Story of Sin

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!Heading 1 !!Heading 1 !!!Heading 1 Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. //emphasised text//. Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. ''strong text''. Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. __underlined text__ Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. Normal text. ---- * List item 1 * List item 2 [[Firstname]] [[Link 2]] [[Link 3]] <<button "Button" "More Styles">><</button>>

<div id="sidebar"> <div class="sidebar-header">  <div></div>  <h1 class="story-title" data-passage="gameTitle"></h1>  <div class="sidebar-toggle"> <span id="sidebar-toggle-icon" class="lnr lnr-menu-circle"></span> </div> </div>   <div class="sidebar-history-nav"> <span id="backwards-button" class="lnr lnr-arrow-left"></span> <span id="forwards-button" class="lnr lnr-arrow-right"></span> </div> <div id="sidebar-body">  <div class="story-logo" data-passage="storyLogo"></div>  <h2 class="story-author" data-passage="storyAuthor"></h2> <nav class="sidebar-nav"> <ul class="story-tools"> <li> <span id="restart-button" class="lnr lnr-redo"></span> <span class="tooltiptext">Restart</span> </li> <li> <span id="saves-button" class="lnr lnr-download"></span> <span class="tooltiptext">Saves</span> </li> <li> <span id="settings-button" class="lnr lnr-cog"></span> <span class="tooltiptext">Settings</span> </li> </ul> <ul class="story-menu" data-passage="storyMenu"> </ul> </nav> <nav id="social-media"> <p>Social media</p> <ul data-passage="socialMedia"> </ul> </nav> </div>  </div>  <div id="story" role="main"> <div id="passages"> <div id="passage-start" data-passage="start" class="passage"> </div> </div> </div>

<<nobr>>  <li>[[Main relationship stats...]]</li> <li>[[Other relationship stats...]]</li> <li>[[Remember...]]</li> <</nobr>>

<<set $hello = "hello">> [[Next|More Styles]]

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Vitae suscipit tellus mauris a diam maecenas. Sed egestas egestas fringilla phasellus faucibus scelerisque eleifend donec. Sed sed risus pretium quam. Aliquet eget sit amet tellus cras adipiscing enim eu. Nulla posuere sollicitudin aliquam ultrices sagittis orci. Pharetra vel turpis nunc eget lorem dolor sed. Vel orci porta non pulvinar neque laoreet suspendisse interdum. Tempor orci dapibus ultrices in iaculis. Eu mi bibendum neque egestas congue quisque egestas. Ultrices in iaculis nunc sed augue lacus viverra vitae. Sit amet porttitor eget dolor morbi. Nec ultrices dui sapien eget mi proin. Leo vel fringilla est ullamcorper eget nulla facilisi etiam dignissim. Nec ultrices dui sapien eget mi proin sed. Aliquet nibh praesent tristique magna. Viverra accumsan in nisl nisi scelerisque. Nunc lobortis mattis aliquam faucibus purus in massa tempor nec. Nunc sed id semper risus in hendrerit. Non sodales neque sodales ut etiam sit amet nisl purus. Pellentesque elit eget gravida cum sociis. Consectetur purus ut faucibus pulvinar elementum. Ut faucibus pulvinar elementum integer enim neque volutpat ac. Sed blandit libero volutpat sed cras ornare. Nisi vitae suscipit tellus mauris a diam. Eu sem integer vitae justo eget magna. Mauris cursus mattis molestie a iaculis at erat pellentesque adipiscing. Mattis aliquam faucibus purus in massa tempor nec feugiat. Vel quam elementum pulvinar etiam non quam lacus suspendisse faucibus. Id interdum velit laoreet id donec ultrices tincidunt arcu. Viverra aliquet eget sit amet tellus cras adipiscing. Praesent elementum facilisis leo vel fringilla. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Vitae suscipit tellus mauris a diam maecenas. Sed egestas egestas fringilla phasellus faucibus scelerisque eleifend donec. Sed sed risus pretium quam. Aliquet eget sit amet tellus cras adipiscing enim eu. Nulla posuere sollicitudin aliquam ultrices sagittis orci. Pharetra vel turpis nunc eget lorem dolor sed. Vel orci porta non pulvinar neque laoreet suspendisse interdum. Tempor orci dapibus ultrices in iaculis. Eu mi bibendum neque egestas congue quisque egestas. Ultrices in iaculis nunc sed augue lacus viverra vitae. Sit amet porttitor eget dolor morbi. Nec ultrices dui sapien eget mi proin. Leo vel fringilla est ullamcorper eget nulla facilisi etiam dignissim. Nec ultrices dui sapien eget mi proin sed. Aliquet nibh praesent tristique magna. Viverra accumsan in nisl nisi scelerisque. Nunc lobortis mattis aliquam faucibus purus in massa tempor nec. Nunc sed id semper risus in hendrerit. Non sodales neque sodales ut etiam sit amet nisl purus. Pellentesque elit eget gravida cum sociis. Consectetur purus ut faucibus pulvinar elementum. Ut faucibus pulvinar elementum integer enim neque volutpat ac. Sed blandit libero volutpat sed cras ornare. Nisi vitae suscipit tellus mauris a diam. Eu sem integer vitae justo eget magna. Mauris cursus mattis molestie a iaculis at erat pellentesque adipiscing. Mattis aliquam faucibus purus in massa tempor nec feugiat. Vel quam elementum pulvinar etiam non quam lacus suspendisse faucibus. Id interdum velit laoreet id donec ultrices tincidunt arcu. Viverra aliquet eget sit amet tellus cras adipiscing. Praesent elementum facilisis leo vel fringilla. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Vitae suscipit tellus mauris a diam maecenas. Sed egestas egestas fringilla phasellus faucibus scelerisque eleifend donec. Sed sed risus pretium quam. Aliquet eget sit amet tellus cras adipiscing enim eu. Nulla posuere sollicitudin aliquam ultrices sagittis orci. Pharetra vel turpis nunc eget lorem dolor sed. Vel orci porta non pulvinar neque laoreet suspendisse interdum. Tempor orci dapibus ultrices in iaculis. Eu mi bibendum neque egestas congue quisque egestas. Ultrices in iaculis nunc sed augue lacus viverra vitae. Sit amet porttitor eget dolor morbi. Nec ultrices dui sapien eget mi proin. Leo vel fringilla est ullamcorper eget nulla facilisi etiam dignissim. Nec ultrices dui sapien eget mi proin sed. Aliquet nibh praesent tristique magna. Viverra accumsan in nisl nisi scelerisque. Nunc lobortis mattis aliquam faucibus purus in massa tempor nec. Nunc sed id semper risus in hendrerit. Non sodales neque sodales ut etiam sit amet nisl purus. Pellentesque elit eget gravida cum sociis. Consectetur purus ut faucibus pulvinar elementum. Ut faucibus pulvinar elementum integer enim neque volutpat ac. Sed blandit libero volutpat sed cras ornare. Nisi vitae suscipit tellus mauris a diam. Eu sem integer vitae justo eget magna. Mauris cursus mattis molestie a iaculis at erat pellentesque adipiscing. Mattis aliquam faucibus purus in massa tempor nec feugiat. Vel quam elementum pulvinar etiam non quam lacus suspendisse faucibus. Id interdum velit laoreet id donec ultrices tincidunt arcu. Viverra aliquet eget sit amet tellus cras adipiscing. Praesent elementum facilisis leo vel fringilla. <<button "Next" "More Styles">><</button>>

#39999e background-color: var(--main); <<set $hello = "hello">> <<print $hello.toUpperFirst()>> <<= $hello.toUpperFirst()>> !!! Checkbox: <<checkbox "$checkboxVar1" false true autocheck>> Checkbox option 1 <<checkbox "$checkboxVar2" false true autocheck>> Checkbox option 2 <<checkbox "$checkboxVar3" false true autocheck>> Checkbox option 3 !!! Cycle: <<cycle "$cycleVar" autoselect>> <<option "Option 1">> <<option "Option 2">> <<option "Option 3">> <<option "Option 4">> <<option "Option 5">> <</cycle>> !!! Listbox: <<listbox "$listboxVar" autoselect>> <<option "Option 1">> <<option "Option 2">> <<option "Option 3">> <<option "Option 4">> <<option "Option 5">> <</listbox>> !!! Radiobutton: <<radiobutton "$radiobuttonVar" "option 1" autocheck>> Option 1 <<radiobutton "$radiobuttonVar" "option 2" autocheck>> Option 2 <<radiobutton "$radiobuttonVar" "option 3" autocheck>> Option 3 !!! Textarea: <<textarea "$textareaVar" "Type text here..">> !!! Textbox: <<textbox "$textboxVar" "Type answer here">>

Story of Sin

by <a href="https://www.tumblr.com/devilishmango" target="_blank">Devi</a>

<li><a href="https://devilishmango.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a></li> <li><a href="https://ko-fi.com/devilishmango" target="_blank">Ko-fi</a></li> <li><a href="https://patreon.com/devilishmango?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link" target="_blank">Patreon</a></li>

!Relationships... ---- $Willstat Relationship: $Will_Approval% $Willstat <<if $Will_Approval >=90>><b>loves</b> you. <<elseif $Will_Approval >=80 && $Will_Approval <=89>>is a <b>close friend</b>. <<elseif $Will_Approval >=70 && $Will_Approval <=79>>is a <b>friend</b>. <<elseif $Will_Approval >=60 && $Will_Approval <=69>> <b>likes</b> you. <<elseif $Will_Approval >=50 && $Will_Approval <=59>>is <b>indifferent</b> towards you. <<elseif $Will_Approval >=40 && $Will_Approval <=49>>is <b>unsure</b> about you. <<elseif $Will_Approval >=30 && $Will_Approval <=39>>is starting to <b>dislike</b> you. <<elseif $Will_Approval >=20 && $Will_Approval <=29>><b>can't stand</b> you. <<elseif $Will_Approval >=0 && $Will_Approval <=19>><b>hates</b> you. <</if>> ---- $Anyastat Relationship: $Anya_Approval% $Anyastat <<if $Anya_Approval >=90>><b>loves</b> you. <<elseif $Anya_Approval >=80 && $Anya_Approval <=89>>is a <b>close friend</b>. <<elseif $Anya_Approval >=70 && $Anya_Approval <=79>>is a <b>friend</b>. <<elseif $Anya_Approval >=60 && $Anya_Approval <=69>> <b>likes</b> you. <<elseif $Anya_Approval >=50 && $Anya_Approval <=59>>is <b>indifferent</b> towards you. <<elseif $Anya_Approval >=40 && $Anya_Approval <=49>>is <b>unsure</b> about you. <<elseif $Anya_Approval >=30 && $Anya_Approval <=39>>is starting to <b>dislike</b> you. <<elseif $Anya_Approval >=20 && $Anya_Approval <=29>><b>can't stand</b> you. <<elseif $Anya_Approval >=0 && $Anya_Approval <=19>><b>hates</b> you. <</if>> ---- $Murmurstat Relationship: $Murmur_Approval% $Murmurstat <<if $Murmur_Approval >=90>><b>loves</b> you. <<elseif $Murmur_Approval >=80 && $Murmur_Approval <=89>>is a <b>close friend</b>. <<elseif $Murmur_Approval >=70 && $Murmur_Approval <=79>>is a <b>friend</b>. <<elseif $Murmur_Approval >=60 && $Murmur_Approval <=69>> <b>likes</b> you. <<elseif $Murmur_Approval >=50 && $Murmur_Approval <=59>>is <b>indifferent</b> towards you. <<elseif $Murmur_Approval >=40 && $Murmur_Approval <=49>>is <b>unsure</b> about you. <<elseif $Murmur_Approval >=30 && $Murmur_Approval <=39>>is starting to <b>dislike</b> you. <<elseif $Murmur_Approval >=20 && $Murmur_Approval <=29>><b>can't stand</b> you. <<elseif $Murmur_Approval >=0 && $Murmur_Approval <=19>><b>hates</b> you. <</if>> ---- $Danistat Relationship: $Dani_Approval% $Danistat <<if $Dani_Approval >=90>><b>loves</b> you. <<elseif $Dani_Approval >=80 && $Dani_Approval <=89>>is a <b>close friend</b>. <<elseif $Dani_Approval >=70 && $Dani_Approval <=79>>is a <b>friend</b>. <<elseif $Dani_Approval >=60 && $Dani_Approval <=69>> <b>likes</b> you. <<elseif $Dani_Approval >=50 && $Dani_Approval <=59>>is <b>indifferent</b> towards you. <<elseif $Dani_Approval >=40 && $Dani_Approval <=49>>is <b>unsure</b> about you. <<elseif $Dani_Approval >=30 && $Dani_Approval <=39>>is starting to <b>dislike</b> you. <<elseif $Dani_Approval >=20 && $Dani_Approval <=29>><b>can't stand</b> you. <<elseif $Dani_Approval >=0 && $Dani_Approval <=19>><b>hates</b> you. <</if>> ----  <center><<link "Return to game" $return>><</link>></center>

$Sanity_Meter !!YOU MUST REMEMBER... My name is $Name. I am a $g6, that goes by $g1/$g2 pronouns. I have $skincolor skin, $eyecolor eyes, and $hairlength $haircolor hair, which I have $hairstyle. My style is usually $outfitstyle. !!PERSONAL STATS... !!!TRUSTING <<if $TrustingCautious >=100>>██████████ <<elseif $TrustingCautious >=90 && $TrustingCautious <=99>>█████████▒<<elseif $TrustingCautious >=80 && $TrustingCautious <=89>>████████▒▒<<elseif $TrustingCautious >=70 && $TrustingCautious <=79>>███████▒▒▒<<elseif $TrustingCautious >=60 && $TrustingCautious <=69>>██████▒▒▒▒<<elseif $TrustingCautious >=50 && $TrustingCautious <=59>>█████▒▒▒▒▒<<elseif $TrustingCautious >=40 && $TrustingCautious <=49>>████▒▒▒▒▒▒<<elseif $TrustingCautious >=30 && $TrustingCautious <=39>>███▒▒▒▒▒▒▒<<elseif $TrustingCautious >=20 && $TrustingCautious <=29>>██▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒<<elseif $TrustingCautious >=10 && $TrustingCautious <=19>>█▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒<<elseif $TrustingCautious >=0 && $TrustingCautious <=9>>▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒<</if>> CAUTIOUS !!!FRIENDLY <<if $FriendlyAntag >=100>>██████████ <<elseif $FriendlyAntag >=90 && $FriendlyAntag <=99>>█████████▒<<elseif $FriendlyAntag >=80 && $FriendlyAntag <=89>>████████▒▒<<elseif $FriendlyAntag >=70 && $FriendlyAntag <=79>>███████▒▒▒<<elseif $FriendlyAntag >=60 && $FriendlyAntag <=69>>██████▒▒▒▒<<elseif $FriendlyAntag >=50 && $FriendlyAntag <=59>>█████▒▒▒▒▒<<elseif $FriendlyAntag >=40 && $FriendlyAntag <=49>>████▒▒▒▒▒▒<<elseif $FriendlyAntag >=30 && $FriendlyAntag <=39>>███▒▒▒▒▒▒▒<<elseif $FriendlyAntag >=20 && $FriendlyAntag <=29>>██▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒<<elseif $FriendlyAntag >=10 && $FriendlyAntag <=19>>█▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒<<elseif $FriendlyAntag >=0 && $FriendlyAntag <=9>>▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒<</if>> ANTAGONISTIC !!!SHY <<if $ShyBold >=100>>██████████ <<elseif $ShyBold >=90 && $ShyBold <=99>>█████████▒<<elseif $ShyBold >=80 && $ShyBold <=89>>████████▒▒<<elseif $ShyBold >=70 && $ShyBold <=79>>███████▒▒▒<<elseif $ShyBold >=60 && $ShyBold <=69>>██████▒▒▒▒<<elseif $ShyBold >=50 && $ShyBold <=59>>█████▒▒▒▒▒<<elseif $ShyBold >=40 && $ShyBold <=49>>████▒▒▒▒▒▒<<elseif $ShyBold >=30 && $ShyBold <=39>>███▒▒▒▒▒▒▒<<elseif $ShyBold >=20 && $ShyBold <=29>>██▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒<<elseif $ShyBold >=10 && $ShyBold <=19>>█▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒<<elseif $ShyBold >=0 && $ShyBold <=9>>▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒<</if>> BOLD !!!EMOTIONAL <<if $EmotionalStoic >=100>>██████████ <<elseif $EmotionalStoic >=90 && $EmotionalStoic <=99>>█████████▒<<elseif $EmotionalStoic >=80 && $EmotionalStoic <=89>>████████▒▒<<elseif $EmotionalStoic >=70 && $EmotionalStoic <=79>>███████▒▒▒<<elseif $EmotionalStoic >=60 && $EmotionalStoic <=69>>██████▒▒▒▒<<elseif $EmotionalStoic >=50 && $EmotionalStoic <=59>>█████▒▒▒▒▒<<elseif $EmotionalStoic >=40 && $EmotionalStoic <=49>>████▒▒▒▒▒▒<<elseif $EmotionalStoic >=30 && $EmotionalStoic <=39>>███▒▒▒▒▒▒▒<<elseif $EmotionalStoic >=20 && $EmotionalStoic <=29>>██▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒<<elseif $EmotionalStoic >=10 && $EmotionalStoic <=19>>█▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒<<elseif $EmotionalStoic >=0 && $EmotionalStoic <=9>>▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒<</if>> STOIC  <center><<link "Return to game" $return>><</link>></center>

!STORY OF SIN You are the spawn of Satan and The Devil. You have always given them problems; not obeying them and doing your own thing for the 25 years you’ve been ‘alive’. They finally had enough of your insolent ways and, as punishment, put you into a coma. When you are finally released from the magically induced sleep, though, you decide you’ve had enough of Hell and your parents. You run away, intent on living as a human on Earth. But your parents aren’t exactly too happy about that, and decide to punish you one last time- only, this time, the punishment is //''deadly''//. ---- [[Content warnings. ->ContentWarning]] ---- [[Start the story. ->PROLOGUE-1]] <<set $Willstat to "???">><<set $Anyastat to "???">><<set $Murmurstat to "???">><<set $Danistat to "???">> <<set $Will_Approval to "???">><<set $Anya_Approval to "???">><<set $Murmur_Approval to "???">><<set $Dani_Approval to "???">><<set $Sanity_Meter to "???">><<set $Name to "???">><<set $g1 to "???">><<set $g2 to "???">><<set $g3 to "???">><<set $g4 to "???">><<set $g5 to "???">><<set $g6 to "???">><<set $g7 to "???">> <<set $skincolor to "???">><<set $eyecolor to "???">><<set $hairlength to "???">><<set $haircolor to "???">><<set $hairstyle to "???">><<set $outfitstyle to "???">><<set $Camiostat to "???">><<set $TrustingCautious to 50>><<set $FriendlyAntag to 50>><<set $ShyBold to 50>><<set $EmotionalStoic to 50>><<set $Azraelstat to "???">>

!!!-References to religion. !!!-References to child abuse. !!!-Slight animal abuse/reference to animal abuse. !!!-Descriptions of wounds/injuries/deaths/etc. !!!-Descriptions of panic/anxiety attacks ---- [[I understand, start the story. ->PROLOGUE-1]]

!PROLOGUE- I blink awake, my awareness slowly coming back to me, emerging like I was underwater. The faces of my parents greet me first, a bubbling anger slowly trying to suffocate me as they watch me come back to consciousness- the residual feeling they seem to cause inside of my chest. Their faces morph and swirl together, becoming one big shadow of oppression in my mind’s eye. A creaking sound of a door opening draws my attention to the opposite side of the room I’m in- //the throne room//, I belatedly realize. The 2 beings causing so much inner turmoil sit in their assigned seats, an alertness to their posture as they stare at me with blank expressions. Satan, the fallen angel of Heaven, stares with pale blue eyes… He watches me, cold and calculating, no love or affection behind the glassy irises. Long, white hair flows down to his waist; the only thing ‘angelic’ left about him. His halo that once hovered above his head, shining like his own little sun, now hangs broken and cracked off of one of his big, black horns that juts from the crown of his head. They are long, daunting, and a reminder that he is still above me and every other demon in Hell. ---- [[NEXT ->PROLOGUE-2]]

Well, besides his lover, and my other parent, The Devil. They wear a mask, for a reason even I, their own spawn, have no knowledge of. It’s simple in its design; bright, dangerous red ‘skin’, fully-black eyes that seem to be an all-consuming blackhole for light. There is no mouth painted on it, despite rumors going around that if you really //piss them off//, a grotesque, long smile with jagged teeth will grow. I think it’s creepier that they have no mouth, to be very honest, and despite pissing them off hundreds of times, I have yet to see this smile. “Sin.” Satan’s low voice seems so loud, despite him speaking quietly, like he’s actually afraid of ruining the calm of the room. ‘Sin’ is what they named me- boring and unimaginative. ---- [[I go by a different name. ->CHOOSENAME]] ---- [[I just go by Sin. ->PROLOGUE-SIN]]

<<textbox "$Name" "TYPE YOUR NAME">> ---- [[NEXT ->PROLOGUE-NAME]]

<<set $Name to "Sin">> I just go by Sin, because it’s easier than fighting them on it constantly. ---- [[NEXT ->PROLOGUE-3]] <<set $Namechoice to 0>>

Both of my parents stare at me, as if waiting for my acknowledgment. I sigh, giving in. “...Yes?” “You’ve been asleep for 6 months.” The Devil speaks, their voice a whisper. There’s a couple different voices mixed together, making up a strange ‘humming’ like quality to it. And although I’d much rather prefer when they whisper than when they yell, hearing it after all this time is still just as grating on the ears. “You say that as if I had any choice on how long I slept.” I can’t help the pettiness within me, the fact that they are blaming me for something that they //caused//- “Sin.” Satan says my name again, this time louder and with a touch of anger behind it. “It was your punishment for ignoring us.” ---- [[NEXT ->PROLOGUE-4]]

I actually go by $Name, but it’s not like they care what ''//I//'' want. ---- [[Next ->PROLOGUE-3]] <<set $Namechoice to 10>>

Shaking my head, the memories of what happened before I was put into a coma slowly start to come back to me. Something about how I refused to learn how to make contracts with humans… “I didn’t ignore you.” I say, matter-of-fact, secretly enjoying how it causes my father to lose some of his composure. “I just didn’t want to do what you told me to.” “You see…” The Devil tilts their head to the side, slightly too far to be natural, catching my attention. “That’s the whole problem, Sin. You don’t want to do what you’re told.” “We’ve been too lenient- too //kind// to you.” Satan’s eyes flash black, and if I weren’t who I am, it probably would scare me. But I’ve seen it way too much in my lifetime. Nothing he does scares me anymore. ---- [[NEXT ->CHOOSEPRONOUNS]]

“You are our $g7, set to rule over every demon in Hell.” My father’s hand gestures wide, a dramatic wave of his hand that brings my attention to the big, cathedral-like room behind me. All of the ranked demons are sitting in their seats, watching me closely, as if they are watching some sort of show put on for their amusement. Paimon and Beleth are sitting closest to me, catching my gaze with no concern on their own faces. My eyes wander the rows and rows of demons, until my eyes catch on a familiar face. Murmur, one of the Duke’s of Hell, watches me intensely. Their white eyes seem to be trying to communicate with me, unable to speak up at the moment with their voice. They were one of the demons assigned to teach me the ways of the ranked demons, and despite their best efforts, I really had no interest in learning how to ‘be a demon’. ---- [[I hope they didn’t get into trouble because of me. ->PROLOGUE-HOPENOT]] ---- [[I turn my gaze away. ->PROLOGUE-6]] <<set $Agreedornot to 10>>

The thought of Murmur getting some kind of punishment just because //''I''// didn’t want to learn or listen to my parents… it makes me feel guilty. They don’t seem affected or hurt, so I know that they more than likely didn’t suffer anything, but the guilt still sits heavy in my chest. ---- [[NEXT->PROLOGUE-6]] <<set $FriendlyAntag to Math.clamp($FriendlyAntag + 2, 0, 100)>>

Another demon catches my attention then, my gaze flicking to them as they settle themselves in their chair. Camio looks unbothered by the fact that he’s late, despite the stares of the other demons around him. You learn rather quickly that if The Devil and Satan call a meeting, you are to drop everything and be there, //on time//. ---- [[A small smile breaks out on my face. ->PROLOGUE-SMILE]] ---- [[I turn my attention back to my parents. ->PROLOGUE-7]]

The fact that Camio is also so unbothered by my parent’s rules has me smiling, but I also smile at him with familiarity. He has also been tasked with trying to teach me some of the ways of the ranked demons; but after learning that I have no interest in it, he usually just lets me do whatever I want in our teaching sessions. ---- [[NEXT ->PROLOGUE-7]] <<set $FriendlyAntag to Math.clamp($FriendlyAntag + 2, 0, 54)>>

“You’re going to be ruling over them all… As soon as we figure out where Baal went off to.” My father stands up as he says this, before slowly walking down the steps that lead to his throne. “To be able to rule over them all, you must be more powerful than they are. To become more powerful than you already are, you //must// start consuming human souls.” And there it is. One of the main reasons why my parents and I can never get along. I’ve //never// had any motivation to take the souls of humans. I’ve never had any need to ever ‘become powerful’, and I certainly don’t give a shit about leading the demons of Hell. “Do as we say, starting right now, or…” The Devil stands up from their throne, now moving to stand beside their partner. There’s a strange feeling coming off of my parents now, as they stare at me; the last sentence hanging in the air like a small cloud, waiting to start a downpour. The only way to describe the energy coming off of them at this moment is… daunting. ---- [[NEXT ->PROLOGUE-8]]

It isn’t the first time I’ve ever felt intimidated by my parents, but it sure has been a long time. “Or what?” I ask, my voice quiet despite the raging mix of emotions going on just underneath the surface of my skin. Tilting their head to the side, The Devil’s painted black eyes seem to glint in the dim light. A chill runs down my spine, but I brush it off as I wait for them to stop with the dramatics. “Or… We’ll be punishing you. But this punishment will be the last you ever have to endure.” My father speaks up now, his voice rather quiet. And despite being able to hear him just fine, I lean forward a bit, almost like my body is being pulled forward by an unseen force. “Because you’ll be dead.” They let that threat linger in the space between us, the most severe threat they’ve ever spoken to me. I can only stare at them, hoping none of my emotions break through the blank state of my face; but the implication that if I don’t do as they say anymore, they are going to kill me… that has some rather intense emotions bubbling to the surface. ---- [[I feel devastated, alone. ->PROLOGUE-DEVA]] ---- [[I feel angry, betrayed. ->PROLOGUE-ANGRY]] ---- [[I quickly suppress any emotion. ->PROLOGUE-SUPPRESS]]

I can feel my bottom lip tremble as a huge wave of, what I can only describe as devastation, washes over me. Years of suppressed longing for my parents to love me for who I am, to care about what I want to be called, or what I want to do with my life, start to drown me. They wait, rather patiently, as I take a shuddering breath. But when I dare to glance back at them, I’m shocked to see that they aren’t reacting to my obvious distress. But what did I really expect? Slowly, I can feel my emotions shutting off. My parents never truly cared about me, not as my own being, but a puppet that they can manipulate. If they truly don’t give a shit about me, fine… But if I’m going down, I’m not doing so quietly. “So, Sin, our final question to you…” The Devil waits for me to focus on them, before continuing on with their question, “Will you finally stop with this childish insolence, and accept what your fate has in store for you as the spawn of Satan and The Devil?” ---- [[NEXT ->PROLOGUE-9]] <<set $emotion to "Tears gather at the corners of my eyes, a rather overwhelming amount of grief bubbling up in my chest at the prospect of not finding my way home. Whether I’m so upset at not being able to find the apartment again, or if it’s something from behind the hazy layer of fog in my head, I’m not sure. I just know that I’m already so //tired// of not knowing. Not knowing who I am, where I belong, where I’m going-">><<set $emotion2 to "Whether I’m so upset at not being able to find the apartment again, or if it’s something from behind the hazy layer of fog in my head, I’m not sure. I just know that I’m already so //tired// of not knowing. Not knowing who I am, where I belong, where I’m going-">><<set $EmotionalStoic to Math.clamp($EmotionalStoic + 2, 0, 56)>>

I can feel my body start to shake, a huge wave of anger washes over me. Years of suppressed hatred for my parents to love me for who I am, to care about what I wanted to be called, or what I want to do with my life, start to drown me. They wait, rather patiently, as I try to take a calming breath. But when I dare to glance back at them, I’m shocked to see that they aren’t reacting to my obvious distress. But what did I really fucking expect? Slowly, I can feel my emotions shutting off. My parents never truly cared about me, not as my own being, but a puppet that they can manipulate. If they truly don’t give a shit about me, fine… But if I’m going down, I’m not doing so quietly. “So, Sin, our final question to you…” The Devil waits for me to focus on them, before continuing on with their question, “Will you finally stop with this childish insolence, and accept what your fate has in store for you as the spawn of Satan and The Devil?” ---- [[NEXT ->PROLOGUE-9]] <<set $emotion to "Although tears gather at the corners of my eyes, I feel like it’s at the sudden white-hot anger that bursts inside my chest. Whether I’m so angry at not being able to find the apartment again, or if it’s something from behind the hazy layer of fog in my head, I’m not sure. I just know that I’m already so //tired// of not knowing. Not knowing who I am, where I belong, where I’m going-">><<set $emotion2 to "Whether I’m so angry at not being able to find the apartment again, or if it’s something from behind the hazy layer of fog in my head, I’m not sure. I just know that I’m already so //tired// of not knowing. Not knowing who I am, where I belong, where I’m going-">><<set $EmotionalStoic to Math.clamp($EmotionalStoic + 2, 0, 56)>>

Slowly, I can feel my emotions shutting off. My parents never truly cared about me, not as my own being, but a puppet that they can manipulate. If they truly don’t give a shit about me, fine… But if I’m going down, I’m not doing so quietly. “So, Sin, our final question to you…” The Devil waits for me to focus on them, before continuing on with their question, “Will you finally stop with this childish insolence, and accept what your fate has in store for you as the spawn of Satan and The Devil?” ---- [[NEXT ->PROLOGUE-9]] <<set $emotion to "I can feel tears trying to form, but I quickly suppress the feeling away. Whether I’m so upset at not being able to find the apartment again, or if it’s something from behind the hazy layer of fog in my head, I’m not sure. I just know that I’m already so //tired// of not knowing. Not knowing who I am, where I belong, where I’m going-">><<set$emotion2 to "Whether I’m so upset at not being able to find the apartment again, or if it’s something from behind the hazy layer of fog in my head, I’m not sure. I just know that I’m already so //tired// of not knowing. Not knowing who I am, where I belong, where I’m going-">><<set $EmotionalStoic to Math.clamp($EmotionalStoic - 2, 0, 48)>>

I can feel the stares of the ranked demons on me, a chill running down my spine as the air around us becomes stagnant with the choice laid before me; Either fulfill my role as the puppet of my parents for the rest of eternity, or die by their hand. Unfortunately for them, I’ve never been one to follow the rules of others. If they think I’m going to make this easy for them, they have a horrible headache in their future. Tipping my head up a bit, jutting my chin up in defiance, I stare both of them down with as cold of a stare as I can muster before I say, “//''Fuck. You. Both.''//” The room is still and silent for a few seconds, before a sigh is let out by father. He doesn’t seem upset or surprised that I defied them one last time, more that he’s annoyed that he has to clean up the trash. The minor inconvenience for them both, that has been under their care for 25 years. “Very well. You’ll live, for a very short amount of time, to regret this, Sin.” With a wave of his hand, the last thing I see before I pass out once more, is the unemotional faces of my parents. !END OF PROLOGUE… ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-1]]

Hey! That's the end of the demo so far! You can follow me on <a href="https://www.tumblr.com/devilishmango">Tumblr</a> to stay up-to-date on the game's progress. If you like my work, please consider donating! You can do so on the main page of this game on Itch.io, or you can buy me a <a href="https://ko-fi.com/devilishmango">ko-fi</a>! Otherwise, just spreading the word of the IF is always appreciated. 😊 My <a href="https://www.patreon.com/devilishmango">patreon</a> is now set up as well! If you want special, extra content, and access to the updates a day early [plus more], maybe consider becoming a patreon member? At the moment, I have 3 tiers that range from $1-$5. !!!A huge thank you to my beta testers! If you'd like to be a beta-tester/proofreader for any of my works, please send me a friend request on discord! My username is "devilishmango"! See you guys next update! [[Next ->STORYSTART]]

!CHAPTER ONE “-y God! Can you hear me?” My head throbs suddenly, my brain knocking on the sides of my skull. I can feel the grimace take over my expression, even before I’ve opened my eyes. “-Please don’t be dying-” Squinting my eyes open, I’m met with harsh light. My eyes ache against the strain, but I force them open again, blinking against the glare of the sun. Slowly, frustratingly so, I raise my hand to hover above my face. It blocks out the blazing star’s light, casting a shadow across my eyes. //‘... The sun?’// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-2]]

I can’t seem to remember much- and for some reason, seeing the sun confuses me. Blinking away the remaining pain from my eyes, I stare at my hand, as if it will give me answers. “Don’t tell me you have a concussion… //fuck//, my uncle is going to kill me.” Finally, the voice registers in my mind. My eyes flicker around, trying to find the source, until they land on a man standing a few feet away from me. He’s looking down at me, his dark skin glowing warmly in the sun’s light. His dark brown eyes are full of concern and something like… exasperation. He’s wearing a full black suit, and as I stare at it, something //stirs// in my head, causing a wave of //strong// emotions to rush over me- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-3]]

“Can you talk? Tell me your name if you can hear me- or understand me, or //anything//.” He kneels down, his face directly above my own. //‘My… name?’// What was my name again? I stare at the stranger, my gaze shifting from his eyes, to his nose, to his lips, to the dangling cross around his neck- “$Name. I’m… $Name.” I whisper, my voice coming out raspy, like I haven’t used it in ages. My name seems to be one of the only things I can truly remember, at least for now. Any memories from before I woke up seem to be hiding somewhere in my brain, behind a hazy cloud of smoke. I can sense them there, waiting for the moment to come out and show themselves to me. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-4]]

But for now, all I have is my name. “$Name? Ok, $Name, can you stand up?” The man’s hands move towards me, like he’s about to help me up, but they end up hovering close by as he watches me expectantly. ---- [[Ask what happened. ->CHAP1-ASK]] ---- [[Ask him if he’s an angel. [Flirt] ->CHAP1-FLIRTWILL1]] ---- [[Ignore him and get up. ->CHAP1-5]] <<set $Will_Love to 0>>

“What happened to me?” I ask, instead of trying to get up. For some reason, I feel like it’s more important to figure out what happened to me, where I am, where I was going- “... I don’t know? I was unlocking the door when I heard a //‘thump’// from behind me; and lo and behold, you were passed out on the ground. Do you have narcolepsy? Anemia?” THe man’s hands continue to hover close by, seeming to wait for me to try and get up, despite him answering my question. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-5]]

“...Am I dead? Are you an angel?” I ask, instead of trying to get up. The handsome stranger blinks at my question, a dark tint slowly covering his cheeks until he lets out a chuckle. The lopsided grin that follows is even more beautiful, and I can’t help but watch his mouth as he speaks. “No, to both of those questions. But… thank you, I guess?” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-5]] <<set $Will_Love to Math.clamp($Will_Love + 2, 0, 100)>>

With some difficulty, I’m able to get up off the ground. A quick glance around the area has me trying to guess where I am. Busy streets full of people, traffic moving slowly down the road, buildings squished close together in an attempt to make room for more- “Where am I?” I can’t stop the question from forming, my eyebrows furrowing in concern when I can’t figure out where I’m currently standing. When the stranger remains silent, I turn my gaze to him, to find that he’s staring at me with a confused expression. “What?” He seems to startle out of his thoughts, his eyes widening a bit as he realizes I asked him a question. “You’re in New York City, remember? Lower Manhattan? We’re at Grand St. and- None of this is ringing a bell to you, is it?” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-6]]

I shake my head, my memories locked up tight in my head despite the stranger’s efforts. Dark brown eyes stare into mine for a few seconds, genuine worry fluttering across his features before he sighs. “You must have really hit your head hard, then… Shit.” Running a hand down his face, the man sighs once more before he looks back at me. “Here, come inside for a bit. I’ll call an ambulance and we can get you to the hospital. Concussions are no joke, man.” Walking up the steps, the stranger unlocks the doors to the building, before turning to look at me. “Well, come on in.” ---- [[I trust him, so I follow him in with no questions asked. ->CHAP1-TRUST]] ---- [[I don’t know if I trust him, but it’s not like there’s anywhere else I need to be. ->CHAP1-IDKTRUST]] ---- [[I don’t trust him, but what else am I going to do? ->CHAP1-DONTTRUST]]

I let out a huff of breath, feeling the current travel through my body, before it reaches my chest and seems to just… sit there. Grabbing my heart with a weak grip, making my pulse ‘thump’ loudly in my chest. //’Wait, I don’t have a pulse.’// That strange thought surfaces through my rising panic, causing more confusion than it does answer any questions. “Hey- are you ok?” The stranger is facing me, coming up to me with his hands raised up like he’s afraid of startling me. “You don’t look so good.” As if just waiting for him to acknowledge it, I can suddenly feel how cold and clammy I am. My body shivers involuntarily, almost violently, and I can feel wave after wave of nausea try to rise through my body. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-8]]

Without needing to be told a third time, I follow closely behind him as he takes me into the building. There’s a strange, floral scent hanging in the air, and a warmth that follows it as we enter into the entryway. The warmth fills me with comfort for the briefest of seconds, before it quickly turns into discomfort. My body tingles, like a current of electricity runs across it, making the hair on my arms and neck stand on edge. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-7]] <<set $trustwill to "Trust is a 2-way street. If he wants me to continue trusting in him, then he needs to trust in me.">><<set $TrustingCautious to Math.clamp($TrustingCautious + 5, 0, 55)>>

I’m not sure if I can trust the stranger, but I feel like I have no other choice here. I can wander aimlessly around this city, or I can try and regain some memories in a quiet place. When he beckons me with his hand, I follow him as he takes me into the building. There’s a strange, floral scent hanging in the air, and a warmth that follows it as we enter into the entryway. The warmth fills me with comfort for the briefest of seconds, before it quickly turns into discomfort. My body tingles, like a current of electricity runs across it, making the hair on my arms and neck stand on edge. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-7]] <<set $trustwill to "Trust is a 2-way street. If he wants me to start trusting him, then he needs to trust me. ">><<set $TrustingCautious to Math.clamp($TrustingCautious - 2, 0, 48)>>

I don’t trust this man, but I feel like I have no other choice here. I can wander aimlessly around this city, or I can try and regain some memories in a quiet place. When he beckons me with his hand, I reluctantly follow him as he takes me into the building. There’s a strange, floral scent hanging in the air, and a warmth that follows it as we enter into the entryway. The warmth fills me with comfort for the briefest of seconds, before it quickly turns into discomfort. My body tingles, like a current of electricity runs across it, making the hair on my arms and neck stand on edge. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-7]] <<set $trustwill to "Trust is a 2-way street. I already don’t trust him, and if there //is// a trap underneath this rug, I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to…">><<set $TrustingCautious to Math.clamp($TrustingCautious - 5, 0, 45)>>

But despite all of that, I can’t help but wonder what my thoughts meant when I said I have no pulse. I bring my hand up and place it over where my heart is, trying to feel the ‘thump-thump-thump’ of a beating, living heart. My actions seem to cause the stranger to start to panic, because as soon as I start trying to feel my pulse in my neck, his eyes widen. “What the fuck is happening? Are you having a heart attack? A stroke?” I’m about to answer him, or tell him to shut up or something, but my words get caught in my throat when I realize that //I really have no pulse.// The rising panic mixes with the previous bad feelings brought on by //something// in this building, and I can’t help but whisper, “Something isn’t right…” “Yeah, no shit. You’re like, dying or something, right in front of me.” ---- [[“I’m not dying.” ->CHAP1-NOTDIE]] ---- [[Ignore him and try to leave. ->CHAP1-9]]

“I’m not dying.” I say bluntly, although I can’t help but furrow my brow in concern. I’m not //entirely// sure I’m not dying, and the stranger freaking out about it does nothing to ease my rising panic. Shaking my head, as if to clear my thoughts, I murmur out, “I’ve got… I’ve got to get out of here.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-9]]

I turn to leave through the doors we had entered, but as I go to step through the threshold of the building, something like an invisible barrier is what my foot slams into instead. Pain shoots through my body, and I shout as I fall back from the force at which I’m thrown away from the door. My momentum brings me tumbling backwards, and I fall on my ass before I even realize what's going on. “Wait, did you just-” The stranger’s sentence gets cut off, and I look back at him to find that he’s now looking at me with fear. He starts backing up, until he hits the far wall, his hands coming up in between us like a shield. “That explains why you suddenly looked like you were dying…” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-10]]

“What does?” I can’t help but sigh, a sudden surge of annoyance at not being able to figure anything out bubbles up inside my chest. “Why can’t I leave? What happened?” “You’re a demon.” The stranger is oddly quiet, near whispering, as he stares at me with wide eyes. His hands slowly start to reach towards his necklace, as he continues speaking to me. “There’s a demon trap underneath the rug in this room, so demons can’t leave once they enter.” ---- [[“What the fuck are you talking about?” ->CHAP1-WHATAFUCK]] ---- [[Just stare at him blankly. ->CHAP1-STARE]] ---- [[Roll my eyes. “You’re crazy.” ->CHAP1-ROLLEYES]]

The question leaves my lips before I really think about it, my foggy brain making this whole situation a bit much to understand. //’He thinks I’m a… demon? Are those even real?’// A throb in my head seems to be warning me about this line of thought, and I rub my temples to try and fight back the impending headache that has been brewing since I woke up. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-11]]

Blinking slowly, I stare at him blankly, unsure how to react to what he’s saying. //’He thinks I’m a… demon? Are those even real?’// A throb in my head seems to be warning me about this line of thought, and I rub my temples to try and fight back the impending headache that has been brewing since I woke up. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-11]]

Rolling my eyes, I nearly groan out in annoyance. “You’re crazy.” //’He thinks I’m a… demon? Are those even real?’// A throb in my head seems to be warning me about this line of thought, and I rub my temples to try and fight back the impending headache that has been brewing since I woke up. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-11]]

“Act dumb all you want, but the fact that you can’t leave this building tells me that you //are// a demon.” He raises the cross necklace over his head, holding it in his right hand as he takes a hesitant step towards me. “Don’t do anything hasty, and I won’t exorcise you right here and now.” Although my first reaction is to laugh at him, I hold in my laughter. Despite not really believing this stranger would try and hurt me, the fact is that everything about my situation is //strange//. If I am what he says I am, a demon, then that only causes more questions and no answers for me. If I antagonize this man, he might not be inclined to help me. ---- [[…I want his help. ->CHAP1-WANTHELP]] ---- [[…I don’t want his help, but I don’t have much of a choice. ->CHAP1-NOCHOICE]]

I want his help. //Need// his help, if I’m ever going to figure out what happened to me. Slowly, I raise my hands up, trying to show him that I’m not going to harm him. He raises an eyebrow, but after a moment of obvious debate, he decides to trust that I’m not going to do anything and lowers the hand that holds up the cross. “Right, well…” Clearing his throat, the stranger nods his head at me. “It’s not like you’ve been exactly //unpleasant//, despite being a demon. If you wanted to hurt me, you would have already. I guess we can… figure out what your deal is before I make any more judgments.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-12]] <<set $FriendlyAntag to Math.clamp($FriendlyAntag + 2, 0, 58)>>

I want his help. //Need// his help, if I’m ever going to figure out what happened to me. Plus, if I’m being honest, I kind of want to hang around him for a while longer. Slowly, I raise my hands up, trying to show him that I’m not going to harm him. He raises an eyebrow, but after a moment of obvious debate, he decides to trust that I’m not going to do anything and lowers the hand that holds up the cross. “Right, well…” Clearing his throat, the stranger nods his head at me. “It’s not like you’ve been exactly //unpleasant//, despite being a demon. If you wanted to hurt me, you would have already. I guess we can… figure out what your deal is before I make any more judgments.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP1-12]] <<set $Will_Love to Math.clamp($Will_Love + 1, 0, 2)>><<set $FriendlyAntag to Math.clamp($FriendlyAntag + 2, 0, 58)>>

I don’t want his help, but I obviously don’t have much of a choice. Wandering around without having any clue as to who I am or //anything// isn’t the smartest idea. Slowly, I raise my hands up, trying to show him that I’m not going to harm him. He raises an eyebrow, but after a moment of obvious debate, he decides to trust that I’m not going to do anything and lowers the hand that holds up the cross. “Right, well…” Clearing his throat, the stranger nods his head at me. “It’s not like you’ve been exactly //unpleasant//, despite being a demon. If you wanted to hurt me, you would have already. I guess we can… figure out what your deal is before I make any more judgments.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-12]] <<set $FriendlyAntag to Math.clamp($FriendlyAntag - 2, 0, 42)>>

Before I can ask what he means, the man is rolling up a corner of the rug, revealing a circle with strange symbols carved into the wooden floor. He places his hand on one of the symbols, whispering a word in a language that has the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end. “//''Dimittis.''//” Once the word is said, I can feel a change in the air, like an electric current suddenly disperses. After a second, his dark brown eyes flicker up to meet my own. “Follow me.” The man quickly leaves the room, heading farther into the building. I follow behind him, and once I enter the other room, I realize that the building is a church. Rows of pews face a stage at the head of the room, huge religious murals hanging on the wall behind it. The one in the center has a man nailed to a cross, and I’m rather surprised by the grim sight of it, before the name ‘Jesus Christ’ rushes into my mind, making me grimace. My eyes flicker to the stranger in front of me, waiting for me by a door hidden off the side of the stage. //’He’d look pretty, nailed up to a cross like that.’// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-13]]

Ice rushes through my veins, and I freeze to the spot. Why… Did I think that? Those words had fluttered across my mind, but for some reason, I’m not entirely sure they were even mine to begin with. And thinking something violent like that, about a man whose name I don’t even know- “Hey.” Blinking in surprise, I realize said stranger is now in front of me, looking at me with a concern he tries to hide, but is unable to. “What’s wrong?” “I just…” I clear my throat, my gaze snapping to the huge mural of Christ again, before I shake my head. “I realized you know my name, but I don’t know yours.” The stranger watches me in silence for a few moments, probably debating if he should tell me his name or not. With an almost defeated sigh, his shoulders sag a bit as he finally answers me. “I’m Will.” ---- [[“It’s nice to meet you, Will.” ->CHAP1-NICETOMEET]] ---- [[Just nod my head. ->CHAP1-NODHEAD]] <<set $Willstat to "Will ???">><<set $Will_Approval to 50>>

I nod my head as I greet him, the corners of my mouth curling up in what I hope is a smile, rather than a grimace. I need him to trust me, so he continues to help me… And I also just need to distract myself from the concerning, dark thoughts that I can feel hiding somewhere in my hazy memory. Will blinks in surprise, like he wasn’t expecting me to be civilized. But after a second, his lopsided grin appears on his face, and he nods his head back at me. “It’s nice to meet you, too, $Name.” “Anyway-” Clearing his throat, Will starts heading towards the door again, motioning for me to follow him. “-We really need to get going. People are going to start gathering for the church service soon.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-14]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 1, 50, 51)>><<set $FriendlyAntag to Math.clamp($FriendlyAntag + 2, 0, 100)>>

I nod my head, the corners of my mouth curling up in what I hope is a smile, rather than a grimace. I need him to trust me, so he continues to help me… And I also just need to distract myself from the concerning, dark thoughts that I can feel hiding somewhere in my hazy memory. Will blinks in surprise, like he wasn’t expecting me to be civilized. “Anyway-” Clearing his throat, Will starts heading towards the door again, motioning for me to follow him. “-We really need to get going. People are going to start gathering for the church service soon.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-14]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 1, 50, 51)>>

With one last glance at the murals on the wall, I follow Will into a small, dark hallway. He quickly takes me to a room at the end of the hallway, which looks like some sort of office. I look around, taking in the small space while he goes up to one of the bookcases that line the opposite wall. “I was thinking that… If we can find any information about you in one of these books, then maybe that will jog your memory.” He explains as he runs a finger over the spines of the books, before he finds what he’s looking for and pulls out an ancient looking book. “What is that?” I ask, coming up beside him as he starts to thumb through the pages. “The Ars Goetia.” He mumbles, most of his attention on the words, rather than me. “Since you have a name, it means you’re one of the ranked demons.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-15]]

Something about that doesn’t sit right with me, causing my eyebrows to furrow in confusion. But I don’t say anything, just watching as Will reads through the list of demons. With a small hum of confusion, Will snaps the book shut. “I can’t find anything about a demon named $Name. Are you sure that’s your name?” “Yes, I’m sure.” I answer, a little too quickly, but if Will thinks it's strange, he doesn’t say anything as he goes and grabs another book. He goes through a few different books, my name not appearing in any of them. He gets more and more confused with every book, until he finally sighs and seems to give up on this line of investigation. “I can’t find //anything// about you, at all…” Will’s eyes seem to study me, as he chews on his bottom lip in thought. “Maybe… Maybe I can find something at the library.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-16]]

Doubt swirls in my chest at those words; for some reason, I don’t think we’ll find anything in //any// book. But if I can’t remember anything, how can I know for sure? And even if there was something about me in a book, how do I know that I //want// to remember? Seeming oblivious to my confused thoughts, Will grabs a jacket that had been hung up on a coat rack beside the door and shrugs it on as he says, “Lets go, then.” Without much of a choice, I follow him. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-17]]

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---- !!!A while later… For some reason, when Will mentioned a library, I imagined a huge, historic building. But the building we enter is more modern, square and looking like it’s almost entirely made up of windows instead of walls. The quiet is a stark contrast to the busy streets of New York, as soon as the doors close behind us, you could hear a pin drop. The silence seems to grow and grow the farther we go into the building, almost smothering us with the intensity of it. Will walks with a purpose, like he knows exactly where he needs to go. I can only follow behind him, hoping it's true. The sooner we find out who I am, the sooner I might be able to get my memories back- Suddenly, someone rams into my side. It’s not hard enough to knock me over, but enough to topple me to the side a bit. I look at the new stranger in surprise, a head of dyed dark red hair meets my vision, before she throws her head up, wide eyes on me in an instant. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-18]]

“I-I’m so sorry.” She has a soft voice, with an even softer accent of some kind. I can’t place it, but it’s definitely there. “I wasn’t looking where I was going.” I open my mouth, unsure what I was even going to say, but something behind her catches my attention before I do. Standing a few feet away from her is another person, a man, but something about him seems //off//. The woman turns her head, looking at the off-putting man behind her, before she’s trying to rush around me with an anxious look on her face. Taking a step forward, the man looks like he’s going to come at her. ---- [[Tell him to back off. ->CHAP1-BACKOFF]] ---- [[Step in front of him, to block his view. ->CHAP1-STEPUP]] ---- [[Do nothing. ->CHAP1-DONOTHING]]

“Hey-” My voice almost doesn’t catch his attention, but when I raise a hand in front of him, his eyes flicker to meet mine, “-Back off.” The man looks at me with a strange expression on his face, an intensity to his dark eyes. For some reason, I feel like it should scare me. But I don’t feel much of anything, other than slight annoyance at this creep. “//''Congelo.''//” Will’s voice suddenly surrounds me, the demand in his voice is able to stop the man in his tracks. And that's when I notice that this man isn’t any old ordinary creep… He’s a spirit. I’m not entirely sure how I know he is, but the label only seems to fit. Whatever hold Will has on him seems to upset him, and he tries to break free from the grip, the outline of his body wavering. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-19]] <<set $ShyBold to Math.clamp($ShyBold + 4, 0, 54)>>

Stepping in front of him, I get in his way, stopping him in his tracks. The man looks at me with a strange expression on his face, an intensity to his dark eyes. For some reason, I feel like it should scare me. But I don’t feel much of anything, other than slight annoyance at this creep. “//''Congelo.''//” Will’s voice suddenly surrounds me, the demand in his voice is able to stop the man in his tracks. And that's when I notice that this man isn’t any old ordinary creep… He’s a spirit. I’m not entirely sure how I know he is, but the label only seems to fit. Whatever hold Will has on him seems to upset him, and he tries to break free from the grip, the outline of his body wavering. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-19]] <<set $ShyBold to Math.clamp($ShyBold + 2, 0, 52)>>

I just watch as the man steps around me, seeming to just ignore me entirely, his intense stare on the woman who tried to get away from him. “//''Congelo.''//” Will’s voice suddenly surrounds me, the demand in his voice is able to stop the man in his tracks. And that's when I notice that this man isn’t any old ordinary creep… He’s a spirit. I’m not entirely sure how I know he is, but the label only seems to fit. Whatever hold Will has on him seems to upset him, and he tries to break free from the grip, the outline of his body wavering. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-19]]

The woman stares at the spirit, in shock, as Will appears beside me. “How did you…” Her sentence trails off as her wide, light brown eyes glance over to Will. “Do you usually have problems with spirits coming after you?” Will’s dark eyebrows furrow, a look of concern washing over his face as he looks at the woman. Nodding, the woman looks rather devastated by that fact, instead of surprised that Will can also see the spirit. “Yeah… It’s been a problem for as long as I can remember.” I look between the two people beside me, before my gaze travels to the frozen spirit. He’s glaring at me, his dark eyes full of confusion and anger. Something in my head tries to unscramble, to rip away from whatever is holding it behind a layer of fog, the longer I stare at this spirit. I continue to stare at him, trying to piece together whatever it is that my brain seems to be trying to tell me. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-20]]

//’Consume the spirit.’// Those words flash through my brain, like a whisper against my ear. The hair on the back of my neck stands on end, and I suddenly find the idea of //consuming// this spirit //irresistible//. //’Consume the spirit.’// My hand reaches forward suddenly, my fingers splayed out as I touch the ghost’s forehead. “Hey- what are you doing?” Will asks suddenly, an urgency in his voice that almost makes me pull back. “I have to consume this spirit.” I whisper, almost against my own will. But the longer this spirit sits here, the stronger the feeling to //consume// it becomes. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-21]]

I can feel Will’s eyes on me, his hesitance at the suggestion. But I can’t seem to bring my gaze away from the spirit. Not until Will’s hand gently grabs my arm, lowering it as my attention turns to the man beside me. He shakes his head, his intense stare never leaving my own, a worried expression furrowing his eyebrows. I only vaguely wonder what he sees when he looks at me, what I look like, but I don’t get to wonder too long before he’s speaking again. “No, you can’t. If you consume the spirit, then it’ll be gone //forever//. I need to help him move on.” ---- [[Listen to him. ->CHAP1-LISTENTOWILL]] ---- [[Try to ignore him. ->CHAP1-TRYIGNORE]]

There’s something in the words he speaks, something that makes the need to consume the spirit to falter. When all I do is nod at him, he steps towards the spirit. “You don’t belong here. Let me help you find where you need to go.” He talks to the spirit gently, despite the death-glare he gets in return. But after a second, Will doesn’t really give the spirit a say in the matter as he starts to speak in a different language. “//''Non iam hic in terris es opus, eas ibis ubi opus est. Ut quieti.''//” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-22]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 1, 0, 52)>>

There’s something in the words he speaks, something that makes the need to consume the spirit falter. I stare at him, our gazes meeting in what someone would assume is a silent conversation. But we don’t know each other well enough for that, and I don’t know what he’s trying to tell me exactly. When all I do is nod at him, he steps towards the spirit. “You don’t belong here. Let me help you find where you need to go.” He talks to the spirit gently, despite the death-glare he gets in return. But after a second, Will doesn’t really give the spirit a say in the matter as he starts to speak in a different language. “//''Non iam hic in terris es opus, eas ibis ubi opus est. Ut quieti.''//” ---- [[Next ->CHAP1-22]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 2, 0, 54)>> <<set $Will_Love to Math.clamp($Will_Love + 1, 0, 3)>>

Although there’s something in the words he speaks, something that makes the need to consume the spirit falter, I shake my head. If I think I need to consume this spirit, I’d rather listen to myself, not a stranger I hardly know. I reach forward, but Will’s hand stops me once again. After a second, he steps towards the spirit. “You don’t belong here. Let me help you find where you need to go.” He talks to the spirit gently, despite the death-glare he gets in return. But after a second, Will doesn’t really give the spirit a say in the matter as he starts to speak in a different language. “//''Non iam hic in terris es opus, eas ibis ubi opus est. Ut quieti.''//” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-22]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval - 3, 0, 100)>>

There’s a strange ‘tingle’ in the air, as a soft breeze passes between us. The spirit’s body ripples, like water, before disappearing in a soft white light. It takes everything in me to ignore the slight disappointment that wells up inside of me at the sight. The woman steps up to us both, reminding us of her presence. Her wide, light brown eyes are still staring at the spot that the man’s spirit last was, before it snaps to Will. There’s a bone-tired exhaustion behind them that she tries to hide behind gratitude, even though I can see it plain as day. “Thank you so much…” “No problem at all.” Will gives her a lopsided grin, shrugging. Her attention turns to me, then, with an inscrutable expression on her face. She seems to be studying me, like she isn’t exactly sure what to make of me. ---- [[Hold her gaze. ->CHAP1-HOLDGAZE]] ---- [[Hold her gaze. [Flirt] ->CHAP1-HOLDGAZEFLIRT]] ---- [[Look away. ->CHAP1-LOOKAWAYAGAIN]] <<set $Anya_Love to 0>>

CHOOSE YOUR PRONOUNS... Singular subject [EX: she, he, they] <<textbox "$g1" "TYPE HERE">> Singular object [EX: her, him, them] <<textbox "$g2" "TYPE HERE">> Possessive adjective [EX: her, his, their] <<textbox "$g3" "TYPE HERE">> Possessive pronoun [EX: hers, his, theirs] <<textbox "$g4" "TYPE HERE">> Reflexive pronoun [EX: herself, himself, themself] <<textbox "$g5" "TYPE HERE">> Gender [EX: woman, man, person] <<textbox "$g6" "TYPE HERE">> And finally, when your parents refer to you, they call you their... [EX: daughter, son, child] <<textbox "$g7" "TYPE HERE">> ---- [[NEXT ->PROLOGUE-PRONOUN2]]

I hold her gaze, unsure of what she’s seeing. Whatever it must be, though, she isn’t prepared for. Realization dawns on her face, and her pale skin turns even paler, like she’s afraid of something. And that something is whatever she saw in me. Will seems to get antsy as he takes in her reaction, stepping forward a bit to get her attention back on him. “Well, we should get going-” “You’re…” Suddenly, the woman’s eyes widen, and she takes a step back from me. “You’re a demon…” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-23]]

I hold her gaze, unsure of what she’s seeing. My own gaze travels over her, her pretty blonde eyelashes fluttering across her cheeks when she blinks, her flawless pale skin- which seems to be growing paler as I realize that she has realized something about me and doesn’t like it. Will seems to get antsy as he takes in her reaction, stepping forward a bit to get her attention back on him. “Well, we should get going-” “You’re…” Suddenly, the woman’s eyes widen, and she takes a step back from me. “You’re a demon…” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-23]] <<set $Anya_Love to Math.clamp($Anya_Love + 1, 0, 1)>>

I look away, not able to stand being watched so closely. But when she makes a tiny gasp, I look back at her and watch as realization dawns on her face. Her pale skin turns even paler, like she’s afraid of something. And that something is whatever she saw in me. Will seems to get antsy as he takes in her reaction, stepping forward a bit to get her attention back on him. “Well, we should get going-” “You’re…” Suddenly, the woman’s eyes widen, and she takes a step back from me. “You’re a demon…” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-23]]

“A demon? Don’t be ridiculous-” Will tries to laugh, but it comes out strained. When the woman just gives him a wide-eyed, slightly exasperated stare, he clears his throat. “Ok, you got us. But $g1 <<if $program >=20>>aren't<<elseif $program >=0 && $program <=19>>isn't<</if>> dangerous, I swear!” The woman looks at me again, obviously unsure and unbelieving of what Will is saying about me. She still looks scared of me, wringing her hands together anxiously. ---- [[“How do you know about demons?” ->CHAP1-ASKANYA]] ---- [[Look away again, slightly ashamed. ->CHAP1-ASHAMED]] ---- [[Glare at her. ->CHAP1-GLAREATHER]]

“How do you know about demons?” I ask suddenly, trying to get her attention off the fact that I am one. She seems a little surprised that I even asked, before she blinks the surprise away and shakes her head. “I’ve… I’ve dealt with a demon before.” “You have?” Will sounds rather surprised, his gaze flicking over to me for a second before its back on the stranger. “Well, $Name has some kind of amnesia. I’m trying to help $g2 get $g3 memories back. Would you maybe… want to help?” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-24]]

I look away again, slightly ashamed. I know I can’t change what I am, and despite what she thinks of me, I haven’t done anything wrong… Well, as far as I can remember. But the way she looks at me, like I’m a monster, before she even knows anything about me? Will steps closer to me, almost like he wants to cheer me up, but his attention is on the stranger. “How do you know about demons?” She seems a little surprised that he even asked, before she blinks the surprise away and shakes her head. “I’ve… I’ve dealt with a demon before.” “You have?” Will sounds rather surprised, his gaze flicking over to me for a second before its back on the stranger. “Well, $Name has some kind of amnesia. I’m trying to help $g2 get $g3 memories back. Would you maybe… want to help?” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-24]]

Glaring at her, I can’t help the small amount of satisfaction I take in her shrinking away from me even more. I can’t change what I am, and judging someone before you even know them is irritating. Will steps closer to me, almost like he wants to calm me down, but his attention is on the stranger. “How do you know about demons?” She seems a little surprised that he even asked, before she blinks the surprise away and shakes her head. “I’ve… I’ve dealt with a demon before.” “You have?” Will sounds rather surprised, his gaze flicking over to me for a second before its back on the stranger. “Well, $Name has some kind of amnesia. I’m trying to help $g2 get $g3 memories back. Would you maybe… want to help?” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-24]]

The stranger looks like she’s about to refuse outright, but something stops her. Confused, I look between the two, realizing that Will is giving her a strange look, almost like he’s trying to communicate something to her with his expression. “I guess…” The woman’s eyes fall on me, some sort of secret hidden behind them. “I do owe you one for helping me out with that spirit.” “Cool.” Giving her his lopsided grin again, Will holds his hand out to her. “I’m Will Winters, it’s nice to meet you.” She shakes hands with him, a tiny smile appearing on her face. “I’m Anya Zonova. It’s nice to meet you too.” Both of them look at me then, suddenly, and I watch as Anya hesitantly puts her hand out towards me. ---- [[Greet her. ->CHAP1-GREETHER]] ---- [[Greet her, but don’t shake her hand. ->CHAP1-GREETNOHAND]] ---- [[Ignore her. ->CHAP1-IGNOREHERAGAIN]] <<set $Anyastat to "Anya Zonova">><<set $Anya_Approval to 50>> <<set $Willstat to "Will Winters">>

I place my hand in hers, gently shaking her hand so I don’t scare her any more than she already is. “I’m $Name.” She almost seems surprised that I shook her hand, with pleasantries and all. But Will starts speaking, catching both of our attentions before she can think about it anymore. “We were thinking that there has to be a book that can tell us //something// about $Name, so that maybe $g3 memories could resurface.” Will explains, starting to walk further into the library once again. “None of the books that I own have //any// information on $Name, which is admittedly, a little strange.” Anya and I follow behind him, trying to keep up with his long legs //and// fast mouth. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-25]] <<set $Anya_Approval +=1>><<set $Anya_Approval -=3>><<set $FriendlyAntag to Math.clamp($FriendlyAntag + 2, 0, 100)>>

“I’m $Name.” I greet, a little abruptly, choosing to ignore her hand. There’s something about the silent conversation she had with Will that makes me a little suspicious of her. And her ominous message of ‘dealing with a demon before’ has me hesitant to get closer to her. She awkwardly lowers her hand, nodding at me. But Will starts speaking, catching both of our attentions before she can think about it anymore. “We were thinking that there has to be a book that can tell us //something// about $Name, so that maybe $g3 memories could resurface.” Will explains, starting to walk further into the library once again. “None of the books that I own have //any// information on $Name, which is admittedly, a little strange.” Anya and I follow behind him, trying to keep up with his long legs //and// fast mouth. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-25]] <<set $Anya_Approval -=3>><<set $FriendlyAntag to Math.clamp($FriendlyAntag - 1, 0, 100)>>

I ignore her completely, folding my arms and looking away. There’s something about the silent conversation she had with Will that makes me a little suspicious of her. And her ominous message of ‘dealing with a demon before’ has me hesitant to get closer to her. She awkwardly puts her hand down, the rustling of fabric the only indication. But Will starts speaking, catching both of our attentions before she can think about it anymore. “We were thinking that there has to be a book that can tell us //something// about $Name, so that maybe $g3 memories could resurface.” Will explains, starting to walk further into the library once again. “None of the books that I own have //any// information on $Name, which is admittedly, a little strange.” Anya and I follow behind him, trying to keep up with his long legs //and// fast mouth. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-25]] <<set $Anya_Approval -=3>><<set $FriendlyAntag to Math.clamp($FriendlyAntag - 5, 0, 100)>>

Our journey takes us to the darkest, deepest part of the library, where the light from the many windows don’t reach. We reach a few bookcases that look like they haven’t seen human hands in a long time, if the layer of dust on them is anything to go by. ‘Demonology’ is on a small plaque above the bookcases, somehow a little daunting despite the fact it's just a small piece of plastic. “Why do you have books on demons?” Anya asks, her soft voice barely able to be heard, even over the hush of the library. “Oh, uh…” Will looks at me, a strange expression on his face, before he shrugs. “Well, my uncle runs a catholic church.” Furrowing her brows, Anya looks confused. “That doesn’t-” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-26]]

“I’m an exorcist.” Will suddenly admits, watching me closely as he does. I’m unsure how to feel about that, quite frankly. I’m also unsure what kind of reaction he’s looking for, because he keeps watching me as if waiting for one. “Oh…” Anya looks between us, still looking slightly confused. “Yep. I… ‘deal’ with demons.” He gives a strained smile at Anya, before turning back to the books. He looks like he’s concentrating on the titles extremely hard, before he says, “Well, I’m like… a ‘part-time’ exorcist. I do have a day-job.” As Will continues to talk about his job to Anya, I walk a little farther down the small corner we find ourselves in. My fingers run along the spines of the books, not entirely sure what I’m looking for. But one of the titles catches my attention, and I pull the book out quickly to look at the cover. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-27]]

It’s the Ars Goetia, a similar copy to the one that Will was reading earlier in the church. There’s something about the book, something that tells me I should read it, that has me carefully opening the ancient tome. I quickly scan page, after page, after page, until my eyes land on a name that seems to try and pull some memories from the fog in my hand. “Murmur…” I whisper, the name vaguely familiar. There’s something there, just beyond the reach of my fingers, with this name. Did I know Murmur? Was I close with them? Or… Did they cause my amnesia? “Hey, $Name-” Will’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts, and I startle a bit as he comes up beside me. He doesn’t seem to notice as he already has his nose in a book, before he’s handing me a different one. “Look through this; see if you can find anything, ok?” “Ok.” I answer dumbly, taking both of the books in my hand, and following Anya and Will to a table to start reading. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-28]]

---- !!!A few hours later… Our search comes up empty, despite reading through basically every book in the demonology section. “Are we… //absolutely// sure that $Name is a demon?” Anya asks carefully, like she’s afraid of upsetting us. “Well, yeah… $g1 got caught in my demon trap. There’s no other explanation.” Will has his head in his hands, elbows resting on the table in front of him. At some point, he had put on a pair of glasses while we researched the books- but now, they are pushed up to his forehead as he tiredly rubs his face. I don’t say anything, since my mind is still on the name ‘Murmur’. Despite knowing that name is important, I can’t seem to remember anything about them. “Well, unfortunately, the library closes in a few minutes, so we have to call off the search for now.” Anya sighs, checking her phone for the time. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-29]]

Groaning as he stands up, Will starts to collect the books that we had started stacking in the middle of the table. Anya joins him, before noticing that my thoughts are elsewhere, getting my attention by clearing her throat. “$Name? Are you ok?” Her quiet voice reaches my ears, but her words don’t really compute. Looking at the Ars Goetia on the table in front of me, open to the page where I read Murmur’s name, I try to force the memory of Murmur to resurface. They are a demon, that much is obvious, but there has to be //something// else I can figure out about them. “Did you remember something?” Anya’s voice is a little louder now, and I startle as I realize she’s now beside me. She puts her hands up, meaning me no harm, and gives me a small smile. ---- [[Tell her about Murmur. ->CHAP1-TELLMUR]] ---- [[Don’t tell her about Murmur. ->CHAP1-DONTTELLMUR]]

“I… I think I knew Murmur.” I say, my gaze snapping back to the book. My finger brushes over the page, across the black ink that spells out the name. “But I can’t really… remember.” Anya is quiet for a long time, so long that I have to look up at her to make sure she’s still here. She’s looking at me with a strange expression on her face, and I’m not entirely sure I even //want// to know what she’s thinking. “Are you guys ready to go?” Will comes up to us then, interrupting the strange silence we find ourselves in. When he looks at my hand on the book in front of me, he gives me a lopsided grin. “Want me to check that out for you?” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-30]] <<set $Anya_Approval +=3>>

Shaking my head, I turn my gaze back to the book. My finger brushes over the page, across the black ink that spells out Murmur’s name. Anya is quiet for a long time, so long that I have to look up at her to make sure she’s still here. She’s looking at me with a strange expression on her face, and I’m not entirely sure I even //want// to know what she’s thinking. “Are you guys ready to go?” Will comes up to us then, interrupting the strange silence we find ourselves in. When he looks at my hand on the book in front of me, he gives me a lopsided grin. “Want me to check that out for you?” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-30]]

Nodding, I watch as he takes the book from me, and starts to make his way to the front of the library. Anya and I follow after him, still quiet. Once Will has checked the book out for me, we leave the library together. The sun has started to set, leaving behind a dark orange sunset, the dark blue of the night sky slowly starting to bleed into it. “What are you going to do now?” Anya asks, surprising me by speaking finally. “We didn’t really find anything useful. Do you even have anywhere to go?” I shrug my shoulders, unsure about the answer to either of those questions. It’s not like I have anywhere to go, considering I don’t even know why I’m here… “You can stay with me, if you want?” Will speaks up, shrugging as well. “I have an extra room in my apartment.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP1-31]]

My eyes widen in surprise; for whatever reason, I wasn’t expecting him to offer me anything like that. But, I guess he has been rather helpful all day, despite knowing what I am. “Ok. If you don’t mind…” I nod my head at him, the lopsided smile he gives me making me smile in return. Although our day wasn’t exactly helpful, I’ve honestly found 2 people at least willing to //help// me. But there’s still something about them, something about a silent conversation with expressions, that makes trusting them fully difficult. Shaking my head, I push those thoughts away for now, before we say goodbye to Anya and go our separate ways. !CHAPTER ONE END… ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP2-1]]

!CHAPTER TWO ---- !!!A few days later… A few days have passed by since I first woke up with no memories. Will has been kind enough to let me stay in his apartment with him while we try to figure out what my deal is, but despite the first attempt on the first day we met, we haven’t really done much in terms of getting information. A lot of it is due to Will needing to go to work, but another part of it is just not knowing where to look. Standing in front of the bathroom mirror, I sigh as I take in my appearance again for what might be the hundredth time since I entered the apartment. I have <<cycle "$skincolor" autoselect>> <<option "pale">> <<option "light">> <<option "tan">> <<option "medium">> <<option "dark">> <</cycle>> skin. My gaze darts around my face, taking in my <<cycle "$facedetails" autoselect>> <<option "moles">> <<option "freckles">> <<option "dimples">> <<option "scars">> <<option "piercing">> <<option "piercings">> <<option "glasses">> <</cycle>> and any other detail I can. ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-2]]

Do your pronouns work better singular or plural? [She/her, he/him = singular. They/them = plural.] ---- [[Singular ->PRONOUNS2]] ---- [[Plural ->PRONOUNS3]]

Your pronouns are singular. ---- [[NEXT ->PROLOGUE-5]] <<set $program to 10>>

Your pronouns are plural. ---- [[NEXT ->PROLOGUE-5]] <<set $program to 20>>

Once I’m done looking at my $facedetails, my gaze lands on my eyes. They reflect in the mirror, staring at myself with something akin to fascination. It’s not everyday that someone //forgets// what they look like. My eyes are <<cycle "$eyecolor" autoselect>> <<option "dark brown">> <<option "brown">> <<option "amber">> <<option "hazel">> <<option "green">> <<option "blue">> <<option "gray">> <</cycle>>, which compliments my <<cycle "$haircolor" autoselect>> <<option "black">> <<option "dark brown">> <<option "brown">> <<option "dirty blonde">> <<option "blonde">> <<option "white">> <<option "ginger">> <<option "red">> <</cycle>> hair. My hair is <<cycle "$hairlength" autoselect>> <<option "buzzed">> <<option "very short">> <<option "short">> <<option "shoulder-length">> <<option "long">> <<option "waist-length">> <<option "very long">> <</cycle>>, and is... ---- [[Down, not really styled much at all. ->CHAP2-HAIRSTYLE1]] ---- [[Styled nicely with different products. ->CHAP2-HAIRSTYLE2]] ---- [[In a messy bun. ->CHAP2-HAIRSTYLE3]] ---- [[In a high ponytail. ->CHAP2-HAIRSTYLE4]] ---- [[In dutch braids. ->CHAP2-HAIRSTYLE5]] ---- [[Covered by a hat. ->CHAP2-HAIRSTYLE6]] ---- [[Covered by a headscarf. ->CHAP2-HAIRSTYLE7]] ---- [[In dreads. ->CHAP2-HAIRSTYLE8]] ---- [[In braids. ->CHAP2-HAIRSTYLE9]]

<<set $hairstyle to "down and unstyled">> The last thing I look at is my outfit. Although I was found in a fully black suit, complete with a tie over a <<cycle "$shirtcolor" autoselect>> <<option "black">> <<option "white">> <<option "red">> <<option "purple">> <<option "pink">> <<option "orange">> <<option "yellow">> <<option "green">> <<option "blue">> <</cycle>> dress shirt and <<cycle "$bottoms" autoselect>> <<option "slacks">> <<option "pencil skirt">> <</cycle>>, Will decided to buy me a few outfits that he said might be comfier to be in. I have a feeling that, even though those were the words he said, he actually meant that he doesn’t want to be reminded that I’m a demon. The outfit I chose to wear today is... ---- [[Jeans and t-shirt. ->CHAP2-STYLE]] ---- [[Sweatshirt and leggings. ->CHAP2-STYLE2]] ---- [[A nice blouse and skirt. ->CHAP2-STYLE3]] ---- [[A trendy outfit. ->CHAP2-STYLE4]] ---- [[Something goth. ->CHAP2-STYLE5]] ---- [[Streetwear. ->CHAP2-STYLE6]] ---- [[Skin-tight and revealing. ->CHAP2-STYLE7]]

<<set $hairstyle to "styled with products">> The last thing I look at is my outfit. Although I was found in a fully black suit, complete with a tie over a <<cycle "$shirtcolor" autoselect>> <<option "black">> <<option "white">> <<option "red">> <<option "purple">> <<option "pink">> <<option "orange">> <<option "yellow">> <<option "green">> <<option "blue">> <</cycle>> dress shirt and <<cycle "$bottoms" autoselect>> <<option "slacks">> <<option "pencil skirt">> <</cycle>>, Will decided to buy me a few outfits that he said might be comfier to be in. I have a feeling that, even though those were the words he said, he actually meant that he doesn’t want to be reminded that I’m a demon. The outfit I chose to wear today is... ---- [[Jeans and t-shirt. ->CHAP2-STYLE]] ---- [[Sweatshirt and leggings. ->CHAP2-STYLE2]] ---- [[A nice blouse and skirt. ->CHAP2-STYLE3]] ---- [[A trendy outfit. ->CHAP2-STYLE4]] ---- [[Something goth. ->CHAP2-STYLE5]] ---- [[Streetwear. ->CHAP2-STYLE6]] ---- [[Skin-tight and revealing. ->CHAP2-STYLE7]]

<<set $hairstyle to "in a messy bun">> The last thing I look at is my outfit. Although I was found in a fully black suit, complete with a tie over a <<cycle "$shirtcolor" autoselect>> <<option "black">> <<option "white">> <<option "red">> <<option "purple">> <<option "pink">> <<option "orange">> <<option "yellow">> <<option "green">> <<option "blue">> <</cycle>> dress shirt and <<cycle "$bottoms" autoselect>> <<option "slacks">> <<option "pencil skirt">> <</cycle>>, Will decided to buy me a few outfits that he said might be comfier to be in. I have a feeling that, even though those were the words he said, he actually meant that he doesn’t want to be reminded that I’m a demon. The outfit I chose to wear today is... ---- [[Jeans and t-shirt. ->CHAP2-STYLE]] ---- [[Sweatshirt and leggings. ->CHAP2-STYLE2]] ---- [[A nice blouse and skirt. ->CHAP2-STYLE3]] ---- [[A trendy outfit. ->CHAP2-STYLE4]] ---- [[Something goth. ->CHAP2-STYLE5]] ---- [[Streetwear. ->CHAP2-STYLE6]] ---- [[Skin-tight and revealing. ->CHAP2-STYLE7]]

<<set $hairstyle to "in a high ponytail">> The last thing I look at is my outfit. Although I was found in a fully black suit, complete with a tie over a <<cycle "$shirtcolor" autoselect>> <<option "black">> <<option "white">> <<option "red">> <<option "purple">> <<option "pink">> <<option "orange">> <<option "yellow">> <<option "green">> <<option "blue">> <</cycle>> dress shirt and <<cycle "$bottoms" autoselect>> <<option "slacks">> <<option "pencil skirt">> <</cycle>>, Will decided to buy me a few outfits that he said might be comfier to be in. I have a feeling that, even though those were the words he said, he actually meant that he doesn’t want to be reminded that I’m a demon. The outfit I chose to wear today is... ---- [[Jeans and t-shirt. ->CHAP2-STYLE]] ---- [[Sweatshirt and leggings. ->CHAP2-STYLE2]] ---- [[A nice blouse and skirt. ->CHAP2-STYLE3]] ---- [[A trendy outfit. ->CHAP2-STYLE4]] ---- [[Something goth. ->CHAP2-STYLE5]] ---- [[Streetwear. ->CHAP2-STYLE6]] ---- [[Skin-tight and revealing. ->CHAP2-STYLE7]]

<<set $hairstyle to "in dutch-braids">> The last thing I look at is my outfit. Although I was found in a fully black suit, complete with a tie over a <<cycle "$shirtcolor" autoselect>> <<option "black">> <<option "white">> <<option "red">> <<option "purple">> <<option "pink">> <<option "orange">> <<option "yellow">> <<option "green">> <<option "blue">> <</cycle>> dress shirt and <<cycle "$bottoms" autoselect>> <<option "slacks">> <<option "pencil skirt">> <</cycle>>, Will decided to buy me a few outfits that he said might be comfier to be in. I have a feeling that, even though those were the words he said, he actually meant that he doesn’t want to be reminded that I’m a demon. The outfit I chose to wear today is... ---- [[Jeans and t-shirt. ->CHAP2-STYLE]] ---- [[Sweatshirt and leggings. ->CHAP2-STYLE2]] ---- [[A nice blouse and skirt. ->CHAP2-STYLE3]] ---- [[A trendy outfit. ->CHAP2-STYLE4]] ---- [[Something goth. ->CHAP2-STYLE5]] ---- [[Streetwear. ->CHAP2-STYLE6]] ---- [[Skin-tight and revealing. ->CHAP2-STYLE7]]

<<set $hairstyle to "under a hat">> The last thing I look at is my outfit. Although I was found in a fully black suit, complete with a tie over a <<cycle "$shirtcolor" autoselect>> <<option "black">> <<option "white">> <<option "red">> <<option "purple">> <<option "pink">> <<option "orange">> <<option "yellow">> <<option "green">> <<option "blue">> <</cycle>> dress shirt and <<cycle "$bottoms" autoselect>> <<option "slacks">> <<option "pencil skirt">> <</cycle>>, Will decided to buy me a few outfits that he said might be comfier to be in. I have a feeling that, even though those were the words he said, he actually meant that he doesn’t want to be reminded that I’m a demon. The outfit I chose to wear today is... ---- [[Jeans and t-shirt. ->CHAP2-STYLE]] ---- [[Sweatshirt and leggings. ->CHAP2-STYLE2]] ---- [[A nice blouse and skirt. ->CHAP2-STYLE3]] ---- [[A trendy outfit. ->CHAP2-STYLE4]] ---- [[Something goth. ->CHAP2-STYLE5]] ---- [[Streetwear. ->CHAP2-STYLE6]] ---- [[Skin-tight and revealing. ->CHAP2-STYLE7]]

<<set $hairstyle to "under a headscarf">> The last thing I look at is my outfit. Although I was found in a fully black suit, complete with a tie over a <<cycle "$shirtcolor" autoselect>> <<option "black">> <<option "white">> <<option "red">> <<option "purple">> <<option "pink">> <<option "orange">> <<option "yellow">> <<option "green">> <<option "blue">> <</cycle>> dress shirt and <<cycle "$bottoms" autoselect>> <<option "slacks">> <<option "pencil skirt">> <</cycle>>, Will decided to buy me a few outfits that he said might be comfier to be in. I have a feeling that, even though those were the words he said, he actually meant that he doesn’t want to be reminded that I’m a demon. The outfit I chose to wear today is... ---- [[Jeans and t-shirt. ->CHAP2-STYLE]] ---- [[Sweatshirt and leggings. ->CHAP2-STYLE2]] ---- [[A nice blouse and skirt. ->CHAP2-STYLE3]] ---- [[A trendy outfit. ->CHAP2-STYLE4]] ---- [[Something goth. ->CHAP2-STYLE5]] ---- [[Streetwear. ->CHAP2-STYLE6]] ---- [[Skin-tight and revealing. ->CHAP2-STYLE7]]

With a sigh, I leave the bathroom after no memories surface yet again. Thinking about how much is hidden underneath the surface in my brain, just out of reach, and with no way to get to them… it unsettles me. //’What happened to me? How did I end up here? Not just in New York, but somewhere that isn’t Hell… If I’m a demon, that’s where I should live, right? And how would I ever get back there? Do I ''want'' to go back?’// Question after question pops into my head, no answers to be seen. Frustrated, I walk to the front door of Will’s apartment. I stare at it, the dark wood chipping away in some places. Without thinking, I reach forward and place my hand on the doorknob- but I don’t turn it. ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-3]] <<set $outfitstyle to "casual">>

<<set $hairstyle to"in dreads">> The last thing I look at is my outfit. Although I was found in a fully black suit, complete with a tie over a <<cycle "$shirtcolor" autoselect>> <<option "black">> <<option "white">> <<option "red">> <<option "purple">> <<option "pink">> <<option "orange">> <<option "yellow">> <<option "green">> <<option "blue">> <</cycle>> dress shirt and <<cycle "$bottoms" autoselect>> <<option "slacks">> <<option "pencil skirt">> <</cycle>>, Will decided to buy me a few outfits that he said might be comfier to be in. I have a feeling that, even though those were the words he said, he actually meant that he doesn’t want to be reminded that I’m a demon. The outfit I chose to wear today is... ---- [[Jeans and t-shirt. ->CHAP2-STYLE]] ---- [[Sweatshirt and leggings. ->CHAP2-STYLE2]] ---- [[A nice blouse and skirt. ->CHAP2-STYLE3]] ---- [[A trendy outfit. ->CHAP2-STYLE4]] ---- [[Something goth. ->CHAP2-STYLE5]] ---- [[Streetwear. ->CHAP2-STYLE6]] ---- [[Skin-tight and revealing. ->CHAP2-STYLE7]]

<<set $hairstyle to "in braids">> The last thing I look at is my outfit. Although I was found in a fully black suit, complete with a tie over a <<cycle "$shirtcolor" autoselect>> <<option "black">> <<option "white">> <<option "red">> <<option "purple">> <<option "pink">> <<option "orange">> <<option "yellow">> <<option "green">> <<option "blue">> <</cycle>> dress shirt and <<cycle "$bottoms" autoselect>> <<option "slacks">> <<option "pencil skirt">> <</cycle>>, Will decided to buy me a few outfits that he said might be comfier to be in. I have a feeling that, even though those were the words he said, he actually meant that he doesn’t want to be reminded that I’m a demon. The outfit I chose to wear today is... ---- [[Jeans and t-shirt. ->CHAP2-STYLE]] ---- [[Sweatshirt and leggings. ->CHAP2-STYLE2]] ---- [[A nice blouse and skirt. ->CHAP2-STYLE3]] ---- [[A trendy outfit. ->CHAP2-STYLE4]] ---- [[Something goth. ->CHAP2-STYLE5]] ---- [[Streetwear. ->CHAP2-STYLE6]] ---- [[Skin-tight and revealing. ->CHAP2-STYLE7]]

Will wasn’t exactly //strict//, but he warned me not to go off on my own. Whether it be out of concern for me, or concern for… //everyone else//, I’m not sure. He had tried to explain that the streets of New York were almost like a maze to non-locals, but I really have a feeling that he just doesn’t want me to go off and cause some sort of havoc. The memory of a few days prior, when we first met, comes to mind all of a sudden- when I got trapped in a demon-trap in his uncle’s church lobby. My gaze flickers to the concrete floor, covered by a rug. If he truly didn’t want me to leave, would he have set up another trap? ---- [[Check under the rug. ->CHAP2-CHECKRUG]] ---- [[Fuck it. Just leave. ->CHAP2-JUSTLEAVE]] ---- [[Maybe I should just listen to him… ->CHAP2-LISTEN]]

Bending down, I take a second to take a breath. I’m not sure why I breathe, exactly, considering that I’m not technically ‘alive’, but it seems to soothe my frayed nerves like I was hoping. $trustwill Taking another breath, I slowly grab onto the corner of the rug, before flipping it over. My shoulders slump in relief, finding that there aren't any markings at all, just a cracked concrete floor. Will must trust me more than I thought he did. //’But am I about to break that trust?’// I take one last glance at the apartment behind me, before I shake my head to clear it of any doubt. Will can’t stop me from trying to get my memories back, I can’t let him. The door clicks shut behind me with an ominous click that echoes down the hallway. ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-4]]

Shaking my head, I reach towards the door again, and with a surge of confidence, I swing it wide open. My eyes flicker to the rug, back to the apartment, and then out the door. I take a step over the rug, my foot landing outside the door frame, before the other joins it. My shoulders slump in relief, finding that there weren’t any traps under the rug at all. Will must trust me more than I thought he did. //’But am I about to break that trust?’// I take one last glance at the apartment behind me, before I shake my head to clear it of any doubt. Will can’t stop me from trying to get my memories back, I can’t let him. The door clicks shut behind me with an ominous click that echoes down the hallway. ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-4]]

//’You know what? Maybe I should just listen to him… Maybe he has a reason for wanting me to wait until he’s able to help me.’// I turn around, facing away from the front door and the rug, but I can’t bring myself to walk away. Will must know that this is very serious, and important to me. Not having memories isn’t normal- the amount of //self// that is just sitting behind a curtain in my brain is… sad. Turning back to the door, I steel myself before I reach towards the door again. With a surge of confidence, I swing it wide open. My eyes flicker to the rug, back to the apartment, and then out the door. I take a step over the rug, my foot landing outside the door frame, before the other joins it. My shoulders slump in relief, finding that there weren’t any traps under the rug at all. Will must trust me more than I thought he did. //’But am I about to break that trust?’// I take one last glance at the apartment behind me, before I shake my head to clear it of any doubt. Will can’t stop me from trying to get my memories back, I can’t let him. The door clicks shut behind me with an ominous click that echoes down the hallway. ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-4]]

---- !!!A few hours later... Although I try my best, I’m not able to find the library Will had taken me on the day we first met. Retracing steps in New York isn’t as easy as I thought it would be, and I’m finding that out the hard way as I find myself in a completely different part of the city than I wanted to be. As I try to figure out how I’m going to make it back to Will’s apartment, something catches my attention from nearby. It’s a strange feeling, like I’m being watched, and it makes my skin crawl. But there’s something about this feeling that makes me follow the trail it leaves behind, like it’s purposely trying to lure me towards where it’s resonating from. It leads me to a small park, tall shrubs and bushes acting as a fence that separates nature from concrete. I walk on the grass, that strange feeling the only thing directing me, until it takes me to a bench. ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-5]]

Someone is sitting on the farthest side of the bench, leaning back and looking rather relaxed, despite the stiff gray suit they wear. They have short, black hair- parted down the middle, almost perfectly, if it were not for the obvious amount of times a hand has run through it, pulling the hair back and away from the face. Dark brown eyes meet mine, sparkling a bit in the light. “You’re $Name, right?” They say, surprising me. I know I should have expected them to know me, considering some kind of strange feeling just led me right to them, but it still catches me off guard. ---- [[Answer them. ->CHAP2-ANSWERTHEM]] ---- [[Ask who they are. ->CHAP2-ASKWHO]] ---- [[Don’t answer them. ->CHAP2-DONTANSWER]]

“Uh… Yeah, I am.” I answer bluntly, blinking in confusion. They watch me for a few more seconds, before their gaze slowly slides across the park, landing on a couple walking through on the opposite side. They don’t seem to want to say anything else, though, so I just gingerly sit down on the bench. “Who are you?” I ask after a few seconds, growing tired of the silence, and needing to know if they truly know me… If they might be able to help me get my memories back. “Do we know each other?” “You don’t know me, but I've heard of you.” They answer me quickly, a black eyebrow raising as they turn their gaze to me again. They seem to be examining me, but I’m not sure what they are looking for exactly. ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-6]]

“Who are you?” I ask instead, needing to know if they truly know me… If they might be able to help me get my memories back. “Do we know each other?” They watch me for a few more seconds, before their gaze slowly slides across the park, landing on a couple walking through on the opposite side. They don’t seem to want to say anything else, though, so I just gingerly sit down on the bench. “You don’t know me, but I've heard of you.” They answer me quickly, a black eyebrow raising as they turn their gaze to me again. They seem to be examining me, but I’m not sure what they are looking for exactly. ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-6]]

I stay quiet. I’m unsure about this person, and confirming who I am could spell trouble. They watch me for a few more seconds, before their gaze slowly slides across the park, landing on a couple walking through on the opposite side. They don’t seem to want to say anything else, though, so I just gingerly sit down on the bench. “Who are you?” I ask after a few seconds, growing tired of the silence, and needing to know if they know me… If they might be able to help me get my memories back. “Do we know each other?” “You don’t know me, but I've heard of you.” They answer me quickly, a black eyebrow raising as they turn their gaze to me again. They seem to be examining me, but I’m not sure what they are looking for exactly. ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-6]] <<set $FriendlyAntag to Math.clamp($FriendlyAntag - 2, 0, 100)>>

My eyes widen a bit in surprise, and I find myself leaning towards them a bit. I can’t help my curiosity, and this might be just what I need to get my memories back. “What have you heard?” The person sitting across the bench crosses one of their legs over the other, twisting a bit so they face me more as they seem to examine me. There’s something unnerving in their stare, but I’m not sure what it is exactly. It seems like a synthetic, fake type of scrutiny- the kind you give to something just to appease its need for attention. After a few moments of staring, and right before I decide to give up and leave, the person finally speaks. But the words they mutter send a shiver of… something //dark// rushing down my spine. “I heard you’re a lot of trouble.” Something about how they say that makes me pause. They didn’t say that I’m ''//in//'' trouble, but that I ''//am//'' the trouble. ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-7]]

“I was ordered not to tell you anything, should we meet.” They say after a few more seconds of silence, probably taking my own quietness as confusion or something similar. “So, that is all I will say.” “Ordered by who?” I ask suddenly, feeling like the conversation is about to end. If this person knows about me, then I can’t let them get away. I’m hoping for //something//, //anything//, that could maybe knock a few memories back into place. “My older sister.” Is all they say, wearing my patience thin. They seem to realize that I’m getting frustrated, because a smirk forms on their lips as they chuckle quietly. “Oh, come on now. Don’t give me that look. I was sworn to secrecy, devil- no matter how much you pout, I’m afraid I can’t answer your questions about yourself.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-8]]

I sit back, a defeated sigh escaping my lips. I found something, or rather, //someone//, who could possibly help me regain my memories… and they won’t tell me a thing. “One step forward, two steps back?” They say suddenly, like they are reading my thoughts. They aren’t looking at me as I snap my attention back to them, but I can see the smirk grow wider. “I honestly don’t know much about you but your name, if that makes you feel any better.” Their words are honeyed, and just as fake as the attention they give me. Their tone is too smooth to be natural, it almost sounds like they rehearsed this entire conversation. ---- [[“It doesn’t, thanks.” ->CHAP2-SARCASM]] ---- [[Ignore them. It’s time to leave. ->CHAP2-IGNORE]] ---- [[Look at them closer… [Flirt] ->CHAP2-FLIRT]] <<set $Dani_Love to 0>>

“It doesn’t, thanks.” I can’t help the sarcasm from dripping from my tongue. I squeeze my eyes shut, a sudden headache forming at the complete waste of time this entire conversation was- Until I hear a chuckle. It’s not fake, not like the one they gave me before- this is a real chuckle. My eyes open and I turn to look at the stranger, who is staring at me again. There’s a light behind their eyes that wasn’t there before, I’m sure of it. But before I can double check, it vanishes. Suddenly, they speak again, with a seriousness I wasn’t expecting. “$Name, the only thing I can tell you is this; be careful who you trust.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-9]]

Ignoring them, I squeeze my eyes shut, a sudden headache forming at the complete waste of time this entire conversation was. Standing up, I start to walk away, before their voice stops me. “$Name, the only thing I can tell you is this; be careful who you trust.” I turn around, taking in the stranger. There’s a light behind their eyes that wasn’t there before, I’m sure of it. But before I can double check, it vanishes. ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-9]] <<set $FriendlyAntag to Math.clamp($FriendlyAntag - 2, 0, 100)>>

Blinking, I ignore the frustration their words bring me, and take a closer look at them. I suddenly realize how attractive they are; their asian features sitting on beautiful tan skin make them look almost otherworldly… And considering the strange feeling I had when I found them, they probably are something like me. Something not from this world. A smirk forms on their lips again, something my eyes flicker to immediately, before a chuckle leaves them. It’s not fake, not like the one they gave me before- this is a real chuckle. My eyes widen as $eyecolor eyes meet dark brown. There’s a light behind their eyes that wasn’t there before, I’m sure of it. But before I can double check, it vanishes. Suddenly, they speak again, with a seriousness I wasn’t expecting. “$Name, the only thing I can tell you is this; be careful who you trust.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-9]] <<set $Dani_Love to Math.clamp($Dani_Love + 1, 0, 1)>>

I stare at them, taking in their last message. It’s more of a warning, I realize, but before I can ask anything else, they stand up and start walking away. “Wait-” I call out, half expecting them to ignore me. But when they turn back around to look at me again, I have to blink away my surprise before I’m able to continue on. “What’s your name? It's only fair I know yours too…” With an eyebrow raised, the stranger seems to debate whether to tell me their name or not. But something like curiosity takes over their features, before the indifferent mask is put back into place. “Dani.” Watching as they leave, I commit the name to memory. Whether I actually see Dani again or not… Well, it's safe to say that I //must// meet them again. So far, they are the only other person on this planet that seems to know something about my past. The key to my missing memories. ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-10]] <<set $Danistat to "Dani">><<set $Dani_Approval to 50>>

---- !!!About an hour later… I’m lost. Like, extremely lost. I can’t find my way back to Will’s apartment, despite my best efforts to just retrace my steps from earlier today. I should have learned my lesson, when that tactic didn’t work in finding the library either. Sighing, I sit down on a bench and take in my surroundings. I’ve somehow managed to find a different park, this one looking out over the ocean. The water sparkles and waves about, the afternoon sun starting its slow descent under the horizon making the color more teal than royal blue. A cold breeze blows through the trees sitting behind me, rustling my outfit and causing a tremble to run through my body. It’s the middle of September, I recall someone from the news channel saying so this morning. Despite the weather still being warm and sunny during the day, at night there’s a definite chill to the air. ---- [[I’m upset about leaving. ->CHAP2-UPSETLEAVE]] ---- [[I’m not upset about leaving- more upset about not finding anything. ->CHAP2-UPSETFIND]] ---- [[I’m not really feeling much at all. Numb. ->CHAP2-NUMB]]

I should have never left the apartment. I should have listened to Will. It’s not like he was trying to keep me from getting my memories back, it’s just that he hasn’t had the time. Trusting in him or not, I was rather hasty in my decision to leave this morning. And now, I might never be able to find my way back home- A sudden bout of emotions comes to the surface, once that thought crosses my mind. $emotion “$Name.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-11]]

Regretting the decision to leave this morning isn’t going to help me. I’m more upset at the fact that I found out next to nothing, despite an unfamiliar face who seems to know //something// about my missing memories, but can’t tell me. But I can’t help but feel like that isn’t the only reason I’m so upset. $emotion2 “$Name.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-11]]

Regretting the decision to leave this morning isn’t going to help me. In fact, I can’t help but feel //empty//- I feel nothing about what is happening to me at all. “$Name.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-11]]

My head snaps up to attention, my name rushing to my ears like it was drifting on the breeze- right at the same time that the street lamps flicker to life, illuminating the bench I’m on in a harsh yellow light. Another tremble travels through my body, but this time it isn’t because of the cold. There’s a woman standing a few feet away from me, on my left side. She wasn’t there before the lights turned on, that I’m sure of. And there is something //off// about her. I can feel her stare on me, and even though I haven’t actually looked at her straight on, I know that whatever look she is giving me, it isn’t exactly kind. //’Did she call my name?’// That thought flutters through my mind, but I’m not sure I want to know the answer. Because for some reason, I //don’t want this woman to speak to me//- ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-12]]

“$Name? $Name!” Footsteps pick up pace to my right, now, before I’m able to place the familiar voice. I snap my attention to Will, who is running towards me, waving at me as if he didn’t already have my full focus. I stand up just as he reaches the bench, almost having to reach out to keep him upright as he stops rather abruptly. Taking him in, I realize that he must have just come home from work, since he’s still in his suit- tie and all. His dark brown eyes take me in, a surprising amount of worry inside of them as he seems to search for any injuries. ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-13]]

“Where-” Taking a deep breath, he tries to get his ragged breathing under control before he tries to speak again. “Where the hell did you go? I thought you were, like, abducted or something when you weren’t at the apartment!” A small bubble of guilt forms in my chest as I realize I probably could have left a note for him, or something, letting him know where I had gone off to. ---- [[Apologize to him. ->CHAP2-APOLO]] ---- [[“I don’t have to tell you about every little thing I do.” ->CHAP2-IDONT]] ---- [[Don't say anything. ->CHAP2-IGNOREHIMAGAIN]] ---- [[Hug… Hug him? [Flirt] ->CHAP2-HUG?]]

“I…” I gulp down my guilt, before speaking again. “I’m sorry, Will. I just felt… uneasy about sitting around for so long. I know I should have at least left you a note, or something…” Will’s gaze flickers between my own, his mouth pressed into a tight line. I’d think he was angry, if it wasn’t for the worried upturn of his eyebrows. Taking a deep breath, he nods his head. “It’s alright, $Name. I get it… I know that getting your memories back is important to you, and it was unfair of me to keep you inside the apartment for so long with no answers.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-14]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 2, 0, 59)>> <<set $FriendlyAntag to Math.clamp($FriendlyAntag + 2, 0, 100)>>

“I don’t have to tell you about every little thing I do.” I can’t help the defensiveness in my tone, but the amount of anger in it as well is a surprise to me. Although, technically, my words are true, since Will and I have only known each other for a few days, I know that he wasn’t intentionally trying to keep me from finding the answers I need. Taken aback, Will takes a step back from me as his eyes widen a bit at the harshness in my voice. There’s a bit of hurt, before he blinks it away and nods his head. “Right. No, you’re right.” He takes a deep breath before he continues on. “I know that getting your memories back is important to you, and it was unfair of me to keep you inside the apartment for so long with no answers. I’m sorry.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-14]]

Shaking my head, I cross my arms and give him a raised eyebrow. We don’t know each other well enough for this, he knows it. It takes a second, but Will seems to realize this after he takes a deep breath. Nodding his head, he says, “I know that getting your memories back is important to you, and it was unfair of me to keep you inside the apartment for so long with no answers. I’m sorry.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-14]] <<set $FriendlyAntag to Math.clamp($FriendlyAntag - 1, 0, 100)>>

The sudden urge to hug him nearly knocks me off my feet. I hate seeing the worry in his expression, hate knowing that I was the one that put it there. But we don’t know each other well enough for this… Any of it. I’m reminded of that when Will seems to take my silence as discomfort, because he says, “I know that getting your memories back is important to you, and it was unfair of me to keep you inside the apartment for so long with no answers. I’m sorry.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-14]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 1, 0, 59)>> <<set $Will_Love to Math.clamp($Will_Love + 1, 0, 4)>>  <<set $FriendlyAntag to Math.clamp($FriendlyAntag + 1, 0, 100)>>

Before I can say anything else, another shiver runs down my spine, and I’m reminded about the woman who had been staring at me before. I quickly check over my shoulder, expecting to see her heading our way, but she’s gone. I know I should be relieved by that fact, but for some reason, it just makes me more nervous. “$Name?” Turning back to Will, I try to forget the strange woman’s appearance, but something in my gut is telling me I should remember her. Unfortunately, thinking back on it, I really didn’t take in any distinctive features or anything I could use to remember her by. A hand waves in front of my face, snapping me out of my thoughts. My attention goes back to Will, who continues to stare at me with a worried expression. “Let's get out of here.” I say, before he can ask me if I’m alright again. All I want to do is put this day behind me, to be honest. Nodding, Will motions for me to follow him. “Yeah, sure… No problem.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-15]]

---- !!!An hour later… I sit in an uncomfortable booth in a diner that looks like it came straight from the 1950s, an hour or so after Will found me at the park. He decided to get some dinner before we went home, and told me that the milkshakes here were to die for- an attempt at trying to cheer me up, I suppose. Although I haven’t told him about the day’s events, he must realize that //something// happened. Before me, on the rather sticky table between us, sits <<cycle "$food" autoselect>> <<option "pancakes">> <<option "waffles">> <<option "a breakfast platter">> <<option "a cheeseburger">> <<option "a chicken burger">> <<option "a salad">> <<option "a plate of fries">> <</cycle>>. ---- [[I haven’t eaten anything. ->CHAP2-NOEAT]] ---- [[I have eaten a good portion of the food. ->CHAP2-EATLIL]] ---- [[The food was gone in a few seconds. ->CHAP2-EATLOT]] ---- [[Well… The milkshake was good. ->CHAP2-MILKSHAKE]]

Although Will was kind enough to order me something, I really don’t particularly feel like eating. It’s not like I can get hungry, what with being a demon and all, so nothing really sounds appetizing to me. If Will is upset by my obvious distaste for eating, he doesn’t show it at all. ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-16]]

Will was kind enough to order me something, despite knowing that I don’t need to eat, what with being a demon and all. Although the food didn’t really appeal to me much, I was able to eat a little bit of everything. If Will is upset by my obvious disinterest in eating, he doesn’t show it at all. ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-16]]

Will was kind enough to order me something, despite knowing that I don’t need to eat, what with being a demon and all. Although the food didn’t really appeal to me much, I ate everything off my plate, if only to appease Will- but he’s too busy eating his own food to realize it. ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-16]]

Although Will was kind enough to order me something, I really don’t particularly feel like eating. It’s not like I can get hungry, what with being a demon and all, so nothing really sounds appetizing to me. But the <<cycle "$milkshake" autoselect>> <<option "chocolate">> <<option "strawberry">> <<option "vanilla">> <<option "caramel">> <<option "huckleberry">> <</cycle>>. milkshake was good. ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-16]]

“So…” Will starts, after finishing his food. “What, uh… What exactly did you do today? Where did you go?” My fingers twitch, sudden nervousness making me need to do something with my hands as I explain. I pick up my napkin and begin folding it a few times, before I decide to speak. “I wanted to try and go back to the library you took me to, the one from the day we first met.” Eyes widening, Will seems to be at a loss for words for a second before he chuckles, a lopsided grin gracing his features. “You walked from //Harlem// to //East River Park//?” “Yes?” I’m not sure why he seems so amused by that fact. “It’s not like I had any other way to get there.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-17]]

Nodding, Will wipes the smile from his face, trying [and failing] to take me seriously. “Yeah, point taken. You were pretty close though, maybe another 20 minute walk east and you would have probably found the library.” “I also met someone, in a park. They seemed to know who I was, but they told me that they couldn’t tell me anything.” I shrug, unfolding the napkin in my hands. Will is quiet at that, and when my gaze flickers up to meet his, I’m met with a slightly concerned look. “Someone who knew who you were? Were they also a… you know…?” “A what?” I ask, rather dumbly, earning an exasperated look from the man across from me. Suddenly, I get what he’s saying, and say, “Oh. Well, no, I don’t //think// they were a demon…” ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-18]]

“Don’t you find it kind of weird that, when you went looking for something, there was someone conveniently there?” Will asks, though his eyes are now cast downwards. His eyebrows furrow, like he’s upset at his milkshake, before he takes a sip through his straw. ---- [[I did find it kind of weird… ->CHAP2-FINDWEIRD]] ---- [[Eh, just a coincidence. ->CHAP2-COINC]] ---- [[I don’t really want to think about it… ->CHAP2-NOTHINK]]

Nodding, I agree silently. It was weird. It’s almost like Dani was just waiting for me, almost like they were expecting me to turn up at the park today. Will decides to answer himself, considering I stay quiet. “Well, I guess that is how that works. But either way, I’d… maybe be a bit more careful, if I were you.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-19]]

Shrugging, I don’t reply. It was strange, but it could also just be a coincidence. Dani didn’t necessarily seem like they were //expecting// me, or anything… Will decides to answer himself, considering I stay quiet. “Well, I guess that is how that works. But either way, I’d… maybe be a bit more careful, if I were you.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-19]]

I freeze, not answering him in any way. I’d actually rather //not// think about it anymore, to be very honest. It //was// almost like Dani was just waiting for me, like they expected me to turn up at the park today. That thought makes me anxious. Will decides to answer himself, considering I stay quiet. “Well, I guess that is how that works. But either way, I’d… maybe be a bit more careful, if I were you.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-19]]

When I go to answer Will, to tell him that I’ll be more careful or something similar, my words get caught in my throat as I notice movement from behind him. There are two people near the front door, which wouldn’t be all that strange if it weren’t for the fact that they appeared out of black smoke. My eyes widen as they both search the room, before their gazes land on me and recognition flashes across their faces. They almost seem surprised to see me, although in varying degrees of intensity. After a second, they seem to collect themselves and start heading towards our booth. “What are you looking at?” Will asks, turning in his seat to peer behind himself. He doesn’t seem to realize that the 2 strange people are heading our way- or rather, it seems like he can’t see them at all. Before I can tell him about the 2 strangers, they are stepping up beside the table. Both of them seem to be waiting for me to say something, but I’m not exactly sure what they want me to say so I just stare at them, confused. ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-20]]

“...$Name? Are you alright?” One of them speaks, their voice soft and raspy. They have dark skin that has a deathly pallor to it, and their unnaturally white eyes watch me with an intense curiosity, much like a scientist would their experiments. But the thing that really throws me off, the thing that keeps catching my eye, sits on top of their head. Long, black horns point towards the ceiling- demon horns. The other person with them is a lot shorter than the first, and he watches me with sleepy, hooded, dark blue eyes. A lazy smile grows on his face as he takes me in. “You were right, Murmur- I think $g1 lost $g3 memories.” Blinking, the name suddenly has me standing up, eyes wide as I stare at the demons in front of me. “Murmur? You’re Murmur?” ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-21]]

“Uh… what’s going on, $Name?” Will suddenly speaks up. He’s watching me closely, a strange mix of fear and confusion on his face. “Who are you talking to?” Murmur’s eyes don’t leave my own. Their expressions barely change, but I can still see a flicker of something like frustration cross their face. Their head tilts to the side, taking me in, before their gaze flicks to Will. Gasping, Will seems to suddenly be able to see the demons at our table. His hand immediately grabs onto the cross that sits underneath his dress shirt, which sets the demons on edge- both sets of their eyes lock onto his hand so quickly, it makes Will flinch. But I don’t care about that, not when the demon in front of me could have all the answers I have been looking for. I lean a bit closer to them, catching their attention once again. “Are you… Are you really Murmur?” ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-22]]

My voice comes out quiet, and rather hopeful, and I can see the demon’s eyes soften a bit after the white irises fall on me again. “Yes, I’m Murmur… And we have much to discuss.” Looking back at Will with a rather pointed look, they add on, “All of us. But not here.” There’s a quiet that settles over all of us, and I turn to look at Will, only to find that he’s already looking at me. He seems to be debating something internally, his lips in a thin line as his dark eyes watch me cautiously. ---- [[“Let's hear them out, Will… Please.” ->CHAP2-HEAROUT]] ---- [[Follow Murmur- it doesn’t matter if Will comes or not. ->CHAP2-NOWILL]] ---- [[Find that it’s rather difficult to hold his stare. [Flirt] ->CHAP2-HOLDSTARE]] <<set $Murmurstat to "Murmur">><<set $Murmur_Approval to 60>><<set $Murmur_Love to 0>>

“Let’s hear them out, Will… Please.” I grimace at how it sounds like a plea, like I’m begging. I shouldn’t have to ask Will to hear them out, considering that this is the only lead I’ve had about my missing memories. They are here finally, and they sound like they are willing to give me answers. I can see the fight leaving Will, and it ends with him finally releasing the cross around his neck as he sighs. He grabs his wallet, pulling out some cash and tossing it on the table, before he says, “Alright… Alright, let’s go.” Turning back to Murmur, and the other unnamed demon, we head out of the diner. ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-23]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 1, 0, 59)>>

I slide out of the booth, ignoring Will’s stare as I look at Murmur and the other demon. “Lead the way.” It doesn’t matter whether Will wants to or not- this is the only lead I’ve had about my missing memories. They are here finally, and they sound like they are willing to give me answers. Shuffling is heard behind me, and I turn in time to see Will toss some cash onto the table before he slides out of the booth as well. His eyebrows furrow as he looks at me, something dark like annoyance crossing his features. “I’m coming with you. Let’s go.” Turning back to Murmur, and the other unnamed demon, we head out of the diner. ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-23]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval - 2, 50, 59)>>

My gaze gets caught in his dark brown eyes glinting in the lights of the diner. I want- no, //need// Will to realize how important this is to me. Murmur is the only lead I’ve had about my missing memories. They are here finally, and they sound like they are willing to give me answers. I wish I could say that I don’t care if Will comes or not, but the truth is that I really //want// him to come along, to be a part of this. We barely know each other, but it seems I’m already getting attached to him. Whether that’s a good thing or not, it's still too early to tell. I can see the fight leaving Will; whatever he sees on my face, whatever he gleans from our silent ‘conversation’, makes him sigh as he lets go of the cross around his neck. He grabs his wallet, pulling out some cash and tossing it on the table, before he says, “Alright… Alright, let’s go.” Turning back to Murmur, and the other unnamed demon, we head out of the diner. ---- [[Next ->CHAP2-23]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 1, 0, 59)>> <<set $Will_Love to Math.clamp($Will_Love + 1, 0, 5)>>

---- As the group of four leave the small diner, and start to head down the street, they are unaware of a pair of eyes watching them closely. He steps out of the shadows, intent on following the group and performing his duty of taking the spawn. He studies them all, finding 2 ranked demons and a human trained to be an exorcist. They surround the spawn, like a protective barrier, and he sneers. Suddenly, one of them turns around and stares right at him. Dark blue eyes meet his own, almost like they were seeking him out. He turns down a different road, losing sight of his target, and sighs in frustration. If he doesn’t have the element of surprise, he’s not sure he’d be able to take the spawn without any trouble. He’s supposed to be quick and not cause a scene. He’ll have to wait for a different opportunity to take the spawn. If what Dani said earlier is true, they might have a proclivity for wandering off on their own. With another sigh, he disappears in a cloud of white smoke. !CHAPTER TWO END… ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-1]]

!CHAPTER THREE ---- !!!A little while later… Murmur leads the small group of us down the busy streets of New York, the confidence in their walk making it seem like they know //exactly// where they are going. It almost seems too good to be true, having Murmur here in front of me. I had gotten the strange feeling from the Ars Goetia- the one that told me that I knew Murmur somehow, and that they would be able to tell me about my missing memories. But Will’s comment from the diner earlier, about how it’s strange that when I’m looking for something, I find it, seems to try and dampen my mood. ---- [[I don’t care, I’m still excited to talk to Murmur. ->CHAP3-EXCITED]] ---- [[Maybe I should be a little extra careful when I speak to Murmur… ->CHAP3-CAREFUL]] ---- [[Is this truly just a coincidence? ->CHAP3-COINC?]]

Shaking my head, I clear it of any doubts. Murmur seems like they are kind, and they are obviously very willing to help me get my memories back. Stopping suddenly, Murmur turns around and looks at me. They seem to be waiting for something, likely waiting for me to speak first. Confused, I take a look around the area they brought us to, and with a start, realize that we are standing in front of the church I had met Will at. “What are we doing here?” Will asks cautiously, his eyebrows furrowing as he glances between Murmur and the other demon. ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-2]] <<set $FriendlyAntag to Math.clamp($FriendlyAntag + 2, 0, 60)>>

Shaking my head, I try to clear it of any doubts. Although Murmur seems like they are kind, and they are obviously very willing to help me get my memories back, I should be cautious. Stopping suddenly, Murmur turns around and looks at me. They seem to be waiting for something, likely waiting for me to speak first. Confused, I take a look around the area they brought us to, and with a start, realize that we are standing in front of the church I had met Will at. “What are we doing here?” Will asks cautiously, his eyebrows furrowing as he glances between Murmur and the other demon. ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-2]]

I watch the demon in front of me closely, unable to help my skepticism. Murmur seems kind, and is obviously very willing to help me get my memories back… But that isn’t enough to get me to trust them. Stopping suddenly, Murmur turns around and looks at me. They seem to be waiting for something, likely waiting for me to speak first. Confused, I take a look around the area they brought us to, and with a start, realize that we are standing in front of the church I had met Will at. “What are we doing here?” Will asks cautiously, his eyebrows furrowing as he glances between Murmur and the other demon. ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-2]]

The shorter demon tilts his head to the side, his big, round glasses glinting in the streetlights, and I finally notice his horns nestled within his blonde, curly hair. They look like ram horns, but are dark blue. There seems to be some kind of gold design on them as well, but I can’t figure out what it is, because he asks a question, bringing my attention back to his face. “This is where you first found $Name, right?” A lazy smile crawling on his lips as he seems to find Will’s unease amusing. I turn to look at Will, and find him staring at me as well. He seems to debate whether he should answer the demon or not, trying to determine my reaction to them knowing this is where I first showed up. I nod my head at him, trying to get him to be cooperative. Sighing, Will nods his head slightly. “Yeah. $g1 just kind of appeared behind me. I found $g2 splayed out on the sidewalk right there.” He points to the spot, right underneath where Murmur is standing. Dark brown eyes flicker to mine again, and… ---- [[I give him a small smile, thankful. ->CHAP3-THANKFUL]] ---- [[I blush at the eye contact, but smile at him. [Flirt] ->CHAP3-WILLFLIRT1]] ---- [[I raise an eyebrow at him. ->CHAP3-RAISEEYEBROW]] ---- [[I just stare back at him. ->CHAP3-JUSTSTARE]] ----

I can’t help the small smile I give him, grateful he’s actually trying to help me out. It’s not that I didn’t think he would, but it’s obvious that being around a bunch of demons makes him uneasy. But he’s willing to try for me, and I hope he knows I’m grateful for that. “...Interesting.” Murmur mumbles, their blank eyes staring at the sidewalk under their feet. “I’m curious as to why $g1 appeared //here//, of all places…” “What…” I only realize that I start speaking when 3 pairs of eyes land on me suddenly. I blink, before clearing my throat and finishing my sentence. “What do you know about me? How did I end up here?” “Yeah- and how did $g1 lose $g3 memories?” Will adds on quickly. ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-3]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 3, 0, 62)>><<set $FriendlyAntag to Math.clamp($FriendlyAntag + 2, 0, 100)>>

I can feel my cheeks heat up at the eye contact, my whole body seeming to alight with a fire at his attention. The corners of my mouth tip up, a small smile all I’m able to give him to try and show that I’m grateful that he’s actually helping me out. It’s not that I didn’t think he would, but it’s obvious that being around a bunch of demons makes him uneasy. But he’s willing to try for me, and I hope he knows I’m grateful for that. “...Interesting.” Murmur mumbles, their blank eyes staring at the sidewalk under their feet. “I’m curious as to why $g1 appeared //here//, of all places…” “What…” I only realize that I start speaking when 3 pairs of eyes land on me suddenly. I blink, before clearing my throat and finishing my sentence. “What do you know about me? How did I end up here?” “Yeah- and how did $g1 lose $g3 memories?” Will adds on quickly. ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-3]] <<set $Will_Love to Math.clamp($Will_Love + 1, 0, 6)>> <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 3, 0, 62)>>

I raise an eyebrow at him, unsure what he’s looking at me for. Although I //should// be grateful that he’s //trying// to help me out, I can’t help but feel like he’s being a little difficult about it. As long as he continues to be cooperative, we won’t have a problem. “...Interesting.” Murmur mumbles, their blank eyes staring at the sidewalk under their feet. “I’m curious as to why $g1 appeared //here//, of all places…” “What…” I only realize that I start speaking when 3 pairs of eyes land on me suddenly. I blink, before clearing my throat and finishing my sentence. “What do you know about me? How did I end up here?” “Yeah- and how did $g1 lose $g3 memories?” Will adds on quickly. ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-3]]

I stare back at him, unsure what he’s looking at //me// for. Although I //should// be grateful that he’s //trying// to help me out, I can’t help but feel like he’s being a little difficult about it. As long as he continues to be cooperative, we won’t have a problem. “...Interesting.” Murmur mumbles, their blank eyes staring at the sidewalk under their feet. “I’m curious as to why $g1 appeared //here//, of all places…” “What…” I only realize that I start speaking when 3 pairs of eyes land on me suddenly. I blink, before clearing my throat and finishing my sentence. “What do you know about me? How did I end up here?” “Yeah- and how did $g1 lose $g3 memories?” Will adds on quickly. ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-3]]

Steepling their fingers underneath their chin, Murmur studies me closely for a few silent moments. I can’t help but feel antsy, the anticipation of finally figuring things out filling the air with something that feels like an electric charge. “You ended up ‘here’, amongst humans, because of your parents. Why they put you here in New York City, specifically, I do not know.” Murmur’s head tilts to the side, owl-like. They don’t seem to realize they only answered one of our questions. “Parents?” Will asks, quietly, extremely confused. “Demons don’t have parents.” “Well, $Name isn’t just any old demon.” The shorter demon states, waving his hand between Will and I nonchalantly. “$g1 <<if $program >=20>>are <<elseif $program >=0 && $program <=19>>is<</if>> the spawn of Satan and The Devil.” Backing up a bit, like that information physically hit him, Will’s eyes widen as he looks at me. “...What?” ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-4]]

I’m taken aback by that information, if only because Will suddenly acts like he’s scared of me. Although I know that information should be a huge revelation, I can’t help but feel… nothing. Bits and pieces of the books that I had read at the library with Will and Anya start to come back to me, and I know that Satan is a fallen angel from Heaven and The Devil is evil incarnate- the leader of the demons of Hell. //’These two say that I’m… the ''kid'' of these 2 evil beings?’// “To answer your other questions-” Murmur speaks up, their quiet voice somehow able to bring me out of my thoughts, “-You lost your memories because you’re currently being punished by your parents-” “Punished?” I interrupt Murmur, feeling like with every answer they give, 2 more questions come from me. “Why am I being punished? What did I do?” ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-5]]

“You were just being yourself.” Murmur states simply, and their shoulders jerk upwards in a half-shrug. “You always were a trouble maker…” Camio’s smile widens as he stares at me, his eyes twinkling in the dim streetlights. I stare between these 2 demons, feeling like we’re somehow going around in a circle with this conversation. There’s something they aren’t telling me, the full truth never seeming to come out of their mouths. ---- [[I’m getting frustrated. ->CHAP3-FRUST]] ---- [[I’m getting angry. ->CHAP3-ANGRY]] ---- [[I’m getting upset. ->CHAP3-UPSET]] ---- [[I feel nothing. ->CHAP3-NOTHING]]

“Will you please just…” I let out a sigh, trying to get my frustration out. It won’t be helpful if I get upset with these 2, the only beings that seem to know something. “Let’s just start from the beginning, ok? Who are you both, and how do I know you?” “I’m Camio, your highness.” The shorter demon finally gives his name, doing a lazy mock-salute towards me. “I’m a President of Hell, and was once your tutor of all things demon.” “Tutor? Why would I need a ‘tutor of all things demon’ if I’m a demon myself?” I ask, confused. “You were never exactly fond of being a demon.” Murmur speaks up, their voice even quieter than normal. “You refused to learn how to be a demon, because you never wanted to be one in the first place. You had no interest in taking human souls.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-6]] <<set $Camiostat to "Camio- A friendly demon who used to be your tutor.">>

“Will you please just //make some sense//?” The expressions the demons give me differ, the shorter one looks entirely amused by my angry tone, but Murmur seems to look a little guilty, despite their facial expression not changing much. Sighing, I cross my arms and raise an eyebrow at them before saying, “Let’s just start from the beginning, ok? Who are you both, and how do I know you?” “I’m Camio, your highness.” The shorter demon finally gives his name, doing a lazy mock-salute towards me. “I’m a President of Hell, and was once your tutor of all things demon.” “Tutor? Why would I need a ‘tutor of all things demon’ if I’m a demon myself?” I ask, confused. “You were never exactly fond of being a demon.” Murmur speaks up, their voice even quieter than normal. “You refused to learn how to be a demon, because you never wanted to be one in the first place. You had no interest in taking human souls.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-6]] <<set $Camiostat to "Camio- A friendly demon who used to be your tutor.">>

“Will you please just…” I can feel tears start to gather in my eyes, threatening to spill over in a moment’s notice. Taking a deep breath, I watch as both of the demons in front of me actually look… concerned? Or guilty? Before I say, “Let’s just start from the beginning, ok? Who are you both, and how do I know you?” “I’m Camio, your highness.” The shorter demon finally gives his name, doing a lazy mock-salute towards me. “I’m a President of Hell, and was once your tutor of all things demon.” “Tutor? Why would I need a ‘tutor of all things demon’ if I’m a demon myself?” I ask, confused. “You were never exactly fond of being a demon.” Murmur speaks up, their voice even quieter than normal. “You refused to learn how to be a demon, because you never wanted to be one in the first place. You had no interest in taking human souls.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-6]] <<set $Camiostat to "Camio- A friendly demon who used to be your tutor.">>

My emotions seem to shut off the longer we go in circles, and I can’t find it in myself to care all that much. But I still need some answers, so I say, “Let’s just start from the beginning, ok? Who are you both, and how do I know you?” “I’m Camio, your highness.” The shorter demon finally gives his name, doing a lazy mock-salute towards me. “I’m a President of Hell, and was once your tutor of all things demon.” “Tutor? Why would I need a ‘tutor of all things demon’ if I’m a demon myself?” I ask, confused. “You were never exactly fond of being a demon.” Murmur speaks up, their voice even quieter than normal. “You refused to learn how to be a demon, because you never wanted to be one in the first place. You had no interest in taking human souls.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-6]] <<set $Camiostat to "Camio- A friendly demon who used to be your tutor.">>

I can feel my eyebrows furrow, trying to remember… //anything// that would tell me if Murmur is telling the truth. I don’t know what I was expecting, exactly, but I thought that there’d be more to this interaction. Did I think all of my memories would be able to traverse the fog in my brain, if I had someone tell me all about what I forgot? Because that isn’t what is happening… In fact, the more that is explained to me, the less I feel that I understand. My eyes shift to Murmur, who is watching me with the same blank slate of an expression. “And who are you? What were you, to me?” Murmur’s white eyes seem to flicker across my features, as if they are trying to decide if I really can’t remember who they are. Their eyebrows furrow, ever so slightly, before their shoulders sag a bit. They seem… actually rather sad that I don’t remember them. ---- [[I want to remember them. ->CHAP3-WANTTOREM]] ---- [[I wish I could remember them… [Flirt] ->CHAP3-FLIRTMUR]] ---- [[If they would just tell me about themselves, I’d be able to remember them quicker. ->CHAP3-BITCHY]]

I’m not sure what our relationship was before I lost my memories, but the way they seem so upset that I can’t remember them tells me we were rather close. I find myself staring at them, taking in their features, trying my best to remember //for them//, not just for myself. I find that they are rather attractive, with wide eyes and full lips- After a few moments of silence, Murmur steeples their fingers under their chin again, before their gaze is brought back to the concrete under their feet. “I was also your tutor, when it became apparent that Camio wasn’t actually //trying// to teach you.” “Well, $g1 wasn’t interested! I don’t like forcing people to do things they don’t want to.” Camio almost pouts, suddenly defensive at Murmur’s accusation. ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-7]] <<set $Murmur_Love to Math.clamp($Murmur_Love + 1, 0, 1)>>

I want to remember them so badly. Not just them, but //anything// from before I lost my memories. I can’t stand not knowing who I am… and it’s obvious now that just being told about my past won’t actually give me my memories back. After a few moments of silence, Murmur steeples their fingers under their chin again, before their gaze is brought back to the concrete under their feet. “I was also your tutor, when it became apparent that Camio wasn’t actually //trying// to teach you.” “Well, $g1 wasn’t interested! I don’t like forcing people to do things they don’t want to.” Camio almost pouts, suddenly defensive at Murmur’s accusation. ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-7]] <<set $FriendlyAntag to Math.clamp($FriendlyAntag + 2, 0, 100)>>

Sighing, I try to dampen my frustration once again. I understand that we knew each other before I lost my memories, but getting upset that I don’t remember isn’t going to help me get the memories back. After a few moments of silence, Murmur steeples their fingers under their chin again, before their gaze is brought back to the concrete under their feet. “I was also your tutor, when it became apparent that Camio wasn’t actually //trying// to teach you.” “Well, $g1 wasn’t interested! I don’t like forcing people to do things they don’t want to.” Camio almost pouts, suddenly defensive at Murmur’s accusation. ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-7]]

“You don’t like to do //anything//, we’re now finding out.” Murmur sighs, closing their eyes as if fighting off an impending headache. //’So, these 2 were basically my tutors? Teaching me ‘how to be a demon’?’// “What do demons… //do//, exactly? What were you supposed to teach me?” I ask, stepping towards the 2 demons, catching their attention. “Demons collect human souls through contracts to gain power. A demon’s ultimate goal is to become a ranked demon, and keep growing stronger and stronger, forever and ever.” Camio happily supplies, his eyes twinkling a bit in the dull light of the street. Murmur adds on, “You were supposed to become stronger than all of us ranked demons, so that you would be able to rule over us.” “So, I was basically… training to rule over the demons of Hell?” I can feel my eyebrows furrow, something about that not making sense to me. “But… I thought my //parents// were the ones ruling over Hell? Why would they want me to become stronger and take over their job for them?” ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-8]]

At this, Camio and Murmur suddenly become more serious. A chill runs across my skin at the shift in aura around them, but they aren’t threatening me or anything… They seem to become sad, melancholic; Maybe guilty… Or pitying. Whether I care about being pitied or not, I don’t really get much time to think about it before Murmur furthers the conversation. “Your parents say you are to lead the demons of Hell, that is all anyone really knows about why you were created… But you didn’t want any of that, so you disobeyed your parents time and time again. This last incident was the final straw for them.” My eyes widen a fraction; I’m surprised by how dark and ominous Murmur’s words are. “What does that mean?” “You are being punished by your parents. I’m… I’m unsure about the specifics of your punishment, but I //do// know that losing your memories must have been part of it.” Murmur tilts their head to the side as they study me, like they are trying to figure out the details of my punishment by examining me. Suddenly, they step towards me, and their voice is even quieter than usual as they say, “I’m afraid that… losing your sense of self is only the first step. There must be more to come, knowing your parents.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-9]]

Their words seem to hit my body, almost physically, because I let out a harsh breath as they sink in. ‘Losing my sense of self is only the first step’- it makes sense, in a way. From what I understand, I didn’t want to do what my parents told me, probably wanting to carve my own path in life. They tried to take that away from me by wiping my memories clean. I don’t know what expression is on my face, but whatever it is makes Murmur take another small step towards me, their hands twitching at their sides like they are about to grab onto me. But they don’t, and I can see the hesitance in their white eyes. ---- [[Grab hold of their hand. ->CHAP3-HOLDHAND]] ---- [[Grab hold of their hand. [Flirt] ->CHAP3-FLIRTMUR2]] ---- [[Take a step back. ->CHAP3-STEPBACK]]

Grabbing onto their hand, I try to conjure up //any// memories I might share with Murmur in my mind. The fog is too hazy, too thick and all-consuming, and I can feel my shoulders sag with the disappointment that I’m not getting my memories back, not this easily at least. “$Name, I’m sure there’s a way to get your memories back.” Whispering, so only I can hear, Murmur squeezes my hand, like they’ve done it a thousand times before. It’s comforting, despite my brain’s reluctance to remember any of the instances of it happening. “I’m going to do everything I can to get them back.” I want to believe them, I really do… But there’s a gnawing suspicion in the back of my mind that it won’t ever happen. I may have to spend the rest of my life, however long that is, trying to become //me// again. Not just physically, but mentally- I must have had //dreams//, //wants//, //passions//- but it’s all gone now. I’m a blank slate, waiting for whatever else my parents have in store for me. I nod my head at Murmur, not able to bring myself to say anything else. ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-10]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 3, 0, 63)>><<set $FriendlyAntag to Math.clamp($FriendlyAntag + 2, 0, 100)>>

Grabbing onto their hand, I try to conjure up //any// memories I might share with Murmur in my mind. The fog is too hazy, too thick and all-consuming, and I feel my shoulders sag with the disappointment that I’m not getting my memories back, not this easily at least. “$Name, I’m sure there’s a way to get your memories back.” Whispering, so only I can hear, Murmur squeezes my hand, like they’ve done it a thousand times before. It makes my insides flutter, a warmth radiating from my chest outwards. How many times have we held hands before? It’s comforting, despite my brain’s reluctance to remember any of the instances of it happening. “I’m going to do everything I can to get them back.” I want to believe them, I really do… But there’s a gnawing suspicion in the back of my mind that it won’t ever happen. I may have to spend the rest of my life, however long that is, trying to become //me// again. Not just physically, but mentally- I must have had //dreams//, //wants//, //passions//- but it’s all gone now. I’m a blank slate, waiting for whatever else my parents have in store for me. I nod my head at Murmur, not able to bring myself to say anything else. ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-10]] <<set $Murmur_Love to Math.clamp($Murmur_Love + 1, 0, 2)>><<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 3, 0, 63)>>

Taking a step back, I try to conjure up //any// memories I might share with Murmur in my mind. The fog is too hazy, too thick and all-consuming, and I can feel my shoulders sag with disappointment that I’m not getting my memories back, not this easily at least. “$Name, I’m sure there’s a way to get your memories back.” Whispering, so only I can hear, Murmur nods their head towards me. Their words are comforting, despite my brain’s reluctance to remember anything. “I’m going to do everything I can to get them back.” I want to believe them, I really do… But there’s a gnawing suspicion in the back of my mind that it won’t ever happen. I may have to spend the rest of my life, however long that is, trying to become //me// again. Not just physically, but mentally- I must have had //dreams//, //wants//, //passions//- but it’s all gone now. I’m a blank slate, waiting for whatever else my parents have in store for me. I nod my head at Murmur, not able to bring myself to say anything else. ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-10]] <<set $FriendlyAntag to Math.clamp($FriendlyAntag - 2, 0, 100)>>

At the dismissal, Murmur sighs, before their attention snaps back to me. “I have to go now, I have some business to take care of with a human. I’ll continue to research ways to get your memories back, and I’ll try to learn more about the details of your parent’s punishment. Until then…” Murmur’s sentence trails off, and I find them staring over my shoulder with an intense look in their eyes. Turning around, I find Will, who has backed up quite a ways away from us. He’s staring at the demons, his dark eyes wide and uneasy, before that gaze flickers to me. He looks scared, and that makes me feel even worse. “Until then, I need you to continue to keep an eye on $Name for me. Will that be a problem?” Murmur steps up beside me, the air around them a little darker as they address Will. Will’s eyebrows furrow, a mixture of irritation and concern, biting his lower lip in a nervous way. Turning that gaze back onto me, Will’s shoulders slump a little, before he sighs. “No, that won’t be a problem.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-11]]

“Good.” Camio claps his hands together once, and the sound echoes down the street, seeming to dissipate the dark energy that had started to gather around us. “Now, we really should get a move on, Murmur… Before we attract unwanted attention.” Murmur gives one last long, searching look at Will, before that white-eyed stare comes back to me. “We’ll see you again soon, $Name.” With that, the demons vanish in a cloud of black smoke, leaving Will and I standing in an uncomfortable silence. I turn to look at him, waiting to see what he has to say, considering he was pretty silent through most of that conversation. He had seemed pretty freaked out when he found out what I actually am, the spawn of Satan and The Devil, and he still seems pretty shaken up. He swallows, his gaze flicking back and forth between looking at me and looking over my shoulder, like he’s expecting the demons to come back at any moment. And when he finally does speak, he doesn’t seem to want to bring up the conversation we just had at all. “Well, it’s getting late… We should head back.” With one last look at the spot that Murmur and Camio had disappeared from, I follow behind Will, silently. ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-12]]

---- !!!A few days later... //I blink as I look up at the sky, a strange feeling overtaking me as I watch the moon slowly block out the sun. Shadows grow longer, the colors around me dull, the temperature drops drastically-// //There’s a flash of light, and I’m suddenly in a strange room. It looks like a bedroom, with a bed and wardrobe, but there are no windows, no natural light coming from any sources. Red and black candles float in the air, slowly circling the room, bringing my attention to the far corner where I see a child sitting at a desk.// //They have $haircolor hair, and $skincolor skin, and with a start, I realize that it’s ''me''//. //“Sin.” A low voice calls to me from the opposite side of the room, and I turn to see… nothing. <<if $Namechoice >=1>>//For some reason, I have a feeling that the man was calling for me, despite my name being $Name.// <<elseif $Namechoice >=0 && $Namechoice <=0>>//Hearing my name from this invisible man frustrates me, for some reason..// <</if>> ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-13]]

//The child turns around and looks toward the door, and I realize that the voice is coming from behind it. “Yes, father?” My young, tiny voice asks- and I’m slightly uncomfortable with the lack of emotion behind my $eyecolor eyes. “You snuck out of Hell again, didn’t you?” Instantly, I watch as the child’s eyes widen in fear, getting caught for something they shouldn’t have done in the first place. Instead of answering, my young eyes fall to the floor, my tiny hands fidgeting in my lap. “Answer him, Sin.” A new voice enters the room- or rather, a strange amalgamation of multiple voices. It makes my skin crawl, and by the look on the child’s face, it genuinely scares me. “...Yes, I did.” The child nods their head, their eyes downcast with guilt and fear.// ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-14]]

!Other relationships... $Camiostat ---- $Azraelstat <center><<link "Return to game" $return>><</link>></center>

//“What did you bring home this time?” The first voice asks, no hint of ''love'' or ''understanding'' you should hear in your father’s tone. The little version of me turns back to the desk $g1 <<if $program >=20>>were <<elseif $program >=0 && $program <=19>>was<</if>> sitting at, grabbing a book, and turns back around. With shaky hands, $g1 <<if $program >=20>>show <<elseif $program >=0 && $program <=19>>shows<</if>> the cover of the book to the door, whispering, “A book.” The cover is older, slightly dirty, and a medium red. There’s a tiny girl painted in gold on the cover, holding some sort of animal in her arms- I’m too far away to get a good look. I can see gold writing on the spine of the book, ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’, but before my mind can even decide whether it remembers the book or not, the low voice is speaking again. “Sin, we’ve talked about this-” “I know, Father, I’m sorry.” My tiny voice somehow interrupts the man, my young eyes widening a bit like I didn’t mean to speak up. “I just… I just love humans. They like to tell stories!”// ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-15]]

//Silence is all my childish enthusiasm is met with. I can see the light draining from the child’s eyes, and a deep rooted sorrow erupts in my chest at the sight. “You can’t love humans, Sin.” The voice that is many voices in one speaks up suddenly, gaining both our attentions. When the child is about to interrupt them, the voices speak over them, “You can’t love humankind, because you were created to p̶̢͕͠͝e̸̲̊̅r̶̹̾d̵̞͔̅̒e̷̦̊r̷̮̒̀e̴̢̧̔̓ it.” Something like static fills my ears, getting louder and louder, at this being’s words. I cover my ears, trying to drown the sound out, before realizing that the sound is coming from ''my own head''. It fills my head, growing more intense, trying to liquify my brain. It starts to hurt- burning, aching, pounding- and I can’t help but scream. I’m not sure what forces me to, but my eyes open again, despite the pain in my head trying to drag me into unconsciousness. All I see is a total eclipse- the moon having finally blocked the sun out. A black hole blocking out the warmth, the light, the ''life''-// “$Name!” ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-16]]

I startle awake, a ragged breath leaving me as I sit up quickly. A layer of sweat covers my skin, the blanket wrapped around my body is uncomfortably damp, and I start to tremble violently as I recall the dream I just had. “Hey, hey-” Will’s voice scares me, as I wasn’t expecting him to be in the room. He raises his hands, trying to placate me from afar, as he stands next to the bed. “It’s alright, you’re alright.” “What-” My voice comes out scratchy, and makes me cough. After a second, I try to speak again. “What happened?” Eyebrows furrowing in confusion, Will shakes his head. “What do you mean, what happened? You were just having a really bad nightmare, screaming and thrashing around like crazy… I should be asking //you// what happened.” Wiping a shaking hand down my face, I sigh as I try to calm my tense body down. ---- [[Tell Will about the dream. ->CHAP3-TELLWILL]] ---- [[I don’t want to talk about it… ->CHAP3-NOTALK]] ---- [[Reach for his hand. [Flirt] ->CHAP3-WILLFLIRT]]

#a6e9ff

“I… I think it was a memory. I was a kid, and I was in this weird bedroom with no windows…” I stare down at my hands in my lap now, the dream starting to become hazy. It makes a ball of anxiety form in my chest, like if I don’t remember it now, it’ll be gone forever again. “I was talking to these voices from behind a door, about how I had gone… //somewhere// again, when I wasn’t supposed to. I brought a book back with me, Alice’s… Alice’s…” My words trail off as I remember the sadness I felt watching that little kid trying and failing to get the attention and love $g1 wanted. Was that my childhood? Being kept in a dark room, all by myself, unable to interact with //anyone//, let alone my own parents? No wonder I often snuck out, even at such a young age… Something drips onto my hand, and I startle back to the present. I can feel another tear escape my eye, dripping onto the comforter still wrapped around my body. “$Name…” Will finally speaks up, his voice quiet- I almost forgot he was even there. I look up at Will, his face full of concern as he watches more tears spill from my eyes. Shaking my head, trying to dispel the sadness from my brain, I hurriedly wipe them away. “I… I can’t remember anything else. It was just… a bad nightmare.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-17]]

Shaking my head, I don’t answer him. I don’t want to relive the nightmare, or memory- whatever it was, I want to forget it. Although, when the images start to become hazy, it makes a ball of anxiety form in my chest… Like, if I don’t remember it now, it’ll be gone forever again. I suddenly remember the sadness I felt watching that little kid trying and failing to get the attention and love $g1 wanted. Was that my childhood? Being kept in a dark room, all by myself, unable to interact with //anyone//, let alone my own parents? No wonder I often snuck out, even at such a young age… Something drips onto my hand, and I startle back to the present. I can feel another tear escape my eye, dripping onto the comforter still wrapped around my body. “$Name…” Will finally speaks up, his voice quiet- I almost forgot he was even there. I look up at Will, his face full of concern as he watches more tears spill from my eyes. Shaking my head, trying to dispel the sadness from my brain, I hurriedly wipe them away. “I… I can’t remember anything. It was just… a bad nightmare.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-17]]

Shaking my head, I don’t answer him right away. I don’t want to relive the nightmare, or memory just yet- whatever it was, I want to forget it. Although, when the images start to become hazy, it makes a ball of anxiety form in my chest… Like, if I don’t remember it now, it’ll be gone forever again. My eyes glance over to Will, still standing by the bed. He’s in his pajamas- just a plain white shirt and plaid pajama bottoms. His hand clenches at his side, like he’s trying not to reach for me. But I want him to… So I reach for his hand myself. He seems surprised when I grasp his hand in my shaky hold, and I’m almost afraid he’s going to pull away. He seemed a bit more distant since our conversation with Murmur and Camio, like he was afraid of me. It hurt… but I can’t blame him, not when I don’t even know myself all that well. I suddenly remember the sadness I felt watching that little kid trying and failing to get the attention and love $g1 wanted, it was rather similar to how I feel now while desperately holding onto Will’s hand. Was that my childhood? Being kept in a dark room, all by myself, unable to interact with //anyone//, let alone my own parents? No wonder I often snuck out, even at such a young age… Something drips onto my free hand, and I startle back to the present. I can feel another tear escape my eye, dripping onto the comforter still wrapped around my body. “$Name…” Will finally speaks up, his voice quiet. I look up at him, his face full of concern as he watches more tears spill from my eyes. Shaking my head, trying to dispel the sadness from my brain, I hurriedly wipe them away. “I… I can’t remember anything. It was just… a bad nightmare.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-17]] <<set $Will_Love to Math.clamp($Will_Love + 1, 0, 7)>> <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 3, 0, 65)>>

“Wait here, ok?” Will says suddenly, backing away from the bed. He looks like he’s about to stay when I glance up at him, tears still falling from my eyes, but he smiles and hurries towards the door to the room. “I’ll be right back, I just… want to try something.” Once he leaves, I stare at the open door confused. I can hear him rustling around in the living room, before I hear a strange scratching noise- but then a few seconds later, music starts to play quietly, just loud enough for me to hear it from my bed. Coming back to the room, Will carries one of the dining chairs with him, and he sets it down beside the bed. He sits down, giving me a small smile, just as singing fills the room. //”For once in my life, I have someone who needs me. Someone I've needed so long-”// “Here we go. Stevie Wonder always cheers me up, so I thought he might cheer you up too.” Will tries to get himself as comfy as he can in the chair, seemingly content to stay there for a long while. When I just watch him, confused, he gives his sweet lopsided grin before leaning closer to me. “To tell you the truth, I stole this vinyl from my dad just before I moved here from New Orleans, and he still has no clue.” Sudden clarity at the situation hits me- he’s really trying to cheer me up. ---- [[I can’t help the smile that grows. ->CHAP3-SMILE]] ---- [[I almost smile, but keep a straight face. ->CHAP3-DONTSMILE]] ---- [[I just stare at him, a little unimpressed. ->CHAP3-UNIMPRESSED]]

Letting out a chuckle, I smile at Will. The darkness in my mind that was brought on by my dream dissipates, the sweet lyrics seeming to dance around the room. //”For once in my life, I won’t let sorrow hurt me. Not like it’s hurt me before-”// I try to go back to sleep after that; the Stevie Wonder record playing softly from the room next door and the presence of Will just enough to lull me back to unconsciousness. ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-18]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 4, 0, 60)>><<set $FriendlyAntag to Math.clamp($FriendlyAntag + 2, 0, 100)>>

Letting out a huff of air, not quite a laugh, I somehow manage to keep a straight face. The darkness in my mind that was brought on by my dream dissipates, the sweet lyrics seeming to dance around the room. //”For once in my life, I won’t let sorrow hurt me. Not like it’s hurt me before-”// I try to go back to sleep after that; the Stevie Wonder record playing softly from the room next door and the presence of Will just enough to lull me back to unconsciousness. ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-18]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 1, 0, 65)>>

Raising an eyebrow, I just stare at Will. But this distraction //was// enough to take my mind off of the nightmare, so I guess it isn’t //too// bad. //”For once in my life, I won’t let sorrow hurt me. Not like it’s hurt me before-”// I try to go back to sleep after that; the Stevie Wonder record playing softly from the room next door and the presence of Will just enough to lull me back to unconsciousness. ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-18]] <<set $FriendlyAntag to Math.clamp($FriendlyAntag - 2, 0, 100)>>

---- !!!Hours later… Will and I walk down the streets of New York, opting to enjoy the last few weeks of good weather before Fall really starts to take over. He says he’s taking me out to do something fun- and although he hasn’t said anything about the night before, I know he’s still worried about me as well, probably trying to distract me from the realization that I still have no memories, despite talking to Murmur. “Oh, my god… A hot dog sounds so good right now.” Will says suddenly. I look at him, finding his attention on a food cart on the opposite sidewalk, before he turns to me with a twinkle in his eye. “Let’s go get some.” Nodding, I follow Will as he jaywalks across the street quickly- still somehow getting honked at by a car. As we stand in line, waiting to get served, a few voices float down the alleyway we stand in front of. It takes a second, but I realize that they are //very// familiar. “Doesn’t that sound like…?” My sentence trails off as I start walking down the alleyway, but stop when Will gently grabs onto my arm. “Hey, where are you going?” He looks down the alleyway, eyebrows furrowing in concern. “Maybe don’t go wandering off on your own? Especially after hearing voices coming from an alleyway?” ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-19]]

Rolling my eyes, I take a step farther into the path, waving a hand in Will’s direction. “I’m just going to check to see if it’s who I think it is. I’ll be right back.” “Wait, $Name-” Will looks back at the vendor, realizing he’s still a few people away from getting served. But once he realizes that I’m not stopping, he groans in frustration before following me. We make our way past stinking dumpsters, empty crates and boxes, and a group of stray cats that hiss at us as we walk by them. The voices get louder the farther into the alleyway we go, so I know we're heading in the right direction. Turning the corner, we walk up on 2 people in the middle of a heated argument- but once my eyes have truly taken in the scene, it’s more like a one-sided argument than anything. ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-20]]

Dani, the stranger from the park, is standing with their arms crossed in front of Anya. They wear the same pristine gray suit, the only difference being a pencil skirt instead of slacks. They haven’t seemed to notice us, as they say, “Are you even //listening// to me?” Anya’s wide, glassy eyes seem to stare through Dani, not giving any indication that she has heard them at all. ---- [[Call out to them. ->CHAP3-CALLOUT]] ---- [[Wait and see what happens. ->CHAP3-WAITANDSEE]]

“Anya? Dani?” I ask, stepping closer to them. Dani seems to startle, attention snapping to me quickly. Anya’s own attention is a lot slower to gain, her eyes slowly swinging around to meet my gaze. There’s something off about her right now, but I’m not entirely sure what it is… “$Name? What… What are you doing here?” Dani asks, looking almost… alarmed. “I heard your voices from the street.” I answer cautiously, finding both Anya and Dani’s reactions rather strange. My gaze flickers between them, trying to figure out what the hell is happening. “Are you guys ok?” Dani opens their mouth to answer me, when suddenly, many people start //appearing// around us. They seem to materialize out of thin air, fading into existence slowly. I back up, a gasp escaping me as I look around at everyone, before realizing something else… There are some people with //severe// wounds, so bad that they shouldn’t be alive. Someone’s neck has a gash so deep I’m unsure how their head is even staying //attached//- another person has at least 10 bullet holes gaping in their chest- It suddenly clicks in my head… These are spirits- and for some reason, they are gathering in this alleyway. ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-21]]

I stay back, silently watching them as they continue whatever conversation they were having. “I don’t know what your deal is, but I need you to leave this neighborhood.” Dani continues, crossing their arms with a huff when all Anya does is blink at him. “Seriously, what the hell is your problem?” Suddenly, Anya’s attention is on me. Her blinking is sluggish and slow, but even so, there’s a small spark of recognition within them. Turning around, Dani notices me finally, and their eyes widen, alarmed. “$Name? What… What are you doing here?” Before I can answer them, though, I notice that people are starting to //appear// around us. They seem to materialize out of thin air, fading into existence slowly. I back up, a gasp escaping me as I look around at everyone, before also realizing something else… There are some people with //severe// wounds, so bad that they shouldn’t be alive. Someone’s neck has a gash so deep I’m unsure how their head is even saying //attached//- another person has at least 10 bullet holes gaping in their chest- It suddenly clicks in my head… These are spirits, and for some reason, they are gathering in this alleyway. ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-21]]

“What the hell…?” Will whispers, taking in the scene with a confused sort of horror. “Why are all these spirits gathering here?” “That-” Dani points at Will, irritation written on their face, “-Is what ''//I//'' would like to know, as well.” Confused, Will looks at Dani, before he says, “Wait, who are //you//?” Anya seems to finally realize that there are spirits surrounding us, then, because she makes a strangled-sounding gasp and takes a stumbling step back. When her back hits the wall behind her, she seems to crumple in on herself, falling to her knees and covering her head. The spirits start ambling their way towards her, hands outstretched towards her, like they are trying to force her to pay attention to them. Some of them are whispering things like ‘help me’ or ‘look at me’, while others just //glare// at her. ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-22]]

More and more spirits gather around us, filling the narrow alley until we’re literally squeezed in, unable to move. I can hear Will starting to help the spirits pass on, but there are so many that his attempts don’t seem to make a dent at all. Dani also seems to be helping spirits, because flashes of white light come from the direction I last saw them. //‘Consume the spirits.’// That whisper flutters into my brain again, making me tense up. Ice-cold dread fills me as I realize that I //really want to consume these spirits-// “$Name, are you alright?” Will calls between some of the spirits, but I can’t see him at all. //’C̶o̸n̸s̷u̸m̷e̵ ̷t̴h̶e̴m̸.̷’// A harsh throb of pain in my temples has me gasping, a ragged breath ripped out of me as I grasp at my head. //’C̸̢͙̻̦͕̠̜̗̀͆o̷͎̯̪̙͍͙̜̫̓͂͊͛͝ṅ̵̤̈́͠s̵͔̀͌͂̅͛̑̕u̶̧̟̝̼̣̒̅̍͠m̷̭̅̄̿͛̇̓e̶͚̗͙̰̎̍ ̶̰̹̰͕̹͋͛̊̋ṯ̷͕͕͙͙̈̒̒̑͝͝ẖ̶̘̩̖̪̈́̉é̵̡͚͖̻̠̪̈̂́̕ṁ̸̜̻̘̠̺̘̃̒͋’// [[Next ->CHAP3-23]]

I nearly fall to my knees with the pressure inside my head, the static filling my ears causing dizziness… That is, until every single spirit that surrounds us vanishes suddenly. With their absences, my brain quiets down, the pain becoming just a dull thud. I’m only vaguely aware of Dani and Will throwing confused looks at each other, before both of their gazes turn towards me. ---- [[Stumble towards Will. ->CHAP3-STUMBWILL]] ---- [[Stumble towards Will. [Flirt] ->CHAP3-WILLFLIRT2]] ---- [[Watch Dani carefully. ->CHAP3-DANICARE]] ---- [[Watch Dani. [Flirt] ->CHAP3-DANIFLIRT]] ---- [[Check on Anya. ->CHAP3-CHECKANYA]] ---- [[Check on Anya. [Flirt] ->CHAP3-ANYAFLIRT]] ---- [[Stay where I am. ->CHAP3-STAY]]

Taking a deep breath, I stumble towards Will, needing his familiar presence near me. I ignore the look he gives me, confusion with a slight hint of fear, in favor of looking between Anya and Dani. “You… You got rid of them.” Anya says suddenly, her eyes widening a bit like she can’t believe it. Her words are slurring together, like she’s drunk, but for some reason, I’m not too sure that she actually is… “Me?” I ask, confused. When I look at Will and Dani, they seem to hesitate, before Will steps forward. “I don’t know what you did, exactly, but they vanished.” He thins his lips, his eyes flickering between the 3 of us, before settling on me again. “Did you… Did you consume them, $Name?” Shaking my head, I can feel my face contort in confusion. “No, I don’t… I didn’t do anything.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-24]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 3, 0, 65)>>

Taking a deep breath, I stumble towards Will, needing his familiar presence near me. Just being around him seems to ease my discomfort, despite the look he gives me. It’s confusion mixed with a slight hint of fear, and although it makes me hesitate for a moment, I continue to find my way by his side. “You… You got rid of them.” Anya says suddenly, her eyes widening a bit like she can’t believe it. Her words are slurring together, like she’s drunk, but for some reason, I’m not too sure that she actually is… “Me?” I ask, confused. When I look at Will and Dani, they seem to hesitate, before Will steps forward. “I don’t know what you did, exactly, but they vanished.” He thins his lips, his eyes flickering between the 3 of us, before settling on me again. “Did you… Did you consume them, $Name?” Shaking my head, I can feel my face contort in confusion. “No, I don’t… I didn’t do anything.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-24]] <<set $Will_Love to Math.clamp($Will_Love + 1, 0, 8)>> <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 3, 0, 65)>>

My eyes flicker to Dani. They stare back at me, something akin to amazement in their dark brown eyes. I go to take a step in their direction when Anya catches my attention. “You… You got rid of them.” Anya says suddenly, her eyes widening a bit like she can’t believe it. Her words are slurring together, like she’s drunk, but for some reason, I’m not too sure that she actually is… “Me?” I ask, confused. When I look at Will and Dani, they seem to hesitate, before Will steps forward. “I don’t know what you did, exactly, but they vanished.” He thins his lips, his eyes flickering between the 3 of us, before settling on me again. “Did you… Did you consume them, $Name?” Shaking my head, I can feel my face contort in confusion. “No, I don’t… I didn’t do anything.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-24]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 5, 0, 60)>>

My eyes flicker to Dani, unable to stop them from roaming all over their body. They stare back at me, something akin to amazement in their dark brown eyes. I go to take a step in their direction, a sudden urge to be near them taking over me, when Anya catches my attention. “You… You got rid of them.” Anya says suddenly, her eyes widening a bit like she can’t believe it. Her words are slurring together, like she’s drunk, but for some reason, I’m not too sure that she actually is… “Me?” I ask, confused. When I look at Will and Dani, they seem to hesitate, before Will steps forward. “I don’t know what you did, exactly, but they vanished.” He thins his lips, his eyes flickering between the 3 of us, before settling on me again. “Did you… Did you consume them, $Name?” Shaking my head, I can feel my face contort in confusion. “No, I don’t… I didn’t do anything.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-24]] <<set $Dani_Love to Math.clamp($Dani_Love + 2, 0, 3)>> <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 5, 0, 60)>>

Stumbling my way over to Anya, who is now looking around like she can’t believe she’s still alive or something, I kneel down to her level and check over her. There’s still something not quite right with her glazed-over eyes, the light brown dulled and tired. “You… You got rid of them.” Anya says suddenly, her eyes widening a bit like she can’t believe it. Her words are slurring together, like she’s drunk, but for some reason, I’m not too sure that she actually is… “Me?” I ask, confused. When I look at Will and Dani, they seem to hesitate, before Will steps forward. “I don’t know what you did, exactly, but they vanished.” He thins his lips, his eyes flickering between the 3 of us, before settling on me again. “Did you… Did you consume them, $Name?” Shaking my head, I can feel my face contort in confusion. “No, I don’t… I didn’t do anything.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-24]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 5, 0, 60)>>

Stumbling my way over to Anya, who is now looking around like she can’t believe she’s still alive or something, I kneel down to her level and check over her. There’s still something not quite right with her glazed-over eyes, the light brown dulled and tired as they watch me just as closely. Hesitantly, she reaches a hand up, her cold fingers gently stroking down the side of my face, before her hand falls back to the ground, like her muscles are too weak to hold it up. “You… You got rid of them.” Anya says suddenly, her eyes widening a bit like she can’t believe it. Her words are slurring together, like she’s drunk, but for some reason, I’m not too sure that she actually is… “Me?” I ask, confused. When I look at Will and Dani, they seem to hesitate, before Will steps forward. “I don’t know what you did, exactly, but they vanished.” He thins his lips, his eyes flickering between the 3 of us, before settling on me again. “Did you… Did you consume them, $Name?” Shaking my head, I can feel my face contort in confusion. “No, I don’t… I didn’t do anything.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-24]] <<set $Anya_Love to Math.clamp($Anya_Love + 4, 0, 5)>> <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 5, 0, 60)>>

“Yes, you did.” Dani speaks up now, having also come a little closer to me. “There was a definite demonic aura coming from your direction, right before they vanished.” “But… I didn’t…” I look down, my thoughts racing through my head. Although I had those weird thoughts about consuming the spirits, I don’t think that I actually did… But how do I know that for sure? Sighing, Dani seems to become agitated all of a sudden. They look between the 3 of us, before they click their tongue and say, “Look, we can talk about this later. Right now, that amount of demonic energy you just released is catching some //very// unwanted attention, $Name. We need to get somewhere safe, right now.” Reaching for Anya, Dani gingerly grips her by the forearms, helping her stand up and start walking back out the alleyway. ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-25]]

Will and I just look at each other, matching wary expressions, before we’re both startled by Dani’s voice again, echoing down the alley, bouncing off the brick walls. “Hurry up! I’m not joking, you’re in danger.” Following Dani’s lead, Will starts to walk back the way we came. I hesitate, throwing one last look around the area, trying to figure out if I had really consumed all those spirits or not, before shaking my head and following the group. Hopefully, Dani will be able to give me more answers this time around. !CHAPTER THREE END… ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-1]]

I stay where I am, my gaze flickering between the other 3 people in the alley. “You… You got rid of them.” Anya says suddenly, her eyes widening a bit like she can’t believe it. Her words are slurring together, like she’s drunk, but for some reason, I’m not too sure that she actually is… “Me?” I ask, confused. When I look at Will and Dani, they seem to hesitate, before Will steps forward. “I don’t know what you did, exactly, but they vanished.” He thins his lips, his eyes flickering between the 3 of us, before settling on me again. “Did you… Did you consume them, $Name?” Shaking my head, I can feel my face contort in confusion. “No, I don’t… I didn’t do anything.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP3-24]]

!CHAPTER FOUR After a bit of reluctance on his part, Will agrees to take us back to the apartment. After he ushers everyone through the front door, he quickly snaps it shut and locks it, before turning to the strange group in his living room. “What the hell is going on?” Will turns to Dani, who deposits Anya on the couch, where she leans back and closes her eyes instantly. Once Dani’s attention is on Will, he continues on with his questioning. “What did you mean earlier? When you said we were in danger?” Dani rolls their shoulders, looking rather frustrated for some reason. Their dark eyes flicker from Will, to me, before settling on the ground. “It’s complicated.” Will blinks, before scoffing. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” “It means //it’s complicated//.” Dani snaps back, their eyebrows furrowing as they take a step towards Will. “I can’t //say anything// about what is happening, because if I //do// then I’ll get in serious trouble.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-2]]

Stumbling back a bit, like Dani’s words actually physically hit him, Will looks on the verge of a panic attack. “So, we're supposedly in danger… and you, the only one who knows anything, can’t tell us what’s going on?” Nodding, Dani seems to deflate, like their frustration escapes out of them like a breath. Shaking his head, Will seems to finally take Dani in. Confusion flickers across his face, before he finally asks, “What… What //are// you, exactly?” “An angel.” Anya suddenly says. My gaze snaps to her, but after I realize that’s all she’s going to say, I turn my attention back to Dani. They look uncomfortable, but don’t deny what she said. “You’re an angel?” “Yes.” They say simply, but the fact that they can’t meet my eyes tells me it isn’t exactly as ‘simple’ as I think it is. “I’m called a ‘Watcher’. Basically, I watch over Earth and make sure bad things don’t happen to humans.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-3]]

“Bad things? What kind of bad things are we talking about here?” Will tiredly rubs at his eyes, his voice shaking slightly. Dani raises an eyebrow at Will, before giving him a fake smile. “//Bad things//. That’s all you need to know.” Their attention snaps to Anya suddenly, and they gesture towards her as they continue on, “Her little ‘problem’ with attracting spirits is throwing the barrier between spirits and normal humans out of whack.” Anya shrinks back into the couch, guilt written across her face. ---- [[Stand up for Anya. ->CHAP4-STANDUPANYA]] ---- [[Stay out of it. ->CHAP4-STAYOUT]] ---- [[Try to calm Dani down. ->CHAP4-CALMDANI]]

“I don’t think she has any say in that.” I say suddenly, my eyes narrowing as I look from Anya to Dani. It isn’t fair that Dani is getting so upset at her for something she can’t control. It reminds me of when Will found out what I really am, how scared he had been of me despite the fact that I’m still just… me. I have no control over where I come from, and from the look of it, Anya has no control over attracting spirits. We shouldn’t be judged for something like that. “It’s not like she’s doing it on purpose, Dani.” Dani opens their mouth to say something, but thinks better of it. Crossing their arms, they let out a sigh before nodding their head. “No, you’re right. There’s definitely something off about her, and I don’t think whatever it is… is under her control.” Turning to Anya, Dani winces as they say, “I’m… //sorry// for being so harsh with you.” Anya blinks at them slowly, her light brown eyes disappearing for a few moments too long to be normal, before she nods. ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-4]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 5, 0, 60)>>

“Hey, let's calm down.” Will speaks up when I don’t, his hands coming up as if he’s trying to placate Dani. “I don’t think she has any say in that.” Dani opens their mouth to say something, but thinks better of it. Crossing their arms, they let out a sigh before nodding their head. “No, you’re right. There’s definitely something off about her, and I don’t think whatever it is… is under her control.” Turning to Anya, Dani winces as they say, “I’m… //sorry// for being so harsh with you.” Anya blinks at them slowly, her light brown eyes disappearing for a few moments too long to be normal, before she nods. ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-4]]

“Dani…” My sentence trails off as I stare at the angel, not really sure what I was going to say. All I know is that seeing them so agitated is bothering me, considering they have shown to be rather laid back and level-headed up until this point. “Just calm down, alright? She isn’t doing anything on purpose.” Dani opens their mouth to say something, but thinks better of it. Crossing their arms, they let out a sigh before nodding their head. “No, you’re right. There’s definitely something off about her, and I don’t think whatever it is… is under her control.” Turning to Anya, Dani winces as they say, “I’m… //sorry// for being so harsh with you.” Anya blinks at them slowly, her light brown eyes disappearing for a few moments too long to be normal, before she nods. ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-4]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 5, 0, 60)>>

“Anyway, didn’t $Name get rid of the spirits?” Will looks unsure as he slips his shoes off near the front door, before coming to stand in the center of the group in his living room. “Shouldn’t that be helping with the barrier, or whatever?” “Well, it is, but…” Dani pouts their lips, before running a hand through their black hair in another bout of frustration. “The part that’s bothering me isn’t the barrier, it’s the fact that $Name let out a huge amount of demonic energy doing whatever $g1 did to the spirits.” “But… //why//?” It takes a second for me to realize that I was the one who asked that question, Dani’s frustration seeming to bleed into my own. “Just tell us… //something//, anything that you can.” Dani blinks at me, their dark eyes seeming to roam over my own face, as if searching for some hidden detail. It takes them so long to answer that I don’t think they will, but right before I give up on them, they finally say, “There’s an angel coming for you… I don’t //think// they plan to hurt you, but I honestly have no clue what they’re going to do once you’re in their grasp.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-5]]

“Why do they want $Name?” The look on Will’s face is a mixture of horror and anger. <<if $Will_Love >=5>>It makes me blush- the intensity of his obvious care for me makes my dead heart skip a beat. <<elseif $Will_Love >=0 && $Will_Love <=4>> It makes me feel… cared for, almost happy that he cares about me so much.<</if>> “They want $Name because…” Dani continues to stare at me, an intensity to their gaze that almost has me recoiling away from them. “Because of what $g1 <<if $program >=20>>are<<elseif $program >=0 && $program <=10>>is<</if>>.” A silence settles over us, Dani’s words hanging in the air like a cloud. For a brief second, I wonder if it’s because I’m a demon, before it suddenly occurs to me- //They want me because I’m not just any old demon, I’m the spawn of Satan and The Devil//. That revelation makes a shiver run down my spine, something dark and foreboding gathering in my chest at the implication. Why would angels want the spawn of Satan and The Devil? Whatever they want, it can’t end well for me. “And you can’t tell us what they’ll do to $g2? Anything at all?” Will crosses his arms, before it seems to be too much and he drops his hands down to his sides again. He waits for Dani to say something, but they don’t seem to want to continue on. “Come on! If $Name is in danger, then at least tell us //that//!” ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-6]]

“//Yes//, ok? $g1 <<if $program >=20>>//are//<<elseif $program >=10 && $program <=19>>//is//<</if>> in danger! I already told you that!” Dani spits the words out, like they were ripped out of their mouth. “$g1 <<if $program >=20>>were<<elseif $program >=10 && $program <=19>>was<</if>> in danger the moment $g1 appeared here in New York City, and $g1 will continue to be in danger as long as $g1 <<if $program >=20>>//stay here//<<elseif $program >=10 && $program <=19>>//stays here//<</if>>, because they already know where $g1 <<if $program >=20>>//are//<<elseif $program >=10 && $program <=19>>//is//<</if>>!” Will’s eyes widen at that, surprised. Something about what Dani says makes me pause, even though the revelation that they know where I am right now is enough to make me start to panic. Angels are the ones after me, and Dani is an angel themself… Did Dani tell them…? ---- [[Ask Dani how they figured out where I am. ->CHAP4-ASKDANI]] ---- [[Demand to know if Dani is the one who told them. ->CHAP4-DEMANDDANI]] ---- [[It doesn’t matter right now, and I’d really rather not know… ->CHAP4-DONTMATTER]]

<<set $Daniknows to 10>> “Dani…” I wait until Dani’s attention is on me again, taking a breath before I ask, “How did they figure out where I am?” I can see the physical shift in Dani, the emotionless mask they form on their face as my words seem to compute before they say, “I don’t know.” I’m almost convinced, except that I see them swallow, and the longer I stare at them, the harder it is for them to look me in the eye. I instantly know what I need to. ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-7]]

<<set $Daniknows to 10>> “Did you tell them where I am? After I met you in the park?” I take a step towards the angel, my voice not exactly //loud//, but the force behind it makes Will and Anya startle. I can see the physical shift in Dani, the emotionless mask they form on their face as my words seem to compute before they say, “No.” I’m almost convinced, except that I see them swallow, and the longer I stare at them, the harder it is for them to look me in the eye. I instantly know what I need to. ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-7]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval - 5, 0, 50)>>

<<set $Daniknows to 20>> Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter right now. The only thing I know for sure is that I’m in danger the longer I stay here. But if Dani is the reason that they are coming after me… Whatever emotion on my face seems to cause a physical shift in Dani, the emotionless mask they form on their face hiding whatever they are thinking from me. Except that I see them swallow, and the longer I stare at them, the harder it is for them to look me in the eye. ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-7]]

“So, what…? Are we supposed to //leave//, or…?” Will steps between Dani and I, interrupting our stare-off. “It would probably be safest for you if you left, $Name. As soon as possible- tonight, preferably, tomorrow morning at the latest.” Dani’s voice is quiet now, like all their fight has left them within the last few seconds. They still won’t look at me. Sighing, Will turns to look at me, one of his dark eyebrows raising as if asking me what I think. To be honest, I’m not entirely sure what I should do. I only just started getting used to New York City… But I’m starting to think that there really isn’t anything for me here, nothing to help get some of my memories or purpose back. ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-8]]

Will’s face softens as he takes in my confusion, biting his bottom lip as he seems to think things over as well. Then, he nods his head and grabs his phone out of his pocket. “We’ll leave tonight. I have a friend in Syracuse, let me call and ask if we can stay overnight there. Otherwise, we can just get a hotel or something…” Without waiting to see what I say, Will walks to the kitchen with his phone to his ear, where he’s said he gets the best connection, mumbling about also needing to ask for some time off of work. The living room falls to silence now, the 3 of us that are left not able to make eye contact with each other for long. ---- [[Check up on Anya. ->CHAP4-CHECKANYAP1]] ---- [[Talk with Dani. ->CHAP4-CHECKDANIP1]] ---- [[I just want to be by myself… ->CHAP4-STAYSELF]]

I drop on the couch beside Anya, watching as her body tips towards me a bit as the cushion dips with my weight. Taking a closer look at her, I realize that her eyes don’t look as foggy and glassy as they did a while ago. But she’s still obviously not fully herself again, not yet. “I wanted…” Her voice comes out scratchy and quiet, her accent a little more pronounced as she slurs her words a bit still. “I wanted to thank you, for earlier.” “Thank me for what?” “For getting rid of the spirits.” Light brown eyes snap to Dani, like she’s afraid that they’ll get upset at her again for bringing it up. But they stand on the far side of the living room, peeking out of the blinds on the window, not paying any attention to us, at least in an obvious way. “I was just so //tired// and //so many// started coming for me that I just…” I watch as she raises up shaky hands, rubbing at her eyes, like she’s trying to rub away her memories. Once she drops her hands back into her lap, strands of her dyed hair fall into her face, which inevitably brings my attention to the tears gathering in her eyes. ---- [[Ask her why she attracts spirits. ->CHAP4-ASKANYAWHY]] ---- [[Don’t bring up the spirits, ask about the way she was acting. ->CHAP4-ASKANYAWHYWEIRD]] ---- [[Tuck away the stray hairs. [Flirt] ->CHAP4-ANYAFLIRT1]] ---- [[Just stare at her silently, wait for her to calm down. ->CHAP4-STARESILENT]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 2, 0, 59)>><<set $FriendlyAntag to Math.clamp($FriendlyAntag + 2, 0, 70)>>

I walk up to Dani, intending to just wait for them to notice me, but it seems that I don’t need to wait long. They still peer out the window through the blinds, but it’s almost like they were waiting for me to come talk to them, because they ask, “What can I do for you, $Name?” in a monotonous tone. <<if $Daniknows >=20>>A little part of me is weary of Dani now, more than before. If they are the reason this unknown angel is coming after me, then I really don’t know how to feel about them at the moment. Even though I didn’t press them on it, all I know is that they say that I’m in //danger//, and all evidence points to how they are the one who put me in it. <<elseif $Daniknows >=10 && $Daniknows <=19>>A little part of me is weary of Dani now, more than before. If they are the reason this unknown angel is coming after me, then I really don’t know how to feel about them at the moment. Although they say that they don’t know what will happen to me if this angel catches me, I can’t help but feel like they’re lying. Or maybe not lying, but unwilling to admit they know //exactly// what will happen to me. All I know is that they say that I’m //in danger//, and all evidence points to how they are the one who put me in it.<</if>> “Nothing.” I reply simply. In all honesty, I wasn’t expecting anything from them anyway. That seems to grab their full attention, because they pull back from the blinds, letting them ‘snap’ shut as they turn to face me. Their dark eyes watch me closely, like they’re trying to figure me out, figure out my intentions. When their eyebrows furrow, I know they didn’t find the answer they were looking for by just staring at me. It becomes apparent after a long moment of silence that they aren’t going to say anything else, and it’s up to me whether to continue the conversation or not. ---- [[Ask them about their outfit. ->CHAP4-ASKDANIOUTP2]] ---- [[Ask them about their outfit. [Flirt] ->CHAP4-ASKDANIOUTFLIRTP2]] ---- [[If they aren’t going to speak to me, then I’m just going to leave. ->CHAP4-LEAVEP2]] <<set $FriendlyAntag to Math.clamp($FriendlyAntag + 2, 0, 70)>>

I don't particularly feel like chatting with either of these 2, and it's obvious by the way that they avoid looking at me that they feel the same way. Not wanting to stay in the awkward tension around them, I get up and head to my room, deciding to get a head start on packing for my inevitable trip I’m about to go on. Placing my small amount of belongings on the bed, I take stock of everything. I have a few sets of clothes, and a few books that Will gave me, which includes the Ars Goetia from his Uncle’s church. The hardest thing to acquire is a bag, but I end up finding a tote bag in the closet that looks just about big enough to hold everything. Carefully, I start folding my clothes and packing them in the bag slowly. I can hear Will’s voice in the kitchen, muffled slightly from behind my door. ---- [[It's comforting, hearing his voice. ->CHAP4-COMFORT]] ---- [[I like listening to Will talk. [Flirt] ->CHAP4-WILLFLIRTOP]] ---- [[Ignore his voice. ->CHAP4-STAYSELF2]]

“Why do you attract spirits? What is it about you that attracts them?” I ask quietly, not sure if I should continue on with this conversation or not, considering how upset it makes her. But she just sniffs, before shrugging her shoulders. “I’ve always seemed to attract them, ever since I turned 15 years old. I can’t… I can’t tell you why.” Can’t tell me why… because she doesn’t want to? Because she honestly doesn’t know why? Or… because she literally //can’t//? And beneath all of these questions, I realize that she never really explained why she was acting so //weird//, as well. “Anya, you seem to be a little…” My sentence trails off, unsure how to finish it. Is she drunk? High? It occurs to me that I don’t know her well enough to know if she truly is acting strange… but the fact is that she //seems// to be under the influence of //something//, something she was not on when we first met. ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-ASKANYAP2]]

“Anya, you seem to be a little…” My sentence trails off, unsure how to finish it. Is she drunk? High? It occurs to me that I don’t know her well enough to know if she truly is acting strange… but the fact is that she //seems// to be under the influence of //something//, something she was not on when we first met. Her eyes snap to me, watery and red around the edges, before she takes a deep breath. “Dealing with these spirits… It scares me. Walking down the street, unsure if the people around you are alive or not… It’s terrifying to me-” A shuddering breath, hands clenching in her lap, Anya squeezes her eyes shut tight as she continues, “And it’s even worse when I //can// tell that they’re dead… Some of the things I’ve seen, it’s just-” I gently place a hand on her shoulder, trying to drag her back down from her panic attack, or out of her thoughts. It seems to work, as she blinks her eyes open, staring at the floor with a worried expression. “It’s ok, you don’t have to finish. I was just curious, that’s all.” Nodding, Anya leans back against the back of the couch then, seeming to need a second to collect herself. ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-ANYAP2]]

Almost like they have a mind of their own, one of my hands comes up and gently tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear. When Anya lets out a strange little gasp of air, I yank my hand back and stare at her in shock. “I- I’m sorry…” With wide eyes, Anya stares at me as if she just realized something shocking. Her light brown eyes flicking back and forth between my own, her cheeks heating up and nearly glowing pink. Her light eyebrows are up near her hairline, truly seeming to be shocked by my actions. ---- [["I shouldn't have done...that..." I finish lamely. ->CHAP4-ANYAFLIRTSHY]] ---- [[Smile at her. ->CHAP4-ANYAFLIRTBOLD]]

I stare at her, unsure why she’s so upset. What happened happened, and it’s over now, so there’s really no need to continue to freak out over it. I keep those words to myself, though, knowing that they’ll be taken the wrong way. It does get me thinking, though, about why or how she attracts these spirits. What do the spirits see or sense in Anya that makes her become a magnet for the dead? But I don’t want to ask her, mostly because I don’t want her to start freaking out again. Anya leans back against the back of the couch then, seeming to still need a second to collect herself. ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-ANYAP2]]

Her eyes snap to me, watery and red around the edges, before she takes a deep breath. “Dealing with these spirits… It scares me. Walking down the street, unsure if the people around you are alive or not… It’s terrifying to me-” A shuddering breath, hands clenching in her lap, Anya squeezes her eyes shut tight as she continues, “And it’s even worse when I //can// tell that they’re dead… Some of the things I’ve seen, it’s just-” I gently place a hand on her shoulder, trying to drag her back down from her panic attack, or out of her thoughts. It seems to work, as she blinks her eyes open, staring at the floor with a worried expression. “It’s ok, you don’t have to finish. I was just curious, that’s all.” Nodding, Anya leans back against the back of the couch then, seeming to need a second to collect herself. ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-ANYAP2]]

“I really am grateful though, that you came when you did.” She whispers, her eyes still closed. “I’m not sure what would have happened if you didn’t come and… do whatever it is you did.” “Yeah, about that… I really don’t know what I did, if anything.” I look at my hands clasped together in my lap, confused. At this, Anya finally sits up and looks at me with a strange look on her face. She looks concerned and confused at the same time as she stares at me for a few seconds in silence, before she asks, “What do you mean? You didn’t get rid of the spirits on purpose?” “No…” I shake my head, my thoughts trailing off as I do so. “Well…” Anya also seems as confused about it as I am, but she shrugs her shoulders. “It doesn’t matter, not to me at least. The fact is that you helped get rid of the spirits, so I’m still grateful.” ---- [[I feel genuinely happy she’s so thankful. ->CHAP4-HAPPYANYAP]] ---- [[I feel a little awkward with how thankful she is. ->CHAP4-AWKWARDANYAP]] ---- [[I can’t help but blush at her attention. [Flirt] ->CHAP4-ANYAFLIRT2]] ---- [[I don’t really feel anything towards her gratitude. ->CHAP4-NOFEELINGANYA]]

Clearing my throat, I decide to change the subject before I end up doing something like that again. “Anya, you seem to be a little…” My sentence trails off, unsure how to finish it. Is she drunk? High? It occurs to me that I don’t know her well enough to know if she truly is acting strange… but the fact is that she //seems// to be under the influence of //something//, something she was not on when we first met. Her eyes snap to me, watery and red around the edges, before she takes a deep breath. “Dealing with these spirits… It scares me. Walking down the street, unsure if the people around you are alive or not… It’s terrifying to me-” A shuddering breath, hands clenching in her lap, Anya squeezes her eyes shut tight as she continues, “And it’s even worse when I //can// tell that they’re dead… Some of the things I’ve seen, it’s just-” I gently place a hand on her shoulder, trying to drag her back down from her panic attack, or out of her thoughts. It seems to work, as she blinks her eyes open, staring at the floor with a worried expression. “It’s ok, you don’t have to finish. I was just curious, that’s all.” Nodding, Anya leans back against the back of the couch then, seeming to need a second to collect herself. ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-ANYAP2]]

I can feel myself break out into a smile, the genuine gratitude from Anya making me feel… //warm// inside. It occurs to me suddenly that I can’t remember ever feeling like this, not before meeting Anya and Will- I wonder if I had ever felt this nice before I lost my memories? Surely Murmur, Camio, and I have had some fond times? But the fact that I can’t remember them, well… We fall into silence again, before her attention is brought to the angel on the opposite side of the small living room. “Maybe… Maybe Dani knows more about what you could have done to the spirits?” Although, technically, she is correct, I don’t know if I should talk with Dani right now… ---- [[It’s fine, just go talk with Dani. ->CHAP4-ANYAPDANI1]] ---- [[I’d rather be alone. ->CHAP4-STAYSELF]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 3, 0, 61)>>

I clear my throat, my eyes unable to stay focused on Anya for long. For some reason, I just feel… //wrong//, accepting her gratitude when I haven’t done anything to warrant it. It occurs to me suddenly that I can’t remember ever feeling //good//, and if that is the outcome of the upbringing I had… The upbringing that I can’t remember at all. We fall into silence again, before her attention is brought to the angel on the opposite side of the small living room. “Maybe… Maybe Dani knows more about what you could have done to the spirits?” Although, technically, she is correct, I don’t know if I should talk with Dani right now… ---- [[It’s fine, just go talk with Dani. ->CHAP4-ANYAPDANI1]] ---- [[I’d rather be alone. ->CHAP4-9]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 1, 0, 60)>>

I can feel my cheeks heat up at her attention, her eyes never leaving my face as if it was the most fascinating thing she’s ever looked at. Her eyes sparkle as she smiles at me, and I realize that she can //probably tell I’m blushing//- It occurs to me suddenly that I can’t remember ever feeling like this, not before meeting Anya… I wonder if I had ever felt this nice before I lost my memories? Surely this isn’t the first //crush// I’ve ever had? But the fact that I can’t remember, well… We fall into silence again, before her attention is brought to the angel on the opposite side of the small living room. “Maybe… Maybe Dani knows more about what you could have done to the spirits?” Although, technically, she is correct, I don’t know if I should talk with Dani right now… ---- [[It’s fine, just go talk with Dani. ->CHAP4-ANYAPDANI1]] ---- [[I’d rather be alone. ->CHAP4-9]] <<set $Anya_Love to Math.clamp($Anya_Love + 2, 0, 8)>> <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 3, 0, 61)>>

I stare at Anya, my face blank as I try and feel //something// at her genuine gratitude. It occurs to me suddenly that I can’t remember ever feeling //good//, and if that is the outcome of the upbringing I had… The upbringing that I can’t remember at all. Suddenly, her attention is brought to the angel on the opposite side of the small living room. “Maybe… Maybe Dani knows more about what you could have done to the spirits?” Although, technically, she is correct, I don’t know if I should talk with Dani right now… ---- [[It’s fine, just go talk with Dani. ->CHAP4-ANYAPDANI1]] ---- [[I’d rather be alone. ->CHAP4-9]]

I walk up to Dani, intending to just wait for them to notice me, but it seems that I don’t need to wait long. They still peer out the window through the blinds, but it’s almost like they were waiting for me to come talk to them, because they ask, “What can I do for you, $Name?” in a monotonous tone. <<if $Daniknows >=20>>A little part of me is weary of Dani now, more than before. If they are the reason this unknown angel is coming after me, then I really don’t know how to feel about them at the moment. Even though I didn’t press them on it, all I know is that they say that I’m in //danger//, and all evidence points to how they are the one who put me in it. <<elseif $Daniknows >=10 && $Daniknows <=19>>A little part of me is weary of Dani now, more than before. If they are the reason this unknown angel is coming after me, then I really don’t know how to feel about them at the moment. Although they say that they don’t know what will happen to me if this angel catches me, I can’t help but feel like they’re lying. Or maybe not lying, but unwilling to admit they know //exactly// what will happen to me. All I know is that they say that I’m //in danger//, and all evidence points to how they are the one who put me in it.<</if>> “Nothing.” I reply simply. In all honesty, I wasn’t expecting anything from them anyway. That seems to grab their full attention, because they pull back from the blinds, letting them ‘snap’ shut as they turn to face me. Their dark eyes watch me closely, like they’re trying to figure me out, figure out my intentions. When their eyebrows furrow, I know they didn’t find the answer they were looking for by just staring at me. It becomes apparent after a long moment of silence that they aren’t going to say anything else, and it’s up to me whether to continue the conversation or not. ---- [[Ask them about their outfit. ->CHAP4-ASKDANIOUTP1]] ---- [[Ask them about their outfit. [Flirt] ->CHAP4-ASKDANIOUTFLIRTP1]] ---- [[If they aren’t going to speak to me, then I’m just going to leave. ->CHAP4-LEAVEP1]] <<set $FriendlyAntag to Math.clamp($FriendlyAntag + 2, 0, 70)>>

“I shouldn’t have done… that…” I finish lamely, my own cheeks heating up in embarrassment. “N-No, it’s… It’s ok.” Anya’s voice is nearly silent, just a whisper on a breath. She turns her face away from me, so I can’t see her expression anymore, but she also brings a hand to her ear, where I had just tucked the hair. ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-ANYAFLIRTP2]] <<set $Anya_Love to Math.clamp($Anya_Love + 3, 0, 6)>>

I can’t help but smile at her, her reaction only seeming to fuel my desire to touch her again. But I don’t, not when she already seems about ready to melt in a puddle from the attention. Instead, I say, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.” “N-No, it’s… It’s ok.” Anya’s voice is nearly silent, just a whisper on a breath. She turns her face away from me, so I can’t see her expression anymore, but she also brings a hand to her ear, where I had just tucked the hair. ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-ANYAFLIRTP2]] <<set $Anya_Love to Math.clamp($Anya_Love + 3, 0, 6)>>

“I noticed…” I begin, watching surprise flicker across their face for a second before they school their expression back to its neutral state. “You’re wearing a skirt today.” “Yes…?” They seem to become wary, the end of their sentence tipping up into a question. It’s like they’re waiting for me to make fun of them or something, gearing themselves up for a mocking. Nodding my head, I can’t help but feel a bit awkward as I say, “It looks… It looks good on you.” Blinking, Dani seems taken aback by my words… That is, until they let out a chuckle, the one that doesn’t sound fake. “Thank you. I wasn’t really sure if it would suit me…” ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-DANIP1-2]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 5, 0, 65)>>

“I noticed…” I begin, watching surprise flicker across their face for a second before they school their expression back to its neutral state. “You’re wearing a skirt today.” “Been checking me out, have you?” Dani asks, a smirk forming on their face. ---- [["Yes." I answer simply. ->CHAP4-DANIFLIRT-SIMPLE]] ---- [[Get flustered and fumble a response. ->CHAP4-DANIFLIRT-SHY]] ---- [["Maybe..." I answer playfully. ->CHAP4-DANIFLIRT-BOLD]]

I go to turn around, to sit down on the couch again and wait for Will to be done with his phone calls, but Dani quickly catches me by my arm. I turn back around, looking at the angel expectantly. ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-DANIP1-2]]

After a second, they start speaking again. “I just…” Dani seems almost at a loss for words, which with the little I know about them, is rare. Sighing, they cross their arms over their chest. “I just wanted to…” They seem to have a hard time saying what’s on their mind, enough so that they start getting frustrated. But I don’t know what they want to say exactly, what they want to do, so I can’t help them. I can only stare at them, waiting for them to try and put their thoughts together. “I’m sorry.” Is all they end up saying, their dark brown eyes having a hard time meeting my own gaze. Again, we fall into an awkward silence. Dani won’t meet my gaze, and I’m unsure whether we should continue this stilted conversation, before I think of something else to ask them that should hopefully dispel this tense air around us. ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-DANIP1-3]]

“Yes.” I answer simply, nodding my head at the angel. Blinking, Dani seems taken aback by my reaction… That is, until they let out a chuckle, the one that doesn’t sound fake. A light dusting of pink forms on their cheeks, then, as they say, “Thank you. I wasn’t really sure if it would suit me…” ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-DANIP1-2]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 5, 0, 65)>> <<set $Dani_Love to Math.clamp($Dani_Love + 2, 0, 5)>>

“I-I mean… n-no-” I can’t help but get flustered, my words stumbling out of my mouth. Dani seems to enjoy my reaction, because they let out a chuckle, the one that doesn’t sound fake. A light dusting of pink forms on their cheeks, then, as they say, “Thank you. I wasn’t really sure if it would suit me…” ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-DANIP1-2]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 5, 0, 65)>> <<set $Dani_Love to Math.clamp($Dani_Love + 2, 0, 5)>>

“Maybe…” I answer playfully, smirking at the angel. Blinking, Dani seems taken aback by my reaction… That is, until they let out a chuckle, the one that doesn’t sound fake. A light dusting of pink forms on their cheeks, then, as they say, “Thank you. I wasn’t really sure if it would suit me…” ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-DANIP1-2]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 5, 0, 65)>> <<set $Dani_Love to Math.clamp($Dani_Love + 2, 0, 5)>>

“Do you have any clue what happened to those spirits in the alleway? Do you think I… Do you think I really consumed them, even though I had no idea?” Taking the attention off of them seems to do the trick of knocking them out of their weird mood, because they furrow their eyebrows in thought. “I’m not entirely sure. I just know that whatever you did seemed to require a lot of demonic energy.” “And this ‘demonic energy’... What is that?” I have a good idea about what it is, but decided to ask just in case. “When demons use their powers, they give off this ‘aura’ that other supernatural beings, or powerful humans, can sense. It’s the same with angels, too.” Dani explains rather patiently. “So, all we truly know right now is that whatever you did to the spirits caused you to use some sort of power. And that power became a beacon to your whereabouts.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-DANIP1-4]]

Taking a second to let that information sink in, Dani looks towards the kitchen, where Will is talking on the phone, before they continue. “Even now, there's still a demonic aura around you. The longer you stay here, the more likely that the… the angel will come and find you.” I watch as Dani seems to become nervous, fidgeting with their hands, their eyes snapping around the room. It seems to me that they’re scared of something- maybe the angel they keep saying is coming for me? Whatever it is, they look about ready to bolt at a moment’s notice. ---- [[“If you’d rather leave, you can go, you know?” ->CHAP4-DANIP1-RATHERGO]] ---- [[I want them to stay, but I won’t force them… [Flirt] ->CHAP4-DANIP1-FLIRT]] ---- [[I don’t care what they do. ->CHAP4-DANIP1-DONTCARE]]

“If you’d rather leave, you can go, you know?” I ask them suddenly, watching as they seem to be taken aback by my question. “It just seems like you’re anxious to leave. If you want to go, you can. No one is going to force you to stay.” It takes them a long moment to think through what I’ve said, so long that I’m about ready to leave them to their ‘thinking’, before they nod their head at me and finally speak. “I know… Thank you, though. I’ll stick around until I know that you’re leaving New York City.” “Looks like Will’s done with his phone call.” Dani states simply, after checking over my shoulder. ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-9]]

“If you’d rather leave, you can go, you know?” I ask them suddenly, watching as they seem to be taken aback by my question. I don’t //want// them to leave, but I won’t force them to stay if they’re so uncomfortable. A split second later, and a small smirk forms on their attractive face. Raising an eyebrow at me, they ask, “Trying to get rid of me so soon, $Name?” ---- [[“N-No! Of course not…” ->CHAP4-DANIP1-FLIRTSHY]] ---- [[“Quite the contrary.” I answer with a small smile. ->CHAP4-DANIP1-FLIRTSIMPLE]] ---- [[“Oh, you’d definitely know if I wanted to get rid of you.” ->CHAP4-DANIP1-FLIRTBOLD]]

I keep my mouth shut, aware that I don’t entirely care what they do, as long as they don’t do anything like telling the angel where I am again. “Looks like Will’s done with his phone call.” Dani states simply, after checking over my shoulder. ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-9]]

Walking into the living room after his phone calls had ended, Will clears his throat to get our attention. “Ok, it looks like my friend will let us stay with them for a few days, so we can figure out what to do from there.” I look at Anya and Dani, wondering what they will do now that Will and I will be leaving New York City. Like they’re reading my mind, Dani steps forward as they say, “I’ll have to stay here for a bit longer, because it’ll seem strange if I leave at the same time that $Name disappears. When I’m sure that no one will notice, I’ll meet you in Syracuse.” Nodding, Will agrees with Dani’s plan, and writes down the address of his friend so that Dani can have an easier time finding us. Then, we all look at Anya, who seems to try and sink into the couch completely, like she’s trying to get our attention off of her. “Anya? Do you want to come with us?” Will asks her gently. “I mean, you don’t //have// to, or anything…” ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-10]]

I can feel my cheeks heat up, Dani’s teasing getting under my nerves as usual. This was exactly what I //didn’t// want them to think! “N-No! Of course not…” The smirk slowly morphs into an actual smile, something I’m not used to seeing on Dani’s face. It makes them look softer, and less… judging. Their eyes twinkle softly as they let out a chuckle, shaking their head and saying, “I know, I was just teasing you.” “Looks like Will’s done with his phone call.” Dani states simply, after checking over my shoulder. ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-9]] <<set $Dani_Love to Math.clamp($Dani_Love + 3, 0, 8)>>

“Quite the contrary.” I answer with a small smile. “I like having you around.” The smirk slowly morphs into an actual smile, something I’m not used to seeing on Dani’s face. It makes them look softer, and less… judging. Their eyes twinkle softly as they let out a chuckle, shaking their head and saying, “Well, good. The feeling’s mutual.” “Looks like Will’s done with his phone call.” Dani states simply, after checking over my shoulder. ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-9]] <<set $Dani_Love to Math.clamp($Dani_Love + 3, 0, 8)>>

“Oh, you’d definitely know if I wanted to get rid of you.” I raise an eyebrow at the angel, before shrugging my shoulders. “I actually like having you around.” The smirk slowly morphs into an actual smile, something I’m not used to seeing on Dani’s face. It makes them look softer, and less… judging. Their eyes twinkle softly as they let out a chuckle, shaking their head and saying, “Well, good. The feeling’s mutual.” “Looks like Will’s done with his phone call.” Dani states simply, after checking over my shoulder. ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-9]] <<set $Dani_Love to Math.clamp($Dani_Love + 3, 0, 8)>>

“I noticed…” I begin, watching surprise flicker across their face for a second before they school their expression back to its neutral state. “You’re wearing a skirt today.” “Yes…?” They seem to become wary, the end of their sentence tipping up into a question. It’s like they’re waiting for me to make fun of them or something, gearing themselves up for a mocking. Nodding my head, I can’t help but feel a bit awkward as I say, “It looks… It looks good on you.” Blinking, Dani seems taken aback by my words… That is, until they let out a chuckle, the one that doesn’t sound fake. “Thank you. I wasn’t really sure if it would suit me…” ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-DANIP2-2]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 5, 0, 65)>>

“I noticed…” I begin, watching surprise flicker across their face for a second before they school their expression back to its neutral state. “You’re wearing a skirt today.” “Been checking me out, have you?” Dani asks, a smirk forming on their face. ---- [["Yes." I answer simply. ->CHAP4-DANIFLIRT2-SIMPLE]] ---- [[Get flustered and fumble a response. ->CHAP4-DANIFLIRT2-SHY]] ---- [["Maybe..." I answer playfully. ->CHAP4-DANIFLIRT2-BOLD]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 5, 0, 65)>>

“Yes.” I answer simply, nodding my head at the angel. Blinking, Dani seems taken aback by my reaction… That is, until they let out a chuckle, the one that doesn’t sound fake. A light dusting of pink forms on their cheeks, then, as they say, “Thank you. I wasn’t really sure if it would suit me…” ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-DANIP2-2]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 5, 0, 65)>> <<set $Dani_Love to Math.clamp($Dani_Love + 2, 0, 5)>>

“I-I mean… n-no-” I can’t help but get flustered, my words stumbling out of my mouth. Dani seems to enjoy my reaction, because they let out a chuckle, the one that doesn’t sound fake. A light dusting of pink forms on their cheeks, then, as they say, “Thank you. I wasn’t really sure if it would suit me…” ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-DANIP2-2]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 5, 0, 65)>> <<set $Dani_Love to Math.clamp($Dani_Love + 2, 0, 5)>>

“Maybe…” I answer playfully, smirking at the angel. Blinking, Dani seems taken aback by my reaction… That is, until they let out a chuckle, the one that doesn’t sound fake. A light dusting of pink forms on their cheeks, then, as they say, “Thank you. I wasn’t really sure if it would suit me…” ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-DANIP2-2]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 5, 0, 65)>> <<set $Dani_Love to Math.clamp($Dani_Love + 2, 0, 5)>>

Taking a second to let that information sink in, Dani looks towards the kitchen, where Will is talking on the phone, before they continue. “Even now, there's still a demonic aura around you. The longer you stay here, the more likely that the… the angel will come and find you.” I watch as Dani seems to become nervous, fidgeting with their hands, their eyes snapping around the room. It seems to me that they’re scared of something- maybe the angel they keep saying is coming for me? Whatever it is, they look about ready to bolt at a moment’s notice. ---- [[“If you’d rather leave, you can go, you know?” ->CHAP4-DANIP2-RATHERGO]] ---- [[I want them to stay, but I won’t force them… [Flirt] ->CHAP4-DANIP2-FLIRT]] ---- [[I don’t care what they do. ->CHAP4-DANIP2-DONTCARE]]

“If you’d rather leave, you can go, you know?” I ask them suddenly, watching as they seem to be taken aback by my question. “It just seems like you’re anxious to leave. If you want to go, you can. No one is going to force you to stay.” It takes them a long moment to think through what I’ve said, so long that I’m about ready to leave them to their ‘thinking’, before they nod their head at me and finally speak. “I know… Thank you, though. I’ll stick around until I know that you’re leaving New York City.” “Looks like someone else wants to speak with you.” Dani states simply, after checking over my shoulder. Turning around, I see Anya looking at me. ---- [[Go talk to Anya. ->CHAP4-ANYA2P1]] ---- [[I just want to be by myself. ->CHAP4-STAYSELF]]

“If you’d rather leave, you can go, you know?” I ask them suddenly, watching as they seem to be taken aback by my question. I don’t //want// them to leave, but I won’t force them to stay if they’re so uncomfortable. A split second later, and a small smirk forms on their attractive face. Raising an eyebrow at me, they ask, “Trying to get rid of me so soon, $Name?” ---- [[“N-No! Of course not…” ->CHAP4-DANIP2-FLIRTSHY]] ---- [[“Quite the contrary.” I answer with a small smile. ->CHAP4-DANIP2-FLIRTSIMPLE]] ---- [[“Oh, you’d definitely know if I wanted to get rid of you.” ->CHAP4-DANIP2-FLIRTBOLD]]

I keep my mouth shut, aware that I don’t entirely care what they do, as long as they don’t do anything like telling the angel where I am again. “Looks like someone else wants to speak with you.” Dani states simply, after checking over my shoulder. Turning around, I see Anya looking at me. ---- [[Go talk to Anya. ->CHAP4-ANYA2P1]] ---- [[I just want to be by myself. ->CHAP4-STAYSELF]]

I can feel my cheeks heat up, Dani’s teasing getting under my nerves as usual. This was exactly what I //didn’t// want them to think! “N-No! Of course not…” The smirk slowly morphs into an actual smile, something I’m not used to seeing on Dani’s face. It makes them look softer, and less… judging. Their eyes twinkle softly as they let out a chuckle, shaking their head and saying, “I know, I was just teasing you.” “Looks like someone else wants to speak with you.” Dani states simply, after checking over my shoulder. Turning around, I see Anya looking at me. ---- [[Go talk to Anya. ->CHAP4-ANYA2P1]] ---- [[I just want to be by myself. ->CHAP4-STAYSELF]] <<set $Dani_Love to Math.clamp($Dani_Love + 3, 0, 8)>>

“Quite the contrary.” I answer with a small smile. “I like having you around.” The smirk slowly morphs into an actual smile, something I’m not used to seeing on Dani’s face. It makes them look softer, and less… judging. Their eyes twinkle softly as they let out a chuckle, shaking their head and saying, “Well, good. The feeling’s mutual.” “Looks like someone else wants to speak with you.” Dani states simply, after checking over my shoulder. Turning around, I see Anya looking at me. ---- [[Go talk to Anya. ->CHAP4-ANYA2P1]] ---- [[I just want to be by myself. ->CHAP4-STAYSELF]] <<set $Dani_Love to Math.clamp($Dani_Love + 3, 0, 8)>>

“Oh, you’d definitely know if I wanted to get rid of you.” I raise an eyebrow at the angel, before shrugging my shoulders. “I actually like having you around.” The smirk slowly morphs into an actual smile, something I’m not used to seeing on Dani’s face. It makes them look softer, and less… judging. Their eyes twinkle softly as they let out a chuckle, shaking their head and saying, “Well, good. The feeling’s mutual.” “Looks like someone else wants to speak with you.” Dani states simply, after checking over my shoulder. Turning around, I see Anya looking at me. ---- [[Go talk to Anya. ->CHAP4-ANYA2P1]] ---- [[I just want to be by myself. ->CHAP4-STAYSELF]] <<set $Dani_Love to Math.clamp($Dani_Love + 3, 0, 8)>>

I drop on the couch beside Anya, watching as her body tips towards me a bit as the cushion dips with my weight. Taking a closer look at her, I realize that her eyes don’t look as foggy and glassy as they did a while ago. But she’s still obviously not fully herself again, not yet. “I wanted…” Her voice comes out scratchy and quiet, her accent a little more pronounced as she slurs her words a bit still. “I wanted to thank you, for earlier.” “Thank me for what?” “For getting rid of the spirits.” Light brown eyes snap to Dani, like she’s afraid that they’ll get upset at her again for bringing it up. But they stand on the far side of the living room, peeking out of the blinds on the window, not paying any attention to us, at least in an obvious way. “I was just so //tired// and //so many// started coming for me that I just…” I watch as she raises up shaky hands, rubbing at her eyes, like she’s trying to rub away her memories. Once she drops her hands back into her lap, strands of her dyed hair fall into her face, which inevitably brings my attention to the tears gathering in her eyes. ---- [[Ask her why she attracts spirits. ->CHAP4-ASKANYAWHY2]] ---- [[Don’t bring up the spirits, ask about the way she was acting. ->CHAP4-ASKANYAWHYWEIRD2]] ---- [[Tuck away the stray hairs. [Flirt] ->CHAP4-ANYA2FLIRTP2]] ---- [[Just stare at her silently, wait for her to calm down. ->CHAP4-STARESILENT2]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 2, 0, 59)>><<set $FriendlyAntag to Math.clamp($FriendlyAntag + 2, 0, 70)>>

“I really am grateful though, that you came when you did.” She whispers, her eyes still closed. “I’m not sure what would have happened if you didn’t come and… do whatever it is you did.” “Yeah, about that… I really don’t know what I did, if anything.” I look at my hands clasped together in my lap, confused. At this, Anya finally sits up and looks at me with a strange look on her face. She looks concerned and confused at the same time as she stares at me for a few seconds in silence, before she asks, “What do you mean? You didn’t get rid of the spirits on purpose?” “No…” I shake my head, my thoughts trailing off as I do so. “Well…” Anya also seems as confused about it as I am, but she shrugs her shoulders. “It doesn’t matter, not to me at least. The fact is that you helped get rid of the spirits, so I’m still grateful.” ---- [[I feel genuinely happy she’s so thankful. ->CHAP4-HAPPYANYAP2]] ---- [[I feel a little awkward with how thankful she is. ->CHAP4-AWKWARDANYAP2]] ---- [[I can’t help but blush at her attention. [Flirt] ->CHAP4-ANYAFLIRT22]] ---- [[I don’t really feel anything towards her gratitude. ->CHAP4-NOFEELINGANYA2]]

“I shouldn’t have done… that…” I finish lamely, my own cheeks heating up in embarrassment. “N-No, it’s… It’s ok.” Anya’s voice is nearly silent, just a whisper on a breath. She turns her face away from me, so I can’t see her expression anymore, but she also brings a hand to her ear, where I had just tucked the hair. ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-ANYAFLIRT2P2]] <<set $Anya_Love to Math.clamp($Anya_Love + 3, 0, 6)>>

I can’t help but smile at her, her reaction only seeming to fuel my desire to touch her again. But I don’t, not when she already seems about ready to melt in a puddle from the attention. Instead, I say, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.” “N-No, it’s… It’s ok.” Anya’s voice is nearly silent, just a whisper on a breath. She turns her face away from me, so I can’t see her expression anymore, but she also brings a hand to her ear, where I had just tucked the hair. ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-ANYAFLIRT2P2]] <<set $Anya_Love to Math.clamp($Anya_Love + 3, 0, 6)>>

I clear my throat, my eyes unable to stay focused on Anya for long. For some reason, I just feel… //wrong//, accepting her gratitude when I haven’t done anything to warrant it. It occurs to me suddenly that I can’t remember ever feeling //good//, and if that is the outcome of the upbringing I had… The upbringing that I can’t remember at all. We fall into silence again, before her attention is brought to the angel on the opposite side of the small living room. “Maybe… Maybe Dani knows more about what you could have done to the spirits?” We fall into silence again, before her attention is brought to Will who is finishing up his calls. ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-9]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 1, 0, 60)>>

I can feel my cheeks heat up at her attention, her eyes never leaving my face as if it was the most fascinating thing she’s ever looked at. Her eyes sparkle as she smiles at me, and I realize that she can //probably tell I’m blushing//- It occurs to me suddenly that I can’t remember ever feeling like this, not before meeting Anya… I wonder if I had ever felt this nice before I lost my memories? Surely this isn’t the first //crush// I’ve ever had? But the fact that I can’t remember, well… We fall into silence again, before her attention is brought to Will who is finishing up his calls. ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-9]] <<set $Anya_Love to Math.clamp($Anya_Love + 2, 0, 8)>> <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 3, 0, 61)>>

Anya’s eyes meet mine, like she’s trying to silently ask if I’m truly ok with her coming along. I nod at her, trying to get her to make up her mind. Sighing, Anya stands up from the couch, with only a little bit of a struggle. “I’ll have to come by tomorrow. I need to get some time off of work.” After giving Anya his phone number and the address, Will nods his head. “Ok. Well… I guess $Name and I should pack up and head out.” The 4 of us separate- Anya and Dani leave; Will and I head to our rooms to pack some clothes and other essentials. I’m not entirely sure what to expect of the next coming days, especially considering that I’m most likely in danger. All I know is that I have others looking out for me now, willing to help me along the way as I try and find //some// semblance of //myself// again. I just hope it’s enough… ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-11]]

---- !!!A few hours later… He steps up to the door leading to the apartment that houses the spawn. But something catches his eye- or rather, the //lack// of something catches his eye. The lights are off, and he can’t hear anyone inside. Dani said that the spawn was in New York City, and was living with the exorcist… Maybe they just went out for a bit? He could wait. This would be the perfect opportunity to //catch the spawn-// “Well, well, well. What do we have here?” Whipping around, the man comes face to face with the same dark blue eyes that had spotted him the other night. “I knew you were an angel…” A demon stands before him, short and rather unimposing. He has curly blonde hair, where his dark blue horns are nestled inside. Round glasses get pushed up his nose as he smiles lazily at the man. “What exactly do you want with $Name?” ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-12]]

This demon has caught on to his assignment, it seems. If he were to let this demon leave now, he could go and tell the spawn that they are being trailed… Ruining his attempts at catching the spawn and exorcist off guard. Or… Laughing bitterly, the angel rolls his shoulders as he steps up and towers over the demon. “You are a rather nosy demon, aren’t you?” “Guilty as charged!” The demon laughs, but the angel can hear how it’s a little strained. He cannot let this demon get away, not when he knows about his assignment. “Tell me, little demon…” He mumbles, one of his hands coming up to hover beside the demon’s face. “Do you have a name?” Gulping, the demon’s hooded eyes widen a bit as they stare at his hand. “I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours?” Smiling, the angel huffs out a laugh. “Very well. My name is Azrael.” He watches as the demon’s dark blue eyes widen, now in fear as he recognizes the angel. “Now, tell me what they call //you//, little demon.” But the demon doesn’t get the chance to respond before Azrael attacks. !CHAPTER FOUR END… ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-1]]

Although he’s talking too quietly for me to make out what he’s saying, just hearing his voice has become a comfort to me. I’m unsure if it’s a good thing how attached I’ve become to him in such a short amount of time, but I can’t deny that having such a simple comfort like hearing a friend's voice fills me with a warmth that seems foreign to me. Were Murmur and Camio my only friends? Did being around them cause this warmth inside of me as well? It makes me sad, thinking about all the memories like that… the ones that I’ve lost, and at this point, am unsure if I’ll ever get back. Shaking my head, I go back to packing… Only to stop when my thoughts start drifting to the 2 strangers in the living room. ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-STAYSELF2]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 3, 0, 65)>>

Although he’s talking too quietly for me to make out what he’s saying, just hearing his voice has become a comfort to me. I love listening to him talk, the way he fills silence with a chuckle or clearing of the throat. He doesn’t like the silence, I’ve realized- but I don’t care… I’d listen to him talk forever, if I could. That thought makes me blink, surprised at the sudden intensity of my feelings. We’ve only known each other for about a week, but I’ve already gotten so attached to him… It’s kind of scary. Shaking my head, I go back to packing… Only to stop when my thoughts start drifting to the 2 strangers in the living room. ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-STAYSELF2]] <<set $Will_Love to Math.clamp($Will_Love + 1, 0, 9)>> <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 3, 0, 65)>>

Although they never did //actually// admit it, I have a feeling that the reason this ‘angel’ is coming after me is because of Dani. I try to rationalize it in my head; Dani said they’re a ‘watcher’, which to me, sounds like they watch over certain parts of the world and must report strange occurrences that happen. Otherwise, what would the point of getting so upset with Anya be? If her ability to attract spirits was disturbing the peace of the neighborhood that Dani watches, then it’d make sense that they would try and confront her about it. So it’d make sense that if I, the spawn of Satan and The Devil, were to appear in their neighborhood, they’d have to report it //someone//… right? Closing my eyes, I try to remember the first time I met Dani. Although they did seem to know who I was, they didn’t try to capture me or anything. They obviously had no intention of doing so, at least then. Then, when I met them in the alleyway with Anya, they seemed… //surprised,// or even //scared// to see me… Meaning that I’m probably right in that they reported me after our first meeting, and didn’t expect to see me again after that. ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-STAYSELF3]]

Confused, I bite on my lip as I try and get the puzzle pieces to fit together in my head. Why are they helping me now, then? Why tell me that this mysterious angel is coming for me, and that I’m in danger? Snapping my eyes open, I look through my doorway, into the living room. Dani is standing off to the side by the window, so I can’t see them from where I’m standing, but I have the perfect view of Anya. That’s another thing that was definitely weird about today. Anya was definitely under the influence of //something//. Although I don’t know her very well, I know her well enough to know that she’s acting strange. Almost lethargic, //sedated//… My feet start moving all on their own, and I’m not sure whether I was going to confront Anya or Dani about their strange behavior, or ask them the questions I now have. But I don’t get to. ---- [[Next ->CHAP4-9]]

!CHAPTER FIVE !!!A few hours later… I stare down at my hand as the black phone Will had gotten for me lights up when I press the little button on the side. ‘10:49PM’ is all it says. “Swipe up.” Will says suddenly, catching my attention. He makes an upward motion with his finger, showing me how to ‘swipe up’ once again, but never taking his eyes off the road as he drives us to our destination. “You have to swipe up to unlock the phone.” Doing as he says, I make a small ‘Oooh’ as the phone opens up to show me the crazy amount of ‘apps’ I have. “The little… compass. That’s the internet browser, it’s called Safari.” Will instructs as he pulls into a gas station, parking next to a pump before he finally turns to look at me. He motions for me to hand him the phone, so I do. Then, he types something into it, before giving it back to me. “And now you’re added to the group chat Anya and I are in.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-2]]

The little white screen that greets me confuses me, but before I can ask Will about it, he gets out of the car and starts to fill up the gas tank. A sudden buzzing in my hand startles me, and I nearly drop the phone to the floor of Will’s car, but //just// manage to keep hold of it. When I look at the screen, it now has a little gray bubble that says “I got the OK from my boss. I’ll head out tomorrow morning and get there around noon.” It takes me a second to realize that the message was from Anya. The little keyboard that pops up confuses me the longer I stare at it, and although I try to type out a message to respond to her, I somehow make it back to ‘Safari’. In a bout of frustration, I just poke at the phone until it flashes, and when I bring it back up to my face to look at it, I see I had somehow sent her a picture. ---- [[It’s a cute dog that looks at the camera with a slightly worried or judgmental expression. ->CHAP5-SHIBAINU]] ---- [[There’s a very grumpy looking cat with bright blue eyes. ->CHAP5-GRUMPYCAT]] ---- [[This very bright yellow, very smiley face simply saying ‘LOL’. ->CHAP5-LOLFACE]] ---- [[A baby with his fist up as if to say ‘YES!’. ->CHAP5-YESBABY]] ---- [[This very surprised looking owl that says ‘O RLY?’. ->CHAP5-ORLY]]

The cute dog, although a little judgmental, is all I’ve managed to send. I hope that it isn’t too confusing to Anya, but considering I’m still trying to figure out how to actually type words, it seems as good as anything to send. I can hear Will snort, a giggle bubbling up out of him as I turn to look at him again. He’s smirking down at his phone, and types something out quickly. When my phone buzzes again, letting me know he’s replied, I read his message. “LOL” is all he wrote, before sending what looks to be a laughing face with tears coming out of its eyes. Then, a second later, Anya replies with “...Ok then.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-3]]

This grumpy looking cat is very cute, and is all I’ve managed to send. I hope that it isn’t too confusing to Anya, but considering I’m still trying to figure out how to actually type words, it seems as good as anything to send. I can hear Will snort, a giggle bubbling up out of him as I turn to look at him again. He’s smirking down at his phone, and types something out quickly. When my phone buzzes again, letting me know he’s replied, I read his message. “LOL” is all he wrote, before sending what looks to be a laughing face with tears coming out of its eyes. Then, a second later, Anya replies with “...Ok then.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-3]]

The bright yellow emoji is almost //too// happy, but it’s all I’ve managed to send. I hope that it isn’t too confusing to Anya, but considering I’m still trying to figure out how to actually type words, it seems as good as anything to send. I can hear Will snort, a giggle bubbling up out of him as I turn to look at him again. He’s smirking down at his phone, and types something out quickly. When my phone buzzes again, letting me know he’s replied, I read his message. “LOL” is all he wrote, before sending what looks to be a laughing face with tears coming out of its eyes. Then, a second later, Anya replies with “...Ok then.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-3]]

I’m not sure how I managed to send this picture of a baby with his fist in the air, as if to say ‘YES!’. I hope that it isn’t too confusing to Anya, but considering I’m still trying to figure out how to actually type words, it seems as good as anything to send. I can hear Will snort, a giggle bubbling up out of him as I turn to look at him again. He’s smirking down at his phone, and types something out quickly. When my phone buzzes again, letting me know he’s replied, I read his message. “LOL” is all he wrote, before sending what looks to be a laughing face with tears coming out of its eyes. Then, a second later, Anya replies with “...Ok then.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-3]]

I’m not sure what ‘O RLY?’ means, but the owl is rather cute and surprised looking. I hope that it isn’t too confusing to Anya, but considering I’m still trying to figure out how to actually type words, it seems as good as anything to send. I can hear Will snort, a giggle bubbling up out of him as I turn to look at him again. He’s smirking down at his phone, and types something out quickly. When my phone buzzes again, letting me know he’s replied, I read his message. “LOL” is all he wrote, before sending what looks to be a laughing face with tears coming out of its eyes. Then, a second later, Anya replies with “...Ok then.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-3]]

Before I can figure out how to send something else, Will climbs back into the car. He looks over at me with his lopsided grin and a twinkle in his eye as he can’t help but laugh again, this time at my confused expression. “It’s a little weird that you know how to read English, but you can’t figure out how to write it out yourself.” He says a little off-handedly, which doesn’t //exactly// explain why he was laughing at me. But the smile he’s giving me is lighthearted, not meant to be taken seriously. Shaking his head, he turns his attention to the front as he turns the car on and starts to drive away. “Remind me later and I’ll teach you how to text, ok?” “Ok…” I answer absentmindedly as I look out the passenger-side window. The lights from the gas station start to dim as we drive farther away, throwing the world into shadows once more as we continue on our way to Syracuse. ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-4]]

---- !!!About an hour later… Rain has started pelting the car, the gentle ‘tap, tap tap’ almost enough to lull me to sleep. Will’s soft music playing only adds to my sleepiness, his voice gently humming along with his favorite songs as he navigates the dark highway. There’s a pounding in my head, though, which is the only thing keeping me from actually sleeping. I grimace as I rub my eyes, trying to alleviate the throbbing pain, but any movement only seems to make it worse. “$Name…? Are you ok?” Will asks softly. I can see him looking over at me from the corner of my eye, but I can’t bring myself to turn my head to look back. “I have a weird headache-” I answer him, just as the throbbing starts to get worse. I let out a gasp, my hands moving to the area that hurts the worse- ---- [[My temples. ->CHAP5-TEMPLES]] ---- [[Near the crown of my head. ->CHAP5-CROWN]] ---- [[All along my forehead. ->CHAP5-FOREHEAD]]

I rub at my temples, trying to soothe the //pounding//. It’s so bad that I think I can feel it against my fingertips- a steady rhythm, like a heartbeat. But with it comes a pain so sharp that it feels like my brain is being stabbed over and over again. Shutting my eyes tight, I’m only vaguely aware of Will whispering something to me, but I can’t focus on the words as the pain in my head continues to try and split my brain in half. There’s some rattling, and then a soft tap against my arm. With all of my strength, I look over at Will, who is trying to hand me a small bottle of something. He shakes it, the rattling from inside enough to make me wince. “Sorry… But you should pop a few of these and then try to go to sleep, alright? I’ll wake you up when we get to Syracuse.” Taking the small bottle, I have a difficult time getting my fingers to cooperate as I fumble with the cap a few times. But soon, I have a couple of white pills in my hand. Will hands me his water bottle, and watches out of the corner of his eye as I swallow them, before he nods his head, satisfied. Leaning the seat back a bit, I settle as well as I can before shutting my eyes, the pounding in my head only seeming to get worse the longer I sit there and do nothing. Somehow, though, I’m able to drift off to sleep… ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-5]] <<set $Hornarea1 to "temples">><<set $Hornarea2 to 30>>

I rub at the crown of my head, trying to soothe the //pounding//. It’s so bad that I think I can feel it against my fingertips- a steady rhythm, like a heartbeat. But with it comes a pain so sharp that it feels like my brain is being stabbed over and over again. Shutting my eyes tight, I’m only vaguely aware of Will whispering something to me, but I can’t focus on the words as the pain in my head continues to try and split my brain in half. There’s some rattling, and then a soft tap against my arm. With all of my strength, I look over at Will, who is trying to hand me a small bottle of something. He shakes it, the rattling from inside enough to make me wince. “Sorry… But you should pop a few of these and then try to go to sleep, alright? I’ll wake you up when we get to Syracuse.” Taking the small bottle, I have a difficult time getting my fingers to cooperate as I fumble with the cap a few times. But soon, I have a couple of white pills in my hand. Will hands me his water bottle, and watches out of the corner of his eye as I swallow them, before he nods his head, satisfied. Leaning the seat back a bit, I settle as well as I can before shutting my eyes, the pounding in my head only seeming to get worse the longer I sit there and do nothing. Somehow, though, I’m able to drift off to sleep… ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-5]] <<set $Hornarea1 to "crown">><<set $Hornarea2 to 20>>

I rub at my forehead, trying to soothe the //pounding//. It’s so bad that I think I can feel it against my fingertips- a steady rhythm, like a heartbeat. But with it comes a pain so sharp that it feels like my brain is being stabbed over and over again. Shutting my eyes tight, I’m only vaguely aware of Will whispering something to me, but I can’t focus on the words as the pain in my head continues to try and split my brain in half. There’s some rattling, and then a soft tap against my arm. With all of my strength, I look over at Will, who is trying to hand me a small bottle of something. He shakes it, the rattling from inside enough to make me wince. “Sorry… But you should pop a few of these and then try to go to sleep, alright? I’ll wake you up when we get to Syracuse.” Taking the small bottle, I have a difficult time getting my fingers to cooperate as I fumble with the cap a few times. But soon, I have a couple of white pills in my hand. Will hands me his water bottle, and watches out of the corner of his eye as I swallow them, before he nods his head, satisfied. Leaning the seat back a bit, I settle as well as I can before shutting my eyes, the pounding in my head only seeming to get worse the longer I sit there and do nothing. Somehow, though, I’m able to drift off to sleep… ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-5]] <<set $Hornarea1 to "forehead">><<set $Hornarea2 to 10>>

---- !!!??? //When I open my eyes, I find myself in a small bedroom. I’ve never seen it before, with its striped walls and landscape painting over the bed. For some reason, I focus on the painting- all it depicts is an old barn underneath a big willow tree, but there’s ''something'' about it, something that makes it hard to look away. Then suddenly, for just a second, the world around me shifts, fluctuating like disturbed water. There are voices now, growing louder and louder, until I can understand what they are saying. But the words they say cause my insides to burn, my skin to crawl- “-and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” The prayer fills the room, like smoke, and it tries to suffocate me. I look around, trying to find a way out of this room, before I realize that there are other people in here with me now. There are 5 men surrounding the bed, where a woman thrashes about on top of it. A hand on my shoulder startles me, and I whip around- just to see nothing. But a voice whispers into my ear, a voice somehow familiar, but unknown all the same. “Keep going, son. What is step number 2?”// ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-6]]

//Step number 2? I look around, confused, before realizing that a little boy appears beside me. He’s only about 10 years old, scared and nervous about the situation inside this room. There’s something about his worried, upturned eyebrows that seems familiar to me, and it takes a second before I realize that it’s Will. “I-I don’t…” He stammers, his little body trembling in obvious fear. “You do.” The other voice, which I slowly come to recognize as a man, seems to fill the room with authority. Whatever this man says, Will has to listen. “Repeat after me… ''If you say, ‘The Lord is my refuge’, and you make the Most High your dwelling…''” It takes a second for Will to gather up the courage to speak, his tiny voice trembling as he repeats what the voice says. “''If you say, ‘The Lord is my refuge’, and you make the Most High your dwelling…''” “''No harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.''” Before the child can repeat this sentence, the woman’s head snaps towards him, making him flinch away from her wild, manic stare. // ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-7]]

//“Your ''God'' and your ''angels'' can’t save you here on Earth, ''William''.” She growls, the sound so animalistic, it’s hard to believe she was able to even speak words. Will’s breaths start to stutter as tears fall down his cheeks, his wide, dark brown eyes watching the woman’s every move. “Don’t listen to her. Just repeat what I said and start with the second step.” The voice is harsh, angry, and seems to ignore the fact that Will has started to cry. “''Nuh-No harm… Will overtake you, no disaster wi-will come near your tent…''” The child’s voice is tiny, nearly silent as he continues to stare at the woman in fear.// ---- [[Reach for Will, trying to get his attention. ->CHAP5-REACHWILL]] ---- [[Try to step in between Will and the strange woman on the bed. ->CHAP5-STEPBETWEEN]] ---- [[Just sit back and watch what he does. ->CHAP5-SITBACK]]

//I can’t stand to see this child-version of Will so upset, so scared. It’s too similar to my own dream, the one I had a few days ago. Without thinking about it, I reach out for Will, my hand landing on his shoulder- But just as soon as I make contact with him, the woman’s head ''snaps'' to the side, the sound loud and echoing around the small room. Her body slumps against the bed, eerily still now, her eyes wide open and glassy. Will’s innocent eyes widen as he stares at the woman, who now looks up at the ceiling lifelessly. “Son, this should have never happened.” The voice is back now, low and gentle, but still patronizing somehow. “You need to be quick when you exorcise a demon. Don’t let it get to you, and don’t show any signs of weakness in front of it. They will use your own feelings against you, to control and manipulate you. Do you understand me?” ''"$Name-”'' “Yes, dad.” Will answers quietly, his little voice shaky and full of something I can’t quite place. ''“$Name, wake up-”''// ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-8]]

//I can’t stand to see this child-version of Will so upset, so scared. It’s too similar to my own dream, the one I had a few days ago. Without thinking about it, I step in front of Will, trying to get in his line of sight- But just as soon as I move, the woman’s head ''snaps'' to the side, the sound loud and echoing around the small room. Her body slumps against the bed, eerily still now, her eyes wide open and glassy. Will’s innocent eyes widen as he stares at the woman, who now looks up at the ceiling lifelessly. “Son, this should have never happened.” The voice is back now, low and gentle, but still patronizing somehow. “You need to be quick when you exorcise a demon. Don’t let it get to you, and don’t show any signs of weakness in front of it. They will use your own feelings against you, to control and manipulate you. Do you understand me?” ''"$Name-”'' “Yes, dad.” Will answers quietly, his little voice shaky and full of something I can’t quite place. ''“$Name, wake up-”''// ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-8]]

//I watch the child-version of Will, his shivering body seeming to try and curl in on itself, not feeling any particular need to step in. This isn’t real, this is just some sort of strange dream, so there’s nothing I can do that will change the outcome. Suddenly, the woman’s head ''snaps'' to the side, the sound loud and echoing around the small room. Her body slumps against the bed, eerily still now, her eyes wide open and glassy. Will’s innocent eyes widen as he stares at the woman, who now looks up at the ceiling lifelessly. “Son, this should have never happened.” The voice is back now, low and gentle, but still patronizing somehow. “You need to be quick when you exorcise a demon. Don’t let it get to you, and don’t show any signs of weakness in front of it. They will use your own feelings against you, to control and manipulate you. Do you understand me?” ''"$Name-”'' “Yes, dad.” Will answers quietly, his little voice shaky and full of something I can’t quite place. ''“$Name, wake up-”''// ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-8]]

---- !!!A few hours later… I blink awake suddenly, a hand gently shaking my shoulder rousing me from sleep. “We’re here.” Will’s voice is tired, and quiet, and when I look at him, I’m reminded of the dream that I just had. But I don’t get the chance to bring it up, because he points out the window and my attention goes there. Before us is a big, 2 story Victorian home. I would describe it as ‘hauntingly beautiful’, because it looks very well-maintained, but because of its age it still manages to keep a ‘haunted-and-run-down’ look to it. Will gets out of the car, and I follow behind him slowly as I take in the huge house. For some reason, I sense something //strange//, something from deep within the walls. But I don’t get to dwell on it for long when I’m startled by the front door opening on creaky hinges. A tall woman comes out onto the wrap-around porch, wrapping a dark pink robe tighter around her thin frame to keep the cold nighttime air out. She has graying black hair, long and curly, which is pulled into a ponytail on her head. ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-9]]

“Come on.” Will says suddenly, surprising me as he comes around the back of the car with both of our bags slung over his shoulder. He gives me a small, encouraging smile as he gently presses a hand against my back to get me moving up the pathway to the porch. Once we climb the steps, the woman smiles brightly at Will as she walks over to him with her arms held out for a hug. “Will Winters, how long has it been?” “I think about 4 or 5 years, right?” Will answers her with a chuckle, hugging her back with one arm, a little awkwardly. “How has Jeremy been?” She asks as she pulls back, checking over him with a maternal gaze. “He’s good. Been keeping busy, like usual.” Will seems a little uncomfortable under her watchful look, before he clears his throat and motions towards me. “This is my friend I was telling you about. $g3 name is $Name.” Finally turning to me, the woman’s brown eyes take me in with a strange scrutinizing look, before she smiles at me. Holding her hand out towards me, she says, “Nice to meet you, I’m Sabrina Parker.” ---- [[Shake her hand. ->CHAP5-SHAKEHAND]] ---- [[Just nod my head. ->CHAP5-NODHEAD]] ---- [[Ignore her and her hand. ->CHAP5-IGNOREHER]]

I shake her hand, nodding my head at her. “Nice to meet you.” She nods, but her staring stays just as intense, leaving me to feel like she’s examining me for some reason. It makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end, a strange feeling coming over me as I stare back at her. But after a long second, Will clears his throat, gaining her attention. “I’m sorry for coming by so late.” Will gives her an apologetic smile. “But thank you for letting us stay here.” “I’d do anything for you, Will, you know that.” Sabrina motions towards the front door. “Let’s head inside, shall we?” We follow Sabrina into her home, instantly met with warm air and a sweet, floral scent. ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-10]]

I ignore her hand, but nod my head at her. “Nice to meet you.” She seems a little offended that I don’t shake her hand, and her staring stays just as intense, leaving me to feel like she’s examining me for some reason. It makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end, a strange feeling coming over me as I stare back at her. But after a long second, Will clears his throat, gaining her attention. “I’m sorry for coming by so late.” Will gives her an apologetic smile. “But thank you for letting us stay here.” “I’d do anything for you, Will, you know that.” Sabrina motions towards the front door. “Let’s head inside, shall we?” We follow Sabrina into her home, instantly met with warm air and a sweet, floral scent. ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-10]]

I choose to ignore her, not entirely thrilled at the idea of being pleasant with a stranger. She stares at me with obvious offense, like she’s a few seconds away from saying something about my attitude, and Will has to get her attention before she does. “I’m sorry for coming by so late.” Will gives her an apologetic smile. “But thank you for letting us stay here.” “I’d do anything for you, Will, you know that.” Sabrina motions towards the front door. “Let’s head inside, shall we?” We follow Sabrina into her home, instantly met with warm air and a sweet, floral scent. ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-10]]<<set $FriendlyAntag to Math.clamp($FriendlyAntag - 2, 0, 40)>>

Will sets our bags down on the floor by the door, before looking around the entryway. “This place still looks amazing. Have you finished all the repairs you needed to do?” Most of the lights are off, except for one from the living room, which Sabrina heads towards. Will and I follow behind her as she replies to him. “I actually just finished repairing the tub in the master bathroom. All that I have to do now is have someone come out to take care of the exposed wires in the basement and I think it’ll be finished.” As they start talking about the repairs that Sabrina has done on the home, my attention gets brought to a floor-to-ceiling mirror on the wall opposite from us. I slowly walk up to it, my reflection staring back at me with tired $eyecolor eyes. I can’t help but feel like there’s something //different// about me, but I can’t exactly pinpoint what it is. The harder I stare at myself, the more that I feel that something is //wrong//. Suddenly, my eyes flicker to the reflection of Will and Sabrina, who have stopped talking with each other. They both watch me closely- Will obviously worried, but Sabrina’s gaze is hard to make out. She looks at me like she’s searching for something, like she’s expecting something from me. ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-11]]

I slowly turn around to stare at her head-on, but Will’s voice drags both of our attention away from each other. “We should probably get to bed now. I don’t want to keep you up any longer.” “Oh, yes, of course!” Sabrina smiles at Will gently, although it seems a little strained, before motioning for us to follow her. She takes us back to the entryway, and waits for a second while Will grabs our bags again, before heading up the stairs. She leads us down a long, narrow hallway, before stopping and turning to look at us. “Here we are. One room for Will-” She opens the door on the right side, before opening the other on the opposite side of the hallway, “-And one room for $Name.” “Thanks again, Sabrina. For… everything.” Will says, giving his lopsided grin to the woman. “I already told you, I’d do anything for you, Will.” Sabrina smiles back at him for a second, before she starts to head back towards the stairs. “I’ll see you both in the morning. Goodnight.” ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-12]]

After she disappears down the steps, Will steps into the small bedroom, before turning to me with a strange look on his face. He seems hesitant, for some reason. Holding out my bag for me, he waits for me to take it before finally saying something. “How are you feeling? Do you still have a headache?” “Not really, it’s just a dull thudding now.” I answer him quietly, still trying to decipher what his strange attitude means. “Alright, well…” Will takes a deep breath, his eyes searching me for something. “Get some sleep, ok?” ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-13]]

Nodding, I wait until Will closes the door to his room behind himself, before turning to the door that leads to my room for the night. Stepping inside, I take in the unfamiliar space slowly, unsure about it. It surprises me just how at-home I had gotten in Will’s apartment in a little less than a week, the small bedroom he’s been letting me stay in already seems much more comfortable than this one. I walk over to the bed, placing my bag on it before sitting on the edge of the mattress myself. Taking a deep breath, I realize that, although I //am// uncomfortable due to being in an unfamiliar place, there also seems to be this strange feeling in the air. It’s heavy, almost electric… And it makes me feel a little sick to my stomach. With how strange Sabrina was acting earlier, and now how this room makes me feel, I feel the sudden need to… I don’t know, leave? I’m not sure what I want to do, but I just know that I don’t want to stay in this room. ---- [[Ignore the feeling and just go to bed. ->CHAP5-IGNOREFEEL]] ---- [[I need to talk to Will, something isn’t right. ->CHAP5-TALKWILL]] ---- [[I need Will, I need his presence near me. [Flirt] ->CHAP5-WILLFLIRT]]

Shaking my head, I brush off the strange feelings and start getting ready for bed. I’m sure it’s just because I’m exhausted, with a throbbing headache, and in a new environment that everything seems weird right now. If I just get some sleep, I can think about it all clearer. After I get into my PJs, I climb into the bed, the old wood creaking slightly under my weight. The blankets smell nice, like they were left out under the sun to dry- it’s comfortable, and I instantly sink into them further, my eyes growing heavy with sleep. I’m out within a few minutes. ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-14]] <<set $Willinbed to 20>>

Standing up quickly, I rush towards the door, and open it with shaky hands- Only to find Will standing on the opposite side, his fist up as if he was about to knock on the door. He blinks in surprise, his dark brown eyes behind his glasses he usually wears to read, before he gives me a gentle smile. “Will…?” I say his name quietly, the end tilting up into a question. “Sorry, I was just worried about you.” He admits, his hand finally coming back down to his side awkwardly. “I wanted to make sure you were actually alright, and not just telling me what I wanted to hear.” I stare at him, a bit surprised, before I blink it away. “I was… Just about to go see you too, actually.” “Really?” Will seems to light up at that, his eyebrows shooting up towards his hairline in surprise. “Yeah. I just… I’m not feeling very well. I was going to ask if you’d maybe want to…” My sentence trails off, as I’m unsure how to finish that sentence. What was I going to ask him? To share the full-size bed that barely looks big enough for 2 adults? Would he think I’m childish if I asked him? ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-TALKWILL2]] <<set $Willinbed to 10>>

Standing up quickly, I rush towards the door, and open it with shaky hands- Only to find Will standing on the opposite side, his fist up as if he was about to knock on the door. He blinks in surprise, his dark brown eyes behind his glasses he usually wears to read, before he gives me a gentle smile. “Will…?” I say his name quietly, the end tilting up into a question. “Sorry, I was just worried about you.” He admits, his hand finally coming back down to his side awkwardly. “I wanted to make sure you were actually alright, and not just telling me what I wanted to hear.” I stare at him, a bit surprised, before I blink it away. “I was… Just about to go see you too, actually.” “Really?” Will seems to light up at that, his eyebrows shooting up towards his hairline in surprise. “Yeah. I just… I’m not feeling very well. I was going to ask if you’d maybe want to… Sleep with me?” My sentence finishes in a whisper, the realization of what I asked Will making me blush. When Will’s eyes widen, obviously surprised, I almost want to run away before he can give me an answer. ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-WILLFLIRT2]] <<set $Willinbed to 10>>

---- !!!11 A.M the next morning… Blinking awake, I come out of a deep, dreamless sleep. I sit up in the bed, looking around the room confused, before I remember where I am. <<if $Willinbed >=20>>I get up out of the bed, intent on seeing if Will is awake, before a buzzing from my phone brings my attention there instead. <<elseif $Willinbed >=0 && $Willinbed <=19>>Will is no longer in the bed- his side is cold, telling me he hasn’t been in it for a good long while. Before I can decide how to feel about him not being here anymore, a buzzing from my phone brings my attention there instead. <</if>> The newest message that I just received is from Anya, who says that she’s about 30 minutes away. The next message is from Will, who texted me at 10 in the morning, saying, “$Name, I went out to buy some things I forgot. Also going to get breakfast, so if you want anything special just let me know. I was going to wake you up, but I guess you really needed the rest, because you wouldn’t budge. :(“ Looking at the time now, 11:35 in the morning, I wonder if he’s still gone or if he has returned by now. I get up, slowly getting ready for the day, before I decide I can’t spend any more time in my room. ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-15]]

Will’s grin grows soft, before he holds up a book that he had been holding the whole time. “I can sit beside you and read, until you fall asleep, if you want?” Something inside my chest bubbles up at that suggestion, something light and airy, that mixes with the initial relief. I can feel a smile grow on my own face, before I nod my head. “I’d like that, Will.” I let Will inside the room, and then I go and get ready for bed in the adjoined bathroom. Then, I climb into the bed while Will turns all the lights off, except for the lamp on the bedside table. He sits on the bed, his back against the headboard- and when he’s done adjusting himself, he gives me another lopsided grin. “Goodnight, $Name.” “Goodnight, Will.” I whisper, before closing my eyes. I’m asleep after a few minutes. ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-14]]

Suddenly, his expression softens, a small grin appearing on his lips again. “If that will help you sleep better, then sure.” Something inside my chest bubbles up at that, something light and airy, and that mixes with the initial relief. I can feel a smile grow on my own face, before I nod my head. “Ok.” I let Will into the room, before I go and get ready for bed in the adjoined bathroom. Then, I climb into the bed while Will turns all the lights off, except for the lamp on the bedside table, and then he’s climbing into bed next to me. Staring at him, I can tell he’s just as nervous as I am. He takes a strangely long second to place his glasses on the nightstand, before he’s turning on his side to face me. Face to face like this, the soft warm light of the lamp illuminating his face, I can’t help but continue to stare at him. If my heart was alive, it would be pounding like crazy, just being this close to Will in our own little bubble. Giving me another lopsided grin, Will whispers, “Goodnight, $Name.” “Goodnight, Will.” I whisper back, waiting until he closes his eyes to shut my own. I’m asleep after a few minutes. ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-14]] <<set $Will_Love to Math.clamp($Will_Love + 1, 0, 10)>>

Once I’m out in the hallway, I knock on Will’s door lightly, just to see if he had gone back to his room- just in case. After a few seconds of silence, it’s obvious that he isn’t in the room, so I decide to venture somewhere else. My feet take me to the staircase, where I hesitate when that strange feeling from the night before suddenly comes back in full-force. The air is stagnant with some strange feeling, pressing against my body, making me shiver involuntarily. Suddenly, a crash happens from down below, somewhere deeper in the old house. It startles me into action, <<if $Will_Approval >=60>>a rush of concern for Will making me fear that he’s in trouble somehow, <<elseif $Will_Approval >=0 && $Will_Approval <=59>>a rush of concern that maybe that angel Dani had warned me about has found me,<</if>> as I rush down the stairs and try to find the source of the noise. Once my feet hit the foyer’s marble floor, I hear another crash from an area of the house I haven’t seen yet. I rush through an archway, leading me down a small hallway, before finding myself in the kitchen. ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-16]]

Looking around confused, I realize that there’s no one in here. But the noise definitely came from this direction- //''CRASH''// Another loud noise makes me jump, and I look around frantically, until my gaze lands on a door hidden between a couple of floor-to-ceiling cupboards. It sits ajar, the darkness through the crack I can see seeming to call me towards it. Stepping closer to the door, I can’t help but hear alarm bells go off in my head. But what if it’s the angel that Dani warned me of…? What if Will is in danger…? What if…? Suddenly, Sabrina comes crashing through the door, a big box in her arms. Once her eyes land on me, she screams as she drops the box to the floor with another loud //''bang''//. ---- [[Get startled and scream back. ->CHAP5-GETSTARTLED]] ---- [[Jump away from her. ->CHAP5-JUMPAWAY]] ---- [[It doesn’t bother me, just stand there. ->CHAP5-DONTBOTHER]]

The sudden appearance of the woman, and the loud scream she lets out makes me scream in return. My body cowers, my hands up in front of me as if I was trying to fend her off. “Oh, my God! I’m so sorry, $Name, you scared me!” She exclaims, breathless, as her hand rests on her chest, as if trying to keep her heart from escaping. Taking a few deep breaths, Sabrina seems to calm herself down enough to realize she dropped her box on the floor. Tutting, she kneels down and opens it up, checking on the contents, which I see are fall decorations. ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-17]]

The sudden appearance of the woman, and the loud scream she lets out makes me jump back from her. “Oh, my God! I’m so sorry, $Name, you scared me!” She exclaims, breathless, as her hand rests on her chest, as if trying to keep her heart from escaping. Taking a few deep breaths, Sabrina seems to calm herself down enough to realize she dropped her box on the floor. Tutting, she kneels down and opens it up, checking on the contents, which I see are fall decorations. ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-17]]

I just stand there, her sudden appearance not really bothering me. I wince a bit at the scream she lets out, but that’s about it. “Oh, my God! I’m so sorry, $Name, you scared me!” She exclaims, breathless, as her hand rests on her chest, as if trying to keep her heart from escaping. Taking a few deep breaths, Sabrina seems to calm herself down enough to realize she dropped her box on the floor. Tutting, she kneels down and opens it up, checking on the contents, which I see are fall decorations. ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-17]]

“Nothing broke.” She says, more to herself, but I nod at her anyway when she looks up at me. Her dark brown eyes watch me carefully then, and I note that they seem to be less guarded than they were last night. Standing up, she dusts herself off as she asks, “Is Will back yet?” “No, I don’t think so.” I answer her simply. Nodding, she pushes the box off to the side. “I know it’s terribly rude to ask this of a guest, but I was wondering if you could come help me with something?” ---- [[Nod- there’s no reason to deny her. ->CHAP5-HELPHERNOD]] ---- [[Ask what she wants help with. ->CHAP5-ASKWHAT]] ---- [[Refuse. ->CHAP5-REFUSE]]

Immediately, I nod my head in answer. There’s no reason I shouldn’t help her… And I have a feeling that if I don’t try and get along with her, Will might get upset with me. The corners of her mouth tip up, not quite in a smile, but something similar. “Thank you. I just need some help carrying up a few more boxes of decorations.” She motions towards the door she had just come from, before turning to reenter. I watch as she goes down a set of stairs, into what I now see is the basement. I hesitate for only a second, before I follow her down the stairs. With every step I take down into the basement, the heavier the air becomes, it seems. I hesitate on the last step, peering into the dark basement, realizing that I lost sight of Sabrina. “...Sabrina?” I call out, unsure if I should travel any further into the dark, ominous basement. Not when the feeling I have felt since last night seems to originate from deeper within the room. ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-HELPHERNOD2]] <<set $FriendlyAntag to Math.clamp($FriendlyAntag + 2, 0, 70)>>

Something doesn’t seem quite right here… I’m not sure I know it, but I can sense that something is wrong. With that feeling still heavy in my chest, I raise an eyebrow at Sabrina, before asking, “...What do you need help with?” The corners of her mouth tip up, not quite a smile, but something similar. “I just need some help carrying up a few more boxes of decorations.” She motions towards the door she had just come from, before turning to reenter. I watch as she goes down a set of stairs, into what I now see is the basement. I hesitate for only a second more, before following her down the stairs. With every step I take down into the basement, the heavier the air becomes, it seems. I hesitate on the last step, peering into the dark basement, realizing that I lost sight of Sabrina. “...Sabrina?” I call out, unsure if I should travel any further into the dark, ominous basement. Not when the feeling I have felt since last night seems to originate from deeper within the room. ---- [[Next ->ASKWHAT2]]

“Uh, no-” I shake my head, the feeling that something isn’t quite right here making me refuse her outright. “I’m feeling a little sick, so I’m just going back up to my room.” I turn to leave, before Sabrina says something under her breath. I can’t hear exactly what she says, but it doesn’t matter, not when ice-cold dread flows down my back- because I find that I can’t move anymore. My body is paralyzed, despite my best efforts to move, or say something, or do //anything//- “I’m sorry, $Name. But you don’t really have a choice in this.” Sabrina walks around so she’s face to face with me, but I find that she doesn’t look sorry at all. Her face is stone-cold, watching me struggle with no emotion at all. Then, she whispers, //“Somnus.”//. And I’m out like a light. ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-18]] <<set $FriendlyAntag to Math.clamp($FriendlyAntag - 2, 0, 30)>>

“I’m sorry for this, $Name.” Sabrina says suddenly, before coming out of the darkness. She doesn’t look sorry at all, I realize, as she stares at me with an emotionless expression placed on her face. “Sorry for what…?” I hesitate to ask. I back up, about ready to bolt from the basement, when Sabrina says something that has me freezing to the spot- literally. //"Congelo.”// Panic rushes through me as I find that I can’t move anymore. My body strains against an unseen force and my mouth refuses to make a sound as I stare at Sabrina in shock. “Sorry for all of this.” She says- the only warning I get before she’s saying something else in that language that makes my insides crawl. //“Somnus.”// And I’m out like a light. ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-18]]

---- !!!An unknown amount of time later… A burning, stinging pain in my head brings me back from unconsciousness. I awake with a gasp, my vision blurry when my eyes open, the pain in my head only getting worse- “Ah, $Name. I see you’re awake.” Sabrina’s voice carries in from the dark around me, and I realize rather belatedly that I must be farther in the basement when I look around and just find metal shelving units with boxes and bins against stone walls. Confused, I blink as I stare in the direction her voice came from, before watching her step from the shadows. “What… What’s going on…?” I ask, trying my best to back up from her. With every step forward she takes, I take a step back- until my back hits some kind of invisible wall that stings and burns my skin. I hiss in pain as I jump away, only to find Sabrina right in front of me now. ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-19]]

“I’m sorry for this, $Name.” Sabrina says suddenly, before coming out of the darkness. She doesn’t look sorry at all, I realize, as she stares at me with an emotionless expression placed on her face. “Sorry for what…?” I hesitate to ask. I back up, about ready to bolt from the basement, when Sabrina says something that has me freezing to the spot- literally. //“Congelo.”// Panic rushes through me as I find that I can’t move anymore. My body strains against an unseen force and my mouth refuses to make a sound as I stare at Sabrina in shock. “Sorry for all of this.” She says- the only warning I get before she’s saying something else in that language that makes my insides crawl. //“Somnus.”// And I’m out like a light. ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-18]]

“I’m going to ask you a few questions, and you are going to answer them.” She states simply. But the look she gives me is dark, and rather menacing, leaving me to wonder if all she’s really going to do is ask me questions. “Question number one is… What is your real name?” Confused, I blink at her, wondering just what she means by that. “There’s no information about a demon named $Name. So, I’m giving you a chance to tell me your //real// name on your own terms, before I //force// it out of you.” Sabrina circles me, staying the same distance away from me on all sides. ---- [[Answer her truthfully. ->CHAP5-ANSWERHERTRUTH]] ---- [[Lie to her. ->CHAP5-LIETOHER]] ---- [[Refuse to answer. ->CHAP5-REFUSEANSWER]]

“But… But my name //really is// $Name.” I answer, the confusion of the question only mixing with the horrible headache in my brain, making the world swirl around me. “Don’t lie to me, //demon//!” She barks, before her hands snap out towards me. I flinch back, only to realize that she didn’t hit me, at least not with her hands. Little droplets of water hit my body, and I look down in horror as they seem to melt through my clothes, sizzling and popping like a fire- and when the droplets hit my skin, I can’t help the pained yelp as it //burns// and //stings//- Sabrina moves again, causing my attention to snap to her. She crosses her arms, her dark eyes glaring at me as she yells, “Tell me your real name! //Responde mihi vel uri!//” ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-20]]

It’s obvious she won’t believe me, even if I tell her that my name really is $Name. Panicking, I say, “I- I don’t have a real name!” “Don’t lie to me, //demon//!” She barks, before her hands snap out towards me. I flinch back, only to realize that she didn’t hit me, at least not with her hands. Little droplets of water hit my body, and I look down in horror as they seem to melt through my clothes, sizzling and popping like a fire- and when the droplets hit my skin, I can’t help the pained yelp as it //burns// and //stings//- Sabrina moves again, causing my attention to snap to her. She crosses her arms, her dark eyes glaring at me as she yells, “Tell me your real name! //Responde mihi vel uri!//” ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-20]]

It’s obvious she won’t believe me, even if I tell her that my name really is $Name. Setting my jaw, I stare at her blankly, refusing to answer. “Answer me, //demon//!” She barks, before her hands snap out towards me. I flinch back, only to realize that she didn’t hit me, at least not with her hands. Little droplets of water hit my body, and I look down in horror as they seem to melt through my clothes, sizzling and popping like a fire- and when the droplets hit my skin, I can’t help the pained yelp as it //burns// and //stings//- Sabrina moves again, causing my attention to snap to her. She crosses her arms, her dark eyes glaring at me as she yells, “Tell me your real name! //Responde mihi vel uri!//” ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-20]]

The strange words she speaks seem to hit me like a wave of air, a strange feeling like an electric charge runs across my skin as it does. When it mixes with the strange water she had thrown at me, it feels as though my skin is trying to //rip off my body//. ‘’S̶̲͛t̵̏͜ǒ̵͙p̵͕͝ ̸̬̕t̸̝̚h̵̞̏ǐ̵̜s̵̖̈́.̴̡̓’’ Words fill my head, along with static, and //pain//- the pounding, ''the pounding'', t̷h̷e̴ ̶p̶o̶u̴n̷d̴i̶n̶g̸’- “Are you possessing Will?” Sabrina’s voice barely registers in my head anymore, not when the pain tries to overtake me. When all I do in answer is struggle to breathe, struggle to stay standing, Sabrina waves her hand out towards me and belts out the words, “//Sisto.//” My body goes rigid as her words take a hold of my limbs, which I vaguely realize have started to raise and strain against the invisible wall around me. ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-21]]

“I- I’m not… //possessing Will-//” I bite the words out, confused as to how she thinks I’m possessing him. “Stop lying to me.” She nearly growls, sounding more animalistic than she should. My vision swims, her form swaying back and forth like a reflection on disturbed water. “Why would he be helping out a demon on his own accord?” When the hold on my body doesn’t let up, but the pain //increases//, I let out a strangled yelp, before I force my eyes onto Sabrina. ---- [[“Because… He’s my friend.” ->CHAP5-HESMYFRIEND]] ---- [[“I don’t… I don’t know…” ->CHAP5-IDONTKNOW]] ---- [[Try to lunge at her- get this pain to STOP. ->CHAP5-ATTACK]]

“Because… He’s my friend.” I mumble the words through a jaw that doesn’t want to work, before I’m brought down to my knees by an incredibly intense wave of pain that rushes from my head to my toes. “Don’t make me laugh.” Sabrina’s voice is condescending, snarky. I̴t̴ ̸p̷i̵s̵s̷e̷s̴ ̸m̸e̸ ̷o̷f̴f̵.̴ ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-22]]

“I don’t… I don’t know…” I mumble the words through a jaw that doesn’t want to work, before I’m brought down to my knees by an incredibly intense wave of pain that rushes from my head to my toes. “Oh, I’m so sure you don’t.” Sabrina’s voice is condescending, snarky, I̴t̴ ̸p̷i̵s̵s̷e̷s̴ ̸m̸e̸ ̷o̷f̴f̵.̴ ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-22]]

The way Sabrina looks at me, like I’m some kind of monster, bothers me. I̴t̴ ̸p̷i̵s̵s̷e̷s̴ ̸m̸e̸ ̷o̷f̴f̵.̴ I try to lunge at her, but I’m suddenly brought down to my knees by an incredibly intense wave of pain that rushes from my head to my toes. ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-22]]

“If you won’t answer my questions, then I’ll just have to end this.” Although I’m vaguely aware of Sabrina talking, her words don’t compute in my brain as I try to work through the intense feelings rushing through me. Hatred, boiling red and hot, //such anger//, burns through my veins- K̶i̸l̷l̶ ̴h̸e̶r̶.̶ That thought makes me pause. My mind clears for just a second as the horror sets in, the horror that I //really want to kill Sabrina//- “Stop…” I murmur, unsure if I’m talking to myself or to the woman before me. “Stop…” “What?” She bends forward a bit, unable to hear my words. K̸̙̓ì̵̱l̵̼͗l̴̼̥̀ ̸͎̲̍h̸̢͖͚͆̆̿ę̵́̓r̵̗̀͋̔.̸̨̹̼̑ “Stop.” I know she’s heard me now, because she flinches back a bit, suddenly on edge. But the static in my head makes it so I’m unable to focus on her. The static fills my ears, starts to fill my eyes, I swear I can //taste// it- ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-23]]

“I knew I should have done this from the start.” Sabrina is saying, her voice strangely muffled in my ears as the static surrounds me. “//Daemon $Name, veto te in hoc mundo manere-//” Those words send a jolt of electricity through my body, pain erupting behind my eyes and through my chest. I’m not sure if I let out a scream, not when the //static// and the //buzzing// fill my ears- I need to end this pain. I need to end it. I̸̖̞̍̆̄̎͘̚ ̵͇͉͆͂͆̿͒̃́͜͝ṇ̴̙͕̰̓̓̒͠ë̶̡̞͔̮̱̈́̂̕͘͝ȅ̴̟̪̖͉̼̣̜̼̉d̸̢̻̟̟̱̯̒͋͝ ̷̪̬̎̈̃̏͛̔t̴̨̡͍̣̺̙͍̲̰͒́̃ő̴̢͚̦̼͂̈ ̷̲͖̪͔̹̙̺́̈́̒̈́͛͐k̵͔̗̳͍̣̍̊̒̈́̑̚į̵̯̤̿l̷̡̧̮̗̯̫̳̖̱̅l̷̨͇̬̗͉͙̩͐̽ ̷̛͓͖̞̪̫̅̃̅̉̿̏͛̚ͅḩ̵̫̼̠͉̎̚͠e̷̡̧̮̝̭̎r̷͎̯̀̑͛̊͌̑͆͠.̸̰̙̽͊̈ “$Name!” I’m unsure what happens next. My brain seems to have been liquified to nothing as the static fills my ears. I’m only vaguely aware of my hand shooting out towards Sabrina, wrapping around her throat, startling her into silence as she stares at me with wide, terrified eyes- And then another pair of eyes shifts into my focus; another set of familiar, dark brown eyes. Ǩ̸̛̘̮̲̟̳͎̝͎́̑̐͌͒͘͜ỉ̵̝̺͕̘͓̙͙̞͔̹̫͓̞̠͖͔̮̻̦́̇́̇̓͂̆̾͛̔̌͆͊͗̇̋̚͘͝l̴̨̡̡̨̳̝̯̪̥̰͎̥͍͚̘̋ļ̷̨̙̫̰̪̞͇̞̺̰̝̯̖̠̱̙̈́̿̐̎̆̌̏͂̔̎̋ ̵̧̧̡͍͈͎̪͚͉͔͓̙̖̠̺͕̝̤̉͑̐̋̇̈̐̌̑͑̚̚h̸̛̬̑͌̽̈̈́͒̓ë̷̛͓͉͎̘̟̣̗̻́͆́̈́̒̾͜ŕ̴̨̡̯̼͔̫̪̥̬̠̜͍̱͎̜̠͈̐̽̏̽̀͒̓̓̉̄̈͊̕͜ͅ.̷̡͙̭̘̱͙͖̞̻̬̰̠̘̖̮͎͎̼̂̊͛̄͒̾̄̑̇̽͜͠ “$Name, you need to snap out of it!” Will’s voice starts to bubble to the surface of my consciousness, his words not making sense. K̴̢̡̧̡̛̤̭͇̯̻̦̹̫̥̺͓͚̞̤͍̖̱̤̲̟͓͉̞̄̈́̾̉̒́̉̐̈͒̃̾̍͘̚͜͝ị̵̛̮̒̈̇̏̍̓̈́̔̌̈́̐̏̊͊́̽̓͛͆̌͆͘̚̕l̴̡̹̖̱̮͎̞̮̻͖̩̹̦͎̱̣͈̦̯̗̖̲͍̺̠̺̭̃́̍̀̅̐̿͐͒̏͋̀̀̈́̃͑̐̀́̓̀̌̋̀̚̕ͅl̸̨̛͇̘̲̰̭͍̥͔̣̖̮̯͉͙̰̳̮͈̲̘͙̠͕̒͛͛̃̀̍͋́͗̔̒̆͂̅̾̇̑͗̕ͅ ̵̢̛̝̤͉̙̘̪̬̝͕͍̮̥̰̮̤̗̙̭̥͎̼̥̪̙̐͊̅̿̇̆͌͒̔͛͗͋͗̆̀̕ͅͅͅh̸̢̨̙̗̳̫̩̻̙̝͐́͜͜ę̸̡̛̦̦̯͈̘̮̫͙̪̝͍̠͔̼͚̠̘̘̹̭̣̥̥͓̪̒̃͋́́̒͛͑̈̀͠͠͠ͅͅr̶̢̢͚̺̹̱͓͍͚̘͉̰̠̦̥͍̪̺̒̂̌̏͊̽̋̐̄́̍̊̈́̕͝ͅ.̵̢̢̠͎̙̲̤̗̻̖̭̞͇̬͙͔͖̦̜̖̝͉̫̪̗͆͂̑͛̏̐̓́̑̊͊̍͆͗̀̍͜͠ Reaching towards me, Will’s eyes are //pleading// with me. Behind him, I now notice Anya as well. Her eyes are wide and terrified as she watches me, but there’s something else mixed in with the fear, something close to… sadness. ---- [[Kill… Kill her…? ->CHAP5-24]]

Something happens- something like a giant bubble of air popping, or a dam breaking, or a string finally snapping after being pulled taught for so long. Relief fills me as the pain slowly starts to subside, the static quieting down until I can finally think for myself again. “...$Name?” Will’s voice sounds far away for a second, like I’m underneath water. But when he places a gentle hand on my shoulder, the sounds of the world immediately snap back into place- the humming of the heater, the dripping of a leaky faucet, the gasping breath of someone- “-$Name, are you alright?” I can only nod, sudden fatigue making it difficult for me to form words. My gaze slowly looks around- the demon trap on the floor has been broken, Anya is watching me with concern, and Sabrina… She’s on the floor a few feet away from us, her hand rubbing at her neck as she stares at us with something like disbelief and fear. “William, what in the-” She starts, but Will waves her words off. “Come on, let’s get out of here.” Will gently helps me upright, before turning to Anya. “Can you go and grab our bags from the guest rooms upstairs?” ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-25]]

Nodding, Anya takes one more long, worried glance at me, before she heads up the stairs. Slowly, Will and I start making our way out of the basement as well. My legs shake and wobble underneath me, but he doesn’t seem to mind as he patiently helps me. “William!” Sabrina coughs, causing Will to turn to look at her. “//Why// on //Earth// are you helping a //demon//?” The look that Will gives Sabrina is something I’ve never seen on his face before… He’s //pissed//. He looks about ready to start screaming at the woman; but after taking a deep breath, in a cool, even tone he says, “It’s just //Will//. And $Name is my friend.” “William- //Will//, I can’t let you walk out with that demon. How do I know $g1 <<if $program >=20>>aren't<<elseif $program >=0 && $program <=19>>isn't<</if>> possessing you? Your uncle will kill me if he finds out I let you walk out with that demon-” ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-26]]

“Keep my uncle out of this.” Will loses his composure for a second, his words coming out harsh. He blinks, like even he’s surprised by his outburst, before shaking his head. “We’re leaving.” “You //know// how stupid it is to interact with demons, William! Why are you-” “It’s. Just. //Will//.” Will snaps at Sabrina, before shaking his head, trying to calm himself down again. “And I’m helping $Name out because $g1 <<if $program >=20>>need<<elseif $program >=10 && $program <=19>>needs<</if>> my help. That’s all there is to it.” Sabrina gets up on her feet, following behind us as we slowly make our way out of the house, trying her best to get Will to see reason. When I turn my head to take a look at her, she gives me such a furious glare that I can’t help but feel… ---- [[I feel bad about this whole situation. ->CHAP5-FEELBAD]] ---- [[I’m just as furious at her. ->CHAP5-FURIOUS]] ---- [[I don’t feel much, not even after everything. ->CHAP5-DONTFEELMUCH]] ---- [[I’m about to start crying… ->CHAP5-CRY]]

Will gets me into his car, slamming the door with a bit too much force, making me wince. He turns around as Sabrina comes up to him, and I can still hear her try to get him to listen to her. “I don’t understand this, Will. Why are you risking your life staying with $Name? $g1 could be using you, for all we know! If $g1 <<if $program >=20>>don't<<elseif $program >=1 && $program <=10>>doesn't<</if>> possess you in the process, that is!” Anya comes up to them now, Will’s bag slung over her shoulder, my own bag in her arms. She takes one look at Will, and although he’s turned around so I can’t see his face anymore, I know she can see how angry he is when she blinks in surprise. Guilt rips through me, but I’m unsure what is making me feel it in the first place. Am I guilty for putting Will in danger? Or for seeming to be the reason he and Sabrina are fighting right now? ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-27]]

Will gets me into his car, slamming the door with a bit too much force, making me wince. He turns around as Sabrina comes up to him, and I can still hear her try to get him to listen to her. “I don’t understand this, Will. Why are you risking your life staying with $Name? $g1 could be using you, for all we know! If $g1 <<if $program >=20>>don't<elseif $program >=0 && $program <=10>>doesn't<</if>> possess you in the process, that is!” Anya comes up to them now, Will’s bag slung over her shoulder, my own bag in her arms. She takes one look at Will, and although he’s turned around so I can’t see his face anymore, I know she can see how angry he is when she blinks in surprise. Anger doesn’t even come close to what I’m feeling towards Sabrina, though. There’s something dark and //burning// inside my chest as I look at her through the window. She not only trapped me inside a demon trap, but she also tried to //exorcise// me- ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-27]]

Will gets me into his car, slamming the door with a bit too much force, making me wince. He turns around as Sabrina comes up to him, and I can still hear her try to get him to listen to her. “I don’t understand this, Will. Why are you risking your life staying with $Name? $g1 could be using you, for all we know! If $g1 <<if $program >=20>>don't<elseif $program >=0 && $program <=10>>doesn't<</if>> possess you in the process, that is!” Anya comes up to them now, Will’s bag slung over her shoulder, my own bag in her arms. She takes one look at Will, and although he’s turned around so I can’t see his face anymore, I know she can see how angry he is when she blinks in surprise. I stare at them through the window, noticing how I don’t feel much of anything at all… ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-27]]

Will gets me into his car, slamming the door with a bit too much force, making me wince. He turns around as Sabrina comes up to him, and I can still hear her try to get him to listen to her. “I don’t understand this, Will. Why are you risking your life staying with $Name? $g1 could be using you, for all we know! If $g1 <<if $program >=20>>don't<<elseif $program >=0 && $program <=10>>doesn't<</if>> possess you in the process, that is!” Anya comes up to them now, Will’s bag slung over her shoulder, my own bag in her arms. She takes one look at Will, and although he’s turned around so I can’t see his face anymore, I know she can see how angry he is when she blinks in surprise. I can feel the tears gathering in my eyes, and I try my best to blink them away. But when I look out the window, my eyes catching on Sabrina, I can’t help it when they flow down my cheeks. ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-27]]

“Look, Sabrina…” Will’s shoulder’s slump, like he’s physically exhausted and can’t stay angry any longer. His tone is a lot softer, but there’s still an edge to it that has Sabrina tensing up a bit. “I appreciate the concern, but I don’t need you to protect me. I can handle whatever happens with $Name.” Apparently trying to end the conversation, Will takes the bags from Anya, before turning and putting them into the back of the car. He says something to her quietly, which she nods at, before heading to her own car, which is parked behind us. Sabrina looks a bit manic as her wide eyes jump from Will, to Anya’s car, to me. “$g1 tried to //kill me//, Will. That should just prove to you how dangerous $g1 really <<if $program >=20>>are<<elseif $program >=0 && $program <=10>>is<</if>>! Please, just think this through-” ---- [[Next ->CHAP5-28]]

Ignoring her, Will heads to the driver’s side door, and slides into the seat. With finality, he slams the door shut, before turning the car on. Without wasting any more time, he waits for Anya to back up out of the driveway, before he does as well. I can’t bring myself to look back at Sabrina, and it takes a second before I’m able to get myself to look over at Will- unsure of what I’ll see when I do. Is he so mad at me that he will decide he won’t help me anymore? Does he hate me now? Is he… scared of me? But when I finally make eye-contact with him, $eyecolor eyes meeting dark brown, I’m met with concern. His eyebrows furrowed together, full lips pouting slightly as he tries to figure out what to say. But he can’t seem to find the words, so he just looks back towards the road, his white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel the only indication that he’s bothered by his lack of conversation. Looking out the window myself, I sigh as we settle into the strained silence. !CHAPTER FIVE END… ---- [[Next ->CHAP6-1]]

!CHAPTER SIX !!!About an hour later… Will and Anya help me into the hotel room, since my limbs are still uncooperative from being trapped and tortured in Sabrina’s basement. They set me on one of the beds, before they talk quietly amongst themselves, trying to figure out what to do from here. ---- [[I try to listen in, but find my mind wandering to what happened… ->CHAP6-TRYTOLISTEN]] ---- [[I stare at the ground, trying to forget what happened. ->CHAP6-STAREGROUND]] ---- [[Thinking about what happened makes me angry, so I try to forget it. ->CHAP6-THINKANGRY]]

“-we should wait until Dani is here, so they can tell us what we should do.” Anya is saying quietly, her brown eyes flickering from Will, to me. Will says something back to her, but I’m unsure if he agrees or not, because my mind wanders to what happened barely over an hour ago. The spots that the holy water touched still sting, and despite being a little shaky, I’m unharmed. But I can’t help but think back to what Sabrina was saying, how she thought I was possessing Will, and how that idea scared her so bad that she thought she had to torture me. My eyes roam over to Will, watching as he talks just as much with his hands as he does his mouth, and I briefly wonder the same thing Sabrina was… Why //is// he helping me? We’ve only known each other for about a week, barely long enough to even consider us as friends. So, why is he risking his well-being for me? ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-2]]

I stare at the ground, not able to pay attention to the words the other 2 people in the room are saying. My mind keeps wandering to what happened barely over an hour ago. The spots that the holy water touched still sting, and despite being a little shaky, I’m unharmed. But I can’t help but think back to what Sabrina was saying, how she thought I was possessing Will, and how that idea scared her so bad that she thought she had to torture me. My eyes roam over to Will, watching as he talks just as much with his hands as he does his mouth, and I briefly wonder the same thing Sabrina was… Why //is// he helping me? We’ve only known each other for about a week, barely long enough to even consider us as friends. So, why is he risking his well-being for me? ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-2]]

I stare at the ground, not able to pay attention to the words the other 2 people in the room are saying. My mind keeps wandering to what happened barely over an hour ago. The spots that the holy water touched still sting, and despite being a little shaky, I’m unharmed. But I can’t help but think back to what Sabrina was saying, how she thought I was possessing Will, and how that idea scared her so bad that she thought she had to torture me. Anger simmers in my chest, crawling up through my throat, making my dull headache worse. How was any of what happened to me ok? And why did we just //leave//, instead of… My eyes roam over to Will, watching as he talks just as much with his hands as he does his mouth, and I briefly wonder the same thing Sabrina was… Why //is// he helping me? We’ve only known each other for about a week, barely long enough to even consider us as friends. So, why is he risking his well-being for me? ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-2]]

“$Name.” Will gets my attention by saying my name, before he sits on the bed beside me. He watches me carefully for a few seconds, before he clears his throat. “How are you holding up?” Staring back at him, I blink in surprise, unable to really form how I’m feeling at the moment. Giving a sheepish smile, Will says, “Sorry, stupid question, I know.” Anya sits in a chair that is stuffed into the corner of the room, watching me just as closely as Will is. There is obvious concern on her face, but something else hidden just beneath the surface, something like… fear, or uncertainty. “I understand if you don’t want to talk about it yet, but… Well, we’d really like to hear what happened back there, $Name.” Will brings my attention back to him, his tone gentle as he speaks to me. Watching Will closely, I try to gauge his mood. If he’s upset at having to leave Sabrina’s home so suddenly, he doesn’t really show it. In fact, he does truly look concerned and genuinely curious about what happened. ---- [[Tell him everything. ->CHAP6-TELLEVERYTHING]] ---- [[Tell him I don’t want to talk about it. ->CHAP6-DONTTALKABOUT]] ---- [[Stay silent. ->CHAP6-STAYSILENT]]

I decide to retell the events that led up to the moment in the basement, Will and Anya’s expressions going from surprised, to fear, to anger as I do. “Why would she just //do that//, without //talking to me// first?” Will throws his hands up in frustration, before he falls back against the bed. Anya stays quiet, but when our eyes meet, she gives me a small, sympathetic smile. “There is something else we need to discuss, though.” Will says after a few moments of silence, before sitting up straight and looking back and forth between Anya and I. “We think that you should try and be more careful about when you use your powers, $Name.” “Powers?” I ask, confused. I didn’t use any powers… At least none that I’m aware of. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-3]]

“I don’t…” I shake my head, not feeling like I have the energy to go through everything right now. “I don’t want to talk about it.” Will nods, and doesn’t push me further. Anya stays quiet as well, and when our eyes meet, she gives me a small, sympathetic smile. “There is something else we need to discuss, though.” Will says after a few moments of silence, before sitting up straight and looking back and forth between Anya and I. “We think that you should try and be more careful about when you use your powers, $Name.” “Powers?” I ask, confused. I didn’t use any powers… At least none that I’m aware of. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-3]]

I shake my head, not feeling like I have the energy to go through everything right now. Will nods, and doesn’t push me further. Anya stays quiet as well, and when our eyes meet, she gives me a small, sympathetic smile. “There is something else we need to discuss, though.” Will says after a few moments of silence, before sitting up straight and looking back and forth between Anya and I. “We think that you should try and be more careful about when you use your powers, $Name.” “Powers?” I ask, confused. I didn’t use any powers… At least none that I’m aware of. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-3]]

“When you were trapped inside the demon trap, you used some sort of power to be able to reach across the barrier and choke Sabrina.” Will explains softly, seeming aware of just how confused I really am. “When demons are stuck inside one of those traps, they can’t usually escape unless they’re really powerful. Since you’re the spawn of Satan and The Devil, you must be a lot more powerful than we first thought.” My eyebrows scrunch in confusion. “I didn’t mean to-” “I know you didn’t mean to.” Will interrupts me, his hands going up as if trying to placate me. “But you should still be careful, is all I’m saying. You could seriously end up hurting someone, whether you want to or not, with that amount of power, $Name.” I stare at Will in slight disbelief, before my gaze snaps to Anya. She doesn’t seem to want to be a part of the conversation anymore, but whether it’s because she doesn’t actually agree with Will or because she isn’t sure how I’m going to react to it, I’m unsure. ---- [[I’m getting frustrated, unsure how to handle this conversation. ->CHAP6-FRUSTRATION]] ---- [[I’m getting upset… the insinuations Will is making hurt. ->CHAP6-UPSET]] ---- [[I’m getting angry. How dare he make these assumptions about me? ->CHAP6-ANGRY]] ---- [[I’m having a hard time feeling anything at all, really… ->CHAP6-NOFEELING]]

Sighing, I shake my head, trying to clear my frustration. “What exactly are you trying to say here, Will?” “Just that…” Will must be able to sense my souring mood, because he takes a deep breath, like he’s stalling time to figure out how to say what he’s thinking. “Just that, we aren’t entirely sure how your powers work, or what you can do exactly… And it would be best for all of us if you were extra careful not to use them. I promise, that’s all I was trying to say-” “But I didn’t //try// to use them.” I bite back, the frustration bubbling back up to the surface. “And I don’t think that I should be held responsible for what happened when //she// was the one //torturing// me in a //demon trap//-” “No, $Name. Will is right-” A familiar voice seems to fill the room, effectively cutting me off just as a cloud of black smoke appears near the door. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-4]]

Although I try my best to blink them away, I can feel the tears gather in my eyes. What is Will trying to say here, exactly? “$Name, hey…” Will waits until my watery gaze lands on him, before giving me a small, lopsided grin. “You’re fine, ok? I just meant that… We aren’t entirely sure how your powers work, or what you can do exactly… And it would be best for all of us if you were extra careful not to use them. I promise, that’s all I was trying to say-” “But I didn’t //try// to use them.” I interrupt him, my voice wavering slightly as I try to hold in my emotions. “And I don’t think that I should be held responsible for what happened when //she// was the one //torturing// me in a //demon trap//-” “No, $Name. Will is right-” A familiar voice seems to fill the room, effectively cutting me off just as a cloud of black smoke appears near the door. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-4]]

A bubble of white-hot anger fills my chest, my lungs, as I glare at Will. “What exactly are you trying to say here, Will?” “Just that…” Will must be able to sense my anger, because he takes a deep breath, like he’s stalling time to figure out how to say what he’s thinking. “Just that, we aren’t entirely sure how your powers work, or what you can do exactly… And it would be best for all of us if you were extra careful not to use them. I promise, that’s all I was trying to say-” “But I didn’t //try// to use them.” I bite back, my voice harsh as a wave of anger takes over me. “And I don’t think that I should be held responsible for what happened when //she// was the one //torturing// me in a //demon trap//-” “No, $Name. Will is right-” A familiar voice seems to fill the room, effectively cutting me off just as a cloud of black smoke appears near the door. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-4]]

Although I know that I should feel… //something//, //anything//, at the words Will is saying, I can’t help but feel… empty. But despite that, I’m still unsure what he’s trying to get at. “What exactly are you trying to say here, Will?” “Just that…” Will takes a deep breath, like he’s stalling time to figure out how to say what he’s thinking. “Just that, we aren’t entirely sure how your powers work, or what you can do exactly… And it would be best for all of us if you were extra careful not to use them. I promise, that’s all I was trying to say-” “But I didn’t //try// to use them.” I interrupt him suddenly. “And I don’t think that I should be held responsible for what happened when //she// was the one //torturing// me in a //demon trap//-” “No, $Name. Will is right-” A familiar voice seems to fill the room, effectively cutting me off just as a cloud of black smoke appears near the door. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-4]]

Murmur appears in the small hotel room, their white eyes flickering between Anya, Will, and I. “You are a very powerful demon, and need to keep your powers in check.” “Murmur…?” I ask quietly, almost like I’m unsure they’re really here. I haven’t seen them for a few days, and I’ve wondered when they would show up again. “What do you mean? Am I… Am I dangerous?” Wide, white eyes blink at me once, before Murmur tilts their head to the side in their owl-like way. They take a step towards me, before shaking their head in an almost unnatural, jerky motion. “No, not intentionally. But you have to remember… You are the spawn of the 2 most powerful demons in Hell. You have a lot of unbridled, untapped powers hidden somewhere inside of you. Before you lost your memories, I was trying to teach you how to control them. So it is completely possible that you are unconsciously using your powers, without even trying.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-5]]

“But… They //can// be controlled, right? $Name’s powers, I mean.” Will speaks up from beside me, a note of worry in his voice. Nodding, Murmur’s long braids fall over their shoulder. “Yes, they are able to be controlled, so long as $Name is willing to //try// to control them.” Murmur, Will, and Anya all turn to look at me suddenly, then. They each are expectant, urging me to say something to what Murmur just said. But I’m still unsure how to feel, if not mostly because I didn’t think I //was using// any demonic powers. ---- [[Agree to try and control my powers. ->CHAP6-AGREE]] ---- [[Argue about trying to control my powers. ->CHAP6-ARGUE]] ---- [[Don’t say anything. ->CHAP6-SAYNOTHING]]

“Alright, I…” I nod my head, my gaze falling to the floor when the expectant look of everyone around me becomes too much. “I’ll try to control them.” A few silent moments go by, before Murmur seems to become a little confused at their surroundings. They look around the small hotel room, before their gaze lands back on me. “What are you all doing here?” “There’s supposedly an angel coming after me.” I answer them, somehow feeling that if Murmur were to know about the situation, they’d be able to help us out. “They found out that I was in New York City and were trying to find me, so we came here looking for help.” Murmur’s expression twitches into a frown, before it rights itself back into its stoic mask. But the very slight change is still enough to send a surge of anxiety through me, instantly fearing the worst as they stare at me intensely- but for some reason, they don’t say anything. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-6]] <<set $Agreedornot to 10>>

“But I didn’t…” I start to argue, but the expectant look of everyone around me becomes too much and my gaze falls to the floor, my sentence trailing off. A few silent moments go by, before Murmur seems to become a little confused at their surroundings. They look around the small hotel room, before their gaze lands back on me. “What are you all doing here?” “There’s supposedly an angel coming after me.” I answer them, somehow feeling that if Murmur were to know about the situation, they’d be able to help us out. “They found out that I was in New York City and were trying to find me, so we came here looking for help.” Murmur’s expression twitches into a frown, before it rights itself back into its stoic mask. But the very slight change is still enough to send a surge of anxiety through me, instantly fearing the worst as they stare at me intensely- but for some reason, they don’t say anything. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-6]] <<set $Agreedornot to 20>>

I don’t say anything, still unsure what I should do; and when the expectant look of everyone around me becomes too much, my gaze falls to the floor. A few silent moments go by, before Murmur seems to become a little confused at their surroundings. They look around the small hotel room, before their gaze lands back on me. “What are you all doing here?” “There’s supposedly an angel coming after me.” I answer them, somehow feeling that if Murmur were to know about the situation, they’d be able to help us out. “They found out that I was in New York City and were trying to find me, so we came here looking for help.” Murmur’s expression twitches into a frown, before it rights itself back into its stoic mask. But the very slight change is still enough to send a surge of anxiety through me, instantly fearing the worst as they stare at me intensely- but for some reason, they don’t say anything. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-6]] <<set $Agreedornot to 30>>

“Do you… Do you have any idea what the angels would want with $Name?” Will asks Murmur, standing up from the bed to take a step towards the demon. He still looks rather uncomfortable around Murmur, but he isn’t reaching for the cross around his neck this time. “Dani, the angel who told us about this, won’t specify anything other than that $Name is in danger.” “Well…” Murmur’s fingers steeple under their chin, their white eyes bouncing around the room, almost looking a little nervous. It’s a strange expression to see on Murmur’s face, because for some reason, I feel like they aren’t prone to being nervous. “Whatever it is, it can’t be //good//.” Despite already knowing that already, hearing it from Murmur actually worries me a bit. But before I can say anything, Murmur is speaking again. “Did Camio come to see you, before you left New York City?” Murmur looks at me, and despite their emotionless expression making it seem like they aren’t worried, I can tell that they are. When I shake my head ‘no’, their shoulders slump a bit as they say, “That… Is what I feared.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-7]]

Surprised, Will takes a step towards the angel. “Dani? Is everything alright?” Shaking their head, Dani’s dark eyebrows furrow as they suddenly have a hard time meeting our gazes. It takes them a second before they actually speak, and when they do, it sends a spark of panic through my body. “The angel… They’re coming for you.” “Yeah, we already know that? That’s why we’re here-” Will speaks up, but Dani cuts him off before he’s finished speaking. “-//I mean//… That he’s heading //here//. //''Now''//.” “What? How does he know where I am?” I feel like the breath is knocked out of me with this news, my chest constricting rather tightly as I stare at Dani. But even before Dani answers me, it clicks in my head, and I realize how they know where I’m at. Earlier, when I had apparently used some of my power at Sabrina’s house… It was enough to alert the angels of my presence again. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-9]]

Will and Anya seem to realize at the same moment that I do, because they both instantly become more alert. Will turns to look at me, his eyes wide and full of concern. “Where are we going to go, though?” I ask, my gaze bouncing between everyone in the room. “It doesn’t matter where you go, you just need //to leave//. //Now//!” Dani’s voice raises in volume, something like frustration or anger passing across their facial features. But the longer I stare at them, the more I realize that they aren’t //angry//, they’re //scared//. “Jesus Christ, //ok//- Just calm down.” Will crosses his arms, raising an eyebrow at Dani. “Our world works a little differently than yours, alright? We can’t just get up and go wherever we want, whenever we want. Is there any way you can distract this angel long enough for us to check out and figure out where we’re going?” “//No//, I can’t-” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-10]]

“That should be fine.” Murmur speaks up, interrupting the angel, who seems to finally realize that they are in the same room as a demon. Or, a //second// demon. “What do you mean, //‘that should be fine’//? Have I forgotten to mention that there is currently a //very// dangerous angel searching for $Name, right now, as we speak?” Dani throws one of their hands out towards me as they speak, turning on Murmur so fast that I flinch at the speed. “You did mention that, yes.” Murmur doesn’t seem bothered by anything that is currently happening, not enough to let it show at least. They watch Dani with something close to a clinical fascination, their white eyes flickering across the angel’s body. Dani scoffs for a moment, before they seem to crumble under Murmur’s watchful stare. The angel sighs, their body deflating for just a second- before they seem to remember that Murmur is a demon, and their anger flares up again. “And who //are you//, exactly?” “I’m Murmur.” The demon states simply, like that answers all of Dani’s budding questions. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-11]]

“And //I’m// worried that we’re wasting precious time, so!” Will steps in between the supernatural beings who are facing off in the small hotel room, before turning to me. “Anya and I will go and check out, Dani can keep watch, and you and Murmur can make sure all of our stuff is together, alright?” I nod quickly, feeling that it wouldn’t particularly matter if I was alright with this plan or not, not when Will and Anya immediately jump into action. They head towards the door, only stopping when Dani calls out to them. “What do you mean, ‘keep watch’, exactly? What exactly do you think I’d be able to do if Az- //The angel// shows up here, looking for $Name?” They follow behind the humans, frustration obvious in the way their hands clench and unclench at their sides. Anya steps out of the room, Will behind her; but he stops in the threshold, turning to face Dani. “Aren’t you a ‘watcher’, or whatever? Isn’t ‘keeping watch’ what you do?” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-12]]

I can feel Dani’s confusion, before they make a weird sound- something caught between a scoff and a laugh. “Very funny.” “Thank you.” Will gives them a lopsided grin, before he quickly snaps the door shut behind himself. Turning to Murmur, I startle a bit as I realize that they are already watching me closely. Their attention draws me in, so much so that I’m only vaguely aware that Dani steps out of the room- and before I know it, they are speaking to me. “How have you been, $Name?” Murmur’s quiet, raspy voice is gentle- something about it tries to knock a memory loose from the fog in my brain. But nothing is able to break free, and Murmur is waiting for me to answer them expectantly, so I do. “I’ve been better.” I answer honestly, the words almost seem to just come out of their own will. Shrugging that feeling off, I look around the room, the sudden attention of the demon’s intense gaze too much for me all of a sudden. “Just confused about a lot of things. And no matter where I go, or who I ask, I always end up with more questions than answers.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-13]]

Nodding, Murmur’s head tips to the side a bit. “I understand. I wish I could be of more help to you about the angel situation, but I know just about as much as you do.” Meaning they don’t know much at all. Frustration grates against my nerves thinking about how much I don’t know, how much I don’t remember. Would it even matter if I had my memories, though? If Murmur knows nothing about these angels, would I have even known anything? The one person who knows //anything// about these angels has conveniently kept their mouth shut the entire time about the most important parts, almost like they… “Do you think…” My sentence trails off, and I’m unsure how to really put my thoughts into words. For some reason, talking with Murmur is easier than talking with anyone else, and I wonder if it’s because of our past together. But that doesn’t make this situation any easier to understand. “‘Do I think’ what, $Name?” Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Murmur move a bit closer to me. Should I be doubting Dani? Should I be sharing my doubts about Dani to Murmur? ---- [[Try to answer them. They’re just here to help me. ->CHAP6-TELLMURMURDANIDOUBT]] ---- [[Realize how close Murmur has gotten to me. [Flirt] ->CHAP6-MURMURFLIRT1]] ---- [[Don’t answer them yet. I know they’re trying to help, but… ->CHAP6-DONTTELLMURMURDANI]] ---- [[Direct the question to something else. ->CHAP6-REDIRECTQUESTION]]

“Do you think Dani is working against us?” My $eyecolor gaze snaps to Murmur’s white irises, always so intense when they stare right through me. “I mean, these things have only started happening to me //after// I met them. Do you think they’re alerting the angels on where I am?” Murmur makes a ‘hum’ sound, obviously thinking it through, as their fingers steeple under their chin. It takes a long time for them to answer me, so long that I’m unsure if they will, but eventually they say, “I’m unsure. I don’t know Dani well enough, nor have I ever heard of them before today. But it is a possibility that you need to keep in mind.” Although I had asked for Murmur’s opinion, their words cause a crashing wave of dread and anxiety to build up through my chest. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-14]] <<set $Danidoubt to 10>><<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 5, 0, 70)>>

Blinking in surprise, I realize just how close Murmur has actually gotten to me now. It seems like they aren’t as aware, or if they are, they don’t mind our close proximity. It’s almost like they are subconsciously drawn to me, in a way that makes my cheeks heat up a bit. “You still haven’t finished your thought.” Murmur whispers, their voice soothing and calm. “What’s distracting you, $Name?” I almost blurt out ‘you’, but stop myself just in time. Whether Murmur and I have some sort of past or not doesn’t matter right now, not when I still can’t remember much about myself. I need to focus on getting my memories back, and on evading these angels that want to harm me. “Do you think Dani is working against us?” My $eyecolor gaze snaps to Murmur’s white irises, always so intense when they stare right through me. “I mean, these things have only started happening to me //after// I met them. Do you think they’re alerting the angels on where I am?” Murmur makes a ‘hum’ sound, obviously thinking it through, as their fingers steeple under their chin. It takes a long time for them to answer me, so long that I’m unsure if they will, but eventually they say, “I’m unsure. I don’t know Dani well enough, nor have I ever heard of them before today. But it is a possibility that you need to keep in mind.” Although I had asked for Murmur’s opinion, their words cause a crashing wave of dread and anxiety to build up through my chest. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-14]] <<set $Danidoubt to 10>><<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 5, 0, 70)>><<set $Murmur_Love to Math.clamp($Murmur_Love + 5, 0, 7)>>

“Uh, it’s… it’s nothing.” I decide not to express my doubts, realizing that I don’t really have any proof to back up my doubts on Dani anyway. Murmur’s head tips to the side, their gaze burning into my skin, and I know that they don’t want to drop the issue. Motioning towards the room, I quickly say, “We’d better make sure all of our stuff is together.” It takes a second, but after they realize that I really don’t want to talk anymore, Murmur nods their head and takes a look around the room. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-14]] <<set $Danidoubt to 20>>

I watch Murmur just as closely as they watch me, before realizing that I don’t really have any proof to back up my doubts on Dani anyway. Shaking my head, I try to think of something else to bring attention to, before a question pops up into my head. “How did you know where to find us, anyway?” Murmur blinks, their white eyes widening for a fraction of a second, obviously surprised at the sudden topic change. It takes them another moment before they finally answer, “I could sense you here, so I followed that feeling.” “You could sense me?” I ask, confused. Do they mean my aura? The corners of Murmur’s mouth twitch, almost like they are trying to smile, and they open their mouth to reply- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-14]] <<set $Danidoubt to 20>><<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 2, 0, 66)>>

The door to the room opening suddenly distracts us, and we both turn to watch Dani rush into the room, looking frantic and startled. “The angel is here- you need to go, //now//!” Dani runs up to me, before grabbing onto my wrist and dragging me from the room. ---- [[Just go along with them. ->CHAP6-GOWDANI]] ---- [[Fight their grip- get to Murmur. ->CHAP6-GOWMURMUR]] ---- [[Fight their grip- I can walk on my own! ->CHAP6-GOWSELF]]

I allow them to drag me down the hallway, heading towards the elevator at a fast, panicked speed. “Wait, allow me-” Murmur’s voice isn’t loud, but it still holds a command in it, enough so that Dani does as Murmur asks- but not without a fight. “We don’t have time to wait-” Dani is cut off by a pointed look from the demon, shutting their mouth with a huff. “You have to remember that $Name is a demon. $g1 <<if $program >=20>>have<<elseif $program >=10 && $program <=19>>has<</if>> powers, just like us. $g1 <<if $program >=20>>aren't<<elseif $program >=10 && $program <=19>>isn't<</if>> helpless in these scenarios.” Murmur’s gaze snaps between Dani and I, and I have a feeling they are talking to me just as much as they are talking to Dani. Suddenly, we can feel a different aura appear somewhere on the same floor as us. Dani swears as they turn around, blocking me with their body. I can feel this strange aura coming closer to us, the weight of this being’s presence is almost enough to smother me, nearly enough to make me start to panic. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-15]]

I fight Dani’s grip, even as they lead me down the hallway, towards the elevators at a panicked speed. “Wait, stop, let me go with Murmur-” “We don’t have time to wait-” Dani is cut off suddenly, and I realize it’s because Murmur has appeared in front of us, giving a pointed look to the angel. With a huff, Dani lets go of my arm. “You have to remember that $Name is a demon. $g1 <<if $program >=20>>have<<elseif $program >=10 && $program <=19>>has<</if>> powers, just like us. $g1 <<if $program >=20>>aren't<<elseif $program >=10 && $program <=19>>isn't<</if>> helpless in these scenarios.” Murmur’s gaze snaps between Dani and I, and I have a feeling they are talking to me just as much as they are talking to Dani. Suddenly, we can feel a different aura appear somewhere on the same floor as us. Dani swears as they turn around, blocking me with their body. I can feel this strange aura coming closer to us, the weight of this being’s presence is almost enough to smother me, nearly enough to make me start to panic. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-15]]

I fight Dani’s grip, even as they lead me down the hallway, towards the elevators at a panicked speed. “Wait, stop, let me go-” “We don’t have time to wait-” Dani is cut off suddenly, and I realize it’s because Murmur has appeared in front of us, giving a pointed look to the angel. With a huff, Dani lets go of my arm. “You have to remember that $Name is a demon. $g1 <<if $program >=20>>have<<elseif $program >=10 && $program <=19>>has<</if>> powers, just like us. $g1 <<if $program >=20>>aren't<<elseif $program >=10 && $program <=19>>isn't<</if>> helpless in these scenarios.” Murmur’s gaze snaps between Dani and I, and I have a feeling they are talking to me just as much as they are talking to Dani. Suddenly, we can feel a different aura appear somewhere on the same floor as us. Dani swears as they turn around, blocking me with their body. I can feel this strange aura coming closer to us, the weight of this being’s presence is almost enough to smother me, nearly enough to make me start to panic. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-15]]

Murmur steps towards me, getting my attention. “$Name, think about a place you have been recently. It can be anywhere you have been, anywhere that you can think of- and imagine it in your head. Do you have a place in mind?” Although I’m confused, and starting to panic as I hear the footsteps down the hall, I nod my head. It isn’t true, I know it isn’t, but there’s too much going on around me, I can’t seem to focus- “Close your eyes and imagine it as best you can.” Murmur’s soft, raspy voice is difficult to hear over my heavy breathing, but I do as they say. ---- [[Imagine walking into Will’s apartment. ->CHAP6-WILLAPARTMENT]] ---- [[Imagine stepping into the library. ->CHAP6-LIBRARY]] ---- [[Imagine walking through East River Park. ->CHAP6-ERP]] ---- [[Imagine Sabrina’s basement. ->CHAP6-SABRINASBASEMENT]] ---- [[Imagine the Winters’ Church. ->CHAP6-WINTERSCHURCH]]

Once my eyes are closed, I take a deep breath and try to think of Will’s apartment. The way that it seems to radiate light and warmth despite being made of concrete, dark metal, and wood. Will’s living room was full of yellow and green hues; my favorite spot was the mustard yellow chair that sits right beside the fireplace. Potted plants took up a lot of the empty spaces. Will loved tending to them, gently watering them, making sure they were thriving in his small New York City apartment. Somewhere in my subconscious, I can hear Murmur’s voice still, gently pushing me towards the apartment in my mind. “Good, keep going.” Although I had been living in that apartment for less than a week, Will had really tried his best to make sure I was comfortable. Remnants of my sudden appearance were scattered around the apartment- my shoes on the shoe rack by the door, my own blanket I picked out on the back of the couch, my own mug in the kitchen for when I was thirsty, despite us both knowing that I didn’t need to consume any liquids or food. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-16]] <<set $place to "Will's apartment">><<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 2, 0, 70)>>

Once my eyes are closed, I take a deep breath and try to think of the library I had visited once I woke up in New York City. For whatever reason, the rows of bookshelves filled to the brim with books were calming to me. I wonder, briefly, if I had loved these kinds of places before I lost my memories- if I was even allowed to visit them. This library was big, and lit with natural light in a soothing way. I could imagine myself wandering the rows of books all day, reading by the big windows, soaking up the sun while I nosed my way through multiple books. Somewhere in my subconscious, I can hear Murmur’s voice still, gently pushing me towards the library in my mind. “Good, keep going.” It occurs to me suddenly that we first met Anya at this very library. Does she love reading as well? Or was she there because of something else? The face of that spirit that was harassing her there comes to mind as well, and I briefly wonder if she was maybe just trying to get away from him somehow. I can imagine her getting lost in the rows of bookshelves easily. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-16]] <<set $place to "the library">><<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 2, 0, 70)>>

Once my eyes are closed, I take a deep breath and try to think of walking through East River Park. Although I hadn’t been there for very long, I remember thinking that I could spend hours there, especially by the water. The sound of the ocean waves was like steady breathing under the thrum of the city’s life beyond it. If I had to choose, I would definitely return there and just sit on a bench, looking out over the water. Somewhere in my subconscious, I can hear Murmur’s voice still, gently pushing me towards the park in my mind. “Good, keep going.” It suddenly occurs to me that I met Dani in a park as well. I wonder if they were just doing their job- watching over humans. Or maybe, like myself, they needed a break from the constant rumble and droning of the city. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-16]] <<set $place to "East River Park">><<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 2, 0, 70)>>

Once my eyes are closed, I take a deep breath… And can’t help but remember Sabrina’s basement. It has only been a few hours since we left her house- it’s the most recent place I can remember being in, despite my attempts to think of something else. I can still feel the burns on my skin; the oppressive, strangulating aura from inside of the demon trap. Why can’t I just move on from what happened? Somewhere in my subconscious, I can hear Murmur’s voice still, gently pushing me towards the basement in my mind. “Good, keep going.” I try to think of something else again, but I know it’s useless. The events are too fresh in my mind, too domineering- they take control of all of my thoughts. If I return there, what will Sabrina do to me? ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-16]] <<set $place to "Sabrina's basement">>

Once my eyes are closed, I take a deep breath and imagine the front steps of the church I had met Will at. Despite it being a church, I can’t help but feel… //something// for the place that I suddenly became my own person. What kind of symbolism is it, that a demon thinks fondly of a church because $g1 <<if $program >=20>>were<elseif $program >=0 && $program <=19>>was<</if>> ‘reborn’ there? Somewhere in my subconscious, I can hear Murmur’s voice still, gently pushing me towards the church steps in my mind. “Good, keep going.” I wonder if Murmur would appreciate the importance of telling me of the memories I lost on those steps. Is there some other reason that only they know about, for why these steps are so important to me? Would they take the time to explain it to me? ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-16]] <<set $place to "the steps of the church">><<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 2, 0, 70)>>

“Now, imagine taking a step into the area that you thought of.” Murmur’s voice is farther away, somehow, like they are in the room next door. Before I can open my eyes to check if they are still in front of me, they quickly say, “Hurry- do it now. We’ll find you, I promise.” Taking another deep breath, I imagine taking a step into the image still stuck in my mind- And suddenly, a weird feeling rushes over me, starting from my toes and ending in my head. It’s like submerging in ice-cold water, leaving me a little breathless and confused. I keep my eyes shut, expecting Murmur to explain what’s happening to me… Only to find that strange music meets my ears instead. I snap my eyes open, before letting out a gasp at my surroundings. Wherever I ended up, it definitely isn’t $place. The room I find myself in is old and dilapidated, barely able to hold itself together. Everytime I shift my weight, the wood underneath my feet //creaks// and //groans//, almost in time with the music- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-17]]

Suddenly, I’m //very// aware of the music. It sounds like it’s being played through a speaker, but the speaker is muffled and causing the sound to distort slightly in an unsettling way. The violins and cellos mix hauntingly well with the choir that sings in some language that is familiar to me, but I can’t hear it well enough to be sure of what it is… Something out of the corner of my eye catches my attention, and my gaze instantly focuses on a single black feather floating down towards the floor. Sunlight filters in through some of the holes in the roof, catching on the black feather- only to allow me to see that it isn’t a normal feather at all. Although it’s in the shape of a feather, the edges of this thing warp and distort strangely, like a cloud of smoke. Reaching my hand out, I catch the feather with ease, surprised to find that it isn’t made of smoke or gas. It’s ice-cold to the touch, and weightless, but rubbing my finger across it tells me it’s a real feather. Out of the blue, I hear a strange rustling sound in an adjoining room to the one I’m currently in. Without even thinking about it, my feet take me to a door hidden in the farthest corner, and I slowly open it. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-18]]

Once I enter through the door, I look around in surprise. I’m in an unknown church, one so old and run down that I’m surprised it’s still standing. Stain-glass windows are broken and shattered on the far wall, sunlight piercing through them, casting dappled light across the dirty, rotten wood floors. My eyes follow the trail the light leaves, up to the dais underneath the windows. An old podium is still set up there, but looks a few seconds away from crumbling to dust. With the creepy music still playing somewhere deeper in the church, and the sad scene before me, I wonder just how long this church has been sitting alone, slowly decaying. The sound of feathers flapping together reminds me of why I came into the room, and I silently look around, trying to find the source. I slowly walk farther into the room, stepping over rubble and broken-down pews, until movement catches my attention from behind the podium. I can hear quiet caws and chirps, leaving me to wonder just what kind of bird is stuck or hurt. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-19]]

I step up onto the dais, before crouching down and slowly peering behind the podium- To find a small black bird sitting in the middle of, what looks to be, a demon trap. Two big, dark blue eyes peer up at me, watching me closely with something mixed between fear and hopefulness. The longer I stare at this bird, the more I realize that the edges of its black body seem to curl and wave like wisps of smoke. Confused, I stare at the small creature, trying to figure out just what type of bird it is, before the answer to that question is plainly obvious- because the bird opens up another pair of small eyes, right above its normal set. And another pair above that. With 3 little pairs of eyes staring right into my soul, and a body trapped inside a demon trap, I realize suddenly… that this is another demon. !CHAPTER SIX END… ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP7-1]]

TW- Implied animal abuse. If you wish to skip this part, don’t read the paragraph starting at “As soon as they are within arms-length…” during the dream sequence! [You'll be able to tell what paragraph it is] !CHAPTER SEVEN ---- Azrael appears in the hallway of a hotel, the remnants of the spawn’s demonic aura still hanging in the air, making him curl his lip in disgust. He starts walking down the long corridor, trying to figure out what room the spawn is in, before he hears voices coming from farther down the hall. Turning the corner, Azrael watches as someone turns around to greet him- but what really catches his attention is the black smoke that disperses behind them, signaling that a demon just left the premises. Suddenly, his eyes flicker to his sibling, who he’s surprised to see here. “Dani? What are you…?” Dani seems frightened, almost, at his sudden appearance. They try to stutter a response, before a different demon steps around them, taking away Azrael’s attention once more. “What have you done with Camio?” The demon asks, polite as can be. But Azrael can sense something underneath their blank stare- something dark, like anger. “Camio…?” It takes a second, but the dark blue eyes of that pesky little demon from a few days ago comes to his mind, and Azrael tilts his head back as he suddenly remembers that name. “Ah, the little demon that came to visit me a few days ago? I had to… take care of him, so he wouldn’t ruin my plan.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP7-2]] <<set $Sanity_Meter to 50>>

“Your plan? Your plan to capture the spawn?” The demon asks, tilting their head to the side, as if they don’t understand what he’s saying. But they do know; Azrael may not know this demon personally, but he can sense that they are //a lot// smarter than they let on. “May I ask what you plan to do with the spawn once $g1 <<if $program >=20>>are<<elseif $program >=10 && $program <=19>>is<</if>> in your grasp?” “You may not.” Azrael answers back, just as polite, before he turns his attention back to Dani. “And you, little Daniel. What are you doing here, exactly?” “I was, uh…” Dani clams up, their dark brown eyes flickering back and forth between Azrael and the demon. “Did you let the spawn escape?” Azrael’s gaze bores down on his younger sibling, his tone darkening with something else as he slowly pieces the puzzle together. “No, I- I was-” “I think you and Uriel need to have a little chat.” Azrael cuts Dani’s attempts at an excuse off, before he reaches out and grasps them by their arm. And without a goodbye to the demon, the angels disappear in a cloud of white smoke. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP7-3]]

---- !!!??? The demon chirps at me, their little black wings fluttering again as they try to stand up. That’s when I notice their skinny, small legs underneath them- broken and sitting in weird angles. I reach forward, about to pick up the small bird, before I remember I’m //also a demon//, and look around to try and find something to destroy the demon trap with. I pick up a rock the size of my hand, feeling the weight, before deciding that this will have to do… And slam it down on the wood of the small stage we are on, right on the edge of the trap. It effectively splinters the wood, which disrupts the drawn lines, freeing the small bird-demon. Sitting back for a second, I watch as the small creature chirps at me in what I can only assume is thankfulness, before it tires out and falls silent. But it continues to watch me closely, waiting for what I’ll do next. Without even thinking about it, I gently cup my hands around the bird, and pick it up. It’s ice-cold against my skin, the strange wispy, tendril-like columns of smoke rolling off it brush against my fingers, and it weighs next to nothing. Bringing the demon close to my chest, I watch as it curls up against me, closing its little eyes as if it trusts me, as if it //knows// me and knows I won’t hurt it… H̸̬͛u̵̥̇r̶̨̕t̶̠̒ ̸̠̕ḯ̸̻t̷̮̿ ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP7-4]]

Blinking, I let out a small gasp as that thought overtakes my mind. Why would I hurt a small, defenseless creature? Why would I //want// to? S̶͎͛m̵̺͑a̴̗̒s̸̊ͅh̴̞͋ ̸͎̏i̶͗͜t̶̛̯'̷͖̚s̸̥̏ ̸͍͐b̶̘̄r̸͉͑ä̶̤ḭ̷̈́ń̶͙ś̴̳ ̷̹̇ỉ̷̟n̴̛͍ The thoughts try to consume me, static filling my head as I stare at this little thing in my hands- curled up against me, oblivious to my inner turmoil- K̶̡͑i̶̤͌l̷̪͝l̴͈̕ ̸̻̇ì̶̧ẗ̷̜́ “No…” I whisper, despite knowing that the voice is in //my own head//. K̸͚̾͑̈i̶̜͕͛̑l̶͕̙̫̕l̴͔̤̄̍̊ͅ ̸̨͕͍͛ȉ̷͇̬t̸͎͙̮͛́ “I won’t.” Shaking my head, I close my eyes, as if that’d be able to keep the voice at bay. K̸̟̣̣̭͍̮̜͛I̶̗̓̆͜L̵̦̘̾͝Ļ̵̞͔̠̙͇̯̾͐͝ ̷̯̝̫̫̐͌͋̑̒͘͝I̶̖͖̖͍͑́͐̿̉Ṯ̴̡̛̣̰̄͐́͝ “Stop!” I speak louder this time, vaguely aware of the small creature in my hand flinching at the sudden harsh volume of my voice. But the words just //won’t stop//, the static keeps //getting louder-// K̷̢̻̦̰͙̥͒͆̍̅̀͑Î̷͓̮̠̣̯̲̦͈̗̻̙͕̇̑̆̑̾̓͌͆̆̈́̋Ļ̵̧̘̖̟̲̘̗̰̪̘̙̻̂̓̇̀̌̉̀̓͑̄̊͗͆͠ͅĻ̷̡̨͓̯̺̩͙̩̪͇̏̓̆̈́̆̈̋̿ ̵͔͚̜̜͉̭͉̫͕̝͎̮̏̊̇̈́̂̔́I̷̛͉̥͆̾̀̿͌̽͆̒̇͘͘̕͝T̸̛̖̘̤̺͉̥̭͉̲͓͆̈́̉͒̂͋̾̚̕͜ ---- [[Crush the bird. ->CHAP7-CRUSHBIRD]] ---- [[Fight the voice. ->CHAP7-FIGHTVOICE]]

c̷͇̑r̸͔͎͆́ũ̵̠̽s̸͚̅h̸̢̛̾ ̷̼̅͝i̶̼̿t̵͊͜ ̶͕̒́c̸̣̬̈́r̷̼͛̕ů̷̗̀s̴̳̉h̸̛̻͗ ̸͇̞̕͝ȉ̶͎͔t̶̬͋̿ ̴̪̻̏c̴̜̰̎̚r̷̪͂͗u̵͕͋̿s̴̱͠ḩ̵͉́ ̵̫̳̈́͒i̸͖̼̍͑ṫ̵͈̞̆ ̷̰̊̎c̶̮̰̓͠ȓ̷̰̙ú̸̼s̷̡̃̾ẖ̶͙͗ ̸̱́͘ĩ̴̠̺t̷̫̞̾ ̶͚̘̐ I can feel my hands flexing, the sudden urge to destroy this small thing in my hands crashing over me, like a tidal wave. If I do as the voice says, it’ll //stop screaming//- “$Name, are you alright?” Spinning around, I come face-to-face with Murmur. They step up onto the dais, their white eyes quickly scanning me. When the searching gaze lands on my hands clutched to my chest, they tilt their head to the side, questioning, before their eyes widen at the sight of the small bird. Murmur steps forward, bending down a bit as if they want to get a closer look at the creature. “How did he end up here, I wonder?” It takes a second to find my voice, my little episode I just went through tiring me out. “Where is… here?” Pouting their full lips, Murmur stands back up to their full height. They look me over again, before blinking owlishly and saying, “Pennsylvania.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP7-5]] <<set $Sanity_Meter to Math.clamp($Sanity_Meter - 1, 49, 51)>>

c̷͇̑r̸͔͎͆́ũ̵̠̽s̸͚̅h̸̢̛̾ ̷̼̅͝i̶̼̿t̵͊͜ ̶͕̒́c̸̣̬̈́r̷̼͛̕ů̷̗̀s̴̳̉h̸̛̻͗ ̸͇̞̕͝ȉ̶͎͔t̶̬͋̿ ̴̪̻̏c̴̜̰̎̚r̷̪͂͗u̵͕͋̿s̴̱͠ḩ̵͉́ ̵̫̳̈́͒i̸͖̼̍͑ṫ̵͈̞̆ ̷̰̊̎c̶̮̰̓͠ȓ̷̰̙ú̸̼s̷̡̃̾ẖ̶͙͗ ̸̱́͘ĩ̴̠̺t̷̫̞̾ ̶͚̘̐ Although I can feel my hands trying to flex, to do just as the voice in my head tells me to, I push back against the static in my head- “$Name, are you alright?” Spinning around, I come face-to-face with Murmur. They step up onto the dais, their white eyes quickly scanning me. When the searching gaze lands on my hands clutched to my chest, they tilt their head to the side, questioning, before their eyes widen at the sight of the small bird. Murmur steps forward, bending down a bit as if they want to get a closer look at the creature. “How did he end up here, I wonder?” It takes a second to find my voice, my little episode I just went through tiring me out. “Where is… here?” Pouting their full lips, Murmur stands back up to their full height. They look me over again, before blinking owlishly and saying, “Pennsylvania.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP7-5]] <<set $Sanity_Meter to Math.clamp($Sanity_Meter + 1, 49, 51)>>

I feel like that revelation should surprise me, but I can only stare at Murmur in confusion. “I take it you don’t know how you ended up here, then?” Murmur correctly assumes, before they nod their head in a strange, jerky motion. “Right, I guess it doesn’t really matter where you went, just as long as you escaped.” “Escape…?” It takes a second before I remember why I had ended up here in the first place, and I take a step towards Murmur. “Is everyone ok?” “Will and Anya are alright, I think.” Murmur steeples their fingers under their chin, before sighing. “I am unsure about the angel, though. They were taken away by the one that is searching for you. I believe they know that Dani was helping you.” <<if $Dani_Approval >=55>>Dread fills me with those words. If Dani gets hurt because of me… <<elseif $Dani_Approval >=40 && $Dani_Approval <=54>>I should probably feel something at those words, but I don’t. <</if>> Looking around the dilapidated church, Murmur seems to become a bit more anxious all of a sudden. When I take a look around as well, I suddenly realize that it’s quiet- way too quiet. “Where did the music go?” I ask, mostly to myself. Instead of answering me, Murmur just stares at me with their wide, examining gaze. After a few seconds, they tilt their head to the side and say, “Something isn’t right here. We should leave quickly.” Before I can ask them just what ‘isn’t right here’, they turn and maneuver their way around the debris that clutters the floor. Not wanting to be left behind in this creepy place, I quickly follow behind them. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP7-6]]

---- !!!A little while later… After finding civilization, we figured out that I somehow sent myself to a town called “Penn Hills”. “You should probably call Will and let him know where you ended up.” Murmur states suddenly, gaining my attention. “It’d be safer for them to come to us, rather than us go to them. If the angel feels your demonic aura again, they’ll come running.” It takes a second for their words to compute in my head, but after a second, I nod and pull my phone out after carefully shifting the small bird into just one of my hands. After pressing the home button, it opens to my homescreen, displaying 3 missed calls from Will, and 1 from Anya. Murmur comes up behind me, and watches over my shoulder as I fumble around the screen for a bit, before it finally lights up and tells me that it’s calling Will. Putting the phone up to my ear, it barely even finishes ringing once before I hear Will’s voice from the other end. “$Name! Are you alright?!” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP7-7]]

“Yeah, I’m fine.” I answer simply. <<if $Will_Approval >=55>>Just hearing Will’s voice, his obvious concern, makes a small bubble of warmth burst in my chest. <<elseif $Will_Approval >=40 && $Will_Approval <=54>>Hearing Will’s concern in his voice is strange, and makes me slightly uncomfortable.<</if>>Looking around, I watch the small town bustle about. “I got away unscathed, but I ended up in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania…” “Pennsylvania?” Will sounds just as confused as I am about the whole situation. “Will you… Will you be ok by yourself until we can get to you?” My gaze shifts to Murmur, who watches me closely. “I’m not by myself, I’m here with Murmur.” Suddenly, I can hear Will say something to someone else, who I assume is Anya. His voice is muffled and I can’t understand what he’s saying for just a few seconds, before he’s talking to me again. “That’s about a 6 hour drive for us. I’ll look around and book a hotel room for you guys, and we’ll be there as soon as we can, alright?” “Ok.” I assume the conversation has ended, but for some reason I keep the phone to my ear. “...$Name?” Will asks, sounding confused once again. “What?” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP7-8]]

“... Nevermind. Just be careful, ok? I’ll text you the hotel name and address. All you have to do is check in with the hotel receptionist. The room will be under my name.” I can hear Will start his car, before he sighs and says, “Call me if you need me. Bye, $Name.” “Bye Will.” After hanging up, I turn to look at Murmur again. “We’re going to wait at a hotel for Anya and Will.” Murmur only nods, a strange silence coming over them suddenly. It takes a long time for Will to finally text me the address of the hotel he booked, but once I have it, Murmur and I make our way there quickly. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP7-9]]

---- !!!Half an hour later… I sit on the edge of one of the hotel beds, staring down at the little holes in my clothes that were left behind when the holy water burned my skin. The events from Sabrina’s basement feel like they happened a lifetime ago, and I have to keep reminding myself that it all happened just this morning. Trying to fight the urge to check my phone for the hundredth time, I look around at the small hotel room. The walls are a cream color, the carpet is a dark brown, the bedding is off-white and neatly made- a rather boring room, with not much color to catch the eye. The little black bird sits on top of one of the pillows, nestled safely in the middle of my sweatshirt that I bunched up. It looks sound asleep, and although I’d rather it get some rest and heal up, it isn’t really the best distraction… Is this really what I should be doing right now? Sitting around, waiting for my friends to come get me? What will we do when they arrive, even? Run away again? The urge to check my phone overtakes me once more- but this time, I decide to just do it. I sigh upon seeing that neither Will nor Anya have texted me yet. It seems to catch the attention of Murmur, who sits at the small table in the corner of the room. They look up at me, their white gaze examining me in that strange way they do. Talking with Murmur could be just the distraction that I need. ---- [[Ask them how we both met. ->CHAP7-ASKTHEM]] ---- [[I want to ask them what I was to them, but unsure how… [Flirt] ->CHAP7-MURMURFLIRT1]] ---- [[I’m not sure what to ask them, unsure if I want to know. ->CHAP7-DONTASK]]

“Murmur, can I ask you something?” The demon’s eyes widen just a fraction, barely enough to even really notice, but I somehow do. Nodding their head, they answer me simply. “Yes, of course.” A million different questions rush through my head, until I end up picking one of the simpler ones- one that seems easy to answer, and something that will give me a little more information about, well, everything. “How did we meet?” Humming, Murmur sits back in their chair a bit, seeming like they need a second to rifle through all of their memories. It makes me wonder just how old they really are, how much they’ve seen, but I don’t get to wonder for long before they are speaking. “We didn’t meet that long ago, really, maybe around a year and a half ago. Your parents were putting you through training again, to become a demon, like I’ve told you before. Camio was actually your teacher first, but it became obvious that he didn’t really care to teach you, because you didn’t want to learn how to be a demon.” Nodding my head, I listen to Murmur intently, but something about what they said confuses me. “Do you know why I didn’t want to learn how to be a demon?” “I suspect a few different reasons…” Murmur’s voice trails off as they end up staring at me again, some strange emotion crossing their usually emotionless face. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP7-10]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 3, 0, 70)>>

“Murmur, can I ask you something?” The demon’s eyes widen just a fraction, barely enough to even really notice, but I somehow do. Nodding their head, they answer me simply. “Yes, of course.” A million different questions rush through my head, until I end up wondering just what I //was// to Murmur. We were obviously close, that much is true… But just //how close//? And… Am I even able to ask them that question? If it isn’t the answer I’m //hoping// for, then… That thought makes my cheeks heat up, and I shake my head to clear it. If I want answers, then I have to //ask//. “What… What was I to you?” Although my voice comes out very quietly, Murmur must hear me just fine, because I watch as their eyes widen in surprise and their mouth opens- but no sound comes out. I have effectively made Murmur speechless with my question, it seems. Clearing their throat, Murmur looks away from me, like they are unable to hold my gaze for whatever reason. Their hands mess around with their sleeves as they seem to think of what to say, before they clear their throat once more and finally speak. “I’m assuming you meant what our relationship was, right?” ---- [[NEXT ->MURMURFLIRT-2]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 3, 0, 70)>> <<set $Murmur_Love to Math.clamp($Murmur_Love + 1, 0, 10)>>

A million different questions rush through my head, but for some reason I don’t ask any of them. Is it because I’m scared to hear about the past? If I don’t get my memories back, but everyone else around me seems to know more about me… I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to live like that. Murmur continues to watch me, before their white-eyed gaze is brought to the floor, thinking hard about something. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP7-10]]

Nodding, I watch them with wide eyes. I’m almost //nervous// to hear what they have to say, but I just //need to know//… “We…” Murmur hesitates, something I’ve rarely seen them do the past few times I’ve been with them. They steeple their fingers underneath their chin, before their white eyes close. They look calm, relaxed, but I notice one of their legs starting to bounce underneath the table in a strange, unusual show of anxiety. “We were friends. I was to help you learn how to be a demon, when it was obvious that Camio didn’t really care to teach you, because you didn't actually //want// to learn.” Nodding my head, I can’t help the slight disappointment I feel at that answer. ‘Just friends…’ So, I was just a friend? Nothing special? Something else about what they said confuses me as well, so I ask, “Do you know why I didn’t want to learn how to be a demon?” “I suspect a few different reasons…” Murmur’s voice trails off as they end up staring at me again, some strange emotion crossing their usually emotionless face. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP7-10]]

As we both fall into silence, the strange little bird suddenly wakes up. It makes a small chirp, bringing both of our attention to it. “Hmm, I almost forgot about him.” Murmur speaks quietly as they stand up, and walk towards the bed. Bending down a bit, Murmur watches the bird with a strange intensity, their eyes examining it rather closely. “Just as I thought. I wasn’t able to get a good look at you earlier, but you really are Camio, aren’t you?” Surprised, I blink as the bird chirps an answer at Murmur. This is… Camio? “What happened to him? Why is… why is he a bird?” I ask, staring at the small creature still nestled within my sweatshirt. He makes no move to get up, but his multiple sets of dark blue eyes flicker to me suddenly. “This is his demon form.” When I look confused at that information, Murmur explains. “All demons have 2 forms they use- human visages, like I have on right now-” They motion towards themself as they say this, “-As it makes it easier to make contracts with humans when they aren’t as scared of us. Our other visages are our ‘true forms’, if you will. Every true form looks different; for Camio, he looks like a small, black thrush.” Murmur steeples their fingers as they ponder this predicament, before shrugging slightly. “As to why he can’t speak normally, or why he isn’t changing out of his true form… My best guess is that, when he paid a visit to the angel that is after you, his ‘human visage’ got destroyed or highly damaged. Is that correct, Camio?” Camio chirps, and I assume that means that it is correct. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP7-11]]

For a second, I feel something like guilt at the fact that Camio got hurt while trying to protect me. But a sudden thought occurs to me, and I look at Murmur, gaining their attention. “Do I have a ‘true form’?" Murmur goes quiet for a long time, their white eyes staring at me, as if confused by my question. When I’m about to ask if they heard me, they finally speak up. “You are a strange being, $Name.” Their quiet, raspy voice is almost lost underneath the hum of the hotel room. But I hear them all the same, even though their words confuse me at first. “There has never been a being created by 2 demons… You are the first. The differences in your existence are obvious; you never had a ‘demon form’. You always just looked like, well, //you//… You grew up from an infant, to an adult, like a normal human being. I never met you when you were a child, but from the stories I’ve heard, you always loved humans and their world, despite the fact that you weren’t allowed up here.” As Murmur talks, a pressure starts to grow in the center of my skull. It feels like something is trying to break free, like a memory trying to traverse the fog in my brain. Along with it are the strange, dark //thoughts// that I’ve been having recently- t̴h̴e̵y̷ ̷d̵o̵n̶'̷t̷ ̷k̴n̸o̴w̸ ̵m̷e I wince a bit at the pain, at the strange words in my head, as Murmur continues on. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP7-12]]

“The other difference about you is your powers. You never used them, but every other demon in Hell could //feel// the immense power you possess. But you possess such tremendous power that you underutilized, because you didn’t //want// it- you didn’t see the need to use it. I’m still not sure what your parents intended when they made you, only to keep you locked away and untrained, but I think that it only fueled your desire to be different.” Along with the pressure comes the //static//- I’m unsure what else to call it. A strange numbness, or fuzzy feeling in the center of my head. And the //thoughts//- t̶̞̝̪̱̪̬͚̾̓̈́̅̾ḩ̴͓̰̲͔̼̘̫̄̀̔̽͆e̵̦͕̭͕͐̃y̵̭̹̮̞̙̝͔͑̑ ̵̨̩͆̒ḑ̶̟̃̆̂̾̿͘͝o̷̧̖͎͈̊̋n̵͎͈͈̠̹̩̙̐̄͗̈̌'̶̻͘͜ț̵̢̢̳̤̱̯̋̀ͅ ̴͉̟̫̦͋̉̏̓̕k̸̛̦͙̦̱̞̯͗̈́͌͒͂̂̑͜n̴̨͈̣̱̝̥̣̾̌͑͘ǫ̵̀w̶̧͔̪͚͍̅̎ ̷̨̰̲͇̫̭͛͊̇͛͘͝͝m̴̲̓̅͐͛̆̒̕͝e̴̡̡̨͔̊͒͋ͅ Murmur seems unaware of my pain, and keeps talking. “Speaking of your parents, I think I found out something interesting about your punishment-” A sudden harsh, violent throb in my skull makes me take a gasping breath, effectively cutting Murmur off as I bend over in pain, grasping at my head. “$Name?” “//Stop talking//.” I’m not even sure why I say that, why it comes out so harsh, but it surprises Murmur into silence. t̷̢́̽h̶̡͎̙̅͆ê̴̘͉̲̅͘y̵̼̘̻̜̥͒͒̒͒̓͝͝͝ ̷͚̻̟̙̭̮̖̿͌ͅḑ̴͕̪̹͍̈́̿ͅo̸̗͎͙̭͆̈́n̸͍̟̜̜̠͍̆͑̐͜'̶̡͎̫͍̩̜͊̋̇̊t̵̗̹̘̱̳̏͌̚͝ ̷͉̋k̴̮͇̝̫̈n̵̬͊͒̓͝o̷̳̜̞̙̻͔̯͙͋̃͐̈́w̵̧̠͎͔̥̐͝ ̷̡͇̞͇̬̗̼͛̑͜͝͝͝m̴͉̮̂̈͒e̷͕̍̃ The pounding in my head grows, and grows, and //grows// and //grows// and //''grows''// ẗ̸̻́̏̓̏͋̄h̵̢̖̞̞̘̽͒͜e̶̻͛͗y̴̢̥̙͙̹͋ ̵̡̲͙͓̭̬̞̓͂ͅk̴͎̤͓̖̰̗̹̯̆n̷̦̖̣̲̟͒̍ͅo̸̘̱͆͘w̴̟̙̫̩̖͙͙͚̓̾̓̀̏̓̓̚ ̶̣̪̣͗̂̅͗̀̆͘͠ņ̷̣̤̖̩̱͚͌͆͜ŏ̴͎̖͕̗͎̿͛̄̎́̅͘t̶̛̤̖͊̓́͐̏̓͠h̸͙̯͚͈̃͛̕i̵͖̭̫̍́̍͘̕ń̷͚͍͔͛g̵̲͎͇̹̈͐͊͝ ̷̭̪̫̤̈́́͂͆͝a̷̠̲̰̍̿͊̓̂̚͠b̴̧̤͇̏͘ö̸̡̻́̏u̸̺̫̬̍̿͠͝t̸̮͒̔̀͝͝ ̸̢̡̤̞̙͉̲̅ͅţ̶͉̠͓̦͍̰̀̅̓̽h̵̠͈̪̼͌̊͐͘ͅe̵̯̺͎͌̉̈́̓̕͘͝͠ͅ ̸̠̾́ṙ̴̦̯̪̈̂e̶̡͌̊̉̓ͅâ̷̡̜̩͕̳͕͇͙̔̈̌͊͘l̷̤̮̬͖͎̔̈̀͗̓̆̚ ̵̢̰̯̖̄͆́̓͘͘m̴̹̱͝ë̶̡́̋̆̔̒͂ “$Name, what’s happening to you?” ---- [[Ṇ̴̗̲͂̽̈́͒͆̏̂̽͝͝Ǒ̵̢̦̩̦̤͋̿ ̵̼̗̫̞̬͉̬͕͎́̿̾̓͘O̷͕͔̚N̴̢͉̥̩̝̠̯͕̫̱̔ͅÉ̶͙̔́̈ ̸̛͙͉͎̜̖̲̞̮̝͍̦̇͜͠K̴̨̢̡̺͔̱̖̦͂̑̐̔̈́̈́̓́̌̇N̷̹̯͈̅̓̒͐̿̇̿̊̓̕Ơ̵͇̬̤̳͎̮͔̲̹̮̼̮̇͌̿͊̈͑̇́͘W̵̢͖͓̭̊͗͆̚S̵̡̫̹̜̺̳̦̪̝̺̬̿̃ ̴̢̞̲̤̟͇͓̏̓̎̎̈́͂͛̄̈̚͝Ṁ̵̡͎̠̣̟̦̪̻̘̣̖͇̈̈́͑̅́͘E̷͙̯̋̏̊ ->CHAP7-13]] [[T̵͍̝̔̋̀͒͘͝Ḩ̶̲̫̑͜I̴͕̩̬̳̘̠͓͆̎̊̚͝S̷̢̳̽̊͌͂̿̀̌̀͆̐͘͠ ̷̯̼͖̪̘͔͎͎͌̐̆̚͝Ḯ̸̯̘͈S̶̗̹͂͒̀͂̈́̄̓̏͐̓̊͝Ņ̵̪̖̹̥͈͖͚̰̩̑̐̾̒'̸̧͉̮͓͔̬̹̌̐ͅT̶̡̗́́̄͜ͅ ̶̯͓̎̾̾̀̔̽̐͂̕̕͜M̷̢̗̝̘͙̘̥͕̱͊͊̍̀͋́ͅḜ̶̢̛̼͍̬̤̖̿̂ ->CHAP7-13]]

“Stop trying to use the //past// to act like you //know me so well//, Murmur.” I’m unsure why those words leave my mouth, but as soon as they do, the static and pain stops. I’m left feeling breathless, and exhausted- but my gaze snaps to the demon in front of me anyway. Murmur’s face is emotionless, like usual; so much so that I’m almost unsure if I had even spoken out loud. But after a second, I see their shoulders deflate slightly, and their white-eyed gaze falls away to the floor, unable to look at me any longer. “I didn’t…” My voice falters as I continue to stare at Murmur. Why had I said that to them? All they’ve done is try to help me… And it’s so obvious they had some form of fondness for me- or //has//, hopefully. “Is it strange?” Murmur’s quiet voice catches my attention, and I watch as they seem to gather up the strength to look me head-on again. There’s something darker behind their curious gaze now, though- something like anger, or… It takes a second for their question to register in my brain, before I dumbly ask, “Is what strange?” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP7-14]]

“Is it strange that you don’t remember our relationship, while I do?” Murmur’s head tips up, and they look down their nose at me. They’ve lost the warmth in their gaze, the kindness and patience in their quiet voice. It’s a little terrifying how fast they have switched these masks. “Is it strange to you that you don’t remember any of the moments we spent together, but I do? Strange that our relationship was ripped away from me, but I’m the only one of us that //remembers it//, so I’m the only one that feels any //remorse//, or //pain// about it being this way?” “Murmur, what are you-” “Nevermind, $Name.” Murmur shakes their head, their long braids flinging over their shoulders as they do so. Turning away from me, they sigh before saying, “I’m going to leave for a little while. I’ll come back in a few hours, when Will and Anya are here-” They’re leaving? Something like panic or anxiety bursts through my chest at that, unsure if I don’t want them to leave like this or that I don’t want to be alone… or //what//… ---- [[Stop them from leaving- and apologize. ->CHAP7-STOPLEAVE]] ---- [[Quickly, hug them from behind and apologize! ->CHAP7-HUGMUR]] ---- [[Hug them from behind and apologize. [Flirt] ->CHAP7-MURMURFLIRT3]] ---- [[Just let them leave. ->CHAP7-JUSTLETLEAVE]]

“Murmur, wait-” My calling out to them seems to be enough to catch their attention, because they slowly turn back around to look at me again. Sighing, I stand up from my seated position on the bed so we are more equal. “I’m… I’m sorry for saying that. I really didn’t mean it, it’s just… I had this really bad headache and I wasn’t really thinking about what I was saying.” Murmur’s head tilts to the side, taking me in, probably trying to determine if I’m being authentic or not. When they realize that I’m telling the truth, they nod their head. “It’s alright. Maybe you should get some rest before Anya and Will arrive, then?” Nodding, I do as they say. I get as comfortable as I can on the hotel bed, lying on the pillow beside Camio’s. I watch as Murmur goes back to the chair at the small table, the one they had been previously sitting at, and once I’m sure they aren’t going to leave, I close my eyes. Sleep takes me within a few minutes. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP7-15]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 3, 0, 70)>>

Without thinking, I jump up and throw my arms around Murmur. I can feel them tense up, but when they don’t immediately pull out of my grip, I quickly say, “I’m… I’m sorry for saying that. I really didn’t mean it, it’s just… I had this really bad headache and I wasn’t really thinking about what I was saying.” After a few seconds of silence, I finally let go of the other demon. They slowly turn around to face me, their head tilting to the side as they take me in. They’re probably trying to determine if I’m being authentic or not- and when they realize that I’m telling the truth, they nod their head. “It’s alright. Maybe you should get some rest before Anya and Will arrive, then?” Nodding, I do as they say. I get as comfortable as I can on the hotel bed, lying on the pillow beside Camio’s. I watch as Murmur goes back to the chair at the small table, the one they had been previously sitting at, and once I’m sure they aren’t going to leave, I close my eyes. Sleep takes me within a few minutes. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP7-15]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 4, 0, 70)>>

Without thinking, I jump up and throw my arms around Murmur. I can feel them tense up, but when they don’t immediately pull out of my grip, I quickly say, “I’m… I’m sorry for saying that. I really didn’t mean it, I just… I had this really bad headache and I wasn’t really thinking about what I was saying.” After a few seconds of silence, I finally let go of the other demon. They slowly turn around to face me, and I notice a dark blush spreading across their cheeks. Clearing their throat, they have a hard time meeting my eyes as they say, “It’s alright. Maybe you should get some rest before Anya and Will arrive, then?” It’s hard for me to move on past their cute reaction to the hug, but I do as they say. I get as comfortable as I can on the hotel bed, lying on the pillow beside Camio’s. I watch as Murmur goes back to the chair at the small table, the one they had been previously sitting at, and once I’m sure they aren’t going to leave, I close my eyes. Sleep takes me within a few minutes. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP7-15]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 4, 0, 70)>><<set $Murmur_Love to Math.clamp($Murmur_Love + 3, 0, 10)>>

With a start, I realize what I’m feeling is //annoyance// at Murmur. I try to feel something else at their reaction- something like guilt or remorse, but I just… don’t. It’s hard to feel upset at losing something when you don’t even remember what it is you’ve lost. “I’ll tell you what I was going to say when they are here as well.” Murmur finishes what they were saying, before suddenly disappearing in a cloud of black smoke. A sudden wave of exhaustion hits me after that, so much so that I nearly fall asleep sitting up, so I get as comfortable as I can on the hotel bed, lying on the pillow beside Camio’s. I look at the chair that Murmur had been previously sitting at, looking at how empty it seems now, before I close my eyes. Sleep takes me within a few minutes. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP7-15]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval - 7, 0, 70)>>

---- !!!??? //I blink awake suddenly, startling to consciousness. Looking around, I realize that I’m standing in the middle of a field- definitely not the hotel I had just fallen asleep at. But something about this scene doesn’t seem ''right'' to me- like the colors are weird, the shadows are ''off'', this place isn’t ''real''- And that’s when I notice the sky. Or, more specifically, the moon starting to block out the sun. It’s so familiar to me, but I can’t seem to remember where I’ve seen it before… A sound from behind startles me, my body swiftly turning around to see- myself. Or, the child version of myself again. $g1 <<if $program >=20>>sit<<elseif $program >=0 && $program <=19>>sits<</if>> in the long grass, laughing gently as $g1 <<if $program >=20>>hold<<elseif $program >=0 && $program <=19>>holds<</if>> something up and hugs it tightly; a little white kitten, with big, blue eyes. My innocent laughter fills the air around me, as I watch my tiny hands softly pet the kitten, which nuzzles into my little body as hard as it can, trying to be as close as possible. But the sweet little moment is ruined as I notice, farther in the distance, standing stark against the yellow grass, a figure in all black- with a bright red mask on their face. As soon as I notice this figure, a chorus of voices fills my head suddenly, making both my child-self and I shrink back, startled. “How many times have I told you, Sin?” The child quickly stands up, curling over the kitten in a protective way- as if they’d have any chance to protect the small creature with their tiny body. “I-I’m sorry, I… I found this kitten, and thought it was so cute. It looks like Father, doesn’t it?”// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP7-16]]

//Holding the cat up towards the figure, I watch as they slowly make their way towards the child, seeming to ignore the cat entirely. *As soon as they are within arms-length of my child-self, they reach out and scruff the kitten by its neck, and I watch in horror as they throw the poor thing as far as they can, despite the younger version of me crying out. “How many times have I told you, Sin?” They ask again, harshly gripping my little face in their hand and forcing me to look up at them. Their red mask is stone-cold emotionless, and I’m not entirely sure what they are feeling exactly. Are they taking some sick satisfaction in how my little child-self is crying? Are they angry with me? “You cannot love. You especially cannot love ''humanity'', or ''Earth''. You were made to ʎ̵̠̈ȏ̸̧̞͈̥͖͛͌́͝ɹ̶̙͎͉̥̘̥̄͌̔ͅʇ̵̧̀s̴̜̜̼̈̏͒̒ǝ̶̝̺̇͊̓͗̚͝p̵̮̓̈́ it, child.” “N-No! I don’t want to!” My child self screams, wailing so hard that $g3 voice cracks. // ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP7-17]]

“Why? What did Camio need from me?” I ask, almost afraid of the answer. “Well, he had said something similar a few days ago- about an angel trying to find you.” Those words send a wave of dread to rush through me, but Murmur doesn’t notice as they continue on, their sharp gaze snapping from Will, to Anya, back to me. “He told me he was going to warn you about an angel that had been following you about a week ago. I haven’t seen him since then… And considering what you told me, I fear that maybe something has happened to him…” Murmur lets that information sink in, the room growing silent with the oppressive thought that I had been in danger longer than we initially realized. Before anyone can say anything else, though, a warm breeze flows through the room just as a cloud of white smoke appears in the center of it. Dani appears before us, looking a little frantic as they look around the room, growing confused as their dark brown eyes land on me. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP6-8]]

//“It is your fate. It is why you were created. It is what you are going to be used for… Whether you want to, or not…” The voice slowly fades away, just as the image of the figure and my little self disappears as well. Confused, I spin around, before my eyes land on another vaguely familiar scene. It’s an old, nearly dilapidated barn sitting underneath a giant willow tree. My feet start walking towards it, even before I can recall where I’ve seen it, exactly. Before I actually reach the barn, though, the moon completely blots out the sun now, bringing with it a strange buzzing sound to my ears. My head vibrates like crazy, causing a strong sense of vertigo that knocks me off my feet- I fall into the tall grass, into darkness, into ''nothingness''-// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP7-18]]

---- !!!A few hours later… Startling awake, I sit up quickly, a harsh gasp escaping my lungs as I do so. I curl in on myself to get the panicking under control- vaguely, I’m aware of some voices from somewhere, and I suddenly remember just where I fell asleep. I look around, recognizing the bland hotel room, before my eyes land on Will, Anya, and Murmur. They all look at me with varying degrees of concern as they all step farther into the room. “Sorry, $Name. Did we wake you?” Will asks softly as he walks closer to the bed to place our bags on it gently. I open my mouth, about to tell him not to worry about it, but what comes out instead is, “I saw that barn again, the one underneath the willow tree.” Anya and Murmur look a little confused at my words, but Will tenses up suddenly, his eyes widening as he stares at me in, what I assume is, shock. “What did you say…?” Will’s question trails off as he continues to stare at me, his face becoming a bit pale as he does so. I suddenly remember that I never told Will about the strange dream I had before. I take a second to calm myself, before I do just that. “Right before we arrived at Sabrina’s house, I had a strange dream. I was in this small, dark bedroom, with a painting of a barn beneath a willow tree above the bed. There was a woman tied to the bed, thrashing around like crazy, and some men were… I think //praying//, or something. Then, I saw //you//- Or, you when you were younger.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP7-19]]

Will’s breathing picks up pace as I describe the dream, so much so that I’m afraid he’s going to start hyperventilating. His right hand comes up slowly, shakily, and grabs onto the cross that hangs around his neck. He grips it, hard, before he whispers, “Did you see what happened to the woman?” I nod my head, my own gaze never leaving Will’s. He seems rather upset about the dream, but I’m unsure why. “You tried to exorcise the demon out of her and she died-” “How the //hell// do you know about all that?” Will interrupts me, his voice shaking just as violently as his hand. His words are harsh, but he isn’t angry in any way. He’s //terrified//. His reaction is strange… but the more I think about it, the more I’m starting to assume that what I saw was actually a memory- but not one of mine, one of //Will’s//. “I don’t know…” I look down at the bed, confused. I really have no idea how I was able to see it. “I just saw it all in my dream.” Will stares at me for a few moments longer, before he nods and turns away. The last glimpse of his face that I see betrays his panic, but he tries to steady his voice as he says, “Right. I just… I need some air… I’ll be right back.” Murmur and Anya watch Will leave, before they both slowly turn back towards me. ---- [[I feel extremely guilty. ->CHAP7-GUILTY]] ---- [[I feel bad, but I won’t feel guilty for accidentally knowing something about Will. ->CHAP7-FEELBAD]] ---- [[I’m confused as to why he reacted the way he did. ->CHAP7-CONFUSED]] ---- [[I don’t feel much of anything about this situation. ->CHAP7-DONTFEEL]]

As Will shuts the hotel door behind himself with a soft ‘click’, I can’t help the overwhelming amount of guilt that follows suit. I stare at the door, hoping Will comes back through it so I can… I don’t know, apologize? Will that be enough? “$Name, it’s alright.” Murmur’s quiet voice breaks me out of my thoughts, and I look at the demon who is now trying to placate me. “You didn’t mean to see one of his memories. Just give him a second to calm down, and then when he comes back, we can talk through it all together.” Although Murmur’s words ease the guilt a bit, it isn’t enough to stop me from worrying about my friend. Silence now fills the small hotel room, as well as unease. Strange things are starting to happen to me, and I’m unsure how to explain what’s happening to the others. What would they think if I told them that I’ve been hearing a strange, violent voice in my head for a while now? That it tells me to do horrible things, and it takes all of my willpower to fight against it? //Do I ''want'' to fight against it?// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP7-20]]

As Will shuts the hotel door behind himself with a soft ‘click’, I can’t help but feel a little worried for him. But I take a deep breath, trying to erase any guilt I feel- “$Name, it’s alright.” Murmur’s quiet voice breaks me out of my thoughts, and I look at the demon who is now trying to placate me. “You didn’t mean to see one of his memories. Just give him a second to calm down, and then when he comes back, we can talk through it all together.” Murmur’s words ease the guilt, and I give them a nod. Silence now fills the small hotel room, as well as unease. Strange things are starting to happen to me, and I’m unsure how to explain what’s happening to the others. What would they think if I told them that I’ve been hearing a strange, violent voice in my head for a while now? That it tells me to do horrible things, and it takes all of my willpower to fight against it? //Do I ''want'' to fight against it?// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP7-20]]

As Will shuts the hotel door behind himself with a soft ‘click’, I can’t help but feel confused as to why he reacted like that. It wasn’t my fault that I saw one of his memories, I had no idea that was what I was doing in the first place. “$Name, it’s alright.” Murmur’s quiet voice breaks me out of my thoughts, and I look at the demon who is now trying to placate me. “You didn’t mean to see one of his memories. Just give him a second to calm down, and then when he comes back, we can talk through it all together.” Despite Murmur obviously trying to ease my guilt that I don’t actually feel, I nod at them anyway. Silence now fills the small hotel room, as well as unease. Strange things are starting to happen to me, and I’m unsure how to explain what’s happening to the others. What would they think if I told them that I’ve been hearing a strange, violent voice in my head for a while now? That it tells me to do horrible things, and it takes all of my willpower to fight against it? //Do I ''want'' to fight against it?// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP7-20]]

As Will shuts the hotel door behind himself with a soft ‘click’, I watch it with a blank expression, unable to realize how I should feel about this whole situation. “$name, it’s alright.” Murmur’s quiet voice breaks me out of my thoughts, and I look at the demon who is now trying to placate me, despite not knowing that I feel nothing about it at all. “You didn’t mean to see one of his memories. Just give him a second to calm down, and then when he comes back, we can talk through it all together.” All I can do is nod at them. Silence now fills the small hotel room, as well as unease. Strange things are starting to happen to me, and I’m unsure how to explain what’s happening to the others. What would they think if I told them that I’ve been hearing a strange, violent voice in my head for a while now? That it tells me to do horrible things, and it takes all of my willpower to fight against it? //Do I ''want'' to fight against it?// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP7-20]]

That thought makes me tense up, freezing to the spot. Why on //Earth// would I think it’d be a good idea to give in against that dark voice? It tells me to do such //horrible// things, and giving in to it will be a surefire way to ruin any trust between myself, Will, Anya, and Murmur. So it’s obviously a bad idea to give into it… Right? Anya steps into my line of sight suddenly, dragging me out of my thoughts. She gives me a small, shy smile. “How are you holding up, $Name?” Her accent isn’t as harsh today, and I realize it’s because she’s more alert and not under the influence of anything. ---- [[Answer her honestly. ->CHAP7-ANSERHONEST]] ---- [[Lie to her- no need to trouble her with my own problems. ->CHAP7-ANSERLIE]] ---- [[I get flustered by her attention, unable to form a sentence. [Flirt] ->CHAP7-ANYAFLIRT]] ---- [[“Better, now that you’re here.” [Flirt] ->CHAP7-ANYAFLIRT2]] ---- [[Ignore her. I’m not in the mood to chat. ->CHAP7-IGNOREANYA]]

Sighing, I motion for her to sit down beside me on the bed. Once she’s seated, I answer her. “I’m… Alright, all things considered. There’s been so much going on that I’m really not sure how I’m doing.” Nodding, she says, “I understand. It’s been very hectic for you the last few days, hasn’t it?” “This last week, more like.” The corners of Anya’s mouth tip up, another small smile thrown my way, and I give her one in return. “How are //you// holding up? I take it that traveling around with a bunch of strangers isn’t usually your thing?” A little chuckle escapes Anya’s lips, and she shakes her head ‘no’. “You’re right. I’m usually at work, at home, or in the library. I’m not the best at dealing with people, I’m afraid…” “You’re doing alright so far, I think-” Suddenly interrupted by Will coming through the door, all three of us look over at him- but what really catches all of our attention is the cloud of white smoke that suddenly appears in the middle of the room. It makes the hairs on my arms stand on end, a surge of panic to rush through me as I see a figure appear in the middle of the cloud- Only to watch, surprised, as Dani takes a step into the hotel room- only to promptly pass out on the floor. !CHAPTER SEVEN END… ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-1]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 5, 0, 70)>>

Sighing, I motion for her to sit down beside me on the bed. Once she’s seated, I decide to lie to her, unwilling to burden her with my own problems. “I’m… Alright, all things considered.” Nodding, she says, “I understand. It’s been very hectic for you the last few days, hasn’t it?” I give her a small smile, but decide not to respond to that. Instead, I throw the focus on her. “How are //you// holding up? I take it that traveling around with a bunch of strangers isn’t usually your thing?” A little chuckle escapes Anya’s lips, and she shakes her head ‘no’. “You’re right. I’m usually at work, at home, or in the library. I’m not the best at dealing with people, I’m afraid…” “You’re doing alright so far, I think-” Suddenly interrupted by Will coming through the door, all three of us look over at him- but what really catches all of our attention is the cloud of white smoke that suddenly appears in the middle of the room. It makes the hairs on my arms stand on end, a surge of panic to rush through me as I see a figure appear in the middle of the cloud- Only to watch, surprised, as Dani takes a step into the hotel room- only to promptly pass out on the floor. !CHAPTER SEVEN END… ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-1]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 3, 0, 70)>>

“Uh…” Her sudden attention makes me feel flustered, and I’m unable to form a sentence. Anya’s mouth breaks out into a warm smile, her eyes sparkling a bit, before she motions towards the spot on the bed next to me. “May I sit with you?” “S-Sure.” I nod, watching her closely as she gently sits besides me. “I’m sorry if I make you feel uncomfortable, $Name.” She says suddenly, her light brown gaze flickering across my face. “I’m not the best at dealing with people, I’m afraid…” “N-No, that’s not…! I like you being here-” Suddenly interrupted by Will coming through the door, all three of us look over at him- but what really catches all of our attention is the cloud of white smoke that suddenly appears in the middle of the room. It makes the hairs on my arms stand on end, a surge of panic to rush through me as I see a figure appear in the middle of the cloud- Only to watch, surprised, as Dani takes a step into the hotel room- only to promptly pass out on the floor. !CHAPTER SEVEN END… ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-1]] <<set $Anya_Love to Math.clamp($Anya_Love + 2, 0, 10)>> <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 3, 0, 70)>>

I motion for her to sit down beside me on the bed. Once she’s seated, I answer her. “I’m… better, now that you’re here.” Blinking, my words seem to catch her off guard. Then, her face heats up to a light shade of pink, and she has to look away from me quickly. “O-Oh, I see…” Smiling at her, I wait for her to compose herself, which she does rather quickly. “In all seriousness, I’ve been alright, all things considered.” Nodding, she says, “I understand. It’s been very hectic for you the last few days, hasn’t it?” “This last week, more like.” The corners of Anya’s mouth tip up, another small smile thrown my way, and I give her one in return. “How are //you// holding up? I take it that traveling around with a bunch of strangers isn’t usually your thing?” A little chuckle escapes Anya’s lips, and she shakes her head ‘no’. “You’re right. I’m usually at work, at home, or in the library. I’m not the best at dealing with people, I’m afraid…” “I like having you around, so-” Suddenly interrupted by Will coming through the door, all three of us look over at him- but what really catches all of our attention is the cloud of white smoke that suddenly appears in the middle of the room. It makes the hairs on my arms stand on end, a surge of panic to rush through me as I see a figure appear in the middle of the cloud- Only to watch, surprised, as Dani takes a step into the hotel room- only to promptly pass out on the floor. !CHAPTER SEVEN END… ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-1]] <<set $Anya_Love to Math.clamp($Anya_Love + 2, 0, 10)>> <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 3, 0, 70)>>

I look away, ignoring her question. I don’t really feel like chatting right now, not with everything that’s going on. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see her staring at me for a long while, but I’m unable to see what kind of expression she’s making. After a second, she seems to deflate, and lets out a sigh as she turns to walk away- Suddenly interrupted by Will coming through the door, all three of us look over at him- but what really catches all of our attention is the cloud of white smoke that suddenly appears in the middle of the room. It makes the hairs on my arms stand on end, a surge of panic to rush through me as I see a figure appear in the middle of the cloud- Only to watch, surprised, as Dani takes a step into the hotel room- only to promptly pass out on the floor. !CHAPTER SEVEN END… ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-1]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval - 7, 0, 70)>>

20<<set $program1 to "is">><<set $program2 to "isn't">><<set $program3 to "lives">><<set $program4 to "was">><<set $program5 to "stays">><<set $program6 to "doesn't">><<set $program7 to "has">><<set $program8 to "sits">><<set $program9 to "picks">> 0<<set $program1 to "are">><<set $program2 to "aren't">><<set $program3 to "live">> <<set $program4 to "were">><set $program5 to "stay">><<set $program6 to "don't">><<set $program7 to "have">><<set $program8 to "sit">><<set $program9 to "pick">>

!CHAPTER EIGHT The room is silent for a few seconds before it bursts into chaos. “What the hell?!” Will immediately jumps forward, checking over Dani to make sure they didn’t hit their head on something on the fall to the floor. Murmur and Anya are silent, but quickly move to try and help get the angel up from the floor and onto a bed after Will checks on them. As Dani is gently placed on the opposite bed from the one I’m currently sitting on, I can’t help but examine their state. I slowly stand up and get closer, taking in their slightly battered and bruised face, noting that some parts of their stiff gray suite is ripped and torn. “What happened to them?” I find myself asking, despite knowing that none of us know the answer. My gaze shifts from Anya, who is closest to me, to Murmur, who stands on the opposite side of the bed. “Back at the other hotel, they were taken away by the angel trying to find you. He said that Dani needed to ‘have a chat’ with Uriel, who I assume is another angel.” Murmur steeples their fingers underneath their chin, their white eyes flickering across Dani’s form, lying unnaturally still on the bed before us. “I assume this is their doing.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-2]]

Something like anger builds in my chest, but Dani's dark brown eyes blink open before I can figure out what this dark feeling is. “Dani…?” I hesitantly call their name out, catching their attention rather abruptly. “$Name… Are you ok?” They whisper out, their eyebrows furrowing slightly, making them appear confused. They reach out a hand, their fingers brushing against my thigh before it falls back onto the bed. “They didn’t get to you, did they?” “Who, the angels?” I ask, confused myself. Suddenly, Dani’s eyes clear up a bit more, like they are fully awake now. They slowly sit up, before looking around at the group surrounding the bed. “Dani, what happened to you?” Will asks suddenly like he really can’t wait to hear the answer anymore. Waving their hand around, like they are batting away the question itself, Dani says, “Nothing. I’m fine.” We all look at them with confused, concerned faces. Because that’s obviously not true, we can see the evidence of them not being fine right in front of us. ---- [[Press them. ->CHAP8-PRESSTHEM]] ---- [[Let it go. ->CHAP8-LETGO]] ---- [[Suddenly admit you’re glad they’re fine. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-DANIFLIRT1]]

“Dani…” I wait until Dani’s dark brown eyes are on me before I continue with what I’m saying, “Please just tell us what happened to you.” The angel’s lips thin into a line as they stare at me before they shake their head and sigh. “Nothing would change if I told you what happened, so it’s not worth it.” “//Please//-” “Fine, just stop giving me that kicked-puppy look, alright?” Dani’s voice has no bite to it, even though they glare at me. Getting into a more comfortable position on the bed, Dani sighs before they start telling us exactly what happened. “After $Name left the hallway, my older brother Azrael found us.” Motioning towards Murmur, who nods their head in response, Dani sighs once more before leaving that statement hanging in the air. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-3]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 1, 0, 70)>>

Sighing, I look at the others, completely willing to just let this go. If Dani wanted to tell us what happened to them, then they would. It’s as simple as that. Trying to force them to tell us anything won’t do any good. But Will has other plans because he clears his throat to gain the angel’s attention. “Dani, you need to tell us what happened to you.” Bristling, the angel’s lips thin into a line as they glare at Will. “I don’t //need// to do anything.” Sighing, Will says, “We just want to help-” “Fine, I’ll tell you. Just shut up.” Dani’s voice has no bite to it, despite the menacing stare they give Will. Getting into a more comfortable position on the bed, Dani sighs before they start telling us exactly what happened. “After $Name left the hallway, my older brother Azrael found us.” Motioning towards Murmur, who nods their head in response, Dani sighs once more before leaving that statement hanging in the air. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-3]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 2, 0, 70)>>

“I’m glad you’re alright.” I suddenly blurt out, before I even realize that I’m saying something. My eyes widen slightly, surprised at my outburst, but not as surprised as Dani is. Their almond-shaped eyes widen, flicking to me instantly. After a few silent seconds, I start to wonder if I broke them somehow before I see the dark blush starting to spread on their cheeks. Clearing their throat, they abruptly look away from me, before they finally say “Yeah, I’m fine.” “But we still need to know what happened to you-” Will begins, interrupting our moment. Dani shakes their head as if clearing it of any stray thoughts. “Fine, I’ll tell you. Just shut up.” Getting into a more comfortable position on the bed, Dani sighs before they start telling us exactly what happened. “After $Name left the hallway, my older brother Azrael found us.” Motioning towards Murmur, who nods their head in response, Dani sighs once more before leaving that statement hanging in the air. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-3]] <<set $Dani_Love to Math.clamp($Dani_Love + 3, 0, 8)>><<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 2, 0, 70)>>

“...And this ‘Azrael’ is the one who is trying to find me?” I ask, needing to fill the silence. My question seems to bring Dani out of their thoughts, because they nod, their dark brown eyes watching me carefully. “Yes. Basically, he took me to our older sister, Uriel, because he realized that I had been helping you escape. And as you can see-” At this, they motion towards themself, “-I got in trouble because of it.” Tilting my head to the side a bit, I take a closer look at the angel’s wounds. They are already healing up, which must be a result of them being an angel. “What did they do to you, exactly?” Dani’s gaze falls to the floor, their shoulders slumping a bit as if the memory of what happened to them is suddenly too heavy to carry. “It’s… It’s nothing. The wounds are already healing, so it doesn’t matter what they did to me.” ---- [[I feel extremely guilty about what Dani went through. ->CHAP8-GUILTY]] ---- [[I reach forward, brushing my fingers along one of the rips in their suit, feeling rather guilty. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-DANIFLIRT2]] ---- [[I want to reach for them, to comfort them, but find it rather difficult when I feel extremely guilty. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-DANIFLIRT2-2]] ---- [[Raise an eyebrow at their refusal to answer me. ->CHAP8-RAISEYEBROW]] ---- [[Move on from this conversation. ->CHAP8-4]]

I’m not sure what expression I’m making, but the longer Dani looks at me, the more I can see their defenses start to falter. Sighing, they shake their head before they stand up from the bed suddenly. They throw their arms out, which confuses me until they say, “See? I’m totally fine. Nothing happened to me that I can’t come back from.” It hits me then, that they are trying to cheer me up. They //know// that this happened because of me, and yet here they are, comforting //me// instead. ---- [[“I’m really glad you’re ok.” ->CHAP8-REALLYGLAD]] ---- [[Hug Dani. ->CHAP8-HUGDANI]] ---- [[Hug Dani. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-DANIFLIRT3]] ---- [[Feel awkward at the attention, but nod at them. ->CHAP8-AWKWARD]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 5, 0, 70)>>

I reach forward, brushing my fingers along one of the rips in their suit, feeling rather guilty. I’m not sure what expression I’m making, but the longer Dani looks at me, the more I can see their defenses start to falter. Sighing, they shake their head before they stand up from the bed suddenly. They grab my hand, the one I was using to touch their suit and hold it tightly. I look at them, a little surprised at the sudden action. “See? I’m totally fine. Nothing happened to me that I can’t come back from.” It hits me then, that they are trying to cheer me up. They //know// that this happened because of me, and yet here they are, comforting //me// instead. ---- [[“I’m really glad you’re ok.” ->CHAP8-REALLYGLAD]] ---- [[Hug Dani. ->CHAP8-HUGDANI]] ---- [[Hug Dani. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-DANIFLIRT3]] ---- [[Feel awkward at the attention, but nod at them. ->CHAP8-AWKWARD]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 5, 0, 70)>><<set $Dani_Love to Math.clamp($Dani_Love + 2, 0, 15)>>

I reach forward, but right before my finger brushes against their suit, I pull it back, feeling rather guilty. I’m not sure what expression I’m making, but the longer Dani looks at me, the more I can see their defenses start to falter. Sighing, they shake their head before they stand up from the bed suddenly. They grab my hand, the one I used to almost touch their suit and hold it tightly. I look at them, a little surprised at the sudden action. “See? I’m totally fine. Nothing happened to me that I can’t come back from.” It hits me then, that they are trying to cheer me up. They //know// that this happened because of me, and yet here they are, comforting //me// instead. ---- [[“I’m really glad you’re ok.” ->CHAP8-REALLYGLAD]] ---- [[Hug Dani. ->CHAP8-HUGDANI]] ---- [[Hug Dani. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-DANIFLIRT3]] ---- [[Feel awkward at the attention, but nod at them. ->CHAP8-AWKWARD]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 5, 0, 70)>><<set $Dani_Love to Math.clamp($Dani_Love + 2, 0, 15)>>

I raise an eyebrow, not particularly caring for how they haven’t answered me once again. Sighing, they shake their head before they stand up from the bed suddenly. They throw their arms out, which confuses me until they say, “See? I’m totally fine. Nothing happened to me that I can’t come back from.” Before I’m able to demand they answer me, Dani moves on from the conversation suddenly. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-4]]

After a second, Dani seems to remember the others in the room. They turn to Anya, then Will, and finally, Murmur, who all watch Dani carefully, likely waiting for them to say something else on the matter. “Right, well… I think it’s safe to assume that $Name needs to avoid my siblings at any cost. I’m not exactly sure how we’ll manage to do that, but…” Will lets out a strangled chuckle. “And that’s it? That’s the only plan we have to go on right now?” Shrugging, Dani sits back down on the edge of the bed. “Yes?” “Great. Just great.” Will throws his hands up in the air before he starts to pace the small hotel room. “$Name.” Murmur’s soft, raspy voice catches my attention. Their head tilts to the side, white eyes on me in an intense way as they say, “I think now would be a good time to go over what I managed to learn about you. Or, your punishment, to be precise.” I blink in confusion, before vaguely remembering Murmur saying that they found out about something regarding the punishment from my parents before I fell asleep. “Yeah, ok…” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-5]]

I can feel a smile wanting to grow on my lips, despite the guilt still eating away at me. Another emotion bubbles up to the surface, which I realize is relief. Whether it’s just relief that the angel is really alright or the fact that they don’t seem to blame me for getting them in trouble, I’m not entirely sure. “C’mon devil- don’t make that pouty face anymore, alright?” Dani smirks at me, a slight twinkle in their eye as they do so. “I’m… Really glad you’re ok, Dani.” I let myself smile, my words coming out quietly as I do so. Blinking, Dani seems surprised at my words. Then, for the briefest of seconds, their smirk melts into a soft smile- one of the rare, //real// smiles. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-4]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 3, 0, 75)>>

I can feel a smile wanting to grow on my lips, despite the guilt still eating away at me. Another emotion bubbles up to the surface, which I realize is relief. Whether it’s just relief that the angel is really alright or the fact that they don’t seem to blame me for getting them in trouble, I’m not entirely sure. “C’mon devil- don’t make that pouty face anymore, alright?” Dani smirks at me, a slight twinkle in their eye as they do so. Without thinking about it, I throw my arms around Dani. I can feel them tense up before they slowly start to relax into the hug, and gradually their arms wrap around me, pulling me in closer. After a few moments, Dani pulls away. But for the briefest of seconds, their smirk melts into a soft smile- one of the rare, //real// smiles as they hold me at arms-length. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-4]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 4, 0, 75)>>

I can feel a smile wanting to grow on my lips, despite the guilt still eating away at me. Another emotion bubbles up to the surface, which I realize is relief. Whether it’s just relief that the angel is really alright or the fact that they don’t seem to blame me for getting them in trouble, I’m not entirely sure. “C’mon devil- don’t make that pouty face anymore, alright?” Dani smirks at me, a slight twinkle in their eye as they do so. Without thinking about it, I throw my arms around Dani. I can feel them tense up before they slowly start to relax into the hug, and gradually their arms wrap around me, pulling me in closer. It takes a long time before Dani pulls away like they don’t want to let go of me. But for the briefest of seconds, their smirk melts into a soft smile- one of the rare, //real// smiles. Their cheeks are flushed, and I can’t help but stare at their eyes, their cheeks, their //lips//- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-4]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 3, 0, 75)>><<set $Dani_Love to Math.clamp($Dani_Love + 2, 0, 15)>>

I feel a little awkward from the attention they are giving me. My eyes flicker from the angel to the floor multiple times before I decide to just stare over their shoulder. Nodding my head in a jerky fashion, I finally reply rather awkwardly. “Right, good…” Blinking, Dani seems surprised at my words. Then, for the briefest of seconds, their smirk melts into a soft smile- one of the rare, //real// smiles. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-4]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 1, 0, 75)>>

“I was asking around Hell, trying to see if anyone knew any of the specifics about your punishment. Unfortunately, not much is known about it, but I did overhear that your parents were planning on sending you to a //specific location// somewhere in America for some reason.” Murmur’s eyebrows twitch like they’re about to furrow, but they don’t. Steepling their fingers under their chin, they make a small ‘hum’ sound before continuing. “I couldn’t figure out where that location was, exactly, or //why// they were sending you there, but I’ll continue to try and find out.” The room is silent for a few minutes as we all let that information sink in. “You don’t have any ideas as to the reason $Name was sent here?” Will asks from across the room, hunched over in the corner. He seems to be having a rather difficult time dealing with his anxiety, making him restless and irritated. “Well, I can’t really say anything for certain, but…” Murmur’s white eyes flicker from Will's back to mine. “I have a feeling that //$Name// is the reason for ending up where $g1 did. As we all know, $g1 <<if $program >=20>>have<<elseif $program >=10 && $program <=19>>has<</if>> a lot of unknown powers hidden away inside of $g2. I don’t think it’s strange to think that $g1 could have somehow messed up the plans that $g3 parents set in motion.” Taking a second, Murmur’s shoulders rise like they take a deep breath. “I only think this because the last time I saw $Name, before I found $g2 again, $g1 <<if $program >=20>>were<<elseif $program >=10 && $program <=19>>was<</if>> being put into a coma by $g3 parents… Right after $g1 defied them, one last time.” Again, the room falls silent as we take in this information. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-6]]

If what Murmur said is true- if I was the one who messed up my parent’s plans that sent me to some random street in New York… What else could I have messed up? Was it truly my parent’s fault for my memories being locked away? Or was it my own fault that I somehow ended up like this? “Speaking of $Name’s powers…” Will speaks up again, his voice quiet and exhausted. I turn around to look at him, watching as he basically flinches away from my gaze. <<if $Will_Approval >=65>>It hurts to see him react to me this way, but I guess I can’t really blame him at the moment…<<elseif $Will_Approval >=50 && $Will_Approval <=64>>I’m unsure why he’s reacting this way, but decide to ignore it for now.<</if>> Stepping closer to the group, Will’s upturned eyebrows take on a worried furrow. “$Name can see our memories, right? In $g3 sleep?” <<if $Will_Approval >=65>>Guilt starts to eat away at my chest again, trying to hollow it out.<<elseif $Will_Approval >=50 && $Will_Approval <=64>>I’m still confused as to why that whole thing upset him so bad.<</if>> But before I can express how I feel, Murmur answers him. “Yes, $g1 can.” They nod their head, their answer simple. They almost seemed confused as to why Will is bringing this up. “Yeah, well…” Will sighs before his gaze cautiously slides over to me. “You promise that you aren’t doing it on purpose, right?” ---- [[I’m taken aback by his question. ->CHAP8-TAKENABACK]] ---- [[I’m getting angry… ->CHAP8-ANGRY]] ---- [[His question is like a slap to the face- I can feel the tears forming. ->CHAP8-TEARS]] ---- [[I can only stare at him, unable to feel anything. ->CHAP8-NUMB]]

“...What?” His question stuns me. I blink, trying to wait for Will’s words to make sense in my head, but he starts to speak again before I’m able to piece them together. “I’m sorry, $Name, it’s just… I’ve looked over a lot of strange occurrences with you already, and it’s already strange enough that you’re a //demon// that, on the outside, just appears to be a normal human… But being able to see something that we might want to keep to ourselves, without our consent or knowledge, until after it happens? That doesn’t //sit right// with me…” Will’s tone takes on a panicked pace, his arms waving about as he speaks as if he can’t hold them still anymore. “Yeah, I’m not too comfortable with this either…” Anya speaks up suddenly, her voice surprising me as she’s been pretty quiet for a while. When my gaze snaps to her, she gives me a sad smile. “I’m sorry, $Name. I’m sure you don’t mean any harm by this, but… There are some things from the past that I’d like to keep to myself.” “I’m not…” My gaze flickers between both of the humans, trying to make sense of this sudden predicament. “I’m not doing //anything// on-” ẖ̴̟̚o̷̙̍͝ẅ̸͎́̈́ ̸̨̣́̊ḑ̵͉͐̀ă̶̖r̸͉͇̈́̐é̵͙ ̶̙̈́͐ṯ̴̺̾̓h̷̙͔̚e̸̠͝ÿ̴̗̱́̈?̷̦̩͑ My body tenses up, the static in my head suddenly picking up. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-7]]

I can feel the anger bubble up in my chest, Will’s words not sitting right with me. Taking a deep breath, I try to calm the fire within enough so I can grit out the question, “What the fuck are you trying to say?” “I’m sorry, $Name, it’s just… I’ve looked over a lot of strange occurrences with you already, and it’s already strange enough that you’re a //demon// that, on the outside, just appears to be a normal human… But being able to see something that we might want to keep to ourselves, without our consent or knowledge, until after it happens? That doesn’t //sit right// with me…” Will’s tone takes on a panicked pace, his arms waving about as he speaks as if he can’t hold them still anymore. “Yeah, I’m not too comfortable with this either…” Anya speaks up suddenly, her voice surprising me as she’s been pretty quiet for a while. When my gaze snaps to her, she gives me a sad smile. “I’m sorry, $Name. I’m sure you don’t mean any harm by this, but… There are some things from the past that I’d like to keep to myself.” “I’m not…” My gaze flickers between both of the humans, trying to make sense of this sudden predicament- trying to keep myself from blowing up at them. “I’m not doing //anything// on-” ẖ̴̟̚o̷̙̍͝ẅ̸͎́̈́ ̸̨̣́̊ḑ̵͉͐̀ă̶̖r̸͉͇̈́̐é̵͙ ̶̙̈́͐ṯ̴̺̾̓h̷̙͔̚e̸̠͝ÿ̴̗̱́̈?̷̦̩͑ My body tenses up, the static in my head suddenly picking up. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-7]]

“...What?” Will’s question is like a slap to the face. I thought he trusted me more than this…? So why is he asking me such a thing? I can feel the tears start to well up in my eyes, but I try to blink them away before they can fall. “I’m sorry, $Name, it’s just… I’ve looked over a lot of strange occurrences with you already, and it’s already strange enough that you’re a //demon// that, on the outside, just appears to be a normal human… But being able to see something that we might want to keep to ourselves, without our consent or knowledge, until after it happens? That doesn’t //sit right// with me…” Will’s tone takes on a panicked pace, his arms waving about as he speaks as if he can’t hold them still anymore. “Yeah, I’m not too comfortable with this either…” Anya speaks up suddenly, her voice surprising me as she’s been pretty quiet for a while. When my gaze snaps to her, she gives me a sad smile. “I’m sorry, $Name. I’m sure you don’t mean any harm by this, but… There are some things from the past that I’d like to keep to myself.” “I’m not…” My gaze flickers between both of the humans, willing my voice not to waver. “I’m not doing //anything// on-” ẖ̴̟̚o̷̙̍͝ẅ̸͎́̈́ ̸̨̣́̊ḑ̵͉͐̀ă̶̖r̸͉͇̈́̐é̵͙ ̶̙̈́͐ṯ̴̺̾̓h̷̙͔̚e̸̠͝ÿ̴̗̱́̈?̷̦̩͑ My body tenses up, the static in my head suddenly picking up. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-7]]

All I can do is stare at Will. I’m unsure why he’d ask me that, unsure what good it would do if I told him the answer. “I’m sorry, $Name, it’s just… I’ve looked over a lot of strange occurrences with you already, and it’s already strange enough that you’re a //demon// that, on the outside, just appears to be a normal human… But being able to see something that we might want to keep to ourselves, without our consent or knowledge, until after it happens? That doesn’t //sit right// with me…” Will’s tone takes on a panicked pace, his arms waving about as he speaks as if he can’t hold them still anymore. “Yeah, I’m not too comfortable with this either…” Anya speaks up suddenly, her voice surprising me as she’s been pretty quiet for a while. When my gaze snaps to her, she gives me a sad smile. “I’m sorry, $Name. I’m sure you don’t mean any harm by this, but… There are some things from the past that I’d like to keep to myself.” “I’m not…” My gaze flickers between both of the humans, trying to make sense of this sudden predicament. “I’m not doing //anything// on-” ẖ̴̟̚o̷̙̍͝ẅ̸͎́̈́ ̸̨̣́̊ḑ̵͉͐̀ă̶̖r̸͉͇̈́̐é̵͙ ̶̙̈́͐ṯ̴̺̾̓h̷̙͔̚e̸̠͝ÿ̴̗̱́̈?̷̦̩͑ My body tenses up, the static in my head suddenly picking up. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-7]]

“Haven’t we already discussed this? $Name isn’t in control of $g3 powers; so $g1 <<if $program >=20>>aren’t<<elseif $program >=10 && $program <=19>>isn't<</if>> doing this on purpose.” Murmur’s voice is just as quiet as usual, but there’s a dark undertone to it that has Will and Anya giving them worried glances. ť̴̢̺͍̲̞͝h̶̡̝͕͔̣͕͊͆̿̄͑e̵̼̯̊͐́̏͛̾ỷ̸̨͚̥͑͌̆͜ ̶̜̕ͅd̴̢̤͇̝͐̆̈́̔͗̚o̵̫̝͊̋̈́̓̓n̵̖̙̠͌̄'̸͈͖̜̔͆̈́t̷̻̆̒̎̚ ̷̨̖̗̐͆ḳ̴̟͋͒̑̈́̕ͅn̵̝̜̲̎̄̎ó̴̻̩͕͗͂w̷̧͍̤̣̫̬͋́̌͆͆ ̸͖͔̉͒̃́͋m̷͇̞̈͆͜ĕ̸̺̙̝̰ I wince, a sudden sharp pain radiating <<if $Hornarea2 >=30>>along my temples<<elseif $Hornarea2 >=20 && $Hornarea2 <=29>>along the crown of my head<<elseif $Hornarea2 >=10 && $Hornarea2 <=19>>along my forehead<</if>>. No one seems to notice, though, which I’m unsure if I should be thankful for or not. “We know that $g1 can’t control $g3 powers, but $Name also promised us that $g1 would try to keep the powers in check. Right, $Name?” Will’s worried gaze lands on me, searching my face for the answer before I’ve even said anything. <<if $Agreedornot >=30>>”I… I didn’t technically promise anything.” I’m able to speak, somehow, despite the headache growing behind my eyes. Blinking in surprise, Will’s mouth opens, but no words come out.>><<elseif $Agreedornot >=20 && $Agreedornot <=29>>”I… I didn’t promise you anything.” I’m able to speak, somehow, despite the headache growing behind my eyes. Blinking in surprise, Will’s mouth opens, but no words come out.<<elseif $Agreedornot >=10 && $Agreedornot <=19>>”Yes, I did…” I nod, but just barely. The headache grows and //grows// behind my eyes. Will opens his mouth to say something, but ultimately decides not to and snaps it shut again.<</if>> “Whether $g1 promised you anything or not, it doesn’t matter. The fact is that $g1 can’t control $g3 powers.” Dani says suddenly. Their words seem to surprise everyone in the room, even themself… because their eyes widen a bit when everyone turns to look at them. “I’m just saying… It seems a little stupid to blame $g2 for something $g1 <<if $program >=20>>have<<elseif $program >=10 && $program <=19>>has<</if>> no control over.” t̷̲̽ḧ̷̪́ë̶̤ ̴̘́t̶̟̒r̵͚̾ạ̴̈i̵̱̎ṯ̴͛o̴͈̓r̷̫͐ ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-8]]

I grimace as the static filling my head becomes even //more//- louder, wider- filling my brain up, turning it to mush- m̶̲͐̋a̸̧̛̰̻̯͐̑ÿ̶̠̲̻̯́̉̄̅b̸̢̧̘͇̠͔̳͇̐͒ė̵̡͓͈̹̜̜̒͗ ̵̛̘͔̱̆́̀͘̕I̵̡̦̦̮̰͊̑̇̆ ̴̣̰̠̭͔̈́̑̆͌͊s̶̛͉̰͛̐͐͘͠h̶̙̪̫̟̜̊̏̌̏̔́͠͝õ̶̰ͅű̶̧̨̞͖̠̗͊͂̆̈́͘͝l̴̹͖̞̺̮̏̾̉d̵̨͓͝ ̴̝̩̾̔̽͐́k̸̫̥̥̰͇̺̖̿̋i̶̦̖͈̒̏͂̈͝l̵̡̲͚͓͙͉̯̅͋̏̐͜l̶̡̦͇͔̈́͛̐͊́ ̸̧̯̦͙̠̖͆͗̓̒͌̌̈ͅt̵̛͕͛̀̍͋͑́̄h̸̨̟̟͔̰͉͈́̂̽͌͘͘͝ͅe̷͍̘̤̗̬̳͙̐̐̄͝ḿ̵͚̺̱͆̈́̊̅̚ “No…” I whisper, trying to drown the voice out without causing a scene. I can’t listen to the voice. I can’t let everyone in this room have //another// reason not to trust me. o̵̢͝ȑ̷̼ ̷̘̍s̶̥̓h̴̞̾o̴͔̅u̵̱͑l̸̳͊d̶̲͠ ̶͖̔I̴̺͛ ̶̧̔l̴͒͜i̵̛̲ś̶̟t̵̙͑e̸̢̓n̴̠͒?̷̱͘ As the others continue the conversation, their voices fade in and out, like a wave crashing onto the shore. “-don’t mean that… trying to control… a demon, so how…” s̸͖̓o̶̻̐ ̶̱̏l̶̫͑ŏ̶͔u̶̠͌d̴͔̄ “-does it matter? How… trying $g3 best to…” s̵̙̈o̸͓̽ ̶̝̌ā̶͉n̶̹̆n̷͈̿ǒ̷ͅy̶̹͐ỉ̸̗ń̷͈g̴̳̍ “-$Name isn’t trying to… you don’t trust…” Ï̷̻ ̷̰͗s̷̡̈́h̶̢́o̸̘̔ȕ̸͔l̷̗͝d̷̖̂ ̷̳͐k̶̗̏i̸̒ͅl̷̪̂l̴̫̿ ̵̣͌t̶̪͂ȟ̸͈e̷̖̓m̵̠͐ “//STOP!//” It takes a second for me to realize that //''I''// was the one who yelled out, trying to get all the noise to quiet down. My head feels like it’s splitting in two, the ground feels like it’s shaking underneath my feet, and the room is //too hot//, //too cold//, //too ''much''//- “...$Name? Are you alright?” Murmur’s voice is so quiet; like they are far away. It’s full of concern, or as much concern as Murmur can show. I can feel everyone’s eyes on me, probably only full of worry… but it feels like red-hot branding irons being pressed against my skin wherever they look. I open my mouth to speak, to somehow dissuade everyone’s worry for me- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-9]]

t̷͓̂ḧ̷͎́e̵̠̓ŷ̶͜ ̵̼͆d̵̲̿ô̵̳n̷͕̐'̵̫̇t̴̘͛ ̷̝͒k̸̲͘n̶̨͛ȯ̸̻w̷̞̃ ̸̪̔m̶͎͒ë̷͙́ ̸̫̌t̵̓ͅh̷̪͠è̸̞y̶̖͘ ̵͇̈́d̷̙̓o̸̩̚n̷̛̰'̴̦̕ṯ̵̒ ̵̪̀k̴̐ͅṋ̸̓o̵͈̿w̸̽͜ ̴̛̰m̴̗͗ẽ̵̙ ̷̝̀t̷̖̉h̷̲́é̵̡ỷ̵̰ ̴̻̅d̵̝̉ò̶͍ṅ̴͚'̴͕̈t̷̡̕ ̴̗͋ḵ̶̌n̷̰͘ō̷͓ẃ̷͎ ̷̘͝m̷̝̆e̵̥̎ ̶̢̋ţ̶̋h̸͋͜ḙ̶̓y̸̪̿ ̶̗̿d̵͓̅ơ̴̩n̷͔̍'̵̕ͅt̷̢͊ ̴̝̓k̶͙̊n̸̛͖o̵̥̿w̸̨̿ ̴̞̽m̶̜̀ê̸̘ ̶͍̎ t̵̝́h̶̬̎ě̶̱y̸̛̙ ̷̠̽ď̵̯ō̴͇ņ̵̌'̴̫͘t̷̳͋ ̴͗͜k̴̝̎n̴̪̈ŏ̵̧w̷̯͐ ̶͎̚m̶̤̃ḛ̵̐ ̴͉̀ṯ̷̽h̴̘̀ȇ̴ͅý̵̦ ̵͔̈d̸̠̽ơ̵̖n̷̨͆'̵̰̕ť̸̤ ̷͙͆ḱ̶̦ņ̶̌ö̵̻́w̴̟͆ ̶̛ͅm̷̮̽e̵̱͂ ̴͉͌t̵͖̃h̷̦̕e̸̼̊ỳ̶̬ ̵͍͘ď̸̠o̸͎͆n̸̮̐'̷͈̈t̸̤́ ̸͉̌ķ̶̍n̸̗̈́o̴̝͝w̷̠̔ ̸͚̊m̸͚̑e̷̗͑ ̷̜͘t̶̖͝h̸̳̆ḛ̴͋ỳ̴̖ ̷̥́ḑ̴͐ȯ̷͔n̷̠͆'̷̟͆t̷͎̊ ̸̹̒k̵̩̑ṇ̷͆o̷̦̾ẘ̵̧ ̶̗̓m̵͖̓é̵̟ ̸̅ͅṭ̴͝h̶̤͋ḛ̵̉y̴͍̎ ̶̥̈́d̶̗͝õ̴̭ñ̴̲'̵̮̀t̷̻̋ ̷͇̔k̵̥̀n̶̘̄o̴̬̕ẇ̵̼ ̸̟͐m̸̲͛e̶͈͂ ̸̖̐t̶͕͝h̴͙́ě̴͙y̴̺̚ ̶̡̈́d̶̢̈́o̵͚͒n̶͇̍'̷͈̔t̷̮͝ ̷̳͘k̷̪͆ǹ̴̙o̷̩͂w̸͔͒ ̸̺̌m̵͈̋ë̴͙́ ̸̰̔ṱ̶͌h̶̗̀ę̷̿y̸̻͌ ̶͕̀d̶̙́o̸̾͜ń̴͖'̷̬̏t̶̜̅ ̷̢̃k̶̬̔n̵̯͝o̵͍̕w̵̝͌ ̸̱̔m̵̫͘e̵͍̒ ̵̰̎t̷̮͒h̶̘͛ĕ̵̲ỳ̸̧ ̷̙̊d̸̫́o̴̱͊ń̵ͅ'̴͉̋ṭ̴̿ ̶̲̐k̸̲͠n̶̦͌ö̶͓́w̶̢͗ ̶̝̌m̸͔̈́e̴̢͝ ̷̡̛t̷̠͠h̵̲́e̴͚̍y̸̥͛ ̴̬̊d̷̰̀ò̴͓n̷̜̆'̴̛͈t̴͚͐ ̶̭́k̴̳̀n̵͎̽o̸̞͊w̸͚̾ ̸̦̊m̶͖̽e̴̯͂ ̶̨̛ţ̴͝h̵̻͘e̷̺̚ỳ̴̪ ̴͖́d̴̻̃o̷͚̒n̷̛̫'̴͉̿t̴͇͊ ̸̰̎k̵̝̆ñ̶̹o̴͕̾w̴̳͌ ̵̟͘m̸̙̎é̴̝ ̶̢͐t̶̮̓h̶̖̀e̵̗̐y̸̩͑ ̷̺̄d̶̪̋ǒ̵͙ṇ̷͊'̶̬̒t̵͍̓ ̷̼̄k̵͍͒n̷̢̓o̶̩̔ẘ̵̪ ̷̭̉m̴̺̍e̸̥̔ ̵͖̎t̶̡̎h̴̛͍e̶͉͐y̸̭̌ ̷͕̓d̵͈̓o̴̩͒n̸͚͌'̶͉̑t̷̤͠ ̷̯̓k̷͓̈́n̴̞̑ȏ̷͇ŵ̵̭ ̶̻͌m̷͕̀ȅ̸̼ ̸̠̋ṫ̵̪h̷̡͆ě̶̮ý̷̳ ̶̥̿d̴̲̾o̶̪͝n̴̲͋'̶̗̈́t̸̤͘ ̵̹͒k̷̼͒ṉ̵̍o̷̟̔w̷͐ͅ ̶͚̓m̸͇̋é̴̬ ̴͎͒t̸̢͐h̸͓͝e̴̘̅y̴̰͝ ̵̛̝ḍ̴̊ò̴͍n̷̢̆'̷̻̎t̸͈̆ ̵͕͝ķ̶̀n̷͙͐o̶̖̚ẉ̴͋ ̷̮̃m̵̢͌ę̷͑ ̴̚͜t̴̡̓h̶̦̕e̵͉̐y̷̫̒ ̵̇͜ḍ̷͐o̶̕͜n̴̟̏'̸̭̐t̷̫̏ ̸̩̽k̸̭̅n̷̮̋o̸͇̊w̴̓͜ ̸̖̇m̸͕̀e̵̩̍ ̴̼̀ṱ̵͒h̶̤̓ȩ̷̌y̵̙̏ ̵͉̇d̸̪͆o̶̪̚n̵̤̓'̸̛ͅt̴̮͊ ̸̭̎k̸͖͂ṇ̷͂o̷̜̕w̶͕͋ ̸͚́m̵̯͗e̷̮̒ ̷̖̔ṭ̷̐ẖ̷͘e̶̟͘y̴̼͑ ̸̺͐d̸̟̅o̸̢̓ṉ̸̈́'̶̥̿t̶͉̾ ̵̲̆k̷̪̅n̴̖̄o̵̯̓w̸̪͋ ̶͇̋m̴͍͌ë̸͍́ ̷̭̒t̶̢̔h̷̗̑e̸̗͐ȳ̷̱ ̸̡̓ḑ̷̔ǒ̷̞ņ̶͆'̶̰̽t̶͇́ ̸̣͒k̵̝͝n̷̺̈ơ̵̻w̵̜̒ ̴͔͛m̷̺̏e̷̟͋ ̷̛̞t̶̯̃h̴̺̍ẽ̸͜y̴̹̓ ̸̢̽d̴͎͗o̶͐ͅn̴͙̈́'̷͕̾ť̷̰ ̵̹̄k̶̼̏ń̷̢o̶̢̓w̸̡̕ ̷̱͛m̷̥͑è̷̱ ̴̦̇t̵̥̄h̴͉̅e̷̗͊y̴̡̐ ̸̘̀d̴͘͜o̷̗͛ń̶͔'̷̟̌ẗ̸̯́ ̵̢́k̵̈ͅn̶̞͐o̸̤̓w̷̮̒ ̶͍͗m̵̦̈́ě̶͎ ̶̝͐t̷͓̂ḧ̷͎́e̵̠̓ŷ̶͜ ̵̼͆d̵̲̿ô̵̳n̷͕̐'̵̫̇t̴̘͛ ̷̝͒k̸̲͘n̶̨͛ȯ̸̻w̷̞̃ ̸̪̔m̶͎͒ë̷͙́ ̸̫̌t̵̓ͅh̷̪͠è̸̞y̶̖͘ ̵͇̈́d̷̙̓o̸̩̚n̷̛̰'̴̦̕ṯ̵̒ ̵̪̀k̴̐ͅṋ̸̓o̵͈̿w̸̽͜ ̴̛̰m̴̗͗ẽ̵̙ ̷̝̀t̷̖̉h̷̲́é̵̡ỷ̵̰ ̴̻̅d̵̝̉ò̶͍ṅ̴͚'̴͕̈t̷̡̕ ̴̗͋ḵ̶̌n̷̰͘ō̷͓ẃ̷͎ ̷̘͝m̷̝̆e̵̥̎ ̶̢̋ţ̶̋h̸͋͜ḙ̶̓y̸̪̿ ̶̗̿d̵͓̅ơ̴̩n̷͔̍'̵̕ͅt̷̢͊ ̴̝̓k̶͙̊n̸̛͖o̵̥̿w̸̨̿ ̴̞̽m̶̜̀ê̸̘ ̶͍̎t̵̝́h̶̬̎ě̶̱y̸̛̙ ̷̠̽ď̵̯ō̴͇ņ̵̌'̴̫͘t̷̳͋ ̴͗͜k̴̝̎n̴̪̈ŏ̵̧w̷̯͐ ̶͎̚m̶̤̃ḛ̵̐ ̴͉̀ṯ̷̽h̴̘̀ȇ̴ͅý̵̦ ̵͔̈d̸̠̽ơ̵̖n̷̨͆'̵̰̕ť̸̤ ̷͙͆ḱ̶̦ņ̶̌ö̵̻́w̴̟͆ ̶̛ͅm̷̮̽e̵̱͂ ̴͉͌t̵͖̃h̷̦̕e̸̼̊ỳ̶̬ ̵͍͘ď̸̠o̸͎͆n̸̮̐'̷͈̈t̸̤́ ̸͉̌ķ̶̍n̸̗̈́o̴̝͝w̷̠̔ ̸͚̊m̸͚̑e̷̗͑ ̷̜͘t̶̖͝h̸̳̆ḛ̴͋ỳ̴̖ ̷̥́ḑ̴͐ȯ̷͔n̷̠͆'̷̟͆t̷͎̊ ̸̹̒k̵̩̑ṇ̷͆o̷̦̾ẘ̵̧ ̶̗̓m̵͖̓é̵̟ ̸̅ͅṭ̴͝h̶̤͋ḛ̵̉y̴͍̎ ̶̥̈́d̶̗͝õ̴̭ñ̴̲'̵̮̀t̷̻̋ ̷͇̔k̵̥̀n̶̘̄o̴̬̕ẇ̵̼ ̸̟͐m̸̲͛e̶͈͂ ̸̖̐t̶͕͝h̴͙́ě̴͙y̴̺̚ ̶̡̈́d̶̢̈́o̵͚͒n̶͇̍'̷͈̔t̷̮͝ ̷̳͘k̷̪͆ǹ̴̙o̷̩͂w̸͔͒ ̸̺̌m̵͈̋ë̴͙́ ̸̰̔ṱ̶͌h̶̗̀ę̷̿y̸̻͌ ̶͕̀d̶̙́o̸̾͜ń̴͖'̷̬̏t̶̜̅ ̷̢̃k̶̬̔n̵̯͝o̵͍̕w̵̝͌ ̸̱̔m̵̫͘e̵͍̒ ̵̰̎t̷̮͒h̶̘͛ĕ̵̲ỳ̸̧ ̷̙̊d̸̫́o̴̱͊ń̵ͅ'̴͉̋ṭ̴̿ ̶̲̐k̸̲͠n̶̦͌ö̶͓́w̶̢͗ ̶̝̌m̸͔̈́e̴̢͝ ̷̡̛t̷̠͠h̵̲́e̴͚̍y̸̥͛ ̴̬̊d̷̰̀ò̴͓n̷̜̆'̴̛͈t̴͚͐ ̶̭́k̴̳̀n̵͎̽o̸̞͊w̸͚̾ ̸̦̊m̶͖̽e̴̯͂ ̶̨̛ţ̴͝h̵̻͘e̷̺̚ỳ̴̪ ̴͖́d̴̻̃o̷͚̒n̷̛̫'̴͉̿t̴͇͊ ̸̰̎k̵̝̆ñ̶̹o̴͕̾w̴̳͌ ̵̟͘m̸̙̎é̴̝ ̶̢͐t̶̮̓h̶̖̀e̵̗̐y̸̩͑ ̷̺̄d̶̪̋ǒ̵͙ṇ̷͊'̶̬̒t̵͍̓ ̷̼̄k̵͍͒n̷̢̓o̶̩̔ẘ̵̪ ̷̭̉m̴̺̍e̸̥̔ ̵͖̎t̶̡̎h̴̛͍e̶͉͐y̸̭̌ ̷͕̓d̵͈̓o̴̩͒n̸͚͌'̶͉̑t̷̤͠ ̷̯̓k̷͓̈́n̴̞̑ȏ̷͇ŵ̵̭ ̶̻͌m̷͕̀ȅ̸̼ ̸̠̋ṫ̵̪h̷̡͆ě̶̮ý̷̳ ̶̥̿d̴̲̾o̶̪͝n̴̲͋'̶̗̈́t̸̤͘ ̵̹͒k̷̼͒ṉ̵̍o̷̟̔w̷͐ͅ ̶͚̓m̸͇̋é̴̬ ̴͎͒t̸̢͐h̸͓͝e̴̘̅y̴̰͝ ̵̛̝ḍ̴̊ò̴͍n̷̢̆'̷̻̎t̸͈̆ ̵͕͝ķ̶̀n̷͙͐o̶̖̚ẉ̴͋ ̷̮̃m̵̢͌ę̷͑ ̴̚͜t̴̡̓h̶̦̕e̵͉̐y̷̫̒ ̵̇͜ḍ̷͐o̶̕͜n̴̟̏'̸̭̐t̷̫̏ ̸̩̽k̸̭̅n̷̮̋o̸͇̊w̴̓͜ ̸̖̇m̸͕̀e̵̩̍ ̴̼̀ṱ̵͒h̶̤̓ȩ̷̌y̵̙̏ ̵͉̇d̸̪͆o̶̪̚n̵̤̓'̸̛ͅt̴̮͊ ̸̭̎k̸͖͂ṇ̷͂o̷̜̕w̶͕͋ ̸͚́m̵̯͗e̷̮̒ ̷̖̔ṭ̷̐ẖ̷͘e̶̟͘y̴̼͑ ̸̺͐d̸̟̅o̸̢̓ṉ̸̈́'̶̥̿t̶͉̾ ̵̲̆k̷̪̅n̴̖̄o̵̯̓w̸̪͋ ̶͇̋m̴͍͌ë̸͍́ ̷̭̒t̶̢̔h̷̗̑e̸̗͐ȳ̷̱ ̸̡̓ḑ̷̔ǒ̷̞ņ̶͆'̶̰̽t̶͇́ ̸̣͒k̵̝͝n̷̺̈ơ̵̻w̵̜̒ ̴͔͛m̷̺̏e̷̟͋ ̷̛̞t̶̯̃h̴̺̍ẽ̸͜y̴̹̓ ̸̢̽d̴͎͗o̶͐ͅn̴͙̈́'̷͕̾ť̷̰ ̵̹̄k̶̼̏ń̷̢o̶̢̓w̸̡̕ ̷̱͛m̷̥͑è̷̱ ̴̦̇t̵̥̄h̴͉̅e̷̗͊y̴̡̐ ̸̘̀d̴͘͜o̷̗͛ń̶͔'̷̟̌ẗ̸̯́ ̵̢́k̵̈ͅn̶̞͐o̸̤̓w̷̮̒ ̶͍͗m̵̦̈́ě̶͎ ̶̝͐ The voice in my head won’t //stop//, the static only gets //worse//- t̷͓̂ḧ̷͎́e̵̠̓ŷ̶͜ ̵̼͆d̵̲̿ô̵̳n̷͕̐'̵̫̇t̴̘͛ ̷̝͒k̸̲͘n̶̨͛ȯ̸̻w̷̞̃ ̸̪̔m̶͎͒ë̷͙́ ̸̫̌t̵̓ͅh̷̪͠è̸̞y̶̖͘ ̵͇̈́d̷̙̓o̸̩̚n̷̛̰'̴̦̕ṯ̵̒ ̵̪̀k̴̐ͅṋ̸̓o̵͈̿w̸̽͜ ̴̛̰m̴̗͗ẽ̵̙ ̷̝̀t̷̖̉h̷̲́é̵̡ỷ̵̰ ̴̻̅d̵̝̉ò̶͍ṅ̴͚'̴͕̈t̷̡̕ ̴̗͋ḵ̶̌n̷̰͘ō̷͓ẃ̷͎ ̷̘͝m̷̝̆e̵̥̎ ̶̢̋ţ̶̋h̸͋͜ḙ̶̓y̸̪̿ ̶̗̿d̵͓̅ơ̴̩n̷͔̍'̵̕ͅt̷̢͊ ̴̝̓k̶͙̊n̸̛͖o̵̥̿w̸̨̿ ̴̞̽m̶̜̀ê̸̘ ̶͍̎t̵̝́h̶̬̎ě̶̱y̸̛̙ ̷̠̽ď̵̯ō̴͇ņ̵̌'̴̫͘t̷̳͋ ̴͗͜k̴̝̎n̴̪̈ŏ̵̧w̷̯͐ ̶͎̚m̶̤̃ḛ̵̐ ̴͉̀ṯ̷̽h̴̘̀ȇ̴ͅý̵̦ ̵͔̈d̸̠̽ơ̵̖n̷̨͆'̵̰̕ť̸̤ ̷͙͆ḱ̶̦ņ̶̌ö̵̻́w̴̟͆ ̶̛ͅm̷̮̽e̵̱͂ ̴͉͌t̵͖̃h̷̦̕e̸̼̊ỳ̶̬ ̵͍͘ď̸̠o̸͎͆n̸̮̐'̷͈̈t̸̤́ ̸͉̌ķ̶̍n̸̗̈́o̴̝͝w̷̠̔ ̸͚̊m̸͚̑e̷̗͑ ̷̜͘t̶̖͝h̸̳̆ḛ̴͋ỳ̴̖ ̷̥́ḑ̴͐ȯ̷͔n̷̠͆'̷̟͆t̷͎̊ ̸̹̒k̵̩̑ṇ̷͆o̷̦̾ẘ̵̧ ̶̗̓m̵͖̓é̵̟ ̸̅ͅṭ̴͝h̶̤͋ḛ̵̉y̴͍̎ ̶̥̈́d̶̗͝õ̴̭ñ̴̲'̵̮̀t̷̻̋ ̷͇̔k̵̥̀n̶̘̄o̴̬̕ẇ̵̼ ̸̟͐m̸̲͛e̶͈͂ ̸̖̐t̶͕͝h̴͙́ě̴͙y̴̺̚ ̶̡̈́d̶̢̈́o̵͚͒n̶͇̍'̷͈̔t̷̮͝ ̷̳͘k̷̪͆ǹ̴̙o̷̩͂w̸͔͒ ̸̺̌m̵͈̋ë̴͙́ ̸̰̔ṱ̶͌h̶̗̀ę̷̿y̸̻͌ ̶͕̀d̶̙́o̸̾͜ń̴͖'̷̬̏t̶̜̅ ̷̢̃k̶̬̔n̵̯͝o̵͍̕w̵̝͌ ̸̱̔m̵̫͘e̵͍̒ ̵̰̎t̷̮͒h̶̘͛ĕ̵̲ỳ̸̧ ̷̙̊d̸̫́o̴̱͊ń̵ͅ'̴͉̋ṭ̴̿ ̶̲̐k̸̲͠n̶̦͌ö̶͓́w̶̢͗ ̶̝̌m̸͔̈́e̴̢͝ ̷̡̛t̷̠͠h̵̲́e̴͚̍y̸̥͛ ̴̬̊d̷̰̀ò̴͓n̷̜̆'̴̛͈t̴͚͐ ̶̭́k̴̳̀n̵͎̽o̸̞͊w̸͚̾ ̸̦̊m̶͖̽e̴̯͂ ̶̨̛ţ̴͝h̵̻͘e̷̺̚ỳ̴̪ ̴͖́d̴̻̃o̷͚̒n̷̛̫'̴͉̿t̴͇͊ ̸̰̎k̵̝̆ñ̶̹o̴͕̾w̴̳͌ ̵̟͘m̸̙̎é̴̝ ̶̢͐t̶̮̓h̶̖̀e̵̗̐y̸̩͑ ̷̺̄d̶̪̋ǒ̵͙ṇ̷͊'̶̬̒t̵͍̓ ̷̼̄k̵͍͒n̷̢̓o̶̩̔ẘ̵̪ ̷̭̉m̴̺̍e̸̥̔ ̵͖̎t̶̡̎h̴̛͍e̶͉͐y̸̭̌ ̷͕̓d̵͈̓o̴̩͒n̸͚͌'̶͉̑t̷̤͠ ̷̯̓k̷͓̈́n̴̞̑ȏ̷͇ŵ̵̭ ̶̻͌m̷͕̀ȅ̸̼ ̸̠̋ṫ̵̪h̷̡͆ě̶̮ý̷̳ ̶̥̿d̴̲̾o̶̪͝n̴̲͋'̶̗̈́t̸̤͘ ̵̹͒k̷̼͒ṉ̵̍o̷̟̔w̷͐ͅ ̶͚̓m̸͇̋é̴̬ ̴͎͒t̸̢͐h̸͓͝e̴̘̅y̴̰͝ ̵̛̝ḍ̴̊ò̴͍n̷̢̆'̷̻̎t̸͈̆ ̵͕͝ķ̶̀n̷͙͐o̶̖̚ẉ̴͋ ̷̮̃m̵̢͌ę̷͑ ̴̚͜t̴̡̓h̶̦̕e̵͉̐y̷̫̒ ̵̇͜ḍ̷͐o̶̕͜n̴̟̏'̸̭̐t̷̫̏ ̸̩̽k̸̭̅n̷̮̋o̸͇̊w̴̓͜ ̸̖̇m̸͕̀e̵̩̍ ̴̼̀ṱ̵͒h̶̤̓ȩ̷̌y̵̙̏ ̵͉̇d̸̪͆o̶̪̚n̵̤̓'̸̛ͅt̴̮͊ ̸̭̎k̸͖͂ṇ̷͂o̷̜̕w̶͕͋ ̸͚́m̵̯͗e̷̮̒ ̷̖̔ṭ̷̐ẖ̷͘e̶̟͘y̴̼͑ ̸̺͐d̸̟̅o̸̢̓ṉ̸̈́'̶̥̿t̶͉̾ ̵̲̆k̷̪̅n̴̖̄o̵̯̓w̸̪͋ ̶͇̋m̴͍͌ë̸͍́ ̷̭̒t̶̢̔h̷̗̑e̸̗͐ȳ̷̱ ̸̡̓ḑ̷̔ǒ̷̞ņ̶͆'̶̰̽t̶͇́ ̸̣͒k̵̝͝n̷̺̈ơ̵̻w̵̜̒ ̴͔͛m̷̺̏e̷̟͋ ̷̛̞t̶̯̃h̴̺̍ẽ̸͜y̴̹̓ ̸̢̽d̴͎͗o̶͐ͅn̴͙̈́'̷͕̾ť̷̰ ̵̹̄k̶̼̏ń̷̢o̶̢̓w̸̡̕ ̷̱͛m̷̥͑è̷̱ ̴̦̇t̵̥̄h̴͉̅e̷̗͊y̴̡̐ ̸̘̀d̴͘͜o̷̗͛ń̶͔'̷̟̌ẗ̸̯́ ̵̢́k̵̈ͅn̶̞͐o̸̤̓w̷̮̒ ̶͍͗m̵̦̈́ě̶͎ ̶̝͐t̷͓̂ḧ̷͎́e̵̠̓ŷ̶͜ ̵̼͆d̵̲̿ô̵̳n̷͕̐'̵̫̇t̴̘͛ ̷̝͒k̸̲͘n̶̨͛ȯ̸̻w̷̞̃ ̸̪̔m̶͎͒ë̷͙́ ̸̫̌t̵̓ͅh̷̪͠è̸̞y̶̖͘ ̵͇̈́d̷̙̓o̸̩̚n̷̛̰'̴̦̕ṯ̵̒ ̵̪̀k̴̐ͅṋ̸̓o̵͈̿w̸̽͜ ̴̛̰m̴̗͗ẽ̵̙ ̷̝̀t̷̖̉h̷̲́é̵̡ỷ̵̰ ̴̻̅d̵̝̉ò̶͍ṅ̴͚'̴͕̈t̷̡̕ ̴̗͋ḵ̶̌n̷̰͘ō̷͓ẃ̷͎ ̷̘͝m̷̝̆e̵̥̎ ̶̢̋ţ̶̋h̸͋͜ḙ̶̓y̸̪̿ ̶̗̿d̵͓̅ơ̴̩n̷͔̍'̵̕ͅt̷̢͊ ̴̝̓k̶͙̊n̸̛͖o̵̥̿w̸̨̿ ̴̞̽m̶̜̀ê̸̘ ̶͍̎t̵̝́h̶̬̎ě̶̱y̸̛̙ ̷̠̽ď̵̯ō̴͇ņ̵̌'̴̫͘t̷̳͋ ̴͗͜k̴̝̎n̴̪̈ŏ̵̧w̷̯͐ ̶͎̚m̶̤̃ḛ̵̐ ̴͉̀ṯ̷̽h̴̘̀ȇ̴ͅý̵̦ ̵͔̈d̸̠̽ơ̵̖n̷̨͆'̵̰̕ť̸̤ ̷͙͆ḱ̶̦ņ̶̌ö̵̻́w̴̟͆ ̶̛ͅm̷̮̽e̵̱͂ ̴͉͌t̵͖̃h̷̦̕e̸̼̊ỳ̶̬ ̵͍͘ď̸̠o̸͎͆n̸̮̐'̷͈̈t̸̤́ ̸͉̌ķ̶̍n̸̗̈́o̴̝͝w̷̠̔ ̸͚̊m̸͚̑e̷̗͑ ̷̜͘t̶̖͝h̸̳̆ḛ̴͋ỳ̴̖ ̷̥́ḑ̴͐ȯ̷͔n̷̠͆'̷̟͆t̷͎̊ ̸̹̒k̵̩̑ṇ̷͆o̷̦̾ẘ̵̧ ̶̗̓m̵͖̓é̵̟ ̸̅ͅṭ̴͝h̶̤͋ḛ̵̉y̴͍̎ ̶̥̈́d̶̗͝õ̴̭ñ̴̲'̵̮̀t̷̻̋ ̷͇̔k̵̥̀n̶̘̄o̴̬̕ẇ̵̼ ̸̟͐m̸̲͛e̶͈͂ ̸̖̐t̶͕͝h̴͙́ě̴͙y̴̺̚ ̶̡̈́d̶̢̈́o̵͚͒n̶͇̍'̷͈̔t̷̮͝ ̷̳͘k̷̪͆ǹ̴̙o̷̩͂w̸͔͒ ̸̺̌m̵͈̋ë̴͙́ ̸̰̔ṱ̶͌h̶̗̀ę̷̿y̸̻͌ ̶͕̀d̶̙́o̸̾͜ń̴͖'̷̬̏t̶̜̅ ̷̢̃k̶̬̔n̵̯͝o̵͍̕w̵̝͌ ̸̱̔m̵̫͘e̵͍̒ ̵̰̎t̷̮͒h̶̘͛ĕ̵̲ỳ̸̧ ̷̙̊d̸̫́o̴̱͊ń̵ͅ'̴͉̋ṭ̴̿ ̶̲̐k̸̲͠n̶̦͌ö̶͓́w̶̢͗ ̶̝̌m̸͔̈́e̴̢͝ ̷̡̛t̷̠͠h̵̲́e̴͚̍y̸̥͛ ̴̬̊d̷̰̀ò̴͓n̷̜̆'̴̛͈t̴͚͐ ̶̭́k̴̳̀n̵͎̽o̸̞͊w̸͚̾ ̸̦̊m̶͖̽e̴̯͂ ̶̨̛ţ̴͝h̵̻͘e̷̺̚ỳ̴̪ ̴͖́d̴̻̃o̷͚̒n̷̛̫'̴͉̿t̴͇͊ ̸̰̎k̵̝̆ñ̶̹o̴͕̾w̴̳͌ ̵̟͘m̸̙̎é̴̝ ̶̢͐t̶̮̓h̶̖̀e̵̗̐y̸̩͑ ̷̺̄d̶̪̋ǒ̵͙ṇ̷͊'̶̬̒t̵͍̓ ̷̼̄k̵͍͒n̷̢̓o̶̩̔ẘ̵̪ ̷̭̉m̴̺̍e̸̥̔ ̵͖̎t̶̡̎h̴̛͍e̶͉͐y̸̭̌ ̷͕̓d̵͈̓o̴̩͒n̸͚͌'̶͉̑t̷̤͠ ̷̯̓k̷͓̈́n̴̞̑ȏ̷͇ŵ̵̭ ̶̻͌m̷͕̀ȅ̸̼ ̸̠̋ṫ̵̪h̷̡͆ě̶̮ý̷̳ ̶̥̿d̴̲̾o̶̪͝n̴̲͋'̶̗̈́t̸̤͘ ̵̹͒k̷̼͒ṉ̵̍o̷̟̔w̷͐ͅ ̶͚̓m̸͇̋é̴̬ ̴͎͒t̸̢͐h̸͓͝e̴̘̅y̴̰͝ ̵̛̝ḍ̴̊ò̴͍n̷̢̆'̷̻̎t̸͈̆ ̵͕͝ķ̶̀n̷͙͐o̶̖̚ẉ̴͋ ̷̮̃m̵̢͌ę̷͑ ̴̚͜t̴̡̓h̶̦̕e̵͉̐y̷̫̒ ̵̇͜ḍ̷͐o̶̕͜n̴̟̏'̸̭̐t̷̫̏ ̸̩̽k̸̭̅n̷̮̋o̸͇̊w̴̓͜ ̸̖̇m̸͕̀e̵̩̍ ̴̼̀ṱ̵͒h̶̤̓ȩ̷̌y̵̙̏ ̵͉̇d̸̪͆o̶̪̚n̵̤̓'̸̛ͅt̴̮͊ ̸̭̎k̸͖͂ṇ̷͂o̷̜̕w̶͕͋ ̸͚́m̵̯͗e̷̮̒ ̷̖̔ṭ̷̐ẖ̷͘e̶̟͘y̴̼͑ ̸̺͐d̸̟̅o̸̢̓ṉ̸̈́'̶̥̿t̶͉̾ ̵̲̆k̷̪̅n̴̖̄o̵̯̓w̸̪͋ ̶͇̋m̴͍͌ë̸͍́ ̷̭̒t̶̢̔h̷̗̑e̸̗͐ȳ̷̱ ̸̡̓ḑ̷̔ǒ̷̞ņ̶͆'̶̰̽t̶͇́ ̸̣͒k̵̝͝n̷̺̈ơ̵̻w̵̜̒ ̴͔͛m̷̺̏e̷̟͋ ̷̛̞t̶̯̃h̴̺̍ẽ̸͜y̴̹̓ ̸̢̽d̴͎͗o̶͐ͅn̴͙̈́'̷͕̾ť̷̰ ̵̹̄k̶̼̏ń̷̢o̶̢̓w̸̡̕ ̷̱͛m̷̥͑è̷̱ ̴̦̇t̵̥̄h̴͉̅e̷̗͊y̴̡̐ ̸̘̀d̴͘͜o̷̗͛ń̶͔'̷̟̌ẗ̸̯́ ̵̢́k̵̈ͅn̶̞͐o̸̤̓w̷̮̒ ̶͍͗m̵̦̈́ě̶͎ ̶̝͐ ---- [[I NEED TO LEAVE ->CHAP8-10]]

Without thinking about it, I bolt to the door of the hotel room. I fumble with the lock for a second before I’m able to slam the door open and rush down the hallway- I’m not sure where I’m going, but I just know that I //need to leave//. “$Name, wait!” I’m not sure whose voice that is, calling out to me, echoing down the hallway. I can only focus on //leaving//- Out of the corner of my eye, I see a door with a neon green sign that says “Stairs”, and suddenly turn towards it. I feel like I almost knock it off its hinges with how hard I ram it open, but I can’t care about that- even as the sound reverberates around the stairwell, causing another wave of pain to try and drown my brain. I jump down the stairs- two, three, even four at a time. The longer I run, the quieter the static gets- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-11]]

As I round the last flight of stairs, I suddenly come to an abrupt stop on the last step. Although I don’t need to breathe, I’m taking in greedy lungfuls of air, gasping in the quiet of the stairwell. But it’s surprisingly the only noise coming from me- that strange voice in my head has stopped, along with the static. Just //what is// that voice in my head? Why does it tell me to do such horrible things? The thing that confuses me the most about the voice is… That sometimes I really //want// to do what it says. It compels me in a way that makes me deeply uncomfortable. So, what it is exactly? Do all demons have to live with this kind of voice, trying to compel them to do things they wouldn’t normally do? “$Name?” A quiet voice echoes off the walls of the stairwell, startling me. ---- [[Anya comes down the steps, a little unsure of herself. ->CHAP8-ANYA]] ---- [[Will hurries down the steps, his worried gaze on me. ->CHAP8-WILL]] ---- [[Murmur appears a few steps above me, their white eyes trained on me. ->CHAP8-MURMUR]] ---- [[Dani peers down at me from the top of the steps with a strange look. ->CHAP8-DANI]] ---- [[I rush through the exit, not wanting to deal with anyone just yet. ->CHAP8-ALONE]]

Anya comes down the steps, a little unsure of herself. Once she sees me, she stops in her tracks, giving me a worried look. I stare at her, eyes wide- I’m unsure if I’m shocked she’s even here, or what, but all I can do is stare. “$Name, what’s wrong? Why did you run away suddenly?” She asks, her quiet voice reaching me easily. Her accent is a little more pronounced, and I can only briefly wonder if she’s under the influence again or if it’s just because her emotions are on a high right now before she takes another step down the stairs. “What’s going on?” For some reason, my first instinct is to brush her off. To say ‘no, it’s nothing’ as if she’d believe me. But her light brown eyes are watching me too closely, and I know she’d be able to tell if I was just trying to brush her off. ---- [[Lie to her anyway. ->CHAP8-ANYALIE]] ---- [[Tell her the truth… ->CHAP8-ANYATRUTH]] ---- [[Break down. This is suddenly too much. ->CHAP8-ANYAMUCH]] ---- [[Try to ignore her. ->CHAP8-ANYAIGNORE]] <<set $Hallway to 10>><<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 7, 0, 80)>>

Will hurries down the steps, his worried gaze on me. He rushes down to the step I’m on, looking me over as if I’d have somehow hurt myself. I stare at him, eyes wide- I’m unsure if I’m shocked he’s even here, or what, but all I can do is stare. “$Name, what’s wrong? What happened back there?” His voice is quiet, but there’s an underlying panic to the tone. He’s either very worried for me or scared about what I’ll do next. When I don’t respond, he sighs, before saying, “C’mon, talk to me. Please?” For some reason, my first instinct is to brush him off. To say ‘no, it’s nothing’ as if he’d believe me. But his dark brown eyes are watching me too closely, and I know he’d be able to tell if I was just trying to brush him off. ---- [[Lie to him anyway. ->CHAP8-WILLLIE]] ---- [[Tell him the truth… ->CHAP8-WILLTRUTH]] ---- [[Break down. This is suddenly too much. ->CHAP8-WILLMUCH]] ---- [[Try to ignore him. ->CHAP8-WILLIGNORE]] <<set $Hallway to 20>><<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 7, 0, 80)>>

Murmur appears a few steps above me, their white eyes trained on me. Their head tilts to the side, like it usually does, as they take me in. I stare at them, eyes wide- I’m unsure if I’m shocked they’re even here, or what, but all I can do is stare. “$Name, are you alright?” They ask quietly. Their quiet voice is soothing and calm to my frazzled brain, like a breeze on a hot day. For some reason, my first instinct is to brush them off. To say ‘no, it’s nothing’ as if they’d believe me. But their white eyes are watching me too closely, and I know they’d be able to tell if I was just trying to brush them off. ---- [[Lie to them anyway. ->CHAP8-MURMURLIE]] ---- [[Tell them the truth… ->CHAP8-MURMURTRUTH]] ---- [[Break down. This is suddenly too much. ->CHAP8-MURMURMUCH]] ---- [[Try to ignore them. ->CHAP8-MURMURIGNORE]] <<set $Hallway to 30>><<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 7, 0, 80)>>

Dani peers down at me from the top of the steps with a strange look. I stare at them, eyes wide- I’m unsure if I’m shocked they’re even here, or what, but all I can do is stare. “Hey, $Name, are you alright? What’s going on?” They ask, slowly starting to descend the stairs until they are a few steps above me. For some reason, my first instinct is to brush them off. To say ‘no, it’s nothing’ as if they’d believe me. But their dark brown eyes are watching me too closely, and I know they’d be able to tell if I was just trying to brush them off. ---- [[Lie to them anyway. ->CHAP8-DANILIE]] ---- [[Tell them the truth… ->CHAP8-DANITRUTH]] ---- [[Break down. This is suddenly too much. ->CHAP8-DANIMUCH]] ---- [[Try to ignore them. ->CHAP8-DANIIGNORE]] <<set $Hallway to 40>><<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 7, 0, 80)>>

I quickly slam open the exit door, finding myself in the lobby of the hotel. I walk until I find a secluded corner, throwing myself onto the chairs set up underneath a large painting, rubbing at my eyes until the headache recedes to a slight, dull ache in the back of my head. I’m unsure why the voice in my head got so bad, so //loud//, but I’m sure it has to be connected to how I’m feeling, at least to a certain degree. With that thought, I know that I can’t go back into the room until I’m calmed down completely, or the voice might start acting up again. Wincing a bit, I lean back in the chair, my eyes closing as I try and wait out the rest of the pain. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-12]] <<set $Hallway to 50>>

Although I know she won’t believe me, I shake my head. I can’t tell her what’s really happening, not about the voice… not now when she’s already on the edge of trusting me or not. “I just… Had a really bad headache, and it was too much for me to be inside that room.” Anya’s eyes squint a bit like she’s trying to see through my lies, to see what actually happened to me. But it’s not technically //all// a lie, because I //was// in pain from the headache. She sighs, probably realizing this is as much as she’s going to get from me before she descends the rest of the stairs until she’s on the step that I am on. “Here, sit.” She says suddenly before she sits down on the steps. She pats the spot next to herself and looks up at me with expectant eyes. A little stunned by her demand, I do just as she says and sit down beside her. “We don’t have to talk if you don’t want to, but… We will need to go back to the room when you’re ready.” She whispers like she’s suddenly afraid of ruining the near-silent atmosphere of the stairwell. “We still need to come up with a plan on how we’re going to evade the angels.” As I sit and listen beside her, my eyes travel over Anya’s face as she speaks. Once she realizes that I’m watching her, she seems to have a hard time meeting my gaze for some reason. Then, I suddenly realize that she seems to be waiting for me to say or do something. I’m not entirely ready to head back yet… I still need some time. ---- [[Lay my head on her shoulder. ->CHAP8-ANYASHOUDLER]] ---- [[Lay my head on her shoulder. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-ANYAFLIRT]] ---- [[Hold her hand. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-ANYAFLIRT2]] ---- [[Just sit in the silence together. ->CHAP8-SILENCE]]

I open my mouth, about to spill everything to Anya… Before I close it again, realizing that I probably shouldn’t tell her about the voice still, not when she’s already on the edge of trusting me or not. Sighing, I close my eyes before deciding to tell her the partial truth. “I… Had a really bad headache, and it was too much for me to be inside that room. And I also… Just got a little upset that you and Will would question me like that.” It’s quiet for a while, so I open my eyes once more to look at Anya. Her eyes widen a bit, surprised by my confession, before she starts to nod her head, saying, “I’m… I’m sorry, $Name, I didn’t mean to upset you.” I watch as she descends the rest of the stairs until she’s on the step that I am on. “Here, sit.” She says suddenly before she sits down on the steps. She pats the spot next to herself and looks up at me with expectant eyes. A little stunned by her demand, I do just as she says and sit down beside her. “We don’t have to talk if you don’t want to, but… We will need to go back to the room when you’re ready.” She whispers like she’s suddenly afraid of ruining the near-silent atmosphere of the stairwell. “We still need to come up with a plan on how we’re going to evade the angels.” As I sit and listen beside her, my eyes travel over Anya’s face as she speaks. Once she realizes that I’m watching her, she seems to have a hard time meeting my gaze for some reason. Then, I suddenly realize that she seems to be waiting for me to say or do something. I’m not entirely ready to head back yet… I still need some time. ---- [[Lay my head on her shoulder. ->CHAP8-ANYASHOUDLER]] ---- [[Lay my head on her shoulder. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-ANYAFLIRT]] ---- [[Hold her hand. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-ANYAFLIRT2]] ---- [[Just sit in the silence together. ->CHAP8-SILENCE]]

I open my mouth, about to spill everything to Anya… Before I close it again, realizing that I probably shouldn’t tell her about the voice still, not when she’s already on the edge of trusting me or not. That thought brings tears to my eyes suddenly, and so fast that I have no chance to try and stop them. With a shuddering breath, I close my eyes before whispering, “It… It hurt when you and Will questioned me like that.” It’s quiet for a while, so I open my eyes once more to look at Anya. Her eyes widen a bit, surprised by my confession before it morphs into something sad. Her own eyes glisten as she looks at me, before she finally says, “I’m… I’m so sorry, $Name, I didn’t mean to upset you.” I watch as she descends the rest of the stairs until she’s on the step that I am on. “Here, sit.” She says suddenly before she sits down on the steps. She pats the spot next to herself and looks up at me with expectant eyes. A little stunned by her demand, I do just as she says and sit down beside her. “We don’t have to talk if you don’t want to, but… We will need to go back to the room when you’re ready.” She whispers like she’s suddenly afraid of ruining the near-silent atmosphere of the stairwell. “We still need to come up with a plan on how we’re going to evade the angels.” As I sit and listen beside her, my eyes travel over Anya’s face as she speaks. Once she realizes that I’m watching her, she seems to have a hard time meeting my gaze for some reason. Then, I suddenly realize that she seems to be waiting for me to say or do something. I’m not entirely ready to head back yet… I still need some time. ---- [[Lay my head on her shoulder. ->CHAP8-ANYASHOUDLER]] ---- [[Lay my head on her shoulder. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-ANYAFLIRT]] ---- [[Hold her hand. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-ANYAFLIRT2]] ---- [[Just sit in the silence together. ->CHAP8-SILENCE]]

I suddenly feel exhausted… It’s been a long, emotional day for me, so it makes sense. My eyes travel to Anya, who seems to be thinking about something else, not really paying attention to me anymore. She didn’t need to come and see if I was alright, but she did… Something about that makes me feel light and airy- a good sensation to have after not feeling alright for so long. Sighing, I slowly rest my head on her shoulder, waiting to see if she pulls away or something. She tenses up for a second, but once she relaxes again she lays her head on top of mine. “It’ll be ok, $Name.” She whispers. I’m unsure why she does, but it makes me feel a lot better all the same. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-12]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 3, 0, 80)>>

I suddenly feel exhausted… It’s been a long, emotional day for me, so it makes sense. My eyes travel to Anya, who seems to be thinking about something else, not really paying attention to me anymore. She didn’t need to come and see if I was alright, but she did… Something about that makes me blush, my chest filling up with warmth as well- a good sensation to have after not feeling alright for so long. Sighing, I slowly rest my head on her shoulder, waiting to see if she pulls away or something. She tenses up for a second, but once she relaxes again she lays her head on top of mine, her arm gently wresting against my back as she pulls me a bit closer. “It’ll be ok, $Name.” She whispers. I’m unsure why she does, but it makes me feel a lot better all the same. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-12]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 3, 0, 80)>><<set $Anya_Love to Math.clamp($Anya_Love + 2, 0, 20)>>

I suddenly feel exhausted… It’s been a long, emotional day for me, so it makes sense. My eyes travel to Anya, who seems to be thinking about something else, not really paying attention to me anymore. She didn’t need to come and see if I was alright, but she did… Something about that makes me blush, my chest filling up with warmth as well- a good sensation to have after not feeling alright for so long. Sighing, I gently take her hand in my own. She looks at me in surprise before she gives me a small smile, her hand squeezing my own. “It’ll be ok, $Name.” She whispers. I’m unsure why she does, but it makes me feel a lot better all the same. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-12]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 3, 0, 80)>><<set $Anya_Love to Math.clamp($Anya_Love + 2, 0, 20)>>

Shaking my head, I try to ignore her. I’m not really in the best of moods at the moment, so chatting is the very last thing I want to do right now. I turn around, before sitting on the steps- hanging my head down to try and relieve the last stretch of my headache. Anya sighs before I hear her footsteps come down the stairs. Once she reaches the step I’m on, she sits beside me, her light brown eyes watching me closely. “We don’t have to talk if you don’t want to, but… We will need to go back to the room when you’re ready.” She whispers like she’s suddenly afraid of ruining the near-silent atmosphere of the stairwell. “We still need to come up with a plan on how we’re going to evade the angels.” As I sit and listen beside her, my eyes travel over Anya’s face as she speaks. Once she realizes that I’m watching her, she seems to have a hard time meeting my gaze for some reason. Then, I suddenly realize that she seems to be waiting for me to say or do something. I’m not entirely ready to head back yet… I still need some time. ---- [[Lay my head on her shoulder. ->CHAP8-ANYASHOUDLER]] ---- [[Lay my head on her shoulder. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-ANYAFLIRT]] ---- [[Hold her hand. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-ANYAFLIRT2]] ---- [[Just sit in the silence together. ->CHAP8-SILENCE]]

---- !!!A little while later… <<if $Hallway >=50>>After I’ve calmed down, I return to the hotel room. It’s quiet- the only sound coming from the news playing on the TV mounted to the wall. <<elseif $Hallway >=40 && $Hallway <=49>>After I’ve calmed down, Dani and I return to the hotel room. It’s quiet- the only sound coming from the news playing on the TV mounted to the wall.<<elseif $Hallway >=30 && $Hallway <=39>>After I’ve calmed down, Murmur and I return to the hotel room. It’s quiet- the only sound coming from the news playing on the TV mounted to the wall.<<elseif $Hallway >=20 && $Hallway <=29>>After I’ve calmed down, Will and I return to the hotel room. It’s quiet- the only sound coming from the news playing on the TV mounted to the wall.<<elseif $Hallway >=10 && $Hallway <=19>>After I’ve calmed down, Anya and I return to the hotel room. It’s quiet- the only sound coming from the news playing on the TV mounted to the wall.<</if>> Vaguely, I listen to what the weather woman is saying as I come to stand in the center of the room; something about how it’s been the coldest September in years, how it’s not usually this cold until the end of October or early November- “$Name.” Will’s voice catches my attention, and I turn to look at him. He smiles at me, but it doesn't reach his his eyes- he looks a little pained, if anything. “I won’t speak for Anya, but I just wanted you to know that I’m sorry for how I handled the whole situation earlier. I know that you can’t really control your powers at the moment, and it was wrong of me to assume you were poking around in my memories on purpose.” I nod my head, unsure what I should say to that. My eyes travel to Anya, who also gives me a rather sad smile. Nodding, she says, “I also want to apologize. It’s alright if you accidentally see something from my past, but if… If you could, maybe don’t bring it up or anything. I don’t like talking about it. Please?” Once again, I nod my head. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-13]]

Although I know he won’t believe me, I shake my head. I can’t tell him what’s really happening, not about the voice… not now when he’s already on the edge of trusting me or not. “I just… Had a really bad headache, and it was too much for me to be inside that room.” Will stares at me in silence, an inscrutable expression on his face. It looks like some kind of mixture of pain and concern, but I’m just not too sure… “Hey, let's sit here for a minute, ok?” He sits down on the step, patting the spot next to himself as he looks up at me expectantly. Without much else to do, I do as Will says and sit on the step beside him. Sighing, Will continues to watch me. He seems to want to say something to me but doesn’t for whatever reason. “Will?” I ask, trying to get him to say //something//, //anything//, rather than just sit and stare at me. “Would you…” Will takes a deep breath, his questions hanging, unfinished, in the air. Then, after he exhales a long breath, he starts speaking again, but it isn’t the original question he was going to ask. “Need some more time to cool off, before we head back?” I nod my head. I’m not entirely ready to head back yet… I do still need some time. ---- [[Lay my head on his shoulder. ->CHAP8-WILLSHOUDLER]] ---- [[Lay my head on his shoulder. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-WILLFLIRT]] ---- [[Hold his hand. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-WILLFLIRT2]] ---- [[Just sit in the silence together. ->CHAP8-WILLSILENCE]]

I open my mouth, about to spill everything to Will… Before I close it again, realizing that I probably shouldn’t tell him about the voice still, not when he’s already on the edge of trusting me or not. Sighing, I close my eyes before deciding to tell him the partial truth. “I… Had a really bad headache, and it was too much for me to be inside that room. And I also… Just got a little upset that you and Anya would question me like that.” It’s quiet for a while, so I open my eyes once more to look at Will. His eyes glint a bit in the dim light of the stairway, watching me so closely that I start to feel a little self-conscious before he finally speaks again. “Hey, I’m… Fuck, I’m sorry, $Name. I didn’t word that question right…“ “Hey, let's sit here for a minute, ok?” He sits down on the step, patting the spot next to himself as he looks up at me expectantly. Without much else to do, I do as Will says and sit on the step beside him. Sighing, Will continues to watch me. He seems to want to say something to me but doesn’t for whatever reason. “Will?” I ask, trying to get him to say //something//, //anything//, rather than just sit and stare at me. “Would you…” Will takes a deep breath, his questions hanging, unfinished, in the air. Then, after he exhales a long breath, he starts speaking again, but it isn’t the original question he was going to ask. “Need some more time to cool off, before we head back?” I nod my head. I’m not entirely ready to head back yet… I do still need some time. ---- [[Lay my head on his shoulder. ->CHAP8-WILLSHOUDLER]] ---- [[Lay my head on his shoulder. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-WILLFLIRT]] ---- [[Hold his hand. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-WILLFLIRT2]] ---- [[Just sit in the silence together. ->CHAP8-WILLSILENCE]]

I open my mouth, about to spill everything to Will… Before I close it again, realizing that I probably shouldn’t tell him about the voice still, not when he’s already on the edge of trusting me or not. That thought brings tears to my eyes suddenly, and so fast that I have no chance to try and stop them. With a shuddering breath, I close my eyes before whispering, “It… It hurt when you and Anya questioned me like that.” It’s quiet for a while, so I open my eyes once more to look at Will. His eyes glint a bit in the dim light of the stairway, watching me so closely that I start to feel a little self-conscious before he finally speaks again. “Hey, I’m… Fuck, I’m sorry, $Name. I didn’t intend to upset you so badly with that question…“ “Hey, let's sit here for a minute, ok?” He sits down on the step, patting the spot next to himself as he looks up at me expectantly. Without much else to do, I do as Will says and sit on the step beside him. Sighing, Will continues to watch me. He seems to want to say something to me but doesn’t for whatever reason. “Will?” I ask, trying to get him to say //something//, //anything//, rather than just sit and stare at me. “Would you…” Will takes a deep breath, his questions hanging, unfinished, in the air. Then, after he exhales a long breath, he starts speaking again, but it isn’t the original question he was going to ask. “Need some more time to cool off, before we head back?” I nod my head. I’m not entirely ready to head back yet… I do still need some time. ---- [[Lay my head on his shoulder. ->CHAP8-WILLSHOUDLER]] ---- [[Lay my head on his shoulder. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-WILLFLIRT]] ---- [[Hold his hand. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-WILLFLIRT2]] ---- [[Just sit in the silence together. ->CHAP8-WILLSILENCE]]

Shaking my head, I try to ignore him. I’m not really in the best of moods at the moment, so chatting is the very last thing I want to do right now. I turn around, before sitting on the steps- hanging my head down to try and relieve the last stretch of my headache. Will makes no noise as he just sits beside me. Sighing, Will continues to watch me. He seems to want to say something to me but doesn’t for whatever reason. “Will?” I ask, trying to get him to say //something//, //anything//, rather than just sit and stare at me. “Would you…” Will takes a deep breath, his questions hanging, unfinished, in the air. Then, after he exhales a long breath, he starts speaking again, but it isn’t the original question he was going to ask. “Need some more time to cool off, before we head back?” I nod my head. I’m not entirely ready to head back yet… I do still need some time. ---- [[Lay my head on his shoulder. ->CHAP8-WILLSHOUDLER]] ---- [[Lay my head on his shoulder. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-WILLFLIRT]] ---- [[Hold his hand. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-WILLFLIRT2]] ---- [[Just sit in the silence together. ->CHAP8-WILLSILENCE]]

I suddenly feel exhausted… It’s been a long, emotional day for me, so it makes sense. My eyes travel to Will, who continues to watch me carefully like he’s afraid I’m going to break or something. He didn’t need to come and see if I was alright, but he did… Something about that makes me feel light and airy- a good sensation to have after not feeling alright for so long. Sighing, I slowly rest my head on his shoulder, waiting to see if he pulls away or something. He immediately melts against me, shifting a bit so he can rest his head on mine as well. “I’m here for you, alright?” He whispers. I’m unsure why he does, but it makes me feel a lot better all the same. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-12]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 3, 0, 80)>>

I suddenly feel exhausted… It’s been a long, emotional day for me, so it makes sense. My eyes travel to Will, who continues to watch me carefully like he’s afraid I’m going to break or something. He didn’t need to come and see if I was alright, but he did… Something about that makes me blush, my chest filling up with warmth as well- a good sensation to have after not feeling alright for so long. Sighing, I slowly rest my head on his shoulder, waiting to see if he pulls away or something. He immediately melts against me, shifting a bit so he can rest his head on mine as well, his hand gently caressing my back. “I’m here for you, alright?” He whispers. I’m unsure why he does, but it makes me feel a lot better all the same. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-12]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 3, 0, 80)>><<set $Will_Love to Math.clamp($Will_Love + 2, 0, 20)>>

I suddenly feel exhausted… It’s been a long, emotional day for me, so it makes sense. My eyes travel to Will, who continues to watch me carefully like he’s afraid I’m going to break or something. He didn’t need to come and see if I was alright, but he did… Something about that makes me blush, my chest filling up with warmth as well- a good sensation to have after not feeling alright for so long. Slowly and carefully, I take his hand in my own. His skin is so soft and warm against my own, and I almost immediately feel better touching him. When my gaze flickers to him, I find him giving me his lopsided grin, a dark blush tinting his cheeks. “I’m here for you, alright?” He whispers. I’m unsure why he does, but it makes me feel a lot better all the same. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-12]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 3, 0, 80)>><<set $Will_Love to Math.clamp($Will_Love + 2, 0, 20)>>

I suddenly feel exhausted… It’s been a long, emotional day for me, so it makes sense. My eyes travel to Will, who continues to watch me carefully like he’s afraid I’m going to break or something. He didn’t need to come and see if I was alright, but he did… It confuses me a bit, but it’s not like he’s annoying me or anything. Sighing, I lean forward and rest my head in my hands. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-12]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 1, 0, 80)>>

Although I know they won’t believe me, I shake my head. I can’t tell them what’s really happening, not about the voice… not now when everyone is already so on edge around me. “I just… Had a really bad headache, and it was too much for me to be inside that room.” Murmur stares at me in silence, their white-eyed gaze flicking around my face as if searching for the lie. Silently, Murmur comes down to the step I’m on, before sitting down gingerly. They look up at me, their white irises trying to communicate something- probably trying to get me to sit down with them. Without much else to do, I sit beside the demon. Seeming content to just sit with me for a while, Murmur steeples their hands underneath their chin, their eyes closing as if they intend to take a quick nap or something. They’ll probably stay with me until I’m ready to head back to the room… But I’m not entirely ready to head back yet- I still need some time. ---- [[Lay my head on their shoulder. ->CHAP8-MURMURSHOULDER]] ---- [[Lay my head on their shoulder. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-MURMURFLIRT]] ---- [[Hold their hand. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-MURMURFLIRT2]] ---- [[Just sit in the silence together. ->CHAP8-MURMURSILENCE]]

I open my mouth, about to spill everything to Murmur… Before I close it again, realizing that I probably shouldn’t tell them about the voice still, not when everyone is already on the edge of trusting me or not. Sighing, I close my eyes before deciding to tell them the partial truth. “I… Had a really bad headache, and it was too much for me to be inside that room. And I also… Just got a little upset that Will and Anya would question me like that.” It’s quiet for a while, so I open my eyes once more to look at Murmur. They nod their head, before whispering, “I’m sorry they upset you, $Name.” Silently, Murmur comes down to the step I’m on, before sitting down gingerly. They look up at me, their white irises trying to communicate something- probably trying to get me to sit down with them. Without much else to do, I sit beside the demon. Seeming content to just sit with me for a while, Murmur steeples their hands underneath their chin, their eyes closing as if they intend to take a quick nap or something. They’ll probably stay with me until I’m ready to head back to the room… But I’m not entirely ready to head back yet- I still need some time. ---- [[Lay my head on their shoulder. ->CHAP8-MURMURSHOULDER]] ---- [[Lay my head on their shoulder. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-MURMURFLIRT]] ---- [[Hold their hand. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-MURMURFLIRT2]] ---- [[Just sit in the silence together. ->CHAP8-MURMURSILENCE]]

I open my mouth, about to spill everything to Murmur… Before I close it again, realizing that I probably shouldn’t tell them about the voice still, not when everyone is already on the edge of trusting me or not. That thought brings tears to my eyes suddenly, and so fast that I have no chance to try and stop them. With a shuddering breath, I close my eyes before whispering, “It… It hurt when Will and Anya questioned me like that.” It’s quiet for a while, so I open my eyes once more to look at Murmur. Their shoulders slump a bit as they watch the tears fall down my cheeks before they whisper, “I’m so sorry they upset you, $Name.” Silently, Murmur comes down to the step I’m on, before sitting down gingerly. They look up at me, their white irises trying to communicate something- probably trying to get me to sit down with them. Without much else to do, I sit beside the demon. Seeming content to just sit with me for a while, Murmur steeples their hands underneath their chin, their eyes closing as if they intend to take a quick nap or something. They’ll probably stay with me until I’m ready to head back to the room… But I’m not entirely ready to head back yet- I still need some time. ---- [[Lay my head on their shoulder. ->CHAP8-MURMURSHOULDER]] ---- [[Lay my head on their shoulder. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-MURMURFLIRT]] ---- [[Hold their hand. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-MURMURFLIRT2]] ---- [[Just sit in the silence together. ->CHAP8-MURMURSILENCE]]

Shaking my head, I try to ignore them. I’m not really in the best of moods at the moment, so chatting is the very last thing I want to do right now. I turn around, before sitting on the steps- hanging my head down to try and relieve the last stretch of my headache. Murmur is so silent that I think they leave for a second before they gingerly sit themselves down on the step beside me without a word. Seeming content to just sit with me for a while, Murmur steeples their hands underneath their chin, their eyes closing as if they intend to take a quick nap or something. They’ll probably stay with me until I’m ready to head back to the room… But I’m not entirely ready to head back yet- I still need some time. ---- [[Lay my head on their shoulder. ->CHAP8-MURMURSHOULDER]] ---- [[Lay my head on their shoulder. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-MURMURFLIRT]] ---- [[Hold their hand. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-MURMURFLIRT2]] ---- [[Just sit in the silence together. ->CHAP8-MURMURSILENCE]]

I suddenly feel exhausted… It’s been a long, emotional day for me, so it makes sense. My eyes travel to Murmur, who is sitting eerily still, eyes closed. They didn’t need to come and see if I was alright, but they did… Something about that makes me feel light and airy- a good sensation to have after not feeling alright for so long. Sighing, I slowly rest my head on their shoulder, waiting to see if they pull away or something. Murmur seems to startle a bit, but after realizing what is happening, they lean into me a bit more. “You don’t need to prove anything to anyone, $Name.” They whisper. I’m unsure why they do, but it makes me feel a lot better all the same. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-12]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 3, 0, 80)>>

I suddenly feel exhausted… It’s been a long, emotional day for me, so it makes sense. My eyes travel to Murmur, who is sitting eerily still, eyes closed. They didn’t need to come and see if I was alright, but they did… Something about that makes me blush, my chest filling up with warmth as well- a good sensation to have after not feeling alright for so long. Sighing, I slowly rest my head on their shoulder, waiting to see if they pull away or something. Murmur seems to startle a bit, but after realizing what is happening, they lean into me a bit more. “You don’t need to prove anything to anyone, $Name.” They whisper. I’m unsure why they do, but it makes me feel a lot better all the same. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-12]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 3, 0, 80)>><<set $Murmur_Love to Math.clamp($Murmur_Love + 3, 0, 10)>>

I suddenly feel exhausted… It’s been a long, emotional day for me, so it makes sense. My eyes travel to Murmur, who is sitting eerily still, eyes closed. They didn’t need to come and see if I was alright, but they did… Something about that makes me blush, my chest filling up with warmth as well- a good sensation to have after not feeling alright for so long. Slowly and carefully, I slip my fingers in between their hands, separating them so I can grab one with my own. Their eyes blink open, surprised, before they train their intense stare on me… but they make no move to let go of my hand. “You don’t need to prove anything to anyone, $Name.” They whisper. I’m unsure why they do, but it makes me feel a lot better all the same. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-12]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 3, 0, 80)>><<set $Murmur_Love to Math.clamp($Murmur_Love + 3, 0, 10)>>

I suddenly feel exhausted… It’s been a long, emotional day for me, so it makes sense. My eyes travel to Murmur, who is sitting eerily still, eyes closed. They didn’t need to come and see if I was alright, but they did… It confuses me a bit, but it’s not like they’re annoying me or anything. Sighing, I lean forward and rest my head in my hands. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-12]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 1, 0, 80)>>

Although I know they won’t believe me, I shake my head. I can’t tell them what’s really happening, not about the voice… not now when everyone is already so on edge around me. “I just… Had a really bad headache, and it was too much for me to be inside that room.” Dani watches me for a moment, before nodding their head. They don’t seem to want to push me for a real answer. Sighing, they sit on the step beside me. They look up at me for a second, before sighing once more. “C’mon, devil, sit with me for a second.” Without much else to do, I do as Dani says and sit on the step beside them. “You don’t…” Dani has a hard time looking at me; their dark eyes roam the stairway instead. Clearing their throat, they try to speak again, “You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to. We can just sit here until you feel better, and then we can head back, ok?” Nodding at them, I know I’m not entirely ready to head back yet- I still need some time. ---- [[Lay my head on their shoulder. ->CHAP8-DANISHOULDER]] ---- [[Lay my head on their shoulder. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-DANIFLIRT]] ---- [[Hold their hand. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-DANIFLIRT22]] ---- [[Just sit in the silence together. ->CHAP8-DANISILENCE]]

Sighing, they sit on the step beside me. They look up at me for a second, before sighing once more. “C’mon, devil, sit with me for a second.” Without much else to do, I do as Dani says and sit on the step beside them. “You don’t…” Dani has a hard time looking at me; their dark eyes roam the stairway instead. Clearing their throat, they try to speak again, “You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to. We can just sit here until you feel better, and then we can head back, ok?” Nodding at them, I know I’m not entirely ready to head back yet- I still need some time. ---- [[Lay my head on their shoulder. ->CHAP8-DANISHOULDER]] ---- [[Lay my head on their shoulder. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-DANIFLIRT]] ---- [[Hold their hand. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-DANIFLIRT22]] ---- [[Just sit in the silence together. ->CHAP8-DANISILENCE]]

“You don’t…” Dani has a hard time looking at me; their dark eyes roam the stairway instead. Clearing their throat, they try to speak again, “You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to. We can just sit here until you feel better, and then we can head back, ok?” Nodding at them, I know I’m not entirely ready to head back yet- I still need some time. ---- [[Lay my head on their shoulder. ->CHAP8-DANISHOULDER]] ---- [[Lay my head on their shoulder. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-DANIFLIRT]] ---- [[Hold their hand. [Flirt] ->CHAP8-DANIFLIRT22]] ---- [[Just sit in the silence together. ->CHAP8-DANISILENCE]]

I suddenly feel exhausted… It’s been a long, emotional day for me, so it makes sense. My eyes travel to Dani, trying their hardest not to look in my direction for some reason. They didn’t need to come and see if I was alright, but they did… Something about that makes me feel light and airy- a good sensation to have after not feeling alright for so long. Sighing, I slowly rest my head on their shoulder, waiting to see if they pull away or something. The angel tenses up for a second before they hesitantly rest their arm along my shoulders. “I’m on your side, $Name…” They whisper, so quietly that I nearly miss what they say, despite being right beside them. I’m unsure why they say this, but it makes me feel a lot better all the same. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-12]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 3, 0, 80)>>

I suddenly feel exhausted… It’s been a long, emotional day for me, so it makes sense. My eyes travel to Dani, trying their hardest not to look in my direction for some reason. They didn’t need to come and see if I was alright, but they did… Something about that makes me blush, my chest filling up with warmth as well- a good sensation to have after not feeling alright for so long. Sighing, I slowly rest my head on their shoulder, waiting to see if they pull away or something. The angel tenses up for a second before they hesitantly rest their arm along my shoulders. “I’m on your side, $Name…” They whisper, so quietly that I nearly miss what they say, despite being right beside them. I’m unsure why they say this, but it makes me feel a lot better all the same. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-12]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 3, 0, 80)>><<set $Dani_Love to Math.clamp($Dani_Love + 2, 0, 20)>>

I suddenly feel exhausted… It’s been a long, emotional day for me, so it makes sense. My eyes travel to Dani, trying their hardest not to look in my direction for some reason. They didn’t need to come and see if I was alright, but they did… It confuses me a bit, but it’s not like they’re annoying me or anything. Sighing, I lean forward and rest my head in my hands. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-12]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 1, 0, 80)>>

I suddenly feel exhausted… It’s been a long, emotional day for me, so it makes sense. My eyes travel to Dani, trying their hardest not to look in my direction for some reason. They didn’t need to come and see if I was alright, but they did… Something about that makes me blush, my chest filling up with warmth as well- a good sensation to have after not feeling alright for so long. Slowly and carefully, I grab onto their hand and intertwine our fingers. Dani takes a quick intake of breath, like a gasp, before they relax a bit more and squeeze my hand. “I’m on your side, $Name…” They whisper, so quietly that I nearly miss what they say, despite being right beside them. I’m unsure why they say this, but it makes me feel a lot better all the same. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-12]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 3, 0, 80)>><<set $Dani_Love to Math.clamp($Dani_Love + 2, 0, 20)>>

“Great. Now that that’s all settled, we need to come up with a plan.” Dani nods, perching on the end of the bed, their dark eyes flicking between everyone in the room. “I think it’s safe to assume that if you were at the hotel, the angels would probably think you’re working with $Name. But, I doubt they’d try to harm you mortals in any way...” “I would assume the same thing.” Murmur speaks up, steepling their fingers under their chin in thought. “It’s both safer and more dangerous to be together, then.” Sighing, Murmur pouts their lips as they get lost in thought. Will speaks up next saying, “Well, what if we just… kept moving around? If we stay in the same place for too long, then the chances that the angels could find us are a lot greater, right?” “What do you mean? Like, just get in a car and drive until the ‘check engine’ lights come on?” Dani’s eyebrows furrow, but they don’t sound like they particularly hate that plan. Nodding, Will gives Dani a smirk as he says, “I was thinking more… ‘cross-country’ road trip. If we keep jumping around to different places and keep the angels guessing, they’ll have a harder time pinpointing $Name’s location. It’ll give us some time to think of a better plan on how we’ll get them off $Name’s ass for good, too.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP8-14]]

The room falls quiet for a second as we all take in this plan before Dani gives a small chuckle. It’s more of a weird exhale, but when I look at their face, I notice the smirk they give Will. “I’m so sure it’ll be that easy.” I open my mouth to give my thoughts on the plan, but a yawn escapes me instead. It catches everyone’s attention, their gazes all falling on me in an instant, making me a bit self-conscious. “For now, let's get some sleep,” Will announces, giving me a lopsided grin as he begins to rifle through his bag. “Tomorrow, I have a little surprise for $Name before we head back to New York.” “Surprise?” I ask, confused. “Yes- a big one.” Will laughs at my expression before he says, “Trust me, it’ll be fun.” At this, the room slowly disperses as we all start getting ready for the night. I get dressed in my pajamas, before slowly crawling into the bed I had napped on earlier. I make sure Camio is still sleeping soundly, nesting in my rolled up sweatshirt, before getting comfortable. Despite having napped for a few hours, I’m still exhausted, and almost as soon as my head hits the pillow, I’m asleep. But one random thought bubbles to the surface of my mind before I fall unconscious- something that seems so innocuous and unimportant… //Do demons even need to sleep?// !CHAPTER EIGHT END… ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-1]]

!CHAPTER NINE ---- !!!THE NEXT MORNING… Will returns to his car, handing me a water bottle and a bag filled with… “Gummy worms?” I ask him, holding up the offending plastic that houses multi-colored gummy worms. Giving me a lopsided grin, Will shrugs. “I felt like eating something sweet. Plus, we’re gonna’ need all the energy we can get for our plans today.” Nodding, I give him his bag of candy, watching as he rips into it quickly and puts one in his mouth. Then, he picks one up and holds it out to me, raising his eyebrows at me in question. ---- [[Try a gummy worm. ->CHAP9-TRYWORM]] ---- [[No, I don’t want a gummy worm. ->CHAP9-NOGUMMY]] ---- [[Ask him what the surprise is. ->CHAP9-2]]

Curiously, I take the candy and drop it into my mouth. It’s a little chewy, but otherwise… “It just tastes like… well, I don’t think it’s supposed to taste like //that//.” I can feel my nose scrunch up before I take a sip of water to wash away the taste in my mouth. Will falls back into his seat, a hand over his heart as he makes a scoffing-like sound. “What a sad life you live, unable to enjoy gummy worms.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-2]]

Shaking my head, I say, “No thank you.” Shrugging, Will plops the worm into his mouth. “More for me then.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-2]]

“So, what exactly are we doing today?” I try to change the subject, watching him closely as he starts to pull out of the gas station parking lot. “You’re just going to have to wait and se-e!” He sing-songs, his grin turning into a smirk. We drive for about ten minutes, before he points out the window, bringing my attention to… A rollercoaster? “What is that?” I search my brain, the word for what I’m seeing somewhere deep within my foggy brain. Suddenly, it comes to me and I gasp. “An amusement park? Is that where we’re going?” “Yep.” Will chuckles as he pulls into the parking lot. We find Anya’s car parked near the edge of the parking lot- Murmur and Dani stand near the back, obviously waiting for our arrival. “So, we’re going to just… hang out in an amusement park for the day?” I ask as Will parks the car. He searches my gaze, his worried eyebrows upturned as if he didn’t expect me to ask any questions. “Yeah… Is that alright?” ---- [[Smile at him- I’m excited! ->CHAP9-EXCITED]] ---- [[Nod my head. This seems fun enough. ->CHAP9-NODHEAD]] ---- [[I’m a little worried, but… This should be fine. ->CHAP9-WORRY]] ---- [[Shrug. I don’t really care. ->CHAP9-NOCARE]]

I can feel the smile grow as I struggle to undo my seatbelt, the excitement building in my chest. “Yes! I’m so excited! I’ve never been to an amusement park before.” Will’s smile becomes a bit sad for a second before he shakes his head as if to clear it of his thoughts. “Well, good. Let's get going then.” As we step out of the car, the other 3 come up to greet us, differing degrees of what I can only assume is worry or anticipation on each of their faces. “We’ll need to grab our sweatshirts just in case we’re still here when it gets dark out. It’s supposed to get cold.” Will says as he walks to the trunk of his car and quickly opens it to look around in our bags. As I pass by the back window, I look at Camio curled up in one of my sweatshirts in the backseat, sleeping soundly. He seems to need a lot of rest, and it must be because so much of his body was damaged by the angel looking for me. “Will he be ok out here by himself?” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-3]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>><<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>><<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>><<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

I nod my head, and something like… //excitement// rushes through my chest for a second as I say, “Yeah. I’ve never been to an amusement park before, so I’m curious what it’s like…” Will’s smile becomes a bit sad for a second before he shakes his head as if to clear it of his thoughts. “Well, good. Let's get going then.” As we step out of the car, the other 3 come up to greet us, differing degrees of what I can only assume is worry or anticipation on each of their faces. “We’ll need to grab our sweatshirts just in case we’re still here when it gets dark out. It’s supposed to get cold.” Will says as he walks to the trunk of his car and quickly opens it to look around in our bags. As I pass by the back window, I look at Camio curled up in one of my sweatshirts in the backseat, sleeping soundly. He seems to need a lot of rest, and it must be because so much of his body was damaged by the angel looking for me. “Will he be ok out here by himself?” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-3]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>><<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>><<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>><<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

I look out the window towards the front entrance of the park, worry circulating in my chest. “Will it be… Will it be ok to just hang out for the day?” Will’s smile becomes a bit sad for a second before he nods his head. “It’ll be alright, I promise.” As we step out of the car, the other 3 come up to greet us, differing degrees of what I can only assume is worry or anticipation on each of their faces. “We’ll need to grab our sweatshirts just in case we’re still here when it gets dark out. It’s supposed to get cold.” Will says as he walks to the trunk of his car and quickly opens it to look around in our bags. As I pass by the back window, I look at Camio curled up in one of my sweatshirts in the backseat, sleeping soundly. He seems to need a lot of rest, and it must be because so much of his body was damaged by the angel looking for me. “Will he be ok out here by himself?” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-3]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 1, 0, 80)>><<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 1, 0, 80)>><<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 1, 0, 80)>><<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 1, 0, 80)>>

I shrug, not really caring what we do one way or the other. Will blinks, before nodding his head. “Right…” As we step out of the car, the other 3 come up to greet us, differing degrees of what I can only assume is worry or anticipation on each of their faces. “We’ll need to grab our sweatshirts just in case we’re still here when it gets dark out. It’s supposed to get cold.” Will says as he walks to the trunk of his car and quickly opens it to look around in our bags. As I pass by the back window, I look at Camio curled up in one of my sweatshirts in the backseat, sleeping soundly. He seems to need a lot of rest, and it must be because so much of his body was damaged by the angel looking for me. “Will he be ok out here by himself?” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-3]]

“I’m sure he’ll be fine.” Murmur’s soft voice speaks up, catching my attention. They nod their head at me as they say, “He’ll more than likely just sleep the whole time.” Nodding, I come around to help Will when something in the back of his trunk catches my attention suddenly. I grab the black bag, the label on the front saying “Polaroid”. Curiously, I hold the bag up to him, asking, ”What is this?” “Oh, that’s my Polaroid camera. I thought the photos looked cool, but I haven’t really used it all that much.” Will takes the bag and pulls the camera out, showing it to me. Then, he shuffles through the few photos he took, showing them off to me before he grins and says, “Hey, why don’t you take the camera?” I look at him, surprised, before I look down at the camera in my hands. “Are you sure?” Before answering me, Will takes the strap of the camera bag and gently places it over my head. “Yeah, I’m sure. You need some new, fun memories anyway.” ---- [[Thank him. ->CHAP9-THANKWILL]] ---- [[Blush at the soft smile he’s giving me… [Flirt] ->CHAP9-WILLFLIRT1]] ---- [[Just nod my head at him. ->CHAP9-JUSTNOD]]

“Thank you, Will.” I smile at him, my fingers running along the camera. This seems like a good way to make sure that any new memories I make can’t be taken away from me. “You’re welcome, $Name.” Will’s voice is soft, his smile even softer as he notices me excitedly playing with the camera. “Give it a try- make sure it works fine and all that.” Picking the camera up, I bring it up to my face to look through the viewfinder, watching Will through the little screen as he turns the camera on for me and places my finger on the right button before I quickly snap a picture. “Hey, I wasn’t ready!” He laughs as I pull the camera back down, watching as the picture starts to print through the bottom. “There’s a word for that, right? Candid?” Anya chuckles, coming up to look at the photo with us. “I don’t think it’s candid when he was expecting the picture.” Dani remarks, watching us from a few feet away. Taking the picture, I watch as the image slowly appears, Will’s lopsided grin coming into view. I smile as I safely tuck the photo away in the bag, before looking up at him. “Works just fine.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-4]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

Will’s soft smile makes me feel strange, and I can’t help but stare at him. I can feel the blush on my cheeks, and if I had a working heart, I think it’d be nearly beating my chest black and blue. Suddenly, Will’s smile drops- but he doesn’t look upset or mad. Instead, he looks… surprised. Taking a sharp inhale of a breath, I raise the camera, just to try and ease the sudden tension between us. It isn’t a bad tension, but it’s just… a lot. Bringing the camera to my face, I look through the viewfinder, watching Will snap back to the present as he turns the camera on and places my fingers on the right button. His gentle touch causes me to jump, and I accidentally snap a picture before I even get to think about it. “Hey, I wasn’t ready!” He laughs as I pull the camera back down, watching as the picture starts to print through the bottom. “There’s a word for that, right? Candid?” Anya chuckles, coming up to look at the photo with us. “I don’t think it’s ‘candid’ when he was expecting the picture.” Dani remarks, watching us from a few feet away. Taking the picture, I watch as the image slowly appears, Will’s eyes sparkling in the picture as he stares at me. I smile as I safely tuck the photo away in the bag, before looking up at him. “Works just fine.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-4]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 3, 0, 80)>><<set $Will_Love to Math.clamp($Will_Love + 2, 0, 20)>>

I nod my head at him, bringing the camera up to look through the viewfinder. Through the little screen, I see Will reach out and turn the camera on for me before placing my finger on the right button. I snap a picture, making sure it works just fine. “Hey, I wasn’t ready!” He laughs as I pull the camera back down, watching as the picture starts to print through the bottom. “There’s a word for that, right? Candid?” Anya chuckles, coming up to look at the photo with us. “I don’t think it’s candid when he was expecting the picture.” Dani remarks, watching us from a few feet away. Taking the picture, I watch as the image slowly appears, Will’s lopsided grin coming into view. I safely tuck the photo away in the bag, before looking up at him. “Works just fine.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-4]]

“Alright,” Will hands me one of my sweatshirts, before putting on one of his jackets, “Let's go!” The five of us make our way to the line at the entrance, where Murmur and Dani just disappear- apparently waiting for us on the other end. It doesn’t take more than ten minutes to get through with our wristbands, though. As we step into the park, I take in the scene with curiosity. There’s a sweet smell hanging in the air, screams of joy floating in from the distance, and many people running about with excitement. Will points to different directions, ultimately giving me my options for what to do. “There are rides, vendors, and games. Where do you want to go first?” I look in each direction slowly; looking at the games with their flashy lights, at how fast the rides are spinning, at how many different vendors there are in the line… ---- [[Go to the rides first. ->CHAP9-RIDESFIRST]] ---- [[Go to the games first. ->CHAP9-GAMESFIRST]] ---- [[Go to the vendors first. ->CHAP9-VENDORSFIRST]]

Heading down to the rides, I get a bit overwhelmed with the amount there are and how fast some of them spin. Will must sense my hesitance, because he gets my attention with a gentle tap on the shoulder and smiles at me as he says, “Let's start with something simple. How about a big slide?” Nodding, I let Will lead me to… exactly what he had said; A big slide. I stare up at it, realizing it must be at //least// sixty feet off the ground… But when a few kids slide down to the bottom, wide smiles and cheers leaving them, I know that I can do this. Turning to the others, they all look at me expectantly. Are they just going to watch while I have all the fun by myself? ---- [[Take Will with me. ->CHAP9-TAKEWILL]] ---- [[Take Anya with me. ->CHAP9-TAKEANYA]] ---- [[Take Murmur with me. ->CHAP9-TAKEMURMUR]] ---- [[Take Dani with me. ->CHAP9-TAKEDANI]] ---- [[Fine, I’ll go by myself. ->CHAP9-TAKESELF]]

The section of the park that houses the rows of games is loud- children scream and laugh as they try to win prizes, pop music blares through speakers, and occasionally a loud //’bang’// or //’pop’// reverberates against my skull. ---- [[I don’t like it very much… ->CHAP9-DONTLIKE]] ---- [[I’m fine with the noise, and look around without a problem. ->CHAP9-FINWITH]] ---- [[I’m too excited to care about the noise, bouncing around to try and find a game to play. ->CHAP9-EXCITEDPLAY]]

We head towards the many tents that cover the different vendors, walking down aisles full of people. My eyes scan through the shops, stopping to admire a piece of art or to stare at anything that confuses me. It isn’t until we start nearing the end of the tents do we find something we feel is worth checking out. Sitting in a secluded corner of the park is a black and gold tent, ominously different than the other plain white tents that sit around it. The black chalkboard sign out front simply just says “Fortune-Teller: With Special Guest ‘Spirit Medium Katrina Devuni’” in perfect capital letters. “Oh, it’s been a long time since I’ve had a tarot reading!” Anya says a little breathlessly, an excited glint in her eye as she turns to me. Will grimaces a bit before he shrugs. “Alright, let's go get a tarot reading.” We enter the tent, surprised that it looks a lot more spacious on the inside than it did on the outside. There are macabre decorations all around the tent- insect specimens in shadowboxes, creepy vintage paintings, and a lot of fairy lights. There also seems to be a strange earthy scent that hangs in the air, something starkly different than the cotton candy and popcorn scent from outside the tent. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-VENDORSFIRST2]]

I grab Will’s hand, watching his expression shift from surprise to a big, dopey smile as we start to head up the stairs to the top. Once at the top, the ride attendant hands me a long piece of soft fabric, before she notices Will and I holding hands. “Are you two going down together, or separate?” Will looks at me, waiting to see what I’ll say. ---- [[“Separate.” ->CHAP9-SEPARATE]] ---- [[“Together.” ->CHAP9-TOGETHER]] ---- [[“Together?” [Flirt] ->CHAP9-WILLFLIRT2]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

I grab Anya’s hand, watching her expression shift from surprise to a small, shy smile as we start to head up the stairs to the top. Once at the top, the ride attendant hands me a long piece of soft fabric, before she notices Anya and I holding hands. “Are you two going down together, or separate?” Anya looks at me, waiting to see what I’ll say. ---- [[“Separate.” ->CHAP9-SEPARATE2]] ---- [[“Together.” ->CHAP9-TOGETHER2]] ---- [[“Together?” [Flirt] ->CHAP9-ANYAFLIRT1]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

I grab Murmur’s hand, watching their expression shift from slight surprise back to its normal blank slate as we start to head up the stairs to the top. Once at the top, the ride attendant hands me a long piece of soft fabric, before going on to help some kids get seated on the slide. I look at Murmur, who asks, “Are we going down together, or separate?” ---- [[“Separate.” ->CHAP9-SEPARATE3]] ---- [[“Together.” ->CHAP9-TOGETHER3]] ---- [[“Together?” [Flirt] ->CHAP9-MURMURFLIRT1]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

I grab Dani’s hand, watching their expression shift from slight surprise to confusion as we start to head up the stairs to the top. Once at the top, the ride attendant hands me a long piece of soft fabric, before going on to help some kids get seated on the slide. I look at Dani, who asks, “Are we going down together, or separate?” ---- [[“Separate.” ->CHAP9-SEPARATE4]] ---- [[“Together.” ->CHAP9-TOGETHER4]] ---- [[“Together?” [Flirt] ->CHAP9-DANIFLIRT1]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

I race to the top of the slide, waiting until the attendant comes over and hands me a long piece of cloth. I look down at it, confused until I watch a kid sit down on it on the slide. Suddenly understanding, I swiftly climb onto one of the slides with the cloth underneath me and take a deep breath before I //push// myself down the slide. I accelerate very quickly, the bumps I go over doing nothing to stop the momentum until I’m sure that I’m never going to stop- But I eventually do, looking at my friends <<cycle "reaction1 autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression."<</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED]]

“Separate,” I tell the woman quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Will quickly sits down on the slide next to mine, giving me a wide smile as he says, “Race you to the bottom- Three, two, one, //go!//” Before he suddenly pushes himself and he starts to slide. I’m not even able to say anything, I just push myself and start to slide right after him- somehow catching up on the second big bump in the slides. When I finally slow to a stop, Will stopping soon after me, I turn to him <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

“Together,” I tell the woman quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Will quickly sits down behind me, giving me a wide smile when I turn a bit to look at him. “Are you ready? Three, two, one, //go!//” I’m not even able to say anything as he pushes us both down the slide, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Will <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>>

“Together?”I can’t help but ask, looking at Will with what I hope //isn’t// concern. “Yeah, you sit-” The worker explains, waiting for me to do so before saying, “-And he sits behind you.” Will quickly sits down behind me, pressing up against my back. He watches my expression carefully, waiting to see if I’ll pull away or decide to go on my own, but that’s far from what is on my mind right now. Not when he’s so //warm// and //solid// behind me- not when I’m unsure if I ever want him to leave from this exact spot. Putting one of his hands on my hip, he leans in and whispers, “Ready?” And before I can even understand what he’s asking, he pushes with his other hand and we suddenly go sliding, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Will <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>> <<set $Will_Love to Math.clamp($Will_Love + 4, 0, 20)>>

“I liked it. A lot!” I smile at all four of them, before excitedly looking around at all the other rides we haven’t tried yet. “Let’s go ride something else now!” We walk through the ride section of the park, going on some that catch my eye or Will and Anya want to try. It turns out that Dani loves rollercoasters, but Murmur… Well, it’s safe to say that we now know that demons can, in fact, get motion sickness just like mortals can. As we get into the line for a ride that has giant seats painted to look like whales or something similar. They spin round and round and //round//, and as we watch them move, Murmur starts to look a lot paler than they normally do. “I’ll take Murmur and go find somewhere to rest. We’ll find you when the ride is done.” Anya offers, taking pity on the poor nauseous demon. I nod at them as they walk away before I’m pulled onto the ride by Will and Dani. Once seated, I realize there’s a wheel in the middle of us, and Will explains that we can use it to spin faster. Dani smirks at us, obviously intending on spinning us until we can’t see straight- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-RIDESFIRST2]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 3, 0, 80)>><<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 3, 0, 80)>><<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 3, 0, 80)>><<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 3, 0, 80)>>

“Let’s go again!” I excitedly say before running up the stairs again, earning a few laughs and smiles from the group. I go down the slide a few more times before I excitedly look around at all the other rides we haven’t tried yet. “Let’s go ride something else now!” We walk through the ride section of the park, going on some that catch my eye or Will and Anya want to try. It turns out that Dani loves rollercoasters, but Murmur… Well, it’s safe to say that we now know that demons can, in fact, get motion sickness just like mortals can. As we get into the line for a ride that has giant seats painted to look like whales or something similar. They spin round and round and //round//, and as we watch them move, Murmur starts to look a lot paler than they normally do. “I’ll take Murmur and go find somewhere to rest. We’ll find you when the ride is done.” Anya offers, taking pity on the poor nauseous demon. I nod at them as they walk away before I’m pulled onto the ride by Will and Dani. Once seated, I realize there’s a wheel in the middle of us, and Will explains that we can use it to spin faster. Dani smirks at us, obviously intending on spinning us until we can’t see straight- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-RIDESFIRST2]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>><<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>><<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>><<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>>

“It was fine.” I nod my head, earning a mix of concerned and confused looks from the groups. “Alright, well… Maybe something else will excite you more?” Will asks, motioning towards all the other rides we haven’t tried yet. We walk through the ride section of the park, going on some that catch my eye or Will and Anya want to try. It turns out that Dani loves rollercoasters, but Murmur… Well, it’s safe to say that we now know that demons can, in fact, get motion sickness just like mortals can. As we get into the line for a ride that has giant seats painted to look like whales or something similar. They spin round and round and //round//, and as we watch them move, Murmur starts to look a lot paler than they normally do. “I’ll take Murmur and go find somewhere to rest. We’ll find you when the ride is done.” Anya offers, taking pity on the poor nauseous demon. I nod at them as they walk away before I’m pulled onto the ride by Will and Dani. Once seated, I realize there’s a wheel in the middle of us, and Will explains that we can use it to spin faster. Dani smirks at us, obviously intending on spinning us until we can’t see straight- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-RIDESFIRST2]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 1, 0, 80)>><<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 1, 0, 80)>><<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 1, 0, 80)>><<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 1, 0, 80)>>

I shrug, not really impressed with the slide- not really impressed with this whole park, actually. “Alright, well… Maybe something else will excite you more?” Will asks, motioning towards all the other rides we haven’t tried yet. We walk through the ride section of the park, going on some that catch my eye or Will and Anya want to try. It turns out that Dani loves rollercoasters, but Murmur… Well, it’s safe to say that we now know that demons can, in fact, get motion sickness just like mortals can. As we get into the line for a ride that has giant seats painted to look like whales or something similar. They spin round and round and //round//, and as we watch them move, Murmur starts to look a lot paler than they normally do. “I’ll take Murmur and go find somewhere to rest. We’ll find you when the ride is done.” Anya offers, taking pity on the poor nauseous demon. I nod at them as they walk away before I’m pulled onto the ride by Will and Dani. Once seated, I realize there’s a wheel in the middle of us, and Will explains that we can use it to spin faster. Dani smirks at us, obviously intending on spinning us until we can’t see straight- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-RIDESFIRST2]]

And as soon as the ride starts moving, the angel starts spinning the wheel as fast as they possibly can. The wind whips through the car, blowing our hair and clothes around wildly- I can hear screams from other passengers in their cars, and can hear Will laughing loudly as he helps Dani spin the car //faster//- Before I realize that something feels //wrong//… My body tenses up a bit, assuming it means that the weird voice in my head is coming back, but it remains ominously silent. My gaze flickers from Dani to Will, to outside the car- Where I see a woman staring right at me for just a brief second, so brief that I can’t take in any real details about her. I’m not even sure how I knew it was a woman, but the one thing I know for //sure// is that she was staring right at //me//. Gaze unwavering, I stare out the car, seeing the blurry colors and shapes of the crowd outside of the ride’s barriers, trying to see her again. The ride goes around a few more times before it starts to slow to a stop, and vaguely I’m aware of Dani and Will laughing and speaking to me, but I can’t understand what they’re saying… Not when I’m still trying to find the woman. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-RIDESFIRST3]]

“Together,” I tell the woman quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Anya quickly sits down behind me, giving me a small smile when I turn a bit to look at her. “Are you ready?” I give her a nod and she pushes us both down the slide, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Anya <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>>

“Separate,” I tell the woman quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Anya sits down on the slide beside me, giving me another small smile, her light brown eyes sparkling a bit in the sunlight. Nodding her head, she asks, “Ready?” Nodding my head, we both count to three before pushing off- picking up speed quickly until I feel like we’re never going to stop sliding. But Anya and I do eventually slow to a stop at the bottom. We turn to each other where she gives me a chuckle and wide smile, and I look at her <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

“Together?”I can’t help but ask, looking at Anya with what I hope //isn’t// concern. “Yeah, you sit-” The worker explains, waiting for me to do so before saying, “-And she sits behind you.” Anya carefully sits down behind me, pressing up against my back. She watches my expression carefully, waiting to see if I’ll pull away or decide to go on my own, but that’s far from what is on my mind right now. Not when she’s so //warm// and //solid// behind me- not when I’m unsure if I ever want her to leave from this exact spot. Leaning forward a bit so her chin rests on my shoulder, she whispers, “Ready?” And before I can even understand what she’s asking, she pushes us so we suddenly go sliding, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Anya <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>><<set $Anya_Love to Math.clamp($Anya_Love + 4, 0, 20)>>

“Separate,” I the other demon quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Murmur sits down on the slide beside me, watching me closely, before they nod and push themselves down the slide. Blinking a bit in surprise, I push myself off as well and we both start picking up speed quickly until I feel like we’re never going to stop sliding. But Murmur and I do eventually slow to a stop at the bottom. We turn to each other where they give me a soft look and I look at them <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

“Together,” I tell them quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Murmur quickly sits down behind me, watching me closely for a second before asking, “Are you ready?” I give them a nod and they push us both down the slide, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Murmur <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>>

“Together?”I can’t help but ask, looking at them with what I hope //isn’t// concern. “Yes, I’ll show you. Sit down, if you will.” Murmur motions towards the slide, where I sit down quickly. Then, Murmur carefully sits down behind me, pressing up against my back. They watch my expression carefully, waiting to see if I’ll pull away or decide to go on my own, but that’s far from what is on my mind right now. Not when they’re so //solid// behind me- not when I’m unsure if I ever want them to leave from this exact spot. Resting both of their hands on my shoulders, Murmur leans impossibly closer and whispers, “Ready?” And before I can even understand what they’re asking, they push us so we suddenly go sliding, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Murmur <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>><<set $Murmur_Love to Math.clamp($Murmur_Love + 4, 0, 20)>>

“Separate,” I the angel quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Dani gingerly sits down on the slide beside me, watching me closely, before they nod and push themselves down the slide. Blinking a bit in surprise, I push myself off as well and we both start picking up speed quickly until I feel like we’re never going to stop sliding. But Dani and I do eventually slow to a stop at the bottom. We turn to each other where they give me a smirk, and I look at them <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

“Together,” I tell them quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Dani gingerly sits down behind me, like they are heavily debating not sliding with me, before asking, “Are you ready?” I give them a nod and they push us both down the slide, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Dani <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>>

“Together?”I can’t help but ask, looking at them with what I hope //isn’t// concern. “Yeah. Sit down and I’ll get behind you.” They nod towards the slide, their tone a bit strained, making it seem like they’re annoyed. I carefully sit down, unsure what to make of Dani’s reaction, when they carefully sit down behind me, pressing up against my back. They watch my expression carefully, waiting to see if I’ll pull away or decide to go on my own, but that’s far from what is on my mind right now. Not when they’re so //solid// behind me- not when I’m unsure if I ever want them to leave from this exact spot. A smirk suddenly grows on Dani’s face as they lean forward a bit, pressing even further into me, whispering, “Are you ready?” And before I can even understand what they’re asking, they push us so we suddenly go sliding, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Dani <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>><<set $Dani_Love to Math.clamp($Dani_Love + 4, 0, 20)>>

Once the little gate to our car opens up, I stand up quickly and exit the ride, scanning the crowd for any sign of the strange woman. She’s nowhere to be found, and for a brief second I think that I must have been seeing things, but a small voice in the back of my head tells me that she was //there//- “$Name?” Startling, I turn to face Dani and Will, who watch me with concern. I don’t think I’d be able to explain what I saw, or why it’s bothering me, so I choose the next best thing- deflect and move on. “I think I’m done with rides. I want to do something else now.” I know my voice is a bit shaky, and my nerves are still getting to me, so I can only hope they understand that I just want to leave this area and not ask any questions. Dani opens their mouth, about to speak, but Will beats them to it. “Sure, that’s not a problem. What else do you want to check out?” ---- [[Go play some games. ->CHAP9-GAMES2]] ---- [[Go to the vendors. ->CHAP9-VENDORS2]]

The section of the park that houses the rows of games is loud- children scream and laugh as they try to win prizes, pop music blares through speakers, and occasionally a loud //’bang’// or //’pop’// reverberates against my skull. ---- [[I don’t like it very much… ->CHAP9-DONTLIKE2]] ---- [[I’m fine with the noise, and look around without a problem. ->CHAP9-FINWITH2]] ---- [[I’m too excited to care about the noise, bouncing around to try and find a game to play. ->CHAP9-EXCITEDPLAY2]]

I look around at the crowds of people, startled every time a loud noise goes off near me. I don’t particularly care for the random noises here… “C’mon, let's find a game that isn’t surrounded by people.” Dani surprises me by gently pushing on my shoulder blade, getting me to move through the crowd quickly as we search for a game that isn’t overcrowded and loud. After finding a more empty game near the end of the row, we all gather around the game attendant as he starts to explain the rules. “Whoever can hit the most targets in the least amount of time with this little gun gets a prize.” He pats one of the dangerous-looking dart guns on the bench, gazing between the 3 of us, that he can see, expectantly. Will nods his head, giving the man a quick smile as he sets up three guns. Then, he moves farther down the bench towards a couple who come up to play his game as well. “Who wants to play?” Will looks at me with a twinkle of mischief in his eye. “I’m pretty good at these kinds of games, just to let you all know.” I look at the others in my group, deciding that… ---- [[Anya and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-ANYAPLAY]] ---- [[Dani and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-DANIPLAY]] ---- [[Murmur and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-MURMURPLAY]] ---- [[I don’t want to play, someone else can have at it. ->CHAP9-DONTPLAY]]

I look around at the crowds of people, watching as everyone has a fun time trying to play the games. “C’mon, let’s find a game that isn’t surrounded by people.” Dani surprises me by gently pushing on my shoulder blade, getting me to move through the crowd quickly as we search for a game that isn’t overcrowded. After finding a more empty game near the end of the row, we all gather around the game attendant as he starts to explain the rules. “Whoever can hit the most targets in the least amount of time with this little gun gets a prize.” He pats one of the dangerous-looking dart guns on the bench, gazing between the 3 of us, that he can see, expectantly. Will nods his head, giving the man a quick smile as he sets up three guns. Then, he moves farther down the bench towards a couple who come up to play his game as well. “Who wants to play?” Will looks at me with a twinkle of mischief in his eye. “I’m pretty good at these kinds of games, just to let you all know.” I look at the others in my group, deciding that… ---- [[Anya and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-ANYAPLAY]] ---- [[Dani and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-DANIPLAY]] ---- [[Murmur and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-MURMURPLAY]] ---- [[I don’t want to play, someone else can have at it. ->CHAP9-DONTPLAY]]

I look around at the crowds of people, a smile plastered on my face as their excitement rubs off on me. “C’mon, let’s find a game that isn’t surrounded by people.” Dani surprises me by gently pushing on my shoulder blade, getting me to move through the crowd quickly as we search for a game that isn’t overcrowded. After finding a more empty game near the end of the row, we all gather around the game attendant as he starts to explain the rules. “Whoever can hit the most targets in the least amount of time with this little gun gets a prize.” He pats one of the dangerous-looking dart guns on the bench, gazing between the 3 of us, that he can see, expectantly. Will nods his head, giving the man a quick smile as he sets up three guns. Then, he moves farther down the bench towards a couple who come up to play his game as well. “Who wants to play?” Will looks at me with a twinkle of mischief in his eye. “I’m pretty good at these kinds of games, just to let you all know.” I look at the others in my group, deciding that… ---- [[Anya and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-ANYAPLAY]] ---- [[Dani and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-DANIPLAY]] ---- [[Murmur and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-MURMURPLAY]] ---- [[I don’t want to play, someone else can have at it. ->CHAP9-DONTPLAY]]

I look at Anya, watching her blink in surprise. “Me?” Nodding my head, I turn back towards Will, who gets ready behind one of the guns and waits for Anya and I to get into position. “Alright- ready, set, go!” Will calls out as he lines up his first shot, hitting a dart into a target on his first try. Anya starts to shoot as well, laughing when she misses every single shot, her aim getting worse the more she laughs. ---- [[Aim and shoot carefully. ->CHAP9-SHOOTCAREFULLY]] ---- [[Just quickly shoot all the darts off. ->CHAP9-QUICKLYSHOOT]] ---- [[I’m too busy laughing at Anya and Will to shoot. ->CHAP9-BUSYLAUGHING]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>> <<set $Play to 20>><<set $friend to 20>>

I look at Dani, watching as their mouth forms a smirk. “Are you sure?” Nodding my head, I turn back towards Will, who gets ready behind one of the guns and waits for Dani and I to get into position. “Alright- ready, set, go!” Will calls out as he lines up his first shot, hitting a dart into a target on his first try. Dani starts to shoot as well, focusing immediately and hitting just as many targets as Will is. ---- [[Aim and shoot carefully. ->CHAP9-SHOOTCAREFULLY]] ---- [[Just quickly shoot all the darts off. ->CHAP9-QUICKLYSHOOT]] ---- [[I’m too busy laughing at Dani and Will to shoot. ->CHAP9-BUSYLAUGHING]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>> <<set $Play to 20>><<set $friend to 30>>

I look at Murmur, who seems almost confused that I want them to play with us, but doesn’t refuse the offer. Nodding my head, I turn back towards Will, who gets ready behind one of the guns and waits for Murmur and I to get into position. “Alright- ready, set, go!” Will calls out as he lines up his first shot, hitting a dart into a target on his first try. Murmur starts to shoot as well, eerily good at hitting the targets despite it seeming like they aren’t trying very hard. ---- [[Aim and shoot carefully. ->CHAP9-SHOOTCAREFULLY]] ---- [[Just quickly shoot all the darts off. ->CHAP9-QUICKLYSHOOT]] ---- [[I’m too busy laughing at Murmur and Will to shoot. ->CHAP9-BUSYLAUGHING]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>> <<set $Play to 20>><<set $friend to 10>>

Shaking my head, I motion for someone else to go up and play the game. The others all look at each other in question before Dani steps up and starts to play the game with Will. It becomes apparent after a few rounds that they must both be super competitive- and only egg each other on. “Dang! You’re pretty good…” Will laughs, his intense focus on aiming never letting up, even as he leans into Dani to get them to mess up their shot. “Get away from me!” Dani’s voice holds no actual venom in it, their dark brown eyes twinkling as they push back against the human. Anya chuckles, and even something like a huff of laughter escapes from Murmur as we watch the other two have at it, neck-to-neck on the score. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-GAMESFIRST2]] <<set $Play to 10>>

I carefully aim the gun as carefully as I can, before shooting a dart- it hits the very edge of the target, but I nod my head in determination. I can figure this out- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-GAMESFIRST2]]

I quickly aim the gun and start shooting as quickly as I can. A few of the darts hit the targets, but a lot more seem to miss- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-GAMESFIRST2]]

I let out a laugh at the serious, concentrated faces of <<if $friend >=30>>Dani<<elseif $friend >=20 && $friend <=29>>Anya<<elseif $friend >=10 && $friend <=19>>Murmur<</if>> and Will, unable to stop myself so I can aim my own gun- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-GAMESFIRST2]]

Only for the buzzer to go off, and the guns to stop shooting. The attendant comes back over to us and checks our scores, revealing that Will has won. “You can choose one of these little keychains… Or, if you play and win again, you can win one of these stuffed animals.” The attendant explains, showing the row of prizes that Will can choose from. Will looks at me, silently asking what I want to do. ---- [[I want to move on, so have him choose a keychain. ->CHAP9-MOVEON]] ---- [[Let's play some more! I want to win something too. ->CHAP9-PLAYMORE]] ---- [[Shrugging, I don’t care what we decide to do. ->CHAP9-SHRUGNOCARE]]

“I want to do something else,” I tell him. Watching as he nods and picks out a keychain, I’m surprised when he turns and hands it to me. The keychain depicts a cute little cartoon bear dressed as a devil- little red horns and wings and all. “A souvenir.” He chuckles when I look back up at him, his lopsided grin growing wider as the others look over at the little keychain in my hand. “Oh, //ha ha//.” Dani rolls their eyes, but there’s a hint of amusement behind their eyes. “Very funny.” Our group laughs as we start walking down the line of games. We play through a few more until each of us has a little trinket to take home with us before we decide to finally check out something else the park has to offer. ---- [[We check out the rides next. ->CHAP9-RIDES2]] ---- [[We check out the vendors next. ->CHAP9-VENDORS3]]

Laughing, Will and I play a few more rounds- but I’m unfortunately such a bad aim, that I can’t seem to win anything. When he notices how frustrated I’m getting, Will gently gets my attention after a while, his lopsided grin growing as he says, “Hey, we can come back to this later. Let’s just go do something else, alright?” Nodding, I sadly turn away from the counter, before Will grabs my hand and places something in it. I look down, surprised, to see a little keychain that he had won. It depicts a cute little bear dressed as a devil- little red horns and wings and all. “A souvenir.” He chuckles when I look back up at him, his lopsided grin growing wider as the others look over at the little keychain in my hand. “Oh, //ha ha//.” Dani rolls their eyes, but there’s a hint of amusement behind their eyes. “Very funny.” Our group laughs as we start walking down the line of games. We play through a few more until each of us has a little trinket to take home with us before we decide to finally check out something else the park has to offer. ---- [[We check out the rides next. ->CHAP9-RIDES2]] ---- [[We check out the vendors next. ->CHAP9-VENDORS3]]

I shrug at him, ultimately leaving the choice to him and the others. Will nods and turns to pick out a keychain, and I’m surprised when he turns back and hands it to me. The keychain depicts a cute little cartoon bear dressed as a devil- little red horns and wings and all. “A souvenir.” He chuckles when I look back up at him, his lopsided grin growing wider as the others look over at the little keychain in my hand. “Oh, //ha ha//.” Dani rolls their eyes, but there’s a hint of amusement behind their eyes. “Very funny.” Our group laughs as we start walking down the line of games. We play through a few more until each of us has a little trinket to take home with us before we decide to finally check out something else the park has to offer. ---- [[We check out the rides next. ->CHAP9-RIDES2]] ---- [[We check out the vendors next. ->CHAP9-VENDORS3]]

Heading down to the rides, I get a bit overwhelmed with the amount there are and how fast some of them spin. Will must sense my hesitance, because he gets my attention with a gentle tap on the shoulder and smiles at me as he says, “Let's start with something simple. How about a big slide?” Nodding, I let Will lead me to… exactly what he had said; A big slide. I stare up at it, realizing it must be at //least// sixty feet off the ground… But when a few kids slide down to the bottom, wide smiles and cheers leaving them, I know that I can do this. Turning to the others, they all look at me expectantly. Are they just going to watch while I have all the fun by myself? ---- [[Take Will with me. ->CHAP9-TAKEWILL2]] ---- [[Take Anya with me. ->CHAP9-TAKEANYA2]] ---- [[Take Murmur with me. ->CHAP9-TAKEMURMUR2]] ---- [[Take Dani with me. ->CHAP9-TAKEDANI2]] ---- [[Fine, I’ll go by myself. ->CHAP9-TAKESELF2]]

CHOOSE YOUR PRONOUNS... ---- [[She/her ->CHAP1-SHE/HER]] ---- [[He/him ->CHAP1-HE/HIM]] ---- [[They/them ->CHAP1-THEY/THEM]] ---- [[Input my own. ->CHOOSEPRONOUNS22]]

Your pronouns are she/her. ---- [[NEXT ->PROLOGUE-5]] <<set $g1 to "she">><<set $g2 to "her">><<set $g3 to "her">><<set $g4 to "hers">><<set $g5 to "herself">><<set $g6 to "woman">><<set $g7 to "daughter">><<set $program to 10>>

Your pronouns are he/him. ---- [[NEXT ->PROLOGUE-5]] <<set $g1 to "he">><<set $g2 to "him">><<set $g3 to "his">><<set $g4 to "his">><<set $g5 to "himself">><<set $g6 to "man">><<set $g7 to "son">><<set $program to 10>>

Your pronouns are they/them. ---- [[NEXT ->PROLOGUE-5]] <<set $g1 to "they">><<set $g2 to "them">><<set $g3 to "their">><<set $g4 to "theirs">><<set $g5 to "themself">><<set $g6 to "person">><<set $g7 to "child">><<set $program to 20>>

A round table sits in the middle of the tent, a dark purple and black tablecloth sitting on top of it, little gold moons and stars scattered across the expanse of the cloth. A woman with long black hair and all-black clothes sits on the far side of the table, smirking at us as we all huddle into the tent before she throws her arms out to the side to get our attention. “Please, have a seat!” She has a distinct accent- slightly different from the other accents I’ve heard in New York so far. Patiently, she waits for all of us to have a seat, before she asks, “What can I do for you five fine specimens today?” Will’s eyes widen a bit, surprised that she can see Dani and Murmur. “You can… You can see them?” “Yes, I can.” Her dark, pitch-black eyes flicker between all of us, stopping on Murmur with a strange smile. Murmur’s head tilts to the side as if trying to recall if they have ever met this strange woman. But before they really get a chance to think about it, another person appears in the tent- in a cloud of black smoke. Another demon stands behind the fortune teller, tall and foreboding. He has russet-colored skin, gold-brown eyes, and black hair that is suavely pushed back- and two black horns sprouting out of the crown of his head, almost touching the roof of the tent. He looks at all of us with something like a scowl, but when his eyes land on Murmur, they soften a bit. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-VENDORSFIRST3]]

“Pursan?” Murmur’s head tilts even farther to the side, evidently confused as to the presence of this demon. “Hello, Murmur. I’m surprised to see you here.” Pursan’s voice is deep and quiet, almost too quiet to hear over the loud noises coming from outside the tent. “I’m surprised to see you here as well.” Murmur’s white eyes flicker around the tent, trying to piece together this strange scene. Suddenly, golden-brown eyes center on me, and Pursan’s intense focus starts to make me nervous. “You are… Sin, correct?” He asks me, leaning forward a bit and placing his hands on the back of the fortune teller’s chair. The fortune teller watches me too, but with something like… anxiousness in her eyes. <<if $Namechoice >=10>>“That isn’t my name,” I say, despite the strange looks I’m given by these two. “I’m $Name.” <<elseif $Namechoice >=0 && $Namechoice <=9>> “...Yes…?” I say, despite the strange looks I’m given by these two..<</if>> Pursan’s head tilts to the side a bit, just like Murmur, as they watch me silently for a few seconds. Then, they sigh, a name leaving their lips in an oddly admonishing way, “...Murmur…” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-VENDORSFIRST4]]

Murmur seems to go rigid, their white eyes never leaving the other demon, even when his attention snaps to them. “Would you care to tell me why the spawn is here with //you//, playing games and having fun, when there are orders for their return back to Hell if found?” Something like dread fills my chest as Anya, Will, Dani, and I all turn to Murmur. Despite everyone’s attention being on them, Murmur doesn’t outwardly seem all that bothered. They lean back in their chair, their gaze falling to the floor as they sigh. “I’m not taking $g2 back to Hell. I’m not letting //anyone// take $g2 away from- take $g2 back there.” The other demon that towers over us watches Murmur silently for a few more seconds before another sigh leaves them and their shoulders deflate a bit, seemingly giving up on that thought. “I wasn’t going to make you. Just… Be aware of the consequences if anyone else finds out about this.” Sensing that this conversation has come to a rather tense end, the woman stands up, startling Pursan a bit as she nearly rams her head into his chin. “Anyway, enough about that! You guys came in here for something fun, right? Let’s get started!” We all look at each other, the tense feelings still hanging over our heads. ---- [[Smile at the fortune teller- Let's get some tarot readings. ->CHAP9-SMILEFORTUNE]] ---- [[Nod at the fortune teller- I guess we’re getting tarot readings. ->CHAP9-NODFORTUNE]] ---- [[Look at everyone else, waiting for them to speak up. ->CHAP9-LOOKFORTUNE]]

Smiling at the woman, I say, “We wanted a tarot reading.” Sitting back down, the woman at me before she makes a sweeping gesture across the table, revealing… a stack of tarot cards. <<cycle "$feeling" autoselect>> <<option "My eyes widen in shock, gasping">> <<option "I try to hide my surprise">> <<option "I raise an unimpressed eyebrow">><</cycle>> at the sudden appearance of the cards. “You all have come to the right place. My name… Is Katrina Devuni, a medium from Long Island. I excel in talking with spirits, but I also-” “Wait, wait, wait…” Will looks confused, before he hides his growing grin behind his hand, trying to suppress a laugh. “You’re… You’re ‘The Long Island Medium’?” Katrina doesn’t look bothered by Will’s obvious laughing, her eyes sparkling a bit as she gives him a rather faux sinister smile. “I’m not //the// Long Island Medium. I am //a// Long Island medium.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-VENDORSFIRST5]]

I nod at the woman, saying, “We wanted a tarot reading.” Sitting back down, the woman at me before she makes a sweeping gesture across the table, revealing… a stack of tarot cards. <<cycle "$feeling" autoselect>> <<option "My eyes widen in shock, gasping">> <<option "I try to hide my surprise">> <<option "I raise an unimpressed eyebrow">><</cycle>> at the sudden appearance of the cards. “You all have come to the right place. My name… Is Katrina Devuni, a medium from Long Island. I excel in talking with spirits, but I also-” “Wait, wait, wait…” Will looks confused, before he hides his growing grin behind his hand, trying to suppress a laugh. “You’re… You’re ‘The Long Island Medium’?” Katrina doesn’t look bothered by Will’s obvious laughing, her eyes sparkling a bit as she gives him a rather faux sinister smile. “I’m not //the// Long Island Medium. I am //a// Long Island medium.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-VENDORSFIRST5]]

I look at everyone else, waiting for someone else to speak up and answer her. Surprisingly, Anya does so, looking a bit excited again. “We wanted a tarot reading.” Sitting back down, the woman at me before she makes a sweeping gesture across the table, revealing… a stack of tarot cards. <<cycle "$feeling" autoselect>> <<option "My eyes widen in shock, gasping">> <<option "I try to hide my surprise">> <<option "I raise an unimpressed eyebrow">><</cycle>> at the sudden appearance of the cards. “You all have come to the right place. My name… Is Katrina Devuni, a medium from Long Island. I excel in talking with spirits, but I also-” “Wait, wait, wait…” Will looks confused, before he hides his growing grin behind his hand, trying to suppress a laugh. “You’re… You’re ‘The Long Island Medium’?” Katrina doesn’t look bothered by Will’s obvious laughing, her eyes sparkling a bit as she gives him a rather faux sinister smile. “I’m not //the// Long Island Medium. I am //a// Long Island medium.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-VENDORSFIRST5]]

Before he can say another word, the lights start to flicker around us as Katrina spreads the stack of cards across the table. Her eyes roll back into her head for just a brief second, before she blinks at us, her dark eyes roaming over our faces. For a split second, my eyes travel to Pursan behind her, who watches her with the same soft look he had given to Murmur earlier. I briefly wonder what Katrina and Pursan’s relationship is, but I don’t get to wonder for long before she speaks again. “The spirits are in a rather good mood today.” She smirks, before gathering the cards up and and shuffling them, her fingers covered in rings and jewels. Fanning the cards in her hand, she suddenly waves them in front of Dani’s face. “They want you to go first, angel. Pick a card and put it in the middle of the table.” Dani blinks before they huff and pick a card from somewhere in the middle of the stack, then they throw it in the middle of the table. Katrina waves her hand over it, before deftly flipping it over, revealing… ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-VENDORSFIRST6]]

“The Hanged Man, upright,” Katrina says ominously, her eyes flicking to Dani as if to ascertain their feelings on the card, “you are waiting for judgment, it would seem. You’ve tried to make an independent choice, independent from what you were supposed to do. You feel like everything is spiraling out of your control, and yet all you can do is wait for the moment to pass to regain control. But there is no control to be gained, not from what you are going through. You have gained independence, but at what cost? Use this time to figure out what it is you want, what you truly believe in, who you //are//.” I look at Dani, watching their expression shift so minutely that it barely registers as a change. Their eyebrows furrow, their dark brown eyes trying to stare holes through the fortune teller. They gulp, before sitting back in their chair, obviously done with their reading. Before I have a chance to even //think// about saying anything to them, Katrina gathers the cards up again and shuffles them once more. Her eyes stay on Dani, something like… a guarded worry in them, before her eyes snap to Will and she shoves her hand of cards into his face. Will picks a card from the left, before gently setting it down on the table. Katrina waves her hand over the card again, before flipping it over to reveal… ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-VENDORSFIRST7]]

“Temperance, reversed,” Katrina leans forward, catching Will’s attention, “You are about to give up on yourself. This is your warning to //stop//, think about what you truly want and truly need, and //go for it// before you end up losing yourself to the darkness. You care deeply for others and aspire to be helpful to them, but this comes at the cost of neglecting yourself. Your needs must be met for you to move on and live a fulfilled and happy life. And //do not// be afraid to ask for help. It looks like you are surrounded by people who are willing to help you.” When I take a look at Will, who sits next to me, I find he’s already staring at me. But the expression he’s making is hard to decipher, and I don’t really get a chance to figure it out before Katrina sweeps the cards up and shuffles them again. Next, she moves on to Anya, who smiles when the cards are put in front of her. She picks the card on the very right side before she tosses it into the middle of the table. With the same amount of fanfare as the others, Katrina waves a hand over the card before nimbly flipping it over to reveal… ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-VENDORSFIRST8]]

“The Devil, upright…” I look down at the card, the red devil painted on it bringing back the fading memory of the figure with the red mask from my dream. A chill runs down my spine, and I give Katrina an almost alarmed expression, but she isn’t looking at me as she says, “You need to let out your dark emotions in a more meaningful and safer way. Vices can be great, but just for the short term. You must let yourself //feel// these dark emotions, or otherwise, you will smother them down- until they have no choice but to come back up in volatile, destructive ways.” Anya’s excitement slowly leaves her as she listens to Katrina, her expression becoming more and more nervous. Again, before I’m even able to //think// about what to say, Katrina gathers up the tarot cards and shuffles them, her face suddenly more serious as she looks between all of us. Then, she holds the fanned cards out to Murmur, who looks at them curiously, before picking one from near the center. Once they lay the card on the middle of the table, Katrina waves a hand over it and turns it over to reveal… ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-VENDORSFIRST9]]

“The Moon, reversed…” Katrina nods her head, her eyes focusing on the card, “It means you are deluding yourself about some certain events- you think you are in control of your emotions, but your emotions might just have the upper hand on you. Emotions will reshape and change events, and you cannot trust your thoughts if they are delusions made from emotions. You //must// find a way to balance your emotions and your knowledge, or else you will believe in things that are not true, and your decisions will start to reflect that.” Murmur’s intense gaze never leaves Katrina’s face, listening to her words with rapt attention. I’m unsure how they feel about the reading and still don’t get time to really think about it myself before the cards are suddenly shoved into my face. ---- [[Pick a card from the left. ->CHAP9-PICKLEFT]] ---- [[Pick a card from the center. ->CHAP9-PICKCENTER]] ---- [[Pick a card from the right. ->CHAP9-PICKRIGHT]] ---- [[I don’t want to pick a card. ->CHAP9-NOPICK]]

I pick a card from the left side, pulling it out quickly and placing it in the center of the table- only to realize that I actually picked //two// cards. Smiling, Katrina settles the second card to the right of the first card I put down, saying, “Looks like the spirits want to tell you a few different things today.” With another dramatic wave of her hand, Katrina flips over the card on the left to reveal… “The Fool, reversed.” Katrina’s black eyes flicker up to meet mine across the table, a small glint in her eyes as she continues with the reading. “You are shrouded in doubt about who you really are. You feel //unfinished//, you don’t feel whole yet. It will take some time, but you will eventually carve out your own path and take it. Don’t let any reservations hold you back from the truth.” I blink at her, trying to keep my expression empty. She’s oddly specific, but not specific at all. What does all of this mean, exactly? Before I can think any more on it, she waves her hand over the other card and flips it over revealing… ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-VENDORSFIRST10]]

I pick a card from the center, pulling it out quickly and placing it in the center of the table- only to realize that I actually picked //two// cards. Smiling, Katrina settles the second card to the right of the first card I put down, saying, “Looks like the spirits want to tell you a few different things today.” With another dramatic wave of her hand, Katrina flips over the card on the left to reveal… “The Fool, reversed.” Katrina’s black eyes flicker up to meet mine across the table, a small glint in her eyes as she continues with the reading. “You are shrouded in doubt about who you really are. You feel //unfinished//, you don’t feel whole yet. It will take some time, but you will eventually carve out your own path and take it. Don’t let any reservations hold you back from the truth.” I blink at her, trying to keep my expression empty. She’s oddly specific, but not specific at all. What does all of this mean, exactly? Before I can think any more on it, she waves her hand over the other card and flips it over revealing… ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-VENDORSFIRST10]]

I pick a card from the right side, pulling it out quickly and placing it in the center of the table- only to realize that I actually picked //two// cards. Smiling, Katrina settles the second card to the right of the first card I put down, saying, “Looks like the spirits want to tell you a few different things today.” With another dramatic wave of her hand, Katrina flips over the card on the left to reveal… “The Fool, reversed.” Katrina’s black eyes flicker up to meet mine across the table, a small glint in her eyes as she continues with the reading. “You are shrouded in doubt about who you really are. You feel //unfinished//, you don’t feel whole yet. It will take some time, but you will eventually carve out your own path and take it. Don’t let any reservations hold you back from the truth.” I blink at her, trying to keep my expression empty. She’s oddly specific, but not specific at all. What does all of this mean, exactly? Before I can think any more on it, she waves her hand over the other card and flips it over revealing… ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-VENDORSFIRST10]]

I shake my head, pushing her hand away- only to watch as two cards seem to jump out of the fan, falling almost perfectly in the middle of the table. Smiling, Katrina settles the cards while saying, “Looks like the spirits want to tell you a few different things today.” With another dramatic wave of her hand, Katrina flips over the card on the left to reveal… “The Fool, reversed.” Katrina’s black eyes flicker up to meet mine across the table, a small glint in her eyes as she continues with the reading. “You are shrouded in doubt about who you really are. You feel //unfinished//, you don’t feel whole yet. It will take some time, but you will eventually carve out your own path and take it. Don’t let any reservations hold you back from the truth.” I blink at her, trying to keep my expression empty. She’s oddly specific, but not specific at all. What does all of this mean, exactly? Before I can think any more on it, she waves her hand over the other card and flips it over revealing… ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-VENDORSFIRST10]]

“The…” She suddenly looks nervous again, snatching her hand back from the card. It’s such a sudden shift in her demeanor that Pursan leans forward and looks at the card, his hands resting delicately on her shoulders as if to ground her. “What? What does the card mean?” Will asks, leaning forward to stare at it. I also don’t understand why she’s acting the way she is, even when I take a closer look at the card. There’s a tower with a huge crack in it, and… someone seems to be falling from the tower. But other than that, it just seems like an unassuming card. Clearing her throat, Katrina rights herself in her seat, her eyes watching me carefully. “The Tower, upright. It… This means that disaster is about to strike around you.” A cold chill runs down my spine as we all look at the card. Disaster is about to strike around me…? What exactly does that entail? “Is there any way to stop it?” I ask, my voice nearly silent. “No, it means that… The disaster is already unfolding; you are the sacrifice that either starts it or stops it.” Katrina suddenly looks paler than normal, and she has to lean back against Pursan as if to stop from fainting. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-11]]

“Great acting. I bet you pull this little stunt on all your customers, right?” Dani snarks, but there’s a hint of underlying worry in their tone. Letting out a strangled chuckle, Katrina shakes her head. “Believe it or not, this isn’t an act. I was curious what the cards would say for the spawn of Satan and The Devil, and… I guess I got my answer.” Eyebrows furrowing, I’m about to ask what she means by that when Will suddenly stands up from the table. “We should get going then. Thanks for the readings.” He motions for the rest of us to stand up and leave, and we all do so a little wearily. Before I leave the tent, I look back at the odd couple, finding that they are watching me closely with strange expressions on their faces. “Be careful out there, $Name.” Katrina nods at me, her dark eyes flickering across my face as if searching for some hidden meaning or expression. I nod my head, a little awkwardly, before leaving the tent. We all look at each other, a little awkward- but we are here to have fun, and try not to let this weird experience get us down as we head somewhere else in the park. ---- [[We head to the rides next. ->CHAP9-RIDES3]] ---- [[We head to the games next. ->CHAP9-GAMES3]]

Heading down to the rides, I get a bit overwhelmed with the amount there are and how fast some of them spin. Will must sense my hesitance, because he gets my attention with a gentle tap on the shoulder and smiles at me as he says, “Let's start with something simple. How about a big slide?” Nodding, I let Will lead me to… exactly what he had said; A big slide. I stare up at it, realizing it must be at //least// sixty feet off the ground… But when a few kids slide down to the bottom, wide smiles and cheers leaving them, I know that I can do this. Turning to the others, they all look at me expectantly. Are they just going to watch while I have all the fun by myself? ---- [[Take Will with me. ->CHAP9-TAKEWILL23]] ---- [[Take Anya with me. ->CHAP9-TAKEANYA23]] ---- [[Take Murmur with me. ->CHAP9-TAKEMURMUR23]] ---- [[Take Dani with me. ->CHAP9-TAKEDANI23]] ---- [[Fine, I’ll go by myself. ->CHAP9-TAKESELF23]]

The section of the park that houses the rows of games is loud- children scream and laugh as they try to win prizes, pop music blares through speakers, and occasionally a loud //’bang’// or //’pop’// reverberates against my skull. ---- [[I don’t like it very much… ->CHAP9-DONTLIKE23]] ---- [[I’m fine with the noise, and look around without a problem. ->CHAP9-FINWITH23]] ---- [[I’m too excited to care about the noise, bouncing around to try and find a game to play. ->CHAP9-EXCITEDPLAY23]]

I look around at the crowds of people, startled every time a loud noise goes off near me. I don’t particularly care for the random noises here… “C’mon, let's find a game that isn’t surrounded by people.” Dani surprises me by gently pushing on my shoulder blade, getting me to move through the crowd quickly as we search for a game that isn’t overcrowded and loud. After finding a more empty game near the end of the row, we all gather around the game attendant as he starts to explain the rules. “Whoever can hit the most targets in the least amount of time with this little gun gets a prize.” He pats one of the dangerous-looking dart guns on the bench, gazing between the 3 of us, that he can see, expectantly. Will nods his head, giving the man a quick smile as he sets up three guns. Then, he moves farther down the bench towards a couple who come up to play his game as well. “Who wants to play?” Will looks at me with a twinkle of mischief in his eye. “I’m pretty good at these kinds of games, just to let you all know.” I look at the others in my group, deciding that… ---- [[Anya and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-ANYAPLAY2]] ---- [[Dani and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-DANIPLAY2]] ---- [[Murmur and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-MURMURPLAY2]] ---- [[I don’t want to play, someone else can have at it. ->CHAP9-DONTPLAY2]]

I look around at the crowds of people, watching as everyone has a fun time trying to play the games. “C’mon, let’s find a game that isn’t surrounded by people.” Dani surprises me by gently pushing on my shoulder blade, getting me to move through the crowd quickly as we search for a game that isn’t overcrowded. After finding a more empty game near the end of the row, we all gather around the game attendant as he starts to explain the rules. “Whoever can hit the most targets in the least amount of time with this little gun gets a prize.” He pats one of the dangerous-looking dart guns on the bench, gazing between the 3 of us, that he can see, expectantly. Will nods his head, giving the man a quick smile as he sets up three guns. Then, he moves farther down the bench towards a couple who come up to play his game as well. “Who wants to play?” Will looks at me with a twinkle of mischief in his eye. “I’m pretty good at these kinds of games, just to let you all know.” I look at the others in my group, deciding that… ---- [[Anya and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-ANYAPLAY2]] ---- [[Dani and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-DANIPLAY2]] ---- [[Murmur and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-MURMURPLAY2]] ---- [[I don’t want to play, someone else can have at it. ->CHAP9-DONTPLAY2]]

I look around at the crowds of people, a smile plastered on my face as their excitement rubs off on me. “C’mon, let’s find a game that isn’t surrounded by people.” Dani surprises me by gently pushing on my shoulder blade, getting me to move through the crowd quickly as we search for a game that isn’t overcrowded. After finding a more empty game near the end of the row, we all gather around the game attendant as he starts to explain the rules. “Whoever can hit the most targets in the least amount of time with this little gun gets a prize.” He pats one of the dangerous-looking dart guns on the bench, gazing between the 3 of us, that he can see, expectantly. Will nods his head, giving the man a quick smile as he sets up three guns. Then, he moves farther down the bench towards a couple who come up to play his game as well. “Who wants to play?” Will looks at me with a twinkle of mischief in his eye. “I’m pretty good at these kinds of games, just to let you all know.” I look at the others in my group, deciding that… ---- [[Anya and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-ANYAPLAY2]] ---- [[Dani and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-DANIPLAY2]] ---- [[Murmur and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-MURMURPLAY2]] ---- [[I don’t want to play, someone else can have at it. ->CHAP9-DONTPLAY2]]

I look at Anya, watching her blink in surprise. “Me?” Nodding my head, I turn back towards Will, who gets ready behind one of the guns and waits for Anya and I to get into position. “Alright- ready, set, go!” Will calls out as he lines up his first shot, hitting a dart into a target on his first try. Anya starts to shoot as well, laughing when she misses every single shot, her aim getting worse the more she laughs. ---- [[Aim and shoot carefully. ->CHAP9-SHOOTCAREFULLY2]] ---- [[Just quickly shoot all the darts off. ->CHAP9-QUICKLYSHOOT2]] ---- [[I’m too busy laughing at Anya and Will to shoot. ->CHAP9-BUSYLAUGHING2]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>> <<set $Play to 20>><<set $friend to 20>>

I look at Dani, watching as their mouth forms a smirk. “Are you sure?” Nodding my head, I turn back towards Will, who gets ready behind one of the guns and waits for Dani and I to get into position. “Alright- ready, set, go!” Will calls out as he lines up his first shot, hitting a dart into a target on his first try. Dani starts to shoot as well, focusing immediately and hitting just as many targets as Will is. ---- [[Aim and shoot carefully. ->CHAP9-SHOOTCAREFULLY2]] ---- [[Just quickly shoot all the darts off. ->CHAP9-QUICKLYSHOOT2]] ---- [[I’m too busy laughing at Dani and Will to shoot. ->CHAP9-BUSYLAUGHING2]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>> <<set $Play to 20>><<set $friend to 30>>

I look at Murmur, who seems almost confused that I want them to play with us, but doesn’t refuse the offer. Nodding my head, I turn back towards Will, who gets ready behind one of the guns and waits for Murmur and I to get into position. “Alright- ready, set, go!” Will calls out as he lines up his first shot, hitting a dart into a target on his first try. Murmur starts to shoot as well, eerily good at hitting the targets despite it seeming like they aren’t trying very hard. ---- [[Aim and shoot carefully. ->CHAP9-SHOOTCAREFULLY2]] ---- [[Just quickly shoot all the darts off. ->CHAP9-QUICKLYSHOOT2]] ---- [[I’m too busy laughing at Murmur and Will to shoot. ->CHAP9-BUSYLAUGHING2]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>> <<set $Play to 20>><<set $friend to 10>>

Only for the buzzer to go off, and the guns to stop shooting. The attendant comes back over to us and checks our scores, revealing that Will has won. “You can choose one of these little keychains… Or, if you play and win again, you can win one of these stuffed animals.” The attendant explains, showing the row of prizes that Will can choose from. Will looks at me, silently asking what I want to do. ---- [[I want to move on, so have him choose a keychain. ->CHAP9-MOVEON2]] ---- [[Let's play some more! I want to win something too. ->CHAP9-PLAYMORE2]] ---- [[Shrugging, I don’t care what we decide to do. ->CHAP9-SHRUGNOCARE2]]

I quickly aim the gun and start shooting as quickly as I can. A few of the darts hit the targets, but a lot more seem to miss- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-GAMESFIRST3]]

Murmur seems to go rigid, their white eyes never leaving the other demon, even when his attention snaps to them. “Would you care to tell me why the spawn is here with //you//, playing games and having fun, when there are orders for their return back to Hell if found?” Something like dread fills my chest as Anya, Will, Dani, and I all turn to Murmur. Despite everyone’s attention being on them, Murmur doesn’t outwardly seem all that bothered. They lean back in their chair, their gaze falling to the floor as they sigh. “I’m not taking $g2 back to Hell. I’m not letting //anyone// take $g2 away from- take $g2 back there.” The other demon that towers over us watches Murmur silently for a few more seconds before another sigh leaves them and their shoulders deflate a bit, seemingly giving up on that thought. “I wasn’t going to make you. Just… Be aware of the consequences if anyone else finds out about this.” Sensing that this conversation has come to a rather tense end, the woman stands up, startling Pursan a bit as she nearly rams her head into his chin. “Anyway, enough about that! You guys came in here for something fun, right? Let’s get started!” We all look at each other, the tense feelings still hanging over our heads. ---- [[Smile at the fortune teller- Let's get some tarot readings. ->CHAP9-SMILEFORTUNE2]] ---- [[Nod at the fortune teller- I guess we’re getting tarot readings. ->CHAP9-NODFORTUNE2]] ---- [[Look at everyone else, waiting for them to speak up. ->CHAP9-LOOKFORTUNE2]]

“The Moon, reversed…” Katrina nods her head, her eyes focusing on the card, “It means you are deluding yourself about some certain events- you think you are in control of your emotions, but your emotions might just have the upper hand on you. Emotions will reshape and change events, and you cannot trust your thoughts if they are delusions made from emotions. You //must// find a way to balance your emotions and your knowledge, or else you will believe in things that are not true, and your decisions will start to reflect that.” Murmur’s intense gaze never leaves Katrina’s face, listening to her words with rapt attention. I’m unsure how they feel about the reading and still don’t get time to really think about it myself before the cards are suddenly shoved into my face. ---- [[Pick a card from the left. ->CHAP9-PICKLEFT2]] ---- [[Pick a card from the center. ->CHAP9-PICKCENTER2]] ---- [[Pick a card from the right. ->CHAP9-PICKRIGHT2]] ---- [[I don’t want to pick a card. ->CHAP9-NOPICK2]]

---- !!!AROUND 6 PM… We all sit at a sticky table in the small section surrounded by food trucks. Anya and Will finish up eating as I look around at the group. They all seem extremely tired but in a good way- exhausted smiles tipping the corners of their mouths upwards. Will notices my searching gaze, his lopsided grin growing after he takes a sip from his soda. “I think… We should all do one more thing before we call it a day.” Dani groans, their head falling onto their folded arms on the tabletop. Ignoring them, Will points to the ride section of the park again. “Let’s go ride the Ferris wheel. I bet it looks really cool now that the sun is setting.” I watch the Ferris wheel slowly spinning, the twinkling lights attached to its long bars do look pretty against the dark blue of the night sky. I nod my head at the group, feeling like riding the Ferris wheel will be a perfect end to the day. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-AFTERCHOICES2]]

Murmur seems to go rigid, their white eyes never leaving the other demon, even when his attention snaps to them. “Would you care to tell me why the spawn is here with //you//, playing games and having fun, when there are orders for their return back to Hell if found?” Something like dread fills my chest as Anya, Will, Dani, and I all turn to Murmur. Despite everyone’s attention being on them, Murmur doesn’t outwardly seem all that bothered. They lean back in their chair, their gaze falling to the floor as they sigh. “I’m not taking $g2 back to Hell. I’m not letting //anyone// take $g2 away from- take $g2 back there.” The other demon that towers over us watches Murmur silently for a few more seconds before another sigh leaves them and their shoulders deflate a bit, seemingly giving up on that thought. “I wasn’t going to make you. Just… Be aware of the consequences if anyone else finds out about this.” Sensing that this conversation has come to a rather tense end, the woman stands up, startling Pursan a bit as she nearly rams her head into his chin. “Anyway, enough about that! You guys came in here for something fun, right? Let’s get started!” We all look at each other, the tense feelings still hanging over our heads. ---- [[Smile at the fortune teller- Let's get some tarot readings. ->CHAP9-SMILEFORTUNE22]] ---- [[Nod at the fortune teller- I guess we’re getting tarot readings. ->CHAP9-NODFORTUNE22]] ---- [[Look at everyone else, waiting for them to speak up. ->CHAP9-LOOKFORTUNE22]]

“The Moon, reversed…” Katrina nods her head, her eyes focusing on the card, “It means you are deluding yourself about some certain events- you think you are in control of your emotions, but your emotions might just have the upper hand on you. Emotions will reshape and change events, and you cannot trust your thoughts if they are delusions made from emotions. You //must// find a way to balance your emotions and your knowledge, or else you will believe in things that are not true, and your decisions will start to reflect that.” Murmur’s intense gaze never leaves Katrina’s face, listening to her words with rapt attention. I’m unsure how they feel about the reading and still don’t get time to really think about it myself before the cards are suddenly shoved into my face. ---- [[Pick a card from the left. ->CHAP9-PICKLEFT22]] ---- [[Pick a card from the center. ->CHAP9-PICKCENTER22]] ---- [[Pick a card from the right. ->CHAP9-PICKRIGHT22]] ---- [[I don’t want to pick a card. ->CHAP9-NOPICK22]]

The section of the park that houses the rows of games is loud- children scream and laugh as they try to win prizes, pop music blares through speakers, and occasionally a loud //’bang’// or //’pop’// reverberates against my skull. ---- [[I don’t like it very much… ->CHAP9-DONTLIKE22]] ---- [[I’m fine with the noise, and look around without a problem. ->CHAP9-FINWITH22]] ---- [[I’m too excited to care about the noise, bouncing around to try and find a game to play. ->CHAP9-EXCITEDPLAY22]]

I look around at the crowds of people, startled every time a loud noise goes off near me. I don’t particularly care for the random noises here… “C’mon, let's find a game that isn’t surrounded by people.” Dani surprises me by gently pushing on my shoulder blade, getting me to move through the crowd quickly as we search for a game that isn’t overcrowded and loud. After finding a more empty game near the end of the row, we all gather around the game attendant as he starts to explain the rules. “Whoever can hit the most targets in the least amount of time with this little gun gets a prize.” He pats one of the dangerous-looking dart guns on the bench, gazing between the 3 of us, that he can see, expectantly. Will nods his head, giving the man a quick smile as he sets up three guns. Then, he moves farther down the bench towards a couple who come up to play his game as well. “Who wants to play?” Will looks at me with a twinkle of mischief in his eye. “I’m pretty good at these kinds of games, just to let you all know.” I look at the others in my group, deciding that… ---- [[Anya and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-ANYAPLAY22]] ---- [[Dani and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-DANIPLAY22]] ---- [[Murmur and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-MURMURPLAY22]] ---- [[I don’t want to play, someone else can have at it. ->CHAP9-DONTPLAY22]]

I look around at the crowds of people, watching as everyone has a fun time trying to play the games. “C’mon, let’s find a game that isn’t surrounded by people.” Dani surprises me by gently pushing on my shoulder blade, getting me to move through the crowd quickly as we search for a game that isn’t overcrowded. After finding a more empty game near the end of the row, we all gather around the game attendant as he starts to explain the rules. “Whoever can hit the most targets in the least amount of time with this little gun gets a prize.” He pats one of the dangerous-looking dart guns on the bench, gazing between the 3 of us, that he can see, expectantly. Will nods his head, giving the man a quick smile as he sets up three guns. Then, he moves farther down the bench towards a couple who come up to play his game as well. “Who wants to play?” Will looks at me with a twinkle of mischief in his eye. “I’m pretty good at these kinds of games, just to let you all know.” I look at the others in my group, deciding that… ---- [[Anya and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-ANYAPLAY22]] ---- [[Dani and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-DANIPLAY22]] ---- [[Murmur and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-MURMURPLAY22]] ---- [[I don’t want to play, someone else can have at it. ->CHAP9-DONTPLAY22]]

I look around at the crowds of people, a smile plastered on my face as their excitement rubs off on me. “C’mon, let’s find a game that isn’t surrounded by people.” Dani surprises me by gently pushing on my shoulder blade, getting me to move through the crowd quickly as we search for a game that isn’t overcrowded. After finding a more empty game near the end of the row, we all gather around the game attendant as he starts to explain the rules. “Whoever can hit the most targets in the least amount of time with this little gun gets a prize.” He pats one of the dangerous-looking dart guns on the bench, gazing between the 3 of us, that he can see, expectantly. Will nods his head, giving the man a quick smile as he sets up three guns. Then, he moves farther down the bench towards a couple who come up to play his game as well. “Who wants to play?” Will looks at me with a twinkle of mischief in his eye. “I’m pretty good at these kinds of games, just to let you all know.” I look at the others in my group, deciding that… ---- [[Anya and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-ANYAPLAY22]] ---- [[Dani and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-DANIPLAY22]] ---- [[Murmur and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-MURMURPLAY22]] ---- [[I don’t want to play, someone else can have at it. ->CHAP9-DONTPLAY22]]

I look at Anya, watching her blink in surprise. “Me?” Nodding my head, I turn back towards Will, who gets ready behind one of the guns and waits for Anya and I to get into position. “Alright- ready, set, go!” Will calls out as he lines up his first shot, hitting a dart into a target on his first try. Anya starts to shoot as well, laughing when she misses every single shot, her aim getting worse the more she laughs. ---- [[Aim and shoot carefully. ->CHAP9-SHOOTCAREFULLY22]] ---- [[Just quickly shoot all the darts off. ->CHAP9-QUICKLYSHOOT22]] ---- [[I’m too busy laughing at Anya and Will to shoot. ->CHAP9-BUSYLAUGHING22]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>> <<set $Play to 20>><<set $friend to 20>>

I look at Dani, watching as their mouth forms a smirk. “Are you sure?” Nodding my head, I turn back towards Will, who gets ready behind one of the guns and waits for Dani and I to get into position. “Alright- ready, set, go!” Will calls out as he lines up his first shot, hitting a dart into a target on his first try. Dani starts to shoot as well, focusing immediately and hitting just as many targets as Will is. ---- [[Aim and shoot carefully. ->CHAP9-SHOOTCAREFULLY22]] ---- [[Just quickly shoot all the darts off. ->CHAP9-QUICKLYSHOOT22]] ---- [[I’m too busy laughing at Dani and Will to shoot. ->CHAP9-BUSYLAUGHING22]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>> <<set $Play to 20>><<set $friend to 30>>

I look at Murmur, who seems almost confused that I want them to play with us, but doesn’t refuse the offer. Nodding my head, I turn back towards Will, who gets ready behind one of the guns and waits for Murmur and I to get into position. “Alright- ready, set, go!” Will calls out as he lines up his first shot, hitting a dart into a target on his first try. Murmur starts to shoot as well, eerily good at hitting the targets despite it seeming like they aren’t trying very hard. ---- [[Aim and shoot carefully. ->CHAP9-SHOOTCAREFULLY22]] ---- [[Just quickly shoot all the darts off. ->CHAP9-QUICKLYSHOOT22]] ---- [[I’m too busy laughing at Murmur and Will to shoot. ->CHAP9-BUSYLAUGHING22]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>> <<set $Play to 20>><<set $friend to 10>>

I quickly aim the gun and start shooting as quickly as I can. A few of the darts hit the targets, but a lot more seem to miss- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-GAMESFIRST32]]

Only for the buzzer to go off, and the guns to stop shooting. The attendant comes back over to us and checks our scores, revealing that Will has won. “You can choose one of these little keychains… Or, if you play and win again, you can win one of these stuffed animals.” The attendant explains, showing the row of prizes that Will can choose from. Will looks at me, silently asking what I want to do. ---- [[I want to move on, so have him choose a keychain. ->CHAP9-MOVEON22]] ---- [[Let's play some more! I want to win something too. ->CHAP9-PLAYMORE22]] ---- [[Shrugging, I don’t care what we decide to do. ->CHAP9-SHRUGNOCARE22]]

I grab Will’s hand, watching his expression shift from surprise to a big, dopey smile as we start to head up the stairs to the top. Once at the top, the ride attendant hands me a long piece of soft fabric, before she notices Will and I holding hands. “Are you two going down together, or separate?” Will looks at me, waiting to see what I’ll say. ---- [[“Separate.” ->CHAP9-SEPARATE22]] ---- [[“Together.” ->CHAP9-TOGETHER22]] ---- [[“Together?” [Flirt] ->CHAP9-WILLFLIRT22]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

I grab Anya’s hand, watching her expression shift from surprise to a small, shy smile as we start to head up the stairs to the top. Once at the top, the ride attendant hands me a long piece of soft fabric, before she notices Anya and I holding hands. “Are you two going down together, or separate?” Anya looks at me, waiting to see what I’ll say. ---- [[“Separate.” ->CHAP9-SEPARATE222]] ---- [[“Together.” ->CHAP9-TOGETHER222]] ---- [[“Together?” [Flirt] ->CHAP9-ANYAFLIRT12]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

I grab Murmur’s hand, watching their expression shift from slight surprise back to its normal blank slate as we start to head up the stairs to the top. Once at the top, the ride attendant hands me a long piece of soft fabric, before going on to help some kids get seated on the slide. I look at Murmur, who asks, “Are we going down together, or separate?” ---- [[“Separate.” ->CHAP9-SEPARATE32]] ---- [[“Together.” ->CHAP9-TOGETHER32]] ---- [[“Together?” [Flirt] ->CHAP9-MURMURFLIRT12]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

I grab Dani’s hand, watching their expression shift from slight surprise to confusion as we start to head up the stairs to the top. Once at the top, the ride attendant hands me a long piece of soft fabric, before going on to help some kids get seated on the slide. I look at Dani, who asks, “Are we going down together, or separate?” ---- [[“Separate.” ->CHAP9-SEPARATE42]] ---- [[“Together.” ->CHAP9-TOGETHER42]] ---- [[“Together?” [Flirt] ->CHAP9-DANIFLIRT12]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

I race to the top of the slide, waiting until the attendant comes over and hands me a long piece of cloth. I look down at it, confused until I watch a kid sit down on it on the slide. Suddenly understanding, I swiftly climb onto one of the slides with the cloth underneath me and take a deep breath before I //push// myself down the slide. I accelerate very quickly, the bumps I go over doing nothing to stop the momentum until I’m sure that I’m never going to stop- But I eventually do, looking at my friends <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT2]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN2]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE2]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED2]]

“Separate,” I the angel quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Dani gingerly sits down on the slide beside me, watching me closely, before they nod and push themselves down the slide. Blinking a bit in surprise, I push myself off as well and we both start picking up speed quickly until I feel like we’re never going to stop sliding. But Dani and I do eventually slow to a stop at the bottom. We turn to each other where they give me a smirk, and I look at them <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT2]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN2]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE2]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED2]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

“Together,” I tell them quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Dani gingerly sits down behind me, like they are heavily debating not sliding with me, before asking, “Are you ready?” I give them a nod and they push us both down the slide, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Dani <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT2]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN2]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE2]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED2]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>>

“Together?”I can’t help but ask, looking at them with what I hope //isn’t// concern. “Yeah. Sit down and I’ll get behind you.” They nod towards the slide, their tone a bit strained, making it seem like they’re annoyed. I carefully sit down, unsure what to make of Dani’s reaction, when they carefully sit down behind me, pressing up against my back. They watch my expression carefully, waiting to see if I’ll pull away or decide to go on my own, but that’s far from what is on my mind right now. Not when they’re so //solid// behind me- not when I’m unsure if I ever want them to leave from this exact spot. A smirk suddenly grows on Dani’s face as they lean forward a bit, pressing even further into me, whispering, “Are you ready?” And before I can even understand what they’re asking, they push us so we suddenly go sliding, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Dani <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT2]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN2]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE2]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED2]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>><<set $Dani_Love to Math.clamp($Dani_Love + 4, 0, 20)>>

“Separate,” I the other demon quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Murmur sits down on the slide beside me, watching me closely, before they nod and push themselves down the slide. Blinking a bit in surprise, I push myself off as well and we both start picking up speed quickly until I feel like we’re never going to stop sliding. But Murmur and I do eventually slow to a stop at the bottom. We turn to each other where they give me a soft look and I look at them <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT2]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN2]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE2]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED2]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

“Together,” I tell them quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Murmur quickly sits down behind me, watching me closely for a second before asking, “Are you ready?” I give them a nod and they push us both down the slide, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Murmur <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT2]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN2]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE2]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED2]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>>

“Together?”I can’t help but ask, looking at them with what I hope //isn’t// concern. “Yes, I’ll show you. Sit down, if you will.” Murmur motions towards the slide, where I sit down quickly. Then, Murmur carefully sits down behind me, pressing up against my back. They watch my expression carefully, waiting to see if I’ll pull away or decide to go on my own, but that’s far from what is on my mind right now. Not when they’re so //solid// behind me- not when I’m unsure if I ever want them to leave from this exact spot. Resting both of their hands on my shoulders, Murmur leans impossibly closer and whispers, “Ready?” And before I can even understand what they’re asking, they push us so we suddenly go sliding, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Murmur <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT2]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN2]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE2]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED2]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>><<set $Murmur_Love to Math.clamp($Murmur_Love + 4, 0, 20)>>

“Separate,” I tell the woman quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Will quickly sits down on the slide next to mine, giving me a wide smile as he says, “Race you to the bottom- Three, two, one, //go!//” Before he suddenly pushes himself and he starts to slide. I’m not even able to say anything, I just push myself and start to slide right after him- somehow catching up on the second big bump in the slides. When I finally slow to a stop, Will stopping soon after me, I turn to him <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT2]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN2]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE2]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED2]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

“Together,” I tell the woman quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Will quickly sits down behind me, giving me a wide smile when I turn a bit to look at him. “Are you ready? Three, two, one, //go!//” I’m not even able to say anything as he pushes us both down the slide, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Will <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT2]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN2]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE2]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED2]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>>

“Together?”I can’t help but ask, looking at Will with what I hope //isn’t// concern. “Yeah, you sit-” The worker explains, waiting for me to do so before saying, “-And he sits behind you.” Will quickly sits down behind me, pressing up against my back. He watches my expression carefully, waiting to see if I’ll pull away or decide to go on my own, but that’s far from what is on my mind right now. Not when he’s so //warm// and //solid// behind me- not when I’m unsure if I ever want him to leave from this exact spot. Putting one of his hands on my hip, he leans in and whispers, “Ready?” And before I can even understand what he’s asking, he pushes with his other hand and we suddenly go sliding, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Will <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT2]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN2]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE2]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED2]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>> <<set $Will_Love to Math.clamp($Will_Love + 4, 0, 20)>>

“Together?”I can’t help but ask, looking at Anya with what I hope //isn’t// concern. “Yeah, you sit-” The worker explains, waiting for me to do so before saying, “-And she sits behind you.” Anya carefully sits down behind me, pressing up against my back. She watches my expression carefully, waiting to see if I’ll pull away or decide to go on my own, but that’s far from what is on my mind right now. Not when she’s so //warm// and //solid// behind me- not when I’m unsure if I ever want her to leave from this exact spot. Leaning forward a bit so her chin rests on my shoulder, she whispers, “Ready?” And before I can even understand what she’s asking, she pushes us so we suddenly go sliding, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Anya <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT2]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN2]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE2]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED2]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>><<set $Anya_Love to Math.clamp($Anya_Love + 4, 0, 20)>>

“Separate,” I tell the woman quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Anya sits down on the slide beside me, giving me another small smile, her light brown eyes sparkling a bit in the sunlight. Nodding her head, she asks, “Ready?” Nodding my head, we both count to three before pushing off- picking up speed quickly until I feel like we’re never going to stop sliding. But Anya and I do eventually slow to a stop at the bottom. We turn to each other where she gives me a chuckle and wide smile, and I look at her <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT2]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN2]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE2]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED2]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

“Together,” I tell the woman quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Anya quickly sits down behind me, giving me a small smile when I turn a bit to look at her. “Are you ready?” I give her a nod and she pushes us both down the slide, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Anya <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT2]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN2]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE2]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED2]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>>

“I liked it. A lot!” I smile at all four of them, before excitedly looking around at all the other rides we haven’t tried yet. “Let’s go ride something else now!” We walk through the ride section of the park, going on some that catch my eye or Will and Anya want to try. It turns out that Dani loves rollercoasters, but Murmur… Well, it’s safe to say that we now know that demons can, in fact, get motion sickness just like mortals can. As we get into the line for a ride that has giant seats painted to look like whales or something similar. They spin round and round and //round//, and as we watch them move, Murmur starts to look a lot paler than they normally do. “I’ll take Murmur and go find somewhere to rest. We’ll find you when the ride is done.” Anya offers, taking pity on the poor nauseous demon. I nod at them as they walk away before I’m pulled onto the ride by Will and Dani. Once seated, I realize there’s a wheel in the middle of us, and Will explains that we can use it to spin faster. Dani smirks at us, obviously intending on spinning us until we can’t see straight- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-RIDESFIRST22]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 3, 0, 80)>><<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 3, 0, 80)>><<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 3, 0, 80)>><<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 3, 0, 80)>>

“Let’s go again!” I excitedly say before running up the stairs again, earning a few laughs and smiles from the group. I go down the slide a few more times before I excitedly look around at all the other rides we haven’t tried yet. “Let’s go ride something else now!” We walk through the ride section of the park, going on some that catch my eye or Will and Anya want to try. It turns out that Dani loves rollercoasters, but Murmur… Well, it’s safe to say that we now know that demons can, in fact, get motion sickness just like mortals can. As we get into the line for a ride that has giant seats painted to look like whales or something similar. They spin round and round and //round//, and as we watch them move, Murmur starts to look a lot paler than they normally do. “I’ll take Murmur and go find somewhere to rest. We’ll find you when the ride is done.” Anya offers, taking pity on the poor nauseous demon. I nod at them as they walk away before I’m pulled onto the ride by Will and Dani. Once seated, I realize there’s a wheel in the middle of us, and Will explains that we can use it to spin faster. Dani smirks at us, obviously intending on spinning us until we can’t see straight- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-RIDESFIRST22]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>><<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>><<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>><<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>>

“It was fine.” I nod my head, earning a mix of concerned and confused looks from the groups. “Alright, well… Maybe something else will excite you more?” Will asks, motioning towards all the other rides we haven’t tried yet. We walk through the ride section of the park, going on some that catch my eye or Will and Anya want to try. It turns out that Dani loves rollercoasters, but Murmur… Well, it’s safe to say that we now know that demons can, in fact, get motion sickness just like mortals can. As we get into the line for a ride that has giant seats painted to look like whales or something similar. They spin round and round and //round//, and as we watch them move, Murmur starts to look a lot paler than they normally do. “I’ll take Murmur and go find somewhere to rest. We’ll find you when the ride is done.” Anya offers, taking pity on the poor nauseous demon. I nod at them as they walk away before I’m pulled onto the ride by Will and Dani. Once seated, I realize there’s a wheel in the middle of us, and Will explains that we can use it to spin faster. Dani smirks at us, obviously intending on spinning us until we can’t see straight- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-RIDESFIRST22]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 1, 0, 80)>><<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 1, 0, 80)>><<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 1, 0, 80)>><<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 1, 0, 80)>>

Murmur seems to go rigid, their white eyes never leaving the other demon, even when his attention snaps to them. “Would you care to tell me why the spawn is here with //you//, playing games and having fun, when there are orders for their return back to Hell if found?” Something like dread fills my chest as Anya, Will, Dani, and I all turn to Murmur. Despite everyone’s attention being on them, Murmur doesn’t outwardly seem all that bothered. They lean back in their chair, their gaze falling to the floor as they sigh. “I’m not taking $g2 back to Hell. I’m not letting //anyone// take $g2 away from- take $g2 back there.” The other demon that towers over us watches Murmur silently for a few more seconds before another sigh leaves them and their shoulders deflate a bit, seemingly giving up on that thought. “I wasn’t going to make you. Just… Be aware of the consequences if anyone else finds out about this.” Sensing that this conversation has come to a rather tense end, the woman stands up, startling Pursan a bit as she nearly rams her head into his chin. “Anyway, enough about that! You guys came in here for something fun, right? Let’s get started!” We all look at each other, the tense feelings still hanging over our heads. ---- [[Smile at the fortune teller- Let's get some tarot readings. ->CHAP9-SMILEFORTUNE223]] ---- [[Nod at the fortune teller- I guess we’re getting tarot readings. ->CHAP9-NODFORTUNE223]] ---- [[Look at everyone else, waiting for them to speak up. ->CHAP9-LOOKFORTUNE223]]

“The Moon, reversed…” Katrina nods her head, her eyes focusing on the card, “It means you are deluding yourself about some certain events- you think you are in control of your emotions, but your emotions might just have the upper hand on you. Emotions will reshape and change events, and you cannot trust your thoughts if they are delusions made from emotions. You //must// find a way to balance your emotions and your knowledge, or else you will believe in things that are not true, and your decisions will start to reflect that.” Murmur’s intense gaze never leaves Katrina’s face, listening to her words with rapt attention. I’m unsure how they feel about the reading and still don’t get time to really think about it myself before the cards are suddenly shoved into my face. ---- [[Pick a card from the left. ->CHAP9-PICKLEFT222]] ---- [[Pick a card from the center. ->CHAP9-PICKCENTER222]] ---- [[Pick a card from the right. ->CHAP9-PICKRIGHT222]] ---- [[I don’t want to pick a card. ->CHAP9-NOPICK222]]

Murmur seems to go rigid, their white eyes never leaving the other demon, even when his attention snaps to them. “Would you care to tell me why the spawn is here with //you//, playing games and having fun, when there are orders for their return back to Hell if found?” Something like dread fills my chest as Anya, Will, Dani, and I all turn to Murmur. Despite everyone’s attention being on them, Murmur doesn’t outwardly seem all that bothered. They lean back in their chair, their gaze falling to the floor as they sigh. “I’m not taking $g2 back to Hell. I’m not letting //anyone// take $g2 away from- take $g2 back there.” The other demon that towers over us watches Murmur silently for a few more seconds before another sigh leaves them and their shoulders deflate a bit, seemingly giving up on that thought. “I wasn’t going to make you. Just… Be aware of the consequences if anyone else finds out about this.” Sensing that this conversation has come to a rather tense end, the woman stands up, startling Pursan a bit as she nearly rams her head into his chin. “Anyway, enough about that! You guys came in here for something fun, right? Let’s get started!” We all look at each other, the tense feelings still hanging over our heads. ---- [[Smile at the fortune teller- Let's get some tarot readings. ->CHAP9-SMILEFORTUNE2232]] ---- [[Nod at the fortune teller- I guess we’re getting tarot readings. ->CHAP9-NODFORTUNE2232]] ---- [[Look at everyone else, waiting for them to speak up. ->CHAP9-LOOKFORTUNE2232]]

“The Moon, reversed…” Katrina nods her head, her eyes focusing on the card, “It means you are deluding yourself about some certain events- you think you are in control of your emotions, but your emotions might just have the upper hand on you. Emotions will reshape and change events, and you cannot trust your thoughts if they are delusions made from emotions. You //must// find a way to balance your emotions and your knowledge, or else you will believe in things that are not true, and your decisions will start to reflect that.” Murmur’s intense gaze never leaves Katrina’s face, listening to her words with rapt attention. I’m unsure how they feel about the reading and still don’t get time to really think about it myself before the cards are suddenly shoved into my face. ---- [[Pick a card from the left. ->CHAP9-PICKLEFT2222]] ---- [[Pick a card from the center. ->CHAP9-PICKCENTER2222]] ---- [[Pick a card from the right. ->CHAP9-PICKRIGHT2222]] ---- [[I don’t want to pick a card. ->CHAP9-NOPICK2222]]

Heading down to the rides, I get a bit overwhelmed with the amount there are and how fast some of them spin. Will must sense my hesitance, because he gets my attention with a gentle tap on the shoulder and smiles at me as he says, “Let's start with something simple. How about a big slide?” Nodding, I let Will lead me to… exactly what he had said; A big slide. I stare up at it, realizing it must be at //least// sixty feet off the ground… But when a few kids slide down to the bottom, wide smiles and cheers leaving them, I know that I can do this. Turning to the others, they all look at me expectantly. Are they just going to watch while I have all the fun by myself? ---- [[Take Will with me. ->CHAP9-TAKEWILL22]] ---- [[Take Anya with me. ->CHAP9-TAKEANYA22]] ---- [[Take Murmur with me. ->CHAP9-TAKEMURMUR22]] ---- [[Take Dani with me. ->CHAP9-TAKEDANI22]] ---- [[Fine, I’ll go by myself. ->CHAP9-TAKESELF22]]

I grab Will’s hand, watching his expression shift from surprise to a big, dopey smile as we start to head up the stairs to the top. Once at the top, the ride attendant hands me a long piece of soft fabric, before she notices Will and I holding hands. “Are you two going down together, or separate?” Will looks at me, waiting to see what I’ll say. ---- [[“Separate.” ->CHAP9-SEPARATE2222]] ---- [[“Together.” ->CHAP9-TOGETHER2222]] ---- [[“Together?” [Flirt] ->CHAP9-WILLFLIRT222]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

I grab Anya’s hand, watching her expression shift from surprise to a small, shy smile as we start to head up the stairs to the top. Once at the top, the ride attendant hands me a long piece of soft fabric, before she notices Anya and I holding hands. “Are you two going down together, or separate?” Anya looks at me, waiting to see what I’ll say. ---- [[“Separate.” ->CHAP9-SEPARATE22222]] ---- [[“Together.” ->CHAP9-TOGETHER22222]] ---- [[“Together?” [Flirt] ->CHAP9-ANYAFLIRT122]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

I grab Murmur’s hand, watching their expression shift from slight surprise back to its normal blank slate as we start to head up the stairs to the top. Once at the top, the ride attendant hands me a long piece of soft fabric, before going on to help some kids get seated on the slide. I look at Murmur, who asks, “Are we going down together, or separate?” ---- [[“Separate.” ->CHAP9-SEPARATE322]] ---- [[“Together.” ->CHAP9-TOGETHER322]] ---- [[“Together?” [Flirt] ->CHAP9-MURMURFLIRT122]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

I grab Dani’s hand, watching their expression shift from slight surprise to confusion as we start to head up the stairs to the top. Once at the top, the ride attendant hands me a long piece of soft fabric, before going on to help some kids get seated on the slide. I look at Dani, who asks, “Are we going down together, or separate?” ---- [[“Separate.” ->CHAP9-SEPARATE422]] ---- [[“Together.” ->CHAP9-TOGETHER422]] ---- [[“Together?” [Flirt] ->CHAP9-DANIFLIRT122]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

I race to the top of the slide, waiting until the attendant comes over and hands me a long piece of cloth. I look down at it, confused until I watch a kid sit down on it on the slide. Suddenly understanding, I swiftly climb onto one of the slides with the cloth underneath me and take a deep breath before I //push// myself down the slide. I accelerate very quickly, the bumps I go over doing nothing to stop the momentum until I’m sure that I’m never going to stop- But I eventually do, looking at my friends <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT22]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN22]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE22]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED22]]

“I liked it. A lot!” I smile at all four of them, before excitedly looking around at all the other rides we haven’t tried yet. “Let’s go ride something else now!” We walk through the ride section of the park, going on some that catch my eye or Will and Anya want to try. It turns out that Dani loves rollercoasters, but Murmur… Well, it’s safe to say that we now know that demons can, in fact, get motion sickness just like mortals can. As we get into the line for a ride that has giant seats painted to look like whales or something similar. They spin round and round and //round//, and as we watch them move, Murmur starts to look a lot paler than they normally do. “I’ll take Murmur and go find somewhere to rest. We’ll find you when the ride is done.” Anya offers, taking pity on the poor nauseous demon. I nod at them as they walk away before I’m pulled onto the ride by Will and Dani. Once seated, I realize there’s a wheel in the middle of us, and Will explains that we can use it to spin faster. Dani smirks at us, obviously intending on spinning us until we can’t see straight- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-RIDESFIRST222]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 3, 0, 80)>><<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 3, 0, 80)>><<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 3, 0, 80)>><<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 3, 0, 80)>>

“Let’s go again!” I excitedly say before running up the stairs again, earning a few laughs and smiles from the group. I go down the slide a few more times before I excitedly look around at all the other rides we haven’t tried yet. “Let’s go ride something else now!” We walk through the ride section of the park, going on some that catch my eye or Will and Anya want to try. It turns out that Dani loves rollercoasters, but Murmur… Well, it’s safe to say that we now know that demons can, in fact, get motion sickness just like mortals can. As we get into the line for a ride that has giant seats painted to look like whales or something similar. They spin round and round and //round//, and as we watch them move, Murmur starts to look a lot paler than they normally do. “I’ll take Murmur and go find somewhere to rest. We’ll find you when the ride is done.” Anya offers, taking pity on the poor nauseous demon. I nod at them as they walk away before I’m pulled onto the ride by Will and Dani. Once seated, I realize there’s a wheel in the middle of us, and Will explains that we can use it to spin faster. Dani smirks at us, obviously intending on spinning us until we can’t see straight- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-RIDESFIRST222]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>><<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>><<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>><<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>>

“It was fine.” I nod my head, earning a mix of concerned and confused looks from the groups. “Alright, well… Maybe something else will excite you more?” Will asks, motioning towards all the other rides we haven’t tried yet. We walk through the ride section of the park, going on some that catch my eye or Will and Anya want to try. It turns out that Dani loves rollercoasters, but Murmur… Well, it’s safe to say that we now know that demons can, in fact, get motion sickness just like mortals can. As we get into the line for a ride that has giant seats painted to look like whales or something similar. They spin round and round and //round//, and as we watch them move, Murmur starts to look a lot paler than they normally do. “I’ll take Murmur and go find somewhere to rest. We’ll find you when the ride is done.” Anya offers, taking pity on the poor nauseous demon. I nod at them as they walk away before I’m pulled onto the ride by Will and Dani. Once seated, I realize there’s a wheel in the middle of us, and Will explains that we can use it to spin faster. Dani smirks at us, obviously intending on spinning us until we can’t see straight- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-RIDESFIRST222]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 1, 0, 80)>><<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 1, 0, 80)>><<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 1, 0, 80)>><<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 1, 0, 80)>>

“Together?”I can’t help but ask, looking at Will with what I hope //isn’t// concern. “Yeah, you sit-” The worker explains, waiting for me to do so before saying, “-And he sits behind you.” Will quickly sits down behind me, pressing up against my back. He watches my expression carefully, waiting to see if I’ll pull away or decide to go on my own, but that’s far from what is on my mind right now. Not when he’s so //warm// and //solid// behind me- not when I’m unsure if I ever want him to leave from this exact spot. Putting one of his hands on my hip, he leans in and whispers, “Ready?” And before I can even understand what he’s asking, he pushes with his other hand and we suddenly go sliding, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Will <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT22]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN22]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE22]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED22]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>> <<set $Will_Love to Math.clamp($Will_Love + 4, 0, 20)>>

“Separate,” I tell the woman quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Will quickly sits down on the slide next to mine, giving me a wide smile as he says, “Race you to the bottom- Three, two, one, //go!//” Before he suddenly pushes himself and he starts to slide. I’m not even able to say anything, I just push myself and start to slide right after him- somehow catching up on the second big bump in the slides. When I finally slow to a stop, Will stopping soon after me, I turn to him <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT22]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN22]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE22]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED22]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

“Together,” I tell the woman quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Will quickly sits down behind me, giving me a wide smile when I turn a bit to look at him. “Are you ready? Three, two, one, //go!//” I’m not even able to say anything as he pushes us both down the slide, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Will <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT22]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN22]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE22]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED22]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>>

“Separate,” I the other demon quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Murmur sits down on the slide beside me, watching me closely, before they nod and push themselves down the slide. Blinking a bit in surprise, I push myself off as well and we both start picking up speed quickly until I feel like we’re never going to stop sliding. But Murmur and I do eventually slow to a stop at the bottom. We turn to each other where they give me a soft look and I look at them <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT22]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN22]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE22]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED22]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

“Together,” I tell them quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Murmur quickly sits down behind me, watching me closely for a second before asking, “Are you ready?” I give them a nod and they push us both down the slide, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Murmur <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT22]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN22]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE22]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED22]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>>

“Together?”I can’t help but ask, looking at them with what I hope //isn’t// concern. “Yes, I’ll show you. Sit down, if you will.” Murmur motions towards the slide, where I sit down quickly. Then, Murmur carefully sits down behind me, pressing up against my back. They watch my expression carefully, waiting to see if I’ll pull away or decide to go on my own, but that’s far from what is on my mind right now. Not when they’re so //solid// behind me- not when I’m unsure if I ever want them to leave from this exact spot. Resting both of their hands on my shoulders, Murmur leans impossibly closer and whispers, “Ready?” And before I can even understand what they’re asking, they push us so we suddenly go sliding, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Murmur <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT22]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN22]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE22]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED22]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>><<set $Murmur_Love to Math.clamp($Murmur_Love + 4, 0, 20)>>

“Separate,” I tell the woman quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Anya sits down on the slide beside me, giving me another small smile, her light brown eyes sparkling a bit in the sunlight. Nodding her head, she asks, “Ready?” Nodding my head, we both count to three before pushing off- picking up speed quickly until I feel like we’re never going to stop sliding. But Anya and I do eventually slow to a stop at the bottom. We turn to each other where she gives me a chuckle and wide smile, and I look at her <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT22]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN22]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE22]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED22]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

“Together,” I tell the woman quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Anya quickly sits down behind me, giving me a small smile when I turn a bit to look at her. “Are you ready?” I give her a nod and she pushes us both down the slide, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Anya <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT22]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN22]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE22]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED22]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>>

“Together?”I can’t help but ask, looking at Anya with what I hope //isn’t// concern. “Yeah, you sit-” The worker explains, waiting for me to do so before saying, “-And she sits behind you.” Anya carefully sits down behind me, pressing up against my back. She watches my expression carefully, waiting to see if I’ll pull away or decide to go on my own, but that’s far from what is on my mind right now. Not when she’s so //warm// and //solid// behind me- not when I’m unsure if I ever want her to leave from this exact spot. Leaning forward a bit so her chin rests on my shoulder, she whispers, “Ready?” And before I can even understand what she’s asking, she pushes us so we suddenly go sliding, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Anya <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT22]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN22]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE22]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED22]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>><<set $Anya_Love to Math.clamp($Anya_Love + 4, 0, 20)>>

“Separate,” I the angel quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Dani gingerly sits down on the slide beside me, watching me closely, before they nod and push themselves down the slide. Blinking a bit in surprise, I push myself off as well and we both start picking up speed quickly until I feel like we’re never going to stop sliding. But Dani and I do eventually slow to a stop at the bottom. We turn to each other where they give me a smirk, and I look at them <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT22]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN22]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE22]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED22]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

“Together,” I tell them quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Dani gingerly sits down behind me, like they are heavily debating not sliding with me, before asking, “Are you ready?” I give them a nod and they push us both down the slide, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Dani <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT22]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN22]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE22]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED22]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>>

“Together?”I can’t help but ask, looking at them with what I hope //isn’t// concern. “Yeah. Sit down and I’ll get behind you.” They nod towards the slide, their tone a bit strained, making it seem like they’re annoyed. I carefully sit down, unsure what to make of Dani’s reaction, when they carefully sit down behind me, pressing up against my back. They watch my expression carefully, waiting to see if I’ll pull away or decide to go on my own, but that’s far from what is on my mind right now. Not when they’re so //solid// behind me- not when I’m unsure if I ever want them to leave from this exact spot. A smirk suddenly grows on Dani’s face as they lean forward a bit, pressing even further into me, whispering, “Are you ready?” And before I can even understand what they’re asking, they push us so we suddenly go sliding, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Dani <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT22]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN22]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE22]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED22]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>><<set $Dani_Love to Math.clamp($Dani_Love + 4, 0, 20)>>

I grab Will’s hand, watching his expression shift from surprise to a big, dopey smile as we start to head up the stairs to the top. Once at the top, the ride attendant hands me a long piece of soft fabric, before she notices Will and I holding hands. “Are you two going down together, or separate?” Will looks at me, waiting to see what I’ll say. ---- [[“Separate.” ->CHAP9-SEPARATE223]] ---- [[“Together.” ->CHAP9-TOGETHER223]] ---- [[“Together?” [Flirt] ->CHAP9-WILLFLIRT223]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

I grab Anya’s hand, watching her expression shift from surprise to a small, shy smile as we start to head up the stairs to the top. Once at the top, the ride attendant hands me a long piece of soft fabric, before she notices Anya and I holding hands. “Are you two going down together, or separate?” Anya looks at me, waiting to see what I’ll say. ---- [[“Separate.” ->CHAP9-SEPARATE2223]] ---- [[“Together.” ->CHAP9-TOGETHER2223]] ---- [[“Together?” [Flirt] ->CHAP9-ANYAFLIRT123]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

I grab Murmur’s hand, watching their expression shift from slight surprise back to its normal blank slate as we start to head up the stairs to the top. Once at the top, the ride attendant hands me a long piece of soft fabric, before going on to help some kids get seated on the slide. I look at Murmur, who asks, “Are we going down together, or separate?” ---- [[“Separate.” ->CHAP9-SEPARATE323]] ---- [[“Together.” ->CHAP9-TOGETHER323]] ---- [[“Together?” [Flirt] ->CHAP9-MURMURFLIRT123]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

I grab Dani’s hand, watching their expression shift from slight surprise to confusion as we start to head up the stairs to the top. Once at the top, the ride attendant hands me a long piece of soft fabric, before going on to help some kids get seated on the slide. I look at Dani, who asks, “Are we going down together, or separate?” ---- [[“Separate.” ->CHAP9-SEPARATE423]] ---- [[“Together.” ->CHAP9-TOGETHER423]] ---- [[“Together?” [Flirt] ->CHAP9-DANIFLIRT123]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

I race to the top of the slide, waiting until the attendant comes over and hands me a long piece of cloth. I look down at it, confused until I watch a kid sit down on it on the slide. Suddenly understanding, I swiftly climb onto one of the slides with the cloth underneath me and take a deep breath before I //push// myself down the slide. I accelerate very quickly, the bumps I go over doing nothing to stop the momentum until I’m sure that I’m never going to stop- But I eventually do, looking at my friends <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT23]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN23]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE23]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED23]]

“Separate,” I the other demon quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Murmur sits down on the slide beside me, watching me closely, before they nod and push themselves down the slide. Blinking a bit in surprise, I push myself off as well and we both start picking up speed quickly until I feel like we’re never going to stop sliding. But Murmur and I do eventually slow to a stop at the bottom. We turn to each other where they give me a soft look and I look at them <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT23]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN23]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE23]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED23]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

“Together,” I tell them quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Murmur quickly sits down behind me, watching me closely for a second before asking, “Are you ready?” I give them a nod and they push us both down the slide, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Murmur <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT23]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN23]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE23]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED23]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>>

“Together?”I can’t help but ask, looking at them with what I hope //isn’t// concern. “Yes, I’ll show you. Sit down, if you will.” Murmur motions towards the slide, where I sit down quickly. Then, Murmur carefully sits down behind me, pressing up against my back. They watch my expression carefully, waiting to see if I’ll pull away or decide to go on my own, but that’s far from what is on my mind right now. Not when they’re so //solid// behind me- not when I’m unsure if I ever want them to leave from this exact spot. Resting both of their hands on my shoulders, Murmur leans impossibly closer and whispers, “Ready?” And before I can even understand what they’re asking, they push us so we suddenly go sliding, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Murmur <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT23]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN23]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE23]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED23]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>><<set $Murmur_Love to Math.clamp($Murmur_Love + 4, 0, 20)>>

“Separate,” I tell the woman quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Will quickly sits down on the slide next to mine, giving me a wide smile as he says, “Race you to the bottom- Three, two, one, //go!//” Before he suddenly pushes himself and he starts to slide. I’m not even able to say anything, I just push myself and start to slide right after him- somehow catching up on the second big bump in the slides. When I finally slow to a stop, Will stopping soon after me, I turn to him <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT23]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN23]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE23]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED23]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

“Together,” I tell the woman quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Will quickly sits down behind me, giving me a wide smile when I turn a bit to look at him. “Are you ready? Three, two, one, //go!//” I’m not even able to say anything as he pushes us both down the slide, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Will <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT23]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN23]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE23]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED23]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>>

“Together?”I can’t help but ask, looking at Will with what I hope //isn’t// concern. “Yeah, you sit-” The worker explains, waiting for me to do so before saying, “-And he sits behind you.” Will quickly sits down behind me, pressing up against my back. He watches my expression carefully, waiting to see if I’ll pull away or decide to go on my own, but that’s far from what is on my mind right now. Not when he’s so //warm// and //solid// behind me- not when I’m unsure if I ever want him to leave from this exact spot. Putting one of his hands on my hip, he leans in and whispers, “Ready?” And before I can even understand what he’s asking, he pushes with his other hand and we suddenly go sliding, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Will <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT23]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN23]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE23]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED23]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>> <<set $Will_Love to Math.clamp($Will_Love + 4, 0, 20)>>

“Separate,” I tell the woman quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Anya sits down on the slide beside me, giving me another small smile, her light brown eyes sparkling a bit in the sunlight. Nodding her head, she asks, “Ready?” Nodding my head, we both count to three before pushing off- picking up speed quickly until I feel like we’re never going to stop sliding. But Anya and I do eventually slow to a stop at the bottom. We turn to each other where she gives me a chuckle and wide smile, and I look at her <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT23]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN23]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE23]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED23]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

“Together,” I tell the woman quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Anya quickly sits down behind me, giving me a small smile when I turn a bit to look at her. “Are you ready?” I give her a nod and she pushes us both down the slide, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Anya <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT23]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN23]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE23]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED23]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>>

“Together?”I can’t help but ask, looking at Anya with what I hope //isn’t// concern. “Yeah, you sit-” The worker explains, waiting for me to do so before saying, “-And she sits behind you.” Anya carefully sits down behind me, pressing up against my back. She watches my expression carefully, waiting to see if I’ll pull away or decide to go on my own, but that’s far from what is on my mind right now. Not when she’s so //warm// and //solid// behind me- not when I’m unsure if I ever want her to leave from this exact spot. Leaning forward a bit so her chin rests on my shoulder, she whispers, “Ready?” And before I can even understand what she’s asking, she pushes us so we suddenly go sliding, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Anya <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT23]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN23]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE23]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED23]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>><<set $Anya_Love to Math.clamp($Anya_Love + 4, 0, 20)>>

“Separate,” I the angel quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Dani gingerly sits down on the slide beside me, watching me closely, before they nod and push themselves down the slide. Blinking a bit in surprise, I push myself off as well and we both start picking up speed quickly until I feel like we’re never going to stop sliding. But Dani and I do eventually slow to a stop at the bottom. We turn to each other where they give me a smirk, and I look at them <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT23]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN23]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE23]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED23]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

“Together,” I tell them quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Dani gingerly sits down behind me, like they are heavily debating not sliding with me, before asking, “Are you ready?” I give them a nod and they push us both down the slide, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Dani <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT23]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN23]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE23]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED23]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>>

“Together?”I can’t help but ask, looking at them with what I hope //isn’t// concern. “Yeah. Sit down and I’ll get behind you.” They nod towards the slide, their tone a bit strained, making it seem like they’re annoyed. I carefully sit down, unsure what to make of Dani’s reaction, when they carefully sit down behind me, pressing up against my back. They watch my expression carefully, waiting to see if I’ll pull away or decide to go on my own, but that’s far from what is on my mind right now. Not when they’re so //solid// behind me- not when I’m unsure if I ever want them to leave from this exact spot. A smirk suddenly grows on Dani’s face as they lean forward a bit, pressing even further into me, whispering, “Are you ready?” And before I can even understand what they’re asking, they push us so we suddenly go sliding, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Dani <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT23]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN23]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE23]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED23]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>><<set $Dani_Love to Math.clamp($Dani_Love + 4, 0, 20)>>

“I liked it. A lot!” I smile at all four of them, before excitedly looking around at all the other rides we haven’t tried yet. “Let’s go ride something else now!” We walk through the ride section of the park, going on some that catch my eye or Will and Anya want to try. It turns out that Dani loves rollercoasters, but Murmur… Well, it’s safe to say that we now know that demons can, in fact, get motion sickness just like mortals can. As we get into the line for a ride that has giant seats painted to look like whales or something similar. They spin round and round and //round//, and as we watch them move, Murmur starts to look a lot paler than they normally do. “I’ll take Murmur and go find somewhere to rest. We’ll find you when the ride is done.” Anya offers, taking pity on the poor nauseous demon. I nod at them as they walk away before I’m pulled onto the ride by Will and Dani. Once seated, I realize there’s a wheel in the middle of us, and Will explains that we can use it to spin faster. Dani smirks at us, obviously intending on spinning us until we can’t see straight- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-RIDESFIRST223]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 3, 0, 80)>><<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 3, 0, 80)>><<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 3, 0, 80)>><<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 3, 0, 80)>>

“Let’s go again!” I excitedly say before running up the stairs again, earning a few laughs and smiles from the group. I go down the slide a few more times before I excitedly look around at all the other rides we haven’t tried yet. “Let’s go ride something else now!” We walk through the ride section of the park, going on some that catch my eye or Will and Anya want to try. It turns out that Dani loves rollercoasters, but Murmur… Well, it’s safe to say that we now know that demons can, in fact, get motion sickness just like mortals can. As we get into the line for a ride that has giant seats painted to look like whales or something similar. They spin round and round and //round//, and as we watch them move, Murmur starts to look a lot paler than they normally do. “I’ll take Murmur and go find somewhere to rest. We’ll find you when the ride is done.” Anya offers, taking pity on the poor nauseous demon. I nod at them as they walk away before I’m pulled onto the ride by Will and Dani. Once seated, I realize there’s a wheel in the middle of us, and Will explains that we can use it to spin faster. Dani smirks at us, obviously intending on spinning us until we can’t see straight- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-RIDESFIRST223]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>><<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>><<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>><<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>>

“It was fine.” I nod my head, earning a mix of concerned and confused looks from the groups. “Alright, well… Maybe something else will excite you more?” Will asks, motioning towards all the other rides we haven’t tried yet. We walk through the ride section of the park, going on some that catch my eye or Will and Anya want to try. It turns out that Dani loves rollercoasters, but Murmur… Well, it’s safe to say that we now know that demons can, in fact, get motion sickness just like mortals can. As we get into the line for a ride that has giant seats painted to look like whales or something similar. They spin round and round and //round//, and as we watch them move, Murmur starts to look a lot paler than they normally do. “I’ll take Murmur and go find somewhere to rest. We’ll find you when the ride is done.” Anya offers, taking pity on the poor nauseous demon. I nod at them as they walk away before I’m pulled onto the ride by Will and Dani. Once seated, I realize there’s a wheel in the middle of us, and Will explains that we can use it to spin faster. Dani smirks at us, obviously intending on spinning us until we can’t see straight- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-RIDESFIRST223]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 1, 0, 80)>><<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 1, 0, 80)>><<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 1, 0, 80)>><<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 1, 0, 80)>>

The section of the park that houses the rows of games is loud- children scream and laugh as they try to win prizes, pop music blares through speakers, and occasionally a loud //’bang’// or //’pop’// reverberates against my skull. ---- [[I don’t like it very much… ->CHAP9-DONTLIKE233]] ---- [[I’m fine with the noise, and look around without a problem. ->CHAP9-FINWITH233]] ---- [[I’m too excited to care about the noise, bouncing around to try and find a game to play. ->CHAP9-EXCITEDPLAY233]]

I look around at the crowds of people, a smile plastered on my face as their excitement rubs off on me. “C’mon, let’s find a game that isn’t surrounded by people.” Dani surprises me by gently pushing on my shoulder blade, getting me to move through the crowd quickly as we search for a game that isn’t overcrowded. After finding a more empty game near the end of the row, we all gather around the game attendant as he starts to explain the rules. “Whoever can hit the most targets in the least amount of time with this little gun gets a prize.” He pats one of the dangerous-looking dart guns on the bench, gazing between the 3 of us, that he can see, expectantly. Will nods his head, giving the man a quick smile as he sets up three guns. Then, he moves farther down the bench towards a couple who come up to play his game as well. “Who wants to play?” Will looks at me with a twinkle of mischief in his eye. “I’m pretty good at these kinds of games, just to let you all know.” I look at the others in my group, deciding that… ---- [[Anya and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-ANYAPLAY23]] ---- [[Dani and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-DANIPLAY23]] ---- [[Murmur and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-MURMURPLAY23]] ---- [[I don’t want to play, someone else can have at it. ->CHAP9-DONTPLAY23]]

I look around at the crowds of people, startled every time a loud noise goes off near me. I don’t particularly care for the random noises here… “C’mon, let's find a game that isn’t surrounded by people.” Dani surprises me by gently pushing on my shoulder blade, getting me to move through the crowd quickly as we search for a game that isn’t overcrowded and loud. After finding a more empty game near the end of the row, we all gather around the game attendant as he starts to explain the rules. “Whoever can hit the most targets in the least amount of time with this little gun gets a prize.” He pats one of the dangerous-looking dart guns on the bench, gazing between the 3 of us, that he can see, expectantly. Will nods his head, giving the man a quick smile as he sets up three guns. Then, he moves farther down the bench towards a couple who come up to play his game as well. “Who wants to play?” Will looks at me with a twinkle of mischief in his eye. “I’m pretty good at these kinds of games, just to let you all know.” I look at the others in my group, deciding that… ---- [[Anya and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-ANYAPLAY23]] ---- [[Dani and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-DANIPLAY23]] ---- [[Murmur and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-MURMURPLAY23]] ---- [[I don’t want to play, someone else can have at it. ->CHAP9-DONTPLAY23]]

I look around at the crowds of people, watching as everyone has a fun time trying to play the games. “C’mon, let’s find a game that isn’t surrounded by people.” Dani surprises me by gently pushing on my shoulder blade, getting me to move through the crowd quickly as we search for a game that isn’t overcrowded. After finding a more empty game near the end of the row, we all gather around the game attendant as he starts to explain the rules. “Whoever can hit the most targets in the least amount of time with this little gun gets a prize.” He pats one of the dangerous-looking dart guns on the bench, gazing between the 3 of us, that he can see, expectantly. Will nods his head, giving the man a quick smile as he sets up three guns. Then, he moves farther down the bench towards a couple who come up to play his game as well. “Who wants to play?” Will looks at me with a twinkle of mischief in his eye. “I’m pretty good at these kinds of games, just to let you all know.” I look at the others in my group, deciding that… ---- [[Anya and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-ANYAPLAY23]] ---- [[Dani and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-DANIPLAY23]] ---- [[Murmur and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-MURMURPLAY23]] ---- [[I don’t want to play, someone else can have at it. ->CHAP9-DONTPLAY23]]

I look at Anya, watching her blink in surprise. “Me?” Nodding my head, I turn back towards Will, who gets ready behind one of the guns and waits for Anya and I to get into position. “Alright- ready, set, go!” Will calls out as he lines up his first shot, hitting a dart into a target on his first try. Anya starts to shoot as well, laughing when she misses every single shot, her aim getting worse the more she laughs. ---- [[Aim and shoot carefully. ->CHAP9-SHOOTCAREFULLY23]] ---- [[Just quickly shoot all the darts off. ->CHAP9-QUICKLYSHOOT23]] ---- [[I’m too busy laughing at Anya and Will to shoot. ->CHAP9-BUSYLAUGHING23]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>> <<set $Play to 20>><<set $friend to 20>>

I look at Dani, watching as their mouth forms a smirk. “Are you sure?” Nodding my head, I turn back towards Will, who gets ready behind one of the guns and waits for Dani and I to get into position. “Alright- ready, set, go!” Will calls out as he lines up his first shot, hitting a dart into a target on his first try. Dani starts to shoot as well, focusing immediately and hitting just as many targets as Will is. ---- [[Aim and shoot carefully. ->CHAP9-SHOOTCAREFULLY23]] ---- [[Just quickly shoot all the darts off. ->CHAP9-QUICKLYSHOOT23]] ---- [[I’m too busy laughing at Dani and Will to shoot. ->CHAP9-BUSYLAUGHING23]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>> <<set $Play to 20>><<set $friend to 30>>

I look at Murmur, who seems almost confused that I want them to play with us, but doesn’t refuse the offer. Nodding my head, I turn back towards Will, who gets ready behind one of the guns and waits for Murmur and I to get into position. “Alright- ready, set, go!” Will calls out as he lines up his first shot, hitting a dart into a target on his first try. Murmur starts to shoot as well, eerily good at hitting the targets despite it seeming like they aren’t trying very hard. ---- [[Aim and shoot carefully. ->CHAP9-SHOOTCAREFULLY23]] ---- [[Just quickly shoot all the darts off. ->CHAP9-QUICKLYSHOOT23]] ---- [[I’m too busy laughing at Murmur and Will to shoot. ->CHAP9-BUSYLAUGHING23]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>> <<set $Play to 20>><<set $friend to 10>>

I quickly aim the gun and start shooting as quickly as I can. A few of the darts hit the targets, but a lot more seem to miss- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-GAMESFIRST33]]

Only for the buzzer to go off, and the guns to stop shooting. The attendant comes back over to us and checks our scores, revealing that Will has won. “You can choose one of these little keychains… Or, if you play and win again, you can win one of these stuffed animals.” The attendant explains, showing the row of prizes that Will can choose from. Will looks at me, silently asking what I want to do. ---- [[I want to move on, so have him choose a keychain. ->CHAP9-MOVEON23]] ---- [[Let's play some more! I want to win something too. ->CHAP9-PLAYMORE23]] ---- [[Shrugging, I don’t care what we decide to do. ->CHAP9-SHRUGNOCARE23]]

Heading down to the rides, I get a bit overwhelmed with the amount there are and how fast some of them spin. Will must sense my hesitance, because he gets my attention with a gentle tap on the shoulder and smiles at me as he says, “Let's start with something simple. How about a big slide?” Nodding, I let Will lead me to… exactly what he had said; A big slide. I stare up at it, realizing it must be at //least// sixty feet off the ground… But when a few kids slide down to the bottom, wide smiles and cheers leaving them, I know that I can do this. Turning to the others, they all look at me expectantly. Are they just going to watch while I have all the fun by myself? ---- [[Take Will with me. ->CHAP9-TAKEWILL233]] ---- [[Take Anya with me. ->CHAP9-TAKEANYA233]] ---- [[Take Murmur with me. ->CHAP9-TAKEMURMUR233]] ---- [[Take Dani with me. ->CHAP9-TAKEDANI233]] ---- [[Fine, I’ll go by myself. ->CHAP9-TAKESELF233]]

I look around at the crowds of people, startled every time a loud noise goes off near me. I don’t particularly care for the random noises here… “C’mon, let's find a game that isn’t surrounded by people.” Dani surprises me by gently pushing on my shoulder blade, getting me to move through the crowd quickly as we search for a game that isn’t overcrowded and loud. After finding a more empty game near the end of the row, we all gather around the game attendant as he starts to explain the rules. “Whoever can hit the most targets in the least amount of time with this little gun gets a prize.” He pats one of the dangerous-looking dart guns on the bench, gazing between the 3 of us, that he can see, expectantly. Will nods his head, giving the man a quick smile as he sets up three guns. Then, he moves farther down the bench towards a couple who come up to play his game as well. “Who wants to play?” Will looks at me with a twinkle of mischief in his eye. “I’m pretty good at these kinds of games, just to let you all know.” I look at the others in my group, deciding that… ---- [[Anya and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-ANYAPLAY233]] ---- [[Dani and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-DANIPLAY233]] ---- [[Murmur and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-MURMURPLAY233]] ---- [[I don’t want to play, someone else can have at it. ->CHAP9-DONTPLAY233]]

I look around at the crowds of people, watching as everyone has a fun time trying to play the games. “C’mon, let’s find a game that isn’t surrounded by people.” Dani surprises me by gently pushing on my shoulder blade, getting me to move through the crowd quickly as we search for a game that isn’t overcrowded. After finding a more empty game near the end of the row, we all gather around the game attendant as he starts to explain the rules. “Whoever can hit the most targets in the least amount of time with this little gun gets a prize.” He pats one of the dangerous-looking dart guns on the bench, gazing between the 3 of us, that he can see, expectantly. Will nods his head, giving the man a quick smile as he sets up three guns. Then, he moves farther down the bench towards a couple who come up to play his game as well. “Who wants to play?” Will looks at me with a twinkle of mischief in his eye. “I’m pretty good at these kinds of games, just to let you all know.” I look at the others in my group, deciding that… ---- [[Anya and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-ANYAPLAY233]] ---- [[Dani and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-DANIPLAY233]] ---- [[Murmur and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-MURMURPLAY233]] ---- [[I don’t want to play, someone else can have at it. ->CHAP9-DONTPLAY233]]

I look around at the crowds of people, a smile plastered on my face as their excitement rubs off on me. “C’mon, let’s find a game that isn’t surrounded by people.” Dani surprises me by gently pushing on my shoulder blade, getting me to move through the crowd quickly as we search for a game that isn’t overcrowded. After finding a more empty game near the end of the row, we all gather around the game attendant as he starts to explain the rules. “Whoever can hit the most targets in the least amount of time with this little gun gets a prize.” He pats one of the dangerous-looking dart guns on the bench, gazing between the 3 of us, that he can see, expectantly. Will nods his head, giving the man a quick smile as he sets up three guns. Then, he moves farther down the bench towards a couple who come up to play his game as well. “Who wants to play?” Will looks at me with a twinkle of mischief in his eye. “I’m pretty good at these kinds of games, just to let you all know.” I look at the others in my group, deciding that… ---- [[Anya and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-ANYAPLAY233]] ---- [[Dani and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-DANIPLAY233]] ---- [[Murmur and I will play with him. ->CHAP9-MURMURPLAY233]] ---- [[I don’t want to play, someone else can have at it. ->CHAP9-DONTPLAY233]]

I look at Anya, watching her blink in surprise. “Me?” Nodding my head, I turn back towards Will, who gets ready behind one of the guns and waits for Anya and I to get into position. “Alright- ready, set, go!” Will calls out as he lines up his first shot, hitting a dart into a target on his first try. Anya starts to shoot as well, laughing when she misses every single shot, her aim getting worse the more she laughs. ---- [[Aim and shoot carefully. ->CHAP9-SHOOTCAREFULLY233]] ---- [[Just quickly shoot all the darts off. ->CHAP9-QUICKLYSHOOT233]] ---- [[I’m too busy laughing at Anya and Will to shoot. ->CHAP9-BUSYLAUGHING233]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>> <<set $Play to 20>><<set $friend to 20>>

I look at Dani, watching as their mouth forms a smirk. “Are you sure?” Nodding my head, I turn back towards Will, who gets ready behind one of the guns and waits for Dani and I to get into position. “Alright- ready, set, go!” Will calls out as he lines up his first shot, hitting a dart into a target on his first try. Dani starts to shoot as well, focusing immediately and hitting just as many targets as Will is. ---- [[Aim and shoot carefully. ->CHAP9-SHOOTCAREFULLY233]] ---- [[Just quickly shoot all the darts off. ->CHAP9-QUICKLYSHOOT233]] ---- [[I’m too busy laughing at Dani and Will to shoot. ->CHAP9-BUSYLAUGHING233]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>> <<set $Play to 20>><<set $friend to 30>>

I look at Murmur, who seems almost confused that I want them to play with us, but doesn’t refuse the offer. Nodding my head, I turn back towards Will, who gets ready behind one of the guns and waits for Murmur and I to get into position. “Alright- ready, set, go!” Will calls out as he lines up his first shot, hitting a dart into a target on his first try. Murmur starts to shoot as well, eerily good at hitting the targets despite it seeming like they aren’t trying very hard. ---- [[Aim and shoot carefully. ->CHAP9-SHOOTCAREFULLY233]] ---- [[Just quickly shoot all the darts off. ->CHAP9-QUICKLYSHOOT233]] ---- [[I’m too busy laughing at Murmur and Will to shoot. ->CHAP9-BUSYLAUGHING233]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>> <<set $Play to 20>><<set $friend to 10>>

I quickly aim the gun and start shooting as quickly as I can. A few of the darts hit the targets, but a lot more seem to miss- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-GAMESFIRST333]]

Only for the buzzer to go off, and the guns to stop shooting. The attendant comes back over to us and checks our scores, revealing that Will has won. “You can choose one of these little keychains… Or, if you play and win again, you can win one of these stuffed animals.” The attendant explains, showing the row of prizes that Will can choose from. Will looks at me, silently asking what I want to do. ---- [[I want to move on, so have him choose a keychain. ->CHAP9-MOVEON233]] ---- [[Let's play some more! I want to win something too. ->CHAP9-PLAYMORE233]] ---- [[Shrugging, I don’t care what we decide to do. ->CHAP9-SHRUGNOCARE233]]

I grab Will’s hand, watching his expression shift from surprise to a big, dopey smile as we start to head up the stairs to the top. Once at the top, the ride attendant hands me a long piece of soft fabric, before she notices Will and I holding hands. “Are you two going down together, or separate?” Will looks at me, waiting to see what I’ll say. ---- [[“Separate.” ->CHAP9-SEPARATE2233]] ---- [[“Together.” ->CHAP9-TOGETHER2233]] ---- [[“Together?” [Flirt] ->CHAP9-WILLFLIRT2233]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

I grab Anya’s hand, watching her expression shift from surprise to a small, shy smile as we start to head up the stairs to the top. Once at the top, the ride attendant hands me a long piece of soft fabric, before she notices Anya and I holding hands. “Are you two going down together, or separate?” Anya looks at me, waiting to see what I’ll say. ---- [[“Separate.” ->CHAP9-SEPARATE22233]] ---- [[“Together.” ->CHAP9-TOGETHER22233]] ---- [[“Together?” [Flirt] ->CHAP9-ANYAFLIRT1233]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

I grab Murmur’s hand, watching their expression shift from slight surprise back to its normal blank slate as we start to head up the stairs to the top. Once at the top, the ride attendant hands me a long piece of soft fabric, before going on to help some kids get seated on the slide. I look at Murmur, who asks, “Are we going down together, or separate?” ---- [[“Separate.” ->CHAP9-SEPARATE3233]] ---- [[“Together.” ->CHAP9-TOGETHER3233]] ---- [[“Together?” [Flirt] ->CHAP9-MURMURFLIRT1233]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

I grab Dani’s hand, watching their expression shift from slight surprise to confusion as we start to head up the stairs to the top. Once at the top, the ride attendant hands me a long piece of soft fabric, before going on to help some kids get seated on the slide. I look at Dani, who asks, “Are we going down together, or separate?” ---- [[“Separate.” ->CHAP9-SEPARATE4233]] ---- [[“Together.” ->CHAP9-TOGETHER4233]] ---- [[“Together?” [Flirt] ->CHAP9-DANIFLIRT1233]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

I race to the top of the slide, waiting until the attendant comes over and hands me a long piece of cloth. I look down at it, confused until I watch a kid sit down on it on the slide. Suddenly understanding, I swiftly climb onto one of the slides with the cloth underneath me and take a deep breath before I //push// myself down the slide. I accelerate very quickly, the bumps I go over doing nothing to stop the momentum until I’m sure that I’m never going to stop- But I eventually do, looking at my friends <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT233]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN233]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE233]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED233]]

“Separate,” I the other demon quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Murmur sits down on the slide beside me, watching me closely, before they nod and push themselves down the slide. Blinking a bit in surprise, I push myself off as well and we both start picking up speed quickly until I feel like we’re never going to stop sliding. But Murmur and I do eventually slow to a stop at the bottom. We turn to each other where they give me a soft look and I look at them <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT233]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN233]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE233]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED233]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

“Together,” I tell them quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Murmur quickly sits down behind me, watching me closely for a second before asking, “Are you ready?” I give them a nod and they push us both down the slide, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Murmur <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT233]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN233]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE233]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED233]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>>

“Together?”I can’t help but ask, looking at them with what I hope //isn’t// concern. “Yes, I’ll show you. Sit down, if you will.” Murmur motions towards the slide, where I sit down quickly. Then, Murmur carefully sits down behind me, pressing up against my back. They watch my expression carefully, waiting to see if I’ll pull away or decide to go on my own, but that’s far from what is on my mind right now. Not when they’re so //solid// behind me- not when I’m unsure if I ever want them to leave from this exact spot. Resting both of their hands on my shoulders, Murmur leans impossibly closer and whispers, “Ready?” And before I can even understand what they’re asking, they push us so we suddenly go sliding, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Murmur <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT233]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN233]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE233]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED233]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>><<set $Murmur_Love to Math.clamp($Murmur_Love + 4, 0, 20)>>

“Separate,” I tell the woman quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Will quickly sits down on the slide next to mine, giving me a wide smile as he says, “Race you to the bottom- Three, two, one, //go!//” Before he suddenly pushes himself and he starts to slide. I’m not even able to say anything, I just push myself and start to slide right after him- somehow catching up on the second big bump in the slides. When I finally slow to a stop, Will stopping soon after me, I turn to him <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT233]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN233]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE233]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED233]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

“Together,” I tell the woman quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Will quickly sits down behind me, giving me a wide smile when I turn a bit to look at him. “Are you ready? Three, two, one, //go!//” I’m not even able to say anything as he pushes us both down the slide, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Will <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT233]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN233]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE233]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED233]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>>

“Together?”I can’t help but ask, looking at Will with what I hope //isn’t// concern. “Yeah, you sit-” The worker explains, waiting for me to do so before saying, “-And he sits behind you.” Will quickly sits down behind me, pressing up against my back. He watches my expression carefully, waiting to see if I’ll pull away or decide to go on my own, but that’s far from what is on my mind right now. Not when he’s so //warm// and //solid// behind me- not when I’m unsure if I ever want him to leave from this exact spot. Putting one of his hands on my hip, he leans in and whispers, “Ready?” And before I can even understand what he’s asking, he pushes with his other hand and we suddenly go sliding, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Will <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT233]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN233]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE233]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED233]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>> <<set $Will_Love to Math.clamp($Will_Love + 4, 0, 20)>>

“Separate,” I tell the woman quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Anya sits down on the slide beside me, giving me another small smile, her light brown eyes sparkling a bit in the sunlight. Nodding her head, she asks, “Ready?” Nodding my head, we both count to three before pushing off- picking up speed quickly until I feel like we’re never going to stop sliding. But Anya and I do eventually slow to a stop at the bottom. We turn to each other where she gives me a chuckle and wide smile, and I look at her <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT233]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN233]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE233]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED233]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

“Together,” I tell the woman quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Anya quickly sits down behind me, giving me a small smile when I turn a bit to look at her. “Are you ready?” I give her a nod and she pushes us both down the slide, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Anya <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT233]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN233]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE233]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED233]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>>

“Together?”I can’t help but ask, looking at Anya with what I hope //isn’t// concern. “Yeah, you sit-” The worker explains, waiting for me to do so before saying, “-And she sits behind you.” Anya carefully sits down behind me, pressing up against my back. She watches my expression carefully, waiting to see if I’ll pull away or decide to go on my own, but that’s far from what is on my mind right now. Not when she’s so //warm// and //solid// behind me- not when I’m unsure if I ever want her to leave from this exact spot. Leaning forward a bit so her chin rests on my shoulder, she whispers, “Ready?” And before I can even understand what she’s asking, she pushes us so we suddenly go sliding, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Anya <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT233]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN233]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE233]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED233]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>><<set $Anya_Love to Math.clamp($Anya_Love + 4, 0, 20)>>

“Separate,” I the angel quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Dani gingerly sits down on the slide beside me, watching me closely, before they nod and push themselves down the slide. Blinking a bit in surprise, I push myself off as well and we both start picking up speed quickly until I feel like we’re never going to stop sliding. But Dani and I do eventually slow to a stop at the bottom. We turn to each other where they give me a smirk, and I look at them <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT233]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN233]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE233]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED233]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 2, 0, 80)>>

“Together,” I tell them quickly, before getting seated and ready to slide down. Dani gingerly sits down behind me, like they are heavily debating not sliding with me, before asking, “Are you ready?” I give them a nod and they push us both down the slide, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Dani <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT233]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN233]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE233]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED233]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>>

“Together?”I can’t help but ask, looking at them with what I hope //isn’t// concern. “Yeah. Sit down and I’ll get behind you.” They nod towards the slide, their tone a bit strained, making it seem like they’re annoyed. I carefully sit down, unsure what to make of Dani’s reaction, when they carefully sit down behind me, pressing up against my back. They watch my expression carefully, waiting to see if I’ll pull away or decide to go on my own, but that’s far from what is on my mind right now. Not when they’re so //solid// behind me- not when I’m unsure if I ever want them to leave from this exact spot. A smirk suddenly grows on Dani’s face as they lean forward a bit, pressing even further into me, whispering, “Are you ready?” And before I can even understand what they’re asking, they push us so we suddenly go sliding, the speed picking up with every bump we go over until I’m certain we’ll keep sliding forever. But we do eventually slow to a stop, and when we do, I turn to Dani <<cycle "$reaction1" autoselect>> <<option "with a big grin on my face">> <<option "with wide eyes, breathless">> <<option "with no change in my expression.">><</cycle>> “So? How’d you like it?” Will asks me as soon as the group is back together. ---- [[I liked it a lot. ->CHAP9-LIKEIT233]] ---- [[Let’s go again! ->CHAP9-GOAGAIN233]] ---- [[It was fine. ->CHAP9-ITWASFINE233]] ---- [[I’m unimpressed. ->CHAP9-UNIMPRESSED233]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>><<set $Dani_Love to Math.clamp($Dani_Love + 4, 0, 20)>>

“I liked it. A lot!” I smile at all four of them, before excitedly looking around at all the other rides we haven’t tried yet. “Let’s go ride something else now!” We walk through the ride section of the park, going on some that catch my eye or Will and Anya want to try. It turns out that Dani loves rollercoasters, but Murmur… Well, it’s safe to say that we now know that demons can, in fact, get motion sickness just like mortals can. As we get into the line for a ride that has giant seats painted to look like whales or something similar. They spin round and round and //round//, and as we watch them move, Murmur starts to look a lot paler than they normally do. “I’ll take Murmur and go find somewhere to rest. We’ll find you when the ride is done.” Anya offers, taking pity on the poor nauseous demon. I nod at them as they walk away before I’m pulled onto the ride by Will and Dani. Once seated, I realize there’s a wheel in the middle of us, and Will explains that we can use it to spin faster. Dani smirks at us, obviously intending on spinning us until we can’t see straight- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-RIDESFIRST2233]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 3, 0, 80)>><<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 3, 0, 80)>><<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 3, 0, 80)>><<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 3, 0, 80)>>

“Let’s go again!” I excitedly say before running up the stairs again, earning a few laughs and smiles from the group. I go down the slide a few more times before I excitedly look around at all the other rides we haven’t tried yet. “Let’s go ride something else now!” We walk through the ride section of the park, going on some that catch my eye or Will and Anya want to try. It turns out that Dani loves rollercoasters, but Murmur… Well, it’s safe to say that we now know that demons can, in fact, get motion sickness just like mortals can. As we get into the line for a ride that has giant seats painted to look like whales or something similar. They spin round and round and //round//, and as we watch them move, Murmur starts to look a lot paler than they normally do. “I’ll take Murmur and go find somewhere to rest. We’ll find you when the ride is done.” Anya offers, taking pity on the poor nauseous demon. I nod at them as they walk away before I’m pulled onto the ride by Will and Dani. Once seated, I realize there’s a wheel in the middle of us, and Will explains that we can use it to spin faster. Dani smirks at us, obviously intending on spinning us until we can’t see straight- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-RIDESFIRST2233]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>><<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>><<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>><<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 4, 0, 80)>>

“It was fine.” I nod my head, earning a mix of concerned and confused looks from the groups. “Alright, well… Maybe something else will excite you more?” Will asks, motioning towards all the other rides we haven’t tried yet. We walk through the ride section of the park, going on some that catch my eye or Will and Anya want to try. It turns out that Dani loves rollercoasters, but Murmur… Well, it’s safe to say that we now know that demons can, in fact, get motion sickness just like mortals can. As we get into the line for a ride that has giant seats painted to look like whales or something similar. They spin round and round and //round//, and as we watch them move, Murmur starts to look a lot paler than they normally do. “I’ll take Murmur and go find somewhere to rest. We’ll find you when the ride is done.” Anya offers, taking pity on the poor nauseous demon. I nod at them as they walk away before I’m pulled onto the ride by Will and Dani. Once seated, I realize there’s a wheel in the middle of us, and Will explains that we can use it to spin faster. Dani smirks at us, obviously intending on spinning us until we can’t see straight- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP9-RIDESFIRST2233]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 1, 0, 80)>><<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 1, 0, 80)>><<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 1, 0, 80)>><<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 1, 0, 80)>>

---- !!!SOMEWHERE OUTSIDE THE PARK… Azrael was //certain// he felt a little bit of that spawn’s power, emanating from somewhere in this park. He stands at the edge of the parking lot, humans passing him by, unaware he’s even there- that he’s hunting for something that could very well end them- Someone runs into him, surprising him enough that he loses his train of thought. He looks at the woman with wide eyes- he shouldn’t be able to be seen or felt by humans. “Sorry! I’m in a hurry!” She turns around with an apologetic smile on her face, but once she gets a good look at Azrael her black eyes widen a bit- she’s scared. Azrael blinks away the surprise, a grimace coming over his features. He can sense a demon nearby, and this demon’s presence is all over this human woman. Sighing, he starts to wonder if his plan will be as simple as he wishes it to be… !CHAPTER NINE END… ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-1]]

!CHAPTER TEN ---- As we stand in line at the Ferris Wheel, I can’t help but feel like something is //off//, or wrong. When I look up at the giant ride, the two-person seats swinging gently as it slowly spins, something like anxiety crawls up my chest. Am I scared of going on this ride? Or is it something else? The others don’t seem to feel what I do, don’t seem to feel like something is about to go wrong. Will says something, making Anya and Dani chuckle, and Murmur seems to be gazing at the Ferris Wheel like it’s about to eat them. Looking back out towards the crowds of people moving through the park, unsure what I’m looking for exactly, I can’t help but feel like I’m being //watched//- “-$Name?” Will’s voice calling me catches my attention, and I turn to face my friends quickly with a questioning stare. Throwing a thumb over his shoulder, I notice we’re almost at the front of the line. “Only two people can sit together, so who do you want to take with you?” With one last glance up towards the giant spinning wheel, I realize that I won’t be able to get out of going on at this point. ---- [[Ride with Will. ->CHAP10-RIDEWILL]] ---- [[Ride with Murmur. ->CHAP10-RIDEMURMUR]] ---- [[Ride with Anya. ->CHAP10-RIDEANYA]] ---- [[Ride with Dani. ->CHAP10-RIDEDANI]]

“I’ll go with Will.” I nod towards him, catching his lopsided grin growing a bit more. The five of us grow silent as we watch the wheel slowly stop, the seat clearing quickly before the two teens in front of us get on after them. They seem to be on a date; holding hands, huddling and giggling together. <<if $Will_Love >=10>>Will’s expression softens a bit as he watches them before his gaze snaps to me. When he realizes I’m already watching him, he gives me a small grin, his cheeks darkening a bit, before looking back up at the Ferris Wheel. <<elseif Will_Love >=1 && $Will_Love <=9>>Will’s expression softens a bit as he watches them before the wheel starts to move again, and they start to rise.<</if>> ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-2]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 2, 0, 100)>><<set $FriendRide to 10>>

“I’ll go with Murmur.” I nod towards them, watching as they have to take a deep breath before nodding back. The five of us grow silent as we watch the wheel slowly stop, the seat clearing quickly before the two teens in front of us get on after them. They seem to be on a date; holding hands, huddling and giggling together. <<if $Murmur_Love >=10>>Murmur watches the kids with an almost eerie intensity. Their head tilts a bit before their white eyes snap to me. They blink in surprise when they realize I’m also watching them before they quickly look somewhere else. <<elseif Murmur_Love >=1 && $Murmur_Love <=9>> Murmur watches the kids with an almost eerie intensity, which they somehow never notice since they’re too enraptured with each other.<</if>> ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-2]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 2, 0, 100)>><<set $FriendRide to 20>>

“I’ll go with Anya.” I nod towards her, seeming to catch her a bit off guard, but she smiles anyway. The five of us grow silent as we watch the wheel slowly stop, the seat clearing quickly before the two teens in front of us get on after them. They seem to be on a date; holding hands, huddling and giggling together. <<if $Anya_Love >=10>>Anya watches the teens with a small smile before she turns that smile to me. When she realizes that I’m already staring at her, her cheeks heat up to a bright pink and her light brown eyes widen a bit in surprise. <<elseif Anya_Love >=1 && $Anya_Love <=9>> Anya watches the teens with a small smile before her gaze travels up the Ferris Wheel, the twinkling lights reflecting in her light brown eyes.<</if>> ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-2]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 2, 0, 100)>><<set $FriendRide to 30>>

“I’ll go with Dani.” I nod towards them, noticing how their dark eyes watch me carefully. The five of us grow silent as we watch the wheel slowly stop, the seat clearing quickly before the two teens in front of us get on after them. They seem to be on a date; holding hands, huddling and giggling together. <<if $Dani_Love >=10>>Dani watches the kids with a neutral expression for a few seconds, before their dark brown eyes flicker to meet mine. They raise an eyebrow after realizing I’m watching them before they turn to watch the Ferris Wheel again.<<elseif $Dani_Love >=1 && $Dani_Love <=9>>Dani watches the kids with a neutral expression for a few seconds, before their dark brown eyes raise to watch the Ferris Wheel.<</if>> ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-2]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 2, 0, 100)>><<set $FriendRide to 40>>

<<if $FriendRide >=40>>“Are you riding alone?” The ride attendant’s voice catches my attention, and I look to see a seat open and waiting for Dani and me. Dani quickly slides into the seat, before raising an eyebrow at me, beckoning me over with a finger curl. Once I’m seated, the attendant pulls the single guard rail down across our laps, and I only get a second to breathe before the ride starts to move slowly with a jolt.<<elseif $FriendRide >=30 && $FriendRide <=39>>”You guys are up next.” The ride attendant’s voice catches my attention, and I look to see a seat open and waiting for Anya and me. Anya gets into the seat, before giving me a shy smile. Once I’m seated beside her, the attendant pulls the single guard rail down across our laps, and I only get a second to breathe before the ride starts to move slowly with a jolt.<<elseif $FriendRide >=20 && $FriendRide <=29>>“Are you riding alone?” The ride attendant’s voice catches my attention, and I look to see a seat open and waiting for Murmur and me. Murmur quickly slides into the seat, trying their best not to look around or think too much about what they’re doing in case they get sick again. Once I’m seated, the attendant pulls the single guard rail down across our laps, and I only get a second to breathe before the ride starts to move slowly with a jolt.<<elseif $FriendRide >=10 && $FriendRide <=19>>“You guys are up next.” The ride attendant’s voice catches my attention, and I look to see a seat open and waiting for Will and me. Will gets into the seat, before beckoning me to do the same with a wide smile. Once I’m seated beside him, the attendant pulls the single guard rail down across our laps, and I only get a second to breathe before the ride starts to move slowly with a jolt.<</if>> As we start to rise high above the ground, the seat swaying back and forth gently, I look around at all the glittering, flashy lights of the amusement park. The people on the ground become smaller and smaller, but I can still see how excited everyone is just by how fast-paced and giddy their movements are. The loud noises get quieter the higher we go, which is a plus, but the colder the wind seems to get as well. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-3]]

<<if $FriendRide >=40>>I look over at Dani, watching them take in the scenes around them with something that looks like boredom on their face. The lights from other rides reflect in their dark eyes, flicking back and forth across the whole park.<<elseif $FriendRide >=30 && $FriendRide <=39>>I look over at Anya, watching as she seems to //carefully// look around, a little afraid of moving the seat too much.<<elseif $FriendRide >=20 && $FriendRide <=29>>I look over at Murmur, who is gripping the bar in front of them tightly. It’s a little funny how afraid they are, considering they could leave at any moment they wanted.<<elseif $FriendRide >=10 && $FriendRide <=19>>I look over at Will, who watches over the park with a warm grin, his eyes softening as if reminiscing about memories of his own at an amusement park just like this.<</if>> When we start to curve up towards the top, I look at the seat ahead of ours. The teens are now kissing, their arms wrapped around each other in what looks like an uncomfortably tight embrace. Suddenly, my gaze flickers to the next seat, noticing another couple cuddling together. They’re too far away, and the sun is now sitting below the horizon, so I can’t make out much more than their huddled forms- but they could also be kissing. My eyebrows furrow as I watch them, wondering if that’s what you’re supposed to do on a Ferris Wheel…? ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-4]]

<<if $FriendRide >=40>>I look over at Dani again, catching their attention. They look at me with a questioning stare, a dark eyebrow raised. Opening my mouth, I fully intend to ask them if we’re actually supposed to kiss on the Ferris Wheel- but the ride jolts to a stop right at the top, and the suddenness of it surprises me into continued silence. ---- [[Kiss Dani. [Flirt] ->CHAP10-DANIFLIRT1]] ---- [[Hug them. ->CHAP10-DANIHUG]] ---- [[Find something else to focus on. ->CHAP10-FOCUSELSE]] <<elseif $FriendRide >=30 && $FriendRide <=39>>I look over at Anya again, catching her attention. She looks at me with a soft smile, her eyebrows shooting up in question. Opening my mouth, I fully intend to ask her if we’re actually supposed to kiss on the Ferris Wheel- but the ride jolts to a stop right at the top, and the suddenness of it surprises me into continued silence. ---- [[Kiss Anya [Flirt] ->CHAP10-ANYAFLIRT1]] ---- [[Hug her. ->CHAP10-ANYAHUG]] ---- [[Find something else to focus on. ->CHAP10-FOCUSELSE]] <<elseif $FriendRide >=20 && $FriendRide <=29>>I look over at Murmur again, catching their attention. They look about ready to pass out, but still give their attention to me anyway. Opening my mouth, I fully intend to ask them if we’re actually supposed to kiss on the Ferris Wheel- but the ride jolts to a stop right at the top, and the suddenness of it surprises me into continued silence. ---- [[Kiss Murmur [Flirt] ->CHAP10-MURMURFLIRT1]] ---- [[Hug them. ->CHAP10-MURMURHUG]] ---- [[Find something else to focus on. ->CHAP10-FOCUSELSE]] <<elseif $FriendRide >=10 && $FriendRide <=19>>I look over at Will again, catching his attention. His grin widens, becoming a smile as he waits for me to say something. Opening my mouth, I fully intend to ask him if we’re actually supposed to kiss on the Ferris Wheel- but the ride jolts to a stop right at the top, and the suddenness of it surprises me into continued silence. ---- [[Kiss Will. [Flirt] ->CHAP10-WILLFLIRT1]] ---- [[Hug them. ->CHAP10-WILLHUG]] ---- [[Find something else to focus on. ->CHAP10-FOCUSELSE]]<</if>>

I don’t know what comes over me- my mind shuts off as I surge forward and press my lips against Dani’s. My eyes flutter shut, a warmth spreading through my face as I suddenly realize what I’m doing. But I don’t pull away, not yet… Dani freezes up for a second, and I can feel their gaze on me. But right before I’m about to pull away their hand comes up and caresses my face, holding me in place as they suddenly start to kiss me back like their life depends on it. Their lips are soft and pliant as they tilt their head a bit to slot our mouths together better, but the way they hold me close has a desperate sort of feeling lying underneath the surface of what was //going// to be just a quick peck. When the ride jolts into motion again, Dani suddenly seems to realize what they’re doing and pulls away from me harshly. Their face belies their shock; wide, dark brown eyes flicker across my face. They seem almost //scared//, and my heart drops at the thought that they didn’t actually like the kiss- T̶h̶e̴y̷ ̴ ̴ ̸d̵o̸n̶'̶t̴ ̶ ̴ ̵ ̴ ̸l̵i̸k̴e̶ ̷y̸o̷u̸ ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-5]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 5, 0, 100)>><<set $Dani_Love to Math.clamp($Dani_Love + 10, 0, 20)>><<set $Firstkiss to 40>>

Shaking my head, I realize that even if we’re //supposed// to kiss on a Ferris Wheel, I don’t particularly want to do that with Dani Instead, I wrap my arms around them, pulling them in close to me. Dani tenses up for a moment, before they wrap their arms around me as well. For a few seconds, we happily hug each other until the ride jolts back to life. We pull apart quickly, but before either of us can say anything I feel as if something is about to go //very wrong//- T̶h̶e̴y̷ ̴ ̴ ̸d̵o̸n̶'̶t̴ ̶ ̴ ̵ ̴ ̸l̵i̸k̴e̶ ̷y̸o̷u̸ My body goes rigid as soon as the voice speaks, the static filling my ears instantly. Dani says something else, but I can’t hear them over all the sounds. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-5]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 3, 0, 100)>>

Shaking my head, I look around the expanse of the park instead. I don’t feel any romantic attraction to <<if $FriendRide >=40>>Dani<<elseif $FriendRide >=30 && $FriendRide <=39>>Anya<<elseif $FriendRide >=20 && $FriendRide <=29>>Murmur<<elseif $FriendRide >=10 && $FriendRide <=19>>Will<</if>>, and I doubt <<if $FriendRide >=40>>they<<elseif $FriendRide >=30 && $FriendRide <=39>>she<<elseif $FriendRide >=20 && $FriendRide <=29>>they<<elseif $FriendRide >=10 && $FriendRide <=19>>he<</if>> will feel differently about me. As my gaze wanders the twinkling lights of the rides and vendors below, I suddenly feel as if something is about to go //very wrong//- Y̴O̸U̵ ̴D̶O̷N̴’̴T̵ ̴B̸E̶L̴O̸N̷G̷ ̶H̶E̸R̶E̸ My body goes rigid as soon as the voice speaks, the static filling my ears instantly. <<if $FriendRide >=40>>Dani<<elseif $FriendRide >=30 && $FriendRide <=39>>Anya<<elseif $FriendRide >=20 && $FriendRide <=29>>Murmur<<elseif $FriendRide >=10 && $FriendRide <=19>>Will<</if>> says something else, but I can’t hear <<if $FriendRide >=40>>them<<elseif $FriendRide >=30 && $FriendRide <=39>>her<<elseif $FriendRide >=20 && $FriendRide <=29>>them<<elseif $FriendRide >=10 && $FriendRide <=19>>him<</if>> over all the sounds. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-5]]

I don’t know what comes over me- my mind shuts off as I surge forward and press my lips against Anya’s. My eyes flutter shut, a warmth spreading through my face as I suddenly realize what I’m doing. But I don’t pull away, not yet… Anya’s body tenses up, and she pulls away from me with a gasp, her light brown eyes wide and searching as she does so. S̴h̶e̸ ̸d̵o̷e̸s̷n̶'̴t̷ ̴l̷i̵k̷e̶ ̵y̶o̶u̵ The voice in my head comes rolling in, like a cloud of thunder. My own body goes rigid as I stare at Anya, terrified and… something else, something heavy and //bad// sitting in my chest as I look at her. She says something, but I can’t hear her over the sound of the static filling my ears. Vaguely, I feel the Ferris wheel start to move again, but I can’t seem to focus on anything but the voice in my head. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-5]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 5, 0, 100)>><<set $Anya_Love to Math.clamp($Anya_Love + 10, 0, 20)>><<set $Firstkiss to 20>>

Shaking my head, I realize that even if we’re //supposed// to kiss on a Ferris Wheel, I don’t particularly want to do that with Anya. Instead, I wrap my arms around her, pulling jer in close to me. Anya tenses up for a moment, before she wraps her arms around me as well. For a few seconds, we happily hug each other until the ride jolts back to life. We pull apart quickly, but before either of us can say anything I feel as if something is about to go //very wrong//- s̸h̶e̸ ̵d̵o̴e̸s̶n̵'̶t̵ ̶l̵i̸k̶e̶ ̵y̴o̶u̸ My body goes rigid as soon as the voice speaks, the static filling my ears instantly. Anya says something else, but I can’t hear her over all the sounds. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-5]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 3, 0, 100)>>

I don’t know what comes over me- my mind shuts off as I surge forward and press my lips against Murmur’s. My eyes flutter shut, a warmth spreading through my face as I suddenly realize what I’m doing. But I don’t pull away, not yet… Murmur doesn’t move a single muscle- it’s like I’m pressing my lips against a marble statue. I pull away, my eyes opening wide to stare at the demon. Their expression is… Something I’ve never seen them make before- a mixture of shock and something else, something like pain. “$Name…” Murmur whispers my name, their raspy voice barely able to be heard over the Ferris Wheel as it suddenly jolts to life again. T̶h̶e̴y̷ ̴ ̴ ̸d̵o̸n̶'̶t̴ ̶ ̴ ̵ ̴ ̸l̵i̸k̴e̶ ̷y̸o̷u̸ The static starts to fill my ears, and my body goes rigid. I can’t help but stare at Murmur, but my focus isn’t really on them. They must sense something is wrong because they say something else, but I can’t hear them. Not over the static. Not over the voice. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-5]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 5, 0, 100)>><<set $Murmur_Love to Math.clamp($Murmur_Love + 10, 0, 20)>><<set $Firstkiss to 30>>

Shaking my head, I realize that even if we’re //supposed// to kiss on a Ferris Wheel, I don’t particularly want to do that with Murmur Instead, I wrap my arms around them, pulling them in close to me. Murmur tenses up for a moment, before they wrap their arms around me as well. For a few seconds, we happily hug each other until the ride jolts back to life. We pull apart quickly, but before either of us can say anything I feel as if something is about to go //very wrong//- T̶h̶e̴y̷ ̴ ̴ ̸d̵o̸n̶'̶t̴ ̶ ̴ ̵ ̴ ̸l̵i̸k̴e̶ ̷y̸o̷u̸ My body goes rigid as soon as the voice speaks, the static filling my ears instantly. Murmur says something else, but I can’t hear them over all the sounds. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-5]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 3, 0, 100)>>

I don’t know what comes over me- my mind shuts off as I surge forward and press my lips against Will’s. My eyes flutter shut, a warmth spreading through my face as I suddenly realize what I’m doing. But I don’t pull away, not yet… Will lets out a surprised sound when our lips meet, and when the Ferris Wheel jolts to life once more, he gently pushes against my shoulders, pushing me away from him. I look at him in shock, terrified… and something else, something heavy and //bad// sitting in my chest. “$Name, do you…?” His sentence trails off as he stares at me with wide eyes, his hands trembling a bit as they hold me at arm's length. H̸e̵ ̴d̵o̴e̸s̶n̶'̸t̶ ̷l̴i̶k̴e̵ ̶y̷o̸u̷ My body goes rigid as soon as the voice speaks, the static filling my ears instantly. Will says something else, but I can’t hear him over all the sounds. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-5]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 5, 0, 100)>><<set $Will_Love to Math.clamp($Will_Love + 10, 0, 20)>><<set $Firstkiss to 10>>

Shaking my head, I realize that even if we’re //supposed// to kiss on a Ferris Wheel, I don’t particularly want to do that with Will. Instead, I wrap my arms around him, pulling them in close to me. Will tenses up for a moment, before he wraps his arms around me as well. For a few seconds, we happily hug each other until the ride jolts back to life. We pull apart quickly, but before either of us can say anything I feel as if something is about to go //very wrong//- T̶h̶e̴y̷ ̴ ̴ ̸d̵o̸n̶'̶t̴ ̶ ̴ ̵ ̴ ̸l̵i̸k̴e̶ ̷y̸o̷u̸ My body goes rigid as soon as the voice speaks, the static filling my ears instantly. Will says something else, but I can’t hear him over all the sounds. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-5]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 3, 0, 100)>>

I can’t stand to look at <<if $FriendRide >=40>>Dani<<elseif $FriendRide >=30 && $FriendRide <=39>>Anya<<elseif $FriendRide >=20 && $FriendRide <=29>>Murmur<<elseif $FriendRide >=10 && $FriendRide <=19>>Will<</if>> anymore, not when <<if $FriendRide >=40>>they look<<elseif $FriendRide >=30 && $FriendRide <=39>>she looks<<elseif $FriendRide >=20 && $FriendRide <=29>>they look<<elseif $FriendRide >=10 && $FriendRide <=19>>he looks<</if>> at me with such concern. “$Name-” The static in my head takes on a whole new level of pain, drowning out any other sound until I’m //sure// my brain is liquifying. I shut my eyes, trying to stay //sane//- n̶o̵ ̴o̵n̸e̶ ̵w̸i̴l̶l̶ ̷e̸v̴e̵r̷ ̵b̴e̸ ̷a̸b̶l̶e̵ ̷t̸o̴ ̸l̸o̵v̶e̴ ̵y̶o̷u̶ Shaking my head, I try to dislodge the voice, try to clear it from my mind. Vaguely, I’m aware of someone screaming in the distance, of the seat underneath me shaking violently- y̶o̷u̷ ̴d̶o̵n̴'̸t̸ ̷b̴e̴l̵o̵n̴g̸ ̵i̸n̷ ̶t̷h̴i̶s̶ ̷w̴o̷r̸l̷d̶ “Shut up!” I slam my fist on the bar across my lap. The impact is //just// enough to bring me out of my thoughts, bringing me back to reality. Something is //screeching//, a weird metallic sound that causes the hairs on the back of my neck to rise. I blink as I stare ahead at the seat in front of us, at the teen couple as they hold onto each other. But there’s something different about their body language, the looks on their faces… They’re //terrified//, clinging to each other as if their lives depended on it. And that’s when I notice their seat tilting at a different angle, tilting too far to the right. If the rails on the side of the seat were gone, they’d be sliding out and falling what has to be sixty feet to the hard concrete. <<if $FriendRide >=40>>”$Name.” Dani’s voice calling to me finally tears my attention away from the seat in front of us. I look at the angel with wide eyes, unsure what their expression means exactly. They aren’t happy, but I also can’t tell if they’re upset. “You need to calm down. //Now.//”<<elseif $FriendRide >=30 && $FriendRide <=39>>”$Name…” Anya’s voice calling to me finally tears my attention away from the seat in front of us. I look at her with wide eyes, watching her expression morph from panic to just plain terror. “What… What are you doing?” <<elseif $FriendRide >=20 && $FriendRide <=29>>”$Name.” Murmur’s voice calling to me finally tears my attention away from the seat in front of us. I look at them with wide eyes, their white eyes staring at me so intensely. “You need to calm down.” <<elseif $FriendRide >=10 && $FriendRide <=19>>”$Name, please.” Will’s voice calling to me finally tears my attention away from the seat in front of us. I look at him with wide eyes, taking in the panic hidden behind his gaze, his mouth forming a tight line. “Calm down, alright?”<</if>> ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-6]]

Slowly, I take a look around, trying to find something to focus on that can help me calm down, but as I take in the other seats around me I realize that it isn’t just the teens' seat that sits at a dangerous angle. Everyone on the upper half of the Ferris Wheel is trying to hold on for dear life, screams and crying echoing against the night sky. When I chance a look down, I realize that //''I''// am nearly falling out of my seat as well. The panic that starts to grow in my chest brings back some of the //static// in my head, and I have to shut my eyes tight, trying to fend off the voice as best as I can. //’Calm down. Just calm down.’// “Everyone, please stay calm!” A voice rings out from somewhere down below. “We’re going to slowly bring the Ferris Wheel around and evacuate everyone from the ride! Please don’t make any sudden movements, and you should be fine! We’re going to start the ride in three, two, one-” The ride jolts to life, causing a cacophony of screams. s̵o̴ ̶a̴n̵n̵o̷y̸i̸n̵g̶ My body goes rigid as the voice comes back, the screaming from the other passengers not helping in the slightest. The sound of metal scraping against metal comes back to my ears, and I can only vaguely wonder what's causing the sound. <<if $FriendRide >=40>>Dani’s hand grips mine on the metal bar on our laps, cold skin against cold skin. My gaze snaps to them, meeting dark brown eyes. “$Name. //Calm down//.” <<elseif $FriendRide >=30 && $FriendRide <=39>>Anya’s hand grips mine on the metal bar on our laps, shaking violently as she does so. My gaze snaps to her, meeting light brown eyes. “P-please… Please calm down.”<<elseif $FriendRide >=20 && $FriendRide <=29>>Murmur’s hand grips mine on the metal bar on our laps, cold and firm. My gaze snaps to them, meeting white eyes. “You need to calm down.” <<elseif $FriendRide >=10 && $FriendRide <=19>>Will’s hand grips mine on the metal bar on our laps, his usually warm skin is cold and clammy. My gaze snaps to him, meeting dark brown eyes. “Please calm down, $Name… //Please//.”<</if>> h̷o̵w̸ ̷c̷a̵n̸ ̷I̴ ̴c̴a̵l̵m̸ ̴d̶o̸w̶n̶?̵ My gaze snaps to the seat now above us, barely hanging on by its nuts and bolts. My brain suddenly pieces together what I’m seeing exactly, suddenly making sense. Did I cause this to happen? o̵f̶ ̵c̵o̴u̸r̵s̶e̷ ̵I̸ ̸c̶a̵u̵s̷e̸d̵ ̴i̴t̸ I̴ ̸d̷o̸n̷'̵t̷ ̸b̷e̶l̵o̴n̶g̶ ̶i̶n̵ ̷t̶h̴i̴s̶ ̶w̸o̸r̴l̴d̴ I̷ ̴w̵a̴s̵ ̸m̶a̶d̷e̸ ̸f̴o̶r̶ ̶o̵n̶e̸ ̸t̵h̴i̵n̷g̴ ---- [[Ignore the voice. Calm down. ->CHAP10-IGNOREVOICE]] ---- [[Let the voice speak- what exactly is it saying? ->CHAP10-LETVOICESPEAK]]

Squeezing my eyes shut, I try to ignore the voice. This voice and the strange powers that I have seem to be affected by my emotions. If I let myself get upset, then I won’t be able to control them. I just have to stay calm until they manage to get everyone off the ride... With another jolt, the ride stops to let more passengers off at the bottom. Then, it starts moving again, so slowly that it almost makes it seem like time has slowed down itself. Taking a deep breath, I realize we're going to be here for a while... ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-7]] <<set $Sanity_Meter to Math.clamp($Sanity_Meter + 1, 0, 100)>>

Squeezing my eyes shut, I try to focus on the voice in my head- only to realize that it seems to have gone away once more. This voice and the strange powers that I have seem to be affected by my emotions. If I let myself get upset, then I won’t be able to control them. I just have to stay calm until they manage to get everyone off the ride... With another jolt, the ride stops to let more passengers off at the bottom. Then, it starts moving again, so slowly that it almost makes it seem like time has slowed down itself. Taking a deep breath, I realize we're going to be here for a while... ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-7]] <<set $Sanity_Meter to Math.clamp($Sanity_Meter - 1, 0, 100)>>

---- !!!A little while later… Once everyone is evacuated off the Ferris Wheel, and our group is back together, there seems to be a dark cloud hanging over our heads. Will and Anya watch me with something close to trepidation, while Murmur and Dani seem to be searching the crowd for something. “I think we should leave. Right now.” Dani says suddenly, their dark eyes flicking from Will, Anya, and Murmur, before finally settling on me with an inscrutable expression. “$Name used $g3 powers again. Azrael is probably on his way //right now//, as we speak. $Name needs to get as far away as possible.” Nodding, Will seems to snap out of his dark thoughts as he turns to look at me. “C’mon, $Name.” As we all make our way to the front gates of the amusement park, a sudden wave of ice-cold dread drops down my spine, instantly putting me on high alert. I can feel a pair of eyes on me, a pair of eyes that feel //dangerous// and intense. Before we walk through the exit gate, Dani suddenly whips their arm out to stop us in our tracks. Confused, I look ahead- only to see a tall man dressed in a gray suit, similar to Dani’s. He has intense hazel eyes and sienna-colored skin. His black hair is long and wavy, pulled back into a low ponytail. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-8]]

“Ah, the spawn.” He greets me suddenly, his intense gaze on me instantly. He takes a step forward, but Dani steps in front of me, causing the other angel to finally notice their presence. “Daniel, what do you think you’re doing?” Tipping their head back, looking down their nose at Azrael, Dani sighs. “I’m doing what I think I should do.” Azrael blinks, before barking out a loud guffaw. His teeth seem too sharp, too white, too perfect, as he gives Dani a sneer. “‘What you think you should do’? What you //should do// is listen to your older siblings. Don’t be naive and think that you can do anything to stop what must be done.” Dani’s shoulders are nearly raised to their ears, their body tensing up in a way that looks painful. Then, they speak to us over their shoulder, never taking their eyes off of Azrael. “Will, I need you to get $Name out of here. I’ll try to hold Azrael off for as long as I can and then meet up with you later.” “//What//?” Will’s voice cracks, his wide-eyed gaze snapping between Dani and Azrael. “Get $g2 out of here!” Dani snaps, throwing their arms down in frustration. “If Azrael takes $g2 now, there’s no telling what they’ll do.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-9]] <<set $Azraelstat to "Azrael- An angel sent to capture me. He seems dangerous...">>

Will hesitates still, something about this situation causes him to become conflicted. “Will, do as Dani says.” Murmur’s soft, raspy voice is barely heard over the commotion of the park, but they still somehow get all of our attention. “I will stick with Dani and help them. You and Anya need to leave and get $Name to safety.” Opening his mouth, more than likely about to argue some more, Will is suddenly cut off by Azrael. “Spawn- //$Name//, listen to me. You are not supposed to be here, and I think you know it. Come with me now, on your own volition, and I swear that nothing bad will happen to you.” Azrael’s hazel eyes stare right into my own $eyecolor eyes, the intensity behind them almost making me back away. “What?” My voice comes out in a whisper, but I know that the angel heard me. What does he mean that I’m not supposed to be here? Does he mean in the amusement park? Or… “//Don’t// listen to him, $Name.” Dani’s voice is full of venom, but it isn’t directed at me. They take a step towards Azrael, catching his attention. “If you go with him, you’ll be //killed//.” “My younger sibling seems to be a bit confused.” Azrael sighs, rolling his shoulders, before he starts stalking towards us. There’s something //wrong// with him, something like an //aura//, dark and foreboding, as he comes towards us. “We only want to help you, $Name.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-10]]

My entire group takes a step backward for every step Azrael takes closer to us, unwilling to be any closer to him. I know I shouldn’t be speaking with him- what I //should// be doing is getting as far away from him as I can. But for some reason I don’t; for some reason, I want to hear what he has to say. He’s been a lot more informative than Dani has been… “Help me? Help me how?” “As I’ve stated before; you don’t belong here. We’ll take you somewhere safer and somewhere where you can’t harm anyone-” “You guys need to //leave//! //''Now''//!” Dani suddenly yells before they rush towards Azrael, who seems to have expected this outburst. Will must suddenly realize the gravity of the situation because he pushes against me to get me to move toward the other set of exit gates. I try to shake him off, to get to Dani and Azrael, but Anya starts to push me towards the gate as well. “I’ll meet with you all later.” My gaze snaps to Murmur, who gives me a nod before heading over to help keep Azrael away from me. “$Name, don’t do this! If you keep running away, keep staying amongst the mortals, you’ll-” Azrael’s voice gets cut off when Dani pushes him back, a white light sparking between their hands and the angel’s chest as they do so. Murmur rushes up to the angels, but that’s all I get to see before a blinding white light radiates from Azrael, an angry yell escaping him- //Is he going to kill Murmur and Dani?// ---- [[Turn around to try and help them. ->CHAP10-TRYHELP]] ---- [[I should just do what they say and get out of here… ->CHAP10-11]]

I try to turn back around, to get to the angel and demon now fighting to help me, but Will grabs onto my arm and pulls me back. I whip around to face him, trying to pull my arm away, saying, “Let go of me! We need to help them-” “No, $Name. They’re doing what they can to //help you escape//.” When I try to pull away from him again, Will grips me tighter as he throws his free hand towards the park again. “//That// is who we’ve been trying to stay away from! That is who you’ve been running away from since you woke up in New York! Don’t let their efforts go to waste by walking right up to him and getting caught!” Sighing, I realize that he’s right. If I go back and get caught by Azrael now, Dani and Murmur’s efforts at protecting me would be for nothing. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-11]]

We start to run across the parking lot, weaving through cars and people as we go. But when we reach the cars, the lights above our heads start to flicker, and something like static electricity flows across my body, raising the hairs on my arms as I spin around, trying to find any form of danger. Then, a white cloud of smoke appears by Will’s car, and I watch in horror as Azrael steps out. He looks a little rumpled, but otherwise still standing on two feet, perfectly fine. The look in his eyes is murderous though, as he takes a menacing step towards the three of us. Sighing, Azrael wipes some stray hairs out of his face, before his intense focus is on me again. “I’m getting rather tired of this game of cat and mouse, $Name. Come with me and I’ll spare your friends’ lives.” Dread fills me with those words. I open my mouth to try and say something but find that I suddenly can’t breathe. The fear in my chest expands, pushing against my lungs and freezing me to the spot. As Azrael starts to stomp towards me, Will and Anya move to stand in front of me, becoming my shield. With a sigh, Azrael stops in his tracks, glaring at the two mortals. “You two don’t even realize the amount of danger you are in just by being this close to the spawn.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-12]]

“$g3 name is $Name.” Will’s eyebrows furrow, trying to seem intimidating. But I can see his hands shaking, his shoulders hunched up near his ears from how tense he is. “And you aren’t taking $g2 anywhere.” Sighing again, Azrael shakes his head with a disappointed expression. “Will, you’re supposed to be catholic. Trusting the //devil’s spawn// over an //angel//?” Will’s shoulders deflate a little, and he turns his face away so I can no longer see his expression. “And you, Anya…” Hazel eyes flick to her, an unimpressed eyebrow raising as he does so. “You have a //past// with demons, and you’re letting not one, but //two// dictate your life again?” Although I can’t see her expression, I can tell he hit a nerve with Anya as well. She gasps, a hand coming up to cover her mouth, shaking her head vigorously. Azrael’s intense gaze falls onto me once again. “I’m going to give you one last chance, $Name. If you come with me willingly, then I won’t have to kill anyone here. I’ll admit, it isn’t just you that we’re doing this for. If we allow you to stay here much longer, then things will start to go wrong for //everyone//.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-13]]

The image of the tarot card I got earlier in Katrina’s tent flashes through my mind- of the tall tower cracking and falling apart. How scared she had been upon seeing it, saying that disaster was about to strike. She had said something else as well, something that made an icy shard of dread slip down my spine, //“No, it means that… The disaster is already unfolding; you are the sacrifice that either starts it or stops it.”// “What do you mean by that?” My voice wavers, something like anxiety and fear rolling up in a ball inside my chest. But I have to know, I //have to//… “I’ll explain everything to you once we are safe.” Azrael extends a hand out towards me, nodding his head at it as if that’d make me step forward and take it right away. If I’m the one that //starts// the disaster, then what Azrael is saying could be true. Not only will Will and Anya be in danger, //are// in danger, but every single person here on Earth will be as well. On the other hand, if I’m the one that //ends// the disaster, it still makes more sense to let the angels take me before the disaster //starts//. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-14]]

When I don’t say anything, Will and Anya slowly turn around to look at me. Will’s eyebrows are furrowed, but there’s an underlying panic in his eyes. Anya’s light brown eyes are wide, her pale face even paler as she’s terrified. “...$Name?” I’m not sure who called out to me, my thoughts spiraling in my foggy brain making it difficult to pay attention to anything else. If everyone around me is in danger just by being //near me//, just for my existence here on Earth, then… isn’t it better if I just surrender now? Azrael isn’t going to stop coming after me just because I get away once again. Can I continuously keep my friends in danger just because I don’t want to leave? “Make the right decision, $Name.” Azrael’s deep voice catches my attention, and my gaze falls on him once more. I stare at his outstretched hand, the impossible choice laid before me. ---- [[Go with Azrael. ->CHAP10-GOWITHAZRAEL]] ---- [[No, I will NOT go with the angels. ->CHAP10-NOAZ]]

Stepping around my friends, I slowly take small steps towards Azrael. “$Name? $Name, no!” Will grips my wrist, pulling me back. “What are you doing? You can’t go with him!” I harshly pull my hand from Will, watching his rising panic finally take hold. “I’m doing this to keep you guys //safe//-” “We’ll be fine!” Will’s voice cracks, his breathing coming out of him in harsh gasps. He seems like he’s on the verge of a panic attack, and it makes me feel… //upset//. “We’ll figure something out //together//, alright? You don’t deserve whatever those angels have in store for you just because you’re…” “Because I’m what?” I ask tiredly, a creeping exhaustion suddenly taking hold of me. “A demon? The spawn of Satan and The Devil? How is it fair for me to expect you all to give up your lives just to try and help me? What if I’m beyond saving? What then?” “You //aren’t// beyond saving, $Name,” Anya speaks up, her voice surprisingly loud and clear. “But if $g1 were to stay here on Earth, then the //world// would be beyond saving,” Azrael speaks up again, his expression blank as he stares at me. “You’re making the right choice, $Name.” Turning around, I start walking towards the angel once more- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-15]] <<set $GoAz to 20>>

I shake my head, clearing it of any doubts. “I’m not going with you.” Azrael’s arm falls back down to his side, his expression blank. “... Are you so sure about that?” “What?” I ask, confused. “Are you //sure// you’re willing to risk your friends’ lives?” Azrael motions towards Anya and Will, who continue to watch me closely. “Because staying here will put them in danger.” Opening my mouth, I try to think of something to say, but inevitably can’t think of anything. Is it really ok to stay here, despite knowing that it’ll put my friends in danger? “We’ll be fine, $Name.” Will says suddenly, probably able to sense that I’m having doubts about my choice. His voice cracks, his breathing coming out of him in harsh gasps. He seems like he’s on the verge of a panic attack, and it makes me feel… //upset//. “We’ll figure something out //together//, alright? You don’t deserve whatever those angels have in store for you just because you’re…” “Because I’m what?” I ask tiredly, a creeping exhaustion suddenly taking hold of me. “A demon? The spawn of Satan and The Devil? How is it fair for me to expect you all to give up your lives just to try and help me? What if I’m beyond saving? What then?” “You //aren’t// beyond saving, $Name,” Anya speaks up, her voice surprisingly loud and clear. “But if $g1 were to stay here on Earth, then the //world// would be beyond saving,” Azrael speaks up again, his expression blank as he stares at me. “You know what the right choice is, $Name.” I turn to face the angel once more- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-15]] <<set $GoAz to 10>>

Only to be stopped in my tracks by a cloud of black smoke appearing before me. Pursan steps out of the cloud, stepping towards Azrael with long strides full of confidence. A low growl emanates from deep within him, black smoke coming off his broad shoulders in wisps as he says, “You’re going to pay for what you did to Murmur-” “You guys need to leave now!” A different voice calls out, catching our attention. All three of us spin around to find Katrina running up to us, her long black hair swaying back and forth as she does so. “We’ll distract the angel so you guys can leave!” Will immediately jumps into action- he grabs his keys out of his pocket and unlocks the car before he grabs me by the arm and rushes towards his car. Anya runs to her car as well, only turning around to watch us once she has a foot inside the door. “Text me the address when you get a chance!” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-16]]

Will nods at her as he jumps into the car, fumbling with the ignition for a second as I throw myself into the passenger side. Once the engine roars to life, he high-tails it out of the parking lot, getting honked at by a few other cars trying to leave. Turning around in my seat, I watch the figures of Katrina, Pursan, and Azrael get smaller and smaller until the darkness of the night swallows them completely. As I turn forward in my seat, another wave of exhaustion rushes over me. I fall back against the seat, something like a sigh escaping my lips, my mind reliving the events of the night behind my closed eyelids. But before I can dwell on anything for too long, a sudden harsh, throbbing pain radiates across <<if $Hornarea2 >=30>>my temples<<elseif $Hornarea2 >=20 && $Hornarea2 <=29>>the crown of my head<<elseif $Hornarea2 >=10 && $Hornarea2 <=19>>my forehead<</if>>. I cry out, my vision swimming as the pain gets worse and //worse//- “$Name- hey... -re you... -ight?” Will’s voice fades in and out of my consciousness as I’m unable to focus on him. “Is it... -ther headache?” Despite the pain in my head, I can feel myself slowly slipping into unconsciousness, my eyes fluttering open to look at Will for just a brief second. The last thing I see is his worried expression before I’m out cold. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-17]]

---- !!!??? //Icy cold wind whips across my body, startling me awake. I sit up quickly, my eyes frantically looking around- only to see bare trees and snow surrounding me. There’s something else too, something floating in the air- it’s almost like a ''stench'', something putrid and deadly. It makes my nose wrinkle in disgust, but before I can try and figure out where it’s coming from, someone is sprinting through the trees towards me. A young girl, probably around 12 or 13 years old, runs as fast as her skinny legs will take her. I only have a brief second to realize that she’s wearing nothing but a white, oversized T-shirt before she falls into the snow right in front of me. Long, light blonde hair whips around in the wind as she looks over her shoulder, her wide light brown eyes frantically searching the horizon. And that’s when I realize that this is Anya and that I must be seeing one of her memories. Suddenly, a group of men in dark coats surround Anya and me within a blink of an eye. They speak in a language I don’t know, their low voices barely even louder than the howling wind. There is one word that sticks out to me, something that sounds like… ‘mahleeshka’.// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-18]]

//But before I can dwell on what the group of men are saying, they harshly grab Anya by the arms and start to drag her away. She kicks and screams at the top of her lungs, her feet scraping against the snow and frozen dirt. I rush forward, despite knowing that I can’t do anything about this situation since it technically already happened, my hand outstretched towards her. And then I realize that her shirt is starting to stain red- she’s bleeding quite heavily from her chest. Light brown eyes make contact with mine, a type of desperate terror inside them that almost has me falling to my knees. What is happening to her here, exactly? What did these men do to her to cause such horror? Her pale lips open and in a heartwrenching scream she calls out my name. It echoes across the land, bouncing off the naked trees and packed snow. $Name! ''$Name!''// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-19]]

---- !!!A few hours later… “$Name, wake up-” A gasp escapes my lips as I wrench my eyes open, lurching forward so fast that the seatbelt catches. When I look around to get my bearings, I realize that we’re back at Will’s apartment complex. He watches me with concern, the overhead light casting shadows across his facial features as he does so. Wincing a bit, he asks, “Did you… Did you see another memory?” Nodding, I undo my seatbelt, trying to catch my breath before answering him. “Yes. I did. It was… It was one of Anya’s.” Will nods his head, a strange expression flickering across his face before he sighs. “Well, we should probably go pack up some stuff. We can’t stay here for too long, or the angels will find us.” After making sure that Camio is still safe and sound in the backseat, we both hurry up to the elevator that takes us to Will’s floor. It seems to take forever to open up, both of our nerves alight at the idea that if we waste too much time here, the angels will find us. As we jog up to the front door, Will suddenly freezes to the spot as he glances at the small window that looks into the living room. There seems to be a light on, which is a little strange considering we’re both pretty sure that all the lights were off when we left a few days ago… ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-20]]

Taking a deep breath, Will stares at the door with trepidation. “If the angels were here already, they’d just sit out in the parking lot, right?” I’m unsure if he’s actually asking me and wanting an answer, so I just nod my head, a small hum of agreement leaving me. Nodding, Will’s shaky hands unlock the door with a little trouble before he quickly rushes through the threshold. I follow behind him, immediately running into his back as he’s suddenly stopped in his tracks. Peering over his shoulder, I understand why he’s stopped moving. Standing in Will’s living room is a man who looks an awful lot like him, his dark eyebrows furrowing as he stares at us. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP10-21]]

“Uncle Jer?” Will’s voice is quiet as he calls out his uncle’s name, expression caught between confusion and apprehension. “What are you doing-” Will’s question gets cut off as someone else steps into the room, someone who has a ball of anxiety form in my chest. Sabrina steps out from the small hallway that leads to our rooms, her eyes widening as she realizes that Will is home. But when her gaze lands on me, her expression darkens into anger, her hackles seemingly rising. “We need to talk, Will.” His uncle’s voice is low, with a mumbling quality to it that has me leaning in a bit to hear him. He has a different accent than Will, something I vaguely wonder is a New Orleans accent. But any wonder I have is abruptly put to an end when his uncle turns his glare onto me. Suddenly, I realize that this talk isn’t going to be very pleasant for me. !CHAPTER TEN END... ---- [[NEXT ->CHAPTER11-1]]

!CHAPTER ELEVEN The sudden apprehension that fills the room is suffocating as we all look at each other. No one moves or says anything for what feels like an eternity, uncertainty obvious in our expressions. “When Sabrina told me you were running around with a demon, I didn’t want to believe it.” Will’s uncle nods his head towards me, but his eyes never leave his nephew. He sighs, his shoulders slumping a bit as if disappointed. “//Damn//, I //really// wish this never happened…” “What are you talking about?” Will sounds absolutely confused, and I don’t blame him. His uncle seems to know something and is holding back on some kind of information. Eyes flickering to me for just a second, Jeremy shakes his head as if clearing his thoughts. But before he can say anything else, Sabrina is stepping farther into the room and speaking up instead. “We came to talk some sense into you. After what happened at my house, it's very obvious that you’re being possessed by this demon and are in danger.” Sabrina jabs a finger in my direction, scowling. She looks as if she’s somehow aged ten years since the last time I saw her, and I briefly wonder if I had anything to do with that. Groaning, Will wipes a hand down his face in a huff. “We’ve already been over this, Sabrina. //I’m not possessed by $Name.//” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP11-2]]

“You know all the signs for possession, Will,” Jeremy speaks up suddenly, his low voice //just// demanding enough to get Will to stay quiet and listen to him. “You’ve been through a few- a lot more that ended better than the first.” I look at Will, noticing how his shoulders are nearly hunched up to his ears. His uncle must be talking about the exorcism from the memory I saw, the one that still causes Will to panic when it’s brought up. “The possession you saw all those years ago was bad, but that isn’t how they all go. Some people are possessed for years and don’t realize it, because the demon doing the possessing doesn’t want them to. But their actions, thoughts, and decisions are all influenced by the demon just the same, it’s just not as obvious to an outsider. You should know this.” Shrugging his shoulders in a rather jerky motion, the older man quietly adds, “You witnessed a possession where the demon //wanted you to know// it was possessing Helen. It wanted to toy with you that way.” Will’s breathing stutters as he listens to what his uncle is telling him before he slowly turns towards me. My heart drops in my chest, expecting Will to suddenly accuse me of possessing him, but what he actually says surprises me. “Helen was the name of the woman you saw. She went to the same church my family went to… Somehow she got possessed by a violent demon, and my father just so happens to be an exorcist-” “You don’t need to relive the event, Will.” His uncle cuts him off, taking a step towards us as he does so. Seeming to ignore his uncle, Will shakes his head as he continues on with what he’s saying. “My dad was also teaching me all he knew about being an exorcist and wanted me to put my knowledge to the test. So he brought me along to this exorcism…” Will’s voice falters, and his dark brown gaze falls to the floor, unshed tears gathering in the corners. ---- [[Don’t press, this is obviously upsetting to him. ->CHAP11-DONTPRESSWILL]] ---- [[Press him, I really want to hear what happened. ->CHAP11-PRESSWILL]]

Shaking my head, I start to say, “Will, you don’t have to-” “I know I don’t //have// to.” Will interrupts me before he sighs. “I feel like I need help getting over what happened to be able to move on. I can’t get over it if I keep it bottled up inside.” Nodding my head, letting him know I understand, Will continues with what he is saying. “When we arrived at Helen’s house, she was in a bad way. Her body was starting to deteriorate as a result of the possession, so she was too weak to get out of her bed. It’s probably one of the main reasons why she didn’t… didn’t survive. Even though she was unlikely to last much longer, my father forced me to start with the exorcism. ” Will’s eyes fall to the floor again, his shoulders rising as he takes a deep breath. “There are three steps to an exorcism- the first step is to acknowledge the demon and learn its name. The second step is to cast protections over yourself so the demon can’t possess you in the process of removing it from its host. The third step is to expel the demon from the host and exorcise it… We never got to that step with Helen.” “Why?” I find myself asking, my voice seeming so loud in the sudden silence of the apartment. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP11-3]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 2, 0, 100)>>

“What happened, Will?” I press gently, wanting to know what happened but not wanting to cause Will to shut down and keep it to himself again. “When we arrived at Helen’s house, she was in a bad way. Her body was starting to deteriorate as a result of the possession, so she was too weak to get out of her bed. It’s probably one of the main reasons why she didn’t… didn’t survive. Even though she was unlikely to last much longer, my father forced me to start with the exorcism. ” Will’s eyes fall to the floor again, his shoulders rising as he takes a deep breath. “There are three steps to an exorcism- the first step is to acknowledge the demon and learn its name. The second step is to cast protections over yourself so the demon can’t possess you in the process of removing it from its host. The third step is to expel the demon from the host and exorcise it… We never got to that step with Helen.” “Why?” I find myself asking, my voice seeming so loud in the sudden silence of the apartment. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP11-3]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 1, 0, 100)>>

Eyebrows furrowing, Will looks at his uncle before answering me. “Something went wrong while I was trying to exorcise the demon. I managed to remove it from Helen’s body, but…” Voice faltering, Will lets his sentence hang in the air. “I don’t know what exactly it was, but there was a sudden //change//. It felt like… Like a lightning storm was brewing in the room. There was a weird charge in the air, and it gave the demon its strength back- made it //more powerful than before//, even. It re-entered Helen’s body and killed her instantly, consuming her soul before it just… //left//.” His uncle finishes for him, his gaze focusing on me. Clearing his throat suddenly, Will shakes his head. “But it doesn’t matter, because this has nothing to do with $Name. I would know if I was being possessed, Uncle Jer-” “I wouldn’t be too sure about that.” Blinking in surprise, Will stares at his uncle in confusion. “... What does that mean? You wouldn’t be too sure about what?” “I wouldn’t be too sure that what happened had nothing to do with $Name.” His uncle’s gaze slowly travels to his nephew, a dark eyebrow raising as he does so. “What the fuck do you mean by that?” Will tries to sound angry, but I can hear the panic in his voice, the confusion and frustration getting a rise out of him. “Why can’t you ever just tell me what you mean without getting all mystic and shit?” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP11-4]]

I stare at Will’s uncle, confused by his words. Is he //really just// accusing me of possessing Will? I can’t help but feel like he’s blaming me for a lot more than that as well… “We can’t tell you anything while that demon is around, Will,” Sabrina speaks up finally, making me remember she was even here in the first place. “Once we separate you, we’ll tell you everything we know. I promise.” “I’m not leaving $Name.” Will backs up a bit, stepping in front of me in a protective stance. “$g1 needs my help. And $g1 <<if $program >=20>>aren’t<<elseif $program >=10 && $program <=19>>isn't<</if>> possessing me, $g1 <<if $program >=20>>aren’t<<elseif $program >=10 && $program <=19>>isn't<</if>> dangerous, and-” “Will-” Sabrina sounds frustrated as she takes a step towards us, but Jeremy holds a hand out to stop her in her tracks. “We’re too late, Sabrina.” There’s a strange emotion on Jeremy’s face now, something I can’t quite place. It’s like… devastation, a bone-deep sorrow that he tries to cover up. His dark skin pales a bit as he stares at his nephew before a sigh escapes him. “We have to watch from afar and let things play out now… We have to trust Uriel.” That name causes a wave of panic to rush over me, my eyes widening a bit. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP11-5]]

“You really aren’t going to tell me anything? //Seriously//?!” Will’s voice cracks as he sounds on the verge of a panic attack. With a huff, he shakes his head before turning to me. “//Whatever//. Go gather up more of your stuff, and meet me back here in a couple of minutes. We can’t waste any more time here.” Will and I split up, heading to our respective rooms. I don’t have much more in here- just the Ars Goetia that Will had checked out for me, and the suit that I had appeared in. I gather these up in my arms, before heading back out to the front door. Rushing out of his room while stuffing a few more clothing items into a duffel bag, Will stops in front of his uncle and sizes him up for a second. Suddenly, he asks, “Do you remember Alex?” Nodding his head, Jeremy looks at Will a little confused. “Yeah… You were best friends with that kid since middle school. Why?” “Do you remember what happened when Alex first moved in? How he was bullied because he ‘saw things that weren’t really there’?” Jeremy’s eyebrows furrow further, still confused. He doesn’t say anything as he stares at his nephew, obviously unsure where he’s going with this story. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP11-6]]

“//You// told me to stick up for those who don’t fit in, Uncle Jer. I stuck up for Alex when he needed help and saved his life.” Will points towards me now, but his gaze never leaves his uncle. “$Name needs help now, and I’m going to stick up for $g2. That is what //you// taught me to do.” “But $Name is a //demon//, Will! This situation is different-” Sabrina sighs, her voice strained with frustration. “And $g1 <<if $program >=20>>haven't<<elseif $program >=10 && $program <=19>>hasn’t<</if>> done anything to harm me in any way. Whatever is happening with $Name is //strange//, and for some reason I have a feeling that $g1 found me for a reason. Like it’s…” When Will’s sentence trails off, his uncle claps him on the shoulder to get his attention. “Like it’s fate?” The room falls silent, Will and his uncle staring at each other with something I can only describe as tiredness. There’s something about what Jeremy said that has alarm bells ringing in my head- something about the word ‘fate’ that just doesn’t sit right with me. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP11-7]]

But before I can think about it anymore, Will is shaking his head and heading out the door with me in tow. We’re followed up until the threshold of the apartment building, Sabrina and Jeremy watching us closely as Will goes to the trunk to throw our stuff in it. As I stare at Will’s uncle and Sabrina, a sudden dominating urge to //hurt// them takes over me. These two have done nothing but cause p̷r̷o̸b̴l̸e̵m̸s̷ ̴a̸n̶d̸ ̴d̷o̸u̷b̷t̷ ̴i̶n̸ ̸t̵h̴o̶s̸e̷ ̴a̴r̷o̷u̶n̶d̶ ̶m̴e̵, making my life all that much harder. I turn to look at my friend, realizing that he’s preoccupied with trying to fit the new bag into the back of the trunk and wouldn’t notice if I d̵i̵d̴ ̸s̶o̸m̸e̴t̷h̷i̴n̶g̴ ̴t̷o̵ ̷t̸h̷e̵ ̴t̷w̸o̵ ̸p̷e̵o̴p̵l̴e̴ ̸w̵a̴t̷c̵h̴i̶n̸g̵ ̷u̵s̸ ̵f̴r̵o̸m̷ ̸t̶h̸e̸ ̸b̷u̴i̶l̷d̴i̷n̷g̸…̷ ---- [[No, stop! What am I even thinking?! ->CHAP11-NOHURT]] ---- [[Do it. Hurt them. ->CHAP11-HURTTHEM]]

Blinking in surprise, I shake my head, trying to clear it of these thoughts- thoughts I’m unsure why I’m even having. Thoughts that //aren’t mine//… I quickly get into my seat while the panic continues to build in my chest. I close my eyes tightly, trying to ignore the building tension in my chest, the sudden urge to hurt these people I don’t even know. When Will gets in the car and starts to drive away, I finally look back at the doorway but find that Sabrina and Jeremy have already gone back inside. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP11-8]]

I let this sudden hatred consume me, feeling it radiate throughout my entire body. I don’t even have to think twice before my mind wanders to what I would do to these two people if I had the chance, w̵h̶a̸t̵ ̴s̸o̴r̴t̷ ̶o̸f̶ ̶t̴o̴r̶t̸u̶r̵e̶ ̶I̴ ̷w̸o̵u̵l̴d̵ ̴p̸u̶t̴ ̸t̴h̵e̵m̷ ̵t̷h̷r̵o̵u̸g̵h̴ ̷f̸o̵r̸ ̵c̷a̸u̷s̸i̷n̸g̶ ̷s̴u̶c̵h̵ ̸c̸o̶n̸f̸u̵s̸i̴o̶n̸ ̶f̵o̴r̸ ̶W̵i̵l̵l̶ ̴a̴n̷d̴ ̷m̴e̴.̶ I don’t know exactly where this feeling is coming from, or why I have this dark voice in my head, but all I know is that I think I’m //starting to like it//. Closing my eyes for just a second, an i̷m̷a̶g̵e̸ ̷o̷f̴ ̸t̶h̶e̵s̵e̸ ̶t̶w̵o̶ ̵w̴r̸i̷t̴h̶i̴n̷g̶ ̴o̷n̷ ̷t̵h̵e̵ ̶g̷r̸o̷u̵n̶d̶ ̴w̶i̷t̷h̵ ̴b̵r̵o̵k̷e̵n̴ ̶b̶o̶n̵e̶s̶ ̴a̸n̸d̴ ̸m̷i̸s̴p̴l̷a̵c̴e̶d̷ ̵l̴i̴m̵b̶s̶ strikes across my imagination. When I refocus on the real versions of Sabrina and Jeremy, I find them bent over in what looks to be a great deal of pain. If I focus a little harder, I think I’d really be able to //ḧ̴̪̗́ṵ̶̠̆ṛ̵̛͇͘t̷̙̭͂ ̷̟͔̍͋t̸̞̲̆͘h̸̭͚̊e̴͕̘̽m̸̤̚ ̷͉͝m̵̖͇̋ô̷̭̳r̷͇̞̓̀ḙ̶̽̚//- “Come on, $Name.” Will doesn’t seem to notice his uncle or Sabrina, pointedly not looking in their direction as he gets into the car. With one last long look at the two humans having trouble standing upright, I get into the car with a growing sense of satisfaction. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP11-8]] <<set $Sanity_Meter to Math.clamp($Sanity_Meter + 1, 0, 5)>>

---- We drive in silence for a long time. It takes so long before Will decides to say anything that I startle a bit as he suddenly swears loudly. “//Fucking goddamn//-” I watch as he cuts himself off, taking a calming breath before he takes a glance at me from the corner of his eye. “I’m sorry, $Name.” “About what?” I venture, unsure what he’s apologizing for exactly. “For…” Will sighs, his hands gripping the steering wheel so hard I think he’s about to break it in half. “For everything.” We fall into a tense silence once more. I’m unsure what to say to him, unsure how to calm him down or //anything//. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP11-9]]

<<if $Firstkiss >=40>>After a few more minutes of mostly silence, Will quietly starts to speak again. “$Name, I need to know… About what happened on the Ferris Wheel…” I blink in surprise, my body tensing as I remember what I did on the Ferris Wheel- how I almost //killed// people just because I was getting upset. The scariest part is that there is a part of me, deep inside, that truly wanted to hurt everyone on that ride. With my thoughts growing sour, I turn toward the window and stare at the nighttime scenery passing by and whisper, “I didn’t mean to-” My sentence is cut off by Will’s phone vibrating. He quickly picks it up and has a quick conversation with Anya, where they decide we’ll be heading over to her apartment for a bit. Once he hangs up the phone I can practically feel him debate internally about whether to bring up the conversation again, but after noticing that I refuse to look at him anymore he just drops the conversation and we continue on in silence. <<elseif $Firstkiss >=30 && $Firstkiss <=39>>After a few more minutes of mostly silence, Will quietly starts to speak again. “$Name, I need to know… About what happened on the Ferris Wheel…” I blink in surprise, my body tensing as I remember what I did on the Ferris Wheel- how I almost //killed// people just because I was getting upset. The scariest part is that there is a part of me, deep inside, that truly wanted to hurt everyone on that ride. With my thoughts growing sour, I turn toward the window and stare at the nighttime scenery passing by and whisper, “I didn’t mean to-” My sentence is cut off by Will’s phone vibrating. He quickly picks it up and has a quick conversation with Anya, where they decide we’ll be heading over to her apartment for a bit. Once he hangs up the phone I can practically feel him debate internally about whether to bring up the conversation again, but after noticing that I refuse to look at him anymore he just drops the conversation and we continue on in silence. <<elseif $Firstkiss >=20 && $Firstkiss <=29>>After a few more minutes of mostly silence, Will quietly starts to speak again. “$Name, I need to know… About what happened on the Ferris Wheel…” I blink in surprise, my body tensing as I remember what I did on the Ferris Wheel- how I almost //killed// people just because I was getting upset. The scariest part is that there is a part of me, deep inside, that truly wanted to hurt everyone on that ride. With my thoughts growing sour, I turn toward the window and stare at the nighttime scenery passing by and whisper, “I didn’t mean to-” My sentence is cut off by Will’s phone vibrating. He quickly picks it up and has a quick conversation with Anya, where they decide we’ll be heading over to her apartment for a bit. Once he hangs up the phone I can practically feel him debate internally about whether to bring up the conversation again, but after noticing that I refuse to look at him anymore he just drops the conversation and we continue on in silence. <<elseif $Firstkiss >=10 && $Firstkiss <=19>>After a few more minutes of mostly silence, Will quietly starts to speak again. “$Name, I need to know… About what happened on the Ferris Wheel…” I blink in surprise, my body tensing as I remember the kiss we shared on the Ferris Wheel. Well, //shared// is definitely an overstatement- it was more like the kiss I //forced// onto him. With a shaky exhale, I whisper, “Please just forget about it, I shouldn’t have-” “I didn’t know you felt that way…” He whispers, voice just as shaky as my own. How could he not have known I felt that way? He’s done nothing but be kind and care for me since I literally landed in his lap unannounced. He’s an //exorcist// and I’m a //demon// and he chose to put that aside to care for me. But at the end of the day… Where does that care stop? Would he ever be able to feel //anything// other than this strange fondness for me? With my thoughts growing sour, I turn toward the window and stare at the nighttime scenery passing by and whisper, “I didn’t-” My sentence is cut off by Will’s phone vibrating. He quickly picks it up and has a quick conversation with Anya, where they decide we’ll be heading over to her apartment for a bit. Once he hangs up the phone I can practically feel him debate internally about whether to bring up the conversation again, but after noticing that I refuse to look at him anymore he just drops the conversation and we continue on in silence. <</if>> ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP11-10]]

---- !!!A little while later… Will and I stand in front of the door to Anya’s apartment, waiting for her to open up and let us in. She had texted us her address a little while ago, telling us that she still needed to get some things together before we headed out on the road again. We still aren’t entirely sure where we’re going to go, either, so we decided to figure all of that out while Anya packs her stuff. As soon as Anya lets us into her little apartment, a chill runs down my spine, along with something like electricity running down my arms. I spin around, a little nervous as to what this feeling is, and come face-to-face with Murmur. A gasp from Anya or Will helps me realize that something isn’t quite right with them, though, and Pursan’s earlier comment about ‘what Azrael did to Murmur’ comes to mind as I step back to take them in. Murmur wobbles a bit, gashes and deep cuts strewn across their body sluggishly bleeding. Their face pinched slightly, obviously in pain but trying to hide the fact that they are. ---- [[Reach out to steady them, worried. ->CHAP11-REACHOUT]] ---- [[Reach out to pull them closer to me, worried. [Flirt] ->CHAP11-MURMURFLIRT1]] ---- [[Motion towards Anya’s couch to get them to sit down before they fall over. ->CHAP11-MOTIONCOUCH]] ---- [[Stare at them, face blank. ->CHAP11-BLANKFACE]]

Blinking in surprise at the state of my friend, I reach out to steady them, my hands gripping their shoulders lightly. “Murmur, are you… going to be ok?” Nodding their head in a jerky motion, Murmur’s white eyes stare into my own for what feels like an eternity before they say, “Yes, $Name. I’ll be alright.” Taking a second to gather up their strength again, Murmur motions for Anya and Will to come closer and waits until they do so before they speak. “As you can see, I was just able to get away from Azrael. He won’t be bothering you for a short while as he needs to heal some of the wounds we inflicted on him as well.” “What about Dani?” Will asks, worry obvious in his expression. “I don’t…” Murmur’s eyebrows furrow slightly as they look down to the floor, almost as if they are ashamed. “I don’t know if they’re alright, they took quite the beating. And they disappeared with Azrael, so I am unsure where they went or how to find them, unfortunately.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP11-11]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 2, 0, 100)>>

Blinking in surprise at the state of my friend, I motion towards Anya’s couch to try and get the unsteady demon off their feet before I ask, “Murmur, are you… going to be ok?” Nodding their head in a jerky motion, Murmur’s white eyes stare into my own for what feels like an eternity before they say, “Yes, $Name. I’ll be alright.” Taking a second to gather up their strength again, Murmur motions for Anya and Will to come closer and waits until they do so before they speak. “As you can see, I was just able to get away from Azrael. He won’t be bothering you for a short while as he needs to heal some of the wounds we inflicted on him as well.” “What about Dani?” Will asks, worry obvious in his expression. “I don’t…” Murmur’s eyebrows furrow slightly as they look down to the floor, almost as if they are ashamed. “I don’t know if they’re alright, they took quite the beating. And they disappeared with Azrael, so I am unsure where they went or how to find them, unfortunately.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP11-11]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 2, 0, 100)>>

I blankly stare at Murmur, unable to muster up any sort of feeling about seeing them hurt like this. Taking a second to gather up their strength again, Murmur motions for Anya and Will to come closer and waits until they do so before they speak. “As you can see, I was just able to get away from Azrael. He won’t be bothering you for a short while as he needs to heal some of the wounds we inflicted on him as well.” “What about Dani?” Will asks, worry obvious in his expression. “I don’t…” Murmur’s eyebrows furrow slightly as they look down to the floor, almost as if they are ashamed. “I don’t know if they’re alright, they took quite the beating. And they disappeared with Azrael, so I am unsure where they went or how to find them, unfortunately.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP11-11]]

Murmur lets that information sink in for us, another ominous cloud hanging over our heads about how much danger Dani is currently in and how we aren’t able to do anything about it. But before we can think about it any further, another cold breeze blows through the room, bringing with it a shiver down my spine as another demon appears in Anya’s living room. Pursan stands before us, looking a little ruffled but in a little better shape than Murmur. His golden-brown eyes flicker over each of us as if assessing our well-being before he sighs and says, “I’m glad you all managed to escape.” “What about Kat? Is she alright?” Murmur asks, their raspy voice a lot quieter than usual, letting us know just how exhausted they are. A smirk flickers across Pursan’s lips, something like a scoff leaving him as he nods. “She’s alright. Don’t worry about her.” With all of that settled, Anya excuses herself to continue packing more of her stuff. Before she disappears into her bedroom, she turns back towards us and says, “Make yourselves at home.” Murmur perches themselves on the couch, their long legs almost seeming to give out on them as they do so. When Pursan moves closer to them, they try to wave off his concern, but when they realize that //all// of us are worried, they just let their hands fall to their lap. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP11-12]]

Blinking in surprise at the state of my friend, I reach out and pull them closer to me, my hands gently running down their arms until I reach theirs. Before I can even think about whether to hold their hands or not, Murmur gently slips their fingers through mine, deciding for me. My breath hitches for a second, <<if $Firstkiss >=40>>the skin contact is almost enough to make my mind go blank, but to take my mind off it I ask, “Murmur, are you… going to be ok?”<<elseif $Firstkiss >=30 && $Firstkiss <=39>>remembering the kiss from the Ferris Wheel, but to take my mind off of that I ask, “Murmur, are you… going to be ok?”<<elseif $Firstkiss >=20 && $Firstkiss <=29>>the skin contact is almost enough to make my mind go blank, but to take my mind off it I ask, “Murmur, are you… going to be ok?”<<elseif $Firstkiss >=10 && $Firstkiss <=19>>the skin contact is almost enough to make my mind go blank, but to take my mind off it I ask, “Murmur, are you… going to be ok?”<</if>> Nodding their head in a jerky motion, Murmur’s white eyes stare into my own for what feels like an eternity before they say, “Yes, $Name. I’ll be alright.” Taking a second to gather up their strength again, Murmur motions for Anya and Will to come closer and waits until they do so before they speak. “As you can see, I was just able to get away from Azrael. He won’t be bothering you for a short while as he needs to heal some of the wounds we inflicted on him as well.” “What about Dani?” Will asks, worry obvious in his expression. “I don’t…” Murmur’s eyebrows furrow slightly as they look down to the floor, almost as if they are ashamed. “I don’t know if they’re alright, they took quite the beating. And they disappeared with Azrael, so I am unsure where they went or how to find them, unfortunately.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP11-11]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 2, 0, 100)>><<set $Murmur_Love to Math.clamp($Murmur_Love + 2, 0, 100)>>

Will heads to the small kitchen that is connected to the living room, looking a little awkward as he searches through Anya’s cupboards until he finds a glass. He fills it with water, his hands shaking in such an obvious and disrupting way that he almost spills it. I look around at this small group, unsure of where to go from here. Should I try and comfort them? Would they //want me to// comfort them? As my thoughts start to spiral, I realize that Pursan is speaking again, his low voice able to drag me out of my own head. “-name of the demon that you wanted to figure out, the one inside that human with the powerful soul? I’m pretty sure it’s Baal. It was pretty difficult to see him through my visions, but I ended up catching a glimpse.” Pursan is explaining this to Murmur, whose eyes seem to widen as he does so. “Oh, shit… That isn’t good…” I blink in surprise to hear Murmur swear, but even more surprised to see them start to become nervous. Their white eyes flicker from Pursan to the floor, their fingers steepling under their chin as they take in this information. The name “Baal” feels like it //should// be familiar, something about it has some of the fog in my head trying to clear. But, just about with any information from before I came here to Earth, it remains stubbornly in place. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP11-13]]

Suddenly, Murmur stands up from the couch- they nearly fall over, but Pursan stands with them and steadies them. “I have to go warn him. We have to get Baal out of his body //as soon as possible//-” “Woah, woah, woah, slow down there.” Will walks back from the kitchen, obviously having overheard their conversation. “Where are you going, exactly? You can barely stand on your own two feet, Murmur.” “It doesn’t matter. I have to go and help my friend-” “Murmur, don’t be stupid.” Pursan interrupts Murmur, gently turning the other demon to face him. Once he knows he has their attention, he continues with, “Go to Hell and heal up first. That human will be fine until then.” Shaking their head, their long braids whip over their shoulders as they say, “You don’t know that.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP11-14]]

I stare at Murmur in confusion and shock, never having seen them act like this before. They must be //really// worried about this human to be acting like this… “Murmur?” White eyes flash to me quickly, some strange emotion flickering across their face before they seem to take an unneeded breath and try to calm down. They pull out of Pursan’s grip and come to face me once more, limping a little as they move. “$Name, I have to go back to Hell for a little while. I’ll come back to you as soon as I can, but I have something that I have to do, something very important.” ---- [[I can feel my panic rise, the thought of Murmur leaving too much. ->CHAP11-PANIC]] ---- [[I try to be understanding, try to hide my rising panic. ->CHAP11-TRYNOPANIC]] ---- [[I shake my head, unable to form any words- I can’t lose Murmur. [Flirt] ->CHAP11-MURMURFLIRT2]] ---- [[Just nod my head. ->CHAP11-JUSTNOD]]

“...What?” The panic in my chest pushes against my ribs, and I can feel my hands start to shake at the thought of Murmur leaving. Murmur’s eyes watch me closely, and they must realize that something is wrong because they take another step toward me, their hands coming up and hovering near my shoulders, but not actually touching me. “$Name, it’s alright. I promise you that I’ll come back, and I’ll continue to help you.” “But…” I have a hard time focusing on the demon in front of me, my mind racing with all of the possibilities that could happen between now and when they come back. Without Dani and Murmur, how will Anya, Will, and I ever survive? Will and Anya are just //human// and I have little to no control over these dark urges that run through my brain- “//$Name//-” Murmur’s raspy voice is finally able to dig me out of my thoughts, and my attention snaps to them. Nodding their head, Murmur stands up straighter and fixes their rumpled vest for a second. Their wounds are still bleeding and look like they hurt //a lot//, but they do a good job of hiding any discomfort they are in as they begin speaking once more. “It may take some time, but I promise I’ll be back when I can. In the meantime, you, Will, and Anya need to go searching for something.” “Searching for something?” Will asks. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP11-15]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 1, 0, 100)>>

“...Ok.” The panic in my chest pushes against my ribs, and I can feel my hands start to shake at the thought of Murmur leaving, but I nod my head, trying to be understanding. Murmur’s eyes watch me closely, and they must realize that something is wrong because they take another step toward me, their hands coming up and hovering near my shoulders, but not actually touching me. “$Name, it’s alright. I promise you that I’ll come back, and I’ll continue to help you.” “Yeah…” I have a hard time focusing on the demon in front of me, my mind racing with all of the possibilities that could happen between now and when they come back. Without Dani and Murmur, how will Anya, Will, and I ever survive? Will and Anya are just //human// and I have little to no control over these dark urges that run through my brain- “//$Name//-” Murmur’s raspy voice is finally able to dig me out of my thoughts, and my attention snaps to them. Nodding their head, Murmur stands up straighter and fixes their rumpled vest for a second. Their wounds are still bleeding and look like they hurt //a lot//, but they do a good job of hiding any discomfort they are in as they begin speaking once more. “It may take some time, but I promise I’ll be back when I can. In the meantime, you, Will, and Anya need to go searching for something.” “Searching for something?” Will asks. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP11-15]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 1, 0, 100)>>

All I can do is shake my head, the panic in my chest pushing against my ribs, my hands starting to shake at the thought of Murmur leaving. What if they never come back to me? //I can’t lose them-// Murmur’s eyes watch me closely, and they must realize that something is wrong because they take another step toward me, their cold hands gently cupping my face. “$Name, it’s alright. I promise you that I’ll come back, and I’ll continue to help you.” “Ok…” I have a hard time focusing on the demon in front of me, my mind racing with all of the possibilities that could happen between now and when they come back. Without Dani and Murmur, how will Anya, Will, and I ever survive? Will and Anya are just //human// and I have little to no control over these dark urges that run through my brain- “//$Name//-” Murmur’s raspy voice is finally able to dig me out of my thoughts, and my attention snaps to them. Nodding their head, Murmur stands up straighter and fixes their rumpled vest for a second. Their wounds are still bleeding and look like they hurt //a lot//, but they do a good job of hiding any discomfort they are in as they begin speaking once more. “It may take some time, but I promise I’ll be back when I can. In the meantime, you, Will, and Anya need to go searching for something.” “Searching for something?” Will asks. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP11-15]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 1, 0, 100)>><<set $Murmur_Love to Math.clamp($Murmur_Love + 2, 0, 100)>>

I nod my head at the demon, understanding why they have to leave. When they blink at me, I realize they are expecting something //more// from me, so I sigh and say, “Alright, that’s fine.” Nodding their head, Murmur stands up straighter and fixes their rumpled vest for a second. Their wounds are still bleeding and look like they hurt //a lot//, but they do a good job of hiding any discomfort they are in as they begin speaking once more. “It may take some time, but I promise I’ll be back when I can. In the meantime, you, Will, and Anya need to go searching for something.” “Searching for something?” Will asks. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP11-15]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 1, 0, 100)>>

“Yes. If you remember what I was saying yesterday- that I believe that $Name interrupted $g3 parent’s punishment to come here to look for something, and something went wrong along the way, causing $g2 to lose their memories instead... if we could find what $Name was looking for, then maybe we could dislodge a few more memories… Specifically, more about $g3 parent’s punishment and what it entails. We might be able to do something about it if we know what they are doing, exactly.” Murmur explains, their eyes closing as they do so. “But… how do we find it if I can’t remember?” I hesitantly ask, unsure if I just don’t want to find out the answer or something else entirely. Murmur’s shoulders slump a bit as they say, “I… I’m not sure. The information we need is //somewhere// in your head, we just need to get to it somehow.” “I could try something…” Murmur, Will, and I all turn to Pursan with varying degrees of surprise at his words. Can he really help me return some of my memories? Clearing his throat, obviously a little uncomfortable with the sudden attention he’s getting, he says, “I probably can’t recover your memories, but I //should// be able to find out what you were searching for before you lost them.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP11-16]]

“Well…” Will catches my attention, raising his eyebrows at me. “It’s worth a try, right? What’s the worst that could happen?” I nod my head, willing to try just about //anything// to try and clear this fog in my head, at least a little. But I also can’t help but feel some apprehension at Will’s wording, unsure exactly why. “...Right.” Murmur nods as well, looking about ready to leave as they say, “Alright, now that that is settled, I should get going. The quicker I leave and take care of business, the sooner I can be back.” “Cool. I’ll go tell Anya what we’re doing while things get set up.” Will waves goodbye to Murmur before he steps up and knocks on Anya’s bedroom door. As Pursan also steps away, I turn back to look at Murmur only to find they are staring at me already. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP11-17]]

<<if $Firstkiss >=40>>“$Name, about what happened earlier-” My heart sinks, remembering what happened on the Ferris Wheel. I almost hurt //so many people//, and some part of me deep inside //wanted it to happen//. “I didn’t mean to-” A gentle hand squeezes my shoulder for a second, bringing me down from my spiraling panic. My eyes widen as I look at Murmur quickly, wondering what kind of thoughts are hidden behind their stoic expression. “We can talk about it more when I return, alright?” Their voice is calm and soothing, with no hint of anger or any other negative emotion within it. I nod my head, watching as they take a step back hesitantly. “Goodbye, $Name.” Murmur nods their head before they disappear in a cloud of black smoke.<<elseif $Firstkiss >=30 && $Firstkiss <=39>>“$Name, about what happened earlier-” My heart jumps in my chest, almost like a heartbeat, and I quickly shake my head as I start panicking again, remembering what happened on the Ferris Wheel. “Just forget about it, I shouldn’t have-” A gentle, cold hand cups the side of my face, bringing me down from my spiraling panic. My eyes widen as I look at Murmur quickly, wondering what kind of thoughts are hidden behind their stoic expression. They watch me closely, their white eyes sparkling a bit in the dim light of the room, their gaze darting back and forth between my eyes and lips for a few seconds. With a surge of bravery, my gaze flickers to their full lips. There’s a cut on their upper lip that thankfully isn’t bleeding anymore, and I watch almost mesmerized as their mouth parts before I realize they are speaking to me again. “-can talk about it more when I return, alright?” Their voice is soft, barely above a whisper, and there’s a strained quality to it like they’re holding back some kind of emotion. I nod my head, watching as they take a step back hesitantly. “Goodbye, $Name.” They whisper before they disappear in a cloud of black smoke. <<elseif $Firstkiss >=20 && $Firstkiss <=29>>“$Name, about what happened earlier-” My heart sinks, remembering what happened on the Ferris Wheel. I almost hurt //so many people//, and some part of me deep inside //wanted it to happen//. “I didn’t mean to-” A gentle hand squeezes my shoulder for a second, bringing me down from my spiraling panic. My eyes widen as I look at Murmur quickly, wondering what kind of thoughts are hidden behind their stoic expression. “We can talk about it more when I return, alright?” Their voice is calm and soothing, with no hint of anger or any other negative emotion within it. I nod my head, watching as they take a step back hesitantly. “Goodbye, $Name.” Murmur nods their head before they disappear in a cloud of black smoke.<<elseif $Firstkiss >=10 && $Firstkiss <=19>>“$Name, about what happened earlier-” My heart sinks, remembering what happened on the Ferris Wheel. I almost hurt //so many people//, and some part of me deep inside //wanted it to happen//. “I didn’t mean to-” A gentle hand squeezes my shoulder for a second, bringing me down from my spiraling panic. My eyes widen as I look at Murmur quickly, wondering what kind of thoughts are hidden behind their stoic expression. “We can talk about it more when I return, alright?” Their voice is calm and soothing, with no hint of anger or any other negative emotion within it. I nod my head, watching as they take a step back hesitantly. “Goodbye, $Name.” Murmur nods their head before they disappear in a cloud of black smoke.<</if>> ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP11-18]]

As soon as Murmur is gone, I feel my shoulders slump down a bit in exhaustion. The events of the last couple of days are starting to weigh down on me, and I can feel all of my energy being drained slowly. What happens to me when I have nothing left to give? Trying to distract myself from that train of thought, I start to take a look over Anya’s apartment. It’s pretty small, but obviously well cared for and lived in. There are multiple mismatched bookcases scattered across the room, filled to the brim with different books. On a few shelves, I notice little orange bottles filled with what look to be pills, before I suddenly realize there are little orange bottles spread across the //entire apartment//. Stepping up to a shelf, I take one of the bottles and bring it up to read the label. “Alprazolam” is written in small font along with instructions on when and how to take it, and I wonder what this pill does exactly. My thumb brushes over “Anya Zonova” as I wonder before I hear rustling from behind me and turn to watch as Pursan steps up behind me. He makes a motion for me to give him the bottle, and I do so. He reads the label, his eyebrows furrowing a bit. “It’s Xanax. It’s like… a tranquilizer.” “A tranquilizer?” I ask, confused. Why would Anya need to take something like this? ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP11-19]]

Sighing, Pursan sets the bottle back on the shelf. “Humans typically take it for things like anxiety and panic disorders.” //’So Anya has one of those disorders?’// I nod my head as I turn back to the shelf, suddenly remembering the times when Anya seemed like she was under the influence of something… but before I can think any further about it, a book on her shelf catches my attention and I gasp as I quickly grab it. The book is older, and a dark red. My finger gently runs across the spine where gold lettering spells out “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” before I brush my hand across the tiny gold girl on the front of the cover, holding what I can see is a baby pig. My dream I had what feels like years ago comes back to me- a strange memory where I was so young and trying so hard to get love and attention from my parents. I had this exact book in the dream, the same edition of what looks like a children’s story. What is the significance of this story, so much so that I would remember something like that? “What do you have there?” Spinning around, startled out of my thoughts, I watch as Anya and Will leave the room. Anya smiles softly at me, motioning towards the book in my hands. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP11-20]]

“Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” I reply, holding the book up to show them. “I had a dream- or, more like a memory, where I had this exact book.” Anya and Will look at each other with some strange expression, something I’m unable to truly decipher. Will looks confused, but Anya looks… Scared, or worried. Light brown eyes flicking back towards me, Anya asks, “Really?” Nodding, I start to feel like I’ve done something wrong. When I go to set the book back on the shelf, Anya steps forward and catches my attention again. “You can borrow it if you want.” She gives another small smile as she gestures towards the book in my hand. For some reason, I feel as though I //should// take this book. Nodding once more, I go to put the book on top of Will’s jacket that he had left on the kitchen counter. When I return back to the living room, everyone is looking at me, and I am once again unable to decipher their expressions. It isn’t until Pursan clears his throat that the attention shifts from me as we all look at him. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP11-21]]

“We should start as soon as possible.” Pursan’s gold-brown eyes flicker to me, his stern expression softening a bit as he does so. “I’m not going to lie to you- this could //hurt//. And if something traumatic comes up that you wish you didn’t remember, well… There isn’t much I can do about it.” “Right.” I nod my head, fully aware of the risks now. But the fact of the matter is that I’ve gone without answers for far too long now. If this is the first step to finding //more// answers, then I have to take it. Everyone around me is already risking so much just to help me… I can’t procrastinate any longer. “I’m finding //something// out tonight, whether I like it or not.” Anya and Will share a worried look, but when their attention is back on me they both give me determined nods of their heads. Pursan watches them for a few seconds before turning to me. “Then let's get started. Clear out a space for you to lay on the floor.” And with that order, we start to prepare for the ritual. !CHAPTER ELEVEN END… ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP12-1]]

TW- Descriptive panic attack/anxiety attack. [You'll be able to tell what paragraph it is to skip it.] !CHAPTER TWELVE As I lay on the floor with my friends surrounding me, I can’t help but feel anxious about what is about to happen. Pursan said that this ritual could hurt, and considering we’re both immortal beings, I’m afraid to find out what type of pain would be enough to make him warn me about it. Sitting near my head, Pursan has his eyes closed as his hands hover near my temples. I can feel him using some kind of power; his demonic aura fills the room like smoke as he does so. I briefly wonder if Azrael could sense it and come running, but before I can think about it more Pursan’s eyes flutter open suddenly. “Alright, I’m ready to start if you are…?” His low, quiet voice is slightly soothing, even as he gives me a rather impatient look as he waits for my answer. My gaze flickers to Anya and Will, who watch me closely with what I can only describe as nervousness. Are they worried about what this ritual could do to me? Or are they worried about what it could dig up? Nodding his head, Will gives me a small lopsided grin. “You can do this, $Name. Just think about all the answers hidden somewhere in your head- all the answers you need to know.” Anya nods in agreement, but she can’t seem to bring herself to hide her worry. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP12-2]]

Taking a deep breath, my attention shifts to the demon hunched over above me and I nod. “I’m ready.” Without any preamble, Pursan’s eyes suddenly shift completely black as he mutters some words in a language that I //should know//, but for some reason, I can’t comprehend the words. He carefully brushes a hand over my eyes, and I quickly shut them just as I feel something shift in my brain- And immediately cry out as a horrible, sharp pain digs through my head. I can hear Will and Anya shuffle forward, but Pursan stops them with an order. “//’’Stop-’’//” The rest of his sentence gets drowned out by static and my pained cries before I suddenly feel like I’m dunked under cold water, bringing with it a brief respite to the pain- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP12-3]]

---- //-I blink my eyes open, the pain in my head receding until it’s just a dull ache in the base of my skull. Sitting up slowly, I glance around only to find that I’m in a strange, dark emptiness. My friends are nowhere to be seen anymore, but I can still sense Pursan’s presence somewhere within the darkness. Standing up, I take a hesitant step into the inky blackness that surrounds me, unsure of what I should be doing, exactly. “Keep going, $Name. Walk until you find something.” Pursan’s voice echoes around me like he’s speaking through a long hallway; it has a strange staticky-like quality that makes it sound rather otherworldly. With only a moment of hesitation, I do as the other demon says and continue to walk into the empty void. My answers are somewhere in this strange place, and I need to find them sooner rather than later…// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP12-4]]

---- !!!??? //I walk for what feels like hours, the darkness surrounding me the only company I have. After a few more steps, I stop with a sigh, feeling something like frustration or irritation start to bubble up in my chest. Why does getting answers have to be so difficult? Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath, despite not needing to breathe. I focus on my bleak surroundings with my other senses, trying to see if I can sense something, ''anything'', that could possibly help me find what I’m looking for. For the longest moment, I can’t sense anything other than Pursan. But then, with a start, I realize that ''music is playing'' somewhere ahead of me. A haunting choir sings in a strangely familiar language, but I’m too far away to understand what they are saying, and the orchestra behind them is daunting… And it’s so familiar to me, but I can’t seem to place where I’ve ''heard it''. “That’s a good start. Head to the music.” Pursan suddenly speaks, startling me a bit.// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP12-5]]

Without any hesitation, I run in the direction I hear the music coming from. With anticipation growing in my chest, I come closer and ‘’closer’’, the music getting ''louder'' and ''LOUDER''- Until I’m suddenly brought to a halting stop as an image flashes through my head, bringing with it such intense pain that I fall to the floor. ''A younger version of me staring in the mirror, running a hand down my suit.'' I find myself shaking my head, that vision not being what I want to see. I need an ''answer'' as to why I needed to ''come here to Earth''- ''A barn, old and decrepit. It has a striking familiarity with the barn in the painting from Will’s memory, but this one is different. This one is in the real world…''// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP12-6]]

Another wave of pain rushes through my mind, blinding me for a few seconds as I crawl on my hands and knees. The static starts to grow in my head, radiating across my skull, trying to liquefy my eyes in their sockets. ''That isn’t what I need to see-'' ''The bright red mask appears in front of me, holding a finger up to their non-existent lips as if to shush me. They whisper a word over and over, and it takes a long time for it to make sense in my head. “Center, center, center, center”.'' Crying out, I fall to the floor, unable to hold myself up when my entire body starts to burn and ache. My head feels like it’s splitting down the middle, spilling my brain contents on the ground- spilling whatever is left of myself into the inky darkness underneath me. ''Robed figures surround me, calling me this “Mahleeshka”, cutting into my chest, tearing me apart, using every last bit of my body for their dark purposes-'' The static is consuming me completely, filling my vision and hearing. I can’t tell if I’m still screaming, or if I’m just reduced to nothing. ''Center, center, center, center, center, center, center'' c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥ c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̩̆ẻ̶̡n̶̮͝ṯ̷̑e̴͍͝ŕ̷̥c̵̡̞̪͙͖̽͌͜e̸̥͛̐̔͑̚͝n̵̢̛̦̞̩̖͗̏̿́t̸̨̢͂̕ȩ̸͕̗͉̘̊̕ͅŕ̶̢̻͖̰̫̓c̵̡̞̪͙͖̽͌͜e̸̥͛̐̔͑̚͝n̵̢̛̦̞̩̖͗̏̿́t̸̨̢͂̕ȩ̸͕̗͉̘̊̕ͅŕ̶̢̻͖̰̫̓c̵̡̞̪͙͖̽͌͜e̸̥͛̐̔͑̚͝n̵̢̛̦̞̩̖͗̏̿́t̸̨̢͂̕ȩ̸͕̗͉̘̊̕ͅŕ̶̢̻͖̰̫̓c̵̡̞̪͙͖̽͌͜e̸̥͛̐̔͑̚͝n̵̢̛̦̞̩̖͗̏̿́t̸̨̢͂̕ȩ̸͕̗͉̘̊̕ͅŕ̶̢̻͖̰̫̓c̵̡̞̪͙͖̽͌͜e̸̥͛̐̔͑̚͝n̵̢̛̦̞̩̖͗̏̿́t̸̨̢͂̕ȩ̸͕̗͉̘̊̕ͅŕ̶̢̻͖̰̫̓c̵̡̞̪͙͖̽͌͜e̸̥͛̐̔͑̚͝n̵̢̛̦̞̩̖͗̏̿́t̸̨̢͂̕ȩ̸͕̗͉̘̊̕ͅŕ̶̢̻͖̰̫̓c̵̡̞̪͙͖̽͌͜e̸̥͛̐̔͑̚͝n̵̢̛̦̞̩̖͗̏̿́t̸̨̢͂̕ȩ̸͕̗͉̘̊̕ͅŕ̶̢̻͖̰̫̓c̵̡̞̪͙͖̽͌͜e̸̥͛̐̔͑̚͝n̵̢̛̦̞̩̖͗̏̿́t̸̨̢͂̕ȩ̸͕̗͉̘̊̕ͅŕ̶̢̻͖̰̫̓c̵̡̞̪͙͖̽͌͜e̸̥͛̐̔͑̚͝n̵̢̛̦̞̩̖͗̏̿́t̸̨̢͂̕ȩ̸͕̗͉̘̊̕ͅŕ̶̢̻͖̰̫̓c̵̡̞̪͙͖̽͌͜e̸̥͛̐̔͑̚͝n̵̢̛̦̞̩̖͗̏̿́t̸̨̢͂̕ȩ̸͕̗͉̘̊̕ͅŕ̶̢̻͖̰̫̓c̵̡̞̪͙͖̽͌͜e̸̥͛̐̔͑̚͝n̵̢̛̦̞̩̖͗̏̿́t̸̨̢͂̕ȩ̸͕̗͉̘̊̕ͅŕ̶̢̻͖̰̫̓c̵̡̞̪͙͖̽͌͜e̸̥͛̐̔͑̚͝n̵̢̛̦̞̩̖͗̏̿́t̸̨̢͂̕ȩ̸͕̗͉̘̊̕ͅŕ̶̢̻͖̰̫̓ c̵̡̞̪͙͖̽͌͜e̸̥͛̐̔͑̚͝n̵̢̛̦̞̩̖͗̏̿́t̸̨̢͂̕ȩ̸͕̗͉̘̊̕ͅŕ̶̢̻͖̰̫̓c̵̡̞̪͙͖̽͌͜e̸̥͛̐̔͑̚͝n̵̢̛̦̞̩̖͗̏̿́t̸̨̢͂̕ȩ̸͕̗͉̘̊̕ͅŕ̶̢̻͖̰̫̓c̵̡̞̪͙͖̽͌͜e̸̥͛̐̔͑̚͝n̵̢̛̦̞̩̖͗̏̿́t̸̨̢͂̕ȩ̸͕̗͉̘̊̕ͅŕ̶̢̻͖̰̫̓c̵̡̞̪͙͖̽͌͜e̸̥͛̐̔͑̚͝n̵̢̛̦̞̩̖͗̏̿́t̸̨̢͂̕ȩ̸͕̗͉̘̊̕ͅŕ̶̢̻͖̰̫̓c̵̡̞̪͙͖̽͌͜e̸̥͛̐̔͑̚͝n̵̢̛̦̞̩̖͗̏̿́t̸̨̢͂̕ȩ̸͕̗͉̘̊̕ͅŕ̶̢̻͖̰̫̓c̵̡̞̪͙͖̽͌͜e̸̥͛̐̔͑̚͝n̵̢̛̦̞̩̖͗̏̿́t̸̨̢͂̕ȩ̸͕̗͉̘̊̕ͅŕ̶̢̻͖̰̫̓c̵̡̞̪͙͖̽͌͜e̸̥͛̐̔͑̚͝n̵̢̛̦̞̩̖͗̏̿́t̸̨̢͂̕ȩ̸͕̗͉̘̊̕ͅŕ̶̢̻͖̰̫̓c̵̡̞̪͙͖̽͌͜e̸̥͛̐̔͑̚͝n̵̢̛̦̞̩̖͗̏̿́t̸̨̢͂̕ȩ̸͕̗͉̘̊̕ͅŕ̶̢̻͖̰̫̓c̵̡̞̪͙͖̽͌͜e̸̥͛̐̔͑̚͝n̵̢̛̦̞̩̖͗̏̿́t̸̨̢͂̕ȩ̸͕̗͉̘̊̕ͅŕ̶̢̻͖̰̫̓c̵̡̞̪͙͖̽͌͜e̸̥͛̐̔͑̚͝ n̵̢̛̦̞̩̖͗̏̿́t̸̨̢͂̕ȩ̸͕̗͉̘̊̕ͅŕ̶̢̻͖̰̫̓c̵̡̞̪͙͖̽͌͜e̸̥͛̐̔͑̚͝n̵̢̛̦̞̩̖͗̏̿́t̸̨̢͂̕ȩ̸͕̗͉̘̊̕ͅŕ̶̢̻͖̰̫̓c̵̡̞̪͙͖̽͌͜e̸̥͛̐̔͑̚͝n̵̢̛̦̞̩̖͗̏̿́t̸̨̢͂̕ȩ̸͕̗͉̘̊̕ͅŕ̶̢̻͖̰̫̓c̵̡̞̪͙͖̽͌͜e̸̥͛̐̔͑̚͝n̵̢̛̦̞̩̖͗̏̿́t̸̨̢͂̕ȩ̸͕̗͉̘̊̕ͅŕ̶̢̻͖̰̫̓c̵̡̞̪͙͖̽͌͜e̸̥͛̐̔͑̚͝n̵̢̛̦̞̩̖͗̏̿́t̸̨̢͂̕ȩ̸͕̗͉̘̊̕ͅŕ̶̢̻͖̰̫̓c̵̡̞̪͙͖̽͌͜e̸̥͛̐̔͑̚͝n̵̢̛̦̞̩̖͗̏̿́t̸̨̢͂̕ȩ̸͕̗͉̘̊̕ͅŕ̶̢̻͖̰̫̓c̵̡̞̪͙͖̽͌͜e̸̥͛̐̔͑̚͝n̵̢̛̦̞̩̖͗̏̿́t̸̨̢͂̕ȩ̸͕̗͉̘̊̕ͅŕ̶̢̻͖̰̫̓ĉ̶̹͍̐̀͊̌͊e̷̢̡̛̯̓͋͗̅͆̈́̀͐̾̊̇͗ņ̸̯̭͖̳͓̀̀̽͆̾̈̏̇̂́̕ţ̵̦̯̗̯͍̤̰̖̜̙̩͚͇̦̄͌̇͂̑̈̑̿̎͠ͅe̷͎̯͇͈̲̓̐̅͊͜ ĉ̶̹͍̐̀͊̌͊e̷̢̡̛̯̓͋͗̅͆̈́̀͐̾̊̇͗ņ̸̯̭͖̳͓̀̀̽͆̾̈̏̇̂́̕ţ̵̦̯̗̯͍̤̰̖̜̙̩͚͇̦̄͌̇͂̑̈̑̿̎͠ͅe̷͎̯͇͈̲̓̐̅͊͜r̶̡̧̡̟̜̜̭̦̬̟͇̖̠̱͇̟͖̐̓̔̔͒͑̄̓̅̃̊͑̃̕͝ĉ̶̹͍̐̀͊̌͊e̷̢̡̛̯̓͋͗̅͆̈́̀͐̾̊̇͗ņ̸̯̭͖̳͓̀̀̽͆̾̈̏̇̂́̕ţ̵̦̯̗̯͍̤̰̖̜̙̩͚͇̦̄͌̇͂̑̈̑̿̎͠ͅe̷͎̯͇͈̲̓̐̅͊͜r̶̡̧̡̟̜̜̭̦̬̟͇̖̠̱͇̟͖̐̓̔̔͒͑̄̓̅̃̊͑̃̕͝ĉ̶̹͍̐̀͊̌͊e̷̢̡̛̯̓͋͗̅͆̈́̀͐̾̊̇͗ņ̸̯̭͖̳͓̀̀̽͆̾̈̏̇̂́̕ţ̵̦̯̗̯͍̤̰̖̜̙̩͚͇̦̄͌̇͂̑̈̑̿̎͠ͅe̷͎̯͇͈̲̓̐̅͊͜r̶̡̧̡̟̜̜̭̦̬̟͇̖̠̱͇̟͖̐̓̔̔͒͑̄̓̅̃̊͑̃̕͝ĉ̶̹͍̐̀͊̌͊e̷̢̡̛̯̓͋͗̅͆̈́̀͐̾̊̇͗ņ̸̯̭͖̳͓̀̀̽͆̾̈̏̇̂́̕ţ̵̦̯̗̯͍̤̰̖̜̙̩͚͇̦̄͌̇͂̑̈̑̿̎͠ͅe̷͎̯͇͈̲̓̐̅͊͜r̶̡̧̡̟̜̜̭̦̬̟͇̖̠̱͇̟͖̐̓̔̔͒͑̄̓̅̃̊͑̃̕͝ĉ̶̹͍̐̀͊̌͊e̷̢̡̛̯̓͋͗̅͆̈́̀͐̾̊̇͗ņ̸̯̭͖̳͓̀̀̽͆̾̈̏̇̂́̕ţ̵̦̯̗̯͍̤̰̖̜̙̩͚͇̦̄͌̇͂̑̈̑̿̎͠ͅe̷͎̯͇͈̲̓̐̅͊͜r̶̡̧̡̟̜̜̭̦̬̟͇̖̠̱͇̟͖̐̓̔̔͒͑̄̓̅̃̊͑̃̕͝ĉ̶̹͍̐̀͊̌͊e̷̢̡̛̯̓͋͗̅͆̈́̀͐̾̊̇͗ņ̸̯̭͖̳͓̀̀̽͆̾̈̏̇̂́̕ţ̵̦̯̗̯͍̤̰̖̜̙̩͚͇̦̄͌̇͂̑̈̑̿̎͠ͅe̷͎̯͇͈̲̓̐̅͊͜r̶̡̧̡̟̜̜̭̦̬̟͇̖̠̱͇̟͖̐̓̔̔͒͑̄̓̅̃̊͑̃̕͝ĉ̶̹͍̐̀͊̌͊e̷̢̡̛̯̓͋͗̅͆̈́̀͐̾̊̇͗ ţ̵̦̯̗̯͍̤̰̖̜̙̩͚͇̦̄͌̇͂̑̈̑̿̎͠ͅe̷͎̯͇͈̲̓̐̅͊͜r̶̡̧̡̟̜̜̭̦̬̟͇̖̠̱͇̟͖̐̓̔̔͒͑̄̓̅̃̊͑̃̕͝ĉ̶̹͍̐̀͊̌͊e̷̢̡̛̯̓͋͗̅͆̈́̀͐̾̊̇͗ņ̸̯̭͖̳͓̀̀̽͆̾̈̏̇̂́̕ţ̵̦̯̗̯͍̤̰̖̜̙̩͚͇̦̄͌̇͂̑̈̑̿̎͠ͅe̷͎̯͇͈̲̓̐̅͊͜r̶̡̧̡̟̜̜̭̦̬̟͇̖̠̱͇̟͖̐̓̔̔͒͑̄̓̅̃̊͑̃̕͝ĉ̶̹͍̐̀͊̌͊e̷̢̡̛̯̓͋͗̅͆̈́̀͐̾̊̇͗ņ̸̯̭͖̳͓̀̀̽͆̾̈̏̇̂́̕ţ̵̦̯̗̯͍̤̰̖̜̙̩͚͇̦̄͌̇͂̑̈̑̿̎͠ͅe̷͎̯͇͈̲̓̐̅͊͜r̶̡̧̡̟̜̜̭̦̬̟͇̖̠̱͇̟͖̐̓̔̔͒͑̄̓̅̃̊͑̃̕͝ĉ̶̹͍̐̀͊̌͊e̷̢̡̛̯̓͋͗̅͆̈́̀͐̾̊̇͗ņ̸̯̭͖̳͓̀̀̽͆̾̈̏̇̂́̕ţ̵̦̯̗̯͍̤̰̖̜̙̩͚͇̦̄͌̇͂̑̈̑̿̎͠ͅe̷͎̯͇͈̲̓̐̅͊͜r̶̡̧̡̟̜̜̭̦̬̟͇̖̠̱͇̟͖̐̓̔̔͒͑̄̓̅̃̊͑̃̕͝ĉ̶̹͍̐̀͊̌͊e̷̢̡̛̯̓͋͗̅͆̈́̀͐̾̊̇͗ņ̸̯̭͖̳͓̀̀̽͆̾̈̏̇̂́̕ţ̵̦̯̗̯͍̤̰̖̜̙̩͚͇̦̄͌̇͂̑̈̑̿̎͠ͅe̷͎̯͇͈̲̓̐̅͊͜r̶̡̧̡̟̜̜̭̦̬̟͇̖̠̱͇̟͖̐̓̔̔͒͑̄̓̅̃̊͑̃̕͝ĉ̶̹͍̐̀͊̌͊e̷̢̡̛̯̓͋͗̅͆̈́̀͐̾̊̇͗ņ̸̯̭͖̳͓̀̀̽͆̾̈̏̇̂́̕ţ̵̦̯̗̯͍̤̰̖̜̙̩͚͇̦̄͌̇͂̑̈̑̿̎͠ͅe̷͎̯͇͈̲̓̐̅͊͜r̶̡̧̡̟̜̜̭̦̬̟͇̖̠̱͇̟͖̐̓̔̔͒͑̄̓̅̃̊͑̃̕͝ĉ̶̹͍̐̀͊̌͊e̷̢̡̛̯̓͋͗̅͆̈́̀͐̾̊̇͗ņ̸̯̭͖̳͓̀̀̽͆̾̈̏̇̂́̕ţ̵̦̯̗̯͍̤̰̖̜̙̩͚͇̦̄͌̇͂̑̈̑̿̎͠ͅe̷͎̯͇͈̲̓̐̅͊͜r̶̡̧̡̟̜̜̭̦̬̟͇̖̠̱͇̟͖̐̓̔̔͒͑̄̓̅̃̊͑̃̕͝ĉ̶̹͍̐̀͊̌͊e̷̢̡̛̯̓͋͗̅͆̈́̀͐̾̊̇͗ņ̸̯̭͖̳͓̀̀̽͆̾̈̏̇̂́̕ţ̵̦̯̗̯͍̤̰̖̜̙̩͚͇̦̄͌̇͂̑̈̑̿̎͠ͅe̷͎̯͇͈̲̓̐̅͊͜r̶̡̧̡̟̜̜̭̦̬̟͇̖̠̱͇̟͖̐̓̔̔͒͑̄̓̅̃̊͑̃̕͝ĉ̶̹͍̐̀͊̌͊e̷̢̡̛̯̓͋͗̅͆̈́̀͐̾̊̇͗ņ̸̯̭͖̳͓̀̀̽͆̾̈̏̇̂́̕ţ̵̦̯̗̯͍̤̰̖̜̙̩͚͇̦̄͌̇͂̑̈̑̿̎͠ͅe̷͎̯͇͈̲̓̐̅͊͜r̶̡̧̡̟̜̜̭̦̬̟͇̖̠̱͇̟͖̐̓̔̔͒͑̄̓̅̃̊͑̃̕͝ĉ̶̹͍̐̀͊̌͊e̷̢̡̛̯̓͋͗̅͆̈́̀͐̾̊̇͗ņ̸̯̭͖̳͓̀̀̽͆̾̈̏̇̂́̕ţ̵̦̯̗̯͍̤̰̖̜̙̩͚͇̦̄͌̇͂̑̈̑̿̎͠ͅe̷͎̯͇͈̲̓̐̅͊͜r̶̡̧̡̟̜̜̭̦̬̟͇̖̠̱͇̟͖̐̓̔̔͒͑̄̓̅̃̊͑̃̕͝ĉ̶̹͍̐̀͊̌͊e̷̢̡̛̯̓͋͗̅͆̈́̀͐̾̊̇͗ņ̸̯̭͖̳͓̀̀̽͆̾̈̏̇̂́̕ţ̵̦̯̗̯͍̤̰̖̜̙̩͚͇̦̄͌̇͂̑̈̑̿̎͠ͅe̷͎̯͇͈̲̓̐̅͊͜r̶̡̧̡̟̜̜̭̦̬̟͇̖̠̱͇̟͖̐̓̔̔͒͑̄̓̅̃̊͑̃̕͝ ĉ̶̹͍̐̀͊̌͊e̷̢̡̛̯̓͋͗̅͆̈́̀͐̾̊̇͗ņ̸̯̭͖̳͓̀̀̽͆̾̈̏̇̂́̕ţ̵̦̯̗̯͍̤̰̖̜̙̩͚͇̦̄͌̇͂̑̈̑̿̎͠ͅe̷͎̯͇͈̲̓̐̅͊͜r̶̡̧̡̟̜̜̭̦̬̟͇̖̠̱͇̟͖̐̓̔̔͒͑̄̓̅̃̊͑̃̕͝ĉ̶̹͍̐̀͊̌͊e̷̢̡̛̯̓͋͗̅͆̈́̀͐̾̊̇͗ņ̸̯̭͖̳͓̀̀̽͆̾̈̏̇̂́̕ţ̵̦̯̗̯͍̤̰̖̜̙̩͚͇̦̄͌̇͂̑̈̑̿̎͠ͅe̷͎̯͇͈̲̓̐̅͊͜r̶̡̧̡̟̜̜̭̦̬̟͇̖̠̱͇̟͖̐̓̔̔͒͑̄̓̅̃̊͑̃̕͝ĉ̶̹͍̐̀͊̌͊e̷̢̡̛̯̓͋͗̅͆̈́̀͐̾̊̇͗ņ̸̯̭͖̳͓̀̀̽͆̾̈̏̇̂́̕ţ̵̦̯̗̯͍̤̰̖̜̙̩͚͇̦̄͌̇͂̑̈̑̿̎͠ͅe̷͎̯͇͈̲̓̐̅͊͜r̶̡̧̡̟̜̜̭̦̬̟͇̖̠̱͇̟͖̐̓̔̔͒͑̄̓̅̃̊͑̃̕͝ĉ̶̹͍̐̀͊̌͊e̷̢̡̛̯̓͋͗̅͆̈́̀͐̾̊̇͗ņ̸̯̭͖̳͓̀̀̽͆̾̈̏̇̂́̕ţ̵̦̯̗̯͍̤̰̖̜̙̩͚͇̦̄͌̇͂̑̈̑̿̎͠ͅe̷͎̯͇͈̲̓̐̅͊͜ r̶̡̧̡̟̜̜̭̦̬̟͇̖̠̱͇̟͖̐̓̔̔͒͑̄̓̅̃̊͑̃̕͝ĉ̶̹͍̐̀͊̌͊e̷̢̡̛̯̓͋͗̅͆̈́̀͐̾̊̇͗ņ̸̯̭͖̳͓̀̀̽͆̾̈̏̇̂́̕ţ̵̦̯̗̯͍̤̰̖̜̙̩͚͇̦̄͌̇͂̑̈̑̿̎͠ͅe̷͎̯͇͈̲̓̐̅͊͜r̶̡̧̡̟̜̜̭̦̬̟͇̖̠̱͇̟͖̐̓̔̔͒͑̄̓̅̃̊͑̃̕͝ĉ̶̹͍̐̀͊̌͊e̷̢̡̛̯̓͋͗̅͆̈́̀͐̾̊̇͗ņ̸̯̭͖̳͓̀̀̽͆̾̈̏̇̂́̕ţ̵̦̯̗̯͍̤̰̖̜̙̩͚͇̦̄͌̇͂̑̈̑̿̎͠ͅe̷͎̯͇͈̲̓̐̅͊͜r̶̡̧̡̟̜̜̭̦̬̟͇̖̠̱͇̟͖̐̓̔̔͒͑̄̓̅̃̊͑̃̕͝ĉ̶̹͍̐̀͊̌͊e̷̢̡̛̯̓͋͗̅͆̈́̀͐̾̊̇͗ņ̸̯̭͖̳͓̀̀̽͆̾̈̏̇̂́̕ţ̵̦̯̗̯͍̤̰̖̜̙̩͚͇̦̄͌̇͂̑̈̑̿̎͠ͅe̷͎̯͇͈̲̓̐̅͊͜r̶̡̧̡̟̜̜̭̦̬̟͇̖̠̱͇̟͖̐̓̔̔͒͑̄̓̅̃̊͑̃̕͝ĉ̶̹͍̐̀͊̌͊e̷̢̡̛̯̓͋͗̅͆̈́̀͐̾̊̇͗ņ̸̯̭͖̳͓̀̀̽͆̾̈̏̇̂́̕ţ̵̦̯̗̯͍̤̰̖̜̙̩͚͇̦̄͌̇͂̑̈̑̿̎͠ͅ e̷͎̯͇͈̲̓̐̅͊͜r̶̡̧̡̟̜̜̭̦̬̟͇̖̠̱͇̟͖̐̓̔̔͒͑̄̓̅̃̊͑̃̕͝ĉ̶̹͍̐̀͊̌͊e̷̢̡̛̯̓͋͗̅͆̈́̀͐̾̊̇͗ņ̸̯̭͖̳͓̀̀̽͆̾̈̏̇̂́̕ţ̵̦̯̗̯͍̤̰̖̜̙̩͚͇̦̄͌̇͂̑̈̑̿̎͠ͅe̷͎̯͇͈̲̓̐̅͊͜r̶̡̧̡̟̜̜̭̦̬̟͇̖̠̱͇̟͖̐̓̔̔͒͑̄̓̅̃̊͑̃̕͝ĉ̶̹͍̐̀͊̌͊e̷̢̡̛̯̓͋͗̅͆̈́̀͐̾̊̇͗ņ̸̯̭͖̳͓̀̀̽͆̾̈̏̇̂́̕ţ̵̦̯̗̯͍̤̰̖̜̙̩͚͇̦̄͌̇͂̑̈̑̿̎͠ͅe̷͎̯͇͈̲̓̐̅͊͜r̶̡̧̡̟̜̜̭̦̬̟͇̖̠̱͇̟͖̐̓̔̔͒͑̄̓̅̃̊͑̃̕͝ ---- [[NEXT->CHAP12-7]]

---- Strong hands suddenly pick me up, dragging me into a sitting position with ease. The suddenness of not being inside my head anymore is almost enough whiplash to distract me from the pain behind my eyes, but it soon becomes too much to bear… I squeeze my eyes shut as tight as I can, trying to alleviate the pressure building- “$Name, you’re bleeding!” Will’s voice sounds so loud despite the static trying to drown everything else out of my brain, and I wince a bit as it causes a fresh wave of pain. It morphs into this strange //stinging// <<if $Hornarea2 >=30>>in my temples<<elseif $Hornarea2 >=20 && $Hornarea2 <=29>>along my forehead<<elseif $Hornarea2 >=10 && $Hornarea2 <=19>>along the crown of my head<</if>>, causing Will or //someone// to gasp in shock. I feel someone prodding around <<if $Hornarea2 >=30>>my temples<<elseif $Hornarea2 >=20 && $Hornarea2 <=29>>my forehead<<elseif $Hornarea2 >=10 && $Hornarea2 <=19>>the crown of my head<</if>>, making me wince once more and pull away. “Stop…” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP12-8]]

“These wounds are so //weird//…” Will murmurs, but he does as I ask and stops poking around. “Are you alright, $Name? Can you stand?” “I… I think so…” I mumble before trying, needing only a little bit of help from Will and Pursan. The demon looks at me closely, probably trying to discern if I found what I needed in my own head, but when he doesn’t seem to find anything hinting at that in my expression he asks, “Did you learn anything?” ---- [[Try to explain what I saw. ->CHAP12-EXPLAIN]] ---- [[Shrug my shoulders, not willing to explain what I saw. ->CHAP12-SHRUG]] ---- [[Shake my head. No one needs to know what I saw. ->CHAP12-SHAKEHEAD]]

I can feel my brows furrow in contemplation as the images I saw flash through my head again. “I… I’m not sure. I saw a bunch of different things, and… And there was a //word// that was spoken over and over… ‘Center’.” We all look at each other, confused as to what that means and unsure if we’ll be able to figure it out. Pursan nods his head, his gaze flickering over each of us for the briefest of moments before he suddenly says, “Right, well… I need to get back to Kat, so I’ll take my leave.” Nodding, Will and Anya say a quick goodbye to the demon. There’s still a little bit of trepidation in their expressions, especially Will’s, as I think they realize that they just had even //more// help from a demon. But considering that that is //all// he’s done so far, they seem willing to let him go on his way. Turning to me, Pursan nods his head once more. “I’ll stop by Hell and make sure that Murmur is alright and tell them how the ritual went.” I’m just about able to nod at Pursan before he disappears in a black cloud of smoke, leaving the three of us standing in a tense silence. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP12-9]]

Shrugging my shoulders, I sigh. “I’m not sure. There was a lot…” The three of them look at me with varying degrees of odd expressions, likely not thrilled that I haven’t explained anything. But I don’t know what I saw or what it means, so I shouldn’t say anything just yet. Pursan nods his head, his gaze flickering over each of us for the briefest of moments before he suddenly says, “Right, well… I need to get back to Kat, so I’ll take my leave.” Nodding, Will and Anya say a quick goodbye to the demon. There’s still a little bit of trepidation in their expressions, especially Will’s, as I think they realize that they just had even //more// help from a demon. But considering that that is //all// he’s done so far, they seem willing to let him go on his way. Turning to me, Pursan nods his head once more. “I’ll stop by Hell and make sure that Murmur is alright and tell them how the ritual went.” I’m just about able to nod at Pursan before he disappears in a black cloud of smoke, leaving the three of us standing in a tense silence. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP12-9]]

I shake my head, keeping my mouth shut. No one needs to know what I saw- it’s just for me to know. The three of them look at me with varying degrees of odd expressions, likely not thrilled that I haven’t explained anything. Even if I knew what anything meant, I’m not sure I’d tell them. Pursan nods his head, his gaze flickering over each of us for the briefest of moments before he suddenly says, “Right, well… I need to get back to Kat, so I’ll take my leave.” Nodding, Will and Anya say a quick goodbye to the demon. There’s still a little bit of trepidation in their expressions, especially Will’s, as I think they realize that they just had even //more// help from a demon. But considering that that is //all// he’s done so far, they seem willing to let him go on his way. Turning to me, Pursan nods his head once more. “I’ll stop by Hell and make sure that Murmur is alright and tell them how the ritual went.” I’m just about able to nod at Pursan before he disappears in a black cloud of smoke, leaving the three of us standing in a tense silence. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP12-9]]

A wave of exhaustion takes over once more, my legs nearly giving out as the events of the day catch up to me. I sit back on Anya’s couch, my eyes fluttering shut as I ignore the concerned stares of my friends. As Anya and Will busy themselves with whatever it is they are doing, I can’t help but go over the images that I saw in the ritual. The first that stands out to me is the red-masked being- “The Devil”, I realize. They’re one of my parents, but I can’t seem to remember much from them besides what I just saw and vague memories from a dream I had a while ago… Why were they whispering the word “center” over and over again? What is the significance of that word? Another thing that stuck out to me was the barn. It looked so similar to the one from Will’s memory, but I //know// that it was slightly different. Like it was what the painting was based on… Just enough of a similarity that you could tell they were related, but not close enough to call them the same barn. The final thing that runs through me is the vision I had of Anya’s memories again. My eyes snap open, finding her dyed blonde hair across the living room. She’s stuffing a bunch of books in a bag, probably wanting some reading materials for the road, since we’re unsure how long we’ll actually be on the run. Without even thinking about it, I open my mouth and ask, “What does… ‘Mahleeshka’ mean?” ---- [[I instantly regret asking when I watch her body tense up. ->CHAP12-REGRET]] ---- [[I feel slightly guilty when I watch her body tense up… But I really am curious about it. ->CHAP12-SLIGHTGUILT]] ---- [[I watch her with a detached look as she tenses up. ->CHAP12-DETACH]]

*I immediately know that I’ve fucked up when she tenses up so hard that she almost rips the book she’s holding in half. She spins around, her light brown eyes wide as they snap to me with a frantic look to them as her mouth opens, but no words come out. “I’m sorry, Anya…” I sit up a bit straighter, slightly panicking at having upset her. “I didn’t think about it before I asked…” Will looks between us both with an expression caught between concern and slight interest- he seems to be wondering the same thing I am, probably wondering what I saw from her past but not wanting to upset her like this. Anya gulps as she continues to stare at me, her breathing picking up pace at an alarming degree. “...What did you say? малы́шка?” “You don’t have to answer $g2, Anya.” Will takes a step towards her, only to halt in place when she flinches at his movement. “Just calm-” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP12-10]] <<set $Anyareact to 10>> <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 2, 0, 100)>>

*I feel a little guilty when she tenses up so hard that she almost rips the book she’s holding in half. She spins around, her light brown eyes wide as they snap to me with a frantic look to them as her mouth opens, but no words come out. Sitting up a bit straighter, I wince as I say a quiet “Sorry…”, but my curiosity is ultimately winning against the guilt. “I just wanted to know, because I saw it in a dream…” Will looks between us both with an expression caught between concern and slight interest- he seems to be wondering the same thing I am, probably wondering what I saw from her past but not wanting to upset her like this. Anya gulps as she continues to stare at me, her breathing picking up pace at an alarming degree. “...What did you say? малы́шка?” “You don’t have to answer $g2, Anya.” Will takes a step towards her, only to halt in place when she flinches at his movement. “Just calm-” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP12-10]] <<set $Anyareact to 20>> <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 1, 0, 100)>>

*I watch her with a detached look when she tenses up so hard that she almost rips the book she’s holding in half. She spins around, her light brown eyes wide as they snap to me with a frantic look to them as her mouth opens, but no words come out. This reaction seems strange to me- an //overreaction// to something that happened at //least// a decade ago. Why is it still bothering her so much? Will looks between us both with an expression caught between concern and slight interest- he seems to be wondering the same thing I am, probably wondering what I saw from her past but not wanting to upset her like this. Anya gulps as she continues to stare at me, her breathing picking up pace at an alarming degree. “...What did you say? малы́шка?” “You don’t have to answer $g2, Anya.” Will takes a step towards her, only to halt in place when she flinches at his movement. “Just calm-” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP12-10]] <<set $Anyareact to 30>> <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval - 5, 0, 100)>><<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval - 5, 0, 100)>>

Before Will can even finish his sentence, Anya takes a strangled intake of breath, her whole body starting to tremble violently as she seems to start panicking. I realize that tears have started to run down her pale cheeks once she closes her eyes tight, almost as if she’s trying to block out the memories and feelings that seem to be causing her panic attack. <<if $Anyareact >=30>>I continue to watch her, unsure what I could do to help her, unsure if I really care enough to do so.<<elseif $Anyareact >=20 && $Anyareact <=29>>My guilt grows as I watch her struggling, unsure of what to do to help her.<<elseif $Anyareact >=10 && $Anyareact <=19>>My guilt grows as I watch her struggling, unsure of what to do to help her.<</if>> “Anya-” Will tries to help her again, but his efforts are put on hold when she raises a shaking hand to stop him. With sporadic movements, Anya suddenly turns and reaches for one of the many pill bottles dotted around the apartment. She has a little difficulty opening the cap with how badly her trembling has become, but once she’s popped it off she carefully shakes a single pill and throws it into her mouth. She tips her head back, swallowing the pill dry with a little difficulty. Will and I watch as she sits herself down on an armchair, her eyes closing once more as she leans back and apparently sits in wait for the pill to start working. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP12-11]]

<<if $Anyareact >=30>>Turning to me, Will sighs in a huff, obviously irritated at me. “This is why you need to be more careful, $Name. She told you she didn’t want you bringing up anything you saw of her past.” I somehow resist the temptation to roll my eyes.<<elseif $Anyareact >=20 && $Anyareact <=29>>Turning to me, Will sighs but doesn’t look upset at me. Rather, he just looks a little weary and concerned. “We really need to work on that whole ‘seeing into our pasts’ thing, $Name. And this… this is why.” I nod, my eyes falling to the floor as the guilt grows heavy and leaden in my chest. <<elseif $Anyareact >=10 && $Anyareact <=19>>Turning to me, Will sighs but doesn’t look upset at me. Rather, he just looks a little weary and concerned. “We really need to work on that whole ‘seeing into our pasts’ thing, $Name. And this… this is why.” I nod, my eyes falling to the floor as the guilt grows heavy and leaden in my chest. <</if>> My eyes travel to Anya once more, watching as she clutches at her shirt in what is probably some way to try and fight the trembling. But now that she’s exposing a little more of her chest, I notice the tip of an old scar almost reaching her clavicle- the edges are jagged, not surgical in any way… and I briefly begin to wonder just what those people in her past did to her. Around ten minutes later Anya clears her throat and sits up, but Will and I immediately notice the subtle change in her demeanor. She doesn’t look as aware anymore, her eyes glassy and almost unfocused as she sways a bit from side to side. Will makes a frustrated noise as he paces around the small living room, but I can tell it isn’t really directed at either of us when he says, “We really should get a move on now. Who knows when Azrael could show up again…” Looking both of us over, Will bites his lip for a second in thought before he turns to Anya. “You realize that I can’t let you drive now, right? You’ll have to come with us.” Blinking rather slowly, it seems to take a second for the words to compute in Anya’s head before she nods lethargically. “...Alright.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP12-12]]

Nodding his head, Will turns to me now. “Help me take her bags down to the car, alright?” We gather up all our stuff and help Anya down to Will’s car in record time. After we get her into the back with Camio, we’re on the road again- but soon realize that we aren’t sure where we should go next. Will finds a nearly empty parking lot to park his car for a while, turning to look at me with a concerned look on his face. “We should continue with our plan from before… Where we keep bouncing around, not staying in one place for too long. That way, the angels will have a harder time finding us.” “Dani will also have a harder time finding us…” Anya’s voice is quiet as she slurs her words, making Will and I turn in our seats to look at her. She’s slumped against the door, her glassy eyes flickering between us both. “Do you think they’ll be ok?” ---- [[Assure her they are fine, despite the worry that they aren’t. ->CHAP12-ASSUREWORRY]] ---- [[Assure her they are fine, firmly believing that. NEEDING to believe that. ->CHAP12-ASSUREFIRM]] ---- [[Don’t answer, unsure and concerned about the answer to that. ->CHAP12-DONTANSWER]] ---- [[Ignore her question. ->CHAP12-IGNOREANYA]]

“They’ll be just fine, Anya.” I lie, unsure why I do. The concern welling up inside of me for the wellbeing of our angel friend is almost too much to bear, but I still decide to try and assure Anya that they’re fine. “I’m sure they’ll find a way to find us somehow.” Turning forward in his seat once more, Will takes a deep breath before he nods his head, ultimately coming to a decision. “I’m going to drive west for as long as I can, and then we’ll stop and get some sleep at a hotel for the rest of the night. Then, tomorrow, we’ll continue heading west until…” I look at him, watching as his nerves seem to get to him. He grips the steering wheel as if he’s trying to stop himself from shaking before his dark eyes meet mine. “Well, until we can’t go west anymore, I suppose. Hopefully, Murmur or Dani will find us by then and we can ask them what we should be doing.” Anya and I both nod in silence, which Will takes as the sign to hit the road again. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP12-13]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 2, 0, 100)>><<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 2, 0, 100)>>

“They’ll be just fine, Anya.” I nod my head, my eyes never leaving her. I need her to believe that Dani will be ok just as I do- although I am concerned for them, I have to believe that they will be ok no matter what. “I’m sure they’ll find a way to find us somehow.” Turning forward in his seat once more, Will takes a deep breath before he nods his head, ultimately coming to a decision. “I’m going to drive west for as long as I can, and then we’ll stop and get some sleep at a hotel for the rest of the night. Then, tomorrow, we’ll continue heading west until…” I look at him, watching as his nerves seem to get to him. He grips the steering wheel as if he’s trying to stop himself from shaking before his dark eyes meet mine. “Well, until we can’t go west anymore, I suppose. Hopefully, Murmur or Dani will find us by then and we can ask them what we should be doing.” Anya and I both nod in silence, which Will takes as the sign to hit the road again. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP12-13]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 2, 0, 100)>><<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 2, 0, 100)>>

An overwhelming amount of concern for Dani has my mouth sealing shut, unable to even lie to Anya. How are we so sure that they’ll be alright? The last time we saw them, they were trying to keep Azrael away from me- and we all know that Azrael ended up relatively unscathed, but we never ended up seeing Dani- “I’m sure they’ll find a way to get to us when they’re able to,” Will says, taking in both of our concerned expressions. “We just have to believe that they’re alright and continue on until then.” Turning forward in his seat once more, Will takes a deep breath before he nods his head, ultimately coming to a decision. “I’m going to drive west for as long as I can, and then we’ll stop and get some sleep at a hotel for the rest of the night. Then, tomorrow, we’ll continue heading west until…” I look at him, watching as his nerves seem to get to him. He grips the steering wheel as if he’s trying to stop himself from shaking before his dark eyes meet mine. “Well, until we can’t go west anymore, I suppose. Hopefully, Murmur or Dani will find us by then and we can ask them what we should be doing.” Anya and I both nod in silence, which Will takes as the sign to hit the road again. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP12-13]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 1, 0, 100)>><<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 1, 0, 100)>>

I ignore her question, unconcerned with the state of the angel. I turn and look out the window, set with trying to get the others to move on, but Will must take it to mean that I’m worried because he speaks up. “I’m sure they’ll find a way to get to us when they’re able to,” Will sighs, and I can feel his stare on me. “We just have to believe that they’re alright and continue on until then.” Turning forward in his seat once more, Will takes a deep breath before he nods his head, ultimately coming to a decision. “I’m going to drive west for as long as I can, and then we’ll stop and get some sleep at a hotel for the rest of the night. Then, tomorrow, we’ll continue heading west until…” I look at him, watching as his nerves seem to get to him. He grips the steering wheel as if he’s trying to stop himself from shaking before his dark eyes meet mine. “Well, until we can’t go west anymore, I suppose. Hopefully, Murmur or Dani will find us by then and we can ask them what we should be doing.” Anya and I both nod in silence, which Will takes as the sign to hit the road again. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP12-13]]

After a few minutes of driving in silence, I suddenly feel a tap on my shoulder and turn around to face Anya. She’s leaning forward as far as she can, her glassy, light brown eyes watching me carefully. “$Name, back on the Ferris wheel… why did you…?” Her sentence trails off, and I’m unsure if it’s because she’s under the influence or because she loses her courage to ask me what she wants to. <<if $Firstkiss >=40>>I can’t help but remember what happened once more, how so many people were almost hurt or //worse// because of me. “Just forget about it, please…” I whisper, my eyes closing tight as I try to forget what I did. “I don’t know what came over me, I didn’t mean to…” My sentence trails off- I’m not entirely sure I didn’t mean to. Sure, it’s easy to say that after the fact… But in the moment, I think a part of me really did want to harm all those people. “It’s alright, $Name. I know you didn’t want to.” She whispers before I hear her lean back in her seat once more.<<elseif $Firstkiss >=30 && $Firstkiss <=39>>I can’t help but remember what happened once more, how so many people were almost hurt or //worse// because of me. “Just forget about it, please…” I whisper, my eyes closing tight as I try to forget what I did. “I don’t know what came over me, I didn’t mean to…” My sentence trails off- I’m not entirely sure I didn’t mean to. Sure, it’s easy to say that after the fact… But in the moment, I think a part of me really did want to harm all those people. “It’s alright, $Name. I know you didn’t want to.” She whispers before I hear her lean back in her seat once more.<<elseif $Firstkiss >=20 && $Firstkiss <=29>>Being so close to her reminds me of the kiss we shared on the Ferris Wheel, of the way she looked at me with those wide eyes that hold so many secrets behind them. I have to look away, the bad feeling from before growing in my chest the longer I stare at her. “Just forget about it, please…” I whisper, my eyes flickering to Will, who does a good job at pretending he isn’t listening to us. “I don’t know what came over me, I didn’t mean to…” My sentence trails off- I know that I //did want to kiss her//. But it was so obvious that she didn’t want me to, so obvious that I shouldn’t have done what I did. And thinking about the kiss makes me remember what happened right after- “It’s alright if you meant to, $Name.” She whispers before I hear her lean back in her seat once more.<<elseif $Firstkiss >=10 && $Firstkiss <=19>>I can’t help but remember what happened once more, how so many people were almost hurt or //worse// because of me. “Just forget about it, please…” I whisper, my eyes closing tight as I try to forget what I did. “I don’t know what came over me, I didn’t mean to…” My sentence trails off- I’m not entirely sure I didn’t mean to. Sure, it’s easy to say that after the fact… But in the moment, I think a part of me really did want to harm all those people. “It’s alright, $Name. I know you didn’t want to.” She whispers before I hear her lean back in her seat once more.<</if>> We all fall into silence, a strange tenseness to us all as we drive into the night. Will keeps yawning, but once he turns his playlist on and starts quietly singing along, he seems to wake up a bit. I can hear Anya gently snoring, along with the tiny little breaths of Camio to let me know they’re both asleep. It takes a long time but I suddenly start to feel… //content//, knowing that as long as we’re moving and I don’t have any more episodes, then Azrael can’t find us. The events are piling up, exhaustion running deep through my bones, and I find myself starting to doze off. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP12-14]]

---- !!!??? //”There you are." That voice makes my eyes snap open, a shard of ice-cold dread shooting down my spine as I instantly recognize the low timbre of his voice. “Father…” I whisper just as my vision centers on a figure standing a few feet away from me. We seem to be standing in an old barn, and I can only briefly wonder if this is the barn I’ve been seeing so often recently before the man is speaking again. “You’re being difficult again, Sin.” Satan stands before me, his pristine visage giving him an oddly dangerous aura. His pale blue eyes flicker over my form, disinterested as usual- but there’s something he’s hiding deep inside, something I can just barely see as he stares at me… He’s ''pissed''. '''Good.'''// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP12-15]]

//Head tilting to the side, the angel-turned-demon continues to stare at me with his cold gaze. I’m unsure if he has nothing to say, or if he’s just making me wait in suspense like an asshole. I can’t remember much of anything from when I was under his ‘care’, but I imagine he had done this to me a lot- intimidating me into submission. “Where are you right now, Sin?” Father suddenly asks. For some reason a laugh bubbles up inside my chest, coming out in a strange breathy way as I stare at him in exasperation. Does he truly think I’d just tell him where I am? After learning that I had escaped from Hell for a reason- that he and The Devil are punishing me for it? Surprisingly he doesn’t react to my laugh. He must not have expected me to answer him either way, because he suddenly moves on to something else. “You’ve been poking around in your head, haven’t you? Trying to dig into those repressed memories?” My expression falls as another wave of dread washes over me at his words. How does he know about that? Did Pursan tell him…?// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP12-16]]

//Some strange kind of emotion flickers across his face, something that resembles smugness. “You won’t be able to recover them- nothing substantial, anyway. Not while I am here.” I open my mouth, unsure what I’m going to say, but nothing ends up coming out. I don’t get a chance to try again before Satan is speaking once more. “But I didn’t come here to just taunt you, Sin. If you really want the answers you have been seeking, then I suggest you try to find the ''center'' of America. All the answers you could hope to find ''and more'' will be waiting for you there.” Something tries to stir in my memories, a thought trying to break free from the deepest confines it finds itself in. Something about what Satan says is resonating with me, but I just don’t have a clue ''what''. And I don’t get any time to try and bring forth the thought, not before my father’s visage starts to disappear and I can feel my consciousness slowly start to come back to me. “Find the center, Sin. The center of America.” Those are the last words Satan says to me before it all fades to black.// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP12-17]]

---- !!!??? Startling awake, the image of my father standing before me still fresh in my mind, I try to get up and //run away// or //something//- only to get stopped by the seatbelt I’m wearing. I fall back against the passenger seat of Will’s car, my breathing ragged, my mind racing with the implications of the dream I just had. Or maybe it wasn’t a dream… Maybe my father really was able to connect to my mind somehow. That thought terrifies me. If he’s able to connect to my mind then he might be able to find me- “$Name?” I suddenly realize Will is speaking to me, and I turn to face him. He’s watching me out of the corner of his eye, his expression concerned. “Are you alright? Did you have another nightmare?” ---- [[Answer him truthfully. ->CHAP12-ANSWERTRUTH]] ---- [[Lie to him. ->CHAP12-LIETOWILL]] ---- [[Ignore him. ->CHAP12-IGNOREWILL]]

“Y- Yeah. I’m fine. I had this strange dream…” I wonder if it’s actually a good idea to tell him that my father visited me in my dream, unsure how he’d react to that knowledge. But this is Will, and he’s trying to help me figure this all out… it’d be better if he knew. “I think my… Father visited me in my dream. He wasn’t really saying anything too important, just told me… To find the center of America.” “...Well, if //he// thinks we should do it, maybe… maybe we //shouldn’t//?” He mumbles as he watches the dark road in front of the car. “Maybe…” I answer noncommittally, needing some time to think over everything that has happened to really decide what I should do. After a few more minutes of a silent drive, Will suddenly yawns, veering very slightly off the road. He shakes his head, trying to wake himself up a bit as he says, “I think I’m at my limit for the night. Let's find a place to sleep for a while before heading back out on the road.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP12-18]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 1, 0, 100)>>

“Y-Yeah. I’m fine.” I wonder if it’s actually a good idea to try to lie to him- because it’s obvious that he knows I’m not exactly telling him the truth. “...That’s good.” He mumbles as he watches the dark road in front of the car. “Yeah.” I answer awkwardly. If I do end up telling him anything, it needs to be after I’ve had some time to think over everything that has happened so I can decide what I should do. After a few more minutes of a silent drive, Will suddenly yawns, veering very slightly off the road. He shakes his head, trying to wake himself up a bit as he says, “I think I’m at my limit for the night. Let's find a place to sleep for a while before heading back out on the road.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP12-18]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval - 1, 0, 100)>>

I sigh as I get comfortable in the seat again, intent on ignoring him. He doesn’t need to know what just happened, especially since I’m not entirely sure what happened anyway. “...Right.” He mumbles as he watches the dark road in front of the car. Closing my eyes once more, I try to ignore the slight hurt in Will’s voice by starting to think over everything that has happened, needing to decide what I should do. After a few more minutes of a silent drive, Will suddenly yawns, veering very slightly off the road. He shakes his head, trying to wake himself up a bit as he says, “I think I’m at my limit for the night. Let's find a place to sleep for a while before heading back out on the road.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP12-18]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval - 4, 0, 100)>>

With the help of Will, I’m able to find the nearest hotel to our location, my phone telling him the directions to follow. It takes another ten minutes or so before we pull into its parking lot, and about another ten to get a room for the night. By the time we actually start to make our way up to our room, it’s nearing three in the morning. Our heavy footsteps trudge along the carpeted hallway that leads to our room, obvious exhaustion in all of our steps- and once we find our room, Will fumbles with the keycard for a bit, complaining that these types of locks never work for him. Camio chirps softly from the bundled-up sweatshirt in my arms as we wait, and I find myself almost subconsciously petting his little head- unsure if it’s to comfort him or myself more. Before long, we all shamble into the room. Anya finds the nearest light and switches it on, bathing the room in a warm glow. It’s cool and crisp in here- almost too much so. It’s plain in the same way that all hotels are, with muted colors and generic paintings on the wall. Will claims the bed closest to the window, which he quickly shuts the curtains to before falling back onto the bed with a heavy sigh. “God, I could sleep for a whole //week// and never feel rested again.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP12-19]]

Anya chuckles, still a bit sluggish and obviously just as exhausted. “Me too.” I gently place Camio down on the couch, watching his little dark blue eyes slowly take in his surroundings. I wonder if he’s starting to feel better- if he’s able to heal at all despite not being able to go to Hell at the moment. “Let's get ready and go to bed.” Will riffles through his bags, taking out whatever he needs to get to bed. Once Anya follows suit, I also find my bags and take out my pajamas before Will catches my attention. “Oh yeah, $Name… You should go clean up the blood in the bathroom before you get into bed.” “Blood?” I ask him, confused. Nodding, Will points towards his head. “Yeah, don’t you remember? After Pursan tried to help you remember something, you got these weird wounds on your head.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP12-20]]

Suddenly I remember, and nod as I quickly head to the bathroom, intent on finding out just what these “strange wounds” are. The overhead light flickers to life, a soft buzzing starting up with it as I step into the small bathroom. I debate jumping into the shower, somehow feeling like it would be the easiest to remove the blood and also the events of the last few days that cling to my skin like dirt, but a yawn has me quickly deciding that I should just wash up in the sink instead. Taking a deep breath, I turn and look at myself in the mirror. Tired $eyecolor eyes greet me, my $skincolor skin a little dull as I quickly locate the blood on my head. <<if $Hornarea2 >=30>> I quickly wet a hand towel and gently scrub away the dark red blood that has dripped down the sides of my face, slowly making my way up until I stop at my temples. Brows furrowing in confusion, I lean forward against the sink as I set the towel down, before my fingers gently press against the skin there- only to wince and hiss at the pain. Two strange bumps have formed against my temples, raised and bruised like I hit my head in the same spot on either side.<<elseif $Hornarea2 >=20 && $Hornarea2 <=29>>I quickly wet a hand towel and gently scrub away the dark red blood that has dripped from my forehead, the trail stopping just above my eyebrows. They furrow in confusion as I lean forward against the sink, setting the towel down before my fingers gently press against the skin there- only to wince and hiss at the pain. Two strange bumps have formed near my hairline, raised and bruised like I hit my head in the same spot on either side.<<elseif $Hornarea2 >=10 && $Hornarea2 <=19>>I quickly wet a hand towel and gently scrub away the dark red blood that has accumulated in my hair, slowly making my way up until I stop at the crown of my head. Brows furrowing in confusion, I lean forward against the sink as I set the towel down, before my fingers gently press against the skin there- only to wince and hiss at the pain. Two strange bumps have formed against my temples, raised and almost welt-like.<</if>> ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP12-21]]

Just what are these strange bumps? //Why do they hurt so bad?// A harsh pain flashes across my skull suddenly, as if warning me against thinking about this line of thought much more and I instantly decide that I’ll just worry about it tomorrow. Exhaustion hangs heavy off my limbs, and I don’t know how much longer I can stay awake. After getting dressed in my pajamas, I head out into the room once more and take in the scene. Anya and Will have claimed their respective beds, and they watch me closely as if waiting for me to say something. It takes a long second for me to realize that they’re waiting to see if I’ll climb into bed with one of them. ---- [[Sleep with Anya. ->CHAP12-SLEEPANYA]] ---- [[Sleep with Will. ->CHAP12-SLEEPWILL]] ---- [[Sleep on the couch. ->CHAP12-SLEEPCOUCH]]

I climb into the cool sheets of the bed Anya is in, my body instantly relaxing into the mattress. Anya slowly turns in the bed to face me, her red hair spread across the pillow. Her light brown eyes watch me closely, almost as if studying me. I’m almost worried that she’s afraid to be in bed with me, but that thought vanishes when she gives me a small smile. “Goodnight $Name.” ---- [[Reach for her hand. [Flirt] ->CHAP12-ANYAFLIRT]] ---- [[Turn to face her as well. ->CHAP12-FACEHER]] ---- [[Stay where I am. ->CHAP12-STAYSTILL1]] <<set $Sleepingbed to 10>><<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 5, 0, 100)>>

I climb into the cool sheets of the bed Will is in, my body instantly relaxing into the mattress. Will turns to face me, a small, contented sigh leaving his lips as he does so. Once his dark brown eyes are on me, a small lop-sided grin grows on his face before he whispers, “Goodnight $Name.” ---- [[Cuddle closer. [Flirt] ->CHAP12-WILLFLIRT]] ---- [[Just turn to face him as well. ->CHAP12-FACEHIM]] ---- [[Just stay where I am. ->CHAP12-STAYSTILL2]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 5, 0, 100)>>

I head to the couch where Camio is sleeping, gently scooping him up and placing him in one of the chairs that sits at the small table in the corner of the room. Then, I grab one of the extra blankets and pillow Will or Anya had left for me and get as comfortable as I can on the couch. “Goodnight $Name.” Will’s voice catches my attention, and I look up at him just in time to see a lopsided grin. Before I can respond to him, Anya’s voice whispers from her bed as well, her dyed red hair the only thing I can see from the blanket burrito, “Goodnight $Name.” “Goodnight.” I whisper back, before laying my head back on the pillow and closing my eyes. Somehow, sleep takes me within seconds. A deep, peaceful, dreamless sleep… !CHAPTER TWELVE END… ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-1]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 1, 0, 100)>><<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 1, 0, 100)>>

I turn to face her as well, her gaze still watching me closely. But she doesn’t stop me, doesn’t jump out of the bed - doesn’t look at me with fear, even when all I’ve given her are reasons to fear me. “Goodnight Anya.” I whisper, before closing my eyes. Somehow, sleep takes me within seconds. A deep, peaceful, dreamless sleep… !CHAPTER TWELVE END… ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-1]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 1, 0, 100)>>

I stay put where I am, my eyes closing as sleep starts to take hold of me. I can feel Anya’s stare still on me, so I let out a sigh before whispering, “Goodnight Anya.” Somehow, sleep takes me within seconds. A deep, peaceful, dreamless sleep… !CHAPTER TWELVE END… ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-1]]

My fingers inch their way across the sheets, her eyes instantly catching them and watching closely. But she doesn’t stop me, not even when I wrap her cold fingers in mine. Eyes widening ever so slightly, Anya looks at me in surprise. But she still doesn’t pull her hand away, still doesn’t look at me with fear - even when all I’ve given her are reasons to fear me. “Goodnight Anya.” I whisper, before closing my eyes. Somehow, sleep takes me within seconds. A deep, peaceful, dreamless sleep… !CHAPTER TWELVE END… ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-1]] <<set $Anya_Love to Math.clamp($Anya_Love + 3, 0, 30)>>

I’m not sure what comes over me, or where I get the sudden confidence from, but I slowly cuddle closer to Will. He watches me rather closely, almost as if he’s unsure what I’m doing, and I stop moving for a second. Licking his lips, gathering up his own confidence, Will raises an arm up and gently places it over my body. His dark brown eyes watch me in question, wondering if this is what I wanted, letting me know that he’s alright with whatever I’m doing. My breath catches in my throat as I scoot the last few inches, my head resting against his pillow, our faces only a breadth away. Neither of us is comfortable, but neither of us really cares at this moment. And it’s suddenly too much for me. Closing my eyes, I finally answer him. “Goodnight Will.” Somehow, sleep takes me within seconds. A deep, peaceful, dreamless sleep… !CHAPTER TWELVE END… ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-1]] <<set $Will_Love to Math.clamp($Will_Love + 3, 0, 30)>>

I turn to face him as well, his gaze still watching me closely. But he doesn’t stop me, doesn’t jump out of the bed - doesn’t look at me with fear, even when all I’ve given him are reasons to fear me. “Goodnight Will.” I whisper, before closing my eyes. Somehow, sleep takes me within seconds. A deep, peaceful, dreamless sleep… !CHAPTER TWELVE END… ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-1]] <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 1, 0, 100)>>

I stay put where I am, my eyes closing as sleep starts to take hold of me. I can feel Will’s stare still on me, so I let out a sigh before whispering, “Goodnight Will.” Somehow, sleep takes me within seconds. A deep, peaceful, dreamless sleep… !CHAPTER TWELVE END… ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-1]]

!!Hello! These are small Valentine's Day snippets with your favorite RO. The SFW version is available for free for everyone, but if you want the NSFW/+18 version it costs $1 on Patreon [One-time payment only] There aren’t many options for a mean/unhinged Sin in these, unfortunately!! I do apologize for that. ---- First, a few questions… What is your name? <<textbox "$Name2" "TYPE YOUR NAME">> Choose your pronouns... ---- [[She/her ->EXTRA-SHE/HER]] ---- [[He/him ->EXTRA-HE/HIM]] ---- [[They/them ->EXTRA-THEY/THEM]] ---- [[Input my own. ->CHOOSEPRONOUNSEXTRA]]

“For those who are alone this Valentine’s Day, a special day-long marathon of your favorite romantic sitcoms…” Sighing, I settle on this channel, unsure if I’ll be able to find anything better with the limited options in this hotel. Flashes of sitcom romances start to flash across the scene- kisses, hugs, tears… Another sigh escapes me as I think about romance. Lately, I’ve been way too busy trying to outrun angels and demons trying to kill me to even //think// about anything other than my survival. But these last few days have been relatively quiet and almost //peaceful//, which only means I have more time to think about things that I wouldn’t normally even entertain. And with Valentine’s Day happening tomorrow, I can’t help but think about things like romance… Especially with //that// person… ---- [[Will. ->EXTRA-WILL-1]] ---- [[Anya. ->EXTRA-ANYA-1]] ---- [[Dani. ->EXTRA-DANI-1]] ---- [[Murmur. ->EXTRA-MURMUR-1]]

Your pronouns are she/her. ---- [[NEXT ->EXTRA1-1]] <<set $EXg1 to "she">><<set $EXg2 to "her">><<set $EXg3 to "her">><<set $EXg4 to "hers">><<set $EXg5 to "herself">><<set $EXg6 to "woman">><<set $EXg7 to "daughter">><<set $PN1 to 10>>

Your pronouns are he/him. ---- [[NEXT ->EXTRA1-1]] <<set $EXg1 to "he">><<set $EXg2 to "him">><<set $EXg3 to "his">><<set $EXg4 to "his">><<set $EXg5 to "himself">><<set $EXg6 to "man">><<set $EXg7 to "son">><<set $PN1 to 20>>

Your pronouns are they/them. ---- [[NEXT ->EXTRA1-1]] <<set $EXg1 to "they">><<set $EXg2 to "them">><<set $EXg3 to "their">><<set $EXg4 to "theirs">><<set $EXg5 to "themself">><<set $EXg6 to "person">><<set $EXg7 to "child">><<set $PN1 to 30>>

CHOOSE YOUR PRONOUNS... Singular subject [EX: she, he, they] <<textbox "$EXg1" "TYPE HERE">> Singular object [EX: her, him, them] <<textbox "$EXg2" "TYPE HERE">> Possessive adjective [EX: her, his, their] <<textbox "$EXg3" "TYPE HERE">> Possessive pronoun [EX: hers, his, theirs] <<textbox "$EXg4" "TYPE HERE">> Reflexive pronoun [EX: herself, himself, themself] <<textbox "$EXg5" "TYPE HERE">> Gender [EX: woman, man, person] <<textbox "$EXg6" "TYPE HERE">> And finally, when your parents refer to you, they call you their... [EX: daughter, son, child] <<textbox "$EXg7" "TYPE HERE">> ---- [[NEXT ->EXTRAP-2]]

Do your pronouns work better singular or plural? [She/her, he/him = singular. They/them = plural.] ---- [[Singular ->EXPRONOUNS2]] ---- [[Plural ->EXPRONOUNS3]]

Your pronouns are singular. ---- [[NEXT ->EXTRA1-1]] <<set $PN1 to 50>>

Your pronouns are plural. ---- [[NEXT ->EXTRA1-1]] <<set $PN1 to 40>>

Will’s sweet, lopsided grin comes to mind. It’s no wonder I’ve fallen for him so hard, and no wonder why he’s the one on my mind. He’s kind, way too kind at times, and always willing to give //all// of himself to those he wants to help. And not to mention that he’s handsome as well- well-dressed and put together. The only problem? Well, I’m not sure how he feels about //me//… The third sigh of the hour escapes my lips as I fling myself back on the bed. I’m not sure how he feels about me, true, but I also don’t know if it’s //right// to feel how I do about him. I’m… //whatever the hell I am//, and he’s… He’s a human. And an exorcist. Those things don’t go well with demons. All of these thoughts leave me feeling frustrated- and I can’t seem to work through my feelings no matter how hard I try. ---- [[Bury my head in a pillow and try to let my frustration out with a groan. ->EXTRA-BURY]] ---- [[Stare blankly at the ceiling and continue to try and work through my feelings in my head. ->EXTRA-STARE]] ---- [[Punch a pillow, trying to get my frustrations out physically. ->EXTRA-PUNCH]]

I turn onto my stomach, a loud groan escaping past my lips as I bury my head in a pillow. If I could scream away my frustrations, I’d do it- And I’m trying //very// hard to do just that- “$Name? Are you alright?” My head whips up at that voice, coming face-to-face with the //exact// reason for my frustrations. Will stands at the entrance of the hotel room with an amused grin, holding a plastic bag in one hand as he watches me. “Am I interrupting something?” “No.” I answer way too quickly. “Sure.” Will’s voice is full of amusement as he takes his shoes off and walks over to the small table in the corner of the room. He starts taking items out of the bag, which includes a few sandwiches and a soda. Blinking, I watch as he walks up to me next, reaching into the bag once more to pull out… A teddy bear. He hands it to me, a lopsided grin still plastered on his face as I take the bear. It’s bright red, with little devil horns and devil tail- and holding a black heart in its fuzzy arms. Red words in the heart read “You’re hot as Hell”. ---- [[NEXT -EXTRA-WILL-2]]

I stare up at the ceiling with a blank expression, willing myself to not show any of my frustration on the outside. If I can just //think through this//, all of it, I might be able to work through the frustration and feelings- “$Name? Are you alright?” Blinking, I lift my head at that voice, coming face-to-face with the //exact// reason for my frustrations. Will stands at the entrance of the hotel room with an amused grin, holding a plastic bag in one hand as he watches me. “Am I interrupting something?” “No.” I answer way too quickly. “Sure.” Will’s voice is full of amusement as he takes his shoes off and walks over to the small table in the corner of the room. He starts taking items out of the bag, which includes a few sandwiches and a soda. Blinking, I watch as he walks up to me next, reaching into the bag once more to pull out… A teddy bear. He hands it to me, a lopsided grin still plastered on his face as I take the bear. It’s bright red, with little devil horns and devil tail- and holding a black heart in its fuzzy arms. Red words in the heart read “You’re hot as Hell”. ---- [[NEXT -EXTRA-WILL-2]]

I grab a pillow and place it in front of me… Before punching it as hard as I can, over and over and //over// and //’’over’’//- “$Name? Are you alright?” Gasping, my head whips to the side, coming face-to-face with the //exact// reason for my frustrations. Will stands at the entrance of the hotel room with an amused grin, holding a plastic bag in one hand as he watches me. “Am I interrupting something?” “No.” I answer way too quickly. “Sure.” Will’s voice is full of amusement as he takes his shoes off and walks over to the small table in the corner of the room. He starts taking items out of the bag, which includes a few sandwiches and a soda. Blinking, I watch as he walks up to me next, reaching into the bag once more to pull out… A teddy bear. He hands it to me, a lopsided grin still plastered on his face as I take the bear. It’s bright red, with little devil horns and devil tail- and holding a black heart in its fuzzy arms. Red words in the heart read “You’re hot as Hell”. ---- [[NEXT -EXTRA-WILL-2]]

I open my mouth to say something, but I ultimately don’t know what to say. What is he trying to tell me with this bear? Am I reading too much into it? A finger gently tips my head up by my chin, and I’m once again looking into Will’s dark brown eyes. He looks a little nervous, but he’s still smiling at me, his full lips looking way more alluring than usual tonight for some reason- And I realize he’s also saying something to me. “-thought it was cute, so I got it for you.” My voice seems to have left me completely as I stare at Will, unsure if I misheard him or if I’m misjudging his words. Blinking, Will seems to lose whatever confidence he has since I remain silent. He loses his smile and clears his throat before saying, “Anyway…” I watch as Will sits at the small table and gets his food ready- as he subconsciously tears a piece off of his sandwich and holds it out for me. He knows that I don’t need to eat, but it seems as if he can’t help but //offer// me some of his food every time he eats. It makes me wonder how much of Will is just subconsciously giving himself to others, even if they didn’t ask for anything.

!!TW: Depictions/vivid descriptions of breaking bones !CHAPTER THIRTEEN !!!A FEW DAYS LATER… “-no matter what is going on in your life, some form of potato can take your mind off of all the shit happening.” “Will, what…? I just asked if we could stop and get some chips…” “Just got broken up with and feel like you’re unlovable? Fries will love you. Got an unexpected medical bill you aren’t sure you’ll be able to pay? Eat some chips, that’ll take your mind off things. Mash ‘em, bake ‘em-” “Boil ‘em, mash ‘em, stick ‘em in a stew.” “I knew you’d understand, precious!” “Don’t ever use Smegle's voice again!” I slowly open my eyes, squinting against the sunlight shining through the car window as laughing gently pulls me from my nap. For some reason, ever since these strange wounds appeared on my head, I’ve been getting more and more exhausted. I’d like to think it’s just because we’ve been in the car for a couple of days now, the gentle swaying and background noise of Anya and Will laughing soothing to me- but I’m just not 100% certain. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-2]]

When I check outside, I see that we’re pulling into a gas station in some small town- I’ve stopped keeping track of where we were about a day ago when I switched places with Anya in the back. Turning in his seat, Will notices that I’m awake once more and gives me a lopsided grin. “Hey. Anya’s going to get some snacks while I fill up the car.” Nodding, I watch as they both leave, wincing a bit as the sound of the car doors shutting starts up another headache in my battered head. Once I’m alone in the car, I lean my head back and close my eyes, trying to make the pain behind them disappear without much success. Then, almost as if waiting for the exact moment I was left alone, another feeling grows inside of me. It centers in my chest, reaching out towards my lungs and heart with an almost electric tingle. It isn’t a bad feeling, but it definitely doesn’t feel //normal//. Suddenly, my hands and feet tingle with something like //heat//, like their gearing up and getting ready to //move// against my will- itching to take me somewhere. ---- [[Ignore the feeling. ->CHAP13-IGNOREFEELING]] ---- [[Listen to the feeling. ->CHAP13-LISTENFEELING]]

Shaking my head, I try to take my mind off of the growing sensations in my limbs, the electricity crackling in my chest. How many bad things have happened due to me not understanding what I can //do//, my untapped powers I have and can’t control? But the longer I sit in this car unmoving, the more intense these feelings //grow//. Then, a thought crosses my mind- a thought that has me second-guessing my decision. If I stay here, ignoring the growing electricity running through my body… Will it only continue to grow until it has no other option but to explode…? To come out in a violent burst, not only hurting myself but the people I’m with? Without any more hesitation, I open the door and step out of the car. Will doesn’t notice that I’ve left the car, his attention on his phone. For some reason, I don’t call out to him; I don’t even shut the car door, just start walking away. As soon as I take a step, a new sensation starts to crawl up my legs- something like a gentle tugging. Does my body know where it needs to go? I take another hesitant step away, the pull getting stronger as I head towards the street- “$Name? Where are you going?” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-3]] <<set $Sanity_Meter to Math.clamp($Sanity_Meter - 1, 0, 6)>>

The sensations in my chest and limbs make me antsy, and I somehow know that if I don’t get out of the car and //move// then something //bad// might happen. So I do just that - opening the door and stepping out of the car. Will doesn’t notice that I’ve left the car, his attention on his phone. For some reason, I don’t call out to him; I don’t even shut the car door, just start walking away. As soon as I take a step, a new sensation starts to crawl up my legs- something like a gentle tugging. Does my body know where it needs to go? I take another hesitant step away, the pull getting stronger as I head towards the street- “$Name? Where are you going?” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-3]] <<set $Sanity_Meter to Math.clamp($Sanity_Meter + 1, 0, 6)>>

Anya’s voice pulls my attention away from the sensations in my body, and I turn around to face the two humans who nervously stare at me. I open my mouth to say something, to answer her, but find that the words don’t come to me. How am I supposed to explain this…? That there’s a strange //pulling// sensation inside of me, telling me to go… //somewhere//? And I was just going to listen to it, without much of a fight? Will takes a hesitant step forward, his worried, upturned eyebrows showing his obvious concern. “Are you alright?” Shaking my head, trying to clear it, I say, “Yeah, I’m… I’m fine. There’s just… This strange //feeling//.” They share a look before turning their attention back to me, Will asking, “What kind of feeling?” “I’m not sure. It’s like it’s… //pulling// me, trying to get me to go that way.” I point toward where I think I need to go, my eyes scanning the buildings across the street, unsure what I’m looking for exactly. “Do you think it’s something… //bad//? Like an angel trying to lure you in?” Will asks- and although I’m no longer looking at him, I can tell he’s starting to get anxious just by the tone of his voice. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-4]]

I shake my head immediately. “No, this isn’t a bad feeling. It feels… //right//. I just know that whatever is over there, I need to find it.” After a long few seconds of silence, I finally turn back around to face my friends. They look unsure, caught between wanting to believe me and not knowing if I’m heading right toward a trap of some kind. But after another few seconds, Will sighs. “I guess… It wouldn’t hurt to check it out, right? If there’s any sign of danger, we can just jump in the car and leave.” “I…” Anya’s light brown eyes flicker between Will and me before she also sighs and nods her head. “... Yeah, alright. Let’s do that.” We all get back into the car, Anya sitting in the backseat once more so I can see outside the car easier. Will starts heading down the street while I direct him, letting the strange sensation inside of me be the guide. After about a five-minute drive, the stereo in the car that was quietly playing some music starts to buzz and turn to static- an electric current running through my body letting me know that we’re close to whatever it’s trying to lead me to. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-5]]

“It’s here.” I say as I scan the area, not finding much that stands out to me. Once Will pulls the car over to the side of the road, I jump out, the energy inside of me causing my movements to be jerky and unnatural. Whatever this feeling inside of me is has led us to a small clearing, a strange triangular plot of land in “The-Middle-of-No-where-Kansas”. There’s a small building, a covered seating area, and some kind of monument. “This is it?” I hear myself ask no one in particular as I look between the few things in the area. Will makes a humming noise in confusion as he heads towards the small building, more of a shed really, and takes a peek inside as Anya walks up beside me. "Do you still feel this… ‘strange feeling’?” Her quiet voice catches my attention, and I turn to look at her. I can’t see her eyes behind her sunglasses, but I know she’s also scanning the small patch of land when her head slowly moves back and forth. “It doesn’t tell you what you’re looking for, exactly?” Shaking my head, I sigh in frustration. The feeling is slowly leaving me now that it has brought me to where it wanted me to go- leaving me more confused than before it ever came over me. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-6]]

Looking at the three options again, I decide I might as well start investigating if I want to try and figure anything out. I make my way to the small building and take a step inside to join Will with Anya close behind me. “It’s like… a church.” Will offers as soon as I enter, gesturing around the room as if I can’t figure it out myself. He’s right though, it is a church. There are eight single-person pews lined up in the small space, facing a small podium. On the wall behind the podium sits a cross over a wooden cut-out of the country painted like the American flag. I look around the small space, noticing that I don’t really feel much of anything in here, so I shake my head. “This isn’t what I need to look at.” Without waiting for an answer from Anya or Will, I quickly leave the tiny church and head over to the monument. It sits in a patch of dirt, made with stones and cement with a flag pole sticking out of the top of it. There’s a plaque on the front, so I crouch down to read it- my eyes opening wide as I read what it says. //"The Geographic Center of The United States”// is at the top of the plaque, with more written underneath it. But I can’t focus on anything else, just //those words//… “Find the Center…” I whisper, my fingers brushing across the cold metal of the plaque. This is the place my parents have been trying to get me to find… But //why//? ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-7]]

Suddenly, Will makes a strange noise, something caught between a gasp and strangled breath, which has me turning around to check on him- only to find that a stranger is standing between me and my friends. A stranger who was nowhere near us just a second ago. Slowly, I stand back up while I take a close look at this person, realizing that they’re actually a //demon//. Standing tall, they stand in an entirely black suit that hangs off of their extremely thin frame. They have long black hair that hangs in their face, with big, round, pitch-black eyes that stare unblinking. Their black horns sit on the crown of their head, twisting out like skinny ram horns. “I wasn’t expecting the spawn to be //here//, of all places.” The demon’s head tilts to the side, reminiscent of Murmur, but for some reason when they do it I feel as though they aren’t curious, just sizing me up. “Quite peculiar, indeed.” “Who are you?” I find myself asking before I can think better of it. Bending forward slightly, almost as if they are thinking about bowing but stopping halfway, the demon extends their arms out as they introduce themselves. “I’m Otis, Third President of Hell.” ---- [[Ask what this place is. ->CHAP13-ASKPLACE]] ---- [[I don’t trust Otis, so leave. ->CHAP13-TRYLEAVE]]

“What is this place?” I ask as I look around at the small patch of grass. “What’s so important about this place?” “This place? //Important//?” Otis seems genuinely confused for a second before they shrug their boney shoulders. “It’s not that important, really- unless you count the crossroad here.” “Crossroad? What is that?” I take a step towards them, before realizing that that probably isn’t the smartest idea. Nodding their head, Otis gestures around the area. “This area is special for demons- it’s where two ley lines meet- why it’s called a crossroad. It attracts humans and makes supernatural beings a bit more powerful.” Something about what they said gives me pause, but I’m unsure what’s standing out to me exactly… And before I get to think about it anymore, Otis is moving on with something else. “I’m pleased you found this place, though. It definitely makes things a lot easier for me.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-8]]

I get a bad feeling from this demon- and I’m not entirely sure why. But I decide to listen to my gut and start to walk back to Will’s car before their voice stops me. “You aren’t curious about this crossroad, or why you were attracted to it?” Spinning around, I look at Otis in surprise. “... How did you know I was attracted to this place? What is a crossroad?” Nodding their head, Otis gestures around the area. “This area is special for demons- it’s where two ley lines meet- why it’s called a crossroad. It attracts humans and makes supernatural beings a bit more powerful.” Something about what they said gives me pause, but I’m unsure what’s standing out to me exactly… And before I get to think about it anymore, Otis is moving on with something else. “I’m pleased you found this place, though. It definitely makes things a lot easier for me.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-8]]

I can feel my face contort in confusion at their words. “...What do you mean?” My gaze flickers to my friends a few feet behind the demon, watching as Will slowly starts to take his necklace off, his eyes never leaving Otis. But Anya… She looks pale. //A lot// paler than she usually is, and her breathing is starting to become erratic. Something bad is going to happen, I just //feel it//- I need to get us out of here, and //fast//. “Well, I have to take you back to Hell, Sin. Your parents ordered your return to Hell if we were to find you.” Otis shrugs as if they’re just saying something completely mundane and normal. A flash of memory comes to me- Pursan had said something very similar when we were at the amusement park. Something about orders for my return to Hell… “$g1 <<if $program >=20>>aren’t<<elseif $program >=10 && $program <=19>>isn't<</if>> going anywhere with you.” Will suddenly speaks up then, causing the demon’s attention to shift to him. He tries his best to glare, to seem like he’s the one in control here, but I notice his hand shaking as he raises his cross towards the demon. “And if you don’t leave us alone, I’ll exorcise you.” I’m not sure what kind of expression Otis is making as they’ve turned away from me, but I can tell that Will’s words don’t scare them when they let out a huff of laughter. “A devil with a little priest for a guard? How cute.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-9]]

Otis’ skeletal hand reaches towards Will, long fingers gently brushing over the top of the cross. “//''Sisto.''//” Will’s voice comes out in a command, raising the hairs on the back of my neck. For a second, Otis seems to freeze- but after that second is up, they laugh. Will blinks in surprise before fear dawns on his face. Whatever he had just tried to do to the demon //didn’t work//. “Did I forget to mention that this is a crossroad? That it makes demons more powerful?” Otis turns to face me again, their lips pouting a bit as they ask their questions in a patronizing tone. “The usual exorcist tricks won’t work on me, unfortunately.” My thoughts scramble as I stand unmoving, watching Otis closely as I try to come up with a plan. If I don’t get out of here, they’re going to take me back to Hell- the exact place I was supposedly trying to run from repeatedly. The exact place where I just //know// that if I ever end up back there, I’m not getting out again… I’ll more than likely be killed before I ever get to try and escape again. //’But how can we escape unharmed?’// ---- [[Figure out a way to distract Otis. ->CHAP13-DISTRACT]] ---- [[Try and talk my way out of it. ->CHAP13-TALK]] ---- [[Fuck this- just fight my way out of this. ->CHAP13-FIGHT]]

“Now, just be a good little spawn and come with me. Make this nice and easy, so I won’t have to hurt you, Sin.” Otis extends a hand my way, their voice deceptively calm and sincere. My eyes quickly dart around the area, my friends, Otis… But I’m just not sure how I can get us out of here without some form of altercation. And if I can’t get out of here without an altercation, then… I’ll just have to do what I do best. //Run away.// Without a second more hesitation, I turn and start sprinting away as fast as I can. I can hear Otis say something, some sort of mumble under their breath, and a confused shout from Will and Anya- Before something catches my foot, and I trip and fall on my face //hard//. I feel dirt and gravel dig into my skin as my body goes skidding along the ground a few feet before I’m brought to a sudden stop by something //yanking// on my ankle. I can feel my body being dragged on the ground, the new wounds cut and forced open even wider as the edges catch on rocks and hard earth. Everything //burns// and //stings//, and I can’t help but cry out in pain. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-10]]

“Now, just be a good little spawn and come with me. Make this nice and easy, so I won’t have to hurt you, Sin.” Otis extends a hand my way, their voice deceptively calm and sincere. My eyes quickly dart around the area, my friends, Otis… But I’m just not sure how I can get us out of here without some form of altercation. And if I can’t get out of here without an altercation, then… Maybe I can try and talk my way out of it. Give Anya and Will a chance to do something. “You don’t have to do this, Otis.” I raise my hands as if in surrender, my gaze intense as I stare at Otis. “Please- I left for a reason. I can’t go back there.” “Hm…” Otis seems to think over my words, before shrugging. “Sorry, Sin. But the big bosses down there //really// want you back. If they found out I let you escape, I’d be killed.” For a split second, my gaze snaps to Will and Anya. Will looks as though he’s getting ready to start an exorcism, slowly raising his cross up towards Otis’ back. It looks like we’ll be able to catch them by surprise- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-TALK2]]

“Now, just be a good little spawn and come with me. Make this nice and easy, so I won’t have to hurt you, Sin.” Otis extends a hand my way, their voice deceptively calm and sincere. My eyes quickly dart around the area, my friends, Otis… But I’m just not sure how I can get us out of here without some form of altercation. And if I can’t get out of here without an altercation, then… //I might as well be the one to throw the first punch.// Otis must not expect me to get physical, because I’m able to sock them right between the eyes- a //''crunch''// sound echoing around us as I throw my weight into it. It’s so //satisfying//, finally letting myself //do something// instead of just going along with whatever comes my way. But what I don’t expect is for something to harshly grab my ankle and knock me off my feet. I feel my head collide with the hard earth, an instant blur to my vision for a split second- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-10]]

And then I’m suddenly upside down. Whatever has a hold of my ankle has now suspended me in the air, my arms limp and hanging below my head. Otis’ head snaps to the side, their wide black eyes watching me with something like amusement as I dangle in the air from… //something//. I try and catch a glimpse of whatever has me, but I can only make out something black and shadowy wrapped around my ankle. Then, when my gaze lands on Otis again, I realize that… They have a shadow coming out from underneath them now. It’s long, and wispy, and is lined up with where I’m currently dangling in the air. “No more playing around now, Sin. Let's get you home, shall we?” Otis raises their hand, and I can feel the power starting to generate within them. //They’re about to go back to hell with me in tow-// “No!” Anya calls out, probably sensing the same thing I did. She’s fallen to her knees, her chest heaving from the panic attack she’s currently going through. Tears stream down her face as she watches the scene in horror, her hand clasping onto Will’s coat sleeve. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-11]]

Until their face splits into a long, sinister smile. “Did you really think you would be able to distract me by talking?” Otis reaches out for me, his cold fingers brushing against my skin, but I turn and start sprinting as fast as I can. I hear Otis say something, some sort of mumble under their breath, and a confused shout from Will and Anya- Before something catches my foot, and I trip and fall on my face //hard//. I feel dirt and gravel dig into my skin as my body goes skidding along the ground a few feet before I’m brought to a sudden stop by something //yanking// on my ankle. I can feel my body being dragged on the ground, the new wounds cut and forced open even wider as the edges catch on rocks and hard earth. Everything //burns// and //stings//, and I can’t help but cry out in pain. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-10]]

And Will… His dark eyes are wide and concerned, panicking more like, as he tries to come up with some way to stop this demon. Then, he closes his eyes and whispers something- Something that has Otis yelling out in pain, their hands clutching their head. They’re somehow still able to keep a hold on my ankle, but at least we gave ourselves a few extra seconds to think of a way out of this mess. “''You-''” Otis’ voice takes on a more inhuman tone now, a growl that sounds somewhat similar to their original voice. They whip around to face Anya and Will now, before letting out an exasperated sigh. “I’ve had enough of you two.” With that, they throw their arm out which knocks some kind of unseen force into the humans, causing them to fly back about twenty feet or so, landing on the ground with hard //thuds//. As I watch them fall to the ground, unmoving, I start to feel the static coming back in my head. H̴o̵w̸ ̵d̴a̵r̷e̷ ̶t̸h̷e̷y̷ ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-12]]

“And //you//-” Turning back to me, Otis’ eyes flash completely black for a second, taking my attention away from the voice in my head. They blink it away as if trying to tamper down their seething anger before they finish what they are saying. “I’ve had enough out of you as well. If you won’t go willingly, then I’ll have to do something to make you more //pliant//.” Before I can ask what they mean by that, I suddenly feel something slithering up my leg. When I chance a look down, I notice more shadowy tendrils wrapping around my thigh, my abdomen, my //chest//- “Stop!” I try and grab at them, but my hands get caught up in them instead, effectively tying me up from head to toe. Otis doesn’t say anything else to me, they just make a twisting motion with their hand and watch. The tendrils around my body start to constrict, a gasp escaping me as I feel them become //tighter// and //tighter//, wrapped around my body like a snake. I can feel my insides being crushed, my bones making //creaking// noises as the pressure grows and //grows// until- //''SNAP.''// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-13]]

Something breaks, somewhere in my body. I let out a scream, just as the static starts to drown out any other sound. H̸o̶w̵ ̶d̸a̸r̶e̵ ̵t̶h̶i̷s̷ ̷w̷o̷r̸t̶h̶l̵e̵s̶s̴ ̵c̸r̸e̴a̸t̸u̵r̵e̷ ̴t̵h̸i̷n̴k̸ ̶t̸h̷e̶y̷ ̵c̴a̴n̷ ̶h̴a̴r̶m̴ ̷m̴e̴ //''SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP''// I feel like I’m about to be snapped in half, the voice doing nothing to ease the pain- it just makes me grow more desperate as I scream in pain. I̵ ̵s̶h̵o̶u̴l̴d̴ ̴k̷i̷l̷l̶ ̴t̵h̶e̵m̶ //''"LET ME GO!”''// For a second after I scream those words, the world seems to pause. I’m left hanging upside down, broken and bleeding, for a few seconds before I’m suddenly let go. I tumble to the ground, landing with a loud ''thud'', instantly curling up on my side as pain travels through my entire body. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-14]]

“I’ll be taking my friends now.” That voice tears my attention away from my wounds, my eyes snapping open to try and catch a glimpse of them. I’m confused for a second when I don’t see the owner of the voice until I realize they’re standing behind Otis- and currently have a hand sitting on top of the demon’s head. There’s a white flash that comes from Dani’s hand, causing Otis to scream in pain- until the white light consumes them and they seem to just disappear entirely, leaving the angel standing in the middle of the clearing. “Dani?” I ask, trying to sit up- but the pain in my chest makes it too difficult and I fall back down. Blinking, Dani seems to recover from using their powers before they rush over to me. “$Name! Are you alright?” ---- [[Hug Dani. ->CHAP13-HUGDANI]] ---- [[Hug Dani. [Flirt] ->CHAP13-DANIFLIRT1]] ---- [[Ask if they’re alright instead. ->CHAP13-ASKALRIGHT]] ---- [[Brush off their concern. ->CHAP13-BRUSHOFF]]

As soon as Dani is within arms-length, and helps me sit up, I throw my arms around them. They freeze for just a second before melting into the hug, wrapping me up in their arms as well. Through the pain, all I can feel is relief. I had been worrying about Dani, wondering what was happening to them- if they were even alive. They seem intact, still as ‘alive’ as an angel can be. “Dani?” Will’s voice catches our attention, and both Dani and I turn to find the humans hobbling towards us. They both look a little beat up, but there are no life-threatening injuries on either of them. “Are you both alright?” Dani asks, making sure I can stand up on my own two feet before turning their attention onto Anya and Will. “Yeah, we’ll be fine.” Will’s attention shifts to me, his eyebrows furrowing in concern. “How badly are //you// hurt, $Name?” I shrug my shoulders, causing me to wince in pain. That’s all the answer Will needs- he nods his head, and motions for us to follow him. As we all walk to the car, Will says, “Let's get out of here, then. I think we should drive for a little while longer, and then we can rest at a hotel for the night.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-15]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 5, 0, 100)>>

As soon as Dani is within arms-length, and helps me sit up, I throw my arms around them. They immediately melt into the hug, wrapping me up in their arms as well. I can feel their body shake a bit as if it’s finally releasing the tension it was holding upon finally being able to hold me close. Through the pain, all I can feel is relief. I had been worrying about Dani, wondering what was happening to them- if they were even alive. They seem intact, still as ‘alive’ as an angel can be. “Dani?” Will’s voice catches our attention, and both Dani and I turn to find the humans hobbling towards us. They both look a little beat up, but there are no life-threatening injuries on either of them. “Are you both alright?” Dani asks, making sure I can stand up on my own two feet before turning their attention onto Anya and Will. “Yeah, we’ll be fine.” Will’s attention shifts to me, his eyebrows furrowing in concern. “How badly are //you// hurt, $Name?” I shrug my shoulders, causing me to wince in pain. That’s all the answer Will needs- he nods his head, and motions for us to follow him. As we all walk to the car, Will says, “Let's get out of here, then. I think we should drive for a little while longer, and then we can rest at a hotel for the night.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-15]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 5, 0, 100)>><<set $Dani_Love to Math.clamp($Dani_Love + 2, 0, 20)>>

“What about you? Are you alright? Where have you been? What happened to you?” I bombard them with questions, sitting up with slight help from them. A genuine smile graces their lips as they say, “I’ll tell you later when we get to a safer location.” Through the pain, all I can feel is relief. I had been worrying about Dani, wondering what was happening to them- if they were even alive. They seem intact, still as ‘alive’ as an angel can be. “Dani?” Will’s voice catches our attention, and both Dani and I turn to find the humans hobbling towards us. They both look a little beat up, but there are no life-threatening injuries on either of them. “Are you both alright?” Dani asks, making sure I can stand up on my own two feet before turning their attention onto Anya and Will. “Yeah, we’ll be fine.” Will’s attention shifts to me, his eyebrows furrowing in concern. “How badly are //you// hurt, $Name?” I shrug my shoulders, causing me to wince in pain. That’s all the answer Will needs- he nods his head, and motions for us to follow him. As we all walk to the car, Will says, “Let's get out of here, then. I think we should drive for a little while longer, and then we can rest at a hotel for the night.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-15]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 5, 0, 100)>>

I let them help me sit up, but as soon as I’m able to, I try and brush away their concern by acting as if they aren’t right in front of me once again. Dani tries to act as if they aren’t hurt, but I can see it hidden in their eyes. They were actually expecting me to care that they came back? “Dani?” Will’s voice catches our attention, and both Dani and I turn to find the humans hobbling towards us. They both look a little beat up, but there are no life-threatening injuries on either of them. “Are you both alright?” Dani asks, making sure I can stand up on my own two feet before turning their attention onto Anya and Will. “Yeah, we’ll be fine.” Will’s attention shifts to me, his eyebrows furrowing in concern. “How badly are //you// hurt, $Name?” I shrug my shoulders, causing me to wince in pain. That’s all the answer Will needs- he nods his head, and motions for us to follow him. As we all walk to the car, Will says, “Let's get out of here, then. I think we should drive for a little while longer, and then we can rest at a hotel for the night.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-15]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval - 2, 0, 100)>>

---- !!!A few hours later… I lay in the hotel bed, the crisp sheets underneath my stinging back almost lulling me to sleep- until the aching in my chest brings me right back to consciousness. Sighing, I slowly turn onto my side to watch as my friends settle about the room, my eyes lingering on the angel. Noticing my staring, Dani smirks as they recline on the small couch against the far wall. “What’s on your mind, devil?” “Where were you?” I ask bluntly, genuinely curious as to their whereabouts. They don’t seem like they were being tortured or anything, and considering they’re still alive means they managed to get away from Azrael… Nodding their head, Dani seems to think about what to tell me before they sigh and begin to speak. “I was laying low so that Azrael and the others wouldn’t find me. I… May have been snooping around where I shouldn’t have and, well… Now I have some information I really shouldn’t. They want me dead so I can’t tell //you// that information, $Name.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-16]]

“What kind of information?” Will asks, confused. Dani gives Will a look, something caught between exhaustion and exasperation. “Information about $Name and the reason for $g3 existence, obviously.” “Oh, yeah, //so obvious.// How dumb of me to ask.” Will mumbles, earning a smirk from Dani. Anya clears her throat, catching all of our attention- which causes her to shrink in on herself a bit. Her glassy eyes shift from me to Dani, her medication making her a bit drowsy, but still alert enough to understand that whatever Dani has to say is important. “You mean you know why $Name wanted to leave Hell?” “Not quite.” Dani purses their lips for a second, before shaking their head. “There’s no easy way to say this, but… $Name was created to start the apocalypse.” That word causes the air in the hotel room to turn heavy and dark- and something about it causes the fog in my head to stir. I sit up, watching Dani closely as I try to remember //anything// about this… It’s on the tip of my tongue, hidden just behind a corner that I can //almost// reach- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-17]]

“Are you serious?” Will asks Dani, his voice shaking a bit with nervousness. “$Name is… $Name is going to start the apocalypse? The ‘War, Famine, Pestilence, and Death’ apocalypse?” “Yeah.” Dani nods their head almost nonchalantly, but I can see the concern hidden behind their dark brown eyes. They watch me as if examining me, wondering what I’ll do now that I know this. “At least… That’s what Uriel is saying.” I lay back down on the bed, staring up at the ceiling as I take in this information. I was supposedly created to start the apocalypse… Is that why my parents are so intent on finding me? To make sure I do what I’m supposed to, to start the apocalypse and… //then what//? Control the world? What would starting the apocalypse even entail? There’s a vague whisper in my subconscious, the word //center// lingering there, but before I think too much further on it, Will is speaking again. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-18]]

“And that’s why the angels are trying to find and kill $Name, then? Because they don’t want the apocalypse to happen?” Dani hums in agreement. “I think so.” After another long second of tension, Anya surprises us by speaking up. “...If the angels want to find and destroy $Name, then what does that mean for you? What are //your// intentions? Why have you been helping $Name out?” I glance back at Dani, curious to know this as well. Although they haven’t been very forthcoming with //information// up until this point, they have been very helpful since the beginning. But what is their intentions? Why would an angel willingly help a demon? Staring at me with an unreadable expression, Dani sighs. “Because… When I first met $Name, although I didn’t know the specifics until now, I knew that $g3 destiny was predetermined for $g2. It just seems… //unfair// to me. Like my own destiny as a Watcher was predetermined, I was never allowed to make my own decisions or express my own needs… I was always told how to act, how to look, how to speak… I guess $Name’s situation just hit close to home.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-19]]

The room goes silent as we all take in that information. Dani looks away from me, a strange expression coming over their face, something caught between embarrassment and concern. Then, just as suddenly as the silence came upon the room, it was broken by the angel once more. “$Name, I need you to know this… I may be an angel, but I’m on //your// side. No matter what happens. It isn’t fair that your destiny was predetermined for you… So, whatever you decide to do with this information, at least know that you have me in your corner. You always have since the first time we met.” I stare at Dani in shock at their admittance- but then the words start to finally process in my head, and… ---- [[I smile at them, appreciative of their support. ->CHAP13-SMILE]] ---- [[Blush at their unwavering loyalty. [Flirt] ->CHAP13-DANIFLIRT2]] ---- [[Nod my head, appreciative of their support. ->CHAP13-NODSUPPORT]] ---- [[Stare at them with a blank expression, unsure how to feel. ->CHAP13-BLANK]]

I feel my face break out into a grin, the support and loyalty from Dani causing a burst of happiness to swell inside of me. “Thank you, Dani…” Dani nods their head, looking away in an almost bashful way. They seem a bit embarrassed, but the small, soft smile on their face lets me know they aren’t regretting the profession. “In any case…” Will’s voice brings our attention back to him. He tries to look nonchalant by leaning against the wall, but I can see the tension in his shoulders. He’s anxious about something- probably about what we just learned about myself. “We definitely need to learn more about how $Name is going to start the apocalypse. Or… Maybe how to stop it from happening?” “Do you think that will be enough to stop the angels and demons from going after $g2?” Anya’s voice is even quieter than before as she leans back on the other bed. Her eyes are half-lidded, exhausted from what happened earlier and her medication. “Let's hope it is,” Dani states bluntly as they shrug their shoulders. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-20]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 5, 0, 100)>>

I feel my face heat up, the unwavering loyalty from the angel making me feel… //something// in my chest. A small smile grows on my lips as I whisper, “Thank you, Dani…” Dani’s eyes widen a bit as they stare at me, their dark eyes twinkling a bit in the light of the room. They clear their throat as they nod, before looking away in an almost bashful way. They seem a bit embarrassed, but the small, soft smile on their face lets me know they aren’t regretting the profession. “In any case…” Will’s voice brings our attention back to him. He tries to look nonchalant by leaning against the wall, but I can see the tension in his shoulders. He’s anxious about something- probably about what we just learned about myself. “We definitely need to learn more about how $Name is going to start the apocalypse. Or… Maybe how to stop it from happening?” “Do you think that will be enough to stop the angels and demons from going after $g2?” Anya’s voice is even quieter than before as she leans back on the other bed. Her eyes are half-lidded, exhausted from what happened earlier and her medication. “Let's hope it is,” Dani states bluntly as they shrug their shoulders. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-20]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 5, 0, 100)>><<set $Dani_Love to Math.clamp($Dani_Love + 3, 0, 25)>>

I nod my head at them, somehow trying to show I’m very appreciative of their support. “Thank you, Dani…” Dani nods their head as well, looking away in an almost bashful way. They seem a bit embarrassed, but the small, soft smile on their face lets me know they aren’t regretting the profession. “In any case…” Will’s voice brings our attention back to him. He tries to look nonchalant by leaning against the wall, but I can see the tension in his shoulders. He’s anxious about something- probably about what we just learned about myself. “We definitely need to learn more about how $Name is going to start the apocalypse. Or… Maybe how to stop it from happening?” “Do you think that will be enough to stop the angels and demons from going after $g2?” Anya’s voice is even quieter than before as she leans back on the other bed. Her eyes are half-lidded, exhausted from what happened earlier and her medication. “Let's hope it is,” Dani states bluntly as they shrug their shoulders. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-20]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 5, 0, 100)>>

Their unwavering loyalty is almost… //suffocating//, to say the least. I’m not sure how to feel about it, unsure what kind of emotion to express after their confession. Dani nods their head before looking away from me with a small sigh. They seem a bit embarrassed, or //disappointed// by my reaction- maybe they thought I’d be much happier after receiving confirmation of their loyalty. “In any case…” Will’s voice brings our attention back to him. He tries to look nonchalant by leaning against the wall, but I can see the tension in his shoulders. He’s anxious about something- probably about what we just learned about myself. “We definitely need to learn more about how $Name is going to start the apocalypse. Or… Maybe how to stop it from happening?” “Do you think that will be enough to stop the angels and demons from going after $g2?” Anya’s voice is even quieter than before as she leans back on the other bed. Her eyes are half-lidded, exhausted from what happened earlier and her medication. “Let's hope it is,” Dani states bluntly as they shrug their shoulders. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP13-20]] <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval - 5, 0, 100)>>

“How would we even go about learning more about this?” I ask, uncertain of where to even //begin// to look. Thinking too hard about the impending apocalypse is making my head hurt, and I can feel my limbs start to shake with what I assume is exhaustion- but I need to know what we’re going to be doing about this. Dani folds their arms as they think, before admitting, “I’m not entirely sure. There are books written by humans who were given some insight into this event, but… I’m not sure how accurate they are, or how helpful they’ll be.” “So, basically, we need to just continue on with our original plan of bouncing from place to place and //hope// that some information lands in our laps at some point?” Will sighs, exhaustion also creeping into his voice. Instead of answering with words, Dani just throws their hands up in a defeated gesture. The room falls into a tense silence once more- just as a wave of dizziness rushes through my head. I can’t help but fall flat against the bed, my vision swimming for a few seconds before I’m able to see correctly once more. But that feeling from a few moments ago, the shaking in my limbs… It gets worse. I feel my whole body start to tremble violently, a sudden coldness seeping into my hands and feet. “Something… is wrong…” These are the only words I can get out before I abruptly fall into unconsciousness. !!!CHAPTER THIRTEEN END… ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP14-1]]

!CHAPTER FOURTEEN !!A few days later… I blink awake, a horrible pain in my head rousing me from my sleep. My eyes scan the room, finding that I’m alone. Confused, I try to sit up, only to find that my limbs feel like they weigh thousands of pounds. “Will?” I try to call out for my friend, but my voice escapes in a croak. When I get no answer, I try again. “Anya…? Dani…?” There’s no sound in the hotel room. They must have stepped out for some reason. As I try to sit up again, I’m suddenly overcome with some sort of //vision// that has me falling back against the mattress. Images flash through my mind, images that make no sense to me. There’s an eclipse, //waves//, a vague shape of a house… But the images flash through my head way too quickly for me to focus, my head throbbing with pain the more I try. Closing my eyes, I try to work up the strength to move once more. I lay in bed for who knows how long, trying to gain some semblance of //strength// or //clarity//, when all of a sudden, I feel a presence in the room with me. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP14-2]]

Eyes snapping open, I watch just as Dani appears beside the bed. They look a bit startled when they realize that I’m watching them, before they say, “So, you’re finally awake.” “What…?” For some reason, it takes a second for the angel’s words to make sense in my head. I vaguely remember all four of us talking about our next steps in the plan before just… passing out. “I mean, yeah. How long have I been asleep?” “About two and a half days…” Dani answers bluntly as they sit on the edge of the bed, turning their body a bit to be able to face me. Blinking in surprise, I open my mouth to say something before closing it quickly as confusion takes over. Why was I asleep for so long? “Are you wondering why you were asleep for so long?” Dani asks me in a quiet voice, a hint of amusement behind their dark eyes when I look at them in surprise. “I think… Since you haven’t been able to go back to Hell for a while, your body is having a hard time healing. Being in Hell would speed up the process since that’s where you get your supernatural abilities from.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP14-3]]

Thinking about that, it would make sense. Murmur is currently in Hell as well, healing from the altercation with Azrael almost a week ago. Pursan had told them that they would heal faster if they went back there. Although I didn’t get as badly hurt as Murmur did, I can only assume that it's going to take much longer for me to heal as long as I’m stuck here, instead of in Hell. “You should get some more rest, alright? You’re still looking a little… //weak//.” Dani gently tucks me back into the sheets before sitting back and looking at me intently. <<if $Firstkiss >=40>>“You know, about what happened on the Ferris Wheel…” They start before their sentence trails off. They suddenly look unsure, a little embarrassed, even. I hesitantly remember that night- how I had almost hurt the people around me. But I also remember Dani kissing me back with such honest need that it even surprised //them//. But if they seem unsure about it now, does it mean that they regret what happened? “...I’m sorry. About what happened. Let's just… forget about it, ok?” I whisper, before using up all of my strength to turn over on my side, to face away from the angel. As I start to drift off to sleep, I hear Dani whisper, “I don’t want to.” I’m unsure what they mean by that, and unable to think more about it as I fall asleep.<<elseif $Firstkiss >=10 && $Firstkiss <=39>>“Hey, about what happened up on the Ferris Wheel that night…” They start before their sentence trails off. They look confused, a little bit unsure of how to proceed with what they are saying. I hesitantly remember that night- how I had almost hurt the people around me. //I don’t want to remember.// “...I’m sorry. Let’s just… Forget about it, ok?” I whisper, before using up all my strength to turn over on my side, to face away from the angel. As I start to drift off to sleep, I hear Dani whisper, “...Yeah, if that’s what you want.” I’m unable to think more about what they say as I fall asleep.<</if>> ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP14-4]]

---- !!!??? //The sound of rolling waves wakes me up next. I open my eyes, snapping back to reality from unconsciousness in a split second only to be met with a strange view. The sky is completely black, devoid of all color and light- The only way I know it’s the sky is because of the sparse, dark clouds churning, traveling far too fast to keep up with. Sitting up, I look around to find that I’m on some sort of beach that stretches for miles and ''miles''. Waves crawl up the sand before being swiftly brought back out in a frantic, unnatural way- bringing my attention farther out at sea. My eyes widen in shock as a chill runs down my body at what I see… An impossibly tall, never-ending wall of water. This wave reaches so far into the sky that it seems as though it almost touches the sun, which sits as a blinding white circle in the middle of the black sky. I open my mouth to speak, to call out to ‘’someone’’, to ‘’scream’’- but find that I’m unable to utter a single word for some reason. ''Look… At… The… Moon…'' I’m not sure where those words come from, whether they’re my own thoughts or someone else’s… And that insinuation scares me. Why would I think there’s someone else in my mind?// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP14-5]]

//But I do as the voice tells me, looking around the sky until I see the moon quickly making an arching trajectory toward the sun. I’m almost afraid it’s going to collide with the sun, unsure what the consequences of that will be… "...$Name…" Spinning around, I come face-to-face with Murmur. They stare at me with a strange expression, something caught between confusion and concern before they look at the wall of water behind me. Their white eyes widen in fear, and they back up a few steps as if that would be able to get them out of the reach of this massive wave. When I open my mouth to speak, I find that I still can’t say anything. But what would I say to them…? What can I say w̷h̷e̷n̸ ̸I̸ ̸c̷a̴u̸s̴e̶d̶ ̵t̷h̶i̵s̷ ̸m̵e̴s̵s̶?̴ Static starts to fill my ears, drowning out the sound of lapping water. Murmur says something else to me, but I can’t hear them anymore, can’t make out the words…// ---- [[Reach out to my friend; unsure what else to do. ->CHAP14-REACHOUT]] ---- [[Step closer to my friend, unsure what else to do. ->CHAP14-STEPCLOSER]] ---- [[Wonder why they’re in my head in the first place… ->CHAP14-WONDER]]

//I reach out to Murmur, trying to take a step closer to them- only to find that I’m unable to move. I look down at my feet, finding a strange, inky blackness slowly making its way up my legs, keeping them from moving. I look back up at Murmur but find that they’re looking somewhere over my shoulder. They point behind me, and I turn just as the moon eclipses the sun. The static starts roaring in my ears, and I swear I can feel a heartbeat thundering in my chest-// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP14-6]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 2, 0, 100)>>

//I try to take a step closer to them- only to find that I’m unable to move. I look down at my feet, finding a strange, inky blackness slowly making its way up my legs, keeping them from moving. I look back up at Murmur but find that they’re looking somewhere over my shoulder. They point behind me, and I turn just as the moon eclipses the sun. The static starts roaring in my ears, and I swear I can feel a heartbeat thundering in my chest-// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP14-6]] <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 2, 0, 100)>>

//I watch Murmur closely, wondering what they’re doing in my head… Am I just imagining them, or is this something ''else''...? They don’t seem to pay attention to me, their gaze somewhere over my shoulder. They point behind me, and I turn just as the moon eclipses the sun. The static starts roaring in my ears, and I swear I can feel a heartbeat thundering in my chest-// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP14-6]]

---- !!!??? I awaken with a start, pain behind my eyes, a //pounding// in my head as I take a gasping breath of air. I feel gross and sticky- too //wet//, and //hot//. And the //headache is killing me-// “It’s alright, $Name. You’re alright.” I’m not sure whose voice that is, as I can’t seem to get my eyes to focus. I blink, my bleary vision trying to make out shapes in the scene around me. Something cold touches my forehead, and I startle a bit before realizing that it feels //good//, and I lean into it. Only for it to pull away a few seconds later. “$g1 <<if $program >=20>>are<<elseif $program >=10 && $program <=19>>is<</if>> burning //up//.” “How much longer do you think this will go on for?” That voice… It must be Will. Maybe Dani? “$g1 <<if $program >=20>>look<<elseif $program >=10 && $program <=19>>looks<</if>> like $g1 <<if $program >=20>>are<<elseif $program >=10 && $program <=19>>is<</if>> in pain.” A feminine voice… It must be Anya. “Honestly, I’m not sure how much longer this will last. I don’t think $g1 can heal very well because of the weakening connection $g1 <<if $program >=20>>have<<elseif $program >=10 && $program <=19>>has<</if>> with Hell.” My eyes close, sudden fatigue making it difficult to keep them open. The voices start to drift away as I fall into unconsciousness once more. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP14-7]]

---- !!!??? //The next time I wake up, I’m in some sort of dilapidated old shed. Snow falls through the holes in the roof, which lets in a small amount of light as well. I sit up, a small accumulation of snow falling from my body as I do so- but for some reason, I don’t ''feel'' the cold at all. Looking around the small shed, I come to realize that there’s ''somebody else'' in here with me- a young girl with light blonde hair who is wrapped up in a ragged, old blanket. She’s huddled in the corner as far away from the holes in the roof as she can get. Her light brown eyes stare at the door to the shed, wide and ''terrified'', as she whispers something to herself over and ''over'' in a language that is vaguely familiar to me. “Anya?” I ask, my breath coming out in a white puff of smoke. Suddenly, the door to the shed slams open, startling both Anya and me. A gust of wind rushes through the small space, messing up the small piles of snow just as a figure steps in through the doorframe. He’s wearing a dark winter coat, heavy boots, and a balaclava; menacing and protected from the elements, unlike the poor girl on the floor.// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP14-8]]

//A deep voice says something in this language I don’t understand, but one word I recognize- this ‘mahleeshka’. Anya seems to cower further into the corner as soon as he says this, and I can see her trembling even as she tries to hide away in the ragged blanket wrapped around herself. Once the man finishes what he has to say he slowly walks over to Anya, menacing as he towers over her. She’s whispering "nyet, nyet, nyet” over and over as he reaches down and pulls her up by the blanket she’s wrapped in. Anya tries to escape from her captor, screaming and thrashing about. I see him pull something from his pocket, about to press it into the side of her neck- a ''needle'', I realize after a second of staring in confusion.// ---- [[Step in and try to save her. ->CHAP14-STEPIN]] ---- [[This isn’t real; I can’t do anything… ->CHAP14-CANTDONOT]] ---- [[Just sit back and watch what happens. ->CHAP14-SITBACK]]

//I rush forward, fully intent on doing ''something'' to help her escape, but as soon as I make it over to my friend, my hands go right through her. I can only stare in horror as the man shoves the needle into her neck and pumps ''something'' into her veins. Anya lets out a scream, but I can see the fight leaving her as whatever this man injected her with starts to work through her system. She suddenly goes limp, as if her body shuts off all of its own, but her eyes continue to frantically look around, terrified. The man starts to drag her out of the shed, dragging her bare feet through the snow as he starts heading down a rather crudely shoveled pathway further into the forest beyond. I follow quickly behind, not entirely sure if I should, but left with almost no other choice. I watch as he travels through the woods for about fifteen minutes, needing to stop and adjust the limp body in his arms a few times before he makes it to a clearing.// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP14-9]] <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 2, 0, 100)>>

//I shake my head, the horror dawning on me that ''I can’t change anything that is happening'' right now. This is a memory; the events have already played out. I just have to watch it… The man shoves the needle into Anya’s neck, making me wince with the force, and pumps ''something'' into her veins. Anya lets out a scream, but I can see the fight leaving her as whatever this man injected her with starts to work through her system. She suddenly goes limp, as if her body shuts off all of its own, but her eyes continue to frantically look around, terrified. The man starts to drag her out of the shed, dragging her bare feet through the snow as he starts heading down a rather crudely shoveled pathway further into the forest beyond. I follow quickly behind, not entirely sure if I should, but left with almost no other choice. I watch as he travels through the woods for about fifteen minutes, needing to stop and adjust the limp body in his arms a few times before he makes it to a clearing.// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP14-9]]

//I realize that this is a memory, and even if I wanted to, I could do nothing to change the events happening in front of me. So, I just sit back and watch the events unfold. The man shoves the needle into Anya’s neck, quickly pumping ''something'' into her veins. Anya lets out a scream, but I can see the fight leaving her as whatever this man injected her with starts to work through her system. She suddenly goes limp, as if her body shuts off all of its own, but her eyes continue to frantically look around, terrified. The man starts to drag her out of the shed, dragging her bare feet through the snow as he starts heading down a rather crudely shoveled pathway further into the forest beyond. I follow quickly behind, not entirely sure if I should, but left with almost no other choice. I watch as he travels through the woods for about fifteen minutes, needing to stop and adjust the limp body in his arms a few times before he makes it to a clearing.// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP14-9]]

//This clearing has some sort of ominous aura about it, a darkness that lingers in the air and makes my skin crawl. I suddenly realize it’s because there’s a lingering demonic aura here, probably something similar to what I leave behind when I use my own powers. Anya is placed on a flat stone in the middle of the clearing. There are strange markings etched into the stone’s surface, and a few black candles placed at the four corners as well. Suddenly, four more people emerge from the forest. They are dressed similarly to the first man, face coverings and all. They circle the stone slab, ignoring Anya’s pleas and cries, and join hands. They start chanting. I don’t know what they chant, but something about it causes the hairs on the back of my neck to stand on end. The air around us somehow gets ''darker'' and ''heavier'' before it fills with something like static. Suddenly, in a cloud of black smoke, a demon appears. She seems so familiar to me, but I can’t quite remember her name… Her hair is shaved, and black tattoos cover the skin of her bald head. She has four horns lined up across her head, raised towards the sky like a crown of spikes. Her skin is pale white, her eyes just as colorless - they even appear to be ''dead'' somehow, milky and unseeing.// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP14-10]]

//When she speaks, her voice is a whisper, but somehow still demands the clearing into silence. “Have you brought me a suitable offering or sacrifice this time?” I blink, surprised I can understand what she’s saying. The people surrounding the strange alter seem to understand her as well because they nod and motion towards the younger version of Anya on the stone. The demon bends down and takes a closer look at Anya, even sniffing the air around the terrified girl, before she stands upright once more. Nodding her head, she says, “Good. She will do.” Someone says something, catching the demon’s attention. They ask a question of some sort, a nervous energy settling over the group as they wait for an answer.// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP14-11]]

//Laughing, the demon slowly makes her way around the table to stand at Anya’s head. “You will get your answers as soon as I’m done with this sacrifice.” With that, the demon starts to speak in a language that is once again familiar to me, but I know that this particular language is not of this world. Her hands wave over Anya, who can’t do anything but stare at the demon in horror, before the demon takes a finger and starts to trace symbols onto Anya’s chest. Although what she’s doing doesn’t look all that dangerous, Anya begins to ''scream'' as if she’s in the most horrific pain she’s ever been in. Her arms begin to flail, sluggish movements hindering her, as she cries out in agony. No one helps her. ''No one helps her''. n̴o̶ ̴o̶n̶e̶ ̶h̵e̷l̷p̵s̵ ̸h̸e̴r̶// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP14-12]]

--- !!!??? My eyes snap open, before immediately needing to shut again as the light from the bedside table makes the room unbearably bright. I still feel groggy and incoherent, the remnants of my last dream slowly fading away just like my consciousness once more. A few noises greet my ears before I fall asleep once more, a familiar voice humming a song I’ve heard before- The song Will played for me on one of the first nights I ever slept in his apartment, a few days after we first met. I’m momentarily surprised how I can remember that, considering the state I’m in. Then, something else catches my attention. “The holidays are coming, and love is in the air! Get ready for this holiday season with your loved one by stopping by Bart’s Jewelry! Let her know you care by buying her a brand new ring, necklace, or bracelet that’s perfect for any event!” For some reason, my brain latches onto those words, repeating them over and over again until I’m passing out once more. //”Love is in the air. Love is in the air. Love is in the air.”// ---- [[NEXT->CHAP14-13]]

---- !!!??? //When I open my eyes, I blink in surprise to find myself in Katrina’s tent from the amusement park. It looks exactly as it did that day, even down to the deck of tarot cards- which Katrina herself holds in her hands. She sits at the table across from me, her mysterious and knowing smile growing wide as I focus in on her. Her long, black hair floats in the air, giving her an almost ethereal look, and something about how she watches me seems all-knowing and supernatural in some way. “Are you ready to choose your card?” She whispers, her voice echoing in the small space around us.// ---- [[Ask what card? ->CHAP14-WHATCARD?]] ---- [[Nod my head. ->CHAP14-NODHEAD]] ---- [[Don’t say anything. ->CHAP14-SAYNOTHIN]]

//“...What card?” I ask, confused. She doesn't answer me, her dark eyes twinkle with something like mischief, but I don’t feel like she means any harm. She starts to shuffle the cards before placing five of them on the table between us. She motions towards them, raising her eyebrows at me expectantly. My gaze slowly falls to the cards, and I look at each of them carefully. For some reason, I know that whatever choice I’m about to make is a huge decision and one I shouldn’t make lightly. I find my hand slowly reaching for a card, feeling something like warmth and light radiating from it. The closer I get, the more warmth radiates from it- and something else, too. Feelings of stubbornness, but a yielding trust in someone so similar to them. Naivety disguised as disinterest. A yearning for something they can never have, a yearning for true independence. The pain of their wings being broken, left to slowly heal all by themself, all because they see the true unfairness of the world.// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP14-14]]

//I’m not sure I can trust myself to answer verbally, considering I’m very confused at the moment, so I nod my head to show her I’m ready. Her dark eyes twinkle with something like mischief, but I don’t feel like she means any harm. She starts to shuffle the cards before placing five of them on the table between us. She motions towards them, raising her eyebrows at me expectantly. My gaze slowly falls to the cards, and I look at each of them carefully. For some reason, I know that whatever choice I’m about to make is a huge decision and one I shouldn’t make lightly. I find my hand slowly reaching for a card, feeling something like warmth and light radiating from it. The closer I get, the more warmth radiates from it- and something else, too. Feelings of stubbornness, but a yielding trust in someone so similar to them. Naivety disguised as disinterest. A yearning for something they can never have, a yearning for true independence. The pain of their wings being broken, left to slowly heal all by themself, all because they see the true unfairness of the world.// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP14-14]]

//I just watch her closely, unsure what she has in store for me. Unsure if I want to find out… Her dark eyes twinkle with something like mischief, but I don’t feel like she means any harm. She starts to shuffle the cards before placing five of them on the table between us. She motions towards them, raising her eyebrows at me expectantly. My gaze slowly falls to the cards, and I look at each of them carefully. For some reason, I know that whatever choice I’m about to make is a huge decision and one I shouldn’t make lightly. I find my hand slowly reaching for a card, feeling something like warmth and light radiating from it. The closer I get, the more warmth radiates from it- and something else, too. Feelings of stubbornness, but a yielding trust in someone so similar to them. Naivety disguised as disinterest. A yearning for something they can never have, a yearning for true independence. The pain of their wings being broken, left to slowly heal all by themself, all because they see the true unfairness of the world.// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP14-14]]

//‘''This must be Dani’s card.''' I think to myself before my hand hovers over the next card. This card emanates a cold aura, something supernatural and not of this world. I get the feeling of longing, of overthinking, of confusion. I get a flash of an image in my head- the image of the moon. Serenity, calm, composed… But there’s a hidden nervousness underneath it all. A dam about to break at the thought of losing this ‘’someone’’. A thought of trying to protect this ''someone'' from the truth, despite knowing that that can only end poorly… Nodding my head, I think, '''This is Murmur’s card,''’ before moving on to the next. As soon as my hand hovers over this card, all I can think about is… music. Jazz music, records, ‘the oldies’. But the music is a distraction from the terror, the anxiety, hidden just behind the facade of happiness. A taut rope barely hanging on, about to rip and break into pieces. Feeling the need to help but only feeling useless. Feeling conflicted about helping those who go against the religion you grew up with.// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP14-15]]

//There is something like a fog over this card. Something that hides away the truth from prying eyes, only allowing the mystery and the unknown to surface. A pain starts to radiate in my chest the longer I stare at this card- it feels like something is clawing and scratching at my sternum. Why is this card shrouded in so much mystery? I can feel the ''longing'' to be seen and understood, hiding just behind the fog… so why can’t I reach it? '''This must be… Anya.''' Once my hand hovers over the last card, my eyes flicker up to look at Katrina once more. She’s watching me closely, her smile slowly fading the longer she does. Nodding her head, she motions towards the last card. This card feels like… emptiness. There’s so much about this card that is locked away somewhere, never to be returned. I realize that this is my card- and that makes me wince with the realization that ''I’m'' the emptiness. I lost all of myself when I lost my memories, and as of right now, there is no way of getting that part of me back. Have I lost myself for good? Will I ever feel whole again?// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP14-16]]

//“Now, it’s time to pick a card,” Katrina whispers, her dark irises rolling up into the back of her skull. I look over the options once more before I…// [IMPORTANT NOTE: This will lock in your romance route!] ---- [[Choose Dani’s card. ->CHAP14-DANI]] ---- [[Choose Murmur’s card. ->CHAP14-MURMUR]] ---- [[Choose Will’s card. ->CHAP14-WILL]] ---- [[Choose Anya’s card. ->CHAP14-ANYA]] ---- [[Choose my card. [No romance route] ->CHAP14-NOROMANCE]]

//I flip over Will’s card, surprised to see a drawn depiction of the human. He stands in black water, holding two chalices in his hands, pouring one into the other. He has two wings, one a white wing, the other a black one. His worried expression makes me feel… ''concerned''. “Temperance.” Katrina begins to speak, surprising me with the suddenness of her voice. “You must follow the quest to better yourself if you wish to see this relationship go anywhere. If you do not heal yourself, you will never be able to help him.” For some reason, I can feel my heart thundering in my chest. “What does this all mean?” An amused smile breaks out on the woman’s face as she blinks, her dark eyes focusing on me once more. “You know what it all means- Don’t lie to him or yourself about your feelings.” “But…” Confused, I look down at the card once more. It feels as if the drawing is staring at me, waiting for me to admit something that I don’t think I’m able to at the moment. What feelings for Will am I hiding? Does… Does he feel something for me as well?// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAPT14-WILL2]] <<set $ROpath to 30>> <<set $Will_Approval to Math.clamp($Will_Approval + 5, 0, 100)>><<set $Will_Love to Math.clamp($Will_Love + 10, 0, 25)>>

I flip over Murmur’s card, surprised to see a drawn depiction of the demon. They stand in black clouds, holding chains in their hands- chains that attach to the moon. Their head is tilted to the side, wide, white eyes almost staring through the drawing at me. “The moon.” Katrina begins to speak, surprising me with the suddenness of her voice. “As your rational mind begins to waver, you are left with instinct and intuition. Let them guide you through your feelings- don’t let your rational mind dissuade you from what you are feeling.” For some reason, I can feel my heart thundering in my chest. “What does this all mean?” An amused smile breaks out on the woman’s face as she blinks, her dark eyes focusing on me once more. “You know what it all means- don’t talk yourself out of your feelings.” “But…” Confused, I look down at the card once more. It feels as if the drawing is staring at me, waiting for me to admit something that I don’t think I’m able to at the moment. What feelings am I trying to talk myself out of for Murmur? Do… Do ''they'' feel something for me as well?// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAPT14-MURMUR2]] <<set $ROpath to 20>> <<set $Murmur_Approval to Math.clamp($Murmur_Approval + 5, 0, 100)>><<set $Murmur_Love to Math.clamp($Murmur_Love + 10, 0, 25)>>

//I flip over Dani’s card, surprised to see a drawn depiction of the angel. They are hanging upside down by one foot, their hands behind their back. Feathers are falling from bleeding, white wings that look like they are barely attached to Dani’s back. Their expression is blank, which bothers me quite a bit… “The hanged man.” Katrina begins to speak, surprising me with the suddenness of her voice. “You will clear the air of tension between you two. You will both stop denying feelings and playing games. You will be able to start anew, despite where you come from, together. But only if you allow it.” For some reason, I can feel my heart thundering in my chest. “What does this all mean?” An amused smile breaks out on the woman’s face as she blinks, her dark eyes focusing on me once more. “You know what it all means- stop denying your feelings and embrace them.” “But…” Confused, I look down at the card once more. It feels as if the drawing is staring at me, waiting for me to admit something that I don’t think I’m able to at the moment. What feelings am I denying for Dani? Do… Do ''they'' feel something for me as well?// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP14-DANI2]] <<set $ROpath to 10>> <<set $Dani_Approval to Math.clamp($Dani_Approval + 5, 0, 100)>><<set $Dani_Love to Math.clamp($Dani_Love + 10, 0, 25)>>

//I flip over Anya’s card, surprised to see a drawn depiction of the human. Anya is standing in front of a demon that looks like the demon from the memory I saw earlier. She stands in just a t-shirt, a shackle around her neck with a long chain. Blood spills down the front of her shirt, dripping onto the black floor beneath her feet. “The devil.” Katrina begins to speak, surprising me with the suddenness of her voice. “Let go of the parts of yourself that have been repressed, let the other know that you trust them with your darkest self, and see that they will trust you with the same. You must be the one who makes the change in your relationship.” For some reason, I can feel my heart thundering in my chest. “What does this all mean?” An amused smile breaks out on the woman’s face as she blinks, her dark eyes focusing on me once more. “You know what it all means- don’t repress your feelings.” “But…” Confused, I look down at the card once more. It feels as if the drawing is staring at me, waiting for me to admit something that I don’t think I’m able to at the moment. What feelings for Anya am I repressing? Does… Does she feel something for me as well?// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAPT14-ANYA2]] <<set $ROpath to 40>> <<set $Anya_Approval to Math.clamp($Anya_Approval + 5, 0, 100)>><<set $Anya_Love to Math.clamp($Anya_Love + 10, 0, 25)>>

I flip over my card, surprised to see… ''me'', falling from the tower. A light blue and neon purple sky cracks as it fades into blackness, a white and black eclipse rising above the tower. It’s ominous, for some reason. This card makes me nervous. “The tower.” Katrina begins to speak, surprising me with the suddenness of her voice. “Your self-sacrifice is the catalyst needed to start the transformation of the world- whether for good or for bad is up to you. Acknowledge, embrace, accept.” For some reason, I can feel my heart thundering in my chest. “What does this all mean?” An amused smile breaks out on the woman’s face as she blinks, her dark eyes focusing on me once more. “You know what it all means- just acknowledge, embrace, and accept your role.” “But…” Confused, I look down at the card once more. Are the cards really telling me to just… ''accept'' my fate? Does that mean I have to sacrifice my life?// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAPT14-NORO2]] <<set $ROpath to 50>>

//“Admit your feelings to them and see,” Katrina answers my thoughts, something like worry washing over her face. “You’ll never know what can happen if you don’t try. And I think that admitting your feelings will be able to save you.” “Save me? Save me from what?” Panic bubbles up in my chest at her words. “Save you from yourself.” She whispers in answer, before looking over her shoulder. I peer over her shoulder, realizing that what sits behind her is an expanse of black ''nothingness''. It almost seems to reach out and try to grab her, inky tendrils slithering up her arms. Nodding her head at me, she smiles a small, sad smile before she says, “I have to go now. Take this reading into consideration- not just for your sake, but for Dani’s as well.” Before I can say anything else, the empty void behind Katrina consumes her, pulling her back into it with a hard tug. I reach forward, about to reach out to her, but a harsh throb of pain in my head has me recoiling. Grabbing my head, I let out a yell as the pain tries to consume me-// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP14-17]]

---- !!!??? -I bolt awake, the pain in my head the only thing I’m aware of. I grab at my head, trying to find //any way// to alleviate the pain- Until it suddenly stops. Breathing hard, I blink for a few seconds, confused and delirious, before I find that I have no more energy and fall back against the bed. It takes a while before I realize that my friends are surrounding my bed- two of which look like they were just woken up. “Are you alright, $Name?” Will asks, bending over the bed a bit to get a better look at me. Even just //thinking// about opening my mouth to speak exhausts me, so I keep my mouth shut, but I give a tiny nod in hopes that is a sufficient enough answer. “Alright…” He doesn’t sound like he believes me, but lets the topic go. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP14-18]]

“Admit your feelings to them and see,” Katrina answers my thoughts, something like worry washing over her face. “You’ll never know what can happen if you don’t try. And I think that admitting your feelings will be able to save you.” “Save me? Save me from what?” Panic bubbles up in my chest at her words. “Save you from yourself.” She whispers in answer, before looking over her shoulder. I peer over her shoulder, realizing that what sits behind her is an expanse of black ''nothingness''. It almost seems to reach out and try to grab her, inky tendrils slithering up her arms. Nodding her head at me, she smiles a small, sad smile before she says, “I have to go now. Take this reading into consideration- not just for your sake, but for Murmur’s as well.” Before I can say anything else, the empty void behind Katrina consumes her, pulling her back into it with a hard tug. I reach forward, about to reach out to her, but a harsh throb of pain in my head has me recoiling. Grabbing my head, I let out a yell as the pain tries to consume me-// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP14-17]]

//“Admit your feelings to him and see,” Katrina answers my thoughts, something like worry washing over her face. “You’ll never know what can happen if you don’t try. And I think that admitting your feelings will be able to save you.” “Save me? Save me from what?” Panic bubbles up in my chest at her words. “Save you from yourself.” She whispers in answer, before looking over her shoulder. I peer over her shoulder, realizing that what sits behind her is an expanse of black ''nothingness''. It almost seems to reach out and try to grab her, inky tendrils slithering up her arms. Nodding her head at me, she smiles a small, sad smile before she says, “I have to go now. Take this reading into consideration- not just for your sake, but for Will’s as well.” Before I can say anything else, the empty void behind Katrina consumes her, pulling her back into it with a hard tug. I reach forward, about to reach out to her, but a harsh throb of pain in my head has me recoiling. Grabbing my head, I let out a yell as the pain tries to consume me-// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP14-17]]

//“Admit your feelings to her and see,” Katrina answers my thoughts, something like worry washing over her face. “You’ll never know what can happen if you don’t try. And I think that admitting your feelings will be able to save you.” “Save me? Save me from what?” Panic bubbles up in my chest at her words. “Save you from yourself.” She whispers in answer, before looking over her shoulder. I peer over her shoulder, realizing that what sits behind her is an expanse of black ''nothingness''. It almost seems to reach out and try to grab her, inky tendrils slithering up her arms. Nodding her head at me, she smiles a small, sad smile before she says, “I have to go now. Take this reading into consideration- not just for your sake, but for Anya’s as well.” Before I can say anything else, the empty void behind Katrina consumes her, pulling her back into it with a hard tug. I reach forward, about to reach out to her, but a harsh throb of pain in my head has me recoiling. Grabbing my head, I let out a yell as the pain tries to consume me-// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP14-17]]

//“Accepting your fate doesn’t mean you give up your life,” Katrina answers my thoughts, something like worry washing over her face. “Acknowledging, embracing, and accepting your role could save you.” “Save me? Save me from what?” Panic bubbles up in my chest at her words. “Save you from yourself.” She whispers in answer, before looking over her shoulder. I peer over her shoulder, realizing that what sits behind her is an expanse of black ''nothingness''. It almost seems to reach out and try to grab her, inky tendrils slithering up her arms. Nodding her head at me, she smiles a small, sad smile before she says, “I have to go now. Take this reading into consideration- not just for your sake, but for everyone else’s as well.” Before I can say anything else, the empty void behind Katrina consumes her, pulling her back into it with a hard tug. I reach forward, about to reach out to her, but a harsh throb of pain in my head has me recoiling. Grabbing my head, I let out a yell as the pain tries to consume me-// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP14-17]]

<<if $ROpath >=50>>As the two humans go back to where they were sleeping, and Dani shuffles off to sit on the chair in the corner of the room, I lean back and stare up at the ceiling. The dream I just had still sits heavy in my mind, unsure what exactly just happened… Is Katrina ok? What did she mean by… saving me from myself? I readjust my position to get comfy once more, before my eyes flutter closed, sleep taking hold of me rather quickly.<<elseif $ROpath >=40 && $ROpath <=49>>As Will goes back to where he was sleeping, I feel the mattress dip a bit beside me. I blink open my eyes, surprised to find Anya sitting next to me. My dream I just had is still fresh in my mind- about choosing Anya’s card, and Katrina’s ominous message. “Will you be alright, $Name?” She asks softly, her brown eyes watching me closely as she gently takes my hand in hers. I blink in surprise, but am quickly overrun with a wave of exhaustion once more. My eyes flutter closed, sleep taking hold of me rather quickly. The last thing I feel is Anya’s hand squeezing mine.<<elseif $ROpath >=30 && $ROpath <=39>>As Anya goes back to where she was sleeping, I feel the mattress dip a bit beside me. I blink open my eyes, surprised to find Will sitting next to me. My dream I just had is still fresh in my mind- about choosing Will’s card, and Katrina’s ominous message. “I can sleep with you, if you want?” Will asks as he takes my hand in his, unsure if he’s going to actually get a response from me. I blink in surprise, but am quickly overrun with a wave of exhaustion once more. My eyes flutter closed, sleep taking hold of me rather quickly. The last thing I feel is Will’s hand squeezing mine.<<elseif $ROpath >=20 && $ROpath <=29>>As the two humans go back to where they were sleeping, and Dani shuffles off to sit on the chair in the corner of the room, I find myself suddenly missing Murmur with such ferocity that it surprises me. My dream, which I just had, is still fresh in my mind- one of the reasons why I’m thinking about the demon, but also how strange the dream was; how I chose Murmur’s card, and Katrina’s ominous message. I wish they were here to tell me that everything will be alright, that they’ll be with me every step of the way… A sudden wave of exhaustion overruns me once more, quieting my frantic thoughts. My eyes flutter closed, sleep taking hold of me rather quickly.<<elseif $ROpath >=10 && $ROpath <=19>>As the other two go back to where they were sleeping, I feel the mattress dip a bit beside me. I blink open my eyes, surprised to find Dani sitting next to me. My dream I just had is still fresh in my mind- about choosing Dani’s card, and Katrina’s ominous message. “You’ll be alright, $Name.” Dani whispers as they gently take my hand in theirs. I blink in surprise, but am quickly overrun with a wave of exhaustion once more. My eyes flutter closed, sleep taking hold of me rather quickly. The last thing I feel is Dani’s hand squeezing mine.<</if>> ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP14-19]]

---- !!!??? //”...$Name…" A woman’s voice calls out to me, my name a whisper amongst the static that fills my ears. My eyes snap open, my gaze focusing on what’s before me instantly; the total solar eclipse, the impossibly high waves- And a woman. Her visage shifts and fluctuates, unable to stay in focus for more than a second. I’m unable to get a good glimpse of her, unable to make out any details… But I ''swear'' she has $eyecolor eyes… “$Name.” She says my name again, her hand reaching out towards me as she does so. I don’t reach for her hand, somehow feeling like that would be a bad idea. I just stare at her, confusion making me slightly dizzy and nauseous- and that’s when I realize I ''recognize'' this woman. Or, I recognize the ''idea'' of this woman. This is the woman I’ve been seeing out of the corner of my eye, the one whose intentions I’m unsure of. ‘''What does she want with me?'''// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP14-20]]

//Her voice suddenly echoes around me, bouncing off invisible walls as she says, “Find… house…” “Find… house?” I repeat her words, confused. She’s asking me… to find a house? I don’t know how I know this, but she nods at me. “...Ojai…Cali-…-fornia…” A sudden image flashes through my mind, a small white house in a desert field with a sandy, orange-stoned mountain range sitting far behind it. My head throbs in pain along with the image, making me wince- but it’s gone just as soon as it had come over me. “You’ll find… answers… there…” She whispers as her strange, shifting body seems to dematerialize. Like she’s used up all her strength and power, and is now vanishing back to wherever she comes from. “Find…home…”// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP14-21]]

//Her words seem to echo in my brain, even as she completely disappears. I frantically look around, trying to find some kind of ''answer'' as to who the ''hell'' she is, or what she means by those ominous words- f̸i̸n̸d̴ ̶h̶o̶m̷e̴ The static picks up in my head, causing a wave of sudden agony to take over me. I double over, clutching my booming skull, trying to find some semblance of ''relief''- f̷̱̣͙̃̀͝i̶̹̐n̷̜̘͎̔̽d̷̤̝͛ ̶̫̥͒̍h̷͙̝̭͂̇͠ȍ̷͜m̸̪̍̆̋e̴̦̪͈͋͑ Another burst of energy runs through my entire body, ending on the crown of my head. I fear that I’m about to split at the seams with the amount of pressure building in my head- f̷̛̦̰̬̮̯͕̥̣̐î̶̧̛͓̫͓̔͛̄̋̅̾n̷̳̞̮̝̘̄̃̀͛̉̏̐d̸͇̻̯͖̭̐͝ͅ ̷͇̗̰̟̯̥̝͘͠͠h̶̖͊̒̌͑̚̚͝͝ö̴̢̪̣͇͙͕̐̃̈́̋͊m̶͖̰̓̿̈͂͛e̸̪̩̬̬̤̓́̇̿̓̄͝͝ ''What does this all mean?!''// ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP14-22]]

---- !!!??? -I wake up with a scream, my body shooting up in bed as I come out of my strange dream. ‘Or //was// it a dream?’ That thought causes a tremble to run down my spine as I breathe heavily, fear coursing through my body. There’s a ringing in my ears, somehow drowning out the static, but it isn’t enough to drown out the //thoughts//. That woman in my dream… I know for a fact that she’s the one I’ve been seeing every so often here on Earth, hiding just beyond my line of sight, never letting me look at her head-on. Who //is// she? Or… //what// is she? Suddenly, I’m aware of a few people standing around my bed- and that’s when the chaos of the room, the sounds of my friends freaking out, reaches my ears as if I’ve surfaced from being under water. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP14-23]]

“-you alright?!” “-used some powers. Azrael will be here any minute-” “-breathe, just breathe.” Azrael’s name causes my body to tense up, my jumbled thoughts coming to a sudden halt as I realize that I did indeed use some of my powers somehow. The aura of my demonic energy fills the room, in an almost //suffocating// way. I look up at my friends, a sudden intensity and lucidness to my gaze that has them blinking in surprise, as I say, “We have to go, //now//. And I know where we need to head next.” It takes them all of a few seconds for the words to compute in their heads, the seriousness of my tone making them immediately jump into action to gather up our things. We’re out the door in less than five minutes, on the road and heading west in just about ten. Hopefully, heading towards answers. !!!CHAPTER FOURTEEN END… ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-1]]

!CHAPTER FIFTEEN !!!A few days later… Ojai California. I’m not sure what I expected, exactly, but… to find such a small, scenic town was not it at all. As my friends and I sit at a booth in the small diner we stopped at, the humans eating brunch while Dani stares out the window in thought, I close my eyes against the cascade of thoughts storming in my head. A headache brews deep in my brain, and I can faintly hear the sound of //static//… But I’m unable to focus on that, not when I need to find out why I was //sent here//, of all places. <<if $ROpath >=50>>I stare out the window, my thoughts continuing to race in my head. None of my friends have the answers for me, and it seems as though the more I try to figure things out, the more confused I get. “$Name, are you alright?” Will asks, bringing my attention back to the table. I nod my head. “I’m fine, just thinking about the strange dream I had…”<<elseif $ROpath >=40 && $ROpath <=49>>Anya sits beside me, a simple breakfast platter sitting in front of her. When she moves her arm, her elbow lightly brushes up against me, but she doesn’t seem to mind. “$Name, are you alright?” Will asks, bringing my attention back to the table. “You’ve been staring at Anya in silence for a while now…” Anya’s head whips to the side to look at me, her brown eyes wide in surprise. I can feel my cheeks heat up a bit at being caught staring, but I nod my head in answer anyway. “I’m fine, just thinking about the strange dream I had…”<<elseif $ROpath >=30 && $ROpath <=39>>Will sits beside me, our arms touching on the table. If he notices this, he doesn’t say or do anything about it as he continues to eat his breakfast. “$Name, are you alright?” Anya asks, bringing my attention back to the table. “You’ve been staring at Will in silence for a while now…” Will’s head turns towards me, his lopsided grin growing on his lips. I can feel my cheeks heat up a bit at being caught staring, but I nod my head in answer anyway. “I’m fine, just thinking about the strange dream I had…”<<elseif $ROpath >=20 && $ROpath <=29>>I stare out the window, my thoughts turning to Murmur. I really wish they were here right now… Not only because their guidance would be appreciated in this instance, but because I just want to be near them right now. “$Name, are you alright?” Will asks, bringing my attention back to the table. I nod my head. “I’m fine, just thinking about the strange dream I had…”<<elseif $ROpath >=10 && $ROpath <=19>>Dani sits beside me, elbows nearly touching in the small booth. They haven’t really said much the entire trip here, opting to just stare out the windows and brood. I’m beginning to think they might be experiencing some kind of regret for ‘choosing my side’, but for some reason, I can’t bring myself to ask them. “$Name, are you alright?” Will asks, bringing my attention back to the table. “You’ve been staring at Dani in silence for a while now…” Dani’s head snaps towards my direction, something like surprise flashing across their face. I can feel my cheeks heat up a bit at being caught staring, but I nod my head in answer anyway. “I’m fine, just thinking about the strange dream I had…” <</if>> ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-2]]

“Yeah, that //was// a strange dream…” Will agrees, nodding his head. “Are you sure there weren’t any other clues that could tell us where this house is located?” Closing my eyes, I try to recall every vivid detail of the dream that I can… Only to hear the static in my ears grow louder, just slightly- but it’s enough to unnerve me. When I open my eyes again, I find Dani staring at me intensely with some strange emotion on their face. “What?” I ask them, slightly nervous by their sudden attention. “Be careful when you do that.” They gesture vaguely in my direction with their hand, the intense expression slowly ebbing away. “If you use any of your powers here, we’ll have to leave so Azrael doesn’t find us.” I blink, unaware I was ‘doing anything’ to begin with. But before I can say anything, Dani speaks up once more. “Maybe $Name and I can get a look around while you two eat, see if we can’t figure out a direction to start heading in when you’re done.” The angel motions for me to leave the booth with their head, which I do, just as they slide out as well. “We’ll meet back at the car in ten, alright?” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-3]]

Will and Anya nod before going back to their meals. Once Dani and I step out of the diner, we pick a random direction and start heading that way down the street. Ojai is a rather small town, surrounded by farmland and mountains on all sides. The buildings look a little old, but are still charming in their own way. But none of these details seem familiar to me at all. So why was I sent here to find some random house? “You’ll figure things out, $Name.” Dani’s voice surprises me, dragging me out of my thoughts at once. I turn my head to look at the angel, but find that they're not looking at me at all. They stare out at the mountains, the sky- their dark eyes never really lingering on anything for long. ---- [[“How do you know?” ->CHAP15-HOWKNOW]] ---- [[“...Can you read my thoughts?” ->CHAP15-CANREAD]] ---- [[Just nod, staying quiet. ->CHAP15-STAYQUIET]] ---- [[Ignore them. ->CHAP15-IGNORE]] ---- <<if $ROpath >=50>>- <<elseif $ROpath >=40 && $ROpath <=49>>- <<elseif $ROpath >=30 && $ROpath <=39>>- <<elseif $ROpath >=20 && $ROpath <=29>>- <<elseif $ROpath >=10 && $ROpath <=19>>[[I let my gaze linger on them.]] <</if>>

I let my gaze linger on them, drinking in their features. Thinking about the strange dream that brought us here reminds me of the //other// strange dream I had- the one where I purposefully chose Dani’s card. Although I can’t remember the words that Katrina had told me, the ominous warning she had urgently told me, I just know that there was a reason I chose Dani’s card. I just haven’t figured out what it is yet… Before I get to think about it anymore, though, Dani begins speaking once more. “I just wish there was some way we could figure out where to look that doesn’t involve using your powers in any way…” Dani sighs, looking around the nearly empty streets. “Just going off what you remember isn’t going to actually get us anywhere.” Nodding, I sigh. If only I could remember any other details about this house… Like the house number, a street name, //anything//- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-4]]

“How do you know?” I’m genuinely curious, but can’t deny that I sound a bit petulant asking them in this way. “I’ve been trying to figure things out for //weeks// and I just keep getting more confused the longer I try…” Dani smirks a bit, shrugging their shoulders as they do so. “I just know. And that’s the point of it all, isn’t it? To keep trying?” Nodding, I mumble, “I guess…” “I just wish there was some way we could figure out where to look that doesn’t involve using your powers in any way…” Dani sighs, looking around the nearly empty streets. “Just going off what you remember isn’t going to actually get us anywhere.” Nodding, I sigh. If only I could remember any other details about this house… Like the house number, a street name, //anything//- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-4]]

My eyes narrow as I stare at the angel, somehow only thinking to ask, “...Can you read my thoughts?” Dani lets out a chuckle, a smirk growing on their lips as they do so. “No, I can’t. You just get this //look// on your face when you’re thinking too hard about something.” Nodding, I mumble, “I don’t believe you…” “I just wish there was some way we could figure out where to look that doesn’t involve using your powers in any way…” Dani sighs, looking around the nearly empty streets. “Just going off what you remember isn’t going to actually get us anywhere.” Nodding, I sigh. If only I could remember any other details about this house… Like the house number, a street name, //anything//- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-4]]

I just nod, unable to answer them. What if they’re wrong? What if I never figure it out? What will I do then? Dani sighs, before saying, “I’ll help you figure it out in whichever way that I can, $Name. It’ll be alright.” Nodding, I mumble, “If you say so…” “I just wish there was some way we could figure out where to look that doesn’t involve using your powers in any way…” Dani sighs, looking around the nearly empty streets. “Just going off what you remember isn’t going to actually get us anywhere.” Nodding, I sigh. If only I could remember any other details about this house… Like the house number, a street name, //anything//- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-4]]

I opt to ignore the angel, my thoughts drifting back and forth between different things. If I can’t find the house here, what will I do next? Who is the woman from my dream, anyway? Dani sighs, a harsh gust of air leaving them in a huff. “Right, noted. No talking while the demon is brooding.” Raising an eyebrow, I give them a pointed look out of the corner of my eye. “I just wish there was some way we could figure out where to look that doesn’t involve using your powers in any way…” Dani sighs, looking around the nearly empty streets. “Just going off what you remember isn’t going to actually get us anywhere.” Nodding, I sigh. If only I could remember any other details about this house… Like the house number, a street name, //anything//- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-4]]

Suddenly, I feel as though I’m being watched. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, an almost icy-cold feeling running down my spine as I whip my head around, trying to find the source. //‘Where is she? ''Where is she?'''// My mind races as I search for the woman from my dreams, the one who has been following me- Until I see it. Or, //him//. An elderly gentleman is standing on the other side of the street, watching me with something like… curiosity. When he realizes that I’ve caught him staring, he starts to shuffle his way across the road, waving at me as he does so. “I’m sorry for staring, but I just… Wanted to ask you something.” He sounds a bit winded as he makes it across the street, coming up to me as quickly as his old body can move. He seems almost… //excited//, or something close to it, as he takes the sight of me in now that he’s closer. “You just look so similar to… Similar to someone who used to live here.” Blinking in surprise, I open my mouth to speak but find no words coming out. He says that I look similar to a woman who used to live here… Could that be the woman I’ve been seeing? The one who wanted me to find the house? ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-5]]

“I don’t mean to pry or nothing. It’s just… God, you look just like her.” The old man lets out a dry chuckle, shaking his head. “Ya’ know, she was crazy, that woman. She didn’t deserve what happened to her.” “What happened?” I find myself asking before really thinking it through. My curiosity is getting the better of me, it seems. “Her baby died, and she couldn’t handle the grief. Ended up killing herself in her house.” The older gentleman shakes his head, sighing. “She didn’t deserve that, no matter how crazy she was.” Eyebrows furrowing, I take in this man’s story in confusion. But something about it makes me wonder, makes me need to figure out the mystery, so I ask, “Where is her house located?” “Near the edge of town, that way. It sits right outside the forest.” He points west with a creaking old finger before giving me a small smile. “Again, sorry for bothering you. Thank you for letting this old man ramble on about nothing to you, though. Have a nice day.” As I watch the old man wander away, I can’t help but think that this meeting wasn’t just a coincidence. “I think we have a direction to head in, now.” Dani nods, a grim expression on their face as they scan the direction the old man pointed us in. “Yeah, I think so…” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-6]]

---- !!!A little while later… After meeting up with Anya and Will once more, we tell them about the strange meeting with the old man and where this house is located. We drive for about ten minutes, all eyes scanning the area for a house right outside the forest. “Are we sure this is a good idea?” Wil asks quietly as he drives us down the road, his fingers tapping nervously against the steering wheel. “I mean… Why would a random dead woman be trying to contact you, of all people, $Name?” Before I can answer, Dani speaks up, surprising Will. “I don’t know if it’s just a //random// dead woman. The old man said that $Name looks a lot like her. They may be connected in some way.” “Yeah, but how?” I wonder out loud, confused about the whole ordeal. I open my mouth to speak once more, to put more of my confused thoughts out into the world, but my words get caught in my throat as soon as I see it… The house from my dream. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-7]]

It sits just as the man had described- right outside the forest. It’s old and nearly dilapidated, and I’m unsure how I know that this is the house exactly, but I can //feel// it deep inside. //This// is what I was meant to find here in Ojai. “There it is…” Anya murmurs, her eyes wide. She looks nervous, but tries to hide it when she realizes that I’m looking at her. “Let's go check it out, then.” Dani quickly exits the car, which gets all of us moving. Once we’re standing a few feet away from the house, I realize that… I don’t really feel much of anything. The static has died down, there’s no strange aura coming from the house- Just… nothing but a shell of a house, old brick and wood barely standing. I can feel the gaze of my three companions watching me closely as I step inside the ruins, my feet sliding a bit on rock and debris for a second before I right myself. “There has to be something here,” I say, telling this to myself more than to my friends behind me. “There //has// to be…” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-8]]

As I reach the middle of the shell of a house, I get the vague sense that someone is watching me once more- someone other than my friends who follow close behind me. My head whips around, trying to find the source, my eyes scanning the empty rooms… But there’s no one there. “Maybe there’s something hidden in the rubble?” Will asks, motioning towards the old bricks and wood that have gathered in piles. “Couldn’t hurt to look,” Dani states, before they start digging through debris. After a second, Will and Anya both join the angel, carefully sifting through the piles of useless junk. I look around me, at all the stone and wood… ---- [[Sift through it all carefully. ->CHAP15-CAREFUL]] ---- [[Quickly check through everything, not lingering for long. ->CHAP15-QUICK]] ---- [[Let the others do the work. ->CHAP15-OTHERS]]

---- !!!A little while later… I started sifting through it all carefully. If I want to find what I was sent here to find, I have to be careful about it. I have to make sure I look through //everything//. But after a while of nothing but garbage and junk, I start to feel as though there isn’t anything here for me to find anymore. Sighing in frustration, I look around the area for a space that we haven’t touched yet. When I notice what looks like an old bedroom, I head that way. I take a quick look around once I’m at the door, trying to find anything of interest, but only find 4 walls that are barely standing. I step into the threshold of this old room, the dirty wood loudly groaning underneath my weight. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-9]]

---- !!!A little while later… I started to quickly check through all of it. I know that if I want to find what I was sent here to find, I have to be careful about it, but… There’s just //so much// here, all of it looking more and more useless. But after a while of nothing but garbage and junk, I start to feel as though there isn’t anything here for me to find anymore. Sighing in frustration, I look around the area for a space that we haven’t touched yet. When I notice what looks like an old bedroom, I head that way. I take a quick look around once I’m at the door, trying to find anything of interest, but only find 4 walls that are barely standing. I step into the threshold of this old room, the dirty wood loudly groaning underneath my weight. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-9]]

---- !!!A little while later… I sit back and watch the others carefully sift through the junk, occasionally bending over to toss a rock or move a piece of wood. I know that if I want to find what I was sent here to find, I have to be careful about it, but… There’s just //so much// here, all of it looking more and more useless. But after a while of nothing but garbage and junk, I start to feel as though there isn’t anything here for me to find anymore. Sighing in frustration, I look around the area for a space that we haven’t touched yet. When I notice what looks like an old bedroom, I head that way. I take a quick look around once I’m at the door, trying to find anything of interest, but only find 4 walls that are barely standing. I step into the threshold of this old room, the dirty wood loudly groaning underneath my weight. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-9]]

Very carefully, I make my way across the old floor before I notice a small plank sitting slightly ajar near the center of the room. Although a lot of the planks aren’t fitting right anymore, something about this particular piece calls out to me for some reason. Bending down, I yank the old piece of wood out of its resting place before tossing it aside, before I’ve even had a chance to think if it’s a good idea or not. Sitting underneath it is the foundation of the house… but there’s a hole carved into the stone. Sitting neatly in the hole is a metal box with years of dirt and grime rusting the top. I quickly reach in and take the box, pulling it out and setting it down beside me. It’s rather light, and I’m momentarily worried that there’s nothing in there… But take a deep breath and open it anyway. Sitting inside the box is… a picture. It looks older, and a lot of it has been damaged or eaten away by time. But I’m not paying attention to the state of the picture, my gaze is caught by the //contents// of the picture instead. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-10]]

I can make out three people- a man and a woman who hold a newborn baby. They look as though they’re in a hospital room, but the picture is faded, so it’s hard to tell. The area of the picture where their faces are is torn and ripped, leaving behind just a very tiny section of her hair and eye. With the faded colors, it’s hard to tell what color her hair is, but her //eye//… It looks $eyecolor. And the baby seems so //familiar// to me- “Did you find something?” Jumping at the sudden voice, I turn my head towards the sound to find my friends standing in the doorframe. Will gives me a small, lopsided grin before motioning towards the picture in my hand. “Do you think that’s what you were sent here to find?” Nodding, I stand up slowly, my gaze going back to the aged picture. “I… think so. It's a picture of a small family. I think this might have been the woman that the old man was talking about.” “If we’re done here, can we go back outside?” Anya speaks up suddenly, bringing my attention to her. She has her arms wrapped around herself, almost as if she’s trying to protect herself from the cold. Her brown eyes look at me, almost pleading, as she says, “I don’t like the feeling in here…” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-11]]

Agreeing and feeling as though there isn’t anything else to find in this old house, we make our way back outside. We gather around Will’s car, each taking a turn to look at the photo as if that’d make the answers we’re looking for come any easier. “That old man said her baby died, right?” Dani asks me, waiting for my nod of confirmation before continuing, “He also said you look a lot like that woman, too…” I stare at Dani, unsure of what exactly they are insinuating, but before I can ask them about it, an old Chevy truck pulls up behind our car. Something like panic grows in my chest, before it ebbs away once I realize that it’s the old man from before. He steps out of his truck, waving at our group. “I thought you’d be here. Something told me you’d be a curious one.” For some reason, I’m met with the feeling that this man might know more than he’s letting on about this entire occurrence. He might be willing to share what happened here exactly, which might give me a clue as to how it pertains to //me//… Hopefully. ---- [[Show the old man the photo. ->CHAP15-SHOWPHOTO]] ---- [[Don’t show the old man the photo. ->CHAP15-NOSHOWPHOTO]]

“I found this picture.” I hold the picture up as the man steps closer, watching as he squints his eyes to see the small photo better. “I know it’s hard to see, but is this the woman you were talking about earlier?” Something like sadness crosses his face, the wrinkles around his eyes and forehead getting more pronounced as he stares at the picture. “Yep, that’s her. And the baby too, just a day before $g1 died.” We all sit in silence for a moment, unsure of what to say or where to go from here, before the old man clears his throat. “Would you like to see where they’re buried?” He asks suddenly, eyeing Will and Anya for a second before his eyes pass right over Dani to me. “I’ve been meaning to go and clean the gravestones for a few days, this just gives me the reason to go do it now.” Something inside of me tightens, almost like //excitement// or something similar. I nod my head, not even waiting to see what my friends think. “Yes, please. Where should we meet you?” We get the street address of the local cemetery from the old man before he gets back in his truck and drives off. “Well…” Will speaks up, watching the old man’s truck turn down the street and disappear from view. “Should we head to the cemetery?” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-12]]

I try not to bring attention to the photo in my hand, hoping that he’ll just move on so we can figure things out for ourselves. But it doesn’t seem to work as his gaze snaps to the photo anyway. “Did you find that inside?” He motions towards the picture. “Yes, I did.” I nod. “I think it’s a photo of the family you mentioned earlier.” We all sit in silence for a moment, unsure of what to say or where to go from here, before the old man clears his throat. “Would you like to see where they’re buried?” He asks suddenly, eyeing Will and Anya for a second before his eyes pass right over Dani to me. “I’ve been meaning to go and clean the gravestones for a few days, this just gives me the reason to go do it now.” Something inside of me tightens, almost like //excitement// or something similar. I nod my head, not even waiting to see what my friends think. “Yes, please. Where should we meet you?” We get the street address of the local cemetery from the old man before he gets back in his truck and drives off. “Well…” Will speaks up, watching the old man’s truck turn down the street and disappear from view. “Should we head to the cemetery?” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-12]]

---- !!!A little while later… The older gentleman, whom I now know is named Jeff, guides us through the local cemetery. We follow behind him in a close line, with uncertainty in our steps as we walk along a paved path that reaches far into the plot of land. “She’s right up here, underneath this old willow tree.” Jeff motions towards the top of the hill, where a huge willow tree sits and watches over the graves. Once my eyes take in the sight of the tree, a memory flashes through my mind- one of a willow tree from a dream I had… Before I can think about it anymore, Jeff speaks up once he reaches the top of the hill. “I retired from the local coroner’s office about 15 years ago.” He says, slightly out of breath from the long walk. “I was the one who had to examine her body after she had been found.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-13]]

I step up to the small, square grave that sits in the shadow of the willow tree’s branches. Moss and earth have taken over most of the stone now, and the top part of the grave is broken into unreadable pieces due to a root from the tree growing underneath it. But the woman’s birth and death dates are still visible, so I read them out loud, unsure why, as I gently brush my hand against the stone. “February 18th, 1975 to June 8th, 1998.” “She was only 23…” Anya’s quiet voice is filled with sympathy. “Indeed, she was.” Jeff nods solemnly, his blue eyes darkening with something like grief and confusion. “And the way she went was just… awful.” “...I hate to ask, but I //am// curious, now,” Will says, turning to look at the older gentleman. “How did she die?” Crossing his arms, Jeff seems to debate something in his head for a second before sighing. “Well, I can tell you the //how//. I never quite figured out the //why//.” All three of us turn to look at him fully, anticipating a story. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-14]]

“This young woman moved here to Ojai with her husband back in 1996. While her husband became the local pastor, she worked a full-time job at the small grocery store that has since gone out of business on the main street.” He motions back towards the town as he speaks, his eyes hazy as if he’s reliving the moments he’s speaking of. “While she was known as being one of the kindest people you could ever meet, there were a lot of rumors going around about her husband.” “What kind of rumors?” I ask, unsure why I interrupt him. A strange feeling starts to creep down my spine as I listen to the story, something like dread or anticipation. Turning to me, something dark passes behind Jeff’s eyes as he says, “There are always rumors floating around town, especially here in Ojai. I heard a few things about this man, like how he was a part of a gang or cult- never was sure what was true. I just know that something seemed //off// about him. And we were letting him lead our Sunday service every week!” “Unfortunately, a lot of terrible people are in positions like that.” Will nods his head at the older gentleman to get him to continue his story. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-15]]

“Well, anyway… This lady wanted to start a family with her husband, and they tried to conceive multiple times. Each pregnancy ended prematurely with a miscarriage.” The old man now looks down at the grave, a bone-deep sadness washing over his face. “The talk around town was that she would probably be unable to carry a child, ever. But then one day… One day, she announced that she was pregnant once more, and while all of us were expecting the bad news within the next few weeks… We heard nothing but good news from her.” “But her husband… There was another rumor going around at this time that he had been a part of some strange cultist ritual deep in the woods, and that was why his wife was able to keep this baby. There was something dark going on in that man’s life, and I personally think that whatever he got up to was the real reason his wife died.” My gaze snaps towards my friends, who share looks of concern or confusion with me. When it’s obvious none of us is going to say anything, Jeff sighs and continues. “Despite the rumors, the woman successfully had a $g7 on June 6th, 1998. But the next day, the baby died suddenly. Now, everyone was saying that the father sacrificed the baby during a ritual for the “cult”. I don’t know if that’s true or not, I just know that… We never found the body of that baby.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-16]]

The old man gestures towards the grave again, but this time our attention goes to the smaller gravestone next to the woman’s. There is no name, just a birth and death date, “June 6th, 1998 to June 7th, 1998.” “Then, the next day? The woman ended up dying as well.” A sudden haunted look passes over Jeff’s face as he stares at the woman’s grave. Then, he looks up to me with that same look, causing a wave of dread to wash over me as he speaks again, “Everyone kept saying that her husband sacrificed her life to the cult as well, but… Well, there were no obvious signs of foul play when I conducted the autopsy- nothing strange at all except for the fact that this woman’s brain was reduced to mush somehow. I never could quite figure out how.” We all go silent as the old man finishes speaking, a dark and foreboding aura around us all as we take in this information. I sigh, unsure how any of this pertains to me in any way. Why was I sent here to learn about this small family? What does this have to do with //anything//? ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-17]]

“That was…” Will starts speaking again, his sentence hanging in the air, unfinished. He clears his throat before asking, “Is there anything else you can tell us? About the family, I mean?” “I don’t know much else, except that the husband ran away a day or two after his wife died. He was never caught by the police, as far as I know. He could very well still be alive to this day, for all I know.” Jeff shrugs before looking down at a small watch on his wrist. “Well, I think I’ve wasted enough of your time. I should get going.” ---- [[Thank him for his time. ->CHAP15-THANKFORTIME]] ---- [[Just nod, not willing to say anything else. ->CHAP15-NOTWILLING]] ---- [[Ignore him and move on. ->CHAP15-IGNOREJEFF]]

“Thank you for… Taking us here.” I mumble, my mind racing as I think over the story he had just told us and why the woman’s spirit guided me here. Jeff doesn’t say anything else, he just starts to carefully make his way back out of the cemetery, leaving the four of us standing around the two graves underneath the old willow tree. As I stare at the graves, trying to come up with any answers to this strange predicament, I get the feeling that something is //wrong// all of a sudden. But as I look around, I can’t see anything out of the ordinary at all. “So…” Dani speaks up now, their gaze flickering between the three of us. “What does all of this mean for us? For $Name?” “I’m not sure…” Will looks confused, his upturned eyebrows furrowing a bit. “The only thing I can think of is that //something// about what we just learned has something to do wth you, $Name.” I nod my head, agreeing with Will but unsure what, exactly, that “something” is. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-18]]

I just nod at him, my mind racing as I think over the story he had just told us and why the woman’s spirit guided me here. Jeff doesn’t say anything else, he just starts to carefully make his way back out of the cemetery, leaving the four of us standing around the two graves underneath the old willow tree. As I stare at the graves, trying to come up with any answers to this strange predicament, I get the feeling that something is //wrong// all of a sudden. But as I look around, I can’t see anything out of the ordinary at all. “So…” Dani speaks up now, their gaze flickering between the three of us. “What does all of this mean for us? For $Name?” “I’m not sure…” Will looks confused, his upturned eyebrows furrowing a bit. “The only thing I can think of is that //something// about what we just learned has something to do wth you, $Name.” I nod my head, agreeing with Will but unsure what, exactly, that “something” is. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-18]]

I ignore him, my mind racing as I think over the story he had just told us and why the woman’s spirit guided me here. Jeff doesn’t say anything else, he just starts to carefully make his way back out of the cemetery, leaving the four of us standing around the two graves underneath the old willow tree. As I stare at the graves, trying to come up with any answers to this strange predicament, I get the feeling that something is //wrong// all of a sudden. But as I look around, I can’t see anything out of the ordinary at all. “So…” Dani speaks up now, their gaze flickering between the three of us. “What does all of this mean for us? For $Name?” “I’m not sure…” Will looks confused, his upturned eyebrows furrowing a bit. “The only thing I can think of is that //something// about what we just learned has something to do wth you, $Name.” I nod my head, agreeing with Will but unsure what, exactly, that “something” is. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-18]]

That feeling grows in my chest now, the feeling that something //wrong// is happening. I scan the cemetery again, still not finding anything strange- until my eyes land on Anya. She’s standing a few feet away from us, her posture tense as she looks around nervously. Sighing, Dani groans in frustration. “So, we’re basically back at square one?” “Well, I wouldn’t say //square one//. We just need to figure out what the woman wants $Name to understand.” Will gestures towards the woman’s grave, trying his best not to sound frustrated like Dani. Anya’s breathing picks up pace as she turns around and looks at us. She opens her mouth to speak, but she’s cut off by Dani. “Yeah, but how are we supposed to do that if we aren’t sure how it connects with $Name, anyway? We’d just be coming up with //assumptions// and //theories// without knowing if anything we say actually matters.” “That doesn’t mean we don’t try, though!” Will’s voice rises a bit, the stress about the situation starting to get to him. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-19]]

Gaze snapping to me, Anya looks on the verge of panicking as she shakes her head. “We need to leave. //Now//.” I’m about to agree with her, to speak up to Dani and Will, the feeling //growing and growing// in my chest until I feel like I’m about to //burst//- But that’s when I notice something strange… People are now walking through the cemetery, people who were not there a second ago. And there are //a lot// of people, all of a sudden. Hundreds of them, slowly walking towards us. “Guys…” I speak up, trying to get Dani and Will’s attention, but it falls on deaf ears. “Then go ahead and explain to me why we were brought here without it being a //theory//, Will.” Dani’s voice comes out in a harsh hiss, taking a step towards the human. “I don’t have any right now, I haven’t been able to //think// about it because you keep //complaining//!” Will fires back, also taking a step towards the angel. The people have made their way halfway up the hill, surrounding us on all sides. The closer they get, the more I can tell that they aren’t //alive//, either. These are spirits. They point at Anya and me, angry and haunted looks on all of their faces. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-20]]

//’Why… Why…’// //’The… Spawn…’// //’You cannot… take… us…’// “Guys!” I yell out, finally able to gain their attention. “Look!” Both Will and Dani turn to look at where I’m motioning, both of their faces morphing into one of surprise. “What the hell?!” Will yells out as soon as he realizes what’s going on, backing up until he’s beside me. “How did all of these spirits get here?” I turn to look at Anya, who gives me a very panicked, but guilty look. But she doesn’t say anything, so I do instead. “I’m not too sure.” The wave of spirits is coming up on us now, only a few feet away. Static starts to fill my ears, along with the insistent moaning of these spirits who don’t seem too happy to have been gathered here. My eyes scan the mass of ghosts, realizing more and //more// spirits are starting to appear. I can’t see through the crowd, every inch filled with //death//- ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-21]]

c̷o̴n̴s̴u̴m̵e̶ ̷t̷h̵e̸ ̶s̸p̵i̴r̷i̷t̵s̶ “There are too many of them! I can’t help them all pass on!” Will yells over the cries, a panicked look in his eyes. “I can’t either,” Dani answers as they turn and place a hand on one of the spirits' foreheads. They disappear in a bright white light, before the angel turns to a different one. c̷͉͂o̵̱͝n̷̯͝s̴̼͠ụ̷̾m̴͚̀e̸̔ͅ ̶̬͊t̶͕͠h̷̦̑ȅ̷̢ ̷̥̋s̵̩̓p̴͕̒í̶̞r̷̲̆i̶͉͝t̵̠̔s̴͓̑ The static takes on a thunderous volume, the voice in my head calling for the consumption of these spirits. My head aches, my body trembles, my eyes scan the hundreds of spirits- I have to do //something//… //''now''//. ć̴̙͖́ͅo̵̞͋n̶̰̘̯͛́ş̷̪̈́̈͋͑u̶̜̪̣͜͝m̵̲̘̳̾́͆e̶̩̠̝͚̓͊̇̾ ̶͍̼̘͋̈́t̸̲͆̓͆ḫ̸̟̩̄ẻ̵͚͔̪̌̑ ̷̦̤̄͗̀s̵̱͗ͅp̸̟̃̓͝͝i̵͔̹̊͛͂̓r̸̞̹͑́͗i̷͈͗̔t̸̨̯̀̚s̶̻͈̊͜ ---- [[Consume the spirits. ->CHAP15-CONSUME]] ---- [[Fight the voice. ->CHAP15-FIGHT]]

Closing my eyes, I allow myself to absorb the spirits. I hear them cry out, try to resist me, but I know they can’t. I can feel power flow through me like an electric current, a small smile breaking out on my face as I do so. It feels //good//. I like this feeling. It takes a few seconds before the static and the //moaning// dies down, finally, before I open my eyes and look around me. The spirits are gone, the cemetery is once again empty, but Anya and Will are staring at me with a look I’ve never seen from them before. Anya looks terrified, but there’s something else mixed in with it. It looks like… //disgust//, or something very similar, as her brown eyes scan me. Will, on the other hand, looks like he’s about to get angry with me. But there’s a hint of something else, something like desperation, of devastation… of betrayal. One of his hands comes up, and for a second, it looks like he’s about to grab his cross around his neck- but he ends up clenching his fists. “$Name… Why did you //do that//?” Before I have the chance to answer him, Dani speaks up. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-22]]

Closing my eyes, I try to fight off the voice. I am //not// consuming these spirits, whether it kills me or not. I don’t //want// to consume spirits. I //don’t//… Something bursts inside of me at this moment, something like an electric current. It travels throughout my whole body, ending in my fingertips and toes. It feels… //good//. I like this feeling… //What is this feeling?// It takes a few moments before I realize the static and the moaning have died down, finally, before I open my eyes and look around me. The spirits are gone, the cemetery is once again empty, and what should have been a relieving moment turns sour once I realize that Anya and Will are staring at me with horror. Anya’s eyes are wide as she stares at me, terrified. She looks like she wants to say something, but can’t seem to form the words. Will looks just as scared, but there’s something else hidden behind his expression… Something darker, like betrayal. But I’m not sure //why// he’d be feeling something like that. One of his hands comes up, and for a second, it looks like he’s about to grab his cross around his neck- but he ends up clenching his fists. “$Name… Why did you //do that//?” Before I have the chance to answer him, Dani speaks up. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-22]]

“We have to leave. //Now//.” Dani quickly starts to jog down the hill before realizing that we’re just staring at them, not following. “Azrael is on his way! $Name just used some powers!” That seems to snap us out of our thoughts, and we all instantly run out of the cemetery, straight to Will’s car. The car ride out of Ojai is silent as we all look out the windows for signs of Azrael, and it isn’t until we’re a good mile or so away before we all even //begin// to relax. But my mind is racing with thoughts of what I just learned in Ojai, what happened in the cemetery… And what happens next? Where do we go from here? As I stare out the window, a sudden headache starts to grow in <<if $Hornarea2 >=30>>my temples<<elseif $Hornarea2 >=20 && $Hornarea2 <=29>>the crown of my head<<elseif $Hornarea2 >=10 && $Hornarea2 <=19>>my forehead<</if>>. Things are changing. Things are happening. I just can’t tell if they’re //good// or //bad// changes… Do I even want to know? ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-23]]

---- !!!SOMEWHERE IN HELL… Murmur steps into a familiar room, filled to the brim with books and knowledge. Limping a bit, Murmur closes the giant double doors behind themself, before scanning the room. Camio’s library sits untouched, the demon who owns it currently not able to come back to Hell. Murmur thinks that there has to be something of use in here, some form of information that could shed light on $Name and $g3 predicament. The thought of $Name makes Murmur pause, a million thoughts running through their head. Is $Name alright? What <<if $program >=20>>have <<elseif $program >=10 && $program <=19>>has<</if>> $g1 been doing since Murmur has been gone? If $Name were to get hurt, that’d be pretty bad… $g1 can’t come heal in Hell, $g1’d be… Shaking their head, Murmur shakes off the residual anxiety. Worrying about $Name isn’t going to help. Finding information //will//. Getting to work, Murmur starts to scan through the different books that line Camio’s shelves. Camio has recorded a lot of information over the many, //many// years he’s been around. There has to be //something// that could tell Murmur what $Name’s deal is… Or how to get $g3 memories back. ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-24]]

---- !!!A few hours later… As Murmur scans through another book, one of the hundreds they have been thoroughly looking through, the door to the library suddenly opens. Murmur’s attention snaps to the entrance, now being filled by two familiar figures. Paimon and Beleth watch them closely, being careful not to show any emotion on their faces. Paimon clears his throat, yellow eyes harsh as they stare at the demon further in the room. “Murmur, Satan wishes to speak with you.” Sighing, Murmur closes the book currently in their hands. “Is it urgent? Or do I have time to finish up here?” “You drop everything when Satan wishes to speak with you, Murmur. You know that.” Beleth’s voice is serious, as usual. Her gold chains and jewelry hanging off her horns jingle slightly as she shakes her head. “Serious or not, you need to go see him. //Now//.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-25]]

Something like nervousness pulsates in Murmur’s chest for a second, a brief panic that makes them think they’ve been caught doing something they shouldn’t have… Which, technically, they have been doing just that. They’ve known where $Name is for quite some time, and haven’t told anyone down here in Hell where. Again, Murmur sighs as they set the book down. “Fine.” Nodding, the two demons in the doorway turn and leave. Murmur follows closely behind them, heading for the area of Hell where Satan usually hangs out. It doesn’t take long to find him, though, not when his oppressive aura hangs in the air, almost like a trail of smoke. Murmur finds him in the throne room, sitting in his chair rather casually- his head leaning back against the back of the chair, eyes closed. Murmur steps up to the dais, unsure if they should speak up to get Satan’s attention or not. But the younger demon doesn’t have to get Satan’s attention, he already knows that Murmur is there. His blue eyes snap open, instantly centering on Murmur, before he sits up in his chair. “Murmur, I had a question for you.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-26]]

“Yes?” Murmur tries to keep the nervousness in their voice to a minimum, their head tilting to the side as they inquire about the question. “What is it?” “You were pretty close to Sin when $g1 <<if $program >=20>>were<<elseif $program >=10 && $program <=19>>was<</if>> still here, weren’t you.” This isn’t phrased as a question, but as a statement. Satan knows about the bond between Murmur and their $g7, but needs Murmur to confirm it themselves. Nodding, Murmur quietly responds, “Yes, I was.” Satan nods his head once, confirming this. “Do you have any idea where Sin ran off to? Where $g1 would have gone?” Murmur keeps their gaze trained on the older demon, hoping that he can’t see how surprised they are at this question- hoping that he can’t see that Murmur has known //exactly// where $Name has been. With a calculated response, Murmur says, “I’m not entirely sure. I’d have to think through our conversations. Even then, I doubt that Sin would have wanted to tell me something that would have gotten $g2 caught, if found out.” “Why would that be?” Satan’s voice rings out across the throne room, but his demeanor remains calm. “If you were so close, surely $g1 would have said something to you.” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-27]]

“Precisely for a moment such as this, my lord.” Murmur motions between them. “I have no choice but to tell you the truth. Sin knew this, and probably wanted to ensure that no one knew where $g1 <<if $program >=20>>were<<elseif $program >=10 && $program <=19>>was<</if>> going.” Cold, lifeless blue eyes watch Murmur in silence for the longest moment. Fear starts to creep up Murmur’s spine, unsure if Satan will just let this conversation go or keep pushing. Satan has ways to find out the truth- he’s the strongest being in the entirety of Hell. And if he finds out that Murmur has been lying to him the whole time… “If you are speaking the truth, then so be it. I’ll have to resort to finding Sin in some other way.” Sitting back in his chair, Satan waves his hand in the air as if waving away the entirety of the conversation. Nodding, Murmur turns to leave, but just as they are about to step through the threshold of the room, Satan calls out to them once more. “Murmur, you’re rather inquisitive, aren’t you?” Satan waits until Murmur turns around to face him once more before continuing on. “You’ve been asking around about my punishment for Sin. Morbid curiosity getting the better of you, hm?” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-28]]

“Yes, my lord.” Murmur’s quiet voice is barely able to reach across the room, but Satan hears them anyway. “The punishment was this: Sin refused to act as the spawn of Satan and The Devil because of $g3 free will. So I tried to take $g3 free will away. That, obviously, didn’t go as planned because Sin has never been easy to deal with.” Satan sighs, rolling his eyes. “Sin influenced the punishment somehow, so now not only are all $g3 memories gone, but $g1 <<if $program >=20>>are<<elseif $program >=10 && $program <=19>>is<</if>> probably having trouble with making choices on $g3 own; being slightly influenced by Hell and I, and slightly influenced by whoever $g1 <<if $program >=20>>were<<elseif $program >=10 && $program <=19>>was<</if>> before.” Suddenly, it all makes sense to Murmur. They were right in that $Name had messed up the punishment somehow… the only piece they were missing was what the punishment was supposed to //do// in the first place. In all honesty, they should have expected this, though. The punishment was to take away $Name’s //choice// in any matter. To be influenced by $g3 parents. To never truly have a thought of $g3 own again until… //Until ''what''//? Satan watches as Murmur’s mind darkens with confusion and the many thoughts running through their head. He leans forward and rests his chin on his hands before speaking once more. “Would you like to know what we created Sin for? What $g3 purpose for being here is, Murmur?” ---- [[NEXT ->CHAP15-29]]

Murmur’s gaze snaps to Satan’s, surprised. It’s already well-known as to why $Name was created, so why is he bringing this up? Unless… That reason isn’t the entire truth, or was something that was made up to keep the real reason a secret. But even so, would he really be willing to share that information with Murmur? And… For what cost? $Name’s face flashes through Murmur’s mind though, making them remember why they’re here in the first place. They have to figure this out, they have to help $Name in whatever way they can. Nodding, Murmur answers him. “Yes, I would.” Satan smiles, something small and plain. But Murmur knows the darkness hidden behind that smile, the cruelty and hatred that festers and boils underneath the beautiful exterior. This is //Satan//, Lord of Hell, the most powerful demon in existence. There’s always a reason for whatever Satan decides to do. And today, he has decided to bring Murmur in on his little plan. This isn’t going to end well for Murmur //and// $Name. It can’t. !!!CHAPTER FIFTEEN END… ---- [[NEXT ->ENDOFDEMO]]