(display: "Core")(text-style:"fidget")[= (text-rotate-y:23)+(text-rotate-z:2)[(b4r:"none","ridge","ridge","none")+(b4r-size:1,2,2,1)+(b4r-colour:white,red,red,white)[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[Chapter One:]] Boiled Eyes] =|= { $t2[$s3[The clock was slightly askew,]] $t4[$s3[ and the kitchen counter far too cold.]] $t6h[$s3[ These two things would've bothered $Redacted normally,]] } =|= { $t9[$s2[ but right now she was a coffee maker.]]} $t12h[ So...]{ }$t13h[$s2[// Mostly she was focused on that.//]] $t15h[(align:"==>")+(box:"X=")[[[Page 2->Page 2]]]] |==| (text-rotate-y:23)+(text-rotate-z:2)[(b4r:"none","ridge","ridge","none")+(b4r-size:1,2,2,1)+(b4r-colour:white,red,red,white)[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[(text-style:"blink")[C]h(text-style:"blink")[apt]e(text-style:"blink")[r Six:]]] (text-style:"blink")[Spi]ll(text-style:"blink")[ed Ink]] Spell "HELL" "HATE" C H A P T E R S I X Character Dossiers Mythology Rooms- Especially one for Y'ieløthe, utilizing fake Text boxes asking for your name and stuff like that. [REDACTED] Pete The Eye Nuriel Løvrike Oszy Raviv LanrixTell me, human. What is your name? (force-input-box:"=XX=","No one.") ^^^^^^Max Char: 7^^^^^^ And what is your statement? (force-input-box:"=XX=","All hail the Eye King, the One True God.") ^^^^^^Max Char: 40^^^^^^ (input-box:2bind $name,"=XX=")(display: "Core")(text-style:"fidget")[= (text-rotate-y:23)+(text-rotate-z:2)[(b4r:"none","ridge","ridge","none")+(b4r-size:1,2,2,1)+(b4r-colour:white,red,red,white)[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[Chapter One:]] Boiled Eyes] =|= $t2[$s2[I should make it clear that $Redacted wasn't //always// a coffee maker.]] $t4h[$s2[ In fact,]] $t5h[$s2[ she'd just recently been a woman standing in her ex-coworker's home,]] $t8[$s3[debating whether or not emulating a //Final Destination// kill was too camp for an assassination.]] =|= $t12h[$s2[ She couldn't fully decide in time,]] $t14h[$s3[ but the last she thought of it here she was leaning towards //"No."//]] $t17[(align:"==>")+(box:"X=")[[[Page 3->Page 3]]]] |==|(display: "Core")(text-style:"fidget")[= (text-rotate-y:23)+(text-rotate-z:2)[(b4r:"none","ridge","ridge","none")+(b4r-size:1,2,2,1)+(b4r-colour:white,red,red,white)[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[Chapter One:]] Boiled Eyes] =|= $t2[$s3[//Finally// the clock got to say "5:03,"]] $t4[$s3[ breathing a sigh of relief after such a long wait.]] $t6[$s2[ The issue,]] $t7[$s2[ of course,]]$t8h[$s3[ was that it now had to wait again to say "5:04."]] $t11h[$s2[ The other issue was that,]] $t12h[$s3[ when it did change to 5:03,]] $t15h[$s3[ $Redacted's stomach began to bubble up.]] =|= $t18[$s3[ She thought back to her last meal, just a few hours before she died.]] {$t22h[$s3[ //It was //(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.55))[// Chipotle,//]]]} $t26h[$s3[ and, I'm just going to be honest,]] $t28[$s3[ had she known that it was her last meal]] $t29h[$s3[ I //can't //promise she would've gone anywhere else.]] $t32[(align:"==>")+(box:"X=")[[[Page 4->Page 4]]]] |==| (display: "Core")(text-style:"fidget")[= (text-rotate-y:23)+(text-rotate-z:2)[(b4r:"none","ridge","ridge","none")+(b4r-size:1,2,2,1)+(b4r-colour:white,red,red,white)[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[Chapter One:]] Boiled Eyes] =|= $t2[$s3[That couldn't be what was bothering her stomach, though.]] $t4[$s2[ After all,]] $t5[$s2[ she thought,]] $t6h[$s3[ if her legs didn't survive the explosion there's no way the burrito bowl did.]] =|= $t10h[$s2[ $RedQ["Not a burrito bowl,"] $Redacted thought to herself,]] $t13[$s3[ as she felt the bitter coffee making its way through her plastic body. ]] {$t16[$s3[ It spilled from her mouth in a ]] $t17h[$s3[ slow ]] $t18h[$s3[ torturous stream ]] $t19h[$s3[ that pooled in the glass pot on her lap. ]]} $t21h[(align:"==>")+(box:"X=")[[[Page 5->Page 5]]]] |==|The Harbingers- Kenis's Pack- Keepers of the Eye-{(set: $Redacted to "(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[(b4r:\"groove\")+(b4r-size:1,2,2,1)+(b4r-colour:red)[(text-style:\"expand\")[REDACTED]]]") (set: $Red to "(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[(b4r:\"groove\")+(b4r-size:1,2,2,1)+(b4r-colour:red)[(text-style:\"expand\")[RED]]]") (enchant: ?Link, (t8n-depart: "blur")) {(set: $s1 to (transition:"dissolve") + (transition-time: 1s)) (set: $s2 to (transition:"dissolve") + (transition-time: 2s)) (set: $s3 to (transition:"dissolve") + (transition-time: 3s)) (set: $s4 to (transition:"dissolve") + (transition-time: 4s)) (set: $s5 to (transition:"dissolve") + (transition-time: 5s)) (set: $s6 to (transition:"dissolve") + (transition-time: 6s)) (set: $s7 to (transition:"dissolve") + (transition-time: 7s)) (set: $s8 to (transition:"dissolve") + (transition-time: 8s)) (set: $z1 to (transition:"zoom") + (transition-time: 1s)) (set: $z2 to (transition:"zoom") + (transition-time: 2s)) (set: $z3 to (transition:"zoom") + (transition-time: 3s)) (set: $z4 to (transition:"zoom") + (transition-time: 4s)) (set: $z5 to (transition:"pulse") + (transition-time: 5s)) (set: $p1 to (transition:"pulse") + (transition-time: 1s)) (set: $p2 to (transition:"pulse") + (transition-time: 2s)) (set: $p3 to (transition:"pulse") + (transition-time: 3s)) (set: $p4 to (transition:"pulse") + (transition-time: 4s)) (set: $p5 to (transition:"pulse") + (transition-time: 5s)) (set: $fl1 to (transition:"fade-left") + (transition-time: 1s)) (set: $fl2 to (transition:"fade-left") + (transition-time: 2s)) (set: $fl3 to (transition:"fade-left") + (transition-time: 3s)) (set: $fl4 to (transition:"fade-left") + (transition-time: 4s)) (set: $fl5 to (transition:"fade-left") + (transition-time: 5s)) (set: $fr1 to (transition:"fade-right") + (transition-time: 1s)) (set: $fr2 to (transition:"fade-right") + (transition-time: 2s)) (set: $fr3 to (transition:"fade-right") + (transition-time: 3s)) (set: $fr4 to (transition:"fade-right") + (transition-time: 4s)) (set: $fr5 to (transition:"fade-right") + (transition-time: 5s)) {(set: $RedQ to (text-colour:(hsl:180,0.8039,0.5,0.5)) + (text-style:"smear")) (set: $PeteQ to (text-colour:#c4a374) + (font: "Courier New")) } (set: $t1 to (after:1s)) (set: $t1h to (after:1.5s)) (set: $t2 to (after:2s)) (set: $t2h to (after:2.5s)) (set: $t3 to (after:3s)) (set: $t3h to (after:3.5s)) (set: $t4 to (after:4s)) (set: $t4h to (after:4.5s)) (set: $t5 to (after:5s)) (set: $t5h to (after:5.5s)) (set: $t6 to (after:6s)) (set: $t6h to (after:6.5s)) (set: $t7 to (after:7s)) (set: $t7h to (after:7.5s)) (set: $t8 to (after:8s)) (set: $t8h to (after:8.5s)) (set: $t9 to (after:9s)) (set: $t9h to (after:9.5s)) (set: $t10 to (after:10s)) (set: $t10h to (after:10.5s)) (set: $t11 to (after:11s)) (set: $t11h to (after:11.5s)) (set: $t12 to (after:12s)) (set: $t12h to (after:12.5s)) (set: $t13 to (after:13s)) (set: $t13h to (after:13.5s)) (set: $t14 to (after:14s)) (set: $t14h to (after:14.5s)) (set: $t15 to (after:15s)) (set: $t15h to (after:15.5s)) (set: $t16 to (after:16s)) (set: $t16h to (after:16.5s)) (set: $t17 to (after:17s)) (set: $t17h to (after:17.5s)) (set: $t18 to (after:18s)) (set: $t18h to (after:18.5s)) (set: $t19 to (after:19s)) (set: $t19h to (after:19.5s)) (set: $t20 to (after:20s)) (set: $t20h to (after:20.5s)) (set: $t21 to (after:21s)) (set: $t21h to (after:21.5s)) (set: $t22 to (after:22s)) (set: $t22h to (after:22.5s)) (set: $t23 to (after:23s)) (set: $t23h to (after:23.5s)) (set: $t24 to (after:24s)) (set: $t24h to (after:24.5s)) (set: $t25 to (after:25s)) (set: $t25h to (after:25.5s)) (set: $t26 to (after:26s)) (set: $t26h to (after:26.5s)) (set: $t27 to (after:27s)) (set: $t27h to (after:27.5s)) (set: $t28 to (after:28s)) (set: $t28h to (after:28.5s)) (set: $t29 to (after:29s)) (set: $t29h to (after:29.5s)) (set: $t30 to (after:30s)) (set: $t30h to (after:30.5s)) (set: $t31 to (after:31s)) (set: $t31h to (after:31.5s)) (set: $t32 to (after:32s)) (set: $t32h to (after:32.5s)) (set: $t33 to (after:33s)) (set: $t33h to (after:33.5s)) (set: $t34 to (after:34s)) (set: $t34h to (after:34.5s)) (set: $t35 to (after:35s)) (set: $t35h to (after:35.5s)) (set: $t36 to (after:36s)) (set: $t36h to (after:36.5s)) (set: $t37 to (after:37s)) (set: $t37h to (after:37.5s)) (set: $t38 to (after:38s)) (set: $t38h to (after:38.5s)) (set: $t39 to (after:39s)) (set: $t39h to (after:39.5s)) (set: $t40 to (after:40s)) (set: $t40h to (after:40.5s)) (set: $t41 to (after:41s)) (set: $t41h to (after:41.5s)) (set: $t42 to (after:42s)) (set: $t42h to (after:42.5s)) (set: $t43 to (after:43s)) (set: $t43h to (after:43.5s)) (set: $t44 to (after:44s)) (set: $t44h to (after:44.5s)) (set: $t45 to (after:45s)) (set: $t45h to (after:45.5s)) (set: $t46 to (after:46s)) (set: $t46h to (after:46.5s)) (set: $t47 to (after:47s)) (set: $t47h to (after:47.5s)) (set: $t48 to (after:48s)) (set: $t48h to (after:48.5s)) (set: $t49 to (after:49s)) (set: $t49h to (after:49.5s)) (set: $t50 to (after:50s)) (set: $t50h to (after:50.5s)) (set: $t51 to (after:51s)) (set: $t51h to (after:51.5s)) (set: $t52 to (after:52s)) (set: $t52h to (after:52.5s)) (set: $t53 to (after:53s)) (set: $t53h to (after:53.5s)) (set: $t54 to (after:54s)) (set: $t54h to (after:54.5s)) (set: $t55 to (after:55s)) (set: $t55h to (after:55.5s))}}NAME: REDACTED AGE: 28 CLASSIFICATION: Necromancer PROFESSION: Freelance Assassin. Double-click this passage to edit it.(display: "Core")(text-style:"fidget")[= (text-rotate-y:23)+(text-rotate-z:2)[(b4r:"none","ridge","ridge","none")+(b4r-size:1,2,2,1)+(b4r-colour:white,red,red,white)[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[Chapter One:]] Boiled Eyes] =|= $t2[$s2[ And //boy// was her lap hot now.]] $t4h[$s2[ $Redacted also couldn't help but wonder,]] $t6h[$s2[ as she prepared to depart the object,]] =|= $t9[ $RedQ[//what kind of psychopath would set a coffee timer for 5:03AM?//]] $t10h[(align:"==>")+(box:"X=")[[[Page 6->Page 6]]]] |==|(display: "Core")(text-style:"fidget")[= (text-rotate-y:23)+(text-rotate-z:2)[(b4r:"none","ridge","ridge","none")+(b4r-size:1,2,2,1)+(b4r-colour:white,red,red,white)[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[Chapter One:]] Boiled Eyes] =|= {$t1[$s3[ Boiling insides aside,]] $t2h[$s3[ departing felt great.]] $t4[$s3[ It was the ghost version of]] $t4[$s3[ stepping out of your pants after a]] $t4[$s3[ long day of work.]]} $t7h[$s3[ Except that the pants are made of molten hot plastic that smells like the inside of a Dunkin Donuts.]] =|= $t13[$s1[ Plus, $Red loved that this meant she could really make an entrance.]] $t15h[$fl2[$RedQ[ //"Hey,"//] she'd think to herself,]] $t17h[$fl1[$RedQ[ //"even if you're the only one watching.//]]] $t19h[$fl1[$RedQ[ //You're worth it, babe."//]]] $t21h[(align:"==>")+(box:"X=")[[[Page 8->Page 8]]]] |==|(display: "Core")(text-style:"fidget")[= (text-rotate-y:23)+(text-rotate-z:2)[(b4r:"none","ridge","ridge","none")+(b4r-size:1,2,2,1)+(b4r-colour:white,red,red,white)[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[Chapter One:]] Boiled Eyes] =|= $t2[$s3[ $Red slid her thin, cyan hand out of the lid of the coffee maker,]] $t5h[$s3[ a sickly green mist billowing from it.]] =|= $t9[$s1[ She lifted the lid,]] $t10[$s3[ then]] $t10h[$s3[ fanned]] $t11[$s3[ out]] $t11h[$s3[ her]] $t12[$s3[ soaking]] $t12h[$s3[ wet]] $t13[$s3[ fingers]] $t14h[$s3[ like a spider rearing back]] $t16h[$s3[ before grabbing her own hair from the empty water reservoir,]] $t19h[$s3[ and pulling herself,]] $t20h[$s3[ dripping,]] $t21h[$s3[ up out of the machine.]] $t23h[(align:"==>")+(box:"X=")[(t8n-depart: "dissolve")[[Page 9->Page 9]]]] |==|(display: "Core")(text-style:"fidget")[= (text-rotate-y:23)+(text-rotate-z:2)[(b4r:"none","ridge","ridge","none")+(b4r-size:1,2,2,1)+(b4r-colour:white,red,red,white)[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[Chapter One:]] Boiled Eyes] =|= $t2[$s3[ I'd be a terrible narrator if I didn't stop here to explain]] $t4[$s2[ that the reason $Redacted's name has been redacted]] $t6[$s3[ is because of an investigation into a claim that she died while attempting to destroy the world.]] =|= $t9h[$s3[ If you asked,]] $t10h[$s3[ she would tell you that these accusations are completely unsubstantiated and ridiculous.]] $t14h[$s2[(size:0.7)[// ...And then she'd look away and try to change the subject.//]]] $t16[$s4[ We'll call her $Red, for the sake of anonymity.]] $t16h[(align:"==>")+(box:"X=")[[[Page 7->Page 7]]]] |==|(display: "Core")(text-style:"fidget")[= (text-rotate-y:23)+(text-rotate-z:2)[(b4r:"none","ridge","ridge","none")+(b4r-size:1,2,2,1)+(b4r-colour:white,red,red,white)[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[Chapter One:]] Boiled Eyes] =|= [$s2[ That is,]] $t1[$s3[ when he wasn't busy fulfilling the contracts of Nuriel,]] $t3[$s3[ the demigod in charge of Jayal's Hell.]] $t6[$s3[ Or that right Eye in his head.]] $t8h[$s3[ The one that moved independently from the other,]] $t10h[$s3[ and from Pete as a whole.]] $t13h[$s4[ Like it had its own personality. ]] =|= $t17[$s2[ None of the Harbingers knew how Pete killed his targets,]] $t19h[$s2[ but they all had their assumptions.]] $t22[$s2[ And $Red's imagination was wild.]] $t24h[$s2[ One thing was sure, though.]] $t27[$s2[ She knew that that wriggling little marble,]] $t29[$s3[ that milky squeeze toy in his face,]] $t31[$s3[ would need to be]] $t32h[$s3[ destroyed.]] $t35h[(align:"==>")+(box:"X=")[[[Page 12->Page 12]]]] |==| (display: "Core")(text-style:"fidget")[= (text-rotate-y:23)+(text-rotate-z:2)[(b4r:"none","ridge","ridge","none")+(b4r-size:1,2,2,1)+(b4r-colour:white,red,red,white)[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[Chapter One:]] Boiled Eyes] =|= [$PeteQ["Uh, hey,"]] $t1[$s2[ Pete said, from the doorway.]] $t4[$s3[ He had a rather unimpressive face to begin with,]] $t6[$s3[ and it barely changed as he reached into his bag of fritos,]] $t8[$s3[ tossing three to his mouth,]] $t10[$s3[ the fourth going rogue and hitting the floor.]] $t13[$s3[ He didn't flinch as it cracked and half of it flew underneath the fridge,]] $t16[$s3[ joining a secret cabal,]] $t18h[$s3[ an army of other half-fritos that landed in the same spot. ]] =|= $t23h[$s2[ Pete was one of the Harbingers of Doom.]] $t25h[$s3[ And, as such, he was terrifying.]] $t28[$s3[ His short, brown haircut.]] $t30[$s3[ His plain, unassuming glasses.]] $t32h[$s3[ He was the default man in a character creator.]] $t35[$s3[ And, to make matters worse, ]] $t36[$s3[ he]] $t36h[$s3[ worked]] $t37[$s3[ in]] $t37h[$s3[ //tech//.]] $t39h[(align:"==>")+(box:"X=")[[[Page 11->Page 11]]]] |==| (display: "Core")(text-style:"fidget")[= (text-rotate-y:23)+(text-rotate-z:2)[(b4r:"none","ridge","ridge","none")+(b4r-size:1,2,2,1)+(b4r-colour:white,red,red,white)[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[Chapter One:]] Boiled Eyes] =|= $s1[ //The spacing of the whole thing didn't really make sense,// ] $t2[$s3[ but she was,]] $t2h[$s3[ after all,]] $t3h[$s3[and for lack of a better word,]] $t5[$s3[ a ghost.]] $t7[$s2[ Next came an elbow. ]] $t8h[$s3[ Then, an arm and a neck,]] $t10[$s3[ and then a torso,]] $t11[$s3[ a leg, ]] $t12[$s3[ another arm,]] $t13[$s3[ and a final leg. ]] $t14h[$s3[ // All in that order.// ]] =|= $t17[$s3[ Each limb climbing over the last ]] $t18h[$s3[ and her head upside down as she crawled out,]] $t21h[$s3[ her body twisting in grotesque ways before she stood upright.]] $t24h[$fl1[$RedQ[ "Okay,"]]] $t26h[$s2[ she said with a smile on her face,]] $t28[$fl2[$RedQ[ "was that scary as Hell, or what?]]] $t30[$fl3[$RedQ[// I mean... Kayako wishes."//]]] $t32[(align:"==>")+(box:"X=")[[[Page 10->Page 10]]]] |==| (display: "Core")(text-style:"fidget")[= (text-rotate-y:23)+(text-rotate-z:2)[(b4r:"none","ridge","ridge","none")+(b4r-size:1,2,2,1)+(b4r-colour:white,red,red,white)[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[Chapter One:]] Boiled Eyes] =|= $t2h[$s2[ If you're asking yourself why Pete needed to die,]] $t4[$s3[ then you're already asking more questions than $Red did when she received the assignment.]] $t8[$s3[ She was skittish, ]] $t9h[$s3[ certain Nuriel would rend her soul and use the bits and pieces to build a better,]] $t11h[$s4[ more reliable Harbinger.]] $t15[$s1[ Or maybe a lava lamp.]] =|= $t16h[$s2[ So when the ferryman came and delivered her contract,]] $t19[$s2[ she was resigned to her fate.]] $t21h[$s2[ Until she read the bottom of the contract on Pete's life;]] $t25[$s2[ that the reward for his death was freedom for $Red's soul.]] $t29h[(align:"==>")+(box:"X=")[[[Page 13->Page 13]]]] |==| (display: "Core")(text-style:"fidget")[= (text-rotate-y:23)+(text-rotate-z:2)[(b4r:"none","ridge","ridge","none")+(b4r-size:1,2,2,1)+(b4r-colour:white,red,red,white)[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[Chapter One:]] Boiled Eyes] =|= $t1[$fl1[$RedQ["Hey,"] $Red said,]] $t3h[$fl2[$RedQ["I'm here to kill you."]]] $t5h[$s2[ She figured he deserved to know.]] $t9h[ $PeteQ["Oh,"]] $t10[$s2[ he responded.]] $t12[$s2[ He paused for a second]] $t14[$s2[ and then put a few more fritos in his mouth.]] $t17h[$fr1[$PeteQ["Today?"]]] =|= $t19[$fl2[ $RedQ["Yeah,"] $Red said. ]] $t21h[$fr1[ $PeteQ["Oh, dang."]]] $t22h[$s1[ Two more fritos.]] $t24h[$fr1[ $PeteQ["I had this whole apocalypse planned tomorrow."]]] $t26h[$s3[ He shrugged and rolled up the bag before tossing it onto the counter.]] $t30[$s2[ There, in the spot he tossed it, was a pile of similarly rolled up, half-eaten bags of fritos.]] $t33h[$fl1[$RedQ[//It's not even that good of a snack,//] $Red thought to herself.]] $t35h[(align:"==>")+(box:"X=")[[[Page 14->Page 14]]]] |==| (display: "Core")(text-style:"fidget")[= (text-rotate-y:23)+(text-rotate-z:2)[(b4r:"none","ridge","ridge","none")+(b4r-size:1,2,2,1)+(b4r-colour:white,red,red,white)[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[Chapter One:]] Boiled Eyes] =|= $t1[$fl3[ $RedQ["Yeah, the rumors are true,"] she said.]] $t4[$s1[ $Red hadn't really planned to have to //talk// to Pete before murdering him.]] $t6h[$s2[ Although, the searing boredom of their conversation definitely helped hype her up about the killing part.]] $t10[$fl1[ $RedQ["I'll show you the ropes when we're done here.]]] $t12h[$fl2[ $RedQ[//Speaking of-"//]]] =|= $t15[$fr1[ $PeteQ["Oh, trust me,"]]] $t17[$s2[ Pete laughed as he moved to the fridge and grabbed a carton of milk,]] $t19h[$s2[ pouring himself a tall glass.]] $t21h[$s2[ He took a sip and winked at $Red.]] $t24[$fr3[ $PeteQ["//You're not gonna kill me.//"]]] $t25[$s3[ ]] $t26h[$s3[ ]] $t27h[$s2[ ]] $t26h[(align:"==>")+(box:"X=")[[[Page 16->Page 16]]]] |==| (display: "Core")(text-style:"fidget")[= (text-rotate-y:23)+(text-rotate-z:2)[(b4r:"none","ridge","ridge","none")+(b4r-size:1,2,2,1)+(b4r-colour:white,red,red,white)[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[Chapter One:]] Boiled Eyes] =|= $t2h[$s2[ The clock finally said, (text-style:"blink")["5:05am,"]]] $t5h[$s3[ and it hadn't held a secret in for that long ]] $t7[$s3[ since it told the world ]] $t8[$s3[ it was 5:04am.]] $t11h[$s4[ Which $Red and Pete both rudely missed while staring each other down.]] =|= $t15h[$fr1[ $PeteQ["So it is true about the whole you dying thing, then?"] ]] $t17[$s2[ Pete asked, ]] $t18h[$s2[ motioning to the mist surrounding $Red's legs.]] $t20h[$s2[ ]] $t23[$s2[ ]] $t25[$s3[ ]] $t26h[$s3[ ]] $t27h[$s2[ ]] $t20[(align:"==>")+(box:"X=")[[[Page 15->Page 15]]]] |==| (display: "Core")(text-style:"fidget")[= (text-rotate-y:23)+(text-rotate-z:2)[(b4r:"none","ridge","ridge","none")+(b4r-size:1,2,2,1)+(b4r-colour:white,red,red,white)[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[Chapter One:]] Boiled Eyes] =|= $t1[$fl2[ $RedQ["I kind of think I am,"] $Red said,]] $t3h[$s2[although she was disarmed by his almost sinister confidence. ]] $t7[$fr2[ $PeteQ["Say, question,"]]] $t9h[$s2[ Pete put the glass down and leaned back against the counter,]] $t12[$s2[ the silence that occupied the negative space of their conversation was far more honest about how they felt.]] $t17[$fr2[ $PeteQ["When you went freelance, what was that like? It's something I've been mulling over."]]] =|= $t22[$fl2[ $RedQ["Gotta be honest, Pete, I'm not really here to talk shop,"]]] $t25[$s2[ $Red said. And then, ]] $t27h[$fl2[ $RedQ["Sorry if that seems abrupt or whatever. Just, kind of an in-and-out thing. No questions asked. Ya know?"]]] $t31[$s2[ $Red opened the kitchen drawer next to her, examining its contents. ]] $t35h[$fr2[ $PeteQ["You know, one of the most important lessons I've learned throughout my career is that you can never ask too many questions-"]]] $t25[$s3[ ]] $t26h[$s3[ ]] $t27h[$s2[ ]] $t37h[(align:"==>")+(box:"X=")[[[Page 17->Page 17]]]] |==| (display: "Core")(text-style:"fidget")[= (text-rotate-y:23)+(text-rotate-z:2)[(b4r:"none","ridge","ridge","none")+(b4r-size:1,2,2,1)+(b4r-colour:white,red,red,white)[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[Chapter One:]] Boiled Eyes] =|= $t1[$s1[ And then,]] $t2[$s2[ either due to boredom]] $t3h[$s2[ or a fear she might get talked out of things,]] $t5[$s3[ she ended the conversation.]] $t9[ By throwing a knife at Pete's head.] $t13[$s4[It didn't land, hitting his nose with the handle instead.]] $t17h[$s1[//People always make that look so easy on TV.//]] =|= $t20h[$fr1[ $PeteQ["Ow, my nose!"] Pete shouted,]] $t22[$s2[ taking his glasses off to rub where it hit him.]] $t25h[$fr1[ $PeteQ["You could really hurt someone like that! God, I can feel it getting bigger by the minute."]]] $t28h[$s2[ He grabbed the salt shaker and dashed a bit of salt at her.]] $t31[$s2[ It burned her misty skin–if you could call it skin–and she backed up.]] $t34h[$fr1[ $PeteQ["Bad ghost!"] he shouted at her.]] $t36[$fr1[ $PeteQ["Very bad ghost!"]]] $t38h[(align:"==>")+(box:"X=")[[[Page 18->Page 18]]]] |==| (display: "Core")(text-style:"fidget")[= (text-rotate-y:23)+(text-rotate-z:2)[(b4r:"none","ridge","ridge","none")+(b4r-size:1,2,2,1)+(b4r-colour:white,red,red,white)[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[Chapter One:]] Boiled Eyes] =|= {$s1[ $Red bounced forward, possessing and departing the fridge,] $t2h[$s3[ then the microwave,]] $t4[$s2[ then the toaster oven,]] $t5h[$s3[ then the stove,]] $t7[$s2[ frying their wires]] $t8h[$s2[ and blasting out puffs of electric sparks]] $t10[$s2[ in a beeline of appliances that backed Pete up,]] $t11h[$s2[ all the way to the window, ]] $t13[$s4[ where the blast of the travel-sized,]] $t14h[$s3[ personal grill]] $t15h[$s3[ sent]] $t16[$s3[ him]] $t16h[$s3[ tumbling]] $t17[$s3[ outside.]]} =|= $t20h[$s4[ He didn't fall far]] $t21h[$s4[ –at first–]] $t22[$s4[ as the window led to the fire escape.]] $t25[$s4[ Through the window,]] $t27[$s4[ a series of kitchen utensils shot after him.]] $t29[$s4[ And after a barrage of spatulas and slotted spoons,]] $t31h[$s4[ it was, of course,]] $t34[$s4[ the cow-shaped corn cob holders that did him in.]] $t36h[$s4[ One threatened]] $t37h[$s4[ –almost in slow motion–]] $t39h[$s4[ to pierce his Eye,]] $t41h[$s3[ and in his rush to block it]] $t43[$s3[ he'd thrown himself off balance]] $t44h[$s3[ and]] $t45[$s3[ fell]] $t45h[$s3[ 13]] $t46[$s3[ floors.]] $t49h[(align:"==>")+(box:"X=")[[[Page 19->Page 19]]]] |==| (display: "Core")(text-style:"fidget")[= (text-rotate-y:23)+(text-rotate-z:2)[(b4r:"none","ridge","ridge","none")+(b4r-size:1,2,2,1)+(b4r-colour:white,red,red,white)[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[Chapter One:]] Boiled Eyes] =|= $t1[$s4[ $Red peered down at Pete's crumpled body lying in the empty alley below the apartment.]] $t5h[$s3[ He twitched and groaned, his entire body in pain.]] $t7h[$s5[ Except ]] $t8[$s5[ for]] $t8h[$s4[ the]] $t9[$s4[ Eye,]] $t12[$s5[which looked up at $Red unaffected,]] $t15[$s4[the fire escape ladder hovering above it precariously.]] =|= $t18h[$s5[And with a puff of ghastly smoke, $Red disappeared into the latch of the ladder and released it.]] $t21[$s5[The wet (text-style:"emboss")[//crunch//] of contact between the ladder and Pete's skull was foul.]] $t24h[(align:"==>")+(box:"X=")[[[Page 20->Page 20]]]] |==| (display: "Core")(text-style:"fidget")[= (text-rotate-y:23)+(text-rotate-z:2)[(b4r:"none","ridge","ridge","none")+(b4r-size:1,2,2,1)+(b4r-colour:white,red,red,white)[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[Chapter One:]] Boiled Eyes] =|= $t1[$s2[ $Red departed from the latch and stood there.]] $t4[$fl2[ $RedQ["I guess this,"]]] $t6h[$s2[ she said,]] $t8h[$s3[ giving a stoic look over her shoulder,]] $t11h[$fl2[ $RedQ["was your final desti-"]]] $t12[$p1[a car honked.]] $t15h[$s1[She turned and looked at the car, which was stuck in traffic half a block away.]] $t19[$s4[She resumed position and tried again.]] $t21[$fl1[ $RedQ["I guess this was your fina-"]]] $t21h[(text-style:"bold","emboss","expand")[$p2[HONK HONK.]]] =|= $t23h[$s2[ She closed her eyes and sighed.]] $t25[$fl1[ $RedQ["I guess this was-"]]] $t25h[(text-style:"bold","emboss","expand")[$p5[ HOOOoOOOoOOONK!]]] $t29h[$s1[ $Red leaned over the fire escape and shouted down,]] $t31[$fl1[ $RedQ["He's got his hazard lights on! Go //around// him, //dumbass!//"]]] $t33[(align:"==>")+(box:"X=")[[[Page 21->Page 21]]]] |==| (display: "Core")(text-style:"fidget")[= (text-rotate-y:23)+(text-rotate-z:2)[(b4r:"none","ridge","ridge","none")+(b4r-size:1,2,2,1)+(b4r-colour:white,red,red,white)[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[Chapter One:]] Boiled Eyes] =|= $t1[$s2[ She climbed back inside and shut the window,]] $t3[$s3[ proud of herself for what she'd done.]] $t5h[$s2[ Murder was a frequent activity for her,]] $t6[$s2[ sure.]] $t8h[$s4[ But it wasn't every day that she did it for the greater good.]] $t11[$s3[And because no one else was there to congratulate her, she chose to do it herself.]] =|= $t14[$fl2[ $RedQ["You may have your flaws, girl, but you did something for humanity today,"]]] $t17h[$s2[ she said, out loud to herself,]] $t19h[$fl2[ $RedQ["and no one can take that away from you."]]] $t22[$s2[ She smiled a genuine, triumphant smile at the thought of her journey being complete.]] $t24[$fl2[ $RedQ["At the end of everything, when the chips were down... Let the record show that it was a ghost named $Red that saved the world." ]]] $t25[$s3[ ]] $t26h[$s3[ ]] $t27h[$s2[ ]] $t26h[(align:"==>")+(box:"X=")[[[Page 22->Page 22]]]] |==| (display: "Core")(text-style:"fidget")[= (text-rotate-y:23)+(text-rotate-z:2)[(b4r:"none","ridge","ridge","none")+(b4r-size:1,2,2,1)+(b4r-colour:white,red,red,white)[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[Chapter One:]] Boiled Eyes] =|= $t4[$s8[//Only//]] $t4h[$s7[//.//]] $t5[$s6[//.//]] $t5h[$s5[//.//]] $t6[$s4[//she//]] $t6h[$s3[//hadn't.//]] =|= |==| (display:"Core") (align:"=><=")+(box:"===XXXX===")[(text-rotate-x:356)+(text-rotate-y:14)[(size:2)[$Redacted, Necromancer Ghost and] (size:1.5)[(former)] (size:2)[Harbinger of Doom, Plots to Save the World] (size:1.2)[(that she almost ended.)]]] (align:"=><=")+(box:"===XXXX===")[[[Open Book->Open]]](display:"Core") (align:"=><=")+(box:"===XXXX===")[(text-style:"fidget")[= (text-rotate-y:23)+(text-rotate-z:2)[(b4r:"none","ridge","ridge","none")+(b4r-size:1,2,2,1)+(b4r-colour:white,red,red,white)[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[(size:2)[$s5[Chapter One:]]]] (size:2)[$t3[$s4[Boiled Eyes]]]] $t7[[[Page 1->PAGE ONE]]]]