A title that had your hair standing up on ends? I know. Most indians are pretty passionate about their country. I understand. I've just gone through a lot here that I know I could've avoided if I wasn't here.
I was born in the USA. Lived there for the first two years of my life and although I remember absolutely nothing, that time strikes a chord in my heart whenever I think about it because that's how bad I want to be there. My parents and family are Indian of course. They moved back to India when I was two years old. Let's just say that I firmly believe that that was probably the worst decision they had taken in their entire lives.
Honestly. The people suck. The teachers suck. My friends suck. Everyone is rude and self centered. Studies are an absolute nightmare. I never understood why my grades are the reason why my neighbours aunts sixth cousin twice removed is losing sleep. The weather is absolute shit. The streets are belittled and disgusting. People have the nerve to spit and pee on the road. I can't wear shorts outside without making my way onto some random aunty's dinner conversation or in the pants of a rapist. I can't hug a boy without losing my place in society. People my age are rude, selfish, snobbish and have more of their nose in my business than theirs. There's no room in this place for adults to make mistakes. It's always children are wrong, wrong, WRONG.
I have applied to university in USA (obviously). I need to go to my school to get a few documents from them that's required. I'm fucking depressed. I never imagined that I'd have to step into that hellhole again. i wanna go. I just really really wanna run away.
Thanks for reading.

TW / / /: Mentions of r*pe scenarios
Ok for a short introduction, i'm a high schooler, male, and currently not sexually active with anyone and there have just been so many instances with this dumb shit between me and my ndad, and what's worse is that this is just one of many problems between me and him. Fits the bill for being emotionally abuse, and he's very exhausting and draining.
For this specific topic, the first thing I remember which could've truly amped up this whole thing was going to my first school dance as a Soph. It was informal, the friday after the first week, ndad dropped me off there and I had a ton of fun there with everyone. Got in the dance circle a few times, did some voguing moves, legs got tired, scraped knee a bit while doing a few moves, didn't think anything of it. Absolutely no funny business occurred
Got home, I was mad tired, disinfected the scrape and slapped a bandaid on it, slept like i was dead to the world. Next day, ndad sees the bandaid, I say I scraped my knee doing a few dance moves, has obvious look of doubt, and begins interrogating me about like- literally everything that happened. He then went on and on about how he saw the dance circle and how everyone around it looked suspicious and had a certain look on their face, he said that the people that greeted me looked suspicious too (they were my fucking friends happy to see me lmfao).
My ndad is extremely stubborn with his ideas, and has persisted with a constant narrative that I'm like, the school harlot or some shit. This has made me scared to introduce him to any of my friends out of fear he'll begin interrogating and intimidating them.
There happened to be a COVID outbreak at the school, and I told my dad I should get tested because one of my friends got COVID and I shared a class with them. Even when I mentioned this friend in passing, my ndad began to instantly question me about who they were, what grade they were in, what club they were in, how "close" am I with them, etc. and me feeling like I was obligated to answer every question...stupidly answered every single question. I told ndad they were a senior, and I'm guessing that really got him going because then he was like "i'll have to drop by the school and personally ask why a senior is friends with my son." (...bro, fucking what???
Can I not have friends who aren't in my immediate grade level? I'm friends with people in the grades below me, so is it wrong for them to be friends with me?)
I find out in later months that ndad's been texting my (thankfully non-awful) mom about his suspicions, and she sent receipts of his texts where he created this whole wack-ass narrative that i'm being sexually abused by this senior friend, which explained why I was walking funnily after school one day. (For context, P.E was grueling, legs were tired, heavy ass backpack, and having P.E as one of the first classes of the day absolutely stinks.)
This same scenario also repeated pretty recently after some city event. It was nearly finished, i was pretty tired and was chatting with some friends in this little after-party. I apparently butt dialed ndad, he picked up and spoke, but i didn't hear him. So he hung up, then he called back and i responded. ndad said he was waiting to pick me up, and then after a long uncomfy silence he starts interrogating me again. I feel obligated to tell him everything like a plum fool and wouldn't you know it, i'm friends with another senior! A new scapegoat for some wackjob scenario for ndad to make up in his head, when all i was doing was talking and eating at the concessions stand. Now i'm 99.9% he thinks that because of the audio he heard when I butt dialed him, I was being r*ped by this other Senior friend???
One insanely hurtful moment was during an argument between me and ndad where he got close to my face and yelled about how one time i had walked in the car and my mouth had "smelled like DICK. D-I-C-K. DICK." That's the first fucking thing his damn mind went to. Not "you need a breath mint." Not "what'd you eat for lunch?" not "did you brush your teeth?" Immediately went to "my son gave someone head during school today."
It was after that argument where we both agreed to find a therapist, and I would thankfully get to leave with my mom to stay w/ her downstate for a week, but as SOON as i get back, and not even an hour into my return, he sees that I tied my shirt at the waist. It was hot outside, and the shirt was 2 sizes too big which ndad insisted upon for no reason. It's in the car when we're going off to the store where he compares me to an animal in heat where I'm trying to be promiscuous and flirtatious purposefully, and that I'll only attract all the weirdos in our town, and finally my grandma would beat my ass if she saw something like that...several red flags in that interaction alone. What about that oh so glorious therapist we had agreed on? Well he had searched for one (like 3 months later) he told me about her and how the therapy would work...and he proceeded to never bring her up again. Now isn't that pretty telling?
Every suspicion related to me supposedly being sexually active at school has kept going, to the point where almost every week ndad would ask in the car if i'm being harrassed, i would firmly say no out of annoyance and frustration, and then he's just scrunch up his face and frown and go "okay. okay. I believe you." (Hint: he doesn't)
He genuinely believes he's trying to help me, but no matter how many times i say "no i haven't" it almost feels like he wants to hear me say I have. He said he'd get a Private Investigator, police involvement, lie detectors, which i'm 80%-sure they're empty threats. He's also tried to chisel into my brain that nobody can be trusted, and that he's the only one who genuinely cares for me in our town. It is REALLY feeling like he wants an excuse to prove I was wrong about my friends and that "i told you that you cant trust everyone."
Luckily for me, i've secretly went to my school counselor every week for therapy until the end of this year to try working through and rationalizing these issues, talking with my mom about what i can do in these 2 years i have left before I turn an adult. I can't go to live with her, as easy as that may sound. At some point I know I've got to fully stand up to this, but I'm scared of what'll happen if i do. I've gotten electronics taken away in the past, but somewhat recently I had been threatened with holding painful positions or even getting paddled. Thoughts?
TL:DR Father's issues with paranoia, pessimism, and anxiety lead to the persistent and false belief of me being sexually active at school, and even worse the falser belief of me being a victim of rape and hiding it to protect the abuse. Help :,D

FYI, this is a story COLLECTION. Lots of standalones technically. So, you can basically start to read at any chapter, no pre-read of the other chapters needed technically (other than maybe getting better descriptions of characters than: Adam Vir=human, Krill=antlike alien, Sunny=tall alien, Conn=telepathic alien). The numbers are (mostly) only for organization of posts and continuity.
OC Written by Charlie Stastarrfallknightrise,
Typed up and then posted here by me.
Proofreading and language check for some chapters by u/Finbar9800
Future Lore and fact check done by me.
And once again the human craze takes over the whole galaxy!
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"Welcome one and welcome all to the 528th quadrennial summer Olympics! This has to be the most exciting day we have seen in the history of competitive sports."
"That's exactly right because this is only the second time in human history that the Olympics will be held off earth, and the first time that they are being held interstellar."
"Four years ago, some summer Olympics were held on Mars, but with the restriction to gravity, and some issues regarding respiration. However, after an agreement with the Galactic Assembly. The Rundi delegation has graciously offered to host the 4020 summer Olympics."
"And hosted they have. This stadium was built in under four years with consultations from human architects and with the original classic style of greek and roman architecture in mind. The Rundi really do know how to make a beautiful building when they want."
"This is honestly what the universe really needed after these last hard few years, with the Burg war, and the Gromm outbreak, and the Tesraki earthquake, a lot of people were just ready and waiting for some good news. Not to mention that after all of the issues with the LFIL and poor PR for humans across the galaxy, we all really needed a break."
"And what better PR than to share one of the greatest cultural achievements of human history? Historically the Olympics have been a time where countries set aside their differences and come together to show off their best athletes in competitions of human skill, fortitude, and perseverance. Now, for those non-human watchers, the Olympics were originally established in Ancient Greece. The word Olympics derives from the word Olympus which was the historical home of the Greek gods. Anyone who competes in the games is called an Olympian giving the implication that their feats of strength and power are almost godlike."
"Not to mention they originally required the participants to compete in the nude."
"Ha! Yes, let us not forget that. Luckily, or unluckily for us, things have been a bit more modernized since then, and men and women from around the universe will begin their competitions today. Today will be the first Olympics in history with representatives from interstellar colonies all across the Milky Way galaxy."
"Beginning in the next four years, Olympic officials hope to open the games up to non-human species for competition."
"Yes, officials say that it would be an opportunity for humanity to reach out a hand of peace and offer this great tradition of peace to the rest of the galaxy in hopes of fostering cooperation and understanding between all who live in the universe."
"That will be a great day indeed, and look here comes the Olympic torch, carried by none other than commander Adam Vir of the UNSC, Earth's golden boy."
"The Olympic torch had an intense journey this year, lit in Olympic greece and carried all across Earth, to where it was secured to be transported on the UNSC harbinger. Now it took some work as UNSC regulations do not allow open flames aboard an interstellar transport, but with some work from some fine engineers and a bit of finagling, the torch was secured lit but burning low in a specialized sealed, and climate controlled compartment during the duration of the flight. Oh, and here he goes, handing of the torch. This will be the first time in human history that a non-human has carried the torch and lit the cauldron. They debated long and hard about who would light it this year, and as a symbol of good will towards the rest of the galaxy, and to usher in a new age of the Olympic Games, the torch has been passed to the chairwoman of the Galactic Assembly."
"You know it really warms my heart to see us humans sharing such a rich part of our culture and history with the rest of the galaxy. It really is a symbol of everything we stand for at our core."
"And there she goes. IT'S LIT IT'S LIT!"
"A truly amazing day for humanity, the world, the galaxy and the universe!"
And truly amazing it was!
The galaxy had never seen anything like it.
Humans from all around the galaxy had come together and were determined to astound the watching crowds with feats of acrobatics and athletics, so intense, it would be unbelievable to anyone who watched, human and nonhuman alike.
In those days ahead, the galaxy watched with its jaw wide, as one man broke the world, now universe record, for fastest human sprint at 29 miles per hour (47 km/h). Facts and figures put up on screens above the heads of the crowd gave info’s about the human body, to put into perspective just how powerful these athletes were, as olympic sprinters put their muscles under pressure equivalent to 1,000 pounds (453kg) of force in a single sprinting step.
They watched in awe and confusion as a tiny Olympic gymnast, no older than sixteen, cleared more than twice her body height in a double air rotation, defying the laws of physics and gravity as she hung suspended in the air, for what seemed like an impossible amount of time.
Eyes were wide and jaws had to be picked up off the floor, as a young human from earth cleared the pole-vaulting record, launching himself into the sky at 20 feet 3.⅕ inches (6,2m).
Feats of balance and strength, never before seen in the galaxy, were demonstrated as those same young adults demonstrated flips, cartwheels and feats of acrobatics on beams barely wider than the width of their feet. Gasps rose from the assembled alien crowd as a dismount brought one young woman off the beam at least three full rotations before landing.
There was no way that she could have known where she was going to hit.
But the announcers had been right, these humans had an almost godlike control of their bodies and some strange ability to know where they were in space at the optimal moment rotating on a single bar, or between two, flipping themselves around and around in ways that would have made others feel dizzy, only to land smiling a moment later their hands raised into the air in triumph.
And then came the marathon, the event that aliens had heard about, but never thought possible, preformed for the first time on a fiery death planet by a one legged, one eyed space captain in his boxer shorts in a little over four hours. The feat itself seemed unbelievable as a story, but when a young woman from a distant space colony preformed the marathon in a record breaking 2:22:53. Less than two and a half hours required her to be running at speeds of almost ten miles per hour (16km/h) for two full hours.
The stadium could not believe their ears when they had heard what she had done. Alien race officials watched her run through cameras, to make sure that the feat was really true.
But it was true, it was all true.
They could not believe their eyes.
Even in the water, humans could not be matched, pushing bodies that were not meant for swimming to speeds that could compete with one or two species running.
They put their bodies under strain so powerful it should have torn muscle and snapped bone, but when they came up smiling and grinning and waving to the crowd, all the stadium could do was to contain their excitement.
And when that wasn't enough, humans started adding obstacles to their events.
What was better than a hundred-meter sprint?
A hundred-meter sprint with obstacles you had to jump over!
At an average of 12.5 seconds, participants were reaching speeds of almost seventeen miles per hour (27km/h), as fast as car speeds within city limits.
If any of the humans had crashed, they would surely hurt themselves horribly in the process.
And the crowd absolutely loved it.
Nothing was better than watching the humans lift heavy objects, throw pointy sticks, or even leap to great vertical heights, sometimes throwing their legs higher than their own heads, which seemed impossible for aliens who had spent most of their time with average humans, if they had spent time with humans at all.
Regular humans couldn't do that!
So, what insane kind of humans were these!?
How did a human knew to release the weighted metal disk when they were spinning around so fast, and what made them decide to throw the weight of their entire body into a kinetic linkage of angular momentum that would send the metal disk nearly two hundred feet in the opposing direction?
It was the most viewed Olympics in the history of the event. Aliens watched to see the humans perform, and the humans watched to see the alien's reaction to the other humans preforming.
The Rundi home world grossed trillions of dollars, which expanded the universe's economy to soaring heights.
Tesraki capitalized on the idea, holding even more events for humans to compete in, even after the Olympics were over. From then on, alien planets would beg humans to come hold their games and competitions on their planet, didn't matter what it was… Soccer, football, baseball, you could be sure the rest of the galaxy was interested in seeing it.
The entire universe was giddy with the feats of strength and ability which had been demonstrated in those intervening days.
Humans, who only fell prey to praise once every four years, suddenly found themselves famous on distant moons, completely by accident. They all had alien companies begging them to endorse products they had never even heard of.
It was such a violent economic upturn, no one knew how to handle it.
There were those, of course, who realized something very different about humanity on those days…
They had met your average human, the lazy kind that likes to sit in comfy nests, watch TV and imbibe on excessive amounts of glucose. They had even met the average human who threw in some daily workout routine, so at least they could control their love handles.
Your average human scared them with what they could do, without even thinking.
But what did this mean?
It meant that it was very important to allow humans to nerf themselves, because if anyone ever convinced humanity as a hole what they could be if ninety percent of the population were at peak human performance...
Well…
It was simply better to keep the humans well-fed and sleepy.
Maybe then the universe would stand a chance…
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Intro post by me
OC-whole collection
Patreon of the author
Thanks for reading! As you saw in the title, this is a cross posted story written by starrfallknightrise and I'll just upload some of it here for you guys, if you are interested and want to read ahead, the original story-collection can be found on tumblr or wattpad to read for free. (link above this text under "OC:..." ) It is the Empyrean Iris story collection by starfallknightrise. Also, if you want to know more about the story collection i made an intro post about it, so feel free to check that out to see what other great characters to look forward to! (Link also above this text). I have no affiliations to the author; just thought I’d share some of the great stories you might enjoy a lot!
Obviously, I have Charlie’s permission to post this and for the people already knowing the stories, or starting to read them: If you follow the link and check out the story you will see some differences. I made some small (non-artistic) changes, mainly correcting writing mistakes, pronoun correction and some small additional info here and there of things which were not thought of/forgotten or even were added/changed in later stories (like the “USS->UNSC” prefix of Stabby, Chalar=/->Sunny etc). As well as some "biggemajor" changes in descriptions and info’s for the same stringency/continuity reason. That can be explained by the story collection being, well a story collection at the start with many standalone-stories just starring the same people, but later on it gets more to a stringent storyline with backstories and throwbacks. (For example Adam Vir has some HEAVY scars over his body, following his bones, which were not really talked about up till half the collection, where it says it covers his whole body and you find out via backflash that he had them the whole time and how he got them, they just weren't mentioned before. However, I would think a doctor would at least see these scars before that, especially since he gets analyzed, treated and goes shirtless/in T-shirts in some stories). So TLDR: Writing and some descriptions are slightly changed, with full OK from the author, since he himself did not bother to correct these things before.

A title that had your hair standing up on ends? I know. Most indians are pretty passionate about their country. I understand. I've just gone through a lot here that I know I could've avoided if I wasn't here.
I was born in the USA. Lived there for the first two years of my life and although I remember absolutely nothing, that time strikes a chord in my heart whenever I think about it because that's how bad I want to be there. My parents and family are Indian of course. They moved back to India when I was two years old. Let's just say that I firmly believe that that was probably the worst decision they had taken in their entire lives.
Honestly. The people suck. The teachers suck. My friends suck. Everyone is rude and self centered. Studies are an absolute nightmare. I never understood why my grades are the reason why my neighbours aunts sixth cousin twice removed is losing sleep. The weather is absolute shit. The streets are belittled and disgusting. People have the nerve to spit and pee on the road. I can't wear shorts outside without making my way onto some random aunty's dinner conversation or in the pants of a rapist. I can't hug a boy without losing my place in society. People my age are rude, selfish, snobbish and have more of their nose in my business than theirs. There's no room in this place for adults to make mistakes. It's always children are wrong, wrong, WRONG.
I have applied to university in USA (obviously). I need to go to my school to get a few documents from them that's required. I'm fucking depressed. I never imagined that I'd have to step into that hellhole again. i wanna go. I just really really wanna run away.
Thanks for reading.

Okay alot of you wont like what im going to propose but i need a new xmen movie.
So we learn in logan that a bad science guy released something in the air which prevents new mutations to form. And the only way to create amutant is in a lab(like x23, rictor...).
In the new movie x23 and the 6 kids are grown up as 18 yo and are quite strong. They fight to stop the private oraganizations from creating new mutants and training them as weapons. Lets say x23 and gang call themselves new xmen.
Now this is the interesting part, we cut to a dystopic future(lets say year 2089/2099), to a concetration camp of mutant. There we see 4 mutants: rachel summers, hope summers,bishop and cable. These 4 are trying to use their psychic/energy powers to return to the past. Cut to them going to the year the movie itself is happening. Well call them x force.
New x-men are currently hiding in the sewer tunnels of new york with 100+ saved mutant children(there are also some adults). X force find these mutants , a little fight is hapenning and the when every one relaxes cable explaing the whole point of the movie.
Apperantly the new x men falis in the future. Mutants become no more than weapons to countries and ww3 starts. The earth is left toxic and radiation is high. All mutants are considered crimunals and sent to concetration camps. Rachel summers, and cable were hounds to hunt dowm mutants thet are also geneticaly cloned from jean grey. Until they were relesed from duty and sent to the camps. The last mutant they found is hope which can copy powers but also activate the dormant x gene( this ability is hidden from the captors). Cable heard legends of a mutant which can "alter reality for the prica of a body and a soul". X force travels to the past to stop the species control by humans and let new mutation create freely. By combining the powers of the omega level mutant and hope summers.
However, the human council including bastion, cameron hodge, reverebd stryker and hellva nimrods. Follow x force to the past in order to eradicate all mutants.
X force and new x men go to dallas in order to meet forge( which is a mutant disguised as a sort of human tony stark) he provides a cerebro which is able to locate the omega mutant. Right this second, cameron hodge and the Right robodudes break in and fight the mutants, they escape and teleport to scotland using forge's tech. He is left behind and dies.
In scotland they find the omega mutant is in a building owned by a genetic reasearch company. Stryker and his purifiers arrive to fight the mutants. Stryker and gang are winning until proteus whick looks like a corpse flies to the sky, says: "fok off" and turn all the purifiers to dust.
Proteus agrees to help the mutants but he needs a susteinable body. Gang agrees to let him stay in cables body beacuse aperannetly his genetic material had the potential to be "perfect".
After an emotinal scene proteus is in cable and transforms to this childlike vampire with whiteskin, red eyes and wearing a tuxedo foe kids( idk it cute okayyy).
X gang teleports to new york sewer base only to find it all burned and the children dead( r.i.p). They go up to street level to find bastion and LOT of nimrods hunting down civies which has mutant potential. We can see the academy x kids(rockslide, bling, mercury, hellion, anole, loa, blindfold, omega kid and more..) try to fight the baddies. BTW all the nimrods are coming fron a mother mold which sits on the empire states.
RACHEL SUMMERS says/yells psychicaly:TO ME MY XMEN. Heroic hype music plays as all the mutants gather around rachel summers , they cahrge the nimrods and a huge mutant vs nimrods happens. Rachel sees they are loaing and summons from across time: rogue, iceman, cyclops, jean grey, archangel, beast, kitty pryde, colossus, gambit,nightcrawler, new mutants crew, x factor crew, maybe deadpool, and magneto. Apperantly these dudes are also from adystopic future like xforce's, rachel psychicaly updates them on the situation. Anyway alot of epic scenes later the mutants destroy the mother mold and nimrods turn to nanobot dust.
However bastion is still active and super strong. In the break from fighting Hope, proteus and rachel hold hands inside a force sphere, they combine powers, do a hype light show which causes mutations around the world to form. Bastion is destroyed from the lightshow and nimrods are deactivated again.
Epilouge: Mutants are recognised as a new endangered species. They are given a huge tropical island near sinfapore by the name of "krakoa" to form their owm nation.
X corp is founded by almost unlimited founding of the u.n , x corp's mission is to help mutants find their way to krakoa. The soldier are called: x men.
Aftet credit scene: forge managed to survive but has a prosthetic leg and arm. He talk to amutant named cypher. Forge says: so what do you think?also show him desighns of danger room Cypher: yea the programing is a bit complex but i can make it work...btw do you hear it? Forge: hear what? Cypher: its faint...but the ground... i think it speaks.
the end idk how it works legally but all rights are reserved for me
feel free to leave feedback( im sure there is alot) i thought this plot during an accounting lecture so this is really not a special project or something

I have my UJS scheduled in a couple of weeks so I am starting to get supplies for the post-op now. I feel like I'm anxiously trying to buy everything out there and I don't know if I'm getting things/spending unnecessarily. I did some searching in the subreddit and on google so I came up with an exhaustive list.
Existing items: - Water flosser - Q tips
I've spent about 35€/37USD in total on the following items so far, obtained from budget stores: - Small humidifier (dry climate here) + essential oil blend for breathing - Container to keep stuff - Squeeze bottles with long nozzles - Baby spoons and toothbrushes - Wet wipes (2 big packs) - A handheld mirror - Ice face mask + one hot cold compress (was considering the wrap ones but heard this is redundant for UJS, not sure if I should buy one more regular compress) - Ice roller (don't know when I can start using this though) - 2 adult bibs
Things I'm definitely buying: - Vaseline - Saline nasal spray - Swelling ointment (thinking of buying an arnica gel) - Mouthwash without alcohol - Condiment squeeze bottles (they're cheap at Ikea) - Of course my liquid food supply (e.g. soups, juices, pureed foods, etc.)
Things I'm contemplating on buying: - Bed tray (14€ from ikea) - A supply caddy (10€ from ikea, the one you can fit in corners i.e. VESKEN) - A pack of four 60ml syringes with tubes/hoses (11€, not sure if I'm being overkill with this additional to the squeeze bottles) - Breathe right nose trips (11,50€ pack of 30 strips, unnecessary with the humidifier, decongestants and sprays?) - Nasal suction bulbs, the one they use on babies (5€, again is this overkill?) - Button up shirts/shirts easy to put on and take off - Wedge pillow (40€) - this would be the biggest splurge and I'm not sure because it would be not much of a use later
Supplements I'm considering buying (this probably will be the bulk of the $$): - Magnesium - Curcuma - B complex - K Vitamin - Or some combination of the above - Protein shakes/meal replacement shakes (I heard protein shakes should not replace meals though)
Tldr: 1. Will I be unnecessarily spending? Or am I being too stingy with my money and well-being, considering I only pay an estimated 1000€ out of pocket for the surgery itself? I.e. Screw it, health/comfort is wealth.

1. What items I'm considering are must-haves in your opinion? And what is unnecessary?
   
2. Anything I missed?
   

Hello. My mother is 62 years old. She stopped worked about 14 years ago, and her boyfriend paid for everything. And before then, she hadn't paid her own bills for about 10 years. Her boyfriend was an accountant so he just handled on the money.
Her boyfriend dies. Leaves no will. He was never officially divorced, and while we tried to get anything from the estate, we were lost and my mother got nothing other than a couple thousand they had in a shared account.
Sucks and all, but here is where it has become incredibly difficult. My mother has no skills. Right now she works part time at a grocery store and they keep cutting her hours to try and save money. She wont work anywhere else because she doesn't want to drive too far from home. She has a mortgaged home, which I've been paying the mortgage and utilities on recently. But she still keeps running danger close to running out of money. She's a chain smoker, and no matter how much I plead with her, she wont stop. She also spends money on Facebook games, again, I constantly plead her to stop, I've even taken her cards off her account and locked her devices, but she still finds a way to spend money on them. She's mentally ill and wont stop. She has no family other than me, but she wont listen to me. Another thing she does is constantly buy ice cream as a comfort food. Specifically those jugs of Ben and Jerry's, which are really expensive for ice cream.
I'm currently deployed with the Army. I'm forcing her to sell her house when I get back, but I don't know what to do after that, no do I know how much we'll get for it because the house has a lot of problems and of course wretchedly smells like cigarette smoke. I want to help her, but she continues these self destructive behaviors and wont listen to anyone. I've tried getting her to call social workers, but she will call one, and then wont return their calls for months because she's too stressed from working. She's old and hasn't worked in forever, so of course grocery store work is destroying her physically. Not eating right and smoking aren't helping. She told me she actually wont drink water at work because she's afraid to use the bathroom at work. She's probably constantly in pain just from dehydration causing all sorts of problems. It feels like trying to take care of a child. She just refuses to be an adult, and I know if I stop helping her, she'll lose everything and be on the streets pretty quickly.
I just don't know what to do. I don't make enough money to continue supporting her much longer, I'm not a successful person. I've been getting closer and closer to suicide every passing week. I even tell her she's causing me to be extremely depressed, she doesn't care. The doctors put her on anti depressants, and it seems to make her even more disconnected from the real world. She needs a caretaker, but it can't be me. I'll end up killing myself trying to deal with her insanity. I personally think her bullshit pushed her boyfriend to a heart attack. Now that I'm dealing with it, it feels like he go the easy way out.
I just want to help her. I don't know why. Everyone tells me she's a cancer to me, but I can't just let someone lose everything. Part of this is probably my own fault. I should have stepped in sooner after her boyfriend died.

I graduated from a community college during the peak of COVID with an associates degree in business administration and zero real work experience, plus was laid off from my retail job shortly after. Despite the odd against me and people telling me to complete more college or settle for trade job, that shit motivated me. Searching for a job and plotting on how I was going to start and create the life I wanted to live. I was working out, meditating and reading daily, I was sober and didn't leave the house for almost a year, saving/investing and only focused on growing.
Few months later I leave the US for a marketing job in the UK, now I'm not making anywhere near crazy money but its enough for me to live and is a huge step up from where I was especially for my age. My problem is that now that I have an "acceptable job" I have lost the motivation to progress, I finally have that job I don't have to be embarrassed about. The work is ok, definitely not fulfilling but it keeps me busy and allows me to eat. But I'm even more lost, I moved to a whole other country, got a job I was searching for but I now spend my time working all week and my weekends partying, drinking excessively and blowing money. What the fuck? I feel like another person, I always wanted to have fun but I know I'm fucking up my future, I was a completely different person less then a year ago, yet to everyone looking from the outside I'm doing so well. People don't seem to realize a few months ago I was a college student watching cartoons in moms basement. I miss my family, I miss my simple life and I don't know what to strive for anymore. I never really saw my life outside the US so my vision for the future is even more blurry. I feel like the only thing driving .me now is chasing women, probably due to the fact I'm a bit lonely. I know this might come off as a rant and to be honest it is. I needed to say this shit out loud. Is this what becoming an "adult" is? Is the the amazing 9-5 office job schools portrayed? I feel like im living in an shitty low budget version of Wolf Of Wall Street and its killing me. Any guidance/experience would help. Thanks 😊

TW - SA, CSA, physical abuse, emotional abuse, religious trauma/upbringing
I often remember different things from my life that absolutely disgust me.
One time as a child, I was at a cardiologist appointment (due to my congenital heart disease) and for whatever reason the nurse stayed in the room when I was changing into the provided hospital gown. She kept saying how beautiful my breasts were....
And at some point in elementary school, I was forced by the nurse to take my shirt off during a scoliosis test because I wore a top with a training bra rather than an actual bra. I tried covering up but was told to move my arms. She just didn't care that I was uncomfortable.
I remember being terrified of getting spanked whenever I knew I'd get in trouble with my parents, specifically by my dad's belt. But I don't actually remember a time where it did happen (to me at least). It's likely I was threatened with it a bunch, or maybe even spanked and blocked the memory.
Though I do remember a few years ago that my dad was pissed at my brother for whatever reason, and he had stormed into my brother's room and suddenly started hitting him with a belt. We were all adults by this point....
I vaguely remember my siblings and I being brought to the office in elementary school and being asked if our parents ever hit us. My twin and I had laughed and demonstrated small slaps on our hands, but our older sister told us to stop laughing. Idk when I realized that was probably CPS...
During highschool I found out due to being in an IEP meeting that I have dyscalculia. My case manager was shocked that I hadn't known. Later I asked my parents why they never told, and they just assumed I knew. And yet they - mainly my mom - shamed me for being confused by math concepts and any other difficulty I had from being neurodivergent. I then found out a year later that I have adhd, and no one thought to see if I had known about that the previous year. Also when I was getting evaluated for autism last year, my dad straight up said that in his opinion I wasn't autistic - as if he were a professional in the subject. Turns out I am on the spectrum.
As a teen and just after high school, my older sister would smack my butt and constantly talk about it. I remember calling her a pervert and she just laughed. At one point I had a panic attack over it....it was the final straw that lead to me going to a behavioral health hospital for a week. I couldn't stand to let her to see me undress for years after that, even if I needed help with getting a dress on or something, I'd never go to her because of that.
And through my entire adolescence and current adulthood my family has been obsessed with my breasts being huge. At this point, they've gotten worse. My parents and older sister have been forcing me to get a reduction when I want a radical reduction. At one point I considered top surgery. But they've said how it doesn't make sense and that I wouldn't look normal, and that if I'm not getting this reduction I'm not getting anything and I'll just stay as is....I don't currently have a choice because my dads insurance is paying for the procedure (and he'll have to pay whatever the insurance doesn't).
My being nonbinary doesn't matter to them, they think it's nonsensical and that I'm confused.
Man, even my aunt's bring up my needing a reduction....And according to my older sister everyone in the family is waiting for me to get it.
And then one particular day I had walked into the kitchen and my dad immediately exclaimed "hello big titties". As if that's a normal thing to say to your child - to your perceived daughter.
Just. What the fuck was all of this.....
And ugh, I can't forget that my parents are conservative evangelicals that would probably throw me out if they learned that I'm not necessarily Christian anymore....been debating on the existence of god as a whole. Maybe they exist, but I doubt it's the horrid Christian one....
Most if not all of the way my parents (and older sister) treat me is because they're Christian...
Honestly I just want to get out of here....But I can't go on Medicaid until after I get the reduction, otherwise dad's insurance won't pay for any of it. Once I'm able to, I'm going on Medicaid so I can get through the process of finding affordable housing. Hopefully my twin and I can escape together...

Disclaimer: I do not own Bayonetta in any shape or form. It belongs to Sega and Platinum and is published by Nintendo. Moving on, if you believe Bayonetta 1-3 are considered adult, insane, and over-the-top, then prepare yourself because this outline will go full throttle and hold nothing back. The plot outlines that I have planned for "Bayonetta 4" will be insane and push boundaries that I don't think any Bayonetta game has done thus far in absurdity and graphic violence. So please, prepare yourself for the insanity that is about to unfold before reading.
Bayonetta 4 Compendium
Prologue Part III Finale (2/2):
Heaven's Feel: The Outbreak of War Begins
The screen pans out to reveal multiple Sin Demons in the distance headed towards the aircraft, some even materializing on the very roof that the duo stood on.
"Are those-?!" Jeanne questioned, mouth agape.
"Sin Demons" Viola interrupts.
"They're all Sin Demons. I don't how or why, but if they get in our way, we cut them down!"
"Alright then, I suppose that this moment calls for special back up," Jeanne declared, turning her hips to summon a Umbran headset.
It was time to talk with the pilot.
"Enzo, I think you've earned a reward for having followed all of my orders-! I'll be granting you full access to all the missiles on this lovely slayer of mine!"
She then raised her left hand all the way up, sassily snapping her fingers.
VOOSH!
The screen shows multiple missile launchers loaded with AGM-114 Hellfire's springing out from the sides of the aircraft as well as the undercarriage opening, revealing a huge, M134 Machine Gun.
Enzo's voice could be heard panicking from the headset.
"What the FUCK?! I don't know how-!"
"There's a small pamphlet underneath your seat with all the necessary instructions. Read that and you'll be learning in no time!" Jeanne elegantly retorted.
Enzo grumbled to himself, scrambling to find the pamphlet. It was either that or death via plane crash.
Heaven's Feel: The Outbreak of War Ends
Heaven's Feel: Come on, Make your Move Begins
The screen cuts to Jeanne and Viola, readying themselves for battle!
The Sin Demons on the roof have fully materialized, taking their first few steps before shrieking at the duo.
The Book of Infernal Demons then appears on screen, revealing new entries: "Devourer of Will: Sin Apathy", "Wailer of Lament: Sin Despair", "Feaster of Petrification: Sin Fury", and "Husk of Boundless Animosity: Sin Spite".
Sin Apathy: It has a male, pitch-black body with draconic features, red eyes, and a black miasma surrounding it. It is able to stretch out it arms and use its venom-covered claws to dig into its enemies, inflicting a special poison capable of draining its victims will to live and organ failure.
Sin Despair: It has a tall, abnormally thin, female figure, with pale skin, dirty white hair, red eyes, and long red claws. It is constantly wailing and crying tears of blood from its torn-off face and becomes unhinged when approached. It is a vicious killing machine that uses ultra-sonic screams, and endlessly swipes at its enemies with its claws.
Sin Fury: It is a wyvern now, capable of releasing poisoned, black thorns that makes its enemy sluggish. Moreover, they're able to traverse through its environment at faster speeds because of their large wings. Lastly, its eye has been enhanced, being able to release magical shots that can permanently petrify opponents.
Sin Spite: It has a tall, bulky, male figure, with small, red wings, a long red tail, and red, scaley-skin. Additionally, it carries a golden trident capable of releasing waves of energy. It has black eyes and is able to gape its mouth at terrifying degrees, revealing the multitude of sharp teeth that it uses to chomp it enemies.
The book then closes before heading straight for the camera, cutting back to Jeanne and Viola.
Their backs are side-to-side as they pass through blood-red, demon-infested skies!
"We've got work to do!!" Jeanne screamed, summoning All 4 One!
"I couldn't have said it better myself!!"Viola yells, taking out Mab Dachi from its scabbard on her back.
Heaven's Feel: Come on, Make your Move Ends
Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness Metal
The screen then shows the duo separate to fight their own enemies.
Jeanne is lunged upon by four Sin Despairs in the air. They intend to gouge her eyes out and dismember her limb-by-limb!
"You bitches think you've got a chance?! Then so be it!!" she yelled, shooting multiple charge shots at them!
Almost all of them were disoriented, but one had dodged all the bullets, going ahead of the rest to kill Jeanne. However, it was met with an unexpected Heel Stomp from Jeanne that smacked it from above and onto the ground!
"You ugly bitch!" Jeanne yelled, running to the Sin Demon before using Combo 15!
During this, Jeanne was continuously pistol whipping the Sin Despair, releasing a Wicked Weave that knocked the demon up into the air before following it up with a devastating Wicked Weave that kicked it off the roof!
Despite this, Jeanne was not out of the clear as other Sin Despairs had regained their balance, now closing the gap with her as they prepared an ultra-sonic scream!
"HAAAA!!!"
"Shut the FUCK UP!" Jeanne retorted, jumping into the air before using Concussion Step to slam their asses to the side!
After that, she used Blink Charge to reach one of four Sin Fury's flying in the air, gracefully Air Kicking it down. However, when she landed on the floor, two of them descended upon her, shooting out balls of purple energy from their eyes!
"Hah! You worthless vermin!" Jeanne taunted, dodging at the last second before transforming into a kettle of red moths.
Ding!
Witch Time was now active as the colors of environment became a transparent purple and Jeanne sped up.
First, she used Full Moon Shoot to launch the Sin Fury that she knocked down into the air before using Tetsuzanko to push it towards the two Sin Fury's headed towards her. Then, she used Blink Charge again to reach that same demon, using Astounding Touch to kill the three with multiple punches!
Afterwards, she quickly used Heel Stomp on the remaining Sin Fury to get it onto the floor before using Gut Wrench Heel to finish it off!
FWOOSH!
Witch Time had ended as the colors of environment returned to normal and Jeanne landed on the floor.
The screen then showed five Sin Spites releasing spouts of red water from their mouths towards Jeanne!
However, she remained calm and poised, leaping into the air to avoid the oncoming explosions before yelling aloud with a powerful pose!
"ZILDAR VPAAH!"
Suddenly, a demonic bird had pierced clouds in the sky before descending onto the roof of the aircraft, opening its massive wings. It released a gust of wind that sent multiple Sin Spites flying backwards!
"So much for 'Sin Demon', how pathetic!" Jeanne laughed, gently touching Malphas as he vanished into particles.
The screen then cut to the front of the aircraft to show missiles being launched at Sin Demons in the sky, resulting in a never-ending number of explosions. Meanwhile, the M134 Machine Gun, was gunning down multiple Sin Demons that approached the aircraft!
Enzo is then shown in the pilot's seat growling as he pressed multiple buttons.
"TASTE THIS MOTHERFUCKERS!!"
BOOSH!
BOOSH!
BRRRRRT!!!
As for Viola, she was dealing with her own set of enemies.
Three Sin Spite's had released turquoise, diagonal slashes of energy towards her from their tridents in the air!
"Not on my watch!" she yelled, jumping into the air to avoid the attack.
She then used Shredder to reach the Sin Spite in the middle, quickly using After Burner Kick to stun it. Afterwards, she jumped on its body, going directly above it to use Star in the Black.
"These fuckers have nothing on me!" she excitedly yelled, releasing a barrage of darts that exploded on impact!
BOOM!
The Sin Spite's went down hard as the explosion damaged their wings!
Viola then aimed Mab Dachi downward, readily preparing her next attack!
"Time to die, baby!" she shouted, using Hungry Hi-Hat as she landed onto the roof of the aircraft, puncturing it with her katana!
Cheshire's ginormous head was seen coming out from a demonic portal and straight into the air! He had a devilish grin on his face, mouth drooling at the sight of the delicious feast that Viola had prepared for him!
The screen then cuts to three Sin Spites comedically trying to avoid his mouth. However, all attempts failed as his mouth grew wider in size. Afterall, Sin Demons were "beyond a delicacy" in Inferno, Cheshire thought. He didn't know when he would be able to devour one again. So, he wouldn't let a single drop of blood go to waste as the Sin Spites landed into his hypnotic mouth.
CRUNCH!!
CRUNCH!!
GULP!
Cheshire is seen wiping blood off his lips with joy before disappearing into particles.
Afterwards, Viola heads towards Mab Dachi, pulling it out from the roof before feeling a sudden stinging sensation on her back.
In response, she quickly does a back walkover, turning her head mid-air to see a Sin Despair.
"Jeez, these guys are aggressive!" she thought.
She then proceeded to sweep kick the Sin Despair, seeing it fall flat on its face before using Tom Tom Balloon to launch it in air!
Then she used Combo 11, following it up with a perfectly timed Bass Boost that thrusted the Sin Demon onto a group of Sin Apathy's as they stretched their hands towards Viola.
"I don't think so, assholes!"
CRASH!
All the Sin Demons were knocked down onto the floor. However, Viola wasn't done, Cheshire still had to have his fun.
"CHESHIRE!" she shouted, throwing Mab Dachi onto the floor.
A huge portal then formed from where the Katana landed. Cheshire emerging from it soon after!
He looked onward at the sight with jubilation before making a tall jump in the air. All he needed was one good pounce to end these Sin Demons!
So, he readied a new attack, Blue Tenka (点火). He would engulf himself with blue flames, turning into a ticking time bomb that would detonate the second he slammed onto something. Now, it would render him temporarily unavailable as he would die. However, his knack for theatrics made him want to take out his enemies with a bang.
”Knock'em them dead, Cheshire!” Viola screamed.
The screen then showed the Sin Despair and group of Sin Apathy looking at Cheshire’s ignited body with horror as he drew closer to them.
All Cheshire could do was look at their faces was a cheeky grin.
“It's over for these chumps!” he thought.
BOOM!!
A multitude of Sin Apathy’s flew off of the aircraft while others suffered a most horrible execution.
“Woo-hoo!” Viola cheered, giving Cheshire a thumbs up before running towards Mab Dachi to regroup with Jeanne.
Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness Ends
Heaven's Feel: He goes, She goes Begins
The screen begins to pan out from the aircraft, revealing that the trio was within proximity to the red creature. However, the atmosphere was becoming more unnervingly tense, the closer they got.
Furthermore, Jeanne and Viola were surprised when they saw various Sin Demons emerging from the red creature. It was almost as if the creature itself was a conductor of sorts, serving as an alternative to the Human World than those of the Gates.
Eerily enough, however, there was another situation at hand as hordes of Sin Demons had ceased to pursue them and were retreating.
The screen shows all the Sin Demons heads towards to the creature before getting into a strange formation and flying in place. They were now facing the trio with stoic expressions and readied battle stances.
"This behavior is... unnatural, especially for that of a demon. Why are they acting as its guards?" Jeanne questioned.
"Do they not want us to reach that thing all the way in the back that badly?" Viola replied.
Despite this, the duo became more preoccupied the entities head, realizing how it was solely focused on them. The Golem mask had no eyes, but the red Core at the center was shifting to indicate that it was looking at the aircraft.
Viola couldn't help but feel shivers down her spine at the unsettling sight.
"Jesus Christ... What the hell is all this?" Viola yelped, gasping at the sight.
As for Jeanne, she didn't know what to make of the situation. She was too busy analyzing the entity as best she could and was stunned by what she was saw at the very top. It was a golem, one that had shaped itself into that of a mask.
"What is this thing? I've never seen anything like it. Let alone the fact that it uses a Golem. However, that shouldn't be possible. Not without-! "
GARGLE!
GARGLE!
Heaven's Feel: He goes, She goes Ends
Heavens Feel: What Else, We Can Do? Begins
The screen shows to the shocked expressions of the duo as the entity began charging up an attack. Its body began to repeat the motion of an ocean wave. Then, a huge, demonic portal appeared from above the creature!
As a result, the two began feeling a strange sensation in their stomach's before starting to gag and fall on the floor. They felt their vision begin to blur, a loud ringing sound in their ears, and magic being sapped from their bodies.
"What is...happening?!" Viola sputtered, trying to cover her ears with her hands.
"Ugghh! This damned...monster!" Jeanne coughed out, hearing disconnected spurts of a distorted, female voice chanting in Enochian.
"DO O IA █ █ █ █ █ █... EGELIRCAS ECIFIRCAS... FAFEN NIIS!!!"
The screen then cut to the entity becoming a vibrant red before thin, slime tentacles emerged from its body, lengthening in size as they soar to multiple Sin Demons, touching their backs and merging with them!
The screen then cut to a Sin Insidious glowing a shiny red before growing even larger in size as red, metallic armor encased it.
The distorted female voice could be heard giggling before fading away, along with the demonic portal.
The screen then shows the terrifying face of a Sacrilege Insidious before cutting to the Book of Infernal Demons opening. It turned all the way to the end, revealing that page entries have been ripped off. The book closes thereafter as it cuts to the duo.
Suddenly, a loud screeching could be heard from all the Sacrilege Demons as they beamed towards the aircraft, making their way to it!
Meanwhile, Enzo remained unaffected by the strange sickness inflicted upon Jeanne and Viola, becoming distraught at the sight. He was screaming at the top of his lungs by what he was witnessing!
So, he began to check up on Jeanne and Viola, hearing them groaning in agony.
"Are you guys, ok?!! Jeanne?! Viola?! Answer me dammit, please!!" he shouted.
"We have to get OUT OF HERE!!"
The two were beginning to stand up as the pain in their stomachs subsided now that the voice was gone.
"Ugh! That was awful..." Viola said, picking herself up before looking at the entity.
"AAAAHHHH!!!" she shrieked, voice cracking as she stared at the Sacrilege Demons headed towards them!
"We have to get out of here*-*!"
Heavens Feel: What Else, We Can Do? Ends
The All-American Rejects: Real World Begins
"No! This is where we make our final stand Viola! The lives that have been lost can't be for naught!! This ends now!!" Jeanne interrupts, declaring her intentions before striking a pose, uniform coming undone!
"BRANSG ZUMVI!!!"
A portal appeared on the roof as a torrent of her hair went into it. Then, another portal formed in front of the aircraft as a huge, vicious turtle began pulling itself out of the portal.
The screen then cuts to the Book of Infernal Demons. It opens up to reveal one of Jeanne's new allies, "Deceiver of the Seas: Aspidochelone". It is a humongous, ungodly looking, dark-green turtle with a spiked shell, razor-sharp teeth, and black eyes.
"Go as fast as you can Enzo! It's time to go FULL THROTTLE!!!" she shrieked into her microphone.
Suddenly, the aircraft began accelerating to absurd speeds as a demonic portal beneath the demon disappeared and was replaced with an Umbran portal. This, in conjunction with the speed at which the aircraft went, kept the demon in place.
However, Jeanne wasn’t done yet. At the snap of her fingers, the Umbran portal began rapidly spinning, turning the demon into a makeshift drill. One that would ram down all the Sacrilege Demons that stood in their way!
She then began instructing Enzo to avoid a place crash.
"Follow my orders Enzo! If I say 'up' you go up, if I say 'left' you go left. Got that?!"
"YES!!" he obediently responded.
"Good!" Jeanne replied, turning to face a surprised Viola.
"As for you Viola, you're going to need to hold on tight!" she said, making a dramatic pose before staring at the red creature in the distance.
"If these mothafuckas won't give us an opening, then I'll make my own!!"
The screen then pans out in a manner similar to Space Harrier, showing the aircraft flying towards the red entity as Aspidochelone mowed down various Sacrilege Demons.
Meanwhile, Jeanne was making dramatic quotes as she ordered Enzo to move all throughout the sky, bobbing and weaving as she delivered Wicked Weaves with Madama Styx in a QTE to knockback Sacrilege Demons that approached the aircraft from its sides. As for Viola and Enzo, they were hanging on for dear life, wondering how Bayonetta and Jeanne did this for years on end.
Eventually, they reach the boss at the end, Sacrilege Insidious. He was more deadly than before, but Jeanne was not one to back down from a fight no matter how strong an enemy was.
It began to shoot ginormous, red lasers from the ends of its six wings towards the aircraft, all of which were dodged at the last second thanks to Jeanne's masterful instructions, leading to Witch Time.
Jeanne then closed the gap between the aircraft and the abhorrent demon to pierce its large, third eye.
This cycle would repeat itself until six eyeballs, each belonging to one wing, would start attacking the aircraft. In this case, when one eye approached, Enzo would use the aircraft's missiles and minigun to briefly stun the eye.
Afterwards, Jeanne would use multiple Wicked Weaves to punch the eye before ripping it from its socket and crushing it a gush of blood.
Later, when the last eyeball was removed, Jeanne figured that it would be a good time to end the monstrosity for good!
"Viola! What I'm about to do is very dangerous, I need you to protect me at all costs!" she shouted at a nauseous Viola.
"Yes Jeanne!" Viola replied, hands on her knees as she tried to keep her body standing.
Thankfully, she recovered in time, taking out Mab Dachi and preparing herself for enemies.
"Hopefully this will end all the shit that's been going on" she thought.
The screen then cuts to Jeanne as she prepares herself for the Demon Sin Ritual, Aspidochelone vanishing soon after.
"DO O IA JEANNE. CNILA D COMSELHA ODO ANANAEL. TURBS C BABLON ZONAC CIAOFI BALZARG. FAFEN NIIS!!" she screams, ripping her heart out as her costume comes undone.
She then begins to dance in a sensual manner, breaking it down and doing a split.
The All-American Rejects: Real World Ends
Bayonetta 3: Queen Magick Begins
Suddenly, a giant portal appears from behind the aircraft!
Queen Styx was then seen flying out of it with her butterfly wings in a horizontal manner, making her way towards the Sacrilege Insidious!
It was in that moment that a QTE appeared. Queen Styx began brutally pummeling the Sacrilege Insidious with her fists, gouging it large, third eye with both of her hands!
Then, she would begin tearing the Sacrilege Demon apart, ripping it in half!
PSSHH!!
The Sacrilege Insidious cried out its last breath by dying. However, Queen Styx was far from done from done!
She would use this opportunity to strike the red creature with the remains of the demon she killed!
Queen Styx slammed the slabs of meat against the red entity!
BAM!
BOOSH!!
The screen shows the creature remain standing, but its body was viciously trembling now. The core was now eyeing Queen Styx with hatred as she began taunting it with a stylish dance, ending off with a dramatic pose.
So, it began sending even more Sacrilege Demons towards her as she got up from the floor and began charging a purple Kamehameha. The Sacrilege Demons began picking away at Queen Styx's skin, but she didn't care. Jeanne gave her an order and she will follow it through to the end.
"KA...ME...HA...ME...HAAA!!!!" Queen Styx screamed, unleashing a humongous ray of energy close to point-blank range!
All that could be seen now was a gigantic, purple explosion eviscerating the red creature in its entirety, leaving behind an immense black mark on the ground as clouds of smoke and fire billowed in the air.
Or, at least, that was what Jeanne had hoped for...
Bayonetta 3: Queen Magick Ends
Heavens Feel: I Beg You (Instrumental) Begins
The red creature remained untouched…
The attack had failed to leave even a single dent on it!
Jeanne was left aghast at the site!
"How could it have failed?" she quietly stated, shock overwhelming her.
She started going pale, almost falling to the floor before Viola caught her in her time.
"It failed. I failed..." Jeanne repeated to herself over and over again.
"Jeanne! You have to snap out of it! Please!!" Viola cried out, voice going unheard.
In the Platinum Witch's mind, all she could think about was how one of her strongest attacks had failed. How Cereza, her best friend, her Umbran sister, would have overcome the fear that entered her body the moment she heard about Sacrilege Demons. How Cereza would have taken out the monstrosity with a blaze of glory. Not making a single mistake in the process. Cereza would not have failed the way she did!
"Cer...e...za..." Jeanne stuttered in a dream-like state.
All Viola could do was hold her as she stared at the escalating situation between Queen Styx and the red creature.
It had gone awry the moment Jeanne stopped dancing. Troops of Sacrilege Demons had begun attacking a vulnerable Queen Styx and feasting on her flesh!
She tried to wave them away with her arms but was overwhelmed. Moreover, two Sacrilege Insidious had emerged from the red entity, ready for revenge after Queen Styx slaughtered one of its brethren.
They released red lasers from the ends of their wings, striking her in the face!
"AAAHHH!!" she cried out, pools of blood pouring from her eyes as the lasers permanently blinded her.
However, it was this scream that snapped Jeanne out of her state. She began raising herself off the floor with Viola's help before looking on with terror, realizing that she had to do something now or risk Queen Styx dying!
"You bastards!! You'll PAY for this!!!" she shouted, gripping her heart even tighter and dancing with vigor.
Queen Styx was rejuvenated with strength and began to blindly claw away at her enemies with her nails with excessive force. She even attempted to use Royal Escort to keep some of the enemies at bay.
However, she was quickly stung by one of the tails of a Sacrilege Insidious, interrupting her attack.
This did not go unnoticed by the red entity as it decided to take advantage of the situation.
First, it released a red force field from its body, spreading throughout the vicinity before fading away.
Viola had noticed this, seeing the Sacrilege Demon become enraged.
"Great! As if shit wasn't bad enough already!" she complained.
Afterwards, the creature began using the slime beneath Queen Styx to shoot out immense slime tentacles to immobilize her.
One had immediately come out from behind, wrapping itself around her neck and pulling back with tremendous force!
She groaned in agony, startled by the sudden attack. However, the red creature wasn't done yet.
Queen Styx was struck again by other tentacles from all angles!
Two had latched themselves around her wrists while another four enveloped her waist, pulling her down and onto her knees.
"AAAHHH!!" she moaned, Sacrilege Demons eating away alive!
Jeanne was infuriated at the sight, gritting her teeth with such force that she could feel some break!
She would do everything possible to free Queen Styx and proceeded to screech the loudest she ever had!
"DESCEND TO DARKNESS!!!"
Her dancing became more rigorous and provocative than ever before as panic seeped into her body, painfully invigorating her muscles to free Queen Styx!
The screen then cut to Queen Styx resisting the restraints, managing to crush the tentacles on her wrists with her hands.
She was beginning to set herself free now. Things were finally turning up for her.
Heavens Feel: I Beg You (Instrumental) Ends
Ferry Corsten: Fire (Mike on Fire Ver.) Begins at 0:55
Meanwhile, Viola was left to deal with various Sacrilege Demons were able to land on the aircraft.
She was exhausted beyond belief but knew that she had to fight. It was that or have her soul mercilessly consumed. So, readied Mab Dachi and goes to strike a Sacrilege Fury.
However, the katana bounced off the demon as if it were invulnerable, leaving no mark on it.
"Holy shit! What are these guys made of?! " She exclaims, switching to her pistols before shooting the Sacrilege Fury.
DING!
TANG!
CLACK!
All of the bullets had ricocheted off the armor of the Sacrilege Fury.
Viola stared at the uninjured Sacrilege Demon with hopelessness, looking around as more began to surround her and Jeanne. However, she remembered would happen if she faltered now.
"Who will protect Jeanne if I'm down for the count?! Everything is riding on me now! I have to act quick or risk everything falling apart!" she thought.
So, Viola deciding that it was now time to use her fairy form, taking Mab Dachi out.
"Daddy, please give me strength!" she pleaded, stabbing herself in the stomach!
The screen then pans out to reveal a blinding light engulf Viola before revealing new fairy design. Her fur body was a mauve purple while her long hair was a seashell pink color. Furthermore, the stained-glass on her body were shades of the colors red, pink, and yellow. Lastly, the stained glass from her face was now gone and refitted as a gorgeous diadem on her forehead.
"It's time to get down to business!" she shouted, teleporting through various Sacrilege Demons to get to the middle of the roof before using Combo 2 to stun lock all of them at once!
Then, she teleported again to reach a Sin Fury in the air, using Combo 1 to stagger it before jumping off of its body to show off a new move, Crystal Drive.
The screen shows Viola create a large crystal in her hands with magic before throwing it down into the ground, impaling a Sacrilege Demon onto the floor. This is a process that she would repeat multiple times, sporadically teleporting from place to place and striking at different angles. However, it would all be aimed at the spot that she first struck.
Lastly, we see her teleport to the position that she first threw a crystal (briefly winking at the camera) before creating another crystal, one larger than the rest, and throwing it down to deal the finishing blow!
BOOM!
CRASH!!
The sounds of glass breaking could be heard as the impact from the last crystal caused a white explosion that sent multiple Sacrilege Demons off the roof!
”How’d you like that?!" Viola taunted, satisfied with herself.
Despite this, some Sacrilege Spites and Apathy’s had remained on the roof, but it wasn’t something that Viola couldn’t handle.
So, she teleported to one of the Sin Spites before having to dodge in the nick of time.
“Perfect!” She thought, preparing to make use of Witch Time.
Except, there was no Witch Time...
“What the-!” she shouted, faltering in attack before a Sacrilege Spite slammed her with its large tail.
Ferry Corsten: Fire (Mike on Fire Ver.) Ends
H. O. T. D: 07 Pursuit Begins
The attack was so strong that it deactivated Viola’s transformation and sent her flying towards Jeanne, knocking her down and onto the side the aircraft!
They were now hanging onto the aircraft’s railings as Sacrilege Demons began inching closer to them, resulting in the aircraft tilting to the side.
Enzo could even be heard yelling through the Jeanne’s microphone.
”What the hell is going on?! Why is this fucking thing TILTING?!” he raged, questions going unanswered.
Jeanne and Viola were now dangling on the plane's railing, arguing with each other.
"VIOLA!" Jeanne angrily yelled, grabbing onto the railing with her left hand and wrapping her right arm over it. She still had her heart in her hand and didn’t want to risk dropping it.
"What the fuck did you do?!"
"I don't know, ok!!" Viola yelled.
"I tried to use Witch Time, but it didn't work! It's like someone deactivated it or some shit!"
Jeanne could only roll her eyes in disappointment before seeing Queen Styx failing again. She had been so close to removing the bounds off her body. Now, that would never come to be.
However, the duo had more immediate matters to attend as Sacrilege Demons were almost upon them. They figured that they had to jump and fly to safety.
Although, it wasn’t until Jeanne tried summoning her butterfly wings that she was unable to.
“What the-?! I can’t… I can’t summon my wings!” Jeanne shouted with grave concern.
Viola tried to do the same with her fairy wings, but also couldn’t summon them.
The two had realized that they were in an even bigger predicament than before. Certain abilities of theirs were being disabled and they didn’t know how!
Jeanne and Viola tired selves could only look down at the red slime, seeing that it had almost engulfed the entire city beyond a fifty-mile radius. There was no time to think as Sacrilege Demons were ready to kill the two. They had to jump now!
So, they looked at each other with nodding heads and let go, bracing for impact as they went straight down!
BOOM!!
The screen pans out to reveal that Angel Slayer V4 had been blown to bits in a blaze of fire!
“ENZO!!!” the two screamed, worrying for his safety!
Just then, they see a mysterious figure briskly emerging from the explosion, flying towards them at the speed of sound.
H. O. T. D: 07 Pursuit Ends
H. O. T. D: 22 Saeko Shows Up Begins
"Rodin!" Viola gleefully yelled, noticing that Enzo was holding onto his legs.
The two take a sigh of relief before Rodin catches each of them under his arms.
“Thank you! You have no idea how much we needed this!“ Viola says.
”It’s my pleasure Viola,” he graciously replied.
However, Jeanne remained suspicious of his actions.
”Rodin, while I do appreciate the rescue, you’ve never been one to get involved. What changed?“ she questioned.
“Look, I don’t normally do this shit, just think of it a one-time exception. I’m doing it because I saw what you guys are up against. It isn’t pretty,” he answers.
”Can we please find somewhere to land?! Unlike you guys, I don’t magical powers to save my ass!” Enzo complained.
“Will you please shut your loud ass mouth up?! Don’t think I forgot about-!” Rodin responds before being cutoff.
”Ok, ok, I get it! Jeez, why is everyone ganging up on me today!” Enzo yelled, quieting down afterwards.
H. O. T. D: 22 Saeko Shows Up Ends
Heaven's Feel: Fears and Hopes Begins
The screen fades to black before transitioning to a toppled building on its side, panning out to reveal the ongoing chaos in the background with the Sacrilege Demons.
The were temporarily safe now thanks to Rodin. Enzo was even kissing the ground after being in the sky for so long.
“Viola, I think you’re gonna need these,” Rodin says, summoning a purple box onto his hands.
“It’s been a while since these babies were put to work, so I guess now is as good a time as ever,” he says, offering her the box.
Viola could only stare with visible concern as tears formed in her eyes.
”Rodin, I… I don’t think I can accept these. They’re…!” she stutters.
”Viola, if Cereza gave you Cheshire, then I see no reason as to why she wouldn’t let you use her guns. If you want to complete you’re training as an Umbra Witch, accepting these guns is a necessary step,” Jeanne tells her.
”Besides, those cheap props on you won’t last another second!” she joked.
Suddenly, a comedic scene ensues where all the Viola’s props on her hands and feet fall apart into pieces.
”Tsk…shitty cheap toys…” Viola sheepishly mutters under her breath.
”I… I guess you have a point Jeanne…” she reluctantly says, turning to Rodin.
She was quiet now, thinking about the consequences of her actions. Was she ready to become an Umbra Witch? The question dawned on for some time, but she realized that it was now or never. She had to stop the red entity for good.
”Thank you Rodin. I‘ll make good us of them,” she says with a small smile on her face.
She then opens the lid and begins taking each gun out one by one, equipping them on her hands and feet. It wasn’t anything dramatic, just business as usual.
”I only wish mummy was here to see it,” she thought.
Heaven's Feel: Fears and Hopes Ends
H. O. T. D: 02 Impulse Begins
BOOSH!
The camera panned out to show Queen Styx suffering. She had fallen onto the ground again and was restrained again with double the tentacles, ensuring that there would be no escape this time.
Jeanne could only watch in horror as Queen Styx was being eaten alive by Sacrilege Demons.
Multiple thoughts ran through her head about what she could do. She could dance, place her heart back into its cavity, or-!
”My, my, how sad is it to see princess Jeanne fail again,“ a voice mocked.
Jeanne looked at the red creature with a furious expression.
The screen then cut to the face of the red creature as a distorted, female voice was emitted through the Golem and heard all throughout Manhattan.
“Poor princess Jeanne, she couldn’t save her own kind, let alone her pet. These actions are, dare I say, more worthless than even Viola. Granted, a bottom feeder such as her has no hope for a future. Nonetheless, is it so wrong to expect more from the fabled ‘Last Witch’?” the female voice giggled, sarcastically ridiculing Jeanne and Viola.
”What is this bitch’s deal?! Does she have some vendetta against us?!” Viola shouted, turning towards Jeannes.
“I could say the same! How the hell does she know about my past?! Let alone my-?!” Jeanne replied, abruptly cutoff.
”That, princess, is my secret. One for you to never find out. You’ll be long dead before that. I promise,” the female voice declared with absolute certainty, stunning the two with the threat.
“Anyhow, it's time for your pet to be put out of its misery. Sin Demons were so last fall, wouldn’t you agree?”
Suddenly, a large tentacle began emerging from the creature's body, morphing into that of a sharp blade.
“DON’T YOU DARE!!” Jeanne yelled.
However, she was ignored as the blade plunged into Queen Styx's heart, putting an end to her as she fell onto the ground, absorbed by the slime.
Jeanne exploded with a blaze of acrimony, placing her heart back in its chest!
"YOU BITCH!!" she blared, beyond furious!
Viola was stunned by the barbarity of the action, wanting revenge!
H. O. T. D: 02 Impulse Ends
Bayonetta 3: Al Fine Begins at 0:53
She and Jeanne turned to Rodin, seeing him nod his head. They were going kill this abomination now!
So, he grabbed the two and began spinning at nauseating speeds, building a strong momentum before throwing them right at the red Golem!
A QTE then appeared as Viola and Jeanne launched a constant barrage of Wicked Weaves at the red core! They were punching so hard that they broke the QTE gauge, ending their stream of attacks with a Heel Stomp from above that smashed the Golem's core into bits!
Viola and Jeanne could then hear the woman's distorted voice cursing at them through the bits of the remaining core.
“If you think this is the last of me, think again! I’ll be back!” She curses, voice fading away soon after.
Bayonetta 3: Al Fine Ends
The screen then shows the red entity disintegrate, panning out in the sky to reveal that the slime that spread across Manhattan was evaporating.
The screen then cuts to Jeanne and Viola using their wings to lower themselves from the sky, landing onto the street. They had no doubt in their minds that the female voice was one behind everything.
Yet, with that in mind, all they could do now was look at what remained of the city. There were damaged roads, toppled buildings, and countless people missing.
They could only look at each other with concern, realizing that while the battle was won, more was to come. The sky was still blood-red and something else had remained.
The camera zooms in onto the duos faces before moving to the gaping hole where the convention center once stood. It then went all the way down, dramatically revealing a Gate to Inferno.
Things were not over, not in the slightest.
Prologue Part III Finale (2/2) Ends
​
New Infernal Demon Entry Unlocked:

• Apathy
• Aspidochelone
• Despair

Introduction:

30+ YO Male, living near Canyon Park Mobile Estate on the 228th Street Southeast. Not athletic. Don't have a car. No friends.

Situation:

I've lived in Bothell 98021 for quite a few years, and in all these years, I've almost always stayed couped inside my house. Except for when I had to go to QFC or Fred Meyer to get groceries. This extreme indoor living is messing with my mental health and I find myself silently crying every day.

Looking for:

Anyway... I'm thinking going on an evening walk nearby or sitting at a public park or near a pond or such might do me some good. I looked up on Google Maps and saw some options.
I found these 3 things within 2 miles of my place -

1. North Creek Trail - Looks like that's just for walking. Are these are sitting areas or place to sit near a pond or something in this trail?
2. Miner's Corner Park - This looks like a children's park. Are solitary adult males allowed here? Can I take a walk / spend time here or will that be frowned upon / met with hostility / suspicion?
3. Evergreen Church - Can I just go sit here in the pews and get some peace n quiet? (I'm not Christian, if that matters.)

Is there anything else I can do in my limited 2 mile radius area?

Meetups / Support Groups?:

Does Bothell have any mental health support groups (or such) / or meetups? How do I look those up? Google is showing things in Seattle / Bellevue etc.
Thanks in advance for any tips.

My chihuahua (a street rescue) is 8 years old and loves other dogs, but I found out that she can’t stand puppies…when I began fostering one.
Foster boy was 8 weeks old when we got him, and it’s been a little over a month and he’s now her size with ten times the energy, and of course no manners as a puppy.
He’s doing well with training but there’s no training the natural energy and playfulness and curiosity of a puppy— and these are stressing my adult dog out more every day. She’s not herself lately because she’s stressed by this puppy who I can’t believe hasn’t been adopted yet (he’s such a perfect cutie) and it breaks my heart to see her unhappy. I try to give them space, give her special love time, but her general demeanor is on edge and it’s showing in her poops and body language.
I’ve fostered an adult dog before and she adored her, this is just a whole other situation and I don’t know if I should contact the rescue to ask about finding another foster for him. I absolutely adore him and would keep him for however long no problem if my dog enjoyed his company in our home, but that’s sadly not the case.
What should I do? My heart breaks.

Not how I envisioned it as a little girl, but perfect as the adult paying 🤣
I am the youngest of 4. My older sister got married - she is technically my stepsister, but our parents got together when we were very young. I know my dad paid into her wedding, but no details on how much. I have a decent relationship with my dad, but haven’t asked for money since I was 16 and never, ever would. My mom recently lost her husband, my stepdad, and I’d never imagine asking her for money, although she would give me every dime to her name. I don’t want her to do that!
Some other context: my now husband and I have been together for 9 years! Have a 5yr old. We were engaged for 4 years and never got married due to financial reasons (mostly insurance). Well, a needed move to another state made it so marriage was more beneficial than not (romantic, huh? lol but worked for us - somehow, after all these years, still feels like the “honeymoon phase”).
Anyway - to the very quick and perfectly affordable wedding:
-Got my dress off the David’s Bridal clearance rack for $96 after tax. Had been looking for casual white dresses at department stores, but found this gem for cheaper and got to have a semi-normal “bridal gown” experience, albeit with just my man and I lol
-Our “venue” was on the harbor of a beautiful spot along the Emerald Coast of the Florida Panhandle. Admittedly, the incredible backdrop was all owed to a “we know a guy” situation, but either way, no permit is required and as long as you can kind of get in & get out
-Most expensive part: we had only 13 of our closest family and friends come. Took them to a fancy restaurant about 10 mins from where we were married. For everyone, including tip, the dinner cost us $850. This was easily the most expensive portion of our night
-The captain that married us (boat captain and pastor, but we aren’t religious) was $200
-Our son’s outfit cost $15 for collared shirt and slacks from H&M
-Husband wore clothes he already had & I wore shoes I already had
Just wanted to share as love is the most important & the rest is doable. I’m lucky enough that we could get away with “we’re moving and had to get married quick - couldn’t invite everyone!” Especially as a lot of family lived far, where I was born. But even those we loved that were close, I didn’t include if they had bad juju going on in their lives. Didn’t need that on my happiest day and have no problem admitting that. For example, one of my great friends that lived close & would absolutely have come, had her husband cheat on her multiple times while stationed abroad. She decided to stay with him, but was not the kinda juju I wanted near my wedding.
Like I said, I envisioned the whole kit and kaboodle of a wedding day, picking out my perfect dress, getting ready in a bridal suite with a legit photographer, my whole family and people I love able to make it. But that wasn’t in my cards & I’m just so happy to be married to my husband, that for us - it was perfect. And affordable!

I'm in the first draft stage and am having some difficulty getting some beta readers so I'm hoping for some input on just the first chapter. I know there's a lot of editing I'm gonna have to do so be as brutal as you can/ want, just as long as it's helpful criticism towards developing my writing style.
Alice Eye
Chapter One- Alone In The Rain
"Don't get in the way of humanity's future!"
A clash of swords race across a barren wasteland–
"Please! Let me save you!"
–Where two women face each other one last time.
"I can't be saved anymore! This is the only way! I won't let you stop me!"
One who has suffered and wants to belong.
"And I won't let you destroy yourself!"
And the other, who wished to heal a friend in need.
"I'm already lost!"
Unable to move forward as the darkness grows–
"As long as I'm still me, I won't stop trying to save you!"
–Yet a brilliant light burned, ready to stand beside it. It all began–
Two Years Ago….
BOOM! Thunder roared across the land as the light casts its shadow over one city; a city where the word impossible doesn't exist.
"It's been eight years since that day. The day the world became trapped in this endless rain and the day where a chain of unexplained deaths took place in our once, beautiful city. The police have no leads, scientific groups haven't discovered the cause behind the storm, and now, conspiracy theories and myths are rising."
September 1992, the eighth year where the sun's rays no longer reached off the coast of England; the Royal Quartet City.
"While the citizens have gotten used to the downpour, stranger things have been happening lately within the Dream District. A woman in a black cloak has been seen in children's rooms at midnight. Teen girls have been murdered with no signs of struggles. And recently, more sightings of odd, unexplainable creatures have been seen randomly throughout the area. Lastly, several witnesses have claimed to have seen the sun near a high-rise building. This is Wild Heart News, reporting in…"
CLICK.
"That's enough of that. I better get going. Second period is almost over."
Highschool student, Iris Blackheart, is getting herself ready for another rainy day as she finishes her breakfast and daily news. She looked in her dresser for some clothing and grabbed whatever was left; she smelled the clothes she grabbed "Wow these smell bad. I need to get some more clothes."
As she got dressed, she looked around her room, piled up dirty dishes, worn clothing all over the floor, and garbage bags along a wall.
"..... I'll get to it eventually." She sarcastically claimed as she walked towards the front door. She grabbed a purple zipper hoodie, an umbrella, and a small, silver bracelet with a heart shaped diamond embedded in the center. As she placed it on her wrist, her eyes became entranced as she thought of the day she first acquired it.
I can't believe it's been eight years since I got this thing! It's funny. It was also the last day the sun was out.
Iris looked at the clock as its arms moved and questioned what she was even leaving for. She knew she had school, but no one was there to make her go or tell her why she should go; she just felt she had to go. Looking around her room once more, Iris saw all the things that needed to be done, and wasn't up for doing it. She slapped her cheeks, rolled her head and shoulders as she loosened up, and left her apartment to go to school. She opened her umbrella as she took in the sight; the Dream district, one of the city's four major boroughs.
"Hurry up or we'll be in even more trouble!"
Iris quickly turned her head over to the hasty voice; her heart raced with excitement as the voice called to her.
Is someone really calling me?
Her gaze shot over to two adults. One was in a car telling the other to get in as he struggled to close his umbrella. The two drove off once he closed it as Iris stood there watching.
I should have known better. She let out a long sigh as she shut her front door. Iris looked at her umbrella and just threw it away, choosing to let the rain wash away the emotions she felt as she dragged herself towards her school.
Why is it always like this…
She passed by other adults running late to work, traffic workers trying their best to work in the rain, police constantly on the move to give the city a sense of security, even elders sitting by watching the sky; not one person paid her any mind as she walked. She tilted her head towards the cloudy sky as the downpour continued and muttered–
"I really wish this rain– would just wash me away already."
This city, which has long been waiting for release from the storm, lies two girls bound by fate.
SLAM!
"What was that? Who's there!"
"It's probably the rumored ghost again!"
"I thought it was only in the bathrooms!"
"Wasn't it supposed to be shaking the hallways?!"
"Forget this! I'm getting out of here!"
Several students were on their way to their next class but ran the moment Iris opened the front door of the school building.
Sigh… There they go again.
A teacher tried to calm the students down as they ran, however Iris stood in front of him.
"How about you help the student in front of you asshole?" She demanded, staring into his eyes, hoping he would scold her.
Please…
"Seriously kids, knock it off, stop running, and head right to class before you all get detention!"
The teacher chased after the other students leaving Iris behind in a now empty hallway. She dropped her bag, took a deep breath and screamed–
"STOP TREATING ME LIKE I DON'T EXIST!"
She waited for a moment to see if anyone, be it a teacher, a student, or even an animal would approach her to say or do anything to her; anything to be noticed.
RING!
The late bell went off and no one approached her.
"Whatever." She took off her sweater and started squeezing the water out onto the floor. She looked at the clock on the wall, "It's only the fourth period. Think I'll use their showers and dry off."
Why did I show up again? It's not like I'm learning anything here. Iris entered one of the school's shower rooms and changed out of her wet clothes when something caught her attention from the window.
"Is… is that– light?"
Across from Iris's school on a tall building, a golden light emanated.
"Is the sun really shining again?"
As she reached her hand out towards the light, it vanished. Did I imagine that just now?
She took one more glance around the area, but found no such light again. Unable to assert whether or not what she saw was real or not, Iris continued getting undressed, entered the shower and leaned against the wall as each droplet of hot water loosened the stress on her body.
I should enjoy this for a bit before the other girls arrive.
After thirty minutes passed, the doors opened and other girls started walking in to change as the current class ended.
"Why is the shower water on?" And here we go again.
"Don't tell me the ghost is in here now too."
"Maybe it was just a fluke! Let's just quickly shower and get out."
"I agree."
Iris walked out as the girls walked in. She dried herself off and went towards the lockers and saw a black and gold v neck shirt, short black ripped pants, and mix matched socks.
"Can I switch clothes with one of you? Mine smells a bit and they're wet." The girls continued to shower without saying anything to her. "I'll take that as a yes."
A little tight around my chest, but it'll do. She got dressed in the other girl's clothing, placed her wet clothes in the locker, leaned on a wall, waiting for them to get out and see if they noticed her. Now let's see if anyone cares.
The shower water turned off and the girls hastily walked over to the lockers.
"Huh… where are my clothes? Whose are these for? Ugh, they reek!"
"That stupid ghost steals clothing now!"
"Nowhere is safe in the school!"
Ugh, drama queens. Iris rolled her eyes, grabbed her bag, and walked out of the shower room causing them further confusion.
How much longer do they plan to keep this bullying up? Iris thought as she picked up her bag and walked the hallways of her school. For as long as she could recall, everyone in the city has treated her like she doesn't exist; no one acknowledged her presence. She couldn't grasp why anyone would treat her like she wasn't there and continued to ponder this as she arrived at her class. Before she walked inside, she took a deep breath, slapped her cheeks, and prepared herself for the bullies of her classroom. She opened the door so fast that a gust of air passed through the classroom.
"Not again!"
"Why is our classroom haunted?!"
"Is this going to happen for the rest of the year?!"
Yeah, yeah, shut up. Iris ignored their panic, quietly walking over to her desk and sat there waiting patiently to leave. The students were alarmed and panicked as the teacher made an attempt to settle them down. It was difficult to calm any of the students down as there were reports of teenagers being murdered by some invisible force; superstitions were rising as the victims increased. The teacher advised everyone to speak to each other for the remainder of the class and help calm one another down as tensions rose. Iris watched the class comfort one another and felt her chest tightened as her frustration over being ignored grew.
"Would anyone even care if I stopped coming? Even the teachers don't seem to care about me." Iris muttered to herself as her only form of communication.
"Sigh… you know what. I don't even know why I show up?!" Iris got up, threw her chair on the floor spooking the class even further and walked out. "Stupid classmates! Stupid teachers! Stupid school!" She kicked lockers, and yelled outside the classes, but nothing.
"Ugh… What do I have to do to get some attention around here?!"
"Shut up you whiny bitch!"
Iris heard a voice and immediately looked around to see who it was. Everyone was in a classroom, so who was it? Who acknowledged her?
"Where did that voice come from? Did someone hear me just now?" She searched the school looking everywhere she could think of; the gym, the lunchroom, the teacher's lounge, anywhere she could think of.
"Where? Where? Where?! Where?! WHERE?!" Soon her curiosity turned into desperation as she ran throughout every corner of the school. She wasn't sure if she was just hearing things or not, but all she knew was that she was tired of being alone for so long.
Whoever that was they have to be here somewhere. I—
RING!
Unfortunately, the final bell for school rang and just about everyone was leaving to go home. Tired from running around the school, she stopped and sat down against the wall of the hallways to catch her breath before trying again.
"So what should we try at the Cafe this time?" Iris looked up to other students chatting thinking it was directed at her.
"There's a new item on the menu that I want to try that is apparently to die for!"
"Oh, what's it called I want to try……."
Iris faced the ground as she held herself, sitting in her isolation. No one to hang out with. No one to comfort her. No one to ask her if she's okay. She tried her hardest to keep tears from flowing out of her eyes as she struggled to keep herself from breaking down.
Why? Why won't anyone see me? Why won't– anyone acknowledge me?
BANG! One of the students suddenly fell onto the ground as she struggled for air causing the students to panic; however…
Are you serious?! Iris trembled as she wiped the tears from her eyes to see if she was seeing things; she wasn't. What is that?!
Over the student was a skinny humanoid creature that wore a tattered cloak and seemed to have multiple hands wrapped around parts of its body. It had one of its hands inside the girl's mouth as it attempted to pull something out of her.
What the hell is it doing?! And why is no one reacting to it? Her heart began to beat faster than her trembling as she looked on in horror. The class started screaming in fear as the student began to cough up blood.
I need to get out of here!
Iris felt her whole body become as light as a feather as she immediately stood up in an attempt to run; the creature instantly turned to her. Iris completely froze in both mind and body. She was so afraid that she even stopped breathing as if anything would set it off. The creature walked towards her pulling something out of the student causing her death. As the class yelled in fear and agony, Iris stood there unable to move as her skin froze up in the presence of the creature slowly approaching her. Something finally acknowledged her existence, and she was far too afraid to even think of why it was happening now.
"Found you!"
Iris and the creature turned towards the voice and saw an oddly dressed rabbit. The creature immediately fled from the rabbit giving Iris a chance to reclaim herself. She fell to the ground struggling to breathe as if someone was strangling her.
(HUFF, HUFF, HUFF!) What the hell was that?! And why is no one reacting to this?! As she's gasping for air, Iris sees the rabbit leave after the creature and tries to follow it. She got up and attempted to follow, however she caught a glimpse of the student dead on the floor with her eyes pointed at her as if she could see her.
Don't, don't look at me as if you could finally see me. A tear ran down Iris's face for her fallen classmate. Whether it was because she was sad that she was possibly acknowledged after someone died or if she wished it was her that died to escape her isolation, she didn't know. All she knew was that something was out there that only she could see and that meant there could be a way to make people see her again is what she thought no matter how unreasonable a thought it may be. She ran looking for the two creatures and heard a loud sound coming from the nearby restroom.
Okay. I'm close. Need to calm myself before I see, whatever that thing was.
Iris stopped moving, closed her eyes for a moment, placed her hand on her bracelet, and headed over to investigate. She stopped again.
This is stupid. No matter how I look at it, this is stupid. What am I hoping to find?
Iris stood for a moment, listening to nearby sirens approaching the school.
After what I saw, stopping now would be crazy right?
She carried on and reached the area where the sound was loudest; the boy's bathroom. Iris stood there for a moment, embarrassed by the idea of entering a room for the opposite gender.
Okay, so I might be curious, but not that curious. It's the boy's bathroom, what if one of them is peeing or…
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Multiple loud sounds came from the room again and again. Do I go in? Or do I turn around and pretend I saw nothing? Iris paced back and forth contemplating what choice to make.
"Screw it! If it were a boy in the same situation he'd go into the girl's bathroom without second guessing it! I'm doing this for gender equality!" She yelled, hardening her resolve as she nervously walked in and saw something unbelievable; a black hole lodged into the ground.
I… I must be dreaming. This can't be real. Can it?
Iris was unable to determine the thing in front of her. And yet, she felt drawn to it as if something called to her. Before she could even attempt to comprehend what was happening, she was already through the hole. She felt her body was changing, becoming, something… free. Free of all her worries. Free of isolation. Free of reality. Her vision went dark and then, like magic, she was standing somewhere far away from her school. In front of her were several abandoned, run-down apartment complexes ranging from roughly six to twelve stories tall floating on rocks and connected by train tracks.
This place looks like it's been abandoned for decades. Even the ground looks like it's been through an earthquake or two….. Somehow, this place seems familiar…
She looked at her hand and saw the rain water slip right through her as if she were a ghost.
So— this really doesn't help with my "I don't exist" anxiety. Where am I? Iris started walking towards the nearest apartment building when she suddenly heard a voice.
"How the fuck did this slut get here?!"
Iris was completely thrown off by the random words thrown in her direction and immediately sought the voice.
Where is that voice? I've heard that voice before. Iris looked and saw the oddly dressed rabbit from before. Iris grabbed the rabbit who didn't even bother to try to escape and immediately inspected it from head to toe.
"Is there like a radio or voice box attached to this thing?" She said curiously. Iris looked it in the eyes, "No way was this cute little thing the source of the voice! It's a bunny!"
SLAM!
Iris was flipped onto the ground with zero time to react. She was completely dumbfounded and tried to get the words to comprehend what happened until the rabbit got on top of her.
"Touch me like that again with your slutty hands and I will bury you like my liquor on a Saturday morning." The rabbit commanded.
Iris couldn't process or find logic in what was happening. Where was she? Why is there a talking rabbit? Why is it a bitch? Iris had too many questions on her mind.
CRACK!
Iris heard a building crack and quickly looked to see an abandoned apartment complex breaking down in front of her. She saw the cracks intensify and saw the creature from earlier get blown out of the building. She quickly moved away to avoid the creature.
"What is that thing?!" Iris asked, but the rabbit quickly ran towards the building as a person began to walk out of it. Golden light emanated from the building and only grew brighter.
What's happening?
Iris tried to look as best as she could until someone came into clear view. A petite, teen girl in a dark blue jacket with glowing golden long hair had Iris in awe of her unique appearance. She pulled out a red curved sword with a rose shaped handle on it and a clock embedded in the center of the rose.
"Abby– Clock in."
The rabbit was drawn into the clock as the needle turned and a strong golden light glowed from the sword. She took a stance, readying her blade, and prepared to battle the creature. It removed its cloak, unleashed its other four arms that were surrounding its body, and lounged at the girl. The girl is pushed back into the building as their battle carries through the floors. Iris could hear the sounds of their attacks rise slowly getting quieter as she thought of whether she should follow them or not.
"I don't know what's happening, but I can't sit here and wait to see what happens. I walked through the weird hole, I'm going to see this through to the end!"
Iris ran into the building, ran up the stairs, and looked for the girl and the creature. As she got closer to the top, she stopped hearing any sort of loud sounds.
Is it, is it over? Iris felt concerned now that she was at the door to the rooftop. Who won? The girl or the creature? If the creature won, Iris would be her next target. But if the girl won, what happens next?
I– I can't stand here and wait for something to happen.
She grabbed the door handle with hands drenched in sweat and uncontrollable shaking of fear from the unknown; whatever happens next, nothing would be the same for her.

Hi...this is my first Reddit post. I never thought I would make a post, but here I am. I am a Puneite, and here almost every major street has a few transgender individuals who would ask for money from people when the signals go red.
Recently, I was going somewhere and had to wait in wild traffic. A trans person approaches me and goes "Oye hero, paisa de"...I nodded in disapproval and this individual started to run their hand through my hair. They then started touching my chest (and rotated my shirt's button)...I looked at that person with disgust, moved a little ahead, and then with possibly the creepiest smile I have ever seen, the person left. The signal went green...I started driving again...Now that I think about it, I feel a little embarrassed about my inactivity when the individual touched me...I am a 21-year-old male, with a decent amount of muscles, but I was so...how to say...shocked when the touching happened...
My question here is, where do we draw the line? I could easily break a limb or two of a random trans person (or non-trans individual for that matter) trying to touch me...but I am told that these people operate in connections...deeply connected networks...I wish not to invite any trouble...
Has any such thing happened to anyone of you? What is the suggested course of action?

The life of a person is extremely short, for whom life is just a moment, and for someone it is a whole story. Throughout his life, a person does a lot, works, sleeps, eats, falls in love - this list can be listed for a very long time, this is just a couple of words about what a person does in his life. Life is something special, precious, cannot be compared with anything on Earth. Someone loves his life, cherishes it, builds a career, a family, runs a business, buys a car and an apartment.
And for some, life seems like hell, such a person is constantly dissatisfied with something, all the time sad, sad, every day is “like his last”, every single day he prays and asks God for only one thing, so that tomorrow he will have everything it was nice.
Life is when you have something, no matter what, be it money, a wife, relatives who love you, a car, a good job that you really like to work at, but still, not all people in life are so smooth.
Someone has nothing, in Africa, for example, there are so many people, children, women - that they simply do not have enough water to just take one sip of clean, tasty and fresh water.
And someone has the same water - but he does not value it, the concept of "value" - I think everyone forgot about such a word a long time ago. I'm not talking only about water, I'm talking about everything, even about household items, I read that in some country, people, in order to survive, make dough from clay and mud and eat it. And someone eats in expensive restaurants and this is not enough for him, he did not eat enough ...
Life is a very difficult and strange thing, and indeed people have lost their humanity, there are good people, and there are evil ones. What are you angry about? What annoys you?
I don’t know why people waste their nerves, time, show their negative emotions - to whom you are trying to prove what, I don’t understand why you’re angry, you need to live together, help everyone, compliment girls and men (well, of course, depending on what gender you are), anger in our world - should not be. Life is like a child's shirt, short and crap - V.V. Zhirinovsky
Life is an endless cycle of everything. As long as you are alive, so is your life. Even after your death - life will not go anywhere, it will go on and on, it is endless. Each person has his own path, his own story, his own end. We fall in love, break up, have fun and then get sad, give our strength, working 10-15 hours a day, and what is the result? We get money for work - but we lose the most important thing - our health. And this cycle will never change. Everything in life is decided by money, any question - we will solve for money.
Humanity is incorrigible - I once said to myself, looking out of the window of my house at the street. All people have become nervous, greedy, deceitful and duplicitous. There are still quite a few good people left today (2023).
There will be many defeats in life, many failures, but do not forget about the good moments, they will also be, everything in our world is cyclical and dependent on something. Today you have a hard day, and tomorrow you went out into nature, fried kebabs and drank beer - the day was a success, isn't it?
Everyone has their own specific ways to relax and unwind. It is enough for someone to just get enough sleep after a hard day, and for someone even after buying a new car - everything seems small, a person bought a car - he is not happy, everything in this world does not suit him. And buy someone a bottle of water, eat - this person will be in seventh heaven with happiness.
Values - everyone is different in life, I’m talking about this again.
Yes, maybe my text is not cyclical, maybe I make some grammatical mistakes, but I think you understood the essence of life, or maybe you understood the essence of this life before you read this article.
​
Thanks to everyone who read this article to the end. The world is not without good people. Take care of yourself.

Hey everyone. I made a similar post a few months ago, and I'm just posting again. My friends let me know they are completely out of clothes for adult women and men and could desperately use some. If you have some lying around that you need to get rid of bring them to 1516 20th street west.

They didn’t tell us the name of the next kid that disappeared. They didn’t tell us another kid had disappeared at all. We could all tell by the silence what had happened. It spoke volumes. I’m sure they talked about it in great detail amongst themselves. In PTA meetings and City Councils. My parents made sure to turn off the TV at 5 o’clock before the news came on, at least in my home. They’d turn it back on for the 11 o’clock news, when were were in bed and couldn’t hear the details.
The strange thing is, they never told us to just stop going outside. They told us to go in groups, sure, but they never decided, or as far as I could tell even though, to keep us all indoors. I guess that sort of freedom wasn’t something they were willing to give up. Instead, they did the neighborhood watch thing. For those few months, I remember my folks meeting more of our neighbors than in all the time previously, or since. Retirees would spend their days out in their front lawns, watching kids and everybody else coming and going. They’d even set up lawn furniture, with umbrellas, even all through the rains of spring. Cops stopped sitting in ambushes on the highways waiting for speeders and instead started patrolling the streets, chatting with us as we’d pass by. Weekends would see all the adults out in their yards, working on cars in the driveways, fixing the gutters, and so on. They had this weird way of looking at you as you’d ride by. Not hostile stares, but it was like they were cataloging your presence. Boy, eight years old, red raincoat silver bike, about 11:30 in the morning, heading south on Sorensen. Seemed fine.
The next time we saw it, it wasn’t in our neighborhood, and I was the one who saw it first. We were visiting Russ, a sort of 5th semi-friend from school. We rarely hung out, mostly owing to geography. His house wasn’t far as the crow flies, but it was up a steep hill. We spent a Saturday afternoon returning a cache of comic books we’d borrowed. The distance we covered was substantial, as we had decided to take lots of extra streets as switchbacks, rather than slowly push our bikes up the too-steep hills.
The descent was going to be the highlight of the trip, up until I saw the Hidebehind. We were on a curving road, a steep forested bluff on one side. The uphill slope was mostly ivy-covered raised foundations for the neighborhood’s houses. That side of the road was lined with parked cars, and the residents of the homes had to ascend steep staircases to get to their front doors.
I was ayt the back of the pack when I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. Movement, something brown squatting between two closely parked cars. My head snapped as I zoomed past, and despite not getting a good look, I knew it was that terrible thing. “It’s behind us!” I shouted and started pedaling hard. The others looked for themselves as I quickly rushed past them, but they soon joined my pace.
Ralph’s earlier idea of directly confronting the thing was set aside. We were moving too fast, and down too narrow a street to turn around. Then we saw it again it was to our left, off-road, between the trees. Suddenly it leaped from behind one tree trunk to the next and disappeared again. That hardly made sense, the base of the trees must have been thirty feet below the deck of the street we rode down. One of us, I think it was India, let out one of those strangled screams.
There it was again, back on the right, disappearing behind a mailbox as we approached. That couldn’t have been, it must have outpaced us and crossed in front of us. Logic would suggest there was more than one, but somehow the four of us knew it was the same thing. More impossible still, the pole holding up the mailbox was too thin, maybe two inches in diameter, yet that thing had disappeared behind it, like a Warner Bros. cartoon character. It was just enough to catch a better glimpse of it though. All brown. A head seemingly too bulbous and large for its body. Its limbs were thin but far longer, like a gibbon’s. Only a gibbon had normal elbows and knees. This thing bent its joints all wrong like it wasn’t part of the natural order. We were all terrified to wit’s end.
“The trail!” Ralph shouted, and the other three of us knew exactly what he meant. The top of it was only just around the curve. It was a dirt footpath for pedestrians ascending and descending South Hill, cutting through the woods on our left. It was too steep for cars, and to be honest, too steep for bikes. We’d played on it before, challenging each other to see how high up they could go, then descend back down without using our brakes. A short paved cul-de-sac at the bottom was enough space to stop before running into a cross street.
Ralph had held the previous group record, having climbed three-quarters of the way before starting his mad drop. India’s best was just short of that, I had only dared about halfway up, Ben only a third. This time, with certain death on our heels, the trail seemed the only way out. Nothing could have outrun a kid on a bike flying down that hill.
We followed Ralph’s lead, swinging to the right gutter of the street, then hanging a fast wide left up onto the curb, over a patch of gravel, between two boulders set up as bollards, lest a car driver mistake the entrance for a driveway, and then, like a roller coaster cresting the first hill, the bottom fell out.
It was the most overwhelming sensation of motion I’ve ever had, before or since. I suppose the danger behind us was the big reason, and being absolutely certain that only our speed was keeping us alive. I remember thinking it was like the speeder bike scene from Return of the Jedi, also a recent movie from the time. Only this was real. I didn’t just see the trees flashing past it, I could hear the motion as well. Cold air attacked my eyes and long streamers of tears rushed over my cheeks and the drops flew past my ears, I didn’t dare blink. Each little stone my tires struck threatened to up-end me and end it all. Yet, and perhaps worse, half the time it felt like I wasn’t in contact with the ground at all. I was going so fast that those same small stones were sending me an inch or two into the air, and the arc of the flights so closely matched the slope that by the time I contacted the trail again, I was significantly further down the hill.
At the same time, I had never felt more relief, as the thing behind us had no way of catching us now. Somehow, maybe the seriousness of the escape gave us both the motive and the seriousness to keep ourselves under control. Looking back, I marvel that at least one of us didn’t lose control and end up splitting our skulls open.
We hit the pavement of the cul-de-sac below, and didn’t bother to slow down. We raced through the cross-street, one angry driver screeching to a halt and laying on his horn. This brought out the neighborhood watch. Just a few of them at first. Still, we didn’t slow down, our momentum carried us back up the much shallower slope of our neighborhood. Witnesses saw us depart at high speed, and this only brought out more of the watch. We heard whistles behind us, just like our P.E. teacher’s whistle. We figured that was the watch’s alarm siren. Regardless of what happened to that thing, it was behind us. We returned to our homes, shaken, but safe and sound, our inertia taking us almost all of the way there.
Another kid disappeared that Sunday, up on South Hill. We’d suspected it because we could see the lights of the police cars on a high road, surrounding the spot where it would turn out later, one of the kid’s shoes had been found. Russ confirmed it at school on Monday. It was a kid he’d known, lived down the road from his place, went to private school which is why we didn’t recognize his name.
I remember seeing Ralph’s face the next day when he arrived at school. He looked angry. Strong. Like he’d been crying really hard, and now it was over and he was resolved. He said he’d felt guilty because the thing we’d escaped from had gotten the other kid instead. He tried to tell his old man about it, then his mom, then any adult he could. He’d tell them about the monster who hides behind things. They needed to focus on finding and stopping that instead of looking for some sort of creeper or serial killer. Of course, nobody had listened to him. They hadn’t listened to the rest of us either when we’d tried to tell.
So he’d devised a plan. He was calling it the “Fight Patrol,” which we didn’t argue with. If the adults wouldn’t do something, we would. We’d patrol our neighborhood on our bikes, the four of us, maybe a couple more if we could talk others into it. We’d chase it off like that first time, maybe for good, or maybe corner it. Clearly, it could not handle being caught.
Naturally, we brought up the scare on South Hill. He argued that was a bad place. Too isolated, couldn’t turn around easily. We needed to stay on our home turf, lots of visibility, and plenty of the Neighborhood Watch within earshot. Maybe we and the adults working together was the key, even if the adults didn’t understand the problem.
Well, that convinced us. Our first patrol was that afternoon, after school. We watched everybody’s back like hawks. Nothing had a chance to sneak up on us. Nothing could step out from behind a bush without getting spotted. By Friday afternoon there were eight of us. The next week we split up to extend our territory to the next neighborhoods over.
Nothing happened. We never saw anything. Ben thought it was because we were scaring it away. Ralph just thought we were failing, and took it personally. I myself thought the thing had just moved to different parts of town, where the new disappearances were taking place. I told him we should keep it up until the thing was caught.
It was all for naught.
One day, India didn’t show up for school. I asked everybody, the teachers, the office staff, the custodian, my parents. All of them said they didn’t know, and it was so easy to tell that they were lying. That would mark the end of the Fight Patrol.
Ben didn’t show up a couple of days after that. When I got home and collapsed into bed, my mother came in to tell me that Ben’s mother had called. She’d taken him out of school and they were moving elsewhere. I called up Ralph to let him know the news, and he was relieved too.
My last day was Friday, and then I was taken out. Again, I called Ralph so he wouldn’t worry. I guess when there were only two weeks left of school, and it was just grade school, a couple missed weeks don’t amount to much. So I ended up spending the bulk of the summer out in the country, with my grandparents, which was why I brought up my grandpa in the first place.
I suppose I did fine out on their farmhouse. I was safe. There was certainly no shortage of things for a kid to do. I think my mom felt a strong sense of relief too. Things slipped through the cracks.
My grandparents didn’t have cable, too far out of town. They just had an old-school antenna and got a couple of TV stations transmitting out of Canada, Vancouver specifically. I remember one July day, sitting in their living room. My grandmother had just fixed lunch for me and my grandfather and had gone out to do some gardening as we watched the news at noon.
My grandfather was already being ravaged by his illnesses. He was able to get around, but couldn’t do any real labor anymore. He’d lounge in front of the TV in a special lounge chair. He hardly talked, and when he did he’d just mumble some discomfort or complaint to my grandma.
The lead story on the news was the current situation in Farmingham, despite being in the neighboring country, it was still big news in Vancouver, and the whole rest of the region. It seemed the disappearances were declining, but the police were still frantically searching for a supposed serial killer. I didn’t pick up much about what they were talking about, I was a kid after all, but my grandfather was watching intently, despite his infirmity.
He mumbled something, I didn’t catch. I asked him was he said, and as I approached I heard him say “fearsome critters.”
He turned his eyes to me and said again, distinct and in a normal tone of voice, “fearsome critters,” then returned his attention to the screen. “I don’t know why they call them that. Fearsome, sure. But ‘critters?” Makes it sound silly. Like it's some sort of fairy tale that it ain’t. Guess it’s like whistling past the graveyard. Well, they don’t have to worry about them no more, guess they can call them what they like.”
Then he turned to me. “Do you know what it is?” he asked. “Squonk? Hodag? Gouger? Hidebehind?”
“Hidebehind,” I whispered, and he turned back to the TV with a sneer. I had no idea what on earth he was talking about. Remember, this would be years before I learned he spent his youth as a lumberjack. And yet, somehow, I knew exactly what we were talking about.
“Hidebehind,” he repeated. “That will do it. They give them such stupid names. The folk back East, that is. Wisconsin. Minnesota. Ohio. Way back in the old days, before my grandfather would have been your age. Back when those places were covered by forests. They didn’t give them silly names back then, no. Back then they were something to worry about. Then they moved on, though. They all went out West, to here, followed the loggers. So as once they didn’t have to worry about them anymore, they started making up silly stories, silly names. “Fearsome critters,” they’d call them. Just tall tales to tell the greenhorns and scare them out of their britches. Then they’d make them even sillier, and tell the stories to little kids to spook them.”
“Not out here they didn’t tell no stories nor make up any names. It was bad enough they followed us out. I had no clue they even existed until I saw one for myself. Bout your age, I suppose. Maybe a little older. Nobody ever talks about them. Not even when they take apart a work crew, one by one. They just pull the crews back. Wait till mid-summer when the land is dry but not too dry. Then they move the crews in, a lot of them. Do some burning, make a lot of smoke. Drives them deeper into the woods, you know. Then you can cut the whole damn place down. But nobody asks why, nobody tells why. The people who know just take care of it.”
“I guess that’s why they’re coming to us now. All the old woods are almost gone. So they’ve got to. Like mountain lions. I supposed it’s going to happen sooner or later.”
We heard my grandma come into the back door to the utility room, and stomp the dirt off her boots. My grandfather turned to me one last time and said, “Whichever way you look at it, somebody’s just got to take care of it.” Then my grandmother came in from the utility room and asked us how our lunch had been.
Now that I look back at it, that might have been the last time my grandfather and I really had a meaningful talk.
We moved back home in late August. I had been having a fantastic summer. Though looking back, I suppose it could be rough for a still-young woman to be living in her aging parents' house when she’s got a perfectly good husband and house of her own in town.
First thing I did was visit Ralph. He’d been busy. He’d fortified his treehouse into a proper, well, tree fort. He’d nailed a lot of reinforcing plywood over everything. He hadn’t gone out on patrols by himself, of course, but the height of the tree fort afforded him a view of the nearest streets. He’d also made some makeshift weapons out of old baseball bats, a hockey stick, and a garden rake. The sharp rocks he’d attached to them with masking tape didn’t look very secure, but it’d only take one or two good blows with that kind of firepower. He also explained he’d been teaching himself kung fu, by copying all the movies he saw on kung fu movies late at night on the unpopular cable channels. That was classic Ralph.
As for the monster, it seemed to be going away. Its last victim had disappeared weeks previously, part of the reason my mom felt it was time to go back. This had been at night too. What’s more, the victim had been a college student, a very petite lady, barely five feet tall, under a hundred pounds. The news had speculated that their presumptive serial killer had assumed she was a child. I remember thinking the Hidebehind didn’t care. Maybe it just thought she couldn’t run fast enough to get away or put up a fight when he caught her. Like a predator.
At any rate, the college students were incensed. Of course, they’d been hyper-alert and concerned when it was just local kids going missing. Now that it was one of their own the camel’s back had broken. They really went hard on the protests, blaming the local police for not doing enough.
They started setting up their own patrols, and at night too. Marches with sometimes dozens of students at a time. They called it “Take Back the Night.” They’d walk the streets, making sure they’d be heard. Some cared drums or tambourines. They’d help escort people home, and sometimes they’d unintentionally stop random crimes they’d happen across. I felt like this was what the Fight Patrol could have been, if we’d just been old enough, or had been listened to. This would be the endgame for the Hidebehind, one way or another.
I stayed indoors the rest of the summer, and really there wasn’t much left. It doesn’t get too hot in the Pacific Northwest, nobody has air conditioners, or at least we didn’t back then. It will get stuffy though, in August, and I liked to sleep with my window open. I could hear the chants and challenges from the student patrols on their various routes. Sometimes I could hear them coming from far away, and every now and then they’d pass down my street. It felt like a wonderful security blanket.
I also liked the honeysuckle my mother had planted around the perimeter of the house. Late at night, if I was struggling to fall asleep, the air in my bedroom would start to circulate. Cold air would start pouring in over my windowsill, bringing the sweet scent of that creepervine with it, and I’d the sensation before finally passing out.
This one night, and I have no knowledge if I was awake, asleep, or drifting off, but the air in the room changed, and cooler air poured over the windowsill and swept over my bed, but it didn’t carry the sweet smell of honeysuckle. Regardless of my initial state, I was alert pretty quickly. It was a singularly unpleasant smell. A bit like death, which at that age I was mostly unfamiliar with, except a time some animal had died underneath the crawlspace of our house. There was more to it, though. The forest, the deep forest. I don’t know and still don’t know, what that meant. Most smells I associate with the forest are pleasant. Cedar, pine needles, thick loam of the forest floor, campfires, even the creosote and turpentine of those old timey-logging camps. This was none of those smells. Maybe… rotting granite, and the spores of slime molds. Mummified hemlocks and beds of needles compressed into something different than soil. It disturbed me.
So I sat up in bed. I hadn’t noticed before, but I’d been sweating, just lightly in the stuffy summer night heat. Now it was turning cold. Before me was my bedroom window. A lit rectangle in a pitch-dark room. To either side were my white, opened curtains, the one on the right, by the open half of the window, stirred just slightly in the barely perceptible breeze.
Most of the rectangle was the black form of the protective cypress tree. Only the slight conical nature of the tree distinguished it from a perfectly vertical column. To either side was a dim soft orange glow coming from the sodium lamps of the street passing by our house. It was perhaps a bit diffuse from the screen set in my window to keep out mosquitos. In the distance was the sound of an approaching troupe of the Take Back the Night patrol. They were neither drumming nor chanting, but still making plenty of noise. They were, perhaps, three or four blocks away, and heading my way.
For some reason that I didn’t understand, I got up, off of the foot of the bed. The window, being closer, appeared bigger. I took a silent step further. The patrol approached closer. Another step. I leaned to my right, just a bit, getting a slightly wider view to the left of the cypress tree. That was the direction the patrol was coming from.
That was when it resolved. The deeper black silhouette within the black silhouette of the cypress tree. A small lithe frame with a too-bulbous head. It too leaned, in its case, to the left, to see around the cypress tree as the patrol approached. They reached our block,on the other side of the street. A dozen rowdy college students, not trying to be quiet. None of them fearing the night. Each feeling safe and determined, and absorbed in their own night out rather than being overtly sensitive to their surroundings. They were distracted, unfocused If they had been peering into the shadows, if just one of them had looked towards my house, behind the cypress tree, they might have seen the Hidebehind, poking its face out and watching them transit past. But they didn’t notice.
It hid behind the cypress tree, and I hid behind it, hoping that the blackness of my bedroom would protect me. I stood absolutely still, as I had done once when a hornet had once landed on the back of my neck. Totally assure that if I made the slightest movement or made the slightest sound that I’d be stung. I hardly even breathed.
The patrol passed, from my perspective, behind the cypress tree and temporarily out of view. The Hidebehind straightened, ready to lean to the right and watch the patrol pass, only it didn’t lean. Even as I watched the patrol pass on to the right, it stood there, stock still, just as I was doing.
It was then I became aware that my room had become stuffy again. The scent was gone. The air had shifted and was now flowing out through the screen again, carrying my own scent with it. I knew what this meant, and yet I was too paralyzed to react. The thing started to turn, very slowly. It was a predator understanding that it might have become victim to its own game. It turned as if it was thinking the same thing I had been thinking, that the slightest movement might give it away.
It turned, and I saw its face. Like some kind of rotting desiccated, shriveling fruit, it was covered in wrinkles. Circles within concentric circles surrounded its two great eyes, eyes which took up so much of its face. I couldn’t, and still struggle, to think of words to describe it. Instead, I still think in terms of analogies. At the time I thought of the creature from the film E.T., only twisted and distorted into a thing of nightmares. Almost all eyelids, and a little drooping sucker mouth. Now that I’m more worldly, it reminds of creatures of ancient artworks. The key defining feature were the long horizontal slits it had for eyes. You see that in old masks carved in West Africa, or by the Inuit long ago. You see it in what’s called the “slit-eyed dogu” of ancient Japan.
As I watched the wrinkles on the face seemed to multiply. Then I realized this was the result of its eyes slowly widening. It’s mouth, too, slowly dilated, revealing innumerable small razor-sharp teeth. A person, standing in its location, shouldn’t have been able to see in. Light from the sodium streetlamps lit the window’s screen, obscuring the interior. It was no person. It could see me, and it was reacting to my presence. Its eyes grew huge, black.
My own eyes would have been just as wide if not for my own anatomical limitations. I was still watching when it disappeared. It didn’t see it move to the right. I didn’t see it move to the left, nor did I see it drop down out of view. It simply disappeared. One fraction of a second it was there, and then it decided to leave, and so it did. It was not a thing of this world.
There were no more disappearances after that poor woman from the university. I don’t think it had anything to do with me. The media and police all speculated their “serial killer” had gone into a “dormant phase”. There was no shortage of people who tried to take credit. Maybe they deserve it. The thing’s hunting had been on the decline. All the neighborhood watches and student patrols, I think that maybe all that commotion was making it too hard for the Hidebehind to go about its business. Maybe it had gone back to the woods.
Then again, maybe Ralph had been right the whole time. Maybe it really, really, really didn’t like to be seen.
So.
Now I’ve got some decisions to make. I think the first thing I should do is look at social media and dig up Ralph. It’s been a good thirty years since I last talked to him. He ought to know the Hidebehind is back. He’s probably made plans.
Then, there’s the issue of my son. He’s up in his bedroom now, probably still mad at me. Probably confused about why I’d be so strict. Maybe he’s inventing explanations as to why.
I’m not sure, but I’m leaning toward telling him everything. He deserves to know. It’d probably be safer if he knows. I think people have this instinct where, when they see or know something that they’re not supposed to know, they just bottle it up. I think that was the problem with grown-ups when I was a kid. It was the issue with my grandfather, telling me so little when it was almost too late. I think people do it because we’re social animals, and we’re afraid of being ostracized. Go along to get along.
Hell, my son is probably going to think I’m crazy. It might even make him more mad at me. And even more confused. He knows about the disappearances. “The Farmingham Fiend” the media would end up dubbing the serial killer that didn’t really exist. It’s become local “true crime” history. Kids tell rumors about it. It was almost forty years ago, so it probably feels safe to wonder about.
So yeah, I suppose when I say I know who the real killer was, a magical monster from the woods that stalks its prey by hiding behind objects, then impossibly disappears- that I’m going to look like a total nut. I’d think that if I were in his shoes.
Except… people are going to start disappearing again, it’s only a matter of time. The media will say that the Farmingham Fiend is back in the game. Will my son buy that? He’ll start thinking about what I told him, and how I predicted it. Then he’ll remember that he saw the thing himself, he and his friends, even if it was just out of the corner of his eye.
I hope, sooner or later, he’ll believe me. I could use his help. Maybe Ralph is way ahead of me, but I’m thinking we should get the Fight Patrol back together. Father and son, this time. Multigenerational, get the retirees involved too.
Old farts of my generation, for reasons I don’t understand, like to wax nostalgic over their own false sense of superiority. We rode our bikes without helmets and had distant if not irresponsible parents. Yeah, yeah, what a load. I think every new generation is better than the last, because every generation is a progression from the last, Kids these days? They’ve got cell phones, with cameras. And helmet cams. GoPros you can attach to bikes. Doorbell cameras.
It seems the Hidebehind loathes being seen. This time around, with my grandfather’s spirit, my own memories, and my boy’s energy? I think this time we’re finally going to beat it.