Wayward Road

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<> <<audio "ending" stop>> <<endnobr>> <<link [img[images/title.png]] >><</link>> Wayward Road is a short story game that takes place in the universe of //Superstition//. It has both a canon and non-canon route. If you choose the canon route, then it takes place after the events of //Episode Nine: Life Without Parole// and before //Episode Eleven: Highway to Hell//. //*Note: That canon only refers to story elements and what your character currently knows (i.e. that Roe is human). It is not canon romance for obvious reasons.// “The night of Halloween is upon the Superstition gang! On their way to a costume party, they find themselves on a road that doesn’t exist, with no idea of how to get back. And it would seem that the spirits of Halloween wish to keep them there forever.” ''Features'': • Three romance routes + a non-romantic route. • A bonus romance scene if circumstances are met. • Choose a Halloween costume to whoop spirit butt in. • Solve the mystery of Wayward Road and get something in return ... [[Play the Game]] [[Author's Note]] [[Credits]]

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© 2019 Bum Studios Productions | 13Leagues ~~Version 1.0.0 //Wayward Road// is a short story existing in the Superstition series. It contains gore, strong language, and lots of sexual content, and thus is rated 18+. Reader discretion is advised.~~

<<link [img[images/logo.png]] >><</link>>

Before you begin, let's get the important information out of the way first. Please state your name. <<textbox "$name" "" autofocus>><<button "Enter">><<replace "#name">>Nice to meet you, $name.<</replace>><</button>> [[Next->Gender]]

If you're reading this, then that means in some way, you have supported me. For that, I would like to say thank you so much. Whether you're a patreon or someone who has supported Superstition, you guys make doing this worth it. I can never thank you enough, and I hope you either enjoy or did enjoy this short story! And Happy Halloween and Día de Muertos! <<return>>

Thank you to everyone who has purchased the game. And special thanks to the patreons who voted and continue to support me. All images are copyright by Bum Studios Productions. All audio is licensed under Bum Studios Productions and courtesy of AudioBlocks and Envato. Copyright infringement is punishable by law. Background compliments of [[Spencer Selover.|https://www.instagram.com/cerlov/?ref=pexels]] Special thanks to ... • Sylveranty • Kalani Mercer • PB • Tianna Wright • Neri Thompson • DrDen24 [[Tumblr Link|https://13leaguestories.tumblr.com/]] [[Patreon Link|https://www.patreon.com/13Leagues]] <<return>>

<<set $name = "Not Known">> <<set $gender = "Not Known">> <<set $a_gender = "Not Known">> <<set $he = "he">> <<set $him = "him">> <<set $his = "his">> <<set $He = "He">> <<set $Him = "Him">> <<set $His = "His">> <<set $boy = "boy">> <<set $himself = "himself">> <<set $int = "Unknown">> <<set $costume = "Not Chosen">> <<set $showec = false>> <<set $endearly = false>> <<set $ending = false>> <<set $bstory = false>> <<set $maddad = false>> <<set $cstory = false>> <<set $gglike = false>> <<set $cbb = false>> <<set $oldwoman = false>> <<set $sstory = false>> <<set $sdeal = false>> <<set $skiss = "nc">> <<set $skitchen = false>> <<set $slivingroom = false>> <<set $sbedroom = false>> <<set $sbed = false>> <<set $zsStore = false>> <<set $zsPub = false>> <<set $needtogo = false>> <<set $zspirit1 = false>> <<set $zspirit2 = false>> <<set $zspirit3 = false>> <<cacheaudio "opening" "audio/gothic_rock_opera.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "radio" "audio/radio_static.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "tuning" "audio/radio_tuning.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "theme1" "audio/horror_ambient.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "theme2" "audio/halloween_soundscape.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "ending" "audio/pop_horror.mp3">>

<<if $gender is "male">>\ <> <<set $gender = "male">> <<set $he = "he">> <<set $him = "him">> <<set $his = "his">> <<set $He = "He">> <<set $Him = "Him">> <<set $His = "His">> <<set $boy = "boy">> <<set $himself = "himself">> <<endnobr>> <<elseif $gender is "female">>\ <> <<set $gender = "female">> <<set $he = "she">> <<set $him = "her">> <<set $his = "her">> <<set $He = "She">> <<set $Him = "Her">> <<set $His = "Her">> <<set $boy = "girl">> <<set $himself = "herself">> <<endnobr>> <<else>>\ <> <<set $gender = "non-binary">> <<set $he = "they">> <<set $him = "them">> <<set $his = "theirs">> <<set $He = "They">> <<set $Him = "Them">> <<set $His = "Theirs">> <<set $boy = "person">> <<set $himself = "themself">> <<endnobr>> <</if>>\ <<if $gender is "non-binary">>\ This story contains mature content that will be rated M or 18+. Though a majority of the scenes will contain such content, it is still possible to hide the explicit content. If you choose to [[Show Explicit Content|QuestionNon][$showec to true]] then the material will appear. If you wish to not see this content, then please choose [[Hide Explicit Content|CanonQ][$showec to false]]. <<else>>\ This story contains mature content that will be rated M or 18+. Though a majority of the scenes will contain such content, it is still possible to hide the explicit content. If you choose to [[Show Explicit Content|CanonQ][$showec to true]] then the material will appear. If you wish to not see this content, then please choose [[Hide Explicit Content|CanonQ][$showec to false]]. <</if>>\

Would you like to disclose your assigned gender at birth for sexual content purposes? If you would not like to disclose this information then the scenes will be changed accordingly. [[Yes, my assigned gender at birth was male.|CanonQ][$a_gender = "male"]] [[Yes, my assigned gender at birth was female.|CanonQ][$a_gender = "female"]] [[No thanks, I don't wish to disclose this information.->CanonQ]]

As said before, the story can either fall under canon or non-canon playthrough. For a canon playthrough, choose not to add Zillah to the story. For a non-canon playthrough, choose to add him. This choice will change nothing but Zillah's presence in the story and some of the information in the scenes. In order to find out what truly became of Wayward Road, you do not have to play Zillah's route. //*Note: A romanced Zillah will behave as such. Meaning that this is a close representation of how he will act in later seasons if romanced. If you do not wish to see this then do not click him.// So, would you like to add Zillah in? [[Yes, add Zillah.|Play][$zp = true]] [[No, don't add Zillah.|Play]]

<> <<audio "opening" loop volume 0 fadeto 0.50>> <<endnobr>> I fiddle with the radio, finally deciding to leave it on a station whose Halloween music was at least decent, however loud. “Hey,” Bradley growls from the backseat, and I look in the rearview mirror just in time to see him waving his ‘fake’ claw at Chris. I say fake in such a way because despite what Bradley says, the claw sounded and looked just like real metal. I wouldn’t be surprised if Bradley fooled us all in believing it to be fake. “You keep messing up my costume.” <<if $zp>>\ “We’re in a car, Bradley. The car is messing it up,” Chris grumbles, but he still tries to get as far away from the boy as he physically can. The task difficult due to there being three of them residing in the backseat, leaving all of them squished. <<else>>\ “We’re in a car, Bradley. The car is messing it up,” Chris grumbles, but he still tries to get as far away from the boy as he physically can. The task is difficult only because of Bradley’s thick costume. <</if>>\ <<if $zp>>\ Costume waise, Chris, at first, was going to go as Thor. But after horrible peer pressure from all of us, ended up going for what resembled a were-cat costume. It was mostly Sydero’s idea to have my childhood friend go as the one creature that had almost turned him into a cryptid, the Bladenboro Beast. If he hadn’t screamed as much as he did, then he would’ve been forced to wear blue eye contact lenses. Chris didn’t find it particularly funny, but it wasn’t like his opinion mattered much on the topic. Sydero, of course, was the most annoying one. Between being ironic and just plain boring, she decided to go as a demon. We tried to encourage her to wear something that she wasn’t, but our words fell on deaf ears, as they always do in regard to her. Lastly, was Zillah, who was no better than Sydero but was five times more confusing. He had settled on a costume that even now I struggle to put a name too. At first, we all thought he was going for a classic monster, perhaps Frankenstein’s Monster or something that was close, but then he kept adding things to it and now, he just seemed like a mess. His outfit hosting a series of gruesome attached limbs and dark eyes, along with a small intestines necklace, and a hat that made it look like his brain was on display. <<else>>\ Costume wise, Chris, at first, was going to go as Thor. But after horrible peer pressure from all of us, ended up going for what resembled a were-cat costume. It was mostly Sydero’s idea to have my childhood friend go as the one creature that had almost turned him into a cryptid, the Bladenboro Beast. If he hadn’t screamed as much as he did, then he would’ve been forced to wear blue eye contact lenses. Chris didn’t find it particularly funny, but it wasn’t like his opinion mattered much on the topic. Sydero, of course, was the most annoying one. Between being ironic and just plain boring, she decided to go as a demon. We tried to encourage her to wear something that she wasn’t, but our words fell on deaf ears, as they always do in regard to her. <</if>>\ [[Continue->Next1]]

I take a quick look at my own costume. The place that we had stopped to shop at didn’t have any flashy costumes, and so I too had to go with something classic. The only reason Bradley was exempt was that he had preordered his. Anyway, I decided on ... [[A hunter costume.]] [[An angel costume.]] [[A pirate costume.]] [[A mad scientist costume.]]

<> <<set $costume = "hunter">> <<endnobr>> I suppose, in a way, I was no better than Sydero. My choice of costume was a hunter that screamed more monster or zombie hunter than it did wildlife. Chris had aided me in choosing the best attire to accomplish the look. And Sydero and Bradley both proceeded at poking fun at it later. “Just know,” Bradley continues, “if I don’t win that competition, then we’re leaving and taking all of the candy with us. No remorse.” Sydero sighs happily from the passenger’s seat, “that’s all you had to say. I’m only here for the candy anyway.” “Seriously?” Chris questions, “I would think you of all people would love Halloween.” “This holiday is the most stressful time of the year. The amount of spirits that tear across the veil and wreak havoc is hard enough to control, but that’s not even accounting for the supernatural’s that go bat shit crazy. And god forbid you think you were chasing a vampire that actually turns out to be a person in a costume. What do squishy humans decide to do on the most dangerous night of the year? They decide that this is the best time to walk around at night, most of the time drunk.” [[Continue->Next2]]

<> <<set $costume = "angel">> <<endnobr>> I had actually chosen this costume before Sydero had decided on her demonic costume, and she didn’t seem to mind much. The costume was classic enough, I was dressed in all white with a golden halo and a miniature set of wings. “Just know,” Bradley continues, “if I don’t win that competition, then we’re leaving and taking all of the candy with us. No remorse.” Sydero sighs happily from the passenger’s seat, “that’s all you had to say. I’m only here for the candy anyway.” “Seriously?” Chris questions, “I would think you of all people would love Halloween.” “This holiday is the most stressful time of the year. The amount of spirits that tear across the veil and wreak havoc is hard enough to control, but that’s not even accounting for the supernatural’s that go bat shit crazy. And god forbid you think you were chasing a vampire that actually turns out to be a person in a costume. What do squishy humans decide to do on the most dangerous night of the year? They decide that this is the best time to walk around at night, most of the time drunk.” [[Continue->Next2]]

<> <<set $costume = "pirate">> <<endnobr>> It took some digging, but the pirate costume was the only one that truly caught my eye. It came complete with the eye patch, hat, and even a parrot companion that was magnetically attached to the shoulder. “Just know,” Bradley continues, “if I don’t win that competition, then we’re leaving and taking all of the candy with us. No remorse.” Sydero sighs happily from the passenger’s seat, “that’s all you had to say. I’m only here for the candy anyway.” “Seriously?” Chris questions, “I would think you of all people would love Halloween.” “This holiday is the most stressful time of the year. The amount of spirits that tear across the veil and wreak havoc is hard enough to control, but that’s not even accounting for the supernatural’s that go bat shit crazy. And god forbid you think you were chasing a vampire that actually turns out to be a person in a costume. What do squishy humans decide to do on the most dangerous night of the year? They decide that this is the best time to walk around at night, most of the time drunk.” [[Continue->Next2]]

<> <<set $costume = "scientist">> <<endnobr>> I grabbed a mad scientist costume that came complete with a long white lab coat, black gloves and boots, goggles, and a maniacal laugh that I added myself. “Just know,” Bradley continues, “if I don’t win that competition, then we’re leaving and taking all of the candy with us. No remorse.” Sydero sighs happily from the passenger’s seat, “that’s all you had to say. I’m only here for the candy anyway.” “Seriously?” Chris questions, “I would think you of all people would love Halloween.” “This holiday is the most stressful time of the year. The amount of spirits that tear across the veil and wreak havoc is hard enough to control, but that’s not even accounting for the supernatural’s that go bat shit crazy. And god forbid you think you were chasing a vampire that actually turns out to be a person in a costume. What do squishy humans decide to do on the most dangerous night of the year? They decide that this is the best time to walk around at night, most of the time drunk.” [[Continue->Next2]]

<<if $zp>>\ “I actually have to agree with the cambion,” Zillah says in a bored tone, “why you idiots decide this is the best time to run around crazy is beyond me.” <</if>>\ “Well, this squishy human is indifferent to Halloween,” Chris tells us, “growing up I wasn’t really allowed to celebrate it, so I never got into it. This is the first time I actually dressed up.” “I always knew you were a sad soul,” Bradley teases, gazing at me, “how about you, $name?” [[“My uncle took me trick or treating every year.”]] [[“I love this holiday.”]] [[“Eh, never got into it really.”]]

<> <<audio "opening" fadeout>> <<audio "radio" loop volume 0 fadeto 0.70>> <<endnobr>> “When I was younger, my uncle took me trick or treating every year. We would stay up all night after coming back and compare our loot. We would then eat and have a horror movie marathon.” <<if $zp>>\ “Ugh, sounds domestic,” Zillah growls, rolling his eyes. “What’s wrong with that?” Chris questions but Zillah refuses to answer, continuing to stare out the window. <<else>>\ “Cute,” Sydero draws out, throwing me a smirk that I choose to ignore. <</if>>\ “Turn here,” Bradley tells me, and I do as he says without any complaint, my attention primarily on the radio that begins to go in and out. I half pay attention to their conversation, still speaking about Halloween and how Bradley felt about it. Mostly he spoke of the few stories he had growing up on his own and getting into Halloween. In a way, it was sad. Listening to him talk about how he felt like a normal kid on that one day of the year. Able to go out and hang out with others without anyone questioning him, all because of the mask that he wore to shield his face. [[Continue->Next3]]

<> <<audio "opening" fadeout>> <<audio "radio" loop volume 0 fadeto 0.70>> <<endnobr>> “I love this holiday. Great weather, nice aesthetics, and not to mention candy. I don’t know, there’s just something about Halloween that’s almost freeing. Like no matter how old you are, you can just dress up and have fun.” “Ugh, I actually hate that part,” Bradley snorts, “Halloween is literally just a national cosplay holiday, but any other day if you do it you get looked at like the weirdo.” “Cosplay?” Chris questions and though none of us can make out what he says, Bradley grumbles a reply. “Turn here,” Bradley tells me, and I do as he says without any complaint, my attention primarily on the radio that begins to go in and out. I half pay attention to their conversation, still speaking about Halloween and how Bradley felt about it. Mostly he spoke of the few stories he had growing up on his own and getting into Halloween. In a way, it was sad. Listening to him talk about how he felt like a normal kid on that one day of the year. Able to go out and hang out with others without anyone questioning him, all because of the mask that he wore to shield his face. [[Continue->Next3]]

<> <<audio "opening" fadeout>> <<audio "radio" loop volume 0 fadeto 0.70>> <<endnobr>> “Eh, I never really got into it. To each their own, right?” “Wow, so both you and Chris had a horrible upbringing,” Bradley teases, and I roll my eyes. “Well, my parents did die, and I was haunted by some shadowy figure of unknown origins.” <<if $zp>>\ “Blah blah blah. That unknown figure is dead so get over it already,” Zillah sings, throwing me an irritated glance. <</if>>\ “Turn here,” Bradley tells me, and I do as he says without any complaint, my attention primarily on the radio that begins to go in and out. I half pay attention to their conversation, still speaking about Halloween and how Bradley felt about it. Mostly he spoke of the few stories he had growing up on his own and getting into Halloween. In a way, it was sad. Listening to him talk about how he felt like a normal kid on that one day of the year. Able to go out and hang out with others without anyone questioning him, all because of the mask that he wore to shield his face. [[Continue->Next3]]

As I attempt to find a radio station that doesn’t just give me constant static, I hear the whirr of the engine as it accelerates. My eyes dash to the speedometer, and true to what I was hearing, the car was picking up speed. I ease my foot on the breaks, my heart thumping rapidly as it fails to slow down. “Mind slowing down, Roe?” Sydero growls, and I send her a desperate look, one whose meaning she immediately understands. “Did you try the emergency break?” she questions, instantly reacting and trying to find a solution that didn’t end with our death. But I’m frozen, my hands on the wheel as I frantically try to keep the car on the road. The fog seems to only get thicker, veiling even the hood of the vehicle. [[Turn the fog lights on.]] [[Make for the emergency break.]] [[Whelp, guess we’re dead.]]

For a minute I take my eyes off the road, glancing at the dashboard for the location of the fog lights. I’ve never had to use them before, and so finding them was a mission all its own. Sydero aids me, the two of us blocking out the sounds of the others shouting in our ears. “Got em,” she tells me and presses the green button. I see something shift, but it does little in allowing me to actually see. “That didn’t do shit!” Chris shouts, “$name! That didn’t help!” [[“Naw, really, Chris?]] [[“I’d like for everyone to shut up.”]] [[Scream with them.]]

I take my eyes off the road for a second, checking to make sure the emergency brake is where I believe it was. Once I locate it, I grasp it, press the button, and pull. Nothing. Nothing happens at all. The car doesn’t even screech or make some kind of sound to tell me that I had pulled it. “Did you pull it hard enough?” Sydero growls, and I throw her an annoyed glare. “That didn’t do shit!” Chris shouts, “$name! That didn’t help!” [[“Naw, really, Chris?]] [[“I’d like for everyone to shut up.”]] [[Scream with them.]]

I glance at the wheel and then at the speedometer. There was no way we were going to make it out of this. It would seem that this was how I would die, not by some werewolf or cryptic beast, but because my beloved car decided to give up on me. There was no warning, no flickering light beforehand telling me that the engine needed to be looked at, or the brakes replaced. “I guess we’re about to be one of those spirits you were talking about,” I chuckle sarcastically, nudging Sydero as sweat crawls down my face. “Are you serious! $name, do something,” Chris shouts right in my ear, “$name! Anything! Nothing is working!” [[“Naw, really, Chris?]] [[“I’d like for everyone to shut up.”]] [[Scream with them.]]

<> <<audio "radio" fadeout>> <<audio "tuning" loop volume 0 fadeto 0.70>> <<endnobr>> “Naw, really, Chris? I haven’t noticed?” I shout right back, my heart frantically racing as I press the breaks as hard as possible. Something needs to work, anything! “I really think there should be less backtalk and more stopping the car,” Chris snaps right back, and through all of this, I manage to turn around in my seat to look at him. “Chris, do not get hit right before we all die.” “Keep your eyes on the road!” “Stop screaming at me!” “Everyone shut up!” Sydero screams. “Throw your hands in the air!” Bradley yells, mimicking being on a roller coaster. <<if $zp>>\ Zillah sighs from his spot but yells as well, “I accidentally dropped Chris’s toothbrush in the toilet once!” <</if>>\ [[Continue->Next4]]

<> <<audio "radio" fadeout>> <<audio "tuning" loop volume 0 fadeto 0.70>> <<endnobr>> “Hey guys, I’d just like to say that it would be really appreciated if you all shut up!” I scream over everyone’s voice. I pray that for even a minute, they would stop speaking, but I don’t even get a second. As soon as the words leave my mouth, they go back to screaming, even louder this time. Bradley screams about how this shouldn’t be the way he dies. How he’s too young to die this way and that he simply wants to have his first kiss. That part grabs my attention, but I let it go for now. Chris is chirping in my ear about the stupidest things as if I hadn’t thought about half of them since we began spiraling into this chaos. <<if $zp>>Zillah seems to just be screaming to add to the overall chaotic aura of the car, a smirk on his face as he makes sure there’s no quiet moment. I realize after a while that he’s probably doing this to piss me off.<</if>> Sydero is more so screaming at everyone else whose screaming than just doing it for no reason. She still searches for some way to stop the car as those in the seat behind us add nothing but their last will and testament. [[Continue->Next4]]

<> <<audio "radio" fadeout>> <<audio "tuning" loop volume 0 fadeto 0.70>> <<endnobr>> <<if $zp>>\ I glance over at Sydero, who is frantically trying to find some way to stop the car, then to Bradley and Chris who are both hanging onto one another, screaming their life out. My eyes land on Zillah last, who ultimately just looks annoyed and bored at the entire ordeal. I soon join them, screaming and gripping the wheel tightly. “Are you serious right now, Roe?” Sydero growls, raising a brow at my actions. “If you can’t beat em, join em,” I say and shrug, my hands remaining on the wheel. “I’m about to beat you if you don’t shut up and figure a way to stop this car.” “I can always yank the engine out,” Zillah suggests, leaning in over Bradley who begins to yell at him about his costume, as if that and the party was still important. “You touch my baby and you will feel my wrath,” I growl. “We’re about to die anyway, so just choose how you want to go,” he says in his usual bored tone. <<else>>\ I glance over at Sydero, who is frantically trying to find some way to stop the car, then to Bradley and Chris who are both hanging onto one another, screaming their life out. I soon join them, screaming and gripping the wheel tightly. “Are you serious right now, Roe?” Sydero growls, raising a brow at my actions. “If you can’t beat em, join em,” I say and shrug, my hands remaining on the wheel. “I’m about to beat you if you don’t shut up and figure a way to stop this car.” <</if>>\ [[Continue->Next4]]

<> <<audio "tuning" stop>> <<endnobr>> Silence. The car has stopped and through some miracle we haven’t crashed, it just … stops. I check, and dumbfoundedly I stare back at the large E that glares right back at me. I had just filled the tank up before we left, we couldn’t have driven more than a handful of miles. Nothing works. Not the radio, the lights, nothing. I glance out the window to see nothing but fog. The thickest fog that I have ever seen blocking out almost everything. I would even go so far and say that it was smog. But the way it hangs over everything, one couldn’t see through it, or perhaps that was because there was nothing to see. “Where the hell are we?” Chris questions. I reach into my cupholder and retrieve my phone. No signal. Of course, there was no signal because that would’ve been asking for too much. “Yours too?” Sydero whispers, and I turn to see that she too was staring down at her phone, her face blank and her eyes intense. “Yea.” She growls at my reply and opens the door, getting out. I gaze back at the others before following her lead. The fog looms over everything menacingly, shrouding the earth in a thick white veil and allowing no light to penetrate it. I would feel slightly better if there were at least signs of life, but besides the murmuring of my companions, I hear nothing. No birds singing or crickets chirping, not even the annoying sounds of the cicadas. My footsteps as I round the car aren't even audible. I immediately make a beeline for … //This choice will set up your romance for the rest of the story. Choose Bradley for a non-romantic route.// [[Chris.|ChoiceCheckup][$int = "chris"]] [[Sydero.|ChoiceCheckup][$int = "sydero"]] [[Bradley.|ChoiceCheckup][$int = "none"]] <<if $zp>>\ [[Zillah.|ChoiceCheckup][$int = "zillah"]] <</if>>\

<<if $int is "chris">>\ I head towards Chris, finding him staring up at the sky absentmindedly. As soon as he spots me, he shifts and directs all of his attention to me. He lightly grabs my arm, looking me over carefully before resting both hands on my face, looking me in the eye. “Are you okay? Anything hurt?” “I’m fine, just kinda shaken by the fact that all that even happened.” “Any idea what happened?” His hands lower but don’t leave my body, they now rest on my waist. “No idea. The car just started acting wonky along with the radio and now … well, you see what came after.” “I have no idea where we are,” he scowls, “and every direction looks the same.” I look north and south, or what I hope is north and south, for all I know it was east and west. Like Chris had said, everything looks exactly the same. The only thing that could even hope to aid us was the road. “I hate this damn holiday!” we hear Sydero shout from in front of my car. Chris and I exchange look, he plops a chaste kiss on my forehead before we go and join the others. <<elseif $int is "sydero">>\ I head towards Sydero, who stands beside Bradley, throwing me an annoyed glare once I’m there. “Don’t look at me like that,” I sigh, massaging my temple, “I don’t know what happened. Are you okay, at least?” “Please, I’ve been in head-on collisions with semi-trucks,” she huffs as if that was something to be proud of. “I’m not going to ask for those stories,” I tell her, resting my chin on her shoulder. I close my eyes and try to balance myself. I need the world to stop spinning, and somehow, this chaotic girl always seems to help with that. “You should, they’re actually pretty good,” Bradley remarks, his eyes on his phone. We stand in comfortable silence for a while, and I move, feeling the agitation radiating off of Sydero’s person. I move just in time as she reaches her boiling point. She groans loudly, “not only are we stuck in the middle of absolutely fucking nowhere, but it’s Halloween. I hate this damn holiday!” <<elseif $int is "zillah">>\ I head towards Zillah who stands apart from the others, his eyes narrowed as he glares at the fog. I look as well, believing that I’ll find a figure or some other sign of life, I see nothing. “You alright?” I finally ask after giving up my own search. Zillah refuses to answer, his eyes examining the fog. “You should be more concerned with yourself. Don’t you think?” he points out, turning to me. “Oh, right. My bad for checking up on you,” I snort, and he takes a step closer to me, smirking evilly. “I can think of more creative ways for you to check up on me than just asking.” “Really?” I question with a raised brow and a smirk, “we’re in the middle of nowhere, almost crashed, and you’re feeling flirtatious?” “Call it what it is,” he huffs, standing straighter, “I’m horny, and you look amazing in your costume.” I erupt into laughter right as I hear Sydero shout behind us, “I hate this damn holiday!” The two of us exchange glances before retreating back to the others. <<else>>\ I head towards Bradley, who stands next to Sydero, his gaze on his phone. “I’m guessing you’re trying to figure something out?” I ask him, and he nods and waves me away. “Are you at least okay?” He pauses, glancing up at me and crinkling his brow, “some of the stuffing fell out of my costume and –.” “$He asked about you, Bradley, not your costume,” Sydero huffs. “I am my costume. So I’m okay.” His gaze goes back to his phone right as Sydero groans and begins pacing back and forth in front of us, “not only are we stuck in the middle of absolutely fucking nowhere, but it’s Halloween. I hate this damn holiday!” <</if>>\ “Calm down, Syd,” Chris urges, gesturing with his hands for her to simmer down as if that was supposed to help her. “Don’t tell me what to do, Chris,” she snaps back. I roll my eyes and look to Bradley, who is currently trying to get everyone’s attention. Despite actually speaking up, his voice seems to be swallowed up by the fog as well as our two companions. [[Go for the horn.]] [[Yell.]] [[Just watch.]]

I make my way back to the driver’s side of the car, opening the door and jamming the horn. Their ire turns to me, both eyes blazing in fury. “Bradley would like to say something,” I smirk. “Uh, that’s not the way I would’ve gone about it but, yea,” Bradley begins, waving his phone, “I would like you all to know that my phone says we’re in the middle of nowhere.” “Oh, thanks, Bradley. I think we all realized that by now,” Chris tells him, barely missing a poorly aimed fist. “By that, smartass, I mean that it says that we’re not even near a road.” We all look down, sure enough, we were still standing on the road. “But … we’re standing on one, and didn’t you say that we were supposed to turn this way?” I ask, and Bradley nods. “And that’s why I’m confused. I tried two maps, and they both make it seem like we’re in the middle of some forest. Both maps show that there aren’t even roads in the immediate area.” “You sure the map is updated?” “I’m positive, it would at least give me our previous location which was still on the road. Whether or not the map is correct, it shouldn’t show us in the middle of nowhere. It should at least have the road it showed me before.” We all stand in thought, Sydero massaging her temples as she growls. <<if $zp>>\ “Yes, yes,” Zillah sighs dramatically, “we know. You hate Halloween. How about offering something helpful now?” “You’re going to think I’m really helpful after I shove my foot up your ass.” I step in the middle of the two as they stare each other down, sighing dramatically. “Really, does anyone have any ideas?” <<else>>\ “Don’t say it again,” Chris growls to Sydero, who raises a brow, seeing his words as more of a challenge than anything else. “Does anyone have any ideas then?” <</if>>\ [[Continue->Next6]]

I stand quietly for some time, finally clearing my throat before yelling as loud as I possibly can. Once I’m done, there is only silence, everyone staring at me. “Go ahead, Bradley,” I nod to him. “Uh, that’s not the way I would’ve gone about it but, yea,” Bradley begins, waving his phone, “I would like you all to know that my phone says we’re in the middle of nowhere.” “Oh, thanks, Bradley. I think we all realized that by now,” Chris tells him, barely missing a poorly aimed fist. “By that, smartass, I mean that it says that we’re not even near a road.” We all look down, sure enough, we were still standing on the road. “But … we’re standing on one, and didn’t you say that we were supposed to turn this way?” I ask, and Bradley nods. “And that’s why I’m confused. I tried two maps, and they both make it seem like we’re in the middle of some forest. Both maps show that there aren’t even roads in the immediate area.” “You sure the map is updated?” “I’m positive, it would at least give me our previous location which was still on the road. Whether or not the map is correct, it shouldn’t show us in the middle of nowhere. It should at least have the road it showed me before.” We all stand in thought, Sydero massaging her temples as she growls. <<if $zp>>\ “Yes, yes,” Zillah sighs dramatically, “we know. You hate Halloween. How about offering something helpful now?” “You’re going to think I’m really helpful after I shove my foot up your ass.” I step in the middle of the two as they stare each other down, sighing dramatically. “Really, does anyone have any ideas?” <<else>>\ “Don’t say it again,” Chris growls to Sydero, who raises a brow, seeing his words as more of a challenge than anything else. “Does anyone have any ideas then?” <</if>>\ [[Continue->Next6]]

I stretch and lean on my car, watching Bradley’s annoyed expression and then looking at the two fighting over something that wasn’t that big of a deal. <<if $zp>>\ “Hey!” Zillah shouts, snarling at the two, “the kid has something to say so how about both of you shut the hell up and listen.” Sydero looks ready to hit Zillah while Chris simply stares at the ground in embarrassment. “Uh, that’s not the way I would’ve gone about it but, yea,” Bradley begins, waving his phone, “I would like you all to know that my phone says we’re in the middle of nowhere.” <<else>>\ “Guys!” Bradley yells as loud as he can, his scream echoing and surprisingly, it causes the two to finally stop fighting. They look at Bradley with raised brows and concern. “Was that really needed?” Chris questions. “Uh, that’s not my usual way of getting everyone to listen but, yea,” Bradley tells him and waves his phone in the air, “I would like you all to know that my phone says we’re in the middle of nowhere.” <</if>>\ “Oh, thanks, Bradley. I think we all realized that by now,” Chris tells him, barely missing a poorly aimed fist. “By that, smartass, I mean that it says that we’re not even near a road.” We all look down, sure enough, we were still standing on the road. “But … we’re standing on one, and didn’t you say that we were supposed to turn this way?” I ask, and Bradley nods. “And that’s why I’m confused. I tried two maps, and they both make it seem like we’re in the middle of some forest. Both maps show that there aren’t even roads in the immediate area.” “You sure the map is updated?” “I’m positive, it would at least give me our previous location which was still on the road. Whether or not the map is correct, it shouldn’t show us in the middle of nowhere. It should at least have the road it showed me before.” We all stand in thought, Sydero massaging her temples as she growls. <<if $zp>>\ “Yes, yes,” Zillah sighs dramatically, “we know. You hate Halloween. How about offering something helpful now?” “You’re going to think I’m really helpful after I shove my foot up your ass.” I step in the middle of the two as they stare each other down, sighing dramatically. “Really, does anyone have any ideas?” <<else>>\ “Don’t say it again,” Chris growls to Sydero, who raises a brow, seeing his words as more of a challenge than anything else. “Does anyone have any ideas then?” <</if>>\ [[Continue->Next6]]

We remain quiet for a few seconds when the sound of whispering reaches our ears. The street is still very much empty. No signs of anyone else existing but us remains to be seen. “You guys hear that, too, right?” Bradley whispers, shrinking closer to my side. He receives no answer, all of us trying to figure out where it was coming from. The fog doing a perfect job at disorienting us. I feel the hair on my arms stand up as the whispering grows louder, the words still unintelligible. “Uh, found her,” Chris whispers, and we look from him to where he was currently staring, finding a small girl standing before us. The fog moves around her, not daring to touch her. In her hands is a deranged appeared teddy bear, and she wears a flowery pink dress that is torn at the end. “Everything about her is screaming hell no right now,” Sydero says, backing into the car. We all do the same, huddling up as the girl continues to look at us. She seemed innocent enough, but it was always the most innocent ones that led everyone astray. We watch as she giggles, her entire body rocking before she turns on her heels and skips away. “Maybe we should follow her?” Chris suggests, immediately receiving a slap to the neck, compliments of Sydero. “How many horror movies have you watched?” Bradley inquires, “I’m pretty sure one of the top rules of horror is to not run after the creepy, mysterious children that pop up.” <<if $zp>>\ “You’re quoting fictional movies when, in reality, the girl should be far more scared of five strangers,” Zillah interjects. <</if>>\ “But who even allows their child to walk through a fog like this?” Sydero questions, “if we’re having a vote then, I say hell no.” Bradley huffs in approval, “I’m with Sydero.” <<if $zp>>\ “She’s a little girl, stop being little bitches. I say we go after her,” Zillah smirks. <</if>>\ [[Follow the little girl.]] [[Walk the other way.]]

During all of this, the radio blares, jumping from one station to the other. Everything was descending into chaos. The car, it’s passengers, and I had no idea what to do. No idea what to think. The horror movies rarely prepared you for this part. Most of the time, the car crash is simply the beginning … or in rare cases, the end. I clench my eyes closed as everything hits another octave. And I prepare for the worse. [[And ...->Next5]]

“I’m with <<if $zp>>Zillah and<</if>> Chris,” I start, already taking a step forward, “I say we go after the girl. At least we know something rests in that direction.” “Yea,” Sydero snorts, “death.” <<if $zp>>\ “Aw, is the cambion scared?” Zillah questions with a wide smirk. “Can you shut up? Is that a thing you can do, or no?” <</if>>\ “We should head out,” I say. And with that, we do, following the little girl’s voice and laughter. [[Continue->Next7]]

“You guys can follow the weird little girl if you want,” I say, turning on my heel and marching away, “but I’m going to do the smart thing and actually leave.” No one stops me, they don’t even utter a word to question me. I had at least expected Sydero and Bradley to join me. As I go, I feel the fog devouring me. Whispers flitting through it and my sense of being becoming misconstrued. There is nothing for miles but more fog. I can hardly make out the ground that I walk on. Everything seems to just shift until … there … something in the distance. I pick up my speed, excitement coursing through me as I approach it. Only to find familiar figures and a familiar object. My car and group. <<if $zp>>\ “Huh,” Sydero states, patting Bradley’s shoulder, “guess you just earned fifty bucks.” “You had one job, $name,” Zillah growls, “can you not even do that?” <<else>>\ “Huh,” Sydero states, patting Bradley’s shoulder, “guess you just earned twenty bucks.” “Yea, yea,” Chris mumbles, “I won’t remind you about it so good luck collecting it later.” <</if>>\ “You knew this was going to happen, Bradley?” He shrugs, “I had a feeling. I was guessing that you’ll either be looped back or you’ll get really lost, and you’ll choose to turn around. Fate hates us, so I put much of my confidence in the loop.” “Which means we’re either stranded here, or we can head that way,” Chris points out, all of us looking in the direction we heard the girl’s small voice. I mumble under my breath, but we begin walking. [[Continue->Next7]]

<> <<audio "theme1" loop volume 0 fadeto 0.50>> <<endnobr>> The street was silent, and the fog had cleared up a bit, though it still resides wholly to our backs, warning us what to expect if we did choose to turn around. The cracked pavement proves to us that the road had been unused for many years. In some areas, I even manage to spot grass growing in small patches. The buildings all appear worn out and abandoned, sentenced to be forgotten by whoever had once inhabited them. We walk further down the road, my seeking gaze landing on a street sign nailed to a wooden post. “Wayward Road? Does that sound familiar, Bradley?” Chris questions at my side, turning to Bradley whose staring at the ground, deep in thought. “I don’t think so. But I didn’t really pay much attention. GPS said turn left, and that’s all I cared about.” “I really don’t care so much about how we got here as much as I do about getting out,” Sydero says and then begins walking, approaching one of the buildings that sit close to us. “Does that look like a townhall to anyone else?” We join her, examining the building that did indeed look like what she had suggested. It was an old-timey building, reminding me of the old westerns that my uncle would force me to watch with him as a child. It was a red-brick two-story building of modest nature. Two white pillars supporting the building’s overhang and then five simple windows decorating the front side. These windows were chipped, one’s glass was cracking, while another’s was totally gone. The door barely hung on by its hinges, wind that I did not feel, causing it to rock back and forth slowly. [[Continue->Next8]]

We enter, finding the inside as much abandoned as we presumed. A long coffee table resting on three legs sits in the middle, two dusty couches on both sides. Then a small desk further back, right beside a closed door. [[“I’m loving the vibes here.”]] [[“Anyone else feels like we shouldn’t have entered?”]] [[“So is this a real town or no?”]]

“I’m probably alone in my feelings here but, I honestly love the vibes of this place.” “You’re right,” Sydero mumbles from beside me, “you are alone.” “I think I’d rather be at the Halloween party,” Bradley sighs wistfully, and Chris chirps in to agree. “I think I want to be back at that stupid motel,” I hear Sydero mumble. <<if $zp>> And Zillah seems to agree too as he grumbles from his position. <</if>>\ “Any information or a map?” Bradley questions, and after a bit more looking, neither of us comes up with one. “How are we supposed to know where we are? What to do? Anything?” [[Continue->Next9]]

“Anyone else feels like we shouldn’t have entered this building?” “That’s probably true for any building we go to along this road,” Bradley tells me, stepping up right alongside me. “So … you’re planning to just walk into every building?” “You have a better idea?” he asks, and I nod. “We walk to the end of this road and keep going.” “There’s no chance that’ll work. We might just be looped right back.” “Oh, but going into every building is a sure-fire way to get us out of here.” “Don’t start,” Sydero growls at the two of us. “Any information or a map?” Bradley questions, and after a bit more looking, neither of us comes up with one. “How are we supposed to know where we are? What to do? Anything?” [[Continue->Next9]]

“I’m … I’m confused,” I start, approaching the desk and looking over what rests on top of it. “Was this town, or road, or whatever this is, was it real or no?” “Seems like it,” Bradley tells me, appearing at my side, “but I’d rather it not be.”’ “Why?” Chris questions from his spot near a window. “If this town is real and is home to spirits, then the spirits were probably inhabitants.” “Meaning,” Sydero picks up, “it’s going to be five times harder trying to get out of this place.” <<if $zp>>\ “Spirits with actual ties to a place are always seeking some poor souls to take their anger out on, or to beg them to help. It’s just a mess no one wants, really,” Zillah adds in last. <</if>>\ “Any information or a map?” Bradley questions, and after a bit more looking, neither of us comes up with one. “How are we supposed to know where we are? What to do? Anything?” [[Continue->Next9]]

“Uh … maybe we can ask her where we are?” Chris states, causing the rest of us to turn and see a figure gazing out the dusty window. Her back is to us, giving us only a look at her long blonde hair and horrendous taste in clothing. It was as if she was trying to make a gothic, western, and hippie look work, all at the same time. On top of that, her clothing was torn, and dark stains decorated the white. “Whose gonna ask though?” Bradley gulps. [[Ask from here.]] [[Push Chris forward.]] [[Go up to her.]]

“Hey?” I start, all eyes turning to me, “hey miss, can you help us?” The woman fails to react, though I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. We were able to enter this building and have a full conversation before we even picked up on her presence. If she were going to interact with us, then it would’ve been as soon as we arrived. Chris takes in a deep breath and squares his shoulder before taking a step forward. <<if $int is "chris">>\ “How about not sacrificing yourself?” I question, grabbing the back of his costume and attempting to yank him back to my side. “Aw, come on, babe, for once, let me play the hero?” My mouth hangs open, ready to hit him with some snappy reply, but not finding the words to do so. He walks up to the woman cautiously, extending his hand, when suddenly everything happens at once. <<else>>\ “You guys owe me so much,” Chris mumbles, taking a deep breath in as he continues forward. He walks up to the woman cautiously, extending his hand, when suddenly everything happens at once. <</if>>\ [[Continue->Next10]]

I clear my throat, and at the same time, push Chris forward. He glares at me but takes a few steps towards the woman, speaking to her in a low voice. He gets right behind her, close enough to reach out and touch her. And then everything happens at once. [[Continue->Next10]]

I summon all my courage and take my first step towards her. I rehearse what I was going to say, trying to figure something out and failing constantly. <<if $int is "sydero">>\ “Whoa, and what do you think you’re doing?” Sydero asks, grabbing onto the back of my costume and yanking me back to her side. Her brow raised in both curiosity and doubt. “Someone needs to see if she can help.” “I can help us skip all of that, she can’t.” “Syd, let go or do it yourself.” Instead of doing either, her grip tightens, and her gaze narrows on me, daring me to try and continue fighting her. “We’re wasting time,” Chris growls, marching up to the woman but then deflating right as he gets close. He glances back at us before turning, shaking his head and then reaching his hand out, about to touch her. <<elseif $int is "zillah">>\ “Adorable, but how about you don’t commit suicide right in front of me?” Zillah asks, causing me to turn around. “Someone has to do it.” “And that someone doesn’t have to be you.” “You gonna stop me?” “Don’t ask questions you know the answer to $name,” Zillah chuckles darkly. “You guy’s flirting is really weird, and that’s coming from me,” Sydero mumbles. “We’re wasting time,” Chris growls, marching up to the woman but then deflating right as he gets close. He glances back at us before turning, shaking his head and then reaching his hand out, about to touch her. <<elseif $int is "chris">> “Whoa! $name, no,” Chris tells me, suddenly appearing in my path and blocking the woman from view. “Someone has to, so why not me?” “Because throughout this horrible life adventure, I’ve seen you in danger one too many times.” “Says the guy who almost turned into a beast,” I remark. “You’re right, and you saved me. So let me save you.” I raise a brow at his words and his choice to play hero since technically I wasn’t in any danger. But I’m unable to question him about any of this as he’s already making his way towards the woman. Once close enough, he turns and glances back at the rest of us. His eyes connect with mine before he turns back around, and with a shaking hand, reaches out to touch her. <<else>>\ “I got this, $name,” Chris tells me, walking past me. “Don’t try and play hero,” I growl, but he continues on. He marches up to the woman but then deflates right as he gets close. He glances back at us before turning, shaking his head and then reaching his hand out, about to touch her. <</if>>\ And then everything happens at once. [[Continue->Next10]]

The door bursts open to a cacophony of harsh wails and wind that manages to push us backward. I almost lose my footing and fall due to my poor stance. I can hear Chris scream and look up to see his body levitating in the air, the woman now looking towards him and her hair begins to drift towards the ceiling, strand by strand. Her mouth opens in an alarming unnatural way, her jaw opening up so much that her mouth practically takes up her entire face. I move forward to help him right as her head jerks my way. Her large bloodshot eyes fill with hatred. She opens her mouth again, and wispy black figures rush out, coming straight towards all of us. <<if $int is "chris">>\ [[Time to go!|Chris]] <<elseif $int is "sydero">>\ [[Time to go!|Sydero]] <<elseif $int is "zillah">>\ [[Time to go!|Zillah]] <<else>>\ [[Time to go!|Bradley]] <</if>>\

<> <<audio "theme1" fadeout>> <<audio "theme2" loop volume 0 fadeto 0.70>> <<endnobr>> I shoot forward to help Chris, watching as the others run out the building as individual ghouls chase them away. Great, so it was just me now. “$name,” Chris shouts, squirming as the woman continues to levitate him higher into the air. It was all up to me … great. I look around for something and opt for a nearby chair. As soon as I grab it, the woman’s attention is on me, her hair shooting towards me. [[Hide behind the desk.]] [[Use the chair.]]

<> <<audio "theme1" fadeout>> <<audio "theme2" loop volume 0 fadeto 0.70>> <<endnobr>> I run after Sydero, my heart threatening to leap out of my chest as I practically feel the spirit’s chilled breath on my neck. My hair raises as I imagine it getting closer, it’s whispering nothing more than a collection of words with no meaning to me. I push myself to go faster and faster, any minute now I’m sure I’ll be taken, much like Chris. “Shit,” I hear Sydero grumble from ahead, “Roe, this way!” I continue to follow her, soon figuring out that the building we now stood in was a small police station. The wallpaper is torn, the floorboards practically ripped from their foundations, and cobwebs adorn every inch. I run past a row of desks, and to the back of the building were two empty cells sit. Sydero darts into one of those cells, beckoning me inside. [[“Really, this is your idea?”]] [[Go in, no questions asked.]] [[Hesitate.]]

<> <<audio "theme1" fadeout>> <<audio "theme2" loop volume 0 fadeto 0.50>> <<endnobr>> I’m right on Zillah’s back as we run, my heart pounding as the wailing from earlier still reverberates through me. I’m too afraid to glance back to see if the ghoul, or whatever it was, was still after us. I just trust in Zillah’s quick-acting. We rush into a building, and before I can get too far, Zillah hits the ground and pulls me into his lap. He holds me close as we sit there, our bodies stiff as we wait to see what happens next. When nothing does, he releases me, and I move towards the door, wishing to open it when I see a large dark mass hovering outside the windows. It prowls the building much like a shark would its prey, waiting for one of us to slip up and leave our temporary shelter before attacking. “I think we’re stuck,” I mutter, turning back to see that Zillah was no longer where I had left him. He was now walking around what I believe is a general store, the look on his face screams indifferent. “Out of all places, why did we have to get stuck here.” He eyes a nearby shelf, and with a small smile that I barely catch, he pushes the rack over, causing a domino effect as it slams into the others. “You just have to be destructive wherever you go, huh?” I question. He ignores my words, but his face lights up when he looks in my direction. He wears a look I know well, causing me to already begin shaking my head. “We’re finally alone,” he purrs, suddenly right behind me. His body pressed in close to mine. [[“We’re also being chased by spirits.”]] [[“You’re unbelievable.”]] [[“Indeed we are.”]]

<> <<audio "theme1" fadeout>> <<audio "theme2" loop volume 0 fadeto 0.70>> <<endnobr>> I sprint after Bradley, out of the building, and back onto the street. I think I see Sydero, but two black spirits grab my attention before I can confirm. “Any thoughts, Bradley?” I question, looking from him to the buildings and then back to the massive black balls spiraling towards us. “I have an idea,” he tells me, grabbing my hand and yanking me after him. I follow him as we run between buildings, turning a corner and then heading back the way we came. I don’t question him; instead, I focus on breathing and making sure that we weren’t about to be caught. We run back to the town hall, Bradley pushing the door open and then closing it forcibly as soon as I enter. The building is now empty, all signs of Chris and the woman from before no longer there. “Where’s Chris?” I ask breathlessly. “I … I thought he’d … he’d be here. Do you think he’s …” Bradley trails off, never finishing his question as he looks over at me with big worried eyes. Before I can respond, the spirits from earlier pound on the door, their ghostly wails encompassing the entire building as they try and fail to enter. “Not to be rude, but I think we have bigger things to worry about.” “Yea, like being devoured by some spirits,” Bradley groans, he bangs his fist on the door, “we don’t want your damn cookies.” He huffs and turns on his heel, heading towards the back of the building where a door rests. “Any idea what’s going on here?” Bradley opens a door that leads to a small hallway with a staircase further back, I follow behind him, ascending towards the second floor. “Most of the time, when things like this happen, then it’s because something evil happened to the town. I’m guessing that whatever happened here cursed the entire place, and the spirits just want out. But, because it’s Halloween, their abilities are being supercharged, and they possibly can’t handle that.” [[“But why us?”]] [[“So how do we help them, help us?”]] [[“Are you saying they should be peaceful?”]]

<> <<if $sstory and $bstory and $cstory>>\ <<set $ending = true>> <</if>>\ <<endnobr>> “Bradley’s costume is ruined, no way he still wants to go,” Chris speaks but then stops when Bradley hits him in the gut. <<if $int is "zillah">>\ “Speak for yourself. Do you see this dirt and these rips and tears? This is authenticity. No one can compete with me now. That prize is as good as mine. Step on it, $name. I want to piss off every person there.” Sydero opens her mouth to oppose, obviously wishing to just go home, “and Sydero, you can steal all the candy there.” She closes it, shrugging at me. “Me and $name could get up to something spooky there, so I’m in,” Zillah chimes in, leaning forward and placing a chaste kiss on my arm. I blush and turn my attention back to the road, “party it is,” I chuckle, stepping on the gas and flying down the street. <<elseif $int is "sydero">>\ “Speak for yourself. Do you see this dirt and these rips and tears? This is authenticity. No one can compete with me now. That prize is as good as mine. Step on it, $name. I want to piss off every person there.” Chris rolls his eyes but shrugs when I meet his eye. “Me and $name could get up to something spooky there, so I’m in,” Sydero chimes in, biting her lip as she gives me a side look. <<if $zp>>\ “Ugh, can we just go before I throw up!” Zillah growls. <</if>>\ I smile widely and turn my attention back to the road, “party it is,” I chuckle, stepping on the gas and flying down the street. <<elseif $int is "chris">>\ “Speak for yourself. Do you see this dirt and these rips and tears? This is authenticity. No one can compete with me now. That prize is as good as mine. Step on it, $name. I want to piss off every person there.” Sydero opens her mouth to oppose, obviously wishing to just go home, “and Sydero, you can steal all the candy there.” She closes it, shrugging at me. “Me and $name could get up to something spooky there, so I’m in,” Chris chimes in, massaging my shoulders. <<if $zp>>\ “Ugh, can we just go before I throw up!” Zillah growls. <</if>>\ I smile widely and turn my attention back to the road, “party it is,” I chuckle, stepping on the gas and flying down the street. <<else>>\ “Speak for yourself. Do you see this dirt and these rips and tears? This is authenticity. No one can compete with me now. That prize is as good as mine. Step on it, $name. I want to piss off every person there.” Sydero opens her mouth to oppose, obviously wishing to just go home, “and Sydero, you can steal all the candy there.” She closes it, shrugging at me. “I’m in,” Chris tells me uncaringly. <<if $zp>>\ “Ugh, can we just go!” Zillah growls. <</if>>\ I smile widely and turn my attention back to the road, “party it is,” I chuckle, stepping on the gas and flying down the street. <</if>>\ [[End Game]]

“We’re also being chased by spirits,” I remind him, putting a bit more room between us. I shake the thoughts that begin to rush through my head away, attempting to once again focus on our situation. “Now,” Zillah whispers into my ear, his hands trapping me against him, “how about you be a good $boy and bend over.” [[“And if I don’t?”]] [[Do as he says.->Bend over.]] [[That’s enough teasing, back to work!]]

“You’re unbelievable, you know, that right?” “I don’t really care,” he chuckles lowly, his breath on my neck as he hovers there. “Now,” Zillah whispers into my ear, his hands trapping me against him, “how about you be a good $boy and bend over.” [[“And if I don’t?”]] [[Do as he says.->Bend over.]] [[That’s enough teasing, back to work!]]

“Indeed we are,” I smirk, “so Zillah, what are you going to do about that?” “Don’t test me, $name,” he growls, his body coming even closer as I brace myself. He buries his face into my neck and inhales. I can feel my heart beat in a totally different way, rapid and yearning for the man pressed so close to me. “Now,” Zillah whispers into my ear, his hands trapping me against him, “how about you be a good $boy and bend over.” [[“And if I don’t?”]] [[Do as he says.->Bend over.]] [[That’s enough teasing, back to work!]]

I somehow manage to get myself untangled from him, turning around so that I can face him, as well as take in his frustrated expression. “And if I don’t?” “Then you and that counter over there are going to become acquainted real fast.” I follow his gaze to the wooden counter where an ancient register sits, my cheeks immediately heating up as countless images fill my mind. “Either way,” he says and then shrugs, “you’re bending over.” [[Continue to tease him.]] [[Bend over.]] [[That’s enough teasing, back to work!]]

<> <<set $zsStore = true>> <<endnobr>> I bite the side of my cheek as I do as he says, bending over seductively and watching with great satisfaction as a smile appears and a burning desire lights up his face. These moments always caused me to feel the most vulnerable. And it was a side that I only trusted Zillah with. His need to satisfy me was a great plus as well. I bite my lip harder, awaiting Zillah’s touch or however he decided to award me for doing as he asked, but nothing comes. I open one eye to see him giving me an amused grin, if it were anyone else, I would say he was admiring me. But it was him, and this was just his way of being a horrible tease. When I finally realize that he’s not about to do anything, I go to stand back up when he immediately moves in and keeps me down. One hand on my neck as he bends over partially so that he was closer to my face. “Did I say stand up?” “No,” I mumble. His hands trail down my back though he doesn’t let up on his weight that’s settled there. “You do deserve something for doing what I said,” he says lazily, “no doubt there. Tell me, $name, what do you want?” <<if $showec>>\ “You, fuck! I want you, Zillah!” I mumble breathlessly, but it comes out more like a desperate whisper. Suddenly I’m again standing straight up, and Zillah’s lips are on mine, his member attempting to free itself from his costume as he pushes his body flushed up against me. I’m unable to focus purely on him as the blood rushes down, everything beginning to feel euphoric. I felt like I was Alice, falling down the hole and into the unknown, the unknown being lips that I’ve already tasted many times before. The ever-present feeling of his hand around my neck as he devours my lips is there. Sometimes he lightens his grip, just enough to trail his fingers along the more sensitive areas. I feel my muscles tense in anticipation of what was to come. His lips finally leave mine, and I’m bended back over. His hands work off my costume, exposing my skin to the nippy current shooting through the store. He lets the articles of clothing fall to our feet, leaving me conscious of my current state and positioning. A chill rushes down my spine but is soon replaced by heat. Though my shivering doesn’t stop due to Zillah trailing kisses down my back. “Fuck you’re beautiful,” he murmurs, his hands groping my ass, “and you smell good.” I don’t have to hide the blush that blossoms upon my cheeks, it wasn’t like he was paying attention to my face anyway. “And you’re fucking mine,” he says aloud, though the way he chuckles afterward is like he’s trying to grasp that idea on his own, “walk towards the wall.” I do as he says immediately, bending back over once there. He sighs, and suddenly his voice is all around me, whispering against my body, “and you’re about to get this dick.” <<if $gender is "female" or $a_gender is "female">>\ With his foot, he spreads my feet further apart and I seek the wall to support me. My core screams, and I close my eyes as he runs his hands over my clit and ass, playing with me. My breathing picks up as he slips in a finger, my knees buckling just a bit, and my thighs shaking. “Did I say move?” he growls, slipping his fingers back out and causing me to whimper and shake my head. “Then don’t.” He reinserts them back in, and I stand as still as I can, though I’m unable to stop the shivering of my thighs as he plays inside me. I bite my lip as he picks his pace up, burying my head in my shoulder. “You can make noise, pet,” Zillah chuckles, placing light and loving kisses along my cheek. I move my shoulder away as he inserts another finger, groaning for more. “You’re definitely getting more,” he mumbles, taking his fingers out and positioning himself before my opening. I feel his head slip in, and once again, I bury my mouth in my shoulder as he spreads me wide. My fingers dig into the crumbling material of the store’s walls as he doesn’t waste a second, immediately increasing his pace. <<elseif $gender is "male" or $a_gender is "male">>\ With his foot, he spreads my feet further apart and I seek the wall to support me. My core screams, and I close my eyes as he runs his hands over my hardened member and ass, playing with me. My breathing picks up as he grasps my member in his hands, his other hand fondling my sack. My knees buckle just a bit, and my thighs begin to shake. “Did I say move?” he growls, releasing me and causing me to whimper and shake my head. “Then don’t.” He grabs hold again and I stand as still as I can, though I’m unable to stop the shivering of my thighs as he jerks me off. I bite my lip as he picks his pace up, burying my head in my shoulder. “You can make noise, pet,” Zillah chuckles, placing light and loving kisses along my cheek. I move my shoulder away as he squeezes my shaft, slowly moving his hand as I groan for more. “You’re definitely getting more,” he mumbles, releasing me and positioning himself before my opening. I feel his head slip in, and once again, I bury my mouth in my shoulder as he spreads me wide. My nails dig into the wooden counter as he doesn’t waste a second, immediately increasing his pace. <<else>>\ With his foot, he spreads my feet further apart and I seek the wall to support me. My core screams, and I close my eyes as he runs his hands over my ass, playing with me. My breathing picks up as he positions himself before my opening. I feel his head slip in, and once again, I bury my mouth in my shoulder as he spreads me wide. My nails dig into the wooden counter as he doesn’t waste a second, immediately increasing his pace. <</if>>\ I let me head dangle, pressing it up against the wall as Zillah continues to slam into me, each thrust going deeper and getting closer and closer to the spot that will make my legs simply give out on me. “Shit, $name. There’s no reason for you to always feel this good,” Zillah chuckles in between grunts. I try to speak, but I only make sounds, pleasure invading every sense as I try to ground myself. Zillah pulls on my hips as he continues to pound me, my arms tensing up against the wall, lest I wish my head to hit it due to me slipping. He continues to pound me, both of us nearing our climax with every moan. “I’m almost there, pet,” he whispers in my ear, and in response, I try to steady myself and provide resistance to his movements, pushing my hips further into his. I get a hiss in reply, feeling Zillah bend over me as both of us finally reach it. I don’t know who reaches it first as we both collapse at the same time. Before I can hit the floor, Zillah catches me and pulls me on top of him, cradling me close and burying his face into my neck. I bite the inside of my cheek as he kisses and nips me in between pants. <<else>>\ “You!” I mumble breathlessly. Suddenly I’m again standing straight up, and Zillah’s lips are on mine as he pushes his body flushed up against me. I’m unable to focus purely on him as the blood rushes down, everything beginning to feel euphoric. I felt like I was Alice, falling down the hole and into the unknown, the unknown being lips that I’ve already tasted many times before. The ever-present feeling of his hand around my neck as he devours my lips is there. Sometimes he lightens his grip, just enough to trail his fingers along the more sensitive areas. I feel my muscles tense in anticipation of what was to come. His lips finally leave mine, and I’m bended back over. His hands work off my costume, exposing my skin to the nippy current shooting through the store. He lets the articles of clothing fall to our feet, leaving me conscious of my current state and positioning. A chill rushes down my spine but is soon replaced by heat. Though my shivering doesn’t stop due to Zillah trailing kisses down my back. “Fuck you’re beautiful,” he murmurs, his hands groping my ass, “and you smell good.” I don’t have to hide the blush that blossoms upon my cheeks, it wasn’t like he was paying attention to my face anyway. “And you’re fucking mine,” he says aloud, though the way he chuckles afterward is like he’s trying to grasp that idea on his own, “walk towards the wall.” I do as he says immediately, bending back over once there. I bite my lip as the two of us become intertwined, my arm being the only thing that dims the sounds coming from me. I bask in the feeling of it all, my mind frantically grasping for something to hold onto and failing. Being with Zillah like this was always an exhilarating feeling, much like freefalling from the sky. It took my breath away and always left me feeling like I’ve had the greatest workout in history, though at the same time it causes me to feel like I had been pampered nonstop. I don’t know who reaches their climax first as we both collapse. Before I can hit the floor, Zillah catches me and pulls me on top of him, cradling me close and burying his face into my neck. I bite the inside of my cheek as he kisses and nips me in between pants. <</if>>\ I close my eyes for a minute, almost forgetting where we were and how we got there. “I just want to go to sleep,” I moan, turning my head so that it was now buried in his chest. He chuckles and kisses the top of my forehead. “Shit, I almost forgot that we were being hounded by some spirits.” Carefully he gets to his feet and helps me right myself, both of us redressing. I watch as Zillah stretches and then looks towards the windows, frowning. “Guess we should figure a way out of here.” [[Continue->Zillah1]]

“Well, that’s enough of that,” I chuckle and pat him on the shoulder, “we need to find a way out of here.” I walk away from him, telling myself to calm down as I go. There would be plenty of time for all that later, right now, I was more focused on surviving the night than having sex. Which I thought was reasonable, but Zillah doesn’t seem to agree as he mumbles a host of cusswords. [[Continue->Zillah1]]

“Living in your head must be a heap of fun?” I question with a light snicker. He raises a brow but doesn’t say anything in retaliation. “I would adopt the mindset if the house had room for –” I’m unable to finish that sentence as Zillah roughly grabs me and pulls me to him. His grip tight on my wrists as he walks over to the counter. “Not like I didn’t warn you,” he chuckles. I fidget in his grip, just testing to see how secure his grip was at the moment when he releases me, only to forcefully push me onto the counter. His hand has both of my wrists in his grasp, and his body is pressed up against my backside, making even the slightest bit of moving hard. Though, that’s probably what he wanted. Every time I shift my ass rubs against his hardening member. Zillah leans in so that he was now in my field of view. He regards me with a look that’s borderline bored, rolling his eyes later. “I knew I should’ve gone with a cop costume or something that involved ropes or handcuffs.” “Filthy filthy,” I blurt out with a laugh, gritting my teeth and letting out a soft moan as his grip tightens, but he also presses his hips closer to me. I shoo the dirty thoughts away, even though I don’t see the point. “You know that mouth of yours tells me you don’t want it,” he points out with a raised brow, “I think I’m going to need you to beg if you want anything else.” This was Zillah’s way of asking consent, if I stopped it here then that would be the end of it. [[Beg.]] [[Stop this.]]

<> <<set $zsStore = true>> <<endnobr>> “Zillah, please …” I mumble, my heart thumping with every word. These moments always caused me to feel the most vulnerable. And it was a side that I only trusted Zillah with. His need to satisfy me was a great plus as well. I close my eyes, awaiting whatever Zillah would do for teasing him, but nothing comes. I open one eye to see him giving me an amused grin, if it were anyone else, I would say he was admiring me. But it was him, and this was just his way of being a horrible tease. When I finally realize that he’s not about to do anything I attempt to move away from him. He releases my wrists, and moves his hands to my neck, bringing my face closer to his. I feel his lips, inches, no centimeters away from my face, but they never connect. He leaves a trail of ghost kisses until he gets to my ear. “Beg more, I want to believe it, pet.” <<if $showec>>\ “Fuck me, please!” I shout, but it comes out more like a desperate whisper. Suddenly Zillah’s lips are on mine, his member attempting to free itself from his costume as he pushes his body flushed up against me. My front side is pressed into the counter, but the idea of receiving some markings from that enters and leaves. The ever-present feeling of his hand around my neck as he devours my lips is there. Sometimes he lightens his grip, just enough to trail his fingers along the more sensitive areas. I feel my muscles tense in anticipation of what was to come. His lips finally leave mine, and he darts out of view, hovering over my backside as his hand on my neck leaves. I don’t move though, as I feel his hands work off my costume, exposing my skin to the nippy current shooting through the store. He lets the articles of clothing fall to our feet, leaving me conscious of my current state and positioning. A chill rushes down my spine but is soon replaced by heat. Though my shivering doesn’t stop due to Zillah trailing kisses down my back. “Fuck you’re beautiful,” he murmurs, his hands groping my ass, “and you smell good.” I don’t have to hide the blush that blossoms upon my cheeks, it wasn’t like he was paying attention to my face anyway. “And you’re fucking mine,” he says aloud, though the way he chuckles afterward is like he’s trying to grasp that idea on his own. He sighs, and suddenly his voice is all around me, whispering against my body, “and you’re about to get this dick.” <<if $gender is "female" or $a_gender is "female">>\ With his foot, he spreads my feet further apart. My core screams, and I close my eyes as he runs his hands over my clit and ass, playing with me. My breathing picks up as he slips in a finger, my knees buckling just a bit, and my thighs shaking. “Did I say move?” he growls, slipping his fingers back out and causing me to whimper and shake my head. “Then don’t.” He reinserts them back in, and I stand as still as I can, though I’m unable to stop the shivering of my thighs as he plays inside me. I bite my lip as he picks his pace up, burying my head in my arm. “You can make noise, pet,” Zillah chuckles, placing light and loving kisses along my cheek. I move my arm away as he inserts another finger, groaning for more. “You’re definitely getting more,” he mumbles, taking his fingers out and positioning himself before my opening. I feel his head slip in, and once again, I bury my mouth in my arm as he spreads me wide. My nails dig into the wooden counter as he doesn’t waste a second, immediately increasing his pace. <<elseif $gender is "male" or $a_gender is "male">>\ With his foot, he spreads my feet further apart. My core screams, and I close my eyes as he runs his hands over my hardened member and ass, playing with me. My breathing picks up as he grasps my member in his hands, his other hand fondling my sack. My knees buckle just a bit, and my thighs begin to shake. “Did I say move?” he growls, releasing me and causing me to whimper and shake my head. “Then don’t.” He grabs hold again and I stand as still as I can, though I’m unable to stop the shivering of my thighs as he jerks me off. I bite my lip as he picks his pace up, burying my head in my arm. “You can make noise, pet,” Zillah chuckles, placing light and loving kisses along my cheek. I move my arm away as he squeezes my shaft, slowly moving his hand as I groan for more. “You’re definitely getting more,” he mumbles, releasing me and positioning himself before my opening. I feel his head slip in, and once again, I bury my mouth in my arm as he spreads me wide. My nails dig into the wooden counter as he doesn’t waste a second, immediately increasing his pace. <<else>>\ With his foot, he spreads my feet further apart. My core screams, and I close my eyes as he runs his hands over my ass, playing with me. My breathing picks up as he positions himself before my opening. I feel his head slip in, and once again, I bury my mouth in my arm as he spreads me wide. My nails dig into the wooden counter as he doesn’t waste a second, immediately increasing his pace. <</if>>\ I throw my head back as Zillah continues to slam into me, each thrust going deeper and getting closer and closer to the spot that will make my legs simply give out on me. “Shit, $name. There’s no reason for you to always feel this good,” Zillah chuckles in between grunts. I try to speak, but I only make sounds, pleasure invading every sense as I try to ground myself. Zillah pulls on my hips as he continues to pound me, causing me to shoot my arms out and grab onto the counter to support myself, lest I wish my head to hit it. He continues to pound me, both of us nearing our climax with every moan. “I’m almost there, pet,” he whispers in my ear, and in response, I try to steady myself and provide resistance to his movements, pushing my hips further into his. I get a hiss in reply, feeling Zillah bend over me as both of us finally reach it. I don’t know who reaches it first as we both collapse at the same time. Before I can hit the floor, Zillah catches me and pulls me on top of him, cradling me close and burying his face into my neck. I bite the inside of my cheek as he kisses and nips me in between pants. <<else>>\ “Fuck me, please!” I shout, but it comes out more like a desperate whisper. Suddenly Zillah’s lips are on mine as he pushes his body flushed up against me. My front side is pressed into the counter, but the idea of receiving some markings from that enters and leaves. The ever-present feeling of his hand around my neck as he devours my lips is there. Sometimes he lightens his grip, just enough to trail his fingers along the more sensitive areas. I feel my muscles tense in anticipation of what was to come. His lips finally leave mine, and he darts out of view, hovering over my backside as his hand on my neck leaves. I don’t move though, as I feel his hands work off my costume, exposing my skin to the nippy current shooting through the store. He lets the articles of clothing fall to our feet, leaving me conscious of my current state and positioning. A chill rushes down my spine but is soon replaced by heat. Though my shivering doesn’t stop due to Zillah trailing kisses down my back. “Fuck you’re beautiful,” he murmurs, his hands groping my ass, “and you smell good.” I don’t have to hide the blush that blossoms upon my cheeks, it wasn’t like he was paying attention to my face anyway. “And you’re fucking mine,” he says aloud, though the way he chuckles afterward is like he’s trying to grasp that idea on his own. I bite my lip as the two of us become intertwined, my arm being the only thing that dims the sounds coming from me. I bask in the feeling of it all, my mind frantically grasping for something to hold onto and failing. Being with Zillah like this was always an exhilarating feeling, much like freefalling from the sky. It took my breath away and always left me feeling like I’ve had the greatest workout in history, though at the same time it causes me to feel like I had been pampered nonstop. I don’t know who reaches their climax first as we both collapse. Before I can hit the floor, Zillah catches me and pulls me on top of him, cradling me close and burying his face into my neck. I bite the inside of my cheek as he kisses and nips me in between pants. <</if>>\ I close my eyes for a minute, almost forgetting where we were and how we got there. “I just want to go to sleep,” I moan, turning my head so that it was now buried in his chest. He chuckles and kisses the top of my forehead. “Shit, I almost forgot that we were being hounded by some spirits.” Carefully he gets to his feet and helps me right myself, both of us redressing. I watch as Zillah stretches and then looks towards the windows, frowning. “Guess we should figure a way out of here.” [[Continue->Zillah1]]

“I’m fine,” I tell him, commanding my heart to calm down and once again trying to gain control over my body. “Eh, not surprised,” I hear Zillah say. He attempts to hide the disappointment in his voice, but I catch a hint of it. He shrugs and places a light, fleeting kiss on my forehead before moving off of me. “Guess we should find a way out of this hellhole without pissing off those spirits.” [[Continue->Zillah1]]

Zillah peels away from my side as I go to the windows, checking to see if the lingering spirit was still there. One minute it’s gone, but as soon as I rest my hands on the door, it reappears. It rushes the door and causes me to jump back, cursing as it slowly backs away. It definitely reminded me of some deranged predator who didn’t know what an ambush, or patience, was. “Hey, I got something.” I turn to see Zillah peeking his head from the backroom before soon disappearing. I follow him to a back door, and cautiously, we both glance outside. “You think we can make it?” I question, eyeing the nearest building. From here, it looked like a standard pub, small and homey appearing but not large enough to host tons of people. In small towns like this, those who frequented it were daily customers. “Yea, let’s do it.” As soon as we’re ready to charge forward, I hear whispering behind me, one that sounds an awful a lot like a crying girl. Zillah shoots forward. [[Figure out whose crying.]] [[Go with Zillah.]]

<> <<set $zspirit1 = true>> <<endnobr>> I take a look at him, rolling my eyes as I prepare for all the scolding he’ll give me later for not being right behind him. Instead, I turn back and seek out whose crying. I peek in the central area and see nothing, and so I go back to the back and continue looking. I look down row upon rows of dusty supplies. Whatever happened here wasn’t something that took a long time to do. Instead, it seemed to have occurred relatively quickly. I doubt anyone anticipated it. The crying grows louder, and when I turn the corner, I see it. The dark mass spasms in front of me, turning into a ghoul. Despite the ghoul baring its teeth at me, the crying continues to originate from it. “What’s wrong?” I cautiously ask, “what happened to you?” Suddenly, the ghoul warps into a girl, barely out of her teen years. She sits on the floor, her knees pulled close to her chest as mascara runs down her face. [[Comfort her.]] [[Stay where I am.]]

Common sense seems to abandon me as I walk forward and sit down beside the girl, putting a comforting arm around her. She rests her head on my shoulder and sobs, grabbing a fist full of my shirt and yanking me closer. “Tell her I’m sorry,” the girl sobs, “I’m so sorry.” “Tell who? Why are you sorry?” She looks up at me, her eyes so deep and blue, “I couldn’t save her. I couldn’t even find her. She was relying on me. I was her only friend, and I couldn’t do anything. God, I’m so sorry!” She wails louder, her sobs turning into ear-splitting shrills. She screams to the world about her in despair. But only I can hear her. “$name,” I hear Zillah say and jerk around as he marches towards me, his eyes lit up in fury. “What the hell is wrong with you?” He questions but gives me no time to answer as he pulls me in close, his embrace tight and protective, almost shaken. “Sorry, I heard crying.” I look at where the girl was sitting a minute ago, only to see that she had disappeared. “I don’t care if they were calling for you by name,” he growls, grasping my hand and pulling me after him, “don’t ever do that shit again. I almost brought down this entire town on the spot.” He continues to grumble as we go towards the pub, not looking to see, or caring, if anything was coming for us. [[Continue->Zillah2]]

I stay where I am, not totally believing this whole sob section and definitely not wanting to end up as the next spirit unable to pass on. “Tell her I’m sorry,” the girl sobs, “I’m so sorry.” “Tell who? Why are you sorry?” She looks up at me, her eyes so deep and blue, “I couldn’t save her. I couldn’t even find her. She was relying on me. I was her only friend, and I couldn’t do anything. God, I’m so sorry!” She wails louder, her sobs turning into ear-splitting shrills. She screams to the world about her in despair. But only I can hear her. “$name,” I hear Zillah say and jerk around as he marches towards me, his eyes lit up in fury. “What the hell is wrong with you?” He questions but gives me no time to answer as he pulls me in close, his embrace tight and protective, almost shaken. “Sorry, I heard crying.” I look at where the girl was sitting a minute ago, only to see that she had disappeared. “I don’t care if they were calling for you by name,” he growls, grasping my hand and pulling me after him, “don’t ever do that shit again. I almost brought down this entire town on the spot.” He continues to grumble as we go towards the pub, not looking to see, or caring, if anything was coming for us. [[Continue->Zillah2]]

The pub was the first clean building I’ve seen so far, not taking into consideration the number of cobwebs and dust that coats the place. The glasses of alcohol were still on display, and I take note that most of the bottles were inexpensive whiskey, vodka, and beer. The seats were pushed into the table, the barstools sitting on top of the counter waiting unabatingly for someone to come remove them. “Think any of these bottles are still good?” “They should be fine,” I tell him, still letting my eyes drift over the small building, “if it looks cloudy, it’s only because it’s never been opened.” “Ah, keep forgetting you used to work as a bartender. Mind fixing me a drink?” [[“Why can’t you do it?”]] [[“Sure.”]] [[“You’ll probably do better.”]]

I decide to just go with Zillah, especially since if I ran off at a time like this, he’ll be impossible to deal with for the rest of our time here. As we walk, we hear a wailing behind us, and Zillah has to only shoot me a look for the both of us to take off in a full sprint. We bang up against the closed door of the pub, and both of us quickly close it behind us. [[Continue->Zillah2]]

I turn to face him and raise a brow, “why can’t you do it yourself?” He’s not looking at me but at the glasses, picking up the bottle closest to him as he reads the label. “More than likely, I’m going to open any bottle I please and chug it all, whether or not I know what it tastes like. At least you know what is good, strong, and/or bad.” [[Make him a drink.->“Sure.”]] [[“You’ll probably do better.”]]

“Sure, I’ll make it,” I say and walk behind the bar. I have to clear a few of the labels to figure out what I’m doing, and then it takes me longer as I try and find a shaker. Failing to do so, Zillah tells me to simply give him the bottles I would recommend. I start placing them on the table, my eyes widening in shock when he grabs one, pops it open, and then starts chugging it like it was no one’s business. He wipes at his bottom lip as some of the liquid slithers down, “what? It’s not like I can get drunk.” “Is it like Sydero’s tolerance?” I question, leaning on the bar as he grabs another. “Naw. Sydero can still get drunk, even if it takes fucking forever. I just … can’t.” He motions to his body, “I might have a human body, but I’m still a spirit essentially.” He mumbles something that I don’t quite make out before chugging his new bottle. I watch more of the drink miss his mouth and slither down his lips and to his chin. [[‘Help’ him get it.]] [[Grab a bottle.]] [[Figure out what happens next.]]

“Honestly,” I say with a shrug, “you’ll probably do better than me. I was a horrible bartender, ask Chris.” “Well, it’s not like I can get drunk anyway.” He pops the top off a bottle and holds it up, “bottoms up.” I watch as he downs the entire thing, one long swallow after the next. “Is it like Sydero’s tolerance?” I question, leaning on the bar as he grabs another. “Naw. Sydero can still get drunk, even if it takes fucking forever. I just … can’t.” He motions to his body, “I might have a human body, but I’m still a spirit essentially.” He mumbles something that I don’t quite make out before chugging his new bottle. I watch more of the drink miss his mouth and slither down his lips and to his chin. [[‘Help’ him get it.]] [[Grab a bottle.]] [[Figure out what happens next.]]

<> <<set $zsPub = true>> <<endnobr>> I smirk as I lean forward, stopping him as he looks at me in confusion, I motion for him to come closer, and once he does, I lick the trail of alcohol. He stands completely still as I move my mouth to his lips, tasting the cheap whiskey that has settled on his lips, and that still remains on his tongue. I can feel my body heat growing once again as I attempt to deepen the kiss, forgetting that a bar counter rests between us. I pull back with a grumble and Zillah <<if $zsStore>>laughs<<else>>hisses<</if>>. <<if $zsStore>>\ “You really didn’t get enough in the store?” he questions, trailing his finger down my cheek. “I could ask you the same thing?” I whisper against his lips, wishing I had a magic wand that could just make this counter disappear. “I never get enough of you,” he mumbles into my mouth. <<else>>\ “Don’t you dare try and be a tease right now, $name. You said you wanted to focus on … this,” Zillah says and motions to our surroundings, “back at the store.” “What’s one innocent kiss?” I ask, leaning back in, wanting, needing, to taste him again. He doesn’t draw back like I expect him too; instead, he mumbles into my mouth, “nothing we do is ever innocent.” <</if>>\ The kiss is anything but gentle. It was almost like a battle, both of us trying to come out on top and prove our dominance to the other. I wonder if I could even call it much of a kiss as much as it was a mashing of our lips. Neither of us cared, we just wanted to taste every inch of the other. To be able to walk away and say that we have laid claim. Zillah pulls back, dragging his tongue along my bottom lip before taking it between his teeth. I release a small whimper, both our eyes opening to look into the other's. Nothing but desire and lust resides within his eyes, and I know mine is a reflection of the same heat and want. “Fuck this counter,” Zillah mumbles, but is unable to do anything about it, and so I take charge. I hoist myself up and inch over to his side, resting my legs on either side of him and wrapping my legs around his frame, bringing him closer. He doesn’t fight or argue at all, kissing me even harder than before. I can feel his member perk up, and my own aches begin to come alive, groaning in need. [[Continue->ZS2]]

I grab a bottle and do the same thing he does, though I take how much I drink in consideration. I know my limit, and though I wanted a buzz, I didn’t want to wander around this crazy ass town, drunk. I stare at the contents in the bottle, silence setting in as the two of us quietly drink. It was a pleasant silence, one that didn’t demand anything from either of us. I could never tell what Zillah was thinking, especially when he was staring off into the distance. His eyes always grew cloudy, and his face was void of all emotion. It was sometimes like he wasn’t even present, like he had checked out, leaving a ‘will be back soon’ sign on his forehead. I think about the others, Sydero, Bradley, and Chris. Especially Chris. I hope he was okay, after literally being picked up by that spirit. I wonder if Sydero and Bradley had stayed back to help him or if they ran off like Zillah, and I did. I could imagine how frustrated they probably were since we said we wouldn’t split up. “Hey, Zillah,” I start but stop when I feel myself grow cold. My eyes widen as I stare at the apparition sitting down the bar, casually sipping on a ghostly cup. “You see that too, right?” Zillah whispers, and I nod, both of us staring at what looked to be a man in a business suit. His hair was ruffled, and even though he was a ghost, he had all the tells of having a bad night and not being able to sleep. [[Continue->Zillah3]]

I stretch in my seat and then turn to look at Zillah, “so what happens now? We just keep darting from building to building, hoping we don’t die?” “You say it like it’s not a great idea.” “It seems simple, I guess. And what about the others?” “Chris is probably dead,” Zillah states and takes a chug, he smacks his lip and stares up at the ceiling in thought, “yea, no, he’s definitely dead.” “Zillah,” I growl, my stomach turning uneasily. I really didn’t need anyone dying while we were out here. “The spirit world will be so confused,” he laughs, ignoring me, “a werewolf that’s actually a human spirit is wandering around now. Wow, it must suck to die on Halloween.” “That’s enough,” I manage to get out when it feels like the temperature suddenly drops. My eyes widen as I glance around and find myself staring at an apparition sitting down the bar, casually sipping on a ghostly cup. “You see that too, right?” Zillah whispers, and I nod, both of us staring at what looked to be a man in a business suit. His hair was ruffled, and even though he was a ghost, he had all the tells of having a bad night and not being able to sleep. [[Continue->Zillah3]]

By the time I realize what’s going on, I realize that my pants were now around my ankles, Zillah’s hand caressing the inner side of my thigh. He squeezes it and trails his finger along it in a teasing manner. <<if $showec>>\ In my mind, I smirk, fiddling with his pants as he continues to tease me mercilessly, pulling groans that die upon reaching his mouth. Yet, each moan I utter increases his movements. Suddenly, he jerks, and I finally stop the kiss as I glance into his dark brown eyes, smirking victoriously. My hand strokes his member, and he buries his face into my neck as I increase my pace. “Someone was extremely hard,” I whisper into Zillah’s ear. When he tries to speak, I tease him, slowing my movements but increasing my grip slightly, enough to feel him shake. I hear him growl, something so primal that it causes me to instantly perk up. It was a growl that I’ve heard only so many times before, a rumble that meant I was in control, and he didn’t like it. But he wasn’t about to stop it either. I concentrate on jerking him off, wanting to make him cum when he shifts. His heated voice is right up against my ear, and through gritted teeth, he says, “$name. I. Need. To. Fuck. You. Now.” His words alone are enough to almost send me over the edge, and I release him so he can do just that. <<else>>\ In my mind, I smirk, fiddling with his pants as he continues to tease me mercilessly, pulling groans that die upon reaching his mouth. Yet, each moan I utter increases his movements. Suddenly, he jerks, and I finally stop the kiss as I glance into his dark brown eyes, smirking victoriously. “Someone was extremely hard,” I whisper into Zillah’s ear. When he tries to speak, I tease him, slowing my movements but increasing my grip slightly, enough to feel him shake. I hear him growl, something so primal that it causes me to instantly perk up. It was a growl that I’ve heard only so many times before, a rumble that meant I was in control, and he didn’t like it. But he wasn’t about to stop it either. I concentrate on wanting to make him release all that pent up energy. His heated voice is right up against my ear, and through gritted teeth, he says, “$name. I. Need. To. Fuck. You. Now.” His words alone are enough to almost send me over the edge, and I release him so he can do just that. <</if>>\ As soon as I do, though, a cold chill runs up my spine. It was as if the temperature of the room had just plummeted. I freeze, my eyes jumping from corner to corner until I see him. At the end of the bar sits an apparition. His hair was ruffled, and even though he was a ghost, he had all the tells of having a bad night and not being able to sleep. “You see that too, right?” I question in fear, and Zillah nods. He moves away from me and immediately pulls his pants back up. I do the same, both of our eyes staying on the ghost. [[Continue->Zillah3]]

We both glare at the ghost that minds his business, casually sipping from a drink that is as spectral as he. “We should go,” Zillah mumbles to me, “before he turns into some psycho spirt and tries to murder us.” Without waiting for me to agree or disagree, Zillah straightens up and heads towards a door that leads to the back. [[Follow him out.]] [[Talk to the spirit.]]

I follow Zillah slowly, checking numerous times to see if the spirit was going to follow us, or attack. When he doesn’t, I pause. He wasn’t like the other spirits we came across. He was now the second spirit not to attack us on sight, the other one being the girl who led us into town in the first place. I wonder why some of them were so vicious and why others were like him, benevolent. Zillah taps my shoulder and walks out of the building. With one last look at the lone man, I follow behind him. [[Continue->Zillah4]]

<> <<set $zspirit2 = true>> <<endnobr>> <<if $zspirit1>>\ I watch as Zillah leaves, but I don’t move to follow. Like before, I stay where I am, wishing to speak to the spirit that sits so close by. Unlike last time, Zillah doesn't leave. Once he realizes that I’m not moving, he stops and turns to me, throwing a scowl my way and asking me with his body language what the deal was. <<else>>\ I watch as Zillah leaves, but I don’t move to follow. Once he realizes that I’m not moving, he stops and turns to me, asking me with his body language what the deal was. <</if>>\ I turn my attention back to the spirit. [[“Yo, Casper? We’re closed.”]] [[“Slow day, huh?”]]

“Yo, Casper,” I bark, “the place is closed. I want to go home.” I snicker to myself, recalling how many people I had to say that too back at my old job. Chris never liked to kick people out, always thinking about future tips. I, on the other hand, had a limit, and those who chose to stay when it was obvious they should be going, always met it. “Just one more, Jack,” he begs, looking over at me. No sign of recollection enters his eyes, though that might just be because I couldn’t tell due to him being semi-transparent. “You said that two hours ago,” I chide, ignoring Zillah’s groans. He sighs, “that’s true. Won’t even let the mayor off, huh?” I cock my head to the side as I look at him again. It would explain the suit, but that was little else. I know government officials didn’t have the easiest time, but he looked like he wanted to drown in the drink in front of him. To do more than forget a long day. He wanted that drink to be his poison, and the pub to be his grave. “Sorry, sir. But I need to get home to the Mister,” I shoot Zillah a look, “he’s terribly impatient.” “I’ll show you impatient,” Zillah growls and marches over to me. “Well then,” the mayor begins, not seeming to have heard Zillah, “I’m sorry for keeping you. It’s not like this drink will help me out anyway. I feel much like the liquid in this cup, stuck and unable to escape unless someone else comes along and helps me out. But the only way for them to do that is to take away my freedom, to devour me. Sometimes, I wonder if that’s all I want.” Zillah is at my side now, both of us staring at the mayor who continues to mumble. The sorrow in his voice is enough to make me feel some kind of sympathy. I don’t know what he’s talking about, what caused him to want to end it, and somehow, I feel like even he is still asking himself that. He looks up at me, “if you see that rotten son of a bitch tell him that he can rot in hell for what he’s doing to me and my family. For what he’s making me do, or I suppose what he's making me not do.” The cup in his hands shatters due to his grip, “and tell her, tell her that I’m so sorry. I’m so very sorry.” He sobs, and before I can question him further, he disappears. Zillah and I stand in silence, neither of us knowing what to say. [[Continue->Zillah4]]

“Slow day, huh?” I ask, attempting to play the part of a bartender, not exactly hard to do thanks to my past jobs. “Indeed it is, what time is it anyway?” “No offense, but it’s time you get home, and I close up.” “Ah, just one more, Jack,” he begs, looking over at me. No sign of recollection enters his eyes, though that might just be because I couldn’t tell due to him being semi-transparent. “You said that two hours ago,” I chide, ignoring Zillah’s groans. He sighs, “that’s true. Won’t even let the mayor off, huh?” I cock my head to the side as I look at him again. It would explain the suit, but that was little else. I know government officials didn’t have the easiest time, but he looked like he wanted to drown in the drink in front of him. To do more than forget a long day. He wanted that drink to be his poison, and the pub to be his grave. “Sorry, sir. But I need to get home to the Mister,” I shoot Zillah a look, “he’s terribly impatient.” “I’ll show you impatient,” Zillah growls and marches over to me. “Well then,” the mayor begins, not seeming to have heard Zillah, “I’m sorry for keeping you. It’s not like this drink will help me out anyway. I feel much like the liquid in this cup, stuck and unable to escape unless someone else comes along and helps me out. But the only way for them to do that is to take away my freedom, to devour me. Sometimes, I wonder if that’s all I want.” Zillah is at my side now, both of us staring at the mayor who continues to mumble. The sorrow in his voice is enough to make me feel some kind of sympathy. I don’t know what he’s talking about, what caused him to want to end it, and somehow, I feel like even he is still asking himself that. He looks up at me, “if you see that rotten son of a bitch tell him that he can rot in hell for what he’s doing to me and my family. For what he’s making me do, or I suppose what he's making me not do.” The cup in his hands shatters due to his grip, “and tell her, tell her that I’m so sorry. I’m so very sorry.” He sobs, and before I can question him further, he disappears. Zillah and I stand in silence, neither of us knowing what to say. [[Continue->Zillah4]]

<<if $zspirit2>>\ I follow behind Zillah as we walk down the street. He was making sure nothing was coming for us while I think about what the mayor had said. Whether he knew he was dead or not was unknown, but whatever was going on had to be a strong enough reason for him to be stuck here. “Is this normal?” I ask Zillah, breaking the silence and causing him to jump. “Is what normal?” “The spirits here? What could have happened to have all of them stuck?” “Don’t know, don’t care.” <<if $zspirit1>>\ I continue on, ignoring his remark, “and there was that girl in the store. She was the one that had been chasing us in the beginning. When I spoke to her, she said that she wanted me to tell some girl she was sorry as well. Something about how she couldn’t protect her and stuff.” “Stop,” Zillah pleads, stopping me by resting his hands on my shoulders, “I care less about these spirits and more about us not becoming one ... well, you anyway.” “But what if we need to figure out what’s going on to escape? What if this is one of those times where the spirits want justice or for their stories to be heard, and that’s the only way we can get rid of them and escape?” “I know a few other ways to make spirits piss off,” he grumbles and turns to walk again, “and it has nothing to do with hearing their shitty ass stories.” <</if>>\ <<else>>\ I follow behind Zillah as we walk down the street. He was making sure nothing was coming for us while I think about the others. Could they be going through what we were? What if they were alone, though? I think about Bradley being on his own, surrounded by malevolent ghosts and their unknown intentions. I shudder, but reassure myself, Bradley was smart, smarter than us, especially when it came to the supernatural. If anyone was fine, it was him. The same couldn’t be said about Chris. If I should be worried about anyone, it was him. <</if>>\ As we walk, the whispering returns. We both pause, glancing around but seeing nothing. The whispering grows louder and louder, upgrading from a whisper to full-on yelling. I don’t see it, but a gust of wind strikes me, knocking me to the floor with its fury. “$name,” Zillah shouts and grabs my hand, helping me back up and then pulling me behind him. The wails increase, the wind hitting us viciously as we rely on one another to stay upright. We run into the nearest building just as another wind comes by, smashing up against the glass. [[Continue->Zillah5]]

“I’m so sick of running into random buildings!” Zillah shouts, pounding the glass, “how many buildings are on this stupid road, anyway?” As he rants, I take a look around. It was an antique store filled with pottery, crafts, paintings, jewelry, and other things that I suppose someone would constitute as ‘antique.’ Like all antique stores, it was horribly cluttered, the walking space small, and one still had to shimmy and shift to make sure they didn’t bump into one of the display tables. If one could get past the clutter, then it was actually the only building so far that looked like it could still be open to the public. The cobwebs went with the aesthetic, and the bright wallpaper and tiled floor only gave the building flair. [[Check out the statues.]] [[Look at all the clocks.]] [[Examine the dolls.]]

I go over to a few statues, all of them looking like they were made to model one of the ancient long-dead presidents. Each was black with a few scratches here and there where silver could be seen. The statues had apparent flaws, but they seemed to actually fit. As if the sculptor knew of the weaknesses and refused to fix them, knowing that perhaps the flaws were what made it beautiful. I turn when I hear something break, looking to see Zillah ignoring my gaze and a broken vase at his feet. “Seriously?” “In my defense, it looks better now than before,” he snorts and walks up a glass sculpture. “Zillah,” I say as soon as he swats it off of the shelf. [[“Why are you so destructive!”]] [[“You are such a cat.”]] [[“Feeling better?”]]

On one side of the room, all the way in the back, was a series of clocks. Some of them hung on the walls, others sat on the tables, and a few were grandfather clocks. Each clock reflects the time 3:33, the devil’s hour. Of course, a town like this would be stuck on //that// hour. I turn when I hear something break, looking to see Zillah ignoring my gaze and a broken vase at his feet. “Seriously?” “In my defense, it looks better now than before,” he snorts and walks up a glass sculpture. “Zillah,” I say as soon as he swats it off of the shelf. [[“Why are you so destructive!”]] [[“You are such a cat.”]] [[“Feeling better?”]]

Weirdly enough, the dolls weren’t creepy. None of them were ventriloquist dolls or had the faces that you would think the evil dolls from the movies would have. They were each small and friendly-looking. If they were possessed, then I wouldn’t judge the person who bought them. I look at one that looked like a woman with three ginger pigtails. Unlike the others, she wasn’t happy. Her smile was downturned just a bit, giving her more of a worried expression. I turn when I hear something break, looking to see Zillah ignoring my gaze and a broken vase at his feet. “Seriously?” “In my defense, it looks better now than before,” he snorts and walks up a glass sculpture. “Zillah,” I say as soon as he swats it off of the shelf. [[“Why are you so destructive!”]] [[“You are such a cat.”]] [[“Feeling better?”]]

“Why are you so destructive?” I ask, looking around him to see if there was anything else he could destroy, more so to prepare myself and not be jump scared again. “Would you believe me if I say it’s because I hate places like this?” “Yes, Sydero hates Halloween, and you hate small towns. I know this.” “No, well, yes. But I mean antique stores. I hate them a whole lot more than small towns.” “Wait, really? Why?” He shrugs, his frown deepening as he looks at a piece of pottery. He throws it up in the air and catches it, “it reminds me of … nothing, never mind.” “Nope, too late,” I tell him, taking a seat on a comfortable couch. I kick my feet up and stretch, feeling comfortable though I wonder how long that’ll last. It’ll be just my luck that I’ll look to my left and see some ghost ball staring back at me. “It reminds me of me, okay?” he hisses, throwing the pottery up again, but this time he walks away before he can catch it. I watch as gravity does its job, and it hits the ground. “Antiques remind you of yourself?” “Yea … old, easily replaceable, and out of date. Simply around for people to stare and gawk at and then move on. Points for those who can only point and say, ‘oh, that looks cool. What the hell is it?’” He sighs, gazing down at another glass figurine but moving on, either he didn’t feel up to it, or he was tired of breaking stuff, I was guessing the former. [[“Wonder if you can get a job with those adjectives.”]] [[“Mr. Cocky says what?”]] [[“I’d disagree.”]]

I’m between laughing and scolding him as I shake my head, “I swear you are such a cat. You know this, right?” He shrugs, eyeing his next victim. “No! Stop! Why do you keep destroying things?” “Would you believe me if I say it’s because I hate places like this?” “Yes, Sydero hates Halloween, and you hate small towns. I know this.” “No, well, yes. But I mean antique stores. I hate them a whole lot more than small towns.” “Wait, really? Why?” He shrugs, his frown deepening as he looks at a piece of pottery. He throws it up in the air and catches it, “it reminds me of … nothing, never mind.” “Nope, too late,” I tell him, taking a seat on a comfortable couch. I kick my feet up and stretch, feeling comfortable though I wonder how long that’ll last. It’ll be just my luck that I’ll look to my left and see some ghost ball staring back at me. “It reminds me of me, okay?” he hisses, throwing the pottery up again, but this time he walks away before he can catch it. I watch as gravity does its job, and it hits the ground. “Antiques remind you of yourself?” “Yea … old, easily replaceable, and out of date. Simply around for people to stare and gawk at and then move on. Points for those who can only point and say, ‘oh, that looks cool. What the hell is it?’” He sighs, gazing down at another glass figurine but moving on, either he didn’t feel up to it, or he was tired of breaking stuff, I was guessing the former. [[“Wonder if you can get a job with those adjectives.”]] [[“Mr. Cocky says what?”]] [[“I’d disagree.”]]

“You feel better?” I question sarcastically, “you big baby.” “Nope, not yet,” he mumbles, eyeing his next victim. “Must you destroy everything? Even if it is easily destroyable?” “Would you believe me if I say it’s because I hate places like this?” “Yes, Sydero hates Halloween, and you hate small towns. I know this.” “No, well, yes. But I mean antique stores. I hate them a whole lot more than small towns.” “Wait, really? Why?” He shrugs, his frown deepening as he looks at a piece of pottery. He throws it up in the air and catches it, “it reminds me of … nothing, never mind.” “Nope, too late,” I tell him, taking a seat on a comfortable couch. I kick my feet up and stretch, feeling comfortable though I wonder how long that’ll last. It’ll be just my luck that I’ll look to my left and see some ghost ball staring back at me. “It reminds me of me, okay?” he hisses, throwing the pottery up again, but this time he walks away before he can catch it. I watch as gravity does its job, and it hits the ground. “Antiques remind you of yourself?” “Yea … old, easily replaceable, and out of date. Simply around for people to stare and gawk at and then move on. Points for those who can only point and say, ‘oh, that looks cool. What the hell is it?’” He sighs, gazing down at another glass figurine but moving on, either he didn’t feel up to it, or he was tired of breaking stuff, I was guessing the former. [[“Wonder if you can get a job with those adjectives.”]] [[“Mr. Cocky says what?”]] [[“I’d disagree.”]]

I stroke my chin as he continues walking, “I wonder if you can get a job with those adjectives? Describe yourself in three words: old, easily replaceable, and out of date.” I chuckle and clap my hands, “yea, probably not.” I think Zillah would laugh along, but he again looks like he’s somewhere else. In his hands is a beautiful golden and blue vase that looks like it could be Egyptian. Colorful hieroglyphics circle the entire thing, but even I could tell it was a fake. The shine was absent, and the material didn’t exactly seem like the ones one would find in a museum. I watch as his hands shake, ready to drop the vase and watch it shatter. But he stops. With careful and steady hands, he puts the vessel back and walks on. “You act like I just came up with those words out of the blue,” he finally says, proving to me that he had heard me before, “I’ve lived what they were. Like how someone lives the word survival or hope, or fear.” He walks over to me, looking at me and turning his deep, concentrated frown into a playful and flirtatious smirk. “But whatever,” he tells me, leaning in and placing a light kiss on my lips, “I can think of better things to do right now.” [[“Whoa, what?”]] [[“Nope, not changing the conversation.”]] [[“Yep, like talk about you.”]]

“Wait, hold up,” I say and lean forward, “Mr. Cocky says what now? Are you actually putting yourself down?” He doesn’t answer, and he’s stopped moving as well. In his hands is a beautiful golden and blue vase that looks like it could be Egyptian. Colorful hieroglyphics circle the entire thing, but even I could tell it was a fake. The shine was absent, and the material didn’t exactly seem like the ones one would find in a museum. I watch as his hands shake, ready to drop the vase and watch it shatter. But he stops. With careful and steady hands, he puts the vessel back and walks on. “You act like I just came up with those words out of the blue,” he finally says, proving to me that he had heard me before, “I’ve lived what they were. Like how someone lives the word survival or hope, or fear.” He walks over to me, looking at me and turning his deep, concentrated frown into a playful and flirtatious smirk. “But whatever,” he tells me, leaning in and placing a light kiss on my lips, “I can think of better things to do right now.” [[“Whoa, what?”]] [[“Nope, not changing the conversation.”]] [[“Yep, like talk about you.”]]

“I would have to disagree with you there,” I say, stroking my chin in thought, “I seriously don’t even understand where you even came up with that.” I look over at him, thinking that he was still moving but find that he had stopped. He doesn’t seem to be paying attention to me anymore. In his hands is a beautiful golden and blue vase that looks like it could be Egyptian. Colorful hieroglyphics circle the entire thing, but even I could tell it was a fake. The shine was absent, and the material didn’t exactly seem like the ones one would find in a museum. I watch as his hands shake, ready to drop the vase and watch it shatter. But he stops. With careful and steady hands, he puts the vessel back and walks on. “You act like I just came up with those words out of the blue,” he finally says, proving to me that he had heard me before, “I’ve lived what they were. Like how someone lives the word survival or hope, or fear.” He walks over to me, looking at me and turning his deep, concentrated frown into a playful and flirtatious smirk. “But whatever,” he tells me, leaning in and placing a light kiss on my lips, “I can think of better things to do right now.” [[“Whoa, what?”]] [[“Nope, not changing the conversation.”]] [[“Yep, like talk about you.”]]

“What, what? You can’t just shift gears like that. Stop changing the conversation.” “The conversation was about me, and it was boring.” He sits down beside me and gives me a puppy dog look, one I have to look away from. “Just forget about it,” he tells me, trailing his finger along my arm. He was a fan of doing this, something I’ve realized long ago. If anything got too deep, he would immediately try to bring sex into the picture to change the subject. Sometimes, it worked. Other times, it didn’t. “Zillah,” I sigh and glance back over at the vessel he had put down a minute ago, “why not that one?” At first, he narrows his gaze in confusion, but then he follows my gaze to where the Egyptian vase rests, unshattered. His entire body language shifts as he stares into the distance. Finally, he looks down at his hands. “I hate symbolic shit,” he mumbles. “What did you see in it?” “Me?” he questions more than says, “fake, detached, trying to be something it wasn’t. It was posed to look like the real thing, but it’s not, and it never will be. It’s too late, it was made from the wrong things and well … I can’t say I’m much different.” “Correct me if I’m wrong, but back when you were alive, you were Egyptian, right?” “Yea,” he mumbles. He hadn’t yet told me about those days. He always got horribly quiet when I brought it up. [[Give him three adjectives that describes him.]] [[“You’re not a fake.”]] [[Hug him.]]

“Nope, I’m not about to let you change the conversation just like that. Continue on, why do you feel like that?” He takes a seat and rolls his eyes. “Just forget about it,” he tells me, trailing his finger along my arm. He was a fan of doing this, something I’ve realized long ago. If anything got too deep, he would immediately try to bring sex into the picture to change the subject. Sometimes, it worked. Other times, it didn’t. “Zillah,” I sigh and glance back over at the vessel he had put down a minute ago, “why not that one?” At first, he narrows his gaze in confusion, but then he follows my gaze to where the Egyptian vase rests, unshattered. His entire body language shifts as he stares into the distance. Finally, he looks down at his hands. “I hate symbolic shit,” he mumbles. “What did you see in it?” “Me?” he questions more than says, “fake, detached, trying to be something it wasn’t. It was posed to look like the real thing, but it’s not, and it never will be. It’s too late, it was made from the wrong things and well … I can’t say I’m much different.” “Correct me if I’m wrong, but back when you were alive, you were Egyptian, right?” “Yea,” he mumbles. He hadn’t yet told me about those days. He always got horribly quiet when I brought it up. [[Give him three adjectives that describes him.]] [[“You’re not a fake.”]] [[Hug him.]]

“Yep, like talk about you, which we were just doing.” “And it was a boring conversation.” He sits down beside me and gives me a puppy dog look, one I have to look away from. “Just forget about it,” he tells me, trailing his finger along my arm. He was a fan of doing this, something I’ve realized long ago. If anything got too deep, he would immediately try to bring sex into the picture to change the subject. Sometimes, it worked. Other times, it didn’t. “Zillah,” I sigh and glance back over at the vessel he had put down a minute ago, “why not that one?” At first, he narrows his gaze in confusion, but then he follows my gaze to where the Egyptian vase rests, unshattered. His entire body language shifts as he stares into the distance. Finally, he looks down at his hands. “I hate symbolic shit,” he mumbles. “What did you see in it?” “Me?” he questions more than says, “fake, detached, trying to be something it wasn’t. It was posed to look like the real thing, but it’s not, and it never will be. It’s too late, it was made from the wrong things and well … I can’t say I’m much different.” “Correct me if I’m wrong, but back when you were alive, you were Egyptian, right?” “Yea,” he mumbles. He hadn’t yet told me about those days. He always got horribly quiet when I brought it up. [[Give him three adjectives that describes him.]] [[“You’re not a fake.”]] [[Hug him.]]

I pout and look into the distance, “protective,” I start. He looks over at me, raising a brow at the random word that I decided to say. “Definitely a soft spot even though he will never admit it, and destructive, I’m not gonna lie there. Though it’s not always bad.” “What are you talking about, $name?” “You. Giving you the three adjectives I think of. Didn’t want to add in horny, but you could definitely switch that up with the destructive one. Really, it’s hard to describe you in three adjectives at all. You’re …” I look over at him, and my eyes soften considerably, “you’re much more complex than that.” His eyes widen before dropping to the ground, and he mumbles, “thanks, $name.” “I liked this vase.” The two of us jump, my heart thumping dramatically at the new voice. “Are you fucking serious?” Zillah shouts to the apparition that stands in front of one of the shattered antiques, “we were having a moment you ghostly fuck.” The ghost seems to ignore him, still staring down at the ground, “I really liked this vase. I knew the sculptor and everything … I was going to buy it …” “You’re dead, get over it,” Zillah shouts, “I swear …” As Zillah goes on a tirade, I watch the spirit with apprehension. Much like the spirit in the pub, this one seemed in their own world, but it was more than that. They were here with us, knew of our presence. It was benevolent, at the moment. But something about it made my skin crawl. [[Try and talk to them.]] [[Tell Zillah you need to go.]]

I rest my hand on his shoulder, a mix of anger and sadness in my voice as I say, “you’re not a fake.” “Don’t try and make me feel better,” he starts, attempting to move my hand, but I increase the pressure. He glances from it to me, raising a brow. “Does it look like I’m trying to make you feel better? When have I ever been nice to you because I wanted to spare your feelings?” The question was said bluntly, but it was also severely accurate. Zillah knew me far too well, and so when dealing with him, I had to do somethings differently. White lies were a waste of breath, most lies were. He could take the truth, and so that’s what I gave him, feelings hurt or not. He doesn’t look at me, but he does rest his hand on top of mine. He finally picks up his gaze to look at me, admiration and thankfulness in his eyes. “I liked this vase.” The two of us jump, my heart thumping dramatically at the new voice. “Are you fucking serious?” Zillah shouts to the apparition that stands in front of one of the shattered antiques, “we were having a moment you ghostly fuck.” The ghost seems to ignore him, still staring down at the ground, “I really liked this vase. I knew the sculptor and everything … I was going to buy it …” “You’re dead, get over it,” Zillah shouts, “I swear …” As Zillah goes on a tirade, I watch the spirit with apprehension. Much like the spirit in the pub, this one seemed in their own world, but it was more than that. They were here with us, knew of our presence. It was benevolent, at the moment. But something about it made my skin crawl. [[Try and talk to them.]] [[Tell Zillah you need to go.]]

I surge forward and wrap my arms around his muscular frame, burying my face in his shoulder. At first, he doesn’t return the hug. He’s tremendously stiff, and I could just bet that he saw this as more of a pity hug than anything else. “I hate symbolic shit, too,” I mumble and feel him chuckle, his arms finally capturing me. The way he returns the hug makes me feel like just holding me wasn’t enough for him. It was as if he had to feel every ounce of me. It wasn’t a hug that was worried that if he let go, I’d disappear, quite the opposite. It was a hug that knew there would be more moments further along the way. A hug that wanted to cherish the moment but was looking forward to the future. “I liked this vase.” The two of us jump apart, my heart thumping dramatically at the new voice. “Are you fucking serious?” Zillah shouts to the apparition that stands in front of one of the shattered antiques, “we were having a moment you ghostly fuck.” The ghost seems to ignore him, still staring down at the ground, “I really liked this vase. I knew the sculptor and everything … I was going to buy it …” “You’re dead, get over it,” Zillah shouts, “I swear …” As Zillah goes on a tirade, I watch the spirit with apprehension. Much like the spirit in the pub, this one seemed in their own world, but it was more than that. They were here with us, knew of our presence. It was benevolent, at the moment. But something about it made my skin crawl. [[Try and talk to them.]] [[Tell Zillah you need to go.]]

“Zillah, stop upsetting them,” I growl, but Zillah rolls his eyes and continues on. The ghost doesn’t seem affected, their eyes still on the vase. I had a hard time comprehending that it was really this upset over broken pottery. The look in their eye made it seem like they were trying to glue the pieces back together by staring at it alone. “Do you want me to tell //her// that you’re sorry?” I question the spirit, and the ghost finally looks up at me, shock in their eyes. “I didn’t do anything!” they shout, their body shaking profusely, “it wasn’t my fault, it was his. None of this is my fault!” Tears well up in their eyes, but their anger grows, “why does everyone keep blaming me? I didn’t do that to her. I didn’t take and kill her!” “Hey,” I start, speaking in a low and gentle voice, “I didn’t say you –” “I’m innocent!” they scream, and a black mist shoots off from their body as they begin to convulse. “$name!” Zillah shouts, grabbing me and yanking me close, shielding me with his body. I hear him growl in pain before releasing me, his eyes filled with anger as he turns and stares daggers at the ghost turned ghoul. My eyes widen at the patch of skin on his back that was now boiling. “We need to get out of here,” I tell Zillah, somehow finding my voice as I continue to look at his injury. I take a step back and make a run from the door, but Zillah grabs me at the last minute. The black mist from earlier spreads across the walls and ceiling. “Unless you want to get acid burn, don’t touch it.” He says it calmly, but his hand is shaking, “whatever's happening might not be their fault, but this,” Zillah says with a smirk and motions to the black mist that now exists all around us, “this is definitely yours.” I shoot him a look that he laughs at. Though I wasn’t about to take full blame for this, he was right … we were now stuck. [[Continue->Zillah6]]

<> <<set $needtogo = true>> <<endnobr>> I stand, keeping one eye on him before quickly looking around for an exit. I can only make out the front, but it was safe enough. This spirit was right across from us; if we left now, then we could probably make it to the door, no problem. “Zillah,” I mumble, inching towards it, “we need to go.” <<if $zspirit2>>\ “You got to talk to your ghost, now it’s my turn to cuss one out,” he tells me and shifts his attention back to the ghostly figure. <<else>>\ “Sure, as soon as I give this spirit a piece of my mind. I’m sick of them and their friends.” <</if>>/ I shift uneasily, pulling on Zillah’s hand, “please. I really don’t think this spirit is going to be happy when it learns you broke the vase.” The room drops in temperature, similar to the pub scene. We both slowly look over at the spirit who is now glaring at us. “You broke it?” they question. Their form begins to sporadically twist, slowly turning into a grayish toned ghoul. “You’re such a snitch,” Zillah hisses at me. I glare at him before making a run for the door, only for it to be blocked by a black mist. Before I can touch it, Zillah yanks me back to his side. “Unless you want to get acid burn, don’t touch it.” He says it calmly, but his hand is shaking. I turn to see that the mist was covering the walls and ceiling of the building … we were stuck. [[Continue->Zillah6]]

I press closer to Zillah as I eye the mist. I really just wanted to get out of here now, I was so sick of ghosts and ghouls and … roads … <<if $needtogo>>\ Zillah clears his throat, “well, if we’re about to die here, then I just have one thing to say.” I turn to him fully, raising a brow. He turns on his heel so that he was facing the ghoul and points an accusing finger at them, “that vase was fucking atrocious, I'm happy I broke it.” <<else>>\ Zillah clears his throat, “well, if we’re about to die here, then I just have one thing to say.” I turn to him fully, raising a brow. He turns on his heel so that he was facing the ghoul and points an accusing finger at them, “they were right, this is all your fault.” <</if>>\ My eyes widen, and so does the ghoul’s, it lets out an ear-splitting scream, and the black mist coating the building shoots towards the malevolent being, before turning its ire on Zillah. Zillah looks at me and winks, raising his hand. His hand turns into a black tendril, and he shoots it towards me. I’m pushed out of the door and sent sliding across the road, my body aching as my mind frantically tries to catch up. I glance up and see the antique store’s window wholly shrouded in black from the inside. I hear a scream that was much too deep to be the ghoul’s, and my heart leaps out of its chest. “Zillah!” I shout, rushing towards the door and banging on it, but nothing budges. I try everything from banging on the glass to kicking it. But of course, everything fails. I could do nothing; Zillah was dying inside, and I could do nothing! Besides one thing … [[Wake up!->Zillah7]]

I open my eyes, shooting up and gazing around the dark motel room. Bradley raises a brow as he looks over at me, the light of his laptop highlighting his features as he sips from an energy drink. In the nearby bed, Sydero starfishes the bed while Chris sleeps on the floor, probably bullied off the bed by Sydero. I close my eyes and glance at my side, finding a sleeping Zillah. “That was … some dream,” I state, letting out a relieved breath, “I think I see why you don’t sleep now, Bradley.” “Yea, because reality is so much better,” he snorts in sarcasm, “but my hands are getting sore, so tell me, what was your dream about?” “We were headed to a Halloween party and then made the wrong turn on some road that didn’t exist. It was this ghost town full of some pretty malicious spirits. One got their hands-on Zillah,” I pause, glancing back over at Zillah and taking a deep breath in before shaking my head. “And this is seriously not helping me out right now,” I say, opening my eyes and looking at the antique building that still stood in front of me. “I wish this was just a damn dream!” I yell, my voice being swallowed by the fog that rests overhead. At least in my dream Zillah was still there. My heart aches as I try to come to terms with what happened. “Talking to yourself now?” Zillah questions, appearing at my side, gazing down at me like I was the crazy one. I look back at the antique shop whose windows are still covered in black. “I’m not by your side for five minutes, and you descend into madness? What a waste.” [[Hit him.]] [[Pinch myself.]] [[Kiss him.]]

I shoot to my feet and look him up and down, punching him as hard as possible. “The hell, $name?” he growls, moving away from me and clutching his arm, “whether you know this or not, your ass isn’t weak, and my body is still recovering from being boiled and singed. Damn, that shit hurt …” “So, you are real?” I question. “Did you really have to punch me to figure out if I’m real or not? How would you feel if I slapped you every morning because I thought I was dreaming? Idiot,” he mumbles. “But … how?” “You could’ve just asked that instead of assaulting me,” he says matter-of-factly. He stretches out his back and looks at his arms, “I told you, I know how to get rid of spirits.” “And you couldn’t tell me you had a plan before taking the suicidal route?” “Not suicide,” he corrects, “I told you that my body can get injured, but as long as my soul is alive and bound, I technically can’t die. Secondly, explaining a spur of the moment idea kinda takes away the spur of the moment part.” “Why now? When we’ve had so many other spirits on our butt?” “They didn’t put your life in danger,” he points out, “and as you can see. I don’t like turning myself into a spirit bomb just to destroy some ant. Do you destroy every insect you come across, or do you just go about your life?” I hug him, taking in a few deep breaths. “Don’t do that again, got it?” I question, squeezing. Zillah hugs me back before pushing me away, giving me a stern look. “No, I don't. If it means saving your life, then I'll gladly do that shit all over again.Also, they didn’t say anything more informative. They literally just repeated that it wasn’t their fault and then thanked me for killing them or sending them on.” “You sent them to the next stage?” “Yea. And now I want to go to the next stage,” Zillah points down the street, “out of here.” He takes a step and stumbles. His body might have healed, but he was unquestionably out of energy. I’m about to tell him as much when I groan inwardly, the sound of wails heard further down the street. It would seem that if we spent too long on the road, then it attracted these annoyances. Zillah appears to realize it also, nodding towards a nearby abandoned factory. [[Help him.]] [[Check it out.]]

I look from him to myself and then pinch my arm viciously. “Okay, self-mutilation,” he smirks, “I can dig it.” “I’m not dreaming?” I question, wincing at the pain and rubbing my arm as I look back at a much alive Zillah. “You really are crazy,” he murmurs, “did you really have to pinch yourself when you could’ve just asked?” “But … how?” He stretches out his back and looks at his arms, “I told you, I know how to get rid of spirits.” “And you couldn’t tell me you had a plan before taking the suicidal route?” “Not suicide,” he corrects, “I told you that my body can get injured, but as long as my soul is alive and bound, I technically can’t die. Secondly, explaining a spur of the moment idea kinda takes away the spur of the moment part.” “Why now? When we’ve had so many other spirits on our butt?” “They didn’t put your life in danger,” he points out, “and as you can see. I don’t like turning myself into a spirit bomb just to destroy some ant. Do you destroy every insect you come across, or do you just go about your life?” I hug him, taking in a few deep breaths. “Don’t do that again, got it?” I question, squeezing. Zillah hugs me back before pushing me away, giving me a stern look. “No, I don't. If it means saving your life, then I'll gladly do that shit all over again.Also, they didn’t say anything more informative. They literally just repeated that it wasn’t their fault and then thanked me for killing them or sending them on.” “You sent them to the next stage?” “Yea. And now I want to go to the next stage,” Zillah points down the street, “out of here.” He takes a step and stumbles. His body might have healed, but he was unquestionably out of energy. I’m about to tell him as much when I groan inwardly, the sound of wails heard further down the street. It would seem that if we spent too long on the road, then it attracted these annoyances. Zillah appears to realize it also, nodding towards a nearby abandoned factory. [[Help him.]] [[Check it out.]]

I leap towards him, jumping into his arms and kissing him roughly. It tasted like him, but I suppose a dream could still construct an illusion such as this. The way he runs his hands across my body feels real enough, along with the fact that he was smirking against my lips. I pull back and lower myself back to the ground, giving him a scrutinizing look as he smiles to himself. “No one told me that playing the hero would get me that. If I knew, I probably would’ve switched sides sooner.” “So, you’re not a dream?” I question, and he takes a step forward, roughly grabbing my chin and bringing me closer so that I was up against his chest. “Kiss me again and find out.” I roll my eyes but smile, regardless, “how though?” He stretches out his back and looks at his arms, “I told you, I know how to get rid of spirits.” “And you couldn’t tell me you had a plan before taking the suicidal route?” “Not suicide,” he corrects, “I told you that my body can get injured, but as long as my soul is alive and bound, I technically can’t die. Secondly, explaining a spur of the moment idea kinda takes away the spur of the moment part.” “Why now? When we’ve had so many other spirits on our butt?” “They didn’t put your life in danger,” he points out, “and as you can see. I don’t like turning myself into a spirit bomb just to destroy some ant. Do you destroy every insect you come across, or do you just go about your life?” I hug him, taking in a few deep breaths. “Don’t do that again, got it?” I question, squeezing. Zillah hugs me back before pushing me away, giving me a stern look. “No, I don't. If it means saving your life, then I'll gladly do that shit all over again.Also, they didn’t say anything more informative. They literally just repeated that it wasn’t their fault and then thanked me for killing them or sending them on.” “You sent them to the next stage?” “Yea. And now I want to go to the next stage,” Zillah points down the street, “out of here.” He takes a step and stumbles. His body might have healed, but he was unquestionably out of energy. I’m about to tell him as much when I groan inwardly, the sound of wails heard further down the street. It would seem that if we spent too long on the road, then it attracted these annoyances. Zillah appears to realize it also, nodding towards a nearby abandoned factory. [[Help him.]] [[Check it out.]]

I nudge him and motion for him to rest some of his weight on me so that I could help. He does so, but not without mumbling and rolling his eyes. I ignore him, though, and together we head towards the factory. Once inside, I close the doors and make sure they’re pulled tight. The mill had many floors, but each one seemed just as dangerous as the last. I stay on the bottom, not wanting to think what might happen if I go too far up and a spirit appeared. If it was danger that I was looking for, then the first floor had plenty of it. Despite being the safest floor, blades, broken glass, and other sharp objects litter the ground. Machines I didn’t know the name of lay scattered around, abandoned by the workers that once powered them. A long wooden shaft rests nearby, still looking pretty functional despite the dilapidated surroundings. A few chains dangle overhead, shimmering and glistening when the light hits them. “At least we know we won’t get tetanus,” Zillah points out, gazing over all the wood and the considerable lack of metal. “Technically, you can still get it from wood,” I tell him, popping that bubble of security. He jumps up and lays down on a large wooden table, causing me to raise a brow. “Seriously? I just said you can still get tetanus.” “Then, I get it. Ask me if I care, go on, ask.” I don’t, still gazing around the mill. <<if $costume is "scientist">>\ @@.center; ''YOU UNLOCKED ZILLAH’S BONUS SCENE'' @@ I approach the machines, looking over each of them with interest, “what do you think they used this place for? The town seems pretty old, so whatever it was must’ve been something important, seeing as it was probably how most made their livelihood.” “Ugh, I don’t care, $name,” Zillah intones from his spot. I look at one table, noticing scrapes and the remains of broken glass scattered over it. I glance up, wondering even more what could rest above. “Imagine how cool this would be if it were the factory of some old crazy scientist.” I continue on, though Zillah doesn’t seem to be paying much attention to me anymore. “Plot twist. I’m the old crazy scientist, and this is my horrible factory where I created you.” I jump onto one of the low sitting machines and grab onto the shaft belts, getting a better look at everything. I really wish I could guess what this mill was used for. All I could come up with was textiles. I run my hand down the shaft belt, noting how strong it was but also that it didn’t chafe my hand. [[Continue->ZBS1]] <<else>>\ We wait patiently for some time to pass, both of us eager to get up, but neither of us willing to push Zillah’s recovery. [[Continue->Zillah8]] <</if>>\

While Zillah limps towards the building, I enter to make sure it was safe. The inside was about as run-down as the outside. And so, I hold the doors open as I wait for Zillah to walk in, closing them behind him. The mill had many floors, but each one seemed just as dangerous as the last. I stay on the bottom, not wanting to think what might happen if I go too far up and a spirit appeared. If it was danger that I was looking for, then the first floor had plenty of it. Despite being the safest floor, blades, broken glass, and other sharp objects litter the ground. Machines I didn’t know the name of lay scattered around, abandoned by the workers that once powered them. A long wooden shaft rests nearby, still looking pretty functional despite the dilapidated surroundings. A few chains dangle overhead, shimmering and glistening when the light hits them. “At least we know we won’t get tetanus,” Zillah points out, gazing over all the wood and the considerable lack of metal. “Technically, you can still get it from wood,” I tell him, popping that bubble of security. He jumps up and lays down on a large wooden table, causing me to raise a brow. “Seriously? I just said you can still get tetanus.” “Then, I get it. Ask me if I care, go on, ask.” I don’t, still gazing around the mill. <<if $costume is "scientist">>\ @@.center; ''YOU UNLOCKED ZILLAH’S BONUS SCENE'' @@ I approach the machines, looking over each of them with interest, “what do you think they used this place for? The town seems pretty old, so whatever it was must’ve been something important, seeing as it was probably how most made their livelihood.” “Ugh, I don’t care, $name,” Zillah intones from his spot. I look at one table, noticing scrapes and the remains of broken glass scattered over it. I glance up, wondering even more what could rest above. “Imagine how cool this would be if it were the factory of some old crazy scientist.” I continue on, though Zillah doesn’t seem to be paying much attention to me anymore. “Plot twist. I’m the old crazy scientist, and this is my horrible factory where I created you.” I jump onto one of the low sitting machines and grab onto the shaft belts, getting a better look at everything. I really wish I could guess what this mill was used for. All I could come up with was textiles. I run my hand down the shaft belt, noting how strong it was but also that it didn’t chafe my hand. [[Continue->ZBS1]] <<else>>\ We wait patiently for some time to pass, both of us eager to get up, but neither of us willing to push Zillah’s recovery. [[Continue->Zillah8]] <</if>>\

<<if $endearly>>\ I roll my eyes and with a huff, wave goodbye to the last bit of desire that my ideas had given me. I take a break, allowing Zillah to regain his energy. <</if>>\ Once Zillah is ready, we head back outside and quickly continue down the road. I keep an eye out for buildings, wondering which one we would have to run into next to avoid the spirits that haunt this entire road. “Get back!” I hear someone shout and immediately freeze, glancing at Zillah, who seems to have heard the same thing as I, “I said get back you filthy spirits.” “Bradley!” We shout at the same time, rushing off towards the boy’s voice, I close my eyes as if willing him to speak again. “Stop trying to piss Casper off,” I hear Sydero scold, followed by the screams that could only belong to a ghost. I round the corner to see that the cry had come from Chris, who was currently the target of a spirit. [[Scare him.]] [[“Guys! We found you!”]] [[Play it cool.]]

I sneer, holding out my hand so that Zillah stopped. He does and looks from me to the nearby Chris, who is paying no attention to us. Bradley and Sydero weren’t even focused on us but another spirit that seems to be bothering both of them incessantly. I sneak up quietly, pausing and going as Chris moves and shifts. I would have to do this fast if I wanted to be successful, any minute he could turn and see me. Once I’m close enough, I wait for the black mist to back up just a tad bit more before screaming behind him and yanking on his shirt. He screams once again, probably breaking the sound barrier. I release him and stagger back, more concerned for my ears than him. “$name? I’ll kill you!” he shouts, but he doesn’t make a move, looking like he wanted to cry, especially since the black mist wasn’t done with him. Before it can attack, it explodes, Sydero unclenching her fist and walking towards us with Bradley by her side. “There’s your chance, I’ve been waiting for some proper bloodshed,” she says with a smirk. “Must be nice to just clench your fists to kill spirits,” Zillah sneers, rolling his eyes as he doesn’t even try to hide the jealousy in his voice. “Not as much fun as probably turning into a walking spirit bomb,” she smirks, tossing him a look before looking over at me. [[“What happened to you guys?”]] [[“Have any problems?”]] [[“Any idea what’s going on here?”]]

“Guys!” I shout in excitement, rushing towards them, “we finally found you!” Bradley turns and faces me, “$name!” He rushes towards me and then stops right before hugging me, looking from me to Zillah. “You washed your hands, right? I don’t want his jizz on me.” I’m taken aback though I don’t know why. This was Bradley we were talking about. “No, $he actually didn’t,” Zillah chuckles but shrugs when I throw a look his way. “You two are disgusting.” Chris interrupts, a scream following his words as the black mist continues to chase him. “You’re useless,” Sydero growls as she walks by, clenching her fist. The mist trembles before suddenly exploding. “Must be nice to just clench your fists to kill spirits,” Zillah sneers, rolling his eyes as he doesn’t even try to hide the jealousy in his voice. “Not as much fun as probably turning into a walking spirit bomb,” she smirks, tossing him a look before looking over at me. [[“What happened to you guys?”]] [[“Have any problems?”]] [[“Any idea what’s going on here?”]]

I slow down my pace, clearing my throat, and making sure I looked presentable. I take a deep breath in and compose myself. Finally, stepping forward. “Oh, about time we run into you guys,” I say indifferently, ignoring Chris as he runs by screaming, the black mist hot on his tail. “Like you were even looking for us,” Sydero sneers, walking over with Bradley at her side, “I’m pretty sure you were too busy getting lost in one another.” “Yea,” Zillah yawns, grabbing my shoulder and yanking me closer to him, “$name has some beautiful eyes. Can’t help but get lost in them.” We all stare at him, Bradley coughing the word fake repeatedly. “Help me!” Chris shouts, reminding us that he was indeed still being chased. “You’re useless,” Sydero growls as she points a clenched fist towards the spirit. It stops in its tracks, trembling before exploding. “Must be nice to just clench your fists to kill spirits,” Zillah sneers, rolling his eyes as he doesn’t even try to hide the jealousy in his voice. “Not as much fun as probably turning into a walking spirit bomb,” she smirks, tossing him a look before looking over at me. [[“What happened to you guys?”]] [[“Have any problems?”]] [[“Any idea what’s going on here?”]]

“What happened to you guys after we ran out?” I avoid Chris’s gaze, even though it wasn’t judgmental, I just didn’t like the idea of us being the only ones who didn’t turn back to help him. “We all were chased out by ghouls, and our favorite squishy here had to protect himself,” Sydero sneers, throwing a glance at Chris, who seems less than happy about how she phrased that, as does Bradley. “I thought I was everyone’s favorite squishy human?” he whispers. “We only all came across one another like thirty minutes ago,” Chris inserts. “I found Sydero before that, though,” Bradley beams. “So, what now?” I ask as the five of us begin walking down the street, the buildings no longer appearing, and in the distance, I can make out an intersection. “We get out of here?” Chris questions, “what else?” “That’s if these spirits let us leave,” Zillah growls. “I seriously hate –” “Yes,” I sigh, “you hate spirits, Sydero hates Halloween, Bradley hates exercise, and Chris hates being the weakest link of the crew. Am I the only one who doesn’t complain about what they hate so much?” My group members stare at me. “All in favor of leaving $name here?” Bradley starts, “say I.” Sydero and Chris immediately say it while Zillah seems to think it over. Zillah presses a kiss to my temple and smirks evilly, “I.” “What!” “You’ll live on in my memory,” he jokes, and I act as if I’m going to punch him when he stops me, his eyes widening and pointing to something in the distance. My eyes widen as well as we all race towards the object. It was my car! [[“Oh, baby, I’m so sorry!”]] [[“But is she alive, though?”]] [[“Is this a trick?”]]

“Have any problems? Like ghouls attacking you whenever you’re outside?” I question, actually shocked that there wasn’t a group of them attacking us right now, or at least some wailing to warn us of their approach. “If anyone didn’t have those problems, then I’m jealous,” Chris states, “are spirits normally this rowdy?” “It’s Halloween, everything’s rowdy,” Sydero replies. “She’s right,” Zillah states, “Halloween gives spirits a slight boost, and it’s when the veil is at its weakest so they can come and go as they wish. It lasts through Día De Los Muertos.” “So, what now?” I ask as the five of us begin walking down the street, the buildings no longer appearing, and in the distance, I can make out an intersection. “We get out of here?” Chris questions, “what else?” “That’s if these spirits let us leave,” Zillah growls. “I seriously hate –” “Yes,” I sigh, “you hate spirits, Sydero hates Halloween, Bradley hates exercise, and Chris hates being the weakest link of the crew. Am I the only one who doesn’t complain about what they hate so much?” My group members stare at me. “All in favor of leaving $name here?” Bradley starts, “say I.” Sydero and Chris immediately say it while Zillah seems to think it over. Zillah presses a kiss to my temple and smirks evilly, “I.” “What!” “You’ll live on in my memory,” he jokes, and I act as if I’m going to punch him when he stops me, his eyes widening and pointing to something in the distance. My eyes widen as well as we all race towards the object. It was my car! [[“Oh, baby, I’m so sorry!”]] [[“But is she alive, though?”]] [[“Is this a trick?”]]

“Does anyone have an idea what’s going on here?” “Not yet,” Bradley starts, fiddling with his costume, which has seen better days, “but I think I’m beginning to get a picture. I think if we all compare what we went through, then we might get a general idea …” “But?” Sydero pipes up, raising a brow at Bradley. “But I could be wrong. It’s clear the spirits want us to learn their story, but I don’t exactly know how since they’re going about it weirdly. Whether it’s because of what night it is or because something is stopping them,” he shakes his head and turns his head to look out at the buildings, “I just know something horrible happened here.” “So, what now?” I ask as the five of us begin walking down the street, the buildings no longer appearing, and in the distance, I can make out an intersection. “We get out of here?” Chris questions, “what else?” “That’s if these spirits let us leave,” Zillah growls. “I seriously hate –” “Yes,” I sigh, “you hate spirits, Sydero hates Halloween, Bradley hates exercise, and Chris hates being the weakest link of the crew. Am I the only one who doesn’t complain about what they hate so much?” My group members stare at me. “All in favor of leaving $name here?” Bradley starts, “say I.” Sydero and Chris immediately say it while Zillah seems to think it over. Zillah presses a kiss to my temple and smirks evilly, “I.” “What!” “You’ll live on in my memory,” he jokes, and I act as if I’m going to punch him when he stops me, his eyes widening and pointing to something in the distance. My eyes widen as well as we all race towards the object. It was my car! [[“Oh, baby, I’m so sorry!”]] [[“But is she alive, though?”]] [[“Is this a trick?”]]

“Oh, baby, I’m so sorry! I’ll never leave you again.” “I’m confused,” Bradley starts, “are you with Zillah or the car?” “You’re not the only one confused,” Zillah grumbles, raising a brow directed at me. “You can’t tell me you’re jealous of my car,” I blurt, throwing him a look that he shrugs off. “Remember when you were washing her the other day, yea … I was feeling some kind of way.” “Yea, you guys are cute, now shut up,” Sydero huffs, pushing Zillah out of the way and approaching my car. She motions for me to throw her the keys, and I do, watching as she opens the door and starts it up. “Seems like gas is back. I say we go. Now.” We all pile in, and I gun it down the road, only to stop at the intersection. All of our eyes rest on the sign that says Wayward Road. The car is completely silent as we sit there, none of us knowing what to do. “Take a left,” a single voice chime in, Bradley’s GPS. We stare at him, and he shrugs his shoulder. With a deep breath, I follow the GPS’s orders and turn. I felt like I could hear all of our hearts racing as the car continues on. Waiting for everything to start over, for the car to pick up speed, the radio to give static, and the fog to encroach once again. [[Continue->Next11]]

“But is she alive, though?” I ask, biting the inside of my cheek. “Only one way to check.” Sydero walks past us and turns to me, I throw her the keys, and she gets inside. I listen to the engine rev up, and she gets out, shrugging. We all pile in, and I gun it down the road, only to stop at the intersection. All of our eyes rest on the sign that says Wayward Road. The car is completely silent as we sit there, none of us knowing what to do. “Take a left,” a single voice chime in, Bradley’s GPS. We stare at him, and he shrugs his shoulder. With a deep breath, I follow the GPS’s orders and turn. I felt like I could hear all of our hearts racing as the car continues on. Waiting for everything to start over, for the car to pick up speed, the radio to give static, and the fog to encroach once again. [[Continue->Next11]]

“Is this a trick?” I question, looking at the others, “like if we get inside, then we start the loop all over?” “I wouldn’t mind that,” Zillah smiles greedily. “Mind out of the gutter, please,” Chris growls. “Only one way to check.” Sydero walks past us and turns to me, I throw her the keys, and she gets inside. I listen to the engine rev up, and she gets out, shrugging. We all pile in, and I gun it down the road, only to stop at the intersection. All of our eyes rest on the sign that says Wayward Road. The car is completely silent as we sit there, none of us knowing what to do. “Take a left,” a single voice chime in, Bradley’s GPS. We stare at him, and he shrugs his shoulder. With a deep breath, I follow the GPS’s orders and turn. I felt like I could hear all of our hearts racing as the car continues on. Waiting for everything to start over, for the car to pick up speed, the radio to give static, and the fog to encroach once again. [[Continue->Next11]]

<> <<audio "theme2" fadeout>> <<audio "ending" loop volume 0 fadeto 0.70>> <<endnobr>> And then just like that, we’re on a dark road. The radio chimes to life, the broadcaster introducing another Halloween song. The digital clock reading 12 am. The fog was nowhere to be seen, only trees and a dark sky with an intimidating full moon. [[“We did all experience that, right?”]] [[“That’s it, I hate Halloween.”]] [[“Can we get a new navigator?”]]

“We did all experience that, right? Or was that just my mind deciding to be an asshole, and you guys have no idea what I’m talking about?” “What are you talking about, $name?” Sydero questions with a raised brow. <<if $zp>>\ “Yea,” Zillah chimes in next from his spot, “you just blacked out for a minute, and Sydero had to jerk the steering wheel to keep us all from dying. Are you okay?” “You guys are playing with me, right?” My heart leaps and tumbles as I look at Chris and Bradley, who both give me bewildered stares. “That whole thing, none of you remember it or went through it?” “Through what?” Chris questions, “Zillah just told you what happened. And frankly, I think someone else should drive.” I turn in my seat and take a few deep breaths in, of course, it would only happen to me. <<else>>\ “Yea,” Chris chimes in next from his spot, “you just blacked out for a minute, and Sydero had to jerk the steering wheel to keep us all from dying. Are you okay?” “You guys are playing with me, right?” My heart leaps and tumbles as I look at Bradley, who gives me a bewildered stare. “That whole thing, none of you remember it or went through it?” “Through what?” Bradley questions, “Chris just told you what happened. And frankly, I think someone else should drive.” I turn in my seat and take a few deep breaths in, of course, it would only happen to me. <</if>>\ A few minutes go by before everyone other than me ends up laughing uncontrollably. Chris pats me on the shoulder, “we’re just messing with you. Yea, we all went through that bullshit.” I swat his hand away and scowl, “you are all the worst. I just want you all to know that.” I shake my head, fighting a smile as they continue laughing at my expense. “So, where to? The party has only been going on for an hour, I don’t think the costume competition has started yet,” I point out, turning to face all of them. [[Continue->End]]

“That’s it, I hate Halloween.” The car is silent before Sydero bursts into laughter, Chris and Bradley soon following suit<<if $zp>>, and Zillah rolling his eyes with a small smile.<<else>>.<</if>> “I’m serious,” I say, looking at each of them, “there was no need for that. They could’ve just let us go, but no. We //had// to get put through that.” “So, where to? The party has only been going on for an hour, I don’t think the costume competition has started yet,” I point out, turning to face all of them. [[Continue->End]]

“Can I get a new navigator? Bradley is officially fired due to horrible side trips.” “Hey,” Bradley barks, and I shrug. “I’m sorry, but I just ran through a haunted street because of you and that phone.” “So, where to? The party has only been going on for an hour, I don’t think the costume competition has started yet,” I point out, turning to face all of them. [[Continue->End]]

Thanks again for playing the game. And don't forget to be on lookout for news about Season Two of Superstition. You can always follow me on [[Tumblr|https://13leaguestories.tumblr.com/]], or choose to support me through [[Patreon|https://www.patreon.com/13Leagues]]. <<if $ending is false>>\ It looks like you didn't get the bonus ending given to you if you played all the canon routes (Chris, Sydero, and Bradley). Play the game over to find out what really happened to Wayward Road and to get a sneak peek at season two of Superstition. <<else>> You found out the truth of what happened to Wayward Road. The spirits thank you for your help and for helping to set their souls free from the demon's grasp. As a thank you, they offer you a sneak peek to [[Season 2 of Superstition]]. <</if>>\ [[Play Again.->Setup]] [[Author's Note]] [[Credits]]

My brow perks up, glancing over at Zillah and then back at the belt. So many dirty thoughts enter my mind. They skip through a meadow of obscenities, dancing with one another under a foggy sky. The longer I feel the material of these shaft belts and then look over at Zillah, the more the thoughts seem to solidify and become more than just mere ideas. “Hey, Zillah?” I call out, twirling the shaft belt around my finger. I idly wrap my palm around it before undoing it, raising a brow at the still unmoving Zillah. “Seriously? You’re going to like this.” He still doesn’t move. I pout and raise a brow, annoyed, and running out of patience … not to mention horniness. //Though it is possible to play with this setting, there will be considerably less content for those with hide explicit content due to the concentrated content in the scene. This is merely a heads up.// [[Let him rest. (This will end the bonus scene.)|Zillah8][set $endearly = true]] [[Sigh dramatically and lay in an exposing way.]] [[Please myself.]]

I arrange myself on the machine in a way that leaves little to the imagination, especially one like Zillah’s. I sigh dramatically, repeating myself again and again until I hear something shift and Zillah growl. “Will you st –” The words die on his tongue, and I suspect that he was now staring at me. I would love to see his face, but I was in the wrong position. “Hmm?” I say again, sighing dramatically just for fun. I partially rise up and look back, my eyes widening when I can’t find him. I sit up, spotting him at my side as he circles me like a lion would his prey. “Took you long enough,” I sneer but find that he was still ignoring me, his eyes going from my body to the shaft belts and then to the chains sitting farther away, and then back. He finally stops and looks me up and down, “I’ve been waiting a while to air my grievances out with you, creator.” He smirks at the word, proving that he had heard me earlier. Before I can point that out or question him, he grabs my hand and hoists me up over his shoulder like I weighed nothing. I fidget in his grasp only to earn a harsh slap on my ass. “Stop moving.” When Zillah finally lays me down, it’s on the table he had recently vacated. One hand is around my throat, keeping me in place as I see two dark tendrils rush out of his back and towards the shaft belts. They snap them and bring them readily to their master. He removes his hand, winking at me before going to pick up the shaft belts. [[Tell him to use his tendrils instead.]] [[Let him continue on.]]

I smirk at the idea, propping myself up on the machine and looking over at Zillah. He honestly looked like a dead monster due to his costume and the way he had chosen to sprawl himself out. “Hey, monster!” I shout, getting the response I want as he shoots forward, eyes blazing in anger. I could feel the intense anger radiating from him all the way over here. It was like someone blowing hot air straight into my face when it was already 90 degrees outside. “I’m sorry,” I snicker, “did my little creation just get mad?” Some of the anger leaves his face, replaced now with confusion. It was just me playing the part, and right now, I was Frankenstein, and he was my ridiculously hot monster. Hopefully, he would catch up and realize what I was playing. “Come to your creator, monster,” I tell him, and he does. He approaches me, and the look in his eyes tells me that he was just now realizing where I was doing with this. If anything, I was getting him pissed off, not only calling him a monster but ordering him around. Once he gets to me, I lift my hand to touch his cheek, and he swats it away. His other hand swiftly coming up to my neck and pinning my back to the machine. “Monster, huh?” With my free hand, I motion to the hand that he has wrapped around my throat, ignoring the heat rising through me and the want to tell him to take me right then and there. “Only monsters result to violence first.” He smirks, throwing his head back as he laughs loudly. “Well then, my creator,” he leans in, pushing his nose into my cheek before roughly grabbing my chin, “let me show you how much of a monster I can be. Before I can question him, he grabs my hand and hoists me up over his shoulder like I weighed nothing. I fidget in his grasp only to earn a harsh slap to my ass. “Stop moving.” When Zillah finally lays me down, it’s on the table he had recently vacated. One hand is around my throat, keeping me in place as I see two dark tendrils rush out of his back and towards the shaft belts. They snap them and bring them readily to their master. He removes his hand, winking at me before going to pick up the shaft belts. [[Tell him to use his tendrils instead.]] [[Let him continue on.]]

<<if $showec or $a_gender isnot "Not Known">>\ <<if $gender is "female" or $a_gender is "female">>\ I push my pants down slightly, running my cold finger along my inner thigh as I imagine Zillah’s lips on mine. The idea of his arms wrapped around me, his dirty voice in my ear as he does everything possible to make me moan in pleasure. My fingertips reach the front of my underwear, and I shiver, biting my lip as I groan. I circularly massaged my clit, before moving my panties out of the way, my fingers delving inside of me in a desperate manner. In my mind, Zillah kisses me harder, claiming me as his with every second. I breathe in his scent, feel his muscles, he’s all around me. I think about him pleasing me, pressing harder as my fingers slide in and out of the wetness. My breathing grows heavy, and I let my head dangle to the side. “My poor creator must’ve been missing me?” I hear that deep voice ask, a nose pressing into my neck as my breath hitches. I slow down, about to remove my fingers when Zillah hisses, “did I say stop?” “No,” I whisper. “Then continue.” I slip them back inside of me, picking up the pace just as Zillah places his lips on mine, the feeling fleeting and teasing as they barely touch mine. <<else>>\ I push my pants down slightly, running my cold finger along my inner thigh as I imagine Zillah’s lips on mine. The idea of his arms wrapped around me, his dirty voice in my ear as he does everything possible to make me moan in pleasure. My fingertips close around that of my member, and I close my eyes. In my mind, Zillah kisses me harder, claiming me as his with every second. I breathe in his scent, feel his muscles, he’s all around me. I think about him pleasing me and stroke myself rapidly. Zillah’s hands groping my ass, his hands exploring every part of me like it was a new adventure. Zillah telling me how he wants me, watching as his erection matches mine. My breathing grows heavy, and I let my head dangle to the side. “My poor creator must’ve been missing me?” I hear that deep voice ask, a nose pressing into my neck as my breath hitches. I slow down, about to stop completely when Zillah hisses, “did I say stop?” “No,” I whisper. “Then continue.” I pick the pace back up just as Zillah places his lips on mine, the feeling fleeting and teasing as they barely touch mine. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ I push my pants down slightly, running my cold finger along my inner thigh as I imagine Zillah’s lips on mine. The idea of his arms wrapped around me, his dirty voice in my ear as he does everything possible to make me moan in pleasure. I begin to play with myself, closing my eyes. In my mind, Zillah kisses me harder, claiming me as his with every second. I breathe in his scent, feel his muscles, he’s all around me. I think about him pleasing me, his hands exploring every part of me like it was a new adventure. My breathing grows heavy, and I let my head dangle to the side. “My poor creator must’ve been missing me?” I hear that deep voice ask, a nose pressing into my neck as my breath hitches. I slow down, about to stop completely when Zillah hisses, “did I say stop?” “No,” I whisper. “Then continue.” I continue just as Zillah places his lips on mine, the feeling fleeting and teasing as they barely touch mine. <</if>>\ “I want you to imagine what I saw,” Zillah starts, whispering as he continues to tease me, his lips hardly touching my cheeks, my jaw, my neck … “Laying over there and then hearing just the slightest hint of a moan coming from you.” [[“What did you think?”]] [[“Did my poor creation feel left out?”]]

“What did you think?” I say breathlessly, shifting so that my words meet his neck. He shifts so that he was now standing in front of me, removing my pants as I keep playing with myself. He chuckles to himself, “for a minute, I forgot where the hell we were. I thought who the hell is about to get their ass kicked because you’re mine, and as long as I’m here, you don’t ever need to play with yourself. And then I look up to see you giving me a show and found myself jealous of your <<if $gender is "female" or $a_gender is "female">>fingers<<else>>hand<</if>>,” he growls into my ears. I can’t control my whimper, finishing and coming right then and there. I rest my head on Zillah’s supportive shoulder, listening to him snicker. “I hope you’re not tired because your favorite monster has a gripe to pick with you.” Before I can question him, he grabs my hand and hoists me up over his shoulder like I weighed nothing. I fidget in his grasp only to earn a harsh slap to my ass. “Stop moving.” When Zillah finally lays me down, it’s on the table he had recently vacated. One hand is around my throat, keeping me in place as I see two dark tendrils rush out of his back and towards the shaft belts. They snap them and bring them readily to their master. He removes his hand, winking at me before going to pick up the shaft belts. [[Tell him to use his tendrils instead.]] [[Let him continue on.]]

I stop what I was doing and go to touch Zillah’s face, but he catches my wrist right before I can touch him, “aw, did my poor creation feel left out?” His eyes shine as he leans towards me, a shit-eating grin on his face. “Not only did you stop,” he says and motions to my hand, “but you mock me? Your poor creation has a grip to pick with his creator, a lessor or two to teach too.” Before I can question him, he grabs my hand and hoists me up over his shoulder like I weighed nothing. I fidget in his grasp only to earn a harsh slap to my ass. “Stop moving.” When Zillah finally lays me down, it’s on the table he had recently vacated. One hand is around my throat, keeping me in place as I see two dark tendrils rush out of his back and towards the shaft belts. They snap them and bring them readily to their master. He removes his hand, winking at me before going to pick up the shaft belts. [[Tell him to use his tendrils instead.]] [[Let him continue on.]]

“You should use your tendrils,” I say breathlessly. Zillah raises a brow as he comes to the side of the table, gazing down at me. “You sure about that?” he chews the side of his cheek. I bite my lip and nod, giving him my consent. Zillah snickers as he hovers over me, my face heating up due to the heat rolling off him and the intensity of his gaze, “you really want the monster to come out, huh?” I whimper as Zillah forcefully pushes my chin up so that he could scatter kisses along my neck, nipping ever so often. The feeling alone felt heavenly. I reach out to touch him when his tendrils shoot out and pin both of my wrists down, and then do the same to my legs. He backs away, his eyes roaming down my body, drinking the look of me in. I visibly shiver, and the grip of the tendrils on my wrist tighten, “you have no idea how much I love seeing you like this. All sprawled out for me. I’m going to teach you lesson after lesson about what happens when you play with monsters,” Zillah says to me, sitting up. <<if $showec>>\ “The monster fucking his creator,” I sigh, about to say more when one of his tendrils shoot into my mouth. He raises a brow at my shocked expression, ordering the tendril to mouth fuck me with a pleased smirk. “Sorry, creator,” he says mockingly, “but the only sounds I want you uttering don’t have any syllables.” He undresses me, and I’m suddenly aware of how cold it is. I clench my eyes closed as Zillah trails his lips down my shivering body, placing heated kisses as he goes. My mind on the appendage in my mouth, almost tempting me to want to gag, and Zillah’s mouth. He pulls back and orders the other tendrils around my wrists and ankles to lift me. I thrash, not used to this sensation while in the air, though the appendages do a great job of supporting me. “I’m going to fuck you the way I want and stain every inch of that beautiful body with my cum,” Zillah says as he grabs my chin, “and you’re going to enjoy it aren’t you?” If I could bite my lip, I would, my heart thunders on as he leans in, “you want me to lay my claim on your body, don’t you? You want to be punished?” The mouth tendril removes itself, causing me to gasp, and I nod in reply to Zillah. <<else>>\ “The monster fucking his creator,” I sigh, about to say more when he begins, one tendril gagging me. He raises a brow at my shocked expression. “Sorry, creator,” he says mockingly, “but the only sounds I want you uttering don’t have any syllables.” He undresses me, and I’m suddenly aware of how cold it is. I clench my eyes closed as Zillah trails his lips down my shivering body, placing heated kisses as he goes. My mind attempting to focus on the many sensations that slowly begin to overcome me. He pulls back and orders the other tendrils around my wrists and ankles to lift me. I thrash, not used to this sensation while in the air, though the appendages do a great job of supporting me. “I’m going to have fun with you,” Zillah says as he grabs my chin, “and you’re going to enjoy it aren’t you?” If I could bite my lip, I would, my heart thunders on as he leans in, “you want me to lay my claim on your body, don’t you? You want to be punished?” I’m finally able to breathe and I look at Zillah, gasping, my heart racing. <</if>>\ [[“I do.”]] [[Use the safe word.]]

He hovers over me after properly bounding me, my face heating up due to the heat rolling off him and the sheer intensity of his gaze. “So many things I could do, so little time.” I whimper as Zillah forcefully pushes my chin up so that he could scatter kisses along my neck, nipping ever so often. I reach out to touch him, forgetting about my bonds. Zillah backs away, his eyes roaming down my body, drinking the sight of me in. “You have no idea how much I love seeing you like this. All sprawled out for me. I’m going to teach you lesson after lesson about what happens when you play with monsters,” Zillah says to me, licking his lips. “The monster fucking his creator,” I sigh, about to say more when Zillah places something in my mouth, shutting me up. He raises a brow at my expression, and I realize that he had used one of his various costume accessories to gag me. “Sorry, creator,” he says mockingly, “but the only sounds I want you uttering don’t have any syllables.” He undresses me, and I’m suddenly aware of how cold it is. I keep my eyes on the ceiling of the mill as Zillah trails his lips down my shivering body, placing heated kisses as he goes. <<if $showec>>\ “I’m going to fuck you the way I want and stain every inch of that beautiful body with my cum.” Zillah gets up and walks around the table so that he was now standing over me, he looks down at me and tilts his head, gently pressing his hand to my chin, “and you’re going to enjoy it aren’t you?” If I could bite my lip, I would, my heart thunders on as he leans down, “you want me to lay my claim on your body, huh? You want to be punished?” <<else>>\ “I’m going to have fun with you,” Zillah says as he grabs my chin, “and you’re going to enjoy it aren’t you?” If I could bite my lip, I would, my heart thunders on as he leans in, “you want me to lay my claim on your body, don’t you? You want to be punished?” <</if>>\ [[Nod.->ID2]] [[Use the safe word.->SW2]]

“I do.” <<if $showec>>\ <<if $gender is "female" or $a_gender is "female">>\ He looks me over and smirks, “this’ll be an experience.” Before I can question him, two more tendrils shoot out from his back, and my legs are spread wide as I’m raised higher. “Though seriously,” Zillah sighs, “tell me if it gets too much.” For a minute, that desire falters, frightened for me, and what I had asked for. “I will, Zillah,” I say, letting out a soft moan as I feel something rub up against my clit. “Good, pet,” I hear Zillah say, and he takes a few steps away, content with merely watching me it seems. But I doubt that. I’m sure each appendage controlled by him was directly connected to him. Everything they felt, he felt and experienced. My legs shake as the appendage against my clit slowly begins to insert itself, working its way inside me. I bite my lip, but I’m unable to keep my groan in, feeling one wrap itself around my hips before teasing my ass. I wish to utter words, to say something, but the mouth appendage before forces itself through my half-parted lips. I suck on it, much like I would do if it were Zillah’s member. I throw my head back in ecstasy as the final appendage inserts itself, and my mind struggles to right itself. Everything feels like it goes in and out as I delve into pleasures I’ve never experienced. Despite what was doing it, it all feels like Zillah, as if he had just cloned himself to be everywhere at once. The tendrils slide in and out, picking up speed and causing my entire body to shudder, my orgasm looming closer and closer. My mind screams, but I’m unable to voice it. I tighten my body around the tendrils, begging and pleading for more. “What do you want?” I hear Zillah whisper, his voice sounding like it was right there against my ear. “More,” I scream, “fuck!” But of course, my words aren’t heard, and yet it seems like the multiple appendages know precisely what to do. They increase their pressure, thickening, pushing harder against my clit and ass, another joining them. I scream in pleasure, though I wasn’t able to say it, I scream Zillah’s name in my head countless times. I feel another appendage curl around my upper chest, teasingly wrapping themselves around my nipples. <<elseif $gender is "male" or $a_gender is "male">>\ He looks me over and smirks, “this’ll be an experience.” Before I can question him, two more tendrils shoot out from his back, and I’m raised higher. “Though seriously,” Zillah sighs, “tell me if it gets too much.” For a minute, that desire falters, frightened for me, and what I had asked for. “I will, Zillah,” I say, letting out a soft moan as I feel something wet rub up against my ass. “Good, pet,” I hear Zillah say, and he takes a few steps away, content with merely watching me it seems. But I doubt that. I’m sure each appendage controlled by him was directly connected to him. Everything they felt, he felt and experienced. My legs shake as the appendage against my ass slowly begins to insert itself, working its way inside me. I bite my lip, but I’m unable to keep my groan in, feeling one wrap itself around my hips before teasing the tip of my dick. I wish to utter words, to say something, but the mouth appendage before forces itself through my half-parted lips. I suck on it, much like I would do if it were Zillah’s member. I throw my head back in ecstasy as the final appendage fully wraps itself around my member, and my mind struggles to right itself. Everything feels like it goes in and out as I delve into pleasures I’ve never experienced. Despite what was doing it, it all feels like Zillah, as if he had just cloned himself to be everywhere at once. The tendrils slide in and out, picking up speed and causing my entire body to shudder, my orgasm looming closer and closer. My mind screams, but I’m unable to voice it. I clench my ass around the tendrils, begging and pleading for more. “What do you want?” I hear Zillah whisper, his voice sounding like it was right there against my ear. “More,” I scream, “fuck!” But of course, my words aren’t heard, and yet it seems like the multiple appendages knew precisely what to do. They increase their pressure, thickening, pushing harder against my dick and ass. I scream in pleasure, though I wasn’t able to say it, I scream Zillah’s name in my head countless times. <<else>>\ He looks me over and smirks, “this’ll be an experience.” Before I can question him, two more tendrils shoot out from his back, and I’m raised higher. “Though seriously,” Zillah sighs, “tell me if it gets too much.” For a minute, that desire falters, frightened for me, and what I had asked for. “I will, Zillah,” I say, letting out a soft moan as I feel something wet rub up against my ass. “Good, pet,” I hear Zillah say, and he takes a few steps away, content with merely watching me it seems. But I doubt that. I’m sure each appendage controlled by him was directly connected to him. Everything they felt, he felt and experienced. My legs shake as the appendage against my ass slowly begins to insert itself, working its way inside me. I bite my lip, but I’m unable to keep my groan in. I wish to utter words, to say something, but the mouth appendage before forces itself through my half-parted lips. I suck on it, much like I would do if it were Zillah’s member. Everything feels like it goes in and out as I delve into pleasures I’ve never experienced. Despite what was doing it, it all feels like Zillah, as if he had just cloned himself to be everywhere at once. The tendrils slide in and out, picking up speed and causing my entire body to shudder, my orgasm looming closer and closer. My mind screams, but I’m unable to voice it. I clench my ass around the tendrils, begging and pleading for more. “What do you want?” I hear Zillah whisper, his voice sounding like it was right there against my ear. “More,” I scream, “fuck!” But of course, my words aren’t heard, and yet it seems like the multiple appendages knew precisely what to do. They increase their pressure, thickening, pushing harder against me. I scream in pleasure, though I wasn’t able to say it, I scream Zillah’s name in my head countless times. <</if>>\ I finally come, but Zillah shows little mercy. My eyes flutter open and close as I attempt and fail to control every moan that I manage to mutter. I somehow manage to groan Zillah’s name, and the tendril in my mouth grows, causing my eyes to widen and cry loudly. All sense of time and being leaves me. I enter a world ruled by ecstasy and little else. Everything here was to please me, and I loved every minute, I craved every minute. I find myself orgasming more than twice, my body shaking uncontrollably. I was at a high, I doubt I could ever experience again. The tendrils lower me down, pulling out of me and ejaculating all over my freshly fucked body, before depositing me on Zillah’s chest. I half groan as I look at the mess residing on me. Zillah was true to his word it would seem, he did what he had promised, claiming every inch of me as his. Zillah licks my cheek before sneering at me, “I think this is a good look for you.” I glare, ignoring his laugh as he gets to his feet and stretch, “come on. Let’s go find some water and clean you up.” Thankfully, the mill had a water wheel attached to the side and a ghostly lake. Zillah strips and joins me, washing his cum off me and teasing me as if he hadn’t just fucked me senseless a few minutes ago. Once I was clean, we head back inside, both of us rolling our eyes at the ghostly wails that go off in the distance. <<else>>\ He looks me over and smirks, “this’ll be an experience.” Before I can question him, two more tendrils shoot out from his back, and I’m raised higher. “Though seriously,” Zillah sighs, “tell me if it gets too much.” For a minute, that desire falters, frightened for me, and what I had asked for. “I will, Zillah,” I say. “Good, pet,” I hear Zillah say, and he takes a few steps away, content with merely watching me it seems. But I doubt that. I’m sure each appendage controlled by him was directly connected to him. Everything they felt, he felt and experienced. My legs shake as the appendages get to work. I bite my lip, but I’m unable to keep my groan in. I wish to utter words, to say something, but the mouth appendage before forces itself through my half-parted lips. Everything feels like it goes in and out as I delve into pleasures I’ve never experienced. Despite what was doing it, it all feels like Zillah, as if he had just cloned himself to be everywhere at once. The tendrils cause my entire body to shudder, my orgasm looming closer and closer. My mind screams, but I’m unable to voice it. “What do you want?” I hear Zillah whisper, his voice sounding like it was right there against my ear. “More,” I scream, but of course, my words aren’t heard, and yet it seems like the multiple appendages knew precisely what to do. I scream in pleasure, though I wasn’t able to say it, I scream Zillah’s name in my head countless times. I finally hit my release, but Zillah shows little mercy. All sense of time and being leaves me. I enter a world ruled by ecstasy and little else. Everything here was to please me, and I loved every minute, I craved every minute. I was at a high, I doubt I could ever experience again. The tendrils lower me down, returning to Zillah and depositing me onto his chest. I shiver, pushing myself flushed up against him. “I hope I got my point across, creator,” he mumbles into my hair, his body shaking just as much as mine. He deposits weak kisses along my hair, pulling me closer to his chest. We sit there for a long while, gathering our breath when I hear Zillah chuckle. <</if>>\ “Damn you, $name.” “What I do?” I smirk, “besides suggest an awesome session?” “I was supposed to be recovering energy.” I kiss him deeply, pulling him to his feet, much to his dismay. “Let’s do that after we escape this hellhole.” He nods reluctantly, and with his hand in mine, we wander outside. [[Continue->Zillah8]]

I clench my eyes closed, doubting that I could handle what he had in store for me. I shake my head, causing him to pause. He releases me, and brings me close to him, planting light kisses on my cheek. “Gather your breath,” he whispers to me, “we’ll go back out there later.” I nod, sitting down and taking a multitude of deep breaths, preparing myself for later. [[Continue->Zillah8]]

I clench my eyes closed, doubting that I could handle what he had in store for me. I shake my head, causing him to pause. He undoes the belts before he grabs ahold of me, planting light kisses on my cheek. “Gather your breath,” he whispers to me, “we’ll go back out there later.” I nod, sitting down and taking a multitude of deep breaths, preparing myself for later. [[Continue->Zillah8]]

I gulp and nod, Zillah leaving my side and going back to the far end of the table. He takes off his own pants and tosses the brain hat he was wearing to the floor as well, along with other meaningless accessories. <<if $showec or $a_gender isnot "Not Known">>\ <<if $gender is "female" or $a_gender is "female">>\ He hovers over me, one hand teasing the entrance to my clit as he licks and sucks at my ear, whispering to me as he goes. I murmur against the gag, wanting to tell him to stop teasing me as he keeps nibbling and exploring my body. He lowers himself, taking all of me into his mouth, seductively licking while he jacks himself off with his free hand. I murmur, my hips jerking as the tension within me begins to skyrocket. I can feel the edge creeping closer and closer when suddenly he stops. I whimper as I’m left on edge, my body cooling down, but the heat within skyrocketing in anger. I look to see him smirking over top of me. <<else>>\ He hovers over me, one hand teasing my exposed member as he licks and sucks at my ear, whispering to me as he goes. I murmur against the gag, wanting to tell him to stop teasing me as he keeps nibbling and exploring my body. He lowers himself, taking all of me into his mouth, seductively licking at the head and jacking me off with his hand. I murmur, my hips jerking as the tension within me begins to skyrocket. I can feel the edge creeping closer and closer when suddenly he stops. I whimper as I’m left on edge, my body cooling down, but the heat within skyrocketing in anger. I look to see him smirking over top of me. <</if>>\ “I’m going to paint this sexy fucking body, but first, I do think I said something about making my ‘creator’ pay for all this,” he points to his shirt which is still on, indicating that he was referring to our little creator and monster roleplay. I raise a brow, relying on nothing but my eyes and eyebrows to get across what I was feeling and my own thoughts. He removes the gag, but before I can ask why, he shoves the tip of his dick into my mouth. I immediately take it, seeing that there wasn’t much else I could do. He grabs the back of my head, having me suck him off at his pace. He grunts as I take him in deeper, biting his upper lip as I squeeze my lips around him. “Fuck,” he grumbles, pulling my head back and then immediately coming. His juices spill across my face and neck before he lowers himself to kiss the side of my cheek. “You ready?” I murmur in response, wanting … needing to feel him inside of me. <<else>>\ He hovers over me, one hand teasing my sensitive areas as he licks and sucks at my ear, whispering to me as he goes. I murmur against the gag, wanting to tell him to stop teasing me as he keeps nibbling and exploring my body. I murmur as he goes, my hips jerking as the tension within me begins to skyrocket. I can feel the edge creeping closer and closer when suddenly he stops. I whimper as I’m left there, dangling off the side of a cliff, my body cooling down, but the heat within skyrocketing in anger. I look to see him smirking over top of me. “I’m going to paint this sexy fucking body, but first, I do think I said something about making my ‘creator’ pay for all this,” he points to his shirt which is still on, indicating that he was referring to our little creator and monster roleplay. I raise a brow, relying on nothing but my eyes and eyebrows to get across what I was feeling and my own thoughts. He removes the gag, but before I can ask why, my mouth is used to pleasure him. I immediately take what he offers, seeing that there wasn’t much else I could do. He grabs the back of my head, having me go off of his pace. He grunts as I take him in deeper, biting his upper lip as I squeeze my lips around him. “Fuck,” he grumbles, pulling my head back and then immediately coming. His juices spill across my face and neck before he lowers himself to kiss the side of my cheek. “You ready?” I murmur in response, wanting … needing him. <</if>>\ [[Continue->ZBSLC2]]

“Really?” I question, stopping in my tracks, for a moment forgetting that we were being chased by something otherworldly, “this is your idea?” “Just get in here,” she barks, lunging forward and grabbing my wrist. She jerks me in alongside her and slams the gate to the cell closed. I watch as the ghost continues to zoom towards us, its maw opened and eyes wide. It slams into the cell’s bars and immediately disappears. Sydero sneers, “some of the older stations had iron cells instead of steel.” “And if you were wrong?” “Me, wrong? I guess that’s a cute thought,” she chuckles before jingling the door. We both watch as it refuses to budge and I glare at her, we were locked inside. Unlike me, she seems to take this new turn of events as calmly as she did running from the ghost. I watch as she closes her eyes and takes a few deep breaths in. Suddenly, she disappears, only to reappear in the middle of the station. “Oh yea,” she groans, clutching her head, “there is definitely something wrong with this place. I feel like I just used way too much power for such a simple jump. But at the same time, as if I have an infinite energy pool.” “You don’t think what you did at the police station has anything to do with it?” I question, and she shrugs, pausing, and looking around. “What’s up with me, you, and finding ourselves alone in police stations?” I roll my eyes, “yea, just have a burning building and a pile of mutilated bodies, and I’ll call it déjà vu. Can you find the keys to this thing?” She nods and begins rummaging through the desks. Finally, I hear the jangling of keys, and she smirks as she approaches, about to unlock the cell when she pauses. Her smirk grows dark, and she cocks her head to the side. “What are you waiting for? Let me out.” “Hmm, I don’t think I will. There’s something about these bars and this whole abandoned aesthetic that make you look even more desirable than normal.” “Sydero, get horny later. Let me out now.” “That depends,” she chuckles, raising a brow at me, “what are you willing to do to get out?” [[“Whatever you want.”]] [[“Sydero!”]] [[Shake the bars.]]

I run in after her, only turning around to look back at the ghost when I know I’m safe. I watch as the spirit continues to zoom towards us, its maw opened and eyes wide. It slams into the cell’s bars and immediately disappears. Sydero sneers, “some of the older stations had iron cells instead of steel.” “And if you were wrong?” “Me, wrong? I guess that’s a cute thought,” she chuckles before jingling the door. We both watch as it refuses to budge and I glare at her, we were locked inside. Unlike me, she seems to take this new turn of events as calmly as she did running from the ghost. I watch as she closes her eyes and takes a few deep breaths in. Suddenly, she disappears, only to reappear in the middle of the station. “Oh yea,” she groans, clutching her head, “there is definitely something wrong with this place. I feel like I just used way too much power for such a simple jump. But at the same time, as if I have an infinite energy pool.” “You don’t think what you did at the police station has anything to do with it?” I question, and she shrugs, pausing, and looking around. “What’s up with me, you, and finding ourselves alone in police stations?” I roll my eyes, “yea, just have a burning building and a pile of mutilated bodies, and I’ll call it déjà vu. Can you find the keys to this thing?” She nods and begins rummaging through the desks. Finally, I hear the jangling of keys, and she smirks as she approaches, about to unlock the cell when she pauses. Her smirk grows dark, and she cocks her head to the side. “What are you waiting for? Let me out.” “Hmm, I don’t think I will. There’s something about these bars and this whole abandoned aesthetic that make you look even more desirable than normal.” “Sydero, get horny later. Let me out now.” “That depends,” she chuckles, raising a brow at me, “what are you willing to do to get out?” [[“Whatever you want.”]] [[“Sydero!”]] [[Shake the bars.]]

I pause, forgetting about the manic ghost behind me as I look at Sydero’s choice of sanctuary. “Roe!” she shouts and lunges forward enough to grab my wrist, yanking me inside and quickly closing the cell door behind us. I watch as the ghost continues to zoom towards us, its maw opened and eyes wide. It slams into the cell’s bars and immediately disappears. Sydero sneers, “some of the older stations had iron cells instead of steel.” “And if you were wrong?” “Me, wrong? I guess that’s a cute thought,” she chuckles before jingling the door. We both watch as it refuses to budge and I glare at her, we were locked inside. Unlike me, she seems to take this new turn of events as calmly as she did running from the ghost. I watch as she closes her eyes and takes a few deep breaths in. Suddenly, she disappears, only to reappear in the middle of the station. “Oh yea,” she groans, clutching her head, “there is definitely something wrong with this place. I feel like I just used way too much power for such a simple jump. But at the same time, as if I have an infinite energy pool.” “You don’t think what you did at the police station has anything to do with it?” I question, and she shrugs, pausing, and looking around. “What’s up with me, you, and finding ourselves alone in police stations?” I roll my eyes, “yea, just have a burning building and a pile of mutilated bodies, and I’ll call it déjà vu. Can you find the keys to this thing?” She nods and begins rummaging through the desks. Finally, I hear the jangling of keys, and she smirks as she approaches, about to unlock the cell when she pauses. Her smirk grows dark, and she cocks her head to the side. “What are you waiting for? Let me out.” “Hmm, I don’t think I will. There’s something about these bars and this whole abandoned aesthetic that make you look even more desirable than normal.” “Sydero, get horny later. Let me out now.” “That depends,” she chuckles, raising a brow at me, “what are you willing to do to get out?” [[“Whatever you want.”]] [[“Sydero!”]] [[Shake the bars.]]

I lean on the bars and give Sydero my most innocent look, “whatever you want.” She slides her hand through the bars easily and grabs my chin, pulling me closer to her. “Careful now, I am a lust demon.” “I’ll say,” I snicker, biting my lip as my eyes linger on her outfit. The costume was a classic one, but it still did wonders for her curves. She opens the gate and walks in confidently, my mind attempting to come up with what she could be thinking. If the look in her eyes were anything to go off of, it had to do with something dirty. She continues making her way towards me, only stopping when my back hits the cement wall of the cell. The jagged nature of it stabs me, but the pain is fleeting. I had other aches to keep my attention. Her arms trap me as she leans forward, her voice ghosting up against my ear, causing me to shiver in desire. “I’ll let you out,” she hums, her tongue flicking against my earlobe, “depending on if you’re innocent or not.” [[“I’m innocent.”]] [[“Definitely guilty.”]] [[“I’m not playing this game with you.”]]

My mouth hangs open as I realize what was going through her mind, “Sydero!” “Roe,” she laughs, throwing the keys back and forth, “it was a simple question.” “We’re being chased by a malicious spirit, and you’re thinking about sex?” “I’m a lust demon,” she reminds me with a nonchalant shrug, “sue me. Like I said, I can think of so many good uses for this old ass jail.” She straightens up and gazes around, throwing me a cocky smirk, “you think they still have handcuffs lying about?” “Syd, I just want to be let out.” She opens the door to the cell but tosses the keys to the ground behind her before closing the cell back, again locking both of us inside. She continues making her way towards me, only stopping when my back hits the cement wall of the cell. The jagged nature of it stabs me, but the pain is fleeting. I had other aches to keep my attention. Her arms trap me as she leans forward, her voice ghosting up against my ear, causing me to shiver in desire. “I’ll let you out,” she hums, her tongue flicking against my earlobe, “depending on if you’re innocent or not.” [[“I’m innocent.”]] [[“Definitely guilty.”]] [[“I’m not playing this game with you.”]]

I shake the bars violently and throw her the nastiest look I can muster, unsurprised when I get a laugh from her instead of a surrender. “I don’t know if you’re going for smoldering or pissed off, either way, keep doing it. It’s sexy.” “Syd,” I growl. “Roe,” she purrs back. “Just let me out. We can indulge in your sexual fantasies later.” She opens the door to the cell but tosses the keys to the ground behind her before closing the cell back, again locking both of us inside. She continues making her way towards me, only stopping when my back hits the cement wall of the cell. The jagged nature of it stabs me, but the pain is fleeting. I had other aches to keep my attention. Her arms trap me as she leans forward, her voice ghosting up against my ear, causing me to shiver in desire. “I’ll let you out,” she hums, her tongue flicking against my earlobe, “depending on if you’re innocent or not.” [[“I’m innocent.”]] [[“Definitely guilty.”]] [[“I’m not playing this game with you.”]]

My knees wobble slightly as I whisper, “I’m innocent.” Sydero chuckles at my reply, pulling back and letting her eyes wander down my body, each second the flame in them grows. “I bet you are,” she sneers, her eyes rising back up to meet my own. “But I’ll be the judge of that.” Her lips slowly meet mine, gentle and testing waters that she had already knew so well. I pull her closer and deepen the kiss at the same time, inhaling her and that sweet intoxicating feeling that intimacy with her always brought. I have long since stopped fighting the pull of it as it drowns me in its sensations. Everything around me begins to disappear, object by object, color by color. The hair on the back of my neck begins to stand up, enough to cause me to stop and pull back. Sydero raises a brow at my actions, and I gaze around, my heart picking up. <<if $zp is false>>It was a feeling that was familiar to the one I got when the Entity was about to do something that would cause a considerable amount of distress.<</if>> I gaze around, stopping my probing gaze when I see the black mass hovering outside the cell. It was exactly as I described it, a massive black blob that reminded me of spilled ink and tar, and yet I feel like hidden eyes were staring right at us. “Syd,” I whisper and motion towards the spirit. “You have got to be kidding me,” she snaps, “cock-blocked by a damn spirit?” Before I can stop her, she vanishes and appears outside the cell, grabbing the keys that she had abandoned on the floor and swinging it at the mass. It hisses right as it dissipates in the air. “Fuck you, ghost. Now the mood is gone,” she growls, unlocking the cell and grumbling. I chuckle and plant a kiss on her cheek, “that should be an incentive for us to get out of here.” “I’m going to kick every spirit’s ass that I find,” she sighs, “come on, let’s see if we can get out of this prison.” [[Continue->Sydero1]]

I sneer as I move just enough so that I was again looking into her eyes, that burning desire causing my own to flare up. “Why waste my breath when we both know I’m guilty.” Sydero bites down on her lip as she takes both of my wrists and hangs them over my head. Her breath once again near my ear, “guess I’ll have to teach you a lesson then.” “And if I don’t learn it?” I barely get the words out before she nips my throat, my insides screaming, and my aches increasing. “I got time,” she tells me, continuing her venture along my neck, sucking, licking, and biting harshly. I cock my head up to give her more room, smirking at the idea of her marking me. All too soon, her lips move to my own, hungrily nipping at my lower lips with her teeth. Before trailing her tongue across it. That oh so familiar feeling of oppression falls upon my shoulders, asking me to accept it, and I gladly do. I let that intoxicating sensation that radiates off of Sydero whenever we’re intimate, wash over me. Everything around me begins to disappear, object by object, color by color. The hair on the back of my neck begins to stand up, enough to cause me to stop and pull back. Sydero raises a brow at my actions, and I gaze around, my heart picking up. <<if $zp is false>>It was a feeling that was familiar to the one I got when the Entity was about to do something that would cause a considerable amount of distress.<</if>> I gaze around, stopping my probing gaze when I see the black mass hovering outside the cell. It was exactly as I described it, a massive black blob that reminded me of spilled ink and tar, and yet I feel like hidden eyes were staring right at us. “Syd,” I whisper and motion towards the spirit. “You have got to be kidding me,” she snaps, “cock-blocked by a damn spirit?” Before I can stop her, she vanishes and appears outside the cell, grabbing the keys that she had abandoned on the floor and swinging it at the mass. It hisses right as it dissipates in the air. “Fuck you, ghost. Now the mood is gone,” she growls, unlocking the cell and grumbling. I chuckle and plant a kiss on her cheek, “that should be an incentive for us to get out of here.” “I’m going to kick every spirit’s ass that I find,” she sighs, “come on, let’s see if we can get out of this prison.” [[Continue->Sydero1]]

I roll my eyes and lightly push her back, “I’m not playing this game with you. Play it by yourself, I just want to get out of here.” “Is that your way of saying you want me to play with myself in front of you?” she questions, and my cheeks flare up as I throw her a look. “Fine,” she says in a dejected tone, disappearing from view and reappearing outside. She picks up the keys and unlocks the cell. “Finally,” I say, patting her shoulder and placing a light kiss on her cheek. “Yea, whatever. Next time you ask me for sex, I’m going to leave you with blue balls and not think twice about it.” I chuckle, leaning in towards her, “you seem to forget that you can never say not to me.” She shoves my face away while rolling her eyes, “don’t try and be cute. And there’s a first for everything. Come on, let’s see if we can get out of this prison.” [[Continue->Sydero1]]

We head to the front door of the prison, finding it locked. Yet, neither of us seems very surprised at this discovery, and we begin searching for an alternative escape. I glance over at her as I search, “do you think the others are okay?” “Bradley is, but Chris is dead,” Sydero states plainly, ignoring the glare that I send her. I walk into an adjoining room, looking around in hopes of finding a door that would lead out of here, no such luck. I walk up to another entrance, wiping the dust off the nameplate and reading the words Sheriff Whitman. The room was small, rustic, and very patriotic. A single long desk resided near the far wall, and above it sat one of the most American paintings I’ve ever seen. An eagle with an American flag behind it and its face painted in the nation’s colors, and in its mouth, it held a small miniature flag. On the opposite wall were the heads of three mounted animals, a bear, a buck, and a moose, each looking quite dead. Besides that, only a lone sofa resided in the room, two filing cabinets, and a few plaques and pictures on the wall. I venture farther into the room, looking at the dusty desk of the long since gone sheriff. I notice that there were a pencil and paper still on the counter, notes sprawled here and there, and books and paperwork still waiting to be done. “Anything?” Sydero asks, peeking her head in as I keep my eyes on the contents residing on the desk. [[“I don’t think the people saw this coming.”]] [[“Nothing yet, just being nosy.”]] [[“No, you?”]]

“I don’t think the people here saw this coming,” I tell her, picking up one yellowing paper that wasn’t completely done. It was void of the sheriff’s signature and a few more lines that would deem it as complete. “I actually think that whatever happened, happened spontaneously.” “Good for them,” Sydero says indifferently, plopping herself on the sofa and sinking straight down. She jumps right back to the feet, “why the hell is that thing so uncomfortable?” I watch with a raised brow as she grabs one of the sofa cushions and removes it, freezing at whatever she was now looking at. “Uh, Roe, check this out.” I come to her side, my eyes looking at the gap that resided in the sofa. Someone had completely removed the bottom so that a trapdoor was accessible. We exchange looks before I grab the door and yank it upwards, a musty and dank smell assaulting both of our noses as we take a step back. “Well, doesn’t that just smell like a fresh morning breeze,” Sydero laughs, waving the air away from her face before taking cautious steps back towards the hidden cellar. She looks from the dark basement to me, smirking. “I dare you to go in there, no light.” “What!? You go in there, no light,” I snort, shaking my head. If the smell itself didn’t warn me against taking that dare, then the darkness and the oppressive presence that I felt residing below did. “Come on. You do it, and I’ll give you a kiss wherever you want.” I glance over at her to find that she already has her hand extended, waiting for me to shake it. “Wherever?” She nods, shaking her hand and bringing my attention back to it. [[“Deal.”]] [[“No deal.”]]

“Nothing yet,” I tell her, picking up one yellowing paper that wasn’t completely done. It was void of the sheriff’s signature and a few more lines that would deem it as complete. “I'm just a little nosy right now.” “I see,” Sydero says, plopping herself on the sofa and sinking straight down. She jumps right back to the feet, “why the hell is that thing so uncomfortable?” I watch with a raised brow as she grabs one of the sofa cushions and removes it, freezing at whatever she was now looking at. “Uh, Roe, check this out.” I come to her side, my eyes looking at the gap that resided in the sofa. Someone had completely removed the bottom so that a trapdoor was accessible. We exchange looks before I grab the door and yank it upwards, a musty and dank smell assaulting both of our noses as we take a step back. “Well, doesn’t that just smell like a fresh morning breeze,” Sydero laughs, waving the air away from her face before taking cautious steps back towards the hidden cellar. She looks from the dark basement to me, smirking. “I dare you to go in there, no light.” “What!? You go in there, no light,” I snort, shaking my head. If the smell itself didn’t warn me against taking that dare, then the darkness and the oppressive presence that I felt residing below did. “Come on. You do it, and I’ll give you a kiss wherever you want.” I glance over at her to find that she already has her hand extended, waiting for me to shake it. “Wherever?” She nods, shaking her hand and bringing my attention back to it. [[“Deal.”]] [[“No deal.”]]

“No,” I tell her, picking up one yellowing paper that wasn’t completely done. It was void of the sheriff’s signature and a few more lines that would deem it as complete. “did you find anything yet?” “Nothing, but I quit due to boredom,” Sydero says with a sigh. She plops herself on the sofa and sinking straight down. She jumps right back to the feet, “why the hell is that thing so uncomfortable?” I watch with a raised brow as she grabs one of the sofa cushions and removes it, freezing at whatever she was now looking at. “Uh, Roe, check this out.” I come to her side, my eyes looking at the gap that resided in the sofa. Someone had completely removed the bottom so that a trapdoor was accessible. We exchange looks before I grab the door and yank it upwards, a musty and dank smell assaulting both of our noses as we take a step back. “Well, doesn’t that just smell like a fresh morning breeze,” Sydero laughs, waving the air away from her face before taking cautious steps back towards the hidden cellar. She looks from the dark basement to me, smirking. “I dare you to go in there, no light.” “What!? You go in there, no light,” I snort, shaking my head. If the smell itself didn’t warn me against taking that dare, then the darkness and the oppressive presence that I felt residing below did. “Come on. You do it, and I’ll give you a kiss wherever you want.” I glance over at her to find that she already has her hand extended, waiting for me to shake it. “Wherever?” She nods, shaking her hand and bringing my attention back to it. [[“Deal.”]] [[“No deal.”]]

<> <<set $sdeal = true>> <<endnobr>> “Alright,” I say and shake her hand, “deal. I’ll tell you where I want it later.” She nods and motions towards the awaiting basement. I take a deep breath in and with a disgusted look on my face, head inside. I climb down a ladder and will myself to keep my stomach’s contents within. The only light was coming from above, where Sydero blocks half of it by glancing down at me as I descend. My feet run out of the ladder, and I take a step back, yelping when I find myself standing ankle-high in water. The smell is even worse, reminding me of a sewer. “I really don’t know if a kiss is worth this,” I shout up to her. “Kinda too late to be second thinking it all, don’t you think? You’re already down there, might as well commit.” She had a point, but she also wasn’t the one standing in a cesspool of who knows what with no light source. I take a step forward when I swear I feel something slither across my feet. “I need a light; no way am I doing this without one.” “Use your phone.” She didn’t have to say anything more. I grab my phone and flip the flashlight on, shining it first at the ground where murky water indeed lies, and then around the room. I find myself wanting to throw up at what I was seeing, someone was living down here. A tarnished bed rests up against the wall, dyed in an assortment of bodily colors, and if the smell was anything to go off of, fluids. There were a small fridge and a counter to the side with a gas oven. A small table sits in the middle and a bookshelf where a collection of ruined books now rests. I wade through the water, trying to think of anything else but the contents of it. I get to the bookshelf when I hear a splash, turning to see Sydero gazing around with her own flashlight out. “This is …” she starts but trails off, her face turned up in antipathy. [[Continue->Sydero2]]

“I am not going down there. No. No kiss is worth that,” I tell her, and she shrugs. “I mean, we still need to check out what’s down there.” “True,” I say, taking out my phone and jingling it in her face, “but at least I can go down there knowing what I’m about to step in.” I cut the flashlight on as I get onto the stairs, shining the light down and glancing at the water and furniture that lies below. Once at the bottom, I shine my light first at the murky water, and then around the room. I find myself wanting to throw up at what I was seeing, someone was living down here. A tarnished bed rests up against the wall, dyed in an assortment of bodily colors, and if the smell was anything to go off of, fluids. There were a small fridge and a counter to the side with a gas oven. A small table sits in the middle and a bookshelf where a collection of ruined books now rests. I wade through the water, trying to think of anything else but the contents of it. I get to the bookshelf when I hear a splash, turning to see Sydero gazing around with her own flashlight out. “This is …” she starts but trails off, her face turned up in antipathy. [[Continue->Sydero2]]

“Yea,” I murmur, glancing over the books. My mind catches sight of a leatherback journal, and I flip through it with mock interest, only stopping when I find myself able to read some of the entries. My eyes flit over the page, widening in shock at what I read. “Sydero, listen to this … I no longer know what day it is, or if it even night. I spend most of the time down here with my own feces to keep me company, though I suppose the rats would take high offense to such thing. I find myself often wondering who resides above, speaking with that abhorrent man that has the effrontery to say he loves me more with each passing day. I know what love is, and this is not it. My parents show love for me, my best friend, my affection for her is real. My love for those who I know and adore is love. This ... this is suffering. This is evil. I go to sleep every night praying to a God I no longer consider real, I plead for deliverance I know will not come.” We stand in silence, attempting to form words that die before spoken. “You filth!” I hear someone screech, jerking around to see a gray figure with a hunched back and piercing white eyes. They were completely naked, save for a solitary loincloth that did little to hide what it was meant to. It sways back and forth, its eyes locked on us. “Well, aren’t you just America’s Ugliest?” Sydero questions, walking to my side calmly, but I can tell how stiff she really is. It points a long and crooked finger at us, “you, you will be my salvation. You will deliver me to the gates of Heaven.” Its voice was nasally and shrill, unpleasant to both look and listen to. It spoke to us, but it seemed like it was never looking at us. It was like something was resting behind us that always seemed to capture his attention more. [[“Did you write this?”]] [[“How would we do that?”]] [[“Can we have this conversation up there?]]

“Did you write this?” I question, curious since this thing had also used the word salvation. “Don’t encourage it,” Sydero growls by my side. In her hand I see her dagger materialize, taking on a defensive stance that could be overlooked by those who weren’t paying attention to her. The ghoul doesn’t answer, its finger still pointing towards us before it points to the ceiling. “You will raise me from perdition.” Finally, its eyes meet mine, and a grimace appears, its eyes grow remarkably downcast. They reach their hand towards me, palm up, “please. Save me. Help me.” [[Help them.]] [[Don’t help them.]]

“How would we do that?” I question in curiosity. “Don’t encourage it,” Sydero growls by my side. In her hand I see her dagger materialize, taking on a defensive stance that could be overlooked by those who weren’t paying attention to her. The ghoul doesn’t answer, its finger still pointing towards us before it points to the ceiling. “You will raise me from perdition.” Finally, its eyes meet mine, and a grimace appears, its eyes grow remarkably downcast. They reach their hand towards me, palm up, “please. Save me. Help me.” [[Help them.]] [[Don’t help them.]]

“Can we have this conversation up there, or literally any other place but here? I’m not really trying to go nose blind to shit.” “Don’t encourage it,” Sydero growls by my side. In her hand I see her dagger materialize, taking on a defensive stance that could be overlooked by those who weren’t paying attention to her. The ghoul doesn’t answer, its finger still pointing towards us before it points to the ceiling. “You will raise me from perdition.” Finally, its eyes meet mine, and a grimace appears, its eyes grow remarkably downcast. They reach their hand towards me, palm up, “please. Save me. Help me.” [[Help them.]] [[Don’t help them.]]

I take a step forward, whatever this person went through, it didn’t deserve it. “Yea, not on my watch,” Sydero growls, stopping me by cutting me off and blocking my view of the creature. “Find your own doe-eyed companion, you walking piece of shit.” It screeches, shaking uncontrollably as it glares at Sydero. “Demon! Beast, beast!” It screams, running around in a circle and hitting the wall. A loud thud reverberates through the room, and before I can figure out why it had just gone crazy, it pounces towards Sydero. She grabs my hand and slings me towards the ladder, just as she swings her blade and sidesteps the beast. “Climb. Now.” I do as she says without further questioning, hearing the conflict that goes on underneath me. As soon as I get to the top, Sydero appears beside me, and she closes the door to the hidden room. She grabs me and yanks me after her, the sounds of the ghoul hitting the door behind us. I run to the front door of the building and jingle it once again, finding it unlocked this time. “Let’s go,” I tell her, but she simply holds up a finger, her eyes on the door. “I want to see something.” I glance from her to the door, feeling considerably nervous the longer we stand there. I hear a wail, and the black mist from earlier comes surging towards us from the room where we had just come from. The entire building shakes as Sydero, and I both run outside, pressing our backs to the side as the figure flies by. It takes to the sky, whirling around our head like an ominous storm cloud. [[Continue->Sydero3]]

I keep a healthy distance between the creature and me, glaring at its hand as if it carried the plague. The creature attempts to whimper and takes a step towards me when Sydero cuts it off, standing in front of me protectively. “Take another step, I dare you.” “Demon! Beast, beast!” It screams, running around in a circle and hitting the wall. A loud thud reverberates through the room, and before I can figure out why it had just gone crazy, it pounces towards Sydero. She grabs my hand and slings me towards the ladder, just as she swings her blade and sidesteps the beast. “Climb. Now.” I do as she says without further questioning, hearing the conflict that goes on underneath me. As soon as I get to the top, Sydero appears beside me, and she closes the door to the hidden room. She grabs me and yanks me after her, the sounds of the ghoul hitting the door behind us. I run to the front door of the building and jingle it once again, finding it unlocked this time. “Let’s go,” I tell her, but she simply holds up a finger, her eyes on the door. “I want to see something.” I glance from her to the door, feeling considerably nervous the longer we stand there. I hear a wail, and the black mist from earlier comes surging towards us from the room where we had just come from. The entire building shakes as Sydero, and I both run outside, pressing our backs to the side as the figure flies by. It takes to the sky, whirling around our head like an ominous storm cloud. [[Continue->Sydero3]]

“Chucking the heels,” Sydero shouts, taking off her five-inch heels and throwing them to the side. I follow her as we run down the street, dodging the figure as it casually plunges down. I focus on finding a safe place to go as Sydero focuses on keeping it at bay, shooting dark red misty balls at it. “The house! The house, Syd!” I shout, turning direction to run into the house that rests nearby. Sydero is close on my heels as we go into the house, slamming the door closed. I watch as Sydero cuts her hand with her blade, gritting her teeth as she begins to draw symbols on the door speedily. She places her palm there and murmurs words I can’t make out, and the door erupts in a flash of light. “What was that?” She takes a deep breath and slides down the door, taking in deep breaths. “Something to give us time to strategize. It’ll hold for maybe thirty minutes to an hour, don’t know since this place is so stupid.” Outside the door, I hear the ghost wailing, circling the house and blocking out the little light that comes through the windows. Sydero gets to her feet and scowls, “it looks like we’ll be here for a while.” “What are you about to do?” “Lay down somewhere. Stay away from that marking and the windows.” She heads into a room, leaving me alone. I walk around the house, curious to know who it belonged to and if anything of interest rested within. [[Search the kitchen.]] [[Search the living room.]] [[Search the bedroom.]]

<> <<set $skitchen = true>> <<endnobr>> I enter the kitchen and look around, not knowing what I would find here. As I look, I take the time out to also look out the window at the black mass that has completely covered the house. I could see pieces here and there of the road and the outside world, but most of it was covered by the inky skin of the beast. The longer I look, the more I could feel its oppressive energy, and I could hear it. The words are unintelligible, like someone whispering rapidly in multiple languages. “Help.” It was weird to hear, like a lone word in a tornado filled with them. “I need to get out of here. Help.” The more I listened, the more it said. My eyes widen as I see something form in the movement. It showed a man crying, in his arms rest a woman and her child. He screams for help, but no one comes to his aid. I watch as the darkness encroaches, snickering at his depression. He attempts to lift the child and woman, but something wraps around his foot, yanking him into the darkness, swallowing him and everything else. I shake my head and hear a loud moaning. I don’t know what to think, what to say. But I back away, leaving the window. <<if $sbedroom is false>>\ [[Search the bedroom.]] <</if>>\ <<if $slivingroom is false>>\ [[Search the living room.]] <</if>>\ [[Speak to Sydero.]]

<> <<set $slivingroom = true>> <<endnobr>> I enter the living room, looking around for anything that could tell me who had ownership of the house. Most of the things I find are old and just prove that whoever did live here was a fan of hunting. A few decorative plants liven up the room, but besides that, only a row of guns decorate the wall, a few paintings, and an old couch and tv. I approach one picture of a man smiling happily. He has blonde hair and friendly deep brown eyes, his skin is bordering on tannish, but not quite there. He was the muscular sort, and he poses in a clean, nice polo shirt and khakis. I figure that he’s the owner, but that still gives me little information to go off of. I pull out a drawer on the coffee table and go through the stacks of paper, finding it to be mail addressed to someone named Vernon Whitman … the sheriff, or at least someone related to him. I continue to go through his things, finding reports about minor offenses throughout the town and stop on a missing person’s poster. It was of a girl, her face tragically happy. She looked like she was in her teens, but I wasn’t sure, maybe preteens? I put everything back and get to my feet. <<if $skitchen is false>>\ [[Search the kitchen.]] <</if>>\ <<if $sbedroom is false>>\ [[Search the bedroom.]] <</if>>\ [[Speak to Sydero.]]

<> <<set $sbedroom = true>> <<endnobr>> I enter the bedroom, raising a brow when I find her sprawled out on the floor. “Syd … there’s a bed right there,” I tell her, looking at the bed but finding nothing wrong with it. “I don’t know whose house this is, and I’m not about to sleep on their weird ancient bed. The floor works,” she grumbles from her spot. <<if $sdeal>>\ I’m about to walk over her when I pause, a smirk appearing on my face as I crouch down next to her. “So, about that deal.” This seems to perk her up as she glances at me with a heated smile. “Yea, what about it?” “I think I want to collect on it now.” She motions for me to continue, her eyes scouring my body. [[Neck|KissDeal][$skiss = "neck"]] [[Lips|KissDeal][$skiss = "lips"]] [[Collarbone|KissDeal][$skiss = "collar"]] [[Waist|KissDeal][$skiss = "waist"]] <<else>>\ “You are a mystery,” I say, stepping over her and approaching the dresser. The usual things rest there, a hairbrush, unfolded clothes, a few stray pieces of paper, and trash. I’m more concerned about the pictures that I find. <<if $slivingrooom>>The images that I find are the same ones that I had seen in the living room. <<else>> The pictures that I find all have the same man in them, blonde-haired, brown eyes, tan skin tone, and appearing like he was in his mid-thirties.<</if>> One was of the man with a large fish dangling from the end of a line, his smile full and prideful. Another is of the same man in a sheriff uniform, standing in front of the sheriff department building. The other pictures are all of the man but with different people. His smile is charming, one thing I notice as I look at them, a trusting face if I ever saw one. But the look in his eyes is different. Whether I wished to admit it or not, the look in his eyes was all too familiar. I glance down at the woman who lies on the floor. Her eyes were the same kind of intense as this man’s. Stories reside within them, and regardless of whether or not you were intrigued by this, it was unwise to learn them. Their stories were dangerous. Eyes that remind me far too much of a snake’s, alluring and in their own right, charming. Yet dangerous, always ready to strike. I turn the pictures over and see the name Vernon Whitman<<if $slivingroom>>, the same man who owned the house and who I believed to be the sheriff.<<else>>.<</if>> <<if $skitchen is false>>\ [[Search the kitchen.]] <</if>>\ <<if $slivingroom is false>>\ [[Search the living room.]] <</if>>\ [[Speak to Sydero.]] <</if>>\

I speak to Sydero after bringing my search to an end, sitting right next to her on the ground as I glance out the windows. “How long do you think we have before that protection comes down?” I question, breaking the silence. She stirs, sitting up and frowning as she glances towards the window that was still covered in a black mist. “Not enough,” she says in a defeatist tone. “It almost sounds like you’re giving up.” She stretches as she gets to her feet, “I always work best when the cards are against me. The longer I have to think, the worst the plan is going to come out. Hence why I don’t make them.” “And sitting around doing nothing?” I question with a raised brow. “Is not helping, you’re right. I keep thinking about what we need to do and the rules that this place might work off of. What that thing out there is and how to defeat it.” I watch as she goes to the end tables next to the table, rummaging through them, “I need a distraction.” I’m about to say something when something large and squishy thuds against my head, followed by Sydero’s laughter. I look to see what it is, my face dropping when I realize that she threw a dildo at me. [[“Not funny!” Throw it back.]] [[“Are you serious!” Kick it away.]] [[Laugh.]]

“Not funny!” I shout, launching it right back at her, of course, missing as she dodges out of the way. She disappears on the other side of the bed due to laughing hysterically. I roll my eyes, getting on the bed, and stare down at her on the floor as she gets herself together. She points to the open drawer with her thumb. “This guy must’ve been overcompensating for something. This drawer is filled with dildos.” She shrugs from her spot, “not judging him, though. We all have our kinks.” “Oh, do we now?” I question, resting my head on my arm as I stare at her with a relaxed smile. “Of course,” she sneers, leaning forward and meeting my lips with hers. The kiss itself is short and leaves me wanting so much more, but the actions behind it show me that that was what she wanted. She bites my lower lip and pulls, finally letting go and looking at me. “So, give me one of your kinks,” I respond, and she snorts, falling backward so that her back hits the wall and floor. “Sorry, Roe. But I doubt you’re ready to be on my level of sex. You’re still vanilla.” [[“Yea, you’re probably right.”]] [[“Whoa, no I’m not!”]]

“Are you serious! Sydero,” I shout and kick the dildo away, blushing and glancing away in disgust. She disappears on the other side of the bed due to laughing hysterically. I roll my eyes, getting on the bed, and stare down at her on the floor as she gets herself together. She points to the open drawer with her thumb. “This guy must’ve been overcompensating for something. This drawer is filled with dildos.” She shrugs from her spot, “not judging him, though. We all have our kinks.” “Oh, do we now?” I question, resting my head on my arm as I stare at her with a relaxed smile. “Of course,” she sneers, leaning forward and meeting my lips with hers. The kiss itself is short and leaves me wanting so much more, but the actions behind it show me that that was what she wanted. She bites my lower lip and pulls, finally letting go and looking at me. “So, give me one of your kinks,” I respond, and she snorts, falling backward so that her back hits the wall and floor. “Sorry, Roe. But I doubt you’re ready to be on my level of sex. You’re still vanilla.” [[“Yea, you’re probably right.”]] [[“Whoa, no I’m not!”]]

I try to keep it in but can’t contain myself, I join her in laughing, holding my stomach as the once quiet house feels up with our laughter. Once I calm down enough to move, I climb onto the bed and peer over the side at her on the floor. She takes a few breaths, winking at me before pointing to the open drawer with her thumb. “This guy must’ve been overcompensating for something. This drawer is filled with dildos.” She shrugs from her spot, “not judging him, though. We all have our kinks.” “Oh, do we now?” I question, resting my head on my arm as I stare at her with a relaxed smile. “Of course,” she sneers, leaning forward and meeting my lips with hers. The kiss itself is short and leaves me wanting so much more, but the actions behind it show me that that was what she wanted. She bites my lower lip and pulls, finally letting go and looking at me. “So, give me one of your kinks,” I respond, and she snorts, falling backward so that her back hits the wall and floor. “Sorry, Roe. But I doubt you’re ready to be on my level of sex. You’re still vanilla.” [[“Yea, you’re probably right.”]] [[“Whoa, no I’m not!”]]

I blush and scratch the back of my head, “yea, you’re probably right about that.” Sydero leans forward and picks up my chin. “It’s okay that you’re not ready to roll with the big girls yet.” I pout at her words not because of what she said but how she said it. She swiftly takes my mind off of it, though, placing a second and much hungrier kiss on my lips and deepening it. Her tongue clashes against mine, eager to venture the rest of my mouth as she attempts to deepen the kiss. I pull back to speak, “huh,” I chuckle, “am I your distraction?” “Have you seen yourself?” Sydero questions, growling against my lips, lighting up the fire within me. “You’re nothing but a goddamn distraction.” “Ah not it makes sense. I was wondering how long you were going to eye fuck me while I was driving,” I mumble. My words seem to have sparked something within Sydero who moves lightning quick. One minute she was in front of me, sitting on the floor, her attention on my lips. The next, I’m flipped on my back, and Sydero straddles me, biting her lip seductively as she looks down at me. She leans down, her hair tickling my face as she whispers in my ear, “then let me show you exactly what I wanted to do to you in that car.” I raise a brown and open my mouth, but the only sounds that manage to come out is a muffled groan, my eyes rolling up as Sydero grinds her hips against mine with just the right amount of pressure. My hips shudder, and I throw her a look that she snickers at. “So, how about it?” [[Let her show you.]] [[Fight for dominance.]] [[Tell her we need to focus.]]

“Whoa,” I correct her with a pout, “no, I’m not. I can handle anything that you throw at me.” Sydero dips her head back as she lets out a hardy laugh, one that causes me to pout even more. “I doubt that.” “Fine, you’re a lust demon with so many partners,” I quip, “you have the experience, whoop-de-doo. Doesn’t mean I can’t take what you dish out.” Sydero leans in, a sparkle to her eye as she grabs my chin, her nails digging into the flesh. She waits to see if I react, and when I don’t, she releases me with a small smile. But she doesn’t back up; instead, her lips meet mine in a second, much hungrier kiss than before. Her tongue clashes against mine, eager to venture the rest of my mouth as she attempts to deepen the kiss. I pull back to speak, “huh,” I chuckle, “am I your distraction?” “Have you seen yourself?” Sydero questions, growling against my lips, lighting up the fire within me. “You’re nothing but a goddamn distraction.” “Ah not it makes sense. I was wondering how long you were going to eye fuck me while I was driving,” I mumble. My words seem to have sparked something within Sydero who moves lightning quick. One minute she was in front of me, sitting on the floor, her attention on my lips. The next, I’m flipped on my back, and Sydero straddles me, biting her lip seductively as she looks down at me. She leans down, her hair tickling my face as she whispers in my ear, “then let me show you exactly what I wanted to do to you in that car.” I raise a brown and open my mouth, but the only sounds that manage to come out is a muffled groan, my eyes rolling up as Sydero grinds her hips against mine with just the right amount of pressure. My hips shudder, and I throw her a look that she snickers at. “So, how about it?” [[Let her show you.]] [[Fight for dominance.]] [[Tell her we need to focus.]]

<> <<set $sbed = true>> <<endnobr>> Breathlessly, I nod. Sydero leans down, her lips lightly touching mine as she grinds her hips against mine. The deeper the kiss goes, the more pressure she adds to her hips. I place my hands on her waist, focusing on both sensations as I begin fiddling with her shirt. She doesn’t stop, but I feel both of her hands reach out and grab my wrists, pinning them above me. “You agreed to let me show you, so enjoy,” she whispers against my skin. Her lips go to my neck as she deposits light kisses along it. She trails her tongue from my neck to my collarbone, her hands now working on removing my costume. She removes my top and tosses it to the side, pushing me back to the bed as she leaves heated kisses across my chest. <<if $showec>>\ <<if $gender is "female" or $a_gender is "female">>\ I bury my hands in her hair as she toys with my breasts, toying with one of them as her mouth gives the other attention. I bite my cheek, as her free hand finds its way to my clit, massaging it roughly and teasingly. I begin to scold her when the hand messing with my nipple flies to my mouth, my words meeting her palm. “Don’t tell me what to do,” she sneers, massaging my clit roughly. Her lips were back on mine, her tongue dancing with mine before she captures my tongue in her mouth, sucking on it before teasingly biting my lip again. She gives me a quick kiss before pulling back right as she inserts three fingers into my clit. My body shakes at the shock and pleasure that courses through me. I had no idea when I had gotten so wet, but that was one of Sydero’s secret powers, somehow always managing to get me soaked with just a glance. I feel two fingers remain on my clit as she adds her mouth, exploring the inside of me like she had never done before. I arch as she flicks her tongue across my sensitive spots, sucking and nibbling and causing my legs to shake uncontrollably. I abruptly feel the pressure build-up, about to warn her when she sucks at my clit, and I groan instead. My juices rush out, my warning dying on my lips, and my legs shaking. “Fuck you taste like heaven,” I hear her murmur as her tongue begins to clean me up, “… or hell … whichever suits your fancy sweetheart.” I’m not able to respond as she perks back up, a knowing grin on her face. She rests her body on top of mine, and I realize that while I was naked, she was still fully clothed, causing me to give her a small pout. She ignores it, and her eyes wander to the side. I follow her gaze to see her eying the drawers with the dildos. “What do you think about that?” she questions, “they probably have nothing on my own strap-on, but I’m sure I can find something that’ll work.” <<elseif $gender is "male" or $a_gender is "male">>\ I bury my hands in her hair as she toys with my nipples, toying with one of them as her mouth gives the other attention. I bite my cheek, as her free hand finds its way to my perked-up member, rubbing up against it roughly and teasingly. I begin to scold her when the hand messing with my nipple flies to my mouth, my words meeting her palm. “Don’t tell me what to do,” she sneers, her hand now on my member as she jerks it off roughly. Her lips were back on mine, her tongue dancing with mine before she captures my tongue in her mouth, sucking on it before teasingly biting my lip again. She gives me a quick kiss before pulling back as she continues to jerk me off. My body shakes at the shock and pleasure that courses through me. Her hand remains on my dick, but she also adds her mouth, licking my shaft before taking me into her mouth. I arch as she flicks her tongue along my head and the underside of my dick, causing my legs to shake uncontrollably. I abruptly feel the pressure build-up, about to warn her when she takes all of me into her mouth, sucking and causing her throat to vibrate, and I groan instead. My cum rushes out, my warning dying on my lips, and my legs shake. “Fuck you taste like heaven,” I hear her murmur as her tongue begins to clean me up, “… or hell … whichever suits your fancy sweetheart.” I’m not able to respond as she perks back up, a knowing grin on her face. She rests her body on top of mine, and I realize that while I was naked, she was still fully clothed, causing me to give her a small pout. She ignores it, and her eyes wander to the side. I follow her gaze to see her eying the drawers with the dildos. “What do you think about that?” she questions, “they probably have nothing on my own strap-on, but I’m sure I can find something that’ll work.” <<else>>\ I bury my hands in her hair as she toys with my nipples. I bite my cheek, as her free hand wanders my body, roughly and teasing my sensitive areas. I begin to scold her when the hand messing with my nipple flies to my mouth, my words meeting her palm. “Don’t tell me what to do,” she sneers. Her lips are back on mine, her tongue dancing with mine before she captures my tongue in her mouth, sucking on it before teasingly biting my lip again. She gives me a quick kiss before pulling back as she continues to pleasure me. My body shakes at the shock and pleasure that courses through me. I arch my back at her actions, my legs shaking uncontrollably as I lose myself to the sensations. I abruptly feel the pressure build-up, about to warn her when she pushes me even farther, causing me to groan instead. The warning dies on my lips as I release, my head falling back. “Fuck you taste like heaven,” I hear her murmur as her tongue begins to clean me up, “… or hell … whichever suits your fancy sweetheart.” I’m not able to respond as she perks back up, a knowing grin on her face. She rests her body on top of mine, and I realize that while I was naked, she was still fully clothed, causing me to give her a small pout. She ignores it, and her eyes wander to the side. I follow her gaze to see her eying the drawers with the dildos. “What do you think about that?” she questions, “they probably have nothing on my own strap-on, but I’m sure I can find something that’ll work.” <</if>>\ <<else>>\ I bury my hands in her hair as she toys with my nipples. I bite my cheek, as her free hand wanders my body, roughly and teasing my sensitive areas. I begin to scold her when the hand messing with my nipple flies to my mouth, my words meeting her palm. “Don’t tell me what to do,” she sneers. Her lips are back on mine, her tongue dancing with mine before she captures my tongue in her mouth, sucking on it before teasingly biting my lip again. She gives me a quick kiss before pulling back as she continues to pleasure me. My body shakes at the shock and pleasure that courses through me. I arch my back at her actions, my legs shaking uncontrollably as I lose myself to the sensations. I abruptly feel the pressure build-up, about to warn her when she pushes me even farther, causing me to groan instead. The warning dies on my lips as I release, my head falling back. “Fuck you taste like heaven,” I hear her murmur as her tongue begins to clean me up, “… or hell … whichever suits your fancy sweetheart.” I’m not able to respond as she perks back up, a knowing grin on her face. She rests her body on top of mine, and I realize that while I was naked, she was still fully clothed, causing me to give her a small pout. She ignores it, and her eyes wander to the side. I follow her gaze to see her eying the drawers with the dildos. “What do you think about that?” she questions, “they probably have nothing on my own strap-on, but I’m sure I can find something that’ll work.” <</if>>\ [[Tell her yes.]] [[Tell her I need to tap out.]]

<> <<set $sbed = true>> <<endnobr>> “Sure,” I shrug, flipping her over and then pinning her on the bottom. She looks at her wrists and then back at me, frowning deeply. I lean down and smirk, “but I’m leading this time.” Sydero raises a brow and opens her hand, my body shooting up and hitting the ceiling with a loud thud as she keeps me there. Pain arches through my back due to the impact, and I scowl down at her. “That shit hurt,” I tell her, and she shrugs uncaringly. She stands on the bed and cups my face, leaning in for a kiss but then pulling away, “one thing you need to know, Roe,” she starts, trailing her finger down my face, chest, and then stopping at my groin. “I don’t play sub to anyone.” She pulls back. “You ever think that maybe I’m tired of letting you play with me however you please? You always take the lead; I want to now.” She raises her brow and then laughs, causing my cheeks to heat up in anger. For some reason, I felt like everyone was watching us, watching me be humiliated by an uncaring Sydero. “You want to lead when you can’t even sound dominant?” she asks. “Tell you what. You get down and try your big $boy voice again, and I’ll see.” With a satisfied huff, she hops off the bed and goes to her original spot on the floor, looking up at me. “I’m waiting.” “Syd, this really isn’t funny,” I say, struggling to move, but nothing works. My body was stuck due to whatever power she held over me. She ignores me, appearing to be much more fascinated with her nails than me. “You’re such an asshole” I hiss right as I feel gravity come back into play and I fall to the bed. Sydero stands, glaring over at me, “forget it, the mood’s dead.” [[Tackle her.]] [[Push her.]]

I know how Sydero feels about plans. Simply put, she hated them. But I didn’t like going into situations whose variables were already unknown without one, and this place only made me even more nervous. I shake my head and kiss the tip of her nose, “we need to focus on getting out of here.” She doesn’t argue, but I can see her wanting to pout. Regardless, she gets off of me and plops herself right back onto the floor. [[Continue->Sydero4]]

I bite my lip and nod, much to Sydero’s happiness. She jumps to her feet, leaving me on the bed. I watch as she rummages through the dresser, my eyes on her ass as it sways from side to side as if she was listening to a song that only she could hear. She begins to pull a few dildos out, tossing them to the side and uttering a few insults for each. “This guy is so tame, it’s boring,” she says unimpressed, picking up one strap-on that looked like a decent size and then throwing it. “Uh, Syd, was that not a good one?” I question with a raised brow. “That one is a Hollow strap,” she tells me as if that was common knowledge, “it won’t do shit for us.” I open my mouth but soon close it when I see her pull a larger strap-on out. She licks her lips and peers over at me. “You’re trying to kill me,” I laugh, half of me turned on and the other half nervous. She snaps her fingers, and a fire encompasses the entire dildo, I could feel the heat from where I sat, instantly realizing that it was Hell’s Fire. A second later, Sydero extinguishes the flame and turns to me. “Trust me,” she tells me, planting a kiss on my lips as she slides off her pants. My eyes roaming her body slowly. “This is average at best. And I know what you can handle.” I don’t question her, mostly because her lips on mine feel so good. I get lost in them when I suddenly realize that I had yet to feel that oppressive sensation that generally comes from being with her. I’m about to ask when she props my legs up. Somewhere between her joining me back on the bed and kissing me, and now, she had managed to put it on. <<if $showec>>\ <<if $gender is "female" or $a_gender is "female">>\ “You ready, Roe?” Sydero murmurs in my ear, and I nod. Sydero pulls me closer to her, the tip of the strap teasing me as she rubs it against my clit. “I’m going to need you to tell me what you want, beautiful,” she teases, the head almost penetrating my lips before she moves it back. “Fuck, Syd!” I whimper, “can you please just fuck me silly already?” “That’s one thing I can do,” she snorts, her grip on my ass tightening. “I need you inside me now,” I beg, my entire body shaking in anticipation and want. She brushes the tip of the dildo over my clit again, and before I could reproach her about continuing to tease me, she pushes it in. “Fuck!” I shriek in pleasure. Sydero snickers as she starts off slow, allowing me to get used to the size before rocking her hips and pushing it in further and further. “Put your legs on my shoulder,” Sydero orders, and I do so immediately. She leans in, kissing me sweetly but only because she starts to pick up her pace, thrusting inside of me. I become a mess of shaky breaths and moans as she continues on, my back arching as I tighten my vaginal muscles and throw my head back. “It feels so good,” I tell Sydero, who peppers kisses along my now sweaty neck. “Did you imagine anything less,” she says in a cocky tone, “I want you to cum for me again, baby.” The room is filled with the sounds of my moans, flesh slapping up against one another, and the bed hitting the wall violently. My fingers clench around the sheets on the bed, as I felt my second orgasm coming. And yet again, as soon as I realize that it was coming, is when it happens. I moan loudly as Sydero slowly pulls out, lapping up my juices once again. I watch her with heavily lidded eyes as she gets up. Whereas I felt like I had no energy at all, she looked like she had all the energy in the world. <<else>>\ “You ready, Roe?” Sydero murmurs in my ear, and I nod. Sydero pulls me closer to her, her wet hand rubbing up and down my ass until I’m properly lubed. The tip of the strap teases me as she rubs it against my hole. “I’m going to need you to tell me what you want, beautiful,” she teases, the head almost penetrating before she moves it back. “Fuck, Syd!” I whimper, “can you please just fuck me silly already?” “That’s one thing I can do,” she snorts, her grip on my thighs tightening. “I need you inside me now,” I beg, my entire body shaking in anticipation and want. She brushes the tip of the dildo over my ass again, and before I could reproach her about continuing to tease me, she pushes it in. “Fuck!” I shriek in pleasure. Sydero snickers as she starts off slow, allowing me to get used to the size before rocking her hips and pushing it in further and further. “Ass higher,” Sydero orders, and I do so immediately. She leans in, kissing my spine sweetly but only because she starts to pick up her pace, thrusting inside of me. I become a mess of shaky breaths and moans as she continues on, my back arching as I tighten my ass around the dildo and throw my head back. “It feels so good,” I tell Sydero, who peppers kisses along my back. “Did you imagine anything less,” she says in a cocky tone, “I want you to cum for me again, baby.” The room is filled with the sounds of my moans, flesh slapping up against one another, and the bed hitting the wall violently. My fingers clench around the sheets on the bed, as I feel myself coming again. And yet again, as soon as I realize that it was coming, is when it happens. I moan loudly as Sydero slowly pulls out, and I hear a satisfied pop. She laps up my juices once again. I watch her with heavily lidded eyes as she gets up. Whereas I felt like I had no energy at all, she looked like she had all the energy in the world. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ “You ready, Roe?” Sydero murmurs in my ear, and I nod. Sydero pulls me closer to her, making sure I was properly prepared for what was to come next. I feel the tip of the strap and I shudder in anticipation. “I’m going to need you to tell me what you want, beautiful,” she teases, the head almost penetrating before she moves it back. “Fuck, Syd!” I whimper, “can you please just fuck me silly already?” “That’s one thing I can do,” she snorts, her grip on my thighs tightening. “I need you now,” I beg, my entire body shaking in want. She continues to tease me, and before I could reproach her about continuing to tease me, she gives me what I want. “Fuck!” I shriek in pleasure. Sydero snickers as she starts off slow before picking up her pace. She kisses me as she goes, causing me to hum in satisfaction with every wet kiss she leaves along my body. I become a mess of shaky breaths and moans as she continues on, my back arching as my muscles tense up. “It feels so good,” I tell Sydero, who peppers kisses along my back. “Did you imagine anything less,” she says in a cocky tone. The room is filled with the sounds of my moans, flesh slapping up against one another, and the bed hitting the wall violently. My fingers clench around the sheets on the bed, as I feel myself coming again. And yet again, as soon as I realize that it was coming, is when it happens. I moan loudly as Sydero slows down and then stops, cleaning me up speedily. I watch her with heavily lidded eyes as she gets up. Whereas I felt like I had no energy at all, she looked like she had all the energy in the world. <</if>>\ “The hell, shouldn’t you be tired too?” I question. “I never tire when it comes to pleasing you,” she tells me with a shrug, but I know Sydero enough to know that that wasn’t the entire truth. “Do you want anything?” I question, feeling a pang of guilt for not pleasuring her at all. Her eyes widen as she looks at me. She leans over and captures my lips. “I want you to recover,” she tells me, pulling her pants back on and leaving the room. I pout, something I seem to be doing a lot lately. I at least thought we could work in some cuddles afterward. And what about the lack of that force. I would question her later; right now, she was right; I did need to recover. Once I’m recovered, Sydero returns. She plops herself on the floor and does a light stretch before looking up at me. [[Continue->Sydero4]]

I shake my head, lying back on the bed and trying to gather my breath. “Mhmm,” she says, getting to her feet and stretching. I lazily look over at her, raising a brow at her peppiness. “The hell, shouldn’t you be tired too?” I question. “I never tire when it comes to pleasing you,” she tells me with a shrug, but I know Sydero enough to know that that wasn’t the entire truth. “Do you want anything?” I question, feeling a pang of guilt for not pleasuring her at all. Her eyes widen as she looks at me. She leans over and captures my lips. “I want you to recover,” she tells me and leaves the room. I pout, something I seem to be doing a lot lately. I at least thought we could work in some cuddles afterward. And what about the lack of that force. I would question her later; right now, she was right; I did need to recover. Once I’m recovered, Sydero returns. She plops herself on the floor and does a light stretch before looking up at me. [[Continue->Sydero4]]

“So,” she starts, “let’s figure out what we know so far then. That thing out there, that’s the ghoul that cornered us in the basement. Figured that much out when it came out the room right before we left the sheriff’s office.” “They can just shift forms like that?” “It’s not completely unheard of, but most of the time, no. They have to be immensely strong and seriously pissed off to do it.” “You think that whatever happened here has something to do with it?” “No doubt. But what happened here?” “Someone was living in that basement, that much is obvious. And from what it sounded like, the sheriff himself stuck him down there.” Sydero shrugs, “makes sense. It was underneath the sheriff’s office. So let’s say the sheriff is severely fucked up and fell in love with some girl. Maybe it was forbidden, or he wanted her all to himself and couldn’t have her for who knows what reasons. He ... put her down there?” <<if $skitchen>>\ “Yea, and another thing. In the kitchen, when I was trying to figure out what I could see, the spirit showed me something. A man crying over a dead woman and child as the darkness approached. It grabbed him and then them.” <<if $slivingroom or $sbedroom>>\ “Wait … the man was the same in the pictures that I saw,” I realize, racing over to the dresser and grabbing the picture. Sure enough, it was him, “Vernon Whitman. I think he’s the sheriff.” “Well, that makes no sense. From how you described it, the vision makes it sound like he was innocent, but what we’re learning, he’s anything but.” <<else>>\ “I don’t know who the man is, but I’m guessing that the woman and child was his family, but I could be wrong.” “Doesn’t sound like we have much to go off.” <</if>>\ <<else>>\ “I learned that the man in those pictures is Vernon Whitman, I think he’s the sheriff. So obviously, we have the antagonist.” “Yea, but that’s it. We’re not going to please any spirit by guessing.” <</if>>\ “Do we have any idea who the spirit waiting outside for us is? Maybe they’re the last piece to the puzzle.” “Not yet, but I have an idea on how we can figure it out.” “I’m all ears.” “Remember how the ghoul was asking you for help, but then when I cut in, they threw a tantrum?” “Yea?” “I say you go outside and play bait.” [[“You’re supposed to be against that.”]] [[“I’ve always wanted to play bait.”]] [[“You go play bait!”]]

<<if $skiss is "neck">>\ I tilt my head and feel her lips upon my neck hungrily. My insides crave more, my hands itching to bring her closer to me as lays one heated kiss on my neck after another. As she kisses me, I feel her tongue flick across my skin, tasting me as she goes. I feel her suck on my skin, undoubtedly leaving a hickey before she kisses the sore area. <<elseif $skiss is "lips">>\ She grabs the front of my shirt and brings me closer to her lips. They meet mine in what feels like a simple kiss. I wish to put words behind it, to say that this or that was the emotion meant to be conveyed, but I can’t. It felt like multiple emotions hit me at once, her tongue lightly asking for entry as it still feels like her lips are a ghost upon mine. <<elseif $skiss is "collar">>\ She moves in closer, pushing my shirt out of the way as she peers up at me seductively. I find myself holding my breath as her lips touch my collarbone, placing kisses so light along it that I wonder if she’s even truly kissing me. My head sways to the side as I feel her tongue perform a figure eight, my senses spiking right as she nips me. <<else>>\ She lowers herself down, pushing the waistline of my pants down just enough to expose the area. Her eyes glance up at mine seductively, making my face heat up and causing me to think of a million better things for her to do than just kiss me. I feel her blow on the area, and the chill causes me to shiver slightly, right as her lips connect. She trails her tongue along my skin, nibbling here and there but mostly placing deep kisses. I control myself as my hips wish to jerk. <</if>>\ Her lips make contact again, and I suddenly feel like I’m drowning in the murkiest of waters. Something drags me down, but I feel no ill harm from it, I let it take me, to do whatever it wants with me. I go lower and lower, almost excited to reach the bottom. And then the color comes back to my mind. Sydero says nothing, looking oddly upset about something before she lays back down. <<if $slivingrooom>>The images that I find are the same ones that I had seen in the living room. <<else>> The pictures that I find all have the same man in them, blonde-haired, brown eyes, tan skin tone, and appearing like he was in his mid-thirties.<</if>> One was of the man with a large fish dangling from the end of a line, his smile full and prideful. Another is of the same man in a sheriff uniform, standing in front of the sheriff department building. The other pictures are all of the man but with different people. His smile is charming, one thing I notice as I look at them, a trusting face if I ever saw one. But the look in his eyes is different. Whether I wished to admit it or not, the look in his eyes was all too familiar. I glance down at the woman who lies on the floor. Her eyes were the same kind of intense as this man’s. Stories reside within them, and regardless of whether or not you were intrigued by this, it was unwise to learn them. Their stories were dangerous. Eyes that remind me far too much of a snake’s, alluring and in their own right, charming. Yet dangerous, always ready to strike. I turn the pictures over and see the name Vernon Whitman<<if $slivingroom>>, the same man who owned the house and who I believed to be the sheriff.<<else>>.<</if>> <<if $skitchen is false>>\ [[Search the kitchen.]] <</if>>\ <<if $slivingroom is false>>\ [[Search the living room.]] <</if>>\ [[Speak to Sydero.]]

I lunge forward, tackling her and shocking her at my speed. She hits the dresser, and for a minute, I think maybe this isn’t a good idea when she smiles. “Well, won’t you be fun.” I’m unable to react in time when she dips down and trips me, my stomach hitting the carpet as she pins me down, her knee on my back, and both of my arms pinned to my side. “Or maybe you won’t,” she jokes, nipping at my earlobe before sucking on it. I feel my cheeks heat up as she lets her freehand roam down my side. Probably believing that she had already won. I let myself relax before pushing her off of me. Pinning her wasn’t wise, she just kept getting the upper hand, and she already showed she wasn’t against cheating to prove her point. As I think about what to do, I feel the oppressive air return, and I’m slung towards the wall. “You’re such a jerk,” I growl, and she pushes me into the wall. Her knee pressing in between my thighs as she leans her upper body pressure on her forearm that is positioned into my chest, pinning me in place. “Someone just sounds mad that they didn’t get what they want. Much like a child.” “Utter asshole, you know –,” I start to tell her with a massive scowl. The rest of my words scramble out of my mouth in grunts as she digs her teeth into my shoulder. I move to push her off of me, but in response, her knee travels further up my thigh, and a surge of heat and yearning races through me. [[Continue->SF]]

I get off the bed, and she starts to stand. Right as she does, I push her violently. “You’re such a jerk,” I growl, and she pushes me into the wall. Her knee pressing in between my thighs as she leans her upper body pressure on her forearm that is positioned into my chest, pinning me in place. “Someone just sounds mad that they didn’t get what they want. Much like a child.” “Utter asshole, you know –,” I start to tell her with a massive scowl. The rest of my words scramble out of my mouth in grunts as she digs her teeth into my shoulder. I move to push her off of me, but in response, her knee travels further up my thigh, and a surge of heat and yearning races through me. [[Continue->SF]]

“You were saying something?” Sydero asks up against my skin, continuing to suck at my neck as the words would form and then fizzle out in a puddle of pleasure. Somehow my mind comes back to me, and I manage to hook my foot on hers, causing both of us to fall to the ground. I’m on top of her, both of us breathing heavy as I sit up. I press my knee into her chest. “Now, who’s on top?” I question right as my eyes widen. <<if $showec is false and $a_gender is "Not Known">>\ Her fingers massage my sensitive areas, and when I glance down at her, she simply stares back up at me, giving none of her thoughts away. I try to form sentences, thoughts, anything that would tell her that I wasn’t about to give in. My mind is on my side, but my body is not. It reacts to her almost instantly, begging for her to continue in its own way. <<else>>\ <<if $gender is "female" or $a_gender is "female">>\ Her fingers massage my clit through my pants, and when I glance down at her, she simply stares back up at me, giving none of her thoughts away. I try to form sentences, thoughts, anything that would tell her that I wasn’t about to give in. My mind is on my side, but my body is not. It reacts to her almost instantly, begging for her to continue in its own way. <<else>>\ Her fingers massage my member through my pants, and when I glance down at her, she simply stares back up at me, giving none of her thoughts away. I try to form sentences, thoughts, anything that would tell her that I wasn’t about to give in. My mind is on my side, but my body is not. It reacts to her almost instantly, begging for her to continue in its own way. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ With her expressionless mask still on, she tangles her hand through my hair and yanks my head down closer to hers, our lips meeting. One second I tell myself to pull away, but as she deepens the kiss, I feel that I can’t. I take notice that the dark sensation that seems to always take me over was currently absent. I don’t feel its weight on my shoulders or hear its whisper in my ears. <<if $showec is false and $a_gender is "Not Known">>\ I grunt as I give into her lips, tangling my hands in her hair as I kiss her back fervently. She had a knack for pissing me off, but I couldn’t say she didn’t know how to flip the situation to her benefit. My hands go straight to her pants, pulling them down as I push myself closer towards her, taking control. She doesn’t stop me, and I smile to myself as I begin to massage her, and in response, she moans into my mouth, grinding her hips against me in desperate want. With a sharp kiss, I delve into her feeling her wetness and her heat. “Roe, I need,” she tells me as I continue to pleasure her. I immediately stop and move, giving her what she asks for. She responds hungrily, her actions almost frantic. I bite my lip and push my head into the side of the bed so that it could quiet some of my loud moans. She was magical, and the only thing missing was the sensation that usually came with us being intimate. I buck against her, focusing on the sensations that overcome me like a downpour of water. She always felt so amazing. “Syd,” I groan and tremble, “I’m about to come.” I feel myself clenching as I reach my peak, and Syd slows down to take care of me, bringing me back to earth. <<else>>\ I grunt as I give into her lips, tangling my hands in her hair as I kiss her back fervently. She had a knack for pissing me off, but I couldn’t say she didn’t know how to flip the situation to her benefit. My hands go straight to her pants, pulling them down as I push myself closer towards her, taking control. She doesn’t stop me, and I smile to myself as I begin to massage her clit. She moans into my mouth, grinding her hips against me in desperate want. With a sharp kiss, I move her panties to the side and insert two fingers, feeling her wetness and her heat. I pump my fingers into her as she continues to grind against my hand. I free myself from her lips before delving between the sweet spot between her thighs. I remove my fingers as I take her clit into my mouth, teasing her constantly with my tongue as she grinds harshly up against my mouth. <<if $gender is "female" or $a_gender is "female">>\ “Roe, I need to taste you,” she tells me. I immediately stop and move, pulling my pants and underwear out of the way before moving so that my clit was now hovering over her mouth. Before I can even properly get situated, her hands rest on either side of my thighs, and she hungrily takes me into her mouth. She sucks and nips my clit, adventuring every inch of it. I bite my lip and push my head into the side of the bed so that it could quiet some of my loud moans. Her mouth was magical, and the only thing missing was the sensation that usually came with us being intimate. I buck against her and on several occasions, found myself sinking into her face before rising back up. I bite my cheek enough to almost draw blood as she slaps my ass each time that I rise back up. “Fuck, Syd,” I groan and tremble, “I’m about to come.” I feel myself clenching, thinking Syd was going to stop, but she just goes harder, deeper, doing things with her mouth and fingers I didn’t know possible. Finally, I find myself hit my release, and Sydero pulls back to lick up everything that comes out of me. I move away from her, my body tired and wishing to just lay down. <<else>>\ “Roe, I need you inside me.” I grunt as I immediately stop, my hands fumbling with my pants as I pull them down and slip her underwear out of the way. I prepare myself when she pushes herself down, my cock entering her immediately. I hiss as I feel her tightness, and she lets out a long moan that sends me straight into action. I place my hands on her hips as I direct her movement, slipping my fingers into her mouth and letting her taste herself. She sucks and nips at my fingers, licking them clean. “How do you taste?” I question her as I increase my pace, not focusing enough to know if she answered me or not. Despite what she was, she didn’t understand that she felt like heaven. The sensation was different, a problem that I blamed on the absent nature that usually came with us being intimate. I continue to pump into her, each thrust I did was to elicit that beautiful moan from her lips. She grabs onto my thighs and spreads her legs out more to give me more access. I go as deep as I can, burying my face in her chest as I pant. Our breathing synchronizes as we both fall into the sensation. “Fuck, Syd,” I groan and tremble, “I’m about to come.” I’m about to ask her where she is when her nails dig into my flesh, producing a long groan as my legs shake. At the last minute, she moves away and moves so that I was now positioned at her mouth. She takes me into her mouth as I cum, licking my member greedily until every inch of me was clean. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ Trembling, I go back to her lips. She pulls back, biting on my lower lip before pulling on my hair so that I was now looking straight at her. “Because even when you think you’re in control, you’re still not,” she points out, and I frown, the room suddenly growing colder. She stands and stretches, redressing as a frown sits heavy on her face. If I hadn’t been the one she had just had sex with, I wouldn’t be able to tell that she had just finished fucking someone. “You’re telling me you were in control that entire time?” I ask in doubt, my voice beginning to shake. She turns to me and leans on the nearby wall, her eyes drifting over my nude body though the warmth and desire that usually resides there is absent. “Don’t you think if I wanted you to not do anything, then I would’ve used my powers. In the end, the illusion of dominance made you far more submissive than you would’ve been if you had just agreed.” I stiffen, focusing on her words and her nonchalant bordering on flat out uncaring behavior. How I keep forgetting how much of an utter asshole she was, is beyond me. “But we need to focus on bigger issues,” she sits down on the floor and motions for me to get dressed. I do, telling myself to forget the last few minutes. My mind wishes to ignore it but the sensations still coursing across my body was less than pleased. I sit on the bed and look over at her. [[Continue->Sydero4]]

“You know most of the time it’s me who purposes I play bait, and you yell at me about how stupid and dangerous that is.” “I’m an unconventional person, what can I say?” Sydero shrugs, and I frown. She notices it and gets up, grabbing onto my legs and yanking me towards her. She straddles my lap and pulls my face close to her, giving me a simple kiss. “If you think I would let something happen to you, then you’re crazy. I’ll be nearby, out of sight, but ready,” she mumbles against my lips. She pulls back, and with a serious face, asks, “do you trust me?” I nod, placing my forehead on hers. [[Continue->Sydero5]]

I smile, and Sydero raises a brow at my eagerness, “I’ve always wanted to play bait.” “That’s the spirit,” she chuckles, rising and throwing a glance towards the window. “I’ll be nearby but out of sight the entire time.” I nod, a hint of hesitation crossing my face. “Hey,” Sydero starts and approaches me, placing her forehead against mine, “do you trust me?” I nod, closing my eyes. [[Continue->Sydero5]]

“No, you go play bait!” I tell her with a snort, shaking my head as I cross my arms. She groans and rolls her eyes at my words, “we both know why I can’t.” “I’m not about to go out there and play buddy buddy with a ghoul.” Sydero rises and glances at me with a raised brow, “even if that ghoul needs your help?” I ignore her, looking elsewhere as she gets closer. “And you’ll be that ghoul’s hero if you help it?” I raise a brow and spare her a glance. A smile tugs at her lips as she tries to look as dangerous as possible. “And we both know how much I like to reward heroes.” That one gets me laughing, and I playfully slap her, “you mean how much you like to corrupt them, am I right?” She presses her nose into my neck as she chuckles softly, “I have no idea what you mean. I didn’t corrupt you … yet.” She kisses me before moving back, and I sigh, still worried about the plan. “Hey,” Sydero starts, placing her forehead against mine, “do you trust me?” I nod, closing my eyes. [[Continue->Sydero5]]

I stand before the door, my hands shaking as I tell myself to open it. “You got this, Roe,” Sydero says from behind me. “I’m hoping they’ll shift into their true form if you agree to help them. Then we’ll be able to figure out who they are.” “Will that even help us?” I question, hesitating. “Yes. Otherwise, we can’t figure out what’s happening. Come on, can we get this done today?” I flick her off before taking a deep breath. I throw the door open and walk outside, the mist suddenly disappearing. The street is silent as I stand there looking for the ghost that was here just a minute ago. “Please,” I hear that nasally voice say, I turn and see it in its ghoulish form, approaching me slowly, “help me. Be my salvation, help me. Free me from this prison.” I stare from the ghoul’s extended hand to their hopeful face. “Who are you?” “A lost soul,” they whimper, taking a few steps towards me, “a lost soul who needs your help.” “Tell me what happened here,” I tell them, “and then I’ll help you.” The ghoul cocks their head to the side, grinding their teeth as they walk around me, humming. “You will help me?” <<if $sbedroom or $slivingroom>>\ “If you tell me what happened, yes.” The ghoul nods, and right before my eyes, they change into the man from back at the house. Vernon Whitman stood in front of me, those soft eyes of his begging me to listen to whatever he had to say. <<else>>\ “If you tell me what happened, yes.” The ghoul nods, and right before my eyes, they change into a charming man who appears to be in his mid-thirties. He had blonde hair that stopped at the nape of his neck and soft brown eyes that held an odd intensity about them. Yet, the good-natured smile on his face could easily make one forget that detail. <</if>>\ “My name is Vernon Whitman. I was the sheriff of this town.” [[“You’re a monster.”]] [[“How did you die?”]] [[Let him continue.]]

“You’re a monster,” I roar in disgust. He freezes, his bottom lip quivering as he questions me with his eyes. “Why … why would you say something like that?” “You know what you did to that girl, or whoever you had living in that basement under your office. Who does something like that to someone?” “You don’t understand,” he says softly, reaching out towards me, “I loved her. I loved her so much, and she loved me too.” He places his hand to his heart and shakes his head. “She was my world, and then she acted like I was nothing. Like I was just some trash that she could kick to the side. The things she did … and said … and what she did to our child. Why would she do that? She did this!” he screams. He falls to the ground, hitting it over and over. “She let the darkness take us, she gave it permission. And now we’re all trapped.” He quiets down as if his own words were causing him to relive memories he didn’t wish. He glances back at me, rushing up to me but then pausing before he could touch me. “You said you’ll help me. You’ll set me free, so free me!” My eyes widen as I look towards the house, wondering where Sydero was. Abruptly, the sheriff grabs my arms and shakes me. “Help me! You said you’ll help me! Free me!” “Hey!” a familiar voice barks, the sheriff turns, and his body goes flying as Sydero’s fist connects with his face. She stands in front of me, shaking her fist out as she glares over at the sheriff. “Touch my Roe again, and I will do your brains in.” “Where were you?” “The darkness,” she tells me, “it’s a demonic force. I felt it as soon as we entered but couldn’t exactly be sure of it thanks to oh great Hallows Eve. Makes sense why he freaked out when he saw me last time, and why I’ve been feeling weird.” “Darkness! Get away from $him.” The sheriff reverts back to his ghoulish form, leaping towards Sydero with his fangs bared. I spot her blade materialize, but before she could swing it, the ghoul strikes. He gets close enough and kicks Sydero in the stomach. The force sends her flying back, and she slaps the side of the house. She grunts as she hits the ground, weakly getting to her feet. [[Help her.]] [[Attack the ghoul.]]

“How did you die?” I question, remaining as calm as I could. “The darkness, or at least that’s what I think it was,” he tells me. His eyes drift down the road where nothing rests. “It came and took us all. We screamed and prayed. Some even ran to the church for safety, but they didn’t survive long. The church kept them safe, but it had no food and water. It took me, and once it took me, we became it. We all became it together.” It wasn’t much, but it was something, an answer, nevertheless “The things she did … and said … and what she did to our child,” the sheriff continues, shaking, “why would she do that? She did this!” he screams. He falls to the ground, hitting it over and over. “She let the darkness take us, she gave it permission. And now we’re all trapped.” He quiets down as if his own words were causing him to relive memories he didn’t wish. He glances back at me, rushing up to me but then pausing before he could touch me. “You said you’ll help me. You’ll set me free, so free me!” My eyes widen as I look towards the house, wondering where Sydero was. Abruptly, the sheriff grabs my arms and shakes me. “Help me! You said you’ll help me! Free me!” “Hey!” a familiar voice barks, the sheriff turns, and his body goes flying as Sydero’s fist connects with his face. She stands in front of me, shaking her fist out as she glares over at the sheriff. “Touch my Roe again, and I will do your brains in.” “Where were you?” “The darkness,” she tells me, “it’s a demonic force. I felt it as soon as we entered but couldn’t exactly be sure of it thanks to oh great Hallows Eve. Makes sense why he freaked out when he saw me last time, and why I’ve been feeling weird.” “Darkness! Get away from $him.” The sheriff reverts back to his ghoulish form, leaping towards Sydero with his fangs bared. I spot her blade materialize, but before she could swing it, the ghoul strikes. He gets close enough and kicks Sydero in the stomach. The force sends her flying back, and she slaps the side of the house. She grunts as she hits the ground, weakly getting to her feet. [[Help her.]] [[Attack the ghoul.]]

I let him continue on, choosing to keep my thoughts to myself right now. “I fell in love with her, and she … she loved me too.” I bite my tongue, remembering the entry that I had read earlier. “We were going to be happy and live together. She was my world, my moon, my stars. But then I learned that it was all an act, she played me. The things she did … and said … and what she did to our child. Why would she do that? She did this!” he screams. “She let the darkness take us, she gave it permission. And now we’re all trapped.” He quiets down as if his own words were causing him to relive memories he didn’t wish. He glances back at me, rushing up to me but then pausing before he could touch me. “You said you’ll help me. You’ll set me free, so free me!” My eyes widen as I look towards the house, wondering where Sydero was. Abruptly, the sheriff grabs my arms and shakes me. “Help me! You said you’ll help me! Free me!” “Hey!” a familiar voice barks, the sheriff turns, and his body goes flying as Sydero’s fist connects with his face. She stands in front of me, shaking her fist out as she glares over at the sheriff. “Touch my Roe again, and I will do your brains in.” “Where were you?” “The darkness,” she tells me, “it’s a demonic force. I felt it as soon as we entered but couldn’t exactly be sure of it thanks to oh great Hallows Eve. Makes sense why he freaked out when he saw me last time, and why I’ve been feeling weird.” “Darkness! Get away from $him.” The sheriff reverts back to his ghoulish form, leaping towards Sydero with his fangs bared. I spot her blade materialize, but before she could swing it, the ghoul strikes. He gets close enough and kicks Sydero in the stomach. The force sends her flying back, and she slaps the side of the house. She grunts as she hits the ground, weakly getting to her feet. [[Help her.]] [[Attack the ghoul.]]

“Syd!” I shout, rushing over to her side. “My back feels like someone karate chopped me,” she chuckles. “Can I help with anything?” I ask her, resting a hand on her back as she weakly gets to her feet. She opens her mouth when she’s tossed again by the ghoul’s abilities. “No, leave her alone,” I tell him, and his eyes fly back to mine. Somehow, the ghoul manages to look almost sympathetic, shushing me as it leans towards me. It wraps its lanky arms around me and brings me close, ignoring my protests and my squirming. “Became of my love? Did demons warp her too? I save you, save you from yourself.” It nuzzles into me, its fetid smell invading my nose as I try everything to get free. My heart thuds as I see its tongue, but before anything can happen, I’m on the ground, and my nostrils thank me for the fresh air. Despite the fresh air, I feel claustrophobic, like someone squeezing the air right back out. I look to see Sydero standing over me, her human form shifting slowly into her demonic one. The ghoul is suspended in the air, crimson and black mist swarming him like a million tiny bugs. “You fucking dare?” Sydero practically yells, her body shaking from anger. She takes a menacing step towards him, and his body shoots to the ground. She bends down, her hand clenching around his throat as he claws her mercilessly. “I told you,” she says, her face suddenly becoming much calmer, her crimson eyes staring into his emptily. “You touch my Roe again, and I’ll kill you.” She throws him to the ground, and I watch with bated breath as she brings her foot down onto his head. I expect to see blood fly everywhere but realize that the sheriff turned into a mist at the last minute, dashing away. “Sydero!” I say with a shaky voice, she turns to me. Her face is blank, with no recollection of the person she was looking at. [[Continue->Sydero6]]

I charge towards the ghoul, not really thinking what I was doing but knowing that I needed to help Sydero out. I throw a punch that the ghoul easily avoids. He grabs my wrist and throws me to the ground. “I help you,” he tells me, shaking as he glares at Sydero. “No, leave her alone,” I tell him, and his eyes fly back to mine. Somehow, the ghoul manages to look almost sympathetic, shushing me as it leans towards me. It wraps its lanky arms around me and brings me close, ignoring my protests and my squirming. “Became of my love? Did demons warp her too? I save you, save you from yourself.” It nuzzles into me, its fetid smell invading my nose as I try everything to get free. My heart thuds as I see its tongue, but before anything can happen, I’m on the ground, and my nostrils thank me for the fresh air. Despite the fresh air, I feel claustrophobic, like someone squeezing the air right back out. I look to see Sydero standing over me, her human form shifting slowly into her demonic one. The ghoul is suspended in the air, crimson and black mist swarming him like a million tiny bugs. “You fucking dare?” Sydero practically yells, her body shaking from anger. She takes a menacing step towards him, and his body shoots to the ground. She bends down, her hand clenching around his throat as he claws her mercilessly. “I told you,” she says, her face suddenly becoming much calmer, her crimson eyes staring into his emptily. “You touch my Roe again, and I’ll kill you.” She throws him to the ground, and I watch with bated breath as she brings her foot down onto his head. I expect to see blood fly everywhere but realize that the sheriff turned into a mist at the last minute, dashing away. “Sydero!” I say with a shaky voice, she turns to me. Her face is blank, with no recollection of the person she was looking at. [[Continue->Sydero6]]

“Syd, it’s me,” I attempt. She takes a step towards me, her fist clenching and unclenching as she gets closer. “Please, Syd. Come on.” My eyes dart around, was she going to be the next person I run from? She lunges forward, and my body freezes as she brings me flush up against her, her lips smashing into mine in a possessive kiss. The strength of the kiss almost causes me to fall, and before I know it, my back is up against the house as she continues to kiss me. She leaves a trail of harsh kisses on my neck, caring little for the light yelps that I utter. Every inch of exposed skin was hers to claim, and she did so without care or concern. I’m thrown into a world of ecstasy, her kiss alone taking me to another level. I forget where I am and what we were doing, nothing in the world exists but the feel of her against me. I feel my eyes roll up involuntarily, my body no longer under my control. But as soon as I’m about to allow everything to take me, Sydero pulls back. Her eyes are wide, and she’s shaking her head, shivering uncontrollably. “Sydero?” I question, finding myself dizzy. My sight was misconstrued, down looked like up, and colors that shouldn’t exist were suddenly showing up. “Fuck, I’m sorry,” I hear her grumble. I feel a hand somewhere help me to my feet. “For what?” “I … shouldn’t have done that.” [[“I’d wish you do it again.”]] [[“Why?”]] [[“It’s fine. Let’s move on.”]]

I snicker, feeling drunk or high … or both, “I’d wish you do it again.” “Yea, that’s definitely not going to happen, unless you want to meet death. Come on, we need to move.” She gently grabs my hand and leads me as my mind slowly comes back to me. Everything rights itself after a while, and I look over to see that she was still demonic appearing. My mind goes back to the police station and what she had done to the officers there. Their bodies lying everywhere, soaking up the blood that they had shed. I stare at her garnet-colored demonic wings, close enough to look at the detail that rests there. If I squint, I feel like I could make out symbols that whisper about places and powers that I will never understand. Her medium-sized horns were there as well. Something different was the light details of scales on her arms. Some areas were more evident than others, but I could faintly see where the scales would appear if she went all the way. I feel eyes on me, and when I look up, find that Sydero was staring at me, her eyes completely crimson with only a small slit to tell me where she was looking. “Stop looking at me like that,” she says in a low growl. “Is this your full form?” “Nope. Almost there, though,” she throws me another glance, “don’t worry. I have no intention of ever showing it to you.” [[“Good.”]] [[“Aw, why not?”]]

I clench my head and command myself to focus, the command only makes everything hurt worse, “why?” “You forget that I’m a lust demon.” “So what?” I pause, realizing what she was saying, “wait, are you saying that whenever that … sensation takes over, that’s you …” I trail off, and she nods. “That’s me stealing your life force.” <<if $sbed>>\ “What does that mean, though? Obviously, we can still have sex, we did it back there, and I didn’t even feel that sensation.” “I was controlling myself. That’s the only way we can really do anything. That and if I’m closer to my humanity than demonic nature.” <<else>>\ “So it’s a good thing we didn’t have sex then, huh?” She snorts and gives me a crooked grin, “keep telling yourself that. But no, I can control myself. And as long as I’m closer to my humanity nature than demonic, you’ll be fine.” <</if>>\ “But anything you do right now, it could lead to my death?” She shrugs, “there are a few exceptions but, yea.” Everything rights itself after a while, and I look over to see that she was still demonic appearing. My mind goes back to the police station and what she had done to the officers there. Their bodies lying everywhere, soaking up the blood that they had shed. I stare at her garnet-colored demonic wings, close enough to look at the detail that rests there. If I squint, I feel like I could make out symbols that whisper about places and powers that I will never understand. Her medium-sized horns were there as well. Something different was the light details of scales on her arms. Some areas were more evident than others, but I could faintly see where the scales would appear if she went all the way. I feel eyes on me, and when I look up, find that Sydero was staring at me, her eyes completely crimson with only a small slit to tell me where she was looking. “Stop looking at me like that,” she says in a low growl. “Is this your full form?” “Nope. Almost there, though,” she throws me another glance, “don’t worry. I have no intention of ever showing it to you.” [[“Good.”]] [[“Aw, why not?”]]

I wave her concern away as I focus and stand on shaking legs, “it’s fine. Let’s move on.” I don’t hear her disagree or agree, but she does softly take my hand into hers and leads me. Everything rights itself after a while, and I look over to see that she was still demonic appearing. My mind goes back to the police station and what she had done to the officers there. Their bodies lying everywhere, soaking up the blood that they had shed. I stare at her garnet-colored demonic wings, close enough to look at the detail that rests there. If I squint, I feel like I could make out symbols that whisper about places and powers that I will never understand. Her medium-sized horns were there as well. Something different was the light details of scales on her arms. Some areas were more evident than others, but I could faintly see where the scales would appear if she went all the way. I feel eyes on me, and when I look up, find that Sydero was staring at me, her eyes completely crimson with only a small slit to tell me where she was looking. “Stop looking at me like that,” she says in a low growl. “Is this your full form?” “Nope. Almost there, though,” she throws me another glance, “don’t worry. I have no intention of ever showing it to you.” [[“Good.”]] [[“Aw, why not?”]]

“Good,” I find myself saying, nervously chuckling when I realize that I had said that out loud. “It’s fine, I agree.” We continue walking both of us going considerably slow. “Maybe we should take a break?” I question. On cue, my legs begin to wobble, almost causing me to collapse on the spot. “I’m not taking a break on this road. That’s just inviting that asshole to come back.” I look around and spot a nearby church building. It was the classic old cathedral style of construction, a church bell on top, and two crosses on the door. Inside wasn't much better. It wasn’t magnificent, like a work of art lost in history, but it was enough to at least catch my eye at first. I turn to look at Sydero, who still stands outside the church, gazing at it in repulsion. “Everything okay?” “Yea, I can’t go in there,” Sydero chuckles, “unless I want to be burned alive.” “I thought you said that whole church thing is a lie?” I question, walking back towards the open doors. “Kinda. Modern churches aren’t strong enough to repel anything, they lost their way. But this kind of church.” Sydero whistles as she takes a few steps back, “this is a frontier church. I can see the wards written all over this thing. And smell that disgusting air. In my current form, this building could kill me.” <<if $costume is "angel">>\ @@.center; ''YOU UNLOCKED SYDERO’S BONUS SCENE'' @@ “Your current form?” she nods, biting her lip as she looks it over, her brows rising in interest. “But when will I ever get a chance to do something like this again?” “Do something like what?” “Defile a church?” she sneers, “especially one that works with real magic. Would love to check that off my bucket list.” “It should concern me that defiling a church is on your list, but it doesn’t, not really anyway.” I shrug as I look from the church to her, “what do you need to be able to get in?” “You’ll have to place your hand on the bible inside and repeat what I tell you. You down for it?” “Alright, let's do this.” [[Continue->SBS1]] <<else>>\ I walk out of the church, nodding in understand to Sydero as we continue down the road, trying to spot somewhere else to take a break. [[Continue->Sydero7]] <</if>>\

“Aw, seriously? Why not, I think you’d look badass.” She doesn’t answer, continuing to walk though I can tell by her silence that she had already responded to my question in her mind. Whatever it was, wasn’t good. We continue walking both of us going considerably slow. “Maybe we should take a break?” I question. On cue, my legs begin to wobble, almost causing me to collapse on the spot. “I’m not taking a break on this road. That’s just inviting that asshole to come back.” I look around and spot a nearby church building. It was the classic old cathedral style of construction, a church bell on top, and two crosses on the door. Inside wasn't much better. It wasn’t magnificent, like a work of art lost in history, but it was enough to at least catch my eye at first. I turn to look at Sydero, who still stands outside the church, gazing at it in repulsion. “Everything okay?” “Yea, I can’t go in there,” Sydero chuckles, “unless I want to be burned alive.” “I thought you said that whole church thing is a lie?” I question, walking back towards the open doors. “Kinda. Modern churches aren’t strong enough to repel anything, they lost their way. But this kind of church.” Sydero whistles as she takes a few steps back, “this is a frontier church. I can see the wards written all over this thing. And smell that disgusting air. In my current form, this building could kill me.” <<if $costume is "angel">>\ @@.center; ''YOU UNLOCKED SYDERO’S BONUS SCENE'' @@ “Your current form?” she nods, biting her lip as she looks it over, her brows rising in interest. “But when will I ever get a chance to do something like this again?” “Do something like what?” “Defile a church?” she sneers, “especially one that works with real magic. Would love to check that off my bucket list.” “It should concern me that defiling a church is on your list, but it doesn’t, not really anyway.” I shrug as I look from the church to her, “what do you need to be able to get in?” “You’ll have to place your hand on the bible inside and repeat what I tell you. You down for it?” “Alright, let's do this.” [[Continue->SBS1]] <<else>>\ I walk out of the church, nodding in understand to Sydero as we continue down the road, trying to spot somewhere else to take a break. [[Continue->Sydero7]] <</if>>\

<<if $endearly>>\ I walk out of the church, nodding in understand to Sydero as we continue down the road, trying to spot somewhere else to take a break. <</if>>\ The road is silent, but both of us are still on edge as we go. We both know that the sheriff would return. He will either immediately try to fight Sydero away or try to grab me. Neither a situation that I wanted to experience. “Hey,” Sydero abruptly says, grabbing my shoulder and pointing to the side where an abandoned gas station sits. It wasn’t the gas station itself that had caught her attention but the lone police cruiser sitting in front of one of the pumps. The driver’s side door was open, as well as the trunk. “Think that’s the sheriff’s car?” “I do,” she answers, and we both move towards it. I look inside, being met with nothing but a stale odor. The trunk had only a long strand of rope that looked like someone had chewed it in half. I look down at it, finding bloodstains coating the dark grey fabric of the trunk. “This man just doesn’t cease to amaze me,” I grumble, Sydero shrugging as she heads inside the building. I go to catch up. [[Continue->Sydero8]]

I go inside and march to the lone pew that stands at the head of the church. Like Sydero had hypothesized, a bible sits there. I rest my hand on it and look up to show her that I was ready. The words she says back to me are definitely Latin and takes a handful of repeats for me to actually say correctly. When I finally do recite it all, I feel nothing change but watch as Sydero enters with a smile. I watch in awe as she approaches a wall, and with nothing but a single touch, the walls begin to crack. The old church lets out a long and drawn-out groan, the building quaking. The quakes continue for a few more seconds before it all goes still. “And this church has officially been defiled,” Sydero chuckles in a low and husky tone. An idea instantly forms, and a bright blush appears on my cheeks as I look over at an ecstatic Sydero. “You want to defile it a bit more?” She stretches her wings out as she sends me a devilish smirk, taking the needed steps to stand in front of me. Her finger trails down my jaw before she captures a thick strand of hair with her finger. “What are you saying, Roe?” “What could defile a church more than the powerful demon taking the attractive angel over the pews?” I motion to the wings and halo that I wear before sparing a glance at the row of pews. I fight a shiver that runs through my body as the gravity of my words finally come to me. I look back just in time to see a surge of desire appear in Sydero’s dark crimson eyes. One so lecherous in nature that it immediately burns every fiber of my being. She takes a step towards me before stopping, shaking her head and sighing. “Sorry, Roe, but that’s territory you’re not ready for.” “Seriously? This again?” She shakes her head, “I’m serious. Right now, I have no control. If I do to you what I want, then I don’t know how you’ll come out. My … tastes, when I’m like this, they’re not for everyone. I know that.” //There will be less content for those with hide explicit content due to the concentrated content in the scene. This is a warning.// [[“You’re right.” (This will end the bonus scene.)|Sydero7][$endearly = true]] [[“I don’t care.”]] [[Rile her up.]]

I grab the front of her shirt, forgetting that she was even wearing a demon costume due to her current appearance. “I don’t care.” Sydero grabs my wrist and pins me up against the wall forcefully. Her eyes blazing with desire and seeming to almost pulse. She’s shaking as she holds me there, her gaze raking over my body as she licks her lips. Through clenched teeth, she says to me, “I warned you.” She swaggers away, tapping her chin as she goes. I’m more hypnotized by the way her ass moves and causes her fake demonic tail to move with her, though. “Let’s see, you’re going to definitely need a safe word. Because despite what you say, I still don’t think you know what you’re getting yourself into.” “Doubt and more doubt, you’d think my feelings be hurt by now,” I smirk, staying where I am as Sydero sits on the top of one of the pews. She taps her chin and snorts, “how about squishy human, or just squishy if you can’t manage to get the human part out with all the screaming you’ll be doing.” I blush, but I also send her a glare, shrugging. “I really don’t think you’re that good,” I tease, applauding her in my mind when she doesn’t rise up to my challenge. She only tilts her head to the side, looking as if she still thought this wasn’t a good idea. “I’ll give you the pick since we’re going off of my tastes here. You can choose between either playing a game or roleplaying that dirty little fantasy of yours out.” [[Play the game.->SGame]] [[Roleplay your angel and demon fantasy.->SRoleplay]]

I smirk, putting on a mask made of pure bravery, “sounds to me like you’re the one who’s afraid.” She raises a brow, her eyes flickering over to me. I shrug as I walk towards the pews, letting my finger slowly run down the top of one, “I thought demons were supposed to take what they want when they want? Especially if it meant overpowering an angel whose wings got clipped.” I turn to her, she hadn’t moved, but she was silently watching me, her entire body stiff. I’m sure the human side of her was rolling their eyes, not falling for any of my words. But that’s not the side I was currently talking to, her demonic side was prideful, and my words were probably pissing every inch of her off. I shrug, “I guess you’re just tame.” I remember standing in the middle of the aisle. My words meant for Sydero, but my attention on the pew beneath my finger. Sydero was still standing by the door, her body still. So, how did I end up against the wall, Sydero’s body pinning me to the wall, not giving an inch of breathing room? Her eyes are alight with a burning desire, her body shaking as she glares at me. Her eyes rake over my body as she licks her lips. Her eyes rise back up to meet mine, “I’ll show you who’s tame.” She swaggers away, tapping her chin as she goes. I’m more hypnotized by the way her ass moves and causes her fake demonic tail to move with her, though. “Let’s see, you’re going to definitely need a safe word. Because despite what you say, I still don’t think you know what you’re getting yourself into.” “Doubt and more doubt, you’d think my feelings be hurt by now,” I smirk, staying where I am as Sydero sits on the top of one of the pews. She taps her chin and snorts, “how about squishy human, or just squishy if you can’t manage to get the human part out with all the screaming you’ll be doing.” I blush, but I also send her a glare, shrugging. “I really don’t think you’re that good,” I tease, applauding her in my mind when she doesn’t rise up to my challenge. She only tilts her head to the side, looking as if she still thought this wasn’t a good idea. “I’ll give you the pick since we’re going off of my tastes here. You can choose between either playing a game or roleplaying that dirty little fantasy of yours out.” [[Play the game.->SGame]] [[Roleplay your angel and demon fantasy.->SRoleplay]]

“I’m interested in this ‘game’ that you want to play. What’s it about?” “Kinda like Simon Says to a point. Simply put, you do as I say, and you’ll be rewarded.” “Seems simple enough, but you’re not a fan of simple, what’s the catch? What happens if I don’t do what you say?” She rolls her eyes dramatically, “if you weren’t going to do what I say then you wouldn’t have opted for the game. The only rule, or the catch, is that if you speak, we’re done playing the game.” “So, I stay quiet, do as you say, and we’re fine?” “Yep. You can only speak when I prompt you to.” “Sounds easy enough.” “Says the person who can never seem to shut up,” Sydero grumbles with an affectionate smile. “Let’s try it out then. Kiss me.” I suppose the first one was simple, and I clearly couldn’t see how this could get worse when I wanted to please her, which meant pleasing myself in the process. I approach her and kiss her, it’s a simple kiss, only because I didn’t know if she wanted something more. She didn’t direct me to do something more, but what was a kiss to her. The look on my face must show how much I was overthinking it all because Sydero tries to stifle a laugh. “If I didn’t know better, Roe, I’d say you were already on the road to losing.” I open my mouth to make a rebuttal and then close it, remembering the rules. “Oh,” she purrs, her finger trailing the side of my face, “good $boy.” I shiver at the praise, keeping my smile to myself as I stand a bit straighter, ready for the next. She directs me away from her, behind the pews and in front of her. “Clothes off.” I begin to do as she asks, slowing down when I get to my shirt. I was made all too aware of her eyes on me as I stripped for her, the feeling makes me feel like I was in a room filled with people and the spotlight on me. I was proud of my body, nothing to be ashamed of, and yet here I was doubting everything. “You’re sexy, Roe,” Sydero laughs to herself, lazily rolling her eyes, “the last thing you have to worry about is being unattractive physically, mentally, or emotionally.” Her words give me all the confidence I need, and I undress entirely, standing in front of her naked. I feel her eyes linger on every part of my body. She bites her lip and gives me a wicked smirk, “touch yourself.” I blush but tell myself not to overthink it, we wouldn’t make it anywhere if I kept doing so. I do as she says, touching myself. [[Continue->SGame2]]

“Hmm,” I start, “I think I could use a nice little roleplay session with you. With that being said,” I send a glare her way, “you’re not welcomed here.” For a minute, Sydero looks taken back at how fast I get into character. She didn’t know how long I’ve been thinking about something like this, and here we were in the perfect place to do it too. Well, minus the murderous ghoul. Sydero rolls her eyes and motions to the cracked walls, “I think it’s you who isn’t welcomed here. This place belongs to me now.” “This place will always be a house of worship,” I correct her, impressing myself with how well I was able to stay true to my character. I march up to the church doors and open them, pointing outside. “Again, you have no place here, demon.” Sydero’s body shakes as she laughs from her spot, “that’s cute. I can think of only one thing that’s about to be worshipped and praised.” She raises her hand, and the double doors slam shut, every time I try to reopen it, it just slams close again. I narrow my gaze and turn to face Sydero, jumping when I find her standing directly behind me. Any color besides red has drained from her eyes. Her stance, combined with her wings, cause me to feel small up against her. “Who’s not welcomed now?” Sydero questions me, her hand playing in my hair, she leans in, “you’re mine. The real question is, do you know that?” [[Continue->“Do your worst.”]]

<> <<remember $sstory = true>> <<endnobr>> “We’re only getting so much of the story. For all we know, he’s not as bad as the picture we painted of him.” I freeze at her words, turning to her as she looks up and down the aisles in interest. I didn’t know if she was just trying to busy herself, so she didn’t have to look at me, or if she was just that interested in what might still exist in here. “You can’t really think that. The things we read and saw, he’s a monster.” “Maybe,” she growls to me, “but I’m not about to judge the man when I don’t have the full picture.” “He tried to kill you multiple times.” “Tons of people have tried to kill me, doesn’t mean they’re any worse or than me.” I open my mouth to reply when she stops again, turning to me, “everyone I ever thought was supposed to mean something to me has tried to kill me at least once, besides one person, my father. Now you tell me, does that make everyone else more of a monster and him less of one?” [[“It’s not the same thing.”]] [[“I’m not getting into this with you.”]] [[“We’re not talking about everyone else.”]]

“It’s not the same thing,” I tell her, and she rolls her eyes as she turns her back to me, walking away, but this time, I follow after her. “This man held a woman against her will and screamed that it was love. He kept her in the basement for crying out loud.” “What if he had a good reason for it?” “Why are you even trying to defend him?” I finally question, and it seems to be the right thing to ask. Sydero’s wings slump as she looks from me to the floor. “If I judge him, I’m a hypocrite. Because I can relate,” she turns her back to me, “I know what it’s like to have people make up their minds on how much of a monster you are when they have no evidence.” “Sydero. You’re not a monster,” I tell her and put my hand on her shoulder. “Yea, and then there’s you,” she growls and knocks my hand away, “you just learned about what I am after I lied to you for who knows how long.” She draws back into herself, her wings wrapping around her as if they were hugging her. “Out of anyone, you’re the only one with a right to call me a monster, and yet …” She shakes her head and throws me a sneer, “you should be pissed off.” [[“You’re not a monster!”]] [[“Do you want me to be?”]]

“I’m not getting into this with you, Sydero,” I snarl, shaking my head as I make it seem like I’m interested in some ancient bag of chips sitting beside me. “Why not? I want you to answer the question, Roe. What makes a monster? What gives you or anyone else the right to call that man a monster when you have no idea what he’s been through?” “Why are you even trying to defend him?” I finally question, and it seems to be the right thing to ask. Sydero’s wings slump as she looks from me to the floor. “If I judge him, I’m a hypocrite. Because I can relate,” she turns her back to me, “I know what it’s like to have people make up their minds on how much of a monster you are when they have no evidence.” “Sydero. You’re not a monster,” I tell her and put my hand on her shoulder. “Yea, and then there’s you,” she growls and knocks my hand away, “you just learned about what I am after I lied to you for who knows how long.” She draws back into herself, her wings wrapping around her as if they were hugging her. “Out of anyone, you’re the only one with a right to call me a monster, and yet …” She shakes her head and throws me a sneer, “you should be pissed off.” [[“You’re not a monster!”]] [[“Do you want me to be?”]]

I shake my head at her words, “we’re not talking about everyone else, or even your dad right now. Those are conversations for another time. We’re talking about the sheriff and how his treatment towards a woman was a cruel and horrific thing.” “I’m not saying he’s not guilty over a few things, but labeling him as the only one to blame and as a monster isn’t fair.” “Why are you even trying to defend him?” I finally question, and it seems to be the right thing to ask. Sydero’s wings slump as she looks from me to the floor. “If I judge him, I’m a hypocrite. Because I can relate,” she turns her back to me, “I know what it’s like to have people make up their minds on how much of a monster you are when they have no evidence.” “Sydero. You’re not a monster,” I tell her and put my hand on her shoulder. “Yea, and then there’s you,” she growls and knocks my hand away, “you just learned about what I am after I lied to you for who knows how long.” She draws back into herself, her wings wrapping around her as if they were hugging her. “Out of anyone, you’re the only one with a right to call me a monster, and yet …” She shakes her head and throws me a sneer, “you should be pissed off.” [[“You’re not a monster!”]] [[“Do you want me to be?”]]

“Hey,” I bark, putting both of my hands back on her shoulders, “you’re not a monster. And I don’t want to hear you say that again.” “Hear me saying what? The truth?” “If you’re such a monster, then why do you care so much about Bradley? Huh? Because a monster would’ve let him die, and trust me from the stories I’ve heard, there were many times you could’ve let that happen. And what about Chris? I know you guys argue every second of the day, but I can see it, you care for him like a brother, and you can’t deny that.” I pause as I look her up and down, “or what about me? If you were a monster, then do you think you would’ve saved me as many times as you did?” I’m about to add her feelings, but I decide to keep that one to myself, not knowing how she would react. She says nothing, not looking at me but her dirty reflection in the glass that belonged to the cooler’s existing along the wall. “You’re an asshole,” I grumble, “and there are so many times where you piss me off. But one thing I know without a doubt is that you’re not a monster. I wouldn’t still be here if you were.” She stares at me, and with widened eyes, I watch as her wings and horns begin to shrink until they are no longer there. The white leaps back into her eyes, swimming freely and washing the crimson away, all while replacing them with amber. I take a questioning step forward, and before I can take another, Sydero runs into my arms, hugging me tightly. At first, the hug is so tight that I can’t breathe, all the air leaving my lungs as she squeezes me to her. But that feeling disappears, and we stand there in each other’s arms, her hair tickling my nose, but I take no action to move it. When she finally pulls back, she clears her throat, “uh, tell anyone about this, and I’m going to make you pay.” “Sounds kinky,” I laugh, and she pushes me playfully, the smile soon disappearing and her body stiffening. I turn around to see the black ghost ball hovering in front of the gas station’s door. It explodes and turns into the ghoul. I brace myself, preparing for a fight as the sheriff enters the gas station and then manifests into his more human form. He ignores Sydero and looks straight at me, his hand outstretched towards mine, “you promised.” I spare a glance at Sydero, who stands protectively at my side, her right hand close to her thigh where I know she keeps her blades. But other than that, she makes no move to stop him. I look back at the sheriff. I think back to what he told me and the things we found. And I … [[Touch his hand.]] [[Pull away.]]

“Do you want me to be pissed off?” I question. “Yes,” she answers swiftly, and so I nod. “Fine, I am. I … was, still kinda am, I guess. I’m pissed off that you didn’t tell me what you were from the jump and that you felt the need to lie this entire time. Now what?” She pauses and turns to me, “what do you mean, now what?” “Exactly what I said. You said you want me to be pissed off, and I just told you that I am. Now what?” She seems stumped. If she had imagined that the argument would go this way, I can’t tell. Her expression says that I had just thrown the ultimate wrench in her plans. “Your problem, Sydero, is that you write people off to quick. I’m not going to abandon you and judge you just because of a few things. Which is probably what you were hoping for. Yea, I’m going to get mad, and we’re going to talk about it, and hell yea will you get an earful. But I still have your back.” She stares at me, and with widened eyes, I watch as her wings and horns begin to shrink until they are no longer there. The white leaps back into her eyes, swimming freely and washing the crimson away, all while replacing them with amber. I take a questioning step forward, and before I can take another, Sydero runs into my arms, hugging me tightly. At first, the hug is so tight that I can’t breathe, all the air leaving my lungs as she squeezes me to her. But that feeling disappears, and we stand there in each other’s arms, her hair tickling my nose, but I take no action to move it. When she finally pulls back, she clears her throat, “uh, tell anyone about this, and I’m going to make you pay.” “Sounds kinky,” I laugh, and she pushes me playfully, the smile soon disappearing and her body stiffening. I turn around to see the black ghost ball hovering in front of the gas station’s door. It explodes and turns into the ghoul. I brace myself, preparing for a fight as the sheriff enters the gas station and then manifests into his more human form. He ignores Sydero and looks straight at me, his hand outstretched towards mine, “you promised.” I spare a glance at Sydero, who stands protectively at my side, her right hand close to her thigh where I know she keeps her blades. But other than that, she makes no move to stop him. I look back at the sheriff. I think back to what he told me and the things we found. And I … [[Touch his hand.]] [[Pull away.]]

I touch his hand and watch as his body begins to glow. It looks as if someone was peeling away his skin and revealing the corrupted essence that lay within. I didn’t know much about cores, but his didn’t seem right. It was blue and glowed bright enough to light up a dark room. But there was also darkness within, creeping around and snuffing out the glowing light, though, after a while, the glowing would only reappear. “Thank you,” I hear him say, squeezing my hand and causing to Sydero growl, “I’m … I’m not innocent. But this was not my doing. Not all of it anyway. Tell her … tell her that she got what she wanted. It’s time to let go. To let everyone go.” He releases my hand, and his body bursts, disappearing from our view. “What do you think that meant?” I question Sydero, who only shakes her hand. “No idea, I don’t speak idiot.” I roll my eyes and follow her outside, both of us making our way back down the road. “But I will say this. His core … I’ve seen ghost cores, and they all differ. The brighter it glows, the more of an innocent they were in their life. Poltergeists don’t glow at all because they let themselves get corrupted.” “He was glowing but had a few areas of corruption, what does that mean then?” “At first, I thought it was whatever demonic presence was here, but demons can’t affect a ghost’s essence like that. It’s not possible, which means his life was corrupted.” Sydero shrugs, “best I can come up with is that it’s like he said. He’s not innocent, but he wasn’t alone in guilt.” “We’re never going to know what he meant by that, will we?” “Maybe …” We continue on our way, wondering how the others are doing and how long this road was when we hear someone nearby shout. “Get back!” I freeze, glancing at Sydero, who’s already acting. She runs forward as we hear the speaker speak again, “I said get back you filthy spirits.” “Bradley!” I shout, excitement and relief coursing through me. We round a corner and see Chris and Bradley up against a building and two black veils of mist attempting to attack them. “Stop trying to piss Casper off,” I hear Sydero scold but see that she’s smirking. She destroys the ball near Bradley before targeting the ball that was attacking Chris. <<if $zp>>\ “Must be nice to just clench your fists to kill spirits,” Zillah sneers, walking from between two buildings. His clothes are partially burned, and when his eyes connect with Sydero’s, he rolls his eyes, not even trying to hide the jealousy in his voice. “Not as much fun as probably turning into a walking spirit bomb,” she smirks, tossing him a look before looking over everyone. <</if>>\ [[“What we miss?”]] [[“Do you guys know what’s going on?”]]

I keep my arm by my side and take a step back from him. “I lied,” I tell him plainly, watching as he shakes his head, refusing to believe my words. “You promised!” he shrieks, turning into a ghoul and pouncing towards me. He doesn’t get far as Sydero leaps in and pushes him to the side, swinging her blade into his head. He shrieks, ready to fight her but not realizing that he wasn’t strong enough. I watch as the two grapple, Sydero, never giving him room to breathe or a moment to get away. He finally turns into a ghost ball, surging back towards the doors when his movements are halted. I glance over at Sydero, who has her fist out and pointed towards him, she unclenches her fist, and the ball explodes in response. “Couldn’t do that before?” I question, and she throws me a lopsided grin. “If I had, then we could’ve died. So, yes, you’re so welcome, Roe.” I roll my eyes and smile, following her outside. We make our way back down the road. We continue on our way, wondering how the others are doing and how long this road was when we hear someone nearby shout. “Get back!” I freeze, glancing at Sydero, who’s already acting. She runs forward as we hear the speaker speak again, “I said get back you filthy spirits.” “Bradley!” I shout, excitement and relief coursing through me. We round a corner and see Chris and Bradley up against a building and two black veils of mist attempting to attack them. “Stop trying to piss Casper off,” I hear Sydero scold but see that she’s smirking. She destroys the ball near Bradley before targeting the ball that was attacking Chris. <<if $zp>>\ “Must be nice to just clench your fists to kill spirits,” Zillah sneers, walking from between two buildings. His clothes are partially burned, and when his eyes connect with Sydero’s, he rolls his eyes, not even trying to hide the jealousy in his voice. “Not as much fun as probably turning into a walking spirit bomb,” she smirks, tossing him a look before looking over everyone. <</if>>\ [[“What we miss?”]] [[“Do you guys know what’s going on?”]]

“What we miss?” I avoid Chris’s gaze, even though it wasn’t judgmental. I just didn’t like the idea of us being the only ones who didn’t turn back to help him. “We all were chased out by ghouls,” Bradley starts, “after I was able to get away from mine, though. I turned back and went to find Chris. We tried to find you two, but we weren’t able to.” <<if $zp>>\ “Instead they ran into me, and we then ran into a heap more of those ghost fucks,” Zillah lets us know. <<else>>\ “So,” Chris says, “we decided to just keep going along this road and hope we all meet up here.” <</if>>\ “So, what now?” I ask as the <<if $zp>>five<<else>>four<</if>> of us begin walking down the street, the buildings no longer appearing, and in the distance, I can make out an intersection. “We get out of here?” Chris questions, “what else?” <<if $zp>>\ “That’s if these spirits let us leave,” Zillah growls, “I seriously hate –” “Yes,” I sigh, “you hate spirits, Sydero hates Halloween, Bradley hates exercise, and Chris hates being the weakest link of the crew. Am I the only one who doesn’t complain about what they hate so much?” My group members stare at me. <<else>>\ “That’s if these spirits let us leave,” Sydero growls, “I seriously hate –” “Yes,” I sigh, “you hate Halloween, Bradley hates exercise, and Chris hates being the weakest link of the crew. Am I the only one who doesn’t complain about what they hate so much?” My group members stare at me. <</if>>\ “All in favor of leaving $name here?” Bradley starts, “say I.” <<if $zp>>Zillah and <</if>>Chris immediately say it while Sydero seems to think it over. She pulls me tight to her and playfully nips at my neck, “I.” “What!” “Just make sure you go to hell so I can still visit,” she jokes, and I act as if I’m going to punch her when she stops me, her eyes widening and pointing to something in the distance. My eyes widen as well as we all race towards the object. It was my car! [[“My beautiful baby!”]] [[“But she’s out of gas, remember?”]] [[“We’re all seeing this, right?”]]

“Do one of you know what’s going on here?” “Not yet,” Bradley starts, fiddling with his costume, which has seen better days, “but I think I’m beginning to get a picture. I think if we all compare what we went through, then we might get a general idea …” “But?” Sydero pipes up, raising a brow at Bradley. “But I could be wrong. It’s clear the spirits want us to learn their story, but I don’t exactly know how since they’re going about it weirdly. Whether it’s because of what night it is or because something is stopping them,” he shakes his head and turns his head to look out at the buildings, “I just know something horrible happened here.” “So, what now?” I ask as the <<if $zp>>five<<else>>four<</if>> of us begin walking down the street, the buildings no longer appearing, and in the distance, I can make out an intersection. “We get out of here?” Chris questions, “what else?” <<if $zp>>\ “That’s if these spirits let us leave,” Zillah growls, “I seriously hate –” “Yes,” I sigh, “you hate spirits, Sydero hates Halloween, Bradley hates exercise, and Chris hates being the weakest link of the crew. Am I the only one who doesn’t complain about what they hate so much?” My group members stare at me. <<else>>\ “That’s if these spirits let us leave,” Sydero growls, “I seriously hate –” “Yes,” I sigh, “you hate Halloween, Bradley hates exercise, and Chris hates being the weakest link of the crew. Am I the only one who doesn’t complain about what they hate so much?” My group members stare at me. <</if>>\ “All in favor of leaving $name here?” Bradley starts, “say I.” <<if $zp>>Zillah and <</if>>Chris immediately say it while Sydero seems to think it over. She pulls me tight to her and playfully nips at my neck, “I.” “What!” “Just make sure you go to hell so I can still visit,” she jokes, and I act as if I’m going to punch her when she stops me, her eyes widening and pointing to something in the distance. My eyes widen as well as we all race towards the object. It was my car! [[“My beautiful baby!”]] [[“But she’s out of gas, remember?”]] [[“We’re all seeing this, right?”]]

“My beautiful baby! I’ll never leave you again.” “Whelp, sorry Sydero,” Chris snorts, “looks like you’ve been replaced by a car.” “Chris, you’re the only one here whose probably actually been replaced by a car, so shut up,” Sydero snaps, pointing at me next, “throw me the keys.” I do, and with bated breath watch as she opens the door and starts it up. “Seems like gas is back. I say we go. Now.” We all pile in, and I gun it down the road, only to stop at the intersection. All of our eyes rest on the sign that says Wayward Road. The car is completely silent as we sit there, none of us knowing what to do. “Take a left,” a single voice chime in, Bradley’s GPS. We stare at him, and he shrugs his shoulder. With a deep breath, I follow the GPS’s orders and turn. I felt like I could hear all of our hearts racing as the car continues on. Waiting for everything to start over, for the car to pick up speed, the radio to give static, and the fog to encroach once again. [[Continue->Next11]]

“But she’s out of gas, remember?” I remind, biting the inside of my cheek. “Only one way to check.” Sydero walks past us and turns to me, I throw her the keys, and she gets inside. I listen to the engine rev up, and she gets out, shrugging. We all pile in, and I gun it down the road, only to stop at the intersection. All of our eyes rest on the sign that says Wayward Road. The car is completely silent as we sit there, none of us knowing what to do. “Take a left,” a single voice chime in, Bradley’s GPS. We stare at him, and he shrugs his shoulder. With a deep breath, I follow the GPS’s orders and turn. I felt like I could hear all of our hearts racing as the car continues on. Waiting for everything to start over, for the car to pick up speed, the radio to give static, and the fog to encroach once again. [[Continue->Next11]]

“We’re all seeing this, right?” I question, looking at the others, “This isn’t a trick, like if we get inside, then we start the loop all over?” “I wouldn’t mind that,” Sydero smirks, peering up at the gloomy sky. “Mind out of the gutter, please,” Chris growls. Sydero walks pasts me and opens the driver’s side door, “Roe, throw me the keys.” I do and watch with bated breath as she gets inside. I listen to the engine rev up, and she gets out, shrugging. We all pile in, and I gun it down the road, only to stop at the intersection. All of our eyes rest on the sign that says Wayward Road. The car is completely silent as we sit there, none of us knowing what to do. “Take a left,” a single voice chime in, Bradley’s GPS. We stare at him, and he shrugs his shoulder. With a deep breath, I follow the GPS’s orders and turn. I felt like I could hear all of our hearts racing as the car continues on. Waiting for everything to start over, for the car to pick up speed, the radio to give static, and the fog to encroach once again. [[Continue->Next11]]

“But why us? You said it yourself, this road doesn’t exist. So, do they just pull unlucky travelers randomly and deposit them here, or is there a reason why we were chosen?” “I … I don’t know. There could be tons of reasons why it was us, but also tons of reasons why we were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.” “Look,” Bradley sighs, turning to face me at the top of the stairs, “my brain wasn’t supposed to be working this hard today, so cool it with the questions. I know I’m an incredibly attractive genius, but even someone as awesome as me needs to take a break.” “And be a kid?” I smirk, raising a brow. Bradley looks to want to say something but thinks against it, continuing on. The second floor was tidier than the floor below us, which wasn’t saying much. Filing cabinets are scattered around the area, and desks turned at odd degrees with piles of scattered papers and books on top of them. Dusty paintings are hung along the walls as well as an American flag on the farthest walls with the windows. “It doesn’t really look like they were prepared for this, though, does it?” “What do you mean?” I question, approaching a desk and rifling through the papers there. “I mean, it just feels like everything was left like they had time. The cars on the road, the papers here,” Bradley sighs and wipes at his eye like a sleepy child would, “I guess I don’t have much to go off. But something about all of this just feels normal. It’s like they took a permanent break.” “Yea, that’s what death is,” I mumble. [[Continue->Bradley1]]

“So how do we help them help us?” Bradley raises a brow at my question, and I roll my eyes, “how the hell do we get out of here? What do we have to do?” “Possibly nothing. These spirits could just be pissed off for no reason, and this is just their way of being dicks. Or we could have to figure out what’s keeping them trapped here. There are tons of things we could do, doesn’t mean it’s the right thing.” “Look,” Bradley sighs, turning to face me at the top of the stairs, “my brain wasn’t supposed to be working this hard today, so cool it with the questions. I know I’m an incredibly attractive genius, but even someone as awesome as me needs to take a break.” “And be a kid?” I smirk, raising a brow. Bradley looks to want to say something but thinks against it, continuing on. The second floor was tidier than the floor below us, which wasn’t saying much. Filing cabinets are scattered around the area, and desks turned at odd degrees with piles of scattered papers and books on top of them. Dusty paintings are hung along the walls as well as an American flag on the farthest walls with the windows. “It doesn’t really look like they were prepared for this, though, does it?” “What do you mean?” I question, approaching a desk and rifling through the papers there. “I mean, it just feels like everything was left like they had time. The cars on the road, the papers here,” Bradley sighs and wipes at his eye like a sleepy child would, “I guess I don’t have much to go off. But something about all of this just feels normal. It’s like they took a permanent break.” “Yea, that’s what death is,” I mumble. [[Continue->Bradley1]]

“Are you saying that they should be peaceful? That on any other day or week, they would just be your typical chill ghost?” “I don’t know. It’s a possibility, Halloween always makes the supernatural act weird. Only a few supernatural creatures can stay sane, but they still see their abilities get stronger.” “Look,” Bradley sighs, turning to face me at the top of the stairs, “my brain wasn’t supposed to be working this hard today, so cool it with the questions. I know I’m an incredibly attractive genius, but even someone as awesome as me needs to take a break.” “And be a kid?” I smirk, raising a brow. Bradley looks to want to say something but thinks against it, continuing on. The second floor was tidier than the floor below us, which wasn’t saying much. Filing cabinets are scattered around the area, and desks turned at odd degrees with piles of scattered papers and books on top of them. Dusty paintings are hung along the walls as well as an American flag on the farthest walls with the windows. “It doesn’t really look like they were prepared for this, though, does it?” “What do you mean?” I question, approaching a desk and rifling through the papers there. “I mean, it just feels like everything was left like they had time. The cars on the road, the papers here,” Bradley sighs and wipes at his eye like a sleepy child would, “I guess I don’t have much to go off. But something about all of this just feels normal. It’s like they took a permanent break.” “Yea, that’s what death is,” I mumble. [[Continue->Bradley1]]

Silence soon settles over us as we both begin looking around the spaced-out floor. I don’t know what we’re looking for, but I can still hear the spirits outside, and until they decide to leave, we were stuck here. I spot a picture frame on the desk I was currently at and pick it up, dusting it off to see two bright-eyed children smiling back at me. I put the frame back but pause when my eyes catch a black and white picture. I grab it to see that it was a missing child poster. A young girl that looked like she was hardly out of her teens looks back at me. Deidre Thomas, the poster reads. She looked familiar. She looked familiar. “Bradley, come over here.” Once he’s at my side, I show him the poster, “does she look familiar to you?” “Yea … isn’t that the girl we saw at the window? The one who grabbed Chris and vomited all the spirits? I mean, her hair is much shorter here, but … yea.” We continue studying the poster before moving on, though Bradley keeps it with him. I walk over to the window and look around, hoping to spot a familiar face but seeing nothing but the somber buildings and a light grey sky. [[“Sydero’s help would be helpful right now.”]] [[“I’m worried about Chris.”]] <<if $zp>>\ [[“I wonder where Zillah ran off too.”]] <</if>>\

“You know,” I start, my eyes still drifting over the buildings, “Sydero’s help would be beneficial right now.” “You’re telling me. I wonder why she ran when she can just explode those balls.” “Huh?” “Sydero, she can explode ghost balls just like that,” Bradley says and snaps, “she might choose against it since it’s a demonic thing but, I don’t know, I was just wondering.” He shrugs his shoulders and continues looking around. I notice that the sound of the wails has disappeared, and that the balls of spiritual energy racing around the outside of the building, were absent . “I think we’re good. Are you ready to go?” “Yea, I don’t think anything here is going to help us out.” “What are we even hoping to find?” “Something that sheds some light on what’s going on around here. And quick,” Bradley says and then looks over at me, motioning to his costume, “we need to make it back to that costume party so that I can win.” “Pretty confident, huh.” [[Continue->Bradley2]]

“I’m worried about Chris. We both know that he’s not really the savviest when it comes to the supernatural.” “True, but I think he’s been getting really good at it. I mean, he has a long way to go, but for someone who was brought in under his circumstance, he’s not so bad. Do you think that bugs him?” “What?” “How he was brought in. I mean Sydero<<if $zp>> and Zillah<</if>> are supernatural so they had no choice. But you and I were both brought in at young ages, we kinda were exposed to it early even if we didn’t want to be. Chris, well, most people his age is more worried about adulting.” “It bugs him a lot, he just chooses not to speak about it with you guys because he thinks you’ll judge him.” “I would never,” Bradley snorts, “but Sydero definitely would. Though, I think even she knows when to stop.” He shrugs to himself before going back to his search. I notice that the sound of the wails has disappeared, and that the balls of spiritual energy racing around the outside of the building, were absent . “I think we’re good. Are you ready to go?” “Yea, I don’t think anything here is going to help us out.” “What are we even hoping to find?” “Something that sheds some light on what’s going on around here. And quick,” Bradley says and then looks over at me, motioning to his costume, “we need to make it back to that costume party so that I can win.” “Pretty confident, huh.” [[Continue->Bradley2]]

“I wonder where Zillah ran off too.” “I’m surprised he ran off at all. Out of anyone, I thought he would be the one yelling about how he’s not afraid of no ghosts.” “Those are some creepy ghosts, though.” “They’re, ah, what’s the word? I forgot, but they’re ghosts that can shift the way they look. They can go from ghost balls to ghouls to their actual appearance. I read about them somewhere.” “Probably in the big book of damned creatures.” Bradley chuckles as he continues his search. I notice that the sound of the wails has disappeared, and that the balls of spiritual energy racing around the outside of the building, were absent . “I think we’re good. Are you ready to go?” “Yea, I don’t think anything here is going to help us out.” “What are we even hoping to find?” “Something that sheds some light on what’s going on around here. And quick,” Bradley says and then looks over at me, motioning to his costume, “we need to make it back to that costume party so that I can win.” “Pretty confident, huh.” [[Continue->Bradley2]]

Bradley walks by me, stopping right when he gets in front of me, “I live for these moments, $name. That prize, whatever it is, will be mine. Even if it’s tears in a goblet from all those who lost.” I raise a brow as he straightens his shoulders and continues walking past me. I shake my head and follow after him. We get to the bottom of the stairs and open up the doors cautiously, glancing up and down the street but seeing and hearing nothing. I walk out and motion for Bradley to follow. Everything was silent as we walk down the road. Though it wasn’t cold, I find myself shivering multiple times. I felt like something was watching us, malicious in nature but idle as well. It had no actual desire to attack us or to even show itself, but it didn’t like us either. If by some miracle, we were able to find it, I had no doubt that it would tear us apart and love every second of it. “You feel that, too, then?” Bradley whispers, and I look over at him to see his eyes on the bleak sky overhead. “Yea, that … feeling?” “I suppose that’s the only word to describe it.” We turn a corner, and Bradley instantly seems to perk up by what rests before us. “A playground!” he shouts loudly, racing towards it before I can stop him or remind him that we were trying to get out of here. I follow him over, watching as he climbs the short ladder to stand on top of the wooden surface. He then goes the extra mile and shimmies through a gap and climbs up the cone-shaped roof, sitting on the top. [[“Be careful.”]] [[“Seriously, I thought we were busy.”]] [[“Swings!”]]

“Hey,” I call up to him, “be careful.” “I am the epitome of careful,” he says, and I shake my head as he leans too far over, rolling down off the top and to the ground with a loud thump. I walk over to him as soon as he gets to his feet, dusting himself off and groaning at the small rips that formed on his costume. But even with this, his energy is still high as he dashes over to the jungle gym, climbing the large dome climber. Bradley sits on top of the dome climber, abruptly laughing at something. I raise a brow, waiting for him to get himself back under control to tell me what. “You know my mom hated this thing,” he tells me, tapping the dome climber lovingly, “Bradley get down before you hurt yourself. Bradley how about the slides, just use the slides. Or my favorite, no Anthony he’s already wild enough, I don’t have enough Band-Aids for that boy.” He cracks up at the last one, laying back and staring up, sighing somberly. “I miss them so much. And you know what the worst part is?” I wait silently, “the worst part is that I can’t even come up with those what-ifs. You know, like when something bad happens and you’re left wondering what would have happened if you had done something differently? I don’t have those. If I stayed, they would’ve died. And I left, and they still died.” He wipes at his eye with the palm of his hand. “It just feels like those what-ifs might soften the blow from time to time, I don’t know. Without them I just feel like it’s my fault, that’s it. Nothing I do or say will make it better. At the end of the day, my existence is what caused them to die, and nothing will ever change that.” [[“They don’t blame you.”]] [[“What if will drive you crazy.”]] [[“I’m sorry, Bradley.”]]

“Seriously? I thought we were busy?” “Sometimes, $name, you just gotta stop and smell the dead flowers.” I look around, sure enough, the grass is dead and withered, and the few plants that I would classify as flowers are all shriveled up, and their bright colors are lost. “I’d rather get away from them,” I say, watching as he happily skips over to the large dome climber. Bradley sits on top of the dome climber, abruptly laughing at something. I raise a brow, waiting for him to get himself back under control to tell me what. “You know my mom hated this thing,” he tells me, tapping the dome climber lovingly, “Bradley get down before you hurt yourself. Bradley how about the slides, just use the slides. Or my favorite, no Anthony he’s already wild enough, I don’t have enough Band-Aids for that boy.” He cracks up at the last one, laying back and staring up, sighing somberly. “I miss them so much. And you know what the worst part is?” I wait silently, “the worst part is that I can’t even come up with those what-ifs. You know, like when something bad happens and you’re left wondering what would have happened if you had done something differently? I don’t have those. If I stayed, they would’ve died. And I left, and they still died.” He wipes at his eye with the palm of his hand. “It just feels like those what-ifs might soften the blow from time to time, I don’t know. Without them I just feel like it’s my fault, that’s it. Nothing I do or say will make it better. At the end of the day, my existence is what caused them to die, and nothing will ever change that.” [[“They don’t blame you.”]] [[“What if will drive you crazy.”]] [[“I’m sorry, Bradley.”]]

I stop paying attention to Bradley and place it on the swing set nearby. I test it out, pulling on the chain and forcefully pushing it. Once I’m content that it’ll hold my weight, I sit down and begin swinging. I hear Bradley giggle to himself as he leaps off the cone and go over to the large dome climber, weaving his way in and out of it. Bradley sits on top of the dome climber, abruptly laughing at something. I raise a brow, waiting for him to get himself back under control to tell me what. “You know my mom hated this thing,” he tells me, tapping the dome climber lovingly, “Bradley get down before you hurt yourself. Bradley how about the slides, just use the slides. Or my favorite, no Anthony he’s already wild enough, I don’t have enough Band-Aids for that boy.” He cracks up at the last one, laying back and staring up, sighing somberly. “I miss them so much. And you know what the worst part is?” I wait silently, “the worst part is that I can’t even come up with those what-ifs. You know, like when something bad happens and you’re left wondering what would have happened if you had done something differently? I don’t have those. If I stayed, they would’ve died. And I left, and they still died.” He wipes at his eye with the palm of his hand. “It just feels like those what-ifs might soften the blow from time to time, I don’t know. Without them I just feel like it’s my fault, that’s it. Nothing I do or say will make it better. At the end of the day, my existence is what caused them to die, and nothing will ever change that.” [[“They don’t blame you.”]] [[“What if will drive you crazy.”]] [[“I’m sorry, Bradley.”]]

“I don’t think they blame you for anything that happened. I think they’re just happy that you’re still alive and doing well.” “That’s nice of you to say, but I doubt it. They probably hate my guts for my stupidity.” He sits out of reach, hugging himself as he tries to forget about his parents and calm back down. I sigh, dragging my foot along the dirt and watching as the tiny particles take to the air before disappearing. I hear a whisper on the wind and look back up, startled to see a black mist hovering beside Bradley. I go to warn him, but the words die in my mouth as it materializes into a woman, her head on Bradley’s shoulder, and her arms wrapped around him. He yelps but doesn’t move away from her embrace, too startled and scared. “Shh, dear child. I understand,” the woman whispers, “your mother loves you. She will never stop loving you. And it isn’t your fault.” Bradley’s eyes widen as a few tears manage to sprinkle down from them. Somehow, Bradley throws his arms around the woman, sinking into her embrace. I watch nervously from where I stand, my eye flickering over to the other ghost that has materialized. This one was a man who seemed like he’s had many bad days and not enough good nights. He glances over at me, and before I can blink, he’s standing before me, his hands on my shoulder and his grip tight. “Please, please tell me that you’ve seen our daughter.” He releases me as he scrambles to grab a familiar poster and then shows it to me, “please say you’ve seen her.” [[“Yea, she has my friend.”]] [[“Oh, that crazy girl is yours?”]] [[“No, sorry.”]]

“I don’t think so,” I sigh from my spot, “those what-ifs will ruin your life. If without them, then the answer is clear. With them, it’s unclear, and you can’t sleep, eat, or simply function normal anymore. Those things drive you crazy until you’re convinced the whole world would be a much better place without you.” “I never felt //that// way,” he sniffles, “but I still feel awful.” He sits out of reach, hugging himself as he tries to forget about his parents and calm back down. I sigh, dragging my foot along the dirt and watching as the tiny particles take to the air before disappearing. I hear a whisper on the wind and look back up, startled to see a black mist hovering beside Bradley. I go to warn him, but the words die in my mouth as it materializes into a woman, her head on Bradley’s shoulder, and her arms wrapped around him. He yelps but doesn’t move away from her embrace, too startled and scared. “Shh, dear child. I understand,” the woman whispers, “your mother loves you. She will never stop loving you. And it isn’t your fault.” Bradley’s eyes widen as a few tears manage to sprinkle down from them. Somehow, Bradley throws his arms around the woman, sinking into her embrace. I watch nervously from where I stand, my eye flickering over to the other ghost that has materialized. This one was a man who seemed like he’s had many bad days and not enough good nights. He glances over at me, and before I can blink, he’s standing before me, his hands on my shoulder and his grip tight. “Please, please tell me that you’ve seen our daughter.” He releases me as he scrambles to grab a familiar poster and then shows it to me, “please say you’ve seen her.” [[“Yea, she has my friend.”]] [[“Oh, that crazy girl is yours?”]] [[“No, sorry.”]]

“I’m sorry, Bradley.” “Yea, I am too.” He sits out of reach, hugging himself as he tries to forget about his parents and calm back down. I sigh, dragging my foot along the dirt and watching as the tiny particles take to the air before disappearing. I hear a whisper on the wind and look back up, startled to see a black mist hovering beside Bradley. I go to warn him, but the words die in my mouth as it materializes into a woman, her head on Bradley’s shoulder, and her arms wrapped around him. He yelps but doesn’t move away from her embrace, too startled and scared. “Shh, dear child. I understand,” the woman whispers, “your mother loves you. She will never stop loving you. And it isn’t your fault.” Bradley’s eyes widen as a few tears manage to sprinkle down from them. Somehow, Bradley throws his arms around the woman, sinking into her embrace. I watch nervously from where I stand, my eye flickering over to the other ghost that has materialized. This one was a man who seemed like he’s had many bad days and not enough good nights. He glances over at me, and before I can blink, he’s standing before me, his hands on my shoulder and his grip tight. “Please, please tell me that you’ve seen our daughter.” He releases me as he scrambles to grab a familiar poster and then shows it to me, “please say you’ve seen her.” [[“Yea, she has my friend.”]] [[“Oh, that crazy girl is yours?”]] [[“No, sorry.”]]

“Yea, she has my friend,” I tell him with a grimace, taking a step back. “No, no,” he moans, “she’s a sweet girl. She’s just misunderstood.” He begins to pace back and forth, shaking his head as he thinks. “She was always bullied and picked on.” “Of course, and now she’s the bully.”His eyes light up at my words, his angered glare turning to me as he studies me under a new light. “What did you just say?” I don’t open my mouth this time, not wishing to piss him off any more than I already had. But he doesn’t seem satisfied with my lack of an answer. I watch as he begins to twist, his human form shifting into one far more sinister. A ghoul. I take a step back as his back hunches over, and his once slightly pink colored skin turns a sickly gray hue. His teeth sharpen, and his eyes widen. The hair on his head thins out until it could no longer be seen, and his nostrils flare as they turn more animalistic. “It’s not fault, her,” he attempts to say, “it’s not … her fault.” He screeches and swipes at me with his long claws, my reaction giving me enough time to back away and head towards the playground. “The hell is this?” I ask the woman who looks on at her husband, not moving a muscle as she holds Bradley tighter. “Get your husband, woman!” “No one can control him in this form,” I hear her whisper, her voice almost being taken away by the wind. “Bradley, help?” “I’m thinking,” he tells me. “Think faster!” I slide down the slide just as the man makes it back to my side, jumping off and heading towards the jungle gym bars. If I could pull myself up, then I might be far enough away from him. Unless he could jump high, which he probably could so scratch that plan. [[Continue->Bradley3]]

“Oh, so that crazy girl back there is yours? Nice to know,” I say with a sarcastic smile and little care to my words. He pauses, his head unnaturally cocking to the side. His eyes light up at my words, his angered glare turning to me as he studies me under a new light. “What did you just say?” I don’t open my mouth this time, not wishing to piss him off any more than I already had. But he doesn’t seem satisfied with my lack of an answer. I watch as he begins to twist, his human form shifting into one far more sinister. A ghoul. I take a step back as his back hunches over, and his once slightly pink colored skin turns a sickly gray hue. His teeth sharpen, and his eyes widen. The hair on his head thins out until it could no longer be seen, and his nostrils flare as they turn more animalistic. “It’s not fault, her,” he attempts to say, “it’s not … her fault.” He screeches and swipes at me with his long claws, my reaction giving me enough time to back away and head towards the playground. “The hell is this?” I ask the woman who looks on at her husband, not moving a muscle as she holds Bradley tighter. “Get your husband, woman!” “No one can control him in this form,” I hear her whisper, her voice almost being taken away by the wind. “Bradley, help?” “I’m thinking,” he tells me. “Think faster!” I slide down the slide just as the man makes it back to my side, jumping off and heading towards the jungle gym bars. If I could pull myself up, then I might be far enough away from him. Unless he could jump high, which he probably could so scratch that plan. [[Continue->Bradley3]]

“No, sorry,” I tell him with a reassuring smile that I hope he accepts, “if I do find her, then I’ll make sure to tell her that her dad is looking for her.” His face lights up with renewed hope. He hugs me and nods his head sporadically, “thank you, thank you. Bless you, bless you.” I look over at Bradley and the woman to see that though she was still hugging Bradley, her gaze was trained on me. Her stare intense, asking me a million different questions but knowing that I didn’t have any of the answers. There was also something about the look that she was giving me, as if there was something that she knew I was missing but wasn’t about to tell me. “We should get going,” I tell them, motioning for Bradley to come to my side. He reluctantly let’s go of the woman and wanders to my side, giving me a bright smile. “Feeling better?” I joke, and he nods. With one last goodbye, we leave the two spirits. I watch as the man goes up to the woman, and they hug, the woman’s eyes still on me as they turn into balls and disappear. “Do you think those were the two spirits that were chasing us before?” I question once I think they’re gone. Hopefully, they were gone. “I do, but we can’t be sure. They seemed nice, though, and we also got another clue.” “We did?” “The woman,” Bradley starts, biting his cheek, “she didn’t give me much, but she said that we need to leave this place, that it was evil, and it corrupts those who stay here too long. When I asked her why and how it got this way, well, it was closer to when you guys were wrapping up, but she said to stay away from her daughter.” “You mean as in, ‘she’s my child don’t hurt her’ or ‘abandon all hope.’” “More like the abandon all hope one. She said it more like a warning, like a mom telling me not to go to that house where the creepy old man lives.” [[“Yea but the creepy old man is cool.”]] [[“So her daughter is dangerous?”]] [[“Mother of the year award.”]]

“Yea, but the creepy old man is actually pretty cool. He’s just a cranky man who’s trying to keep everyone safe because his wife died in the house they created together, and now her soul possesses it, and she eats kids.” Bradley stops and shakes his head, looking at me with an amazed look in his eye, “are you seriously referring to Monster House?” “It was a decent movie.” “I despise you right now, and yet, I am so happy that I know you.” The two of us laugh as we continue on, speaking of other movies that we have watched as we go. “Hey, $name. I never asked, but do you remember anything about your parents?” I think back on what I do know, finally shrugging my shoulders and rolling my head, “bits and pieces. I feel like I was too young for anything to actually stick.” “Do you remember good things, at least?” [[“I don’t want to talk about this.”]] [[“Yea, my mom was amazing.”]] [[“I remember my dad being a riot.”]] [[“I remember my uncle mostly.”]]

“So her daughter is dangerous, and the one guy from our group that can’t handle himself is with her … great.” “She didn’t give me the whole story, so maybe she’s not as bad as she made her sound. I mean, her dad didn’t seem as worried about her, he just wanted to find her.” “True. So we’re getting two different reactions from the parents right now. I guess we’re just going to have to figure out the truth later, huh?” Bradley doesn’t seem happy with that, but he does nod in agreement. “Hey, $name. I never asked, but do you remember anything about your parents?” I think back on what I do know, finally shrugging my shoulders and rolling my head, “bits and pieces. I feel like I was too young for anything to actually stick.” “Do you remember good things, at least?” [[“I don’t want to talk about this.”]] [[“Yea, my mom was amazing.”]] [[“I remember my dad being a riot.”]] [[“I remember my uncle mostly.”]]

“Sounds like she deserves the mother of the year award with that kinda attitude.” “Do you think she’s that bad?” “I said she deserves an award, of course not.” Bradley rolls his eyes with a light smile, “I know that was said sarcastically. No one ever says that honestly.” I shrug with a small smile as well, the two of us continuing our journey down the road. “Hey, $name. I never asked, but do you remember anything about your parents?” I think back on what I do know, finally shrugging my shoulders and rolling my head, “bits and pieces. I feel like I was too young for anything to actually stick.” “Do you remember good things, at least?” [[“I don’t want to talk about this.”]] [[“Yea, my mom was amazing.”]] [[“I remember my dad being a riot.”]] [[“I remember my uncle mostly.”]]

I sigh, scratching the back of my neck as I look over at a curious Bradley, “if it’s all the same to you, I’d rather not discuss this.” His eyes widen, and he goes to cover his mouth, murmuring something, “sorry. I kinda forget that not everyone looks at it the same way I do. I just … I realized we kinda were in the same boat, and I forgot that we took different paths to get there.” “That was almost poetic, Bradley.” “Thanks. I sometimes try to remind people that I’m not just a pretty face who likes video games and beautiful women.” I chuckle, shaking my head and nodding in understanding. We walk around, both of us silent and in our own thoughts. But of course, silence doesn’t last long when you’re stuck on a road that doesn’t exist with spirits that are trying to tell you something, yet nothing at the same time. I freeze, and Bradley runs into me as I stare at the spirit in front of us. “What’s the big deal?” Bradley starts but soon quiets down when he spots what I’m staring at. <<if $maddad>>\ The girl’s father stands in the middle of the street, still in his ghoulish form and heaving heavily as he stares at us, or more specifically, me. “Why do I feel like this is round two?” I murmur, taking a cautious step back as I look the father up and down. “Yea, but this time you’re going to get your ass beat,” Bradley mumbles to me. “Is that supposed to inspire courage because I think you can use a few pointers.” “I don’t inspire, I inform.” I roll my eyes and focus my attention on the father, waiting to see what he was going to do. He takes one step forward before he begins to shake profusely. His form begins to sporadically shift between the ghoul and the human version of him. It seems to settle on both, one side keeping the ghoulish appearance and the other, the human. “I really wish I dressed up as The Penguin or the Joker now,” Bradley sighs wistfully. “I don’t see the point, it’s not like he’s going to agree to a picture with you.” “It’s the thought that counts.” “It’s … not … her … fault,” the man stutters, each word sounding like it hurt for him to say. “Apologize,” Bradley whispers to me. [[“What, hell no!”]] [[“You’re right.”]] [[“Him first.”]] <<else>>\ The girl’s mother stands in the middle of the street, her human form looking between the two of us with an indecipherable look on her face. “You talked to her,” I say to Bradley, “what do you think she wants?” “Freedom.” I raise a brow, looking over at him as he continues to stare at the woman with a sad gleam in his eyes. [[“What kind of movie quote …”]] [[“Had an interesting talk, huh?”]] [[“Don’t we all.”]] <</if>>\

“Yea, from what I remember, my mom was amazing. I mean, I remember the little things. Like always asking me about school and asking me what I want for breakfast. She would sit me down and ask if there was something I wanted to do. She was really attentive.” “That’s nice.” “And your mom?” “She worried about me, more so than my dad anyway. I think she liked that I was adventurous, but she was afraid of the day when something bad happened because of it. I think she was more scared of me being afraid of my own curiosity than she was something happening to me because of it. I try to live with that idea anyway. I made a bucket list of things she always wanted to do and that I’ll do.” “That’s, that’s nice, Bradley …” “Thanks. I sometimes try to remind people that I’m not just a pretty face who likes video games and beautiful women.” I chuckle, shaking my head and nodding in understanding. We walk around, both of us silent and in our own thoughts. But of course, silence doesn’t last long when you’re stuck on a road that doesn’t exist with spirits that are trying to tell you something, yet nothing at the same time. I freeze, and Bradley runs into me as I stare at the spirit in front of us. “What’s the big deal?” Bradley starts but soon quiets down when he spots what I’m staring at. <<if $maddad>>\ The girl’s father stands in the middle of the street, still in his ghoulish form and heaving heavily as he stares at us, or more specifically, me. “Why do I feel like this is round two?” I murmur, taking a cautious step back as I look the father up and down. “Yea, but this time you’re going to get your ass beat,” Bradley mumbles to me. “Is that supposed to inspire courage because I think you can use a few pointers.” “I don’t inspire, I inform.” I roll my eyes and focus my attention on the father, waiting to see what he was going to do. He takes one step forward before he begins to shake profusely. His form begins to sporadically shift between the ghoul and the human version of him. It seems to settle on both, one side keeping the ghoulish appearance and the other, the human. “I really wish I dressed up as The Penguin or the Joker now,” Bradley sighs wistfully. “I don’t see the point, it’s not like he’s going to agree to a picture with you.” “It’s the thought that counts.” “It’s … not … her … fault,” the man stutters, each word sounding like it hurt for him to say. “Apologize,” Bradley whispers to me. [[“What, hell no!”]] [[“You’re right.”]] [[“Him first.”]] <<else>>\ The girl’s mother stands in the middle of the street, her human form looking between the two of us with an indecipherable look on her face. “You talked to her,” I say to Bradley, “what do you think she wants?” “Freedom.” I raise a brow, looking over at him as he continues to stare at the woman with a sad gleam in his eyes. [[“What kind of movie quote …”]] [[“Had an interesting talk, huh?”]] [[“Don’t we all.”]] <</if>>\

“I remember my dad being a riot, that’s what I remember,” I laugh. “I can’t remember big things, which is pretty weird, but I do remember the little things. He would always play with me. He wanted my imagination to reach heights that even I, as a kid, didn’t think were there. I remember this one time I couldn’t go out to play with the other kids because a lot of kids were getting sick, so he went out and bought a whole playground. We set it up together. And every day, he would all excitedly ask me if I wanted to play space pirates or something.” “That sounds like fun.” “Yea … what about your dad, though?” “He wasn’t like my mom; I mean, he didn’t really worry about me 24/7. But he did get me into computers. He was a homebody, so he didn’t really understand my need to adventure unless it was on the computer. He taught me how to take it apart and put it together. And when mom wasn’t looking, he even gave me my first hacking tips. He would always push me to do better in the best ways too. Like challenging me to see who could hack the other first. I remember he wanted to build a computer with me, he said that was his one dream. He wasn’t around when I built my first one, but … I did it for him.” “I’m sure he’s proud of you and that mind of yours, Bradley.” “Thanks. I sometimes try to remind people that I’m not just a pretty face who likes video games and beautiful women.” I chuckle, shaking my head and nodding in understanding. We walk around, both of us silent and in our own thoughts. But of course, silence doesn’t last long when you’re stuck on a road that doesn’t exist with spirits that are trying to tell you something, yet nothing at the same time. I freeze, and Bradley runs into me as I stare at the spirit in front of us. “What’s the big deal?” Bradley starts but soon quiets down when he spots what I’m staring at. <<if $maddad>>\ The girl’s father stands in the middle of the street, still in his ghoulish form and heaving heavily as he stares at us, or more specifically, me. “Why do I feel like this is round two?” I murmur, taking a cautious step back as I look the father up and down. “Yea, but this time you’re going to get your ass beat,” Bradley mumbles to me. “Is that supposed to inspire courage because I think you can use a few pointers.” “I don’t inspire, I inform.” I roll my eyes and focus my attention on the father, waiting to see what he was going to do. He takes one step forward before he begins to shake profusely. His form begins to sporadically shift between the ghoul and the human version of him. It seems to settle on both, one side keeping the ghoulish appearance and the other, the human. “I really wish I dressed up as The Penguin or the Joker now,” Bradley sighs wistfully. “I don’t see the point, it’s not like he’s going to agree to a picture with you.” “It’s the thought that counts.” “It’s … not … her … fault,” the man stutters, each word sounding like it hurt for him to say. “Apologize,” Bradley whispers to me. [[“What, hell no!”]] [[“You’re right.”]] [[“Him first.”]] <<else>>\ The girl’s mother stands in the middle of the street, her human form looking between the two of us with an indecipherable look on her face. “You talked to her,” I say to Bradley, “what do you think she wants?” “Freedom.” I raise a brow, looking over at him as he continues to stare at the woman with a sad gleam in his eyes. [[“What kind of movie quote …”]] [[“Had an interesting talk, huh?”]] [[“Don’t we all.”]] <</if>>\

“Honestly, I remember my uncle mostly. I don’t know if it’s because I can’t really remember my parents or what, but he was there, and he’s what I remember. And he was great. He was everything I needed, and more. I don’t know how he did it, but he treated me like a kid but didn’t, like he wasn’t like those guardians who acted like kids didn’t know what they wanted or didn’t know anything. He treated me like a human, and he supported me through everything.” “He sounds great. I wish I could’ve met him …” “Yea, he probably would’ve liked you. You and that big brain of yours.” “Thanks. I sometimes try to remind people that I’m not just a pretty face who likes video games and beautiful women.” I chuckle, shaking my head and nodding in understanding. We walk around, both of us silent and in our own thoughts. But of course, silence doesn’t last long when you’re stuck on a road that doesn’t exist with spirits that are trying to tell you something, yet nothing at the same time. I freeze, and Bradley runs into me as I stare at the spirit in front of us. “What’s the big deal?” Bradley starts but soon quiets down when he spots what I’m staring at. <<if $maddad>>\ The girl’s father stands in the middle of the street, still in his ghoulish form and heaving heavily as he stares at us, or more specifically, me. “Why do I feel like this is round two?” I murmur, taking a cautious step back as I look the father up and down. “Yea, but this time you’re going to get your ass beat,” Bradley mumbles to me. “Is that supposed to inspire courage because I think you can use a few pointers.” “I don’t inspire, I inform.” I roll my eyes and focus my attention on the father, waiting to see what he was going to do. He takes one step forward before he begins to shake profusely. His form begins to sporadically shift between the ghoul and the human version of him. It seems to settle on both, one side keeping the ghoulish appearance and the other, the human. “I really wish I dressed up as The Penguin or the Joker now,” Bradley sighs wistfully. “I don’t see the point, it’s not like he’s going to agree to a picture with you.” “It’s the thought that counts.” “It’s … not … her … fault,” the man stutters, each word sounding like it hurt for him to say. “Apologize,” Bradley whispers to me. [[“What, hell no!”]] [[“You’re right.”]] [[“Him first.”]] <<else>>\ The girl’s mother stands in the middle of the street, her human form looking between the two of us with an indecipherable look on her face. “You talked to her,” I say to Bradley, “what do you think she wants?” “Freedom.” I raise a brow, looking over at him as he continues to stare at the woman with a sad gleam in his eyes. [[“What kind of movie quote …”]] [[“Had an interesting talk, huh?”]] [[“Don’t we all.”]] <</if>>\

<> <<set $maddad = true>> <<endnobr>> “She did nothing,” he screams, lunging out and managing to catch my pants leg. He tightens his grip, and I could gradually feel his nails digging into my skin, about to puncture my flesh. “Back off,” I hear Bradley scream right as he tackles the ghoul. He moves to hit Bradley, his claws shredding Bradley’s costume but nothing else. I watch as my companion trips, his body next to mine as we both gaze up at the towering ghoul. “Shit! Where is it,” Bradley growls, frantically touching his pockets until he pulls out a sheet of paper. He unravels it and shows it to the ghoul, and much to my surprise, he calms down. He snatches the poster and takes a few steps back. “How’d you know that would work?” I ask, clumsily getting to my feet and dragging Bradley away from the now preoccupied ghoul. “Well, this all started because you were talking shit about his daughter. I just figured that he loved her enough to at least grab his attention.” I glance around for the woman but fail to find her. When I look back towards the man, he’s gone, his ghost ball retreating into the sky. “Come on,” Bradley says to me, getting to his feet, “we need to get out of here before he comes back to scream at you some more.” He didn’t have to tell me twice. The two of us leave immediately, continuing our way down the street. [[Continue->Bradley4]]

“Hey, $name. I never asked, but do you remember anything about your parents?” I think back on what I do know, finally shrugging my shoulders and rolling my head, “bits and pieces. I feel like I was too young for anything to actually stick.” “Do you remember good things, at least?” [[“I don’t want to talk about this.”]] [[“Yea, my mom was amazing.”]] [[“I remember my dad being a riot.”]] [[“I remember my uncle mostly.”]]

I throw my hand up to protect my face from the blasting wind that strikes me. How could one feel like they were in the middle of Antarctica, but at the same time as if they were traveling through the hottest desert on Earth? The wind that strikes me almost brings me to my knees. It seeps past my clothes and settles onto my bones. My stomach churns and knots form, everything was telling me to turn around and head back. My instincts yell at me, so loud that I almost think Zillah was back in my head, giving me yet another one of his notorious headaches. //Sydero is in there? //, I ask myself. I try to shield my eyes and look inside the portal, but I see nothing but darkness. It mesmerized me, silent but loud, mysterious but bold. It was like a siren who refused to sing. Instead, they brought me closer to what could be. Alternative worlds and situations, those who I miss coming back to me, my every whim I have taken care of. Everything I want rests in that darkness, all I had to do was give in. “$name?” Rahim shouts, shaking me roughly. His brows are raised, and his expression one of agitation. When I finally look at him, he can do nothing but shake his head. “We’re not even inside, and its already taking you.” He sighs and composes himself, “I was going to ask you if you were ready.” “Who’s ever ready to descend into hell?” I chuckle nervously, rubbing my arm. “True,” he growls, stretching before turning to me, “listen closely to what I say. When we get inside, don’t believe anything you see, hear, or experience.” “What do you mean?” “Hell, the Underworld, whatever you want to call it. It shifts to show you what it wants. It plays on your senses; it knows you better than you know yourself. Because we’re in Gluttony’s territory, we’ll have to first make our way through his kingdom. I don’t know what other kingdoms we’re passing through, but each has its own temptations. You’ll see things that’ll try to tempt and weaken you. You can’t let it.” “I’m a broken record, I know this,” Chris pipes up from behind us, standing next to the others, “but I really don’t like this. Do you really need to save Sydero?” “Shut up,” Bradley snarls, containing his rage, but barely. His body shaking as he glares at Chris, ready to pounce. “No,” Chris finally says, “you’re putting both of your lives in danger, and for what, her?! Come on, Sydero has gotten free numerous times, she can just do it again … if she wants to.” I look over at Rahim, who’s listening, but his eyes stay trained on me, possibly wishing to see if I was going to change my mind. [[Continue->S2.2]]

“Listen to the idiot,” Zillah tells me, about to take a step forward, but Amari lets out a warning growl. He raises a brow and sizes her up for what feels like the tenth time today, but he stays put. “You’re risking your life, and unlike any other time, I can’t save you if you get into trouble in there.” For the first time ever, he looks worried though I doubt it was for my own safety, “you die down there, and that’s it.” “He has Rahim,” Bradley reminds them, throwing his hands up so that everyone would look at him. He looks from Chris to Zillah, both glancing away, not proud of themselves but not moving from their stances. He then whips around to face Rahim and me. His eyes tear up, and though he tries to fight it, the sobs wrack his body. He shakes his head, refusing to continue crying. “Tears aren’t going to help Sydero. Please, $name. Please bring her back. I … I won’t ask for anything else. I just … she’s like a sister to me … she //is// a sister to me, and I don’t want to lose her. If I could, I would march in there myself.” Rahim stiffens, his face full of disgust, “she doesn’t deserve you.” “Yea,” Bradley sniffles, narrowing his gaze and standing straighter, “and you don’t deserve her.” Bradley focuses all of his attention on me. “You’re the only one I trust. Please, just bring her back.” I nod my head, looking towards the Wendigo that has remained silent, swaying from side to side. “We’re ready.” It’s voice again appears in my head though it screeches in front of us, upsetting the birds that were perched nearby, “if you fail, then you are stuck. If you succeed, then the cambion should be able to get you out.” “Can’t believe I’m doing this,” Rahim mumbles to himself. The portal roars, and the wind stops. I close my eyes and step forward. Nothing. I feel nothing. I open my eyes to find myself in a massive room. The lavish golden walls each hold multiple stained glasses that show different scenes that I can’t make out. The ground is a white tiled floor with gemstones decorated throughout it. Tables line the walls on all sides, with tables sprinkled throughout the middle. Groups of people are also scattered around the room, plates stacked high with food in their hands as they laugh with one another. Food lines each table, its steam mesmerizingly drifting upward as the smell and sight beckon me closer. Food that I’ve seen and some that I’ve never seen lay on display. Every bit of it was mouthwatering, the sensations caressing me, begging me to take a bite. My stomach growls, shouting at me to get closer to let the various spices touch my tongue. “Try it, try it, try it,” multiple voices tell me, whispering and pushing me closer. I no longer have control of my body, my mind somewhere else as I approach one of the tables. I raise my hand, to take a piece, bringing it to my mouth when everything goes black, and my eyes dart open. [[Play Again.->Setup]] [[Author's Note]] [[Credits]]

<<if $showec>>\ <<if $gender is "female" or $a_gender is "female">>\ He spits on his hand before rubbing it against the entry to my clit. I wait in anticipation, my legs shaking profusely as Zillah hovers before my clit. “You do tell me if this becomes too much,” he whispers. He inserts the head, clenching my inner thigh as he goes. The more comfortable he gets inside me, the faster his movements become, and the deeper he plows me. My stomach begins to ache as if his head was slamming against it. His free hand goes to my breasts, pulling and toying with my nipples as I moan against my gag. I attempt to arch my back when Zillah puts a hand on my stomach, pressing me right back down. “None of that, or next time I stop.” My eyes stay wide in fear, and I slowly nod. He goes back to what he was doing, ramming me rougher than before as if he genuinely had a bone to pick with me. I continuously tell myself to stay still, not being able to grab onto anything as he rams his massive dick continually into my opening. My mind jumps from sensation to sensation, exploding in pleasure though I’m unable to focus on one without thinking on the other. I groan against the gag, attempting to warn him that I was about to hit my peak when he pulls out. He comes along my chest, decorating me even further like he said he would. “You about there?” he questions, and I nod vigorously, raising a brow when an evil smile spreads across his face. “Don’t cum until I say so, got it?” I whimper, and as if to test me, he shoves his fingers right back into my clit and captures it with his mouth. His tongue does wonders as it flicks across my most sensitive areas, and two fingers become three, and then four. I clench my eyes closed, telling myself not to come, not to release the pressure that’s building inside of me as he eats me out like I was his last meal. My body shakes as Zillah continues to do everything within his power to test me. I fight against the rope around my ankle to no avail. “Go ahead, pet,” he whispers to me, and I release immediately, still feeling the warmth of his mouth around my dick as I do. He laps it up before he jacks himself off, coming one more time, this time on my thigh. He comes to my side and lays down, his heated breath on my sweaty neck as we lay there together. <<elseif $gender is "male" or $a_gender is "male">>\ He spits on his hand before rubbing it against the entry to my ass. I wait in anticipation, my legs shaking profusely as Zillah hoists them up and enters my hole a minute later. My eyes squeeze shut in pleasure as I mumble curses and pleasures against the gag. My entire body feels like it’s on the edge of spasming as he goes deep and deeper, his pace picking up and his hand going to my member to jack me off. My hips jerk against him, and he stops, my eyes widening as I look at him. “None of that, or next time I stop.” My eyes stay wide in fear, and I slowly nod. He goes back to what he was doing, ramming me rougher than before as if he genuinely had a bone to pick with me. I continuously tell myself to stay still, not being able to grab onto anything as he rams his massive dick continually into my ass. My mind jumps from sensation to sensation, exploding in pleasure though I’m unable to focus on one without thinking on the other. I groan against the gag, attempting to warn him that I was about to hit my peak when he pulls out. He comes along my chest, decorating me even further like he said he would. “You about there?” he questions, and I nod vigorously, raising a brow when an evil smile spreads across his face. “Don’t cum until I say so, got it?” I whimper, and as if to test me, he shoves his fingers right back into my hole and captures my dick with his mouth. I clench my eyes closed, telling myself not to come, not to release the pressure that’s building inside of me. My body shakes as Zillah continues to do everything within his power to test me. I fight against the rope around my ankle to no avail. “Go ahead, pet,” he whispers to me, and I release immediately, still feeling the warmth of his mouth around my dick as I do. He laps it up before he comes one more time, this time on my thigh. He comes to my side and lays down, his heated breath on my sweaty neck as we lay there together. <<else>>\ He spits on his hand before rubbing it against the entry to my ass. I wait in anticipation, my legs shaking profusely as Zillah hoists them up and enters my hole a minute later. My eyes squeeze shut in pleasure as I mumble curses and pleasures against the gag. My entire body feels like it’s on the edge of spasming as he goes deep and deeper, his pace picking up and his hand roughly teases my body. My hips jerk against him, and he stops, my eyes widening as I look at him. “None of that, or next time I stop.” My eyes stay wide in fear, and I slowly nod. He goes back to what he was doing, ramming me rougher than before as if he genuinely had a bone to pick with me. I continuously tell myself to stay still, not being able to grab onto anything as he rams his massive dick continually into my ass. My mind jumps from sensation to sensation, exploding in pleasure though I’m unable to focus on one without thinking on the other. I groan against the gag, attempting to warn him that I was about to hit my peak when he pulls out. He comes along my chest, decorating me even further like he said he would. “You about there?” he questions, and I nod vigorously, raising a brow when an evil smile spreads across his face. “Don’t cum until I say so, got it?” I whimper, and as if to test me, he shoves his fingers right back into my hole. I clench my eyes closed, telling myself not to come, not to release the pressure that’s building inside of me. My body shakes as Zillah continues to do everything within his power to test me. I fight against the rope around my ankle to no avail. “Go ahead, pet,” he whispers to me, and I release immediately, still feeling the warmth of his mouth around me as I do. He laps it up before he comes one more time, this time on my thigh. He comes to my side and lays down, his heated breath on my sweaty neck as we lay there together. <</if>>\ Zillah licks my cheek before sneering at me, “I think this is a good look for you.” I glare, ignoring his laugh as he gets to his feet and stretch, “come on. Let’s go find some water and clean you up.” Thankfully, the mill had a water wheel attached to the side and a ghostly lake. Zillah strips and joins me, washing his cum off me and teasing me as if he hadn’t just fucked me senseless a few minutes ago. Once I was clean, we head back inside, both of us rolling our eyes at the ghostly wails that go off in the distance. <<else>>\ I wait in anticipation, my legs shaking profusely as Zillah hoists them up and enters me. My eyes squeeze shut in pleasure as I mumble curses and pleasures against the gag. My entire body feels like it’s on the edge of spasming as he goes deep and deeper, his pace picking up and his hand roughly teases my body. My hips jerk against him, and he stops, my eyes widening as I look at him. “None of that, or next time I stop.” My eyes stay wide in fear, and I slowly nod. He goes back to what he was doing, ramming me rougher than before as if he genuinely had a bone to pick with me. I continuously tell myself to stay still, not being able to grab onto anything as he becomes rougher and rougher. My mind jumps from sensation to sensation, exploding in pleasure though I’m unable to focus on one without thinking on the other. I groan against the gag, attempting to warn him that I was about to hit my peak when he pulls out. He comes along my chest, decorating me even further like he said he would. “You about there?” he questions, and I nod vigorously, raising a brow when an evil smile spreads across his face. “Don’t until I say so, got it?” I whimper and my body shakes as Zillah continues to do everything within his power to test me. I fight against the rope around my ankle to no avail. “Go ahead, pet,” he whispers to me a few minutes later, and I release immediately, still feeling the warmth of his mouth around me as I do. He comes to my side and lays down, his heated breath on my sweaty neck as we lay there together. Zillah licks my cheek before sneering at me, “I think this is a good look for you.” I glare, ignoring his laugh as he gets to his feet and stretch, “come on. Let’s go find some water and clean you up.” Thankfully, the mill had a water wheel attached to the side and a ghostly lake. Zillah strips and joins me, doing a light wash before hurrying to get back to our true mission. <</if>>\ [[Continue->Zillah8]]

“What!?” I ask in shock, taking my eyes off the man for the first time, gazing down at a none too impressed Bradley, “hell no! What do I have to apologize for? His daughter is crazy, and he needs to accept that.” My words cause the man to screech and dash towards me, both eyes a blazing red. I roll out of the way, turning to see where the ghoul was to see that he was right behind me. His hands lock around my neck as he pushes me into the dirt, his grasp tightening as I claw at him. His hands lock around my neck as he pushes me into the dirt, his grasp tightening as I claw at him. “It’s not her fault!” he shouts, his rancid breath causing me to close my eyes and wish for death. “He did this! He groomed her, made sure he was perfect.” “And where were you?” I manage to bark. I grab his hand and using every ounce of strength I had to try and force his grip to lessen. “How about not pissing off the mad ghoul?” Bradley says from his position, doing absolutely nothing to help me out of my current predicament. I keep my attention on the ghoul but flick him off. [[Continue->Bradley5]]

“You are absolutely right,” I tell him before turning back to the father, “hey, I’m sorry about what I said.” “Lies,” the father screeches, taking a step closer to me. “No, honestly. It wasn’t called for. I don’t even know your daughter, so I had no right to say those things about her.” “You … pay.” I stiffen, “well, I’m taking all that back then. I’m not sorry. I apologize, and you’re still going to try and kill me? Nope, I take back the apology, I don’t care.” My words cause the man to screech and dash towards me, both eyes a blazing red. I was ready, and once he’s close enough, I roll out of the way, turning to see where he was. He was quicker than me that much I knew and understood well before this fight had started. What I didn’t take into consideration that he was faster than even what I initially predicted and so thinking there was a way out, was foolish. His hands lock around my neck as he pushes me into the dirt, his grasp tightening as I claw at him. “It’s not her fault!” he shouts, his rancid breath causing me to close my eyes and wish for death. “He did this! He groomed her, made sure he was perfect.” “And where were you?” I manage to bark. I grab his hand and using every ounce of strength I had to try and force his grip to lessen. “How about not pissing off the mad ghoul?” Bradley says from his position, doing absolutely nothing to help me out of my current predicament. I keep my attention on the ghoul but flick him off. [[Continue->Bradley5]]

“Sure, but he goes first.” “Seriously, $name?” Bradley shouts in annoyance. “I’m not apologizing until he apologizes for trying to kill me back at the playground. Yes, I’m serious.” My words cause the man to screech and dash towards me, both eyes a blazing red. I roll out of the way, turning to see where the ghoul was to see that he was right behind me. His hands lock around my neck as he pushes me into the dirt, his grasp tightening as I claw at him. His hands lock around my neck as he pushes me into the dirt, his grasp tightening as I claw at him. “It’s not her fault!” he shouts, his rancid breath causing me to close my eyes and wish for death. “He did this! He groomed her, made sure he was perfect.” “And where were you?” I manage to bark. I grab his hand and using every ounce of strength I had to try and force his grip to lessen. “How about not pissing off the mad ghoul?” Bradley says from his position, doing absolutely nothing to help me out of my current predicament. I keep my attention on the ghoul but flick him off. [[Continue->Bradley5]]

“I don’t know if you’re quoting Braveheart right now or you’re just trying to be really deep. Give me something to go off of here.” Bradley rolls his eyes and looks over at me with an unimpressed look. “This is serious, $name.” “You’re right, that movie was very serious. The whole war and all that death.” “I promised her that I would help her leave this place. That’s when you lied to the father, and it kinda just grabbed her attention and ended the conversation.” The mother steps forward, her eyes sad as she reaches her hand towards Bradley. [[Stop him.]] [[Let him help her.]]

“You two had an interesting talk, huh?” “She started talking about herself to calm me down and get my mind off of my parents. It was helpful,” he tells me with a shrug. “I promised her that I would help her leave this place. That’s when you lied to the father, and it kinda just grabbed her attention and ended the conversation.” The mother steps forward, her eyes sad as she reaches her hand towards Bradley. [[Stop him.]] [[Let him help her.]]

“Ah, don’t we all?” “I’m serious, $name.” “I am too. You don’t think I want to be free from this hell hole? I didn’t sign up to spend my Halloween night trapped on some forsaken road that never ends.” I turn my attention back to the woman. “I promised her that I would help her leave this place. That’s when you lied to the father, and it kinda just grabbed her attention and ended the conversation.” The mother steps forward, her eyes sad as she reaches her hand towards Bradley. [[Stop him.]] [[Let him help her.]]

The father’s grip does lessen, but it wasn’t because of my actions as much as it was my words. He blinks as he glares down at me, shaking his head viciously. “I did everything I could! She was my daughter!” He raises his hand, his crooked fingers ready to dig into my flesh. “You’re right then,” I say, my eyes flickering from his fingers to his face, “it’s not her fault. It’s yours.” He stares at me, frozen as his eyes widen in realization at my words. He shakes his head, releasing and then backing away from me. I take a deep breath. This wasn’t the freshest air either, but smelling ghoul breath for two minutes straight was definitely an inhumane way to die. He shakes his head, hugging himself as he stumbles backward. “It wasn’t my fault … was it? I should’ve seen the signs. Should’ve moved us away. But my job … I needed my job.” The ghoulish form disappears as he drops to his knees, his gaze settling on me. I think that he’s about to attack again, but instead, his shoulders droop, and tears spill from his eyes. I watch with bated breath as his body begins to disintegrate slowly. “She needed me, and I wasn’t there for her. I told myself that nothing was wrong when I knew everything was,” he whimpers, only his upper half now still here, “even when I saw the shift. Knew that she had done something horrible, I still refused to see it.” His head was all that remained as he looked up at me, his eyes glassy as he slowly vanishes. “I just wanted my little girl back.” Bradley and I watch as his remains disappear, the road once again wrapping a blanket of silence around us. “Who do you think he was talking about? When he said that someone groomed her?” “Some twisted person. Who knows?” I murmur, “let’s just hope that’s that, and we can leave without the mother jumping us for telling her husband the truth.” Bradley nods in agreement, and we head-on. [[Continue->Bradley6]]

The road is uncomfortably silent, though I believe that’s only because of the fact that we were able to ditch the two spirits that had been hounding us all this time. I’m reminded of that maliciousness that we felt earlier. This wasn’t the same, but it was close. It was as if the energy was farther away, its attention on something else, but its presence encompassed the entire road, so it was constantly always felt. “Sydero?” Bradley questions, stopping in his tracks. I look in the direction that he calls out to see the same thing he did, a figure shaped like a woman with long wavy black hair. She’s standing over something, and when we inch closer, find that it was Chris’s body she was looming by. “Nice of you to find us,” Sydero tells us. She scans Bradley’s body before looking at me, nodding in approval, and thanks. “Is he okay?” I ask, looking down at an unmoving Chris. For a minute, I worry that the ghost that had taken him had done something, but his eye pops open and looks at me. “You gotta way outta here?” he questions. “No.” “Then, no, I’m not okay.” I roll my eyes; he was definitely okay then. <<if $zp>>\ “Anyone know where Zillah is then?” Bradley asks. “He was just here,” Sydero growls, stiffening as she looks around, “he’s been coming and going to kill spirits, mostly because he hates them so much.” She shrugs, “I wasn’t about to stop him.” <</if>>\ “How long have you guys been together?” I inquire. “A while. I found Chris screaming like a banshee and thought he could use some help.<<if $zp>> We ran into Zillah a little while after that, right as he turned into a spirit bomb to kill the ones messing with him.”<<else>>”<</if>> “Do you guys know what’s going on?” “Not really, we were hoping Bradley might know something,” Chris tells us, sitting up. “I think I’m beginning to get a picture. I think if we all compare what we went through, then we might get a general idea …” “But?” Sydero pipes up, raising a brow at Bradley. “But I could be wrong. It’s clear the spirits want us to learn their story, but I don’t exactly know how since they’re going about it weirdly. Whether it’s because of what night it is or because something is stopping them,” he shakes his head and turns his head to look out at the buildings, “I just know something horrible happened here.” [[Continue->Bradley7]]

I reach out and rest my hand on his shoulder, dragging him back as I continue to stare at the woman. Her gaze slowly turns to me, her eyes taking on a red hue at my audacity. “What are you doing,” Bradley growls and I hold up a finger to him. “He can help you, but we want answers first. What happened here? Why are you all trapped? And why does your husband seem to care more about your daughter than you do?” “She’s a monster,” the mother says, a blank look on her face. If those words ever phased her before, she shows no evidence now. “My daughter stopped being my child a long time ago, and I watched it. She was too far to save.” “So you just gave up on her?” I question with a raised brow, and the mother shoots me a scowl. “Don’t act as if you understand my reasoning. You don’t know her or us. You didn’t see what she had become. She is a monster.” “How could you say such things?” We all turn in shock to see the woman’s husband standing behind her, his hands shaking as he glances at her with watery eyes. “She needed us, and you just … let her go?” The woman turns her back to Bradley and me. She still carried herself with an air of uncaringness, her shoulder stiff, and her posture straight. She looked in control, borderline bored, while the father looked seconds away from collapsing brought on by his own anguish. “I buried my sadness and made peace with my demons. She was old enough to know what she was doing, and so her path was her own. Neither of us could have stopped her.” “We didn’t save her from that monster!” “We did what we could,” she whispers. “No!” the father shouted, lunging forward, morphing into his ghoul form as he tackles his wife and wrestles her to the ground. I watch as the two scrap, neither of them gaining the upper hand despite their best efforts. They clawed and bit at one another, though no blood ever came out of it. They were equals in this fight, doomed to do this for the rest of eternity. “This … is hard to watch,” Bradley says from beside me, his soft eyes never straying from the couple. “I know you wanted to help her, Bradley, but I think this is something that the two of them will have to figure out now.” He neither agrees nor disagrees, only following behind me as we continue on. [[Continue->Bradley6]]

I stand back, watching as the woman’s hand touches Bradley’s, and her body slowly begins to dissolve. The process starting at her feet and slowly overtaking her. She squeezes Bradley’s hand, thanking him with her eyes. “If you see her … my daughter. Do what needs to be done. She is nothing but a monster. And shame on me for not having seen it earlier.” The woman’s words stay with us as she disappears, the wind blowing her remains away before she completely vanishes. “$name …” Bradley starts, his eyes still on the space that the woman had occupied, “do you believe in heaven and hell?” [[“No.”]] [[“Yes.”]] [[“I believe in getting out of here.”]]

I don’t have to think over his question, for I’ve asked myself the same thing many times in the past. When one met death the topic seemed to constantly come up. “No,” I tell him. Whether that was what he wanted to hear or not, he shows no signs. He only nods and looks back at the road ahead of us. The two of us walking down it once again. [[Continue->Bradley6]]

I don’t have to think over his question, for I’ve asked myself the same thing many times in the past. When one meets death, the topic seems to continually come up. “Yes,” I tell him. Whether that was what he wanted to hear or not, he shows no signs. He only nods and looks back at the road ahead of us. The two of us walking down it once again. [[Continue->Bradley6]]

“I believe in getting out of here,” I tell him, ignoring his question. That was a topic that I couldn’t speak on, mostly because I still didn’t know how I felt about it. Whether he was okay with my answer or not, he shows no signs. He only nods and looks back at the road ahead of us. The two of us walking down it once again. [[Continue->Bradley6]]

<> <<remember $bstory = true>> <<endnobr>> <<if $zp>>\ “So, what now?” I ask just as Zillah comes back into view, grumbling to himself. He grunts at Bradley and I, the only acknowledgment we get. We begin walking down the street, the buildings no longer appearing, and in the distance, I can make out an intersection. “We get out of here?” Chris questions, “what else?” “That’s if these spirits let us leave,” Zillah growls, “I seriously hate –” “Yes,” I sigh, “you hate spirits, Sydero hates Halloween, Bradley hates exercise, and Chris hates being the weakest link of the crew. Am I the only one who doesn’t complain about what they hate so much?” My group members stare at me. <<else>>\ “So, what now?” I ask as the four of us begin walking down the street, the buildings no longer appearing, and in the distance, I can make out an intersection. “We get out of here?” Chris questions, “what else?” “That’s if these spirits let us leave,” Sydero growls, “I seriously hate –” “Yes,” I sigh, “you hate Halloween, Bradley hates exercise, and Chris hates being the weakest link of the crew. Am I the only one who doesn’t complain about what they hate so much?” My group members stare at me. <</if>>\ “All in favor of leaving $name here?” Bradley starts, “say I.” The others immediately pitch in their I’s, each gaining a scowl. I’m about to let them know what I think when Bradley motions for me to shut up and look, pointing to something in the distance. My eyes widen as well as we all race towards the object. It was my car! [[“My car!”]] [[“But it’s out of gas, remember?”]] [[“Is this a trick of the mind?”]]

“My car! I’ll never leave you again.” I make a dart for my car, freezing when I remember that it was out of gas and questioning how it even got down here. But then again, weirder things have happened. Sydero snaps me out of my thoughts, “throw me the keys.” I do, and with bated breath watch as she opens the door and starts it up. “Seems like gas is back. I say we go. Now.” We all pile in, and I gun it down the road, only to stop at the intersection. All of our eyes rest on the sign that says Wayward Road. The car is completely silent as we sit there, none of us knowing what to do. “Take a left,” a single voice chime in, Bradley’s GPS. We stare at him, and he shrugs his shoulder. With a deep breath, I follow the GPS’s orders and turn. I felt like I could hear all of our hearts racing as the car continues on. Waiting for everything to start over, for the car to pick up speed, the radio to give static, and the fog to encroach once again. [[Continue->Next11]]

“But it’s out of gas, remember?” I remind, biting the inside of my cheek. “Only one way to check.” Sydero walks past us and turns to me, I throw her the keys, and she gets inside. I listen to the engine rev up, and she gets out, shrugging. We all pile in, and I gun it down the road, only to stop at the intersection. All of our eyes rest on the sign that says Wayward Road. The car is completely silent as we sit there, none of us knowing what to do. “Take a left,” a single voice chime in, Bradley’s GPS. We stare at him, and he shrugs his shoulder. With a deep breath, I follow the GPS’s orders and turn. I felt like I could hear all of our hearts racing as the car continues on. Waiting for everything to start over, for the car to pick up speed, the radio to give static, and the fog to encroach once again. [[Continue->Next11]]

“Is this a trick of the mind?” I question, looking at the others, “This isn’t a trick, right? Like if we get inside, then we start the loop all over?” “Only one way to check.” Sydero walks past us and turns to me, I throw her the keys, and she gets inside. “If it is a trick,” Chris says with a sly smile, “then I hope there’s a treat somewhere.” We ignore him, excitement filling our tired bodies as we listen to the engine rev up. We all pile in, and I gun it down the road, only to stop at the intersection. All of our eyes rest on the sign that says Wayward Road. The car is completely silent as we sit there, none of us knowing what to do. “Take a left,” a single voice chime in, Bradley’s GPS. We stare at him, and he shrugs his shoulder. With a deep breath, I follow the GPS’s orders and turn. I felt like I could hear all of our hearts racing as the car continues on. Waiting for everything to start over, for the car to pick up speed, the radio to give static, and the fog to encroach once again. [[Continue->Next11]]

I abandon the chair and opt to hide behind the desk, diving down just as her hair thumps against the side. I think I’m safe when I look to see her hair wrapping around my hiding spot, throwing it to the side like it wasn’t an entire wooden desk, and it was just some measly stick. “I really don’t know how I’m supposed to help you out here,” I yell at him, looking for a weapon. Unless a paper cut could harm her, there was nothing here that could aid me. I pause my task to see how Chris was doing when another idea comes to me. I search around, cursing as I head towards the windows and break it. I grab a shard of glass and dash back over to the two. This would either fail spectacularly, piss her off even more, or actually work. The latter was what I was hoping for but had a strong feeling that I wasn’t lucky enough. I get to her, one hand grabbing her hair as the other brings down the piece of glass in my grasp. I watch as it slices her hair in two, the part holding Chris going limp. She screeches as if I had just stabbed her, stumbling back as she stares me down with wide eyes. Then, just as I think she’s about to attack again, she disappears. Her form turns into a red ghost ball that shoots out of the building, leaving Chris and me alone. “Chris?” I say, running over to his side and looking him over, making sure he was okay. “I’m fine,” he growls, his gaze on my hand. I look to see that I was now bleeding, the glass had cut me, and I hadn’t even noticed. “Adrenaline,” I tell him, and he shakes his head, mumbling something that I can’t make out. He rises and begins looking for something to help me bind it. The more he searches, the more upset he gets. “It’s fine, Chris, it’s not that bad of a cut.” “You shouldn’t have the cut in the first place.” His body shakes as he says it, “yet again someone is hurt because I can’t do anything.” [[“Here we go again.”]] [[“She attacked you with her hair.”]] [[“I’m not dead.”]]

I grab the chair that I was going to use as a weapon, holding it in front of me protectively. Her hair grabs onto it, wrenching it from my hands and slinging it to the side as if it was nothing but some measly stick. “I really don’t know how I’m supposed to help you out here,” I yell at him, looking for a weapon. Unless a paper cut could harm her, there was nothing here that could aid me. I pause my task to see how Chris was doing when another idea comes to me. I search around, cursing as I head towards the windows and break it. I grab a shard of glass and dash back over to the two. This would either fail spectacularly, piss her off even more, or actually work. The latter was what I was hoping for but had a strong feeling that I wasn’t lucky enough. I get to her, one hand grabbing her hair as the other brings down the piece of glass in my grasp. I watch as it slices her hair in two, the part holding Chris going limp. She screeches as if I had just stabbed her, stumbling back as she stares me down with wide eyes. Then, just as I think she’s about to attack again, she disappears. Her form turns into a red ghost ball that shoots out of the building, leaving Chris and me alone. “Chris?” I say, running over to his side and looking him over, making sure he was okay. “I’m fine,” he growls, his gaze on my hand. I look to see that I was now bleeding, the glass had cut me, and I hadn’t even noticed. “Adrenaline,” I tell him, and he shakes his head, mumbling something that I can’t make out. He rises and begins looking for something to help me bind it. The more he searches, the more upset he gets. “It’s fine, Chris, it’s not that bad of a cut.” “You shouldn’t have the cut in the first place.” His body shakes as he says it, “yet again someone is hurt because I can’t do anything.” [[“Here we go again.”]] [[“She attacked you with her hair.”]] [[“I’m not dead.”]]

I sigh and bring my hand to my head as I shake it, “here we go again,” I mumble. “Seriously, $name?” he asks in astonishment. “Well, it’s only always that you bring it up. And every time I have to remind you that you’re still learning and that it’s not your fault. Sometimes you’re like that one friend that constantly says they’re ugly when they’re gorgeous.” “In their case, it’s untrue. In mine, I’m being honest.” My nose twitches in annoyance, “fine, you’re worthless. What now?” He pokes his bottom lip out, and I sigh yet again, moving so that I was sitting right beside him. I nudge him with my shoulder, “can you please stop judging yourself when stuff like this happens?” “I know you think I’m a broken record. It just bothers me so much. I can’t go up against anything without needing one of you to save me. Even Bradley can handle himself.” “Why do you keep comparing yourself to the rest of us?” He fails to answer, his eyes boring holes into the already ravaged floor. I gently rest my hand on his cheek and turn his face towards me. “Seriously, Chris. You do this all the time time, why? Sydero <<if $zp>>and Zillah <</if>>are supernatural so they obviously can handle themselves. And Bradley has been in this since he was a child, plus he’s looked up so many things that I would be bothered if he couldn’t protect himself in some way.” “Yea, and what about you?” I close my mouth, and he nods his head at my silence, “we got into this around the same time. The only thing you have on me is a handful of days, and having a spirit haunting you as a child. We should be at the same level. But you’re fucking fantastic at this, and I’m just dead weight.” “Not everyone adapts the same way.” “And that’s my problem,” he shoots up, running his fingers through his disheveled hair, “all my life I relied on how well I can change and learn new things. And suddenly, when I need it most, I can’t? You ask anyone who knows me, and they’ll say, ‘oh Chris, he’s brave.’ But I’m not, not when it really matters. I’m just a body that’s standing in the way. I can’t protect myself, and I sure as hell can’t protect you.” [[“I’m not looking for a hero.”]] [[“Then let me protect you.”]] [[“We have each other’s backs.”]]

“Come on, Chris, she attacked you with her hair. What kind of defense were you supposed to use?” “You cut her hair, Sydero <<if $zp>>and Zillah <</if>>probably would’ve backslapped her, and Bradley’s face is enough for someone not to mess with him. The kid is adorable.” “No one saw that attack coming.” “All I’m hearing is excuses about why I shouldn’t feel bad.” My nose twitches in annoyance, “fine, you’re worthless. What now?” He pokes his bottom lip out, and I sigh yet again, moving so that I was sitting right beside him. I nudge him with my shoulder, “can you please stop judging yourself when stuff like this happens?” “I know you think I’m a broken record. It just bothers me so much. I can’t go up against anything without needing one of you to save me. Even Bradley can handle himself.” “Why do you keep comparing yourself to the rest of us?” He fails to answer, his eyes boring holes into the already ravaged floor. I gently rest my hand on his cheek and turn his face towards me. “Seriously, Chris. You do this all the time time, why? Sydero <<if $zp>>and Zillah <</if>>are supernatural so they obviously can handle themselves. And Bradley has been in this since he was a child, plus he’s looked up so many things that I would be bothered if he couldn’t protect himself in some way.” “Yea, and what about you?” I close my mouth, and he nods his head at my silence, “we got into this around the same time. The only thing you have on me is a handful of days, and having a spirit haunting you as a child. We should be at the same level. But you’re fucking fantastic at this, and I’m just dead weight.” “Not everyone adapts the same way.” “And that’s my problem,” he shoots up, running his fingers through his disheveled hair, “all my life I relied on how well I can change and learn new things. And suddenly, when I need it most, I can’t? You ask anyone who knows me, and they’ll say, ‘oh Chris, he’s brave.’ But I’m not, not when it really matters. I’m just a body that’s standing in the way. I can’t protect myself, and I sure as hell can’t protect you.” [[“I’m not looking for a hero.”]] [[“Then let me protect you.”]] [[“We have each other’s backs.”]]

“I’m not dead, so who cares? I don’t even feel it.” “That’s because of the adrenaline.” “You’re really trying to turn something that I’m fine with into a bigger thing. It happened; can we get over it?” “If I were better at this, you wouldn’t have gotten hurt in the first place. Like I said before.” My nose twitches in annoyance, “fine, you’re worthless. What now?” He pokes his bottom lip out, and I sigh yet again, moving so that I was sitting right beside him. I nudge him with my shoulder, “can you please stop judging yourself when stuff like this happens?” “I know you think I’m a broken record. It just bothers me so much. I can’t go up against anything without needing one of you to save me. Even Bradley can handle himself.” “Why do you keep comparing yourself to the rest of us?” He fails to answer, his eyes boring holes into the already ravaged floor. I gently rest my hand on his cheek and turn his face towards me. “Seriously, Chris. You do this all the time time, why? Sydero <<if $zp>>and Zillah <</if>>are supernatural so they obviously can handle themselves. And Bradley has been in this since he was a child, plus he’s looked up so many things that I would be bothered if he couldn’t protect himself in some way.” “Yea, and what about you?” I close my mouth, and he nods his head at my silence, “we got into this around the same time. The only thing you have on me is a handful of days, and having a spirit haunting you as a child. We should be at the same level. But you’re fucking fantastic at this, and I’m just dead weight.” “Not everyone adapts the same way.” “And that’s my problem,” he shoots up, running his fingers through his disheveled hair, “all my life I relied on how well I can change and learn new things. And suddenly, when I need it most, I can’t? You ask anyone who knows me, and they’ll say, ‘oh Chris, he’s brave.’ But I’m not, not when it really matters. I’m just a body that’s standing in the way. I can’t protect myself, and I sure as hell can’t protect you.” [[“I’m not looking for a hero.”]] [[“Then let me protect you.”]] [[“We have each other’s backs.”]]

“I’m not looking for a hero, Chris,” I say from my spot, “never was and never will be.” He tilts his head back, staring up at the ceiling, “doesn’t really matter, does it? I couldn’t be one whether you wanted me to be or not.” He plops himself down in front of me, gazing at me with sad eyes that desperately wish to say something. “What?” “I’m … I’m jealous of you, $name. And I know I shouldn’t be, but I can’t help it. You don’t freak out when a werewolf is charging towards you. Even when you’re getting beat, you don’t shy away from the fight. When Sydero was teaching us how to fight, you took to it like you already knew how too, and that her teaching was only a refresher. Sydero and Bradley both were impressed with you, and they looked at me like, we’ll go slow with him … When I was younger, I was good at everything I did, I had to be for my dad. ‘Don’t let that girl beat you’ or some other sexist or racist thing. I … I don’t know why I’m saying this.” He lets out a low and nervous chuckle, “I guess I just fear that I’m going to be left behind and discarded, and I constantly see that face of disapproval. It shouldn’t even bug me anymore. It’s not like I’ll see him again.” I open my mouth to say something, but Chris continues on, “and it’s crazy. I should be over the moon that I met someone as amazing as you. And that you would even think about liking someone like me. You could have your choice of guys, and you chose me, and all I ever do is complain and …” I lean in and place my lips on his, a gentle kiss that welcomes him to either pull away or deepen. He chooses the latter. He grabs my face and deepens the kiss, turning it into a frantic one, like he was drowning, and my lips were his lifeline. He pulls me into his lap so that I was now straddling him, our lips never parting as I give his tongue access to my mouth. He finally pulls back, running his fingers through my hair as he rests his forehead on mine. “I don’t deserve you,” he mumbles. [[“Don’t tell me what I deserve.”]] [[“No one does, have you met me?”]] [[“You do though.”]]

“Then let me protect you, Chris. Let me be the hero.” I watch as he pauses, thinking over my words. He lets out a low and self-deprecating chuckle, “doesn’t really matter, does it? You have to be the hero whether or not I want you to or not.” He plops himself down in front of me, gazing at me with sad eyes that desperately wish to say something. “What?” “I’m … I’m jealous of you, $name. And I know I shouldn’t be, but I can’t help it. You don’t freak out when a werewolf is charging towards you. Even when you’re getting beat, you don’t shy away from the fight. When Sydero was teaching us how to fight, you took to it like you already knew how too, and that her teaching was only a refresher. Sydero and Bradley both were impressed with you, and they looked at me like, we’ll go slow with him … When I was younger, I was good at everything I did, I had to be for my dad. ‘Don’t let that girl beat you’ or some other sexist or racist thing. I … I don’t know why I’m saying this.” He lets out a low and nervous chuckle, “I guess I just fear that I’m going to be left behind and discarded, and I constantly see that face of disapproval. It shouldn’t even bug me anymore. It’s not like I’ll see him again.” I open my mouth to say something, but Chris continues on, “and it’s crazy. I should be over the moon that I met someone as amazing as you. And that you would even think about liking someone like me. You could have your choice of guys, and you chose me, and all I ever do is complain and …” I lean in and place my lips on his, a gentle kiss that welcomes him to either pull away or deepen. He chooses the latter. He grabs my face and deepens the kiss, turning it into a frantic one, like he was drowning, and my lips were his lifeline. He pulls me into his lap so that I was now straddling him, our lips never parting as I give his tongue access to my mouth. He finally pulls back, running his fingers through my hair as he rests his forehead on mine. “I don’t deserve you,” he mumbles. [[“Don’t tell me what I deserve.”]] [[“No one does, have you met me?”]] [[“You do though.”]]

“We have each other’s backs, Chris,” I say from my spot, “we’re each other’s heroes.” He lets out a low and self-deprecating chuckle, “are we though? When have I ever saved you, $name? Or helped you out when you were in a tight spot?” He plops himself down in front of me, gazing at me with sad eyes that desperately wish to say something. “What?” “I’m … I’m jealous of you, $name. And I know I shouldn’t be, but I can’t help it. You don’t freak out when a werewolf is charging towards you. Even when you’re getting beat, you don’t shy away from the fight. When Sydero was teaching us how to fight, you took to it like you already knew how too, and that her teaching was only a refresher. Sydero and Bradley both were impressed with you, and they looked at me like, we’ll go slow with him … When I was younger, I was good at everything I did, I had to be for my dad. ‘Don’t let that girl beat you’ or some other sexist or racist thing. I … I don’t know why I’m saying this.” He lets out a low and nervous chuckle, “I guess I just fear that I’m going to be left behind and discarded, and I constantly see that face of disapproval. It shouldn’t even bug me anymore. It’s not like I’ll see him again.” I open my mouth to say something, but Chris continues on, “and it’s crazy. I should be over the moon that I met someone as amazing as you. And that you would even think about liking someone like me. You could have your choice of guys, and you chose me, and all I ever do is complain and …” I lean in and place my lips on his, a gentle kiss that welcomes him to either pull away or deepen. He chooses the latter. He grabs my face and deepens the kiss, turning it into a frantic one, like he was drowning, and my lips were his lifeline. He pulls me into his lap so that I was now straddling him, our lips never parting as I give his tongue access to my mouth. He finally pulls back, running his fingers through my hair as he rests his forehead on mine. “I don’t deserve you,” he mumbles. [[“Don’t tell me what I deserve.”]] [[“No one does, have you met me?”]] [[“You do though.”]]

“Don’t tell me what I deserve, Chris. Whether or not you think I deserve you or not is your business, sure. But whether I do or not is mine.” He looks me in the eyes and nods, placing a kiss on my forehead before motioning for us to get up. Once both of us are back on our feet, we look around the empty building. “We should probably go and find the others,” Chris starts, “wherever they ran off too.” “Yea. Maybe they have an idea about how to get out of here.” “We can only hope,” he mumbles. I reach out and take his hand, leading him out of the building and back onto the street. There are no signs of life anywhere, just the same scene we saw when approaching it. We stand silently, waiting to see if we can hear one of the others. “You hear that?” Chris asks, his attention on a specific location as he squints as if that would improve his hearing ability. “No, what is it?” “It sounds like laughing.” Before I can point out how creepy that is, Chris sets off towards it. I run after him, attempting to stop him when I hear it too. It was a quiet giggle and sounded like a child made it, but I see no reason why Bradley would be giggling. [[Continue->Chris1]]

I snort, “no one does, have you met me?” Chris chuckles lowly, “and so humble too.” He looks me in the eyes and nods, placing a kiss on my forehead before motioning for us to get up. Once both of us are back on our feet, we look around the empty building. “We should probably go and find the others,” Chris starts, “wherever they ran off too.” “Yea. Maybe they have an idea about how to get out of here.” “We can only hope,” he mumbles. I reach out and take his hand, leading him out of the building and back onto the street. There are no signs of life anywhere, just the same scene we saw when approaching it. We stand silently, waiting to see if we can hear one of the others. “You hear that?” Chris asks, his attention on a specific location as he squints as if that would improve his hearing ability. “No, what is it?” “It sounds like laughing.” Before I can point out how creepy that is, Chris sets off towards it. I run after him, attempting to stop him when I hear it too. It was a quiet giggle and sounded like a child made it, but I see no reason why Bradley would be giggling. [[Continue->Chris1]]

“You do, though, whether you think so or not. I chose you, and I have yet to regret it. And I bet I never will.” He looks me in the eyes and nods, placing a kiss on my forehead before motioning for us to get up. Once both of us are back on our feet, we look around the empty building. “We should probably go and find the others,” Chris starts, “wherever they ran off too.” “Yea. Maybe they have an idea about how to get out of here.” “We can only hope,” he mumbles. I reach out and take his hand, leading him out of the building and back onto the street. There are no signs of life anywhere, just the same scene we saw when approaching it. We stand silently, waiting to see if we can hear one of the others. “You hear that?” Chris asks, his attention on a specific location as he squints as if that would improve his hearing ability. “No, what is it?” “It sounds like laughing.” Before I can point out how creepy that is, Chris sets off towards it. I run after him, attempting to stop him when I hear it too. It was a quiet giggle and sounded like a child made it, but I see no reason why Bradley would be giggling. [[Continue->Chris1]]

I catch up to Chris once he stops at a brick building that looked like it could either be a church or a school. Width wise, it was large but height wise, not so much. It reminded me of the schoolhouses that one saw in small towns and villages, where only a handful of children attended and only housed about six to ten rooms. “I saw the door closing, someone’s inside,” Chris tells me. “And you want to go inside, don’t you?” “It could be one of the others,” he points out, not denying my previous assumption. “Why would they go into a building?” “Beats me, maybe they wanted to check something out, or one of those balls chased them here. There are literally tons of reasons why they might have gone inside.” “No … there really aren’t. At best, they heard the same thing we did and decided to investigate.” “That’s enough of a reason for me,” Chris says and with a shrug, walks inside. I follow him quietly, making sure to stay close as we walk down the abandoned hall of what I soon learn is indeed a school. Small cubby holes with different names rest against the wall, many of them filled with school bags, a lunch box, and a jacket. I approach one and touch the bag, believing that it’ll disappear. It doesn’t. I glance up and see the name Adam with a small, almost hairless, smiling stick boy beside it. “Why would these still be here?” I question, picking up the lunch box and opening it. I drop it when the smell of moldy food makes its way to my nose, and because of the sight that greets me. “Something is definitely wrong here,” I grumble, moving the now opened lunch box to the side in disgust. “What do you mean?” “Whatever happened here was sudden. Not something gradual or like all the people moved out and abandoned this place. No one was prepared.” “Natural causes?” “We wouldn’t be here, and I’m pretty sure Bradley’s phone would’ve picked up the town still.” “Yea, you’re right. Plus, if this was a real road, then I’m sure there would be about ten different parties going on here. With it being abandoned and all I mean.” I nod as I wander further down the hall, catching the tail end of a dress entering a room. [[Continue->Chris2]]

“Chris, did you see that?” “Whose seeing things now?” he chuckles, but I opt to ignore him. I cautiously approach the room that I saw the figure enter, finding a classroom with a chalkboard on the wall with a large wooden desk. I walk the row of desks, all of them clear besides small childish etchings. I look at the drawings along the wall and freeze at one. It wasn’t that the picture was strange, it was basically of a small stick girl. In one hand was a teddy bear with an eye missing, while the other hand was holding the hand of who looked to be a police officer. The backdrop was cheerful enough, your cliché smiling sun, tree, and colorful butterflies. What makes my blood run cold is the aura of the picture, the energy. The rest of them make me feel nothing, but this one … as soon as I looked at it, I felt a chill. It was the same chill I had that night so long ago, walking down a long hallway to my parent’s room. The chill of knowing something was wrong and not wanting to find out. Something leading you forward, grasping your hand as its nails dig into your flesh, dragging you along with empty but sweet reassurances. “$name!” I jump at the sound, eyes wide as I glance over at Chris, his face twisted in annoyance and a hint of worry. “Are you okay? I’ve been calling you this entire time.” I look back at the drawing, “does this drawing make you feel something?” “Yea, it makes me feel like I will never post my child’s drawings on the fridge.” I roll my eyes, “no, I mean, does it make you feel like there’s something …” “Something what?” [[“… evil.”]] [[“… depressing.”]] [[“… hiding.”]] [[“… watching.”]]

“… something evil.” I glare at the drawing, and it seems to glare right back at me, questioning my audacity to speak about it. “Something so evil that it doesn’t even have to show itself to make you feel what it wants you too. It waits quietly for the perfect moment to grab you.” I wait for the picture to warp, for it to show me some horrible truth, but it doesn’t. Everything in it smiles back at me, mocking me. But there’s so much behind those smiling faces, distorted faces with blood dripping down sharp fangs. Eyes filled with bloodlust and rage. “Uh …” Chris draws out, “I still see some horribly drawn picture. But yea … the cool thing about art is that we can all take something different away from it. Even if that’s calling a bunch of rainbow butterflies and smiling suns, evil.” I take a step back and turn around, freezing at the little girl that stands right in front of me. My eyes dart towards where Chris was, finding him almost out of the classroom. I open my mouth to call him when the child leans in, a teddy bear held tightly in her grip. I realize two things at that moment. One, this was the same girl from the drawing that I had just seen. And two, it was also the girl we had seen on the road, right when everything had happened. The one that led us into the town. “You feel it too?” she questions. I nod my head slowly, and she looks torn between wanting to smile out of joy and being completely terrified. “It’s not safe here. It likes this place. Come on.” I stare down at the small chubby hand that she offers me. [[Take it.]] [[Refuse to.]]

“… something depressing.” I glare at the drawing, and it seems to glare right back at me, questioning my audacity to speak about it. “Something that screams at you to notice it but when it does, it recoils, like a snake. It keeps trying to get your attention but doesn’t ever want more, it’s there to remind you how pathetic everything is. How pathetic you are.” I wait for the picture to warp, for it to show me some horrible truth, but it doesn’t. Everything in it smiles back at me, mocking me. But there’s so much behind those smiling faces, distorted faces with blood dripping down sharp fangs. Eyes filled with bloodlust and rage. “Uh …” Chris draws out, “I still see some horribly drawn picture. But yea … the cool thing about art is that we can all take something different away from it. Even if that’s calling a bunch of rainbow butterflies and smiling suns, depressing.” He pats my shoulder and walks off. I take a step back and turn around, freezing at the little girl that stands right in front of me. My eyes dart towards where Chris was, finding him almost out of the classroom. I open my mouth to call him when the child leans in, a teddy bear held tightly in her grip. I realize two things at that moment. One, this was the same girl from the drawing that I had just seen. And two, it was also the girl we had seen on the road, right when everything had happened. The one that led us into the town. “You feel it too?” she questions. I nod my head slowly, and she looks torn between wanting to smile out of joy and being completely terrified. “It’s not safe here. It likes this place. Come on.” I stare down at the small chubby hand that she offers me. [[Take it.]] [[Refuse to.]]

“… something hiding.” I glare at the drawing, and it seems to glare right back at me, questioning my audacity to speak about it. “Something that follows you everywhere. It doesn’t matter where you go, or where you turn, it’s there. It’s waiting for something but what? It doesn’t even know.” I wait for the picture to warp, for it to show me some horrible truth, but it doesn’t. Everything in it smiles back at me, mocking me. But there’s so much behind those smiling faces, distorted faces with blood dripping down sharp fangs. Eyes filled with bloodlust and rage. “Uh …” Chris draws out, “I still see some horribly drawn picture. But yea … the cool thing about art is that we can all take something different away from it. Even if that’s calling a bunch of rainbow butterflies and smiling suns, creepy and hiding?” He shrugs and walks off. I take a step back and turn around, freezing at the little girl that stands right in front of me. My eyes dart towards where Chris was, finding him almost out of the classroom. I open my mouth to call him when the child leans in, a teddy bear held tightly in her grip. I realize two things at that moment. One, this was the same girl from the drawing that I had just seen. And two, it was also the girl we had seen on the road, right when everything had happened. The one that led us into the town. “You feel it too?” she questions. I nod my head slowly, and she looks torn between wanting to smile out of joy and being completely terrified. “It’s not safe here. It likes this place. Come on.” I stare down at the small chubby hand that she offers me. [[Take it.]] [[Refuse to.]]

“… something watching.” I glare at the drawing, and it seems to glare right back at me, questioning my audacity to speak about it. “It’s just watching you, waiting for the perfect moment to grab and consume you. But it won’t consume all of you, only the important parts.” I wait for the picture to warp, for it to show me some horrible truth, but it doesn’t. Everything in it smiles back at me, mocking me. But there’s so much behind those smiling faces, distorted faces with blood dripping down sharp fangs. Eyes filled with bloodlust and rage. “Uh …” Chris draws out, “I still see some horribly drawn picture. But yea … the cool thing about art is that we can all take something different away from it. Even if that’s calling a bunch of rainbow butterflies and smiling suns, watchful ...” He shrugs and walks off. I take a step back and turn around, freezing at the little girl that stands right in front of me. My eyes dart towards where Chris was, finding him almost out of the classroom. I open my mouth to call him when the child leans in, a teddy bear held tightly in her grip. I realize two things at that moment. One, this was the same girl from the drawing that I had just seen. And two, it was also the girl we had seen on the road, right when everything had happened. The one that led us into the town. “You feel it too?” she questions. I nod my head slowly, and she looks torn between wanting to smile out of joy and being completely terrified. “It’s not safe here. It likes this place. Come on.” I stare down at the small chubby hand that she offers me. [[Take it.]] [[Refuse to.]]

<> <<set $gglike = true>> <<endnobr>> I take her hand and allow her to lead me wherever she thought was safe. Chris turns around, his eyes practically bulging out of his head when he sees the little girl leading me. He opens his mouth to say something when she shushes him. He looks even more afraid, gazing at her and then up at me. “Shh,” I say, smirking as I continue following behind her. He falls into step behind us as the girl leads us out of the school building and down the road. As we walk, I feel her hand squeeze mine, her head darting from one side to another. Hoping to calm her, I squeeze her hand and rub my thumb along the back of her hand. When she looks up at me, I offer her a small, reassuring smile that she happily returns. “What’s your name?” Chris tries. “Deidre,” she pauses, resituating her bear as she holds up her hand to us, “I’m five.” “It’s great to meet you, Deidre, I’m Chris, and this is $name.” She looks from him to me, “are you guys married?” Chris laughs, “no, but I do like $him.” He kisses my cheek, and Deidre lets out a long ew, causing both of us to laugh. “Deidre, do you know what happened here?” I ask her once we begin walking again. “Scary monster. It ate us.” “Are you telling me we’re in something’s stomach?” Chris asks from beside me. “Do you know where the scary monster came from?” I continue questioning. She shushes me, her eyes searching the road, “it doesn’t like it when you talk about it. It hears you and then comes to scream and hurt you. Come on, we’re almost there.” Deidre leads us into a homey looking building whose sign says it’s a bed and breakfast. The inside is as pleasant as the outside leads one to believe. Though it looks as murky and abandoned as the school and town hall, there is still a cheerful vibe. From the colorful paintings that need a good dusting, to the vibrant cloths that rests over the windows and couches. I leave Deidre’s side to look around, only to turn around to see her staring at a picture. She’s frozen in place, her body on the verge of shaking but not yet there. I take a step towards her, and she looks at me, a sad look in her eye. Before I can question what caused her mood to shift, she disappears, a small ghost ball floating where she stood before shooting out of the building. [[Continue->Chris3]]

“I’d rather not,” I tell her, “but sure, lead on.” She pouts, hugging her teddy bear closer to her. She looks like she wants to say what’s on her mind, but she doesn’t, motioning for me to follow behind her. Chris turns around, his eyes practically bulging out of his head when he sees the little girl leading me. He opens his mouth to say something when she shushes him. He looks even more afraid, gazing at her and then up at me. “I don’t know,” I whisper to him, “she just told me it’s dangerous here.” “And you believed her?” “You didn’t feel what I felt. So yea, I kinda do.” He doesn’t say anything more. Instead, he falls into step beside me as I follow the small girl out of the school building and down the road. She seems stiffer than us, her head darting from one side to another. “What’s your name?” Chris tries. The girl ignores him still, continuing on. “I don’t think she trusts us very much,” Chris whispers to me. “Or she just wants you to stay quiet like she told you back at the school.” “I talk when I’m nervous,” he growls. “You talk period.” Childishly he sticks his tongue out at me, and I chuckle, quieting down when the girl turns and sends me a stern look. “Who are the adults here?” I whisper to Chris, and he nods in agreement. The girl leads us into a homey looking building whose sign says it’s a bed and breakfast. The inside is as pleasant as the outside leads one to believe. Though it looks as murky and abandoned as the school and town hall, there is still a cheerful vibe to it. From the colorful paintings that need a good dusting, to the vibrant cloths that rests over the windows and couches. I leave the girl’s side to look around, only to turn around to see her staring at a picture. She’s frozen in place, her body on the verge of shaking but not yet there. I take a step towards her right as she disappears, a small ghost ball floating where she once stood before shooting out of the building. [[Continue->Chris3]]

“Goodbye to you too,” Chris mumbles after the fact. I approach the picture and gaze down at the three people standing there. An elderly looking couple is standing next to a young man in a sheriff’s uniform. I surmise that the officer was perhaps their child since there were a few similarities, from the eyes to the smile to the face shape. “What about this picture do you think caused her to freak out and leave?” I ask Chris, holding it up so that he could see it. “Who knows, she was weird.” I bite my lip, wondering who this sheriff guy was. Perhaps he was no one important, but the girl had drawn him. This would be the second time I’ve seen him and it concerning her. I place the picture down and continue looking around, finding nothing exciting. Instead, I lose track of Chris. I search a few of the rooms and find nothing, only finding him when I search for the last bedroom. It seems the coziest, as well. The cobwebs were present, but sparse. A pair of ancient and ugly patterned curtains keep any form of light from invading the room. The bed’s comforter is the same ugly pattern, but it’s big, and the way Chris lays across it makes it seem really comfortable. “Having fun on your break?” I ask, leaning on the doorframe. “I’d be better if you joined me.” “Looks like you can handle it on your own.” “Come here before I grab you,” he chuckles, opening his arms and motioning for me to come to him. [[Run off.]] [[Go to him.]]

I smirk and run off, hearing him curse, followed by the sound of fast-approaching footsteps behind me. I’m unable to get far when a pair of arms encircle me and lift me off the ground. Chris pulls me flush up against his chest as I attempt to squirm, peppering teasing kisses to my cheek, smiling uncontrollably. “Did you really try and run away from me?” he questions, kissing my neck as he carries me back towards the room. “I wanted to see how bad you wanted me to join you,” I laugh. He gets back to the bed and throws me on top of it, showing me firsthand just how comfortable it is by the action. Before I can move, he joins me, snuggling up close as we both begin to sink down into the mattress. “Of course you did,” he chuckles into my chest, my fingers lazily playing in his hair, “you just like to be difficult.” “That too.” We stare at one another, simply enjoying each other’s company as we lay in an abandoned bed, in some old inn, on a road that doesn’t, as far as we know, exist. I shake my head with a small laugh, “to think, a month or so ago, we would probably be screeching about how weird and nasty this all is.” “What? Laying on someone else’s mattress?” he questions, and I nod. “I mean, everything about this is weird, and we’re treating it like it’s just another day.” “Weird what finding out that supernatural creatures are real will do to you.” I laugh, shivering when I feel Chris’s thumb gently brush over my jaw. He traces his finger down it before it lingers on my lower lip. His gaze rises to meet mine, and he whispers, “I really want to kiss you right now.” [[“We should get back to figuring all this out.”]] [[“Then go for it.”]]

“Watch out,” I tell him, and he moves to the edge as I jump onto the bed. I flop a few times before finally settling down, sinking into the comfortable mattress and sighing wistfully. “Why can’t motels have mattresses like this?” “Motels?” Chris questions, turning to face me, propping his head up with his arm, “I’m thinking closer to home. Why can’t we get mattresses like this for the safehouse?” “Oh, good idea. Though I’m sure Sydero would throw a hissy fit.” “That is until she tries one, then she’ll be thanking us.” We stare at one another, simply enjoying each other’s company as we lay in an abandoned bed, in some old inn, on a road that doesn’t, as far as we know, exist. I shake my head with a small laugh, “to think, a month or so ago, we would probably be screeching about how weird and nasty this all is.” “What? Laying on someone else’s mattress?” he questions, and I nod. “I mean, everything about this is weird, and we’re treating it like it’s just another day.” “Weird what finding out that supernatural creatures are real will do to you.” I laugh, shivering when I feel Chris’s thumb gently brush over my jaw. He traces his finger down it before it lingers on my lower lip. His gaze rises to meet mine, and he whispers, “I really want to kiss you right now.” [[“We should get back to figuring all this out.”]] [[“Then go for it.”]]

I pull back, “we should get back to figuring all this out. We’ll have plenty of time afterward.” “I’m holding you to that,” Chris tells me, sitting up and stretching. I follow his example and leave the room behind. [[Continue->Chris4]]

<> <<set $cbb = true>> <<endnobr>> “Then what’s stopping you?” I question, leaning in so that he would kiss me. He finally does, our lips meeting softly. He deepens the kiss, pushing his body closer to me. He sprinkles light kisses on the corner of my mouth, then placing them along my jaw, before moving to my neck. He sucks and licks at the skin, doing a light nip that causes me to yelp in pleasure. He pulls back and raises a brow, “that’s a sound I haven’t heard before.” “Oh shut up,” I blush, grumbling and breaking eye contact. He snickers as he places another kiss to my forehead, between my brows, easing the tension there. “You are something else,” he mumbles against my lips, his hands wandering my body, slipping under my shirt, and feeling my stomach, “you know that?” “How about you show me?” I say breathlessly. “Whatever you want,” he tells me, grabbing my shirt and stripping me of it. He lays kiss after kiss down upon my belly, making his way lower until his kisses are hovering at my groin. I moan softly as he toys with me, slowly moving my pants down, and then my underwear. <<if $showec>>\ <<if $gender is "female" or $a_gender is "female">>\ “Hmm,” he murmurs appreciatively, “someone’s already all nice and wet for me. If I didn’t know better, $name, I’d say you were hoping for this.” “For what? Feeling you inside me again?” I ask breathlessly, sprawling my arms out and stretching my body seductively for him, watching the desire rise in his eyes, “always.” “If you would have told me sooner,” he growls, placing kisses along my inner thigh. “What, you would’ve fucked me in the school?” “Right there on the teacher’s desk,” he mumbles into my skin. He massages the entrance to my clit, setting off the bundle of nerves that rest there. “Oh, you should’ve,” I chuckled, waiting for him to reply but realizing why he doesn’t a minute later. I jump in both shock and pleasure when I feel his tongue slowly moving against my clit, licking it like it was his favorite flavor of ice cream. “Let me make up for it then,” he tells me, and I nod without thinking much about it. I bite my lip as I run my hands through his hair, praising him on his technique and moaning whenever he did exceptionally well. “You and that tongue,” I tell Chris, just as he flicks it inside me, and then inserts two fingers, scissoring me. “Fuck!” I groan, grabbing his hair and riding his face. He doesn’t pull back, and so I keep a steady hand on it, urging him to go deeper. He pulls back and smiles at me, kissing me and giving me a taste of myself. “I’m about to fuck you so hard,” he grumbles, grabbing both of my legs and spreading them apart. I watch as he undoes his pants and his thick member pops out, ready to delve inside of me. “Please do,” I tell him. I wait as he positions himself before my entrance, inching in slowly, his head then a little more. We both get situated, my moans hitting the pillow as my walls expand little. “Shit, you’re so tight,” he tells me, pushing himself a little more. I needed him to just fuck me, I needed to feel him deep inside me. His hips move against mine, picking up speed and with each passing second thrusting deeper. The sound that fills the room is only of me moaning and flesh slapping against flesh. I arch my hips up, and he hits a different spot, causing me to cry out as my release came closer. “Chris,” I moan, clenching the blankets that we sat on top of. “I know,” he said, “I feel you tightening around my dick,” he told me, his words alone making me tighten even more as I finally came. I hear him grumble and quickly pull out before he can, his own release coming a few seconds later. I lay there, gathering my breath, complaining when he takes too long to clean himself up and come to me. “So needy,” he chuckles into my breasts, nuzzling them playfully. <<elseif $gender is "male" or $a_gender is "male">>\ “Hmm,” he murmurs appreciatively, “someone’s already nice and hard for me. If I didn’t know better, $name, I’d say you were hoping for this.” “For what? Feeling you inside me again?” I ask breathlessly, sprawling my arms out and stretching my body seductively for him, watching the desire rise in his eyes, “always.” “If you would have told me sooner,” he growls, placing kisses along my inner thigh. “What, you would’ve fucked me in the school?” “Right there on the teacher’s desk,” he mumbles into my skin. He grabs my cock and begins to slowly jerk me off, smirking up at me as he takes his time. “Oh, you should’ve,” I chuckled, waiting for him to reply but realizing why he doesn’t a minute later. I jump in both shock and pleasure when I feel his tongue slowly moving along the tip of my member, licking the underside of it. “Let me make up for it then,” he tells me, and I nod without thinking much about it. I bite my lip as I run my hands through his hair, praising him on his technique and moaning whenever he did exceptionally well. “You and that mouth,” I tell Chris, just as he takes me into his mouth, sucking me off, hard. “Fuck!” I groan, grabbing his hair and moving his head to match my desired pace. He doesn’t pull back, and so I keep a steady hand on it, urging him to go deeper. He leaves me with a nice plop and smiles at me. “I’m about to fuck you so hard,” he grumbles, grabbing both of my legs and turning me over, spreading them apart. I watch as he undoes his pants and his thick member pops out, ready to delve inside of me. I get even harder just seeing him, shivering as he runs a wet hand along the inside of my ass. “Please do,” I tell him. I wait as he positions himself before my entrance, inching in slowly, his head then a little more. We both get situated, my moans hitting the pillow as my walls expand little. “Shit,” he tells me, pushing himself a little more. I needed him to just fuck me, I needed to feel him deep inside me. His hips move against mine, picking up speed and with each passing second thrusting deeper. The sound that fills the room is only of me moaning and flesh slapping against flesh. I stiffen and lean backwards so that I was providing more resistance, he pounds me harder, causing me to cry out as my release came closer. “Chris,” I moan, clenching the blankets that we sat on top of. “I know,” he said, “I feel you tightening around my dick,” he told me, his words alone making me tighten even more as I feel myself come. I hear him grumble and quickly pull out before he can, his own release coming a few seconds later. I lay there, gathering my breath, complaining when he takes too long to clean himself up and come to me. “So needy,” he chuckles into my breasts, nuzzling them playfully. <<else>> “I’m about to fuck you so hard,” he grumbles, grabbing both of my legs and turning me over, spreading them apart. I watch as he undoes his pants and his thick member pops out, ready to delve inside of me. I get even harder just seeing him, shivering as he runs a wet hand along the inside of my ass. “Please do,” I tell him. I wait as he positions himself before my entrance, inching in slowly, his head then a little more. We both get situated, my moans hitting the pillow as my walls expand little. “Shit,” he tells me, pushing himself a little more. I needed him to just fuck me, I needed to feel him deep inside me. His hips move against mine, picking up speed and with each passing second thrusting deeper. The sound that fills the room is only of me moaning and flesh slapping against flesh. I stiffen and lean backwards so that I was providing more resistance, he pounds me harder, causing me to cry out as my release came closer. “Chris,” I moan, clenching the blankets that we sat on top of. “I know,” he said, “I feel you tightening around my dick,” he told me, his words alone making me tighten even more as I feel myself come. I hear him grumble and quickly pull out before he can, his own release coming a few seconds later. I lay there, gathering my breath, complaining when he takes too long to clean himself up and come to me. “So needy,” he chuckles into my breasts, nuzzling them playfully. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ “Hmm,” he murmurs appreciatively, “someone’s already ready for me. If I didn’t know better, $name, I’d say you were hoping for this.” “For what? Feeling you inside me again?” I ask breathlessly, sprawling my arms out and stretching my body seductively for him, watching the desire rise in his eyes, “always.” “If you would have told me sooner,” he growls, placing kisses along my inner thigh. I bite my lip as I run my hands through his hair, praising him on his technique and moaning whenever he did exceptionally well. “You and that mouth,” I tell Chris, half groaning and grabbing his hair. He doesn’t pull away, and so I keep a steady hand on it, urging him further. He grumbles something as he moves back, undoing his pants. I shiver as he runs his hands along my body, waiting. My moans hit the pillow as he goes. I needed him, I needed to feel him. His hips move against mine, picking up speed. The sound that fills the room is only of me moaning and flesh slapping against flesh. I cry out as my release looms closer. “Chris,” I moan, clenching the blankets that we sat on top of. “I know,” he said, and I finally hit my peak, releasing. I hear him grumble and quickly pull out before he can do the same. I lay there, gathering my breath, complaining when he takes too long to clean himself up and come to me. “So needy,” he chuckles into my breasts, nuzzling them playfully. <</if>>\ “Shush,” I tell him, wrapping my arms around him and closing my eyes. It wasn’t wise to go to sleep, but at the moment, I didn’t want to think about where we were. I just wanted to rest here in this moment with him. [[Continue->Chris4]]

Once we get back on our feet, we leave the Bed and Breakfast behind, stepping back out on the street. “Now what? I don’t think we’re going to find the others anytime soon,” I tell Chris, who raises a brow and looks over at me. “You’re relying on me? We both know that I’m –” “I swear if you finish that sentence, I’m leaving you for the spirits,” I grumble, looking up and down the street. I take my time in trying to figure everything out, trying to piece together everything we knew and imagining what the others would do if they were here. <<if $zp>>\ Sydero would probably be complaining, Zillah too, now that I think about it. One would think the two would bond over that, but they’d probably find a way to yell at each other about the other one complaining too much. Bradley was the only true helpful one. He probably already figured out the reason these spirits were stuck here. <<else>>\ Sydero would probably be complaining, which means that Bradley was the only true helpful one. He probably already figured out the reason these spirits were stuck here. <</if>>\ I didn’t have much to go off. There was the picture back at the school and the reoccurring theme with the sheriff. Maybe the sheriff was trying to help the girl, she seemed happy enough in the drawing, though her reaction to his picture in the inn was strange. For all I know, that wasn’t even an important piece of the puzzle. <<if $gglike>>\ Deidre had said that something was watching us, that it liked the school and when you talked about it, it made you pay. That seemed like the best thing to act on, figuring out what monster ate her and the others and why. <<else>>\ The little girl didn’t give us much to go off, probably because she didn’t like us much, though I appreciated her for helping us out, at least. <</if>>\ I also remember the ghost woman that had attacked us earlier, which had pretty much started this whole thing in the first place. We should watch out for her wherever she was. [[Continue->Chris5]]

<<if $showec>>\ <<if $gender is "female" or $a_gender is "female">>\ I start at my breasts, touching them and moving them in ways that I would do if I were alone masturbating. One hand continues to rub against my breasts as the other trails down to my clit, already becoming wet. I close my eyes and try to control my breathing as I begin to tease my entrance, imagining Sydero there, doing it herself. Though she was literally in the same room as me, I imagine her body right up against my own, her breath tickling my neck, and her fingers doing all the fantastic things that they know how. I think about the feeling that she envelops me in, the darkness that wraps around me like a familiar cloak. I hold my breath as I slide my finger inside of me, my legs shaking before reminding themselves of the job that they have. I start off slowly, hearing Sydero in my ear, telling me how good I was, how wet I was for her now. I imagine her lips smashing against mine, capturing me and sending me to a whole other world with only a kiss. <<elseif $gender is "male" or $a_gender is "male">>\ I start at my chest, doing the same thing I would do if I was alone masturbating. One hand lingers on my chest as the other trails down to my member. I close my eyes and try to control my breathing as I grab it and begin to pump myself, imagining Sydero there doing it herself. Though she was literally in the same room as me, I imagine her body right up against my own, her breath tickling my neck, and her fingers doing all the fantastic things that they know how. I think about the feeling that she envelops me in, the darkness that wraps around me like a familiar cloak. I hold my breath as I pick up my pace and tighten my grip, my legs shaking before reminding themselves of the job that they have. I focus on Sydero imaginary voice in my ear, telling me how good I was, how hard I was for her now. I imagine her lips smashing against mine, capturing me and sending me to a whole other world with only a kiss. <<else>>\ I start at my chest, doing the same thing I would do if I was alone masturbating. One hand lingers on my chest as the other goes to please myself further. I close my eyes and try to control my breathing as I begin, imagining Sydero there doing it herself. Though she was literally in the same room as me, I imagine her body right up against my own, her breath tickling my neck, and her fingers doing all the fantastic things that they know how. I think about the feeling that she envelops me in, the darkness that wraps around me like a familiar cloak. I focus on her imaginary voice in my ear, telling me how good I was. I imagine her lips smashing against mine, capturing me and sending me to a whole other world with only a kiss. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ I start at my chest, doing the same thing I would do if I was alone masturbating. One hand lingers on my chest as the other goes to please myself further. I close my eyes and try to control my breathing as I begin, imagining Sydero there doing it herself. Though she was literally in the same room as me, I imagine her body right up against my own, her breath tickling my neck, and her fingers doing all the fantastic things that they know how. I think about the feeling that she envelops me in, the darkness that wraps around me like a familiar cloak. I focus on her imaginary voice in my ear, telling me how good I was. I imagine her lips smashing against mine, capturing me and sending me to a whole other world with only a kiss. <</if>>\ “Come here.” I open my eyes, my vision blurry for a second before everything comes back into focus. Sydero is still sitting in her same spot, her expression not changing since I had last looked at her. The only different thing is the air that surrounds her. Of course, the naked eye couldn’t see it, but it would be impossible not to feel it. It swarms around her, the only way I could describe it was as chaotic spiked energy. It was similar to the feeling someone got from an energy drink, times five. I make my way to her until she tells me to stop. She cocks her head to the side and finally rises, getting up and walking around me. I feel her energy, wrapping itself around me even though she hadn’t touched me. “Tell me, Roe,” she whispers in my ear, her hands hovering just above my sensitive areas, “what do you want?” “To please you,” I murmur, breathless as she teases me, my eyes fluttering as I lean into her touch. “I said come to me, but did I ever say stop touching yourself?” I immediately begin, going right back to what I was doing before she had given me the previous direction. I feel her hand touch the bottom of my spine, her touch leaving a burning heat behind as she trails it up my back. I feel faint, slowing down as I find myself concentrating on her touch alone. <<if $showec>>\ “You said you wish to please me, do it.” I turn around, placing my lips against hers as my hands finally traverse her body. It wasn’t every day that I was able to do this, I wasn’t about to waste the opportunity. I explore every part of her, caressing her breasts with both my mouth and fingers as I go. I wanted to learn her body, to pull at least one moan from those beautiful lips. I work my way down her body, lightly placing kisses along her vagina until I got to her opening. I glance up for permission, and she nods. I place a deep kiss before flicking my tongue along her opening, tasting her for the first time. I groan at the limited access, feeling Sydero shake. “Use your words, Roe.” I pull back, “I want to taste you, please.” Sydero backs up, her wings doing one flap as she flies backward and sits on the edge of a nearby pew, looking over at me like the goddess she was. She cocks her head to the side, and I immediately come over, resting one of her legs on my shoulder. I delve back into her. She tasted like a breath of fresh air, words not being able to express what I felt. I flick my tongue against her, sucking and attempting to pull a moan from her lips as I go. <<else>>\ “You said you wish to please me, do it.” I turn around, placing my lips against hers as my hands finally traverse her body. It wasn’t every day that I was able to do this, I wasn’t about to waste the opportunity. I explore every part of her. I wanted to learn her body, to pull at least one moan from those beautiful lips. I work my way down her body, lightly placing kisses along her most sensitive area. I glance up for permission, and she nods. I place a deep kiss before moving in. I groan at the limited access, feeling Sydero shake. “Use your words, Roe.” I pull back, “I want you, please.” Sydero backs up, her wings doing one flap as she flies backward and sits on the edge of a nearby pew, looking over at me like the goddess she was. She cocks her head to the side, and I immediately come over, resting one of her legs on my shoulder. I delve back into her. She tasted like a breath of fresh air, words not being able to express what I felt. I was determined pull at least one moan from her. <</if>>\ [[Continue->SGame3]]

<<if $showec>>\ “Just like that,” I hear her say, “fuck you’re good at this.” She rocks her hips against me, and I shake eagerly. I move my mouth in a circle, flicking my tongue and sucking randomly to change up my tactics. “Someone’s working hard for a moan, huh?” Sydero asks, already guessing my purpose. She grabs my hair and yanks my head back, leaning in as she tilts my chin up with the tip of her wing. “Is that your plan, Roe? Speak.” “Yes, ma’am,” I grin, biting my lips. She releases me and leans back, smirking seductively at me, “trying to get a succubus to cum. You’re an ambitious one.” I sit still, waiting for her to tell me to proceed. She chuckles lowly, murmuring just loud enough for me to hear, “you’re perfect.” She speaks louder, “proceed.” I head back in, having already realized my fault from last time. Sydero was rough and liked rough. I take her into my mouth again, speeding up my movements, randomly flicking my tongue and sucking, and then nipping. As soon as I bite, her hips buck, and she presses closer to me. She grinds on my face, and I do every trick I can think of. <<if $gender is "female" or $a_gender is "female">>\ “Play with yourself,” she tells me, and I do as she says. My fingers immediately rushing down to my soaking wet clit, most of my attention still on her. She was trying to distract me, but it was far too late for that. <<elseif $gender is "male" or $a_gender is "male">>\ “Play with yourself,” she tells me, and I do as she says. My fingers immediately rushing down to my soaking throbbing hard dick, most of my attention still on her. She was trying to distract me, but it was far too late for that. <<else>>\ “Play with yourself,” she tells me, and I do as she says. My fingers immediately rushing down to my area, most of my attention still on her. She was trying to distract me, but it was far too late for that. <</if>>\ My free hand wanders up to her pussy, and I slip two fingers in as I continue to eat her out. “Fuck, Roe,” Sydero gasps, and I finger her to the movement of her hips. I can hear her grunt, her chaotic energy acting even more sporadically as it bounces off of me. Every area it hits feels like Sydero’s touch, hot and lingering. I curl my fingers inside of her and give her another nip, and there it goes. The beautiful sound leaving her lips as her body shakes, and she orgasms, her juices rushing into my mouth. The energy hits me all at once, seeping into my skin and making my body shake. It rushes through my veins and applies pressure to every sensitive area that I have. My eyes roll up as it feels like I was suddenly being pleasured by Sydero a hundred times, the feeling of reaching my peak hitting me again and again. The shivering doesn’t stop, and after a while, I feel the air knocked from my lungs. I struggle to breathe, to control myself, but it’s such an odd thought. Who needed to breathe when they were experiencing a feeling this great? I think I scream out in absolute pleasure, but I’m not sure, I’m not sure of anything. The darkness claws me, its hands raking over my body, its warmth encompassing me and swearing that it’ll do anything I want it too. That’ll it’ll pleasure me … to death. A searing hot feeling burns the feeling away, though. Bringing me back to the now as my eyes flash open and I find Sydero’s lips on mine. When she releases me, I lay on the floor, heaving as air once again feels my lungs, and I’m aware of my surroundings. <<if $gender is "female" or $a_gender is "female">>\ Sydero straddles me, her exposed clit rubbing up against my clit, and causing me to shiver again. <<if $gender is "male" or $a_gender is "male">>\ Sydero straddles me, her exposed clit rubbing up against my dick, and causing me to shiver again. <<else>>\ Sydero straddles me, her exposed clit rubbing up against me and causing me to shiver again. <</if>>\ “Such a good $boy,” she says adoringly, lightly playing with my hair. I lean into her touch as she continues to praise me, “you actually caused me to cum, consider me impressed. Now rest, you did amazing.” She places one last kiss to my forehead, and the darkness once again takes me over. Though this time it’s not life-threatening, it’s just right and inviting. <<else>>\ “Just like that,” I hear her say, “fuck you’re good at this.” She rocks her hips against me, and I shake eagerly. “Someone’s working hard for a moan, huh?” Sydero asks, already guessing my purpose. She grabs my hair and yanks my head back, leaning in as she tilts my chin up with the tip of her wing. “Is that your plan, Roe? Speak.” “Yes, ma’am,” I grin, biting my lips. She releases me and leans back, smirking seductively at me, “trying to get a succubus to reach her peak. You’re an ambitious one.” I sit still, waiting for her to tell me to proceed. She chuckles lowly, murmuring just loud enough for me to hear, “you’re perfect.” She speaks louder, “proceed.” I head back in, having already realized my fault from last time. Sydero was rough and liked rough. My plan seems to work as she presses closer to me. “Play with yourself,” she tells me, and I do as she says. My fingers immediately rushing down to my area, most of my attention still on her. She was trying to distract me, but it was far too late for that. “Fuck, Roe,” Sydero gasps. I can hear her grunt, her chaotic energy acting even more sporadically as it bounces off of me. Every area it hits feels like Sydero’s touch, hot and lingering. I curl my fingers and give her another nip, and there it goes. The beautiful sound leaving her lips as her body shakes, and she reaches her peak. The energy hits me all at once, seeping into my skin and making my body shake. It rushes through my veins and applies pressure to every sensitive area that I have. My eyes roll up as it feels like I was suddenly being pleasured by Sydero a hundred times, the feeling of reaching my peak hitting me again and again. The shivering doesn’t stop, and after a while, I feel the air knocked from my lungs. I struggle to breathe, to control myself, but it’s such an odd thought. Who needed to breathe when they were experiencing a feeling this great? I think I scream out in absolute pleasure, but I’m not sure, I’m not sure of anything. The darkness claws me, its hands raking over my body, its warmth encompassing me and swearing that it’ll do anything I want it too. That’ll it’ll pleasure me … to death. A searing hot feeling burns the feeling away, though. Bringing me back to the now as my eyes flash open and I find Sydero’s lips on mine. When she releases me, I lay on the floor, heaving as air once again feels my lungs, and I’m aware of my surroundings. Sydero straddles me, causing me to shiver again. “Such a good $boy,” she says adoringly, lightly playing with my hair. I lean into her touch as she continues to praise me, “you actually did it, consider me impressed. Now rest, you did amazing.” She places one last kiss to my forehead, and the darkness once again takes me over. Though this time it’s not life-threatening, it’s just right and inviting. <</if>>\ After I’m feeling back to my regular self, we leave the church behind, though I bring the memory of it with me, stealing random peaks at a content appearing Sydero. [[Continue->Sydero7]]

Mustering up all the defiance I had, despite how weak my knees felt, despite wanting to do whatever the woman in front of me asked, I lean in and say, “do your worst.” That seems to get the desired effect as one moment I’m standing on my own, and the next, my face is up against a wall, and Sydero’s body is up against me. “Wrong,” she whispers. She’s pressed up so close, her energy swarming around me. It was so heavy that I didn’t even feel like I was standing in a room anymore. I was somewhere in an abyss, Sydero, my lifeline, but also the thing pushing me deeper. Her lips are on mine, a dominant and starving element to the bruising kiss. Our teeth clash numerous times, but she doesn’t seem to care. She continually tries to go deeper, as if she was never satisfied with the space between us. She captures my bottom lip between her teeth, pulling out a small yelp from me as she nips it just enough to pull blood. Her tongue rolls over my bruised lip, collecting the blood she finds there. I feel her energy spike, everything immediately growing more intense. Without warning, she backs away and with her power, pushes me to the ground. She undresses me swiftly, her mouth quickly finding my body as she leaves heated and stinging kisses all over me. <<if $showec>>\ <<if $gender is "female" or $a_gender is "female">>\ My eyes roll up to the top of my head as I tremble underneath her, my breath hitching when her mouth finds my soaking wet clit. “Sydero!” I shout, unable to keep the loud scream in as she expertly runs her tongue along me. She flicks it in my wet core, sucking and working her mouth in ways that only an expert … or a succubus would now. She then slides in two fingers, scissoring me, and I can no longer take it. She completely ignores my small groans, and when I try to buck my hips against her, she uses her powers again. They keep me pressed up against the ground, disallowing me from moving. She ravishes me in every sense of the word, and I fall more and more into bliss. <<elseif $gender is "male" or $a_gender is "male">>\ My eyes roll up to the top of my head as I tremble underneath her, my breath hitching when her mouth finds my throbbing hard cock. “Sydero!” I shout, unable to keep the loud scream in as she expertly takes me into her mouth. Her hand grasps me and pumps while her mouth works in ways that only an expert … or a succubus would now. She toys with my balls as she deep throats me, taking my entire length into her mouth, and I can no longer take it. She completely ignores my small groans, and when I try to buck my hips against her, she uses her powers again. They keep me pressed up against the ground, disallowing me from moving. She ravishes me in every sense of the word, and I fall more and more into bliss. <<else>> My eyes roll up to the top of my head as I tremble underneath her, my breath hitching when her mouth finds my sensitive area. “Sydero!” I shout, unable to keep the loud scream in as she expertly pleasures me. She completely ignores my small groans, and when I try to buck my hips against her, she uses her powers again. They keep me pressed up against the ground, disallowing me from moving. She ravishes me in every sense of the word, and I fall more and more into bliss. <</if>>\ <<else>>\ My eyes roll up to the top of my head as I tremble underneath her, my breath hitching when her mouth finds my sensitive area. “Sydero!” I shout, unable to keep the loud scream in as she expertly pleasures me. She completely ignores my small groans, and when I try to buck my hips against her, she uses her powers again. They keep me pressed up against the ground, disallowing me from moving. She ravishes me in every sense of the word, and I fall more and more into bliss. <</if>>\ “Aren’t you just a dirty little angel,” she hums. My lips part as I try to finally catch my breath, my eyes falling on Sydero whose hovering over me. “Strap or no?” Unless there was something I didn’t know about, I didn’t really see how she was going to use this strap. [[Tell her to use one.]] [[Tell her not to.]]

“Yea, use it,” I watch as she snaps her fingers and opens her palms, a strap on appearing there. <<if $showec>>\ <<if $gender is "female" or $a_gender is "female">>\ She notices the look I send her and says, “demonic shit.” That’s all I get as she quickly puts it on and without further warning, inserts the strap into my aching core. Seeing that I was already adequately lubed, she doesn’t bother going gentle, somehow, I doubt not being lubed properly would stop her roughness anyway. My eyes widen as she plunges into me, the strap-on expanding my walls, ignoring my tightness. I bite my lip, ignoring the pain that courses through me due to the cut that rests there. The strap goes further and further inside, her movements precise, hitting me in places that needed more than a good scratching. “Syd!” I scream, “fuck, Syd!” I try to move and continuously fail, the pleasure, plus aggravation, and then the succubus sensation that overwhelms me puts me on a high that I didn’t know existed. She leans forward and hits a new spot, tears forming as I want nothing more than to grab her, to dig my nails into her back and leave my own markings. Somehow, she senses my thoughts, and the pressure on my chest vanishes. My hands immediately find her back, and I cling to her like my life depended on it. She finds one of my breasts and latches onto it, sucking and pulling on my nipple until I dig my nails deeper into her back and let out a yelp. Sydero made sure to pleasure every inch of me, her mouth around my breasts, the strap-on she wore driving into me, and her free hand slapping and clenching my ass cheeks. When she finally leaves my breasts, she nips and sucks at my chest and collarbone. Her tongue would later on sweep across me, almost as if trying to undo the light blood work and apologize for being so rough. <<else>>\ She notices the look I send her and says, “demonic shit.” That’s all I get as she quickly puts it on and without further warning, inserts the strap into my aching ass. She lubes me up enough before she gently separates my cheeks and pushes the strap-on in. My eyes widen as she plunges into me, the strap-on expanding my walls, ignoring my tightness. I bite my lip, ignoring the pain that courses through me due to the cut that rests there. The strap goes further and further inside, her movements precise, hitting me in places that needed more than a good scratching. “Syd!” I scream, “fuck, Syd!” I try to move and continuously fail, the pleasure, plus aggravation, and then the succubus sensation that overwhelms me puts me on a high that I didn’t know existed. She leans forward and hits a new spot, tears forming as I want nothing more than to grab her, to dig my nails into her back and leave my own markings. Somehow, she senses my thoughts, and the pressure on my chest vanishes. My hands immediately find her back, and I cling to her like my life depended on it. Her lips smash against mine, sucking and pulling on my tongue and bottom lip until I dig my nails deeper into her back and let out a yelp. <<if $gender is "male" or $a_gender is "male">>\ Sydero made sure to pleasure every inch of me, her mouth on mine, the strap-on she wore driving into me, and her free hand jerking off my member. When she finally leaves my mouth, she nips and sucks at my chest and collarbone. Her tongue would later on sweep across me, almost as if trying to undo the light blood work and apologize for being so rough. <<else>>\ Sydero made sure to pleasure every inch of me, her mouth on mine, the strap-on she wore driving into me, and her free hand teasing any other area. When she finally leaves my mouth, she nips and sucks at my chest and collarbone. Her tongue would later on sweep across me, almost as if trying to undo the light blood work and apologize for being so rough. <</if>>\ <</if>>\ “Fuck Angel,” she whispers in my ear, her voice causing me to whimper as she slows down her pace to an agonizingly slow speed, “you feel so fucking good.” I cry some more, pushing my hips towards her, but in response, she pulls back, and she nips me harshly on the neck. “What do you want?” “I want you.” “You have me, I need you to tell me what you want though.” “Please, fuck me.” She gives me another love bite, and I bite the inside of my cheek, hard enough to cause even more pain. Every ounce of pain turns to pleasure, though. A kind of high that no drug could ever help me accomplish. “I need you to fuck me raw, Syd, please. Please drill my –” I gasp before I can finish my sentence as she pounds me, only once before stopping. “What was that?” I begin to repeat her name when she pounds me again, my body screams in pleasure. I whimper as I moan her name louder each time. The need for her was overwhelming, my senses no longer my own. My heart leaps as she pounds me one last time, and I reach my peak. I couldn’t even warn her, my body trembling as I go limp. The pleasure rolling off of me and invigorating a more than pumped up Sydero. <<else>>\ She notices the look I send her and says, “demonic shit.” That’s all I get as she quickly puts it on and without further warning, inserts the strap. My eyes widen as she plunges into me. I bite my lip, ignoring the pain that courses through me due to the cut that rests there. She goes further and further inside, her movements precise, hitting me in places that needed more than a good scratching. “Syd!” I scream, “fuck, Syd!” I try to move and continuously fail, the pleasure, plus aggravation, and then the succubus sensation that overwhelms me puts me on a high that I didn’t know existed. I want nothing more than to grab her, to dig my nails into her back and leave my own markings. Somehow, she senses my thoughts, and the pressure on my chest vanishes. My hands immediately find her back, and I cling to her like my life depended on it. Her lips smash against mine, sucking and pulling on my tongue and bottom lip until I dig my nails deeper into her back and let out a yelp. Sydero made sure to pleasure every inch of me. When she finally leaves my mouth, she nips and sucks at my chest and collarbone. “Fuck Angel,” she whispers in my ear, “you feel so fucking good.” I cry some more, wanting more. She gives me another love bite, and I bite the inside of my cheek, hard enough to cause even more pain. Every ounce of pain turns to pleasure, though. A kind of high that no drug could ever help me accomplish. The need for her was overwhelming, my senses no longer my own. My heart leaps as she pounds me one last time, and I reach my peak. I couldn’t even warn her, my body trembling as I go limp. The pleasure rolling off of me and invigorating a more than pumped up Sydero. <</if>>\ “Naughty, naughty,” she laughs, standing over me, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she looks down at me, stretching that beautiful body of hers seductively. “And in your house of God of all places. I feel like a proper demon, defiling everything I can touch.” I chuckle weakly, “I feel like I just ran five marathons.” “You practically did, because I feel like I //can// run five marathons.” “But … I only came once.” She raises a brow and looks down at me, “aw, that’s cute. You actually came a few times, just my powers distracted you, which is why you feel so weak. It’s one of the ways succubus end up killing the person they’re sleeping with. Every time your eyes rolled up, or you felt like you were leaving your body, that was you reaching that peak.” I close my eyes, it was dangerous, but I could definitely get used to that kind of feeling. Sydero kneels down and kisses my lips softly. “Sleep,” she whispers against them. I don’t argue, closing my eyes and letting myself take a small nap. After I’m feeling back to my regular self, we leave the church behind, though I bring the memory of it with me, stealing random peaks at a content appearing Sydero. [[Continue->Sydero7]]

<<if $showec>>\ <<if $gender is "female" or $a_gender is "female">>\ Sydero kisses me again, her fingers returning to my clit and inserting three fingers. She curls her fingers inside of me, causing every moan and groan to escape my lips as she goes. After a while, she swallows them with her kisses, rough and always begging me for more. She pulls back, her attention now on my breasts. She latches onto one of them, sucking and pulling on my nipple. I bite my lip, ignoring the pain that courses through me due to the cut that rests there. “Syd!” I scream, “fuck, Syd!” I try to move and continuously fail, the pleasure, plus being so close to orgasming, and then the succubus sensation that overwhelms me puts me on a high that I didn’t know existed. She inserts another finger, hitting a new spot. Tears form as I want nothing more than to grab her, to dig my nails into her back, and leave my own markings. Somehow, she senses my thoughts, and the pressure on my chest vanishes. My hands immediately find her back, and I cling to her like my life depended on it. I dig them into her back, pulling a few groans from between her lips. I feel the pressure rising, “Syd, fuck!” I scream, trying to muffle my shouts but failing. <<elseif $gender is "male" or $a_gender is "male">>\ Sydero kisses me again, her fingers returning to my member as she roughly jerks me off. Her mouth is there as well, licking the underside and paying close attention to the head, she elicits moan after moan from me. After a while, she swallows them with her kisses, rough and always begging me for more. “Syd!” I scream, “fuck, Syd!” I try to move and continuously fail, the pleasure, plus being so close to coming, and then the succubus sensation that overwhelms me puts me on a high that I didn’t know existed. She goes back to pleasuring my member, taking it in once again and swirling her tongue as she tightens her grip. Tears form as I want nothing more than to grab her, to dig my nails into her back, and leave my own markings. Somehow, she senses my thoughts, and the pressure on my chest vanishes. My hands immediately find her hair and I begin to move her at my own pace. Surprisingly, she lets me, taking me in and not fighting my movements as her guide her hand up and down my shaft. I feel the pressure rising, “Syd, fuck!” I scream, trying to muffle my shouts but failing. <<else>>\ Sydero swallows each groan that I manage to utter with her kisses, rough and always begging me for more. “Syd!” I scream, “fuck, Syd!” I try to move and continuously fail, the pleasure, plus being so close to reaching my peak, and then the succubus sensation that overwhelms me puts me on a high that I didn’t know existed. She goes back to pleasuring me. Tears form as I want nothing more than to grab her, to dig my nails into her back, and leave my own markings. Somehow, she senses my thoughts, and the pressure on my chest vanishes. My hands immediately find her back, and I cling to her like my life depended on it. I dig them into her back, pulling a few groans from between her lips. I feel the pressure rising, trying to muffle my shouts but failing. <</if>>\ <<else>> Sydero swallows each groan that I manage to utter with her kisses, rough and always begging me for more. “Syd!” I scream, “fuck, Syd!” I try to move and continuously fail, the pleasure, plus being so close to reaching my peak, and then the succubus sensation that overwhelms me puts me on a high that I didn’t know existed. She goes back to pleasuring me. Tears form as I want nothing more than to grab her, to dig my nails into her back, and leave my own markings. Somehow, she senses my thoughts, and the pressure on my chest vanishes. My hands immediately find her back, and I cling to her like my life depended on it. I dig them into her back, pulling a few groans from between her lips. I feel the pressure rising, trying to muffle my shouts but failing. <</if>>\ The energy hits me all at once, seeping into my skin and making my body shake. It rushes through my veins and applies pressure to every sensitive area that I have. My eyes roll up as it feels like I was suddenly being pleasured by Sydero a hundred times, the feeling of reaching my peak hitting me again and again. The shivering doesn’t stop, and after a while, I feel the air knocked from my lungs. I struggle to breathe, to control myself, but it’s such an odd thought. Who needed to breathe when they were experiencing a feeling this great? I think I scream out in absolute pleasure, but I’m not sure, I’m not sure of anything. The darkness claws me, its hands raking over my body, its warmth encompassing me and swearing that it’ll do anything I want it too. That’ll it’ll pleasure me … to death. A searing hot feeling burns the feeling away, though. Bringing me back to the now as my eyes flash open and I find Sydero’s lips on mine. When she releases me, I lay on the floor, heaving as air once again feels my lungs, and I’m aware of my surroundings. “Naughty, naughty,” she laughs, standing over me, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she looks down at me, stretching that beautiful body of hers seductively. “And in your house of God of all places. I feel like a proper demon, defiling everything I can touch.” I chuckle weakly, “I feel like I just ran five marathons.” “You practically did, because I feel like I //can// run five marathons.” “But … I only came once.” She raises a brow and looks down at me, “aw, that’s cute. You actually came a few times, just my powers distracted you. It’s one of the ways succubus end up killing the person they’re sleeping with. That last one just got away from me a bit.” I close my eyes, it was dangerous, but I could definitely get used to that kind of feeling. Sydero kneels down and kisses my lips softly. “Sleep,” she whispers against them. I don’t argue, closing my eyes and letting myself take a small nap. After I’m feeling back to my regular self, we leave the church behind, though I bring the memory of it with me, stealing random peaks at a content appearing Sydero. [[Continue->Sydero7]]

I sigh, there wasn’t much to go off of. I’m about to tell Chris as much when I feel a chill overtake me, something settling on my shoulders, a feeling far too familiar to the one I felt back at the school. “Chris, you don’t feel that?” I ask him, and to my relief, he nods. “It’s like something evil is watching us, I don’t really know how to describe it,” he whispers to me. “Maybe we should run?” Neither of us makes a move until we hear wailing. With eyes wide, we both dart down the road, not knowing what to expect or what was behind us. “That building,” Chris shouts as we go, pointing to a building with a large sign that identified it as the local hospital. I didn’t want to be in a depressing abandoned building, but the wailing was only growing louder. I nod to him, and we both enter, closing the doors behind us and placing our ears up against it, waiting to see if we could hear anything. The wailing continues, something banging on the door, causing us both to jump back. It bangs but that's all, never throwing the doors open or crossing the threshold into the hospital. “I think we’re safe,” Chris says, straightening up and looking behind us. I follow his actions, sighing at the horribly somber setting. With the dreary lighting from outside, paired with the monotone palette of the walls and floors, it didn’t make me feel welcomed or safe. “I would like to leave this place as soon as possible,” I tell Chris as we go, “just putting that out there.” “Me and you both. When do you think it’ll be clear?” The wailing is quiet, but every so often, it collides with the door again, as if the previous times didn’t teach it anything. “Probably a couple of minutes. We might as well look around,” I tell him, and he mumbles something before walking off. I’m about to follow behind him when, out of the corner of my eye, I see a figure in white. I look to see an older woman in a hospital gown, carrying something in her arms as she wanders into a room. Another spirit, great. [[Go and investigate.]] [[Follow after Chris.]]

<> <<set $oldwoman = true>> <<endnobr>> I walk down the hall and towards the room that the woman had entered. I find her sitting on the edge of a bed, staring down at whatever was in her hands. I cautiously approach, peeking over her shoulder to see a teddy bear wrapped in a blanket. At first, it looks like it could be a baby, but as I continue staring at it, I realize that it was just a stuffed animal. But not just any random stuffed animal, one that I had seen a couple of times already. <<if $gglike>>\ “Deidre?” I ask, not knowing that I had said it aloud until the woman turns to me. She stares at me suspiciously, standing and bringing her ‘baby’ closer to her chest. <<else>>\ “You’re the little girl?” I ask, not knowing that I had said it aloud until the woman turns to me. She stares at me suspiciously, standing and bringing her ‘baby’ closer to her chest. <</if>>\ “Please don’t take him,” she tells me, her eyes brimming with tears. “I’m not going to take anyone from you.” She continues on, ignoring my words, “I need him. I need him to make everything right,” she looks down at the stuffed animal like it was her salvation. The look in her eye strikes me as odd. It wasn’t the look a mother would have for their newborn. There was a lack of unconditional love in her eyes. This was more so how someone would look at a wad of dollar bills; it was her salvation, but for all the wrong reasons. “To make what right?” I ask, almost wishing I didn’t ask. Something inside of me told me that I wouldn’t like the answer. She finally looks up at me, “for what they did to me. For what //he// did. His seed will be my revenge.” She cackles, and the room seems to grow darker, and the temperature drops. I take a step back as she clutches the baby in her arms, her entire body shaking due to her maniacal laughter. She had gone from distraught mother to evil witch in record time. “They’ll all pay!” she shouts at me. She takes an exaggerated sniff in, “smell that. That’s despair and death.” I feel that malicious energy, and there’s something behind me. I stiffen. [[Punch.]] [[Scream.]] [[Turn around.]]

I follow after Chris, neither of us saying much as we look around, taking in the hospital. Just like the school, it’s evident that those that were here had left in a hurry. Clipboards with undone paperwork sit upon tables with dead flowers, and gurneys rest in the middle of the hall as if someone was pushing them. Most of the doors are open or left ajar, machines old and rusted sitting beside unmade hospital beds. “I hate this,” Chris mumbles as he comes back from looking in one room, “it’s just a creepy vibe.” “Not a fan of haunted houses I take it?” “Not really. Why would anyone want to be scared, and pay the person to do it? Rollercoasters, I get that. That kind of adrenaline is cool and understandable. But adrenaline from someone trying to scare the shit out of you and that’s your reason? I don’t see it.” We walk into what I can only assume is the cafeteria. Chris sits on the top of one of the long wooden dining tables, looking over at me as I sit in a chair. “What are our options right now?” “Try to get out of here without finding the others or try to find the others and figure out a way to escape together.” “The first one is so appealing, but I doubt it’s possible. Do you think we’ll just run out of road? Like if we keep traveling down it, then we’ll eventually get to the end?” “That’s possible, but what if we’re just looped back to the beginning?” “Then I’d rather the spirits here just kill me now,” Chris groans, laying down on the table and huffing. “You think anyone else finds themselves trapped in this hellhole? Or just us?” “Logic would say others have, but our luck says that its only us.” “That’s what I was thinking as well.” I look over at him, smiling as I lean forward and place a kiss on his lips. When I move to pull back, he stops me, his hand pressing my head back down to his lips for another. “Seriously, Chris?” I ask him, snickering against his mouth. “Not my fault your lips are so damn kissable. If I’m going to die here, then let the last memory I have be of you.” I pull back, and this time he doesn’t stop me. <<if $cbb>>\ “Again?” I question and gesture to his sprawled-out body, my eyes lingering on his pants and the slight bulge. “We don’t have too,” he says with a smirk, “but you won’t hear me saying no.” <<else>>\ “Really? You’re just really horny right now, huh?” “Thinking you’re going to die soon will do that to you.” “We’re put in life-threatening situations every day,” I remind him. “Then, you understand now why I’m always so eager around you.” <</if>>\ [[Go for it.]] [[Get back to escaping.]]

I spin around on my heel and throw a punch, managing to hit Chris dead in the jaw as I do so. “Shit, $name! What the hell was that for? I come to check up on you out of worry, and I get socked for it?” “Oh crap, I didn’t think that was you.” “Who else would it be?” he asks, massaging his jaw and throwing me a dirty look. I turn to point out the woman, but of course, she’s gone, nothing but a dirty white baby blanket resting on the bed. I shake my head and turn back to Chris. Chris sits on the top of one of the long wooden dining tables, looking over at me as I sit in a chair. “What are our options right now?” “Try to get out of here without finding the others or try to find the others and figure out a way to escape together.” “The first one is so appealing, but I doubt it’s possible. Do you think we’ll just run out of road? Like if we keep traveling down it, then we’ll eventually get to the end?” “That’s possible, but what if we’re just looped back to the beginning?” “Then I’d rather the spirits here just kill me now,” Chris groans, laying down on the table and huffing. “You think anyone else finds themselves trapped in this hellhole? Or just us?” “Logic would say others have, but our luck says that its only us.” “That’s what I was thinking as well.” I look over at him, smiling as I lean forward and place a kiss on his lips. When I move to pull back, he stops me, his hand pressing my head back down to his lips for another. “Seriously, Chris?” I ask him, snickering against his mouth. “Not my fault your lips are so damn kissable. If I’m going to die here, then let the last memory I have be of you.” I pull back, and this time he doesn’t stop me. <<if $cbb>>\ “Again?” I question and gesture to his sprawled-out body, my eyes lingering on his pants and the slight bulge. “We don’t have too,” he says with a smirk, “but you won’t hear me saying no.” <<else>>\ “Really? You’re just really horny right now, huh?” “Thinking you’re going to die soon will do that to you.” “We’re put in life-threatening situations every day,” I remind him. “Then, you understand now why I’m always so eager around you.” <</if>>\ [[Go for it.]] [[Get back to escaping.]]

I scream, jumping away but not fast enough. The figure grabs me and brings me flush against their chest. Despite my initial reaction, I immediately calm as I recognize the arms that now surround me and the light stubble that tickles my forehead. “Chris,” I breathe out, wrapping my arms around him. “Shh, it’s okay. I’m here. What happened? What got you freaked out?” I turn to point out the woman, but of course, she’s gone, nothing but a dirty white baby blanket resting on the bed. I shake my head and turn back to Chris. Chris sits on the top of one of the long wooden dining tables, looking over at me as I sit in a chair. “What are our options right now?” “Try to get out of here without finding the others or try to find the others and figure out a way to escape together.” “The first one is so appealing, but I doubt it’s possible. Do you think we’ll just run out of road? Like if we keep traveling down it, then we’ll eventually get to the end?” “That’s possible, but what if we’re just looped back to the beginning?” “Then I’d rather the spirits here just kill me now,” Chris groans, laying down on the table and huffing. “You think anyone else finds themselves trapped in this hellhole? Or just us?” “Logic would say others have, but our luck says that its only us.” “That’s what I was thinking as well.” I look over at him, smiling as I lean forward and place a kiss on his lips. When I move to pull back, he stops me, his hand pressing my head back down to his lips for another. “Seriously, Chris?” I ask him, snickering against his mouth. “Not my fault your lips are so damn kissable. If I’m going to die here, then let the last memory I have be of you.” I pull back, and this time he doesn’t stop me. <<if $cbb>>\ “Again?” I question and gesture to his sprawled-out body, my eyes lingering on his pants and the slight bulge. “We don’t have too,” he says with a smirk, “but you won’t hear me saying no.” <<else>>\ “Really? You’re just really horny right now, huh?” “Thinking you’re going to die soon will do that to you.” “We’re put in life-threatening situations every day,” I remind him. “Then, you understand now why I’m always so eager around you.” <</if>>\ [[Go for it.]] [[Get back to escaping.]]

I turn around, finding Chris standing there, looking at me with a raised brow. “Can you announce yourself next time?” “Sure, babe. Your incredibly handsome boyfriend is here and would like to know what you’re doing in the creepy old hospital room.” I furrow my brow and turn to point out the woman, but of course, she’s gone, nothing but a dirty white baby blanket resting on the bed. I shake my head and turn back to Chris. “Chris. I think something really horrible happened here.” “I could’ve told you that much,” he grumbles, leaving the room, and I’m on his heels. “No, I mean more so than what we thought. I’m not quite sure of the story and what exactly happened, but I’m getting a vague picture.” “Can that vague picture get us the hell out of here? If not, then I don’t really care,” he stops and gives me a half-smile, “no offense.” “None taken,” I say, following him into what I can only assume is the cafeteria. Chris sits on the top of one of the long wooden dining tables, looking over at me as I sit in a chair. “What are our options right now?” “Try to get out of here without finding the others or try to find the others and figure out a way to escape together.” “The first one is so appealing, but I doubt it’s possible. Do you think we’ll just run out of road? Like if we keep traveling down it, then we’ll eventually get to the end?” “That’s possible, but what if we’re just looped back to the beginning?” “Then I’d rather the spirits here just kill me now,” Chris groans, laying down on the table and huffing. “You think anyone else finds themselves trapped in this hellhole? Or just us?” “Logic would say others have, but our luck says that its only us.” “That’s what I was thinking as well.” I look over at him, smiling as I lean forward and place a kiss on his lips. When I move to pull back, he stops me, his hand pressing my head back down to his lips for another. “Seriously, Chris?” I ask him, snickering against his mouth. “Not my fault your lips are so damn kissable. If I’m going to die here, then let the last memory I have be of you.” I pull back, and this time he doesn’t stop me. <<if $cbb>>\ “Again?” I question and gesture to his sprawled-out body, my eyes lingering on his pants and the slight bulge. “We don’t have too,” he says with a smirk, “but you won’t hear me saying no.” <<else>>\ “Really? You’re just really horny right now, huh?” “Thinking you’re going to die soon will do that to you.” “We’re put in life-threatening situations every day,” I remind him. “Then, you understand now why I’m always so eager around you.” <</if>>\ [[Go for it.]] [[Get back to escaping.]]

He doesn’t have to tell me twice. I join him on the table, straddling his lap as I bend down and kiss him gently. It starts with light pecks, our hands doing most of the work as we slowly move them across each other’s bodies. As the kisses get deeper, my body begins to curve into his, our hands abandoning their exploration and meeting each other. I lace my fingers through his, savoring every minute of the kiss. I start to move away from the kiss when Chris immediately pulls me right back again, his hand gripping my neck as his lips meet mine in another passionate kiss. “Chris,” I murmur up against his lips, and he shakes his head. “Sorry, your lips are my kryptonite. Your existence is really, but your lips are amazing.” Chris’s hands wander down to my pants, his teeth at my collarbone as my body arches into his touch. “Clothes off, now,” I growl, going for his shirt when the doors of the cafeteria slam. We both jump apart, looking towards the source but finding that the doors were shut. “Did you leave that open?” Chris questions, and I shake my head. “Great, now I’m creeped out … do you think it was the wind?” I want to ask him what wind he felt since we’ve been here but keep the thoughts to myself. “We should go,” I say, getting off the table and fixing my disheveled clothes. He follows my example, and we leave the cafeteria behind. [[Continue->Chris6]]

“We need to focus,” I tell him, “the faster we get out of here, the better.” “Yea, how about you stop being right all the time,” he says, rolling his eyes, “we should see if the spirit outside is gone now.” I nod in agreement, both of us rising and making our way down the hall. [[Continue->Chris7]]

<<if $showec>>\ Before I can think about everything we still needed to do, I begin massaging his member through his pants. Smiling at the sudden groan that I pull from Chris’s lips. “This is another kind of cure,” he says into my hair, my hand gripping him and pulling. <<if $gender is "female" or $a_gender is "female">>\ “The best kind,” I snicker, “you either get this or I have to shoot you. Put you out of your misery before you end up shifting.” I yank Chris’s pants down with a bit of his help, trying to ignore the feeling of his hands massaging my breasts. “I’m not complaining,” he tells me, taking my breast into his mouth once I straighten back up. He sucks and licks at my erect nipple greedily. “Lay down,” I tell him, taking off my pants and then hoisting myself up on the examining table, I position myself over his face, his mouth immediately teasing my clit as I take his member into my mouth. I attempt to focus on my task, taking him in my mouth, and sucking him as hard as he was eating me. But with every flick of his tongue or how he would move his mouth, it made me stop and want to focus on riding his face. My stomach tightens up, my entire body shivering at the feeling that Chris was giving me. “I need you,” Chris whispers loud enough for me to hear. Need and desire plain in his voice, “now, $name.” I rise off of him and turn so that my fingers were now splayed out against his chest. I take one of my hands and stroke him, fondling his shaft as I deposit kisses along his chest. I straighten up, rising my hips off of him before settling it down over his member. We both moan as I slide onto him, feeling his member widening my walls as it travels deeper inside of me. “Fuck, Chris,” I gasp, “go faster.” He obliges, gripping my hips and helping me to match the pace of which he was pumping into me with. My nails dig into his shoulders as I place my forehead on his chest. The action changes the angle, and his member manages to go deeper, hitting a different spot and causing me to let out a long sensual groan. “Faster,” I growl, and he thrusts into me harder and faster. My body shaking as he goes. I could feel the pressure go, starting in my stomach and feeling like I had to pee. His thrusts grew wild with every scream and moan that passed through my lips, a mix of pain and desire. My body sporadically shakes as I begin to orgasm, weakly falling onto Chris’s chest as he pulled out of me, causing another shake to take over me. “How close are you?” I ask finding his lips and kissing him hard, forgetting that he couldn’t answer. But I didn’t care, I needed his lips on mine. I capture his bottom lip between my teeth as I feel his body shake, signaling that my question was just answered. <<elseif $gender is "male" or $a_gender is "male">>\ “The best kind,” I snicker, “you either get this or I have to shoot you. Put you out of your misery before you end up shifting.” I yank Chris’s pants down with a bit of his help. “I’m not complaining,” he tells me, grabbing my ass and squeezing with a wide smile. I open my mouth to say something when he harshly slaps it, laughing at the look that crosses my face. “Lay down,” I tell him, taking off my pants and then hoisting myself up on the examining table, I position myself over his face, his mouth immediately teasing the head of my member as I take his into my mouth. I attempt to focus on my task, taking him in my mouth, and sucking him as hard as he was doing me. But with every flick of his tongue or how he would move his mouth, humming and squeezing at all the right times, it made me stop and want to focus on what he was doing. My stomach tightens up, my entire body shivering at the feeling that Chris was giving me. “I need you,” Chris whispers loud enough for me to hear. Need and desire plain in his voice, “now, $name.” “Then on your knees,” I tell him, rising off of him and turning so that his ass was now before me. My fingertips lightly trailed his hipbones, following the indentation that was his V-line. I place a kiss to his back as my hand teases his groin and inner thigh, acting as if I was about to grab his member but not. With my other hand, I spit onto my hand and use it to lube his ass, making sure I got all the dry areas. I take a single finger and slip it past his hole, choosing now to start caressing his dick. In both pain and pleasure, he growls, pushing his hips forward into my hand but also backing away from the finger that was loosening him up. I add another figure next, placing light kisses on his back as I go. “That’s only fingers,” Chris chuckles through clenched teeth, “fuck!” I try to swallow my chuckle but fail, “are you ready, though?” “Hell yea,” he growls. I position myself and carefully place the head of my member at his entrance, I lightly trail my fingers on the side of his ass as I finally push in. I can feel him tighten around me as his toes curl, his body dipping as he ‘ooh’s’ and moans. I focus on my pace and thrusts. Chris buries his head into his arm, trying to swallow some of the louder groans as if someone was around to hear him. One of his cries turns into a short scream, and it causes me to quicken my thrust, my head falling to the side at the feeling. He felt amazing, he always felt so fucking amazing. With my teeth clenched and my release approaching, I push deeper inside of him. Pleasure hitting me immediately as I pull out and release my load onto his back. I quickly grab his member with my other hand and pump him until I feel his cum coating my fingers. I smirk as I bring my fingers to Chris’s finger, and he immediately sucks and licks my fingers clean. “How do you taste?” I whisper in his ear and only moans in response. I lay down beside him, stretching and catching my breath. “You also got some on your back,” I laugh to myself. “Fuck you,” he growls, lightly punching me as he gets up to clean himself off, coming back later to lay right back near me. <<else>>\ “This is another kind of cure,” he says into my hair, my hand gripping him and pulling. “The best kind,” I snicker, “you either get this or I have to shoot you. Put you out of your misery before you end up shifting.” I pull Chris’s pants down with a bit of his help. “I’m not complaining,” he tells me as he teases me. “Lay down,” I tell him, taking off my pants and then hoisting myself up on the examining table. Once situated, we begin to pleasure each other at the same time. My stomach tightening up, my entire body shivering at the feeling that Chris was giving me. “I need you,” Chris whispers loud enough for me to hear. Need and desire plain in his voice, “now, $name.” I rise off of him and turn so that my fingers were now splayed out against his chest. If he needed me, he would have me. The two of us join together, the sounds of us filling the air. Every other breath was followed by a moan or groan. My body shakes as I produce a low scream, one of pain and pleasure. I finally hit my release, weakly falling onto Chris’s chest as he reaches his as well. I find his lips and kiss him hard. I needed his lips on mine, I wanted to drink him in, taste him. I capture his bottom lip between my teeth and then rest my forehead on his, letting time pass. <</if>> <<else>>\ Before I can think about everything we still needed to do, I begin massaging him through his pants. Smiling at the sudden groan that I pull from Chris’s lips. “This is another kind of cure,” he says into my hair, my hand gripping him and pulling. “The best kind,” I snicker, “you either get this or I have to shoot you. Put you out of your misery before you end up shifting.” I pull Chris’s pants down with a bit of his help. “I’m not complaining,” he tells me as he teases me. “Lay down,” I tell him, taking off my pants and then hoisting myself up on the examining table. Once situated, we begin to pleasure each other at the same time. My stomach tightening up, my entire body shivering at the feeling that Chris was giving me. “I need you,” Chris whispers loud enough for me to hear. Need and desire plain in his voice, “now, $name.” I rise off of him and turn so that my fingers were now splayed out against his chest. If he needed me, he would have me. The two of us join together, the sounds of us filling the air. Every other breath was followed by a moan or groan. My body shakes as I produce a low scream, one of pain and pleasure. I finally hit my release, weakly falling onto Chris’s chest as he reaches his as well. I find his lips and kiss him hard. I needed his lips on mine, I wanted to drink him in, taste him. I capture his bottom lip between my teeth and then rest my forehead on his, letting time pass. <</if>>\ “Ugh,” he sighs heavily, “if only we weren’t on some godforsaken haunted road.” I nod and hop off of him, picking up my clothes, “do you feel better?” “Yes, oh mighty hunter, I feel back like the dimwitted partner I was meant to be. Who knew that was the cure?” We both burst out laughing, heading out of the room and down the hall towards exit. But we never make it out. A figure now standing between the exit and us, her hair acting similarly to tentacles in how they hover in the air, waiting for direction and purpose. [[Continue->Chris7]]

<<if $endearly>>\ Instead of acting on anything, I draw back, giving him a wink. I needed to concentrate on the real goal here, which was leaving. We’ve been in this hospital for far too long, and I didn’t really want to linger any longer than necessary. Chris hops off the examining table and slings his arm around me. We head towards the end of the hall but never make it out. A figure now standing between the exit and us, her hair acting similarly to tentacles in how they hover in the air, waiting for direction and purpose. <</if>>\ “Not her again,” Chris whines, shrinking in his spot and inching closer to me. At first, I think he’s doing it so that he could protect me, but I see him creeping behind me, his fingers lightly grasping my shirt as he eyes the woman. My eye catches one section of her hair that isn’t moving, lying against her face, shorter than the other pieces, the part I cut. So, if I could manage to cut the rest of it, then she’ll be less of a menace at least. “I need scissors,” I tell Chris. <<if $gglike>>\ “Wait,” Chris tells me, and I turn back to the woman to see her shifting, her form shrinking into a figure that I knew. Deidre looks back up at us, that teddy bear of hers in her arms. And suddenly, I realize the connection. The three women were her. The innocence of the child, the fury of the young women, and the derangement of the older woman. Something happened to turn this girl in front of me into something terrible, and I was willing to bet that the teddy bear had something to do with it. I bite my cheek and take a step forward, Deidre’s bottom lip quivering as she looks up at me. “Help me,” is all she manages to say. “Tell me what happened here, Deidre. That’s the only way I can help.” “I don’t know,” she cries, clutching the teddy bear tight to her. “I just know that the monster is always after me and that so many people hate me. I don’t know what I did. Mommy and daddy, I can’t find them. I found the sheriff, but I got so mad when I saw him, and I don’t remember.” “You think her memory shifts with her forms?” Chris whispers to me as Deidre continues to cry. “Definitely. This is her nicest form, obviously, but we’re not going to get anything from her. Nothing that’ll tell us what’s going on anyway.” “I just want to leave,” she cries, our attention back on her. “How do we help you leave?” Chris questions, and she reaches her hand out. I gaze from it to her, and she wiggles it. I take a tentative step forward, but Chris stops me. “You help her, and we won’t learn what’s going on. That could be our only way out of here.” “Or helping her is our way out of here.” Chris bites the inside of his lip nervously. Obviously, neither of us knew what would happen. We just knew that we suddenly had a choice, and I was the one who had to make it. I look back at Deidre’s hand. [[Help her leave.]] [[Refuse to help her.]] <<else>>\ “Where am I supposed to find scissors?” he hisses, and I shrug, pushing him out of the way and then dodging the strands of hairs that fly towards me. “Just go!” “You want me to leave you here with the crazy lady?” If I had something I could throw at him, I would. But I was far more worried about her grabbing me. Thankfully, Chris doesn’t continue to argue with me, and he runs down the hall and into a room. My attention is now back on the woman who goes in for the next attack. Two thick strands of hair shoot out towards me, and I’m forced to dodge and dance out of the way. She begins walking towards me, small steps that aren’t threatening, but her hair continues to attack me. Leaping towards me, attempting to grab me before failing and going back to her side as others try. “You will pay like all the others,” she tells me, her voice deep and scratchy, “everyone will pay for what they did to me. You shall be the next sacrifice.” Two strands of her hair rush towards me and I’m able to dodge both effortlessly, but soon realize that I hadn’t spotted the third until it's too late. It wraps around my ankles and yanks me, my head harshly tapping the ground. My vision blurs, and the world begins to shift from side to side. [[Continue->Chris7.1]] <</if>>\

“Not really. I’m not blaming them, but they misdiagnosed me. They kept saying it was trauma when it was really something supernatural. Of course, I don’t blame them for that, but it doesn’t help to be called crazy for so long, only to learn that you were actually onto something.” Chris nods, but we are unable to continue the conversation. A figure now standing between the exit and us, her hair acting similarly to tentacles in how they hover in the air, waiting for direction and purpose. [[Continue->Chris7]]

“I think that if they would’ve actually tried to help me out, instead of freaking out and treating me like some crazy lunatic, then yea. Really, only my last therapist helped me out any, and even she was still kinda pointless. I wonder if they thought I was going to do something reckless or crazy … I don’t know.” Chris nods, but we are unable to continue the conversation. A figure now standing between the exit and us, her hair acting similarly to tentacles in how they hover in the air, waiting for direction and purpose. [[Continue->Chris7]]

“Yea, a bit. They helped me figure out ways to combat stress and calm myself down. Obviously, they couldn’t help me with the actual problem since it was supernatural, but the techniques they gave me did come in handy.” Chris nods, but we are unable to continue the conversation. A figure now standing between the exit and us, her hair acting similarly to tentacles in how they hover in the air, waiting for direction and purpose. [[Continue->Chris7]]

I sigh and shake my head at Deidre, taking a step away from her. “We need to know what happened here, Deidre. She lowers her hand to her side and looks down at the ground, furrowing her brow as she ponders my words. “You’re a meanie,” she tells me, finally glancing up at my face, her body shaking. “No, Deidre, we just –” “Meanie!” She shouts, and a gust of wind pushes both Chris and me backward. When I look back at the girl, she’s no longer a young girl but the woman with the hair that’s alive. She narrows her gaze on me, ready to attack. “She’s right, you’re such a meanie, all you had to do was touch her hand.” I spare a glance at Chris, who shrugs, both of our attention back on the woman now. “Scissors, go!” “Where am I supposed to find scissors?” he hisses, and I shrug, pushing him out of the way and then dodging the strands of hairs that fly towards me. “Just go!” “You want me to leave you here with the crazy lady?” If I had something I could throw at him, I would. But I was far more worried about her grabbing me. Thankfully, Chris doesn’t continue to argue with me, and he runs down the hall and into a room. My attention is now back on the woman who goes in for the next attack. Two thick strands of hair shoot out towards me, and I’m forced to dodge and dance out of the way. She begins walking towards me, small steps that aren’t threatening, but her hair continues to attack me. Leaping towards me, attempting to grab me before failing and going back to her side as others try. “You will pay like all the others,” she tells me, her voice deep and scratchy, “everyone will pay for what they did to me. You shall be the next sacrifice.” Two strands of her hair rush towards me and I’m able to dodge both effortlessly, but soon realize that I hadn’t spotted the third until it's too late. It wraps around my ankles and yanks me, my head harshly tapping the ground. My vision blurs, and the world begins to shift from side to side. [[Continue->Chris7.1]]

I close my eyes and hope that my decision was the right one. I take a step closer to her and touch her hand. Her small hand curls around my fingers and squeezes. “Thank you,” she tells me, her body growing into the older woman and then settles onto the woman who, when her hair wasn’t attacking us, looked like a teen. Her body begins to dissolve slowly, starting at her feet and moving up her body. “I don’t regret my decisions,” she tells me, “they will all say that it’s my fault, and perhaps it is. But they will act as if they had no part. They made me into this.” The last thing I hear her say before she disappears entirely is, “they made a monster to shift the blame onto, never looking back at themselves.” The area grows silent as her words linger, my eyes fall to the floor where the demonic-looking teddy bear rests, a malicious air surrounding it. It disappears next, but not in the same way as the girl. More like it was there one minute, and the next, it wasn’t. “Who do you think she was referring to?” Chris asks, now at my side, his hand finding mine. “Who knows. I just hope we can leave this place.” [[Continue->Chris8]]

<> <<remember $cstory = true>> <<endnobr>> We head back out, the previous events heavy on our mind as we go. Multiple times I wish to question Chris, get his thoughts on the matter, but I simply go quiet again. I wasn’t even sure how I felt about it. At the moment, I just wanted to leave this road behind and forget that we were even put through this. We leave the space between two buildings behind right as we hear someone who sounds oddly like Bradley. “Get back!” they shout and both of us immediately freeze, “I said get back you filthy spirits.” “Is that, Bradley?” Chris asks me, both of us still frozen, not knowing whether to trust the voice or not. <<if $zp>>\ “Stop trying to piss Casper off,” I hear Sydero scold, and that was all it took. Chris and I race forward, following the sounds of their voices further down the road until we spot them up and down. A ghost ball was chasing Bradley who was doing a horrible job of fending them off, Zillah right beside him but his attention on three spirits that seek to undermine him. Sydero is the only one not being chased. Instead, she tries to focus in on the ghost attacking Bradley, but the boy’s movements constantly throw her off. <<else>>\ “Stop trying to piss Casper off,” I hear Sydero scold, and that was all it took. Chris and I race forward, following the sounds of their voices further down the road until we spot them up and down. A ghost ball was chasing Bradley who was doing a horrible job of fending them off. Sydero tries to focus in on the ghost attacking Bradley, but the boy’s movements constantly throw her off. <</if>>\ [[“We found you!”]] [[Walk up to them calmly.]]

“We found you!” I shout in excitement, rushing towards them. Bradley turns and looks at me, “$name!” He rushes towards me and then stops right before hugging me, looking from me to Chris. “You washed your hands, right? I don’t want his jizz on me.” I’m taken aback though I don’t know why. This was Bradley we were talking about. “That’s disgusting, Bradley,” Chris grumbles, fighting the blush that appears on his cheeks. “You two are disgusting,” he laughs, just as the ghost attacking him earlier swoops down to strike. <<if $zp>>\ “Finally,” Sydero growls clenching her fist. The mist trembles before suddenly exploding. She looks over at Zillah and I watch as her eyes begin to turn crimson, each ghost popping like balloons.” <<else>>\ “Finally,” Sydero growls clenching her fist. The mist trembles before suddenly exploding. <</if>>\ “Must be nice to just clench your fists to kill spirits,” Zillah sneers, rolling his eyes as he doesn’t even try to hide the jealousy in his voice. “Not as much fun as probably turning into a walking spirit bomb,” she smirks, tossing him a look before turning to me. [[“What did you guys go through?”]] [[“Run into any problems?”]] [[“Any idea what’s happening?”]]

I take a deep breath in and compose myself. Finally, stepping forward. “Oh, about time we run into you guys,” I say indifferently. “Like you were even looking for us,” Sydero sneers, her words directed to us but her attention still on the ghost. “We were!” Chris argues, fighting the blush on his cheeks and failing. “Help me!” Chris shouts, reminding us that he was indeed still being chased. “Yea you were looking for something else,” Bradley laughs, darting away from the ghost and towards us. He wiggles his eyebrows, dodging the playful hit that Chris sends his way. Just as he does this, the ghost from earlier swoops down to strike. <<if $zp>>\ “Finally,” Sydero growls clenching her fist. The mist trembles before suddenly exploding. She looks over at Zillah and I watch as her eyes begin to turn crimson, each ghost popping like balloons.” <<else>>\ “Finally,” Sydero growls clenching her fist. The mist trembles before suddenly exploding. <</if>>\ “Must be nice to just clench your fists to kill spirits,” Zillah sneers, rolling his eyes as he doesn’t even try to hide the jealousy in his voice. “Not as much fun as probably turning into a walking spirit bomb,” she smirks, tossing him a look before turning to me. [[“What did you guys go through?”]] [[“Run into any problems?”]] [[“Any idea what’s happening?”]]

“What did you guys go through? Because let me tell you, we had a whole adventure.” “We all were chased out by different ghouls before we ended up coming across each other,” Sydero informs me, shrugging her shoulders. “I found Sydero and then we cam across Zillah,” Bradley beams, proud of his accomplishment. “So, what now?” I ask as the five of us begin walking down the street, the buildings no longer appearing, and in the distance, I can make out an intersection. “We get out of here?” Chris questions, “what else?” <<if $zp>>\ “That’s if these spirits let us leave,” Zillah growls. “I seriously hate –” “Yes,” I sigh, “you hate spirits, Sydero hates Halloween, Bradley hates exercise, and Chris hates being the weakest link of the crew. Am I the only one who doesn’t complain about what they hate so much?” My group members stare at me. <<else>>\ “That’s if these spirits let us leave,” Sydero growls. “I seriously hate –” “Yes,” I sigh, “you hate Halloween, Bradley hates exercise, and Chris hates being the weakest link of the crew. Am I the only one who doesn’t complain about what they hate so much?” My group members stare at me. <</if>>\ “All in favor of leaving $name here?” Bradley starts, “say I.” Sydero <<if $zp>>and Zillah <</if>> immediately say it while Chris seems to think it over. Chris presses a kiss to my temple, wrapping his strong arms around me as he brings me in close, “I.” “What!” “An unfortunate hunting accident,” he jokes, and I act as if I’m going to punch him when he stops me, his eyes widening and pointing to something in the distance. My eyes widen as well as we all race towards the object. It was my car! [[“My glorious car!”]] [[“She doesn’t have gas.”]] [[“We all see this, or no?”]]

“Run into any problems? Like a ghoul following you around constantly?” I question, even though we saw what happened earlier, I still feared that the woman would come back. Suddenly appearing to attack us one last time. “If anyone didn’t have those problems, then I’m jealous,” Chris states, “are spirits normally this rowdy?” “It’s Halloween, everything’s rowdy,” Sydero replies. “Yea, like Chris and his little friend,” Bradley jokes again, Chris lunging for him and chasing him around. <<if $zp>>\ “She’s right,” Zillah states, “Halloween gives spirits a slight boost, and it’s when the veil is at its weakest so they can come and go as they wish. It lasts through Día De Los Muertos.” <</if>>\ “So, what now?” I ask as the five of us begin walking down the street, the buildings no longer appearing, and in the distance, I can make out an intersection. “We get out of here?” Chris questions, “what else?” <<if $zp>>\ “That’s if these spirits let us leave,” Zillah growls. “I seriously hate –” “Yes,” I sigh, “you hate spirits, Sydero hates Halloween, Bradley hates exercise, and Chris hates being the weakest link of the crew. Am I the only one who doesn’t complain about what they hate so much?” My group members stare at me. <<else>>\ “That’s if these spirits let us leave,” Sydero growls. “I seriously hate –” “Yes,” I sigh, “you hate Halloween, Bradley hates exercise, and Chris hates being the weakest link of the crew. Am I the only one who doesn’t complain about what they hate so much?” My group members stare at me. <</if>>\ “All in favor of leaving $name here?” Bradley starts, “say I.” Sydero <<if $zp>>and Zillah <</if>> immediately say it while Chris seems to think it over. Chris presses a kiss to my temple, wrapping his strong arms around me as he brings me in close, “I.” “What!” “An unfortunate hunting accident,” he jokes, and I act as if I’m going to punch him when he stops me, his eyes widening and pointing to something in the distance. My eyes widen as well as we all race towards the object. It was my car! [[“My glorious car!”]] [[“She doesn’t have gas.”]] [[“We all see this, or no?”]]

“Any idea what’s happening here? Our picture is still kinda blurry.” “Understatement of the year,” Chris mumbles. “Not yet,” Bradley starts, fiddling with his costume, which has seen better days, “but I think I’m beginning to get a picture. I think if we all compare what we went through, then we might get a general idea …” “But?” Sydero pipes up, raising a brow at Bradley. “But I could be wrong. It’s clear the spirits want us to learn their story, but I don’t exactly know how since they’re going about it weirdly. Whether it’s because of what night it is or because something is stopping them,” he shakes his head and turns his head to look out at the buildings, “I just know something horrible happened here.” “So, what now?” I ask as the five of us begin walking down the street, the buildings no longer appearing, and in the distance, I can make out an intersection. “We get out of here?” Chris questions, “what else?” <<if $zp>>\ “That’s if these spirits let us leave,” Zillah growls. “I seriously hate –” “Yes,” I sigh, “you hate spirits, Sydero hates Halloween, Bradley hates exercise, and Chris hates being the weakest link of the crew. Am I the only one who doesn’t complain about what they hate so much?” My group members stare at me. <<else>>\ “That’s if these spirits let us leave,” Sydero growls. “I seriously hate –” “Yes,” I sigh, “you hate Halloween, Bradley hates exercise, and Chris hates being the weakest link of the crew. Am I the only one who doesn’t complain about what they hate so much?” My group members stare at me. <</if>>\ “All in favor of leaving $name here?” Bradley starts, “say I.” Sydero <<if $zp>>and Zillah <</if>> immediately say it while Chris seems to think it over. Chris presses a kiss to my temple, wrapping his strong arms around me as he brings me in close, “I.” “What!” “An unfortunate hunting accident,” he jokes, and I act as if I’m going to punch him when he stops me, his eyes widening and pointing to something in the distance. My eyes widen as well as we all race towards the object. It was my car! [[“My glorious car!”]] [[“She doesn’t have gas.”]] [[“We all see this, or no?”]]

“My glorious car! Oh baby, I’ll never leave you again.” “I’m confused,” Bradley starts, “are you with Chris or the car?” “Trust me, I learned long ago that I was second place when it comes to $his car,” Chris tells him with a shrug, “I don’t take it personally.” “We had a serious conversation,” I input, rubbing the side of my car lovingly. “Yea, now you can have a proper threesome,” Sydero huffs, pushing Chris out of the way and approaching my car. She motions for me to throw her the keys, and I do, watching as she opens the door and starts it up. “Seems like gas is back. I say we go. Now.” We all pile in, and I gun it down the road, only to stop at the intersection. All of our eyes rest on the sign that says Wayward Road. The car is completely silent as we sit there, none of us knowing what to do. “Take a left,” a single voice chime in, Bradley’s GPS. We stare at him, and he shrugs his shoulder. With a deep breath, I follow the GPS’s orders and turn. I felt like I could hear all of our hearts racing as the car continues on. Waiting for everything to start over, for the car to pick up speed, the radio to give static, and the fog to encroach once again. [[Continue->Next11]]

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to see her but I’m pretty sure we’re still stranded. She doesn’t have any gas,” I remind, sighing sadly. At least the car was here, and I didn’t have to figure out how to get her back or how to get another. “Well, let’s check that.” Sydero walks past us and turns to me, I throw her the keys, and she gets inside. I listen to the engine rev up, and she gets out, shrugging. We all pile in, and I gun it down the road, only to stop at the intersection. All of our eyes rest on the sign that says Wayward Road. The car is completely silent as we sit there, none of us knowing what to do. “Take a left,” a single voice chime in, Bradley’s GPS. We stare at him, and he shrugs his shoulder. With a deep breath, I follow the GPS’s orders and turn. I felt like I could hear all of our hearts racing as the car continues on. Waiting for everything to start over, for the car to pick up speed, the radio to give static, and the fog to encroach once again. [[Continue->Next11]]

“We all see my car right there, right? Or no?” I question, looking at the others. “You haven’t gone blind yet,” Chris tells me with a light smile. “If $he keeps dating you then it’s bound to happen someday,” Bradley mumbles, not being able to escape Chris as he grabs him and gives him a noogie. “Only one way to check.” Sydero walks past us and turns to me, I throw her the keys, and she gets inside. I listen to the engine rev up, and she gets out, shrugging. We all pile in, and I gun it down the road, only to stop at the intersection. All of our eyes rest on the sign that says Wayward Road. The car is completely silent as we sit there, none of us knowing what to do. “Take a left,” a single voice chime in, Bradley’s GPS. We stare at him, and he shrugs his shoulder. With a deep breath, I follow the GPS’s orders and turn. I felt like I could hear all of our hearts racing as the car continues on. Waiting for everything to start over, for the car to pick up speed, the radio to give static, and the fog to encroach once again. [[Continue->Next11]]

The two us travel down the hall, making minor conversation and pointing out weird things that we spot when Chris stops. His eyes wide but not in a frightening way, more like something catches his attention. He doesn’t bother telling me what, he just immediately heads for it. I follow behind after him, walking into a typical checkup room. There were diagrams on the walls and inspirational quotes about how to live a happy life. I even spot an old poster with the apple a day quote on it. “Really?” I ask, “this is what grabbed your attention?” “Come on, you don’t remember coming to these when you were younger?” “I spent more time in therapist offices than doctors,” I point out, that much was true. I wasn’t a sound kid, but I sure was a healthy one. <<if $costume is "hunter">>\ @@.center; ''YOU UNLOCKED CHRIS’S BONUS SCENE'' @@ He chuckles as he hoists himself onto a checkup table, patting it and reliving his childhood memories. “You know I once bit the nurse when she was trying to do the blood pressure and heartbeat thing.” “You’re kidding.” “Nope. I had no idea what was going on, and all I knew was that someone was going to be sticking some needle in me. I freaked out, and I did the first thing I could think of.” “Biting?” I smirk as I look him up and down, my eyes lingering on his costume, “I know we pressured you into wearing that, but I do think it fits you now. You were feral even as a child.” “Are you trying to say that the whole Bladenboro thing was destined to happen?” I shrug as I walk up closer, propping myself up on his thighs with my elbows. “No, but I think I know why it picked you.” “Because I’m extremely attractive?” he guesses, and I shake my head with a laugh. He playfully tips the hat that I was wearing. “And what? You came here to help me get my real body back, oh mighty hunter?” I straighten up with a smirk, clearing my throat and winking at him. “Actually, I did. You’re my dimwitted partner, and I’m not just ready to let you go. It would be such a shame.” I lean in close, the heat radiating off both of us as we stare into each other’s eyes. Both of us had the same idea, just one of us needed to act on it. [[Act on it.->CBS1]] [[Leave the hospital. (This will end the bonus scene).|Chris7][$endearly = true]] <<else>>\ Chris gives me an apologetic look before motioning for us to leave the room behind. “Did any of it help, ever?” he questions as we walk, the exit in sight. [[“Not really.”]] [[“Could’ve, if they tried.”]] [[“Yea, a bit.”]] <</if>>\

“Why are you doing this?” I question, fidgeting but still unable to get my bearings back, everything hurt. “It is not my choice.” I open my mouth to say something when her hair comes to my mouth, silencing me as she brings me up to her. Her eyes are a rusty blood color with speckles of black scattered within. It was a strange sight. To see such a young girl, with such frightful eyes. What happened to her to turn her into this. Or was that the point. That she did this to herself? “Who am I a sacrifice too?” I question her, her hair levitating me off the ground. “Him.” That was all she said as a noise captures my attention, sounding like the winds of an incoming tornado. I fidget in my bonds, looking around for what it was but finding nothing. The woman simply laughs, her voice merging with the winds, or whatever that noise was. “Let go of $him!” I hear Chris scream just as I begin falling from the air. I again plop down to the ground, rubbing my backside as I hear the woman scream. I lean up, watching as she stumbles backward, sporting a hideous new haircut. Sitting on the ground in front of her is a familiar teddy bear. <<if $oldwoman>>\ And suddenly, I realize the connection. The three women were her. The innocence of the child, the fury of the young women, and the derangement of the older woman. Something happened to turn this girl in front of me into something terrible, and I was willing to bet that the teddy bear had something to do with it. <<else>>\ And suddenly, I realize the connection. The two girls were one person. The innocence of the child and the fury of the young women. Something happened to turn this girl in front of me into something terrible, and I was willing to bet that the teddy bear had something to do with it. <</if>>\ Even though Chris had just robbed her of her only weapon, the woman almost looks at peace with it. She turns to me, and her eyes turn human, soft large brown eyes looking back at me. “Thank you,” she tells me, her body growing into an older woman and then settling on the child. Her body begins to dissolve slowly, starting at her feet and moving up her body. “I’m sorry. But the monster can’t yell at me now,” she tells me. The last thing I hear her say before she disappears entirely is, “I’m … free.” My eyes fall to the floor where the demonic-looking teddy bear rests, a malicious air surrounding it. It disappears next, but not in the same way as the girl. More like it was there one minute, and the next, it wasn’t. “Who do you think she was referring to?” Chris asks, now at my side, his hand finding mine. “Who knows. I just hope we can leave this place.” [[Continue->Chris8]]