now.¡±

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ¡°¡­I¡¯ve always held myself back, during the day¡­¡± Calypso pondered, looking gobsmacked.

    So she let go. Gave no reason for that cultivated mental block to exist anymore¡ªat the very least at this moment. Calypso felt the surges, her flesh ruffling in stress before suddenly stopping. Letting every primal thought completely flood the brain, promising each and every one that whatever the desire, no matter the cost or ridiculous, she will do all of them.

    And none of that mattered. Calypso Grimes was still Calypso Grimes.

    ¡°¡­Oh no¡ª¡± Calypso muttered.

    Thrusting her hand forward, immediately summoning her Illuminator onto it.

    ¡°Nope, nuh-uh, no way. We are not doing this right now.¡±

    Calypso mustered all the impulsive, intrusive thoughts, she tried again¡ªlooking at her glowing gemstone which screamed out silently with the legion of souls within it¡­

    Nothing.

    ¡°Are you kidding me?!¡± Calypso sounded incredulous.

    ¡°See¡ª¡± Gale gulped a bit before continuing, ¡°I, like¡ªbecause I¡¯ve always transformed at night, and it kinda dawned on me that I never actually did it during the day¡ªlike, there was that threat, yeah? But has it actually happened to any of us--?¡±

    ¡°Considering how the threat was very much real; this makes zero sense!¡± Calypso complained, looking at her so-called soul bounded to her leather glove. ¡°I¡¯ve felt myself slipping and moments from tearing away! And now when I want that, I have--?¡±

    The thought donned on her so hard, the weight was nearly physical, as the bookish girl nearly tripped.

    ¡°¡­Performance anxiety¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh geez, could we not phrase it that way--?¡± Gale muttered. ¡°I mean, it¡¯s natural and fine, but er¡ª¡±

    ¡°All this time blocking it all out until the very last minute taking its toll¡­¡± Calypso reasoned, unable to hear Gale. ¡°Even if we can focus now, our bodies are used to letting it loose during the night, mustering it now is useless because it¡¯s unfamiliar to us¡­ Plus, culture¡ªwith transformation horror movies and books, like were beasts, we¡¯re also conditioned a bit to turn at night because it¡¯s ''always'' at night, or in the ''aid'' of the moon¡ªbut not at all the case for us, at least what I can reason¡­ It makes enough sense to be plausible.¡±

    The rumination made Calypso closed off to the outside world. So when she was yanked away by Gale, she was completely caught off guard.

    As well as the massive object being hurled towards them, crashing near them so hard, the dirt and leaves were tossed up¡ªonce being the very spot they were once inhabiting despite running.

    ¡°JESUS CAL!¡± Gale expressed her worry loudly. ¡°You didn¡¯t hear me, like, the first gillizon times?!¡±

    Calypso blinked at the natural debris that floated in the fall air. ¡°Apparently.¡±

    Gale scrambled back to her feet, marching towards the fresh indent. Purposefully getting in front of the still downed Calypso.

    From the black hair, to the protective intention. The back of the girl¡¯s late best friend flickered in her misty sights for a second, before fading just as quickly as she lived.

    Calypso grumbled again, wiping her eyes with her arm.

    ¡°Caaaal¡­ I think this might be your lady¡­!¡±

    ¡°In the crater?!¡± Calypso quickly got to her feet, rushing toward Gale.

    ¡°N-no¡­¡± Gale pointed to the gnarled corpse of the former Subsumed. ¡°But¡­ That looks¡­ Vampire-y!¡±

    The skeletal monster girl¡¯s eyes studied the body. It was a different creature, not at all the Jaw¡­ A minotaur. Only mummified, face not only contorted by its own muscles shriveled up, but twisted by agony. Its last moments immortalized.

    And on its once broad neck, rested two very distinct puncture wounds. Fresh.

    ¡°We need to figure this mental block out. And fast.¡±

 Missing Entry (#2)

    Sal sat on her bed, her head firmly planted in her hands that trembled ever so often.

    Doing so confirmed her fears. Her cousin she hugged just minutes before, reeked of blood.

    There was nothing Sal could do, was willing to do. But all tangible thought, that wasn¡¯t bursting with dread and confusion, was trying to figure out what to do here. Can she do anything¡­?

    As she parted her fingers, unveiling her gray eyes, Sal started at the ground. She didn¡¯t need to focus on the wooden texture, Sal just needed to something to look at, and let her vision blur.

    The blur forming into memories past.

    Despite being unable to see herself, Sal could remember the exact face she made. Recalling the flailing arms she overperformed, her throat aching due to the sudden uptick of her pitch. She couldn¡¯t believe what Cal did, then.

    ¡°YOU WROTE ¡®NOTHER THINGY FOR US TO PLAY AS?!¡± Sal, the little girl, sounded so aghast.

    It was so interesting, looking back. The obvious changes aside, it really seemed like Calypso virtually never changed.

    Her cousin shrunk at Sal¡¯s volume. Her brown hair in a bowl-cut bob which she got teased over, only because her bangs and fringe were TOO neat. She pressed her papers against her white and polka-dotted blouse, which were 2 pages¡ªsomething Sal back then couldn¡¯t even fathom having more than 1 page of something.

    And of course, Cal¡¯s signature pathetic pout, as if the rest of her face was made to droop around it, help sell it. But at least back then, it was still fresh on her face¡­ And always very questioning. Sad.

    ¡°Y-yeah¡­ You said that you wanted to do it again¡­¡±

    It was back then when Cal could not carry her tone to save her life. It made Sal as a kid constantly scream, just to show her how to be loud (which earned so much ire from all of their parents, of course). Sal didn¡¯t need to see what happened next, because she knew what followed.

    The little girl extending her pinky while curling the rest of the fingers with the thumb cresting against them. And proceeding to dig into her right ear with a rhythmic sense to it.

    ¡°Gee, God must¡¯ve turn down my volume¡­¡± Sal proceeded to take a slow inhale, before shouting. ¡°¡¯CUZ I COULDN¡¯T HEAR A DANG WORD YA¡¯ SAYIN¡¯, CAL!¡±

    Cal immediately threw her head back and groaned as hard as she could (not a lot). Which always made Sal laugh, it invoked Charlie Brown for her.

    ¡°Only because talking is hard and needing to is hard andIjusdunwannadewit!¡±

    Sal had to stop laughing, to stave off the oncoming meltdown. Once Cal went into ¡®run-on mouth¡¯ mode, there was very little to calm her down aside from herself, until she burned herself out. Which she grew out of, due to her becoming more and more proper and enunciated.

    ¡°Well, ya¡¯ choulda just said dat first~!¡± Sal laughed out, reflecting the same level of quality of speech she has to this day.

    Cal sighed, which also trailed into a whisper. ¡°Okay, okay¡­ It¡¯s just¡­ We had fun yesterday and I couldn¡¯t sleep all that good, sooo¡­¡± She raised up the two papers, the words being so large that Sal could read them from her spot.

    Sal smirked, putting her hands on her hips, ¡°Is¡¯it ¡®Brother n¡¯ Sister¡¯ again~?¡±

    Cal blushed a hair in embarrassment. ¡°Maybe¡­¡±

    Sal laughed once more, putting her hands behind her frizzy blonde and black hair. ¡°Seriously, shouldn¡¯t it be ¡®Sister n¡¯ Sister¡¯ anyways?¡±

    ¡°Well, there¡¯s that show that¡¯s called that¡­¡± Cal sheepishly answered. ¡°So¡­¡±

    ¡°True~!¡±

    ¡°Thaaaat¡­ And well¡­¡±

    Cal also had a pacing problem, Sal took it as her trying to save her writhing, wavering voice.

    ¡°You¡¯re all rough and mean, so you make the perfect brother¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯mma soooo kick your butt¡ª¡± Sal replied, instantly proving Cal¡¯s point.

    They then ran around a bit, within their shared room of their old home. Their beds pressed against the wall opposite across the door, their shattered toys making the wooden floors a minefield. But it was less ¡®theirs¡¯ and more Sal. Cal was always scared to ask her mother for¡­ Anything, really.

    Eventually, they calmed down, and went to play their ¡®hit show¡¯. The cousins loved network television, especially the sitcoms that were targeted for their age and not so. All of this came about because they often shouted out what they would say ¡°in¡± the show. But Cal was really into the idea more than Sal.

    It was nice, seeing her being so involved and¡­ Passionate, for once. If Sal didn¡¯t bug her into moving and speaking, the girl often read alone on her bed, or even worse. It was rare, because maybe the girl knew how odd it was, but Sal caught her just¡­ Huddled up. Staring forward, at nothing. All with such a vacant and crushed look on her face. One time, she even caught her crying to herself. There wasn¡¯t a need to bother her, in that moment.

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    Because Sal herself was too broken up at the sight.

    It was when those thoughts¡ªthe same series of thoughts, flooded in Sal¡¯s mind that brought her back to the present.

    Why is she so sad? Why can¡¯t I ever help her stop being sad?

    ¡­Did she cause any of this, being a bad cousin? Or is none of the goodness can save whatever she caused?

    That¡¯s why this is so personal, why it was always this personal for her. Sal knew that she was the last, genuine connection that poor girl had. No matter how much this hurt, no matter how afraid of whatever this turns out to be this ends up as¡­

    Sal was slouched forward, her arms draped over her exposed legs. But her eyes were fired up, her determined energy brewing in them.

    She got up, reviewing the actual cards she kept to her chest. Sal felt bad, not being totally truthful with her cousin¡ªbut she knew that it was mutual on her part as well.

    The first ¡°thing¡± was, once again, her reeking of blood. Sal flashed back, hugging her sobbing cousin after what she could only imagine was such a harrowing experience¡ªhearing whatever broke into the cattle¡¯s pins, killing that cow¡­ Then, the immediate whiff of rotten iron hit Sal¡¯s nose. She couldn¡¯t stop hugging Cal, breaking away from her in confusion¡­ But that hung over Sal for a number of weeks. And once again, she smelt that terrible stench again.

    The second ¡°thing¡± was unrelated. Sal simply sauntered into Cal¡¯s room, looking for any nice shampoos she could steal since her cousin was very great with her selections and Sal ran out of hers. And once she prowled toward one of her dressers, Sal was pricked by the floor itself, causing her to yelp (and nearly swear up a storm). Looking downward after that sting of pain¡­ The floorboards were ripped up. Almost broken up into pieces, parts of the boards barely clinging on. She couldn¡¯t stare for so long, Sal was sneaking in after all. But that dug a deeper pit in her stomach.

    And the last¡­ See, Sal¡¯s savvy. She knows what she thought next was nebulous, that it was the equivalent of pointing at a guy and going, ¡°I don¡¯t like him, ¡®cuz he has a stupid face!¡±

    But Cal¡¯s demeanor, it¡¯s totally shifted. There was always a sadness, clearly weighing on her. She does not at all like being this way, and it was clear. Now? Mainly her eyes¡­ They only reflect because other people¡¯s do. Cal only emotes because she deems it to do so in the moment, because people look for that. It isn¡¯t just that she¡¯s hiding something¡­

    She¡¯s playing human. Not Cal.

    Everything was interrupted, as Sal yelped out and grabbed her head.

    Not only a stabbing feeling, but it grew outwards from the source of pain. Almost like a web.

    At least it was brief, causing Sal to softly sigh at herself.

    ¡°That¡¯s what happens, when ya¡¯ don¡¯t eat nothin¡¯ Sally¡­¡±

    But there was nothing to it. Sal just shrugged it off and moved along, especially since there was not only schooling later¡ªbut she had to save the soul of her loved one.

    Rising from her bed, as she was getting ready to head off¡­ Sal had to rub her right eye before moving on. Very much. And for a very long time before she walked away.

    ***

    Sal walked out of English with a yawn. Stretching, moving out of the way of the others leaving the class, Sal put her back to the wall, crossing her arms. Waiting.

    ¡°You wanted to see me, Ms. Sal--?¡±

    ¡°IIIII know you¡¯re the formal type, Teach¡­¡± Sal waved her hands. ¡°But Ms. Grimes is nice! It¡¯s all good n¡¯ nobody gotta die of embarrassment--!¡±

    Mrs. Moses chuckled, propped up with her cane. ¡°Considering I have another Ms. Grimes, forgive me for opting for what came easiest to me¡­¡±

    ¡°Of course, of course!¡± Sal smiled, moving from the wall and out of her professor¡¯s way. ¡°N¡¯, can I say? I am a fan of ya¡¯ trying to move without that chair! Warms the heart!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just a game of increasing my endurance¡­¡± Mrs. Moses then grunted out, starting to walk forward periodically. ¡°After all, we have our festive gathering in a few days. A perfect excuse to break this relic out¡­¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t wait to see ya¡¯ there, Teach!¡± Sal followed from the side, easing her usual brisk pace, laughed before her face fell. ¡°But since we were on the same topic¡­ The other ¡®Ms. Grimes¡¯. Calypso.¡±

    ¡°Be mindful that I cannot tell you her academic standing, as you are not her legal guardian,¡± Mrs. Moses hid her sternness under a thin veneer of tease.

    ¡°We both know there ain¡¯t no problems with that,¡± Sal rolled her eyes, at least not at her professor.

    But the instant fall of silence over the scene caused Sal to briefly second guess that assumption.

    ¡°A-anyways, uh¡­ Is she¡ªhas she been actin¡¯ strange lately¡­? Alienated the class? Alienated you¡­?¡±

    ¡°Nothing troubling, no. At least from my perspective, but then again, it¡¯s not like she¡¯s the most talkative sort.¡±

    Sal bit her lip, hemming and hawing to herself.

    ¡°If you do have concerns about her welfare, should I suppose a conference with the Dean? With your parents in tow?¡±

    Sal quickly tugged her snapback hat down, ¡°See, that¡¯s¡­ That¡¯s a last resort sorta thang. I think I can handle it n¡¯ that sorta thing¡­ It¡¯s¡­¡±

    The tan girl looked downwards, at her dirtied white sneakers. ¡°She¡¯s my cousin. Not some inmate.¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡¯ll say this.¡±

    Sal perked up, looking at her professor.

    ¡°She has gone through a large amount of trauma lately. We know so little about the inner workings of our minds, and I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll truly learn anything¡­ But that doesn¡¯t go away, Ms. Grimes. Calypso will be irreversibly changed by this, and can we blame her? I¡¯ve seen a lot in this world, and had I gone through the same ordeal as her? I would be worse, in some respects.¡±

    That gave Sal pause, suddenly stopping for a moment before regaining her footing after. ¡°Man.¡±

    ¡°However.¡±

    ¡°H-however--?¡±

    ¡°Leaving her to her devices and doing nothing, that¡¯s not support either. If anything, it¡¯s the worst thing you could do for her. Sometimes, this trauma¡­ It does drive people to become a danger to themselves and others. Keep in mind, mental trauma does not always correlate with violent individuals. But if you suspect Calypso is doing something dangerous, for her and others, you have to notify adults, to save her.¡±

    Sal gripped the sides of her head, wearing a tired expression on her face. ¡°You just. Told me two different, conflictin¡¯ things to do¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just supplying you with the relevant knowledge that you seek,¡± Mrs. Moses looked at her student with her stoic face. ¡°But, I will keep an eye on the girl if you want me to. Maybe that will inform your ultimate choice. But always remember, at the core of this, you have to support her. And support does not necessarily mean coddle.¡±

    Thankfully Sal was already clutching her head, because the pain immediately shot her down, causing her to yell out, falling onto one knee.

    Mrs. Moses tossed her cane to the side without a second thought, bending down to help her student, ¡°Sal, Sally! Are you okay?!¡±

    While her legs wavered, Mrs. Moses lifted up Sal, groaning softly in pain as she completely put her on her feet again. Sal, in turn, gathered her bearings to let her professor lean against her as she softly huffed in pain.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, I¡¯m fine!¡± Sal put on her smile, nodding. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, just a really bad headache. Prolly from all this stress, huh?¡±

    But the last thing Sal wanted to see at that moment, happened as she traded a look with Mrs. Moses.

    Eyes that only reflect because hers did. Hiding behind an expression she gave, only because Sal expected to see such.

    ¡°Regardless. Please, for me, go to the nurse. Just in case.¡±

    Sal couldn¡¯t see what her professor broke her fa?ade over. But that was natural, as the girl couldn¡¯t see from the third person.

    Black, tendril-like veins were arching across Sal¡¯s right eye. And almost as if they were caught mid-action, they quickly retreated back behind said eye.

    ¡°I think we both should go, honestly,¡± Sal none the wiser. ¡°I¡¯ll get yer cane and we¡¯ll be bunk buddies~!¡±

 Entry 5.3 (1/2) - Union: The Only Solution

    As Calypso gripped Gale¡¯s wrist, ushering through this forest she had no idea to navigate, she bargained with her inner darkness that was always accessed a little too well. Now completely locked out of such.

    Tell me why¡­ Please¡­

    Calypso flexed her fingers as she ran with Gale, looking forward before looking down at such. Curling her fingers, balling them into a fist until it ached.

    But she knew that it wasn¡¯t the response she wanted.

    This is regular pain! This isn¡¯t you reaching out to me! You dominate my life, you force me into a roundabout way of cannibalism¡ªyou can¡¯t just leave me dry all of a sudden! At least tell me why!

    Calypso didn¡¯t even know where they were running to. For all the months of adjusting to this rundown, literally cursed town¡ªCalypso never bothered to learn the map, or landmarks. All this was to her was a vast forest in its autumn twilight death throughs. Thin, twisting pine trees littered across rough planes covered in dead leaves, moss, and patchy grass. And across this fall-colored foliage, the lowering sunlight reflecting against the surfaces so harshly that the area became gold¡ªwere slopes, hills, with only moderate reprieves in climbing up them into flat ground. Only to find themselves sliding down and doing the action again and again.

    ¡­I keep fucking up¡­

    Calypso glanced at her hand, now covered in her crimson vitality. Her nails stabbed repeatedly into her palm, spreading these fingers as the strings broke off, slapping against them.

    Why do I keep assuming I have this handled? I lose myself in the liberation and not once have I taken a day, research, test whatever limits I have here. And yet I just moaned about commitment¡­? Groundling until the end. Groundling that has no idea where she¡¯s going and closes herself off¡­

    She felt the stare of Gale, making her trade looks with the concerned girl. Calypso didn¡¯t need to figure out that she was worried at the sight of her hand, no matter the fact that it¡¯s healed by now.

    It was reflex, Calypso snapping her head away from anyone that wasn¡¯t ¡°her¡±. But it made the nagging rumbling within her mind, her flaws weighing down on her conscience. If this was going to work, admonishment wasn¡¯t enough¡­

    That dreaded first step, had to follow after.

    ¡°¡­Gale, tell me¡ª¡± Calypso panted out, adding to the struggle. ¡°¡ªThat bathroom, or any landmarks like it, can you tell me where it is or anything near that?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re coming up on that soon¡ªthen go left!¡±

    ¡°Thank you¡ªnow hold on and book it!¡±

    The duo¡¯s shared footfalls grew heavier, kicking up the leaves that went to up to their respective ankles. Calypso¡¯s legs feeling the too familiar spikes of pains as she mounts against a hill.

    But the crumbling of leaves didn¡¯t hide the sudden sounds Calypso heard all around her.

    Her paranoia being added upon as she watched the branches above shook, and it couldn¡¯t have been reaction to the wind. The chill behind her neck, knowing she was being watched as Calypso stared opposite of such.

    But as she saw the ¡°shack¡± made of brick appeared outside of her peripheral vision, Calypso yanked Gale toward and helped the girl towards the location.

    ¡°Okay, we¡¯re here¡­ Kinda weird to take a break now of all times, but when you gotta go¡ª¡± Gale tried to catch her breath.

    Calypso shook her head, ¡°I¡¯m directing our hunter towards the fun¡­¡±

    She then pointed beyond them, ¡°Hopefully around there, however near¡ªif we find that arena, maybe the Terrortide-ers can help us again.¡±

    ¡°You think they¡¯re gonna fight what is, like, basically them-on-steroids?!¡± Gale rightfully questioned Calypso¡¯s logic.

    ¡°They turned on their own when it tried to interrupt whatever this nonsense is,¡± Calypso felt the flimsy nature of that sentence, that line of reasoning, before she could complete the thought. ¡°Maybe the same can happen here¡ªwhich yes, I know it¡¯s reaching. But we have the three options¡ªdo this, face the music and hope to God that our powers kick in¡ª¡±

    ¡°Th-that¡¯s a very small chance¡ª"

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s a very small chance¡ª¡± Calypso then continued, ¡°Or, we hide out and play a rousing game of ¡®Hide And Not Die Until It Turns 5 or So.¡¯¡±

    Gale shot her hand down her pockets, her baggy pants rippling as she rustled and pulled out her phone. As soon as she flipped it opened, the calm girl broke down into a fit of nervous, rictus laughter.

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    ¡°It only just turned 1, man,¡± Gale¡¯s voice barely carried under the strain, still laughing.

    Calypso cupped her ear with her hand, trying desperately to hear what came so easily last night. Only nothing detected, nothing to show for it, as she huffed in frustration.

    But then she remembered. Last night.

    Calypso walked forward, looking about at the ground, before calling out to a confused Gale:

    ¡°Look for my tracks! My scratch-marks¡ªthey can¡¯t be fresh, but there should be signs! That¡¯ll lead us to it!¡±

    Gale exclaimed out in excitement and respect, from behind Calypso, ¡°So smaaaaart!¡±

    Before the tension took the girl again, as Calypso couldn¡¯t help but quickly scan her surroundings, Gale¡¯s voice startled her out of this paranoia.

    ¡°Over here, Cal! They¡¯re still on the trees, follow the trees this way!¡±

    Calypso immediately turned on her heels, dashing towards Gale while motioning her hands at her, telling her to just keep moving, which she did.

    Gale was true to her word, the trees Calypso scaled had her claw markings spattered about, some even bending slightly due to her jumping from each one to the next. It was looking to the trees, then periodically to the skies, during these pivotal moments¡ªuntil the duo found a very noticeable impact on the soil before them.

    The created trail, which was simply kicked up dirt, gashed tree trunks, and a sizable stationary hole, was their only guide, only help right now. What struck Calypso the most about this entire thing, aside from the obvious frustrations, was the fact this was a simple day. The sun was out, nothing about the skies got in the way of that¡­ And it¡¯s like they¡¯re being chased in the pitch dark.

    But once her eyes caught it, once the sullen girl allowed herself to smile again, Calypso found the whirling, tangible darkness they sought after¡ªalong with the instant comfort.

    ¡°TERRORTIDE. TERRORTIDE. TERRORTIDE¡ª¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re screaming it now, Cal, man. I do not want at all¡ª¡± Gale mewled out, with so little breath.

    ¡°Beggars can¡¯t be choosers, remember?¡± Calypso pushed, rushing into the horrible arena¡¯s entrance.

    Once she entered the halls, Calypso was yanked forward¡ªagainst her will. It was like the darkness itself grappled her body, and the halls jerked her throughout the hollow walls. But in her racing mind, she knew how ¡°hollow¡± these walls were.

    Her vision was returned to her, as she was flung onto the ground. Even that, it felt like she fell into a hole, a well that was multiple feet deep, in a few second slam. It was like Calypso¡¯s heart dropped, her brain spinning within the skull¡­

    Soon as the ringing ceased in her ears, the shouting quelled Calypso, as she rose to her feet. It was so odd, something like this giving her hope, when an experience like this shook her not months before.

    She was in the epicenter, in this twisted spotlight. The arena was practically a bowl at this point, the walls too high, too detailed with the limbs of the onlookers. Shadow beings, lurching forward and waving within the now tainted wind.

    ¡°Hark¡­!¡± Calypso rose her arms at the crowd. ¡°My¡­ F-fellow monsters¡­!¡±

    Calypso cringed, and then was startled by the sudden screams of Gale arriving, hitting the ground. Thankfully, Gale eked out a cry of pain to confirm she was alive, and Calypso bent down to help her to stand.

    ¡°If I could earn your audience¡­¡± Calypso continued, Gale¡¯s arm slung over her shoulders. ¡°There is a rogue number from your cattle! That may interfere with your treasured time¡­! She¡¯s coming this way, and we need your¡ª¡±

    And the shouts grew louder, screeching into Calypso¡¯s head. She growled, she felt what should have been the final step in letting go and transforming, but all she felt the snapback. Powerlessness.

    ¡°They¡¯re not even looking at us¡­¡±

    Calypso looked at Gale, a mix between bewildered and enraged. But she followed the movement of Gale¡¯s arm from the side of her vision, Calypso following the point that proved her point.

    All they did, was look up. Into the skies, chanting ¡°Terrortide¡±. It was almost like there was no autonomy anymore, it was given up willingly.

    How can this vengeful, selfish, egotistical and opportunistic race do such a thing to themselves? The question, this situation, everything¡ªit was the final irk that made Calypso explode.

    ¡°The hell are you pieces of shit looking at¡ªlooking for---anyways--?!¡±

    She shouldn¡¯t have looked up at the skies. Calypso immediately shifted into fear.

    Terror.

    Blood red runes of floating text ripped through what should have been a clear, sunny day. Bands of heavy aurora¡­ Weaving, outright probing into the very fabric of the blue skies happened before the audience of the area. It was certainly language, it had structure¡ªthey formed into glyphs that could be understood as a set of symbols even if one can¡¯t read them¡­ But it was scratch, trying to masquerade as purpose. The very fact that the mess they saw above could count as written word is defamation of the practice at large and its progress.

    Calypso regretted coming here, regretted seeing this. But most importantly, she regretted the few seconds she was allowed to act within.

    The text lanced forward, but it wasn¡¯t precise¡­ It was an Act of God in the sense it was a massive lightning bolt, of course it can¡¯t ¡°aim¡± at you, you just happened to be in the way of it at the worst place, at the worst time.

    Calypso immediately tossed Gale aside, as far as she was able to. She braced for any pain or death process that was going to ensue, but at least it was her this time.

    The runes hit directly into the silly girl¡¯s shoulder, causing Calypso to be forced down onto her back and slid across the ground as the arch continued to crave up and into her. It was milliseconds, but she moved her head to the left enough to evade the ¡°bolt¡± destroying the right side of her face as well. Still getting the intense rumbling that busted her eardrum, however.

    It was chilling, how after losing her sense of hearing despite how ¡°brief¡± it was, that Calypso heard the runes scream. And yell. And cry. And laugh. Finally gibber in insanity. All at once, yet bled from one end of the spectrum, to the other.

    Calypso couldn¡¯t feel it, her arm anymore. There was the very human instinct in grabbing it, feeling it¡­ And yet. She could not physically feel such either.

    From all the blaring, primal fear reactions that her mind unleashed¡­ A very new, yet oh so familiar, feeling of dread stood out from the others.

    ¡°CALYPSO! CALYPSO, ARE YOU--!?¡± Gale wasted no time in rushing over to the downed girl.

    Only for Calypso to feebly raise her human hand up at her, pleading to her to stop in her tracks.

    ¡°G-gale,¡± Calypso croaked out, using such a small voice that she never had to use again. ¡°Run¡ª¡±

    It meant precious little, as the Grim Consumed arm reached out manically for Gale. Her Grim''s arm.

 Entry 5.3 (2/2) - Union: The Only Solution

    All of this was such a terrible setback, plunging Calypso back right to square one.

    A maimed girl, being used as a skinsuit.

    Calypso didn¡¯t know what happened. Was her arm blasted off? Ripped open, letting this beast out of her? It didn¡¯t matter¡ªas the Grim Consumed¡¯s arm was practically swiping at Gale.

    Moss-covered, decaying bones. Sharp bone claws that were an inch too long. And whatever black ¡°flesh¡± that hung from this structure, it didn¡¯t get in the way of the nimble speed it contorted itself forward.

    Her body was like a ragdoll, the Grim¡¯s arm propped her from the ground with its manic energy, and her back was beginning to ache due to being repeatedly slamming down. It was insanity, because it wasn¡¯t like Calypso¡¯s energy, being taken¡ªbeing used against her will. She could not feel what was once her arm, there was nothing there. This frantic motion, and the energy behind it, came from another place.

    Gale was shouting by the wayside, hunched over in worry. Calypso couldn¡¯t hear her, what she¡¯s screaming from the depths of her lungs, because the chanting reached fever pitch all around them. While it wasn¡¯t a mystery, what they were chanting, but it became so loud that the phrase wasn¡¯t a phrase anymore¡ªit was just noise.

    But that was the least of Calypso¡¯s problems right now.

    With a squeeze of both eyes, Gale raced over with outstretched arms, towards the downed girl. Right into the monster¡¯s claws, if not for a few seconds more.

    She wanted to yell at her, wanted to use her legs to kick the girl square in the stomach for doing such a dumb move. But Calypso knew more than anything that one cannot waste any moment in these situations, and motioned to wrangle the Grim¡¯s arm with her only one.

    So what happened a second later, caused Calypso¡¯s eyes to widen.

    The girl¡ªshe gained control of the Grim Consumed¡¯s arm. It wasn¡¯t perfect, it wasn¡¯t exactly control, but it started to physically stutter, twitch in place. And Calypso could feel the ¡°fight back¡±, her struggling ricocheting within this monster¡¯s flesh.

    Calypso snapped her head back at Gale, producing so much of her concerned anguish that it rocked the throat that came out of it. Practically screeching at Gale to keep back, but it fell short. Even at max volume, without the cacophony of zeal surrounding them, Calypso¡¯s voice always fell short compared to normal humans. It didn¡¯t matter, she continued to try¡ªward away someone that¡ª

    The Grim¡¯s arm interrupted Calypso¡¯s line of thought, as it flung itself and gripped onto the poor girl¡¯s bulging throat. And began to squeeze, and squeeze.

    The poor girl¡¯s eyes watered, drowning her vision. It was Calypso¡¯s turn for her muscles involuntarily twitch, scrapping the back of her head as her back arched until it stiffened. Her pain, her senses slowly began to dull, as she felt the pressure swell against her neck.

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    She couldn¡¯t see well anymore, but Calypso was certain. The looming shadow only confirmed it, as her neck started to fell a pull against the push. Gale had to come over, and is feebly trying to save her life.

    There was also¡­Something wet trailing down? It took Calypso to realize¡­ Oh right, the monster also had claws, versus fingers¡­ So not only being choked to death, but being sliced open at the same time.

    Maybe it was the lightheadedness. But Calypso drifted into her stray thoughts, the only things she could control¡­ Hold onto... Probably the only stable source of comfort that wasn¡¯t Alice, Sal¡­ Her father¡­ And they greeted her as a friend¡­

    Calypso¡­ Calypso ruminated¡­ This was always¡­ The danger of it all. Now she¡¯s facing it, dealing with it¡­ And yet she didn¡¯t properly pay for this. She didn¡¯t commit, as hard as this punishment warranted. All she did was wave the gun around and shot at a tree. Now a senior gangster is blowing her away. She could¡¯ve done more¡­

    ¡­ She would have done more.

    In turn, Calypso¡¯s inner darkness flared up in response.

    All at once. She gasped out to taste that sweet air, her ears tuned at Gale¡¯s shrill and panicked cries as she tugged her hand away. Her vision focused to see the red-blue skies¡­

    Calypso was pulled into a grapple, Gale hugging her tight while holding the back of her head.

    ¡°Oh my god, oh my fucking god¡ª¡± Gale had trouble forming the words. ¡°Oh my god, Cal, it¡¯s over, thank Christ it¡¯s over¡ª¡±

    Gale shifted her hold over the recovering girl, now cradling Calypso in her arms as she looked down upon her.

    Her expression said it all, as it immediately tensed in shock.

    Calypso felt she couldn¡¯t talk yet. So she did what she thought was the next best thing. Taking her finger, dragging the two against the neck, then looking at them. Red, if not crimson already.

    Before taking a short inhale through the nose, using the ring finger of the same hand, directly dabbing it against the still fresh wound, feeling it close in real-time before moving it away.

    Black.

    And not only that, her fingers were not fingers anymore. But not exactly the claws she wanted¡ªneeded, either. An odd fusion that was incredibly unsightly, but something that was very familiar to her. Exaggerated ¡°prongs¡± that thinned themselves sharper as they stretched onward.

    Flashes of recognition, the odd moments Calypso wrote off before. Her looking at her ¡°hand¡± during the first Sal confrontation, when she knew she was losing herself.

    ¡°M-my face, Gale¡­ What does it look like¡­?¡±

    ¡°Scary. Super scary a-and like¡­ Stuck. Like, stuck in-between.¡±

    And just to be sure, to confirm her running hypothesis, Calypso gestured with her left ¡°prongs¡± and the familiar flash appeared.

    Unveiling her Illuminator was completely fused within her skin, deep inside with the flesh surrounding it submerging such in a bulbous ring.

    ¡°An in-between state then¡­¡± Calypso sighed, feeling her twisted features not budge against the motion. ¡°I¡¯ve been this way before, and it usually signaled the start of the transformation¡­ Ah well. This is honestly better than what was a few seconds ago¡­¡±

    A large rumbling put an end to that vain hope.

    ¡°I really need to stop talking.¡±

    Calypso glanced over, towards the new problem¡­ Only to realize in a startle that morphed into pained sorrow, that it was only the old one merely presented in a new way.

    Now it had legs that was a mix between insectoid and an elephant¡¯s. Avian wings that folded against a hide that belonged to a deep sea creature. The serpentine body perched and merged with all of that. But it was more or less ¡°accents¡±, to make the somehow larger jaw more pronounced.

    ¡°And just¡­ As I thought my day was fortuitous to me enough¡­ Clearly, this is a gift from Providence.¡±

 Entry 5.4 - Union: The Only Solution

    The walls were somehow miles high, or had the weight of such a structure. Shadow monsters sat together, side by side, filled nearly every seat that was fashioned out of their flesh. So, it stood to reason, that with all of these elements together¡ªit would be near-impossible for this place to be silent.

    But the appearance of the Jaw Subsumed in its new hide, hushed the crowd and made their collective anticipation palpable. Though, it was hard to call what was before Calypso and Gale a mere ¡°Jaw¡± anymore.

    ¡°Cal¡ªdo we run now or--?¡± Gale asked the in-between girl before her, that was the only line of defense for the still-human.

    Calypso growled lowly, gnashing her two rows of teeth. Not exactly the fangs trying to push out the human teeth, but pushing against each other, paused in the process of merging.

    Making Calypso notice that the ¡°Jaw¡± Subsumed was just standing there. Panting through it¡¯s new, glistening canine snout.

    The girl¡¯s black eyes glanced back at the crowd, then back at it. Maybe there was a connection.

    ¡°For a spirit of vengeance or whatever you¡¯ve called yourself¡­¡± Calypso mustered a cocky smirk, her large and the only neatly manifested fang pointing out of it. ¡°You¡¯re oddly calm about all this. What are you waiting for? Rip us limb from limb.¡±

    The Jaw laughed gutturally. It¡¯s elongated, serpentine head rocked on its bullish build that went through a gradient into the form of a massive eel¡¯s tail. Its wings fluttered against the bovine¡¯s sides, the cricket legs folded into each other creaked and the elephant¡¯s feet becoming firm into the arena.

    ¡°Oh no¡­¡± the ¡°Jaw¡± Subsumed mocked, its former namesake was so jutted outwards that Calypso felt that they were on the verge of tearing out. ¡°I shall. But this is honor, after all. You have to face me, first.¡±

    The monster girl noticed that the dreg¡¯s speech patterns were much clearer. The suicidal confidence had foundation to it in this tense moment.

    She had to play along. For their sakes.

    ¡°Face you?¡± Calypso constantly looked about her surroundings. ¡°Battle you, then¡ªfor the honor of your fallen, to be clear?¡±

    ¡°The very same. Now rise to your feet, halfling vermin.¡±

    ¡°And you¡¯re not one yourself? Look at you¡­ You¡¯re everything and the kitchen sink now. Where¡¯s the purity in that?¡±

    ¡°Because I am ideal¡­¡± the ¡°Jaw¡± slobbered. ¡°I stand where my brethren sit and gawk. I¡¯m using the gifts that they¡¯ve thrown away. I have become the ultimate, the highest of breed. With the achievement of Chimera, I will end this bootless charade.¡±

    During her searching with the time she bought, Calypso¡¯s void eyes looked at the audience, still quiet. The skies still brimming with the red runes above, like unnatural lightning. And Gale still in the middle of all of this, still human and sweating up a storm.

    None of this could do. But she had to make a choice.

    ¡°Gale, cover me¡­¡±

    Gale stumbled over her words for a moment, ¡°C-cover--?¡±

    ¡°Look towards the skies and look around the area¡­¡± Calypso planted her prongs on the ground, shifting into a track runner¡¯s stance. ¡°Go to the entryway, but not too far and be ready for anything¡ª¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t know if you can fight like this, do we?!¡±

    ¡°Usually works when they¡¯re surprised, I have to admit¡­ But I have healing on my side, at the very least. I have my head. And to be frank, we don¡¯t have too many options¡ªif this thing wants an honor fight, I¡¯ll give it what it wants.¡±

    ¡°There has to be more that I can--¡±

    ¡°You arguing is wasting time. As much as I want to test a theory by making it wait, but we can¡¯t afford anymore screw ups.¡±

    There was a flash of brilliance in the monster girl¡¯s eyes. Her expression shifting to steely, quizzical pondering.

    ¡°If I may be so bold¡ªand yes, I¡¯ve had been in every encounter we¡¯ve had¡­ Spare the girl? Since this is between you and I? After all¡­ Isn¡¯t this what this was about, hm? The ones we love¡­?¡±

    The Jaw Subsumed¡¯s fangs practically twitched into a tightened grimace. There was no need for eyes, cheek bones, facial muscles. What it felt then was not only clear, but could be tasted in the air.

    ¡°Fine, you manipulative, halfling witch.¡±

    Calypso cocked her head. ¡°You heard it. Now go, Gale. Please.¡±

    Calypso heard a very supple, but curt ¡°damn it¡­¡± in her ears, before hearing her footfalls linger away. But she was faced with her enemy, never turning away not once.

    She never got why, and how, she gets so eerily calm in the face of these battles. Calypso enjoys it, but only when she knows that she¡¯s powerful, when she had every reason to be terrified. But once those pins and needles bore themselves from the inside and out, that lingering ache¡­ It felt so good. She felt glad that something so potent could exist within her in the first place.

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    This was the challenge Calypso yearned for.

    ¡°Now then, Jaw Subsumed¡­ Or ¡®Chimera Jaw¡¯?¡± Calypso slowly rose to her feet, raising her prongs up. ¡°Come avenge someone that barely mattered as food, to me.¡±

    All she heard was roar of righteous pain, and couldn¡¯t fathom anything else.

    The Chimera-Jaw Subsumed rushed forward, but that wasn¡¯t exactly it. To Calypso¡¯s strong but ultimately untrained eye, the being just turned into a black blur, practically twisting into streaks.

    Before she knew it, a massive jaw crushed her shoulder, punctured the back of her ribcage, and broke her arm in half. And for good measure, thrusted into the air while tightening its hold.

    Calypso shrieked out in this immense pain, trailing off into a monstrous cry. Gritting her fangs, somehow enduring the pain only because she can feel the wounds seizing up, Calypso slammed her prongs against the beast¡¯s hide, raking them against the surface.

    Only for every single digit to break, one by one, as Calypso tried to gash this beast.

    Her efforts amounting to white lines against its skin.

    ¡°¡ªIerm¡ªThis¡ªVery problematic¡­!¡± Calypso growled out in continued misery.

    The monster girl proceeded to fire off a series of knee-led kicks, right into the underbelly of the beast. She felt in real time, her knee caving in, not even the sharp bits of the shattered bone not at all making a dent into this titanium hide. No matter what she did, Calypso still had not established her tempo in this bout, this beast continued to drive it further. The only one between the two, that was moving.

    Calypso was whipped back down into the ground, as the beast flicked the head towards its side and to the back.

    Now laying within her crash site, all Calypso could do in this moment was position herself¡ªSo that her altered body can snap back into place. Bones that should have been shattered beyond repair, crippling for life, healed over within seconds of each other. A grievously damaged leg was good as new, just after destroying it moments ago.

    Good thing as well, as Calypso was able to jumped away, the beast became a blur again. At least this time, she could¡¯ve seen something coming.

    Throwing a grizzled huff out of her throat, Calypso sprung into action, but kept her distance. Using her newly gifted speeds, she circled the beast as it laid in the crater it fashioned.

    She was using this momentary lapse to actually see the damn thing. Using her sharp eyesight to study this beast, to figure out what weakness it was hiding--to figure out something she was missing. But all she could gleam was how much of a mismatch this existence was, truly as if a human went mad and took various body parts of their fellow man and grafted it on themselves. There should be rejection, all of this fighting against it¡­

    All Calypso could see, was an assured predator chuckling to itself. Waiting for her to make a move.

    Or a better one than this.

    ¡°¡­My own medicine sucks,¡± Calypso shook her head, looking around, taking stock again.

    Once again. What was once a rowdy crowd was waiting for a pin to drop. The skies that tried to strike her down was not exactly calmed, but was buzzing about contained.

    And looking near the entrance, Gale was holding her forehead. Glancing down at her phone, then looking at Calypso with such panicked, wet eyes.

    The sight caused Calypso to bound forward, leaning into trajectory like an arrow. Her in-between status locked her entire frame into a suitable primal stance. A build that brings out speed, sharpness, and ferocity.

    Almost akin to a cheetah latching onto a gazelle, Calypso landed on the hide once more.

    She swiped in a cross formation. She tried overhand and then raking down, undercutting upwards. Struck with two prongs on each ¡°hand¡±, pressed together, to drive them deep into what should be simple flesh.

    All of that resulted in slight scuffs.

    There was nothing to it, Calypso opened her mouth wide¡ªdoing the action reminding her that it isn¡¯t her maw that could expand further. But she arched her head downwards.

    Only for her fangs to slide right off, forcing the girl right on her back. As if her prongs anchoring her did not matter at all. In any fashion.

    Calypso cursed herself in that moment, as she looked down to see her hands rendered into nubs.

    It was strange. She was the best of both worlds, she knew that she was strong and nimble and virtually ¡°unkillable¡±. But that was not true in the slightest, and Calypso did not feel that more than right now. The pain was incredibly different, it lingered and her body didn¡¯t reward her for it. She¡¯s healing quick, but¡­ It was recreating an inferior body that wasn¡¯t meant to be used. Merely pass through, get by, preparation for the actual transformation. This mode was only needed for cutting or running.

    Calypso needed to do both right now.

    ¡°GALE, STAY THERE¡ªWE¡¯RE LEAVING!¡±

    Jumping backwards, out of the crater, Calypso squat downwards before leaping straight into the air.

    Slamming down next to Gale, seeing the girl leap in her own skin when she did, Calypso looked behind her. To see the beast ¡°staring¡± up at her, still within the crater, radiating such cocksure energy.

    Her prongs became fully formed again, so the monster girl scooped Gale into her hold quickly. Shuffling backwards, then running to regain that ground, before bounding forward for what hopefully would be the final time.

    She too Gale¡¯s shouts that were directly in her ears, took her nails digging into her due to clutching so tightly. But Calypso wasn¡¯t there, she was too deep in her mind. Badgering herself, about never coming to Mrs. Moses for advice and knowledge, never testing out her transformation capabilities. All she did was having ¡°fun¡±, when she was but an engorged fish in a puddle, splashing in her squalor.

    Only to snap out of that. Sensing something watching her. But it wasn¡¯t just¡ªwasn¡¯t the same ¡°energy¡± as the previous presence, but there was two of them.

    Her eyes trained downward, as she was still within her arch of the jump. Easily scaling over the area, but that didn¡¯t matter anymore.

    The pair was looking up at them. They dressed as New England settlers¡ªin black cowlings that covered everything on the top of their bodies sans the eyes. They sported white, long gloves and boots, which stopped at the elbows and knees respectively with a coiled, thick band that was a shade darker. They wore tattered, silver rags that hung yet complimented with the flowing cowls, as if they were peasants for hire¡ªpilgrims that barely made it to the new world.

    It wasn¡¯t that they were suddenly here, it wasn¡¯t how eerie they looked. Calypso did not like the fact that they felt like they knew what they were doing and knew exactly what she and Gale were.

    ¡°What is it¡ªwith this fucking to--?!¡± Calypso couldn¡¯t get the words out.

    Because the roar of the Chimera-Jaw Subsumed cut everything off.

    Calypso looked behind herself, to find the beast was using its wings to glide. And it was gaining far too quickly.

    But the monster girl at least had the one gambit left.

    She kicked, she kicked at the air until she felt the wide, massive, tombstone sized maw of her predator. And used everything in her current power to use them as a springboard.

    Calypso didn¡¯t have long, she became an arrow within the air again¡ªnow with precious cargo. Adjusting quickly, Calypso had her back towards the incoming ground, her turn to clutch Gale tight.

    Within moments, her back was creating a deepening straight line in the ground, pulling the soil at the sides of her impact impression until she hit a fairly rooted tree. Smashing her altered skull with a sharp thud.

    ***

 Entry 5.5 - Union: The Only Solution

    Calypso jerked herself awake, immediately looking down at the state of her hands. She took comfort, in the fact that they were still twisted, still mangled by dark forces. She then angled her left palm outwards, using such to feel up her face¡ªher features still sharp and stretched into malice. Her dark eyes easing close in relief, free of the stress even if it¡¯s a moment.

    Shooting open, when Calypso realized that she was underground.

    ¡°Heeey, Cal¡­¡±

    Calypso saw Gale, a few feet away from her, curled up against the ¡°wall¡±. Her arms draped over her perched knees, an earbud dangling from the other hand with her iPod against her side.

    That should¡¯ve been normal. But Gale was covered in mud and blood.

    The wary girl raised her hand, for a wave. Unveiling the various self-inflicted scars that painted red across her palm and fingers.

    ¡°You were out and I was alone¡­ Had to carry you to run away from the monster¡ªlanded so hard that the dirt knocked us down. I had to scramble away, I tried turning¡­ So freaking useless. All I could was hope that some of my powers worked despite being human now. So I did.¡±

    Calypso looked about. The surroundings were a mixture of dirt, roots¡ªall creating this small cavern with a sensibilities of a ditch, only one that had steeply formed downwards and towards the right.

    ¡°Usually, y¡¯know, like¡­¡± Gale watched her ruined hand turn slowly, working the courage to flex her digits, before stiffening in pain. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ When I¡¯m gooey, yeah? I pour it from my hands and I ask the Earth to help me out¡­ It took a lot of beginning, this time. And a lotta tries.¡±

    Calypso¡¯s lips pursed. She knew that her new face fought against showing such ¡°weakness¡±, but she did not care.

    ¡°Is your healing¡­ Not as fast¡­?¡± Calypso moved closer, offering her prong-hand to hold her¡­ Friend¡¯s. To hold her poor friend¡¯s hand.

    Gale practically teared up at the gesture. And handed herself without a second thought.

    ¡°I guess so, yeah. But I¡¯ll be fine¡­ After all, I finally did something, y¡¯know? Useful for once¡­¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve put up with not only my terrible inexperience, but me as a person. You are furthest from the word, Gale¡­¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t feel that way¡­¡± Gale grunted with her teeth fully bared, as she reached behind herself. Slowly showing her open phone. ¡°3:45, by the by¡­¡±

    Calypso lowered her head into her palm, letting out a mournful sigh.

    Gale arched her head upward, planting it against the dirt wall, ¡°How is this harder than the monster-eating-our-souls fight¡­?¡±

    ¡°They weren¡¯t ¡®Chimeras¡¯, apparently.¡±

    Gale did something between a chuckle and a whine. ¡°I still remember, like¡­ Being torn apart. I barely made it, man¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure it¡¯s something to forget, being far. A constant reminder, in every sense of the word¡­¡±

    Once that thought left her mouth, there was something about it that was stuck in Calypso¡¯s mind. It was her mentally¡­ Not exactly wrestling with such, but letting it rustle within her mind that¡­

    Calypso¡¯s dark eyes lit up with realization. ¡°¡­ That¡¯s a good point, Gale. We did take on the Subsumed while being human.¡±

    ¡°I mean¡­¡± Gale looked at her scary friend. ¡°It boiled down to luck, right? Otherwise, this shouldn¡¯t be a tough one¡­¡±

    ¡°Exactly that, Gale. We had so little during that impossible situation¡ªand we managed to win. If that, if we consider that the baseline¡­ Then we can surely beat this thing, at the very least.¡±

    ¡°Well¡ª¡± Gale sucked air through her teeth. ¡°¡ªThe original guy we went after? Yeah. The vampire lady you ticked off¡ªand the guys who are really into Thanksgiving? Iunno about that¡­¡±

    ¡°At the very least¡­¡± Calypso jumped, at the sight of the two prongs from her hands arched up at her face. She forgot they aren¡¯t her index finger and thumb, she can¡¯t stroke her chin, as she gathered back her thoughts. ¡°At the very least¡ªif we can take down the Chimera¡­ That¡¯s an amalgamation of Subsumed, maybe consuming it not only saves us a night, but also speeds along the transformation blockage. Not only our easiest option, but the most beneficial.¡±

    Gale pondered. Her face was so easy to read, due to how innocent it rested. She reached down to her mp3 player, pressing the click-wheel to stop the song. ¡°Well¡­ What did we do that made us win, back then? I don¡¯t know about you, but¡­ I ran and bought time, man.¡±

    ¡°We, as a species, survived because we knew how to run. So that¡¯s what we do, run¡ªhide out¡­ Use the terrain around us, and ultimately endure. If we chip away enough us, two results can ensue. We either stop it there and then, or it becomes night¡ªand by that point, we can finish what we¡¯ve started.¡±

    ¡°¡­Yeah!¡± Gale perked up immediately. ¡°That can be good!¡±

    ¡°Also, I have a question¡­¡± Calypso narrowed her eyes, her lips moving side to side before continuing. ¡°After it landed, which did push you down due to the impact¡­ Did it immediately give chance¡ªdid you have to hide or play dead somehow?¡±

    ¡°No¡­ It kinda just. Well, y¡¯know, I booked it the moment I could, so¡ª¡±

    ¡°But when you looked back, you didn¡¯t have the sense that it disappeared or¡­?¡±

    ¡°¡­No. I¡­ I think it just stayed there, like what it did during your fight, right?¡±

    Calypso chuckled lowly. Finally getting that sweet nugget of information, that was stuck in her maw.

    Gale chuckled right after, maybe as a sign of forced solidarity? ¡°We have something on our side after all, I¡¯m guessing¡­?

    ¡°More than what we¡¯ve originally thought¡­ These things are ultimately superstitious, paranoid¡­ They don¡¯t really ¡®get¡¯ us, and they¡¯re afraid of that¡­¡±

    Calypso carefully used her prongs, to pinch and bring up Gale¡¯s iPod at face level with her.

    ¡°That also applies to the things we¡¯ve achieved in the last 50 years, as well,¡± Calypso couldn¡¯t hide her sinister smirk. She, admittedly, hoped that Gale wouldn¡¯t get scared. Destroying the goodwill that she legitimately gained from her.

    But even Gale, innocent faced girl, couldn¡¯t help it either. Not only an evil grin, but closed eyes and an earnest cackle following after.

    ***

    ¡°FACE MEEEEEEE!¡± the being that lacked such screamed out with its massive maw. And yet, the way the Chimera-Jaw Subsumed¡¯s skin was getting tighter around its jaw, veins bulging with fervent furiousness. It was hard to deny that it was on its last nerve.

    The beast stomped thunderously across the forest, which was being colored by the greying skies. Doing the action so heavily, it caused the beast¡¯s head to bob uncontrollably, but it didn¡¯t care. Lurching forward in a march, the Chimera-Jaw slobbered, snapped its head at the air¡ªto starve out the rage that¡¯s been building within.

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    The act of it marching only appeared to look methodical and tight, was only just that¡ªan act. It wasn¡¯t driven on discipline, precision. This beast was so enraged, the entire body that it actually built from the ground up, it was swollen with anger. An anger that floods the mind with doubt and uncertainty. This monster had no idea what it was going to do, once it finds the prey again¡­ But it had to be final, this time.

    But something about that made this thing¡­ Stopped. Right in its massive tracks. Did it want this pain, this misery, this burning¡ªall of it to cease? It gave it purpose, drive¡­ To do away with these things, it truly makes the beast¡¯s fallen mate truly, utterly, dead. Wasn¡¯t this vengeance, this rampage, this murder the entire point, spawned from the fact that she was killed?

    The Chimera-Jaw Subsumed proceeded to roar out once more. It didn¡¯t need to think. Subsumed simply are.

    ¡°FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes, yes¡ªI could hear you from here.¡±

    The beast snapped behind itself. Calypso waving with her prongs.

    ¡°Did I mention that I was here the entire time~?¡±

    ¡°There is no way, you halfling vermin¡­!¡±

    Calypso shrugged with her entire, altered body. ¡°Probably. Or maybe you¡¯re not as a great hunter as you think you are. Why am I still standing here, dreg? Why am I still talking to you¡ªand down to you, at that? Hm? Maybe. Maybe, you¡¯re the one that¡¯s scared¡­¡±

    ¡°TALK! All of this is just bluster¡ªposturing! You cannot beat me in combat, you knooooow~!¡±

    The monster girl, who could barely qualify as either¡ªor¡ªand both in this moment¡­ Laughed. Openly, at the monster as it growled.

    ¡°Wow, you certainly said what you just said there¡ªOh, sorry, I was laughing at your posturing, I should properly address you¡­ Sure. I can¡¯t fight you. But I don¡¯t need to. And I simply don¡¯t want to.¡±

    Trembling with radiating hatred, the Chimera-Jaw Subsumed looked about, around the girl. Its head practically spinning in place.

    ¡°WHERE IS SHE?! WHERE IS THE OTHER?!¡±

    Calypso smiled, baring her barely developed fangs.

    ¡°Where¡¯s the fun in that~?¡±

    The beast responded with a flesh-rippling, bone-rattling roar, causing the leaves around them to dance in the air. Calypso was only a few feet away, and yet she was forced backward by a sizable number of inches. She had to fight to not just keep herself anchored, but also keep herself standing.

    And when it was all over, the witch still had something to say.

    ¡°¡­Funny.¡±

    The Chimera-Jaw was grinding its fangs together, with such a force that caused some of them to crack under the pressure. Whatever she was going to say, or not say at this point, she was dead.

    ¡°She did the very same thing when she was angry¡­ You truly were made for each other~¡±

    She poured everything into the leap.

    Calypso knew that she could barely track the thing with her current eyesight. Gloating it served as a natural pacer, so she could time the jump, and more importantly, control the tempo of this encounter.

    As she soared straight into the air, Calypso looked down to see the literal explosion that happened below.

    Like Gale told her, the Chimera-Jaw¡¯s crash threw up a ton of dirt, leaves¡ªmostly everything one could find in this forest began to pelt upwards into Calypso. The collisions nicked and raked across her clothes and exposed skin¡ªbut of course, she didn¡¯t care. The monster girl had to focus.

    Arching forward into a very ungraceful dive, Calypso hit the ground before she knew it, causing her to roll with minor injuries¡ªbut again, she cannot dwell on that. After getting into a kneeling position, Calypso looked back in a sweat, admittedly.

    Pausing, waiting¡­ For one second. Two. Somehow allowing herself to untense so she could accept five seconds had since passed.

    Finally, Calypso could smirk in her smug contentment again.

    Looking forward, shifting into a track runner pose, the monster girl immediately darted forward. Now the fact, the proof, that the so-called-mighty Chimera had no idea what to do along with the rest of them¡ªnow it¡¯s an equal fight.

    But she had to run now, that¡¯s all Calypso had to do right now. They knew it can¡¯t be forever, nor that it would last more than a minute. As she weaved through the trees at points, Calypso stuck to the pathway that they laid out¡ªthe one to victory.

    The moment she heard the oncoming of flapping wings, Calypso poured everything available into dodging. And as she skidded across the landscape, yet another rough impact confirmed her suspicion.

    But she didn¡¯t have time to stew in that, as Calypso knocked herself into a truck, landing onto her ass within the next second. She did pause for a moment, as she witnessed the Chimera-Jaw Subsumed recover in a speedy fashion than she expected.

    It was trashing so hard, it created more dirt-based impact waves. It was roaring so much, the sounds peaked up in pitch into a mad screech.

    But once it lumbered forward, the entire body buckled in pain. From wings to elephant feet.

    This was Calypso¡¯s only chance.

    She drove her prongs into the ground, proceeded to lift her lower body up, then planted her feet against the trunk of the tree. A few precious seconds were spent moving back and forth, flexing her legs until they reset position.

    Crouching against the trunk, Calypso shot herself like a cannon, heaving herself forward using her prongs for good measure¡ªbefore adjusting her arms to the right of herself with the palms outward.

    It didn¡¯t know what hit it. Once Calypso got sight of the surprised and enraged monster, with the acceleration behind her attack, the monster girl slashed at the beast¡¯s hide. Knowing full well once she¡¯s passed the target, she was going to be as good as dead.

    As Calypso tumbled into a stop, her prongs were once again nubs. Her arms were spilt open at the seams, her head was spinning trying to catch up to the overdue shock of pain. And the most damaging of all were her legs themselves, as they were broken in places.

    But it was all worth it, because she knew that most of the black blood that was covering her in that moment, wasn¡¯t all hers.

    Her eyes followed the very noticeable trail, leading to a screaming monster that was wounded. Screaming bloody murder, now that it realized it can still be hurt.

    Calypso could heal in seconds, but this was too costly to perform for a number of obvious reasons. When dealing with Subsumed, every second matters, and even one can spell the end of someone. Doing a hit and run like this was the best that the girl could do right now, other than just hiding until night falls¡ªand that resulted in too many moving objects. In any other scenario like this, the girl was good as dead once she did this play.

    And as a song ripped across the air, causing the Chimera-Jaw Subsumed to stop in it¡¯s tracks, Calypso was glad that she wasn¡¯t alone. More importantly, she was glad that Gale had so many songs on her playlist.

    The whole plan hinged on the beast reacting negatively to the sounds, but¡­ Calypso didn¡¯t picture such a potent effect, as she watched on.

    It was a total reversal. The monster had the very same pauses, startled movements, and overall panic ala the cast of Blair Witch¡ªor any kind of horror movie. Calypso ruminated in the time allotted to her that this must be what it¡¯s like for them. Sounds that are normal, if not annoying to her at some points, but perfectly normal¡­ But alien to her prey.

    ¡°H¡­Halfling WITCHES!¡±

    The Chimera-Jaw continued to roar into words. ¡°WITCH! HALFLING, VERMIN WITCHYOUR EXISTENCE IS REPULSIVE EVEN TO US FLITH! I WILL ENJOY CRUSHING YOU UNTIL YOU RETURN TO NOTHING!¡±

    Rolling away, constantly looking back at the monster that was set to prowl and then to the next trunk she was set to launch from, Calypso felt that they¡¯ve already won.

    As soon as the monster ran towards what it thought was the source, Calypso bounded once again, raking against the undamaged side before once again landing with all of her limbs ruined. But due to the trajectory this time, the monster girl was clearly out in the open, in the beast¡¯s line of sight.

    With a screeching howl, it tried to brave the injury, the pain¡ªlunging forward with all of its very potent might.

    Only to fall square onto its face¡ªwith multiple of its claimed body parts gushing a spurt of blood from each joint or connection point.

    ¡°Heh¡­¡± Calypso laughed out, despite laying in her own pool. ¡°Knew it. Not only figured there had to be some cost, but knew that it was nothing¡­ Nothing but talk, in the end¡­¡±

    These beings built themselves off of tribalism, fatalism¡­ So that left Calypso with two possibilities to think about. 1) Any advancement of power, or their power system in general, ran with the idea of power and the price of such. Just grafting different parts of their comrades must have some sort of blow back once one cannot do anything with it.

    And 2), which is a tad concrete. They have no understanding of baseline science and casualty. She didn¡¯t care if they were magic and thus, bended the rules¡ªthe fact this thing could walk despite having grasshopper legs with elephant feet was a miracle in of itself. Calypso just had to find a way to topple that, cause the various parts to reject each other once whatever stability was disturbed.

    But it never cared about stability. It constantly stomped, it constantly ran. Constantly crashed, constantly tried oh so hard to prove its might¡­ Only to start whittling itself down from the inside. Its only weak spot.

    Even without eyes, once it reared its head from the dirt, the Chimera-Jaw glared at Calypso.

    And her hand was healed the moment she needed it to wave, as the monster girl flashed a toothy grin.

    ¡°Having fun, yet--?¡± Calypso yelled from afar.

    It unhinged its maw. The insides rumbled with hatred, the fangs were being pushed forward somehow.

    Then it stopped, almost on a dime. It immediately coiled its head behind itself, towards a very familiar sound to it indeed.

    The sounds of someone running.

    ¡°GALE, NO! THE PLAN¡­!¡±

    But Gale simply ran away. Cradling her mp3 to her chest, not even chancing to look behind herself.

    And good thing for it.

    The beast forced its leaking body onto its feet, and charged towards Gale. Vocalizing its pain, using it, to push itself forward towards the girl.

 Entry 5.6 - Union: The Only Solution

    Calypso, completely healed again, jumped up¡ªand proceeded to jump again, to scale the tree that was closest to her.

    It became a game of chase. Calypso jumped from the tree tops, but not using everything like she had to damage the raving beast that was huffing gutturally in incoherent malice as it kept going forward. And there was Gale, managing to keep pace and away from it, and Calypso knew that this was humanly possible for another moment or so.

    Calypso launched herself from where she was perched, directly landing onto the back. But it didn¡¯t care it still gave chase, owing to the bovine inheritance it possessed. Calypso slashed, rendering her altered fingers into nubs once more, anything to add to the incurring damage.

    But there was no stopping the Chimera-Jaw Subsumed. And within moments, the very time frame that Calypso correctly predicted, it was within biting distance of a sweating, panting Gale.

    So her twirling around, in place, and lifting her iPod up to it, was pivotal than the girls gave it credit for.

    Calypso had to hug the beast, as it reared back in pain. The imagery of this finish invoked a priest warding off the damned with the cross, and here in 2007, it was a girl in yoga pants that had her music player by the headphones¡ªbut gripping the wires and not the buds, so it could hear the discordant-to-it sounds.

    Now, it was the monster girl¡¯s part to play in this. Issuing the grand finale.

    Calypso shot both her ruined hands into the gashes she made. Counting down the seconds merrily as her prongs were fully formed.

    ¡°Hey. Now you can see your beloved again¡­ You¡¯re going to the same place, after all~¡±

    She prodded. She yanked. She ripped into anything that felt important. Of course bucking, rearing, any movement to get the girl off of it ensued, but there was no point due to the grip she was not willing to let go.

    It tried to keep roaring. It tried to form words, to curse what was happening to it. Try in its vanity to turn this defeat into a win for it.

    But there was no way. There was no chance.

    There were no defenses, as Calypso shredded the monster¡¯s insides. But the damage was already done a few, precious seconds earlier.

    What was once the Chimera-Jaw Subsumed, fell onto the ground with a sickening thud. Calypso chuckling over the exquisite corpse.

    ¡°Oh no¡ªGale!¡± Calypso realized, snapping her head towards where she was.

    Only to hear that giggle, what Calypso hoped would mean reassurance in the future. Gale waved, showing that she moved back, despite being tired and on the ground, sitting. She gave a thumbs up, it being propped from the iPod in front of it.

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    ¡°Thank God for Steve Jobs, man¡­¡± Gale sighed after the statement.

    Calypso smiled. Genuinely.

    ¡°Indeed. Now get over here, we¡¯ve earned this meal!¡±

    She yanked out the contents from the aggravated slits. Tearing whatever was still hooked, still lingering and stuck to one another, the monster girl stuffed her face with her very fresh meal. Her current guise couldn¡¯t handle the texture and the volume of what she was forcing down her throat, but her other side did not care.

    Especially since, Calypso felt herself be immediately rewarded.

    The transformation was happening in bursts. The muscles pulsating, spikes of bone shooting out of her clothes, the roots of her hair pushing out her growing hair¡­

    Calypso hummed, and proceeded to keep feasting. Stewing, enjoying, what was a worthy challenge in the end.

    ¡­And felt the transformation stall. Yet again.

    Calypso opened her dark eyes, which glowed with soft amber now, at least. Blinking.

    ¡°¡­Come on,¡± Calypso let the mush fall from her claws, so that she could put her wrists on her now-mature waist. ¡°I feel like this is semantics at this point.¡±

    ¡°Aaaay!¡±

    Gale rose from the left of Calypso, sporting her dark eyes and altered body structure, with vines sprouting from her raised hands. ¡°I¡¯m on the first stage now--!¡±

    Calypso chuckled, as she jumped from the corpse. ¡°There¡¯s that, at least¡­¡±

    Looking herself over¡­ Calypso was close to her other self, but nothing came together. She had the matured body, she had the spikes, the claws¡­ But clearly still wearing her clothes, despite them hugging her and in near tatters. But at the very least, it¡¯s a body that can take whatever was still coming for them.

    And now can clearly hear the flutter of wings. Instantly cocking her head towards it.

    Even Gale read the mood, before shouting out in anguish. ¡°We just got done taking one of them out¡­!¡±

    ¡°This was always going to be a possibility; attacking us when we¡¯re tired. But at the very least.¡±

    Calypso brandished her claws as she shifted her stance into a low, primal one.

    ¡°This was a demonstration. This shows that we may be weak, but we are scrappy when pushed to the edge. So! Come at us!¡±

    The fluttering¡­ It was something Calypso never heard before. But oddly, it brought something to her mind, it was just that she was focused on the impeding doom to let it connect the dots.

    But the noise was ungodly. Annoying. Way too fast that it¡­ Created a certain¡­ Piercing rudder to it? It quickly gave Calypso pause, because her mind could not let this feeling go.

    The realization hit far too slow, as the raining ¡°cells¡± hit the duo faster and harder. Knocking them across the field, causing them to skid until stopping of their own accord.

    Only for Calypso to look up, to confirm her suspicions¡­ Her very confused, bewildered suspicions.

    She was a mix between a fly and girl¡­ Covered in ebony armor with chalk white skin, accented with indigo hair. Her buzzing wings were nearly as big as she was, jerking her side to side trying keep her hovering. The most damning detail was her insectoid mask, ebony ¡°wings¡± covering her eyes completely as a stinger draped down her lips and stopped at her chin. With crimson compound eyes at the sides of her head, looking akin to earmuffs from afar.

    ¡°You?!¡± Calypso shouted out incredulously. ¡°You were that was following us this entire time?!¡±

    The fly girl cocked her head, like her namesake, before answering in a soft, but high voice.

    ¡°Yep¡ªmore or less~ Or rather¡­ Well, I was. ''Paid'' to join in and do the following for her.¡±

    And before Calypso could ask for clarity, a series of mocking claps gave such to her.

    ¡°You guys are booooooned~¡± Cassie came onto the scene.

 Entry 6.0 - Bargaining: A Matter of Time

    Calypso is currently a monster-human hybrid. She had fangs, dark yet glowing eyes, she had claws, she had spiked bones that would form into armor, had she been allowed to complete her transformation. And just moments before, she bullied a monster and proceeded to gut it for substance.

    And yet, the sight of a blonde, pale-skinned girl wrapped up in a red scarf, was causing her to fidget and shiver in place.

    The monster girl used the momentary peace, due to Cassie clapping still, to glance up at the skies. Not grey anymore, slowly growing into a blue-green tint.

    But ¡°slowly¡±. Meaning it¡¯s still not night. Meaning still no full transformation.

    Still stuck. Still stranded. And so, still dead.

    ¡°So! Let¡¯s make this quick¡­¡± Cassie ceased clapping and rubbed her leather-gloved hands against each other, adding unnatural noise to this general unease.

    ¡°W-wait! Waitwaitwaitwaitwait!¡±

    Gale carefully walked into the scene, between Cassie and Calypso, with the latter struggling not to scream at her to stop moving. Waving her hands that were embedded with vines and roots, and despite her eyes being dark as the void, her pupils glowed so brightly with violet light, so big and innocent. And more importantly, scared.

    ¡°Can we talk please¡ªCan we just talk for a bit? Please?¡±

    Cassie sharply inhaled through her gritted fangs, ¡°Weeeeell, here¡¯s the thing. This ain¡¯t gonna be a talk, more me telling you the odds that you have here.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d advise that you listen--!¡±

    Calypso cocked her head, back at the Fly girl that fluttered in the air above. The creepy little sneak that threw their entire plan in the garbage that Calypso hoped she ate.

    ¡°Ooooh¡­ That is a stare, you got there,¡± the Fly girl mused out loud. She twitched her head to look at Cassie, ¡°I¡¯d be wary of this one! This isn¡¯t just me being a bitch--!¡±

    ¡°Noooted~!¡± Cassie replied merrily, using her pinkie to scratch at the side of her chin. This was nothing but a casual meet-up for her.

    Calypso was so tempted, just to grab Gale and just run for the hills. She got away from the vampire woman before, maybe she could again¡­

    But the jovial nature. The immediate establishment of dominance. And the fact that this entire day could have been her wanting to draw Calypso out¡ªand others like her. Sure, she was already marked for death by just standing here¡ªbut who knows what else she could issue out here. Calypso would not be surprised if this woman could create a fate worse than death for the two.

    ¡°But yeah, as you can see,¡± Cassie gestured to the Fly girl. ¡°You have a choice, like she did. Be my monster women-servants, you do the job I¡¯m gonna have you do, and maybe things would work out better than what¡¯s going on now~¡±

    ¡°¡­Can¡­ Can I ask a few questions, at least¡­?¡±

    Cassie turned her gaze at Gale, who was fidgeting in place, to go along with Calypso¡¯s shivering. The half-plant girl was looking downward, the lapse in response making her close her eyes.

    But Cassie smiled, and despite it looking genuine, she still brandished her fangs in a crazed manner. ¡°Aren¡¯t you adorable. Hey, I suppose that people can¡¯t get implications¡ªI mean it¡¯s the reason why I just use straight-up threats¡ªbut sure! I can spell it out any way you can~¡±

    She then lifted three fingers up towards Gale, which made the latter look up in fright. ¡°But ¡®a few¡¯ is three, and three only.¡±

    ¡°T-thank you! So much!¡±

    Cassie formed a thumbs up with the same hand, ¡°No prob, Bob!¡± Practically playing with her food.

    ¡°Did, uh¡­ Was that you, who drank those Subsumed guys we¡¯ve found?¡±

    ¡°Nope!¡± Cassie pointed at the Fly girl, ¡°It was all her. Had her drink up those guys and made it look like I did it¡ªbecause the people that would be and are after me are eggheads. I was gonna also have her keep chucking bodies at you¡ªbut noooo, ¡®wouldn¡¯t work after the first time, they could turn around and see me¡¯--¡±

    ¡°And to be fair, they were looking around and was very close in spotting me¡ªso hey,¡± the Fly girl chimed in, forcing Calypso to ball her claws up into a fist.

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    ¡°Down to two, girly~¡±

    As Gale shifted, gestured, conveyed how confused and scared she was through incomplete movements that were cutting themselves off, the girl verbalized such too.

    ¡°I ju¡ªI mea¡ªBut I¡ªWhy? Just¡­ Why?¡±

    ¡°Pssf¡ªThat¡¯s easy,¡± Cassie let her body shift towards her right, as if that release of air propelled it with little to no resistance.

    Calypso tried to distract herself from how fast that response was, studying that. Since Cassie was a Subsumed, that means that the monster is wearing a human-made suit all but in name. In that sense, it¡¯s not just that Cassie is relaxed¡­ But the little resistance, how the body can move so quickly¡­ In a sick way, it¡¯s like wearing a jacket purely on one¡¯s shoulders. You turn and the sleeves merely follow.

    ¡°I¡¯m guessing your little friend told you our deal¡­? The whole bit and a caboodle about Consumed and Subsumed? And still no idea what we are, huh~?"

    Cassie spread out her arms. As if she was a ring leader, presenter.

    "It''s always presented... Poor ol'' humans, being eaten alive like a Sunday platter--the big bad Subsumed preying on them for a chance to finally live... They act like their poor little victims, but they''re basically gone. Virtually gone, which is a pretty scary level of gone. Only a trance left for the scary monsters to study, be them... But what if What if the so-called victim was as fucked up as the monssster¡­?"

    Calypso¡¯s glowing eyes widened at the implication.

    "Little Cassie hated how you humans are lying to yourselves. Acting like every single thing you guys put up with is remotely okay¡­ Walking the dog, getting the mail, working the 9-to-5 and not once thinking about the utter insanity of getting there. The amount of people you had to fuck over to get where you are. Sometimes by just existing. She tried so hard, fitting in¡­ Literally got herself killed over it, but hey, people moved on from that after a while.¡±

    The other arm was raised, letting the head hang disturbingly limp. The pale girl¡¯s face buried under the red scarf.

    ¡°And on the other hand¡­¡± Cassie¡¯s voice still rung out, when it should¡¯ve been muffled. ¡°How the fuck could monsters of darkness be afraid of their own damn shadows? We could¡¯ve dominated this shithole of a rock a loooong time ago. Had the power, had the lead, had the numbers¡ªand what do we do? Do the same tired dance over and over again because of some ¡®grudge¡¯. It¡¯s just that before, this little Vampire Subsumed couldn¡¯t get anywhere¡­ Destined to follow in the footsteps of the others and not one would¡¯ve changed.¡±

    A low chuckle built itself deep within the girl¡¯s throat, before being belted out.

    ¡°Well, in the end, we came together purely because we fucking hate the status quo¡­Us finding one another was the worst, possible thing that could¡¯ve happened for you all. Now? Now, man-man-oh man¡­¡±

    Cassie lifted her head, as a rictus smile that pushed the cheeks upwards, making the eyes look shifty, desperate¡ªbut not in the sense of pity. The eyes told Calypso and Gale that there was simply nothing left to lose, for her.

    ¡°We¡¯re fucking you all over, both of ya¡¯~ Create such a problem that it forces the both of ya¡¯ to get your shit together¡ªor y¡¯know, die horribly. It¡¯s as simple as that~¡±

    ¡°W-what does that mean?!¡± Gale pleaded with the monster before them, out of impulse, out of survival.

    Then her eyes practically sunk, along time with the realization.¡±

    ¡°OH SHOOT¡ªI DIDN¡¯T¡ªI DIDN¡¯T MEAN--!¡±

    ¡°Ah-ah-ah!¡± Cassie leaned in, wagging her finger. ¡°That counted, bitch-!¡±

    Calypso¡¯s nostrils flared, as they tried to act as an exorcist to the shot of anger that brewed within the chest that happened in moments.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare¡ª¡±

    Before the skeletal monster girl could take a step forward, a cluster of cells shot before her path. Causing Calypso to growl gutturally, shooting her glare up at that damn Fly girl.

    Who had the gall to fucking wag her finger while crossing her arms.

    ¡°I¡¯m telling you right now, that is a very bad idea,¡± she droned from afar. ¡°Use the slim chances you have right now and take them. For your sake and her¡¯s¡ª¡±

    ¡°And if we¡¯re done with this reenactment of a soap, we can move along and get this over with¡­¡± Cassie made her eye roll verbal through the tone, before immediately injecting herself with jubilant glee again. ¡°Now then. What does it mean? It means what it means! Crazy, right?!¡±

    Cassie shifted to her side again, now facing Calypso with a cocky expression, matched with an evil smile. ¡°Pick and choose, we had a deal~!¡±

    They had the advantage. Gale didn¡¯t buy enough time for it to become night completely, and she¡¯s in a state where all she has, really, is the ability to heal. Calypso in a state where she¡¯s not sure that she has her strength all but in name. And a plan that seems to be in progress that could be triggered, being an unknown entity of an already unpredictable situation. On top of knowing that she¡¯s so powerful.

    Everything about this was a causal display of power and dominance. Cassie was practically loafing about in front of these two.

    It took everything in Calypso¡¯s being, not to show her realization from that. So in love with her own stony face for the first time she could remember.

    Calypso lowered her head, her wild bangs dipping over her eyes slightly in the process. She mumbled, in response to Cassie¡¯s so-called ¡°choice¡±.

    ¡°What¡¯s that~?¡± Cassie¡¯s grin growing larger was somehow audible.

    Calypso mumbled again, adjusting her volume. ¡°¡­you¡­¡±

    Cassie sighed, throwing her head up before proceeding to scroll closer to the skeletal monster girl with hands in her cloak. ¡°Last chance. Now say it with your che¡ª¡±

    A quick, decisive slash at Cassie¡¯s throat cut her off.

    It was so striking¡ªnot Calypso¡¯s actions but Cassie itself. A face that constantly morphed between the spectrums of confidence and malice, seeing Cassie express mortal terror as she quickly cupped her bleeding neck was so satisfying to Calypso. Also seeing the monster in stolen human flesh stumble backward, gargle in confusion, as the red substance was shooting out, now. As she forced her other hand on her gushing wound, Cassie¡¯s shaking eyes looked up at Calypso.

    ¡°Fuck you,¡± Calypso revealed her intentions, barely above a whisper.

 Entry 6.1 - Bargaining: A Matter of Time

    It was beautiful. The lovely blood of a young adult girl splattered about the area, coating the grass, fallen leaves¡ªwith a glistening crimson coat.

    Despite it being such an amazing moment for her, this was hard for Calypso to keep watching. Not for sudden pings of sympathy¡ªno¡ªbut due to her ingrained dislike to not go after humanity, Cassie¡¯s death throughs were too similar to one.

    All there was--was just writhing, all that Cassie could do in this moment. Her hand could not move from the gaping wound it barely covered, the fingers trembling too much to command a stable hold over her neck. Her eyes¡ªless the pupils but the entire set, were shaking, darting about, which prompted the skeletal monster girl to wonder what exactly the vile sack was trying to look for¡ªat. And her legs. Her poor, nonsense, spastic limbs¡­ Trapped in a cycle of trying to step forward, before slamming back into the place. As if the gravity of her blood pooling over her once fashionable black long coat, and her iconic scarf dangling from her sides.

    There was so much of it. Calypso did ponder why it was just red, but maybe that was a kink. Kill a Subsumed while they¡¯re human and human ichor shall fall, or something archaic like that.

    She tried to crane her head upwards, stuttering and skipping physically as the festering sweat slid down the somehow paler skin. It was poetic, how Calypso was paralyzed at the sight of her elastic mouth¡ªthat damn grin that was way too fucking big¡ªmere seconds before, was struggling to form into a wild, but still petrified, shape of agony.

    Cassie screamed. It didn¡¯t matter if the gargling got in the way, nor the lack of air she ran into. Interrupted in bouts, but ultimately returning into such a primal call for help.

    Calypso just reveled in it.

    With a cheeky, self-assured grin¡ªshe looked up, to mug the Fly girl with how sharp her victory was. Predictably, the thing twitched¡ªclearly stuck in wanting to help versus self-preservation. If only Calypso could read her obscured eyes, to fully gauge how¡­

    The monster girl noticed something way too late.

    It wasn¡¯t just the Fly girl¡¯s disposition¡ªhow¡­ It wasn¡¯t panic, not at all. Arms were still crossed, what Calypso thought was her fidgeting was¡­ Waiting, getting out of the way.

    The thing that caught Calypso¡¯s gaze and set her mind ablaze was noticing the unguarded part of the Fly girl¡¯s face¡­ Her pursed lips. Again, indication of being on edge¡ªnot fear for the enemy, but waiting on baited breath for what she knew what was going happen next.

    Then she met Calypso¡¯s gaze. And proceeded to smile.

    ¡°CAL--!¡± Gale screamed out in horror.

    Calypso snapped, looking about, waiting for what¡¯s coming to her¡ªwhatever it was. But Cassie was still there, still screaming¡ªand there was nothing coming to her.

    Until a haze brewed before her, as her confusion spiked looking on at utter insanity.

    She finally looked at her claw.

    Why was Calypso so fucking reckless? Why couldn¡¯t this stupid mistake of bones notice anything about that victory? Notice the actual details? In fact, she DID notice it, but was oh-so wrapped up in her now-meaningless victory.

    And saw that delicious victory literally melt within her hand.

    Causing each digit to fall off, as Calypso looked on in shock. Cassie¡¯s very blood had been so hot, so volatile, that it was practically magma.

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    Burning, all consuming, The pain hit all at once, but Calypso could at the very least push against her fervent mind screaming, to appear somewhat controlled.

    Calypso jumped back, using her free claw, being sure to grab the base of forearm of her melted claw to not get more of Cassie¡¯s blood on her.

    Taking in the fact, that the pools that gathered, the spurts of blood that resulted such¡ªit coated the floors of the forest and began to burn them.

    But it was fine, Calypso knew she was ultimately. Her healing is much better than before, it was always quick enough to be near-instant. All she had to do was wait for a few seconds.

    Then she looked at her ruined claw and felt her heart weigh with despair. What Calypso assumed did happen.

    Her digits, along with the bone ridges that defined the look of her claws, they sprouted from the stumps they were rendered into¡­ Only for Cassie¡¯s blood to seep into the wounds¡ªthrough the healing process, infiltrated past areas it had no reaches in due to such.

    So, when it melted her claw again, it was a lot faster, more aggressive.

    And was unimaginatively agonizing.

    The monster girl got on her spiked knees. Bit down on her full lip, anything to distract from this cruel, unusual torture, to the point that she drew her own blood¡ªdespite it being black now.

    But it all meant precious little, as the steam grew thick, radiating from the claw, as it struggled to regenerate again. Only for the same, regrettable events to conspire again.

    It was Calypso¡¯s turn to scream.

    Raw, untamed¡­ But she couldn¡¯t help but linger on the fact by the end of it, it trailed into a pathetic whimpering.

    Just in time, to hear such sick cackling.

    Turning her head upwards, Calypso saw the script completely flip. Cassie was holding her throat, her entire body shaking up and down with mirth. Her head thrown back, as spurts of blood followed due to the laughter getting higher, louder.

    To the point of tears running down her twisted face. It was then, that Calypso knew that she¡¯d lost completely.

    ¡°I warned you¡­¡± of course the Fly girl had to butt in, at the last moment.

    ¡°G-good one!¡± Cassie shouted out in a rasp, almost as if she was doing it over the sounds of her gargling, like it was a TV cranked up or the sound was akin to some loud party behind her. ¡°I-I gotcha--GOTTA admit, that was pretty fucking smart¡ªI wouldn¡¯t have done that, but I¡¯m a sadistic piece of shit¡­¡±

    The monster let her coat and scarf fall by the wayside, kicking it away with so much force. It didn¡¯t matter what she wore under it, her entire wardrobe was caked in steaming blood.

    Cassie lowered her head. Now showing that her tears were turning that familiar thick, crimson color before transmuting into black and oily. Back and forth, as if reality can¡¯t decide what should be happening there.

    ¡°Let¡¯s take the training wheels off, kiddies~¡±

    Instantly, her eyes widened. Not under her control, nor in the bound to the sensibilities of human limitation. They weren¡¯t wide as far as Cassie¡¯s body could be, but they were forced until something audibly tore. Calypso shuddered, trying to figure out what. They bled as a result, her eyes, until they were completely black¡ªstill pouring out ever-changing blood from them.

    Her face proceeded to break open, around the mouth area. The jaw fell, the cheeks formed a zigzag on each side that stretched until the ears. Of course that this combination created a sense of a demented smile.

    Massive bat ears burst from the seams, flicking off the excess that was once human flesh as they twitched until they erected themselves upwards. Through this, Cassie¡¯s Glasgow grin connected with them, giving some form of unity to what was pure and utter chaos.

    Extending her arms, her fingers merging into sharpening claws and the arms atrophying into whittled angles¡ªmore than anything. Both were to make way for a thin sheet of leather shoot out from then underside. Sliding out, unfolding, giving her the appearance of a wearing a wing suit if one ignored the horrible picture that was being painted for them.

    Her body¡­ What was left of her body, it was growing turgid yet taut. Misshaping a red mass of tissue, twitching despite the transformation being relatively quick compared to the rest. Becoming something between an exposed blood vein and an organic blood sack, just stretched oddly. The massive vein lead into and guided the smaller abbreviations, as if each of the monster''s limbs were made entirely of them. Pulsating dark blood at the base of each limb and appendance.

    ¡°Meet your first SymbiSubsumed, little groundlings!¡± Cassie screamed in zeal mixed with misplaced terror. As if the little left of Cassie was in pain. In fear of what she¡¯s become as the transformation. "VAMPIRE EDITION!"

    After it was all over, Calypso saw the Jaw Consumed flash within her mind. Too quick to know which one, but the message was clear.

    This was a total role reversal, as she coward in fear, at the flapping monstrosity that flew directly towards her.

 Entry 6.2 - Bargaining: A Matter of Time

    It was odd, Calypso running, evading¡ªwhen she was in a form that was made for the hunt. But she couldn¡¯t dwell on that¡ªthink in general, because her claw keeps melting away.

    Because her claw fell apart for the third or fourth time by now.

    Calypso felt the digits loosen due to the intense heat, until she couldn¡¯t feel anything anymore while hearing a sickening thud. And once again, she felt the stubs ache, being cut from the inside of the wounds, as the claws grew anew inside, pushing themselves outward.

    She couldn¡¯t breathe, let alone focus. Not even see.

    So when Cassie dove straight into Calypso, while the skeletal monster girl moved away¡ªshe was still grievously sliced at her midriff. Stumbling back, no time to try to hold back the black blood spilling out, Calypso just had to ready herself as she looked at the Vampire SymbiSubsumed chittered on the ground.

    Only for the thing to lance her leg at her, while still having the rest of the limbs on the ground. Once again, while Calypso got away¡ªshe felt her face spilt open and leaked hurriedly.

    There was no time to react to such a horrible injury, as Cassie¡¯s back shot up as if it was a rat, forcing it upwards, only to spin in the air as the ¡°tension¡± shifted into the arm once more¡ªbecoming a sharp mass that was trained towards the monster girl as she ran away. Calypso thinking that she got away enough, turning to look back.

    The laughter was the only single that Calypso had, as Cassie¡¯s head cracked¡ªrighted itself¡ªand lunged as the jaws moved aimlessly up and down straight for her. Not only that, but the creature¡¯s neck was beginning to spurt out its potent, steaming blood as it gave chase.

    Worse part of it all was the fact that Cassie stared on, with her dead eyes that held no light, as they were so black and empty.

    Calypso panicked. She couldn¡¯t help it, stumbling¡ªbarely moving as the creature gained ground. It was practically over.

    Until Calypso felt a pull¡ªsomething that grabbed at her feet to tug her backwards, if not momentarily. Using this second to glance about, seeing a Gale that buried her black-covered hands into the ground, trembling. Knowing that this is all that she could do.

    The monster girl just panting, backing away as Calypso shook, before using everything to get away as far as possible¡ªwatching the monstrous thing fade into the smoke.

    There was no continuity to her. No logic, no strategy. It wasn¡¯t like¡­ With Calypso, with Subsumed¡ªtheir actions were always savage, so it wasn¡¯t in the sense of Cassie introducing this level of brutality never to be seen before.

    This¡­ Bond. So called ¡°Symbiosis¡±, it was just parasitic. Whatever the Vampire was, it¡¯s using Cassie¡¯s altered, mutated body not only as a vessel¡ªbut as a weapon as well. The worm uncaring of the body it ate from the inside, as it shifted into the arm to fend off the attacker after it, who cared if the rest of the body flopped about. It only added the much needed mass, in the end.

    This battlefield was a haze. It felt like it stretched forever, despite it just being in an area¡­ Calypso thought. She couldn¡¯t think, it was all just too much.

    Cassie¡¯s mess of blood she accrued this entire time was practically magma, in texture, in action, and in effect. The spread was methodical, but quickly encroaching¡ªalready covering a quarter of ground. The fumes that resulted smothered the air around them, too thick for even Calypso¡¯s new sight. The smell¡­ Overwhelming, putrid, to the point that it made Calypso¡¯s eyes well up. And as this syrup-like hemoglobin steadily marched on, the crackle of grass proved to serve as an added soundtrack to this horrible event. Such a miserable picture, being painted.

    The smoke hid Cassie perfectly, so Calypso could only dodge at the very last second as the monster shrieked in delight. Calypso¡¯s limbs, her body, drenched in sweat as she felt it getting heavy with exhaustion that she could barely recover from. And even when she gathers herself in the moment, all she could hear is the fucked up laughter, the crackling of fire, and Gale¡¯s soft muttering. Something about uselessness.

    But what was there to do? It wasn¡¯t like Calypso was better suited for this. In fact, Calypso knew¡ªpainfully so¡ªthat this is a hard counter in every sense of the word. This skeletal monster girl could only CUT things, make things bleed, which is clearly what this deranged thing wants.

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    It was so hard. So hard to think. But Calypso has to, and brave the building irritation of having only broken pieces of ideas, letting that rattling within her fevering mind, and forced to keep thinking of something else. Something just as bad.

    Only for the horrible, radiating pain to sear into her feeble mind, crippling her again as Calypso screamed out. She knew it was a wasted move, but she did not care¡ªas the monster girl shook her claw furiously, trying to flick away Cassie¡¯s blood, freeing her limb from this suffering.

    The fingers were the only things that were flung away, as Calypso stared in mock horror as the blood hardened, at least surface level. Becoming a healed over, taut, black stub¡ªfeeling her claw not only trapped within the smoldering heat, but throbbing against the scar tissue in absolute agony.

    A perfect time for Cassie to swoop in, slamming her hooked feet talons within Calypso¡¯s shoulders. Which were spiked.

    Cassie took off, shooting into the skies that were somehow more caked within smog. The bat body twisted, twirled in the air with a finesse and glee that was barely contained. As a result, the talons that were embedded within Calypso¡¯s shoulders were immediately crushed, and forced the girl to follow the motion which resulted in whiplash. If it wasn¡¯t Calypso¡¯s head being rocked around due to the ¡°G-Force¡±, it was being choked within the tainted air, her mind becoming utterly flushed with over-sensory.

    So there was no defense, nor resistance, as Cassie reached her zenith, contorted her wretched form and flipped Calypso downwards back into the ground¡ªlanding with such velocity and weight that it was a total, deafening crash.

    It was totally different. As Calypso laid in her broken squalor, and maybe it was due to the possible brain damage she¡¯d receive making herself think that they¡¯re the same, but this wasn¡¯t the Bat Subsumed from before. And yet back then, despite the control she had back then over that living stain¡ªCalypso wasn¡¯t clean in her execution.

    And that was her skill level, her ceiling. There was no chance, here.

    The sizzling of what was left of her clothing snapped the monster girl out of her funk, hoping her bones were healed enough, as the girl used her only claw to quickly sliced the articles and leaped from the hole she created with her own back.

    Skidding on her bare feet and using her clawed toes to dig into the unsoiled dirt, Calypso looked up¡ªshaking as she searched about for the true monster there.

    Immediately greeted with a shower of cells pelting her, forcing her to skid onto the side that was just healing. The worst part being that it didn¡¯t hurt so much, compared to the damage Calypso felt so far.

    ¡°Sorry¡ªhad to do my part, y¡¯know how it is~¡±

    Now that? That smug chatter the Fly girl pathetically sputtered, was the very thing that pushed Calypso over the edge.

    There was a surge, and Calypso wasn¡¯t sure that it was just anger.

    Regardless, the monster girl rose to her feet. She roared. Balling her only claw into a fist, yelling so harshly and poured all of her lingering energy into such that it bypassed the pain. If only for a moment.

    Her bone spikes finally shot out from her body completely, curling and snapping into the armor that covered her maturing body. The locking this time¡­ While it was always rough, there was a fervent pace to it all. Her spine giving her the much needed height increase, the fastening of the armor adjusting her posture¡ªall of which finally give her the strength to stand tall once again.

    But it wasn¡¯t until she felt her elbow scythe push out of the arm¡ªthe one that wasn¡¯t ruined¡­ It was the thing she needed the most.

    With a growl, bearing her large fangs, Calypso angled her elbow blade into the forearm of the destroyed claw, stabbing it. Over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over.

    And it wasn¡¯t a clean break, as the girl who wept crimson tears begrudgingly found it.

    To summon the strength, for what she needed to do next, Calypso cursed everything that plagued her. Fuck Cassie, fuck the Fly girl, fuck Willow Reverie, fuck the Subsumed. And most importantly, fuck this world to allow every single one of them to exist in the first place.

    Screaming, Calypso grabbed her ruined arm and ripped it off the body¡ªblack blood spurting in high pressure before petering out. She wanted to land on her spiked knees, to break into much needed sobbing¡­

    But she refused.

    Throwing the useless limb, Calypso grabbed at the stump. Her human screaming turning into a roar.

    I don¡¯t care if it¡¯s warped¡ªI don¡¯t care if it¡¯s the fucking Grim arm again! Give me what I need! What I fucking deserve at this point! Let me¡­ LET ME KILL THEM¡ªIN ANY WAY I CAN

    She felt something wrangle within the wound, the movement getting so violent that Calypso couldn¡¯t hold her own mutilated arm.

    A long, slender blade of bone slithered outward. It started off elegant, before thickening into a wicked, gnarly scythe head. The ¡°base¡± of it having ridges as if it was rusted from years of inactivity. Her forearm¡ªit shrunk and adjusted itself in response to the instrument, now allowing Calypso to angle this blade correctly and effectively.

    Calypso grew a scythe, instead of an arm. She was as surprised as the people around her.

    Looking at Gale, who was done transforming, who looked back in wide-eyed confusion. Glancing at the Fly girl, who was hovering in the air and despite having her own eyes covered in a mask, her scrunched lips said it all.

    Even Cassie, who was on all fours and only mere feet away from Calypso, just looked on. Titled her head at the display.

    And proceeded to look up at her piss-poor servant.

    ¡°¡­I told you,¡± the Fly girl answered the accusatory stare. ¡°¡®Don¡¯t underestimate her¡¯¡­¡±

 Entry 6.3 - Bargaining: A Matter of Time

    Calypso had to wrestle control back from her own arm, failing seconds after, from killing her attackers. It was such a weird difference, compared to the last few seconds.

    And well. It isn¡¯t a real arm anymore.

    Calypso lunged forward, and she didn¡¯t even want to do that. But the massive blade that became her arm wanted to, and it was what it wanted, now.

    The bleeding creature that started this entire thing, Cassie was being completely defensive. Fluttering back, her black eyes searching despite not having any pupils or iris that indicated such. And if anything, this monster was reckless before, her only strategy up until now was hoping she¡¯d get maimed, because that spelt disaster for her prey once the blood got on them. And now she¡¯s evading.

    As her large bone scythe swung wildly, jerking her about, this was completely different from the Grim remerging. At least the skeletal monster that might be still dwelling within her had internal logic, it just wanted to kill her, escape. This? It¡¯s wild¡ªwild energies that isn¡¯t just separate from her own¡ªas if she¡¯s somehow drawing this all in.

    It scared her, Calypso. And she quickly sensed that growing fear added more fire to this uncontrollable might.

    Especially since the ground was still covered in molten blood, so erratic movement of any kind was a massive hinderance, despite being a possible boon.

    She was yanked downwards, her scythe of an ¡°arm¡± craved up the little soil that was around her as it flew into the boiling air. Leading her to toil in the dirt, as Calypso rolled about on the ground, quickly supporting herself with her currently only arm as soon as she was slammed onto her front, jumping up.

    The monster girl couldn¡¯t even stagger backwards, fall on her (literal) boney ass, immediately yanked upwards before fighting against the new, opposite problem of landing on her face.

    Calypso dug her claws into her transformed shoulder, groaning due to them sinking in so deeply, just to give some semblance of control. She supposed she literally asked for this, so the monster girl can¡¯t exactly complain¡­

    She proceeded to have such a bright flash of brilliance in her mind, that Calypso wondered that even in her stoney expression, if her face tensing with that realization was completely noticeable.

    Given that Cassie¡¯s mangled face quickly changed from quizzical to focused, it was very much so.

    Then Calypso didn¡¯t have much time nor choice.

    As Cassie flapped forward, Calypso jumped to meet her¡ªif anything, she finally let her new arm off it¡¯s leash. But at least giving it an avenue, that it can speed down on.

    It was what Mrs. Moses taught her. Not control. It was never control. But resonance.

    While the scythe continued to lunge towards the abomination, at the point of waving itself in this weird anticipation, Calypso let her body lean downward to her right. Knowing that she¡¯ll miss the potential target of Cassie¡¯s smug face, to match the skeletal monster¡¯s old scar.

    So Calypso gashed the Vampire SymbiSubsumed¡¯s cheekbone, causing a massive spray of crimson liquid to erupt, adding to the smog that choked the fresh air.

    The victory was short lived, in trying to save herself by thrusting her palm towards the ground she was about to hit, Calypso was instantly burnt by the magma blood that coated the place, at least giving her the jolt to bounce herself into the air and land into the open field.

    Glancing at her sizzling hand, Calypso took the odd relief that at least slightly cooled molten blood is so much preferrable than the red-hot counterpart.

    ¡°Guuuuah¡ªFUCKING DAMN IT!¡±

    Calypso thought she would take pleasure, in hearing the little left of humanity that was in Cassie, that hung like decaying meat from a wire trap. But it was still drowning with guttural inhumanity, the mix of low bat chittering coming from a throat that was irreversibly altered beyond repair.

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    But at least Calypso was ready in this instance, the mad monster diving towards her as the blood pouring from her face was but a stream. She didn¡¯t know what she would do, but at least this was a clear and utter improvement from what was just minutes before.

    Only for the massive mount, made of dirt, to erupt between the two¡ªcausing both Cassie and Calypso to jump. At the very least, Cassie to immediately crash into the pillar of earth while Calypso fell onto her back as the scythe jerked her backwards.

    Glancing over, see Gale merged with the ground again, but with all limbs this time as they were intertwined with goop and grime. The girl, who had crimson tears trailing down her determined face, met Calypso¡¯s gaze and nodded.

    She didn¡¯t quite know if Gale caught wind of the plan, but Calypso knew she¡¯ll have her full support regardless.

    The pillar soon melted, to unveil a chittering mad, busted open face of a monster. Now lacking the needed energy to spear herself into Calypso, the skeletal girl letting her arm jerk her away, getting away from the creature, gaining the much-needed distance.

    Giving her the time to see if her plan is working, at least in a brief second.

    The imagery of Cassie¡¯s twisted vein of a body will never leave her head and hasn¡¯t even in the fog of battle that felt like lifetimes. So swollen, possibly from blood. Which possibly meant that it¡¯s all stored there.

    And sure enough, Calypso saw that putrid sack beginning to shrink. Little by little.

    Driving her claws into the shoulder again, now Calypso just had to stick to the plan. Hit and run, just like the Jaw Subsumed. Bleed her out until she¡¯s nothing but a shriveled husk.

    But the skeletal monster girl looked towards the skies, scanning. No sign of the bitch fly anywhere. That made her weary, but she couldn¡¯t waste time.

    So Calypso continued to guide her raging, bloodthirsty instrument. Cuts, grazes, nicks¡ªeach slash she tried to get on Cassie became diminishing with every attempt. The thing was getting smarter, evaded¡ªtried to get her showers over the girl, but thankfully either Gale protected her or the problem arm did.

    It didn¡¯t matter, all that did was making the damage accumulate. Anything else was merely a miracle. The fact she was getting away with doing this was the miracle in of itself, Calypso knew very well to keep her expectations low in the face of a grievous and aggressive reality.

    Calypso did not stop until Cassie was but cascading red, with a thick mist radiating from her gashed over form. Apparently, the volume of blood she was excreting was so heavy, it was getting harder to flap in place, as she slammed onto the ground on all fours. Panting.

    ¡°Ssm¡­¡± Cassie gurgled, which made Calypso nearly gag at the implications¡ªeven as how she was now. ¡°Smart¡­ Bitch¡­¡±

    Calypso was on tenterhooks, as she fought against the arrent yanks.

    ¡°Too¡­ Bad¡­¡±

    And before that twinge of hope Calypso had was undercut, Cassie¡¯s body exploding into writhing veins sucked the air out of the preverbal room. Disgusting, raw looking ala her central body, if anything all connected to and from such¡ªnow gasping audibly and searching for anything.

    As Calypso prepared herself to move away, thinking that she was the grand prize¡ªthat damn buzzing put a stop to that as well.

    ¡°¡®Bout fuckin¡¯ time¡ª" Cassie twitched, her voice croaked out from the mass of veins.

    With a landing, that fucking Fly girl landed with an animated shrug, ¡°To be fair, couldn¡¯t really do anything and knew little as you did. It was better for me to¡ªwell, I¡¯ll just stop talking and let yo¡ª¡±

    The veins were grotesque vipers, lancing, clamping down on the Consumed¡¯s exposed limbs, cheek and neck¡ªwhich was very apt. With each sickening pulse of pooling blood, that gnat of a girl visibly grew weaker, which Calypso hoped that lead to a very painful and miserable death.

    But it didn¡¯t matter. The wounds sealed within seconds, the central vein became engorged once more. And the gnat was let go as the veins retracted.

    Cassie¡¯s broken grin shining on her mangled face once more.

    After holding her head, presumably to gather herself, the gnat took off¡ªtowards where Gale was stationed.

    She couldn¡¯t defend herself¡ªnor Calypso could run over to do it for her. The gnat landed behind her, and reached down to put her in a Full Nelson, using that strength that came with being a Consumed as a trait, no way that this pathetic filth was any form of strong.

    But it didn¡¯t matter anyways. The force of the pull caused Gale¡¯s arms and legs that were infused to snap off, and sink within the earth. Leaving her whimpering, pleading without any knowable language being said.

    ¡°Sssssh¡­¡± that gnat said. ¡°Listen-listen-listen¡­ Maybe¡ªmaybe I can¡­¡±

    Calypso couldn¡¯t hear what was said after. She was too busy being sprayed on, point blank, by Cassie.

    The molten blood covered her chest, and pointedly on one of her arms. The only arm that mattered.

    The sheer, searing pain that coated her¡ªCalypso didn¡¯t need to be slammed down on top of that. But Cassie is a clear sadist, as she loomed over the girl.

    ¡°See¡­¡± Cassie hissed out human words. ¡°Now I don¡¯t want to kill you¡­ You¡¯re too¡­ Well, not skilled¡ªyou and your girl fucking suck dick but¡­ You¡¯re interesting for a number of reasons. Either way, I¡¯m getting my little crew of Consumed that I can train like dogs. And if a bitch is acting out¡ªall you need to do is show it who¡¯s boss!¡±

    The sounds of rifles hit Calypso faster, then her realization that the Vampire SymbiSubsumed was hit with something¡ªand something actually potent.

    ¡°We have arrived to bring forth miracles~!¡±

 Entry 6.4 - Bargaining: A Matter of Time

    Calypso was buried within molten blood. She was burning, in immense pain, and yet the phrase ¡°We have arrived to bring forth miracles¡±, stabbed her brain much deeper than any Subsumed¡ªincluding Cassie, did.

    Due to the sudden rush of wind, it caused the reaction of the blood to harden, turn into massive platelets. Once again, buried under something tough with a simmering center. Boiled alive within a pot with a metal cover.

    Turning her head, as her neck felt on the verge of being burnt open, she saw them. A squad of men, within a formation. Clear ranks, as only four of their numbers were in the front, with very, very, very archaic hunter rifles raised high. Still steaming after firing, despite the air being nothing but deep fog.

    It matched¡ªwith their attire overall. It was all in tatters, yet still uniform¡ªblack cowlings that covered the entire upper body. Long white gloves and boots up to the elbows and knees, with a thick band at each end that was darker. Silver vests glittered under all of this bochur, and yet¡­ All of it, every article, it was dirtied, seemingly borrowed.

    Calypso quickly turned her head, towards the creature. She didn¡¯t know what she expected, and yet she was still taken off guard.

    Cassie wasn¡¯t exactly covered, but she was bound by¡­ Something. It was like white liquid mercury, invoking special effects from some sci-fi movies. Surging as if it were a raging river, with a hold of the tightest chains.

    It was so uncanny. It didn¡¯t cling, it didn¡¯t wet the body as if any liquids. It pooled over the surface, as the monster chittered in rage. Mad¡­ No, annoyed. There was no surprise that ignited into rage, it was irritation because it happened again.

    But Cassie managed to break free¡ªcausing the weird material to fly in all directions around her. She started to flap her wings, desperately trying to become air bound again.

    ¡°On your mark, men! All you need to do is get me near!¡±

    Calypso managed to hear the bleeding monster¡¯s reply, due to her heightened senses as her body panicked for survival.

    ¡°Like I¡¯d let you¡­ Fucking nerd¡­ Damn it, fucking took too long¡­¡±

    Driven by sound, Calypso heard trudging of the earth, to see two of the pilgrim men use what could be a three-way hybrid of a lance, spear and shove. Craving up the ground before them, so that the molten blood didn¡¯t get them either. It was too precise¡ªnot the tools, but the men. Almost robotic and perfect in their movement, easily getting out of the way of the rifle men, marching in pitch-perfect formation as they took aim.

    Cassie took flight¡ªand Calypso was briefly surprised by such a one-track beast didn¡¯t just barrel towards the men. It took a bit to rack her brain around the play as it happened, as she was probably losing oxygen by the second¡­

    But it had been too late for her to figure it out on her own, as she watched Cassie violently went heavenward above the crowd. Knowing how hard she would have to tug herself, thus ripping open her neck wound¡ªraining her ichor down on the rifle men.

    What those men proceeded to do was somehow the craziest shit Calypso saw this entire day.

    The four men threw their rifles behind to their teammates, stepped forward with their arms outward, and took the entire brunt of the attack. Which, to Calypso who was a hell fiend that even with regeneration is suffering and in the process of dying¡ªand they appeared to be just normal humans. They died and took the hit with zero hesitation.

    And said teammates didn¡¯t react to this, no mourning or declarations of revenge¡ªthey caught the rifles and took aim. Using the slowly melting mounts that were once their buddies as slight cover.

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    Maybe there was brain damage, on the part of Calypso. She was at the point of second guessing, after all, she¡¯s getting to the point that she couldn¡¯t feel pain anymore, numbness taking her. It all could very well be her dying dream, because the entire scene had changed into the outright bizarre.

    As if to confirm her insanity, as the new rifle men readied their weapons to fire¡ªthey flicked a mechanism at the back. The design of these things had deep creases embedded across, and that weird white yet metallic structure flowed to life. Giving what was an old timey weapon much needed flare.

    And Calypso didn¡¯t know the half of it.

    The substance pooled out, forming itself around the long barrel, adding to it. It was runes¡ªscripture, that added as physical armor for the barrel¡ªjust like the runes that floated in the air before all this mess started.

    And with a pull of the trigger, the runes flew¡ªsoaring across the skies, turning into a web of words that ensnared Cassie again as she screeched. As if she couldn¡¯t catch more of a break in this moment, the other three hit her soon after as she crashed into the ground.

    ¡°At ease, men. She only has but the two options, now.¡±

    The rifle men followed that command, righting their weapons to the sides and standing in file. Moving out of the way, as the spear men stepped forward. With a wave of their weapons, same thing but lacking the activation of the rifles¡ªrunes coated the tips until they formed into a bigger and multi-purpose shape.

    The augmented spears turned into a necessary shape for patting down whatever remained of those men, flattening the magma. Then, raising them, and proceeded to stab into the ground. It took a moment, but the substance emerged¡ªcreating a platform that broke through the molten blood and crossing the divide.

    Which made the way for a very interesting individual.

    He wore the tattered cloak they all shared, but a sliver suit was underneath. The neck of the cloak being pried open, to show his pink dress shirt and white string tie. Black, leather gloves and the kind of dress shoes that had a massive buckle strap and the tips pointed upwards by a couple of inches.

    All of this gesture to appear somewhat approachable, and yet he wore a scarecrow mask. A lunch bag brown, rubbery mess that sagged. Hay-like hair that give the idea that it was ¡°spilling¡± from the ruined burgundy hat that rested on top of such, but it was just as latex and was pressed against the forehead too artificially to sell it. The mouth opened and stylized either by him or the people who made it, to appear that it was pulled free from being stitched up.

    The eyes were somehow worse, as they were blue, lacking eye lids from the top or bottom¡ªcompletely round and were too far apart.

    So it hurt Calypso to hear such a rational, calming voice being muffled¡ªundercut by this terrible attire.

    ¡°What will it be, then¡­?¡± the scarecrow raised the left, gloved hand, presenting his hand¡¯s back to the writhing creature.

    There was a high-pitched scream¡ªcoming from the hand? No, rather¡ªthe symbol of flickering, unstable runes that radiated through, again, dark leather. It caused the scarecrow¡¯s hand to shake.

    ¡°Will you get back to your senses, call off this pointless crusade of yours and honor our deal¡­? Or fester within the various debts you¡¯re continuing to rack up, hm¡­?¡±

    Cassie panted, coughed out, cursed various things under her breath that was stoked in anger.

    ¡°It isn¡¯t like you fucks are gonna let me live either way! I¡¯m just doing what you never had the guts to do¡ªsitting on your asses trying to act like you¡¯re normal! I¡¯m still doing you a favor¡ªif anything, your shit deal is being honored still!¡±

    The scarecrow only offered a curt laugh. As if to tell her, ¡°yeah, we¡¯ll see about that¡±.

    Growling at the gesture, Cassie screamed¡ªcausing the neck wound to aggravate¡ªspilling her blood on the bonds and melting them¡ªwell. Causing it to spill and mingle with the blood, before not just separating, but rising on top of such.

    ¡°It¡¯s not like you can stop me anyways!¡± Cassie laughed. ¡°I got more than I ever could¡¯ve wanted¡ªI just wanna finish because mama didn¡¯t raise no quitter!¡±

    The creature began to take off, and Calypso caught from the corner of her eye that one of the rifle men beginning to take aim. The scarecrow used his raised hand to signal the agent, to ease off. Calypso thought back, her leaving was the other option he took comfort in.

    Cassie chittered, laughed? There was no difference anymore. Soaring into the night, the beat of the wings growing softer and softer.

    Well, at least Calypso could die in semi-peace, now.

    But she heard someone approaching her, and her gaze was met with an inhumane stare.

    The scarecrow tsked. The mask sagging forward, causing the horrific eyes to mug the monster girl, forming an uncomfortable staring contest she didn¡¯t know nor want to be a part of.

    ¡°You Consumed are such pitiable creatures¡­ I¡¯m so torn, at the moment, if you can excuse myself. Do I want to offer charity¡­ Or mercy?¡±

 Entry 6.5 - Bargaining: A Matter of Time

    The supposed human in this conversation reached down and pulled the mane of the defenseless monster girl, and somehow echoed her exact sentiments at the moment.

    ¡°You have to understand, this is a problem for me¡­¡±

    Despite having what should have been obscured sight, the scarecrow boy knew that Calypso¡¯s neck had been damaged due to the molten blood sitting right under the collarbone. Combined with her trying to witness the fight between Cassie and these weird men, it made her neck raw, nearly splitting at the seams. As the scarecrow boy tugged her hair, slowly moving Calypso¡¯s head side to side, he continued.

    ¡°Not just one Consumed, but three¡­¡± the soft and clear voice bounced in the dollar store Halloween mask. ¡°We nearly lost our numbers trying to kill the one, so you must understand my plight here¡­¡±

    It was only because Calypso was so close to death, her flushed mind swirling with memories of her life, that she remembered ¡°GOD BLESS¡±¡ªfrom the book she read, the message that was scribbled on it.

    ¡°Was once just an honest worker at a coffee shop I used to visit¡­¡± shaking his head lightly, causing the mask to look like it was tumbling, twitching, betraying the sincerity in his tone. ¡°A fine addition to our fair town, and even someone as innocent could end up with such a horrific fate. Forever trapped between extremes, until they destroy you.¡±

    Suddenly, his grip became pensive, as his swaying stopped in place. Calypso could feel his fingers briefly loosen their grip, only to wiggle within the confines of her mane.

    ¡°But that was a mind long gone, a stark raving beast¡­ You, on the other hand. From what I¡¯ve gathered and seen, you have your facilities still. A sick mind before the transformation, hm? Funny how that¡¯s starting to become a constant in this environment. Oh! I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m completely digressing¡­¡±

    There was a soft sigh that came out as a muffled huff. ¡°It¡¯s not like dealing with intelligent monsters didn¡¯t get me here in the first place¡­ But we need everything that we could get, before that crazed woman sets everything on fire¡­But I could also just wait for you to die here and be on my way¡ªshe clearly wants you¡­ Hmm¡­¡±

    Calypso couldn¡¯t escape that freakish stare. She knew it was a mask, that it was ultimately fake. But the way the surface was showing wear, as if the irises had white gashes on them. The way how the mask hung from the head, so not only is it propped forward at her¡ªcutting the precious space she needed, but the idea of a human face sagging from the skull made something that was already uncanny more so.

    And it was just how far apart those fucking eyes were. It almost made the guy look cross eyed, adding to the disgusting display of it all.

    It was as if him trailing into absolute silence was intentional. To leave Calypso on tenterhooks.

    But there was a rustling of someone searching their pockets, and before she knew it, Calypso was presented with a clear vial, the contents of that white, metallic liquid swirled about within.

    ¡°Charity it is, then~¡±

    The scarecrow boy popped the black, rubber top from the vial¡ªshoving it into Calypso¡¯s maw as she was forced to drink. Due to the contents that were being emptied into her, the liquid actually forced her throat open. Refusal was never an option.

    Regardless¡­ Feeling came back to Calypso. Her mind returned to normal. And as she regained her strength, she burst from the cooled magma of blood with a roar¡ªcausing the scarecrow boy to jump back with an added ¡°whoa there~!¡±

    Rising onto her bare, clawed feet¡ªquickly she looked at her arm to see it back to normal. Well, back to being a bladed limb, but it¡¯s a limb again. She balled her claws into a fist and began striking at the air, testing if it worked the same as before. Seemingly so, as she ceased and looked at her pink palm surrounded by eggshell white, bendable knives.

    The skeletal monster was immediately tackled by one of her own, Calypso quickly righting herself as Gale wrapped her arms around her. Maybe it was the experience, but Calypso didn¡¯t care, she returned the affection, smiling all the while. Despite it being difficult to hug a melting person made of goop, they found a way to make such work.

    ¡°Thank you so much¡ª¡± Calypso cut herself off, jolted a tad, due to hearing Gale say something first that she rudely interrupted. Reviewing the tidbit she had, it was the swamp girl saying ¡°sorry¡±. Calypso smirked, ¡°Now I¡¯m glad that I cut you off¡ªno. None of that. You did everything you could and it helped still.¡±

    Gale created something between an exhale and a chuckle. Calypso was going to pat her exposed back, until she caught wind of something.

    Well, someone.

    With an intense, steely and uncaring gaze¡ªCalypso broke off the hug, marching over to that damn gnat of a girl¡ªwho already had her hands up, bearing her palms, to calm her down.

    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    The skeletal monster grabbed her neck, lifting her off the ground. Unflinching. While she figured that there was going to be a fight, some form of pitiable pleading¡ªCalypso didn¡¯t expect for the gnat to be practically trying to claw at her own throat, trying in vain to say something.

    Didn¡¯t matter to her, as she slowly but surely squeezed.

    ¡°WAIT!¡±

    Calypso snapped her head towards Gale, snarling, ¡°¡®Wait¡¯--?¡±

    The guilt immediately hitting, and the girl softened her voice and face instantly. ¡°What do you mean, ¡®wait¡¯¡­?¡±

    ¡°Sooooo, I know that you¡¯re super P.O.¡¯d, which I¡¯m gonna say the second thing I had in my head first and the first one later¡ª¡± Gale quickly shook her head, trying to clear her racing mind before pressing her hands together. ¡°But she really was like us¡ªCassie practically had a gun to the back of her head! Even when she was attacking us, it was just annoyance and not¡ªy¡¯know, kill shots! And y¡¯know, when she was, like, with me and stuff, she could¡¯ve easily killed me! I had no arms and legs, so it¡¯d be easy to¡ªalso yeah, she told me her deal during then too! She¡¯s a good person, Cal¡­ I promise!¡±

    Calypso glanced over at the waste of space that struggled for air, before glancing back at her friend. ¡°And what if she¡¯s lying¡­?¡±

    ¡°And that was my first thing! But I saved it because¡­¡± Gale looked down. ¡°Well¡­ It¡¯s me, but. It¡¯s defo a funky aura, it¡¯s not bad. The vibe of a person, y¡¯know? With Cassie, it was overwhelming. Nothing but black and darkness¡ªred rage igniting like an explosion, and you could feel that. This girl? ¡­Well, not to take it the wrong way but¡­ Same-ish vibe I got from you.¡±

    If anything, that made Calypso want to kill this thing more.

    But¡­ As the monster girl looked back at her so-called kin, the gnat girl who was turning blue struggled to raise two thumbs up.

    With a huff through the nose, Calypso let go, taking everything in herself not to throw the gnat to the ground. Massive inhales, morphing into shuddering ensued after, which made Calypso feel a little better.

    ¡°A-as I was¡ª¡± the gnat coughed out, ¡°T-trying to say¡ªduring all that, yeah, I don¡¯t blame you at all¡ªit was the right call trying to crush my windpipe¡­ If anything, it¡¯s letting me off the hook more than this¡ª¡±

    ¡°I would elect to stop talking to me, at his point,¡± Calypso barely hid the indifference etched into her tone.

    The gnat nodded, rubbing her fingers against the still present grip marks on the neck. As a creature that dwells in schadenfreude, Calypso would have openly shuddered if there wasn¡¯t company.

    ¡°Now then!¡± the scarecrow boy clasped his hands together after a very loud, attention-grabbing clap. Flanked to the sides in rifle men and spear wielders.

    ¡°Got our primal desires out of the way, hm? Now¡­ We can open a dialogue~¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I can¡¯t¡ª¡± Gale lifted her hands to act as a shield for her eyes. ¡°I can¡¯t really look at you¡ªI¡¯m sure you¡¯re super nice but¡ª¡±

    The scarecrow boy chuckled, ¡°It is very unsightly, I understand, I understand¡­ But, it¡¯s practical. Keeping my identity secret is paramount to my operations.¡±

    ¡°See¡ªokay, the throat¡¯s healed enough from the near-fatal-throttling¡ªThat¡¯s the thing¡­¡± the gnat flew past the duo, landing before wincing, forgetting that most of the land is still scorched. ¡°Your¡­ ¡®Operation¡¯. Well no, you added an -s to the end of that too. As someone that got roped into something and nearly paid for it¡­ 15 second ago, I want you to tell what those are¡­¡±

    Now that Calypso was forced to look at her, the gnat¡¯s ¡°attire¡± was made more clear. She wore onyx, insectoid platelet armor that was in the shape of a mini dress. Her legs were bare, along with the arms and shoulders, showing off her chalk white complexion. But on second inspection, only the back of her legs were bare, the front of each were covered in a massive bug leg that had sharp feelers that descended downward to the ankles, decreasing in size.

    The mini dress trailed off in a way at the back, which took the likeness of a separated abdomen that chittered at very off second. Light gray hairs gathered to create gloves that were cut off around the waists, getting puffier to create a ring--also giving her a fuzzy scarf of sorts around the neck. Finishing the assemble, her wings were draped on her back, completely lifeless as they were folded into a cape. The structure in a jiggery, hexagonal pattern which made Calypso wonder how the fuck did she fly then.

    But the horrid part was the fact she didn¡¯t have ¡°ears¡±, they were replaced by these headphone-like domes¡­ Which on closer look, they were compound eyes. A fly¡¯s compound eyes, scaled to size of a human. And Calypso could see her dark, crimson eyes look about, reflected a hundred times over.

    The scarecrow boy slowly pointed at the girl, and the rifle men pointed their guns. ¡°You. Speaking of feeling ¡®bad signs¡¯, I detect a lot from you. I¡¯d advise to keep your questions to an absolution minimum. I would hate for this union to immediately shatter and break out into violence¡­¡±

    The gnat huffed, crossing her arms, muttering about ¡°the guy doesn¡¯t even have his eyes¡± or something.

    ¡°¡­Can we at least know your, like, first name?¡± Gale spoke up, still looking away. ¡°We can¡¯t really do much with a name and you kinda know ours¡ªwell, not that girl, but¡ª¡±

    There was a hearty chuckle that rumbled within the mask. ¡°That¡¯s certainly true¡­¡±

    He gestured towards the girls, opening his arms in showmanship. ¡°Richard. You can call me Richard.¡±

    ¡°Fitting,¡± the gnat added literally seconds after, clearly uncaring about the unstable ground they were treading.

    Calypso seemed to be the only one here that understood that they were coasting on this man¡¯s ego. She tried to make her body language shift towards the situation as subtle as possible. At least thinking about the alibi for him noticing in the back of the mind.

    The skeletal monster stepped forward, ¡°It¡¯s very nice to meet you, Richard¡­ Thank you for sparing us, above all else. We¡­ Are just confused about what just happened. As you mused about in front of me, we are but simple Consumed, we have no idea of what¡¯s going on.¡±

    ¡°But of course, but of course¡­¡± Richard tried to ease Calypso using his leathered hands, moving them up and down. ¡°This is why we¡¯re talking right now. If you let me, you all will be informed. I swear by it.¡±

    Richard pulled two vials of that liquid and gave it to the two spear men. They nodded¡ªhinting at possible and ambiguous anatomy? They equipped such into the shift of the spears, spun such in the air, and stabbed the ground.

    Proceeding to create a white-silvery dome all around them.

    ¡°Now then¡­ Let¡¯s start from the beginning~¡±

 Missing Entry (#3)

    The ravaged, ruined insides of what was just a mind began to play a very painful memory. A reminder, that this girl¡¯s mind was already mutilated and sick even before losing it.

    Cassie was practically groveling. On her knees, her head downwards¡ªit worked out for two reasons. 1), she found in her life¡ªrather back then¡ªit told your aggressors¡ªthe people over you, that you¡¯re submitting yourself and more or less ready for whatever bullshit their sense of right was.

    And 2) was a personal thing. She just didn¡¯t want to see the bastard¡¯s eyes, how everyone¡¯s twisted¡ªwhen they always gazed at her. She always hated looking at their eyes.

    ¡°I-I told you, I¡¯m sorry¡ªI¡¯ll keep saying it!¡± Cassie¡¯s voice trembled, trying desperately to lob words out, hoping that one of the hundred she¡¯d already spewed, at least one could stop the oncoming avalanche.

    ¡°Geeee, I¡¯unno Carrie¡­ ¡®Miles¡¯ seems to have a pretty big scar on the elbow¡­¡±

    Those bitches always got her name wrong. Cassie didn''t know if they didn''t care that much, or knew how much she ended up caring herself. Bastards, literally from birth, these humans. And yet they call themselves innocent.

    They were playing soccer outside, the 13 of them. And Cassie fucking remembered the fact there was 13 of them¡ªconsidering how the game worked. But Cassie insisted, Cassie begged even back then. She knew that half the class still looked at her that way, still said the hushed things behind her back, in an effort to evade any so-called wrath.

    It was stupid ass kids, out playing something that they had no good grasp of what the rules were¡ªthat shouldn¡¯t have been playing so late in the first place. Fuck, kids getting hurt during a stupid fucking game was normal. It was supposed to be normal. Finally, something normal for little Cassie.

    This was supposed to be her big break. The one, nibbling square of absolution in the stained tiles that created the mosaic of her life.

    But it was more of the same. It was always more of the same.

    Miley, or ¡®Miles¡¯¡ªwell, Cassie never knew if that was a nickname or not. But the girl who had the big boo-boo in question was holding her arm, rubbing it with a very noticeable snicker that rocked that movement as she did it. Clearly not in pain in the slightest. Cassie caught that, even back then¡­ But she knew, even back then, that voicing that¡ªvoicing anything about anybody, it resulted in nothing.

    Nothing but that look she always received.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡ªMiles, seriously¡ªI¡¯d carry for stuff tomorrow, I¡¯d do your homework, I would kiss it better if I could! Just¡­¡±

    Cassie couldn¡¯t help but to tear up, but she¡¯d learned how to handle that. Keep the smile and jovial nature going, or else that¡¯s something else for them to use against her. From this memory and the perspective she¡¯s been given¡­ God, she looked like such a psycho.

    ¡°Please don¡¯t tell anyone¡­¡± Cassie pathetically mewled out, from her twitching, broken smile that were her lips.

    Despite everyone that surrounded her beginning to spill into laughter, Sonia¡¯s hum of thought was still heard very clearly over it.

    ¡°Well, yeah, or else the police and junk takes you to the loony bin, right~?¡± Sonia chirped teasingly, as if she was talking about telling a teacher that someone hit her shoulder too hard or some shit. ¡°Not even juvie, straight to the crazy house, right? We don¡¯t want that! Not at all! We¡¯re friends, right Carrie~?¡±

    Cassie¡¯s head turned into a blur. The zeal she felt, after Sonia saying that last question, was greater than the shame of all of her orifices leaking out with tears, snot and saliva. ¡°YAH! Yes¡ªyeah¡ªtotally! You¡¯re the girl, ¡®Sony¡¯!¡±

    As Sonia recoiled from the display, that did it¡ªthe entire crew, including the girl that¡¯s supposedly in excruciating pain, broke out in uproarious laughter. The sheer wave of such, the pressure of that sudden gush cascaded all over Cassie, rendering her still and silent.

    ¡°Alright, alright, people¡­¡± Sonia waved everyone down from their high, with a few still shaking with mirth. ¡°Hey, I think Carrie here said what the solution is!¡±

    The stocky-for-her-age brought forward the gangly girl, which caused Miles to do a brief double take¡ªa clear and present shock of fear as if she was going to be the offering to the crazy demon before them. With an assured smirk that Sonia sent, Miles¡¯ worry melted into the shared expression.

    She presented the ¡°wounded¡± elbow to Cassie, radiating smug energy that she could never control with such a rubbery, dopey face.

    They didn¡¯t even need to explain what was happening to Cassie.

    She lurched forward, carefully reaching out and immediately started smooching the deep, thin bloody line.

    As Cassie kept kissing, trying to push back the tears, the laughter that flooded her ears didn¡¯t help. It was practically rumbling her head, and she couldn¡¯t retreat inside of it, like always during scenarios like these. Her only refuge.

    Once the monster snapped out of the trance, Cassie growled.

    ¡°Dick move, doing that shit¡­ Super fuckin¡¯ nasty, pulling that one out of all things¡­¡±

    And doing that while the beast was in a backwater, mini convenience store that doubled as a gas station at that.

    Cassie was sulking throughout the five or so stalls, walking in flickering lights that shut off so badly, there were periods of 5-second-long blackouts. Looking at the various snacks that were loaded with so much sugar, salt and fried lard¡ªthe Subsumed will end up hungry because the humans killed themselves before they will. She couldn¡¯t even recall what any of these tasted like anymore, because it¡¯s been that long since she¡¯s lived on nothing but blood¡ªso it required focus that she simply didn¡¯t have anymore.

    It was clear as day¡ªthat Cassie¡¯s day was total shit. It was all over her face. Which was still covered in gashes and slices¡ªblonde hair a total mess, pale cheeks still stained with crimson, and her eyes still puffy from the crying. But hey, it was still human-looking. A Cassie that was a late-20-something, still somehow human.

    The annoying thing was putting that face back together again. It was sort of like that scene in Men in Black, where the roach dude pulled back that farmer guy¡¯s head after the wife complained about how low it hung from the skull. On good¡ªsuper fun days, that¡¯s usually Cassie¡¯s deal because she fed enough to piece the face back from exploding, after transforming. But she¡¯s low now, and while she knew that she did a great job given the circumstances, Cassie felt the skin so stretched thin¡ªsmile or even frown could force the face to break open. She had to play it cool.

    Didn¡¯t help that the cashier was staring daggers at her.

    Cassie¡¯s sensibilities changed a lot, but c¡¯mon. She was just some woman that had blood and scars on the face, clearly just wearing the huge, black overcoat that she was super lucky to find again, and wearing boots that clearly belonged to someone else. It wasn¡¯t like she was the prime example of crazy he¡¯d ever seen, and the red scarf covered her neck and collar bones¡ªso she had shirt AND shoes from what he¡¯s concerned. Humans.

    All so busy being paranoid about the things in front of them, when there¡¯s something lurking behind that had no idea about. A wimpy Subsumed was literally drooling behind his back, and he¡¯s all focused on Cassie. Bet he would¡¯ve changed the lights if he fucking knew, then.

    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    But speaking of annoying Subsumed¡­

    She performed an over-the-top sigh, before pulling out a grey burner phone to her ear. It didn¡¯t even work anymore, Cassie squeezed it when she ran from the Better People gig. But she needed that check-out guy off her back, because there wasn¡¯t enough room anymore.

    ¡°The fuck do you want from me?¡± Cassie directly chatted with the thing that shared her mind.

    You understand what.

    Cassie rolled her eyes. Direct as usual¡ªshe shouldn¡¯t have expected less. She perched the broken phone on her shoulder and against her ear, as she picked up packages of chips.

    Our union has thinned. That memory was punishment, you are thinking as an individual again. What¡¯s more, we have lost when we cannot afford to.

    ¡°Man, and I thought the feeling of my insides being pulled apart every time I breathe didn¡¯t signal that we¡¯ve fucked up enough¡­¡± Cassie said in a mocking huff, putting various snacks under her arms.

    You jest and mock all you want¡ª

    ¡°Coping mechanism. They¡¯re notoriously hard to give up, y¡¯see¡ªbecause they¡¯re new drug habits to replace the old ones¡ª¡±

    --But it¡¯s telling the Fates That Be, that you¡¯re still drenched with human sensibility. Weakness. I value your sickness, Cassie, but we must be objective here. We have to prove that we are not only one, but simply a new being amongst a rotting litter.

    Cassie sighed. ¡°I like how you continued on¡ªit proves that you¡¯re so stiff, I can¡¯t call you a dick in good faith.¡±

    If only we could erase that human perversion, as well.

    ¡°You¡¯re the one that¡¯s inside me, buddy--!¡± Cassie glanced over to the stooge, who had eyes that were wide as dinner plates at this point.

    We¡¯ve been over this. I have simply merged with your entire being. Normal¡ªlowly Subsumed are deep within the layers of skin.

    ¡°And as I¡¯ve said back then when you woke me up, that still sounds somehow dirtier,¡± Cassie just gathered snacks, lackadaisically. ¡°Speaking of, yeah, I sort of realized what was going on the literal moment I started thinking words I would never say, in that flashback. ¡®Uproariously¡¯? Seriously?¡±

    Pardon? It¡¯s the proper word, to describe what was happening then.

    ¡°Honey, just because it¡¯s the 1800¡¯s in your little, insane head¡ªdoesn¡¯t mean that it is out heeere,¡± Cassie purposefully droned, in a sickeningly sweet tone that brought to mind a nagging wife.

    Regardless. The fact that you can commune with me in such a casual manner, when we should share the same thoughts, shows that our tryst is in dire straits. Intrusive memories will be the last symptom you will worry about if this continues. But at the very least, I took it upon myself to induce them to get you to listen to reason.

    Cassie hummed at that¡ªin an ambiguous manner. The under of her left arm handled a massive wad of snacks, on the verge of falling out of the grip as a result.

    ¡°Interesting!¡± Cassie merrily made her way to the counter, slamming her bounty all over it. The cashier practically shitting himself, and he was encased in 5-inch glass. ¡°Well then partner, I better do my end of the deal then~!¡±

    Once again, Cassie was plunged within the ruins of what was once a mind. But it was weird, this time. Despite these memories, these eyes that she was looking through weren¡¯t hers¡ªthey were now.

    The cracking flame illuminated what was vast nothingness. The Vampire Subsumed, ¡°her¡± people didn¡¯t need it. It was those hideous interlopers that were huddled around it, they were the ones clinging to such.

    They were right there. Vulnerable, like they always were regardless of light, home, companionship or tools. Traitorous monkeys that were scared out of their minds, festering in the dirt.

    And yet, it was the Vampire Subsumed that was snout deep in such.

    ¡°Poor little bat¡­ I recall chatter, about your kind being blind. Blind to your surroundings, so let me take it upon myself to reiterate the rules¡­¡±

    This thing was made of muck, as it slithered closer to ¡°her¡± ear. Could barely form a head and a face to talk to the Vampire Subsumed, but was thick enough to sit on ¡°her¡± back and spread across ¡°her¡± wings, keeping the monster grounded. But the Blob Subsumed formed an arm along with the dribbling head, using its hand to grip the Vampire Subsumed¡¯s head as the Blob¡¯s mouth was pried open.

    ¡°We Subsumed¡­ We have a sole reason to be alive. And that reason is the only reason that we can live. Stray from that reason, and the rules that were created¡ªand we have a problem with those upstart groundlings, such as yourself. Try to attack humans without a process again, and we¡¯ll eat you and your pathetic brood alive.¡±

    The Vampire Subsumed looked up at them. Watching them huddled, away from ¡°her¡±. Giving into the miasma of shit that these coward monsters call the status quo¡ªwhen they outnumber those fucking runts they try to act not scared of. Fuckers¡ªevery single last one of them.

    The Blob chuckled as it wormed itself away, but the voice still carried, despite it being formless. ¡°It¡¯s not like you all could fight them anyways. You Vampires¡­ The humans are savvy to you now, honor your kind, perverted them¡­ You hold no fear over them anymore.¡±

    The Vampire Subsumed could still hear those words, rattling in ¡°her¡± fucking head¡ªit¡¯s been centuries, and yet it still rattled in ¡°her¡± head.

    And as Cassie took hers, everything came back online. Her entire vision flooded with the image of a sweating man behind a see-through shield with a grey speaker wedged within it.

    Cassie rolled her eyes, but at least with this instance of the bleed through being funny this time.

    ¡°I-Is everything alright, miss?¡± the rest stop worker stuttered out. His greasy bangs covering most of his face riddled with ache. Must be a gig to evade college as much as he could.

    ¡°Mm, yeah, don¡¯t worry¡ª¡± Cassie looked at her nails, flexing her fingers to scope them out. ¡°Fell down the stairs, it was very painful.¡±

    And before he could respond, or take what would be his final breath¡ªCassie swiped, causing her claws to rip out of her human fingers. Breaking through the glass wall with relative ease and precisely gorged out the poor fucker¡¯s neck.

    He fell. Cassie didn¡¯t want to see him struggle¡ªshe was bored of that old song and dance, she simply wanted to make her way out. But she did trade looks with the gravelling Subsumed that was a literal deer in headlights. The antlers, rimmed and forked to be demonic, eyes too far apart as they glowed yellow. The rest of the body was fine¡­ Provided if one didn¡¯t look too hard. Then they¡¯d notice how the head was enlarged and yet flat. The body with gnarly, spider-like legs with a bulbous midsection.

    ¡°Hey, can I get a quick hit, my guy?¡± Cassie rose her talons. Forcing them to part, so that her human veins slithered out of the slits, beginning to writhe hungrily. ¡°Need a bit of a pick-me-up, then he¡¯s all yours.¡±

    The Stag Subsumed bowed (Cassie immediately huffed at ¡°suddenly¡± knowing that name), and the monster lanced out her veins through the hole she made in the glass wall. Snapping onto the corpse, immediately draining it¡­ The wonderful sensation of being steadily filled up with intoxicating warmth followed.

    A good minute passed and Cassie flicked her veins back, shaking her now ¡°normal¡± hand. And with a tug on both her cheeks, she righted her human face by stretching it, sealing up most of the cuts. Blinking, Cassie¡¯s eyes settled on the Stag practically shoving its face into the gaping wound on the clerk¡¯s neck, which naturally has doubled in size.

    With a wave, Cassie grabbed the various snacks and walked out. ¡°Have fun, bud! Make sure to style yourself for a very terrible Terrortide~!¡±

    Despite the fa?ade, everything was clearly taking it¡¯s toll. Namely the symbiosis between the two, that tearing feeling from the inside¡ªnow somehow deeper, rawer.

    Cassie didn¡¯t¡ªcouldn¡¯t focus on getting to the hideout. She was beginning to hallucinate again, her body moving on it¡¯s own¡­

    But her mind. Her damn mind. She became trapped again.

    Not so memories but¡­ The moments that irreversibly broke their psyches. Impacts that resulted in pain that is ever present, emotions that are simply buried under their normal disposition so they could properly function, battered and mutilated the psyche by simply showing the key images and sensations alone.

    For Cassie, it was that damn day¡ªin that damn girls¡¯ bathroom. A crowd of girls, not the same ones from the previous vision¡ªbut it didn¡¯t matter. They¡¯re all the same.

    They wanted her and the other bullied girl to fight, to prove who would choke and break under the pressure first. So of course, Cassie did¡ªand proceeded to hit her square in the stomach, before screaming at the others if they were happy or not. The two losers had a pathetic squat as the winners laughed at them.

    And two days later, that poor girl killed herself. The other girls pointed their fingers and Cassie¡¯s life was changed forever.

    Mother was facing charges. While they were evaded, she took Cassie and told her that she had to be a good girl now. One step backwards, one out of line, then she will pay for her. Screamed at her to see if she understood or not.

    Thus began the ¡°life¡± she had until she reached her end. Trying so hard to desperately fit in, after everything¡­ And realizing that such a world, where things like this happened and people continued on. It was sick.

    Another flash. Motivated by a decaying clan, and the stagnation of those fools pressing the Vampire Subsumed into action. They gathered, devising a reclamation. Regaining their titles, their influence, everything that they were denied for far too long. Maybe even find that blob in the aftermath.

    They followed those humans, after watching their way of life for months. They stormed the village, immediately attacking everything in sight¡ªbeing sure to take every single thing that those monkeys might hold fear.

    It was supposed to work. It was supposed to be their revolution.

    The humans¡­ They became monsters themselves, without any hide or fur or horns. They fought back with such ferocity, their pained yet primal screams still haunt the Vampire Subsumed.

    They were once 100 of their number. The lowly, pathetic Vampire Subsumed was the only survivor.

    Face down into the dirt once more. As she saw the other Subsumed just peer from the shadows. Almost mocking.

    But once they were out of it, Cassie opened their eyes again.

    ¡°Fuck. Theeeere we go¡­¡±

    With a pained smirk stretched across their face, the monster continued to march into the night. Finding the path they¡¯ve discovered together, determined more than ever to complete their task:

    To fuck the world.

 Entry 7.0 - Pain: An Excellent Reminder

    Calypso had to review her surroundings very, very carefully. Especially considering that she¡¯s completely trapped in a dome made of metallic liquid created by futuristic, yet raggedy pilgrims led by a man in a dollar store scarecrow mask.

    Glancing up towards the skies that they¡¯ve cut off, the white-silvery substance swirled about. Colliding, shifting to form odd patterns due to¡­ What Calypso thought to be various reactions due to merging with one another. And these violate reactions caused glimmers of discordant hues, which illuminated across their shared plane, before settling back down into the dull, gray shade that surrounded them.

    Looking back down, she was with her new best friend, who was such a dear but whose na?ve nature could be taken advantage of, or worse, the perfect target to be a victim.

    And before the duo, an obnoxious and two-faced gnat of a girl that was also a powdered keg. Both parties didn¡¯t like her, she knows that, and she wants to continue needling them to blow her up. Thus actively dissolving the very little, transient peace that this meeting had.

    So, this entire meeting hinged on the emotionally stunted girl that only knows how to act like a reasonable person, not naturally be one. The fear and anxiety when she¡¯s currently a Consumed normally felt divine, but in this instance, it felt too close to how she feels normally wearing the human guise. This entire day so far was pushing every ability this nothing-of-a-girl lacked.

    Somehow, the crazed vampire piloting a dead girl¡¯s body was easier compared to this. Despite 1), this dialogue barely starting and 2) Calypso thoroughly lost that fight and was on the verge of death.

    ¡°Now then¡­¡± Richard rubbed his leather-gloved hands together, the motions of such rattling his rubber mask subtly and adding to its very disconcerting nature. ¡°Normally when I deal with others, I ask to compare our notes, to see if we¡¯re truly on the same foot. Clearly this isn¡¯t the case her, so what¡­ Do you ladies wish to know first~?¡±

    ¡°Your entire deal¡ªbut I¡¯m sure that was taken as read¡­¡±

    Richard turned his head towards the literal gnat before him (to which Calypso wanted to know what poor Subsumed was themed after a fly, of all things). His expression is buried under a mask, but I¡¯m sure he shared the same, exact look Calypso was brewing.

    Despite only having a profile view of her, Calypso caught her smug, half-baked confident smirk that rose her butterfly-styled mask upwards a tad.

    ¡°After all¡ªI¡¯m sure, with your values of hospitality that¡¯s absolutely not fake at all, you can indulge me with all the facts. Why were you dealing with someone as crazy as Cassie¡ªwhy promote such a kind image despite being totally creepy¡ªin fact, you hunt Consumed¡ªwhich is kinda startling as I¡¯m one of those¡ªand why with all that knowledge can¡¯t you fashion a solution versus outright assignations¡ªalso, uh, are we going to ignore the fact that two of your guys just DIED and you¡¯re not even phased by that--?¡±

    Richard shifted to his right, letting his terrible mask shag along with the movement, giving the vibe of cocking his head incredulously. ¡°The Subsumed that ripped you apart fits you so well.¡±

    ¡°Thank you~¡± the gnat cheerfully chirped at him. The awkward silence that settled afterwards was broken by the sounds of adjusting rifles.

    Before Calypso could step forward, she noticed something. The gnat¡¯s wings, which were so lifeless that they acted something between a vale and a cape, began twitching. Nervously.

    Looking back at her face, which sported a grin that showed her fangs, then back to the wings twitching more vibrantly¡­ Calypso finally got what Gale tried to tell her.

    But, turns out, Calypso didn¡¯t need to mediate.

    ¡°I love the look of you guys, at least!¡± Gale spoke up, walking forward. ¡°It¡¯s pretty rad! Colors blend together well, the themes match up¡ªI-I know that I said like, ten second ago I couldn¡¯t look at you because of the mask¡ªs-still can¡¯t really, but it¡¯s all fun ideas! So fun, super fun! You guys are pretty alright~!¡±

    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Richard began to chuckle, heartedly even. Maybe he¡¯s drawn to the same allure that Calypso got from Gale: she¡¯s too damn earnest for her own good. Something about being completely far and away the usual riffraff, it acted like balm for the soul.

    ¡°Well, the design decisions were done long before I came on board, but I¡¯m sure those people would be so happy to hear that¡­¡±

    The gnat hummed to herself, around the same time Calypso allowed her eyelids to rest a bit. Another lovely aspect of Gale, making others at ease enough to spill details otherwise would¡¯ve never came up.

    ¡°Buuut¡­ As long as we¡¯re on the subject,¡± Richard put his hands behind himself. ¡°We¡­ Are simply Better People.¡±

    ¡°Capital letters, or just you describing yourselves--?¡± the gnat butted in.

    ¡°Our mission,¡± Richard rightfully moving on, ¡°Is to help mankind to understand they could become better themselves. We hope to rid the world of the darkness¡¯¡­ Terrible vice grip on us. Be those incarnation monsters, hexes, or the entire ecosystem of the supernatural. Our methods may be harsh, alienating, arcane¡­ But you must understand, it is in response to these evils. The center of our actions are that: just.¡±

    ¡°And, don¡¯t take this the wrong way but¡­ This is the truth¡­?¡± Gale asked, oh so innocently.

    Richard proceeded to put both hands on his chest. In such dramatic flair, pressing the tips of his fingers around his heart.

    ¡°¡®I only speak the truth~!¡¯¡±

    After the shock of¡­ That, Calypso quickly gathered¡­ Well, hopefully assumed that the scarecrow boy was referencing something due to that sudden vocal shift and energy coming out of nowhere. She didn¡¯t want him to become crazier in her head.

    But, as Gale gasped¡ªsquealed while clapping her slimy hands after even, the swamp girl repeated Richard¡¯s quote, but in a rhythmic fashion as he laughed, pleased.

    ¡°I¡ªFucking love Moulin Rogue!¡± Gale cursed in excitement¡ªthis was the second ever time Calypso heard such language from her. ¡°Okay, you guys are ACTUALLY awesome, man!¡±

    ¡°Your company in this discussion is greatly appreciated so far¡­¡± Richard sounded genuine at first, before trailing off.

    He then leaned over, arched his finger at one of the cloaked men, and the latter whispered in his ¡°ear¡± before moving back to his post.

    ¡°Gale~¡± one could hear the smile in Richard¡¯s tone.

    The man continued to be creepily polite. Calypso wondered if the others caught on to that, what the implications of what he just casually did could mean for them.

    Sure, they couldn¡¯t do anything with the name ¡°Richard¡±, but what about him with their names?

    ¡°Fun trivialities aside¡­¡± Richard cleared his throat. The mask made the action sound and feel utterly disgusting. ¡°Yes. We had made dealings in the past with our enemies, and have engaged in unsavory practices to stay in this game. But 100% of the time, we have done so with the upmost professionalism and care. We are well aware of the weight of each of our actions.¡±

    The scarecrow boy proceeded to reach up and softly massage the forehead of his mask, ¡°This, unfortunately, is on myself. And totally a freak accident in very sense of the word.¡±

    He stopped, and presented the back of his left hand again. A sigil flared, showing a blood red line formation of a skull with its mouth open, full of fangs.

    ¡°You see¡­¡± Richard explained. ¡°Humans and Subsumed, we can engage in pacts with one another. Usually, it¡¯s the Subsumed that normally form these contracts with one another¡ªand we¡¯re so fervently at each other¡¯s necks to entertain the thought. But, with mutual understanding and sharing of blood¡ªa pact can be formed and has to be honored until the very end, lest the heavens fall.¡±

    ¡°Oooh-oh-oh!¡± Gale jumped in place and waved her hand, as if she¡¯s at school. ¡°It¡¯s like being blood brothers!¡±

    ¡°Correct!¡± Richard cheerily answered. ¡°So¡­ If we need something super unsavory to happen, and the local beasts are somewhat reasonable¡­ Be it Subsumed, Consumed¡ªwe engage in deals with them and assign them with said tasks. And in reward, we allow them into our humble town¡ªand get their pressing needs solved any way we can afford. Cassie Morgan, is an example of how that could go horrible wrong¡­¡±

    ¡°Nononono,¡± the gnat had the gall to butt in again at such an opportune time. ¡°We¡¯re not going to speed past that¡ª¡°reward their pressing needs¡±? You mean to tell me you¡¯ve let monsters into the gates and let them eat people?¡±

    ¡°Hence not doing these deals unless it¡¯s absolutely necessary,¡± Richard bluntly responded.

    She then leaned forward, and pointed her sharp, furry index finger at the man, ¡°Still. For such a humanitarian gaggle, signing off most of the population kiiinda¡ªy¡¯know¡ªfucks with the message. Unless¡­ Is this just some excuse to be some authority over humankind? You send out the undesirables to their deaths, huh~?¡±

    The scarecrow took a long, deep inhale. You didn¡¯t have to be a paranoid person like Calypso, searching for tells, to understand that this man was getting annoyed.

 Entry 7.1 (1/2) - Pain: An Excellent Reminder

    ¡°That is to say---¡± Calypso pushed herself into the conversation, even in the physical sense as she stepped up towards the side of the duo. ¡°¡ªThat this information is rather¡­¡±

    Calypso cursed herself for not having the word available, that she let her vulnerability shine through as her eyes searched about towards the ground as she tried to think so fast.

    ¡°Sorry,¡± Calypso then gulped, finding the word under this much pressure. ¡°It¡¯s rather startling to us¡­ There is no judgement here, if anything, we understand the weight of such a decision and can¡¯t imagine us making the same calls. On behalf of everyone present, we are sympathetic to your mission, Richard.¡±

    Now to clutch her teeth, hiding behind her stone-face expression. Hoping that not only did this man not sense the unease she had, but is willing to buy such a bold-faced lie in the first place.

    ¡°¡­¡± Richard then proceeded to sigh. ¡°Thank you, ¡®Cal¡¯.¡±

    ¡°Calypso,¡± the skeletal monster girl answered, manually putting icing on the cake herself.

    ¡°Beautiful name.¡±

    She nodded, as thanks and also still being on tenterhooks enough to be wary of speaking. The entire gesture being much more grand compared to the others, telling him their names. ¡°Gale¡± could be uncommon, but there¡¯s only the one ¡°Calypso¡±.

    ¡°If I may be so bold¡­¡± Calypso began, trying so desperately hard to find the right words. ¡°I assume Cassie¡­ Somehow, didn¡¯t honor your deal? What happens if one doesn¡¯t¡­?¡±

    ¡°Excellent questions,¡± Richard had some semblance of airiness back in his tone. ¡°To start, well, a pact is all about honor and blood. Violating either aspect does hold very, very harsh consequences¡­ Think of it as debt, but physical. The longer you don¡¯t take care of it, the more it accrues. And the more it accrues, the more weight that crushes you, leaving you with two options.¡±

    He then raised two of his leather fingers, ¡°Either go back and work off the debt by doing the original agreement¡ªplus serving more penalties decided by the ¡®pact-mate¡¯¡­ Or, simply let the debt crush you.¡±

    Richard shook his head and let his arm flop to his side.

    ¡°Unfortunately, my pact-mate is not only strong enough to withstand this crush¡­ But simply doesn¡¯t care to honor it anymore. That, and in her twisted way, she IS serving her end of the deal¡­¡±

    ¡°That uh,¡± Gale interjected. ¡°Sounds like a problem.¡±

    ¡°And I wish that was simply it. But what¡¯s currently happening is much, much worse.¡±

    Calypso clicked it into place. ¡°Terrortide¡­?¡±

    Richard shot his ¡°gaze¡± at Calypso.

    Which immediately caused the skeletal girl to raise her hands in defense, ¡°We only know of the word¡­ It¡¯s rather hard to ignore, after all¡­¡± Electing to leave out being at the arena, and being nearly killed by the runes that¡¯s causing such.

    ¡°Right¡­¡± Richard shivered, adjusted his ¡°neck¡± while exhaling comically. ¡°If I knew I was giving an entire lecture, I would¡¯ve dressed in warmer clothes¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not that chilly¡­¡± Gale glanced down at herself, ¡°And I¡¯m barely wearing a thing¡ª¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s because we run at over 100 degrees, Gale,¡± Calypso answered as if she were a parent.

    As Gale cooed in realization, Richard¡¯s chuckles grew louder over such. ¡°What a merry bunch, you all are. You¡¯re making a rather hopeless situation much more tolerable¡­¡±

    Even the smugness from the gnat evaporated, after hearing that. ¡°Ooooh¡­ That bad, huh?¡±

    The boy abruptly pulled back his mask, causing the three monsters to be startled.

    ¡°Dude, what the fuc--?!¡± the gnat screamed.

    ¡°It¡¯s best for you all to hear this tale as clearly as you can¡­¡± Richard¡¯s lips were unveiled, and his unmuffled voice stern. The gesture alone caused the girls to shut themselves up, the words were just overkill.

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Richard sighed, ¡°Once upon a time, a time that we still cannot remember in full¡­ There existed a being so powerful, so terrifying, that simply knowing that it was coming after you would drive people and monsters into such fear, they¡¯d kill themselves due to such. For many, it was a preferable fate.¡±

    After letting those words truly hang in the cold air, Richard began to pace back and forth, hands tucked in his pockets.

    ¡°When I say that this¡­ Thing was a titan, there was truly no way to stop it. A Subsumed so mighty that it became virtually impossible to slay it. And that eventually led it to become virtually immortal, since no man, monster, weapon, sickness, and environment could stop it. It¡¯s name¡ªwhich was never spoken due to the fear of it appearing once it heard the name spoken¡­ Was Apex. The Apex Subsumed.¡±

    ¡°¡­Apex. Subsumed?¡± the gnat blinked her multiple-reflected eyes in surprise.

    ¡°¡®The Abominationatius¡¯ proved to be a mouthful,¡± Richard sighed to relax himself. ¡°A beast that killed so many, that the corpses were still caked and littered about its colossal frame. Inspired such a wave of panic that entire armies had to face it, if it meant getting out with a quarter of the population surviving, when it was crossing into their land. And it wasn¡¯t just a beast in brutality, but cunning¡­ Those fools without fear, they thought it couldn¡¯t think.¡±

    He took his hand out of the pocket, crouching down as the ground covered in that weird substance separated, ¡°giving¡± him a medium sized rock from the foliage.

    ¡°Apex once fell an entire army, that was organized brilliantly by a warmongering general that¡¯s name was lost to time¡ªjust by picking up a boulder and aiming in such a way that it managed to crush every single formation that was lying in wait for it.¡±

    He then tossed the rock, away from everyone that was present. The sounds of it landing were so crisp, because everyone present were stunned into silence.

    ¡°That general didn¡¯t even know what happened, until he saw Apex itself go out of its way to walk around him into the sunset. Later that night, that man killed himself due to the guilt. We will never know his name¡­ But we will forever know the tale of his terrible failure.¡±

    ¡°Holy fuck,¡± the gnat raked her claws down her cheeks, shaking her head.

    ¡°Is she summoning this thing after all of us--?!¡± Gale sounded on the verge of tears. Calypso did not at all blame her, she was just too busy shaking to do anything else.

    ¡°No no no no no no¡­¡± Richard tried to calm everyone down. ¡°Just keep listening¡­ See, because Apex was so mighty¡­ It itself came to a revelation, that caused it to finally stop prowling the world and stand in the sea. It was smart, after all¡­ It reasoned that despite the clear advantaged it had, somehow¡ªsomeway, fate was going to correct this. That it would produce something as impossible as it, or create a scenario that was so impossible, that it would prove to be it¡¯s downfall¡­¡±

    Richard shook his head. ¡°To say that it took this realization well, the statement might as well be a lie.¡±

    He rubbed his ¡°forehead¡± again, before sucking his teeth briefly before resuming, ¡°It caused such a horrid reign of terror, to commit so many horrible acts to prove that it¡¯s legacy will endure for countless eons¡­ Which did prove to be the thing that killed it¡­ That the little survivors that were left had nothing to them that they HAD to continue it¡¯s words. Thus, the first Terrortide was enacted.¡±

    Calypso finally regained the courage to breathe. It took a bit for her to regain the courage to speak again, ¡°S-so that¡¯s it¡­? Trying to top the Apex Subsumed? Cassie wants to become the next one¡­?¡±

    ¡°Yes. But to further clarify, because¡­ That was a lot¡­¡±

    Richard rubbed his hands together, somehow getting faster, ¡°Terrortide is actually something that existed before the Apex. It was the very hex that the Subsumed placed on themselves¡ªto undermine us and force us to return to being savage? The Apex Subsumed showed that it could be amended, that hex, by performing acts of violence that proves a new statement, a new status quo for the Subsumed to live by, to follow¡­ Presenting such towards the Fates That Be.¡±

    He gestured his hands along with the explanation, with each new term, ¡°These words become physical¡ªbecoming the Terrorversum, acting agents that apply these new maxims ¡®the author¡¯ came up with. They manifest due to the author creating places of ¡®worship¡¯ called Terrorsigns. They have to start committing their horrible acts of violence in these places, causing once normal locales to become haunted by their evil¡­ These elements cause darkness to fall. Insanity to the soon-to-be victims. All for the neighboring Subsumed to either shed their hides and watch what happens¡ªor join in the author¡¯s crusade, styling themselves after them in tribute.¡±

    Calypso snapped her head angrily at that damn gnat, ¡°And you helped this bitch to do this--?¡±

    ¡°I did not know anything about this!¡± she waved her claws at Calypso. ¡°I tried drilling her for information¡ªshe threatened to kill me, so I had to stop and-and try to search for context clues on my own¡­ I knew she was planning a massacre but¡ªthis is so much fucking worse¡­¡±

    Gale looked towards the scarecrow boy, nervously with her voice trembling, ¡°I-is there a way to stop her, Richie¡­?¡±

    ¡°Thankfully, there is,¡± his smile around Gale wasn¡¯t at all faked, now that Calypso could see it. ¡°And it¡¯s the very forces that she was to impress.¡±

    ¡°¡­Interesting¡­¡± the gnat twitched a tad, to tilt her head quizzically. A quirk of her transformation, Calypso assumed. ¡°Considering they¡¯re¡ªit¡ªwhatever¡ªlike, ¡®fate¡¯ is bankrolling her attempts to fuck everyone over, right? So why it would be on our side too¡­?¡±

    The smile instantly faded into a stern grimace, but even the disgust or anger came from a very somber place. It¡¯s why Calypso didn¡¯t think it was because he hated the gnat girl, this¡­ Was from something else.

    ¡°Believe me. Fate is not on anyone¡¯s side.¡±

 Entry 7.1 (2/2) - Pain: An Excellent Reminder

    Calypso¡¯s mind exploded with the possibilities of what that sentiment means for him, but elected to save face. ¡°A neutral entity¡­?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Richard quickly righted himself, injecting that airiness about him in real time. ¡°Fate is a fickle mistress, that comes for all man. It¡¯s hard to appease because¡­ Well, they want to do their jobs. But when one does¡­ It becomes what we call ¡®magic¡¯. Appeasing fate, telling the to-be that there are other ways, and getting away with it. Making the impossible, possible. Gale, Calypso¡ª¡±

    ¡°Huh and huh--?¡± Gale jumped a bit, looking at her friend in confusion and support.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯ll explain¡­¡± Calypso gave her an answer, easing her with a smile before dropping it as she returned Richard¡¯s gaze.

    ¡°What you did in that skirmish, that was tapping into your latent ability to perform magic. You Consumed are naturally magical, because your very existence now is impossible.¡± Richard pointed at Gale, ¡°You commanding the earth¡­¡± Then shifted his sights on Calypso, ¡°And your arm turning into a blade. You¡¯ve barely scratched the surface! However¡­¡±

    ¡°However¡­?¡± Calypso grew concerned.

    ¡°It is wild in nature. That¡¯s why it was so hard to control for you. There really is no ¡®control¡¯, but you can direct it, guide it. After all, you¡¯re keeping fate from doing their job¡­ And boy, the Fates That Be are vindictive. Your wish becomes a two-way street, what you¡¯ve pleaded can easily be turned back on you, so you must be careful in your wording and most definitely your intent¡­ I¡­ Would advise from handling anything precious with that arm, in the short term.¡±

    Calypso glanced down at said arm. Considering she pleaded for fate to let her kill with it, the monster girl shuddered and took the advice to heart.

    ¡°¡­Wait¡­¡± Calypso realized. ¡°That¡¯s the solution, then.¡±

    ¡°Have Cassie¡¯s proclamation blow up in her face,¡± the gnat had her arms crossed. ¡°Thus, all that debt she owes hit all at once¡­¡±

    ¡°Indeed!¡± Richard cheerfully wrangled his fits in excitement, before clapping them together. ¡°Maybe you are the ones for this mission. Righting my wrong, and end this terrible curse that I¡¯ve placed on this land I adore so much¡­¡±

    ¡°There is still the problem of um¡­¡± the gnat motioned her head. ¡°Surviving, in order to do it¡ª¡±

    ¡°And we don¡¯t know how to do that stuff anyways¡­¡± Gale added, glumly. ¡°We could barely handle ¡®Chimera Jaws¡¯ and stuff. And we only knew about magic until right now, and lemme tell ya¡¯, it¡¯s not like Harry Potter at all¡­¡±

    And Richard created such a sound from his mouth, Calypso could barely believe that it came from him.

    ¡°And here I thought we were bonding¡­¡± Richard shook his head, before groaning again. ¡°There¡¯s other fantasy series other than Harry Potter¡ª¡±

    ¡°C¡¯moooon!¡± Gale needled affectionately. ¡°It¡¯s great!¡±

    Calypso¡¯s worst nightmare was realized¡­ She had to be referee for both girls, after all.

    ¡°Back to the matter at hand¡­¡± Calypso interjected. ¡°Is there a method to stop Terrortide¡­?¡±

    ¡°Disprove her claims. Give the Fates That Be the opening they need to move in. It doesn¡¯t have to be a display of might. It could be a simple yet effective gesture that undermines everything she¡¯d work for¡­ You don¡¯t even have to best her in combat, she has so much debt that it could easily take care of her.¡±

    ¡°Right¡­¡± Calypso scratched her eyebrow by rubbing her palm into it. ¡°That said. We¡¯re still groundlings. No magic, no experience¡­ Can we truly make enough of a difference?¡±

    ¡°Even Cassie called us interesting¡ªwhat¡¯s that about when we¡¯re total scrubs?¡± the gnat added, causing Calypso to glance over and her to sheepishly smile back.

    ¡°It¡¯s quite easy to explain¡­ Each of you show signs of being very skilled with aspects of being a Consumed.¡±

    Richard pointed at the gnat, ¡°You have a very notable transformation threshold. You were transformed at the start of all of this, during the day even. Not many can do that.¡±

    ¡°¡­Man. And here I thought pushing myself to be transformed for at least half a day until night fall was trying to make up for being so vanilla¡­¡± the gnat sounded puzzled. And a bit proud.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    ¡°Gale,¡± Richard pointed at her. ¡°You can wield magic so easily, that you¡¯ve thought nothing of it until I¡¯ve told you. You¡¯ve seen Calypso, and how unwieldly it was for her. And yet it¡¯s second nature for you.¡±

    Gale giggled, closing her eyes and letting her smile dominate her soft face, ¡°I¡­ Just ask the Earth to help, is all. Do it nicely and it always works, I guess~?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure¡­¡± Richard chuckled, then turned to face Calypso. ¡°And you, Calypso¡­ You managed to hold on, when you shared the same fate as my fallen men. They were died within seconds, while you were just about to fade when I approached you¡­ If that doesn¡¯t show signs of wonderous healing ability, I don¡¯t know the subject as well as I thought.¡±

    Calypso glanced at the gnat¡¯s neck, seeing that the liasons were only just beginning to fade away. And thought back earlier, to Gale¡¯s hands being ruined, and despite transforming that those wounds were still there¡­ It did make too much sense.

    ¡°¡­You really believe in us¡­?¡± Calypso could only muster that as a response.

    ¡°I believe in the power of a wild card,¡± Richard smiled. ¡°And we have three of them in the form of you all.¡±

    ¡°And to be fair to the guy, a wild card fucked his entire plans for the worse¡ªso he¡¯s not wrong¡­¡± the gnat chimed in.

    Richard chuckled, and finally tugged his mask forward. Returning it to it¡¯s natural state. ¡°We have a lead that she¡¯s somehow taken over a hospital. It stands to reason that this is a Terrorsign. It¡¯s there that you can practice your solution to stopping her Terrortide completely. At the very least, learn all you can about it and her. I wish you all the best.¡±

    ¡°Wait!¡±

    Richard ¡°looked¡± surprised, and faced Calypso.

    ¡°While we accept¡­ You have to understand. She knows our faces¡­ She has the motivation to stalk us or send agents¡­ Asking for direct protection, I know it¡¯s way too much, but we need some sort of insurance. If we¡¯re so pivotal to all of this, you have to invest in us, even if you don¡¯t want to make another pact anytime soon¡ªunderstandably, of course.¡±

    The mask. That damn mask. It completely hides his face under such an unsightly fa?ade. Not only causing the person talking to him¡ªmaking it such a chore due to the ugliness of the mask, but hides any possible tells he had.

    So when Richard said, after such a long silence: ¡°¡­You have the best way of words here, dear.¡± Calypso ran cold. Was it praise? Or did he finally see through her completely?

    Nevertheless, he snapped. Three men stepped forward, and took off their cloaks, bowing towards the monster girls while keeping their head low. During this, Calypso had to glance at each of the back of their heads¡ªjust to prove that they are humans¡ªwhich they were. One had a buzz cut, the other a woman with a short ponytail¡ªauburn. The other shaggy.

    ¡°Here are your new Shadowshroud cloaks. With these, unless one knows how to look for them, these cloaks can allow you and what you hold to merge into the shadows. Virtually invisible, as long as there¡¯s shade to protect you. Hence¡ªus being able to watch your entire journey today.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡± Gale had a smug expression on her face. ¡°Soooo, Invisibility--?¡±

    ¡°NoooOOOOOO¡± Richard comically raised his voice, knowing exactly what Gale was going to reference. ¡°I can take these back, y¡¯know--!¡±

    ¡°No worries, no worries¡­¡± Gale giggled, as she picked up hers, looking at it before fastening hers on.

    The gnat and Calypso took theirs, and Calypso stepped forward. ¡°Thank you, Richard. Hopefully, we won¡¯t let you down.¡±

    Richard nodded, but quickly added, ¡°Well, you can¡¯t do anything but succeed. But I wish you ladies luck regardless. If fate is planning your lives to be a tragedy¡­ Then you know now that you can fight against it.¡±

    The spear men ripped the spears out of the ground. The dome immediately melted away¡­ To unveil that the area that Cassie literally burned¡ªit was healed. Back to normal, as if nothing happened.

    Before Calypso could ask, she got her answer.

    ¡°Miracle Matter,¡± Richard¡¯s smile could be heard through the tone again. ¡°All for a Better People¡­ And soon, a Better World.¡±

    And as they took five steps, they folded into the shadows. Disappearing in an instant.

    ¡°¡­HOLY SHIT!¡± Gale turned on her heels, facing the other two. ¡°WE LITERALLY HAVE TO SAVE THE WORLD, GUYS!¡±

    ¡°Yeeeah¡­¡± the gnat scratched her unwieldy, indigo hair. ¡°That was¡­ Well, a lot.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just surprised that you¡¯re not running off,¡± Calypso was practically staring daggers into her.

    ¡°I mean, I¡¯m thinking about that¡ªlike at the back of the mind all the time¡ª¡±

    Calypso nearly grabbed her again, if it weren¡¯t for Gale stepping in.

    ¡°Guys. We cannot do this right now. Everyone is counting on us, remember¡­?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll just say this, gnat,¡± Calypso began. ¡°If you dare thinking about double-crossing us, you better hope that Cassie would be the one that kills you.¡±

    ¡°¡­Noted!¡± the fear was clear in the gnat¡¯s voice. It pleased Calypso.

    She stepped away, the skeletal girl looked at her claws again, flexing them as the others continued to talk.

    ¡°Sooooo, we have to go the hospital¡­¡± Gale hummed. ¡°Do we sneak in? Do we go now? Because uh, I¡¯m pretty tired¡ªbody wise and especially brain wise¡ª¡±

    ¡°I can try to find some way in, at least¡­¡± the gnat responded. ¡°I don¡¯t know how long my leash is now, but if you let me, I¡¯m your girl¡­ But, considering it¡¯s literally installed with Cassie¡¯s goons, what I have in mind won¡¯t work. Which is a shame, because I like that plan¡­¡±

    Calypso stopped flexing her claws, balling them into a fist. Sighing.

    ¡°¡­Gale,¡± Calypso began. ¡°I trust you the most here¡­ Are you willing to carry me there, fashion some story for the so-called staff? And keeping an eye on her, especially.¡±

    ¡°Of¡­ Course,¡± Gale answered genuinely, if not confused. ¡°But you¡¯re acting like you¡¯re gonna get hurt¡ª¡±

    Calypso slammed her entire fist into her abdomen, causing a shower of black blood to explode from her stomach and mouth. The pain was so great, she immediately passed out.

    Only the guilt of making her family worry again, being her last thoughts.

 Entry 7.2 - Pain: An Excellent Reminder

    ***

    The sounds of steady beeping. The somehow sterilized lightning that burned her aching eyes, despite having them closed. And just how fucking miserably cold the rooms often are.

    Calypso hated how this was all so familiar to her. She shouldn¡¯t be used to knowing if she¡¯s in a hospital, so immediately.

    First things first. Glancing down at her hand, she summoned the Illuminator, the modified leather glove that held her soul gem appeared. Good. That means that she¡¯s not in some dream or walking nightmare. Or, she can summon it in the dream and the nightmare is going to begin any second now. She sighed, at least finding solace in being armed this time.

    Calypso was so ravaged by her thoughts, she absentmindedly wiped her face with her glove. If anything, she wasn¡¯t so much in physical pain or tired. It was the dull ache of her racing mind, stewing in this¡­ Predicament.

    When it finally occurred to her, Calypso quickly felt her side. Y¡¯know, the self-inflicted wound that brought her into this ER in the first place.

    Considering that she buried her entire claw into her body, so suddenly that it caused her to pass out, Calypso was more relieved than she thought she would be. A long, ugly bit stitched together wound¡ªbut nothing too out of the ordinary. Believable.

    Now, it was time for her to come up with an equally believable story¡­

    ¡°Mrs. Grriiiiimes~?¡±

    Calypso jumped in her pale skin, darting her gaze towards the nurse that came into her room. It was a split second of panic, before she realized that her hand that was covered in the glove was tucked under the covers, feeling her wound. She was thankful for her stony face, sometimes, how it couldn¡¯t be broken.

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    And thank goodness she couldn¡¯t be read unless scrutinized. Because this person was a complete mess.

    Her short brown hair, that was desperately pressed down via her scarf, spilled out all over her face. Her eyes had bags under them, her smile being forced. It was like she hadn¡¯t slept in days.

    ¡°I-I¡¯m 18¡­¡± Calypso eked out. ¡°Not married¡­¡±

    Almost like a sitcom, the nurse glanced at her clipboard, and then trained her eyes back on the girl. ¡°Ah well¡ªaaaaaanyways~ So glad you¡¯ve pulled through! Your friends brought you in and it wasn¡¯t a pretty sight, not at all¡­ But hey! We¡¯ve patched you up all nice and good~¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ Glad,¡± Calypso shook her head briefly, to free herself from this person¡¯s lexicon. ¡°No, I¡­ It¡¯s all still such a blur¡­ All I could see was¡­ That person¡­¡±

    Calypso winced, holding her head, for added value. ¡°A-and¡­ Suddenly sharp pain and seeing my blood pour out and¡ª¡±

    ¡°Sssssh-sh-sh-sheeeeeee-weee-ussssh¡­¡± the nurse¡­ Tried to ease her patient. ¡°We¡¯ll figure everything out later on. I¡¯m gonna send in your friends and I¡¯ve got word that your familial unit¡¯s on their way as well~ So I¡¯ll go and do that! ¡­Se-sending in your friends, I mean¡ª¡±

    And with a bow, the nurse backed into the door, leaving Calypso rather stumped. She knew that maybe a small-town hospital might be a tad strange, but that was¡­ Something. In a way, she was frustrated. She more or less wasted a performance¡­

    Then came the crushing blow. Her innerworkings that can render unstable, the only thing that can break her stony fa?ade. Calypso questioned why she would be proud of faking this entire thing in the first place. Had she lost her humanity so quickly, that she never thought twice about the implications that¡¯ll result from this? She didn¡¯t even have a consul with her cohorts. The monster had the thought, it made sense to her. She knew that she could heal from this, that she¡¯s willing to hurt herself and risk possible death.

    What a pathetic creature, Calypso was.

    As she sat in her squalor, the monster girl didn¡¯t bother lifting her head up when the door open.

    But she certainly did snap her head towards it, once she didn¡¯t hear any footfalls. But wheels against the floor.

    ¡°Oh, Ms. Grimes¡­¡± Mrs. Moses wheeled herself into her room. ¡°What a deplorable state of affairs, you¡¯ve managed so far with the kindness I¡¯ve offered you.¡±

 Entry 7.3 - Pain: An Excellent Reminder

    Calypso immediately braced herself, tensing so much that it was a struggle for her to keep her jaw clinched maintaining such duress.

    Funny that. She was a person that was drenched in the macabre that she often thought about her death, at length and envisioning how it would transpire. And here she was, hoping against despair that it wouldn¡¯t be so painful.

    Mrs. Moses wheeled herself next to Calypso¡¯s side of the bed, where the machinery wasn¡¯t. ¡°And what does killing you now possibly serve me, Ms. Grimes?¡±

    As if a weight suddenly rocketed away from her chest, Calypso couldn¡¯t answer that immediately. She was too busy gasping for the air she didn¡¯t have for what felt like eras.

    ¡°D¡ªIuh-Fhn¡ª¡± Calypso then coughed out, trying to collect herself.

    ¡°Please, for the sake of your dignity, breathe¡­¡± Mrs. Moses was slowly massaging her entire forehead, letting her glasses hang so low from her lowered, exhausted face. ¡°We both know that you¡¯re a master wordsmith. Please help me in not thinking that this was all a farce of my own creation¡ª¡±

    ¡°EXACTLY THAT--!¡± Calypso spat out so fast, she managed to make herself more scared. ¡°I¡¯m a loose-end to you, it makes so much sense to get rid of me now¡ªsilently as well, me passing from what they presume from a stabbing is the perfect cover up!¡±

    Calypso¡¯s professor just adjusted her glasses, focused her gaze with a cocked head with such a nonplussed expression, the poor monster girl found it somehow more terrifying than murderous glee or sociopathic indifference.

    ¡°How can you know my intentions so thoroughly when you haven¡¯t even know what or why am I disappointed in you for¡­?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡± With that, Calypso settled back into her bed, completely embarrassed, and allowed for her professor to talk.

    Mrs. Moses shook her head. ¡°This is what counts for pragmatism these days? Shooting first and passing that off as intelligent proficiency¡­? And they ask me why I devoted myself to education in the end, I¡¯m concerned for our future, with ideals being so misrepresented like this¡­¡±

    The stringy-haired woman adjusted her glasses and rested her hands own her own lap. ¡°Simply put: I¡¯ve seen one of your victims earlier this morning and his condition is still gruesome. Your disappearances from school is steadily accruing. And to top it all off, your family is in danger due to your incredible sloppiness.¡±

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    ¡°Wait, what--?¡± Calypso¡¯s face was etched in worry.

    ¡°¡ªAnd yet,¡± Mrs. Moses continued on. Despite her voice being so airy and thin, it was pure inflection that gave her words the needed swiftness and strength to them. ¡°Not one council with me. Not one question, nor ask for help. Killing you for not doing this? Don¡¯t make me laugh. This is ultimately why I¡¯m not killing you. You¡¯re going to reap what you¡¯ve sewn. Death is merely an absolution that you do not at all deserve.¡±

    ¡°Okay, yes, I need your help, sure¡ª¡± Calypso was panicked, looking to her senior with trembling eyes. ¡°Wha¡ªis¡ªare they safe? What¡¯s happened--?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s more what¡¯s going to happen, or currently,¡± Mrs. Moses answered. ¡°And I might add, I¡¯m so glad that you¡¯ve clearly learned your lesson and truly absorbed what I¡¯ve told you. Now I¡¯m more than confident that you¡¯d pick and choose my lessons for your own means as well.¡±

    ¡°No! You listen, right now!¡± Calypso¡¯s anger was nostalgic, as it was subtly frightening to her. It reminded her so much of Alice.

    ¡°I am. And from what I¡¯ve been absorbing so far, I get why your self-centeredness caused one of your family members slowly becoming corrupted due to your influences and mistakes. That¡¯s what¡¯s happening. Your choices leaving way too many messes in their wake¡ªand you need to actually listen to me and take the lesson I¡¯m giving you¡ª¡±

    Calypso didn¡¯t quite understand how she got to this point. But her entire arm was transformed, and her claws were wrapped around Mrs. Moses now-currently-garroted neck.

    It was the ambience of her heart-rate monitor¡¯s pulsating, monotone beeps, cradled within the tense silence. So that she could fully take in the facts: that she was leaned forward, on her knees, her thighs against the bars of her hospital bed. How her normal hand was gripping said bar until her knuckles were flush with white. How she felt her face, still stiffened. Petrified in said sociopathic indifference, with a hint of killing intent.

    Mrs. Moses was hanging in the air, off her seat. But she merely stared back, with her void eyes that had green light shining intensely from them.

    ¡°I¡¯m going¡­ To ask you this once, Calypso. Let go of me. Please.¡±

    Calypso was shaking, staring back with her own black, yet amber eyes. And she felt the tears of crimson run down her face.

    And without warning, Mrs. Moses¡¯ hand struggled but gently caressed her student¡¯s face. Her thumb stopped trembling, just to try and wipe the tears away.

    The gesture alone was too much.

    Calypso jerked her transformed claws back, letting Mrs. Moses fall flat onto her chair as her gasping filled the room.

    Immediate struggle. The monster girl had to tense, ball her claws into a fist, fighting her anger from the inside as the arm tried its damnest to act in her best interests. During this mental tug-o-war, Calypso remembered what Richard said: the fates granted her what she exactly wanted. He literally told her to be fucking careful and yet here she was.

    And yet she¡¯s such a smart, bright girl. Funny, that.

    ¡­Then it occurred to her.

 Entry 7.4 - Pain: An Excellent Reminder

    Yes, this girl¡ªthis stupid, short-sighted girl is that: a whiny brat that doesn¡¯t deserve this beautiful curse. Calypso self-effaced herself within her head, so her arm doesn¡¯t try to kill her professor again.

    As she clutched her arm, as well as her eyes shut, the monster girl put to work her theory. Combining the reason why she put herself in this hospital in the first place, plus the information she¡¯s gained from Richard¡­

    Slowly but surely, her arm transformed back into her pale, gangly but human state.

    While rubbing it, Calypso didn¡¯t stew in whatever victory that could be construed in. She couldn¡¯t pat herself on the back, figuring out that she could use the information of ending the Terrortide by exposing fault in the central idea, on her arm¡ªruining her own request from such. At the very least, as long as the counter-argument itself is stronger than what ¡°Fate¡± gives to the user, it can destroy that wish easily. At least for now¡­

    Fact of the matter is, her professor was completely right about her and she needed to actually listen.

    Calypso didn¡¯t even want to meet Mrs. Moses¡¯ gaze, but she had to, forced herself to. She witnessed the senior Consumed rub at her neck¡­ Which quickly flashed, back and forth, from ruined¡ªto transformed¡ªto healed. Showing once again how impressive her control was.

    ¡°Now then¡­¡± her professor¡¯s voice was strained. ¡°Are you okay?¡±

    Calypso nodded, falling back onto her bed, looking miserable than usual.

    ¡°Good. First off, I¡¯m sorry about not starting with that information sooner. Do you accept my apology? You¡¯re more than fine in not doing so.¡±

    Once again, Calypso merely nodded.

    ¡°Good. Can you listen to what I have to say, then?¡±

    Another pitiful nod.

    ¡°Here¡­¡± Mrs. Moses pulled out a handkerchief from her suit pocket, giving it to her student. ¡°I find that resting the eyes forces the transformation of them back. Also, cutting off one¡¯s vision causes the other senses to compensate, so you¡¯ll be able to hear loud and clearly~¡±

    Calypso sunk in her seat, practically. But she took the offering and wiped her cheeks, closing her eyes all the while.

    ¡°Corruption is a troubling aspect of the supernatural, but it is treatable¡­ You can¡¯t get rid of it, it¡¯s intrinsic to us as living beings trying to survive the unknown. Remember, when I said that we were once monsters ourselves? And the mission of the Subsumed is to force us back as such? Being around the Subsumed, our instincts trying to tell us of what¡¯s lurking¡­ It creates rising darkness that is fueled by panic and sorrow. It¡¯s how those shadow skinwalkers manage to turn us.¡±

    Calypso let the crush within happen. She deserved it. She deserved it because literally everything she¡¯s said and figured about what she¡¯s been doing: all of it true.

    ¡°However, before you lash yourself, the corruption itself is always a passive phenomenon. Every human is¡ªyou and I were. But the difference is the sudden spike of the influence, and having high levels makes that spike more plausible. That¡¯s why I implore you, please, keep your affairs in order and watch yourself, my dear student. Even if you cannot see the ripples, don¡¯t go cause waves purely because you can.¡±

    Calypso had to refrain from asking if that meant if whoever was affected is going to be okay now or how to treat such. So she opted for the next best question that immediately came to mind¡­

    ¡°How can we¡­ As you said, stuck between the extremes of savage and sapient¡ªlean so firmly in the camp of the latter¡­? We¡¯re not humans anymore. Morality wasn¡¯t built with us in mind. In fact, it was built to ward away people like us, no¡­?¡±

    Her professor was right¡ªper usual. Due to her currently amplified hearing, she could hear Mrs. Moses stroke her chin softly, the slight changes in the pacing of her breathing, before giving her answer:

    ¡°That comes from the standpoint of morality only acting as a universal guideline of truth, which is understandable. But it also acts as practice, for sharpening one¡¯s choices and ability to act. Those without morality aren¡¯t just loose-cannons with nothing to stand for, but also sloppy¡ªwasteful in their actions. Restraint, consideration, deliberation, understanding, discipline¡ªall boons within a world so steeped in violence and depravity. If the world cannot make anything out of us before, then having such makes us more unknowable and a step ahead.¡±

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    ¡°While also being murderous and depraved beasts as well¡ª¡± Calypso couldn¡¯t catch herself in time, and winced.

    ¡°No no, it¡¯s fine,¡± Mrs. Moses¡¯ voice eased. ¡°It sounds contradictory on the surface. After all, I told you that there is no true control, hm? I still stand by that, and my thoughts on resonance¡­ But what good is that concept, if both halves are not only unstable but don¡¯t offer each other pieces to combine into something more? How these extremes don¡¯t meet and realize that fundamentally different yes, but both have the same points? And having a sharp enough mind to use the best of both worlds? That¡¯s what I ultimately want for you, my dear student. Nothing more and certainly nothing less.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ Think I understand,¡± Calypso furrowed her brow, trying to take all that in.

    ¡°And if you don¡¯t, please, do not be afraid to establish a rapport with me,¡± Mrs. Moses urged, as Calypso heard the creaks in her chair due to leaning forward, her voice getting subtly louder. ¡°That way that I can make sure that you do. I understand that I¡¯m not approachable, and busy, and generally not being the best person to be around: but I will always offer you knowledge that you need. Regardless of what form it will be in.¡±

    The monster girl¡¯s eyes opened, as she looked down upon her trembling hands, once still having blood on the fingers.

    ¡°¡­There¡¯s just¡­ So much to talk about¡­¡±

    Mrs. Moses¡¯ own hands entered the frame of vision, taking the balled-up cloth and began wiping the blood from her student¡¯s fingers.

    ¡°And I¡¯m willing to listen,¡± Mrs. Moses simply replied.

    As Calypso bit her lips, to stop yet another surge of tears to come tumbling down, the duo heard the door opening as they snapped their heads towards it.

    ¡°¡­Huh. I never thought you two of all people were related¡ªwell no, honestly, it¡¯s very believable when I think about it¡ª¡±

    There was no mistaking that smarmy vocal tone, but before Calypso could respond to the gnat¡¯s idiocy, Gale pushed her in, freezing up amidst what Calypso predicted to be a very large hug.

    ¡°What a minute, like¡ªis this true, is she right¡ªbecause I¡¯ll feel like a massive dummy if it is true¡ª¡± Gale piggybacked off the gnat in a very rushed tone.

    Now that led to Calypso letting out an earnest chuckle that she sorely needed.

    ¡°No no, we¡¯re not related,¡± Mrs. Moses clarified, and turned herself towards the girls. ¡°But I happened to be in the neighborhood as it were, and I love my students dearly, so of course I wanted to check up on Ms. Grimes. I assume you¡¯re friends of hers¡­?¡±

    ¡°Totally!¡± Gale chirped. It amazed Calypso how Gale more or less wore the same thing, just variants with even more weird and out there colors. This time, a red headband with matching red tee that hugged her defined body, with tie-died yoga pants that fanned out in various shades and not shades of red. ¡°We uh¡­ Like, y¡¯know, ran over as soon as we could when we heard the news!¡±

    Meanwhile¡­ There was no fucking way that this was the gnat¡¯s natural appearance.

    For one, she wore what looked to be a very pale, long-haired wig that covered the sides of her face. With dark, circular shades¡ªspaghetti stringed, peach sundress that reached her ankles with strapped white shoes. Bringing the fake look together with a black shoulder bag flung on, to painfully sell that she does not wear clothes like these naturally.

    ¡°We¡­ Only just met,¡± the gnat laughed nervously. ¡°But¡ªwe have a mutual in Gale, so naturally we have to be besties~¡±

    ¡°Hm,¡± Mrs. Moses curt reply to all of that was so telling. She looked over to Calypso, ¡°So, accomplices or--?¡±

    Calypso glanced over to the duo, who practically melted at their poorly crafted fa?ade was easily broken in seconds. But they somehow sighed in sync and nodded.

    ¡°I guess we¡¯re pack-mates now¡­¡± Calypso helped confirm her professor¡¯s suspicions.

    ¡°Thought so¡­¡± Mrs. Moses turned back to them. ¡°While we don¡¯t have a class together Ms. Pratchett, I¡¯m glad that you¡¯ve found company during this trying time of your new life.¡±

    Gale rubbed the back of her neck, giggling tiredly, ¡°Ups and downs, but yes, I¡¯m super glad, Mrs. M~¡±

    Mrs. Moses flashed a content smile, before training her eyes at the gnat. ¡°¡­Nice effort with the disguise, at the very least¡­¡±

    The gnat deflated in real time, ¡°Hey, I always walk out wearing these in these scenarios thinking they¡¯re paper thin¡ªso thanks for making me reach my quota, teach¡­¡±

    ¡°Great for people that don¡¯t know you, of course,¡± Mrs. Moses nodded¡ªalso confirming Calypso¡¯s own suspicions. ¡°Now¡­ Why are all of you girls here in the first place?¡±

    ¡°Soooorry for intruding~¡±

    Everyone trained their eyes at the nurse, showing up in the door frame. Leaning against it, with such an air of self-assuredness to it.

    ¡°But I¡¯d like the¡ªto know the same, y¡¯know~?¡± the nurse cheerily stumbled on her words. As if she¡¯s never said anything with her own mouth before.

    Mrs. Moses dropped any warmth to her, and turned at the nurse on a dime.

    ¡°We know what you are, skinwalker. So let¡¯s drop the charade and tell us how many you¡¯ve taken so far.¡±

    As if she¡¯d been holding into this laughter for years, the nurse erupted in a giddy, forced one before quickly closing the door behind herself.

    ¡°NO I¡¯M NOT~!¡± the nurse strained with her stolen mouth. ¡°BUT I¡¯M GONNA COME OVER THERE AND I''M GONNA GUT YOU ALL WITH MY TONGUES!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t like the way she said tongues¡ª¡± Gale eked out in fear and disgust.

    ¡°Ms. Grimes¡­ You wanted to learn more about this world you¡¯ve been struggling in for so long¡­?¡±

    There wasn¡¯t any flair or decency about what happened.

    Almost a scare in of itself, Mrs. Moses conjured a water-spout-sword that extended so far from her angled arm, that it speared the Subsumed nurse directly between her crazed eyes¡ªslamming her against the door as the girls screamed out in shock.

    ¡°Take note¡­¡± Mrs. Moses couldn¡¯t help but purr.

 Entry 8.0 - Healing: A Far Off Promise

    ¡°I find going for the head works on most, if not all of her kind¡­¡±

    Calypso wondered to herself, as she listened to her professor and watch her hoist a nurse from the ground with her sword wedged between her eyes¡­ Why does she still have periods of culture shock?

    The girl heard this monster threaten, and she quotes, ¡°gut [them] all with her tongues¡±. This isn¡¯t a woman anymore, in any sense¡­ But as the girl practically cowered along with her cohorts, witnessing their senior¡¯s display of skill and power towards this skinwalker¡­ Calypso was still stuck on how human they still looked.

    ¡°Eeeven if,¡± Mrs. Moses continued, lifting the nurse towards the ceiling now, ¡°More likely than not, possessing no vital weak-points, it¡¯s something easy to grab, aim for, and provides an easy counter for most Subsumed. Watch, now it¡¯s going to try attacking out of desperation and¡ª¡±

    As if on cue, the Subsumed nurse gibbered to the point of saliva lanced out before the various tongues did.

    Erupting from the creature¡¯s mouth, the flexible muscles engaged in such speeds, it forced them to transform into whips. Pink, flesh-colored, wet whips.

    Despite falling short, they lashed out at the girls first. Gale shrieked out, huddled closer to the gnat as she looked about, no doubt trying to figure out an escape route if this failed. Calypso was so worried for the others, she didn¡¯t realize that one tongue flicked at the base of her bed, causing her to jump violently in her sheets.

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    But it meant precious little. It was still too far away.

    ¡°See?¡± Mrs. Moses said with a confident cock of her head. ¡°Restraining them in their human guise is always the way forward, much more easy to manage because we¡¯re more familiar with the anatomy¡­¡±

    There was a quick, yet familiar flash of light¡ªand the forceful screams that came from nowhere confirmed Calypso¡¯s quick suspicions.

    Her professor whipped her water blade, forming into a spiral to snare the Subsumed nurse and settle into a whip of her own. Folding in on itself to become netting, forcing the creature down to the ground as it struggled. The series of tongues tried in vain to break the surge¡¯s connection, but to no avail. It was like a child thrashing an active water faucet and wondering why the liquid doesn¡¯t stop despite swiping at it.

    In awe, Calypso looked at Mrs. Moses¡¯ other hand, which sure enough, had her ring that housed her gem. The woman rubbing the band with her thumb, as the entire thing shined brightly.

    ¡°It¡¯s so easy, to go on the attack, but these specks thrive on their enemies making the first blow¡­Or rather, cut.¡±

    The professor pointed at her head, ceasing her rubbing of her ring. That clued Calypso in, as she looked at the nurse¡­ Whose wound was sealed by a blob of water, that was lanced with darkness trying in vain to force itself out.

    The nurse struggled, her entire dainty frame swelling unnaturally in size and girth with an arrhythmic pace. As if¡­

    ¡°Subsumed rely on ripping apart their hosts, it¡¯s how they¡­ ¡®Transform¡¯, if you will. Pressing the issue would result in them getting the necessary spark they need, and now the battle¡¯s tempo is immediately changed, and you¡¯re plunged in unfamiliar territory dealing with a body you don¡¯t know, but they do.¡±

    Calypso blinked.

    It was official. Mrs. Moses would have totally killed her, had she not been so merciful.

 Entry 8.1 - Healing: A Far Off Promise

    ¡°YEAH YEAH YEAH, FUCK OFF¡ªYOU KNOW WHAT YOU¡¯RE DOING, GREAT JOB!¡±

    It was odd. When the monster nurse, trying so hard to be human, barely could get idioms right. Now that her multiple tongues are hanging out of her mouth, she could now clearly speak.

    Said series of tongues were layered like bananas growing in a pod. And with her professor¡¯s water whip tying this creature up, these tongues were pressed against its chest. Instantly staining what was once a woman¡¯s wardrobe with its thick drool.

    ¡°Oooh,¡± Mrs. Moses countered without a single word. ¡°You must¡¯ve learned that word from the brain you¡¯ve eaten, you disgusting glutton. Now¡­ Tell me what¡¯s going on here, or I¡¯ll teach my younger kin more anatomy lessons.¡±

    The monster nurse cackled, like the imp that it was. Such weird and off-kilter swagger for, as Calypso assumed, someone¡¯s entire gimmick based on tongues. Just tongues.

    ¡°IT DOESN¡¯T FUCKING MATTER ANYWAYS!¡± the nurse spoke oh-so-eloquently¡­ Despite having its several tongues not only hanging out of the mouth, but pressed against her chest. Calypso actually wondered at this point¡­ Was acting human, i.e. keeping its tongue in the mouth it¡¯s stolen from a defenseless woman, more trouble for it?

    ¡°WE¡¯VE TAKEN OVER THIS DUMP FROM HEAD TO BOTTOM, A SWEET FACTORY FOR OUR NEW TERRORIZER TO MAKE US INTO AWESOME BAT SUBSUMED AND THE HUMANS PRACTICALLY LINE UP FOR US TO JUMP INTO THEIR PITIFUL MEATSACKS! SHIT! YOU CAN¡¯T DO SHIT!¡±

    Mrs. Moses was silent. Taking in her captor¡¯s¡­ String of words. Calypso figured that her professor was completely right, this creature is overjoyed to the point of zeal that it can talk and use human words¡­ No matter how badly it uses them.

    ¡°As much as I want to punish that use of grammar alone¡­¡± Mrs. Moses adjusted her spectacles. ¡°¡®Terrorizer¡¯ is a very, very choice word, there.¡±

    ¡°Aaaand that¡¯s where we come in, actually¡­¡± the gnat stepped forward, with her finger arched upwards. Not a point at Mrs. Moses¡ªor at the nurse¡ªor at someone in general, but in the sense of pointing something out. ¡°If I may¡­¡±

    ¡°Hold on, dear¡­¡±

    With a flick of her water-coated wrist, Mrs. Moses forced her water whip that tied the nurse up to strangle the creature more, and cause the tip of such to unfurrow and shove itself into the monster¡¯s open mouth. Not digging itself deeper, but staying there.

    ¡°Now go on.¡±

    ¡°¡­ I have to remind myself, how I managed to get into this situations¡ª¡± the gnat was flustered, fumbling at the display of power and what that means for her if she possibly crossed this woman.

    She grumbled, stopped briefly to fix her fake wig by using both of her hands. ¡°Here¡¯s the deal¡ªthere¡¯s a Symbi-Subsumed named Cassie Morgan that¡¯s trying to invoke Terrortide¡ªwe don¡¯t know why but seeing how flippant and¡­ Pardon both my language and the pun, bat-shit crazy she is, it''s a massive problem. We all barely survived encountering her¡ªand I was a helper at gunpoint but hey, same deal¡ªand now we¡¯ve decided to try to stop her before she brings about a terrible existence for us all.¡±

    Mrs. Moses was silent, before letting out a long, almost agonized, sigh.

    ¡°And here I thought the last attempt I¡¯ve experienced was going to just that: the last¡­¡±

    ¡°I really don¡¯t like how these things, like, keep happening¡ª¡± Gale¡¯s perfect response to that.

    Mrs. Moses rubbed at her face, clearly conveying a suddenly stressed energy to it. ¡°The thing is, the fools trying to start it normally are too weak to maintain the cost of it, so taking them out is a very doable if not harsh process. The only one w¡ª¡±

    Calypso caught that. She watched as her professor froze in thought, tightening her jaw in subdued anger¡ªlikely at herself. Before continuing:

    ¡°¡ªI, the only one I had to be concerned over was the one that my arch nemesis tried to start. And that was a long, arduous process that made up most of our encounters. Doing this means planning, skill, and equivalent exchange for an event that might not even start properly if you forget the one detail.¡±

    ¡°So uh, that¡¯s where the ¡®bat-shit crazy¡¯ comes into play, ma¡¯am, because she¡¯s doing it regardless and doesn¡¯t care at all,¡± the gnat explained.

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    ¡°My word¡­¡± Mrs. Moses pinched at the bridge of her nose, pushing her oval-rimmed glasses to her sweating forehead. ¡°I knew that the signs I¡¯ve witnessed couldn¡¯t be coincidence¡­ I had nothing to go on, sans the weird activity that went on here as of late. Hell, it¡¯s the reason why I¡¯d bothered to go to the celebrations later this week: just in case. Who knew that it was going to be this dire¡­¡±

    Calypso had her professor¡¯s words, ¡°why don¡¯t you tell me things¡±, echo so loudly within her mind that it battered at the walls withing her skull. Leaving the pain of guilt to nestle in.

    Casually, Mrs. Moses let the water gag fall away from the nurse Subsumed¡¯s maw, leaving it to cough in misery.

    Only to call off the entire water construction in general seconds later, causing the monster to fall onto the floor. Freed.

    Thankfully, Calypso had the gnat to vocalize her shock at this situation.

    ¡°Uuuuuh, teach--?¡±

    Mrs. Moses ignored her, wheeling herself forward towards the trembling creature.

    ¡°You now understand, how easy it is for me to kill you. I¡¯m letting you go because you¡¯re going to be the only one in here that has the chance of a head start¡­ Go on. Inform your strongest, inform you new master, that we¡¯re here. Because I¡¯m coming for you all and I¡¯m taking back what is my territory.¡±

    The nurse Subsumed sputtered, its confidence gone. It staggered to its stolen feet, and proceeded to run out of the room, still partially transformed.

    ¡°N-not doubting your skills, of course,¡± the gnat¡¯s tone completely betrayed her statement. ¡°But I¡¯m certainly doubting ours¡ªsince y¡¯know¡ªwe don¡¯t have anything; HOW exactly are we going to take an infested hospital of horrors?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the thing,¡± Mrs. Moses eyes were closed, an odd sense of serenity awash her face. ¡°We¡¯re not.¡±

    ¡°¡­Then what are we doing--?¡± Gale tilted her head.

    ¡°Figure out what this Cassie is trying to accomplish, and the nature of her tools, anything that aids in rendering her efforts to absolute nil. This is going to be a failure, my dear students, but a beneficial one. We¡¯ll use this confusion to see how they respond to threats, and this suddenness will give away their secrets due to the panic.¡±

    ¡°But that¡¯s still swarms of Subsumed!¡¯ the gnat argued, gesturing her confusion and fear. ¡°We three can barely attack the ones we need at the bare-minimum!¡±

    In the place of Moses¡¯ reply, the girls heard the soft, but hurried pattering of foot falls.

    ¡°Ms. Pratchett. Could you be a dear and glance outside for me?¡±

    ¡°O-okie dokie¡­¡± Gale separated from the gnat, moving towards the windows of Calypso¡¯s room, peering through the blinders. ¡°Oh man, yeah¡­ It looks liiiike the medical staff is pushing out all of the guests or something like that? Practically screaming at them, a lot of the crowd¡¯s on their phones now¡ª¡±

    ¡°Possibly trying to frame this into a tragedy of some sort,¡± Mrs. Moses nodded. ¡°A hostage situation, a possible active shooting¡ªsomething to keep the necessary fear going¡ª¡±

    ¡°Which means cops!¡± the gnat shrieked, incredulously. ¡°No wonder you and Calypso here are close; you¡¯re basically the same! Both of you¡ªjumping right from the deep end with little care about common sense!¡±

    Calypso quickly shot a sneering grin at her. ¡°Because clearly, you¡¯re the shining example in this room.¡±

    ¡°If this is about my look, it literally works,¡± the gnat pouted. ¡°I look no different from the folks from Port Acadia¡ªwhich is excellent because I¡¯m nowhere near there¡­ Or y¡¯know, closer than one thinks¡ª¡±

    ¡°I also like how you¡¯re engaging a skit, when you were the one acting like we¡¯re pressed for them as well¡ª¡± Calypso immediately batted back.

    ¡°Giiiiirls!¡± Gale intervened. And thankfully, not a moment too soon.

    It wasn¡¯t just banging against the door. There were forceful slams, that rocked the wooden creation as it started to break apart due to the strain.

    ¡°You¡¯re right to be concerned,¡± Mrs. Moses was still so eerily calm. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m going to be your distraction. Use the chaos, find what you can, and do anything you must to get out of here with any boon you¡¯ve obtained. But listen to what I¡¯m going to say very, very closely.¡±

    The gnat was going to interrupt, due to the door on the verge of caving in, but Gale reached her hand out forward, shaking her head, before looking at Calypso. The skeletal girl then nodded. If Calypso could feel this change in demeanor, Gale with her ¡°auras¡± can more than sense their professor¡¯s intentions.

    ¡°There¡¯s going to be a decrepit bookstore that will have what you all sorely need on the Main Vein¡­ But I¡¯ll give you an introduction to it¡¯s contents, in the event you do need to fight¡­ The Fates, how they¡¯re especially harsh on our kind¡ªwe in response craft special words, incantations that boosts our abilities and direct them effectively. Learning your words can turn the tide of your fates in this unfair game you¡¯ve found yourselves in¡­ A declaration that even the forces that are against you cannot and will not ignore.¡±

    Mrs. Moses brandished her ring by raising her hand, the backside of it facing the door that split open, shadowy claws¡ªtentacles¡ªand wings reaching out towards her¡­ And immediately froze in place.

    ¡°I Am Transformed¡­ And I. AM. UNLEASHED!¡±

    There was a quick flash, and their professor lost her human hide. What took its place were lavender scales¡ªCalypso could only see fins, could only see the sharpest claws so far in her journey. Her already stringy hair not only turn teal in color, not only got so long that it virtually covered the entire head¡ªbut gained such volume, it was as if she was completely underwater.

    All the hints clicked in Calypso¡¯s head, came together. The seafoam color scheme in her home, the scales¡­

    And as if to confirm her suspicions, Calypso¡¯s professor¡¯s legs were completely gone. Merged with one another, creating a long aquatic tail with fins of a lionfish, that spilled out of the wheelchair.

    Within an instant, her mermaid Consumed senior flung herself from what could be considered her ¡°shackle¡±, landing on her belly and began crawling on the floor so fast¡ªthe girls blinked and the Subsumed that broke down the door, were nothing more but torn pieces that littered the doorway.

 Entry 8.2 - Healing: A Far Off Promise

    Calypso, along with the girls, knew that they had to immediately go, make haste and use the chance their professor gave them¡­ But they couldn¡¯t help but ¡°stand¡± there. Stand frozen and stare at what just transpired.

    It was sheer pity for these poor monsters. They never had a chance and they didn¡¯t know it. That this frail, bookish educator that didn¡¯t look her relatively young age was the biggest and most powerful monster, merely lying in wait.

    The remnants of their enemies¡ªwhich merely seconds ago they were on the verge of breaking down Calypso¡¯s door to kill them¡ªrendered into black ooze and chunks. Pieces of a laminated wooden door scattered about.

    And with the bone-rattling roar the girls heard off in the distance, it was very clear that Mrs. Moses¡ªthe Mermaid Consumed¡ªwas really coming after every single skinwalker that got in her way. It finally woke Calypso and co. up from their terrified daze.

    ¡°Righ¡ªright¡ªokay,¡± the gnat glanced over at Calypso. ¡°You¡¯re good with basically wearing sheets or do you want help--?¡±

    Calypso leapt from her bed, tearing any and all teethers to the machines she was hooked too. Cockily rotating her fist as her wrists healed in seconds with her head leaned to her side.

    ¡°Okay¡ªfine¡ªbe showy,¡± the gnat turned on a dime and started to run out of the room.

    Gale, of course, turned to Calypso with her worried expression. ¡°Are you actually okay like this, Cal¡­?¡±

    Calypso returned a genuine, if not muted, smile. ¡°I¡¯ve been cooked alive by dried up, magma blood. I think being in a hospital gown is nothing compared to that. But thank you, Gale.¡±

    Gale nodded, with an uneased giggle¡ªvery different than the usual, but Calypso figured the idea of her nearly dying got to her friend. But never the less, it was Gale¡¯s turn to sprint out into the fray.

    Calypso glanced toward the window with the blinders raised. Seeing the masses call out, dance in discordant panic. Now there¡¯s law enforcement vehicles pulling into frame.

    She couldn¡¯t thinking about them, right now. As much as it pained her that she can¡¯t. Maybe after all this madness, the skeletal monster could tell Sal everything¡­

    But she had to survive first.

    Calypso sprinted out of her hospital room, hoping against the possibility of slipping on Subsumed slime on the way out. Hoping whatever carnage her professor was brewing, it wouldn¡¯t be too much of an obstacle.

    It couldn¡¯t have been more misplaced, that last hope.

    The gentry, white halls were drenched, stained with black blood that coated them. The doors to the other rooms, torn from the hinges or outright ripped apart from the bottom. What could be seen of the floor¡ªthe tiles ripped up and scratched apart in multiple angles and multiple times amongst themselves.

    But it was the most damning detail¡­ People¡ªrather Subsumed, reaching out weakly, most if not all in pieces.

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    The thing was¡ªas Calypso was lost in thought as she continued to run, surveying this¡­ Utter insanity¡ªHer teacher, her senior Consumed¡ªjust told them not to slice them so their transformation could be sped along.

    It was draining, trying to look about¡ªseeing these false humans grapple with mortality¡­ Until it hit Calypso. Snapping into place. Ravage the monsters, render them into chunks that they couldn¡¯t exactly morph due to being so heavily damaged¡­ The problem takes care of itself.

    Calypso wasn¡¯t just in awe. It was admiration for her mentor figure.

    The gnat was ways away from Calypso and Gale, turning backwards at them with a dopey expression of astonishment. ¡°TAIL¡ªCAN SEE HER TAIL¡ªLAID INTO FIVE GUYS AT ONCE AND BEFORE I KNEW IT, SHE WAS SWIMMING IN THE FLOOR AND THEY WERE ARMS AND LEGS¡ªM-MAYBE SHE¡¯S HEADING TO THE HELP DESK, LET¡¯S KEEP UP!¡±

    Calypso thought to herself, for once during their very short but turbulent relationship, that the gnat can rattle and prattle on for so long. The normal person couldn¡¯t cough out ¡°Can see her tail¡±¡ª

    Nevertheless, Calypso managed to gain ground, running side-by-side with Gale. It was clear that this scene was overwhelming to her, as the girl periodically looked about, her face wavering from horror to sadness to realization she didn¡¯t look forward in a long time. Calypso wanted to support, tell her to focus ahead and not think¡­ But Consumed or not, Calypso wasn¡¯t physically fit enough to run AND talk. If anything, her being a Consumed aided her in managing to maintaining this speed alone.

    So she continued to do what the skeletal monster girl can only do, observe. It was one of the main reasons why her professor mounted this attack in the first place. All they needed right now, was something¡­ Some sign that they could use and look into¡­

    Thankfully as they turned the corner, the group was offered more than that. More than they could''ve asked for and known.

    The state of carnage was still the same, and yet the levels of such were expressed in ways Calypso was gobsmacked at. How can one be so knowledgeable and manage to find ways in ripping people apart...?

    Limbs were littered about the help desk. The black blood smeared across virtually every surface, showcasing very different yet ultimately the same sense of struggle. Entire bodies rendered into merely slabs and chunks.

    So, the sight of a bisected, widthwise, "patient" was a complete surprise. As if their professor not only left this as a boon, but a clue.

    The gnat already rushed over, taking the time she saved to adjust that god awful wig on her head. At least it gave her and Gale a chance to catch up, flanking her sides.

    The boy... No. The monster that tried to be a boy, maybe 16 when this filth took his life. It was terrified. So much that the trembling it performed, how the flesh was pulled back and hung off the skull that formed terror. It''s confidence was completely rocked. It thought itself save in the company of it''s kin, felt on top of the world. Now barely sitting up without the legs it stole.

    "Listen," the gnat began, subtly edging forward with every point she managed to make. "You have no legs. You don''t have your buddies. You''re almost dead. You''re out of options. Tell us what you know and we''ll promise we''ll look the other way and maybe you can figure something out with... The no-legs situation you''ve found yourself in. Or."

    It was almost on cue. Calypso transformed her arm again, back to the state of Consumed, and held her elbow scythe to the throat of the interloper. Not only was the poor wretch was petrified, but the gnat and Gale jumped in their own skins.

    "Yeah, I was gonna just let the threat be words and let that linger--with-with imagination pulling that weight--but sure, yeah, we need actual-scary right now--" the gnat sputtered out trying to calm herself before turning her gaze, hidden by her goofy glasses. "Your move. She hates me, by the by. Even if I do tell her no, she''s not gonna listen."

    His eyes were the only things that moved on his stolen body now. Trembling, looking at Gale--then to the gnat--then Calypso herself... Pathetically looking about, hoping someone to save him.

    And began to tremble so vividly, so violently, that his head bashed itself against the base of the help desk--his balled fists shuddering up and down to hit the once pristine waxed floors.

    Finally, the sunken eyes rolled backwards, and the form went limp. The head slinked to the side.

    "...Well congrats," the gnat rose back up. "You might''ve scared the monster to death--"

 Entry 8.3 - Healing: A Far Off Promise

    ¡°Good,¡± Calypso felt proud and flexed her claws at the gnat to enforce her point. ¡°That means I can scare you to death as well.¡±

    Since this girl¡¯s silly disguise had shades that covered her eyes, all Calypso had to go on were her black eyebrows raised and her lips puckered in stress. ¡°I¡¯m sure you can, and it would be preeeetty quick¡ªLike god, look at your face, it¡¯s scary how much of a natural you are at this--¡±

    The skeletal monster girl¡¯s already twisted expression of malice tightened in response. ¡°Y¡¯know. I think I¡¯d be satisfied of doing it the old fashioned way, at this point.¡±

    ¡°Cal,¡± Gale sounded genuinely annoyed, which was not only odd for the skeletal monster girl to hear from her, but also hit differently within her chest. ¡°Teaming up. Trying to stop a girl from ruining everything. Play. Nice.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡± Calypso didn¡¯t hide or mask the guilt that caved her insides in. ¡°Besides¡­ He¡¯s not dead. Look.¡±

    She pulled back, pointing her bony claw at the limp half-body. ¡°Slight breathing. Haggard and faint, but still there.¡±

    ¡°Well that¡¯s good!¡± Gale chirped¡­ Before crumpling a bit once she thought more about it. ¡°A-aside him being a no-good-monster and stuff¡­¡±

    Calypso made sure to use her human hand to pat at Gale¡¯s leg in response.

    ¡°Damn girl¡­¡± the gnat couldn¡¯t hide her amazement. ¡°You got some eyes¡­ That was before the whole transformation-into-a-creature-of-the-night, or¡­?¡±

    Calypso immediately trained her sights at the gnat again. Her trailing off, in this instance, wasn¡¯t her usual failed attempts at humor.

    So when the skeletal monster girl took in this fly monster girl¡¯s virtually blank expression as she gripped her chin, Calypso figured that something occurred to her.

    ¡°Calypso. Question.¡±

    She wanted to bat back that she didn¡¯t give her permission to say her name, but Calypso begrudgingly replied. ¡°Yes¡­?¡±

    ¡°Did him spazzing out¡ªdid it look weird to you?¡±

    Confusion caused Calypso¡¯s nose to scrunch, her brow furrow. ¡°I mean. No different from¡­ It¡¯s a freak out. There¡¯s really no grace in it, you flail about. The only weird part was that it was¡­¡±

    That detail rattled within her mind, causing the skeletal monster girl¡¯s dark eyes to widen¡ªas far as she could in that state. ¡°¡­No screams. No sound whatsoever¡ªbanging against the desk aside.¡±

    It was odd, seeing the gnat be something other than smug, annoying and unfunny. Here, she was practically still, razor focused and eerily quiet. She was just staring at the fallen Subsumed, stroking her chin.

    ¡°¡­And come to think of it¡­¡± Calypso steadily recalled. ¡°His fist¡ªhe hit the floor as well. While banging against the desk.¡±

    ¡°¡­Guys, I like being honest,¡± Gale began, letting her arms flap to her sides. ¡°I¡¯ve already written off flunking most of this semester¡ªcan you dumb down what you¡¯re, like, saying or thinking to your best buddy Gale over here?¡±

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    ¡°No, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not quite sure what it means either Gale¡­¡± Calypso responded, assuring her friend with another gentle pat of the leg¡­ Until the skeletal freak realized how weird that was, retracting said hand with a slight blush brewing in her cheeks.

    Thankfully, the gnat sternly rose from where she was squatting, which caused Calypso to gaze up at her. ¡°I need you to destroy this desk, Calypso. Can you do that for me? I can try but I can¡¯t localize like you yet, so it¡¯s all or nothing if I transform.¡±

    ¡°¡­Hm,¡± Calypso practically spat, but never less rose to her feet. Using her human hand to signal Gale away, glancing back until she saw her friend a decent amount clear.

    The skeletal monster girl balled her claws into a fist, grabbed said sharp fist with her human hand, rushed forward and angled her elbow scythe to wedge the wooden help desk in half with her first stroke. And if the break wasn¡¯t clean, then she would do it again. And again. And again.

    Until the massive structure was in two-to-many pieces. Using her enhanced strength to pry the crumbling halves away, slowly but surely.

    What was revealed, was but a dark void that was hidden under the wreckage. Despite the lights still being on, it seemed like none of it could make it into this hole in the ground.

    And it was less of a hole¡­ And more like a tear within reality. Jagged, rough judging by the edges alone. Calypso kept staring and the more she did¡­ The more unnatural it felt. Was.

    ¡°WOOOOAH!¡± Gale waved her arms in excitement, before clapping her hands together and bringing them towards the chest. ¡°How did you work out that there¡¯d be a super-secret awesome hidden room?!¡±

    ¡°Well, think about it,¡± the gnat still maintained her suddenly serious demeanor. ¡°So far in this place, and the little that we¡¯ve seen, still¡­ They would¡¯ve had to have a set-up in where, either: 1) what they were doing was in plain sight¡ªand even if you knew what to look for, they were confident in either killing or converting you to maintain the secret¡­ And 2) this. Hidden hideout to operate out of. We know that these fuckers can barely contain themselves and are bullshitters to the extreme. There had to been some hidden cave or level they had access to.¡±

    The gnat then smiled at Calypso. ¡°The thought¡¯s been swirling in my head for a good hour or something. I needed someone outside of my dome to point out the obvious. Seems like a good partnership, huh? I figure things out and you tell me how stupid I am first, yeah?¡±

    The phrasing was different, but the meaning was all too painfully familiar to Calypso. It just made her want Alice to be the one with them, versus this bug.

    ¡°If anything, it makes me more wary of you,¡± Calypso immediately answered, so fast that she didn¡¯t realize she naturally crossed her arms, where her human hand was bleeding still as her cuts were still healing. ¡°Now that I know you have a hundred thoughts swirling in that head that I can¡¯t trust. But no. You are proving your worth here. I¡¯m still of the option of just doing this mission and you fucking off somewhere.¡±

    The gnat responded with a curt ¡°hmph¡± with a lackadaisical shrug. Was more focused on peering down at this abyss. ¡°The real problem is what to do now¡­ Yeah, lose and whatever, but we¡¯re about to go into a place we have no idea what it¡¯s like and our enemies not only do, but are in high alert¡­ With one of our numbers unable to transform because it¡¯s still day, one that¡¯s half way, and the other that CAN but is supremely shit with offense¡­ Not gonna lie, bit of a pickle¡ª¡±

    ¡°At least I like pickles. This is just some ditch in the ground with monsters hiding in it,¡± Gale pouted.

    ¡°Either way, Subsumed are something we¡¯ve all handled before: dealing with the police that¡¯s going to break their way in with three college students looking into a hole and body parts everywhere, a tad harder to explain.¡±

    ¡°¡­Y¡¯know, when you¡¯re right, you¡¯re right¡ª¡± the gnat¡¯s respectable fa?ade broke in front of Calypso¡¯s eyes. ¡°Eer, hand and hand, and we jump in¡­?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just glad and lucky that I found the smartest monster friends I could¡¯ve ever had~¡± Gale immediately came between Calypso and the gnat¡¯s hands, beaming with a pure smile. Calypso wanted to warn her, about grabbing her monster claw, but the honey-skinned girl just grabbed it without a second thought or hesitation. Calypso knew that the girl didn¡¯t play much of a role so far, but she understood that they needed someone like her regardless.

    The girls jumped in, into the dark abyss, fighting the urge to scream or shout¡ªlest they give whatever¡¯s lurking within a point of reference to strike.

 Entry 8.4 - Healing: A Far Off Promise

    Calypso was not at all ready. One would think, when falling down something, it meant that. But when she and the others fell down this dark pit, only to flip upwards to land on their backs¡ªthey were understandably confused.

    As she and the others groaned, trying to find their bearings, the process of it all just felt¡­ Impossible. It wasn¡¯t due to the pain she was understandably in, but Calypso¡­ Just¡­ Felt awful.

    Her skin felt intense musk¡­ The very air was too hot to breathe in¡­ Her eyes stung and constantly unfocused. Her nose was downright assaulted with an odor that was indescribable other than it was stained with blood. And her ears were pummeled with this searing rumbling that drilled into her skull.

    She fell onto her hands and knees. It was just too much. Calypso wanted to check on her cohorts, but was too wrapped up in her own pain-based agony to care at the moment. All of these things, repeatedly and mercilessly slamming into her one after another. Trying to ground herself by focusing on another sense that wasn¡¯t being mutilated, and she¡¯s reminded that it was being destroyed as well. There was simply no relief.

    And it built. And built. And built.

    Until another, but familiar feeling of death radiated over Calypso.

    Her eyes snapped open, and she marveled over the fact she can now. All to see her only human hand steadily gaining sharp, bone nails.

    The skeletal monster girl couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. She shouldn¡¯t be getting used to this, to be overjoyed over becoming a monster¡­ But the positives keep emerging with every passing day.

    Calypso rose up as her spine exploded out of her back, shredding her gown within seconds. Guess she was the most prepared after all.

    She closed her eyes, hearing the other girls go through their respective transformations. It was only fair and for their privacy, despite wanting so badly to watch. Calypso supposed that what she was hearing was enough for her imagination to run wild.

    It took a great deal of moments, but the monster girl opened her amber irises that swam in an ocean of black sclera. ¡°Well then. I guess we have yet another boon, ladies¡­¡±

    She glanced over at the gnat, now in her true form. The onyx-insectoid armor fashioned into a minidress, a puffy collar of her gray fly-like hairs that spouted all over her hands to create ¡°gloves¡±. Her wings that were made up of hexagonal cells draped down her back, massive compound horsefly eyes at the sides of her head, bonded by a black band that morphed into a butterfly-lite mask on the front that trailed downward, nose-to-lips with a stinger.

    She pouted. Pulling the last strands of that stupid wig she wore as her indigo, neck-length hair was exposed. ¡°And I was really proud of that disguise¡­¡±

    ¡°You really shouldn¡¯t have been¡ª¡± Calypso spat.

    Gale cleared her throat, putting her hands on her now-developed hips. ¡°I¡¯m gonna make up some, like¡­ Insult Jar for you if you keep this up, Cal.¡±

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    Gale, by contrast, had an odd beauty to her look. Cyan skin that was made out of goop, green-leafy backless dress that had a cut where her right leg was. A massive mushroom sprouted from her moss-colored hair, the said mushroom mutating into a stink flower of sorts. And despite her eyes, too, dark and wild, still were full of expression as a violet light shined from them.

    ¡°We don¡¯t even know her name, Gale¡ª¡± Calypso tried to argue diplomatically with her friend.

    ¡°Have you aaaaasked?¡± Gale paddled back to her.

    Calypso rose her bone claw, as with one would with an index, mouth agape as she struggled to find the words. Before sighing in defeat.

    ¡°Let¡¯s just get this over with¡­¡±

    ¡°Normally, I¡¯d just agree with you for the sake of self-preservation¡ªbut seriously guys. Take a look at this¡­¡± the gnat chimed in at the worst possible time, per usual.

    Calypso elected to not respond, instead taking in their surroundings finally¡­

    Even as a Consumed, which not only transforms the victim physically, but mentally as well¡ªinto enjoying pain, suffering, and depravity¡­ Calypso felt disgusted.

    It was the type of decay that¡¯s been there for so long, that an entirely new and equally gross ecosystem had grown inside of the filth. As if to say, akin to carton of milk that was busted open because of the gas generated from spoiled milk that was left out TOO long... The contents went past becoming rotten, curled. To the point moss and maggots thrived inside of such.

    This other side of the hospital was like that to a T.

    It was as if, this hospital was condemned for a hundred years¡­ Grime was stained everywhere, the lights flickered faster than Calypso¡¯s accelerated heartbeat¡ªmultiple of said lights were hanging from dangling wires. Tiles were kicked up to reveal exposed dirt, the walls gave way and crumbled into yellowing dust and debris. The structure of the hallways themselves--practically stretched beyond what they were designed to be, only because of the decay being that advance to absolutely warp them. White noise wasn''t not only noticeable, but blared so harshly that the ruined floors hummed with vibration as a result.

    All with air that was so tainted, there was a visible gray smog that colored the scene.

    ¡°Thank goodness that I didn¡¯t eat today¡­¡± Gale desperately tried to steady her breathing. Not out of fear, but keeping her head clear.

    ¡°Y¡¯know, with having the multiple thoughts in my head swirling around, I often go¡ª¡®man, the Subsumed might just be victims of reality giving them the evolutionary short-end of the stick. We might be going too hard on them¡¯¡­¡± the gnat then shook her head. ¡°Nah. We need to burn these bastards¡ªplus places that they¡¯ve infested, alive. They''ve been left alone for too long, the experiment ran it''s course. Kinda unnegotiable at this point. ¡±

    ¡°Either way, we¡¯re in their country now,¡± Calypso reminded both, with her raised claw. ¡°We¡¯re better off than we were now, but we can¡¯t get careless. Stick together, be on high alert.¡±

    ¡°Good! Glad we¡¯re not Scooby Doo-ing this while Scooby Doo-ing this,¡± the gnat clapped her furry-gloved hands. ¡°So, should I take point? Since I have the most mobility here.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s fair,¡± Calypso crossed her razor-sharp arms. ¡°So, when we inevitably get spotted, you can fly away out of danger. Or at the very least, you provide enough distance to get captured and allowing Gale and I to get away¡ª¡±

    ¡°You said that so fast and without remorse¡­¡± the gnat lowered her head with an offended but pitiful tone in her voice.

    Calypso smirked smugly, with closed eyes. ¡°What can I say? Added benefit of the transformation¡ªI¡¯m not held back by that kind of thing anymore~¡±

    The skeletal monster girl then sighed aloud, opening her eyes again with a pensive stare. ¡°If only this entire operation wasn¡¯t so off the cuff and messy¡­ I¡¯d much prefer, y¡¯know, them not knowing we¡¯re here entirely, sneaking and hiding in the shadows with them none the wiser¡­ It would¡¯ve been a brilliant role-reversal¡ª¡±

    Then a thought occurred to Calypso, causing her entire body to stiffen and her expression turned surprised.

    ¡°¡­Gale? What happened to those cloaks that you-know-who gave us--?¡±

    And unfortunately for Calypso, whatever Gale was going to tell her was cut off by groans and rumbling¡­ And not from any Subsumed¡­ But from the walls and floors and ceiling itself.

    Of course this cursed building was alive.

 Entry 8.5 (1/2) - Healing: A Far Off Promise

    Calypso had to figure out the logistics of a haunted hospital that was slowly coming to life within a span of five seconds. Assume a battle stance¡ªhave the other two hold out with her? Play into their enemies hands by getting captured¡ªso they could show them how things worked with little-to-no effort?

    ¡°Girls! We¡¯re playing this like humans have always done!¡± Calypso began.

    Before darting forward down the rumbling halls, leaving her pseudo-packmates in her dust.

    ¡°WE¡¯RE RUNNING AS LONG AS WE CAN!¡±

    Thankfully, pulling ahead meant not hearing the duo¡¯s confused babbling, but Calypso made doubly sure to at least hear one set of footfalls behind her. She sighed, a jet of steam softly exiting her maw in relief, once she heard the one set and the annoying buzzing of flapping wings.

    Whatever this danger was going to end up as, Calypso took her professor¡¯s words to heart. These monsters¡ªthe supernatural, thrived on the hunt. Favorable conditions, capitalizing on the fact that their prey is completely out of their depth¡ªand too weak to survive within it. While the girls are both¡­ The fact they¡¯re also monsters, the fact they can exist outside of this dichotomy¡ªthat¡¯s the chance that will get them out of this mess.

    At least she thought, until she started looking about her surroundings. Her hope steadily dwindled, as she witnessed the halls literally coming to life.

    The wires above them throbbed out of the crumbling ceiling¡ªlike veins. The walls that decayed so badly that cave-ins happened, the gaping holes transformed into makeshift maws, beginning to weakly jut forward with their broken, sharp ¡°teeth¡±. The floors weren¡¯t just growing damp, Calypso felt the saliva accumulate on her soles, as they started to stick more and more to the building¡¯s tongue.

    And the most worrying. The hanging lights becoming not only searchlights, but eyes that immediately beamed on the trio.

    As Calypso turned to face the one shining on her, she was pleasantly surprised. She watched as the gnat glide in front (or rather behind?) her, shooting out her series of cells that chaffed from her buzzing wings.

    Disgusting, but useful. Calypso felt like it fit¡­

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    Regardless, the spray immediately pelted the light, not only the impacts of each cell riddling it as if they were bullets, but partly shredded it as if they were knives.

    If only Calypso was allowed to pause at that ¡°sudden¡± display of power.

    The hallway, the building itself¡­ It howled in pain. Howled in pain just like any living being would if their eye was painfully shot out.

    Suddenly, the entire place reared back¡ªupwards. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that Calypso had clawed toes too, she wouldn¡¯t have that precious second to anchor herself, realize what was happening, and told the others:

    ¡°IT¡¯S LIKE IT¡¯S RAISING IT¡¯S HEAD TO SCREAM! HOLD ON FOR DEAR LIFE!¡±

    Without missing a beat herself, Calypso forced herself down onto the moist flooring, and dug her claws into it. Knowing that the hospital wasn¡¯t going to like that either caused the monster girl to gulp nervously, as she held on.

    Thrashing, the building itself begun to thrash violently, and if it wasn¡¯t that, the pained, thunderous screaming rumbled the very foundations the girls were gripping on.

    It was impossible. Even Calypso¡¯s usually-iron-clad-grip was loosening due to the shaking, her claws being physically rocked out of their individual holes as a result. Of course, Calypso tried to counteract that, trying in vain to nestle those claws deeper, to regain ground. But all that did was make the entry points¡ªthe cavities themselves¡ªbigger, thus easier to slip out of.

    So when the skeletal monster girl began to fall, a thousand thoughts exploded within her head. But none of them, none of them, had the hope of the gnat catching her.

    Not only catching her, but letting her go and then dug her own claws into her back to grip her spine¡ªas if she were a carrying case.

    Calypso was so shocked, she ignored the brief but potent momentary paralysis. She glanced about, trying to see if this was a trick, only to see Gale being grabbed by the gnat¡¯s other claw. Judging by the various holes that were closing up on Gale¡¯s slimy body, and the gnat burying that claw into the massive mushroom on her head¡ªthe gnat quickly deduced that it had to have very massive roots that could provide her anchor. Which had very startling implications, but there simply was no time to ponder them right now.

    Especially since the gnat¡¯s speed was notably lowered. Along with the very subtle drops of altitude with every passing moment. Soon more than later, they would all have to get on the ground again.

    So of course, the wire-veins dropped down, lancing outward for the gnat¡ªthe only reason they all weren¡¯t ensnared because of the fly¡¯s erratic and nimble movement.

    But it wasn¡¯t over, because as she effortlessly dodged¡ªwhichever side she moved towards, the walls roared, trying to either eat her or her passenger until she moved away. At least Gale, as she shrieked and shouted, could move¡ªtuck herself in¡ªand barely making it due to being made of goo. Calypso was limited, which meant the gnat had to pick up her slack. Thus, meaning more effort in flying, causing the drops much more noticeable. And this hallway seemed to stretch forever. No end in sight.

    But Calypso refused to not only believe in that, but refuse to be the load as someone else tried to save her useless ass.

 (META Update) Life Got In The Way, No Entries This Week

    ... I was so tempted to call this one "Update Entry" or something... But people would think that this is a follow up to a past Missing Entry or something. Guess I''ll stash that idea for a rainy day--

    First off, I would like to say thank you, thank you, thank you all for the recent support. I never would''ve guessed that something I wrote would get 11k views and on Rising Stars, but here we fucking are... 100% on you guys, and I hope the story''s enjoyable for you all. Again, I cannot understate how humbling this all this and I can''t ever not praise you for the help.

    Secondly, this little story is going to wrap up in a few months. I started this project as a Writathon/I always had this idea so let''s use this as an excuse to do it thing and maaaan, has it expanded in a ton of ways. But I don''t like the idea of gassing this far beyond it''s purpose if I don''t have the ideas or means to do so. That''s how we get weird filler arcs and stupid story developments, after all. So yeah, while Cal''s story is coming to an end, who knows? If my rebooted original story bombs hard again because I''m bad runs it''s course, maybe a continuation of Fear can be next to replace that slot. I''m not discounting the possibility.

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

    And finally, the reason/transparency... I''m not gonna lie to you guys, so far this year is absolute dogshit. A lot of personal stuff is weighing down on me, never mind the state of the world around me, and I was content to keep my usual pace, trucking along--but Life finally got me. Long story short, I got really fucking sick this past weekend (still recovering and it wasn''t COVID, thankfully), my PC is slowly dying and I had to order a new one (still hasn''t come), and sudden appearance of the original owner of our house we rented is coming over to see how things are--which meant us hauling ass and cleaning the place top-to-fucking-bottom. And I was actually gonna try to write this week''s updates--

    Being kinder to myself, I decided that I needed the rest. While breaking the five-month streak I was proud of (plus looking at this rambling and wincing because that''s 500+ words right there I could''ve done) feels bad, this week''s updates were probably going to be as low quality as late week''s. So hopefully, things are gonna settle and we''re back in business. But if you unfollow because of this, I understand greatly. Sorry that I couldn''t do it and betrayed your trust.

    Thank you all for understanding and the love. Have yourselves a damn good one.

 Entry 8.5 (2/2) - Healing: A Far-Off Promise

    Calypso refused to be made a fool of by a living, breathing haunted house attraction.

    She covered her ears, so with the added bonus of her elbow-scythes acting as protection not only for the haggard gnat, but herself. Once they glided towards her side, with the hungry walls lurching forward, Calypso sawed their concrete fangs down¡ªcausing the building to shriek out in anger.

    The skeletal monster girl¡¯s sight was heightened, as her vision expanded almost tenfold. Almost like that camera shot in films, as the world accelerates around her, as she zooms in.

    And what she found was exactly what they needed.

    ¡°THROW US!¡± Calypso ordered.

    The gnat didn¡¯t turn her head towards Calypso, which baffled the latter until she remembered. The massive compound fly eyes that were at the sides of the gnat¡¯s head, it wasn¡¯t for show¡ªlike the weird ear muffs they acted as. Within those eyes, were a hundred ¡°Consumed¡± eyes reflected, blinking. But only a couple trained themselves on Calypso.

    ¡°THROW US FORWARD!¡± Calypso proceeded to exclaim, explain. ¡°THE ENTIRE HALLWAY, IT HASN¡¯T BEEN WOKEN UP YET! USE ALL OF YOUR STRENGTH AND HOPE YOU HAVE ANY LEFT TO GLIDE!¡±

    The gnat sighed, agonized. But then nodded, the little sweat that survived evaporation flicking from her head.

    It was interesting¡ªexhilarating¡ªto be on the other side of what the skeletal monster girl often did to her victims. She agreed to it, and yet was still caught off guard by being flung forward, her surroundings turning into blurred, bleeding streaks around her.

    The experience wasn¡¯t the worst part of the ordeal, the fell of being pushed against as she spears forward and yet being yanked downward from the inside due to gravity trying to regain control of this fantastical situation¡­ It was the waiting. To keep experiencing the discordant over sensory, waiting for it to properly end, and that being the moment that Calypso needed to regain her bearings to keep running.

    And the moment was so much sooner than later.

    But Calypso angled her limbs, hit the floor running on all fours. Forcing herself out of her own daze to look about her surroundings¡ªto confirm that indeed that the spread hasn¡¯t happened yet.

    Then she looked back at the sounds of two, very different thuds. Gale now trailing behind her, having the gnat under her own arm, without a second thought in her mind.

    Now a new tightrope had to be walked on: Calypso needing to pull ahead, but not by much. Looking forward, scouting out these decaying rooms for shelter, and keeping an eye on the spread that was slowly gaining ground again. All for her cohorts, one trying to keep the tired other safe.

    It didn¡¯t help, the fact that these vacant halls were constantly repeating, adding to the madness. Every, single door that Calypso forced herself to glance into¡ªprecious seconds she needed and can never get back¡ªmocked her. As if she keeps catching the same spot over and over for her lost keys, hoping that they¡¯ll magically manifest because she ¡°knew¡± that she put them around there.

    She fought her natural inclinations. To curse herself, the world, for being so stupid, pointless, barely breathing at this point because her face was razor sharp into focusing. Focusing on survival, not holding out for some exit or sudden absolution. Adjusting what she was after accordingly, and having enough hope to keep going until she finds it.

    There was no greater surge of satisfaction, when Calypso looked into the room that she desperately needed.

    ¡°In here, girls!¡± Calypso waved at her cohorts, as she gripped the rusted door frame. ¡°In here!¡±

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    As Calypso rushed in, she climbed onto the pile of broken and battered desks¡ªchairs¡ªreplaceable office furniture that littered the grime-covered floors. But it was enough.

    She stood at the ¡°base¡± of this ramshackle, makeshift mountain¡ªwaiting for Gale to bolt into the room with the gnat in tow, the former transferring the latter to Calypso.

    Calypso bit her lips as they pursed. If she¡¯s able to swallow the worst of herself¡­

    She helped the gnat up, aiding her climbing on all fours by pushing her along. And without question and pause, Gale was hoisted up next before the skeletal monster made her own quick ascent.

    But it was done. As the monster girls pant to themselves, with their respective rhythms, they were safe. At least a minute longer.

    ¡°Ooo¡­ Kay¡­¡± the gnat was still on her knees, fluttering her wings of Gale¡¯s goo. ¡°Your thinking of staying in this room, real quick?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not a guarantee¡­ But considering that these look like thrown away items, versus being physically part of the building, there could be a chance they¡¯re simply broken things,¡± Calypso crossed her arms by cupping the last human-looking part of her arms. ¡°At best, they can act as a 12 second raft we can launch ourselves from. At worse, we need to be ready the moment we hear rustling.¡±

    The gnat made a long, anguished sigh before rising again, shaking erratically to free herself of the cyan sludge.

    ¡°Man, I¡¯m really just in the way, huh~?¡±

    Calypso snapped her head at Gale, doing her trademark rubbing-the-back-of-the-neck. Failing to do so but never less wearing her face in a cheerfully defeated fa?ade.

    ¡°Are you kidding, girl?¡± the gnat looked at her. ¡°You think quick¡ªforget how messy it is.¡± She then tapped her own head. ¡°Trust me, being smart¡¯s not what it¡¯s cracked up to be¡ªwe need you to pull us out of our smartass gridlocks~¡±

    ¡°¡­Hm,¡± Calypso nodded, before continuing, ¡°Now that everything¡¯s done imploding for now, the cloaks¡­?¡±

    The duo looked at each other, then at Calypso before Gale sucked at her fangs.

    ¡°Wheeeeen you, y¡¯know, passed out¡­ Y¡¯know, like, we put your cloak on you and had a plan to go a store an ex of mine worked at to get free clothes before rushing you to the hospital. Theeeeen the sun rose, and the moment the light hit us¡­¡±

    Gale then made a motion with her claws, balling them up before spreading them. ¡°Poof.¡±

    ¡°¡­ ¡®Poof¡¯?¡± Calypso sounded defeated.

    ¡°Poof,¡± the gnat confirmed. ¡°Ours too¡ªwhich didn¡¯t help the fact we were naked and carrying what essentially was a dying person in our mitts: not the most potentially bad caught-with-my-pants-down moment of my life, but it¡¯s definitely up there.¡±

    ¡°Thankfully we found some convenience store that was closed up due to¡­ Well, Subsumed-y things, and nothing beats convenience store shirts and pants! Quickly put those on you, called the Sheriffs, and bolted the hell outta there and went our separate ways.¡±

    That gave Calypso pause. The gnat could¡¯ve just left Gale, or worse framed her, there and then. And yet she came back¡­

    Calypso then sighed. ¡°Well, I suppose there was a reason he just handed these things to us¡­¡±

    ¡°Banking on us breaking the toys, basically,¡± the gnat crossed her own arms. ¡°Ah well. We just repeat what we¡¯ve done until we find where these fuckers are hiding¡­?¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­¡± Gale added in.

    ¡°Gale¡¯s right,¡± Calypso hopped on her friend¡¯s response. ¡°Way too costly when we still don¡¯t know the state of things once we get there. What we need to do is find a hidden passage way, or at the very least learn to battle this place.¡±

    ¡°Well¡ª¡± Gale added in again.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± the gnat agreed with Gale, stroking her chin. ¡°We¡¯re still at disadvantage at the fact we¡¯re still half-baked¡ªeverything we need to do at this point is hit and run and guerilla, but too bad both tactics involve knowing the land, so we¡¯re shit out of luck there.¡±

    ¡°I mean¡ª¡± Gale added in, raising her claw.

    ¡°¡ªGale¡¯s right,¡± Calypso continued on for her friend, ¡°There is one way: confusion and diversion. Why not carry some junk with us, find a place to sneak about in, and cause some mayhem they¡¯re already tense and on the lookout for?¡±

    ¡°Guys, I¡¯m doing my only part in this and you¡¯re super smart¡ªbut pointing out the simple thing¡­¡± Gale used her propped claw and pointed downward. ¡°Since when are our shadows were, like, all weird?¡±

    Calypso quickly looked down, her dark eyes wide with confusion and awe. Watching her very shadow¡­ Breathe and writhe. But it wasn¡¯t like a Subsumed, trying to masquerade¡­ It wasn¡¯t remotely violent in the slightest. One could call a wave from the ocean ¡°violent¡±, but it ultimately isn¡¯t.

    The skeletal monster girl reached out, instinctively.

    Her shadow took the chance, climbing up her limb and gently wrapping itself around her primal frame, covering it, protecting it¡­ Shrouding it.

    And within moments, her Shadowshroud cloak manifested itself around its new owner. Calypso looking down, swaying it softly as the edges of the cloak fanned out into wispy darkness.

    ¡°¡­And thaaaank you, Richard,¡± Calypso purred.

 Entry 8.6 - Healing: A Far Off Promise

    The trio of vicious-looking monster girls proceeded to have a moment, to play with their super cool cloaks that were made of their own shadows.

    It was odd. Calypso spread her arms out, in a bout of curiosity¡­ For her arms to pierce through the cloak, like putting them through a waterfall. The flurry of darkness that she parted spilling over her arms, ¡°stopping¡± at the biceps, acting as sleeves.

    And after putting her arms away again, watching the cloak morph back to it¡¯s natural, surging state¡­ Calypso then thought about how to open it, moving her arm absentmindedly due to being deep in such. Immediately opening the cloak, showcasing her fierce body as the shadows hung off her shoulders. Fittingly, giving her the appearance of a Strokerian vampire.

    ¡°Obeys our thoughts¡­¡± Calypso pondered out aloud, so her cohorts can hear. ¡°Very nice~¡±

    ¡°Just subtract sunlight,¡± the gnat joked, but quickly added, ¡°¡ªY¡¯know, direct light can weaken it¡ª¡±

    Gale was too busy giggling, swaying to herself as she played with her own cloak. Twirling on the tips of her toes as she danced on the broken desk.

    ¡°Now then...¡± the gnat looked down at her cloaked self. ¡°What does ¡®merge with the shadows as long as there¡¯s shade¡¯ means exactly¡­¡±

    The rumbling that became enraged screams cut that thought off.

    ¡°Well let¡¯s figure that out in the next five seconds or whatever--!¡± Gale shouted.

    The walls slowly shuddered to life, the floor tensed before relaxing. And as Calypso predicted, the girls¡¯ mount of trash immediately became food to the awakened room, crunching it with reckless abandon.

    Of course, Calypso and the others jumped into the air. As they talked about, a perfectly normal next move¡­

    But suddenly, the skeletal monster girl found herself being engulfed by the light¡ªnot the flickering lights¡ªbut light itself dimming around her.

    Next thing that she knew, she was peering through this¡­ Hazy, oval point of view of the room below her. As if looking through the view finders back home, the machines tourists use to insert coins to gaze the Statue of Liberty from afar¡­ It would be disconcerting, but there was a calmness to this darkness. For the first time since she¡¯s been tasked into fighting Cassie, Calypso has never felt so safe.

    As Calypso wondered if she could look about, her POV shifted. It was odd but eventually she found out that she thinks, therefore she can move, which was harder than it sounds. At least one has the weight and feeling of neck movement to aid in steering sight, to anchor oneself, and there wasn¡¯t that here. Never the less, she watched as the room finished it¡¯s not so fine dining, with the hallways from afar still pulsating and rumbling with anger. Calypso felt like she was a CRT camera.

    And if the weirdness wasn¡¯t enough, she looked ¡°towards¡± the ceiling, to find her cohorts hiding within the other corners of darkness that formed, occupying their own side. She couldn¡¯t exactly make them out, but only their body shape and of course, the iris of their glowing eyes. The violet of Gale¡¯s and the endlessly mirrored crimson of the gnat¡¯s.

    So of course, Gale waved as she clung to the wall¡ªand the gnat give the world¡¯s slowest thumbs up. Calypso had to withhold the chuckle that brewed in her throat.

    Looking down, Calypso focused. Now that the room¡¯s done with it¡¯s very noisy meal, the skeletal monster girl was curious¡­ What now? What happens now that the ¡°entire¡± (and Calypso¡¯s going out on a limb with this statement) hospital is alive? This certainly can¡¯t be the norm, for the hidden Subsumed that they haven¡¯t met yet. There was always a possibility¡ªand Calypso couldn¡¯t discount it or she truly learned nothing this far¡ªbut even for shadow skinwalkers of the night¡­ It¡¯s far too chaotic.

    The girls could wait, as Calypso tried to figure out what to do next. But who knows if the cloaks can hide them this long, or when. Never mind the fact that she had to communicate this idea to the others, silently¡­

    So Calypso looked towards the broken door, barely on its hinges¡­ But mainly behind such a thing, to see it cast a shadow.

    A hiding place.

    The skeletal monster waved at her fellow hybrids, and then pointed at this door. Multiple times, arching her index¡­claw, back and forth. Thankfully, both nodded in agreement. With a nod of her own, Calypso looked down at the hungry floor, adjusting herself, and proceeded to jump down¡ªpreparing herself to sprint towards the shade while confusing the living building.

    But it didn¡¯t quite happen that way.

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    Little did she realize, Calypso¡­ Simply appeared within that shade behind the door. She blinked, trying to figure out if she blacked out or something, or there was a new, shitty aspect of this haunted environment making her lose memories¡­

    Only to be startled out of that thought, as two streaks of thinning shadows shot by her. Manifesting into the shapes of Gale and the gnat. With equally wide ¡°eyes¡± as well.

    Calypso thought back, searching for an explanation that could possibly make sense¡­

    Then it occurred to her: why it was so confusing in the first place. As long as there¡¯s shadow or shade, as Calypso pondered¡­ The cloaks will thrust the user into the nearest one.

    Calypso raised her ¡°thumb¡±, to signal she was okay. The others responded in kind.

    She peered over the broken door, in the space the door created as it leaned forward. Looking into the hazy hallway, searching for the next dark spot.

    It was a clear curve, of difficulty. Never mind the flickering lights, but the lights in the hallway coated the place entirely. Troubling.

    All what was there, available, was the other dark rooms. Calypso supposed that it was literally better than nothing. Waving at the others, and then pointed to the nearest door. They nodded.

    Calypso surged forward, manifesting in the dark of the next room. Waiting, and seeing Gale and the gnat catch up once more.

    The trio zipped forward, continuing to surge within the shadows from door to adjacent door. Barring the wait times, observation. Being on alert before moving.

    The halls were still alive, still rageful. So, whatever the effect doesn¡¯t wane, or at least ceased after it consumed things. It was getting worrying for Calypso, her fangs locked together, tense. It didn¡¯t help that these halls repeat, over and over, the mental mind-game adding it. They¡¯re basically running in a circle.

    So when the flapping of wings began to echo, to build, it made all players stand in place¡ªhoping their cloaks really does hide them.

    Calypso had to withhold her complete refusal at what she¡¯s seeing.

    What flew into their view, and ended up clinging to the walls¡­ Was another Bat Subsumed. Nearly identical¡ªmight as well be identical. It chittered, huffed in amusement which was very¡­ Eerily human.

    It crawled about the walls, peering into the room that was across where the girls hid in plain sight. Only the shade masking them.

    ¡°T-toooold them¡­¡± the Bat Subsumed droned. ¡°They had be¡­ Eaten¡­ Gobbled up¡­?¡±

    It chitter-cackled. Amused at¡­ Learning these human words?

    It abruptly bangs its claws against the screaming walls, repeatedly.

    ¡°SHUT UP!¡± the Bat Subsumed screeched, the voice shining through the animal sound¡ªas the two were layered. ¡°You¡¯re done¡­¡±

    And on that command, the building began to shift, stutter, slow down. The transformation was gradual, but ultimately it was reverting back to the dank and damaged place.

    The Bat Subsumed proceeded to slam onto the ground, getting on all fours.

    Before stopping in its tracks.

    ¡°¡­Hm¡­¡±

    The thing sniffed in the air¡­ And then screeched into the air with its raised head, before stopping.

    As it slowly turned its head towards the girls. Taking everything in with a pregnant pause.

    ¡°¡­Guess my¡­ Imagination¡­¡±

    Then it looked forward, began to flap and took off.

    There was no time as any to go after it now.

    Calypso felt like she was in some police movie, fanning her hand forward to signal to go after the Bat, as they all surged forward.

    Darting across the plane, as the Bat Subsumed flew within the hallway, angling itself effortlessly. Navigating the endless pathway as if it knew the end of such.

    And funnily enough, it did.

    Slamming into a wall that suddenly appeared. A wide, crumbling yellowing wall that had a bolted door. A basement door.

    With it¡¯s claws, the Bat Subsumed pried the door open, despite having a handle, hurrying in. And with this opening, Calypso saw that the basement was virtually painted in black.

    Perfect.

    No second thoughts, they zipped into the darkness, despite the door quickly in the process of shutting itself.

    Calypso couldn¡¯t even hear the slam. All there was, ringing in her ears, was self-important chittering.

    Multiple Bat Subsumed. A total crowd, celebrating, fighting, chattering in the darkness in this tight, concrete chamber. Some hanging from the walls, others chasing each other, but somehow they neatly formed and gathered themselves in a ring like formation.

    As five of them in this center, steadily maiming a Subsumed. And the victim is enjoying it.

    Judging by the various body parts and mass that were ¡°bleeding¡± on the floor, this was once a¡­ Deer of some sort. A stag. It¡¯s antlers, it¡¯s muzzle¡ªeverything that made it ¡°him¡±, ripped away. Then sculpted.

    Turning it into another Bat Subsumed. It was insane.

    ¡°WOOOOOOO!¡± one of the Bat Subsumed cheered. ¡°PRAISE TERRORTIDE! WE WILL RISE TO A WORLD THAT¡¯S FINALLY MADE FOR US~!¡±

    Only for them all to cheer at once. It gave Calypso such a headache.

    ¡°OUR TERRORIZER WILL BE PLEASED TODAY!¡± another one screamed in joy. ¡°AT THE AMOUNT OF FEAR TODAY¡ªTHEY TRIED TO STOP US?! HA! THEY¡¯VE AIDED IN MAKING HER PLAN WORK BETTER!¡±

    Another discordant round of screeches. Calypso had to remind herself to stay calm, to stay still. Her and the others were more or less at the end of the stairs. Once again, plain sight.

    ¡°AND BEFORE WE ENJOY OUR USUAL HAUL OF INVALIDS¡­¡± the Bat was cut off by their brethren¡¯s laughter at that word.

    That word struck fear into Calypso. She immediately knew what that meant.

    She turned, slowly. All to see a pile of patients, humans¡­ The coma patients. The really sick. The paralyzed for life.

    The skeletal monster girl saw the boy she broke in that pile. The words of Mrs. Moses telling her that she was visiting him¡­ ¡°J. Baker¡±, on the near top. Eyes still shut and struggling to breathe.

    Calypso had to fight, to not let the guilt destroy her there and then.

    ¡°¡­WE SHOULD CHECK ON OUR V.I.P. FIRST~!¡± the Bat finished, flying forward towards this wooden door that had a broken window that peer into the room.

    Calypso wanted to see. Wanted to know what these cruel bastards are safeguarding¡­ But they answered for her.

    ¡°MEELLLLISSSSSSSSSSA¡­¡± one Bat chittered.

    ¡°MELISSSAAAAAA¡­¡±

    Chanting the name, over and over. Even the gnat looked at Calypso in surprise, Gale covered her mouth.

    Melissa Harker, which was a murder they heard about days ago¡­ Was alive.

    And the object of worship of these bat monsters.

 Entry 9.0 - Trust: A Massive Gambit

    It was hard for Calypso to review her options. The fact that she and her fellow goners were surrounded by their cheering enemies¡ªas they were at the base of the stairs, didn¡¯t help matters.

    But it was ultimately the fact that these bat monsters were chanting the name of a recent murder victim that they¡¯ve locked up in a chamber¡ªit just added such a layer of this confusing tiramisu to chew on.

    And on her relative right, part of this monster crowd frothing from their maws, looking at the pile of patients that were near death or worse. Among those numbers was the annoying boy she singlehandedly maimed into a coma, apparently. Yet another layer. And just as hard to swallow.

    Calypso, all she could do right now, was looking about. At the raving crowds, then around the dank and virtually featureless basement. Then finally to Gale and the gnat, who in turn looked at her. Watching, waiting for a signal from her. Like she was somehow leader material.

    She could unveil herself. Make these bastards pay for following such an insane bitch¡ªcausing this much misery¡­ But she also knew just as well that her entire journey until now is defined by her thinking she¡¯s oh so powerful¡ªfree from her faults, only to be properly slammed down for even thinking that she gained some control over her sorry life. One odd bump¡ªone of these bats sniffing around, that¡¯s all it takes for their cloaks to become useless, and they follow right after.

    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Calypso felt herself panting, in panic, and had to close her eyes for a moment¡ªpursing her full lips shut. Giving the one thing she did have that these vermin didn¡¯t: focus.

    Her eyes shot open with the realization.

    Then she trained her eyes at the door the Bat Subsumed were crowded around, worshipping. Noticing once again that the door had busted open windows¡­

    That led to a dark room.

    The skeletal monster girl softly waved her hand at the duo. Proceeded to point at both of them with two claws, then used them to point downward repeatedly. Hooking out her thumb-claw to motion to herself, then finally pointing at the door.

    The glowing eyes that stared back at her were wavering, all spectrum of expression but all still based within worry. Calypso wanted to explain verbally that if it doesn¡¯t work, at the very least, those two can get away and maybe the skeletal monster girl gets thrown in with Melissa anyways.

    It was a struggle but¡­ She was starting to understand why they wouldn¡¯t want that for her.

    So Calypso did the next best thing, the natural hand sign in this scenario¡­ Clasping her claws together, pulling them up to her chest. Begging.

    The two pairs of eyes looked at each other¡­ Before turning forward, nodding if not solemnly.

    With that, Calypso looked forward and rushed into the fray.

 Entry 9.1 - Trust: A Massive Gambit

    The monster girl managed to slip within the shadows¡ªno, surge forward and weaved herself from monsters with the enhanced senses of an animal with echolocation at their claws. And reached and successfully hit a target that was only a foot and a few inches big, the broken window of a wooden basement door. Just seconds ago, Calypso was berating herself for being so dumb, weak, powerless¡ªand yet she managed to get inside the chamber, which held the supposed object of her enemies¡¯ worship.

    So of course, she had to land directly on the loudest, crunchiest bag of chips that were present in this room.

    And not only that, realize that the entire concrete floor was covered in wrappers, bags, and piles of dollar store waste that couldn¡¯t NOT be stepped on to make a sound.

    Calypso had to freeze, it was practically on instinct. Her dark eyes were wide with fear, her pink skin sweating with anticipation. It was both her personality and the chemistry of her damaged brain¡ªshe couldn¡¯t help but jump to the worst-case scenario. And now with such an amazing, feral body, Calypso was more than prepared to face whatever that horrible case ends up being.

    Though, she didn¡¯t bet on Melissa Harker being that worst-case scenario.

    As the poor girl stared fearful daggers at Calypso. Completely aware of what she¡¯s witnessing before her.

    And Calypso was too busy watching the poor girl¡¯s jittering, panicked jerking¡ªlacking in any energy, to snap her head back at the stirring behind the door.

    ¡°Wassit¡­?¡± one of the Bat Subsumed grumbled quizzically.

    Calypso didn¡¯t even have to see, her fight-or-flight senses practically felt the bastard¡¯s head peering from the broken window, the pressure of the presence pushing at the back of the monster girl¡¯s nape despite being feet away.

    But it didn¡¯t matter to Melissa, who tried so hard in vain to kick herself away from Calypso. Somehow fumbling while sitting down¡­ Her eyes looked so tired from weeping, and cheeks that tightened over and over due to gnashing¡ªwere petrified.

    Not only did Calypso feel awful, but she felt like a total failure¡ªruining the only chance that this poor girl needed. She tried not moving her claws, but preparing them to slash whatever was coming through that door first.

    So she was caught off guard, once the Bat Subsumed laughed from its disgusting throat.

    ¡°I think she¡¯s finally lost it, fellas~!¡± the Bat Subsumed chittered. ¡°Perfect for the Terrorizer, am I right?!¡±

    And self-indulgent chittering soon followed. Calypso made deathly sure to listen out for the shuffling of fur scrapping against a wooden frame¡­ Finally hearing such after so many painful seconds.

    That¡¯s the thing that was keeping her and her company alive at this moment. Bats have great ears, but terrible eyes. Not totally blind, but might as well be¡­ It explained how Melissa could clearly see this living shadow, where these fools can¡¯t.

    But Calypso had to fully take in¡­ What they¡¯d done to this poor girl.

    Her blonde hair was not only ¡°bronze¡±, and not only tumbled past her shoulders where it felt like it shouldn¡¯t but it was completely matted with grime and dried, crumbling crimson. She was dressed like a doll, her current clothing bunched up on the sides, and the signs of forcing these gas station tees and shorts onto her body still lingered. Never mind the stains that were caked in, despite them looking cheap and relatively new. A weathered, engorged patch hung from her neck¡­ What would¡¯ve been the fatal blow? Should have been, in Calypso¡¯s mind.

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    Yet, somehow, someway, this cruel display one-upped itself when Calypso¡¯s eye caught a dried pool of blood behind Melissa¡­ And the realization that she¡¯s been seeing this poor girl with her arms behind her this entire time.

    The monster girl couldn¡¯t help it. She had to shake her head in¡­ Abject disbelief. True, earnest pity forced itself on her fierce, death worshipping fa?ade.

    It had to be pretty potent, not only to show up on an infamously stony face¡ªbut for Melissa to freeze in place in the face of such.

    ¡°Melissa--?¡± Calypso decided on the lowest register she thought she could manage, and winced, still needing to lower it further. ¡°Melissa¡ªMelissa¡­ Can you understand me¡­?¡±

    It took a long time for the poor girl to answer. But it was ultimately a nod, tampered with mumbling that followed after.

    Calypso was going to continue, but she heard the scuffling of fur once again. Staying completely still.

    Now she was at the mercy of a damaged person who rightfully shouldn¡¯t trust anyone at this point. Calypso didn¡¯t even ¡°look¡± at Melissa, despite still being directly in front of the girl. Not to influence, and more importantly, press the girl further.

    Only for Melissa to mumble on. Sway her head back and forth, with Calypso trying so hard to figure out what that could possibly mean¡ªother than the nothingness that madness amounts to.

    ¡°Heh. Still crazy¡­¡± as the (same¡­?) Bat Subsumed squeezed its head away from the door. It was then that Calypso completely understood what Melissa was going for. Proving that there was still brilliance.

    ¡°w¡­what do you want from me¡­¡± the poor girl eked out, weakly.

    Calypso immediately shook her head. ¡°Nothing. Nothing at all¡ªnothing from you. I¡¯m not going to mince words, lie¡­ We¡¯re not good people or ¡®the good guys¡¯. But we do want to help you, and we want to kill that insane bitch that did this to you and others.¡±

    Melissa could barely contain her onrush of emotion, let alone possibly hide them as some form of control over the conversion. And even then, she barely had anything to conquer tears, other than a sudden sheen that flickered in her blue eyes.

    ¡°¡­a-and¡­ i¡­ get to go home¡­?¡±

    ¡°As soon as we get somewhere safe and sound,¡± Calypso nodded, barely keeping a mind to keep her voice calm and soothing. ¡°You can leave this terrible place. I promise you.¡±

    Calypso turned her head, rattling the plastic that littered her feet. She heard and felt Melissa quickly move to use her legs to cause more noise.

    Not because she heard one of those damn vermin. The skeletal monster girl needed to think.

    Take it all in. The situation she¡¯s in, the fact that the supernatural cause suffering like this every single day¡­ And her and Melissa¡ªGale and the gnat¡­ They were the lucky ones. People like Alice, like¡­ The Baker boy. Easily cast aside from this absurd and cruel world, barely a meal in the case of these disgusting folk.

    And Cassie is going to up the ante? Make this somehow worse for both parties?

    Calypso grabbed at her arm. The arm she knew she was weary of. And she let go of the passive apprehension that kept it in line, as it shook with unhealthy light.

    ¡°Stand back, Melissa. Stand back and enjoy what I¡¯m going to do to these ''people'',¡± Calypso didn¡¯t remotely bother with her voice. She wanted this to be heard.

    Calypso immediately turned forward, towards the door, and let her arm transform into its wild scythe form. As it cleaved through the wooden door, rushing forward and causing the darkened air around them to be painted black.

    The Bat Subsumed didn¡¯t even see it coming. The skeletal monster girl sprang into action, chopping them into two¡ªsometimes barely, as they were caught off guard. Or at the very least, the ones that weren¡¯t close to the door and turned to gawk. Which surprisingly, was quite a few.

    Calypso slammed her other claw into her shoulder, wrestling but directing the transformed arm to a slow. She glanced about, impressed with herself that she managed to mow down a crowd so effectively.

    There was never going to be a better time to run than now.

    ¡°GALE!¡± Calypso screamed out to her cohorts. ¡°FLY GIRL! GET MELISSA CAREFULLY AND WE RUN!¡±

    It was when she was coming down from her intense high of adrenaline, that the only shadow Calypso saw, was Gale¡¯s. Trembling, sad. But said enough.

    That damn gnat left them at the worst possible time.

 Entry 9.2 - Trust: A Massive Gambit

    And there Calypso was. Surrounded by surviving Bat monsters, gawking at her and ready to pounce. Behind her, a barely alive woman that put her trust in her, probably freaking out due to sensing that whatever plan the monster girl had, it blew up in her face. And then there was Gale before her, on the verge of crimson tears, because she knew what was brewing within the damaged, dumbass girl that she was facing.

    Now, with all that in mind¡­ Would anyone think less of Calypso, when she just started laughing?

    Jubilance began to rock her body. Spill from her throat, which shuddered with such, almost involuntary in fashion due to how easily it took over Calypso¡¯s being.

    Ironically, the transformed arm of hers¡ªthe wild, swing blade¡ªwas completely still for once as Calypso just laughed and laughed and laughed. Eerily so.

    The laughter was so potent, it caused the skeletal monster girl to hunch forward, her only good arm hugging her exposed midriff.

    But the sound she was producing, it was¡­ Oddly nostalgic.

    Calypso remembers her first night, her first transformation¡ªhow could she ever not? It wasn¡¯t just the unearthly pain she remembers, nor what she did that night. Details. It was always the details that clung so tightly around the human subconscious.

    And for her, it was the reaction to seeing herself for the first time. How she laughed so harshly, it was like she were completely out of breath after a certain point.

    She reeled back, placing a claw against her face as the laughter got louder, thinner. In that one action, despite her eyes flushing with crimson tears, she saw the entire room.

    The remaining Bat Subsumed bewildered, too scared to advance. Looking around, looking at each other, because they must be missing something.

    Gale, trying her damnest to calm her friend down, uncaring that she pulled her hood down¡ªexposing herself as well. Not like she and the others cared.

    And the pile of humans, the broken, still slowly twitching and groaning amongst themselves. But they were clearly fading away. Not much time left to help them, and hook them back up to their machines.

    And all Calypso could do, was laugh until she physically couldn¡¯t anymore.

    Eventually, she wasn¡¯t quite sure how long that was¡ªher head was spinning too much to focus¡ªCalypso simmered to a stop. Panting audibly, as everyone around her that was cognizant, were on absolute tenterhooks.

    Calypso coughed in a fit, before lowering her head, to say this.

    ¡°Gaaaale~?¡±

    ¡°Y¡­Yeah¡­?¡± Gale was so terrified to answer.

    ¡°Go help the girl,¡± Calypso¡¯s voice was so distant. ¡°She has a nail, er, between her hands, pinned down¡­? So be as gentle as possible. Which I¡¯m confident in, you¡¯re you~¡±

    ¡°C-Cal, just¡ªjust calm down, I-I can explain, i-it¡¯s my fault again, I swear¡ª¡±

    Calypso simply smiled at the trembling swamp monster. But her dead eyes barely moved an inch.

    ¡°Gale. You have to learn how to not blame yourself for people who don¡¯t deserve it. We¡¯ll talk all about it later. Okay~?¡±

    The poor girl forced her eyes shut, tears rolling down and then mixing with the gooey texture of her skin. But she put on the hood and surged away from the scene.

    Leaving the monster with the present, confused and stunned onlookers all around her.

    ¡°Now then,¡± Calypso casually wiped the remnants of her own tears from her peach-toned face.

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    Be it either the cloak or the monster girl letting herself ¡°go¡±, Calypso began her nearly one-sided slaughter.

    One moment, she was behind a Bat Subsumed, driving her scythe arm directly behind its head. In another quick flash, tearing one¡¯s wing from the little bone that arm possessed. Rushing forward, grabbing another¡¯s head and punting her spiked knee right into the snout, caving it in entirely. Craving opening the back and yanking on the muscles that caused one¡¯s wings rendered useless, kicking so hard with her sharp toes; causing immediate disembowelment.

    There were plenty that fought back, of course, using their advantage of numbers to swarm¡ªsomehow¡ªanything. Calypso simply let them, so they could be easily impaled against her spikey bone armor, before being sliced at angles without a second thought. Remorse.

    Calypso lost count¡ªshe couldn¡¯t exactly¡­ Focus anymore. There was this certain flow to follow, that manifested the moment she unshackled herself from any pretense of restraint or second-guessing.

    But she did find, whenever she glanced downwards, the bodies that littered the floors so heavily, it was hard to tell from alive or dead at this point.

    She only stopped until there was only the one left standing.

    The poor thing was crawling away. Calypso wasn¡¯t even sure if she hit it at some point, but the monster girl simply followed. No rush, no brisk pace she had to engage in. It made the Bat Subsumed more freaked out, screeching for help.

    It was until Calypso noticed, after staring it down without blinking, that the texture of this beast¡­ It had claw marks that were still fresh, all across its frame.

    This was the newly made one, that they had all witnessed being initiated before them.

    Perfect. Calypso knew that there was no long-standing loyalty she had to put up with.

    The skeletal monster girl plunged her claw into the goner¡¯s back, unfazed by its pained shrieks.

    ¡°Gale?¡± Calypso barely moved, barely changing the tone of her voice. ¡°Do you need help, or--?¡±

    ¡°Nonono, I got her¡ªI got her, don¡¯t worry¡ªdon¡¯t worry¡­¡±

    Calypso slowly looked at her side, as she saw Gale struggle to wade through the bodies with Melissa¡¯s arm slung around her neck.

    The most interesting was Melissa¡¯s¡­ Lack of a reaction. Calypso figured, either the girl would cry at the carnage or cry at the fact that there was more death and misery. Maybe she wasn¡¯t even sure of what she was truly looking at. She¡¯s understanding that her captors are maimed or worse, but at this volume and the nature of this entire situation to begin with¡­ She was still human, after all. There was no grid for this.

    Calypso yanked the new Bat Subsumed upward towards her, it immediately whimpered and shouted out in fear and pain. ¡°Sssh. Sssh. Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯re letting you live. You¡¯re going to tell Cassie exactly what happened. Just tell us how to get out of here. And we¡¯ll leave immediately.¡±

    ¡°LIAR! YOU¡ªYOU¡¯RE LYING! L-LYING LIAR--!¡±

    Calypso tilted her head. ¡°How does killing you at this point serve any purpose¡­?¡±

    The poor thing could only whimper in response.

    Calypso proceeded to lower herself, in a way where she was speaking to the Bat Subsumed directly in its ear.

    ¡°There¡¯s no point in killing you, and there¡¯s no point in you not letting us go. So let¡¯s get past that. Oh¡ªI suppose you could stall and wait for Cassie to run over, which is pretty smart¡ªbut then that becomes a point. And we both know that you want to do anything to avoid that terrible fate of being bested, then eaten alive. You did all this because you fear that, correct? Why create a self-fulfilling prophecy¡­?¡±

    ¡°Fine! FINE!¡± the Bat Subsumed relented. ¡°F-fine¡­ T-the trick is that there are signs, to get out. It is endless, the halls¡­ But once you notice an imperfection, it is a way out¡­¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Calypso just threw it onto the littered ground. Walking forward, towards the pile of humans that lay there.

    On the top, the Baker boy.

    Calypso didn¡¯t need to be a doctor, to know that he was dead. Probably for a while now.

    The trance-like daze Calypso found herself in, gave way to an all-encompassing crush immediately.

    The least she could do in this moment, was to reach forward. Carry the body out, for a proper burial.

    But the oh-so-familiar rumbling proceeded to shudder within the walls.

    Calypso¡¯s frenzied gaze instantly fell on the Bat Subsumed, who was crouching down, driving its claws into the few exposed flooring. With a removed chuck of concrete, those claws were deep within exposed nerves.

    ¡°GALE!¡± Calypso roared. ¡°FOLLOW ME, KEEP THE GIRL IN TOW, WE¡¯RE GETTING OUT OF HERE!¡±

    Her cloak closed itself around Calypso¡¯s body, as she surged forward¡ªup the stairs and out of the basement.

    There was no stopping, no hiding this time around. The point of view of Calypso was this surging, focused shade all around her as she ran down the endless halls. Looking backward as Gale was right behind her, the shape of her friend was disturbed, easing Calypso.

    The halls were shuddering to life once more, but the monster girls were outrunning such. Calypso, darted her cold gaze in such quick succession, looking for anything that felt off.

    Ironically, it was once the building roared, that Calypso realized that the wall they were about to turn past, didn¡¯t reverberate like the others.

    With that, Calypso burst through it, leaving a big enough hole for Gale to slither through.

    Now on two timetables. Cassie¡¯s plan accelerating into place, and getting to the bookstore before that traitorous gnat does.

 Missing Entry (#4)

    The muffled sounds of the ocean that swirled around the foolish woman¡¯s head¡­ It always held such a boundless, potent, melancholy for her.

    It brought back memories she had to force down, but never could really force them to truly leave. Due to the sheer amount of physical and mental trauma, they were merely fuzzy vignettes at this point. But they still evoke the raw pain, sending her back to the exact moment when that hurt manifested.

    But none of them compared to what the woman had been dealing with, what feels like 10 of her possible lifetimes. That damn numbness that radiated from the lower back.

    And yet, Isabella loved the water¡ªthe stillness and its hold over her. For a few seconds, until her crushing reality hurts her again, she simply floated within without consequence. Movement. Judgment. Thoughts.

    But there was no time to enjoy that bliss. Not when there wasn¡¯t time to live or die right now.

    The woman made herself manifest onto the forest ground, laying bare as the water around her gently placed her against the grass. A soft sigh escaped her lips, as she quickly rubbed at her ring with her thumb on the same hand. Her MirroRiser stone flickered until the power she needed flared brightly.

    Isabella brought her other hand, putting it forward, lowering such to make it rest on the leaves and grass.

    The foliage slowly but surely amassed around her frame, colliding into a shining white before ¡°relaxing¡± into simple, but functional green clothing. A green shirt, a long dress skirt that hit her knees, and darker socks.

    Isabella never quite got over how relatively lax this transmutation was. It¡¯s magic, being fair, but making such a reach with glass being the most vaguely related to materials in cotton and threads? Purely because they come from the ¡°same place¡±?

    If only it worked consistently. Otherwise, the woman would¡¯ve been a billionaire.

    And as the amusement faded from her face, the sharp pain shot so violently caused Isabella¡¯s face to crunch¡­ Various ideas of how her life could¡¯ve gone better compared to all of this reared their ugly head again.

    But there was no time to dwell on that. It¡¯s not like she had much time, anyways.

    She knew that trying to get up meant precious little. Her ¡°quirky¡± lumbar spinal stenosis¡ªquirky because they don¡¯t have the heart to just tell her that it¡¯s Cauda Equina Syndrome already¡ªwas in its usual mood. Isabella couldn¡¯t exactly blame it, considering all that she¡¯s done, but that meant one thing.

    Pushing something that can¡¯t handle any more limit breaking.

    ¡°Please¡­¡± Isabella almost said out of breath, looking at her trembling hand that held her dear ring. Pleading to it as if it were the One Ring itself. ¡°Just¡­ Just one more¡­ I can pay for it, you know I will¡­ Just one more¡­¡±

    Isabella held her breath despite not having much air in her being¡­ Releasing it once the gemstone flickered with pained brilliance.

    ¡°Hidden Depths,¡± Isabella invoked her spell.

    Instantaneous waves manifested around the woman, softening the hard ground into raging liquid, as she slowly sank into the area. These affected surfaces only physically change into water, but not become it. Creating this paradoxical phenomenon that always amazed Isabella, despite all of these years.

    Plunging into the depths of the magical ocean again, Isabella was swept in the blusteringly fierce current that she needed. A clause of this particular variant of the Hidden Waves spell, quick travel for the price of both knowing exactly where one wants to go and extreme focus against the rush of the current.

    There was always a sense of fear whenever Isabella traveled like this. Not only were the surging waters constantly pushing her back, as she rocketed forward, but¡­ A hint of insidious weightlessness. A lull that points out the futility of this conflict of moving forward¡ªalmost targeting the pain that¡¯s accrued for years. And all of it could be immediately washed away, once Isabella stops fighting¡­

    No more reminders of social pressures. No more thoughts about needing to rise above, due to being looked down upon, sometimes in the literal sense. Realizations of lacking any meaningful connections anymore due to the workload. So much time lost and barely had¡­ All of that could just¡­ Finally, wash away¡­

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Thankfully, Isabella heaved herself from the land, crashing onto the concrete ground. Crashing back into reality.

    She had to be quick, so that this plan could work in her favor. Feeling out for, then instantly feeling the podium of the payphone, Isabella used her upper body strength to scale upwards. At least being thankful about her condition¡ªwell both of them¡ªto be able to do this in the first place.

    With herself hoisted up and against the device, the woman yanked the receiver and transformed her finger into a scaly, lavender claw. Jamming such forcefully into the narrow coin slot, knowing full well that the motion would break it on impact. But at least the action made it whittled down, and Isabella waited, using her hearing to her the series of clicks that confirmed authorization.

    Pulling away, moving in with said claw seamlessly shifted back into her bony finger, as Isabella dialed the number she always dreaded to log in.

    Once again, the woman felt out of breath, her throat both dry and somehow clogged with fluid. Somewhat grateful her sputtering cut off the monotone, impersonal dial tone.

    She had to make this call. She had her people to look after, to save them from this upcoming calamity. This is all that she could do now.

    Isabella cursed herself. And that was before that damn voice answered.

    ¡°Holloway Bookstore, how may we serve you~?¡±

    ¡°Help,¡± Isabella instantly corrected that¡­ Thing. ¡°¡®How may we help you¡¯.¡±

    The thing on the line proceeded to chuckle softly.

    ¡°So many years and I still can¡¯t quite get the hang of this mortal thing¡­ If only my captors aided me before stunting me off into this prison, huh~?¡±

    ¡°Do not,¡± Isabella had to ease the tightness of her grip, adjust the raspy hatred brewing in her voice. ¡°Make this about you. Do you hear me? You are going to listen to me, you interloper.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t exactly be an interloper along with the rest of my kin if I were sealed away in a fleshy shroud, really¡­¡±

    The woman was near tears, she had to move the receiver away, biting her lip to keep herself from faltering.

    It never gets easier. Hearing his voice, his mannerisms¡­ But he isn¡¯t there anymore. Only the self-righteous thing that she failed to kill.

    ¡°Are you still there? Little Mermaid~?¡±

    Isabella recomposed herself, but only slightly. Her shaking carried over into her tone.

    ¡°You¡¯re going to see three girls¡ªthey¡¯re going to ask you for the tome. You give it to them, or so help me¡­ I will finally avenge my beloved¡¯s sacrifice.¡±

    ¡°Hm. Interesting¡­ So, three human girls¡ª¡±

    ¡°Three college-aged women, you snake!¡± Isabella shrieked at that thing. ¡°Don¡¯t mince words!¡±

    ¡°I am following what you¡¯re telling me exactly¡­ But fine, I¡¯ll take the addendum. Wait, do you humans use words like that anymore? I feel like the language is shortening itself by the day¡ª¡±

    ¡°Three college-aged women¡ªthey ask you where the tome is¡ªyou give it to them,¡± Isabella commanded, growling. ¡°And you help them for what comes after. Are we clear?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s still vague enough for me to have fun, sure~¡±

    Isabella felt all of the weight that was building this entire time. Lowered her head as a result, her tone completely wavering as she said the next line with all the spite she could muster.

    ¡°Damn you¡­ If only¡­¡±

    ¡°I can finish that sentence for you! If only you didn¡¯t have that human sentimentally and gave in all those years ago¡­ We would be talking, but it¡¯d be on top of the world. Your coven alive, your powers unlimited¡ªoh, and of course, your beloved partner not using himself as a seal for me. And what did having that morality get you? Nothing. Because you gave everything away. How does it feel, what you thought was a righteous war against injustices of the world¡ªwhen it really was merely fighting against the natural inclinations of a world gone mad?¡±

    Isabella couldn¡¯t respond.

    ¡°Judging by that pitiful simpering, I¡¯ll take my win and do exactly what you¡¯ve said. Bye now, dear~¡±

    The broken woman let go of the receiver, not giving the bastard the satisfaction of listening to him hang up on his end. Isabella didn¡¯t just collapse in a fit of tears, she collapsed physically She began crawling, towards the nearest yet busiest public business she saw.

    At least this next part of the plan, it wasn¡¯t faked. It didn¡¯t need to be, at this point.

    With the available, dwindling strength from this nonsense body¡ªIsabella forced the door of the local diner open with tears streaming down her face.

    ¡°H-HOSPTIAL!¡± Isabella screamed mournfully. ¡°OH DEAR GOD, IT¡¯S AWFUL¡ªTHEY CAME FROM NOWHERE, THEY HURT SO¡ªAND THEY WERE DRAGGING THE COMATOSE AWAY! PLEASE, ANYONE¡ª¡±

    The crowd looked at her, multiple men immediately came to her aid to lift her. As Isabella kept spouting off details, hopefully, to cover her and her students, her hurt but aware mind hid behind this sheepish fa?ade.

    To see just how many were hiding behind skin themselves.

    A good deal in this eatery was Subsumed. Cracking smug aside glances, hiding behind their drinks¡­ She could have baited these monsters, back then. Could¡¯ve led her to this Terrorizer, Isabella could have done so much more, had she never wasted her time.

    She had a lot to think about, as the actual humans tended to her, and assured her that the police were on their way¡ªat least the ones that weren¡¯t already at the scene of the crime. Oddly enough, they arrived in minutes.

    But it didn¡¯t take long for Isabella to realize why that was.

    ¡°Alrighty, Mrs. Moses! We¡¯re gonna take you to the base and you can tell us what happened!¡±

    The trio of officers weren¡¯t Subsumed. But something just as unnatural, and something that the broken woman hoped her students could figure out how to stop on their own.

    They call themselves Better People, but they were monsters with another name, to Isabella.

 Missing Entry (#4: Revisited/II)

    ***

    ¡°Mrs. Moses¡­ You¡¯re a capable, intelligent, and hardworking woman~¡± there was such a lilt in Detective Treadwell¡¯s voice. He was a portly man with the most shaggy blond hair, a hardy chin, and a smile of a dope that one would be surprised at the fact he ranked so highly. Isabella figured that added to his craft.

    Such a personable, jolly fellow¡­ Too bad the broken woman knew that she wasn¡¯t talking to him.

    She saw him die firsthand and this was a different breed of interloper. Not Subsumed, but something if someone doesn¡¯t stop them or whatever their aim is, it could be so much worse.

    Isabella remained firm, she had to. Gripping her hands together as she placed them on the wooden table, her twitching back pressed against a metal chair. Everything about this¡­ Whatever this scenario was, was completely informal. Whatever took the shape of Detective Treadwell across from her, and one officer on his left and two that¡¯s ¡°on¡± his right, but they hang around the door of this blank cube of a room.

    Yet everything, even the furniture of the room, was framed around this sole, black and glossy telephone¡ªdab middle of the table that Isabella sat at.

    Regardless. This entire exercise is a game of Chicken. They want her to admit, to really drop her fa?ade first, before they can.

    Once again, perhaps much more than usual, the broken woman rued the fact she¡¯s become so ruined. Useless.

    ¡°A-as¡­¡± Isabella sighed, controlled, trying not to break and maintain some semblance of innocence. ¡°As I¡¯ve been saying¡­ I was visiting a student of mine, in critical condition. Then¡ªsomething, a group of people an¡ªand something akin to pack animals, suddenly people were getting gravely injured. I quickly had to make my escape, I left my chair, I was so afraid. Call it will, or call it adrenaline¡­ I crawled and crawled until I got to the caf¨¦. That is all that I know.¡±

    ¡°Of course!¡± the thing posing as Treadwell chipperly responded. It wasn¡¯t something to soothe the would-be-normal Isabella, as if he completely misheard or ignored the panic in her voice. ¡°But there¡¯s a lot of the story that we¡¯re desperately trying to learn. Not only that¡­ There¡¯s still a ton of missing pieces to yours~¡±

    At least the Subsumed, the raving mad, would¡¯ve giggled or barely contained their mirth at being in control of the situation. Hell, Subsumed in general would¡¯ve chanced this, and immediately attacked Isabella in this closed-off space. She¡¯s dealt with that, can deal with that¡­

    Whatever these beings are¡­ Radiating such a communal zeal. A smugness that they¡¯re in this collective and despite being such a low number¡ªthey were bigger in a warped sense of importance.

    ¡°I told you,¡± Isabella admittedly injected way too much of her actual, stern state. ¡°Everything that I¡¯m able to relay to you all. 1) This was a traumatic event, people going through such can barely remember the entire details because they rather want to forget, and 2) Eyewitness accounts are horribly unreliable. I don¡¯t understand why I¡¯m still here, I¡¯m beginning to worry that there¡¯s something ulterior at play¡­¡±

    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    The former detective leaned in. If anything, this mob shared the same, exact look of scrutiny despite the different faces.

    ¡°I think we all know why you¡¯re here, Mrs. Moses.¡±

    Good. Isabella was ecstatic that they fired the first shot.

    Yet as she began to let her claws manifest from her laced-together fingers, the telephone rang out to undercut the tension.

    One of the gaggle instantly answered, listening to whoever called with bated breath. Clearly, the one puppeteering these flesh-made dolls.

    ¡°It¡¯s your one phone call, Mrs. Isabella~¡± the lady officer offered the phone cheerily.

    The broken woman sighed, and reached for the receiver, putting it to her ear.

    ¡°Saaaaalutations, my fellow denizen!¡±

    Isabella gritted her teeth. The sweetness being incredibly intoxicating.

    ¡°And what do I owe the pleasure, Martha?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t mean to be a Paranoid Peter right now¡­ But there¡¯s been a very, very, very distressing matter we¡¯re all dealing with.¡±

    Isabella shifted in her chair, leaning back with her unused arm draped behind it, ¡°You really must be out of touch with your humanity if you think I have any involvement in this.¡±

    ¡°Hey-hey-hey! I can¡¯t help that I¡¯m a very busy woman, helping our town expand while maintaining our colonial soul! You have to understand where I am right now; running my day business and improving my night business only to see the crossover in the worse possible way¡­¡±

    ¡°Like you don¡¯t want a crossover,¡± Isabella squinted as if she were looking at the woman, facing her. ¡°The reason you¡¯re calling me is you¡¯re afraid that someone either took one of your twisted ideas or came up with it faster than you.¡±

    There was a long, wistful, and overdramatic sigh that Isabella was forced to listen to. Deal with.

    ¡°It¡¯s the former¡­ Someone from our ranks did a messy mistake and now we¡¯re paying for it. So many passed, so many Subsumed were exposed or eaten or now have to hide with the body they¡¯ve stolen. I can¡¯t replace the victims this fast! We¡¯ll be found out at this point!¡±

    Isabella could barely hide her disgust.

    ¡°So. That demonic compound you¡¯ve made is able to rise the dead somehow? And here I thought the invasive body modifications were horrible enough¡ª¡±

    ¡°Indeed! Well, it¡¯s not rising them¡ªwe can¡¯t do that yet at least¡ªbut yes! My Miracle Matter can replicate the fallen now. Personalities, histories¡­ But, recounting all of that, it might as well count as outright resurrection, yeah~¡±

    The broken woman slammed her hand on the table, causing Martha¡¯s minions to draw their guns on her. She didn¡¯t care.

    ¡°You pervert.¡±

    ¡°If that means giving people their deserved second chance? Call me what you may!¡±

    ¡°These people are gone! We can¡¯t change that, you¡¯re upsetting the balance! There¡¯s a reason why miracles are such¡ªotherwise¡­!¡±

    ¡°¡®Otherwise¡¯? Isabella dear. I don¡¯t mean to be¡­ Well, mean. But what¡¯s your point? Your solution? You devoted your entire life to continuing this nightmare war we¡¯re in. At least I¡¯m offering something else. Building another path.¡±

    The broken woman was so tired. So tired and in pain. Despite this time, it wasn¡¯t radiating from the back, but deep within.

    ¡°Why not be the one to put me out of my misery, then?¡±

    ¡°Because what¡¯s the point in all that~? We¡¯re intelligent, mature women here, Isabella. We need to collaborate here, come up with a plan, especially when there¡¯s so much at stake. I know you don¡¯t like me all that well, but I have the resources you need to make this no-good, terrible day into just a really bad one.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡± Isabella took a deep breath, before plunging herself into the dark depths. If that means saving someone from drowning. ¡°I have relevant information and people on the case. I¡¯m afraid I can only do so much now. But if we¡¯re going to survive this Terrortide, we must trust in the next generation¡­¡±

 Entry 9.3 - Trust: A Massive Gambit

    ***

    As Calypso looked on within this backroom, all made sense.

    ¡°Thaaaaaankie, Jensen~¡± Gale purred in a hush, standing before the door that was slightly ajar. Even while her tone was earnest, there was such a playful edge to it all. Like a cat toying with her toy.

    ¡°O-of course, of course,¡± who Calypso assumed to be Jensen tried to whisper back, basically signaling to his past flame to keep her voice down. ¡°Just tell me when y¡¯all are done so I can sneak ya¡¯ out.¡±

    It was a rather weird turn of events, after escaping from the hospital. Their collective rush of victory was immediately undercut by the realization that the Sun was still out. Not only rendering their cloaks gone the moment direct sunlight hits them, but they shifted back to their normal states. Calypso pouted in that moment, she figured at least nearing dying that day with Cassie would¡¯ve illicit pity points from Fate, to allow them to keep their transformations going.

    But what made that moment somehow weirder was Gale instantly taking charge, signaling Calypso to follow despite the extra weight on her back. Hopping from shade to little shade, as the spots were shrinking away as they hurled themselves to ¡°the Main Vein¡±, stores upon stores lined up with one another. The town being on high alert provided a helpful boon of having most of these stores closed, therefore shut down, therefore provider of shadow.

    So, the most unbelievable thing, in this scenario of stark girls in shadow cloaks carrying a murder victim from the dead, proceeded to happen. Gale helped the girls into the back of this clothing store, cracked it open in wait, and cheerily reconnected with this Jensen that she used to date and convinced him to act like any of this was normal behavior. He helped them to get clothes, clothes he has to take inventory of and take the tags off of, with trepidation but had no other thoughts against it after a short but colorful talk with Gale. Leaving Calypso to just shake her head in disbelief and pride, a genuine smirk on her face.

    As Gale tugged down her plain, black shirt, her head craned seamlessly at the person that slowly came towards her.

    ¡°G¡­ Gale, was it?¡±

    Melissa, of course, wore the same exact outfit as the other two: a black shirt, khaki pants, and the most nondescript sneakers. But of course, it didn¡¯t suddenly erase the dried blood, grime, and stress that was baked into her skin. It was like an uneven, leather tan that one had to urge to pick at with their fingers.

    Gale instantly stepped to her, lowering her head, meeting the poor girl¡¯s gaze with her hands outstretched in a gesture of goodwill.

    Then the girl looked at the¡­ Horrible state of Melissa¡¯s hands. Holes in the middle of the palms that bore so deeply, the flesh had to heal in a certain fashion. Leaving pale pink meat that connected with the lesions that defined the ruinous nature of them now.

    And despite all that, Gale didn¡¯t miss another beat after that.

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s me. Gale Pratchett. I¡¯m so happy that you¡¯re still alive, Melissa. I, like, don¡¯t know you personally of course, but what happened to you was so heartbreaking. Don¡¯t you worry, I and Cal are gonna get you out of here, you just have to hang around us for a bit longer, okay~?¡±

    Melissa nodded. Her blue eyes, still somehow shined with innocence, were caked with her sclera being bloodshot. ¡°Y-yeah¡­ Thank you, yeah, but¡­ Need¡­¡±

    When her words slowly left her and failed her, Melissa pointed at her bandaged throat, pitifully. Calypso shuddered at what a state that wound could be like, and wondered how any infection hasn¡¯t taken this poor girl yet.

    ¡°Oh, right!¡± Gale gave herself a dope slap on her forehead, raising her head, before chuckling sweetly, meeting Melissa¡¯s eyes again. ¡°Being locked up for all that time¡ªI¡¯d be starving too-!¡±

    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    Melissa immediately and viscerally recoiled. Calypso flashed back to the various wrappers that didn¡¯t just litter the floor of that terrible room, but acted as a carpet.

    It was very understandable, Melissa¡¯s mindset.

    ¡°Nononono, my fault, my fault¡­¡± Gale cooed. ¡°So¡­ Water? Is water what you want¡­?¡±

    Melissa nodded, with such hopeful weariness. ¡°Yuuus¡­ So¡­ Thirsty¡­¡±

    ***

    Gale carefully funneled the first water bottle of many into Melissa¡¯s mouth. The latter unintentionally using her ruined hands to reach for it herself, force of habit. But she was grateful, due to her pained whimpers.

    Calypso had her arms crossed, glancing at the multiple bottles at her feet. ¡°I cannot believe that he went to the store for you and got 7 bottles¡­ Just because you asked.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯d be surprised at how easy it is to do~¡± Gale chirped at her friend, before focusing on Melissa. ¡°Okay, I feel like me and Cal are gonna talk for a bit, don¡¯t hesitate to ask me to pass you a bottle and help, okay~?¡±

    Melissa grunted, in agreement. She was way too wrapped up in softly crushing the plastic bottle between her hands, weeping in relief. The imagery itself felt very nostalgic to Calypso¡­

    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ Kind of curious, I guess¡­¡± Calypso proceeded to squint in thought. Or well, at what she¡¯s about to ask. ¡°How¡­ Close¡ªwere you two, for this be so¡­? Never mind, I hate this, I hate what I¡¯m doing¡ª¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Cal!¡± Gale giggled. ¡°Like I said¡­ Many of my relationships ended on pretty great terms. I guess that¡¯s my superpower~ You¡¯re the master actor, and I have the power of¡­ Having mostly good exes! Haha¡­¡±

    Calypso smiled, effortlessly and without a second thought which normally makes her painfully aware that she can¡¯t.

    ¡°It¡¯s deceptively useful, as today proved. But I think it¡¯s more than that¡­ You have¡­ Well, this aura about you. One just lets their guard down around you, even men with freaky scarecrow masks.¡±

    Gale was bent over, giving Melissa her fourth bottle which the latter took with zeal. ¡°I guess so~ It just pays to be nice to people, man¡­¡±

    Calypso leaned against the wall, looking up at the ceiling of the storage room. Then away, knowingly, from Gale.

    ¡°So. Is telling me secrets you might¡¯ve known not nice?¡±

    It was funny. Calypso only subscribes and hears out Gale¡¯s talk of auras and feelings just to make her feel better. But the skeletal monster girl felt the warmth be instantly sucked away in the room.

    ¡°Cal, look¡­¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s either leaving town or worse, getting to that bookstore first and already made off with what Mrs. Moses wanted us to learn. We have to be prepared for the worst, Gale.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t understand!¡± Gale rose to her feet, trying to face Calypso. The skeletal monster girl couldn¡¯t look her in the eyes. At the judgment and shame. ¡°I¡¯ve said it before, she had a very good reason¡ªa-and, like, she was just as much of a victim of Cassie than us, y¡¯know? I can¡¯t just¡­ Even if it wasn¡¯t enough, man, what she admitted was like¡­ ¡®I¡¯m joking but clearly, help me¡¯ energy¡­¡±

    ¡°Being a victim doesn¡¯t grant you automatic innocence,¡± Calypso had the courage to look directly at Gale. ¡°Look at me. At what I did back there. I joked about how it¡¯d be hard to write me off as a monster due to how pathetic I am, but it doesn¡¯t change the fact that I am a monster. The same goes for the gnat.¡±

    Gale took a great, long look at her friend. Then took a deep breath from her nose, and let it escape from her lips. Closing her eyes with a hint of frustration that always disarmed Calypso, despite practically begging for this girl¡¯s darker nature to emerge.

    Even Melissa¡¯s drinking and crunching went eerily into this pregnant silence.

    ¡°Yeah. She fucked us, ran and maybe it all was for personal gain. And we¡¯re dealing with such, like¡­ Extremely fucked up things. Those monsters don¡¯t deserve mercy, and I think at the end of the day, we gotta get rid of Cassie, permanently. But we can¡¯t just let this darkness just¡ªswallow us up. We survived in the first place because we refused to be monsters¡ªright? Then what¡¯s the point of becoming the thing we hate so much, we have to eat, Cal? That. That¡¯s what you¡¯re doing.¡±

    ¡°¡­Damn it.¡±

    Calypso clutched her fists. Once again, her nails grew so violently that they bore into her palms, causing them to start bleeding.

    ¡°¡­Fine,¡± Calypso relented. ¡°You tell me what you know, I¡¯ll consider the information, and when we get to the bookstore and assess the situation¡­ We¡¯ll see when we get there. Is that fair?¡±

    ¡°Much fairer,¡± Gale smiled her smile. ¡°Thanks, Cal. Even if you¡¯re a monster, you¡¯re a smart one.¡±

    Calypso was going to comment against that, but what happened next not only changed the subject but changed the nature of the plan she just defined.

    ¡°God¡­ Oh god!¡±

    Melissa was practically trying to force her last bottle to drop the remaining liquid, despite it being in a ball. She suddenly had the strength to stand up, but still staggered forward. With such a lost, afraid¡­ And shocked look on her face.

    Melissa rose her hands to the two monster girls, to see the holes in them slowly but surely seal themselves on their own.

    And what Melissa said next¡­ Calypso and Gale knew that they were kin.

    ¡°G-guys¡­ I¡¯m still thirsty¡­¡±

 (META) One Update This Week!

    Sorry in advance, I know I had a very juicy cliffhanger I''ve accidently prolonged...

    But. I''m taking the first steps in launching my next project, and it needs a lot of time right now. Hopefully, I think this week is going to be the only one that needs the extra time, since I''m JUST starting. The start is always rough, after all--you could see that with Fear''s own chapters, haha.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Anyways, yeah, just the one update this week, and hopefully we''ll be right on track. Once again to remind, I''m aiming to put Fear to rest in a month and half or so. So we''re saying goodbye to Cal and co. just yet, and hopefully (x3), you''ll join my next story in siVisPhases when it debuts on May 15 or 25th.

    Have yourselves a damn good one.

 Entry 9.4 - Trust: A Massive Gambit

    Melissa staggered forward again with trembling hands. Voicing the exact, panicked thought that Calypso was having at that moment.

    ¡°What¡¯s happening to me, guys--?¡±

    ¡°Just calm down, Melissa¡ª¡± Gale tried to ease. And yet a swing and a miss.

    There was no human that ever responded to ¡°calm down¡± well¡­ What stood before them was someone like them now.

    An unstable hybrid.

    ¡°J-just tell me¡ªPLEASE JUST¡ª¡± Melissa wasn¡¯t struggling to say words due to her malnourished state or injuries anymore, but emotions she could express, that was bottled up, just outpouring now. ¡°Just tell me what the fuck¡¯s going on, please¡ª"

    ¡°Looklooklooklook¡­¡± Gale stringed together that word in a hurry, waving her eyes. ¡°We might have an idea, but this is just as shocking¡ªand surprising¡ªwe had no idea that this was happening to you¡ª"

    ¡°SAY IT THEN!¡±

    Melissa balled her raw-injured fists, the holes in them were nearly gone at this point.

    Calypso gulped at the idea that another Consumed was on par with her in healing.

    There was really nothing else to do.

    Once again, letting Fate or whatever may be, the skeletal monster girl allowed her compromised arm to transform. And immediately, rushed over to Melissa and clunked her on the head as hard as she could.

    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    Melissa fell face-first onto the ground. Unconscious, but twitching every so often.

    ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know what upsets me more¡ªdoing that to an innocent girl or the fact that it worked at all,¡± Calypso shook her head. ¡°Human heads aren¡¯t these light switches one could just¡ªturn off--"

    ¡°CALYPSO. GRIMES¡ª¡± Gale huffed out.

    Calypso rose three fingers towards her. ¡°Timetable.¡± She put one away. ¡°Noise getting out of control.¡± And only one finger remained. ¡°Remembering how badly my first night went. And I¡¯m sure yours was pretty bad as well. Now help me with her.¡±

    Gale¡¯s face crumbled into something crossed between sadness and exhaustion, but complying with her friend as she gently handled Melissa and placed her on Calypso¡¯s back. ¡°S-so¡­ She has to be a Bat, right?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go with, ¡®Hopefully, for our sakes¡ªbecause another Vampire to fight without any of the handicaps sounds horrible¡¯,¡± Calypso grunted, not at all hiding that she was using her latent Consumed strength as she slowly morphed her monster arm back.

    ¡°That¡¯s, what, the tenth ticking timebomb we have to deal with now?!¡± Gale rushed over to open the back door, hurrying Calypso out before the alarm sounds.

    ¡°All the more reason to find that damn book, Gale¡­¡± Calypso had to fight against her bangs moving with the wind, as she scanned the area. ¡°And not only that¡­¡±

    Learning things for once, Calypso closed her eyes. Taking in her enhanced hearing, letting it guide her as things became crisp. Clear.

    ¡°At least¡­ I mean it¡¯s a tragedy but¡ª¡± Gale¡¯s voice continued. ¡°At least people are all at home, watching the news to figure out what the crap happened¡­ So that means little people on the Main Vien, y¡¯know¡­?¡±

    Despite hearing that loud and clear¡­ All Calypso could make out was the odd buzzing. And the hairs on her back, even with Melissa against it, standing on in.

    It was seconds later that Gale didn¡¯t trail off just to trail off¡­ She must¡¯ve felt it too.

    ¡°Something tells me that she doesn¡¯t give a shit either way,¡± Calypso opened an eye, unveiling it to be plunged in darkness already. ¡°She¡¯s been waiting for us to make a play¡ªand now she¡¯s making hers.¡±

 Entry 9.5 (1/2) - Trust: A Massive Gambit

    She felt her brown hair grow in length. Her bones shift under her pale skin that started to heat up. Glowing, amber irises scanned the idyllic shopping district as the sun set on this small, New England town. And somewhere out there, a fly woman is buzzing about, ready to kill them for real this time.

    Calypso had many things rattle within her head. The idea of letting this pass, this brewing and primal anger that¡¯s fueling her partial transformation that was beginning to stop¡­ She still has to come to grips with it. Let alone make her final choice.

    Though, she couldn¡¯t help to grin, flashing her now-sharpened teeth. At least this proved to be an excellent excuse, should the worst come to pass.

    ¡°Thankfully, this ¡®Vein¡¯ of yours is simply a straight line,¡± Calypso looked to Gale. She jumped in her skin, sighing afterward once her bearings were gathered. The transformation happening way too quickly for her, maybe? ¡°But unfortunately, it¡¯s a straight line¡ª"

    ¡°Meaning that she¡¯s gonna rain down those bug-pellets down at us...?¡± Gale asked, gaining the courage she needed at this moment.

    ¡°Precisely. But we¡¯ve been through this¡ªgot through this. Sure she¡¯s not holding back now, but in a short amount of time, let¡¯s prove that we have learned something for once. Shall we¡­?¡±

    Gale exhaled, putting her hands together and closing her eyes. There was a lull, a pregnant pause that followed, which confused¡­ And admittedly worried Calypso.

    ¡°Just¡­¡± Gale began, before regaining the strength to finish the sentence. ¡°Keep what we talked about in mind. No sudden head-eating this time, okay¡­?¡±

    ¡°¡­We¡¯ll get there when we get there,¡± Calypso responded.

    Yet again, potent and crushing silence followed after. Calypso was going to add something¡ªsay some addendum to appease her new friend, until she saw the girl suddenly had her hands clutch each other tightly.

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    And as she shook, her black hair gained in length¡ªher frame shifting slightly into a more feral build, and the smallest brambles and vines appearing out of her skin¡­ Taking a deep breath after the changes finalized, opening her dark eyes had moats of violet shining from them.

    ¡°Not gonna do much per usual, but I can dream, can¡¯t I~?¡± Gale flashed a half-hearted smile at her partner.

    Calypso smiled back, her pitiful way to reassure her. ¡°I faintly remember the place, so I take the lead¡­ She¡¯s going to keep aiming for me because of Melissa ¡®hampering¡¯ us and the fear I put into her. Do what you can, but this is a partnership. Okay?¡±

    With a determined nod from Gale, the girls faced forward. Using their transformed, and now stronger legs¡ªthey darted like bullets. Waving out of the back of the clothing store, and right onto the sidewalk of the street.

    The buzzing beginning to flood their now sensitive ears.

    Before she knew it, Calypso turned her head towards a ground-shattering noise, and was nailed with debris for her trouble.

    Rather than freak out, she moved herself and by proxy Melissa away from the crumbling blast zone. Now with a ruined, bleeding eye for her troubles, as she was forced to close it as black ichor covered her cheek.

    ¡°CAL--!¡± Gale screamed, for her friend.

    ¡°Fine¡ª¡± Calypso managed to get out at first. ¡°I¡ªI¡¯m fine, just cover me as we go, at least until my eye¡¯s heal¡ª¡±

    The droning of fast-approaching insect wings cut Calypso¡¯s thought in half.

    Turning her head, relying on the sole eye, she was already too late to gauge what had happened.

    A hard slam, yelping, the buzz of the enemy¡¯s wings suddenly stopping before shuddering away. And moving away just as quickly.

    Calypso¡¯s eye settled on Gale, who was panting. Her vine-covered claws drenched in black blood, as they twitched in pain. Immediately clutching them with her other set, looking back at Calypso with a pained expression on her face.

    ¡°Man¡­ Sad that the first time that I¡¯ve ever hit a fly was her...¡±

    There was no sense in dwelling on the subject, the duo resumed running down the sidewalk. And as Calypso¡¯s eye quickly reconstituted itself, but still needed a bit more time, there was no way for her to check out what exactly happened and what exactly got ruined.

    At least, Calypso thought, at least Gale getting a good hit on the enemy slowed her down. Just enough, to rush in and delay whatever shot she had lined up on them all the while. She felt her damaged eye become whole again, opening it and then blinking the blood ¡°out¡± of it, now completely alert again.

    Just in time for her to see a glint of something sickly yellow, which hung from the wall of a shop they only just ran past¡­

    A cocoon by any other name--and it was on the verge of bursting.

    ¡°GALE!¡±

 Entry 9.5 (2/2) - Trust: A Massive Gambit

    The girls dodged with all of their might and forced themselves low to the ground as possible, as an eruption of dead bug cells showered the shopping district.

    With Cal¡¯s heightened senses, she felt how strong the wind gusts were, heard metal buckle on impact, and glass turn into dust within seconds. Repeated over and over, yet all at once.

    As she slowly rose on her claws and knees, which was laborious due to Melissa still on her back, it dawned on Calypso that this new trick means that their enemy planted multiple upon multiple of these. And there¡¯s no use in trying to figure out where they are or how they work.

    ¡°Crafty bitch¡­¡± Calypso admitted under her breath. ¡°Gale? You alright¡­?¡±

    Gale not only responded with a curt yet passionate ¡°mm!¡±, but she also came towards Calypso¡¯s side, and helped her up along with keeping Melissa along. ¡°We just have to book it there! It¡¯s only a block away now!¡±

    ¡°Well said!¡± Calypso agreed.

    Scrambling onwards, the duo outright ran on the streets. Needing the space to continue their mode of heightened tension. Listening, watching out for anything that could be a trap.

    But Calypso recognized this stretch of shops. When Sal drove her to the nearest bookstore she vaguely knew, and Calypso rushed in trying to find anything remotely helpful with her curse. She wished she had the time to laugh or groan at the idea that the answer was right under her panicked nose, but there wasn¡¯t any chance for reflection.

    If it wasn¡¯t cells raining from above that they had to spilt to avoid the shower, it was stumbling into yet another cocoon¡ªbe it planted on a car, or a streetlamp¡ªthat they had to use their entire body to maneuver away from. Thankfully that all the combatants had some form of healing, otherwise it would¡¯ve been a death of a thousand cuts for Calypso, Gale, and the unconscious Melissa. Or worse yet, rendering them into minced meat as they tried to brave the passage, killing them soundly before they could even reach the store.

    The only reason why the duo were alive, that they¡¯re no worse for wear, is purely because they¡¯ve been through the ¡°lighter¡± version of this. Being in modes that help them versus one being stuck and the other having nothing. And knowing how bad it can be for them to lose again.

    Calypso kept her dark eyes on the skies. Random showers of cells, and yet no blur¡ªno buzzing to give the enemy way. Were these all planted cocoons in the end? Where is she¡­?

    The skeletal girl¡¯s sharpened eyes widened. It couldn¡¯t be that simple, could it¡­?

    ¡°CAL! CAL, WE¡¯RE HERE, WE¡¯RE HERE!¡± Gale shouted in elation.

    The appearance of the bookstore was very colonial, or at the very least colonial presenting. Ignoring the anachronisms such as modern lighting and glass window displays; the architecture brought to mind the style of the 13 Colonies. Sandwiched between contemporary stores.

    But the eeriest aspect of it all was the glances inside from the windows in general. The insides shined a light bloodred, and the furniture itself was black and darker colors to compliment the crimson shade.

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    If this wasn¡¯t the place they needed to go, Calypso was going to be very. Very upset.

    There was no time. The skeletal girl rushed in, using her shoulder to push open the small-by-comparison glass door, and hoped that Gale was close enough to not hold it open more. The chimes of bells didn¡¯t even alleviate the tension, not one iota.

    Calypso glared at the door, as she clutched on Melissa tightly. She hoped. She prayed that what she realized didn¡¯t come to pass. That it wasn¡¯t enough for the enemy to sneak in.

    ¡°¡­Hm. Are you three college-aged, young women by chance?¡±

    Calypso turned to see who asked that. A laidback, jovial yet regal tone of voice.

    And she saw the man whom that voice belonged to. Shocking white hair with a sole black streak that ran down the middle of it done in a short ponytail. Round, small glasses that hung from his long nose. Wearing an orange-pen-stripped, white dress shirt with rolled-up sleeves to the elbows and a dark green smock. And yet all of these features indicated that he should be older, but no. He still had youthful features, clearly an adult enjoying his 30s.

    Calypso immediately wanted to ask if he was Richard (which admittedly, was a stupid question due to him never revealing something like that if he was), but Gale had just a legitimate point.

    ¡°¡­That¡¯s uh. A really weird question to ask, man¡ª¡±

    ¡°Maybe so~¡± the owner cheerfully answered, not meeting the girls¡¯ gazes in the slightest. His hands rested on a massive, leathery tome. Calypso couldn¡¯t see it fully, but it was like¡­ The book itself had lesions. But wounds and scarring that barely healed.  ¡°Answer the question, and answer it truthfully. Then I¡¯ll be able to help you to the best of my ability~¡±

    It was so unnerving. Completely different from Richard. That was bloodlust that was masked with politeness. Here, this? This was a regal, condescending attitude¡­ That felt completely earned.

    ¡°¡­Yes,¡± Calypso answered, ¡°We are. And we need to get you away from¡ª¡±

    And what Calypso feared proceeded to happen.

    The gnat emerged from the shadows she hid in, lancing forward towards the shop owner at blinding speeds that caused Calypso to drop Melissa in a panic, trying to trigger her arm to defend the last chance for their salvation against Cassie.

    Only for the owner to raise his right hand and snap.

    The shadows came alive. Every corner and what every table or bookshelf that cast shade¡­ It became tendrils that wrapped the gnat¡¯s every limb. Tugging her in place as she was completely immobilized within seconds.

    Calypso could only gawk and Gale cover her fanged mouth with her claws.

    ¡°In that case¡­ For as long as you need me, until the current problem is resolved¡­ Niles. Niles Moses, at your service~¡±

    ¡°MOSES?!¡± Gale turned her head back at the owner. ¡°YOU¡¯RE MRS. MOSES HUBBY?!¡±

    ¡°In a sense,¡± Niles answered¡­ Leading to more questions. With a twirl of his finger, he tightened the shadowy restraints. ¡°We have pressing issues we need to attend to, but I¡¯m feeling rather generous considering the attempt on my life¡­ But do you wish me to kill her~?¡±

    Gale slowly looked towards Calypso, with a shaky, panicked pace. It was written on her face. Every single fear she had regarding this ordeal, and how it ended¡­ It was beginning to manifest.

    Calypso simply trained her dark, amber-glowing eyes on the gnat. Taking her in.

    Noticing that the side of her face was still shattered, due to Gale hitting her. Her mask still crumbled as it slowly healed, and her right, massive compound eye turned to pulp. It was due to this, that there was no connection, and easy dehumanization due to lacking any ¡°eyes¡± to look into.

    It was so easy, thinking about just discarding her. She wanted nothing more than to see her dead. It came so naturally to her.

    ¡­But as it occurred to her, being drunk on that natural instinct. It¡¯s gotten a boy killed. A boy that deserved terrible, terrible things to happen to him¡ªbut undeserving of outright cruelty.

    So Calypso simply sighed. Sighed at the fact that despite all this ¡°learning¡±, still weak as a human and a monster.

    ¡°¡­No,¡± Calypso finally answered. ¡°She¡¯s with us.¡±

 Missing Entry (#5)

    In the events of betrayal, that resulted in stolen ¡°company¡± secrets, which in turn ended in mass murder¡ªone would be stressed. About their mistakes, about their career being virtually over, about their place in this disturbing existence that they try to make sense of, but can¡¯t.

    But as the new help slowly, gently, methodically twirled his pencil in hand, passing it finger to finger¡­ He never could explain it. Situations like these¡ªfrom every angle it meant confrontation, that it meant being on the backfoot¡­ It truly made him excited. Exhilarated.

    He heard knocking on his door. So practiced covering his tracks, effortlessly placed his homework on top of his actual work, adjusted his uniform to aid in his character acting, and finally scooted his bag completely under his wooden desk.

    ¡°Come in, Mother~¡±

    As she cheerily opened the door with a full-body swing, her golden curls flopped against her heart-shaped face. Her pantsuit was pastel pink, too white to be fully pink yet too ¡°drenched¡± in such sickly color to be ideal white. So angled that it was box-like, too big for a clearly slender framed adult woman, never the less she tries. What completed not just the look she had, but the immediate impression this woman gave was the grin that was fighting to be wider, as it simmered with a crimson gloss. Somehow not one stain of it reached for her teeth that were too straight.

    ¡°Riiiichard¡­¡± Martha Mittleman¡¯s grin only faltered in the sense that she wasn¡¯t showing her teeth anymore, playfully pouting in tone alone. ¡°You¡¯re already made Honor Roll for this semester and on track for everything else I wanted for you. I feel like you¡¯re allowed to have a life at this point~!¡±

    ¡°Oh, believe me, Mother¡­¡± Richard glanced down, under what he could see of his desk, carefully shoving his rubber mask into his open, leather satchel. ¡°Whatever ¡®exciting¡¯ life is out there nowadays is completely boring to me.¡±

    His mother really pouted now, grabbing the edges of the door frame with such an animated facial expression, it was hard for Richard to accept that it was genuine.

    But he knew more than anyone that his mother isn¡¯t anything but genuine.

    ¡°Riiiiichard¡ª¡±

    ¡°Moooother--?¡± Richard made sure that it was clear that it was a teasing inflection, using his right hand to put his blond, crescent fringe in place again.

    ¡°You¡¯re such a hardworking, smart boy¡­ So it pains me to see you trying so desperately to perfect something that¡¯s already perfect!¡± Martha was now five hand gestures in explaining her point, yet every single one ended with them rising into the air. ¡°Relax for once! Find a cute girl! Lighten up, baby¡­¡±

    Richard smirked, using his gray eyes to read his already completed homework. An excuse to keep scanning his desk to see if any of his actual life was out in the open.

    ¡°Well. If you want me to do so, then I will, Mother¡ª¡±

    ¡°Gaaauh--!¡± one of Martha¡¯s vocalized bouts of confusion, along with her entire body showcasing how taken aback she was. Before righting herself forward, ¡°Not because I want you to, Richard--!¡±

    ¡°But isn¡¯t what this talk is about, Mother--?¡± Richard let his natural smarm leak into his light needling.

    Martha inhaled, only to puff out her cheeks in a flustered huff, before letting it go and rising both hands straight and side to side. ¡°As your loving mother, I¡¯m not AAAAASSSSKING you to have fun, I¡¯m asking why NOOOOOOT have fun¡­¡±

    The scarecrow boy scratched the back of his short hair, proceeding to pat it down after. His face slowly morphed to sullen, unable to lie or beat around the bush for his actual answer.

    ¡°I know we¡¯re both healthier now¡­ But there¡¯s always still that chance. Be it by our health or the fate¡ªsorry, fate itself. I just can¡¯t take the chance of doing nothing with the time I can only afford.¡±

    He turned his head, staring at his dear Mother with his own prim features. Namely how his eyes are sharper, which produced elegance to him. ¡°I simply rather focus my time on taking over the business sooner than later. And I¡¯m rewarded for it by having spare time? Then I¡¯ll get there. But I have to keep going first.¡±

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    ¡°¡­It¡¯s exactly why I want you to enjoy your youth, Richard¡­¡± Martha¡¯s face was trying to get as sullen as her son¡¯s, but of course couldn¡¯t hold back the gloss of tears coating her own gray eyes, and the tensing of fighting tears back. ¡°I love our work, I believe we¡¯re doing the right thing¡­ But I don¡¯t want to be as dirty as I am. A-and I know that you have to someday, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± Richard answered, getting up from his seat. ¡°I¡¯m keeping my promise still. Richard Mittleman will only deal with the Subsumed and Better People until he¡¯s of proper age. Until then, he is a civilian with a bit of a head start. You don¡¯t have to worry about catching me anywhere near¡ª¡±

    Of course, Martha pulled him in for a tearful, wallowing hug. It¡¯s the reason he stood up, after all.

    It was always so odd, being so tall and mature looking than his own parent. As he wrapped his arms around her, trying to sway her until the unintelligible sadness passed¡­ He couldn¡¯t help but silently praise his mother. She IS this bumbling, overemotional, childish persona¡ªRichard has to act to get what he desires¡­

    He only heard and saw the aftermath of the monsters and even people, that tried to cross her¡­ Somehow barring the immense shame and guilt of her finding out the lie, the familial biases¡­.

    Richard looked up at the tops of his walls, seeing the preserved remains of the various Subsumed that attacked the family, namely him when he was a sickly child. Different breeds, creeds, even body parts¡­ But they all were fundamentally twisted by the last seconds of terror they expressed.

    He can handle any enemy, welcomed people hating him because it¡¯s interesting¡­ His mother is not one he ever wants.

    This is why he has to fix this. And fast.

    ***

    The eerily pleasant thing about donning the mask, was the fact that sound echoed within it.

    Perfect for humming ABBA, as Richard checked on his current harvest.

    As the scarecrow boy plunged yet another vial of Miracle Matter into the recently made, shallow grave¡ªRichard had to be careful not getting his dirty leather glove directly on his papers on the clipboard.

    ¡°And you say that the mortal policemen saw the stack of corpses before our men came in¡­?¡± Richard turned his head and his mask tilted to the side for him, practically quizzical in of itself.

    ¡°Yes. And they were the ones specially made out to be the most tragic aspect of this day¡¯s events. This batch of five is the only one we can get away with being currently ¡®missing¡¯.¡±

    Richard then nodded, at the being that has replaced Mrs. Rebecca Houser. She proved to be especially hard to replicate; the anti-social are by design, but to be a pariah by family¡ªneighborhood¡ªcommunity until that ¡°life-changing accident¡±, only to have a completely different disposition¡­

    Cue the hatred for the Subsumed. Frustration. Able to get away with this so easily, and yet the moment their disgusting urges bubble within their putrid hides surface¡­ Throwing it away just as casually.

    It¡¯s infuriating. Frustrating. They¡ªhis family, his people¡ªare bringing the dead back to life¡­ And yet just as many hurdles to cross and weight to bear.

    The crack of the empty he absentmindedly shattered in his hand snapped him out of his thoughts.

    ¡°Sir--?¡± one of the Rifle Men stepped forward, raising a hand out in genuine concern.

    ¡°Oh no no, I¡¯m fine¡­¡± Richard rose with a curt chuckle, turning towards his men. ¡°As I always said. You all came back from the greatest experience of pain we can barely comprehend. Whatever I¡¯m going through now, you all surely had it the worse.¡±

    To make it a point, Richard casually used his other hand to ¡°brush¡± the remaining three or so shards that were embedded. Using a lackadaisical, nonchalant motion of doing so, to hide the immediate tense and trembling as the pain radiated.

    So easy, things can happen, when one presents prestige and gravitas to their image. Every leader of known history on some level knew this phenomenon. Can be skilled, can be ¡°right¡±¡­ But no one. And Richard knew, no one¡­ Will listen if you don¡¯t shape your once right. And once one knows how to do it, they can make a man walk barefoot into Hell itself.

    Yet, clearly, the Rifle Man was still concerned, meek. He rubbed his hand, out of sympathy pain. ¡°If you think you¡¯re okay, then it¡¯s fine by me¡­ Oh, sorry, sir.¡±

    Richard let out a series of curt chuckles. Had to. ¡°You¡¯re more than fine¡­¡±

    The scarecrow boy faintly remembered this one¡­ Timon Reese? A stocky lad, Richard used to see him on the streets on the way to college¡­ A true shame that he somehow died the moment he stopped looking. Dating co-workers was far from professional and too risky, let alone resurrected soldiers made from goo¡ªcompletely out of the question¡­

    He withheld a sigh, looking at his stabbed hand. It¡¯s looking at boys like that, completely divorced from this fate he¡¯s found himself in, that really made his Mother¡¯s words ring in his head. Maybe one day, he could have both. A cute guy to date, maybe smooth over the truth with Mother¡­ Because by then, everyone and everything is bettered by their family, by their people. Solved this messy forever crusade by then.

    He squeezed his leather fist. Watching the mix of red and silver blood seep out of the cracks. Richard had to remind himself that all of that is merely a dream still. A good dream, but unreal nonetheless.

    ¡°A setback to be sure¡­¡± Richard summed up both the current situation and his internal thoughts. ¡°I was hoping that my plan to undermine what¡¯s going to happen this coming day wouldn¡¯t be more limited. But if a page of that damn tome got us into this mess¡­¡±

    The scarecrow boy pulled out the folded piece of parchment from his black, tendril-interlocking shroud. He looked at the four Spearmen, and they nodded back, getting into positions around the shallow graves, in a circle.

    As they stabbed the ground, forcing the Miracle Matter that soaked the ground to bubble, to form into a series of interlocking runes that began to spin. Gaining so much speed, the mellitic surface caused Richard to be radiated in light.

    ¡°Then it will be one of the key, decisive plays we will need to win the day.¡±

 Entry 10.0 - Memories: Damning Retrospectives

    ¡°So. To recap, so we¡¯re all on the same page¡­ The Terrortide is within days. Heralded by a SymbiSubsumed that aims to attack both the supernatural and natural worlds, upsetting the unwritten rules and agreements mutually made by the humans and Subsumed. Your company has tried to disturb one of the Terrorsigns that this ¡®Terrorizer¡¯ set up, but in doing that caused mass panic¡ªunease anyways. You all have no resources, no true knowledge of the worlds you live in, outmatched and outgunned¡­¡±

    ¡°Niles Moses¡± then proceeded to raise his finger, in a fashion that his balled fist was static as the bony appendage rose at its own, slow pace. ¡°So why keep this one alive? She¡¯s a liability to you after all. With such little chances you have, she actively makes all of it nosedive¡­¡±

    Calypso didn¡¯t pay the man mind, only seeing him from her peripheral vision and of course hearing his voice echo within his shop of wooden, yet blood-colored walls.

    Never mind the fact that every single shadow within this shop was tied into the bug monster girl before her. Apparently, Niles was able to use them, as a sort of magic, as they obeyed his beck and call to the point movement began every time he spoke. Listening for the next command.

    Now Calypso knew for sure, while he immediately struck her as someone that would kill if you give him the littlest inch¡ªhe absolutely had the means to do so in an instant.

    ¡°Did you hear her, you creepo?!¡±

    Calypso turned her head, seeing Gale angling Melissa¡¯s body against the check-out desk¡¯s base, allowing the poor blonde girl to rest upright. Despite being done a few moments after Calypso¡¯s eyes trained on her, of course Gale couldn¡¯t leave her alone. Still holding the girl¡¯s limp hand.

    ¡°She told you she¡¯s with us! In fact, everyone is with us! So step off or-or help us, or whatever Mrs. Moses is to you! Which¡ªshe scares me and stuff¡ªgonna tell her from experience; you¡¯re terrible for someone like her and should cost her losses.¡±

    It was always so disarming, to see such a beaming young woman being legitimately upset. Her bright eyes tightened and simmering, her full lips stretched into a pout. Her cute nose flaring still, after running her mouth, unable to handle this rage that was building.

    But glancing at the shopowner again, Niles continued to smile with his lowered eyes. A grin that showcased light but present fangs of his own¡­ Yet Calypso was a monster, in a stage of her transformation, meant to be some hybrid abomination.

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    He was the only human in this conversation.

    ¡°Well,¡± Niles shrugged. ¡°As I said, with all of these factors in play¡­ I can¡¯t quite understand why the sudden change of heart. I can sense it, from the Grim girl that¡¯s on the verge of transformation¡­ She doesn¡¯t want this, deep down. She¡¯s actively fighting the desire¡­¡±

    He raised his palms, distancing his hands. ¡°I don¡¯t get that much¡­ Interaction with people, to put it diplomatically. I¡¯m just trying to understand what happened.¡±

    Calypso turned her dark eyes back to the bug girl. Her glowing amber irises that swam in pitch blackness looked the pathetic thing up and down.

    Her insectoid armor. Her fuzzy claws made of gray hair, bonded upwards by the shadow tendrils. Her slender frame that was exaggerated. Her indigo hair that was a mess still, possibly due to the highspeed flying she did, trying to hunt and hide. And the side of her face that was still healing in real time, causing her normally cordial butterfly eye mask to be smashed at the impact where Gale hit her. Chalk white face was swollen, with black veins embedded in the wound on her cheek.

    But the aspect that kept hitting Calypso so hard, a fact that she couldn¡¯t ignore if she tried¡­ This gnat gave up.

    There¡¯s no struggle. No tense body language¡­ She has gone limp but clearly still alive. Dejected. Given up.

    Calypso sighed, unable to meet her face, looking down at the floor so intensely that she could count the wrinkles in the wood.

    ¡°Gale could have ratted you out. She could have told me everything about you, what you said to her¡­ But she didn¡¯t. She only told me that I would empathize on some level. And despite everything, I do. But do not mistake my lapse in vulnerability as weakness. I¡¯m a practical person.¡±

    Calypso gained the courage to raise her head, glaring without anger. But determination.

    ¡°Shift back. Reveal yourself to us. You do that, tell me everything, and I¡¯ll forgive you in totality. No strings attached. You can even leave after all of this is over with. Can we do that?¡±

    There was a pregnant pause. It was the gnat¡¯s turn to keep her head down.

    ¡°just kill me,¡± she uttered and only uttered.

    Calypso¡¯s brow furrowed, her turn to flare her nostrils. Only to be cut off by Niles before getting to respond.

    ¡°See? It would be a self-solving problem~¡± he cheerfully added. ¡°Besides. I only got the request to help THREE ¡®young adult, college-aged¡¯ women. Anything more or less causes me to question what I¡¯m doing with my precious¡­¡±

    Calypso turned in concerned. Someone like him doesn¡¯t just trail off.

    What she saw was Niles stroke his chin with an earnestly shocked expression.

    ¡°Well then¡­ That certainly explains everything.¡±

    The shopkeeper twirled his finger in the air, succinctly. And just as quickly, a tendril searched the hip of the gnat, ripping an old paper from her. The tendril swam in the darkness of the shop, fading in and out with only the light of the setting sun causing it to reappear.

    Niles was handed the paper, his smug grin returned to his face.

    ¡°Seems like our nuisance was privy to how I was going to aid you.¡±

 Entry 10.1 - Memories: Damning Retrospectives

    Calypso didn¡¯t like the size of the shop owner¡¯s grin already. So when it doubled in size, causing the creases of his face to settle fully around the raised cheeks, and how unmovable and empty his blue eyes were¡­ She dreaded to think what kind of shit this poor bug girl managed to get into.

    ¡°W-what is that¡­?¡± Gale, proving time and time again that she¡¯s far stronger than the skeletal monster girl. ¡°And how are you gonna help us¡­?¡±

    Niles was too busy chuckling. Admiring the weathered, torn page that was folded in two. Rotating his wrist back and forth, versus twirling it between his two fingers.

    What drove Calypso into muted, but pronounced hysterics was the fact he wasn¡¯t opening it. Reading it, doing anything else with it. She turned to the bug girl, who was still looking downward, still despondent. Calypso wanted to yell, shout at her¡ªfirst thing asking her would be if they doomed the town or not by more or less giving this paper to this creepy man.

    ¡°Ohoho¡­ I have to be very careful, setting this down¡­¡±

    Calypso turned her head to see just that. With tender care and caution¡ªtraits that she hadn¡¯t seen this man exhibit at all to his supposed fellow man, Niles gently placed the paper onto his counter. Petting it out with both hands, with the body launch of adjusting the wires of a bomb¡¯s timer to it.

    ¡°This depends on how much you truly know,¡± Niles began. ¡°At the bare minimum, one of you must know about the ¡®lost¡¯ era of human history, hm? Where humans were the monsters, and Subsumed were equals~?¡±

    Gale sputtered in confusion, but Calypso stepped forward before anything could escalate. ¡°I do,¡± the skeletal monster girl answered.

    ¡°Then this is a rather simple, yet interesting tale¡­¡± Niles kept his crooked grin, still eyeing the parchment on his desk. ¡°This happened during the transitionary period¡­ Humanity stepping out of their blood-soaked mess, regaining their senses. Collectively agreeing that they must establish the boundary between the natural and the super¡ªall riveting to watch. But of course, with any massive change, the hiccups are so much more interesting¡­¡±

    He quickly turned around, causing Calypso to instinctively brandish her claws. Trying to desperately suppress their trembling.

    ¡°This was the start of it. The Subsumed¡¯s pact, the systematic attacks against humanity¡­ The very messy morality of dealing with such. All of it was so wonderful to watch, but impossible to live. It got to the precipice of immense causalities on both sides, and it being an accepted part of life. But one man¡­ He refused.¡±

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    With tremendous effort, the spindly man hoisted this massive wood trunk and swung his body back forward to slam it onto the rattled counter. Right before the scrap of paper.

    No one, but Niles, was ready for the box to suddenly jerk about. Something was in there, and it took everything Niles had to keep the lid of the trunk from opening.

    ¡°The story goes that a sole survivor of a settlement, somewhere in the west, was wiped out in a mutual fight-to-the-death between humans and Subsumed. The survivor was baffled, because he remembered the exact moment when he died. He used his final moments to curse the Subsumed, curse humanity for playing into their yearning for a forever war, and screamed to the heavens that if he had any choice in this meaningless void called existence¡ªhe¡¯d warn future generations what they were getting into¡­ Then the realization hit him. Yes, he was undead¡ªbut the Fates That Be wanted to see him put together this so-called ¡®warning¡¯¡­¡±

    And without a warning himself, Niles reared back¡ªallowing the animated, massive black heart to leap from the trunk and with a gesture, used one of his shadow tendrils to catch it midair.

    Calypso looked over to Gale, who had her mouth covered with her vine-covered hands and her monstrous eyes wide with fear. Calypso could only look forward, unable to express the same amount of confusion and unease.

    ¡°Behold, girls¡­¡± Niles cooed as he grabbed the beating heart with such intensity. ¡°To witness the fruits of that penmen¡¯s labor. In which not only he sacrificed life, but his entire body over the course of centuries over¡­¡±

    He knocked over the trunk, despite that seemingly being heavy moments ago. The heart made Niles¡¯ entire frame jerk erratically, before he slammed it into the same leathery tome Calypso only just remembered.

    She watched as the thing absorbed the disgusting, decayed organ into itself. She watched it come to life, shudder, breathe. The lesions that she noticed before, they started to bleed as the tome continued to flex itself to breathe, the texture of the leather become clammy and gained pours.

    ¡°¡®The Tome of the Dark And What One Needs to Understand to Fear It¡¯,¡± Niles practically purred. ¡°The all-encompassing guide to everything about the supernatural world we live in. But with a fun price to gain such knowledge¡ªas you¡¯ve seen me handle even a page with care¡­ You have to offer yourself. The greater knowledge you wish to gain, the more you have to pour yourself into this¡­¡±

    Niles leaned forward, while stroking his chin with a lowered gaze. Directed pass Calypso, of course.

    ¡°So. What did you have to give up, little bug?¡±

    Once again, silence. Silence, coming from that girl, of all things.

    "No? Still going to hang there, like the disgusting mite within a trap that you are? Ah well..."

    Niles reached into his smock''s pockets, pulling out thick, orange gloves and snapping them on. "Regardless, we''re still at an impasse. I was told, ''three college-aged young women''--and now, one of the four women is already privy to some information. Why not do the logical thing, here? Why--?"

    "OH WILL YOU JUST--SHUT YOUR PRETENTIOUS HOLE ALREADY!"

    Every aware person in that room was in shock at Calypso roaring at Niles. Including Calypso herself, until she took a breath to continue.

 Entry 10.2 - Memories: Damning Retrospectives

    "It''s pedantic--pathetic!" Calypso swung her arm in an arc, flexed her claws. Acted with this fury that she never knew she was capable of, while still being vaguely human. "Everything that you''ve done so far has not helped us in the slightest--poking and prodding--what is the end game here? What''s the goal? Do you just enjoy making people squirm for no fucking reason--what are you getting at here?"

    "... I have watched you boisterous apes since you discovered caves and huddled around fire," Niles leaned forward, unconcerned. "I am one of the reasons why you were afraid of the dark. To say that I''m a judge of human character, is redundant at this point. And yet. And yet you humans manage to trick me, again and again, with your confusing codes of honor and empathy--until to disregard them the moment they don''t aid you. I''m just trying to figure out why."

    Calypso was scaring herself, at the fact she wasn''t disturbed by that information. That she was so razor-focused yet burning with hatred in that moment.

    To the point even she wondered that question herself. Why? Why is she going this far for all of them? She never cared about anyone aside from her only friend, her family... And as pitifully as it was to admit, even that had limits. Because she was so broken and lacking in that empathy. Yet here she is, defending so many people and trying to keep from humans that would dismiss and judge her without a second thought--their bid to live.

    In that mess of complicated emotion, clarity triggered within her aching mind.

    "Why not see it for yourself?"

    Niles'' gaze turned contemplative, inquisitive. His breath caught in his throat.

    "Watch us. Give us the Tome, and whatever fucked up scenario that it''s going to present us--watch us show you why we''re so fickle as a people. You''ll get your examples, we learn what we need to, you stick to your word in a sense. If we succeed then you''re one step closer in figuring it out and if we fail--well, you get a good pre-show to what''s prime to happen anyways. Yes?"

    It was odd, looking at his smile form. It was even audible in a strange sense, as Niles huffed through his teeth in bemusement.

    "No wonder she put so much faith in you. You''re her, without the self-limitation."

    Niles didn''t give Calypso to soak that in, as he slammed the Tome upright, causing Gale to yelp out in surprise. Calypso watched as the thing continued to haggardly breath, it¡¯s scars expanding and then shrinking out the black blood that coated the stained leather skin into a crack-like pattern. Even the pages that were slammed shut and awkwardly were folded as a result, the edges looked like fangs poking out. Because of that, the skeletal monster girl eyed a very noticeable, equally bright orange bookmark nestled into the weighty tome. Sticking out like the sore thumb it is.

    ¡°But, if we¡¯re still being honest about our predilections, what is stopping me from not even honoring this deal, if the previous one had to be thrown away?¡±

    ¡°And we¡¯re going that route,¡± Calypso glanced noticeably out the window, at the dimming of the light outside. ¡°Then you¡¯re going to deal with two monsters that will take it from you. Consequences be damned.¡±

    ¡°¡ªI-It¡¯s up to you, man!¡± Gale jumped in, hands on her hips in an attempt to be assertive. ¡°I¡¯m already, like, feeling the change already!¡±

    Niles then hummed to herself, looking at the Tome. Calypso stiffened in response, to be ready for anything.

    ¡°Funny how we counted on the same thing¡­¡±

    And before Calypso could make sense of that in time, Niles ripped open the book.

    Immediately tumbled right into the ground she couldn¡¯t see, and heard multiple thuds in quick succession. Not just realizing that everything was pitch black, but the air in the room being completely different.

    The most chilling aspect of it all, was the fact that this was a darkness that Calypso couldn¡¯t see through. The most oddly comforting part of this cursed lifestyle, and it was instantly taken away. It set a very humbling note, whatever this was.

    Suddenly, there were a series of spotlights that shuddered into existence. Quickly shaking her head of confusion and grogginess, Calypso took in the surroundings.

    A stage. Simply a stage, but with no end, no part of it closed off for the audience seats to be. In fact, any edge that Calypso reasoned out, it was in reality the wooden flooring fading into nothingness.

    And each spotlight, it shined down on the four girls. Gale rising on her knees and rubbing her head, the bug girl curled up on her side, and poor Melissa face-down.

    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    And as her eyes settled on Melissa, Calypso stupidly just got the play that Niles alluded to.

    She reached out, but it was already too late. The surge of agony ripped throughout her body, because she knew that she was literally being torn apart from the inside.

    A tearful eye looked at Gale, but she was too overwhelmed. The nice girl was still too new to the transformation, and now her mouth was too busy screaming bloody murder¡ªincapable of calming this beast that was going to unleash in mere moments.

    Melissa¡¯s limp body tensed all at once, to the point that she dragged her hand close to her side. Clearly showcasing that her fingers were already clawed, ripping the floorboard with minimal ease.

    What followed was ghastly moaning, despite her face still pressed against a hard surface¡­ Pained, far removed from the soft and sickly voice she had. Trembling, violently shanking as those groans became bloodcurdling screams of horror.

    ¡°Me¡ªMuh¡ªLISSAAAA!¡± Calypso squeezed her eyes shut, feeling her bones shoot out individually from her crackling back. Steadily pushing themselves out at a glacial pace, uncaring at Calypso¡¯s so-called seniority.

    Yet¡­ As soon as she banged her already transformed arm against the floor, repeatedly both in frustration and pain, the spikes stopped in place. A new fresh hell in regards to pain, but managing to stop the transformation nonetheless. But Calypso couldn¡¯t enjoy the victory, of course.

    ¡°Listen to me! I¡­uhrggg¡­ Know that we haven¡¯t talked--properly¡ªsince freeing you! We should¡¯ve warned you about this¡ªbut we were pressed for time! Listen to me¡­ D-don¡¯t lose yourself in this! Th-the beast is just a part of you, focus on that! It¡¯s still you, despite everything! If you¡­ LET¡­ GO...!¡±

    But Calypso was forced to on her end, as she shredded into a scream as her bones finally surged into each other, connecting into her armor. The jerking about causing her to hunch forward slack as her muscles continued to tear apart, only to string themselves together, stronger.

    Despite the sickening sound of it all flooding her ears¡­ Calypso heard chuckling. No, cackling. And felt her heart drop despite hammering hundreds of beats a second.

    She struggled, but Calypso forced her head from out of her squalor, to see Melissa¡¯s pulsating body, giggle evilly with mirth.

    Her moppy, curly blonde hair growing in real-time, suddenly jerking her head upward to unveil her new blood-red, glowing eyes.

    ¡°No way¡­ This is fucking amazing.¡±

    After finishing that proclamation, Melissa¡¯s new fangs caused her to keep her mouth open, due to their sheer size. She couldn¡¯t help herself, the poor girl opened her new maw to lick all over them in a pleasured daze, as her tongue morphed along the way.

    The back of her shirt exploded, unveiling black and leathery wings with pale pink membranes. The joints and fingers snapping as they continue to form under the thin skin.

    As Melissa rose and her ruined shirt fell onto the floor, her arms were already coated in this dark, puffy fur that acted as disconnected sleeves that stopped before the elbow. Her new claws taking up most of her digits, smooth and white as the rest of her transformed hands were black leather along with her wings.

    Almost on cue, another pair of wings shot from the sides of her upper chest. Just leather, snapping themselves onto Melissa, creating a stylized bat in flight as a design she proudly bared. As more thick hair coated down her sides, almost a mockery of Calypso¡¯s similar design of sharp patterns. Add in the legs that had fur that stopped at her thighs, it gave an appearance of ripped stockings and operatic gloves.

    Melissa¡¯s head snapped suddenly to her side. Only because the force of her long, narrow bat ears erupted from the left, the innards echoing the pale pink of her wings. Twitching on it''s own, mixed with Melissa''s pleasured intentions of feeling out a new appendage, as a white puff of hair grew from the base. And immediately after, letting her head jerk to the other side for her right one to twitch from the top of her head. Meanwhile, her blonde hair was quickly dying into a light blue color, as the new hair as a Consumed didn¡¯t mix well with her actual, curly hairstyle, causing the appearance to be wild and matted.

    Her intense sweating gave a sheen to her black fur, her wrists and ankles sporting spindly white streaks of hanging hair, as makeshift lace tassels. Her skin had violent, visible veins that were pumping away until every pale inch of it was colored violet, and thus the veins disappeared.

    Her new body kept pushing out her back wings, which grew massively. As if Melissa herself forced them to spread outward, as a sign of power and status.

    But she was too busy giggling. Huffing out the thick steam from her maw. Planting a claw against her violet cheek, lulling out her long raspberry tongue in happiness. No matter how dark the source of it was or came from.

    It was so disarming for Calypso, who finished her own transformation moments ago¡­ But was stuck. It hit too close to home, watching this. She knew that this was the Fates that Be¡¯s mockery of her, in their cosmic sense of karma.

    But not only that... This is too much--far too much flair, to be some Bat Consumed. Suddenly, Cassie''s fucked up experiment wasn''t just of malice after all.

    Melissa¡¯s laughter soon got thinner by the second, losing itself and stopping. The new Vampire Consumed rose to her clawed feet, oddly still having the massive patch on her neck. The tainted veins that rain up and down from her exposed flesh to limb flaring to life.

    ¡°Theeeere we go¡­ Finally.¡±

    The vampire monster girl ripped it off, and what followed had to be seen to be believed.

    Instead of the blood pouring out¡ªor spurting like a fountain¡ªor the fact that it isn¡¯t tainted black¡­ The dark red, congealed blood softly twirled itself around Melissa¡¯s neck, the drunken girl smirking as she gently helped it along. The massive shape of blood wrapped itself around the neck, and fashioned itself into a scarf as it settled in place. One still can see the rushing of blood on the surface, yet it couldn¡¯t leave out of the shape.

    The poor girl opened her arms, extending out them in showmanship. She let her massive wings fold around her hips, giving her the appearance of an elegant, twitching dress.

    ¡°Now... I can finally have fun, for once in my life,¡± Melissa grinned with her very pronounced fangs.

 (META) Time For A Special Announcement!

    //Xander Mobius'' Smash Announcer voice

    So! Fear the Girls From Willow Reverie will be extended past it''s original end date until October! Maybe even ending around November, which means a full year with our cute, soulless killing machines! Whoo!

    I''ve mentioned with past Meta-tagged updates that I wasn''t sure if I would do this before even if I could, but combine the fact that my remake of my first work needs a lot of time and help to get right, plus some ideas I''ve thought up for a couple more arcs... Sure. Let''s do this.

    But that''s not all! Recent commentors have been pointing out a ton of flaws and dismal grammar errors that really holds this story back for them. Now with this extra time on my hands, I can finally go back and rewrite these sections to achiever Fear''s full potential. This will include sequences being a lot more detailed, moved around, and entirely new ones that helps out the story''s continuity and longevity. So my friends, the Great Fear Restoration is upon us.

    Stolen story; please report.

    While these efforts will affect the Entry drops, I will try my best to have it only effect THIS week''s batch--so no Entries this week, sadly. Hopefully I can keep my word, and at the very least, you guys have new content to experience when you re-read the edited chapters.

    In short, like... I sound like a broken record--and also Gale, but thank you so much for this sudden support. I never had such a strong response like this and it''s been giving me such energy to do right and do more with this story that I honestly felt was never going to reach people, never mind work. Again, thanks for giving a shit despite wasting your time. It is literally valuable to me.

    Have a damn good one.

 Entry 10.3 (1/2) - Memories: Damning Retrospectives

    The sounds of gleeful giggles spent chills down Calypso¡¯s exposed spine.

    Melissa cupped her cheeks with her claws, swaying softly, soaking her new existence in. The steam generated from her open maw partially obscured her face, but the deranged outline of such made her thoughts and urges more than clear.

    ¡°Man¡­¡± Calypso¡¯s normal, croaky tone crept itself into her current one. ¡°The taste of my own medicine¡¯s shit¡­¡±

    ¡°Yeah, Cal-brand medicine is pretty strong¡ªespecially for sweet ol¡¯ Gales¡­ And er, everyone that pisses it-slash-her off¡ª¡±

    While Calypso would¡¯ve playfully, snidely hung a lampshade on Gale letting the saying get away from her¡­ Considering she was just as scared as Calypso was, it was more than justified.

    Melissa lurched forward, letting her arms droop to her sides. Stumbling forward with a crooked, goofy smile on her face, and it caused Calypso to back away slowly with gritted fangs.

    ¡°I really don¡¯t want to fight her, Cal¡­¡± Gale¡¯s palpable remorse outweighed the fright when she spoke at that moment.

    Calypso turned to her friend, with an uneasy but vaguely confident smirk. ¡°M-maybe if we aim to hurt versus kill like the bug girl, karma¡¯ll save us¡­?¡±

    The fact Gale returned Calypso¡¯s vain hope with a sway of her head and a bleak expression irreversibly painted the mood of this situation. ¡°I mean, I like the sound of that but¡­¡±

    And as if Gale sensed that internal reaction, with a shake of her head, she closed her eyes with a wavering smile. ¡°B-but that aside¡ªyeah, totally, only hurt, yes. She doesn¡¯t deserve any of this!¡±

    Calypso looked to her side, staring her dark daggers at the subject. ¡°You¡¯re allowed to help too, y¡¯know.¡±

    But the Bug girl was still curled up, on her side. Tellingly, as if insect repellent was just used on her.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s just you and I, Gale¡ª¡± Calypso sighed the words out, brandishing her claws.

    The skeletal monster girl dashed forward, hunching forward with claws held extended outward. It didn¡¯t take long for the distance to close, Calypso getting so close that Melissa stirred from her high to coo in surprise.

    One¡ªtwo¡ªfive swipes were made, Calypso angling her claws to strike at critical but non-life-threatening areas like the joints on limbs or the forehead to temporarily blind the poor girl. Trying to add wide swings with her elbow scythes for good measure.

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    If only Melissa didn¡¯t manage to dodge every. Single. One.

    It was like Calypso was fighting the wind. It was meaningless, Melissa simply snapped to the opposite side of the skeletal monster¡¯s strikes. And yet when Calypso tried to course correct, the Vampire triggered such fluidity in her movements, Calypso had to shake her head¡ªblink in utter confusion. It was too fast for her to keep track.

    All of this quickly melted into Calypso trying to simply punch Melissa, directly aimed at her head¡­ And Melissa bobbed and weaved, staring directly into Calypso¡¯s worried, amber eyes all the while.

    Melissa was practically a savant¡­ Calypso found it hard to call her an idiot savant, but judging her twisted and jubilant expression¡ªthere was no strategy. No complex thoughts formed in her mind.

    It took simply a punch into Calypso¡¯s cheek, to finally bring together the scale of power these foolish girls found themselves in. A punch so hard, Calypso¡¯s row of fangs grated the monster girl¡¯s inner cheek, she felt her skull gain a fracture¡­ All of her senses muted in and out for a number of seconds into a dull ringing and a gray blur.

    The follow-up was somehow much worse.

    Melissa poured more primal strength into her swing, flinging Calypso backward with tremendous speed. Her skull became further warped in response, until she was launched from Melissa¡¯s fist.

    Calypso skipped across the stage. Landed on her back, then on her chest, and finally skirted on her shoulder as the spike and bone shaved down as she skidded on the floor.

    Quivered in her defeat, Calypso struggled to raise herself from the streak she¡¯s made. Felt her arm twitch violently as she healed, so dumbfounded that she didn¡¯t realize that her head was at a slight angle. The pop that resulted from her neck vertebrae correcting itself snapped her out of her funk.

    She huffed, looking towards the Bug girl again, ¡°Seriously¡ªyou like surviving right?! Help out please!¡±

    Calypso could only hear what was mumbled out, due to her enhanced hearing.

    ¡°hey, im getting to die regardless¡±

    The skeletal monster girl simply balled her fist, to the point she was bleeding again. Not out of anger or annoyance exactly¡­ But hurtful, hollow¡­ Very pointed nostalgia.

    They really were alike.

    But the effortful shouts of Gale snapped the skeletal monster girl out of it, cocking her head towards the sound.

    Gale managed to sneak up behind Melissa. Wrapped herself around the Vampire with her wet limbs, merging into a goopy double band that Melissa was struggling to get out of.

    Not that Melissa was remotely trying. Only moving her bare shoulders, giggling to herself as stared down at the wooden ground.

    There was never going to be a better chance than this.

    Calypso un-balled her claw, and straightened them into files. Just like what she did to herself, what felt like many moons ago.

    ¡°Hopefully you¡¯ll pull through like I have!¡± Calypso sprinted, screaming out: ¡°SORRY MELISSA!¡±

    She closed the distance again, with her makeshift shive raised high, making sure to aim somewhere near the midriff and watch for Gale.

    But once Calypso finished blinking her eyes¡­ She was before Gale again.

    Melissa was before them again.

    And she was crouched, brandishing her claws again.

    Calypso panted, looking about. There was no way. There was no possible way that happened.

    And as she looked back, towards the Bug girl¡­ The intact flooring answered her fears.

 Entry 10.3 (2/2) - Memories: Damning Retrospectives

    WHAT DO YOU KNOW¡­?

    DO YOU TRULY KNOW ANYTHING¡­?

    As Calypso stared dumbfoundedly, this voice echoing throughout her head, she honestly reviewed everything that she knew at that point. Even things pre-monster.

    ¡°W-WHAT WAS THAT, CAL--?!¡± Gale screamed from behind. ¡°AND WHAT WAS ALSO THAT?!¡±

    Melissa abruptly appeared before her, sucking the needed air that Calypso required to answer.

    ¡°Yeah, no idea what¡¯s going on with that but hey¡ªworks out for meeee~!¡± Melissa chirped disturbingly.

    Calypso was forced into a vice grip. Melissa clambered onto the skeletal monster girl¡¯s body with glee, and wrapped her furry arms around the midsection. Too fast for Calypso to maneuver her arms, as they were forced to her sides. Hearing firsthand that her spiked armor pop and snap as they meant nothing at all.

    ¡°Aaaah¡­ So warm¡­¡± Melissa squeezed harder soon after, cooing with a delirious smirk. ¡°We all know what that meeeeeans~¡±

    Gale was immediately behind the girl, using all of her monstrous strength to attempt to pry Melissa off.

    Again, precious little.

    Melissa started to giggle again, staring directly at Calypso. A deep stare that was an uneasy mash of attraction and admiration of a really tasty meal.

    Calypso herself took in her face, how pained yet exhilarated she was. Brows furrowed in confusion, but a rictus smile stretched the face into sadism.

    It was looking directly into a mirror. That was the scariest aspect of this encounter.

    ¡°Please, Melissa¡­!¡± Gale strained the words, trying desperately to stop this, to talk sense, anything that averts this. ¡°This¡­ Isn¡¯t you¡­!¡±

    Melissa took a series of exhausted pants, wearing a tormented leering expression as she angled her chin upwards. ¡°I don¡¯t know you, didn¡¯t know you until today¡ªand w-while yeah you saved me, I don¡¯t have to feel so bad in drinking you like a juice box! It¡¯s all cool! You¡¯re still saving me!¡±

    The dark, tainted veins that crested crescent patterns across the cheeks and at the sides of her chin flared. It was the first time Calypso noticed such details, this is the closest she¡¯s gotten to this woman.

    As Melissa opened her drooling maw, those veins turned turgid, physically rising from surface-level skin, pumping manically. And as a result, the monstrous canine fangs the Vampire sported were pushed out of the rows of fangs, connected by writhing veins that were gasping for substance.

    Melissa laughed like mad, as her jaw unhinged further. Steam poured from the rampant salvia as it ran down onto the stage, her raspberry tongue flickered about.

    Calypso was frozen in place. It was too similar. Similar to the woman¡ªthe thing, that quickly made her realize that she meant nothing to the worlds at large.

    And like Cassie before her, Melissa plunged all four of her fangs deep into her. All into the neck, for good measure.

    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    Sudden, guttural breaths didn¡¯t matter. Screaming out in pain and trauma didn¡¯t work either. It felt just as draining, just as alien¡­ Invasive. The experience of your innards being craved with a hot syringe, as the veins dig further into you as if you were the corpse maggots dined on. Feeling such a yanking pull of the muscles they¡¯ve invaded, yet the push being just as present and painful. Making themselves home, when you were still living in it.

    But then came the newer sensations, and truly, Calypso began to panic¡­ But lacked the strength to do so.

    She felt her hammering heart slow to a crawl, almost confused that the blood it circulated just vanished into thin air. She felt her skin began to shrink in size, due to her muscles atrophy in real-time. Her very mind, constantly praised for being so sharp, fuzzed into wooziness. Everything running dangerously cold.

    Calypso had broken her fingers, despite never even spraining anything before then. Has mutilated herself willingly on multiple occasions now. She was trapped under molten blood¡ªit was for all purposes magma, and would¡¯ve been dead. This?

    The girl that constantly called herself the living dead, a zombie without purpose, a pretty corpse to pose¡ªshe wanted to go back in time, shake her stupid past self into being sensible. She was being mummified without mercy, and she lacked the autonomy to even weep.

    What Melissa, and by extension, her den mother, was doing to her was the most horrible experience she had so far.

    And one couldn¡¯t tell by the look on Melissa¡¯s face. Totally relaxed to the point of her dark eyes rolled back and her tongue lulled out. Which was by necessity, but it was clearly presented otherwise.

    So when the reset occurred once more, Calypso was so out of it, so plunged into her traumatic stress, she didn¡¯t notice.

    Clutching at her neck, being able to shudder out panicked breaths, falling onto her knees as she closed her eyes. The voice that didn¡¯t have a sound once again asked:

    WHAT DO YOU KNOW¡­?

    DO YOU TRULY KNOW ANYTHING¡­?

    At this point, Calypso¡¯s mind was filled to the brim with accusations, questions¡­ Doubt that she ever made progress in the first place.

    But the self-effacing was cut short, by a very brisk chill that the girl felt.

    Because she was that. A girl¡ªa human, once more, once again.

    As she hugged herself and looked at her available hand, however¡­ It was clear that her constant transformations were taking their toll.

    Her sharp nails merged with her now bony-brittle fingers. No beginning or end to which was which. Her arms were angled at such a point, that they were accommodation for her elbow scythes. She felt her brown hair hitting her shoulder blades as it swayed in the cold winds. Her fangs poked themselves out of her pouty lips.

    Calypso looked around. The spotlight was only on her, the void being the only captive audience.

    On all sides, shadow puppet creations played out her life. Her strained relationship with her mother, the death of her father. Her maiming of her bully, and the immediate regret of ever thinking of such a thing. Her kinship with Alice, and the many fights to keep that spark kindled.

    All of it, circling itself around her in a shadow theatre feature. Over and over, the animatronics somehow blurring together, and the events they represented into Calypso herself. In shadow form, just a silhouette this thing¡­ And yet perfectly conveyed the many sleepless nights alone. Staring forward.

    With a huff, Calypso turned away, with a determined look etched on her face. Not only that, proceeded to just walk past the entire display on her lonesome. Without a look backward or second thought.

    Even she was tired of knowing how much she sucked.

    Of course, the efforts followed her as she walked away. The crazed clanking sounds and the shapes that the puppets forced themselves into existed in Calypso¡¯s peripheral vision. Her first transformation, her maiming of the Baker boy. And thusly, her entire encounter with Cassie.

    Calypso continued to move forward. With a trembling hand clutched at her neck, before softening that hand as it rubbed her neck, all as she kept her expression. Tellingly exhausted, but never been more sure.

    And to her surprise, the animatronics stopped. Calypso looked back, then around, with her widened eyes. Nothing but the stage now.

    Only to stop in place, with her breath caught in her throat. She saw something as she craned her head about.

    Shadows of what she assumed to be Gale¡¯s ¡°show¡±.

    Outreached hand, and with a brisk step, Calypso was ready to pull her friend out.

    But she heard very, very familiar buzzing.

    She turned around to the sound, and saw the Bug girl¡¯s show in process.

    Calypso looked back at Gale¡¯s show, a mournful bite of the lip as she bled as a result.

    She sighed. Even Gale would¡¯ve wanted her to do it.

    So Calypso marched towards the Bug¡¯s life.

 Entry 10.4 - Memories: Damning Retrospectives

    She was surprised how the path seamlessly transformed from stage to audience booth. Somehow the chill of the air plunged, her feet felt the spongey carpet¡­ And before Calypso knew it, a seat was prepared for her. Just suddenly there, as if it was there always.

    As much as Calypso wanted to sit down, finally rest after¡ªwhat, three days of nonstop terror? She knew she couldn¡¯t take this at face value. It could grow legs. Teeth. Legs with teeth dotted across the surface.

    But the ¡°lights¡± started to dim, clearly the cue the ¡°show¡± was about to begin. With a grimace, the skeletal monster girl sat down in her seat.

    The surrounding shadows acted as curtains, as the stage lit itself, which slowly fanned the darkness away.

    A high-strung, yet browbeaten shape clicked across the stage. As the figure sauntered, barely doing so, the stage around it slowly built the scene: the forest of Willow Reverie, down a very rough, barely used path. Despite the limitations of the ¡°technology¡±, the jittering pace of the shadow animatronic expertly conveyed how this poor shape was doing both physically and mentally.

    A lithesome frame, the definition came into play when it was clear she was constantly on alert. Not necessarily fearful, there was a routine to the horizon scanning, a purpose. The outline of very¡­ Interesting array of clothing mashing together. Some hung off, other desperately clung to the exhausted girl¡¯s body.

    The most interesting of the assortment, was the girl wearing these goggles on her face. Racing goggles, strapped over her eyes... Not being able to hide that exhaustion through the tainted lenses.

    But the thing Calypso noticed the most, was the girl¡¯s hair. Not the fact that it was shorter than hers¡ªstill had bangs and volume to it, but that wasn¡¯t the point. It was the fact that this girl, after looking around herself¡­ Touched the back of her head. Not in pain¡­ But it was very clear that Calypso was missing context here, at this moment.

    It was such a trip, seeing the girl respond to something before Calypso could gather her bearings. She didn¡¯t even understand what was going on at first.

    But as the fleet of bicycles began to swarm around the exhausted girl¡­ Calypso winced.

    This ¡°kind¡± of scene, the skeletal monster girl saw in all sorts of forms when she was human. When she was in high school. She counted herself among the lucky, not only knowing someone that could absolutely fight for her, but the fact that her greatest sin if it were, it built a reputation that added to her unapproachable aura.

    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    So when she saw bullying in progress¡­ She couldn¡¯t help but be sympathetic.

    Now every single name and threat Calypso issued out, stabbed into her brain and chest. Rightfully.

    Despite their differing body language, it didn¡¯t matter, the stage rendered them all the same, basic human shape. The group scrambled away from their thrown-down bikes, started the chase the moment the exhausted girl made her move. In an impressive display of skill that Calypso never would¡¯ve guessed the girl had, she immediately climbed up the nearest tree. But there were simply too many of them.

    They gathered around the trunk, a mass of grasping hands grabbed the exhausted girl from the back and yanked her down all together. So fervent in getting the girl to stand back up, Calypso thought they would fight each other for the dubious ¡°honor¡±.

    But they managed to do it, kept the girl in their shared grasp so she didn¡¯t run away. The shadow puppets¡¯ heads formed mouths, but were still primitive enough that Calypso couldn¡¯t read the lips. But it didn¡¯t matter. As the animals gloated, the agonized girl shrunk in place, despite not being able to move.

    The pack animals proceeded to turn her around, spun her roughly, purposefully, so she could end up nauseous and dazed. The agonized girl¡¯s animatronic manifested a ¡°flap¡± for the back of her head¡­ One of the beasts lifting her hair up, which caused an immediate uproar of laughter.

    There was this¡­ White spot, on the back of the girl¡¯s head. Which was notable, given the lack of color in these presentations. It made Calypso¡¯s already boiling blood spike in pressure. Were they making fun of her disability? Did they hit her so hard, that it was a welt¡­?

    But no. It became so¡­ Disgustingly clear, once one of the pack animals lifted something from their mouths. A wad of gum.

    Laughter that not only echoed throughout the theatre, but made the seat rattle. But Calypso was already shaking in her seat, gripping the arms and raking her claws against the tips.

    The beast that had the wad leaned over the agonized girl, taunted her by waving it in front of her face as the rest of the band writhed with mirth. Kneed her in the back for good measure, just to confirm that they held the power in this fucked-up scenario.

    It soon became clear that they didn¡¯t want to instigate further, after a few pained moments. They let her go, but not before kicking up dirt from the trail, so the girl could be coated in it. Stomped on the bag that she had, before cycling away with their heads thrown back into the night.

    Calypso pursed her lips, to keep from tearing up. She might have figured why, the girl wore those goggles now.

    The agonized girl knelt down, before her ruined back. Trembled alone, in the dark, buried her face in her gloved hands.

    Calypso wanted her to let that pain out. Not hold it within, not let it eat her from the inside. The skeletal monster girl knew outside hurt enough, knew more importantly of how dehumanization can take its toll.

    But she knew this was the past. Knew that this was going to go south.

    And nothing highlighted that trajectory more, as the agonized girl dug into her dirty bag, thus pulled out the two pieces of paper of the Tome.

 Entry 10.5 (1/2) - Memories: Damning Retrospectives

    She took the parchment into her hands in prayer. Raised them into the night sky, as she couldn¡¯t help but tremble in the presence of the quarter Moon.

    Calypso watched an agonized girl began to summon various creatures of the damned. Completely different from the skeletal monster girl¡¯s death from being mauled by Subsumed¡­ This girl wanted this. Purposefully wanted to be surrounded.

    It was strange. The shadow puppet animatronics were limited in showing the exact shape of the Subsumed horde, settling on creating this uneven ring around the agonized girl. With tendrils, teeth, flippers, spikes, slime¡ªall reached out for her. Quickened at her presence, as if they instantly knew how low she was in this moment.

    Even if she wanted this to happen to her¡­ Calypso noted that the agonized girl still kept calm. Focused. Her shadow puppet gained weary eyes to them, as they looked about the selection that pined for her.

    The skeletal monster girl slapped herself on the cheek, for completely whiffing the evidence that was presented to her.

    Of course she wanted this. She was amidst choosing her end, in more ways than one.

    She needed to become a monster, to fight back against the other monsters.

    But control was still something this girl lacked. Once the herd became antsy, she ran. As fast as she could in that moment, and once again, Calypso was very impressed by the display.

    Calypso flashed back to that night, how the Subsumed¡­ Seemingly teleported within the darkness. One moment Alice tried to push her away, the arm gone the next. Established quickly that there was simply no way out then. It was only death.

    Here? The agonized girl ran for her life and then some. She made the monsters run into trees, causing them to be uprooted by the sheer strength of the impact. She hid from them at points, despite this land being theirs¡ªand hid in much more tight spots, practiced doing so.

    This was the benefit of being a bullied kid. This is why those childish bastards had to use bikes. They knew they couldn¡¯t catch her otherwise, too fast and too smart.

    But the scene went on long enough. The stage shifted into a cave of sorts, sudden searing flickers followed closely with slams of sound to showcase storm.

    The agonized girl leaned against the lip of the entrance, visible scorn at the papers she stole. Clear disappointment, and clear exhaustion, radiated from the animatronic silhouette. Her hand tensed, on the verge of crumbling the wet parchment until¡­

    ¡°A-aah¡­ D-don¡¯t throw away any good chance to survive, dear huuuuuman¡­¡±

    The agonized girl turned around towards the crippled, fried vocal tone. Her fear spiked the moment she saw this thing.

    For one, it was in half. The front half of itself tried in vain to drag itself across the stone ground, but its feelers for arms gave out the moment it became visible in the dark. Covered in fuzz that was caked in trash, gunk, and leavings that stuck at points, giving the impression of balding or patchiness. Its pincers were most of its face, crested the long and spindly nozzle that was its actual mouth¡ªits eyes bigger than dinner plates were at the sides of its head but¡­ The left was much. Much higher than the right, that drooped downward way too far as well. Not to mention, since this was a fly, the eyes themselves were bulbous¡ªthey were flat against the shape of its head. And say nothing about the wings, that were clipped into shreds long ago.

    ¡°Uh,¡± the agonized girl stared down at the pathetic thing. ¡°Maybe you should take the same thing I just got sold on. Quick while you¡¯re ahead and just live and let die¡ª¡±

    She tried to turn away, but felt the feeler grasp her ankle. Her eyes widened, showcased by the clicking and whirling of the animatronic, looking back down to see how quickly this pathetic thing can move. Even it¡¯s feeler was deceptively long.

    ¡°Maybe-maybe so,¡± the thing spoke, its pincers swaying independently. ¡°B-but I can-cannot lay down and see my end coming. Not when I can run straight¡ªrun straight toward it. Even something as I deserve that, as a living being¡­¡±

    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    ¡°¡­Huh,¡± the agonized girl cocked her head, in agreement. ¡°Guess that makes sense¡ªbut anything does when you¡¯re uh. Lacking in the not having a body department. Can I ask why there, chief¡­?¡±

    The Fly Subsumed tilted its head. In confusion? Misplaced haughtiness¡­ Pity?

    ¡°I-it¡¯s interesting how you huuumans¡­ How you ask ¡®why¡¯,¡± the Fly Subsumed¡¯s thin voice suddenly regained strength. ¡°It is simply our role to play. A role to play, to keep this farce alive¡­ Therefore ourselves given p-p-purpose.¡±

    ¡°Then you¡¯ve served your purpose,¡± the agonized girl intelligently shot back, pointing at it. ¡°Your role¡¯s finished. You had the one line¡­ Exit stage left, wherever and whatever that ends up being¡ª¡±

    ¡°Oh ho ho¡­¡± the Fly buzzed happily. ¡°But a role can be revitalized, my dear¡­ Given new breath. Given new life¡­¡±

    The agonized girl caught on, as she glanced down the papers. She bit her lip before responding in full.

    ¡°Look. What I need¡ªif¡ªif I¡¯m gonna sacrifice myself over this¡­ I¡¯m gonna need to become something they don¡¯t expect. Something that no matter what, is impossible¡­ To see, to catch¡ªanything. And importantly, impossible to fight against.¡±

    The agonized girl rose her hands in mock defense. ¡°Not trying to kick you while you¡¯re¡­ Dying but. There¡¯s a reason why. You¡¯re¡­ Just a fly. A bug. Everything. Everything stomps a bug. We don¡¯t even put too much thought into doing it.¡±

    ¡°If you were to catch them.¡±

    That instant response gave the girl pause.

    ¡°Tell yourself¡­ You cannot lie to yourself, about the many swings and strikes you have missed, to claim the life of my brethren. And even if you do, exhausting and tiring yourself¡­ There¡¯s always more, lurking about. And there is a strength, a boone in that weakness¡­ Overlooked, underestimated as the strong walk past you. Leaving you to crawl about, learning their very secrets. And look at I¡­¡±

    The massive bug gestured to itself. ¡°I am dying. I¡¯ve been struck irreversibly. And yet here I am before you, alive still. Clinging to life. Even maimed, still surviving¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­Congrats.¡±

    The agonized girl moved further into the cave, meeting the Fly Subsumed halfway. ¡°You just swayed a daughter of a used car salesman.¡±

    Calypso watched as time passed, the puppets sped along to forward the dead air, getting to the pivot part.

    Which was the agonized girl, one of the pages held in one hand, and a knife in the other. As she towered over the still-stationed Fly.

    ¡°H-heard, well read, that this process is a lot¡­¡± the girl gulped. ¡°Intense, in terms of Subsumption¡­¡±

    ¡°Indeeeeed¡­¡± the Fly Subsumed nodded. ¡°The standard fare kills immediately. The invasive rebirth, more sinister yet slow, easy to subvert over and over¡­ This? This is a deal. I become your shadow. You use my talents. But the transformation is not only gradual, but cannot be walked back. Either way, you will lose your soul, huuuumaaaan¡­¡±

    The agonized girl looked down, and swayed her head in thought. ¡°And this means? Do I become a vegetable if I abort this? Slowly go insane? Or straight-up death?¡±

    ¡°¡®Straight up death¡¯, I¡¯m afraid¡­ I will say, to be honorable in this agreement, that by being not whole, this will give you enough time for the effects of my curse to not transform you immediately. But once my traits become yours¡­ It is irreversible. If you call it off, your soul will crumble under its own weight. Death becomes you.¡±

    The presentation¡­ It tore itself into pieces, became a whirlwind of parts, mechanisms, and special effects¡­ Just to create a ¡°close-up¡± of the girl¡¯s face.

    She crumpled up into a fit of despair. The cheeks tensed, the eyes squinted to account for the tears that never really came. All of that loosened in the advent of thought, clarity washed the stronghold of misery. Then eerily, a face that fell flat. Simply too much effort to keep doing these various, negative expressions again and again.

    The way she cocked her head to her side, caused the goggles lens'' to reflect the cave''s walls within them. Obscured the windows to her soul in question.

    ¡°Cool. I don¡¯t have to face the consequences of my actions either way.¡±

    Calypso was disgusted. Immediately, instantly disgusted. All of the previous hate she had for this gnat resurfaced in a surge, in one fell swoop.

    Then it was her turn to face the same inevitability. But Calypso allowed herself to feel complete sorrow. The disgust was still there¡­ But it was from the inside. Knowing that mere months ago, she felt exactly how this poor girl did and more.

    And yet¡­ Did she really change? Truly? She¡¯s transformed, over and over, as long as she had this curse¡­ But does she even possess the strength or capability?

    She didn¡¯t have time to think that over. Calypso watched as the agonized girl slit her open palm with the knife, let the pouring blood splatter her shadow. The Fly Subsumed happily clapped with its feelers, diving into the shadow with zeal as this girl became to shake violently. As if this thing was climbing into her body anyways.

    The presentation stopped, which caused Calypso to jump in her seat.

    But the more she thought about it, it clicked for her.

    The skeletal girl raced out of her seat, and sprinted towards the stage. In a matter of moments, she somehow made it onto it without transition.

    There, she saw her body, still curled up¡­ But human. In color, real. Like Calypso, she was just a young adult, merged with parts of her monster. The wings from her Consumed form still being present on her back, for one.

    ¡°If only you told me you hated humans just as I do... Then we would¡¯ve gotten along famously,¡± Calypso joked. But clearly pained.

 Entry 10.5 (2/2) - Memories: Damning Retrospectives

    Calypso knelt before this girl. A girl with unsightly insectoid traits that were exaggerated to sin. Two crippled wings that grew under her shoulder blades, a right arm that was more hairy fly fore leg than arm, yet was clutched by her only human hand all the same. A mess of hair, chitin, and skin¡­

    But Calypso was ready, was willing, to treat her like a woman. A human. Something people haven¡¯t done for her--for what seemed like a long time.

    The skeletal monster girl expected the silence to continue, so she kept speaking.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t me trying to make things up, suddenly make amends to soothe my ego¡­ Not anything like that¡ªto act like, to¡­ Use the excuse of not knowing you, so excuse how awful I¡¯ve been. You¡¯re within your right not to speak and¡­ Give up, so to speak. But this¡­ This is me opening up, in response, in exchange. This isn¡¯t me posturing anymore.¡±

    The agonized girl stroked at where the humanity ended and the transformation began¡ªat that space of her arm, during the confession. It took a while, before she stopped.

    She slowly rolled onto her back. She¡­ Had a greying, shaggy pixie cut. Her face soft, round. And her trademark goggles hung around her neck.

    But her eyes were somehow the worse of the merge. Irises still that crimson shade, and the right one was multiplied by 10. She blinked at Calypso, staring at her.

    ¡°¡­Holy shit. You¡¯re not bullshitting me¡­¡±

    She proceeded to close her eyes, ¡°Though, you managed to bullshit enough to not get us killed¡­ Whatever. I¡¯m both physically and mentally checked out. As you can obviously see.¡± She waved both her arms lightly in a tight circle, and let them fall as soon as she was done.

    ¡°I saw¡­¡± Calypso was mindful to maintain her sorrowful tone. ¡°Sorry for the intrusion, by the way.¡±

    The agonized girl shrugged with her entire body. ¡°Not like I had autonomy ever in my life. What¡¯s one more for the road, eh?¡±

    Calypso was going to offer yet another apology but pursed her lips to stop it.

    This girl is like her. She knew how the word ¡°sorry¡± can quickly render itself into nothingness, despite the heartfelt intentions behind it.

    ¡°...It¡¯s just that,¡± Calypso bobbed her head, side to side, weighing the gambit she wanted to perform. ¡°I got exactly what I wanted, and some change¡­ Now I¡¯m sat here wondering if there¡¯s some kind of cosmic return policy?¡±

    There was a pregnant pause, before the girl huffed curtly in amusement. Calypso tensed, if ever so slightly.

    ¡°And here I thought you¡¯re a humorless psychopath¡­¡±

    Calypso smirked, ¡°Nah, I¡¯m an absolute bore. It¡¯s just that with insanity, everything can end up amusing at an angle and if it¡¯s funnier if the subject suddenly gets hit by a car or not¡ª"

    The girl made a very interesting sound, which caused her body to suddenly move in a burst. A mix between a huff, snort, and the word ¡°Jeez¡±.

    ¡°And I wonder why you¡¯re so good at being a Consumed and why my previous boss wanted you so bad¡­¡±

    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    There was an instinct, for Calypso to slap that sentiment out of the air. But she had to inquire¡­

    ¡°Since we¡¯re¡­ Marginally on the same foot now,¡± Calypso looked at the girl with a ponderous gaze. ¡°And it¡¯s established that I¡¯m the worst¡­ What did you do?¡±

    The girl opened her eyes, angled her head as much as she could to truly study Calypso.

    ¡°You¡¯re smart. You understand what I¡¯m getting at here¡­ I narrowly avoided your fate myself, if it wasn¡¯t for knowing someone that would skin my aggressors alive, so¡­ This isn¡¯t me judging you. I genuinely wanted to know what happened there. You should¡¯ve gotten away with it¡­ Or did you?¡±

    ¡°¡­Holy shit, um,¡± even blinking, it was unsightly due to the girl¡¯s multiple irises in the one eye. ¡°This is uh. This is new for me¡ª¡±

    Calypso¡¯s offered her bony prongs that were barely considered a hand. A hand and a smile that wavered due to underuse. ¡°Come on. Regale me of the details, if it¡¯s not too painful.¡±

    The cluster of eyes darted from that hand, to Calypso¡¯s expression, back to the hand, the face again.

    The pair didn¡¯t really gauge the amount of time that passed¡ªor had to pass¡ªfor the agonized girl to rise from her spot. But before either of them knew it, she sat there, and hugged her legs. Didn¡¯t really meet Calypso¡¯s empathetic gaze.

    She pulled at her goggles and fashioned them on instead. Calypso assumed immediately that she wanted to cut her away from her already exposed humanity, not letting her in further yet.

    ¡°Of course, it started with old fashioned gaslighting¡ªy¡¯know, stalking them¡ªquickly getting away¡­ Some nights, changing that up¡ªchucking things and moving the opposite direction away from them. Rotating nights between the different members of that crew, doing double the work once they got so paranoid that they created this dumb buddy system to look out for each other.¡±

    The girl fidgeted in place, once again did a rapid-fire staring contest between her and Calypso. ¡°Sorry¡ªusually¡ªy¡¯know just¡ªboth never¡­ Confided before and when I do¡ªnormally people don¡¯t believe me or just tell me to can it¡ªmoving on¡­¡±

    ¡°Then came the undermining¡ªsnuck into their homes to steal the things they put so much stock into, only to return them fucked up in the same, specific way¡ªruining their meals when they least expected it¡ªcame back into their rooms to disturb their sleep schedules¡­ So when I did appear before them, they were all convinced they were losing their collective minds.¡±

    The girl laughed, with a very tight grin etched on her face, with her feeler raised. ¡°Got to the point that they thought every fly was me, somehow. Now they weren¡¯t the smartest assholes in the room¡ªbut maybe the sleep depravity eroded the little that was left¡­ But I did it. And I was gonna finish it. The grand finale that would¡¯ve tied every sweet thread I lied out for months¡­¡±

    The girl rubbed at her forehead, before letting her hand droop to her cheek, cupped it all the while.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t account them being so privileged and rich that¡­ They¡¯d simply move away. Get the hell outta dodge¡­ Not only leaving the town¡ªbut leaving me with a costly operation that I was in too deep in.¡±

    She gestured at each section of the body she began to describe, acting out the effects.

    ¡°Sold the fact that I was losing back rows of teeth, making way for the pincers. Skin on my hands flicking away and most of my mornings trying to pick the shells growing there. Getting used to the splitting headaches because I felt my skull deforming each and every day. And surprise¡ªFly Guy was a cheating bastard and left out the part he was getting powerful the more this progressed¡ªcue me getting eaten and fighting for my life in the end, y¡¯know, soul stuff¡­¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Calypso made her sarcasm very, very clear in her tone. ¡°He was such a nice guy¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­I guess that was the insidious deal of it all,¡± the girl hugged her knees closer to her chest, looking downward. ¡°The more and more my skin flaked off, lost more of my teeth, started to count the ribs I started to see on my chest week to week¡­ It was less about being rightfully weary, thinking up the backup plan or just straight up ending things¡­ It was more about ¡®me¡¯. That I needed to survive, that I¡¯m ¡®above¡¯ these monsters and humans¡­ Sound familiar? But when that stopped becoming me and that was him? When was the exact point where we merge?¡±

    With a heavy sigh, she looked toward Calypso. ¡°Was there even a merge at all? It was practically a match in Hell. Such a perfect marriage, you nailed what my actual name is.¡±

    Calypso¡¯s eyes honed in on the girl. Her mouth agape as she absorbed the implication.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t hear it, when you watched my thing but¡­ ¡®There she is! Nasty Nat! Nasty Nat! It¡¯s Nasty Nat~!¡±

    The girl called Natalie laughed, strained and pained. ¡°So it was kinda funny how eerily on point you were. I wasn¡¯t even hurt.¡±

 Entry 10.6 - Memories: Damning Retrospectives

    ¡°¡­The more I hear of other people¡¯s sagas, I realize how easily I got off by comparison,¡± Calypso shook her head as she had a hand on her forehead. ¡°And yet I¡¯m managing to fuck up a Golden Ticket, somehow¡­¡±

    ¡°Now THAT¡¯S surprising--¡±

    ¡°You keep saying that¡­¡±

    ¡°Because¡ªwell,¡± Natalie shifted her head about, as if she was trying to catch the words flying about. ¡°You were so confident¡ªdecisive¡ªand er, ¡®wonderfully murderous¡¯? Not into that¡ªbut it¡ªthat¡ªall that painted you so differently than what I¡¯m seeing now¡­¡±

    Calypso fashioned her ¡°fist¡± into her cheek, leaned into it.

    ¡°What else can I say other than ¡®reality is fundamentally disappointing¡¯?¡± She proceeded to glance back at Natalie. ¡°You¡¯re crafty. You know that any and all plans break apart the moment it comes into contact with reality.¡±

    ¡°Man, you really are right¡ª¡± Natalie was practically bemused. ¡°¡ªWhy did we hate each other? We could¡¯ve teamed up and undermined Cassie¡¯s whatever by ourselves¡­¡±

    Calypso moved her fist, looked at Natalie. ¡°What¡¯s still stopping you¡­?¡±

    Natalie looked back, with her lowered eyelids and piercing multiplied gaze.

    ¡°Well. What¡¯s your grand, justifiable reason for all of this? You¡¯ve seen my story, I told you the addendums. I just¡­ All I wanted was some fucking control in my life. And I fought for that, only for that to blow up in my face. Tried living as a monster, only to be scooped up by some bigger one as a lackey. And really, did I have a choice when you and Scarecrow Boy mugged me into joining this clear suicide mission¡­?¡±

    The agonized girl shook her head. ¡°My whole life¡ªsunk cost fallacy. I never wanted to admit it until I literally saw it before my eyes. So hey¡ªgive it to me. Pep talk me. I honestly want you to right now. But I¡¯m naturally fucked and untrustworthy, so grain of salt I guess¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­You joked about it, but I know why we didn¡¯t get along earlier. Simply put, you¡¯re an alternate me that I was forced to stare in the face¡ªand I already hate the concept of photos for that very idea.¡± Calypso shifted, looked downward at her hands. ¡°I don¡¯t have an answer for you because I don¡¯t have an answer for myself. This whole exercise¡ªme not succumbing to a voodoo curse aside¡ªwas that maybe, just maybe¡­ I had a lead, an excuse, a chance to better myself¡­¡±

    The skeletal monster girl flexed her so-called hands. ¡°I¡¯ve been floundering. Coasting, like I had before all of this¡­ Now there¡¯s actual stakes. It¡¯s less about me not being overdramatic and a bore anymore¡ªit¡¯s about keeping my family safe from this crazed bitch¡ªthat-that should be enough motivation for me to stop this whining¡ªthis constant failure¡ªa-and master these gifts that I¡¯ve been granted, when you all suffered¡­ And yet, ever since I¡¯ve met Gale, what I only learned is how much I¡¯ve been doing nothing.¡±

    There was a pause, a rumination, as Calypso took in her mutilated appendages. Not just trapped between extremes, warped by them into something that is useless in both worlds, any world. Unsightly, unstable¡­ Unbearable to deal with.

    But Calypso turned her right hand around.

    Her soul gem fused to the back of it. Wrapped around her veins.

    Still struggling to shine bright¡­ Yet. There were the odd pulsating bursts, proving that observation wrong. Even if for a moment.

    Calypso took that hand onto the other, rubbing it. ¡°Maybe that¡¯s what I learned. That I¡¯m so ridden with mistakes¡ªand I actually need to be proactive¡ªto be fueled by solving them? Maybe that¡¯s our cursed gift. We have so many mistakes¡­ Why not strike them down as we go? And if we run out of our own¡­ The world has plenty that needs course correction. Course correction that many are too victimized to solve themselves¡­¡±

    She felt Natalie stare at her, so she returned the gaze, with a sly smirk. ¡°We both hate certain kinds of people, and we hate how the way things are¡­ How does getting back at this fucked up world and cleaning up the filth sound as a motive, Natalie?¡±

    Natalie, in turn, was dumbfounded. Despite the deformities, her entire face stiffened into an expression where her lips scrunched into a small circle, and her eyes became bigger than dinner plates.

    Which made the sudden, abrupt laughter somehow more surprising. She laughed, and laughed, forced her to release her legs and fall on her back again. Draping both arms over her eyes as an unsure yet wide grin swept across her face.

    ¡°You really are insane¡­¡± there was amazement, life, to Natalie¡¯s words.

    ¡°That¡¯s why I need a minder,¡± Calypso leaned forward, never been more confident with the smirk to match. ¡°Gale¡¯s my lovely heart, but you? You¡¯re scrappy, you ask the right questions. You have ideas, and I know you have plenty of them. I need you, we all need you¡­ And I¡¯m sure at least one person agrees with my sentiments and needs you to still be here with us, above all.¡±

    ¡°¡­Yeah,¡± Natalie nodded her head, moved her arms away from her exhausted but softened eyes. ¡°Yeah, he¡ªhe does need me still¡­ I¡¯m all he has left¡­¡±

    Calypso didn¡¯t comment, nor had the urge to pry. She was just¡­ Happy. Happy that she managed to pull someone like her through.

    It gave her the slightest bit of hope, as she realized what that meant for her.

    WHAT DO YOU KNOW¡­?

    DO YOU TRULY KNOW ANYTHING¡­?

    Calypso startled, in that moment remembered that she wasn¡¯t here for a bonding session.

    ¡°RIGHT¡ªNatalie! You¡¯ve dealt with this before! What do we have to do here?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s also a weird detail I have to share later¡ªbut time being really short right now¡ª¡± Natalie shot up, getting to her feet. ¡°It¡¯s simple, really. Magical test¡ªyou showcase what you¡¯ve learned about the subject¡ªhow it relates to your situation. Think about what Moses told us.¡±

    Calypso clutched at her hand. That shotgun-style conversion felt like eternities ago, but it eventually clicked for her, as she looked back up to Natalie. ¡°You think the book has an honor system¡­? If at least one of us learned something, we all can go?¡±

    ¡°Sounds kooky and yet impossibly bullshit enough to work¡ªso yeah, I¡¯d say~¡± Natalie responded, oddly chipper in tone. She gave a thumbs up toward Calypso, with a twitch of her feeler behind her. ¡°If anyone can brute force it, it¡¯s you. Now get us out of this hell. We¡¯ve got work to do in the actual one.¡±

    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    And before she could return that smile, Calypso was sent back to where she was before. She glanced back immediately, only to see no Gale behind her, not Natalie¡­

    But as she heard this haggard, pained breathing across the way, Calypso figured that Melissa also went through her own version of hell as the girl looked upon the vampire, head clutched in her claws, vocalized her insanity as she shouted atop her lungs. Truly nettled.

    It was do or die time, again.

    Calypso motioned to get on her feet, but realized she was already positioned. She wasted no time, with closed eyes, she scanned her mind for the words of her professor.

    ¡°¡­we in response craft special words, incantations that boosts our abilities and direct them effectively. Learning your words can turn the tide of your fates in this unfair game you¡¯ve found yourselves in¡­ A declaration that even the forces that are against you cannot and will not ignore¡­¡±

    The boring book girl has had a love of words for her entire life. Almost like a duck to water, Calypso¡¯s mind flooded with terms and phrases that can perfectly describe her declaration against Fate. But she didn¡¯t want to deviate too strongly, wanted to maintain the same sentiment her mentor had, but her own spin on things.

    Calypso rose her hand before her chest, and balled it into a fist. Her gemstone flashed with brilliance at the gesture, telling her to keep on.

    ¡°I¡­Am awake.¡±

    She used her other hand to rapidly press on her gemstone, watching it flash over and over with each strike. With the gemstone-embedded hand, Calypso thrust it forward, above herself so the unhealthy light shone down her body.

    ¡°AND I¡ªAM¡ªUNLEASHED!¡±

    The change was immediate. It was so potent, Calypso could only stare out in stunned wonder as the transformation took hold¡­ And was fundamentally different.

    The dim light, it''s shine didn''t just radiate--but coated and lanced outward from Calypso''s body as if she was suddenly kicking up strong wind around her. The screaming from her gem droned, and steadily grew into a ever-present chorus.

    The searing light completely bathed her, before fading softly, but still present as her entire body continued to glow. But as her hair grew, as her eyes lost their light, the glow slowly mutated into the various colors of her other self as the transformation slowly grips her. So her brown hair didn''t just transmute into magenta, but had a magenta haze beaming from it.

    It still hurt, it still felt like death¡­ But it was truly a process, now. A process that Calypso herself can guide.

    Finally, she finally not only understood at that moment, but became resonance.

    Calypso closed her eyes, basked in the changes, throwing her head back as her hair grew and her skull crown grew further. Hugged herself, grabbed at her shoulders before the claws manifested along with the spiked shoulders. Trailing her claws down her shifting body, made way for the spikes to push out of her frame until her arms drooped down at her sides. Almost limp, but the body language made it absurdly clear that euphoria was being achieved.

    She couldn¡¯t help but lean back further, letting the power coarse through her, as her spine grew to make her tall, and shoot itself out of her back. All of the bones, which usually grew independent¡ªwildly, were all in sync to snap together to reform into her trademark armor, causing Calypso to lurch forward with an energized smile and lower-eyed glare of assurance.

    Finished her newly mastered transformation off with a swing of both arms, causing the elbow scythes to burst out, settled in within seconds as Calypso flashed her glistening fangs.

    ¡°Okay, Melissa dear¡­¡± Calypso pointed, and arched her bony claw at her as a taunt. ¡°Ready for Round Two~?¡±

    Melissa turned her head, before she rushed forward in a frenzy. Calypso figured that it wasn¡¯t even acknowledgment of the taunt, but an acknowledgment of someone here that she could feed from.

    Within seconds, the two clashed. Both monster girls grappled with each other, drove their respective claws into their exposed skin, tried to shove the other in a game of strength.

    It was clear that Melissa was still eerily strong, Calypso struggled against such potent force, her knees were beginning to buckle¡­ But there was something about achieving mastery of her transformation¡ªshe always felt divine after shifting.

    Here? This body, this other side of herself¡­ A completely new sensation of energy that wasn¡¯t there before, something that was just created for her and her alone. This truly felt like she was in a new body, and how oddly liberating that would be. Yet, a body that took note of her sensibilities, and improved her weaknesses.

    This wasn¡¯t a transformation. It was a true rebirth.

    Calypso jumped back, letting Melissa¡¯s absurd strength aid in her motion, curled her sharp toes into the flooring as she gained traction. But even that wasn¡¯t enough, the skeletal monster girl hunched forward and slammed her claw, forced her to a stop.

    She looked up at Melissa, gauging her still. If the lack of talking and the primal body language didn¡¯t give it away, her constant rush toward Calypso signalized that this girl was broken. The skeletal monster girl¡¯s face stiffened, twitched in pity for a moment.

    This had to be quick. Calypso had to make this up to her, do what she was set to do¡­ And now had the means to do so.

    There was a glance at her raised claw, that wasn¡¯t in the flooring. She recalled that her mentor told them to understand magic, incantations. Not just for properly transforming, to fight fate¡­

    The connection forged itself in Calypso¡¯s mind. She couldn¡¯t help but smile in wonder and a sense of catharsis¡­

    ¡°Now, what to name it¡­?¡± Calypso purred as she quickly pulled her other claw from the floor, and stood up straight. ¡°¡­Got it. Pretentious, but that¡¯s Calypso Grimes for you~¡±

    Calypso forced her gemstone to manifest at the back of her claw, and used the other to swipe at it multiple times. Each fan caused her soul to fire up in light and screams.

    ¡°Reaper¡¯s Fang!¡±

    And with that, her arm turned itself into a makeshift bone scythe again. But once again, it was completely different from last time.

    Her elbow scythe became the main basis of the shape, her pink arm became rippling and mailable as the blade swung opposite then proceeded to merge into the flesh. Her four claws stiffened before curling into a curve to aid the structure of the blade, as the bone bleed onto the surface of the arm to create reinforcement.

    Her arm became an instrument, a hybrid of blade and flesh, her arm still visible acting as the under carriage of the blade, but clearly turned statue-lite.

    Now, Calypso¡¯s arm was a flexible blade of carnage, as she immediately swung forward, slashed across Melissa¡¯s midsection as the latter howled out in pain.

    While there was amazement, Calypso couldn¡¯t dwell on it. She continued to go forward, her arm leading her, lancing out still until she fell onto her spiked knees. Still wild, magic, her abilities in general. But she did pout a tad still.

    She looked over her convulsing shoulder. She watched Melissa cry out, clutch at her open wound as it showered black blood onto the wooden floor. Calypso gritted her fangs at the sight, the sound, the smell.

    This was the only chance.

    The skeletal monster girl turned her entire body, her bladed arm made a dramatic sweep on its own. She crouched down, she kept her arm raised and the other¡¯s palm flat on the floor.

    She thought about the Chimera Jaw, thought about Cassie¡­ Maybe this maneuver could be her signature move?

    Regardless, she sprinted towards Melissa, and slashed at a shoulder.

    Used everything in her to ride out the involuntary movement, used her claws to grip against the floor, and flung herself around again¡ªcut somewhere around her hip.

    She gained speed with each pass by. Behind the knee. At the back. The side of her face. Calypso didn¡¯t stop the process until Melissa was covered in her own blood.

    And eventually, that she was. Stumbled about, quaking in place as her very legs were on the verge of tearing. The soft whimpers that were once enraged screams.

    Melissa collapsed soon after. Leaving Calypso the sole person on the stage, the spotlight flicked above her as she panted holding her twitching shoulder.

    Faultless.

    You may be on your way

    To face the darkness of this world

    But learning is as constant as life

    There will be a bigger price to pay

    To show your mettle

    Until then.

    ***

    Calypso fell back into reality. And was immediately thankful, when she heard at least two more thuds.

    It was interesting, going from accomplishment to ungodly, aching pain.

    ¡°Too many transformations, I presume¡­¡± the unmistakable candor of her mentor cut through her compromised senses. ¡°Don¡¯t worry anymore, dears. I¡¯ve taken care of the rest. You earned your rest.¡±

    Calypso''s agony forced to her, anyways.

 Missing Entry (#6)

    To be within flesh. To be Subsumed, as unnatural an existence that it is, meant this state of constant, shapelessness, to be unbound as a living nexus of restless, ever-present evil.  For many of his kind, it is euphoria, the grand achievement. To finally fulfill their destiny that has been physically etched into their writhing essence, ever since the elder days. Many generations since were literally bred for this sought-after moment.

    But for ¡°Niles¡±, it was a personal hell. A living, sweating, itching, trembling, constricting shroud of mistakes. To be human, it meant feelings that once triggered, will become ceaseless in both potency and pathology. Constantly bathed in sensory, constantly aching¡­ Vulnerable both inside and outward. All because of this ¡°sapience¡±, and they¡¯re constantly aware of how much of an effect it holds over them.

    Niles¡¯ internal ranting was abruptly stopped, as a pained shriek escaped from the Tome, caused him to stop flicking through the pages. He proceeded to lift the book and bash it repeatedly on the counter until it stopped, just as causally.

    The former Subsumed mused once again. No wonder, it thought to itself, that these monstrous heathens are so insane. Apes drunkenly drowning within their transient successes, unaware of the problems looming over them the moment their inevitable failure cripples them for good.

    Being an old Subsumed, Niles held plenty of knowledge about the vast world they¡¯ve live in. But this Tome is considered so famous and helpful, there¡¯s something of a sick curiosity that had taken over. Written by a man who refused to pass until its completion? The fact that it manifests around those who truly need it? With it being alive, the contents itself can bleed and reorganize itself with now-current knowledge once outdated? People and Subsumed have killed for much less.

    So, the Subsumed leaned into this human¡¯s fist, relaxed as it turned to the Tome¡¯s section on Subsumed. ¡°Hopefully, for the sakes of the fools that wasted their lives for you, this is accurate¡­¡± Niles mused, scanning the first paragraph with its stolen eyes.

    Living Shadows. Skinwalkers. The Night Terrors. The Fair Folk.

    They are the reason why the darkness is so unknown to us. Why we¡¯ve come up with stories of demons, of unfair misery, and how evil is created.

    The Subsumed are creatures of the night. Our forsaken brothers and sisters that refused to move on from the cruelty of this world we¡¯ve found ourselves in.

    Ritualistic and superstitious at their core, they are empowered by a grudge that stretches millennia. A grudge, that they have collectively cast on themselves along with those after. A grudge that calls for causing such terror on humanity, that they will break down, back to the same level these interlopers are.

    Niles scoffed. The description was only true from the standpoint of such an overdramatic perspective. So quick to judge without taking a moment to look at how uncanny they are.

    So tainted by vainglory, they build monuments to their egos on the desolate lands they claim. So gluttonous, they¡¯ve created systems to efficiently harvest their kills, and further prepare their remains to suit their stomachs.

    If Niles¡¯ kind are interlopers, the ¡°victims¡± they prey upon are harbingers laying in wait.

    Subsumed are ¡°born¡± within undisturbed shadows, darkness that hasn¡¯t been broken by light for far too long. They fester within this shade, the heavier, the better for them¡ªand start off as ¡°Novices¡±.

    Novices are the Subsumed at their purest state of being, as well as the most vulnerable. Formless masses that need to lurk within the shadows for their survival. Therefore, take away the shade, and one can easily kill a Novice.

    The one thing¡ªthe most important thing¡ªto keep in mind about these creatures is their singular purpose. Their eternal drive fuels every step, and every action they take. As a result, there are several ¡°Roles¡± within this deathly culture aims for.

    Groundling Subsumed is usually the path every one takes from Novice, though this is not a guarantee. They are, however, the most common Subsumed type one would encounter, likely than not.

    These Subsumed have either gained enough shadow to give themselves a stronger constitution or have joined a brood that gives them the much-needed direction they crave. Either sense, the Subsumed gain a trait, such as fangs or horns, and their entire frame contorts to feed into this trait, becoming so intertwined that the new appendages double as a new identity. These are called ¡°Guises¡±.

    While it is possible to obtain more than one trait, doing this is considered spreading the Subsumed¡¯s chances thin and their luck pressed. Subsumed that do not heed this warning, taking on too much of their brethren¡¯s hides all at once, are christened Chimera Subsumed and are exiles as a result. As this is their first experience with individualism, they are very prideful and protective of these newly gained Guises. These traits inspire entire broods¡¯ social structure. To take away a Groundling¡¯s Guise, you take away their power.

    The Masked-role Subsumed. What common Subsumed aim for, the various monsters and fears we hold as a people, they don as armor. Vampires, Werewolves, Specters, the Undead¡ªthe stories told in the dark, to ward youth away from such, these Subsumed are more often than not the origin.

    After gaining more bulk, and a Guise as a muse, either a sole Subsumed or an entire brood performs a ritual. Using their experience observing, hunting, and/or murdering humans¡ªthe Subsumed extensively ask themselves what these humans truly fear, and what that looks like. Determining the answer, they maim themselves in a painful process to appeal toward the Fates That Be, showing them what they desire to be. Outlining the good, the bad, and the ill¡ªand once the Mask is approved, the Subsumed becomes that Mask.

    Masked Subsumed are purposefully deadly to humans. One must surrender to their unfortunate fate or try to run.  The only vain hope for survival is learning the limitation these demonic beings have placed upon themselves. A Vampire¡¯s weakness of holy, silver being Wolf¡¯s bane. Only then, a Subsumed¡¯s poor constitution will fall inward, and can result in rendering them back to Novice. But they would cause their own death, rather face that reality.

    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    Niles nodded to themselves. The worst indignity. A role of a lifetime cultivated, sometimes with the aid of one¡¯s brood¡ªsimply ripped away due to one human that decided to be smart.

    But there was an odd sense of melancholy, when one¡¯s role ended. No one could truly know if there was more to be done unless it was violently skinned away at the onset. Because, for some of Niles¡¯ kind, there¡¯s this vague and pitiful sentiment of realizing one¡¯s role was merely small. Buying time for the entire kind to keep on, to at least forever ruin one human being, priming them as a vessel for someone else.

    On that note, Niles glanced over to that section.

    There are many ways for the Subsumed to do what their moniker entails. The ¡°classical¡± method merely involves hunting the victim, inflicting grievous wounds for the Subsumed to creep inside of. While their nature as living shadows partially explains how this is possible, the sheer density gained due to their various roles should render this process impossible. It is entirely possible that the Subsumed are keeping the details of this method a secret, to keep this process a harrowing experience.

    Niles smirked in response. And continued reading.

    The next method is more often than not used by desperate novices, the ¡°overshadowing¡± route. Due to humanity¡¯s primal origins, there exists darkness within us all. And this darkness, be it true or metaphorical, raises in response to stress or anger, and in return subtly influences such. The Subsumed take a very risky chance: develop within the darkness of the human victim. If this process works, the Subsumed will instantly be tailored made to destroy their human host, and as a result, bypass all the struggle of ascension to other roles. But once the human overcomes their dark impetuses, the Subsumed will shrink into nothingness. With little chance to reconstitute.

    The last method, ¡°rapport¡±. Combining the mechanics of a Pact, the human and the Subsumed agree to terms by exchanging their essence with one another, and the Subsumed becomes the person¡¯s shadow as a result. From there, the human becomes more like the Subsumed in a gradual transformation. A perfect pathway for the Subsumed in question, until they realize that they¡¯ve become more human as a consequence. This dealing can irreversibly destroy the respective egos of both parties, and due to the wording of the agreement, can result in more damage. But if the Subsumed survives, this ends up a more tactical method to masquerade within human civilization.

    Regardless of the method, it all ends with the Subsumed claiming the role of Vandal. After shattering a human¡¯s soul from the inside out, but having enough remnants to draw from their essence, Vandal Subsumed seeks to undermine humanity¡ªbecoming killers, usurpers, and disrupters. Wearing their victim¡¯s skin to hide in plain sight, and using their memories to act as humans and not let the vast differences between humans and Subsumed take over. But this zeal ends up being too much for some, and as a result, excessive transformation and wane indulgence quickly ruin the suit¡ªkilling the victim for the final time. While this is a loss, the Vandal Subsumed gains a more sapient form¡ªpaired with the experience gained.

    But there have been cases where both the creature and the victim possess overlap, and as a result, reach the unstable equilibrium of a Symbi Subsumed. One cannot tell where the monster ends and the human begins, or vice versa¡ªnot even themselves if the symbiotic relationship is maintained. While a Symbi Subsumed lacks the handicaps of both Subsumed and human, the union can easily thin the moment one side becomes more aware than the other.

    Thus proving despite the species-wide animosity, these shadow demons do covet humanity on some level.

    Despite having a critical distaste at the idea of ever taking over a human¡­ Niles couldn¡¯t help but enjoy the experience. There was just¡­ Something intrinsic to feel the constant onrushing of his being barely being held back. How the human being, with the various tools in their kit¡ªthe wonderful reminders that a Subsumed has, realize that they CAN do this idea they thought impossible.

    And the idea of knowing that this departed soul, what once was a man, would want nothing but have this ¡°interloper¡± not take away what was fundamentally his¡­ It was still hell, Niles couldn¡¯t deny it. But that thought keeps the Subsumed happy, still.

    Keeps the hope alive, wanting to reach the absolute apex and honor that it was robbed of.

    And with that, Niles turned the page. It¡¯s stolen eyes looking at such.

    The Terrorizer. A role so engrossing, every local Subsumed cast aside everything to witness the one who causes Terrortide.

    As the Terrortidings were explained at length in a previous section, along with the history¡ªthis section will delve deeper into the role of the Terrorizer. The Terrorizer becomes a temporary leader of the Subsumed, their word physically becoming law around every shadow Subsumed haunt. Every Subsumed, regardless of their roles, mutilate themselves in the Terrorizer¡¯s visage, erect effigies in their honor, and help spread their physical word across the lands until they have succeeded in amending the grudge that will drive every single one before, now, and after.

    However, their words are under high scrutiny. There are plenty of Subsumed, while obeying the subject of Terrortide¡¯s necessity, will look for any fault in the current Terrorizer. And once that word fails them, the Subsumed will be more than happy to resume their previous roles, as if nothing happened. The legacy of the Terrorizer is quickly forgotten and the debt accrued naturally from the Fates That Be will never let them live down.

    If. Said legacy ended doesn¡¯t end up notable.

    Then the opposite occurs.

    On the grounds of a Terrorizer lives up to their words, extends the tidings through even greater violence, or simply survives the entire existence¡ªthe Subsumed gains the role of a Horror. A legendary role, a Horror becomes their story. As long as their tale is spoken in the dark, the Subsumed will live on as an aberration¡ªappearing as if they were always there, and must perform further actions to keep their story alive. Only a grand few have achieved this, such as Bloody Mary¡ªThe Headless Horseman¡ªDracula. Names heard every generation, no matter how long it¡¯s been.

    Legacy of the highest order.

    Niles couldn¡¯t enjoy the thought. The cursed bell that rang through his stop cut through that serenity.

    ¡°I told you I¡¯d return,¡± Isabella Moses extended her hand towards it. ¡°Now. Hand it over or I will force you.¡±

    ¡°With what strength¡ªyou can barely stand on your own ever since your humiliating phone call,¡± Niles sneered at the monster before her.

    The string-like, tangle of black hair tumbled past her flexing shoulders. Hunched over, despite having a lime green long skirt, one could see the legs under trembling. Her suit top was unbuttoned, showing that her yellow dress shirt clung to the body with sweat. Her glasses crooked, but her stare wasn¡¯t distracted or unmoved.

    ¡°Exactly. You know I have nothing to lose.¡±

    Niles didn¡¯t break its stolen face, kept it stained with pensive confidence. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t. I could end up being unleashed again. You won¡¯t ever end your legacy on such a pathetic loss.¡±

    The Mermaid Consumed squinted her eyes, letting them grow dark. Somehow effective, despite being exhausted.

    ¡°If that gives me a chance to take you with me, then I¡¯ll take the plunge. Now give it to me, our agreement is reached anyways.¡±

    All of this strength, somehow sprung forward despite crippled with such innate weakness. In the face of clear oblivion, yet facing it as if it were a friend.

    Humanity was so¡­ Frustratingly interesting.

    Niles set the book aside. Content with watching, waiting again. He was good at that, it was his purpose for what was countless millennia.

    A Subsumed of Shadows requires such grit.

 Entry 11.0 - Community: A Pact

    The monster eventually came into focus, right in front of Calypso. Tellingly, the fact it remained still brought a more palpable sense of dread than it immediately attacking.

    But as it stood there¡­ Calypso realized that she wasn¡¯t quite ¡°seeing¡± it. In fact, her point of view was this fixed position. The scene around her was hazy, featureless. She wasn¡¯t sure if she was truly ¡°there¡±.

    But the monster was. The Grim Subsumed, the thing that was meant to be dead within her, very much alive.

    Same lurching frame. Same composition, bone that was made whole by decomposing moss and rot. Same melted skull, despite possessing no eyes or lips, the shape of the sockets and how the jaw was barely hanging on gave this frozen expression of agony. Same haggard breathing that never made sense in the first place. But now, Calypso can see that as it subtly rose with the staggered intakes of air, the bones themselves began to swell before thinning.

    Gazing upon the threat almost¡­ Had a hypnotic quality that Calypso couldn¡¯t explain. Luring her in¡­

    ***

    ¡°¡ªPlease Ms. Grimes, stay with me, you have to stay alive this time¡­¡±

    Calypso belted out a hoarse cough, that causing her vision to focus on her professor. Covered in sweat and black blood. Her glasses off, her brow furrowed tensely despite the attempt with the rest of her face to keep still, calm.

    ¡°I need you to listen to me¡ªcan you understand me?¡±

    Calypso tried to nod, and a scream tore through her throat for good measure.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t your fault. I meant¡ªso many things I still have to teach you¡­ You¡¯ve transformed¡ªin quick succession with not enough time in the interim, your halves begin to merge erratically¡ªand this isn¡¯t your fault¡­¡±

    The professor raised Calypso¡¯s arm into her blurry field of vision. It was just a skeletal arm. No flesh, no semblance or sign that it had some hint of life before. And yet it twitched once Calypso tried to move it.

    ¡°This is the worst-case scenario, dear¡­ I¡¯m afraid¡ªI¡¯m afraid I have to tear apart all the longstanding deformities, one by one. Okay? This is going to be painful, but I need you to stay with me so you can heal properly.¡±

    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

    Calypso tried to move her head once more, and immediately grasped the nature of how it hurt like hell. The entire right side of it, whatever state it was in, was digging directly into her human half. Upon listening to her pained pants, she heard the air whistle from her throat, leaving a lot to the imagination.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay dear, it¡¯s going to be okay¡­¡± Mrs. Moses tried her best to soothe her student. ¡°You¡¯re the last one¡ªI¡¯ve already helped Ms. Pratchett and Ms. Noel¡­ You can much faster than them, it¡¯ll be done before you know it¡­¡±

    There was a sickening crackle, that resulted from a vicious tug.

    The last thing Calypso took in was the image of her professor throwing away her skeletal arm.

    ***

    The Grim Subsumed loomed over her. Despite lacking a body in any traditional sense, she felt the haggard breath hitting against her trembling skin. Can feel the malintent radiating from its body.

    It couldn¡¯t speak, probably couldn¡¯t without stealing Calypso¡¯s tongue. But she did hear something. She heard its pleas.

    Give in.

    There¡¯s no point, now.

    You¡¯ve done everything that you could have.

    Now surrender to it. The death you still crave.

    ***

    ¡°¡ªCalypso, please! You¡¯re stronger than this¡ªyou have to keep awake!¡± as Mrs. Moses tore away the skull that grew outside of her head.

    ***

    All Calypso could see was the face of her skeletal demon.

    Isn¡¯t this how you started?

    Laying down¡ªsomeone forcing you to stay?

    Wouldn¡¯t it have been better if you did give up, then?

    Right that wrong. End what has been terrible choice after terrible choice.

    ***

    With trembling fingers, Mrs. Moses forced Calypso¡¯s left eye open by prying the eyelids back. And kept stretching them, trying in vain to keep this horrible process somewhat humane.

    ¡°Forgive me, Calypso.¡±

    A sudden shift to darkness was accompanied by a wet squelch.

    ***

    It was nothing but the empty sockets.

    Face your sad reality. There is nothing but pain and sorrow like this, in your every waking moment.

    Face this truth, so you can finally be free.

    You could even meet her again.

    You could meet your father again.

    Now fall.

    Fall into the lull of the void. And it will embrace you and give you the closure you never had.

    ***

    Calypso found herself in a death grip, instantly tensed as a result.

    But considering the¡­ Warmth, the smell of scented lotions with a twinge of outdoors.

    She didn¡¯t need her eyes to focus, to know that it was her cousin.

    Calypso felt the tears brewing, herself shaking with this surge of relief.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Cal¡­¡± Sal assured her with a wavering joy in her tone. ¡°Yer safe now.¡±

 Entry 11.1 - Community: A Pact

    ¡°I¡¯d advise to be careful still¡­ I-I have no right to impede this personal moment, but I still don¡¯t know how Ms. Calypso¡¯s recovered enough. The other two are still comfortable with phone calls¡ªand still debating about face-to-face conversations downstairs.¡±

    Calypso was glad that her professor gave her enough of a lead, for the role she was about to play. Also didn¡¯t hurt that it was somewhat confirmation that she wasn¡¯t in yet another living nightmare.

    Sal took Mrs. Moses¡¯ words into account as well, gently breaking out of the bear hug to grip her cousin¡¯s shoulders, ¡°Well, let¡¯s put it ta¡¯ the test¡­ Ya¡¯ good, Cal? Feelin¡¯ better, healin¡¯ better after all that mess ya¡¯ managed ta¡¯ wrangle outta¡­?¡±

    Calypso chuckled, closing her eyes to let the excess tears escape from them. ¡°Much better than before. I¡­ I¡¯m just glad that you can finally, y¡¯know¡ªable to see me without issue now¡­¡±

    The skeletal monster girl eyes shot with quick pain, panicking momentarily before realizing Sal just shook her a tad.

    ¡°Isweartogawdcalifyouwerentjusthealin¡¯¡ªWE¡¯RE HAPPY THAT WE CAN SEE YOU, YA¡¯ DUNDER HEAD!¡± Sal laughed, thus adding extra volume to her voice. It made Calypso conflictingly nostalgic.

    While she still grappled Calypso, Sal turned her head towards what the latter assumed was her professor. ¡°An¡¯ we¡¯re grateful that ya¡¯ got yerself a bad-ass teacher that can look out fer us~¡±

    Mrs. Moses¡¯ chuckle was thin and just as performative as Calypso¡¯s, which also made her conflicted on some level.

    ¡°I did what I could in the moment¡ª¡±

    ¡°WHILE STILL IN A WHEELCHAIR¡ªn-no offense with that, I-I-I just wanted ta¡¯, y¡¯know, give ya¡¯ massive props--!¡±

    Mrs. Moses chuckled again, ¡°Props achieved and appreciated, Ms. Sally.¡±

    And before Calypso could process that her deadpan killer professor saying that, Sal quickly snapped her head back, with a grin stretched across her face, if not wavering once again.

    ¡°Maw an¡¯ Paw are right outside the door¡­ T-they good to come in an¡¯ see ya¡¯, or ya¡¯ need more time?¡±

    Calypso forced a smile on her pasty face¡ªor at the very least hope it¡¯s still pasty and sad in the human sense and this just isn¡¯t a dream still. ¡°By all means¡­ I¡¯m¡­ Sure they¡¯ve been worried most of all about me¡ª¡±

    ¡°You¡¯d be wrong~!¡±

    Calypso jumped in her own skin once more, causing Sal to look over at her cousin before Calypso gave a half-hearted, yet indicated bravery, smile. With that falsified confirmation, Sal got up to open the door, giving Calypso the much needed look around.

    A wooden attic. Judging by the furniture that was covered in white tarps¡ªthe cream and seafoam accent work on the walls, this was her professor¡¯s abode again.

    The girl looked over, to see her professor basically sat in the corner and yet gave that so much dignity. In what looked to be a new chair that had a control pad on the left arm,  with a massive cover draped over her shoulders (and surprise: it was seafoam green).

    But what rested on her lap, and where she rested her hands on, was very important.

    She had the Tome. Mrs. Moses traded a quick look at Calypso, a very long nod. Hopefully, as Calypso prepared herself, her professor knew about Melissa still being trapped in there still.

    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    But there wasn¡¯t time to worry about that now, as Artemis Grimes scrolled through the old door first, stepped aside for the massive tower that is Bradley Grimes to slowly adjust and eventually pop his way in.

    ¡°You should¡¯ve seen her, Cal,¡± Artemis¡¯ dry but engaging tone enriched what she was going to say. ¡°I thought we were gonna start buying milk carton ad times after the second day¡ª¡±

    ¡°EXCUUUUSE ME!¡± Sal hollered back at her mother. ¡°Who was the gal that suggested phonin¡¯ up ¡®Unsolved Mysteries¡¯ the hour in--?!¡±

    Artemis raised her arms in response, ¡°Hey! I joke a lot when I¡¯m panicked¡ª!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± Bradley kneeled down before Calypso, chuckling at his family, before turning all attention to his niece. ¡°How ya¡¯ holdin¡¯ up, baby girl¡­?¡±

    ¡°Better, better¡­¡± Calypso nodded her head up and down in quick succession, looking about to further convey the unease she was meant to be feeling. ¡°S-so¡­ It was¡­ How long has it been¡­? It¡¯s just¡ªI-I should know but¡­¡±

    And as soon as Calypso lowered her head, covering her eyes with her dainty hand, she immediately felt Uncle Bradley bring her in, using his incredible might to be as gentle as possible.

    ¡°Hey, hey, hey¡­¡± he assured. ¡°No need to be worryin¡¯ ¡®bout all that now. Yer safe and we have Mrs. Moses to thank to do what she did for ya¡¯ girls¡­¡±

    ¡°I simply did what anyone would,¡± Mrs. Moses answered, matter-of-factly.

    ¡°Woman¡ª¡± Artemis directed her snark at the girl¡¯s professor, ¡°All the people ran for their lives at that god-forsaken hospital¡ªrightfully, honestly! But you managed to pull three traumatized girls out with you and then go for more help without a walker! You¡¯re nothing sort of amazing!¡±

    There it was. Calypso was glad that her face was concealed, her eyes relaxing would¡¯ve given everything away.

    ¡°Bit of embellishment here and there, I might add¡­¡± Mrs. Moses actually sounded meek¡­ And it was oddly adorable. ¡°I¡¯m just beating myself up, over the makeshift first aid I gave them during these four days, there¡¯s no praise deserved for that¡­¡±

    Bradley patted Calypso¡¯s back with his massive hands that felt like he covered the entirety of the upper part, separating and turned towards Moses, ¡°Considerin¡¯ folks know little ta¡¯ none about it at all, yer still a saint.¡±

    ¡°Man, no wonderin¡¯ ya¡¯ look out for Cal¡­¡± Sal crossed her arms, close to the foot of Calypso¡¯s guest bed, but facing Moses as well. ¡°Yer just ¡®bout the same, damn near!¡±

    Calypso quickly felt her side. She knew that she healed that self-stab wound practically centuries ago, but was relieved once she felt a patch under a gown she was wearing. Not a detail was spared.

    Maybe Sal was right in a sense.

    It was Artemis¡¯ turn to ¡°visit¡± Calypso, as the pallid shirt woman got close and kneeled down next to her bed. Her aunt offered her worn and weather hand, and Calypso met it with her small one.

    ¡°I¡¯m just glad you¡¯re safe, kiddo¡­ It was a hard couple of days and¡­ Like fuck, we¡¯re supposed to be looking about for you, I¡¯m so sorry that we basically suck at our jobs and you¡¯ve been having such a shitty time here¡­¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t cause any of this¡­¡± Calypso felt her voice croak and rumble in her throat. Good that her guilt still worked, she needed actual emotion for these next lines. ¡°You couldn¡¯t have anticipated any of this¡­ I¡¯m just. I¡¯m just cursed¡­¡±

    Artemis quickly squeezed Calypso¡¯s hand. ¡°Hey. I¡¯ve dealt with your mother in the past whenever she acted like this¡ªif you thought Sal never letting go was bad¡­¡±

    Calypso giggled, if not with strain. Over the ambiance of Sal groaning with her head rolled back, almost Charlie Brown-equse.

    Though, Calypso ended up stopping. Not only did Artemis¡¯ face shifted downcast, she sensed the build-up of emotions brimming to the surface.

    ¡°That¡¯s why¡­ She¡¯s um. She¡¯s coming up here¡ªmaybe tomorrow or the next day. I had to call her, tell her what happened to you once we finally figured it out, y¡¯know? Not just to make sure you¡¯re okay but¡­ Your decision to pull out of this or not. Your choice.¡±

    It was odd, whenever Calypso felt the full brunt of emotion. This was such a crush, it caused her own head to physically lowered, while still looking at Artemis. It was hard for her eyes to focus on her.

    ¡°I¡­ I see,¡± Calypso gulped silently, and gritted her teeth briefly. ¡°Bu-but, it¡¯s only a couple of hours away, why the delay¡­?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re figgerin¡¯ that there¡¯s gonna be curfew enacted,¡± Bradley stepped into frame, behind his wife. ¡°We won¡¯t know fer sure until the Town Hall meetin¡¯ comes on, but things¡¯ve been so tense lately that it¡¯s a matter of time.¡±

    ¡°Speaking of such¡­¡± Mrs. Moses pulled out a fob watch, looking at it before shutting it closed. ¡°It¡¯ll be on in a few minutes. Let¡¯s all watch it and plan what¡¯s next for us, hm?¡±

    ***

 Entry 11.2 - Community: A Pact

    ¡°Baaah-dum-da-duuum, bah-dun-da-duuuuun~!¡±

    ¡°I swear to God, Sally, I will wiggle out of this hold¡­¡±

    Sal smirked as she bridal carried her cousin down the stairs, ¡°Fine, gimme the ring back¡ª"

    ¡°Proceeding to waggle¡ª¡± Calypso was actually tempted to follow through with it.

    The duo were closer and closer to the bottom of the carpeted stairs and the slightly boxed-in stairwell. Not because of the ¡°intentional¡± design, but due to the lift system that Mrs. Moses needed to the right of them, the railing being noticeably thick.

    Sal was still smirking with no signs of exhaustion yet. It was times like these, despite looking like a model, that Calypso was reminded of how strong her cousin was, ¡°Either way, I¡¯m gonna finally embarrass ya¡¯ in front of yer new friends~¡±

    That immediately gave Calypso pause¡ªfor a number of reasons. Sure, the girls have rapport now, but now there¡¯s three levels of acting that needed to be achieved. Acting like it wasn¡¯t just weeks since they¡¯ve all met, acting like Calypso sneaking out was really bonding with them, and the present scenario of all being scarred from this tragedy. All of that while keeping the story straight.

    And the fact that ¡°friend¡±, Calypso being eligible for such an honor, she didn¡¯t feel like it was just. One girl is just too nice for her own good, the other she bullied and gave more reason for her to hate the world. Sure. That¡¯s worthy to be included with others.

    But it didn¡¯t matter, as Sal reached the living room area, gently placing Calypso onto her feet. Allowing her to scan the room.

    Mrs. Moses was at a very puffy chair, must¡¯ve been her personal one. Before the massive TV set that stretched across the rug that damn near covered the oak flooring. Her wheelchair behind her loveseat, with Bradley standing beside her, implying that he helped her into it.

    On the couch, Gale and Natalie sat at the opposite ends. Gale immediately waved at Calypso and Sal, while Natalie had both arms draped across the backrest. Craned her head towards the cousins.

    ¡°Griiiiimes,¡± Natalie greeted¡­ Or Calypso took that as one.

    This is the first time Calypso had a proper look at her¡­ A messy, ash-colored pixie cut with her bangs all over the place, goggles rested on the top of her head. She had a face that was cute, soft, as if she¡¯s never walked outside a day of her life, which contrasted heavily with her lowered, weary blue eyes. And to tie the image together, she was one of the types that had their lips parted in idle, showcasing her pearly top row of teeth. It almost could be interpreted as her eternally frowning.

    Calypso smiled, walking toward the couch. ¡°Glad to see that you¡¯re doing better, Natty¡­¡±

    If Calypso could wince, she would¡¯ve. But she couldn¡¯t stop, and proceeded to plant herself between Gale and Natalie, much closer to Natalie. ¡°You were the worst off, after all¡­¡±

    ¡°Thaaat I was¡­¡± Natalie moved her right arm off the backset, placing it on her lap. Her slight mouth gap disappeared whenever she spoke. ¡°But it takes a lot to bring ol¡¯ Natalie Noel down¡ªwell, nothing too different from a regular human¡ª¡±

    It was so interesting¡­ Not only having a face to contextualize these painful lines, but her eyes. How they squint, how they suddenly shoot open as she changed speeds. It was almost inspiring.

    Calypso realized why she often has people instantly sniff out her brand of deception or deduction. Which, she thought to herself, will prove wonderful as she tries to lie her ass off.

    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ¡°On that note, I should beat ya¡¯ up, Cal!¡± Gale chirped. Even her threats have this cheerful tint to them, despite Calypso instantly turning toward her. ¡°You should¡¯ve told me that your cousin¡¯s, like, one of the most gorgeous girls I¡¯ve ever met, I¡¯ve seen her all over campus--!¡±

    Cue Sal hopping from behind the backset and landing in the available gap between Gale and Calypso, causing Calypso to stiffen in place, but forward this time.

    ¡°Shucks~¡± Sal adjusted her cap, before nestling in further. ¡°Me bein¡¯ hot is old news; yer both a cutie an¡¯ yer nice¡ªthat¡¯s a-dime-a-dozen!¡±

    Gale giggled in response, ¡°Thanks¡ªbiggest compliment coming from you! We have to talk about deets once this news thing is over¡ªI gotta know how you pull those outfits off!¡±

    All Calypso heard was, ¡°Makin¡¯ what ya¡¯ got work, is all it is~¡± from Sal, before Natalie softly nudged her, watching her lean in.

    ¡°This broadcast is looking to be very serious,¡± Natalie let her tone crackle as a result of talking so low. ¡°We have to assume everyone is watching¡­ This is going to affect everyone¡¯s schedules, one way or another.¡±

    Thinking fast, Calypso lightly shoved Natalie with a curt giggle. ¡°Okay, okay, loud and clear, you~¡± Thankfully, Natalie quickly caught on, overdramatically falling onto her side with a neutral expression.

    ¡°Y¡¯all trendy gals talkin¡¯ shit over there~?¡± Sal joked with a grin and lowered eyes.

    ¡°I was not only defending your honor but not saying you¡¯re valley girls AND pointing out that I care about fashion as well~¡± Calypso put a hand on her chest.

    ¡°Aw yeah, the ¡®I look like I¡¯m goin¡¯ to school every day¡¯ style¡ª¡± Sal snarked, with her grin growing wider.

    ¡°I have jackets and stuff, too--!¡± Calypso pouted vocally, somehow.

    ¡°Now now, girls¡ª¡± Artemis came from the kitchen area, and proceeded to lean in on the backset of the couch with arms outstretched. ¡°You¡¯re both pretty¡ªlet¡¯s act like adults and watch the town hall now~¡±

    Mrs. Moses grabbed the remote, flicking the TV on with a low hum.

    It took a while for the program to start on the local news station. Talking heads chattering about what could be said, before giving their actual opinions to evaporate their grounds of neutrality. Enduring such pain for the odd 10 minutes or so.

    But the image of the screen eventually changed, broadcasting the main event.

    A simple stage and podium, the mayor flanked with guards on both sides and an aide behind him. He was a balding man, the last of his ginger hair crested the back and sides of his shining dome. A suit that was far too box-y and starch-y to have been worn regularly. As if this was a suit he was ¡°meant¡± to be wearing because that¡¯s what ¡°leaders¡± do.

    Which inspired so much confidence in Calypso. She was practically brimming with such, as she tried to withhold an uneased sigh.

    ¡°These have been¡­ Such terrifically horrible days we had to face as a town¡ª¡± Mayor Huntington¡¯s name flashed under him during the broadcast. ¡°Terrifically meaning the immense weight of such¡­ Tragedies, of course¡ª¡±

    It was so fundamentally clear that he was reciting a speech he didn¡¯t draft, that even ¡°normal¡± people that didn¡¯t pay attention to these things could see it.

    Huntington adjusted and breathed out quickly, ¡°The Fire of Trey Wilson Hospital carries with it a toll of 20 people¡­ Not counting the unfortunate souls that were taken off their various life support and were later found in the wreckage. This included a student of Stanton University, who fell into a coma after a merciless beaten that turned out to be connected to these heinous plots.¡±

    Calypso wished that were true on some level. But she had to live with that guilt.

    ¡°I will¡­ Spare everyone from the grizzly details, because that¡¯s what these monsters want,¡± Mayor Huntington adjusted once more, glanced up at the crowd as the various cameras flashed. ¡°I will not stand here and give these creeps the spotlight they crave. This is our 250<sup>th</sup> anniversary. This is our town. And in our years as a community, we have faced the worst and emerged better than ever!¡±

    Huntington pumped his fist, before realizing that this was meant to be serious.

    ¡°T-that said¡­ We¡¯ve decided, out of both taste and security, that we will be post-phoning our Founding Festivities, including the Fall Formal that was supposed to happen in a matter of days, until the Winter months. We need time to recover, to heal from these wounds. And¡ªjust for good measure, we will be issuing a 9 PM curfew until further notice. The perpetrators have evaded justice, and us getting help from our neighbors will ensure that they will be caught. But until then, stay safe with your families and friends. At the end of the day, we¡¯re still celebrating what a community¡ª¡±

    There were sudden screams that cut through not only the TV, but through the tension of the hall itself.

    The guards immediately got Huntington and his aide away, ushering them. The camera crew scrambled to capture what was happening¡­

    It wasn¡¯t an attack.

    But a number of the crowd that was in the hall¡­ Screaming. Screaming bloody murder, holding their heads, shaking them as if they were in Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

    Calypso¡¯s expression tightened. Natalie was right after all.

    Cassie was not pleased.

 Entry 11.3 (1/2) - Community: A Pact

    ¡°¡ªThat was¡ªI¡ªI¡¯m not even sure what that was!¡± the lady reporter¡¯s blonde fringe had to be adjusted with her slightly trembling fingers. But she turned to the camera, regaining her composure. ¡°We have just seen most of the crowd at the town hall scream bloody murder at Mayor Huntington¡¯s declaration¡ªpostponing the 250<sup>th</sup> Founding Festivities and establishing a 9 PM curfew until further notice. Surely, I¡¯m not the only one that¡¯s not seeing this, right--?!¡±

    ¡°And wh-wha-what¡¯s currently happening right now, Cindy?¡± there was a cut back to the newsroom, as the old male anchor with platinum white hair turned towards the ¡°screen¡± that featured Cindy the reporter.

    Cindy then turned, still trying in vain to straighten her fringe just right as she looked ¡°offscreen¡±.

    ¡°Thankfully, we¡¯re parked as far away as possible from this s¡ªOkay, this just in,¡± Cindy turned back to the camera. ¡°The major has been escorted safely away from the premises, and law enforcement has arrived on the scene. No signs of a riot or violence breaking out so far. Only¡­ Some screaming and¡ª¡± She pressed her earpiece in, making a confused face, ¡°W-whimpering, live reports say¡ªNearly in tears, folks!¡±

    ¡°Clearly, there¡¯s some ties here¡ª¡± the other news anchor briefly appeared as they cut back to the studio, one could barely make out her features in time.

    ¡°Finally, now we¡¯re speaking the same language now!¡± Cindy didn¡¯t just cut her co-worker off, but she talked over here as she agreed with her. ¡°Sprees of social unrest¡ªclear evidence of multiple people being in on these bouts of ultra-violence¡ªand now once the party¡¯s over, we have most of the audience wailing out?! I¡¯m sorry, but until we get more updates about this pending situation¡ª¡±

    Cindy angled the hand with which she held her mic downward, freeing her index to point. This signaled an infographic to be hastily bumped onto the live broadcast: ¡°Cindy Robinson¡¯s Cutting Commentary¡± flashed with bold-faced, 3D lettering that was dual-toned red and yellow, with a miniature cartoon caricature of the woman leaned forward on the side of it. Same white suit with black undershirt, same blonde hair done up in a bun that rose from the back of her head with a sweeping fringe, and same makeup-covered, self-righteous scowl. A two-framed animation of her stomping her foot with her hands on her hips to tie it all off.

    ¡°¡ªBut you can¡¯t refute any of that! Not one bit! This confirms that we¡¯ve been invaded by freaks¡ªor at the very least, turns out our next-door neighbors have been freaks under our own noses! Our children trusted people that wanted to massacre them! Whatever this is¡ªcult, some new-fangled belief, the internet¡ªour actions can¡¯t just stop at curfews. Once we wrangle up these freaks, we get them to out anyone that managed to wrangle out of our eyes by hiding in plain sight! And keep going until we are safe again!¡±

    Good thing these self-absorbed people kept prattling on. Because it filled the dreadful dead air that caked Mrs. Moses'' living room.

    Calypso was afraid to turn her head. She prayed that her stoney face was frozen in this moment, because she knew that her heart was pounding so visibly, that her vision started to waver.

    Nevertheless, she glanced at Uncle Bradley, then to Moses, and the faintest read of Natalie on her side.

    Bradley was looking directly at the broadcast, his hands not just on his hips, but they were gripping at them. He was always such a warm, above-it-all type, so to see his face fraught with stoic unease made Calypso¡¯s stomach turn.

    Mrs. Moses in turn had her hands rested on the Tome, occasionally drumming her fingers against the living leather. Looking downward, her glasses reflected the light--rendering her eyes unreadable, but her brow was scrunched in¡­ Rueful contemplation. Surely she was running through the various scenarios that were about to happen in an hour or so.

    Natalie had her hand over her mouth. Not in shock, but resting in a way that indicated¡­ Intrigue? Her eyes squinted, she seemed impatient¡ªmaybe wanting the bores to be done with their yammering to get a new update? Calypso wanted to nudge her, to make her quit being so obvious, but clearly¡ªfate had other plans.

    ¡°That does it¡ª¡± Bradley stopped, turned towards the couch¡ªbasically everyone else in the room besides him and Moses. ¡°I know it¡¯s 7 now, but we¡¯re havin¡¯ an improv sleepover startin¡¯ now. Ya¡¯ll girls bunch up in the attic ¡®til sunrise an¡¯ only leavin¡¯ ta¡¯ take care of things and yerselves¡ªnobody ain¡¯t leaving the house unless absolutely necessary.¡±

    He turned towards Moses, ¡°Sorry fer not askin¡¯ first, but I¡¯m sure that yer good with all that?¡±

    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

    Mrs. Moses only nodded, shaken. Calypso was more distressed at this being the cover or real or not.

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m calling Penny right now and telling her to bunk at a Motel 6 or something¡ª¡± Artemis was just in earshot of the skeletal monster girl. Which surprised her, because she was going a mile a minute, at least Natalie was intelligible. ¡°Can already hear her now¡ª¡®They smell of depravity and ruined futures¡¯¡ªwell, there¡¯s screaming serial killers on the loose: at least we were raised to handle shady fuckers. Oh my god, why is this happening¡ªwhy the fuck is this happening all of a¡­¡±

    Calypso had that thought echo within her fervent mind as well. Even if Moses provided an alibi or method of escape, at least Gale and her still haven¡¯t conquered their transformations enough to hold them back. The skeletal monster girl only had the clue Richard told Natalie¡ªhow she was gifted with transformation, but from such language it seemed to veer into ¡°you transform faster than usual¡±. But it wasn¡¯t like they could openly talk about it or the hell that seemed to be directly coming from them.

    Surrounded. Calypso was completely surrounded. By her enemies. By her loved ones. By the Fates That Be, that seem to favor screwing her by any means necessary.

    As she gritted her teeth, she let a pained breath escape from them, her body tensed in a jerk. Once again, using her faint but raw emotional surges to her advantage.

    ¡°It¡¯s happening again¡­¡± Calypso just covered her face, for an added bonus. ¡°OH GOD, IT¡¯S HAPPENING AGAIN--!¡±

    She got up, ran forward towards where Moses was, and luckily enough, landed where she was. ¡°Burying¡± her face into her professor¡¯s chest.

    She heard the flurry of comments. Bradley urging Sal to turn the TV off, Artemis asking what¡¯s going on now¡ªand while the fact she couldn¡¯t hear her normally loud cousin was a massive problem¡ªshe heard the voice she needed in that moment.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure that you understand how bad this is turning out,¡± Mrs. Moses whispered to her student. ¡°For now, we wait and we see. Hopefully, when they¡¯re all tired, we assess the situation. But until then, bring forth your gemstone. Keep it close, in your hands. All of the surge of wicked energy that takes you over? Pour it into the stone. Tell the others this and keep the fa?ade. They need it right now.¡±

    ***

    ¡°Al¡¯ight girls¡ªnow that the adults are all gone down the stairs an¡¯ whatnot¡ªwe can do whatever we want! Truth or Dare¡ªSpin the Bottle¡ªwe can even talk ¡®bout boooooys~!¡±

    Calypso could already note how much Sal was pushing back, by getting loud¡ªby pouring her everything into her energy, normally so far¡­ But due to being in a wooden, boxed-in room, it made the stress, anger, and fear almost tangible.

    The place wasn¡¯t the best, because it kinda wasn¡¯t meant to. The girls were all sitting on the pull-out bed that was hooked up to the wall where the window sill hovered above, giving one a quaint look into the night¡¯s skies. Most of the room was covered in tacky tarps because they would¡¯ve been thrown away sheets if Mrs. Moses wanted to¡ªfloral patterned, and still had fragments of dust. The wood itself, while painted to be¡ªof course¡ªseafoam green, but the coat was withering away. Two wide chests framed themselves on each side of the bed and a navy carpet that barely covered the rough floorboards.

    ¡°I mean,¡± Sal cut herself off as she suddenly chuckled, as if she herself couldn¡¯t believe that she was continuing this fa?ade. ¡°This is basically the Four Seasons, eh¡ªThe penthouse suite! We can be ¡®Gals Gone Wild¡¯--!¡±

    ¡°Sally¡­¡± Calypso sounded strained. And it wasn¡¯t an act.

    ¡°What¡¯s up Cally? You only just nearly died an¡¯ all! Simply the best for ya¡¯, spare no expense--!¡±

    ¡°Sally. Please¡­¡±

    ¡°¡ªQuick thinkin¡¯ is all it is! Quick thinkin¡¯, an¡¯ foresight an¡¯¡ªjust¡ªwhat the fuck are they thinkin¡¯, man?!¡±

    Gale whimpered audibly, while Natalie did a mix of a wince and a jump. But Calypso remained resolute. Aching from the inside, but stoic in the face of this anger.

    After all. She had practice weathering anger. Quickly glanced down at her gemstone, rubbing the red gash that was in the middle of it.

    ¡°Keepin¡¯ us safe by havin¡¯ us on the top floor so we can climb on the rooftop or somethin¡¯ other¡ªsure! Fine!¡± Sal had to pant in between her rant, adjusting her worn hat and brushing hair from her face as she kept turning about. ¡°¡ªBut don¡¯t they understand that we should be together?! That we¡¯re scared?! Actin¡¯ like heroes an¡¯¡ªan¡¯ actin¡¯ like we can¡¯t just talk or somethin¡¯ about this! It¡¯s just--!¡±

    Calypso grabbed her cousin¡¯s shoulder with her free hand. ¡°Sally.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you ¡®Sally¡¯ me¡ªlike they did¡ª¡±

    ¡°And I¡¯m not going to do that like they did. We¡¯re talking¡ªwe¡¯re talking, right? That¡¯s already a plus with your rules. And not only that¡­ Had this been me having a breakdown, you¡¯ll flurry all your words of encouragement to get me to calm myself. Shoe¡¯s on the other foot and I¡¯m doing it to you, so suck it.¡±

    Calypso flashed her lazy, smug smile at Sal. The latter sighed, in defeat.

    ¡°Dangnabbit¡­¡± Sal crossed her arms, pouting not unlike Calypso would. ¡°Taste of my own medicine¡¯s dookie¡ªstraight dookie¡ª¡±

    ¡°Oh my god¡­¡±

    Both cousins turned their gaze at a stunned Gale, more or less in sync.

    ¡°You really are cousins¡­¡± Gale laughed after, shaking her head. ¡°Right down to using the same words, dude¡­¡±

    ¡°Yeeeeah, I thought I remembered her saying that a day ago,¡± Natalie joined into the conversation with a sideways smile.

    Calypso saw the opportunity pressed, and shook her head, rubbing the back of it. ¡°Like I told you guys¡­ We¡¯re practically sisters. She knows me and I know her, better than both our parents on some level¡­ I literally wouldn¡¯t be halfway tolerable if it wasn¡¯t for her slapping me and forcing me to give up... Some of my melodramatic tendencies. A miracle worker, in every sense of the term. That¡¯s all¡­¡±

    Sal took a pregnant pause, looking toward her cousin. With a relaxed puff, forming a small smile, and moved about to bring her left leg in so she could hold it.

 Entry 11.3 (2/2) - Community: A Pact

    ¡°At least spill the beans¡ªwhat was Cal¡¯s moment she totally ¡®Calypso¡¯d¡¯--?¡±

    ¡°I literally reach into the depths of my black heart¡ªand you spit in my face¡ª¡± Calypso squinted, unassumed with Sal, as the latter chuckled lowly.

    ¡°You¡¯re probably familiar¡­¡± Natalie gestured towards Sal. ¡°Makes a smug statement¡ªcue karma rushing in like a freight train¡ªand Gale of all people calls her out. Out of respect for our friendship and¡ªwell, my ribcage since she¡¯s right next to me¡ªI¡¯ll keep it as vague as that~¡±

    Calypso squinted at Natalie. The squints that defined their previous, heated relationship¡ªas Gale giggled in the background.

    ¡°You, like¡­¡± Gale waved her head, Calypso could see her trying to find the words. ¡°Joked about it, but I¡¯d be soooo down for Truth or Dare. I¡¯ll get to find out so many things about her from you. Maybe the source of all that meanie energy so I can make it better¡ª"

    ¡°Cal is the most saddest mean girl I¡¯ve ever met~¡± Sal smirked as she finished the line.

    ¡°And yet I haven¡¯t made fun or put any of you on trial how you are right now--!¡± Calypso couldn¡¯t help but whine undignified.

    ¡°So mean¡ª¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re meaner! You used to yell and pick fights with people--!¡±

    ¡°So meeeeeeean~! And yet I never judged nobody like ya¡¯ do,¡± Sal purred practically, toying with her prey. ¡°I never judged nobody havin¡¯ a phone--!¡±

    ¡°OH MY GOD!¡± Gale raised her hands into the air, before directing them towards Sal. "Please, we only just met and all, but surely you have the backstory for that, right--?!¡±

    ¡°Wait hold the phone¡ª¡± Natalie then dope slapped herself for the pun. ¡°¡ªBut you¡ªCal, you¡¯re telling me you don¡¯t have a phone--?¡±

    ¡°Look you vultures¡ª¡± Calypso was exasperated, clutching her head in semi-genuine, but put-upon disbelief that this was happening. ¡°Just give me the floor for TEN SECONDS!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m countin¡¯ in my head~¡± Sal chirped, putting her hands behind her head.

    Calypso looked about, as the trio stared back, before sighing.

    ¡°I just¡ªtruly an advancement of technology, has made our society more connected, legitimate tool¡­ But I¡¯m just. Waiting for the pop culture zeal to die down at the very least, so they can be not just commonplace, but BORING. Something that just works and I don¡¯t have to use it as some status symbol--!¡±

    ¡°Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrriiiing~¡±

    ¡°sally, I¡¯m gonna strangle you¡ª¡± Calypso dejectedly said, knowing that she still wins regardless.

    ¡°Why wait until they¡¯re boring, Cal?!¡± Gale earnestly argued, even that was still goodhearted. ¡°Especially when there¡¯s an iPhone now! A-and like, it¡¯s gonna get to a point where you can put music on that too--!¡±

    ¡°I just need the thing to call people, Gale!¡± Calypso waved her arms about. ¡°No futurist touchpads and ''apps''¡ªthe only way I¡¯d be remotely interested is if they put entire books on there¡ªand the kind of books I read, which I assure you, will never happen¡ª!¡±

    Sal was just evilly chuckling away, now arms crossed with her head thrown back to highlight the bombastic nature of it.

    Calypso turned to Natalie, who had her entire face leaned into her palm, before snapping back.

    ¡°Look¡ª¡± she casually dug into her pocket, pulling out a phone¡ªa small, flat one at that. Coated in black with red trimming that even extended to the keyboard. ¡°You¡¯re the new owner of Natalie¡¯s Spare Phone Pocket¡­ Wonder Emporium¡ª¡±

    ¡°Woah!¡± Sal corrected herself, looking at Natalie. ¡°I know yer daddy¡¯s the rental car owner, but ya¡¯ got yerself two phones like that?¡±

    ¡°Hey. I¡¯m a vapid teenage girl¡ªI rightfully begged for this second phone and I¡¯ll beg again claiming that I lost it but hey don¡¯t can the plan and stuff¡ªthis isn¡¯t totally sketchy or anything¡ªand neither is the fact I wanted a second phone to begin with, no I don¡¯t want you to use your phone to call the police over¡ªI won''t tell you where the bodies are¡ª¡±

    Calypso burst into laughter. Despite it being short and concise, it brought a smile to her face.

    ¡°Yep,¡± Sal gave an unimpressed look, but her bemused smile offset the negative connotations. ¡°I thought ya¡¯ were pretty levelheaded an¡¯ responsible¡ªnow I know why ya¡¯ friends with Cally.¡±

    Sal proceeded to point at Gale, ¡°I like you way more than I already have: you keep these knuckleheads honest~¡±

    Gale sheepishly laughed, while rubbing the back of her neck. ¡°I¡¯m just a gal~ If anything, they make me¡­ Not useless. But they can only help but so much with that¡ª"

    ¡°Ah-ah-ah. None of that¡ªyer the only light in here an¡¯ I won¡¯t let ya¡¯ blow yerself out. In fact, we promise to trade style secrets, yeah~?¡±

    Gale proceeded to squee while clapping her hands.

    ¡°And on that note¡­¡± Natalie quickly threw an arm around Calypso, smiling wearily. ¡°I¡¯m gonna show her how the devil machine isn¡¯t gonna steal her soul¡ªthat and showing her the number and stuff.¡±

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    ¡°Doin¡¯ God¡¯s work, Ms. Noel,¡± Sal saluted before turning her full attention to Gale.

    Natalie quickly snapped back to her spot again, tossing Calypso the second phone as she pulled out her main one.

    Somehow, her typing was faster than her talking speed¡ªhitting the last key in the space of Calypso blinking at her in confusion four times.

    The phone buzzed in Calypso¡¯s small palm, pressing the buttons to view the text message.

    There¡¯s no way Cassie died in that right?

    Calypso wanted to take Natalie by the shoulders and kiss her cheek. She was such an evil genius in stealth and common sense.

    Calypso hunched over to chip away at her new phone. Trying to withhold the sigh, which admittedly added to the bit that Natalie set up. But eventually, she send her response. Thus, began their thread.

    No way. It¡¯s practically impossible. But the way the Subsumed screamed is very suspect.

    Maybe sympathy pain for not reaching the deadline? At their new leader failing?

    Wow you type how you talk it¡¯s kind of amazing

    But to the matter @ hand maybe? It just seems too easy for me

    It is. But I can¡¯t really rack my brain at what it could possibly be.

    Has she ever talked with you about the plan?

    I was basically a contractor all but in name, dude

    She found me in the woods when I was desperate and had to do my thang of being a bitch to survive and all that

    She seems to have a habit of doing that¡­

    Finding Consumed and/or Subsumed to do her bidding, I mean.

    Regardless, if Scarecrow boy is right, the Fates or whatever aren¡¯t happy with her fucking up

    so maybe

    Fate said ¡°anyone that was in league with her, you¡¯re done¡±?

    True¡­ But she would never take that lying down.

    Like you said. It¡¯s too easy and we all feel the dread.

    Somethin

    Calypso couldn¡¯t complete the text, because her body was suddenly on fire.

    Dropping the phone into her lap, she hugged herself. Did a quick glance at the window, to see the night has finally settled in.

    She clutched her gemstone. Doing what Moses instructed¡­ Feeling the pain¡ªdespite not having much choice in the matter¡­ And channeling it into the gem.

    And after those agonized seconds, the flames began to dissipate. Calypso could feel the ache being raked away, down into her arm, and her gemstone oddly heavier.

    Now that she had the ability to move again, she looked toward Gale and Natalie. Gale of course tried to laugh it away, holding her necklace that hung in front of her, while Natalie lifted her face from her hands, wearing her trademark goggles¡­ Which, one of the lenses was brighter than the other.

    ¡°¡­The hell happened to y¡¯all?¡±

    Calypso turned to Sal. All that relief from the heaviness she just thrown away, not only returned but added 20 more years to her face.

    The skeletal monster girl looked downwards. ¡°Still get occasional aches and pains¡­ And it¡¯s uh. Most of it at least is born from our sick minds. That¡¯s right, I found other people that are just as mentally compromised as I am. I¡¯m sure it all makes further sense now, I guess¡­¡±

    Sal pulled Calypso into a one-armed hug, ¡°Jesus, Cal¡­ Ya¡¯ been in not one, but TWO terrible events in ya¡¯ like. Three, really. I-I know I¡¯m hard an¡¯ make fun of ya¡¯¡­ But that¡¯s only because ya¡¯ need some fire in ya¡¯ life. Ta¡¯ remind yerself that hey, yer allowed to laugh an¡¯ be mad an¡¯¡ªbe alive. It ain¡¯t a sin fer ya¡¯ to be alive¡­¡±

    It was Calypso¡¯s turn to take her pause. Crushed under the greatness of her family.

    ¡°An¡¯ that goes for y¡¯all too!¡± Sal pointed at both Gale and Natalie. ¡°Ya¡¯ look after her, meanin¡¯ I look after y¡¯all! Them¡¯s the breaks an¡¯ the rules!¡±

    ¡°We wouldn¡¯t have it any other way!¡± Gale chirped, opening an eye she had closed due to the pain.

    Sal laughed heartily, squeezing Calypso tight, as the latter silently remarked upon her. Seemingly able to push through and summon the energy she needed at the moment, despite being the one that has a ¡°darkness infection¡±. Able to push through anything¡­

    What was stopping Calypso from having a heart-to-heart? To ask her cousin herself, to get a conversation going¡ªto stall as she not only keeps her transformation at bay, but gain a new way to hold it back?

    It was only her. All she had to do was¡­ For once in her life, to be honest.

    But she felt Sal let go of her.

    ¡°¡­By God,¡± Sal said. ¡°W-what¡¯s all that¡­?¡±

    Calypso turned her head towards the open, for her eyes to widen at the sight.

    Crimson, dark, and blood-red archaic ¡°words¡± brewed within the dark skies like lightning.

    The skeletal monster girl¡¯s heart fell into her gut once she remembered where she saw the phenomenon the first time.

    Then the runes began to swirl above Willow Reverie. Turning into a maelstrom of building energy, before the terrifying shape broke apart, with the runes arching across the town, raining down with bolts.

    Calypso only had a few seconds to force Sal onto the ground, as one of the arches propelled itself straight onto the roof.

    The duo fell onto the floor, Calypso breathing a quick sigh of relief as she heard an ¡°eep!¡± after a series of two thuds.

    But she couldn¡¯t stew in the relief for long. With a burning flash, she watched the entire attic transform. The paint molded and rotted away. The wood swelled with infection and splintered due to the weight of such. The already snug space bent in such a way to increase the limited space, as the sheets turned a deep yellow as if decades have passed.

    ¡°W¡­What¡¯s¡ªWhat on God¡¯s green Earth¡­?¡± Sal sounded so shaken. So lost.

    Only for impish cackling to answer her.

    The long, deep shadows from the corners slid out before the girls. Writhing, tensing, taking shape before becoming vague silhouettes of what could be generously called humanoid. Four of them, surrounded the girls.

    They broke their heads apart to smile wickedly.

    ¡°Finally finally finally!¡± one of the Subsumed chirped.

    ¡°No more pointless talk!¡± the other finished the previous thoughts.

    ¡°We get what we came for! Violence! Violence and flesh!¡± another spoke out.

    Sal hugged Calypso. She could barely hold her, due to the trembling she was doing.

    ¡°I¡¯m gonn¡ª¡± Sal tried to swallow as she leaned in. ¡°We¡¯re gonna make a break for it, get the hell outta here. I¡¯m gonna make sure y¡¯all get out of here. Ya¡¯ here me, Cal? Cally--?¡±

    It was too late.

    It was just too late.

    Calypso yanked herself away with speeds and strength her cousin could barely imagine her performing. But was overwhelmed with so much pain, she could crawl away a few feet on her hands and knees, before the bones exploded from her frame.

    Screaming. Tearfully screaming. But the screeches from the gemstone drowned her out over time.

    That meek frame became fuller, and vicious. Muscles tore themselves apart, only to reform much thicker than before. Her spine not only shot out of her back but forced her to keep growing until it was done morphing. The spikes that were erected from said pulsating flesh connected to form armor that highlighted how monstrous and drastic this change was. Short, neat brown hair became a wild magenta mane and pasty skin became rose pink.

    Calypso as Sal Grimes knew her was no more, as she radiated steam while she breathed heavily.

    All Calypso could do at that moment, was look back at her with crimson tears streaming down her mournful face.

    But looked back¡­ Was a thousand-yard stare. Paired with a misshapen smile, mouth agape, with a brow that was formed in fear.

    The unbreakable Sally was finally undone.

    Calypso just hung her head forward, shaking it with such a bitter, coarse chuckle.

    ¡°You fucks couldn¡¯t let me be happy¡­¡± the monster growled from the base of her soul. Not talking about the dead Subsumed before her.

 Entry 11.4 - Community: A Pact

    ¡°WE WERE IN THE PRESENCE OF CONSUMED HUMANS?!¡± One of the pitiful shadow monsters exclaimed, turned to the others. ¡°I THOUG¡ª¡±

    Calypso didn¡¯t allow the Subsumed to finish said thought. She had bolted forward, maw open wide, clamped down and ripped its throat from its body.

    The being only had the briefest moments to writhe and stiffen once it hit the ground, but quickly became just a body, nothing more with a final splat on the wood.

    The two closest to the remains of their fallen brother didn¡¯t have time to avenge, let alone gawk at the scenario they found themselves trapped in. Calypso plunged both of her claws directly into the head-shape of the one on the left and yanked it downward, slammed her spiked-laced knee. Which bored a sizable chuck of the head deep within itself.

    There wasn¡¯t much fight left in the monster, once again.

    Calypso could barely hear the conversation that happened around her. The sickening squelch of her claws that ripped away the caved-in head was far too loud, along with the heavy splatter that followed soon after.

    Her movements her lackadaisical, slack, as she turned toward the sounds of shouting that grew louder. The girl¡¯s face was heavy as it sank off the skull. Her eyes remained downward for a second, before she trained them toward the source.

    So, when that gaze turned razor-sharp with anger, the difference was stark.

    The last two Subsumed. One of them had the gall to puff itself up, extended its entire frame with spindly arms arched just as wide forward, to protect the trembling puddle behind it.

    She felt her jaw clench tight. Her muscles bulge as her spine constricted her into a feral hunch. She felt the nagging stress her body was telling her she was under, now felt how taxing a forced transformation was.

    She didn¡¯t give a fuck.

    The posturing Subsumed roared its hideous screech as it marched on, but it meant precious little. Calypso angled her claws near its midsection, one claw high at the chest and one low toward the waist.

    Easily cutting the simpering dreg in half. Its two chucks¡ªits so-called body, twirled in the air due to how much sheer force the girl put behind the attack. It was an overkill of the highest order.

    Except not really. Calypso darted her widened eye over her spiked shoulder, to confirm that she didn¡¯t go as far as she wanted to.

    It still clung to life, if not barely. It¡¯s arms trembled to get a grip, as if once it did, it make some jot of difference. Meaningless willpower to the last.

    Good.

    Calypso adjusted her crazed gaze, and lunched forward. The simpering puddle that was the last Subsumed quivered once the girl got a hold of it, sunk her claws in to physically drag it across the floor.

    Plopped the pitiful thing right in front of its severed buddy.

    The duo immediately caught wind of what she was going to do. They exchanged what looked to be defeated, tearful exchanges.

    Calypso couldn¡¯t help but laugh.

    But it did serve a dual purpose.

    Her maw was stretched wide. As the blob reached out for its brother, Calypso swung her entire body downward to consume the entire top half of the pitiful Subsumed in an entire gulp.

    But messy enough to leave the arm behind. Landing flat, limp, as it made the saddest flop upon contact.

    Calypso stared as she chewed, at the weakling that just lost everything. She had half a mind to literally spit the remains at the last Subsumed, but decided against.

    She just smirked wickedly at it. Smirked as the sides of such a tight shape leaked the black vicious regardless.

    Despite the lack of a face, the Subsumed shook. The last of its energies leaving it, finally letting that head fall on the destroyed floor. Its shape became formless once more, fading into the shadow that Calypso projected.

    Calypso found herself panting, which confused her briefly. In her exploding mind, it took her a moment to realize it wasn¡¯t because of exertion, but the emotional hell she¡¯s found herself in.

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    The fear that flared within her chest spread across the body in an instant, like a virus.

    Subsumed can be fucked up. Cassie might be scary. But this was the most harrowing experience she¡¯s been in. Third from dying, second to finding the body that was once her father.

    But she had to face this.

    Calypso turned around, towards her broken cousin. She saw Natalie, fully transformed, keeping her distance with a grim expression on her face. Of course, Gale¡­ Sweet, innocent Gale was on her hands and knees, inched as much as she could towards Sal, despite being made of goo now.

    Trying to do what she did best.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, i-it¡¯s like¡ª¡± Gale wore her smile, Calypso could see the profile of her face sport it. ¡°We¡¯re¡ªwe¡¯re still us, and like, Calypso is still your Cally¡ªI swear, I swear it¡ªI, like, know and¡ªsorry sorry sorry, brain is all melty¡ª¡±

    This was the most distressed Calypso seen her. Gale was physically dribbling, melting before Sal who was pressed against the door now. Gale tried to rise up, but her legs merged with one another into a tremendous glob, forcing her onto the ground with a thud.

    But she still tried to smile. Still tried to talk.

    Calypso clinched her claws into a fist.

    She had to step in. Fuck her being unable to connect, to be human. She needed to do fucking something.

    ¡°S-sally¡­¡± Calypso didn¡¯t remotely make an effort to soften her voice ¡°back to normal¡±. It was normal. ¡°It¡¯s me¡­ I promise you, it¡¯s still¡­ I should¡¯ve been honest with you¡ªand we can be right now. You just have to calm down¡ªlet¡¯s get away from here. I promise you, please¡­¡±

    The crackling bone rung out in the still air, as Calypso extended her other claw towards Sal. Made sure to present the still human palm, despite being rose pink.

    But Sal begun to laugh. And laugh. And laugh.

    She clutched at her hat and pulled it down, following the flow of broken tears that coasted down her cheeks. Her dirty blonde hair becoming wild due to shaking her head, letting herself fall down the door with no concerns of how badly she landed on her rear.

    She continued to stare at Calypso. Wide and vacant with disbelief, disgust¡­

    Contempt.

    No monster so far had stabbed Calypso this deep.

    ¡°no,¡± Calypso squeaked, stepped forward while she swung her outstretched arm. ¡°NO! I¡¯M NOT GIVING ON YOU¡ªYOU WOULDN¡¯T FOR ME AN-AND¡ª¡±

    The sudden vein-like cracks that formed on the side of Sal¡¯s face put an end to that.

    They lurched from her right eye socket, as if it was a shadowy hand. It begun to spread further, as Sal¡¯s laughter gotten more crazed and breathless.

    Calypso was going to watch her only link to humanity turn into a monster like her.

    She was too distraught to hear the furious flutter that Natalie¡¯s wings produced¡ªthe fly girl dug her claws into Calypso¡¯s shoulder as she forced her towards the twisted window.

    With the combined mass of three Consumed women, the trio burst through the walls of the taken-over home¡ªNatalie¡¯s wings flickering for more energy that it sorely lacked in the moment.

    Despite the sputtering, despite losing so much energy to keep afloat, Natalie managed to successfully glide her cohorts into the nearby entrance to the forest. Tumbled out of the air, rolling down the hill until their armor pieces stopped them (or in the case of Gale, until she stuck to the ground enough).

    As Calypso struggled upward from the filth, she knew she wasn¡¯t hurt. Nothing healing couldn¡¯t fit.

    She looked to the far away visage of the Moses homestead. Sees the twisted ruins that it had become. But she couldn¡¯t see through the much more gruesome image of what she saw her cousin became.

    Calypso clasped her claw on her right, shimmering eye, and leaned into it. She felt her entire face flush with heat as she started to suck in the air sharply. So she sucked her lips, bit down on them to get it all to stop.

    There was no way.

    She had periods where the two sides of herself merged as one. She felt it when she failed to properly grasp her new self when she was taken by the curse at first. But this was the first time where it was more than a period. This was the Consumed self¡¯s state of being.

    The heightened, unleashed emotions that Calypso felt crazed joy of experiencing. All of it given way to the same, predictable yet inevitable crush.

    Calypso cried crimson tears into her hand. She trembled, she swayed. Rocked by how she was becoming undone. Eventually letting her pouty lips go from her fangs, as they crumpled up into a pathetic perse of a frown.

    It took her time, but her eye settled on her other claw. Absolution written all over her drenched face.

    Natalie immediately grabbed at her wrist.

    ¡°Hey. I know you said you¡¯d have no idea¡ªor rather, no faith in your spiel to save me¡­ But you said it anyways. I owe you for that¡ªand despite all of the terrible, shifty shit I get up to, I fucking give back to the ones that I care about. Fuck everyone else. We¡¯re gonna fix this Cal. We¡¯re going to figure out what dark, fucked up forces that allowed any of this to happen¡ªand we¡¯re gonna kill them. Make them pay somehow. But we¡¯re gonna need you here still.¡±

    Calypso just looked toward Natalie. Despite having her eyes at the side of her head, all of them reflected in the compound lens.

    All determined. A far cry from her usual face.

    Calypso in turn removed the claw from her own eye, staring down at the palm coated with crimson liquid. Watched it sizzle and evaporate into nothing.

    This existence, summed up in a gesture. How quickly things can be rendered so meaningless.

    By people on top that didn¡¯t care about how fragile, precious it was to the ones left behind.

    Calypso¡¯s brow furrowed.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to murder Cassie Morgan. And I¡¯m going to murder every single person connected to this supernatural underworld until I reach Fate itself. And I hope that it¡¯s possible, but I¡¯m going to pay back every single setback¡ªlashing¡ªscar¡ªand lingering pain they¡¯ve dealt to me.¡±

    Calypso trembled still, but she was helped up by Natalie. She shot a pained smile to the fly girl, and in turn she offered a thumbs up.

    Calypso jumped a bit as she felt Gale¡¯s hand pat her shoulder¡ªbut more than welcomed the wordless hug that followed. Hugging back with no reservations.

    After the gestures of comradery, the trio faced the dimming red skies above.

    ¡°I wonder how much worse this really is¡­¡± Gale pondered.

    A bolt rained down to answer her question. The target was a group of trees, as they twisted and withered with age¡ªgranted life as the bony branches reached out toward the girls.

 Missing Entry (#1: Revisited/II)

    "Now Melissa..." the phrase was repeated.

    Over and over and over and over.

    And despite the different dialogue, from different people, formed by different mouths and tongues.

    All of it. It basically lead to the same conclusion.

    "...You can''t mess this up right now. I understand--I understand, you''re a delicate flower--my flower. But if you''re going to make life work, you''re gonna have to get out of..."

    "--You''ve scored the highest of your year--I know that you possess knowledge: but you still lack that grit. If you want to make it further in this industry, then you''re going to have to..."

    "Nurse Harker... Your performance has always been. Wavering, but this week alone, we''re noticing little mistakes that could''ve been easily fixed. You''re great with rapport--and we value that. But that''s half the battle. If you continue this trajectory, you''ll have no choice but to find another career path--"

    Melissa was fetal, haggardly trying to catch her breath. Covering her ears in vain, squirming as these shadow puppets surrounded her. Taking the visage of the various people that haunted her enough already.

    She didn''t need a reminder of how much she sucked as a person.

    But was she anymore?

    The "fingers" that dug into her bloodstained hair were claws, made out of veins. Disgusting veins that twitched and spread across the surface of her skin, across the back of the hand up to her shoulders. She had fur that had grown uncontrollably--prominently a pelt that covered the chest. One ear refused to change back to normal, still a pointed bat ear--if not human sized.

    Her neck, covered in a thick layer of scabs. Her horrific gash, still trying to heal.

    And of course, the massive fangs still took up most of her jaw. Very visible as she huffed out in pain.

    All of this was just too much.

    "--SHUT UP!" Melissa roared.

    Abruptly rose up, swinging and slashing at the puppets. No strategy, no thought. Just panicked, pained attacks.

    "SHUT THE HELL UP, PLEeeeEASE!" Melissa roared, her throat raw and shrill.

    The effort caused her to fall right back down on her side again. Her aching, twisted arms barely hoisted her up. Now even more out of breath.

    And once again, she was reset. Back to zero. The chorus returned unharmed, and somehow just as loud.

    Melissa laid there, officially emotionally overwhelmed. The point where, say, one has gotten so angry that the brain cannot produce anymore chemicals that achieves the mood.

    The stupid girl bashed her head against the stage. Scolding herself, due to the "wonderful" scientific explanation that she should know by name and accurately describe. It''s not like she''s going to some medical school or had been going for some odd years at this point.

    "Hey hey hey, Meli-Leli--it hurts me--us when we see you hurt yourself~!"

    Speaking of having a fucked up head.

    Melissa''s tired eyes gazed at the woman before her.

    She still wasn''t sure if Cassie was actually there or not. Spirit? Hallucination? A better construction made by the stage-thingy? Either way, there she stood above her. Black longcoat with the red scarf, leather boots with the shortest heels, the blonde curls that crested a pale face. A face with a smug, shit-eating grin with the same long fangs.

    "go to hell," Melissa responded.

    "Man, you really like ''Hell'', huh?" Cassie laughed. "I''m--we''re trying not to bully you into action, but I''m starting to feel like that--Iunno--is that the heaviest curse you got? You pour all that energy into saying ''Hell''--like it''s a slam dunk? If so, jeez, I''ve corrupted such a precious lil'' bean!"

    "i hate you"

    "Eh, everyone does. But let''s get all that crying out of the way and be a big girl now--we got things to kill~!"

    Melissa felt a sudden, wet splash on her head. Thankfully she was naturally a nervous rat in her normal life, so she quickly snapped herself upwards to see what happened--before Cassie could posture and distract from it.

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    The mousy girl''s eyes widened. Well. There was no way Cassie could hide any of what was happening to her.

    Her form, so proud and nonchalant... It was breaking apart. They weren''t cracks but serrated segments of body, falling apart. She tried to keep her smile, but her fact began to fall into pieces.

    The pain was too great--and Cassie wailed out. She couldn''t even have the luxury of holding herself as she screamed out, slamming into the ground with very wet thuds.

    While Melissa had the reaction--what should be the typical reaction--of looking away, but more things kept happening.

    As Cassie''s severed body fell onto the ground, it created such an impact, each piece bored a crater. As if each one was suddenly a bowling ball.

    It was almost interesting. Y''know, if Melissa had the capacity to care at the moment.

    "GOD--FUCKING DAMN IT, FUCK!" Cassie tried to roar. Ended up just as pathetic as Melissa''s.

    "See, that''s why I don''t bother," Melissa waved her index finger with snark. "You end up sounding pretty stupid when you use nothing but them--"

    "FUCKING BITE ME, YOU WIMPY LITTLE BITCH"

    Melissa laughed. Genuinely, for what felt like decades.

    "Y''know," Melissa cocked her head a tad. "I liked ''lil'' bean'' or whatever you tried to call me. At least that was cute..."

    Cassie, as her pieces writhed individually, she tried to stare down the person that was now looking down at her.

    "I coul... I could hurt you, Harker..."

    "Do it."

    Cassie''s blue eyes widened at the boldness at display. Searching--for anything--at this mousy girl''s now unreadable face.

    "You''ll be doing both of us a favor at this point. So go ahead. I''m only your... What was it? ''Fucked up sidepiece''? Never actually heard of that before, but knowing you, I''m sure it was dirty in some way."

    Melissa waited for the immediate shit flinging. She was ready to keep denying this repulsive bitch until she literally used the last of her breath.

    So the fact that it didn''t come caused Melissa to dart her eyes directly at Cassie.

    The monster was fading, and it was gradual. The writhing became squirms. The breathing was getting heavier, yet slower. It made Melissa wonder... Whatever these shadow demons were... It''s so odd that they were compatible with humanity. Hell, humanity isn''t compatible with humanity--if so, organ donations or simply blood transfusions would be less of a stressful game of waiting, and can easily turn into a losing game of inevitability.

    And yet here Cassie was. Truly dying before Melissa.

    She clutched her fists. Claws? Whatever. This... Thing killed her. She used her body--in ways she doesn''t fully understand yet. Turned her into a fucked up version of a vampire--not a cool one like in the movies she barely saw as a kid because of how scary they were. Melissa had every right to not only spit in her face, but kill her with her own two hand-claws.

    But Melissa sighed. She maybe a choker and ill-fitted to be one, but she''s a medical professional in training. She had to at least be present, if not from a distance.

    So she sat there. A lengths away from Cassie''s body, but she sat cross-legged. Had her claw-hands catch her head and cup her cheeks as she watched.

    What felt like a few minutes passed, and finally silence was broken.

    "H-holy shit..." Cassie gasped out. "M... lessia, are you there still...? Pleas... Please..."

    "I am, yeah. Try not to talk. It''s going to be okay."

    "N-no...! It''s not... I can''t... I just... I can''t just die here, man..."

    "There''s really nothing I can do. And if I could, I don''t feel like helping the bitch that fucked me over. Sorry. You have my ''empy'', but not my ''sympy''."

    Melissa heard pained grunts, choking sounds that indicated held back tears.

    "I came so far... Did too much to just have this end..."

    It was weird... Melissa still heard Cassie''s words, but they became... Layered. To the point where she was talking, but the sentence itself said two different things.

    "I can''t die a loser... I can''t die when everyone and everything gets to go scott-free, acting like shit''s great... The things we do to each other... Terrible, dumb shit and they get to have normal lives... But not me..." / "I can''t die while they continue to regress... Kings of nothing as they laugh at the decay... Not caring about such decay that ruined the lives of the few... The life that I was promised yet denied..."

    Melissa huffed out of her nose, once she gathered what was actually said. Both lines ended with a singular point:

    "The world... It''s still wrong... Still... Wrong... I have to change it... All I wanted was for it to be actually fair..."

    "And yet you did fucked up things!" Melissa angrily rose to her feet, her claw-hands balled into fists again. "Two wrongs don''t make a fucking right, lady!"

    "I... I know... We knew...?" Cassie sounded confused. It was possibly the brain beginning to fail her. "It wasn''t... Meant to be heroic... THAT would''ve been... The slap in the face... There''s no ''bettering'' this... Bettering leads to big heads... People getting away... I wanted things to be honest, to make them face the facts... All of us are terrible and terrible is the only way to survive here..."

    Melissa was about to shout, a surge of righteous fury fueling her... Before she simply sighed.

    "Whatever, man. Sure, whatever--everything sucks and we are kidding ourselves on some level. Closing our eyes and plugging our ears--but you don''t blind people with a knive and scoop their eyes out--then scoop YOUR eyes out and say, ''I guess we''re all blind forever! We never actually used them, so fuck it!'' You made the world worse. Innocent people--like you were, victims--you fucking got them killed. And they didn''t become epic cool shadow monsters for it. Face it, Cassie. You. Fucked. Up. End of story."

    Cassie simply looked at her, gazed with dimming blue eyes that were losing color.

    But it wasn''t figurative. Not only Cassie was turning into a husk before Melissa''s eyes, but she was turning grayscale.

    "Heh..." Cassie looked up at the "ceiling", basically nothing. "Guess... You have my powers now to do whatever you want with them. Like you said. I fucked up my chance... Prove me... And everyone else wrong..."

    The serrated, dried body of Cassie Morgan closed her eyes. Peaceful in her rest.

    "... Even people like you deserve your sleep," Melissa bitterly concluded.

    The mousey girl sat there, now alone. Alone with her conflicted, angry... Empty thoughts.

    Now she was a vampire. Trapped in some magical book. Constantly being reminded how much of an other she is, how many times she''s choked.

    But Cassie''s final line wormed herself into Melissa''s depression.

    "Prove me... And everyone else wrong..."

    It donned on her. She felt slightly ashamed at how long it took for her to realize.

    "...I can finally do whatever I want."

    Melissa sported a crooked, yet never been wider smile. Her huge fangs glistened almost.

    She couldn''t help but let loose a goofy chuckle. Now she had what she needed to be free, in every sense of the word.

 Entry 12.0 - Terror: A Flawed Declaration

    Calypso¡¯s mind was taut in knots, working out what to do now and what was going to be her new future.

    The fact that the forest was coming to life didn¡¯t really help.

    Framed in the pulsating, stormy red night¡ªthe trees around the monster girls creaked to life. As the energy flooded within the roots, it was as if they also developed a quickening pulse. But said pulses were trapped within the stiff structure of the bark, so that movement was sudden, only shifted about within erratic burst.

    Regardless of how slow and gradual it was, the trees were aiming directly at the trio. Surrounded them within enough time.

    Gale stepped forward, and guarded Natalie and Calypso. Clapped her hands together and closed her eyes.

    ¡°Hahahaha¡ªsurely I¡¯m totally gonna stop these guys, because they¡¯re plants and I¡¯m a plant, and I can finally be useful for once, right~?¡± There was a peppy bitterness in her voice.

    She reached out, and the witch-like branches slowed to a halt.

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    But only briefly.

    They then continued forward, folded the smaller branches so they transformed into wooden spears, as they whistled through the air.

    ¡°Pffft, of course~!¡± Gale said, dejectedly.

    Thankfully, Natalie continued to be the MVP of the trio.

    The fly monster girl quickly fluttered to Gale¡¯s side, and used all available might to rip the swamp monster girl from her stump that was once her legs.

    Calypso had to act. Natalie could only bob and weave through the air with the added weight, and Gale lacked any legs now that she attempted to convene with nature.

    She tried to summon her gemstone, to surge at the back of her hand. The veins bulged, the bones moved out of the way¡­ Yet the process staggered. Stopped.

    Calypso had to take matters into her own claws.

    Taking a sharp, bone claw of the other hand, she used it to drag the back of the trembling hand open. Prying the already healing skin flaps to circle around the unearthed gem, stained with black blood.

    As her scrunched face was quickly illuminated with a dull flash, Calypso knew that this moment was the mood setter.

    Not only in pain mentally, but severely limited physically¡ªjust when she finally got a grasp over her magical powers. Due to the forced transformation of the Terrortide, on top of the barely contained anguish of possibly losing her family, Calypso was completely lessened.

    She wished she could say in that moment. But she¡¯s oddly expected this, by this point.

 Entry 12.1 - Terror: A Flawed Declaration

    ¡°Reaper¡¯s Fang!¡± Calypso winced after saying the phrase. Not just because she¡¯s still in pain after slicing her hand open, not because the others were around¡ªthus second-hand embarrassment rolled in, but how said words rang out within her current emptiness. Playing make-believe as her family could be torn apart right now.

    She let her arm transform into a scythe¡¯s blade, squeezed her claws into a ball as they rested under the blade. The wild blade swung for her, craving away at the living branches that came for Natalie and Gale.

    All she could really do was run. Run, be alert, and think. She took the lead, letting her arm do all the damage, the only real choice she had was afterward. The blade done with its then current carnage, looking¡ªseeking more, and Calypso angled the blade with her entire arm. Aiming a rabid dog with a thick chain around its neck. Sure, all one had to do was just let it go wild, but you needed to yank it back. And it¡¯s surprising, being so content with that power and not worrying about yourself¡ªbut the now heightened awareness of everything around you.

    Calypso glanced backward, briefly. Gale regained her legs, now running with a hovering Natalie looking ahead. Gale muttering something about ¡°not ending up like [she¡¯s] in the Evil Dead¡±.

    ¡°Cal¡ªdart around us¡ªright now--!¡± Natalie shouted. Calypso was glad more than ever of how fast she spoke.

    The skeletal monster girl used her entire, aching body to turn on a dime. It was such an odd dichotomy, especially if one was still thinking as a human. To run, focus on running, yet an entire part of one¡¯s body was completely out of their control. Especially with victims that lost said part of themselves, the constant reminder of something they took for granted.

    But it was oddly soothing. Calypso going full sprint, letting her monstrous, primal speed take her¡ªcircling around her friends in various laps as her fanged arm tore apart the trees that tried to trap them in. She didn¡¯t stop until she felt that her wild blade was just swinging at air, leading the pack once more.

    ¡°Well, at least the lumberjacks will be happy¡ª¡± Natalie quipped, smiling after. ¡°Good work, knew my overpowered bud would save the day~¡±

    ¡°You saved the day with having a hundred eyes when we have two~¡± Calypso cooed at Natalie. ¡°And the running mouth of a tactician.¡±

    ¡°¡­ I made an Evil Dead reference,¡± Gale quietly mewled out. It broke the already brutalized, dead heart of Calypso further.

    But it weirdly gave her inspiration.

    ¡°Don¡¯t lose heart, Gale¡ªbecause you¡¯re going to help me keep track of what¡¯s happening here.¡±

    ¡°I-I am--?¡± the swamp monster girl said in surprise, Calypso able to picture the widened eyes that had a hint of glistening.

    ¡°I rather recall fast¡ª¡± Natalie warned. ¡°More trees are slowly waking up¡ªI¡¯d give it 30 seconds or so¡ª¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve seen this red lightning before, have we Gale?¡± Calypso questioned, with her claws dug into her compromised shoulder. ¡°When we fight the Jaw Subsumed¡ªwhen I nearly died again¡ª¡±

    ¡°guys, what the fuck did you do befo¡ª¡± Natalie interjected briefly.

    ¡°Not now, please, you¡¯ve said it yourself¡ª¡± Calypso cut her off.

    ¡°Yeah! A-and your Subsumed was half of you¡ªand you had to fight it again¡ª!¡± Gale reported.

    ¡°Obviously that was because of Cassie¡ªthe Terrortide¡ªand remember what Richard told us--?¡± Calypso continued to question.

    ¡°Mhm, like¡ª¡¯she needed Terrorsigns to prove her point¡¯¡ªwhich was the hospital¡ªand it became haunted like the woods now¡ªlike Moses¡¯ house--!¡±

    ¡°And when that thing happened¡ªwhere we saw that lightning for the first time¡­ What were the Subsumed doing, then¡­?¡±

    ¡°¡­Watching it¡­ Chanting ¡®Terrortide¡¯¡­¡±

    Calypso nodded to herself, running forward with a face tensed with partial understanding.

    ¡°¡­ I think I got what you¡¯re laying out, Cal,¡± Natalie began to bring the pieces together. ¡°It¡¯s not lightning, they¡¯re Cassie¡¯s ¡®points¡¯.¡±

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    ¡°Reverting things into a haunted, ugly state¡­ Given how much she ranted about the world being fucked, and how she was going to fuck it over¡­?¡± Calypso prodded at Natalie. Hoped that she¡¯ll decode the meaning.

    ¡°¡­Of course¡ª¡± Natalie shook her head. ¡°A world that has to embrace the fact that it¡¯s ugly¡ªhaunted¡ªforce to accept that we¡¯re monsters with nothing to hide behind, no more extremes but the one: her Terrortide is un-masquerading the world so both humans AND Subsumed can¡¯t hide anymore--!¡±

    A walling of dirt interrupted the realization.

    Calypso and Natalie stopped, looked about. Ready to face Cassie herself, blamed this sudden structure that popped before them as another part of Terrortide. Maybe opening the gates of Hell itself.

    ¡°Sorry, uh¡ªyou guys were all deep in the thought and like¡­ Couldn¡¯t remind you that it was 30 seconds¡­¡±

    Gale was further back, once again merged within the earth. Protected her friends with a wall of dirt as the branches of the living trees slowly tried to dig into it.

    ¡°¡­Oh right¡ª¡± Calypso blinked.

    ¡°Yeah, I uh¡ª¡± Natalie echoed similar sentiments.

    ¡°No worries!¡± Gale laughed. ¡°It¡¯s just¡ªwell hold on¡ª¡±

    Gale went deadly silent, and the ground writhed violently. Within seconds, multiple dirt walls were erected. These makeshift monoliths slowly but surely dragged themselves across the disturbed land to circle around the group, before finally molding themselves into a dome.

    Calypso waited for the darkness to take them¡­ But she realized that her eyes can literally see through the dark, and got onto her knees. Natalie did the same. The skeletal monster girl¡¯s blade was going to swing away, so she was forced to bury it into the ground.

    ¡°¡ªJust that, like, I might as well be good for something~¡± Gale chirped with closed eyes.

    Calypso wanted to bite back at that, but turned to Natalie. ¡°Willow Reverie is old and already had this creepy air about it¡­ Once it¡¯s taken over by Cassie, it becomes a Terrorsign. The entire town.¡±

    ¡°And if footage comes out¡ªand let¡¯s face it, this is already on the news¡ªthen the influence could spread across America,¡± Natalie droned off, clearly perturbed. ¡°This. This is bad. I don¡¯t think there¡¯s no stopping this¡­ At least without a cost.¡±

    Calypso stroked her chin with her free claw.

    ¡°At least we know now¡ªat least relatively¡ªabout the endpoint¡­ How can we discredit the idea that the world needs to embrace the horrible sides to it? Especially since¡­ Well, 2 out of the 3 of us experienced said shitty parts, and are in no way excellent judges of that.¡±

    Calypso¡¯s dark eyes had a sudden glit to them. She immediately turned to Gale.

    ¡°Oh jeez¡ªum,¡± Gale looked about. ¡°Like¡­ Yeah, of course, things are bad. It¡¯s the way things work, sadly¡­ If we¡¯re¡­ Like, in order to live freely and have a world that responds to choice, bad choices also have the weird right to exist? God this sounds so weird because I sound like I¡¯m excusing all the bad things¡ª"

    ¡°Sadly this is how pear-shaped things are now,¡± Natalie responded. ¡°C¡¯mon, bring it home¡ªdistill it¡ª¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s life! There¡¯s good to that bad side! There¡¯s bad to the good side! It¡¯s a balance, and we¡¯re all racing to it, we all need it and junk! To let one side win means a world that stops being a world anymore!¡± Gale was practically kneading her scalp during this stream of consciousness. Almost sweating.

    ¡°There we go¡ªthat¡¯s equally as bullshit¡ª¡± Natalie performed a thunderous clap of achievement. ¡°We fight for the sake of good and fight so it can prevail or something¡ªthat¡¯s something we can work with¡­¡±

    As the fly monster girl rubbed at her stingy palms, she looked down with a frown.

    ¡°¡­With the help of the demonic¡­ Monstrous¡­ Evil powers we were granted. That¡ªthat uh¡ªthat can be used against us¡ªpretty readily I might add¡ªback to the drawing board or we run for the hills--?¡±

    Calypso looked down.

    ¡°¡­No,¡± she argued, and proceeded to nod. ¡°No. If anything¡­ Being Consumed. We¡¯re hybrids, are we not? Balance. We use dark, evil powers¡­ Which are fueled by our very real, human emotions and motives. That¡¯s it. WE¡¯RE the solution.¡±

    ¡°¡­ We¡¯re the solution,¡± Natalie smiled, shaking her head.

    ¡°We¡¯re the solution!¡± Gale cheered with the widest smile imaginable.

    The branches slowly bored into their dome. But the trio couldn¡¯t have cared more.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go, girls,¡± Calypso smirked wickedly, pulling her blade out from the earth, as if it were a holy sword.

    The dome fell, but not because it was overpowered. It was simply dropped.

    Calypso hacked at the incoming arms, her scythe sliced through the trees with ease. Natalie flew above, dodging effortlessly. And Gale was slowly coming behind them, gathering the destroyed trees to return them back to place again.

    ¡°W-why--?¡± Calypso heard Natalie ask.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m gonna be useless once we get to the town otherwise, and I¡¯m doing something good with my witch powers~!¡± Gale chirped.

    Calypso wanted to laugh. Make her pitiful small smile more. But there was still that mental undercurrent paired with the physical undercurrent. And how they can intersect at such a horrible time. And there¡¯s no worse time to fuck up during saving the Earth.

    But there was no time to dwell on it.

    The trio reached the town¡­ To see it alive. To see it covered in flames.

    To see, before them, a terrible wreck of a car. Clearly showcased that these victims tried to flee for their lives, only to lose them.

    And not only that, they lost their bodies as well.

    One of the Subsumed rose from squatting, a young woman that seemed to be around their age. A monster wearing her as a suit, pulling the back of her head via her brown ponytail to adjust the face that hung from the skull. A human being reduced and now had the mailability of a cheap Halloween costume.

    A look of bewilderment stretched across the stolen face, before it settled into smug confidence.

    ¡°Oh dear. And we just got these¡­~¡± she flashed her fangs.

 Entry 12.2 - Terror: A Flawed Declaration

    The four Subsumed walked forward, their stolen human facades obscured by the flames of the car wreck against their backs. The usual deal began, with their true limbs ripped violently out of flesh, the entire human frame buckled and twisted to fit the disgusting design. All of them Bat Subsumed, each of their human corpses acting as a body as they hung upside down, all of their similar maws dibbled with excess saliva.

    But the thing Calypso and co. haven¡¯t at all been used to, was the very town they¡¯re standing on to be physically in the mix as well.

    What was left of the smoldering buildings lurched forward¡ªphysically lurch forward. Which, if there was any logic left in this horrific scenario, would¡¯ve meant the sidewalks and streets being destroyed in their wake, but both instances, just simply folded downward¡ªout of the way of flaming buildings that as they crippled forward, started to gain disgusting, biological traits.

    Crooked fangs that ripped from the tops of lips of ceilings. The shattered windows bled black. The doorways became coated with thick slime, and began to develop meaty layers.

    ¡°I was wondering why it was so quiet¡­¡± Calypso said solemnly to her friends, readying her scythe.

    ¡°¡­Y¡¯know,¡± Natalie realized the implications. ¡°Kinda hate how smart you are, Cal¡ªgotta say¡ªwould¡¯ve loved to come to that conclusion somewhat naturally as you could here¡ª¡±

    ¡°ENOUGH TALK!¡± one of the Bats screamed with zeal. ¡°YOU¡¯RE INTERRUPTING OUR CELEBRATIONS, HALFBREEDS--!¡±

    Calypso rushed forward with a bound, letting go of her shoulder to let the blade arm go free.

    This was immediately different from the last time.

    Calypso, rightfully, thought nothing of the Bat Subsumed. One encounter was easy work, despite the mental hangups she had at the time¡ªand the other was her so angry, she injured an entire group of them at once.

    She went into the crowd, and they all scattered. Her arm swung about but it was already too late¡ªthe trio she found herself in the middle of gaining quick distance away.

    Them chittering in the air manically, as the flaming building that was nearest to Calypso reeled back, then lashed out.

    This forced Calypso to let her wild blade guide her, continuing to spin her in place as a last-minute defense. While it craved away at the surface of the wall, Calypso could feel the reverberation of each impact, rattling her bones.

    She immediately thought this was bad. She had hoped that her Consumed strength would shrug off this better, despite ultimately getting through. But it doesn¡¯t change the fact that buildings, roads¡ªmodern infrastructure could end up proving to be their kryptonite.

    It caused her to stagger, nearly falling into her literal bony ass. If it wasn¡¯t for one of the Bats rushing her from the side, she would¡¯ve fell.

    She latched onto it without hesitation, holding on for dear life yet trying to borrow her claw and blade deep within the shadow¡¯s flesh. The toll was immediately apparent, the Bat Subsumed screeched in agony as it sailed downward toward the moving ground, using its rear legs to kick Calypso back down.

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    The skeletal monster girl landed on her spiked shoulder, hearing the crunch upon landing. While normally that would¡¯ve been a bad thing, it belonged to her reaper arm, the separate momentum allowed her to quickly roll back onto her feet, surveying her surroundings.

    The fire hydrant blasting her with high-pressure water had other plans, however.

    It was a scramble. But just as quickly as her adaptation with getting back up on her feet, Calypso once again drove her blade into the ground¡ªpavement making a very hard material to dig into, just as bad as the brick before. And like before, there was no choice in the matter, as she struggled to embed her claw opposite the blade. Her surroundings were nothing but muffled sounds of rushing water, and self-inflicted darkness due to closed eyes.

    She had to think. They barely got away from the Terrorsign version of the hospital, only because of the cloaks. But there was a roaring fire near where they were fighting¡ªdo they have to retreat? Or at least do so anyways? The air being depraved from her brain didn¡¯t help her failing thought process.

    But Calypso had to do something¡ªall they had to, to make this statement of theirs work against Cassie¡¯s. Maybe strategy isn¡¯t the case here, just a valiant final stand.

    And once again, fate had something else to say about her efforts.

    She felt herself being hoisted up. Calypso couldn¡¯t open her eyes or look around¡ªsince she was submerged within the constant stream.

    So when that suddenly ceased, Calypso wasn¡¯t exactly relieved. Because she knew something much horrible was going to happen, as soon as she opened her dark eyes.

    And once she did, the skeletal monster girl found herself on top of a makeshift tongue. The street rolled itself up, as if she was a pest that flew into its ¡°mouth¡± and instructively stung at it, the tongue reacting with pain. With a violent, short wave as it pressed itself down, Calypso was flung back into the air.

    There was nothing to it, she just started swinging her arms, aimlessly. She didn¡¯t care anymore. Rather, she was saddened, due to remembering that she did exactly this method when she was faced with Subsumed before.

    What Calypso didn¡¯t want to happen came to pass anyways, she was snatched up by one of the Bat Subsumed as it was so pleased with itself. Calypso felt their foot claws dig deep into her shoulders.

    The empty, expressionless flesh sack of the young woman¡¯s head lightly smacking against the skeletal monster girl¡¯s head. As if she needed more demoralizing experiences.

    But nothing about this night, so far, was meant to be what she needed to see or not.

    She saw Gale below, trying to fend off two of the Bats at once. Her goop flying all over with each of their strikes at her, and even from on high, the swamp monster girl looked worn out.

    There was a blur, followed by a screech on the side of Calypso. As she looked, she witnessed a sky fight between Natalie and the last Bat. As skilled as Natalie seemed to be at flight, she needed the weird cells of her wings so she could keep afloat. Leaving her to only avoid and evade.

    Calypso felt slack in the Bat Subsumed¡¯s hold. None of this was working. They were not only doomed, but damning everyone by being so weak.

    She was then slammed onto the ground, for the final time.

    Calypso genuinely struggled to get back up. It wasn¡¯t from a lack of trying, or skill, or¡­ Her managing to fuck up everything she touches. The toll of the forced transformation finally kicked in.

    The Bat Subsumed landed before her. Prowled with such vanity in its steps.

    It swiped upward, acting as an uppercut. Calypso was propelled onto her back for her trouble. As her eyes began to focus, all she saw was the Bat Subsumed clambered onto her.

    And what followed was feeling its claw bury deep into her right cheek. The hot, searing, sharpness that cut from the inside. Traveled from the cheek, to near the right eye.

    Calypso wanted to laugh in that moment. Her death was being enjoyed by her murderer. The irony was almost delicious.

    But there was a loud, thundering gunshot. She felt the claws being flung out of her cheek, all of the weight of the Subsumed go away.

    Calypso quickly scrambled upward. Looking about.

    Slowly turning behind herself. One side of her face the oh-so-evil-and-capable monster, the other the true, wounded lump of flesh.

    She felt herself tear up.

    ¡°Now don¡¯t just sit there n¡¯ cry!¡± Sal lowered the double shotgun, to reload. Still angry, still fearful, but not letting her take her as she aimed. ¡°Help me out here, Cal!¡±

 Entry 12.3 - Terror: A Flawed Declaration

    Calypso was just frozen. Just taking in the fact that her cousin stepped into the fray, aiming her double barrel shotgun¡ªfiring it again, wincing after.

    It wasn¡¯t because of JUST the recoil.

    Calypso could see it, beyond her cousin¡¯s safety goggles. Her eye was still taken by darkness, twitching veins that climbed from out of her closed eye.

    ¡°Calypso¡ª¡± Sal said with frustration, flicking her thumb against the latch, opening the gun, jerking it back to empty it of the rounds, and reaching down to her belt that was loaded with new ones. ¡°I¡¯m just a girl, down a eye, knowin¡¯ now that these fuckers don¡¯t stay down with bullets alone¡ªAre ya¡¯ gonna help me today or not?!¡±

    The skeletal monster girl shook her head, forcing herself out of her pitiful trance. She turned to the now-downed-twice Bat Susbumed, with a razor-sharp grin that stretched across the face.

    Catapulting herself with her primal speeds, she closed the distance and let her blade do the work for her. The Bat Subsumed screeched in agony, as the bone scythe etched its body apart into barely attached segments.

    Calypso had to quickly close her gaping maw, then fought against the instant pushback from her monstrous urges. No. There has to be at least one alive.

    ¡°Sally, help Gale out--!¡± Calypso turned towards her cousin. Biting back the immediate rush of shame and fear she felt looking at her, ¡°I-if you can¡ª¡±

    Sal simply nodded, after briefly holding her head.

    ¡°¡®Happy thoughts, focus on thoughts that doesn¡¯t relate to the various stresses¡ª¡¯¡± Sal mocked a voice that was certainly Mrs. Moses, considering how proper she went. Aiming her sights. ¡°Might as well be a saint after all this is over.¡±

    She fired into the back of the left, its cohort further on the right reacting with shock as it watched the shower of black erupting from the impact.

    This gave Calypso all the time she needed. Rushing it, she then jumped right onto the back of the wounded Bat, grabbed its head from top to chin, and violently twisted it off. Letting the now dead body fall with her on it, right onto the ground.

    As she tossed the head so that she could have her palms out to catch herself, gaining her bearings, Calypso saw from the corner of her eye the other Bat trying to lunge forward¡ªbut just as quickly intercepted by Gale.

    Calypso rose back to her feet, to see Gale acting as a pin cushion of sorts. The Bat Subsumed claws completely deep within her mud-like body.

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    ¡°Y-y¡¯know¡­¡± Gale had an edge to her tone. ¡°Kinda mad about being useless. Kinda mad that you guys just¡­ Picked on people that were basically gone already. I¡¯m normally a girl that lets things go. But I¡¯m in a really bad mood right now.¡±

    And proceeded to kick the Bat away at top speeds, right into the flaming, hungry walls that were inching closer¡­ But didn¡¯t need to anymore. It found what it wanted, a new snack as it messily ate the poor monster apart the moment it cut its teeth against such.

    Calypso looked up, witnessing the dog fight between Natalie and the last Bat continue. She looked to Sal.

    ¡°I¡¯m not shootin¡¯ up in the air until I got the proper sights on ¡®em,¡± Sal held the gun tight in her hands. ¡°An¡¯ again, down a eye.¡±

    ¡°O-okay,¡± Calypso nodded, then pointed to the still writhing, serrated body of the first Bat. ¡°Then make sure she stays down¡­ Please¡ª¡±

    Sal nodded again, pointing the gun toward the monster.

    ¡°Got it anyways¡ªno worries¡ª¡±

    Natalie not only projected her voice, but flipped herself over in the air.

    Firing a hefty sum of her wing cells at the Bat Subsumed in the skies, absolutely peppering the beast as it contorted in pain. While it dropped like a stone, Natalie safely glided down onto the pavement onto her back, skidding a bit, but nevertheless a much better landing comparably.

    ¡°hahahahatata¡ªWas baiting at least one away¡­¡± Natalie winced, struggling to sit up. ¡°So you guys could handle it¡­¡±

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Calypso nodded, before running toward the downed Bat, taking no chances.

    Of course, things quickly, and easily, spiraled out of their control.

    The street rolled up like a tongue once more, raising the downed Bat¡ªalong with the serrated one¡ªand letting their bodies tumble down, away from the group.

    While Calypso wasn¡¯t going to let that be, prepared herself to bound after them¡­ There was the sound of belching after. Horrid, almost like rumbling thunder¡­ It didn¡¯t take too long to process that they were thrown down a manhole cover of some kind, and eaten.

    She then looked about¡­ The town was still alive, and active, but gradually much more slow than before. Maybe the meals had satisfied it, at least for now?

    ¡°¡­And here I thought I was going to get answers,¡± Calypso shook her head, holding it with her normal claw. ¡°Ah well. Cassie did always prattle on about both sides getting fucked. Even her own so-called people¡­¡±

    The skeletal monster girl shivered, she sensed Sal walk up to her right. She stared forward¡­ But with the simmering glaze over the one eye, it felt like she stared at nothing at all.

    ¡°She looked like Teresa.¡±

    Calypso winced. The true cost and horror about the Subsumed was always apparent to her, day one¡­ But she never lived here until now. It was yet another, shitty level to this entire mess.

    ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry, Sally. Truly, I am¡­ I wish I wasn¡¯t a coward, that I¡­ Told you what was happening. But truth be told, I barely have a grasp over this. I-I¡¯m just as lost as you are right now¡ª"

    ¡°I know, Cal.¡±

    Calypso looked confused. ¡°You do¡­?¡±

    ¡°Ain¡¯t none of this yer fault, I know that,¡± Sal then took a breath, trying not to grimace¡ªor say anything that might plunge her back into rage and hurt. ¡°Yer a victim. All ya¡¯ are. I ain¡¯t really too mad at ya¡¯ll¡­ Just at the others.¡±

    Calypso''s eyes widened. Once again, she was stunned. Her arms, even her wild Reaper¡¯s Fang, went slack at her sides.

    ¡°¡­Please don¡¯t tell me what I think that means,¡± Natalie was in tow with Gale, who was rubbing the back of her head in confusion, not getting what was being put down.

    Sal shook her head, biting her life before frowning, ¡°My folks knew. They know everythin¡¯, in fact. And from what they told me, a lot more know what they do as well, this whole damn time.¡±

 Entry 12.4 - Terror: A Flawed Declaration

    It was odd. One would think, after enduring this depression for most of her life, one would think Calypso would never reach some new low. Some further depths to be hurled and crushed down into.

    If every single slip was considered some ¡°disaster¡±, then every bottom was ¡°rock-bottom¡±, yeah?

    But this. This wasn¡¯t just emptiness. It was a constant plunge from the inside. Gaining more depth, the ¡°bottom¡± of this well, just kept digging further and further down. As if the walls that Calypso had left began to crack, and the debris turned into sharp instruments. For every shaken breath, stabbing her from within as her chest continued to cave into itself. The stomach long gone.

    The heart being ripped into shreds. Yet looking¡ªbegging¡ªfor any reason to hang on.

    ¡°¡­Sal¡­ Sally¡­ Is this true¡­?¡±

    ¡°Hah--!¡± Sal simply scoffed. ¡°I don¡¯t fuckin¡¯ know what¡¯s true and what ain¡¯t anymore! Iunno why ya¡¯ askin¡¯ me, like I knew anything at all!¡±

    She waved her gun, recklessly, as she ranted. ¡°I¡¯m nearly eaten alive, in rush my Ma and Dad. Turn out, they do some voodoo performance an¡¯ there ain¡¯t no time to talk! Just explanations up an¡¯ down, ¡®promises¡¯ later! L-like as if that¡¯s worth anythin¡¯ but BULL now¡ªtheir word! All this time! All this time¡ªI¡¯m thinking my flesh n¡¯ blood is coverin¡¯ somethin¡¯ up, or can¡¯t tell me that she¡¯s apart of somethin¡¯ horrible or some murder or worse, and THEY knew while I nearly worried myself crazy too! Just¡ªgraaaaah! Stupid! Of all this! Stupid!¡±

    Calypso just stood there. Barely moving.

    ¡°¡­Sally? Is this true¡­?¡±

    Sal came down from her anger. Realized what Calypso was getting at.

    ¡°¡­Apparently so, Cal,¡± Sal had to shake her head. ¡°Guess our lil¡¯ gesture in helpin¡¯ ya¡¯ was just our parents'' way of knowin¡¯ that you were¡­ Whatever you are.¡±

    Calypso felt her body spasm uncontrollably. Fists clenched, jaw forced itself to clamp down. Muscles twitched as her brain continued to explode.

    Was it all a lie? The one nugget of hope within hopelessness, the love of her family¡­ Was that all a ruse?

    ¡­Was this the reason Penelope Grimes had such an arms-length relationship with Calypso, this whole time?

    ¡°For fuck¡¯s sake, Calypso¡ª¡±

    The skeletal monster turned her head towards her cousin.

    It was painful on both levels. Watching her, forcing her ruined eye open as the small shadow tendrils crawled from the lids. The gray eyes in question were nearly bloodshot, and it wasn¡¯t due to the abnormal irritation. Her blonde-black hair was a complete mess, strains of it clung to her sweaty forehead.

    The important detail was that her clutched hands were trembling, wrapped around the gun she wielded.

    And it wasn¡¯t from fear.

    ¡°How is it, that me¡ªa bitch that just learned about all this¡ªis handlin¡¯ all this better than ya¡¯: the literal monster in question? How is it¡ªya¡¯ survived a maulin¡¯, an¡¯ yet ya¡¯ think yer some scum? I love ya¡¯. I know more than anyone that yer fine china¡­ But ya¡¯ need ta¡¯ get a goddamn grip right now. Every single damn thing that ills ya¡¯, ya¡¯ lock up, give up. But lemme give ya¡¯ a valuable life lesson¡ªit ain¡¯t gonna keep workin¡¯. The world is gonna keep knockin¡¯ ya¡¯ down, an¡¯ find more ways in doin¡¯ that. If I had to grow up faster than other kids¡ªthen the same goes for my own flesh an¡¯ blood.¡±

    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Sal leaned in, almost in a comical, faux-doting sneer. ¡°How ya¡¯ feelin¡¯ now? Ya¡¯ can go home if ya¡¯ still feelin¡¯ bad.¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡¯m not sure what to feel right now.¡±

    As Calypso looked up, it caused Sal to step back, and tighten her grip on her gun.

    ¡°I¡¯m ready to call myself whiny more than anyone¡ªmore than you right now, really. It¡¯s¡­ Such an odd thing. I think¡ªwith the little emotional receptors I had, they¡­ Broke. I broke. I¡¯m so utterly devastated, I¡¯m in this state of¡­ Equalization. But you are right, 100%.¡±

    Calypso offered her claw, showcasing the still-human palm. ¡°I¡¯m not going to let this fucked world continue to have its way with me, or anyone else I care about. You don¡¯t¡­ You don¡¯t have to think of me as your cousin still or a human, but just know that I still care¡ªand I¡¯m going to protect you with everything I have. I promise¡ª¡±

    ¡°The only thing that¡¯s stoppin¡¯ me from huggin¡¯ ya¡¯ is the fact that yer covered in knives.¡±

    Calypso felt something form in her throat. She huffed from her nose, light steam coming out.

    ¡°Yer family. An¡¯ unlike the family I got now, ya¡¯ DID have a reason to lie ta¡¯ me. Like it or not¡ªan¡¯ me not really getting¡¯ over how¡­ Different ya¡¯ are now: we¡¯re stuck with one another,¡± Sal winked with her good eye.

    Calypso smiled. Genuinely.

    So of course it was interrupted, as Gale and Natalie fell right before them.

    ¡°Yeah, uh¡ª¡± Gale grunted and rose to her feet. ¡°You were having a nice moment and we didn¡¯t want it to ruin it, so¡ª¡±

    Calypso looked toward the advancing building. Now battered with cell-bullet-holes and smashed in holes laced with slime and dirt. It¡¯s makeshift maw, now broken and unhinged, still was seconds from lancing out.

    ¡°Good work, girls. Let¡¯s make your hard work matter, shall we?¡±

    She didn¡¯t really think.

    Calypso sprung forward, into the suddenly sweltering air due to the raging flames. She let her scythe guide her, twirling her into a ballet corkscrew.

    It still rocked and rattled her bones, when she made contact with the burnt wood. But it was different. She didn¡¯t focus on the pain and agony at all¡­ If anything, she became one with it.

    Calypso slashed through the maw of the building, breaking it as she gracefully spun across the way. The debris, the force of the roaring, and the odd flames didn¡¯t get in her way.

    As she landed, Calypso skidded across the writhing streets, due to anchoring her blade into the ground to slow herself.

    ¡°HOLY COW, YOU LITERALLY KNOCKED IT¡¯S TEETH OUT, CAL--!¡± Gale from afar shouted in disbelief.

    Calypso rose up, casually pulled the blade from the pavement. Flicked her transformed arm so that small rocks flung from it. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Gale. As I said, you did all the work¡­¡±

    She then realized. The skeletal monster girl controlled her wild blade¡­

    But the moment she realized, it acted up once more. It gave Calypso pause.

    Not control, it was never control¡ªany of this. Expression. Resonance. She simply reached the state of being at one with the beast within again.

    But screams shredded across the baked night air. The screams of people that exhaustively reached the top of insanity and realize that after all that struggle, there¡¯s no way down.

    ¡°I see¡ªsurvivors¡ª¡± Natalie pointed into the broken maw of the building.

    ¡°We gotta go in, then!¡± Sal urged.

    Calypso turned to her cousin, ¡°Not to say you¡¯re a liability, but we¡¯re able to tough it out better, in flames. You say with Gale, since she¡¯s basically a plant and Natalie can fly.¡±

    With that, Natalie fluttered into the fray, and Calypso rushed in soon after.

    It was somehow worse than the hidden side of the hospital. Of course, the interior of the building was warped into a gross visage, as if the place was abandoned for years and used as a dump¡­ But said messes, the damage, the decay¡­ It all formed into the basis of an inanimate, biological system.

    In short, the lobby of this building turned into the inside of a mouth.

    And the broken floor before them, perfectly shaped into a moving oval, was the throat. Where a crowd of people were reaching out, screaming, wailing for dear life.

 Entry 12.5 (1/2) - Terror: A Flawed Declaration

    Through the fire, smoke, and throbbing walls¡ªCalypso only just realized in this moment how hard this rescue was going to be.

    She approached a few feet before the building¡¯s wooden and steel throat. Feet away from the trapped crowd of people, nearly buried deep within. How they were illuminated by what she could only figure to be a brilliant, orange core that was below, deep within the living structure.

    It was the perfect backlight, to showcase the absolutely terrified expressions of the victims once they laid their eyes on her.

    The realization caused Calypso to suck her fangs. Always something in the way.

    ¡°Please¡ªI understand that you¡¯re afraid, but take our hands!¡± Calypso turned backward, urging Natalie to the fray.

    The fly monster girl was peppering the flaming structures, in an effort to curb the fires. She landed on her feet, rushing in. She slowly approached the hole, slowly reaching out her furry hand.

    ¡°We¡¯re the good ones, we promise,¡± Natalie quickly added as she did.

    The living building shuddered, adding to the distress that was felt radiating from the pit.

    Calypso took each immediate person in. A middle-aged office worker. A trendy 20-something that had all his clothes rendered to tatters. A skater. Some mailman. Student, cashier, jogger. A blur of simply normal people.

    Rendered into fearful, clawing, feral animals. Despite the differences, the faces, the body types¡ªthey were clawing against one another with the same, wide, empty eyes. But the moment ones on the ¡°top¡± trained those eyes on the monster girls, it became a fruitless and wild scramble.

    Natalie instantly backed away. ¡°Even if we invoke firefighter rules¡ªonce we try to yank a couple, the others¡¯ll pull them down¡ªsay nothing about them trying to kill us¡ª¡±

    ¡°Almost as if y¡¯all were better off with me here~¡±

    Sal stormed into Calypso¡¯s field of view. Too fast to reach for her cousin¡¯s now-gun-strapped back as she made her way forward. Adding to the distraction, she heard the soft, squelching footfalls of Gale coming behind her.

    ¡°S-sorry¡ª¡± Gale positioned herself beside Calypso¡¯s side. ¡°Like, you know more than anyone that she¡¯s unstoppable when her mind¡¯s made up¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡­Holy cow. Mr. Lessick! Mr. Lessick¡ªit¡¯s me, Sally Grimes!¡±

    Calypso watched as Sal waved, then knelt down. With her advanced sight, she saw that it was the mailman she gauged before.

    ¡°¡ªYeah! Y-you¡¯re the Grimes¡¯ kid!¡± a guff voice, strained from screaming, rang out. ¡°Get outta here¡ªthere¡¯s no point, those freaks are right behind you, RUN¡ª¡±

    ¡°As they were literally sayin¡¯¡ª¡± Sal cut him off, adding authority in her tone. ¡°¡ªThey¡¯re the good ones, good monsters¡ªand are here to save y¡¯all. Grab onto the ones that actually have places to grip at and hold on to dear life!¡±

    Of course, there was instant reluctance. But between being the only human of Calypso¡¯s number, and the sudden tug from below¡ªcausing a chorus of screams¡­ There was no more debate.

    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    ¡°Mr. Lessick¡± was the first to reach for Natalie, the latter using her wings to propel them both. Sal provided support, helping the victims into the arms of Natalie.

    Calypso guided Gale into the center of the building. For every sudden shudder of life, Calypso slashed and Gale smashed with her thick fists. Cutting and punching so violently, not only craved more space for the victims to move, providing the escape that these people needed and lessening Natalie¡¯s workload. It got to the point of the building started to develop wooden-based cuts and bruises.

    ¡°How many so far--?¡± Calypso asked as she scanned the battered environment.

    ¡°Most of ¡®em are out¡ª¡± Sal answered, grunting as she pulled another person out. ¡°Half tempted to tell ¡®em ta¡¯ run for the goddamn hills¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡ªAlready did¡ª¡± Natalie chimed in, as she zoomed back into the fray. ¡°Pointed towards Albuquerque and every¡­¡±

    Calypso instantly gauged the new threat. She only knew Natalie only for a little while, but she does not trail off.

    Her question was answered with a sudden tackle on her side. The skeletal monster girl growled as she looked down, only to be faced with a gibbering half-human, half-Bat Subsumed visage.

    ¡°FUCKIN¡¯ HELL, YA¡¯ BAT BASTARDS ARE JUST AS ANNOYIN¡¯ AS REGULAR ASS ONES--!¡±

    Calypso knew that Sal had both the weapon and drive to hold one of them off, but she had to spring into action. She once again faded into her primal thoughts and plunged her wild blade right into the center of her Bat¡¯s head. Using the wound as leverage to fling the body away to rush, glance at the new madness before her.

    An entire hoard were climbing out of the hole. Their laughter colliding into a deafening chitter, with one of their numbers on top of Sal as she tried to wrestle out of it.

    Logically, even in high-tension situations¡ªone should recall every single second due to the agony behind it, being fully aware of the stakes, as they were on the verge of happening.

    But in Calypso¡¯s mind: one moment she was gawking at the sight with her dark eyes glowing with intense hatred¡ªand the next, she stood behind the Bat Subsumed¡ªher claw, not the blade, punctured its chest. It caused her to shake her head, blink. Take in the fact she literally blacked out in rage.

    Thankfully, Natalie already fluttered into the scene, grabbing Sal and dragging her away. ¡°C¡¯MON, NEXT SLASH MOVIE ICON¡ªWE HAVE SEQUELS TO MAKE--!¡±

    Calypso felt the damned begin to scratch at her, and she proceeded to sprint away seconds later. Joining the others back onto the streets, looking about to see if there were any stragglers that might be caught up in this soon-to-be-bout. Thankfully, Natalie¡¯s offers did pay off.

    Now that was done, she turned all attention to Sal. Who was simply shaking herself of black goop, while getting herself ready.

    ¡°Thanks for coverin¡¯ me in that filth, Cally¡­¡± Sal sighed, as she loaded her shots. ¡°I already got enough in my eye¡­¡±

    Which made something click into place, for Calypso.

    ¡°Your eye, Sally¡­¡± Calypso pointed with her claw. ¡°There IS less of it, that corruption, now.¡±

    Sal froze, then gently put to fingers under the said eye. The black veins were only localized in her sclera, versus leaking out of the eye entirely as it was previously.

    ¡°Well hell¡ª¡± Sal grinned, now holding her gun with vigor. ¡°At least Moses knows what she¡¯s talkin¡¯ about--!¡±

    The Bat Subsumed horde thrust themselves out of the burning building. So giddy that they were struggling against one another, trying to scale the other so they can get out first.

    ¡°Wish she tossed that book with you¡­¡± Gale pouted verbally. ¡°Me and Natty don¡¯t even have cool monster powers like Cal here¡­¡±

    ¡°And then there¡¯s the super secret page that could be there that tells us how exactly we can kill the Subsumed¡ªin one fell swoop or something¡ª¡± Natalie added. ¡°How to exactly stop the Terrortide, how to track some insane bitch by the stars¡ªthe works, really. Anything in that book would¡¯ve been great.¡±

    The skeletal monster girl began to open her maw, to supply her cohorts with the information that at least worked for her.

    ¡°¡­Ain¡¯t that it, right there¡­?¡±

    Calypso then clamped down, and wanted to sigh.

    But there was no point to waste any energy that isn¡¯t beneficial to the current scenario. She turned her head to where Sal pointed, and lo¡¯ the Tome was right there on the streets.

    Moving. Twitching.

    And soon, bursting¡ªthe pages turning rapidly. The crackling of energy poured outward, forming a shape before the girls.

    What that shape became, it stopped the horde in their tracks. Gawking with mouths agape.

    ¡°HEY GUYS,¡± Melissa huffed, trying desperately to raise onto her clawed feet. Her grin was wide with her sharp teeth very visible. ¡°HOW¡¯SIT?¡±

 Entry 12.5 (2/2) - Terror: A Flawed Declaration

    ¡°¡­Melissa!¡± Calypso tried to smile with her razor fangs of her own. ¡°What¡­ Timing!¡±

    The new Consumed tried to catch her breath, tried to rise to her feet. All that resulted in Melissa swaying in place, haggardly looking upon the two crowds that were before her.

    But the fact that the horde of Bat Subsumed were still and silent, waiting for something, when seconds before they were ready to swarm the girls¡­ Really made Calypso anxious.

    ¡°A-as you can see¡ª¡± Natalie tried to hop onto damage control, in hopes to aid Calypso. ¡°¡ªWe couldn¡¯t bust you out of there because, uh, trying to save the world at the moment¡ªwasn¡¯t because we forgot you or some level of neglect on our parts¡ªalso uh, I¡¯m good now¡ªI know that¡¯s a tad confusing given your timeline¡ª¡±

    Calypso sensed Sal lean toward her, and the skeletal monster girl turned to see her cousin in position to fire when ready.

    ¡°I know when yer all¡­ Freaked out an¡¯ lyin¡¯,¡± Sal whispered with caution. ¡°Only way to tell that ya¡¯ are¡­ Is this¡ªis she al¡¯ight?¡±

    ¡°WHAT ARE YOU WHISPERING OVER THERE--?!¡± Melissa coughed and pointed her claw at the duo. ¡°I¡¯M PART-BAT NOW¡ªI CAN HEAR THINGS--!¡±

    ¡°My cousin is just newly thrusted into all this¡ªjust like you,¡± Calypso raised her own claws, showing her palms. ¡°No one is accusing anyone of anything.¡±

    Calypso stepped forward, causing Melissa to immediately tense so violently, so feral, it caused Calypso to abandon that tactic.

    ¡°Melissa¡¯s just like the rest of us!¡± Gale cheerily answered Sal, and proceeded to ease toward the broken girl. ¡°First time Consumed, just like a first-time caller~ It¡¯s uber intense, becoming one at first, like¡ªyou have to keep yourself from freaking out AND eating people, it totally sucks¡­¡±

    Somehow, Gale managed to get so close to Melissa, that she effortlessly brought the vampire in for a hug. No judgment, no caution. Even Melissa didn¡¯t know what to make of the gesture.

    Gale quickly broke off the hug, and gently draped an arm around Melissa, as if she were a longtime friend. ¡°It¡¯s why we all promised to help her, like, with no questions asked~ It¡¯s just that everything was tense, basically the worst possible time where we were all busy and caught off guard. And there¡¯s definitely no stopping us now~!¡±

    Melissa¡¯s wild eyes settled, and her muscles visibly relaxed as they shifted in her violet skin. Letting loose a build-up, soothing sigh of relief¡ªthe lightest steam pouring from her now full lips.

    Calypso had to withhold her own sigh of relief. Always able to count on Gale in the strangest of ways.

    And yet it wasn¡¯t enough to completely sate her unease. She glanced back to the horde¡­ It was unnerving.

    They were just¡­ Gawking. Letting the shadow-based drool dribble out from their slack jaws. Their black, beady eyes were glazed. Even with a certain number where they still had human remains hanging from their skulls, their stolen gazes were just as bewildered.

    Then it clicked for her.

    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    The chants of ¡°MELISSA HARKER!¡± erupted from within her mind, as she recalled the moment they all found out when she was alive.

    Calypso had to figure out what it meant. And fast.

    ¡°Okay, okay¡­¡± Melissa slipped out of Gale¡¯s gesture, before realizing she was lightly covered in slime, trying to awkwardly wipe it in a way that didn¡¯t offend the swamp monster girl. ¡°I¡­ I think I¡¯m fine now. Me being a raging monster now aside¡ª"

    ¡°So we¡¯re cool?¡± Natalie asked.

    Melissa turned her gaze towards Natalie, some trepidation etched across her face. ¡°If you¡¯re all good with me just leaving and never looking back, then sure¡­¡±

    ¡°Leaving--?¡± Natalie asked further.

    And before Melissa could get more agitated, Calypso raised a claw to stop Natalie from going further. ¡°I can imagine a couple of reasons why, but if we may be so bold in hearing you out¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not rocket science, guys¡ª¡± Melissa waved her arms, at the wreckage of the town. ¡°I knew this place was fricked up from the start! Heck, I¡¯m sure other people will too, if you guys get through this! I¡¯m leaving, I¡¯m packing my stuff, and I¡¯m leaving this¡­ Literal Hell hole!¡±

    ¡°W-without learning more about the whole Consumed lifestyle?¡± Natalie piped in again, leaning forward almost. ¡°You need pointers¡ªnot to mention we have the perfect vet to get proper training from¡ª¡±

    ¡°Why are you all so insistent on me staying all of a sudden?¡± Melissa questioned, not at all hiding her malice. Her confusion and fear.

    ¡°All we want is for you and others to be safe¡­¡± Calypso carefully gestured to the burning, twisted remains of the town. ¡°We don¡¯t want you and anyone else to suffer anymore. We¡¯re standing on what could end up happening. Plus, Cassie could still be out there¡ªwilling to follow you¡ª¡±

    ¡°Cassie¡¯s dead.¡±

    That caused Calypso to pause. To glance back toward Natalie, then to Gale¡ªthey both shared different but the same confused-looking faces.

    ¡°Now hold on¡ª¡± Sal looked at Calypso. ¡°Who¡¯s Cassie¡ªgive me a history lesson¡ª¡±

    ¡°The one that caused this¡ªis a bigger bat monster except not really because she¡¯s a Vampire¡ªshe wants to fuck over everything¡ªis why Melissa¡¯s a Vampire¡ªNOT blaming you Melissa¡ªby the way--¡± Natalie was blistering fast in her delivery.

    But it caused Calypso to remember why she did the gesture from before.

    The Bat horde continued to do nothing. Nothing but gawk at this comedy skit.

    Calypso was more certain than ever, about what was going on here.

    ¡°W-what do you mean, Cassie¡¯s dead¡­?¡± Gale asked the question Calypso desperately wanted to ask.

    ¡°Iunno,¡± Melissa shrugged, folded her arms. ¡°Figuratively? Metaphorically? I really fucking hope¡ªsorry¡ªthat it¡¯s literal¡­ Whatever it was but when I was in that book¡­ She came to me. It wasn¡¯t a puppet thing, that¡¯s what I thought at first but no¡­ She said her final words and everything. She¡¯s gone.¡±

    Calypso clenched her claw into a fist.

    ¡°¡­As much as I believe you,¡± Calypso began. ¡°That¡¯s all the more reason you have to stay here¡ª¡±

    ¡°Fuck you, why?!¡± Melissa suddenly roared, her blood-red eyes glowed in response.

    ¡°Melissa, if you could please calm down¡ª¡± Calypso tried to explain.

    ¡°FUCK YOU, WHY?!¡± Melissa swiped forward. ¡°HAVEN¡¯T I GONE THROUGH ENOUGH?! I FUCKING DIED, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!¡±

    Calypso glanced at the horde.

    They were suddenly animated. Shaking excitedly, nodding, and looking at each other with energy.

    Approval.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m going to spell it out¡ª¡± Natalie stepped in. ¡°¡ªSince, y¡¯know¡ªyou keep asking. Like it or not, she made you into this thing. Which means that some part of her still lives on in you. You¡¯re not our enemy¡ªyou don¡¯t have to be. So let¡¯s just calm down and figure this out¡ª¡±

    ¡°Aw hell¡­¡± Sal muttered. ¡°The worse choice of words ya¡¯ can say ta¡¯ a person when they¡¯re mad¡­¡±

    Melissa stood there. Shook with her claws now open, at her sides as she gritted her fangs.

    ¡°Melissa¡­ We just want to help you out¡­¡± Gale offered her hand, even as it softly dripped.

    ¡°You¡¯re not an enemy,¡± Calypso quickly added. ¡°You¡¯re a victim. Like us. Not a monster.¡±

    In response, the Vampire Consumed¡¯s wings unfolded from their makeshift dress. Spreading them completely, as the Bat Subsumed horde cheered.

    ¡°¡­I guess you have to be one,¡± Melissa stared at her new enemies, with her head lowered. ¡°To get what you want.¡±

    Sal and Natalie responded faster than Calypso could remotely form words. Firing their respective ammo at the Vampire, as she hunched forward in pain immediately.

 Entry 12.6 - Terror: A Flawed Declaration

    Calypso was on edge. Despite Melissa being hit directly in the shoulder and thigh, immediately bleeding black ooze as she trembled and started to cry¡­ This was still a monster girl that absolutely rinsed her, Gale, and Natalie without even trying¡ªno, not even being aware of what she was doing. It didn¡¯t help that the Bat monsters began to jump into the fray, as they deemed her their new master.

    But what weighed down on her more, more so than the exhaustion and mental battering she¡¯s received, was the emotional sympathy. Melissa was like Calypso when she started out¡ªat least from what she can see from the woman. Wrapped up in the pain and trauma, so fed up that she embraced them. But unlike her¡ªshe didn¡¯t have some lucky break in salvation. Or at the very least, the illusion of such.

    What made Calypso more worthy than this woman? Calypso knew that life, by its broad definition and function, has to be unfair. But for all the so-called power she has yet to untap¡­ Why can¡¯t she bend this woman¡¯s fate, too?

    There simply was no time.

    Gale rushed in to defend Calypso and Sal from at least two or three Bat Subsumed that lunged for them. Using her massive, dirt-infused fists to pummel the interlopers¡ªsome were punched in the face so far, the human skin that held so tight started to flay away.

    And as they went down, multiple soon followed suit. Flapping their wings in a frenzy.

    Calypso was going to spring into action, before seeing the rain of yellow cells pelting the shadow demons with no remorse. The skeletal monster girl turned her head to see Natalie flying in the air, dipping a few feet due to clipping her wings, due to the attack.

    ¡°She ain¡¯t movin¡¯ still, Cal¡­¡±

    Sal still had her shotgun aimed at a trembling Melissa. Almost like she was shivering from the cold, despite the air baking from the on-raging flames.

    It clicked for Calypso. Thankfully not a moment too soon.

    ¡°NATALIE, TAKE SAL¡ªGALE, GET AWAY, NOW!¡±

    With a sudden, but very familiar screeching cackle¡ªMelissa fired streams of molten, red-hot blood at the girls as she reared back.

    Gale evaded just in time, Natalie hoisted Sal by grappling her midsection¡ªfluttering away until they both tumbled backward up the street.

    Calypso bounded into the air, leaning towards her side as she reached out for the mutilated, living building and dug her claws into the brick wall, stopping after 3 very pregnant seconds.

    The skeletal monster girl looked downward onto the battlefield before it was going to be choked by the added smoke from Melissa¡¯s attack, the molten blood already melting the area slowly but surely.

    And things kept getting worse.

    The Bat Subsumed that Gale pummeled regained their stature and instantly dogpiled onto the downed swamp monster girl.

    Meanwhile, Sal was firing at the crowd that was beginning to form around her and Natalie. Cursing, mumbling, yelling at Natalie to cover her as she reloaded¡­ Very clearly running low and slowly choosing who was the more pressing problem, while scooting away as best she could.

    Natalie had the same but very different problem. On the way down, she landed on her wing¡ªthe friction of the pavement shredding her left wing into virtually nothing. Meaning she had to wait for her wings to completely regenerate, firing her undamaged wing, picking and choosing ala Sal. While her shots were greatly more effective¡­ There was something about these Subsumed now.

    They were spirited. They found some new purpose they were willing to completely die for. ¡°Die, but do it¡±¡ªa saying Calypso read about one time. But it was different here. The Subsumed by their nature are overdramatic beings, this proclamation, this loyalty¡ªit¡¯s fueling them to be even more dangerous.

    ¡°Y-YOU FUCKERS FORGOT¡­ TH-THAT I LEARNED MY SPECIAL MOVES IN THAT DUMB BOOK¡­¡±

    Melissa flapped her wings, to clear the smoke...

    To show the absolute nightmare that Melissa willingly became.

    The veins that made up her limbs untangled, writhing in the air before plugging themselves over the wounds she was dealt. The veins of her fingers detached, wrapped around her claws, gasping open as steam escaped from the twitching holes. And from behind her, three Subsumed kneeled behind her¡­ Being mummified completely, falling to the ground.

    Showing that she was completely filled up with blood. Her sights on Calypso¡¯s friends and family.

    Her only friends and family.

    ¡°GALE! NATALIE!¡±

    Calypso¡¯s voice trembled, it broke. It became more like her true voice¡­ But has never been more resolute.

    ¡°THINK OF WHAT MOSES TOLD YOU¡ªDEFY FATE! FIND YOUR DECLARATION! DIG DEEP AND IT¡¯LL CLICK! PLEASE¡ªDON¡¯T JUST SAVE SAL, SAVE YOURSELVES! YOU TWO DESERVE THE WORLD!¡±

    Calypso threw herself in between her loved ones and Melissa, cracking the pavement upon landing. She planted her claw on the broken street, with her scythe raised behind her.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know how¡­ But we¡¯re going to outlast you all. We¡¯ll never surrender,¡± it was Calypso¡¯s declaration towards the indifferent aether, versus Melissa.

    ¡°And I don¡¯t wanna do any of this¡­¡± Melissa then shrugged, aiming her sights on Calypso. ¡°But if this me finally taking initiative for once in my life, then I guess I¡¯m gonna melt some monster kids¡ª¡±

    There was a pained expression that followed, and a geyser of blood sprayed toward the skeletal monster girl.

    Calypso smirked, in turn.

    She used her wild blade to slash apart the fractured ground in a frenzy. Searching for the biggest slab available, pulling herself back, and kicking this massive rock upwards.

    Acting as the perfect wall as the intense heat surrounded Calypso, seeing the ways manifest as she crouched down, hiding from the assault. Looking at her claw and her blade, trying to think about her next moves.

    But due to the position, Calypso saw faint light that shined her way¡ªgaining her attention.

    There was a frenzy of vines, spearing themselves out of the group of Bat Subsumed¡­ The very Subsumed that swarmed Gale.

    As the vines wormed violently in the bodies of their victims, it allowed Gale to push out of the mess slowly but surely. A struggle, where it was clear that some of the Subsumed bit into her judging by the odd shapes along her body. But she managed to escape. Standing up with a solemn look on her face, her arms turned into living vines.

    Immediately after, a gush of wind pushed back another bunch of Subsumed. The winds were so concentrated, so strong, that they carried semi-invisible razors that slashed the Bats, giving them the deepest gashes.

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    Natalie rose up, with Sal in tow. Sporting two fans that were once her wings, studying them with a curt whistle.

    ¡°goooooooOOOOOOD¡ª¡± Melissa shrieked out in frustration. Agony. ¡°JUST STOP! STOP AND JUST LET ME GO!¡±

    Calypso felt the pavement behind herself turn into practically magma, causing her to scramble, hoisting up a couple more pieces to act as a brace, as she was on her knees now with her claw digging into the new slab.

    Even with this sudden fortune, Calypso saw how haggard everyone was. Sal was low on ammo and is a walking target for a vengeful foe. Gale was gnawed on, and Natalie now has no wings to evade and move people. Calypso could fight to the death, willing to give herself up¡­ But there¡¯s no way the others would let her.

    This can¡¯t be won in a contest of strength alone.

    Her claw was suddenly singed, causing her to yelp out, waving the hand in a vain effort to cool it¡­

    But it was the moment she needed. A moment to simply look at her hand.

    Due to the heat, the pavement slabs exploded with sudden force, causing Calypso to flop backward, and skid back to her group. Of course, they all rushed to her, shouted her arm, immediately helped her up.

    This position allowing them to all see Melissa pulsating, bulking oddly and without rhythm.

    ¡°FINE THEN¡ª¡± Melissa yelled, the veins on her snapping out of place. ¡°WE ALL WON¡¯T LEAVE HERE ALIVE! I¡¯M DOING IT! I¡¯M BLOWING MYSELF UP!¡±

    She then screamed out in agony, hugging herself. Her veins positioning themselves upward from her limbs and body. Starting to swell with pressure, engorging themselves.

    Calypso saw red droplets rain from Melissa¡¯s face. She instantly got that these were crimson tears, versus blood.

    ¡°All I wanted to fucking do was get through life¡­¡± Melissa lamented. ¡°Did everything that I needed¡­ And still¡­¡±

    The skeletal monster girl clenched her jaw.

    She knew what she had to do.

    Calypso cut her palm, letting black blood spurting from the gash she made.

    She ran forward, using all of her strength to propel herself in record time. This meant that she was going to be exhausted once she reached her destination.

    But all she needed was to hold a hand.

    Calypso clasped her bleeding claw into Melissa¡¯s trembling one. Causing the Vampire Subsumed to look down in abject terror¡­ But also surprise.

    The skeletal monster girl let the various veins dart themselves deep into her being, letting herself rock with force. She didn¡¯t care.

    Maybe it¡¯ll make what she¡¯s going to do much more effective.

    ¡°CALYPSO!¡± Sal¡¯s voice rumbled with despair. ¡°CALYPSO!¡±

    Calypso tried to catch her breath. But feeling the mummification process robbed her of her vitality. It took her a few moments for her to raise her head towards a confused, bewildered Melissa. Stared right into her glistening, yet dark eyes.

    ¡°I won¡¯t stop¡­ I promise that I won¡¯t stop trying to help you, Melissa. Even if you can¡¯t help yourself; I pledge that no matter what¡ªI. Will. Help you¡ªand we will not fight until I do!¡±

    The red skies above, which writhed with runes, began to slow themselves above Calypso and Melissa. And soon after, the runes descended around the duo, circling faster and faster around them.

    Melissa screamed out, holding her head. She ripped away from Calypso, found herself falling back--but was constricted in the ring around them. She screamed and screamed, before falling on her hands and knees... Her veins retracting into her body.

    Calypso couldn¡¯t help but smirk. Not bad, for her first Blood Pact.

    ¡°Crazy girl--!¡±

    Calypso found herself scooped up by Sal. Uncaring of how uncomfortable the act was, despite the spikes nearly digging painfully into her.

    ¡°I know I¡¯m not the one that can talk, but¡­¡± Calypso tried to reason. But then realized this was Sal, and didn¡¯t care about her logic.

    Despite that, Natalie found herself as a referee, spitting the cousins away from each other. ¡°Well fucking played, Calypso¡­¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t think that would work, honestly¡­¡± Calypso admitted.

    ¡°Of course, ya¡¯ didn¡¯t¡ª¡± Sal pouted, rubbing at the tears in her clothes, due to the bone spikes.

    ¡°Soooo¡­¡± Gale walked into frame, letting her vines skid on the pavement. ¡°What does it¡­ Well, what did you mean?¡±

    Calypso looked towards Melissa, who was just sobbing as she scraped her claws against the pavement.

    ¡°I was nice for once, I guess¡­¡± Calypso quipped. She immediately felt a twinge of stupidity, before just accepting this new vulnerability.  ¡°As long as we strive to help her¡­ There¡¯s no need to fight anymore.¡±

    ¡°Granted, we have to like¡ªfigure out the total combination of meanings we can squeeze from those words so we don¡¯t get caught flatfooted again¡ªbut still!¡± Natalie clapped, putting her new, stylish fans under her arms. ¡°Great work!¡±

    Sal sighed, loudly and longingly, wiping the side of her sweating face. ¡°There¡¯s so much shit I havta¡¯ catch up on¡­ But I¡¯m glad that y¡¯all managed to figure SOMETHIN¡¯ out before it got messy¡­¡±

    Gale made a high-pitched, self-satisfactory shout of glee. ¡°And you said you¡¯re nothing but doom and gloom! You literally saved someone with a promise from the heart! I could hug and kiss you if I could¡­! B-because uh, my arms are all noodles¡ªhow do ya¡¯ turn these things off, Cal--?¡±

    Calypso chuckled, pointing her thumb at the Vampire Consumed. ¡°Let¡¯s get to work, first¡­¡±

    Their cheers were interrupted by a clear and present chill, that ripped through the baked air.

    ¡°No.¡±

    Calypso refused, turned on her heels to face Melissa¡­ Who was eerily still.

    Only for her entire back to tense so badly, it began contorting her frame into something akin to a larval sack. Her dark eyes went blank¡ªno glowing irises at all. Her mouth closed into an ¡°o¡± shape, her expression a frozen face of terror.

    ¡°No,¡± Calypso simply refused, wanting to step forward. But was too scared to do so.

    Melissa¡¯s back erupted in a fountain of blood¡­ That began to stop mid-action, mid-air, defying gravity as it pulled together and congealed into a humanoid shape.

    The last thing they all wanted to see.

    ¡°No! No no no no no no nooooooooooooooo!¡±

    Calypso futilely slammed at the ground, cracking it with sudden, feral strength. She knew she should¡¯ve saved it¡ªaimed it at the monster that stood before them. She heard the whimpering of Gale, she heard Natalie suck her teeth in frustration.

    ¡°WHY CAN¡¯T YOU ALL JUST STOP THIS?!¡± Calypso pleaded. To fate, to the universe.

    But she knew that the ¡°new¡± audience won¡¯t have any of it.

    ¡°Man,¡± Cassie Morgan looked over at her new form. A being made of blood, her surface area being constant bleeding that never falls from an edge. Her features, even the final details, were all sculpted from liquid. Lacking eyes, which were represented with deep, empty sockets that trapped darkness within. And her fangs were made up of hardened scabs.

    She ¡°wiped¡± at her brow. ¡°Talk about things you never thought would work, fuck me¡ªwe thought that our little project was a dud¡­¡±

    It wasn¡¯t so much stunned silence, but¡­ Crushed. Crushed by the events that played out, there¡¯s truly nothing to say.

    ¡°¡­Well, I thought you were gonna go¡ª¡®ah! How?! Why?!¡¯ But whatever, fine¡ª¡± Cassie reached down, and pulled Melissa¡¯s head, as it wore a just as browbeaten expression. ¡°Since our efforts in finding a Consumed drug-pack-mule kept having hiccups, we found ol¡¯ Melissa Harker here. At least, we were gonna do it the old fashioned way: have our Bat coven level up to our caliber and let ¡®em enjoy the ride¡­¡±

    Cassie then let Melissa¡¯s head drop, placing a hand on her bloody chest, ¡°But we had so many debts to keep track of¡­ Our body was basically bonked, all but in name. So we said ¡®fuck it¡¯¡ªkept feeding her our¡­ ¡®Essence¡¯.¡±

    Cassie giggled to herself, ¡°Sorry, censorship ends up being waaaay funnier than the actual word¡ªbut no, we kept giving her our meat until something happened. Because hey, we¡¯re still a Subsumed at the end of the day¡ªdoesn¡¯t that still count for a Consumed transformation base? Gotta admit, was a tad worried when our original body finally gave out under the strain¡ªbut now there¡¯s no point! Yippie! We don¡¯t have to pay for our consequences~!¡±

    Calypso found the strength to step forward, prompting an amused sound from the Vampire¡­ Whatever she is, now.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. You can¡¯t fight us, we can¡¯t fight you. You¡¯re Melissa in a sense now, aren¡¯t you? As long as we actively try to help this woman, we¡¯re at an impasse. Your stupid reign ends tonight, you sadistic fuck.¡±

    Cassie simply flashed her disgusting, black fangs. How the rough ¡°skin¡± glistened.

    ¡°What¡¯s another binding contract to somehow wriggle out of~? Let¡¯s test your little promise, in that case.¡±

    The bloody Vampire began to laugh. She let her limbs pour all over Melissa, the streams tightening over her limbs like wraps. Forcing her upright, and then forcing her to lumber forward toward the group.

    ¡°What are we gonna do, Cal¡­?¡± Sal walked to Calypso¡¯s side, trying to steady her gun.

    There simply wasn¡¯t an answer.

    Calypso roared and charged toward the monster.

    And the monster likewise lumbered on.

    But all were stopped by a church-like gong. Repeating, taking its time, over and over.

    Before they knew it, both parties were bathed in a holy light. A light that parted the destructive skies. A light that physically froze all combatants in place.

    And judging by the look on Cassie¡¯s face¡­ This was the highest of the high. The ceiling. The dictators.

    The Fates That Be.

    So when Calypso saw this little kid¡­ Dressed in white and pencil-thin stripes across their suit that seemed three sizes too big, and wearing a paperboy¡¯s cap on top of white, curly hair that hit the shoulders¡­ It just continued to prove her point that all of this was completely absurd.

    The new challenger yawned. Their face returned to this tired indifference, as it was revealed that they were ringing this tin, silver bell that caused everything to stop. Slowly putting it away, they glanced at both parties with their golden eyes.

    ¡°You,¡± the child banally pointed at Cassie and Melissa. They barely turned to point at Calypso and her loved ones, ¡°And you. This is a draw. You lot are holding up the proceedings and I rather want this to be over with. Now come.¡±

    And once that holy light faded, so did they.

 Missing Entry (...?)

    The celestial being yawned, once more. As they crossed their legs on top of a pillar of fate, crafted from the heavens itself, it all still felt¡­ Uncomfortable.

    Regardless. They let the bell toll, as they rang the heavy, silver translucent construct in their tiny hand.  Watching one by one, their audience build and build with every chime.

    And yet. All of them still so small, in the end.

    ¡°This is a proceeding, conducted and carried out by the eminence of the Fates That Be¡­ And one of these Fates before you is deemed Skylark,¡± Skylark then yawned, once again.  ¡°I, Skylark, will decide upon the fates of all present. Always and forever.¡±

    A final ring of the bell, echoed throughout the ethereal halls of the skies.

    The gong resonated so heavily, Skylark felt the trembling of each of their souls. The sensation managed to inject some level of excitement in them.

    Skylark let their head hang to the right. The bound Vampire¡­ Abomination, that was bound in the shining light.

    ¡°On my right, Cassandra Whitley Morgan¡ªthe 567<sup>th</sup> Terrorizer of her legacy, and the 3<sup>rd</sup> that might have succeeded, lest the proceedings say otherwise.¡±

    And Skylark pointed toward the crowd of humans, feeling their spikes of fear all at once. ¡°And before me, Willow Reverie who has the burden of not only knowing of the darkness¡ªbut had to survive such for many days and many nights¡­ And¡­¡±

    Skylark sighed, letting their pale hair hang down¡ªyet their paperboy¡¯s hat still planted on top of the head.

    ¡°I apologize for my¡­ discourteousness. Discourtesy?¡± Skylark shook their head. ¡°I don¡¯t know why I¡¯m doing this¡­ Performance for you. I know who summoned me. I know that the person who summoned me did so purposefully. Due to my¡­ Well, my fellow celestial judges are not only more seasoned but more caring about their roles and statures.¡±

    Skylark leaned back, as if their pillar of cloud had a back to it. They then gestured at the crowd. ¡°Just reveal yourself so we can begin this trainwreck.¡±

    Richard Mittleman, age 19, rose his finger up in the air.

    ¡°Before we proceed¡­¡± the boy tried so hard, to mask his voice. ¡°Is there a way to mask my appearance, other than the cloak of the shade, that you have so graciously allowed me to keep¡­?¡±

    Another hand rose, barely reaching above the crowd.

    A hand belonging to Calypso Grimes, 18. Made¡­ A series of threats and declarations against Skylark and their kind.

    ¡°That goes for us, as well¡­¡± an even poorer attempt to make one¡¯s voice gravely. ¡°But for us¡­ Maybe allow us to transform again? I¡¯m sure it¡¯s still night in¡­ O-our reality¡­¡±

    Skylark sighed.

    And with their heavy fingers, the building energy physically weighed them, and proceeded to snap.

    Each of their respective wishes was granted, in a pale, blue light.

    Richard felt his now-masked face. Simple, operatic¡ªa white face that was frozen in mock horror. Skylark was impressed how the boy immediately felt for a seam between the mask and his flesh¡ªto check if there was some twist of fate where his face IS a mask. Confirming that it isn¡¯t the case.

    Calypso and her cohorts found themselves transformed into Consumed once more¡ªcausing the crowd to be startled before settling. All except her cousin, who was frankly too confused and enraged to move¡ªfocusing her gaze on the entire crowd.

    But both Richard and Calypso not only visibly, but emotionally relaxed once their wishes were granted. It seemed that they prefer the darkness, more than the humans present here.

    ¡°No monkey¡¯s paw or literal interpretations¡­ We truly are in your mercy, then.¡±

    Martha Mittleman made herself known by stepping forward, arms crossed in her big suit. Even with a smile plastered on her dainty face, it was clear that she was frustrated. Not just at the situation.

    Skylark just shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m not really in the mood to properly do my job. What, with the unannounced summons and all. Let this be both a warning and setting the tone for this proceeding¡ª¡±

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    ¡°WHY¡¯RE WE ACTIN¡¯ LIKE THIS IS SOMETHIN¡¯ NORMAL?!¡±

    ¡°Sal¡± Grimes stomped her foot, her arms wailing as Natalie Noel and Gale Pratchett made way for her tantrum. Skylark only sighed harder and sunk deeper in their non-existent chair.

    ¡°Maybe this is all hunky-dory in y¡¯all sense of reality¡ªbut I¡¯m suddenly in heaven after learnin¡¯ that every single adult I know was all in it¡ªknowin¡¯ that this place is basically hell!¡±

    Sal proceeded to point out, ¡°I already had to accept my own flesh n¡¯ blood keepin¡¯ this from me¡ªbut really?! Martha-fuckin¡¯-Mittleman?! Old Man Paul?! Even Major Huntington basically covered up murders for how long--?!¡±

    ¡°Woah woah woah!¡± the ¡°Mayor¡± responded in kind. ¡°This isn¡¯t all me¡ªI went to college and aced my classes to run for office with little to no breaks or a life; they happily handed me the key while whispering in my ear¡ª¡®hey, guess what? All those bedtime stories and horror movies are real and contribute to 99% of the murders here¡ªbut you have to hide it! Ask surpriiiised--!¡±

    ¡°If we please return to the matter at hand before the Honored snap their fingers and spirit all of us away?¡±

    Isabella Moses was at the center of the crowd, still bound to her wheelchair. Appearing composed, but eternally writhing in flames. Skylark noted a few possibilities, but didn¡¯t care to narrow down the prime one.

    She gestured toward the celestial judge, ¡°Now. As you please, Honored one.¡±

    Skylark made a non-committal grunt. They then gestured toward Richard once more.

    ¡°Now then¡­¡± Richard stepped forward, right beside his mother¡­ Giving him the iciest of looks trying to maintain her d¨¦cor. ¡°I¡¯ve summoned you, Honorable Skylark of the Fates That Be, to point out numerous discrepancies of Cassie Morgan¡¯s Terrortide. 1) the conditions of building to the Foundation Festival were not met, despite it happening on the day it was supposed to be. 2) her influence didn¡¯t reach outside of Willow Reverie¡ªthe rampage was at least subverted for a time before you made your presence known. And 3) the sheer amount of debt she still owes would¡¯ve rendered the struggle null and void the moment she achieved anything¡ªregardless of her¡­ Experiment.¡±

    ¡°Very astute observations, young one¡­¡± Skylark shrugged but gestured toward the trapped Vampire. ¡°But in the interest of fairness, this¡­ ¡®Wrinkle¡¯ afforded many new possibilities, possibilities that seem¡­ Promising, to keep it vague.¡±

    Skylark looked down upon the crowd, with their judgment. ¡°And despite the many limitations, they ultimately have bolstered her actions and agenda. The fact that she managed to do so much damage¡­ It is still commendable, once you put it in this light. More so, since there are many dead from this rampage. If you¡¯re doing this, to simply undo this damage, then this conversation is over--¡±

    ¡°At least on our side¡­¡± Richard shivered at his mother still staring at him, feeling her disapproval. ¡°We¡¯re willing to pledge to not use our services on the people that passed during this event. If this need be a total reset, then we shall respect it¡ª"

    ¡°¡ªTo which, I will at least counter that Cassie¡¯s idea of status quo leaves no productive possibilities for you all,¡± Martha butted into the conversation, with a small hand raised. ¡°If anything, it¡¯s pure stagnation¡ªno declarations or change that make things interesting. At least until someone else who manages to become a new Terrorizer and has to change the script anywho¡ªso what¡¯s there to argue, haha--?¡±

    ¡°True,¡± Skylark leaned into their fist with their cheek. ¡°However, we¡¯re willing to wait, how many eons that shapes up to be. And if we feel bored in the meantime, then sure, we¡¯ll try to pluck and influence things here and there to keep things motivated. If anything, such extreme, barren conditions could breed much more intense figures and fates for us to review. Bit boring, but it¡¯s work, I guess.¡±

    ¡°If I may be so bold¡­¡± Calypso Grimes added more depth to her already altered voice, in some semblance to disguise herself in plain sight for some reason. ¡°We, my coven and I¡­ We still subverted her point. We saved what we could. We proved that despite being monsters deep down inside, to the point it is in our DNA, there is kindness. Selflessness. Dare I say heroism, on what was supposed to be the ultimate proof of depravity in all life. Surely¡­ That means something¡­ Your¡­. Honorable Fates?¡±

    Skylark can sense the resentment bubbling beneath the surface of her perfectly articulated words. She hated the fact that she has to show respect to the celestial being. Her throat had to force down the various questions, accusations, and outright venomous threats she wanted to say instead.

    ¡°And to add,¡± which Calypso did, ¡°I was more than prepared to follow through with my declaration to your¡­ Kind. I had to save these people. I had to stop this¡­ Abomination from her hypocritical ideals of catharsis and payback. That is all.¡±

    Despite the internal turmoil happening within her, despite the tangible hint of fear¡­ Skylark did sense that she¡¯s willing to do so.

    ¡°It seems that my prot¨¦g¨¦ added yet another wrinkle in this dispute¡­¡± Isabella regained her fire, willing to smirk as she continued to praise Calypso. ¡°Meaning that both of our efforts were rendered void at the same time. Surely that can¡¯t add up to anything¡­?

    They sighed. Loudly.

    ¡°I really wished you all would¡¯ve took your chances with my brethren¡­¡± Skylark let their hand slide down their young face.  ¡°They would¡¯ve made this quick and called it a day. I have to come up with a status quo that¡¯s a complete and utter compromise between all of you, so no one prospers¡­¡±

    The ¡°Mayor¡± felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, as Skylark¡¯s glare snapped towards him.

    ¡°You. Say a constructive date for this Founding Festival.¡±

    ¡°M-maybe two weeks from now¡ªo-on the 24<sup>th</sup>¡ª¡±

    ¡°There,¡± Skylark adjusted themselves on their pillar. Pointing at everyone present.

    ¡°Cassie Morgan¡¯s Terrortidings have been reset. She has until the 24<sup>th</sup> of December to finalize her vow and be judged accordingly. The deaths that occurred only on this night, have been reset. However, Willow Reverie¡ªwhoever steps foot on this cursed soil, is more likely to become intertwined with the supernatural and accrue inner darkness the more they¡¯ve encountered said supernatural. Information learned on this night will not only be retained but will also cause accruing of inner darkness if one fixates on such.¡±

    With each ring of their bell, Skylark¡¯s visage was consumed by a blinding light.

    ¡°Such. Is. Fate.¡±

 Entry 13.0 - Rapport: Desired Harmony

    Calypso found the car ride back ¡°home¡± weird for a number of reasons. The fact that they¡¯re riding back home in the first place was one of them, as they were just face-to-face with an agent of fate and destiny.

    At least the little shit had the courtesy to give her and the rest of her coven their clothes back. Otherwise, this car ride back would¡¯ve been completely unbearable.

    It was somewhere around 9 or 10 in the morning. The¡­ General, shared mind fog of being displaced still lingered, Calypso pondering between the silent stand-off she was in the middle of¡ªif this fog was the result of their brains trying to wrap themselves around the fact any of what just happened, happened at all. Either way, Artemis and Bradley took it upon themselves to drop both Gale and Natalie off at their respective homes¡ªMrs. Moses simply told Sal¡¯s parents that she¡¯d meet them at the homestead, fading into the crowd that was in the know-how.

    So, it left Calypso and a simmering Sal in the minivan. Not one word spoken, since Gale and Natalie left the car. In typical Calypso Grimes fashion, she leaned against Sal as they shared the backseat, a noncommittal and nonverbal gesture of solidarity that she could¡¯ve just said.

    But there was still that uncomfortable undertone that hung in the air. They knew. Sal¡¯s parents¡­ Calypso¡¯s aunt and uncle¡­ What she thought was simple familial hospitality now had a sinister edge to it all. And there¡¯s the conversation/line of thought about Calypso¡¯s own mother¡ªwho might also know more than what she seemed.

    Maybe sent her away, so Artemis and Bradley could do the job she was clearly unequipped to handle.

    Calypso just shook her head. Staring out of the window, but not really looking at anything. She just wanted Sal to start yelling¡ªBradley to start explaining things away¡ªsomeone doing something. This entire situation has been gotten to her, already crushed her. But the stress still brewed within her now pounding head. And she knows once this farce starts, there won¡¯t be relief in the slightest.

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    Soon enough, the Grimes family pulled up in front of the homestead. Sal was the first to exit the van, causing Calypso to stumble without support.  As she quickly caught herself, hoisted herself from the seat¡­ Calypso simply looked down and nodded.

    She felt the stares of her cousin¡¯s parents and proceeded to help herself up, patting her loose tee in some vain sense of control. She too exited the vehicle without a sound, tempted to slam the door so hard that it damaged the car instead.

    But as she tried to act like she wasn¡¯t compromised in the slightest, at least there was one person that she felt was 100% on her side.

    Mrs. Moses wheeled toward her student with a worn, but never the less genuine smile on her face. ¡°You did so well, and on such short notice with the odds literally against you. If it wasn¡¯t for my infernal back, I¡¯d give you the hug deserve, Calypso.¡±

    There was a short, but much-needed huff that escaped Calypso¡¯s lips. She found them formed into a soft grin.

    ¡°Then allow me to do it myself¡­¡± Calypso couldn¡¯t hide the appreciation in her tone.

    Calypso bent down and gave her professor a hug, which she readily leaned forward to accept. There was the immediate awkward, lashing feeling from the inside¡ªbut the skeletal monster girl didn¡¯t care.

    This was the moment she never thought she¡¯d get today. And she¡¯s not going to let go of it so easily.

    But she immediately sensed that Sal¡¯s parents were approaching from behind, and broke the hug¡ªsmiling at her professor before walking up the stairs.

    It felt¡­ Odd. Calypso being glad that there was going to be screaming in this house. From the tops of everyone¡¯s respective lungs¡ªverbal barbs not only traded, but buried into one another to replicate the pain that seemed impossible to covey, let alone measure out in a sense of karma.

    But anything was better, than maintaining this now visible, tangible, false ignorance.

 Entry 13.1 - Rapport: Desired Harmony

    Once Calypso passed the threshold of the Grimes homestead, it felt as if the warmth drained from her body. This confrontation was going to suck.

    Regardless, she passed by the living room, past the stairwell leading to the upper floors. Calypso knew that this fight was going to be in the kitchen/supper room area¡ªwhere Sal already came back from the backdoor. A tall bottle of booze in her hand.

    Due to¡­ Alice and her mother, Calypso¡¯s eyes glaze over in the presence of drinks. Sal didn¡¯t even offer some as she poured her glass, probably to avoid Calypso¡¯s immediate whinging. The skeletal monster girl just¡­ Sat in her seat. Which was ironic for a number of reasons¡ªthe prime one being how she constantly dodged sitting here because she dragged her food to her room, to mix in with the Subsumed flesh she needed to eat. Now that the family¡¯s on the verge of breaking, now she¡¯s sitting in the seat they wanted for her.

    Sal threw her head back, to basically gulp her entire cup in one motion, slamming the emptied glass onto the wooden table. Hanging her head low as she groaned in pain, possibly from the drink¡¯s potency.

    ¡°What¡¯s the grand just-i-f-cation y¡¯all gonna spoon-feed me?¡± Sal barely didn¡¯t raise her head, but her voice still rang out loud and clear. ¡°¡®We had ta'' protect ya¡¯ Sal, so when the time comes¡ªyer basically flatfooted¡¯? ¡®We had basically all the old folks in town lookin¡¯ over ya¡¯, so they could handle it or tell ya¡¯¡¯¡ªsince they¡¯re always in step with me an¡¯ follow me every place I go, huh?¡±

    ¡°Maybe if you shut your trap, Sally, we¡¯ll explain in full¡ª¡± Artemis was deathly serious. It was a very ominous sign.

    Calypso didn¡¯t turn her head, but she glanced from the corner of her eye. To see Bradley walking behind, quickly, after presumably helping Mrs. Moses into the house. Preferring to make distance between her and the family as she sat in the living room.

    The skeletal monster girl couldn¡¯t exactly blame her.

    ¡°¡®ALWAYS BE HONEST, SALLY¡¯!¡± Sal rose from her seat, so fast that the chair almost fell back. ¡°¡®ALWAYS OWN UP Ta'' YER MISTAKES¡¯¡ªFAT LOAD OF SHIT, COMIN¡¯ FROM Y¡¯ALL--!¡±

    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    ¡°Maybe we should¡¯ve taught you not to lose your shit if and when someone lies to you¡ª¡± Artemis venomously shot back. A disgusting lilt in her voice, joking at the worst, inopportune time. ¡°Oh wait¡ªwe never had this problem since you were, rightfully, 10 fucking years old. Like, Iunno, we had faith in our daughter still being a grown-ass woman¡ª¡±

    ¡°I. NEARLY. DIED, MA!¡± Sal stared daggers into her. ¡°Ain¡¯t that enough for ya¡¯?! Aren¡¯t ya¡¯ fucking terrified that yer only damn daughter would¡¯ve become some monster?! ISN¡¯T ANYONE NOT OKAY OVER THE FACT THAT YER DAMN FAMILY¡¯S A MONSTER NOW--?!¡±

    Calypso wanted to deflate over the implications of her cousin¡¯s wording alone, but what happened next didn¡¯t give her any time to do anything but react.

    ¡°SALICIA. You will shut your mouth, or so help me, I won¡¯t just tell you nothing¡ªbut send you out of here on your ass!¡±

    Stillness and silence engulfed the scene. Soon after, Sal just back down, nearly limp.

    The image of that caused Calypso¡¯s claws to immediately come out, and she proceeded to scratch the table in such frustration, that she dug impressive gashes within the wood.

    Intensity replaced the stillness.

    It was funny. Calypso, possibly due to nearing an emotion-based change, could hear the intake of breath Artemis was about to waste¡ªwas about to waste on an empty threat against her.

    But as always, Mrs. Moses was the most levelheaded in the room.

    ¡°May I remind everyone present that not only does corruption accelerate during times of intense stress¡ªand now every human who¡¯s here is liable to gain MORE darkness with them?¡±

    With her trembling bone claws, Calypso simply pulled them from the self-made indents, and neatly put them on her lap. At least they in turn made something for the monster girl to stare at. So she couldn¡¯t see her family. So they in turn won¡¯t see the monstrous eyes she knew that she sported in this heightened, miserable moment.

    For all of her bluster about being some adult that should stoically take any struggle on the chin¡­ Artemis proceeded to unleash a childish, agonized shout.

    But the telling thing that Calypso observed, that it felt like¡ªthat shout¡ªhad been building for years. Decades, even.

    ¡°It¡¯s not like we¡ªwe¡ªwe¡ªwe¡ªfucking chose for to know any of this! We didn¡¯t! We were blindsided, just like you two! You¡¯re looking for answers¡ªall we have are stories that basically will sound like yours! We¡¯re not wicked stepmothers¡ªwe¡¯re not gurus of the unknown! We¡¯re former horror movie teens!¡±

    Calypso perked up from that. She was still afraid to directly look at her family, but¡­ That phrasing. It got stuck in her preverbal maw as she racked her mind.

 Entry 13.2 - Rapport: Desired Harmony

    There was yet another period of silence. But at least¡ªor rather tellingly¡ªit was filled with the odd, exhausted panting of anger from both sides of the party.

    ¡°¡­Ya¡¯ can actually talk whenever ya¡¯ want ta¡¯, Sally,¡± Bradley¡¯s already deep voice somehow reached lower. Most likely from sheer mental/emotional exhaustion.

    ¡°Cool,¡± Sal simply replied. Still hurt.

    Artemis simply sighed in response, Calypso hearing the various footfalls away from the dining room. ¡°Yeah, just¡­ You¡¯re so much better than me, with this. I ruin everything every time I open my fucking mouth¡­¡±

    There was a soft clap against flesh. Despite Calypso knowing better, she quickly looked up to check if the unthinkable happened¡ªand Bradley struck at Artemis in some way.

    She untensed. Bradley just did a facepalm, shaking his head as he massaged his forehead as he did.

    The fact that Calypso remotely thought that was a possibility, was telling how dark the mood in this room. This house.

    Calypso¡¯s gaze resumed fixed on the table, but she had the courage to bring up her claws at least. Flexing them, watching how unique and odd it was for her to be halfway in such a localized area. Normal palms, but fingers slowly faded into the hot pink as they warped into the Consumed¡¯s claws.

    ¡°I¡¯ll start with the questions ya¡¯ already asked¡­¡± Bradley freed himself from his own palm. ¡°Simply put¡­ Yeah. When Penny called, we¡­ We had an inkin¡¯, that this was happenin¡¯. We wanted ta¡¯ hope against hope, but it was pretty much clear. So she sent ya¡¯ here, Cal¡ªnot just because she couldn¡¯t handle it, because Mrs. Moses was here.¡±

    ¡°You said it yourself, Calypso¡­¡± Mrs. Moses chimed in. ¡°While we just witnessed the Fates being active in shaping our paths¡­ Running into a seasoned Consumed when this was meant to be ¡®just¡¯ moving away to a loving family, in the middle of nowhere Maine... Far too many coincidences lined up for that to be just a fluke.¡±

    Calypso heard the professor adjust in her chair, before resuming, ¡°But to clarify things on my end¡­ I had no idea still, when you entered my class that faithful day. I only got the call from your aunt and uncle on the eve of when we truly met, informing me that you must¡¯ve run off. The last piece of the puzzle that I was sure I had enough of to see the complete picture, but confirmation none the less.¡±

    ¡°¡­So. The idea of killing me. Was that on the table or not?¡±

    Calypso let the question uncomfortably hang in the air. As it should.

    ¡°Well?¡± Sal backed up her cousin, at least verbally. ¡°We¡¯re waitin¡¯.¡±

    ¡°¡­ W-we didn¡¯t want ta¡¯ think about that,¡± Bradley admitted. ¡°That phone call was nothin¡¯ but pleadin¡¯ an¡¯ beggin¡¯¡­ If anyone could somehow produce some sort of miracle and know-how to avoid all that, it¡¯d be Moses¡­¡±

    Calypso could hear the gritting of his teeth, followed by a very dry gulp.

    ¡°¡­An¡¯ worse come to worse¡­ A-at least it ain¡¯t some bastard wannabe huntsman takin¡¯ ya¡¯ out. But make no mistake, we ain¡¯t some group of utilitarians that work ya¡¯ off. We lived together once, Cal¡ªw-you¡¯re our other daughter, damn near. L-like Artemis said. We¡¯re just victims that are burdened with the knowledge¡­ just memories.¡±

    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ¡°¡­Y¡¯all think yer in a good place to give us the short version?¡± Sal asked. ¡°What happened to y¡¯all?¡±

    Artemis sighed, as she finally came back into the kitchen. ¡°I¡¯m gonna need that¡ª¡±

    Calypso heard the slushing of the bottle, and Artemis¡¯ sounds of drinking a great deal of it. The monster girl heard the strains after, huffing through her nose.

    ¡°Long story short¡­ Me, your father, Penny, and¡­ Cal¡¯s father,¡± Artemis tried to lessen the blow of the last mentioned. ¡°We did the usual summer vacation during our college years. We invited a gal we then recently gotten to know better, let her tag along because she was pretty much a shut-in. A cabin in the woods.¡±

    Artemis swirled the contents of the bottle. Gathering the strength to explain what happened next.

    ¡°This¡­ Thing managed to get in. The new girl was gone¡ªwe had to assume the worse when it was just casually ripping us apart, with nowhere to fucking run or hide. Even when your fathers managed to break the door down in their shared sacrifice play¡ªdidn¡¯t fucking matter. It was like it knew the woods, and we were just too injured to get that far. So we decided to go down swinging¡­ And somehow. We made it.¡±

    ¡°¡­We could barely fight the one monster girl, and we had three of ¡®em on our side,¡± Sal¡¯s wonder seeped into her tone. ¡°And y¡¯all just¡­ Beat yours?¡±

    ¡°Thought it was an act of God, basically. What¡¯s more, when help came for us¡ªmanaged to find the new girl too, but she was far worse for wear, barely hanging on. When I tell you that on the way to the hospital, we all made our respective speeches about ¡®giving up this¡¯ and ¡®acting like that¡¯ from now on¡ªwe were just¡­ So happy to be alive.¡±

    There was another swig of the bottle. Unexpected or lead up to.

    Artemis didn¡¯t even groan or make a sound, after finishing this time.

    ¡°Out come the cops, questioning every single breath we took¡ªbecause suddenly we¡¯re one of the main suspects in a town-wide mass murder case: the typical horror movie kids didn¡¯t die this time, but the entire town they crashed at more or less died that night. Horrifying, right?¡±

    Artemis slammed the bottle onto the table, ¡°But no¡ªbecause that psychotic, shut-in bitch and the monster were one and the same¡ªand once we figured that out, she already left a trail of bodies from the town allll the way back home. She made our lives a living hell because sh-she liked us, and hated ¡®them¡¯¡ªwhatever the fuck that meant¡­¡±

    Calypso became still. Her heart not only aching, but caught in her throat.

    ¡°But¡ªbut we managed to actually off her. It wasn¡¯t just luck this time, that weird book came to us¡ªwe found a page or two on what to do¡­ She¡­ She was closest to your mother, Calypso. She was the only one that would let her guard down around. So Penny had to take matters into her own hands and¡­ Well. Now you know she hasn¡¯t been the same since.¡±

    Now Calypso felt her blood run cold, yet her face flushed with intense heat.

    ¡°L-like look, I understand why you¡¯re so pissed¡ª¡± Artemis started to stutter from the high pressure of her emotions. ¡°I get it! But how¡ªhow could we get around an-and tell you both all that? Without making you both crazy¡ªparanoid like us? We tell you¡ªsure, you¡¯re ready¡ªbut now you¡¯re looking over your shoulders until you die¡ªwe don¡¯t tell you¡ªhope th-that you grow up and¡ªand don¡¯t face any of this¡ªnow sure, normal life¡ªbut you¡¯re just as fucked as we were! Either way¡ªwe were gonna lose this!¡±

    ¡°Okay, okay¡­¡± Sal urged, lowering her voice in empathy. ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry, Maw. It¡¯s just¡­ It¡¯s a lot ta¡¯ take in an¡¯ y-ya¡¯ never hid things from me before, an¡¯¡ª¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Bradley assured. ¡°First an¡¯ hopefully only time¡­¡±

    Artemis tried to gather herself, but exhaled multiple times in anger. Resentment. Fragility.

    ¡°There¡¯s a lot more personal detail here and there¡­ Details that your mother wants to talk to you about, one on one, Cal¡­ She¡¯s gonna be here in a couple of minutes. We were thinking of taking Sal out to the farmlands and having our one-to-one, but we can stay until she comes. If y¡¯want.¡±

    Calypso¡¯s pouty lips wavered. She balled her claws up silently, knowing that she¡¯ll cut her palms again.

    ¡°No, um¡­ That¡¯s okay,¡± Calypso didn¡¯t look at her aunt. She definitely knew she was becoming compromised now. ¡°I¡¯ll wait here and decompress the best I can. It¡¯s the least I can do. Now that I know she¡¯s been through way too much, too soon.¡±

 Entry 13.3 - Rapport: Desired Harmony

    Calypso drowned out the scene around her. Reconciliation between Sal and her parents, at the very least the first step in the arduous process. Sal flinched and then confirmed to Artemis that she wasn¡¯t ready for an embrace yet, when she began approaching her. But ultimately, she and Bradley led their daughter outside through the back.

    The skeletal monster girl focused on her intertwined claws. Poured every last bit of her all-consuming anxiety into shifting them back, to the point she found herself pressing sweaty palm to sweaty palm. Visibly trembling as it also took this energy to keep her from just¡­ Emotionally shutting down.

    It was scary. Calypso genuinely felt the change she somehow¡ªdespite all odds¡ªmanaged to fashion within herself. She realized that she could feel a lot more than she realized, she didn¡¯t have to pose or command herself internally to act human as much anymore.

    There was actual light buried deep within. But Calypso could also feel just how minuscule it all was, despite months of ¡°work¡±.

    Any massive hit could send her straight back to zero. And there was nothing heavier than the relationship between her and her mother.

    Now she has to face her, as a monster that broke her sanity in the first place.

    She wished that she could swallow her heart back into place, but her mouth dried so quickly that she only tasted iron. She wished that she could cry, but she was physically tapped.

    Maybe the snapback was going to happen much sooner, than later.

    ¡°Calypso. Please.¡±

    It was Moses¡¯ assured, steady voice that Calypso realized that she was cutting into herself again. The tips of her claws dug into her still-human-enough knuckles.

    ¡°Remember that emotion caused you to transform like this, to begin with. This¡­ I understand that this is uncomfortable. I¡¯m not asking you¡ªor testing you to become a master, some saint of our practices. What I am pleading to you right now¡­ Don¡¯t end up like a broken woman like I.¡±

    That instantly caused Calypso to glance up at her professor. Hoisting the door for herself on her own, by wedging her chair between it and the frame.

    ¡°Trust me when I say¡ªmy teachings to you weren¡¯t some diabolical, long-term plan. I-I genuinely¡­Want you to have the resources I lacked. The advice that can¡¯t apply to me anymore, because I have burnt my bridges or had them forcefully destroyed--t-taken from me. I tried being smart¡­ But still ended up the fool.¡±

    There was an errant, but nevertheless, built-up sniffle, that escaped the sullen woman¡¯s fa?ade.

    ¡°Please, Calypso¡­ It¡¯s not a sin to be afraid. Or sad. To feel anything¡ªdespite its reach unescapable or a needless prison of our own making¡­ Stew¡ªaccept that you¡¯re not okay right now. And let that process pass right through you.¡±

    The woman nodded to herself. Calypso couldn¡¯t exactly pin down why, as she watched her begin to exit.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be right here. In general, mind.¡±

    It was just Calypso felt in this empty home. Just left with her now unbound thoughts.

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    This was a girl that was painfully aware of how still she could be. She noticed, and felt the stares of passersby, wondering how she managed to be such a statue at points, so lifeless. So, when she felt herself physically loosen, found herself melting due to her innermost walls in the process of caving in¡­ Her eyesight began to blur as well. Sitting there welling up, for what felt like lifetimes.

    She couldn¡¯t take in the fact that her human skin slowly but surely took back her dainty fingers, after some point.

    The sudden slam of the door was unmistakable.

    Calypso turned so fast, causing her to blink the excess water clouding her sight, that she caught the stray tears being flung away. They were still crimson, meaning that her eyes were still twisted with malice, pitch dark with only amber light shining through.

    What must¡¯ve been such a terrible sight, for her mother.

    Penelope Grimes stood there, letting her bags hit the floor as she stood there, slack¡­ Her face beginning to crumble into unraveling sadness.

    Calypso couldn¡¯t control her simpering pants, as she instantly stood up. Naturally, her mother froze on the spot.

    She couldn¡¯t help it. Calypso immediately shrunk in her spot in turn. Regressing back immediately, right after finally letting it all go.

    ¡°no¡­ No!¡±

    Calypso¡¯s regression was broken. She watched something she never thought possible.

    Anger. Light. Fire, behind her mother¡¯s eyes.

    Penelope gritted her teeth and balled her fists as she crumpled the ends of her sweat jacket into her palms.

    ¡°No no no! This¡ªthis is why all of this is my fault¡­! Because I didn¡¯t¡ªI wasn¡¯t¡ªI¡¯M SO GODDAMN WEAK!¡±

    Nothing but confusion and fear was etched on Calypso¡¯s face. She couldn¡¯t help but raise her palms outward towards her mother, trembling on the spot trying to keep her tears from blinding her.

    Penelope clutched at her head, ¡°I was never made for any of this¡ªI just never had it in me! This is why Dallas was¡ªwhy his death was the worst thing that happened to us! He was strong, he always knew what to do while I just rotted like the pa-pathetic corpse I am!¡±

    Soon the worn, disheveled woman put her hands on her face. Despite very potent sobs, her already meek voice muffled against her palms, and her slurred speech¡­ Calypso knew exactly what she said.

    ¡°It¡¯s all my fault¡­ Every¡­ Single¡­ Thing¡­ I¡¯m sorry, baby. It should¡¯ve been me. I should¡¯ve¡ª¡±

    Calypso just wept.

    She wept, ran straight toward her broken mother, and embraced her like a child would.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare think that!¡± Calypso was practically screaming. A level that she never thought she could. It hurt her throat, but the idea of what her mother was proposing did so more.

    Calypso simply held on, ¡°I barely survived with father¡ªI-I never truly did! It was that¡ªit was that-t-th-that started this entire mess in the first place! I gave up!¡±

    The daughter moved to put her hands on her mother¡¯s shoulders. Staring deep into her trembling eyes¡­ And despite the sinister gaze looking back, never less sported sadness, empathy, and care.

    ¡°Y-you¡¯re not wrong¡ªI-I have resented you, for being so¡­ Defeated. But that was only because I was more like you than I could ever admit¡ªI just had su-such a self-important¡­ Ego to it all. Acting like¡ªsome bitter loser, because that was the only way¡­¡±

    Calypso gripped her mother¡¯s small shoulders, watching her become more undone by each word. But Calypso had to keep on.

    ¡°Had it been¡­ You¡­ On that day¡­ Oh god¡­ It would¡¯ve been the same, damn problem¡ªjust in a different way. I couldn¡¯t live up to him as much as you could. And the idea of me hating him as I did you¡ªstill¡ªi-it¡¯s still the same sense of emptiness... Nh¡ªen¡ªIn the end...¡±

    She was so tired, the monster girl.

    Her grip lessened, her voice became so shot, one could hear slight, haggard breaths in the interim between the recovery of blubbering. And like years before, with no societal or personal pressure against her, simply let her head rest against her mother¡¯s shoulder. Letting the tears cascade down her flushed cheeks.

    ¡°Enough of death¡­ I¡¯m su-sick of it all¡­ Let¡¯s just live. Not just for him, or anyone that¡¯s o-outside of us¡­ But for us useless, defeated nothings. Let¡¯s give up trying to please a universe that¡¯s clearly fucked up, Mother. Before it¡¯s too late for the both of us.¡±

    Penelope huffed something between relief and despair. Either sense, a weight was forcefully removed from that woman¡¯s chest.

    ¡°You were always so smart¡­¡± Penelope embraced her dear child. ¡°So much smarter than any of us¡­¡±

 Entry 13.4 - Rapport: Desired Harmony

    ***

    ¡°Hoooowweeee¡­¡± Penelope sighed¡­ With character, as she poured her third cup of booze. ¡°I¡¯m so glad that Arty¡¯s tastes still align with mine after all these years¡­¡±

    Calypso had her hands in her own lap, watching this happen opposite to her mother. Watching this all unfold with her now-normal gaze and slightly cleaned-up pouty face.

    It was strange¡­ Calypso wasn¡¯t at all a stranger nor blind to her mother¡¯s drinking. But the pose, the method¡­ It was completely different from what she was used to. Back at home, there was a slouch to it all. Festering in her bored, distant, and almost dead squalor.

    Here? She was throwing her head back, she was leaned back with her folded arm against the head of the chair¡­ And of course, those¡­ Noises.

    ¡°Y¡¯sure that you don¡¯t want any, dear¡­?¡± Penelope asked, tracing her finger at the rim of the glass.

    Calypso chuckled, waved her small hands about. ¡°No, no¡ªI-I don¡¯t think I¡¯d¡­ Be into such things. Maybe wine, someday. And¡ªand y¡¯know, I still have three years left¡ª"

    Penelope made a sound from her lips¡­ Before tightening up¡ª

    ¡°N-not at you, but y¡¯know¡­ The idea that you¡¯re still beholden to any laws at this point. What, with being a monster now and all. B-but fair! That¡¯s fair, baby!¡±

    It was so odd¡­ Calypso hoped that her stony face hid how¡­ Weird she found all this. The strangest thing she just now discovered was how her mother¡¯s swagger reminded her of Artemis¡­ Sure, they¡¯re siblings, but it was so enlightening to see how seamless, how similar yet different they were.

    She finally got what people saw, with Sal and herself.

    ¡°Also not to say¡ªor-or just say rather, that you¡¯re a monster¡­ It¡¯s just that I forgot the official term for it, I might¡¯ve already hit my limit¡ª¡±

    ¡°Consumed, Mother¡­¡±

    Penelope giggled, earnestly. Staring at her glass as she was now gently swirling the contents inside.

    ¡°Aaah right. Gave off that air I only got from the old 80¡¯s action figures back in the day¡­ Magic Monsters of the Consumed Realms~!¡±

    Complete with her mother waving her arms in a hammy fashion, before settling back down, snuggled in her laughter.

    Calypso gave a half-smile at the sight. ¡°There¡¯s lore behind the meaning, but I guess this isn¡¯t about me talking, this heart-to-heart¡­¡±

    Penelope started to tense a tad, after adopting this relaxed posture for as long as she did. Calypso nearly cursed at herself, she knew that she could¡¯ve let that naturally segway into the conversation¡­

    But Calypso noticed, how her mother¡¯s eyes stared deeply at the softly moving ice that floated in her glass. Maybe it was out of desperation, to avoid this topic as much as possible¡­ But it was a look of somber reflection. Versus outright trauma.

    ¡°Right. How much as Artemis and Bradley told you both¡­?¡±

    ¡°What I assume to be the overview¡­¡± Calypso gently softened her tone. ¡°You all were survivors of a Consumed attack that led her into killing everyone around you all. A person you invited into your group for your vacation, back then¡­¡±

    After a very uncomfortable pause, Calypso watched as Penelope hung her head low with a comical, long groan¡­

    ¡­It was then that made Calypso wondered if she actually got it from her, after all this time.

    ¡°¡­I hate my neuroses,¡± Penelope complained¡­ At herself. ¡°On one hand, of course, Arty and Brad would just. Saddle me with explaining the entire personal side of all that. But on the other, I¡¯d be absolutely livid at them just up and out telling you my darkest secrets and greatest shame without me there¡­¡±

    The dowdy woman ruffled her wild, blonde hair. Followed by a deep sigh.

    ¡°¡­I better start with the framing of this little tale. Just to¡­ Give you the best insight into all this. But I have to warn you, dear¡­ It does tie heavily into your father.¡±

    Calypso widened, at that.

    ¡°N-not to say that¡ªhe and the monster were dating or anything¡ª¡± Penelope tried to assure her daughter. ¡°Or she was family that we¡¯ve never mentioned specifically for this reason¡­ Just. This story ties into a lot more than¡­ Y¡¯know. ¡®THIS is the exact reason you¡¯ve become a monster!¡¯¡±

    ¡°R-right¡­¡± Calypso proceeded to gulp after. Her turn to look down.

    Fuck it.

    Calypso looked back up. ¡°You¡¯re free to tell me anything.¡±

    Penelope nodded. Tried her damnest to contain the odd trembling she did.

    ¡°19 or so years ago¡­God, I understand it sounds of a clich¨¦, but we were truly different people back then. Your aunt was always the laidback, devil-may-care type¡ªbut she did care a lot back then. Not only a firecracker when you lit the fuse, but she fought to keep your hand in place, so you¡¯re there for the explosion. We all went to the same college of course, and to this day, I consider her managing to romance the calm and sensible Bradley a total miracle. And he had a lot to prove back then¡ªwanted the one thing and the one thing only: to make his farm life work. They didn¡¯t fight a lot¡ªat least whenever me and Dallas tagged along, but there was always this sense due to the opposing styles, maybe something would happen¡­ But luckily, they managed.¡±

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    ¡°I still find it so¡­ Sitcom-lite, how you all met and became these paired-off couples¡­¡± Calypso interjected. ¡°If only Father and Uncle Bradley were brothers¡ªthen we¡¯d have such a confusing family tree¡ª"

    Penelope giggled. ¡°Hey. We weren¡¯t together yet, me and your father¡­¡±

    ¡°Well, you have a year or so left, given the math,¡± Calypso playfully snarked. ¡°Come now. Maybe had back and forths, but underneath all that, you were basically a couple. I¡¯m sure of it¡­¡±

    Penelope quickly sucked in her breath due to her gritted teeth.

    ¡°I¡­ Debated on how to phrase it¡ªbut there¡¯s truly no way to get it across¡­ I was a bitch, Calypso¡ª¡±

    Calypso simply blinked at that. The words not only hung in the air but swirled about in her mind.

    ¡°I-I just¡ªthere¡¯s really no getting around it,¡± Penelope shook her head. ¡°I was terrible¡­ An insufferable mix of pretty and brainy. Won all sorts of awards and accolades because I wouldn¡¯t let myself otherwise. The uptown girl that had her chin held so high, managing to look down on everyone at once¡­¡±

    ¡°Just¡­ Wow¡­¡± Calypso translated her thoughts in real-time.

    Penelope laughed. Low, wistfully¡­ Yet clearly haunted.

    ¡°He told me what he saw¡ªwhy he tried so hard¡­ But there¡¯s still no way, that I was remotely worth the squeeze for him. But he never gave up, that Dallas¡­ Despite using all the tricks and logically putting him down, he somehow managed to become a part of our group. Nothing but banter and relationship-themed games of Chicken¡­¡±

    Calypso had to hold it within her mind, but she legitimately could not believe that her and Alice managed to be healthier than what her own parents had as a dynamic.

    ¡°Anyways¡­ I won¡¯t go into more detail than that, I don¡¯t want to scar my only daughter further after all. But no, that was our group¡ªour dynamic. Always struggling and arguing¡­ Any of us could tell you right now, about how we even remotely functioned. But we did, for better or worse.¡±

    She then clutched at the glass, laughing wearily.

    ¡°So of course, I managed to be the one that fucked it all up¡­¡±

    Calypso wanted to assure her mother. Hell, encourage her to drink so her nerves could be calmed¡­ But as she took a series of deep breaths, Penelope regained her strength.

    ¡°... Beverley. Beverley Potts. Was her name¡­A Witch Consumed.¡±

    Penelope leaned into her fist, as she tried to shake her head. ¡°Don¡¯t know where and when she became that¡­ Thing, but to us, to me¡ªshe seemed like an outcast. She was a notable outcast¡­ Always hunched over at her desk, near-mute unless you pressed the issue of speaking. Cloaked in black, to reveal such straggly and slender arms that always held a book against her chest. The poor thing seemed to be so fragile, that the wind could break her.¡±

    Calypso gripped at her own dainty hands. More than aware of her own body shape at the moment.

    Penelope lifted a finger and softly shook the entire hand back and forth. ¡°Such a special case, that I took it upon myself to help her. I thought that if I managed to turn her¡­ Man. Both a service and a display of my skill¡­ My ¡®greatness¡¯. So she became both a friend and a project of mine. Worked dutifully to help her rehabilitation¡ªwhich to me back then, I thought was great progress. I remember how the first time we all went into Dallas¡¯ car to drive off campus to get snacks from the supermarket, I remember just¡­ How wide-eyed and confused she was. How we readily trusted her so easily to just let her in¡­ It was adorable, back then.¡±

    ¡°My god¡­¡± Calypso spoke up, interjected. ¡°And she¡­ Grew attached. Too attached.¡±

    Her mother gulped. Her lips wavered before speaking again.

    ¡°Y-yeah. The reason she did all of that was because she had ¡®plans¡¯ before all this happened. To strike back at the world, to use that¡­ Fucked-up tome, to gain power and-and make this world into her personal, disgusting fantasy. When we figured out that the ¡®forest witch¡¯ and she was one and the same, she took me away¡ªexplained everything. The difference between then and ¡®now¡¯ was that she finally had friends, so she fit us into it. Me, especially¡­¡±

    The monster girl saw her mother well up once more.

    ¡°When we took the book, searched how to kill her¡­ Dallas, of course¡­ He didn¡¯t hesitate. He defended us for as long as we¡­ I was safe. It gave me the¡­ M-motivation, to dig so deep to find it in me, to kill her. We were only battered and bruised, but turns out, there were wounds that were much deeper than we realized.¡±

    Penelope pointed at her gray eyes. A trait shared with not only Calypso, but Artemis¡­ Sally¡­

    ¡°Turns out, due to the voodoo logic that the underworld runs on¡­ Women and the children they bear, they develop gray eyes. And thus, become more susceptible to the supernatural more than others¡­¡±

    Calypso¡¯s eyes widened. Absentmindedly reached up for her own with her left hand.

    ¡°I-I killed Alice, then--?¡±

    ¡°No, it isn¡¯t your fault¡ª¡± Penelope urged, nearly slamming her hand onto the table. ¡°Don¡¯t ever blame yourself for something so out of your control¡­ That honor belongs to me¡­¡±

    Calypso watched as her mother started to twitch with sadness. Her tears falling out of her flushed, red eyes.

    ¡°B-because of the fight¡­ Your father¡­ His soul was basically shredded, in a sense. B-because of Beverly directly attacked it with her abilities. Th-that¡¯s why he¡­ Died like he did! He was sick and they couldn¡¯t figure out what was wrong because it was beyond what they could¡¯ve known¡­ And he still tried to act like nothing was wrong¡­!¡±

    As Penelope slapped her two hands against her sobbing face¡­ Calypso couldn¡¯t help but stare out. Right into the ether, versus anything at all.

    She thought back, of course. Remembered how her father never once pushed her away, if she never gained the courage to actually talk to him. How he had genuine laughter, genuine¡ªwide smiles whenever she rushed over to him. Unwavering¡­ Despite being torn from the inside out. Dying in the darkness.

    Yet he was both their light.

    Calypso was aware that these could be selective memories. Which degrades regardless of how hard she manages to hold on to them. There could¡¯ve been multiple times where her father wasn¡¯t the best, or reacted the best way.

    Regardless.

    ¡°Mother¡­¡± Calypso reached out. ¡°Mother, please¡­ You asked me not to cry, not to blame yourself for something out of your control¡­ The same can be said for you.¡±

    Penelope shook her head, and lowered her hands. ¡°I brought her into my life. I was the one that indirectly kill the only person¡ªaside from family¡ªthat could stand¡ªstand me¡­¡±

    ¡°No. Bringing her into your fold is one thing¡ªbut Beverley killed those people. Killed my father. None of that was you. Ego and vanity should be punished, and shouldn¡¯t be above consequences¡ªbut this was just as much as out of your control as me becoming a monster was for me¡­¡±

    Calypso touched her chest, aimed at her heart.

    ¡°I¡­ Saw the monsters that would eventually tear us all apart, that night. I should¡¯ve called everything off¡ªweathered Alice¡¯s anger like I always had. She was partially responsible for another aspect of that night as well¡­ But there¡¯s no way we could¡¯ve ever known. Or believed that it could happen. So. Please¡­¡±

    She balled her fist against her chest. ¡°Let¡¯s become the people¡­ The people that are worthy of the bonds we managed to grasp.¡±

    Penelope sat there. Sat there¡­ And slowly began to laugh. But not so wearily anymore.

    ¡°You¡¯re so like him. More than you know¡­¡±

    Calypso smiled, waveringly before it finally straightened. ¡°Yeah¡­ Maybe. Maybe this is the start of finally becoming something¡­ Finally becoming me.¡±

    Penelope smiled back. Doing the same journey. ¡°I¡¯ll be looking forward to it. Monster or girl¡­ I love you, Cally. So much. I¡¯ll always root for you, baby¡­ Even if I¡¯m not here with you.¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Calypso said. More choked up than she cared to admit.

    Sensing that, Penelope closed her eyes and swayed her glass. ¡°Maybe you can turn into a you that¡¯ll finally love al-c-hol~¡±

    Calypso sputtered, at least in amusement. ¡°Again. I¡¯ll think about it in 3 years and it''s most likely wine¡­¡±

    Penelope laughed, almost impishly. ¡°So¡­ I¡¯ve rambled on and on¡­ What are you going to do about all of this? I can¡¯t barely imagine what any of this new life¡¯s like. It¡¯s an actual curse¡­ Either way. What do you think you¡¯re going to do now?¡±

    Thankfully, Calypso didn¡¯t have to think too hard about what she was going to say.

 Missing Entry (#7)

    ¡°I¡ªJUST¡ªCANNOT¡ªBELIEVE¡ªYOU!¡±

    Martha¡¯s voice echoed across the underground halls of her legacy, both inheritance and her magnum opus. Converting a mad scientist hovel into a sprawling labyrinth of the future was no easy task¡ªespecially with the time she had wasn¡¯t at all free. The usual trappings of what people would think of were there¡ªthe tubes that lined and dug into the cave-like ceilings, the various machines that jutted from the reinforced walls glittered and blinked in idle. Even energy surged about, crackled in the air above, with the coils and rods to catch the stray bolts at the edge of the dark corners.

    But all of it was chic. Not one surface was dirty, at least not for long. The floor everyone walked on was buffed, reflective office tilts that were dyed of grey. While they were far away from the lobby, which had nothing but refurbished furniture¡ªa wrap-around front desk with a capable hostess to greet anyone worthy of coming in. Even a breakroom with a nice layout of water coolers and snack dispensaries that Martha was oddly giddy and proud over.

    Oh¡­ If only she was ranking her brain over that. And not over the fact that the one thing she didn¡¯t want happen not only did, but has been happening behind her back.

    Martha swung her arm as she turned towards her son, ¡°I trusted you! For all of the things I have to keep track of, or create, or get involved with¡ªto the point of suggesting feng shui for defenses against the damned¡ªAnd I thought¡ªI hoped¡ªthat the only thing I didn¡¯t have to think only so much less agonize over was my mature¡ªintelligent¡ªthoughtful son--!¡±

    She only felt the sudden loss of weight, mass.

    Martha peered down, to see that her arm¡¯s fallen off.

    Her sleeve fluttered gently as she moved what she believed to be a relatively short stump. The small woman saw the metallic white splatter began to stain the floor and had to distract herself from the immediate sadness from that. Following that trail with her eyes, she saw her fallen arm slowly but surely lose its form, turning into a puddle of still mercury.

    The small woman proceeded to sigh. It was always awkward to fetch the pills with only one arm.

    Nonetheless, Martha reached into her suit pocket, pulling out a silver canister that she could barely wrap her fingers around.

    ¡°I could help if you¡ª¡± Richard finally spoke up, after maintaining silence.

    ¡°I feel like you¡¯ve helped enough,¡± Martha sneered comically, letting the metal can slide down in her hold. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    As her fingers were now positioned around the top of the canister, Martha used her thumb to unscrew the cap, steadily until it popped off. Martha quickly opened her mouth to load the pills, as fast as the soft ¡°ting¡± of the cap hitting the ground echoed across the chamber.

    Reeled the canister back, swallowing the pills whole, letting her head still hang as she felt the increasing mass.

    She felt the bones manifest from her stump. The muscles tense around the skeletal structure with a tight hug. Martha always had this¡­ Inclination or quirk whenever she regenerated, to wiggle her newly conquered limbs as the veins neatly weaved themselves and the skin to coat the limb in question.

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    Martha lowered her head back. Looking at her hand as it was still metallic-white, which turned into a rather mournful gaze.

    ¡°Can you blame me¡­?¡± Martha watched as her skin tone flushed back to normal. ¡°To get you far away from any of this¡­¡±

    ¡°And yet, what you are¡ªand the people working for us¡­ You¡¯re the future of humanity? Wouldn¡¯t I end up here anyways?¡±

    Martha looked at her son, her lips pursed.

    ¡°Well, Smart Alec¡ª¡± Martha still tried to mask her malice with a sugary tone. ¡°The whole point is¡ªwas¡ªsince humanity doesn¡¯t really take well with sudden change¡ªat least not everything burns with me. At least I¡¯d have you, something that I¡¯ve created and nurtured¡­ At least you can do whatever you wanted without this baring down on you.¡±

    ¡°But I have chosen what I wanted to do, Mother¡­¡± Richard rubbed at his forehead, messing up his swiping fringe in the process. Martha had to bite back against shouting at him to fix it. ¡°It¡¯s clear that you¡¯re swamped. It¡¯s clear that you need extra eyes on everything¡ª¡±

    ¡°Honey, you¡¯re partly responsible for a near-successful Terrortide¡ª¡± Martha rebutted.

    ¡°And I take full responsibility for my part to play. I should¡¯ve realized how desperate she was, and how that turns into its own form of strength when they truly have nothing¡­ But that doesn¡¯t change the facts that I¡¯m about to list.¡±

    Richard held out two fingers. ¡°1) You were the one that captured her, forgotten about her... If she was scrappy enough to regain strength through my dealings¡ªshe was a ticking time bomb that would¡¯ve escaped somehow regardless. And 2) It was your plan that she stole. A plan that should¡¯ve been under a lot more locks and keys, and even then¡ªmust have had the firepower to seal the secret. Discarded plan or not, that¡¯s still information that could be used against us.¡±

    The young boy let his hands fall to his sides. Shaking his head.

    ¡°We¡¯re both at fault. Yet another sin that our family managed to wrack up.¡±

    Martha took her son in. Not seeing the coddled boy¡ªthat deserved the spoiling and everything within this wretched world¡­ And saw a peer.

    And it hurt her.

    Martha turned on her heels, looking upward towards the crackling ceiling above.

    ¡°They say that the reason humanity was cursed to become Consumed, dealt with the bloodshed we wedged against the Subsumed started to take a physical toll. The exact moment we denied being nothing more than monsters, the actual ones cursed us to take on their hides, morph us into copies of them. Just because we wanted to break away, use anything that we could to survive the harsh winter nights¡­¡±

    Martha wiped a rolling tear.

    ¡°I-I know I talk endlessly about Fate picking on us particularly¡ªhow our family were merely protectors against the darkness, proud huntsmen that took Subsumed hide not just as trophies, but fashioned into warnings for those terrible things¡­¡±

    The small woman rose her arms outward. ¡°And how we¡¯re the haunted. Plagued with sicknesses, terrible luck¡­ Lives cut short. I¡¯m the only one of our family in recent history that¡¯s survived past 40. Everything that I¡¯ve done¡ªand will do, is to free us from this stupid curse once and for all. To cheat death, so both Subsumed and the Fates can go somewhere else¡ªto take the much needed walk they deserved¡­ A-and I get it, you¡¯re such a smart boy¡ªbut--!¡±

    Martha felt a much needed hug from behind.

    ¡°I understand, Mother. I¡¯ve been understood. That was the other reason, other than me being much darker than you realize¡­ I just want this weight off your shoulders. The Fates love their displays of defiance and this is mine. If I have such a high chance to be damned regardless of what I do¡ªthen I¡¯m going to do what I can, versus nothing at all.¡±

    Martha didn¡¯t waste any time. She let herself disincorporate, reform, and is now faced with Richard so she could do her trademark hardy, heartful hugs.

    ¡°Oh Richiiiiiiiiie~!¡± Martha started to blubber.

    ¡°Now now, Mother¡ª¡± Richard patted her back. ¡°We can have a good cry later. Now, we have to plan¡­¡±

    ¡°Plan¡­¡± Martha nodded, then sniffled. ¡°I¡¯m working close with Mayor Huntington in designing the Festival¡­ From top to bottom, this is gonna be the snare that finally catches that girl. The only thing I¡¯m being a total worry wart about is the firepower we have, since our New People supply is now limited¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­Don¡¯t worry, Mother. I know some friends.¡±

    Martha looked up at Richard, with a gleaming in her eyes. Her eyes brimming with pride for her beautiful, smart boy.

 Entry 14.0 - Braving: A Final Stand

    As audacious Calypso thought the name of ¡°Main Vein¡± was, it was being in the middle of the street of shops that made her realize why.

    The skeletal monster girl stood at the back of Sal¡¯s car, witnessing panic purchases in various stages and forms. And yet, in typical Willow Reverie fashion, the frantic and desperate actions were portrayed in the most slow, small-town way imaginable.

    Calypso watched families relay their plans for the night as they passed food and boxes to load into their cars. Friends and close allies who worked or ran stores provide details on when the next supplies will be restocked, or not-so-subtly giving them what they claimed to be sold out for others. Even with the law enforcement that weaved themselves about these scenes, people still took the time to make small talk with them, or vice versa to calm the public¡¯s nerves.

    She fought against the urge to roll her eyes at this display. The Calypso of old wouldn¡¯t have remotely looked on, would¡¯ve buried her nose into a book while sighing the pain of being so alien out of her aching chest. The fact that she¡¯s not only resisting but commenting internally of how much of a drama queen she was without dipping into total self-loathing after¡­ It still felt off. Wrong. Still lacking the context of how she¡¯s managing to do this now.

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    It was far in the distance¡­ The sight of the fight she and the others barely won. ¡°Won¡± in very bold quotations.

    The main buildings and some surroundings were destroyed by the ¡°reported¡± wild flames that nearly engulfed the town. Now entering Willow Reverie was scarier, if the vibe didn¡¯t tip the perspective vaster, seeing burned, almost twisted condemned structures framing the entrance did so much better than what the town¡¯s sign could ever do.

    All of this, no fault of any of these people Calypso could guess that were innocent. All due to the terrible world they live in, and the shady¡ªmonstrous bastards that wanted to control it.

    But Calypso was going to deal with them. In both senses of the word, this day and the coming weeks.

    ¡°Ready fer our lil¡¯ campin¡¯ trip, Cal~?¡± Sal chirped from the side of Calypso.

    Calypso looked over, rising from the truck of Sal¡¯s car. ¡°Indeed. Into the woods we go¡­¡±

 Entry 14.1 - Braving: A Final Stand

    ¡°Thaaaaat said¡­¡± Calypso quickly hopped out of the way of Sal opening her trunk, making sure to get as close as possible without disturbing her loading of supplies into the car. ¡°Are you sure¡ªwhat with¡­ Having your special package in the trunk with all these people and police around--?¡±

    ¡°1) Never¡ªEVER¡ªcall my shotgun a ¡®special¡¯ package in my trunk again¡ª¡®suppose that it¡¯s better than ¡®special package in my chest¡ª''¡¯

    ¡°Remind me to never be concerned for you ever again,¡± Calypso dryly interjected.

    ¡°An¡¯ 2) I got better gun safety lessons than most of the feds here~ Nothin¡¯ ta¡¯ worry over, Cal. Ya¡¯ big baby¡ª¡±

    ¡°Even so¡­¡± Calypso trailed her eyes down. Seeing the very noticeable case that was in the very back of the truck, now surrounded in white bags and gear. ¡°You¡¯ve seen how precious little that it did during the bout. I¡¯m thinking anything less than¡­ I don¡¯t know. I feel like you have to learn enchantments of some sort to even stand a chance¡­¡±

    ¡°That right?¡±

    After putting the final bag into the trunk, Sal stepped backward and wiggled her arms in a wave.

    ¡°OoooOOOoooOoooOOOh,¡± Sal said in a mocking, haunted drone. ¡°Give me the otherworldly power ta¡¯ ice these fools of the niiiiight, I beg of ya¡¯~!¡±

    Sal stepped forward, looking at Calypso, using one of her arms to slam the trunk closed with a cheeky grin plastered on her tan face. ¡°Solved that problem, eh?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m letting them take you, I hope you understand that¡ª¡± Calypso just squinted at her cousin. ¡°Letting the Subsumed take you and do whatever¡ªbecause it¡¯s honestly an improvement at this stage¡ª¡±

    ¡°Not gonna lie. You two going at it both makes me bummed AND relieved that I¡¯m an only child¡­¡±

    Natalie walked up to the cousins, arms crossed with a slight, awkward smirk.

    Calypso chuckled, stifling it a tad. Then her face shifted into the usual stoney formation. ¡°So?¡±

    Natalie shifted her body language in turn, and unlocked her arms to rub her hands pensively as she explained.

    ¡°It was a bitch to tell who¡¯s who from who¡¯s who, I¡¯ll tell you that¡­ But after careful consideration¡ªand hiding in the alleys and allegedly behind a dumpster or two¡ªI managed to find our guys. And from there¡­ I used our secret weapon to seal the deal.¡±

    Natalie looked over her shoulder. Looked back at Calypso and cocked her head toward the direction she was looking in, to guide the skeletal monster¡¯s gaze.

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    Calypso¡¯s gaze was concentrated and filled with the sight of Gale, merrily chatting with two people from afar. Even without context, the bounce in her step, her hands acting every odd second¡­ Despite knowing full well what these people are, she treats them no differently.

    As if on cue, Gale turned to Calypso¡¯s group and waved with an open, wide smile. Turned on her heels back at the duo, she gestured over to Calypso¡¯s location, and they all walked towards them.

    One of the duo was a girl, clearly a cashier to a market of sorts with her black smock wrapped around her rather tall body. As they all got closer, Calypso could clearly see that she also wore a plain dress shirt, and black slacks, and wore her brown hair in a short cut. Opposite of her was a man in a green jumper with deep stains splattered across with a cap on, clearly some janitor with thin facial hair and curly hair brimming from the cap.

    Both of them, wearing the same¡­ Unwavering¡­ Content smiles on their way too waxy faces.

    The Better People, indeed.

    ¡°Guess what, guys?!¡± Gale chirped with her hands on her colorful, tie-dyed jeans-covered hips. ¡°We don¡¯t have to work too hard about finding Richard anymore!¡±

    She offered the floor towards the duo, stepping back with a groove in her motion as they stepped forward.

    ¡°Our leader¡¯s been awaiting you all, actually~¡± The cashier cheerily waved her raised hand in an arc. ¡°With the timetable that we¡¯ve been given, he was sure that you all were willing to meet again~¡±

    ¡°In fact¡­¡± the janitor chimed in, as he was writing something on a piece of paper with a marker. ¡°He told us all where he¡¯s stationed in wait for you all.¡±

    He handed the parchment with an uncanny smile. Of course, Sal reacted with a tightened glare, yet still took it without losing the duo out of her sight.

    ¡°Pleasure doing business with you all! Hope you have a nice rest of the day, barring all the circumstances~¡±

    And with that, the duo walked off. In step, in sync, without sharing a word or look with each other.

    ¡°¡­For God¡¯s sake,¡± Sal clearly couldn¡¯t hide her disgust. ¡°Ya¡¯ weren¡¯t kiddin¡¯. They¡¯re practically livin¡¯ corpses¡­¡±

    ¡°Mm,¡± Calypso agreed. ¡°There¡¯s a reason why we¡¯re so wary about meeting him again¡­ But there¡¯s really no choice, when any normal person could ambush us and force us to meet him anyways. So let¡¯s get this over with¡­¡±

    ***

    As the girls pulled up at the campsite, the scene had been clearly set.

    The very ground around the Better People was silver with a sand-like texture. The natural foliage, the flora¡ªit was as if all of it was pushed outwards, away from this manufactured circle. And yet, the trees around them dipped and overlapped in such a way that it created a very deep, nice shade despite it being two hours away from nightfall. Logs circled the roaring flames, with two sitting together per log¡­ Sans one.

    Richard, wearing his scarecrow mask, was sat in the middle. Behind the roaring flame, tugging his leathery gloves as he was idle.

    Calypso sighed in the passenger''s seat, letting her cloak manifest. ¡°I still can¡¯t believe we made it here in one piece while you wore¡­ That.¡±

    Sal silently turned to her cousin. The one-dollar clown mask, which had a tear painted on, greeted Calypso¡¯s pout. Sal then gave a thumbs up, to sell the absurdity of this situation.

    Calypso shook her head, then tightened her focus.

    ¡°Like I brought up before the ride here¡­ It¡¯s help, what Richard¡¯s giving us¡­ But we cannot be lax about anything regarding him. Be on edge, but bury it.¡±

    Despite the trepidation, the anxiety, and the dread--the girls exited the car, all of them obscured as they walked forward into the darkness.

    "Aah..." Richard''s soft tone whistled and bounced within his hideous mask. "Welcome, girls, welcome...! As we get into the nitty gritty, I ask of you to lend me each of your hair."

 Entry 14.2 - Braving: A Final Stand

    ¡°Easier said than done, mind you¡­¡± Calypso tossed out that semi-playful, semi-threatening statement. After all, nothing good comes out of giving a lock of your hair to a stranger.

    Nevertheless, Calypso reached into her phantasmic hood and raked her dainty fingers across the ends of her hair. Hooking her index and thumb around a decent lock, she pressed those fingers and rubbed them, thus splitting the lock into smaller strands, leaving her with at least a couple. Counting in her head, shutting her eyes, she proceeded to yank, grimacing under her concealed face.

    As Gale made a cute squeak and Natalie grumbled about ¡°not having much hair to begin with¡±¡­ Of course Calypso was compelled to look at Sal, immediately wanting to say that she didn¡¯t want to do this as the spot she plucked was irritated.

    Yet she already had her few strands, silently looking back at her cousin through the garish clown mask. Calypso just nodded and looked forward again, twirling her hair in her fingers in thought.

    Despite the pain long fading into a dull ache, Calypso¡¯s grimace didn¡¯t cease. She took pride in her looks, or at the very least, was one of the few activities she did without requiring as much computing power as the others. Or rather¡­ An activity that she had full control over, maybe. It was just a matter of looking presentable, something that had to be done. No ego of sorts to trim hair, to organize clothes, to use the makeup that suits the environment that she has to go into, or achieve the effect she wants to have over people. She always created a boxy, professional look to herself¡ªand it was by choice. It was both a means of distraction and in a sense, a shielding. Instant assumptions, nothing that sets off the eye. She was just a scrawny, preppy girl and that¡¯s all they need to know.

    ¡°Believe me, I know it¡¯s rather abrupt, but trust me¡­¡± Richard chuckled after, as he gestured to the nearest Better People to receive their hair. ¡°This will be something of use to you more than I¡­¡±

    After being handed these hair samples, the Better People nearest to Calypso and the girls reached into their tattered cloaks. No rustling, no signs of movement, until the two duos pulled out very small, metallic gel eggs. Rotund orbs that glistened against the illustration of light from the flames, slightly melting in basking in it.

    It was short-lived, they shoved their hair into the liquid cage. The substance quickly consumed the hair, spasming as the pods swelled with mass that added to themselves by the second.

    The morphing pods forced themselves out of their respective hands, less than the Better People that held them simply dropped them. They quickly became blobs, twitching wads that started by being up to the girls¡¯ ankles and shifted up to their chests in moments. What was amorphous became slowly and slowly familiar as the tensing trembling of the masses became eerily still.

    Calypso wanted to shout. Demand what Richard was getting at with¡­ What she was forced to see. Wanted to protect Sal, and immediately apologize for being a part of this mess.

    It was like they were staring at unfinished versions of themselves. Just the likeness, but the details were instantly blurred. Silicon masked store models, ¡°wearing¡± clothes that in of themselves didn¡¯t make sense and were more like sprouts growing from the body. And they didn¡¯t move. No breathing, no slight wobbling¡­ No sense of life whatsoever.

    ¡°I understand that this is very terrifying,¡± Richard waved, his leather glove creaking with every move. ¡°But these are simply decoys that we use for our operations. Not to bore you to death with the details, but in the process of giving the life people were robbed of back, there needs to be¡­ Undeniable plausibility that they weren¡¯t killed. Hence these dolls. We¡¯re partners, and I want Cassie to not go after your loved ones.¡±

    ¡°IIII know you guys haven¡¯t got the best look at us, but gotta say¡ªkinda insulting--?¡± Gale¡¯s voice rose an octave.

    Richard chuckled, genuinely. ¡°It is humiliating, isn¡¯t it? But I assure you Gale, they¡¯re not going to be used for up close and personal interaction. These are for far-away shots¡ªwalking towards the town, wandering in the forest¡­ Causing just enough to sow doubt in our mutual enemy. And the best part¡­?¡±

    With a snap, each of the golems melted in an instant.

    ¡°The moment of pursuit or attack. Let¡¯s be honest¡ªwhile incredibly reckless, she isn¡¯t stupid. These aren¡¯t going to work for the next week or so, but can at least distract and pour her energies into dealing with, even if it only takes an hour of that time planning.¡±

    Calypso watched as the puddles slithered away. Making good work on moving away from the campsite, into the wilds of the forest as she turned her head back to Richard.

    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    ¡°Since we¡¯ve naturally came to the subject¡­¡± Calypso signed a tad. ¡°What¡¯s the status of things? Have your people found out any critical information?¡±

    Richard proceeded to lean on his left side. Rubbing his two leathered hands slowly to drown out the crackle of fire.

    ¡°Clearly, she¡¯s lying in wait. I¡¯m¡­ Weary of that. She knows that the unknown does wonders for the prey¡¯s mind. She¡¯s hoping for us to either cease up and hold up to our devices. Or cause us to do the most reckless move and capitalize on it.¡±

    ¡°Pretty much,¡± Natalie added in. ¡°S¡¯what I¡¯d do¡ª¡±

    ¡°So, that¡¯s why we¡¯re playing her game. We¡¯re helping out, what with the designs for the festivities. Our plan is to minimize and fight back in the center of the madness as much as we are able. But due to the ruling, our resources have been crippled enough for this to be a very dicey affair. We can¡¯t win through confrontation, especially since what we¡¯re protecting are hidden soldiers.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s where we come in. Correct?¡± Calypso asked.

    Richard sat up, deathly still. He then leaned forward, his mask sagged downward¡­ The fake, plastic hat covering the top of his ¡°face¡±.

    ¡°¡­This is why I wanted to meet with you all. This is going to be¡­ Very dire, your involvement. We can¡¯t directly aid in the likely confrontation with Cassie Morgan. Whatever she¡¯s done, to cheat not only one system, but multiple¡­ It¡¯s uncanny. We don¡¯t have much idea or¡­ Reference yet, especially on such little time. That¡¯s why I¡¯m asking of you¡ª¡±

    ¡°We have a plan.¡±

    It was quite comical, witnessing Richard¡¯s ¡°head¡± flopping upward, to gaze at Calypso, quizzically. All without actual expression.

    ¡°We¡­ Were just tired. Tired of being strung along, to be witnesses to horror and bloodshed. It¡¯s about time we not only solve this power gap, but take matters into our own hands. If things go well¡­ The only death we¡¯ll suffer, personally, will be an ego-centric fashion.¡±

    The skeletal monster girl felt the tense wind and wind, with every word and evasion. She looked to Gale, who sported a scared, half smile. Then to Natalie, who just nodded with her arms crossed.

    Calypso didn¡¯t have to strength to face Sal right in this moment. It was hard enough, trying to explain this to her.

    ¡°We¡¯ve referred to the tomb. We¡¯ve said our possible goodbyes to our various loved ones. Throughout this week, we¡¯re enacting the Ritual of Rebirth. By any means necessary.¡±

    Calypso heard the various clicks that surrounded them. But she wasn¡¯t fettered. She simply looked at Richard, who was slack in his posture. His gloved hands balled into fists, pressed into his thighs.

    ¡°¡­Calypso¡­ Why would you chance making this already desperate moment worse?¡±

    ¡°Richard,¡± Calypso tried to reason with a man who had multiple guns trained on them. ¡°I understand the trepidation, more than you know. But this is what you talked about, yes? A moment that Cassie wanted? For just to act irrationally, so we could capitalize on it--?¡±

    ¡°Says the woman that just told me that she¡¯s given up, on all senses of the term.¡±

    ¡°It isn¡¯t giving up¡ª¡± Natalie butted in. Calypso felt hot when she did. Leftover trigger, when she was just the annoying ¡°gnat¡± to her, can¡¯t shut up when it¡¯s clear that she should.

    ¡°Your word won¡¯t convince me either. So I suggest you keep your trap shut.¡±

    ¡°Haha¡ªnah¡ª¡± Natalie simply responded, and kept going, ¡°Because you¡¯re ignoring the prime fact here: we¡¯re still novices, noobs. You wanted us to be the wild cards because we have no idea what we¡¯re doing and could be easily disposed of. You didn¡¯t need¡ªbut 10/10 for the performance at least¡ªto be so ¡®torn¡¯ about sending us to our death¡ªthis show of remorse. You just don¡¯t want another thing to worry about¡ª¡±

    ¡°And like always, thank you so much for pointing out the obvious for us,¡± Richard was clearly agitated, rose to his feet, and pointed at all of the girls. ¡°Cassie Morgan is one thing, but we know what the Ritual Rebirth brings us: complications. We save this town, only for THREE bigger monsters coming forth to fill that void. Monsters, who just admitted, that have no idea what they¡¯re doing! This is insane¡ªyou all are insane!¡±

    ¡°The devil you know versus the one you don¡¯t,¡± Natalie simply shrugged. ¡°You¡¯re a smart boy¡ªyou have to understand that this is how these crises are ultimately solved¡ªmaking a massive mess that everyone hates to clean up¡ªand will focus on cleaning up together. It¡¯s what they call compromise, y¡¯know¡ª¡±

    Calypso heard more clicks, until¡­ The strangest yet familiar sound hit her ears instead.

    ¡°It¡¯s a¡­ Very cynical take on political gain, but my friend here is right.¡±

    Sal was capable of hiding her accent. Calypso reminded the phase she went through, where not only did she strive to hide her accent¡ªbut even fully change her name. Even for someone headstrong as her, the agonizing pressure of just being known as ¡°the dirty farm girl¡± was too much for her, growing up, at that point. Of course, in typical Sal fashion, will laugh at this point of her life as if it were a joke¡­ Which Calypso assumed that it was, in a sense.

    But nevertheless, that pain became a handy skill.

    ¡°You see¡­ I don¡¯t exactly think she¡¯s wrong. Putting it in an unflattering light, to be sure, but¡­ Look, I don¡¯t know you. I don¡¯t know you people¡ªand hopefully, this is a one-off meeting, but you do carry yourself in such a shrewd sense. I can¡¯t call into question your actual emotions, but you were basically going to send these girls in to die. And for what¡­? To be heroes? T-to be these idols when all you did was guilt them into subservience? And what if their plan was actually giving themselves up? Were you just going to offer words and then tell them exactly where to go? Use these¡­ D-dolls to replace them somehow¡ªfor their families that¡¯ll never see them again? None of this was in good faith from the start, so let¡¯s stop acting like this is a case of sanity versus insanity.¡±

    Richard still had his leathered hands balled up. Calypso heard the ¡°cleansing breaths¡± he was taking to stay calm.

 Entry 14.3 - Braving: A Final Stand

    "Tell me, stranger. How much do you know and relate to this¡­ Entire affair?¡±

    ¡°I know enough to get a gist,¡± Sal not budging, not giving him anything more.

    ¡°Then surely¡­ You speak of their family and relations, the innocence of their being¡ªwhen all of that gets thrown away once they make this grave choice. They¡¯re bringing back things that should stay buried. Dead. We are perverting laws that are already depraved as a basis. There is no need for more fuel to this wildfire¡ª¡±

    ¡°Sssssays the guy that summoned the judge-angel-god being that strongarmed us into this¡ª¡± Natalie pointedly made a point.

    ¡°Nat, please,¡± Sal raised a palm to her. ¡°I can speak for myself, here.¡±

    Sal turned back to Richard, with her own arms crossed. ¡°That¡¯s the point. They¡¯re not acting like this is a clean fix¡­ That they¡¯re confident in this¡ªif anything, that would send warning bells going into overdrive¡ªfor me, personally. Why do you think they¡¯ve come here to tell you this in the first place? Just to rile you up¡ªto rub it in your face? No. They¡¯re telling you because they believe that you¡¯re the last line of defense here. If it goes wrong, at least you know.¡±

    ¡°We. Are being. Stretched thin,¡± Richard practically hissed within his mask.

    ¡°But are you, really?¡±

    A long pause filled the dimly lit void.

    ¡°Granted, this crisis has taken a lot from us, from what I can understand¡­ But you reek of this¡­ Sense that things have to be done in a certain way, a certain fashion. That¡¯s what you¡¯re getting at. This plan being a front to what you and your people believe to be order. Because let¡¯s not mince words here¡ªafter this? You want things to go back to normal¡­ Well, sorry, ¡®back to business¡¯. So sorry, you do have a point¡­ But let¡¯s not act like it¡¯s not influenced by your own disgust over the fact that what YOU want to achieve is going to be on the line if they go through with this. No longer the novice little monsters you can easily check anymore.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡± Richard arced his head towards Calypso. ¡°You¡¯re in the company of very talented people.¡±

    ¡°I am,¡± Calypso gave an earnest, small smile. ¡°Much better than what I could ever hope to be.¡±

    Calypso¡¯s face rested in its default state, as she stepped forward. ¡°Regardless. We can go and fight and drag this entire thing out. In fact, I¡¯m sure you¡¯re wrestling with your mind in trying to kill us in the quickest way possible. Pragmatic solution in solving a problem, by nipping it in the bud? It¡¯s smart. You¡¯re smart. But what¡¯s the point, other than creating yet another wound? You can be proud that you took care of what you deem to be four maniacs, but what is that in the face of a reign of terror by a careless, disturbed mind? And who knows¡­ If we truly unleash hell, that¡¯s more experience in dealing with Cassie for abnormal Consumed, right?¡±

    Richard just put his hands in his pockets. Calypso felt that he finally was privy to the fact she was gauging his temperament based on them.

    With a heavy sigh, he said his piece.

    ¡°It¡¯s not like we¡¯re desperately thinking about reaching into our vaults, using our secret aces in hand¡­ Fine. I¡¯ll honor our deal.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s all we want, for you to know and stuff¡­¡± Gale finally said something. ¡°And give us the go ¡®head¡­ Because we might not. Y¡¯know. Come back. The ¡®least you can do, right?¡±

    Richard paused at that, and turned his head towards Gale. A Gale that was clearly frightened, but steadfast.

    He then shook his head. ¡°I understand why the monsters, in a destructive and tactical sense, target us youth¡­ So much to prove, so much to lose. But it¡¯s still terrible, and cruel. We never should¡¯ve become monsters when we¡¯ve barely become people.¡±

    Calypso was taken aback, but kept it to herself.

    ¡°We do have a process, at least. We¡¯re driving deep into the forest, away from any possible innocents. And from there, we¡¯ll go to work. Have patrols, sentries¡ªhowever you work. Just in case.¡±

    Richard nodded, slowly. ¡°Let¡¯s hope to meet again, both in good health and mentally sound. And not with me with a gun to your heads.¡±

    Calypso simply returned the nod, and turned on her heels. Causing the rest to follow in her stead, into the car.

    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    Making their choice already so heavy not only on the mind, but their bodies as well.

    ***

    ¡°Okay¡­ It¡¯s starting to get dark, y¡¯all¡­¡±

    They managed to find this place¡­ Calypso would¡¯ve said that this was the very center of everything. An open space in the middle of the forest. Dead, gray grass that was flattened by the elements, as with every step seemed to be kicking up sand that fluttered into the chill of the night.

    Sal leaned against the car. Scratching the side of her face, that had creases from the mask.

    Each respective Consumed present was rubbing their Illuminator. Watching the slow pulsing of light.

    Calypso had to say¡­ Something, before any of this happened.

    ¡°¡­ Gale, Natalie¡­ You don¡¯t have to do this. I¡¯m¡ªI¡¯m willing to¡ª¡±

    ¡°Pleeeeease,¡± Gale chirped. ¡°How else were you gonna tackle this without me teaching you my awesome breathing techniques~? Now I owe you one¡ªso nyeeeh~!¡±

    Calypso couldn¡¯t help but smile at that.

    ¡°It¡¯s not like I have anything better to do¡ªwith me,¡± Natalie joked, smirking. ¡°Face it. We¡¯re doing this. And guess what?¡±

    Natalie stretched her goggles, and let them slap her face so she could wear them, adjusting them after the fact as if nothing happened. ¡°Let¡¯s complain about it together on the other side.¡±

    With a thumbs up and the light beginning to cover her, she simply walked into the woods. Seemingly into the undisturbed darkness, that simply swallowed her light.

    Watching this, Calypso wasn¡¯t at all ready for Gale¡¯s hug. It nearly took the wind out of her.

    ¡°You¡¯re not gonna be alone, this time. We¡¯re friends¡ªand I mean every word of it. You gave this useless girl a direction a-and, like¡­ Hope. When you were at your most hurt. And I can¡¯t just walk away from that.¡±

    Calypso instantly returned the hug, after that. Squeezed her friend tight, before letting go.

    ¡°L-like Natty said¡­¡± Gale got choked up, as her eyes poured with tears. ¡°See ya¡¯ on the other side~¡±

    Gale gritted her teeth, as she backed away. Letting her light engulf her, while still taking in Calypso with a wavering smile. Letting the darkness take her too, once she crossed by the trees.

    All of it, all of this¡­ It was hitting her. It was too heavy.

    But Calypso fastened her glove, as her Illuminator with the red ¡°crack¡± began to glow as well. She wasn¡¯t ready, but she¡¯s doing it anyway.

    She then turned to Sal, who was looking onward.

    ¡°Guessing that you don¡¯t wanna see me turn¡­?¡± Calypso asked, figured. ¡°I can always¡ª¡±

    ¡°Naw,¡± Sal shook her head. ¡°Think of it as me helpin¡¯ ya¡¯, acceptin¡¯ ya¡¯¡­ Me pullin¡¯ my own weight, rather than cryin¡¯ an¡¯ sittin¡¯ here.¡±

    Calypso cried crimson tears as the light took her, lowering her head with a toothy grin.

    ¡°Thank you¡­¡±

    She reeled her head back as the changes took hold. She let her hair grow past her back, she let her bones shoot out of her flushed, transforming skin as they covered her flesh in protection Leaning further and further back as the bones locked into armor, her elbow scythes sharpened, and finally lurched back forward as her eyes burst with amber light, swallowed by darkness.

    Panting, clutching her claws together, she watched as her cousin¡ªwho was once taller than her, now a head lower. Calypso tried to make an expression, a neutral one, as she looked down at her¡ªto invite her to realize that it was her.

    Sal, shakenly¡­ But calmly, reached up to Calypso¡¯s cheek. She instantly reeled her hand back, due to how hot she was running, causing Calypso to gasp in panic, her dark eyes expressing sorrow. But Sal shook her head silently and attempted to do it again.

    And this time, she kept her hand, to cup her dear cousin¡¯s cheek. Rubbed it with her thumb.

    ¡°¡­Does it hurt? Ta¡¯ be¡­ All twisted up, like this¡­?¡±

    The question quickly sunk into Calypso. She was surprised that she had an answer, so quickly¡­ But she thought about this journey, about this situation, and ultimately her life.

    ¡°¡­I¡¯ve never been so comfortable in my own skin, honestly¡­¡± Calypso couldn¡¯t help to laugh and softly shake her head in disbelief.

    Sal simply huffed in amusement. ¡°Yeah. It is you still, in there¡­¡±

    Calypso smiled warmly, as Sal retracted her hand once more. The skeletal monster girl took a deep breath and turned towards the darkness of the forest. Marching forward, with no more regrets or doubt lingering in her mind.

    She made her way into the endless void, and continued to keep walking.

    ¡°¡®I walk¡­ In the valley of the edge of the light¡­ Within the truth that before brilliance, before life itself¡­ This was simply as.¡¯¡±

    Calypso raised her hand, as she cut into it. Unveiling her Illuminator, as the gemstone was embedded into her form now.

    ¡°''Now, as a being of light, I¡¯ve come to realize that we were born as both, the dark and the light. I am¡­ Willing¡­ To blur these lines further¡­!¡¯¡±

    Calypso violently ripped the gemstone out of her hand. Almost as if she tore out her own heart, as it was still connected with tissue, veins, and bone. Screaming in its radiance, but screaming literally as well.

    ¡°¡®I DON¡¯T RECLAIM MY SOUL IN THE SENSE OF BEING WHOLE¡­! I AM WILLING TO BRAVE THIS CHALLENGE¡ªA FINAL BOUT, BETWEEN THE LIGHT AND THE DARK! I WILL PROVE¡ªTHAT THIS WILL BE THE PERFECT UNION OF WHAT SHOULD NEVER BE EXTREMES!''¡±

    Calypso found herself out of breath... And thinking of her friend, she relaxed. Took a breath in and out from the nose. Doing it again and again, to keep herself steady.

    She shoved the gemstone into her mouth, and with immense tears coating her face, forced the object down her throat.

    She instantly fell to her knees, clutching at the leaves of the ground. This was way different, way unstable, than her usual reversions back.

    ¡°¡®Be it I sacrifice the bones that I¡¯ve known¡­! In pursuit¡­! For the kind, we must¡­ Tru¡­ Ly¡­ Haaaave--!¡±

    Calypso found herself face down, on the ground. The area around her lightened a tad, revealing this endless forest plane.

    As she got up, she found that her hands were once human again. How she was completely vulnerable¡ªhow most of the wounds she¡¯s gained from her transformation were healed enough, but clearly scarred.

    ¡°¡­Alright, you bastard¡­¡±

    The girl looked behind herself, to see the reanimated Grim Subsumed hunched over. One glowing ¡°eye¡± within it¡¯s dead socket.

    ¡°Ready for Round Two¡­?¡± she grimaced, with determination.

 Entry 14.4 - Braving: A Final Stand

    Surprisingly, the beast that laid dormant¡ªtrapped and used by an 18-year-old girl¡ªwhich said girl had to eat it alive to gain such power, instantly swung at Calypso with its scythe-like claws.

    Calypso barely had time to react, rolling away once the force of the strike knocked her on her ass. She had that initial shock, at such strength, but quickly regained the reality of this situation. Of course, it¡¯s strong. It¡¯s supposed to be.

    The dainty girl focused her gaze once more at the Grim Subsumed sole glowing eye. It wasn¡¯t so much an eye, but a tunnel that beaconed a light source from the other side. Calypso knew the source of such brilliance and is the sole reason why this pathetic excuse of a thing has become whole once more.

    ¡°Come, you big bastard¡­¡± Calypso struggled to her small feet, wobbled due to her weak knees. ¡°Throw your tantrum and let¡¯s get this over with.¡±

    The hunched, living corpse simply stood upright in response. Somehow much more chilling to Calypso than some roar or immediate attack.

    It prowled backward into the dense, unmovable shadows that surrounded Calypso and it. Completely disappearing into the night.

    Calypso gritted her teeth, looking around herself with a notable trembling in her otherwise prepared stance. The senses of a Consumed, active or passive, were greatly missed¡ªtheir absence greatly felt.

    It wasn¡¯t until the sounds of whistling bone, due to the Grim diving back into the fray, that Calypso dodged out of the way once more. The monster crashed, only to scramble back onto all fours, and darted towards Calypso with intensity. Calypso, in turn, just fell painfully onto her back. Easy pickings for the beast that was completely over her now.

    Despite lacking her instincts of a beast, Calypso was never less powered by adrenaline. Her eyes searched, something¡ªanything to get out of this and not destroy what she¡ªand the others¡ªwere putting so much on the line for.

    It clicked, as she stared right at the decaying leg that was by her foot.

    She kicked it¡ªshe kicked it hard with as much feeble strength as she could ever muster. And if the initial strike didn¡¯t work¡ªshe didn¡¯t even leave it up to chance. She rapidly kicked into something gave away.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    Luckily for her, the Grim Subsumed buckled on its left side¡ªfell to said side with its left leg bent against the creature¡¯s own weight, causing Calypso to roll away once more.

    Calypso barely could pant, let alone lift herself up. After all, this is the same girl who often got winded from traveling up the stairs during high school.

    Her aching arms could only quake and burn, not hoist herself back up. Calypso cursed, within herself, directly at herself.

    And just like the strength suddenly leaving her, Calypso¡¯s very surroundings began to twist and fester.

    Like that, the mental, spiritual assault waged against her during the initial Grim Subsumed invasion resumed. Resumed as if nothing happened¡­ Yet, because the process was nearing it¡¯s end, the effects were so much more potent.

    The air around them not only got deathly cold, but became heavy with dark gray. The shadows were shifting in the background, surging and warping into various disconcerting shapes¡­

    Shapes that came all too familiar.

    The constant memories she thinks about. The inner darkness that made her barely understand herself until it was too late. The anger that surged within, held back so much that it grew cold and venomous, leaking out of her anyways. The pressures of keeping all of that in, despite the clear and present damage accruing.

    Not only laid out bare for this inner world to see, projected on the wall as these incorporeal concepts cascade across the landscape... But the sheer amount of them physically weighs Calypso down. Making her unable to get up under her own feeble power.

    She kept the recent revelations, the growth she somehow mustered in these painful months of her life¡­ She honest-to-god did. Regardless, this is near the source of such longstanding pain. Hopes are hopes, but truth will always last longer.

    Calypso being the way she was, and the fault she will always naturally gravitate towards that start¡ªthat¡¯s true. It¡¯s something she has to deal with for the rest of her life, and despite these moments of brilliance and warmth¡­ It will always have a danger of fading away. Constantly having these moments of being beaten down, only to ¡°remember¡± that she¡¯s loved and has value. Over and over again.

    She curled her fingers to form a fist. Pushed both of them down, using her knuckles to dig into the flooring so that she could rise. Her bones crackled and bopped, she immediately fell down twice over.

    But the other truth of this matter is that if she doesn¡¯t do anything¡ªshe¡¯s simply dead. People are going to die in the worst fashion possible. Not only dying to something that¡¯s mad, monstrous, but remains used in perversion. An era of unrelenting darkness is going to follow, even for the people that are strong enough to survive.

    This isn¡¯t about her. Not anymore.

    This struggle earned her the ability to sit up, only her upper body away from the ground. Trembling but no longer bound.

    From the corner of her eye, she saw the Grim Subsumed saunter across the floor. Arms hanging, letting them sway. Still the same mindless swagger from before.

    Calypso just laughed. Maybe she had changed, in comparison.

    ¡°Now¡­ Hurry up and kill me already¡­¡± Calypso grunted. ¡°I need this to work¡­¡±

 Entry 14.5 - Braving: A Final Stand

    Calypso started to slam her hand on the floor, trying to beckon the monster into eating her. ¡°Come on¡­ How are you so slow now? When you were ripping into me that day¡ªI couldn¡¯t breathe without you gaining after me¡ªlet alone move!¡±

    As if in response, the lanky skeleton started to gallop toward the girl. Calypso grimaced as she faced it, barely off the floor as she still struggled.

    ¡°There we go! That¡¯s the spirit¡ªnow to actually work for it!¡±

    Once again, the Grim Subsumed landed on top of Calypso. This time, Calypso had to struggle against keeping the sharp claws at bay¡ªas she gripped at the creature¡¯s wrist, the various assortment of bone easily piercing, digging into her palms. Regardless, the creature¡¯s skull began to lurch forward, opening its barely strung-together maw of fangs to the point that it was nearing Calypso¡¯s nose.

    Knowing that the creature didn¡¯t learn its lesson at all¡ªCalypso kicked at the already disjointed leg. Kicking again and again, causing the monster to stop its lurching to howl out in pain.

    Calypso heard something shatter. A quick glance made sure that she wasn¡¯t the one that did, and the confirmation that it was the Grim Subsumed was it recoiling away from her, ripping away from Calypso easily as it rolled onto its side.

    The girl didn¡¯t even realize what was going on until she followed the creature¡¯s arms. Reaching downward, toward the now broken knee that lost a sizeable chuck of itself. Writhing on the floor, still howling out in agony.

    Calypso in turn struggled up to her feet¡ªwincing as her leg quickly caught up to the punishment she put it through. Despite having nothing, despite having a new strained leg, despite being hunched over with an eye closed due to the pain--the girl stood triumphant over the so-called monster.

    ¡°Wow... I bring you back, from the brink¡­ Gave you the best-case scenario for your revenge¡­ And you still manage to fuck it up. You even have all of my powers and abilities¡ªincluding healing! And yet here you are, doing WORSE than when you killed me that day. For someone that¡¯s irreversibly destroyed my life¡­ You¡¯re not even worth it¡­¡±

    Calypso simply hobbled to turn away from the pitiful creature. Looking into the changing darkness.

    ¡°Interesting how part of the ritual involved me showcasing how I changed¡­ I thought I was going to do horrible, against you. Turns out that I barely had to do anything to speed past you: and now the process might be forfeit. Ah well. I¡¯ll see if my fr¡ª¡±

    Within moments, Calypso felt her back splitting apart. Funny how she still recalls how that felt after all this time.

    You sure are interesting, child.

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    Her body landed with a painful thud. She tried to reclaim herself, fasten her hands into a fist¡­ But her fingers began to separate from said hand.

    Such bravado, such intelligence¡­ A shroud for your insanity, your inadequacy. If you were truly brave and smart, you would¡¯ve done the sensible thing. And continued on your prior path.

    The swirls of shadow, still broadcasting Calypso¡¯s sin, became a fog so impenetrable, so dense, that it became a blanket. She could not see anything anymore.

    Until something manifested before her.

    We Grimm¡­ Well, we have no problem with being as molasses. To stay still, to simply gaze from afar. For we are the perfect predators. They hunted us to near extinction, remember?

    Calypso yelled out in pain. It was as if the Grim managed to find its way to overshadow her once more, yet clearly before her, pressing its claws into¡­ Somewhere, into her flesh.

    We simply wait. Because all return to us regardless of what they do, and the efforts lost.

    An alabaster skull with a furrowed brow and fastened teeth appeared before Calypso. While it was clear that the voice was coming from it, as the voice rattled and echoed within its shape¡­ There was no active movement. The skull just hung itself against the morphing background, as it softly shined.

    Only a fool would proclaim that they are a great swordsman, when only they stole a sword. And yet here you are, boasting and such a terrible braggart. Let us put this¡­ ¡°Growth¡± to the test, shall we?

    She felt pools of blood flood across her body. She felt old, sharp pings that turned into numbness. It was deep¡­ Serrated.

    The old wounds that she had when she died began to resurface. Slowly, but surely.

    Can you truly say that you stand on your own, when those you¡¯ve leeched around you do the work for you?

    The heavy snap of her bones made her vision waver. Calypso refused to scream, but nevertheless mewled out pitiful groans. Her legs broken.

    Such a ¡°tortured soul¡±¡­ And yet you know how irreversibly hollow and small it is.

    The sounds of a squelching stab informed her that her insides were craved out, then the immediate feeling of tightness and lack of air. And somehow, Calypso was still hanging on.

    ¡°Cursed¡± with such knowledge¡­ Not only barely used, but wasted. All that time thinking, and yet you never came up with a tangible goal to solve your endless, useless sadness?

    Calypso felt the claws burrow from within her. Reaching and search with sharpened blades until they reached the top, as she felt yet another thing taken away. The brilliance, or whatever was left of Calypso¡¯s eyes, were glazed over. Why hasn¡¯t she died yet?

    And finally¡­ That face.

    The girl felt her chin being propped up. She felt it began to spilt.

    You can¡¯t even call it duality. You bury of this under your own flesh. As if you were a small toddler that wet themselves, quickly hiding the covers under their bed. Unable to see the mess they¡¯ve added to.

    You only lied, got away with it so long, simply because your fellow man is equally trite.

    Simply put. This was always meant to be your end, Calypso Elise Grimes. To have some semblance of power, control in your life¡­ Before it quickly and terribly ends.

    She felt her entire left side sliding away from her, like before. Calypso was so induced into this miasma, that she couldn¡¯t grasp what exactly was happening¡ªhow it happened. All she knew was that she felt something being taken away from her.

    She was finally becoming subsumed.

 Entry 14.6 - Braving: A Final Stand

    ***

    The being that inhabited Calypso¡¯s body breathed. For the first time in a hundred or so years.

    It tightened the bony fist it now processed, this right arm freed of most of the pathetic flesh that formed oh so snugly on the creature.

    Half of the face was gone, but it wasn¡¯t a deal breaker. A few hunts and it will be restored in time. Besides, the ¡°normal¡± half was twisted to fit the Subsumed¡¯s likeness anyway. Eye socket that was completely sunken, the cheekbone formed into a spike that pulled the already tight skin.

    It felt right to smile. Since this face was so used to faking it. Now it¡¯s going to be effortless, once the Grim Subsumed manages to escape.

    ¡°It¡¯s a shame, Calypso Grimes¡­¡± the exhausted tone of this voice was something the Grim had to get used to, but will do so in time. ¡°You truly embodied what lower Subsumed had. It was a shame, that you were born a human. You would¡¯ve at least thrived in our world. But as they say¡­¡±

    The Grim Subsumed was puzzled¡­ Puzzlement that turned into immediate panic.

    It couldn¡¯t continue with the saying. It couldn¡¯t talk at all.

    Let me guess¡­ ¡°Such as fate¡±? You¡¯re saying it¡¯s a shame that I wasn¡¯t born like you¡ªhad I known you were so well read, our fight would¡¯ve been so much better¡ª

    ¡°Where are you?¡± the Grimm asked, accusingly. It piloted the girl¡¯s body into a tree that just manifested into sight. Putting the back against it. ¡°WHAT IS THIS?!¡±

    A branch quickly swung towards the Grim Subsumed using the twigs to wrap around its stolen neck. As its startled eyes tried to take in what was happening, the tree itself turned pale¡­ A very human-hued pale.

    Calypso¡¯s eye morphed on the truck, taking the position where a lost branch¡¯s base was.

    To be as blunt as possible: this is your demise. Your true demise.

    The Grimm tried looking about, tried to worm its way out of the girl¡¯s hold, but it meant precious little.

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    Sorry to say¡­ But you were nothing more than a reanimated corpse I had to force from deep inside. My coven and I, we were informed that while the process of becoming Consumed meant that you¡ªour monsters¡ªwere truly dead¡­ There were still remnants. Still a whole ¡®nother process to truly become what we are. And this whole exercise was that: you subsuming me, so the shoe¡¯s on the other foot.

    The tree transformed completely. Turned into sludge that slowly but surely surrounded the Grim Subsumed as it truly panicked. Tried to throw the matter away, but it simply latched onto the monster again.

    We are truly one now. The Consumed process has been completed~

    ¡°YOU¡¯RE DEAD!¡± the Grimm screamed. ¡°WE¡¯RE BOTH DEAD! A being with both footholds in the two worlds is an abomination¡ªyou¡¯re signing your life away! If there was a process to return back to human¡ªand I go on my way¡ªyou wasted it!¡±

    As the sludge got to the monster¡¯s shoulders, a head formed itself before the Grimm. A mockery of Calypso¡¯s face¡ªeyeless and without teeth as she continued to talk.

    That¡¯s the thing, with you Subsumed. You don¡¯t understand, because you doomed yourselves from the moment you¡¯re born. You happily take these roles, this¡­ Terrible life. Us humans? We¡¯re willing to burn, to pillage, to kill if that means escaping this fate¡­ And that¡¯s why you¡¯ll always lose. For better and for worse¡­ We are beings that have to constantly change.

    Calypso¡¯s head rose as the neck kept extending. An empty, mask-like smile from stretched ear to metaphorical ear.

    You tried to do the same as my depression. Batter me with so many excuses for me to lie down and die. It¡¯s all the same. And I thank you for making me realize that. There¡¯s simply nothing else left to say: from it and from you. Nothing else left to say.

    A bloodcurdling scream exited Calypso¡¯s lips as she sped downward to the monster. Once again consuming it whole, as she transformed into an iridescent flash of light.

    ***

    Calypso awoke in Sal¡¯s arms.

    ¡°Ya¡¯ better be lucky that I¡¯m a girl scout and come prepared¡ª¡± Sal humble-bragged. ¡°Not only outdoor tools, but extra covers¡ª¡±

    Calypso moved to lightly hit her cousin¡­ Upon realizing that her Illuminator¡¯s Glove changed.

    Now a black, skeletal frame was fused into the leather glove, giving the appearance of a skeleton¡¯s hand resting upon Calypso¡¯s.

    Sal pointed at it. ¡°Suppose that means ya¡¯ done it?¡±

    Calypso smiled. ¡°Yep. And in flying colors, provided that Gale and Natalie haven¡¯t returned yet¡­¡±

    Sal shook her head, helping her cousin up. ¡°We gotta wait, right? I gotta admit¡­ Kinda glad it was you first. Not ta¡¯ be mean and all¡­ But I don¡¯t think I can handle another monster chargin¡¯ at me full speed until ya¡¯ came ta¡¯ yer senses again¡­¡±

    Calypso sucked her teeth. She should¡¯ve figured that she did rampage for a bit, after all¡­

    Nevertheless, she stood up and did so firmly. ¡°Things are looking promising, though. Once we all gain our new forms, they¡¯ll help us with phase 2 of the plan¡­¡±

    The skeletal monster girl smirked, and looked to the moon.

    ¡°We¡¯re ending you, Cassie Morgan. There can only be three monsters that love this town.¡±

 Missing Entry (#8)

    Natalie finished helping her dad wipe away the final ¡°NO DUST NOEL¡± from the walls of the rental place.

    It was always hard, to look at her father. Especially after moments like these, where it¡¯s clear that he¡¯s on the verge of a breakdown¡ªyet still has that cocksure expression craved onto his face. Hands on his hips¡ªposture radiating triumph¡ªwhen something even worse was bound to come afterward.

    ¡°There! All done!¡±

    Natalie looked at her dad, what she felt written clearly on her face. The few times that she was allowed to be honest with someone.

    And without any words¡ªher father changed his posture to face Natalie. It was never¡­ Hard for Natalie to read people, but rather it was hard to gauge where exactly the emotions came from, what that meant, how will it factor into the conversation¡ªand most importantly, what she had to do after.

    ¡°Things are rough by default, Natty¡­ Th-things are gonna be rough for a while, with your mother gone and all. But don¡¯t ever let it get an inch or iota of you. That¡¯s when you lose, really. You gotta be a rock in this world¡ªhardened, immovable, because they don¡¯t know what to do with that.¡±

    And with a smile and raised finger that he used to conduct his point, it still painted such a desperate picture of the man. ¡°And no one. No one. Can ever hurt you.¡±

    And the flashback ended with Natalie being painfully dragged out of the moving wall of regret.

    Slammed onto her back, arched with pain, Natalie had to flip to her side to stop it from hurting too much.

    But one couldn¡¯t really escape from the pain of wriggling parasites deep inside of the body.

    Natalie didn¡¯t want to dwell on how exactly they were locking up her entire body, where she had to fight for control¡ªlike forcing whatever festered within her back down her throat, but never the less, forced her gaze directly at the bastard that was doing this to her.

    Within her eye, a facsimile of the Fly Subsumed was staring back.

    She wanted desperately to shout at it, to undermine the victory it had over her. Maybe to get something from it¡ªdislodge information she doesn¡¯t have, get it to slip up now versus later, anything.

    But it was like dad said. She had to be a rock.

    And without any control over her own body, she was forced back into the wall of shame once more. As if she was being waterboarded.

    Reliving the first day with the visible bald spot from the gum, with the people responsible laughing so hard, they pointed it out to the rest of the class.

    Her head was reared back, then violently dunked back in.

    Being brought back to that painful stab into the soul, when what should¡¯ve been a bi-weekly bonding day with her mom became the only one of its kind.

    The pain of being irreversibly separated constantly seeped into every conversation, every single word. Ending with a very silent trip to the local ice cream parlor. Mutually and desperately trying to stuff their faces so that there¡¯s no need to say anything. Trying desperately gain something sweet to wash away the bitterness.

    Natalie was fished out and thrown away, far back. Despite her face being coated with tears, she couldn¡¯t help but snicker.

    She knew that she was winning.

    With a quick wipe of the eye, she glanced back to the Fly Subsumed.

    ¡°Can¡¯t really fuck up a person that constantly thinks about how much they fuck up~¡±

    And just like how a person throwing out an insult, a slur, or anything demeaning the other guy in an argument, Natalie knew that she won the moment the Subsumed began to eat her alive.

    ***

    ¡°Y¡¯know. I kinda wondered what was going to happen with this¡­¡±

    Natalie was freely talking from her side of the face, of the body they somehow shared. The Fly¡¯s head was on the other side, burst from the human face and skull, wide open. And yet it was the one trembling.

    ¡°You said it yourself. We¡¯re basically the same. Opportunistic, desperate scumbags¡­ And for all that work you did, trying to get me so low¡ªyou didn¡¯t realize.¡±

    Natalie used the body¡¯s hand to grab hold of the eye of the monster and squeezed.

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    ¡°In all that effort to bring me down¡­ You didn¡¯t realize that you¡¯re lower than me, idiot.¡±

    She balled the Fly¡¯s eye up like a crumpled piece of paper.

    ¡°In all of your cheap wisdom, you didn¡¯t realize that I would do anything and everything to win¡­ You really didn¡¯t catch on, did you?¡±

    She plunged her fist into the beast¡¯s head, using the crushed eye as an entry point.

    ¡°I dwelled on those moments, you fucking fool. Chose them. I didn¡¯t know if it would work or not, but it did¡ªI created a smokescreen of memories for you to think that THESE are the ones that keep me up at night. And sure¡ªyeah¡ªthey were pretty bad. But your mistake was not looking deep enough.¡±

    Natalie smiled. Empty, uncanny. But never the less proud of herself.

    ¡°Ah well! I¡¯ll dig deep into you¡ªto see if you truly got a brain in that dome piece of yours~¡±

    And she made good on that promise.

    Through the piercing of exoskeleton and the slurry that gushed from it, Natalie actually did go back. Intrusively taken back due to the trauma, the one that inflicted such.

    It wasn''t the days where she enacted her revenge. It wasn''t when she realized that she was stalking people, hurting them--and felt utter delight from it.

    It was during the transition. Where she came home, clearly merging with such a hideous creature that she was now gutting into sludge. She was clearly hiding her manibles, the sharp hairs on her arms. Merely winter suits and scarfs.

    Yet whenever her own father came to check on her, looked at her...

    Nothing.

    Things were just the same, for people.

    And as Natalie looked into the mirror that night... She realized, then and there, that such a face suited her after all. There was no use in fighting any of it.

    It was less of a reclamation of her soul... But an acceptance, of what she truly was.

    ***

    It was amazing how Natalie sensed that the Better People were not only made their way toward them, but felt them lying in wait.

    The perks of having multiple eyes and thousands of environment-sensitive hairs covering her¡ªshe figured.

    She turned her new head towards her similarly evolved friends. Moved it in an accelerated, twitchy fashion to signal what she learned.

    It was hard still, but each of the monster girls reached up toward their respective heads, and with all of their might, tore off the guises that they became. Writhing, twitching as they ripped meat from bone¡ªbut having to remind their already altered minds that it isn¡¯t the case. Thankfully, they all were freed from the monster flesh as it faded into shadows at their bare feet.

    ¡°Hopefully your reused sock puppets don¡¯t have libidos¡ªotherwise we¡¯d be blushing right now¡­¡± Natalie quipped, summoning her cloak as she faced the approaching crowd.

    Scarecrow boy walked towards the monster girl trio, rubbing his gloved hands. Didn¡¯t really help Natalie¡¯s case, by doing that¡ª

    ¡°I¡¯m just happy that you¡¯ve managed to do it¡­¡± Richard sounded dumbfounded. Or at the very least, disheartened at the fact that they didn¡¯t get to shoot at them.

    Regardless, Natalie looked to Calypso. She was practically the elder god of figuring people out¡ªso stiff in her movements, tried to keep her head held so high despite the visible hunch in her posture. And of course, the nigh unreadable face when she knows how to use it.

    ¡°See? Little to no bloodshed. Only ours, if anything,¡± Calypso joked. But didn¡¯t have a lilt or change in tone to carry the joke across.

    ¡°True. But I¡¯m sure that this clearing wasn¡¯t here before, when we got here¡­¡± Richard looked about with his sagging mask flopping side to side, following his gaze.

    It was a tad incriminating, seeing the various trees that were broken down and uprooted around them.

    ¡°But I must say¡­ I was right to trust you all. And now we have a great weapon in our arsenal against Morgan. I commend you all~¡±

    ¡°Commend you too, dude~¡± Gale chirped happily¡ªwith little-to-no irony behind that statement.

    Natalie had to move to her, patting her on the shadow-covered shoulder. Gale was a precious bean, and had to be protected by the terrors of this world as long as they could.

    ¡°How are things shaping up on your end, if I may be so bold?¡± Calypso asked Richard, her arms disappearing into her cloak. She looked as if she was truly Death¡ªit was pretty rad.

    Richard sighed softly, clasping his hands tightly. ¡°While the celebration itself has more than enough redundancies¡­ The actual solution still needs time. By our estimation, it will literally be ready on the hour of when it all happens. Which isn¡¯t the best¡ª¡±

    ¡°Man¡­¡± Gale responded¡ªif anything, embodied what Natalie and Calypso were feeling at that moment. Gale then walked up to Richard a tad and with a lowered, sympathetic tone, ¡°I know, like¡­ You¡¯re all secrets and planning and plans within plans¡­ But since we told you guys what we were doing¡ªcan we know what the ¡®solution¡¯ is¡­? You don¡¯t have to, but¡ª¡±

    Richard raised his gloved hand, before lowering it. ¡°Of course, of course. No need to worry about pressing anything, Gale. It¡¯s rather simple, if anything¡­¡±

    Another reason to keep Gale around¡ªshe legitimately cares about people and in turn, people feel like caring about her. It was practically more witchcraft than the actual witchcraft they practiced.

    ¡°Sealing her away. The sealing practice itself is rather¡­ Akin to say, government authorization, it requires the perfect line of materials and components for it to truly work. Otherwise, Cassie would just simply have a little vacation all but in name, only to return and kill us all. And we are aware of¡­ Melissa Harker¡¯s role in all of this. Sealing her too would just complicate things, both for you all with your sentiments and simply put, sealing being finicky as is. That¡¯s why¡­¡±

    Richard gestured towards one of the nameless, faceless grunts.

    ¡°We¡¯re creating a body for her to be forever sealed in. The DNA we¡¯ve collected and had¡­ Well, seems to be not enough for us. We need at least a limb or more to recreate a body. It¡¯s why the hospital incident was too unfruitful for us, after all.¡±

    ¡°¡­Funny that you brought that up~¡±

    Natalie felt all the stares on her, sans her friends. In actuality, Natalie glanced at a smiling Gale, and a Calypso gave a mischievous grin back at Natalie.

    ¡°While our collective pants are on the other side¡ªwe¡¯re awaiting a text from our associate about if Part 2 of our little plan worked~¡±

    ¡°Part 2¡­?¡±

    Natalie just grinned. ¡°Never could find that bunker of Morgan¡¯s right¡­? Y¡¯know, that was somehow connected to the hospital''s basement in that flipside-hell version¡­? Well, we¡¯ve been there before¡ªand it took us a while, but we might have a lead about where it is in the normal world¡­ Who knows what could be lurking down in that thing¡­~?¡±

    Richard¡¯s stance stiffened in contemplation¡­ And was loosened in barely contained joy.

    ¡°What fun!¡±

 (META) The Finale of Fear + Brief Week Hiatus

    First things first. I cannot accurately put into words of just... How grateful I am for you guys flocking to this story as you did?

    A year ago, I was crushed at what I thought was my debut tanking and tanking hard--no one to blame about it but myself. I genuinely thought I was unfit to be a creative. I thought any idea I had was basically doomed because it came from my head.

    So doing Fear was both resignation and desperation. So this getting as big as it had really did heal me. And I cannot thank any of you more.

    We''re heading into the final Entry, as the title says... But not only that--maybe just to have it properly feel fully absorbed, Fear will be only updating once a week on Thursdays. While I am... Outright surprised, that I managed to make a two-a-week schedule work--me wanting this to not seem rushed + me starting a "new" series on the 15th might make things be incredibly stretched thin. It''ll be understandable if any of you are upset with this news, I''m fully fine if you unfollow or something.

    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    And I guess to end and on the topic of "life after an author ends a thing you''ve been loving"... I''ve learned a lot from Fear. And I''m sure as hell putting it into this new series I''m doing. This is a reboot/reimagining/"Ultimate version" of the story I mentioned at the start, and will be called "(Our) siVisPhases", an Urban Fantasy and Western-take on Shounen/Progression Fantasy with a very, very mean twist to it. I''ll understand if you''re not into things like that, or I guess me in general in a weird but understandable stance, but at the very least I''m not leaving this platform and whatever you like about my writing will be in here. It starts on October 30th and I''d be grateful if you check it out!

    As always, have yourselves a damn good one.

 Final Chapters - Jubilee: A Celebration of Victory

    The sounds of the dank basement, the constant pattering of a leaking, broken pipe that was above Calypso¡¯s head, gave her the much-needed breaks away from the aching nerves that existed within it.

    She watched the pipe that was a foot or so away, when she wasn¡¯t just staring far off past the ceiling. Watching the drops of water form, only to splat in quick succession.

    She spun her new phone again. Pressed her thumb against the smooth screen, her middle on the back of the device entirely. Letting the sweat she was accruing give the lubricant required for her to simply move her hand and let it dance before her. Her other hand gave her stony face the comfort it needed as she rested her cheek against her palm.

    Her eyes glanced about, it was necessary. But another excuse for her to not let the pressure outright consume her.

    Gale was applying makeup, using the shard of mirror that was shattered on the concrete floor. Making sure that her lipstick was directly applied with no issue, as she kept nervously rubbing said lips together in the interim of this torturous silence. She was wearing this red tube dress, letting her silky equally matching robes hang from her neck. It was almost like a human version of her Consumed form, but somehow just as tantalizing.

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    Natalie meanwhile was bumping the heel of her boot to the ground, detached sleeve-covered arms crossed as she never let her eyes stray from the entryway. She simply wore her hair in a poofy fashion, a simple sky-blue dress with frills on the short sleeves and ends, wished with a pair of her normal jeans to bring it all together in her naturally weird aura.

    Calypso in turn looked down at herself. How much of a statement it was, despite being so trivial and stupid.

    What she chose to wear was her simple dress. The same white dress that she wore for most of her school functions, that she embarrassingly could still fit. She let some of her hair that grew due to the transformations stick.

    However, she wore the familiar black, stylish long coat and red scarf, that belonged to the woman they were going to kill tonight.

    ¡°Aah~!¡±

    Calypso tensed. Same goofy but threatening candor, but from a very different voice.

    They didn¡¯t have time to think hard about it, as a gush of molten blood shot in their direction, causing them to scramble.

    ¡°Theeeere you all are.¡±

    The lady who stepped forward, from a newly made hole that was burning, wasn¡¯t their target. Or was it?

    ¡°Now this party can finally get started!¡± Melissa Harker purred, with the expression that could only fit Cassie Morgan, etched on her face.

 Final Chapters - Jubilee: A Celebration of Victory (II)

    Calypso couldn¡¯t help but focus her gaze into a burning scowl. Didn¡¯t help, the molten blood beginning to reek, the thick steam rising rapidly into her stinging eyes.

    ¡°What¡¯s with the long faces and the sagging frowns shut~? C¡¯mon¡ªwe¡¯ve been trying to passionately kill each other for weeks, I¡ªCassie, at least wanted to catch up: it¡¯s been a bit!¡±

    And despite the¡­ Weird declaration, it was Melissa. The long, moppy curly blonde hair¡ªthe soft and mousey face¡ªclothes that Calypso assumed that she would wear every day: a jean jacket, yellow tee, a navy long skirt that reached her ankles, comfortable trainers that were slightly worn at places¡­ But the expression was smug. Uncaring. Indifferent. A smile that was stretched in a fashion where it curled to the cheeks, and lips parted to show the teeth. A smile only worn when the person knows that they¡¯re the only happy, content person in the room: because they feed off the tangible misery of the others surrounding them.

    A smile full of fangs. With void black eyes, blood-red pupils glowing in the dim light, to match.

    Calypso simply glanced toward Natalie and Gale. They were separated by the spray of the molten blood, now cooling into a small, stone-scalp wall. Calypso then looked behind herself, to see that most of the basement weathered the molten blood, if not barely. The wall behind them has a notable indent, given how the molten blood¡ªhow it sunk into the wall, given the impression that it melted halfway through.

    ¡°See, I¡¯m glad that you¡¯re tense and looking around¡ªhopefully once you¡¯re all done shitting yourselves, you get that if I wanted you dead right now, it would¡¯ve happened already. So can we get this stupid Mexican Standoff idea outta our heads?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the one that should get outta people¡¯s heads!¡± Gale decided to speak out first. ¡°You get outta Melissa¡¯s first and then we¡¯ll start chatting! In fact, maybe get outta her entire body, you massive creep!¡±

    Melissa¡¯s throat was forced to manufacture Cassie¡¯s impish cackle. Her hand touched her curls, the top of her head, as her face contorted to close her eyes while the grin only grew wider. None of this movement was her own.

    ¡°Aaaah yeah, it¡¯s kinda crazy up in here¡ª¡± Cassie spoke through Melissa. ¡°¡ªWell, it was crazy before¡ªBut no, I¡ªCassie, can see how it¡¯s all confusing at this point. There¡¯s three fucking people, if you can imagine¡­¡±

    The interloper cocked Melissa¡¯s head to the side. Making the still nightmarish gash on her neck pronounced, and what Calypso imagined, so irritated for the poor, captured girl. The interloper brought up her three fingers that she forced Melissa into bursting her boiling blood out of, using the opposite index of the other hand to count on them.

    ¡°The three Me¡¯s¡­ There¡¯s OG Meeeeee, then there¡¯s Me Vampy¡­ And now, Me-lissa~!¡±

    Calypso couldn¡¯t help it, she immediately snarled at this bitch. A snarl that was animalistic, which echoed against the fortified walls and made Gale jump in her skin.

    ¡°Yeah no, I¡ªCassie, deserved that one¡­¡± Cassie continued to use Melissa¡¯s throat. ¡°Not one of My best jokes¡ªCapitalized ¡®M¡¯ by the by, don¡¯t make the rules¡ª¡±

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    ¡°I was gonna say that you¡¯re literally talking, but I guess fucking with the supernatural order and all caused those Fate guys to make you speak like an egotist as a punishment,¡± Natalie reasoned. ¡°Just, y¡¯know, so no one can ever take you seriously ever again¡ªeven if you win¡ª¡±

    ¡°Ohohoho~!¡± Melissa clapped for Cassie. ¡°Fly girl finally grew a spine by hiding behind a new back, Ms. Skeleton learned to channel her inner-Columbine¡ªwell, I guess Inner-Virigina Tech now, and the plant got enough sunlight to get a brain. I¡¯m legit proud¡ª¡±

    ¡°I swear¡­ If Melissa¡¯s dead¡­¡± Gale sounded truly enraged, taking a series of simmering inhales after. Struggling not to cry, but there was actual venom in her tone.

    ¡°I¡ªCassie, like how you¡¯re all in an uproar about how I¡¯m wearing a flesh suit when Ms. Grimes over there has my jacket!¡± Melissa had to force herself to make such a pathetic whine. ¡°That was pre-Subsumed, man! Only shred I¡ªCassie, have left of the old life! Only had that for months! Sometimes literally, bet you¡¯re having second things wearing it now¡ªunless you¡¯re that freaky¡­ Well, let¡¯s be real, I¡ªCassie, was pretty hot¡ª¡±

    ¡°I thought you wanted a chat¡ªnot have us be the test subjects for your stand-up routine¡ª¡± Natalie kneeled before rising to her feet. ¡°¡ªStriking out, by the way¡ª¡±

    Melissa¡¯s face formed into a pout, her eyelids lowered. Good.

    No one didn¡¯t need to be as paranoid as Calypso¡ªto read into every action of a person¡ªto get that Cassie thrived on being the center of attention, to have the cool lines. To dominate. Calypso figured that was why this ¡°chat¡± hasn¡¯t been going on yet: the bitch isn¡¯t having her way.

    ¡°ANYWAYS~¡± Melissa perfectly captured the childishness of her parasite. She used the poor girl¡¯s hands to rake them down the body, moving sensually, mockingly. Making blood trails against Melissa¡¯s outfit. ¡°I¡¯m going back to my roots, basically~ Sure, I¡¯m a great super monster now, but Subsumed are made to wear weaklings as hides~ Granted, normal ones make skinsuits¡­ Here, well. Ol¡¯ Melissa just gave up, after a few days of Me in her head¡ªso I¡ªCassie, took the reins~¡±

    Melissa¡¯s finger was made to dig into her ear, idly. ¡°She¡¯s still here, just buried deeeeeep inside~ Handling the breathing, the blinking, feeling pain for Me so I¡ªCassie, don¡¯t have to¡ªliterally the bare minimum! It¡¯s pretty fucking sick¡ªmaybe you guys could like, ¡®Reverse Consumed Subsume¡¯ and take over someone else¡¯s body; it¡¯s like putting a finger where you¡¯re not supposed to¡ªyou gotta do it at least once¡ª¡±

    ¡°I would rather want you trying to boil us, at this point,¡± Calypso made her suffering known. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ve picked up on this, or simply don¡¯t care, but we¡¯re not enjoying this. We don¡¯t want any of this to happen, nor go through what we have to¡­ So why? Other than leveling the playing field, to make everyone pay for letting a world like this continue¡­ Is it just scorched Earth? Are you that much of a sadist?¡±

    Surprisingly, there was a very notable pause. No smugness, no goofy expressions, no crass humor. Cassie legitimately was capable of thought.

    ¡°Eh,¡± Melissa¡¯s shoulders were forced to shrug. ¡°Can¡¯t say I¡¯ll ever be happy again in the first place, because I¡ªCassie, have to travel so far back in My head to even¡­ Like. Was I¡ªCassie, even happy at some point? That wasn¡¯t at the expense of someone, to fuck someone over, or ignoring the fact that there¡¯s people I¡¯ll never meet that¡¯s getting blown up or beaten bloody¡ªand here kid Cassie¡¯s stoked at getting ice cream? Can that even be happiness¡­? The fuck does it even matter if I¡¯m happy or not? Whatever.¡±

    Melissa¡¯s expression steeled. It made Calypso gulp silently.

    ¡°Fact is. We¡¯re all freaks here, even before the turns we¡¯ve all made. We all know that this place sucks, we know that we have to continue to act like it doesn¡¯t despite the overwhelming evidence. We¡¯re all heading to Hell, even without Me doing what I¡¯m doing. I¡¯m just speeding it along.¡±

    Melissa pointed, and regained Cassie¡¯s smug grin.

    ¡°Speaking of speeding things along. Let¡¯s cut to the chase. Where. Is. My corpse~?¡±

    With that, the monster girl trio took off in a sprint.

 Final Chapters - Jubilee: A Celebration of Victory (III)

    Calypso wasted no time, reaching out toward the shadows she darted pass, collecting them to form her Shadowshroud in her hand, wrapping it around her shoulders. Glancing at Gale on her left, Natalie on her right¡ªthankfully equally cloaked, despite the flickering light cutting her vision off.

    And despite the raging, cackling problem behind them.

    ¡°GET BACK HERE, YOU LIL¡¯ SHITS!¡±

    Melissa¡¯s voice was strained into a shrill, to illustrate Cassie¡¯s bubbling rage.

    ¡°ONCE YOU TELL ME WHERE YOU¡¯RE HIDING MY BODY; YOU¡¯RE GONNA GIVE ME MY FUCKIN¡¯ COAT BACK--!¡± Melissa was forced to chuckle into a crazed, manic mirth.

    It wasn¡¯t enough that they were fighting exhaustion. Not only fighting against the pull of being in this haunted space¡ªrepressing the transformations.

    But all of them were wearing elegant clothing.

    ¡°Running¡ªin flipflops¡ªsuuuuuch a bad call--!¡± Gale huffed out while raising the bottom of her dress. And to be fair to her, she wasn¡¯t wearing her usual footwear. These had a band across the foot.

    But that was the least of their troubles. Despite scoping out these thin, concrete tunnels¡ªit was still a challenge to dodge the walls trying to drag them away.

    The bricks separate, using the cracks that formed after years of disrepair, forming a mouth that tries to bite at Calypso. Her Consumed senses allowed her to evade each of the bites, having thunderous reverberation behind the bites.

    But there was a deep, painful, yet alluring urge that coarse through her veins. The more she uses her other side¡¯s abilities, the more she wanted to just shed her human hide¡ªthese stupid clothes¡ªto be a Grim and do her job.

    She can¡¯t. Not yet.

    ¡°WHAT¡¯S WRONG, YOU FUCKS--?!¡±

    Calypso turned her head, to see Melissa climbing the ceiling, her claws burrowing into the concrete as she kept advancing, lunacy written on her face with glowing blood-red eyes.

    ¡°AT LEAST GIMME YOUR GAME FACES, MAN~! HAHAHAHAHA--!¡±

    ¡°W-well, mean ladies¡¯ first!¡± Gale hacked out, trying to look back, and had to focus looking forward. ¡°Leeeead by example, Terrorizer-!¡±

    ¡°I, Cassie don¡¯t need to--!¡±

    The body snatcher used her captured body, to bound from the ceiling. Landing with a massive thud in front of them.

    ¡°I¡¯M NOT THE ONE FEELING IT!¡± And Melissa was forced to take a swipe, causing a massive wave of molten blood to be launched at them.

    There was no choice, Calypso retreated into the cloak¡ªletting herself fall back into her own shadow as she plunged deep within.

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    It was always disorienting, being in the shadows. Left with this deep-set haze to navigate through, and thankfully, Melissa¡¯s body created a shadow for her to surf towards.

    Popping out, forcing herself forward, Calypso stumbled before running again.

    There was immediate panic and desperation once the skeletal monster girl realized that she couldn¡¯t see her friends anywhere¡ªbefore clarity clicked back into place. She quickly rose her arms, full mocking reference to the Count himself, and thankfully¡ªGale and Natalie shot themselves out of the shadow provided, gasping and shivering themselves.

    There was no time for reprieve, as the floor started to pulsate¡ªas if Cassie¡¯s attack gravely hurt the underground tunnels. Adding to the strain, adding to the need to transform, adding to the mounting fear that¡¯s been steadily building.

    ¡°GOOOD¡ªFUCKING DAMN IT!¡±

    Calypso was aghast. This was the most she heard Natalie be upset.

    Natalie bore clenched teeth, and a muffled groan of tangible rage rocked the air that they were forced to breath in.

    ¡°We have to make another¡ªfucking¡ªround now¡ªThese places are mazes, remember--?!¡±

    And just like that, Melissa¡¯s body darted in between Calypso and Gale.

    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re finally using that dome piece of yours¡ª¡±

    She then swiped at them, thankfully (or tellingly¡­) with no blood this time. Calypso had to rely on the flickering lights, as a cheat of sorts, so she was able to dodge using the cloak. Getting yanked by the short bursts of travel, and that being enough.

    Gale wasn¡¯t so lucky. She fell onto her side, causing Natalie to scramble for her¡ªcatching onto Calypso¡¯s idea but instead, using the short bursts to double her speed. Thankfully due to the bulging floors, she was able to scoop up Gale on the rebound.

    Perfectly bundled up for Melissa to loom over them, hand raised before them.

    Calypso didn¡¯t even entertain the thought, let alone any cheesy one-liner.

    She surged forward, immediately wrapping both arms around Melissa¡¯s and pulled back¡ªa sickening crunch being heard.

    Cue the spray of molten blood gusting into the ceiling¡ªcutting off the lights in this part of the halls.

    ¡°WE HAVE TO DO IT NOW!¡± Calypso roared, looking at her friends.

    Letting go. Letting the cloak completely cover her. Letting Gale and Natalie get their one second of recovery, before surging within the darkness.

    Flying past the wall mouths, slightly swaying side to side as she is nothing but onrushing clouds of shadows, Calypso had to keep her fractured mind focused.

    She hurt Melissa¡ªbut she couldn¡¯t think about that. She desperately wanted to be free of this human flesh¡ªbut she had to stay as such for a long while longer. She has anxiety about this being the longest time that she¡¯s held out, if the lessons were taking root, if she¡¯s able to turn the tides of this horror event in the first place. She let these things take hold¡­

    Before taking a deep, shuddering breath. Focusing once more.

    It¡¯s all the same. These doubts, these worries, these fears.

    It¡¯s always been the same.

    Calypso flew throughout the hall, and managed to take the left that they missed. Surging up the concrete steps and burst through the wooden planks of the entrance. That hole under the desk.

    In the now-condemned hospital, plunged in the darkness.

    Calypso waited, as Gale and Natalie landed at her sides. Out of breath, coughing softly due to it.

    ¡°S-stick to the plan--?¡± Gale croaked out.

    Calypso nodded. ¡°No matter what¡­¡±

    As the two began to move about, Calypso quickly grabbed their wrists, startling them before looking back. Gale wearing a clearly puzzled expression, mouth cutely agape. Natalie raised an eyebrow, letting her eyes glance towards one of the broken windows, as if to say, ¡°I¡¯m in a hurry¡±.

    Calypso smiled. Genuinely.

    ¡°Love you both. We¡¯re best friends, once we get past this shit.¡±

    Gale openly wept, laughing shakingly. ¡°We alr-already are, silly¡­¡±

    ¡°Damn it, man¡ª¡± Natalie shook her head, looking down. ¡°Hoping you wouldn¡¯t say that. Now the sacrifice fallback plan¡¯s gonna hurt more¡­¡±

    Cassie forced Melissa¡¯s body to shatter the last remnants of the planks. Landing with a thud, Melissa¡¯s brow lowered in a confused, but nevertheless fuming expression.

    Calypso just looked back, keeping the smile. What was once warm and genuine, now tightened. Demeaning.

    ¡°Take your pick, Terrorizer.¡±

    And the trio spilt apart, surging through the window. Into the night.

 Final Chapters - Jubliee: A Celebration of Victory (IV)

    ***

    Panting, hiding in the dark as she tried desperately to gather both appearance and wits about her. Calypso felt oddly nostalgic for what was once the worst period of her life.

    The skeletal monster girl tried not to move so much, as she realized that she was in a bush. She didn¡¯t know how far she was from ¡°civilization¡± until the muffled folksy music and streams of conversation flowed between her ears.

    She softly dragged her dainty fingers across the brim of her cloak. As easy and freeing as having the ability to essentially coast into the very night itself, Calypso felt herself¡­ Slowly being swallowed by that darkness. It was getting harder and harder to maintain control, and equally disarming because this method completely didn¡¯t show up using the ¡®Shroud normally.

    There¡¯s also the fact that she¡¯s trying in vain to maintain her human face. Making it the tenth thing she had to have swirling in her mind. Considering she hasn¡¯t gotten more insane so far, Calypso now believes that she¡¯s ¡°smart¡±. At least in the sense of having so much brain capacity to even blink.

    With a stifled breath, Calypso ripped the cloak away to dispel it, reconstituting into her shadow. She did her best to creep silently in her shrubbery cover, thankful for the noise pollution canceling out every twig she got caught on or snapped, for being clumsy.

    Calypso managed to find a big enough hole out of the series of bushes, patiently climbing out of the open onto her hands and knees. Making sure that her dress wasn¡¯t caught in the mess, and clearing any noticeable leaves, smears or dirt on the surface of it, Calypso rose in the shade of the night. Simply, if not typically stiffly regarding her, reacclimated with humanity by shamelessly walking on the tan brick pathway to her destination.

    It was odd, seeing all of this as intended. Versus on the rooftops, salivating at the prospect of eating the denizens as they marched down this lane.

    ¡°Grand Standing Plaza¡±, they called it. Styled in Colonial Revival architecture, Calypso found herself in a massive circle¡ªsurrounded by massive buildings that served as the town¡¯s federal district. These buildings had crowns, they had pillars¡ªthey had clocks perched on top in the center of the structure, smooth, flat steps that led up to the openings of said structures. Standing on these bronze-textured bricks, all coalescing into this simple mural of the town¡¯s insignia. Complete with a rushing fountain in the center of it all.

    As she stares at the beauty of the water cascading from the top of the spout, to the flow reaching the pool, Calypso walked around the foundation. Looking at the grand prize.

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    A High Gothic Revival piece. A building that was majestic, truly earning the title of being the Town Hall. White trimmings and crests that were sculpted beautifully around and held together the orange brick that made the structure strong. Stain-glass windows that accented the four spires that donated each part of the halls. With the high, sturdy tower that overlooked the town itself, complete with a massive clock that was glowing yellow in the night.

    Calypso stood before its magnificence, as everyday people walked around her. Entering the building, to the Founding Festival. To their possible deaths.

    With a deep breath, the skeletal monster girl steeled herself. She was ready.

    ¡°Heeeeeey~!¡±

    What she wasn¡¯t ready for, was being pulled in with such vapid yet potent strength, Calypso meeped out as she was pulled in.

    Of course, Calypso¡¯s mind raced to figure out who would do this¡ªand so brazenly¡­ While she hadn¡¯t seen this person in a good while in their first and then-only meeting, she realized who it was by the huge smile alone.

    The dress was too good for her. It softly glittered, white, with so many flourishes that one would think would way down the gown. To heavily contrast the simple blonde hair that was down, wild bang that had a cowlick upward. The makeup barely covered the smug, self-assured expression as Hanna continued to grin at Calypso, wrangled her in a one-armed bear hug.

    ¡°Calypso Grimes, awesome last name! No one could forget both the name¡ªand that hair, haha! It¡¯s been a bit girl¡ªand here I thought I came on too¡­¡±

    Surprisingly for Calypso, she saw Hanna¡¯s smile falter in real-time. An eyebrow raised, she slowly let the skeletal monster girl go. A genuine expression of concern on this vain girl¡¯s face.

    ¡°Hey, uh¡­ It¡¯s none of my business if you don¡¯t want it to be but uh erm¡­ You look kinda ragged¡­ You alright?¡±

    Calypso laughed, so fake and short as she closed her eyes and felt her own cheek. ¡°R-really? I-I guess that¡¯s how nervous I am, haha¡­¡±

    Once Calypso opened her eyes, she continued to not believe what she¡¯s seeing. Hanna had her head tilted, her lips pursed in thought. Her brow furrowed in confusion, and her eyes searched Calypso up and down.

    ¡°It¡¯s just that you¡¯re sweating and look exhausted¡­ Look, I can¡ªI can walk to you a first aid thing if you¡¯re feeling sick and junk¡ªno bullshit or again, explanations¡ª¡±

    ¡°Trust me¡ªit¡¯s just my nerves is all¡­¡± Calypso forced the conversation, then added a shaky breath for added measure. ¡°Y-you know how it is, for-for a girl like me¡­¡±

    Hanna let loose a very deep huff. Calypso didn¡¯t know how to read that, but still kept the image she was building up regardless.

    ¡°Trust me¡­¡± Hanna smirked a bit. ¡°They¡¯re just people in there¡ªthey¡¯re not out to get you. In fact, the creeps in there are too rich and sheltered to know what to do if they ever get you¡ªY¡¯know, tell ya¡¯ what¡­¡±

    Hanna wrapped an arm around Calypso, the skeletal monster girl stiffening in response for an added bonus, ¡°I¡¯ll walk you in. We¡¯ll be jointed to the hip, hell¡ªfirst stop¡¯s the refreshments table so we can get some sugar in you. And if this place blows? I¡¯ll walk you out! Sounds good~?¡±

    Calypso¡¯s smile squirmed on her face. To Hanna, it was another example of how nervous this gal is. But in reality, Calypso was fucking fuming at the fact she was more or less trapped. Trapped, on a time table, with her friends currently MIA and the vain hope that they¡¯ll make their cues.

    But nevertheless¡­

    ¡°Sure¡­ I¡¯ll like that¡­¡±

 Final Chapters - Jubilee: A Celebration of Victory (V)

    ***

    The inside was somehow just as pristine as the ballroom of the Titanic. Every surface of the ballroom seemed to be glistening marble, a massive fine rug that covered the floor of the chamber, itself an impressive tapestry of colonial inspiration. Chimes hung from the ceiling, swaying and reflecting the lights in the room, all cresting around this massive pillar in the middle of the room. Itself surrounded crested by a spiral staircase that leads to another floor.

    ¡°And this is the Town Hall¡­?¡± Calypso wondered in awe, to herself.

    ¡°Oh right¡ªI have to keep reminding myself that you just came here¡­¡±

    Calypso hoped she was low enough¡ªshe usually was. But this cheerleader was too keen for her own good. Hanna continued to walk them forward, the blonde girl holding Calypso¡¯s hand.

    ¡°Yeah, I guess you only saw the old and clamy ass ¡®Mayor¡¯ chambers¡ªnah, this is basically our pride and joy here¡­ All the fancy people get together and spill beans in these parties, basically all the major decisions were made here versus, y¡¯know, the actual room where they have to be debated on and announced.¡±

    ¡°Right¡­¡± Calypso tried to hide the annoyance that this girl used ¡°basically¡± three times and ¡°here¡±, almost five, it felt like.

    Hanna pointed at the pillar itself. ¡°See¡ªthat pillar right there? It¡¯s¡­ Aw fuck, what was it¡ªIt¡¯s a remnant of the old version of the Town Hall. We don¡¯t really know how the Founders did it considering they thought girls dying of bacteria infection were witches, but that pillar both holds up the entire building yet swaaaays~¡±

    Calypso blinked¡ªgenuinely. She was going to commit to the bit, but now was intensely curious. ¡°Really--?¡±

    ¡°Oh, you like that huh-?¡± Hanna chuckled as she looked back at Calypso, as they walked towards it. Now closer to it, the skeletal monster girl could see it sway subtly. The texture of it being coated in the lights, creating this visual of gossamer. ¡°You legit came to life, holy shit that was great to watch!¡±

    Calypso laughed softly. At least that reaction recentered her, making her remember that she loathes this person.

    ¡°But yeah¡­ It¡¯s some weird engineering feat or something. As it sways, you can hear like¡­ Soft bell sounds pinging around. So when you have a bunch of mouth-breathers on the upper floors like we do today, not only does it provide nice background elevator music¡ªbut look at that thing go. You can barely see it move normally, but it¡¯s going crazy today.¡±

    ¡°Wow¡­¡± Calypso kicked herself verbally, for being so detached for months. Not getting a chance to truly explore this place in general. ¡°If I may be so bold¡­ It¡¯s interesting how you know all of this. I don¡¯t wish to assume but¡­ I imagine you¡¯ve been in said parties?¡±

    ¡°Oh, it ain¡¯t assuming girl¡ªI contemplated blowing my brains out multiple times in this bitch¡ª¡± Hanna laughed. ¡°Went to this place more than regular kids went to Chuck E. Cheese¡¯s¡­¡±

    ¡°A-ah¡­¡±

    Hanna let go of Calypso¡¯s hand, folding her arms as she glanced about with a lackadaisical expression. ¡° ¡®Suppose that¡¯s what I get, being born in a Founding Family here¡­ I know, I know, ¡®wah im rich, pity me please, life is rough¡¯¡ª"

    ¡°Wow¡­¡± Calypso stepped forward toward the girl, noting their height difference as she slightly looked up at her. ¡°Maybe you¡¯ve said when we met, but I never got your last name...¡±

    ¡°Has anyone told you that your voice is so fucking cute?¡± Hanna turned to Calypso, smile somehow so wide. ¡°I wanna fall asleep to it, oh my god¡ª¡±

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    In that moment, Calypso wanted it to be the last thing this bitch ever hears as she leaves this plane of existence.

    Hanna then coughed, reeling back a tad, ¡°Well, uh, to answer your question¡­ Hanna Robinson. Of the Robinson-whatevers, I refuse to say family, dynasty or clan like some 17<sup>th</sup> century dame.¡±

    Calypso¡¯s brow furrowed a tad. Something immediately got stuck in her thought process.

    ¡°Robinson¡­? I thin¡­ I think I¡¯ve heard or know a Robinson already¡­¡±

    Hanna just sighed. Causing Calypso¡¯s a good deal of suppressed shock.

    A worker passed by them, serving people trays of light drinks, and Hanna snatched one as they scrolled by. She put said drink up near her lips, as if¡­

    As if it were a microphone.

    ¡°¡­Oh, I am so sorry¡ª¡± Calypso genuinely felt and sounded sorry.

    Hanna shrugged, downing her drink in seconds, maybe as a reprieve. ¡°Hey. Cindy gets to have her echo chamber and is constantly away from the house while Mitchell exists to only affirm her stupid beliefs, so I don¡¯t have to deal with it too much. Now you get why I hate these things, huh?¡±

    Calypso simply nodded. It felt weird that the worst person is now the only shining beacon in a collection of mistakes.

    ¡°That¡¯s the dream, man¡­¡± Hanna looked a tad forlorn, staring upward, not looking at anything in particular. ¡°Work my way through college and ace it, find a job comparable to that without losing my soul, sign some papers here and there¡ªand I¡¯d be loooong gone, man. With a plus one and all, but still¡­¡±

    ¡°And here I thought it was simple go-getting¡­¡± Calypso attempted humor.

    Hanna laughed out, ¡°Oh no, I got a massive fucking ego¡ªI¡¯m an overachiever too~ It¡¯s just that. Yeah.¡±

    ¡°Pressure on top of that, mhm¡­¡± Calypso was surprised to be having a sincere conversation with this self-admitted egotist. ¡°Well. As someone that also has heavy on top of her heavy, my condolences¡­¡±

    ¡°I super appreciate that, Cal¡­ So I¡¯m guessing you have the same urges to run wild, then~?¡±

    Before Calypso knew it, Hanna was face-to-face with her. Lowered eyelids, her smugness brimming from the surface yet so soft.

    Calypso was ready for the Subsumed face to tear open. A stray claw to slice open her stomach. But she continued to play dumb.

    ¡°A-ah¡­?¡±

    Hanna got closer, ¡°Y¡¯know¡­ To relieve that stress. Mutual people that¡¯s looking for that, the better, right¡­~?¡±

    "Relieve, huh...?"

    Hanna huffed. "So cooooy..."

    Calypso was ready for the lunge.

    "It''s alright to kiss you, then...~?"

    Calypso was completely disarmed.

    Her eyes got wide, realizing how close their lips were now. How Hanna was blushing a tad, leaned forward with her arms behind her back. She knew that her own face in turn was alight with red, as she trembled a tad due to the shivers she developed.

    ¡°I¡ªI¡ªWell, u-I¡ªu-u-um¡ª¡±

    ¡°Hey, hey¡­¡± Hanna¡¯s tone was way too low. Sweet. Comforting. ¡°It¡¯s cool¡­ It¡¯s fine if you never kissed anyone before. Also... ''Y¡¯know'', before¡­ Absolutely no judgement, here. I¡¯ll be more than happy to guide ya¡¯, juuuust like tonight so far~¡±

    ¡°I-I-I-I ju-just¡­¡± Calypso stuttered, trying to hold her smile. ¡°N-never realized you were into¡ªthat¡¯s fine, by the way, no judgement, haha as you say but returned a different context¡ªjust that I never encountered someone so urm, b-brazen with it¡ª¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s meeeee~¡± Hanna¡¯s smirk just grew wider, more seductive. ¡°Well, y¡¯know, I keep it on the down low, but it¡¯s basically an open secret¡­ Go both ways and all, but I just can¡¯t help it¡­ Girls like you make me wanna commit full force sometimes...¡±

    The clues surged within Calypso¡¯s fervent mind. The ¡°cute¡± remarks, how close she often got to the skeletal monster girl, the utter interest despite being in different ¡®levels¡¯ of society¡­ This was so much for Calypso to manage all at once.

    And the damning thing is¡­ She was willing, to take up the cheerleader¡¯s offer. She wanted to blame Alice, and her other side wanting anything to tear out of her skin. But mostly Alice.

    Calypso could feel her soft pants escape her body, and felt Hanna¡¯s panting against her lips in turn. She just stared up at the girl, despite her gaze wavering.

    ¡°¡¯Cuuuuse me, girls~¡±

    Calypso looked to the side, to see a wait staff¡­ A very familiar one.

    Brown messy hair¡­ A head scarf.

    The nurse from the hospital¡ªthe Tongues Subsumed, had a self-assured smirk to her face. ¡°How do you lo¡ªlik--find our services, so far~?¡±

    There was no time or option, Calypso took Hanna¡¯s hand, to use her offer to get the cheerleader away from here as fast as possible.

    All to see a spattering of blood hitting Hanna¡¯s face. The skeletal monster girl watched in real-time as the cheerleader¡¯s face shifted from seduction to shock.

    Hanna reeled back, touching her face. Her eyes so wide that as she whimpered a tad, realizing what hit her.

    Before any questions could be asked, the pillar began to shake violently. Causing a massive cacophony of sound that almost sounded like mass death at once, before stopping eerily still.

    Everyone below looking up at the ceiling¡­ as it started to rain down more blood.

 Final Chapters - Jubliee: A Celebration of Victory (VI)

    It was an absolute nightmare. A nightmare that none of the people below could ever wake from.

    But the people above.

    All Calypso could hear were the screams of the damned, as the spiral staircase became a waterfall of blood, violently cascading down the rigid, once pearl white.

    It was hard to make out what was exactly going on¡ªthe showering of blood splattered Calypso¡¯s face, stinging her eyes as she desperately tried to wipe away. But she saw shapes, people. People running away with nowhere to go, crowds huddling together in some sort of respite, reprieve. Holding each other, shoving each other.

    Over the shouts, the screams, the praying, the confusion, the accusations, the pleading¡ªCalypso realized in that moment that more people aren¡¯t dying from above.

    It was time.

    The blood-stained runes manifested themselves before the air, congealing from the rain of blood, forming from the screams of the damned. Stuttering in the air as the people below finally lost their minds.

    These runes¡ªimmediately transformed into lighting-shaped whips. Lashing out before everything, uncomfortably yet some idea of aim¡ªas they weren¡¯t targeting the people themselves.

    But the building where they stood. Calypso grimaced into a very painful, knowing look.

    The fancy ornaments and crests that crowned the walls eroded into a rusting, dripping mess. The lights flickered, Calypso hoped to whatever she believed in at this point that they weren¡¯t going to shutter off, but the alternative, what happened instead, was slightly worse as the lights were at the stage of barely working. Coloring the already tense room with this yellow haze that shuddered into darkness every second. The walls themselves molded somehow, the marble decaying until it was nothing but black and green slurry that mixed into the blood on the floor. The chimes smashed from the ceiling¡ªcausing people to desperately dodge out of the way, and even then, glass sprayed all over the area. And the elegant red carpet was ripped into shreds, splitting into seams as people¡ªif they weren¡¯t already slipping because of the floor, was because of that.

    If the humans weren¡¯t scared before, they were now.

    As Calypso tried to ease herself, telling herself that there¡¯s no need to transform yet, trying not to take ¡°control¡± but plead with her other half that what they¡¯re doing is the best course of action¡ªshe felt a hand grab hers and easily started to drag her away.

    ¡°Yeah okay¡ªyou were totally right to be nervous¡ª¡± Hanna tried to be so cool under pressure. Between watching her and Sal, turns out confident people are still people too. ¡°¡ªWe¡¯re getting as far as we can, hopefully water can wash off blood¡ªI doubt it but this is my favorite dress and all¡ª¡±

    Calypso wished that she could tell her that she now-lived horror-movie-themed hell.

    But she was too bust crumpling onto the ground, clutching her head as she wailed out in pain. In the throughs of trying to overcome, managing to open an eye, she saw that Hanna fell onto her knees as well, shuddering due to the waves of pain rocking her.

    There was no time to implore, to ask if she was okay. Calypso caught a glimpse of what was happening outside.

    Of course people ran as soon as they thought about it. Droves of people were streaming out, back from the long and once-elegant hallway, pass the threshold.

    Only for an advancing wall of writhing shadow to cut the poor souls¡¯ path off.

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    And just any wall of writhing shadow. It was lined with seats, long stabs that bled into becoming rafters and repeated the process over and over until it reached into the chilled night sky. The walls themselves, decadent with fangs and horns, hides and skin, eyes and mouths until they formed a conquerable, sturdy wall. Filled with leaning forward, featureless, but never the less judgmental gazes that peered from such darkness.

    Chanting the same word, phrase¡­ Their representation of salvation.

    TERRORTIDE.

    TERRORTIDE.

    TERRORTIDE.

    But that in of itself slowly died down. Faded into white noise.

    To make way for a voice that came from everywhere, but nowhere.

    A hateful, unfunny, spiteful little voice that Calypso¡¯s come to truly loathe.

    Hello, the few people that¡¯s actually survived! You¡¯re the lucky ones! ¡®Cause you¡¯re gonna be the ones that actually learn their lesson.

    Since I have the ¡°mic¡± right now and we¡¯re being real with one another¡­ This was always going to happen. Either by me, someone like me, someone that I had to fuck over and simply became another me¡ªthis shit was always going to happen. I knew it. You knew it. We all knew it.

    And for what? A world that¡¯s¡­ Borderline okay? To serve our fellow man, when we so easily can kill, discard¡ªact like he doesn¡¯t exist because it¡¯s easier to swallow for our egos? To believe in peace¡ªwhen we were always on the precipice of blowing each other off the surface of the Earth? Create these morals and catchy songs telling us, ¡°hope¡¯s inside of us¡ªall we need is hardwork to achieve what we believe¡ªbelief is all we need--everyone is good of heart in the end¡±¡ªwhen we all know that when it comes down to it¡ªwe revert back to basic-ass instincts: kill or be killed, survive as long as possible and fuck the things that get in the way of that.

    After today¡ªno more pointless exercises in stupid futility. N-no more, acting like this was fine to begin with. This illusion of status quo, world order¡ªnormal. The human condition, a fucking heap of bullshit¡ªa ghost that we¡¯ve all seen through and acted like it was on our side.

    No more taxes, debts¡ªinstitutions that lined their pockets as they took out of yours¡ªNo more societal structures that were gamed from the start¡ªschools and churches, businesses and definitely the fucking living suits that get what I¡¯m spitting to begin with¡ªNo more useless fucking things to deal with and end your life before you could ever live it: social status, stupid rites of passage like getting smashed at stupid ass fucking parties¡ªfucking and getting married¡ªdriving cars¡ªhaving friends and the best fucking possessions.

    A PAGAN, HALLOWEEN WORLD--WHERE IT''S NOTHING BUT SORROW! A TRUE, UTTER HELL HOLE--BUT FINALLY FUCKING HONEST! GET READY BOYS AND GIRLS--BECAUSE EVERYTHING WE EVER KNEW--

    ALL OF IT, ALL OF IT FINALLY FUCKING DIES.

    Everything¡ªevery single fucking thing, is gonna be peeled back and bare. No more of those ugly flash masks that were welded unwillingly on our faces since birth.

    So! In short¡­ Welcome to where we¡¯ve always been, fuuuuuuuuuuuuuckers~!

    Calypso struggled to get onto her feet. And as she rocked in place, while she knew this was the case¡ªit was nice hearing conformation, the shouts of ¡°we¡¯re surrounded!¡±/ ¡°there¡¯s no way out!¡± / ¡°we¡¯re GONNA DIE!¡±

    ¡°What the fuck¡­ What the fuck¡­¡±

    Hanna was just lost. Calypso could hear it in her voice, how she was standing. Erect, trying desperately to make fists at her sides before they became undone as she became startled at how fast people were devolving.

    With gritting of her now visible fangs, Calypso couldn¡¯t hold it back anymore.

    She reached out, but it was too late.

    What was once men, their suits torn along with the skin that flapped against their exposed Bat heads, circled around Hanna in quick succession.

    All Calypso could hear was:

    ¡°¡­I really did like this dress¡ª¡±

    As the ground descended and indulged in their meat.

    Anger. Regret. Sorrow.

    Regression. Calypso wanted nothing more to regress back into who she was. To give up, give in, to this harsh and unfair world. To just let the damn plan go, who the fuck cares about people¡ªif the exact moment she puts away her stupid mental hang-ups, they¡¯re immediately ripped away?

    Proving that this was just some¡­ Fucked up experiment. Made by an uncaring existence.

    But what use of doing all of that? But playing a ¡°new¡± game that this bitch just ranted about being against, seconds ago?

    She had to remember, never forget the equally valid fact of it all... "It''s always been the same".

    Be it Cassie saying this shit, or Calypso''s very own head.

    As she let her claws slowly crawl out of her finger tips, Calypso never before was grateful that she was so small. She dug her boots into the muck, and darted low towards the revealed Bat Subsumed.

 Final Chapters - Jubilee: A Celebration of Victory (VII)

    ¡°GET THE CIVILIANS BEHIND US! CIRCLE AROUND! USE YOUR OWN BODIES IF WE HAVE TO!¡±

    The law enforcement that were just as hidden as the monsters in the crowds tried to maintain order in this freshly created hell. Pulling out hidden handguns and mace as they tried desperately to be the paragons that showed the way, a way out of this madness.

    But Cassie was right about one thing. Once humans panic, within their throughs of fear, there is no reason anymore. And it was clearly illustrated, by these rushing bodies that are on the verge of becoming a crush.

    Within these crowds¡ªgatherings¡ªof humans, there was at least one Subsumed revealing themselves. A twisted face rose from looking down at a table, a woman in blue cackled as she formed bat wings out of her stolen hands. A massive body, dragging a pair of screaming innocents, using its claws to dig deep into the flesh.

    It didn¡¯t matter their positions, their methods, their means. Calypso used her low pose as she swept the revealed Subsumed, using her now-freed claws to slash at their low bodies. As the ones that she managed to nick merely screamed, leaned over, and stumbled¡ªshe knew that she wasn¡¯t killing them, but she gave the humans the ability to fight back. At least for a second longer.

    She quickly darted under a table, only to find screaming innocents who forced her to get away. So she has to improvise, darting behind a pillar that wasn¡¯t completely ruined. The sheer amount of panic, embodied both in sound and atmosphere, all of that weight pushing against the skeletal monster girl¡¯s fervent mind.

    Because there were still things that didn¡¯t make sense, here. And it was frustrating, since this Vampire-bitch was everything but subtle. She literally just laid it all out¡­ So why so few Subsumed? Why not a massive army of Bats to eat as much as possible, and take the ¡°worthy¡± survivors¡­? Why aren¡¯t people dying in droves?

    And why, after dealing with these fuckers for months now, are holding back their clear bloodlust?

    Calypso picked from her cover, to observe what¡¯s been going on so far. Now that she had the distance, the clarity¡­ Aside from the trio that took Hanna away, the Subsumed aren¡¯t doing¡­ Anything akin to that. Just grabbing the victims, tossing them. Harming them with their claws and fangs, but only sinking them so deep to cause legitimate maiming, but Calypso knew that once they grabbed you¡ªit¡¯d be over. Here, there was getting away, screaming as they held their gaping, pouring wounds.

    And the glaring fact that the monsters are letting the crowd get into the makeshift circle.

    The squads of law enforcement became a ring, aiming their weapons and closing in around the panicked citizens. Men and women, becoming sentinels with their defensive postures¡­ Clearly wavering and on edge.

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    And all the revealed ghouls did in response, was laugh¡ªlook amongst their pack, and slowly lurch forward. Backing away in a mocking manner once they¡¯ve been shot multiple times. Chittering with laughter.

    As Calypso tried desperately to wrack her brains around this utter chaos, who else but that annoying voice began ringing within the air again.

    Alrighty~! Now that I got my point across, time to SAW this shit.

    As you can see, my guys are on the verge of eating YOU all alive. But that¡¯s not the worst part¡ªif anything, it¡¯s one of the most preferable way out, for the most of you. The true fucked up part is what¡¯s¡­ Inside of you.

    ¡°¡­God. Fucking damn it¡­¡± Calypso mournfully realized the plot.

    Those bottomless finger-foods you¡¯ve been stuffing your faces with the entire night? Laced with monster flesh! Don¡¯t ask me how, but I know that speeds along the process that I want! In layman¡¯s terms, all of you¡ªevery single one¡ªare slowly becoming monsters. Just like that weird, stupid assembly that you had when you were a kid or teen¡ªlook to your left! Look to your right! The person beside you is thinking about how to kill you before you become a problem! Or maybe thinking that being a problem¡¯s rad¡ªand likes making other people problems as well!

    Calypso could see the immediate shift. The cops glancing at each other in worry, then back at the now-restless cattle that they were tending too.

    So you better figure all that out, before it¡¯s too late~! But really¡ªI think the fatter, the more likely, wouldn¡¯t you say?

    Shouts and screams became more tangible. Arguments, accusations, outright personal attacks coming from what Calypso assumed to be friends. Even family.

    Either way! Make your choice! Eat, BE eaten, or fuck it: DIG IN and enjoy yourselves anyways!

    ¡­And that DOESN¡¯T conclude my announcements. At least¡­Not¡­ Yet.

    There was a chill¡­ A knowing¡­ Feeling, that Calypso had crept along her spine.

    Any wannabe hero-witches, please report to the top of the clock tower immediately~ So we can finally put a fucking end to all of this. In fact¡­ DO IT RIGHT NOW.

    The blood-red runes manifested around Calypso, whipped around her, causing an instant rope-burn effect around the limbs they lanced out at.

    Not only jerked Calypso up in the air, but ripped her out in front of the crowds, causing bloodcurdling screams and pleas for her to be saved. But it was too late.

    Calypso tried to tussle in the runes¡¯ grasp, but sooner than later, she was dragged outside through the wall¡ªcausing even more screams that reached a fever pitch. Calypso knew that she had to be in some sort of pain after all of this, but in that moment, she was trying to figure out how her compatriots were going to explain away THAT.

    The cold night air started to sting at her now-throbbing skin, she couldn¡¯t focus her sights because of the wind gushes that blew into her face.

    And in perfect supernatural event fashion, Calypso was unceremoniously chucked right into the clock tower¡¯s face. Glass, metal, and structural bits that were now embedded into her already aching flesh.

    ¡°Heya~¡±

    As soon as she lifted her head, Calypso¡¯s throat was crushed by Melissa¡¯s two fingers. Right to the hilt.

    ¡°And goodbye. Bitch.¡±

 Final Chapters - Jubilee: A Celebration of Victory (VIII)

    Red viscous poured in front of Calypso¡¯s stolen long coat. Maybe it was the small nugget of vanity she held within her soulless body, it wasn¡¯t the fact that her caved-in neck felt like an embedded knife constantly prodded in her body. It wasn¡¯t the fact that no matter how big the heaving breaths she took, they meant precious little.

    It was the fact that she was whimpering, on the ground, holding her broken neck. So small, so little.

    Despite everything, she¡¯s still her.

    ¡°¡®I offered you kindness¡ªand you spat in my face¡ª¡®¡±

    After that terrible impression, Calypso felt the right side of her skull crumble.

    Not only was she flung to the back of the tower from where she was, the sharp kick that did it all was strong enough to break Calypso¡¯s head. Cassie¡¯s power, combined with the potential Melissa had¡ªwith no disregard for going too far¡ªCalypso wondered why her head didn¡¯t explode, versus break open.

    Regardless. Calypso was glad that she barely used the right hemisphere of her brain, and her motor skills were still active. She had to pour everything into the rapid healing, it was all that she could do in that moment.

    And yet, the neck¡­

    The neck healed¡­ But very. Very badly. Calypso¡¯s fingers were met with a ¡°natural¡± indent, her skin smoothed over where Melissa¡¯s dug themselves into.

    ¡°Like it, huh? And the funniest thing is that there¡¯s magical bullshit¡­¡±

    Calypso was yanked upward, and hoisted in the air due to Melissa¡¯s strength. Cassie¡¯s stupid smirk taking the credit.

    ¡°Easy counter to Consumed: break them in such a way where even with their healing¡ªcan¡¯t fix a constitutional problem.¡±

    Calypso tried to meet Melissa¡¯s gaze, now twisted by malice and overconfidence. But she felt a new stabbing sensation almost instantly.

    ¡°It¡¯s kinda nostalgic¡ªus being like this,¡± Melissa purred in an unnerving monotone. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since our first time, Cally~¡±

    Calypso tried to roar at her, before realizing that the stab started to worm inside of the wound itself.

    The skeletal monster girl wanted to sigh, so badly. It really is a repeat.

    ¡°So no ripping your arms off,¡± Melissa was forced to insert a new vein into Calypso¡¯s body. ¡°No surviving being baked.¡± Five more veins entered simultaneously. ¡°And you can¡¯t even transform. You¡¯re fucked, basically. Now do me a solid, and tell me what you¡¯re doing. Where¡¯s your friends? What¡¯re you doing to me?¡±

    Calypso wheezed repeatedly, straining out the words.

    ¡°Ca¡­n¡¯t¡­ Talk¡­ You¡­ Sociopath¡­¡±

    The immediate, tugging itch flared sharply within Calypso. She couldn¡¯t even scream properly, just a wheeze that into a whimper.

    ¡°A) You just did¡­ And B) I¡¯m a self-diagnosed PTSD sufferer~¡± Melissa was forced to chuckle. ¡°Or a schizoaffective disorder¡ªwhatever aligns with my mind goblins¡ª¡±

    Melissa¡¯s head leaned forward, Calypso and the person inside of her were face to face. ¡°Now try again. Tell. Me. Everything.¡±

    Calypso slowly blinked. She felt her skin slowly tightening. She was already struggling to breathe in the first place, now it felt like her very heart was struggling to keep up.

    Calypso had to say it.

    ¡°¡­That was a terri¡­ Ble¡­ Will¡­iam Defoe¡­¡± Calypso smirked. ¡°Only know¡­ Becau¡­se, my not-girlfriend loved that¡ª¡±

    She was thrown seconds later. And by thrown, ¡°blasted with high-pressure blood, straight into her wounds as the skeletal monster girl banged her back against the walls¡±. Almost like the inner structure of the clockwork, already damaged by the skeletal monster girl, stuttered due to the reverberations.

    As Calypso struggled to pathetically move under molten blood that was already hardening into a massive scab, she was forced to watch Cassie prance about in a body that isn¡¯t hers.

    And forced to hear the screams of people, legitimately begging wordlessly for their lives, as the background to this stupid dance.

    ¡°Ain¡¯t it wonderful¡­?¡± Melissa was forced to say, to swoon. ¡°In a few hours from now¡ªthis is what Earth¡¯s gonna be like and what it was the entire time: Hell. Straight up Hell. Down there, people are fucking each other¡ªwell, not literally, but I wouldn¡¯t be surprised¡ªproving time and again that all those stupid mind games we were hoping to win some prize for, was just a pointless exercise¡­ Kidding ourselves, and for what? How many people¡ªchewed up and spat out like garbage¡ªchanging themselves for rules that never made sense to fuckin¡¯-gain with¡­? Whatever. I said what I said.¡±

    As she got the whiff of her cooking limbs, Calypso struggled to maintain her decorum.

    ¡°I fucking know that smile.¡±

    Cassie tried in vain to contort Melissa¡¯s face into a cocksure grin, one that will endure through audacity. But it was clearly struggling to hold itself.

    ¡°It¡¯s a ¡®I¡¯m so fucking smart¡¯ one¡ªa ¡®I know shit that¡¯s gonna ruin someone¡¯s entire fucking day¡¯ one¡­ Thing fucking is¡ªI know I can¡¯t kill you right away: because your little shits won¡¯t tell me then, or did the thing you wanted them to do already. So. I¡¯m. Stuck. I am not gonna fucking let you ruin this day for me. Soooo¡­¡±

    Melissa¡¯s opened fingers whipped out, loaded with engorged veins creating potent steam. ¡°Gonna beat it outta ya¡¯. So just tell me, and we can get all of this over with.¡±

    Things were rendered completely silent. Melissa¡¯s face dropped and forced to pout, her legs were forced to walk forward.

    Only to stop once she heard a sound coming from Calypso. A scrapping, dull, and twisted sound as her body barely moved from the spot she was trapped in.

    It was the sound of her laughter. Her amused laughter.

    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    ¡°No¡­ ¡®I, Cassie¡¯¡­ Huuah¡­?¡±

    Even if Calypso died right here, it was worth it to watch the truest expression Cassie forced Melissa¡¯s face to make. A flash of uncertainty, confusion.

    Fear.

    In an instant, Melissa was forced to fling her arms about, as the veins spurted what seems to be volumes of blood as her pathetic pilot roared:

    ¡°WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU KNOW?!¡±

    These bloody streams were much different from the previous splatters. What were once straight vectors of death became intercrossing patterns that were impossible to dodge head-on, and just as wild in sheer speed.

    And Calypso was down a limb or two. Encased in burning smolder.

    But thankfully, she¡¯d been focusing everything into her healing the entire dialogue.

    Giving her the chance to rip out of her restraints, despite her limbs still singed¡ªstill smoking, she dodged out away from the weaponized wave of blood, rolling to the left.

    In a huff, Cassie directed Melissa to reel back, arms in the air to mirror a puppet on strings¡­ Violently flinging her arms downward, creating various arcs of blood that solidified into more varied patterns of intersecting lines.

    Calypso¡¯s wheezes were becoming more and more pronounced. Struggling to breathe in an already baking room, regained her limbs but still damaged regardless. Starting to feel like she was losing energy.

    But there was no way but forward.

    The skeletal monster girl leaned forward and darted towards the first waves of blood. And using her everything, proceeded to jump through the claustrophobic space that was afforded to her. Immediately felt the clothes on her back catch fire, but couldn¡¯t deal with it because it was time for the next wave to jump through, repeating the same process. The angles and spacing getting smaller, and the unfairness of the situation expressed differently with each shape.

    By the end of it all, Calypso was steaming all over her body, her clothes in complete tatters as she immediately rolled on the floor in vain. Coughing up a storm before she simply became too weak to.

    Laying on her side, clutching at her caved-in throat. In a reality where she nearly lost her entire body, this was the most painful injury she¡¯s gotten.

    There was no getting around it.

    Using her claws, Calypso crudely cleaved out her grievous neck indent. Immediate burst of her blood, and maybe the release of air that came from doing something like this. And unlike that one hockey player she read about, she couldn¡¯t just pinch her now severed¡ªnay, removed¡ªjugular and arteries.

    All she could do¡­ Was hope that her panic brain can focus and simply lay there. Twitching slack.

    ¡°I did warn you.¡±

    Calypso debated about using the last of her strength to defiantly glare at Cassie, to die looking at her. But she didn¡¯t have a say in anything anymore.

    She was grabbed as if she were a doll, Melissa¡¯s fingers once again dug directly into the neck hole. But this time, the veins searched about, wriggling within Calypso¡¯s dying flesh.

    And steadily connected themselves to each ripped-apart vein Calypso owned. Their induvial fangs not just clamping down, but hooking themselves within that flesh. Stopping the already dire blood loss, but completely at the vampire¡¯s mercy now.

    With fading eyes, Calypso looked down to an unimpressed expression brimming from Melissa¡¯s face. And in Calypso¡¯s delirium, actually saw Cassie¡¯s face emanating from such.

    ¡°Let¡¯s be real,¡± Cassie began. ¡°We both know that I¡¯m becoming more of an individual again¡ªI saw it on your face. You were smug because of that¡­ Or, you were smug in part of that.¡±

    She made her bloodsucking veins tug on Calypso¡¯s, causing the limp girl to make sounds that she could never shake. ¡°You guys knew that by making me all emotionally compromised causes the Terrortide to end, in some way. Got some dirt on me somehow¡­ Or. You think you know me and think you could deconstruct me. Prove me wrong, and all this shit ends and I probably die a horrible death.¡±

    Cassie stared straight into Calypso¡¯s eyes. ¡°And if that¡¯s the case¡­ You, more than anyone, get what I¡¯m saying. Right?¡±

    Calypso couldn¡¯t exactly hide her forlorn expression. Her face shag under the weight of such terribleness that she relived in that one moment, due to that one, simple question.

    ¡°Sure, save the day¡ªsave the people that¡¯s left. Fuck, get revenge on me for fucking you over so badly. Kill me¡ªbecause that ¡®being the bigger man, better person¡¯ shit was a scheme to let weak, sneaky fucks get away to cause more sick things to happen¡ªso yeah, getting pleasure in ending me. Sure. But you can¡¯t say what you¡¯re forcing the world back to is better. Shit¡¯s only going to get worse for us, seriously. I¡¯m a jokey bitch, a literal fucking loser, and even I know this. Even if you save these people, and somehow they walk away from all of this¡­ It¡¯s still a piece of them, chipped away. You can¡¯t fix that. So why are you trying to, when that isn¡¯t your business? Your responsibility? Like you fucking owe them¡­?¡±

    Cassie lowered Calypso, so they could be level. Wearing a soft, muted expression.

    ¡°Because I know that you hate this place just as much as me.¡±

    It was laborious. But Calypso proceeded to nod.

    Causing Cassie to immediately snap into fury, tightened her grip in Calypso¡¯s gaping neck.

    ¡°THEN WHY?!¡±

    Calypso could only limply twitch, after that moment. It took Cassie having 10 slow, heaving breaths for Calypso to struggle to lift her hand.

    Arching a finger weakly, begging Cassie to come closer.

    Cassie quickly looked around her, behind her, to the sides. Taking pregnant pauses with each action. And proceeded to move Calypso closer to her.

    Calypso weakly, softly¡­ Simply caressed Cassie¡¯s cheek. Being sure to use her palm and lead the claws away from the face. Cassie¡¯s eyes darted about, confused. On edge.

    She was too wrapped up in herself, to not notice that Calypso¡¯s worn neck was starting to heal back to a semi-conquerable state.

    ¡°You¡­ Remind me so much of my¡­ Love¡­¡± Calypso struggled out the words. And it wasn¡¯t because of her neck being poorly formed.

    ¡°The ''not-girlfriend''¡­?¡± Cassie tried to fashion it into a joke¡­ But her tone was oddly sympathetic. Her uncertainty as to why this is happening, or maybe how she was so sympathetic to begin with, made the tone heavy.

    ¡°I was scared of you¡­ And I didn¡¯t know exactly why¡­ Why I took such issue with you¡­ Until I realized. And I couldn¡¯t face that¡­ Face the idea of you being the version of her¡­ Without me there.¡±

    ¡°¡­What the hell are you getting at--?¡± Cassie tried to reel herself back. Trying to avoid a kiss, or something along those lines.

    But when she reared her head back¡­ She noticed that Calypso¡¯s hand was gloved. Wearing a fingerless, leather glove with a gemstone that was brimming with iridescent light.

    Calypso simply tossed her away.

    Cassie fumbled, and Melissa¡¯s body had to follow suit. Looking at her writhing veins to find pieces of Calypso¡¯s own at the end. The sight caused the vampire to roar out through the stolen throat she had, looking up at Calypso accusingly.

    ¡°THE HELL ARE YOU GETTING--?!¡±

    Cassie¡¯s expression on Melissa¡¯s face dropped. Now witnessing that Calypso from before wasn¡¯t the one here now.

    The girl was glowing with that same, eerie glow that her Illuminator showed second ago, covered in a ghastly aura as she rubbed at her neck¡­ And it steadily reformed back to normal.

    ¡°There we are¡­¡± Calypso¡¯s tone was even, as she looked back at Cassie. Directly towards that small, pathetic essence that hid behind an innocent woman¡¯s body. ¡°You didn¡¯t let me finish.¡±

    ¡°H-how¡ª¡±

    ¡°Let me finish and you¡¯ll get an idea.¡±

    Calypso formed a very cutting smirk, raising her gloved hand¡­ And retracting the claws back. Now completely human once again, tightened her fist.

    ¡°So your claims are correct, you and I do hold some sort of kindred bond¡­ But not at all the way you guessed. And unfortunately for you¡­ I know how to beat back every single claim you¡¯ve made today: because I¡¯ve dealt with it for many, many years¡­ So what if there¡¯s darkness in every man¡¯s heart? That we¡¯re all heading into oblivion¡­?¡±

    The light around her began to somehow thicken. Both a fog and a beacon at the same time, as Cassie tried in vain to direct Melissa¡¯s body, pulling out the poor girl¡¯s own gemstone, and instantly transformed.

    But Calypso continued on.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to be the monster that consume all of that. The monster that ¡®so-called¡¯ monsters, will always fear. I will stalk the darkness of the hearts of men, and I will slay¡ªand mutilate¡ªand chase whatever¡¯s left to the ends of the Earth and until its end: BECAUSE OF MY UNDYING HATRED FOR SUCH DARKNESS THAT RUINED MY LIFE AND THE LIVES OF OTHERS! AND THAT¡ªINCLUDES¡ªYOU! HYPOCRITE!¡±

    With seconds away from Melissa making contact, all Calypso could do was viciously smile, her eyes alight with not only passion¡ªbut amber.

    There was only one thing to say, and a fact she had to actualize.

    Despite everything¡­ Calypso Grimes wasn¡¯t just ¡®still her¡¯. She can become so much more.

    And already has.

    ¡°I¡ªAm¡ªAwake! AND¡ªI¡ªAM¡ªUNLEASHED!¡±

 The Final Missing Entry (1/3)

    ***

    ¡°My name is Gale¡­ I¡¯m here. I can do this. I can save the world¡­¡±

    Gale squirmed in her seat, her legs as her knees nestled into the ground. The nails dug into her clasped hands¡­ Gale couldn¡¯t close her eyes, a part of the ritual to make this prayer work for sure.

    She had to keep her eyes open, for she was before this massive wall, made from flesh and bone and tooth and claw. She watched as the mass writhed with such intensity¡­ How these shadow people, chanting with power and anger behind their voices.

    It made Gale wonder¡­ Like. How does this happen¡­? How can a person stay angry, let alone an entire group of people maintaining all that? How can you hold onto something like that when you¡¯d get hurt immediately once you hold it tight? It has to be exhausting, right¡­?

    Maybe this is just¡­ Another example of how dumb she could be. But she felt terrible for these guys. To be literally made of hate and nothing else. Even if they win this¡­ What are they going to do, afterward? They don¡¯t have parties¡­ She thinks--? Regardless if there¡¯s such thing as Subsumed Slumber Parties¡­ They¡¯re not capable of joy. And even if they manage to muster it¡­ It¡¯s twisted. It¡¯s based on nothing but spite and nothingness¡­

    Gale had to slap at her cheeks, shaking her head furiously.

    She had to center herself, for this¡­ She had to be the center.

    ¡°My name is Gale¡­ And I¡¯m here. And I can do this. I. Will. Save the world¡­¡±

    As much as it pained her, seeing what was happening in the tower above. The screaming, the shattering that somehow rose above the screaming from the building¡­ Gale had to wait for the signal, to know that Calypso was alright.

    Gale struggling to keep her hands clasped, and the gemstone that was brimming with the warmest light from the inside. She had to wait. She had to be the center.

    She had to prove that hope still exists, here.

    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ***

    Natalie wanted to be a fly-on-the-wall, watching the wannabe oligarchs dine and admit how horrible they all are.

    But as she crawled against the blood-stained halls, watching the once-people sludge steam on the once-pristine floors¡­ Not even living sacks-of-shit deserves to be rendered into such messes.

    The Better People that hid and managed to put down the Subsumed that caused this rampage, gave Natalie the signal that she needed. No quips, no anything. Just¡ªstaring up at her. And she was a college student that was crawling on the walls.

    Whatever¡ªshe helped them with the important cargo. Hopefully with Calypso dealing with things above, Natalie only has one more job left.

    And what a hard one it¡¯ll be.

    Carefully, she edged downward, with a Better Person that was covered in the least amount of blood followed, angling himself under Natalie. The bug girl retracted her claws, falling from the wall right into the arms of the grunt.

    ¡°Remember what you have to do,¡± the grunt said stoically. ¡°It all falls on you.¡±

    ¡°Please,¡± Natalie tried to hide how crushing that felt, nevertheless sported a cocksure grin. ¡°Bullshitting people is my game. I don¡¯t need magic for any of that.¡±

    ***

    Screaming. Accusations. And guns are being added to the mix of it all.

    Richard bore witness to hard social problems before¡­ But this. This was ridiculous.

    ¡°So who is it?!¡± one of the officers was getting twitchy. Practically peering down the barrel of his weapon, as the crowd was nothing but cattle to him. Trying to figure out who was diseased with rabies. ¡°You people better not lie to me¡ªif you know what¡¯s good for you!¡±

    The officers ¡°managed¡± to mow down the crowd of monsters before them. And now, all of them are in formation, a circle that was armed to the teeth at the cattle they once projected moments now.

    Trying to find the mad cows. As it were.

    ¡°We¡¯re just as scared as you are!¡± a shrill voice answered back.

    ¡°How come you¡¯re the one dictating things?!¡± a trembling voice swooped in. ¡°W-we can¡¯t trust you either! How do we know what you¡¯re not with them--?!¡±

    ¡°WELL I KNOW I¡¯M NOT, SO SHUT YOUR TRAP!¡± The officer immediately trained his gun in that general direction, causing everyone that¡¯s not even in the area to scream out in fear.

    ¡°GILLIAN! STAND DOWN!¡±

    The roar of the woman in the ¡°center¡± of this firing squad made itself loud and clear. Richard noticed this ¡°Gillian¡± instant grimace once his superior officer got on him¡ªshe had to be over him.

    ¡°No one is accusing anyone of anything!¡± the leader continued. ¡°Keep a cool head, or we¡¯re all going to die here.¡±

    The shouting resumed. Richard was forced to look about at every twisted expression and fa?ade crumbling.

    He didn¡¯t have his gloves, so him rustling his hands together felt¡­ Rough. Unbearable.

    He was responsible for this mess. He had to live with his mistake. And yet he has to wait. Wait for the time to clean all of this up.

 The Final Missing Entry (2/3)

    ¡°There¡¯s BLOOD everywhere¡ªpeople have died¡ªand the police that¡¯s supposed to be HELPING US HAVE GUNS TO OUR HEADS! HOW CAN WE REMOTELY STAY CALM?!¡±

    Richard was surprised at how succinct this whiny lady¡¯s summation of the problem. But considering that this could be a monster trying to stir the proverbial shit, he had to not be so sure of things.

    Only sure of the plan. The boy, dressed finely in a white tux that wasn¡¯t stained with blood, just had to wait for his chance as he nervously adjusted his cufflinks.

    ¡°What about what that Jigsaw motherfucker said?! They said that people are here to fuck us over, no one can be trusted but the cops! So gather everyone up and we execute one by one--!¡±

    This was on the verge of unsalvageable chaos. Richard was going to step out of line, become a sacrificial pawn if it needed be, because the plan was doomed the fail at this rate.

    What he didn¡¯t see coming was the unlikely ally stepping up for them.

    ¡°We will not make this already terrible night into an outright tragedy¡ªwe¡¯ve had five of them at this rate¡ª¡±

    Mayor Huntington rose from the pack, causing the loud cacophony to slow to a stirring. Not outright anger at him, but how Richard is now, outright stumped by his sudden valor.

    A woman that was drenched with blood turned to him with accusing eyes, ¡°Oooohohoho! Look! A mayor that¡¯s finally doing his job!¡±

    ¡°Too bad it had to happen right now, versus ten minutes ago¡­¡± an elderly WASP resounded in a kind.

    The mayor adjusted his blood-caked tie, and surprisingly continued to stay calm. ¡°Even the best leader couldn¡¯t have wrangled something from that¡ªwell, this--situation, being completely fair¡­ But that¡¯s not the point, here! ¡°

    He tried to ease the uncuttable tension brewing in this room, by doing the most rudimentary ¡°calm down children¡± motion with his two hands, ¡°As I said during the town hall meeting, these are a series of deadly pranks carried out by a group of what can only be described as nihilist anarchy¡ª"

    ¡°You just said the same thing twice, that¡¯s what I¡¯m hearing right now.¡±

    ¡°Well not really¡ª¡± Huntington replied, hand on his chest as he closed his eyes. ¡°Anarchy ultimately has the goal of dismantling power structures that, in their view, have negatively impacted the world itself¡ªbelieving that we¡¯re free beings that decide our own choices¡­¡±

    Huntington then opened his eyes, grimly. ¡°These people stand for nothing, but the rumination of others¡ªus. We had so little information until now¡ªwe hoped that we¡¯d know something during the two-week curfew and interim¡­ But this is totally different from defending people due to a certain group, wearing easy-to-spot cloaks or what have you¡­ There were people among us, our own neighbors. How can we fight that¡­?¡±

    ¡°I told ya¡¯ the fuckin¡¯ solution!¡± the portly man with nearly sick wife (?) in tow, pointing at Huntington. ¡°Everyone against the wall and we weed the bastard¡¯s out!¡±

    ¡°Sir¡ªif you keep suggesting to incite violence, then we have no choice but to suspect you.¡±

    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    The leader of the troopers didn¡¯t bother getting dressed, she didn¡¯t strike Richard as the type once a mission was at hand. A middle-aged woman, aside from a few stress lines and scarring, was a fit looker that had messy dirty blonde hair that hit the shoulders. Her steely brown eyes shifted, but only to lock onto a new target, not out of cowardice.

    ¡°What fucking team are you on, Berra--?!¡± Gilligan decided to open his trap once again. ¡°Someone tries to be sensible in this damn travesty and here you are not doing your damn job!¡±

    ¡°How about you shut up over there!?¡± a new voice rang out.

    ¡°Clearly he¡¯s one of them!¡± another voice that was fresh to Richard¡¯s ears ¡°Pop him! Shoot him before he mows all of us down!¡±

    ¡°Trust me¡ª¡± Berra yelled out, looking directly at Gilligan. ¡°He¡¯s always been on my ass¡ªit¡¯s something he can¡¯t help¡ª¡±

    ¡°Maybe he is right!¡± the portly man stumbled forward, causing every single officer to train at him¡ªas his wife just covered her mouth and fell to her knees. ¡°You¡¯re acting cool when, again to remind people, blood rained down and people were eaten! My buddy¡¯s entire head was ripped off his fucking head! This ain¡¯t some schoolyard prank¡ªand you can¡¯t convince me that you¡¯re not in on it!¡±

    Disturbed murmurs. A fervor that that steadily growing was on the verge of exploding. There was nothing but arguing and even in Richard¡¯s chest¡ªdespite never partaking in the food himself of course¡ªcan feel whatever shadow demon that climbed into him enjoying this strife.

    It didn¡¯t matter in that moment, for Richard to work out who¡¯s truly a Subsumed or not. Humans. Subsumed. They were one in this moment.

    Cassie was getting her way.

    This was the precipice. The point that it didn¡¯t matter. Nothing could be said to snap people out of this level of anger, paranoia, and uncertainty.

    Thankfully, Richard knew that he didn¡¯t have to deal with this any longer.

    Right on cue, Martha Mittleman stumbled down the blood-flooded staircase. Panting, her dress in complete tatters, with complete horror on her face as she nearly falls on her face as she reaches the bottom.

    Richard coughed softly, and breathed in a cleansing breath.

    ¡°MOTHER!¡± Richard shouted with enough conviction to startle everyone present. He broke out of the crowd, knowingly aimed himself toward Officer Berra, who instantly held him back versus threatening him at gunpoint.

    ¡°Easy--!¡± she tried to talk sense into him.

    Richard gave his best rendition of a tearful, frightened expression. Given how Ms. Berra reacted, despite his eyes covered in light tears, it had worked wonders.

    ¡°Please¡­! That¡¯s my mother: she¡¯s all that I have left¡ªyou all know this!¡±

    With a quick suck of her teeth, Officer Berra turned to her comrades in arms. ¡°Close it up and hold the line while I help them¡ª¡±

    Richard ran forward, reaching where Martha was shivering in place, holding her biceps. He took her mother into his arms, hugging her as she looked down at her.

    ¡°Oh God, you¡¯re okay! You¡¯re actually okay, thank you, God--!¡±

    ¡°S-same to you, baby¡­¡± Martha hugged her son back. ¡°I barely survived¡ªI barely survived but I managed to get away¡­¡±

    Martha looked toward Officer Berra and yet yelled loud enough for the others to hear.

    ¡°I have to¡ªtell you still before anything happens to me. They¡¯ve drugged us¡ªthe-they drugged us so that when they rounded up everyone, we¡¯d all be hallucinating¡ªI only managed to get away because I had so little¡ªand I take that all of us are! Anyone that ¡®turns¡¯ into a monster¡ªis just wearing a cloak and is trying to capture us¡ªsticking us upstairs!¡±

    A murmur spread across the floor once more. But Richard sensed how different it was¡­ Confusion still, but being convinced slightly.

    ¡°That does match with what we already knew¡­¡± Officer Berra stroked her chin. ¡°In that case¡ª¡±

    A series of screams rang out, causing Berra to aim her gun at whatever the source was.

    It was the portly man¡¯s wife¡­ She succumbed to the darkness.

    Darkness poured from her mouth. Her eyes slowly turned pitch black. And given how the people nearest¡ªincluding the man¡ªwere so terrified, the Subsumed inside were ready to be born.

    Good thing that the officer had her back to them. Because Richard and Martha were smiling in relief, even shared a glance with one another.

    This was more fuel for them. The aid that they desperately needed in that moment.

    Every dramatic moment, such as this, only added to their narrative.

    ***

 The Final Missing Entry (3/3)

    ***

    Why was she doing this, in the end?

    As Natalie was perched on edge of the building cloaked with shadow. Watched from above, despite having physical damnation in the form of red lightning¡ªcreeps that were once men began to shed their stolen skin¡ªand the fact that they were locked in by a gate of literal flesh: she watched as the worst was yet to come.

    The bug girl would¡¯ve came to this eventuality sooner or later, but during their ¡°lost week¡± of research and planning¡ªthe monster girls were informed the true danger of the Terrortide. The very important fact when dealing with natural or man-made disasters or crises¡ªthat one thing that people don¡¯t know about when dealing with them which ends up killing more than the disaster itself. The kink, the last-minute ¡°one-more-thing¡±.

    The consequences.

    After such an abundance of shadow that was created from the structure for this ¡°stage¡± alone¡ªthe Town Hall ended up becoming this advanced pit of Subsumed breeding grounds. So, in the few seconds from now, the already writhing walls will have festering little people-eaters burrowing out of them.

    It was up to her and Gale. They had to make this not-as-bad as it could be. Not just holding the line, but keeping the damn fort from not caving into itself. Also trying to prove that humanity is worth it via supernatural doctrine. Little to no pressure at all.

    ¡­But why? Why is she doing this¡­?

    Natalie could¡¯ve just ran. In fact, there WAS an opportunity to run¡ªscrew the multiple outs she saw while doing this. There was nothing stopping her from outright ditching this insane plan, she didn¡¯t need to circle around the back of the halls to meet up with people that are also walking flesh golems.

    Could¡¯ve immediately gone home. Scooped up her father, even rev up one of the better cars of the lot¡ªspeed away and just endure being even more of pariahs than they already are. At least they could¡¯ve had a great start.

    Why, screw the fact that Natalie¡¯s doing this for the absolute welfare of the world¡ªstopping it from becoming a literal fresh hell. Nothing stopped her from going through the garbage before. In every sense; from sifting in it, to dealing with it¡ªand above all else, being it.

    The bug girl looked down from her so-called post. Seeing the meditating mess that was before the crowds, seeing Gale tremble despite trying to pass herself off as zen.

    Natalie shook her head. ¡°We¡¯re going to be friends at the end of this,¡± said the possible psychopath who bullied her not so long ago. How was any of this the foundation needed to make that statement? How long does any of them think that this is going to last?

    It wasn¡¯t like Natalie had it in her to make friends, nor had anything in her left to trust. So why?

    Why is she doing this?

    She searched her mind. She relayed every motive she cataloged from each party. She reasoned out various angles, from Stockholm syndrome to somehow betraying them all in the end to be the true Terrorizer.

    She did it until she felt physically tired.

    And all she got out of it was a sigh. Along with a bitter, stupid truism she thought was gutted out of her, when she profited herself from being human again.

    It¡¯s simply because she wanted to. Both wanted to do this for them¡ªthe people she¡¯s willing to go the whole nine yards when it was just a person.

    And because she wanted to finally not think about it, about ¡°why¡±, anymore. Just this one time.

    Without warning, she felt her own seat start to bulge. Swell. Shudder.

    As she turned her sights to Gale, Natalie really hoped that she would end up the sacrificial lamb for a completely different reason now.

    Gale¡¯s far too nice to NOT have that selfish drive to live for herself.

    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ***

    As the walls before her started to engorge with life, Gale tried her face to keep her already wavering smile on her face. Her hands that were in prayer, now digging nails into each other.

    She shook her head. She couldn¡¯t slap herself now.

    All she has to is the one thing. Just the one thing, impossible to mess up. Even someone like her.

    No more negative juju. No more dwelling on the past, or what¡¯s been said, or anything right now but this.

    She can do it. She can do it. She can do it.

    And with the deepest breath the swamp girl could muster, Gale furrowed her brow as angrily as she could.

    Lime green vines violently erupted from the now-torn-up ground of the Town Hall. It was once plastered with extravagant brick and tiles, but not after Gale was done with it. While the Better People guys did some of it, Gale refused further help afterward.

    She couldn¡¯t continue being the weakest link anymore.

    So instead, Gale sat in her little mudpie. Gave up her own legs in a sense, letting them turn into roots that settled into the dirt¡ªand the thighs up started to fuse together. When she and the other girls had to cool it with the transformations in order for this plane to work¡ªshe put the entire thing at risk more than Calypso¡ªas Natalie joked. And while it was a joke, it definitely dialed up the pressure. So she had to relax.

    Sat there and simply conversed with the Earth for a bit. Earth, Gia, Nature itself¡ªwhatever people accepted it as¡­ It wasn¡¯t so much a chat but a mixture of feelings that Gale had to endure, experience¡­And soon embrace. Sending what she learned back to the Earth, patiently doing this over and over.

    The results spoke for themselves.

    Now that she was gifted power from the Earth, Gale¡¯s vines continued to stretch further and further. And her vines went pretty far on their own¡ªat least the swamp girl reckoned.

    But these vines managed to wrap themselves around the theater itself. The structure that was several feet tall and so many meters wide, Gale¡ªwhile still straining¡ªeffortlessly wrapped each one around over three rounds, and began to squeeze the¡­ ¡°not-life¡± out of the thing.

    Digging into the wall.

    Piercing and burrowing¡­ All at the same, concentrated spot in the middle.

    Her entire body was shaking, sweat began to coat her, her hands oozing black blood as they trembled so badly¡ªthe sight she had was wavering now. Her eyes beginning to water.

    But what was happening was pretty clear, even through her tears.

    Not only are the little grublets were finally born, popping from the shadows, born angry¡­ Like any sports event, the audience was immediately angry with Gale. And rushed toward her from their seats. Some stayed behind, but it didn¡¯t matter. A large crowd is a large on regardless.

    Within moments, the girl was surrounded.

    She bowed her head, for a painful chuckle. Joking to herself, that she can¡¯t even run and hide, like the one time.

    Despite the Subsumed being more or less shapeless shadow men, they wailed on her regardless. But oddly enough¡­ Gale could still think. Maybe because the thoughts were just as meaningless and painful.

    She leaned into this ¡°peace of mind¡± stuff to escape pain. To escape the fact that, due to the cruel nature of the universe, she was born so thin-skinned, so weak, during such a harsh, hateful reality. Unable to do nothing, to be nothing, purely because she just doesn¡¯t have it in her to be just as hateful and harsh.

    To be angry. To simply allow herself, to be angry even,

    Learning Zen gave her such a dream, practically a fantasy. That sweet fantasy of maybe, finally, she figured out how to live¡ªto finally deal with her uselessness as a person.

    And all she got was a man who killed her. And became an undead monster for her troubles.

    It wasn¡¯t until Gale recalled something, due to being so far in her own head.

    How the Earth told her about themselves¡­ About how it¡¯s been treaded on, how it feels like it¡¯s dying. The Earth connected with her about all that¡­

    And it gave her the ¡°answer¡± that she needed. She realized that she had it all along.

    She just was trying to be nice.

    Gale began to grin. Only the few Subsumed stopped punching her, puzzled by this browbeaten girl managed to smile with such welts on her face.

    Everything has a balance, despite this chaotic meaninglessness. A strong build still needs the dirt it paved away to stand. A lightning bolt only exists for a second before fading away, despite it being untouchable, invincible.

    Everything has a balance, so that it could exist. Live.

    And that means even a meek, nice girl is allowed to let lose sometimes.

    A bright light caused Gale to slowly turn her head, and blinded the attacking Subsumed. Seeing that it was coming from the broken clock tower.

    Gale closed her eyes and continued to sport her carefree grin.

    ¡°Sorry guys. You¡¯re gonna die now.¡±

    Her necklace flopped out of her ruined dress by itself, and Gale quickly waved her hand before her gemstone.

    ¡°This. Is. Me¡­¡± Gale began to be submerged with light, and raised her arms.

    ¡°AND I¡ªAM¡ªUNLEASHED!¡±

    She too, became a pillar of light.

    Watching from afar, Natalie saw this eruption of illumination.

    ¡°Thaaaaat¡¯s my cue,¡± Natalie manifest her goggles, stretched them forward, and let them slap into place on her eyes. She tapped at her gemstone-lens, as if she were a mimicking a crawling insect.

    ¡°I. Am. What I Am¡­¡± Natalie tried to swallow the truth, before clearing her throat for the final shout.

    ¡°AND I¡ªAM¡ªUNLEASHED!¡±

    As the Subsumed witnessed together, three eerily white pillars reached towards the heavens. Giving the natural shade of night back to a bleeding red sky.

    And none of them wanted to admit so in the moment, but all experienced such a damning chill up their spines.

    ***

 Final Chapters - Jubilee: A Celebration of Victory (IX)

    ***

    The creature that was Cassie was forced to watch. A strong wind swirling around Calypso, as the once potent light dimmed to a glow around her changing body. And was subjected to a chorus of various pitched screams that carried within this wind, yet a more powerful, more sinister voice stood amongst the whispers.

    Calypso¡¯s own panting¡­ And pleasured laughter.

    The once meek girl closed her eyes, let herself sink deeply into this horror. Her head leaned back, to the point she was limp, as her spine violently extended itself¡ªthe barbs ribbing out of her growing frame. Her once boring brown hair transmuted itself into a vibrant magenta that overgrew into a mane that hit the tailbone¡ªdown to an already exaggerated back. A second, deformed skull that pushed itself out of the top of her head, acting as a literal crown.

    Calypso grasped her bulging shoulders with her claws, her swelling arms somehow conveying lethargic movement at exuberant speeds. She parted her claws from being close to one another, to let the erupting spikes synchronize, and let go of said shoulders when their spikes continued to grow.

    She let her claws drag themselves down her finalizing body. Her skin flushed pink, egg-white bones forming into shapes that angled themselves, hovering above sections of her frame, as she cleared away anything that was left of her humanity, so to speak.

    Her arms went limp, as she went eerily and completely limp as she leaned back further¡ªand seconds later, the bones snapped, fastened themselves into primitive yet beastly armor as she reared her screaming head forward, hunched with a row of razor-sharp teeth flashed a smile, with glowing amber orbs to match. As Calypso literally radiated this afterglow¡ªthe dim light color-coded with each section of her body, she swung both arms not to attack Cassie, but to allow for her dual elbow blades to shoot themselves out.

    The glow faded back to the dark, blood-red darkness¡­ as Calypso arched a claw at Cassie, beckoning a fight.

    ¡°Please¡­¡± the croaking, timid vocal tone turned into this sultry, crazed malice as Calypso¡¯s grin stretched further across her matured face. ¡°I¡¯ve been aching to kill you ever since we¡¯ve met. Make this poor, pathetic excuse for a human a hero today¡­~¡±

    ***

    Natalie¡¯s transformation was quite different from Calypso¡¯s. A lot more frantic, methodical.

    Her fingers were forced to curl into a fist on each hand, as they folded¡ªthey changed¡ªturning into pincer-themed claws covered in graying fuzz.

    She blinked rapidly as her eyes were forced shut, creating groundwork for her brow to scrunch in pain as her new eyes burst from her temples. Two, massive compound eyes slid out of Natalie¡¯s head ¡°halfway¡±-- as they created onyx, bleeding cracks that leaked from them and stretched across her face. Natalie forced to look about with her now-near two hundred new eyes in a sense of reclaiming ¡°normalcy¡±.

    Clearly¡ªthat was the worst part for her. The rest was relatively easy.

    She moved her left arm, as the fur on her hands manifested themselves into gloves¡ªthe small prongs that came out of the side of the wrist quickly emerging to give it accents. She did the same with her right, same second-long addition to the transformation.

    She felt her short hair starting to tumble down her face, as the cracks across her eyes began to grow both in their reach and in size. The girl becoming a fly slid her gloved hands to cover her changing face, as she leaned forward in a hunch.

    Pale, hexagonal cells violently ripped themselves out of her back¡ªshredding her clothes in the process, hovering above her in the air. Revealing that her body was covered in onyx-plated exoskeleton parts that immediately fastened themselves against her now-chalk-white frame-like armor. She was forced to move each leg forward in a casual strut, as a pair of insectoid legs ripped whatever¡¯s left of her bottom wear to position themselves against the front of her exposed legs.

    The hovering cells slammed themselves onto the back of her shoulders, the later generations not so much following the lead, but forming a line by snapping with those before.

    The final push. Natalie combed her now long, indigo hair back from her face, as her human eyes were covered in a stylish ¡°mask¡± in shape of a butterfly, it¡¯s abdomen trailing downward into a stinger before her lips.

    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    As she relished in the change, her chin upward with her claw¡¯s palms outward, she grew a puffy, gray collar of fluff, her ¡°cape¡± of cells cresting down on her back as the finishing touch.

    Natalie separated her cape, forming the cells into separate, jagged wings that twitched in reaction. Her glow dimmed once she fluttered them alive, and took off into the skies.

    She knew for sure¡ªCalypso loved the transformation, she knew that Gale might¡¯ve hated it. After slowly going through it over the course of months, she became numb to the whole thing. But Natalie had to admit; as sucky it is to be a fly for a power¡­ It was always a treat to do something that humans could only dream of doing on their own.

    ***

    It was weird to stay calm, when you were surrounded by man-eating monsters. It was weird to stay calm, as you felt your entire body shut down in the most agonizing pain ever. And it was weird to stay calm when all of this was according to plan, as you felt your necklace sink into your body.

    That was Gale¡¯s reality at the moment.

    Breathing and focus. Breathing and focus. It was the only way to survive the pain, that eased the transformation from being outright potent. But more importantly, she needed to focus on her hands,, struggling against each other until they clasped each other. She needed to focus on her hands. She realized that regardless of the level of transformation, her hands¡­ They were easy-to-follow symbols of how far along she is. They were her anchor, her ¡°prayer¡±.

    The skin slowly becoming slimy was the hard part for Gale. She could only breath, feeling the tension of her body, as it was constantly on the edge of turning into a pile of sludge. Through keeping her hands from merging into a big blob, she maintained that sense of individuality throughout her body via exhaling. Whatever she was wearing wasn¡¯t so lucky, but her transforming body managed to keep itself together as it turned into it¡¯s cyan hue.

    Then it was the small roots and bramble¡¯s turns, as they grew from inside of her and forced their way out of the surface, Gale being more than aware of their pathways. Gale knew from experience that very deep down, there was very tough earth embedded within, allowing this flora to grow. And grow it did, lost within the body, barely visible from the surface, and mainly out of her limbs as the roots tided the brambles down to her fingers, creating claws.

    Gale took a cleansing breath, relaxing in the panic. She raised her hands into the air, letting her moss-green hair gently fall forward as she lowered her head completely.

    The roots that were strewn across her body, their harvest becoming plentiful. They formed a massive, dark-green leaf that became a backless dress, the roots that didn¡¯t produce anything quickly fastening the sides to keep it hoisted, as the midrib pulsated on the front. Most of the brambles of her claws grew into thick vines that acted as opera gloves that were in tatters.

    Gale huffed through her nose, groaned through her sharpening teeth as she softly shook her head. The craziest part about the last part was that she felt it so vividly, she knew what it looked like before she ever tried looking in a mirror.

    Regardless, a massive mushroom grew from her mossy head. Starting small, this red and yellow little jerk started off like a regular toadstool¡­ Before getting bigger, and bigger, to the point that it acted like a weird sunhat for Gale. It couldn¡¯t even handle the massive size-change, as the cap broke into four sections, further transforming into a makeshift flower.

    Gale then exhaled, raising her head against her still raised arms. Giving a silent smirk as she lost her light, and the small spores that came from the mush-flower dotted themselves across her skin, giving her glitter.

    ¡°Alright boys¡­¡± Gale purred as she lowered her arms. ¡°Let¡¯s make this a fair fight~!¡±

    Gale quickly put her claws in the air, as she was miming tearing something apart. But even then, she struggled a bit as she completed the action.

    The Subsumed before her were dumbfounded, confused¡­ Until one of their number shouted out:

    ¡°SHE¡¯S BREAKING IT! SHE¡¯S PRYING OUR AUDITORUM APART-!¡±

    It didn¡¯t get the luxury of telling his brothers to go and attack Gale. His head was severed via a fast hexagon cell that flew into his neck.

    ***

    Calypso¡¯s soft, crazed giggles were the ¡°soundtrack¡± to this battle. Cassie tried in vain to match in simple strength, using Melissa¡¯s body in complete recklessness as the two were wrestling each other. No matter how hard Cassie slammed Calypso down into the wooden floors or fling her across the room. There was this glee that this was happening, as she got on all fours to get back into the fray.

    The skeletal monster girl rushed back onto two feet, grappling both wrists of Melissa, and crushed them despite the instant spray of blood. Though she did toss the vampire girl back, so hard that it broke the wall she landed on.

    ¡°It¡¯s so weird, this paradigm¡­¡± Calypso was unusually calm, lifting a sizzling claw to her maw and running her long, red tongue across the molten blood that covered her palms, quickly before it hardened into scabbing. ¡°It doesn¡¯t render us into masochists, not really¡­ But god. Is this pain and fury so fucking delectable.¡±

    ¡°How¡­¡± Cassie growled, forcing Melissa to get up and heal her wrists. ¡°HOW DID YOU GET SO STRONG?!¡±

    Calypso smirked in turn, flicking away the hardened blood from both claws in a casual manner. ¡°Why did you try to recruit any of us in the first place~? We always had the potential. All it took was some horrible event, helmed by a very horrible tyrant, that gave us aaaaalll the motivation we needed.¡±

    The skeleton mockingly scratched her own chin, before ¡°realizing¡± something. Using that claw to point upward.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you see for yourself¡­~?¡±

    Cassie forced Melissa¡¯s head upward, and her void-like eyes widened at what she saw.

    And what it was, simply a book cascading down.

    Given what she realized what the book was, Cassie screamed in horror as she shot blood towards the approaching Tome.

 Final Chapters - Jubilee: A Celebration of Victory (X)

    Calypso had never seen someone so terrified of a falling book. She laughed, loudly and hysterically¡ªto the point she was surprised that she could laugh in such an uproar.

    But the skeletal monster girl couldn¡¯t enjoy¡ªbask in this delight yet. She had seen how those frenzied bloodstreams could be.

    So, Calypso quickly got behind Melissa¡ªgrappled her possessed arms to her sides via a bear hug, knowing that the on-pouring blood would rush down both of their legs.

    Nevertheless, Calypso still had her razor-sharp grin.

    ¡°SHOW HER!¡± Calypso commanded the Tome, hiding how they practiced the exact wording so much to get this pitch-perfect, exactly right here and now. ¡°SHOW HER HOW WE¡¯VE GROWN¡ªULTIMATELY SHOWCASING HOW SHE HAS INDEED FAILED!¡±

    What was eerily controlled, almost ¡°gentle¡± cascading of the Tome turned into a meteoric strike. The ancient tome soared downward, flipping over to expose the constantly turning pages and before Calypso knew it¡ªeverything went white.

    She was so happy that the plan was working.

    ***

    ¡°C¡¯mooon¡­ Juust a lil¡¯ more¡­!¡±

    Gale couldn¡¯t study and listen to her iPod at the same time. The sheer fact that she was swatting away pissed off Subsumed while trying to pry a hole into existence at once is a miracle she felt iffy about¡ªbecause it¡¯s using up the ¡°miracle juju¡± in the air that her friends and the victims needed desperately.

    She felt scared at she was merely ¡°slapping¡± them away. Even with most of these guys depowered, even Gale knew better not to underestimate these things.

    But it was apart of the plan.

    As soon as one was staggered, a series of flying yellow cells peppered the crap outta the poor monster that fell down. Natalie was above the skies, watching out for Gale and easing the load.

    Which made Gale feel bad, since it felt like a ton of work on Natty¡¯s end¡ªbut she shook her head to herself.

    She had to keep what she had in mind.

    The swamp monster girl lowered her arms from their poses. Took a cleansing breath, through the nose and out the mouth. Into the mouth, and out the nose.

    Bringing her hands into a prayer, she closed her eyes.

    ¡°You can do this, Gale,¡± Gale said grimly to herself. ¡°You¡¯re gonna save the effin¡¯ world.¡±

    She thrusted her hands outward with a yell she never thought she could make. ¡°Digging¡± her claws into the air, and slowly separating her hands away from each other.

    And in turn, her massive vines that were burrowed into the auditorium, began tearing the center of the structure into two.

    Gale could barely hear the screeching that was all around her, all she could hear was¡­ Harmony, oddly enough. She was still connected to the Earth, and simply heard¡­ Nature. Animal chittering, forest ambience. The wind around them, rushing water from so far away.

    There was this instant shot of rage that surged within Gale. All of them could¡¯ve literally been doing something better than all of this.

    And as much as she felt instantly bad about being so angry¡­ She let that superego-checking out the door. She wanted that rage to build and give her the boost that she needed right now.

    Gale flexed her straining hands with an open, cold glare etched on her face.

    It was like the vines themselves became engorged with a sudden uptick of water and nutrients, the now bulging plant life made the seam within this structure grow larger, creating this massive ripped-apart entrance with multiple Subsumed parts raining down into the ground.

    The perfect entryway for the Calvary.

    Leading the way was Sal and the rest of the Grimes, except Cal¡¯s mother. Most of the other farmers Gale saw come in and out of town just as quickly as they brushed off her waving at them, Old Man Paul, looking grim but determined, most of the small crowd that her and the girls saw in the weird heaven court were there¡ªeven a cute boy with long hair Gale was SURE she didn¡¯t notice¡ª

    All of them. Armed with shotguns, some kind of melee weapon if they didn¡¯t have a gun: a total angry mob in the modern day.

    ¡°Yo!¡± Sal tried to maintain her small. She was so cool. ¡°What¡¯s the damage so far~?¡±

    ¡°Bad¡ª¡± Gale struggled as tried to maintain the exit she created with her extra ¡°limbs¡±. ¡°So the bad¡ªplease help¡ª¡±

    The hot guy turned to Sal, with an arched eyebrow. Long, dark hair like a rockstar and a chin that movie stars could weep at. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that they were helping us¡­?¡±

    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    ¡°Shut it, Topher¡ª¡± Sal hit him quickly on the shoulder. ¡°¡ªYer just as green as I am¡ª¡±

    ¡°As much as I love comedy scenes¡­¡± Artemis grimly held her shotgun firm. ¡°Let¡¯s play exterminator, folks! And don¡¯t you die on us!¡±

    The mob ran forward, as a rainfall of cells was hitting everything but them as they quickly ran up the path.

    Gale took a breath, and flung at least two vines behind herself. Making sure to go wide, around the crowd, only to make a dash and come together at a single point.

    That being the hall¡¯s massive doors, as Gale caves them in.

    ***

    Richard simply smiled. He smiled and watched all of this finally unfold.

    The Subsumed that he knew was playing dead¡ªthat got nervous about what was going on, he watched as they were being gunned down. Looking over to his right, seeing the townsfolk that were aware made their way into the fractious.

    ¡°Oh thank goodness! Help has arrived, everyone!¡±

    Richard scoffed softly through his nose. Of course his mother was still going to act, it was what she was good at and why they¡¯ve gotten so far in the first place. 110% enthusiasm in everything she does.

    The remaining victims looked on with a glazed-over daze. Still frightened, but with such a distant expression on their faces.

    It felt like home, oddly enough.

    Martha pointed, while still having an arm coddling Richard. Despite the size difference. ¡°I¡¯d say we should follow them out! Is that a good idea, Officer Berra¡­?¡±

    Despite the euphoria of the plan working out¡­ It did pain Richard a little, seeing this strong-willed woman like this.

    Officer Berra held her head, softly massaged her forehead. As if she knew something was happening, something clearly wrong here¡­

    But lacking the strength to do anything about it.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Officer Berra nodded. ¡°Yes it is! Garcia, Michaels and Shay¡ªyou usher these people out! Smith and Gilligan: you¡¯re with me and we¡¯re helping the Calvary! This is gonna be the fight of our lives, boys!¡±

    Richard looked over to the stooge that caused them so much trouble. With his moppy black hair and sharp, tight features conveyed how much he hated his life and everyone in it.

    And he nodded. Wordlessly, even.

    As the scene was playing out before them, Richard continued to smile. And he looked down to his mother, who shared the same level of contentedness with their darkness.

    Richard felt a slap against his shoe. Puzzled, he looked downward towards this pitiful thing. A half of a Subsumed, only left with an upper body that was only the left of it.

    ¡°H¡­ How¡­?¡± it asked him. Maybe at the Fates That Be.

    Either way. He felt like monologuing.

    ¡°It was the plan, friend~ You would¡¯ve slaughtered us with ease, even with our combined knowledge of the unknown and dark¡­ So we. Upped our chances of survival.¡±

    Richard pointed to the since-ruined table of refreshments.

    ¡°Our Miracle Matter can only survive in so little compounds without the necessary care involved¡­ Everyday booze, and drinks, and snacks can be deadly weapons, despite the sacred nature of breaking bread. Regardless, everyone in this gathering either got laced with our material or got into contact with them. And the larger the intake of Miracle Matter¡­ The deeper our mitts are digging into their minds~¡±

    Martha giggled, and Richard moved backward slightly to kneel down towards the panting thing. The boy reached forward, and put his hand atop the Subsumed exposed skull.

    ¡°It¡¯s just business, friend. And it¡¯s about learning from my mistakes¡ªto be better. It¡¯s nothing but up, from here on out. Maybe you¡¯d like what we¡¯re going to have planned for you all in the future, given how much you lot thrive on being a group of defeatists~¡±

    Richard applied pressure. Slowly but surely squeezing the head of this monster. Watching, feeling its cranium on the verge of bursting.

    Until it did, and the spray of shadow flung everywhere.

    ¡°Too bad you ruined my suit,¡± Richard sighed in disgust. ¡°It¡¯s very nice, y¡¯know.¡±

    ***

    Cassie used Melissa¡¯s eyes to dart about their surroundings. She was trapped in Melissa¡¯s body, how it laid on her back, slack, still shocked at hoe badly this went. How they¡¯re once again inside of a stage that was covered in a haze of darkness, how the spotlight was the only source of ether.

    The haze somehow grew darker, as the memories that Cassie had yet to have, floated within the ceiling.

    Cassie saw first-hand, how she fucked up.

    ¡°I always found it trite that people urged the villains to kill the heroes, at every turn and at every encounter. And keep in mind, I read ghastly, fucked up literature¡ªand the so-called ¡®complaint¡¯ still nettles me¡­¡±

    Cassie growled, forcing Melissa to rise to her feet. Turning to face a sly Calypso, her claws behind her back.

    ¡°But you really should¡¯ve, when you had the chance~¡± Calypso purred smugly.

    ¡°You fucker¡ª¡± Cassie growled from Melissa¡¯s maw. ¡°Now I can¡¯t properly do it if this stupid question isn¡¯t met! Or I fucking do kill you and I¡¯m just stuck here! You piece of shit! You fucked us both regardless!¡±

    Calypso sucked at her fangs, ¡°So you ARE aware of the fact you sprayed everywhere and the clocktower might be burning as we speak¡­ I really wanted to mess with you, with that¡ª¡±

    ¡°The book won¡¯t burn, but we fucking will!¡± Cassie roared. ¡°I thought you wanted to be a monster¡¯s monster and all that! I thought you wanted to save this whiny lil¡¯ bitch! Now you¡¯re throwing it all away¡ªyou hypocrite!¡±

    Calypso made a curt chuckle, immediately spreading her sharp arms outward, as if she¡¯s a presenter at Apple, on stage to showcase the new hardware on the PowerPoint behind her.

    If anything, she was that in the strictest sense.

    Each scene flashed before Cassie, as Calypso was making her point.

    ¡°You threatened all of us. We had no idea what to do. You made us go into extremes, you made us realize that we were nothing but the pathetic wastes you called us¡­¡±

    It showed Calypso, huddled around her friends and family, all this stylized in shadow play. A rare moment of being vulnerable that wasn¡¯t just one person, unable to hide her pain and misery despite covering her face with her small hands. And they comforted her regardless.

    It cut to the three of them¡ªher, Gale, and Natalie. All in the forest, before Mrs. Moses.

    Tome in hand and stern expression in tow.

    ¡°We had to get creative.¡±

    The same flash of white ensued, which made Cassie to force Melissa¡¯s void eyes to grow wide in panic.

    Various scenes of each of the girls, forced into the tomb to do the same exercises. Over and over and over again.

    Despite the self-doubt. Despite the immediate failures. And even despite the various wounds and maiming.

    ¡°So we got good. We worked ourselves to your level. Or at Melissa¡¯s, really, since she¡¯s doing all the work here~¡± Calypso purred.

    Cassie huffed through Melissa¡¯s nose, and a smirk was formed. Wide, pissed¡­ But nevertheless proud.

    ¡°You got me,¡± Cassie forced Melissa into a primal stance. ¡°Now I¡¯m really kicking myself about not getting you. Forget being some lackey, a fall girl¡ªa fantasy pack mule¡­ We should¡¯ve been partners.¡±

    Calypso in turn leaned forward, glistening her fangs with her long tongue.

    ¡°Oh, dear Terrorizer¡­ That implies that we would¡¯ve been equals. Unfortunately, that¡¯s not the case anymore¡ªno¡­ It wasn¡¯t the case at all. There¡¯s only one Calypso Grimes. And I¡¯m going to show you how little any of you measure up to me.¡±

 (META) Last Hiatus/Finale Next Week

    As the title says--

    We''re at the end of this story, beautiful friends. A finale and an epilogue, then we''re done... It''s pretty bittersweet. Maybe that''s why I''m prolonging this, I don''t wanna say goodbye yet-

    The real reason is that this is going to be a very big update. Still writing it, basically done, but I''m torn about splitting it or not. I could do a double upload, but that''s even more to read for people catching up--"my god, this fucking final episode has 10 (technically 13--) installment and it''s still not fucking done-?!" So it might be a 5k read. Sorry but hey, guess you all like it on some level-

    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    Thinking about a ton, but the most concrete of those thoughts are posting a post-mortem of the story. So if you''re into authors slapping themselves about how much they fucked up--I mean. Talk about their process, hey. Stay a while after the epilogue. There was a ton that I couldn''t fit in this thing. So maybe I should keep going after all--

    Joking aside. As always, thank you all for the support and love. It literally is humbling. Hopefully I can meet your expectations with this finish.

 Finale (1/2)

    There was an immediate clash, as a blitz of claws and fangs came into contact with one another.

    Even with the gains she suffered to achieve, Calypso was still a mere match for the Cassie-controlled Melissa. Each blow from both parties not only shredded away flesh, but caved in bones¡ªtwisted internal organs, only for all of it to quickly heal back to relative normal. And to add more ticking bombs under the table, Calypso¡¯s sensitive nose picked up on the faint scent of smoke.

    This was becoming a terrible, awful time.

    She couldn¡¯t help but keep smiling. Ear-to-ear.

    ¡°Wipe that stupid grin off your face, you cheating poser!¡± Cassie¡¯s words fumbled out of Melissa¡¯s mouth. She followed up the next statement with a fierce punch to the gut, causing Calypso to cough up black blood upon impact. ¡°People didn¡¯t even know what I was, anymore! I didn¡¯t have backup, I didn¡¯t have fancy-ass books: I figured it out on my own! I outrank you in every-single-fucking way: and you¡¯re going to understand that!¡±

    Calypso simply chuckled and just as casually wiped the corners of her maw with the back of her wrist. ¡°I¡¯m having so much fun, Cassandra. Never have I met such a sore winner before in my pitiful life¡ª¡±

    Cassie twisted Melissa¡¯s face into a flurry of expressions all bound to unyielding rage, before exploding into a foundation of blood due to the few cuts that haven¡¯t healed yet along the stolen body.

    Calypso thought fast, using her powerful legs to jump backward to evade most of the spray, despite still getting mildly covered¡ªhow easily the blood melted her spikey bone armor.

    Which made Calypso¡¯s just as immediate healing of what was once fatal wounds, such a satisfying feat to behold.

    The skeletal monster girl realized that the blood fountain suddenly ceased a little too late, as Cassie managed to sneak behind Calypso, to put her into a Full Nelson in turn.

    Knowing that the girl will burn instantly, as she was not only covered in blood¡ªbut no way to escape. And as Calypso screamed out in agony as her very back turned into a slurry of molten blood, physically sinking into Melissa, Cassie couldn¡¯t help but cackle out in triumph.

    The villainess wanted desperately rub it into her face, her victory, but figured that a few thirsty tentacles would suffice: shooting out Melissa¡¯s veins in rapid succession, as they writhed in front of the pathetic girl¡¯s face, their small, hooked fangs glistening with clear liquid that Cassie always associated with transformations.

    Until a series of sharp bone scythes rocketed painfully out of Melissa¡¯s own back. Once again, a pained, stupid, but nevertheless haughty chuckle filled Melissa¡¯s ears¡ªand in turn, Cassie was forced to listen to as it was clear that she was losing her mind. Basically invincible, yet the stabbings felt so deep.

    A horrible realization shot through Cassie¡¯s mind.

    Why can she feel that?

    And before she could scream out that question, Calypso used her regular elbow scythes to angle upward and slice off Melissa¡¯s arms, causing her to stumble forward, pulling out the spikes that now were her back, leaving Cassie literally shaken with the harrowing pain.

    So she was left to watch, as Calypso healed, easily change once more, back to her default state with a bit more effort this time around¡ªbut only a bit. She then playfully exhaled, and rotated her shoulders so that her shoulder blades could flex along with her back.

    ¡°Ooooh¡­ She doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s going on¡­ Poor baby~¡±

    ¡°Y-you¡¯re not¡­ Healing because of the book¡­ The scene would¡¯ve reset by now¡­¡± Cassie tried to speak above a pained whimper.

    ¡°Yep~!¡± Calypso purred. ¡°This is all my technique~ There was a reason I managed to survive that night, aside from outside help. If it were anyone under that molten-blood bed, it would¡¯ve been very painful but never less instant death for them. But not me. I hung on¡­¡±

    Calypso plugged a claw into her right eyeball, to prove her point.

    ¡°I have very. Very potent healing capabilities as a Consumed~¡± Calypso pulled the claw from her eye, and as it spurted black ooze, it sealed within moments, causing her to blink. ¡°You know that there¡¯s at least three traits, right? Transformation, magic, and healing~? It¡¯s kind of funny how one with the healing trait can outright force the other two branches to¡­ ¡®Behave¡¯, let¡¯s say. It¡¯s a cheat that I¡¯ve developed in secret, because I knew I¡¯d get tongue-lashing from my peers¡ªjust have the healing on and constant, and you could even get unstable versions of transformations and magic as a boost!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re fucking insane¡­¡± Cassie whimpered out. And then with a growl, realizing how pitiful she sounded then, roared out, ¡°AREN¡¯T YOU AFRAID OF ME?! LYING ABOUT THAT TOO, HUH?!¡±

    ¡°Oh no¡­¡± Calypso raised her claws, showing how much they oddly trembled. ¡°I am terrified. Terrified of you, of what this night will bring¡­ The fact that even if I defeat you, how strong I¡¯ve gotten¡­ What if I go mad? Who could stop me¡­?¡±

    Then the girl grinned madly, ¡°The perfect, endless, and emotive fuel for me to keep going in this bout, is it not?!¡±

    Calypso gathered herself and finished her explanation with a fading chuckle, ¡°After all¡­ It¡¯s like I said. I¡¯m the hero here. And I¡¯m not going to let you make the world worse.¡±

    Melissa¡¯s body just stood there. Letting the bloody stumps that were once arms continue to softly spray downward onto the burning stage. It being due to the blood or the book finally catching fire, it remained to be seen.

    But Melissa was slack. Her head rested against her right shoulder. The expression of the face eerily vacant.

    Until sudden, uproarish laughter filled the scene. Melissa¡¯s pupils dilated, her glowing irises smaller as they were taken by the void-like sclera surrounding them.

    Cassie just laughed. And laughed. And laughed.

    And without missing a beat, aimed Melissa¡¯s stumps to fire out geysers of blood.

    ***

    ¡°Remember: the bullets aren¡¯t killing them¡ªonly slowing them down! We¡¯re only here to save the innocent and soften these bastards up! Anything more is suicide!¡±

    Richard was amazed that he could hear any of that¡ªanything at all, amidst the sounds of bullet fire and screaming of the damned. If only he was remotely physically capable, or he would¡¯ve aided in the shootout against the Subsumed, or helped the victims out of the mess.

    He did crush a Subsumed¡¯s skull, so at the very least he helped in some aspect.

    All he had to do was to simply survive. Survive until the end, and this entire mess can be meaningfully resolved. While the other members of this ¡°group¡± were just as pivotal: as the person who had a hand in causing this chaos. Him being there meant sweetening the deal that they had to beg and beg to make happen.

    He was rocked out of his thoughts by Martha, who was covered in black sludge. Wanting to grasp her son¡¯s shoulders but merely hovered her hands over them.

    ¡°They all think that I¡¯m a folk hero now~!¡± Martha chirped. ¡°¡®Martha Mittlemen: The Hero of the Founding Festival Tragedy!¡¯ Even without the Miracle Matter affecting them, this means full adoration of the town once we get outta this¡­!¡±

    Richard smiled, ¡°And one step closer to ridding humanity of humanity. Glad to be a service, and most importantly, glad I made it up to you, Mother.¡±

    And before she could say anything, a very resigned ¡°Aw shit¡± erupted from the cacophony.

    Richard saw the scene being swallowed up in darkness in real-time. There wasn¡¯t even a complimentary haze anymore, just a deep shade that he could barely see.

    ¡°Fuck¡­¡± Artemis Grimes uttered in defeat. ¡°Fuck fuck fuck¡­¡±

    Richard wanted to echo the sentiment himself. Despite being prepared for this¡­ The imagery, being here¡­ It just echoed and prodded at mankind¡¯s primal fears.

    Being alone in the dark. Surrounded by enemy eyes. With nowhere to go, or hide.

    ¡°Everyone! We have to circle up and protect each other for this next bit!¡± Martha commanded, becoming more of the unofficial leader by the second. ¡°They¡¯ve devolved in a sense, going back to the tried and true tactics of just overwhelming their prey until either nothing¡¯s left, or they have fancy new bodies to have! W-we have to brave it for a while until our special help comes through!¡±

    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    There was no time for mummers or asides, the crowd of humans with Richard and Martha in the middle, became a circular bastion. The literal last stand against the darkness that threatened to destroy everything.

    As he gripped his hands together, he prayed for the girls he considered fodder, to be the true unsung heroes in this madness.

    ***

    ¡°Aw geez¡ªaw geez¡ªaw geez¡ªaw geez¡ª¡±

    Gale said repeatedly on rhythm, as she kept impaling the various Subsumed that swarmed her. And how despite shooting brambles and vines straight into their heads at some point, they kept coming back.

    Or was it the same ones? She legitimately lost track.

    In this shroud of darkness, all she could go off of were these yellow eyes. She couldn¡¯t make out what was coming towards her until they already made an attack. Stubby heads that took a big chuck out of her shoulder, a snake-guy that coiled around her neck. And that¡¯s not counting the hit-and-runs, that just kept slamming her head around as she tried in vain to concentrate. When it was hard to do that normally.

    She already turned her arms into veins, and they had shaved off what would¡¯ve been improbable into something just impossible¡ªas they attacked anything that got near. But it didn¡¯t save against the really bad hits still.

    Despite the pained, panicked tears she were letting out¡ªshe could still see the exit she¡¯s made. How despite the horribleness of the situation, the Subsumed parts that made up the wall still couldn¡¯t simply cut, nibble, slime, or burrow their way through Earth-infused flora. How the layers upon layers of veins created a gateway, anchored to the nature pathway Gale created. It seemed like the innocent folks managed to get away due to her work, and that gave her the best warm-fuzzies.

    But her new problem was across from that.

    The hall¡ªanything that surrounded it, was completely pitch black. The plan was for her to maintain the bridge between the hall and the outside world¡ªand the right side of said bridge has been completely swallowed up. Gale couldn¡¯t even feel anything on that side anymore.

    So her current hell is trying to keep the Subsumed back as she shot out plant life, to make a new way out. She¡¯s already exhausted her magic, she already exhausted her weapon transformation¡­

    Gale laughed a little, shaking her head.

    She made it such a point to be wary of using this, made it a point that it made her feel super ¡°uggo¡±. And yet she¡¯s going to be the first to whip out. But there was simply no other choice.

    Gale forced her arms to regain their shape, as she lowered her head and raised her hands above it.

    ¡°I am the Swamp Subsumed. And they are also me...¡±

    It seemed like the Subsumed stopped, some screamed out in a shrill. Knowing what what coming next.

    Gale manifested a dark clump of marsh in her gather hands, and she took a deep breath.¡±

    ¡°So let us truly become one!¡±

    Gale pulled the marsh over her head, as if she was putting on a hood.

    And in a sense, she was.

    It was less of a transformation, and more of donning a costume that was brought to life.

    Her head was overtaken--became a massive, toothy flytrap¡¯s head¡ªwith an equally thick, unearthed root acting as support. Various vines sprouted from the ground, acting like various new limbs for the being that was once a girl. The surrounding earth turned into a swamp, terraforming into it¡¯s own, exotic ecosystem with twisted, insane flowers and flora dotting out of the edges.

    And for the final touch, the snapping, snarling flytrap¡¯s head forcefully grew flower stalks that doubled as ¡°eyes¡± in place of the blossoms. Everything, the entire new body, shades of black and greys.

    With a deafening shriek, Gale was reborn.

    ***

    Natalie was stuck in a pretty desperate situation. She was supposed to cover the spots her teammates can¡¯t effectively see from above. Even maneuver them out of harm¡¯s way.

    But she¡¯s too busy trying to escape from the skies. And she can¡¯t attack, lest risk her wings getting smaller and unable to keep flying away.

    There were just limbs grabbing at her body, rows of teeth slicing away at her. Branches trying to impale her, other forms of wings trying to trap her by stretching outward to surround her at both sides.

    She was thankful for being so annoyingly nimble because, well¡ªshe was as strong as her namesake. Maybe she could brave one or two heavy hits, but after that?  Probably instant death. And Natalie reckoned that her healing isn¡¯t that great¡ªor at the very least, disappointingly standard.

    It wasn¡¯t just an empty void that seemingly didn¡¯t have a beginning, middle, or end¡ªit was a moving endless void. There was no resting, no ability to analyze and take a breath. Even if she wanted to make the sacrifice play, that meant stopping. And the only reason she¡¯s still in the air is that she hasn¡¯t, outside of changing direction. And even if she¡¯s moving, she¡¯s barely grabbed, stabbed, crushed, or burnt.

    When Natalie knew that the people that¡¯s possibly below her were suffering so much worse. The fly monster girl sighed, wishing that she didn¡¯t regrow a heart in the first place.

    Surrounded by all sides¡­ Everyone she¡¯s supposed to aid being possibly low on those numbers¡­

    ¡°Ah well¡­¡± Natalie smiled a bit in her resignation. ¡°There¡¯s nothing else to it¡­¡±

    She hooked her thumbs together before her masked face, forming a pair of wings.

    ¡°I am the Fly, we¡¯re one and the same¡­¡± Natalie unhooked her thumbs, to allow her hands to cross in opposite directions to reach at her hair. ¡°Let¡¯s join together¡ªto prove the fact!¡±

    Natalie pulled down a bundle of chittering jet-black hair, which sprouted a pair of twitching antennae.

    She kept pulling down the insectoid guise, her body covered in a massive torso with a thick fur that coated the chest and shoulders. Her once brittle wings expanded multiple feet wide and were made up of clusters of smaller wings.

    The hunched body had an equal amount of massive feelers of five¡ªthe ¡°main arms¡± being a hybrid of feelers and pincers. Able to fold into each other.

    Natalie¡¯s new head, which was long and trailed into thick mandibles, crested with two massive compound eyes that had four smaller ones dotted behind her head¡­ Simply twitched about. Taking in the new sensory.

    So much so, the Subsumed used this as their chance¡ªimmediately grasping her new body. So fragile, that the quick grapple alone caused it to separate.

    ¡­But those segmented pieces, soon grew their own heads, mandibles, and pincers¡­

    ***

    Cassie had to aim, predict the movements, and otherwise try to shut down a being that was literally prancing about her, singing some sort of show tune.

    Which made aiming for her a complete fool¡¯s errand.

    ¡°You think you have me cornered?! Got me on the backfoot somehow?!¡± Cassie kept forcing Melissa¡¯s body to shoot out as much blood as possible¡ªusing the veins to angle themselves, to quickly slash her arms to create whips to corner the monster girl, before spraying her in a finish that never came. ¡°I fucking prepped myself for some bullshit¡ªI drank like, 50 people, animals¡ªwhatever had a fucking pulse¡ªI can literally do this fucking forever--!¡±

    All Calypso was doing, was simply what she realized from before she transformed. Dodging and going in between the erratic patterns that Cassie made, the major difference was a body that more than enough could handle such high-defying and executing actions.

    And once Calypso got close enough, immediately slashed at the Vampire Consumed¡¯s body¡ªcausing an unintended spray that forced the Grim Consumed backward¡ªand fast. It was funny how it was the stray shots, that were ultimately damaging Calypso¡ªcausing her to run about to stall, to heal again.

    Doing this again and again, mere child¡¯s play.

    And it was mere child¡¯s play, when one renders the shooter unable to make perfect shots.

    ¡°wwwwWWWHY?!¡± Cassie shrieked out of Melissa¡¯s mouth, coiling the various veins that sprouted from the girl¡¯s build to hit Calypso even once. ¡°WHY CAN¡¯T I HIT YOU?! WHY CAN YOU HIT ME?! THE ACTUAL ME--?!¡±

    Calypso just stopped in her tracks. What was showboating turned into legitimately laughing at this poor girl. Her forehead in her palms, her spiked shoulders rising up and down with mirth, full-on cackling like a cartoon villain.

    ¡°Because clearly, you don¡¯t pay attention!¡±

    Calypso simply raised a claw, while covering her face with another.

    Cassie looked down at Melissa¡¯s body¡­ And realized how badly she just fucked up.

    There was so little pressure to force the blood out, it was as if the body were a faucet that was only cranked once or twice. Weak bloodstreams covered the body, as the cuts Calypso made to make this happen healed well enough, but the damage was basically done.

    Cassie could only lift Melissa¡¯s head back up, shakenly. Her supply she just boasted about, rendered nearly gone already.

    ¡°But that¡¯s not the only thing you¡¯ve missed¡­ If only you didn¡¯t totally fuse with that Vampire Subsumed of yours, maybe they could¡¯ve informed you about me being a Grim is kind of a big deal¡­~¡±

    ¡°I fucking know why,¡± Cassie croaked out. ¡°They were a race that tried to be big shots and dictate how everything dies¡ªhunted on both sides¡ªand are dying janitors of this shitty world we live in¡ªbig whoop. All you can do is slice through shit to kill people, what a secret fucking weapon¡ª¡±

    Calypso looked at her claws. Casually brandishing them.

    ¡°But why hunt them into endangered status, if said cuts are some display of brute strength, hm? There has to be more to it, surely¡­?¡±

    Cassie searched for the answer by staring at Calypso¡­ Until the girl placed Melissa¡¯s claw over her cheat in a wide-eyed stare.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. I always wondered why the act of cutting felt so divine¡ªthe fact I love my victims struggling as I plugged myself in, I always took it as me being unhinged until we figured it out¡­ It¡¯s not just merely slicing¡ªat least in regards to the living¡­ Every hit. Every slash I make against you. I¡¯m chipping away at your life force. Tasting your inmost essence for myself.¡±

    And Calypso pointed forward. ¡°Weakening the defenses¡­ Until I reach the grand prize.¡±

    As Cassie was about to scream out, various screams interrupted the duo¡¯s conflict, one shriek and another disturbed rumbling¡­ All foreign to the panicked Cassie, but familiar to Calypso.

    ¡°Ah¡­¡± Calypso cracked her neck and lowered herself to the ground. ¡°Suppose that¡¯s my cue¡­¡±

    Cassie tried to rush her. Tried to force Melissa¡¯s now sluggish body over to the monster. But it was far too late. She was hit way too many times. Now that she was aware of the damage she¡¯d been receiving, Cassie could feel their merged soul so tightly within the center of their being. She had to stop this. End it.

    But it was far too late.

    Calypso got on her knees, and gripped the air above her spiked shoulders, arms covering her chest.

    ¡°Death and I are mutual friends¡­¡± Calypso chanted to herself. ¡°Now let me become what I ultimately am!¡±

    Calypso pulled the jet-black shroud over herself. The hood quickly fastened itself over her bowing head, as her very features sunk away into bone.

    The claws were overtaken, grew into these boney daggers that were far too long to properly be a digit on a hand. The shroud itself, as it flowed ethereally, was more like lose skin that stuck to the specter at the joints, waist and upper chest. So long that one couldn¡¯t tell if the being was hovering or not, or had a lower half to begin with.

    Calypso rose her new head to look at the rushing Cassie. A skull that had a permanent scowl, the teeth fused together by the front. A face devoid of skin, a pearly white¡­ Yet still caked with yellowing, mossy, dead grime that littered the surface.

    The reaper rose solemnly, and transformed her arm into the weapon of her species¡¯ choice. Ready to reap a soul that¡¯s been long due.

    ***

 Finale (2/2)

    It was nearing a crush, at his point.

    Richard and the last humans were being pushed back, so tightly at points that a group would periodically touch backs with one another. Once a Subsumed was littered with bullets, it slowed that one/group of them, only for an enraged group to lash out on their behalf. The only thing that barely kept this group alive were that most of these were recently born.

    And even then. Most of Richard¡¯s number were already battered, bruised, and cut up in various ways. If any mess up occurred, a Subsumed could easily enter and cause the immediate end to this farce.

    There was truly nothing left to do. Nothing to do, but at least for Richard, listen to what could be the last words of their group.

    ¡°Aaaaw fuck man, this is terrible¡ª¡± a black, shaggy-haired youth remarked. ¡°I think these are my last rounds, Gramps---I-I-I¡¯ll try to hold out but there¡¯s nothing I can do after this¡ª¡±

    ¡°Why did I have to be a hero¡­?¡± a clerk sighed, using the but of a shotgun to cave in a Subsumed¡¯s head. ¡°I didn¡¯t even mean to take that shift¡ªdidn¡¯t even mean to see or witness my friend into a Children of the Corn rip-off¡ªand yet I¡¯m here¡­¡±

    ¡°Just stay behind me, Sal¡­¡± Bradley Grimes tried to assure his daughter, who apparently was the most gung-ho about this, only to fall into mirthful despair. ¡°There¡¯s nothin¡¯ that coulda been done¡ªbut if buyin¡¯ time means y¡¯all stayin¡¯ alive¡ª¡±

    He couldn¡¯t finish that sentence, because this ¡°Sal¡± completely and utterly broke. And not just break down into hysterics: Richard witnessed this girl raise her head toward the darkened heavens with widened eyes and her hands grabbing her raised cheeks. It caused the party to immediately freeze.

    They had every right to.

    Black tears rolled down her face. She laughed as sharpened fangs solidified. Her hair that was under the used baseball cap of hers grew wildly, making the stray curls under the cap resemble ears. And once she was done, she comically hung her head low, only to raise it back, sporting glowing yellow irises.

    ¡°Aaaack¡ªgod¡­¡± ¡°Sal stretched lazily, casually walking forward in front of the pack. ¡°Finally, I¡¯ve been stewing in anxiety and hatred and repressed wants for like¡ªmillennial now¡­ ¡®millennial¡¯--? ¡®Millenina¡¯? Iunno the difference, I was ¡®a-woken¡¯ three weeks ago¡ª¡±

    ¡°S-sally--?¡± Artemis Grimes sounded so hurt. So afraid.

    ¡°Sal¡± lazily crooked her head towards her mother, smiling her fangs wide. ¡°Aaah, don¡¯t you worry a strain of sorta-greying hair on that head of yours, Arty¡ªIt¡¯s all me, still! Just the part you tried to pray away~¡±

    And almost in a casual manner, the ¡°girl¡± reared back to punch an oncoming Subsumed: turning it into mess that splattered all over.

    The reactions were varied. Many were shocked, others confused. Artemis herself had her mouth covered as Bradley looked shaken.

    Only for ¡°Sal¡± to bring a finger up to her bottom lip. ¡°Iunno about that joke now¡ªI meant it to be layered on purpose, but you might figure out what I was getting¡ª¡±

    Erratically, she swung and took off various Subsumed¡¯s heads in a fell swoop.

    ¡°Shut the fuck up!¡± ¡°Sal¡± grumbled out angrily. ¡°You¡¯re all fucking in my ear, ¡®blah blah blah raw raw rawr¡¯¡ªI can¡¯t fucking hear myself think¡ªlet alone do it¡­!¡±

    The girl growled and smirked. Despite her body language indicating nothing but rage. ¡°In fact¡­ I got a bone to pick with the lotta ya¡¯.¡±

    She sprung in a flash. Punching, wailing on, bashing in with her knee, digging her elbow deep within, snapping the necks of the Subsumed that lingered, the ones that were riddled with bullets. The carnage was as brutal as it was flashy, as if this Sal girl wanted to do this for the longest time.

    If anything, that¡¯s clearly the case.

    ¡°The fuck is going on with Sal¡­?¡± the moody (and admittedly attractive¡ªand Richard realized, similar age to him-) young man asked, to anyone. ¡°I-is she--?¡±

    ¡°Not in the typical sense¡­¡± Richard felt bold to answer. ¡°Seems like she had one incubating for a while¡­ A slow transformation that the Subsumed insidiously becomes the repressed emotions of the host. She¡¯s on the verge of turning right now, but at the very least, she¡¯s making herself useful for now¡ª¡±

    ¡°WE WON¡¯T AND YOU CAN¡¯T!¡± Artemis had to be held back by her husband. ¡°We¡¯ll take care of it¡ªit¡¯s our problem, not yours! We are not gonna spend hours trying to save everyone while my only kid dies--!¡±

    A thrown, ruined corpse interrupted their trolley problem, as one of the Subsumed splattered before their feet. Richard trailed his eyes to the others that still surrounded them¡­

    And they were merely watching. Which only happens when the tribe thinks one of their numbers have claimed or already invaded someone¡¯s body.

    ¡°Oh dear¡­¡± Martha looked up at Richard, who came to the same conclusion. But nevertheless sad, as a parent.

    ¡°Sal¡± walked back in a stride, cocking her head to the right with a blackened finger pressed against the bottom lip.

    ¡°Gee, Iunno Ma¡­ If they want trouble, I can take care of it on my own¡­~¡±

    Artemis pleaded to her daughter, tears covering her face as Bradley used his free arm to stop the others from taking aim.

    And luckily for them, there was a disturbing rumbling that ensued.

    Everyone trained their heads above, witnessing a crowd of Fly Subsumed burst from the ceiling, right into the scene. As everyone began to scream, Martha waved her hands.

    ¡°No no no!¡± Martha cheered in delight, clapped her hands to her side as she lays her head against them. ¡°Our help has finally arrived!¡±

    The swarm took on the Subsumed horde. Some carried them into the air, others immediately fed on their prey, others pelted them with their wing cells.

    The flies¡ªthey weren¡¯t strong. They perished in 2 solid hits, if generous. But there were so many of them, that simply kept coming.

    ¡°Goddamn girls¡ªshowing me up agai--!¡± ¡°Sal immediately clutched at her head. ¡°Fuck! Stop it¡ªjust let me out already, you repressed hick! They¡¯re just gonna keep trying you like shit again¡ªthere¡¯s no poooi¡ªaAAAAAAAAH!¡±

    Sal collapsed, hitting the floor hard with her hand clutched at her sides. Now with the space afforded, the Grimes immediately ran to scoop up their little girl, holding her close. Despite, or rather not caring, about the black blood staining her.

    The scene fell silent, despite the rumbling around them. The townpeople looked on with guilt and sadness, as this humble family has been apart of their lives. Richard looked over to see his mother openly weeping, causing him to wrap an arm around for a hug. It was rather dour, as it was sudden.

    But at the very least, there was a light within this darkness.

    The ¡°wall¡± caved in, massive tree roots made a makeshift hole that lead everyone to the night. The roots neatly grabbed at the edges to form a proper barrier to the opening, allowing safe passage.

    ¡°We gotta go, people!¡± the shaggy-haired youth pointed forward. ¡°Maybe we can fix everything later, but for now we go!¡±

    ***

    The reaper just kept hunting.

    Cassie leapt forward with a sharp, impaling strike. Yet the reaper kept hunting.

    Cassie scrambled away with her stolen body, tripping over her steps even. Yet the reaper kept hunting.

    Cassie resorted to ripping the stage itself, to throw at the advancing embodiment of death. All of the shots even made their mark, pelting the reaper to slow it in it¡¯s tracks.

    And yet the reaper continued to hunt. Nothing stopping her path.

    Until she stopped herself.

    The crazed Subsumed looked on with her stolen eyes in confusion, an arm raised. Wondering what¡¯s gotten into her, until the reaper simply pointed above them.

    Above them were scenes outside. Natalie¡¯s swarm finally overwhelming the Subsumed hoarde, Gale not only providing safe passage, but dismantling the stage that Cassie¡¯s ilk staked their entire lives on. But more importantly, they witnessed the scene where the humans were fleeing.

    Huddled together.

    Looking after each other.

    Caring about their neighbor, looking over the wounds they¡¯ve been dealt with. Running into the night, down the town¡¯s plaza, to merge with the other victims.

    Cassie saw firsthand how her plans failed. How she, ultimately failed.

    It took a single, wide slice¡ªthat ultimately severed Cassie¡¯s soul.

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

    ***

    Everyone witnessed the clocktower¡¯s roof explode into pieces. The entire structure weakened, yet still standing despite it all.

    Gale¡¯s head looked upward. Despite being unable to emote, a soft, low coo escaped her maw.

    She commanded a legion of vines to reach at her head, tearing off her new body to pieces. To free herself of her monster¡¯s skin, before she stays in for too long. It was an violent affair, as the monster roared yet it clearly attacking itself, giving way to a young woman that stood in the mess. Panting heavily.

    Gale wiped her sweating brow, throwing her hair back. Shaken by the still lingering effects.

    She looked to her right, as the freshly emerged Natalie stumbled out of the makeshift doorway, Gale rushing over to help her up with no question.

    ¡°Gotta tell ya¡¯¡­¡± Natalie laughed out, looking off to the side. ¡°Didn¡¯t think we¡¯d get¡­ THIS intimate, being friends¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­Ah yeah¡­¡± Gale quickly summoned her shadow cloak, rubbing the back of her neck with her trademark closed eyes and a wide smile. ¡°Kinda talked me out of hugging you immediately there¡ª¡±

    The duo heard a shriek¡ªa series of them. They looked at each other in worry, knowing that they¡¯re leaving their friend behind.

    But they had to be the heroes, here.

    They faded into the shade that covered the night, before rematerializing before the crowd that was screaming out in terror.

    A group of Subsumed somehow managed to make it out. Starting to surround the victims, strutting before everyone with such assured looks, despite the mix of stolen human faces and inhuman head shapes.

    ¡°Where¡¯s your goons--?¡± Natalie looked toward Richard.

    ¡°Telling and barring the other humans away from this site¡ª¡± Richard answered bluntly. Angered that they¡¯ve been bested so easily.

    ¡°And we¡¯re too tired to turn again¡­!¡± Gale wailed out in agony. On the verge of tears.

    ¡°And we¡¯re still fucked up and no bullets¡­¡± Topher groaned. ¡°I guess someone has to go up and¡ª¡±

    The thought couldn¡¯t be finished, as a blur surprised both sides.

    It was a rampage of fangs and claws. While every combatant used their fists or sliced the monsters, this new challenger went headfirst so that they can gobble the poor things up. The carnage that occurred before the humans was insanity, truly animalistic. Ripping apart the dark flesh with little effort or care at all. Not because of concern for their enemy, but how it looked to the people they just saved.

    The entire affair left them covered in black umbra.

    The stranger looked lupine, hunched over as their glowing blue eyes glanced at the crowd as they huffed in exhaustion, but did a double take once they realized that they had an audience. Their bushy tail twitched in thought, as their ears furrowed as they silently looked on.

    And after a few pregnant moments, the lupine stranger simply waved at the humans that silently looked on. Something so human despite the savagery displayed before, before darting away into the night, on all fours.

    ¡°¡­Thank yooooou~!¡± Gale waved them off, since no one was going to talk after that.

    Richard turned to her mother sighing, along with Mayor Huntington. ¡°I remember just dealing with the one¡­¡± they said in union.

    ***

    Calypso found herself gasping on the ground. In a strange mix of breathing in the thick flumes of smoke, yet the cool night¡¯s air blowing away against her.

    She felt up her face, shocked that it¡¯s a human¡¯s again. Was the resulting blast enough to literally blow her Rebirth form away for her¡­?

    She struggled to lift herself up, feeling so weak, drained to her core. She knew the moment she revered, the skeletal monster girl was going to pay for the abuse she reaped for herself. With a shuddering breath, Calypso looked around her.

    Melissa, still transformed, on her back¡­ But crying, shivering. Crimson tears coating her face as she stared into the skies.

    Clearly her.

    Calypso continued to look about. And saw the still blood puddle that was opposite from Melissa. Illuminated from the flames that surrounded them.

    ¡°¡­C¡¯mon¡­¡± Calypso was surprised that her croaky voice still carried her malice and savviness. ¡°We grew up on 80¡¯s slasher films. You¡¯re not dead. I¡¯m barely holding on. Let¡¯s get this over with¡­¡±

    The blood quivered at the remark. Calypso couldn¡¯t tell if it was of mirth or rage. But knowing this bitch, it was clearly both.

    The being slowly formed itself out of it¡¯s own mess. But unlike the near-perfect Cassie mimicry, it was clearly this freak of sludge. Goopy arms, and a barely formed head that was humanoid, yet had two wads that doubled as ¡°ears¡±.

    There was going to be a crack about that being ¡°what¡¯s underneath¡±, but turned out Cassie was too fast for that.

    Calypso found her throat being melted once more, with the side of her face being gone for good measure. The monster used her other hand to sever Cal¡¯s gemstone arm away from her body. Leaving the poor girl unable to scream.

    And yet, the monster couldn¡¯t keep the form up, slowly melting herself as it silently roared out. Giving Calypso the time to fall and roll away from the mess. Knowing she can¡¯t go too far because of the flames around her, as she pitifully coughed meekly. Reaching the precipice of being so overwhelmed by pain, she couldn¡¯t feel her affected areas anymore.

    Using her good eye, she tried to find her severed arm. But her eyes are filled with tears, her very vision was turning white.

    The poor girl couldn¡¯t help but laugh. Of all the times she wished for death... This wasn¡¯t the time she wanted to go through with it, right now.

    She lost control, even feeling in her small fingers that she had. All there was, all she felt was this¡­ Floating, warm sensation. Her senses enveloped in this guiding, inviting light.

    ¡°Heeeey. You can¡¯t steal my style, Cally~¡±

    Calypso immediately looked up, to see an intact Alice that¡¯s waving at her with closed eyes. And that smirk¡­

    ¡°I¡¯m the one with the¡­ What would that be even called? Can¡¯t even be called Two-Face, I didn¡¯t have one¡ª¡±

    Calypso patted her own face, realizing that it¡¯s full once more.

    ¡°Am I¡­ Am I dead¡­?¡± Calypso asked, almost innocently.

    ¡°Nearly,¡± Alice used her index and thumb to create a small pinch of space. ¡°That¡¯s something that I found out on the otherside¡­ Whenever you talk with me, it¡¯s basically you on the verge¡­¡±

    ¡°And the fact that we¡¯re face-to-face means that I¡¯m not long for this world¡­¡± Calypso finished.

    Alice smiled, so warmly. ¡°So fucking smart¡­ Skipped me doing an entire monologue or trying to convince you¡­¡±

    The ivory-haired, pale skinned girl grabbed at her friend¡¯s hands, with another close-eyed smile. ¡°Now I only have the one thing to convince you of~¡±

    What Calypso thought was a tender moment turned into a horror sting.

    She saw her glove activate. And the slither that was Alice glowing brightly within the gemstone.

    ¡°Alice¡ª¡± Calypso looked up at her beloved with shocked, horrified eyes. ¡°¡ªAlice, no¡ª¡±

    ¡°Hey, my mess¡ªI have to sit in it¡ªand I¡¯m the one to clean it all up~¡± Alice chipper tone conflicted with her trembling hands.

    ¡°Alice, I am not going to let you fade into nothingness!¡± Calypso protested, with so much pain and sadness in her voice.

    ¡°It¡¯s what people told me to do when I was breathing,¡± Alice tried to maintain her causal tone, and clearly was failing. ¡°I-it was never ¡®go to hell¡¯, I was there already... They said I''ll never be anything, ''nothing in this world'' and here we are...!¡±

    ¡°¡­P-please¡­¡± Calypso¡¯s face fell into a mess of agony, trembling and tears. ¡°Just let me be selfish for once¡­¡±

    Calypso just wept in silence, unable to look at Alice due to how tight her eyelids were shit. It wasn¡¯t until moments later, until she felt her chin gently held up, causing her to see Alice¡¯s determined expression despite the tears clouding the sight.

    ¡°I know, I know¡­¡± Alice sighed, wiping Calypso¡¯s tears from her face. ¡°It sucks, but¡­ You got this far. You went to go prove something and knowing you, I¡¯m sure you banked on some sacrifice play being needed to illustrate the point or whatever. But you¡¯re stuck in it now¡ªyou made new friends, you made up with your folks¡­ You¡¯ve gotten so much better, girl. Stop wasting your life over someone that was gonna drag you down.¡±

    ¡°Y-you degrading yourself only makes me wa-wanna¡­ Oh god¡­¡± Calypso¡¯s face and eyes were flush pink. Composure completely broken.

    Alice laughed. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t matter, anyways~ Like I said before¡­ Regardless if you can see me or not, Cally¡­ I¡¯m going to be with you. Every step of the way. So lemme help. I wanna save the world too!¡±

    The girl laughed more, her own tears rolling down her cheeks, ¡°Imagine it: Alice Graves, coming in clutch! Me! Of all people¡ªbe-being the fucking nail or dice roll in the survival of the planet! It¡¯s the best joke in the world¡ªand you can¡¯t take that away from me!¡±

    Calypso still looked miserable. Trembling, sniffling, her eyes looking horrid¡­ But she sighed, just silently putting her gloved hand on top of her beloved¡¯s hand.

    Alice smirked, taking her hand off Calypso¡¯s chin, and gently placed her hand on the gemstone.

    ¡°¡­Nothing stopping us this time¡­¡± Alice tried to swallow her heaving breathes before sputtering into faux, non-pained laughter.

    Calypso¡¯s eyes widened¡­ Before smiling in absolute joy. Nodding with sudden zeal. ¡°Y-yeah¡­ Finally.¡±

    The girls took the moment to lower their eyelids. Slowly approaching each other as they leaned forward¡­ Uncaring about the surge of energy and power that exploded from their gathered hands, uncaring if this was metaphorical or metaphysical.

    They joined their lips. For their official, and one last, kiss. Basking in their shared warmth as the light swallowed the two lovers in their moment of bliss.

    Calypso woke up. Tears in her eyes once more, able to surge back up to her knees, as she struggled to keep herself upright. Panting and panting, looking around with a manic, wild look on her face.

    Letting close a primal, pained, panicked, ferocious wail that wasn¡¯t monster. Purely and utterly human.

    With a balled fist, she summoned her cloak made of shadows. She struggled to her feet, as she turned her head to stare down the remerging beast that was before her.

    She was so enveloped in rage that she only just noticed something that has since pierced her¡­ Looking toward the source, a Melissa on her side, using her veins to pump blood into Calypso.

    ¡°Do it¡­¡± the ruined girl pleaded with the skeletal monster girl. ¡°Do it for us¡­¡±

    Calypso looked at her with pain. Knowing how low that girl¡¯s blood count must be, she could very well die doing this. But not a second more, Calypso knocked with grim determination.

    Calypso walked backward into the smog of the flames, disappearing and reappearing behind the bloody monster. Grabbing her severed arm¡­ And not seeing the red slither along her gemstone, as her only hand trembled with the realization.

    She dropped it, tapped at the stone, forcing her arm to transform into a scythe for her to wield. Leaning forward like a wild animal with her narrow eye.

    The monster turned towards Calypso, and made a quick lunge.

    With another primal scream, voicing her sorrow, her rage, her longing¡ªher fear. But never been more aware of her drive as a human being¡ªsomething she always thought she was born without.

    Calypso jumped forward, slashing the blood monster in two once again. Knowing that this last sever meat that it¡¯s soul is nothing BUT pieces.

    Calypso fell, but managed to have the strength to land painfully on her knees, still upright. She refused to not witness this fate worse than death.

    The creature tried in vain to keep its ruined shape. Torn on being human-shaped or bat shape, a performance that was bound to blood. But ultimately, it slowly melted into two puddles that bled into each other.

    The perfect opening that they were looking for.

    A coffin surged from the ground, as if it were sealife that burst from the ocean¡­ Complete with the water splash.

    Mrs. Moses holding the end of the box, in her full Mermaid Consumed form.

    She carried the coffin as a series of runes appeared on the surface, flashing in varying sequences. The blood rose into the air and promptly was pulled into the coffin, every single drop taken.

    With all of her strength, Mrs. Moses let go, leapt into the air, angled herself above the floating coffin, and shoved the structure into the floor¡ªwhich once again behaved like if it were the ocean¡¯s surface. Foam, bubbles, and a riptide ensuing due to the displacement, until it all stopped.

    Like that, Cassie Morgan was no more. Sealed to a coffin and lost to the bottom of the sea, in a way that only one person could access the depths. Literally torn to pieces, even if someone tried to revive her.

    She was gone. And so was Calypso¡¯s first love.

    Calypso was too distant to witness Moses using her water to stop the fires. She was also too wrapped up in her head to notice that she instinctively fused her arm back into place, that she slowly healed most of her burns and regained her whole face.

    But Mrs. Moses wasn¡¯t.

    With an immediate, untransformed and cloaked hug, Calypso leaned into the lull.

    ¡°Melissa, go and help¡ª¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s taken care of, dear.¡±

    ¡°B-but what about Gale and Natalie¡ª¡±

    ¡°Who do you think came and help¡­? You¡¯ve done amazing work, Calypso. It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s okay. You don¡¯t have to hold this in. You¡¯re allowed to feel terrible right now.¡±

    Calypso closed her eyes, and instantly started to chuckle a tad. One would think she¡¯d be out of tears, but more went down her cheeks.

    The strangest thing of all was the fact she was wearing an open smile. Her brow etched in relief, as she continued to sob so openly.

    The Terrortide, this battle, so many lives and the wall Calypso Grimes suffered from: all of it. It¡¯s over.

 Epilogue Entry (1/2) - Calypso Grimes: A Monster

    Calypso sat there. With a face that still had remnants of tears that rested in a dazed forlorn, mixed with shellshock. Staring past anything that was facing her, as she was draped with a cream blanket.

    But at least this time, her mother¡¯s hand rubbed at her shoulder. Embracing her with warmth as they sat secluded in the madness and ruin that surrounded them.

    ¡°¡­She gave me mini heart attacks, but I did like Alice¡­¡±

    Calypso simply looked to her left. Her expression changing subtly to a moved expression. But nevertheless pained.

    Penny tensed a bit at the sight, but refused to retreat from this moment.

    ¡°And just to dodge the, ¡®oh you¡¯re just saying that¡¯¡ªyes. She was trouble, she caused you trouble¡­ I remember how you¡¯d get into those shouting matches with her, and you¡¯d spent entire weeks miserable. Why you would constantly go through that for someone that¡¯s not worth it, it was beyond me¡­ But it wasn¡¯t.¡±

    Calypso simply tilted her head in quiet confusion¡­ Until it hit her. Penny chuckled lightly at the body language.

    ¡°Guess the genes really do run deep, huh~?¡± Penny nudged her daughter in a joking manner. Calypso was way too tired to calculate if her mother truly made the connection or not.

    And just simply sighed.

    ¡°Maybe I should take up drinking after this¡­¡± Calypso sounded so hoarse. So small.

    ¡°And I would not blame you in the slightest¡­¡± Penny proceeded to rub her daughter¡¯s back, lost track of how many times so far.

    Calypso then looked back to the scene. How they were huddled on a makeshift bench of sorts, watching state troopers and first responders scurry about the main plaza of Willow Reverie. Flashing red and blue drowned the scene, as shouting and question polluted the air more than the lingering smoke did.

    And there was Cindy Robinson, prattling on about how she left ¡°for one moment¡± and the worst incident that¡¯s ever happened to the town occurred. Calypso, thankfully, didn¡¯t need to hear what was being parroted.

    Per Richard¡¯s agreement: Cassie¡¯s rampage was deemed a deadly prank gone wrong. The arson attack on the hospital was a prelude from her, wanting to cause a massive riot and panic on Willow Reverie in a meaningless attempt of hooliganism. A lonely woman, who recruited fellow ¡°outsiders¡± to organize the attack¡­ And it quickly got out of hand. The arson with the ¡°ink¡± and ¡°fake blood¡± that she got ahold of caused flames so strong, they made the skies seem to turn red. She and the main conspirators perished within the flames, along with the many victims, the only evidence being disturbed writings and scraps ¡°recovered¡± in the basement of the hospital.

    Sadly, in an odd fashion, no one could take a critical eye to that story. Way too many survivors simply repeated that, in various ways and in various levels of serendipity. What people perceive as responses to trauma was massive, invasive mind control.

    It''s all these humans have. All these families have, really. Calypso shook her head softly at the thought.

    There was a sharp intake of air, causing Calypso to look immediately to her mother, who was away from her now and she shook her head, pointing forward. Calypso looked and saw her dear friends approaching her, Natalie with her hand slightly before her face in worry.

    ¡°Yeah¡ªthose aren¡¯t bloodshot eyes from the smoke or asphyxia¡ªright¡ª"

    Gale, meanwhile, wordlessly darted forward and hugged Calypso. So tightly.

    Calypso accepted it without a second thought, and wrapped her cloaked arms around her friend as well. Closing her eyes in the warmth. She felt a small pat on her shoulder, that turned into a firm clutch.

    ¡°We did it,¡± Natalie tried to reassure her. ¡°It sucked, but what was going to happen¡­ Well, y¡¯know. But we did it all the same, only one more thing left¡­¡±

    ¡°And you¡¯re stuck with us now, so we¡¯re gonna try everything to make you feel better~¡± Gale cooed into the conversation. ¡°And it¡¯s going to be great!¡±

    Calypso huffed in response¡­ So heavy, but earnestly carrying that weight. ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s going to be.¡±

    She was content to keep her eyes closed. Content to stay in this moment.

    But the sound of crystalline tolling rang out. Forcing her eyes to open, as Calypso witnessed everyone but her immediate loved ones began to freeze in motion.

    And a heavenly light shone down upon them.

    ¡°¡­G-guessing this was the ¡®last thing¡¯¡­?¡± Penny shivered out.

    ¡°Mhm,¡± Calypso couldn¡¯t help but to glare upward at the so-called ethereal shine. ¡°And the trickiest thing this time, is that it¡¯s fully staffed this time¡­¡±

    As she finished that sentence, the light spirited them away.

    ¡°This is a proceeding, conducted and carried out by the eminence of the Fates That Be¡­ All in attendance.¡±

    Five of them, each of them sat upon pillars of light. All of them, adored in pure white gowns, stylized to each of their respective builds. The unifying constant being masks, a mix between a knight and a judge¡¯s wig.

    ¡°Claiborne,¡± the Fate that was stout, hunched over with locks that hung down crudely into massive knots. Their mask was a rigid built made of sharp corners that caused it to become misshapen.

    ¡°Berkeley¡ª¡± the Fate looked as if wind could break them, their gown barely holding on, so svelte that they naturally swayed where they sat. Their locks flowed opposite where they swayed. Their mask was a mess of overgrowth.

    ¡°Rutherford~¡± the Fate ¡°felt¡± the most feminine, their locks tumbling down their shoulders without an ¡®end¡¯, their gown the neatest. Their mask was curvaceous, with each shape ending with a curl.

    ¡°¡­ Skylark,¡± the Fate the monster girls knew simply motioned a wave. No longer in what Calypso guessed was their ¡°casual¡± wear, now in puffy robes and equally messy wig. Their mask was the biggest, shapes spread outward into plume, fluffy edges.

    The final Fate placed a hand on their chest, their robes the most traditional, their wig the most accurate. Their mask made up of vectors that created something that could only be described as a ¡°scowling knight¡¯s helmet¡±.

    ¡°And Lucian.¡±

    They all adjusted from their respective poses, becoming eerily still.

    ¡°We will decide upon the fates of all present. Always and forever.¡±

    Calypso looked around. She was surrounded by her friends, family, the townspeople in the know, Richard, and his mother far on her left¡­

    ¡°Now then¡­¡± Lucian rubbed at their¡­ ¡°Temple¡±, the side of their mask. ¡°Considering that the Terrorizer is currently at the bottom of the sea¡­ We can safely conclude that her attempt of Terrortide has ended in failure. In addition to her fate, any attempts to thwart or bypass this will be made near-impossible due to the sheer debt she managed to circumvent.¡±

    Lucian trained their gaze at Richard. ¡°And any resulting backlash from her side of your pact made will be rendered null and void. Happy outcome for you, I presume?¡±

    ¡°Considering that it nearly slipped my mind¡ª¡± Richard exhaled in that sudden relief, rubbing the back of his hand as his mother overemotionally prattled and hugged him.

    Calypso wanted to keep staring at the display, but simply trained her gaze back to the Fates.

    ¡°But thank you, Honorable Lucian¡­¡± Mrs. Moses wheeled forward. ¡°Since they¡¯re too, urm¡­ Overcome with emotion to answer.¡±

    ¡°Hm,¡± the Lead Fate curtly answered, still¡­ Irked. Calypso felt a pit manifest in her stomach.

    ¡°Ah, Isabella Moses,¡± Rutherford turned their gaze to her. ¡°I have to say: it¡¯s been so long since a human¡­ Well, formerly¡ªhave appeared before us several times. Not since the elder days~¡±

    Mrs. Moses withheld a sigh. ¡°And the fact you all answer the call means that you are more generous than need be. We are truly humbled by your eminence.¡±

    ¡°If anything¡ªit relates to what Lucian was going to bring forth¡ªa notion¡ªa proclamation really¡ªbut I¡¯d be speaking for Lucian¡ªwhich I shouldn¡¯t¡ªand I will not¡ª¡± Berkeley¡­ Said? Calypso had to take a moment to process what was said. She never knew someone could speak faster than Natalie.

    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    ¡°D-did we not save everyone--?¡± Gale asked. ¡°Was it all for nothing--?!¡±

    ¡°Noooo,¡± Skylark tilted their head back as they said it in a drone. Already done with this conversation. ¡°It meant something. Terrortide ended. Things have returned to normal¡­¡±

    ¡°However, there are other pressing issues that spawned from this messy ordeal,¡± Lucian began.

    ¡°The irreversible scars, for one,¡± Claiborne¡¯s voice was as if thunder could form words. ¡°The death toll was remarkably minimal but there are far too many people that have witnessed what they should not have.¡±

    ¡°Not to mention¡ªthe nature of things¡ªfrom the ecosystem¡ªto how meaning transcends their physical means¡ªlike how we ultimately came to be¡ªbut that in of itself is another story¡ªa story that only a few of you know¡ª¡± Berkeley prattled on.

    ¡°Wait, yeah, that¡¯s an honest question¡­¡± Natalie sounded as if she were slowed down, compared to who just spoke. ¡°I know, I know¡ªI¡¯m creating more interruptions, but I feel like this could tie into the pressing issue¡­ What¡­ Are you? Were you¡­ Us, once upon a time--?¡±

    ¡°Ha! Heavens no¡ª¡± Rutherford had to hold their chest in mirth.

    ¡°Everyone seems to think we¡¯re ascended humans¡ªwhen that isn¡¯t the case¡ªit¡¯s the reverse actually,¡± Berkeley explained. ¡°We were the air¡ªthe seas¡ªthe earth¡ªskies and light¡ªwe were akin to that¡ªequal to that¡ªfundamentally still the same~¡±

    ¡°But you humans kept personifying us,¡± Claiborne rumbled into the scene. ¡°In order to maintain our existence, we had to adorn the shapes you associate us with. For the sake of maintaining the balance of this unstable realm.¡±

    ¡°¡­We¡­ Chose these looks for you¡­¡± Natalie scanned them all, her tone clear. ¡°Now¡ªI purposefully dress as I do for various reasons, but if I may be so bold, why are you centuries out of date?¡±

    ¡°Because they are centuries out of date¡ª¡± Skylark continued to stare up into nothing. ¡°¡ªOut of spite¡ª¡±

    ¡°It is not ¡®out of spite¡¯, you¡ª¡± Lucian grumbled at Skylark, before correcting themselves. ¡°The sheer complexities of maintaining this system of the natural and supernatural takes many of your lives to do. As a result, yes, we are still reviewing things in order. But it does bring up the matter at hand.¡±

    Lucian pointed outward. ¡°Simply put. Human depravity has taken a drastic rise. And as a result, hexes¡ªcurses¡ªpacts¡ªthe supernatural has become a plaything that we¡¯re desperately trying to untangle. The fact that Isabella Moses has been a part of two Terrotide attempts in her pitiful life says it all. As such¡­¡±

    ¡°The realm shall have a grand cleansing. A reset that will shift the balance back and a new start for us to keep affairs in order,¡± all the Fates said at once.

    The silence was deafening.

    ¡°That sounds not-good except for you¡ª¡± Gale was startled.

    ¡°¡­There is no. Way.¡±

    Calypso didn¡¯t care to hide her growl, her contempt. She had to be immediately held back by both of her friends.

    ¡°There is no way that you¡¯re going to erase my¡ªno¡ªeveryone¡¯s suffering and sacrifices, just to absolve your negligence!¡±

    ¡°Calypso Elise Grimes,¡± Lucian had a stern, even tone. ¡°While you have indeed proven yourself time and time again for the good of the realm, I will only remind you of this this only once. We are not on your side. We are a neutral party. We have outlived decenters such as yourself for many lifetimes. So. Await our judgment or we¡¯ll just carry the motion as soon as my breath ends.¡±

    ¡°You all made us into your minders,¡± Claiborne muttered. ¡°And we shall do our job.¡±

    ¡°Okay¡ªin the interest in faiiiiirness¡ª¡± Martha verbally broke up the fight with her sugary tone. ¡°Let us review a couple of things, before giving this idea any legs to stand on¡­ This is a saying, not literally, our Honor¡ª¡±

    Richard adjusted his tie. ¡°For one¡­ Since the Terrorizer¡¯s position as the subject of this proceeding was immediately voided, that makes us¡ªthe ones who proved them wrong¡ªthe new main subject. Thus allows us slight sway that the Terrorizer was going to be awarded. Is that not true¡­?¡±

    ¡°¡­He makes a good point.¡±

    Calypso¡¯s rage was muted once she saw Skylark. Engaged, if not intrigued.

    ¡°Can¡¯t really challenge that without a longer proceeding, when more and more depravity is adding to the overall problem¡ª¡±

    ¡°Gaaaah¡­¡± Lucian facepalmed. ¡°This logic is sound¡­¡±

    ¡°Not only that¡­¡± Martha stepped into the conversation. ¡°While I don¡¯t wanna be a Debbie Downer but such mass death would certainly be contested¡­ By a member that urm, you had terrible trouble with¡ªand is not really a member of the court, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°Yes yes, we know you¡¯re referring to Death¡­¡± Rutherford¡¯s usual teasing disposition turned frigid.

    Calypso couldn¡¯t help but tilt her head, at that. Another personification that isn¡¯t aligned with them¡­?

    ¡°We¡¯ve come to blows many a time, but yes¡ªit would take additional effort to even commune with them¡­¡± Rutherford groaned. ¡°The logic continues to be sound.¡±

    Richard gestured toward Calypso and her coven. ¡°These three, cursed beings that were meant to be torn apart by their vices and only live because of that fixed fate, proved that humanity is capable of co-existing with the natural and supernatural, and use that resonance to become more. Here¡¯s your answer. It¡¯s what they represent¡­¡±

    The scarecrow lifted a finger in the air, ¡°I propose this reset to be less drastic and more¡­ Inventive. Change the rules. Reset the damage. Let us work to discover and figure out the new rulings¡­ And if that still gives you pause, I do have an additional clause that everyone can have a say in.¡±

    Richard turned to the crowd, ¡°That could be literal. For a grace period, we all have our memories and knowledge of the arcane wiped¡ª¡±

    ¡°What--?!¡± Calypso shouted.

    ¡°Everyone,¡± Richard stressed and turned back to the Fates. ¡°You said it yourself. You¡¯re all outdated, lagged behind. You can observe how we as a people act now, in this modern age. You can adjust accordingly and once the changes take hold, so will our prior memories. I just ask that we get our affairs in order.¡±

    Calypso stared back at Lucian, as they stroked at their chin.

    ¡°¡­ That¡¯s rather workable,¡± Lucian comfortably sat in their chair. ¡°Both a penalty and a boon.¡±

    ¡°A less violent solution,¡± Claiborne nodded. ¡°I concur.¡±

    ¡°I agree¡ªand I sympathize¡ªnature¡¯s about renewal¡ªabout change¡ªchange takes many forms¡ªthe plan¡¯s not rigid, can be applied different ways¡ª¡± Berkeley nodded. ¡°¡ªI third this notion.¡±

    ¡°Hrm¡­¡± Rutherford verbally pouted. ¡°I suppose it¡¯s a stopgap for a reason¡­ But mind, if we ever see any of you after all this¡ªwe have to be harsh, yes? You all have to keep that in mind¡­ Well, after you regained them~! Hahahaha~!¡±

    And Skylark simply looked down and shrugged, ¡°Mm.¡±

    ¡°¡­ We have words for a reason, you¡ª¡± Lucian acted like a stereotypical sitcom father.

    Skylark sighed. ¡°yes, I, skylark of the fates that be, agree with this sentence¡ª¡±

    Lucian then ¡°gaaah¡­¡±-ed softly again, shaking their head.

    ¡°Now then¡­¡±

    All of the Fates spoke at once, for the final time. Raising each of their crystalline tools in their respective hand, as they slammed them down to create the gong.

    ¡°Such. Is. Fate.¡±

    Calypso blinked and everyone was transported back to the spot where her friends and mother were resting at. The chill of the night perfectly framed the situation.

    The skeletal monster girl turned her gaze toward Richard and Martha. The former adjusting his once white tux and the latter cheerily waving with lowered eyes.

    ¡°Well. It was pleasure doing business with you all~¡± Richard smirked. Raising a hand of his own, he walked off with his mother. The duo surrounded by various people who were working to help the town, suddenly stop and leave with them.

    Protecting them.

    ¡°So many dead for them to replace¡­¡± Mrs. Moses wheeled forward, her gaze matching her student¡¯s. ¡°Not only proved that their brainwashing agent works, not only most of the victims at the Founding Festival were of the effluent families of the community¡­ Martha¡¯s a noted hero of the tragedy. They were the ones that let this spiral out of control. They inadvertently caused these deaths. The Better People came out of this better than before, and will have better footing once the reset happens.¡±

    A small ¡°fuck¡± escaped her professor¡¯s lips, as she looked down at the ground. Calypso immediately had the question of why she didn¡¯t object, but considering what was at stake and the ego¡¯s involved¡­ It was the only choice, really. Any more incidents, and the Fates¡¯ patience would¡¯ve been tested.

    Calypso just growled. Animalistically, this time.

    ¡°¡­I didn¡¯t want to speak during that whole thing because I was scared I¡¯d be the subject of a smiting¡ª¡± Penny spoke up, with a tremble in her voice.

    ¡°For Christ¡¯s sake, Penny¡­¡±

    Hearing Artemtis¡¯ voice made Calypso tense, perk up.

    ¡°What happened to Sal, Auntie Art--?¡±

    And she turned around to find her answer. Sal laid there limp, her head in Artemis¡¯ lap as Bradley was on his knees holding her body.

    ¡°Sally, no¡ª¡± Calypso immediately went on her own knees, gently holding her cousin¡¯s face. ¡°You can¡¯t do this to me¡ªnot you too, please¡ª¡±

    Sal proceeded to lift her head up, so that she can playfully nibble on Calypso¡¯s nose, causing the latter to pause.

    ¡°hey, what¡¯s happenin¡¯, cally-?¡± Sal asked casually with a weak smirk.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to strangle you¡ª¡± Calypso said that in an eerie calm. Sal simply laughed and properly lifted herself up and hug her cousin.

    ¡°I ain¡¯t goin¡¯ nowhere, girl,¡± Sal said softly. ¡°Gonna need more supped up monsters ta¡¯ do all that noise~¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Calypso tried to not sound so choked up. For all her moaning about not feeling or expressing anything, she has to fight not to feel the spectrum of emotions this rollercoaster resulted in all at once.

    She truly hated everything¡ª

    ¡°Aaaw, cheer up~¡± Sal broke the hug and grabbed Calypso¡¯s shoulders. ¡°You got weeks or months of no-monster stuff ta¡¯ look forward ta¡¯~!¡±

    Calypso looked glum. ¡°Sure¡­¡±

    ¡°I mean... It¡¯s not gone forever, but¡­ I think we¡ªof all us, I reckon we all needa break, y¡¯know? I know, I know, I¡¯m bias an¡¯ what not¡­ But this all happened ta¡¯ ya¡¯ in five months. Ya¡¯ can stand some R-n¡¯-R.¡±

    Calypso just sat there in silence¡­

    ¡°Do you guys think we¡¯ll forget each other¡­?¡±

    Calypso and Sal turned to see a misty-eyed Gale, shifting in place.

    ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m worried about¡­ S-sure it was bad but¡­ Good came from it. And-and now I sound all selfish, like, because there¡¯s families that don¡¯t even know that their kid¡¯s dead and here I am all, ¡®well we¡¯re fine maaan¡¯¡ªand--!¡±

    Calypso chuckled a bit. ¡°We don¡¯t deserve you anyways, Gale¡­¡±

    ¡°If it helps¡­¡± Mrs. Moses eased herself into the conversation. ¡°In theory, our memories won¡¯t be gone¡­ Just dormant. Awaiting to rise again. As both someone that fought ancient evils and constantly learning student of human nature¡­ We¡¯ll find each other again. Befriend, fall in love, cross paths¡­ It¡¯s hard to break bonds like ours. So there¡¯s nothing to worry about, Ms. Prachett.¡±

    She then adjusted her glasses. ¡°That said¡ªif I end up too hard on you all during this haze period in class: I¡¯m sorry in advance and you cannot pin any grudges on me¡ª¡±

    Everyone had an honest chuckle, at all that.

    ¡°Either way¡­ We have a grace period to get affairs in order¡­¡± Calypso said.

    ¡°You got things in mind¡­?¡± Natalie said, quizzical.

    ¡°A few,¡± Calypso nodded. ¡°And if you all want¡­ We can do it together?¡±

    ¡°DID I HEAR ROOOOOOAD TRIP--?!¡± Sal shouted from the top of her lungs, causing Calypso to squint comically.

    ¡°Ooooh¡­!¡± Gale jumped in place, clapping. ¡°I¡¯m game, I¡¯m game, I¡¯m game~!¡±

    ¡°And we just got done with camping¡ª¡± Natalie then smirked, with her toothy grin. ¡°Hey. Give me time to pack and we¡¯ll be off~¡±

    ¡°Good¡­¡± Calypso smiled. Then, with a sullen expression, looked at her parental figures. ¡°We promise to be careful, I¡ª¡±

    Bradley let out a hearty laugh, before patting Cal¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Hey. That was then and this is now. Sal was right, y¡¯all need a break an¡¯ some fun for once. We¡¯ll be alright here.¡±

    Calypso proceeded to make a small smile of relief.

    ¡°¡¯sides, you guys are 3 of the 1 girl that fucked us up¡ªyou¡¯re fiiiine,¡± Artemis made a dopey face, after the face.

    Once again, the group genuinely laughed at the joke. The most heartwarming for Calypso, was the fact that Penny was earnestly joining in.

    ***

 Epilogue Entry (2/2) - Calypso Grimes: A Monster

    ¡°Again, sorry for the mess¡ªI know I said it was my apartment, but really it¡¯s a¡­ Barely considered a zoo exhibit¡ª¡±

    Calypso was with Melissa, as she moved heaps of files, books, and papers onto her small coffee table. Away from the couch cushion she had them on, patting the space chipperly. Calypso sat in the space, right next to the vampire monster girl.

    Glancing about, her apartment was in the same state of mess. Not outright a pig pen, just a really unorganized library. Notes scattered on her furniture, more books resting near the base of them. And all cramped up in a rather tiny space.

    ¡°Tell me if you start running out of oxygen, I have a pump in the kitchen,¡± Melissa smiled then the expression pensive. ¡°Can we die to a lack of oxygen-?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s something I want to know, but not find out, being honest¡ª¡± Calypso blinked, before leaning in. ¡°Doing better¡­?¡±

    ¡°Much better,¡± Melissa wore a sad smile. ¡°So much better¡­ I can¡¯t¡­ Even begin to thank you all.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need¡­¡± Calypso looked down. ¡°Anyone would¡¯ve¡ª¡±

    ¡°Trust me. As a med student: no, not everyone does the thing that we often think is common sense¡­¡± there was a grim chuckle at that, as she scratched her head, letting her messy curls move about. ¡°If anything, you should¡¯ve done the sensible thing: kill me along with her. Let me go, in the sense of ending unneeded and clearly prolonged suffering¡­ I¡¯m a walkin¡¯ miracle case: maybe I can use that if I do ever become a doctor¡­¡±

    Melissa then laughed again, turning to Calypso. ¡°B-but you we¡¯re not here to talk about that¡­ You wanna make sure if she¡¯s truly gone, right?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to make this needlessly cruel¡ª¡± Calypso fumbled out her words. ¡°As you said. It¡¯s just¡­¡±

    ¡°No, no¡­ It¡¯s okay. You¡¯re right to check¡­¡±

    Melissa took off her robe, to reveal her simple tee and shorts combo, as she tilted her head upward¡­ Her neck looks fine, but with curious eyes can see the scarring that was literally under the surface.

    ¡°I have my stone and all, but I still transform all American Werewolf style¡­¡± then Melissa remembered that the pose was uncomfortable, lowering her head and then gasping slightly. ¡°But¡­ Other than that¡­¡±

    Melissa shook her head lightly, ¡°No voices, no weird personality takeovers, no¡­ Nothing. I¡¯m your typical monster person~¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good¡­¡± Calypso smiled softly. ¡°I¡¯m just glad that you¡¯re¡­ Well¡­¡±

    ¡°Not on the verge of death and happy?¡± Melissa giggled. ¡°Same here--!¡±

    Calypso laughed. And she watched as Melissa put her hand on Calypso¡¯s balled fist, causing the latter to look at her.

    ¡°Make no mistake though. I¡¯m giving you explicit permission for you to end me, if the worse happens.¡±

    Calypso felt her face go pale. Felt herself shake at the fact she arrived to the same conclusion.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to promise me¡ªI-I-I understand that it¡¯s heavy but¡­ Please. I can¡¯t go through that ever again. I¡­ I wouldn¡¯t be able to take it anyways, even if you do find a way again. W-we¡¯re not close or anything but¡ª¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Calypso tried to swallow but was lacking any saliva. ¡°You have my word.¡±

    ¡°Thank you¡­¡± Melissa sputtered out an exhale. ¡°My guardian angel¡­ Of darkness¡ª¡±

    Calypso huffed through her nose, forming a pained smile. ¡°The offer still stands¡­ Could always come with us¡­¡±

    ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯m pretty sure my scholarship instantly voids itself once I join a team of monster girl butt kickers¡ª¡± Melissa cut herself off with an awkward laugh. ¡°¡ªNah, just¡­ Not only that, my obligations, but¡­ I need space from all of that. I-I¡¯m not as strong as you are. I can¡¯t face stuff like her every single night, and I know she¡¯s¡ªwas¡­ The extreme but. It¡¯s okay, I can take care of myself¡­¡±

    ¡°Still, we¡¯ll be happy to help¡ªshow you the ropes¡­¡± Calypso protested, softly at least.

    ¡°When I have a major issue, I¡¯ll call, yeah~?¡± Melissa flashed her worn smile. ¡°I¡¯ve been doing pretty great so far¡­ I just have to let the ol¡¯ girl out when she wants out¡­ That and eating medium rare meat and sneaking blood bags out of the hospital now¡ª"

    ¡°Never hesitate to call, Melissa¡­¡± Calypso moved into hug her, hearing the girl make a cute ¡°eep!¡± ¡°And it¡¯s okay to struggle or feel like you¡¯re lost¡­ No need to wear a mask around me. Y¡¯know?¡±

    Melissa giggled again, returning the hug.

    ¡°Being in the position I was¡­ You just sort of realize¡­ Most of what we get mad over, scared of¡ªit¡¯s kinda bullshit? I just¡­ Don¡¯t sweat about that stuff anymore. It¡¯s probably the sole good thing that came out of this¡­¡±

    Melissa ended the hug, holding Calypso¡¯s shoulders with a closed-eyed smile. ¡°Plus, it made me quit smoking¡ªIf I can conquer that, I can conquer this!¡±

    ***

    Calypso waded past the flocks of grievers. Giving them space and working towards the monument people gathered around to mourn for.

    At her college, Stanton University, a movable wall was made for the students that got caught in the crossfire. Not as informal as posting a list of names on a notice board, but not erecting a stone wall with engravings, though people are in talks for it.

    It was covered in pictures of the fallen. 15 kids¡ªpeople like Calypso¡ªdied that night. And she felt wrong to skip town, before paying proper respects¡­

    She finally got near the wall, searching for Hanna¡¯s picture. Sure that it was going to be covered in mournful messages, decoration, everything.

    ¡­

    Calypso scanned again and again. She couldn¡¯t believe that she couldn¡¯t find it.

    ¡°Caaaaaaaal~!¡±

    Calypso was so utterly confused, as Hanna hugged her from behind, nearly hoisting her in delight.

    But she remembered that she had to act human, so she switched gears quickly.

    ¡°Oh my word, Hanna-!¡± Calypso broke from the girl¡¯s hold, then ¡°stumbled¡± to look at her. ¡°You¡¯re alive¡ª¡± she had to make herself whisper.

    Hanna was in a pink, full-body tracksuit. The bombshell jerked her head to her right. Calypso taking the hint¡­

    The two girls managed to get out of the crowd, finding a place on the main campus to finally talk.

    ¡°I could say the same for you!¡± Hanna rose her arms up in the air. ¡°How did you even escape--?!¡±

    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    Hanna then winced, grabbing her side. Calypso was studying every single detail that she could pry from her.

    The cheerleader held up a finger, using her other hand to slowly drag down her zipper¡ªCalypso kicking herself for being such a pig when she felt her cheeks flush.

    ¡°I barely got outta there in one piece¡­¡± Hanna showcased her upper torso¡ªher shoulders wrapped up, and her sides covered in twin, massive patches. Only wearing a black modest bra to cover herself, before quickly putting her jacket back on.

    Calypso really. Really hated the fact that she took in the fact that she¡¯s super well-endowed.

    But shaking the lust away¡­ She saw red stains. Meaning red blood. While not completely confirming she¡¯s in the clear, but at the very least, Calypso deemed Hanna on the level of Sal.

    ¡°Man, not only you¡¯re alive, but you¡¯re definitely into boobs¡ª¡± Hanna cooed softly with a smirk. ¡°Defo the best day of my life, so far¡ª¡±

    ¡°Time and place, Hanna¡­¡± Calypso huffed out her real feelings, before ¡°reading¡± the script again. ¡°Just¡­ I ran. I ran as fast as I could¡­ I-I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to¡ª¡±

    Now this was the real test. If she was clueless citizen or in the know.

    Or something more, if she lied right here.

    ¡°Cal, Cal, relax¡­¡± Hanna scratched the back of her head. ¡°I¡¯m here, aren¡¯t I? I just got ruffed up real bad. I¡¯m more happy that YOU got out¡ªme being into you aside. Especially since I knew some of the people that weren¡¯t lucky¡­¡±

    With a heavy sigh, Hanna looked at the crowd. ¡°I¡¯m just a lucky one. Per usual, I guess.¡±

    Then with a second past, she moved into Calypso¡¯s space with a grin, ¡°Offer¡¯s still on the table when the stitches come out~¡±

    Calypso could only blush, laughing meekly as she closed her eyes. ¡°W-we¡¯ll see¡­¡±

    With a final, brisk hug, Hanna rose two fingers to her forehead and waved Calypso off, as she waved at with her a meek expression on her face.

    Hiding behind the fa?ade allowed her to recount what she heard.

    Stitching. Not burns or anything.

    Seems like Hanna Robinson knew more than she let on.

    ***

    Calypso quickly drank her bottle of water, getting a nice swig before belting out the most dumbest, confusing gibberish to what was playing on the radio.

    Along with the others.

    It took a while for Natalie to get into the groove, but Calypso and Sal managed to get their way, and spread their small tradition of ruining top singles on car rides. From singing in high-pitched voices to simply stating the song lyric¡¯s in a monotone.

    They were complete children. But it was nice to be something other than miserable for once.

    Once they made it to their destination, they properly simpered down. Out of respect and dread, mainly.

    ¡°Pearson Cove¡­¡± Sal grumbled as she continued to drive her way about town. ¡°Ya¡¯ best be lucky Cal, being family¡ªotherwise I¡¯d hang ya¡¯ by one toe¡ª¡±

    ¡°I know, I know¡­¡± Calypso pulled the bag she had stashed by her feet up to her lap. ¡°Small town blood feuds, being here is an affront to your existence¡ª¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just an example of small-town living in general, Cal¡ª¡± Natalie quipped. ¡°You¡¯re gonna learn to hate and make fun of this place too, don¡¯t worry¡ª¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be so mean, guys¡­¡± Gale spoke up. Before adding after a few moments, ¡°But it does explain the way she is¡ªif she came from here¡ª¡±

    The light statement brought Calypso back to reality. The fact that she¡¯s even coming here, she constantly questioned why she had to do this when she knew full well that bitch wouldn¡¯t have thought twice about going after her family had she died¡­

    It really did suck, being a monster with a ¡°soul¡±.

    The crew pulled up to the curb. A white house that was merged with several others. Calypso felt a twinge of nostalgia¡­

    Before she knew it, Calypso knocked at the door. Patiently waiting until she heard the locks swiftly undone.

    ¡°Hello¡­?¡± a tired woman that had a graying mop of hair, large glasses, and a portly build. The woman immediately smiled. ¡°Well! What¡¯s a proper young lady doing here in a place like this~?¡±

    Calypso felt like a Messager out of a war film. She just stood there, with a grim but never more sorrowful expression as the woman that Calypso was Cassie Morgan¡¯s mother slowly grew confused. Then worried. Then finally, covered her mouth as the skeletal monster girl pulled out the many things they found in Cassie¡¯s compound.

    The recovered piece of Cassie¡¯s trademark scarf.

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Calypso simply said.

    ***

    Denise Morgan¡¯s wailing calmed to still tragic bouts of tears. Ronald Morgan came out as soon as the bloodcurdling scream broke out, and is now trying his back to console his with, sporting a thousand-yard stare that was framed nicely with his perma-stubble and long face.

    ¡°I¡­ I was a co-worker of hers. Always making fun of me, be it insults or practical jokes. Almost never referred to my actual name, quickly switching up between heartfelt and utterly depraved at points. I-I want to be nice, say that I was a friend but¡­ She always had this. Chip on her shoulder. Something to prove¡ªthis mean streak about her. I tried everything, be conversational¡ªI even bought a book about it, because admittedly, I am rather¡­ Meek when it comes to socialization. But regardless, we had this¡­ Strange relationship. I think she treasured it, in her own way. The only part of the world that made sense to her¡­ And maybe, deep down, a person that wouldn¡¯t just leave her by herself.¡±

    Calypso had her balled fists in her lap, look up to the parents with tears in her eyes. Letting them roll down her flushed face.

    ¡°I, um¡­ I¡¯d advise not to look at the news for a few days. It¡¯s been nothing but coverage and¡­ I¡­ Don¡¯t want to make this about that. I-I d-don¡¯t forgive her, for both the actions against me and this entire thing¡­ But. I just came to say sorry. I¡¯m so sorry that it ended like this. I¡¯m so-sorry that there¡¯s nothing for you to bury. I¡¯m just sorry that I could do more--!¡±

    ¡°No¡­¡± Ronald just said morosely. ¡°No. Don¡¯t blame yourself. Please don¡¯t, if you really wanna help us cope¡­¡±

    Calypso sniffled, before sputtering out a painful exhale. She looked at Denise, still gripping the scarf close to herself, as Ronald got up, causing Calypso to follow with her eyes.

    ¡°She needs a bit to be alone¡­¡± the man gestured toward the door. ¡°I¡¯ll see ya¡¯ out¡­¡±

    With a nod and a quick cleaning with her tissues, Calypso followed the lanky man across the house. Still adorn with photos and memorabilia of them still being a family. Them still capable of having happy memories. Calypso even walked passed a 5<sup>th</sup> grade talent show picture. Cassie apparently being ¡°the best comedian¡± with a massive, goofy smile on her face.

    She hated this.

    Ronald opened the door. Clearly trying his best to hold it together, as he was opposite Calypso. Looking directly at her.

    ¡°Thanks for being there for her. Even we couldn¡¯t, when she finally ran away¡­ I say ¡®ran¡¯ away, but she always found her way back here¡ªwe yell at each other¡ªrinse and repeat. You did better than anybody else did here.¡±

    Calypso looked down, before Ronald continued. Now looking pass the threshold of the door. Not at the car that housed Calypso¡¯s loved ones, nothing in particular.

    ¡°I just think once you¡¯re made, that¡¯s it. That¡¯s why childhood¡¯s so important to people¡­ You can¡¯t take any of that shit for granted. Not one bit, or else you¡¯re on the path. Be it destruction or poverty or whatever negative. Building blocks that just makes a road you can¡¯t every stray from ever again. It¡¯s why I worry about you kids, this fucked up world of ours. All it takes is someone giving their terribleness to someone who clearly needs kindness¡­ And that¡¯s it. Keep that kindness with ya¡¯, kid. Never let someone steal it.¡±

    Calypso simply nodded. The father kept the door open as the skeletal monster got away with her crime.

    ***

    ¡°I know we all agreed to do it, but man¡­ That¡¯s scary. How you¡¯re able to turn it on like that. Legit scary.¡±

    Calypso couldn¡¯t disprove what Natalie was saying. She found herself emotionless once more, staring ahead at the road.

    ¡°All the more reason to use it only with just cause¡­¡± Calypso said with doubt in her voice. ¡°Something to keep in mind¡­ When I discover everything again.¡±

    ¡°¡­You guys really think we¡¯ll meet each other again before then¡­?¡± Gale asked, innocently.

    Calypso simply laughed softly.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe that this happened in the first place¡­ I never thought I¡¯d get this again¡­¡±

    She felt Sal wrap her arm around. Calypso held back her tears, but still smiled none the less.

    The road before her didn¡¯t seem so endless anymore. If anything, it was one with an endpoint. A goal. A destination.

    And no matter what lied before it, she was determined to get there. She shall never surrender.

    ***

    Sometime in the future, but not so far, a short-haired young woman walked the streets of a sleepy town alone. Holding a massive book in her hands, as she sucked her teeth in slight frustration.

    ¡°Typical¡­ Can tell me anything but the thing I currently want to know. People would deem this anti-social behavior, y¡¯know.¡±

    The leather hide of the tome flexed in response, which made Calypso Grimes chuckle curtly. Properly dressed for the night¡ªa black long coat, crimson stockings, matching black boots¡­And a custom, self-made red scarf she was rather dear to. Only a few people know that only part of it was patchwork, a section that was sewn in.

    Calypso paused. She felt something staring at her, as she looked into the alleyway that was too dark.

    A small smirk crept against her face, as she let the Tome teleport away from her. Putting her hands into her coat pockets as the worn-faced woman simply walked towards the alley.

    Maybe it was a curse. Maybe she was merely taking control of the final, pitiful days she has left.

    But it really didn¡¯t matter to her.

    As she walked past a reflective surface of a building, there were two faces. The one that everyone sees.

    And the monster. Always laying in wait, always with people in the night. Ready to fight, to hunt, to kill, to live, to die. Regardless of anything, ready to protect.

    Calypso Elise Grimes. A Monster¡¯s Greatest Fear.

 (META) Series Post-Mortem

    Well¡­

    -Skips through ¡°I don¡¯t know where to begin¡ªlet¡¯s go with the beginning¡ª¡± monologue/rambling-

    2022-2023 was¡­ Not such a great year for me. One could say that it was the absolute nadir of my existence, but given how things could get possibly worse THIS year, I¡¯ll hold my tongue on that and knock on wood. But yeah, it was the worst. Personally and artistically. I tried to relaunch my first work, siVisPride (now Phases, plug-plug-plug-plug)¡ªand no dice. The scope and ambition of the project caused it to be delayed again, and leaving me with absolutely nothing to work on but trying to piece my stupid story back together again. With the struggles with that, along with my own mental health degrading, I truly felt like I had no talent. Which was bad, because I basically gave up most of my life in pursuit of being a creative one day. Doesn¡¯t do an already fragile mind good, existential terror.

    And that was before the clinical depression set in¡ª

    So like everyone else when they¡¯re down, I retreated into comfort and innermost thoughts. ¡°Okay¡ªfirst work¡¯s a total bust and you¡¯re a fraud. What do, what do?¡±

    Autumn 2022 rolls around and man, I¡¯m a Spring guy myself¡ªbut Fall is such a cozy period for me. The oranges, the reds and the horror we as a species come up with to celebrate it. I can¡¯t say that I¡¯m a massive horror fan, but I¡¯ve always respected the genre and I do¡ªor did as a teen¡ªwas enamored with supernatural/horror series such as True Blood, the Vampire Diaries¡­ Fuck, as a kid, I loved it when series had Halloween specials that go full tilt into the idea. Regardless if it were a sitcom or not.

    So me writing a supernatural/horror series was always going to happen at some point. But I¡¯m weird, and can only be interested in a project when I twist a genre or story convention on its head, to get the juices flowing. It¡¯s egotism, but also because it¡¯s how I¡¯ve been brought up. Most, if not all, of my favorite media are twisted or reinterpreted takes on the conventional genre. Part of my reason for writing and creating is showing that things don¡¯t have to be the same ol¡¯ same ol¡¯, to keep that brand of creative energy alive despite many of these properties being before their time or just simply too weird to ¡°exist¡± in the mainstream.

    So I thought harder¡­ What excites me about supernatural? What makes me squirm with horror? And my mind constantly drifted back to the same things: the colonial era of America¡ªthe dark forests. The descent into madness amongst the humans while a monster simply watch them kill each other¡ªthe Witch Trials, magic being more like curses, hexes and pacts versus helpful or compatible with the humans that weren¡¯t so lucky to be victims of it, a time where folklore and fairytale seemed possible due to the undocumented gaps and mysteries in between (note: don¡¯t mistake this for me being a conspiracy nut¡ªI know all this was a combo of plague and dumb past humans¡ªI just love the lore-).

    Yeah. Yeah, that shit rocks¡ªI want more of that!

    I knew straight up that setting the story directly in that time would require¡­ So much reading and reference material¡ªSo I compromised with setting it in New England. Both fitting and it¡¯s a place that I¡¯ve actually been to¡ªand to kick it up a notch, set it in the tail end of the 00¡¯s to curb that ol¡¯ ¡°lol smartphone, lol social media¡± story ¡°breaker¡± compliant.

    But it still doesn¡¯t change the fact that there¡¯s still no focus for me¡ªaside from invoking such mythical past into the ¡°current¡±, which is just every single supernatural show for the past decade and that¡¯s not even a selling point. It¡¯s built-in. So what to do?

    The protags are forced to be witches by a curse? I guess¡ªthat¡¯s different. But what does it mean to be a witch? I guess the Fair Folk are constantly after them¡ªwhich can be compelling if I make them of two worlds¡ªand most importantly, likable. But that¡¯s still a massive big if. Especially since people of this site are guys that don¡¯t want to see tearful girls being hunted by monsters and promptly struggle to become something they¡¯re not and the angst involved. ¡°oh boohoo, I get to learn magic¡ªain¡¯t life so hard?¡±

    Whatever this curse is and whatever it means to be a witch, it has to not only have a punch to both, but has a tangible hook for people to get invested in. ¡°Witch¡± is good, but there needs to be a motif that definitely makes people turn head¡ª

    ¡°¡­Magical Girl¡­?¡±

    I then shook my head. ¡°Everyone¡¯s trying so hard to be a Madoka 2.0¡ªit¡¯s actually ruining shows now, it¡¯s pretty crazy¡±. But colonial-era, dark magic-motif Mahou Shojo still felt too good to pass up. Especially since Madoka Magica¡ªthe whole design point of the Puella Magi (god I love anime)¡¯s designs were to invoke general Magical Girl design, thus had ¡°no theme¡± (they do, btw¡ªthere¡¯s a difference between being loud about it and having a lowkey throughline¡ªwhich PMMM does have). But still¡­ The idea of Magical Girl fans coming over to my fic, only to see moe girls getting pummeled by the forces of evil¡ªand said forces of evil are killing their families and friends and the team ceases having the slice-of-life moments due to losing so much¡­

    Now I¡¯m a pretty dumb motherfucker¡ªand we¡¯ll get to why at the end of this, but I would have to be especially dense for this to slip by my nose.

    I¡¯m presenting this cleaner than it how all this actually happened, but eventually it hit me. Hit me so hard, I wondered why I didn¡¯t start with this and make up for so much wasted time.

    How could I miss this¡­? The curse was literally right there. Horror has a complete subsection about this very thing.

    If Magical Girls can transform to gain power¡ªwhat if the curse was that they had to keep transforming? And to add¡­ Why not make the transformations horror-based? They¡¯re ¡°were-Mahou Shojo¡±. Witches that have the face of humans¡­

    Better yet. Monster Magical Girls!

    So of course the breakthrough still hadn¡¯t happened yet (I know¡ªif you¡¯re daunted reading this, try imagining having such a pea brain), because I knew immediately that girls turning into burly monsters wasn¡¯t going to sway the hearts of anybody. The first iteration of Fear involved the girls having these shadow-y costumes they had to put on physically to transform¡ªinvoking werewolf skins. And hey¡ªyou now know where the Rebirth forms came from, was super glad that I managed to tie that back in again and have it be seamless as well.

    The appeal of Magical Girl shows is that the new looks are stylish as they are very cute to look at. There still needed to be a human element there.

    ¡°Oh my god¡ªMagical Pokaan! I can make that OP not a lie!¡±

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kpq027OAMv0&pp=ygUSbWFnaWNhbCBwb2thYW4gb3Ag</a>

    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    For those who don¡¯t know¡­ Magical Pokaan¡ªdespite what the opening tells you, is a slice-of-life/supernatural comedy with these bratty princesses of each monster tribe dealing with the trials and tribulations of everyday living (also yes, this is where the blonde, hot werewolf chick came from-)

    But that OP man¡­ It tricked me into enjoying a show I would not at all touch back in the day, but that¡¯s it! The story! Right there! Monster girls! Fighting to be together against a world that wants to sacrifice them! It¡¯s all right there and I can finally get to wriiitin--

    But if I have them in just animal ears and a tail, then where¡¯s the angst of it¡­?

    -Sigh-

    Sure. It didn¡¯t stop many anime, such as Wolf¡¯s Rain, from clearly defining the cute doggo/kitty/monster girl traits from being a cardinal sin of their worlds¡ªbut that¡¯s the problem. It¡¯s been done before, and will continue to do so even without me. If I¡¯m going to do this, I need to figure out a way that balances the horror with the hope. The fangs and frills. A twisted, feral beauty to it all.

    Thought about doing animal pelts¡ªsuch as the girls being forced to wear the monster that they¡¯ve killed to gain the curse, to have this very unsettling vibe to them all, but that didn¡¯t really speak to me either. I went with armor, but then it¡¯s covering the places the people look forward in seeing, and if there¡¯s spots in that armor¡ªthen the armor¡¯s useless¡­ I ended up scouring through media, be it animated or live action, to figure out the piece of the puzzle¡­

    ¡­And I rediscovered Witchblade.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8hb4xp6Yao</a>

    Now that I¡¯ve said this, I bet a good deal of you looked back at each Consumed design and went, ¡°OOOOOOOOH, FUCK¡ªHE TOTALLY RIPPED THIS OFF--!¡±

    Haha, in all seriousness¡­ Man, I remember watching this as a teen (I mean, you¡¯ve seen the intro¡ªyou could imagine what the actual show¡¯s about--). Jokes about that aside, I kinda wished back then that they continued to keep the fight-hungry aspect of things and the element of being controlled by zeal. It was scary¡­ But kind of interesting to watch. Both pain and pleasure being mixed together, to the point of the theme song is pleading with the listener to give them ¡°their XTC¡±. Horror has always been linked with¡­ Rather horny aspects to it. Hell, Dracula himself toed that line. It was fun to be thinking about rather creepy things in a different sense than just plain upsetting or triggering imagery but with zeal and pleasure. ¡°A-am I supposed to be watching this¡­? I¡¯m 26¡ªbut am I old for this--?¡±

    But finally, a breakthrough ensued. I had my inspiration, I had my aims. And before I knew it, I was writing about an emotionally ruined girl that soon lost her soul, but ironically had been cursed with what she needed to begin with: a proper outlet for her mountain of angst.

    Despite the themes, blood, and definitely not-wholesome beginnings: I knew if I just made this story into a Madoka 2.0, it was over. So the importance of emotions, expression, and regulation was made to be the center piece. Magical Girls pride themselves and are powered by love¡­ Why not talk about the full gambit, even the negative ones? Emotions in general are like nature¡ªor other fundamental forces. It¡¯s only good or bad once we get our grubby hands on them. And who¡¯s the say that sadness and anger are purely bad things? It¡¯s what we do with them that makes it so. But it¡¯s sort of hard to embrace or talk about that with people really set in their ways¡­ I.E., the people against ¡°abnormality¡± or ¡°the impure¡± themselves¡ªwhich sounds a lot like colonial peeeeeeople~!

    With the idea, themes, characters, and basic barebones story¡ªI had Fear. ¡°Fear the Girls of Willow Reverie¡±. I was very relieved when I could fit that all in the header, lemme tell you¡­

    But I froze a bit. ¡°sP¡± (the now ¡°siVisPhases¡±) started with this amount of love and energy¡­ Not before long that I have to plan shit out, work myself to the bone, second-guess everything¡­ And instantly hate everything I wrote here as well.

    To fully prove that I¡¯m a fraud.

    ¡­

    So I did what I never really did before.

    I just let the story write itself.

    -Looks at whatever AI software¡¯s out right now- No, not you.

    Thankfully Writathon was around this time and like so, I just wrote Fear with the general ideas I had. And it really, really shows.

    My main regret is the fact that I didn¡¯t have a more stable plan. Or at the very least, have a sit down after the contest was over to pour over the ideas, organize them, and truly map out things.

    Because that¡¯s what held it back from being a pretty great story. It¡¯s a good story, but it would¡¯ve been great had I ironed things out. Maybe even¡­ Patreon-backed good¡­!

    Me crying in my Cheerios aside, yeah¡­ I felt like maybe I could¡¯ve seeded Cassie in more, or at the very least had a stable persona for her presence to be felt more. In fact, how and why did she make the deal with Richard and the Better People? Shouldn¡¯t we have an episode about Cal and co. being in their lair and seeing the horror in normalcy?

    There''s also the fact for all of my respect for the Magical Girl genre--I never once took a typical episode structure or meta and do my own rendition of it. Have it rhyme and have the challenge to directly tie the overall point of the genre together in a new fashion. Maybe allowing more team stuff in general, forced Cal to cope with people a lot quicker than she''s already used to in the current story?

    Maybe owed a lot more tangible character focus that wasn¡¯t Cal in general?

    Maybe less talking about how things worked and a lot more show¡ªEntry 5 is straight depression for me to read back. You can tell I had no idea what I was doing, the setpieces were not planned out as they could¡¯ve, and we never had that level of threat from the Subsumed again.

    And yeah. The Subsumed themselves.

    They just became fodder. As you read through this, and thank you for doing so, you sorta get what I¡¯m spitting. The impetus was for these Fair Folk to be constantly stalking these girls, never a moment of calm and if there were¡ªit was soured. They have the creep factor, the means, the history, the concepts. But due to me constantly wedging my girls forward toward the climax, they just went down easy. I didn¡¯t sit down to think about how giving the girls proper means to fight back, like any Survival Horror game, the monsters are able to be dealt with via new loadouts. Those poor bastard¡¯s fears about being humanity¡¯s second fiddle were 100% founded. At least with the Curses from JJK, they scored pretty hefty victories over the heroes, and¡­ Well, was gonna say ¡°despite making it out unscathed¡±, but that¡¯s a fucking lie¡ª

    Haha. I¡¯m still immensely proud over the overall product. Calypso turned out to be a very interesting, fucked up character beyond my dreams, the fact that I wrote about monster magical girls, in general, was a blast, I liked the fucked-up designs I came up with, the violence of the series was straight out of hammer horror, and I really. Really liked the fact that I had the parents in on it. Name a supernatural horror anything that allows that to happen¡­ And they¡¯re still alive by the end of it.

    Above all else¡­ It not only proved that I do truly love writing, love creating ideas¡­ But that I do have a shot at having an audience.

    Again. I know that it¡¯s a drag to read at this point but truly¡­ The fact that at the time of this writing, I¡¯m nearing 50k views¡ªit¡¯s not at all at the apex of the site. But the fact that I managed to achieve this at all really surprised me. Humbled me.

    You guys legit saved my soul. And I can never truly repay you with that, unless I keep doing what I¡¯m doing.

    So as mentioned, I have another series called siVisPhases. A shounen that¡¯s entire premise is that it¡¯s set in times alike ours, and the fantasy elements are not at all what we thought they were going to be. So if you liked me twisting the magical girl genre, you can enjoy me ripping apart shounen ala Naruto, Bleach, etc al. But I would hold off and if you can, just follow it for a bit. It¡¯s a very slow burn and I¡¯m currently rewriting the beginning for you guys¡ªso I would just wait until you see ¡°Episode 3¡± and binge it all. You don¡¯t have to if you want to, but I¡¯d appreciate it greatly.

    But for news you actually care about¡­ I do wanna continue Fear at some point in the future. Many two months from now, maybe on it¡¯s 2<sup>nd</sup> anniversary¡ªwho knows. But I want sP to get a chance to grow first and see if it¡¯s truly just a dud idea or not. But if I wanna bring back Fear for a proper series, I need it to be properly fleshed out. Just continuing it now is not going to be fun for me, and it¡¯s gonna show. And nothing would be more tragic than this story losing it¡¯s light.

    How ironic, in a sense. Hahaha. In short, you guys will know first and foremost when Cal wants to venture into the darkness once more.

    But thank you guys so much. Hope you all have a damn good one.