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anndromida · 8 months

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Andrew x Aesop: high school au

Tw:Smut

Andrew and Aesop have been best friends since 8th grade, Aesop was the one that approached him, and they have been inseparable ever since. Aesop was considerate and nice. It was no surprised that the albino would fall head over hills for the other.

Andrew wishes they were more, though, wished they weren't just friends, wished that they could hold hands like the school couples in their class did. He wished he could be closer to him.

But, they were going so well he wouldn't want to destroy what they already have. He would just have to be satisfied with them being friends, at least until he can get over his feelings.

his train of thoughts were interupted when Aesop finally spoke. Aesop was quiet, and more of a listener, Andrew could talk to whatever to Aesop and he would always listen to him, so it was a surprise when he started the conversation instead.

They were at an abandoned classroom that the university didn't bother to use, they've been spending there past times there ever since they found out about it. They sat together at a desk that hasn't broken down yet.

"I heard a rumour" Aesop told him, Andrew wondered what that is about. The university has tons of students there, it would be impossible to keep it gossip free.

"I heard, that you have a crush on me" Aesop revealed getting closer to Andrew, who frozed at the sudden information, how could they have known-

"Is that true Andrew?" Aesop asked getting closer, so close that the albino could feel his breath, but Andrew pulled away, standing up and not facing the other.

"O-of course not!" Andrew stuttered laughing nervously he fiddles his hands in fear, he leans in the wall he couldn't even look at Aesop in the eye.

Aesop stood up, approaching Andrew "Really now?"

"O-of course, how could i have feelings for you we've been friends for years!" That hurted him more than needed, he stole a glance at Aesop's reaction, if he didn't know any better he would say that he was hurt.

"I need to go now" he would have left already, cry maybe but Aesop pins him in the wall. With both hands on his side Andrew couldn't escape now.

"Tell me the truth Andrew" the sudden command made Andrew jolt, was Aesop always this... hot? he always imagine Aesop to be so cute...

"I- i do... i do have feelings for you" Andrew gave up, he's done it... he's ruined there relationship. Aesop would hate him now, he's lost his best friend.

"I'm sorry, i wish i di-" Andrew was interupted by Aesop's sweet kiss, surprised at the sudden kiss he froze all of a sudden, but when he finally understood that this wasn't a dream he relaxed and kissed back.

When Aesop could tell that Andrew reciprocated, he made it less sweet and more passionated his tongue exploring Andrew's mouth.

"mmh" Andrew moaned into the kiss, as Aesop's leg came to rub on Andrew's cock. His cock leaking pre-cum, he's always imagine this in his dreams but this is so much better.

"ngg, Aesop!!" Andrew moaned as Aesop left his mouth to give sweet kisses to his neck.

"God, you're so beautiful Andrew" Aesop whispered to his ears, making Andrew melt. His skin becoming a flushed red.

Aesop unbuttoned Andrew's uniform, and Andrew accepts it, his torso exposed for Aesop to admire all to himself.

Andrew moaned when Aesop came to rub one of his nipple, the sudden jolt to his body sending him pleasure. Aesop's warm lips on his neck and hands on his chest, sending him to heaven.

"AHH- AHh" Andrew moaned, as Aesop continued his work, his leg still rubbing on the albino's crotch.

"You love it don't you, being touched there and i haven't even moved to the full course yet" Aesop teased him, Andrew being a blushing mess is starting to become a big hobby for Aesop.

Finally Andrew's obvious erection was released from his pants, Already hard and leaking, the cold air making Andrew hiss.

"A-ahh, Aesopp!" Andrew moaned as Aesop started jerking him off softly, his body already filled with pleasure.

It was getting to much at one point and Aesop could tell he was close. In a sudden Aesop stopped jerking Andrew off, the sudden lost of warmth making him cry.

"Wh-why'd you stop!?" Andrew cried out, "Aww, and I haven't even came yet" Aesop pouted as he continued his work in teasing Andrew.

"P-Plese let me come-" he cried, and Aesop thought about it for a while.

"Wouldn't it be fair if you do something too" Aesop merely wanted to rile Andrew's feathers make him pout perhaps he didn't expect Andrew to unzip his pants.Andrew's never done this before but he was willing to try for Aesop.

Aesop wasn't big but he wasn't small either, he made a few experimental lick to Aesop's tip. This made Aesop to groan silently, noting that Aesop enjoyss it Andrew continued with his actions until finally putting it inside his mouth, tasting the precum.

Andrew tried his best to fit all in, doing his best not to gag has be bob his head back and forth. Moaning at how good Andrew was Aesop couldn't help but tease his now-lover.

"You're-pant-so good-pant- at this you must be a professional" he whispered to Andrew who in return moaned causing pleasure to Aesop's cock.

Andrew could tell that Aesop's close, so he quicken his phase making Aesop groan and pull Andrew' hair, causing the albino to moan at the sudden pull.

White thick liquid came on Andrew's mouth, making him pant.

"Good boy" Aesop complimented him, making heat falling to his lower region.

"Please" Andrew cried, he was close already.

"Please what?" Aesop teased, he know what he wanted but it wouldn't be fun this way.

"Please, touch me" Andrew begged, already hard and desperate, and Aesop can't say no to Andrew's cute face

Andrew's leg clinged on Aesop as he's being filled up by his fingers. Hr goes slow, not trying to hurt Andrew after all, scissoring him open. Andrew moans at the slow phase, once Andrew finally got used to the feeling, Aesop continued to move.

"A-ahh" Andrew moaned as Aesop fasten his phase, letting in a third finger.

"You have such a beautiful voice Andrew it's so cute" Aesop said when he finished prepping, positioning himself to his lover " I would love to hear more from you"

"Mmm-mmgh" Andrew whimpered, as Aesop spowly start to enter him. Aesop's cock filling him up. Arms desperately clinging on to Aesop's shoulder. Crumpling his shirt.

"mm please go faster..." Andrew begged as he cried out, already feeling full.

Aesop obliged as he quicken his phase causing Andrew to moan, loud and desperate, he could feel that he's close.

"A-aes- mmmh i'm close!" Andrew cried out as he clawed on Andrew's back.

Aesop kissed Andrew passionately as he rut into Andrew like there's no tomorrow.

Finally Andrew came with a loud and shaky moan, he panted as he could feel his used hole, stretched out.

"I love you, Andrew" Aesop told him, planting kisses on his cheek. "Always had since eight grade"

"I love you too" Andrew replied, his heart pounding loudly, he never thought that he would ever say this to Aesop.

With one more kiss to the lips, Aesop started cleaning, letting Andrew rest. Soon after they left the room as if nothing happened.

Walking to class with there hands together, like those school couples in class do.

#identity v #idv #idv embalmer #aesdrew #idv grave keeper #andrew kriess #aesop carl #smut

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asimmutableasgravity · 4 years

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spiderman stenbrough snippet

hello i wanted to write smth and im not sure if i should make an actual fic so i hope y’all like this ! enjoy !

—

Bill was usually a very cautious guy.

He kind of had to, being Spider-Man and all.

Of course, he’s only human so he can make mistakes.

So, naturally, the mistake he makes is forgetting he has a stab wound.

He wore extra layers in school, excused himself from PE with a stomachache and generally prevented most situations where he had to shift a lot.

But that wasn’t enough.

Leave him to slip up in front of Stanley Uris.

“Bill, can you grab that book? Top shelf there, that human body book.” He called his place from his desk. Bill rolled his eyes, but made his way to the shelf.

“You know, th-there’s this fu-fun invention called legs, Stan.” Stanley swiveled in his chair. Bill stretched to reach the book.

“Yeah, but what’s the po- Bill, what the hell?” Bill scrunched his eyebrows in confusion and then looked down to his midsection. Ah fuck.

He immediately went down and stared back with wide eyes, blush spreading over his face. Before he can even force out a low key lie, Stan was already making his way to Bill, worry written all over his face. Bill stepped back and back until he hit the wall. Stan let out a sigh and placed a hand on Bill’s shoulder. He dropped down and raised the hem of Bill’s sweater and shirt and gasped. Bill looked to the ceiling, lips pursed, hoping and praying his best friend wouldn’t kick his ass for this.

“How did this happen, Bill?” Okay, okay, Bill was a writer in AP English, he could so lie about this. Just keep it believable. Deep breath. Hooo.

“I w-wuh-was at that conve-conv- fuck - that 7-11 near schools and I got m-mugged.”

Well, he was actually preventing someone from getting mugged but that’s close to the truth. Close enough.

“And they stabbed you?” Stan’s voice was raising and God, Bill hoped Stan’s dad couldn’t hear this right now. Come on, brain, think of something. “Did you call the police?”

“Uh, Spider-Man was there, he w-we-webbed the guy up and b-brought him to the p-precinct.” Stan moved his hand away from Bill’s clothes. “And he let you get stabbed?”

Okay, maybe not the best way to phrase this, this is getting further away from what he means oh god

“He wa-was late.” Stan raised his eyebrows further and come on, Bill save this. “Buh-but that’s not his f-fa-fault!” Bill raised his hands. Stan closed his eyes and moved to his closet.

“Look Bill, Spider-Man’s whole thing is he doesn’t want people to get hurt, and he couldn’t even stop people trying to mug you and I don’t fucking know, stab you?”

“At least I’m not mugged, Stan -“

Stan kept digging in the drawers. “Bill, that’s not the point, - hell, where is it? - the point was he let you get stabbed. Your valuables aren’t more important than you. If he’s letting innocent people get hurt and stabbed, how can you trust them against bigger threats? He can’t be late then, can he?”

Bill looked down.

Stan was right.

How could people trust him if he couldn’t save everyone?

He was a superhero.

He was supposed to be super and a hero and save everyone. He shouldn’t be slow, he shouldn’t fuck up.

He couldn’t let anyone get hurt.

Bill’s berating of himself probably was too obvious, because Stan stood up and faced him. “Everything okay there?”

“Y-yuh-yeah,” Bill tried to smile. He side-stepped from Stan and went to get his stuff.

“I h-have to go, mom wants me home early.” Bill lied. Stan stared at him quizzically. “I’ll call you l-la-later, bye.” Bill went out of the room and ran down the stairs. Before he left, he paused in front of the door. “Bye Stanley!” He called.

Stan ran to the top of the stairs. “Bye, Bill.”

Bill gave him a small smile and practically ran out of the house.

Bill never called that night.

—

When Bill fell asleep for the sixth time in first period, Richie sitting behind him poked him awake. “Dude, what’s up? Usually, you’re like the only one taking notes in this class.” He turned around and stared at Richie’s concerned face.

“S-suh-sorry, j-ju-just tired.” He made quick eye contact with Mike a few tables to his left, but Richie didn’t notice it. Instead, he looked at him suspiciously and stroked his chin. “Sherlock Holmes will get down to the bottom of this, Denbrough.”

Bill let out a short laugh, turning back to the front of the class. As Bill picked up his pen and lazily copied what was being written on the board, he went through what happened last night and started scheming on how to make it completely normal.

As soon as he very suspiciously ran from Stan’s house, Stan’s words kept repeating in his head, spiraling and spiraling until his mind showed him images of Stan’s disgust if he found out Bill was Spider-Man. He could see the betrayal in his brown eyes, the hurt in his eyes as he expressed how rude it was that you didn’t tell me, Bill, why don’t you trust me?

Once he thought back on that, he realised that it was probably exaggerated by his anxiety and worry but at that time, it spurred Bill on to start patrol earlier. He went around Derry stopping crimes and muggings and robberies and assaults, all through the night.

Except for of course, for the really weird thing that happened at the end of the night.

Nearing one in the morning, Bill running low on energy but swinging his way to the end of town, where he could hang out at Mike’s farm, fix his suit and improve it, get healed before sneaking back home.

But then something happened. He passed by the business district, so close to the farm when he heard something.

“Bill!”

He stopped, halting on the rooftop of the building beside Gray Industries. He leaned his head out, trying to hear out who was speaking and then -

“Billie!”

His breath caught in his throat.

Georgie.

It’s been five months since he’s heard that voice.

He immediately dropped down to the floor, looking out, hoping he wouldn’t start to break down. “Hello?”

“Bill, I’m stuck!” The tears and desperation were starting to leak into Georgie’s voice. Bill picked up his pace looking around for anywhere a small child could be stuck in.

That was when a yellow plastic coat caught his eye in a storm drain.

“Georgie.” The name left his mouth, quietly and so full of emotion. He ran to it peering his face into the dark, stank drain. He couldn’t see anything until -

“Hello, Spidey!” A white face poked in the drain and Bill jerked back into the road. He sat there, wondering what in the ever loving fuck was that when a car starts honking at him, its bright lights flashing. Bill moved quickly, shooting web-fluid up to get away from here.

When he got to Mike’s, he drank some water, took a breather -

If he’s letting innocent people get hurt, how can you trust him against bigger threats?

And then left a note and went back outside, grabbing a granola bar.

He got back at five, near three hours before he had to get ready for school.

The bell rang, jolting Bill back to attention, his pen being gripped tighter.

“Thank you class, and Mister Denbrough, maybe next time try to stay awake and pay attention.” The class that was pouring out of the class laughed lightly and Bill started to rush packing his things.

—

hope y’all like that haha have a nice day !

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ameryth74 · 5 years

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Louis **** Title Generator Tool

** **** it

LOL.... go!

Two letter words:

There are 107 acceptable 2-letter words listed in the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary, 6th Edition and the Official Tournament and Club Word List:

AA, AB, AD, AE, AG, AH, AI, AL, AM, AN, AR, AS, AT, AW, AX, AY, BA, BE, BI, BO, BY, DA, DE, DO, ED, EF, EH, EL, EM, EN, ER, ES, ET, EW, EX, FA, FE, GI, GO, HA, HE, HI, HO, ID, IF, IN, IS, IT, JO, JU, JY, JZ, KA, KI, KO, LA, LI, LO, MA, ME, MI, MM, MO, MU, MY, NA, NE, NO, NU, OD, OE, OF, OH, OI, OK, OM, ON, OP, OR, OS, OW, OX, PA, PE, PI, PO, QI, RE, SH, SI, SO, TA, TE, TI, TO, UH, UM, UN, UP, US, UT, WE, WO, XI, XU, YA, YE, YO, ZA

Two letter contractions: I’m, I’d

Four letter verbs:

abet, abut, abye/aby, ache, alit, ally, ante, arch, aver, avow (10).

baby, bach, back, bade, baff, bail, bait, bake, bald, bale, balk, ball, band, bang, bank, bant, barb, bard, bare, barf, bark, base, bash, bask, bate, bath, bauk, bawl, bead, beam, bean, bear, beat, beck, bede, beef, been, beep, bell, belt, bend, bent, bere, best, bias, bide(archaic usage), biff, bike, bilk, bill, bind, bird, birl, birr, bite, bitt, blab, blat, blaw, bled, blet, blew, blip, blob, blot, blow, blub, blue, blur, boak, boat, bode, body, boff(vulgar usage), boil, boke, bomb, bond, bone, bong, bonk, boob, book, boom, boot, bore, born, boss, boun, bowl, brad, brag, bray, bred, brew, brim, buck, buff, bulk, bull, bump, bung, bunk, bunt, buoy, burl, burn, burp, burr, bury, bush, busk, buss, bust, busy, butt, buzz (117).

ca-ca, cage, cake, calk, call, calm, came, camp, cane, cant, card, care, carp, cart, case, cash, cast, cave, cede, cere, chap, char, chat, chaw, chid, chin, chip, chop, chow, chug, chum, cite, clad, clam, clap, claw, clay, clew, clip, clog, clop, clot, cloy, club, clue, coal, coat, coax, cock, code, coif, coil, coin, coke, comb, come, comp, cone, conk, conn, cook, cool, coop, cope, copy, cord, core, cork, corn, cosh, cost, coup, cove, cowl, crab, cram, crap, crew, crib, crop, crow, cube, cuff, cull, curb, curd, cure, curl, curr, cuss (90).

dado, daff, damn, damp, dang, dare, dark, darn, dart, dash, date, daub, dawn, daze, deal, deck, deed, deem, defy, deke, dele, demo, dent, deny, dial, dice, died, diet, dike, dine, ding, ding, dint, dirk, disc, dish, disk, diss, dive, dock, doff, dole, dome, done, doom, dope, dose, doss, dote, dove, down, doze, drab, drag, draw, dray, dree, drew, drip, drop, drub, drug, drum, duck, duel, duet, dull, dumb, dump, dung, dunk, dupe, dusk, dust, dyke (75).

earn, ease, echo, eddy, edge, edit, emit, envy, espy, etch, even, exit (12).

face, fade, fail, fake, fall, fame, fard, fare, farm, fart, fash, fast, fate, fawn, faze, fear, feed, feel, fell, felt, fend, fess, fete, feud, file, fill, film, find, fine, fink, fire, firm, fish, fist, fizz, flag, flap, flat, flaw, flay, fled, flee, flew, flex, flip, flit, flog, flop, flow, flub, flux, foal, foam, foil, foin, fold, fond, fool, foot, ford, fork, form, foul, fowl, frag, frap, fray, free, fret, frig, frit, fuel, full, fume, fund, funk, furl, fuse, fuss, futz, fuze, fuzz (82).

gaff, gage, gain, gait, gall, game, gang, gaol, gape, garb, gash, gasp, gast(obsolete), gate, gaum(US), gave, gawk, gawp, gaze, gear, geld, gibe, gift, gild, gill, gimp, gird, girt, give, glad(archaic), glom, glow, glue, glug, glut, gnar, gnaw, go by, go on, goad, golf, gone, gong, goof, gore, gown, grab, gray, grew, grey, grid, grin, grip, grit, grow, grub, gulf, gull, gulp, gush, gust, gybe, gyre, gyve (64).

hack, haft, hail, hale, halo, halt, hand, hang, hare, hark, harm, harp, hash, hasp, hast, hate, hath(archaic), haul, have, hawk, haze, head, heal, heap, hear, heat, heed, heel, heft, held, helm, help, hent(obsolete), herd, hewn, hide, hike, hill, hint, hire, hiss, hive, hoax, hock, hoke(slang), hold, hole, home, hone, honk, hood, hoof, hook, hoop, hoot, hope, horn, hose, host, hove, howl, huff, hulk, hull, hump, hung, hunt, hurl, hurt, hush, husk, hymn, hype, hypo (74).

idle, inch, iris, iron, isle, itch (6).

jack, jade, jail, jape, jazz, jeep, jeer, jell, jerk, jest, jibe, jilt, jink, jinx, jive, join, joke, jolt, josh, juke, jump, junk (22).

kayo, keek(Scots), keel, keen, keep, kept, kern, kick, kill, kiln, kilt, kink, kiss, kite, knap, knew, knit, knot, know (19).

lace, lack, laid, lain, lair, lake, lamb, lame, land, lard, lark, lase, lash, last, lath, laud, lave, laze, lazy, lead, leaf, leak, lean, leap, lech, leer, left, lend, lens, lent, levy, lick, lift, like, lilt, limb, lime, limn, limp, line, link, lisp, list, live, load, loaf, loan, lock, loft, loll, long, look, loom, loop, loot, lope, lord, lose, lost, loup(Scots), lour, lout, love, lube, luck, luff, luge, lull, lump, lure, lurk, lust, lute, lyse (74).

mace, made, mail, maim, make, mall, malt, mark, marl, mart, mash, mask, mass, mast, mate, maul, maze, mean, meet, meld, mell, melt, mend, meow, mesh, mess, mete, mewl, miff, milk, mill, mime, mind, mine, mint, mire, miss, mist, moan, moat, mock, moil, mold, molt, moon, moor, moot, mope, moss, move, muck, muff, mull, mump, muse, mush, muss, must, mute (59).

nail, name, near, neck, need, nest, nick, nigh, nill(obsolete), nock, nose, nosh, note, nuke, null, numb (16).

obey, ogle, oink, okay, omen, omit, ooze, open, oust, over (10).

pace, pack, page, pain, pair, pale, pall, palm, pang, pant, pare, park, part, pash(Austral), pass, pave, pawn, peak, peal, peck, peek, peel, peen, peep, peer, pelt, pend, perk, perm, pick, pike, pile, pill, pimp, pine, ping, pink, pipe, piss(vulgar), pith, pity, plan, plat, play, plod, plop, plot, plow, plug, pock, poke, pole, poll, pond, pool, pore, port, pose, post, pour, pout, pray, pree, prep, prey, prim, prod, prog, prop, puff, puke, pule, pull, pulp, pump, punt, purl, purr, push, putt (80).

quad, quip, quit, quiz (4).

race, rack, raft, rage, raid, rail, rain, rake, ramp, rang, rank, rant, rape, rase, rasp, rate, rave, raze, razz, read, ream, reap, rear, reck, redd(dialect), rede(archaic), redo, reed, reef, reek, reel, rein, rely, rend, rent, rest, re-up, rice, rick, ride, riff, rift, rile, rill, rime(archaic)/rhyme, ring, riot, rise, risk, rive, roam, roar, robe, rock, rode, roil, rolf, roll, romp, roof, rook, room, root, rope, rose, rout, rove, ruck, ruff, ruin, rule, rush, rust (73).

sack, said, sail, sale, salt, sand, sass, sate, save, sawn, scab, scam, scan, scar, scat, scud, scum, seal, seam, sear, seat, seed, seek, seel, seem, seen, seep, sell, send, sent, sewn, shag, sham, shed, shim, shin, ship, shit, shoe, shog, shoo, shop, shot, show, shun, shut, sick, side, sift, sigh, sign, silk, silt, sing, sink, sire, site, size, skew, skid, skim, skin, skip, slab, slag, slam, slap, slat, slay, sled, slew, slid, slim, slip, slit, slog, slop, slot, slow, slub, slue, slug, slum, slur, smut, snag, snap, snip, snow, snub, snug, soak, soap, soar, sock, soil, sold, sole, solo, soot, sorb, sort, soup, sour, sown, spae(scottish), spam, span, spar, spat, spay, spec, sped, spew, spin, spit, spot, spud, spur, spurn, stab, stag, star, stay, stem, step, stet, stew, stir, stop, stow, stub, stud, stun, suck, suds, suit, sulk, sung, sunk, surf, swab, swag, swam, swan(brit), swap, swat, sway, swig, swim, swob, swop(brit)/swap, swot, swum, sync (155).

tabu, tack, tail, take, talc, talk, tame, tamp, tang, tank, tape, tare, task, taut, taxi, team, tear, teem, tell, tend, tent, term, test, text, thaw, thin, thud, tick, tide, tidy, tier, tiff, tile, till, tilt, time, tine, ting, tint, tire, toil, toke, told, tole, toll, tomb, tone, tong, took, tool, toot, tope, tore, torn, toss, tote, tour, tout, tram, trap, tree, trek, trim, trip, trod, trot, trow(archaic), true, tube, tuck, tuft, tune, turf, turn, tusk, twig(Brit), twin, twit, type (79).

undo, urge (2).

vade, vail(archaic), vamp, vary, veal, veer, veil, vein, vend, vent, vest, veto, vide, view, vine, visa, vise, void, vote (19).

wade, waft, wage, wail, wait, wake, wale, walk, wall, wane, want, ward, ware(archaic), warm, warn, warp, wash, waul, wave, wawl, wean, wear, weed, ween, weep, weet, weld, well, welt, wend, went, wept, were, wert(archaic), wham, whap, whet, whid(Scottish), whip, whir, whiz, whop, wick, wile, will, wilt, wind, wine, wing, wink, wipe, wire, wise, wish, wisp, wist, wite, wive, woke, wolf, wont, wood, woof, word, wore, work, worm, worn, wove, wrap, writ(archaic) (71).

x-ray (1).

yack, yank, yard, yarn, yaup, yawn, yawp, yean, yell, yelp, yerk, yeuk, yock, yoke, yowl, yo-yo(informal), yuck (17).

zero, zest, zinc, zing, zone, zonk, zoom (7).

IT IT IT IT IT IT IT IT IT IT IT IT IT IT IT IT IT IT IT IT IT IT IT IT IT IT IT IT

(yes there are 28 ITs)

#louis tomlinson #song title #** **** it #lt1 #lol 😂#*** **

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bluepenguinstories · 5 years

Text

Happiness Overload Chapter Twenty-Six

The big day.

Execution.

Judgment day.

Maybe the world would still turn.

Maybe the world outside was a world full of peace and prosperity.

It was hard to say.

Hard to tell if I ever lived on the surface or if my whole life was inside of a box, thinking I knew everything when in fact, I knew very little. Always so assured, I was, that I was on top of it, in control. That I worked my whole damn life to be greater than and not a less than or equal to.

Well some situations are just like that, aren't they? They don't care how hard you worked, who you surpassed, what you accomplished.

The doors opened and I shot a glance at the one I would be dying beside. My bitter rival, who before yesterday didn't even know of my existence. She looked my way as well and smiled.

“Sleep well?” She asked.

In spite of our peril, she didn't seem the least bit bothered.

“Really? You're really going to ask that when we're about to be killed?”

She shrugged, a smile cracking, lips cracked. I wasn't sure who she was fooling, but she was playing the fool all the same.

“I like to look on the bright side of life.”

Our hands, once again, restrained by an emanent force, something that for all my knowledge of the advanced technology and weaponry of the area, I was still at a loss for. All I knew was that I shouldn't have been in this position. It was neither right, fair, nor reasonable. I tried exhausting my options the night before, to no avail. So my enemy and I, side by side, awaiting our deaths.

Grand.

Behind us appeared the silhouette, the silk hologram of one who went by 'Dr. Chekhov'.

“Greetings Mavis Beacon and Velvet. I do hope you two slept well.”

“Really? You too?” I turned my head, teeth bared for the good doctor to see. “I don't need the concern!”

“Ah, but a good night's rest was the least we could do considering your fate.”

The floor beneath our feet moved, us two on a conveyor belt. We were inching closer to a dark space at the end of a corridor.

“You could have thrown in a last meal, too,” Velvet pointed out.

Really? That's what you're going to point out. Believe it or not, I'm NOT looking forward to this. I can do you one better.

“The only reason you gave us a 'good night's rest' was because the systems were down,” I pointed out.

“Ah, yes. Well, devil's in the details, as they say.”

Velvet wagged her finger. “See? That's what I'm saying! If I die, I die.”

Aren't you full of life?

We continued to move.

“I would like to point out the method of your deaths will be --”

“ZIP IT!” Velvet barked. “Don't want to hear it. Not interested. Just as you said, devil's in the details. Hearing any more and it would be a sin.”

Not interested in how you'll die? Well, can't say I blame you, but if I knew, maybe I could have stopped it. Found a work around. I guess you just feel an immense sense of guilt over something and want to go out without a fight.

“Very well. All I was going to say was that your deaths will be painless.”

Velvet nudged me. Even with her hands restrained, her shoulders were still free to do as they pleased.

“Did ya hear that? It'll be painless because we'll be dead.” She gave a little chuckle, as if it was some kind of joke.

I grunted and shoved her back.

“Don't nudge me, asshole!”

She shoved back, harder, enough to make me teeter off the edge. I kept my balance, though I was unsure why. We were closer to the room wreathed in shadow. My heartbeat was fighting against me, yearning to escape.

There was an edge?

I looked to my side. It looked like there were impenetrable walls around us and we were just sliding through a tunnel.

“Stop that, you two!” Dr. Chekhov scolded as if he were our parent. Velvet grinned, or maybe it was more of a look of mischief, playfulness, flirting with the idea of something dangerous.

I wasn't quite sure, but I knew one thing – I was pissed.

I shoved her right back, and she bared her fangs, inviting whatever may come.

“Say no more; say no more!” She let out a jovial cheer and hit me with more force than I thought she could have mustered. Enough of a force, in fact, that I fell right through – right through the wall to my left. Such an impenetrable wall was nothing more than tapestry, plastered in such a manner to give off such a brilliant illusion.

Before my descent, I thought I could see the faint sight of blades from behind the shadowed room.

Of course; why kill us when they could recycle us?

It didn't look like Velvet was going to have any part of that either, as she took her plunge down as well. In a way, I was glad; I would have rather seen her gone for good than know another version of her would exist in her place.

Against my back were wires upon wires. Jolts across my skin, frying and loose cables scraping my sides. Cuts against my body, little tears along my clothing. Reminders of the burn on my ankle. Unsure of how far down the bottom went and if I would survive the fall, I grabbed onto a cable and slid myself down the wall, enduring the shock. I realized that my hands were no longer bound by the energy cuffing me. It must have had a range which faded once it was far enough away from the doctor.

My feet as well, burning from the friction against the wall. Oh, if this was boot camp I should have gotten the medal of honor. Once I made my way to the bottom, I let out a sigh of relief.

She left me to die. Somehow she knew there was a place further down than where we were and she pushed me to my death.

I ground my teeth.

She jumped, too. She may not have survived the fall, herself. Maybe that's the idea. She knew how we would die and she would have rather chosen a different method.

As if Dr. Chekhov or any of the other personnel cared as long as we ceased to be. They would find our bodies and erase any trace of them, or use any of our remaining DNA to create new versions of us.

That frustrated me as well.

Any of the possibilities were frustrating.

Velvet, you better be alive so I can come over and kick your ass.

Engulfing darkness made up my surroundings, not unlike the structure of the surface.

Think, Mavis. This place is like a maze. You already know the map of the base on the surface. Just imagine something similar.

With my hand against the wall, I made my staggered trek through.

Just a few paces further and piercing through my hand came a thin blade with the equal measure silence and speed of a stealth jet.

Tears began to well up in my eyes and I couldn't help myself but let out a yelp. Blood dripped down and I knew that if I were to move further, I'd have to pry it out. I bit my lips and with my other hand, pulled the one that was stuck out from the trappings of the blade.

I could feel my hand, now with a hole in the middle, pulsating. Blood continued to drip out and leak on the floor. I watched the single blade poking out from the wall, mocking me, letting me know it got the best of me.

There may be more to come. Maybe I never left my execution. Maybe many more blades will appear and I will be hacked to bits. Maybe this whole area is one large ETNAvator.

Blood continued to drip from the hole in my palm. I tried covering the wound with my other hand, though the blood continued to leak out and onto the floor. Groans and moans escaped from my lips as my breath was heavy, and at once, I let out another yelp.

Just as I did so, the tight corridors and hallways lit up and the rushing of boots stomping across the floors could be heard. I knew it wouldn't be long. They were sending soldiers after me. Folks I may have once been familiar with, or folks I never knew but who I shared allegiance with.

I kept my hand covered and did what I could to run, turn the corner, and take cover behind a wall. I bit my lip, though I also wish my bloodied hand would just dry up already so I could use my good hand to cover my mouth.

Or, what I wouldn't give to have a third arm. Or many arms. Maybe I could find a little lab somewhere in these halls where I could build a robotic arm. Many robotic arms, in fact. I could be like Doctor Octopus, only sexier and more flair.

Sad to say, there was no door to a lab nearby, and all I had was a corner that I was pinned to. While those brutish soldiers in their heavy armor may have been dumb, I had doubts that my luck would allow me to slip past them.

...But my luck did allow me a monitor with a built-in computer in the wall.

I couldn't help but grin, all in spite of the wincing from the pain.

“Now we're in business.”

There wasn't quite like being in control of a situation, and once I saw some loose wires, I did a bit of digging with the mainframe and launched a virtual keyboard on the screen.

As I crunched in some commands here and there, did my best to see what was available to me, I could hear the running of the soldiers getting closer. I knew my time was thin.

With a hit of an enter key, turrets popped out of the ground and with another string of commands, I set them to fire at the oncoming soldiers. I couldn't help but let out a maniacal laugh.

“Nothing personal! Y'all would've done the same!” I gloated, quivering with laughter, but felt the sharp pain reach me and had to stop myself. “Ow.”

I watched, my laughter dissipating and turning to mush. My face was a grim reminder of what kind of technology our military had invented; as the hundreds of rounds of bullets threw themselves at the soldiers, I watched the artillery fall to the floor, bouncing off of the armor and the soldiers giving little reaction.

Was my intelligence really so useless? I thought of running, but then realized I would be caught in the line of fire. Still, I had to get past those soldiers somehow.

Once again, I typed away at the computer, scrambling to find a winning combination.

“What do you mean 'access denied'?!”

I froze. So too, the computer. It folded over and faded into the walls.

“No! No! No! Come back!” I slammed my elbow against the wall only for fizzled feelings in the funny bone.

No good. No good at all. Soldiers would be closing in any minute. Some of them possibly former comrades. Shouldn't I have known if that was the case? I watched over all of them, I was the eyes and ears. Yet in the situation I found myself in, I knew not of this underground location. No prior signals. No map in my head. No access to the systems down here.

Behind me, over my shoulder, a vent.

Although I knew better, knew for a fact that many traps may await, I knew no other option. I wasn't athletic, nor had the finesse of Velvet. I couldn't have slid underneath them amongst the commotion.

I never needed to be. I had control. I knew what I was dealing with. Here, I don't.

Split-second, massive bodies with their massive advanced armor and heavy artillery. Split-second was all it took to act; undid the grating and closed up the cover, then crawled upward. My body slunk, a worm or a caterpillar upon the intestinal shaft of a ventilation shaft. Cover fell, the sound of metal spinning and falling onto the floor was heard.

Why?

None of this was my fault. I was secure. Those invaders. I would have still been in control, yet due to an outside, unknown force, all of this is coming down.

Something I should have known about. I should have known about it all but I didn't and now I'm here and why?

I continued to crawl through, my hand still throbbed. Hole where my palm should have been. I couldn't have held it anymore, however. Enclosed within the tight and cold metal space.

Did I ever think of myself as claustrophobic before?

All I could do was crawl. All the pain had to be endured, arms ahead of me. While moving forward, I thought of all the things I still knew: I knew that miles ahead was another base and if I could make it up to the surface alive and outside, I would be free. I knew that I was in a dire situation. I knew that Sgt. Michaels, Pvt. Goodwill, and others had all been replaced and memories altered, exaggerated, time and time again. I thought of myself as too aware to be one of them. I knew that the ETNA Corporation funded the military and the ETNA Corporation was a front for an even higher organization. I knew how to code, I knew how to type. I knew my hair was b...

Bruised?

Accept me, a voice whispered from within.

Leg hit, thud against the side of the vent wall. Shot forward, behind me. Thorn? Sharp blades? Either way, pain. Intense, unbearable, pain.

I wanted to cover my mouth, I wanted to bite my lip, but it still escaped me: a thunderous, piercing scream. Just as the claw (?) pierced me.

This should not have happened. None of this should have happened. I did not deserve any of this. This is all Velvet's fault. If she hadn't appeared, I would have been aware of those amphibious abominations. I should have been prepared for multiple fronts.

My eyes welled up. My leg refused to budge. I wriggled, feeling more and more like a bug.

My screams. The soldiers below must have heard me.

No.

Bent, pain rushed, feeling the fluids flow from the punctured leg, I managed to reach the source and raise my leg up.

This is a bad idea. You are smarter than this. If you leave the wound open, you may die of blood loss.

It was past the point of clarity.

As I pried my leg, the voice I heard once grew more intense.

Embrace me. Allow me inside.

I shook off the thoughts, whatever such things may have been.

After managing to break my leg free, I felt the source: a thick blade, shaped like a fang.

Inside of you, the voice continued to croon against my ear. No, in my head. Somewhere. It was so familiar.

I took the base of the blade in my palm, the single functioning one, and gripped it tight, pulling until a chunk of it tore off. My leg, torn up, off to the side, dripping and flowing blood. So wet.

So wet.

Heavy, weighted breath.

With blade in tow, I slammed it against the walls of the vent and tore through it, using the metallic wall as a cover as I fell through and onto the floor, landing on top of a soldier. I was far from the turret, though I could still see it, having run empty of ammo and now standing there like a patient dog.

While true I could feel the surging pain, I took it and transferred it over to the soldier I landed on top of; with a scream, I plunged the blade into the soldier's helmet, slamming it down over and over, crushing the skull.

There were two others who stood, drawing forth their weapons. I glared at them and screamed once more a shrill scream, enough to alarm a full horde of guards. They could all come over and if so, they could and would all understand.

“YOU ARE NOT IN CONTROL HERE! I AM IN CONTROL!” I belted out, my voice in such a shriek that I could feel my jawline bleeding. Deep down, I knew my vocal cords were in as much pain as I.

Before either could fire, I lunged at one soldier with the blade, thorn, whatever it was that I held, firm in my grasp, and drove it into the skin of the gun they carried. I took a leap back and watched as the weapon exploded, just as the two soldiers had. Human parts as well as armor parts scattered onto the floor. Gratuitous celebration of my feat went underway. All I could do was laugh until I sobbed.

Then I collapsed.

Beside me was the helmet of one of the guards. I could see my face reflected in it. I was in tatters, yet I was still intact. My lips, cracked, could still form a smile. My hair...red?

No. It's blue. I know this because I dyed it myself. It used to be...auburn? Cerulean? Cherry? Turquoise? Vio...

Why couldn't I remember this basic detail?

Brown. Simple brown. Flea. Recluse. Ticks. Itch.

My hair.

I grabbed a strand. Red.

But how?

It felt wet, but I couldn't tell why. The answer was close and yet it must have been elsewhere. If I could pick myself up, maybe I would know myself just a little more again.

I could pick myself up by my feet, though I still limped. Couldn't trust the walls. Couldn't trust the floors. Temporary weapon, no more.

No sounds of footsteps. Time kept escaping me. I tried to count each second to tell how fast or slow I was going but kept losing count, my thoughts having pervaded me. My vision, fading. My leg, soaked with my own blood.

Turned through hall.

Hall met me.

I met hall.

Continuous, labored breaths. Moans every two steps.

Velvet, the truth is, I envied you. Was that the truth? Was I just saying that so I could survive the ordeal I was in? Each step, pain endured, thoughts continued to cut.

I'm you, but better. No, I'm me. I'm me, not you. You're you, but worse. I'm the you that you should have been. But I'm the me that I am because I am the best me.

I shook my head. I should have been. I was supposed to be.

“You will die of blood loss if your wounds are left untreated,” the familiar husky and sultry voice of a hollow program echoed beside me. I turned around to see who I knew I would see.

“Etna,” I groaned. “What are you doing here?”

Her tall, slender figure floated off the floor. She smiled and pushed her glasses up before addressing me further.

“I exist here, as I do most places capable of holding me,” her eyes scanned my across my frame, from top to bottom, bottom to top, then her smile grew wider. “My, you're wet.”

“Blood.”

“Such a delicious scent,” she crooned.

Disgusting.

“What do you want? Were you sent here to make sure I die?”

She smiled once more, slid off her glasses and put them in her labcoat pocket. I watched her form shift from that of a scientist and one in a mink fur coat. At once, many blades, poles with metal tips, and saw blades shot through the walls and went through her. She continued to smile the whole time. No pain at all. Of course, a hologram.

I jumped all the same, fell on my bum and crawled back before mustering up the courage to face her once more.

“Is that what you're going to do to me?”

The weapons disappeared, having retracted back into the walls.

“Is that what this all is?” I repeated. “You're going to slice me up like one of your elevators?”

She shook her head, her smile never faltered. It was a slight one, an image of kindness on her face and not the playful maliciousness that I as well as the rest of the government that worked with her knew her to be.

“Let me guess: Dr. Chekhov sent you to finish the job because he just couldn't do it?”

“No, I move on my own accord.”

“But he created you, no?”

“In one memory, another two scientists known as Dr. Laharl and Dr. Vyers created me.”

“So which is it?”

“It matters not how I came into being. The fact of the matter is that I exist.”

Shivers reverberated my entire being.

“Just tell me if you're going to kill me.”

“While true that your continued existence would be seen as problematic,” she shook her head once more, smiling, stroking her hair as if it were her ego. “In reality, whether or not you make it out alive is of little consequence.”

“Bullshit!” I protested. “You need me dead to replace me!”

She projected an image before me. Video feed of me, sitting at my desk, in my little room. Was this of the past?

No. Sgt. Michaels and Pvt. Goodwill were in their usual positions, but there was one I hadn't seen before.

“GOOD MORNING, MAVIS! SO HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU!” Yelled the voice of an enthusiastic stranger, posing as someone who belonged there.

I could hear myself responding to this stranger, telling of a headache I had.

“This is live,” she informed me.

“How? No! I'm here! I'm alive!”

“And? Has that ever made a difference?”

She floated closer to me, leaned down and placed her palm on my cheek. I knew she wasn't there, physically, yet I could feel her. It was a warm, tingling sensation. Pleasurable. Wrong.

“You are already there. Diligent in your duty. Playing the role you were meant to play.”

“So if I were to die...”

“You would still exist. So no need to worry.”

She could try to reassure me, soothe me, but it still felt wrong.

“Who was that other person? Who were they before?”

She looked away, as if a blush had spread across her face and she was trying to avoid embarrassment.

“I think I had a certain bond with that person once...”

Blegh. I coughed to show my disgust. Blood spilled out amongst saliva. That didn't look very good. My mouth grew sour.

Something didn't add up. I didn't know what, but if she was here...

“I never went to get those check-ups! There shouldn't be a new me!”

“We have backups. Do you know how many times you have existed? Are you aware of your memories?”

What were those? Memories? Facts? They should have been facts. Knowledge. I should know myself, damn it!

The images on the screen changed to that of someone from below emerging to talk to that unknown soldier. Emergent figure addressed themselves as 'Major Spoilers'.

“As you can see, we're dealing with our own set of problems right now,” Etna explained. The image shifted to one of a city where absolute chaos had erupted. Citizens screaming with glee. One making a declaration that running red lights made them happy as they crashed their car into another. In the vehicle, the other made such bold claims that traffic collisions was a lifelong goal.

“An intruder found a flaw of sorts in our system. We were doing such a marvelous job quelling the masses, yet all it took was one human, having overdosed on trips to our ETNAvators and falling into trauma for it all to spread like a virus.”

“Are you afraid this will happen to me?” I found myself asking. As much as I didn't want it to happen, the words were there. Deep down I knew that I knew nothing. I knew less than those didn't know what I knew. Whoever I was before and whoever I am now, I may have never known.

She stood up, took a step back and allowed a blade to draw forth from the wall and touch the tip of her finger, having raised her hand into the air. There was a dot on the index finger. Red sliver, a droplet.

“Blood,” I heard myself remark.

She took her finger and placed it in her mouth, her tongue visible for me to see, as if a sort of taunt. Frozen, I watched her lick her finger, then, she lowered her hand.

“It would be disastrous, however,” her smile grew to a devilish grin. “Aren't you curious?”

I picked myself up, as hard as it had been, I knew I had to stand in defiance. For whoever I was, or whoever I had been.

“I have already gotten through your death traps! I've escaped the destruction of the base, I will live in spite of whatever you throw at me!”

“Ah, yes. You sought help through that hacker, Velvet. The better half.”

“Screw you!”

“She helped you survive. You should be grateful. Then again, she also left you to die.”

“She also left herself to die! Do you really think she survived that?”

“My knowledge has a wide reach. How do you know she didn't know this area? She could be running around right now, already on her way out. As you know, she broke in and out once. Who's to say she couldn't do it again?”

“So why push me?”

“You were dead weight to her. You know that already. If you had the chance, you would have killed her, just as she you. Or is she you? Are you her?”

“Circumstances. Things change.”

“Yes, some things do. But some remain the same. How do you think she knew such an area so well? Such secrets, so well kept? You're better than you know. You know how difficult it would be to learn an area that is ever changing. Unless...you've lived it.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean nothing. But isn't it a curious thing that she would return here? You agree, don't you? She shouldn't have done that. But something must have been calling her. Something in her memories? Whether she makes it out or not, she shall be the same as you; destined to return, time and time again.”

“But I am me! She is an incompetent --”

“You are who we need you to be.”

I tried lunging at her despite having no weapons. I tried raising my fists, but I just fell through her.

“What will you do when you see her?” She asked, nary a reaction.

“I don't know, but I'll make it out!”

“Then what? You're still bleeding yourself dry. The nearest hospital is over a hundred miles away. I could assist you if you were to experience a certain sense of ecstasy.”

“Screw you! I won't become a slave to you on your life support!”

“As if you weren't a slave before? Of course, you already knew what position you were in. All that mattered was that you had a sense of purpose. I can give that to you once again.”

“I already have one! It's to defy you!”

Her smile never wavered.

“Don't let me down,” her breathy voice filled the air before she disappeared.

I pressed forward.

Spiraled through halls, winded though my breath was, the winding halls did little to slow me down. No danger in sight. At one point, through many moments, minutes, seconds, time fading and passing by, there was but one door. Unlocked, I turned my hand and stepped inside. No one called me there. Just a relief that there would be a change of scenery.

Inside, darkness, though the image of lab equipment strewn. Bulky microscopes and sinks. Tables and cupboards.

Labored steps, I lingered, limping all the while. There was a lone screw on one of the counters. I grabbed it, just in case a lone soldier lie ready to assassinate me.

Useful supplies. There must be something here for me. I could create a gadget or use something for self-defense.

My mind and body wandered across the room until the shifting sound of movement invaded my eardrums. I looked below. Knees, beneath a table.

“P'sst, did'ja bring the munchies?” Hushed whisper, cupped hand, a gremlin in red.

“What?!”

“I said: did you, or did you not, bring some munchies?”

Well, at least one person didn't have to die. I hoped not, anyway.

I didn’t know.

Look, she was probably fine. She knew the area better than I did. I was sure she was more than capable. So, with a shrug, I took my bow and leaped down.

To say everything was a smooth landing would have been like saying this whole trip had been a smooth one. I've not had a single smooth day in the last three days so let's just skip any idea of “smooth” and imagine all the scrapes and bruises that went along with it.

Once at the bottom, I heard the voice, loud and clear.

“GOD DAMN IT, VELVET! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?”

Good question. I've asked myself that on a daily basis.

I dusted off all the pain I had. There was still one pain I had to address...

“Taking matters into my own hand!” I called back. Dr. Chekhov growled at the other end.

“YOU GOT A DEATH WISH? I WAS TRYING TO MAKE THIS AS PAINLESS AS POSSIBLE FOR YOU TWO, BUT NOW YOU WON'T MAKE THIS OUT UNSCATHED!”

God damn, who spiked his oatmeal? Fucker sure was loud this morning.

“FINE BY ME!” I shouted back.

I looked around and tapped my foot.

“Speaking of oatmeal...”

Sure, Dr. Chekhov could have been the great and powerful Oz, but just like some imaginary wizard, his voice had to come from somewhere, and considering it was especially loud, I had a strange feeling I was close.

Everything was going to shit. I was so ready to have a nice conversation with Dr. Tolstoy, but now I can't even concentrate on anyone but me and the shit Velvet stirred. Such a nasty pot. All I was going to do was fire a laser, environmentally-friendly at that, too, mind you. But no. That can't happen? Why? Because those two got away.

To my side was a cup of tea. Though the bag said Earl Grey, I was thinking Soylent Green.

I took a sip.

Fine. Whatever. Everything was fine and whatever. So they'll both be shot down by a rain of bullets, pierced by stakes, blades, razors, torn to bit with various lasers, set to explode, drone strikes, poisoned. You name it. Those all sounded way too gross. My lasers were way better. I would have done a fine job with my lasers. They were safe. They could eliminate someone on a sub-atomic level. Leave them to be nothing but particles.

But no. Now they would both become a bloody mess and someone would have to clean them up.

I stewed in my thoughts, simmered in my shitstorm. Sure, everything was fine and whatever. Everything was under control, but things could have gone a lot cleaner.

“At least I have happiness...” I let a deep sigh and stirred some sugar in my tea. Although my demeanor would scream anger, when all was said and done, the world was still beautiful.

Until there was a thud on my door. My humble abode.

Someone knocking? At this hour? Was my initial thought. Until it busted open.

I stormed through.

“Velvet? How did you get here?” Dr. Chekhov turned around in his swivel chair, his voice sounding like a child who just pissed in the swimming pool.

“I've got a bone to pick with you!” I pointed.

He smiled, though I knew behind his veneer. Scared, timid, old man. They're so dominant until you actually stand above them.

“I bet you're pretty angry right now,” he crooned an old crow's tune.

“You're goddamn right!” I walked forward. “You never gave me a last meal!”

“...What?”

“You're supposed to give someone a last meal before they die! That's the rules! Now I'm starving and fucking pissed!”

I saw him reach for a button, so I ran over and grabbed his hand.

“No! You! Fucking! Don't!”

“Let go of me!” He groaned.

“Not until you give me some food!”

With my other hand, I pressed my palm against his forehead and slammed it against his console.

“Tell us...what you really want,” he wheezed and made an attempt to sneer. “You must have something else in mind...”

“I WANT ICE CREAM! APPLE PIE! I'M TALKING BURGERS AND FRIES! PIZZA! HOT DOGS! A RED, JUICY STEAK!” I started naming off all the foods I would have loved to eat. “But most of all, I WANT ANSWERS!”

“You can’t fool me,” he hissed. “I know you didn’t just come here on a whim. You already know who we work for, but what I’d like to know is who you work for. Or are you a lone agent?”

That struck a nerve that had no business being struck. Not only was I hungry but I was being beaten on the head with this pedestal talk, just like always. Here I was being misunderstood, yet again, by someone who should have known better.

“EVERYONE THINKS I’M SOME SECRET AGENT, BUT I’M NOT! I’M JUST A COLOSSAL FUCK UP!” I had him pinned, my anger boiling to an edge where I slammed his face repeatedly against his beloved console. “DO YOU THINK I WANTED TO BE HERE? NO! I FUCKED UP MY WAY INTO THIS SITUATION AND I’M JUST TRYING WHATEVER I CAN TO UN-FUCK IT!”

I huffed and puffed.

“But every time I try to come up with a solution, a bigger problem emerges. That’s why I’m here...” I muttered after having drawn a slow, deep breath. After realizing what I had done, I looked away and let go of him, frustrated with both myself and the situation I was in.

“Sorry, I'm not me when I'm hungry.”

He lifted his head, a feeble husk of a man. I noticed a streak of blood across the buttons on his console.

“You want answers, eh?”

I snapped my fingers, still cross with the man.

“Some food would do, too, yes.”

“Fine. Seeing as you won't make it out alive, what's the worst that can happen, right? You really want to know so bad, right?”

Veins on his head spread as if he were an egg about to crack. His eyes bulged and his anxiousness faded to one of madness.

“What do you want to know, m'dear?”

“Okay, first of all, don't call me that. Second of all, what even is this place? I didn't see an airbase at all. Nothing is like what I've known. At times, it's too easy as if I was invited here, other times it's like a torture chamber. Third: what goes into this place? What powers it? How are the ETNA Corporation's elevators powered?”

“Ah, you think they're connected?”

“Will you just answer my questions?”

He moved his arms as if they were all bent, his whole body possessed; contorted, jingled keys, his arms made cracking sounds as he brought his hands upward and raised them to the ceiling.

“People say science and religion can't get along, well who's to say? Just as the cosmos and the stars above, we have yet to experience it all, but lemme tell you, we found some good stuff! The real good stuff! Do you believe in miracles? Because I believe in new discoveries. Lights at the end of tunnels. Advancements in technology. Do you wish to live forever? Or live never? Either way, we all got that wish, an itch, don't we?”

If I wasn't pissed off before, I sure was now.

“I'm talking angels, baby! The whole world is full of miracles and we found one at our fingertips! Angels fuel our every desires, bring us what we need. Yes, and we have the ETNA Corporation to thank for such a discovery. Yes, you were correct. Yes, angels are everywhere and bless everything.”

“How do angels factor in?”

“Just one angel, but angels are everywhere! We have done our research! An angel that can be every angel, grant everything, just say the word! Logic, illogic, science, reason, we got it! Every single person here's got a little bit of angel in 'em! Every wall, every computer! We took a bit of an angel and spread that bit across every corner, breaking down the structure and replicating it until we could do as we pleased! Do you know what I'm talking about?”

“...No.”

“Happiness, baby! It's the same thing everyone wants!”

I just want food, dammit.

“It's what drives the world, and we'll give it to 'em! Our military has great weapons, big muscles and we love to flex 'em. We flex whenever we go around and start wars, conquering the globe, little by little, no regard.”

“Weird flex, but okay.”

“Oh, but others want peace! That's no problem! If peace makes others happy, they will get peace!” He started jolting in his seat. “War makes us happy and peace makes the ones calling us out happy! You say it's a contradiction? I call it the epitome of happiness!”

This was going nowhere. I opened a drawer and noticed a thing of lipstick. I shoved it in his mouth and slammed his face down once again. This time, with greater force.

“Shut up! You're no help at all!”

His neck made a snapping sound and his tongue slid out of his mouth, eyes ceased to move. He made gagging motions, but after a while, those stopped too. I stopped and stared.

“...Did I just kill him?”

I paced around his room.

“Crap, crap. I did NOT mean to do this! I had a very simple goal, and this was NOT part of it!”

I continued to pace and contemplate what I should have done next.

“Okay, think. You've killed before. Okay, but it was mostly indirectly. You've never like, been this brutal, have you? Ugh...” I started pulling hair out.

“You know, this is all your fault,” I pointed at the lifeless scientist. “If you had given me a cup of ramen. No, scratch that. You could have just explained what was going on without rambling about angels like a lunatic!”

I shook my head and continued to pace. Why was I getting mad at a dead person, let alone someone I killed?

“Think, think...”

My stomach gurgled and growled the deathliest growl I had heard from it in a while.

The only solution I could think of was to make a run for it.

Before I could exit out the door, I heard a voice escape from his mouth.

“So glad you survived,” the voice croaked. It didn't sound at all like Dr. Chekhov's. More of someone much older yet much more childish. “I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate.”

I watched as the tongue moved on its own and burrowed its way into the mouth and pulled out the thing of lipstick, then spit it out. The tongue crept up the face, expanding, until it rolled up each eye and swallowed them.

“Who, no, what are you?” I gave the voice an audience.

“I wanted so bad to meet you. Perhaps if you find me an angel, we could be like brother and sister.”

I was getting some rather unchill vibes.

“You may call me Markov, sounds like the doctor, yes?”

Rather than answer, I made a run for it and slammed the door behind me. After all, death by anything else would have been better than that display.

So I ran through the halls, ribcage hurting, my conscious weighing, thinking about what I had done and what I had encountered.

There were two things I needed now, in no particular order: food and a place to hide.

#happiness overload #writing #story #fiction #angels #happiness #etna #thriller #horror #scifi #conspiracy

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cathygeha · 3 years

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REVIEW

Up In Smoke by Annabeth Albert

Hot Shots #4

This book left a smile on my face. It was a steamy-sweet romance between two men that so deserved to find happiness. No major drama for the couple though taking on the care of an infant baby girl was definitely not easy…but so much easier together than it would have been for either to do alone. It almost had a fairytale feel to it and was perfect reading for me the day I read it!

What I liked: * That the backstories of the two men had commonalities

* That I felt both men were “equal” and brought qualities that would support the relationship

* That the two men communicated openly and maturely

* Shane: good brother, musician, loving uncle, has goals and dreams, a good person

* Brandt: firefighter, a bit of a rambler, professional, caring, team player, a good person

* The growth in both main characters

* How the two dealt with the situation they found themselves in

* That they were there for Jewel, the baby, and for one another

* That there was no major drama between the two men

* That it felt believable – mostly

* The fairytale feel of the story that might have been less believable but that was very nice indeed

* The happy ending

* Seeing/hearing about some of the characters from previous books in the series

* Wondering if there will be more books in the series

* That there was no “bad guy”

* All of it really except…

What I didn’t like:

* Being reminded that firefighters have a tough life and that they sometimes die as a result of the job(s) they do.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes

Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin-Carina Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

Up in Smoke by Annabeth Albert is available in eBook, mass market paperback and audiobook formats on April 27th!

Book Description

Three Men and a Baby meets Backdraft with explosive chemistry and heartfelt feels.

Freewheeling smoke jumper Brandt Wilder thrives on adrenaline. He’s never met a parachute he can’t repair or a dangerous situation he couldn’t wrangle his way out of. He’s popular and fun-loving and not at all looking to settle down or form lasting relationships. It’s a lifestyle that’s served him well…right up until the day he finds a baby on his doorstep.

Shane Travis is used to putting his country music career—and his own happiness—on hold after his sister rolls through his life. Like last spring when she convinced him to try skydiving for his birthday—and she walked away with the hot parachute instructor.

Now he gets to deliver the piece of news that will upend Brandt’s carefree life: he very well might be a dad.

Shane’s niece is safe in Brandt’s strong, capable hands, but too many questions remain unanswered. Co-parenting while they sort it out leads to late-night talks, and soul-bearing confessions lead to a most inconvenient attraction. Still, Shane can’t leave this makeshift family behind—even if it means playing house with the one man he can’t resist.

Hotshots

Book 1: Burn Zone (available now!)

Book 2: High Heat (available now!)

Book 3: Feel the Fire (available now!)

Book 4: Up in Smoke (coming April 27)

Read on for an excerpt from Up in Smoke.

Brandt’s deep chuckle rumbled straight through Shane. Damn. This was torture. Then the other man wrapped an arm around Shane, positioning his muscled forearm where Shane could see his fancy-looking watch gadget. “Now this is my altimeter. It tells me when we’re at five thousand feet and ready to deploy the chute.”

“Got it.” Shane wasn’t about to study that meaty arm any more than he absolutely had to.

“Okay, it’s go time.” Dallas’s voice echoed though the room. Brandt quickly unclipped them, but as soon as he stepped away, Shane’s pulse kicked up. Maybe he couldn’t do this. Jump out of a plane? Who was he kidding? He was a ground dweller, through and through.

Right when he was about to turn away, though, Brandt grabbed his biceps. “Nerves hitting you? Trust me. You’ll be just fine. I haven’t lost a jumper yet.”

Shane barked out a laugh. “Not exactly making me feel better.”

“Listen, I can tell you all day about how awesome this is.” Brandt looked him dead in the eyes, gaze serious for once, all his charm turned to raw intensity. “But until you do it, you’re gonna think it’s all BS. Sometimes you gotta take a leap of faith.”

“Not very good at those,” Shane admitted quietly as he stepped free of the other guy’s grip. He couldn’t keep meeting his eyes either. Too much power there, like a shot with an extra kick.

“Okay. You want me to tell Dallas you want out?”

A yes was right there on the tip of Shane’s tongue, but then he heard Shelby’s laugh ring out. She’d love it if he chickened out. Not only would she get bragging rights for all of eternity, she’d get what she’d wanted and get to go with Brandt. And for whatever reason, Shane hated that most of all. “Nah. I’m going.”

He white-knuckled his way out to the small plane, spared a nod for the female pilot, and squished his eyes shut until Shelby jostled him into looking at the valley underneath them, the green canopy of the national forest contrasting with the pristine blue sky. Random snippets of lyrics danced through Shane’s head, ways that he might try to describe this view. But then, right as he was settling into something resembling comfort, everyone started shuffling around, getting ready to go. The wind rushed in as the hatch opened, and a full-body shiver raced through Shane.

Then Shelby gave him and Brandt one last coy grin before she and Dallas were away, her whoop echoing across the sky.

“Ready? Here we go.” Brandt nudged Shane closer to the open hatch. Shane wanted to say no, wanted to drag their clipped-together bodies back inside the plane, wanted to both hurl and yell. But in the end, all he could do was nod. Only one way down.

His knees had locked up even as his thighs trembled. Behind him, Brandt was sure and solid. He could push Shane out the hatch pretty easily, but he didn’t. He was letting it be Shane’s choice. And somehow that patience and restraint gave Shane a jolt of courage. One step into nothingness. That was all it took.

Brandt was right behind him, smooth as if they were on a dance floor, not open sky. And now they were falling. Falling so fast. Faster than a car on the interstate with the windows all down, faster than a dirt bike on a steep incline, faster than the whoosh down a water slide. There was no describing the feeling of the wind on his cheeks, the roar in his ears, the shout that probably belonged to him, the adrenaline that crashed through him as he tried to remember what they’d practiced about positioning. Damn. Hard to think.

Which was funny because that was the one thing he was good at. Shelby was forever teasing him about overthinking. But now, his brain couldn’t even pull two words together as they rushed through the air. Brandt yelled something, but Shane was too busy hurtling through the sky to focus on it. And then he was pulled backwards, a hard yank as the parachute deployed. No more freefall. And the oh-my-God-about-to-die adrenaline quieted enough that he could look down, really look.

“Oh my word. It’s… .”

“Beautiful isn’t it?” Brandt’s voice was deep and rich, like warm honey over Shane’s still jangling nerves. Now that the air wasn’t rushing so fast, he could hear him better. Almost too much better, because it felt like they were soaking up each other’s awe and wonder. Sharing something warm and tender and perfect.

“Yeah.”

“Nothing like it.” Brandt whistled low, a sound that hit Shane somewhere soft. “Never gonna get tired of this view.”

“Me either.” Shane almost didn’t recognize his own voice, up this high, this far removed from everything that usually weighed him down.

“Hey, Superman. You want a turn steering?” Brandt didn’t wait for Shane to reply, grabbing his arms, guiding his hands.

“Whoa. Wow. I’m doing it. Look at us.” They swooped gently from side to side, and it was quite possibly the best feeling Shane had ever experienced.

“Look at you. Didn’t know your smile muscles even worked.”

“Screw you. I can smile.” Shane was feeling so good that he had to laugh.

“Well, then get ready. The landing crew will snap your pic as we land. It’s your rock-star moment.”

“Feels like it,” he said right before Brandt took over and set them down softly in a clearing, barely even jarring Shane’s knees. “Damn. That was…”

“It was something.” Brandt was looking right at him, like he could see straight through Shane’s layers, strip him bare. And Shane held his gaze, held the moment as long as he could.

Add Up in Smoke to your Goodreads!

Buy Up in Smoke by Annabeth Albert

Harlequin.com: https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781335484727_up-in-smoke.html

IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781335484727

Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Up-in-Smoke-Paperback-9781335484727/771807836

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Up-Smoke-Firefighter-Romance-Hotshots-ebook/dp/B08K3GLM91

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/up-in-smoke-annabeth-albert/1138801894

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/up-in-smoke/id1533416234

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Annabeth_Albert_Up_in_Smoke?id=EEv_DwAAQBAJ

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/up-in-smoke-27

About Annabeth Albert

Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer.

Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. Annabeth loves finding happy endings for a variety of pairings and is a passionate gay rights supporter. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two children.

Connect with Annabeth Albert

Website: http://annabethalbert.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnabethAlbert

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annabethalbert

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annabeth_albert/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6477494.Annabeth_Albert

#Annabeth Albert #Hot Shots 4 #LGBTQIA #Romance #Fiction #Fire Fighters

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filmfanatic82 · 6 years

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The Long Game - Chapter 17: Facing Demons (Part II)

AO3 link (HERE)

Chapter 17: Facing Demons (Part II)

Kim takes a sharp inhale of breath as she is jolted back into the confines of her childhood bedroom once again. Every inch of her tingles with a strange electric sensation as her mind re-adjusts to her new surrounding.

It isn’t the first time Kim as relived the events of that day. No. Those moments are always lingering just beneath the surface of her subconsciousness, ready to break free at a moment’s notice.

But this experience…

This is completely different.

“Enjoy that little stroll down memory lane?” The First re-emerges within the room, still looking like a 17-year-old Kimberly, and plops herself down onto the bed. She stretches out, folding her arms behind her head as another sickening smirk crawls across her lips.

“No,” Kim responds with a hint of underlying tension to her voice.

“What’s wrong, Kimmy? Don’t like what you saw?”

Kim doesn’t respond right away. She runs her hands through her hair and lets out a sigh of frustration. “I don’t like being played with.”

“Ah, that’s cute. You think this is a game.”

“What’d you want from me?”

The First lets a light chuckle of amusement. “Oh Kim. For someone as talented as you are, you aren’t that quick on the uptake. You know the answer to that question.”

“What if I refuse?”

“You and both know that’s not an option. You gave up your free will almost a decade ago.”

“There’s always a choice.”

“But is there?” The First raises an eyebrow in question. “Has any of this been your choice? Any of it at all?”

Kim opens her mouth but before her words can come out, she’s hit with a sudden but familiar pang of urgency. Her eyes are instantly drawn to her full length closet mirror.

To Kim’s shock, the mirror isn’t simply showing a reflection of the room but the actual outside world. The world, where on some subconscious level, she still resides.

And it clicks.

The pang that is fluttering around in the depths of her inner being is in fact her fellow rangers themselves. Jason. Billy. Zack. And most of all Trini. Kim can feel them all and their varying emotions move through her. A steady and constant reminder that she isn’t alone…

Not this time.

Trini, fully decked out in her yellow armor, flashes into the mirror’s reflection first. She’s stationed right outside of the Krispy Kreme, defending the door as if her life depends on it.

The very door that Kim resides behind.

A small swarm of faceless creatures descend upon Trini at a voracious rate. Each wielding large ornate daggers and all are out for blood. They attack for every angle, all with the same, clear objective…

To get through the door.

Trini flips backwards into a flawless back handspring, just narrowly avoiding the swipe of a dagger. But before she can securely land on the ground, though, a second faceless creature lunges forward delivering a sickening kick to Trini’s rib cage.

Trini, momentarily thrown off guard, tumbles to the ground with a broken crushing thud. She quickly recovers, but in the split second it takes her to get back on her feet, the faceless creatures tighten their circle. It’s only a matter of time now before they manage to get past Trini.

“Need a hand, Crazy Girl?” Zack’s voice cuts through the chaos like a breath of fresh air.

Zack, Billy, and Jason burst onto the scene, each in full armor, immediately coming to Trini’s aid. They just take on a handful of creatures, helping Trini create a human barricade in front of the Krispy Kreme entrance.

“Took you guys long enough,” Trini responds, as she gives them a quick nod hello, before going back to fighting.

“We came as soon as we felt it. Did Kim--”

“She’s in there now. And I felt it too. A few seconds after she disappeared through the door,” Trini cuts Jason off. She gives a split second glance towards the doors, as if contemplating whether or not to go inside and then turns her attention back to the onslaught of creatures.

“Any idea on how long she needs?” Zack pipes up as he grabs hold of a faceless creature by the arms and tosses it like a ragdoll into the air.

“All she said is as long as we can give her,” Trini responds, dodging the slash of a dagger.

Jason positions himself besides Trini, as the two take on the task of defending the area directly in front of the actual door itself. “Then that’s what we’re going to do.”

A small smile creeps across Kim’s face at the utterance of these words as the realization sinks in. They are there. Jason. Zack. Billy. Trini. Her family. Each one of them are there, even though…

Even after everything she’s done.

They are there. Ready and willing to fight.

And for Kim, in that very moment, it’s the glimmer of hope she needs.

“It amazes me just how loyal they are to you. Even after everything you’ve done to them. All of the lies. And betrayal. And pain. Even after all of it, they’re still willing to protect you.” The First slowly gets up from the bed and approaches Kim. “Such blind fools. Don’t they know it’s useless?”

Kim pulls her attention away from the mirror and once again faces the First, but she doesn’t respond. She knows deep, down inside that silence is way more effective. Kim needs to hold on. Just a little bit longer for the last piece of plan, that was hatched so many years ago, to finally come into play.

“Who says it’s useless?”

A sick laugh escapes the First’s lips as she shakes her head in slight disbelief. “Enough with this act, Kimmy. You and I both know it is. You can feel it. Deep, down inside. There’s no denying it.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about…” Kim’s voice waivers slightly, as she tries to hold on to her nerves for dear life.

“Really?” The First raises an eyebrow causing Kim’s stomach to churn. “Then let me remind you.”

And before Kim can start to utter a response, she’s propelled back into blackness once again.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

The world comes back to into view for Kim and she spots herself -- her younger self -- now fully donning the emerald green armor and instantly she can feel her anxiety start to rise. She knows what comes next.

Kim knows it like the back of her hand.

But, for some odd reason, having to watch it from this perspective somehow makes it a thousand times worse.

“I’m so sorry, Jase.” The words fall from Kim’s lips like an unspoken prayer as she takes a deep, sobering breath of air.

Kimberly regains her footing as a surge of raw, anger-driven energy pounds through her veins. She feels powerful. No. More than powerful...

Kimberly feels god-like.

“Kimberly!” Trini’s voice cuts through the chaos, but Kimberly chooses to ignore it. Her entire focus shifts towards one thing and one thing only…

The Zeo Crystal.

The ground begins to violently quake, causing the surrounding asphalt and concrete to crack open into massive, fiery lashes. Instantly, both Billy and Zack are cut off from the rest of the group, trapped by individual towering walls of flames.

“Billy!” Jason screams out, no longer able to spot his beloved blue ranger.

“I’m okay. Just trapped.”

“Me too. There’s no way out of these flames,” Zack chimes in from the nearby distance.

“But you’re okay?” Jason shouts back, trying to maintain his footing in between the tremors.

“For now, yes,” Billy responds in a slightly unsure voice.

“Jase! I can’t reach her!” Trini screams while trying to fend off a pack of flame creatures, grabbing Jason’s attention. He whips back around and spots Kimberly, ever so slowly walking directly towards the Krispy Kreme as if she’s under some sort of demonic trance.

Without even a moment’s hesitation, he charges at her, leaping through pockets of flames and fiery debris. “Kim, stop!”

But Kimberly doesn’t even pause to acknowledge him. She can’t. The draw of what’s about to be birthed from beneath the flames is just too much to fight.

And then there’s the plan. Kimberly has to stay the course. No matter what transpires. No matter what -- or who -- attempts to stop her.

Suddenly, a strong familiar hand clamps down upon Kimberly’s forearm, preventing her from taking another step forward.

“Kimberly!” Jason yells out once again, this time only a mere inches away, hand locked onto her forearm with a vise like grip.

“Let go of me,” Kimberly growls in response and attempts to wrench her arm away from Jason, but he refuses to let go.

“Kim, what’s going--”

SMACK.

Kimberly decks Jason across the face with her free arm. His face mask cracks slightly from the impact, but yet he doesn’t let go.

“LET GO!”

“No. Not until you--”

Kimberly once again delivers an almost lethal blow to Jason’s head, given little to no consideration to the damage she’s inflicting upon him.

Jason lets out a harsh grunt in pain, but manages to continue to hold onto Kimberly’s arm. “Let me help you…”

Suddenly, Kimberly hit with another wave of rage. This time more intense and even more all consuming the the one before. Any lingering traces of conflicting emotions melt away and are replaced with a singular, clear thought--

Kimberly has to break free and get to the Zeo Crystal in time… no matter what the cost or casualties.

In an unorthodox move, Kimberly clamps her free hand down upon Jason’s wrist and wrenches his arm around, pulling it upwards in the process.

CRACK.

A sickening pop, followed close behind by Jason’s screams of pain.

Jason instantly lets go of Kimberly’s arm as his knees buckle from beneath him. His body spasms uncontrollably in a reaction to the damage being done to his limb.

But Kimberly doesn’t stop. She pulls Jason’s arm even farther upwards, almost as if she plans on rip it right off of his body.

“AHHHHHHHH!” Jason falls fully to his knees as he chokes back sobs of pain.

Then, there a second, more definitive POP and suddenly--

Jason passes out.

Kimberly releases her grip, letting Jason’s body fall to the ground and continues to move towards the Krispy Kreme.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Tears.

A steady stream of tears pour out from Kim’s eyes, burning her skin as they snake their way down her cheeks.

“Awww. What’s wrong?” The First’s voice calls out as the world shifts back into Kim’s childhood bedroom.

Kim’s hands immediately reach up and compulsive wipe away any and all evidence of the tears. She can’t show weakness. Not when she’s so painfully close…

“Nothing.”

“Oh please, Kimmy. Remember, we’re connected. The rage and anger you feel swirling around inside of you. That’s me.” The First goes to get up off of the bed, but falters for a moment, almost unable to control her limbs. It’s only momentary. Just the briefest of seconds… but regardless, Kim notices it and a hint of a smirk flashes within her eyes.

It’s working.

“Why are you fighting it? Even now. You’re still…” The First trails off mid-sentence as if she’s lost the ability to find her next word.

Kim seizes the moment by taking another step away from the the First and closer towards the mirror. She longs to keep on watching it, partly to ease her anxiety about the battle at hand and partly for selfish reasons. There’s a strong chance that this might just be the last few glimpses Kim get of her friends… Of Trini.

And she doesn’t want to miss a single, solitary second of it.

Another flash of familiar metallic blue streaks across the mirror, grabbing Kim’s full attention. Her eyes pull away from the First and back towards the ongoing battle.

“Billy!” Jason yells out to his husband as he struggles to fend of a handful faceless creatures. He blocks and dodges the onslaught of dagger slashes and swipes, unable to get a moment’s break. The attacks just keep on coming.

“I’m coming!” Billy takes out two rogue creatures with a lethal combo of kicks and then starts to race towards Jason. But before he can manage to get within striking distance--

BOOM!

A fiery explosion erupts out of the ground below, knocking Billy right off of his feet and sends him rocketing into the brick facade of a nearby building.

Billy hits the wall with a sickening crack and instantly crumples to the ground in a lifeless heavy of limbs.

“BILLY!!!!!” Jason freezes in the moment, unable to do anything except stare helplessly at the love of his life.

“Go! I’ve got them,” Trini states, snapping Jason instantly out of his paralysis. He doesn’t need to be told twice. Jason takes off at an almost inhuman like pace, straight towards Billy.

Trini re-positions herself squarely in front of the doors as Zack joins her side.

“Just you and me, Crazy Girl,” Zack says with a hint of quiver to his voice. Although he will never admit it, there’s an underlying fear there. That maybe this time, they won’t be as lucky.

Trini reaches over and gives Zack’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “We’ve got this.”

Zack nods in response and then the two line up back to back, readying themselves for the next wave of attacks.

But instead, the faceless creatures suddenly start to slightly retreat, backing away from Trini and Zack as if they’re anticipating something…

“What the…” Before Zack can even finish his sentence, though, the ground begins to violent shake, ripping open huge canyon size holes within the surrounding asphalt and concrete. Both Trini and Zack desperately try to stay upright, but it’s of little use.

Trini falls to the ground as a shower of building debris rains down upon her.

BAM… BAM… BAM…

Trini rolls left and then right and then left again, nearly avoiding impact with boulder sized chunks of debris. She somehow manages to pull herself back up on her feet, even as the world around her continues to break apart.

Nothing in the world is going stop Trini from protecting that door… Absolutely nothing.

A small gasp escapes Kim’s lips as she feels her heart start to crack open at the sight of the woman she loves fighting for her life.

“Ah… The infamous Yellow Ranger.”

The sound of the First once again pulls Kim away from the mirror and back into the reality of the moment. “Leave her out of this.”

“Or what? You’re going to attack me?” The First starts to take a step closer to Kim, but wobbles a bit on her feet and has to grip onto the nearby desk chair for support.

“Leave her alone,” Kim growls through gritted teeth. She can feel the raw anger bubbling up just beneath the surface of her skin, just itching to be set free. But not now…

“I’ve never laid a finger on her. I swear. But you already know that.” Another twisted smile crawls across the First’s face. “You’re the only one who’s ever inflicted any real damage upon her.”

Kim shuts her eyes as she feels the world shift yet again around her.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Kim feels the world settle but refuses to open her eyes. She doesn’t need to look to know exactly what she’s about to witness next… It’s the moment that’s haunted her the most for the last eight years.

“Oh no. You don’t get to hide from this one,” the First’s voice echoes in the dark confines of Kim’s mind and suddenly, as if an invisible string has been pulled, her eyelids pop open on their own.

Kim doesn’t even attempt to stop the flow of tears that fall from her eyes as she locks in on the sight of her younger self, in full blown green armor, walking towards the newly formed gaping crater where the entrance of the Krispy Kreme should be.

This is the moment. The singular biggest regret out of everything she’s been forced to do over the last eight years.

And Kim, unfortunately, can’t seem to look away.

Slowly, the earth beneath the remnants of what was once the Krispy Kreme splits open and a monstrous, flame laced, creature begins to emerge. First it’s mammoth hands… Then arms… then lava sculpted torso… And then finally its legs.

It lets loose a nightmarish roar of anger as it starts to make its way directly towards Kimberly.

Kimberly swallows down the massive lump of terror residing in her throat as she attempts to move her body forward, not faulting for a single second.

This is what she’s been preparing for. The moment of truth…

If all goes according to plan, then the hellish creature before her will sense the essence of evil residing within her and simply let her pass, granting her access to the Zeo Crystal.

And if not… Kimberly can’t let herself go there. Not now.

She holds her breath and continues to put one foot in front of the other, ignoring the growing aftershocks the creature is producing with each and every step it takes.

15 feet… 10 feet… 5 feet…

The hellish creature pauses for the briefest of moments as it comes within striking distance of Kimberly, almost as if it senses that something is not quite right. But then, just like Zordon had said it would, it continues on its way, ignoring Kimberly all together and instead starts in on a path of complete and utter destruction.

Kimberly exhales in a slight sigh of relief. Step one down… Step two to go.

“KIMBERLY!!!!!” Trini screams out in a fine mixture of sheer panic and terror as she races towards Kimberly at breakneck speed. She manages to cut Kimberly off only seconds before reaching the edge of the crater and stands directly in the taller girl’s path, blocking her access. “Please stop.”

“Don’t Trini,” Kimberly responds as she attempts to shove Trini aside, but it’s no use. Trini isn’t budging.

“This isn’t you, baby. I know it! You need to fight whatever has a hold of you. Please. Just fight it!” Trini reaches out to grab hold of Kimberly’s shoulders, but Kimberly swats her away.

“Move.” Kimberly growls at Trini with the ever so slight hint of a plea buried within the word.

“No.” Trini straightens herself up, attempting to match Kimberly in sheer presence. There’s a clear cut definitive answer in her stance that instantly causes Kimberly’s stomach to churn with complete and utter dread.

The only way she’s going to get around Trini is by physically taking her down.

Kimberly can feel the sting of tears roll down her cheeks as she grapples with this sobering realization. If she starts to fight now, she might not be able to actually stop herself from going all the--

THUD.

Kimberly’s blindsided by a powerful blow to the side of her helmet. She doesn’t need to look around to know who’s delivered it. Before Kimberly can recover her bearings, though, another hit comes. This time to her ribs. And then another to her kidneys. And another… And another… And another…

Trini isn’t exactly hitting at her full strenght but she isn’t exactly holding back either.

Kimberly can feel the rage and anger building up within her as she attempts to block the barrage of hits. She knows deep down inside that all it will take to leash the darkness is one, singular punch and then… and then there will be no turning back.

“Just… Get… Out… Of… My… Way!” Kimberly spats out in between hits.

“NO!” Trini doubles her efforts, attacking Kimberly from every angle possible. Kick… Punch… Kick again…

Kimberly struggles to hold on.

Another kick. This time to her left shoulder. Kimberly hears the crack to her armor as tiny shards of green splinter off in the aftermath of the blow.

And then…

It happens.

Kimberly feels the sudden, mind numbing surge of raw, anger-driven power crash over her like a tidal wave, suffocating all lingering doubts and rogue emotions. As if possessed by an invisible force, her hands jut out and wrap themselves around Trini’s neck with a deadly grip.

Kimberly slams Trini down onto the ground by the neck and flings her body over the Yellow Ranger, instantly pinning her limbs with her own sheer force. Her grip tightens around Trini’s throat, as she can feel her fingers crack through the surface of the yellow armor. Blood starts to trickle out between the newly formed gaps, clashing against the metallic yellow of the suit.

Trini’s visor disappears as the younger girl flails around underneath Kimberly, desperate to escape. Her mouth opens, but all she can manage to produce is a series of strangled sounds. There’s a confused and terrified look present within Trini’s eyes as she stares up helplessly at Kimberly. She knows she’s moments away from dying…

And yet, Kimberly keeps the pressure on. She can’t seem to stop. It’s as if her body simply doesn’t belong to her anymore.

Trini locks eyes with Kimberly and just before she slips into the darkness, she mouths the words “I love you”.

Kimberly hands instantly let go as she chokes out a sob of raw pain. She can feel the anger suddenly subside as a second tidal wave of heartache and guilty crashes down upon her.

Kimberly rolls off of Trini and checks for a pulse. It’s weak but it’s there.

She didn’t kill Trini.

Kimberly desperately wants to stay there, just a few seconds longer… just to make sure Trini -- her Trini-- will be okay. But she knows better.

There’s still the Zeo Crystal to take of.

With all of her remaining strength she can muster, Kimberly slowly rises again to her feet and stumbles towards the edge of the gaping hole where the Zeo Crystal resides. She gives Trini one last look and then proceeds to leap right into the open chasm.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

“Enough!” Kim cries out through her tears as her bedroom comes back into view. The First stares back at her, still sporting a sicken smile, but unlike before, there’s a stark difference in her overall stature. She appears to be growing weaker by the minute. As if her very life force is slipping away.

“Too much?” The First follows these words with a series of harsh coughs. Each breath seems to be harder to grasp than the one before it.

And that’s the cue. The one sign that Kim’s been waiting for all after all of these years.

The plan has worked. “Something wrong?” Kim replies as she regains her cool composure, once again wiping away all evidence of tears.

“I’m fine.”

“You sure? You seem to be struggling a bit,” Kim takes a step closer to the First, adopting a slightly more menacing stance as she does. “It seems like something’s affecting you… Almost as if you might’ve been dosed by something.”

The First’s face drops as the realization of what Kim’s actually is saying sinks in. “What did you do?”

Kim takes another step closer, causing the First to inch backwards “Only what I had to.”

The First backs up until she hits the edge of the bed, falling weakly down upon it. Kim continues forward until she’s practically looming over the First.

“I don’t understand… You have the essence -- my essence -- inside of you. I can feel it,” The First responds in a shaky voice, eyes darting around, desperately searching for an answer to what’s transpiring.

“I do. But you’re forgetting one thing.”

“What?”

“That’s not all I have within me.” A triumphant smile spreads across Kim’s face. “Compassion. Empathy. Power. And most importantly… Love. An unwavering abundance of love.”

“Oh god… I… I let you near the Zeo Crystal. And you…”

“Made sure I dosed it with all the right things.”

“You conned me!” The First spats out in rage, desperate to fight, but lacking the strength to move.

“I’d like to think of it more as playing the long game… a very, very long game.”

“You bitch!”

“Not the first time I’ve been called that,” Kim responds with a bit of a laugh. She moves in even closer to the First, mentally readying herself for the final task. “And now there’s just one one thing left I need to do.”

“What?”

“Ensure that you never have the chance to return and wreak havoc on me and my friends ever again.”

And with those words, Kim plunges both of her hands down upon the First’s chest.

A mixture of blinding pink and green light pours out of Kim and into the First, as she feels her own essence being torn to shreds.

Love… Hate… Anger… Joy… Pain…

Each one of her raw emotions flow freely from her body, bombarding the First.

The First screams out in pain as its form start to dematerialize right before Kim’s eyes.

It fades faster… and faster… and faster…

Kim keeps going, even though she’s not sure how much longer she can stand it. The pain radiating out from the depths of her own soul is nothing short of unbearable, but she has to hold on.

There’s no other choice.

And then---

It’s gone.

Kim falls to the ground, gasping for air as the world around her starts to ever so slowly fade to black. Her hand reaches up and instinctually wraps itself around the sabertooth tiger pendant as a singular, comforting thought flashes through her mind.

She did it.

The First is gone and by nothing short of a miracle, it didn’t kill her in the process.

Kim closes her eyes and breathes a sigh of pure relief as she feels the blackness engulf more and more her surroundings. Her hand curls even tighter around the pendant, providing her with a constant reminder of the one thing and one thing only that matter most to her in the world… Trini.

“Princess… Princess… Princess…” Kim chants under her breath like a beloved prayer as finally the blackness reaches her, swallowing her whole.

#trimberly #trini x kimberly #trini #kimberly hart #cranscott #billy cranston #jason scott #zack taylor #power ranger 2017 #power ranger movie #ao3 #fanfic

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